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Alternative Therapies That Have Helped Me Manage Different MS Symptoms – WebMD

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Multiple sclerosis is often called the disease of a thousand faces. And thats because the symptoms are variable and can be different for each person.

Besides the commonly recommended physical therapy and occupational therapy, theres also a variety of alternative therapies that can help manage your symptoms as well.

Heres a list of the therapies Ive tried during my MS journey to manage the vast range of symptoms Ive had throughout the years and that have given me the best results:

Of all of them, aquatic therapy has to be my favorite. Theres no limit to what I can do in the water, like marching and lifting my leg. Things I couldnt do otherwise. The benefits are the same as those of a regular workout but without the struggle of fighting gravity.

Not only does our body need maintenance, but so does our brain. Unfortunately, many MSers experience some kind of cognitive deficit due to the condition. For those more internet-savvy, there are options like Lumosity, CogniFit, and Brain Metrix. There are also console games for Wii and Nintendo DS like Brain Age and Big Brain Academy.

If you dont care for technology, a simple puzzle can challenge your visual perception. Crosswords and word finding games can improve your language. A sudoku puzzle will challenge your logical thinking.

No matter where you are in your MS journey, there are many alternatives to manage your symptoms. I would recommend adding an integrative medicine physician to your care team who can guide you and refer you to the different therapies based on your particular needs.

Achieving wellness is the ultimate goal. Wellness is an individual, active pursuit of an optimal state of health and well-being. But when youre living with MS, this can be a little bit of a challenge. It requires determination and resilience. We have the potential to live a healthier and happier life where instead of surviving, were thriving.

To connect with other people living with multiple sclerosis join our MS Facebook Support Group .

Photo Credit:Jupiterimages / Goodshoot / Getty Images Plus

WebMD Blog

Mayte Ramos was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in 2015. She is a support group leader for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, a member of the Buddy Network for Shift.ms, and has participated in programs such as the Ask an MS Expert series and the PBS American Portrait project. She enjoys traveling, watching tennis, collecting jewelry, and spending time with her three sons. Connect with her here.

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Alternative Therapies That Have Helped Me Manage Different MS Symptoms - WebMD

In a new podcast, Oprahs health adviser draws the connection between mind and body – WBEZ

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Its about time to say goodbye to our beloved Chicago summer activities like meeting up with friends at the beach, enjoying an outdoor patio or biking the lakefront path. But preparing for shorter and colder days doesnt have to be all bad. It could be an opportunity to expand the ways you seek joy within yourself.

At least, thats what Deepak Chopra, Oprahs longtime health adviser, would challenge you to do.

After being trained as a physician, Chopra became an alternative medicine advocate, author and founder of The Chopra Foundation, a wellness-focused research nonprofit. He recently gave Reset a preview of his new podcast, Mind Body Zone: Living Outside the Box, in which he explores how we can improve our lives by paying closer attention to the connection between our mental and physical health. Here are a few highlights from the conversation:

What qualities do the guests on your new podcast share?

Chopra: Ive been a student of what people do and why they do it. Ninety-nine percent of us are basically biological algorithms, in that we are predictable, we have no original thought and were squeezed inside a box. The people I spoke to in my podcast are people who not only broke out of the box, but they basically were not even looking at a box. They had freed themselves from the conditioning that is part of our culture right now. Every single person I interviewed from Gbor Marte to Oprah Winfrey is not a victim of the conditioned mind. They are true creators and therefore role models for us all to see how we can break through our conditioning.

How did you make that mental shift?

Chopra: Forty-five years ago as a resident intern, I realized that what we call Reductionist Mechanistic Medicine was very good for [treating] acute illness, but not good for prevention or even for managing chronic illness. By chronic illness, I mean the major epidemics of our time obesity, Type 2 diabetes, inflammation, depression, anxiety, stress. These are very important factors in illness.

Only 5% of disease-related gene mutations are fully penetrant, in that they guarantee the disease. If somebody has a mutation like Angelina Jolie had for breast cancer its called the BRCA gene then you need to have a preventive mastectomy. Only 5% of gene mutations are like that.

The rest [of illness-related mutation] are dependent on our daily choices, including how much we sleep, how we manage stress, emotional resiliency, biological rhythms and, of course, food, exercise, movement and mind-body coordination. I got a lot of criticism 35-40 years ago for having even proposed the idea that there were alternative or integrative methods for treating most chronic illnesses.

What role can love play in healing?

Chopra: Love is frequently understood as sentimentality and emotions, which it is. But love is a much bigger truth than just mere emotion.

Wisdom traditions talk about how we are part of a matrix of inter-beingness. Thats part of the Buddhist teachings and Christian teachings Love thy neighbor as thyself. You might think its impossible to do, but if you experience it through meditation, you do find love as truth, love of an idea, love of service, love of a higher calling, love of children, love of your significant other. Its a whole new dimension of love that is healing.

In the Indian tradition that I come from, the word is love in action, which is called karma yoga. Love without action is meaningless and action without love is irrelevant. But when you practice love in action, then the whole world responds to you and wants to help you out. And thats been my experience.

How can meditation improve our physical health?

Chopra: There were many pandemics: One was the COVID-19 pandemic, the second was the economic disasters that occurred with people losing their jobs, etc., and the third epidemic was stress, which was actually worse than the other two epidemics.

Stress is associated in the body with something called sympathetic overdrive. If your sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for the fight or flight response, goes into overdrive, then it produces intense inflammation both low-grade inflammation and what I call inflammatory storms. They are actually the precipitating factor in morbidity and mortality from the infection.

Our science has not emphasized the opposite of the fight-or-flight response, which is actually the name of your show Reset the reset response, the reinvent response, the digest response and the relaxed response which involves the parasympathetic nervous system. Many things like yoga, tai chi, qi gong, vocalization, chanting, singing and breathing exercises can actually override the sympathetic response.

What do you want people to take away from your new podcast?

Chopra: [People] have an immense amount of resources in their being for intuition, insight, inspiration, creativity, a higher calling and transcendence. Life can be a celebration instead of a disaster, which is the way were seeing it right now.

I had the opportunity to look at social demographics and what people call happiness. Only 10% [of happiness] depends on situation, circumstance and whats happening in the world. The remaining 80% is dependent on how we see the world and what we interpret as a problem or a disaster. The choices we make every day, are they only for ourselves or also for others? Do we have the capacity to give other people attention, affection, appreciation and acceptance? That is probably the most healing element that could create all sorts of joy and happiness for ourselves.

Claire Hyman is an intern for WBEZs Reset with Sasha-Ann Simons. Follow her @hyimclaire. Penny Hawthorne is a multimedia and audience engagement intern at WBEZ. Follow her @penny_eleanor_.

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In a new podcast, Oprahs health adviser draws the connection between mind and body - WBEZ

18 Buzzy Hotel Partnerships Paving the Way for *All* Travel To Be Wellness Travel – Well+Good

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The wellness-tourism industry is officially hitting its stride: While a 2017 Global Wellness Institute report clocked it as a $639 billion market (up 6.5 percent annually from 2015), new research released this past April from Vision Research Reports forecasts a spike to $1.10 trillion by 2028.

Part of that uptick may be linked to the way the COVID-19 pandemic hasand continues tochange so much about daily life and perceptions of wellness. A survey conducted this summer by wellness-tech platform MindBody, which aggregated data from thousands of its users, found that over 75 percent of respondents reported wellness to be more important to them than ever, with over 50 percent reporting plans to spend more money on self care over the next six months.

While these results are specific to folks predisposed to value wellness in some way (aka, people who already use MindBody), the renewed affinity for wellness is nonetheless notableand hotels seem to agree, as many are shape-shifting their wellness offerings via new partnerships to match this new demand.

Since the onset of the pandemic, in fact, a number of hotels have struck new partnerships with fitness-, nutrition-, and recovery-oriented companies to institute expert-backed programs designed to help guests maintain healthy habits they adopted during lockdown, or to launch new ones aligned with future wellness goals.

This new slate of hotel wellness partnerships serves as an invitation to rethink travel as wellness-supportivewhether or not you're actually going to a wellness resort or wellness is the express purpose of your trip. The idea is that a stay away from home shouldnt just allow you to uphold any newly refined relationship with health or fitness or self care, but to actually enhance it. Below, find our roadmap to the most exciting new hotel wellness partnerships poised to help you de-stress, gain strength, catch more shut-eye, or embrace nature in transporting ways.

If workout equipment has become a starring fixture in your Zoom background, youll feel right at home in one of Andaz Scottsdales three new Sonoran Wellness Suites (from $1,093 per night), which are decked out with Tonal smart gyms. To cater specifically to those who prefer strength-training in private, these suites feature the full customizable Tonal experience (interactive display and digital-weight technology included), as well as an exercise bench, weight set, and yoga mat. So, its easy to achieve a full workout without so much as leaving your suitebut should you want some air, youll also find an Atlantic Coast Cruiser bicycle ready to be taken for a spin through the propertys cactus gardens and lemon-tree patches. Upon your return, relax and unwind beside the suite's diffuser, with a handful of house-made lavender-infused almonds.

Right alongside hiking or walking outside, biking is one of those open-air diversions that really hit its groove during the pandemic, with bicycle sales summiting to new heights. If you, too, joined the two-wheeled crewor, perhaps, have loved biking for some time nowlevel up your skills (and views) along mountain trails at Applewood Manor by partaking in the just-launched Peep & Pedal program. Designed by the inns owner, Stephen Collins, who is also a former elite amateur competitive cyclist, it features customized bike routes along the Blue Ridge Parkway fit for experienced cyclists (though not suggested for beginners).

For $295 per person, the package includes rental of a 3T Exploro racing bike, as well as an on-ride nutrition pack from Torq USA. Before you take off on your journey, youll also enjoy a pre-ride boxed lunch, and upon your return, youll be greeted by a sampling of charcuterie and local craft beer.

Reconnect with nature in an entirely new way at the Carmel Valley Ranch, which just launched a slate of new equine experiences. And were not just talking horseback riding: To create programs that tap into the soothing powers of the animal-people connection, the resort partnered with clinical psychologist Robert G. Magnelli, PhD, whose specialties include equine-assisted psychotherapy and equine-assisted learning.

Through the Getting to Know Our Herd program, for example, you can get up-close and personal with horses to learn how they respond to a person's emotional stateand how you can shift your own energy to change the horses' responses, as well. Or, choose the Equine & Wine program to get grounded in the present moment and dissolve tension over quality time with the horses and a glass of vino at sunset.

Nestled within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the natural setting of Cavallo Point sets up the resort well for its new stress-melting 6 Pillars of Healthy Living program. Created in partnership with BlueWave Medicine and its founder, integrative-medicine physician Brad Jacobs, MD, MPH, it includes an array of wellness experiences framed around six pillars: active living, healthy eating, restorative sleep, stress reduction, connection, and passion and gratitude. All activities for the programfrom outdoor yoga and hypnotherapy to a cacao ceremony and herbal-gardening sessionare designed to plunk you outside, in grassy fields and rolling meadows, as often as possible, where you can soak up all the serenity that comes from reconnecting with nature.

Get acquainted with Ayurveda during a five-day retreat at CIVANA, created in partnership with internal-medicine physician and Ayurvedic expert Deepak Chopra, MD. Twice a month, you can book the new Whole Health Retreat, a package deal centered as much around improving the health of the mind and spirit as that of the body (from $5,800). It includes 15 locally sourced, vegan meals (developed by the Chopra Centers Chief Medical Officer, Sheila Patel, MD), as well as twice-daily meditation and yoga, four personalized Ayurvedic spa treatments, and a one-on-one consultation with an Ayurvedic physician during which youll develop your own sound meditation mantra.

Not ready to commit to a five-night experience? During any stay at CIVANA, you can still access several new spa experiences developed withDr. Chopralike an Ayurveda-inspired body massage by way of Marma Point Therapy (focused on Ayurvedic energy points throughout the body) or a kansa-wand facial massage designed to promote lymphatic drainage.

After a year-plus of Zoom calls, FaceTimes, and endless cause for doom-scrolling, you might find yourself overdue for a break from technology. The Foundry Hotel's new Digital Detox Adventure Package (from $999 per night), launching October 1, poses exactly that. Thanks to a partnership with Asheville Wellness Tours, the tech-free experience includes a private hike at Wild Cat Rock within the Blue Ridge Mountains on a route that notably has zero cell service. And to brace against the mountain chill on your hike and on the hotel grounds, you'll also receive a classic puffer from mindful outwear brand The Arrivals, which comes equipped with an "Off-the-Grid" pocket designed to block 100-percent of radiation from cell signals. Consider it out-of-office, 2.0.

A few years back, the Four Seasons Los Angeles launched its first four wellness-centric roomsand at the start of this summer, it increased that number to 14, rounding out an entire floors worth of on-site wellness spaces. Created in partnership with Delos Living, a wellness consultancy, each room offers circadian rhythm-centric lighting (which simulates the patterns of natural light) and soothing sound machines, alongside Rabbit air-purification systems, Lather bath amenities, Alo Yoga equipment, and the option to participate in guided meditations narrated by Deepak Chopra, MD. Beyond the rooms and suites, the wellness floor includes a private fitness suite thats home to both Peloton and SoulCycle bikes (among other equipment) and is available to reserve in two-hour time slots, as well as a private office with adjustable-height desks and stools to make for a fully customizable work or meeting setup.

A collaboration with Next|Health puts IV therapy right at your fingertips (er, arm) while youre a guest at the Four Seasons Maui. While IV treatmentsby which liquid formulations of vitamins or electrolytes are channeled into the bloodare not for everyone (and should only be done after getting approval from your physician), they can be a helpful way to speed up the bodys absorption of health-supportive nutrients like vitamin C, glutathione (which helps the body produce more antioxidants and facilitates cell growth), and magnesium. All of the above are available via the Four Seasons and Next|Health collab, as are drips of other anti-inflammatory and immunity-boosting nutrients, like antioxidant CoQ10 and peptide Thymosin Alpha-1, from $300 each. Theyre all administered by registered nurses in the Four Seasons spa, making the experience feel as un-medical as possiblefor an IV treatment, that is.

Travel and good sleep notoriously dont mixbut the French Quarter Inn is working to change that by way of a partnership with the sleep app SleepSpace. Each room at the inn now comes equipped with a sleep guide developed by SleepSpaces founder, cognitive psychologist Daniel Gartenberg, PhD, featuring a set of good-sleep reminderslike a timeline for when to get the most sunlight and when to dim the lightsas well as sleep tips geared specifically toward travelers, like how to beat jet lag by adapting to your new time zones schedule as soon as possible. And to help you doze off even more easily when the time comes, the hotel offers free sleep sound machines, sleepytime tea, and a Sound Sleep pillow menu, from which you can choose your ideal pillow from seven different options.

At Hotel Figueroa, R&R isnt just rest and relaxationbut rest and recovery, as the aptly named R&R suite (from $426 per night) is decked out to help guests do both to the fullest. Launched on August 15 (in honor of National Relaxation Day), the suite at the historic Los Angeles property features a customizable pod mattress via a partnership with sleep-fitness company Eight Sleep, which adjusts its temperature to bring on optimal sleep throughout the night. And if youre sharing the bed with a partner, not to worry: It has two zones that will uniquely manage each of your bodies' temperature fluctuations.

A week before arrival, you'd also complete a sleep quiz from Pluto Pillow, which custom-builds a pillow based on your preferences that will be ready on the bed upon check-in. During your stay, you can also exercise with the in-room FORME fitness mirrorand then recover both inside and out with Beam hydration powders and a Hyperice recovery station for the legs, hips, and back.

If youre taking advantage of WFH flexibility to work from wherever you want, youd be keen to book The Ivy Hotel's "Weekday Wellness" package (from $801 per night), which includes a 60-minute massage featuring myofascial, trigger-point, and cranial-sacral techniques designed to relieve all those muscles you might typically tense while hunched over a laptop for hours. In your room or suite, youll also be greeted by a vegetarian crudit board and Naturopathica stress tea and bath amenities, as well as a mini "bar" stocked with local kombucha and snacks to keep your energy levels high throughout the workday, and an arnica- and Himalayan salt-infused bath truffle for melting away stress at days end.

At Kimpton Nine Zero, you can hit the water for a very real-seeming virtual row class taught by top-tier athletes filming from waterways around the worldwithout, of course, leaving the hotel gym. The hotel partnered with Hydrow earlier this year to install one of the companys live outdoor-reality rowers in the on-site fitness center, free for guests to use. Instead of your usual strength-training regimen, hop on the machine, and youll gain access to all the full-body perks of a rowing workout, no water skills necessary.

The sweeping landscape of red-rock buttes, the desert quiet, and the pristine view of the stars all make the small town of Sedona ripe for spiritual endeavors. To lean into that natural vibe, L'Auberge de Sedona is launching a series of new metaphysical programming this fall in partnership with local wellness practitioner Paula Lockwood and her company Sedona Holistic Healing. On the docket are classes on the meaning of different crystals and their use in crystal meditation; an introduction to Reiki and chakra-balancing; and astrology and tarot readings (all of which are free for hotel guests and available weekly). Perhaps the most intriguing of the new offerings, though, are the courses centered around the local Sedona geologic phenomenon of vorticesparticularly breathtaking spots in the surrounding rock landscape that are thought to be alive with energy.

Spending some time at this beachfront resort might feel like enough of a balm for burnout as isbut, to up the ante, the hotel launched a dedicated burnout break program in August and saw so much interest, its been extended through the end of the year. Book the package (from $500 per night), and youll get accommodations in an ocean-view room; a welcome gift including a beach towel, Sun Bum sunscreen, and two jalapeo pineapple margaritas; a 50-minute hot sea stone massage; and a one-month subscription to the Caravan Wellness app (which features 250-plus classes in yoga, meditation, and more) to help maintain your soothed state of mind long after your trip wraps up.

As the first dedicated wellness resort on the Four Seasons roster, Sensei Lana'i is the soul-soothing home to a host of longevity-boosting practices aligned in three guided pathways from which you can choose to focus your visit: "Move," "Nourish," and "Rest." To supercharge these offerings with the actionable insights that come from physiological tracking, the resort partnered with health-tech company WHOOP this summer to create a five-night Optimal Wellbeing Program (from $1,335 per night).

A few days before the program starts, you'll receive a WHOOP wearable strap in the mail, with the intent to begin tracking fitness, sleep, and recovery data (like heart-rate variability and sleep respiratory rate, for example), all of which will be accessible through an online portal. Upon arrival at the resort, a Sensei Guide (a trained health practitioner) will conduct your health assessment and work with you to develop an itinerary supporting personalized metrics and goals, splicing in everything from hiking excursions and meditation sessions to spa treatments. And when the retreat wraps up, you'll receive a comprehensive "Guide to Growth" report with tips for upholding any new wellness habits long after departure.

Thompson Nashville recently linked up with Invigorate Health to offer IV therapy as part of its new "Boost Your Stay...the Wellness Way" package (from $439 per night). And, again, while IV therapy surely isnt for everyone, this partnership offers a low-stress way to try it out (though it's recommended to get an okay from your doctor first). While at the hotel, you can stop by the Invigorate Health to-go van or request an in-room service, and with either option, youll also have access to the companys Gulch Gulp, a cold-pressed juice packed with ginger, kale, and apple.

A brand-new spa with a clinical, treatment-based approach opened at the Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach this past summer in partnership with 111Skin and its founder, Yannis Alexandrides, MD. While you'll find the usual facials and massages on the menu, you'll also see services like cryotherapy and cryofacials, as well as a "dramatic healing facial" up-leveled with 111Skin's high-key (read: incredibly potent) serums designed to penetrate skin and boost collagen production for more bounce. And in case you were wondering, there's a whole bunch of CBD on the menu, too: A separate partnership with Lord Jones brings the anti-inflammatory CBD facial, which comes along with a lymphatic-drainage facial massage. While the spa is open to resort guests daily (with face and body services starting at $250), the spa takes reservations for folks not staying at the resort Mondays through Thursdays.

Earlier this year, Westin conducted an online survey in collaboration with YouGov, asking 5,181 people how their views on fitness and running shifted during the pandemic. One trend emerged loud and clear: the importance of self-care and recovery. More than half said theyre putting more emphasis on self care now compared to pre-pandemic, while more than a third of people who categorized themselves as runners said they believe run recovery to be as important for mental health as it is for physical health. To respond to this particular focus, Westin partnered with run-recovery tech company Hyperice to bring specialized Hypervolt recovery stations to Westin gyms across the country, featuring a handheld percussion massage device that delivers pulsing pressure. Hotel guests can use it free of charge during any stay, for either warming up muscles or assisting with post-run release.

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18 Buzzy Hotel Partnerships Paving the Way for *All* Travel To Be Wellness Travel - Well+Good

Photobiomics: A look to the future of combined laser and nutrition therapy – Chiropractic Economics

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In addition to its widely accepted use for treating low-back pain, low-level laser therapy, or photobiomodulation (PBM), can be a valuable adjunctive treatment for metabolic and inflammatory diseases. When PBM modulates the gut microbiome in combination with targeted nutritional therapy or photobiomics laser therapy for these diseases becomes even more effective. The value is evident in treating gut issues, low vagal tone and autoimmunity.

Recent research strongly suggests that photobiomodulation of the microbiome can help sharply improve the guts microbial diversity. Maintaining diversity in the gut microbiota is key to sustaining healthy production of the numerous vital metabolites, such as butyrate, that these bacteria produce. Its also crucial for keeping pathogens from gaining a foothold in the gut; diversity helps crowd out harmful bacteria. Using laser therapy to rebalance the gut microbiome has significant therapeutic potential.[1]

Photobiomodulation through low-level laser therapy affects the gut microbiome both indirectly and directly. A significant indirect effect occurs when the laser light mimics the circadian clock that regulates the gut microbiota and their production of bacterial metabolites.

Specifically, the beneficial bacteria responsible for gut barrier integrity can decrease when the gut circadian rhythm is disrupted through poor sleep, night shift work or travel across time zones. This can lead to systemic inflammation when increased toxic lipopolysaccharides (LPS) pass through the gut wall.[2] When combined with improved sleep and a healthier diet, PBM can help overcome the effects on the microbiome of prolonged circadian rhythm disruption.

Disruptions in the circadian rhythm also decrease the overall bacterial diversity in the gut. An excellent example of how reduced diversity has indirect impacts on overall health is vitamin D metabolism. The greater the diversity of the gut microbiome particularly those that produce the short-chain fatty acid butyrate the better vitamin D can be metabolized into the active form and absorbed through the numerous vitamin D receptors that line the gastrointestinal tract. When the gut bacteria are imbalanced, vitamin D absorption is impaired.

Decreased ability to absorb vitamin D because of gut dysbiosis may explain why taking supplemental vitamin D doesnt always have the expected benefits. Restoring a better bacterial balance through laser therapy may help increase levels of available vitamin D with downstream improvements in immunity and bone health.[3]

Photobiomodulation works by stimulating the mitochondria within cells to function better. Light from the laser causes increased ATP synthesis, leading to less fatigue. It also modulates the reactive oxygen species produced within the mitochondria, leading to less free radical damage and inflammation.[4]

While we think of the hundreds or even thousands of mitochondria in every cell primarily as the source of cellular energy, they also play a complex role in intracellular signaling. Among other functions, they act as platforms to transmit signals for activating the innate immune system and coordinating immune cell activity with the rest of the cells in the body. When the mitochondria are stressed, however, they dont function as well. Stressed mitochondria dont produce as much energy, create more damaging free radicals, and dont efficiently transmit signals between the immune system and the rest of the body.[5]

Stressed mitochondria become dysfunctional because they produce excess nitric oxide (NO), which competes with oxygen for space on the cytochrome c oxidase enzyme in the mitochondrial membrane. When NO displaces oxygen, mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress result; this triggers the inflammatory NF-B pathway and causes inflammation and even cell death.

At a wavelength of 635 nm, laser light is absorbed by cytochrome c oxidase, forcing the NO out of the membrane and allowing replacement with oxygen. This restores ATP synthesis and reduces oxidative stress. Normal mitochondrial function including immune system signaling returns and cell metabolism improves.[6]

Combining nutritional therapy with PBM can help accelerate improvements in energy and immunity. For patients with long COVID, B vitamins, CoQ10, carnitine, alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), liposomal glutathione, zinc, selenium, vitamin C and vitamin E should all be considered as adjuncts. Immune activation can be improved with extracts of medicinal mushrooms, including reishi, maitake, lions mane, chaga and shiitake.[7]

The vagus nerve is part of the autonomic nervous system, which governs essential survival functions such as respiration rate and heartbeat. The vagus nerve is ordinarily highly responsive; its ability to transmit nerve impulses quickly and efficiently is called vagal tone.

A higher vagal tone lets the body return to normal after a stressful event quickly. For example, the vagus nerve makes the heart beat faster during exercise; when the vagal tone is high, the heartbeat returns to its normal resting rate soon after exercise stops. The vagus nerve also monitors the condition of the gut microbiome through chemoreceptors on the afferent (to the brain) fibers that sense the presence of metabolites, such as butyrate, produced by gut bacteria. Overall, low vagal tone is associated with poorer health, including a greater risk of autoimmune disease.

An essential function of the vagus nerve is reducing systemic inflammation by keeping the gut immune system from responding inappropriately. However, when the vagal tone is low, the messages to stay calm may not get through as well; the gut immune system may react inappropriately by increasing inflammation.

PBM therapy is highly effective for raising low vagal tone and reducing inflammation. Higher vagal tone improves blood flow to the intestines and attenuates the disruption of intestinal tight junctions, which reduces LPS-induced inflammation.[8]

The vagus nerve monitors butyrate production in the colon. When the vagus senses that gut bacteria produce enough butyrate, that message is transmitted to the brain. Normal levels of butyrate production signal that enterocytes in the gut wall are getting good nourishment and keeping the gut wall strong and leak-free. The return message along the vagus is to calm inflammation.

Foods that help raise vagal tone are those that are rich in phytonutrients and polyphenols. In addition to PBM treatment to raise vagal tone, dietary improvements to increase prebiotic fiber intake are needed. Inulin and xylooligosaccharides (XOS) are complex carbohydrates that pass through the small intestine and arrive in the colon as a preferred food for butyrate-producing gut bacteria. Prebiotic supplements are beneficial, especially for patients who cant tolerate fiber-rich foods in the diet.

Supplements of omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil are also crucial for improving vagal tone. The omega-3 in fish oil supplements is known to help improve heart rate variability and lower blood pressure. Fish oil also inhibits the action of Toll-like receptor 4 and inhibits the NF-B pathway. When these receptors are less sensitive, inflammation is reduced and vagal tone improves.

Two probiotic bacteria species also positively affect the vagus nerve: Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Bifidobacterium longum. Studies have shown that B. longum helps reduce inflammation, stabilizes the gut lining, increases levels of BDNF in the brain, and may help reduce anxiety and depression.[9]

Both bacteria species help improve vagal tone by improving the guts overall health and decreasing the impact of LPS-induced inflammation.[10]

Low-back pain and sciatica are among the most common conditions sending patients to chiropractic care. Adding PBM to the treatment mix helps improve outcomes; adding nutritional support can improve them even more.

The evidence for the value of PBM in treating back pain is robust. Laser light at the 635-nm wavelength has been shown to provide significant pain relief on nociceptive musculoskeletal pain and reduce the use of opioids and NSAID medication.[11] This wavelength reduces inflammation by inhibiting the NF-B inflammasome and the production of the inflammatory COX2 enzyme. It also reduces the production of free radicals in the irradiated area and cuts the production of inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-1) and TNF-alpha.

Nutritional supplements enhance the value of laser therapy for back pain. Recent research suggests that combining the omega-6 fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA, also called evening primrose oil) and alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) effectively treats low-back pain sciatica.[12] Supplements of curcumin are also valuable for accelerating sciatic nerve repair.[13]

Back pain patients, particularly if they also have diabetes, should be tested for vitamin D levels. Patients with vitamin D deficiency or insufficiency are more than twice as likely to have low-back pain than patients with normal vitamin D levels.[14] Patients with low vitamin D may also have dysbiosis that is interfering with absorption. If levels are low, supplementation with vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) can help bring them up. At the same time, the possibility of dysbiosis should be explored and treated if needed to help improve vitamin D absorption naturally.

When the gut microbiome is unbalanced and lacks sufficient diversity, the whole body is affected. PBM therapy and nutritional supplements can help, but restoring a better balance requires a more significant commitment.

Dietary and lifestyle changes are needed to provide a gut environment where a good range of beneficial bacteria can thrive. The Super 7(R) Action Plan puts patients on the right path for better gut health:

Reset The first action step is to reset the diet, lifestyle and mindset of patients. The critical dietary component is an anti-inflammatory premise based on the basic Mediterranean diet, supplemented with MCT oil, fiber and magnesium. Stress reduction and regular exercise are additional essential components.

Remove Remove foods related to individual intolerances, sensitivities and allergies, along with processed foods, sugar, dairy and gluten. Remove pathogens (harmful bacteria, viruses and yeasts) and environmental toxins through the use of nutritional supplements such as berberine, oregano oil and garlic.

Replace Replenish and replace digestive enzymes, stomach acid and bile.

Regenerate The damaged intestinal wall needs help to regenerate and become an effective barrier again. A plethora of nutrients is typically suggested to repair the gut barrier and decrease inflammation in the gut region. These include glutamine, zinc carnosine, okra, collagen and others.

Re-inoculate High-quality prebiotics and probiotics can help improve the balance of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Prebiotic fiber is crucial to this step as support for the bacteria in the probiotic supplement.

Reintroduce When the symptoms of dysbiosis are reduced or gone, foods removed earlier in the process can be gradually reintroduced.

Retain Retaining the gains is accomplished by helping patients continue down the road to good gut health and avoiding a return to poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle and high stress levels.

Our understanding of the microbiomes role in health and disease is expanding rapidly. The emerging science of photobiomics the combined effects of light on metabolic factors, the microbiome and the interaction between them is opening many new avenues for effective patient treatment.

The future will bring us even more ways to combine nutrition with our improving knowledge of the microbiome and our enhanced knowledge of PBM to help optimize our patient outcomes.

ROBERT G. SILVERMAN, DC, DACBN, DCBCN, MS, CCN, CNS, CSCS, CIISN, CKTP, CES, HKC, FAKTR, is a chiropractic doctor, clinical nutritionist, national/international speaker, author of Amazons #1 bestseller Inside-Out Health, and founder and CEO of Westchester Integrative Health Center. He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Bridgeport College of Chiropractic and has a Master of Science degree in human nutrition. The ACA Sports Council named him Sports Chiropractor of the Year in 2015. He is on the advisory board for the Functional Medicine University and is a seasoned health and wellness expert on the speaking circuits and in the media. A frequently published author in peer-reviewed journals and other mainstream publications, he is a thought leader in his field and practice. His new book, Superhighway to Health, was published in June 2021. He can be reached at drrobertsilverman.com.

REFERENCES

[1] Bicknell B, Liebert A, Johnstone D, Kiat H. Photobiomodulation of the microbiome: implications for metabolic and inflammatory diseases. Lasers Med Sci. 2019 Mar;34(2):317-327. doi: 10.1007/s10103-018-2594-6. Epub 2018 Aug 3. PMID: 30074108.

[2] Liebert A et al. Photobiomics: Can Light, Including Photobiomodulation, Alter the Microbiome? Photobiomodul Photomed Laser Surg. 2019 Nov;37(11):681-693. doi: 10.1089/photob.2019.4628. Epub 2019 Oct 9. PMID: 31596658; PMCID: PMC6859693.

[3] Thomas RL, Jiang L, et al. Vitamin D metabolites and the gut microbiome in older men. Nat Commun. 2020 Nov 26;11(1):5997. doi: 10.1038/s41467-020-19793-8. PMID: 33244003; PMCID: PMC7693238.

[4] Salehpour F et al. Brain Photobiomodulation Therapy: a Narrative Review. Mol Neurobiol. 2018 Aug;55(8):6601-6636. doi: 10.1007/s12035-017-0852-4. Epub 2018 Jan 11. PMID: 29327206; PMCID: PMC6041198.

[5] Tan JX, Finkel T. Mitochondria as intracellular signaling platforms in health and disease. J Cell Biol. 2020 May 4;219(5):e202002179. doi: 10.1083/jcb.202002179. PMID: 32320464; PMCID: PMC7199861.

[6] Hamblin MR, Demidova TN. Biomed Opt. 61001. Vol. 6140. International Society for Optics and Photonics; 2006. Mechanisms of low-level light therapy; pp. 112.

[7] Guggenheim AG, Wright KM, Zwickey HL. Immune Modulation From Five Major Mushrooms: Application to Integrative Oncology. Integr Med (Encinitas). 2014 Feb;13(1):32-44. PMID: 26770080; PMCID: PMC4684115.

[8] Masayuki Y, Koji M, Akinori U, et al. Surgery, Mar 2020;167(3):638-45.

[9] Bercik P et al. The anxiolytic effect of Bifidobacterium longum NCC3001 involves vagal pathways for gut-brain communication. Neurogastroenterol Motil. 2011 Dec;23(12):1132-9. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2982.2011.01796.x. Epub 2011 Oct 11. PMID: 21988661; PMCID: PMC3413724.

[10] Bonaz B, Bazin T, Pellissier S. The Vagus Nerve at the Interface of the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis. Front Neurosci. 2018 Feb 7;12:49. doi: 10.3389/fnins.2018.00049. PMID: 29467611; PMCID: PMC5808284.

[11] Januskewski J et al. Efficacy of 635nm Red Low-Level Laser on Nociceptive Musculoskeletal Pain Compared to NSAIDS, Opioids, and Other Light Sources Orthopedics and Rheumatology, Ortho & Rheum Open Access J, November 2020.

[12] Ranieri M et al. The use of alpha-lipoic acid (ALA), gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and rehabilitation in the treatment of back pain: effect on health-related quality of life. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol. 2009 Jul-Sep;22(3 Suppl):45-50. doi: 10.1177/03946320090220S309. PMID: 19887043.

[13] Zhao Z, Li X, Li Q. Curcumin accelerates the repair of sciatic nerve injury in rats through reducing Schwann cells apoptosis and promoting myelinization. Biomed Pharmacother. 2017 Aug;92:1103-1110. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2017.05.099. Epub 2017 Jun 12. PMID: 28622711.

[14] Bansal D, Boya CS, Vatte R, Ghai B. High Prevalence of Hypovitaminosis D in Patients with Low Back Pain: Evidence from Meta-Analysis. Pain Physician. 2018 Jul;21(4):E389-E399. PMID: 30045605.

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Photobiomics: A look to the future of combined laser and nutrition therapy - Chiropractic Economics

Biggest Greys Anatomy Returns Over the Years – Us Weekly

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Throughout its lengthy run, Greys Anatomy has said goodbye and then hello again to countless popular characters.

As the first series regular to exit from the ABC medical drama, fans were surprised when Isaiah Washington (Preston Burke) returned to Greys Anatomy in 2014 seven years after he was fired for using a homophobic slur during a fight with Patrick Dempsey.

Hes a prepared, energized actor and he was ready to play. I will say, though, he was nervous, creator Shonda Rhimes told Entertainment Weekly about his season 10 return, which served as a way to wrap up Sandra Oh (Cristina Yang)s story line. My first decision and my first responsibility is to the story, she said. I have to be the keeper of the story and make sure that were telling the story we need to tell, regardless of whatever outside factors are involved or whatever history is involved and, frankly, Sandra was so lovely and open to it. It has been a really kind of amazing experience.

The producer added at the time that Isaiah is a person that we all love and have loved for a very long time.

I feel like there have been a lot of people that have been like, How can you do this? Rhimes continued. And I feel very strongly and fully believe in peoples ability to grow and change and learn from their mistakes and when they know better, to do better. If people dont think that, over the course of seven years, its possible for a human being to change, then there really is no future for the human race at all.

While several actors and actresses left Grey Sloan following Washingtons departure, Dempseys exit (and the death of his character, Dr. Derek Shepherd) rocked the fanbase in 2015. Viewers were delighted, however, when he appeared in several season 17 episodes through Meredith (Ellen Pompeo)s dreams as she battled coronavirus.

Theres just so much darkness, and we knew that coming together would be a little ray of light, Pompeo told Deadline about reuniting with her former onscreen husband in 2020. And so, I think we had the same idea, at the core, to want to help people and bring a smile to peoples faces. So, he loved the idea, and we were just so excited, and we had a ball filming it. It was very healing to come back, and know that were doing something good, putting out a positive story, a healing story, going to make people smile, and I think, for me, Im really grateful for the opportunity to be able to be at this place in the show where we can do this.

The following season, viewers were in for another surprise when Scott Speedman, who appeared on a season 14 episode as Dr. Nick Marsh, ran into Meredith in Minnesota. After the episode aired in September 2021, news broke that the Felicity alum would be a series regular for season 18.

It is timing. To be totally honest, the last time wasnt the right time. I havent done a show since the last show I did. I think a lot of people love that schedule, and I really do, too, but I was wanting to do other things, the actor told Deadline about joining the cast four years after his initial guest star role. But you always know, you put something in the back of your mind when you do have chemistry with somebody, and you do enjoy the work experience, because thats rare, actually. So, when this opportunity came around, I was trying to think of why not to do it, and I couldnt come up with any reasons. It was a great show, really fun people, and it just felt the right timing for me. I wanted to jump in, and then, when I heard what the storyline could be, that was exciting to me.

Greys Anatomy airs on ABC Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET. Scroll through for more on the biggest returns over the years:

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Greys Anatomy Season-Premiere Recap: Bright and Shiny – Vulture

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Greys Anatomy

Here Comes the Sun

Season 18 Episode 1

Editors Rating 4 stars ****

Photo: ABC

Apparently, even Greys Anatomy wants to pretend season 17 never happened. Season 18 opens with a quick housekeeping note to let us know that the show will now be portraying a fictional post-pandemic world, and we all get it. Sure, season 17 had a good start. It felt right for a medical show to explore the effects of the pandemic on doctors. And yes, having McDreamy show up on the death beach that first time was life-affirming. But the whole thing quickly morphed into something much more exhausting. So the show never wants to speak of it again, and neither do we, and honestly my condolences to Andrew DeLuca, who deserved better and we all know it.

This season-18 premiere does feel as though things have changed. And its more than just Grey Sloan ditching the masks and the COVID-19 protocols: The OR is buzzing with surgeries! No one is having mental breakdowns on benches! Meredith isnt a doll anymore! We really did it, pals. Its time to hopefully move on to bigger and better things.

For Meredith, might those bigger and better things be located in Minnesota? She hightailed it out of Seattle for a bit to meet with Dr. David Hamilton, or, as Webber calls him, Minnesotas prized-tumor guy, because hes dedicating a library to Ellis Grey. I feel like we walked through the valley of season 17 to be rewarded with Peter Gallagher the Sandy Cohen joining the ranks of Greys. Just eat all the bagels and schmear you have available because, and I say it again, we really did it. Of course, Webber and Bailey are nervous that not only will David be showing her this library, hell also be offering Meredith a new job. They cant afford to lose any more surgeons, and they keep calling her to make sure she isnt abandoning ship. They arent wrong to worry: It doesnt take long for David to reveal his true intentions for bringing Meredith out there. Yes, he dedicated the library to his old friend, but he also built a state-of-the-art research lab, named it the Grey Center, and wants Meredith to have it. Sure, hes impressed with her mini-livers and reconstructed abdomens, etc., but hes currently developing an experimental surgery to possibly cure Parkinsons disease, and he needs a surgeon to become the face of it and persuade the FDA to give him approval. Meredith asks why he, a surgeon, cant do that himself. It turns out that the reason hes so passionate about finding a cure for Parkinsons is because he has it.

That lab certainly is something. Wouldnt it be a real full-circle moment to have this dark and twisty woman leave Seattle for good for something that has been described as bright and shiny? And yeah, sure, helping to cure Parkinsons seems cool too. There is one other thing that might persuade Meredith to actually consider this offer. While out to dinner with David as he wines and dines her in hopes of getting her onboard, she spots a familiar face: Dr. Nick Marsh.

Can you believe it?? After all this time, Greys Anatomy is bringing back Nick! Sure, he was in only one episode back in season 14, but the chemistry between Meredith and the handsome transplant doctor whose life she saved was unreal. It was honestly a shock that they didnt have him stick around for multiple episodes that season because he was very swoony with his flirting, and his raising his niece because his sister couldnt, and his wanting to be a shoe salesman in another life. And, more important, it was the first time post-Derek that Meredith actually imagined the possibility of falling in love again. Nick Marsh did that. And now, years later, she bumps into him in Minnesota.

This guy is insanely confident. When she gets back to her hotel, Merediths escorted to the bar and there he is, waiting for her. The chemistry between the two of them is still very much there. It is palpable. Truly, what a pleasant surprise. However, Meredith does want to make it very clear that she isnt sleeping with him. First, she tells him shes seeing someone, but then immediately backtracks. Apparently, she and Cormac dipped their toes into some dating, but his younger son, Austin, began having panic attacks after learning about his father starting to move on from his mother so they called the whole thing off. I do sincerely feel for anyone patiently waiting for a Meredith-Cormac romance because it seems like youll be waiting for a long time. Sorry for your loss!

Anyway, back to Nick! Meredith is single, but she still wont sleep with him. That doesnt mean the conversation isnt lovely. She tells him about almost dying from COVID, and he obviously thanks to her saving his life knows what its like to be a miracle and understands the pressure that comes with being granted a second chance. He even walks her to her hotel room at the end of the night, and they cant stop smiling at each other. Oh God, they are going to hook up, and it is going to be glorious.

So yes, perhaps Webber and Bailey really should be worried about Meredith moving to Minnesota and losing another surgeon (and their friend, I guess). Its not as if interviews for doctors to replace Avery, Koracick, DeLuca, and Jo have been going well. Theyve been going terribly, to be honest. That is, until the hiring committee Bailey, Cormac, and Maggie meet with plastic surgeon Dr. Lin. She seems great. She has never been the head of a department, but she doesnt mince words as to why Grey Sloan needs her. And then they literally need her: Webber bursts into the interview because a guy exploded a firework directly into his face and he needs a plastic surgeon to save his life. I guess this hospital had only one plastic surgeon this whole time? Regardless, they give Lin privileges, and she gets to work in the OR while also continuing her interview with Bailey, Cormac, and Maggie. She is very good at her job. You know who isnt? The resident assisting her, Schmitt. After the surgery, Bailey offers Lin the position of chief of plastics, but she turns it down. She tells them she relies a lot on residents to help her do her job, and the residents here clearly arent up to snuff. Oof, that hits Richard where it hurts the most. He promises Lin hell get them back into shape; they fell behind because the pandemic kept them out of the OR so much. You have my word, he tells her. Wasnt Meredith supposed to be running the residency program? Maybe that explains this whole situation.

In other news: There is another Greys wedding to attend. Who is getting married now, you ask? Teddy and Owen. Finally. After all these years. And all those sex voice-mails. What a lovely story to tell the grandkids one day! They actually try to have a little ceremony in the park with just their kids, Owens mom, and that abdominal reconstruction herself, his sister Megan. Unfortunately, the priest doing the ceremony gets run over by a bunch of bikers doing an undies bike ride during the Seattle Phoenix Festival and then dies on Teddy and Owens operating table. Wow, I really missed writing sentences like that over hiatus. Anyhoo, obviously, people are upset. Your priest dying right before pronouncing you husband and wife would be looked at by most as a terrible sign. As if Teddy and Owen needed any more of those!

Megan saves the day. Of course she does. She is a breath of fresh air on this show, and it would be nice to have her around more. And maybe she will be, now that Greys Anatomy decided to ruin one of the very few happy endings this show has ever bestowed on us by breaking up Megan and Riggs. After everything! Its a real bummer. She seems okay? Megan gets ordained online, and Owen brings Teddy to Joes Bar, where she is surprised by all of their friends and family, and those two finally get hitched. Its about time someone got married in Joes Bar, isnt it?

Link spends the entire episode brooding about Amelias rejection and then trying to persuade her to marry him. First of all: Why? Second of all: It seemed like Ameli
as problem last season was less that marriage was suffocating and antiquated and more that she doesnt want more kids while Link very much does. Wouldnt that explanation satisfy Link a little more? Instead, Amelia tells Link she loves him but cant marry him. Link thinks its really over this time. Thats the stupidest thing I ever heard, Jo tells him. Jo, you have no idea.

Speaking of Jo, her entry into the single-working-mom world is a bumpy one. She has for some reason dyed her hair blonde and maybe not brushed it in a year? Shes a mess, and she never makes it out of the parking lot because she feels too guilty over the thought of leaving Luna at day care. Shell do better next time.

So when are Jo and Link going to hook up?

Ellis Grey pops up in Merediths anxiety dream about not doing anything extraordinary after surviving COVID. That feels like the most on brand.

It was quite endearing to watch a bumbling, nervous Cormac try to set up a dinner for himself and his boys with Bailey and her family. Its awkward at first, and Bailey tries to avoid it. But later Cormac opens up about Austins panic attacks and not knowing how to help him, and she invites the Hayes brood over. Its very sweet!

Maggie and Winston have honeymoon-sex injuries, and Ive never been happier for them.

Keep up with all the drama of your favorite shows!

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Greys Anatomy Season-Premiere Recap: Bright and Shiny - Vulture

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Fans Wish 1 of the Show’s Most Powerful Scenes Would Have Gone Even Further – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

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In episode 13 of season 14 of Greys Anatomy, Dr. Dahlia Qadri (Sophia Ali) got the internet stirred up. She was the lead character in one of the most powerful scenes on the show. A lot of fans wish that it would have received more screen time than it did. However, it does seem that there could be a variety of opinions on the episode.

In this episode of Greys Anatomy, two boys came into the hospital after a science experiment went wrong. They were covered in bruises, and one boy, Tyler, had a piece of metal inserted into his leg. It is in the main artery. Owen Hunt (Kevin McKidd) and Qadri take him to C.T. while quizzing her about what they are likely to see on the scans. Then Owen leaves, telling her to let him know when the scans are up.

While he is gone, Tyler wakes up. He wants to know how his brother is doing. Qadri and Tyler talk a little, then he says his leg hurts. Before she can really react, he grabs the metal, pulling it out of his leg.

Tyler begins to bleed heavily, but she knows she has to get the bleeding to stop. Her hijab is the closest thing she has, so without a thought, she removes it to give him a tourniquet. Crisis diverted, she calls Owen, and the two rush Tyler to the OR.

While they scrub in, Owen mentions her hijab being off her head. Her reply is what caught everyone by surprise. She said that it was a symbol of her faith. And that her faith is about service and compassion.

Owen later returns the hijab to her, after washing it.

Owen may have realized her hijab and returned it to her, but Greys Anatomy fans feel that more should have been done. It was through this episode we learned a lot about her compassion and her dedication to being a good doctor. However, the hijab is used to represent modesty, privacy, and morality for women and some people feel that should have been portrayed more fully.

In fact, one Reddit user said, I would have preferred them to use the opportunity two-fold: Qadri show her compassion and commitment to medicine by using the hijab but then one of her peers/supervisors respecting her faith by shielding her from view or providing her an alternative quickly. Would have been two times more powerful.

While most fans were happy to see Qadri take it off in order to help, others say that it was not right, and she had other materials there to do the same thing with. One user even suggests that Qadri would have likely had a hijab cap there to keep her hair covered, even if she did take it off for the scene.

Unfortunately, fans will never get the chance to learn more about Qadri. She departed the show in season 16, episode 3. The way the story was told on the set was that Miranda Bailey (Chandra Wilson) and Qadri has a disagreement over Meredith (Ellen Pompeo) being fired from Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. In the scene, Qadri stood up for Grey, saying that she had come there to learn from Meredith and Miranda fired her. It was a move that upset many fans of the show.

However, the truth is, Qadri left so that Ali could pursue other options. She is working on the movie Uncharted, which is set to release in 2022. She has also been in The Wilds, a series that began in 2020. Ali has also written one short book, Hows the World Treating You?

RELATED: The Best Greys Anatomy Episode From Every Season

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‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Meredith Not Sleeping With Nick Best TV Quotes – TVLine

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Some series arrived this week (Greys Anatomy!) while others departed (Big Brother!), but the most memorable moments are all chronicled in our latest Quotes of the Week roundup.

In the list below, weve gathered more than 15 of the small screens best sound bites from the past seven days, including scenes both scripted and unscripted from broadcast, cable and streaming series.

This time around, weve got a Bachelor in Paradise contestants deep dive into the meaning of 80s slang, Ariana Grandes spicy gift for a potential Voice recruit, a little self-delusion for Power Book IIIs Kanan and Donna Troys fearlessness in the face of a taser on Titans.

Also featured in this weeks compilation: double doses of Big Brothers season finale (read recap) and Greys Anatomys return (look whos back for Season 18!), plus quotable moments from The Rookie, NCIS, Survivor, New Amsterdam and more shows.

Scroll through the list below to see all of our picks for the week, then hit the comments and tell us if we missed any of your faves!

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Anatomy of a supply chain attack: how to accelerate incident response and threat hunting – SecurityBrief Australia

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Article by ThreatQuotient APJC regional director Anthony Stitt.

Over the past year, there has been a sharp rise in software supply chain attacks that infect legitimate applications to distribute malware to users. SolarWinds, Codecov, and Kesaya have all been victims of such attacks that went on to impact thousands of downstream businesses around the globe. Within minutes of these high-profile attacks making headline news, CEOs often ask: Should we be concerned? How is it impacting us? What can we do to mitigate risk?.Chief information security officers (CISOs), and their teams on the front lines, need answers fast. But once details are released, it can be difficult and time-consuming to connect the dots and formulate answers.

A case in point months after the SolarWinds Orion security breach:

Fortunately, some solutions can help teams understand the impact, take the right actions faster and even proactively mitigate risk.

A closer look at the Codecov breach

Using the Codecov security breach as an example, threat intelligence experts explained the timeline of events. This included how it took approximately two months for the breach to be discovered, another two weeks for the first indicator to be shared (an IP address), and two more weeks for a second round of indicators to be published.However, integrating a threat intelligence platform with a threat reconnaissance platform can close the threat intelligence gap from weeks to minutes to accelerate investigations. The threat reconnaissance platform can also reveal additional indicators on day-one that security analysts can bring use to expand their threat hunting, incident response and mitigation activities.

Armed with these tools, security analysts can answer executives top questions, including:

Should we be concerned?

Threat intelligence platforms aggregate, normalise, deduplicate and correlate all the external intelligence sources an organisation subscribes to. But it is difficult to know whats important to focus on without scoring and prioritising that intelligence.

Using parameters analysts set, as well as adversary attributes, the experts showed that the external threat intelligence received a score of 10 making it a very high priority and confirming that there was reason to be concerned.

How is it impacting us?

Next, the experts formalised the investigation and threat hunt to discover additional information and determine if there was a sighting within the environment. Creating a campaign within threat intelligence platforms enables security teams to closely monitor developments.

The experts used information from within the platform and pivot points outside the platform to gather more details. For instance, adding the URL for the Covdecov website as an attribute, they identified the first IP address Codecov made public and brought that into the threat intelligence platform, allowing them to quickly see a sighting of that same IP address in the SIEM. They knew they were impacted.

How do we mitigate risk?

From there, the experts pivoted to a phased approach of threat hunting, adding information to the attributes within the investigation and linking it to the IP address that had been spotted. They assigned a task to an engineer for IPS/IDS blocking and marked the task as critical, requiring immediate action to remediate.Meanwhile, the experts expanded the threat hunt by diving deeper into the signal telemetry to determine what was going on behind the Codecov attack. Thats where the threat reconnaissance platform comes into play and leverages an aggregation of internet traffic telemetry from an ecosystem of data sharing partners and CSIRT teams worldwide.

Running a query against all these data sets quickly revealed additional IP addresses that appeared to be managing the initial IP address. Other likely indicators were also discovered.There was no need to wait two weeks for public disclosure of additional indicators. The integration of a threat intelligence platform and reconnaissance platform allowed the experts to pivot and conduct further reconnaissance on their own, turning a reactive situation into a proactive one. With the ability to expand and accelerate their hunt, they could assign additional tasks to the engineer to enable proactive protection.Supply chain attacks show no sign of slowing down. But the right combination of platforms can help organisations get ahead of the threat.

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‘Anatomy Of Time’: Hamburg Review | Reviews | Screen – Screen International

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Dir/scr: Jakrawal Nilthamrong. Thailand/France/Netherlands/Singapore. 2021. 118 mins.

The past haunts and shapes the present in the enigmatic, meditative and thought-provokingAnatomy Of Time. Inkeeping with his previous feature Vanishing Point (2015), director JakrawalNilthamrong has taken inspiration from elements of his family history. Here, he appears to be trying to comprehend and honour the nature of the love that bound his parents to each other, as well as reflecting on bigger issues in Thailand. Slow-moving and mournful, it is as mysterious and intriguing as any film by his fellow countryman Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and should attract festival support.

Nilthamrong presents us with pieces of time and leaves space for the viewer to contemplate and speculate

Anatomy Of Time opens as Maem (Thaveeratana Leelanuja) checks that her elderly husband The General (Sorabodee Changsiri) has breathed his last. She cleans the body and then takes an open razor to slit the skin and remove what looks like an old bullet. That is the cue to return to their earliest meetings when the young Maem (Prapamonton Eiamchan) was torn between two men and, in retrospect, between the two paths her life might take. Rickshaw driver Don (Paopoom Chiwarak) is a gentle, sensitive figure and quite the contrast to the cocky confidence of the handsome General (played as a young man by Wanlop Rungkumjad),who swaggers around in dark sunglasses and woos her with expensive gifts.

There is a strong visual contrast between the two periods of Maems life. The early romance unfolds mostly outdoors in leafy forest glades, quiet flowing rivers, sunlight and space. The smooth glide of the camerawork adds to the sense of tranquility. The final days with The General are in a gloomy room dominated by a bed and the paraphenalia of sickness and decline.Nilthamrong filmed in his mothers home, and there is an authentic feel of a lifetime in the clutter of photos, medals and dust-covered memories.

We never learn the full extent of the disgraced Generals actions. He was a soldier who did what he thought was required for the future of the country. We do see how he is perceived by others, from the care assistant who wishes him an agony of suffering to the cafe owner who refuses to serve him and brands him a fascist. His part in Thailands history is a memory that few choose to visit. When Maem or the elderly General venture into a town of street markets and neon-lit nightclubs, they have the look of ghosts.

We do know that Maem has remained by him, devoted until death, with echoes of Michael Hanekes Amour. There is a tenderness in all her ministratons as she cuts his nails, trims his hair and applies drops to his sticky eyes. Flashbacks suggest that this was a relationship she entered into with eyes wide open. She knows that Don has been savagely beaten: He had a run-in with the wrong people. She asks her father, Do we reap what we sow? Their philosophical conversations about heaven and hell reflect both the character and the directors Buddhist beliefs. Her fathers work as a clockmaker and clock repairer underlines the sense of time passing; clocks provide a gentle whir of ticks and chimes throughout.

Nilthamrong presents us with pieces of time and leaves space for the viewer to contemplate and speculate. Maem sees a beautiful, flowering tree growing precariously on the side of a mountain and wonders how such a thing can thrive in seemingly impossible conditions. Perhaps it is her future with The General that she has in mind. We are left to consider if their relationship has been a love story, a private hell for her or an act of atonement that has lasted a lifetime.

Production companies: Diversion, Damned Films, Sluizer Film Productions, MGO Films, Mit Out Sound Films

International sales: Diversion, films@diversion-th.com

Producers: Mai Meksawan, Yohann Cornu, Anouk Sluizer, Panuksmi Hardjowirogo, Chatchai Chaiyon

Cinematography: Phuttiphong Aroonpheng

Editing: Lee Chatametikool, Katharina Wartena

Production design: Sarawut Karwnamyen

Music: Pakorn Musikaboonlert, Pachara Chirativat

Main cast: Thaveeratana Leelanuja, Prapamonton Eiamchan, Sorabodee Changsiri, Wanlop Rungkumjad

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‘Grey’s Anatomy’: Owen’s Only Good ‘Relationship’ Was With April – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

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The best thing about Greys Anatomy is the constant relationships that form. It is a soap opera for nighttime viewers in this regard. However, one character seems to end up in more troubled relationships than any other. His name is Owen Hunt (played by Kevin McKidd), and he is not a person that is a fan-favorite or lucky in love. In fact, many people feel that his only good relationship was with April Kepner (Sarah Drew), with whom he was never romantically involved.

Many fans of the show believe Owens best option is to avoid relationships because they all tend to end in divorce quickly. He first appeared in the Greys Anatomy Season 5 premiere. Sparks flew instantly between him and Cristina Yang (Sandra Oh). They went on to have a very steamy, yet at times scary, relationship. They even married. However, it ended with divorce, cheating, and Cristina leaving the country.

After Cristina, Amelia Shepherd (Caterina Scorsone) became the new love interest for Hunt. This was a tumultuous relationship from the start. The two married quickly after becoming engaged. However, he wanted a relationship with kids, and she didnt. The conflicts between them soon see them parting ways, even though they did try to stay a couple for a while.

Throughout both marriages and divorces, Owens old friend Teddy Altman (Kim Raver) remained an option he kept coming back to. Amelia even told him to go to Teddy to explore their relationship. The liaison resulted in a night of passion. A couple of months late, she reveals shes pregnant with his child.

Ahead of their own planned marriage, Teddy and Owen separated because she was intimate with Tom Koracick (Greg Germann) and accidentally sent a voicemail to Hunt while in the act. Owen eventually forgave Teddy. Going into Greys Anatomy Season 18, theyre engaged again.

For all the time Owen spent chasing relationships, his best is the one we often overlook, with April. However, their connection is purely platonic. But fans still approve.

As one Reddit user stated, April is Owens healthiest relationship. Many commenters agreed. Most wish that they could have seen more of Owen as her mentor. Another said that They brought out the best in each other.

It is true. Owen pushed April to be the best trauma surgeon she could be. During trauma certification, she showed a fiery spirit, and it stemmed from frustration over him pushing her to be the best. After she lost Samuel, her baby with Jackson Avery, it was Owen that encouraged her to assist him as a trauma surgeon with the army.

In general, many fans feel that Owen isnt a good Greys Anatomy character. They say that he is stubborn, angry, and too insistent that he knows the best route to take in any situation. The fans say that he has become what he hated, which is a doctor who focuses more on the drama of his personal life than the medicine that he is supposed to be practicing well as a trauma surgeon.

Fans say that during his first season with the show, he was a man with depth and feeling. Now, he is just not the nice guy that he could have been, and many fans wish he would move on.

RELATED: Greys Anatomy Fans Insist Some Characters Have Just Been on the Show Too Long: Im Glad When the Good Ones Leave

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Live TV ratings: Greys Anatomy down, The Outpost up – Hidden Remote

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TGIT returned on Thursday, Sept. 30, while Law & Order brought us a three-hour crossover event. Heres a look at the live TV ratings for the night.

Thursdays are a tricky night. Usually, we see TGIT take the top-spot for most of the night, but that wasnt the case on Thursday, Sept. 30. This could be linked to fans not realizing the shows were back. Despite consistent promotion, its easy to forget the return dates.

Law & Order: SVU pulled in the best demo of the night. That demo was up 1% from the two-hour season premiere, which is great news. The audience was down 15% but nothing to be concerned about.

The success for NBC continued throughout the night.Law & Order: Organized Crime was up 16% in the demo and 2% in the audience. The demo matchedGreys Anatomy and the total audience wasnt that far off. In its second hour, it lost a small amount of the total audience, but the demo remained steady.

Station 19 kicked off TGIT with its Season 5 premiere. The total audience was the best of the night, but it was down 27% compared to the Season 4 premiere. The demo sat at 0.7 but was a 42% decline from the Season 4 premiere.

Greys Anatomy Season 18s premiere was also down considerably from its Season 17 premiere. Its demo was down by almost 50%, while its total audience was down by 21%.

These figures arent concerning just yet. Theyre still strong numbers for ABC, and the two shows were still among the best in both the demo and total audience during the night.

Big Sky is the show were watching out for. The good news is the demo and total audience matched the series premiere. If ABC was happy with the first season, this is good news for the second season. Well have to see how the show stabilizes in its new timeslot, though.

The CW was the only other network with new episodes of regular shows.Coroner was up 25% in the demo and 23% in the total audience. This is a great sign and well likely see The CW acquire the fourth season from CBC.The Outpost was up 100% in the demo and up 64% in the total audience.

Well be keeping an eye on the various shows. Theres nothing to worry about so far, butBig Sky is the one were keeping the closest eye on.

Check out the full live TV ratings for Thursday, Sept. 30 here.

Which shows are you most concerned about? What do you take from the TV ratings? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Follow the Ratings category on Hidden Remote for the latest in TV ratings and any cancellation/renewal news.

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Live TV ratings: Greys Anatomy down, The Outpost up - Hidden Remote

‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Fan Theory Claims Izzie Never Loved Denny — It Was Always Alex – Showbiz Cheat Sheet

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A lot of characters have come and gone in Greys Anatomys17 seasons. But there are some that fans just cant stop talking about. Denny Duquette was only on the show for 23 episodes. His last appearance was in 2009. Even though he left the show for good 10 years ago, fans cant stop talking about Denny. Fans loved Izzie and Dennys relationship. But recently, some wondered if Denny was ever right for Izzie at all.

In Greys Anatomy, Denny Duquette entered the picture as a patient. He had a dangerous heart condition, and he also happened to be rich and hot. All this led to him and Izzie flirting relentlessly, despite his precarious medical predicament. Izzie ended up risking her career to get Denny a heart, but he died after the operation of a stroke.Later, Izzie discovered that Denny had left her a very large sum of money, which she used to start a foundation in his honor.

Even though he wasnt alive on screen for very long, Denny was a very popular character. He was so loved that he was actually brought back as a ghost multiple times. He appeared to Meredith during a near-death experience. Later, when Izzie was suffering from a brain tumor, she hallucinated ghost Denny, and the two even had sex. It was one of the weirder moments onGreys, but the fact that he was brought back multiple times is a testament to how popular Denny really was.

Even though Denny was so well-loved that writers brought him back as a ghost, some Redditors still think he was wrong for Izzie. One fan on Reddit recently made a detailed post explaining why Izzie and Alex were actually meant for each other, and Denny was just a detour.

First of all, the post points out that Izzie and Denny barely knew each other. Aside from the ghost sex, these two only had a few weeks of in-person contact. Plus, Izzie met Denny right after Alex cheated on her. According to fans, this makes Denny a rebound.

A few years after she met Denny, Izzie was diagnosed with a brain tumor. This fan points out that Izzie probably had the tumor when she met Denny, and was not of sound mind. Hence why she risked everything for a guy she barely knew.

Although the post was convincing, many fans still think that Denny and Izzie were meant to be. As one fan wrote, Im a firm believer that Denny was Izzies great love, Izzie was Alexs great love, and Alex was Jos great love. Although most commenters commended the original poster for their hard work, it was hard to convince diehardGreysfans that Izzie and Denny were anything other than soulmates.

Other fans were already on board. As one fan wrote, I agree. Denny was a rush of intense emotions and a temporary thing that felt like love but her true only love was Alex. It is true that Denny and Izzie barely knew each other. In real life, no one would think their relationship was a good idea. But the great thing aboutGreysis it isnt real life. Things are supposed to be extra dramatic. It makes total sense that a prominent doctor would fall in love with a heart patient in a few weeks, and later have sex with his ghost.

RELATED: Greys Anatomy Fans Say Absolutely Not to Meredith Alzheimers Theory

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Webinar: Riding from the anatomical perspective – Horsetalk

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The second in a series of online lecture demonstrations in a series from Horses Inside Out looks at how the rider affects the horse.

Riding from the Anatomical Perspective will look at the changes that occur within the horses body, posture and movement when the weight of the rider is added.

We will consider riding in harmony, rider position and balance, the timing of the aids and ridden exercises that you can do to maintain and improve your horses posture, says Horses Inside Out founder Gillian Higgins.

Tickets for each are 20, or 60 to attend the complete series of four, concluding in December. The day after the webinar, a link is sent to enable viewing for the next week.

Certificates of Participation will be issued after the webinar, which can contribute to participants BHS CPD. Contact gillian@horsesinsideout.com for more on this.

Registrations for episode 2 have closed but the series can be watched through the Horses Inside Out Academy.

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Grey’s Anatomy Season 18 Spoilers: What Will Happen and Is It Ending? | Soaps.com – Soaps.com

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When the show returns, its bringing with it romance, medical chaos and a few familiar faces.

It doesnt look a day older than 10, yet ABCs long-runningGreys Anatomy will return for its 18th (!) season tonight. And though speculation has swirled that the primetime soap is eyeing the finish line, there is no indication at least as of yet that this season will be its last. What we do know, however, is that the premiere, starting at 9:00 PM ET, will feature a crossover event with sister show Station 19 that will include one hell of a return. As for what else to expect well, keep reading!

More: Everything to know about the One Chicago season premieres

As seen in the preview, the Station 19 crew cant make its way to Grey Sloan Hospital via ambulance so the first-responders appear to be forced to transport their patient on foot. Meanwhile, Owens sister Megan (All My Childrens Becca, Abigail Spencer) returns, while, in an outdoor setting, Teddy exclaims, Oh my God! while also potentially marrying Owen. And, of course, Meredith is back in action after her brush with COVID and seemingly receiving ghostly advice from her mother, as Kate Burton reprises her role of Ellis. Plus, Someone from Merediths past comes back.

Love will also be in the air when Greys Anatomy returns, as executive producer Meg Marinis previewed for our sister site TVLine. Owen and Teddy will be starting the season stronger than ever, she said. Considering all the wedding references in the promo, that could mean marriage, unless of course, that explosion interrupts them. Another couple whose union will be celebrated this year is that of newlyweds Maggie and Winston, who will be very much in love when they return from their honeymoon.

Things might not be as rosy for Linc and Amelia, however, considering she turned down his marriage proposal at the end of last season. All is not lost though, as Marinis explained to TVLine, Theyre going to have to figure it out because they still very much have love for each other. But hes also very, very hurt. Perhaps, counseling will be exactly what they need.

And then theres Meredith and Cormac. When asked by TVLine where things stand between the docs, actor Richard Flood said, I suppose at the start of this season, there will be references to stuff that has happened off-camera, then youll see where it goes from there.

Continuing his vague tease about whats ahead for the potential couple, Flood described his reserved characters feelings for Meredith by saying, I think his feelings are evident for everybody to see I think its clear even in what he doesnt say more than what he does say how he feels.

As for the season as a whole, he teased, Storywise, this feels like its more back to normal in terms of the Greys universe all of the ups and downs, romances and friendships, and then the drama within the hospital and everything to do with the medical cases we have to deal with.

As for cast changes Spencers Megan and Burtons Ellis wont be the only familiar faces returning for season 18.Kate Walsh is reprising her role of Addison, who hasnt been seen on Greys Anatomy since 2007. Of course, she left for the spinoff Private Practice, where she continued to, ahem, play doctor. While it remains to be seen what kind of relationship Dereks first wife has with his widow now, as first reported by Deadline, Meredith will meet a new character named David (played by Zoeys Extraordinary Playlists Peter Gallagher), who had ties to her mother. (Could Mer have yet another surprise sibling out there?)

As for the major return teased in the premiere promo, theres speculation that it could be Martin Hendersons Nathan, who was last seen in 2017 moving to Los Angeles with a resurrected Megan and her adopted son, Farouk. As TVLine pointed out, Riggs was left out of ABCs new character description for Megan, which has her living on the West Coast with only her little boy. Could they be bringing Nathan back just to kill him off either in flashbacks or as part of the premieres medical emergency?

While last season briefly welcomed back the late Derek (Patrick Dempsey), George (T.R Knight), Lexie (Chyler Leigh) and Mark (Eric Dane), it also said goodbye to a couple of characters. Those who wont be returning for season 18 include Jesse Williams Jackson, Giacomo Gianniottis DeLuca (RIP) and Greg Germanns Tom. Though showrunner Krista Vernoff told TVLine that we plan to see Koracick again!

What are you most looking forward to when Greys Anatomy returns? Tell us in the comments after looking at our photo gallery below of the 15 most successful daytime stars in primetime. Then, get your free daily soap-opera fix for all four daytime dramas delivered straight to your email inbox by signing up for Soaps.coms newsletter.

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Scoop: Coming Up on a New Episode of GREY’S ANATOMY on ABC – Thursday, October 14, 2021 – Broadway World

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Seattle's favorite redhead returns and graces the Grey Sloan halls with her experience and expertise as she attempts to help Richard teach the newest crop of residents. Meanwhile, Meredith has a decision to make, and Link confides in Teddy.

Guest starring is Jason George as Ben Warren and Kate Walsh as Dr. Addison Forbes Montgomery.

Recipient of the 2007 Golden Globe Award for Best Drama Television Series and nominated for multiple Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series, "Grey's Anatomy" is considered one of the great television shows of our time. The high-intensity medical drama, now in its 18th season, follows Meredith Grey and the team of doctors at Grey Sloan Memorial who are faced with life-or-death decisions daily. They seek comfort from one another, and, at times, more than just friendship. Together they discover that neither medicine nor relationships can be defined in black and white.

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Gene Edited vs Genetically Modified | Science-Based Medicine

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The public debate about genetically modified organisms (GMOs) seems to have quieted down a bit, but I suspect that is an artifact of the pandemic (all news is COVID news these days). Still, public concern about the health effects and overall safety of GMOs remains high, and is the single issue in which there is the greatest disconnect between public opinion and scientific consensus.

In a 2020 Pew Research survey 38% of Americans felt GMOs were unsafe, 27% felt they were safe, and 33% did not know. These numbers varied significantly by country, with the mean being 48/13/37 respectively. Australia was the only country to reach parity, with 31% saying they are safe and 31% unsafe, and no country had a plurality of the public believing GMOs are safe.

Meanwhile, there is a strong scientific consensus that GMO crops are indeed safe for human or animal consumption. According to a 2016 study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine:

while recognizing the inherent difficulty of detecting subtle or long-term effects on health or the environment, the study committee found no substantiated evidence of a difference in risks to human health between current commercially available genetically engineered (GE) crops and conventionally bred crops, nor did it find conclusive cause-and-effect evidence of environmental problems from the GE crops.

Specifically regarding human health:

The committee carefully searched all available research studies for persuasive evidence of adverse health effects directly attributable to consumption of foods derived from GE crops but found none.

Those who wish to fearmonger about GMOs (as they do about vaccines, cell phones, or other alleged hazards) can always demand more evidence, or claim risks that have eluded existing evidence. This is always possible because it is impossible to prove zero risk for anything. And of course we legitimately need to be on the look out for evidence of subtle harm missed by prior research. But at some point the evidence showing a lack of risk is robust enough that we can be relatively confident any remaining possible risk is small enough to safely ignore.

We can also follow basic scientific principles there is no scientific reason to suspect that GMOs should be unsafe for consumption. There is no plausible mechanism, and public fears are mostly based on gross misunderstandings of the basic science, such as the false notions that only GMOs have DNA or that they can alter the genes of those who consume them. Often fears are based upon an overapplication of the precautionary principle, while ignoring a more proper risk vs benefit analysis, and further ignoring comparisons to the alternatives. It is reasonable to argue that not using genetic technology to improve agriculture is a greater risk than using it. Further, techniques for developing new cultivars that are not categorized as genetic modification may pose a higher risk of introducing harmful substances into the food chain.

There is also the point that GMO is a somewhat arbitrary category, targeting certain technologies but not others, based, it appears, on nothing but a vague ick factor. For example, mutation farming, in which radiation or chemicals are used to increase the rate of mutation in the hopes that a rare mutation will prove useful, is not considered GMO. Another example is forced hybridization, in which species that would not normally cross fertilize are forced to do so. There is also greater fear for transgenic GMOs (where a gene is inserted from a distant species) vs cisgenic (where the inserted gene is from a closely related species). Again, there is no scientific basis for this distinction, only an ick factors that derives from the idea that a fish gene is being inserted into a tomato. Such distinctions are not genetically important, however (apart from some technical aspects that dont affect the final product), as evidenced by the fact that humans and bananas share about 60% of their genes. In short there is no such thing as a fish gene.

The lines between different techniques for developing crops is getting further blurred over time, making the GMO category increasingly arbitrary and scientifically dubious. But this can have a good effect from a regulatory perspective, in that it can allow certain techniques to escape from the unnecessarily harsh regulatory environment imposed on GMOs. One such emerging category is gene-edited.

Gene-edited crops are those that are created by altering existing genes already present within the genome, rather than inserting an entirely new gene. This is an increasingly important category because of innovations like CRISPR, that makes gene editing relatively quick, cheap, and easy. In fact gene editing is becoming so powerful it may, to some extent, render the GMO category obsolete.

The political fight over how to regulate gene-edited crops is now underway. There has been partial success in some countries and regulatory zones, and failures in others. The landscape is complex, however. In the US, for example, regulating crops falls under the FDA, EPA, and USDA, and these agencies can have conflicting categories and regulations. Currently:

The three agencies regulate the characteristics of the products themselves and not the process to develop it. Gene edited crops lacking foreign genes (which trigger regulation as GMOs) and that do not pose a risk to other plants, and gene-edited food showing no food safety attributes different from those of traditionally bred crops, are not subject to pre-market regulatory evaluation. It remains the responsibility of the developer to assure that products placed on the market are safe for use and consumption.

Currently the EU and New Zealand are the only legislatures that regulate gene edited crops as if they were GMOs. Just recently the UK moved to relax regulations on gene edited crops, essentially allowing their development and use in the UK (thanks to Brexit). Canada, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Chile, Paraguay, and Uruguay also have relaxed regulations for gene edited crops. The rest of the world has not made a determination.

This is an important public debate to have. This is especially true because anti-GMO attitudes are one of the few topics where the knowledge deficit model of science communication is actually effective. In other words people who are anti-GMO are largely open to changing their minds if they are given more scientifically accurate information, because being anti-GMO is largely based on misinformation (rather than something harder to change like tribal affiliation or ideology). The stakes here are also very high. The experience of golden rice is a good example this is a GMO that can potentially save millions of poor children from blindness or death, and its deployment is being slowed by unscientific opposition and unreasonably burdensome regulations.

The fight for gene edited crops may be politically easier to win, and increasingly more important as technology shifts in this direction anyway.

Founder and currently Executive Editor of Science-Based Medicine Steven Novella, MD is an academic clinical neurologist at the Yale University School of Medicine. He is also the host and producer of the popular weekly science podcast, The Skeptics Guide to the Universe, and the author of the NeuroLogicaBlog, a daily blog that covers news and issues in neuroscience, but also general science, scientific skepticism, philosophy of science, critical thinking, and the intersection of science with the media and society. Dr. Novella also has produced two courses with The Great Courses, and published a book on critical thinking - also called The Skeptics Guide to the Universe.

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StemExpress Partners with the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine to Provide COVID-19 Testing for the Cell and Gene Meeting on the Mesa – WITN

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StemExpress to use utilize the Thermo Fisher Accula rapid PCR testing system to provide event attendees with accurate results in 30 minutes.

Published: Oct. 5, 2021 at 3:33 PM EDT|Updated: 2 hours ago

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 5, 2021 /PRNewswire/ --StemExpress is proud to announce that they will be the official COVID-19 testing provider for 2021's Meeting on the Mesa, a hybrid event bringing together great minds in the cell and gene biotech sphere. It has partnered with Alliance for Regenerative Medicine to comply with the newly implemented California state COVID-19 vaccination and testing policy regarding gatherings with 1,000 or more attendees. This partnership will allow the vital in-person networking aspect of the event to commence while protecting the health and safety of participants and attendees.

In-person networking commences at the 2021 Cell and Gene Meeting on the Mesa with COVID-19 testing options provided by StemExpress.

As a leading global provider of human biospecimen products, StemExpress understands the incredible impact that Meeting on the Mesa has on the industry and has been a proud participant for many years. For over a decade, StemExpress has provided the cell and gene industry with vital research products and holds valued partnerships with many of this year's participants. As such, it understands the immense value that in-person networking provides and is excited to help bring this element back to the meeting safely and responsibly.

StemExpress has been a trusted provider of widescale COVID-19 testing solutions since early 2020 - providing testing for government agencies, public health departments, private sector organizations, and the public nationwide. For Meeting on the Mesa, StemExpress is offering convenient testing options for unvaccinated attendees and those traveling from outside of the country. Options will include take-home RT-PCR COVID Self-Testing Kits and on-site, rapid PCR testing for the duration of the event. The self-testing kit option allows attendees to test for COVID in the days leading up to the event for a seamless admission and the days following the event to confirm they haven't been exposed. The on-site rapid testing option utilizes the new Thermo Fisher Accula, offering in-person testing at the event with results in around 30 minutes. StemExpress is excited to bring these state-of-the-art COVID testing solutions to the frontlines of the Cell & Gene industry to allow for safe in-person connections.

The StemExpress partnership with Alliance for Regenerative Medicine seeks to empower the entire cell and gene industry with a long-awaited opportunity to return to traditional networking practices. It is well known that innovation doesn't exist in a vacuum - allowing great minds to come together is a sure way to spur scientific growth and advance cutting-edge research, giving hope for future cures.

Cell and Gene Meeting on the Mesa will take place October 12th, 2021, through October 14th, 2021, at Park Hyatt Aviara,7100 Aviara Resort Drive Carlsbad, CA 92011. To learn more about the event, please visit MeetingOnTheMesa.com.

For more information about COVID testing solutions for businesses and events, visit https://www.stemexpress.com/covid-19-testing/.

About StemExpress:

Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Sacramento, California, StemExpress is a leading global biospecimen provider of human primary cells, stem cells, bone marrow, cord blood, peripheral blood, and disease-state products. Its products are used for research and development, clinical trials, and commercial production of cell and gene therapies by academic, biotech, diagnostic, pharmaceutical, and contract research organizations (CRO's).

StemExpress has over a dozen global distribution partners and seven (7) brick-and-mortar cellular clinics in the United States, outfitted with GMP certified laboratories. StemExpress runs its own non-profit supporting STEM initiatives, college and high school internships, and women-led organizations. It is registered with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is continuously expanding its network of healthcare partnerships, which currently includes over 50 hospitals in Europe and 3 US healthcare systems - encompassing 31 hospitals, 35 outpatient facilities, and over 200 individual practices and clinics.

StemExpress has been ranked by Inc. 500 as one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S.

About the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine:

The Alliance for Regenerative Medicine (ARM) is the leading international advocacy organization dedicated to realizing the promise of regenerative medicines and advanced therapies. ARM promotes legislative, regulatory, reimbursement and manufacturing initiatives to advance this innovative and transformative sector, which includes cell therapies, gene therapies and tissue-based therapies. Early products to market have demonstrated profound, durable and potentially curative benefits that are already helping thousands of patients worldwide, many of whom have no other viable treatment options. Hundreds of additional product candidates contribute to a robust pipeline of potentially life-changing regenerative medicines and advanced therapies. In its 12-year history, ARM has become the voice of the sector, representing the interests of 400+ members worldwide, including small and large companies, academic research institutions, major medical centers and patient groups. To learn more about ARM or to become a member, visit http://www.alliancerm.org.

Media Contact: Anthony Tucker, atucker@stemexpress.com

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The above press release was provided courtesy of PRNewswire. The views, opinions and statements in the press release are not endorsed by Gray Media Group nor do they necessarily state or reflect those of Gray Media Group, Inc.

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StemExpress Partners with the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine to Provide COVID-19 Testing for the Cell and Gene Meeting on the Mesa - WITN

Nucleic Acid Based Gene Therapy Market Analysis Of Industry Trends And Market Growth Opportunities As Per The Business Research Company’s Nucleic Acid…

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This report describes and evaluates the global nucleic acid-based gene therapy market. It covers three five-year periods, including 2015 to -2020, termed the historic period, 2020-2025 forecast period and 2025-2030 a further forecast period.

LONDON, Oct. 05, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to The Business Research Companys research report on the nucleic acid-based gene therapy market, companies in the nucleic acid-based gene therapy market and research institutes are increasing the number of pipeline studies to develop gene therapy to treat various diseases. Companies have also started investing in startups and other early-stage companies to develop pipelines for gene therapies. Cell and gene therapies (CGT) have transformed not only how humans treat intractable and genetic diseases, but also reformed the entire pharmaceutical ecosystem. As of 2019, more than 27 CGT products were launched across the globe and nearly 990 companies are engaged in the commercialization, and research & development of next-generation therapies. Additionally, there are more than 1,000 regenerative medicine trials taking place across the globe.

Such global nucleic acid based gene therapy market trends are obtainable with nucleic acid-based gene therapy manufacturers progressively investing in the launch of new manufacturing facilities and product portfolio expansion to meet the increasing demand for gene therapy and related products. Players operating in the nucleic acid-based gene therapy market are gradually investing in the developing regions to capitalize on untapped market opportunities. For example, in September 2021, Viralgen, a Bayer-owned CDMO, spent upwards of 50 million (US$ 55 million) to expand its capacity for gene therapy manufacturing services at its Miramon Technology Park site in San Sebastian, Spain. The commercial facility will have nine cleanrooms, each with a batch capacity of up to 2,000 L. Viralgen claims that this has expanded its existing viral vector capacity 15-fold, helping to meet the demand for gene therapy production. In addition, in May 2021, AGC Biologics, a global biopharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), announced plans to expand their Gene Therapy Center of Excellence in Milan, Italy.

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Major players in the nucleic acid gene therapy market include Copernicus Therapeutics, Moderna Inc., Wave Life Sciences, Protagonist Therapeutics and Transgene.

The Business Research Companys report titled Nucleic Acid Based Gene Therapy Global Market Report 2021 - By Technology (Anti-Sence and Anti-Gene, Short Inhibitory Sequences, Gene Transfer Therapy, Nucleoside Analogs, Ribozymes, Aptamers), By Application (Oncology, Muscular Dystrophy/ Muscular Disorders, Rare Diseases), By End User (Hospitals And Clinics, Academic And Research Institutes), COVID-19 Growth And Change covers major nucleic acid based gene therapy companies, nucleic acid based gene therapy market share by company, nucleic acid based gene therapy manufacturers, nucleic acid based gene therapy market size, and nucleic acid based gene therapy market forecasts. The report also covers the global nucleic acid based gene therapy market and its segments.

Request For A Sample Of The Global Nucleic Acid Based Gene Therapy Market Report:

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The global nucleic acid based gene therapy market size is expected to grow from $0.56 billion in 2020 to $0.61 billion in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.9%. The growth is mainly due to the companies resuming their operations and adapting to the new normal while recovering from the COVID-19 impact, which had earlier led to restrictive containment measures involving social distancing, remote working, and the closure of commercial activities that resulted in operational challenges. The nucleic acid-based gene therapy market is expected to reach $0.85 billion in 2025 at a CAGR of 9%.

North America is the largest region in the global nucleic acid-based gene therapy market, accounting for 46.2% of the total in 2020. It is followed by the Western Europe, Asia Pacific and then the other regions. Going forward, the fastest-growing regions in the nucleic acid-based gene therapy market will be the Middle East and Eastern Europe where growth will be at CAGRs of 33.7% and 26.0% respectively. These will be followed by South America and Asia Pacific, where the markets are expected to register CAGRs of 21.0% and 20.4% respectively.

The nucleic acid-based gene therapy market covered in this report is segmented by technology into anti-sense and anti-gene, short inhibitory sequences, gene transfer therapy, nucleoside analogs, ribozymes, aptamers, others. It is also segmented by application into oncology, muscular dystrophy/ muscular disorders, rare diseases and by end user into hospitals and clinics, academic and research institutes.

The top opportunities in the nucleic acid-based gene therapy market segmented by technology will arise in the anti-sense and anti-gene oligonucleotides segment, which will gain $1,290.7 million of global annual sales by 2025. The top opportunities segmented by application will arise in the muscular dystrophy/muscular disorders segment, which will gain $1,000.2 million of global annual sales by 2025, segmented by end-user will arise in the hospitals and clinics segment, which will gain $2,133.7 million of global annual sales by 2025. The nucleic acid-based gene therapy market size will gain the most in the USA at $915.0 million.

Nucleic Acid Based Gene Therapy Global Market Report 2021 COVID-19 Growth And Change is one of a series of new reports from The Business Research Company that provide nucleic acid-based gene therapy market overviews, nucleic acid-based gene therapy market analyze and forecast market size and growth for the whole market, nucleic acid-based gene therapy market segments and geographies, nucleic acid-based gene therapy market trends, nucleic acid-based gene therapy market drivers, nucleic acid-based gene therapy market restraints, nucleic acid-based gene therapy market leading competitors revenues, profiles and market shares in over 1,000 industry reports, covering over 2,500 market segments and 60 geographies.

The report also gives in-depth analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on the market. The reports draw on 150,000 datasets, extensive secondary research, and exclusive insights from interviews with industry leaders. A highly experienced and expert team of analysts and modelers provides market analysis and forecasts. The reports identify top countries and segments for opportunities and strategies based on market trends and leading competitors approaches.

Here Is A List Of Similar Reports By The Business Research Company:

Gene Editing Global Market Report 2021 - By Technology (CRISPR, TALEN, ZFN), By End Users (Biotechnology, Pharmaceutical, Contract Research Organization), By Application (Animal Genetic Engineering, Plant Genetic Engineering, Cell Line Engineering), COVID-19 Growth And Change

CRISPR Technology Global Market Report 2021 - By Product Type (Design Tools, Plasmid And Vector, Cas9 And G-RNA, Delivery System Products), By Application (Genome Editing/ Genetic Engineering, Genetically Modified Organisms, Agricultural Biotechnology), By End-User (Industrial Biotech, Biological Research, Agricultural Research, Therapeutics And Drug Discovery), COVID-19 Growth And Change

Stem Cell Therapy Global Market Report 2021 - By Type (Allogeneic Stem Cell Therapy, Autologous Stem Cell Therapy), By Cell Source (Adult Stem Cells, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Embryonic Stem Cells), By Application (Musculoskeletal Disorders, Wounds And Injuries, Cancer, Autoimmune Disorders), By End-User (Hospitals, Clinics), COVID-19 Growth And Change

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Nobel prize in medicine won by US scientists who unlocked the secrets of our sense of touch – Livescience.com

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The 2021 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine has been awarded to two U.S. scientists who discovered the microscopic secrets behind the human sense of touch.

David Julius, of the University of California San Francisco, received half of the prize for using "capsaicin, a pungent compound from chili peppers that induces a burning sensation, to identify a sensor in the nerve endings of the skin that responds to heat," while Ardem Patapoutian, of the Scripps Research Institute in La Jolla, California, received the other half for using "pressure-sensitive cells to discover a novel class of sensors that respond to mechanical stimuli in the skin and internal organs," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences announced Monday (Oct. 4).

Their discoveries "have allowed us to understand how heat, cold and mechanical force can initiate the nerve impulses that allow us to perceive and adapt to the world around us," the Nobel Committee said in a statement. "This knowledge is being used to develop treatments for a wide range of disease conditions, including chronic pain."

Related: 7 revolutionary Nobel Prizes in medicine

The award comes with a prize of 10 million Swedish kronor ($1.15 million) to be shared equally between the two winners.

Beginning in the 1990s, the scientists pieced together the molecular pathways that translate heat and pressure detected on the skin into nerve impulses perceived by the brain. Julius and his colleagues started the work by creating a library of millions of DNA segments containing genes found in sensory nerve cells. By adding the genes one by one to cells that did not normally react to capsaicin, they eventually found that a single gene was responsible for the burning sensation associated with capsaicin. The gene they had discovered gave cells the ability to build a protein called TRPV1, which was activated at temperatures hot enough to be considered painful.

Both Julius and Patapoutian independently went on to use menthol to discover another protein, TPRM8, which was activated by cold temperatures, as well as a number of other proteins that detected a range of different temperatures.

Building on this work, Patapoutian and his colleagues created a library of 72 genes that they suspected encoded blueprints to make receptors for mechanical pressure. By painstakingly deactivating these genes one by one in cells, they discovered that one of the genes produced a protein that spurred cells to produce a tiny electrical signal each time they were prodded. The receptor they had discovered was not only vital for sensing mechanical force, but was also used in various ways to maintain blood vessels, alongside having a proposed role in adjusting the bodys blood pressure.

Soon after that, they found a second protein receptor that was vital in sensing body position and motion, a sense known as proprioception. They named the two receptors Piezo1 and Piezo2, after the Greek word for pressure.

Not only did the discoveries help explain the mechanisms behind sensory experiences like temperature and pressure, but they also opened up a world of possibilities for new drugs targeting the receptors from painkillers to drugs that could alleviate blood pressure across blood vessels and organs.

"While we understood the physiology of the senses, what we didn't understand was how we sensed differences in temperature or pressure," Oscar Marin, director of the MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Kings College London told The Associated Press. "Knowing how our body senses these changes is fundamental because once we know those molecules, they can be targeted. It's like finding a lock and now we know the precise keys that will be necessary to unlock it."

Joseph Erlanger and Herbert Gasser, who shared the Nobel prize in physiology or medicine in 1944, first discovered specialized nerve cells responsive to both painful and non-painful touch.

Last year's prize went to three scientists for their discovery of hepatitis C, a blood-borne virus that causes chronic liver inflammation. The deadly disease's discovery was a breakthrough that enabled doctors to identify the virus in patients' blood and develop a cure, Live Science previously reported.

Originally published on Live Science.

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Nobel prize in medicine won by US scientists who unlocked the secrets of our sense of touch - Livescience.com