Daily Archives: January 24, 2020

Salman Rushdie, Jonathan Franzen, Amy Tan and Over 160 More Call for Babson Adjunct Professor to Be Reinstated – Boston magazine

Posted: January 24, 2020 at 6:48 am

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Asheen Phansey lost his job after making a post on his personal Facebook page in response to the president's comments about Iran.

Asheen Phansey, adjunct professor and director of sustainability at Wellesleys Babson College, was fired by the school earlier this month because of a Facebook post he made in response to President Trumps threats to Iran.

Now, over 160 civil liberties organizations, academics, authors, and other notables have joined together in Phanseys defense by signing an open letter to the colleges president, Dr. Stephen Spinelli. The letter, organized by literary nonprofit PEN America, calls for Phansey to be immediately reinstated as both an administrator and professor.

His comment had no nexus to his role as a professor or administrator and fell squarely in the category of political speech warranting the highest level of protection, the letter reads. Against a national backdrop in which punishments for speech are chilling open discourse, this draconian outcome risks compounding the constrictions on our public discourse.

The letter, which is still accepting signatories, has already been signed by several high-profile figures, including authors Amy Tan, Salman Rushdie, Joyce Carol Oates, Jonathan Franzen, George Saunders, and Ron Chernow; New Yorkerstaff writers Adam Gopnik and Masha Gessen; actress Molly Ringwald; and 15 Babson academics.

After Trumps January 4 tweet in which he threatened to destroy 52 Iranian sites that are important to Iran, Phansey posted on his personal Facebook page that Irans leader should tweet a list of 52 sites of beloved American cultural heritage that he would bomb, suggesting the Mall of America and the Kardashians home. The post began making the rounds of local news and social media, with critics of Phansey encouraging people to call and email Babson to complain about him. Phansey apologized, calling the post a bad attempt at humor, but he was promptly suspended, and later lost his job.

His attempt at humor was a clear response to President Donald Trumps threat of retaliatory attacks on Iranian cultural sites, the PEN letter reads. Phanseys post contained no hint of harassment, incitement to imminent violence, nor any other category of speech outside the safeguards of the First Amendment.

Babson, notably, is a private college, which means the institution is not beholden to the First Amendment as public schools are. However, the letter argues that the actions of the administration violate the schools stated commitments to free speech and academic freedom.

As an institution of higher learning, Babson should be on the side of defending free thought, rather than punishing it, the letter reads.

Babson, however, is sticking by its decision for now.

Babson College conducted a prompt and thorough investigation related to a post shared on a staff members personal Facebook page that does not represent the values and culture of the College, a representative of the college said in an emailed statement Thursday morning. Based on the results of the investigation, the staff member is no longer a Babson College employee. As we have previously stated, Babson College condemns any type of threatening words and/or actions condoning violence and/or hate.

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AG Ferguson leads multistate lawsuit over new Trump Administration effort to allow release of 3D-printed guns – Access Washington

Posted: at 6:48 am

Federal judge found previous attempt unlawful

SEATTLE Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a federal lawsuit today challenging the Trump Administrations latest effort to allow 3D-printed gun files to be released on the internet, leading a coalition of 21 attorneys general. These files would allow plug-and-play access to 3D-print unregistered, untraceable firearms that can also be very difficult to detect, even with a metal detector. Untraceable firearms are sometimes called ghost guns.

As a result of Fergusons previous multistate lawsuit, a federal judge in Seattle struck down the Trump Administrations prior attempt to allow the release of the files. Now, the administration has embarked on a new effort by pursuing formal rules. Those rules were made available to the public last week, and were finalized today.

Today, Ferguson and the multistate coalition filed a lawsuit in Seattle in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, arguing those rules are unlawful for many of the same reasons as the previous attempt.

Why is the Trump Administration working so hard to allow domestic abusers, felons and terrorists access to untraceable, undetectable 3D-printed guns? Ferguson said. Even the president himself said in a tweet that this decision didnt make any sense one of the rare instances when I agreed with him. We will continue to stand up against this unlawful, dangerous policy.

In 2015, Defense Distributed, an organization dedicated to global distribution of open-source, downloadable 3D-printed guns, sued the Obama Administration after the U.S. State Department forced Defense Distributed to remove the files from the internet. The federal government successfully argued before federal trial and appellate courts that posting the files online violates firearm export laws and poses a serious threat to national security and public safety. The United States Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

In defending against Defense Distributeds lawsuit, the federal government previously stated it was particularly concerned that [the] proposed export of undetectable firearms technology could be used in an assassination, for the manufacture of spare parts by embargoed nations, terrorist groups, or to compromise aviation security overseas in a manner specifically directed at U.S. persons.

Then, in an abrupt reversal, the Trump Administration settled the case on June 29, 2018. As part of the settlement, the Trump Administration agreed to allow unlimited public distribution on the internet of the downloadable files for 3D-printed guns.

In July 2018, President Trump wrote on Twitter: I am looking into 3-D Plastic Guns being sold to the public. Already spoke to NRA, doesnt seem to make much sense!

Ferguson filed a lawsuit July 30, 2018. On Nov. 12, 2019, Judge Robert Lasnik ruled that the Trump Administrations decision to allow the files distribution was arbitrary, capricious and unlawful.

Given the agency's prior position regarding the need to regulate 3D-printed firearms and the CAD files used to manufacture them, it must do more than simply announce a contrary position, Judge Lasnik wrote. Overall, the Department of State concluded that the worldwide publication of computerized instructions for the manufacture of undetectable firearms was a threat to world peace and the national security interests of the United States and would cause serious and long-lasting harm to its foreign policy. Against these findings, the federal defendants offer nothing.

After losing in court, the Trump Administration is trying again, this time by publishing new rules that would transfer regulation of 3D-printed guns from the State Department to the Department of Commerce, effectively allowing their unlimited distribution.

Trump Administration acknowledges risks, grave concern

In the rules, the administration acknowledges the dangers posed by the distribution of 3D-printed gun files: Such items could be easily used in the proliferation of conventional weapons, the acquisition of destabilizing numbers of such weapons, or for acts of terrorism. The potential for the ease of access to the software and technology, undetectable means of production, and potential to inflict harm on U.S. persons and allies abroad present a grave concern for the United States.

However, due to loopholes in the Commerce regulations, the agency will lack the power to regulate 3D-printed guns in any meaningful way.

Regulation is constitutional

The administration also acknowledged that regulating the distribution of 3D-printed gun files does not violate the First or Second Amendments, as some critics have claimed: Limitations on the dissemination of such functional technology and software do not violate the right to free expression under the First Amendment. Nor does the final rule violate the right to keep and bear arms under the Second Amendment.

3D-printed gun crime

In 2017, a Texas man was arrested after firing a 3D-printed gun in a wooded area outside Dallas. He had a hit list of federal lawmakers, including their home addresses. The man was barred from having a firearm in 2015 after a domestic violence incident.

Legal arguments

Fergusons new lawsuit asserts that the rule is unlawful for similar reasons as the previous effort. The administration has still offered no evidence supporting their about-face on the risks of allowing unregulated access to firearms worldwide, making the rule arbitrary and capricious, in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). In fact, the administration agrees that regulation is needed, even though its new regulations are toothless and will not prevent the global dissemination of 3D-printed guns.

In providing public notice of the rule, the administration mentioned other changes to regulations for small firearms, but not the changes to 3D-printed guns. That failure to provide meaningful public notice also violates the APA.

The states participating in todays lawsuit are: Washington, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia, Vermont, and the District of Columbia.

Assistant Attorneys General Jeff Rupert, Kristin Beneski and Brendan Selby are leading the case for Washington.

Successful legislation in Washington

Ferguson has also taken action on 3D-printed guns at the state level,successfully introducing agency-request legislationto ban the manufacture or possession of untraceable, undetectable 3D-printed guns. The new law also prohibits sending a printable gun file to a person who is ineligible to possess firearms.

Ferguson has filed 55 lawsuits against the Trump Administration and has not lost a case. Ferguson has 24 legal victories against the Trump Administration. Sixteen of those cases are finished and cannot be appealed. The Trump Administration has or may appeal the other eight, which include lawsuits involving Dreamers and rules restricting contraception access. No court to rule on the merits of the Attorney Generals arguments in a lawsuit against the Trump Administration has ruled against the office.

-30-

The Office of the Attorney General is the chief legal office for the state of Washington with attorneys and staff in 27 divisions across the state providing legal services to roughly 200 state agencies, boards and commissions. Visit http://www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.

Contacts:

Brionna Aho, Communications Director, (360) 753-2727; Brionna.aho@atg.wa.gov

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Lobby Day attracts 2A advocates from the NRV and beyond – Southwest Times

Posted: at 6:48 am

By WILLIAM PAINE

william.paine@southwesttimes.com

Monday, Jan. 20, Lobby Day at the Virginia state capitol in Richmond was dominated by tens of thousands of pro Second Amendment supporters who came to voice their displeasure at new gun control laws that are set to be passed by the Democrat dominated General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Ralph Northam.

In advance of the widely publicized event, governor Northam declared a temporary state of emergency and warned of the potential for violence at the rally. Instead, no incidents of violence were reported, though the crowd was sometimes boisterous chanting several slogans including, We will not comply and Guns save lives.

The latter phrase proved to be ubiquitous, as most everyone in the crowd had a bright orange Guns Save Lives sticker on some part of their clothing. Pro-Trump hats and shirts were also a popular form of attire at the rally.

Due to the declaration of a state of emergency, a temporary chain link fence was erected around the capitol grounds and Virginia State Police wearing bright yellow safety vests were deployed in great numbers in and around the capitol. Several streets were also closed off for the occasion.

To enter the capitol grounds, one had to wait in a long line because all those entering were obliged to walk through a metal detector. In addition, those entering the grounds were wanded by a state police officer before being allowed through.

Several citizens of the New River Valley made the trip to Richmond for the event. According to Tom Miller, of Newport in Giles County, 16 busses came from all parts of the NRV.

Im not a gun nut, just a gun owner and I looked at the laws being proposed and its really scary, said Miller. I know several law enforcement people that are friends and theyre concerned about enforcement of these laws.

Two residents from the Town of Pulaski, Twila Clark and John DeLad, also made their way to the Lobby Day event. They both traveled four and a half hours to come to the event and both were quite happy to be there, though Twila did note how the 30 degree temperatures paired with high winds affected her.

Im freezing, said Twila.

But what prompted them to make the trek?

The Second Amendment is all about human rights and theyre constantly chipping away at it, said DeLad. So Im glad the people are protesting and letting them know that weve had enough of them treading on the Second Amendment. They want to disarm us. This is just the start of what theyve got going on. People are here from other states because they know what happens here will affect everyone eventually.

People from other states were most definitely present. This reporter spoke to individuals from several states.

The Second Amendment rights defend all of the rest of the rights and were here to defend it, said a fellow from Montana who drove 2,400 miles with his group to get to Richmond.

Others, many of whom were visibly armed with large guns, came from Indiana, Michigan, Oregon and several other far flung locations. Most of those present, however, came from the Commonwealth.

Noah Reaser and Cameron Thompson came from Virginia Beach and both had their AR 15s strapped to their personal body armor.

Its a matter of fact that the AR-15 is just one of the best designed rifles out there, Reaser stated. Its just easy to use. It shoots a very small cartridge, thats actually too small to hunt deer. Lots of things people say about this rifle is simply not true. It doesnt shoot a high powered cartridge compared to other rifles.

Darlene Moehling and her sister Kathy Brown came from Midlothian, Virginia, and were surprisingly stalwart in their defense of the Second Amendment.

Its so important to realize the Second Amendment is not about hunting rights, its about protecting ourselves and our families from a tyrannical government, said Darlene. If you look what is happening right now with impeachment, you can clearly see the government is out of control. For all the housewives in Midlothian, I am here showing support.

If you take away the Second Amendment, then why not the First Amendment and theyre very close to taking away the First Amendment as it is now with all of these laws around hate speech, said sister Kathy. The First Amendment is not about being able to say what everybody wants to hear. Its about being able to voice the things people dont want to hear and being able to do that with freedom.

Though the General Assembly was in session, Senator Ben Chafin, who represents the 38th District, made time to speak with The Southwest Times about Mondays rally.

This event was well-planned and the people who attended were respectful, stated Chafin. They were very enthusiastic about their First Amendment rights and their Second Amendment rights and I think theres a movement afoot that hopefully is gaining momentum, as we speak.

When asked about rumors of violence surrounding the rally, Chafin had this to say.

We heard from the governor about the possibility of violence and a congressman made certain statements about bringing in the National Guard. I think that a lot of hype and hyperbole can create fear. Weve been doing this for years and years and I dont see anything different about this year except that more people turned out because they understand that some of their protections and rights are threatened. These red flag laws are not designed to protect anybody. These laws are designed to take guns away from lawful gun owners.

John Veldhuyven came from Fredericksburg with his dad. He was carrying a sign that supported gay marriage and the right to defend ones marijuana crops with a firearm.

I believe in representing individual liberty and supporting human rights, said Veldhuyven. I believe that ultimately people own themselves your one true birthright. When you are born, you own your life. And how that relates to guns is you have the right to defend yourself. That same reasoning applies to all the other rights on this line. If I own my life, I have the right to consume whatever substance I see fit. I have the right to live my life with whoever I see fit.

As some have mentioned, the day went off without a hitch. Several speakers, brought in by the Virginia Citizens Defense League, addressed the crowd and were met with enthusiastic cheers.

Perhaps the most vociferous moment of the gathering was when everyone present began singing the National Anthem, which was immediately followed by chants of U.S.A. U.S.A.!

All told, the crowd of several thousand acted with self-restraint. Several of those gathered made a point of personally thanking many of the hundreds of state police that were present for coming to the rally.

In addition, unlike other rallies for other causes held in the same location and throughout the country, participants in the gun rights rally made a point of picking up any trash from the capitol grounds and surrounding streets as they left.

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Researchers Outline the Role of IL-37 in Psoriasis – AJMC.com Managed Markets Network

Posted: at 6:47 am

Researchers outline the significant role IL-37 plays in psoriasis, and other skin and connective tissue diseases, suggesting the need for further research, according to a review.

Over 40 years after interleukin-1 was termed, Interleukin-1 (IL-1) family has expanded to comprise 11 members, including the agonists IL-1, IL-1, IL-18, IL-33, IL-36, IL-36 and IL-36, the antagonists IL-1Ra, IL-36Ra and IL-38, and the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-37. They share a highly conserved barrel structure, bind to extracellular immunoglobulin-like domains, and generally lack a signal peptide. IL-1 family plays a crucial role in immune homeostasis and contributes to various pathologies of autoimmunity and autoinflammation, dysmetabolism, cardiovascular diseases and neoplasms, said the study authors.

The review explained that in psoriasis, inflammatory myeloid dendritic cells release IL-23 and IL-12 in order to activate Th1, Th17, and Th22 cells to produce cytokines IL-17, IFN-gamma, TNF, and IL-22. The researchers noted that keratinocytes (KC) are the main source of Il-17, while L-17, IFN-, IL-22, and TNF promote KC proliferation along with production of chemokine, cytokine and AMP.

For psoriasis, 3 previous studies revealed that IL-37 is downregulated in lesional skin compared to non-lesional skin in patients with psoriasis and healthy control skin from healthy individuals. Furthermore, RNA sequencing of 12 paired samples demonstrated that the expression of IL-37 in non-lesional skin was elevated versus healthy control skin; however, another study reported a higher expression of IL026 in psoriatic lesion compared with health controls.

These contrary results possibly due to the experimental assays. As IL-37 consists of different isoforms and is rather low, which make it difficult to be detected by IHC or ELISA, explained the study authors. Biologic therapies have confirmed the efficacy of anti-IL-23, anti-TNF-, and anti-IL-17 agents in ameliorating most clinical signs and symptoms in psoriasis patients. Worth mentioning, tofacitinib increased the expression of IL-37 in psoriasis patients rapidly.

Additional studies showed that higher IL-37 serum levels are positively correlated with psoriasis disease severity during remission phase.

The study authors conclude that the overall findings emphasize the potential role of IL-37 as a therapeutic target in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. However, further research is necessary in order to explore IL-37 expression in the circulation, synovium, and skin lesion to determine clinical significance of IL-37 in psoriasis.

Reference

Pan Y, Wen X, Hao D, et al. The role of IL-37 in skin and connective tissue diseases [published online December 30, 2019]. Biomed Pharmacother. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.109705.

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Preliminary Validation of the Adolescent Psoriasis Quality of Life Instrument – Dermatology Advisor

Posted: at 6:47 am

Home Topics Psoriasis

The Adolescent Psoriasis Quality of Life (APso-QOL) instrument represents the first age-appropriate and disease-specific health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument for use in adolescents with psoriasis, according to study data published in the British Journal of Dermatology.

Researchers used a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to develop and establish the preliminary validity of the APso-QOL instrument. They gathered qualitative data concerning HRQOL in adolescents with psoriasis from 18 adolescents (aged 12-17 years), 14 parents, and 4 healthcare professionals and combined them with cognitive interview testing (n=12) to result in a 41-item draft version. After item reduction, the final APso-QOL was a 17-item instrument consisting of 2 subscales showing good fit to their respective Rasch models: Psychosocial Impact (APso-PI; 12 items) and the impact of Physical Symptoms and Treatment (APso-PST; 5 items; n=50). Using state-of-the-art methods, the researchers found the APso-QOL to be psychometrically sound and good preliminary support for construct validity. In addition, they found the test-retest reliability of this instrument to be good. Because of their nonuniform nature, the 2 subscales should ideally be scored separately, the team noted; however using a combined summary score may be justified for the APso-QOL, similar to other instruments of comparable structure.

The investigators concluded that, The APso-QOL is intended for use in daily clinical practice to support dermatologists and other health care professionals in providing optimal care for adolescents with psoriasis.

Disclosure: Several study authors declared affiliations with the pharmaceutical industry. Please see the original reference for a full list of authors disclosures.

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References

Randa H, Khoury LR, Grnborg TK, Lomholt JJ, Skov L, Zachariae R. Development and preliminary validation of the Adolescent Psoriasis Quality of Life instrument (APso-QOL): a disease-specific measure of quality of life in adolescents with psoriasis [published online November 19, 2019]. Br J Dermatol. doi:10.1111/bjd.18719

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Greater Remission or Low Disease Activity With Apremilast in Moderate Psoriatic Arthritis – Rheumatology Advisor

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The likelihood that patients treated with apremilast for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) will have low disease activity (LDA) or remission by week 52 is greater for patients with moderate disease activity (MDA) compared with those with high disease activity (HDA), according to study results published in Arthritis Care & Research. Patients who achieved the Clinical Disease Activity for Psoriatic Arthritis (cDAPSA) targets by week 52 also had mild or no arthritis or other PsA manifestations.

Using the pooled data from the phase 3 randomized Psoriatic Arthritis Long-Term Assessment of Clinical Efficacy (PALACE 1, 2, and 3) studies, which evaluated the oral phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor apremilast, investigators sought to identify the subgroups of patients most likely to benefit from apremilast therapy. Probability analyses were performed using multiple imputations for discontinuations and missing values to assess the likelihood that patients would achieve cDAPSA targets by week 52. Longitudinal analyses grouped by cDAPSA category were performed to assess musculoskeletal and nonmusculoskeletal domains of PsA.

Of the 1493 participants randomly assigned to receive 1 dose of apremilast in the PALACE 1-3 studies (placebo, n=496; apremilast 30 mg twice a day, n=497; apremilast 20 mg twice a day, n=500), 494 who had been randomly assigned to receive apremilast 30 mg at baseline and baseline cDAPSA scores available were included in the probability analyses assessing the likelihood of achieving cDAPSA LDA or remission. A total of 375 patients were randomly assigned to receive apremilast 30 mg at baseline with available week 52 cDAPSA scores were included in the longitudinal analyses of cDAPSA and musculoskeletal and nonmusculoskeletal domains of PsA.

Of the 494 patients included in probability analyses, 46.9% with MDA at baseline achieved LDA or remission by week 52 compared with 24.9% with HDA at baseline. At week 16, patients with LDA at baseline showed response rates of 40.0% remission, 40.0% LDA, 20% MDA, and 0% HAD; patients with MDA at baseline showed response rates of 7.0% remission, 29.8% LDA, 44.7% MDA, and 18.4% HAD; and patients with HAD at baseline showed response rates of 2.1% remission, 11.5% LDA, 38.1% MDA, and 48.3% HAD.

Among patients with MDA at baseline, achieving LDA or remission at week 16 was associated with a high probability (58.9%-88.5%) of maintaining target improvements through week 52; a mean reduction of 30% in cDAPSA score by week 16 was associated with a 63% probability of achieving treatment targets by week 52.

For the 375 patients included in longitudinal analyses, achieving treatment targets with apremilast was associated with continuous improvements in disease activity and mild or no arthritis and other PsA manifestations. Researchers indicated that achieving cDAPSA targets with apremilast was associated with control of PsA musculoskeletal and nonmusculoskeletal domains not included in the cDAPSA.

Study limitations included the use of Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesitis Score to assess enthesitis because of which peripheral enthesitis may have been indirectly accounted for with the cDAPSA.

Our findings indicate that patients with [MDA] at baseline have a higher likelihood of achieving optimal outcomes with apremilast compared with those in HDA at baseline. Early and partial responses by [week] 16 were associated with achieving long-term treatment targets. Finally, the results support the use of the cDAPSA to monitor patients treated with apremilast given that domains not captured by the cDAPSA traveled in the same direction as the cDAPSA. At a population level, patients who achieved cDAPSA [remission] or LDA also had no or mild musculoskeletal and [nonmusculoskeletal] disease manifestations, the researchers concluded.

Disclosure: Several study authors declared affiliations with the pharmaceutical industry. Please see the original reference for a full list of authors disclosures.

Reference

Mease PJ, Gladman DD, Ogdie A, et al. Treatment to target in psoriatic arthritis with apremilast: Probability of achieving targets and comprehensive control of disease manifestations [published online January 7, 2020]. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). doi:10.1002/acr.24134

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Amgen Stock Is Poised to Gain in 2020, Analyst Says. Heres Why. – Barron’s

Posted: at 6:47 am

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Amgen could have a strong year as the turbulence of 2019 fades into the rearview, according to a Wednesday afternoon note by Citi analyst Mohit Bansal.

Bansal, who rates the stock a Buy, increased his price target to $275 per share from $245. Shares of Amgen (ticker: AMGN) closed on Wednesday at $236.75.

We think in 2020 the company could do more than just catching up with the Nasdaq Biotechnology Index as the setup looks even better this time versus 2019, he wrote.

Bansal argued that uncertainty around sales drop-offs for Amgen products now facing biosimilar competition had passed, and that the acquisition of Bristol-Myers Squibbs (BMY) psoriasis drug Otezla would boost Amgens growth.

The back story. Shares of Amgen are up 16.2% over the past 12 months, and down 2.3% so far in 2020. The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology exchange-traded fund (IBB) is up 10% over the past 12 months and down 1.4% so far this year.

Whats new. In his note, Bansal argued that the AMGN story has more room to run. He said that the companys price/earnings ratio, which is now around 15, is in line with the Big Pharma companies, despite analysts expecting a higher rate of growth from Amgen.

We think the setup looks better for AMGN in 2020 as there is less uncertainty this time around, he wrote.

Bansal noted that the company is expecting a number of major catalysts in 2020, including data on lung-cancer, asthma, psoriasis, and heart-failure treatments.

He also said that the resolution of an intellectual property case around Amgens Enbrel in the companys favor cleared a major overhang and made the stock easy to own.

Looking forward. Amgen shares were down 1.1%, at $234.07, in recent trading, while the S&P 500 was down 0.2%. The company will announce its fourth-quarter earnings next Thursday, Jan. 30, after the market closes.

Write to Josh Nathan-Kazis at josh.nathan-kazis@barrons.com

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Chronic Plaque Psoriasis Therapeutics Market Rising Demand and International Forecast Scope Led by Top Key Players 2017 2025 Dagoretti News -…

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Data Are Mixed for Using Zinc to Treat Inflammatory Skin Conditions – Dermatology Advisor

Posted: at 6:47 am

Zinc supplementation may be a potential adjunctive approach for several major inflammatory skin diseases, including acne vulgaris and atopic dermatitis, yet clinical evidence of the benefit of zinc in these disorders is mixed. This is according to data from preliminary findings from small studies published in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology.

The study was a systematic review of trials that evaluated zinc supplementation and associated disease-related outcomes in patients with acne vulgaris, atopic dermatitis, diaper dermatitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, psoriasis, and rosacea. In the review, a total of 22 studies, which included 1667 patients and evaluated zinc gluconate (10-90 mg/day), zinc sulfate (0.375-1.8 g/day), and zinc oxide (0.012 g/day), were included.

In the 9 studies that compared zinc with placebo in patients with acne, there was an overall trend in favor of zinc supplementation. Although another study found zinc supplementation plus lactoferrin and vitamin E was associated with significant reductions in comedones and inflammatory lesions, researchers were unable to determine whether the causative factor was the zinc alone, or the combination of the zinc with lactoferrin and vitamin E. Compared with zinc, antibiotics demonstrated superior efficacy for acne management in 3 studies.

Findings varied in 2 studies that evaluated oral zinc for atopic dermatitis, with 1 study showing no beneficial effect vs placebo, and the other study showing a potential benefit of zinc for reducing disease severity. In another study of patients with rosacea, no significant difference was observed between oral zinc sulfate and placebo. This study resulted in early termination, as zinc was found to be less efficacious than placebo.

Limitations of the studies included in this review included the small sample sizes and the use of placebos containing ingredients that may lead to worsening of acne.

Although zinc appears to possess anti-inflammatory properties that may theoretically result in clinical improvements in some dermatologic conditions, the investigators noted that zinc supplementation may not be universally beneficial in dermatologic inflammatory disease.

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Reference

Dhaliwal S, Nguyen M, Vaughn AR, Notay M, Chambers CJ, Sivamani RK. Effects of zinc supplementation on inflammatory skin diseases: a systematic review of the clinical evidence [published online November 19, 2019]. Am J Clin Dermatol. doi:10.1007/s40257-019-00484-0

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What is psoriatic arthritis? Symptoms, causes, treatment; tips to improve your joint health – Times Now

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What is psoriatic arthritis? Symptoms, causes, treatment; tips to improve your joint health  |  Photo Credit: Getty Images

New Delhi: Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a form ofinflammatory arthritis associated with psoriasis - a skin condition characterised by red, scaly skin patches. The prevalence of psoriasis in the general population is one-three per cent, whereas the prevalence of PsA can range between five per cent and 40 per cent amongst people with psoriasis. It is more common in males and it usually appears in the third to fifth decade of life.

Basically, psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune condition where the body attacks its own tissues. The exact cause of the condition is not clear, however, genetic and environmental factors are known to play a role in its manifestation. PsA can be triggered by stress, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and some infections.

According to Dr Siddharth Shah, Orthopaedic& Joint Replacement Surgeon, SL Raheja Hospital, Mahim - A Fortis Associate, patients usually develop psoriasis before experiencing joint symptoms, adding that symptoms of PsA can vary from person to person. Some of the common symptoms include:

Joints related symptoms:PsA causes joint inflammation resulting in pain, swelling, stiffness, and deformity. It commonly affects fingers, wrists, toes, ankles, and knees. Many joints of the body can be affected at the same time. Arthritis can also be symmetrical, i.e. the same joint on both sides of the body can be affected. There may be generalised fatigue. Advanced cases of PsA can result in deformities which are usually seen in the hands and the feet.

Tendon and ligament inflammation: This commonly presents as ankle or heel pain. Sometimes, a combination of tendon and joints inflammation in the hands can result in sausage-shaped hand deformity.

Neck and back pain:PsA can affect the joints of the spine which can result in neck and back pain.

Skin and nails: Psoriasis causes dry, red, scaly, and itchy skin rash due to rapid turnover of skin cells. It is commonly seen on the scalp, knees, and elbows, although any part of the body surface can be involved. It can also affect the nails resulting in their discolouration and pitting.

Diagnosis for psoriatic arthritis is usually based on history and physical examination of the joints, skin, and nails. Your doctor may also prescribe certain blood tests and X-rays in order to confirm the diagnosis.

You may be prescribed medicines to control inflammation in your joints and prevent further damage. Topical applications may be prescribed for controlling your skin symptoms. Sometimes, injections may be given inside the affected joints to control symptoms.

Joint reconstruction surgery may be required in cases of advanced or irreversible joint damage.

There is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, but lifestyle modification along with medication, when necessary, can help keep the disease under control. Timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment can help prevent joint destruction and permanent disability.

Disclaimer: Tips and suggestions mentioned in the article are for general information purpose only and should not be construed as professional medical advice. Always consult your doctor or a dietician before starting any fitness programme or making any changes to your diet.

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What is psoriatic arthritis? Symptoms, causes, treatment; tips to improve your joint health - Times Now

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