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Friday, April 26, 2024
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A new study by a team of scientists at Oxford University’s Jenner Institute and Oxford Vaccine Group said it has taken the next step towards the discovery of a safe, effective and accessible vaccine against coronavirus.

Oxford and AstraZeneca are collaborating with clinical partners around the world as part of a global clinical programme to get a vaccine.

The global programme is made up of a Phase III trial in the U.S. enrolling 30,000 patients, a paediatric study, as well as Phase III trials in low-to-middle income countries including Brazil and South Africa which are already underway.

According to a statement published on Oxford University webiste on Monday, the results of the Phase I/II trial publishedm in the scientific journal, The Lancet, indicate no early safety concerns and induces strong immune responses in both parts of the immune system.

The vaccine provoked a T cell response within 14 days of vaccination (white blood cells that can attack cells infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus), and an antibody response within 28 days (antibodies are able to neutralise the virus so that it cannot infect cells when initially contracted).

Study

During the study, participants who received the vaccine had detectable neutralising antibodies, which have been suggested by researchers as important for protection, and these responses were strongest after a booster dose, with 100 per cent of participants’ blood having neutralising activity against the coronavirus.

The next step in studying the vaccine is to confirm that it can effectively protect against SARS-CoV-2 infection.

A professor, Andrew Pollard said, “We saw the strongest immune response in the 10 participants who received two doses of the vaccine, indicating that this might be a good strategy for vaccination”.

A UK Phase I/II trial began in April testing the Oxford coronavirus vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19. The team started working to develop a vaccine against the global threat in January 2020 and have been working with unprecedented urgency in a race against the coronavirus.

During the Phase I/II trial the vaccine has been evaluated in more than 1,000 healthy adult volunteers aged between 18 and 55 years in a randomised controlled trial.

A subset of these volunteers (10 people) received two doses of the vaccine. Between April 23, 2020 and May 21, 2020, 1077 volunteers, received the vaccine ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 or a placebo MenACWY vaccine. There were no serious adverse health events related to ChAdOx1 nCoV-19.

The University of Oxford is working with the UK-based global biopharmaceutical company AstraZeneca for the further development, large-scale manufacture and potential distribution of the vaccine, with plans for clinical development and production of the Oxford vaccine progressing globally.

The project has been further spurred by £84 million of Government funding to help accelerate the vaccine’s development.

Mene Pangalos, Executive Vice President of BioPharmaceuticals Research and Development at AstraZeneca said, “We are encouraged by the Phase I/II interim data showing AZD1222 was capable of generating a rapid antibody and T-cell response against SARS-CoV-2. While there is more work to be done, today’s data increases our confidence that the vaccine will work and allows us to continue our plans to manufacture the vaccine at scale for broad and equitable access around the world.”

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said: “Today’s results are extremely encouraging, taking us one step closer to finding a successful vaccine to protect millions in the UK and across the world. Backed by £84 million Government investment for the vaccine’s development and manufacture, the agility and speed with which the University of Oxford have been working is outstanding. I am very proud of what they have achieved so far.”

Kate Bingham, Chair of the UK’s Vaccine Taskforce said: “The UK is fortunate to have such outstanding academic innovators working alongside the highly experienced global team at AstraZeneca. This partnership is working at exceptional speed to demonstrate the safety and clinical effectiveness of the chadox vaccine in protecting people against COVID-19 infection.”

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A lot of women suffer from midlife crisis. This is usually characterized with low libido and vaginal dryness. Problems like these can put sex on the backseat. It’s hardly surprising that most women lose their desire to have sex in the middle age. An excessively dry vagina can make intercourse extremely painful. Not just this, women going through this problem experience constant burning sensation in the vagina leaving them with little desire to have sex.

Lack of sex can eventually take a toll on your relationship. After all, your man needs to be satisfied sexually and if you are not able to do so, he might look for other alternatives.

Fortunately, it is possible to get rid of this problem naturally and safely.

Here are some simple ways to get rid of menopause or vaginal dryness:

1. Boost EstrogenEstrogen Production in Your Body

One of the main causes of vaginal dryness is a drop in the production of your female sex hormone estrogen. This is the hormone that keeps walls of your vagina thick and moist. A drop in its production post menopause makes vaginal walls thin dry.

Thus, by increasing estrogen production, you can get over this problem. One of the best ways to do so is with the help of foods that are known for their estrogen boosting effects. Soy and products are the best examples of such foods. Some of the others include flaxseed, sesame seeds, chickpeas, beans, peas etc.

Moreover, you must also include essential fats in your diet since your body needs such fats for the production of hormones like estrogen and testosterone. Olives, olive oil, and fish like tuna, salmon etc. are the best sources of such fats.

2. Drink Plenty of Water

Dehydration can also cause your vagina to get dry. If you want to alleviate vaginal dryness and enhance natural lubrication, you must drink plenty of water so as to keep your body well hydrated. At the same time, avoid drinks that have caffeine in them since they can also result in dehydration.

3. Try a Natural Lubricating Gel

One of the best and most effective ways to make sex fun again without worrying about issues like low libido and menopause dryness is by using a natural lubricating gel.

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Constipation is a condition of the digestive system where someone experiences tough bowel movements which happen less frequent than normal. Everyone has experienced constipation at some point in their life, and they can attest that it is not a very pleasant experience. Though it is not chronic, everyone would give anything to get their bowels back on track. The amount of time between bowel movements varies widely from one person to another.

Most people have them three times in a day while others have them twice or even once! However going for more than three days is enough to cause alarm. This is because food takes longer in the digestive tract which means the colon absorbs more water from the stool. This makes the stool hard and dry and therefore difficult and even very painful to eliminate.

Causes of Constipation

1. Low Amounts of Fiber in the Diet

Fibers act as cleaners to the digestive tract. Diets that lack fibers result in an unclean digestive tract. This, consequently, results in accumulation of food particles and wastes that block the passage and thus cause constipation

2. Physical Inactivity

People who are physically inactive, for example, those who are bedridden for several weeks, are more susceptible to constipation. This is because physical activity helps us maintain a high metabolism, and thus body processes such as digestion happen more rapidly.

 

3. Irritable Bowel Syndrome

People who suffer from this condition suffer from constipation more frequently

4. Aging

As we grow older, our metabolic rate slows down. This results in a reduced rate in body functions such as digestion and thus cause constipation

5. Not Drinking Enough Water

This results in more absorption of water from the food which makes the stool hard. The result is constipation

6. Not Emptying Your Bowels when Needed

Ignoring this vital call of nature means the stool spends more time in the colon. As a result, more water is absorbed from it leaving it hard and dry.

The Remedies for Constipation

1. Add Fiber-Rich Foods to Your Diet

The main role of fiber in our body is cleaning the digestive tract. They clean up the system by scrubbing off food leftovers and waste particles and even soaking up the water, thereby treating and preventing constipation. Some of these foods include cereals, almonds, beans, barley, vegetables, and fresh fruits, among many others. You should also drink plenty of water

2. Mint or Ginger Tea

Research has proven mint and ginger to be handy home remedies to digestive problems. Methanol that is contained in peppermint has an antispasmodic effect which helps relax the digestive system’s muscles and thereby allow rapid movement of food. Ginger, on the other hand, helps the digestive tract generate more heat thereby speeding up digestion through increased metabolism as heat increases the metabolic rate.

3. Healthy Facts

Oils from avocados, nuts and olive oil help in lubrication of the digestive tract and hence ease constipation.

4. Lemon Water

Citric acid present in lemon juice helps stimulate the digestive system and also flush out harmful substances such as wastes. Taking a glass of fresh lemon juice every morning or adding lemon to your tea will not only help treat and prevent constipation but also make you drink more water every day.

5. Coffee

Coffee is a good stimulant to your body. It works by increasing metabolism through heat and thereby speeding up your trips to the toilet. Other hot drinks work just as well.

 

6. Water

Taking a cup of water after waking up is recommended. Water helps in peristalsis and therefore helps prevent constipation.

7. Massage

Massaging the abdomen also helps in relieving constipation. It achieves this by stimulating intestinal muscles that are involved during bowel movements.

8. Taking Honey

Honey is a natural laxative. Taking a cup of honey water will help loosen stools and hence prevent and even relieve constipation.

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While the old adage “you are what you eat” is only partially true you are also what your genetics predisposes you to be what we put into our bodies clearly does have an impact on our health and overall well-being. And while some diets may promise a magic bullet to healthier aging, there are a few basic food rules that we really shouldn’t stray from.

Here are five super foods that you should be having every day:

1) Water.
Our bodies need water to live. Water flushes toxins out of our vital organs and carries nutrients to our cells. We lose water every day — literally through sweat and tears — and we must replenish it. But just how much water we need is a point of discussion. The old standard bearer of 8 eight-ounce glasses of water a day may not be today’s most popular wisdom. The Mayo Clinic says: For your body to function properly, you must replenish its water supply by consuming beverages and foods that contain water. An adequate intake for men is roughly three liters (about 13 cups) of total beverages a day; for women, it’s 2.2 liters (about 9 cups) of total beverages a day. Drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of fluid a day — not necessarily water because all fluids count toward the daily total. But water, it’s still the purest, isn’t it?

2) Green vegetables.
Yes, kale is the new superfood on everyone’s table. But as one friend recently observed as he turned his nose up at the offer of a kale shake, “Wasn’t that the stuff that was the decoration on salad bars a few years ago?” One and the same, indeed. Kale is low in calories and high in calcium, vitamins A, C, and K. It’s also high in antioxidants, all of which makes it the current sweetheart veggie. For those who have tried it 100 different ways and still think it belongs as a salad bar decoration, we say there is always spinach, swiss chard, broccoli and asparagus. Don’t make excuses when it comes to eating your veggies.

3) Fresh, not highly processed.
There are processed foods and then there are processed foods. Minimally processed foods — like bagged spinach, cut vegetables and roasted nuts — are often just pre-prepped for convenience. At the other end of the processing spectrum are frozen and pre-made meals like microwaveable dinners and frozen pizza. Read the labels, and if you can’t pronounce some of the ingredients, think twice about eating them. Most canned vegetables, soups and sauces are preserved by adding sodium. And while we need some sodium each day, consuming more than the dietary guidelines can contribute to hypertension — high blood pressure. Best to stick with fresh, and read labels carefully.

4) Nuts.
As the joke goes, don’t go nuts with nuts. But in moderation (and assuming no allergies), nuts can be a healthy addition to any diet. They contain polyphenols, which keeps your heart healthy. Let’s face it, nuts need some good PR. For years they were seen as salty, high calorie and fatty and you were most likely to find them in the supermarket aisle with the chips and snack foods. Now, nutritionists say certain nuts deserve an honored spot in every healthy eater’s kitchen. They are loaded in protein, fiber, healthy monounsaturated fats and antioxidants. Studies have shown that nuts have powerful cholesterol-lowering effects.

WebMD.com reports that the benefits of certain nuts were clear enough for the FDA in 2003 to issue a “qualified health claim” for peanuts and certain tree nuts — almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, some pine nuts, pistachios, and walnuts. That status allows some nuts and foods made with them to carry this claim: “Eating a diet that includes one ounce of nuts daily can reduce your risk of heart disease.”

5) Flaxseed. 
Flaxseed is one of the most powerful plant foods on the planet, rich in plant-based Omega-3s. There’s some evidence it may help reduce your risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. In the 8th Century, King Charlemagne believed so strongly in the health benefits of flaxseed that he passed laws requiring his subjects to consume it, says WebMD.com.

Although flaxseed contains all sorts of healthy components, the main ones are Omega-3 essential fatty acids, fiber, and lignans for their antioxidant qualities.

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My alarm is set to the song “Happy” by Pharrell Williams. It’s impossible to not smile when this song plays. This, combined with the other habits below, set the tone for a productive, happy and healthy day.

1. Drink a glass of water as soon as you wake up.

This rehydrates your body, revs up your digestive system, and gets things flowing. You may notice positive changes like clearer skin and better digestion. Bonus points if you add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice or a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.

2. Do not check your email or phone for at least an hour.

Do you sleep with your cell phone next to you and grab for it first thing when you wake? This is not a good habit. If you choose to resist the temptation to check your email and Facebook feed until at least an hour after waking up, you’ll find that your mind is more clear, focused and happy.

3. Think of one thing for which you have gratitude.

This sets the stage for positivity throughout the day. If you come up with three or five things, even better.

4. Step outside and take a deep breath.

Fill your lungs with fresh air. Even if it’s cold outside. This only takes 10 seconds! It reminds you that you are alive and breathing.

5. Move your body.

You don’t necessarily have to do an intense workout before breakfast, but moving your body even a little is a great way to get the blood flowing and shake the body into wake-up mode. Simply doing a few stretches is a great option. Or turn on your favorite song and dance like no one is watching.

6. Take time to eat a healthy breakfast.

Rather than reaching for a box of cereal, focus on getting real foods in your body. Eggs, soaked oats, and smoothies are all great options. (And they really don’t take that much time to prepare.) Try it out.

7. Say your affirmations.

Look into the mirror and say something positive to yourself. Some ideas:

  • I radiate beauty, confidence and grace.
  • Every cell in my body is healthy and vibrant.
  • I feel great when I take care of myself.

So are you up for the challenge of incorporating these healthy habits? What about you? What helps you start the day off right?

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