Adult Site IsMyGirl to Host World’s Largest Online Influencer Smoke Session on 4/20
Leading Sexy Influencer Site Will Allow Anyone in Quarantine to Join 4/20 Livestream At No Cost
LOS ANGELES (April 20, 2020) - IsMyGirl.com, an adult social media platform that helps models, influencers and adult entertainers to monetize their content, today announces their first annual Sexy Smokeout, an online smoking session featuring hundreds of the most popular sexy cannabis influencers. This 4/20 smoking exhibition will be absolutely free to anyone who is over the age of 18.
“4/20 is a holiday about getting together with people to celebrate marijuana and cannabis culture,” said Evan Seinfeld, CEO & Founder of IsMyGirl. “Since the quarantine has prevented us from getting together in real life, IsMyGirl is letting anyone smoke with their favorite sexy stoner influencers at no cost!”
The Sexy Smokeout will take place in two parts during the novel 4/20 holiday on April 20, 2020. The first free session will take place at 4:20pm ET and the second will take place at 4:20pm PT. Everything will take place on the front landing page at IsMyGirl.com.
IsMyGirl recently launched the Corona Stimulus Package, giving 100 percent commission to all models through the end of April, and donating funds to the Free Speech Coalition emergency fund to support sex workers during these difficult times.
University of Bradford supports our NHS with early deployment of 400 students and staff in frontline healthcare rolesNurses, midwives and paramedics already on front line with more to follow, as part of national Covid-19 response
20 April 2020 Four hundred midwives, paramedics and other healthcare students are taking up frontline health care roles as part of the University of Bradford’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.Many have already taken up positions in the NHS in hospitals including Bradford Royal Infirmary, Bradford District Care Trust, the Mid-Yorkshire NHS Trust, Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, Airedale General Hospital and Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) and others are due to follow in the coming weeks and months.In addition, some university teaching staff are ‘gifting’ their time to the NHS to train frontline workers, including three critical care nurses providing training in the new NHS Nightingale Hospital Yorkshire and the Humber, Harrogate.Their early deployment forms part of a national effort to bolster the NHS to deal with the Covid-19 epidemic and is just part of the University of Bradford’s response to the virus outbreak.Former clinical nurse Ruth Girdham, head of School of Nursing & Healthcare Leadership in the Faculty of Health Studies, who joined the university 11 years ago, said: “It's in the nature of healthcare professionals to help. In responding to the crisis, it’s important that anyone who can help is able to, so the university is proud to support them.“I’m really pleased we have had such a good response and we understand a lot of people won’t find it easy because they have caring responsibilities themselves but this is what nursing is about, it’s about helping and supporting patients. A lot of nurses who have already gone out into practice feel like they are giving back to the people who have mentored and supported them in their training and who are under immense pressure.”In addition to 20 nursing, physiotherapy, midwifery, radiography and paramedic staff, the full cohort of Year 3 nursing, midwifery and paramedic students have taken up NHS roles early, with Year 2 students across some of the professions being trained up now to enter frontline services in the coming months.Dr Anita Sargeant, head of Allied Health Professionals and Midwifery in the Faculty of Health Studies, described the deployment of midwifery and paramedic students as a “significant contribution to the workforce.”She said: “Our third year paramedic students are already working with YAS and we have brought forward training for our Year 2 students to get them ready to enter YAS earlier to help support the Covid-19 response.“It’s significant because they are working on the front line as emergency medical technicians and will be responding to all emergency calls, including Covid-19 situations.“In addition, third year midwifery students will be working across our trusts to support midwives and women having babies, because babies don’t stop, even for Covid-19. Our physiotherapy, occupational therapy and radiography students will contribute in a number of ways over the coming months.”The university will be sending 27 paramedic students currently on their ‘sandwich year’ with YAS and a further 31 undertaking ‘blue light’ driver training, who are preparing to enter their sandwich year early, with a further 12 students starting later this year.University Vice Chancellor Professor Shirley Congdon, who is a member of the Bradford District COVID-19 Gold Group, coordinating the region’s response to the COVID-19 crisis, said: “We are working to support our local council, NHS and businesses through the current crisis period, offering our services to support the response at a national level. “We have signed a memorandum of understanding that supports the relocation of employees across NHS trusts, clinical commissioning groups, local authority and general practice staff in hospitals, medical facilities, primary, community and social care settings, coordination centres and in people’s own homes.”The University of Bradford has distributed its own stocks of PPE equipment to the NHS. To date, this has included coveralls, hooded bodysuits, gloves, safety glasses and overshoe covers. We have provided Bradford Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust with 95 litres of ethanol to clean ventilators.“We are supporting our staff with professional qualifications to return to practice in the NHS, and to engage in volunteering and other work to support the NHS and Social Care during this time, adjusting their workload where there is no negative impact on students.“We are supporting students to contribute to the NHS and Social care in paid employment, placements and volunteering.”Professor Tim Gough from the University’s Polymer Interdisciplinary Research Centre is working with a group of researchers to design and manufacture face shields to protect healthcare workers in hospitals and the community using the University’s 3D printer technology. This is in collaboration with ActionPlas, a leading machinists company and supplier of plastics, based in West Yorkshire.Further details for editors:-- The majority of paramedic students have been enabled to work in practice as part of the workforce (if safe to do so) by fast tracking clinical assessments and rearranging programme delivery. Our 2nd, 3rd and 4th year paramedics are supporting front line practice and 1st years will be supporting NHS 111 call lines.- 167 third year nursing students have signed up to be deployed through the HEE register so far (out of a possible 199).- We have offered our Heaton Mount conference centre with residential facilities as accommodation for NHS key workers. We have also offered the use of our Shearbridge car park for use as a drive-in testing centre. - Staff and students from our Working Academy have delivered a range of apps to support the NHS. The hospital extranet C-ARE (Crisis-assess/response/escalate) project has been developed in record time (three weeks) and provides an extranet for existing NHS staff who are being moved to critical care departments such as intensive care and accident and emergency. It provides an ‘access anywhere’ site providing crucial information to new staff and those switching roles, including clear information on where to go on their first day, where to get PPE, contact numbers and standard operating procedures.- We have signed up to a scheme run through our local newspaper, the Telegraph and Argus, to support local business with free advertising during the current crisis. The aim is to keep local business visible during the COVID-19 crisis.The memorandum of understanding signatories referred to above include: - Airedale Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust- Bradford District and Craven Clinical Commissioning Group- Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust- Bradford Metropolitan District Council- Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust- Modality Partnership- Local Care Direct
Freed from Lyme & Auto-Immune diseases, Erika Schlick Cookbook Help’s Others Rediscover Their Health
(Los Angeles, CA) – Erika Schlick is a popular health blogger, health coach, and a cookbook author who has successfully healed from the incurable Lyme disease. Erika helps others find their health again and has documented her journey online at The Trail To Health, which was featured on Netflix’s ‘Afflicted’, Episode 4.
Erika’s life has gone through a complete transformation. Once she was a licensed architect and running her own design agency in San Francisco, doing yoga and traveling the world. But one day, she found herself afflicted with Lyme disease. Unwilling to succumb to the disease, she managed to heal from Lyme as well as Celiac diseases and Hashimotos, and has now created a new life for herself, in remission from all of these conditions.
It was in 2012 when Erika was bitten by a tick on her third camping trip. Her subsequent symptoms went undiagnosed, and it was not until 2014 that she was diagnosed with Lyme disease, toxic mold, Heavy Metal Toxicity and five different autoimmune conditions. Curing herself became a journey that she now shares with others in hopes that they may find their health again as well.
“My entire healing journey has centered around holistic, natural and experimental treatments. In fact, the more obscure the treatment was, the more I wanted to try it,” says Erika.
She began her blog in 2014 to share her recovery process with natural and holistic modalities. After stem cell therapy treatment, Erika entered full remission from Lyme in 2017. She gradually shifted her blog’s focus to connecting with and offering tips to others who were undergoing similar struggles. She also wrote her cookbook, “Wandering Palate” in 2018, which features a 28-day paleo meal plan and dairy-free, gluten-free recipes.
“Publishing my health journey opened the door for me to help others. Additionally, I started a health coaching practice in 2015 which enabled me to help my clients heal from Lyme disease and chronic illness,” says Erika.
Erika again came into limelight when she was featured in Episode 4 of the Netflix documentary, ‘Afflicted’. She was featured as a health coach to a participant who sought treatment for Lyme disease and Mold Illness. This participant had found her by reading about her health journey online via her blog. Other than Netflix, she has also been featured in 20 different morning shows as well as more than 40 podcasts, radio and summit interviews. She has been on multi-city book tours, and spoken at national Lyme conferences and wellness events all over the country. Erika has also worked with the Global Lyme Alliance which is a non-profit benefiting people affected by Lyme.
“I’m passionate about helping others on their trail to health, and have become an advocate and active member of the Lyme community,” says Erika.
Other than her recovery from Lyme disease, Erika writes about living a healthy life, avoiding becoming chronically ill, healthy recipes and traveling with restricted diets while battling chronic illnesses. She aims to turn her blog into a full-time project, and write more cookbooks. She also wishes to work with agents and publishers to write more books, and also re-publish ‘Wandering Palate’.
Erika is available for interviews, TV segments, speaking assignments, and hosted travel collaborations and paid / sponsored IG posts for brands. Among the topics she can talk about and discuss are healing from Lyme Disease, healthy diet (specifically paleo / gluten-free), finding the perfect diet, finding a diagnosis when there is mystery illness, common root causes of illnesses, and the hidden pieces of weight loss.
Rates of mental health disorder for frontline health workers will rapidly increase as a result of COVID-19, says GlobalData
Healthcare workers around the world have reported a significant increase in mental health disorders as a result of COVID-19, and rates will continue to rise steeply
Shabnam Pervez, analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers her view:
“As COVID-19 continually spreads, the impact on key workers’ mental health has proven to be detrimental in published research by JAMA. Healthcare workers around the world have reported a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) being a primary contributor towards their mental health. There is a global mask shortage due to increased demand from the public, with reduced number of N95 masks available for frontline healthcare workers. According to GlobalData analysis, around 5.6bn N95 respirator masks are in demand due to the COVID-19 outbreak in the US, and up to 49bn globally.
“The growth of face masks demand will continually increase and according to GlobalData, prices are expected to go down due to market competition. The market leading creators of the N95 mask, 3M, are currently increasing production to help meet the requirements but this will not be an overnight process. GlobalData expects the current spend for disposable hospital supplies to increase substantially from the current estimate of $16.4 billion, with a potential additional $8 billion spend worldwide.”
“The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced there is no need for use of the N95 mask outside healthcare settings. The shortage of masks in the US, has led to the CDC implementing unprecedent measures as their recommendations now include requesting workers to reuse their masks, create homemade masks and use refuse bags as protective gowns. In the UK, healthcare workers have been told to ration masks and use one mask between two workers to preserve PPE.”
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Social media can lessen the mental health impact of quarantine, says GlobalData
Loss of routine and social isolation are having distressing short and long-term impacts on individuals of all age groups, meaning mental health disorders will increase as a result of COVID-19. However, social media and collaboration tools are going some way to ease the isolation, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
Shabnam Pervez, analyst at Thematic Research, comments: “As COVID-19 continually spreads and national lockdowns take effect, the impact on childrens’ and adults’ mental health is increasing. Research has found that individuals with pre-existing mental disorders will be more susceptible to relapse or worsening of their symptoms during the COVID-19 outbreak. A UK mental health charity reported that 80% of those with mental disorder have reported worsening of their symptoms, with 26% of individuals still unable to access support.
“While social media has been used to spread misinformation during the COVID-19 outbreak, it has also proven to be an important tool for the millions of users around the world that have effectively been quarantined, according to GlobalData. Applications like WhatsApp, Facebook and Houseparty are becoming increasing popular as a means of keeping connected whilst respecting social distancing. Social media can enable individuals to more easily confide in one-another, providing a level of mental health support that is not accessible in real life settings. According to GlobalData, the use of social media will remain high throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, particularly in areas that are under lockdown, for both social interaction and entertainment. ”
FIVE IMMUNE BOOSTING TIPS
These Are Tried & True Immunity Building Lifestyle Tips, Not Trends Du Jour
By Tammy Fry, Health & Lifestyle Expert
Call me an optimist, I’m always looking for silver linings, even in the most testing of times. Perhaps I have my parents to thank for my glass half full attitude or perhaps its my mental preparation for when I engaged in competitive sports (or maybe a combination of the two). I believe staying at home day in and day out is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact I see wonderful benefits. For example these challenging times have allowed us to slow down, reflect on what is truly important in life, learn new ways of being, doing and creating—that includes cooking.
Before we all emerge from our homes, we may need to think of how we can boost our immune systems and better equip our “temples” to deal with exposure to viruses and bacteria. We also need to consider how we can prevent lifestyle diseases which would leave us more exposed with a compromised immune system. Sadly, I haven’t quite figured out the magic pill for anti-aging, but there are ways to stay youthful and thrive as we grow older, I’ll cover that in another article.
COVID-19 has definitely created a certain level of fear within each and every one of us and our zest for health and life has become apparent. Now is the time to take action and make positive lifestyle changes rather than chasing trends.
FOOD: THE FOUNDATION STARTER Hippocrates had it right in 300BC-ish when he proclaimed “Let food be thy medicine.” Food can provide us with the critical building blocks to health and vitality and more importantly, keep our immune system in fighting shape.
Our gut health is a critical component of overall health and a marker for the state of the immune system. The stomach essentially performs the task of separating the inside of our body from the outside world. It acts as a filter by removing toxins and waste from the body and allowing nutrients through. The highest and densest microbe population in your body can be found in your gut, where it plays a critical role in digestion, weight regulation and immune system function.
Building healthy gut bacteria and avoiding foods that could damage this vital organ are just some ways you can support your immune system function. If the stomach is damaged in any way your immune system spends much of its time and energy fighting the toxins that leak through your gut into your bloodstream. Like going to war, your stomach would be in a better position being proactive vs. constantly being on the defensive lines.
So how do you support your gut?
Eat fermented foods in order to get a wide variety of probiotics such as Kombucha, Kimchi and sauerkraut which provide an array of good bacteria
Take a prebiotic supplement or find foods that contain prebiotics which support the good bacteria as they are the precursor for good bacteria
Eat lots of fiber. Animal-based foods contain no fiber, but plant-based foods are loaded with it. Make sure you are getting a wide variety of plant-based foods, including whole grains, a wide range of fruit and vegetables, plant-based meats (like Fry Family Foods range) are usually very high in fiber and are pesticide-free
Avoid fruit and vegetables which have been sprayed with pesticides and chemicals. One of the most popular herbicides sprayed on crops contains the chemical, Glyphosate, which disrupts the gut wall which then allows bacteria to pass through the gut lining. This affects the functioning of the immune system. Try to buy organic wherever possible
Limit intake of highly processed foods and animal products. Animals reared for human consumption contain the very chemicals that damage the stomach lining. The primary food source for these animals is genetically modified corn and soy which has been sprayed with herbicides containing glyphosate. The glyphosate accumulates in the animal’s body, which we then consume
SUPPLEMENTS: THE REINFORCEMENTS Supplements can certainly help when trying to build a powerhouse of an immune system. There are literally hundreds of natural herbs and vitamin supplements on the market and it can be confusing to decide which ones to buy. There are, however, no magic pills you can take to prevent a virus or a cold, but there are some simple ones you can add to your everyday diet to give you a fighting chance.
Vitamin C: Can be taken as a supplement or found in high levels in peppers, guavas, oranges, strawberries and broccoli
Vitamin D: A few minutes in the sunshine can boost your Vitamin D levels or take a supplement. A blood test will show your Vitamin D levels
Zinc, Echinacea, Ashwagandha: All support immune system function and are my go-to’s when I’m feeling a little run down
Garlic, rosemary, oregano, cinnamon, and turmeric: Can be added to your cooking to boost immunity and reduce inflammation in the body
GET YOUR BUZZ ON BY FEELING GREAT Although you may be tempted to turn to alcohol out of boredom, stress or even to celebrate (or cope with) being at home with your family or partner, try and avoid excessive consumption of alcohol. Alcohol disrupts the gut barrier, allowing more bacteria to pass into the blood and reduces the number and function of macrophages and T and C cells, all crucial to a well-functioning immune system.
KEEP CALM & ZEN ON By nature I’m high energy and I tend to worry—a lot. I have to work at focusing on calming my mind and letting go, even for just a few minutes or a few hours at a time. When “stressed out” or anxious, your body produces stress hormones, which can suppress your immune system. So, in this incredibly challenging time for the human race, make sure you spend some time on some activities to minimize stress – doing a puzzle, practicing mindfulness and breathing exercises, give meditation a go, do yoga in your bedroom (there are plenty of free yoga classes on YouTube – I personally love “Yoga with Adriene”), take an exercise class, get into your garden, or start cooking. I also recommend using essential oils in a diffuser and playing calming music in your home. Whatever makes you feel relaxed and happy—do more of that!
In a study conducted by international lecturer and researcher Dr. Joe Dispenza and his team, average IgA levels (an antibody protein that forms part of your immune system), went up by 49.5% on average when study participants elevated their emotional state by practicing love, joy, gratitude and inspiration for 10 min, 3x per day.
STFU Sleep. To. Feel. Unbelievable. Sleep is a wonderful immune booster and let’s face it, a good REM sleep not only feels good, it grounds you by giving both your body and your mind the rest it needs to mentally, physically and emotionally stave off whatever comes your way. Now that there are no late-night parties, dinner with friends, or drinks at the pub, you can more easily prep to get 7-9 hours of quality sleep. Studies have shown huge benefits to the immune system and increased number of T-cells (immune cells which protect the body from cancer cells and other pathogens), when getting your full sleep quota.
Warriors: Stay safe. Stay strong. And keep your family healthy by sharing this article with them.
Ontario’s Russell Alexander Law Firm Sends Pizzas to Toronto General Hospital Divorce firm’s ‘Save a Slice’ effort is now in its third week of helping health care workers
LINDSAY, ONTARIO—Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers sent 50 pizzas to Toronto General Hospital over the weekend as part of its new “Save a Slice” initiative to help health care workers and restaurant employees on the frontlines of the coronavirus.
“We’ve gotten tremendous feedback from ‘Save a Slice’ initiative,” said Russell Alexander, founder of the firm. “We’re glad that we’ve found a way to help keep restaurants in business while recognizing the health-care workers on the front lines of this pandemic.”
The Lindsay, Ontario family law firm started the initiative three weeks ago as a way of giving back during the coronavirus pandemic. The pizzas were prepared and delivered by North of Brooklyn Pizzeria in Toronto.
Previously, the firm sent pizzas from Brothers Ristorante to Lakeridge Health Oshawa and Pane Vino to the emergency room of Ross Memorial.
The firm, which helps families going through divorce with a collaborative approach, has also created a new Covid-19 and Divorce Information Centre to provide answers to common questions during the pandemic. Ontario residents can get answers to questions about how to work remotely with their lawyers, how the pandemic may affect court dates and even how to avoid sparking a divorce during the stress of quarantine.
Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers remains open, as lawyers have been deemed an essential service, but staffers are working remotely for their safety and the safety of their clients.
Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers is committed to practicing exclusively in the area of family law in Ontario dealing with all aspects, including separation and divorce, child custody and access, spousal support, child support, and division of family property. A team of lawyers provide guidance from start to finish, helping clients identify and understand the legal issues as well as the options and opportunities available through the transition. The firm has offices in Lindsay, Whitby, Oshawa, Markham, Peterborough and Toronto, Ontario.
4 Unfortunate Running Injuries and How to Prevent Them
Running is a healthy and natural way to exercise your entire body and improve the overall fitness of your leg muscles. Even though many people incorporate this activity into their regular fitness routine, it's also very easy to hurt yourself if you don't take the time to learn how to do it properly. Good posture is even more important during heavy exercise than it is when standing still and runners have to learn how to recognize and respond to signs of injury.
Damage to Knee Joints
The knee is an essential, specialized joint that plays a pivotal role in any kind of leg exercise. It's one of the most common sources of serious injury for regular runners and damage to this area can take a long time to fully heal. Intermittent sharp pains or aches around the knee joint typically warrant a break from running and a visit to a physiotherapist. Most types of knee injuries get progressively worse under strain, so just pushing through the pain is rarely a good idea.
Acute and Chronic Tendinitis
Tendons may be relatively small compared to muscle and bone mass, but they are just as important for coordinated motion. The Achilles tendon that connects the calf muscles to the heel is a prime concern for runners, but irritation and inflammation can impact any of the tendons between the foot and hip joint. Ample stretching before, during and after running helps prevent damage to tendons. Massage therapy and well-rounded mobility exercise routines can also mitigate discomfort.
Foot Arch and Heel Injuries
Foot injuries can have a truly crippling effect on a person's mobility, which disrupts their ability to exercise, work or perform even simple daily activities. Plantar fasciitis is among the most serious foot injuries frequently found in runners and is one of the reasons people seek out specialized care providers, like Ankle & Foot Clinic of Everett. Wearing foot-friendly shoes approved by a physical therapist can help prevent damage to the many different bones, muscles and tendons in your feet.
Fractured and Broken Bones
Even a small fracture can cause an immense amount of discomfort and puts you at risk for developing a more serious injury. Fractures or breaks typically occur during a fall or other high-impact landing, but the extent of the damage isn't always apparent right away. Runners should try to run on a smooth, stable surface whenever possible.
Many of the most common kinds of running injuries can be reversed with prompt medical attention and dedication to long-term personal care. Learning how to maintain good posture and taking breaks to allow injuries to heal are important tips for any kind of fitness enthusiast.
4 Ways to Get Muscle Mass if You Hate Hitting the Gym
While most people want to build some extra muscle, not everyone enjoys going to work out in a public gym. Gyms are noisy, crowded and generally distracting environments that some people would rather avoid. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to get fit without going to a gym. Here are four of the best ways to build muscle if you absolutely hate hitting the gym.
Get a Pair of Adjustable Dumbbells
Believe it or not, a simple pair of adjustable dumbbells can easily replicate most of the exercises you’d normally do in a gym. A good pair of dumbbells can be purchased at any sporting goods store for a reasonable price. After that, you’ll just need to spend some time learning the right exercises to do to target the muscle groups you’d like to improve. Thanks to online fitness sites and YouTube, though, you can easily find hundreds of exercise demonstrations with a simple search query.
Embrace Body Weight Exercises
Although most people think you have to lift weights to build muscle, you can get an excellent physique by doing body weight exercises. Sit-ups, push-ups, pull-ups, mountain climbers, dips and many, many other exercises can be used to build various muscle groups without the need to ever touch a weight. Body weight exercises can also be performed just about anywhere, making them perfect for getting your workouts in on the go.
Lose Weight to Look More Muscular
This one is a bit of a cheat, but reducing the amount of fat on your body can make you look more muscular, even if you haven’t gained any muscle. Consider starting a new diet, increasing your aerobic exercise load or getting a weight loss drink sample to start trimming down the pounds. As your body fat percentage drops, you’ll notice a substantial improvement in your muscle definition.
Start Doing More Work Around the House
As crazy as it sounds, strenuous physical work around the house can help you build some muscle, even if it won’t be as targeted as more formal weightlifting routines. From landscaping to home renovation, physically demanding home tasks can give you some good exercise and give your muscles a bit of an additional workout.
If you’re willing to get creative and don’t mind working out at home, you can build muscle mass without ever having to set foot in a gym. By taking advantage of these four simple suggestions, you can easily build strength and improve your physique from the comfort of your own home.
Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan
COVID-19, STEM CELLS AMONG MOST PROMISING TREATMENTS
With more than 200 cases already treated in Wuhan, US FDA opened the way to the compassionate use of intravenous infusions
Giuseppe Mucci, Bioscience Institute CEO: «We are working to a protocol for a treatment with stem cells isolated and expanded at our facilities»
SAN MARINO, April 16th, 2020.Stem cell therapy is making its way into COVID-19 treatment. Its use seems to be particularly efficient in the case of severely ill patients, as demonstrated by a study conducted at the Beijing YouAn Hospital recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Aging and Disease, and as emerged after the press conference hold by Sun Yanrong, deputy head of the China National Center for Biotechnology Development under the Ministry of Science and Technology.
Bioscience Institute – leader company in stem cell isolation, expansion and cryopreservation – reported the results of the Beijing study on the diseases associated with novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection as they were anticipated before their publication. Now its authors confirm from Aging and Disease pages that «the intravenous transplantation of MSCs[Mesenchymal Stem Cells, ed] was safe and effective for treatment in patients with COVID-19 pneumonia, especially for the patients in critically severe condition». And according to Sun Yanrong, stem cell treatment has already been used in more than 200 cases in the most affected city in China, Wuhan.
Stem cell treatment: how it works
Stem cell treatment efficacy lies on the immunomodulatory effect of stem cells. In particular, as emerged from the Aging and Disease study, MSCs may help counteract the so-called cytokine storm, that is an uncontrolled rise of the immune response resulting in the increase of inflammation mediators (cytokines).
During a cytokine storm the immune system goes into overdrive and the patient's tissues and organs can be fatally damaged. Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a common sign of a cytokine storm. In COVID-19 patients it corresponds to the severe oxygen deprivation that requires mechanical ventilation.
Cytokine storm seems to be a good target for severe COVID-19 cases treatment. Nowadays, other drugs, such as tocilizumab, act on this phenomenon. In particular, tocilizumab has already been approved both in China and the USA for the treatment of severe COVID-19 and is used in clinical trials in Europe.
Stem cells against COVID-19: beyond China
Stem cell treatment already crossed China borders too. A few days before Sun Yanrong press conference, US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) opened the way to the compassionate use of MSCs intravenous infusions in patients with COVID-19 ARDS and a very dismal prognosis. «There are lots of clinical trials that explored, or are planning to explore, immunomodulatory and antiinflammatory properties of MSCs», Giuseppe Mucci, CEO of Bioscience Institute, highlights. «Cytokines are important mediators of the inflammatory process, and MSCs are believed to regulate their production. In particular, they seem to be involved in the down-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines and in the up-regulation of antiinflammatory cytokines. Their use is safe, and studies in larger cohorts of patients will validate their benefits».
Bioscience Institute is ready to contribute to this validation. «We are working on a protocol for a MSCs treatment with stem cells isolated and expanded at our facilities. With our long-standing experience in the field of stem cells isolation, expansion and cryopreservation, Bioscience Institute laboratories are among the most advanced in the world».
Compassionate use of MSCs approved by FDA will utilize allogeneic (from a donor) stem cells. However, anyone can build up its own MSCs reserve. «They can be easily obtained from several tissues, but fat is considered the best source ever», Mucci explains. «To obtain the huge cell numbers needed for COVID-19 treatment it is fundamental MSCs expansion. That is why it is not sufficient to rely on a cell bank: only a cell factory like Bioscience Institute is able to guarantee the banking of a quantity of MSCs useful for such a treatment».
Bioscience Institute offers the possibility to cryopreserve mesenchymal stem cells. For more information, feel free to call us at +971 (0)4 375 7220.
References
China shares with world new progress in COVID-19 treatment. China.org.cn. April 14th, 2020.
FDA clears investigational new drug application for mesoblast to use remestemcel-l in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome caused by COVID-19. investorsmedia.mesoblast.com
Leng Z et al. Transplantation of ACE2- Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves the Outcome of Patients with COVID-19 Pneumonia. Aging Dis. 2020 Mar 9;11(2):216-228. doi: 10.14336/AD.2020.0228
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