Monthly Archives: January 2020

 

The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) coronavirus named 2019-nCoV first identified in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Chinese authorities identified the new coronavirus, which has resulted in more than a thousand confirmed cases in China, including cases outside Wuhan City. Additional cases have been identified in a growing number of other nations, including the US where 110 cases, many in travelers from Wuhan, have been confirmed in four states (AZ, CA, IL, WA) as of January 27, 2020. There are ongoing investigations to learn more.

Risk Assessment

Outbreaks of novel virus infections among people are always of public health concern. The risk from these outbreaks depends on characteristics of the virus, including whether and how well it spreads between people, the severity of resulting illness, and the medical or other measures available to control the impact of the virus (for example, vaccine or treatment medications).

Investigations are ongoing to learn more, but person-to-person spread of 2019-nCoV is occurring. Chinese officials report that sustained person-to-person spread in the community is occurring in China. Person-to-person spread in the United States has not yet been detected, but it’s likely to occur to some extent. It’s important to note that person-to-person spread can happen on a continuum. Some viruses are highly contagious (like measles), while other viruses are less so. It’s important to know this in order to better assess the risk posed by this virus. While CDC considers this is a very serious public health threat, based on current information, the immediate health risk from 2019-nCoV to the general American public is considered low at this time. Nevertheless, CDC is taking proactive preparedness precautions.

What to Expect

More cases are likely to be identified in the coming days, including more cases in the United States. Given what has occurred previously with MERS and SARS, it’s likely that person-to-person spread will continue to occur. It would not be surprising if person-to-person spread in the United States were to occur. Cases in healthcare settings, like hospitals, may also occur. The virus is suspected of being able to be transmitted by an infected person several days before they have any symptoms.

Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, agreed there are many questions. “This is one of those inflection moments in outbreak history where we have enough information to be very concerned, but not enough information to say this is going to be an international crisis,” he said.

CDC Recommends

While the immediate risk of this new virus to the American public is believed to be low at this time, everyone can do their part to help us respond to this emerging public health threat:

• For everyone: It’s currently flu and respiratory disease season and CDC recommends getting flu vaccinations and taking everyday actions to stop the spread of germs. Use anti-bacterial wipes frequently on hands and shared surfaces such as toys, phones, keyboards, handles on doors, etc. Don’t share hand towels but use paper towels instead.

Vaccine coming…
but not soon

The NIH is in the process of taking the first steps towards the development of a vaccine, but it will take a few months until the first phase of the clinical trials get underway and more than a year until a vaccine might be available.

China taking extreme precautions

Wuhan, the city of over 11 million where the virus began, has travel prohibited both in and out, already causing serious food shortages.

China is also making an emergency “crash” effort to develop a vaccine very quickly.

Includes excerpts from CDC and news sources.

Info:… shpr.fyi/coronavirus

Canceling student loan debt makes little sense

Why? Because most borrowers earn incomes high enough that they can afford to make their student loan payments normally. Also many students, including those with low incomes, are eligible for our already existing generous student debt forgiveness at some future point.

Cancelling the $1.6 trillion in student loan debt would cost US taxpayers ten times the total cost of the Viet Nam war.

Info:   shpr.fyi/studentloans

Windows 7 users must update to Windows 10
Windows 7 is no longer supported by Microsoft. The last Microsoft update for Windows 7 was issued Jan. 14, 2020.
About one-third of PC computers worldwide are still using Windows 7. To receive continuing monthly security updates, every one of them must now be updated to Windows 10.
A major benefit of Windows 10 is that it will do your monthly security updates automatically, which Windows 7 did not do.
Info: shpr.fyi/windows10

Leafy green vegetables no benefit in
prostate cancer

Recent research reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) has found no significant difference in prostate cancer progression over 2 years among men who participated in a counseling program that encouraged consumption of leafy green, carotenoid, and cruciferous vegetables.
Info: shpr.fyi/veggiesprostate
Calcium and Vitamin D reduce fractures
Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials of vitamin D alone (11 randomized clinical trials with 34 243 participants) showed no significant association with risk of any fracture or of hip fracture. In contrast, daily supplementation with both vitamin D and calcium (6 randomized clinical trials with 49 282 participants) was associated with a 16% reduced risk of hip fracture.
From JAMA.
Info: shpr.fyi/calcdfract
In Alzheimer research,
carbs are in focus
Areas or patterns of reduced glucose metabolism are often seen in brain scans of patients with Alzheimer disease and other dementias. Now, a growing body of evidence suggests that glucose hypometabolism may be more than just a biomarker on brain scans: it may be a key player in dementia pathology.
The digestion and breakdown of carbohydrate-containing foods into their simplest form produces glucose. A person’s blood glucose goes up after she eats, but certain foods have more of an impact on glucose levels than others.
Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can lead to loss of energy for brain function. This is why low sugar levels are linked to poor attention and cognitive function.
The key role of glucose in the body is fuel for energy, and the brain depends completely on glucose to operate normally. Brain functions such as thinking, learning and memory are closely tied to glucose levels and how effectively the brain utilizes glucose. If glucose is lacking, neurotransmitters are not synthesized and communication between neurons breaks down. Age also plays a role in glucose utilization since an older brain uses more glucose than a younger one to perform the same learning and memory tasks. Glucose is so crucial that memory function can be improved in elderly people with relatively poor memories after only one hour of eating a carbohydrate rich meal.
From JAMA.
Info: shpr.fyi/alzhsugar

Unused apps on your phone can do more harm than simply taking up space.
On many phones, to uninstall, just press and hold on them until they disappear.
https://www.popsci.com/delete-your-apps/?utm_source=internal&utm_medium=email

Inexplicable
State of Faith TBN Series is explaining the inexplicable spread of the gospel throughout the world.
The gospel is the teachings of Jesus who taught 2,000 years ago for less than four years in Judea, a remote and very poor part of the Roman empire and who never traveled more than 40 miles from his birthplace, and by his twelve uneducated disciples none of whom had been prominent or noteworthy men.
The gospel is the basis for Christianity, by far the largest movement of like-minded people in the world.
“Part 1: From the Cradle of Christianity” premiered this past Monday, January 13 at 8/7c but is being rerun and the series will continue on Mondays at 5:00 pm PST.
TBN television channel is available on Dish channel 268 or online.
Info: https://www.tbn.org/
Ways to Live Longer
The Importance of Purpose
Damon observed that among 1200 adolescents and young adults aged 12 to 24 years, 20% expressed a sense of purpose that transcended self-interest. In a study of adults older than 50 years, Colby reported in the Pathways to Encore Purpose Project that 31% of 1198 individuals surveyed had a purpose “beyond the self” that included an interest in pursuing improving the lives of others, religious goals, making the world better, teaching and building community. Caring for others (including by grandparents) positively affects all-cause mortality. A recent study of 6985 individuals in the Health and Retirement Study of adults older than 50 years demonstrated that a stronger life purpose was associated with decreased mortality, suggesting that purposeful living has positive health benefits. For example, purpose can be renewed through career counseling in the workplace, as well as through churches, education and retraining opportunities at universities and colleges, or through community and public service or volunteer activities.
Social Engagement
In addition to having or renewing purpose, avoiding loneliness and promoting social connection correlate with health outcomes. A meta-analysis of 148 studies involving 408 849 participants showed positive social relationships were associated with a 50% increase in survival, whereas poor social relationships were associated with a 29% increase in cardiovascular disease and a 32% increase in strokes.9 Improving engagement can be achieved through friendships, family, and social networks as well as through religioius or community-focused social and volunteer groups.
Lifestyle Choices and Wellness
Lifestyle choices promoting wellness also influence morbidity and mortality. Notably, a favorable lifestyle was associated with a lower risk of dementia among individuals with high genetic risk and is a powerful example of disease mitigation through behavior and social choice. This is particularly important as society ages and the risk for dementia increases. The opportunity to modify the risk of obesity and dementia as well as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other disorders through changes in lifestyle and positive age beliefs is noteworthy. That regular exercise is pursued by 22.9% of the population speaks to the need for community-based fitness groups or mobile devices that engage individuals in health habits.
Pursing these life improvements is particularly important after major life changes such as retirement, divorce or moving to a new town.
Includes excerpts from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA).
Info: shpr.fyi/livelonger

Amid US-China Trade Battle, Here is how America can Remain the World’s Strongest

 

The People’s Republic of China, a socialist dictatorship, is a challenge to America’s values and concept of world order. U.S.-China competition is likely to be the hardest geopolitical contest in generations — but it is a contest that the United States can win if we focus on the right objectives. So, where do we go from here?

1. Focus on GDP

The first step must be a focus on accelerating U.S. productivity growth. U.S. productivity growth need only increase from 1.3 percent a year to 2.5 percent for U.S. GDP to remain ahead of China’s for the entirety of the 2020s, the decade in which many expect China’s economy to surpass America’s.

By 2030, economic leadership will be easier to maintain as China’s demographic problems set in. Such a productivity increase is realistic, given that productivity growth from 1995 to 2008 was higher than 2.5 percent.

2. Protect America’s edge

The second step is to preserve our edge in advanced and emerging technologies. America must remain ahead of Communist China, not only in hard sciences, but also in the actual production of advanced goods and services.

If America competes against China only through soybean and oil production, we will fail to counter China in advanced industries such as robotics, semiconductors, aerospace and biopharmaceuticals. China is gaining in these and other technologies and industries and could eventually have a decisive advantage over the United States.

As Alexander Hamilton warned 200 years ago, America can’t be great if it is a “hewer of wood and drawer of water.” We must out-invent and outproduce China in advanced technology and industrial goods.

Maintaining U.S. advantage will require collaboration between government and corporations towards national goals in science, engineering and industry. This approach has long served our nation in times of international struggle and led to lasting commercial and national security breakthroughs.

3. New and Big

In order to attain these goals, Washington must think new and big:

New in the sense of a bipartisan consensus that productivity growth and technological competitiveness must be national priorities.

Big in the sense of big and bold proposals. Here are three: First, implement a robust research, development and investment tax credit that will stimulate innovation and investment on American soil. Second, establish a series of well-funded “moonshot” goals to ensure American leadership in emerging industries such as advanced robotics and quantum computing. Third, develop a national productivity strategy that will take the best ideas of government and industry and focus on building the next $10 trillion in annual U.S. GDP by 2030.

Half a century ago, under the leadership of President John F. Kennedy, America faced a Communist superpower that believed that it would “bury” the United States, much as Chinese Communist leaders today believe that the 21st century belongs to China. Kennedy reminded us then that America would “bear any burden” and “meet any hardship” to prevail in that consequential time.

1. Increase manufacturing

In the end, it was the power of the American economy, the power of American technology, and the power of American industry that brought victory over our ambitious foe. We must unleash these forces once again, wrestle them into national service, and build on toward the greater good — an American era that can and must prevail.

From Global Trade Daily

  November 19th, 2019 | Written by Jonathan Ward and Robert Atkinson with Fox Business

Info: shpr.fyi/beatchina

 

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Excerpted from TheHour

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