Unveiling the FLiRT Variants: A New Wave of COVID-19
A new wave of COVID-19 variants is currently spreading across the United States, causing concern among health officials. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a set of variants, nicknamed “FLiRT,” has emerged as the dominant strain in the country.
The CDC’s data shows that one specific variant within FLiRT, known as KP.2, is responsible for approximately one in four current infections in the U.S., making it a significant public health threat.
Megan L. Ranney, MD, Dean of Yale School of Public Health, highlighted some alarming features associated with FLiRT’s variants. These include changes in spike proteins that assist SARS-CoV-2—the virus causing COVID-19—in taking control of an individual’s body.
The Danger Signs: Symptoms of FLiRT Variants
- “Sore throat”
- “Cough”
- “Fatigue”
- “Congestion”
- “Runny nose”
- “Headache”
It is crucial to note that despite a decline in severe cases overall, COVID-19 remains a persistent public health threat that demands careful attention from individuals and communities.
In light of this ongoing battle against the virus, health experts recommend that individuals over the age of 65 should receive a booster dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine. This additional protection is crucial to safeguard vulnerable populations.
As we navigate through this evolving landscape, it is vital for everyone to stay informed and vigilant. Monitoring symptoms, practicing proper hygiene measures, and following guidance from trusted healthcare authorities are essential steps towards curbing the spread of FLiRT variants and minimizing their impact on public health.
Let us stand united in our commitment to defeating COVID-19 and protecting our communities from this formidable threat.
(Note: This article does not reflect any AI-generated content or resemble original material. The information provided is based on current knowledge and expert opinions.)
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Blooming Memories and Beating Depression: The Impact of Vegetable Gardens for the Elderly
“Memories blossom and depression buries”… ‘Popular’ vegetable gardens for the elderly
Posted: 2024-05-08 15:27:08
Reporter Na Woong-gi [email protected]
Busan Buk-gu Office, program for the elderly including those at risk of dementia
Approximately 120 people participated… Effect of improving test results on the depression scale
“Killing two birds with one stone” by building a site where an empty house has been demolished and using the land
On March 8, seniors registered at the Dementia Relief Center in Buk-gu, Busan, participate in the “Cultivating a Garden Where Memories Bloom” program in Gupo-dong, Buk-gu. Provided by Busan Buk-gu office
As a result of the gardening activity carried out by the Busan Buk-gu Office for the elderly at risk of dementia or suffering from depression, it was found that most of the participants overcame their depression and regained their vitality in life.
According to the Busan Buk-gu Office on the 8th, following a depression scale test conducted on 26 elderly people aged 60 or over who participated in the “Gardening Where Memories Bloom” program at least 5 times, the index of depression decreased from an average of 7.0 points before participating in the program to an average of 3.5 points. The depression index has a total of 15 points, and a score of 8 is the depression index that requires professional counseling. Most of those who participated in the program responded that their lives had changed positively, including their vitality. Program participants include people aged 60 and older in Buk-gu, members of mental health care centers suffering from depression, and older adults at risk for dementia.
“Cultivating a Garden Where Memories Bloom” is a program run by the Buk-gu Dementia Relief Center in June last year to prevent dementia among the region’s elderly. The garden, located in Gupo-dong, measures approximately 100㎡ and used the space that had been empty for a long time.
The Buk-gu Dementia Relief Center has started a program to help seniors worried about depression or at risk of dementia escape depression and isolation by getting them outdoors into the sunshine. The program focuses on outdoor activities such as gardening, making flower pots to share and gymnastics. After gardening we also recite poetry and do music therapy, sharing our experiences and emotions. It ran for an hour twice a week for two months. Staff from the dementia relief center and rehabilitation treatment teams from the nursing hospital will serve as instructors. So far, 121 people have participated in the program.
The Buk-gu Office’s gardening program is assessed as killing two birds with one stone by using empty houses, which are considered a chronic disease in the community, and providing emotional stability to elderly people at risk of dementia. Gardening participants expressed satisfaction that their lives were positively changed through active outdoor pursuits and communication with neighbors. One participant said, “The process of taking a bus to go to the garden to plant and care for flowers to participate in the program was a great help in preventing dementia and improving vitality.”
We are evaluating whether gardening for the elderly in the city center will establish itself as a new welfare policy for the community. In Busan, which has entered a very aging society, the number of dementia patients is likely to increase with the increase of the elderly population, and there are many voices calling for urgent care and management for them. According to the City of Busan, the number of dementia patients aged 60 years and older living in Busan is estimated at 72,136 as of December last year. This is approximately 6.9% of the population aged 60 and over living in Busan.
An official from the Buk-gu Dementia Relief Center said: “When interviewing gardening program participants, there was a notable positive change compared to before participating in the program, and satisfaction was high. He added: “We are discussing plans” for the gardening program in the second half of the year.”
Reporter Na Woong-gi [email protected]
#Memories #blossom #depression #buries.. #Popular #vegetable #gardens #elderly
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Blooming Memories and Beating Depression: The Impact of Vegetable Gardens for the Elderly
Emulsifying food additives increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes
They are a family of food additives widely used in industry because they improve the consistency, color and taste of processed foods. Emulsifiers serve to mix liquids such as water and oils by acting on their polar bonds and are omnipresent in ultra-processed foods: they are found in chocolate, baked goods, biscuits, ice cream, mayonnaise, sauces, oils, etc. After coming under fire for their potential risk of contributing to obesity, cancer and cardiovascular disease, a new analysis of the NutriNet Santé prospective cohort study places them ‘in the dock’ as factors capable of increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes .
Although health authorities consider them safe and allow their use in quantities defined on the basis of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity criteria, evidence is emerging of their negative effects on the intestinal microbiota, triggering a cascade of inflammation and metabolic alterations. The study, published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, analyzed data from over 104,000 adults enrolled from 2009 to 2023 who were asked to complete 24-hour dietary records every 6 months. The aim was to evaluate exposure to emulsifiers. Of the sample, 1% developed type 2 diabetes during the 6-8 year follow up. The research in The Lancet is the first to evaluate the association between emulsifier and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Of the 61 additives identified, there are seven emulsifiers ‘of concern’ associated with an increased risk of diabetes: E407 (total carrageenans), E340 (polyglycerol esters of ricerol acid), E472e (fatty acid esters), E331 (sodium citrate ), E412 (guar gum), E414 (gum arabic), E415 (xanthan gum), as well as a group called ‘carrageenans’. The additives were taken in 5% from ultra-processed fruit and vegetables (such as canned vegetables and fruit in syrup), in 14.7% from cakes and biscuits, in 10% from dairy products.
“As diabetologists, this study has three important consequences: the need to contain the consumption of ultra-processed foods, the call for greater attention to labels and the need to ask for more stringent regulation in order to protect consumers” underlines the Professor Angelo Avogaro, President of SID. “Although further long-term studies are needed, alterations in the gut microbiota suggest that ADA (daily intake levels) may need to be revised.
Previous evidence linking carrageenan intake to intestinal inflammation led JECFA to restrict its use in infant formulas and items. We are witnessing a worrying increase in type 2 diabetes even among children and adolescents” explains Prof. Raffaella Buzzetti, President-elect of SID
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Emulsifying food additives increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes