Month: December 2021

2021-12-07T08:01:00

(BPT) – Everyone seems to have an opinion on winter weather. Some welcome the sparkling beauty of snow and look forward to beloved winter activities. For others, plummeting temperatures only bring them outside when necessary, often to shovel or run errands.

No matter your personal feelings about winter, the season can present some challenges to your body’s frame. Orthopaedic trauma surgeon and spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), Yelena Bogdan, MD, FAAOS, offers tips to avoid common winter injuries and accidents during the cold months.

Dress for the weather

Wind and sleet. Ice and snow. The winter season can be unpredictable, so dressing appropriately for the weather is essential. Layers help you stay warm and can easily be removed if you get overheated. Water-resistant outerwear is a must to repel rain, snow, and ice. Remember to be mindful of the extremities, which can suffer frostbite quickly if not covered. Always wear high-quality hats, boots, and gloves or mittens for protection. Remind children to leave these items on when outside, but if clothing or winter attire becomes wet, to head inside to dry off or get fresh gear.

Know the signs of frostbite

Frostbite can occur in mere minutes when you are outside in extreme cold. It also can happen when temperatures are above freezing if there is strong wind. According to Dr. Bogdan, symptoms of frostbite include numbness, a frozen feeling on the skin or deeper tissue, and a waxy, white or grayish color. Seek shelter if you think someone has frostbite and gently rewarm the affected area in warm (not hot) water for at least 30 to 45 minutes, or until the area feels warm and sensation returns. Don’t rub or massage the frostbitten area with your hands or with anything else.

Remove ice and snow

Whether you live in an area blanketed with snow for months or you’re graced with just a few flurries a year, it’s important to take care of your home and those who live there by shoveling and removing ice. Use a snow shovel or snow blower to remove snowfall and store plenty of salt or sand to sprinkle on icy spots to prevent falls on walkways and other frequently accessed outdoor spaces.

Use proper snow shoveling technique

Removing snow is essential for household safety, but the activity itself comes with risks. To prevent injuries, use a shovel that is comfortable for your height and strength. Try to push the snow instead of lifting it. If you must lift, squat with your legs apart, knees bent, and back straight. Always lift with your legs and avoid bending at the waist or throwing snow over your shoulder or to the side. This requires a twisting motion that stresses your back. Finally, start early and shovel often, rather than waiting for a big snowfall to finish, which can mean heavier lifting.

Take winter sport precautions

Did you know that more than 200,000 people were treated at hospitals, doctors’ offices and emergency rooms for injuries related to winter sports in 2018? According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, these injuries were the result of cold weather sports like skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and sledding. The AAOS urges sports enthusiasts to take precautions to avoid common injuries such as sprains, strains, dislocations, and fractures. When participating in your favorite winter activity, make sure to wear appropriate protective gear, including goggles, helmets, gloves and padding. Know and abide by all rules of the sport in which you are participating and never go out alone. Stay in areas designated for your activity, such as a groomed ski hill or community sledding hill, and make sure you can see adequately.

For more winter injury prevention tips for your bones and joints, visit OrthoInfo.org.

2021-12-07T09:01:00

(BPT) – This content was sponsored by GSK. Jenna is a real patient who was on treatment at the time of these interviews. GSK paid for her time and expenses in sharing her unique experiences. Individual results may vary.

Can you remember a time when a teacher of yours positively impacted your life? According to a study conducted by the ING Foundation, 88% of Americans say they had a teacher who had a significant, positive impact on their life and 98% reported that they believe a good teacher can change the course of a student’s life. Teachers provide our children a space to learn and grow each day, whether virtual or in-person.

“A normal day for a teacher, you are always on your feet ready to move, ready to catch the next problem and solve it,” shared Jenna, an art teacher and artist.

When those daily responsibilities are met with respiratory conditions, like asthma, a teacher’s job can become even more difficult.

Asthma is a chronic lung disease where inflammation in the lungs causes the airways to narrow. Symptoms of asthma can include shortness of breath, chest tightness or pain, wheezing when exhaling and trouble sleeping due to asthma symptoms. Of the 25 million people in the U.S. living with asthma, 5-10% suffer from severe asthma. Severe asthma is often characterized by a higher frequency of symptoms.

During her first year of teaching, Jenna found that her severe asthma was negatively impacting her work. She felt disappointed that her condition was holding her back from being able to give her students her best while still maintaining her own health and well-being.

“Do I stay and just push through this stress, and this hurt and this not being able to breathe in my classroom? Do I stay for them, or do I have to go and take care of myself? It’s kind of a constant battle,” said Jenna.

Severe asthma did not only impact her work life but also her personal life. Jenna shared, “When you’re not able to teach and do the things that you want to with your students it’s really difficult. When you’re not able to partake in activities with your family, it’s really frustrating.”

After sharing her symptoms with her doctor, Jenna learned that not all asthma is the same, and for some people, including about half of those with severe asthma, elevated eosinophil levels can be a key factor. This type of asthma is called severe eosinophilic asthma (SEA). Jenna’s body was producing excess eosinophils, which likely contributed to the severity of her symptoms and the frequency of her asthma attacks. This led to her diagnosis of SEA by an asthma specialist.

The role of eosinophils [ee-uh-sin-uh-fils]

Jenna learned that everyone has eosinophils in their body, which are a type of white blood cell that plays an important role in maintaining the immune system and helping to fight off certain infections. Her doctor told her that if you have an increased number of eosinophils, your lungs may become swollen, or inflamed. This can cause severe asthma attacks. She learned that a simple blood test that measures eosinophil levels can help determine if you have SEA. Once you have an eosinophilic asthma diagnosis, together, you and your doctor will decide if adding a different kind of asthma treatment could help.

According to Dr. Tom Corbridge, Senior Medical Lead at GSK, eosinophils play a critical role in a handful of conditions, not just SEA, and symptoms can present themselves in a variety of ways: “In most healthy people, eosinophils make up less than 5% of the body’s white blood cells. When a person has higher numbers of eosinophils without a known cause, they may have an eosinophilic disease, which can cause severe symptoms long-term. Some of these persistent symptoms include frequent asthma attacks and reduced lung function.”

Eosinophils can impact other diseases in addition to asthma, including:

1. Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) is a disease of the nasal passages and sinuses with soft tissue growths called nasal polyps. Nasal polyp symptoms can include nasal congestion, nasal discharge, mucus in the throat, loss of smell, and facial pain. When people have CRSwNP, there is inflammation in the nasal passages and sinuses. Eosinophils play an important role in this inflammation.
2. Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), formerly known as Churg-Strauss syndrome, is a condition characterized by asthma, an increase in eosinophils and inflammation of the blood vessels (also known as vasculitis). EGPA is characterized by the development of asthma as an adult, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), growths in the nose (nasal polyps) and an increased eosinophil count.
3. Hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES) is another condition connected to increased levels of eosinophils and is also a rare and under-diagnosed disease. People with HES often have eosinophil levels three times greater than the average, which causes inflammation and organ damage, and can significantly impact patients’ ability to function and complete day-to-day activities.

Treatment

A key protein in our body called IL-5 (interleukin-5) plays a key role in eosinophil production. While the mechanism of action of NUCALA (mepolizumab) is not fully understood, NUCALA targets eosinophils in the body. NUCALA binds to IL-5 and blocks IL-5 from making more eosinophils. Having less eosinophils can help reduce inflammation. This may lead to fewer asthma attacks.

NUCALA is the only anti-IL-5 biologic approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in four eosinophil-driven diseases: SEA, CRSwNP, EGPA, and HES.

NUCALA is a prescription medicine for the:

• add-on maintenance treatment of patients 6 and older with severe eosinophilic asthma. NUCALA is not used to treat sudden breathing problems.
• add-on maintenance treatment of CRSwNP in adults whose disease is not controlled with nasal corticosteroids.
• treatment of adults with EGPA.
• treatment of people 12 years of age and older with HES.

Do not use NUCALA if you are allergic to mepolizumab or any of the ingredients in NUCALA.

Not for sudden breathing problems. Allergic reactions can occur, including anaphylaxis. Get help right away for swelling of face, mouth, tongue, or trouble breathing. Infections that can cause shingles have occurred. Don’t stop taking steroids unless told by your doctor. Tell your doctor if you have a parasitic infection. May cause headache, injection site reactions, back pain, fatigue, mouth/throat and joint pain.

Please see full Important Safety Information below and full Prescribing Information.

Finally Receiving a Diagnosis and Treatment

Ultimately, Jenna’s doctor diagnosed her with SEA and recommended she try NUCALA, which she now takes monthly (every four weeks).

Her advice to others with similar struggles: “Hang in there. Give things like NUCALA a chance.”

Learn more about NUCALA

Ask your primary care provider to refer you to a specialist for more information on a targeted treatment approach. A blood test can be administered to determine eosinophil levels and help diagnose certain diseases like SEA and EGPA.

Important Safety Information

Do not use NUCALA if you are allergic to mepolizumab or any of the ingredients in NUCALA.

Do not use to treat sudden breathing problems.

NUCALA can cause serious side effects, including:

• allergic (hypersensitivity) reactions, including anaphylaxis. Serious allergic reactions can happen after you get your NUCALA injection. Allergic reactions can sometimes happen hours or days after you get a dose of NUCALA. Tell your healthcare provider or get emergency help right away if you have any of the following symptoms of an allergic reaction:
• swelling of your face, mouth, and tongue
• breathing problems
• fainting, dizziness, feeling lightheaded (low blood pressure)
• rash
• hives
• Herpes zoster infections that can cause shingles have happened in people who received NUCALA.

Before receiving NUCALA, tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you:

• are taking oral or inhaled corticosteroid medicines. Do not stop taking your other medicines, including your corticosteroid medicines, unless instructed by your healthcare provider because this may cause other symptoms to come back.
• have a parasitic (helminth) infection.
• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known if NUCALA may harm your unborn baby.
• A pregnancy registry for women with asthma who receive NUCALA while pregnant collects information about the health of you and your baby. You can talk to your healthcare provider about how to take part in this registry or you can get more information and register by calling 1-877-311-8972 or visit www.mothertobaby.org/asthma.
• are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. You and your healthcare provider should decide if you will use NUCALA and breastfeed. You should not do both without talking with your healthcare provider first.
• are taking prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

The most common side effects of NUCALA include: headache, injection site reactions (pain, redness, swelling, itching, or a burning feeling at the injection site), back pain, and tiredness (fatigue). Mouth/throat pain and joint pain have been reported with CRSwNP.

Please see full Prescribing Information including Patient Information for NUCALA.

NUCALA injection is available as a 100-mg/mL vial, Autoinjector, and prefilled syringe.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

For more information on NUCALA, visit www.nucala.com.

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©2021 GSK or licensor.
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Produced in USA.

2021-12-06T14:09:00

(BPT) – Vitamin D is known for helping with bone health, but its benefits extend beyond that. Due to its positive effects on the respiratory and immune systems, more than 100 clinical trials have been conducted since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to look for links between vitamin D and COVID-19.

Higher blood levels of vitamin D correlated with lower incidence or severity of COVID-19 in most reviews of the research.

Thirteen recent meta-analyses (statistical reviews) examined the data from those 100-plus independent studies. Most of the studies focused on vitamin D blood levels and COVID-19, while two exclusively looked at vitamin D consumption in relationship to the illness. Most analyses reveal that higher blood levels of vitamin D appear to be correlated with lower incidence or severity of COVID-19, whereas lower blood levels of vitamin D appear to be correlated with a more severe case of COVID-19.

“Increasing evidence suggests a link between higher vitamin D levels and lower incidence of COVID-19,” said Luke Huber, ND, MBA, vice president of scientific and regulatory affairs at the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN). “We have known for years that vitamin D plays an important role in immune health, and now there are multiple meta-analyses that appear to demonstrate the benefits of this nutrient in COVID-19.”

One statistical review found that intervening with vitamin D in an active case of COVID-19 reduced chance of death, though another, smaller meta-analysis did not see a statistically significant relationship. Timing and dosage of those vitamin D interventions may have led to different results. Summaries of the meta-analyses and links to the research are available on the CRN Foundation’s “Vitamin D & Me!” website.

“Consumers need science-based evidence to make informed health decisions,” said Brian Wommack, executive director of the CRN Foundation. “We hope consumers use these findings to better understand how nutrients like vitamin D support their goal of living a healthy lifestyle.”

Prevalence of low vitamin D status

Low vitamin D status is increasingly common. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (VDD) was found to be 28.9%, and vitamin D insufficiency (VDI) 41% in a subset of 26,010 U.S. adults surveyed as part of the ongoing National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2001-2010.

Recent studies in the British Journal of Nutrition, European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and Aging Clinical and Experimental Research revealed that the following people are more at risk for VDD and VDI:

• People of color, especially the Black community
• Less educated populations
• Those of lower socioeconomic status
• Smokers
• Physically inactive people
• Obese individuals
• Infrequent milk drinkers
• Individuals with chronic diseases, especially of the liver, kidney and heart
• Anyone with a disease that leads to malabsorption, such as Crohn’s disease
• Older adults, due especially to aging skin’s reduced ability to synthesize vitamin D
• People with pre-existing conditions, such as diabetics
• Anyone with reduced exposure to sunlight, such as those hospitalized and institutionalized
• Those taking certain medications

How do we get vitamin D?

Vitamin D comes from three potential sources: food, sunlight-dependent production in the skin and supplements. Because vitamin D is not easily obtained from food, many countries, including the U.S. and Canada, have regulations that require vitamin D fortification of commonly consumed foods, such as milk, orange juice, other dairy products and cereals.

With regular sun exposure, a healthy diet and healthy kidneys, many people can make the vitamin D they need; however, most people are not regularly exposed to the sun, and diets vary. According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, a peer-reviewed journal from the American Society for Nutrition, few people can obtain enough vitamin D from food sources alone, making supplementation important.

How much to supplement is less clear and will vary based on vitamin D status. It’s important to first discuss dosage with your doctor, as deficient and insufficient individuals will need a different supplement strategy than those who are not.

Takeaways

Simple supplementation may make you less likely to get sick and may lessen the degree of sickness if you do contract COVID-19. It isn’t a substitute for other measures, but it’s another step you can take to keep you and your family healthy.

“This growing body of research does not indicate that vitamin D is a substitute for vaccines, mask wearing, social distancing or other behaviors to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus,” said Huber. “But the data indicate that vitamin D levels may play a role, in combination with other therapies, in strengthening the immune system to resist the virus.”

The CRN Foundation, a nonprofit educational organization of the dietary supplement industry that provides information about responsible use of dietary supplements, has put together a “Vitamin D & Me!” educational initiative to explore the science: VitaminDAndMe.org.

2021-12-06T08:01:00

(BPT) – Sponsored by Astellas Pharma US, Inc.

Because you are unique, you want health care that is personalized to your needs. If you are at risk of developing or have cancer, you want more than personalization. You want precision. This is why precision medicine based on personal genetic information is important.

Precision medicine may also be called personalized medicine, and conversations with your doctor about this topic may include information about genetic changes, DNA sequencing, biomarker or molecular testing.¹ Once your health care team has your genetic profile or the genetic makeup of your cancer from tests like these, they have additional information to guide precision medicine.¹

Precision medicine uses genetic information of your tumor cells to inform diagnosis and treatment recommendations.^1,2 Your genetic profile may also include information about gene mutations, which are changes that could impact your health and, therefore, your care.³

According to the American Cancer Society, precision medicine might be used to help doctors³:

• Identify who might be at high risk for cancer
• Prevent some types of cancer
• Find certain cancers early
• Diagnose a specific type of cancer correctly
• Choose what treatment options are best
• Evaluate how a treatment is working

Understanding FLT3 mutations in AML

Genes are made up of long chains of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) that can be arranged in different ways that serve as codes, providing instructions for what happens in the body.⁴ Sometimes, abnormal changes known as mutations happen in the DNA of a cell, which can instruct the body to do harmful things, such as develop cancer like acute myeloid leukemia (AML).³

AML is an aggressive type of blood cancer in which the bone marrow makes abnormal blood cells.⁵ There are different subtypes of AML that are each caused by a unique gene mutation.⁴ FLT3 is just one of many gene mutations that can be present in AML.⁴ When a disease like AML does not improve after previous treatment(s), it is known as refractory. If a disease comes back after a period of improvement, it is known as a relapse.⁴

Generally, genetic testing is done with bone marrow or blood tests.⁵ If a genetic test reveals a gene mutation like FLT3, doctors can work with you to determine a treatment plan that may address the mutation.⁴ Your genes inform precision medicine.³

It’s important to remember that gene mutations can develop over time.¹ Even though you may have been tested at diagnosis, your physician may also perform tests to see if you have developed any genetic mutations since your initial diagnosis.⁴

“We are starting to see that mutations have functional impact that are going to have prognostic and therapeutic impact going forward.” – Naval Daver, M.D., MD Anderson Cancer Center.

AML is a journey

If you or a loved one is diagnosed with relapsed or refractory AML, it can be overwhelming. Finding answers throughout treatments can feel challenging, but these tips can help:

Ask questions: Feel free to discuss any questions you have with your health care team. You may want to write them down before your appointments to ensure you remember them. Visit BeAMLReady.com to access a discussion guide with foundational questions to help start the conversation.

Track symptoms: AML can change over time⁷ , so actively monitor your health and engage your doctor immediately if anything changes. Use a method that works best for you, whether that’s a personal notebook, a digital calendar or another tool.

Form a team: Maintain a strong partnership with your caregivers and health care providers throughout your treatment journey. Not only will the healthcare team provide important treatments and guidance, they’ll provide essential support and can recommend additional resources to help you if needed.

Find out mutation status: Your disease journey is unique to you. Knowing your genetic mutation status may impact your treatment options. Ask about getting tested and consider retesting at relapse or if your disease progresses.⁴

Find support: Your family, friends and health care teams provide important foundational support. Some people also appreciate connecting to others impacted by AML, so consider joining advocacy organizations or online AML support communities.

Visit BeAMLReady.com for more information on precision medicine, relapsed or refractory AML, the importance of genetic testing and how to prepare for every step of the treatment journey.

References

1. National Cancer Institute. Precision medicine in cancer treatment (10-03-2017). https://www.cancer.gov/about- cancer/treatment/types/precision-medicine. Accessed 04-08-2021.
2. American Cancer Society. How genes can help in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer (06-25-2014). https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/genetics/genes-and-cancer/genes-in-cancer-diagnosis-and- treatment.html. Accessed 09-15-2021.
3. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN). NCCN Guidelines for Patients Acute Myeloid Leukemia (06/01/2020). https://www.nccn.org/patients/guidelines/content/PDF/aml-patient.pdf. Accessed 11-09-2021.
4. National Cancer Institute. Adult acute myeloid leukemia treatment (PDQ®): patient version (03-06-2020). https://www.cancer.gov/types/leukemia/patient/adult-aml-treatment-pdq. Accessed 04-23-2021.
5. McCormick SR, McCormick MJ, Grutkoski PS, et al. FLT3 mutations at diagnosis and relapse in acute myeloid leukemia: cytogenetic and pathologic correlations, including cuplike blast morphology. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2010;134(8):1143- 51.
6. American Cancer Society. About acute myeloid leukemia (06-24-2019). https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/CRC/PDF/Public/8674.00.pdf. Accessed 09-13-2021.