There are many benefits of stretching. It helps our body become leaner and more flexible. Stretching should be incorporated as part of your exercise routine.
Stretching is good for us and there are many benefits. Stretching can help you with your flexibility and should be incorporated into your exercise routine. Whether we realise it or not, we do stretch daily although none of us will call it exercise. We do this when we wake up and it is actually good for our body.
Stretching once a week is not enough for us to reap its benefits. It is better to be done regularly but you don’t have to overdo it unless if you’re trying to become a gymnast or ballerina where flexibility is essential.
In the morning
Stretching when we wake up helps our muscles lose fluids that were pooled on our sleeping side. This could be on your back, left, right, or even on your front of body. This all depends on the type of sleeper you are.
Stretching when you wake up helps recalibrate your muscles to its usual range of motions.
Why it is important
Stretching helps keep your muscles strong, flexible and healthy. Flexibility is important so our joints can maintain its range of motions. Stretching can also avoid risks of strains, joint pains, and muscle damage.
Regular stretching can help keep your muscles lean, long and flexible.
Benefits
Be aware that stretching before an exercise does more damage than good. This is because your muscles are still cold and therefore harder to stretch. Doing it after your exercise routine, when your muscles have gone through the motions, provides better results.
Just a little bit of stretching after your exercise goes a long way.
Builds up circulation
Stretching improves blood circulation by increasing blood supply to your joints and muscles. This also translates to better nutrients distribution to your body.
Better posture
Align your back better with lower back, chest and shoulder stretches.
Muscle relaxation
Just as we would like to go to a spa or hike to relax, our muscles deserves some time out too. Stretching reduces muscular tension by delivering essential nutrients to your body (see no. 1).
Stress be gone!
Stretching helps release tension in our body, therefore helps relieve or manage stress. If you’re reading this on your desk, raise your arms to the air, clasp your hands together and stretch. Move side to side if you have to. How do you feel now?
SYDNEY, July 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Monash plant scientists have discovered a new molecular mechanism of gene regulation, which could have major implications for the development of treatment strategies for Friedreich’s ataxia — a debilitating genetic disorder that causes damage to the nervous system.
The study – the first plant-based original research paper with an exclusive Australian affiliation to the prestigious journal Cell, was published today.
“Our findings have opened up unprecedented opportunities with immense potential for human genetic diseases,” said study lead Associate Professor Sureshkumar Balasubramanian, from the Monash School of Biological Sciences.
“This research has major implications for our understanding of how the genetic mutation that underlies Friedreich ataxia, leads to damage of the nervous system and thus symptoms of this condition,” said Professor Martin Delatycki, a clinician and researcher from Murdoch Children’s Research Institute who has studied Friedreich ataxia for more than 20 years.
“This may lead to treatments that are desperately needed for this devastating disorder,” he said.
Friedreich’s ataxia is the most commonly inherited genetic ataxia affecting young adults for which there is currently no cure.
The disease occurs due to a type of DNA mutation referred to as ‘triplet repeat expansion’. In individuals affected by Friedreich’s ataxia, the mutation is present in a region (known as intron) of the affected gene, which is removed during the production of mRNA.
However, the presence of the expansion typically leads to a reduction in the levels of the mRNA, which in turn results in reduced protein leading to disease.
“While there have been efforts to increase the mRNA levels as a potential therapeutic strategy, it has been difficult, since it was not clear how the triplet repeat expansion results in the reduced in mRNA levels,” Associate Professor Sureshkumar Balasubramanian said.
The researchers made their discovery using the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana.
“When we found the first and only triplet expansion associated genetic defect outside humans, we asked the fundamental question ‘how do triplet expansions lead to reduced mRNA levels?’,” Associate Professor Sureshkumar Balasubramanian said.
“We show in this paper that triplet repeat expansions lead to accumulation of small RNAs and these small RNAs, target the gene harbouring the repeat expansion via epigenetic gene silencing,” he said.
“We have pointed at least 11 different genes in this process and it is remarkable that if we perturb these genes we can abolish the negative impacts of this mutation – at least in plants,” said Dr Sridevi Sureshkumar, a research fellow who shared the first authorship with Dr Hannes Eimer, a recent PhD graduate from the Balasubramanian group.
World-renowned plant biologist Professor Detlef Weigel Foreign Member of Royal Society from the Max Planck Institute in Germany, described the work as an impressive example of the potential of basic plant research.
“Small RNAs were first discovered in plants, but later found to play important roles in all organisms including humans,” Professor Weigel said.
“Now the Monash group has linked them to a phenomenon with great relevance to human genetic disease.
“This was possible because experiments can be conducted in plants that are simply not possible in humans.”
Other researchers who were part of the Monash-led study include Avilash Singh Yadav, Calvin Kraupner-Taylor, Andrei Seleznev, Tamblyn Thomason, Stephanie Frances Gordon from Balasubramanian group, and collaborator Professor Bernie Carroll and his student Stephen Fletcher from the University of Queensland.
The full paper titled RNA-dependent epigenetic silencing directs transcriptional down regulation caused by intronic repeat expansions can be found here ( https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2018.06.044 ).
Further information: Silvia Dropulich Marketing, Media and Communications Manager, Science T: +61 3 9902 4513 M: +61 (0) 0435138743 E: silvia.dropulich@monash.edu
Media interviews: Associate Professor Sureshkumar Balasubramanian T:+61 434734536 E: mb.suresh@monash.edu
SHANGHAI, July 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Organised by UBM EMEA in collaboration with the China Chamber of Commerce for Import & Export of Medicines & Health Products and co-organised by Shanghai UBM Sinoexpo International Exhibition Co, CPhI and its co-located events — ICSE, NEX, BioPh China, P-MEC, InnoPack and LABWorld China — came to a successful conclusion at Shanghai New International Expo Centre on June 22.
Onsite conferences and activities
Forging the way over 18 years
Advancing continuously over the past 18 years, CPhI and P-MEC China have not only set up a giant international platform for China’s pharmaceutical industry but also witnessed the country’s huge development in the 40 years of pharmaceutical reform from meeting the drug demands in China to opening overseas mainstream markets. Hitting new records again in 2018, the show scale of CPhI & P-MEC China reached 180,000m2, while the exhibitor number reached 3,022 and the total number of visits 60,744, growing by 10% since 2017. The number of international visitors has increased massively reaching 15,329 — over 50% more visits from abroad than in 2017.
Favored by policy and market environments, onsite heat discussions carried out all the way
The new round of pharmaceutical industry growth benefits more from the further improvement of the overall environment, in addition to the reliance on the new market efficiency. China’s joining ICH in 2017 indicates that the country’s pharmaceutical industry will participate in competition in the global context.
The rapid development of China’s pharmaceutical industry is fascinating and international cooperation can be seen everywhere, with a large amount originating at CPhI China. CPhI China, an important stop of CPhI global pharmaceutical serial brand exhibitions, fully gathers the global resources providing the most favorable commerce and trade platform for Chinese pharmaceutical enterprises to achieve internationalisation.
Cultivating different market segments, brand zones and providing unlimited business opportunities
China, an important market in the global pharmaceutical industry, is instigating a surge in international new drug registration and market expansion, and the global pharmaceutical industry structure is ushering in a series of new adjustments under the background of the rise of emerging markets. The deep internationalisation and development towards the downstream industrial chain of China’s pharmaceutical industry have made China not only the most important API supplier in the world but also provided it with rich preparation products and biopharmaceutical products to enter the international market. CPhI China holds tremendous possibility for industry extension as one of the driving forces of the industry changes.
In compliance with the industry development trends, CPhI China has been constantly exploiting and extending upstream and downstream industrial chains while deeply taking root in the pharmaceutical API industry over the last 18 years, and has now included 13 segments including APIs, fine chemical and intermediates, pharmaceutical excipients, finished dosage, CRO & CMO, biopharmaceuticals, natural extracts, animal health and feed, pharmaceutical machinery, packaging materials, laboratory instruments, environmental protection & clean technology and pharmaceutical logistics. The event has become a professional trade exchange channel in the vertical industry chain of the global pharmaceutical industry, which is second to none. Among these segments, the Excipients Zone has been upgraded to an independent exhibition in 2018, namely, PharmaExcipients China, after 5 years of development, where more than 100 Chinese and famous international excipient manufacturers gathered to showcase innovative products and technologies, help the development of new dosage forms and new preparations of the industry and enable Chinese pharmaceutical enterprises to walk on the innovative path with more competitiveness. The new Animal Health & Feed Zone has further expanded the industrial chain, aiming to promote the market exploitation of veterinary drugs. The hot BioPh China in the industry has kept fingers firmly on the CRO & CMO pulse of the times together with ICSE China, and brought the latest technologies, products and services in the pharmaceutical R&D field, with R&D as the foothold and innovation as the core.
Furthermore, over 800 Chinese and international giants in pharmaceutical machinery gathered on the site of P-MEC, LABWorld, and EP & Clean Tech China and brought relevant equipment solutions for the bottlenecks currently encountered by Chinese pharmaceutical enterprises; the scale of InnoPack China was upgraded again, to bring insiders more Chinese and overseas famous packaging brands and innovative products; the Intelligent Manufacturing zone of P-MEC China and Intelligent Logistics zone of P-Logi were combined and formally updated into the Intelligent Plant Zone, to open doors to the new development opportunities of the era of “intelligent pharmaceuticals”.
Onsite conferences and activities link multiple themes and present comprehensive contents
With the rapid development of the pharmaceutical industry over the years, numerous scientists have returned to China with the launch of China’s Thousand Talents Plan, and China’s R&D teams have been constantly growing; meanwhile, with the regulatory policy reform and acceleration of approval for new drug marketing, China’s advance in terms of pharmaceutical product R&D has also received extensive attention from the international pharma world. As an exhibition always at the forefront of the international pharmaceutical industry, CPhI China this year held over 100 conferences and activities concurrently, to present the latest development trends and advanced technologies of global pharmaceuticals, discuss topics deep into the industry cores, and promote communication and learning between Chinese and overseas industries.
In the 9th China-World CEO Summit, 5th China BioPh Outlook Summit, CHP-JP Joint Forum, and China Pharma Environmental Forum, etc., attendees made in-depth exchange on hot topics like pharmaceutical product standards, environmental protection, and industry chain management, to cover each level of the industrial development and stick to the general trends in the international pharmaceutical market’s transformation like the rise of bio-medicine and Chinese pharmaceutical preparations’ going to the world, making the exhibition an important learning and exchange platform for the business communication and strategic decision-making of international pharmaceutical enterprises.
In addition, there were also many innovative activities held in each place of the exhibition halls: NEX High Quality Suppliers Gallery, Pharmaceutical Packaging & Drug Delivery System Innovation Gallery & Tour, Pharma Clean Technology Innovation Tour, InnoLAB Salon, the Pharmaceutical Chemical Project Implementation & Matching Conference newly launched this year, and 2018 New Raw Materials Innovation Technology Seminar, etc. showcased the excellent charm of quality Chinese enterprises to the global visitors and developed international business opportunities for exhibitors through professional planning and novel presentation.
The 2nd edition of China Pharma Week inheriting its high-end quality
The 5-day China Pharma Week was launched in Shanghai and surrounding areas in 2018 with 20 extended events to cover the Leadership, Business, Networking, Recognition, Knowledge, and Innovation of the pharmaceutical industry.
The conferences cover a wide range of topics, including analysis of Chinese and international pharmaceutical laws, regulations and new policies, interpretation of latest patents and intellectual property, green process transformation, etc., and the events were diversified, from the heavyweight industry awards, women in leadership forum to factory visit, and C-level networking dinner etc., to build an annual high-end pharmaceutical industry event that integrates trade, socializing, and knowledge sharing.
2018 Award for Top 100 Internationalized Companies
Excellent Suppliers and Partners in International Market (Top 60), Leading Formulation Suppliers (Top 20), and Promising Enterprises (Top 20) were selected on the basis of product export, international registration, overseas M&A, and international cooperation, etc. The lists were released before the show, and published to all exhibitors and visitors on the site of the show.
The 9th China-World CEO Summit
Themed by how to guarantee the balance and stability of API supply chain, the summit invited leaders of representative enterprises in the industry to a round table discussion to share successful experience and advices on addressing the above challenges, which provided references to resolve the current development predicament of the enterprises.
The 2nd CPhI Women in Leadership Forum
Onsite conferences and activities
The forum was successfully held at Le Sun Chine one night before the show, to unveil the China Pharma Week. Themed with “New Era, New Women, New Health”, the forum gathered over 60 women leaders of the pharma industry to share life insights and talk about experience in the workplace.
CPhI Networking Dinner
The CPhI Networking Dinner at the Bund took place as scheduled on the evening of June 20, with nearly 200 government officials, Chinese and overseas VIP buyers and pharmaceutical company executives attending the event, who shared insights with industry peers from all over the world, broadened the socializing resources, and obtained high-end connections in the industry while enjoying the night view of Huangpu River and tasting the dinner delicacies.
Plant Visit
The Plant Visit continued the splendidness of the show after its close on 22 June. The organiser orchestrated 3 routes: Cutting-edge System & Engineering, Scientific & Innovative Instruments, and Amino Acid Manufacturing, leading nearly 40 professional visitors to the plant, which facilitated potential partners to get in touch with the culture and technology of suppliers closely, and feel the strength of “Made in China“.
Onsite conferences and activities
CHP-JP Joint Forum
The 1st CHP-JP Joint Forum was successfully held in Shanghai on June 21 by Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission and Society of Japanese Pharmacopoeia, with over 200 representatives from the China National Drug Administration, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan, Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency of Japan, Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission, National Institutes for Food and Drug Control of China, and Chinese and Japanese institutions for pharmaceutical product research, production, and control present.
International Agencies Updates and Q&A
Experts from China National Drug Administration, Chinese Pharmacopoeia Commission, Center for Food and Drug Inspection of CFDA, Shanghai Municipal Food and Drug Administration, Delegation of the European Union to China, World Health Organization, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines & HealthCare, United States Pharmacopeia Convention, British Standards Institute and Saudi Food and Drug Authority, etc. together with over 200 representatives from nearly 100 enterprises were present at the conference. The conference has been held for consecutive years, inviting Chinese and overseas pharmacopoeia and drug regulation agencies to share the recent dynamics of drug regulatory policies, laws and regulations. It also helps enterprises improve levels in product registration application and quality system construction, which is not only a high-end, open, and sharing platform for Chinese and overseas pharmaceutical industries to exchange on drug regulatory laws and regulations, but also an important window for Chinese pharmaceutical industry to be synonymous with international standards.
2018 China-World Innovation and Development Forum
The speeches of the forum were focused on the policy and market which covered the pharmaceutical industry development situation and policy trends, CFDA’s latest reforms and influences thereof, analysis of the import & export and internationalisation situation of Chinese pharmaceutical products, pharmaceutical product patent protection, and market access and regulation, etc., to provide a high-level exchange platform for Chinese and overseas pharmaceutical entrepreneurs, industry experts, and relevant government departments, and offer keen insights and thorough analysis of the new environments and new situations of development of the Chinese and overseas pharmaceutical industries from the perspective of globalisation strategy.
P-MEC China Summit 2018
The P-MEC China Summit 2018 lasted for three days (June 20-22) and came to a successful conclusion, where lively and detailed speeches were given mainly focusing on topics like “Rationality of Deviation Investigation and Effective Management of CAPA”, “Technology Transfer Requirements in MAH”, and “Lean Manufacturing of Pharmaceuticals: How to create real competitiveness through effective integration with QA/QC”, with an audience of nearly 200 people and fantastic interactions during the discussion to let wisdom sparkle in the clash of ideas. It provided insiders with an excellent platform for analysing policies and regulations, discussing quality culture development, qualification and validation, and data integrity, and showcasing the latest technologies.
China Pharma Environmental Forum
The forum gathered an advisory group in the environmental policy field of China and an expert panel on environmental equipment and technology, to discuss the application of the environmental protection technology in the pharmaceutical industry under the New Normal, and bring interpretations of the latest pharmaceutical environmental protection policies and green and environmental protection application solutions.
Furthermore, to respond to China’s call for green manufacturing, promotion of energy conservation and emission reduction and clean production, resistance to violations of environmental laws and regulations, and a drive toward green transformation and upgrading and sustainable development of the pharmaceutical industry, the “Pharmaceutical Industry Green Development Initiative” initiated by All-China Environmental Federation, CCCMHPIE, and UBM Sinoexpo, and actively responded by North China Pharmaceutical Group Corporation, Hangzhou Lanran Environmental Technology Co., Ltd., Asymchem Laboratories (Tianjin) Co., Ltd., Yangtze River Pharmaceutical Group Jiangsu Haici Biological Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., DSM Sinochem Pharmaceuticals Limited, Zhejiang Liuhe Engineering Technology Co., Ltd., Zhejiang Guobang Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., and Beijing Key Laboratory of Resource-Oriented Treatment of Industrial Pollutants of University of Science and Technology Beijing was released to the whole industry, to call for performing environmental responsibilities and keeping the commitment for green development.
5th China BioPh Outlook Summit
Kicked off on June 21, the 5th China BioPh Outlook Summit, an important conference of the biopharmaceutical industry, invited over 20 Chinese and oversea senior pharmaceutical experts to form a luxury speaker lineup, from well-known pharmaceutical enterprises like Amgen, Bayer, Roche, Henlius, WuXi AppTec, and Simcere, and professional agencies like Shanghai Biopharmaceutics Industry Association, Shanghai Drug Evaluation and Inspection Center, SAPA, and RDPAC, to focus on analysis of Chinese and overseas biological drug markets and policies, explore the R&D trends of innovative biological drugs, discuss the new R&D trends of anti-cancer drugs, and share about the new developments of tumor immunotherapy and other hot topics. Over 300 industry elites were present on site, to “feel the pulse” for the future of China’s biopharmaceuticals.
2018 Drug Safety and Quality Management Forum
On June 20, experts from the government, drug regulators, Chinese and overseas enterprises, and research institutes conducted discussions and exchanges by centering on China’s quality management system under the new situation, tracking of the latest regulatory policies for pharmaceutical product safety, exploration of drug safety detection and risk control, and application of new biological technologies, etc. This forum enabled attendees to see the development trends and bright prospects of China’s bio-medicine industry, and that the drug R&D will raise higher requirements for China’s laboratory instrument industry.
International Business Programme
Featuring two tracks, the International Business Programme was developed with both domestic and international visitors in mind, with sessions to address the key trends, topics and developments for international partners looking to expand to or within the Chinese market and domestic partners looking to grow operations outside of China or draw lessons from international partners.
Onsite conferences and activities
Increasing both online and offline activities: Sourcing Event, buyer groups, VR experience show, Online Marketing Seminar, and Brain Quest, etc.
CPhI.CN presented in CPhI & P-MEC China 2018 together with numerous activities in June of 2018, to ignite the pharmaceutical community. The 8th CPhI Buyers Sourcing Event invited international buyers to achieve zero-distance negotiations: 150 buyers participated, and 551 cooperation negotiations took place in 2 days, realising a superhigh sourcing efficiency. Meanwhile, the organiser took advantage of its global resources to specially invite nearly 200 people from overseas buyer groups for P-MEC and Chinese buyer groups for LABWorld to visit and negotiate, which was fully recognised and praised by exhibitors and buyers.
In addition, the 360-degree panoramic VR experience show gave a real reproduction of brand images, products and services, etc. of the exhibitors, to enable visitors to experience the brand’s services on-site without the need to make arduous journeys. The Pharmaceutical Online Marketing Seminar was fully attended, where CPhI.CN analysed how to accomplish online marketing from the shallower to the deeper and layer by layer together with Toutiao, adSage, a leading digital marketing service provider, and Weimob, a mobile socialising expert. The “Brain Quest” provided over 5,000 pharmaceutical associated questions, which made visitors eager for trying and linger on. Over 30 industry experts interacted with onsite visitors in relation to the pharmaceutical industry market development, technology trends, new product advantages, and policy changes, etc. in the interview room and they aired respective views. The wonderful activities of CPhI.CN this time attracted nearly 3,500 visitors to enjoy the event of the pharmaceutical community in June.
Building upon 2018’s achievements, creating the future of 2019
CPhI & P-MEC China 2019 will be held at Shanghai New International Expo Centre on June 18-20. The show will cover all halls of Shanghai New International Expo Centre for the first time, and is expected to reach 200,000m2 and attract over 3,200 Chinese and overseas exhibitors and more than 70,000 visits by professional visitors from over 120 countries and regions, to create the strongest lineup in its history, which is not to be missed.
Remaining true to the original aspiration and forging ahead over the 18 years, the organiser will adhere to the spirit of “be the best”, live up to the trust, advance together with insiders and industry enterprises, and help with the construction of the new structure of pharmaceutical industry.
For more information, please visit the official website: www.cphi.com/china.
CONFERENCE ALSO RELEASES FIRST-EVER DEMENTIA DATA IN LGB SENIORS, AND WOMEN’S DEMENTIA RISK RELATED TO REPRODUCTIVE HISTORY
CHICAGO, July 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — The first randomized clinical trial to demonstrate that intensive blood pressure treatment reduces new cases of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and the combined risk of MCI plus all-cause dementia, was the highlight of new research results reported at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2018 in Chicago.
The preliminary results of the SPRINT MIND trial, presented at AAIC 2018, provide the strongest evidence to date about reducing risk of MCI and dementia through the treatment of high blood pressure, which is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease worldwide.
AAIC 2018 also featured additional data from a Phase 2 study of BAN2401 (Eisai, Biogen), which on July 5 had reported positive topline 18-month results suggesting a slowing of clinical decline and reduction of amyloid beta in the brain.
AAIC 2018 also featured several “firsts,” including the first-ever study evaluating dementia prevalence in a large population of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) older adults, and the first large-scale study of reproductive history and dementia risk in women.
“The exciting data from innovative research studies reported at AAIC 2018 give us many reasons to be hopeful,” said Maria C. Carrillo, PhD, Alzheimer’s Association Chief Science Officer. “For example, the reduction in new cases of MCI seen in the SPRINT MIND study adds credibility to the vision of future Alzheimer’s therapy that combines drugs and modifiable risk factor interventions — as we do now in cardiovascular disease.”
“We welcome innovative clinical trial designs and therapeutic targets, and new methods of delivering therapies and attacking the disease, as we heard presented at AAIC,” Carrillo said. “A new therapy has not been approved in a long time. We need bold steps — from basic science all the way through clinical trials — to provide better treatments and prevention strategies for the millions of people living with Alzheimer’s and other dementias, and the millions more at risk.”
“The Alzheimer’s Association also strongly regards the results reported at AAIC from important patient populations, including women, LGB individuals, and centenarians. Understanding the impact of Alzheimer’s and other dementias on individuals living with the disease and caregivers from diverse backgrounds is crucial to better treating and preventing Alzheimer’s, and to appropriately supporting and caring for people living with it now,” Carrillo added.
AAIC is the premier annual forum for presentation and discussion of the latest Alzheimer’s and dementia research. Bringing the world closer to breakthroughs in dementia science, AAIC 2018 convened more than 5,100 leading experts and researchers from around the world and featured more than 2,500 scientific presentations.
New Alzheimer’s/Dementia Clinical Trial Results Offer Hope — SPRINT MIND Trial
At AAIC 2018, researchers reported preliminary results related to risk of dementia and cognitive decline from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial (SPRINT). SPRINT is a randomized clinical trial that compares two strategies for managing high blood pressure (hypertension) in older adults: an intensive strategy with a systolic blood pressure goal of less than 120 mm Hg versus a standard care strategy targeting a systolic blood pressure goal of less than 140 mm Hg.
SPRINT Memory and Cognition IN Decreased Hypertension (SPRINT MIND) examined whether treating for the lower blood pressure target reduces the risk of developing dementia and/or MCI. Study participants were 9,361 hypertensive older adults with increased cardiovascular risk but without diagnosed diabetes, dementia or stroke. Participant mean age was 67.9 years (35.6 percent women) and 8,626 completed at least one follow-up cognitive assessment.
In SPRINT MIND, the researchers found a statistically significant 19 percent lower rate of new cases of MCI in the intensive blood pressure treatment group. The combined outcome of MCI plus probable all-cause dementia was 15 percent lower in the intensive versus standard treatment group.
“This study shows more conclusively than ever before that there are things you can do — especially regarding cardiovascular disease risk factors — to reduce your risk of MCI and dementia,” said Carrillo.
Link Between Pregnancy, Reproductive History and Dementia Risk in Women
Almost two-thirds of Americans with Alzheimer’s are women, according to the Alzheimer’s Association 2018 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures. The report also says that, of the 5.5 million people age 65 or older with Alzheimer’s in the United States, 3.4 million are women and 2.0 million are men.
Research reported at AAIC 2018 investigated women’s reproductive history across the entire life course and its relationship with risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias, including the first-ever large-scale study (n=14,595) in this area. The researchers found that
Women in the study with three or more children had a 12 percent lower risk of dementia compared to women with one child.
Each additional report of a miscarriage was associated with a 9 percent increased risk of dementia, compared to women who reported no miscarriages.
Women who indicated having their first menstrual period at age 16 or older were at 31 percent greater risk than those who reported having their first period at 13 or younger.
Compared to women who experience natural menopause after age 45, those who experience natural menopause at 45 or younger were at 28 percent greater dementia risk.
A separate study presented at AAIC 2018 including 133 older women in the UK found that a woman’s total number of months of pregnancy, especially months spent in the first trimester, was a significant predictor of Alzheimer’s risk. The researchers reported that, in this study population, a woman who spent 12.5 percent more months pregnant than an otherwise identical woman had about 20 percent lower Alzheimer’s risk.
First Dementia Prevalence Data in LGB Older Adults
The first dementia prevalence data from a large population of lesbian, gay and bisexual older adults was reported at AAIC 2018 in Chicago. Researchers examined the prevalence of dementia among 3,718 LGB adults age 60+ who participated in the Kaiser Permanente Research Program on Genes, Environment, and Health (RPGEH).
Over 9 years of follow-up, the prevalence of dementia was 8 percent in this study population. For comparison, Alzheimer’s Association 2018 Alzheimer’s Disease Facts and Figures reports U.S. prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease dementia and other dementias for age 65+ at approximately 10 percent. According to the researchers, significant rates of depression, hypertension, stroke and cardiovascular disease in the study population may be contributing factors to the level of dementia.
LGB seniors in the study with depression were 2.3 times more likely to develop dementia.
Those in the study with heart disease were 69% more likely to develop dementia.
Those in the study with hypertension were 56% more likely to develop dementia.
Current estimates suggest that more than 200,000 sexual minorities in the U.S. are living with dementia, but before this study almost nothing was known about the prevalence of dementia among people in these groups who do not have HIV/AIDS-related dementia. Future studies aimed at better understanding risk factors for Alzheimer’s and other dementias in the older LGB+ population are greatly needed.
The findings highlight the need for culturally competent health care and practice for older LGB+ individuals at risk for, or currently living with, Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia. Given the concerns of social isolation and sometimes limited access to friend and family caregivers, there is a strong need to create a supportive health care environment and caregiving resources.
Preliminary Successes and Ongoing Challenges Treating Non-Cognitive Symptoms of Dementia
While the memory and thinking symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease are the most well known, it is the behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia — agitation, anxiety, apathy, depression, wandering, insomnia, incontinence, disinhibition — that often cause the greatest caregiving challenges and are the leading causes for placement in assisted living or a nursing home. Left untreated, these symptoms can accelerate decline and reduce quality of life.
At this time, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved any drug treatments for these symptoms in people with Alzheimer’s dementia. The Alzheimer’s Association recommends non-drug approaches as first-line alternatives to drug therapy for the treatment of dementia-related behaviors. These therapies include validation therapy, reminiscence and other personalized psychosocial interventions.
A randomized, double-blind clinical trial of nabilone — a synthetic cannabinoid — reported at AAIC 2018 suggests it may be effective in treating agitation in people with moderate to severe Alzheimer’s. Agitation, including verbal or physical outbursts, emotional distress, restlessness and pacing, is one of the most common behavioral changes associated with Alzheimer’s, and can be a significant cause of caregiver stress. Over the 14-week trial, 39 participants (77 percent male, average age 87) received nabilone in capsule form for six weeks, followed by six weeks of placebo, with one week between each treatment period. Agitation improved significantly in those taking nabilone, compared to placebo. More people in the study experienced sedation on nabilone (45 percent) compared to placebo (16 percent).
Note: Marijuana is not approved by the FDA for the treatment or management of Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias. There is currently no robust, consistent clinical trial data supporting the use of marijuana for treatment of Alzheimer’s dementia — nor for related issues. The Alzheimer’s Association believes that more research in this area is needed.
In two other studies reported at AAIC 2018:
A small study of a customized lighting intervention, studied in 43 people in 10 nursing homes, found that study participants experienced significant decrease in sleep disturbance, depression and agitation.
“Z-drugs,” such as zolpidem, zopiclone and zaleplon — often prescribed to help treat insomnia in older adults — when used by older adults with dementia, were associated with a 40 percent increased risk of fracture, with risk being greatest for those on higher doses. Z-drug use was also associated with a greater risk specifically of hip fracture and death. The data came from analyzing the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink, and from three clinical studies of people with dementia.
Better alternatives are needed to the drugs currently being prescribed for sleep problems and other non-cognitive symptoms of dementia.
New Guidelines for Clinical Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease and Other Dementias
Despite more than two decades of advances in diagnostic criteria and technology, symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias too often go unrecognized or are misattributed, causing delays in appropriate diagnoses and care that are both harmful and costly. There currently are no consensus diagnostic recommendations for primary care physicians.
As reported at AAIC 2018, a workgroup convened by the Alzheimer’s Association has developed 20 recommendations for physicians and nurse practitioners, and is honing them with input from leaders in the field with the goal of publishing them later this year. The recommendations range from enhancing efforts to recognize symptoms to compassionately communicating with individuals and their caregivers. They include:
All individuals who self-report or whose care partner or clinician report cognitive, behavioral or functional changes should undergo an evaluation.
Concerns should not be dismissed as “normal aging” without a proper assessment.
Evaluation should involve not only the patient and clinician but, almost always, also a care partner (e.g., family member or confidant).
The goal is to provide practical and specific U.S. guidelines that are relevant in both primary and specialty settings. The recommendations can then guide U.S. health care practitioners in the evaluation of individuals for memory, thinking, communication and personality changes, and symptoms of cognitive impairment, Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia.
How Gut Bacteria and Lipid Metabolism May Influence Alzheimer’s and Other Brain Diseases
In research reports over the last few years, we’ve learned how diet, particularly overall eating patterns, may be linked to brain health, cognitive decline and possibly even dementia as we age. We’ve also seen inflammation and its markers — in the brain and other parts of the body — associated with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Emerging science has correlated certain changes in the gut bacteria with a variety of inflammatory and autoimmune conditions. And studies have shown that changes in diet can change the gut bacteria.
Four new studies reported at AAIC 2018 investigated how the digestive system, including gut and liver functions, may be related to changes in the brain, and to brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.
“While still in its infancy, gut microbiome research is very exciting since it may give us a new window into why diet and nutrition are so important for brain health,” said Carrillo. “This work may tell us more about how and why ‘good fats’ help keep the brain healthy, and help guide brain-healthy dietary choices.”
“In addition, if it turns out these gut bacteria are effective and accurate markers of Alzheimer’s disease, they might be useful as a non-invasive screening tool — a simple blood test,” Carrillo said. “However, we are only at step one. We don’t know yet exactly what the changes they are seeing mean — whether they are cause or effect.”
National Strategy for Recruitment and Participation in Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Trials
At AAIC 2018, representatives of the National Institutes on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), with facilitation by the Alzheimer’s Association, reported on progress of the National Strategy for Recruitment and Participation in Alzheimer’s Disease Clinical Research— an effort convened to outline practical, proactive approaches to help study sites and researchers recruit and retain volunteers for Alzheimer’s research studies. At the local level, two Alzheimer’s research recruitment programs working in African American communities reported successful efforts and methods at AAIC 2018, including registration in Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch®.
The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference® (AAIC®)
The Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) is the world’s largest gathering of researchers from around the world focused on Alzheimer’s and other dementias. As a part of the Alzheimer’s Association’s research program, AAIC serves as a catalyst for generating new knowledge about dementia and fostering a vital, collegial research community.
AAIC 2018 home page: alz.org/aaic
AAIC 2018 newsroom: alz.org/aaic/press
About the Alzheimer’s Association®
The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer’s care, support and research. Our mission is to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, to provide and enhance care and support for all affected, and to reduce the risk of dementia through the promotion of brain health. Our vision is a world without Alzheimer’s. Visit alz.org or call 800.272.3900.
SHANGHAI, July 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — On July 19 2018, the Long Service Award Program of LKK Health Products Group (LKKHPG) was conferred the Best Employee Experience Award of Employer Branding Creativity Awards in Greater China 2018.
LKKHPG honored with Employer Branding Creativity Award in Greater China 2018
This employer brand selection has an extensive influence in Greater Chinaand attracted 681 creative proposals from 248 companies. The final winners came from 47 of the companies, including Tencent, Procter & Gamble and Unilever.
The selection was jointly held by four renowned HR organizations and institutions, namely, HRoot, WINGs, Great Place to Work® Institute and Bloomberg BusinessWeek/China. The jury gained fascinating insights into the candidates by evaluating them from five dimensions: Creative Design, User Experience, Content Operation, Communication Strategy, and Communication Efficiency.
LKKHPG said: “Si Li Ji Ren is our core value which instructs us considering collective benefits before acting, and we regard Employee as the most valuable asset. Over the past 26 years, the group could not achieve such progress or development without the employees’ diligence and contribution.”
The Long Service Award Program is one of the key components of the Recognition System of LKKHPG. For employees serving the company for five years onward, the group is delighted to express congratulation and gratitude to them in various ways, including:
Real time congratulation on anniversary day
Well-designed tourist celebrations
Anniversary gifts ordered with online shopping experience
Customized awardee video
Onstage award presentation at the Lee Kum Kee Founder’s Day Gala Dinner, witnessed and praised by the Lee Family, business guests and employee representatives
The jury agreed that the unique corporate culture and creative commendation of LKKHPG helped not only create the group’s advantage of talents but also strengthen the core competitiveness of its employer brand.
Headquartered in Hong Kong, LKKHPG was established by the Lee Kum Kee Family in 1992. The group operates diversified businesses in Chinese herbal health products, Chinese herb plantation and trade, property investment, and venture capital for startups. The group employs approximately 5,000 people.
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, July 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Herbalife Nutrition (NYSE:HLF), a premier global nutrition company whose purpose is to make the world healthier and happier, today announced the appointment of Dr. Hamid Jan bin Jan Mohamed, an expert in nutrition, as its first Nutrition Advisory Board (NAB) member in Malaysia.
Nutrition expert Dr. Hamid Jan bin Jan Mohamed joins Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board.
Dr. Hamid Jan bin Jan Mohamed is the Chairman of the Nutrition and Dietetics Program at University Sains Malaysia and is an Associate Professor with expertise in nutrition and obesity.
“We are delighted to welcome Dr. Hamid Jan to the Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board. As a highlyregarded expert in the field of nutrition and dietetics, Dr. Hamid Jan is a valuable addition to our team of experts in nutrition, science and health,” said Dr. John Agwunobi, co-president and chief health and nutrition officer at Herbalife Nutrition. “We look forward to working with him to inspire people to take steps towards positive nutrition and lifestyle changes, and help address health-related megatrends such as high obesity rates and rapidly aging populations.”
Dr. Hamid Jan has received several industry awards during the course of his career. These include the Malaspina Scholar Travel Award by the International Life Sciences Institute, USA in 2015 and Fellow Membership of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia.
The Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board (NAB) comprises leading experts from around the world in nutrition, science, and health. The NAB helps educate and train the Company’s Independent Members on leading a healthy, active lifestyle and getting proper nutrition.
The appointment of Dr. Hamid Jan to the Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board reflects the Company’s continued dedication to furthering the cause of inspiring positive nutrition habits in Asia Pacific, by fostering close partnerships with leading nutrition experts in the region.
About Herbalife Nutrition
Herbalife Nutrition is a global nutrition company whose purpose is to make the world healthier and happier. The Company has been on a mission for nutrition — changing people’s lives with great nutrition products and programs — since 1980. Together with our Herbalife Nutrition independent members, we are committed to providing solutions to the worldwide problems of poor nutrition and obesity, an aging population, skyrocketing public healthcare costs and a rise in entrepreneurs of all ages. Herbalife Nutrition offers high-quality, science-backed products, most of which are produced in Company-operated facilities, one-on-one coaching with an Herbalife Nutrition independent member, and a supportive community approach that inspires customers to embrace a healthier, more active lifestyle.
Herbalife Nutrition’s targeted nutrition, weight-management, energy and fitness and personal care products are available exclusively to and through its independent members in more than 90 countries.
Through its corporate social responsibility efforts, Herbalife Nutrition supports the Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF) and its Casa Herbalife programs to help bring good nutrition to children in need. Herbalife Nutrition is also proud to sponsor more than 190 world-class athletes, teams and events around the globe, including Cristiano Ronaldo, the LA Galaxy, and numerous Olympic teams.
Herbalife Nutrition has over 8,300 employees worldwide, and its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HLF) with net sales of approximately US$4.4 billion in 2017. To learn more, visit Herbalife.com or IAmHerbalife.com.
First study to validate Access hsTnI’s clinical performance within five established accelerated diagnostic pathways for the assessment of patients with symptoms suggestive of ACS in 2 hours
BREA, California, July 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — A recent article in the Annals of Emergency Medicine reported on the diagnostic accuracy of the newly released Beckman Coulter Access hsTnI assay in expediting the emergency department (ED) disposition for patients evaluated for suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS).1 This group of experts confirmed that using serial Access hsTnI results (at 0 and 2 hours)—in conjunction with the clinical history and ECG results collected in five accelerated diagnostic pathways—can safely discharge one-third of ED patients with no further testing using the new Vancouver Chest Pain and No Objective Testing pathways, and can refer more than half of ED patients for objective testing in the EDACS, m-ADAPT and HEART pathways.
In 2015, the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) published their new clinical guidelines for the management of ACS in patients presenting without persistent ST-segment elevation.2 The 2-hour rule-out protocol, first investigated by the same expert group, was recommended by the 2015 ESC guidelines for rapid rule-out by combining the risk score with ECG and hsTnI results. This study validated Access hsTnI’s clinical performance in the existing 2-hour diagnostic pathways for suspected ACS patients, using the Access hsTnI’s 99th percentile upper reference limit from Beckman Coulter’s assay insert as the clinical cutoff value in accordance with international guidelines.2,3
“High-sensitivity assays such as Beckman Coulter’s Access hsTnI have enabled emergency clinicians to make significant changes to assessment practices for patients with suspected ACS. The value of adopting this new assay into clinical care may be realized by using validated, accelerated diagnostic protocols, which have been shown to safely improve patient care,” said Louise Cullen, MBBS—an emergency department physician and joint principal researcher in the ASPECT and ADAPT trials from Brisbane, Australia.
About the study The investigators from Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital performed a comparison between five accelerated diagnostic pathways using patient data from the Australian cohort of the ADAPT study and the Improved Assessment of Chest-pain trial. Access hsTnI was measured with presentation and 2-hour blood samples in more than 1,800 patients. The eligible patient cohort is young, with a low prevalence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI, 5.3%) and ACS (7.7%).
The study confirms that Access hsTnI provides similar sensitivity, when used in the accelerated diagnostic pathways, compared to previously investigated high-sensitivity assays. The results show that the new Vancouver Chest Pain Rule and No Objective Testing Rule can safely rule out low-risk ACS patients (28.2% and 34.5%, respectively) within two hours when used in conjunction with Access hsTnI. No cases of AMI were detected in these low-risk patients in the 30-day follow-up. The use of sex-specific cutoff values had minimal effect on the results.
ACS has been a huge healthcare burden in many countries. It is estimated more than 5.5 million people present to ED each year with chest pain while only 13% have a final diagnosis of ACS. This study suggests adding Access hsTnI to existing diagnostic pathways can improve resource use in chest-pain evaluations.
About Access hsTnI from Beckman Coulter The clinical utility of cardiac troponin continues to evolve as assays become more sensitive. Beckman Coulter is committed to respond to the evolving clinical needs for more efficient patient triage in EDs. The newly released Access hsTnI assay is designed to aid in the diagnosis of AMI patients, using the established 99th percentile cutoffs, in accordance with local regulations and guidelines.
“This new study provides independent confirmation of the results obtained during our clinical trials of Access hsTnI. Doctors can now interpret low levels of troponin over time periods as short as two hours with greater confidence. This enables doctors to make faster and more accurate decisions regarding whether or not a myocardial infarction has occurred, particularly at lower levels of troponin,” said Michael Samoszuk, M.D., chief medical officer, Beckman Coulter.
About Beckman Coulter Beckman Coulter Diagnostics helps healthcare and laboratory professionals provide better patient care by delivering the accurate diagnostic information they need, when they need it. With a rich 80-year history, Beckman Coulter is a strong partner for healthcare organizations. Our scalable instruments, comprehensive diagnostic tests and business management services are trusted by hospitals, laboratories and other critical care settings around the world. We share in our customers’ mission toward continuous improvement and quality patient care because we believe when efficiency and clinical outcomes are improved, patients benefit and we can move healthcare forward for every person.
References
Greenslade JH, et al. Diagnostic Accuracy of a New High-Sensitivity Troponin I Assay and Five Accelerated Diagnostic Pathways for Ruling Out Acute Myocardial Infarction and Acute Coronary Syndrome. Ann Emerg Med, April 2018; Vol 71, Issue 4, Pg. 439–451.
Roffi M, et al. 2015 ESC guidelines for the management of acute coronary syndromes in patients presenting without persistent ST-segment elevation. Eur Heart J 2015; 14;37(3):267–315.
Thygesen K, et al. Third universal definition of myocardial infarction. Eur Heart J 2012; 33:2551–567.
Press release distribution for outside United States (OUS) only.
Exercising on an empty stomach may be able to burn fat faster but there are processes your body goes through to achieve this.
Exercising your body is good for your health and aids in weight loss. However, does exercising on an empty stomach burn more fat at a faster rate?
When you exercise after a period of fasting, your body falls back on some backup mechanisms to ensure your body has enough fuel to sustain you during your workout.
When exercising on an empty stomach, your body will first draw fuel from the sugar store. This is not stored sugar.
When the available sugar store has been used up, your body will turn its focus to stored fats or muscle protein. It’s not as scary as it sounds. Your stored fat will be turned into sugar, which helps fuel your workout. The same process happens to the protein taken from your muscles.
It is because of this process that the theory of burning more fat at a faster rate started. There are researches on healthy young men regarding this. One research found that stored fat are used faster during aerobic activities when done on an empty stomach. This is due to the reaction of the body towards low insulin levels that happens during a fasting period.
Another study found that exercising on an empty stomach produces changes your metabolism so that your body is able to use insulin more effectively. This could prevent or delay diabetes.
Yet there are no conclusions on whether exercising on an empty stomach can enable you to lose weight faster as studies on these are few.
There was a study that observed 19 young men who exercised during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan when people fast from sunrise to sunset. While everyone did lose weight but those who exercised more lost just slightly more weight and body fat.
William Kormos, the editor in chief of Harvard Men’s Health Watch suggest that one should not be thinking too much about working out on an empty and simply focus on your regular exercise routine.
SHANGHAI, July 22, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — Luye Pharma Group has announced that its Central Nervous System (CNS) drug, Seroquel XR (Quetiapine Fumarate XR), has received approval from the official Chinese medical authorities for a new indication in the treatment of depression arising from bipolar disorder. The approval of this new indication will not only help to benefit a great number of people living with mental illness, but will also boost sales of the drug.
Seroquel XR is an atypical antipsychotic (APP) drug with anti-depressant properties. It is mainly used for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, and is approved in some markets for the treatment of depression and generalized anxiety disorder. The drug has been marketed in more than 80 countries and regions around the world and is widely recognized by doctors and patients. In the first half of this year, Luye Pharma acquired the rights for Seroquel (Quetiapine Fumarate) and Seroquel XR from AstraZeneca in 51 countries and regions, including China, with the acquisition finalized in June 2018.
“Depression arising from bipolar disorder” is another indication for Seroquel approved in China, in addition to schizophrenia. Bipolar disorder is a common psychiatric disease that not only has a huge impact on patients’ lives, work and study, but also puts a heavy burden on their families and society. Quetiapine has been recommended by the China Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Bipolar Disorders as the only first-line treatment for depressive episodes associated with type II bipolar disorder. Administered once daily, Seroquel XR has a rapid onset of action, good tolerance, and sees high levels of patient compliance.
According to IQVIA data, sales of the Seroquel series in China have increased by 26% and 17% in the past two years, respectively. Further to this, following negotiations in July last year, Seroquel XR was added to the National Drug Reimbursement List, significantly enhancing its accessibility while reducing the economic burden for patients.
“We remain very optimistic about Seroquel’s long-term prospects, and in particular, its strong growth momentum in China going forward. We will continue to increase our investment in Seroquel at home and abroad, driving synergistic development of our CNS product pipeline,” a senior management spokesperson commented.
CNS is one of Luye Pharma’s four core therapeutic areas. Apart from marketed products, several other CNS products are being concurrently developed in China and overseas markets. Risperidone Extended Release Microspheres (LY03004) for the treatment of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder has reached the NDA (new drug application) stage in the United States and China. Rotigotine Extended Release Microspheres (LY03003) indicated for Parkinson’s disease and Ansofaxine Hydrochloride Extended Release Tablet (LY03005) indicated for depression have begun Phase III clinical trials. Multi-day Rivastigmine Transdermal Patches for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease has also entered into a key stage of clinical trials. Other new drug development projects such as LY03012, an investigational drug for analgesia, are also in progress. The registration procedures for all of the above-mentioned new drugs are going as planned in the major international markets such as China, the U.S., Europe and Japan. The new products will launch first in these regions before expanding into additional international markets at a later date. With comprehensive, forward looking planning, Luye Pharma is poised for a glittering future in the field of CNS treatments.
SUWON, South Korea, July 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — OliX Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a leading developer of RNA interference (RNAi) therapeutics, has successfully completed its public listing on the Korea Securities Dealer Automated Quotation (KOSDAQ) in the Korean stock market on July 18. On its first day of trading, shares of OliX closed at KRW65,600($58) per share with its market capitalization standing at KRW422 billion ($373 million).
OliX could be listed on the secondary bourse KOSDAQ based on the special listing system of Korea (i.e. allowing unprofitable but promising companies to go public) after receiving high ratings (A grade) from the evaluation agencies last October. Thanks to its intensive investor relations activities, the public subscriptions were recorded with the high competition ratio of 847:1.
OliX issues 1.2 million new common shares, collectively raising nearly KRW43 billion ($38 million).
Dong-ki Lee, CEO of OliX who has leaded the organization since 2010, stated, “Most of the raised capital will be used for research and development of therapeutic programs including hypertrophic scar (OLX101), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (OLX201), and age-related macular degeneration (OLX301A and OLX301D).”
OliX is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company developing therapeutics against a variety of disorders by down-regulating expression of disease-causing genes, based on its own proprietary RNAi technology. The company is currently developing novel therapeutic programs for treatment of various diseases with high unmet medical needs, including hypertrophic scar, dry form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), subretinal fibrosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
