Pioneer Pig Heart transplant recipient died of Pig Virus –Surgeon

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May 9, 2022

David Bennet Sr, the 57-year-old American man who received a ground-breaking heart transplant from a pig died of a pig virus, his transplant surgeon has said.

The surgeon, Bartley Griffith, who led the transplant revealed this at a webinar hosted by the American Society of Transplantation.

Bennet, a handyman who suffered from heart failure, had in January received a heart transplant from a genetically modified pig at the University of Maryland medical Centre.

But two months after the surgery, Bennet died. The hospital had initially said that his condition had worsened over a few days but did not provide an exact cause of death.

But speaking at the webinar, Griffith said that the pig’s heart was infected with a porcine virus known as porcine cytomegalovirus, which may have contributed to Bennett’s death.

According to a report by The Guardian (UK), Griffith was quoted as saying “We are beginning to learn why he passed on. “(The virus) maybe was the actor, or could be the actor, that set this whole thing off.”

“If this was an infection, we can likely prevent it in the future,” Griffith said during the webinar.

Griffith also noted that “the biggest challenge in animal-to-human organ transplants is the resilience of the human immune system, as it can attack foreign cells in a process called rejection and trigger a response that will ultimately destroy the transplanted organ or tissue.

“As a result, companies have been biologically engineering pigs by removing and adding various genes to help conceal their tissues from potential immune attacks.

“The heart used in Bennett’s case came from a pig that underwent 10 gene modifications carried out by Revivicor, a biotechnology company.”

Griffith and his team had frequently monitored Bennett’s recovery through various blood tests.

In one of the tests, doctors examined Bennett’s blood for traces of various viruses and bacterias and found a little blip that indicated the presence of porcine cytomegalovirus.

However, because its levels were so low, the doctors assumed that the result could have been an error.

Griffith also said that because the special blood test was taking approximately 10 days to carry out, doctors were unable to know that the virus was already beginning to multiply rapidly.

This, experts say, may have triggered a reaction that Griffith now believes was likely a ‘cytokine explosion,’ a storm of exaggerated immune response that can cause serious issues.

On the 43rd day of the experiment, doctors discovered that Bennett was breathing hard and warm to the touch.

“He looked really funky. Something happened to him. He looked infected,” said Griffith, adding, “He lost his attention and wouldn’t talk to us.”

According to The Guardian report, in attempts to fight Bennett’s infection while keeping his immune system under control, doctors provided him with intravenous immunoglobulin as well as cidofovir, a drug sometimes used in Aids patients. Bennett displayed signs of recovery after 24 hours before his condition worsened again.

“I personally suspect he developed a capillary leak in response to his inflammatory explosion, and that filled his heart with edema, the edema turned into fibrotic tissue, and he went into severe and non-reversing diastolic heart failure,” Griffith was quoted to have said at the webinar.

Coral Morphologic Shows Stunning Images, Gorgeous Closeups Of Underwater Creatures

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Angel Gimalo

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May 9, 2022

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Humans don’t know what they’re missing under the surface of a busy shipping channel in the “cruise capital of the world.”

Just below the keels of massive ships, an underwater camera provides a live feed from another world, showing marine life that’s trying its best to resist global warming.

That camera in Miami’s Government Cut is just one of the many ventures of a marine biologist and a musician who’ve been on a 15-year mission to raise awareness about dying coral reefs by combining science and art to bring undersea life into pop culture.

Their company — Coral Morphologic — is surfacing stunning images, putting gorgeous closeups of underwater creatures on social media, setting time-lapsed video of swaying, glowing coral to music and projecting it onto buildings, even selling a coral-themed beachwear line.

One of their most popular projects is the Coral City Camera, which recently passed 2 million views and usually has about 100 viewers online at any given time each day.

The livestream has already revealed that staghorn and other corals can adapt and thrive even in a highly urbanized undersea environment, along with 177 species of fish, dolphins, manatees and other sea life, Foord said.

Beyond the science, there’s the clothes. Coral Morphologic sells a line of surf and swimwear that takes designs from flower anemones and brain coral and uses environmentally sustainable materials such as a type of nylon recycled from old fishing nets.

“We see the power of tech connecting people with nature. We are lucky as artists, and corals are benefitting,” Foord said.

China’s Export Growth Slows Sharply as Zero-COVID Policy Hit Economy

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Elizabeth Williams

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May 9, 2022

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China’s zero-covid policies are beginning to severely hit the country’s global export engine. Prolonged lockdowns led to particularly sluggish export growth in April, new figures show.

Export growth of nearly 4% may sound impressive, but it’s not enough for China

China’s export growth fell sharply to 3.9% in April, its weakest level since June 2020, as the effect of Beijing’s stringent COVID-19 rules took its toll on trade in the country.

Exports, measured in US dollars, fell from a 14.7% growth rate in March although the April figure did come in slightly above analysts’ forecasts of 3.2%.

Imports were stagnant for April, showing almost no growth amid restricted domestic demand.

The sluggish figures reflect the extent to which the Chinese economy has lost momentum in the face of prolonged lockdowns in some of its major economic hubs.

Shanghai, the world’s largest port, has seen massive disruption since late March as a result of curbs aiming at dealing with the country’s worst outbreak of COVID-19 since the pandemic began more than two years ago.

The Chinese government’s zero-COVID policies have seen factories shut across the city, as well as major shipping delays at the port.

Transport and logistics networks have been severely impacted, with restrictions hitting delivery of goods around the country and to ports with major global shipping connections.

China “Zero-COVID” Policy: Shanghai Locals Protest Extended Lockdown

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Elizabeth Williams

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May 9, 2022

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China’s two largest cities tightened COVID-19 curbs on Monday, fuelling public anger and even questions about the legality of its covid-19 virus measures and draconian laws in the world’s second largest economy.

In Shanghai, enduring its sixth week of lockdown, authorities have launched a new push they say will put an end to infections outside quarantine zones by late May.

Under China’s strict “zero-COVID” policy, most of Shanghai’s population of 26 million remains under a strict lockdown, with people depending on government deliveries of food and supplies.

As residents express their discontent with the government, more and more images and videos of Shanghai’s lockdown, depicting the frustration of people who have been confined to their homes for weeks, are making it past the censors.

Accounts from residents in several districts as well as social media posts showed the government accelerating and expanding effort to transfer the close contacts of positive cases to central quarantines centres.

Multiple residents said they were being required to move to such facilities, despite testing negative, after cases were found in their buildings, stoking frustrations leading to protest.

Other residents said they were told on Saturday by their housing compounds they would no longer be able to leave their front doors or estates, or receive deliveries for a week as part of efforts to reach the goal of “zero cases at community level” goal.

The Shanghai government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Videos from last week show neighborhoods filled with the noise of residents protesting by banging pots and pans out their windows, demanding authorities provide more food and supplies; others show men yelling “give me back my freedom.”

One video features a woman’s voice coming out of a neighborhood loudspeaker, warning residents not to protest, and claiming the backlash towards Shanghai’s lockdown policy is a “conspiracy initiated by external forces.”

Ghana Transport Fares Up 20% Due to Rise in Fuel Prices, Spare Parts

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Elizabeth Williams

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May 9, 2022

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Commercial transport operators across Ghana, over the weekend, adjusted transport fares upwards by 20 percent.

This followed an earlier announcement by the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) to authorise the operators to review transport fares upwards.

Some passengers the Ghanaian Times interviewed yesterday reported of about 20 per cent increment in fares.

Kojo Manu, one of the passengers said, Teiman to Kaneshie, which was initially GH¢7 was now GH¢9 while Teiman to Circle was presently GH¢8.50 from GH¢6.

Another passenger, who gave his name as Lawrence noted that the fare for Madina to Circle which was GH¢5 was now GH¢6.50 while Teiman to Abokobi increased from GH¢1.70p to GH¢2.50p.

Similar reports were gathered from some passengers who plied the Circle-Kasoa route and the Accra-Nungua stretch.

Some operators on the Circle-Spintex, Accra-Nsawam and TemaAfienya to Accra were yet to increase their fares.

Confirming the development, General Secretary of GPRTU, GodfredAblubire said the increment had become necessary due to rising fuel prices as well as that of other key components including spare parts and lubricants.

He explained that the operators have been hard hit by the recent increase in fuel price from GH¢10.80p at the pump to GH¢11.40p.

He noted that the Union was compelled to implement the fare adjustment after several attempts by the Union to meet other stakeholders including the Ministry of Transport to reach a consensus on the matter failed.

“We had earlier agreed with government in March that should fuel prices increase again by 10 per cent or upwards, there will be a corresponding increase in transport fares.

But when it happened in March and the first week of May, all our attempts to activate that agreement have not been fruitful. So we proceeded to ask our members to review their fares by 20 per cent,” MrAblubire added.

He said transport operators risk collapsing their business if the increase in fares was not immediately implemented.

“We are now seeing an increase in prices of spare parts and other lubricants as well petroleum product, which is the major component of what we use to run our business. We are on the brink of going out of business if we do not address the situation now,” he added.

Uganda, Tanzania Sign MOU On Defence, Security for Oil Pipeline Project

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Elizabeth Williams

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May 9, 2022

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Uganda and Tanzania have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation and security for the crude oil pipeline.

On behalf of the two nations, the agreement was signed by Uganda’s minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Vincent Bamulangaki Ssempijja and his Tanzanian counterpart Dr. Stergomena L. Tax at a function that took place at Protea Skyz Hotel, Kampala.

Ssempijja in his remarks, said the need to conclude the framework for defence and security cooperation between the two sister countries was one of the core issues that President Suluhu Hassan and the President Museveni have as top on agenda at the forefront of cementing the relationship between the two countries.

“I am therefore happy to note that today we have moved on some of the issues including reviewing the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)on Defence and Security cooperation as well as operationalizing the intergovernmental security committee for the East African Crude Oil Pipeline project,” he said.

He said that the undertakings will certainly facilitate their respective institutions to share information and intelligence as well as working jointly to confront threats such as terrorism, arms and drug trafficking, trafficking of game trophies, cyber security, illegal among others.

“I have no doubt that a lot of ground has been covered in this direction and with the finalisation of the legal process, the MOU will be concluded,” he said.

Dr Stergomena L. Tax said the meeting provides Uganda and Tanzania another opportunity to reflect on issues of mutual interest and forge a common understanding and an approach specifically on peace and security.

“Terrorism remains a major threat requiring joint and proportionate efforts and measures,” she said.

She appreciated the historic defence and security cooperation between Uganda and Tanzania that has grown over the years starting from the era of independence movements when the founders of both nations were devoted to free their people.

US-Israeli Cyber Firm Uncovers Chinese-backed Industrial Espionage On Three Continents

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Elizabeth Williams

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May 9, 2022

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Malware Detected Warning Screen — A computer screen with program code warning of a detected malware script program. 3d illustration

An Israeli-American cybersecurity firm said Monday that it uncovered a “massive” hacking operation, apparently led by a hacking group believed to be backed by China, engaged in intellectual property (IP) theft and industrial espionage on three continents.

Cybereason, which is headquartered in Boston with offices in Tel Aviv, London, and Tokyo, said the group employed sophisticated methods and worked in an elusive manner to target technology and manufacturing companies in the US, Europe, and Asia and steal sensitive proprietary information.

Assaf Dahan, senior director and head of threat research at Cybereason, told The Times of Israel that the ring, known as the Winnti Group (and also tracked as APT41, Blackfly and Barium in cybersecurity circles) was “one of the most prolific and industrious groups in the cyber threat landscape,” and is known to operate on behalf of Chinese state interests.

The group has been active since at least 2010. Some known members of the group were indicted in 2020 by the US Department of Justice for computer crimes against some 100 companies in the US and other countries, including software development companies, computer hardware manufacturers, telecommunications providers, and gaming firms.

Dahan said Cybereason’s research showed that the Winnti Group engaged in “intellectual property theft and cyber espionage on a grand scale” since at least 2019, and possibly before. Cybereason began its research into the group’s industrial espionage operations last year, having been alerted by one of the targeted companies that something “funky” was afoot in its network, said Dahan, who is based in London.

“Their level of stealth and sophistication was very high,” Dahan said, describing the group’s modus operandi in the context of this specific hacking operation as a “house of cards” made up of several components that were interconnected and interdependent.

EU Intermediary to visit Iran Amid Stalled Nuclear Talks

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Elizabeth Williams

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May 9, 2022

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Ali Bagheri Kani, Enrique Mora — In this photo released by the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Enrique Mora, a leading European Union diplomat, left, shakes hands with Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani in Tehran, Iran, Sunday, March 27, 2022. Mora held talks in Tehran amid hopes that an agreement to restore Iran's tattered nuclear deal with world powers could be completed. (Iranian Foreign Ministry via AP)

The European Union’s coordinator for talks between Iran and world powers over restoring a frayed 2015 nuclear deal will visit Tehran this week, Iran’s foreign ministry said Monday.

The coordinator, Enrique Mora, has played a key role as an intermediary between the US and Iran during a year of on-off talks in Vienna that seek to revive the deal.

The date of Mora’s arrival in Iran’s capital has not been confirmed, but local press reported he is expected on Tuesday.

“The agenda for talks in Tehran is nearly finalized,” foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said at a weekly press briefing.

Mora “will meet with Ali Bagheri, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator.”

The 2015 deal gave Iran sanctions relief in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program to guarantee that it could not develop a nuclear weapon, something Tehran has always denied wanting to do.

It was agreed on between Iran and the five permanent United Nations Security Council members China, Russia, the United States, United Kingdom and France, alongside Germany.

But Washington unilaterally withdrew in 2018 under then-president Donald Trump and reimposed biting economic sanctions, prompting Iran to begin rolling back its own commitments.

Israel Set to Advance 4,000 Settlement, US Says damages Two State Solution Prospect

By

Elizabeth Williams

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May 9, 2022

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PALESTINIAN-ISRAEL-SETTLEMENT — A general view shows ongoing construction work in the Israeli settlement of Givat Zeev, near the Palestinian city of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, on October 28, 2021. - Israel on October 27 advanced plans for building more than 3,000 settler homes in the occupied West Bank, a move condemned by the Palestinians that came a day after the US forcefully criticised such construction. (Photo by AHMAD GHARABLI / AFP)

Israel is set to advance plans for nearly 4,000 housing units in Israeli settlements in the West Bank, despite firm American opposition to settlement construction.

The Defense Ministry said 2,536 units are slated to be green-lit through the final planning stage by the Civil Administration’s Higher Planning Subcommittee at the Thursday meeting, while another 1,452 will advance through an earlier stage in the permitting process known as deposit.

The expected approvals will come just over a month before a planned visit to Israel by US President Joe Biden.

Washington has repeatedly said Israeli settlements threaten a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. When Israel advanced some 3,000 settlement homes last October, the State Department called it “completely inconsistent with efforts to lower tensions and restore calm.” Several weeks later, Israel retreated from plans for a massive construction project near Atarot in East Jerusalem following US pressure.

Over the past several years, Israel has approved new batches of settlements on a quarterly basis, though gaps between meetings of the Higher Planning Subcommittee have sometimes extended longer during sensitive diplomatic periods. The committee operates under the Defense Ministry’s Civil Administration, which administers West Bank construction in areas under full Israeli civilian control.

Over six months have passed since the last meeting, but pressure had been growing in recent weeks on Prime Minister Naftali Bennett from within his own party to push ahead new housing construction beyond the Green Line.

Meanwhile, The Biden administration on Friday blasted Israeli plans to advance nearly 4,000 settlement homes in the West Bank, saying the measure “deeply damages the prospects for a two-state solution.”

“The Biden Administration has been clear on this from the outset. We strongly oppose the expansion of settlements which exacerbates tensions and undermines trust between the parties,” said State Department deputy spokeswoman Jalina Porter during a phone briefing with reporters. “Israel’s program of expanding settlements deeply damages the prospects for a two-state solution.”

Why you should avoid high Potash consumption

By

Cleopatra Okohai

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May 9, 2022

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A Registered Dietitian-Nutritionist at the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nwabumma Asouzu, has urged pregnant women to avoid food laden with potash.

Asouzu stated that food high in potash could trigger high blood pressure as well as induce abortion and premature delivery during pregnancy.

According to her, studies have revealed that potash is the second most popularly used salt in Nigeria.

The dietician said potash, generally used to refer to a group of potassium-bearing minerals and chemicals, has lots of health risks when consumed in excess.

She noted that potash has high sodium content and very little potassium, adding that potash is widely used in Nigeria as a tenderising agent for local dish preparation, and also to relieve toothache, even as it serves as a preservative due to its antifungal properties.

Potash, she said, is also used for medicinal purposes, adding that some people use it as an herbal concoction for cough treatment, to relieve constipation and stomach ache, among others.

The dietician explained, “Consumption of potash can trigger high blood pressure among those who otherwise don’t have the condition, while a hypertensive person is advised to steer clear of eating foods prepared with high potash.

“Consumption of potash in high quantity increases the uterine contraction in women, which could induce premature delivery or abortion during the early stages of pregnancy. It also reduces the protein value in the diet.

“Potash has also been associated with loss of appetite, weakness, reduced activity level and weight loss in Wistar rats.”

Citing some published articles on the health risk of potash, Asouzu cautioned that its consumption should be reduced to the barest minimum, adding that a high intake of the substance could also lead to liver problems.

“In an article entitled Peripartum Cardiac Failure published in the Bulletin of World Health Organisation, potash was implicated in the incidence of peripartum cardiac failure (a type of heart failure that occurs during the last months of pregnancy or within a few months after childbirth) among nursing mothers, especially in the Northern region of Nigeria.

“It is also said that excessive intake of potash by men predisposed them to low sperm production.

“The high sodium content makes it accumulate in the blood and could trigger high blood pressure, and also makes it unfit for consumption by hypertensive individuals,” she said.

According to her, previous studies have also indicated that the high level of potash in foods and drinking water could be detrimental to human health.

Asouzu called on public health nutritionists to always educate the populace, especially the rural dwellers on the trends in foods and health to ensure they avoid some traditional harmful practices relating to their food intake.

She said awareness should be encouraged from time to time to educate the populace on some trivial and silent issues surrounding intake of some substances related to food such as potash”.