(NewsUSA) - En medio de la pandemia de coronavirus, comenzaron a aparecer síntomas extraños.

Después de haber sido infectadas con COVID-19, algunas personas estaban reportando problemas de salud persistentes. La fatiga extrema, la pérdida del gusto y el olfato, y la “confusión mental”, fueron algunos de los síntomas que las personas reportaron.

Hoy en día, más de 200 síntomas que afectan a todo el cuerpo están asociados con lo que se llama COVID persistente. El COVID persistente describe los síntomas que las personas tienen semanas, meses o incluso años después de una infección por COVID.

Los pacientes que tuvieron estos síntomas no solo le dieron nombre a la enfermedad, “COVID persistente,” sino que también inspiraron a científicos de todo el mundo a investigarla.

Explorar lo desconocido

En los Estados Unidos, uno de los mayores esfuerzos de investigación que estudia el COVID persistente es la Investigación sobre el COVID para Mejorar la Recuperación o la iniciativa RECOVER, por las siglas en inglés de Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery.

La iniciativa RECOVER es un estudio de investigación nacional dedicado a comprender el COVID-19 y a explorar por qué algunas personas desarrollan COVID persistente. El estudio incluye a miles de participantes, cientos de investigadores, millones de registros de salud y las voces de pacientes, cuidadores y miembros de la comunidad.

No es fácil comprender el misterio del COVID persistente, pero RECOVER ha hecho progreso significativo en la comprensión de esta compleja condición con la ayuda de los participantes del estudio. Recientemente, un equipo de investigadores de RECOVER estudiaron datos de casi 10,000 personas y encontraron pistas sobre los síntomas del COVID persistente y los factores de riesgo que pueden ayudar con futuros tratamientos.

La representación importa

Los investigadores saben ahora que el COVID-19 afecta a diferentes personas de diferentes maneras. Sin embargo, históricamente, las personas que no son de raza blanca no están adecuadamente representadas en la investigación clínica. Debido a esto, RECOVER está comprometido con la inclusión de minorías raciales y étnicas en sus estudios.

Garantizar la representación en la investigación RECOVER ayuda a que los tratamientos contra el COVID persistente sean seguros y eficaces para todas las comunidades.

Para que esto sea esto posible, las personas que participan en los estudios RECOVER deben reflejar la diversidad de las personas que viven en este país.

Voces de RECOVER

Los miembros de las comunidades hispana y latina, de raza negra, asiática y de las islas del Pacífico, e indígena americana, se encuentran entre los grupos más afectados por el COVID persistente.

Escuche a tres voces latinas de RECOVER sobre lo que significa para ellas y sus comunidades su trabajo en la investigación sobre el COVID persistente.

“Como miembro de la comunidad LatinX, cumplir un rol en la investigación es importante para mí porque puedo ser un medio para divulgar información que ayude a otros latinos a comprender cómo el COVID y el COVID persistente pueden afectarlos”.

Leah Castro Baucom, Representante de RECOVER, paciente y cuidadora con COVID persistente

“Al comprender mejor los conceptos científicos detrás del COVID-19 y el COVID persistente, podemos aprender a protegernos mejor, proteger a nuestras familias y a nuestras comunidades, y apoyarnos mutuamente en la recuperación y supervivencia de este virus y sus efectos a largo plazo”.

Leyna Aragon, Representante de RECOVER, cuidadora de COVID persistente

“Mi comunidad se vio afectada enormemente y de manera negativa por el COVID, por lo que la investigación requiere de la participación de latinos como yo para encontrar soluciones eficaces para todos nosotros”.

Marta Cerda, Representante de RECOVER, paciente con COVID persistente

RECOVER busca miles de voluntarios de diversas comunidades de todo el país, incluidos adultos, niños y padres o cuidadores.

Visite https://studies.recovercovid.org/es para recibir más información y encontrar un centro de estudio cerca de usted.

(NewsUSA) - How prepared are all you women out there for retirement?

Hopefully better than the 42 percent of adult females in a new study from financial services firm Edward Jones and Age Wave who said they owned no investments – including employer-sponsored retirement savings accounts.

That’s particularly troubling since women typically live longer than men – five years longer, on average, in the U.S. – and having enough money to weather everything from health setbacks to widowhood in their lifetimes takes planning.  Working with a trusted financial advisor can help see you through it all.

(NewsUSA) - Washington, DC.—The International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) announced on August 18 that it has registered the request for arbitration made by Amadeus Group, which is based in Albania, and its affiliate in North Macedonia, Amadeus Development DOOEL, against the Republic of North Macedonia.  The request for arbitration charges that North Macedonia expropriated Amadeus’ investment in a hotel and commercial center in Skopje, all violations of the North Macedonia-Albania bilateral investment treaty, and seeks a damage award of at least $110 million.

The decision by Gonzalo Flores, the Acting Secretary General of ICSID, to accept Amadeus’ request for arbitration represents an escalation of a 10-year saga.  Amadeus Group, working through its local entity, Amadeus Development, purchased property in Skopje after winning an electronic public bid held by the North Macedonia Ministry of Transport on October 15, 2013.  A well-known American investment firm would have partnered with Amadeus in the proposed development in the heart of Skopje.

But the local government almost immediately stepped in to frustrate Amadeus’ investment.  Then, having waylaid Amadeus at every turn and in direct contradiction to decisions by the Macedonian Constitutional Court, Administrative Court, Transport Ministry, and Ombudsman ordering the Government to allow Amadeus to proceed, the Macedonian government wrongly found Amadeus at fault for not finishing construction by its original deadline, revoked its permits and licenses, and took the bond Amadeus was required to deposit. 

The blatant political motivation to discriminate against Amadeus was revealed by Andrej Žernovski and Petre Shilegov, Mayors of Skopje City, and subsequently by Sasha Bogdanović, Mayor of the Municipality of Centar of Skopje.   On multiple different occasions each told the press that they would never allow an Albanian company, and specifically Amadeus, to build or operate a business in Centar.  Indeed, during the same time in which it refused to allow Amadeus as an Albanian company to construct the hotel and commercial center, the local government permitted another non-Albanian investor group to construct a Marriott Hotel on the other side of the same square. 

The battle now shifts to ICSID, the dispute resolution arm of the World Bank.

Following the expropriation of Amadeus’ property, the City of Skopje and Municipality of Centar erected structures on the property as if it were the owner of the property.  For example, in August 2020, a pedestal and memorial honoring Mother Teresa were erected on Amadeus’s land without its consent.

“Mother Teresa would be spinning in her grave if she knew that her memorial was built on stolen property,” said Bart S. Fisher, Senior Counsel for Amadeus.  “Moreover, North Macedonia has violated domestic and international legal obligations owed to investors, and demonstrated by its actions in this case that it is not yet worthy of admission to the European Union,” Fisher said.

Image caption 1: Amadeus Development Project in the Center of Skopje
Image caption 2: Press conference of Petre Shilegov, Mayor of Skopje City

(NewsUSA) - September 10 is Grandparents’ Day! It’s a time to celebrate the special bond between grandparents (or great-grandparents and other caregivers!) and grandkids. You can show your grandkids how much you care — and help them stay safe— by keeping medicines up and away when you spend time together.                                                                                                                                                                          

In 2020, about 35,000 children under the age of 5 years were brought to emergency rooms after getting into medicine that was left within reach. More than 70% of these children were 2 years of age or younger – a stage that involves exploring their surroundings and often putting things into their mouths.  However, children (and pets!) can get sick if they swallow medicines, vitamins, or other supplements they’re not supposed to have, including gummies.

“Medicines often come in bright colors that look like candy and gummy formulations can look, smell, and taste like the fruit snacks that many toddlers enjoy,” says Mike Bell, MD, Deputy Director, CDC’s Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion. “It may be tempting to leave your next dose of medication out so that you remember to take it, but when young children are around, it’s important to keep all medicines out of their reach and sight.”

This Grandparents’ Day, the Up and Away campaign of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-led PROTECT Initiative, is reminding grandparents and caregivers to keep medication safety top of mind any time they are caring for, visiting, or preparing for a visit from their grandkids.   

Follow these tips to help your grandkids stay safe: 

• Grandkids coming over? Take time to sweep or vacuum the floor before they arrive. It’s easy for pills to fall on the floor and roll out of sight where young children (or pets) could find them.
• Whether you’re at home or visiting with family, put medicines up and away in a place your grandkids can’t see or reach. For example, you can put them in a high cabinet or on a high closet shelf rather than leaving medications on a nightstand, bathroom, or kitchen counter.
• If you carry medicines with you in your bag or purse, keep them in child-resistant containers — and keep your bag or purse where young kids can’t see or reach it.

Learn more about how to keep medicines somewhere safe at UpAndAway.org.

If you think a child might have swallowed a medicine, vitamin, or other supplement, get help right away — even if you’re not sure. Call Poison Help at 800-222-1222 or go to PoisonHelp.org.

(NewsUSA) - Kiwifruit is one of nature’s examples of why you should never judge a book by its cover.

Under its uniquely fuzzy exterior, this little fruit is big in nutrition. Kiwifruit is packed with vitamins and nutrients, and it has some unbeatable health-boosting properties.

For example, one serving of kiwifruit contains more vitamin C than 2 oranges! Also, kiwifruit delivers 89% of the recommended daily amount of vitamin K, which helps the body make proteins needed for blood clotting and bone-building.

Want better digestion? Kiwifruit has 5 grams of fiber in a one cup serving (21% of the recommended daily value). Just slice, scoop, and enjoy! Kiwifruit also provides 21% of the recommended daily amount of potassium, which plays a role in maintaining heart health.

Kiwifruit are available from California during the fall and winter months, but at this time of the year, the kiwifruit you'll see at your local supermarket comes from Chile. With its location in the Southern Hemisphere, Chile offers access to many of the fruits we love during the opposite season from when they are available in the United States!

The easiest way to eat a kiwifruit is to cut it in half and scoop out the brilliant green fruit, but kiwifruit makes a colorful and refreshing addition to many dishes and drinks, both sweet and savory.  Spoon some diced kiwifruit onto yogurt, blend with lemon juice, water, and honey for a refreshing drink, or add slices to your favorite salad.

For a sweet and easy way to celebrate the end of summer, try this simple, delicious Kiwi Cookie Ice Box Cake. You’ll need fresh whipped cream, chocolate chip cookies, and kiwifruit from Chile.

Depending on how many you wish to serve, you can make this in a small bowl or a larger loaf pan.  

First, line your bowl or pan with cling wrap, allowing for a generous overhang. Layer about ½ inch of fresh whipping cream on the bottom. Quickly dip chocolate chip cookies into milk, then form on layer on top of the cream. Thinly layer chopped Chilean kiwi on top of the cookies. 

Top with another layer of cream and cover the top with cling wrap, then place the bowl or pan in the freezer for a minimum of 4 hours. 

When you are ready to eat, remove the bowl or pan from the freezer and let the cake rest for 5-10 minutes, then lift it from the pan using cling wrap. If it is stuck, run warm water along the outside of the pan to release it.

Remove the cling wrap by flipping the cake onto a plate. Serve and enjoy promptly!

For recipes and more information, visit fruitsfromchile.com/recipes.

(NewsUSA) - Like the title of his book says, the United States education system is in trouble and needs to be fixed!

On the world stage, the U.S. is a middle-of-the-pack performer when it comes to academic performance, says Richard W. Garrett, author of U.S. Education Is in Trouble, Let’s Fix It! 22 Reform Proposals (Rowman & Littlefield). Some of the vital statistics at his disposal are downright scary.  “If you knew what I know, you’d be worried too,” he adds.

In this research-laden analysis, Garrett methodically and intricately shares with readers what he does, in fact, know and why the existing situation is so dire  – and aims to offer solutions to fix it, with 22 specific resolutions.

The author has been engaged in research on educational reform since 2013. This is his second major literary effort, his other being The Kids Are Smart Enough, So What’s the Problem? A Businessman’s Perspective on Educational Reform and the Teacher Crisis. (2017, Rowman and Littlefield)

Garrett has created a list of 22 reform proposals. When implemented, they will produce significant improvements. Here, in order, are the top four areas for reform to reverse the decline of our public school system: parenting issues; irresponsible management by school boards and superintendents; runaway discipline problems; and social promotion (promoting children to the next grade without having them meet the necessary reading requirements).

“Lack of discipline and lack of respect are destroying our education system,” writes Garrett. “It drives teachers out of teaching and makes new candidates afraid to enter the field.” This, along with accelerating resignations, has produced a significant teacher shortage.

Then there’s the matter of boosting a child’s self-esteem – a noble goal but one that Garrett says has been mishandled. Everyone “gets a trophy” and brings home top grades – an artificial reward system not based on achievement. And it masks the real situation, making it harder to fix. What are the consequences for poor work or failure?

Garrett takes a very granular approach to his topic, going into detail about the state of our nation when it comes to learning, student proficiency statistics, the plight of teachers, breakdown of the current school day, how schools should be organized, the all-important discipline issues, and much more.

His analysis is compelling – and frightening.

Garrett’s work is so complete that even though it is loaded with facts, statistics and graphical representations of trends, with a body of 148 pages, it is a swift read for anyone – parent, teacher, administrator, some students and any concerned citizen – looking to be enlightened on this all-too-crucial subject. It’s hard to dispute Garrett’s arguments, and it’s encouraging to hear his remedies.

In his final chapter, the author lists “22 reform proposals” that can shape but not necessarily fix our broken system. Some of his ideas involve recurring themes while others are out of the box.

Anyone who cares about our youth and cares about our country should add this this title to their must-read list.

“This book is a champion for children who want to learn and for teachers who want to teach,” says Garrett. “The goal is an education system that will educate more children, educate them well, and put the United States in the top tier worldwide.”

Learn more at www.elevateteachers.org.