upi--2020-05-29--South Korea ‘comfort women’ activist denies allegations

May 29 ( UPI ) -- The South Korean activist accused of misappropriating funds for surviving `` comfort women '' said Friday at a press conference the charges from former victim Lee Yong-soo are false .
Yoon Mi-hyang , former head of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery , said Lee , 91 , made unfounded claims about not receiving any of the funds collected over three decades , local television network YTN reported Friday .
`` After deeply contemplating Grandmother Lee Yong-soo 's points and tremendous perspective , I have found @ @ @ @ @ @ @ delivered money raised for the victims , '' Yoon said .
Earlier this month , Lee had said the council hid funds that were collected to help the women , including many suffering from declining health .
`` The collected funds should have been used to help the [ victims ] , but they have never used the money , '' Lee had said , referring funds from the public , including middle and high school students .
During the briefing on Friday , Yoon did not disclose the total amount of funds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed the group raised enough money in 1992 to distribute about $ 2,000 per victim .
Referring to the 1995 Asian Women 's Fund , a collection organized by Japanese professors , Yoon claimed the funds were `` rejected '' and the council carried out its own donation drive in South Korea , and was able to distribute about $ 35,000 per victim .
Yoon did not mention the fate of the Asian Women 's Fund ; donors have claimed the money never reached the victims who applied to receive it , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and lecturer at the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University .
Yoon also said victims who `` rejected '' the 1 billion yen or $ 9 million fund created in 2015 following an agreement between Tokyo and Seoul each received about $ 81,000 following a council-initiated fundraising .
Yoon did not address allegations about personal real estate deals that were made using donations .
She also did not mention other instances of distribution to the victims in the group 's 30-year history .
Yoon denied allegations she and others urged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ repatriate to the North , according to Yonhap on Friday .
`` These are all falsehoods , '' she said .

South Korean organization Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery is facing charges of misappropriating funds. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo
May 29 (UPI) -- The South Korean activist accused of misappropriating funds for surviving "comfort women" said Friday at a press conference the charges from former victim Lee Yong-soo are false. Yoon Mi-hyang, former head of the Korean Council for Justice and Remembrance for the Issues of Military Sexual Slavery, said Lee, 91, made unfounded claims about not receiving any of the funds collected over three decades, local television network YTN reported Friday. Advertisement
"After deeply contemplating Grandmother Lee Yong-soo's points and tremendous perspective, I have found it is not true that we never delivered money raised for the victims," Yoon said.
Earlier this month, Lee had said the council hid funds that were collected to help the women, including many suffering from declining health.
"The collected funds should have been used to help the [victims], but they have never used the money," Lee had said, referring funds from the public, including middle and high school students.
During the briefing on Friday, Yoon did not disclose the total amount of funds raised over three decades. The activist claimed the group raised enough money in 1992 to distribute about $2,000 per victim.
Advertisement
Referring to the 1995 Asian Women's Fund, a collection organized by Japanese professors, Yoon claimed the funds were "rejected" and the council carried out its own donation drive in South Korea, and was able to distribute about $35,000 per victim. Yoon did not mention the fate of the Asian Women's Fund; donors have claimed the money never reached the victims who applied to receive it, according to Lauren Richardson, director of studies and lecturer at the Asia-Pacific College of Diplomacy at the Australian National University.
Yoon also said victims who "rejected" the 1 billion yen or $9 million fund created in 2015 following an agreement between Tokyo and Seoul each received about $81,000 following a council-initiated fundraising.
Yoon did not address allegations about personal real estate deals that were made using donations. She also did not mention other instances of distribution to the victims in the group's 30-year history.
Yoon denied allegations she and others urged North Korean waitresses who had defected to repatriate to the North, according to Yonhap on Friday.
"These are all falsehoods," she said.


upi--2020-05-29--Graded stakes at Churchill Downs and Santa Anita top weekend racing

May 29 ( UPI ) -- Churchill Downs and Santa Anita carry the heavy end of the weekend racing load with important graded stakes at each track .
Golden Gate Fields ' Sunday card features the California Oaks with several fillies shipping up the coast from Santa Anita to test the all-weather track .
Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park roll on in Florida .
On the international front , Grade 1 racing continues in Japan with the Tokyo Yushun , or Japanese Derby .
Contrail looks to keep his unblemished record in this feature .
As racing continues its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shutdown , handicapping challenges proliferate .
For some helpful thoughts on those big races , have a look at analyst Jude Feld 's educated perspective at popejude.com .
Fillies and mares go 1 1/16 miles on the turf in Saturday 's $ 100,000 Grade III Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes with Juliet Foxtrot and her stablemate , Beau Recall , among the preliminary favorites .
Twelve are entered , with eight already graded stakes winners .
Juliet Foxtrot has not missed a top-three finish since shipping to the United Stakes from England last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outings .
This is her 2020 debut .
Beau Recall , winner of the Grade I Churchill Distaff Turf Mile last spring , also comes off a layoff .
The Brad Cox trainees drew the two inside gates .
Nay Lady Nay , a No Nay Never filly trained by Chad Brown , won the Grade II Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs in her last start back in November .
In Saturday 's co-feature , graded stakes winners Break Even and Mia Mischief are the morning-line picks in a competitive , nine-horse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ III Winning Colors .
The 6-furlongs event is restricted to fillies and mares .
Break Even , a 4-year-old filly by Country Day , won the Grade II Eight Belles Stakes over the track on Kentucky Derby weekend last year and exits an allowance win at Oaklawn Park .
The day after Break Even 's victory in the Eight Belles , Mia Mischief won the Grade I Humana Distaff .
Mia Mischief , a 5-year-old Into Mischief mare , enters off two straight wins at Oaklawn .
Also in this field and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a 5-year-old daughter of Smiling Tiger who is a multiple Grade I winner and finished fourth in last year 's Breeders ' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint .
Saturday 's $ 100,000 Grade III Honeymoon Stakes for 3-year-old fillies , 9 furlongs on the turf , drew a field of nine with Stella Star , Laura 's Light and Parkour well fancied on the morning line .
Stella Star , an Irish-bred lass , was second in the China Doll Stakes March 3 in her only previous U.S. start .
Laura 's Light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Grade III Sweet Life Stakes sprinting on the Santa Anita turf in February .
Parkour , by Carpe Diem , exits a nifty allowance victory .
Hard Not to Love and Ca Ca are hard not to like among five in Sunday 's $ 200,000 Grade II Santa Maria Stakes for fillies and mares , 1 1/16 miles on the dirt .
The Ontario-bred Hard Spun filly had a three-race winning streak snapped when finishing second to Ca Ca in the Grade I Beholder Mile in March .
After that rousing win , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won the prestigious Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap .
Fighting Mad and Horologist also are graded stakes winners and Kaydetre looks to take a step forward in the Santa Maria .
The Gulf Coast track soldiers on , adding dates to provide horsemen racing opportunities while taking advantage of a shortage of simulcast signals .
As they go along , the track added Friday 's $ 30,000 Florence Nightengale Stakes for fillies and mares at 7 furlongs and Saturday 's $ 30,000 Memorial Day Handicap at 1 1/16 miles .
Saturday 's $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mares , 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf , filled the starting gate with four also-eligibles .
All that 's missing is a solid favorite .
Have a look and get rewarded if you solve the puzzle .
Éclair ships back north from Santa Anita for Sunday 's $ 75,000 California Oaks , 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track .
The Bernardini filly , trained by Bob Baffert , won the Golden Gate Debutante Stakes in November in her last start .
Paige Anne , a daughter of Take Charge Indy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won her only previous start at the Bay Area track and reported fourth in the Grade III Santa Ysabela March 8 at Santa Anita .
Around the world , around the clock : After Daring Tact 's dramatic , stretch-running victory in last weekend 's Yushun Himba or Japanese Oaks , attention turns this Sunday to the 3-year-old colts and the Tokyo Yushun or Japanese Derby .
The field includes the first five finishers from the Grade 1 Satsuki Sho or Japanese 2,000 Guineas , all but one of them looking to improve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a Deep Impact colt , will be looking to improve his record to five wins from five starts while trying 2,400 meters for the first time .
Trained by Yoshito Yahagi and ridden by Yuichi Fukunaga , Contrail dueled with Salios through the final furlong in the Satsuki Sho before edging away to win by 1 length .
Salios was trailed by Galore Creek , Win Carnelian and Satono Flag but the top two were well clear at the end of that 2,000 meters .
Group 1 racing may be done for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plenty to be decided in the jockey and trainer ranks .
Joao Moreira , sidelined with a suspension , could only watch Wednesday at Happy Valley as Zac Purton rode three winners , taking a three-win tie over Moreira for the jockey premiership .
The duo had been tied at 123 wins each after each scored four times Sunday at Sha Tin .
Purton 's third win Wednesday was touch-and-go as he drove Enfolding to catch Touch of Luck in he final stride of the Class 3 Peacock Handicap .
On the trainers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted a triple of his own , bringing him to 51 wins for the season , just six shy of leader Ricky Yiu .
`` I think I 'd better give it a go , '' Cruz chuckled .
Del Mar has moved up its opening day from July 18 to July 10 and plans to race three days a week throughout the summer , closing with a four-day extravaganza Labor Day weekend .
The seaside track said it is `` preparing to operate without spectators , but will continue to work with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changes as they happen . ''
Everything is conditioned on approval of health officials and the California Horse Racing Board .
Illinois has cleared the way for racing to resume `` in June . ''
Hawthorne Race Course officials said last week they would be ready to resume their harness meeting quickly , but Arlington Park is holding out for approval to allow fans to watch the races .

Spiced Perfection, shown winning the 2019 Thoroughbred Club of America Stakes at Keeneland, is among the favorites for Saturday's Grade III Winning Colors at Churchill Downs. Photo courtesy of Keeneland
May 29 (UPI) -- Churchill Downs and Santa Anita carry the heavy end of the weekend racing load with important graded stakes at each track. Golden Gate Fields' Sunday card features the California Oaks with several fillies shipping up the coast from Santa Anita to test the all-weather track. Tampa Bay Downs and Gulfstream Park roll on in Florida. Advertisement
On the international front, Grade 1 racing continues in Japan with the Tokyo Yushun, or Japanese Derby. Contrail looks to keep his unblemished record in this feature.
As racing continues its sometimes agonizing reopening from the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown, handicapping challenges proliferate. For some helpful thoughts on those big races, have a look at analyst Jude Feld's educated perspective at popejude.com.
Moving right along:
Churchill Downs
Fillies and mares go 1 1/16 miles on the turf in Saturday's $100,000 Grade III Old Forester Mint Julep Stakes with Juliet Foxtrot and her stablemate, Beau Recall, among the preliminary favorites. Twelve are entered, with eight already graded stakes winners.
Advertisement
Juliet Foxtrot has not missed a top-three finish since shipping to the United Stakes from England last spring with three wins in those six outings. This is her 2020 debut. Beau Recall, winner of the Grade I Churchill Distaff Turf Mile last spring, also comes off a layoff. The Brad Cox trainees drew the two inside gates.
Nay Lady Nay, a No Nay Never filly trained by Chad Brown, won the Grade II Mrs. Revere Stakes at Churchill Downs in her last start back in November.
In Saturday's co-feature, graded stakes winners Break Even and Mia Mischief are the morning-line picks in a competitive, nine-horse affair in Saturday's $100,000 Grade III Winning Colors. The 6-furlongs event is restricted to fillies and mares.
Break Even, a 4-year-old filly by Country Day, won the Grade II Eight Belles Stakes over the track on Kentucky Derby weekend last year and exits an allowance win at Oaklawn Park.
The day after Break Even's victory in the Eight Belles, Mia Mischief won the Grade I Humana Distaff. Mia Mischief, a 5-year-old Into Mischief mare, enters off two straight wins at Oaklawn.
Also in this field and not to be ignored is Spiced Perfection, a 5-year-old daughter of Smiling Tiger who is a multiple Grade I winner and finished fourth in last year's Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
Advertisement
Santa Anita
Saturday's $100,000 Grade III Honeymoon Stakes for 3-year-old fillies, 9 furlongs on the turf, drew a field of nine with Stella Star, Laura's Light and Parkour well fancied on the morning line.
Stella Star, an Irish-bred lass, was second in the China Doll Stakes March 3 in her only previous U.S. start. Laura's Light, a Constitution filly, won the Grade III Sweet Life Stakes sprinting on the Santa Anita turf in February. Parkour, by Carpe Diem, exits a nifty allowance victory.
Hard Not to Love and Ca Ca are hard not to like among five in Sunday's $200,000 Grade II Santa Maria Stakes for fillies and mares, 1 1/16 miles on the dirt. The Ontario-bred Hard Spun filly had a three-race winning streak snapped when finishing second to Ca Ca in the Grade I Beholder Mile in March.
After that rousing win, Ca Ca ventured to Arkansas where she won the prestigious Grade I Apple Blossom Handicap.
Fighting Mad and Horologist also are graded stakes winners and Kaydetre looks to take a step forward in the Santa Maria.
Tampa Bay Downs
The Gulf Coast track soldiers on, adding dates to provide horsemen racing opportunities while taking advantage of a shortage of simulcast signals.
Advertisement
As they go along, the track added Friday's $30,000 Florence Nightengale Stakes for fillies and mares at 7 furlongs and Saturday's $30,000 Memorial Day Handicap at 1 1/16 miles.
Golden Gate Fields
Saturday's $75,000 Camilla Urso Stakes for fillies and mares, 5 1/2 furlongs on the turf, filled the starting gate with four also-eligibles. All that's missing is a solid favorite. Have a look and get rewarded if you solve the puzzle.
Éclair ships back north from Santa Anita for Sunday's $75,000 California Oaks, 1 1/16 miles on the all-weather track. The Bernardini filly, trained by Bob Baffert, won the Golden Gate Debutante Stakes in November in her last start.
Paige Anne, a daughter of Take Charge Indy, also journeys up the coast. She won her only previous start at the Bay Area track and reported fourth in the Grade III Santa Ysabela March 8 at Santa Anita.
Around the world, around the clock:
Japan
After Daring Tact's dramatic, stretch-running victory in last weekend's Yushun Himba or Japanese Oaks, attention turns this Sunday to the 3-year-old colts and the Tokyo Yushun or Japanese Derby.
The field includes the first five finishers from the Grade 1 Satsuki Sho or Japanese 2,000 Guineas, all but one of them looking to improve their showing. The winner, Contrail, a Deep Impact colt, will be looking to improve his record to five wins from five starts while trying 2,400 meters for the first time.
Advertisement
Trained by Yoshito Yahagi and ridden by Yuichi Fukunaga, Contrail dueled with Salios through the final furlong in the Satsuki Sho before edging away to win by 1 length. Salios was trailed by Galore Creek, Win Carnelian and Satono Flag but the top two were well clear at the end of that 2,000 meters.
Hong Kong
Group 1 racing may be done for the season but the there's still plenty to be decided in the jockey and trainer ranks.
Joao Moreira, sidelined with a suspension, could only watch Wednesday at Happy Valley as Zac Purton rode three winners, taking a three-win tie over Moreira for the jockey premiership. The duo had been tied at 123 wins each after each scored four times Sunday at Sha Tin.
Purton's third win Wednesday was touch-and-go as he drove Enfolding to catch Touch of Luck in he final stride of the Class 3 Peacock Handicap.
On the trainers' side of things, Tony Cruz posted a triple of his own, bringing him to 51 wins for the season, just six shy of leader Ricky Yiu. "I think I'd better give it a go," Cruz chuckled.
News and notes
Del Mar has moved up its opening day from July 18 to July 10 and plans to race three days a week throughout the summer, closing with a four-day extravaganza Labor Day weekend.
Advertisement
The seaside track said it is "preparing to operate without spectators, but will continue to work with state and local officials to adopt any changes as they happen." Everything is conditioned on approval of health officials and the California Horse Racing Board.
Illinois has cleared the way for racing to resume "in June." Hawthorne Race Course officials said last week they would be ready to resume their harness meeting quickly, but Arlington Park is holding out for approval to allow fans to watch the races.


upi--2020-05-29--John Hawkes hopes 'End of Sentence' brings fathers, sons closer

LOS ANGELES , May 29 ( UPI ) -- John Hawkes plays a widowed father reconnecting with his son in End of Sentence , premiering Friday on video-on-demand services .
Hawkes hopes life imitates art and brings families who watch the film closer .
Hawkes plays Frank Fogle , a widower honoring his late wife 's last request to spread her ashes in Ireland .
She insisted their estranged son , Sean ( Logan Lerman ) , join him .
The journey begins contentiously , but hardships on the road bond them together .
Hawkes hopes the message is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ My wish is that a father and son who have been holed up and at each other 's throats might happen to sit and watch the movie and somehow get along a tiny bit better , '' Hawkes told UPI in a phone interview Tuesday .
Frank and Sean seem like oil and water .
Frank is gentle and takes hardships in stride , even when those hardships include animosity from Sean .
Sean lashed out at Frank all his life , and lived a life of petty crime that landed Sean in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't calmed since his release , and Hawkes thinks they might be more alike deep down because of the issues Frank is repressing .
`` Underneath that decency and that kind of strained calm that he wears , there 's a lot of I think grief and frustration and rage inside of him , '' Hawkes said .
`` [ He ] is an interesting character to play . ''
The Fogles ' road trip through Ireland reveals some family history to the audience .
On occasion , Frank and Sean come to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frank , but Frank feels a combination of resentment toward Sean and guilt over his role in letting the family dynamic fall apart .
`` I feel like he 'd probably have some anger about how his son turned out , '' Hawkes said .
`` Some of it is probably turned inward , as well .
He feels pretty haunted . ''
Behind the scenes , Hawkes and Lerman got along well .
While staying at a Dublin hotel , Hawkes said , the actors met on Sundays to go over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just really enjoyable to try and ferret out the truth of each scene , of the story as a whole , '' Hawkes said .
`` Where do we connect to it ?
Where does it make us feel alive and where it does n't ? ''
Hawkes says he approaches each role wondering how he 's going to play it .
Forty-five years into his acting career , which he began at age 15 in high school plays , Hawkes never feels like he knows how to play a role at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Martha Marcy May Marlene , The Sessions , Winter 's Bone or his latest , End of Sentence .
He said he begins each film , show or play by asking questions and answering to the best of his ability , whether his co-stars join him in the process or not .
`` It always has to do with really what is the story and how can I best serve the story in this moment as the character I 'm playing , '' Hawkes said .
Hawkes began the interview with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Frank and Sean 's relationship .
However , Hawkes points out End of Sentence also deals with other universal relationships .
The story of Frank dealing with the loss of his wife and honoring her last wishes opens up the film to more human themes .
`` I feel like it 's a story about loss , in a way , '' Hawkes said .
`` I think we can all relate to that a bit , how we negotiate that . ''
Or , at least those who watch End of Sentence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the road with Frank and Sean , too .
`` Hopefully , someone will feel less alone or feel a deeper emotion , '' Hawkes said .

1/2
John Hawkes (L) and Logan Lerman play estranged father and son in "End of Sentence." Photo courtesy of Gravitas Ventures
LOS ANGELES, May 29 (UPI) -- John Hawkes plays a widowed father reconnecting with his son in End of Sentence, premiering Friday on video-on-demand services. Hawkes hopes life imitates art and brings families who watch the film closer. Hawkes plays Frank Fogle, a widower honoring his late wife's last request to spread her ashes in Ireland. She insisted their estranged son, Sean (Logan Lerman), join him. The journey begins contentiously, but hardships on the road bond them together. Hawkes hopes the message is that it's possible to reconcile. Advertisement
"My wish is that a father and son who have been holed up and at each other's throats might happen to sit and watch the movie and somehow get along a tiny bit better," Hawkes told UPI in a phone interview Tuesday.
Frank and Sean seem like oil and water. Frank is gentle and takes hardships in stride, even when those hardships include animosity from Sean. Sean lashed out at Frank all his life, and lived a life of petty crime that landed Sean in prison for auto theft.
Advertisement
Sean hasn't calmed since his release, and Hawkes thinks they might be more alike deep down because of the issues Frank is repressing.
"Underneath that decency and that kind of strained calm that he wears, there's a lot of I think grief and frustration and rage inside of him," Hawkes said. "[He] is an interesting character to play."
The Fogles' road trip through Ireland reveals some family history to the audience. On occasion, Frank and Sean come to blows over their past. Sean resents Frank, but Frank feels a combination of resentment toward Sean and guilt over his role in letting the family dynamic fall apart.
"I feel like he'd probably have some anger about how his son turned out," Hawkes said. "Some of it is probably turned inward, as well. He feels pretty haunted."
Behind the scenes, Hawkes and Lerman got along well. While staying at a Dublin hotel, Hawkes said, the actors met on Sundays to go over the week's scenes.
"It was just really enjoyable to try and ferret out the truth of each scene, of the story as a whole," Hawkes said. "Where do we connect to it? Where does it make us feel alive and where it doesn't?"
Advertisement
Hawkes says he approaches each role wondering how he's going to play it. Forty-five years into his acting career, which he began at age 15 in high school plays, Hawkes never feels like he knows how to play a role at the beginning.
That goes for acclaimed parts in Martha Marcy May Marlene, The Sessions, Winter's Bone or his latest, End of Sentence. He said he begins each film, show or play by asking questions and answering to the best of his ability, whether his co-stars join him in the process or not.
"It always has to do with really what is the story and how can I best serve the story in this moment as the character I'm playing," Hawkes said.
Hawkes began the interview with a thought about fathers and sons responding to Frank and Sean's relationship. However, Hawkes points out End of Sentence also deals with other universal relationships.
The story of Frank dealing with the loss of his wife and honoring her last wishes opens up the film to more human themes.
"I feel like it's a story about loss, in a way," Hawkes said. "I think we can all relate to that a bit, how we negotiate that."
Advertisement
Or, at least those who watch End of Sentence by themselves can feel like they are on the road with Frank and Sean, too.
"Hopefully, someone will feel less alone or feel a deeper emotion," Hawkes said.


upi--2020-05-29--UFC, NASCAR at Bristol lead weekend sports slate

May 29 ( UPI ) -- American welterweight Tyron Woodley will make his Octagon return for UFC Fight Night against Gilbert Burns on Saturday as one of the highlights of this sports weekend , which also includes live soccer , baseball and NASCAR .
Woodley ( 19-4-1 ) and Burns ( 18-3-0 ) will clash in the main event Saturday at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas .
Woodley has n't fought in more than a year since he lost his welterweight title belt on March 2 , 2019 , to Kamaru Usman at UFC 235 .
He had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defended his title four times before the setback .
The UFC Fight Night main card includes five events .
The first fight will be a women 's strawweight clash between Mackenzie Dern and Hannah Cifers at 9 p.m. EDT on ESPN and ESPN+ .
Roosevelt Roberts and Brok Weaver will match up for a lightweight bout after the Dern-Cifers clash .
The third fight will be a catchweight bout between Billy Quarantillo and Spike Carlyle .
Blagoy Ivanov and Augusto Sakai will then fight in a co-main event heavyweight bout before the main @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fight Night begins at 6 p.m. EDT with six preliminary fights .
Caesars has Woodley as a -185 favorite to win the fight over Burns , who is a +165 bet .
BetOnline.AG has Woodley at -175 and Burns at +150 .
Cup Series drivers will start their engines for the fifth event since NASCAR 's season returned from suspension when they line up for the Supermarket Heroes 500 Sunday in Bristol , Tenn .
The race will be held without fans in attendance due to coronavirus pandemic safety guidelines .
Bristol Motor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's most popular tracks .
The half-mile oval track features steep banking , and Bristol races often include many accidents due to the limited space on the track .
Food City , sponsor of the event , changed the name from the Food City 500 to the Supermarket Heroes 500 to honor those who served Americans at grocery stores during the coronavirus pandemic .
The race will air at 3:30 p.m. EDT Sunday on FS1 .
Americans continue to tune in to Bundesliga matches , as the German league is one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suspension .
This weekend 's soccer slate includes four games Saturday on the Fox network .
Borussia Monchengladbach then battles FC Union Berlin at 9:30 a.m. EDT Sunday on FS1 .
SC Paderborn plays Borussia Dortmund in the final Bundesliga game of the weekend at noon EDT Sunday on FS1 .
Major League Baseball owners continue to negotiate with players about a return to the field , but Americans can watch live baseball in South Korea while they wait for a resolution .
ESPN will televise two games this weekend .
The KT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 4 a.m. EDT Saturday .
The Lotte Giants will battle the Doosan Bears at 1 a.m. EDT Saturday on ESPN .
The NC Dinos are in first place in the KBO standings , but their weekend matchups with the Samsung Lions will not be on TV .
The Bears -- the 2019 Korean Series champions -- are in third place .
KT Wiz vs. Kiwoom Heroes at 4 a.m. EDT on ESPN FC Schalke 04 vs. Werder Bremen at 9:30 a.m. EDT on FS1 VfL Wolfsburg vs. Eintracht Frankfurt at 9:30 a.m. EDT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9:30 a.m. EDT on Fox Soccer Plus Bayern Munich vs. Fortuna Dusseldorf at 12:30 p.m. EDT on FS1 Roosevelt Roberts vs. Brok Weaver after first fight Billy Quarantillo vs. Spike Carlyle after second fight Blagoy Ivanov vs. Augusto Sakai after third fight Lotte Giants vs. Doosan Bears at 1 a.m. EDT on ESPN Borussia Monchengladbach vs. FC Union Berlin at 9:30 a.m. EDT on FS1 SC Paderborn vs. Borussia Dortmund at noon EDT on FS1

UFC star Tyron Woodley will fight Gilbert Burns Saturday in the main event of UFC Fight Night. File Photo by Mike Gentry/UPI | License Photo
May 29 (UPI) -- American welterweight Tyron Woodley will make his Octagon return for UFC Fight Night against Gilbert Burns on Saturday as one of the highlights of this sports weekend, which also includes live soccer, baseball and NASCAR. Woodley (19-4-1) and Burns (18-3-0) will clash in the main event Saturday at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas. Advertisement
Woodley hasn't fought in more than a year since he lost his welterweight title belt on March 2, 2019, to Kamaru Usman at UFC 235. He hadn't lost in seven consecutive fights and defended his title four times before the setback.
The UFC Fight Night main card includes five events. The first fight will be a women's strawweight clash between Mackenzie Dern and Hannah Cifers at 9 p.m. EDT on ESPN and ESPN+.
Roosevelt Roberts and Brok Weaver will match up for a lightweight bout after the Dern-Cifers clash.
Advertisement
The third fight will be a catchweight bout between Billy Quarantillo and Spike Carlyle. Blagoy Ivanov and Augusto Sakai will then fight in a co-main event heavyweight bout before the main event between Woodley and Burns.
UFC Fight Night begins at 6 p.m. EDT with six preliminary fights.
Caesars has Woodley as a -185 favorite to win the fight over Burns, who is a +165 bet. BetOnline.AG has Woodley at -175 and Burns at +150.
NASCAR at Bristol
Cup Series drivers will start their engines for the fifth event since NASCAR's season returned from suspension when they line up for the Supermarket Heroes 500 Sunday in Bristol, Tenn.
The race will be held without fans in attendance due to coronavirus pandemic safety guidelines.
Bristol Motor Speedway is known as one of NASCAR's most popular tracks. The half-mile oval track features steep banking, and Bristol races often include many accidents due to the limited space on the track.
Food City, sponsor of the event, changed the name from the Food City 500 to the Supermarket Heroes 500 to honor those who served Americans at grocery stores during the coronavirus pandemic.
The race will air at 3:30 p.m. EDT Sunday on FS1.
Advertisement
Bundesliga
Americans continue to tune in to Bundesliga matches, as the German league is one of the only major soccer league to return from suspension. This weekend's soccer slate includes four games Saturday on the Fox network.
Borussia Monchengladbach then battles FC Union Berlin at 9:30 a.m. EDT Sunday on FS1. SC Paderborn plays Borussia Dortmund in the final Bundesliga game of the weekend at noon EDT Sunday on FS1.
Korean Baseball Organization
Major League Baseball owners continue to negotiate with players about a return to the field, but Americans can watch live baseball in South Korea while they wait for a resolution.
ESPN will televise two games this weekend. The KT Wiz will face the Kiwoom Heroes at 4 a.m. EDT Saturday. The Lotte Giants will battle the Doosan Bears at 1 a.m. EDT Saturday on ESPN.
The NC Dinos are in first place in the KBO standings, but their weekend matchups with the Samsung Lions will not be on TV. The Bears -- the 2019 Korean Series champions -- are in third place.
Saturday
Korean Baseball Organization
KT Wiz vs. Kiwoom Heroes at 4 a.m. EDT on ESPN
Bundesliga
FC Schalke 04 vs. Werder Bremen at 9:30 a.m. EDT on FS1
Advertisement
VfL Wolfsburg vs. Eintracht Frankfurt at 9:30 a.m. EDT FS2
FSV Mainz 05 vs. Hoffenheim at 9:30 a.m. EDT on Fox Soccer Plus
Bayern Munich vs. Fortuna Dusseldorf at 12:30 p.m. EDT on FS1
UFC Fight Night main card ESPN and ESPN+
Mackenzie Dern vs. Hannah Cifers at 9 p.m. EDT
Roosevelt Roberts vs. Brok Weaver after first fight
Billy Quarantillo vs. Spike Carlyle after second fight
Blagoy Ivanov vs. Augusto Sakai after third fight
Tyron Woodley vs. Gilbert Burns after fourth fight
Sunday
Korean Baseball Organization
Lotte Giants vs. Doosan Bears at 1 a.m. EDT on ESPN
Bundesliga
Borussia Monchengladbach vs. FC Union Berlin at 9:30 a.m. EDT on FS1
SC Paderborn vs. Borussia Dortmund at noon EDT on FS1
NASCAR
Cup Series Supermarket Heroes 500 at 3:30 p.m. EDT on FS1


upi--2020-05-29--Stars say 'Central Park' celebrates family, musicals, being outside

NEW YORK , May 29 ( UPI ) -- The new musical cartoon comedy , Central Park , proves a family does n't have to be dysfunctional to be hilarious .
Set to premiere Friday on Apple TV+ , the series follows Owen Tillerman ( Leslie Odom Jr. ) , manager of the titular New York green space , who lives on the grounds in a castle with reporter wife Paige ( Kathryn Hahn ) and their kids , Cole ( Tituss Burgess ) and Molly ( Kristen Bell . )
Josh Gad plays busker Birdie , who narrates the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bitsy and Daveed Diggs plays his assistant , Helen .
`` I grew up watching a lot of beautiful , familial relationships on TV , '' Odom Jr. told UPI in a recent video conference interview .
`` They had their messiness .
Owen and the Tillermans certainly have their messiness , but , at the end of the day , they love each other . ''
Burgess said they are a functional family .
`` They know each other 's ticks and quirks and such .
You 're never worried it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , '' he said .
`` Like my daddy said . ''
While most of the cast is famous for work in stage and film musicals such as Hamilton , Frozen , Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid , Central Park marked new terrain for Hahn .
`` I was so excited to do a musical .
I was so excited to do voices .
I was so excited to stretch myself , '' Hahn said .
`` I was so excited to leap into it and be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and to show a family that was moving and intact and filled with kindness and decency and love . ''
Odom Jr. said he loved how spectacularly the show 's musical numbers looked and sounded .
`` There are no limits in animation , '' he said .
`` You are not bound by the limits of physics or your own physicality .
It is as wild and outrageous and ridiculous and silly as you can make it . ''
Most of the actors recorded their lines in studios without the people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You definitely miss staring into your scene partner 's eyeballs , '' Hahn said .
`` Usually , how you learn who you are from who you are with , and so much of it is listening , '' she added .
Burgess credited the show 's creators , Gad , Loren Bouchard and Nora Smith , with writing crisp , funny dialogue and lyrics that were a pleasure to deliver .
`` When the writing is that good , you kind of just show up and say it , '' Burgess said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I brought some extraordinary new slant to voicing an animated character , but it just is n't so .
These guys are at the top of their game , so they made it easy , '' he added .
`` The thing about Loren is he hears dialogue melodically .
Not many people do that .
It was so easy being a musician to follow him because I understood his cadences . ''
Diggs said in a separate video conference call with Tucci and reporters that he found freedom in giving a voice-only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing it , so whatever I have to do to get the point across vocally is what I do , '' Diggs said .
`` I imagine it might be some of the best performing of my life , but thank God nobody will ever see it , '' he laughed .
To prepare for the role of wealthy Bitsy 's henchwoman , Helen , Diggs tried out different voices on his friends .
`` They were all shot down , '' he said of his pitches .
`` I kept being told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this elderly white woman .
I do n't know what that says about me .
I have therapy tomorrow , so we will work it out there . ''
Tucci joked he was `` appropriately horrified '' when he first saw a drawing of Bitsy , the tiny terror who wants to pave over the park and expand her real estate empire .
`` I said , ' I 'd love to play an 80-year-old ! '
and then you hear the rest of the cast involved and you go , 'Yeah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , ' '' Tucci said of what intrigued him about the project .
`` Animation is great fun to do for an actor because it is like you are a kid again .
You are just kind of playing . ''
The actor `` would n't even dream '' of revealing upon whom -- if anyone -- he based his performance .
`` I suppose every character is kind of an amalgam of people that you meet along the way , and Bitsy is very much that , '' he said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ as a villain .
`` I do n't know if Helen is a villain , but she is certainly an aider and abettor , '' Tucci quipped .
Many people cooped up at home during the coronavirus pandemic will , no doubt , tune in to watch a bright , funny look at one of America 's great cities and its inhabitants .
`` I hope people find a lot of joy in it , '' Diggs said , noting he lately has been experiencing anxiety when he watches live-action TV shows in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't think viewers will feel the same way watching Central Park , though .
`` There is something about the cognitive dissonance of animation that does n't do that for me , '' he said .
`` One of the nice things about this show -- at least when I watch it -- is that it can be a reminder of what it 's like to be in a public place with a lot of people around and not be worried about it . ''

1/3
"Hamilton" Tony winner Leslie Odom Jr. leads the voice cast of the new animated comedy, "Central Park," which is set to debut Friday on Apple TV+. File Photo by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo
NEW YORK, May 29 (UPI) -- The new musical cartoon comedy, Central Park, proves a family doesn't have to be dysfunctional to be hilarious. Set to premiere Friday on Apple TV+, the series follows Owen Tillerman (Leslie Odom Jr.), manager of the titular New York green space, who lives on the grounds in a castle with reporter wife Paige (Kathryn Hahn) and their kids, Cole (Tituss Burgess) and Molly (Kristen Bell.) Advertisement
Josh Gad plays busker Birdie, who narrates the show, while Stanley Tucci plays socialite Bitsy and Daveed Diggs plays his assistant, Helen.
"I grew up watching a lot of beautiful, familial relationships on TV," Odom Jr. told UPI in a recent video conference interview. "They had their messiness. Owen and the Tillermans certainly have their messiness, but, at the end of the day, they love each other."
Burgess said they are a functional family.
Advertisement
"They know each other's ticks and quirks and such. You're never worried it's going to come undone, like Leslie said," he said. "Like my daddy said."
While most of the cast is famous for work in stage and film musicals such as Hamilton, Frozen, Beauty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid, Central Park marked new terrain for Hahn.
"I was so excited to do a musical. I was so excited to do voices. I was so excited to stretch myself," Hahn said. "I was so excited to leap into it and be able to show my family something I was in and to show a family that was moving and intact and filled with kindness and decency and love."
Odom Jr. said he loved how spectacularly the show's musical numbers looked and sounded.
"There are no limits in animation," he said. "You are not bound by the limits of physics or your own physicality. It is as wild and outrageous and ridiculous and silly as you can make it."
Most of the actors recorded their lines in studios without the people who portray the other animated characters.
"You definitely miss staring into your scene partner's eyeballs," Hahn said.
"Usually, how you learn who you are from who you are with, and so much of it is listening," she added.
Advertisement
Burgess credited the show's creators, Gad, Loren Bouchard and Nora Smith, with writing crisp, funny dialogue and lyrics that were a pleasure to deliver.
"When the writing is that good, you kind of just show up and say it," Burgess said.
"I'd love to pretend I brought some extraordinary new slant to voicing an animated character, but it just isn't so. These guys are at the top of their game, so they made it easy," he added.
"The thing about Loren is he hears dialogue melodically. Not many people do that. It was so easy being a musician to follow him because I understood his cadences."
Diggs said in a separate video conference call with Tucci and reporters that he found freedom in giving a voice-only performance.
"I know nobody is seeing it, so whatever I have to do to get the point across vocally is what I do," Diggs said.
"I imagine it might be some of the best performing of my life, but thank God nobody will ever see it," he laughed.
To prepare for the role of wealthy Bitsy's henchwoman, Helen, Diggs tried out different voices on his friends.
"They were all shot down," he said of his pitches. "I kept being told that my own voice was totally appropriate for this elderly white woman. I don't know what that says about me. I have therapy tomorrow, so we will work it out there."
Advertisement
Tucci joked he was "appropriately horrified" when he first saw a drawing of Bitsy, the tiny terror who wants to pave over the park and expand her real estate empire.
"I said, 'I'd love to play an 80-year-old!' and then you hear the rest of the cast involved and you go, 'Yeah, of course, I'll do it,'" Tucci said of what intrigued him about the project. "Animation is great fun to do for an actor because it is like you are a kid again. You are just kind of playing."
The actor "wouldn't even dream" of revealing upon whom -- if anyone -- he based his performance.
"I suppose every character is kind of an amalgam of people that you meet along the way, and Bitsy is very much that," he said.
Tucci has no qualms about defining Bitsy as a villain.
"I don't know if Helen is a villain, but she is certainly an aider and abettor," Tucci quipped.
"Helen's a villain assistant," Diggs offered.
Many people cooped up at home during the coronavirus pandemic will, no doubt, tune in to watch a bright, funny look at one of America's great cities and its inhabitants.
"I hope people find a lot of joy in it," Diggs said, noting he lately has been experiencing anxiety when he watches live-action TV shows in which people are not social-distancing.
Advertisement
He doesn't think viewers will feel the same way watching Central Park, though.
"There is something about the cognitive dissonance of animation that doesn't do that for me," he said. "One of the nice things about this show -- at least when I watch it -- is that it can be a reminder of what it's like to be in a public place with a lot of people around and not be worried about it."


upi--2020-05-29--On This Day, May 29: Janet Guthrie becomes first woman to compete in Indy 500

On this date in history : In 1660 , Charles II was restored to the English throne .
In 1790 , Rhode Island became the last of the original 13 states to ratify the U.S. Constitution .
In 1914 , the Canadian Pacific Transatlantic liner Empress of Ireland sank in the early-morning hours following a collision with the liner Storstadt , a much smaller vessel , in Canada 's Gulf of St. Lawrence .
More than 1,000 people died in what is the largest maritime accident in Canadian peacetime history .
In 1953 , Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ humans to reach the top of Mount Everest .
In 1977 , Janet Guthrie became the first woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500 .
She completed 27 laps before her car became disabled .
On the same day in 2005 , Danica Patrick became the first woman to lead during the same race .
In 1985 , British soccer fans attacked Italian fans preceding the European Cup final in Brussels .
The resulting stadium stampede killed 38 people and injured 400 .
In 1990 , renegade Communist Boris Yeltsin was elected president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel 's first selection of a prime minister by direct vote , Benjamin Netanyahu defeated Shimon Peres .
The margin of victory was less than 1 percent .
In 1997 , Zaire rebel leader Laurent Kabila was sworn in as president of what was again being called the Democratic Republic of the Congo .
In 2004 , the National World War II memorial was dedicated on the National Mall in Washington .
Thousands of veterans of the war , which ended nearly 59 years earlier , attended the ceremony .
In 2009 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 19 years to life in prison for the 2003 slaying of actress Lana Carlson .
In 2010 , two mosques of a religious minority in Pakistan were attacked by intruders firing weapons and throwing grenades .
Officials put the death toll at 98 .
In 2018 , a Harvard study determined at least 4,645 people in Puerto Rico died as a result of Hurricane Maria , a sharp contrast to the official government death toll of 64 .
In 2019 , special counsel Robert Mueller released his first public statement , saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Donald Trump colluded with Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election , there were several `` episodes '' in which he obstructed justice .

1/4
Janet Guthrie was the first woman to drive in the Indianapolis 500 in 1977. She is seen here when she first qualified for the race. File Photo courtesy of INDYCAR/Indianapolis Motor Speedway
On this date in history: In 1660, Charles II was restored to the English throne. Advertisement
In 1790, Rhode Island became the last of the original 13 states to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
In 1914, the Canadian Pacific Transatlantic liner Empress of Ireland sank in the early-morning hours following a collision with the liner Storstadt, a much smaller vessel, in Canada's Gulf of St. Lawrence. More than 1,000 people died in what is the largest maritime accident in Canadian peacetime history.
In 1953, Edmund Hillary of New Zealand and Tenzing Norgay of Nepal became the first humans to reach the top of Mount Everest.
In 1977, Janet Guthrie became the first woman to compete in the Indianapolis 500. She completed 27 laps before her car became disabled. On the same day in 2005, Danica Patrick became the first woman to lead during the same race.
In 1985, British soccer fans attacked Italian fans preceding the European Cup final in Brussels. The resulting stadium stampede killed 38 people and injured 400.
Advertisement
In 1990, renegade Communist Boris Yeltsin was elected president of Russia.
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
In 1996, in Israel's first selection of a prime minister by direct vote, Benjamin Netanyahu defeated Shimon Peres. The margin of victory was less than 1 percent.
In 1997, Zaire rebel leader Laurent Kabila was sworn in as president of what was again being called the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
In 2004, the National World War II memorial was dedicated on the National Mall in Washington. Thousands of veterans of the war, which ended nearly 59 years earlier, attended the ceremony.
File Photo by Greg Whitesell/UPI
In 2009, U.S. music producer Phil Spector was sentenced to 19 years to life in prison for the 2003 slaying of actress Lana Carlson.
In 2010, two mosques of a religious minority in Pakistan were attacked by intruders firing weapons and throwing grenades. Officials put the death toll at 98.
Advertisement
In 2018, a Harvard study determined at least 4,645 people in Puerto Rico died as a result of Hurricane Maria, a sharp contrast to the official government death toll of 64.
In 2019, special counsel Robert Mueller released his first public statement, saying that while there's no evidence President Donald Trump colluded with Russian efforts to interfere in the 2016 presidential election, there were several "episodes" in which he obstructed justice.


upi--2020-05-29--UPI News Quiz: astronauts, robots and tweets

U.S. News // 6 hours ago
Search for victims of Maui wildfire ongoing as death toll climbs to 101
Aug. 15 (UPI) -- The death toll from the Maui wildfires has risen to 101, Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said Tuesday night, as he announced plans to reopen the Lahaina Bypass for several hours a day to "reunite the pieces of Maui."


upi--2020-05-29--Famous birthdays for May 29: Melissa Etheridge, Laverne Cox

May 29 ( UPI ) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Gemini .
-- Ebenezer @ @ @ @ @ tissue paper dress pattern , in 1826 -- John F. Kennedy , 35th president of @ @ @ @ @ 1917

1/2
Melissa Etheridge arrives for the MusiCares Person of the Year gala honoring Aerosmith at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles on January 24. The singer-songwriter turns 59 on May 29. File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI | License Photo
May 29 (UPI) -- Those born on this date are under the sign of Gemini. They include: Advertisement
-- King Charles II of England in 1630
-- Patriot Patrick Henry in 1736
-- Ebenezer Butterick, inventor of the tissue paper dress pattern, in 1826
-- English novelist G.K. Chesterton in 1874
-- Entertainer Bob Hope in 1903
-- Writer T.H. White in 1906
-- John F. Kennedy, 35th president of the United States, in 1917
-- Physicist Peter Higgs in 1929 (age 91)
-- Actor Anthony Geary in 1947 (age 73)
-- Singer Rebbie Jackson in 1950 (age 70)
-- Musician Danny Elfman in 1953 (age 67)
File Photo by Jim Ruymen/UPI
-- Singer La Toya Jackson in 1956 (age 64)
-- Actor Annette Bening in 1958 (age 62)
-- Actor Rupert Everett in 1959 (age 61)
-- Actor Adrian Paul in 1959 (age 61)
Advertisement
-- Singer Melissa Etheridge in 1961 (age 59)
-- Actor/singer Lisa Whelchel in 1963 (age 57)
-- Musician Noel Gallagher in 1967 (age 53)
-- Actor Laverne Cox in 1972 (age 48)
File Photo by Christine Chew/UPI
-- Comedian Daniel Tosh in 1975 (age 45)
-- Singer Melanie Brown in 1975 (age 45)
-- Basketball player Carmelo Anthony in 1984 (age 36)
-- Actor Riley Keough in 1989 (age 31)
-- Actor Maika Monroe in 1993 (age 27)
File Photo by Chris Chew/UPI


upi--2020-05-29--Hydroxychloroquine worsens odds for cancer patients with COVID-19

As the evidence piles up that a malaria drug touted as a possible coronavirus treatment by President Donald Trump may instead harm patients , a new study shows the same might hold true for cancer patients with COVID-19 .
Researchers found that cancer patients with COVID-19 who receive both hydroxychloroquine and the antibiotic azithromycin have a higher risk of death than those who are n't given the two drugs .
Of the 928 patients in the study , 13 percent died within 30 days of being diagnosed with COVID-19 .
After adjusting for certain factors , the researchers concluded that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more likely to die within 30 days than those in remission or with no evidence of cancer .
Patients who received the combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin to treat COVID-19 had a nearly threefold higher risk of death within 30 days than those who did n't receive either drug , the investigators found .
Patients who received the two drugs and later died were more likely to : have had slightly reduced daily physical function have received cancer therapy less than 2 weeks before being diagnosed with COVID-19 have Rh-positive blood type be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cholesterol-lowering statins .
The study will be presented virtually at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology .
Such research is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal .
`` This is early and evolving data , and more time and analysis will be needed to confirm and expand on these findings , '' said lead author Dr. Jeremy Warner , an associate professor of medicine and biomedical informatics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville , Tenn. '' Right now , we 're working to quickly get information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and identify the factors that affect disease severity and death .
We 're also interested in the effects of treatments that are being used to treat patients with cancer who have COVID-19 , '' Warner said in an ASCO news release .
`` While these findings are provocative , we believe that & hellip carefully planned prospective studies are needed to truly demonstrate the risk or benefit of these drugs , '' Warner added .
Safety concerns over hydroxychloroquine prompted the World Health Organization to remove the drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therapies earlier this week .
Several other studies have also found the medication has no benefit and could possibly harm COVID-19 patients .
Still , Trump said on Sunday he had just finished taking a two-week course of the malaria drug to guard against COVID-19 infection after two White House staffers tested positive for the coronavirus .
In the meantime , ASCO president Dr. Howard Burris III said more research is needed into the care of cancer patients stricken by COVID-19 .
`` The cancer care community urgently needs data on the effects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancer , '' he said .
`` How we improve the care we provide these patients and reduce the number of deaths and severe consequences associated with this disease are among the top questions . ''
The American Cancer Society has more on COVID-19 and cancer .

As the evidence piles up that a malaria drug touted as a possible coronavirus treatment by President Donald Trump may instead harm patients, a new study shows the same might hold true for cancer patients with COVID-19.
Researchers found that cancer patients with COVID-19 who receive both hydroxychloroquine and the antibiotic azithromycin have a higher risk of death than those who aren't given the two drugs.
Advertisement
Of the 928 patients in the study, 13 percent died within 30 days of being diagnosed with COVID-19. After adjusting for certain factors, the researchers concluded that patients with progressing cancer were 5.2 times more likely to die within 30 days than those in remission or with no evidence of cancer.
Patients who received the combination of hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin to treat COVID-19 had a nearly threefold higher risk of death within 30 days than those who didn't receive either drug, the investigators found.
Advertisement
Patients who received the two drugs and later died were more likely to: have had slightly reduced daily physical function have received cancer therapy less than 2 weeks before being diagnosed with COVID-19 have Rh-positive blood type be of non-Hispanic ethnicity and to be taking cholesterol-lowering statins.
The study will be presented virtually at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Such research is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
"This is early and evolving data, and more time and analysis will be needed to confirm and expand on these findings," said lead author Dr. Jeremy Warner, an associate professor of medicine and biomedical informatics at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tenn.
"Right now, we're working to quickly get information about why some patients with cancer become infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and identify the factors that affect disease severity and death. We're also interested in the effects of treatments that are being used to treat patients with cancer who have COVID-19," Warner said in an ASCO news release.
"While these findings are provocative, we believe that &hellip carefully planned prospective studies are needed to truly demonstrate the risk or benefit of these drugs," Warner added.
Advertisement
Safety concerns over hydroxychloroquine prompted the World Health Organization to remove the drug from a global trial of potential COVID-19 therapies earlier this week.
Several other studies have also found the medication has no benefit and could possibly harm COVID-19 patients.
Still, Trump said on Sunday he had just finished taking a two-week course of the malaria drug to guard against COVID-19 infection after two White House staffers tested positive for the coronavirus.
In the meantime, ASCO president Dr. Howard Burris III said more research is needed into the care of cancer patients stricken by COVID-19.
"The cancer care community urgently needs data on the effects of COVID-19, specifically in patients with cancer," he said. "How we improve the care we provide these patients and reduce the number of deaths and severe consequences associated with this disease are among the top questions."
More information
The American Cancer Society has more on COVID-19 and cancer.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-05-29--Emergency health transport can carry surprise big bills

Money is the last thing on anyone 's mind during a medical emergency , but new research shows many patients could be hit with huge bills for that ambulance drive or helicopter flight to the hospital .
Quick response is crucial for people who have major injuries or require urgent care for serious health problems , and emergency dispatchers do n't have time to check patient 's insurance details when an ambulance is needed , University of Michigan researchers noted .
For their study , they analyzed five years ' worth of insurance claims from nearly 1.5 million ambulance transports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The data was from patients with commercial insurance offered by one large national company .
The findings do n't show how many patients actually got a surprise bill , just how many could have been affected .
The researchers concluded that 72 percent of air ambulance patients could be hit with a surprise bill because their ambulance provider is n't `` in network '' with their insurance .
When ambulances are n't in network , they can charge whatever they want , and insurance does n't always have to cover those charges in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ patients could be on the hook for `` balance bills '' up to $ 20,000 per ride , according to the study published in the May issue of the journal Health Affairs .
The researchers also found that 79 percent of patients transported by ground ambulance could get a surprise bill , with an average total of around $ 550 .
`` Anecdotally , we hear of more people taking Uber or a Lyft , or having someone drive them to the emergency room to avoid an ambulance bill , '' said lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ University of Michigan 's Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation .
`` But if you truly need an ambulance , concerns about cost should not get in the way , '' Chhabra said in a university news release .
`` Arriving by ambulance , with a trained crew that can assess your needs , begin treatment and radio ahead to the hospital , means you 're more likely to be triaged and treated appropriately when you arrive . ''
Even when patients arrange in advance for non-emergency ambulance transport and can check insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a surprise bill for out-of-network costs , at an average of more than $ 400 .
Overall , annual out-of-network ambulance costs in the United States are $ 91 million for air transport and $ 129 million for ground transport , according to the study .
The American Ambulance Association outlines when to call an ambulance .

Money is the last thing on anyone's mind during a medical emergency, but new research shows many patients could be hit with huge bills for that ambulance drive or helicopter flight to the hospital.
Quick response is crucial for people who have major injuries or require urgent care for serious health problems, and emergency dispatchers don't have time to check patient's insurance details when an ambulance is needed, University of Michigan researchers noted.
Advertisement
For their study, they analyzed five years' worth of insurance claims from nearly 1.5 million ambulance transports, including nearly 26,000 by air.
The data was from patients with commercial insurance offered by one large national company. The findings don't show how many patients actually got a surprise bill, just how many could have been affected.
The researchers concluded that 72 percent of air ambulance patients could be hit with a surprise bill because their ambulance provider isn't "in network" with their insurance. When ambulances aren't in network, they can charge whatever they want, and insurance doesn't always have to cover those charges in full.
That means that air ambulance patients could be on the hook for "balance bills" up to $20,000 per ride, according to the study published in the May issue of the journal Health Affairs.
Advertisement
The researchers also found that 79 percent of patients transported by ground ambulance could get a surprise bill, with an average total of around $550.
"Anecdotally, we hear of more people taking Uber or a Lyft, or having someone drive them to the emergency room to avoid an ambulance bill," said lead author Dr. Karan Chhabra, from the University of Michigan's Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.
"But if you truly need an ambulance, concerns about cost should not get in the way," Chhabra said in a university news release. "Arriving by ambulance, with a trained crew that can assess your needs, begin treatment and radio ahead to the hospital, means you're more likely to be triaged and treated appropriately when you arrive."
Even when patients arrange in advance for non-emergency ambulance transport and can check insurance coverage beforehand, more than half face a surprise bill for out-of-network costs, at an average of more than $400.
Overall, annual out-of-network ambulance costs in the United States are $91 million for air transport and $129 million for ground transport, according to the study.
More information
The American Ambulance Association outlines when to call an ambulance.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-05-29--Leukemia drug nilotinib safe, shows promise against Alzheimer's disease in trial

May 29 ( UPI ) -- The leukemia drug nilotinib , which shows promise in reducing the effects of Alzheimer 's disease , is safe and has minimal side effects when used at low doses , according to a small clinical trial published Friday in the journal Annals of Neurology .
The drug , known commercially as Tasigna , appears to reverse some of the effects of Alzheimer 's disease brain based on earlier research , the authors said .
`` The results of this exploratory study repurposing nilotinib are encouraging , '' Howard Fillit , founding executive director and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Drug Discovery Foundation , which funded the research , said in a statement .
Nearly 6 million Americans have Alzheimer 's disease , a form of dementia , according to the Alzheimer 's Association .
No cure exists , although drug therapy might slow disease progression in some people .
Nilotinib was approved the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic myeloid leukemia , a slow-progressing cancer that typically strikes older adults , in 2007 .
The study published Friday was a Phase II clinical trial -- the second step in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of experimental drugs and medical devices .
Phase III trials , which have more participants , still are needed before the drug can be marketed as an approved treatment for Alzheimer 's .
The rationale for studying nilotinib in Alzheimer 's disease is based on laboratory and clinical research conducted by the Georgetown Translational Neurotherapeutics Program , according to the study authors .
This research found that nilotinib helps clear accumulated beta-amyloid plaques and Tau tangles in neurons in the brain -- both of which are signs of Alzheimer 's , the authors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ capsule form , appears to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and turn on the `` garbage disposal '' machinery inside neurons -- called autophagy -- to get rid of the Tau , beta-amyloid and other toxic proteins , the researchers said .
For the new Phase II study , 37 people with mild dementia due to Alzheimer 's were given either a placebo or nilotinib daily for 12 months .
Those on nilotinib received 150 milligrams of the drug daily for 26 weeks , followed by a 300 mg. daily dose for another 26 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe and well-tolerated , the researchers found , although some participants experienced mood swings -- agitation and irritation -- while on the 300 mg. dose .
The drug carries an FDA `` black-box warning '' because of cardiovascular issues that might lead to sudden death in cancer patients -- who typically receive 600 mg. daily -- but no such incidents were reported in this study .
`` The increase in mood swings with 300 mg. nilotinib is associated with dose-dependent increases of brain dopamine , suggesting that 150 mg. nilotinib is the optimal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study , '' Charbel Moussa , director of the Georgetown Translational Neurotherapeutics Program , said in a statement .
Magnetic resonance imaging of study participants ' brains also revealed that those treated with the drug experienced reduced beta-amyloid levels after both six and 12 months .
Fewer Tau tangles existed in the spinal fluid of those treated with the drug at six and 12 months .
`` This is the first oral treatment found to lower amyloid burden in the brain , '' Dr. R. Scott Turner , director of Georgetown 's Memory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
While this also has been found with several anti-amyloid antibodies , these treatments can not be given orally .
Phase III trials of the drug for Alzheimer 's disease are being planned , Turner said .
`` [ Our ] study found that [ nilotinib ] is safe and well-tolerated , as we anticipated , and that it may have disease modifying benefits , '' he said .

May 29 (UPI) -- The leukemia drug nilotinib, which shows promise in reducing the effects of Alzheimer's disease, is safe and has minimal side effects when used at low doses, according to a small clinical trial published Friday in the journal Annals of Neurology.
The drug, known commercially as Tasigna, appears to reverse some of the effects of Alzheimer's disease brain based on earlier research, the authors said.
Advertisement
"The results of this exploratory study repurposing nilotinib are encouraging," Howard Fillit, founding executive director and chief science officer at the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation, which funded the research, said in a statement.
Nearly 6 million Americans have Alzheimer's disease, a form of dementia, according to the Alzheimer's Association. No cure exists, although drug therapy might slow disease progression in some people.
Nilotinib was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat chronic myeloid leukemia, a slow-progressing cancer that typically strikes older adults, in 2007.
Advertisement
The study published Friday was a Phase II clinical trial -- the second step in the process to confirm the safety and effectiveness of experimental drugs and medical devices. Phase III trials, which have more participants, still are needed before the drug can be marketed as an approved treatment for Alzheimer's.
The rationale for studying nilotinib in Alzheimer's disease is based on laboratory and clinical research conducted by the Georgetown Translational Neurotherapeutics Program, according to the study authors.
This research found that nilotinib helps clear accumulated beta-amyloid plaques and Tau tangles in neurons in the brain -- both of which are signs of Alzheimer's, the authors said.
Nilotinib, which comes in capsule form, appears to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and turn on the "garbage disposal" machinery inside neurons -- called autophagy -- to get rid of the Tau, beta-amyloid and other toxic proteins, the researchers said.
For the new Phase II study, 37 people with mild dementia due to Alzheimer's were given either a placebo or nilotinib daily for 12 months. Those on nilotinib received 150 milligrams of the drug daily for 26 weeks, followed by a 300 mg daily dose for another 26 weeks.
Advertisement
In general, nilotinib was safe and well-tolerated, the researchers found, although some participants experienced mood swings -- agitation and irritation -- while on the 300 mg dose.
The drug carries an FDA "black-box warning" because of cardiovascular issues that might lead to sudden death in cancer patients -- who typically receive 600 mg daily -- but no such incidents were reported in this study.
"The increase in mood swings with 300 mg nilotinib is associated with dose-dependent increases of brain dopamine, suggesting that 150 mg nilotinib is the optimal dosage to investigate in a future Alzheimer study," Charbel Moussa, director of the Georgetown program, said in a statement.
Magnetic resonance imaging of study participants' brains also revealed that those treated with the drug experienced reduced beta-amyloid levels after both six and 12 months, with fewer Tau tangles in the spinal fluid.
"This is the first oral treatment found to lower amyloid burden in the brain," Dr. R. Scott Turner, director of Georgetown's Memory Disorders Program, said in a statement.
While this also has been found with several anti-amyloid antibodies, these treatments cannot be given orally. Phase III trials of the drug for Alzheimer's disease are being planned, Turner said.
"[Our] study found that [nilotinib] is safe and well-tolerated, as we anticipated, and that it may have disease-modifying benefits," he said.


upi--2020-05-28--NFL, EA Sports extend exclusive partnership through 2026

May 28 ( UPI ) -- NFL owners on Thursday approved a multiyear extension of their deal with Electronic Arts , cementing EA Sports as the lone publisher of NFL simulation football video games for at least the next six years .
The deal , which runs through 2026 , continues a relationship between the league and EA Sports that has existed for about three decades .
The NFL Players Association also approved the agreement , which will keep the popular Madden NFL franchise at the forefront of football gaming .
The current contract was set to expire after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for us to really position the Madden franchise for future investment in innovation , gameplay features as we move to new consoles , more gaming devices , cloud-based gaming , and EA , really , given the history and knowledge and the level of talent gave us the best opportunity to do that , '' Rachel Hoagland , the league 's vice president of gaming , esports and partnerships , said in a statement .
`` So we 're excited to continue to build the Madden franchise with them .
It 's our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , will be at the core , at the center of that realistic engagement for our most avid fans . ''
Madden NFL 21 is expected to release in early August , with the first looks at the game coming next week .
Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes was last year 's cover athlete .
Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said last month that he would grace the cover of this year 's game , but EA Sports has n't made an announcement .

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) was the cover athlete for last year's "Madden NFL 20" release. File Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
May 28 (UPI) -- NFL owners on Thursday approved a multiyear extension of their deal with Electronic Arts, cementing EA Sports as the lone publisher of NFL simulation football video games for at least the next six years. The deal, which runs through 2026, continues a relationship between the league and EA Sports that has existed for about three decades. The NFL Players Association also approved the agreement, which will keep the popular Madden NFL franchise at the forefront of football gaming. Advertisement
The current contract was set to expire after the 2021 season.
"It was important for us to really position the Madden franchise for future investment in innovation, gameplay features as we move to new consoles, more gaming devices, cloud-based gaming, and EA, really, given the history and knowledge and the level of talent gave us the best opportunity to do that," Rachel Hoagland, the league's vice president of gaming, esports and partnerships, said in a statement.
"So we're excited to continue to build the Madden franchise with them. It's our core offering. EA, for us, will be at the core, at the center of that realistic engagement for our most avid fans."
Advertisement
Madden NFL 21 is expected to release in early August, with the first looks at the game coming next week.
Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes was last year's cover athlete. Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson said last month that he would grace the cover of this year's game, but EA Sports hasn't made an announcement.


upi--2020-05-28--U.N. calls on nations to take action in six areas to limit COVID-19's financial impact

May 28 ( UPI ) -- U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called for countries throughout the world to work to take action in six areas to limit the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic .
During a virtual meeting on financing and development , Guterres called on nations to address the global liquidity crisis , provide `` durable '' solutions to debt , urge private creditors holding sovereign debt of developing countries to provide debt relief , align incentives in global financial systems with the U.N. 's Sustainable Development Goals , `` plug the leaks '' of illicit financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic .
`` Getting through COVID-19 and recovering better will cost money .
But the alternative will cost far more , '' he said .
`` This is a global crisis , and it 's up to all of us to solve it . ''
Guterres warned that if nations do n't come together to take action , the pandemic will cause `` unimaginable suffering around the world '' forecasting 60 million people could be pushed into extreme poverty and loss of $ 8.5 trillion in global output .
He added the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and injustices in the global financial system , especially among women .
`` All our efforts must go towards building sustainable and resilient pathways that enable us not only to beat COVID-19 , but to tackle the climate crisis , reduce inequality and eradicate poverty and hunger , '' said Guterres .
President of the General Assembly , Tijjani Muhammad-Bande said that nations of the world must `` rethink our economic systems '' in order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 .
`` Now is the time to revise the financial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plans to do so must `` not only address current liquidity shortages , but also provide durable solutions that create vital fiscal space for investments in sustainable development for countries in need . ''

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the nations of the world must work together to take action on six important areas to mitigate the global financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. File Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
May 28 (UPI) -- U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday called for countries throughout the world to work to take action in six areas to limit the financial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. During a virtual meeting on financing and development, Guterres called on nations to address the global liquidity crisis, provide "durable" solutions to debt, urge private creditors holding sovereign debt of developing countries to provide debt relief, align incentives in global financial systems with the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals, "plug the leaks" of illicit financial flow and "recover better" from the pandemic. Advertisement
"Getting through COVID-19 and recovering better will cost money. But the alternative will cost far more," he said. "This is a global crisis, and it's up to all of us to solve it."
Guterres warned that if nations don't come together to take action, the pandemic will cause "unimaginable suffering around the world" forecasting 60 million people could be pushed into extreme poverty and loss of $8.5 trillion in global output.
He added the pandemic has exposed and exacerbated deep inequalities and injustices in the global financial system, especially among women.
Advertisement
"All our efforts must go towards building sustainable and resilient pathways that enable us not only to beat COVID-19, but to tackle the climate crisis, reduce inequality and eradicate poverty and hunger," said Guterres.
President of the General Assembly, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande said that nations of the world must "rethink our economic systems" in order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
"Now is the time to revise the financial architecture," he said, adding plans to do so must "not only address current liquidity shortages, but also provide durable solutions that create vital fiscal space for investments in sustainable development for countries in need."


upi--2020-05-28--Bacterial colonies of tumors could guide cancer care

The human body is teeming with bacteria , and a new study finds the same is true of many cancers -- raising questions about what role microbes might play in the diseases .
Researchers have already known that tumors in certain areas of the body -- like the gut -- harbor bacteria of their own .
But the new research reveals that a range of cancers , including those of the breast , lungs , bones and brain , have their own bacterial communities within tumor cells .
And the makeup of those communities seems to be unique to each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the May 29 issue of Science .
Exactly what it all means is unclear at this point .
But the study also found that the same bacteria within tumor cells were present in patients ' immune system cells .
Among other things , that brings up the possibility that tumor bacteria could have an effect on patients ' responses to certain cancer therapies .
`` The fact that bacteria are frequently present in human tumors raises many intriguing questions regarding their local effects on tumor cells , as well as on tumor immunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senior researcher Dr. Ravid Straussman , of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot , Israel .
Past research has already turned up hints that bacteria may influence cancer patients ' response to treatment .
A 2017 study of patients with advanced melanoma suggested that people 's own gut bacteria might play a role : Patients who responded well to immunotherapy drugs generally had a gut `` microbiome '' that was distinct from that of patients who did not respond .
The new findings point to a similar connection between tumor bacteria and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there was an association between the amount of certain bacteria in their tumors and the likelihood of responding to immunotherapy .
It is too soon , though , to draw any conclusions , according to Peter Turnbaugh , an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of California , San Francisco .
He coauthored an editorial published with the findings .
`` The current study reports an association with immunotherapy response , '' Turnbaugh said .
`` But the causal role of bacteria within tumors , or in other body sites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential mechanisms that might be at play . ''
The results are based on more than 1,500 tumor samples , plus samples of nearby tissue , from patients at medical centers in four countries .
Straussman and his colleagues analyzed the samples for bacterial proteins and genetic material , taking measures to ensure they would not simply detect microbes that got there by contamination .
It turned out that all seven cancer types they studied harbored bacterial communities within their cells .
And the composition of those communities varied by cancer type .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most diverse collection of bacteria .
One of the key questions , Turnbaugh said , is where are those tumor bacteria coming from ?
One possibility , he speculated , is that bacteria are able to `` translocate '' out of a person 's gut or other tissue and find their way into tumor cells .
Other recent research has suggested bacteria can travel from the gut to tumors , Turnbaugh said .
Why would different cancer types have distinctive bacterial communities ?
The `` microenvironment '' within different body tissues and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Turnbaugh explained .
So it 's possible those conditions favor the growth of certain bacteria over others .
However , that 's not to say that all patients with a particular cancer have exactly the same bacterial makeup in their tumors .
The study also found differences among individuals with the same cancer .
In melanoma patients , certain differences in tumor bacterial makeup were associated with treatment response .
Straussman said it all raises many `` intriguing '' questions about how bacteria might interact with a patient 's cancer and own immune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , might have `` anti-tumor '' effects , while others could be `` pro-tumor . ''
If tumor bacteria do influence treatment outcomes -- an area Straussman said his team is actively studying -- that would lead to an obvious next step : figuring out what , if anything , can be done about it .
Straussman said ongoing research might lead to new ways of `` manipulating '' tumor bacteria , to improve cancer treatment .
Right now , it 's not clear how bacteria within tumor cells could be targeted .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ turns out that gut bacteria do migrate to tumors , it might be possible to alter tumor bacteria by changing the gut 's bacterial environment .
In one instance of how such research is bearing fruit , a study presented this week at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncologists found that bacteria in or around colon tumors may be tied to patient survival .
Researchers at Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center found that `` the presence of bacteria was mostly , but not always , associated with worse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ testing for bacterial types might help guide treatment , as might the use of antibiotics against certain species .
Research presented at meetings is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal .
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more on the human microbiome .

The human body is teeming with bacteria, and a new study finds the same is true of many cancers -- raising questions about what role microbes might play in the diseases.
Researchers have already known that tumors in certain areas of the body -- like the gut -- harbor bacteria of their own. But the new research reveals that a range of cancers, including those of the breast, lungs, bones and brain, have their own bacterial communities within tumor cells.
Advertisement
And the makeup of those communities seems to be unique to each cancer type, the researchers report in the May 29 issue of Science.
Exactly what it all means is unclear at this point. But the study also found that the same bacteria within tumor cells were present in patients' immune system cells. Among other things, that brings up the possibility that tumor bacteria could have an effect on patients' responses to certain cancer therapies.
Advertisement
"The fact that bacteria are frequently present in human tumors raises many intriguing questions regarding their local effects on tumor cells, as well as on tumor immunity and response to immunotherapy," said senior researcher Dr. Ravid Straussman, of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel.
Past research has already turned up hints that bacteria may influence cancer patients' response to treatment. A 2017 study of patients with advanced melanoma suggested that people's own gut bacteria might play a role: Patients who responded well to immunotherapy drugs generally had a gut "microbiome" that was distinct from that of patients who did not respond.
The new findings point to a similar connection between tumor bacteria and treatment response: Among melanoma patients, there was an association between the amount of certain bacteria in their tumors and the likelihood of responding to immunotherapy.
It is too soon, though, to draw any conclusions, according to Peter Turnbaugh, an associate professor of microbiology and immunology at the University of California, San Francisco. He coauthored an editorial published with the findings.
"The current study reports an association with immunotherapy response," Turnbaugh said. "But the causal role of bacteria within tumors, or in other body sites, remains unclear -- as do the potential mechanisms that might be at play."
Advertisement
The results are based on more than 1,500 tumor samples, plus samples of nearby tissue, from patients at medical centers in four countries. Straussman and his colleagues analyzed the samples for bacterial proteins and genetic material, taking measures to ensure they would not simply detect microbes that got there by contamination.
It turned out that all seven cancer types they studied harbored bacterial communities within their cells. And the composition of those communities varied by cancer type. Breast cancers, for example, had the most diverse collection of bacteria.
One of the key questions, Turnbaugh said, is where are those tumor bacteria coming from?
One possibility, he speculated, is that bacteria are able to "translocate" out of a person's gut or other tissue and find their way into tumor cells. Other recent research has suggested bacteria can travel from the gut to tumors, Turnbaugh said.
Why would different cancer types have distinctive bacterial communities? The "microenvironment" within different body tissues and cancer types is known to vary, Turnbaugh explained. So it's possible those conditions favor the growth of certain bacteria over others.
However, that's not to say that all patients with a particular cancer have exactly the same bacterial makeup in their tumors. The study also found differences among individuals with the same cancer. In melanoma patients, certain differences in tumor bacterial makeup were associated with treatment response.
Advertisement
Straussman said it all raises many "intriguing" questions about how bacteria might interact with a patient's cancer and own immune cells. Some bacteria, he noted, might have "anti-tumor" effects, while others could be "pro-tumor."
If tumor bacteria do influence treatment outcomes -- an area Straussman said his team is actively studying -- that would lead to an obvious next step: figuring out what, if anything, can be done about it.
Straussman said ongoing research might lead to new ways of "manipulating" tumor bacteria, to improve cancer treatment.
Right now, it's not clear how bacteria within tumor cells could be targeted. But, Turnbaugh said, if it turns out that gut bacteria do migrate to tumors, it might be possible to alter tumor bacteria by changing the gut's bacterial environment.
In one instance of how such research is bearing fruit, a study presented this week at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncologists found that bacteria in or around colon tumors may be tied to patient survival.
Researchers at Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center found that "the presence of bacteria was mostly, but not always, associated with worse overall survival." They believe that testing for bacterial types might help guide treatment, as might the use of antibiotics against certain species.
Advertisement
Research presented at meetings is considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
More information
The U.S. National Institutes of Health has more on the human microbiome.
Copyright 2020 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


upi--2020-05-28--Buccaneers QB Tom Brady selling customized Cadillac Escalade for $300K

May 28 ( UPI ) -- NFL star Tom Brady , who made the move to Florida this off-season , is selling his customized Cadillac Escalade for the price of a lavish home .
According to a listing from Becker Automotive Design , the 42-year-old quarterback placed the 2018 stretched Cadillac Escalade ESV on the market for $ 300,000 .
The listing promoted Brady 's elegant truck as an opportunity to own `` a piece of the Brady legacy . ''
`` Parting ways with my Becker ESV wo n't be easy , '' Brady said in a statement this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ became my sanctuary from the outside noise .
I took pride in picking out all the customizations of the ESV ; from the trim of the seats to the color of the rug .
`` With such limited time in my busy schedule the ESV gave me those extra minutes to study my playbook , make phone calls and be with my family .
Immediately my productivity went up and my stress came down .
I hope the next owner will take great care of her ; she will always be a part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initially paid about $ 350,000 for the vehicle , which resembles a private jet on the inside .
The SUV has a mobile internet system , large reclining seats , wood accents and an $ 18,000 audio-video system .
The Escalade has only 13,000 miles on it , according to the listing .
Brady had the car stretched by 20 inches and modified the interior with massaging Italian-leather seats and a 32-inch flatscreen television .
Brady , a six-time Super Bowl champion , signed a two-year , $ 50 million contract with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the past 20 seasons with the New England Patriots .

Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady initially paid about $350,000 for the Cadillac and its customizations. Photo courtesy of Becker Automotive Design/Official Website
May 28 (UPI) -- NFL star Tom Brady, who made the move to Florida this off-season, is selling his customized Cadillac Escalade for the price of a lavish home. According to a listing from Becker Automotive Design, the 42-year-old quarterback placed the 2018 stretched Cadillac Escalade ESV on the market for $300,000. The listing promoted Brady's elegant truck as an opportunity to own "a piece of the Brady legacy." Advertisement
"Parting ways with my Becker ESV won't be easy," Brady said in a statement this week. "From day one it became my sanctuary from the outside noise. I took pride in picking out all the customizations of the ESV; from the trim of the seats to the color of the rug.
"With such limited time in my busy schedule the ESV gave me those extra minutes to study my playbook, make phone calls and be with my family. Immediately my productivity went up and my stress came down. I hope the next owner will take great care of her; she will always be a part of the Brady family."
SEE inside @TomBrady's stretched #Cadilac #Escalade ESV. It's now a 20 ft long bespoke ride w doors lengthened by 10", a raised roof & 2 VIP electric recliners. It looks like a #privatejet on #wheels. It's got 13k miles- the baller wants $300k for it. via @BeckerAuto pic.twitter.com/3XzIa7Hsm4— Secret Lives of the Super Rich (@CNBCSuperRich) May 27, 2020
Advertisement
Brady initially paid about $350,000 for the vehicle, which resembles a private jet on the inside. The SUV has a mobile internet system, large reclining seats, wood accents and an $18,000 audio-video system.
The Escalade has only 13,000 miles on it, according to the listing. Brady had the car stretched by 20 inches and modified the interior with massaging Italian-leather seats and a 32-inch flatscreen television.
Brady, a six-time Super Bowl champion, signed a two-year, $50 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this off-season after spending the past 20 seasons with the New England Patriots.


upi--2020-05-29--San Francisco 49ers' Dee Ford underwent knee surgery after Super Bowl LIV

May 29 ( UPI ) -- San Francisco 49ers defensive end Dee Ford revealed Friday that he underwent `` extensive '' surgery on his left knee after Super Bowl LIV .
Ford told reporters in a video conference call that he had the procedure done a couple of weeks after the Feb. 2 championship game .
Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery in Pensacola , Fla. , and Ford has been rehabbing in Alabama since .
Ford , who has been plagued by knee tendinitis as far back as last year 's training camp , knew he would require surgery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were spot on with the injury as far as diagnosing it in training camp , '' Ford said .
`` I had a severe case of tendinitis .
... With my position , that 's a blown tire .
I feel great right now .
I 'm able to actually explode off of this knee .
Thinking back on it , I ca n't believe I played a whole season on it , and we knew at the end of the day what we had to do .
`` It had to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to miss the season .
We had too much going on .
I did n't want to miss that .
It 's in the bag now , though , I 'm confident in that . ''
Ford noted that because the tendinitis has been a chronic problem , it 's difficult to determine when or if the issue will return .
The pass rusher has been unable to test the knee in football drills because of the coronavirus pandemic , which has forced the NFL off-season to take place virtually .
`` Anytime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you are always on the clock , '' Ford said .
`` So if I 'm able to play , I 'm going to play .
As of right now , I 'm just getting as healthy as I can .
...
I know exactly what I felt like last year , [ and ] doing the things I 'm doing now , it 's like night and day .
We 'll just play it by ear once everything gets going .
`` We have n't really had an off-season , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so it 's just really hard to measure where you 're at .
So we are going to take it one day at a time and just keep getting this thing as strong as we can possibly get it so we can sack some quarterbacks . ''
Ford , who was traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the 49ers in March 2019 , recorded 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 11 regular-season games last year .
He added one sack in three postseason games .

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Dee Ford (55) recorded 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 11 regular-season games last season. File Photo by Bruce Gordon/UPI | License Photo
May 29 (UPI) -- San Francisco 49ers defensive end Dee Ford revealed Friday that he underwent "extensive" surgery on his left knee after Super Bowl LIV. Ford told reporters in a video conference call that he had the procedure done a couple of weeks after the Feb. 2 championship game. Dr. James Andrews performed the surgery in Pensacola, Fla., and Ford has been rehabbing in Alabama since. Advertisement
Ford, who has been plagued by knee tendinitis as far back as last year's training camp, knew he would require surgery following the 2019-20 season.
"We were spot on with the injury as far as diagnosing it in training camp," Ford said. "I had a severe case of tendinitis. ... With my position, that's a blown tire. I feel great right now. I'm able to actually explode off of this knee. Thinking back on it, I can't believe I played a whole season on it, and we knew at the end of the day what we had to do.
"It had to be surgical, but I didn't want to miss the season. We had too much going on. I didn't want to miss that. It's in the bag now, though, I'm confident in that."
Advertisement
Ford noted that because the tendinitis has been a chronic problem, it's difficult to determine when or if the issue will return. The pass rusher has been unable to test the knee in football drills because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has forced the NFL off-season to take place virtually.
"Anytime you are dealing with a chronic issue, you are always on the clock," Ford said. "So if I'm able to play, I'm going to play. As of right now, I'm just getting as healthy as I can. ... I know exactly what I felt like last year, [and] doing the things I'm doing now, it's like night and day. We'll just play it by ear once everything gets going.
"We haven't really had an off-season, no one has really been in competition, so it's just really hard to measure where you're at. So we are going to take it one day at a time and just keep getting this thing as strong as we can possibly get it so we can sack some quarterbacks."
Ford, who was traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to the 49ers in March 2019, recorded 6.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in 11 regular-season games last year. He added one sack in three postseason games.