Screening healthcare workers could serve as early warning system for future viruses, RCSI research
DUBLIN, May 3, 2021 – New research has shown that COVID-19 infections in healthcare workers during the first wave of the pandemic provided an accurate sample of the general population, suggesting that data from healthcare workers could be used to estimate the severity of future viruses more quickly.
The study, led by researchers from RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences in collaboration with IBM Research, is published in PLOS ONE.
The researchers analysed the infection data from healthcare workers and the progression of the first wave of the COVID-19 outbreak using the reported daily infection numbers in Ireland. Using similar data in four other countries (Germany, UK, South Korea and Iceland), computer models showed how the disease progressed in different countries related to their approach to testing, tracing and lockdown restrictions.
Healthcare workers in Ireland made up 31.6% of all test-confirmed infections while only representing 3% of the population. However, the researchers found that the healthcare worker data closely related to that of the entire population after using software to create a more accurate picture of how widespread the disease was.
This suggests that governments could use data from only healthcare workers to inform decisions on whether to implement restrictions, wide-scale testing and contact tracing for future viruses.
“As we have seen with the COVID-19 pandemic, implementing countermeasures early can save lives and reduce the spread of the disease,” said RCSI Professor of Chemistry Donal O’Shea, who led the work.
“However, wide-scale testing can take time to set up, delaying decisions and costing lives. While the healthcare population is no longer an accurate sample of the general population for COVID-19 due to different vaccination rates, governments could use data from their healthcare worker population to make informed decisions on what measures to implement earlier when future viruses emerge.”
The research noted that very few nations were able to set up effective systems that tested the entire population, carried out contact tracing and quarantined those infected with COVID-19.
“Setting up wide-scale testing systems for healthcare workers is much easier than setting up a similar programme for everyone since the infrastructure for testing for diseases is always in place in healthcare settings,” said Dr Dan Wu, honorary lecturer in the RCSI Department of Chemistry and first author on the paper.
“A screening programme that tested all healthcare workers would have the additional benefit of catching asymptomatic spread of the disease since all healthcare workers would be tested. If governments could catch highly infectious diseases and implement countermeasures early, this could possibly prevent new viruses from erupting into another epidemic/pandemic.”
ENDS
About RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences
RCSI University of Medicine and Health Sciences is a world-leading university for Good Health and Well-being. Ranked second in the world for its contribution to UN Sustainable Development Goal 3 in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2021, it is exclusively focused on education and research to drive improvements in human health worldwide.
RCSI is an international not-for-profit university, headquartered in Dublin. It is among the top 250 universities worldwide in the World University Rankings (2020) and its research is ranked first in Ireland for citations. RCSI has been awarded Athena Swan Bronze accreditation for positive gender practice in higher education.
Visit the RCSI MyHealth Expert Directory to find the details of our experts across a range of healthcare issues and concerns. Recognising their responsibility to share their knowledge and discoveries to empower people with information that leads them to better health, these clinicians and researchers are willing to engage with the media in their area of expertise.
For more inform
How are we feeling? Canadians are worried, bored, stressed, lonely and sad
CMHA and UBC release data on emotional impact of the pandemic for Mental Health Week
TORONTO and VANCOUVER, British Columbia, May 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The pandemic is taking an emotional toll on people in Canada, as 77% of adults report feeling so-called negative emotions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The five most common responses across Canada were ‘worried or anxious,’ ‘bored,’ ‘stressed,’ ‘lonely or isolated’ and ‘sad’. This is according to the third round of data from the Assessing the Impacts of COVID-19 on Mental Health national monitoring survey released today by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in partnership with UBC researchers to mark CMHA’s 70th annual Mental Health Week.
“While it’s discouraging to think that so many Canadians are feeling upset, difficult emotions may actually be an appropriate response to a major event like a global pandemic,” says Margaret Eaton, National CEO of CMHA. “It’s a sign of good mental health when someone can experience a full range of emotions, and recognize, understand and manage how they feel—even when it’s uncomfortable. Being able to make an emotional connection is also part of how we seek comfort and reassurance from people in our lives.”
Emotions represent our inner mental states. They arise in response to life events and experiences and can initiate changes in the body and in our behaviours. Some emotions are a positive experience, such as feeling calm, hopeful or secure and others are more challenging, such as anxiety, sadness, anger and hopelessness. Our emotional responses to significant events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, both reflect and contribute to our overall mental health status.
“Good mental health is not about being happy all the time but having appropriate emotional and behavioural responses to stressors and life events,” says lead researcher Emily Jenkins, a professor of nursing at UBC who studies mental health and substance use. The pandemic has caused significant loss—of loved ones, of connection, of feelings of security. This can contribute to very challenging emotions that are important to acknowledge and process. Hiding your emotions can prevent you from communicating with other people in your life and empathizing with what loved ones are going through. Sharing our very normal feelings of sadness, fear and worry is particularly important during this unusual time of stress, uncertainty and loss.”
Research shows that putting your negative emotions into words disrupts and reduces activity in the amygdala, the part of your brain that drives your responses to stress and fear. Having a specific label for what we’re feeling increases activity in the prefrontal and temporal regions of the brain. The act of naming our emotions can actually help us feel calmer and help us understand what we’re going through.1
However, it is important to know when anxious feelings become a cause for concern. Feeling anxious is not the same as having a diagnosed anxiety disorder, but our emotions give us clues to how we’re really doing. Indeed, those experiencing the most challenging emotions related to the pandemic were also the most likely to report a decline in their mental health, as well as suicidal thoughts.
“It’s time to seek help if you are feeling overwhelmed for prolonged periods of time or have persistent feelings of worry, anger or despair,” says Anne Gadermann, co-lead researcher and professor at the School of Population and Public Health, UBC. “Or, if challenging emotions are interrupting your daily functioning, negatively impacting your relationships, your ability to work or enjoy life or causing you to rely on substances to cope. If you are having thoughts or feelings of suicide, you should seek help for your mental health.”
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates in our society is complex; however, suicidal thoughts and feelings in the general population remain elevated at 8%, compared to 6% in the spring 2020 and 10% in the fall of 2020—substantially higher than the 2.5 per cent observed pre-pandemic in 2016.
Overall, a large number of Canadians (41%) report a decline in their mental health since the onset of the pandemic, compared to 38% in the spring and 40% in the fall of last year. Also, consistent with the first and second rounds of data, the decline is more pronounced in people who are unemployed due to COVID (61%), those with a pre-existing mental health condition (54%), those aged 18-24 (50%), students (48%), those who have a disability (47%) or identify as LGBTQ2+ (46%).
The good news is most Canadians (79%) say they are coping at least fairly well with the stress of the pandemic, using approaches such as: walking or exercising outside (51%), connecting with family and friends virtually (43%), maintaining a healthy lifestyle (40%), keeping up to date with relevant information (38%) and doing a hobby (37%).
Canadians also report they have increased their screen time (57%), are consuming more food (28%), are doing more online shopping for things they don’t need (18%), and are using more substances like drugs and alcohol due to cope with the COVID-19 pandemic (13%).
“Mental health is something we can protect, not just something we can lose,” says Eaton. “Factors that promote well-being include big-picture things like social and economic security, freedom from violence, harm and trauma, and access to mental health resources. It also involves smaller things like making healthier daily choices, connecting with loved ones and learning more about ourselves. When we understand and work with our emotions, this helps protect our mental health—during tough times like the pandemic and throughout all the ups and downs of life.”
The focus of this year’s Mental Health Week is to promote the importance of emotions and the role that understanding them plays in good mental health. Mental Health Week is generously supported by Major Partner Shoppers Drug Mart as well as Westland Insurance, Leith Wheeler, Rogers tv and the Not Myself Today program. To get involved, you can:
Share your support on social media by downloading a toolkit and using hashtags #GetReal and #MentalHealthWeek
Donate to support CMHA mental health programs and services at www.cmha.ca/donate
Connect. If you or someone you love is struggling, please contact your local CMHAor visit the Government of Canada’s Wellness Together portal. If you are in crisis, please call 1-833-456-4566 toll free in Canada (1-866-277-3553 in Quebec) or dial 911.
About the data The survey was dispatched by Maru/Matchbox in late January, 2021 to a representative sample of 3,037 people ages 18 and up living in Canada. It is the third round of a national monitoring survey that is also aligned with work being conducted by the Mental Health Foundation in the U.K. To access a complete summary of the findings, please click here.
About the Canadian Mental Health Association Founded in 1918, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is the most established, most extensive community mental health organization in Canada. Through a presence in more than 330 communities across every province and one territory, CMHA provides advocacy, programs and resources that help to prevent mental health problems and illnesses, support recovery and resilience, and enable all Canadians to flourish and thrive. For more information, visit www.cmha.ca
CDA extends Sun Awareness Week to Month of May: ‘Sun Safety for Every Day and Every Body’
OTTAWA, May 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This year, the Canadian Dermatology Association is extending activities of its Sun Awareness Week, May 3 – 9, 2021 throughout the month of May. The CDA will share important messages and ‘myth buster’ facts through its social media channels to emphasize the importance of sun safety for every day of the year and for every body.
CDA Sun Awareness Week- Reaching Canadians each year for the past 32 years! For each year since 1989, the CDA has recognized the nationwide Sun Awareness Week to educate all Canadians about the dangers of too much sun and the need to protect themselves every day from harmful UV radiation so we can stop the rising incidence of skin cancer in Canada.
This year’s Sun Awareness Week is Monday, May 3 to Sunday, May 9, with national social media activities extending throughout the month of May. Check www.dermatology.ca/SunSafety and the CDA social media channels for Sun Safety messages and facts like ‘myth busters’:
Due to public health restrictions, this year’s campaign will focus mostly on social media rather than in-person events. Week 1 will highlight sun safety and sunscreen facts. Week 2 will concentrate on other sun prevention and protection facts. Week 3 will centre on the self-identification of various skin lesions. Week 4 will feature the role of a certified dermatologist in prevention, identification and treatment of skin cancer and sun damage.
“The CDA has been at the forefront of providing credible evidence-based information about sun awareness for over 30 years. The CDA National Committee on Sun Awareness was formed in 1989 and I had the privilege of becoming the National Chair in 1990. Free public skin screenings began in 1991 and continued across the country until last year with the onset of Covid-19 pandemic,” says CDA President, Dr. Jason K. Rivers.
“Probably more than ever, we all will be craving the outdoors to enjoy the summer weather of 2021. Nonetheless, it will remain our obligation to remind everyone and everybody, regardless of skin colour, to be sun safe,” says Dr. Rivers.
The CDA continues to monitor issues regarding sun safety and sunscreens, continually assessing the science of sunscreens and the potential impact they may pose to humans, animals, and the environment.
Skin cancer (melanoma) is one of the fastest growing cancers in the world and it is one type of cancer that can be prevented. When the UV Index is 3 or higher, protect your skin as much as possible. In general, the UV Index in Canada can reach 3 or higher from 11am to 3pm between April and September, even when cloudy.
Seek shade between 11am to 3pm.
Wear protective clothing, a wide-brimmed hat, and UV-protected sunglasses.
Use SPF 30+ broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen.1 Apply sunscreen generously and reapply when required.
Don’t use UV tanning equipment or purposely try to get a suntan; avoid getting a sunburn.
Early detection is key. Everyone should regularly perform a skin evaluation and see a certified dermatologist if you spot something suspicious.
CDA extends Sun Awareness Week to Month of May: ‘Sun Safety for Every Day and Every Body’
The Canadian Dermatology Association, founded in 1925, represents Canadian certified dermatologists. The association provides easy access to a reliable source of medical knowledge on dermatology. CDA exists to advance the science and art of medicine and surgery related to the care of the skin, hair and nails; provide continuing professional development for its members; support and advance patient care; provide public education on sun protection and other aspects of skin health; and promote a lifetime of healthier skin, hair and nails. By doing so, CDA informs and empowers both medical professionals and the Canadian public. To learn more about CDA initiatives visit dermatology.ca and join the conversation on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and/or YouTube.
TORONTO, May 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today Dosecann, an in-house brand owned by Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX - XLY) (“Auxly”), announces the launch of Dosecann Daily Relief CBD Cream, a new, high-strength, differentiated cannabis topical cream for Canadian wellness consumers. With 1,200mg of cannabidiol (CBD) per 60 ml unit, Dosecann Daily Relief CBD Cream has double the potency of any CBD topical currently available in the Canadian marketplace and is competitively priced to deliver the best value for a CBD topicali. Dosecann Daily Relief CBD Cream is available to order now for wholesalers across Canada, is available to consumers now in British Columbia and Saskatchewan and will also be available in Alberta in coming weeks.
Dosecann Daily CBD Cream was developed by a team of scientists, researchers and formulation experts at Auxly’s state-of-the-art laboratory in Charlottetown, PEI, under the direction of Dr. Bob Chapman, Chief Science Officer, Dosecann.
“Topicals were among the very first products we conceived of at Dosecann and I’m extremely proud that after thorough development and testing, we’ve landed on a formula that we believe is the best in the marketplace,” said Dr. Chapman. “Consumers use topicals to provide daily relief from a wide variety of symptoms such as localized pain relief, muscle soreness, tension and inflammation. Our team was driven to ensure that Dosecann Daily Relief CBD Cream offers industry-leading potency along with a formulation designed to boost CBD penetration and provide the skin moisturizing properties of high-end skin creams.”
“We’re excited to launch Dosecann Daily Relief CBD Cream and expand our expertise in the 2.0 segment into topicals,” said Brad Canario, Brand Director, Auxly. “We know from research that topicals are a high-frequency segment, with nearly 50% of topical consumers using daily, and further, that amongst Canadian cannabis users, creams are the #1 topicals format. We believe we have a truly differentiated product for wellness consumers looking for daily relief from a variety of symptoms and, as always, we focused on our pillars of quality, safety and efficacy at every stage of product development.”
The proprietary Dosecann Daily Relief CBD Cream formula combines high-quality CBD extract with Natralipid™ Meadowfoam seed oil, a plant-based emollient found in high-end skin creams and valued for moisturization, transdermal barrier repair, skin penetration and unsurpassed stability. The result is a product that promotes the fast, effective absorption of high-quality CBD extract so that the cannabinoids can get where they’re needed quickly, all the while soothing the skin by locking-in moisture without leaving a greasy feeling behind. Dosecann Daily Relief CBD Cream has a mild, neutral bamboo scent and is packaged in a recyclable glass jar with a built-in seal to preserve freshness.
Dosecann Daily Relief CBD Cream is the latest cannabis 2.0 release from Auxly, who achieved the #1 market-share position for Cannabis 2.0 products in 2020. With today’s launch, Dosecann expands its offering of natural, science-backed products, which includes oils and precision-dosed capsules made with omega-rich Ahiflower™ oil.
About Dosecann Dosecann is a world-class developer of innovative cannabis products for the wellness-focused consumer, wholly owned by Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. Proudly processed at Auxly’s 52,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art facility in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Dosecann products are developed and manufactured on-site by a world-class team of scientists and experts, ensuring high-quality, precision and consistency. Dosecann’s wellness products, available at licensed cannabis retailers across Canada, consist of non-GMO capsules and oils. Built on the pillars of quality, safety and efficacy, Dosecann is cannabis – down to a science.
Learn more at dosecann.com and stay up to date at Twitter: @Dosecann; Instagram: @dosecann; Facebook: @dosecann.
About Auxly Cannabis Group Inc. (TSX: XLY) (OTCQX: CBWTF) Auxly is leading Canadian cannabis company dedicated to bringing innovative, effective, and high-quality cannabis products to the wellness and adult-use markets. Auxly's experienced team of industry first-movers and enterprising visionaries have secured a diversified supply of raw cannabis, strong clinical, scientific and operating capabilities and leading research and development infrastructure in order to create trusted products and brands in an expanding global market.
Learn more at auxly.com and stay up to date at Twitter: @AuxlyGroup; Instagram: @auxlygroup; Facebook: @auxlygroup; LinkedIn: company/auxlygroup/.
For more information please contact: Scott Campbell, 647-402-4957, press@auxly.com
Notice Regarding Forward Looking Information:
This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed" and other similar words, or information that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. This information is only a prediction. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking information throughout this news release. Forward-looking information includes but is not limited to: Dosecann’s execution of its product development and commercialization strategy; consumer preferences; political change, future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis, cannabis products and cannabis health products; and competition and other risks affecting Auxly in particular and the cannabis industry generally.
A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from a conclusion, forecast or projection contained in the forward-looking information in this release including, but not limited to whether: there is acceptance and demand for current and future Dosecann products by consumers and provincial purchasers, and general economic, financial market, regulatory and political conditions in which Auxly operates will remain the same. The forward-looking information in this release is based on information currently available and what management believes are reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking information speaks only to such assumptions as of the date of this release. In addition, this release may contain forward-looking information attributed to third party sources, the accuracy of which has not been verified by Auxly. The forward-looking information contained in this release is expressly qualified by the foregoing cautionary statements and is made as of the date of this release. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, Auxly does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, whether as a result of new information, future events or results, or otherwise.
Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
FeraMAX® Named #1 Recommended Iron Supplement by National Pharmacists and Physicians for Sixth Consecutive Year
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, May 03, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioSyent Inc. (“BioSyent”, TSX Venture: RX) is pleased to announce that for the sixth consecutive year, FeraMAX® has been named the #1 recommended iron supplement brand in a national survey of Canadian physicians and pharmacists.
The 2021 OTC Recommendations Survey was conducted by EnsembleIQ, Research, Insights and Innovation team and the following publications and websites: Pharmacy Practice + Business, The Medical Post, Profession Santé, CanadianHealthcareNetwork.ca and ProfessionSanté.ca. This annual survey was conducted online between October 2020 and January 2021 with Canadian retail pharmacists and physicians. In total, 1,812 surveys were completed by pharmacists (including 647 Québec pharmacists) and 657 surveys were completed by physicians (including 268 Québec physicians).
FeraMAX® was named by both pharmacists and physicians surveyed (in both Québec and all Canada) as the most recommended iron supplement brand to Canadian patients.
Last year, BioSyent Pharma Inc. launched FeraMAX® Pd Therapeutic 150, the first product under a patented formulation made with a homogeneous polysaccharide, Polydextrose, linked to ferric (Fe3+) elemental iron to form the proprietary Polydextrose Iron Complex (“PDIC”).
“We are delighted with the continued vote of confidence by healthcare professionals in FeraMAX® as their trusted choice for iron deficient patients,” remarked Mr. René Goehrum, President and CEO of BioSyent. “This recognition is especially meaningful in an environment fraught with the complexities of changed healthcare practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. We express our appreciation to healthcare professionals and patients and we look forward to strengthening our partnership with ongoing innovation and commitment to the overall iron health of Canadian patients.”
About FeraMAX®
FeraMAX® Pd Therapeutic 150 is an oral iron supplement indicated for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia. This is a patented formulation and the only Polydextrose Iron Complex (PDIC) in Canada. It offers several benefits compared to conventional iron salt supplements and is well-tolerated. FeraMAX® is Vegan Certified and provides an iron therapy option for vegans, vegetarians, and patients with other dietary restrictions. FeraMAX® Pd Therapeutic 150 is also recognized by the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, for demonstrated scientific evidence of safety and efficacy. FeraMAX® Powder (Polysaccharide-Iron Complex) is available in a pleasant tasting, dissolvable powder for pediatric patients.
For more information on FeraMAX®, please visit www.feramax.com.
About BioSyent Inc.
Listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol “RX”, BioSyent is a profitable growth-oriented specialty pharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing or acquiring innovative pharmaceutical and other healthcare products that have been successfully developed, are safe and effective, and have a proven track record of improving the lives of patients. BioSyent supports the healthcare professionals that treat these patients by marketing its products through its community, specialty and international business units.
As of the date of this press release, the Company has 12,706,275 common shares outstanding.
For a direct market quote for the TSX Venture Exchange and other Company financial inform
CCRM and Amgen partner to advance emerging medical innovations
New fund to support regenerative medicine discoveries with high potential impact for patients
TORONTO and MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 29, 2021 /CNW/ - New regenerative medicine discoveries, including cell and gene therapies, will never reach patients without access to the funding, expertise and other specialized support that are required to move along the commercialization pathway. To address this need, CCRM, a leader in developing and commercializing regenerative medicine-based technologies and cell and gene therapies, and Amgen, a global leader in the biotechnology industry, are announcing a multi-year fund, for early-stage regenerative medicine-based technologies and therapies to benefit patients and the health-care system. The collaboration is made up of equivalent investments from CCRM and Amgen.
To bridge the gap from bench to bedside, the program will identify, develop and commercialize promising technologies and therapies arising from research conducted in institutions that form CCRM's global network. CCRM and Amgen's contributions will range from financial support to in-kind technical services and expertise.
"CCRM's collaboration with Amgen to create this fund is a perfect example of how public-private partnerships can leverage resources and expertise to support development and commercialization, and change patients' lives," said Michael May, President and CEO, CCRM. "The regenerative medicine research ecosystem across Canada offers a rich discovery pipeline and it is ready for such a program."
"There are few places in the world that have clustered all the necessary resources and talent to drive regenerative medicine from the bench to the bedside. Canada has consistently led the way for decades," said Alan Russell, Vice-President, Research, Amgen Inc. "Amgen is delighted to have the opportunity to partner with CCRM and leverage an extraordinary platform to benefit patients."
To identify opportunities, a Joint Steering Committee, made up of representatives from both CCRM and Amgen, will assess proposals from CCRM's Canadian and international member institutions. Selected projects will possess high scientific merit, be developed by scientists and academics with established credentials and expertise, and demonstrate the greatest potential to have an impact in the industry.
Regenerative medicine, including cell and gene therapy, harnesses the power of (stem) cells, biomaterials, molecules and genetic modification to repair, regenerate or replace diseased cells, tissues and organs. It has the promise of creating revolutionary new treatments for devastating and costly conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer.
About CCRM CCRM is a global, public-private partnership headquartered in Canada. It receives funding from the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario, and leading academic and industry partners. CCRM supports the development of regenerative medicines and associated enabling technologies, with a specific focus on cell and gene therapy. A network of researchers, leading companies, strategic investors and entrepreneurs, CCRM accelerates the translation of scientific discovery into new companies and marketable products for patients, with specialized teams, funding, and infrastructure. CCRM is the commercialization partner of the University of Toronto's Medicine by Design. CCRM is hosted by the University of Toronto. Visit us at ccrm.ca.
About Amgen in Canada As a leader in innovation, Amgen Canada understands the value of science. With main operations located in Mississauga, Ontario's vibrant biomedical cluster, and its research facility in Burnaby, B.C., Amgen Canada has been an important contributor to advancements in science and innovation in Canada since 1991. The company contributes to the development of new therapies and new uses for existing medicines in partnership with many of Canada's leading healthcare, academic, research, government and patient organizations. To learn more about Amgen Canada, visit www.amgen.ca.
SOURCE Amgen Canada
For further information:
CCRM: Stacey Johnson, Director, Communications and Marketing, 647-309-1830, stacey.johnson@ccrm.ca; Amgen Canada: Natasha Bond, Head of Corporate Affairs, 905-285-3007, natasha.bond@amgen.com
Coinciding with Autism Awareness Month, New Kids Book Helps Us Navigate Differences in Our 8 Senses
Richmond, VA, April 29, 2021 — Published to coincide with Autism Awareness Month, and armed with a lot of confidence and inspiration, neurodiverse author Lindsey Rowe Parker releases her first children’s book, Wiggles, Stomps, and Squeezes Calm My Jitters Down (April 1, 2021; BQB Publishing; ISBN 978-1945448; $14.95; Hardcover), with autistic illustrator Rebecca Burgess, whom Lindsey met on Twitter. The book is also available in Spanish, titled Meneos, Pistones, Y Apretones Para Calmar Mi Cosquilleo. When Lindsey became newly diagnosed with PTSD, anxiety and ADHD, her world finally made sense—giving her the confidence as a parent to go through a medical journey with her daughter, who is autistic. This story is written from Lindsey’s own sensory experiences and inspires parents who are looking for that sensory input, which they themselves may not have a name for.
The theme of Wiggles… is that the child is accepted and understood. They are not asked to change; they are supported; they can be themselves; and most importantly, they are loved. Wiggles… focuses on the eight senses: smell, sight, hearing, taste, touch, PLUS proprioception, vestibular and interoception.
The brightly illustrated story follows a young girl with heightened sensory experiences through her day with fun, interactive sounds and motions. The reader may vicariously experience the vibration when she runs, the tap-tap-tap of her spoon on the table at mealtime, the trickle of cool water running over her hands—these are the things that calm her jitters down.
Lindsey recounts, “There were sensory preferences that I had as a child that I thought were weird or strange, not like other kids I knew. Through pediatric occupational therapies with my kiddos, I have a greater understanding of not only some of their sensory needs, but my own. It’s like a lightbulb went on, and I thought, “Oh wow, now I get it.” On working with Rebecca to illustrate the book, “Rebecca was absolutely the perfect person to bring this story to life because she understood life’s experiences as an autistic person. You can feel the support and understanding in the illustrations.”
Author Lindsey Rowe Parker is a mom at the tail end of toddlerhood, embracing the next phase of parenting while learning to navigate and advocate for her young autistic daughter. With a recent adult diagnosis of ADHD, and a new deeper understanding of her own sensory experiences, she has begun to delve into the neurodiversity community, learning all she can from neurodiverse voices. This is her first picture book, and she hopes it connects with everyone who has felt the need for a wiggle, stomp or squeeze! Lindsey lives in the Richmond, VA, area with her family. Rebecca “Bex” Burgess is an autistic illustrator living in the UK. They love history and nature, but comics and illustration most of all! Their passion has led them to work with the likes of The Guardian and Jessica Kingsley Publishing. Rebecca is most famous for their online comic, Understanding the Spectrum, explaining autism that has been shared in several books and used by parents, teachers and doctors. For more information, please visit wigglesstompsandsqueezes.com.
Major Depressive Disorder: The Hope-Filled Battle for the Causes and the Cures
Spokane, WA, April 29, 2021 — The voice on the other end of the phone was familiar but shaky. It was Sarah’s friend Carolyn, and she was grappling with suicidal ideation.
“Something had her in its grip and would not let go,” Sarah Zabel explains. “I kept wondering, what’s doing this? How does a normal, happy person come to feel life is so bad that she must kill herself?”
A decade after that first phone call, solutions for Carolyn’s major depressive disorder remained elusive, and Sarah felt compelled to understand why.
Fighting Chance: How Unexpected Observations and Unintended Outcomes Shape the Science and Treatment of Depression delivers a 360-degree look inside the world of this debilitating illness, featuring interviews with more than 20 experts in the fields of neuroscience and psychiatry, current research and the unforgettable stories of 16 people personally impacted by depression.
Described by Sarah as a “science book for non-scientists,” Fighting Chancetackles key questions that have guided scientific research for decades and delves into the discoveries that have formed the medical world’s understanding of the disorder. Peppered throughout are more than 20 illustrations that help explain the science involved — making it widely accessible.
Sarah adeptly explores topics ranging from the neurobiology of depression to antidepressant medications; stress and inflammation; genetics; suicide; traditional and alternative therapies and treatments; and even gives a nod to Big Data’s efforts to clarify depression’s causes and cures.
Ultimately, Fighting Chance is a tale of human endeavor and ingenuity, of downright weird experiments and serendipitous discoveries, and of people who valiantly battle for answers for themselves and for people they will never know.
Author Sarah Zabel graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a degree in computer science in 1987 and was commissioned a second lieutenant. She retired from the Air Force in 2018 as a major general and decided to turn her focus to her life-long love of learning and become a science writer. She set herself the task of first coming to understand, and then to explain for other lay-persons, the science behind some of life’s most complex but important human experiences. Inspired, intrigued and frustrated by an enduring friend’s battle with depression, she set that topic as her first task. Sarah does occasional consulting and other activities associated with her time as one of the military’s leaders in cyberspace operations and security, in the provision of communications and other services to a community, and leadership of a diverse workforce.
Wearable glucose monitors shed light on progression of Type 2 diabetes in Hispanic/Latino adults Study by Sansum Diabetes Research Institute and Rice University points to new directions for improved diabetes care
HOUSTON – (April 29, 2021) – In one of the first studies of its kind, medical and engineering researchers have shown wearable devices that continuously monitor blood sugar provide new insights into the progression of Type 2 diabetes among at-risk Hispanic/Latino adults.
"The fresh look at the glucose data sheds new light on disease progression, which could have a direct impact on better management," said Rice study co-author Ashutosh Sabharwal, professor and department chair in electrical and computer engineering and founder of Rice's Scalable Health Labs. "An important aspect of our analysis is that the results are clinically interpretable and point to new directions for improved Type 2 diabetes care."
The study builds on SDRI's groundbreaking research to address Type 2 diabetes in underserved Hispanic/Latino communities. SDRI's Farming for Life initiative assesses the physical and mental health benefits of providing medical prescriptions for locally sourced fresh vegetables to people with or at risk of Type 2 diabetes, with a focus on the Hispanic/Latino community. SDRI recently added a digital health technology called continuous glucose monitoring to this research.
Continuous glucose monitors track blood sugar levels around-the-clock and allow trends in blood glucose to be displayed and analyzed over time. The devices typically consist of two parts, a small electrode sensor affixed to the skin with an adhesive patch and a receiver that gathers data from the sensor.
"We found that the use of this technology is both feasible and acceptable for this population, predominantly Mexican American adults," said study co-author David Kerr, SDRI's director of research and innovation. "The results also provided new insights into measurable differences in the glucose profiles for individuals at risk of as well as with noninsulin-treated Type 2 diabetes. These findings could facilitate novel therapeutic approaches to reduce the risk of progression of Type 2 diabetes for this underserved population."
Sabharwal, who is also a co-investigator of the Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Underserved Populations (PATHS-UP) engineering research center, said, "The collaboration with SDRI aligns with our mission to use technology as an important building block to reduce health care disparities."
"We are excited about the application of digital health technologies for underserved populations as a way to eliminate health disparities and improve health equity," Kerr said. "This opens up potential for a larger number of collaborations to support SDRI's evolving focus on precision nutrition and also the expanded use of digital health technologies for both the prevention and management of all forms of diabetes."
Study co-authors include Souptik Barua of Rice and Namino Glantz, Casey Conneely, Arianna Larez and Wendy Bevier of SDRI.
The research was supported by the Department of Agriculture (2018-33800-28404), the National Science Foundation (1648451), the Hearst Foundation, the Mosher Foundation, Sun Life Financial, the St. Francis Foundation and the Blooming Prairie Foundation.
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Links and resources:
The DOI of the EClinicalMedicine paper is: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100853
High-resolution IMAGES are available for download at:
https://sansum.org/images/Lancet-graphic-print.jpg CAPTION: Sansum Diabetes Research Institute's Farming for Life initiative addresses Type 2 diabetes in underserved Hispanic/Latino communities by assessing the physical and mental health benefits of providing medical prescriptions for locally sourced fresh vegetables to people with or at risk of the disease. In a study of participants who wore continuous glucose monitors (CGMs), devices that measure blood sugar levels around-the-clock, researchers showed CGM data can provide new insights into the progression of Type 2 diabetes among at-risk Hispanic/Latino adults. (Image courtesy of Sansum Diabetes Research Institute)
https://sansum.org/images/David-Kerr-print.jpg CAPTION: David Kerr is the director of research and innovation at Sansum Diabetes Research Institute. (Image courtesy of Sansum Diabetes Research Institute)
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How a Momtrepreneur is Changing the Way We Workout Through an
On-Demand Water Fitness System
Women in Tech Founders Award Finalist Available for Interviews
Certified fitness trainer Jennifer Conroyd developed a serious, no-impact aquatic high-tech workout after she was injured and needed to rehab to run a marathon. Her Fluid Running workout is an on-demand deep water running workout system that's like a Peloton for the pool. It uses a special flotation belt and Bluetooth, waterproof headphones that connect with the app that allows users to hear music-backed workouts led by Jennifer. Movement in cool, circulating water helps improve flexibility while cushioning the joints and reducing inflammation. Water also creates resistance and uses core and upper body muscles, which is why deep-water running burns about 40% more calories than land running. Get into the deep end of the pool (or bay or lake) and hit “play” for a running workout that’s perfect for people of all ages and fitness levels.
Why did Jennifer Conroyd Invent Fluid Running?
Jennifer Conroyd is the quintessential momtrepreneur. A certified fitness trainer, she founded Fluid Running in 2011 after an injury left her unable to run in preparation for the 2010 Chicago Marathon. She ran exclusively in deep water for the six weeks leading up to the race, and not only finished that marathon, but qualified for the Boston Marathon. Jennifer, a graduate of Miami University, certified personal trainer, and mom of three adult boys, wanted a way for everyone to stay active without the risk of injury. Jennifer is an accomplished athlete, having completed the Ironman and has run 16 marathons, qualifying for the Boston Marathon 15 times. Jennifer resides in Chicago and was named a finalist for the 2018 Women in Tech Founders award.
The Path to Product Development: Jennifer met Mike Lambert, a technologist and digital marketer in a co-working space during a weekly entrepreneur lunch. Jennifer’s inspiring story prompted Mike to share his idea about using an app to deliver classes instead of instructors. Within a month, they had people testing out a prototype, and six months later, the product was complete. Fluid Running offers in-person classes in the Chicago area, however, the on- demand system is available for purchase in The United States, Canada, Australia, and throughout the EU.
What Fluid Running Has Accomplished
Sales were over $400K last year.
Over 1000 people have taken the group class, with over 2000 On-demand customers via online purchase.
After being named one of the "20 Best Workouts in America" by Men's Journal, interest arose internationally resulting in Fluid Running adding an On-demand, app-based program that can be done by anyone, anywhere.
In summer 2020 growth rates were over 1,000%
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