New COVID-19 Research from Robert Graham Center Aims to Improve Population Health During and After Pandemic
WASHINGTON, DC — In February 2021, the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine published a special supplemental edition featuring new COVID-19 research, including five articles from the Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care.
This latest research from the Robert Graham Center aims to improve individual and population health. both during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, by enhancing the delivery of primary care. The following articles are available now:
Policy Brief: COVID-19 Timeline: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Changes and Primary Care Support Were Not Enough to Prevent Practice Losses
http://www.jabfm.org/content/34/Supplement/S7
Christian Gausvik, MD, and Yalda Jabbarpour, MD
Many scholars correctly predicted that the U.S. health care system was not prepared to effectively handle a pandemic such as COVID-19. Although the focus of the shortcomings of the U.S. health care system has been on lack of personal protective equipment and ICU capacity, the lack of support for primary care has been devastating. Surveys by the Larry A. Green Center and Primary Care Collaborative, as well as the American Academy of Family Physicians National Research Network, have consistently shown that primary care practices continue to struggle financially because of the pandemic, with many laying off staff or closing their practices. Modeling analysts predict this could exacerbate primary care shortages nationwide.
Although the reasons for this financial impact are multifactorial and cannot be blamed on any single entity, researchers at the Robert Graham Center sought to understand how the timeline of policy changes by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services may have impacted primary care practices in the U.S., with a focus on reimbursement and telehealth changes.
Commentary: Site of Care for COVID-19 Like Illness
John M Westfall, MD, MPH; Anuradha Jetty, MPH; Stephen Petterson, PhD; and Yalda Jabbarpour, MD
While there are additional COVID-19 symptoms beyond upper and lower respiratory conditions, patients have historically received most of their respiratory care from primary care physicians, with family physicians caring for a majority of patients in rural and underserved areas.
Primary care physicians will likely continue to play an important frontline role in diagnosing COVID-19 infection, providing care and treatment, and offering crucial triage for patients with moderate to severe disease. Policies related to primary care payment, federal relief efforts, PPE access, testing and follow-up capacity, and telehealth technical support are essential so primary care can provide first contact and continuity for their patients and communities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic response and recovery.
Original Research: Capacity of Primary Care to Deliver Telehealth in the United States
Anuradha Jetty, MPH; Yalda Jabbarpour, MD; Matthew Westfall, BA; Douglas B Kamerow, MD, MPH; Stephen Petterson, PhD; John Westfall, MD, MPH
The COVID-19 pandemic has led many U.S. primary care practices to implement telehealth visits to keep patients at home and prevent the spread of infection in the health care setting. Given the change in care delivery, it is essential to understand what primary care services and visits could be done via telehealth. This study demonstrates that 46% (check me on that) of primary care visits could be done via telehealth modalities
However, many patients do not have access to the technology required to sustain video visits with their physician. Other reasons for demographic disparities in telehealth use include mistrust in the use of technology for obtaining care, poor health literacy, or lack of technical skills in seeking health care. This study found that patients aged 65 and older and those with chronic conditions are less likely to engage in telehealth.
These findings from the Robert Graham Center underscore the importance of patient education and training in the use of telehealth services, as well as equitable funding for telephone visits, to ensure that patients with the highest medical and social needs are not disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
Family Medicine and the Health Care System: Uniting Public Health and Primary Care for Healthy Communities in the COVID-19 Era and Beyond
John M. Westfall, MD, MPH; Winston Liaw, MD; Kim Griswold, MD, MPH, RN; Kurt Stange, MD, PhD, Larry A. Green, MD; Robert Phillips, MD, MSPH, Andrew Bazemore, MD, MPH; Carlos Roberto Jaén, MD, PhD, Lauren S. Hughes, MD, MPH, Jennifer DeVoe, MD; Heidi Gullett, MD; James C. Puffer, MD; Robin S. Gotler, MA
The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed some of the greatest weaknesses in the U.S. health care system. Decades of neglect and dwindling support for public health, coupled with declining access to primary care medical services, have left many vulnerable communities without adequate COVID-19 response and recovery capacity.
A powerful proposal for a health care system that engaged primary care leadership within a broad, community public health framework was developed in the 1966 report, “Health is a Community Affair,” and updated in 2012. The report was the result of a 3-year study of healthy communities framed on the notion of “communities of solution,” defined as a group of community members who come together to address an important problem or seize an opportunity to improve health. In addition to community members, primary care clinicians, and public health professionals, communities of solution include an array of public and private partners and community-based organizations depending on the nature of the problem and the community.
The 1966 report’s visionary recommendations were only temporarily embraced and not widely implemented. However, after decades of independent effort, the COVID-19 pandemic offers an opportunity to reunite and align the shared goals of public health and primary care. Imagine how different things might look if we had widely implemented the recommendations from the 1966 report? The ideas and concepts laid out in Health is a Community Affair still offer a COVID-19 response and recovery approach. By bringing public health and primary care together in community now, a future that includes a shared vision and combined effort may emerge.
Brief Report: Not Telehealth: What Primary Care Visits Need In-Person Care?
Yalda Jabbarpour, MD; Anuradha Jetty, MPH; Matthew Westfall; John Westfall, MD MPH
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a rapid shift to telehealth, and many services that need in-person care have been delayed or avoided. The question now becomes, “What services can be performed via telehealth, and which cannot?”
Using the 2016 National Ambulatory Medical Survey, Robert Graham Center researchers estimated what proportion of visits were amenable to telehealth prior to COVID-19 as a guide. They divided services into those that needed in-person care and those that could be done via telehealth. Any visit that included at least one service where in-person care was needed was counted as an “in-person only” visit.
The researchers found that 66 percent of all primary care visits reported in NAMCS in 2016 required an in-person service. Ninety percent of all wellness visits and immunizations were done in primary care offices, as were a quarter of all pap smears. As practices reopen, patients will need to catch up on services such as these that were postponed. At the same time, the authors write, patients and clinicians now accustomed to telehealth may have reservations about returning to in-person only environment. This work serves to guide practices as they navigate how to deliver care in a post COVID-19 environment.
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The Robert Graham Center for Policy Studies in Family Medicine and Primary Care works to improve individual and population health by enhancing the delivery of primary care. The Center staff generates and analyzes evidence that brings a family medicine and primary care perspective to health policy deliberations at local, state, and national levels.
Founded in 1999, the Robert Graham Center is an independent research unit affiliated with the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). The information and opinions contained in research from the Center do not necessarily reflect the views or policy of the AAFP. Learn more about Robert Graham Center.
Jean-Guy Goulet of Pharmascience Elected Chair of Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA)
Ray Shelley of Apotex Elected Vice-Chair
TORONTO, Feb. 22, 2021 /CNW/ - The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) is pleased to announce the unanimous election of Mr. Jean-Guy Goulet, Chief Operating Officer of Pharmascience, as Chair of CGPA.
Mr. Ray Shelley, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations – Canada and Caribbean at Apotex Inc., has been unanimously elected as Vice-Chair of CGPA.
Mr. Goulet said that, given the lessons learned through maintaining Canada's prescription drug supply through the COVID-19 pandemic, strengthening the domestic industry and the global supply chain are the industry's most important and immediate priorities.
"Compared with many countries that rely solely on importing their prescription medicines, Canada is fortunate to have extensive domestic generic pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity and capabilities," said Mr. Goulet. "With generic medicines dispensed to fill 73 percent of all prescriptions in Canada the security of the nation's supply rests largely with the generic pharmaceutical industry."
The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges and uncertainty for global supply chains in all industries, with border closures and export restrictions imposed by some countries, and significant reductions in global transportation capacity. Canada's generic pharmaceutical industry was not immune from these challenges.
Through the extraordinary efforts of Canada's generic pharmaceutical manufacturers, Canada has so far been able to avoid catastrophic shortages of medicines used in to treat COVID-19 patients and those dispensed in community pharmacies, upon which millions of Canadians rely.
As Canada remains highly dependant on international imports of generic pharmaceutical products, governments and industry need to apply the lessons being learned from the pandemic to ensure that the first priority is maintaining a stable and resilient supply of prescription medicines for Canadian patients.
"The pharmaceutical industry and supply chain are fully globalized. Regardless of where manufacturing occurs, ingredients and inputs are sourced internationally," said Mr. Shelley. "It is, however, possible to strengthen Canada's existing pharmaceutical manufacturing capacity, promote a well-functioning global supply chain, and adopt a coordinated approach to better equip Canada for future health emergencies."
Jean-Guy Goulet joined Pharmascience in 2017 as Chief Operating Officer, and has led the generic medicines commercialization activities both in Canada and abroad, as well as all activities related to production, quality, R&D and supply chain management. His career in the industry began in 1987 at Technilab Pharma, a company later acquired by ratiopharm. Mr. Goulet held various positions at ratiopharm including President of its North American Commercial Division. In 2011, he joined Watson PLC, which became Actavis in 2012. He headed Actavis for both Canada and Latin America, until they acquired Allergan in April 2015. Shortly after, Mr. Goulet became President of Actavis Canada.
Ray Shelley is the Senior Vice President of Commercial Operations, Canada and Caribbean, at Apotex. Appointed in 2018, Mr. Shelley has accountability to develop and execute strategy for the Canadian and Caribbean region for the generic portfolio. Prior to this role, he served as Vice President, Sales for the Apotex generic business in Canada. A 25-year veteran of Apotex, Ray has held progressively senior positions in the company within Sales and Marketing since he joined the company in 1996.
About the Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association
The Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association (CGPA) represents Canada's generic pharmaceutical industry. The industry plays an important role in controlling health-care costs in Canada. Generic drugs are dispensed to fill more than 73 percent of all prescriptions but account for account for less than 20 percent of the $32-billion Canadians spend annually on prescription medicines.
SOURCE Canadian Generic Pharmaceutical Association
The TurfMutt Foundation Predicts “Backyarding” To Become Permanent Trend
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 22, 2021
ALEXANDRIA, Va. – “Backyarding,” the new trend to move many indoor activities--from working in an office or classroom to dining and recreation--to the great outdoors, is growing. Under pandemic conditions, yards and other managed landscapes became a safe haven for social gatherings, celebrating milestones/holidays, working, studying, playing, exercising, relaxing.
“Your own backyard is nearly limitless with possibilities, and homeowners got really creative as they expanded and enjoyed their yards over the last year,” said Kris Kiser, President & CEO of the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) and the TurfMutt Foundation. “We predict, long after the COVID-19 pandemic passes, our yards will become an even greater part of our lives. The notion of ‘backyarding’ is here to stay.”
In 2020, home improvements – many of them in the backyard – skyrocketed. So did the demand for outdoor power equipment as homeowners invested in making their outdoor spaces fabulous, functional and flourishing. Overall, shipments of outdoor power equipment increased 16 percent in 2020.
“Expect people to continue to invest in their outdoor life this coming spring,” said Kiser. “Many homeowners who put time and effort into their landscapes last year will be rewarded when that yard comes back to life this spring. But, even if you did little last year, it’s never too late to start – just start.”
Here are some ways to bring more “backyarding” into your life:
1. Invest in your yard. Design a dream lawn and garden. Consider its purpose. Don’t design just for aesthetics. Do you have kids and pets who need a place to play? Will you be hosting safe gatherings? Do you need a place for rest and relaxation and/or games and recreation?
2. Get the whole family involved. Create a game or a friendly competition with your family to help identify all the ways you can move your indoor life to the great outdoors - and right out your backdoor. Can you take office calls and video meetings to the patio or porch? Can your kids do their online learning outdoors? How often can you take dining outside? Keeping safety in mind, can you gather outdoors for family celebrations, birthdays, graduations and reunions?
3. Plant something—as early as you can. (Or plant more). Adding trees, bushes, grass and flowering plants is a good yard investment, but they often take time to grow. Plant as early as recommended so you can enjoy the benefits faster. Just remember ”right plant, right place.” Location, maintenance, sunlight and watering needs should all be considered, as well as your climate zone.
4. Stretch winter-weary muscles. Take workouts, yoga classes and meditation sessions outdoors. You also can let off some steam by mowing the grass, trimming the hedges, or edging the lawn. Working in the yard not only helps our living landscapes look better and stay healthy, it also gives us a sense of accomplishment and control in trying times.
5. Plan a staycation. A make-shift “resort” or vacation spot could be just out your back door. Pitch a tent, build a campfire, hang a sheet between trees to make a movie screen, set up games – these are just a few ideas to make the backyard a vacation spot.
6. “Level up” nature care. Add flowering plants, trees and shrubs to give wildlife and pollinators food and shelter. Your yard is part of the larger ecosystem, so check your climate zone for landscaping options that support your birds, bees, butterflies and other wildlife. Don’t forget to take time to just sit and drink it in, observing the wildlife and nature around you.
Research shows simply spending time in nature – which starts in your backyard – is good for reducing stress, boosting heart health, boosting Vitamin D levels, and enhancing memory. Thanks to the family yard, the health and well-being benefits of being outside are just a few steps away.
About TurfMutt TurfMutt was created by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute’s (OPEI) TurfMutt Foundation and has reached more than 70 million children, educators and families since 2009. Through classroom materials developed with Scholastic, TurfMutt teaches students and teachers how to “save the planet, one yard at a time.” TurfMutt is an official USGBC® Education Partner and part of their global LEARNING LAB. TurfMutt is an education resource at the U.S. Department of Education’s Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2017, the TurfMutt animated video series won the coveted Cynopsis Kids Imagination Award for Best Interstitial Series. TurfMutt’s personal, home habitat is featured in the 2017-2019 Wildlife Habitat Council calendars. More information at www.TurfMutt.com.
Media contacts Ami Neiberger-Miller, Four Leaf PR on behalf of OPEI, 703-887-4877, ami@fourleafpr.com Debbi Mayster, Four Leaf PR on behalf of OPEI, 240-988-6243, debbi@fourleafpr.com
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Faith and Tenacity Continue to Drive 91-Year-Old Founder of Boston Area Homeless Shelter
Boston, MA, February 22, 2021 — Sylvia Anthony firmly believes that life is a gift from God, and she’s been using her gift to impact more than a thousand homeless women and children through her nonprofit, Sylvia’s Haven, which she launched in 1987. At 91 years young, Sylvia remains steadfastly involved with Sylvia’s Haven, and hopes to inspire others to overcome life’s challenges and pursue their passions.
“When we do the right thing with the right motives, there is no limit to how far we can go with the help of God,” she writes in her poignant memoir, Till the End of Time. “My advice to you is never give up, whatever comes your way; it is all worth it.”
Sylvia had endured a difficult childhood that included an abusive father and a disinterested mother. Sylvia married young and remained in an abusive marriage until a divorce that left her alone to support her three children. Through her ambition and strength of character, Sylvia persevered, building a life for herself and her kids. After raising her children, Sylvia remarried — still, there was a void. She felt a calling to help young women, and her husband, Rick, encouraged her to follow her heart. Initially designed for homeless pregnant women, her shelter opened on January 25, 1987. Sadly, her husband lost his battle with cancer on March 30 of the same year, telling Sylvia before he died to “go get the girls.” And she’s been giving new hope to young, homeless women ever since.
Hers has been a lifetime woven with tragedy and triumph, but at Sylvia’s core burns a powerful source of courage and tenacity. She shares her remarkable story in Till the End of Time, which chronicles her early days as an unwanted child, born at the onset of the Great Depression; through her turbulent first marriage, which blessed her with three children; to finding love and discovering her divine purpose later in life. The book includes a chapter with testimonials from women who have been helped by Sylvia’s Haven, underscoring the impact of her unwavering dedication to others. Till the End of Time is the ultimate love story, woven with heartwarming memories, inspirational anecdotes and life lessons that will inspire readers to share their own God-given gifts with others.
Author Sylvia Anthony was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame on June 15, 2020. Invited to their museum in Seneca Falls, New York, she drove more than 350 miles for the appointment! Shortly thereafter, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Marquis Who's Who.
A woman of faith, courage, tenacity and love, Sylvia firmly believes that the “golden years” are a time to get busy. As the founder and president of Sylvia’s Haven, a shelter for women and children near Boston, she has helped transform over 1,100 lives in the past three decades. Sylvia refers to her organization as her “magnificent obsession.” Life hasn’t always been easy for Sylvia, but she believes that God not only gives her courage during times of hardship, but also keeps her healthy so that she may realize her dream to open up Sylvia’s Haven locations in all 50 states.
Till the End of Time rose to No.1 in four different categories when it was launched on Amazon and has received 5-star reviews.
Ontario’s Russell Alexander Law Firm Expands as Coronavirus Divorces Loom Collaborative family law firm adds five lawyers in Concord
LINDSAY, Ontario—Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers announced that it is expanding, hiring five more lawyers to work in a new location in Concord, as divorce rates spike due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Lindsay-based firm has hired:
• Alex De Melo, a University of Ottawa law graduate who has worked as a legal counsel at Legal Aid Ontario, the Peel Children’s Aid Society and the Children’s Aid Society;
• Bill Rogers, a Queen’s University law graduate and longtime family law attorney who won a major victory in the Ontario Court of Appeal in 2014;
• Rick Peticca, a York University law graduate who has argued at all levels of court in Ontario, including the Supreme Court of Canada, in his 13 years practicing family law;
• Margie Primero-Pimental, a McGill University law graduate who has worked at several family law firms in Ontario as well as her own firm since joining the Ontario Bar in 2002; and
• Brittany Whalen, a University of Ottawa law graduate who previously practiced family law in Newfoundland and Labrador.
“These experienced family lawyers will help provide our clients with a high level of service at a time of great need in Ontario,” said founder Russell Alexander. “The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the stresses on many families even as it has slowed court proceedings, adding to a pent-up demand for help.”
The Alexander law firm is particularly well-positioned to help during the current spike in divorces, as it emphasizes a collaborative approach that helps avoid backed-up courtrooms as couples work out appropriate arrangements with the help of experienced mediators.
“At a time when families are already strained, a collaborative approach toward conflict resolution can help reduce the tension dramatically,” added Alexander. “Our new lawyers are skilled in just this type of mediation.”
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RussellAlexander Collaborative Family Lawyers Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers is committed to practicing exclusively in the area of family law in Ontario dealing with all aspects, including separation and divorce, child custody and access, spousal support, child support, and division of family property. A team of lawyers provide guidance from start to finish, helping clients identify and understand the legal issues as well as the options and opportunities available through the transition. The firm has offices in Lindsay, Whitby, Oshawa, Markham, Peterborough, Concord, and Toronto, Ontario. For more information, visit: http://www.russellalexander.com
Savor Ecuadorian Cuisine To Your ‘Hearts’ Content With Bold New Ecuadora™ Brand From Plant-Based Pioneer Edward & Sons™; New Organic, Vegan & Gluten-Free Line Includes Two Delectable Hearts Of Palm Pastas
Initial Low-Cal Offerings Include Grain & Sodium-Free Lasagne & Linguine Plus Low Sodium Hearts of Palm
CARPINTERIA, CA, FEBRUARY 9, 2021 – Edward & Sons Trading Company™ (edwardandsons.com), a vegetarian company and pioneer in the plant-based foods industry that first introduced Miso-Cup® instant soup and gluten-free Brown Rice Snaps® in the 1970s, welcomes a new member to the company’s family of brands: Ecuadora™ – a bold new line created to enable American consumers to savor authentic Ecuadorian cuisine right in the comfort of their own homes.
The announcement was made today by Joel Dee, founder and CEO of Edward & Sons™, which has been at the forefront of the vegan and vegetarian movement for close to 45 years. Ecuadora™ joins the company’s family of brands, including Edward & Sons™, Let’s Do Gluten Free®, Let’s Do Organic®, More Than Fair®, Native Forest®, Nature Factor®, Road’s End Organics® and organic gluten free specialty sauces under the Premier Japan® and The Wizard's® brand names.
Although each Edward & Sons™ brand has its own unique identity, they all share the company’s longstanding commitment to Convenience Without Compromise® – a promise that’s more attuned to the needs of today’s health, cost and convenience-conscious consumers than ever before.
A Taste of Ecuador Without Leaving Home
Created to offer home cooks a passport to the many culinary wonders of picturesque Ecuador (which straddles the equator on South America’s west coast), the new Ecuadora™ brand debuts with three certified organic, low-calorie, plant-based specialties. The two new pastas have zero sodium while the Hearts of Palm contain only 25 mg of sodium per 14 ounce can. All are free of cholesterol and trans fats.
Land formerly used to raise cattle in the stunning countryside of Ecuador has been converted into certified organic farmland where indigenous palms, known locally as chontaduro, are cultivated for their “hearts,” which are the basis of the three new Ecuadora™ products introduced today:
Organic Hearts of Palm (Palmitos Organicos) – Prized by professional and neophyte cooks alike, Organic Hearts of Palm are a delicious addition to any meal and a welcome way for home cooks to vary their dishes in these challenging stay-at-home times. They are naturally low in calories and carbohydrates, making them especially sought after by those who follow Paleo and Keto diets. Simply slice and toss them into your favorite salads or sauté them with oil, onions and garlic to create a savory side dish. Ecuadora™ Hearts of Palm can also be blended with roasted red pepper and mayonnaise for
a tasty alternative to hummus or just enjoyed as a yummy low-calorie snack directly from the can. Ecuadora™ Hearts of Palm are USDA Organic, gluten-free, vegan and Kosher.
Ingredients: Organic Hearts of Palm, Water, Citric Acid, Salt.
Organic Grain-Free Hearts of Palm Lasagne Sheets – Ecuadora™ has cleverly crafted organic hearts of palm into low calorie, low-carb, grain and gluten-free pasta. As such, they are ideally suited to numerous popular diets currently followed by millions of discerning consumers.
Packed only in water, organic palm pasta – which is also vegan and Kosher – retains a naturally creamy color and texture that deliciously resembles its grain-based traditional counterparts.
Ecuadora™ Organic Hearts of Palm Lasagne requires no boiling – simply remove it from the can, then layer it with ricotta, tomato sauce, spinach or mushrooms and shredded cheese, then cover and bake at 350°F for 30-45 minutes for a piping hot entrée bursting with wholesome flavor.
Ingredients: Organic Hearts of Palm and Water.
Organic Grain-Free Hearts of Palm Linguine Noodles – Like the new Lasagne, Ecuadora™ Hearts of Palm Linguine offers a tantalizingly fresh, natural and versatile alternative to mainstream pasta for those following a restricted diet or for anyone who’s ready to lower their calorie intake without lowering their flavor expectations. Simply heat Ecuadora™ Linguine with your favorite tomato sauce and serve with a sprinkle of parmesan, or serve it warm with olive oil and garlic for “pasta aglio e olio.” The new Linguine is likewise USDA Organic, grain and gluten-free, vegan and Kosher.
Ingredients: Organic Hearts of Palm and Water.
Available online at https://store.edwardandsons.com/collections/new-products and soon in health food stores and mainstream supermarkets nationwide, the two new Ecuadora™ pasta products are sold at a MSRP of $4.79, with the new Hearts of Palm available for $4.99. All three new products are sold in 14-ounce cans.
Passport To Natural Splendor
Ecuador’s varied landscape encompasses the Amazon jungle, the Andean highlands and the wildlife haven of the Galápagos Islands. The country is universally known for its staggering biodiversity, including the many thousands of species of plants and animals that thrive in its lush tropical climate.
Commenting on the introduction of the new Ecuadora™ brand, Edward & Sons’ founder and CEO Joel Dee said, “Ecuador boasts a rich culinary heritage based on locally grown fruits, vegetables and spices. Restaurant-deprived families are eager to incorporate new tastes and recipes into their meal plans, so the timing seems perfect to introduce our new Ecuadora™ brand to the marketplace. We’re heartened by the very positive initial responses to our three debut Ecuadora™ products and look forward to expanding the brand with more wonderful regional specialties in the years ahead.”
In addition to Ecuadora™, Edward & Sons Trading Company™ brands include Edward & Sons™, Let’s Do Gluten Free®, Let’s Do Organic®, More Than Fair®, Native Forest®, Nature Factor®, Road’s End Organics® and organic gluten free specialty sauces under the Premier Japan® and The Wizard's® brands.
Speaker and Brain Health Expert Shares Ways to Alter the Brain’s Reaction to Fear and Stress
Chattanooga, TN, February 22, 2021 ― Hi, I’m your brain. And 2020 wreaked havoc on my chemical makeup. Forced social isolation, job loss, loneliness and other anxiety-inducing uncertainties continue to activate my stress pathways — thereby increasing your body’s inflammatory factors, diminishing immune response and increasing your vulnerability to viral infections and cancer. Is there anything you can do to rewire the way I react to fear and stress?
The good news is, the answer is yes, and Timothy R. Jennings, M.D., board-certified psychiatrist, master psychopharmacologist and founder of Come and Reason Ministries can explain how.
Dr. Jennings is a much sought-after speaker who regularly addresses non-medical professionals on Spirituality in Medicine, Depression and its Spiritual and Physical Connections, and Alzheimer’s Dementia. He also speaks to medical professionals on the topics of Psychotherapy in Clinical Practice, Major Depression in the Primary Care Setting, and the Neurobiology of Depression — among many others.
He expertly weaves spirituality with brain science to address fear, depression, anxiety and relationship issues. He recently explored at length the damaging effects of social isolation (https://comeandreason.com/index.php/en/blogs-main/903-social-isolation-during-covid-19) and its profound impact on physical and mental health, particularly for those already suffering from chronic conditions.
As for altering the way our brains react to stress, he suggests we can boost our resilience through physical exercise, eating a healthy diet, getting regular sleep, cognitive training, having a healthy relationship with God and spiritual development.
“Healthy spirituality confers resilience in a multitude of ways,” he says. “It develops your higher cortex, which calms your fear circuits.”
As the world searches for a clear path toward physical and mental recovery, Dr. Jennings is uniquely poised to address the very serious subject of brain health from both scientific and spiritual perspectives — a much needed and welcomed approach during these extremely distressing times.
Dr. Jennings operates a private practice in Chattanooga and has successfully treated thousands of patients. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and Life-Fellow of the Southern Psychiatric Association.
He is also a prolific author whose books include The God-Shaped Brain: How Changing Your View of God Transforms Your Life; Could It Be This Simple? A Biblical Model for Healing the Mind; The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind; and The God-Shaped Heart: How Correctly Understanding God’s Love Transforms Us.
To hear his presentations and to learn more about Dr. Timothy R. Jennings and his approach to brain and body health, please visit: www.comeandreason.com.
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Study could explain tuberculosis bacteria paradox TB-causing bacteria remember prior stress, react quickly to new stress
HOUSTON – (Feb 22, 2021) – Tuberculosis bacteria have evolved to remember stressful encounters and react quickly to future stress, according to a study by computational bioengineers at Rice University and infectious disease experts at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS).
Published online in the open-access journal mSystems, the research identifies a genetic mechanism that allows the TB-causing bacterium, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, to respond to stress rapidly and in manner that is "history-dependent," said corresponding author Oleg Igoshin, a professor of bioengineering at Rice.
Researchers have long suspected that the ability of TB bacteria to remain dormant, sometimes for decades, stems from their ability to behave based upon past experience.
Latent TB is an enormous global problem. While TB kills about 1.5 million people each year, the World Health Organization estimatesthat 2-3 billion people are infected with a dormant form of the TB bacterium.
"There's some sort of peace treaty between the immune system and bacteria," Igoshin said. "The bacteria don't grow, and the immune system doesn't kill them. But if people get immunocompromised due to malnutrition or AIDS, the bacteria can be reactivated."
One of the most likely candidates for a genetic switch that can toggle TB bacteria into a dormant state is a regulatory network that is activated by the stress caused by immune cell attacks. The network responds by activating several dozen genes the bacteria use to survive the stress. Based on a Rice computational model, Igoshin and his longtime Rutgers NJMS collaborator Maria Laura Gennaro and colleagues predicted just such a switch in 2010. According to the theory, the switch contained an ultrasensitive control mechanism that worked in combination with multiple feedback loops to allow hysteresis, or history-dependent behavior.
"The idea is that if we expose cells to intermediate values of stress, starting from their happy state, they don't have that much of a response," Igoshin explained. "But if you stress them enough to stop their growth, and then reduce the stress level back to an intermediate level, they remain stressed. And even if you fully remove the stress, the gene expression pathway stays active, maintaining a base level of activity in case the stress comes back."
In later experiments, Gennaro's team found no evidence of the predicted control mechanism in Mycobacterium smegmatis, a close relative of the TB bacterium. Since both organisms use the same regulatory network, it looked like the prediction was wrong. Finding out why took years of follow-up studies. Gennaro and Igoshin's teams found that the TB bacterium, unlike their noninfectious cousins, had the hysteresis control mechanism, but it didn't behave as expected.
"Hysteretic switches are known to be very slow, and this wasn't," Igoshin said. "There was hysteresis, a history-dependent response, to intermediate levels of stress. But when stress went from low to high or from high to low, the response was relatively fast. For this paper, we were trying to understand these somewhat contradictory results. "
Igoshin and study co-author Satyajit Rao, a Rice doctoral student who graduated last year, revisited the 2010 model and considered how it might be modified to explain the paradox. Studies within the past decade had found a protein called DnaK played a role in activating the stress-response network. Based on what was known about DnaK, Igoshin and Rao added it to their model of the dormant-active switch.
"We didn't discover it, but we proposed a particular mechanism for it that could explain the rapid, history-dependent switching we'd observed," Igoshin said. "What happens is, when cells are stressed, their membranes get damaged, and they start accumulating unfolded proteins. Those unfolded proteins start competing for DnaK."
DnaK was known to play the role of chaperone in helping rid cells of unfolded proteins, but it plays an additional role in the stress-response network by keeping its sensor protein in an inactive state.
"When there are too many unfolded proteins, DnaK has to let go of the sensor protein, which is an activation input for our network," Igoshin said. "So once there are enough unfolded proteins to 'distract' DnaK, the organism responds to the stress."
Gennaro and co-author Pratik Datta conducted experiments at NJMS to confirm DnaK behaved as predicted. But Igoshin said it is not clear how the findings might impact TB treatment or control strategies. For example, the switch responds to short-term biochemical changes inside the cell, and it's unclear what connection, if any, it may have with long-term behaviors like TB latency, he said.
"The immediate first step is to really try and see whether this hysteresis is important during the infection," Igoshin said. "Is it just a peculiar thing we see in our experiments, or is it really important for patient outcomes? Given that it is not seen in the noninfectious cousin of the TB bacterium, it is tempting to speculate it is related to survival inside the host."
Gennaro is a professor of medicine and epidemiology at Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences. Igoshin is a senior investigator at Rice's Center for Theoretical Biological Physics.
The research was supported by the Welch Foundation (C-1995) and the National Institutes of Health (GM096189, AI122309, AI104615, HL149450).
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Links and resources:
The DOI of the mSystems paper is: DOI# 10.1128/mSystems.00979-20
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Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,978 undergraduates and 3,192 graduate students, Rice’s undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 1 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
Training Center for At-Risk Women Offers Hope for Independence
Seattle, WA, February 22, 2021 — Women and children are particularly vulnerable to the dangers of living on the streets or in unsafe environments. Drug dealers, pimps and human traffickers lie in wait for new victims. Seattle spends a staggering $1 billion per year on fragmented programs to support its homeless, according to Puget Sound Business Journal, yet the challenges continue to grow.It’s time for a new approach.
Providence Heights is a forward-thinking, Christian-based nonprofit designed to empower Seattle’s women in need through housing, employment opportunities and personal development programs. The organization’s business model is revolutionary: Providence Heights plans to reinvest revenues generated through real-estate, commercial and entrepreneurial enterprises to create a sustainable source of income, something founder Christine Soule calls Capitalism for the Poor. Additionally, “Our unique retail space integration will secure revenue as well as provide apprenticeship, jobs and entrepreneurial skills,” Soule explains.
Phase I will provide housing and resilient growth programs for over 88 women (and children) at risk of losing their homes, or who simply need opportunities to regroup and equip themselves to not just survive but to thrive. Also for those who have come out of a program such as the Union Gospel Mission and are fully prepared to commit to changing the trajectory of their lives.
Phase II aims to provide housing for more than 200 women, including those with children. Once the revenue stream is firmly established in this phase, Providence Heights will enter Phase III — the final phase — when the organization will replicate this model from city to city. They hope to also empower similar organizations to use its successful blueprint to help those they serve.
Providence Heights Founder and Chief Executive Officer Christine Soule is a lover of people and passionate about leading them toward a restored and dignified life. From her personal experience, she has great compassion for at-risk and abused women. She co-founded The Purpose and is a philanthropist, author and inventor. Her recently released book, Broken and Beautiful, chronicles her remarkable journey from trauma to triumph. Christine is also a mother of five and married to Mitch, the love of her life.
Plastic Surgeon, Dr. Adam J. Rubinstein Launches ‘NEW ME NOW”
The Latest in the #ItsNotAllTheSame Social Media Campaign
Miami, Fl –February 2021—Board-certified Miami plastic surgeon, Adam J. Rubinstein, MD, FACS announces the launch of the latest video NewMeNowas part of the ongoing #ItsNotAllTheSame Social Media Series on Monday February 22nd, on his YouTube and Instagram accounts @drrubinstein and @plasticsurgerytruths. View the new episode here: https://youtu.be/h-1k-2R08g8
The powerful tongue-in-cheek Instagram series discusses controversial topics in plastic surgery in a humorous yet truthful way to educate people on how to make informed decisions. The series is designed to make the point, with humor, that all plastic surgery is most definitely not the same. Through the series, Dr. Adam Rubinstein reminds patients to seek the appropriate doctors who are board certified and properly trained to ensure great results and safety.
The new episode looks at “fast and ‘inexpensive” procedures you can have done at home. Called NewMeNow, the story invites people to “get the procedure they have always wanted”, without the stress of entering a Board-certified plastic surgery center or doctor’s office. It advises to call 1 855 New Me Now and tell the operator the procedure you would like to have, and the warehouse will “ship this directly to your door”. It continues that you can “take your ‘package’ and enjoy a New Me Now – for just three installments of $19.95”, with a special offer of “if you call now, you get a free box of ‘injectables’ to use at home.”
Dr. Rubinstein says, “I understand and appreciate how important looking good and feeling good about your appearance can be; however, cheap fixes are not the right answer, and convenience and cost will never take priority over good patient care.” He adds, “This segment reminds us to slow down and remember always that healthcare starts with good health practices. That does not mean mail order facelifts or breast implants—obviously nobody would order a breast augmentation by mail. The point is, do your homework, check out your surgeon’s credentials and track record, and make safe choices. I launched the #ItsNotAllTheSame campaign because I am seeing too many people suffering after making questionable decisions when choosing their doctor, clinic, or procedure.”
The series is designed to use humor as warning on ‘fast and cheap’ plastic surgery. With the pandemic still looming large, it is understandable that people are seeking a fast and easy way to look and feel their best. The series #ItsNotAllTheSame forces people to slow down and with a sense of humor, guides them to make the right choices when choosing plastic surgery procedures.
Other episodes include “Drive Through Plastic Surgery”, whichjokingly asks the question “Do you want fries with that?” This episode demonstrates how the pandemic has changed the way we do many things, and often not always for the best. Dr. Rubinstein was inspired by other doctors doing drive through Botox. He says, “The idea of driving through a line to get injectables may sound convenient during the pandemic, but it is just not good medicine.”
In another episode, “Pilot This!”, Dr. Rubinstein demonstrates how some things seem obvious while others not so much. In this episode, a boat captain is asked to pilot more than a boat. From a boat to a plane, everyone knows #ItsNotAllTheSame. However, when it comes to plastic surgery, people sometimes need to be reminded. Dr. Rubinstein is committed to educating and keeping people safe.
“The COVID-19 epidemic has changed everyone’s life around the world, and it is challenging time” says Dr. Adam J Rubinstein. “We are trying to help people find a little humor, while learning about the importance of choosing properly when it comes to cosmetic surgery.”
Watch the new #ItsNotAllTheSame video on Youtube at https://youtu.be/h-1k-2R08g8. You can also learn more on his social channels including his YouTube and Instagram accounts, @DrRubinstein and @PlasticSurgeryTruths, SnapChat @DrRubinstein, and Facebook page @MiamiPlasticSurgeon. www.dr-rubinstein.com
About Dr. Adam J. Rubinstein
Dr Adam J. Rubinstein is a Board-certified and award-winning plastic surgeon. He has served as the Chief of Plastic Surgery and Chief of the Department of Surgery for Jackson North Medical Center in Miami; FL. Dr Rubinstein specializes in whole body surgical and non-surgical cosmetic treatments for both women and men. He can discuss the latest innovations and procedures to help people make proper and informed choices. Dr. Rubinstein is also a patient advocate and is passionate about sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly about common plastic surgery practices to help patients navigate the world of plastic surgery effectively and safely. His goal is to help people make their best choices about the latest and most innovative procedures. He is also an outspoken patient advocate and believes people have the right to know to make informed choices.
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