Alcon Canada to launch a professional line of Systane Ultra HYDRATION Lubricant Eye Drops Preservative Free

Featuring a preservative-free formula with Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and HP-Guar, which:

• Provides 2X greater cell hydration and protection vs. HA alone.*¹
• Significantly improves the rate of corneal healing and restoration of damaged cells vs. HA alone.**²
• Is recommended for patients with moderate or chronic dry eye disease or suffering from post-surgery dryness who want long-lasting relief.^3,4
• Is in multi-dose bottle and scheduled to launch December 1, 2020, in Canada, at select Eye Care Professional practices.

MISSISSAUGA, ON, Dec. 1, 2020 /CNW/ - Alcon, the global leader in eye care dedicated to helping people see brilliantly, today announced the Canadian launch of the newest addition to its innovative portfolio of dry eye products – a professional line of Systane^TM Ultra HYDRATION Lubricant Eye Drops Preservative Free. These new eye drops contain both Hyaluronic Acid (HA) and HP-Guar, a powerful combination of ingredients shown to offer long-lasting dry eye relief for those suffering from moderate or chronic dry eye.  Patients suffering from dry eye symptoms after LASIK or cataract surgery can also benefit.⁴ The dual-polymer formula provides 2X greater cell hydration and protection vs. hyaluronic acid (HA) alone*¹. 

"At Alcon, we know the importance of meeting the needs of consumers who are frustrated by chronic dry eye problems. Today, we're expanding our portfolio of products with the addition of Systane^TM Ultra HYDRATION Lubricant Eye Drops Preservative Free," said Chris Van Dyk, Country Business Head, Alcon Vision Care. "There are patients who are constantly afflicted by dry eye; it can distract them from morning to night and significantly impact their daily activities. Now, these sufferers can get long-lasting relief that allows them to focus on their lives, not their dry eye."

Systane^TM Ultra HYDRATION Lubricant Eye Drops Preservative Free will launch with patented PureFlow^® Technology, a multi-dose closing tip bottle system that features a one-way valve to ensure that no contaminated liquid is re-introduced into the container after a drop has been dispensed. This bottle technology eliminates the need for preservatives in the eye drops.

Since 2004, Systane^® has been tested in more than 50 clinical studies, which provides eye care professionals the confidence of knowing they are recommending a family of clinically proven formulas.⁵ Moreover, patients will enjoy both ease of use and long-lasting, preservative-free symptom relief.⁴ Systane^TM Ultra HYDRATION Lubricant Eye Drops Preservative Free are also safe for use rewetting all silicone hydrogel and soft contact lenses.⁶

"Systane^TM Ultra HYDRATION Lubricant Eye Drops Preservative Free have become my preferred choice to promote corneal healing and help to significantly improve symptoms in my dry eye patients,^2,4" said Judy Parks, O.D. at the Ancaster Eye Clinic. "With the clinically proven dual-polymer formula of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) plus HP-Guar in a preservative-free formulation, more of my patients can enjoy powerful protection and relief.⁴"

The commercial availability of Systane^TM Ultra HYDRATION Lubricant Eye Drops Preservative Free begins December 1, 2020.  This product will be available in select Professional Eye Care clinics.

Important Information for the Systane Family of Products

Systane^® Ultra HYDRATION Lubricant Eye Drops Preservative Free have been clinically proven to reduce the symptoms of dry eye, providing, long-lasting protection and comfort.⁴ Both Systane^TM Ultra HYDRATION Lubricant Eye Drops Preservative Free and Systane^® Ultra HYDRATION Lubricant Eye Drops give long-lasting relief of dry eye symptoms for moderate or chronic sufferers, as well as patients who are suffering from dry eye symptoms after cornea surgery.⁴ Systane^TM COMPLETE is an all-in-one formula that is clinically shown to provide instant and 8-hour relief for all types of dry eye.¹⁰  Systane® GEL DROPS are indicated for patients who suffer from severe dry eye and need night-time relief from their symptoms.⁷

Systane® LID WIPES provides complementary care for everyday eyelid hygiene with pre-moistened wipes for easy, on-the-go application.  SYSTANE® OMEGA-3 SUPPLEMENTS help support proper tear function in persons with dry eye disesase^8,9

About Alcon

Alcon helps people see brilliantly. As the global leader in eye care with a heritage spanning more than seven decades, we offer the broadest portfolio of products that improve people's lives by helping them to see better. Our Surgical and Vision Care products touch the lives of more than 260 million people in over 140 countries each year living with conditions like cataracts, glaucoma, retinal diseases and refractive errors. Our more than 20,000 associates are enhancing the quality of life through innovative products, partnerships with eye care professionals and programs that advance access to quality eye care. Learn more at www.alcon.ca. You can also connect with us on Instagram and Facebook. 

*In vitro study 
**Study conducted in mice 

_____________________________

SOURCE Alcon Canada

Duracell® Debuts Breakthrough Child Safety Feature for Lithium Coin Batteries, Offering a New Advancement in Safety to Help Discourage Swallowing

As holiday season approaches Canadians are provided the ability to "Power Safely"

TORONTO, Dec. 1, 2020 /CNW/ - Duracell, the most trusted battery brand, launches its latest innovation in child safety, a bitter coating on its lithium coin batteries -- sizes 2032, 2025, and 2016. This breakthrough innovation in the battery category is designed to help discourage swallowing. With coin battery ingestions on the rise annually and damage that can occur in just two hours from ingestion, Duracell was determined to provide parents and caregivers of young children with an additional safety feature, child-safe packaging, and supportive education to help reverse this rising and devastating trend.

Duracell Lithium Coin batteries (sizes 2032, 2025, and 2016) will now contain a non-toxic, bitter coating designed to help discourage swallowing. This bitter coating is applied to these battery sizes which have a diametre of 20mm, which is similar to the size of a child's esophagus. If a child swallows a lithium coin battery, it can get lodged in the esophagus and burn through the surrounding tissue in as little as two hours, causing serious damage.

"Having treated young children in the emergency room who have accidentally swallowed lithium coin batteries, I have experienced firsthand the detrimental physical impact to these children and effects on the parents," says Dr. Dina Kulik, pediatrician and emergency medicine physician. "As a mother of four young boys myself, I can appreciate how important it is for parents to be aware of this serious issue and making sure the appropriate precautions are taken to help protect our children."

For additional safety, Duracell's Child Secure Pack features a tough double blister around the lithium coin cell that is nearly impossible to open without scissors. Duracell is also providing supportive education through its "Power Safely" initiative, which aims to educate consumers on the potential hidden dangers in the home, steps to take to decrease accidental ingestions and further child safety measures they can adopt. 

"Duracell takes very seriously the trust that millions of consumers across North America place in us to power their lives every day. And our new bitter coating innovation is an important step in child safety for us as a brand. We are proud to work with our retailer partners and other stakeholders in bringing this innovation to market," says Roberto Mendez, President, Duracell North America. "If a child manages to get access to a lithium coin cell and swallows it, consequences can become serious if not detected fast enough. In order to help prevent accidents and help keep children safe, we've worked to provide more child safety features around our lithium coin cells than other leading brands. This new innovation is no different, and we are confident this is the technology families and caregivers need to help close the gap between a child getting their hands on a lithium coin cell and the unfortunate event of ingestion."

Lithium coin batteries are commonly used in a number of devices throughout the home such as remote controls, calculators and bathroom weight scales. During the holiday season there are likely more objects in the home powered with this type of battery such as string lights, holiday ornaments, greeting cards with sound, as well as certain toys and games and other electronics that may be given as gifts. The Duracell lithium coin battery with its added safety features can more safely power these common devices delivering peace of mind to parents and caregivers. 

According to Kulik, young children are naturally curious and eager to explore their environment. With children spending more time at home, particularly over the holidays, parents should be mindful of potential safety risks. She adds, "Parents should regularly inspect and secure battery-operated devices around the home and keep batteries safely out of reach. When required, using lithium coin batteries designed with child safety in mind, parents can provide an extra layer of protection."

While this technology is revolutionary in the battery category, Duracell also believes battery safety education is critical to truly change the outcome for families around accidental ingestion. That is why Duracell is embarking on the Power Safely initiative to help educate parents and caregivers as to the importance of practicing battery safety throughout the home.

To kickstart the Power Safely campaign, Duracell has created an informational educational video to shed light on the effects lithium coin battery ingestions can have on young children and to help encourage better practices and prevention among parents and caregivers. The video showcases how even the most child-proofed home can still have hidden dangers that may be inadvertently overlooked, and how important the extra line of defense from the new non-toxic bitter coating may be to help protect children from the dangers of accidental ingestion.

Duracell lithium coin batteries in 2032, 2025, and 2016 sizes are available now at select retailers nationwide. The suggested retail price for a 4-pack of Duracell Lithium Coin batteries is $15.99.

For more safety tips and to learn more about Duracell's new lithium coin battery, please visit Duracell.com or visit @Duracell on Facebook.

About Duracell

Started in the 1920s, the Duracell brand and company was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. (NYSE-BRK.A, BRK.B) in 2016 and has grown to be the leader in the primary battery market in North America. The iconic Duracell brand is known the world over. Our products serve as the heart of devices that keep people connected, protect their families, entertain them, and simplify their increasingly mobile lifestyles. Our recharging technology allows consumers to live life without limits. Berkshire Hathaway Inc. is a $250B holding company owning subsidiaries that engage in diverse business activities. Visit www.duracell.com for more information; follow us on Twitter.com/Duracell and like us on Facebook.com/Duracell.

SOURCE Duracell

Drake’s Organic® Spirits Boxtails™

Coming to Cub Wine & Spirits

Newest product from Minneapolis-based Drake’s offers 

ready-to-drink craft cocktails on tap

Minneapolis, MN (December 1, 2020) -Drake’s Organic Spirits announced today that Boxtails™, the company’s innovative new ready-to-drink (RTD) pre-mixed organic craft cocktails in a box, will be available at all 27 Cub Wine & Spiritslocations in Minnesota beginning December 4th, 2020.  Boxtails fill the surging demand for spirit-based RTDs, a cocktail category that has seen explosive growth of over 80% in 2020.

Drake’s OrganicBoxtails are made with Drake’s signature ultra-premium organic certified vodka and rum.  Offered in Watermelon Tini, Mango Punch, Black cherry Limeade and Minted Mojito flavors, Boxtails provide a convenient alternative to canned seltzers and with less waste.  Each box contains 1.75 liters of pre-mixed organic cocktails with 12% alcohol similar to a standard mixed cocktail.  The estimated retail price is $19.99.  

“We are very pleased to offer our USDA Organic Boxtails to customers of Cub Wine & Spirits,” said Mark Anderson, founder and CEO of Drake’s Organic Spirits.  “Like Drake’s, Cub is a respected homegrown Minnesota company.  They’ve been delivering great value and supporting the community for over 50 years.  Today’s announcement extends the reach of the Drake’s brand and ensures adult consumers in our home state can conveniently purchase our better-for-you, better-for-the-planet spirits.”  

All Drake’s products including Boxtails are USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, vegan and kosher. They contain no artifical flavors, colors or unnecessary chemicals.  Ingredients are sourced from the world’s most pristine organic fields.  

About Drake’s Organic Spirits 
Launched in 2017, Minneapolis-based Drake’s Organic Spirits is the first and only spirits line in the world Certified USDA Organic, Gluten Free™, Non-GMO Project Verified, vegan and kosher.   Drake’s uses the highest quality USDA Organic and non-GMO Project Verified ingredients to create a line of ultra-premium,12x distilled spirits and mixes at a better price than the leading premium brands.  

Drake’s Organic Premium Vodka was awarded Double Gold and Drake’s Organic White Rum received Gold at the most recent Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) Convention & Exposition in Orlando, FL.  The highly-respected awards are widely considered among the most prestigious in the industry because judges are industry experts who blind taste-test each spirit. 

For more information, please visit http://www.drakesorganicspirits.com, facebook: http://www.facebook.com/drakesorganic/, Instagram: @drakesorganic, or contact email sales: info@drakesorganicspirits.com.

Helmet Based Ventilation Named Finalist for WomenTech Global Awards 2020

 The Helmet-based ventilation initiative has been recognized as one of the best women-led tech startups of the year. All of the finalists will be celebrated in the upcoming award ceremony hosted by the WomenTech Network, along with 100000 women, minorities, and allies in tech

December 1st, 2020. Helmet-based technology has been nominated among the most promising startups by the WomenTech Network – the world's largest community for women in tech, representing 161 countries and over 4,300 ambassadors worldwide.

Since the start of the pandemic, acquiring ventilators and having enough sedatives, as well as qualified clinicians, to operate them, has been a great challenge for the medical community worldwide. Seeking to alleviate the shortage, as well as provide the professionals with a better way to treat patients with acute respiratory failure—a prevalent symptom in severe COVID-19 cases—inspired a team of experts to launch a website introducing helmet-based ventilation (HBV) technology. 

“Our goal was to share our niche expertise in the field and help healthcare professionals fighting in the frontlines to contain the pandemic,” said Aurika Savickaitė, MSN, RN, and team leader behind the initiative.

The helmet-based ventilation therapy is non-invasive, which results in less stress for the patient and shortens the recovery time. In some cases, they can help avoid intubation, which often leads to life-long damage, thus limiting risks for the patient. Compared to a typical ventilator, helmets are more cost-efficient to produce and can be made in underdeveloped countries. That said, they also have to be used in hospital settings by the clinicians.

Spreading awareness, gathering resources for new manufacturers, and other hard work paid off: recently the "subsalve" oxygen treatment hood gained FDA EUA approval. The HBV team continues to consult local, as well as experts from around the world, to help them build the so-called “bubble helmets” themselves at local facilities and equip their home market with the in-demand non-invasive ventilators, needed to treat most severe cases of COVID-19.

The success of the HBV initiative earned it the finalist spot in the “Women-led Startup of the Year 2020”. The winners will be announced on December 3^rd, at the WomenTech Global Awards 2020, featuring 2238 contestants from 153 countries in 22 categories.

“We are incredibly thrilled to be nominated alongside other great projects that inspire not only ingenuity but also incredible perseverance to pursue set goals and overcome adversity,” said Aurika Savickaite. “Without a doubt, this is also a huge incentive for us to keep on spreading the word about helmet-based ventilation, uniting experts from all around the world and refining the technology further.”

The Womentech Global Awards 2020 is a natural continuation of the WomenTech Global Conference 2020, the largest virtual conference for women in tech. Back in March, when the world was going into the first lockdowns due to COVID-19, Anna Radulovski, founder and CEO of WomenTech, together with her team came up with an idea that would unite women entrepreneurs amidst the unprecedented circumstances.

“After the WomenTech Global Conference 2020, we received tons of positive feedback, many sharing about their hardships with uncertainty, job security and work-life-balance while working remotely and how the community inspired them to overcome them,” Anna Radulovski said. 

“We understand the importance of celebrating small and big successes while adapting to a life in a digital-first world. This is why we want to give visibility and recognition to accomplished and aspiring female tech leaders as well as allies, working toward a more equal and inclusive world.” 

People interested in attending one of the largest award ceremonies for women in tech can apply for an invite or get tickets for themselves or on behalf of the company they work for via the WomenTech website. More details on the event, as well as any updates, can be found at https://www.womentech.net.

-END-

ABOUT HELMET-BASED VENTILATION INITIATIVE

Helmet-based ventilation initiative was born as a private endeavor of experts and professionals in the field, most of them based in Chicago. The initiative strives to curate, consolidate and share the most niche and up-to-date information about helmet-based ventilation, while connecting professionals in need of this know-how | www.helmetbasedventilation.com

Press Contact:

Raminta Lilaitė

raminta@blueoceanspr.com

ABOUT WOMENTECH NETWORK

WomenTech Network is the world's largest community for women in tech with more than 4300 ambassadors representing 161 countries. Since 2018 its founders have engaged +141,000 tech specialists to join in building a diverse global community inspiring and reaching +1 million people in 2020 alone. The Network strives to increase gender diversity in the workplace to improve equality across all areas like representation, promotion and equal pay.

The Network’s mission is to empower communities of talented and motivated women in tech through leadership development, professional growth, mentorship, and networking events to make a difference by building impactful and inclusive technology, while introducing them to like minded people, inspiring speakers and opportunities at leading companies and innovative startups that aim to create diverse teams and a culture of belonging. More information: https://www.womentech.net/

HumanisRx signs agreement with The North West Company to provide Proactive Medication Optimization

MARKHAM, ON, Dec. 1, 2020 /CNW/ - HumanisRx today announced it has entered into an agreement to provide medication optimization services to The North West Company (TSX: NWC) by leveraging its MedMonitor program. MedMonitor is a unique Canadian program applying RxCompanion™ software to run clinical algorithms against prescription data to identify risks related to a patient's medication therapy.  Patients who are provided health and pharmacy services by NWC will be referred directly to the MedMonitor program. 

NWC provides high quality and vital healthcare services in remote locations in a large geographical region in Northern Canada.  The distance these patients must travel for healthcare makes monitoring and follow-up for disease management difficult, leading to a pressing need for improved primary care in remote northern communities. Utilizing MedMonitor, NWC aims to identify patients with more urgent need of healthcare services to address their issues earlier before their conditions escalate and require more severe and costly intervention. 

Earlier this year, NWC engaged HumanisRx to conduct a study on 9,000 of its patients using RxCompanion™ software.  The study found: 

• One in every 2.5 patients had at least one drug therapy problem. 
• Drug therapy problems related to mental health were identified most often followed by diabetes and cardiovascular disease. 
• 16% of patients had multiple drug therapy problems, carrying a higher risk of health issues leading to increased morbidity and healthcare costs. 

"We are very excited to have partnered with HumanisRx in an effort to further enhance patient care utilizing their population-level monitoring tool that identifies patients at risk of poor health outcomes." states Laurie Kaminsky, Vice President, Health Product & Services, North West Company. "Our healthcare teams of physicians and pharmacists will act on the risks identified to proactively improve the quality of health services to the remote populations we are proud to serve."

"Both public and private payors and healthcare providers can improve efficiency and realize signification cost savings through the implementation of MedMonitor," said Sayeh Radpay, President of HumanisRx. "Through earlier identification and resolution of medication-related health risks, MedMonitor helps resolve problems before they escalate and even avoid some health issues altogether." 

About HumanisRx 
HumanisRx Corporation helps Canadians with complex or unique needs get the best results from their medications. Its team of licensed pharmacists and technology experts is dedicated to building solutions that support the shared goals of private and public payors, healthcare providers, health organizations and the Canadians they serve. RxCompanion™ is a software solution powered by Tabula Rasa HealthCare. 

About The North West Company
The North West Company Inc., through its subsidiaries, is a leading retailer of food and everyday products and services to rural or remote communities and urban neighbourhoods in Canada, Alaska, the South Pacific and the Caribbean. North West operates 249 stores under the trading names Northern, NorthMart, Giant Tiger, Alaska Commercial Company, Cost-U-Less and RiteWay Food Markets and has annualized sales of approximately CDN$2.0 billion.

SOURCE HumanisRx

Overcome Overeating—During the Holidays and Throughout the Year

San Francisco, CA, December 1, 2020 — Candied sweet potatoes. Egg nog. Mac ‘n’ cheese. Stuffing. Pumpkin pie. Traditional holiday meals are resplendent with taste-of-home fare that’s easy to overeat. Based on original research by holistic nutrition researcher Deborah Kesten, M.P.H., and behavioral scientist Larry Scherwitz, Ph.D., Whole Person Integrative Eating offers in-depth insights into the reasons we overeat and gain weight, and a science-backed, step-by-step dietary lifestyle that can halt—even reverse—overeating and weight gain during the holidays—and throughout the year. 

“Now is the time to ‘reset’ and rethink what and how we eat; to replace traditional dieting with a scientifically sound way of eating that lessens overeating and that leads naturally to weight loss, health, and healing,” says Kesten.

In their award-winning book, Whole Person Integrative Eating: A Breakthrough Dietary Lifestyle to Treat the Root Causes of Overeating, Overweight, and Obesity, authors Kesten and Scherwitz share a simple yet powerful premise: Identify the reasons you overeat (your overeating styles) and gain weight—with the illuminating self-assessment quiz—then overcome overeating and lose weight by replacing your overeating styles with the antidotes: the elements of the Whole Person Integrative Eating program. 

By shedding light on the root causes of overeating, Kesten and Scherwitz present a program that empowers readers with a personalized plan, and in turn new hope and new choices to help them reduce overeating, lose weight and keep it off. 

WPIE is not a diet that a person goes on … then off. It is a scientifically sound, dietary lifestyle designed to be practiced for a lifetime. 

"If people follow the revolutionary program outlined in this game-changing, insightful book, it may be the most helpful step they can take toward losing weight and keeping it off," says bestselling author Kenneth Pelletier, M.D., clinical professor of medicine at University of California School of Medicine, San Francisco.
 

The authors’ paradigm-shifting message is that food influences not only the physical dimensions of health, but also our emotional, spiritual and social well-being. Their dietary lifestyle can build bridges between the millions who struggle with overeating and weight issues and the medical community. And it can inspire us all to re-envision our relationships with food, eating and weight, so that each time we eat, we are nourished … for life.

Deborah Kesten, M.P.H., is an international nutrition researcher, award-winning author and medical/health writer, with a specialty in preventing and reversing obesity and heart disease. She served as Nutritionist on Dean Ornish, M.D.’s first clinical trial for reversing heart disease through lifestyle changes, the results of which were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. She has served as Director of Nutrition at cardiovascular clinics in Europe and on the Board of Directors of the American Heart Association, San Francisco.

Kesten has published more than 400 nutrition and health articles. Her first book, Feeding the Body, Nourishing the Soul, received the first-place gold award in the Spirituality category from the Independent Publisher Book Awards. Whole Person Integrative Eating has been honored with the No.1 gold, best-book award in the Health category by Book Excellence Awards and is a No. 1 Amazon best seller. Kesten is a VIP Contributor at Arianna Huffington’s Thrive Global, and is married to behavioral scientist and co-author of Whole Person Integrative Eating, Larry Scherwitz, Ph.D.

For more information, please visit www.IntegrativeEating.com. You can also connect with the author on the following social media sites: https://www.instagram.com/integrativeeating/; 

https://www.facebook.com/WholePersonIntegrativeEating; https://twitter.com/IntegrativeEat1.

Whole Person Integrative Eating: A Breakthrough Dietary Lifestyle to Treat the Root Causes of Overeating, Overweight, and Obesity

Publisher: White River Press

ISBN-10: 1887043543 

ISBN-13: 978-1887043540

Available from Amazon.com and integrativeeating.com

###

DECN ANNOUNCES SIGNIFICANT AGREEMENT WITH RUSSIAN FEDERATION PARTNER FOR GENVIRO! AND GENVIRO! PRO COVID-19 TESTING PRODUCTS AS WELL AS ITS BLOOD GLUCOSE GENULTIMATE! PRODUCTS 

COMPANY CONTINUES TO PURSUE GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS  DURING THE “HOME STRETCH” IN U.S. BASED FDA LEVEL TESTING 

LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / December 1, 2020 / Decision Diagnostics Corp. (OTCMKTS:DECN) www.decisiondiagnostics.co, a leading manufacturer and worldwide distributor of diabetic test strips engineered to operate on legacy glucose meters through its subsidiary Pharma Tech Solutions, Inc., today announced it has signed an agreement for the sale of  its Genviro! and Genviro! Pro Covid-19 testing products as well as several of its GenUltimate! blood glucose products through a large Moscow-based distribution company.  The agreement provides for exclusivity in the Russian Federation territory and the Ukraine, countries that have a combined population of approximately 280 million people. In a November 30th article in the Korea Times, https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/tech/2020/11...99908.html ,

 it was reported that, “Russia’s virus test market is around $300 million.” In another article, https://www.koreabiomed.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=9593, it was reported that, “Demand for Korean test kits is rising in Russia because of their high accuracy.”

The GenUltimate! Precis products were brought to completion specifically for this Russian partner and present a special opportunity not often encountered. The company’s GenUltimate! Precis product will replace a similar product formerly manufactured by J&J Lifescan as a later version of the popular worldwide OneTouch Ultra/Select product line. This product is no longer available for sale in the Russian Federation, the largest customer territory for the OneTouch Select Plus product line.  Large markets devoid of competition do not often materialize.  

The Russian Federation agreement comes on the heels of recently completed  distribution agreements for  GenViro! Covid-19 10.5 Second Saliva Swift Kits in Asia, including India, and more recently covering Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, the US Virgin Islands and areas across the Caribbean and Central America. The company had previously announced it had signed agreements with distributors/dealers covering Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Lebanon. The Russian Federation announcement and flurry of distributor/dealer activity comes as the company enters into the “home stretch” in its GenViro! FDA testing submission efforts with a Pennsylvania-based FDA and CLIA certified testing lab. 

NOT AVAILABLE IN THE UNITED STATES OR PUERTO RICO

“We had always recognized that Genviro! could find its footing internationally prior to the expected FDA authorization, and that’s how things  now appear to be playing out,” said CEO Keith Berman.  “We were also  confident that with all of the activity and interest surrounding Genviro!, we would see an uptick in interest in our GenUltimate! blood glucose products, and certainly the Russian Federation agreement is emblematic of that. We look forward to receiving continued interest in both of our product lines globally, especially as we conclude our FDA testing for Genviro! and prepare for submission of our EUA application within the next few weeks.”  

According to an August report by BBC Research and reported in the same Korea Times news article referenced earlier, the global Covid-19 diagnostics market will be valued at $35 billion this year and will grow an average of 14.8 percent annually to reach $112 billion by 2027.

Mr. Berman continued, “The agreement with the Russian Federation will include our GenViro! Swift Kits for professional use as well as our GenViro! Kits for personal use.  For us, this is a first. The actual number of kit orders will be controlled by the distributor.   All of our GenUltimate! products are for personal use.” Berman went on to say, “The Korea Times article also reports that “Test kit makers also say vaccines will not eat up the demand for testing because proper diagnosis is a precondition for proper treatment or prevention.”

ABOUT DECISION DIAGNOSTICS CORP

Decision Diagnostics Corp. is the leading manufacturer and worldwide distributor of diabetic test strips engineered to operate on legacy glucose meters. DECN's products are designed to operate efficiently and less expensively on certain glucose meters already in use by almost 7.5 million diabetics worldwide. With newly inspired technology, and diabetic test strips already in the final stages of development, DECN products compete on a worldwide scale with legacy manufacturers currently selling to 71+ percent of a $15+ billion at-home testing market. 

The company's new GenViro!^™ products designed to test for Covid-19 are not yet available in the United States and hopefully should soon be available in Puerto Rico, but Emergency (EUA) Waivers are in process with the U.S. FDA with additional submissions to take place in the near future. The company has also signed an agreement with an FDA and CLIA certified US, Pennsylvania-based testing partner to complete testing per current FDA guidelines and continues to look forward to the FDA authorization of its EUAs.  

The same data that will be produced by the company’s Pennsylvania testing partner will be used for submissions to the EU and Russian Federation. The company will also use data provided by its Korean R&D and contract manufacturing partner as part of their extensive product development schedule as well as the recently reported and better than anticipated XPRIZE testing results that have been submitted in advance of the newly extended December 5^th deadline as yet a third validation of the testing methodology.  

Beyond the testing, the company has received word from several of its large GenUltimate! blood glucose product distributors who are seeking to have Genviro! added to their Amazon product offerings upon FDA approval. Currently, Amazon only offers special licenses for point of care and professional use medical products, which would preclude the individual use GenViro! Kit from being available on Amazon, even after FDA approval is secured. Two of the company’s GenUltimate! product distributors have these “professional use” arrangements with Amazon, with a third distributor application in the works, although the company may determine that it is in its best interest to offer limited exclusivity to one distributor once FDA authorization is achieved.

The company continues to recruit and accept applications from prospective domestic and international distributors.  Inquiries can be directed to info@decisiondiagnostics.co.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This release contains the company's forward-looking statements which are based on management's current expectations and assumptions as of November 30, 2020, regarding the company's business and performance, its prospects, current factors, the economy, and other future conditions and forecasts of future events, circumstances, and results.

Success Stories Show that Low Dose Naltrexone Helps Many People with Autoimmune Diseases

Chicago, IL, November 30, 2020 — Lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s, psoriasis,fibromyalgia and other autoimmune conditions affect nearly 23.5 million Americans, according to the National Institutes of Health.

In her thought-provoking book, The Power of Honest Medicine, patient advocate JuliaSchopick (with Don Schwartz) outlines a safe, inexpensive, often dramatically effective alternative to the costly, often-toxic treatments that doctors routinely prescribe for autoimmune and other diseases. It’s called Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN), and The Power of Honest Medicine is filled with compelling success stories from people all over the globe who have experienced relief from their symptoms thanks to LDN.

“There is lots of evidence that LDN is a groundbreaking treatment for autoimmune diseases, helping many patients with these conditions to achieve remission,” Julia writes. “In some cases, it can slow or stop the progression of their diseases. In many cases, patients experience a life-changing relief of symptoms.” 

In spite of its documented benefits, the use of LDN to treat autoimmune conditions remains largely unknown among the medical community and the public. Julia is committed to changing that.

The Power of Honest Medicine contains contributions from 18 people from around the world (the U.S., the U.K. and Europe), all of whom are eager to spread the word about how LDN helped alleviate their symptoms of serious conditions—such as chronic fatigue syndrome, Crohn’s, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus and fibromyalgia—when the higher priced, often-toxic medications they had been taking didn’t work. Also, with many of these conditions, the drugs doctors prescribe can cost thousands of dollars a month, compared with LDN, which costs around a dollar a day.

Additionally, The Power of Honest Medicine contains a section dedicated to helping readers understand LDN and why it has the potential to positively impact those suffering from autoimmune disorders. Plus, the book includes a chapter with strategies for helping readers convince their doctors to prescribe LDN—information Julia has been asked for again and again by her readers and by those who have heard her speak.

Ever since her husband’s death from a brain tumor in 2005, Julia has dedicated her life to patient advocacy and to sharing information about potentially lifesaving alternative and off-label medical treatments. Her first book, Honest Medicine, offered valuable insights supported by patient testimonials regarding the use of four underutilized lifesaving treatments: Silverlon, for non-healing wounds; intravenous alpha lipoic acid, for liver disease; the Ketogenic Diet, for epilepsy; and Low Dose Naltrexone, for autoimmune diseases. 

Julia’s husband survived 12 years beyond any doctor’s prognosis, and she attributes this to the innovative treatments she uncovered for him. It’s been her passion since then to prevent others from suffering unnecessarily and having to juggle the side effects of toxic medications with the debilitating symptoms of their health conditions.  

“I believe that LDN would be the standard of care for autoimmune diseases if Big Pharma didn’t rule doctors’ prescribing decisions,” she adds.  

Julia Schopick is the bestselling author of Honest Medicine and her follow-up book, The Power of Honest Medicine. She is a seasoned radio talk show guest who has appeared on over 200 shows and is often invited back. Julia’s goal is to empower patients to make the best health choices for themselves and their loved ones by teaching them about little-known but promising treatments their doctors may not know about. Julia’s articles have been featured in numerous publications, including American Medical News (AMA), Alternative & Complementary Therapies, the British Medical Journal and the Chicago Sun-Times. 

For more information, visit www.honestmedicine.com.

The Power of Honest Medicine: LDN, an Inexpensive Alternative to the Costly, Toxic Medications Doctors Prescribe for Autoimmune and Other Diseases

Publisher: Innovative Health Publishing

ISBN-10: 0982969031 

ISBN-13: 978-0982969038 

Available from Amazon.com 

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Healthcare Workers, These Mental Health Tune-Ups 
Can Help You Weather COVID-19 Chaos 
Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers face unprecedented levels of pandemic-related stress—and even PTSD. Here are a few tips and tactics to help you manage.

          Nashville, TN (November 2020)—For many months now, doctors, nurses, paramedics, nursing home workers, and other healthcare professionals have been fighting an invisible enemy. And it’s taking a serious toll. While healthcare workers “keep on keeping on”—because that’s what healthcare workers always do—they’re staggering under the weight of anxiety, depression, fear, hopelessness…and, increasingly, PTSD.

           But Mark Goulston, MD, and Diana Hendel, PharmD, have some reassuring news: Trauma healthcare workers aren’t destined to struggle forever.

          “Instead of pushing down your emotions so you can power through, you can start dealing with them right now,” says Dr. Goulston, coauthor along with Dr. Hendel of Why Cope When You Can Heal?: How Healthcare Heroes of COVID-19 Can Recover from PTSD(Harper Horizon, December 2020, ISBN: 978-0-7852-4462-2, $17.99). “Not only does this give you relief in the short term, but you could prevent post-traumatic stress disorder from setting in down the road.” 

          History has shown us that frontline workers may suffer from PTSD following a deadly outbreak. It happened following the SARS and Ebola epidemics, and early researchshows it is happening with COVID-19 as well. But PTSD need not be inevitable, says coauthor Hendel, who became an expert of organizational trauma after leading a major medical center through a horrific workplace shooting over a decade ago.

          “By learning to tap into your feelings now—the good, the bad, and the ugly—you can begin a healing journey that carries you through the pandemic and beyond,” says Dr. Hendel.

          Why Cope When You Can Heal? shares therapeutic approaches that are currently used to effectively treat traumatic stress and PTSD and introduces powerful exercises to help you move through the trauma and further your healing. Read on for a few mental health tune-ups and other tips to help you manage COVID stress:

Try the 12 words exercise. This powerful tool helps patients tap into their feelings when they feel “stuck” due to trauma by gently visiting key words one at a time. 

You can do the 12 words exercise on your own, in therapy, or as part of a group exercise. If doing it on your own, imagine a trusted friend or loved one gently and empathetically guiding you through the exercise. If you are in a group, the moderator can lead the exercise by speaking each word to the group, or to a single person in the group. You don’t have to cover all the words at once. You can focus on just one or two words, take a break, and start on a new word later. 

STEP 1: Read the following words out loud: Anxious, Afraid, Overwhelmed, Fragile, Depressed, Frustrated, Angry, Ashamed, Alone, Lonely, Exhausted, Numb. 
STEP 2: Pick one of these words that most captures what you’re feeling when you’re greatly stressed and then focus on it. 
STEP 3: Imagine feeling this feeling at its worst. 
STEP 4: What does this feeling make you want to impulsively do? 
STEP 5: Imagine saying what you want to do to a person who loves you, and picture them smiling with love and compassion and saying back to you, “I understand.” 
STEP 6: Imagine feeling their love taking some of the pain away. 
STEP 7: Imagine them asking you, “What would be a better thing to do?”

Try some instant relaxation techniques during the workday. Yes, you have important work to do, but you can incorporate small routines and tools that help you get through the day (especially the rough ones). Keep a list of quick and simple ways you can relieve tension at work, and do one or two of the techniques each time you take a break. Take a 60-second stretching session. Close your eyes and breathe deeply for two minutes. Do a brief grounding exercise by noticing five things that you can see, smell, taste, touch, and hear. 

Rediscover the simple pleasures around you. PTSD can make the world appear and feel dangerous, with threats lurking around every corner. That’s why it is important to stay immersed in the joys of life. Focusing on simple pleasures promotes healing and helps you enjoy your life in the process. For example:

• Get lost in a good book. Don’t just read a few pages before bedtime. Really allow yourself to indulge. Set aside 30 minutes after work or in the morning before starting your day to escape into a captivating story. 
• Take a walk. Even if it is only five minutes long, commit to taking a walk every day. Chances are, by the time those five minutes are up, you will want to keep going. 
• Find a creative outlet. Think gardening, playing a musical instrument, putting together a puzzle, or even coloring in an adult coloring book. 

Join a workplace support group for a regular hit of oxytocin. As a healthcare worker, you are part of a team. While you are experiencing the countless traumas of the pandemic, the teammates by your side are going through the same experiences, and, essentially, you are all traumatized together. Likewise, you can all go through the full recovery from that trauma together. 

“When groups share similar suppressed and repressed thoughts and feelings during and following a trauma, they are immersed in the bonding hormone, oxytocin, which is associated with emotional connectedness and emotional safety,” says Dr. Goulston. “Check if your organization already has a formal support group. If not, consider forming your own peer support group. You can meet once or twice a week for sessions in person or even by video conference.”

Ignore the stigma and find a good therapist. Healthcare’s “just-move-on” culture makes many people reluctant to seek therapy, but it’s time to ask yourself, How well am I handling this on my own? If your answer is, Who am I kidding—I’m not handling this, it can make a huge difference.

“Find a good therapist with whom you can build rapport and trust, and stick to your sessions,” says Dr. Hendel. “Some appointments may feel easy while others may be excruciatingly painful. You might feel on top of the world one day and hopelessly helpless the next. Setbacks are a normal part of the process. What’s important is that you keep showing up.”

          “There’s a long road ahead for healthcare workers fighting this pandemic,” says Dr. Goulston. “But with some good mental health practices, you’re better equipped to ride out the storm. Healing is possible, and the sooner you start working toward healing, the better you will feel—and the better equipped you will be to assist your patients.” 

# # #

About the Authors: 
Mark Goulston, MD, FAPA 
Dr. Mark Goulston is the coauthor of Why Cope When You Can Heal?: How Healthcare Heroes of COVID-19 Can Recover from PTSD (Harper Horizon, December 2020) and Trauma to Triumph: A Roadmap for Leading Through Disruption and Thriving on the Other Side (HarperCollins Leadership, Spring 2021). He is a board-certified psychiatrist, fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, former assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at UCLA NPI, and a former FBI and police hostage negotiation trainer. He is the creator of Theory Y Executive Coaching—which he provides to CEOs, presidents, founders, and entrepreneurs—and is a TEDx and international keynote speaker. 

He is the creator and developer of Surgical Empathy, a process to help people recover and heal from PTSD, prevent suicide in teenagers and young adults, and help organizations overcome implicit bias. 

Dr. Goulston is the author or principal author of seven prior books, including PTSD for Dummies, Get Out of Your Own Way: Overcoming Self-Defeating Behavior, Just Listen: Discover the Secret to Getting Through to Absolutely Anyone, Real Influence: Persuade Without Pushing and Gain Without Giving In, and Talking to Crazy: How to Deal with the Irrational and Impossible People in Your Life. He hosts the My Wakeup Call podcast, where he speaks with influencers about their purpose in life and the wakeup calls that led them there. He also is the co-creator and moderator of the multi-honored documentary Stay Alive: An Intimate Conversation About Suicide Prevention. 

He appears frequently as a human psychology and behavior subject-area expert across all media, including news outlets ABC, NBC, CBS, and BBC News, as well as CNN, Today, Oprah, the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Fortune,Harvard Business Review, Business Insider, Fast Company, Huffington Post, and Westwood One. He was also featured in the PBS special “Just Listen.” 

Diana Hendel, PharmD 
Dr. Diana Hendel is the coauthor of Why Cope When You Can Heal?: How Healthcare Heroes of COVID-19 Can Recover from PTSD (Harper Horizon, December 2020) and Trauma to Triumph: A Roadmap for Leading Through Disruption and Thriving on the Other Side (HarperCollins Leadership, Spring 2021). She is an executive coach and leadership consultant, former hospital CEO, and author of Responsible: A Memoir, a riveting and deeply personal account of leading during and through the aftermath of a deadly workplace trauma. 

As the CEO of Long Beach Memorial Medical Center and Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital, Hendel led one of the largest acute care, trauma, and teaching hospital complexes on the West Coast. She has served in leadership roles in numerous community organizations and professional associations, including chair of the California Children’s Hospital Association, executive committee member of the Hospital Association of Southern California, vice chair of the Southern California Leadership Council, chair of the Greater Long Beach Chamber of Commerce, board member of the California Society of Health-System Pharmacists, and leader-in-residence of the Ukleja Center for Ethical Leadership at California State University Long Beach. 

She earned a BS in biological sciences from UC Irvine and a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from UC San Francisco. She has spoken about healthcare and leadership at regional and national conferences and at TEDx SoCal on the topic of “Childhood Obesity: Small Steps, Big Change.”

About the Book:  
Why Cope When You Can Heal?: How Healthcare Heroes of COVID-19 Can Recover from PTSD (Harper Horizon, December 2020, ISBN: 978-0-7852-4462-2, $17.99) will be available in bookstores nationwide and from major online booksellers. 

To learn more, please visit https://whycopewhenyoucanheal.com/.