Sunnybrook to lead suicide prevention research during COVID-19 pandemic with immediate investment from TELUS' CEO
TORONTO, ON, Aug. 19, 2020 /CNW/ - Critical research led by Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre into suicide prevention during the COVID-19 pandemic is receiving an immediate $100,000 donation from TELUS President and CEO Darren Entwistle and the Entwistle Family Foundation. This timely support will enable researchers to identify factors that may influence suicide rates during the initial stages of the pandemic in order to help inform urgent prevention strategies that could help save lives.
Led by Dr. Mark Sinyor, suicide prevention expert and Sunnybrook psychiatrist, researchers will combine data from Toronto's three regional trauma centres: Sunnybrook, St. Michael's Hospital and the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids). Data will include self-harm cases and suicide attempts over the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The information will be analyzed to determine what drives risk for suicide during this pandemic and help guide prevention efforts, such as targeted outreach, mental health services, social assistance, and public messaging.
The COVID-19 pandemic is responsible for the sudden onset of a number of known stressors, including increased social isolation, economic insecurity and concerns about the virus itself. Dr. Sinyor and his team are working to more fully understand these and other triggers so that experts can intervene more effectively.
"Pandemics, such as COVID-19, can have a negative effect on mental health, which we know can influence suicide rates. At the same time, in crises like these, people can often come together, and this connection can help reduce suicide risk. The key point is that the effects of the pandemic are not the same for everyone," says Dr. Sinyor. "We are seeing signs that it is increasing the risk of suicide for some individuals. We have to work to understand this better to help inform hospital systems and mental health care providers of ways to adapt and provide further support, because suicide is preventable."
The research project is planned to continue through one year of the pandemic so that longer term trends and data can shape ongoing public policy related to COVID-19 and future public health emergencies.
"Suicide rates have been stable or even decreasing slightly in Canada over the past two decades, but they are still too high – every death is a tragedy – and we are certainly worried that the pandemic is creating the conditions that can push these rates in the wrong direction," says Dr. Sinyor. "This research will assist in implementing the most effective measures to help save lives across Canada and beyond."
Support from Darren Entwistle and the Entwistle Family Foundation will help Sunnybrook share this much-needed information with hospitals across Toronto and Canada, the Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention and international groups including the World Health Organization and International Association for Suicide Prevention.
Earlier this year, Mr. Entwistle committed the equivalent of three months' salary to critical COVID-19 research across Canada. Through this act of generosity, donations were made to BC Women's Hospital to support mental health programs, McGill University Health Centre Foundation to enable ICU patients to connect with loved ones, and Sunnybrook Foundation to urgently address suicide prevention needs.
This generous contribution from Mr. Entwistle and his family builds on a legacy of giving by TELUS, with more than $150 million dedicated to support Canadians through the pandemic and $1.3 billion in value, time and financial support to Canadian charities and grassroots organizations since 2000.
If you need help in an emergency please call 911 or visit your local emergency department. If you're feeling like you're in crisis or need somebody to talk to, please know that help is also available through community resources:
Teva Canada announces product availability of AJOVY™
AJOVY™ is the first and only anti-CGRP treatment with both quarterly and monthly dosing for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults
AJOVY™ is supported by the AJOVY™ Teva Support Solutions® (AJOVY TSS) Patient Support Program, whose services include reimbursement navigation, bridging/copay coverage, and injection training.
AJOVY™ has been studied in patients with chronic or episodic migraine and was shown to significantly reduce patients' mean monthly migraine days—with some patients achieving a 50% reduction or more.1–3
MONTRÉAL, Aug. 19, 2020 /CNW/ - Teva Canada, a subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., today announced product availability of AJOVY™ (fremanezumab) 225 mg solution for subcutaneous injection for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults who have at least four migraine days per month. AJOVY™ is the first and only anti-CGRP drug approved in Canada, the European Union, and the United States that offers quarterly or monthly dosing regimens for the preventive treatment of migraine. The quarterly dose of 675 mg is given as three 225 mg subcutaneous injections once every three months; the monthly dose of 225 mg is given as one subcutaneous injection once each month. AJOVY™ is currently available in a latex-free prefilled syringe.1–3
"Canadian patients and prescribers have been waiting for a product like AJOVY™ that offers flexible dosing options convenient for their busy lifestyles," says Christine Poulin, General Manager of Teva Canada. "With the product now in distribution across Canada, Teva Canada is also introducing a comprehensive patient support program to educate patients and provide financial support to meet the various needs of Canadians who suffer with the condition."
Migraine is a disabling chronic neurological disease that causes head pain so severe that sufferers often cannot function during an attack. Migraine reduces quality of life and disrupts migraineurs' ability to perform daily activities.4,5 It is among the top 10 causes of disability worldwide and the seventh cause of years of life lost to disability.6–8 In Canada, migraine is most common in women and most common between the ages of 30 and 49.9
Dr. Elizabeth Leroux, president of the Canadian Headache Society and founder of the websites Migraine Quebec and Migraine Canada, says the availability of AJOVY™ is good news for all migraine patients and treaters. "The unique dosing options that AJOVY™ offers will provide added flexibility and stability for many patients to manage their symptoms with less disruption to their lives and routines. This is a welcome next step in migraine management."
AJOVY™ was evaluated in two pivotal Phase III clinical trials that enrolled patients with disabling migraine and studied fremanezumab as a prophylactic treatment. In these trials, efficacy assessments included the change from baseline in the number of average monthly migraine or headache days and the proportion of patients achieving at least a 50% reduction in affected days. The safety profile was also assessed in these trials.1–3
About the AJOVY™ Teva Support Solutions® (AJOVY TSS) Patient Support Program
AJOVY™ patients and prescribers are supported by the AJOVY™ Teva Support Solutions® Patient Support Program, which was developed in collaboration with Canadian migraine experts and offers services such as injection training, insurance/coverage investigation, and paperwork assistance.
About AJOVY™
AJOVY™ (fremanezumab) is indicated for the preventive treatment of migraine in adults who have at least four migraine days per month. AJOVY™ is available as a 225 mg/1.5 mL single-dose injection in a prefilled syringe with two dosing options: 225 mg monthly, administered as one subcutaneous injection; or 675 mg every three months (quarterly), administered as three subcutaneous injections. AJOVY™ is intended for patient self-administration after the patient or their caretaker has been trained to administer the product.
Helping improve the lives of Canadians
At Teva, we are committed to providing innovative and quality medicines to the nearly 200 million people we serve around the world every day. From our role as a global leader in generic and brand name medicines to the innovative solutions we create for our healthcare partners, we offer a unique perspective on health—here in Canada and around the world.
About Teva Canada
Teva Canada, headquartered in Toronto, has provided affordable healthcare solutions to Canadians for over 50 years, building their trust one prescription at a time with now more than 217,00010 prescriptions filled each day with our products. Originally Novopharm Limited, Teva Canada specializes in the development, production, and marketing of high-quality generic prescription pharmaceuticals and, through our branded division, focuses on a diverse line of innovative products in a variety of therapeutic areas. Teva Canada employs more than 900 professionals, had sales of nearly $1.3 billion10 in 2019, and markets more than 385 products in 1,000 SKUs10 in Canada. We are a proud subsidiary of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Learn more at www.tevacanada.com.
About Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (NYSE and TASE: TEVA) has been developing and producing medicines to improve people's lives for more than a century. We are a global leader in generic and specialty medicines with a portfolio consisting of over 3,500 products in nearly every therapeutic area. Around 200 million people around the world take a Teva medicine every day and are served by one of the largest and most complex supply chains in the pharmaceutical industry. Along with our established presence in generics, we have significant innovative research and operations supporting our growing portfolio of specialty and biopharmaceutical products. Learn more at www.tevapharm.com.
___________________________________________
CGRP: calcitonin gene-related peptide; SKU: Stock Keeping Unit
Dodick DW et al. Effect of fremanezumab compared with placebo for prevention of episodic migraine. JAMA. 2018;319(19):1999–2008. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.4853.
3.
Silberstein SD et al. Fremanezumab for the preventive treatment of chronic migraine. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(22):2113–2122. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa1709038.
4.
Buse DC, Rupnow MF, Lipton RB. Assessing and managing all aspects of migraine: migraine attacks, migraine-related functional impairment, common comorbidities, and quality of life. Mayo Clin Proc. 2009;84:422–435. doi: 10.1016/S0025-6196(11)60561-2.
5.
Lipton RB, Liberman JN, Kolodner KB, et al. Migraine headache disability and health-related quality-of-life: a population-based case-control study from England. Cephalalgia. 2003;23:441–450. doi: 10.1046/j.1468-2982.2003.00546.x.
Global Burden of Disease Study Collaborators. Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013. Lancet. 2015;386:743–800. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(15)60692-4.
8.
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. Global burden of disease visualization tools. Available from: http://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-compare/. Accessed January 2016.
9.
Ramage-Morin PL, Gilmour H. Prevalence of migraine in the Canadian household population. Health Rep. 2014;25(6):10–16.
10.
Source: IQVIA CDH & Compuscript MAT. April 2020.
SOURCE Teva Canada
Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Canada Announces That Treatment For Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Has Been Added to British Columbia Pharmacare Formulary
TORONTO, Aug. 19, 2020 /CNW/ - Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Canada, Inc. (MTP-CA), a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA), announced today that RADICAVA® (edaravone), an infusion treatment for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), is now listed on the British Columbia (BC) PharmaCare Formulary (special authorization).
"ALS is a rapidly progressive, neurodegenerative and fatal disease, and the listing of this therapy is an encouraging step for the ALS community," said Atsushi Fujimoto, President, MTP-CA. "We are very grateful to the Government of B.C. for providing access to eligible patients under its provincial PharmaCare Formulary."
In addition to the BC PharmaCare Formulary (special authorization), RADICAVA also is listed on the following:
Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) formulary (special authorization)
Ontario Drug Benefit Formulary (Exceptional Access Program)
Alberta Drug Benefit List (special authorization)
New Brunswick Drug Plan (NBDP) formulary (special authorization)
Manitoba Drug Benefits and Interchangeability Formulary (special authorization)
Saskatchewan Formulary (special authorization)
Nova Scotia Drug Formulary (special authorization)
MTP-CA continues to have discussions with other provinces, territories and federal agencies regarding the listing of RADICAVA under additional publicly funded drug programs.
About RADICAVA® (edaravone) RADICAVA (edaravone) is indicated to slow the loss of function in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as measured by the ALS Functional Rating Scale - Revised (ALSFRSR).1 Edaravone was discovered and developed for ALS by Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation (MTPC) through an iterative clinical development platform over a 13-year period. In 2015, edaravone was approved for use as a treatment for ALS in Japan and South Korea. RADICAVA was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in May of 2017. Marketing authorization was granted in Canada in October 2018 and Switzerland in January 2019.
About Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Canada, Inc. Based in Toronto, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Canada, Inc. (MTP-CA) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) with a goal to provide therapies for some of the most difficult-to-treat diseases, including ALS. For more information, please visit www.mt-pharma-ca.com.
About Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. Based in Jersey City, N.J., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc. (MTPA) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation's (MTPC) 100 percent owned U.S. holding company, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Holdings America, Inc. MTPA is dedicated to delivering innovative products that address the unmet medical needs of patients in North America. It was established by MTPC to commercialize approved pharmaceutical products in North America. For more information, please visit www.mt-pharma-america.com.
As a man starts to age, he needs to take better care of his mind and body. Even small lifestyle changes can make a big difference. Here are four tips for improving a man’s overall health.
Effectively Manage Stress
Research shows that stress can promote a number of serious ailments, including heart disease and high blood pressure. Depression is also more likely to occur. One of the best ways to help cope with stress is to get plenty of rest. Most men need at least seven hours of quality sleep a night. Upon awakening the next morning, you’ll feel energized and rejuvenated. It’s also a good idea to keep alcohol consumption to a minimum. When going through tough times, drinking alcohol only masks the underlying issue. Each day, set aside 30 minutes to meditate in a quiet place.
Eat Better
While you’re in high school, you can get away with eating pizza and fries every day. However, a poor diet is bound to catch up with you at some point. For starters, you need to start making healthy choices when grocery shopping. Avoid purchasing processed foods at all costs. Studies have proven that processed foods tend to be loaded with excess salt and sugar. Your best bet is to fill your shopping cart with as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible. Although it’s safe to eat lean red meat, keep your consumption to around three servings a week.
Boost Your Testosterone
It’s not uncommon for a man’s testosterone levels to drop after turning 30 years of age. This hormone has a direct impact on sex drive and muscle growth. To help boost testosterone, develop a habit of working out a minimum of three days a week. Simple activities, like jogging and jumping rope, are sure to get your heart pumping. Exercising outdoors will also enable you to soak up extra sunlight, which triggers your body to produce more vitamin D. If your testosterone levels are still lower than normal, consider talking to a testosterone replacement therapy physician.
Drink Plenty of Water
Staying hydrated is essential for good health. Make it a priority to drink enough water throughout the day. If your urine looks yellow, this is a tell-tale sign that your body has become dehydrated. Sipping on smoothies will also help you to remain properly hydrated.
Now is the time to take control of your health. The first step is to get rid of your bad habits. After a while, your mind and body will start to feel stronger.
Corona-phobia, Facts, Fiction and Feelings
By Surgeon Charles Page, MD
Six months into the pandemic, there is hardly a sole on earth who isn’t in Coronavirus overload. What’s more, we don’t know what to believe! This is my attempt to intelligently discuss corona-phobias, facts, fiction, and feelings.
Q&A:
Doctor, can you give us the big picture of where we are in the Pandemic? Answer: We are now at 5.4 million cases in the United States. The total number of deaths is reaching 170,000. The Infection Fatality Rate, or IFR, is extremely low. Less than one half of one percent. THAT’S GOOD NEWS. When we compare this number projected six months ago of four to six percent, clearly things are not as bad as we predicted.
Comparing these numbers to other diseases such as 650,000 deaths per year from Heart Disease, and 500 deaths per year from cancer, it gives us another perspective. Hospitals are busy but not overwhelmed with COVID cases. At present, there does not seem to be any lack of resources. To my knowledge no one is having to take the old and sick off ventilators to make way for younger COVID patients. We’re busy, but not overwhelmed by lack of resources.
Can you give us your opinion on reinfection, vaccines, and new tests?
Answer: A new study on sailors showed no evidence of reinfection after previously contacting COVID. We are in phase 3 studies on the vaccines. Hopefully we’ll have a vaccine before the end of the year. SalivaDirect is a new $10 test, funded by the NBA and invented at Yale. It is easier, safer and quicker.
Can you tell us about what we are learning about treading COVID? Answer: We’re learning how to utilize our resources. Remdesivir, an antiviral, costs about 3000/dose and is being used in ICU’s only. Plasma, taken from COVID survivors, is being transfused for the really sick. Initially, most COVID patients were intubated early. Now we are learning to wait and try other measures--first.
We are still hearing two opposing COVID narratives among the scientific community. Isn’t Science supposed to be objective? Answer: Science is not as objective as we think. Everyone, including doctors and scientists, filters data through their worldview. We live in a culture of arbitrary absolutes, where those in power try to impose their relativistic assumption on the masses.
On one hand, the CDC rejects the new Henry Ford studies on Hydroxychloroquine, claiming they are not good (prospective, randomized) studies. On the other hand, they advocate—and impose--the wearing of masks. There are no definitive studies which show masks diminish the spread of COVID—especially in the community.
Doesn’t the kind of mask you wear make a difference?
Answer: Yes. A recent study out of Duke University used lasers to evaluate the spread of respiratory droplets using different kinds of masks—N95, regular surgical masks, cloth masks and looser fabrics. The thinner masks fragmented the droplets into smaller ones, helping them to stay aerosolized in the air longer. THAT’S BAD. Once again, the studies show that masks sequester the respiratory droplets when people talk or cough.
Doctor, if things aren’t as bad what’s portrayed in the media, then, why the corona-phobia? Answer: If we’ve learned anything, we’ve learned that COVID 19 is unpredictable. I think this goes beyond a political battle. What’s more, it’s become a legal issue. Hospital administrators, School boards, and business owners are placed in a no-win situation. Everyone knows its not as bad as we anticipated. The ‘game’ now revolves around mitigating risk. Ponder this: Leaders are trying to cover the bases of if and when they will encounter a lawsuit.
Charles Page is a Texas-based surgeon and author of several faith-based books. One of which is A Spoonful of Courage for the Sick and Suffering.
Dr. Page has been called the best guy to see on the worst day of your life. A surgeon from Texas, his latest book is "A Spoonful of Courage for the Sick and Suffering."
Deep Flavors Makes Delicious Kosher Cuisine Accessible for Home Cooks
Dallas, TX, August 19, 2020 — If you love cooking kosher or simply enjoy trying new foods and creating memorable meals in your home kitchen, Deep Flavors: A Celebration of Recipes for Foodies in a Kosher Style from Kenneth M. Horwitz offers an abundance of tempting dishes designed for cooks, whether Kosher or non-Kosher, with helpful tips for proper preparation.
“Cooking is worth some effort and attention to detail,” Horwitz writes. “The positive reactions from family or guests, as well as your own enjoyment, will make it worthwhile.”
“Effort” and “attention to detail,” however, don’t have to equate with “difficult.” In fact, throughout Deep Flavors, Horwitz shares his wisdom for sourcing ingredients and breaking recipes into simple steps — and how to do some of this prep work well in advance so that delicious meals can be served in spite of hectic schedules.
Between the covers of Deep Flavors, Horwitz offers an eclectic menu that includes traditional Jewish dishes plus other regional and international favorites reinterpreted to observe some or all of the rules for kosher foods. The result is a diverse anthology of recipes that will appeal to broad audiences everywhere — Jewish and otherwise.
Horwitz, a CPA by trade, explained in an interview with Today’s CPA that, “My approach to cooking is really an extension of what I do in my professional practice. I solve problems. One of the ‘problems,’ at least in my house, is that since we maintain a kosher house, but eat eclectically, is how to convert recipes so that they are kosher …”
Horwitz’s Texas State Fair Blue Ribbon-winning Spinach/Mushroom Lasagna, for instance, is a completely original vegetarian lasagna accessible to Jews and vegetarians, with a unique twist on ingredients that gives it a complex flavor profile. Even recipes for classic foods such as brisket and roast turkey contain newly imagined taste combinations and techniques to elevate them while maintaining recognizable hallmarks of each dish. Another recipe that epitomizes the standard set by Horwitz, yet remarkably simple to execute, is the Dill French Toast: savory, unique, and delicious.
Horwitz’s ultimate goal was to create recipes that are easy to read and easily followed by any-one with a basic knowledge of cooking. He provides detailed instructions with enhanced explanations and alternatives, additive for both the novice and the more experienced cook.
A Readers’ Favorite reviewer, who gave Deep Flavors a 5-star rating, referred to the book as “… an essential addition to any cookbook fanatic's collection and to anyone who believes in spending the time and effort to make the ‘food’ experience a real work of art …”
With 51 years in a general tax and transaction practice as a CPA and lawyer, Ken Horwitz developed a creative and focused approach to finding and fixing problems — a skill that translates well to the development of and modification of recipes based on traditional family favorites but tailored to one’s personal tastes and dietary needs.
His professional drive and the care given to his work have earned him multiple awards, including the Honorary Fellow for a lifetime of distinguished service and the 2017 Chairperson of the Year by the Texas Society of CPAs. Currently residing in Dallas, Texas, Horwitz enjoys sharing his passion for cooking with his wife and his children’s families. Horwitz believes that one of the highest compliments he has received came from a longstanding client who uses numerous lawyers. He said, “Ken, you are the only lawyer we use whose work we have not had to fix.” Horwitz’s goal is for Deep Flavors to reach that same standard.
Deep Flavors Publisher: Inspire on Purpose ISBN-13: 978-1-941782-51-4 ISBN-10: 1-941782-51-5 Available from Amazon.com
###
Back at it again with another Podcast for you guys! This week I discuss my morning routine, small things for others and answer some of your questions from my instagram! Please subscribe, leave me a review and share this podcast! Happy Wednesday Train It Right Life Fam!
Heart attack damage reduced by shielded stem cells Stem cell capsules implanted on heart surface improve function in four weeks
HOUSTON – (Aug. 18, 2020) – Bioengineers and surgeons from Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) have shown that shielding stem cells with a novel biomaterial improves the cells' ability to heal heart injuries caused by heart attacks.
In a study using rodents, a team led by Rice's Omid Veiseh and Baylor's Ravi Ghanta showed it could make capsules of wound-healing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and implant them next to wounded hearts using minimally invasive techniques. Within four weeks, heart healing was 2.5 times greater in animals treated with shielded stem cells than those treated with nonshielded stem cells, the researchers found.
The study is available online in the Royal Society of Chemistry journal Biomaterials Science.
Someone has a heart attack every 40 seconds in the United States. In each case, an artery that supplies blood to the heart becomes blocked and heart muscle tissue dies due to lack of blood. Hearts damaged by heart attacks pump less efficiently, and scar tissue from heart attack wounds can further reduce heart function.
"What we're trying to do is produce enough wound-healing chemicals called reparative factors at these sites so that damaged tissue is repaired and restored, as healthy tissue, and dead tissue scars don't form," said Veiseh, an assistant professor of bioengineering and CPRIT Scholar in Cancer Research at Rice.
Ghanta, associate professor of surgery at Baylor, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Harris Health's Ben Taub Hospital and co-lead author of the study, said prior studies have shown that MSCs, a type of adult stem cell produced in blood marrow, can promote tissue repair after a heart attack. But in clinical trials of MSCs, "cell viability has been a consistent challenge," Ghanta said.
"Many of the cells die after transplantation," he said. "Initially, researchers had hoped that stem cells would become heart cells, but that has not appeared to be the case. Rather, the cells release healing factors that enable repair and reduce the extent of the injury. By utilizing this shielded therapy approach, we aimed to improve this benefit by keeping them alive longer and in greater numbers."
A few MSC lines have been approved for human use, but Veiseh said transplant rejection has contributed to their lack of viability in trials.
"They're allogenic, meaning that they're not from the same recipient," he said. "The immune system perceives them as foreign. And so very rapidly, the immune system starts chewing at them and clearing them out."
Veiseh has spent years developing encapsulation technologies that are specifically designed not to activate the body's immune system. He co-founded Sigilon Therapeutics, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based biotech company that is developing encapsulated cell therapeutics for chronic diseases. Trials of Sigilon's treatment for hemophilia A are expected to enter the cliniclater this year.
"The immune system doesn't recognize our hydrogels as foreign, and doesn't initiate a reaction against the hydrogel," Veiseh said. "So we can load MSCs within these hydrogels, and the MSCs live well in the hydrogels. They also secrete the same reparative factors that they normally do, and because the hydrogels are porous, the wound-healing factors just diffuse out."
In previous studies, Veiseh and colleagues have shown that similar capsules can keep insulin-producing islet cells alive and thriving in rodents for more than six months. In the heart study, study co-lead author Samira Aghlara-Fotovat, a Rice bioengineering graduate student in Veiseh's lab, created 1.5-millimeter capsules that each contained about 30,000 MSCs. Several of the capsules were placed alongside wounded sections of heart muscle in animals that had experienced a heart attack. The study compared rates of heart healing in animals treated with shielded and unshielded stem cells, as well as an untreated control group.
"We can deliver the capsules through a catheter port system, and that's how we imagine they would be administered in a human patient," Veiseh said. "You could insert a catheter to the area outside of the heart and inject through the catheter using minimally invasive, image-guided techniques."
Veiseh said capsules in the study were held in place by the pericardium, a membrane that sheaths the heart. Tests at two weeks showed that MSCs were alive and thriving inside the implanted spheres.
More than 800,000 Americans have hearts attacks each year, and Ghanta is hopeful that encapsulated MSCs can one day be used to treat some of them.
"With further development, this combination of biomaterials and stem cells could be useful in delivering reparative therapy to heart attack patients," he said.
Veiseh said the pathway to regulatory approval could be streamlined as well.
"Clinical grade, allogenic MSCs are commercially available and are actively being used in patients for a range of applications," he said.
Veiseh credited Aghlara-Fotovat with doing much of the work on the project.
"She basically executed the vision," he said. "She developed the hydrogel formulation, the concept of how to package the MSCs within the hydrogel, and she did all the in vitro validation work to show that MSCs remained viable in the capsules."
Aghlara-Fotovat is co-mentored by Ghanta and worked in his lab at Baylor alongside research assistant Aarthi Pugazenthi, including assisting in rodent surgeries and experiments.
"What attracted me to the project was the unmet clinical need in (heart attack) recovery," Aghlara-Fotovat said. "Using hydrogels to deliver therapeutics was an exciting approach that aimed to overcome many challenges in the field of drug delivery. I also saw a clear path to translation into the clinic, which is the ultimate goal of my Ph.D."
"I think one of the things that attracts students to my lab in particular is the opportunity to do translational work," Veiseh said. "We work closely with physicians like Dr. Ghanta to address relevant problems to human health."
Study co-authors include Maria Jarvis, Sudip Mukherjee and Andrea Hernandez, all of Rice; and Pugazenthi, Christopher Ryan, Vivek Singh and Megumi Mathison, all of Baylor. The research was supported by an American Association of Thoracic Surgery Research Award, the Baylor College of Medicine Cardiovascular Research Institute, the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (RR160047), the National Institutes of Health (1R01DK120459), a Rice University Academy Fellowship, the Emerson Collective and the National Institutes of Health/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute Research Training Program in Cardiovascular Surgery (T32 HL139430).
-30-
Links and resources:
The DOI of the Biomaterials Science paper is: 10.1039/D0BM00855A
https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2020/08/0817_CARDIOREPAIR-sm422-lg.jpg CAPTION: Sudip Mukherjee, a postdoctoral research associate at Rice University, displays a vial of alginate capsules loaded with mesenchymal stem cells. A study on rodents found that afour-week treatment with the capsules repaired most of the cardiac muscle damage caused by a heart attack. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)
Balance Your Life with Sustainably Produced Ayurveda Supplements
Tribe Organics is more than a supplement company; it is a way of life.
Tribe Organics mindfully selects and sustainably produces Ayurveda supplements for the pace of modern living. The company promotes health, wellness, and a harmonic balance with nature. Their wish is for all Tribe members to enjoy life, the greatest adventure of all.
The company was founded by two close friends who share a passion for the beauty of nature, and who value being active and enjoying the benefits of sports and wellness. The pair realized they didn’t want to follow the status quo, where they witnessed many of the world’s problems rooted in a disconnection with nature. The spirit of Tribe Organics was born to re-establish a balance between nature, mind and body and encourage others to do the same.
This spirit is carried out through the organization’s values as well as the wellness products that they produce and sell. The highest-grade ingredients are mindfully selected to have an extensive background of scientific research and certificates, ensuring that the purity and safety of the products are following the gudelines of the ancient Ayurvedic practices. Tribe’s top supplements include:
Organic KSM-66® Ashwagandha- Reduces stress, anxiety, worry and tension, improves sleep quality, enhances memory and mental clarity, imroves athletic performance and cardiovascular health, supports thyroid and adrenal function.
Turmeric Curcumin C3® Complex - Boosts mood, supercharges brain function, defends against stress and fatigue, promotes liver health and body detox.
Boswellia Complex – Fights inflammation, Improves joint health and mobility, promotes a healthy respiratory system, promotes healthy skin, and supports female reproductive health.
Organic Moringa - Boosts energy, stimulates nervous and digestive systems, helps manage weight, improves vision health, and promotes liver health.
The maximum health benefits from these natural ingredients are preserved through careful sourcing and manufacturing. Tribe intends to educate the planet’s current and future inhabitants on how to consciously love and respect Mother Nature. The company leads by example, by providing organic products that are sustainably sourced and harvested, promoting a healthy lifestile, care about others, and promoting environmental awareness at the same time.
The results of these supplements are both physical and mental. Tribe Organics believes that balance is the key to living a healthy and conscious life, and the supplements provide a balance of mind and body that customers can feel.
Victor Galán and Eduardo Oliver, the CEOs and co-founders of Tribe Organics, say, “Tribe is not a supplement company.” They add, “Tribe is the drumming, the heartbeat, the adventure that calls you forward into the real, the genuine, and the true. It is the life you’ve always been meaning to live.”
Tribe Organics was founded by Eduardo and Victor, two close friends for twenty years who share a passion for nature and its beauty. They love being active and enjoy the benefits of sports and wellness. The belief behind Tribe is that we are all one people, one family, one tribe, and that we are an extension of mother nature.
At a certain point in their lives, they realized they didn’t want to follow the status quo anymore. They knew that many, if not most, of the world’s problems are rooted in our disconnection with nature. Most people have stepped out of the harmonic ways of nature, which ultimately is balance, and have been feeling its negative effects.
Eduardo and Victor wanted to re-establish that balance, specifically between mind and body, and to encourage others to do the same. This was when the spirit of Tribe Organics was born. They combined passion for nature and wellness with a love for the world’s tribe to create more than healthy products.
Tribe mindfully selects the highest-grade ingredients and sustainably produces Ayurvedic supplements for the pace of modern living. The company provides people with products and a community that will enhance their lives in ways that they can feel both physically and mentally.
Tribe is not a supplement company. Tribe is the drumming. The heartbeat. The adventure that calls you forward into the real. The genuine. The true. The life you’ve always been meaning to live.
Follow Tribe Organics on Instagram at @tribe_organics
Canada Health Infoway and Loblaw Companies Limited Reach Agreement to Advance e-Prescribing
TORONTO, Aug. 18, 2020 /CNW/ - Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) and Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) are pleased to announce that they have reached an agreement to advance e-prescribing in Canada.
Under the agreement, Shoppers Drug Mart, Loblaw retail pharmacies and QHR Technologies' AccuroEMR®, Canada's largest single electronic medical record platform, will work towards connecting with PrescribeIT®, Infoway's national e-prescribing service.
As a first step in the initiative, Shoppers Drug Mart and Loblaw will begin to roll out PrescribeIT® in pharmacies already using software that is integrated with PrescribeIT®.
"This agreement will accelerate the adoption of e-prescribing in Canada, bringing significant benefits to patients, prescribers and health care systems across the country," said Ashesh Desai, Executive Vice President Pharmacy and Healthcare Businesses at Shoppers Drug Mart.
"PrescribeIT® has shown tremendous momentum since it launched," said Michael Green, President and CEO of Infoway. "This is an important expansion for PrescribeIT® and will help extend the benefits of the service more broadly."
Loblaw will continue to operate FreedomRx, the e-prescribing and messaging platform that is currently available predominantly to Loblaw and Shoppers Drug Mart pharmacies and physicians using AccuroEMR® as their electronic medical records system.
About Canada Health Infoway
Infoway helps to improve the health of Canadians by working with partners to accelerate the development, adoption and effective use of digital health across Canada. Through our investments, we help deliver better quality and access to care and more efficient delivery of health services for patients and clinicians. Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. Visit www.infoway-inforoute.ca.
About PrescribeIT®
Canada Health Infoway is working with Health Canada, the provinces and territories, and industry stakeholders to develop, operate and maintain the national e-prescribing service known as PrescribeIT®. PrescribeIT® will serve all Canadians, pharmacies and prescribers and provide safer and more effective medication management by enabling prescribers to transmit a prescription electronically between a prescriber's electronic medical record (EMR) and the pharmacy management system (PMS) of a patient's pharmacy of choice. PrescribeIT® will protect Canadians' personal health information from being sold or used for commercial activities. Visit www.PrescribeIT.ca.
About Loblaw Companies Limited Loblaw is Canada's food and pharmacy leader, and the nation's largest retailer. Loblaw provides Canadians with grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, financial services and wireless mobile products and services. With more than 2,400 corporate, franchised and Associate-owned locations, Loblaw, its franchisees and associate-owners employ approximately 200,000 full- and part-time employees, making it one of Canada's largest private sector employers.
Loblaw's purpose – Live Life Well® – puts first the needs and well-being of Canadians who make one billion transactions annually in the company's stores. Loblaw is positioned to meet and exceed those needs in many ways: convenient locations; more than 1,050 grocery stores that span the value spectrum from discount to specialty; full-service pharmacies at nearly 1,400 Shoppers Drug Mart® and Pharmaprix® locations and close to 500 Loblaw locations; PC Financial® services; affordable Joe Fresh® fashion and family apparel; and three of Canada's top-consumer brands in Life Brand, no name® and President's Choice. For more information, visit Loblaw's website at www.loblaw.ca.
TRAIN IT RIGHT NEWSLETTER
Sign Up and get a free 7 day Train it Right HIIT Program!
