Temporary Isolation Can Be TheOpportunity To Permanently Transform Your Weight And Health
Los Angeles, CA, May 14, 2020 ̶ Not sure how to eat and stay healthy this quarantine season without resorting to your familiar diet of spaghetti, bread, pizza, and sugar? Candice Rosen, R.N., MSW, and author of the upcoming book Forget Dieting: It’s All About Data-Driven Fueling! encourages "trophology," or "food combining," which is one of the foundations of Rosen's Data-Driven Fueling Plan. As you combine foods, Rosen adds that "monitoring blood glucose is the key to weight gain vs. weight loss; good health vs. poor health."
1. Make Wednesdays and Fridays Vegan Days. According to Rosen, avoid dairy! Try vegan yogurts, cheeses, and milks. Dairy is inflammatory and will deplete your bones of calcium (it’s true!). There are unsweetened milks of almond, hemp, cashew, etc., and all are available in grocery stores. A low blood glucose breakfast idea would be a sprouted grain English muffin, spread with a tofu or nut-based cream cheese, some sliced tomatoes, and topped off with sea salt or Trader Joe’s Everything But The Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend.
2. Eat fruits that are high in fiber. Apples, bananas, oranges, berries ̶ the list goes on! You will still want to avoid sugary fruit juices, as well as very sweet fruits like pineapples and mangos while trying to lose weight. Fruit is always eaten alone with two exceptions: they can be added to a vegan smoothie and they can be eaten with a nut or seed butter. These healthy fats reduce the chance of a blood glucose spike.
3. Nothing white. To lower blood glucose, do not eat or combine animal proteins with any white potatoes, bread, rice, or pasta… EVER. Sorry!
4. Eat More Sweet Potatoes. Think wholesome, nutritious, responsibly grown, pancreatic-friendly foods (food that doesn’t raise your blood glucose) like sweet potatoes and yams, which are an incredibly nutritious carbohydrate that are low in sugar levels and provide fiber. They’re best consumed baked or steamed, but can also be cooked in a variety of other ways. A great lunch or dinner option (and it is inexpensive) is a baked sweet potato, split down the middle with a large spoonful of black beans, a tablespoon of tomatillo salsa, and a side salad. To lower blood sugar, eat them with veggies and plant-based protein together… NOT MEAT!
5. Try Fish. Give your body a break from animal protein. Red meats increase inflammation and provide poor sources of fat. However, if you crave protein, try fish! For those who aren’t allergic, fish is a fantastic source of protein that’s low in carbohydrates and contains high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, one of the few consumable healthy fats! If consuming fish raw, remember only sashimi-style – no white rice! To lower blood sugar, combine fish with veggies, not starches or fruit.
About the author:
Candice P. Rosen, RN, MSW, CHC, is a registered nurse based in Los Angeles, CA. As the founding member of Gilda’s Club Chicago and its first executive director and program director, she created and coordinated a diverse array of wellness-related programs. She was appointed by Mayor Richard Daley to serve as Chair of Healthcare Initiatives for Chicago’s Sister Cities International Program (CSCIP). CSCIP provided an opportunity to advocate for preventive medicine, improve maternal and infant healthcare, stress disability access, promote nourishing diets, and bring awareness to the obesity and diabetes epidemics that now affect populations on a global level. She is married and the mother of four adult children and grandmother to a precious granddaughter. For more information on Candice, please visit https://candicerosenrn.com.
EQ Care, CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal form strategic alliance to provide digital mental health services to patients in collaboration with MAISHA Labs
MONTREAL, May 14, 2020 /CNW Telbec/ - (EQ Care): The CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (CCOMTL) has chosen EQ Care to collaborate on an innovative Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (dCBT) pilot project for patients on the waiting list for psychotherapy treatment, immediately improving access to mental health services for residents of central Montreal.
Supported by the Ministère de la Santé et des Services sociaux (MSSS), the pilot is a strategic alliance between EQ Care, a Montreal-based virtual healthcare provider, in collaboration with MAISHA Labs, a technology firm specializing in the digitization of healthcare systems, and the CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, to test delivery of Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (dCBT) as an approach to increasing access to mental health care and treatment. This will enable CCOMTL patients to complete sessions on their own time, anytime, anywhere while being supported by a licensed therapist.
"For several years, our population has expressed a need to obtain free access to psychotherapy. Recently, the MSSS created the Program for Mental Disorders: from Self-Care to Psychotherapy as part of a new mental health access and support program in the province," said Tung Tran, Director of Mental Health and Addiction for the CIUSSS. "It aims to improve access to mental health services, including psychotherapy. The demand for this support program was already glaring; but in the context of the COVID-19 crisis, health officials are noticing a significant increase in mental health needs. People are isolated, they have decreased income, and many have lost their businesses. This will bring tremendous consequences as far as mental health is concerned. Even if the MSSS finances psychotherapy, we still face challenges when it comes to recruiting psychotherapists. We are recruiting new professionals and finding innovative ways to diversify the means to improve access, and this dCBT program meets exactly this requirement."
Unlike an in-person visit or a virtual consultation with a mental health professional, dCBT provides a remote therapist-guided digital platform-enabled option, which has been shown to deliver results that are comparable or better.
A Healthy Partnership
EQ Care's current integrated and comprehensive online virtual health care service includes 24/7 access to physicians, mental health specialists and other medical and paramedical professionals, in all provinces and territories, through EQ Care's proprietary virtual care platform.
EQ Care will be rolling out trials of this service in the coming weeks, becoming the first ISO 9001:2015 health services company in Canada to launch this type of a pilot project.
"We have developed a unique online therapist-assisted mental health platform for patients to easily access treatment grounded in best practices. Each patient is paired with a dedicated, licensed therapist whose role is to guide and support the patient through a 12-week course of online therapy and weekly scheduled touch points", said Daniel Martz, CEO, EQ Care. "We are working with MAISHA Labs to help fine-tune this platform to treat patients with mild to moderate depression and certain anxiety disorders. Providing advanced technology-enabled solutions to help solve complex healthcare challenges is in our DNA, and we will leverage our expertise and best practices, coupled with our learnings from this trial, to further reinforce our leading clinical delivery models."
Therapy with a Human Touch
This digital healthcare trial centres on patient wellbeing, and is being put in place to assist presently overextended mental health professionals in the treatment of patients throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The program is not meant as a replacement for in-person care by clinicians. Patients will still be able to receive face-to-face Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) after the pilot if needed, and remain on the waitlist, keeping their spot if they choose to participate in the dCBT program. This initiative will provide immediate resources for patients who currently do not have access to mental health support.
MAISHA Labs managed this project as part of a larger digital transformation project within the CIUSSS.
"Similar to other healthcare organizations, the CIUSSS has more demand for mental health services than there are mental health providers, and sometimes patients wait a long time to receive care," explained Amanda Babbitt, Digital Transformation Program Manager, MAISHA Labs, who works on-site at the Jewish General Hospital. "dCBT offers patients mental healthcare wherever they happen to be and at whatever time of day they choose. As integrators, MAISHA Labs provides the digital transformation program and project management, as well as AI tools. It was a pleasure to collaborate with EQ Care and the CIUSSS to launch this important program."
About the CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal (CCOMTL)
The Integrated Health and Social Services University Network for West-Central Montreal (CIUSSS Centre-Ouest-de-l'Île-de-Montréal) is committed to providing healthcare recipients with timely access to a seamless continuum of care that focuses on individuals' particular needs. The area covered by this network is home to approximately 362,000 people, who are served by a partnership of more than 30 complementary healthcare facilities. Included are one of Montreal's leading hospitals (the Jewish General Hospital) and an interlocking array of three specialized hospitals, five CLSCs, two rehabilitation centres, four residential centres, two long-term geriatric residences, and two-day centres. Treatment and care are provided by a staff of more than 10,000, including approximately 700 doctors.
About EQ Care
EQ Care offers patients 24/7 national and bilingual online access to a specialized medical and mental health team providing personalized, comprehensive treatment options from any mobile or internet connected device. On the cutting edge of patient care, our mission is to ensure that our patients receive the highest quality service through our leading proprietary virtual health technology platform.
As the market leader in Canadian virtual care with over 30 years of health care experience, an ISO 9001:2015 certification, and over 500,000 virtual medical consultations managed, we are continually innovating to bring cutting edge mobile tools and approaches to our Plan Sponsors and Members.
About MAISHA Labs
MAISHA Labs specializes in digital transformation and disruptions for the healthcare sector. Digitalization fosters tremendous opportunities for better health care continuum, but equally brings challenges in cybersecurity and data protection as well as growing needs of big-data and predictive analytics. MAISHA Labs focuses on bridging the gap between technology and security to enhance organizational excellence, foster optimal decision making and make the transformation process smoother.
MAISHA Labs delivers artificial intelligence-powered analytics platforms to streamline health and care delivery operations. Recently, in record time, MAISHA Labs established a COVID-19 pandemic stratification toolkit with proactive pandemic spread measures, as well as practical clinical census, statistics and predictive dashboards providing highly accurate forecasts for pandemic operational impact (visits, occupancy and equipment utilization).
SOURCE EQ Care
Lux Research Predicts Digital Therapeutics are the Future of Medicine
Rising Healthcare Costs, Physician Burnout, and Chronic Conditions Can All Be Better Addressed Through Digital Therapeutics
BOSTON, MA, MAY 14, 2020 – Digital therapeutics are poised to change healthcare by enabling diagnosis, management, and treatment in a low-cost and scalable way. In its new report “Digital Therapeutics,” Lux Research shows that partnerships are imperative to success when evaluating what digital therapeutics to employ. According to Lux, all healthcare providers will be impacted by the adoption of these new technologies, which also offer opportunities to solve major challenges in healthcare, including rising costs, chronic diseases and aging, and physician burnout.
“A digital therapeutic can be defined as a piece of software that provides medical care. They can be used to address a nearly unlimited range of medical conditions and can directly benefit healthcare providers, payers, solutions providers, and patients,” says Danielle Bradnan, lead author of the report. “Healthcare providers who adopt digital therapeutics can help reduce physician burnout by enabling doctors to spend more time with their patients that need one-on-one care. This could not be more critical than during the current COVID-19 pandemic, where efforts need to be focused on caring for the truly ill. Digital therapeutics allow for the same quality of care as from a provider – but accessed remotely.”
“Some of the biggest opportunities are for solution providers. Consumer electronics companies and software developers can engage directly in healthcare, which was previously mostly confined to large pharmaceutical and medical device companies,” states Bradnan. “Payers also benefit tremendously because they save money through digital therapeutic solutions. Patients benefit by having more autonomy over their provision of care by being able to access quality healthcare remotely.”
When assessing the partnership, acquisition, or investment value of a digital therapeutic, Lux Research emphasizes strategically evaluating four key factors – its capabilities, distribution, mode of action, and partnerships – with partnerships being the most important success factor. “In terms of capabilities, digital therapeutics can either replace existing services or augment them,” explains Bradnan. “Replacement works when geographical barriers pose problems to healthcare access, when there is a shortage of providers, and when traditional modes of therapy don’t work for a patient. This is particularly important now during the COVID-19 pandemic, when there are significant challenges in reaching specialty care services that are still important but not considered “critical.” Addiction and mental health services, as well as time-sensitive conditions like autism and dementia, all benefit from access as well as early intervention and treatment.”
Lux Research is a leading provider of tech-enabled research and advisory services, helping clients drive growth through technology innovation. A pioneer in the research industry, Lux uniquely combines technical expertise and business insights with a proprietary intelligence platform, using advanced analytics and data science to surface true leading indicators. With quality data derived from primary research, fact-based analysis, and opinions that challenge traditional thinking, Lux empowers clients to make more informed decisions today to ensure future success.
Artist Releases Coming-of-age Memoir Detailing Her Journey With Mental Illness And Disability
Long Island, NY, May 14, 2020 – It started as a college prank; a friend offered Ruth Poniarski a brownie that, unbeknownst to her, was laced with angel dust. What resulted was a debilitating accident, and the first of many mental breakdowns that spiraled into diagnoses of psychosis, schizophrenia, severe anxiety, and bipolar disorder.
Long Island native Ruth Poniarski has released her first book, Journey of the Self: Memoir of an Artist, published by Charlotte, North Carolina-based Warren Publishing. Poniarski’s unflinchingly honest memoir shares her coming-of-age story through the lenses of mental illness, disability, and steadfast determination.
For years, Poniarski struggled to cope with her new reality as she undertook a rigorous architectural program, sought out new friends (and the perfect mate), and battled through the depths of mental illness. Her journey led her in all directions as she sought comfort, solace, stability and love.
Now an accomplished artist, Poniarski considers her memoir to be a portrait of sorts. “This book, like many of my paintings, is about introspection,” she says. “So many of us, particularly when we’re young, seek definition through labels or through what others think of us. It’s so easy to say, ‘I have bipolar disorder, therefore, X’ or ‘So and so doesn’t love me the way I love him, therefore, Y.’ But none of that is who we truly are.”
The release of Poniarski’s memoir is particularly timely in light of the Coronavirus pandemic and social distancing orders. “A lot of people are stuck at home right now. This kind of isolation forces a person to examine themselves; what makes them unique beyond who they are to society,” says Poniarski. “That kind of self-reflection allows us to become more available to others. You have to know yourself first.”
“So, who am I?” Poniarski laughs. “Well … you’ll just have to read the book!”
For more information about Ruth Poniarski or her book, please visit: ruthponiarski.com.
Can COVID-19 spread through fecal matter? Studies indicate genetic material of virus showing up in stool
HOUSTON – (May 14, 2020) – Early studies show evidence of COVID-19 genetic material in fecal matter, but more work is needed to determine if the virus can be spread through stool, according to a new review paper from a Rice University epidemiologist.
"Most of the studies that have been done so far are picking up viral RNA in the feces rather than infectious virus," said E. Susan Amirian, an epidemiologist with Rice's Texas Policy Lab and the study's lead author. "However, a few studies have showed that infectious virus may be present in stool samples."
Amirian said the mere presence of genetic material is less worrisome than if infectious amounts of viable virus are found in stool in future studies, as that would imply it is possible for it to be transmitted to others through feces. She said if future research continues finding viable virus in stool, this could have important implications, especially for those working in the restaurant industry, nursing homes, day cares, etc.
"Ultimately, more research is needed to determine whether exposure to stool is spreading this virus and making the pandemic worse," Amirian said. "But given this possibility, it behooves us to be more careful, especially in settings where people have an increased risk of morbidity and death due to COVID-19."
Amirian said there's no downside to exercising an abundance of caution in following good personal hygiene practices until we know more.
"There are plenty of other diseases out there that are transmitted through fecal contamination, including hepatitis A and norovirus," she said. "Following a high level of precaution will help just in case COVID-19 can be spread this way."
For more information or to set up an email interview with Amirian, contact Amy McCaig, senior media relations specialist at Rice, at 217-417-2901 or amym@rice.edu.
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 3,962 undergraduates and 3,027 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. 4 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
BRANDS CAN SPARK THE TYPE OF MASS BEHAVIOR CHANGE NEEDED IN THE AGE OF CORONAVIRUS
New Book by Leader Who Spearheaded Global Handwashing Day Offers Model for How Brands Can Get People to Embrace New Behavior Such as Hand Washing, Mask Wearing and Social Distancing
Brands on a Mission: How to Achieve Social Impact and Business Growth Through Purpose by Dr. Myriam Sidibe, Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School
(May 2020, Routledge)
Who has the power to incite billions of people to embrace social distancing, wash their hands regularly and wear masks?
To Dr. Myriam Sidibe, who helped shift the hygiene habits of millions by spearheading the U.N.-recognized Global Handwashing Day, the answer is simple:
Brands.
Through the right marketing, brands are in a unique position to spark the type of lasting mindset and behavior shifts that mask-wearing, social distancing and regular handwashing require, Sidibe says. But doing so effectively requires constructive partnerships with the public and nonprofit sectors.
In her new book Brands on a Mission: How to Achieve Social Impact and Business Growth Through Purpose, Sidibe—a Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government andone of the world’s leading experts on marketing for social good—shows how.
Drawing on her personal experience forging initiatives that have taught one billion people about hygiene and created lasting behavior change for millions of people worldwide while working at Unilever, Sidibe illustrates how brands can not only create impactful social missions that improve public health and safety, but can accomplish this while driving profitability and growth.
With their often-vast reach and power of persuasion, brands act as trendsetters and can drive healthier, positive behaviors, the book explains. A popular beer brand combatted domestic violence in South Africa through its #NoExcuse campaign against alcohol-fueled violence against women. Toothpaste brands have tackled school absenteeism and oral hygiene, and Durex, a condom brand, has helped reduce HIV infections worldwide.
Such programs can benefit companies as well as consumers: whereas quality was once the primary differentiator between brands, today, embracing a social purpose has become a key way for brands to set themselves apart in the marketplace and sustain profitability.
Citing interviews with over 100 CEOs, thought leaders and brand managers, Brands on a Mission presents an emergent model that organizations can follow to build purpose into their growth strategy, and shows how to bridge the gap between “Brand Say” and “Brand Do.” Readers will learn from experts including Paul Polman, former CEO of Unilever and Emmanuel Faber, CEO of Danone and from the case studies of Durex, Dove, Discovery, LIXIL as well as many other brands on a mission. This is how to reimagine capitalism in these very turbulent times. The book also offers hand-holding exercises to help brand managers navigate the journey of embedding a social purpose.
Questions Brands on a Mission answers include:
Why are innovative public-private partnerships key to bringing sustained funding and superior approaches to behavior change?
What are the five pillars of the “Purpose Tree” and how can brands leverage them to drive behavior change?
How can cues, behavior and rewards motivate people to change their habits in a positive way?
How can brand managers create leadership buy-in for purpose-driven initiatives?
What are the seven steps to building a movement and how can we measure success?
How can brands integrate behavior change into the marketing process?
Contrary to popular perception, Sidibe argues, businesses are highly capable of playing a positive role with regard to social challenge. But both the private and the public/nonprofit sectors must work to overcome mutual biases and misconceptions and seek meaningful partnerships that draw out the best of both sectors. After all, even the strongest public sector in the world will never get more people to wash hands than the world’s largest soap company.
Praise for Brands on a Mission
Professor Peter Piot, Director & Handa Professor of Global Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine: “Dr Sidibe’s work provides an extremely valuable contribution to public health, and the role all parts of society need to play – from governments, to local communities, to NGOs, to business and academia.”
Dr Natalia Kanem, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund: “In this fast-paced book, Dr Myriam Sidibe conveys the ‘how’ of successful branding through purpose. This notion is generating intense interest, especially among young people of the ‘Sustainable Development Generation’ the world over, who identify with the principle of taking action towards the social good. The real-life examples are practical, useful and inspiring.”
Paul Polman, Co-Founder and Chair of IMAGINE, and Co-founder of the Business and Sustainable Development Commission, Former CEO of Unilever: “A must read for any leader who wants to ensure that their business model stays relevant for the turbulent decades to come. Practical examples on how to position your brands to be a force for good and keep relevance.”
Professor Richard Zeckhauser, Frank P. Ramsey Professor of Political Economy, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University: “This sprightly volume introduces Mother Teresa to Mad Men. It shows how product branding, so often maligned, can bring substantial social value.”
Caroline Harper, CEO, Sightsavers: “Partnering with both the brand Lifebuoy and the company Unilever was a tremendous boost to our fight against trachoma. This book is an admirable guide to how to create such partnerships effectively in pursuit of the Global Goals.”
About the Author:
Dr. Myriam Sidibe, one of the world’s leading experts on brands that drive health outcomes through mass behavioral change, conceived and established the award-winning UN-recognized Global Handwashing Day–now celebrated in over 100 countries. She is at the front lines of innovating public health response to COVID-19 as co-founder and Chair of Kenya’s National Business compact on Coronavirus and a board member of Safe Hands Kenya. She was recently called to lead efforts of a joint coalition of business networks made of Business Partners for Sustainable Development (USCIB), Business Fights Poverty, in driving local action and global learning on what the role of business should be in responding to Coronavirus. A Senior Fellow at the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government of the Harvard Kennedy School and Former Social Mission Director at Unilever, Myriam has been recognized as one of the top 10 Intrapreneurs in the world for her approach to pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo — which has proven pivotal to leading a paradigm shift in the way public private partnerships for health/well-being are managed and funded. Her foresight in establishing Lifebuoy’s social mission has been replicated across Unilever as an example of a best practice for brands looking to positively impact the world whilst driving market share. Myriam is also a trustee of WaterAid, the world’s largest civil society organization on Water and Sanitation and was a commissioner for the Lancet on the future of health in Africa. Originally from Mali, Myriam and holds a doctorate in Public Health from London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and is an Engineer from McGill University, Loughborough University, UK.
Title:Brands on a Mission: How to Achieve Social Impact and Business Growth Through Purpose
Author: Myriam Sidibe
Publisher: Routledge
Print: 226 pages
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0367428334
ISBN-13: 978-0367428334
.Vogel® Supports Canadian Communities with Proactive Programs During COVID-19
Quebec-based company prioritizes investment in research, donations to local food banks, and increasing employee wages.
MONTREAL, May 13, 2020 /CNW/ - A.Vogel® recognizes the need for charitable giving and innovative research during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company has launched proactive initiatives including investing in Canadian-based emergency COVID-19 research, matching donations for charitable giving, donating to food banks, supporting front-line employees with increased wages and access to personal protective equipment and encouraging remote work.
"Reinvesting in research and seeking solutions to Canadian health and wellness needs is an important mission at A.Vogel®," says Mackie Vadacchino, CEO at A.Vogel® Canada. "We are one community and are trying to lead by example to inspire positive action in Canada. We have donated $100,000 to the McGill Interdisciplinary Initiative in Infection and Immunity (MI4), which brings together 5,000 medical staff and 250 experts in infectious and immune diseases, all actively working to reduce the threat of COVID-19. We are proud to see our donation programs inspire $246,960 in gifts from supporters and community members to date. Together, we can accomplish anything."
To ensure those most vulnerable are protected, A.Vogel® has donated non-perishable food items valued at $50,000 to Moisson Montreal and Moisson Quebec, and contributed $500 to the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine, to support the college's student relief fund. A.Vogel® is supporting employees with a 15 per cent wage increase and protecting production-line employees with access to personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks, gloves and rigorous – frequent – personal hygiene safety measures, and encouraging non-essential personnel to work from home.
The company's global arm is conducting innovative research on Echinaforce – one of its prominent traditional herbal remedy used for the prevention and symptomatic relief of colds and influenza type infections and similar upper respiratory tract conditions – to investigate its benefits on COVID-19. Based on previous scientific data, Echinaforce has proven to be effective in prevention of SARS, MERS, H1N1 and other strains of the Coronavirus1.
About A.Vogel®
A.Vogel® is Canada's leading health brand with a wide range of natural products based in science. It was founded in Basel, Switzerland in 1923 by Swiss pioneer Alfred Vogel and entered the Canadian market in 1956. A.Vogel's commitment to organic farming methods means the company uses its own carefully selected seeds, knowing the history of each plant and having full traceability. The efficacy of A.Vogel's fresh plant preparations has been proven by over 30 clinical studies. Products range from natural pharmaceutical remedies, dietary supplements and food products. To learn more, visit avogel.ca.
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1 Pleschka S, Stein M, Schoop R, Hudson JB: Anti-Viral properties and mode of action of standardized Echinacea Purpurea extract against highly pathogenic avian Influenza virus (H5N1, H7N7) and swine-origin H1N1 (S-OIV). Virology Journal (paper accepted November 2009). Sharma M, Anderson SA, Schoop R, Hudson JB: Induction of multiple pro-inflammatory cytokines by respiratory viruses and reversal by standardized Echinacea, a potent antiviral herbal extract. Antiviral Res. 2009 Aug;83(2):165-70 (http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.antiviral.2009.04.009)
SOURCE A.Vogel
The DNA Company Acquires AI Digital Therapeutics App to Form My Next Health
My Next Health Announces Genomics-Based Applications for Pain and COVID-19 Complications Risk Assessment
Acquisition combines functional genomics with conversational AI for patient self-management apps and disease tracking tools designed to inform clinician-patient interactions.
TORONTO, May 13, 2020 /CNW/ - Leading functional genomics provider The DNA Company today announced that it has acquired AI-based digital therapeutics app My Pain Sensei (MPS) for approximately $30 million USD, forming My Next Health. The DNA Company has long specialized in understanding how genes and genetic pathways influence health and wellness, and the acquisition of MPS gives My Next Health an AI-based platform to develop multiple health applications.
As My Next Health, the company will focus on using precision medicine and digital therapeutics to develop genomics-based health management applications that offer patients genetic insights tailored to their unique biology. The acquisition also provides My Next Health with a Class 1 Medical Device Establishment License from Health Canada for applications related to chronic pain and COVID-19.
My Next Health's MPS platform, which combines big data and genomic insights with conversational AI and tracking tools, was developed by MPS through an engagement with IBM and includes access to more than 60 million electronic medical records and data from 32 billion claims.
This data allows the platform to uncover key insights about identifiable symptoms, diagnoses, chronic pain treatment efficacy as well as for other chronic conditions. The My Next Health applications make those insights, tools and interventions accessible to patients and their healthcare providers. As its first application, My Next Health is creating a COVID-19 application that assesses an individual's risk profile for developing complications from the virus.
"The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed how a novel virus can upend the world's healthcare system at a moment's notice," said Kashif Khan, CEO of My Next Health. "But, advances in functional genomics may allow us to better understand the underlying biological weaknesses that this novel virus exploits so that we can leverage existing treatment protocols to improve patient outcomes and reduce load on the healthcare system. The acquisition of MPS will help us tackle these and other problems."
The My Next Health COVID-19 application will work by analyzing a person's genetic pathways for inflammatory responses, insulin sensitivity and other genomic indicators through identifiable characteristics that factor into risk of COVID-19 complications. After determining an individual's risk level, patients can use the application's recommendations to help mitigate their risk using self-tracking tools that also can be shared with their healthcare providers.
My Next Health will continue building in new functionality over the next few months, with a fully functional application targeted for health systems or governments available this summer.
Given the immediate public need created by the COVID-19 pandemic, My Next Health is making a free online version of the application available to the public on May 15, which will include the conversational AI and intervention recommendations. The public version will be available at www.mynexthealth.com.
About My Next Health (formerly The DNA Company)
My Next Health builds health applications that provide insights into the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases using a novel approach to functional genomics. These applications allow consumers to self-manage those insights based on their own genetic predispositions, and can help inform their healthcare providers on interventions. My Next Health was created when functional genomics company The DNA Company joined with digital therapeutics platform My Pain Sensei in May 2020. For more information, visit www.mynexthealth.com.
About The DNA Company
The DNA Company is a functional genomics company that provides evidence-based therapies based on genomic insights that identify how genes and genetic pathways influence health and wellness.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements (within the meaning of applicable securities laws) relating to the business of the Company. Forward-looking statements are identified by words such as "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "plan", "will", "may", "estimate" and other similar expressions. The forward-looking statements in this news release are based on certain assumptions. They are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to control or predict. Many factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, the ability of the Company to commercialize, and to successfully integrate, the MPS platform into its products and services and the availability of growth financing to support the Company's business objectives. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Further, these forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as expressly required by applicable law, the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
SOURCE The DNA Company
World Animal Protection Calls on G20 Leaders to Help Prevent Another Pandemic
TORONTO, May 12, 2020 /CNW/ - Economies shutting down, healthcare services in dire straits and physical distancing became our new reality with COVID-19. The origin of the pandemic likely can be traced to a market that sells wildlife in China, where a wild animal transmitted the virus to a human. The global charity World Animal Protection believes unless there's a ban on all commercial trade of wild animals globally, a similar pandemic could happen again. That is why all 14 of the charity's country offices are pushing their G20 governments to support a ban through a new campaign called "End the global wildlife trade. Forever."
This is a global problem that needs a global solution and Canada plays a role here. The Canadian Wildlife Service and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency only track a small fraction of the wildlife species that are commercially and legally traded. Desktop research suggests that certain reptiles, for example, can be imported without a health check. That means any diseases these animals might carry can go largely unnoticed.
The wildlife trade is a multi-billion-dollar industry which rips animals from their natural environments or commercially farms them, exposing them to stress and cruelty, creating a hotbed for disease. As we have seen with COVID-19, these diseases can then be transferred to humans. The exploitation of these animals puts our health, biodiversity and economies at risk.
In fact, according to recent media reports it's estimated the cost of the coronavirus pandemic globally could be as high as $4.1 trillion, or almost 5% of global gross domestic product, depending on the disease's spread through major economies like Europe and the U.S.
Melissa Matlow of World Animal Protection Canada says, "The costs are clearly too high to allow the dangerous commercial wildlife trade to continue unabated. We are urging Canada and other G20 countries to curb this trade to prevent future pandemics and another global health and economic crisis."
The main reason for the wildlife trade is public demand for wild animals as food, traditional medicine, exotic pets, entertainment and fashion accessories. At least 70% of emerging zoonotic infectious diseases are believed to originate from wildlife – this demand puts us all at risk.
World Animal Protection has been campaigning for years to shift social attitudes and reduce demand for wild animals, including for the following uses:
Traditional Medicine
The demand for traditional medicine has devastating consequences for many species of wildlife traded globally, including bears who are poached and farmed for their bile, which World Animal Protection investigated in a recent report.
The research also showed that bears are being hunted in Canada and illegal bear bile products are being sold in shops in Toronto and exported to countries in Asia.
Plant-based alternatives to bear bile are available and by fully transitioning to plant-based options, the industry can end this cruelty.
Exotic pets
Each year, millions of wild animals are captured from their natural habitats and bred in cruel captive conditions to be traded around the world as pets. Many of them die in transit before they reach a final destination and it's estimated 25% of the global exotic pet trade is illegal. Snakes, tortoises and parrots are just some of the wildlife species suffering as pets around the world, including in Canada. World Animal Protection's research shows there are currently 1.4 million exotic pets owned in this country.
The ongoing risk to human health, the global economy and animal welfare caused by inaction is too high. Call on Canada to help end the global trade of wildlife and eliminate threat of future pandemics. Sign the petition here.
About World Animal Protection
From our offices around the world, including Australia, Brazil, Kenya, and Canada, we move the world to protect animals. Last year, we gave more than 3 billion animals better lives through our campaigns that focus on animals in the wild, animals in disasters, animals in communities and animals in farming. For more information visit www.worldanimalprotection.ca
SOURCE World Animal Protection
Intuitive Design of Helmet-Based Ventilators Could Mitigate Effects of Global Healthcare Staff Shortage
The world is in need of more helping hands in order to contain the COVID-19 crisis. Due to their intuitive design, helmet-based ventilators could alleviate the shortage. Its simplistic setup enables a wider range of medical personnel to operate the technology, reallocating some of the pressure placed on certain members of the trained staff.
May 12th, 2020. The pandemic has been relentless on healthcare systems worldwide, as nations are struggling to contain the consequences of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In parallel, the world is racing to build more ventilators, which are essential for critically ill COVID-19 patients with respiratory distress. However, the shortage of trained staff raises the question: will there be enough medical professionals left to operate them? Helmet-based ventilators could help alleviate the problem, as its simplistic setup enables them to be operated by a wider range of staff.
The shortage of trained medical workers has compelled governments to consider alternatives in mitigating the crisis. Some countries havereached out for out-of-state support. The Republic of Cuba hasdeployed over 200 doctors to aid South Africa in the COVID-19 hotspot provinces. The US Senate hasintroduced a new bill, which, upon approval, would provide visas for approximately 40,000 foreign doctors and nurses. The current health crisis has even encouraged some universitiesto open a medical degree to better staff the surrounding area with future professionals.
When it comes to ventilators, essential for treating severe cases of the virus, the situation becomes particularly concerning. Patients can be intubated only by doctors or other medical staff, specifically trained to conduct the procedure. Without the sufficient amount of experienced healthcare workers, patients in need of ventilator support will not be able to get the necessary treatment. Helmet-based ventilators (HBV) could help ease the pressure placed on the system, as its simplistic design expands the range of medical staff that could use the technology for patients battling the coronavirus.
“The immense pressure has definitely taken a toll on all healthcare professionals, working day and night to reduce the severity of the situation”, said Aurika Savickaitė, MSN, APN. “Some procedures, necessary for treating coronavirus patients, require having specific training, which not all medical staff available on the premises may possess. Using helmet-based ventilators could help better distribute duties among hospital personnel, as its intuitive design does not require such intricate set of skills as intubation. This would give us a greater chance to maintain the integrity of the healthcare system and keep it from collapsing.”
Utilizing HBV technology could also reduce the number of patients that need invasive ventilation. Intubated patients are more likely to suffer severe consequences, which heavily affect the quality of living in the aftermath of the virus. The vast majoritynever fully recover, and the ones that do often need to relearn basic motor skills, such as walking and swallowing. So far, the use of the NIV hood helped toavoid intubation in 20 % of COVID-19 patients.
“Introducing the helmet-based ventilator as an additional step before resorting to intubation would give people more of a fighting chance to return to their normal life after beating the virus,” says Ms. Aurika Savickaitė. “Moreover, it doesn’t require the patient to be heavily sedated, helping to save up on the already scarce sedative reserve.”
In addition to doing less damage to the patient than the mechanical ventilator, the HBV is much more cost-efficient to produce. Its design consists of easily obtainable parts, thus helmets can be produced even in at-home conditions. People in support of the HBV initiative have been uniting in the“NIV Helmet Manufacturing Project to Combat COVID-19” group, documenting the manufacturing process and sharing their insights on how it can be improved. Since the “bubble helmet” does not require being highly tech-savvy or complex equipment, it could reinforce the pandemic relief effort in the emerging countries, struggling to supply their hospitals with the critically needed ventilators.
The Helmet-based initiative is led by a group of medical professionals, who seek to introduce the technology to all frontline workers fighting the virus. The team has launched a websitehelmetbasedventilation.com, where healthcare professionals, potential manufacturers and investors can access all the know-how on the HBV and utilize the information to better support the global COVID-19 response effort.
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
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