WASHINGTON D.C. — Earlier this year, millions of Americans who depend on government sponsored insurance plans purchased on the federal or state marketplace realized they were once again subject to the whim of Washington politicians. As they faced bankruptcy-inducing premium hikes as high as 53%, they found themselves pawns in the cruel game the U.S. Congress so often plays with life-and-death issues like health care. The federal insurance subsidies expanded to millions of Americans during the pandemic in the American Rescue Plan were slated to expire this fall. After weeks of hanging on every update about the moods and inclinations of key Senators, particularly Senator Joe Manchin, D-WV, the 13 million Americans in the Obamacare exchanges learned their premiums will not increase $1,000-$2,000 a monthafter all.
“If you missed it before, it should be clear now that Washington politicians are willing to terrorize American families with the specter of crushing health care costs right up to the last minute,” said Katy Talento, executive director of the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries (The Alliance, ahcsm.org). “They are playing with people’s lives. For people dependent on the federal and state marketplace subsidies, life and death decisions in health care are dependent on a bunch of political sleights of hand and brinksmanship in Washington that recur every few years. Our health care security should not be dictated by the whims of Congress.”
Although Manchin was the focus of attention most recently, many Republicans have voted with the Democrats to create these dependencies. For the millions of Americans, the Senate’s whipsawing will be on rinse and repeat from now on, as the federal subsidy expiration approaches every few years. Even with the extended subsidies, families forced onto the federal and state exchanges must still cope with many burdens, including high deductibles — in some cases $10,000 annually.
“Few families have the resources to pay the sky-high premiums and deductibles of marketplace insurance plans the next time Congress is battling over subsidy extension. It’s chilling to put your life of your children in the hands of politicians,” Talento commented. “There are alternatives people should consider.”
The need for options is clear; 100 million people are already suffering from medical debt and bankruptcy, inflation is killing family budgets, and Congress never solves the root cause of price inflation in health care that is driving the need for endless subsidy expansion. More than a million Americans, including doctors, have discovered a way to keep health care independent of a fickle Congress.
“More and more Christian doctors and independent health care facilities are leaving behind the broken health care system and the insurance system,” said Talento. “For instance, if you get an MRI at a hospital-owned radiology department, that MRI will likely cost 3-5 times more than an MRI at a free-standing imaging center would cost. Independent health care providers, teaming up with independent Health Care Sharing Ministries and their members, are an unstoppable and disruptive challenge to the broken health care status quo.”
Talento continued: “Health Care Sharing Ministry members find it’s much better to do health care in a community of like-minded individuals. Members send their monthly contributions to other members and when they have a need, pray for one another and send notes of encouragement. They have the freedom to choose the health care provider that works best for them, and the freedom to join or leave the community anytime.
“Facing a health care crisis is such an important and vulnerable time. You don’t want to turn over your life or your loved ones to politicians and a cold insurance bureaucracy and hope they do right by you.”
Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries is a 501(c)(6) trade organization representing the common interests of Health Care Sharing Ministry organizations which are facilitating the sharing of health care needs (financial, emotional, and spiritual) by individuals and families, and their participants. The Alliance engages with federal and state regulators, members of the media, and the Christian community to provide accurate and timely information on medical cost sharing.
To learn more about the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries, visit www.ahcsm.org or follow the ministry on Facebook or Twitter.
FASTFRATE GROUP AND AUDREY'S PLACE COMMITS TO DONATING $500,000 TO SOUTHLAKE FOUNDATION
WOODBRIDGE, ON, Aug. 30, 2022 /CNW/ - The Fastfrate Group, a Canadian leader in providing transportation and logistics services, is honored to announce they will be making a $500,000 donation over five years to Audrey's Place Foundation. In turn, Audrey's Place Foundation will invest this donation to Southlake Regional Health Centre in support of its new $20M Cancer Campaign, HERE is Where Cancer Meets its Match to create the cancer care our communities deserve. This is the second $500,000 donation the Fastfrate Group has made toward Audrey's Place Foundation: the first was made in October 2021 and was contributed to University Health Network (UHN).
"Cancer truly affects us all" says Manny Calandrino, CEO of the Fastfrate Group. "It devastates individuals and families. It strains the healthcare system. It impacts the communities where we live, work and play. Giving back is a core mantra at Fastfrate and we want to support Audrey's Place and all the philanthropic work they do, and we are humbled and honored to play our part."
When contributed to Southlake's Stronach Regional Cancer Centre, the donation will be used help deliver the best care and best chance for patients to survive their cancer. The funds will help by expanding their capacity to deliver exceptional care and upgrading to state-of-the-art technology, including bringing the first PET-CT to the Region, expanding Radiation Therapy and Systemic Therapy Programs, expanding outpatient care for acute leukemia patients, and replacing an end-of-life MRI.
"I was recently able to welcome the Fastfrate Group to our Stronach Regional Cancer Centre for a tour," says Dr Peter Anglin, Oncologist and Physician Lead, Southlake's Regional Cancer Program. "Being able to show them firsthand the difference their generous gift will make and thank them in person for leading by example with this corporate gift was truly a pleasure. Together, with this type of investment from our community partners, we can make a significant impact on patient care, close to home."
"Cancer is a fight" says Audrey Tepper, Founder of Audrey's Place Foundation. "Frontline staff fight cancer with science and innovation and compassion, while those affected by cancer fight it with bravery and determination. We want to help and support the life-changing work Southlake does to deliver the best patient care to the communities it serves, so that those fighting cancer don't have to take on the added burden of commuting downtown for treatment."
About the Fastfrate Group
Headquartered in Woodbridge, Ontario, The Fastfrate Group has been providing industry-leading transportation services for more than 50 years. From what started out as an LTL over the road and intermodal carrier, Fastfrate has grown into a diverse group comprised of multiple companies operating across Canada. This evolution now offers customers a full suite of asset-based transportation including over-the-road, crossborder and intermodal LTL and TL, drayage and transload, warehousing, distribution, logistics services and final mile. Please visit fastfrate.com for more information.
About Audrey's Place
Audrey's Place Foundation is a charitable organization founded in 2010 by the Tepper family of Toronto. The mission of Audrey's Place is to assist in funding post-secondary and graduate education for individuals entering the nursing field. They also focus on supporting Toronto's University Health Network and the Southlake Foundation.
About Southlake Regional Health Centre
Southlake is building healthy communities through outstanding care, innovative partnerships, and amazing people. We deliver a wide range of healthcare services to the communities of northern York Region and southern Simcoe County. Our advanced regional programs include Cancer Care and Cardiac Care and serve a broader population across the northern GTA and into Simcoe-Muskoka.
Our team of 3500 staff, 580 physicians, 780 volunteers, 950 students and 90 Patient and Family Advisors are committed to creating an environment where the best experiences happen. As a recognition of our commitment to quality and patient safety, we have received the highest distinction of Exemplary Standing from Accreditation Canada.
With an annual operating budget of over $450 million, we care for a rapidly growing and aging population and have developed an exciting plan for new facilities to serve our communities into the future. A member of the Southlake Community Ontario Health Team, we are working with our partners to deliver integrated care to northern York Region and southern Simcoe County.
About Southlake Regional Health Centre Foundation
Since the inception of Southlake Foundation in 1980, more than $213 million dollars has been raised in support of Southlake Regional Health Centre. Working with members of the community, hundreds of volunteers, the Southlake Family and our incredible donors, Southlake Foundation will continue to support life-saving medical equipment, infrastructure upgrades and expansions, patient programs and staff education, all for the goal of providing leading edge care for patients and families, close to home. Southlake is supported by the communities we serve. To donate, please visit www.southlake.ca/donate
SOURCE Fastfrate Group
Canadian Military Veterans Complete Hike to Bring Awareness to Chronic Pain
HAMILTON, Ontario, Aug. 30, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seven military Veterans living with chronic pain from across Canada completed the first-ever Military Veterans Alpine Challenge (Alpine Challenge) – a seven-kilometre hike accessed by helicopter that took place in Whistler, British Columbia on Saturday, August 27. The event was organized by the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans (CPCoE) to bring awareness to Veteran chronic pain and help participating Veterans set goals while managing their chronic pain.
Chronic pain is a condition affecting roughly 20 per cent of Canadians. It involves a complex set of physical, cognitive, emotional, social, and environmental factors. Recent Government of Canada research found that Veterans are twice as likely to suffer from chronic pain compared to others in the Canadian population. Furthermore, 50 per cent of female Veterans suffer from chronic pain and 63 per cent of Veterans diagnosed with chronic pain have associated mental health conditions.
“Chronic pain can be highly debilitating, particularly for Veterans whose pain is often compounded by a myriad of factors like mental and emotional health after service. For some Veterans, a better understanding of how chronic pain impacts their life will allow them to make changes to improve their well-being and to use their treatment benefits to better manage their pain. For other Veterans, a higher level of care is required,” comments Tom Hoppe, Military Veteran and Chair of the Centre of Excellence Advisory Council of Veterans. “Our work at the CPCoE, is about coming alongside Veterans living with chronic pain and offering resources and education, but also community and encouragement to keep persevering. It was this mission that guided us in developing and planning the Alpine Challenge.”
The event focuses on the ideas of hope, comradeship, achievement, and challenge. These themes resonate with Veterans and help create parallels between life during and after service, ultimately providing a strategy for living life with a renewed sense of purpose. One of the main reasons Veterans face chronic pain at higher rates is the identity and culture that comes with being a Veteran. The idea of “mission first, self last” greatly impacts their mindset and outlook on life after leaving the military. The Alpine Challenge specifically aims to help Veterans cultivate the characteristics and strengths they developed from the military and implement strategies for applying then to new challenges and experiences.
“The Alpine Challenge provided individual participants with a goal to work for and a reason to challenge themselves,” explains Paul Roos, Veteran and Director of Operations for the CPCoE. “The highlight, along with my experience, was the renewed sense of camaraderie among everyone who participated.”
Additional participants who work in chronic pain management-related fields joined the hike to learn about the experiences of the Veterans and provide their knowledge on chronic pain, safe movement, nutrition, and other topics to help improve their quality of life.
The CPCoE has plans to make the Alpine Challenge an annual event and plans to expand the resources and programs that future participants will have access to, including education and preparation sessions leading up to the hike. The Alpine Challenge is just one aspect of the work that the CPCoE does to support Veterans across Canada, with other aspects including a research mandate to improve the understanding of Veteran-specific chronic pain and mobilizing findings and recommendations to help Veterans and their families manage their pain and reconnect with life.
About the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans
The Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans partners with Veterans and their families across Canada to develop research that genuinely addresses their unique needs and challenges, with the goal of building evidence-based standards and best practices that will improve the lives of Veterans and their families suffering from chronic pain.
Heads Up, Lucky Cats: Popular Fat Mao Noodles Opening Downtown Spot This September
Opening of Chef Angus An's second Thai noodle joint dovetails neatly with back-to-work routines
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 30, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Soon to be the perfect lunch-break or pre-movie spot in Vancouver’s downtown core, Fat Mao Noodles’ newest location will provide comforting one-bowl meals to hungry city dwellers, workers, and visitors. Renowned chef and restaurateur Angus An’s second Fat Mao restaurant is staying true to the original family-owned street-stall inspiration and choose-your-own-noodle tradition behind the original Chinatown location. Located at 983 Helmcken Street, Fat Mao Noodles will be serving up the five flavours of Thai cooking—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and spicy—with its sought-after snacks and noodle soups starting Tuesday, September 6, 2022.
An has immersed himself in Thai cuisine for over a decade and now has six Thai-focused eateries under his belt. His ability to keep his restaurants fresh and interesting stems from his wanderlust, which includes regular visits to Thailand.
“Fat Mao is an ode to the small storefronts handed down through several family generations that specialize in making one single dish over and over,” explains An. “I want our guests to pull up a stool and enjoy a bowl of their favourite noodle soup with a good novel for years to come.”
While the small and focused downtown menu features many fan favourites from the original Fat Mao, it will also offer a handful of tempting dishes from ceviche to rotating flavours of shaved ice (you read that correctly—shaved ice!) that are exclusive to the new location. Debut highlights include braised brisket noodles served with Asian celery and fried garlic; Nam Ngaio—a Northern-style tender pork-rib noodle dish with pork-blood cake, red cotton tree flowers and fermented soybean; Albacore tuna ceviche with aromatic herb dressing and crispy taro; and Thai-tea shaved ice for a sweet finish, served with grass jelly and condensed milk with Thai iced-tea panna cotta.
The distinctive interior of this casual 25-seat noodle joint was designed by An himself with help of his millworker Denis Lafreiere and mirrors that of the first Chinatown spot. Guests will be welcomed by an open kitchen fitted solely with induction cooktops and helmed by Fat Mao’s head chef and kitchen manager Sai Woranut Pounpakonsolely. There’s an abundance of natural light in the open, airy room, thanks to plenty of street-front windows, and the modern aesthetic is punctuated with pine-wood carpentry and splashes of smoky blue. Eye-catching elements offer playful accents throughout the space, including a pearlescent ‘noodle’ light feature designed by Bocci and charming trinkets depicting the eatery’s lucky cat mascot. A custom contemporary painting by An’s longtime friend, artist George Vergette, is slated to be installed later this September.
Fat Mao Noodles is located in the Wall Centre at Burrard and Helmcken, with the Royal Thai Consulate-General offices as its neighbours, and is walking distance to St. Paul’s Hospital as well as numerous hotels, theatres, and music venues. A liquor license and cocktail list is in the works; in the meantime, the restaurant will serve as a great hub for solo dining, quick lunch meet-ups, and pre-game eats paired with a delicious mango, guava or lychee juice.
As summer fades into fall and the city slips into the comfort of routine, Fat Mao will be ready for cooler weather with its signature warm, welcoming service and steaming bowls of noodles. Open weekdays from 11:30am to 9:00pm starting Tuesday, September 6.
About Fat Mao Noodles Fat Mao—meaning “prosperous cat” in Cantonese—is a casual 25-seat open-kitchen eatery by Chef Angus An with a focus on Thai-style noodle soups plus southeast Asian sides and drinks. Flavourful made-from-scratch broths and locally sourced noodles are accompanied by smaller dishes of B.C. seafood, house-made tofu and seasonal vegetable salads. Chef Angus recommends customizing your noodles with your choice of spicy sauces, oils, and tangy vinegars to personalize your own fun, comforting, and interactive meal.
The original Fat Mao Noodles is located in Chinatown at 217 E. Georgia St., and open from 11:30am to 8:30pm seven days a week. Chef Angus’ newest Fat Mao Noodles is located Downtown Vancouver at 983 Helmcken St., and open from 11:30am to 9:00pm Monday through Friday.
Employment expert weighs in on why today’s workers are digging their heels in and refusing to get back to work
Chicago. When Apple CEO Tim Cook asked employees to spend at least 3 days in the office starting next month, it seemed like a reasonable request. But Apple employees banded swiftly created a petition protesting the mandate, saying the push to get back to the office doesn’t consider “the unique demands of each job role nor the diversity of individuals.”
Rob Wilson, employment trends expert and President of Employco USA, a national employment solutions with locations across the country, says that his clients have given him the same feedback.
“Employco’s clients are facing the same strain. Employees are really digging their heels in and trying to prolong remote work as long as possible,” says Wilson. “This is especially true with younger workers. Right now, Gen Z is completely changing the face of the modern workplace, and they aren’t going to go back to the old model without a fight.”
Wilson says that research shows that Gen Z workers are leading the trend against in-person employment.
“A recent Microsoft survey showed that over half of Gen-Z workers would consider moving jobs if it allowed them to work from home,” says Wilson. “In other words, employers that are going to have get really creative if they want young workers to show up.”
So what can employers do?
“You have to take a stand and create the culture that works best for your office. Giving in and placating the younger generation won’t necessarily get you what you want,” says Wilson. “Even though Apple tried to be as fair as possible in prolonging remote work and creating a hybrid environment, it still wasn’t good enough for Gen-Z and millennial workers. So employers have to decide whether they are going to go with the flow and accept the new trend of remote work or if they are going to ask job applicants to be willing to hustle and give their job 100%.”
Wilson says the next year will be crucial when it comes to defining how the workplace will look for the future generations.
“This is a cultural standoff between employers and employees, and between young workers and those who have been working for decades,” says Wilson. “This might offer the perfect time for older people to really outshine young workers and prove that experience trumps all. It could also be a good time for employers to trim the fat and get rid of workers who only want excessive benefits and remote opportunities.”
Ontario Family Lawyers Say Coronavirus Vaccine Dispute Involving 12-Year-Old Breaks New Legal Ground Judge found pre-teen was capable of deciding on her own to not get vaccinated
TORONTO, Ontario—Longtime family lawyer Russell Alexander said a recent Ontario case involving a preteen who did not want to get vaccinated against the coronavirus could portend more judicial skepticism on the issue.
The case involved divorced parents who have joint custody of their 12-year-old daughter. The father asked the court to order that the daughter be vaccinated against the coronavirus and receive any other upcoming vaccines in keeping with provincial health regulations.
But the mother declined, saying that while she did not object to the vaccine, the daughter did, even going as far as emailing the mother’s lawyer to flatly declare that she did not want to be vaccinated and that nothing would change her mind.
In a decision rejecting the father’s request,Superior Court Judge J. Christopher Corkery found that the 12-year-old was a “mature minor” who could decide on her own and said that the science around the vaccine is still changing.
“This case is notable because judges have typically backed vaccination by taking the best interest of the child into account,” said Alexander, founder of Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers, which has offices throughout Ontario. “In this new phase of the pandemic, it’s possible that judges may take more of a hands-off approach.”
Alexander said that disputes between divorced parents rose sharply during the pandemic on such issues as whether children should be going to school in-person, staying with parents at risk of exposure due to their jobs and getting vaccinated. He said that disputes also tend to rise just before school starts in the fall.
“Making decisions on how to raise children is already contentious when parents are divorced, and the pandemic just added another layer of strain,” added Alexander. “The court’s decision to recognize a preteen as having the ability to make decisions here will only make these cases more tricky to resolve in the future.”
***
RussellAlexander Collaborative Family Lawyers Russell Alexander Collaborative Family Lawyers is committed to practicing exclusively in the area of family law in Ontario dealing with all aspects, including separation and divorce, child custody and access, spousal support, child support, and division of family property. A team of lawyers provide guidance from start to finish, helping clients identify and understand the legal issues as well as the options and opportunities available through the transition. The firm has offices in Toronto, Concord, Markham, Whitby, Oshawa, Lindsay and Peterborough, Ontario.. For more information, visit: http://www.russellalexander.com
Our emotions and senses are deeply intertwined. Each of the five senses - sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell - feed important information about our environment back to our brain to make sense of the world around us.
Incorporating more of the senses into your self-care routine is an effective way to relax and ground yourself. Sensory self-care is a powerful tool and can really help to level up your well-being routine.
Self-care has become a popular tool for managing life's stresses and strains. The term refers to activities a person intentionally engages in with the goal of promoting physical and mental well-being.
In particular, focusing on the sense of sound to create auditory self-care experiences has many benefits, such as managing stress and anxiety, increasing feelings of calm, and promoting mindfulness.
With that being said, Katie Ogden, Audiologist and Training Manager of ReSound, provides expert insight into how we can promote well-being through sound to take your self-care routine to the next level.
Katie explains “Self-care varies from person to person but being mindful about our sense of sound can really help us to have more engagement in self-care activities.
“Our sense of sound is often overlooked when it comes to self-care techniques, but it is just as effective as others when trying to promote a positive mental state. Hearing helps with our equilibrium, which helps keeps us balanced and focused.”
Self-Care Through Music
Sounds stimulate the brain and are important because they connect us to the world and help to form memories. The brain preserves many forms of memory, including echoic memory. This refers to the sensory memory that stores information from sounds you hear.
Music is a big component in memory recall and is also often used in self-care practices as a way to relax. Research has found that it triggers a release of dopamine which instantly improves mood.
As music can trigger feelings of nostalgia, it is a common technique to aid comfort and reduce stress, as it helps to lower heart rate and cortisol levels and release endorphins which improve our sense of well-being.
Listening to music has the ability to not only entertain but also improve memory functioning and increase the rate of healing.
Katie states “Music is a great way to wind down and relieve stresses from everyday life. Slower tempo music helps to quiet your mind and relax your body, whereas faster and more upbeat music encourages feelings of optimism and concentration.”
Self-Care Through Nature Sounds
The average person spends 87% of their time indoors, but spending time outdoors or listening to nature sounds is a great way to disconnect from everyday life. Nature sounds are not only calming but have profound health and well-being benefits.
Running water, birds singing, rainfall, and trees rustling are all examples of natural sounds which can help soothe the mind and relax the body. Natural sounds and green environments have historically been linked to relaxation and well-being as a previous study found them to reduce blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones.
Katie suggests “Some easy ways to incorporate nature sounds into your self-care routine are keeping the window open when relaxing or studying, taking a walk through a park or forest, spending time by a stream, river or the sea, or listening to a nature sounds playlist whilst having a bath, doing your skincare or drifting off to sleep.”
How to Incorporate Sounds into a Self-Care Routine
White Noise Machines
White noise is a continuous sound which often has no pattern or rhythm. It can be used in self-care practices to help with feelings of anxiety or sleep deprivation. This is because it engulfs our total hearing range (20-20,000 hertz) which helps mask loud sounds that stimulate the brain, making it a useful distraction from unwanted environmental noises.
ASMR
Autonomous sensory meridian response (ASMR) has become a phenomenon in recent years on the likes of YouTube and TikTok. It has become very popular within the self-care world as it creates ‘brain tingles’ - a calming sensation which is experienced in response to certain audio or visual stimuli.
Listening to ASMR whilst studying, relaxing or going to sleep helps to encourage feelings of calm and relaxation. Popular sounds, or ‘triggers’, used in ASMR include tapping, crinkling, water sounds, hair brushing, whispering, scratching and typing.
WoodWick Candles
Candles made with a wood wick instead of a traditional cotton string create a soothing crackling sound while burning, similar to the sound of a fireplace with wood logs. They are a great way to introduce more natural sounds to your self-care routine and create a calming atmosphere.
Sleep stories
Storytelling has a wealth of benefits for adults just like it does children. Reading before bed has long been recognised as a way to wind down and settle the mind at the end of the day. In recent years, audible sleep stories have grown in popularity as they provide a soothing experience which offer the same story time feel with a more meditative spin.
Positive affirmations
Saying positive affirmations out loud is great for your self-care routine. Affirmations are encouraging statements that help to restore a more positive state of mind. Try to repeat affirmations to yourself throughout the day such as when you’re getting ready for work, before going to sleep or first thing in the morning.
Some example affirmations are: “My hard work will pay off”,”I am confident”, “I will find the good in all things”, “I love myself” and “I am safe”.
LoFi music
LoFi music is quickly becoming one of the most popular styles of music as it creates the perfect ambience and is a great way to focus and relieve stress. LoFi music typically has no vocals and takes inspiration from jazz, hip-hop and electronic music.
Katie adds “Protecting your hearing is important as many people will find their ability to hear certain sounds begin to decline around the age of 50. But other causes of hearing loss can affect people much earlier in life.
“Some signs you may be experiencing hearing loss include asking people to repeat themselves, people sound like they’re mumbling or whispering, having difficulty with phone conversations, the TV or radio is on the top volume or avoiding noisy places as they’ve become difficult to handle.
“When it comes to dealing with a hearing impairment, there are many treatment options available. It’s important not to feel alone or isolated if you feel you are affected by hearing loss.”
It’s important to keep a check on your hearing. If you feel like you or a loved one may be experiencing hearing loss, the ReSound online hearing test provides a quick and easy way to find out how well you’re hearing. It’s also advised you seek further advice from a hearing care professional.
‘Drug factory’ implants eliminate mesothelioma tumors in mice Rice, Baylor study highlights potential treatment for aggressive lung cancer
HOUSTON – (Aug. 22, 2022) – Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine researchers have shown they can eradicate advanced-stage mesothelioma tumors in mice in just a few days with a treatment combining Rice’s cytokine “drug factory” implants and a checkpoint inhibitor drug.
The researchers administered the drug-producing beads, which are no larger than the head of a pin, next to tumors where they could produce continuous, high doses of interleukin-2 (IL-2), a natural compound that activates white blood cells to fight cancer.
The study, published online today in Clinical Cancer Research, is the latest in a string of successes for the drug-factory technology invented in the lab of Rice bioengineer Omid Veiseh, including Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to begin clinical trials of the technology this fall in ovarian cancer patients.
“From the beginning, our objective was to develop a platform therapy that can be used for multiple different types of immune system disorders or different types of cancers,” said Rice graduate student Amanda Nash, who spent several years developing the implant technology with study co-lead author Samira Aghlara-Fotovat, a fellow student in Veiseh’s lab.
The cytokine factories consist of alginate beads loaded with tens of thousands of cells that are genetically engineered to produce natural IL-2, one of two cytokines the FDA has approved for treatment of cancer. The factories are just 1.5 millimeters wide and can be implanted with minimally invasive surgery to deliver high doses of IL-2 directly to tumors. In the mesothelioma study, the beads were placed beside tumors and inside the thin layer of tissue known as the pleura, which covers the lungs and lines the interior wall of the chest.
“I take care of patients who have malignant pleural mesothelioma,” said Dr. Bryan Burt, professor and chief of Baylor’s Division of Thoracic Surgery in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery. “This is a very aggressive malignancy of the lining of the lungs. And it’s very hard to treat completely by surgical resection. In other words, there is often residual disease that is left behind. The treatment of this residual disease with local immunotherapy — the local delivery of relatively high doses of immunotherapy to that pleural space — is a very attractive way to treat this disease.”
Veiseh said the mesothelioma study began when Burt and Baylor surgeon and associate professor Dr. Ravi Ghanta heard about the early results of ovarian cancer animal tests Veiseh’s team was conducting with collaborators at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. In March, Veiseh and MD Anderson collaborators published a study showing IL-2-producing beads could eradicate advanced-stage ovarian and colorectal tumors in mice in less than a week.
“They were really impressed by the preclinical data we had in ovarian cancer,” Veiseh said of Burt and Ghanta. “And they asked the question, ‘Could we actually leverage the same system for mesothelioma?’”
Mesothelioma refers to any cancer that occurs in the tissue linings that surround and protect internal organs. About 80% of mesothelioma cases are linked to prolonged exposure to asbestos.
Immunotherapy with drugs called checkpoint inhibitors has met with some success in treating mesothelioma. Checkpoint inhibitors don’t kill cancer directly but rather by training the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells.
In the mesothelioma study, the Rice-Baylor team tested Veiseh’s drug factory implants both by themselves and in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor that targeted the PD-1 protein. They found the drug factory implants eliminated tumors in more than 50% of the treated animals when used by themselves. Tumors were destroyed completely in all seven mice that were treated with both the drug factory implants and PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor.
“It’s very hard to treat mesothelioma tumors in mice, like it is in human beings,” said Burt, who also is a member of the Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor. “And what our data show is that delivery of these immunotherapy particles, regionally, to these mice who have mesothelioma, has very provocative and very effective treatment responses. In fact, I've not seen these mesothelioma tumors in mice be eradicated, with such efficacy, as we have in this mouse model.”
Veiseh said the results also suggested that the combination of IL-2-producing implants and anti-PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors could be effective at training “memory T cells” that can reactivate the immune system to fight mesothelioma if it recurs.
“We have a spinout company, Avenge Bio, that recently received clearance from the FDA to treat ovarian cancer patients, and in the next couple of months they expect to begin treating patients with these IL-2 cytokine factories,” Veiseh said.
“The preclinical data reported in our latest manuscript helped justify initiating a second clinical trial for patients suffering from mesothelioma and other lung cancers with pleural metastasis,” Veiseh said. “We have held meetings with the FDA and expect to initiate a second trial for this patient population in the latter half of 2023.”
In addition to the cancer research, Veiseh and Ghanta have received a grant from the American Heart Association to study the cytokine implants’ potential for healing heart injuries caused by heart attacks.
The research was funded by the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (RR160047), the National Science Foundation (1842494) and the National Institutes of Health (R01DK120459-01).
-30-
Peer-reviewed paper:
“Activation of adaptive and innate immune cells via localized Interleukin-2 cytokine factories eradicates mesothelioma tumors” | Clinical Cancer Research | DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-22-1493
Amanda M. Nash, Samira Aghlara-Fotovat, Bertha Castillo, Andrea Hernandez, Aarthi Pugazenthi, Hyun-Sung Lee, Hee-Jin Jang, Annie Nguyen, Alexander Lu, Bryan M. Burt, Ravi K. Ghanta and Omid Veiseh
https://youtu.be/92wQ-ejKAmY DESCRIPTION: Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine researchers have shown they can eradicate advanced-stage mesothelioma tumors in mice in just a few days with a treatment combining Rice’s cytokine “drug factory” implants and a checkpoint inhibitor drug. The researchers administered the drug-producing beads, which are no larger than the head of a pin, next to tumors where they could produce continuous, high doses of interleukin-2 (IL-2), a natural compound that activates white blood cells to fight cancer. In a study published in Clinical Cancer Research, the Rice-Baylor team found tumors were destroyed completely in all seven mice that were treated with both the drug factory implants and a PD-1 checkpoint inhibitor.
High-resolution IMAGES are available for download at:
https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2022/08/0822-MESO-vDFpn-lg.jpg CAPTION: Tiny alginate bead implants invented in the laboratory of Rice University bioengineer Omid Veiseh can be loaded with cells that produce cytokine, proteins that play a major role in immune response. A new study found a treatment combining the implants and checkpoint inhibitor drugs eradicated advanced mesothelioma tumors in all seven mice in which it was tested. (Photo by Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)
Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.
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 4,240 undergraduates and 3,972 graduate students, Rice’s undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 1 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
Back-to-school prep: The Canadian Ophthalmological Society urges parents to monitor children's vision to start the school year off right
Highlighting the importance of good eye health for the classroom return this Children's Eye Health and Safety Month
TORONTO, Aug. 23, 2022 /CNW/ - August marks Children's Eye Health and Safety Month and as children prepare for a return to the classroom, the Canadian Ophthalmological Society is reminding parents that vision plays an important role in their child(ren)'s learning and academic success. Maintaining good eye health should be a priority for back to school, especially with the increasing evidence that prolonged screen time increases the risk of myopia (nearsightedness) in children. According to a recent survey by the Canadian Ophthalmological Society, 45 per cent of Canadians believe that too much screen time can cause myopia (nearsightedness) in children and adults.
"The start of the school year is always a good time to remember to monitor your child's eyes and determine if they have had any changes to their vision," says Dr. Phil Hooper, President of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. "A comprehensive evaluation early in the school year is important to detect changes and rectify them before they can have an impact on learning."
The survey revealed that 83 per cent of respondents believe that prolonged screen time is harmful to their child(ren)'s eye health. Since the pandemic began, parents report that their children are spending about 4.4 hours in front of a screen on average, which is 1.2 hours more than they did prior to the pandemic. Three-in-five parents whose child(ren)'s COVID screen time is greater than pre-COVID feel that this increased screen time has negatively impacted their child(ren)'s eye health.
In addition to screen time, there are other factors that can damage vision, such as the lack of protective eyewear during sports and/or hobbies. The survey revealed that when it comes to eye protection during outdoor sports, only 20 per cent of respondents say their child(ren) wears protective eyewear regularly and only 22 per cent wear them regularly during hobbies (such as crafting or woodworking).
In addition to assessing your child's vision, an eye exam can give eye doctors more insight into what's going on with the rest of the body. For instance, once Amanda Gavin noticed changes in her son's (Michael) vision, she booked an eye exam with Dr. Ken Roberts, a member of the Canadian Ophthalmological Society. Through the exam, Dr. Roberts noticed that Michael's optic nerves were swollen and suggested that Michael get an MRI. This led to the discovery of a brain tumour, saving Michael's life through early diagnosis, and highlights the importance of getting extensive eye exams.
To determine whether your child is experiencing changes to their vision, some of the common signs to look out for include:
Frequent rubbing of the eyes
Squinting, tilting, or turning the head to look at objects
"Wandering" eyes or eyes looking in different directions
Increased headaches and/or fatigue
It's also good to know where your child is sitting in a new classroom to determine if they may have issues with seeing
To learn more about eye health and watch Michael's full story, visit seethepossibilities.ca.
ABOUT THE SURVEY
An online survey of 2003 Canadians aged 18+ was completed between June 10 and June 21, 2022, using Leger's online panel. No margin of error can be associated with a non-probability sample (i.e. a web panel in this case). For comparative purposes, though, a probability sample of 2003 respondents would have a margin of error of ±2.2%, 19 times out of 20. Leger's online panel has approximately 400,000 members nationally and has a retention rate of 90%.
About Canadian Ophthalmological Society
The Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS) is the national, recognized authority on eye and vision care in Canada. As eye physicians and surgeons, we are committed to assuring the provision of optimal medical and surgical eye care for all Canadians by promoting excellence in ophthalmology and by providing services to support our members in practice. Our membership includes over 900 ophthalmologists and 200 ophthalmology residents. We work collaboratively with government, other national and international specialty societies, our academic communities (ACUPO), our provincial partners and affiliates and other eye care professionals and patient groups to advocate for health policy in Canada in the area of eye and vision health. The COS is an accredited, award-winning provider of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) through the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) and is an affiliate of the Canadian Medical Association (CMA). For more information, visit cos-sco.ca.
SOURCE Canadian Ophthalmological Society
Sage extends partnership with Canada Games Council through to PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games
Sage is celebrating a decade of being a proud Canada Games Multi-Games National Partner
TORONTO, Aug. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sage, the leader in accounting, financial, HR and payroll technology for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), today announced an extended partnership with the Canada Games Council, expanding its support to include the PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games. The PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games, to be hosted in Prince Edward Island from February 18 – March 5, 2023, will mark a decade of Sage showing its Canadian pride by championing the ambitions of Canada’s top amateur athletes.
With the extended partnership, Sage will continue supplying the software, training and expertise to the Canada Games Council and Host Societies, to ensure their finances run smoothly, with real-time reporting to remove complexity and deliver insights for the Games.
“Sage is committed to breaking down barriers and helping businesses flow so they can succeed,” said Mark Hickman, Managing Director, Sage Canada. “As a global company who supports the desire to win for Canadian small and mid-sized businesses, we are proud of our continued partnership with the Canada Games Council. Our organizations are strongly aligned on the common values of leadership, human connection, entrepreneurship and athleticism, and the importance of being resilient, bold and disciplined in these endeavours. For the PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games and beyond, Sage is excited to cheer on Canada’s athletes with supporters across the country and witnessing the very best in Canadian sportsmanship and team spirit.”
“As a non-profit organization, the Canada Games Council has a bold vision to unite all of Canada through the power of sport and have an enduring legacy on communities from coast-to-coast,” said Kelly-Ann Paul, President and CEO, Canada Games Council. “Sage is a trusted and valued Multi-Games National Partner of the Canada Games, so we are excited to extend our partnership and lean on Sage Intacct to deliver real-time financial insights for the PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games,” she concluded.
At this year’s Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, which took place August 6 – 21, 2022, Sage was honoured to present the “Team Behind the Team” volunteer awards program. A Sage tradition since the 2015 Winter Games, the “Team Behind the Team” program recognizes outstanding Canada Games volunteers who support the sport teams by overseeing many of the logistics the teams require to compete to the best of their ability.
“Sage is proud of the relentless dedication and team spirit of volunteers, who spend countless hours working behind the scenes to ensure the various Canada Games competitions occur without a hitch,” commented Hickman. “As we extend our congratulations to the thousands of athletes, coaches and supporters who participated in the Niagara 2022 Canada Summer Games, we look forward to celebrating a successful PEI 2023 Canada Winter Games,” he concluded.
TRAIN IT RIGHT NEWSLETTER
Sign Up and get a free 7 day Train it Right HIIT Program!
