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).
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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.
TELUS Health MyPet offers virtual care visits with qualified veterinarians
Studies show approximately 75 per cent of pet health concerns can be treated virtually without a clinic visit, according to a 2021 Ontario Veterinary Medical Association survey
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Aug. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, TELUS Health launched TELUS Health MyPet, a new virtual veterinary care service app, bringing dog and cat owners in British Columbia peace of mind knowing a provincially-licensed vet is available virtually. TELUS Health MyPet vets provide care for anything from nutritional management and parasite control to behavioural challenges, and can prescribe certain medications.
Developed on the heels of the fastest growing, highest customer rated virtual care service TELUS Health MyCare, TELUS Health MyPet is designed with the support of veterinarians to reduce the number of non-urgent visits to emergency clinics, and to ensure pet owners who live in remote areas, or whose pets don’t travel well in vehicles, still have access to care.
“We believe that patient-centric, high-quality virtual care should be available to all members of our family, including our beloved dogs and cats,” said Juggy Sihota, Vice-president, Consumer Health, TELUS Health. “The launch of TELUS Health MyPet is a significant milestone in our journey to leverage our world-leading technology to not only empower Canadians to take an active role in their own health and that of their loved ones, but also to support veterinarians with the ever growing demand for pet care.”
According to a 2021 Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) survey of pet owners, nearly 75 per cent of telemedicine appointments can be treated solely through virtual care, without a trip to the clinic. While it doesn't replace in-person physical exams, vaccinations or tests, TELUS Health MyPet can support pet owners in British Columbia with preventative healthcare and non-urgent medical interventions. The app is free to download for iOS and Android smartphones. Each consultation with a veterinarian costs $95, and for a limited time, consultations are 20 per cent off at $76. TELUS Health MyPet will expand to other provinces in the coming months.
“A service like TELUS Health MyPet is a fantastic tool for pet parents to avoid long wait times at some vet clinics, and to avoid some of the extra expenses and stresses associated with in-person care for non-emergency situations. TELUS Health MyPet consultation notes can be accessed within the app and medical records can be shared with regular family veterinarians to ensure seamless continuity of care,” said Dr. Ko Arman, Lead Veterinarian, TELUS Health MyPet.
As part of this launch, Trupanion, the leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs in Canada, is offering TELUS Health MyPet subscribers waived enrollment fees when they subscribe to a Trupanion policy which offers pet parents the broadest medical insurance coverage with unlimited payouts for the life of their four-legged family members.
About Trupanion Trupanion is the leader in medical insurance for cats and dogs in Canada with over 740,000 pets enrolled throughout Canada, the United States and Australia. The company was founded in Canada in 2000, and for over two decades Trupanion has given pet parents peace of mind so they can focus on their pet's recovery, not financial stress. Trupanion is committed to providing pet parents with the highest value in pet medical insurance with unlimited payouts for the life of their pets. Trupanion is the only provider with the technology to pay veterinarians directly in seconds at the time of checkout. Headquartered in Seattle, WA., Trupanion is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol "TRUP". Trupanion policies are issued in Canada by Omega General Insurance Company and distributed by its wholly-owned subsidiary Canada Pet Health Insurance Services, Inc., and, in the United States, by its wholly-owned insurance entity American Pet Insurance Company. Trupanion Australia is a partnership between Trupanion and Hollard Insurance Company. For more information, please visit trupanion.com/canada.
About TELUS HealthTELUS Health is a leader in digital health technology, providing virtual care, home health monitoring, electronic medical and health records, benefits and pharmacy management, and personal emergency response services. By leveraging the power of technology to deliver connected solutions and services, TELUS Health is improving access to care and revolutionizing the flow of information while facilitating collaboration, efficiency, and productivity for physicians, pharmacists, health authorities, allied healthcare professionals, insurers, employers, and citizens, to progress its vision of transforming healthcare and empowering people to live healthier lives.
Through TELUS Health Care Centres, teams of renowned and passionate healthcare professionals deliver best-in-class patient-centric care to thousands of Canadian employers, professionals, and families in more than 15 medical clinics located across the country.
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Aug. 23, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BioSyent Inc. (“BioSyent”, “the Company”, TSX Venture: RX) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors (the “Board”) today adopted a Dividend Policy in order to establish terms of reference for the Board in its decision-making around the declaration of any dividends to be issued to shareholders of the Company.
“The adoption of a Dividend Policy by the Board is an important step in our evolution as a Company and a formal recognition of the confidence we have in our business with Q2 2022 marking BioSyent’s 12thconsecutive year of profitability” commented Mr. René Goehrum, Chairman of the Board of Directors of BioSyent. “Over those 12 years, we have grown our sales by more than 25 times, invested in and launched new products and continued to generate positive cash flows. As a result, our balance sheet today has never been stronger, even as we have deployed more than $13.5 million since December 2018 under our share buyback program, cancelling more than two million common shares to the benefit of all remaining shareholders. We remain focused on our primary strategic objective of revenue growth, and we will continue to invest in expanding our product portfolio while returning capital to shareholders. We anticipate initiating an inaugural dividend by the end of 2022.”
About BioSyent Inc.
Listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the trading symbol “RX”, BioSyent is a profitable growth-oriented specialty pharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing or acquiring innovative pharmaceutical and other healthcare products that have been successfully developed, are safe and effective, and have a proven track record of improving the lives of patients. BioSyent supports the healthcare professionals that treat these patients by marketing its products through its community, specialty and international business units.
As of the date of this press release, the Company has 12,213,111 common shares outstanding.
For a direct market quote for the TSX Venture Exchange and other Company financial information please visit www.tmxmoney.com.
For further information please contact: Mr. René C. Goehrum President and CEO BioSyent Inc. E-Mail: investors@biosyent.com Phone: 905-206-0013 Web: www.biosyent.com
This press release may contain information or statements that are forward-looking. The contents herein represent our judgment, as at the release date, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or outcomes to be materially different from the forward-looking information or statements. Potential risks may include, but are not limited to, those associated with clinical trials, product development, future revenue, operations, profitability and obtaining regulatory approvals.
Canadian fitness survey tells tales of struggles, boredom, results and plateaus
86 per cent of Canadians regularly participate in walking – overshadowing all other fitness and sports routines
Survey shows walking is the exercise of choice for Canadians. Photo Credit: Power WearHouse™
TORONTO, Aug. 24, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadians overwhelmingly favour walking as their preferred form of exercise, beating out all other types by a large margin. This is according to a new survey by Power WearHouse, a Canadian designer of weighted fitness wearables.
The Exercise Habits of Canadians, an Angus Reid study of 1508 people, puts a lens on how (and how often) people engage in physical activity, where people are stuck, or where they seek to add something new to their routines. Overall, nine-in-10 Canadians are active, including 56 per cent that conduct their routines three-days per week or more.
When asked what forms of exercise they regularly participate in, a whopping 86 per cent of Canadians favour walking as their preferred form of exercise; followed by weight or fitness training, hiking, cycling, yoga, running and dancing.
Table: The favourite forms of exercise for Canadians
Favourite forms of exercise
Total
Male
Female
18-34
35-54
55+
Walking
86%
85%
87%
87%
84%
87%
Weight or fitness training
29%
31%
27%
41%
29%
19%
Hiking
27%
29%
25%
33%
29%
19%
Cycling
23%
25%
20%
28%
20%
21%
Yoga
15%
7%
23%
20%
17%
10%
Running
10%
13%
8%
22%
11%
2%
Dancing
7%
2%
12%
10%
8%
3%
“We conducted this survey to get a benchmark on Canadian fitness and wellness behaviours, likes and dislikes,” said Shelagh Stoneham, founder of Power WearHouse. “Not only can we see that Canadians are motivated to exercise, but the results highlight their frustrations and where there is room for improvement.”
The study shows there are several challenges for Canadians. A stunning 43 per cent of Canadians still feel gross using shared equipment. Additionally, more-than-half (53%) struggle fitting their walking and/or fitness routines into their schedule, 41 per cent are bored with their current routine and 46 per cent are sick and tired of trying to lose their “COVID pounds.”
Table: Struggles, boredom, results and plateaus
Canadian exercise sentiments
Total
Male
Female
18-34
35-54
55+
I am feeling bored with my current walking and/or fitness routine
41%
40%
42%
44%
43%
35%
I struggle fitting my walking and/or fitness routine into my schedule
53%
53%
54%
65%
59%
39%
I feel like I have hit a plateau with my walking and/or fitness routine (not getting the same benefit I used to)
44%
40%
47%
46%
43%
43%
I feel gross using shared equipment in a gym and/or studio
43%
37%
49%
44%
42%
45%
I’m sick and tired of trying to lose my “COVID pounds”
46%
38%
54%
48%
49%
43%
I feel satisfied with my current walking and/or fitness routine
57%
60%
54%
56%
53%
63%
I am continuing to see results from my current walking and/or fitness routine
57%
60%
54%
56%
53%
63%
I exercise regularly to maintain my health
62%
61%
63%
61%
58%
67%
I’ve used online workouts, fitness apps and home gym routines since COVID
41%
33%
48%
54%
44%
27%
I feel that my fitness regimen has improved since COVID
32%
32%
32%
38%
32%
27%
“What this survey shows, is that despite great intentions and good follow through, people are not getting the results they seek,“ said Stoneham. “While many Canadians are active, their bodies are plateauing (often mentally and physically) and adjusting to the law of diminishing returns. People don't always know how to change, or don’t want to change, their training style once they have an exercise habit in place.”
Adding weighted wearables (vests, belts, ankle weights) to a regular exercise or training routine carry several benefits including increased cardio benefit, extra muscle toning and conditioning and extra calorie and fat burn. These small additions can make a huge difference, combatting against the exercise plateau, boredom, and other workout struggles.
About the Exercise Habits of Canadians survey by Power WearHouse From August 10 to August 12, 2022, an online survey was conducted among a representative sample of 1,508 Canadians who are members of the Angus Reid Forum. For comparison purposes, the sample plan would carry a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points, 19 times out of 20. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.
About Power WearHouse Power Wearhouse is a health and wellness brand that specializes in weighted wearables that are both fashionable and functional. Founded in 2021 by Shelagh Stoneham, the best-in-class line of wearables is engineered to maximize the benefit from any exercise routine and is designed for maximum comfort. Using innovative cooling technology, the Power Weighted Fitness Vest and Power Weighted Fitness Belt can keep users cool for an hour by freezing the zinc-coated cast iron weights prior to their workout. Power WearHouse products are available for purchase at health and fitness retailers across North America and online at www.powerwearhouse.com.
AtomVie Global Radiopharma Inc. Announces its Spinout and Series A Financing with Avego
HAMILTON ON, Aug. 24, 2022 /CNW/ - AtomVie Global Radiopharma Inc. ("AtomVie") today announced the successful closing of its Series A financing with Avego Management, LLC ("Avego"), a healthcare investment firm. AtomVie is a global leading CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) for the development, manufacturing, and global distribution of radiopharmaceuticals and has received a financing commitment of at least $40 million.
AtomVie is a spinout from the CPDC (Centre for Probe Development and Commercialization), and within CPDC, the CMO business unit, now AtomVie, served as the GMP manufacturer and supplier of finished-dose therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals for the past seven years. AtomVie will be expanding its current clinical GMP manufacturing capacity of radiopharmaceutical products to include commercial stage production through the construction of a new purpose-built state of the art facility designed to accommodate multiple isotopes. Moreover, AtomVie complements its manufacturing and logistics expertise with a high-standard quality management system and global regulatory support.
"We worked relentlessly over the past few years in preparation of this moment," said Bruno Paquin, CEO of AtomVie. "All the employees at AtomVie are extremely grateful to Avego for their support and their confidence. We are excited to launch AtomVie, continuing the culture of excellence that the CPDC has created and working with Avego for the long-term success of AtomVie."
"Avego is thrilled to partner with AtomVie to support the continued growth of one of the leading radiopharmaceutical CDMOs," said Thomas Vandervort, Managing Partner of Avego. "The AtomVie team and their collective radiopharmaceutical expertise are second to none, and our partnership will advance the development of radiopharmaceuticals and improve patient outcomes."
AtomVie has strengthened its operational management with the recent appointment of Dodi Adar, Chief Operating Officer and the promotion of Rezwan Ashique, VP Operations. Ms. Adar brings 17 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry with expertise in fostering growth and streamlining operational processes. Mr. Ashique was an instrumental part of CPDC's success for over eight years with more than 20 years of extensive expertise in radiochemistry, development, and GMP manufacturing of ready-to-use radiopharmaceuticals.
With its world-class employees and its in-depth experience in the radiopharmaceutical industry, AtomVie empowers the development of next-generation radiotherapeutics worldwide.
About AtomVie Global Radiopharma Inc. ("AtomVie"):
AtomVie, incorporated in late 2021, is a global leading CDMO for the GMP manufacturing and distribution of clinical and commercial radiopharmaceuticals and figures as the most recent spinout from the CPDC. Founded in 2008, the CPDC is a CECR (Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research) located at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The CPDC was created with the long-time support from the NCE (Networks of Centres of Excellence), McMaster University and the OICR (Ontario Institute for Cancer Research). The expertise developed at the CPDC and its position as a global leading CDMO is the stepping stone for AtomVie spinout. For more information about AtomVie, visit www.atomvie.comor contact: info@atomvie.com. To learn more about CPDC, visit www.imagingprobes.ca or contact: info@imagingprobes.ca.
About Avego Management, LLC ("Avego"):
Avego, founded in 2015 by former healthcare entrepreneurs, is a multi-strategy healthcare-focused investment firm with offices in Georgia and New York. Through its three strategies, which include private equity, venture capital, and a hedge fund, Avego invests in private and public companies developing and commercializing innovative products and services for patients, practitioners, and other stakeholders across the healthcare continuum. To learn more about Avego, visit www.avego.com or contact: contact@avego.com.
SOURCE AtomVie Global Radiopharma Inc.
Families enduring most explosive inflation in 40 years search for affordable health care
Health Care Sharing Ministries provide community and support, said Katy Talento of the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries
WASHINGTON D.C. — Almost 100 million Americans suffering from the current explosive inflationare skipping visits to the doctor and health care treatments because they can’t afford the medical bills. According to a new Gallup poll, “Rising healthcare costs have compelled nearly four in 10 Americans in the past six months to delay or skip healthcare treatments, trim regular household expenses or borrow money.” The poll also shows that Americans don’t want their health care threatened by the whim of politicians. The poll demonstrates significant distrust in Congress to lower the cost of health care in the coming year. The majority of Americans of all political persuasions (Democrats: 53%, Independents: 67%, and Republicans: 56%) report having no confidence that there will be help from Capitol Hill.
“Given the bipartisan commitment to inflation-inducing spending sprees, it’s understandable that Americans are no longer looking for help from Washington, D.C.,” said Katy Talento, executive director of the Alliance of Health Care Sharing Ministries (The Alliance, ahcsm.org). “Families don’t have to feel trapped when it comes to cost inflation in health care! They can take greater control of their health care costs with a Health Care Sharing Ministry. Since Health Care Sharing Ministries provide significant assistance to members in identifying the lowest-cost sites of care and some ministries encourage members to seek the deeply discounted cash prices for services, a Health Care Sharing Ministry could be the very best option for those who feel like inflation is threatening their family budgets and limiting their health care options.”
Health Care Sharing Ministries do more than reduce a family’s medical costs — they serve Christians throughout the United States and many foreign countries by enabling them to share health care costs. Ministry members support each other as the early Christians in the Book of Acts joined together to meet each other’s needs. These faith-based ministries provide financial, emotional, and spiritual support to members.
As for the recent assertion that the economy saw ‘zero’ inflation, the Gallup poll found a correlation between cutting costs for basic life needs and reducing spending on medical care and medicine. For instance, out of families who skipped meals, 71% also cut back on health care. When it comes to reducing the family spending on utilities, which could become its own medical problem itself this winter, 59% also cut back on care and medicine.
“Health Care Sharing Ministries are more important now than ever in this time of raging, budget-busting inflation. These ministries have worked hard for decades to educate and raise awareness about their unique solution for high health care costs,” said Talento. “As the health care landscape changes rapidly with continued pressure on family budgets, we urge everyone to consider a Health Care Sharing Ministry.”
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.
New Report Reimagines a Better Built-Environment for Long-Term Care
Ontario Association of Architects and Jacobs Canada Support Much-Needed Research from UofT
TORONTO, Aug. 24, 2022 /CNW/ - The University of Toronto (UofT) Centre for Design + Health Innovation has released a new, comprehensive study, "Reimagining Long-Term Care Architecture in Post-Pandemic Ontario—and Beyond." The report, supported by the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) and consulting firm Jacobs Canada, explores how the built environment can better support long-term care (LTC) communities.
The COVID-19 pandemic had disproportionate impacts within Ontario's LTC sector, exposing many structural vulnerabilities within these congregate facilities. Unless steps are taken to update standards and modernize design guidelines to better align to current and emerging clinical approaches, such vulnerabilities will remain largely unresolved—even in newly built LTC homes.
The study's author, Dr. Stephen Verderber of UofT's John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, emphasizes the urgency for re-examining Ontario's approach to refurbishing existing homes and building new ones.
"We applaud the Government's commitment to adding desperately needed capacity into the LTC sector, however, success cannot be measured solely by the number of additional beds being provided," he says.
The scale of financial commitment announced by the provincial government has the potential to bring about the paradigm shift in the quality of care for which residents and their families have long advocated. However, this rush to build new facilities will be a missed opportunity if the government neglects to first update standards and design guidelines to support enhanced infection control. Best practices must align with modern clinical approaches to dealing with LTC residents, particularly those living with physical or cognitive impairments.
In the case of residents with cognitive impairments, traditional approaches have used the built environment as a means of keeping residents' movements carefully controlled. However, the effort to solve one critical problem (resident safety) has unintentionally created new issues—increased isolation and reduced mobility.
"The built environment must be considered as important a parameter of care as any other medical intervention," says Dr. Diana Anderson, an Architect and Geriatrician with Jacobs Canada. "I hope the Government of Ontario takes this opportunity to move beyond bricks-and-mortar solutions to considering data-driven design ideas, such as those identified in the UofT study, to inform health-based solutions."
The report identifies a number of exemplary case studies that model design excellence in long-term care residences. It also suggests 50 design considerations for use by design professionals, healthcare providers, governments, and other decision-makers working in this sector.
"This research could not have come at a better time," says Susan Speigel, president of the OAA, which regulates the province's architecture profession to protect the public interest. "We've known for a long time there were issues of concern within Ontario's LTC sector, but this is one of the first times we've been able to take such a comprehensive look at the situation and begin identifying practical, evidence-based solutions and next steps that the architecture profession can bring into its practices."
The devastating impact of COVID-19 on Ontario's LTC sector is heartbreaking, but also a call to action.
"The vulnerabilities within Ontario's LTC homes that led to the rapid spread of COVID-19 developed over several decades; no single government or political party has sole-ownership of this failure," says Dr. Verderber. "However, the current government does have the financial tools, and the support of LTC residents, caregivers, their families, and Ontarians, to finally take decisive action to begin fixing this urgent problem."
