Did You Know That These Face Washing Mistakes Can Age You?

www.drmanishshah.com

Skincare is a unique process for everyone. Beauty routines range from the systematically meticulous to borderline nonexistent. But the truth of the matter is that no matter where you lie in the skincare spectrum, you could be making mistakes that cause your skin to age simply by washing your face incorrectly.  We spoke to Dr. Manish Shah, who is a board-certified plastic surgeon and anti-aging expert in Denver, Colorado. He counsels patients on cosmetic procedures, maintaining results, optimizing their skincare, and preventative measures.  "While skin treatments, injectables, and surgery can help maintain the visual appearance, your basic skincare goes a long way toward preventing premature aging. 

You Are Washing Your Face Incorrectly If You Do The Following: 

Using too much toner

Facial toners are an essential part of any beauty routine. However, using too much toner can dry out the skin and may even lead to more sebum production as your glands attempt to overcompensate. If you find your skin feeling tight or irritated after applying toner, you may be using too much, and this is especially true if you have sensitive or combination skin. Some toners come in a spray bottle, which is great for applying a light layer over the skin after cleansing. If not, simply pour a few drops of toner on a cotton pad and gently glide it across the face.

Also, many toners have alcohol-based ingredients, such as denatured alcohol, in them. Avoid toners with these ingredients at all costs -- as they will dry the skin completely and remove natural oils needed to keep the skin moist and healthy.

Products that are too harsh

As consumers become more sophisticated, they inquire about ingredients such as retinol. They know it is super hydrating and great for the skin, but they don't understand that skincare needs to be sustainable, so they ask for the strongest, most active form of prescription retinoid. "This is a mistake," says Dr. Shah, "any credible doctor will first assess the condition of your skin alongside the products and treatments you are already using in order to determine if you need prescription retinol or if a less active form sold over-the-counter is better for you." 

Dr. Shah explains that "retinol in less active forms will have similar effects without irritating the skin as much, which will be helpful to you as you continue using a product on your skin over time."

Scrubbing too hard

Instead of rubbing and scrubbing your face to try to get it squeaky clean, your motions with your cleanser should be as gentle as possible. Your hands should not be doing all the work! Scrubbing the skin too harshly or with materials that add exfoliation can cause micro-tears in the skin as well as excessive elimination of essential oils which leave the skin dry. 

Over exfoliating

While gently exfoliating a few nights a week can do wonders for the skin, it's easy to go overboard. What keeps your skin looking fresh, young, and hydrated is preserving the outer layers glow by lightly helping it shed old skin cells and moisturizing to help cell turnover. However, "the danger is that many people don't think to consider their loofah or washcloth as an exfoliation tool.  Even if you are only using an exfoliant a few days a week if you are scrubbing with a harsher material every day, you could be exfoliating more than you intend and that can cause dryness, red patches, dehydration, and hyperpigmentation," warns Dr. Shah.

Washing with hot water

Though it might feel good, using hot water to cleanse your face can actually dehydrate it. Hot water can be abrasive, stripping the skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry and flaky. This can also lead to acne flare, breakouts, and skin irritation. For best results, rinse your face with lukewarm or cool water - not cold either - to help constrict blood vessels. Dr. Shah also points out that "hot water  enlarges your pores, and this can affect the oil production of the skin as well as the texture of it."

Washing more than twice a day

You may be thinking, the cleaner, the better, right? Think again. Over-washing your face can actually damage the skin's natural protective system, which then can affect how easily the environment irritates your skin, how efficiently you retain moisture, and—over time—cause you to show early signs of aging such as fine lines and dry patches. "As a general rule of thumb, you should not be washing your face more than twice a day. If you have an activity like working out or an outdoor sport in the middle of the day, try to use a bland soap or cleanser to wash away dirt and sweat without further irritating the skin," advises Dr. Shah. 

Forgetting to follow up with a moisturizer

"The best time to apply moisturizer is after the shower or after applying toner. This will help prevent excessive dryness, and it will help to skin retain moisture," says Dr. Shah. Moisturizers also come with a combination of vitamins and lipids that help the skin heal irritations, strengthen its protective functions, and look smoother and healthier. 

Washing with whatever soap is available.

Many people are guilty of this one. People may think that soap is soap and a clean face is just a clean face, but you could be damaging your skin and aging yourself by washing the face with any available hand soap. Soaps with fragrances can be especially irritating to the skin. Overall, these soaps are not made for the face, and while this may be a minimalist approach, it borders on detrimental as hand soaps are dehydrating and lack many of the ingredients that optimize your skin's complexion. 

About the Expert: 

Dr. Manish Shah

Manish Shah, M.D., F.A.C.S. was born in Canada and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. He graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania, receiving a degree in biomedical engineering. He then completed his medical training at the University of Virginia, earning his Medical Doctorate. During this time he also completed a one-year fellowship in microsurgery research at the New York University School of Medicine / Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. As a prelude to his plastic surgery training, Dr. Shah completed a rigorous five-year training program in General and Trauma Surgery at Emory University and the Medical College of Georgia. His formal training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was completed at the Univ. of Tennessee College of Medicine – Chattanooga Unit. After completing his plastic surgery training, he moved to New York City when he was selected for the prestigious Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship at Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital. He underwent extensive, advanced training in aesthetic surgery of the face, breasts, and body at the hands of some of the most renowned cosmetic surgeons in the world. This fellowship is widely considered to be the best of its kind in the world. Dr. Shah is one of only a select few plastic surgeons in the country who have undergone formal post-graduate training in aesthetic surgery.

Dr. Shah’s specialties include revision facial aesthetic surgery, rhinoplasty (“nose reshaping”), and aesthetic surgery of the breast (breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction). He is, however, well-trained in all areas of aesthetic surgery.

Dr. Shah is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center teaching cosmetic surgery to the plastic surgery residents. He is a past Chief of Plastic Surgery at Denver Health Medical Center. He also maintains a private practice in Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery in Cherry Creek.

Dr. Shah is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery, and the Rhinoplasty Society.

Dr. Shah is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Norgen Biotek Offers First-Class Products to Assist Researchers in the Study and Molecular Diagnosis of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) Outbreak

THOROLD, ON, Feb. 18, 2020 /CNW/ - Norgen Biotek Corp., an innovative privately held Canadian biotechnology company focusing primarily on advancing powerful tools for nucleic acid and protein stabilization and purification, today announced that they are offering a number of products to the scientific and medical community to support the study of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19, formerly 2019-nCoV) outbreak in humans. These include products for the collection, stabilization and transport of samples suspected to contain virus, kits for the purification of the viral RNA, as well as primers, controls and Master Mixes for use in detection of the virus. These products can be viewed on Norgen's website at www.norgenbiotek.com/coronavirus. 

This novel coronavirus has caused an outbreak of respiratory illness, which the World Health Organization (WHO) has recently termed COVID-19. The outbreak started in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China and has now spread throughout the world to many different countries. Accurate diagnosis of COVID-2019 infection is through the use of real-time RT PCR (rRT-PCR) assays for the in vitro qualitative detection of the virus in respiratory specimens and sera. The CDC has published full guidelines on their website for the collection, storage and handling of specimens, nucleic acid extraction, quality control, the rRT-PCT detection assays and interpreting test results (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/lab/rt-pcr-detection-instructions.html).

Norgen Biotek is offering a number of products to researchers studying COVID-19. Norgen's Swab Collection and Total Nucleic Acid Preservation System (Cat. 68800) is designed for the collection, ambient storage and transport of total nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) from samples collected using a swab, including nasal, buccal, saliva, fecal, skin, surfaces and more. Once collected, the swabs are placed into Norgen's Swab Preservative, which preserves the RNA at room temperature for up to 2 months and allows for the samples to be handled and shipped safely. Norgen also offers our market-leading RNA isolation kits, based on our proprietary resin, to isolate the preserved RNA from these samples. As well, Norgen is also offering the 2019-nCoV Primer & Probe Mix (Cat. TM67101) to researchers. This product includes all 4 CDC 2019-nCoV probe/primers in individual tubes, which are premixed to the working concentrations recommended by the CDC. The protocol provided by the CDC can then be followed for viral detection. We also offer the 2019-nCoV RT-PCR Positive Control (Cat. PC67102). The control plasmid contains the CDC 2019-nCoV markers (N1,N2,N3) and RNase P gene which are compatible with the CDC 2019-nCoV specific primer/probe sets. In addition, we also offer our 2X One-Step RT-PCR Master Mix (Cat. 28113) to be used with the probe & primer mix and positive controls. All of these products are manufactured under Norgen's ISO 13485:2016 quality system. 

"We are pleased to be able to do our part in the world-wide fight against this newly emerging Coronavirus. As experts in sample collection and preservation, nucleic acid isolation and molecular diagnostics, we are happy to offer these first class products to the scientific community." said Dr. Yousef Haj-Ahmad, President & CEO of Norgen Biotek. 

About Norgen Biotek Corp.
Norgen Biotek Corp., an ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 9001:2015 registered company, and we're committed to providing innovative products and services to the life sciences and pharmaceutical industry. Norgen is applying its proprietary technologies to develop best-in-class products for the stabilization and purification of nucleic acids and proteins, as well as for molecular diagnostics.

SOURCE Norgen Biotek Corp.

4 Gentle Exercises That Can Help with Back Pain

Back pain can be frustrating, debilitating, and affect all aspects of your life. Most adults will suffer from back pain at some point in their lives, and it is the leading cause of disability across the world. While doctors used to prescribe rest, they now know that movement is one of the best things for back pain. Light exercise such as walking, stretching, and yoga is ideal for loosening the muscles in the back and easing pain. Here are our four favorite gentle exercises that can help get you back to living pain free.

Cat/Cow

This is a classic yoga warm-up move that will stretch and strengthen your back muscles. Start on your hands and knees with your spine in a neutral position. To get into cat pose, round your back, tuck in your tailbone, and drop your head toward the floor. For cow pose, lift your head, press your chest forward, and drop your stomach to the ground.

Bridges

Bridges not only strengthen your back, but your buttocks and hamstrings, which are vital in back support. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet on the floor, shoulder-width apart. Gently raise your hips while your shoulders remain on the floor, holding the position for five seconds and squeezing the buttocks. Do three sets of 10-15 repetitions.

Knee to Chest Stretch

While lying on your back, lift your left leg and wrap your hands around your knee, pulling it gently toward your chest. Engage your abs and press your spine to the floor, holding for five seconds. Do 10 repetitions and repeat with the right side.

Lower Back Spine Stretch

This stretch relieves tension and pain in the lower back while working the core muscles. Lie with your feet on the floor and knees bent. Roll both bent knees over the ones side while your upper body remains on the floor. Hold for 10 seconds, and gently roll to the other side.Your back pain treatment  will be specific to you, but gentle exercises are a great place to start. Other recommended back pain treatment includes cold and heat therapy, light exercise, over-the-counter medications, massage, and chiropractic care. It is also important to maintain good posture and lift heavy things properly. For more exercises, check out these ten stretches to strengthe

Did You Know That Face 

Washing Mistakes Can Age You?

www.drmanishshah.com

Skincare is a unique process for everyone. Beauty routines range from the systematically meticulous to borderline nonexistent. But the truth of the matter is that no matter where you lie in the skincare spectrum, you could be making mistakes that cause your skin to age simply by washing your face incorrectly.  We spoke to Dr. Manish Shah, who is a board-certified plastic surgeon and anti-aging expert in Denver, Colorado. He counsels patients on cosmetic procedures, maintaining results, optimizing their skincare, and preventative measures.  "While skin treatments, injectables, and surgery can help maintain the visual appearance, your basic skincare goes a long way toward preventing premature aging. 

You Are Washing Your Face Incorrectly If You Do The Following: 

Using too much toner

Facial toners are an essential part of any beauty routine. However, using too much toner can dry out the skin and may even lead to more sebum production as your glands attempt to overcompensate. If you find your skin feeling tight or irritated after applying toner, you may be using too much, and this is especially true if you have sensitive or combination skin. Some toners come in a spray bottle, which is great for applying a light layer over the skin after cleansing. If not, simply pour a few drops of toner on a cotton pad and gently glide it across the face.

Also, many toners have alcohol-based ingredients, such as denatured alcohol, in them. Avoid toners with these ingredients at all costs -- as they will dry the skin completely and remove natural oils needed to keep the skin moist and healthy.

Products that are too harsh

As consumers become more sophisticated, they inquire about ingredients such as retinol. They know it is super hydrating and great for the skin, but they don't understand that skincare needs to be sustainable, so they ask for the strongest, most active form of prescription retinoid. "This is a mistake," says Dr. Shah, "any credible doctor will first assess the condition of your skin alongside the products and treatments you are already using in order to determine if you need prescription retinol or if a less active form sold over-the-counter is better for you." 

Dr. Shah explains that "retinol in less active forms will have similar effects without irritating the skin as much, which will be helpful to you as you continue using a product on your skin over time."

Scrubbing too hard

Instead of rubbing and scrubbing your face to try to get it squeaky clean, your motions with your cleanser should be as gentle as possible. Your hands should not be doing all the work! Scrubbing the skin too harshly or with materials that add exfoliation can cause micro-tears in the skin as well as excessive elimination of essential oils which leave the skin dry. 

Over exfoliating

While gently exfoliating a few nights a week can do wonders for the skin, it's easy to go overboard. What keeps your skin looking fresh, young, and hydrated is preserving the outer layers glow by lightly helping it shed old skin cells and moisturizing to help cell turnover. However, "the danger is that many people don't think to consider their loofah or washcloth as an exfoliation tool.  Even if you are only using an exfoliant a few days a week if you are scrubbing with a harsher material every day, you could be exfoliating more than you intend and that can cause dryness, red patches, dehydration, and hyperpigmentation," warns Dr. Shah.

Washing with hot water

Though it might feel good, using hot water to cleanse your face can actually dehydrate it. Hot water can be abrasive, stripping the skin of its natural oils, leaving it dry and flaky. This can also lead to acne flare, breakouts, and skin irritation. For best results, rinse your face with lukewarm or cool water - not cold either - to help constrict blood vessels. Dr. Shah also points out that "hot water  enlarges your pores, and this can affect the oil production of the skin as well as the texture of it."

Washing more than twice a day

You may be thinking, the cleaner, the better, right? Think again. Over-washing your face can actually damage the skin's natural protective system, which then can affect how easily the environment irritates your skin, how efficiently you retain moisture, and—over time—cause you to show early signs of aging such as fine lines and dry patches. "As a general rule of thumb, you should not be washing your face more than twice a day. If you have an activity like working out or an outdoor sport in the middle of the day, try to use a bland soap or cleanser to wash away dirt and sweat without further irritating the skin," advises Dr. Shah.  

Forgetting to follow up with a moisturizer

"The best time to apply moisturizer is after the shower or after applying toner. This will help prevent excessive dryness, and it will help to skin retain moisture," says Dr. Shah. Moisturizers also come with a combination of vitamins and lipids that help the skin heal irritations, strengthen its protective functions, and look smoother and healthier. 

Washing with whatever soap is available.

Many people are guilty of this one. People may think that soap is soap and a clean face is just a clean face, but you could be damaging your skin and aging yourself by washing the face with any available hand soap. Soaps with fragrances can be especially irritating to the skin. Overall, these soaps are not made for the face, and while this may be a minimalist approach, it borders on detrimental as hand soaps are dehydrating and lack many of the ingredients that optimize your skin's complexion. 

About the Expert: 

Dr. Manish Shah

Manish Shah, M.D., F.A.C.S. was born in Canada and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. He graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania, receiving a degree in biomedical engineering. He then completed his medical training at the University of Virginia, earning his Medical Doctorate. During this time he also completed a one-year fellowship in microsurgery research at the New York University School of Medicine / Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. As a prelude to his plastic surgery training, Dr. Shah completed a rigorous five-year training program in General and Trauma Surgery at Emory University and the Medical College of Georgia. His formal training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was completed at the Univ. of Tennessee College of Medicine – Chattanooga Unit. After completing his plastic surgery training, he moved to New York City when he was selected for the prestigious Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship at Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital. He underwent extensive, advanced training in aesthetic surgery of the face, breasts, and body at the hands of some of the most renowned cosmetic surgeons in the world. This fellowship is widely considered to be the best of its kind in the world. Dr. Shah is one of only a select few plastic surgeons in the country who have undergone formal post-graduate training in aesthetic surgery.

Dr. Shah’s specialties include revision facial aesthetic surgery, rhinoplasty (“nose reshaping”), and aesthetic surgery of the breast (breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction). He is, however, well-trained in all areas of aesthetic surgery.

Dr. Shah is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center teaching cosmetic surgery to the plastic surgery residents. He is a past Chief of Plastic Surgery at Denver Health Medical Center. He also maintains a private practice in Aesthetic and Plastic Surgery in Cherry Creek.

Dr. Shah is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery, and the Rhinoplasty Society.

Dr. Shah is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

AOC Dingbat, Trump Superhero in New Kids’ Book - Socialism 101 for Tots

A new children’s book casts Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a gum-popping, bored, selfie-taking amateur while President Trump, donning a MAGA-red superhero cape, swoops in to save an elementary school from the evils of socialism.

Help! Mom! The Swamp is in My School! written by bestselling author Katharine DeBrecht, is described as a “hilarious and fun way to explain socialism to kids.” DeBrecht, author of the bestseller Help! Mom! There are Liberals Under My Bed! says the book is needed to balance what she believes is institutionalized indoctrination of children by leftists. “Kids are spoon-fed the glories of socialism from the minute they enter public education. By the time they reach college, they are heralding mass murderers such as Che Guevara and Joseph Stalin as heroes and pioneers,” says DeBrecht. She points to a recent study that found 70 percent of millennials would vote for a socialist candidate.

AOC, who is referred to as OIC (Oh…I see!!!) in the book, is only one of a slew of leftists targeted. Others include Speaker Queenosie, Congressman Schifty (whose turtleneck eerily resembles a number two pencil), a one-percenter Senator Bernie sporting a top hat, Senator Pocahontas with a headdress, and Vice President Buyme who digresses to his time at the French Revolution when he told Winston Churchill to “tear down this wall!”

DeBrecht calls the full-color illustrated book a “YUGE lesson in socialism and MAGA.”  The story chronicles brothers Tommy and Lou and other kids from Bradford Plymouth School as they run a bake sale to earn money for their school supplies.  After a series of usual leftist suspects start forcing their socialist policies on their bake sale, the kids turn to Donaldus Magnus (President Trump in his signature blue suit with a red cape) to make the school great again.

Even what DeBrecht calls the “complicit legacy media” is not spared.  Rachel Maddow and Chuck Toddie wear Pravda name tags and the recent row over “fake news” between the satirical site The Babylon Bee and CNN appears in the background in an illustration.

DeBrecht goes further, touching on the recent impeachment trial of President Trump, as Congressman Schifty finds out sixth hand about a phone call overheard by a hamster.  She points out a little kangaroo that appears throughout the book “as a subtle reminder of the kangaroo court that presided over the worst witch hunt and hoax in American history.”

###

Bio: Katharine DeBrecht is a bestselling author, proud Deplorable and mother of three.  Known for her insightful, yet witty commentary, she has appeared on national television and radio across the globe. As a self-syndicated writer, Katharine's opinion pieces have been distributed in the national print media, including The Los Angeles Times and online magazines such as Human Events and World Net Daily. Her Help! Mom! books have been profiled on national media and throughout the world. 

PEAR Sports Acquires Functional Solutions to Strengthen a Full Featured Platform in Digital Fitness and to Expand to New Markets

Functional Solutions’ Group Exercise Programming Will Be Integrated into PEAR’s Coaching Platform to Provide Fitness and Wellness Providers with Enhanced Digital Solutions for Members

NEWPORT BEACH, CA - February 20, 2020 - PEAR Sports, creators of the PEAR Health & Fitness Platform that delivers smart digital coaching technology, today announced it has acquired Functional Solutions. Functional Solutions is a leader in the fitness industry in visual programming and distribution of custom fitness content for individual and group training experiences. 

PEAR will merge Functional Solutions’ technology into its enterprise SaaS solution to offer full client engagement for guests and members at gyms, in hotels and resorts, at active aging centers, and other locations. The ability to match PEAR’s personalized audio coaching, symbiotic music and adaptive biometric workouts with Functional Solutions’ unique content distribution technology will enhance the user experience and increase engagement.  Applications for this powerful instructional coaching content are prevalent in education, medical and therapeutic clinics, corporate wellness and military training.

Functional Solutions, founded by fitness industry veteran Dave Hannum, is a digital fitness platform that simplifies the creation and delivery of visual workout programming for facilities and individual users. The platform delivers a catalog of functional movement video snippets that can be arranged in custom sequences, allowing users and trainers to create workouts on the spot while integrating their unique programming style and brand. Workouts can be distributed through TV display, mobile app, text or QR code (See attached QR Code for a sample Workout of the Day). Current partners include Life Fitness, Chuze Fitness, Spenga, and Club Fitness.

The PEAR Health & Fitness Platform enables enterprises to build and deliver state-of-the-art digital fitness and wellness programming. PEAR’s proprietary solutions combine the best in mobile and wearable technology with interactive audio coaching, voiced by world-class athletes. PEAR’s Training Intelligence^®creates adaptive workouts in real-time, utilizing biometric markers and contextual inputs that balance training to optimize results. Additionally, PEAR Pro Coach with human-touch tele-coaching allows trainers to quickly customize individual and group workouts with smart guidance for proper sequencing, training load, and recovery balance. Companies can choose from PEAR’s extensive library of expert-guided sessions,or use their own custom content. Operators leverage PEAR’s enterprise management tools to identify exercise trends and user behaviors to make better informed decisions about programming and equipment purchases.

Bob Allison, Founder of PEAR Sports, said, “We are proud to have the Functional Solutions team join PEAR to expand our knowledge of the gym and boutique fitness markets. Dave Hannum spent over 16 years leading U.S. technology at TechnoGym, and now after founding Functional Solutions, he has successfully partnered with some of the best brands in the fitness sector. We know our combined product offerings will allow PEAR to increase market reach.”

“Digital engagement with members is now a requirement in the fitness industry and others,” said Functional Solutions Founder and CEO, Dave Hannum. “I’m fired up about combining our leading visual exercise content distribution technology with PEAR’s adaptive audio coaching and biometrics to maximize the choices and benefits for all our customers.”

Functional Solutions will retain its brand name and headquarters in Newport News, Virginia. PEAR Sports Development Lab is located in Solana Beach, California.

About PEAR Sports

PEAR Sports is perfecting the personalized delivery of digital health, wellness and fitness programs. Our platform and solutions deliver on-demand customized coaching that creates great experiences for customers and enterprises. www.pearsports.com.

About Functional Solutions

Functional Solutions provides an easy way to create unique, dynamic digital workout and wellness content to distribute anywhere, anytime.  The company’s product solutions range from TV display to mobile apps and focuses on customized visualization and simplicity. Functional Solutions’ client base spans across the US and Europe. www.functionalsolutions.io.

Blood testing technology developed by South Australian medical researchers is poised to transform the nutrition industry.

Adelaide-based Trajan Nutrition is starting to market its new nutrition testing globally after proving the technique can replace costly and time-consuming vial blood testing with a simple finger prick.

The team is looking to break into the United States, European and Asian markets targeting five key customer groups: researchers, pathology labs, vitamin supplement companies, health insurers and corporations.

“After preparatory work we are now at development stage, we’re almost ready to start training our global team to start promoting,” Trajan Nutrition chief executive officer Marco Baccanti said.

Baccanti said the technique would have a major impact on the nutrition industry by cutting testing costs, improving efficiencies and reducing the need for invasive blood testing for patients.

He said the blood spot testing had numerous potential income streams.

Vitamin supplement companies for example could provide customers with a testing kit where they could make a blood spot at home, dab it onto specially created paper, then send it to a lab for testing before they bought their products.

“This could offer people the opportunity to first see if their diet is imbalanced,” Baccanti said.

“Pathology labs can also now start using this methodology with far less invasive collection of blood of patients and using faster analytics and more cost effective techniques.”

The breakthrough includes the development of special contaminant-free paper to protect the specific blood compounds being tested. Solvents have also been developed to help transfer the dried blood samples from the paper to testing instruments.

University of Adelaide Professor of Functional Food Science Robert Gibson began work on the technology 10 years ago with Professor Maria Makrides.

Prof Makrides is one of Australia’s leading research experts into the nutritional needs of mothers and their babies, she leads the Healthy Mothers, Babies and Children Theme of the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) in Adelaide.

Both professors now also lead Trajan Nutrition, after making the breakthrough while overseeing large clinical nutrition trials of mothers and babies throughout the ...

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Sixty-two organizations recognized as Employee Recommended Workplaces for 2020

Morneau Shepell and The Globe and Mail to announce category winners on March 24

TORONTO, Feb. 20, 2020 /CNW/ - Today, Morneau Shepell and The Globe and Mail announced 62 Employee Recommended Workplaces for 2020. Now in its fourth year, the Employee Recommended Workplace Award recognizes workplaces with proven success creating a healthy environment and one that supports employee well-being. The award, which was created by Morneau Shepell and The Globe and Mail, is the only award of its kind that is based entirely on employee feedback. 

This year's winners, representing organizations in 12 business categories from across Canada, will be announced on March 24 at The Globe and Mail Solving Workplace Challenges Conference, to be held at The Globe and Mail Centre in Toronto. The category winners will also be profiled nationally in The Globe and Mail, Canada's leading news media organization. All recipients have earned the right to use the Employee Recommended Workplace badge in their communications materials to identify them as employers of choice.

"It is encouraging to see that a wide variety of organizations across Canada are taking the necessary steps to ensure their employees' well-being is a top priority for their business," said Stephen Liptrap, president and chief executive officer, Morneau Shepell. "We are delighted to once again partner with The Globe and Mail to acknowledge these organizations as they continue to demonstrate the importance of understanding the value of employee well-being."

The Employee Recommended Workplace Award recognizes excellence in achieving a healthy, engaged and productive workforce. Employees of participating organizations were asked to complete a short confidential survey, from which they received a personal assessment identifying potential areas for improvement across all elements of well-being. Participating organizations also received a report with insights on their Total Health scores – across physical, mental, work and life – highlighting strengths and areas of improvement in order to be identifiable as an employer of choice.

"The growth that we've seen in both this program and improvements in employers' adoption of well-being programs is remarkable," said Phillip Crawley, publisher and chief executive officer, The Globe and Mail. "It's been incredibly rewarding to see that the well-being of employees is not only being talked about, but also put into action. We congratulate these organizations on their truly great work." 

The list of the 62 Employee Recommended Workplaces for 2020 is provided below.  

For more information about the awards, please visit employeerecommended.com. 

For tickets to The Globe and Mail Solving Workplace Challenges Conference, where the awards will be presented, please visit https://www.globeandmailevents.com/website/8111/. 

About Morneau Shepell 
Morneau Shepell is the leading provider of technology-enabled HR services that delivers an integrated approach to well-being through our cloud-based platform. Our focus is providing everything our clients need to support the mental, physical, social and financial well-being of their people. By improving lives, we improve business. Our approach spans services in employee and family assistance, health and wellness, recognition, pension and benefits administration, retirement and benefits consulting, actuarial and investment services. Morneau Shepell employs approximately 6,000 employees who work with some 24,000 client organizations that use our services in 162 countries. Morneau Shepell is a publicly traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.  

About The Globe and Mail
The Globe and Mail is Canada's foremost news media company, leading the national discussion and causing policy change through brave and independent journalism since 1844. With our award-winning coverage of business, politics and national affairs, The Globe and Mail newspaper reaches 6 million readers every week in our print and digital formats, and Report on Business magazine reaches 2 million readers in print and digital every issue. Our investment in innovative data science means that as the world continues to change, so does The Globe. The Globe and Mail is owned by Woodbridge, the investment arm of the Thomson family. 

2020 Employee Recommended Workplaces 

SOURCE Morneau Shepell - Corporate

Existing models of mental health service delivery and funding are failing Ontarians

Patients with complex mental health challenges need access to a range of services which requires coordination, say Ontario's psychiatrists.

ONTARIO, Feb. 20, 2020 /CNW/ - Ontario's front-line psychiatrists are seeing first-hand how a lack of resources and services, a finite number of psychiatrists, and a growing demand for services is failing patients with complex mental illness.

"There simply aren't enough of us to provide that level of support," says Dr. Javeed Sukhera, president of the Ontario Psychiatric Association (OPA) and one of the authors of a new policy paper outlining key recommendations for the province to consider.

With the latest figures from Health Quality Ontario showing that timely assessments and follow-up care rates are getting worse, the paper, Towards Integrated Care: 8 Ways for Ontario to Better Connect Patients with Mental Health and Addictions Treatment, points out that patients in need of specialized service are likely to have even more problems accessing basic care.

This includes individuals with a dual diagnosis of a developmental disability combined with psychiatric illness, individuals with a concurrent substance use disorder combined with a psychiatric illness, or someone with a complex illness.

"When people have serious and complex mental illnesses in Ontario, they can encounter services that are fragmented and restrictive. Mental health is not funded in the same way other services are and, as a result, there are complicated inclusion and exclusion criteria," explains Dr. Sukhera. 

Immigrants, refugees, ethno-cultural and racialized groups, Indigenous Peoples, individuals living in northern and remote communities, minority official language communities and LGBTQ2+ individuals also experience particular issues with access to the mental health services they need.

The newly released paper outlines several recommendations for system improvement, drawn from the suggestions and insights of psychiatrists across Ontario. 

The eight recommendations range from specific ones such as allowing psychiatrists to work at the top of their skill set with adequate supports in place to focus on community-based care in team-based settings, to broader calls to action such as increased investments in a health human resource strategy to address service shortages, rather than simply realigning existing resources.

"As psychiatrists, we are important contributors to the delivery and organization of mental health and addictions services in Ontario," says Dr. Sukhera. "This is a system in crisis and as an organization, the Ontario Psychiatric Association is pushing the envelope for change."

ABOUT ONTARIO PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION (OPA)
The Ontario Psychiatric Association is the provincial voice of Ontario's Psychiatrists. The OPA serves to facilitate the exchange of scientific information, promote the optimal level of professional development and practice, advocate for the mentally ill and their families, represent members to governments, universities, and other medical associations, and promote the prevention of mental disorders in the province of Ontario. You can follow the OPA on Twitter @OntPsychAssoc or visit the website at https://www.eopa.ca/

SOURCE Ontario Psychiatric Association

Locking in and preserving your healthy stem cells has never been easier and more accessible as Acorn Biolabs partners with Coverdale Clinics.

Appointments for stem cell & DNA collection now available.

TORONTO, Feb. 20, 2020 /CNW/ - With the rapid emergence of regenerative medicine therapies and genetic analysis testing reaching mainstream medicine, consumers are demanding increased opportunities to prepare for their future healthcare needs, including banking a viable source of cells to preserve their current health.  

To meet this growing demand, Acorn Biolabs, the leading non-invasive stem cell collection, cryopreservation and analysis company, today announced its partnership with Coverdale Clinics Inc., a premium network of specialty care clinics in Canada. Together, Acorn and Coverdale will help make stem cell collection more accessible and affordable in the West Greater Toronto Area.

Through their partnership, Coverdale Clinics' Oakville location be offering Acorn's non-invasive stem cell collection services. The simple process involves plucking a few hair follicles from a client's head, which are then analyzed and cryopreserved for future use. 

Acorn's innovative solution for live cell collection enables the collection of stem cells without the need for surgery or other painful and invasive procedures, making stem cell collection for life-long storage significantly more affordable and accessible for everyone. 

"Our partnership with Acorn Biolabs opens up a great opportunity for us to expand Coverdale Clinics service offering into the emerging regenerative medicine and genetics market. We're pleased to be able to leverage our specialty clinic in Oakville to offer a service that improves access to exciting and novel health care technologies," said Chris Dalseg, BioScript Solutions' Vice President of Strategic Growth and Marketing. "We have always been at the forefront of providing innovative health care services to Canadians, and adding stem cell collection services from Acorn exemplifies our ongoing commitment." 

Once stem cells are collected, Acorn uses its proprietary capabilities to keep cells alive during transportation before going into long term cryogenic storage. The process turns collected hair follicles into a highly valuable and accessible resource for further regenerative medicine and genetics. Not only are these stem cells securely stored for future use, but the company's scientists will also be able to extract critical genetic information through DNA tests, for clients that want it, that will unlock valuable data about a person's health over their lifetime. 

"We are excited to bring Acorn's preventative, personalized healthcare services to more people through this partnership with Coverdale Clinics. The cells collected are a life-long resource for these clients, not only in regenerative medicine, but also for advanced analytics, helping to identify diseases even before the first symptom," said Dr. Drew Taylor, Co-founder and CEO at Acorn Biolabs Inc. "The partnership is an important extension for Acorn to serve health-minded individuals in more geographies, freezing the clock on their stem cells so they can use them later in life, when they will need them most."

Clients can book their non-invasive stem cell collection appointment in Oakville, Ontario through Acorn's website today at www.acorn.me

About Acorn Biolabs, Inc.

Acorn helps you live a longer, healthier tomorrow by freezing the clock on your cells today. Founded in 2017 by Steven ten Holder, Patrick Pumputis and Dr. Drew Taylor and borne out of years of research, Acorn is a healthcare technology company based at Johnson & Johnson INNOVATION JLABS in Toronto. Acorn is focused on giving everyone the best chance to experience more healthy years with its easy, affordable and non-invasive stem cell collection, analysis and cryopreservation service. For more information, visit acorn.me.

About Coverdale Clinics

Coverdale Clinics is a premium network of specialty care clinics, providing patients with a safe, comfortable environment to receive specialty medications by infusion or injection. With more than 100 clinics nationwide, our nurses take a personalized approach to patient care that includes education and counselling to better support medication adherence.

About BioScript Solutions

BioScript Solutions is committed to helping patients with chronic illnesses achieve the best possible health outcomes. With our total care approach, we simplify access to complex, specialty drug therapies and deliver full-service specialty care solutions at every stage of the patient's treatment journey. Through our specialty pharmaceutical distribution, pharmacies, patient support programs and clinical services, BioScript has the capability to manage the needs of manufacturers, payors, prescribers and health care practitioners across Canada ― today, and tomorrow. To learn more, please visit bioscript.ca.

SOURCE Acorn Biolabs