Apotex Releases New Supply of Tamoxifen Into Canadian Market
Expedited Release Occurs Earlier Than Anticipated
TORONTO, Dec. 5, 2019 /CNW/ - Canada's leading generic drug manufacturer, Apotex, announced today that its first shipment of the drug tamoxifen has been released to the Canadian market. Additional releases are scheduled for December 2019 and January 2020.
Collaborating with Health Canada, Apotex expedited the return to market almost one month earlier than their latest projection.
"Our goal from the outset was to make the Canadian supply available as soon as possible to reduce the impact on patients," said Jeff Watson, President & CEO, Apotex Inc. "We recognize the importance of this medication and that it can be unsettling for patients if it is in short supply. To facilitate a quicker re-entry to the market, we re-prioritized production of our portfolio, and were able to produce this faster than we normally would," said Watson.
Indeed, Apotex had initially projected a release by the end of January and was then able to advance that deadline to December 31st, 2019. With additional pressure on the manufacturing teams, they were able to accelerate this date to an even earlier time.
"There's no doubt that being a Canadian-based manufacturer and having a flexible supply chain were key enablers in us achieving this goal," said Mr. Watson.
SOURCE Apotex Inc.
Blue Cross Canassurance Forms a National Alliance With Blue Cross Life
MONTREAL, Dec. 5, 2019 /CNW/ - The Canassurance Hospital Service Association (Blue Cross® Canassurance™) and Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada will enter into a Canada-wide alliance as of January 2, 2020. Blue Cross Canassurance will become a shareholder of Blue Cross Life, in alignment with the other members of the Canadian Association of Blue Cross Plans.
"Blue Cross Canassurance is very pleased to join Blue Cross Life together with the other Blue Cross member plans. This alliance will contribute to strengthening the collaboration between the various Blue Cross plans across Canada, thus reinforcing our ability to provide excellent products and services to our customers and business partners," stated Sylvain Charbonneau, President and CEO of Blue Cross Canassurance.
The Blue Cross plans always favored working collaboratively to optimize their individual and shared strengths in order to offer customers solutions that support improved health and wellness. This important agreement will enable Blue Cross Canassurance to ensure that it meets the evolving needs of its customers.
"This alliance marks an important step in achieving our strategy of operating on a truly national level; it strengthens our business while improving our capacity to work with the Blue Cross plans throughout Canada," stated Marie-Josée Martin, President and CEO of Blue Cross Life.
As this alliance is subject to approval by regulatory authorities, a submission has been filed with Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions (OSFI).
About Blue Cross Canassurance
The Canassurance Hospital Service Association (Blue Cross Canassurance) contributed to introducing health and travel insurance to Quebec and Ontario. Founded over 75 years ago, the organization is built on solid foundation of excellence and continues to be the reference standard for individual insurance and assistance, thanks to services that continually adapt to the changing needs of its clients. It operates under the names Québec Blue Cross® and Ontario Blue Cross® and provides assistance through its subsidiary CanAssistance Inc.
About Blue Cross Life Insurance Company of Canada
Blue Cross Life is a federally-licensed company with operations located in several provinces. The Company is owned by four shareholders, operating as Alberta Blue Cross, Saskatchewan Blue Cross, Manitoba Blue Cross, Medavie Blue Cross. It specializes in life and living benefits insurance to supplement the portfolio of health and dental products distributed by its shareholder Blue Cross plans.
For further information:
Blue Cross Canassurance Josiane Cousineau 514-286-8429
Blue Cross Life Jennifer Taylor 902-496-7045
SOURCE Blue Cross Canassurance
4 Easy Daily Habits to Begin for Speeding up Weight Loss
Losing weight can be frustrating at best. You may only lose one pound in three weeks or struggle through strenuous exercise sessions with little to no results. Speed up your weight loss journey by changing a few daily habits.
Healthy Snacking
Unhealthy snacks such as candy bars, greasy potato chips and donuts can be dangerous to your health. These may worsen the effects of diabetes, obesity, anxiety and depression. Avoid a negative lifestyle by eating healthier snacks. Trail mixes, carrot sticks and avocado toast are a few ideas to try switching to. Keep track of your eating habits by writing in a food journal.
Adequate Sleep
Getting enough sleep is vital to staying healthy and positive each day. Additionally, you’ll lose weight more quickly.Ways to sleeplonger at night include using a calming app, reading before bedtime and maintaining a positive mindset. Excessive use of technology screens (tablets, smartphones, televisions, etc.) also contributes to poor sleep patterns. You can remove distractions like these from your bedroom to create a calmer environment. Create a zen atmosphere by painting walls a calm blue and cleaning the bedroom.
Chew Slowly
Taking extra time to chew your food can encourage weight loss. Another way to eat slower is to take smaller bites. This will allow you to taste and savor every bite for maximum satisfaction. You can also eat smaller portions more often rather than large meals. In addition to this, having distractions in the room like televisions can cause you to eat extra food without noticing. If you've tried everything to lose weight and still struggle, you may benefit from the MGB Treatment Webinar.
Drink Water Often
You may believe you're hungry when you're actually thirsty. If you do this, you're likely to gain weight since you'll be consuming more food than necessary. Instead, drinking water often will help your digestive system stay in working order. Plus, your body will be energized and refreshed. Maintain a healthy blood pressure, flush body waste out and boost brain health. Promote beauty and skin health while regulating body temperature. Drinking a glass of water before meals can cause you to feel fuller. This will help you eat less for each meal and lose weight faster.
Small changes in your daily life can add up to life-changing results. Take notice of your issues so you can improve yourself and your life. You can practice self-awareness by doing yoga, prayer or meditation on a regular basis.
Vape facts are more important than opinion: DashVapes
TORONTO, Dec. 4, 2019 /CNW/ - Shai Bekman, the founder of Canada's largest chain of independent vape shops, DashVapes Inc., has grown increasingly frustrated with misinformation and myths about vaping. Inaccurate stories and myths are being spread across Canada, he believes, sometimes on purpose by anti-vaping interests, and sometimes unintentionally by journalists either being misled or becoming confused by conflicting stories.
"I created VapeFacts.ca to debunk many of the myths about vaping, with three audiences in mind," says Mr. Bekman.
First, it is important to report facts rather than the opinion of spokespersons.
"On the DashVapes' YouTube site for months, we've been correcting media stories about this so-called vaping crisis. The media has confused the real cause of lung-related illnesses, which are Black-Market, illicit and contaminated marijuana vaping products, with nicotine electronic cigarettes," says Mr. Bekman.
"DashVapes produces the highest quality vaping e-liquids for those smokers who want to quit. That is our target market. DashVapes does not advertise nor promote its products to teens. I am a reformed smoker myself. I know first-hand how hard it is to quit," says Mr. Bekman.
"With regard to flavours, more than 90% of vapers in all adult age groups enjoy flavours," says Mr. Bekman. You can see age-verified sales data at on the DashVapes website.
"Second, we want VapeFacts.ca to be read by elected officials and public servants," says Mr. Bekman. "They are drafting rules, regulations and laws across the country, based on conflicting information. The British Columbia government has come closest to drafting and announcing fact-based and socially responsible regulations. Prince Edward Island is working hard to sort out myth and reality."
Third, the medical and health communities are an important audience for VapeFacts.ca. VapeFacts.ca has a section describing the refusal of an Ontario Medical Officer of Health to provide germane information to journalists about what a 17-year-old in London, Ontario, was actually vaping. Later, it turned out that the young man was unwisely (and illegally) combining THC [cannabis] into his e-liquid, to vape.
About DashVapes Inc.
DashVapes Inc., Canada's largest independently owned e-cigarette company, operates 12 vape retail stores in Ontario and British Columbia. In addition, DashVapes operates an international website that serves customers in Canada, the U.S., the U.K., Europe, and Australia.
DashVapes operates two ISO-9001, cGMP, HACCP certified, purpose-built laboratories for the manufacturing of Nicotine e-Liquid, with manufacturing facilities in Markham, Ontario, and Burnaby, British Columbia.
SOURCE DashVapes, Inc
For further information:
DashVapes Contact: To interview Shai Bekman, President of DashVapes Inc., contact Jana Schilder, co-founder, The Legal A Team, Law Firm Marketing & Public Relations, jana@janaschilder.com, mobile (416) 831-9154
PEAR Sports Is Selected by Myodetox to Create a Custom Physical Therapy Mobile Platform to Further Elevate the Customer Experience
Allows Therapists to Send Personalized Workout & Movement Exercises with Video and Audio to Support Client Health and Wellness
NEWPORT BEACH, CA - December 4, 2019 - PEAR Sports, creators of the PEAR Health & Fitness Platform that delivers smarter digital coaching technology, today announced it has partnered with Myodetox to develop a custom digital exercise platform to build and deliver personalized coaching and therapy sessions to improve client treatment results. Myodetox is a group of lifestyle physical therapy clinics delivering a longevity-focused and personalized treatment approach for pain relief and body optimization. Myodetox is evolving the physical therapy (PT) market in response to growing consumer demand for preventive healthcare and intelligent recovery options. The company is delivering the first consumer brand experience in the PT industry by following best practices found in boutique fitness and luxury retail. The new Myodetox Therapist App by PEAR will extend the reach of expert therapists by providing personalized treatment exercises with rich video and audio coaching to clients on their mobile devices and wearables.Myodetox Founder & Chief Creative Officer Vinh Pham said, “We are very excited to work with PEAR Sports to deliver our unique therapy and movement programming to our clients in the convenience of a mobile platform. With the Myodetox Therapist App by PEAR, our expert therapists can customize a digital treatment plan for each client so he or she can reach his or her goals as quickly as possible. This new digital solution effectively extends the clinic experience and empowers our clients with more education and therapy programming to continue progress between sessions.” Bob Allison, Founder, PEAR Sports, said, “Myodetox is appealing to the lifestyle-driven consumer who seeks out an elevated therapy experience for their best health and well-being. It is gratifying for PEAR Sports to work with a brand that shares our focus on delivering authentic fitness and therapy content. The Myodetox Therapist App by PEAR will optimize client results by delivering therapy exercises in a rich mobile app that clients can use anytime, anywhere.”PEAR is expert at delivering personalized, adaptive coaching programs with bespoke content using mobile and wearable technology with human coach guidance and symbiotic music. Our digital coaching solutions include Workout Builder, a tool that allows enterprises like Myodetox to build and deliver customized fitness and therapy workouts for individuals and groups. With communication tools that support personal audio and video feedback, the Myodetox Therapist App by PEAR encourages compliance and the best results for both the clinic and the customer.To learn more about how PEAR’s digital coaching and wellness solutions can increase user engagement for your business, please visit www.pearsports.com. About PEAR SportsPEAR 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. For more information, visit www.pearsports.com.About MyodetoxMyodetox is a group of lifestyle Physical Therapy clinics delivering a longevity-focused and personalized treatment approach for pain relief and body optimization. The Company is evolving the physical therapy market by delivering the first consumer brand experience in the physical therapy industry by following best practices found in boutique fitness and luxury retail.ContactsPEAR SportsAnita Habeich, anita@pearsports.comMyodetoxAaron Scheinfeld, aaron@myodetox.comShare This PEAR Sportshttps://twitter.com/PEARsportshttps://www.facebook.com/PearSports/https://www.instagram.com/pearsportshttps://www.linkedin.com/company/pear-sports-llchttps://pearsports.com/Myodetoxinstagram.com/myodetoxfacebook.com/myodetoxmyodetox.com
HOW TO AVOID ILLNESS AND OTHER MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES WHILE TRAVELING THIS CHRISTMAS
A record-breaking 112.5 million people – more than a third of all Americans - are expected to travel this holiday season, including 102 million who will take their trips by car. Nothing ruins a long-awaited vacation faster than getting sick or being in medical distress. We turned to Dr. Niket Sonpal, an NYC internist and gastroenterologist for some tips on how to avoid health consequences will traveling.
Avoid Deep Vein Thrombosis
Deep vein Thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in your body, usually in your legs. Deep vein thrombosis can cause leg pain or swelling, but also can occur with no symptoms. For travelers, this can happen on long haul trips where you are not moving. Dr. Sonpal recommends if you are flying or on a train, to move around the cabin to get the blood flowing in your legs. If you are driving, take a break at a rest stop and walk around. Compression socks are also another option to prevent DVT.
Don’t Get Nauseous
People can experience motion sickness on virtually any mode of transportation. To combat this, Dr. Sonpal suggests Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals, Dramamine®'s first non-drowsy formulation. It contains the clinically tested ginger dosage required for preventing and treating motion sickness. Other sources of ginger, including candies, gums, or ginger ale, may not contain a full clinical dose. For someone who is already experiencing nausea while traveling, it is a good idea to keep Emetrol on hand which is an over the counter nausea medication that does not cause drowsiness.
Avoid Bloating on a Plane
If you get gassy on a plane, you’re not alone! Dr. Sonpal explains that, “As the pressure around you decreases, the gas in your belly isn’t constrained as much and it expands. This can make you feel bloated or become distended.” It is essential to avoid foods that cause gas or have salt. Skip the tomato juice in flight and stick with non-carbonated water. Avoid alcohol, cruciferous vegetables, dairy and high sodium snacks such as salted peanuts or pretzels. Foods that are protein packed, magnesium-rich and high in Vitamin C are good options.
Sanitize Your Surfaces
Planes and trains are a breeding ground for illness. The former are awful due to re-circulated air. Most travelers would be appalled if they really knew how germy their tray tables are! Dr. Sonpal suggests sanitizing wipes for your tray table, seat belt clip and hand rests of your seats on planes and trains. When you exit a restroom on a plane or train and touch the door handles, be sure to use hand sanitizer even if you already washed your hands.
Get Your Shots Before Traveling Abroad!
Before you even book your trip, make sure you’re up to date on your shots. If you’re traveling to an area where you’re at risk for picking up an illness like malaria, you might be prescribed preventative medication. Dr. Sonpal suggests that, “People should use the CDC website for recommended vaccines for travel abroad or see a travel clinic. The health risks posed to Americans vary based on the country they are traveling to.”
Don’t Touch the Ice!
When traveling to a different country, most people are very cautious about only drinking bottled water. Many folks forget that ice is simply frozen water and put it into their soft drinks or alcoholic beverages. Contrary to what one might think, freezing water does not kill bacteria. The only way to be sure it is safe is if you boiled the water and then froze it.
Avoid Jet Lag
Even a relatively short time change from EST to PST (3 hours) can cause jet lag. With some international travel from the United States, the time difference can be as much as twelve hours. If you're traveling east, try going to bed one hour earlier each night for a few days before your departure. Go to bed one hour later for several nights if you're flying west. If possible, eat meals closer to the time you'll be eating them at your destination. Dr. Sonpal suggests that you set your watch to the new time before you leave. Once you reach your destination, try not to sleep until the local nighttime, no matter how tired you are.
Essential Medicine/Supplies to Travel With
Dr. Sonpal stresses never to check your medication with your baggage, always keep it in your carry on. Have a fresh re-fill on prescription medication with extra doses in case you get stuck at your destination. In addition, here are some essential over the counter meds/supplies to travel with:
Benadryl- For allergic reactions such as insect or bee bites.
Pepto Bismol- For diarrhea
Laxative such as Dulcolax
Anti-biotic ointment such as Neosporin
Common cold/sinus remedies such as Mucinex or Claritin
Pain relievers such as Tylenol or Motrin
Anti- Nausea medication such as Emetrol
Motion Sickness medication such as Dramamine. If you are the driver, be sure to take the non-drowsy version.
Electrolyte tablets for dehydration
Hydrocortisone cream to relieve itching from rashes, bites, poison ivy etc.
Aloe to soothe sunburned skin
Band-Aids
Digital Thermometer
Nasal Spray to prevent clogged ears while flying
Tweezers
Eye Drops
Epi-Pen if you are prone to severe allergic reactions
How to Find a Reliable Physician if you are Traveling Abroad
The US embassy in your destination country (http://www.usembassy.gov/) can help you locate medical services and will notify your family and friends in the event of an emergency. When selecting a doctor, make sure that he or she can speak your language. The following resources provide lists of doctors and clinics that can care of travelers:
The International Association for Medical Assistance to Travelers (www.iamat.org; membership required, but it is free)
The International Society of Travel Medicine (www.istm.org)
Travel Health Online (www.tripprep.com; gets information from various sources so quality is not guaranteed)
Dr. Niket Sonpal is a native of Long Island NY and a graduate of Medical University of
.
.
He is the co‐author for the best-selling Master the Boards: USMLE Step 2 CK, Master the Boards Step 3, And Master the Boards: Internal Medicine.
Dr. Niket Sonpal is a native of Long Island NY and a graduate of Medical University of Silesia – Hope Medical Institute in Poland. After completing his residency in Internal Medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital, he was selected to be the 2013‐2014 Chief Resident at Lenox Hill Hospital–Northshore LIJ Health System. He is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine and Clinical instructor at Kingsbrook Jewish Medical Center, Brooklyn.
Dr. Sonpal has completed his Fellowship in gastroenterology & hepatology at Lenox Hill Hospital and will continue his work in the field of medical student and resident test preparation. He now serves as the associate program director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Brookldale University medical center.
He is the co‐author for the best-selling Master the Boards: USMLE Step 2 CK, Master the Boards Step 3, And Master the Boards: Internal Medicine.
Flu Activity Currently Low in the US but Cases Likely to Rise, says GlobalData
Seasonal flu activity currently remains low in the US. However, leading data and analytics company GlobalData estimates that many more cases of influenza will occur this season, with more than 16.6 million diagnosed incident cases of influenza-like illness (ILI) and nearly 1.4 million laboratory-confirmed cases predicted.
Topias Lemetyinen, Managing Epidemiologist at GlobalData, comments: “Seasonal influenza is a contagious respiratory viral illness with symptoms such as fever, cough, sore throat and muscle aches and pains. Despite being a mild disease in most instances, in certain risk groups, influenza can cause serious illness. GlobalData estimates that near 8% of diagnosed incident cases of ILI in the US will test positive and be confirmed as influenza in 2019.”
“The analysis by GlobalData captures the flu season spanning from fall 2019 to spring 2020 in its forecast for influenza cases in 2019. Despite the current lull in flu activity, it is likely that many more cases of the flu will begin to appear before the end of this year, and the number will continue to grow into next year.
“Even though flu activity has remained low, we should not be lulled into a false sense of security as cases may begin to emerge. In order to best protect the groups most at risk, all those able to receive a vaccine should.”
PepsiCo and Hostess Brands’ snacks M&A shows consumers want health and indulgence, says GlobalData
Consumer interest in the links between diet and health is a key driver of the global snacks market, but so is their desire to treats themselves – as has been underlined by two acquisitions in North America, argues GlobalData.
Twinkies owner Hostess Brands has recently announced the purchase of Canadian biscuit business Voortman Cookies. This deal was then followed by PepsiCo unveiling its move for fellow US snacks supplier BFY Brands.
Dean Best, Food Editor at GlobalData, says: “Growing consumer awareness in the links between diet and health is reshaping the snacks industry in markets around the world. PepsiCo, home to Lay’s crisps and Doritos tortilla chips, buying better-for-you snacks firm BFY Brands, the owner of the low-calorie PopCorners snack, underscores that trend.
“However, consumers don’t want to eat healthier snacks all of the time; they want to treat themselves. Voortman has a range of healthier wafer products, opening up Hostess to a line of better-for-you products, but the deal further bolsters the US group in the indulgent end of the market, too, adding snacks such as chocolate-chip and fudge-striped almonette cookies.
“The snacks market is a clear example of bifurcation – with health and indulgence in growth. Expect more deals at both ends of the spectrum.”
Research in sheep suggests possible early test for fetal heart health
UNDER STRICT EMBARGO UNTIL 01.00 GMT THURS 5 DECEMBER 2019
Not for publication or broadcast before this time
Changes in heart rate, due to low oxygen conditions, experienced by the fetus during pregnancy, could be used to predict the future heart health of babies, shows research published in The Journal of Physiology today.
Previous research has shown that sustained low levels of oxygen (called chronic hypoxia) during pregnancy significantly impair the growth of the fetus, leading to a condition known as intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Chronic hypoxia during pregnancy can also impair the development of key organs, imposing consequences for life-time health risks, such as an increased heart disease risk.
The main causes of low oxygen during fetal development are complications with the placenta. Researchers at the University of Cambridge and the University of Washington led by Dino Giussani and Martin Frasch modelled such conditions during pregnancy by placing pregnant sheep in an environment with lower than normal oxygenation, similar to experiencing high altitude. They then looked at the fetal heart separated from any influences of the rest of the body, as a way to see if the heart shows any sign of “remembering” the effects of lower than normal oxygen that was experienced in the womb.
The way that they determined this was by looking at something called heart rate variability, which refers to changes in heart rate that normally occur in our hearts. Analysis of the patterns of these changes in heart rate were able to tell them if the hearts of the fetuses were impacted in the long term.
This research may have important clinical implications. If babies from complicated pregnancies are identified to have abnormal fetal heart rate patterns, then doctors could follow the development of these children more closely to better protect against any future risk of heart disease.
Martin Frasch, first author on the study said:
“We are excited about these results and the ability it may give clinicians to assess in a new way the hearts of kids who don’t show symptoms, who may have underlying heart problems. A good example of this would be kids in Brazil whose mothers were infected with the Zika virus. While they may not have symptoms, they may still actually have important problems with their hearts that we should be addressing.”
Notes for Editors
Full paper title: First evidence that intrinsic fetal heart rate variability exists and is affected by hypoxic pregnancy https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1113/JP278773 (link will only work after the embargo date. Before then, please email the press office for a copy of the paper)
The Journal of Physiology publishes advances in physiology which increase our understanding of how our bodies function in health and disease. http://jp.physoc.org
The Physiological Society brings together over 4,000 scientists from over 60 countries. The Society promotes physiology with the public and parliament alike. It supports physiologists by organising world-class conferences and offering grants for research and also publishes the latest developments in the field in its three leading scientific journals, The Journal of Physiology, Experimental Physiology and Physiological Reports. www.physoc.org
TRAIN IT RIGHT NEWSLETTER
Sign Up and get a free 7 day Train it Right HIIT Program!
