Atlantic WeedBoard.com Presents “Cannabis Diaries” -- Personal Stories Illustrating the Wellness Benefits of CBD --
There has been a lot of celebration lately about the wellness benefits of CBD, but with so much information out there, it’s hard for the average person to sort out what this can actually mean to them and their loved ones. To illustrate some specific ways CBD can heal the body,Atlantic WeedBoard has created a series of original “Cannabis Diaries” videos featuring real people with real health issues sharing their experience of finding relief with CBD.
An exclusive interview posted this week on Atlantic WeedBoard.com gives the first- hand account of Becky, who suffered for years with severe, chronic hives as well as joint pain, anxiety and insomnia. Her health issues were originally jump-started by a bad reaction to antibiotics, and later diagnosed as an autoimmune disorder. After going from doctor to doctor, exploring a variety of treatments and not finding any relief from traditional medicine, she finally found a solution in the anti-inflammatory properties of CBD oil. Within a month, Becky saw a reduction in her symptoms.
“I was surprised to find that CBD had no psychoactive tendencies,” explains Becky. “I knew I didn’t like that feeling and I wasn’t looking for that. CBD has made a huge difference in my life.”
Another “Cannabis Diaries” video on Atlantic WeedBoard.com tells the story of Kathy. After a burst appendix she was seriously ill with sepsis. Following her stay in the hospital she was sent home with opioids but still not getting relief from the pain. She tried cannabis tincture, which not only helped ease her pain and transition her off the pain medication, but also worked to reduce the stress she was experiencing over the frustration of waiting for body to get better.
“Healing is really hard work and it’s hard to be patient with the process,” says Kathy. “Cannabis gave me a lot more patience to contend with how long things were going to take.”
“We want Atlantic WeedBoard to be a place where people turn to for guidance and clarification about CBD,” says Atlantic WeedBoard co-founder Richard Carey. “These shared stories help people understand how CBD may translate into their own lives.”
AtlanticWeedboard.com is a new website that serves as a resource and community for all things cannabis. Atlantic WeedBoard helps guide consumers through the wellness benefits and choices of CBD products, with a focus on organically grown products where the source and quality are clearly defined. One of the unique features of Atlantic WeedBoard is originally produced video interviews that provide detailed insight into the latest developments and benefits of CBD. In addition to “Cannabis Diaries,” other video themes on the site include the “Five Minutes With…” series of interviews with those who are at the forefront of the CBD revolution, and “High Profile” videos on the cannabis industry, dispensaries and farmers.
Atlantic WeedBoard is a newly-formed informational center specifically developed for the emerging cannabis industry. The site is presented in artistic graphics with a fun side to it featuring a boardwalk and Ferris wheel as its signature logo. On a more serious note, Atlantic WeedBoard is a type of “Consumer Reports” of cannabis as it presents products for people and their pets, interviews with the top growers, curates independently tested legal products and offers anecdotal beauty, health and wellness advice for consumers. For more information, visit www.atlanticweedboard.com
Rapid Dose Therapeutics Signs Distribution Agreement for QuickStrip™ Nutraceutical Product Line and Receives US$2.1 Million Purchase Order
BURLINGTON, ON, July 16, 2019 /CNW/ - Rapid Dose Therapeutics Corp. (CSE: DOSE),("RDT") and Ukraine Pharma (the "Company")announced today that they have signed a twelve month distribution agreement (the "Agreement") to export QuickStrip™ nutraceutical products to Ukraine and a number of other Eastern European countries, giving the Company rights to market the Energy, B12, and Sleep QuickStrip™ nutraceutical products to a consumer base of over 200 million people with tremendous buying power.
The Agreement requires a minimum quarterly order of one million of each of RDT's Energy, B12, and Sleep QuickStrips™ and the Company has provided RDT with a signed purchase order for US$2.1 million.
RDT's proprietary QuickStrip™ technology is a Quick, Convenient, Precise, Discreet™ oral fast-dissolving drug delivery system that offers an Anytime, Anywhere™ product to consumers. Ukraine Pharma expects to distribute QuickStrip™ by the third calendar quarter of 2019.
"This represents the beginning of a growing opportunity for RDT to provide its QuickStrip™ products to people wanting an effective and innovative means of delivering nutraceuticals," said Mark Upsdell, CEO of RDT. "The Agreement with Ukraine Pharma elevates QuickStrip™ as a growing international brand and delivery device to major market consumers, while simultaneously offering health benefits and improving patient outcomes."
"When we were introduced to the QuickStrip™ technology and nutraceutical product line, we knew this will significantly change the way drugs are delivered," said Veronica Burke, CEO of Ukraine Pharma. "The high quality product combined with the innovative delivery system is something we consider is much needed in the numerous Eastern European countries in which we have established relationships. We will begin distribution in Ukraine and expand from there."
About Rapid Dose Therapeutics Rapid Dose Therapeutics Corp. is a publicly-traded Canadian life sciences company that provides innovative, proprietary drug delivery technologies designed to improve outcomes and quality of lives. RDT offers Quick, Convenient, Precise and Discreet™ choices to consumers. RDT is focused and committed to clinical research and product development for the healthcare manufacturing industry, including nutraceutical, pharmaceutical and cannabis industries. Within the cannabis sector, RDT provides a turn-key Managed Strip Service Program which enables RDT's QuickStrip™ proprietary drug delivery technology to be licensed by select partners. RDT's service-based annuity contracts drive recurring revenue which enables rapid expansion into emerging markets — generating value for consumers and shareholders. Rapid Dose Therapeutics is committed to continually create innovative solutions aimed at multiple consumer segments and future market needs — including humans, animals and plants.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: Certain information in this news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward- looking statements. Forward looking statements are often identified by terms such as "may", "should", "anticipate", "expect", "potential", "believe", "intend" or the negative of these terms and similar expressions. Statements containing forward-looking information, including, without limitation, in respect of the delivery of products using the QuickStrip™ product delivery method, express, as at the date of this news release, the plans, estimates, forecasts, projections, expectations or beliefs of RDT as to future events or results and are believed to be reasonable based on information currently available to them. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation, risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; marketing costs; loss of markets; future legislative and regulatory developments involving cannabis; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; the cannabis industry in Canada generally, income tax and regulatory matters; the ability to implement its business strategies; competition; currency and interest rate fluctuations and other risks. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list is not exhaustive. There can be no assurance that statements of forward-looking information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, will prove to be accurate as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement.
SOURCE Rapid Dose Therapeutics Corp.
FlexITy and George Brown College Announce Healthcare Technology Partnership
Exceptional Education Meets Exceptional Technology: George Brown's Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing to infuse FlexITy technology into its simulation centre
TORONTO, July 16, 2019 /CNW/ - FlexITy Solutions Inc. and George Brown College, Creating Precision Patient Engagement Experience.
FlexITy is evolving their FlexHealth, Powered by FlexITy, taking it from the hospital to the classroom. Through a new partnership, FlexITy will enhance learning opportunities at George Brown's Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing by infusing new technology into the college's nursing simulation centre – the only one in Canada that is accredited by the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. Healthcare technology, like FlexHealth, can offer better patient care and outcomes, but the first step is educating future nurses on the transformative technology that will ultimately support them.
FlexITy, a leader in Canadian healthcare technology, announced as of April 2018, a FlexHealth solution created in partnership with GetWellNetwork to deploy "smart," patient-centric solutions in Canada. FlexITy's relationship with GetWellNetwork, combined with its deep understanding of the technology, security and data privacy needs of healthcare providers, has enabled the award-winning company to deliver a cutting-edge patient engagement solution that is well-positioned for Canadian healthcare. FlexITy also recently announced they were selected by Mackenzie Health to deliver "smart" patient engagement technology at the current Mackenzie Richmond Hill Hospital and Mackenzie Vaughan Hospital when it opens in late 2020. Continuing with the drive for smart hospitals, with the George Brown College partnership, FlexHealth's technology usage shifts from providing better care today, to better training of Canadian healthcare providers of tomorrow.
"FlexITy is working with George Brown to create an accredited course curriculum, and helping to prepare future healthcare practitioners by giving them the tools during their education in a real-world environment," says Peter Stavropoulos, CEO and President, FlexITy. "We understand how important properly trained practitioners are to a healthcare system; our technology supports the important work that they do. By partnering with George Brown College, we're helping make tomorrow's healthcare system better and more sustainable."
As part of the partnership, one of the hospital teaching rooms in George Brown's simulation centre will be enhanced with FlexHealth, allowing for ample teaching and learning opportunities centred around the technology. George Brown faculty will build an accredited course curriculum around the FlexHealth solution, which will be available to other FlexITy customers in the future for both in person and online training. Other partnership benefits include applied research plans, gamification of healthcare training, work integrated learning opportunities for students, as well as a chance for the two organizations to learn and grow together.
"At George Brown's Sally Horsfall Eaton School of Nursing we always want to leverage the latest technology in order to provide the most relevant educational opportunities to our nursing students, so they are prepared to enter the medical field," says Lori Cranson, Dean, Community Services and Health Sciences at George Brown College. "We are committed to providing the best learning experiences possible and adapting our curriculum to reflect industry-wide trends and changes."
What's more, George Brown is taking an interdisciplinary approach, expanding the project to include other areas of the college. It plans to involve its School of Computer Technology to implement and optimize the technology on campus, and is looking at aligning other academic divisions as the partnership unfolds.
"Collaborating with FlexITy provides new opportunities for students and faculty across the college to use state-of-the art technology," adds Cranson. "It will help prepare our students – in nursing and elsewhere – for the rapidly changing workplace and technologies they will encounter after graduation."
Integrated healthcare technologies are only going to become more prevalent, in Canada and globally, as institutions attempt to deliver better medical care, for less. "Canada's healthcare system is among the most respected in the world. FlexHealth, Powered by FlexITy, further extends patient care and patient outcomes," adds Stavropoulos.
About FlexITy and FlexHealth
FlexITy is an award-winning integrator of smart technology and service solutions, built on powerful and digitally advanced secure platforms, and delivered with decades of IoT expertise and services. FlexHealth-Powered by FlexITy, is a suite of patient-centric solutions that integrate interactive mobile applications, secure health IT and data and optimize healthcare management. FlexHealth engages patients and families, empowers clinicians and delivers outcomes that matter.
Toronto's George Brown College has established a reputation for equipping students with the skills, industry experience and credentials to pursue the careers of their choice. The college offers programs from its three campuses located across the downtown core, and provides housing at its student residence, The George, which opened in September 2016. George Brown offers 162 full-time programs and 194 continuing education certificates/designations across a wide variety of professions to a student body of nearly 29,000 (full-time enrolment) students, including 17 per cent international students; and over 67,000 continuing education registrants. Students can earn certificates, diplomas, graduate certificates, apprenticeships and degrees. www.georgebrown.ca
SOURCE FlexITy Solutions Inc.
The Green New Deal: What It Means for Medicine
by: Jane M. Orient, M.D.
The truth has been acknowledged by Alexandria Ocasio Cortez’s own chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti The Green New Deal is not primarily about greening the planet or controlling the climate. It’s about socialism, as the people from whom she plagiarized it have said all along. It’s a fundamental transformation of our way of life.
Since everything you do leaves a “carbon footprint,” the GND encompasses literally everything—especially your medical care.
The first question is whether you should be alive at all. In his sensational 1968 book, The Population Bomb, entomologist (insect specialist) Paul Ehrlich predicted that hundreds of millions of people would starve to death in the 1970s. That bomb fizzled, but he still believes that civilization is doomed within decades, as humanity places inexorable burdens on our Planet’s life support systems. The optimum population of the planet is less than 2 billion, he thinks, or 5.6 billion fewer than we have now.
Once you’re here, Ehrlich and his acolytes would apparently tolerate your presence, although the decline in U.S. life expectancy for the third consecutive year would likely be good news. But having children is another matter. The demographic legacy of one person, calculated over the average time for that person’s lineage to die out, is about 6 person-lifetimes in the U.S., with eventual emission of 9,441 tons of carbon dioxide. So, “reproductive health” ideally means no reproduction for most people, and many millennials (and celebrities) seem to embrace that idea. Predictably, unrestricted or even free abortion is an article of faith among Democrat candidates. And the LGBTQ agenda, also favored by all, tends to contribute to the goal of population reduction.
Ironically, politicians still talk about “our children and our grandchildren,” though they may work to assure that many of us don’t have any.
The U.S. health care sector is said to account for around 10 percent of the CO2 generated in the U.S. and thus “could be implicated” in 10 percent (20,000) of the nearly 200,000 premature deaths attributable to air pollution annually in the United States. (There are about 3 million annual deaths in the U.S., and it is impossible to identify even one as being premature because of air pollution; the argument is purely statistical.) Thus, hospitals are supposedly killing people, albeit indirectly, by using carbon-based energy for heating, air conditioning, elevators, lighting, ventilators, etc.
“Social determinants of health” are the trendiest subject in “healthcare reform.” GND prescriptions would profoundly affect those. Diet would be mostly plant-based foods, with meat limited, ultimately to 1 oz per day. Living space would be restricted, some propose to 320 sq ft per person, with no single-family homes allowed except for trailers. Energy efficiency standards would entail restrictions on entry of outside air, without regard to effects on indoor air pollution, including bacteria and viruses. (More than 300 people in a huge Hong Kong apartment building were infected with severe acute respiratory distress syndrome [SARS] because of this.) Transportation would be mostly walking, bicycling, or public transport. Private vehicles, except possibly electric, might be banned entirely, with roads converted to parks and walkways. It is not clear what emergency responders would do. If electricity came mostly from wind and solar it would be scarce, unreliable, and many times more expensive than now. (Already tens of thousands of deaths in the UK are attributed to inability to afford adequate heating, as costs of “renewable” electricity soared.)
The Democratic presidential debates, except for some squabbling over things like alleged racism, were a display of groupthink. Everybody raised a hand in favor of the GND and universal health care. Some are more radical than others; Kamala Harris insists that we have a “climate crisis,” not just “climate change.” What Americans need to know is the gritty detail behind the virtuous-sounding platitudes. How will their choices be constrained? How much will costs go up—for rent, utilities, fuel, food, and, of course, taxes? How will their standard of living be affected? And how will their actual medical care and health—as opposed to their health insurance card—be affected?
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Jane M. Orient, M.D. obtained her undergraduate degrees in chemistry and mathematics from the University of Arizona in Tucson, and her M.D. from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1974. She completed an internal medicine residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital and University of Arizona Affiliated Hospitals and then became an Instructor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and a staff physician at the Tucson Veterans Administration Hospital. She has been in solo private practice since 1981 and has served as Executive Director of the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) since 1989. She is currently president of Doctors for Disaster Preparedness. She is the author of YOUR Doctor Is Not In: Healthy Skepticism about National Healthcare, and the second through fifth editions of Sapira's Art and Science of Bedside Diagnosis published by Wolters Kluwer. She authored books for schoolchildren, Professor Klugimkopf’s Old-Fashioned English Grammar and Professor Klugimkopf’s Spelling Method,published by Robinson Books, and coauthored two novels published as Kindle books, Neomorts and Moonshine. More than 100 of her papers have been published in the scientific and popular literature on a variety of subjects including risk assessment, natural and technological hazards and nonhazards, and medical economics and ethics. She is the editor of AAPS News, the Doctors for Disaster Preparedness Newsletter, and Civil Defense Perspectives, and is the managing editor of the Journal of American Physicians and Surgeons.
Do You Know Where Your Cannabis Comes From? This Family-Owned Farm Encourages, Empowers Customers to “Know Thy Source”
Committed to purity, sustainability, Autumn Brands’ sixth-generation Dutch farmers encourage, empower customers to “know thy source”
LOS ANGELES, California – (July 16th, 2019): As consumer awareness and concern rises over the health and environmental impacts of commercial farming, Autumn Brands stands out as a sixth-generation family-run, farm-to-consumer agricultural business. The first to receive a California Provisional Annual Cultivation license in Santa Barbara County, Autumn Brands is a 50% woman-owned company known for its holistic focus and artisanal approach to producing powerfully potent strains of pesticide-free cannabis. Today, the same sustainable farming practices which originated with the Brand family in Holland over a century ago produce the premium, estate-grown cannabis that is reshaping the future of plant medicine.
In an age of expansive, complicated supply chain operations, where consumers must work hard to pinpoint the source of their food or medicine, Autumn Brands encourages and empowers medicinal and recreational cannabis users to “know thy source.” A recent study reports that over 60% of American consumers actively research the source of their food. Concerns about environmental impact as well as personal health benefits are greatly affecting the way consumers think about what goes into their bodies and how it connects to the greater good.
With the meteoric rise of commercially-farmed cannabis, government agencies are working harder than ever to keep up with explosive demand, leaving room for troubling quality control and environmental impact issues. Fortunately, companies like Autumn Brands, committed to both sustainable, quality cultivation practices and production transparency, are making it easier than ever for consumers to know and trust the source of their cannabis.
“We respect cannabis as a powerful earth medicine - one which offers untold benefits to so many people in every walk of life and lifestyle” explains Hans Brand, fifth-generation farmer and co-founder of Autumn Brands, “But with that power comes the responsibility to uphold clean cultivation practices and, above all, source transparency. It’s important for our customers to know what they’re putting in their bodies, and with our premium products, buyers can have peace of mind that they absolutely do.”
Autumn Brands brings an uncompromising work ethic, informed by generations of family farming, to the task of producing hand-selected, sun-grown buds, each hang-dried, hand-trimmed and cured to preserve maximum potency and full healing benefits. Determined to stand out in a fast-growing cannabis industry, the company aims to deliver sustainably sourced, farm-to-consumer cannabis to an eager health and wellness market. Visit www.AutumnBrands.com to learn more and discover their full selection of premium flower, pre-rolls, and pre-filled cartridges. Follow on Instagram @AutumnBrands for new product releases and updates.
About Autumn Brands:
Autumn Brands is a licensed California cannabis cultivator dedicated to the synergy of health and wellness. The Autumn Brands’ family farm started in Holland more than a century ago, and today, sixth-generation farmers apply the same expertise garnered in growing the world’s finest tulips to producing pure and potent strains of cannabis in sunny, coastal Santa Barbara County. Autumn Brands is proud to be 50 percent woman-owned, free of pesticides and other harmful chemicals. For more information, visit www.autumnbrands.com or email leighanne@anderson-pr.com.
Scotiabank, MD Financial Management, and the Canadian Medical Association announce $3.58 million to support family medicine
Five-year sponsorship agreement with the College of Family Physicians of Canada will support students, family medicine residents, family physicians, and recognition of excellence among family doctors in Canada
TORONTO, July 15, 2019 /CNW/ - Today, Scotiabank and MD Financial Management Inc. (MD), in collaboration with the Canadian Medical Association (CMA), are announcing a $3.58 million investment to support professional development for family doctors across the country as well as awards and scholarships for medical students and family medicine residents. Scotiabank and MD have also signed a five-year agreement with the College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) and its Foundation for Advancing Family Medicine (FAFM) to support the next generation of family doctors. Representing nearly half of all physicians in Canada, the CFPC is an important body whose work touches the lives of all Canadians.
The $3.58 million in funding, to be distributed over five years, is the latest in a series of contributions Scotiabank is making to Canada's medical profession as part of its 10-year, $115-million affinity agreement with the CMA. The funds will include annual investments for:
student and family medicine resident scholarships and awards, including funds dedicated to Indigenous students and residents;
the CFPC's Family Medicine Forum, Canada's largest gathering of family physicians for professional development, networking and celebrating the outstanding achievements of family physicians including the Family Physician of the Year awards;
international fellowships in family medicine to support advancing primary care globally; and
family medicine interest groups at medical schools across Canada to inspire students to pursue rewarding careers in family medicine.
The announcement comes just after the CFPC celebrated the anniversary of its founding in June 1954. Leveraging a combined 115 years of experience serving the best interest of physicians, MD, Scotiabank, CFPC and FAFM will work together to explore ways to develop new initiatives to support family physicians in Canada.
"For 50 years, MD has invested in physicians and the issues most important to them and their communities," said Brian Peters, President and CEO of MD Financial Management. "This new sponsorship illustrates our ongoing commitment."
"Scotiabank recognizes the crucial role of family physicians in communities across Canada and is proud to support them through this collaboration with the CFPC, working together to recognize family doctors, provide scholarships to medical students and family medicine residents, and connect the best of family medicine to the international community," said Glen Gowland, Executive Vice President, Global Wealth Management at Scotiabank.
"We are so pleased to support the CFPC through this financial contribution. Family medicine is the backbone of primary care in Canada, and we must seize every opportunity to connect the profession, celebrate its contribution to patient care, and enable professional development," stated Dr. Gigi Osler, CMA President.
"For 65 years and counting, the CFPC remains dedicated to the training, certification and lifelong learning of family doctors," said CFPC President Dr. Paul Sawchuk. "We are very grateful for the generous support from Scotiabank and MD that will help us further enhance this important work, create new opportunities to celebrate outstanding achievements, and encourage a strong future in family medicine for the people in Canada."
About Affinity Contributions Scotiabank, MD Financial Management (MD) and the Canadian Medical Association (CMA) together are firmly committed to supporting the medical profession and advancing health in Canada. As proof of this commitment, and in collaboration with the CMA and MD, Scotiabank will invest $115 million over the next 10 years to support physicians and the communities they serve across Canada. Additional announcements for the physician community are forthcoming, recognizing that such collaborations are essential to support the profession and effect meaningful change.
About Scotiabank Scotiabank is Canada's international bank and a leading financial services provider in the Americas. We are dedicated to helping our more than 25 million customers become better off through a broad range of advice, products and services, including personal and commercial banking, wealth management and private banking, corporate and investment banking, and capital markets. With a team of more than 99,000 employees and assets of over $1 trillion (as at April 30, 2019), Scotiabank trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: BNS) and New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: BNS). For more information, please visit www.scotiabank.com and follow us on Twitter @ScotiabankViews.
About MD Financial Management Inc. With 50 years of physician-focused experience, MD has one main goal: to help Canada's physicians achieve financial well-being. MD had $50 billion in assets under administration as of July 5, 2019 and is dedicated to serving Canada's physicians and their families. MD provides financial products and services, the MD Family of Funds and investment counselling services through the MD Group of Companies. For a detailed list of these companies, visit md.ca.
About the College of Family Physicians of Canada The College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC) is the professional organization that represents more than 38,000 members across the country. The College establishes the standards for and accredits postgraduate family medicine training in Canada's 17 medical schools. It reviews and certifies continuing professional development programs and materials that enable family physicians to meet certification and licensing requirements. The CFPC provides high-quality services, supports family medicine teaching and research, and advocates on behalf of the specialty of family medicine, family physicians, and the patients they serve.
About the Foundation for Advancing Family Medicine The CFPC's Foundation for Advancing Family Medicine (FAFM), formerly known as the Research and Education Foundation, was established in 1994 to provide leadership in family medicine through philanthropy. The FAFM funds programs and projects in family medicine and supports numerous research grants, scholarships, and awards that recognize the achievements of clinicians, teachers, researchers, family medicine residents, and medical students. Our funding priorities (family medicine research and family medicine education, the Patient's Medical Home, and global health care via the Besrour Centre) recognize our most important initiatives and have a meaningful impact on improving patient care in Canada and around the world. https://fafm.cfpc.ca.
About the Canadian Medical Association Since 1867, the Canadian Medical Association has been the national voice of Canada's medical profession. We work with physicians, residents and medical students on issues that matter to the profession and the health of Canadians. We advocate for policy and programs that drive meaningful change for physicians and their patients.
SOURCE Scotiabank
Novacap acquires interest in Spectrum Health Care
TORONTO, July 15, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - Novacap, a leading Canadian private equity firm, today announced it is acquiring a majority interest in Spectrum Health Care, a top provider of innovative home health care services in Ontario, investing alongside Spectrum's existing management team. Spectrum offers a range of client-centred health care solutions which include home care nursing, personal and home support, physiotherapy, foot care and corporate wellness. Their motto "Always with you", is a testament to their dedication to provide clients with exceptional health services that are personalized, flexible, accountable and reliable. Novacap plans to continue to invest in the company's growth and help it expand throughout Ontario. Novacap sees tremendous growth potential in Spectrum and will work with management to strengthen Spectrum's position as a market leader in Home Care in Ontario.
"The team at Spectrum Health Care has industry leading experience in healthcare and home care, helping to reduce hallway medicine and providing the highest level of care for clients in the comfort of their own home." says Marc Paiement, Senior Partner - Industries, at Novacap. "We firmly believe that the management team at Spectrum, is the best team in the industry, and that blending Spectrum's expertise and focus with that of Novacap, will enable Spectrum Health Care to drive growth, expand their service offerings and continue to be the preferred home care solution in Ontario. This partnership will allow us to explore various strategic opportunities to expand Spectrum's current capabilities and geographic reach. We are all very enthusiastic about this chance to work with this caring and dynamic company."
Lori Lord, President and CEO, Spectrum Health Care, adds: "Spectrum Health Care is proud to be joining forces with a strategic partner of the calibre of Novacap to propel our company to the next phase of its growth. For over 40 years we have been providing home care services to Ontarians with an unsurpassed service delivery quality. We will continue this focus while finding new and innovative solutions to help keep our clients in their home, while delivering the highest standard of care."
About Novacap Founded in 1981, Novacap is a leading Canadian private equity firm with $3.2 billion of assets under management. It's distinct investment approach, based on deep operational expertise and an active partnership with entrepreneurs, has helped accelerate growth and create long-term value for its numerous portfolio companies. With an experienced management team and substantial financial resources, Novacap is well positioned to continue building world-class businesses. Backed by leading global institutional investors, Novacap deals typically include leveraged buyouts, management buyouts, add-on acquisitions, IPOs, and privatizations. Over the last 37 years, Novacap has invested in more than 90 companies and completed more than 130 add-on acquisitions. The company has offices in Toronto and Brossard, Quebec. For more information, please visit www.novacap.ca.
About Spectrum Health Care Spectrum Health Care is a leading provider of innovative home health care services, offering nursing, personal and home support, physiotherapy, corporate wellness, non-urgent patient transfer, senior companionship and event medical services. Headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, Spectrum Health Care has proudly been serving the Ontario community for over 40 years and is committed to providing clients with seamless services through its Total Care model. For more information, please visit: www.spectrumhealthcare.com
SOURCE Novacap Management Inc.
WHAT REALLY WORKS TO PULVERIZE THOSE DIMPLED THIGHS?
“Cottage cheese,” “funky gravy.” “hail damage” - whatever you want to call it - cellulite is never something we want to see on our bodies. That lumpy, dimple-looking flesh on our thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and hips is dreaded by women and men alike. Cellulite is caused by fat cells pushing up against a layer of skin, tethered down by connective fibers that attach to the muscles. When there is a buildup of fat, these fibers pull down while the fat pushes up, creating the appearance of uneven, bumpy skin. Cellulite is not a weight issue and can affect individuals of all shapes, sizes and ages.
While cellulite is not a serious medical condition, it can make someone feel insecure or embarrassed. However, you aren’t alone; between 80 to 90 percent of women will experience cellulite at some point in their lives. Some might start to notice cellulite as early as puberty. Dr. Gretchen Frieling is a board -certified Boston Area Dermatopathologist. She cuts out the clutter to define what really works in 2019 to eradicate cellulite, be it a temporary or permanent solution.
Are there at home creams that can provide temporary improvement?
“If you’re looking for an at-home treatment, topical creams are an effective way to diminish cellulite. However, they’re a long-term or complete “cure,” says Dr. Frieling, She adds, “The fat cells are still under there! To maintain the results, you’ll have to apply the product every day. Use a moisturizing cream with ingredients that treat fatty tissues such as caffeine or retinol to minimize cellulite. To see results, you must apply the topical cream daily to improve cell circulation. Caffeine works as a diuretic, which can dehydrate the fat cells and change the water content, which can reduce the appearance of cellulite. While creams with at least 0.3 percent retinol work by thickening the outer layer of skin. It is essential to test these products on your skin before long-term use as some have shown to have adverse effects. Most creams can be found online and at any drugstore.”
What are the latest technologies to decrease Cellulite?
Acoustic wave therapy
Studies show that this can reduce the appearance of cellulite. Several treatment sessions are needed to see a reduction.
During one minimally invasive laser treatment called Cellulaze™, a tiny laser fiber is inserted beneath your skin. When the laser is fired, the laser energy breaks up the tough bands beneath the skin that cause us to see cellulite. This treatment can also thicken your skin, which is important. Skin often thins where cellulite forms. Thickening the skin can help reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Bottom line: Cellulaze™ may reduce the appearance of cellulite. Patients see results that last a year or longer. More research is needed to know for sure how effective this laser can be.
Subcision
Called Cellfina™, this medical procedure involves your dermatologist inserting a needle just under the skin to break up the tough bands beneath the skin that cause us to see cellulite.
Bottom Line: Cellfina™ has been shown to reduce the skin dimpling that you see with cellulite. In a study of 232 patients, 99% of them said they were satisfied with the results. The results can last two years and possibly longer.
Vacuum-assisted precise tissue release
This also breaks up the tough bands that cause us to see cellulite. During this procedure, your practitioner will use a device that contains small blades to cut the tough bands. After the bands are cut, the tissue moves upward to fill out and eliminate the dimpled skin.
Bottom line: This may be an effective treatment for reducing cellulite. A small study shows that many patients who received this treatment had less cellulite for up to 3 years. It’s too soon to tell, but the results may last even longer.
Radiofrequency
This is a type of treatment that heats the cellulite. One FDA-approved device combines radiofrequency with a laser, suction, and massage to target cellulite.
Bottom line: Recent studies suggest some patients see a little less cellulite. This result, however, is short-lived and several treatments are needed to see this minor change.
After treatment, bruises are common. These fade with time.
Are there lifestyle exercise or diet changes that will reduce cellulite?
AVOID SUGAR Dr. Frieling explains, “Your diet may be playing a significant role in the amount of cellulite you have, so it’s important always to have a well-balanced diet. One of the biggest culprits for causing cellulite are sugary sweet snacks and processed foods. Sugar is stored in our fat cells, and having too much will cause them to expand, thus creating the appearance of cellulite. The same goes for foods with high sodium intake, which cause bloating and water retention, making cellulite more noticeable. Other foods to avoid are cheese, soda, deli meat, fried food, and white bread.”
EXERCISE REGULARLY If you’re struggling to get rid of those stubborn dimples, it’s time to get up and get moving. “While it isn’t exactly the cure for cellulite,” says Dr. Frieling, she adds that “regular exercise will help in its prevention by strengthening the muscles underneath the fat in your butt, thighs, and hips. Squats and lunges, as well as a 45-minute walk, are great exercises that target the leg muscles and make the skin look more even.”
STOP SMOKING Smoking reduces the amount of blood that flows to your skin, causing the skin to become thinner and saggier. While it is a difficult habit to kick, the cellulite on your legs, arms, and butt will be less visible.
REDUCE YOUR ALCOHOL CONSUMPTION “Elimination or significantly reducing the amount of alcohol you consume may aid in decreasing the toxins that accumulate underneath our fat cells. Alcohol also has high amounts of sugar, which will only make the cellulite more noticeable,” says Dr. Frieling.
STAY HYDRATED This probably won’t be the first time you’ve been told to drink more water, but it does help! Dr. Frieling explains that “By drinking 8 to 10 glasses of water every day, you’re helping to remove the toxins stored underneath the layer of fat which cause our skin to look lumpy. Staying hydrated also helps with the overall health of your skin, making it appear more plump and full”.
FAKE IT!
If you have fair skin, a self-tanner may help. Dimpled areas are less noticeable on darker skin. Start with a gentle body scrub, then apply a self-tanning lotion to cellulite areas only. Next spritz your entire body with a tanning spray. Pass on a real tan. It'll damage your skin and make cellulite look worse.
About Dr. Gretchen Frieling
After graduating summa cum laude from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences, Dr. Frieling completed her medical school at The University of Florida College of Medicine. She continued to excel academically and personally and pioneered a medical mission trip to the Dominican Republic to provide free medical care. After medical school, Dr. Frieling completed her training in Anatomic and Clinical Pathology at the Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital/Harvard Medical School. She then completed her Dermatopathology fellowship at the University of Vermont Medical Center. Currently, she is also a practicing Dermatopathologist in Newton, Massachusetts.
During her training, Dr. Frieling built an extensive resume, including but not limited to many articles in the Dermatology and Pathology literature, textbook chapters, and national conference presentations. She was on faculty at Harvard Medical School and participated in the first year Histopathology course.
In her spare time, Dr. Frieling continues to give back to her community and beyond. Currently, she is spearheading another medical mission to the Dominican Republic and partnering with Pedro Martinez and The Pedro Martinez Foundation.
Along with splitting her time as a practicing dermatopathologist, Dr. Frieling enjoys spending time with her husband, her two kids, and extended family, as well as volunteering in the community. She is a resident of Wellesley and loves good music and is always up for trying a new restaurant!
Proposed Settlement of Canadian AMS Women's Pelvic Mesh Litigation
TORONTO, July 13, 2019 /CNW/ - Siskinds LLP, Rochon Genova LLP, Siskinds, Desmeules sencrl and Merchant Law Group announced today a Canada-wide settlement reached in two class actions related to certain mesh devices for treatment of Pelvic Organ Prolapse ("POP") and Stress Urinary Incontinence ("SUI") manufactured and distributed in Canada by American Medical Systems Canada, Inc., American Medical Systems, Inc., and Endo Pharmaceuticals Inc. ("AMS"). The class actions, which were commenced in 2012, allege various injuries associated with AMS' women's pelvic mesh devices.
The proposed settlement applies to all women resident in Canada who were implanted with one or more of these devices and provides for the payment by the defendants of $20,858,488.48, for eligible claims as well as administration costs, legal fees and payments to the provincial health insurers.
The proposed Settlement is not an admission of liability on the part of the defendants, nor has there been any finding of liability by the Court against them. The defendants deny the allegations made in the lawsuits.
Class Expanded
As part of the settlement of the action, the Class Definition has been expanded to include women who were implanted with the defendants' AMS SUI Transvaginal Mesh Devices or AMS POP Transvaginal Mesh Devices on or after May 29, 2015 and Additional AMS SUI and POP Mesh Devices. A copy of the amendment orders, the amended class definition, and the list of applicable devices are available at www.amsmeshclassactions.ca.
If you were implanted with an AMS SUI Transvaginal Mesh Device or an AMS POP Transvaginal Mesh Device prior to May 29, 2015, and did not opt out of the action prior to July 28, 2015 you may not opt out now, even if you have one of the Additional AMS SUI and POP Mesh Devices.
If you were first implanted with an AMS SUI Transvaginal Mesh Device or an AMS POP Transvaginal Mesh Device on or after May 29, 2015 or were implanted only with an Additional SUI and POP Mesh Device, however, you may "opt out". Opting out means that you will not be entitled to any compensation if the settlement is approved, but you will be able to commence your own lawsuit or continue any lawsuit you already have brought.
If you would like to opt out, you must do so no later than September 11, 2019. More information about how to opt out is available online at www.amsmeshclassactions.ca or by requesting it from Class Counsel. For English-language assistance, contact Class Counsel at 1-800-461-6166 x2367 or, for assistance in French, 1-800-461-6166 x2409.
Court Approval Required
The proposed settlement requires the approval of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice and a hearing has been scheduled to proceed on October 4, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at Osgoode Hall in Toronto. At the same time, the Court will be asked to approve the Compensation Protocol, which sets out how Class Members will be compensated, and Class Counsel's fees and disbursements.
Class Members may object to the settlement, the compensation protocol and/or Class Counsel fees by email to Siskinds LLP at amsmeshclassactions@siskinds.com by no later than September 11, 2019.
Further information relating to the proposed settlement, including the long form notice, Compensation Protocol and the Settlement Agreement and related exhibits, is available at www.amsmeshclassactions.ca.
The law firms of Siskinds LLP, Siskinds Desmeules sencrl, Rochon Genova LLP and Merchant Law Group represent the Class Members and may be contacted as follows:
Siskinds LLP
Siskinds, Desmeules sencrl
Rochon Genova LLP
Merchant Law Group
Elizabeth deBoer
Erika Provencher
Joel P. Rochon
Evatt Merchant
519-672-2251 ext. 2367
418-694-2009
416-363-1867
306-359-7777
SOURCE Siskinds LLP
Using the Common Cold Virus to Treat Bladder Cancer
Exciting New Advances in Oncolytic Virotherapy
By Cancer Researcher Joshua Mansour, M.D.
A runny nose, fever, and scratchy throat can be early signs of a cold. While it isn’t currently “cold season” which typically occurs in the fall and winter, a common viral cause of the cold, the cocksackie virus, has been recently affecting people in a different way. Although most people dread being infected by this virus, it is now being studied as a possibility to treat bladder cancer.
While viruses have the ability to cause devastating illnesses, they have recently in medicine been used to treat cancer, especially aggressive types. Oncolytic virotherapy has been an emerging treatment, with major institutions investing research and time into fine tuning this therapy. There has been a wide array of viruses that have been used, including measles, polio, herpes, and the adenovirus, but most recently the cocksackie virus.
Treatments for bladder cancer typically involve a combination of aggressive therapy and surgery that can many times be debilitating to the patient. There have been some recent advances in immunotherapy drugs known as checkpoint inhibitors (used in some other cancers as well) to treat bladder cancer. Several drugs that are approved target PD-1 and PD-L1 proteins that normally help keep the immune system “in check” from attacking other cells in the body. This inhibition of this allows T-cells to recognize and attack cancer cells in an immune response. They are approved after failure of platinum-based therapy which is still the base of first-line treatment or if it can’t be tolerated given the serious complications that can arise from this toxic regimen.
However, in addition to the arsenal of therapies to help treat this type of cancer may soon be on the horizon. In a recent study, 15 patients at the University of Surrey in England were given the cocksackie virus (CVA21) one week prior to surgery for bladder cancer through a catheter directed towards the tumor. The virus would then enter the cancer cells and trigger a protein that leads to an immune response. Once those cancer cells had died, the virus replicates and then infiltrates and attacks other cancer cells, leaving the healthy ones intact.
When the tumor samples were analyzed after surgery there was evidence that the virus had targeted and killed some of the bladder cancer cells in all 15 of the patients, with no significant side effects. In one patient all evidence of the disease had completely disappeared. All of this was following just one week of treatment, showing promise, but even greater potential for further effectiveness with increased time. This phase one clinical trial is just the beginning of possibly a promising treatment in early-stage non-invasive bladder cancer.
Bacillus Calmette-Guerin is a bacterium similar to Tuberculosis that is also is catheter-directed. It is a therapy that is currently used also to encourage the immune system to attack and destroy cancer cells. However, this has been used after transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT) in an attempt to prevent the cancer from returning following the procedure. However, even after these current treatment regimens, there is a high recurrence rate of this bladder cancer.
In 2019 there will be approximately 80,000 new cases of bladder cancer and it is the fourth most common cancer in men and the eight most common cause of cancer death. Ninety percent of individuals diagnosed with bladder cancer are above the age of 55 and the average age of diagnosis of this type of cancer is 73 years old. Non-muscle invasive bladder cancer is the most common presentation of bladder cancer and very challenging to treat. The older age of onset many times can make treatment with aggressive therapy difficult for patients to tolerate. Therefore, in addition to early and effective treatment, finding a better therapy is imperative.
The plan moving forward is to use this cocksackie virus in combination with the aforementioned checkpoint inhibitor therapy prior to surgery in a future trial with even more patients.
Viruses can undoubtedly be very dangerous, there is no denying that information. With the continued viral outbreaks recently, it is refreshing to see many of these viruses now being used to treat cancer.
About Joshua Mansour, MD…
Dr. Joshua Mansour is a board-certified hematologist/oncologist working and in the field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular immunotherapy in Stanford, California. In June 2019 he was a recipient of the ‘40 Under 40 in Cancer’ award. Abstracts, manuscripts, and commentaries by Dr. Mansour have been published in more than 100 esteemed journals and media outlets including Canada Free Press, Today’s Practitioner, Physician’s News, and KevinMD. He has given countless presentations at conferences and other institutions, and he has helped design and implement clinical studies to evaluate current treatment plans, collaborated on grant proposals and multi-institutional retrospective studies that have been published. Recently Joshua Mansour. M.D. was featured on Fox Television.
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