Summer can be one of the toughest times to be single. There’s nothing worse than looking at Instagram or Facebook and seeing your married/couple friends off on vacation in the South of France or spending the weekend at a BBQ in the Hamptons while you stare longingly at your dog in your cramped apartment wishing your fire escape could morph into the Caribbean Sea or a gondola in Venice. If you haven’t met Mr. or Ms. Right by Memorial Day Weekend how can you salvage your summer? Dr. Sanam Hafeez is an NYC Neuropsychologist who also happens to be a single mom of two boys. This is no trivial matter. Loneliness can literally be a killer! It can lead to depression, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, and other destructive behaviors. Here she shares some ideas to socialize without a significant other during the dog days of summer.
Take A Daycation
There is something called www.resortpass.com. While this is not yet available in every city, it does allow people to book day passes at luxury hotels and use their beach, pool, spa, and amenity facilities in some cases for as little as $25.00 per day! Hotels such as Kimpton, W, Westin, Hyatt, Ritz Carlton, St. Regis and many others offer this. Not only does soaking up Vitamin D makes us feel good, who knows, your lounge mate could turn into an evening date!
Try a Meet Up
Meetup is about connecting people with something in common. From activities you love and hobbies you want to try, to ways you identify yourself and who you want to be, a Meetup group is a community. A community of people who come together because they care about the same thing. Mountain climbers, first-time parents, aspiring kite surfers, chefs, coders… you name it, there’s a good chance there’s a Meetup group for it. You can join online or through the app and find a Meet Up group that fits your exact interest.
Don’t Let Being Single Ground You or De-Rail Your Travel
Let’s face it, unless you are an extraordinarily confident and independent person, it can be unsettling to travel solo to a foreign country and eat meals alone and wander around with nobody to converse with. This need not be the case! There are many travel groups that build their business around single travelers who are more mature than Club Med. Once such company is https://www.singlestravelintl.com Their vacations run the gamut from weekends, cruises, adventure travel, and international travel. And they are just one of many companies who do this.
For the Single Person in Recovery From Drugs or Alcohol
Very often, “Singles Vacations” can mean party time and this can be challenging for those in recovery. There are hundreds of thousands of people who fall into this category, and that’s why sober vacations exist. https://sobervacations.com is one company that has been around since 1987, however numerous others exist.
Summer Camp for Adults
If you were lucky enough to go to summer camp as a kid, doesn’t that bring back great memories of camp fires and roasting smores? You can recreate that experience in a co-ed environment! Adult summer camps are a “thing” and they are popping up all over the country. www.campbonfire.com is an example where the activities are so varied and sundry from rock climbing, pool parties, Thai massage, kickball, survival skills, or doing nothing at all!
Volunteer
What do you like? Pets? Art? Kids? Try any place where they can be found, like a shelter, museum or hospital. It really gives you a boost to give unconditionally.
Find an Extra Job Doing Something You Really Enjoy
Only do so if it won’t add unwanted stress to your life.Look up freelance opportunities in your area doing what you're skilled at. The extra income will make you feel better and give you more cash to spoil yourself.
Swap Your Home/Apt With a Friend Temporarily
It beats the cost of a hotel and can certainly get you out of a rut and in front of new people! Perhaps, you’re a woman living in New York and are not feeling it with the men in the big apple. Maybe you have a friend in LA you can swap homes with to see how you vibe with the pace and the people on the west coast. It gives you a chance to feel things out without making a long-term commitment.
“The bottom line,” says Dr. Hafeez, “is that with some well thought out planning, you need not be single and lonely during the summer months. You can fill your time with people, sun, fun, adventures, new cultures, and in the process of doing so, you just might find “the one.”
Curbing your enthusiasm for overeating
UC Riverside-led mouse study focuses on cannabis-like molecules that augment feeding behavior
Signals between our gut and brain control how and when we eat food. But how the molecular mechanisms involved in this signaling are affected when we eat a high-energy diet and how they contribute to obesity are not well understood. Using a mouse model, a research team led by a biomedical scientist at the University of California, Riverside, has found that overactive endocannabinoid signaling in the gut drives overeating in diet-induced obesity by blocking gut-brain satiation signaling. Endocannabinoids are cannabis-like molecules made naturally by the body to regulate several processes: immune, behavioral, and neuronal. As with cannabis, endocannabinoids can enhance feeding behavior. The researchers detected high activity of endocannabinoids at cannabinoid CB1 receptors in the gut of mice that were fed a high-fat and sugar — or Western — diet for 60 days. This overactivity, they found, prevented the food-induced secretion of the satiation peptide cholecystokinin, a short chain of amino acids whose function is to inhibit eating. This resulted in the mice overeating. Cannabinoid CB1 receptors and cholecystokinin are present in all mammals, including humans. “If drugs could be developed to target these cannabinoid receptors so that the release of satiation peptides is not inhibited during excessive eating, we would be a step closer to addressing the prevalence of obesity that affects millions of people in the country and around the world,” said Nicholas V. DiPatrizio, an assistant professor of biomedical sciences in the UC Riverside School of Medicine who led the research team. For more information, please visit: https://news.ucr.edu/articles/2019/06/11/curbing-your-enthusiasm-overeating
DON’T TRY THESE SKIN CARE DEVICES, GADGETS OR TIPS AT HOME WARNS DERMATOPATHOLOGIST
Life hacks, DIY tricks, and at home devices that are meant to “mimic the effects of in-office skin care treatments are all the rage right now. They are posted on Instagram, YouTube, and all over the Internet. While some are very constructive and budget-friendly, others are ineffective or downright dangerous. We asked Dr. Gretchen Frieling, who is a Boston area Dermatopathologist, to highlight several highly publicized methods that should bear the warning, “don’t try this at home.”
Dermaplaning- Dermaplaning is a cosmetic procedure that removes the top layers of your skin. The procedure aims to remove fine wrinkles and deep acne scarring, as well as make the skin’s surface look smooth. It usesan exfoliating blade to skim dead skin cells and hair from your face.
The Risks- Anecdotally, the risk of infection, complications, and experiencing pain during home dermaplaning is higher when you do it yourself. “If you have acne, there is a chance that the blade could nick a pimple,” says Dr. Frieling which means it would take longer to heal. In addition, the tool used for dermaplaning is not a safety razor like what we ladies shave with. The device or tool used to accomplish the dermaplaning on the face is made of a sharp blade with a handle or wand.
At home “Derma-Rollers” for MicroNeedling” Aestheticians and dermatologists use derma rollers on clients to increase elasticity, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and help with discoloration. Professional treatment can cost anywhere from $100 to $1,200 per session. According to Marketwatch, “A trend report for 2018 from lifestyle site Pinterest says it’s seen a 345% increase in posts for the “derma-roller” over the past year.” Dr. Frieling is not in favor of using the tools at home because, “the needles aren’t big enough to penetrate the proper holes into the skin, so you’re essentially damaging your face for no reason. And without proper sterilization, derma rollers can harbor harmful bacteria causing infections, breakouts, and can trigger skin conditions such as rosacea, which causes redness and bumps on the face; eczema, itchy inflammation spots; and brown patches on the skin.”
Injecting Botox or other “Black Market” Filler into Your Face- First, even if you were able to get your hands on “real” Botox or filler such as Juvederm or Restylane® it’s almost like putting a firearm in the hands of someone untrained at shooting. There is no safe way to give yourself Botox. You can’t trust what you’re buying, and even if you could, no amount of YouTube-ing will ever adequately teach you the skills you need to inject it. First, you need to know where to inject the substance. The answer is not to point the needle at the fine lines. After all, you’re relaxing muscles, not filling in wrinkles. Injecting Botox requires an understanding of facial muscles. You need to know which muscles should be relaxed for the desired results and where to target them. Second, you need to know how deeply to insert the needle and how much of the mixed substance you should apply in any given location.
Incorrect injection practices can lead to a host of complications, including eyelid drooping (ptosis), excessive swelling, excessive bruising, and a greater risk of infection. In fact, the infection may become so severe that it becomes a staph infection, an infection that spreads throughout the body and causes a variety of diseases. In any case, recovery will be longer, and the results may not be what you intended.
Lip Plumper Suction Devices- We have Kylie Jenner to thank for these! They aremuch less expensive than filler in the lips but with a far shorter shelf life. Dr. Frieling’s verdict: “Overuse of suction cup lip plumpers can cause misalignment of the teeth due to the outward pressure of the suction. Devices such as these can also cause swelling and bruising of the lips (and sometimes permanent scarring) when used excessively. The advice is to use these devices sensibly and with caution.”
At home acne extractors- The county has become obsessed with popping pimples thanks in part to the success of the TV show “Dr. Pimple Popper.” Acne extractors sold online, and people are using them at home. But should they? Picking causes scars or scabs by ripping off the top layer of skin, whereas extracting by a professional pulls out the fluids or solids inside a pimple. It's far more sterile, sanitary, and cleans the pore of extra debris. Why can’t you simply do this yourself? Acne extraction, be it white or black heads, is a ‘don’t try this at home procedure.’ It’s a one-way ticket to scarring, infection and even more breakouts. Only through a professional facial will your skin be prepped and steamed correctly for extractions – by the hands of a trained, licensed esthetician. Skin that has not been adequately prepped for extractions may be resistant, requiring more pressure and manipulation. If used too aggressively, the pressure of the extractor tool can inflame and even bruise the skin. Additionally, a skin care professional is well-practiced in gentle and efficient movements to maximize results while minimizing potential harm.
Cuticle Cutters-Trimming or cutting cuticles during a manicure is purely cosmetic and doesn't benefit the nail in any way. In fact, it's actually harmful to your nails. “The small area of skin is there to protect your nails from infection. When this skin is removed, your nail is left unprotected from bacteria and fungus. Dr. Frieling recommends pushing back the cuticles by applying cuticle remover on each nail.
Chemical Peels- Chemical peels are designed to work by removing part of the top layer of skin to reveal fresher skin for a more youthful appearance. Many products containing low concentrations of acid are sold through beauty retailers and drug stores, and are often safe to use. People also are treated with peels using a higher concentration at medi-spas or doctor’s offices. When it comes to alpha hydroxy acids or (AHAs) like salicylic and glycolic acids, a concentration of 10 percent or less is safe for home, and more than 30 percent should be reserved for a professional environment, according to a Food and Drug Administration advisory panel. Like many substances, illegal concentrations of chemical peels can be purchased online for substantially less than they would cost in a doctor’s office. But what price do you pay for a “bargain?” According to Dr. Frieling, “the dangers of experimenting with a medical grade peel at home are numerous and can include: extreme pain in the form of stinging, actual burns to the skin, blistering, scarring, changes in skin color, infection.” What’s more, a skin care professional will determine if you are even a candidate for a chemical peel and possibly rule you out if you have taken the acne medication isotretinoin in the past six months, have a dark complexion, have a personal history of ridged areas caused by an overgrowth of scar tissue (keloids), have abnormal skin pigmentation, have a history of frequent or severe outbreaks of cold sores.
Dr. Frieling says that there are worthwhile “skin care hacks,” DIY recipes for the skin, and some at home devices that are safe and effective. Before buying into the latest Instagram sensation, consult with your doctor first to make sure that you are a good candidate and that what you are considering is safe and effective.Board Certified Dermatopathologist Dr. Gretchen Frieling
Dr. Frieling is a medical doctor with over 10 years of experience as a leader in the Dermatology and Pathology fields. Her background is notable for intensive training in ballet, which includes attending the Juilliard School in New York City. She combines her artistic eye, perfectionistic qualities, and medical expertise, to give her patients impeccable, ‘show-stopping’ results. When it comes to cosmetic procedures, specifically injectables, Dr. Frieling has mastered the art of re-defining and re-vitalizing the face by eliminating fine lines and wrinkles and re-establishing volume. She will listen to your requests and concerns. She will explain the available procedures that would be optimal for your unique situation. She is never in a rush and will spend as much time as you desire discussing these options.
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!
Board Certified Dermatopathologist Dr. Gretchen Frieling
Dr. Frieling is a medical doctor with over 10 years of experience as a leader in the Dermatology and Pathology fields. Her background is notable for intensive training in ballet, which includes attending the Juilliard School in New York City. She combines her artistic eye, perfectionistic qualities, and medical expertise, to give her patients impeccable, ‘show-stopping’ results. When it comes to cosmetic procedures, specifically injectables, Gretchen has mastered the art of re-defining and re-vitalizing the face by eliminating fine lines and wrinkles and re-establishing volume. She will listen to your requests and concerns. She will explain the available procedures that would be optimal for your unique situation. She is never in a rush and will spend as much time as you desire to discuss these options.
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!
VALENS EXPANDS SIZE AND SCOPE OF AGREEMENT WITH TILRAY
Kelowna, B.C., June 10, 2019 – Valens GroWorks Corp. (CSE: VGW, OTC: VGWCF) (the “Company” or “Valens”), a multi-licensed, vertically integrated provider of cannabis products and services focused on various proprietary extraction methodologies, distillation, cannabinoid isolation and purification, as well as associated quality testing is pleased to announce that it has expanded the volume of extraction services and has added an option to provide contract manufacturing services to the arm’s length, binding multi-year agreement (the "Agreement") previously announced February 26, 2019 with Tilray Inc. (“Tilray”) (NASDAQ: TLRY), a global leader in cannabis research, cultivation, production and distribution.
Under the initial two-year term of the expanded Agreement, Valens will extract on a fee for service basis a minimum annual quantity of 60,000kg of dried cannabis and hemp biomass, up 300% from the 15,000kg annual commitment outlined in the original agreement. In addition, the Company may provide contract manufacturing services for tincture bottles and gel caps, with the option to offer contract manufacturing services for other product formats such as vaporizer cartridges and topicals as Health Canada regulations allow.
"This significant expansion of extraction services requested by Tilray is a true demonstration of the industry leading service being provided to our partners,” says Tyler Robson, CEO of Valens GroWorks Corp. "We are honoured to be recognized by Tilray not only as a leader in the extraction space, but also for our ability to create value through our innovative product development and contract manufacturing services. We anticipate these services will become a significant component of our business as we continue to grow along side our customers."
This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as “anticipates”, "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed", “positioned” and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Corporation is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law.
The CSE or other regulatory authority has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this press release. We seek Safe Harbour.
Canadian employers underestimate the presence of chronic disease in the workforce
1 in 2 Canadians with workplace drug plans have been diagnosed with a chronic disease or condition
Most plan members are in favour of pharmacogenetic testing for precision medicine
TORONTO, June 11, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - The 22nd edition of The Sanofi Canada HealthcareSurvey uncovered gaps in knowledge that can serve to help guide decision-making among employers who provide health benefit plans to employees. A persistent gap is employers' underestimation of the presence of chronic disease in their workforce, which suggests they may also underestimate the negative impact of unmanaged disease on productivity.
"Providers of workplace health benefit plans can use these results to help drive new benefit offerings and wellness initiatives that focus on supporting plan members with chronic disease," says Michael Mullette, President and CEO of Sanofi Canada. "The past few years have seen positive growth in supports for mental health, which can serve as a model for other major chronic conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease."
The Sanofi Canada Healthcare Survey also reveals employees' and employers' opinions on numerous other timely topics, including precision medicine, targeted health messaging, national Pharmacare and medical cannabis. The full report is available from Sanofi Canada's website at www.sanofi.ca/en/about-us/sanofi-canada-healthcare-survey.
Growing urgency to do more for chronic disease
54% of plan members have been diagnosed with at least one chronic disease or condition, increasing to 69% among those aged 55 to 64.
Plan sponsors estimate that 39% of their workforce has a chronic condition.
When chronic pain is added to the equation, 67% of employees have a condition that can impact productivity and lead to repeated absences from the workplace.
87% of employees with a chronic condition would like to know more about their condition and how to treat it.
82% of employers would like their benefit plan to do more to support employees with chronic conditions.
Changing menu for health benefits
74% of employees would consent to pharmacogenetic testing so that physicians can prescribe medications that are most likely to work well for them (referred to as precision medicine or personalized medicine); 65% of employers are interested in providing coverage for pharmacogenetic testing.
65% of employees would consent to receive health information based on their personal use of benefits; 74% of employers would like their benefit plan's insurance carrier to send such targeted health messaging to employees.
45% of employers agree medical cannabis should be covered by their workplace health benefit plan, up from 34% in 2018; 64% of employees believe medical cannabis should be covered.
Workplace drug plans misunderstood
Employees and employers significantly underestimate the number of drugs covered by workplace drug plans, and overestimate the number of drugs covered by provincial drug plans.
77% of employees and 52% of employers have low or no knowledge about a possible national Pharmacare program in Canada.
Levels of support are high among employees (87%) and employers (84%) for a Pharmacare that fills gaps in coverage for Canadians who have no insurance or are underinsured, and does not affect workplace drug plans.
Other topics addressed
Perceptions of quality of health benefit plans • Importance of job satisfaction and a wellness culture • Perceptions of funding • Expectations for retirement benefits • Support levels for virtual care, pharmacists' prescribing and health coaching • Importance of claims data analysis and the setting of objectives • Plan sponsors' desire to better understand absenteeism • What plan sponsors would like to do to improve their health benefit plan
ALSO IN THE REPORT: "3 Steps for a Healthier Health Benefit Plan" A simple one-page plan for positive changes
Supporting quotes from members of the Advisory Board
"The optimal use of drugs to treat chronic conditions needs to come before conversations about coverage for higher-cost drugs. Awareness of the impact of non-adherence appears to be growing, but as an industry we can raise more of an alarm so that this becomes a priority for action." Danielle Vidal, Director of Business Development, SSQ Insurance
"There seems to be a trend toward plan members' willingness to pay more. Perhaps this is signaling that as we think more about wellness and preventative solutions, there is an openness to a shared-cost or co-pay model." Mark Rolnick, Vice-President, Payor Partnerships & Plan Sponsor Innovation, Health Solutions by Shoppers Drug Mart
"There is a value proposition around holistically supporting health, and that's more easily achieved when we keep all benefit lines together. If the government manages drug coverage exclusively, we may lose the opportunity to fully leverage data to illustrate the gaps and respond proactively to trends in chronic disease with early, personalized interventions." Christine Potvin, Vice-President, Group Life & Disability, Sun Life Financial
"It's definitely encouraging that plan members are more comfortable than not with personalized communications. But many plan sponsors say that they can't afford even one person complaining about the use of their data, and that shuts things down. Certainly, we understand that, but it's unfortunate because there is really good opportunity here." Ryan Weiss, Assistant Vice-President, Group Customer Market Development, Great-West Life
"We are seeing a trend in RFPs, where more and more information is being requested of insurers. But what we are being asked to provide is not always giving policyholders what they need to create optimal benefit plans. Our role as a provider is to help policyholders identify priorities and create the best plan for them." Marc Bertossini, Director, Marketing, Group and Business Insurance, Desjardins
About The Sanofi Canada Healthcare Survey
The Sanofi Canada Healthcare Survey is Canada's premier survey of health benefit plans, capturing the opinions, concerns and behaviours of employees and employers with health benefit plans. The 2019 edition of The Sanofi Canada Healthcare Survey was initiated by TC Media Content Research Group on behalf of Sanofi Canada. The survey was conducted online in January 2019. A total national sample of 1,505 primary holders of group health benefit plans completed the study. The data has been statistically weighted to ensure the age, gender and regional composition of the sample reflect those of the adult population according to the 2016 Census data. This survey was coupled with another online survey of 403 health benefit plan sponsors from across the country, conducted in January 2019. The data was statistically weighted to accurately reflect the geographic distribution of business and business size according to Industry Canada. The full report is available from Sanofi Canada's website at www.sanofi.ca/en/about-us/sanofi-canada-healthcare-survey.
About Sanofi
Sanofi is dedicated to supporting people through their health challenges. We are a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health. We prevent illness with vaccines, provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. We stand by the few who suffer from rare diseases and the millions with long-term chronic conditions.
With more than 100,000 people in 100 countries, Sanofi is transforming scientific innovation into healthcare solutions around the globe. Sanofi entities in Canada employ more than 2,000 people. In 2018, we invested $127.4 million in R&D in Canada, creating jobs, business and opportunity throughout the country.
“Healthcare” is supposed to be the big election issue, and politicians promise to give people universal and equal “healthcare,” or prevent the bad guys from taking it away.
Everyone of course wants to be healthy, and a $3 trillion industry wants to keep the money flowing.
So, I have a confession to make as a doctor: I don’t think I have ever kept anybody healthy. If someone comes to me asking for “health maintenance,” I don’t have a shot of “health” to give, or a prescription for “health” to be filled at your neighborhood Walgreens, CVS, or Rite-Aid.
And as a patient, I can’t recall any ways in which doctors kept me healthy, although they did save my life by taking out my appendix, and they treated some illnesses and injuries. I am very grateful to them, and whatever I paid them seemed reasonable and well worth it.
To my mind, a healthy person is one who does not have to see a “healthcare provider” regularly or take medicine every day, and who can go to work, take care of family, and generally lead an active life.
We hear endless complaints about how we spend too much money treating sickness instead of preventing it. If only we had the government take all the money, plus trillions more, and “invest” it in health, we wouldn’t have to spend so much, and everyone would be healthier—so they say.
This was the rationale for the National Health Service in Britain. Once the NHS took care of the backlog of untreated illnesses, much of the need for it would melt away. This did not happen. Expenditures kept rising and were never enough. The backlogs and waiting lists grew. Ambulances circle emergency departments, and patients are crammed into hallways and storage rooms.
Suppose you go for your government-funded, “value-based” health maintenance visit. Details of your once-private life will be entered into a very expensive electronic health record. (For most people, it will be their own data, but occasionally someone else’s will be cut-and-pasted in, causing endless trouble.) You will be checked for diabetes or pre-diabetes, hypertension or pre-hypertension, tobacco use, cholesterol, in many cases gun ownership, body mass index, and other government-mandated items. You will get educated about the evils of tobacco (in case you have been on Mars and hadn’t heard). You’ll be lectured about obesity if your BMI is too high. You’ll very likely get a prescription to lower your blood pressure or cholesterol, and you may get vaccinated for something.
Your provider will likely get a bonus for checking all the right boxes and for “keeping you healthy,” and will get penalized if your “numbers” don’t improve or you get sick. Since I don’t think others are any better than I am at creating health, there is a huge incentive to “manage the case mix” to discourage unhealthy or noncompliant patients from joining the practice.
People on drugs for blood pressure or cholesterol may feel worse rather than better, but are supposed to be less likely to have a heart attack or stroke decades later. Studies with huge numbers of patients, who may be very different from you, have shown a decrease in such events with treatment. So far, a decrease in expenditures has not been shown, in view of the cost of all the drugs and side effects.
Of course, as an internist I treat high blood pressure and diabetes, but I consider this to be disease management. Would better diet prevent these things? Possibly, but what diet? I recommended low-fat diets for years. This government-approved advice is now questioned.
So how would government-funded primary care have prevented the diseases my patients have had? Heart failure? (Statin drugs probably make it worse.) Heart attacks? (When the patient has one, it is too late to prevent it.) Stroke? (Preventive aspirin is now criticized because of the bleeding it may cause.) Osteoarthritis? (We have great joint replacements but are much better at blocking access to surgery than at curing the arthritis.) Gall bladder disease, cancer, pneumonia, blood clots, thyroid disease, cataracts, arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, herniated disks, asthma, endocarditis from drug abuse, on and on. If we put all the doctors to work pretending to keep people healthy, who would treat disease and injury?
Healing the sick is what medicine is about. The politicians who promise to “fix healthcare” can only destroy medicine—while bankrupting the country.
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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.
MPX International Establishing Cannabis Joint Venture in South Africa
TORONTO, ONTARIO, June 11, 2019 – MPX International Corporation (“MPX International”, “MPXI” or the “Company”) (CSE:MPXI; OTC:MPXOF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with First Growth Holdings (Pty) Ltd. (“First Growth”) which provides the basis for MPXI and First Growth to enter into a series of agreements through which MPXI intends to acquire a 51% interest in First Growth, subject to the completion of due diligence as well as definitive documentation.
First Growth is applying under the Medicines and Related Substances Act, No. 101 of 1965 for a license to cultivate, manufacture and export cannabis from the Sonop Farm, which is located in the traditional wine-growing region of Stellenbosch in South Africa’s Western Cape.
The culmination of this South African joint venture will establish a low-cost jurisdiction in which MPXI will be able to purchase either all or a substantial portion of the cannabis flower and/or extract to support its operations in Canada, Europe and Oceania. Full development of the project would result in up to 6 hectares (approximately 530,000 square feet) of advanced EU-Good Agricultural Practices (“EU-GAP”) certified greenhouse cultivation and EU-Good Manufacturing Practice (“EU-GMP”) certified extraction and processing laboratory.
Upon First Growth achieving the applicable milestones outlined below, MPXI will issue warrants in MPXI (“MPXI Warrants”) to the current shareholders of First Growth up to an exercise value of US$5,000,000. The warrants will be issued in tranches, as outlined herein, will have a term of three years, and a price equal to the five day volume weighted average price of the common shares of MPXI on the Canadian Securities Exchange (the “CSE”) as of the day the respective milestone has been met, unless otherwise stated. The MPXI Warrants will be issued pursuant to all applicable securities laws, regulations, rules, rulings and orders and the rules of the CSE. Subject to definitive documentation, the MPXI Warrants will be issued as follows:
US$500,000 upon receipt by First Growth of a cultivation, import and export license from South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (“SAHPRA”) with an exercise price determined as the five-day volume weighted average price of the common shares of MPXI on the CSE as of the date of the Definitive Agreements;
US$500,000 upon receipt by First Growth of a cultivation, import and export license from SAHPRA;
US$1,000,000 upon successful cultivation and processing of 1,000 kg of Good Agricultural and Collection Practice (“GACP”) grade dried flower suitable for delivery to a 3rd party extraction facility;
US$1,500,000 upon successful cultivation and processing of 10,000 kg of GACP grade dried flower suitable for delivery to a 3rd party extraction facility;
US$500,000 upon receipt First Growth of an extraction and manufacturing license from SAHPRA; and
US$1,000,000 upon successful delivery of 100 kg of EU-GMP grade cannabis extract through the First Growth processing facility.
“South Africa is currently one of the few countries in Africa that has agricultural standards capable of meeting Good Agricultural Practice standards as defined by the European Union,” says W. Scott Boyes, Chairman, President and CEO of MPX International. “As well, our partners at First Growth bring to the venture, extensive experience in regional cultivation, packaging and logistics enabling MPXI to quickly bring the venture on-line and ensuring us of a high quality and reliable supply of lower-cost cannabis biomass and extract for our growing global markets.”
About MPX International Corporation
MPX International Corporation is focused on developing and operating assets across the global cannabis industry with an emphasis on cultivating, manufacturing and marketing products which include cannabinoids as their primary active ingredient.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release includes certain “forward-looking statements” under applicable Canadian securities legislation that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects, and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, MPX International’s objectives and intentions. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic and social uncertainties; litigation, legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; delay or failure to receive board, shareholder or regulatory approvals; those additional risks set out in MPX International’s public documents filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com; and other matters discussed in this news release. Although MPX International believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Except where required by law, MPX International disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
Fully Managed Announces Acquisition of ServiceNow Premier Partner Lime Collar Group
TORONTO, June 11, 2019 /CNW/ - Fully Managed, a global managed service provider (MSP) for small and medium-sized enterprises and senior care facilities today announced it has acquired ServiceNow® Premier partner Lime Collar Group of Toronto.
Lime Collar Group, founded in 2015, delivers next-generation service management solutions to enterprises in Canada and the United States. As part of the acquisition, which became effective June 1, 2019, Fully Managed welcomed new staff, including Lime Collar co-founders Rob Vos, Rick Bowes and Curtis Gallant, who have joined the team in senior leadership roles in the FM Enterprise Service Management (ESM) group.
"Lime adds a critical component to our ServiceNow ESM offering in the areas of implementation and remote application management and administration 'as-a-service'," stated Mark Scott, CEO of Fully Managed. "Beyond that, Lime brings a wealth of enterprise consulting experience in next-gen service management, software asset management SecOps and DevOps. The former Lime team adds depth and strength to our organization and greatly enhances our ServiceNow bench, certifications and capabilities."
"Lime Collar Group is excited to join Fully Managed, who are one of the top ServiceNow MSPs," said former Lime co-CEO Rick Bowes. "Lime customers will now have additional benefits and options from the combined organizations while receiving the same great service they have become accustomed to."
Fully Managed now has over 280 employees focused on three lines of business (divisions): Managed Services, Enterprise Service Management, and Senior Care technology solutions. The company has plans to continue expansion through both organic growth and additional strategic acquisitions within the ServiceNow ecosystem.
"We are pleased to see ServiceNow partners Fully Managed and Lime Collar Group combine forces to bring more scale and capabilities to our customers in Canada and the US," stated Marc LeCuyer, General Manager for Canada at ServiceNow.
About Fully Managed
Fully Managed is a top-50 global managed service provider, leading ServiceNow MSP, and market leader in senior care technology solutions. Our FM service management platform provides organizations with a complete solution to deliver 24×7 service desk, IT service management, automation, security, and digital transformation. We deliver ServiceNow-as-a-Service at a fraction of the cost with seamless implementation and ongoing maintenance. Our mission is Creating Peace of Mind that our customers' technology will work exactly how they need it to, when they need it to!
CareWorx Fully Managed is the senior care industry's largest provider of managed IT, hardware/mobile devices and wireless solutions, with 70,000 devices and IT services in over 5,000 facilities. We help over 600,000 seniors receive better care every day!
About Lime Collar Group
Lime Collar Group specializes in next generation enterprise service management solutions for the digital era, helping organizations transform to a customer and business-oriented digital service delivery model. We advise, architect, implement and manage solutions for a better customer and employee experience, for less.
SOURCE Fully Managed
Harris Williams Advises Impact Fitness on its Sale to Morgan Stanley Capital Partners
Richmond, Virginia, June 11, 2019 – Harris Williams, a global investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, announces that it advised Impact Fitness, a portfolio company of Bain Capital Double Impact, on an investment by investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley Capital Partners (MSCP), the middle market focused private equity team within Morgan Stanley Investment Management. Headquartered in Brighton, Michigan, Impact Fitness is one of the highest performing franchisees within the Planet Fitness system, built on the foundation of providing high-quality, affordable access to health clubs for underserved communities. The transaction was led by Ryan Budlong, Zach England and Brandon Geyer of Harris Williams’ Consumer Group.
“We are honored to have had the privilege to serve as Impact Fitness’ advisor,” said Ryan Budlong, a managing director at Harris Williams. “We look forward to watching Impact Fitness’ future and are excited that the company has found a new partner in MSCP that will continue to support management’s mission of positively impacting and serving their members and communities.”
“Impact Fitness represents our second transaction in the last year within the Planet Fitness system and another marquee transaction for Harris Williams in the fitness space,” said Zach England, a vice president at Harris Williams. “The Planet Fitness franchisee community is a truly special group of operators, who together generate exceptional value for a powerful brand that is driving the industry.”
Impact Fitness was founded by Chris Klebba in 2006 with the opening of one club in the Greater Detroit market. Since then, the company has grown organically and via acquisitions to 29 clubs across Michigan, Indiana, British Columbia and Ontario. In addition to operating top-performing locations in the Planet Fitness system, Impact Fitness is dedicated to improving communities in which it operates by providing high-quality, affordable gym access to underserved communities, partnering with local charitable organizations and hiring talent from the very cities and towns the clubs serve. Impact Fitness achieved B-Corp eligibility status in 2018 and is a recognized leading franchisee in the Planet Fitness system.
Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors of fitness centers in the United States. As of March 31, 2019, Planet Fitness had more than 13.6 million members and 1,806 clubs in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Panama and Mexico. The company’s mission is to enhance people’s lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, called the Judgment Free Zone®.
Bain Capital Double Impact is the impact investing strategy of Bain Capital, a leading global private investment firm. Bain Capital Double Impact utilizes Bain Capital's proven, deep diligence, value-added approach to build great companies that deliver both competitive financial returns and meaningful, measurable social and environmental good. Bain Capital Double Impact focuses on sustainability, community building and health and wellness to create long-term value and meaningful impact at scale. Its goal is to enable the next phase of financial and impact growth for its partner companies, which are solving critical social problems, and doing so profitably.
MSCP, part of Morgan Stanley Investment Management, is a leading middle market private equity platform that has invested capital in a broad spectrum of industries for over three decades. MSCP focuses on privately negotiated equity and equity-related investments primarily in North America and seeks to create value in portfolio companies primarily in a series of subsectors in the business services, consumer, healthcare and industrials markets with an emphasis on driving significant organic and acquisition growth through an operationally focused approach.
Morgan Stanley (NYSE: MS) is a leading global financial services firm providing investment banking, securities, wealth management and investment management services. With offices in more than 41 countries, the firm's employees serve clients worldwide including corporations, governments, institutions and individuals.
Harris Williams, an investment bank specializing in M&A advisory services, advocates for sellers and buyers of companies worldwide through critical milestones and provides thoughtful advice during the lives of their businesses. By collaborating as one firm across Industry Groups and geographies, the firm helps its clients achieve outcomes that support their objectives and strategically create value. Harris Williams is committed to execution excellence and to building enduring, valued relationships that are based on mutual trust. Harris Williams is a subsidiary of the PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE: PNC).
Harris Williams’ Consumer Group has completed more than 60 transactions in recent years across a variety of verticals, including branded consumer products; consumer services; fitness; food, beverage and agribusiness; and restaurant and retail. For more information on Harris Williams’ Consumer Group and other recent transactions, visit the Consumer Group’s section of the Harris Williams website.
Harris Williams LLC is a registered broker-dealer and member of FINRA and SIPC. Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is a private limited company incorporated under English law with its registered office at 5th Floor, 6 St. Andrew Street, London EC4A 3AE, UK, registered with the Registrar of Companies for England and Wales (registration number 07078852). Harris Williams & Co. Ltd is authorized and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH is registered in the commercial register of the local court of Frankfurt am Main, Germany, under HRB 107540. The registered address is Bockenheimer Landstrasse 33-35, 60325 Frankfurt am Main, Germany (email address: hwgermany@harriswilliams.com). Geschäftsführer/Directors: Jeffery H. Perkins, Paul Poggi. (VAT No. awaited). Harris Williams is a trade name under which Harris Williams LLC, Harris Williams & Co. Ltd and Harris Williams & Co. Corporate Finance Advisors GmbH conduct business.
GLI Declares New Global Public Health Epidemic in Light of Startling Lack of Awareness
Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis will next year be the number one cause of liver transplants
WASHINGTON, June 12, 2019 /PRNewswire/ --Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH) is a potentially fatal condition affecting up to 12% of adults worldwide, an estimated 115 million people around the globe, yet in a recent survey, only 6% of at-risk individuals had ever heard of the condition. Leaders in liver health advocacy, The Global Liver Institute (GLI) is declaring NASH a "hidden epidemic," marking June 12th as International NASH Day to shine a spotlight on NASH and raise awareness of the little-known symptoms of this disease and the need for better diagnosis and treatment options.
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