Medicago Awarded "Best New Vaccine Technology/Platform" at the World Vaccine Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 25, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - Medicago, a Canadian biotech company and global leader in the development and production of plant-derived vaccines, announced today that its proprietary plant-based production platform, Proficia® was named "Best New Vaccine Technology/platform" at the World Vaccine Congress in Washington, D.C., attended by 1,500 participants including key opinion leaders from the vaccine industry. The Vaccine Industry Excellence (ViE) Awards recognize the outstanding achievements of vaccine practitioners and stakeholders across the global vaccine industry.
"It is very gratifying to see that our technology is again being recognized as innovative in our industry", said Bruce Clark, President & Chief Executive Officer of Medicago. "Winning this award as the best new technology in the eyes of leading experts in the vaccine industry is an important validation of the value of our plant-based technology to vaccine and antibody development."
Developed in Quebec City, Medicago's technology has the potential to rapidly respond to surging threats by producing vaccines or therapeutic antibodies in the face of an outbreak such as pandemic influenza. Our data has shown that the Proficia® platform can:
Rapidly deliver a pandemic vaccine candidate in 5 to 6 weeks
Accurately match the selected strain as a result of its recombinant technology
Easily scale vaccine production as one plant or 10,000 plants require the same growth conditions
Medicago's platform versatility has been demonstrated for the production of vaccines and antibodies. In 2012, in the context of DARPA's Blue Angel program, the company successfully proved its platform capacity to produce 10 million doses of a candidate H1N1 pandemic vaccine in one month at its manufacturing plant in North Carolina. Medicago's influenza development program includes a pandemic, a seasonal and a universal flu vaccine. In addition to flu vaccines, in 2015, Medicago successfully completed a contract with the U.S. government (BARDA) to produce anti-Ebola antibodies.
On top of this newly received award, Medicago's platform Proficia® was awarded the "Game-changing Technology Award in 2014, by BIOTECanada". This prize recognized an organization that had made a significant contribution to the biotech industry in Canada through the innovative plant-based vaccine production platform.
In 2018, Medicago broke ground on the new $245 million manufacturing complex in Quebec City that will include the company's headquarters, research and development as well as production facilities. The company plans to produce annually 40 to 50 million doses of quadrivalent vaccines against seasonal influenza. In 2019, Medicago will achieve a key milestone by completing Phase III clinical studies in adults and elderly subjects.
About World Vaccine Congress The World Vaccine Congress remains the industry's definitive vaccine industry event for major vaccine players. Officially the longest-running and largest vaccine industry event in North America, the World Vaccine Congress delivers a forum where the ever-changing dynamics of the vaccine industry are discussed and acted upon by the industry's most senior figures.
About Medicago Medicago is a Canadian clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with more than 450 employees in Canada and the United States. Medicago's mission is to improve global health outcomes by leveraging innovative plant-based technologies for rapid responses to emerging global health challenges.
Spectrum Cannabis and the Arthritis Society Team Up to Launch Arthritis Talks, A National Symposium Series for Patients
SMITHS FALLS, ON and TORONTO, April 25, 2019 /CNW/ - Spectrum Cannabis, the medical division of Canopy Growth Corporation (TSX: WEED) (NYSE: CGC) is pleased to announce a partnership with the Arthritis Society to raise awareness and educate people about living with arthritis, including the potential of medical cannabis as a treatment for arthritis symptoms and the importance of seeking guidance from health care practitioners. The Arthritis Society is a leading charitable funder of arthritis research whose vision is to live in a world where people are free from the devastating effects of arthritis.
The partnership will engage Canadians across the country in a series of symposiums titled "Arthritis Talks," presented by the Arthritis Society and Spectrum Cannabis. The series consists of a comprehensive program of in-person and digitally-accessible education events across Canada featuring leading speakers on topics that are of high interest and relevance to people living with arthritis.
Spectrum Cannabis and the Arthritis Society are also committed to creating a range of evidence-based resources that will enable people with arthritis to make informed decisions regarding medical cannabis. These resources which will be developed over the coming months and available on Arthritis.ca, range from infographics to educational videos and an online guide that will feature content backed by the latest evidence available to guide patients through the process of making decisions about medical cannabis.
Today, one in five people across Canada live with arthritis; that's about six million Canadians and the prevalence of arthritis is on the rise. It's estimated that as many as one in four Canadians will have arthritis by 2040, a projected 50% increase.
"Many people today have significant unmet medical needs, particularly with conditions such as arthritis where standard therapies have produced sub-par results," commented Dr. Mark Ware, Chief Medical Officer, Canopy Growth. "Our partnership with the Arthritis Society aligns with our commitment to set the industry standard for awareness and education surrounding medical cannabis and its various therapeutic benefits including its potential as a treatment for those living with arthritis."
"For people with arthritis, symptoms like chronic pain and fatigue can seriously erode your quality of life," says Arthritis Society Chief Science Officer, Dr. Siân Bevan. "While medical cannabis may offer the possibility of some relief, these patients and their physicians need credible, evidence-based guidance with which to make informed treatment decisions. The Arthritis Society continues to lead the way in calling for and funding innovative research and education initiatives to address this urgent need, and we are pleased to partner with Spectrum Cannabis to empower Canadians living with arthritis to make the treatment decisions that are right for them."
Arthritis Talks: Nourish & Flourish, the first event of this exciting series takes place on Saturday, May 4, 2019 in both Calgary and Winnipeg. Experts in nutrition, physical activity and medical cannabis will bring current research and information about arthritis to in-person attendees and online participants through a live, interactive webcast. Event information and registration instructions can be found on the Arthritis Society website.
Spectrum Cannabis: Medical Cannabis. Simplified.
About the Arthritis Society The Arthritis Society is a national health charity, fueled by donors and volunteers, with a vision to live in a world where people are free from the devastating effects that arthritis has on lives. Begun in 1948 with one very clear goal – to alleviate the suffering of people crippled by arthritis – that same volunteer-led passion carries on today in communities across Canada. Through the trust and support of our donors and sponsors, the Arthritis Society is Canada's largest charitable source of investments in cutting-edge arthritis research, proactive advocacy and innovative solutions that will deliver better health outcomes for people affected by arthritis. The Arthritis Society is accredited under Imagine Canada's Standards Program. For more information and to make a donation, visit arthritis.ca.
About Spectrum Cannabis Spectrum Cannabis, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Canopy Growth, is dedicated to simplifying medical cannabis for patients and healthcare practitioners worldwide. Founded in Canada, Spectrum Cannabis operates in Australia, South America, Africa and across Europe. Spectrum Cannabis products are available in a wide range of potencies and formats designed to simplify the dialogue around strength and dosage by applying a colour-coded Spectrum to categorize medical cannabis according to THC and CBD levels. Its product lineup includes whole flower cannabis, oils and new innovations such as Softgels. Through product simplification, easy dosing formats, and ongoing education of healthcare professionals, Spectrum Cannabis is committed to improving the lives of medical cannabis patients around the globe.
About Canopy Growth Canopy Growth (TSX:WEED, NYSE:CGC) is a world-leading diversified cannabis and hemp company, offering distinct brands and curated cannabis varieties in dried, oil and Softgel capsule forms. Canopy Growth offers medically approved vaporizers through the Company's subsidiary, Storz & Bickel GMbH & Co. KG. From product and process innovation to market execution, Canopy Growth is driven by a passion for leadership and a commitment to building a world-class cannabis company one product, site and country at a time. The Company has operations in over a dozen countries across five continents.
The Company is proudly dedicated to educating healthcare practitioners, conducting robust clinical research, and furthering the public's understanding of cannabis, and through its wholly owned subsidiary, Canopy Health Innovations ("Canopy Health"), has devoted millions of dollars toward cutting edge, commercializable research and IP development. Canopy Growth works with the Beckley Foundation and has launched Beckley Canopy Therapeutics to research and develop clinically validated cannabis-based medicines, with a strong focus on intellectual property protection. Canopy Growth acquired assets of leading hemp research company, ebbu, Inc. ("ebbu"). Intellectual Property ("IP") and R&D advancements achieved by ebbu's team apply directly to Canopy Growth's hemp and THC-rich cannabis genetic breeding program and its cannabis-infused beverage capabilities. Through partly owned subsidiary Canopy Rivers Corporation, the Company is providing resources and investment to new market entrants and building a portfolio of stable investments in the sector.
From our historic public listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and New York Stock Exchange to our continued international expansion, pride in advancing shareholder value through leadership is engrained in all we do at Canopy Growth. Canopy Growth has established partnerships with leading sector names including cannabis icon Snoop Dogg, breeding legends DNA Genetics and Green House seeds, Battelle, the world's largest nonprofit research and development organization, and Fortune 500 alcohol leader Constellation Brands, to name but a few. Canopy Growth operates ten licensed cannabis production sites with over 4.3 million square feet of production capacity, including over one million square feet of GMP certified production space. The Company operates Tweed retail stores in Newfoundland and Manitoba and has entered into supply agreements with every Canadian province and territory. For more information visitwww.canopygrowth.com
Notice Regarding Forward Looking Statements This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements or information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Canopy Growth or its subsidiaries to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release. Examples of such statements include statements with respect to creation of digital educational assets and tools. Risks, uncertainties and other factors involved with forward-looking information could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including educational resources and events, and such risks contained in the Company's annual information form dated June 27, 2018 and filed with Canadian securities regulators available on the Company's issuer profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information or forward-looking statements in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. The forward-looking information and forward-looking statements included in this news release are made as of the date of this news release and the Company does not undertake an obligation to publicly update such forward-looking information or forward-looking information to reflect new information, subsequent events or otherwise unless required by applicable securities laws.
SOURCE Canopy Growth Corporation
Genome BC Invests $1 Million in Funding to Innovative Medical Diagnostics Company
LightIntegra's ThromboLUX test for blood platelet activation status could improve efficacy of platelet transfusions
VANCOUVER, April 25, 2019 /CNW/ - Genome BC is pleased to announce $1 million in funding to LightIntegra Technology (LIT). LIT has developed the first analyzer to provide a routine test for platelet activation status.
A Vancouver based medical device company, LIT is focused on reducing the failure to achieve the desired level of blood platelets in a patient following a platelet transfusion (refractoriness) and reducing costs for healthcare institutions and blood cancer patients. Platelets are a key component in blood and are necessary for clotting and immune defense. LIT's novel technology, ThromboLUX, can be used to rapidly determine platelet quality, thus avoiding ineffective transfusions and potentially reducing platelet refractoriness. The expected results are improved patient outcomes, safety, and reduced healthcare costs.
"We are pleased to provide LIT with $1 million in growth capital through our Industry Innovation (I2) Fund," says Dr. Tony Brooks, Chief Financial Officer and Vice President, Entrepreneurship and Commercialization at Genome BC. "ThromboLUX will dramatically enhance platelet transfusion outcomes and patient health — particularly for those with blood cancers. Our investment, alongside funding from many local private investors, will help LIT commercialize this innovative BC-based product."
The premise of the ThromboLUX technology is that activated platelets are optimal for clotting and are therefore most effective for trauma or surgery patients and non-activated platelets are optimal for cancer patients. The current standard of care assumes all platelet bags are the same; however, up to 50% of a platelet bag inventory may be activated. When activated platelets are given to immune-compromised patients, such as cancer patients, it potentially leads to failed transfusions with multiple failed transfusions leading to platelet refractoriness, which can ultimately result in death.
ThromboLUX is a non-invasive, five-minute, easy-to-use optical test that doesn't require dilution or reagents. It relies on the principle of dynamic light scattering to determine the size and distribution of all particles in a platelet sample.
"Clinical trials have demonstrated the potential to improve the effectiveness of platelet transfusions by providing the right bag to the right patient – right now. With ThromboLUX, we have the ability to reduce unnecessary transfusions and the overall cost of care, with the objective to transform the worldwide use of one of life's most precious resources – platelets," said William Dubiel, President and CEO at LightIntegra Technologies.
Genome BC has invested in LIT through its Industry Innovation (I²) program. The I² Fund provides commercialization support for companies developing innovative life science technologies that address biological challenges in key economic sectors in BC: Agriculture, Energy and Mining, Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Forestry, and Human Health. The I² Fund also supports digital health and other technologies that further move precision medicine into clinical practice. I² funding is repayable and is allocated to promising technologies (products, processes or services) at the early stages of commercial development. The Fund aims to provide risk capital that is concurrently matched by other public or private funding sources.
About LightIntegra Technology, Inc.: LightIntegra Technology is a privately funded medical diagnostics company launched from the Canadian Blood Services R&D labs through the efforts of research scientist Dr. Elisabeth Maurer. LightIntegra's efforts to minimize platelet refractoriness have resulted in the introduction of ThromboLUX, a rapid in-vitro test that assesses platelet activation status. As a routine test for platelet concentrates, ThromboLUX identifies which platelet units may be best suited for prophylaxis and which units may be best suited for therapeutic use.
About Genome British Columbia: Genome British Columbia leads genomics innovation on Canada's West Coast and facilitates the integration of genomics into society. A recognized catalyst for government and industry, Genome BC invests in research, entrepreneurship and commercialization in life sciences to address challenges in key sectors such as health, forestry, fisheries and aquaculture, agrifood, energy, mining and environment. Genome BC partners with many national and international public and private funding organizations to drive BC's bioeconomy. www.genomebc.ca
SOURCE Genome British Columbia
Canada's Largest Private Funder of Vision Research Calls for National Strategy to Tackle Emerging Vision Health Care Crisis
VANCOUVER, April 25, 2019 /CNW/ - Fighting Blindness Canada (FBC) is warning that Canada is facing an emerging vision health care crisis that, if not addressed, will see the number of people living with blindness double by 2031.
Blindness is the most feared disability amongst Canadians. In addition to the 1.5 million people living with vision loss today, over 5.59 million Canadians live with eye conditions like age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma, which put them at serious risk of going blind.
Fighting Blindness Canada called for a national vision health strategy that entails: a national public health campaign for vision loss prevention; better access to existing vision-related medications and treatments; greater access to emerging treatments such as gene therapy, stem cell therapy, and pharmaceuticals; increased research funding to advance science into clinical trails; access to genetic testing; and the creation of a national talent plan to address the decreasing number of ophthalmologists, optometrists, opticians, and other eye professionals.
FBC unveiled its call for a national strategy in Vancouver, where the organization, formerly known as Foundation Fighting Blindness, also launched its new name and expanded mandate.
"We are changing our name to Fighting Blindness Canada to reflect our mission to accelerate the development and availability of treatments and cures for all blinding eye diseases," said Doug Earle, President and CEO. "Throughout our 45-year history, research has always been our focus. All the research we fund supports our goal of understanding why vision loss occurs, how it can be slowed or stopped, and how sight can be restored."
While in Vancouver, FBC and FBC-funded researchers will showcase the latest information about sight-saving research and emerging treatments for blinding eye diseases at several events for the public and scientific community.
About Fighting Blindness Canada
Fighting Blindness Canada (FBC) is the largest private funder of vision research in Canada. FBC has contributed over $40 million to the search for sight-saving cures and treatments for blinding eye diseases. With the support of its generous donors, FBC has funded over 200 research grants that have led to over 600 discoveries such as stem cell research, neuroprotective therapies, technological developments, pharmaceuticals and gene therapies. Visit fightingblindness.ca or call 1.800.461.3331 to learn more.
SOURCE Fighting Blindness Canada
The Growing Wellness Holiday Demand for Health-Conscious Men
The 10th to the 16th of June marks both Men’s Health Week and Father’s Day, So whether you’re travelling alone, looking for some peace and quiet, or if you’ve got a fitness boot-camp in mind, Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists has you covered.
What better time to take care of the men in your life, whether that’s yourself, your partner or a family member. There’s a common association drawn between wellness holidays and girly getaways but looking good and feeling great is not exclusive to women; taking a break from an overworked, stressful life is of incredible importance to men’s health in the 21st Century!
The suicide rate for men in the UK is frighteningly high, as many men suffer in silence. These health retreats will have you hitting the waves, getting more mindful, sweating it out and fighting the sedentary lifestyle that comes with an office job. From pulse-raising boot camp fitness in Portugal to holistic weight loss in India, these healthy escapes are the perfect gift for men ready to make a positive change.
Paul Joseph, Founder of Health and Fitness Travel, says “Since 2010 we have seen a 42% increase in men booking wellness holidays. Men investing in their well-being and appearance is now so normal; many are living with extreme unprecedented stress due to growing work demands, and we have seen a growing interest from men towards self-care and health awareness. Most retreats and spas are gender neutral and cater equally to both sexes.”
Wellness holidays aren’t just for the ladies, so as one would take in their car for a MOT, visit a highly trained professional in an inviting environment and check in to check out. Discover 8 of the best wellness retreats for the health-conscious man:
Counteract the stresses of contemporary life and prevent yourself from burning out at the tranquil sanctuary of Kamalaya set on the coast of Koh Samui. A series of wellness consultations help determine your individual health and wellness needs so that a programme can be tailored for maximum effect. Restorative, healing treatments and personal consultations in naturopathy, nutrition and stress management will help you to achieve a more balanced approach to life.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Kamalaya from £2,855pp or £3,235 for single occupancy. Price includes a wellness programme, full board and transfers.
Set at the sun-spoiled coast of Agadir, this healthy retreat is for those seeking off-road excursions, surfing, yoga and competitive beach team sports. Its wide range of fitness activities makes it a perfect host where al fresco activities accompany a sensorial hammam, traditional steam treatments and Thai massages. After spending your wellness getaway at this sunny Moroccan paradise, you will feel revitalised and well-balanced.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Paradis Plage from £755pp or £1,080 for single occupancy. Price includes a wellness programme, breakfast and transfers.
For adventure, thrills, and relaxation all included in one revitalising experience, nothing can beat the luxury destination of BodyHoliday on this paradise island. With a wide range of sports holiday activities available, such as ocean kayaking, boxing and tennis, your experience will know no boundaries with expertly designed programmes to work towards your individual health and fitness goals, whilst having an epic social and evening scene.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at BodyHoliday from £2,255pp or £2,360 for single occupancy. Price includes a wellness programme, is all-inclusive and transfers.
Reclaim your youth and positive attitude by combining healthy delicious cuisine, and beneficial rejuvenating treatments on the infamous tropical island. Come home with practical and wise knowledge, tools and recipes from the on-site nutritionist team, after in-depth analysis of food intolerances and areas of weakness, and finally get on track towards your health and fitness goals.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Como Shambalaya from £3,920pp or £5,445 for single occupancy. Price includes a wellness programme, full-board and transfers.
With a plethora of fitness activities and Ayurvedic spa treatments, feel transformed and educated in this natural haven, nestled within the stunning Sahyadri mountains.
The certified wellness experts will help you learn how to nourish your mind and body with nutritional advice, functional fitness exercises and harmonising massages to ensure a holistic lifestyle overhaul on your well-being.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Atmantan from £2,770pp or £3,695 for single occupancy. Price includes a wellness programme, full-board and transfers.
Don’t suffer in silence - chronic stress symptoms are vast, and the fast pace of modern living and inappropriate eating habits are major causes for increased physical and emotional stress. Check in with the experts at this progressive medi-spa and receive a highly personalised plan to reduce stress and improve your well-being. You will leave with the knowledge of how to manage stress, sleep and improve your well-being.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at SHA from £4,250pp or £5,080 for single occupancy. Price includes a wellness programme, full-board and transfers.
With a city’s worth of restaurant choice available and personalised programmes best designed to suit your needs, achieve your health and fitness goals with cardiovascular fitness, muscle toning and weight-loss, all chosen to re-energise your body and boost your metabolism. Aside from your own crafted programme choose from TRX suspension training, yoga, meditation and spa treatments to complement your stay.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at The Westin from £1,115pp or £1,665 for single occupancy. Price includes a wellness programme, breakfast and transfers.
With up-to 8 workouts per day, this is the place to shape up and sustain it! An energising Bootcamp holiday set in the sunny Algarve where pulse-raising circuit training, TRX camps and power-hiking will give you the drive, motivation and strength to get body confident. Healthy cuisine complements the rigorous training schedule, while detox and weight loss treatments are sure to boost results.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Longevity Cegonha Country Club from £1,910pp or £2,150 for single occupancy. Price includes a wellness programme, full board and transfers
Health and Fitness Travel is a global luxury wellness travel company that originated in the UK in 2010 and is committed to providing healthy holidays that enhance and change lives. Created by Paul Joseph and Adam Heathcote as a result of their passion for health and fitness travel and offering bespoke holidays to improve people’s well-being to lead happier and healthier lives.
Health and Fitness Travel offers clients a tailor-made seamless service with the very best health and fitness holidays, handpicked by its expert team, together with exclusive and added value packages with the best deals. As leading specialists, Health and Fitness Travel has also created their own collection of trademark healthy holidays in various destinations which include Fusion Fitness™ BodyBreaks™ and Discover Recover™, offering clients the best value and holiday experience. For more information visit: www.healthandfitnesstravel.com
Intermittent fasting has been shown to be an effective method of controlling blood glucose levels in men at risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Researchers from the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) assessed the effects of time-restricted eating (TRE) in 15 men for one week.The men, aged 30-70 years and with an average BMI of 33.9 wore a continuous glucose monitor for seven days. All continued to eat their normal diets but some ate only between 8am and 5pm while others ate from noon to 9pm, resulting in a 15-hour fast.Blood glucose response to a standard meal was assessed each day of the study.The investigators found that TRE improved glucose control, regardless of when the men chose to stop eating.“Our results suggest that modulating when, rather than what, we eat can improve glucose control,” said lead author Associate Professor Leonie Heilbronn from the University of Adelaide Medical School and SAHMRI.“They ate their normal diet during this time … in fact, we told them to keep eating all the foods they usually eat.“We did see a tiny amount of weight loss in this study, which may have contributed to the results.”The small study has been published in the journal Obesity.Intermittent fasting diets such as 16:8 have become popular in recent years but few studies have explored their metabolic effects and impact on glucose levels and insulin profiles in humans.The study concluded it demonstrated that a week of TRE improved glucose responses to a meal in men at risk for type 2 diabetes, irrespective of when TRF was commenced. However, it conceded that the trial should be repeated in larger cohorts with more tightly controlled free‐living periods to confirm the result.Associate Professor Heilbronn said that while the early result showed promise for controlling blood glucose, a larger study over a longer duration was required to fully investigate the effectiveness.“Time-restricted eating regimes demonstrate that we can enjoy foods that are perceived to be ‘bad’ for us, if we eat them at the right time of day, when our bodies are more biologically able to deal with the nutrient load,” she said.“And perhaps more importantly, if we allow our bodies to have more time fasting each night.”Fred Rochler, who has been participating in a follow-up study, has undertaken a TRE regime in which he ate his normal diet only from 9.30am to 7.30pm over a similar eight-week trial.“Over the trial, I found that my fasting blood glucose tolerance improved significantly,” he said.“It changed from ‘increased risk’ level to ‘normal’.“This was without changing any of ...TO READ THE ENTIRE STORY AND USE IT ROYALTY-FREE IN YOUR PUBLICATION SIMPLY CLICK HTTP://BIT.LY/2IEMN8J
Runners are lacing up their shoes in support of charities, as part the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal
80 charities will benefit from the annual Scotiabank Charity Challenge
MONTREAL, April 24, 2019 /CNW/ - At the 2019 Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal, many of the runners will have two important goals, finishing the race and raising important funds for the 80 charities participating in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge.
In its 17th year, the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal remains one of Québec's most important road races and fundraising runs, supporting 80 charitable organizations this year. Racers are aiming to surpass last year's fundraising total of $1,358,585.
The Scotiabank Charity Challenge is a turnkey fundraising program that provides a simple way for runners to support the charity of their choice and make a significant impact locally. Participating charities keep 100 per cent of the proceeds raised, as Scotiabank pays for all transaction and credit card fees.
"At Scotiabank, we know what is possible when people come together to support their communities," says Geneviève Brouillard, Regional Senior Vice President, Québec and Eastern Ontario at Scotiabank. "We are proud to bring the Scotiabank Charity Challenge back to the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal for the 11thyear, to help racers support their favourite charities. At Scotiabank, investing in our communities has been a focus for over 185 years and that is not changing. Together with our employees, we are focused on enriching the lives of young people. Our goal has always been to help create a better life for people in the communities we serve and that will continue at the 2019 Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal. We look forward to cheering all the racers across the finish line on April 27 and 28."
Scotiabank believes in helping young people reach their infinite potential, and many organizations who take part in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge have a direct impact on our local youth. We recognize what is possible when young people have the guidance, confidence and tools they need to achieve their dreams. Young people are our future leaders and Scotiabank's goal is to help ensure that they have the necessary skills and resources they need to support their success.
Taking place over two days – April 27-28, the Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal will see over 7,000 runners cross its start lines of various distances. The event is on the way to being a sold-out event again this year.
"The Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal is a weekend-long event with a distance for everyone," says Race Director Francois Lecot of the Canada Running Series. "There is a 5k, 10k, half-marathon and even a 1k Kids Run. It is a fun weekend for the whole family! The event is one of the key spring running events in Eastern Canada and has raised over 7.5 million dollars for local charities since the Scotiabank Charity Challenge was introduced in Montréal in 2009."
Scotiabank offers the Scotiabank Charity Challenge at six sponsored marathon events across Canada including: Montréal, Halifax, Ottawa, Calgary, Vancouver and Toronto.
Part of the Scotiabank Charity Challenge is a friendly competition between the charities for $24,750 in cash prizes consisting of $4,250 for 1st place, $2,500 for 2nd, and $1,500 for 3rd in the following categories:
The Official Charity that has the most fundraising runners.
The Official Charity that raises the most fundraising dollars.
The Official Charity that raises the largest amount of pledge dollars per fundraising runner.
How to get involved:
Register for an event: Register for Banque Scotia 21k de Montréal on the event website until Friday, April 26 at 6 p.m.
Fundraise: Once registered, sign up for the Scotiabank Charity Challenge and raise funds for a participating official charity.
Share on social media:
Share your story behind why you support your charity, using #CourseScotia.
Cheer: Support friends and family along the race route and as they cross the finish line. You can also show your support to runners online by using the hashtags #SCOTIA21KMTL and #CourseScotia.
Local celebrities involved
This year, two Quebec personalities are actively involved in the Scotiabank Charity Challenge. Comedian Maxim Martin will run for research for the CHUM at the Scotiabank Charity Challenge because, "Running for a good cause is always fun and running in groups, there is nothing that beats that."
Singer Nicola Ciccone will also be on the starting line. He will take up the Scotiabank 21k Charity Challenge in Montreal for the Charles-Bruneau Foundation, the largest funder of pediatric hemato-oncology research in Quebec, who will invest more than $26 million in research by 2020, plus $55 million already invested in research, construction and equipment.
They will be available for interviews on the site and before the race. Please contact us to arrange these.
About Scotiabank At Scotiabank, we aim to support organizations that are committed to helping young people reach their infinite potential. Young people are our future leaders and Scotiabank's goal is to help ensure that they have the necessary skills and resources they need to support their success. Together with our employees, the Bank supports causes at a grassroots level. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, in 2018, Scotiabank contributed more than $80 million to help our communities around the world.
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 98,000 employees and assets of over $1 trillion (as at January 31, 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 Canada Running Series Canada Running Series is the nation's premier running circuit with 8 events: 4 in Toronto, 2 in Vancouver 1 in Montreal and 1 in Edmonton. It annually attracts over 60,000 participants and raises more than $6 million for some 320 mostly-local charities. The Series includes the IAAF Gold Label Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, and the Athletics Canada National Marathon Championships. Since 1999, CRS has gained international recognition for innovation and organization.
We are passionately committed to staging great experiences for runners of all levels from Canadian Olympians and International stars, to healthy lifestyle people and charity runners; and to making sport part of sustainable communities and the city-building process. Our mission is "building community through the sport of running."
Testosterone For Women, EstrogenFor Men? Wrong Levels Bring ProblemsBy Don Colbert, M.D.
You don’t normally think of women needing testosterone and men needing estrogen. But when those levels drop for women and men, respectively, or are way out of balance, a wide range of symptoms may be suffered. Fortunately, there are ways to correct those levels and restore health. Ladies first. Testosterone is considered the manly hormone, yet few women know that they have quite a bit of it in their bodies, primarily when they are young. In their 20s and 30s, their testosterone is in the normal range, but after 40 is when we start to see the decline in levels. There are numerous factors that push testosterone levels lower – menopause, medications, stress, aging, removal of ovaries, and more. And with that drop, myriad problems can occur. Blood work is needed to confirm suspicions, but persistent symptoms of low testosterone in women are hard to argue away. Among those symptoms are aching joints, depression, inability to sleep, lack of sex drive, migraines, and weight gain. But the great news is, it’s fixable. The hormone health zone for testosterone in women The first hormone women need to optimize is testosterone. It may sound a little strange to recommend testosterone therapy for women, but with it they can benefit enormously. Depression and anxiety usually lift. They can slow or sometimes reverse cellulite, lose weight (especially belly fat), tighten skin, restore libido, improve memory, strengthen the heart, and boost energy levels and stamina. The benefits of boosting testosterone go further; low testosterone is linked to an increased risk of diabetes, high cholesterol, hardening of the arteries, and weak bones. Low testosterone levels give women many of the symptoms associated with hypothyroidism, which serves as another strong motivator for women to keep their testosterone levels up. Sadly, most doctors are taught to prescribe only low doses of estradiol (in pill format, which is not good) and no testosterone whatsoever. In fact, doctors usually choose not to address hormone issues at all. They will tell you “normal ranges,” and if you happen to be low, they will usually prescribe you a medication for the symptoms. But that will never get your health back. What your body needs is bioidentical hormone therapy. You may need to find another doctor, someone who will treat your low-testosterone symptoms with bioidentical testosterone. I have found boosting testosterone levels with pellets to be effective and efficient. They raise levels quickly, and you don’t need to come back for another treatment for three to four months, and sometimes six months. Testosterone injections are the next-best method if pellets are too pricey, followed by testosterone creams. I suggest women in their 40s start monitoring their testosterone levels. The time to start optimizing them is when the hormone levels go below 50-60 percent of upper range or when symptoms develop. When your testosterone levels are optimized, life is great! Now for you men Yes guys, it’s true: Even men need estrogen. There’s just a delicate balance that needs to be understood. Estrogen is one of those things that is good for you in the proper amounts but bad if you have too much or too little of it. Just the right amount of estradiol is good for bone strength, sperm count, cholesterol metabolism, healthy libido, and clear thinking, just to name a few of the known values of estrogen in men. Usually, however, it is too much estrogen in men that is much more common. This occurs when testosterone levels decrease due to aging, obesity, lifestyle, a lack of exercise, stress, endocrine disruptors, and so on. Too much estrogen has been found to promote abnormal clot formation or blood clots, and excessive estrogen levels may also increase the risk of stroke. A healthy man usually needs to maintain at least a 10-to-1 ratio of testosterone to estrogen. When the ratio is far below 10-to-1, estrogen levels are too high, and that brings with it a host of ailments. Among the symptoms I’ve seen in men who have too much estrogen in their bodies are brain fog, blood clots, gynecomastia (man boobs), lack of erections, lack of sex drive, and low sperm counts. There’s also a higher risk for prostate cancer and heart disease when estrogen (estradiol) levels in men are too high. Too little estrogen, and you also have a lack of sexual interest, few erections, and no libido. It’s also not healthy for the brain to have super-low estrogen levels, nor is brain fog a symptom that anyone enjoys. The hormone health zone for estrogen in men Optimizing estrogen levels in men usually coincides with their testosterone levels. They are linked; raise testosterone, and estrogen usually rises; lower testosterone, and estrogen usually lowers. Remember, the goal is for at least a 10-to-1 ratio. When men start using testosterone cream, shots, or pellets, some of the testosterone aromatizes, or converts, to estrogen. Some men have excessive aromatization, especially older men and men who are obese. To stay in the estradiol hormone health zone, men will need to take a hormone-regulating supplement called DIM (Diindolylmethane), 150 mg twice a day. It is the safest way to lower estrogen without the fear of going too low. For men who have never had their estrogen levels checked and believe they might have the symptoms of high or low estrogen, ask for blood work that gives you your estradiol level. Then you and your doctor will know what to do to treat it. Estrogen levels are usually pretty easy to treat in men. It may be surprising that men need to watch their estrogen levels, but it’s one of those things that they must be aware of. When we were learning to drive, we were all taught to watch for the “blind spots.” Those spots aren’t dangerous in and of themselves. But when you need to take action, the blind spots are suddenly very important. Don Colbert, M.D. (www.drcolbert.com), is the author of Dr. Colbert's Hormone Health Zone. He has been a board-certified family practice doctor for more than 25 years and has offices in Orlando, Fla., and Dallas. The author of over 40 books, he wrote two New York Times best-sellers – The Seven Pillars of Health and Dr. Colbert’s “I Can Do This” Diet – has sold more than 10 million books and treated 50,000-plus patients. Dr. Colbert is a frequent show guest of Christian leaders Joyce Meyer, John Hagee, and Kenneth Copeland and has been featured on The Dr. Oz Show, Fox News, ABC World News Tonight, and in periodicals such as Newsweek and Reader’s Digest.
Patients living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) in the province of Saskatchewan gain access to SPINRAZA™ (nusinersen)
The Government of the province of Saskatchewan has informed treating physicians that it will grant access to SPINRAZA™ to patients living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA)
Saskatchewan is the second province after the province of Quebec to grant broad access for SMA patients to this life-changing medicine
MISSISSAUGA, ON, April 22, 2019 /CNW/ - Biogen Canada welcomes the decision made by the Government of Saskatchewan allowing patients living with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) to access SPINRAZA™(nusinersen), the first and only approved medicine in the world to treat the root cause of SMA.
The Saskatchewan Ministry of Health has made the decision to expand coverage and make SPINRAZA™ available to include the following, in addition to existing Type I patients:
Patients who are pre-symptomatic with two or three copies of the SMN2 gene;
Patients up to age 18, with symptom onset after six months of age and who have never achieved the ability to walk independently;
Patients that may have achieved the ability to walk independently (type III) as well as type II and type III patients over the age of 18 are encouraged to talk to their treating physician to apply for a case by case coverage.
"We are delighted to learn that Canadian patients living with SMA in the province of Saskatchewan will gain access to the only medicine that can treat SMA. This decision which patients have been waiting for over two years provides access to SPINRAZA™ to SMA patients for a broad range of patient types and ages. This news will bring new hope for SMA patients and we look forward to hearing from the other Canadian provinces", declared Ms. Susi Vander Wyk, Executive Director, Cure SMA Canada.
Through Biogen's extensive clinical development program, SPINRAZA™ has shown significant improvements in survival rates and motor function across a broad range of types and ages of SMA patients. Health Canada approved SPINRAZA™ in June 2017. Biogen continues to advance innovation in SMA with new data in adults and infants, which will be presented at the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Clinical and Scientific Conference, taking place last week in the USA.
"Biogen Canada is pleased to hear that Saskatchewan has joined the province of Quebec in granting broad access to SPINRAZA™ to patients living with SMA. This decision is additional proof that authorities in Canada and around the world see the benefits and efficacy profile of SPINRAZA™ for SMA patients, and it demonstrates the importance of finding an ongoing and sustainable solution for this life-long treatment. Biogen Canada continues to pursue its discussions with all other provincial jurisdictions in Canada in order for them to join Quebec and Saskatchewan in granting broad access to SMA patients to the first and only medicine in the world to treat SMA", said Ms. Marina Vasiliou, Vice-president and Managing Director of Biogen Canada.
About Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) SMA is a debilitating neurodegenerative condition and the leading genetic cause of death among infants. Children with the most severe form of SMA rarely live to see their second birthday. SMA is a rare disease and it is estimated that 1 in 10000 live births are affected by it.
SMA is characterized by loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord and lower brain stem, resulting in severe and progressive muscular atrophy and weakness. Ultimately, individuals with the most severe type of SMA can become paralyzed and have difficulty performing the basic functions of life, like breathing and swallowing.
About SPINRAZA™ (nusinersen) SPINRAZA™ is the first and only approved medicine for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and is currently available in more than 40 countries. As of December 31, 2018, over 6,600 individuals with SMA are being treated with SPINRAZA™ worldwide, based on patients across the post-marketing setting, Expanded Access Program (EAP) and clinical trial participants.
About Biogen At Biogen, our mission is clear: we are pioneers in neuroscience. Biogen discovers, develops, and delivers worldwide innovative therapies for people living with serious neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. One of the world's first global biotechnology companies, Biogen was founded in 1978 by Charles Weissmann, Heinz Schaller, Kenneth Murray and Nobel Prize winners Walter Gilbert and Phillip Sharp, and today has the leading portfolio of medicines to treat multiple sclerosis; has introduced the first and only approved treatment for spinal muscular atrophy; and is focused on advancing neuroscience research programs in Alzheimer's disease and dementia, multiple sclerosis and neuroimmunology, movement disorders, neuromuscular disorders, pain, ophthalmology, neuropsychiatry, and acute neurology. Biogen also manufactures and commercializes biosimilars of advanced biologics.
Rice U. device would help fix fractured bones Engineering students use magnets, tracking sensor to drill bone, insert screws in just the right spot HOUSTON – (April 22, 2019) – Threading a needle is hard, but at least you can see it. Think about how challenging it must be to thread a screw through a rod inside a bone in someone's leg. Rice University seniors at the Brown School of Engineering set out to help doctors simplify the process of repairing fractured long bones in an arm or leg by inventing a mechanism that uses magnets to set things right. The students who call themselves Drill Team Six chose the project pitched by Rice alumnus Dr. Ashvin Dewan, an orthopedic surgeon at Houston Methodist Hospital, to simplify a procedure by which titanium rods are placed inside broken bones to make them functional once more. For its efforts, the team won the top prize, the Excellence in Engineering Award, at the school's annual Engineering Design Showcase. The student team -- bioengineering majors Babs Ogunbanwo, Takanori Iida, Byung-UK Kang and Hannah Jackson and mechanical engineering majors Will Yarinsky and Ian Frankel -- learned from Dewan that surgeons require many X-rays to locate pre-drilled 5 millimeter holes in the rod. The holes allow them to secure the rod to the bone fragments and hold them together. The surgery typically requires doctors to insert the long rod with a guide wire inside into the end of the bone, drilling through marrow to align the fractured fragments. With that done, they depend on X-rays, their experience and, if necessary, a bit of trial and error to drill long surgical screws through one side of the bone, thread it through the rod and secure it to the other side. "We want to reduce the amount of X-rays, the surgeon's time, the operating room time, the setup time, everything," Yarinsky said. The Rice team would make the wire adjacent to the holes magnetic, because neither skin nor bone hinder a magnetic field. "That way, the magnets hold their position and we can do the location process," Frankel said. "Once we've found them and secured the rod, we remove the wire and the magnets with it."The exterior mechanism is a brace that can be securely attached to the arm or leg with Velcro. A mounted sensor can then be moved along the stiff, 3D-printed carbon-fiber rods or around the limb until it locates the magnet. Then, the angle of the sensor can be adjusted. As each of the three degrees of freedom come into alignment with the target, a "virtual LED" lights up on a graphic display wired to the sensor. Then, the sensor is removed and a drill keyed to the mechanism inserted. "We do the angular part because the rod is not in the center of the leg, and the hole is not necessarily perpendicular to the surface," Yarinsky said. "The rod is about 10 to 20 millimeters thick and has a hole on one side and a hole on the other. We don't want to hit the first hole at an angle where we miss the second and don't go all the way through."Working at Rice's Oshman Engineering Design Kitchen (OEDK), the team tested its device on a mannequin leg and what it called a "wooden leg," a frame that allowed for mounting the rod with its magnetized wire and checking the accuracy of their system.Before it can be used by clinicians, the team said the device will require Food and Drug Administration approval."I'm very impressed with what the team put together," said Dewan, who earned a bioengineering degree at Rice in 2005. "Where we ended up is completely different from what we imagined, but kudos to these guys. They went through many different proposals and ideas and ended up running with the one that seemed most promising."Having been through the senior capstone process at Rice himself, Dewan was particularly impressed with how the program has grown. "The OEDK got off the ground a few years after I graduated, and at that point, senior design projects were isolated to individual projects," Dewan said. "I didn't work with mechanical or other engineering disciplines. "I love the way they have a multidisciplinary approach to tackling problems," he said. "I think it's much more of a real-world experience for them."Sabia Abidi, a lecturer in bioengineering, served as the team's adviser, and it was sponsored by Chuck and Sharon Fox. -30-Visit the team's website at http://oedk.rice.edu/Sys/PublicProfile/47628626/1063096.This news release can be found online at https://news.rice.edu/2019/04/19/rice-u-device-would-help-fix-fractured-bones/Follow Rice News and Media Relations via Twitter @RiceUNews.Video: https://youtu.be/B9UmZ-sVTig Produced by Brandon Martin/Rice UniversityImages for download: https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2019/04/0422_BONE-1-WEB-1p39g88.jpg Drill Team Six, from left, won the top prize in the Brown School of Engineering Design Showcase for its invention of a device to help doctors secure rods that keep fractured bones in alignment as they heal. From left, Hannah Jackson, Takanori Iida, Will Yarinsky, Babs Ogunbanwo, Ian Frankel and Byung-UK Kang. (Credit: Rice University) https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2019/04/0422_BONE-2-WEB-19fexpi.jpg Rice University engineering students have created a device to simplify the insertion of screws that secure metal rods to fractured bones in limbs. The device, when secured on the leg of a patient, uses magnetic elements in the rod to guide proper placement of the screws. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University) https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2019/04/0422_BONE-3-WEB-1cchmnc.jpg A wooden stand-in for a limb helped Rice University engineering students create their award-winning device to help doctors secure rods that keep fractured bones in alignment as they heal. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University) https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2019/04/0422_BONE-4-WEB-14oldb6.jpg Takanori Iida, left, and Byung-UK Kang, senior engineering students at Rice University, work on the electronics test bed used to design a device that helps doctors secure rods that keep fractured bones in alignment. A sensor attached to a movable track finds the right spot to drill by pinpointing holes in the rod marked with magnets. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University) https://news-network.rice.edu/news/files/2019/04/0422_BONE-5-WEB-zc1gmh.jpg Hannah Jackson and Will Yarinsky, senior engineering students at Rice University, make an adjustment to their device to help doctors secure rods that keep fractured bones in alignment as they heal. (Credit: Jeff Fitlow/Rice University)Located on a 300-acre forested campus in Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked among the nation’s top 20 universities by U.S. News & World Report. Rice has highly respected schools of Architecture, Business, Continuing Studies, Engineering, Humanities, Music, Natural Sciences and Social Sciences and is home to the Baker Institute for Public Policy. With 3,962 undergraduates and 3,027 graduate students, Rice’s undergraduate student-to-faculty ratio is just under 6-to-1. Its residential college system builds close-knit communities and lifelong friendships, just one reason why Rice is ranked No. 1 for lots of race/class interaction and No. 2 for quality of life by the Princeton Review. Rice is also rated as a best value among private universities by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance.
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