Azrieli Foundation and Brain Canada mark Brain Awareness Week with $1-M grant program for Early-Career Investigators
MONTREAL, March 11, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - The Azrieli Foundation in partnership with the Brain Canada Foundation are pleased to mark Brain Awareness Week with the announcement of the 10 recipients of the Early-Career Capacity Building Grants competition. The grants support early-career investigators who are conducting transformative research to advance understanding of the brain, in illness or health.
Naomi Azrieli, Chair and CEO of the Azrieli Foundation, feels strongly about funding this research. "We are committed to these investigators who are in the early stages of their careers as they are in a unique position to advance innovative research projects. They often have difficulty securing their first grant through traditional funding, yet they approach their research with a high risk/high reward approach, and that is something that we want to support."
This initiative provides an opportunity for the researchers to begin building their careers in Canada, and is in alignment with the federal government's priority of supporting early-career researchers conducting world-class research.
The funding, provided by the Azrieli Foundation and Brain Canada, with the financial support of Health Canada through the Canada Brain Research Fund, provides each of the 10 recipients a $100,000-grant, for a total investment of $1M. The grantees were selected from 84 applicants, following a national open call and rigorous review process involving Canadian and international researchers and clinicians.
"Brain Canada has always believed in the importance of supporting the next generation of researchers," said Inez Jabalpurwala, President and CEO of Brain Canada. "With this new grant program we are helping ensure that Canada has a robust pipeline of talent, and remains at the forefront in the field of brain research".
The researchers are located at institutions across Canada, with some of the funded projects focusing on specific diseases and disorders such as Alzheimer's, autism, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and others targeting multiple areas. The findings from their research have the potential to fundamentally change our understanding of nervous system function and dysfunction and the impact on health.
Grant recipient, Matthew Parsons, PhD, a researcher at Memorial University of Newfoundland noted: "Most funding opportunities require the applicant to show a significant amount of preliminary data that support the hypothesis of the project. This requirement makes it difficult for a new lab to explore new territory and take risks – risks that often times lead to great discoveries. The Early-Career Capacity Building Grant will enable my lab to think outside the box when researching brain cell communication in neurodegenerative disease, and provides the perfect complement to our research that is funded through more conventional funding opportunities."
For a complete list and photos of the recipients, click here.
About the Azrieli Foundation:
For 30 years, the Azrieli Foundation has funded institutions as well as operated programs in Canada and in Israel. It invests in eight priority areas, with the common thread of education running throughout its funding. The Foundation generously supports scientific and medical research, higher education, youth empowerment and school perseverance, Holocaust education, music and the arts, architecture and quality of life initiatives for people with developmental disabilities. https://azrielifoundation.org/about-us/our-mission/
About Brain Canada and the Canada Brain Research Fund
Brain Canada is a national registered charity that enables and supports excellent, innovative, paradigm-changing brain research in Canada. Since 1998, Brain Canada has made the case for the brain as a single, complex system with commonalities across the range of neurological disorders, mental illnesses and addictions, brain and spinal cord injuries. Looking at the brain as one system has underscored the need for increased collaboration across disciplines and institutions, and a smarter way to invest in brain research that is focused on outcomes that will benefit patients and families. Brain Canada's vision is to understand the brain, in health and illness, to improve lives and achieve societal impact.
The Canada Brain Research Fund is a public-private partnership between the Government of Canada and Brain Canada, designed to encourage Canadians to increase their support of brain research, and maximize the impact and efficiency of those investments. Brain Canada has committed $115 million from private donors and non-federal partners—now numbering more than 100—which Health Canada has matched with $120 million. For more information, visit https://braincanada.ca/.
SOURCE Brain Canada Foundation
ARE YOU REALLY A SOCIAL DRINKER OR COULD YOU BE AN ALCOHOLIC?
Increasingly, women are going head to head with men when it comes to binge drinking. It’s not surprising: society normalizes, encourages, and promotes drinking so heavily that it can be nearly impossible, at times, to know what’s “normal” or not. A 2015 report by the National Institutes of Health, says an exploding number of Americans are in the drinking danger zone. According to the report, published in the journal JAMA Psychiatry, nearly one-third of American adults at some point in their life have an Alcohol Abuse Disorder, and only 20% seek treatment. Drinking may seem harmless but overindulging in alcohol is responsible for more than 80,000 deaths in this country per year and is the third leading cause of preventable deaths. We turned to Carrie Carlton, Clinical Director (LCSW) of Beachway Therapy Center in Boynton Beach, Florida to outline the differences between social, problem and alcoholic drinking.
Addicted alcoholics hide their habit
Carrie Carlton says, “When people veer from social drinking to alcoholism, they usually try to conceal their drinking from those who are close to them. This is a warning sign because they deliberately wish to hide their drinking habit from their loved ones so as not to alarm or disappoint them. The fact is, the more they try to hide their drinking habit, the more serious their drinking problem becomes.”
Missing work
Alcoholics tend to miss work, damage other people’s lives, and not fulfill obligations because they stay busy drinking. Social drinkers will drink at specific times when they are usually free so that no important work is hampered. Social drinkers make sure that they do not over-drink, which ensures that they can tend to important obligations. “If they start ignoring these obligations because of drinking, they have likely become alcoholic,” says Carlton.
You’re a weekend warrior.
“If you don’t drink daily, but are drinking regularly, such as binges every Friday night, that’s a red flag,” says Carlton. While research shows that having about seven alcoholic beverages per week lowers your risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, abstaining all week only to guzzle five or six glasses in a single sitting negates any of alcohol’s potential health benefits. Moreover, binge drinking can raise blood pressure and interfere with certain medications.
Drinking just “creeps up on you.”
Have you ever told yourself you were going to have only a drink or two at happy hour, and before you knew it you’d downed five? One of the clues that you may be a binge drinker is not knowing your limits—or feeling surprised when you've "suddenly" passed them. “Like diabetes, heart disease, and other health problems, drinking problems develop gradually and alcoholism is progressive,” says Carlton.
Drinking and driving
Alcoholics end up in alcohol-related accidents, while social drinkers do not. However, for a social drinker, they know that drinking and driving is not permitted and can be fatal. So, even if they over-drink on a particular social occasion, they don’t get behind the wheel.
You wonder if there will be enough alcohol available
“This most likely means that you are probably chasing the buzzed feeling and are unable to enjoy yourself without the fear of losing that high” says Carrie Carlton. “It is most definitely a warning sign of addiction and it can be a sign of obsessive thinking around alcohol, which should absolutely raise red flags.”
You “Pre-Game It”
Perhaps you are going on a blind date and don’t want your date to think you drink too much so you have 2 drinks at home and 2 drinks while on the date. You know you’ve had 4 drinks, but your date perceives you as a “normal” drinker. You are aware of your true quantity and have the buzz to go along with it.
You hide alcohol
If you don’t want your spouse, roommate or family member to see you drinking, perhaps you hide alcohol in a closet or bathroom cabinet and put your drinks in a colored paper cup so only you know you’re drinking. Carrie Carlton says, “alcoholics will do this to be able to indulge in their addiction while attempting to “act sober” and deceive others around them.”
You switch drinks or try to make rules for yourself that you don’t follow
Many people will negotiate with themselves. For example, “I will switch from 4 glasses of wine to two Vodkas” or “I will only drink on weekends,” “I will only go to happy hour when I have a new client win.” “Normal” drinkers don’t make these kinds of bargains with themselves because their lives don’t revolve around alcohol or attempts to control consumption of it,” says Carlton.
A ”problem drinker” versus an alcoholic
Carrie Carlton explains that, “A problem drinker is able to self-correct when they are given sufficient reason to do so – negative consequences, painful hangovers, birth of a child, new responsibilities, etc. An alcoholic, on the other hand, is unable to permanently cut back or stop drinking even when they have numerous reasons to do so. When faced with serious consequences and reality, an alcoholic may temporarily stop or limit themselves, but they will invariably return to their regular excessive drinking patterns.”
What to do if you’re not sure you have a problem
Carrie Carlton suggests, “If you are not certain you are an alcoholic, seek the advice of a therapist, or attend an AA meeting and speak with those who have long term sobriety to see if they share similar thoughts and experiences. If you feel that you need more than therapy to stop drinking, in patient treatment (rehab) may be the course of action you need to get both the therapy and tools to live a sober life.
Carrie Carlton, Clinical Director (LCSW), Clinical Supervisor at Beachway Therapy Center
Carrie holds a BSW and MSW in social work from Florida Atlantic University, an MA from Barry University (Miami), and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She also has a background in medical social work. Her understanding of cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused therapy, and family systems guide her treatment of addicts and families. Her clients thrive under her guidance because of her honesty, empathy, and compassion. Recognizing the severe impact of addictions on both the addict and the families, Carrie is dedicated to consistently serve her clients.
About Beachway Therapy Center
Beachway provides a continuum of care, from PHP (Partial Hospitalization Program) to Outpatient services. The facility offers a fully individualized treatment plan that meets the clinical and medical needs of each client usually lasting between 30 and 90 days. Beachway provides an extremely low client to therapist ratio and under high level professional supervision, clients can begin to recover in a safe, residential-like environment. CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) motivational interviewing, addiction counseling, 12-Step orientation, DBT (dialectical behavioral therapy,) trauma-informed practices and a wide variety of supportive group therapies are offered.
“SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK” BEGINS MARCH 10TH
10 Sleep Hygiene Tips from a NYC Neuropsychologist
Lack of sleep is such a universal problem that the National Sleep Foundation has proclaimed the week of March 10th as Sleep Awareness Week.
How do you assess your bedroom habits and optimize your nighttime routine for better sleep? To find out, we turned to Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a New York-based neuropsychologist and faculty member at Columbia University.
Studies show that sleep quality is directly related to sleep hygiene. So could it be that your nighttime habits are causing you to lose out on the benefits of quality sleep?
Dr. Hafeez says that “not only are people unaware of why they are suffering from insomnia or not getting quality sleep but they are unaware of the effects this has on their health, daily functions and brain.” The New York-based Neuropsychologist explains that a large part of insomnia is a result of poor sleep hygiene.
The National Sleep Foundation defines sleep hygiene as “a variety of different practices and habits that are necessary to have good nighttime sleep quality and full daytime alertness.”
Here are 10 behaviors that could be causing a decline in your sleep quality and tips from our neuropsychology expert explaining how to fix them!
Working Out Too Late Into The Night
Working out can help de-stress the body and reduce anxiety. However, “if done too close to your bedtime your body might still feel the adrenaline and pump of the workout and it might be difficult to fall into a sedative state,” says Dr. Hafeez.
Having A Smoke Or Some Caffeine Too Close To Bedtime
“Nicotine is a stimulant and it is well known to cause insomnia. Depending on how your body processes nicotine you could be putting yourself at risk for low quality sleep which means a lack of REM sleep,” warns Dr. Hafeez. This stage of sleep is where we recharge the most throughout the night. In other cases, people unassumingly snack on chocolate or have a soft drink that contains caffeine and that caffeine will keep you in a state of alert and it will be more noticeable that you are alert as you stare at the roof without any other activity. “Caffeine is great at work when you need a little help staying alert, but at night it can cause you to miss out on that much-needed recharge,” Dr. Hafeez says.
Using Your Bed For More Than Just “Bed” Functions
Much like productivity professionals advise maintaining a designated area
for studying or work, sleep experts say your bed should be used almost exclusively for sleeping and sharing intimate moments with our spouse or lover. This is because, “the brain has a hard time adjusting to sleep mode if it gets used to being on the bed all the time, eating, watching tv, studying or just hanging out. You’ll have a harder time shifting into actual ‘bedtime,’ explains Dr. Hafeez.
Eating Too Late Into The Night
For late night munchers, it is no strange notion that after a binge session at 3 a.m it may be a little difficult to fall asleep. “Your system is stuffed. Depending on how much you eat you may feel bloated or hyperactive. This can result in you feeling uncomfortable. If you’re on a diet you may feel guilty for breaking your regimen,” says Dr. Hafeez. All of these things cause your brain and system to be preoccupied with all but falling asleep.
Though It Is A Sedative, Alcohol Will Ruin Your REM Sleep
Many people say they sleep better after drinking. That may be true for a glass of wine with a light dinner but “a restful sleep is not the same as blacking out or drinking so heavily that you find yourself inebriated prior to sleep,” explains Dr. Hafeez. Alcohol disrupts the way our body absorbs liquid, thus causing urgent and frequent needs to go to the restroom to urinate. Dr. Hafeez also says alcohol tends to disrupt the restful stage of REM.
Going To Bed Angry Will Make It More Difficult To Fall Asleep
Not only is “don’t go to bed angry” good relationship advice, it turns out it ’s great psychological and sleep hygiene advice. Dr. Hafeez explains that “if you are able to leave things off with someone in a better place or in a place of ‘we will work this out in the morning because we care for each other,’ you have a better chance of letting your body relax into sleep.” If you aren’t able to calm your frustration for the night you may find your mind circling the problem until the sun comes up.
Clinging to Your Cell Phone While Trying To Doze Off
This is a major issue in today’s digital age. People are tuned in to their phones too late into the night, reports show. “As more and more people opt to have their phone by their bedside and go to bed staring at their screens there is an increase in phone-related insomnia. Our eyes stay alert with the light of the screen explains Dr. Hafeez. “The constant scrolling and continued processing of information make it so your brain never begins relaxing,” she says. Tips for avoiding this issue are to leave your phone across the room. This also helps when waking up in the morning and having to walk across the room to turn your alarm off.
The Room Temperature Is Not Optimized For Sleep
Optimal room temperature is commonly thought to be 60-67 degrees according to the national sleep foundation. “Your body has a way of regulating temperature relative to the temperature of the room in order to relax you into sleep,” says Dr. Hafeez. If the room temperature is too hot or too cold it can cause discomfort that will wake you up throughout the night or keep you from falling asleep at all.
Poor Lighting Environment
If a room is getting too much light coming in from the window or from your bedroom hallway it can be difficult to sleep. “Many people with light sensitivity will use blackout curtains to optimize the room for sleep. When clocks move forward and the sun rises at an earlier time people often struggle to acclimate themselves to the new time because the sunlight is waking them up,” says Dr. Hafeez
Napping During The Day
Sleep is a recharge for the day's activities. If you are constantly napping or napped too heavily during the day, your mind won’t be as tired as it usually is once it’s time to tuck into the sheets for the night. “Napping if necessary is not a bad thing. But one 20 to 30-minute nap is very different than sleeping all day and then struggling at night to sleep,” says Dr. Hafeez.
About the Doctor:
Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is an NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens. Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz. Connect with her via Instagram @drsanamhafeez or
Ready to Come out of Winter Hibernation? 4 Ways to Get Fit Before Spring Arrives
It can be easy to pack on a few extra pounds during the winter. It is something that happens to a lot of people, and it can end up causing negative health impacts as well as lower self-esteem levels. Luckily, there are many steps you can take to shed those few hibernation pounds before spring finally arrives. The following information provides helpful tips you may want to consider when starting your journey to better health and fitness.
Begin Counting Calories
Calories are one of the most important factors when it comes to weight loss. Therefore, you will want to begin keeping track of how many calories you are consuming each day. It can be helpful to use a BMI calculator to determine which weight range is healthiest for your height and weight. You don’t want to be over or underweight because this can cause many health issues. You might also want to consider consulting a physician before starting a diet or exercise program because they can help you to get on the right track.
Start an Exercise Routine
Exercise is also another important factor in weight loss. If you are healthy enough to exercise and have been given the okay from your doctor, you can begin to create a plan that works for you. It can be fun and relaxing to get out and go for a walk each day or you can join a gym. If it is still cold in your area, you might want to consider indoor winter training.
Incorporate More Fruits and Vegetables
Fruits and vegetables should make up a large portion of your diet. They provide many beneficial vitamins and nutrients, and they are typically low in calories. This means you can consume a large amount without going over on your daily calorie limit.
Avoiding Fast Foods and Processed Foods
Typically, fast food and processed food is not good for you. It lacks a lot of the essential nutrients your body needs, it’s high in calories, and it may contain harmful additives. By cutting out many of these foods, you will likely begin consuming fewer calories per day, which can result in weight loss. You will also likely begin to feel better because you are taking better care of your body.
Overall, losing weight can be an incredibly challenging and intricate process. It will require a lot of your time, effort, and dedication. However, it will be worth it in the long run because, if you are overweight, this can cause multiple health conditions. Getting in shape for spring may be easier than you think if you just work hard and stick to your plan!
HealthPRO's Cynthia Valaitis named one of the 100 Influential Women in Canadian Supply Chain
MISSISSAUGA, ON, March 8, 2019 /CNW/ - Today, Cynthia Valaitis, President and CEO of HealthPRO, Canada's procurement services organization, was named one of 100 Influential Women in Canadian Supply Chain.
Launched for the first time this year by the Supply Chain Management Association (SCMA), the top 100 list celebrates achievers in Canada's supply chain sector and key contributors to the success of their organizations who serve as role models for others within the profession.
"I am both humbled and honoured by this recognition," says Ms. Valaitis. "At HealthPRO, we are privileged to work with an incredible group of supply chain experts and clinicians from across Canada's healthcare system, whose expertise contributes to delivering healthcare contracts for the highest quality products at the best value."
Cynthia has led the organization since 2013 and has been a key contributor to its success since 1996. The 100 women will be recognized at the SCMA Gala on May 30thin Montreal.
About HealthPRO Procurement Services Inc.
HealthPRO is Canada's healthcare procurement services organization, representing the purchasing interests of more than 800 hospitals across the country. Through our national collective efforts, we source high quality products and services at the best value, while advancing issues that matter, including patient safety, innovation and assurance of supply. For more information, please visit www.healthprocanada.com.
SOURCE HealthPRO Procurement Services Inc.
The Best Spring Fitness Retreats for Self-Improvement
The Easter break is the best time to emerge from winter hibernation and venture abroad to kick-start your health and fitness regime with Health and Fitness Travel, the wellness holiday specialists.Reconnect to your passion and purpose by embarking on a R&R getaway to make sustainable changes along with like-minded people. Discover the best global wellness retreats to escape to in the Easter break this year. From local to long haul, and from the affordable to the luxurious, ditch the Easter eggs in favour of one of these Fusion Fitness™ Holidays. It’s never too late to set your wellness goals.
Fulfil those wellness goals on the idyllic location of the Estoril coast, known as the Portuguese Riviera. With a warm, dry climate, scenic views, and a team of specialist trainers and therapists, finding motivation to restore your health is only a hop, skip and jump away. Recover from beach circuits, resistance and cardio training in the Asian-inspired spa.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Palacio Estoril from £1,140pp or £1,580 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Improve your stamina this Spring by blending high intensity training with soothing spa treatments while experiencing the rich beauty and culture of this vibrant destination. Set in a private landscape of pristine beaches and hills blanketed with olive trees, there are activities to suit all abilities and tastes including yin yoga, mountain biking, scuba diving and hiking.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Kaplankaya from £2,140pp or £3,050 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Kick-start your fitness goals amongst the charming beaches and rolling hills of Cyprus, by creating a personal fitness regime that suits your body type. Power walk along the coast and explore the beautiful Cypriot landscape, before boosting your metabolism with strengthening TRX training. For the perfect recovery, soothe your muscles and release tensions with therapeutic treatments adjacent to fragrant gardens.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Aphrodite Hills from £925pp or £1,170 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Boost your energy levels and spring into shape in the enchanting woodlands and stunning Monchique mountains of the Algarve. Choose from a range of personalised activities from boot camp training, yoga, Pilates and walking tours. Enhance your physical endurance and reach a new level of consciousness, for a truly bespoke wellness experience as you get close to nature.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Monchique Resort from £640pp or £965 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Boasting the world’s top sports and fitness coaches, make a huge difference to your training with Muay Thai boxing, weight training TRX and tennis to leave you confident in your future game. Create your own fitness programme in the state-of-the-art fitness centre alongside nutritional advice and physiotherapy to help you hit your goals.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Thanyapura from £840pp or £1,060 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Stay in shape and try a new sports discipline in sunny Sardinia, including boxing, fencing, triathlon courses or wreck diving. There’s a choice of al fresco training throughout the 47 acres of natural surroundings, a multi-faceted gym, yoga, tennis and cycling. Make like the Romans and melt away woes in the revolutionary world of thalassotherapy.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Forte Village from £2,485pp or £3,090 for singles. Price includes half-board, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Challenge yourself to Bootcamp training, bolster your cardio and focus on mindfulness within 40 acres of Indian wildlands. Push your limits with a kick-boxing workout designed for total body toning and reward yourself with deep tissue massages, acupuncture and moxibustion. Receive guidance on postural alignment and integration, a keystone in overall health and well-being.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Atmantan from £2,115pp or £3,360 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private transfers.
Embark on a tailored wellness getaway with azure blue waters on the island of Madeira. Offering unrivalled choice, this healthy break allows you to design your own bespoke fitness experience with an array of activities from mountain biking, dancing, cross-fit, and sea-kayaking. Soothe weary muscles with indulgent treatments, physiotherapy and yoga.
Health and Fitness Travel (0203 397 8891 healthandfitnesstravel.com) offers 7 nights at Galo Resort from £740pp or £935 for singles. Price includes breakfast, our Fusion Fitness programme and return private 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™ Mindful Triathlon™, BodyBreaks™ and Discover Recover™, offering clients the best value and holiday experience. For more information visit: www.healthandfitnesstravel.com
Elsevier Launches Assessment Capabilities on Its All-new ClinicalKey Student Platform
ClinicalKey Student equips medical faculty and students with the resources they need to enhance the teaching and learning experience
LONDON, March 7, 2019 /CNW/ - Elsevier, the information analytics business specializing in science and health, announced today the launch of new assessment capabilities available on its refreshed and rebranded ClinicalKey Student platform (formerly ClinicalKey Medical Education). These new capabilities support medical faculty and students by enhancing the teaching and learning experience with tools tailored to develop and assess the knowledge of aspiring medical professionals.
Building upon the platform's successful history of helping students to learn by giving them access to evidence-based medical content, the assessment capabilities enable faculty to easily build and assign assessments in a way that supplements their curriculum. It also helps them to identify topics their students are struggling with through detailed performance dashboards and cumulative data. Faculty have the freedom to select questions, building bespoke assessments based on the wide array of content and the needs of their class. In addition, students can supplement their learning by creating their own quizzes to address areas of weakness identified while using the platform or though standard examinations.
"Medical education and learning habits have changed dramatically," said Elizabeth Munn, Managing Director, Education, Elsevier. "We believe that providing students and faculty with the tools to deliver frequent formative assessments that give faculty insights into their students learning strengths and weakness is critical to the development of the medical professionals of the future."
To understand student and faculty needs, over 200 hours of user research were conducted globally to develop the new assessment capabilities, ensuring the platform delivers on the promise to the user and provides an experience that can be seamlessly integrated into their day-to-day learning.
The new assessment capabilities on ClinicalKey Student will be available March 2019 in the following regions: Europe, the UK, Australia and New Zealand. Further launches are planned in the Middle East and Africa.
Elsevier is a global information analytics business that helps institutions and professionals advance healthcare, open science and improve performance for the benefit of humanity. Elsevier provides digital solutions and tools in the areas of strategic research management, R&D performance, clinical decision support and professional education, including ScienceDirect, Scopus, SciVal, ClinicalKey and Sherpath. Elsevier publishes over 2,500 digitized journals, including The Lancet and Cell, 38,000 e-book titles and many iconic reference works, including Gray's Anatomy. Elsevier is part of RELX Group, a global provider of information and analytics for professionals and business customers across industries. http://www.elsevier.com
SOURCE Elsevier
“SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK” BEGINS MARCH 10TH
10 Sleep Hygiene Tips from a NYC Neuropsychologist
Lack of sleep is such a universal problem that the National Sleep Foundation has proclaimed the week of March 10th as Sleep Awareness Week.
How do you assess your bedroom habits and optimize your nighttime routine for better sleep? To find out, we turned to Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a New York-based neuropsychologist and faculty member at Columbia University.
Studies show that sleep quality is directly related to sleep hygiene. So could it be that your nighttime habits are causing you to lose out on the benefits of quality sleep?
Dr. Hafeez says that “not only are people unaware of why they are suffering from insomnia or not getting quality sleep but they are unaware of the effects this has on their health, daily functions and brain.” The New York-based Neuropsychologist explains that a large part of insomnia is a result of poor sleep hygiene.
The National Sleep Foundation defines sleep hygiene as “a variety of different practices and habits that are necessary to have good nighttime sleep quality and full daytime alertness.”
Here are 10 behaviors that could be causing a decline in your sleep quality and tips from our neuropsychology expert explaining how to fix them!
Working Out Too Late Into The Night
Working out can help de-stress the body and reduce anxiety. However, “if done too close to your bedtime your body might still feel the adrenaline and pump of the workout and it might be difficult to fall into a sedative state,” says Dr. Hafeez.
Having A Smoke Or Some Caffeine Too Close To Bedtime
“Nicotine is a stimulant and it is well known to cause insomnia. Depending on how your body processes nicotine you could be putting yourself at risk for low quality sleep which means a lack of REM sleep,” warns Dr. Hafeez. This stage of sleep is where we recharge the most throughout the night. In other cases, people unassumingly snack on chocolate or have a soft drink that contains caffeine and that caffeine will keep you in a state of alert and it will be more noticeable that you are alert as you stare at the roof without any other activity. “Caffeine is great at work when you need a little help staying alert, but at night it can cause you to miss out on that much-needed recharge,” Dr. Hafeez says.
Using Your Bed For More Than Just “Bed” Functions
Much like productivity professionals advise maintaining a designated area
for studying or work, sleep experts say your bed should be used almost exclusively for sleeping and sharing intimate moments with our spouse or lover. This is because, “the brain has a hard time adjusting to sleep mode if it gets used to being on the bed all the time, eating, watching tv, studying or just hanging out. You’ll have a harder time shifting into actual ‘bedtime,’ explains Dr. Hafeez.
Eating Too Late Into The Night
For late night munchers, it is no strange notion that after a binge session at 3 a.m it may be a little difficult to fall asleep. “Your system is stuffed. Depending on how much you eat you may feel bloated or hyperactive. This can result in you feeling uncomfortable. If you’re on a diet you may feel guilty for breaking your regimen,” says Dr. Hafeez. All of these things cause your brain and system to be preoccupied with all but falling asleep.
Though It Is A Sedative, Alcohol Will Ruin Your REM Sleep
Many people say they sleep better after drinking. That may be true for a glass of wine with a light dinner but “a restful sleep is not the same as blacking out or drinking so heavily that you find yourself inebriated prior to sleep,” explains Dr. Hafeez. Alcohol disrupts the way our body absorbs liquid, thus causing urgent and frequent needs to go to the restroom to urinate. Dr. Hafeez also says alcohol tends to disrupt the restful stage of REM.
Going To Bed Angry Will Make It More Difficult To Fall Asleep
Not only is “don’t go to bed angry” good relationship advice, it turns out it ’s great psychological and sleep hygiene advice. Dr. Hafeez explains that “if you are able to leave things off with someone in a better place or in a place of ‘we will work this out in the morning because we care for each other,’ you have a better chance of letting your body relax into sleep.” If you aren’t able to calm your frustration for the night you may find your mind circling the problem until the sun comes up.
Clinging to Your Cell Phone While Trying To Doze Off
This is a major issue in today’s digital age. People are tuned in to their phones too late into the night, reports show. “As more and more people opt to have their phone by their bedside and go to bed staring at their screens there is an increase in phone-related insomnia. Our eyes stay alert with the light of the screen explains Dr. Hafeez. “The constant scrolling and continued processing of information make it so your brain never begins relaxing,” she says. Tips for avoiding this issue are to leave your phone across the room. This also helps when waking up in the morning and having to walk across the room to turn your alarm off.
The Room Temperature Is Not Optimized For Sleep
Optimal room temperature is commonly thought to be 60-67 degrees according to the national sleep foundation. “Your body has a way of regulating temperature relative to the temperature of the room in order to relax you into sleep,” says Dr. Hafeez. If the room temperature is too hot or too cold it can cause discomfort that will wake you up throughout the night or keep you from falling asleep at all.
Poor Lighting Environment
If a room is getting too much light coming in from the window or from your bedroom hallway it can be difficult to sleep. “Many people with light sensitivity will use blackout curtains to optimize the room for sleep. When clocks move forward and the sun rises at an earlier time people often struggle to acclimate themselves to the new time because the sunlight is waking them up,” says Dr. Hafeez
Napping During The Day
Sleep is a recharge for the day's activities. If you are constantly napping or napped too heavily during the day, your mind won’t be as tired as it usually is once it’s time to tuck into the sheets for the night. “Napping if necessary is not a bad thing. But one 20 to 30-minute nap is very different than sleeping all day and then struggling at night to sleep,” says Dr. Hafeez.
About the Doctor:
Dr. Sanam Hafeez PsyD is an NYC based licensed clinical psychologist, teaching faculty member at the prestigious Columbia University Teacher’s College and the founder and Clinical Director of Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. a neuropsychological, developmental and educational center in Manhattan and Queens. Dr. Hafeez masterfully applies her years of experience connecting psychological implications to address some of today’s common issues such as body image, social media addiction, relationships, workplace stress, parenting and psychopathology (bipolar, schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, etc…). In addition, Dr. Hafeez works with individuals who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), learning disabilities, attention and memory problems, and abuse. Dr. Hafeez often shares her credible expertise to various news outlets in New York City and frequently appears on CNN and Dr.Oz. Connect with her via Instagram @drsanamhafeez or
Perrin Conferences Announces Cutting-Edge Issues in Asbestos Litigation Conference
The Cutting-Edge Issues in Asbestos Litigation Conference will take place on March 11-12 at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, in Beverly Hills, CA.
WAYNE, PA—March 7, 2019—Perrin Conferences, the leading national provider of joint plaintiff/defense litigation conferences, is hosting the Cutting-Edge Issues in Asbestos Litigation Conferenceon March 11-12, 2019, at the Beverly Wilshire, A Four Seasons Hotel, located in Beverly Hills, California.
This year’s conference will cover various aspects of the top emerging trends in asbestos litigation, including an overview of the most significant developments from 2018, the leading factors that will drive the industry in 2019, and a discussion on the national filing trends and statistics. In addition, the conference will also feature sessions focusing on talc litigation, in-house counsel and insurance perspectives, and jurisdictional updates from CA, IL, MO, NY, and PA.
“The entire Perrin Conferences team, along with this year’s co-chairs, have been working diligently to put together an impressive agenda for the Cutting-Edge Issues in Asbestos Litigation Conference this March,” said Lynnsey Perrin, President & CEO of Perrin Conferences. “The Beverly Wilshire Hotel provides the perfect venue for attendees to network and to openly share their knowledge, insights, and ideas regarding the issues currently facing asbestos litigation.”
Lynnsey Perrin also commented on Nicholas J. Vogelzang, Esq. of Vogelzang Law in Chicago, IL, “We are excited to have Nick Vogelzang as Moderator of the panel An Update on Personal Jurisdiction: Where is Daimler Driving the Litigation? as well as lending his expertise to the panel titled Hot and Emerging Jurisdictions: Illinois, New York, Oregon & Washington.”
The Cutting-Edge Issues in Asbestos Litigation Conference offers CLE accreditation for all states requested by attendees and is pending approval for approximately 9.0-10.8 adjuster credits in the following states: NH, OK, and TX. Please contact Katie Milnes to submit your CLE requests.
In addition to the educational benefits received from attending, attendees also receive exclusive opportunities for networking, information sharing, and career development. For more details on registration and hotel accommodations, please visit the Perrin Conferences website or contact Lynnsey Perrin.
About Perrin Conferences
The leading national provider of joint plaintiff/defendant litigation conferences, Perrin Conferences offers comprehensive and specialized continuing legal education in an atmosphere of learning, networking, and sharing. Bringing together preeminent national talent in specialty legal fields, Perrin Conferences ensures its conferences deliver innovative content, networking opportunities, and career development. Attendees gain insights that cannot be found anywhere else. Follow the latest news from Perrin Conferences on Twitter @PerrinConf. For more information on the company and upcoming conferences please visit www.perrinconferences.com.
Promising new drug shows potential to stop progression of sepsis
Pre-clinical trial of InnovoSep presented at RCSI Research Day 2019
DUBLIN, March 7, 2019: Research into a new breakthrough therapy in the fight against sepsis has shown that the drug has potential to stop all sepsis-causing bacteria from triggering organ damage in the early stages of the condition.
The pre-clinical trial of InnovoSep, carried out by researchers at RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland), has demonstrated that the drug also has the potential to stop progression of sepsis to multiple organ failure in the later stages.
The study is being presented today at RCSI Research Day 2019 by Dr Sinéad Hurley, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the School of Pharmacy and Irish Centre for Vascular Biology, RCSI.
Principal Investigator on the research, Professor Steve Kerrigan, Associate Professor in Pharmacology at RCSI and inventor of InnovoSep said: “Sepsis occurs when an infection gets into the bloodstream and our own body’s defence system spins out of control trying to fight the infection, which results in multiple organ failure if untreated.
“There is only a short window of opportunity for treatment of sepsis with the early administration of antibiotics and fluid. However, in many cases antibiotics are not effective due to drug resistance or delays in identifying the type of bacteria that has caused the infection. Therefore, there is a need for a non-antibiotic therapy that can be used at all stages of infection against all bacterial causes of sepsis”.
Identification of a new therapy such as the InnovoSep drug candidate is critical as current research from the World Sepsis Alliance suggests that the incidence of sepsis is growing annually by 8%.
Professor Kerrigan continued “Our research has shown the InnovoSep candidate drug can prevent sepsis progression early or indeed treat advanced sepsis. The drug appears to act by preventing the bacteria from getting into the bloodstream from the site of infection by stabilising the blood vessels so that they cannot leak bacteria and infect the major organs.”
“The promising results of the InnovoSep pre-clinical trial gives hope for a new non-antibiotic treatment of this condition that could be effective in both the early and more advanced stages of sepsis which results in almost 3000 deaths in Ireland each year,” Professor Kerrigan said.
Sepsis, otherwise known as blood poisoning, is a silent killer because it is unpredictable, rapid and can go undiagnosed due to its non-specific signs and symptoms. It is critical that the public are empowered with the knowledge of spotting signs and symptoms of sepsis so that rapid treatment can be initiated. The signs and symptoms of sepsis mimic those of the flu - high temperature, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, pain, pale or mottled skin, and feeling generally very sick. The main difference between sepsis symptoms and flu is that sepsis will come on very quickly whereas flu comes on over days.
Any type of infection can cause sepsis ranging from seemingly minor infections on the skin, urinary tract infections, pneumonia or appendicitis - even a simple cut, scrape, or break in the skin can allow bacteria to enter the body and potentially lead to sepsis.
Currently there are almost 15,000 cases of sepsis each year in Ireland with almost 3000 deaths. In Ireland sepsis kills more people than either heart attack, lung cancer, colon cancer or breast cancer. A staggering 60% of all hospital deaths has a sepsis or infection diagnosis.
The Innovosep pre-clinical trial is supported by the Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Fund. The intention is to form a spin out company for the further clinical development of this technology.
ENDS
Notes to editors
About RCSI
RCSI is ranked among the top 250 (top 2%) of universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2019) and its research is ranked first in Ireland for citations. It is an international not-for-profit health sciences institution, with its headquarters in Dublin, focused on education and research to drive improvements in human health worldwide. RCSI has been awarded Athena Swan Bronze accreditation for positive gender practice in higher education.
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