Be prepared for your husband to take punitive action. He is very likely to drain joint bank accounts and hide financial assets once he becomes aware that you plan to divorce him. Read the free brochure, Breaking Bonds 11 Step Prep Guide, that is available on the Breaking Bonds website and take necessary steps listed there before you file for divorce.
2. KEEP DETAILED RECORDS OF VERBAL ABUSE, PICTURES OF PHYSICAL ABUSE, HOSPITAL RECORDS, AND EMAILS.
Keep well documented evidence of abuse and/or infidelity in a safe place outside the home. Your husband is likely to destroy any evidence that he can find once he becomes aware that you are leaving him. Give a copy to your attorney and bring these records to any negotiation, mediation or trial that you attend.
3. DON’T LEAVE YOUR CHILDREN WITH YOUR ABUSER IF YOU HAVE LEFT THE HOME.
You may lose custody of your children if you leave them with your husband once you have left the home. The court may consider your leaving them behind to be abandonment or that you may be lying about the abuse. Call the police if your husband tries to intimidate you to leave without your children.
Do not leave without them.
4. DON’T USE THE SAME ATTORNEY OR FINANCIAL ADVISOR AS YOUR ABUSER TO SAVE MONEY.
Find an independent professional to represent your interests. Using the same one as your abuser, who may be sympathetic to him, may cost you a lot of money in the long run.
5. DON’T CALL YOUR ATTORNEY UNLESS IT IS REALLY NECESSARY.
It will cost you money every time that you call your attorney’s office. Read books on divorce and do research online for basic questions you have. If you have a dispute or problem, make sure it is important enough to increase your attorney bill. Deal with his paralegal when possible. Keep in mind that you will still be charged for his or her time, albeit at a reduced rate.
6. DON’T NEGOTIATE WITH YOUR ABUSER.
Disengage. He will try to wear you down through intimidation, protracted negotiations, and pointless arguments. You may think you have finally reached an agreement with him, but he will not keep his word, anyway. Don’t let him waste precious time you need to spend elsewhere.
7.ENFORCE A RESTRAINING ORDER IF IT IS VIOLATED.
Have the restraining order in hand when the police arrive. Write down
the date and time, and name and badge number of every law enforcement officer involved. Take pictures and go to the hospital if your abuser hurt you. Document everything. Don’t let him get a free pass or the next time may be a lot worse.
8. ANTICIPATE YOUR ABUSER’S ACTIONS TO PREVENT THE DIVORCE OR PUNISH YOU FOR LEAVING HIM.
Your abuser’s behavior may be fairly predictable, but he may become erratic when he realizes that he is losing control. Do what you can to protect yourself, your children, and your assets. If you suspect that he may become violent, leave immediately with your children.
9. BE REALISTIC ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO RECEIVE IN THE DIVORCE SETTLEMENT.
It is unlikely that you will receive more than half of the marital assets. Get professional advice and be realistic about what you can expect to receive as your share of the assets so that you are not wasting time and driving up divorce costs. In most states, inherited assets and gifts are not part of the marital estate. If you signed a pre-nuptial agreement before you married, your lawyer will advise you as to your rights.
10. DON’T TAKE THE HOUSE IF YOU CAN’T AFFORD TO KEEP IT AFTER THE DIVORCE.
If neither one of you wants the house, insist that the house be sold as part of the divorce agreement and that you split the proceeds. If you take the house, you will have to pay the expenses of maintaining it until it is sold and be at risk for a decline in housing prices. You will also have to pay the closing costs by yourself, which is patently unfair.
11. DON’T RELY ON YOUR ATTORNEY TO REMEMBER EVERY IMPORTANT DETAIL.
He or she is busy with other clients. Keep a log of the expenses that you are to be reimbursed for in the divorce. Bring it to the negotiations. Request that credit cards and other debts such as car loans be paid off before the assets are distributed in the divorce. If you signed for a card or car loan, even if the divorce agreement requires your husband to pay the debt, you are still liable if he fails to pay it. Creditors do not care about the terms of a divorce agreement. You signed a binding contract with them, so you will still owe it. Don’t let his debts become your problem and affect your credit score.
12. BE PREPARED WHEN YOU GO TO MEDIATION AND TO COURT.
Dress appropriately and arrive ahead of time. Act respectfully with the judge, the mediator, or opposing counsel. Limit your answer to only the question being asked and stay calm. Bring a typewritten list of how you expect the assets and debts to be divided. Make sure that your lawyer is on the same page with you and has a copy of your proposed division of assets in hand.
13. READ THE FINE PRINT CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU SIGN THE DIVORCE AGREEMENT.
Make sure that everything you discussed with your lawyer is in the document. If it is not in there, you won’t get it. Take responsibility for the outcome of your divorce. Protect yourself.
14. PRACTICE SELF-CARE TO STRENGTHEN YOUR RESERVES.
You need to keep your wits about you for many months until the divorce is final, so eat properly, and get enough exercise and rest to be at your best. Take bubble baths, listen to uplifting music, spend time with friends, meditate or pray. Do whatever you need to do to replenish your reserves when they become depleted.
If you do make a mistake, immediately forgive yourself and rectify it, if at all possible. If not, learn from it and let it go. You are human and will make mistakes.
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About Rosemary Lombardy:
Rosemary Lombardy is a financial advisor with over 35 years of experience. Although her professional expertise is in financial matters, her perspective on marital abuse, divorce, and recovery is deeply heartfelt and holistic. She draws on decades of personal experience, as well as the experiences of others who have gone through similar situations, to help inform abused women so that they will become empowered to leave their abusers and begin to heal.
Her former background in law, as well as being both a Catholic who has studied the Kabbalah and a Reiki master, have enabled her to provide practical guidance and spiritual techniques that women can use when they most need them. Her intention with Breaking Bonds is to offer a comprehensive plan to foster self-awareness, self-responsibility, empowerment, and critical thinking so that women can break the cycle of abuse in their families and truly heal to transform their lives.
Breaking Bonds: How to Divorce an Abuser and Heal - A Survival Guide [February 8, 2019] by financial advisor and candid abuse survivor Rosemary Lombardy, provides a safe haven for women to refer to throughout the many phases of divorcing an abusive spouse. Pairing essential financial and legal information with practical self-care tools and healing techniques, through Breaking Bonds, Lombardy helps women to minimize stress and feel empowered as they deal effectively with their abuser.
Specific details provided throughout the book include:
Financial and legal considerations—including things a lawyer or an accountant might overlook.
What to pack in a go-to bag if you need to plan an escape.
Life-changing – and, in some cases, life-saving – tips, such as to always back your car into the driveway and keep the driver’s door unlocked, with a hidden key, in case you need to escape in a hurry.
Strategies to minimize the damage he will try to inflict both financially and emotionally, how to deal with trauma, and be confident in a better life ahead.
Typical behaviors to expect from abusers and how to counteract them.
Mistakes that she and others have made—and the potential ramifications— so the reader can avoid similar negative experiences.
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT BEAUTY SLEEP IS A REAL THING!
PLASTIC SURGEON EXPLAINS HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR ZZZ’s
When it comes to your beauty routine, very few things are free, but sleep costs nothing and may be the closest thing to a fountain of youth. Dr. Manish Shah is a Board-Certified Denver, Colorado plastic surgeon. A 2017 study found that two days of sleep restriction negatively affected participant’s perceived attractiveness, health, sleepiness, and trustworthiness. Dr. Shah explains that, “Your body repairs itself and recovers while you sleep, and that results in a long list of benefits for anti-aging and appearance.” Most experts agree that 7-9 hours a night is ideal. It’s time to maximize your shut eye for anti-aging.
Here are Dr. Manish Shah’s Tips for Beauty Sleep
Sleep on Your Back
“Sleeping on your stomach or on of your sides means there is constant pressure on your face. Over time, this action will produce unwanted sleep lines. You can remedy this by sleeping on your back,” says Dr. Shah. This way you will not apply any pressure to your face. For many people though, this might be uncomfortable, and you can't control your involuntary sleep movement leading you to a side or stomach position. You can practice and can get used to it over time.
Use an overnight product and put a glass of water on your bedside table
Washing your face can dry it out and sleeping can also dehydrate skin, especially if you snooze in a low-humidity environment. While staying hydrated by drinking water can help to some extent, what your skin really needs at night is a topical moisturizer. For a more supercharged product, try an overnight sleeping mask such as https://brazilianskin.com/collections/all-product/products/acai-triple-stem-cell-complex-mask This is an Acai Triple Stem Cell Complex for $59.99. Potent Açai Triple Stem Cell Complex Mask is an overnight mask application crafted with an innovative, breathable, and nourishing film ingredient that functions as a transdermal penetration medium to facilitate the complete absorption of the “Grams Triple Stem Cell Complex.”
Pillowcases Make A Difference
Dr. Shah explains that, “While facial creasing has a lot to do with sleep positioning, a change in pillowcase might be the answer. There are numerous benefits of silk for good sleep. Silk pillowcases are a great way to wake up creaseless in the morning. The smooth texture of silk is gentler than cotton and may help prevent sleep wrinkles, as well as reduce skin irritation. Its tightly woven fibers also don’t draw out moisture and natural oils as cotton does, leaving your skin better hydrated.”
Stay away from salty foods and alcohol around bedtime.
If you're craving a midnight snack or drink, be mindful. While some foods, a light, carb snack like crackers or an apple, can actually help your sleep, many others can disrupt your sleep and wreak havoc on your appearance. Alcohol and salty food can have a dehydrating effect on the body. To compensate, your body starts collecting natural fluids around the eyes, among other places, leading to that dreaded puffy-eye look. Dehydration is claimed to lead to formation of dark circles under the eyes.
Wear your hair up — but not in a tight bun.
It's a good idea to keep your hair out of your face while you're sleeping to keep its natural oils from wreaking havoc on your complexion. But avoid pulling it into a really tight bun or ponytail because that can cause hair breakage, especially around the hairline. Dr. Shah suggests wrapping it up in a scarf (silk would be ideal).
Keep makeup remover by the bed
“No matter how tired/drunk you are, going to bed with your makeup on will only be worse the morning after (clogged pores, irritated eyes, oily residue etc.). Make it less of a chore by keeping some good-quality face wipes by the bed for a fast, effective cleanse. It's not ideal to rely on convenience cloths every night in place of a deeper clean, but on late nights they're skin saviors, says Dr. Shah.
Wear A Silk Sleep Mask
Avoiding light when you sleep is crucial to getting quality rest. Dr. Shah explains that, “An eye mask completely eliminates vulnerability to light, preventing it from interfering with your sleep. For the best results, use a silk eye mask. Since skin is susceptible to wrinkling, make sure that the material pressing against your face is as soft as possible.”
Keep the Temperature Low
At night, your body’s natural temperature declines. Keeping the temperature in your bedroom low is good for both your metabolism and your blood flow. Dr. Shah explains that, “This is important because improving your blood flow helps oxygenate your skin, keeping it plump and even-toned for the day ahead. Maintaining a cool temperature in your bedroom will also help reduce redness in your skin.” The National Sleep Foundation recommends keeping your bedroom between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit for an optimal night’s sleep.
Manish Shah, M.D., F.A.C.S. is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery and the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. After completing his formal plastic surgery training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Univ. of Tennessee College of Medicine, he moved to New York City and was selected for the prestigious Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship at Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital. He underwent extensive, advanced training in aesthetic surgery of the face, breasts, and body at the hands of some of the most renowned cosmetic surgeons in the world. Dr. Shah is one of only a select few plastic surgeons in the country who have undergone formal post-graduate training in aesthetic surgery.
Dr. Shah’s specialties include revision facial aesthetic surgery, rhinoplasty (“nose reshaping”), and aesthetic surgery of the breast (breast augmentation, breast lift, breast reduction). He is, however, well-trained in all areas of aesthetic surgery. Dr. Shah’s aim is to obtain a natural appearing transformation that complements the real you!
Why a Bear Market in 2019 Could Spell Good News for Marijuana Proponents
Could the movement to legalize marijuana get a boost in the coming year?
If you want to know when the country’s anti-pot laws are likely to go up in smoke, keep an eye on the stock market, because predicting the fate of the country’s growing cannabis industry could hinge on what’s happening on Wall Street.
How so? Researchers at the Socionomics Institute (www.socionomics.net), which studies social mood and its influence over social attitudes and actions, long ago made an interesting observation: When the country’s social mood is positive, the prohibitionist view on marijuana tends to reign supreme. But when the mood darkens, society as a whole is more chill and tolerant of the drug.
“During times of negative mood, society’s priorities shift,” says Chuck Thompson, a researcher with the Socionomics Institute. “People have other, bigger worries and begin to view recreational drugs as less dangerous, even innocuous.”
Over the past century, Thompson says, governmental actions have reflected those changing attitudes about marijuana. During periods of positive mood, policymakers have stepped up regulation of cannabis. When mood has turned negative, they have become more 420 friendly.
The stock market proves to be a good indicator of the nation’s social mood, which means it also can double as an indicator of attitudes about marijuana. Thompson points to a few moments in the history of high times to illustrate that point:
In 1937, when the Dow Jones Industrial Average was soaring, Congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act, which banned casual consumption of the drug, limiting its use to medical and industrial purposes. Even greater crackdowns happened during the period of positive mood from 1942 to 1966. And in 1989, after seven years of net rise in the stock market, President George H.W. Bush gave his famous “War on Drugs” speech.
In contrast, between 1937 and 1942 the nation’s mood soured. During the final year of that period, Thompson says, Congress launched its “Hemp for Victory” campaign to encourage farmers to grow the crop for industrial purposes related to the war effort during World War II. In 1977, at a time when social mood had been trending negatively for years as evidenced by a bear market in PPI-adjusted terms, President Jimmy Carter recommended that Congress legalize possession of small quantities of marijuana.
In November 2008, in the midst of the biggest bear market since the Great Depression, Massachusetts voters passed an initiative that decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana, and Michigan voters passed a law loosening restrictions on medical marijuana. Only seven months later, Oregon passed a bill in favor of licensing hemp farming, and the “Green Rush” began to kick into high gear. Pot proponents expanded their infrastructure in a move that continues to pay dividends today.
At this point, 33 states and counting have legalized medical marijuana; 10 and counting have legalized its recreational use. Many of the industry’s biggest victories occurred in 2018, as stocks swung wildly. Yet federal legalization, the ultimate prize for marijuana advocates, has remained elusive. “We expect the scales to shift even more in favor of marijuana legalization as mood becomes more negative during the next major bear market,” Thompson says.
Even now, marijuana and peripheral industries offer opportunities and risks to U.S. speculators and ganjapreneurs. Dispensaries, growing equipment providers, and farming and manufacturing are among the industries profiting from changing state laws. “When negative social mood finally does bring the drug war to an end,” Thompson says, “marijuana will play an increasing role as a tax-generating industry in the United States and elsewhere.”About Chuck Thompson Chuck Thompson is a senior analyst at the Socionomics Institute (www.socionomics.net) and a staff writer for its monthly magazine. He has spent more than a quarter-century studying and writing about personal finance and cultural trends. He also served as a writer and editor in the radio and newspaper industries for eight years prior to making the jump to finance.
THINK BEFORE YOU CLICK: BUYING PRESCRIPTION DRUGS ONLINE CAN BE DEADLY
Illegal online websites are the new millennium street drug dealers. Drug abusers are turning to these sites because, at the click of a mouse, they can “score” as many pills in one order as they wish. An increasing amount of people are ordering drugs over the web and dark web, according to a Global Drug Survey.
Finland has the highest percentage of people using the dark web to purchase drugs, with over 45 percent. England, the US, and Australia are the runners-up, with 24, 18 and 17 percent, respectively.
The Global Drug Survey asked respondents to compare drug deliveries to another product frequently delivered to doorsteps: pizza. Of 15,000 cocaine users, 30 percent said they could get cocaine delivered in less than 30 minutes. For pizza, this was only 16 percent. The report mentions the prevalence of camera surveillance in big cities as one of the reasons why “traditional street dealing is becoming less attractive to many suppliers and customers.”
Dr. Duy Nguyen a Psychiatrist at Beachway Therapy in Boynton Beach. Florida explains the major dangers of ordering controlled substances from these unlawful websites.
1. You Don’t Know the Dosage
Dr. Nguyen says, “Buying these substances without a valid prescription is illegal and potentially deadly. If a patient is given a prescription for 5 mg of Valium (a benzodiazepine) from a licensed medical doctor, they can be sure that when they fill it at a legitimate pharmacy, that they are getting exactly that dosage with the proper components of that drug. Conversely, when buying online, at best, a patient can get duped by simply buying a sugar pill. At worst, the pill can be laced with toxins or deadly drugs like Fentanyl.”
2.Without Regulation You May Be Taking Something Different Than What You Expect
“For any addict, it would be impossible to verify what is in the medicine they received from these illegal sites, says Dr. Nguyen. There is no lab one can take the online medications for testing prior to ingesting. Even the at-home testing kits can only confirm the presence of some of what is in a drug but cannot confirm exact compounds/substances the way a lab can.
There is also no way to know the dosage of things that may be mixed with the medication you ordered. You are at risk of having added agents from sugar to hallucinogens and beyond.
3.You May Think A Site Looks Credible, but You May Be Wrong
You may think a site looks authorized and that foreign health policies are what make this sort of activity possible, but you are wrong. A well-designed website may hide an online back alley for illegal delivery and dispensing of controlled substances. Much like the NABP’s study shows, websites will allude to Canadian connections and origins to make you feel more trusting of the transaction, but Dr. Nguyen warns that people need to “be vigilant of sites and transactions where you don’t need a valid prescription from a doctor with whom you have met in person. This is a clear clue that something is wrong.”
4. The drugs may be outdated.
Dr. Nguyen explains that “Expired drugs can be inexpensive, but they may be so old they have lost their effectiveness. You'll be wasting your money and risking your health for no therapeutic benefit or for a dangerously low amount of benefit.”
5. The drugs may be diluted.
Dr. Nguyen explains that “In particular, a liquid drug can be watered down. You might order a larger dose and receive a smaller one (e.g., you order 40 mg tablets and receive 20 mg, with no indication the dose is incorrect.) When you take the drug, you'll find that it doesn't have the expected effect because it's only a portion of the amount you should be taking.”
6. The drugs inside the bottle may be mislabeled or the wrong drug.
Dr. Nguyen shares that, “You might order a high-end branded drug, but what's in the bottle might be some other cheap substance manufactured to look like the drug you ordered. Sometimes you order one drug and they send you a different product, telling you it's identical to the drug you ordered, or that they saved you money by sending you the alternative.”
7. The drugs may be counterfeit.
Counterfeit drugs have made their way into the legal American drug supply and are being delivered to patients every day.
Final Advice from Dr. Nguyen
If you are taking drugs prescribed by your doctor and feel the need to turn to the Internet to get more then you are abusing the guidelines set by your prescribing doctor. This can definitely signal an addiction and abuse of the prescription. If you are turning to the Internet to purchase Benzos, Cocaine, MDNA, Opioids, etc. you must turn to a medical professional for counseling and next steps such as an in-patient detox followed by a drug and alcohol rehab. You are taking your life into your hands when you purchase illegal prescriptions online!
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.
Dr. Duy Nguyen, D.O. is a Board-Certified Psychiatrist in General Psychiatry who has experience with providing psychiatric care in a variety of settings including residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation, inpatient and outpatient mental health, and the VA Medical Center.
Dr. Nguyen obtained a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Kansas, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree from the Kansas City University of Medicine & Biosciences, and completed general psychiatry training in South Florida at the Palm Beach Consortium for Graduate Medical Education at University Hospital in Tamarac, FL.
Dr. Nguyen is committed to providing a high level of evidence-based psychiatric care in the drug rehabilitation setting in addition to having a holistic focus on healing and recovery.
Precision BioLogic Launches Product to Improve Inhibitor Testing for People with Hemophilia A
CRYOcheck™ Factor VIII Inhibitor Kit Now Cleared for Sale in Canada, EU, Australia, and New Zealand
HALIFAX, Feb. 11, 2019 /CNW/ - Precision BioLogic Inc., a leading developer of hemostasis diagnostic products, is pleased to announce the availability of its new CRYOcheck Factor VIII Inhibitor Kit in Canada, the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand following market authorization by Health Canada and respective in-country regulatory authorities last month.
The presence of factor VIII (FVIII) inhibitors reduces therapy effectiveness and is one of the most complex and costly complications for people with hemophilia A. Because of this, it is important for clinical laboratories to have a testing system that can accurately and precisely quantify FVIII inhibitors in patient samples.
Precision BioLogic developed the CRYOcheck Factor VIII Inhibitor Kit to address this challenge. It contains standardized components and a validated procedure to prepare patient samples for performing a modified Nijmegen-Bethesda assay as per the U.S.-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendation1. A modified Nijmegen-Bethesda assay is used to determine FVIII inhibitor levels in people with hemophilia A.
Paul Empey, President & CEO of Precision BioLogic, notes that the launch of the CRYOcheck Factor VIII Inhibitor Kit is an important step forward for patient care. "Enhancing patient care is at the core of everything we do at Precision BioLogic," he says. "Our kit will standardize the preparation of patient samples for inhibitor titer measurement. This, in turn, will help labs deliver accurate results for the diagnosis and routine monitoring of FVIII inhibitors."
To eliminate FVIII depleted plasma as a potential source of variant and standardize inhibitor titer measurement, the kit was developed with the following components:
Imidazole Buffered Pooled Normal Plasma
Imidazole Buffered Bovine Serum Albumin
Negative FVIII Inhibitor Control
Positive FVIII Inhibitor Control
Like all of Precision BioLogic's CRYOcheck products, kit components are frozen, allowing for fast and easy preparation.
Precision BioLogic has submitted the kit to the U.S. FDA for clearance and hopes to be able to offer the kit to its customers throughout the United States in Q3 2019. The company is actively pursuing other opportunities to innovate in the field of hemostasis and diagnostics.
About Hemophilia A and Inhibitors
Hemophilia A is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by insufficient clotting factor VIII (FVIII) in the blood. People with hemophilia A experience prolonged bleeding, which can lead to permanent joint damage and life-threatening hemorrhages. The standard treatment for people with hemophilia A without inhibitors is intravenous (IV) FVIII replacement therapy with recombinant FVIII (rFVIII) or plasma-derived FVIII (pdFVIII) concentrates. Prophylaxis, the regular infusion of clotting factor concentrates, is used to prevent bleeds thereby minimizing joint damage.
Unfortunately, up to 30% of people with hemophilia A develop inhibitors, an immune response to treatment with clotting factor concentrates. Inhibitors make it more difficult to manage and treat hemophilia. In fact, according to the World Federation of Hemophilia, apart from access to care and treatment, inhibitors are the most serious challenge in hemophilia care today.2 While routine blood tests may suggest the presence of anti-FVIII antibodies, specialized testing is important to confirm not only the presence of inhibitors but also the quantitation to effectively adjust treatment. Current methods for inhibitor testing vary from lab to lab.
About Precision BioLogic Precision BioLogic Inc. is a privately-held company that develops, manufactures and markets the CRYOcheck™ line of frozen products used by medical professionals and researchers around the globe to diagnose coagulation disorders. Precision BioLogic also has several active initiatives with pharmaceutical partners who seek to ensure that the diagnostic implications for their novel therapeutic agents have been well characterized. In November 2018, Precision BioLogic acquired Affinity Biologicals, enabling the company to expand its clinical and research offerings to include an extensive line of coagulation-related antibodies as well as other products and services. For more information, visit www.precisionbiologic.com.
1
Miller CH, Platt SJ, Rice AS, Kelly F, Soucie JM, the Hemophilia Inhibitor Research Study Investigators. Validation of Nijmegen-Bethesda assay modifications to allow inhibitor measurement during replacement therapy and facilitate inhibitor surveillance. J Thromb Haemost 2012; 10: 1055–1061.
EPIGENE THERAPEUTICS INC. announces presentation on NEO2734, an oral dual inhibitor of both BET and CBP-P300, at the 2019 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium
Data demonstrate significant activity of NEO2734, with superior effects to those of either standard BET inhibitors or CBP-P300 inhibitors, in multiple models of both SPOP mutated and SPOP wildtype prostate cancer.
MONTREAL, Feb. 11, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - Epigene Therapeutics Inc. announces that data on NEO2734, its investigational, first-in-class, dual inhibitor of the Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal domain (BET) family of proteins, as well as, the Cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CBP) and E1A interacting protein of 300 kDa (EP300 or P300) will be presented at the 2019 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium (ASCO GU) taking place in San Francisco, USA from February 14th to February 16th. The data being presented will include a poster presentation on NEO2734's activity in an array of molecularly defined pre-clinical models of prostate cancer.
"Our increasing understanding of molecular aberrations in prostate cancer is helping us to develop a profile of potential key disease drivers in patient subsets. Some of these emerging novel molecular targets offer developmental therapeutics opportunities, including in the area of epigenetic modifiers" said Prof. Silke Gillessen Sommer, Professor in Division of Cancer Sciences and Senior Consultant in Medical Oncology at The Christie NHS Trust, University of Manchester, UK and member of the Epigene Therapeutics Scientific Advisory Board."SPOP mutations in prostate cancer are associated with multiple adverse disease features, sensitivity to PARP inhibitors, and resistance to BET inhibitors. SPOP normally marks BET proteins for ubiquitination-mediated degradation. Prostate cancer-associated SPOP mutants do not interact with BET proteins, leading to their elevation in SPOP-deficient prostate cancer and thus resistance to BET inhibitor-induced cell growth arrest or apoptosis. NEO2734 is unique in its ability to inhibit both the BET family and the CBP-P300 paralogs. The data being presented at ASCO GU on its ability to significantly inhibit prostate cancer growth in cell lines, organoids, and xenograft models is very interesting. NEO2734's striking activity in SPOP mutated prostate cancer, which markedly contrasts with the lack of activity of either standard BET inhibitors or CBP-P300 inhibitors alone, is potentially particularly important. These data extend on the prior information presented on NEO2734 activity in prostate cancer at the ESMO 2018 meeting. They also provide a clear rationale for the inclusion of patients with advanced SPOP mutated or wild-type disease in forthcoming clinical studies of NEO2734. It will also be particularly interesting to seek possible synergy between NEO2734 and the PARP inhibitors which would give us an opportunity to optimize treatment by combining substances with different mechanism of action against prostate cancer"
"Our group has a specific focus on epigenetic pathways in prostate cancer, especially on key transcription factors and their downstream targets. We find the consistent superiority of NEO2734 over both BET inhibitors and CBP-P300 inhibitors particularly exciting" said Prof. Jindan Yu, Departments of Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine and Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA. "It is intriguing that the effect of single agent NEO2734 in these models can be mimicked by the simultaneous administration of both BET inhibitors and CBP-P300 inhibitors, while either alone only has moderate effect. The BET inhibitors have shown modest clinical activity in prostate cancer but at a level that has not merited regulatory approval. CBP-P300 has been established as a potentially important target in prostate cancer but we have no relevant clinical data yet. It is consistent with the data generated in multiple cancer types that NEO2734 has unique activity as a single agent in prostate cancer – independent of SPOP status. We are working to extend these data into the context of androgen-blockade resistant prostate cancer in order to help further define which subsets of patients should be afforded a high priority in clinical studies of NEO2734."
"PARP inhibition is emerging as a promising approach for some patients with advanced prostate cancer" said Dr. Yves Collette, Group Leader, Integrative Structural and Chemical Biology, Cancer Research Center of Marseille, Marseille, France. "NEO2734's robust activity in both SPOP mutated and wildtype in vivo models of prostate cancer is remarkable. SPOP mutations are associated with relative sensitivity to PARP inhibitors – this is consistent with SPOP's established role in maintaining normal cellular DNA repair processes. NEO2734 has the ability to simultaneously modulate multiple established targets in prostate cancer. We are particularly interested in how NEO2734 may interact with PARP inhibitors in prostate cancer, especially in SPOP mutated disease where we may have a multi-faceted cell-killing approach in a poor prognosis subset of patients. The ability to impact multiple pathways is potentially very exciting and we hope to strengthen the rationale for combining NEO2734 with PARP inhibitors in clinical studies."
Poster details:
Activity of NEO2734, a novel dual inhibitor of both BET and CBP-P300, in SPOP-mutated prostate cancer. (Abstract #62, Poster session A: Prostate Cancer. Moscone West Building) Thursday, 14 February 2019 from 11:30 (PST) to 13:00 and 17:30 to 18:30
Full session details and data presentation listings for the 2019 Genitourinary Cancers Symposium can be found at: https://gucasym.org/
About Epigene Therapeutics Inc.
Epigene Therapeutics Inc. is a Montreal, Quebec-based biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of epigenetic modifying agents for the treatment of patients with cancer.
SOURCE Epigene Therapeutics Inc.
NEW WELLNESS APP PROVIDES ALL-NATURAL SOLUTION FOR FATIGUE, ADHD & ANXIETY
BrainTap Pro Mobile App-Rewiring the Brain to Relax & Refocus-We all feel stuck, unfocused, and/or unable to perform at times. This affects our goals, grades, and careers. But now, thanks to new research in neuroscience, an innovative new app is helping users activate their brain’s peak potential in minutes. The BrainTap Pro mobile app is a quick and easy way to relax, reboot and revitalize—anytime, anywhere. Backed by neuroscience and research, "braintapping" is proven to help people who struggle with stress, difficulty sleeping, low energy, and other lifestyle challenges.ABOUT THE BRAINTAP PRO MOBILE APP:The BrainTap Pro mobile app is a mind-development tool designed to help users de-stress while achieving physical, mental, and emotional balance. The subscription-based app is an all-natural, drug-free solution that guides your mind from awake and reactionary to an intuitive, creative state where super-learning and healing can occur. Using frequency-following technology as well as guided visualization, the app gives anyone the ability to achieve the mental state they want in mere minutes (unlike traditional meditation which can take years to master.) While other apps only focus on one brainwave (such as alpha waves that calm and soothe) BrainTap is based on the understanding that no complex human task has only one brainwave state but rather a symphony of waves working together. The BrainTap Pro mobile app takes the user through specially designed programs and offers bundles of sessions customized to specific goals, whether it is to kickstart your productivity in the morning, alleviate stress after work, unwind before bed, or to recharge and focus midday. WHY PEOPLE LOVE THIS APP:The BrainTap Pro mobile app is a game-changer for personal wellness. Adopting a brain-healthy lifestyle has become increasingly popular in our high-stress culture. In the past few years there has been a rapid rise in "mindfulness" activities (such as yoga, meditation, journaling, etc.) to combat the effects of stress and burnout. But in our fast-paced digital age, people want relief at their finger-tips, on their own time, quickly and effortlessly. Rather than listening to step-by-step instructions that are methodical, tedious, and boring, the BrainTap Pro mobile app allows you to recharge your brain while you do nothing more than relax.
Unlike other methods where users have to listen to and follow instructions – “breath in, breath out” – the BrainTap audio does the meditation for them. Users can even fall asleep while braintapping and still reap all the benefits. BrainTap’sexclusive neuro-algorithms gently and naturally guide your brain through a broad range of brainwave patterns. The result is a complete spectrum of brainwave activity, meaning the brain is now optimized for peak performance.
The BrainTap Pro mobile app helps increase your productivity by creating a flow state, the euphoric feeling of being "in-the-zone." ABOUT BRAINTAP TECHNOLOGIES:BrainTap Technologies is on the leading edge of mindfulness technology with its apps and accessories helping people to lead stress-free, highly-productive lives. With over 30 years of expertise in this field, Patrick K. Porter, PhD saw a need for a new approach to help people cope with today’s stressful environment. BrainTap Tech has since produced over 800 custom sessions, and has sold more than 3-million books and recordings worldwide. With stress-related health and lifestyle issues at an all-time high, BrainTap, as developed by Dr. Porter, has emerged as a leader in digital health and wellness. BrainTap has offices in San Francisco and in both Durham and New Bern, North Carolina. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: www.braintaptech.com
Carrot Wins Global Innovation Award At World Government Summit
TORONTO, Feb. 11, 2019 /CNW/ - Carrot Rewards, the Canadian startup that revolutionized the promotion of public wellness, was just announced as the global winner of the OECD's 2019 Edge of Government Award.
Chosen from over 500 submissions from around the world, Carrot received this top innovation recognition at the World Government Summit in Dubai, UAE, where more than 4,000 senior government delegates gathered to explore new trends, technologies and innovative solutions for the benefit of their citizens.
"Our entire extended team of employees, government partners and stakeholders across Canada and the UK is beaming with pride today," said Andreas Souvaliotis, Founder and CEO of Carrot Rewards. "Our goal has always been to touch and improve as many lives as possible, and this type of global recognition by the OECD is the best fuel to accelerate our growth across the world."
About Carrot Rewards Carrot Rewards is an AI-driven wellness app and brand engagement platform that leverages behavioural economics and nudge theory to motivate and reward users for making better lifestyle choices. Carrot maximizes appeal and engagement by offering users a choice of rewards from the most popular consumer loyalty programs — in Canada, users can earn Aeroplan® Miles, SCENE® points, Petro-Points™, More Rewards® points, Drop points or RBC Rewards — each time they interact with the app.
With over one million downloads, Carrot has been recognized as Canadian App of the Year by MobileSyrup, ranked as a Top 10 Canadian Loyalty Program by the Bond Brand Loyalty Report and as one of the Top Fastest Growing Companies by Canadian Business and Maclean's.
The Carrot Rewards platform was created in collaboration with Canadian government agencies, health NGOs and the private sector and is now being replicated in other markets, beginning with the United Kingdom in the spring of 2019.
For more information, please visit: www.carrotapp.com Twitter & Instagram: @carrot_rewards Facebook: /carrotrewards
Available for Interviews: Andreas Souvaliotis, Founder and CEO, Carrot Rewards Lorne Solway, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer, Carrot Rewards
SOURCE Carrot Rewards
I’m In Here Somewhere: Memoir of a Food Addict
Chad Dean’s Story – As told to and written by Celeste Prater
Flipping through channels, growling at commercials, and then BAM! Something HUGE fills your screen. “Good grief!” you shout, eyes bugging.
Sorry. That might’ve been ME, Chad Dean, awkwardly invading your living room. If you fled, I fully understand. Whether you stuck around to watch in morbid curiosity or just plain horror, I thank you for taking that time out of your day to observe the quick one-year glimpse into a personal battle that was hard, embarrassing, scary, and downright frightening at times.
Though I transformed quickly on the TV, it was not enough to show how in the heck I got to that point in the first place. I’m not alone in these struggles. I’m not the only fat person that ever existed. And I’m certainly not the only human disgusted at the unsightly substance trapped beneath their skin.
Join me as I delve a little deeper below those layers. Perhaps a light might come on sooner than mine.
A Peek Inside
(Please choose only 1 for your blog post. Thank you!)
Excerpt #1:
Excuses. That should’ve been my middle name.
HOLD UP!You felt it, didn’t you? That microsecond recoil, or derisive eye-roll, toward a silly little word urging you to put this book down and walk away. Why is that, do you think? Seriously?
Here’s my stab at a theory: Because this oneof many, many words in our vocabulary is excruciatingly POWERFUL. In fact, I believe the word “Excuses” is so potent that it can trigger an unconscious guilt and blossom into a lie so fast it’ll make your head spin.
Ugh! The blinding truth hurts sometimes. We cry foul when others lie to us—even ending friendships for the smallest infraction. Yet, we elaborately mask the ones we tell ourselves so very easily.
Maybe some of these lies below might sound familiar to you. Either one or more spilled out of your own mouth at one time, or you know of someone that has become prolific in the game of self-delusion.
LIE: I’m big-boned, so I carry the weight differently.
TRUTH:You have no bones in your butt or gut. Got it?
LIE: When I eat something sweet, I cancel it out by drinking diet-cola instead of regular.
TRUTH:You have obviously developed a new “happy math.” How’s that working out for you? Artificial sweetener actually increases sugar cravings. Look it up.
LIE: I want to exercise, but I’m always tired.
TRUTH:You’re carrying forty pounds more weight than your frame intended—put there by none other than yours truly. No one else. Yep. Four, ten-pound bowling balls of extra baggage. Duh. You’re going to be tired. Think how hard it’s going to be after ten more.
LIE: My job doesn’t allow me time to work out or eat right.
TRUTH:So, if I understand that line of reasoning, you work a solid 24-7 in a sedentary position and are not allowed to pack your lunch. You’re stuck having to order fast-food takeout delivered right to your desk or vehicle. Really? Not even a thirty-minute break? Unless it pays a million an hour, I’d quit that job. Seriously.
LIE: I bought a stationary bicycle. I can exercise and watch TV at the same time. Win-win.
TRUTH:Go ahead. Glance over to the corner and try to remember when that dusty hunk of metal became a new way to hang clothes or prop your feet.
LIE: I found a new workout CD, and it only takes twenty minutes. So excited to start it in the morning.
TRUTH:You hit the snooze button three times, snuggled into your warm pillow, and promised that tomorrow will be the “New Start” to being healthy. Mondays suck and weekends are off limits. Everyone knows that. Hmm…
LIE: Something urgent came up so I can’t walk with you tonight. I’ll go with you tomorrow.
TRUTH:Your favorite show was on. Bad friend. Bad.
LIE: I ate a salad at lunch, so it’s okay to have ice cream after dinner.
TRUTH:Really? A little forgetful on the adjectives, aren’t we? It was a tacosalad loaded with cheese and sour cream…and you ate the outside crispy bowl.
LIE: I’ll start working out after the holidays (my favorite).
TRUTH:Christmas comes SO fast after Thanksgiving. Amazing, isn’t it? Chocolate-filled Valentine’s Day zips up immediately after that fierce New Year’s resolution has barely left your mouth. Hell, when you think about it. Every day’s a holiday feast when you have beckoning brownies, soda, candy, burgers, pizza, and cupcakes floating across TV screens or sitting on paper plates at the office party—tempting, smelling so good, beautifully wrapped, and begging me to…wait. I digress. Let’s not forget why I’m here…
So where do Iget off telling youto quit lying to yourself and others? Easy. Been there, done that, got a master’s degree in it. If I’d kept it up, they might’ve carved “Dr. Denial” on my headstone.
We could go on and on with pithy one-liners on how to innocently deceive oneself about balancing weight with food and exercise, but here’s a brutal truth that I desperately needed to confess…and fast!
I was in a severely destructive relationship with DENIAL, the beautiful cousin of EXCUSES. It was profoundly obvious and squatting right in front of my big fat nose. So close, in fact, everything else lost focus in the light of that vicious bitch—my failing health, my loving family, my work…everything.
Bottom line… I was dying.
Yeah. No joke, cookie. I sat there looking into every knowing eye that uncomfortably flitted away from mine and continued filling my veins with the pretty poison and hanging on to every comforting word doled out by the reigning Empress DENIAL.
“There you go. Just onemore. Atta boy. I’ll never judge you,” she’d whispered softly into my ear.
Oh, yes. This big man was gleefully traipsing down the road paved with chocolate and lined with donuts while steadily committing food suicide. Yes, I’ll say it again. “S U I C I D E.”
It’s an ugly word chock full of sadness and heartache, yet the scrumptiously delicious things I was continuously shoving into my mouth on a daily, sometimes hourly, basis might as well have been a loaded gun.
Click. POW! Lights out.
Excerpt #2:
Night and day. That’s the only way to describe it. From one month to the next, everything had changed. I’m not talking about just another day of logging my body’s post-surgery metamorphosis, I’m referring to my overall outlook on life. I felt fantastic, rejuvenated, gleeful, optimistic, purposeful, and whatever other adjective you want to slap on to account for my stupid grinning face.
“But Chad, you only lost nine pounds this month,” you might be thinking. “Who cares?” is my response. Yes, I was ecstatic to see a minus in the column, but more jubilant that the film had been peeled away from my eyes. Maybe that’s how much being blind to the truth weighs—another damn bowling ball.
I’d committed some major “stupid” and pulled off several miracles. I finally decided to understand their significance. To appreciate them.
Stupid 1:I’d been close to death by smothering my body in layers of fat all from a driving need for instant self-gratification in the form of food.
Stupid 2:I’d been unable to work and provide for my family because of that choice.
Stupid 3:I’d come dangerously close to leaving the love of my life a widow and fending for herself with two young children.
Stupid 4:I clutched my jewel-encrusted “King of the Excuses” crown in a white-knuckled grip and refused to give up the reign of power.
Miracle 1:I scared the hell out of myself, swallowed my pride, and sought out professional help.
Miracle 2:Going on nothing but crossed fingers,My 600 LB Lifesnatched me from an open volcano trying to suck me into the bowels of hell
.
Miracle 3:I survived major surgery to stop me from steadily killing myself.
Miracle 4:I became a father and husband again, not a burden to shoulder.
Miracle 5:I survived anothermajor surgery to stop me from accidentallykilling myself.
Miracle 6:I woke the hell up, threw that heavy crown as far as I could, and turned my vision outward. Selfish, selfish Chad disappeared that day. Good riddance.
Remember way back at the start of the book where I’d been trying to assign some reason as to why I overate? I’d said, “If some motives are sub-conscious, then how would I know what’s brewing in that gray, murky area and pulling on my puppet strings?” The answer was so obvious, I almost wanted to pop myself upside the head. I’d actually revealed it with my next line of, “This need, or drive, may be beneath the layer of consciousness yet obviously very dominate in the patterns we establish,” but quickly covered it with, “I can’t just simply point one out and yell, “Hey, sneaky bastard. Yeah, you. I know what you’re up to. Get the hell out of my head!” Yup. The master of denial at your service. Blame it on something else.
These demons that I liked to point out and accuse for leading me astray are me. I’m battling myself constantly. We all are. I don’t care what episode in your life may have planted the damn things in the first place, if you continue to allow them to park inside your brain, you own them.
“But they’re hidden and stealthy,” some might continue convincing. “How can you possibly fight something in the dark?” That line sounds very plausible and can be such a good excusefor continued ignorance. I refused to play the game. We’re not puppets on a string, and if you feel like you are, then you’ve tied the threads yourself. WE make the patterns, no one else. The key is reading the damn things. Start looking at YOUR ACTIONS and subsequent fallout. If you’re not getting a good return on your thought patterns, then, duh, something’s wrong. You wouldn’t keep betting on the broken-down nag that continues coming in last, would you? Hell, no. Same thing applies. Keep this next statement at the forefront of your brain, it’s that important.
If you refuse to understand yourself, how can you ever be understood by another? Pleading cries of, “You don’t understand” or “Help me” fall on deaf ears for an eternity, and rightly so. Read the book of your life and take a good, hard look at the story. Your answers are right there. Just because the plot isn’t completed yet doesn’t mean you can’t come to some mind-opening conclusions before finally reaching THE END.
How many chances do you think we get in one life? What if we’re reincarnated over and over until we finally learn a hard lesson and adjust? Good grief! I must have been a righteously stubborn shit through a few others. This round was viciously driving it home to show me the error of my ways.
Maybe we’re like a cat and get nine chances in the one life given. If so, I’m glad that my rose-colored glasses got cracked because I don’t have much more left on the tab. That’s for sure.
Perhaps everything is a matter of chance. We get one shot at it. To build or destroy it as we go and then turn to worm dirt afterward. If so, what a damn waste to spend it so frivolously.
Q&A SESSION
What made you decide to write a memoir?
By time my follow-up episode aired, I’d gathered a pretty large following on Facebook. Soon, I began receiving messages that they would love to know more about my life and that I should write a book. I didn’t know the first thing about writing or how to get published, so I just told them that I would think about it. It’s very humbling to hear the viewers say that the family and I inspired them to continue their path to better health. Just as many also told me they found the courage to begin their own journey. That motivated me to spill out my life in the hopes that I can inspire at least one more person to save their own life like I did. My greatest hope is that someone will recognize their issues and stop from ever tipping over into morbid obesity.
How did Celeste get the honor of writing your book?
Crazy story. It was what you might call a “happy accident.” Before I ate myself into a body that could barely breathe, I loved riding motorcycles. Early 2018, I stopped in a bike shop not far from my house to look at used bikes. The manager recognized me and asked if I ever thought about writing a book. Destiny! I soon learned that his business partner had a sister that was an author and was here in Texas. After one phone call, I was making plans for Celeste to visit. We hit it off immediately. Same sense of humor and tell-it-like-it-is attitude. Two weeks later, she was in my living room with the first chapter and a rough outline. Out came the recorder and she started grilling me from birth all the way to that exact moment. She didn’t go easy on me. The questions were hard, probing, and unapologetic. She came back two months later with a completed manuscript and read it to me and Ayesha. Nailed it! She’d crawled into my head and put all of my ramblings and our shared “ah ha!” revelation moments into a polished story. We didn’t have to change a thing. –and yes, she’s helping me write my blog answers. She’s my official writer. Two peas in a pod. Lol!
Is this a “tell-all” book about your experience on My 600 LB Life?
Not in the least. I give insights to other things occurring with me and Ayesha during that time-period, but it doesn’t offer up any behind-the-scenes inner workings of the show. So, if you’re looking for any dirt on the production company or TLC, then you’ve come to the wrong place. This book reflects my respect for those two organizations, and especially Dr. Now. Without them I would be dead. Slinging mud is not the intention of this book. I wanted to show the world how easy it is to become “blindly obese.” As my story unfolds, I’m analyzing myself and pointing out all the missed moments where I should’ve come to my senses and stopped myself from ever reaching the size you see when I began the show. I wanted to find the WHY of the nonsense I heaped on myself.
What advice can you offer to those that are fighting a weight issue?
I’m not referring to those that have a true medical issue, but to those with a food addiction like mine. Quit allowing yourself to fall into the trap of excuses and denials of your problem. You’ll see this throughout my book. I blame no one but myself for reaching that massive amount of weight. Mine was an extreme case, however even forty to fifty pounds over is leading to, or already causing, internal issues. I wrecked my spleen and liver, which are now thankfully recovered. Every day I thank the stars that I didn’t annihilate my heart. Think about the stress to your ligaments and bones. Yes, it’s hard to change your lifestyle, but it’s even harder to try to recover what you’re steadily destroying day by day. Ignore your desire to turn a blind eye to reality. Trust me—it’s not fun to pay the piper later. Yes, I survived, but I have scars on the inside and out. Stop the cycle now…and live!
What type of response have you had with the book so far?
Right before the memoir released, Ayesha and I were invited to New York to appear on the Today Show. Meeting Al Roker was mind-blowing. Great guy! Right afterward, I did interviews with the New York Post, Life and Style, and In Touch Weekly. There were a lot more interviews when I returned to Texas and still more to come. We’re getting a lot of 5 Star review ratings and praise on the story. The response is overwhelming. I’m extremely grateful to have these opportunities for reaching those that are just looking for a bit of inspiration to turn their lives around, or to simply enjoy reading a story of someone narrowly escaping a self-imposed tragedy.
Chad’s Bio
Chad Dean as seen on TLC’s “My 600 LB Life,” was once quoted as saying, “The board game most closely resembling my life is Candy Land. I would eat anything and everything I wanted, whenever I wanted.” But those days are long gone. He’s now in that coveted 5% experiencing gastric bypass and successfully maintaining the weight loss after two years. He credits his brilliant physician, a production company willing to take a chance, the unwavering support of his loving family, sound fitness advice, and a blatant truth-telling friend that never bent under the pressure of the addicted.
During that arduous journey, Chad fought hard, stumbled, got back to his feet, and battled like a warrior to right the wrong he’d done to his body. You can’t endure such hills and valleys without glancing over your shoulder to see what demons were still chasing you. What he found was a burning question as to why he’d ended up in that predicament in the first place. By spilling out intimate details of his life on the pages of “I’m In Here Somewhere,” his greatest hope is that others may learn from his mistakes, recognize their own decline into addiction, and pass on the knowledge to others that are still in gripping denial. The one thing that Chad never lost in this epic battle was his irreverent humor, positivity, and strong confidence. They may have faltered a few times, but you will definitely see them full force in his honest, no holds-barred Memoir of a Food Addict. He welcomes your curiosity, encourages your bravery at taking a peek, and applauds you for sticking around. Happy reading!
Celeste’s Author Bio
Celeste sends a resounding thanks to Chad and his family for allowing her to write his memoir, “I’m In Here Somewhere: Memoir of a Food Addict”—her first ever. However, it isn’t her first foray into writing. She’s also a published author of the award winning, bestselling romance series FUELED BY LUST and THREE DIVISIONS trilogy. Celeste has received countless praises for her unique writing style, ability to create memorable characters and mesmerizing worlds for the reader to romp, dream, and drool. Action, suspense, mystery, and sizzling hot, lovable hunks continue to bring on “Top Picks,” “Best Book,” “Book of the Month,” “Best Banter,” and International “Reader’s Choice Favorite” accolades.
Her decidedly favorite professional review comment from Long and Short Reviews, “Book one caught my attention, book two had me hooked and asking for more, book three caused my addiction, and book four fed my habit. Now I’m left sitting here hoping for more, like a junkie strung out on alien men,” has gleefully kept her nose to the keyboard and sharing with the world the Fueled By Lust Insedi warriors and the lucky females who snag them.
Currently, she is trying her talented hand within the non-romance Paranormal / Crime Thriller genre and hopes to have another novel ready very soon.
PICS
King's College London study published in Frontiers in Genetics
Aging-related effects of psychiatric disease associated with antidepressant use
The increased risk of shorter telomeres in individuals with depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia does not seem to be genetic, but instead is likely mediated by environmental factors – and possibly the use of antidepressantsPeople suffering from depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia often have a higher rate of age-related diseases as well as ‘older’ DNA, as measured by shorter chromosome “caps” or telomeres. This suggests that psychiatric disorders may be associated with faster biological aging – but is this due to a genetic predisposition to shorter telomeres in these individuals or instead a consequence of living with a psychiatric disorder? A study in Frontiers in Genetics suggests the latter, finding for the first time that antidepressant use is associated with both shorter telomere length and a higher risk for age-related disease, independent of being diagnosed with depression. While the study could not infer whether there was a causal relationship between antidepressant use, telomere length and age-related disease, the findings nevertheless highlight a need to further study the long-term impact of antidepressant use on aging-related conditions.“Our study shows that susceptibility for shorter telomeres amongst psychiatric disorder patients may not be carried by our genes; in most cases, it’s probably moderated by the environment,” says Dr Tim Powell from King’s College London, UK, and one of the study’s authors.“The good news is, we can change this! Previous research suggests that engaging in behaviours known to protect telomeres from shortening -- such as exercise, avoiding fatty foods, soft drinks and cigarettes, as well as stress management -- may have a positive impact on overall health, and could prove to be a fundamental way of improving the health of those with a psychiatric disorder.”Major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia have been linked to an increased risk of severe medical conditions – with age-related conditions like cardiovascular disease and stroke showing the highest prevalence. People suffering from the three psychiatric disorders have also been shown to have shorter telomeres compared to the general population. These special structures at the ends of chromosomes get shorter with each cell division, which is thought to represent a ‘molecular clock’ that underlies cell aging.Teasing apart the relationship between these psychiatric disorders, their associated medical conditions and telomere length is difficult.“By the time blood is drawn for research, patients have often taken some form of medication already, are generally more likely to have smoked, or to have been exposed to stressful life events -- all of which constitute environmental factors which may influence cell aging,” explains Powell.To overcome this, Powell and colleagues first analysed DNA in blood samples taken from 290 healthy individuals who did not have a psychiatric disorder diagnosis, measuring both telomere length and the presence of genetic markers for major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. The results showed no association between genetic risk for these disorders and telomere length.“This suggests that the risk for premature cell aging in people with a psychiatric disorder more likely stems from environmental factors than from a genetic predisposition,” says Powell.Next, in an expanded cohort of 351 individuals, the researchers compared telomere length, or ‘cell age’, in individuals either taking antidepressants or not. They found those taking medication had shorter telomeres – even if they had not been diagnosed with depression but were taking antidepressants for other reasons.Moreover, the individuals taking antidepressants also reported a higher number of age-related diseases – namely type-2 diabetes, arthritis, cardiovascular disease, stroke, high blood pressure and cancer. This association was also independent of a depression diagnosis.The authors provide two possible explanations. One is that antidepressants directly increase telomere shortening and risk for age-related disease. The other, which they believe more likely, is that antidepressant use is more commonly prescribed in those who suffer from depression or related conditions such as sleep problems, and who also suffer from chronic, debilitating age-related disease.The authors say “Antidepressants remain one of the best treatments for psychiatric illness. We now need to perform larger prospective studies to better understand how its use relates to age-related mechanisms and disease.”The study suggests the relationship between antidepressant use and cell aging should be studied further. While the reduction in telomere length associated with antidepressant use is small, approximately 2%, as estimated by the authors, the impact on public health may be substantial. Mind UK estimates that up to 25% of people will experience depression at one point in their life – and from 2006-2016, prescriptions issued for antidepressants in England, where the study was conducted, more than doubled.
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