NEWMARKET, ON, Dec. 21, 2018 /CNW/ - The holiday season is filled with distinct sights and sounds, imprinted in our memories and reinforced year after year.
Neighbourhoods aglow with twinkling lights, trees adorned with beautiful decorations, the energetic 'jingle' of bells, warm laughter of loved ones, and the unmistakable murmur of countless shoppers echoing through the mall. These are just a few of the many sights and sounds associated with the season.
However, for those with a limited range of senses, like combined vision and hearing loss, the holidays can be a time of darkness and silence.
When Shannon was born, her parents knew before leaving the hospital that their new baby was blind. Soon after, they made another discovery. "One morning when Shannon was just an infant, she didn't startle at a loud bang…I thought of Helen Keller immediately," said Shannon's Mom, Kim.
After an MRI, doctors confirmed that this discovery was not a coincidence; Shannon was diagnosed as being deafblind.
Deafblindness combines varying degrees of both vision and hearing loss, impacting access to information, communication, and mobility. In fact, 95% of what you learn comes from your eyes and ears.
With no useable vision in her right eye and a little peripheral vision in the left, in combination with no cochlea in the right ear and normal hearing in her left, Shannon's needs are complex and ever-changing.
For years, Shannon's family struggled to integrate her into the nearby school system and even tried a special education placement outside of their district. There were lots of challenges and limited success.
When Shannon was 11, she toured Brantford's W. Ross MacDonald School, which has a deafblind program. She loved it so much that she wanted to start there right away.
"As parents, our greatest fear was not finding the most appropriate and unique support Shannon needed once she graduated at 21. We started looking at supported living residences when she was 14. There were few options available, and, many would not have met our daughter's needs," said Kim.
"We found DeafBlind Ontario Services and added Shannon's name to their wait list right away. We really wanted Shannon to stay close to us, so we were thrilled when, in 2009, she moved into one of DeafBlind Ontario Services' locations in London."
Individuals who are deafblind have the capacity to build their life skills, gain independence, and contribute to the greater community with the support of professionally trained intervenors.
"With Shannon's unique needs, DeafBlind Ontario Services showed us that they too are unique and flexible in their approach."
Intervenors work with Shannon as a communication partner, bringing the world closer to her. "At this time of year, I am reminded of the time when Shannon did not want to take down her Christmas tree at the end of the holidays. The intervenors really embodied the spirit of the season and recognized that leaving it up would be more beneficial for her. That tree is now not only a Christmas tree, but Shannon's St. Paddy's Day tree, Easter tree, even a Halloween tree! This turned what could have been a negative experience, into such a positive one for Shannon."
"My family and I are grateful for the support Shannon receives from DeafBlind Ontario Services. They have made such a huge difference in our lives and Shannon's life. I don't think we would have all of the success that we've had without their great support and their expertise," said Kim.
DeafBlind Ontario Services is a not-for-profit organization that helps individuals who are deafblind to increase their independence and improve their quality of life through specialized services. With programs across the province, their reach extends into a wide range of communities in Ontario.
To help support individuals like Shannon and make a difference this holiday season, visit www.deafblindontario.com.
National #BecauseYouCare Campaign Planned for 2019 Aims to Raise Awareness of Social Isolation in Seniors Population
Unique Campaign Encourages Parliamentarians to Visit a Local Care Home
OTTAWA, Dec. 21, 2018 /CNW/ - On behalf of its members, the Canadian Association for Long-Term Care (CALTC) is urging all Members of Parliament across the country to help tackle social isolation among seniors. This first-of-a-kind initiative for CALTC aims to raise awareness about the negative impacts social isolation can have on the health of Canadian seniors.
CALTC will be calling upon on all Members of Parliament to visit at least one care home in their riding during the week of February 10 to 16th2019 which happens to coincide Valentine's Day. CALTC plans to post on its website a full listing of MPs who have advised us they plan to support the #BecauseYouCare campaign and have scheduled a visit to a local care home.
"As the holidays approach and we gather with close friends and family, we are reminded of the fact that many seniors live in isolation" says Daniel Fontaine, Chair of CALTC. "By reaching out to elderly family members or friends we can all make a huge difference in someone's quality of life. We certainly hope that next Valentine's Day a great number of MPs will take the time to visit a local care home and participate in this unique campaign."
Studies have shown that social isolation has a negative impact on health, especially among seniors, which increases the burden on the health care system. Social isolation among seniors can even occur in care homes where there are an abundance of residents and staff. We know that those who are more connected with their family and friends lead longer, happier and healthier lives. Over the holidays, Members of Parliament can help by booking time to visit a local care home.
Help spread the word over social media #BecauseYouCare
About the Canadian Association for Long Term Care
The Canadian Association for Long Term Care (CALTC) is a national organization comprised of provincial associations and long-term care providers that deliver publicly-funded health care services for seniors across Canada.
SOURCE Canadian Association for Long-Term Care
Child's Heartbeat Controls London Christmas Lights to Help Charity, Tiny Tickers
LONDON, Dec. 21, 2018 /CNW/ - London's shopping streets, the Seven Dials, located in the heart of the West End, will celebrate Christmas Lights with a difference this December.
The normally static lights are being connected to the heart monitor of Billy, a 2-year old heart patient using innovative new technology - so that they pulse in time with his heartbeat
The activity is to help shine a light on the plight of babies and children who miss Christmas due to serious heart conditions
Tiny Tickers, a small charity dedicated to helping improve the detection, care and treatment of babies with serious heart conditions, is highlighting that whilst everyone else is admiring the Christmas lights, many babies and young children face a very different Christmas; in hospital waiting for, or recovering from, open heart surgery.
Young Billy was diagnosed with Transposition of the Great Arteries (TGA) at his mum's 20 week scan. TGA is a condition where the two main blood vessels leaving the heart are swapped over and affects 1 in 10,000 babies. After a traumatic 13-hour operation at just 7 days old, Billy has come on in leaps and bounds.
Billy's mum commented on the activation: "Christmas is meant to be the happiest time of year but it's very easy to forget that lots of families could be going through a really hard time - and sadly they don't get to enjoy the holidays together."
"I really wanted to be involved in this idea because it's really important to keep making noise and raising awareness about heart disease -but also make people aware of the wider impact it has on families
"Thankfully we have incredible support from charities such as Tiny Tickers - but the funding doesn't magically appear, it relies on donations from the public. So I really hope this activation encourages people to donate - even if it's just a small amount."
Billy was born 9th May 2016, and had heart surgery on 16th May 2016
312 UK babies with a serious heart condition will be born over the Christmas period
1 in every 125 babies born in the UK has a heart defect
1,000 babies leave hospitals in the UK every year with an undetected heart condition
Charity Tiny Tickers calls for people to give the 'gift of hope' to a sick child by donating at Christmas
SOURCE Tiny Tickers
Helsinn Group Grants Exclusive Licensing Rights to Menarini for Pracinostat
Licensing rights are worldwide excluding US, Canada, Japan and South America
LUGANO, Switzerland and FLORENCE, Italy, Dec. 21, 2018 /CNW/ - Helsinn, a Swiss pharmaceutical group focused on building quality cancer care products, and Menarini, an Italian biopharmaceutical Group active in 136 countries worldwide, today announced that Berlin Chemie AG, the German company of the Menarini Group, has been granted exclusive licensing rights to commercialize Pracinostat worldwide (excluding US, Canada, Japan and South America).
Pracinostat is an inhibitor of class I, II, and IV histone deacetylase. The compound is currently in development with a multiregional phase III trial in combination with Azacitidine for the treatment of adult patients with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia (AML) who are unfit for intensive induction chemotherapy; pracinostat is also being tested in an open label phase II study in combination with Azacitidine for the treatment of naïve patients with high risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS).
Under the terms of the agreement, Helsinn will retain all international development rights, including clinical development activities, and the supply of Pracinostat. Menarini will promote, distribute and commercialize Pracinostat in all countries of the assigned territories. Helsinn will retain the right to co-promote Pracinostat in the province of Shanghai, China, alongside Menarini, who will exclusively access the rest of China. Pursuant to certain clauses of the agreement, Menarini will have the opportunity to exploit any potential further oncology indication in the same territories.
Riccardo Braglia, Helsinn Group Vice Chairman and CEO, said: "We are pleased to have signed this agreement with Menarini, granting them exclusive licensing rights to promote and sell Pracinostat in AML, the prognosis of which remains dismal in those patients unfit to intensive induction chemotherapy.
We believe this global agreement will help to broaden the reach of Pracinostat to those patients who need it. Pracinostat, is now in Phase III clinical development. As Helsinn expands its focus into cancer therapeutics, we're delighted to have a new, trusted partner like Menarini on board."
"Finding new therapies against cancer, and precisely, against leukemia, is one of the goals of Menarini, which is strongly investing in Research and Development with the aim of discovering new products - said Lucia and Alberto Giovanni Aleotti, shareholders of the Menarini Group - We are extremely pleased to have signed this agreement with Helsinn, one of the recognized pharmaceutical companies in the field of cancer care products."
About Pracinostat
Pracinostat is an oral histone deacetylase ("HDAC") inhibitor that is in a pivotal Phase III study in combination with azacitidine for the treatment of adults with newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia ("AML") who are unfit for intensive induction chemotherapy. It is also being evaluated in a Phase II study in patients with high risk myelodysplastic syndrome ("MDS"). The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted Breakthrough Therapy Designation for pracinostat in combination with azacitidine for the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed AML who are ≥75 years of age or unfit for intensive chemotherapy.
In 2016 Helsinn obtained global rights to Pracinostat from MEI Pharma, Inc. under an exclusive license, development and commercialization agreement, the terms of which are not altered by the sublicense agreement, which also included the right for Helsinn to grant sublicenses to third parties.
Pracinostat is an investigational agent and is not approved for commercial use in the U.S. and any country worldwide.
About the Helsinn Group
Helsinn is a privately owned pharmaceutical group with an extensive portfolio of marketed cancer care products and a robust drug development pipeline. Since 1976, Helsinn has been improving the everyday lives of patients, guided by core family values of respect, integrity and quality. The Group works across pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices and nutritional supplements and has expertise in research, development, manufacture and the commercialization of therapeutic and supportive care products for cancer, pain and inflammation and gastroenterology. In 2016, Helsinn created the Helsinn Investment Fund to support early-stage investment opportunities in areas of unmet patient need. The company is headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland, with operating subsidiaries in Switzerland, Ireland, the U.S., Monaco and China, as well as a product presence in approximately 190 countries globally.
Berlin-Chemie Menarini is a company of The Menarini Group, an Italian pharmaceutical company, 13th in Europe out of 5,345 companies, and 35th company in the world out of 21,587 companies, with a turnover of more than 3.6 billion Euro and 17,000 employees. The Menarini Group has always pursued two strategic objectives: research and internationalization, and has a strong commitment to oncology research and development. As part of such commitment to oncology, Menarini, is developing four investigational new oncological drugs. Two of them are biologics, namely the anti CD157 antibody MEN1112, and the toxin-conjugated, anti CD205 antibody MEN1309. In addition, Menarini has recently added two small molecules to its oncology pipeline, the dual PIM and FLT3 kinase inhibitor MEN1703, and the PI3K inhibitor MEN1611, in clinical development for the treatment of a variety of hematological and/or solid tumors. Menarini is active commercially in the most important therapeutic areas with products for cardiology, gastroenterology, pneumology, infectious diseases, diabetology, inflammation, and analgesia.
With 16 production sites and 7 Research and Development centers, the Menarini Group has a strong presence throughout Europe and Asia, Africa, Central and South America. Menarini Group products are available in 136 countries worldwide.
QUANTIC NANOTECH to Present First Digital Health Osteoarthritis Wearable Aid Treatment System at Las Vegas CES 2019
MADRID and LAS VEGAS, Dec. 21, 2018 /CNW/ - QUANTIC NANOTECH, a product division of Spanish DEMAC S.A. group has today announced the presentation in Eureka Park at CES 2019 of the first real wearable device for the aid, prevention and home treatment of osteoarthritis.
The new product is simple and convenient and can be used at home, controlled by any smartphone or as standalone IoT device, monitored remotely by medical personnel.
"Three years ago I was diagnosed with hand osteoarthritis. When I went to the hospital I found the treatment so cumbersome and complicated that I decided to create a more simple and efficient solution for everyone," said Jose Luis Torre DEMACgroup CEO and author of many international related published patents.
The product has been awarded internationally at various shows like InPEX Pittsburgh, ITEX Indonesia and 'Salon International des Inventions' Geneva and integrates cutting-edge technologies like memory shaped alloys and latest generation materials.
Dr. Juan Mulero MD Rheumatologist of the Ruber Internacional Hospital of Madrid said:
"The customized adaptation along with the possibility of applying topical treatments provided for this device can be very useful in hand osteoarthritis" who also declared: "This device is a way to apply at the same time and during the nightseveral modalitiesof treatment in the osteoarthritic hand. This disease is very common, because according to the Framingham Ostearthritis Study it produces in US symptoms of pain and deformity in 16% of women and in 8% of males. The local management of hand osteoarthritis combines both non-pharmacological and pharmacological approaches. Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are recommended as a first-line pharmacological treatment, and splints might offer warmth, support and stabilization of joints."
QUANTIC NANOTECH has secured a seed capital investment already for the development of the product, and is looking for specialised Venture Capital for rapid worldwide implementation.
Rheumatism and osteoarthritis is a very common disease and is the major cause of sick leave worldwide with USD$ 304 Billions of total medical and earning losses just in the US alone approximately equivalent to 1% of US gross domestic product GDP (Source: arthritis.org - 2013).
AboutDEMAC S.A.
Established in 1992, DEMAC S.A. group is formed by a team of Engineers with passion for innovation that has been serving the consumer market in Spain and USA and has an extensive patent portfolio.
SOURCE QUANTIC NANOTECH
New partnership formed to improve lives of Albertans with digestive disease
CALGARY, Dec. 20, 2018 /CNW/ -The University Hospital Foundation (UHF), Ministry of Alberta Economic Development and Trade, and Shire Pharma Canada ULC (Shire Canada) through the Calgary Health Trust (CHT), have jointly invested $1.7 Million to create a pan-provincial Collaboration of Excellence to advance long-term health outcomes, quality of life, and economic prosperity for Albertans suffering with digestive diseases.
According to a recent National Digestive Disorders Prevalence and Impact Study, approximately two-thirds of Canadians suffer from digestive disorders. Often, people with digestive diseases suffer in silence or are treated with medication for their symptoms, with little understanding of how changes in nutrition may lead to significantly better health outcomes. To address this, Shire Canada, the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, and the University Hospital Foundation recognized the need to invest in a new partnership for research and treatment of digestive diseases using nutrition-based therapies for the benefit of all Albertans.
Dr. Maitreyi Raman, Medical Director - Southern Alberta Home Enteral and Parenteral Nutrition Program, is the clinical lead on the project. "Our major objectives are to develop novel research to support the advancement of nutrition therapy in inflammatory bowel disease, develop novel nutrition and dietary therapies in the setting of liver cirrhosis, and then optimize how we provide care to patients with intestinal failure," said Dr. Raman.
About the AsCEND Collaboration
The provincial partnership for Alberta's Collaborations of Excellence for Nutrition in Digestive Diseases (AsCEND) is supported by an interdisciplinary team comprised of Shire Canada, the Government of Alberta, Alberta Health Services, the University of Alberta – Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, and the University of Calgary.
AsCEND will support education and training, post-graduate physician nutrition fellowships, and clinical patient support and development, focused on three main pillars:
Discovery: Developing and evaluating nutrition-based therapies in gastrointestinal disease.
Patient Experience: Using personalized medicine to provide evidence-based nutrition care to patients with GI disease.
Knowledge Sharing: Providing nutrition-focused training and education to patients and practitioners, and advocating for enhanced nutrition delivery in acute and primary care.
"At Shire, we have long believed we have a unique opportunity to champion the underserved patient communities," said Eric Tse, General Manager for Shire Canada. "We are delighted to be a part of the AsCEND collaboration to help accelerate the development of new treatments and nutrition based therapies, remove obstacles to diagnosis and increase access to therapies that are so greatly needed for those who face digestive disease."
"Alberta is home to world-leading healthcare and research teams in gastroenterology, nutrition and inflammatory bowel diseases. The UHF is proud to be a partner in this collaboration as we know it will have a positive impact the health of Albertans living with these conditions", says Christy Holtby, Vice President, Strategic Partnerships with the University Hospital Foundation. "We're so grateful for the support from community members through our Foundation to help fund this ground-breaking collaboration."
"This partnership is an excellent example of how collaboration between the public and private sectors, and our foundations in both Edmonton and Calgary can work together to make a transformational impact on healthcare outcomes for Albertans," adds Dr. Chris Eagle, CEO of Calgary Health Trust. "We are pleased to have the opportunity to work alongside University Hospital Foundation and Shire Canada in bringing this opportunity to Alberta."
"Alberta's health innovators are making our province proud – attracting international attention and investment," says the Minister of Alberta Economic Development and Trade, Deron Bilous, "World-renowned life-sciences experts want to help our researchers and entrepreneurs create new products and businesses based on Alberta discoveries. That means healthier lives for people around the world – and new jobs and a more diversified economy here at home."
About the AsCEND Partners
The University Hospital Foundation raises and manages funds to advance patient care, research and healthcare education at the University of Alberta Hospital, the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute and the Kaye Edmonton Clinic. You can find more information at www.universityhospitalfoundation.ab.ca/.
The Ministry of Alberta Economic Development and Trade focuses on economic growth and diversification by supporting innovation and research; expanding access to capital for small and medium-sized enterprises; promoting trade, investment and market access initiatives; and leading Alberta's negotiations on trade agreements. Please visit our website at http://economic.alberta.ca
Shire is the global biotechnology leader serving patients with rare diseases and specialized conditions. We seek to push boundaries through discovering and delivering new possibilities for patients across our portfolio of therapeutic areas including Immunology, Hematology, Genetic Diseases, Neuroscience, Internal Medicine, and Ophthalmics. For more information, please visit: www.shirecanada.com.
Calgary Health Trust raises money to advance healthcare within Calgary. Funds raised benefit Foothills Medical Centre, Peter Lougheed Centre, Rockyview General Hospital, South Health Campus, many community health programs and 12 Carewest care centres in our community. For more information about Calgary Health Trust and its strategic priorities, visit www.calgaryhealthtrust.ca.
Alberta Health Services is the provincial health authority responsible for planning and delivering health supports and services for more than four million adults and children living in Alberta. Its mission is to provide a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.
A team led by Ashok K. Shetty, PhD, a professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicineat the Texas A&M College of Medicine, associate director of the Institute for Regenerative Medicine and a research career scientist at the Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Medical Center, part of the Central Texas Veterans Health Care System, is working on a better and permanent treatment for epilepsy. Their results published this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences(PNAS).
Seizuresare caused when the excitatory neurons in the brain fire too much and inhibitory neurons—the ones that tell the excitatory neurons to stop firing—aren’t as abundant or aren’t operating at their optimal level. The main inhibitory neurotransmitter in the brain is called GABA, short for gamma-Aminobutyric acid.
Over the last decade, scientists have learned how to create induced pluripotent stem cellsfrom ordinary adult cells, like a skin cell. These stem cells can then be coaxed to become virtually any type of cells in the body, including neurons that use GABA, called GABAergic interneurons.
“What we did is transplant human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived GABAergic progenitor cells into thehippocampusin an animal model of early temporal lobe epilepsy,” Shetty said. The hippocampus is a region in the brain where seizures originate in temporal lobe epilepsy, which is also important for learning, memory and mood. “It worked very well to suppress seizures and even to improve cognitive and mood function in the chronic phase of epilepsy.”
Further testing showed that these transplanted human neurons formed synapses, or connections, with the host excitatory neurons. “They were also positive for GABA and other markers of specialized subclasses of inhibitory interneurons, which was the goal,” Shetty said. “Another fascinating aspect of this study is that transplanted human GABAergic neurons were found to be directly involved in controlling seizures, as silencing the transplanted GABAergic neurons resulted in an increased number of seizures.”
“This publication by Dr. Shetty and his colleagues is a major step forward in treating otherwise incurable diseases of the brain,” said Darwin J. Prockop, MD, PhD, the Stearman Chair in Genomic Medicine, director of the Texas A&M Institute for Regenerative Medicine and professor at the Texas A&M College of Medicine. “One important aspect of the work is that the same cells can be obtained from a patient.” This type of process, called autologous transplant, is patient specific, meaning that there would be no risk of rejection of the new neurons, and the person wouldn’t need anti-rejection medication.
“We will need to make sure that we’re doing more good than harm,” Shetty said. “Going forward, we need to make sure that all of the cells transplanted have turned into neurons, because putting undifferentiated pluripotent stem cells into the body could lead to tumors and other problems.”
“A great deal of research is required before patients can be safely treated,” Prockop said. “But this publication shows a way in which patients can someday be treated with their own cells for the devastating effects of epilepsy but perhaps also other diseases such as Parkinsonism and Alzheimer’s disease.”
Shetty cautioned that these tests were early interventions after the initial brain injury induced by status epilepticus, which is a state of continuous seizures lasting more than five minutes in humans. The next step is to see if similar transplants would work for cases of chronic epilepsy, particularly drug-resistant epilepsy. “Currently, there is no effective treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy accompanying with depression, memory problems, and a death rate five to 10 times that of the general population,” he said. “Our results suggest that induced pluripotent stem cell-derived GABAergic cell therapy has the promise for providing a long-lasting seizure control and relieving co-morbidities associated with epilepsy.”
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About Texas A&M University Health Science Center Texas A&M University Health Science Center is transforming healththrough innovative research, education and service in dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health and medical sciences. As an independent state agency and academic unit of Texas A&M University, the health science center serves the state through campuses in Bryan-College Station, Dallas, Temple, Houston, Round Rock, Kingsville, Corpus Christi and McAllen. Learn more at vitalrecord.tamhsc.edu or follow @TAMHSC on Twitter.
Rock Solid Research On How To Prevent Dementia And Maintain A Healthy Brain
Chattanooga, TN, Dec. 19, 2018 ― Dr. Timothy R. Jennings speaks expertly on a subject that concerns over 5.5 million people across the nation: how to prevent dementia and keep our mind sharp as we age. A psychiatrist and international speaker, Jennings introduces his new book, recently rated #1 by Amazon in books on dementia, The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind.
Dr. Jennings prescribes simple, everyday actions we can take to stave off disease, promote vitality, and prevent dementia and late-onset Alzheimer's. "The choices we make now can help us to keep our minds sharp and maintain our independence as we age,” says Jennings.
An easy-to-use guide to maintaining brain and body health throughout life, The Aging Brain is based on solid, up-to-date scientific research, and the interventions discussed can prevent progression toward dementia, even in those already showing signs of mild cognitive impairment. The recommendations also may help reduce disability and depression.
"This book isn't just for people hoping to slow the aging process,” says Jennings. "It's also for anyone who is a caregiver to someone at risk of or already beginning to suffer from dementia. It offers a hopeful, healthy way forward.”
Jennings, who maintains a private practice in Chattanooga, TN, has authored several books, including The God-Shaped Brain and The God-Shaped Heart. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and Fellow of the Southern Psychiatric Association, and is president and founder of Come and Reason Ministries.
The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind Baker Books Released: June 2018 ISBN-10: 080107522X ISBN-13: 978-0801075223
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TIP SHEET
Reviews for The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind:
Dr. Caroline Leaf, Cognitive Neuroscientist, Communication Pathologist and Author: "Great advice and excellent science on aging! It's well worth following and applying these principles so as to age the way we are supposed to.”
Rodney A. Poling, MD, DFAPA, medical director, Behavioral Healthcare Center, Columbia TN., and board-certified geriatric psychiatrist: "A well-researched and commonsense book aimed at helping one understand the complexities of dementia, while offering recommendations for maintaining healthy brain function into our later years.”
Michael Lyles, psychiatrist, author, and speaker: "Dr. Jennings clearly describes how to practically manage the medical and lifestyle variables that can positively impact brain health and the process of aging. Age is a number, but getting old is a lifestyle.”
Immuno-oncology drug development and personalized medicine will continue to reshape the pharmaceutical industry in 2019, says GlobalData
Immuno-oncology (I-O) drug development will remain at the forefront of the pharmaceutical industry in 2019, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.
The company’s latest annual outlook report, ‘The State of the Biopharmaceutical Industry – 2019’, reveals that 31% of global industry respondents believe that immuno-oncology will have the greatest impact on the pharmaceutical sector in 2019 among a range of industry trends.
Claire Herman, Global Director of Therapy Analysis and Epidemiology at GlobalData, comments: “Immuno-oncology therapeutics have already been proven effective in the treatment of a range of cancers, including melanoma, kidney cancer, lymphoma, and other malignancies. The pace of immuno-oncology R&D remains rapid and its scope has expanded to include combination treatment. More and more, this therapeutic approach is regarded as a potential game-changer. Despite some trial disappointments in 2018, in 2019 we will see more development, more approvals, and more uptake for I-O drugs.”
The related field of personalized medicine is likewise expected to play a pivotal role in the industry during the coming year, with 19% of survey respondents identifying it as the most impactful anticipated trend. Personalized medicine spans disease areas and stands to transform not just cancer therapy, but the treatment paradigm across multiple diseases.
Herman continues, “Personalized medicine is revolutionizing disease treatment and patient outcomes. In recent years, as the direction of drug development has shifted from a one-size-fits-all blockbuster model to a more finely targeted approach that aims to develop drugs with higher efficacy in specific patient subpopulations, new targeted drugs have begun reaching the market across multiple indications. These new drugs are overhauling the treatment paradigm.”
“While successful implementation of a personalized medicine-driven strategy requires a fundamental shift in the commercial model for most Pharma companies, the investment is worthwhile. In fact, over time, it is likely that targeted therapies will be the standard of care in a wide range of diseases.”
The fact that, taken together, more than half of survey respondents identified I-O or personalized medicine as the trend expected to have the greatest impact on the industry in 2019 is an indicator of the optimism surrounding these new directions. Other trends, including real-world evidence, remote patient monitoring, and biosimilar uptake, were also highly rated. But ultimately, industry stakeholders believe that trends closer to the clinic will have the most transformative short-term effect.
COUNTDOWN TO NEW YEAR’S EVE: HOW TO GET GREAT SKIN BEFORE THE BALL DROPS ON 2018
As luck would have it, most women seem to experience skin care problems just when they want to look their best. Every woman can relate to waking up with a huge zit right at the tip of her nose, or huge dark circles under the eyes, and the list goes on. There are pre-emptive measure one can take with less than two weeks until the New Year to ward off these skin care evils. We turned to Dr. Manish Shah, a Denver board certified plastic surgeon for guidance on what to do without breaking the bank or having invasive surgery.
Facial Extractions by a licensed aesthetician- Dr. Manish Shah says, “When done correctly extraction facials can clear closed comedones (AKA those tiny, flesh-colored bumps that never come to a head, yet never really go away), remove whiteheads and blackheads, and give your skin a newer, fresher foundation for your skincare products to penetrate. Basically, extractions can be the kiss of life for your lifeless broken out skin.”
Drink Alcohol in Moderation
If you plan on ringing into 2019 with a few glasses of bubbly, Dr. Shah recommends moderating your alcohol consumption leading up to the big day. He explains, “Alcohol can dehydrate the skin and cause it to appear less fresh and vibrant, which can certainly hinder your skin care efforts.”
Cleanse your Face Every Night- You have just arrived home at 2 am from a holiday Party. It may be tempting to flop into bed without washing your face. Don’t do it! Dr. Shah says that, “Sun damage isn’t the only environmental factor you have to worry about. Small micro particles from air pollutants might just hurt your skin, too. Play it safe by remembering to take a minute to cleanse your face to remove debris that could be weakening your skin. In addition, that foundation and pressed powder you have been wearing all night can clog your pores and cause breakouts.”
Start Exfoliating
Want brighter, younger-looking skin? It starts with a great at home exfoliator! Dr. Shah explains that, “As your skin replenishes itself, dead skin cells start to build up on the top layer, leaving you looking dull. Exfoliating regularly removes this layer, revealing fresh, healthy skin. Regular exfoliation also allows your moisturizer and other topical products to penetrate more deeply, making them more effective.”
Clean Your Makeup Brushes
You would not eat food on dirty dishes, would you? Applying makeup with dirty brushes is not so different. Not only will dirty brushes give you a spotty application, but they can harbor bacteria, dirt and oil, leading to acne and breakouts which necessitates piling on even more makeup to cover it up.
Don’t Squeeze Your Pimples!
Here's a secret that many a supermodel or actress use: Steroid shots. Dr. Shah explains that, "when we discuss treating acne with cortisone or "steroid" shots, we are referring to the process of gently placing a very dilute quantity of a "glucocorticoid" steroid into the cyst. Glucocorticoids are a class of steroid molecules that are naturally produced by our bodies and have numerous functions including the regulation of human metabolism, immunity, and inflammation. They have very potent anti-inflammatory effects, so they are often used to treat inflammatory diseases in medicine. They can be formulated as creams to treat skin rashes or as pills to treat systemic disease. They can also be injected directly into local areas of inflammation such as in arthritic joints and inflamed acne cysts. Within one or two days of injection into a cyst, the steroid will shrink the inflammation producing relief of pain and almost immediate cosmetic improvement."
Peels
Look for AHA/BHA/PHA peels that will exfoliate the skin and help release the top layers of dead skin cells allowing for a more radiant underlay to come through.
Microdermabrasion
This professional treatment exfoliates at a deeper level (similar to a peel), with a mechanical handheld device that buffs away the upper layers of the skin.
Add vitamin C to your routine.
Dr. Shah suggests applying several drops of vitamin C serum underneath SPF each morning to target free radical damage, help lighten brown spots, and even out your skin tone.
Moisturizer
It may seem obvious, but when it comes to dewy, glowing skin, moisturizing is essential. "When your skin is dry, it looks dull, so hydrating ingredients can help bring back that glow," says Dr. Shah. For skin types already prone to shine, adding moisture may seem like the last thing you need, but an oil-free hydrator with ingredients like hyaluronic acid could actually help reduce your sebum production and even out slickness into a sleek glow.
Manish Shah, M.D., F.A.C.S. was born in Canada and raised in the Washington, D.C. area. He graduated with honors from the University of Pennsylvania, receiving a degree in biomedical engineering. He then completed his medical training at the University of Virginia, earning his Medical Doctorate. During this time, he also completed a one-year fellowship in microsurgery research at the New York University School of Medicine / Institute of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. As a prelude to his plastic surgery training, Dr. Shah completed a rigorous five-year training program in General and Trauma Surgery at Emory University and the Medical College of Georgia. His formal training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery was completed at the Univ. of Tennessee College of Medicine – Chattanooga Unit. After completing his plastic surgery training, he moved to New York City when he 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. This fellowship is widely considered to be the best of its kind 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!
Dr. Shah is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center. He maintains a private practice in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery in the Cherry Creek neighborhood of Denver.
Dr. Shah is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, the Rhinoplasty Society, and the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery.
Dr. Shah is board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.
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