bareMinerals Supports Women's Empowerment With the Launch of The Power of Good Fund by bareMinerals

Full of Possibility, Free of Limitations

LONDON, Nov. 10, 2018 bareMinerals, the clean beauty brand founded 23 years ago, today announced the launch of its Power of Good Fund by bareMinerals. From January 2019, this philanthropic initiative will donate 1% of sales from bareMinerals boutiques and www.bareminerals.com to various charities that champion women's education, entrepreneurialism, and mentorship. As part of this new program, bareMinerals will also dedicate 1% of its employees' time to volunteerism, effectively encouraging each employee to donate three days every year to charitable causes.

The Mission of bareMinerals is to champion the power of good. We believe that the little choices we make have a power to make a big difference. "As a mother, business woman, and advocate for change, it was incredibly important that we establish a fund that allows young women to unleash their potential and realize their dreams. By establishing the Power of Good Fund by bareMinerals we hope to change the futures, and lives, of thousands of women across North America to start, with the aim to take this initiative global in 2020", says Jill Scalamandre, President bareMinerals.

To celebrate the launch of this initiative, bareMinerals hosted a Power of Good Global Wellness Retreat, the brand's first-ever global event, at Soho Farmhouse in Oxfordshire, England. Guests included Hailey Baldwin (bareMinerals Clean Beauty Ambassador), Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (bareMinerals Beauty Ambassador), Nikki DeRoest (bareMinerals Global Makeup Artist), Marc Rey (CEO, Shiseido Americas & Shiseido Group Chief Growth Officer), Jill Scalamandre (President, bareMinerals) and Jenny Halpern Prince (Founder, Joint Chairman, and Trustee for Access Inspiration).

More than just a beauty brand, bareMinerals believes that little choices can lead to big things. From the products that are part of a person's everyday routine to that greater sense of purpose that lies well beyond the makeup bag, bareMinerals is on a mission to help everyone feel the Power of Good. "The Power of Good campaign not only values products that make a difference, but also shows how feeling good and doing good can impact people around you," said Huntington-Whiteley. For Baldwin, the Power of Good means being "full of kindness and free of cruelty," while DeRoest believes in being "full of freedom and free of boundaries."

Every aspect of the two-day event was designed to evoke the Power of Good and put it into practice. Editors and influencers from all around the world were able to meet and mentor young women from London based charity, Access Aspiration. Founded by Jenny Halpern Prince, the charity provides 16 to 24-year-old students with new skills and career networks in an effort to increase social mobility, improve employability and remove barriers to higher education. A donation to Access Aspiration was made by bareMinerals in the name of all the guests in attendance. Additionally, DeRoest led a clean beauty masterclass and a dinner was hosted by Rey and Huntington-Whiteley to round out the retreat.

With philanthropy being a core pillar of the brand and clean ingredients free of compromise at the heart and soul of every product, the Power of Good Fund by bareMinerals is designed to further bareMinerals' mission to impact the world in a positive way. Knowing that every decision has an outward effect, bareMinerals strives to make a difference, effect real change, and unleash the potential of young women by encouraging acts of kindness both big and small.

Growing Hope for Huntington Disease with Amaryllis

(OTTAWA, ON) November 12, 2018 – For almost 30 years Valerie Nabb has been volunteering to sell Amaryllis flowers to raise money for families affected by Huntington disease (HD). For the past 6 years she has been the one in charge of organizing the Ottawa Chapter of the Huntington Society of Canada’s (HSC) orders and distributing them. For Nabb, selling Amaryllis is one of the easiest ways to make her contribution to the cause that directly affects her family.

“The flowers are very easy to sell,” says Nabb. “Sometimes it is hard to just ask people for money, but when you are giving them a beautiful flower in return it is easy. The Amaryllis sells itself!”

The Amaryllis is the signature flower of the Huntington Society of Canada. Volunteers sell bulb kits to raise vital funds for programs in HD research, services and education. Each year, around 20,000 amaryllis bulbs bloom coast to coast, across Canada, inspiring hope of a world free of HD. Since the sales began in 1985, HSC volunteers have raised well over five million dollars through Amaryllis sales.

All Amaryllis volunteers have their own reasons for selling and ways to sell the bulbs. “For me, selling is habit now. It is my primary commitment to HSC. But more than that, I am a gardener so the flower itself is my favourite part. Amaryllis gives me a chance to garden in the fall and winter!” says Nabb. “It is also a super convenient gift for Christmas. I give or sell a kit to everyone close to me – my neighbours, hairdresser, book club and relatives.”

If you would like to help HSC reach their goal of 20,000 amaryllis bulbs blooming coast to coast across Canada, please visit www.inspirehope.ca.

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Huntington disease (HD) is a debilitating brain disorder that is fatal and incurable. About one in every 7,000 Canadians has HD and approximately one in every 5,500 is at-risk of developing the disease. Many more are touched by HD whether as a caregiver, a family member, or a friend. Huntington disease is often described as having the symptoms of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and ALS – simultaneously. As the disease progresses, a person with Huntington’s become less able to manage movements, recall events, make decisions and control emotions. The disease leads to incapacitation and, eventually, death.

The Huntington Society of Canada (HSC) is a respected leader in the worldwide effort to find a meaningful treatment for HD. HSC is the only Canadian health charity dedicated to providing help and hope for families dealing with HD across Canada. HSC aspires for a world free from Huntington disease. For more information about HD and HSC visit www.huntingtonsociety.ca.

What's working and what's not in Canada's cancer system – Report points to where action is needed

The 2018 Cancer System Performance Report compares provinces and territories in key areas of cancer care from prevention through to treatment and survivorship

TORONTO, Nov. 13, 2018 /CNW/ - The Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (the Partnership) has released their 2018 Cancer System Performance Report. This is the latest in a series of reports that shine a light on areas of Canada's cancer system – from prevention and screening, through to treatment, survivorship and end-of-life care – to show what's working and where improvements are needed.

10 years ago, there was little consistently available information on the quality of cancer care across Canada. Over the past nine years, the Partnership has been working with national partners, provincial cancer agencies and territorial health authorities to identify what data exist and can be measured, to drive change.

The 2018 report shows where improvement is needed. The reports are supported by several networks across the country and they help drive policy and practice changes to improve the delivery of cancer services and improve the patient experience.

What the current report found:

More Canadians are surviving cancer than ever before. As an example, survival rates for colorectal cancer have increased steadily with over 2,700 more Canadians surviving five years after being diagnosed, compared to 15 years ago.
- Colorectal cancer screening programs, implemented in much of the country over the last 10 years in efforts coordinated by the Partnership, contribute to improvements in survival by catching cancers early, and often before they develop.
A high level of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, along with effective screening has the potential of eliminating cervical cancer in Canada, but the disease still kills 400 women every year – Vaccination rates in Newfoundland and Labrador are the highest in the country at 92 per cent compared to other provinces that have around 50 per cent and 60 per cent vaccination rates.
- The Partnership endorses the World Health Organization's declaration for eliminating cervical cancer and is working with a pan-Canadian network to achieve full HPV immunization and effective screening for cervical cancer in all provinces and territories.
Too many Canadians are still being diagnosed with preventable cancers – While lung cancer rates are declining across Canada¹, people in Nunavut are 2.6 times more likely, and people in Atlantic Canada are up to 1.5 times more likely, to be diagnosed compared to British Columbia and Ontario which have the lowest rates.
- The Partnership is helping jurisdictions across the country develop policies for reducing smoking and is launching a substantial effort to improve lung health in Nunavut.
Canadians are still waiting too long for diagnostic tests to identify whether they have cancer – Depending on which province they live in, women with an abnormal mammogram result can wait anywhere from a few days to 22 weeks or longer to get a definitive diagnosis.
- The Partnership is actively working with the Canadian Breast Cancer Screening Network and experts across Canada to improve efficiencies in breast cancer screening in all provinces and territories and ensure most women are informed of their diagnosis well within the target of five weeks (or seven weeks if a biopsy is needed).
Patients going through cancer treatment suffer symptoms like fatigue, pain, anxiety and depression and are often unable to receive support they need to address their concerns.
- The Partnership is working with partners across Canada to ensure hospitals and cancer centres are implementing tools that allow people with cancer to report physical and emotional challenges they face during treatment and get support from their care providers.

Read the full 2018 Cancer System Performance Report

Addressing these care gaps and challenges requires a coordinated pan-Canadian effort focused on a common set of priorities and goals. The Partnership is currently engaging thousands of Canadians across the country in the most comprehensive undertaking of its kind to modernize the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control.

This initiative will bring together Canada's diverse voices to determine the country's evolving priorities and challenges in addressing the burden of cancer and improving patients' quality of life. The Partnership is coordinating public engagements to gain insights to guide priorities of all work to improve cancer control for the next decade and beyond. All Canadians are encouraged to participate by taking #30MinutesThatMatter and visiting www.cancerstrategy.ca.

Quotes

"Canada is an international leader in our ability to measure and report on the performance of the cancer system. We use what we learn from these reports and work with partners across the country on system improvements to make a real difference to Canadians affected by cancer," said Cindy Morton, CEO of the Partnership. "We look forward to releasing the new Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control next year which will help guide the country towards further improvements in outcomes for the benefit of all Canadians."

"International benchmarking data have shown that we do well in diagnosing and treating cancer, but we can do better," said Craig Earle, medical oncologist and vice-president, Cancer Control at the Partnership. "We've used data from system performance reports to engage oncologists and cancer agencies directly on areas where we know clinical practice improvements can be made – and we've shown that this effort leads to higher quality and more efficient care."

"For a small province like P.E.I., the ability to participate at the national level to learn and share evidence-based cancer control information and resources are of paramount importance," said Dr. Larry Pan, radiation oncologist at the PEI Cancer Treatment Centre. "The Partnership's system performance reporting has allowed us to collaboratively mobilize positive change using evidence and practice patterns from the national landscape to drive impactful policy and system quality improvement initiatives in our province, with the ultimate goal of delivering optimal cancer care for Islanders in an effective and sustainable manner."

About the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer
As the steward of the Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control (the Strategy) the Partnership works to implement the Strategy to reduce the burden of cancer on Canadians. The partner network – cancer agencies, health system leaders and experts, and people affected by cancer – brings a wide variety of expertise to every aspect of our work. After 10 years of collaboration, we are accelerating work that improves the effectiveness and efficiency of the cancer control system, aligning shared priorities and mobilizing positive change across the cancer continuum. The Partnership continues to support the work of the collective cancer community in achieving our shared 30-year goals: a future in which fewer people get cancer, fewer die from cancer and those living with the disease have a better quality of life. The Partnership was created by the federal government in 2006 to move the Strategy into action and receives ongoing funding from Health Canada to continue supporting partners from across Canada. Visit www.partnershipagainstcancer.ca.

REFERENCES

Canadian Cancer Society. Lung cancer statistics. 2017. Available at: http://www.cancer.ca/en/cancer-information/cancer-type/lung/statistics/?region=pe

SOURCE Canadian Partnership Against Cancer

Northern Green Sciences Takes on the Opioid Crisis

Initiates Cannabis for Opioid Substitution Trial

BRAMPTON, ON, Nov. 12, 2018 /CNW/ - Northern Green Canada Inc. (NGC) commissioned Cannabis Research Associates (CRA), in co-operation with their R&D subsidiary company Northern Green Sciences (NGS) to conduct a multi-phase study Cannabis For Opioid Substitution Trial (COST) approved by the Canadian Research Ethics Board (REB) to define common strains of cannabis for patients to use as a replacement for opioids.

Northern Green Sciences Inc. (CNW Group/Northern Green Sciences Inc.)

North America is currently in the midst of an opioid epidemic with over three billion dollars spent treating the opioid crisis in 2016. The Government of Canada has pledged $150 million dollars over ten years to address this problem.

Directed by Kory Lazar, R&D Director at NGS, Dr. Ira Price, MD FRCPC, founder of Cannabis Research Associates, and research methodologist Dr. Suneel Upadhye MD FRCPC, the initial phase of the study is nearing completion and scheduled to transition into clinical trials in the coming months.

According to Dr. Price MD, FRCPC, "the type of commitment NGC has made towards high caliber research initiatives couldn't be more timely and is an extraordinary display of their belief in social responsibility."

"As the world addresses the opioid epidemic, the need to develop safe, efficacious, non-opioid alternatives to approach pain management has become increasingly urgent," said Dr Todd Slesinger, MD, FACEP, FCCM, FCCP, and NGS Advisory Board member. "NGS has already showed its commitment to rigorous trials in this field including its support of the COST trial. At NGS, we are dedicated to finding a way to tackle these serious problems through cannabinoid research and medication formulation."

NGS designs and develops well-controlled studies of cannabis and related phyto-cannabinoids for medical use in patients who have serious conditions for which preclinical, anecdotal, or controlled evidence suggests possible efficacy and the application of such results to the understanding and treatment of disease. Continued research in this field has been limited in North America due to a lack of funding or previous restrictions on research.

Because there are many strains of cannabis with varying concentrations and proportions of cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) as well as phytochemicals like terpenes, it is imperative to understand how cannabinoids work alone and in specific formulations, which is a promising pursuit to identify therapeutic alternatives to opioids. The ultimate goal is to reduce harm and improve an individual's overall well-being and quality of life.

"With promising preliminary evidence, we are conducting studies to evaluate the long-term efficacy of new medication. And we will continue to work towards the development of evidenced-based therapeutic options as safe alternatives for pain management," said NGC Medical Director, Dr. Hamed Hashemi, MD.

NGS is dedicated to providing clients with evidence-based medicine for a client-centered care approach. Its objective is to develop the most advanced medical delivery systems providing consistent and customized dosed medication. The company's process for medication formulation follows strict standards ensuring adherence to best practice guidelines mandated by Health Canada, ICP GCP, CFR and REB.

In order to better understand how cannabinoids work in conjunction with the body's intrinsic endocannabinoid system, the company works with leading scientists and physicians to create cannabinoid formulations to be evaluated for efficacy and safety in clinical trials. NGS is currently beginning an investigation into the area of women's health. The company will continue to align itself and build synergies with like-minded researchers and providers of rare cannabinoid genetics to achieve its goal of developing unique pharmaceuticals for patients.

SOURCE Northern Green Sciences Inc.

5 Diet Tips To Make The Holidays Fertile For Aspiring Moms

The holiday season brings families together. It’s also a popular time to start a family.

U.S. birth rates show conception rates peak in December. Nine of the 10 most common birthdays range from Sept. 9-20, according to data from the National Center for Health Statistics and the Social Security Administration. Given that pregnancies average about 38 weeks, many women are conceiving around Christmas.

But holiday festivities can also wreak havoc on diet, and healthy nutrition is an important factor for optimal fertility, says Hethir Rodriguez, founder and president of Natural Fertility Info.com (www.natural-fertility-info.com) and a certified herbalist specializing in women’s health.

“Eating a fertility diet in preparation for pregnancy and to boost fertility is one of the most powerful health changes you can make,” Rodriguez says. “Numerous studies have shown that specific changes to the diet can improve fertility, prevent recurrent miscarriage, and support a healthy pregnancy.

“A natural fertility diet supports your body in its reproductive efforts, including foods that are dense in nutrients needed for hormonal health, fetal development, egg health, sperm health and much more.”

Rodriguez gives five diet tips that can help improve fertility:

Eat Organic. Rodriguez recommends consuming organic produce when available. “Conventional produce could contain harmful herbicides and pesticides, which have been shown to negatively affect both male and female fertility,” Rodriguez says. “Studies have shown that organic vegetables and fruits may have more nutritional value as well.”
Cold-water fish. Fatty acids aid in the production of hormones, reduce inflammation and help regulate the menstrual cycle. Fish supplies omega 3, an essential fatty acid. Rodriguez says stay away from deep-water fish, such as tuna and swordfish, due to their potential concentrations of mercury. “Focus on cold-water fish such as wild Alaskan salmon, cod and halibut,” she says.
Grass-fed organic meat. This is a great source of essential fatty acids and protein while being low in saturated fat. Rodriguez says women should eschew conventionally raised cattle that contain high levels of added hormones and antibiotics.
Superfoods. Rodriguez suggests Royal jelly, which comes in capsules or in a base of honey and is rich in numerous vitamins, calcium, iron and has all the essential amino acids; and maca root, a Peru-produced superfood that helps increase egg and sperm health. Superfoods are easy to add to your diet as they are taken in small amounts and can be added to nearly any recipe.
Eat your greens. Dark leafy vegetables are packed with minerals, antioxidants and vitamins; all essential to healthy fertility. Examples of dark leafy green vegetables that are readily available over the holidays are spinach, swiss chard, kale, arugula, and collard greens. Green veggies are rich in fiber, which Rodriguez says helps regulate blood-sugar levels and remove excess estrogens from the body, which may in turn help to reduce fertility issues.These vegetables are easier to incorporate in to the diet than you may think. They can be eaten in salads, juices, sauteed, or added to fruit smoothies and warm winter soups.

“You want your diet before conception and throughout pregnancy to build up nutrient stores and provide all the healthy building blocks for a healthy child,” Rodriguez says. “A fertility diet gives you and your future child the best start in life.”

About Hethir Rodriguez

Hethir Rodriguez is the founder and president of Natural Fertility Info.com(www.natural-fertility-info.com), a website focusing on many aspects of natural fertility, infertility, and reproductive health. She’s the author of the e-Book Fertility Smoothies: Elixirs for Optimal Fertility, and has been a certified herbalist for nearly 20 years, specializing in women’s health and natural fertility. Rodriguez holds a B.S. degree in nutrition sciences, and is also a certified birth doula. Since she founded Natural Fertility Info.com in 2007, Rodriguez’s research, articles and guides have been read by over 40 million people.

Workout Injury? How to Heal Your Body and Mind

Exercise ideally is supposed to make you feel as fit as a fiddle. That’s not to say that accidents aren’t at all possible, though. Occasional workout injuries are practically inevitable for exercise buffs. If you want to recover your mind and body after a frustrating workout injury, there are various options that can do wonders for you.

Visit a Doctor as Soon as Possible

If you injure yourself in any way during an exercise session, you have to visit a doctor without delay. The longer you wait, the more serious your injury may become. The right doctor can assess your situation and help you get on track to a healthy and well-rounded recovery process. Medical care is undoubtedly the most critical component of healing.

Find out about Physical Therapy Sessions

It can sometimes be difficult for bodies to bounce back after workout injuries. If you experience mobility issues after a workout injury, you may want to ask your doctor about seeing a physical therapist for regular sessions. This form of training can do a lot for people who have trouble moving their bodies post-trauma. It can often help people feel as good as new again.

Seek Counseling

Recovering from an injury can be taxing emotionally for many people. If you want to heal your mind, you should think about getting counseling from a qualified and compassionate professional. Some companies, like https://lawsuitssettlementfunding.com/, know that counseling can be particularly helpful for people who have worries that relate to lawsuit settlement funding and all kinds of issues that may be related to their injuries. Counseling can help nurture inner peace. It can help you deal with all sorts of issues that are stopping you from healing fully, too.

Learn about Medical Malpractice Lawsuit Funding

Knowledge can be a useful thing for individuals who are struggling to recover physically and emotionally after workout injuries. If you want to empower yourself, you should find out everything you can about medical malpractice lawsuit funding. This type of knowledge can safeguard you in the event of injuries that pop up in the future. It can help you feel a lot more self-assured and confident as well.

Healing can be one of the most amazing and precious feelings in the world. If you’re trying to get through a workout injury, your main priority has to be the healing process. You have to put equal attention into recovering your brain and your physique as well.

WHY BINGE HOLIDAY DRINKING IS ANYTHING BUT MERRY

www.beachway.com

’Tis the season to eat, drink and be merry. Some of us, however, take those festive suggestions to dangerous lengths and end up binge drinking. While one night of imbibing multiple drinks may only leave you with a hangover, using the holidays as an excuse to drink abusively from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve can lead to alcoholism and other negative brain/body effects.

Why do people drink too much during the holidays?

“A lot of traditions at this time of year involve alcohol,” says Carrie Carlton LCSW at Beachway Therapy in Boynton Beach, Florida. “You’re with friends and family who you may not see all the time, and you want to have a good time, and so you celebrate with a few drinks. This isn’t harmful as long as you’re aware of your limits.” Unfortunately, that can be more difficult when you’re not used to drinking a lot, as well as when you’re guzzling seasonal cocktails that you’re unaccustomed to.

What is binge drinking?

Binge drinking is typically defined as more than 5 drinks for men and 4 drinks for women within a short span of time, usually 2 hours. The safest course of action, if you must imbibe, is to pace yourself and space out your drinks to give your liver time to break down the alcohol.

What is "holiday heart syndrome"?

Holiday heart syndrome is a term for a reason. The name was coined in 1978 after doctors in New Jersey started noticing patients showing up to emergency rooms with arrhythmias after bouts of heavy drinking, usually during weekends or holidays. These patients were apparently healthy with no history of heart problems or other risk factors. The most common arrhythmia seen with holiday heart syndrome is atrial fibrillation, a condition that increases the chance of stroke and often requires people to be on lifelong blood thinners. Dr. Duy Nguyen is a psychiatrist at Beachway. He explains that, “Fortunately, holiday heart syndrome can resolve if the drinking stops. Despite the widely held belief that alcohol is good for your heart, heavy drinking at a holiday party may be enough to cause an arrhythmia and land you in the hospital.”

The risk of alcohol poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is more common than people realize. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention an average of six people a day die from alcohol poisoning and three quarters of them are between the ages of 35-64. Most of them are men.

Dr. Nguyen explains that, “Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, so apart from the nausea and vomiting that comes with over drinking, alcohol can slow your breathing, drop your core body temperature and cause seizures. How much alcohol it takes to put your life at risk depends, to a large extent, on your height, weight, when your last meal was and a number of other factors, so each person is different.”

Immune System:

Drinking too much can weaken your immune system. Chronic drinkers are more liable to contract diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis than people who do not drink too much. Drinking a lot on a single occasion can slow your body’s ability to ward off infections.

Heart:

Alcohol can damage the heart, even just drinking too much on one occasion, causing the following problems:

High blood pressure

Stroke

Arrhythmias – Irregular heart beat

Cardiomyopathy – Stretching and drooping of heart muscle

Liver:

Drinking takes a heavy toll on the liver and can lead to a variety of problems including:

Liver failure (drinking too much over time)

Steatosis, or fatty liver

Fibrosis

Cirrhosis

Alcoholic hepatitis

Cancer:

Drinking too much alcohol can increase your risk of developing certain cancers, including:

Mouth

Esophagus

Throat

Liver

Breast

To enjoy a safe holiday celebration, consider these tips:

Abstain. You do not need alcohol to be the life of the party.

Pace yourself. Avoid binge-drinking. Spread out the consumption of your drinks, consider one drink an hour.

Avoid drinks with unknown alcohol content or mixing alcohol with energy drinks. Caffeine in energy drinks or sodas can mask the effects of alcohol, causing people to drink more alcohol that than intended/are aware.

Substitute alcoholic drinks for non-alcoholic drinks. Consider drinking water between each alcoholic beverage to slow your pace and dilute the alcohol in your bloodstream.

Don’t forget to eat food. Starch-heavy foods soak up the alcohol and will mitigate the effects of alcohol on your system.

Secure a designated driver. Keep in mind that a designated driver stays 100 percent sober - not the person who drank the least or the least.

About Beachway Therapy Center http://www.beachway.com

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.

CartiHeal Performs First Agili-C™ Implant Case on the East Coast

Surgery performed at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital in New York by sports medicine surgeon Eric Strauss, MD

NEW YORK and KFAR SABA, Israel, Nov. 12, 2018 /CNW/ - CartiHeal, developer of Agili-C, a proprietary implant for the treatment of joint surface lesions, announced today the successful enrollment of the first patient in the Agili-C Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) pivotal study on the East Coast.

(Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/451231/CartiHeal_Logo.jpg )

(Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/782756/eric_strauss_hero_crop.jpg )

The surgery was performed by site Principal Investigator Eric J. Strauss, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at NYU Langone Health's Sports Medicine Center in New York City. NYU Langone is one of 15 U.S. sites in the new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) IDE trial and will enroll 20 patients with major knee cartilage injuries.

The first patient enrolled at NYU Langone was a 53 year-old female with a history of two failed surgeries on her left knee, who had a very symptomatic cartilage lesion, with significant bone marrow edema affecting her lateral femoral condyle. "The patient was randomized to the Agili-C arm and treated with a single implant in a procedure that went smoothly and led to an immediate increase in blood flow to the affected region," according to Dr. Strauss.

"My colleagues and I are looking forward to building upon this first successful case and contributing to the study on treating these difficult-to-manage injuries. This investigational implant has great potential to provide an off-the shelf solution for a large spectrum of cartilage lesions."

Nir Altschuler, CartiHeal's founder & CEO said: "Enrolling the first US East Coast patient is an important milestone for our study. We are honored that this important case was performed in the good hands of Dr. Eric Strauss, and look forward to his research team continuing to enroll patients." Altschuler also added that the IDE study, with over 100 enrolled patients, is currently ongoing in the US, EU and Israel, and aiming for an FDA premarket approval application.

CartiHeal's cell-free, off-the-shelf implant is CE marked for use in cartilage and osteochondral defects. Agili-C has been implanted in over 400 patients with cartilage lesions in the knee, ankle and great toe in a series of trials conducted in leading centers in Europe and Israel. In these trials, the implant was used to treat a broad spectrum of cartilage lesions, from single focal lesions to multiple and large defects in patients suffering from osteoarthritis.

About CartiHeal

CartiHeal, a privately-held medical device company with headquarters in Israel, develops proprietary implants for the treatment of cartilage and osteochondral defects in traumatic and osteoarthritic joints.

In the United States, the Agili-C implant is not available for sale - it is an investigational device limited for use in the IDE study.

Staples Canada and Ontario Power Generation Win 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards

Morneau Shepell's clients recognized by Benefits Canada as leaders in employee benefits

TORONTO, Nov. 12, 2018 /CNW/ - Morneau Shepell is pleased to announce that two of its longstanding clients have been acknowledged by Benefits Canada at the 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards. This year, Ontario Power Generation (OPG) won in the absence management category and Staples Canada won in the mental health category.

"We are proud to see our clients' commitment to their employees by providing programs that support their well-being, as well as reducing absences, which improves a business's productivity," said Stephen Liptrap, president and chief executive officer, Morneau Shepell. "This dedication has been recognized through these prestigious awards. We are pleased to continue partnering with organizations that share our vision of optimizing the health and productivity of people around the world."

The 2018 Workplace Benefits Awards brought together more than 100 leaders in the benefits, pension and investment industry, to recognize employers making strides in employee benefits and well-being. In addition to absence management and mental health, award recipients were recognized for contributions to diversity programs, financial wellness, pension plan communications, industry leadership and more.

"Mental health has been an important pillar of our wellness strategy at Staples and we are very honoured to be recognized for this award," said Kate Tilsley, senior director, total rewards and human resources information systems, Staples Canada. "We are focusing on awareness, support and prevention in our strategy. To achieve our goals, we have implemented initiatives such as Morneau Shepell's employee and family assistance program, manager mental health training and are undertaking a pharmacogenetic testing pilot. We are proud that our programs are being recognized for making a positive impact."

"Absence management has always been a priority of ours, knowing the strong link between employee absence and declining productivity," said Tanya Hickey, senior manager, health and safety strategies, Ontario Power Generation. "In the last few years, we identified an opportunity to bring employees into the conversation and increase their awareness about effectively managing absences so that they get back to work faster and thereby improve productivity. It's amazing to see that the programs we have implemented to improve return-to-work processes and support for struggling employees, such as Morneau Shepell's DepressionCare, InfluenceCare and First Day, are being recognized with this award and we hope it inspires other organizations to follow a similar path."

Additionally the Town of Richmond Hill won the award for best health and wellness program for a company with less than 1,000 employees. Morneau Shepell's employee and family assistance program is offered as part of the Town of Richmond Hill's wellness and benefits programs.

All the award winners were acknowledged at a ceremony held by Benefits Canada on October 11, 2018 at the Arcadian Loft in Toronto. Morneau Shepell was the platinum sponsor of the awards.

About Morneau Shepell
Morneau Shepell is the only human resources consulting and technology company that takes an integrated approach to employee well-being, health, benefits and retirement needs. The Company is the largest administrator of retirement and benefits plans and the largest provider of integrated absence management solutions in Canada. LifeWorks by Morneau Shepell is a total well-being solution that combines employee assistance, wellness, recognition and incentive programs. As a leader in strategic HR consulting and innovative pension design, the Company also helps clients solve complex workforce problems and provides integrated productivity, health and retirement solutions. Established in 1966, Morneau Shepell serves approximately 24,000 clients, ranging from small businesses to some of the largest corporations and associations. With more than 4,500 employees in offices worldwide, Morneau Shepell provides services to organizations around the globe. Morneau Shepell is a publicly-traded company on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: MSI). For more information, visit morneaushepell.com.

SOURCE Morneau Shepell Inc.

Healthy Lifestyle Habits Can Prevent Dementia

Chattanooga, TN, November 9, 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.

For more information about Dr. Jennings, please visit the website: https://www.agingbrainbook.com.

To connect with Dr. Jennings, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/DrTimJennings/ and https://twitter.com/timjenningsmd.

The Aging Brain: Proven Steps to Prevent Dementia and Sharpen Your Mind
Baker Books
Released: June 2018
ISBN-10: 080107522X
ISBN-13: 978-0801075223

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.”