How Music Has The Power
To Heal What Ails You
Studies have shown music’s almost magical impact on healing and music is being used in a variety of new ways, such as teaching stroke patients how to walk and helping premature babies gain weight.
“Music treats the soul, and If you treat your soul the body will ultimately positively react,” says D. Kenny Davin Fine MD, a gastroenterologist who is also creator of Oro-Intestinal Fitness Products (www.finerhealth.com). “Music is under appreciated as a healing source that can be just as powerful a prescription as drugs.”
Fine, a musician himself who recently recorded a “Rockspirational” double music album, has used his scientific and medical expertise to pioneer new paradigms to diagnose and treat a variety of illnesses and conditions. But he says music can be therapeutic as well.
“Music can be an integral part of creating a unique prescription of health, happiness and hope,” says Fine, who has also created the FinerHealth, FinerLife Travelling Musical Medicine Show which he will soon take on the road to live events.
Fine offers these recommendations for people who are having medical issues and want to incorporate music as a healing therapy:
- Sing to yourself even if it is just in the car or the shower. Research has shown that music not only engages the auditory system but many other parts of your brain as well, including areas responsible for movement, language, attention, memory, and emotion. The impact can be felt regardless of if a person is listening to music, playing an instrument or singing.
- Take off the headphones. Headphones cranked up too loud cause hearing loss. Listen more to soothing music that relaxes you at lower volumes. If you can’t give up the headphones, a good rule of thumb is to not turn the volume up so loud that you can’t hear other sounds around you.
- Learn to play an instrument. This not only enhances your music appreciation, but will encourage you to listen to more. Learning to play a musical instrument also is one of the best exercises for your brain.
“Music is an important part of our lives, but for people who have health issues, it could play an even more important role if they only utilized it,” Fine says. “I believe we are only beginning to scratch the surface when it comes to the healing power of music. I think in the coming years we will have more hard evidence of its potential. I even predict that in the future people will choose their health practitioner not only for their specialty, and personality but in what area of creativity they dwell.”
About Kenny Davin Fine MD
Kenny Davin Fine MD, creator of Oro-Intestinal Fitness Products (www.finerhealth.com), is a gastroenterologist who has held staff positions at both Baylor University Medical Center and the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical School. His medical research has appeared in prestigious medical journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, Gastroenterology, The Journal of Clinical Investigation, and The American Journal of Gastroenterology. He has been professionally involved in patient care, medical research, teaching, directing clinical laboratories, nutritional pioneering and original health product and unique organic health food product development for almost 30 years. Fine is also a highly regarded singer-songwriter, guitar and harmonica player, and recording artist with 11 album releases to date. He has worked in the recording studio with Grammy and Oscar-winning producers, including Michael Lloyd, Niko Bolas, and John Hampton. He proclaims he is the world’s only Physician-Musician on a Mission!
Crooked Teeth, Extra Pounds And Other Surprising
Culprits Wrecking Your Sleep
There’s nothing like waking refreshed after a good night’s sleep.
For too many people, though, it doesn’t happen enough – if at all.
“No one really knows why we sleep, but we do know that sleep is essential for survival and that 70 million Americans suffer from a sleep problem,” says Dr. Daniel Klauer, DDS, author of Achieve Your Victory: Solutions for TMD and Sleep Apnea (www.drdanielklauer.com).
The inability to log enough hours of shuteye each night is more than just an annoyance. Conditions that prevent or affect sleep can lead to a cascade of negative health consequences, says Klauer, whose dental practice makes sleep breathing disorders a focus.
“A sleep breathing disorder can cause someone to stop breathing, either partially or completely, when they’re sleeping,” Klauer says. “That can result in daytime sleepiness or fatigue that often reduces quality of life and inability to function throughout the day.”
The most common such disorder is obstructive sleep apnea, which can lead to other health problems, including chronic diseases, such as diabetes, and even death. He says he see more men who have sleep symptoms than women.
A number of factors, some less surprising than others, can contribute to obstructive sleep apnea, Klauer says. Those include:
- Crooked teeth. If you have crooked teeth, that’s an indication your tongue doesn’t have the space it needs inside the mouth. “When there’s not enough room, the tongue can obstruct the airway,” Klauer says. Of course, even people with straight teeth can have obstructive breathing, he says. It’s just less likely for them.
- Improper jaw development. If the maxilla (upper jawbone) and mandible (lower jaw) aren’t fully developed forward and wide, the dimensions of your airway will be reduced.
- Swollen tonsils and adenoids. Tonsils and adenoids are lymphatic tissue that rest in the back of the throat and nasal cavity. If they become swollen, they take up space within the airway and cause breathing problems.
- Weight issues. Obesity causes increased fat deposition in the soft-tissue passages of the airway and decreased muscle tone. That makes it more difficult to breathe and increases the chances of an airway collapse at night, Klauer says.
Once you’ve determined what problem is causing your obstructive sleep apnea, the next step is to look for solutions. Klauer says the first line of treatment for patients with mild to moderate symptoms is a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine or Oral Appliance Therapy.
CPAP Therapy requires wearing a mask on your face at night that blows air through your nose to keep your airway from collapsing at night.
Oral Appliance Therapy requires wearing a customized oral appliance. This appliance serves to physiologically prevent the collapse of your airway by stabilizing your lower jaw, tongue, and soft palate.
If these efforts don’t work, surgical options may be necessary, Klauer says. Regardless, it’s important to address the issue, not only because of the health concerns, but also because of the importance of rest.
“The quality of sleep ultimately determines the quality of life,” Klauer says. “Sleep gives the body a chance to rest, recover and rejuvenate. It is the body’s way of filling the tank back up with gas.”
About Dr. Daniel Klauer, DDS
Dr. Daniel Klauer, DDS, is author of Achieve Your Victory: Solutions for TMD and Sleep Apnea (www.tmjsleepindiana.com). Since 2013, Dr. Klauer has limited his practice to treating patients with craniofacial pain, TMD, and sleep breathing disorders. Dr. Klauer is board certified with the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine, American Board of Craniofacial Pain, and the American Board of Craniofacial Dental Sleep Medicine. He is diplomate eligible with the American Board of Orofacial Pain. He attended the University of Notre Dame and was a member of the Big East Championship Varsity Golf Team. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Klauer earned his doctor of dental surgery degree (DDS) from Ohio State University.
Magic in the Mix: BlenderBottle Releases Officially-Licensed Harry Potter Shaker Bottles
Lehi, Utah (July 2018) – BlenderBottle, creators of the BlenderBottle®Classic™—the original, best-selling portable mixer that revolutionized the market—adds magic to the mix with the launch of the BlenderBottle® Pro28™ Harry Potter shaker cup series.
In conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the publication of “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” and perfectly timed for back-to-school excitement, the new series features officially-licensed designs of Harry Potter emblems and symbols. Included in the lineup are the Quidditch-version emblems of the houses of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw—a nod to the fitness focus of the BlenderBottle brand. Additional shakers feature the Deathly Hallows symbol and Harry Potter’s iconic Bolt & Glasses.
“We’re excited to bring the world of Harry Potter to the BlenderBottle Pro28 shaker,” says Chase Morgan, Product Marketing Manager at BlenderBottle. “While the Pro28 relies on fastidiously-tested innovation and engineering to deliver rock-solid performance, its unsurpassed mixing and the ultra-smooth shakes that result can certainly seem magical.”
The beloved Harry Potter designs will accent the Pro28’s simple, clean aesthetic and customer-requested, solution-oriented features, including a 28-ounce capacity and rounded base to further enhance the patented mixing system. The shaker also incorporates the new SpoutGuard™, which enables users to easily open the flip top without touching the drinking surface. An adjustable carry loop adds hands-free convenience, and durable odor-resistant Eastman Tritan™ plastic helps keep stains and lingering flavors at bay.
The Pro28 Harry Potter series—like all BlenderBottle brand products—is made of BPA- and Phthalate-free materials and is top-rack dishwasher safe. The Harry Potter series bottles are available now for $16.99 at blenderbottle.com.
About BlenderBottle
Founded in 2000, the BlenderBottle Company is a privately held manufacturer of premium and innovative products that help simplify everyday life. The company’s patented and best-selling products have been hailed by Good Morning America, Reader’s Digest, Self, the Today Show, Men’s Fitness, and others as some of the “hottest new products” on the market.
BlenderBottle® products are available in over 90,000 retail locations worldwide, and in over 70,000 retail locations in the U.S. alone, including GNC, Vitamin Shoppe, Vitamin World, Bed Bath & Beyond, Walmart, Target, Rite Aid, Whole Foods, Amazon.com, and online at blenderbottle.com. The BlenderBottle Company is located in Lehi, Utah and markets and sells its products to retailers and resellers worldwide. All BlenderBottle® products are backed by a Customer Satisfaction Guarantee. For additional information, visit blenderbottle.com.
ProMIS Neurosciences Issues White Paper Entitled 'State of the Art at AAIC 2018'
TSX: PMN; OTCQB: ARFXF
Key conference theme: targeting toxic amyloid-beta oligomers offers renewed hope for treatment of Alzheimer's disease
TORONTO and CAMBRIDGE, MA, July 31, 2018 /CNW/ - ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc., a biotechnology company focused on the discovery and development of antibody therapeutics targeting toxic oligomers implicated in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, today announced it has issued a white paper entitled 'State of the Art at AAIC 2018'.
At this year's Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC), the causative role of amyloid-beta oligomers (AβO) in the development and progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the importance of neutralizing AβO toxicity represented a common theme across multiple oral presentations and posters. These included details of the recent positive Phase 2 clinical results obtained with BAN2401 by Eisai/Biogen showing a dose-dependent reduction in cognitive decline compared to placebo at 12 and 18 months.
"Overall, the BAN2401 results provide strong support for targeting of AβO as a therapeutic strategy for AD. However, the encouraging results reported leave room for improvement, due to the brain swelling (ARIA) associated with plaque binding in the higher BAN2401 dose groups", stated Dr. Elliot Goldstein, ProMIS President and CEO.
"As outlined in our poster presentation at the AAIC, humanized PMN310 shows unrivaled selectivity for native toxic AβO derived from human AD brains, with no off-target binding to Aβ monomers or plaque. We believe the oligomer selectivity of PMN310 supports a potential best in class product profile compared to other therapeutic antibodies currently showing promising results in clinical trials."
Another topic of high interest centered around advancements in the use of biomarkers driven by the convergence of emerging results from several large longitudinal studies together with recent FDA guidance encouraging the use of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and imaging biomarkers in clinical testing.
ProMIS' clinical candidate, humanized PMN310, is on track to enter Phase 1 clinical testing in the second half of 2019 and will include biomarker assessment as an integral part of the study design.
ProMIS white paper, entitled 'State of the Art at AAIC 2018' can be found on the ProMIS website, by clicking on the link below:
https://promisneurosciences.com/presentations/aaic-white-paper-2018/
ProMIS AAIC poster presentation, entitled 'Humanized PMN310 shows enhanced therapeutic potential by binding toxic low molecular weight Aβ oligomers while avoiding ARIA-related binding to Aβ deposits in AD patient brains' can be found on the ProMIS website, by clicking on the link below:
https://promisneurosciences.com/posters/aaic-poster-2018/
About ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc.
ProMIS Neurosciences is a development stage biotechnology company focused on discovering and developing antibody therapeutics targeting toxic oligomers implicated in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Parkinson's disease (PD). The Company's proprietary target discovery engine is based on the use of two complementary techniques. The Company applies its thermodynamic, computational discovery platform—ProMIS™ and Collective Coordinates — to predict novel targets known as Disease Specific Epitopes (DSEs) on the molecular surface of misfolded proteins. Using this unique precision medicine approach, the Company is developing novel antibody therapeutics for AD, ALS and PD. ProMIS is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario, with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. ProMIS is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol PMN.TO, and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol ARFXF.
For further information please consult the Company's website at: www.promisneurosciences.com
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Neither the TSX nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "aims", "potential", "goal", "objective", "prospective", and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "can", "could" or "should" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Except as required by the securities disclosure laws and regulations applicable to the Company, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change.
SOURCE ProMIS Neurosciences Inc.
| Strides towards a smokeless world continue to drive positive performance for PMI but competition remains fierce, says GlobalData
Following Friday’s (27 July) announcement of Philip Morris International Inc. 2018 second quarter results, Ryan Choi, Consumer Analyst at GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, offers his view on the company’s current progress:
“Philip Morris International Inc.’s (PMI) continued focus on their strategy to deliver a ‘smokeless world’ has led to positive second quarter results. Although competition within the heated tobacco products market is growing rapidly, PMI has a significant advantage through its well-known IQOS system and is likely to maintain it. Cigarette performance continues its downwards trajectory with overall shipment volumes in this quarter down by 1.5%.
“Despite successful strides with their leading Heated Tobacco product, IQOS, across key markets like Japan, growth has slowed down as new competitors enter the market such as Japan Tobacco with Ploom, as well as existing competition such as BAT’s Glo making positive strides as well. Forecasts remain positive for Heated Tobacco units as PMI forecasts significant growth in their in-market heated tobacco sales volume.
“Entry to the US is currently still awaiting approval from the FDA before they are able to launch IQOS into the market. On June 8th 2018, PMI submitted further research results to the FDA claiming that IQOS helps to reduce the risk of smoking related diseases and hopes that this will help them gain approval. The CEO of PMI has said that the results are encouraging. However, scepticism remains over the research methodology with some scientists claiming that it is skewed and biased.
“Cigarette shipping volume remains poor in the second quarter with the largest declines occurring within Eastern Europe, Latin America and Canada. This is partially offset by volume increases in North Africa and South East Asia, but overall worldwide shipping volume has declined. This is likely to continue in the future as PMI continues to pursue value with their Heated Tobacco products and steer away cigarettes and other smoking products.”
ENDS
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Delta 9 Enters Licensing Agreement with Nanosphere Health Sciences
/NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. WIRE SERVICES/
WINNIPEG, July 31, 2018 /CNW/ - DELTA 9 CANNABIS INC. (TSXV: NINE) ("Delta 9" or the "Company") is pleased to announce it has signed memorandum of understanding (the "MOU") with Nanosphere Health Sciences Inc. (CSE: NSHS) ("Nanosphere"). The MOU provides that Delta 9 and Nanosphere intend to negotiate and enter into a master agreement (the "Agreement") pursuant to which Nanosphere will grant a master license for Nanosphere's patented technology to Delta 9 for all of Canada. Delta 9 may also sub-license the technology to other licensed producers of cannabis under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (the "ACMPR").
Nanosphere is a nano-biotechnology company focused on providing next generation delivery of nutritional elements and medications. The company's patented NanoSphere Delivery System™ platform technology addresses the problems of low bioavailability and excessive dosage amounts of a wide range of bioactive compounds, including cannabinoids.
The NanoSphere Delivery System™ provides more bioavailability in comparison to other methods of delivery by transporting essential ingredients directly to the bloodstream and cells. Nanosphere's cannabis brand, Evolve Formulas, currently has products on sale in over 200 dispensaries across Colorado and has signed licensing agreements to bring products to California and Arizona in the coming months. It also holds the patent for delivery of cannabis via phospholipid nanoparticles, as well as a master patent covering its core technology.
"We are very excited to reach this agreement with Nanosphere," said Delta 9 CEO John Arbuthnot. "We believe Nanosphere has developed on of the world's most advanced delivery system for cannabinoids. We believe this partnership will revolutionize the medical use of cannabis in Canada and around the world, and that it also has important applications in the recreational market."
Nanosphere has developed a delivery system that shrinks active drug ingredients and encapsulates them in phospholipid nanoparticles, allowing the agents, including cannabis, to pass through skin or mucous membrane and go straight into the bloodstream. This process allows for a significant increase in the bioavailability of the drug, and also allows for extremely precise dosage of any drug, including cannabis. Nanosphere products can be applied as a transdermal viscous gel that absorbs into the skin; as an intranasal product for fast-acting effects; or as an intraoral product which is absorbed through the mucous membrane into the bloodstream.
Robert Sutton, Chairman and CEO of Nanosphere, says the agreement marks a great stride forward for his company. "With this agreement we have a trusted and experienced partner in the only G7 nation that has legalized cannabis for both medical and recreational use," Sutton said. "This allows Nanosphere's technology to be subjected to clinical trials and to be appropriately distributed to both patients and to recreational users of cannabis. We hope through our work to eliminate the need for patients to be essentially "smoking their medicine", and to give physicians a new and important tool to treat conditions that respond to cannabinoids."
The MOU provides that Delta 9 and Nanosphere will each receive 50 per cent of the net revenue from sales of Nanosphere products in Canada if the Agreement is entered into. Delta 9 will have the right to sub-contract distribution to third-party license holders in Canada where the opportunity exists. Under those circumstances, Delta 9 would receive a portion of that sub-licensee's net profit, and remit 50 per cent of the net revenue to Nanosphere.
The initial term of the Agreement is intended to be 36 months following the date of the first commercial sale of licensed products pursuant to the Agreement. The Agreement is intended to be renewed by mutual agreement of the parties. Also, if the Agreement is entered into, Delta 9 is bound to apply to Health Canada for authorization to distribute Nanosphere products. The parties intend that the MOU will be replaced by the Agreement within 60 days, upon completion of due diligence by both parties.
About Delta 9 Cannabis Inc.
Delta 9's wholly-owned subsidiary, Delta 9 Bio-Tech Inc., is a licensed producer of medical marijuana pursuant to the ACMPR and operates an 80,000 square foot production facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Delta 9's shares trade on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "NINE".
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Disclaimer for Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements, which reflect the expectations of management regarding the Company's future business plans and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Forward looking statements in this news release include statements relating to: (i) the entering into of the Agreement, the terms of the Agreement and the granting of the license for Nanosphere's products to Delta 9; (ii) the development of Nanosphere's products; and (iii) sublicensing of Nanosphere's products by Delta 9. Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements, including that Delta 9's currently contemplated expansion and development plans may cease or otherwise change, Delta 9's production of cannabis may be lower than expected, Delta 9 may not obtain the required approvals from Health Canada, demand for Delta 9's products may be lower than anticipated, Delta 9's cost to produce its grow pods may be higher than expected and all other risk factors set forth in the annual information form of Delta 9 dated May 31, 2018 which has been filed on SEDAR. No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them. Readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained in this news release and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws.
SOURCE Delta 9 Cannabis Inc.
EVE THOMAS X TRU LUV PRESENTS
#SelfCare
- A virtual experience to calm your reality: TRU LUV launches #SelfCare, the app to harmonize your hectic lifestyle.
Hello. This is us! We're staying home for the day. We refuse to leave our bed. This is our space. Our shelter. Today, this is the whole universe!
And it's okay. We're surrounded by our favorite sacred things. Each one has something gentle to offer.
And we'll be okay. Let's practice some #SelfCare together. Let's start with a little breathing exercise...
Breathing slowly connects us to our bodies and gives us life. Mmmmmm. We can breathe for as long as we'd like. There's no hurry. There's no end. We breathe and we listen to ourselves.
In this universe, our goal is simply to feel better. There's no winning, no failure, no score. No difficulty, no ads, no notifications. There is just us and our feelings.
Join us here, in this room, for a few moments. This room is our escape. <3
TORONTO, CANADA (July 31, 2018) — Today the innovative developers of therapeutic technologies at TRU LUV released their latest digital companion #SelfCare, a game-like app that allows you to reset, recharge and reemerge anew.
In this world ruled by digital overload, TRU LUV takes your phone past being a tool for personal betterment and onto providing a truly restorative immersive experience — one that replaces mindless scrolling with mindful intention.
The setting for #SelfCare is as simple as the process: Let’s stay in bed all day. In your virtual bedroom, surrounded by your favorite gentle things, you select calming tasks that generate simple satisfaction and uncomplicated harmony. Awaken your slumbering cat and give it some deserved affection, sort your laundry by color, indulge in a tarot card reading, or nurture your favorite plant. It’s your safe, comfortable space where you give yourself permission to feel better.
Unlike traditional games that get increasingly more stressful as you progress, the #SelfCare interactions begin disorderly and awkward and become more orderly and satisfying. There are no levels of difficulty, no winning, and no losing. The goal is simple: To feel better.
“#SelfCare is an antidote to a stressful world and a phone full of bad news, FOMO, and more stress,” say co-creators Brie Code and Eve Thomas. “For 3-5 minutes you can escape to a calm and soothing room, do some relaxing, meditative tasks, and return to your life refreshed and ready to face your stresses.”
As your #SelfCare experience progresses you can personalize your virtual sanctuary with unique additions contributed by guest artists working in themes of self-care, updating your space to reflect the evolution of your goals and outlook. The more time you spend on yourself, the more self-care techniques are unlocked for a deeper and more impactful practice.
Download #SelfCare, now available for iPhone.
For more information visit TRU LUV. For all media inquiries contact Sarah Bronilla at VOCAL.
LAUNCH DATE: 31 JULY 2018, IOS
ABOUT TRU LUV
TRU LUV wants you to feel better. Our phones cause us anxiety. TRU LUV's beautiful interactive experiences leave you feeling calm, connected, and invigorated.
We work together with artists and neuropsychologists to bring life to heartening companions who help you achieve your goals. In TRU LUV's framework, you don't tell your phone what you need, and your phone doesn't tell you what you need. Instead, you work together towards shared goals. You help each other.
The company was founded by Brie Code, former AI lead on Assassin's Creed.
ABOUT BRIE CODE
Brie Code is a leader in the field of interaction design with a special interest in the future of interactive media and artificial intelligence. Previously she was an AI lead at Ubisoft Montreal on the soft, ethereal game Child of Light and three Assassin's Creed games.
ABOUT EVE THOMAS
Eve Thomas is a writer, magazine editor, and artist whose work has appeared in EnRoute, The Toast, and Canadian Art. She is also the creator of Degrassi! The Musical and co-creator of the Tiger Beat-inspired Poster Boys portrait series, which launched at Never Apart Gallery.
Women and Lupus – Tackling the Debilitating Connection
With $2 Million Grant, UH Researcher Unraveling the Link
HOUSTON, July 31 – The chronic inflammatory disease systemic lupus erythematosus (known as SLE or lupus), is about nine times more common in women than men, and a University of Houston researcher now has the money to find out why. The National Institutes of Health has awarded Chandra Mohan, Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Endowed Professor of biomedical engineering, $2 million dollars to examine the connection.
Mohan knows just where he’s taking the money – straight to the bank. Bank1, that is, a critical gene in B-Lymphocytes, immune cells which make the antibodies that cause lupus when they misguidedly attack the body’s own cells.
“Bank1 exists in men and women, but in women the consequences are more drastic because the Bank1 gene and female hormones work together on the same pathway and make even higher levels of disease-causing auto antibodies,” said Mohan.
Genetic studies have led to the identification of several genes involved with lupus, but how they operate is still unclear. One of these genes is the Bank1.
“We will examine how the Bank1 impacts B-cell function and disease, in concert with female sex hormones,” said Mohan. “A unique aspect of this grant is its focus on unraveling why females are more prone to lupus, by factoring in the contributions of culprit genes and estrogens.”
Merely having a target is a step forward in the investigation of the complex autoimmune disease that is difficult to diagnose and treat because it is a multisystem disorder typically impacting skin, joints and kidneys. The disease is characterized by high levels of anti-nuclear autoantibodies and B-cell hyperactivity. Only one treatment for lupus has been approved in nearly 60 years.
Mohan will examine the molecular mechanisms through which lupus genes and sex hormones interface to cause autoimmunity. A better understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying the disease will also pave the way towards better therapeutics, he said.
Mohan is one of the leading lupus researchers in the world. For more than three decades he’s been exploring the disease on different fronts.
“There are three major areas we need advances on concerning lupus,” said Mohan. “We need a better understanding of the disease, we need to know if we can diagnose and monitor the disease better using better biomarkers, and we need to know superior ways to treat the disease.”
On this grant Mohan is joined by Chin-Yo Lin of the UH Center for Nuclear Receptors and Cell Signaling and biologist Anne Satterthwaite of UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
About the University of Houston
The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized with a Phi Beta Kappa chapter for excellence in undergraduate education. UH serves the globally competitive Houston and Gulf Coast Region by providing world-class faculty, experiential learning and strategic industry partnerships. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city and one of the most ethnically and culturally diverse regions in the country, UH is a federally designated Hispanic- and Asian-American-Serving institution with enrollment of more than 45,000 students.
Ontario Nurses, Health-Care Professionals in Hospital Sector Receive Arbitration Award
TORONTO, July 31, 2018 /CNW/ - Ontario Nurses' Association (ONA) nurses and health-care professional members working in the hospital sector will learn details of their new two-year contract today.
The contract for 61,000 hospital members is the result of an arbitration award; the contract includes a wage increase of 1.4 per cent retroactive to April 1, 2018 and a 1.75-per-cent increase on April 1, 2019. The contract expires on March 31, 2020.
"These wage increases do not reflect the value of the care of our dedicated members," said ONA President Vicki McKenna, RN. "However, they are significantly higher than the increases proposed by the employer. This contract is certainly not everything our dedicated registered nurses and health-care professionals hoped it would be. However, the award does provide for some improvement in benefits, and it clarifies that the obligation to keep workplaces free from violence includes being free from domestic violence.
"Heavy workload issues and workplace violence continue to be of deep concern to ONA members," McKenna notes, "as they impact both the safety of their patients and their own work lives."
In addition, there is now protection for new nursing graduates who do not pass the controversial NCLEX entry-to-practice exam. "Rather than being terminated if they have secured employment, the nursing graduates can take an unpaid leave until they achieve certification," McKenna said.
McKenna notes that arbitrator William Kaplan did not agree to the concessions sought by the Ontario Hospital Association.
ONA is the union representing 65,000 registered nurses and health-care professionals, as well as 18,000 nursing student affiliates, providing care in hospitals, long-term care facilities, public health, the community, clinics and industry.
Visit us at: www.ona.org; Facebook.com/OntarioNurses; www.Twitter.com/OntarioNurses
SOURCE Ontario Nurses Association
Simple Steps To Stop Progression Of Dementia And Alzheimer's
Chattanooga, TN, July 30, 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 may help 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.
