Author: trainitright

 
Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Incidence of Major Depression

Among primary care patients with subthreshold depression, mindfulness meditation training reduces the incidence of major depression and improves depression symptoms.  A randomized controlled trial of adults with subthreshold depression compared a usual care group in which there was no psychological intervention (n=116) with a behavioral activation group focused on mindfulness training (n=115). Intervention participants were invited to attend weekly two-hour mindfulness training sessions for eight consecutive weeks. At 12 months, there was a statistically significant difference in the incidence of major depressive disorder between groups (11 percent in the mindfulness group compared to 27 percent in usual care).  Mindfulness training also had a small effect in reducing depression symptoms (between-group mean difference = 3.85). Other secondary outcomes demonstrated no significant change. The authors suggest that, for patients with subthreshold depression who have not had a major depressive episode in the past six months, mindfulness training is a feasible method of preventing major depression. The authors plan future research into the cost-effectiveness, health service use implications, and acceptability of mindfulness training.

Treating Subthreshold Depression in Primary Care: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Behavioural Activation With Mindfulness

Samuel Y.S. Wong, MD, et al

The Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong

Kong, New Territories, Hong Kong

 

Asthma Management Tools Improve Asthma Control and Reduce Hospital Visits

A set of comprehensive asthma management tools helps decrease asthma-related visits to the emergency department, urgent care or hospital and improves patients’ asthma control. The Asthma APGAR tools, including an asthma control assessment completed by patients and linked to an asthma management algorithm, were tested in a randomized controlled study of 18 family medicine and pediatric practices across the United States. The study compared outcomes in more than 1,000 patients with persistent asthma aged five to 45 years using Asthma APGAR tools versus usual care. The proportion of patients reporting an asthma-related emergency department, urgent care or hospital visit in the final six months of the study differed significantly between groups: 11 percent for intervention groups and 21 percent for usual care groups.  Between baseline and one year, the percentage of patients whose asthma was in control increased significantly in the intervention group (14 percent) compared to the usual care group (3 percent), with a trend toward better control scores and asthma-related quality of life in the intervention group at 12 months. Intervention practices also significantly increased their adherence to three or more elements of the National Asthma Education and Prevention Program guidelines compared to usual care practices. Participating practices reported that changing practice to incorporate the Asthma APGAR tools was challenging, but the tools themselves were perceived as useful and efficient. The authors suggest that the Asthma APGAR tools are effective for asthma management in the primary care practice setting.

Use of Asthma APGAR Tools in Primary Care Practices: A Cluster-Randomized, Controlled Trial

Barbara P. Yawn, MD MSc FAAFP, et al
Olmsted Medical Center, Rochester, Minnesota

 

New Analysis Recommends Against Using Digital Rectal Exam in Primary Care

Although the digital rectal exam is widely used in primary care to screen for prostate cancer, a new study finds limited data to support its effectiveness. The study, a meta-analysis of previous research, found that the quality of available evidence was very low and that existing studies were at risk of bias. In the analysis, pooled sensitivity of the digital rectal exam among primary care physicians was 0.51 and pooled specificity was 0.59. Given the considerable lack of evidence supporting its efficacy, the authors recommend against routinely performing digital rectal exams to screen for prostate cancer in the primary care setting.

Digital Rectal Examination for Prostate Cancer Screening in Primary Care: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Jason Profetto, MD, CCFP, et al

McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

 

Patients with Multiple Conditions Receive Higher Level of Care in Affluent Areas

Patients with multimorbidity—two or more long-term medical conditions—have complex health care needs, often requiring higher levels of care than other patients. According to a new study, however, patients with multimorbidity in affluent areas receive longer doctor visits, greater perceived empathy, and more patient-centered care than comparable patients in socioeconomically deprived areas. Researchers in Scotland analyzed 659 routine visits to general practitioners in deprived and affluent areas, as well as patient ratings of general practitioner empathy. In affluent areas, multimorbid patients received longer consultations than other patients (13 minutes versus 9 minutes) while in deprived areas, consultation length was about the same for both groups (10 minutes). Similarly, patients with multimorbidity in affluent areas found GPs to be more empathetic and, according to video analysis, more attentive to their disease and illness experience. There were no such differences between similar groups in deprived areas. If primary care is to succeed in narrowing health inequalities, the authors state, action is needed to ensure that patients with multimorbidity in lower socioeconomic areas receive the same level of care and attention as patients in affluent areas.

Multimorbidity and Socioeconomic Deprivation in Primary Care Consultations

Stewart W Mercer, MBchB, PhD, et al

University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland

 

Oseltamivir Does Not Increase Risk of Suicide in Children

A new study finds that use of oseltamivir, an antiviral drug used to treat influenza A and B, does not increase risk of suicide in children. Researchers identified 21,047 children between one and 18 years of age who attempted suicide during the 2009-2013 influenza seasons. Of those, 251 had been exposed to oseltamivir. Mean age was approximately 15 years, and underlying mental health diagnoses were common (65 percent). Because the observed association between oseltamivir and suicide could potentially be confounded by underlying influenza infection, the analysis was repeated with influenza diagnosis alone (without oseltamivir use) as the exposure. Using this novel study design, which reduced statistical concerns found in previous studies, researchers did not find an association between oseltamivir or influenza diagnosis (only) and suicide.

The Relationship Between Oseltamivir and Suicide in Pediatric Patients

James W. Antoon, MD, et al

Children’s Hospital University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois

 

No Increase in Shared Decision-Making for PSA Testing but Discussions Have Broadened

Although health care organizations differ in their recommendations for use of prostate-specific antigen testing for prostate cancer screening, they agree that the decision to undergo PSA testing should be shared by patients and clinicians. A new study finds that although there has been no increase in shared decision-making for PSA testing, the content of discussions has become more comprehensive. The study compared responses to the National Health Interview Survey in 2010 and 2015 among men age 50 and older (n=9598). In this nationally representative sample, a similar proportion (approximately 60 percent) of men with recent PSA testing reported one or more elements of shared decision-making in both 2010 and 2015. They also reported a modest shift away from discussions limited to the advantages of PSA testing toward full shared decision-making in which advantages, disadvantages, and uncertainties were discussed (12 percent of recently-tested men in 2010 compared to 17 percent in 2015). One in 10 men who did not receive PSA testing reported receiving one or more elements of shared decision-making, a number which did not change during the study period. The results suggest that, contrary to guideline recommendations, many men receiving PSA testing still do not receive shared decision-making and a limited number of men without PSA testing receive one or more shared decision-making elements. The authors call for new and innovative strategies to achieve more widespread application of shared decision-making for men considering PSA testing.

Recent Patterns in Shared Decision Making for Prostate-Specific Antigen Testing in the United

States

Stacey A Fedewa, PhD, MPH, et al
American Cancer Society, Atlanta, Georgia

 

Electronic Consultation System Improves Access to Specialty Care

An electronic consultation system designed to reduce excessive wait times for appointments with specialists experienced exponential growth during a recent five-year period. The Champlain BASE eConsult service was created to provide primary care clinicians in Ontario, Canada with a range of high quality and timely (up to one week) specialty input. Unlike electronic consultation systems that provide direct links between clinicians, this service enables primary care clinicians to search a directory, select a specialist, and contact her/him through a secure channel. The system, created in 2010, had four completed eConsult cases in April, 2011 compared to 769 cases in April, 2016, with primary care clinicians submitting 14,105 cases to 56 specialties during the 5-year period. Specialties receiving the highest number of eConsults were dermatology (17 percent); endocrinology, obstetrics/gynecology, and hematology (7 percent each); cardiology (6 percent); and neurology (6 percent). Specialists responded in a median of 21 hours; in 75 percent of cases they responded within three days. Self-reported billing time for specialists ranged from less than 10 minutes (in 48 percent of cases) to more than 20 minutes (4 percent of cases). By the end of the study period, approximately 80 percent of primary care clinicians in the region had adopted the eConsult service, which is poised for expansion across Canada. The study demonstrates that, once integrated into a practice’s specialty referral workflow, the eConsult service has the potential to reduce wait times for specialty care.

Sustainability of a Primary Care-Driven eConsult Service

Clare Liddy, MD, MSc, CCFP, et al

C.T. Lamont Primary Health Care Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

 

Health Care Reform and EHR Design Should Be Built Around Patients’ Goals

Meaningful reform of primary care should not only address the provision, documentation and payment of care; it should be based on patients’ goals for their lives and health, with corresponding redesign of electronic health records. A report from an international team of primary care researchers recommends that the current problem-oriented fee-for-documentation structure of EHRs be replaced by a framework built around life and health goals. This focus would not only better serve patients; it would also help refocus medical professionals on the full scope of human health. To begin the process of creating goal-directed electronic health records, the authors suggest incorporating core patient profile and health planner functions into existing EHRs and creating linkages between patient characteristics and other parts of the EHR. If patient attributes captured by EHRs are expanded to include actionable sociocultural and socioeconomic information, life and health goals, care preferences, and personal risk factors, they can be leveraged by other EHR components so that patients and clinicians can work together to develop personalized care. The authors point out that, although numerous systemic and administrative health care innovations have been tried, the problem-oriented approach to care and its conceptual image coded into the medical record remain the same across innovations. If patient life and health goals are to drive health care and medical record design, shifts will also need to occur in health care delivery, measurement, and payment. The authors call for research into how patients and health care teams can partner effectively using goal-directed health records.

Moving From Problem-Oriented to Goal-Directed Health Records

Zsolt J. Nagykaldi, PhD, et al

University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

 

Physicians’ Work Should Focus on Personalized Care, Not Transactional Tasks

Shifting physicians’ roles from transactional tasks to personalized care would best serve patients, physicians and society. According to a newly-articulated vision of shared care, physicians should reduce their roles in transactional aspects of care, such as gathering and entering data, providing disease-specific patient education, and providing most preventive care. Instead, such duties should be filled by other members of the health care team with complementary skills, leaving physicians to diagnose and help patients meet personal goals and objectives. Physicians’ would provide personalized care by synthesizing data from diverse, often discordant sources; adjudicating the competing needs of multiple conditions; adjusting patients’ treatment plans to align with their goals and preferences; and advocating for patients in a complicated, fragmented health care environment. To make this approach a reality, changes would need to occur on multiple levels including health care organization and delivery, technology, reimbursement, medical education, and practice and physician “buy-in.” The authors state that their vision would meet the needs of patients and society while closing the gap between physicians’ intended patient care mission and their current transactional roles. In the process, they explain, physicians could discover joy, purpose, and meaning in their work.

From Transactional Tasks to Personalized Care: A New Vision of Physicians' Roles

David B. Reuben, MD, et al

David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California

 

Clinicians’ Skills in Narrative Can Help Chronically Ill Patients Heal

“What patients bring to their clinicians is their stories,” writes behavioral scientist Thomas Egnew. It is through these stories that clinicians try to understand and treat patients’ health. When patients experience chronic or life-threatening illness and their suffering increases, clinicians can take on the role of holistic healer by addressing the inevitable existential conflicts in patients’ narratives and helping them edit their stories to promote acceptance and meaning. In this guiding role, Egnew explains, clinicians can help patients transcend suffering, “assume the mantle of their heritage as healers,” and find meaning in their work.
A Narrative Approach to Healing Chronic Illness
Thomas R. Egnew, EdD, LICSW

University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington

 

A Patient Embraces the “Pathless Trek” into Chronic Illness

For a young woman with ulcerative colitis, a total colectomy (removal of the colon) marks the end of an illness and the beginning of a journey of personal discovery. Adi Finkelstein, PhD, describes her physical illness and the decision to undergo a colectomy after which, her surgeon promised her, she would have a new life. Over time, she did indeed build a new life, although perhaps not the one her surgeon envisioned. Her journey included letting go of her desire to be an exemplary patient and embracing the liberation that came with accepting her disability, as well as a career researching and teaching medical and nursing students about chronic illness. Living with her own disability while helping others better understand chronic illness is, she writes, “[a] paradox that sustains me.”
You Will Have a New Life

Adi Finkelstein, PhD

Jerusalem College of Technology, Jerusalem, Israel

A Family Physician Reflects on Community, Retirement, and Our Sagging Bodies

As a family physician approaches retirement, he reflects on the next chapter of his life with feelings of freedom and fear. “To live without the vestments of a career,” he realizes, “is a test of faith.” He finds comfort in knowing that his community will be well cared for by a new generation of physicians. On a more personal level, he is both surprised and freed by his aging body, encouraging us to “relax our grip on life, just as our skin has relaxed its grip on us.” Ultimately, he puts his faith in the knowledge that, more than three decades ago, he was called to a career in medicine. “Therein lies the hope that I will be called again.”

When It’s Time to Retire: Notes From the Afterlife

David Loxterkamp, MD
Seaport Community Health Center, Belfast, Maine

 

Core Outcomes Established for Multimorbidity Research

According to a panel of international experts, clinical trials of multimorbidity should measure and report, at minimum, quality of life, mortality, and mental health outcomes. Twenty-six multimorbidity researchers, clinicians, and patients from 13 countries participated in a Delphi Panel and reached consensus on 17 core outcomes for multimorbidity research. The highest ranked outcomes were health related quality of life, mental health outcomes and mortality. Other outcomes were grouped into overarching themes of patient-reported impacts and behaviors (treatment burden, self-rated health, self-management behavior, self-efficacy, adherence); physical activity and function (activities of daily living, physical function, physical activity); outcomes related to the medical visit (communication, shared decision making, prioritization); and health systems outcomes (healthcare utilization, costs, quality of healthcare). The authors suggest that, when designing studies to capture important domains in multimorbidity, researchers consider the full range of outcomes based on study aims and interventions.

A Core Outcome Set for Multimorbidity Research (COSmm)

Susan Smith, MD, MSc, et al
HRB Centre for Primary Care Research, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland

 

Innovations in Primary Care: Citizen Engagement and Team-Based Ordering of Labs

Innovations in Primary Care are brief one-page articles that describe novel innovations from health care’s front lines. In this issue:

  • Citizen Engagement in Primary Care – A primary care organization uses methods of citizen engagement to gather recommendations from a representative group of patient advisors to prioritize areas for practice improvement.
  • Ordering Labs as a Team – A primary care practice shifted its lab ordering procedure from a clinician activity to a team-based process.
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Annals of Family Medicine is a peer-reviewed, indexed research journal that provides a cross-disciplinary forum for new, evidence-based information affecting the primary care disciplines. Launched in May 2003, Annals is sponsored by seven family medical organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Board of Family Medicine, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, the Association of Departments of Family Medicine, the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors, the North American Primary Care Research Group, and the College of Family Physicians of Canada. Annals is published six times each year and contains original research from the clinical, biomedical, social and health services areas, as well as contributions on methodology and theory, selected reviews, essays and editorials. Complete editorial content and interactive discussion groups for each published article can be accessed free of charge on the journal’s website, www.annfammed.org.

Government of Canada supporting innovative health research at the University of Regina

 

Researchers receive funding for cutting-edge research projects to study addiction and the health of personal support workers

REGINA, March 12, 2018 /CNW/ - Scientific discovery holds the key to finding solutions to many of the economic, social, and health challenges we face as a nation and around the world. That is why the Government of Canada proudly supports science in a number of key areas, which is ensuring Canadians thrive in the years to come.

Today, while visiting the University of Regina, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, highlighted a recent federal investment of $937,000 for health research at the University of Regina. This support, through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), is part of a larger investment of $372M to enable researchers to study a full spectrum of health issues affecting the lives of Canadians.

While visiting the university, Minister Goodale met with Dr. Randy Johner, who received $451,000 to explore the use of smartphones and tablets to deliver culturally adapted substance addiction treatment support for people in remote and rural areas. Research has shown that the use of technology devices for delivering substance addiction treatment is not only cost-efficient when compared to treatment delivered by a counselor, but that it is also effective at engaging and treating patients with substance addiction issues.

The Minister also took a moment to recognize the work of the University of Regina's Dr. Shanthi Johnson. Dr. Johnson's team received a CIHR grant of $485,000 to enroll older adults receiving home care and their personal support workers in a home support exercise program. The goal of Dr. Johnson's project is to improve the physical health and reduce the incidence of falls among older adults while lowering rates of musculoskeletal disorders among personal support workers, whose jobs often result in strains and injuries from repeated lifting and carrying.

Quotes

"Congratulations to the researchers who have received these CIHR grants. Your important work holds the key to saving lives, discovering new treatments, scientific breakthroughs, the creation of the new knowledge that is at the core of advances in health, as well as achieving long-term cost savings in the health care system."
The Honourale Ralph Goodale
Minister Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness  

"This $372 million represents an enormous investment in health research for the science community and benefits all of Canada. Through these grants, CIHR is supporting researchers at all career stages, across the entire country, and in all areas of health research. Our investigators have made Canada a global leader in health research."
Dr. Roderick R. McInnes, CM, O.Ont, MD, PhD, FRSC
Acting President, Canadian Institutes of Health Research

"University of Regina researchers are dedicated to improving the health of Canadians. Whether through developing technology that is able to provide culturally centred substance addiction support or by implementing exercises designed to improve health, reduce falls and lower rates of musculoskeletal disorders in older adults and their continuing care aides, these made-in-Saskatchewan innovations are truly changing lives for the better."
Dr. Vianne Timmons
President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Regina

"I am very excited to receive this CIHR award. For the next three years, our multidisciplinary team of researchers from social work, engineering, sociology, medicine and nursing, will develop and pilot substance use treatment interventions for individuals with diverse learning needs, while using innovative technologies to develop a culturally-informed application (App). This project will build university and community partnerships, with the direct involvement of the Métis Addictions Council of Saskatchewan Inc. and their community members who will assist with creating and testing the App.
Dr. Randy Johner
Associate Professor of Social Work, University of Regina

At the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) we know that research has the power to change lives. As Canada's health research investment agency, we collaborate with partners and researchers to support the discoveries and innovations that improve our health and strengthen our health care system.

 

SOURCE Canadian Institutes of Health Research

Praluent® (alirocumab) significantly reduced risk of cardiovascular events in high-risk patients, and was associated with lower death rate

 

  • ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial met its primary endpoint, demonstrating that high-risk patients who added Praluent® (alirocumab) to maximally-tolerated statins experienced significantly fewer major adverse cardiovascular events compared to those on maximally-tolerated statins alone
  • For the first time, adding a lipid-lowering therapy to maximally-tolerated statins was associated with reduced death from any cause
  • More pronounced effect observed in patients with baseline LDL-C levels at or above despite maximally-tolerated statins, who are at high risk of suffering a future event; in this group, Praluent reduced risk of major adverse cardiovascular events by 24% and was associated with a 29% lower risk of death overall
  • In this 18,924-patient, long-term trial, the safety profile of Praluent was consistent with previous trials and no new safety issues were observed

LAVAL, QC, March 10, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - Sanofi and Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. today announced that the ODYSSEY OUTCOMES trial met its primary endpoint, showing Praluent® (alirocumab) significantly reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients who had suffered a recent acute coronary syndrome (ACS) event such as a heart attack. Results from the trial was presented today during a late-breaker session at the American College of Cardiology's 67th Annual Scientific Session (ACC.18) in Orlando, Florida and are available here.

Key findings include:

  • On the primary endpoint, Praluent reduced the overall risk of MACE by 15% (HR=0.85, CI: 0.78-0.93, p=0.0003). The MACE composite endpoint includes patients who experienced a heart attack, ischemic stroke, death from coronary heart disease (CHD), or unstable angina requiring hospitalization.
  • Praluent was also associated with a lower risk of death overall, known as "all-cause mortality" (HR=0.85; CI: 0.73-0.98, nominal p=0.026), and there were also numerically fewer CHD deaths (HR=0.92; CI: 0.76-1.11, p=0.38).
  • In a pre-specified analysis, the patients with baseline LDL-C levels at or above 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L) experienced a more pronounced effect from Praluent, reducing their risk of MACE by 24% (HR=0.76, CI: 0.65-0.87). In a post-hoc analysis of this group, Praluent was associated with a lower risk of death from any cause by 29% (HR=0.71, CI: 0.56-0.90).
  • The analyses described above include the results from 730 patients (8%) in the Praluent group who continued to be assessed in the Praluent arm despite stopping active Praluent therapy, as specified in the protocol for patients with persistent LDL-C readings below 15 mg/dL.
  • For those in the Praluent treatment arm, approximately 75% of patient time was on the 75 mg dose.
  • There were no new safety signals in the trial, with injection site reactions experienced more commonly in the Praluent group compared to patients on maximally-tolerated statins alone (3.8% Praluent; 2.1% placebo). There was no difference in neurocognitive events (1.5% Praluent; 1.8% placebo) or new-onset diabetes (9.6% Praluent; 10.1% placebo).

    "This trial was consistent with earlier statin trials, showing the greatest benefit in patients with higher cholesterol levels at baseline," said George D. Yancopoulos, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer, Regeneron. "Many patients who have survived a recent heart attack or other coronary event are unable to reach an LDL cholesterol goal of less than 100 mg/dL, and have an urgent need for new therapeutic options because of their increased risk of another event. In this trial, such patients who received Praluent on top of maximally-tolerated statins had important reductions in their risk."

    "Not all patients with heart disease are the same. Through this trial, we have been able to identify high-risk patients treated with optimal statins who still have an urgent need for additional treatment options," said Elias Zerhouni, M.D., President, Global R&D, Sanofi. "With nearly 90 percent of the patients in this trial on high-intensity statins, the data demonstrate that a precision-medicine approach in the field of cardiovascular disease may further advance how we better treat high-risk patients."

    "The results of this study, the only one specifically designed to evaluate the long-term clinical benefit of Praluent initiation with patients post acute coronary syndrome, demonstrate the value that Praluent can bring to the health of those who are unable to reach their LDL-C health goals," claimed Niven Al-Khoury, President, Sanofi Canada. "With over 60 years of experience working to understand and support the healthcare needs of patients, bringing valuable solutions is core to our purpose."

About ODYSSEY OUTCOMES
ODYSSEY OUTCOMES (n=18,924) assessed the effect of Praluent on the occurrence of MACE in patients who had experienced an ACS between 1-12 months (median 2.6 months) before enrolling in the trial, and who were already on maximally-tolerated statins. All patients were randomized to receive Praluent (n=9,462) or a placebo (n=9,462) and were treated for an average (median) of 2.8 years, with some patients being treated for up to five years. Approximately 90% of patients were on a high-intensity statin.

The trial was designed to maintain patients' LDL-C levels between 25-50 mg/dL (0.6 -1.3 mmol/L), using two different doses of Praluent (75 mg and 150 mg). Praluent-treated patients started the trial on 75 mg every 2 weeks, and switched to 150 mg every 2 weeks if their LDL-C levels remained above 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L) (n=2,615). Some patients who switched to 150 mg switched back to 75 mg if their LDL-C fell below 25 mg/dL (0.6 mmol/L) (n=805), and patients who experienced two consecutive LDL-C measurements below 15 mg/dL (0.4 mmol/L) while on the 75 mg dose (n=730) stopped active Praluent therapy for the remainder of the trial.

About Praluent
Praluent inhibits the binding of PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) to the LDL receptor and thereby increases the number of available LDL receptors on the surface of liver cells, which lowers LDL-C levels in the blood. The use of Praluent to reduce the risk of MACE is investigational and has not been evaluated by any regulatory agency.

Praluent is approved in more than 60 countries worldwide, including the U.S., Japan, Canada, Switzerland, Mexico and Brazil, as well as the European Union (EU).

This medicinal product is subject to additional monitoring. This will allow quick identification of new safety information. Healthcare professionals are asked to report any suspected adverse reactions.

The effect of Praluent on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality has not been determined.

For the product monograph: http://products.sanofi.ca/en/praluent.pdf

About Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc
Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) is a leading biotechnology company that invents life-transforming medicines for people with serious diseases. Founded and led by physician-scientists for 30 years, our unique ability to repeatedly and consistently translate science into medicine has led to six FDA-approved treatments and over a dozen product candidates, all of which were homegrown in our laboratories. Our medicines and pipeline are designed to help patients with eye disease, heart disease, allergic and inflammatory diseases, pain, cancer, infectious diseases and rare diseases.

Regeneron is accelerating and improving the traditional drug development process through its proprietary VelociSuite® technologies, including VelocImmune® to yield optimized fully-human antibodies, and ambitious initiatives such as the Regeneron Genetics Center, one of the largest genetics sequencing efforts in the world.

For additional information about the company, please visit www.regeneron.com or follow @Regeneron on Twitter.

About Sanofi
Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN) (NYSE: SNY) is dedicated to supporting people through their health challenges. We are a global biopharmaceutical company focused on human health. We prevent illness with vaccines, provide innovative treatments to fight pain and ease suffering. We stand by the few who suffer from rare diseases and the millions with long-term chronic conditions.

With more than 100,000 people in 100 countries, Sanofi is transforming scientific innovation into healthcare solutions around the globe.

Sanofi entities in Canada employ close to 1,900 people. In 2016 we invested $130 million in R&D in Canada, creating jobs, business and opportunity throughout the country.

Follow us on Twitter @SanofiCanada and on YouTube.

Sanofi, Empowering Life

 

SOURCE SANOFI

86 Unbelievable Facts About Running (Infographic)

Each day, millions of people from all around the world go for a run. Some run marathons, some go out for a jogging session, and some venture into the mountains for an uphill sprint. However, all of these runners have one thing in common; they are all healthy.

It’s no secret that running is one of the healthiest activities that you can take on. From the numerous cardiovascular benefits to the powerful calorie-burning properties, regular running will help you keep your body healthy and in shape for many years to come. Moreover, running is an activity for people of all ages. The youngest marathon finisher was only five years old at the time of the race, and the oldest one was 101.

However, like every other dynamic activity, running requires preparation, adequate equipment, and caution. While running itself has no downsides, running-related injuries are more common than you may think. In fact, 65% of all runners suffer an injury within their first year of running.

So, as quality equipment is key, make sure you buy a pair of legitimate running shoes – Nike is an outstanding brand offering just that! Warm up properly, play some music over your headphones, and you are ready for a run. But before you do all that, make sure you read the other running facts in the infographic below; you will be motivated even more.

 

Losing weight and staying fit and healthy are consistently among the top 10 New Year’s resolutions, but 80 percent of people fail to keep their resolutions longer than six weeks.  March is about the time that most resolutions will be abandoned - mainly because they haven’t produced any immediate results.  Dianna Forsberg (http://diannaforsberg.com), international fitness model and health and wellness coach, outlines the best ways to stay on track to reach your fitness goals in the New Year.

1. Reality check.  Recognize the stressors in your life. Don’t ignore them.  When we ignore them, we continue to use those “coping mechanisms”, which is usually consuming junk food, unhealthy beverages and we hardly make time to workout because we are lacking energy.

2. Write out your desired goals. It can be as small as incorporating more fruits and vegetables. Working out 30 min a day, 3 times a week. Lose 5-10 lbs with 4-6 weeks. Whatever YOUR goal is, write it down.

3. Find a support system.  Everyone wants to feel better and do better.  The average person is happy to lose 5-10 lbs and maintain it. Talk to your close friends about your goals. Make a Facebook post and see who wants to join you. We are more likely to commit when we have an accountability partner.

4. Invest in a trainer, consultant or health and wellness coach to help you succeed. Seeking professional help from a third party usually works best. In most cases, we tend to take advice and guidance better from a professional.

5.  Meal prep once or twice a week to save time. Plan your workouts. Figure out if you will workout before or after work. Stick to the plan. Once you remove the junk from your regime, just say NO!  Reach for healthy snacks like unsalted almonds, banana, a green apple, cucumber slices, hard boiled eggs, fresh berries, etc.

6. Now that you have recognized what wasn’t working just a few short weeks ago. Now it’s time to truly commit, be consistent and get it done!

 

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March 7, 2018 (Waterloo, ON) - Local not-for-profit STEM Camp looks to Dragons’ Den for help to solve Canadian Girls in STEM issue

For a full Media Kit with pictures goes to Newsroom.

 

Content:

It is well known that Canada does not come close to gender parity in STEM-related fields.1 Why is this? And, why is this an issue? According to STEM Camp CEO, Kevin Cougler, the answer to the first question is a challenge but the answer to the second question is simply that it’s a numbers game.

 

“If we look at gender parity as a purely mathematical concept, we would begin by agreeing that, if we aren’t attracting enough girls to STEM careers it is a potentially untapped market”, indicates Cougler. “Why wouldn’t we want the best and brightest minds in our STEM fields? The more girls we can inspire to consider these careers the better chance we have of finding the best people.”

 

Cougler feels the Dragons could help. “Not attracting girls to STEM careers is a generational and national challenge. The Dragons’ Den is a national program that could bring much needed attention to this issue. With the help of the Dragons we may be able to inspire parents to talk about the career opportunities available for their girls and the importance that STEM education will play in a future where 80-90% of jobs will require STEM skills” stated Cougler. “That’s what today was all about in our quest to be chosen for CBC’s Dragons’ Den.”

 

STEM Camp is a Canadian not -for-profit summer camp that was started by Cougler in 2013 with a mission to inspire and prepare today’s youth for a future of STEM careers. At the camp, youth participate in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) activities that are designed to be fun and engaging. Since 2013, STEM Camp has grown from 2 locations and 80 campers to 77 locations and an estimated 15,000 campers during the summer of 2018. Cougler was joined today by his father Ron, Executive Director, and their new friends Blaine and Rosie who participated in a contest where they had to convince their parents that they should be the first girl to go to the moon. They convinced their parents but also STEM Camp!

 

It is of interest to note that STEM Camp’s enrolments of girls has seen a steady increase each year, bringing girls one step closer to gender parity.  While Cougler still doesn’t know the answer to question one (1) above, he is encouraged by the small contribution his summer STEM Camp is making to the problem. Learn more from STEM Camp’s website2, Facebook. Instagram and Twitter.

 

Resources

1 http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75-006-x/2013001/article/11874-eng.pdf

2 Website: stemcamp.ca

 

STEM Camp Contact Information

Larissa Mendonca, Marketing and Communications Coordinator

STEM Camp

t: 519-475-6600 x11

e: lmendonca@stemcamp.ca

World Kidney Day focuses on women's health

 

Canadian kidney organizations call for education, engagement and research investments

MONTREAL, March 7, 2018 /CNW/ - One in 10 Canadians has kidney disease. Are you, or is someone you know affected?

This World Kidney Day, March 8th, The Kidney Foundation of Canada along with the Can-SOLVE CKD Network and the Canadian Society of Nephrology are urging Canadians to learn more about their kidney health. Ask your doctor about a simple blood test that can identify common kidney problems, and have your blood pressure monitored regularly.

"This year, World Kidney Day falls on the same date as International Women's Day, offering a unique opportunity for us to focus on women's kidney health," said Elizabeth Myles, Executive Director of The Kidney Foundation of Canada. "The Kidney Foundation of Canada, in partnership with Can-SOLVE CKD and the Canadian Society of Nephrology, encourage and empower women to educate themselves to maintain a kidney healthy lifestyle."

Through the theme of this year's World Kidney Day, "Kidneys and Women's Health – Include, Value, Empower", the international organization is calling for affordable and equitable access to kidney health education, care and prevention for all women and girls globally.

Four million Canadians live with chronic kidney disease (CKD). An estimated 3,000 Canadians die from kidney disease each year. It is the 9th leading cause of death for women in this country. Indigenous peoples, children, and the elderly are particularly vulnerable.

"By involving patients, many of whom are women, in identifying research questions and contributing to the network's work as a whole, we are working to make a real difference in the statistics and the lives of Canadians living with kidney disease," said Dr. Adeera Levin who, along with Dr. Braden Manns, are Co-Leads of the Can-SOLVE CKD Network. "In support of the unique health issues of women and girls living with kidney disease, the network has recently appointed Dr. Sofia Ahmed as Sex and Gender Lead. In this role, Dr. Ahmed will advise our research teams on issues related to sex and gender as they carry out their work."

Women are more at risk for certain kidney diseases, such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and both acute and chronic kidney infections. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can affect a woman's ability to start a family, and raise healthy children. Pregnancies among women with kidney disease carry different risks, depending on levels of kidney function, and can lead to serious health complications such as pre-eclampsia, and preterm births.

"There is no cure for kidney disease, and it has devastating consequences on the quality and quantity of life for those affected," said Dr. Deborah Zimmerman, President Elect of the Canadian Society of Nephrology (CSN). "Kidney disease impacts women of all ages, limiting their ability to build a career and start a family. Well-earned retirement may be replaced by treatment schedules that interfere with the ability to travel and enjoy grandchildren. We need to find better ways to minimize the tremendous burden of symptoms, and simplify treatments. Helping the patients of today and tomorrow requires a renewed investment in research." 

To find out if you have any of the risk factors for kidney disease, take this short quiz: www.kidney.ca/risk

The Kidney Foundation of Canada (KFOC) is the national volunteer organization committed to eliminating the burden of kidney disease through funding and stimulating innovative research; providing education and support; promoting access to high quality healthcare; and increasing public awareness and commitment to advancing kidney health and organ donation. Since 1964 The Kidney Foundation of Canada has contributed over $119 million to medical research projects to ensure that treatment options and patient results continuously improve.

The Can-SOLVE CKD Network is a pan-Canadian patient-oriented kidney research initiative established in 2016 to help transform treatment and care for Canadians living with, or at risk of developing kidney disease. The network is funding 18 research projects, with questions based on key issues identified by patients. The Can-SOLVE CKD Network is also working to address the gaps in kidney health outcomes between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in this country.

The Canadian Society of Nephrology (CSN) is a society of physicians and scientists specializing in the care of people with kidney disease, and in research related to the kidney and kidney disease.  Their vision is that all Canadians with or at risk of kidney disease will receive optimal patient-centered care and achieve best outcomes.  Members of the CSN support innovative research to improve outcomes for patients with kidney disease. The Society also holds workshops and training programs for nephrologists. This year the CSN is marking a milestone 50th Anniversary.

Learn more
www.kidney.ca/world-kidney-day-2018
www.cansolveckd.ca/world-kidney-day-2018
www.csnscn.ca

SOURCE Kidney Foundation of Canada

Baylis Medical wins Best Managed Companies award

 

TORONTO, March 8, 2018 /CNW/ - Baylis Medical Company is proud to announce that it has been named a 2018 winner of Canada's Best Managed Companies, one of the country's leading business award programs honouring excellence in Canadian-owned and managed businesses.

Established in 1993, Canada's Best Managed Companies recognizes those that demonstrate innovation in management and business practices, and sustained growth. This year, Best Managed companies were selected on the basis of having a clear strategy and vision, investment in capability and commitment to talent.

Behind Baylis Medical's success is a long-standing culture of empowering employees across all departments to take an innovative approach to their work. The company fosters an environment focused on learning, continuous improvement and employee development.

"We are thrilled to have won this designation," said Deb Douma, Director of Human Resources at Baylis Medical. "We operate under the deep-rooted belief that Baylis is at its best when our employees are at their best. This makes it all the more important to give them the tools and confidence to continually contribute to our ultimate goal: developing innovative solutions that improve the lives of people around the world."

This focus has resulted in rapid growth for Baylis Medical. The company is expanding its range of products to deliver added value to patients and physicians. It is also increasing its employee-base, including its sales team, as it expands into new and existing international markets.

"Having the in-house expertise allows us to efficiently identify issues faced by physicians and their patients, and deliver innovative solutions more rapidly. Being named one of Canada's Best Managed Companies validates our employee-centric approach to business," said Kris Shah, President of Baylis Medical.

Canada's Best Managed Companies' awardees will be honoured at the annual winners' gala taking place on April 11 in Toronto.

About Canada's Best Managed Companies

Canada's Best Managed Companies continues to be the mark of excellence for Canadian-owned and managed companies with revenues over $15 million. Every year since the launch of the program in 1993, hundreds of entrepreneurial companies have competed for this designation in a rigorous and independent process that evaluates their management skills and practices. The awards are granted on four levels: 1) Canada's Best Managed Companies new winner (one of the new winners selected each year); 2) Canada's Best Managed Companies winner (award recipients that have re-applied and successfully retained their Best Managed designation for two additional years, subject to annual operational and financial review); 3) Gold Standard winner (after three consecutive years of maintaining their Best Managed status, these winners have demonstrated their commitment to the program and successfully retained their award for 4-6 consecutive years); 4) Platinum Club member (winners that have maintained their Best Managed status for seven years or more). Program sponsors are Deloitte, CIBC, Canadian Business, Smith School of Business, TMX Group and MacKay CEO Forums. For further information, visit www.bestmanagedcompanies.ca.

About Baylis Medical Company Inc.

Baylis Medical develops and markets high-technology medical devices used in the fields of electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, interventional radiology, and spinal procedures. Our vision is to develop and market innovative medical therapies while Improving the Lives of People Around the World. The company has offices in Montreal and Toronto (Canada), Boston (USA), London (UK), and Munich (Germany). For more information, visit www.baylismedical.com.

PRM-00305 EN J-1,2,3 V-1 © Baylis Medical Company Inc., 2018. The Baylis Medical logo is a trademark or registered trademark of Baylis Medical Company Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

SOURCE Baylis Médical

Overcoming barriers to cervical cancer screening: New health innovation project empowers women to collect their own samples at home

 

MARKHAM, ON, March 8, 2018 /CNW/ - As the world celebrates International Women's Day, a team of Ontario health innovators is working to expand access to culturally safe HPV screening among new Canadians and Indigenous Peoples.

Although cervical cancer is highly preventable, only 61 per cent of eligible women in Ontario are currently getting screened with a Pap test. Barriers such as lack of awareness, transportation and cultural sensitivity remain, particularly for vulnerable communities. International research shows self-sampling is an effective way to empower women and reduce cervical cancer deaths among under and never screened populations.

Designed in Ontario, Eve Kit is a personal health screening system that allows women to collect their own sample, mail it to the lab for testing, and access their results through a secure website.  In addition to privacy and convenience, Eve Kit offers validated diagnostic testing and is Health Canada licensed.

Building on the success of self-sampling programs globally, the health innovation team will work closely with community members to design a new culturally safe HPV testing program that aligns with Cancer Care Ontario's screening guidelines and is closely integrated with primary care for appropriate follow-up. The new model will provide evidence and insights to support broad adoption of HPV self-sampling within the public health care system.

The project is being led by Saint Elizabeth Health Care and includes partner organizations Eve Medical, Women's College Hospital Institute for Health System Solutions and Virtual Care, N'Mninoeyaa Aboriginal Health Access Centre, Access Alliance Multicultural Health and Community Services, Roche Diagnostics and Mount Sinai Services.

The Government of Ontario recently announced grants for 12 new projects through its Health Technologies Fund. HTF is a program of the Government of Ontario's Office of the Chief Health Innovation Strategist (OCHIS), administered by the Ontario Centres of Excellence (OCE). The grant for this project totals $469,000, with matching in-kind contributions from the partner organizations.

QUOTES:

"This project embodies the kind of collaboration that we need to innovate in health care – especially for underserved groups. It has been amazing to see a solution progress from need, to idea and development, and now community partnership and demonstration."
Jessica Ching, CEO, Eve Medical

"Health innovation is about empowering people and designing processes and experiences that work for them. With broad adoption, this proven patient-centred approach can help to reduce health inequities and improve access to care for underserved communities."
Shirlee Sharkey, CEO, Saint Elizabeth Health Care

FAST FACTS:  

  • Cervical cancer is preventable when detected early
  • There are 1,550 new cases of cervical cancer in Canada every year (Canadian Cancer Society, 2017)
  • Immigrant and Indigenous women have lower rates of screening than the general population, putting them at increased risk for cervical cancer
  • Many women, particularly those in hard-to-reach groups, prefer self-sampling to the Pap test, based on its convenience and privacy

About Saint Elizabeth
Saint Elizabeth is a national social enterprise providing home care, health solutions and education to people where they are and when they need it. With Canadian roots and more than 100 years of expertise, the not-for-profit charitable organization is accelerating health care innovation to support healthy lives globally. Through its team of 9,000 health leaders, Saint Elizabeth delivers 20,000 care exchanges daily, totaling 50 million in the last decade alone. Learn more at saintelizabeth.com or find us on social media.

SOURCE Saint Elizabeth Health Care

Obesity and mental health identified as top health concerns facing Ontario school-aged children

Ophea led survey sheds light on parental attitudes toward Health and Physical Education, health issues, physical activity, healthy schools, and safety

TORONTO, March 8, 2018 /CNW/ - Parents believe that Ontario schools have an important role to play in the health and well-being of their children, according to a recent survey commissioned by Ophea. The survey looked to better understand parental perspectives on pressing health issues and the important role schools play in supporting their children.

The provincially representative survey, which included more than 600 parents of school-aged children across the province, found that obesity (37 per cent) and mental health (32 per cent) were the top health issues identified facing Ontario children. Concerns have risen significantly about mental health (increase of 22 per cent) and addiction (increase of 9 per cent) since Ophea's last survey in 2010. Today, most parents (79 per cent) believe that the H&PE curriculum helps to address these concerns.

"Ontario schools have an important role to play in the health and well-being of our children, whether it is physical activity, health education, addressing mental health issues or discussing diet and nutrition," said Chris Markham, Executive Director and CEO of Ophea. "Though the majority of parents are satisfied with the Health and Physical Education offered at school, we see that there are concerns about the minimal amount of time dedicated to these programs. We should be challenging ourselves to ensure this is a priority."

In 2014, the Ontario government committed to encouraging 60 minutes of daily physical activity for children, and through this survey, 99 per cent of parents strongly agree about the importance of that goal. Most parents (89 per cent) also agree that schools have a critical role to ensure children are physically active during the regular school day. However, it was found that only one quarter of parents (26 per cent) report that their children are active to that standard, and the reported level of physical activity declines with the age of the child.

"Beyond health professionals and themselves, parents see teachers as the most trusted source of health information for their children," says Lori Lukinuk, President of Ophea's Board of Directors. "We call upon education partners to work with Ophea to support our schools to continue to be healthy schools - accepting and caring about physical safety and encouraging involvement amongst all students."

Ophea remains committed to working with school boards, government & non-governmental organizations, and private sector organizations to ensure the health of Ontario school-aged children is top of mind. For more information including the full survey report and infographic highlights, visit www.ophea.net/advocacy.

About the Survey
A survey of 651 Ontario-based parents of school-aged children was completed online between October 23 and October 31, 2017, by Environics Research Group.

About Ophea
Ophea is a not-for-profit organization that champions healthy, active living in schools and communities through quality programs and services, partnerships and advocacy. Ophea's vision is that all children and youth will value and enjoy the lifelong benefits of healthy, active living. To learn more about Ophea visit www.ophea.net.