ADELAIDE, AUS, May 7, 2021 - (ACN Newswire) - The leading Australian CRO for biotechs and Frost & Sullivan Asia-Pacific CRO Market Leadership Award winner, Avance Clinical, has expanded its gene technology clinical trial services to meet the increasing global demand predicted to reach $17.4 billion by 2023.
Avance Clinical is accredited as a gene technology CRO under the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator (OGTR).
This accreditation recognizes that Avance Clinical has the CRO resources and internal processes in place to effectively manage pre-clinical and clinical trials for products involving genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
In Australia, dealings with GMOs in clinical research requires authorisation under the Gene Technology Act 2000. The OGTR administers the Gene Technology Act 2000, and has specific responsibility to protect the health and safety of people, and to protect the environment, by identifying risks posed by or as a result of gene technology, and by managing those risks through regulating dealings with GMOs.
The global market for genetic modification therapies is expected to grow from $2.3 billion in 2018 to reach $17.4 billion by 2023, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 49.9% (BCC Research, 2018). The utilization of gene modification technologies used in COVID-19 vaccine products is likely to translate in further growth in this field of therapeutics.
Avance Clinical CEO Yvonne Lungershausen said OGTR accreditation is important for our international clients. "Our clients need to know that their CRO has all the necessary credentials and is capable of delivering the highest of clinical research standards in this exciting and rapidly evolving sector," she said.
Avance Clinical currently has a number of GMO studies underway and is expanding its services further to accommodate increasing global demand.
Australia's Avance Clinical has more than 20-years of experience and is now one of Australia's leading Contract Research Organizations. Avance Clinical facilitates quality drug development by aligning people, skills, and expertise in the pursuit of drug development for a healthier world.
Avance Clinical is committed to providing high-quality clinical research services with its highly-experienced team. The collective pool of knowledge and experience at Avance Clinical continually grows through the careful selection of experts who also demonstrate passion in their chosen field. Avance Clinical offers high-quality services in an established clinical trial ecosystem, that includes world-class Investigators and Sites able to access specialized patient groups. Visit http://www.avancecro.com for more information.
Other benefits include: 1. The Government R&D grant means up to 43.5% rebate on clinical trial spend 2. Telehealth pivot during COVID-19 pandemic - speed and continuity 3. Site Initiation Visit (SIV) and Study Start achieved in 5 - 6 weeks 4. No IND required for clinical trials 5. Full GMP material is not mandated for Phase I clinical trials 6. Established clinical trial environment with world-class Investigators and sites 7. Established healthy subject databases and specialized patient populations 8. Five independent Phase 1 facilities across Australia including hospital-based units for critical care 9. Major hospitals with world-class infrastructures and dedicated Clinical Trial Units with a long track-record in FDA compliant research 10. Seasonal studies: Northern hemisphere Sponsors can conduct their studies year-round by taking advantage of Australia's counter-flu and allergy seasons
Common Joint Problems Athletes Face and How to Overcome Them
Part of being an athlete is pushing yourself, but pushing too hard may result in joint injuries which aren't always something you can overcome on your own. Joint problems can be severe and lead to long-lasting consequences. You must focus on recovery, allow yourself to heal, and get the right treatment to overcome these and other common joint problems for athletes.
Dislocations
A dislocated joint happens when bones are pushed from their sockets and can involve shoulder, hip, knee, elbow, finger, or toe joints. This type of injury is common in contact sports like football and is an emergency that requires immediate joint realignment by a medical professional. Immediate care helps prevent soft tissue damage and lingering pain. Even if you know how to pop your dislocated joint back in place, you may have already sustained damage that will cause long-term discomfort.
Knee Injuries
Complete knee replacement procedures are common among athletes because there are so many ways a knee can be injured. Knee injuries can happen in contact sports as well as from kicking, jumping, and running. Symptoms can range from slight tenderness to an inability to walk. The joint as well as surrounding ligaments and tissues can be damaged, and injuries can have a cumulative effect, creating pain that gets worse over time. For severe injuries, knee replacement is often the only solution, especially if conservative treatments have failed.
Elbow Problems
Problems with the elbow are almost as common as knee issues. Often lumped together under the general term tennis elbow, arm issues can involve joint damage, tendonitis, and other problems from overuse and abuse that lead to pain, nerve damage, and functional impairment. Specific stretches can help relieve some elbow symptoms. When your doctor focuses only on pain relief and not correcting the underlying issues, though, the problem only gets worse. Insist on a diagnosis and treatment for the underlying injury or disease.
Back Pain
A wide range of problems can cause back pain and numbness, tingling, and weakness in the back. Back pain can also travel down the leg or arm and aggravate other medical conditions. Untreated back pain can lead to permanent back problems, such as neck pain or spinal stenosis which is a narrowing of the spinal canal. The first step in treatment is symptom relief through hot or cold compresses, medication, or chiropractic treatment. However, exercises and perhaps even surgery may be necessary to help reduce pain and improve function.
Additionally, problems with the shoulders and hips are common for athletes, especially as you age. While the most common joint problems for athletes vary by sport, every joint concern has a treatment. From compresses to stretching, exercise, and surgery, getting treatment can help you get on with your passion for athletics and maintain top-level performance for as long as possible.
Memoir Details Author’s Journey with Mental Illness and Disability Long Island, NY, May 6, 2021 – As we enter Mental Health Awareness month, one author and artist is sharing her coming-of-age story through the lenses of mental illness, disability and steadfast determination. Long Island native Ruth Poniarski’s first book, Journey of the Self: Memoir of an Artist, published by Charlotte, North Carolina-based Warren Publishing, is a stunning and unflinchingly-honest memoir that challenges the stigmas placed on mental illness. The book has received glowing reviews, including a Kirkus Star review.
It started as a college prank; a friend offered Ruth Poniarski a brownie that, unbeknownst to her, was laced with angel dust. What resulted was a debilitating accident, and the first of many mental breakdowns that spiraled into diagnoses of psychosis, schizophrenia, severe anxiety and bipolar disorder.
For years, Poniarski struggled to cope with her new reality as she undertook a rigorous architectural program, sought out new friends (and the perfect mate) and battled through the depths of mental illness. Her journey led her in all directions as she sought comfort, solace, stability and love.
Now an accomplished artist, Poniarski considers her memoir to be a portrait of sorts.
“This book, like many of my paintings, is about introspection,” she says. “So many of us, particularly when we’re young, seek definition through labels or through what others think of us. It’s so easy to say, ‘I have bipolar disorder, therefore, X,’ or, ‘So and so doesn’t love me the way I love him, therefore, Y.’ But none of that is who we truly are.”
The release of Poniarski’s memoir is particularly timely in light of the coronavirus pandemic and social distancing orders.
“A lot of people are stuck at home right now. This kind of isolation forces a person to examine themselves; what makes them unique beyond who they are to society,” says Poniarski. “That kind of self-reflection allows us to become more available to others. You have to know yourself first.
“So, who am I?” Poniarski laughs. “Well … you’ll just have to read the book!”
For more information about Ruth Poniarski or her book, please visit: ruthponiarski.com.
UK pilots a new program, providing free vaping starter kits to smokers in emergency rooms
BEAMSVILLE, Ontario, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- National Health Services (NHS) is now trialing a program that will provide some smokers admitted to emergency departments free vaping starter kits and instruction on how to use them, in combination with ongoing stop smoking support. The other group of smokers will be provided only a leaflet with information on local stop smoking services. Both groups will be asked one, three and six months later if they still smoke. The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) commends the UK for continuing to make evidence based decisions, while ensuring the lives of smokers remain a priority.
Public Health England (PHE) has been a global leader in vaping research and support for vaping as a harm reduction tool. Despite the global denial of vaping’s efficacy, PHE has never waivered in its guidance to smokers that vaping is a less harmful alternative to smoking. The misperceptions about vaping have prompted PHE to release several statements to reassure the public and smokers. Most notably stating, “There are over 6 million smokers in England and smoking is still the leading cause of premature death and disease particularly among the most disadvantaged in our society. Helping more smokers quit is vital if we’re to achieve the government’s vision of a smoke free society by 2030, and vaping has a role to play. Vaping has helped many thousands of smokers quit to date. But many thousands more could benefit if they were not put off by the persistent, worsening and inaccurate beliefs the public hold about vaping. Smokers should be reassured by today’s authoritative and detailed report which shows that the UK’s e-cigarette regulations are effective, and vaping remains a safer alternative to smoking. I urge smokers to have confidence in our regulatory system and not be put off by alarmist headlines about the risk of vaping which are not backed up by the evidence.”
“The CVA is encouraged by the UK’s progressive policy and initiatives. The science coming out of the UK has been consistent in finding vaping to be far less harmful and effective for quitting smoking. We implore the Government of Canada to follow the UK’s lead and ensure the lives of smokers are the primary consideration when implementing policy,” said Darryl Tempest, Executive Director of the CVA.
FEELING YOUNGER BUFFERS OLDER ADULTS FROM STRESS, PROTECTS AGAINST HEALTH DECLINE
Younger ‘subjective age’ can have functional health benefits, study finds
WASHINGTON — People who feel younger have a greater sense of well-being, better cognitive functioning, less inflammation, lower risk of hospitalization and even live longer than their older-feeling peers. A study published by the American Psychological Association suggests one potential reason for the link between subjective age and health: Feeling younger could help buffer middle-aged and older adults against the damaging effects of stress.
In the study, published in Psychology and Aging, researchers from the German Centre of Gerontology analyzed three years of data from 5,039 participants in the German Ageing Survey, a longitudinal survey of residents of Germany age 40 and older. The survey included questions about the amount of perceived stress in peoples’ lives and their functional health – how much they were limited in daily activities such as walking, dressing and bathing. Participants also indicated their subjective age by answering the question, “How old do you feel?”
The researchers found, on average, participants who reported more stress in their lives experienced a steeper decline in functional health over three years, and that link between stress and functional health decline was stronger for chronologically older participants.
However, subjective age seemed to provide a protective buffer. Among people who felt younger than their chronological age, the link between stress and declines in functional health was weaker. That protective effect was strongest among the oldest participants.
“Generally, we know that functional health declines with advancing age, but we also know that these age-related functional health trajectories are remarkably varied. As a result, some individuals enter old age and very old age with quite good and intact health resources, whereas others experience a pronounced decline in functional health, which might even result in need for long-term care,” said study lead author Markus Wettstein, PhD, who is now at University of Heidelberg. “Our findings support the role of stress as a risk factor for functional health decline, particularly among older individuals, as well as the health-supporting and stress-buffering role of a younger subjective age.”
The results suggest that interventions that aim to help people feel younger could reduce the harm caused by stress and improve health among older adults, according to the researchers – though further study is needed to help determine what kind of interventions would work best. For example, Wettstein said, messaging campaigns to counteract ageism and negative age stereotypes and to promote positive views on aging could help people feel younger. In addition, more general stress-reduction interventions and stress management training could prevent functional health loss among older adults, according to Wettstein.
Finally, more research is needed to figure out the ideal gap between subjective and chronological age, according to Wettstein, as previous research has suggested that it’s helpful to feel younger up to a point but that benefits decrease as the gap between subjective and chronological age increases. “Feeling younger to some extent might be adaptive for functional health outcomes, whereas ‘feeling too young’ might be less adaptive or even maladaptive,” he said.
After over a year in lockdown, many people are finally able to get back to the gym or back outside and start getting back into shape for summer. While it can be hard to be motivated, getting back out and getting into shape can be really great for you. Here are a few tips on how to start working out and meet your fitness goals once again.
Move as Much as You Can
Many people say that a lack of time is one of the things that stops them from getting the amount of exercise that they need. However, there are many simple ways that you can increase your physical activity. For example, you do push-ups and jumping jacks while you are watching television. You can also take a walk around the office while you are on break at work.
Start off Small
You may be anxious to lose weight and get in shape as soon as possible. However, trying to do too much at one time can cause you to get frustrated. Weight gain is not something that happens overnight, so it will take time for you to get in shape. Starting off small can lead to big gains. For example, you can start off by getting 20 minutes of exercise every day and then gradually increase it. By going to a fitness center and setting a plan, you can make sure that you remain motivated for a long time. Starting small will prevent you from overexerting your body.
Good Nutrition
You can go to the gym every day and work out. However, you probably won’t get the desired results if you are not following a healthy diet. Lean poultry, eggs, legumes, nuts, fruits, and vegetables are some of the best foods that you can eat. You will also need to drink plenty of water and monitor the amount of calories you are taking in.
Change up the Routine
You may have one workout that you love doing. However, you will likely get bored with it if you do it all of the time. That is why it is a good idea for you to switch up the exercises that you do. There are several reasons that you should switch up your routine. This will help fight boredom and challenge your body in new ways. If you mix up your workout routine, you can help prevent boredom and also work out muscles that you don’t usually.
Getting active after being inside so long can be hard. However, you can lose weight and get fit by starting off small. You will also need to get your body moving as much as you can. Good nutrition and switching up your routine are also important steps to starting to work out again.
Should a Person with Autism Be Allowed to Become a Professional Boxer and Put His Life at Risk?
Forest, VA, May 6, 2021― It’s a struggle that parents of children with special needs face every day and well into that child’s adulthood: how much decision-making latitude is safe?
NOKI is an empowering story from Douglas Farrago, MD, about a young man with autism who wants to become a professional boxer. Life’s circumstances have dictated the reason for him choosing this path. The lawless world of boxing has its reasons for embracing Noki and his abilities. And they are not good ones. So, the debate wages on: Should Noki be allowed to make the life-altering decision to enter the ring and put his life on the line?
Meanwhile, what few know is that Noki is actually a savant and can imitate and transform himself into any legendary boxer he wants — a plot twist that allows NOKI to pay homage to some of the greatest boxers of all time.
Dr. Farrago draws upon his experiences as an All-American collegiate boxer, a sports medicine trainer for professional boxers in Houston and his decades-long career in medicine during which he worked with autism patients to lend authenticity to his characters and narrative.
“Noki becomes somewhat of a hero to those with special needs in this story, which I think is pretty cool,” he said. “I felt it would be nice if a story showed that those with autism don’t need to be anything but themselves, and maybe it is the rest of us who need to change.”
Ultimately, NOKI is a heartwarming story that will spark real conversations about the limits that society places on people with special needs. Knowingly or not.
Author Douglas Farrago, MD, is board certified in the specialty of Family Practice. Recently retired, he had a large following of autistic and special needs patients in his career. Dr. Farrago is the inventor of the Knee Saver, which is currently in the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Knee Saver and its knock-offs are worn by many major league baseball catchers. He also invented the CryoHelmet, used by athletes for head injuries as well as migraine sufferers.
Dr. Farrago received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Virginia in 1987, his Master of Education degree in Exercise Science from the University of Houston in 1990 and his Medical Degree from the University of Texas at Houston in 1994. His residency training occurred way up north at the Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor. Dr. Farrago still blogs every day on his website Authenticmedicine.com and lectures worldwide about the present crisis in our healthcare system and the effect it has on the doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Farrago has written six books to date, his latest one being NOKI.
16 People, Impacted by Depression, Contribute Their Unforgettable Journeys to Encourage Dialogue
Bayview, Idaho, May 6, 2021 — The voice on the other end of the phone was familiar but shaky. It was Sarah’s friend Carolyn, and she was grappling with suicidal ideation.
“Something had her in its grip and would not let go,” Sarah Zabel explains. “I kept wondering, what’s doing this? How does a normal, happy person come to feel life is so bad that she must kill herself?”
Sarah shares Carolyn’s unforgettable story, along with the emotional journeys of 15 others, in Fighting Chance: How Unexpected Observations and Unintended Outcomes Shape the Science and Treatment of Depression.Included are interviews with more than 20 experts in the fields of neuroscience and psychiatry, plus current research, to give readers a 360-degree look inside the world of mental illness.
Described by Sarah as a “science book for non-scientists,” Fighting Chancetackles key questions that have guided scientific research for decades and delves into the discoveries that have formed the medical world’s understanding of the disorder. Peppered throughout are more than 20 illustrations that help explain the science involved — making it widely accessible.
Sarah adeptly explores topics ranging from the neurobiology of depression to antidepressant medications; stress and inflammation; genetics; suicide; traditional and alternative therapies and treatments; and even gives a nod to Big Data’s efforts to clarify depression’s causes and cures.
Ultimately, Fighting Chance is a tale of human endeavor and ingenuity, of downright weird experiments and serendipitous discoveries, and of people who valiantly battle for answers for themselves and for people they will never know.
Author Sarah Zabel graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with a degree in computer science in 1987 and was commissioned a second lieutenant. She retired from the Air Force in 2018 as a major general and decided to turn her focus to her life-long love of learning and become a science writer. She set herself the task of first coming to understand, and then to explain for other lay-persons, the science behind some of life’s most complex but important human experiences. Inspired, intrigued and frustrated by an enduring friend’s battle with depression, she set that topic as her first task. Sarah does occasional consulting and other activities associated with her time as one of the military’s leaders in cyberspace operations and security, in the provision of communications and other services to a community, and leadership of a diverse workforce.
dentalcorp Files Amended and Restated Preliminary Prospectus for $700 Million Initial Public Offering
/NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES/
TORONTO, May 6, 2021 /CNW/ - dentalcorp Holdings Ltd. ("dentalcorp" or the "Company") announced today that it has filed with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories of Canada, and obtained a receipt for, an amended and restated preliminary base PREP prospectus (the "Amended and Restated Preliminary Prospectus"), which amends and restates the preliminary base PREP prospectus filed by the Company on April 30, 2021 in connection with its initial public offering of subordinate voting shares (the "Offering"). The gross proceeds of the Offering are expected to be approximately $700 million at an offering price between $16.00 and $19.00 per subordinate voting share.
The Offering is being made through a syndicate of underwriters led by CIBC Capital Markets, Jefferies Securities, Inc., BMO Capital Markets and TD Securities Inc. acting as joint active bookrunners, and includes RBC Capital Markets and BofA Securities acting as passive bookrunners, and Canaccord Genuity Corp. and Scotia Capital Inc.
The Amended and Restated Preliminary Prospectus contains important information relating to the Offering and is still subject to completion or amendment. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale or any acceptance of an offer to buy these securities in any province or territory of Canada prior to the time that a receipt for the final prospectus or other authorization is obtained from the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces and territories.
The Amended and Restated Preliminary Prospectus is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. There will not be any sale or any acceptance of an offer to buy the subordinate voting shares until a receipt for the final prospectus has been issued.
No securities regulatory authority has either approved or disapproved of the contents of this news release. The subordinate voting shares have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws. Accordingly, the subordinate voting shares may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or pursuant to exemptions from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities of dentalcorp in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful.
About dentalcorp
dentalcorp is Canada's largest network of dental practices, committed to advancing the overall well-being of Canadians by aiming to deliver the best clinical outcomes and unforgettable experiences. dentalcorp acquires leading dental practices, uniting its network in a common goal: to be Canada's most trusted healthcare network. Leveraging its industry-leading technology, know-how and scale, dentalcorp offers professionals the unique opportunity to retain their clinical autonomy while unlocking their potential for future growth. Learn more dentalcorp.ca.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, which reflects the Company's current expectations regarding future events. Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, failure to complete the Offering and the factors discussed under "Risk Factors" in the Amended and Restated Preliminary Prospectus. Actual results could differ materially from those projected herein. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update such forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required under applicable securities laws.
SOURCE dentalcorp Holdings Ltd.
Hospital visits for substance use increased during the first months of the pandemic
TORONTO, May 06, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- More Canadians required hospital care for harm caused by substances such as alcohol, opioids and stimulants between March and September 2020, compared with the same period in 2019, according to new preliminary data from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI).
There were close to 81,000 hospital stays for harm caused by substances, representing an increase of about 4,000, compared with the previous year.
The findings also reveal the disproportionate burden of the pandemic on certain populations, with men and people from low-income neighbourhoods showing the largest increase in hospital stays for substance-related harm. For example, alcohol-related hospitalizations increased the most in the lowest-income areas (by 14%), while there was almost no change in the highest-income areas.
The data shows an increase in hospitalizations for alcohol but a reduction in emergency department (ED) visits, particularly among younger age groups.
Key findings
Hospitalizations due to alcohol harms increased by 5% (from 42,334 in 2019 to 44,506 in 2020), but ED visits for alcohol consumption decreased by 11% (from 109,784 in 2019 to 98,060 in 2020). The decrease in ED visits was greatest among younger age groups, with visits dropping by 33% among those age 10 to 19, and by 17% among those age 20 to 29. This is in line with other CIHI findings that show ED visits have decreased overall during the pandemic.
ED visits for opioid poisonings increased (by 16%), as did hospitalizations (by 13%).
Quotes
“During the first 7 months of the pandemic, some services that help people cope with substance use, such as harm reduction programs and substance-related therapies, were operating at reduced capacity or were temporarily closed. The reduction in available services could be one factor that influenced the rise in hospital treatment for opioid poisonings.” — Tracy Johnson, Director, Health System Analysis and Emerging Issues, Canadian Institute for Health Information
“Usually, when people come to the ED for alcohol, they do so because of acute alcohol intoxication, which tends to happen at high-risk events such as bars and parties. What we’ve been seeing since the onset of the pandemic is that with bars closed and parties shut down, there has been a decrease in ED visits.” — Catherine Paradis, Senior Research and Policy Analyst, Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction
Additional resources
The COVID-19 Intervention Timeline in Canada provides a high-level timeline of federal, provincial and territorial government interventions to reduce the spread of and improve health outcomes related to COVID-19.
About CIHI The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing essential health information to all Canadians.
CIHI works closely with federal, provincial and territorial partners and stakeholders throughout Canada to gather, package and disseminate information to inform policy, management, care and research, leading to better and more equitable health outcomes for all Canadians.
Health information has become one of society’s most valuable public goods. For more than 25 years, CIHI has set the pace on data privacy, security, accessibility and innovation to improve Canada’s health systems.
