Can Strawberries Slow Down the Aging Process?

New Research Studies by Tufts University, Illinois Institute of Technology and UCLA Describe Strawberries' Role in Longevity

TORONTO, May 20, 2021 /CNW/ - The long sought-after fountain of youth may have been hidden in plain sight all along. Three new studies suggest strawberries may be associated with slowing down aging of the brain, cardiovascular system, and gut microbiome.

KEEPING THE MIND SHARP AS WE AGE

As a person ages, the brain can experience changes that result in impairments in learning, memory, gait, and balance. Sometimes these changes lead to early cognitive decline, disability, or falls among older adults. 

In a recent study¹ by Dr. Barbara Shukitt-Hale and her team at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, 37 healthy older adults participated in a two-arm trial in which they consumed either freeze-dried strawberry powder beverages (24g/day, equivalent to two cups of fresh strawberries) or a calorie-matched control powder for 90 days. Participants completed a battery of balance, gait, and cognitive tests at baseline, midpoint, and conclusion of the trial. 

Participants in the strawberry group performed better on spatial memory tasks and word recognition tests relative to those in the control group. These findings show that the addition of strawberry to the diets of healthy, older adults can improve some aspects of cognition, although more studies with a larger sample size and longer follow-up are needed to confirm this finding. 

"Based on these promising results in healthy individuals, we are now conducting a study among older adults whose health is compromised and we expect to see even greater improvement following strawberry supplementation," said Dr. Shukitt-Hale. 

This research comes on the heels of recent publications² that indicate diets higher in long-term flavonoid intake³, from foods such as strawberries, could contribute to reducing the risk of Alzheimer's Disease and related dementias⁴. 

YOUNG AT HEART

Endothelium is a thin layer of cells that lines every blood vessel in the body. It's responsible for the relaxation and constriction of veins and arteries, playing a major role in blood flow, blood pressure regulation, blood clotting, and wound healing. High total cholesterol and LDL (the "bad" cholesterol) can impair the function of the endothelium, clog arteries, and lead to heart disease, particularly in later years of life. 

A new study⁵ from Dr. Britt Burton Freeman's team of researchers at Illinois Institute of Technology asked middle-aged adults with moderately-high LDL cholesterol to drink beverages two times a day made from freeze-dried strawberry powder (25g in each) or a control powder for four weeks. After completing their first assigned beverage, they switched to the other one (strawberry/control) for an additional four weeks. 

The health of the endothelium, measured by flow-mediated dilation, improved in the strawberry group one hour after drinking the beverage. Systolic blood pressure decreased two hours after drinking the strawberry beverage compared to the control, and this was more pronounced four weeks after the strawberry intervention.  

The findings suggest that strawberries may improve endothelial function and be considered a specific food to include in a heart-healthy diet for aging adults with moderately-high cholesterol.

PROMOTING "LONGEVITY" BUGS IN THE GUT

Strawberries act as prebiotics and may increase gut bacteria associated with lean body weight, health, and longevity, according to a new study out of University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). 

The pilot study⁶ led by Dr. Zhaoping Li and her team at the Center for Human Nutrition considered whether strawberries would alter the gut microbiota. Rich in vitamin C and polyphenols, strawberries have already shown their potential to decrease LDL cholesterol⁷, blood glucose⁸, insulin resistance⁹, and other disease risk factors. The gut microbiota is the next frontier for scientific exploration of strawberries' impact on health. 

Fourteen adults were asked to follow a "beige" diet low in fibre and polyphenols for 8 weeks. Two weeks in, a 13g strawberry powder drink was introduced to the diet twice a day, for four weeks. Then the participants returned to a beige-only diet for the two final weeks without strawberries. 

Drinking strawberry powder beverages twice a day for four weeks was associated with an increase of 24 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), or gut microorganisms. Once the participants returned to a beige-only diet, several of the OTUs reversed back to their pre-strawberry status, suggesting strawberry's role in influencing the gut bacteria. 

Dr. Li shared, "Consumption of strawberry increased the abundance of gut microorganisms that could lead to lean body weight, better health, and longevity." 

Something as simple as making strawberries a regular part of the diet may be the key to delaying aging of both the mind and the body.

About the California Strawberry Commission: 

California strawberries are grown by hundreds of family farmers who produce nearly 90 percent of U.S.-grown strawberries. Harvested year-round along the coast, strawberries are an excellent source of vitamin C, and a serving of 8 strawberries is a source of fibre. California strawberries are a tasty, healthy, convenient snack at any time of the day as a morning energy boost, mid-afternoon snack or healthy evening treat.

The California Strawberry Commission represents more than 400 strawberry farmers, shippers and processors, proudly working together to advance strawberry farming for the future of our land and people. Commission programs create opportunities for success through ground-breaking programs focused on workforce training, strawberry production research, and nutrition research. Through science-based information and education, they deliver the good news about sustainable farming practices that benefit the health of people, farms, and communities. To learn more and connect, visit californiastrawberries.com.

SOURCE California Strawberries Commission

New Canada-Wide Research to Study Mixing-and-Matching COVID-19 vaccines

MONTREAL, May 20, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Government of Canada, through the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF) and the Vaccine Surveillance Reference Group (VSRG), is supporting a new nation-wide study that will look at the effects of ‘mixing-and-matching’ approved COVID-19 vaccines in adults. Approximately $4.8 million is being provided for this study, which will assess the safety and effectiveness of using two different COVID-19 vaccines for the first and second dose. The project will also study the effects of increasing the interval between doses.

“As questions of vaccine interchangeability arise and alternative dosing intervals are being used in public health programs, our objective is to determine: what are the effects of different dosing intervals of the vaccines on immunity and safety?” explains Dr. Joanne Langley, co-Principal Investigator (PI) of this research project. She is also lead investigator of the Canadian Immunization Research Network’s (CIRN) Clinical Trials Network and a Professor in the Departments of Pediatrics and Community Health and Epidemiology at Dalhousie University. “We also want to know what the immune response is if two doses of different COVID-19 vaccine products are used, and how long these responses last.” 

The study, entitled “Mix and match of the second COVID-19 vaccine dose for SAfety and ImmunogeniCity,” or MOSAIC, is expected to enroll 1,300 participants as soon as possible across CIRN clinical trial sites in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia.

“There are currently four COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in Canada, three of which are being distributed by public health programs,” says co-PI Dr. Manish Sadarangani, an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia and Director at the Vaccine Evaluation Center at BC Children’s Hospital. “As other vaccines become available, they will be added to the study to address public health knowledge gaps. Study data will be communicated regularly to public health officials to help inform decision making for the ongoing vaccine rollout in Canada.”

“Soon after vaccine programs began, manufacturing interruptions resulted in delayed vaccine shipments to various countries, including Canada,” states Dr. Scott Halperin, co-Chair of the VSRG and Principal Investigator of CIRN. “This led some provinces to change their vaccine delivery strategies, including following the National Advisory Committee on Immunization’s (NACI) approved guidelines to allow second-dose immunizations to occur up to four months after the first dose, rather than the 21- to 28-day period recommended by manufacturers. This study will give public health officials more information about how to manage their vaccine roll-out strategies going forward.”

“Studies on mixed COVID-19 vaccine schedules are underway in other countries, including the United Kingdom. In addition to international data, this Canadian study will help inform Canada's public health recommendations on the potential to use different combinations of vaccines for the first and second dose, as well as different dosing intervals,” says Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer.

“There has never been a more critical time to collect real-time evidence to inform practice, policy, and decision making,” says Dr. Alice Aiken, Vice President Research and Innovation at Dalhousie University. “We are very proud of Dr. Joanne Langley, and the important work she is doing to ensure we are using vaccines the most effective way possible, and to help stop the spread of COVID-19.”

If you are 18 years or older, in good health, and would like to participate in the study, please visit www.cirnetwork.ca/mosaic for more information.

About the Canadian Immunization Research Network

The Canadian Immunization Research Network (CIRN) is a national network of key vaccine researchers who develop and test methodologies related to the evaluation of vaccines as they pertain to safety, immunogenicity and effectiveness, and program implementation and evaluation. CIRN’s objective is to further strengthen Canada’s research capacity, evidence base and expertise in the field of immunization and vaccines for vaccine-preventable diseases. A ‘network or networks’, CIRN plays a pivotal role in mentoring early-career researchers, recruiting new investigators, providing opportunities for trainees, and delivering meaningful engagement of stakeholders at all research stages.

CIRN is made up of the following 8 networks: the Canadian National Vaccine Safety Network (CANVAS); the Clinical Trials Network (CTN); the Serious Outcomes Surveillance Network (SOS); the Special Immunization Clinic Network (SIC); the Provincial Collaborative Network (PCN); the Social Sciences and Humanities Network (SSHN); the Modeling and Economics Research Network (ModERN); and the Reference Laboratory Network (RLN).

About Dalhousie University

Dalhousie University is Atlantic Canada’s leading research-intensive university. Located in the heart of Halifax, Nova Scotia, with an Agricultural Campus in Truro/Bible Hill, Dalhousie is a truly national and international university, with more than half of the university’s 20,000-plus students coming from outside the province. Dal’s 6,000 faculty and staff foster a diverse, purpose-driven community, one that spans 13 faculties and conducts more than $181 million in research annually. Part of a cluster identified as one of the world’s top international centres in ocean research, the university proudly celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2018. 

About the Vaccine Surveillance Reference Group

The Vaccine Surveillance Reference Group (VSRG) supports the monitoring of the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in Canada. It is a consortium of Canadian organizations - the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Canadian Research Immunization Network (CIRN), the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), and the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF) – working collaboratively to pool expertise on vaccine surveillance. The VSRG reports to PHAC and is supported by the CITF Secretariat. It is co-chaired by the leaders of NACI and CIRN. Among its responsibilities, the VSRG, through the CITF Executive Committee, makes recommendations to PHAC on funding research teams that can address important aspects of the immune response, safety, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines with public health relevance and with attention to all priority groups. For more information visit: covid19immunitytaskforce.ca/vaccine-surveillance-reference-group-vsrg/

About the COVID Immunity Task Force (CITF)

In late April 2020, the Government of Canada established the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force with a two-year mandate. The Task Force is overseen by a Leadership Group of volunteers that includes leading Canadian scientists and experts from universities and healthcare facilities across Canada who are focused on understanding the nature of immunity arising from the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. To that end, the CITF is supporting numerous studies to determine the extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Canada (in the general population as well as in specific communities and priority populations), understand the nature of immunity following infection, develop improved antibody testing methods, and help monitor the effectiveness and safety of vaccines as they are rolled out across Canada. The Task Force and its Secretariat accordingly work closely with a range of partners, including governments, public health agencies, institutions, health organizations, research teams, other task forces, and engages communities and stakeholders. Most recently, the Task Force has been asked to support vaccine surveillance, effectiveness and safety as part of its overall objective to generate data and ideas that inform interventions aimed at slowing – and ultimately stopping – the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Canada. For more information visit: www.covid19immunitytaskforce.ca

As thousands of children ages 12-15 receive COVID-19 vaccine, St. Jude pediatric virologist encourages more to get the shot

Director of St. Jude Global Infectious Disease Dr. Caniza says “vaccinating children is a key component to reaching herd immunity”

MEMPHIS, TENN. – As nearly a million children have received the COVID-19 vaccine in just the first week of authorization, Miguela Caniza, MD MPH, Director of the St. Jude Global Infectious Diseases Program at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital today says “the numbers are a good sign and encouraged more parents get their children vaccinated as soon as possible”:  
 

“I am encouraged by the hundreds of thousands of children 12 to 15 who have already received the COVID-19 vaccine in just the first week of authorization,” said Dr. Caniza.  “Vaccinating children for COVID-19 is a key component to reaching the two-thirds threshold necessary to obtain herd immunity and stop the pandemic from continuing to spread and mutate. This is a safe and effective vaccine, and I encourage more parents to take their children to get the vaccine as soon as possible.”

When the coronavirus first emerged, Dr. Caniza urged her colleagues of infectious disease leaders from 24 countries who were gathering at St. Jude to set aside their agendas and immediately focus on the virus. Those discussions led to the establishment of a registry tracking COVID-19 in childhood cancer patients around the world. She and her colleagues were recently featured in the Commercial Appeal for their initial and continuing efforts to track the emergency of the novel coronavirus in children. 

Dr. Caniza outlines three essential reasons why it is critical to achieve the ability to immunize children, even if most of the poor outcomes and deaths from COVID-19 have been seen in older adults:

1. Children and teenagers can also become infected and some of them with serious disease. We are still learning about this infection and their consequences including those long term called the post-COVID conditions including long-COVID, multiorgan effects of COVID, and the effect of COVID treatment or hospitalization (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/long-term-effects.html#:~:text=Multiorgan%20effects%20can%20affect%20most,(MIS)%20and%20autoimmune%20conditions )
2. Children and teenagers are highly mobiles attending schools, sports, and intersecting more often with various age groups including with their caretakers and older family members.
3. Because of the high percent of children and teenagers being asymptomatic or with minimal symptoms, most likely they will be effectively spreading during a very contagious period, and even more so, if they don’t follow the standard precautions (distancing, using masks and practicing hand hygiene).

Vertex monopoly of the cystic fibrosis space signaled by another label expansion, says GlobalData

Vertex, the current owner of the entire cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulators’ market share, is expected to remain the market leader over the next decade, says GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company.

Mandana Emamzadeh, PhD, Healthcare Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “Many pipeline products have emerged in the early stage of development and Vertex will need to protect its position as market leader in the future. However, the company’s current strategy of usurping nearly all market share prior to launch of any competitors will be a viable strategy to remain the dominant player for the foreseeable future.”

In late April, the European Commission (EC) approved a label expansion for Vertex Pharmaceuticals' Kaftrio for the treatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) in all patients aged 12 years and older who are heterozygous for the F508del CFTR mutation (F), regardless of the other mutation type - either gating (G) or residual function (RF) mutations. 

Emamzadeh continued: “Key opinion leaders (KOLs) interviewed by GlobalData asserted that Kaftrio is the most effective CFTR modulator, and the drug is recommended to nearly all patients as soon as they are eligible. KOLs further anticipated that the eligibility of Kaftrio will expand to more mutations across all ages gradually.” 

While Kaftrio is taking over the CF market, a reasonable concern among developers is whether there is room for more CFTR modulators. 

Emamzadeh added: “KOLs believe that the CF community supports more options for CFTR modulators in case patients develop intolerances, allergies or adverse events. In addition, further competition can drive down the drug price and therefore the opportunity remains for developers.

“There are a couple of challenges that developers should expect to face by coming to the CF market. Kaftrio has established a reputation and gained a firm position in the treatment paradigm. As a result, stable patients are unlikely to risk their condition getting worse by stopping a medication to which they are responsive. Additionally, it is hard to recruit patients for new studies in this orphan disease, when the majority of the population are already eligible for marketed CFTR modulators.” 

The current CFTR modulators in early stage development include Phase I/II trial for Translate Bio’s MRT-5005, and Phase II trials for Eloxx Pharmaceuticals’ ELX-02, AbbVie’s ABBV-3067 alone and in combination with galicaftor (ABBV-2222), Yumanity Therapeutics’ dirocaftor (PTI-808) + nesolicaftor (PTI-428) + posenacaftor (PTI-801), Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ deutivacaftor (VX-561), and VX-121 + tezacaftor + deutivacaftor (VX-561). 

ENDS

Canadian researchers studying effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy

MONTREAL, May 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Government of Canada, through its COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF) and Vaccine Surveillance Reference Group (VSRG), is investing approximately $1.3 million for two Canadian research teams to further evaluate vaccine safety and effectiveness in pregnant people. While pregnant or breastfeeding individuals were excluded from the initial mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 clinical trials, recent real-world evidence is showing that mRNA COVID-19 vaccines are safe during pregnancy. Additional research and surveillance of COVID-19 vaccination among pregnant and lactating populations is needed. Results will be communicated regularly to public health officials to help inform decision making for ongoing COVID-19 vaccine administration programs in Canada. Individuals from anywhere in Canada who are currently pregnant or breastfeeding are invited to register to take part in the COVERED vaccine study. Participants do not have to have already received a COVID-19 vaccine, nor do they need to intend to receive the vaccine. To participate in the registry and survey, visit https://covered.med.ubc.ca/

Pan-Canadian study

Researchers in British Columbia are launching a COVID-19 vaccine registry for pregnant and breastfeeding people across Canada called COVERED.

“We are asking pregnant and breastfeeding individuals in all 10 provinces and three territories to sign-up for the registry, after which they will be invited to fill out a survey,” says study lead researcher Dr. Deborah Money, Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of British Columbia. “Through this registry and survey, we will monitor the safety of the various vaccines for those who are pregnant and breastfeeding. We will also study whether the vaccines are more effective – or less so – in this group. It is important that these data become available to pregnant and breastfeeding individuals so that they are able to make an informed choice about getting a COVID-19 vaccine.”

This project is being conducted in partnership with vaccine surveillance efforts across Canada, including the Canadian Vaccine Safety Network (CANVAS), a national platform which assesses vaccine safety during the implementation of vaccine campaigns across Canada.

Ontario study

This second study will link information collected from the Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) Ontario Registry, which collects data from every baby born in Ontario, with the province’s vaccination registry from the Ontario Ministry of Health (COVaxON).

“We will be monitoring the health of mothers and their babies, comparing individuals who received a COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy, or just before, with those who did not,” explains study lead researcher Dr. Deshayne Fell, Scientist at the CHEO Research Institute and Associate Professor at the University of Ottawa. “We will also assess the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy by looking at the number of people who have been infected by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.”

“Although early evidence to date on COVID-19 vaccination in pregnant populations has not identified any safety concerns, it is critically important to monitor the health of these individuals and their babies following COVID-19 vaccination,” says Dr. Scott Halperin, Co-Chair of the VSRG and Principal Investigator of the Canadian Research Immunization Network (CIRN). “The findings from this study will help to inform pregnant individuals, their care providers and public health policy-makers.”

About University of British Columbia
The University of British Columbia is a global centre for research and teaching, consistently ranked among the top 20 public universities in the world. Since 1915, UBC’s entrepreneurial spirit has embraced innovation and challenged the status quo. UBC encourages its students, staff and faculty to challenge convention, lead discovery and explore new ways of learning. At UBC, bold thinking is given a place to develop into ideas that can change the world.

About BORN Ontario
The Better Outcomes Registry & Network (BORN) Ontario is the province’s pregnancy, birth and childhood registry and network. By collecting, interpreting, sharing and rigorously protecting critical data about every birth in the province, BORN Ontario makes a positive and lasting contribution to the health of mothers, newborns, children and the citizens of Ontario. BORN Ontario is a provincial program of CHEO, a pediatric health and research centre based in Ottawa. www.bornontario.ca

About the Vaccine Surveillance Reference Group
The Vaccine Surveillance Reference Group (VSRG) supports the monitoring of the safety and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in Canada. It is a consortium of Canadian organizations - the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the Canadian Research Immunization Network (CIRN), the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI), and the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force (CITF) – working collaboratively to pool expertise on vaccine surveillance. The VSRG reports to PHAC and is supported by the CITF Secretariat. It is co-chaired by the leaders of NACI and CIRN. Among its responsibilities, the VSRG, through the CITF Executive Committee, makes recommendations to PHAC on funding research teams that can address important aspects of the immune response, safety, and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines with public health relevance and with attention to all priority groups. For more information visit: covid19immunitytaskforce.ca/vaccine-surveillance-reference-group-vsrg/

About the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force
The Government of Canada established the COVID-19 Immunity Task Force in late April 2020. The Task Force is overseen by a Leadership Group of volunteers that includes leading Canadian scientists and experts from universities and healthcare facilities across Canada who are focused on understanding the nature of immunity arising from the novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19. To that end, the CITF is supporting numerous studies to determine the extent of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Canada (in the general population as well as in specific communities and priority populations), understand the nature of immunity following infection, develop improved antibody testing methods, and help monitor the effectiveness and safety of vaccines as they are rolled out across Canada. The Task Force and its Secretariat work closely with a range of partners, including governments, public health agencies, institutions, health organizations, research teams, other task forces, and engages communities and stakeholders. Most recently, the Task Force has been asked to support vaccine surveillance, effectiveness and safety as part of its overall objective to generate data and ideas that inform interventions aimed at slowing—and ultimately stopping—the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Canada. For more information visit: www.covid19immunitytaskforce.ca

Embrace Your Imperfections and Embark Upon a Healing Journey with God as Your Guide

Seattle, WA, May 20, 2021 — Crippling fear permeated every aspect of Christine Soule’s life from an early age and followed her into adulthood. Her past of brokenness — abuse, dysfunction, addiction and other trauma — could have very well defined her future. But once she turned to God and let Him lead the way, she found a path toward a brighter future. 

 “The key is discovering who you are in Christ — your true identify. And that’s especially significant if you, like me, have a past of brokenness,” Soule writes in her inspirational story, Broken and Beautiful. “So much of how we see ourselves revolves around the demands our society places on us, insisting we live up to its expectations. Don’t listen to the world. Listen to God.”

Soule’s life was a jumbled pile of broken pieces. Her father was married seven times; her mother four times. Between her parents’ divorce when she was 5 years old and the day she allowed the power and presence of God into her heart, she watched her sister have an affair with her adoptive father; met 15 siblings she never knew at her biological father’s funeral; turned to drugs and alcohol; got pregnant at 17; had twins less than two years later; and became a victim of human trafficking. She had to break the cycle for the sake of her children. With nowhere else to turn, she dropped to her knees and prayed. And that’s when everything changed.

Broken and Beautiful is Soule’s remarkable story of how God took the pieces of her broken, astonishingly dysfunctional life and transformed it all into a breathtaking mosaic of joy and purpose.

“The places where you feel hopeless are exactly what He wants to redeem and fill with beauty, dignity and strength. He has a plan for your pain. A wonderful intention for your failures. A purpose for your hardest, darkest stories,” Soule writes.

Told with honesty and surprising touches of humor, Soule shares her journey from drug-addicted stripper to exuberant Jesus lover with a passion for helping others embrace God’s love. Broken and Beautiful is a raw, authentic story of hope, from a place of experience.

Author Christine Soule lives with the love of her life, Mitch Soule, in Seattle. They have five kids and three wonderful grandchildren. She is the founder and CEO of Providence Heights (www.providenceheights.org), a nonprofit created to house women and children in need and to provide counseling, education and jobs.

For more information, please visit www.christinesoule.com.

Broken and Beautiful: Let God Turn Your Mess into a Masterpiece 

ISBN-13: 979-8662957619

Available from Amazon.com (Broken and Beautiful), providenceheights.org and christinesoule.com

Infoway and Intrahealth Announce Rollout of PrescribeIT® in New Brunswick

TORONTO, May 19, 2021 /CNW/ - Canada Health Infoway (Infoway) and Intrahealth Canada Limited (Intrahealth) are pleased to announce that prescribers in New Brunswick will now have access to e-prescribing through Intrahealth's electronic medical record solution, Profile EMR.

Profile EMR is now conformed with PrescribeIT^®, Infoway's national e-prescribing service that enables prescribers and pharmacists to electronically create, receive, renew and cancel prescriptions, while improving overall patient care through secure clinician messaging. Intrahealth is now beginning deployments to all interested prescribers in New Brunswick.

Intrahealth, which is based in Vancouver, serves primary care markets in New Brunswick and British Columbia, as well as community health clinics in Ontario. In New Brunswick, 232 clinics and 420 prescribers use Intrahealth's Profile EMR.

"We are very excited to begin this rollout of PrescribeIT^® to users of our Profile EMR in New Brunswick," said Silvio Labriola, General Manager, Intrahealth. "Initial deployments in the province have been very successful, including the first French language clinic, Clinique Medicale Centre-Ville in Bathurst, and we look forward to making it widely available in June."

"I encourage prescribers who use the Profile EMR to take advantage of this opportunity to enable the PrescribeIT^® service," said Dr. Daniel Fletcher, family physician in Harvey Station, NB. "It's easy to use, has improved the efficiency of my workflows and has reduced the amount of paper generated with faxed prescriptions. It's also a great fit for prescribers who are offering virtual care to their patients."

"PrescribeIT^® integrated seamlessly into our pharmacy management system, and it has improved medication safety and includes enhanced communication with prescribers through its secure messaging feature," said Alison Smith, pharmacy manager at Sobeys Pharmacy in Bathurst, NB. 

"It's great news that Intrahealth is beginning the rollout of PrescribeIT^® to its Profile EMR users across New Brunswick," said Jamie Bruce, Executive Vice President, Infoway. "We congratulate Intrahealth on this terrific progress and we look forward to a long and rewarding partnership that will benefit so many Canadians, prescribers and pharmacists."

In addition to New Brunswick, PrescribeIT^® is also available in Alberta, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador, and Infoway has signed agreements with all other provinces and territories. As of March 31, 2021, more than 6,000 prescribers and close to 5,000 pharmacies had enrolled in the service, and 17 EMR and eight PMS vendors had signed on to offer PrescribeIT^®, giving millions of Canadians access to e-prescribing.

About Intrahealth Canada Limited

Incorporated in 2005, Intrahealth Canada provides medical software solutions to general practitioner clinics and public health authorities. Privately owned and founded by two New Zealand medical doctors, the company offers robust, secure and scalable solutions via innovative technology that keeps pace with today's mobile lifestyles. The platform functions across multiple community-based practice types — primary care, specialist physician, community care, home care, residential care, and more. Our solutions meet the needs of front-line professionals by delivering core information to coordinating hubs, implementing programs more rapidly, and reducing the compliance burden on physicians and other clinicians. We help our customers capture structured data that holds context, meaning, and can be analyzed and processed automatically. Intrahealth is a wholly owned subsidiary of WELL Health Technologies Corp. (TSX: WELL).  Visit http://www.intrahealth.com

About Canada Health Infoway

Infoway helps to improve the health of Canadians by working with partners to accelerate the development, adoption and effective use of digital health across Canada. Through our investments, we help deliver better quality and access to care and more efficient delivery of health services for patients and clinicians. Infoway is an independent, not-for-profit organization funded by the federal government. Visit www.infoway-inforoute.ca.

About PrescribeIT^® 

Canada Health Infoway is working with Health Canada, the provinces and territories, and industry stakeholders to develop, operate and maintain the national e-prescribing service known as PrescribeIT^®. PrescribeIT^® will serve all Canadians, pharmacies and prescribers and provide safer and more effective medication management by enabling prescribers to transmit a prescription electronically between a prescriber's electronic medical record (EMR) and the pharmacy management system (PMS) of a patient's pharmacy of choice. PrescribeIT^® will protect Canadians' personal health information from being sold or used for commercial activities. Visit www.PrescribeIT.ca.

5 Reasons to Get Dad Outdoors More This Father’s Day

The Fishing Caddy, the world’s first all-in-one fishing system, helps make it more enjoyable for dads to enjoy the outdoors

ORLANDO, Florida – (May 19, 2021) – If asked, most dads would say they would love to spend more time outdoors. Yet there are many things that keep them from being able to. Whether it’s the time they are spending at work, things that have to be done around the house, or life that gets in the way, they often don’t get as much time enjoying the great outdoors as they would like to. This Father’s Day, make it a point to help Dad get more time outside. Doing so comes with a host of benefits.

“One of the great things about The Fishing Caddy is that it helps make getting outside to fish easier,” explains Joe Pippins, creator and founder of The Fishing Caddy. “Whatever we can do to help people get outside and enjoy being in nature, the better off everyone will be. There are a lot of benefits to spending time in nature.”

Due to the pandemic, many people are changing how they entertain, and the types of activities they get involved in. Fishing makes for a good option, because it’s affordable and helps you naturally practice social distancing. By getting dads outside more this Father’s Day and all summer long, they will experience numerous benefits. There are many research studies that demonstrate the variety of benefits that people obtain from spending time in nature, even if it’s for short amounts of time.

Here are five reasons to get Dad outdoors more this summer:

1. Reduce stress. A study published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology reports that there is growing evidence that exposure to natural environments can be associated with mental health benefits. It also reports that spending time outdoors can help with reducing stress and combating depression and anxiety.
2. Boost memory and cognition. In another study in the same journal, researchers conducted an experiment with over 500 people and found that spending time out in nature improved cognitive performance. Essentially, spending time outdoors helps to clear the mind and help people think better.
3. Increase happiness. When dad gets to spend more time outdoors he will end up feeling happier. Research shows that spending time outside improves mood, which is something the whole family can benefit from.
4. Improve health. A study published in the Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that time spent outdoors increases physical activity, which helps to reduce the risk of chronic health conditions. By spending some time out in nature, families can help Dad to get healthier.
5. Change it up. Over the last year, people have spent far too much time indoors. The pandemic had people changing their routines and often staying indoors. It’s time to get Dad outside for a while. A change of scenery will do everyone good.

“Just about anyone who spends time outdoors and especially fishing can attest to the fact that it helps you in many ways,” added Pippins. “Fishing gives you a way to relax, connect with nature, reduce stress, and just enjoy the moment. Our goal with The Fishing Caddy is to help families make it easier to get Dad outside this Father’s Day. He will thank you!”

Often times, people don’t know what to buy dad for Father’s Day. Rather than spend time trying to figure it out and running around getting items in different stores, The Fishing Caddy makes gift giving simple. It comes with everything dad needs to get fishing, including: 

• 1 padded swivel seat (place to sit comfortably) 
• 2 built-in rod holders (place to put his rods safely)) 
• 2 ultra bright LED lights for tying knots and revisiting at night
• 1 XL Beverage Holder 

It’s everything dad will need to relax, catch fish, and enjoy a peaceful day of family time with his loved ones. Mothers, wives and female family members are the catalyst to finding unique gifts that bring families together, and that’s what will happen when you get him The Fishing Caddy.

Those looking for a great Father’s Day activity this year may want to consider planning a special day outdoors for Dad. Pack a picnic lunch and find a spot near a lake or on a boat, where Dad can enjoy the time outdoors. Surprise him with The Fishing Caddy to top the experience off. This will motivate him to get outside more all summer long. The Fishing Caddy makes a great gift because it will help ensure that fishing trips are less stressful and will be enjoyed more because it’s been designed for organization and to improve the anglers’ experience.

The Fishing Caddy is an all-in-one system that people can easily take with them to go fishing. The system has been designed to help ensure that fishing trips are stress-free, simple, and easy to do. This increases the enjoyment level and makes people want to go more often. The product can be found online, as well as in over 3,800 locations of its newest partners, Walmart and Do It Best hardware stores. It was voted Top Made in the USA Outdoor Gift of 2017, beating out larger competition due to its novelty and modern design. The Fishing Caddy also comes with a two-year warranty.

The Fishing Caddy, which ranges in price from $69.95 to $129, was expertly designed for all types of fishing, and can be used by anglers of all ages. The caddy also comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee. The organization system gives people everything they need for a great fishing experience. The fishing system has been designed to help make fishing more enjoyable, and give people more time to fish, rather than track down and organize their tackle and supplies. To see a video of The Fishing Caddy benefits, visit: https://youtu.be/PgphtihKGsI.

The Fishing Caddy is trusted by many large retailers and consistently earns a 5-star review from those who have tried it out. It can be found online, as well as at  Walmart, Do it Best, Ace Hardware, Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, and Scheels locations, and at the company website: https://thefishingcaddy.com.

About The Fishing Caddy

The Fishing Caddy is the world’s first all-in-one fishing system. Created by Joe Pippins, the caddy offers anglers an easy and simplified way to head out fishing. Features on the caddy include two rod holders, a cup holder, live well for storing fish, tackle box, and a padded seat option. Pippins also offers business consulting services for those who would like guidance on product launches and business development. For more information, visit the site at: https://thefishingcaddy.com.

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Memoir Details Author’s Journey with Mental Illness and Disability
 
Long Island, NY, May 19, 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.
 
Journey of the Self: Memoir of an Artist
222 pages/Paperback/$15.95
ISBN: 978-1734707557
Available at warrenpublishing.net, amazon.com, barnesandnoble.com or wherever books are sold.

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New Brunswick introduces new legislation on vaping

Beamsville, ON, May 19, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Legislation was tabled this week by Health Minister Dorothy Shephard that will create a registry of vape businesses and require retailers to obtain a license to sell vape products. The Canadian Vaping Association (CVA) supports this legislation and views the registration process as a positive step to protect youth.

The CVA has encouraged all governments to implement such policy to aid in developing more consistent and rigorous enforcement. By licensing retailers, New Brunswick is creating a better pathway to enforcement. Through the implementation of this program, irresponsible vendors can now be more easily penalized through fines and license suspension. Licensing also provides a pathway to revoke the license of repeat offenders, baring them from selling vape products.

“Youth vaping prevention is best addressed through consistent enforcement and controlled access points. Licensing requirements limit the number of channels available to youth and are a step in the right direction for accountable enforcement. For this licensing program to be effective the government must implement reporting channels and regular inspections,” said Darryl Tempest, Executive Director of the CVA.

Shephard also stated that New Brunswick can expect to see future bills restricting flavours and increasing the minimum age to purchase vape products to 21. Should New Brunswick move forward with plans to restrict flavoured vapes, implementation must be carefully considered.

Not only will a total ban on flavoured vapes cause an increase in combustible tobacco use, but it will also result in approximately 40 small businesses closing, 250 jobs lost, and dozens of broken lease agreements. As a result, completely banning flavours will have serious consequences on both public health and the economy. Aside from the direct consequences of this policy, New Brunswick can expect illicit sellers to fill the void left by the ban. Historically, prohibition has always led to a strong black market. Illicit sellers will introduce potentially dangerous products to the province with no oversight or age verification.

However, restricting flavoured products to age-restricted specialty vape stores would eliminate all legal access points for youth. This action in combination with New Brunswick’s new licensing requirement creates a straightforward pathway to enforcement and youth protection.

New Brunswick has taken a strong step to protect youth with its registration program. Future legislation on flavours should seek to continue to protect youth while balancing the needs of adult smokers that have chosen vaping to reduce their harm.