All posts by imreal

Technology: Electronics

Veego Gives Eyes to ISPs, Enabling Automatic Detection and Repair of Smart Home Problems

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Veego.io


TEL AVIV, Israel (PRWEB)

Veego, an Israel-based startup bringing artificial intelligence and other advanced technologies to perfect the customer experience in the smart home, today announced a breakthrough capability that continuously monitors the behavior of devices and services, and autonomously detects, analyzes and resolves malfunctions as they occur.

Although the smart home market is growing rapidly, it is in disarray. Unlike any other market, home users independently buy and install countless types of smart devices and consume a wide variety of services, mainly through their internet routers. Today, the typical home contains a dozen smart devices. According to IDC Worldwide Quarterly Smart Home Device Tracker, in only three years, that number is expected to double.

Hundreds of millions of smart-home users already expect unhindered 24/7 access to the internet for myriad services that include movie and television streaming, interactive gaming and web browsing from tablets and smartphones. Whenever any smart device—thermostat, speaker, security camera, etc.—or service ceases to function properly, users tend to hold their ISPs responsible and turn to them for support.

According to a study by Parks Associates titled 360 View: Supporting the Connected Consumer, “Unresolved technical problems with smart home devices have risen 240% in 3 Years. 79% of consumers have self-installed a smart home device, and most do not turn to integrators for assistance when there is a technical problem.”

Though blind as to what devices are present in the home and what services they are consuming, ISPs are tasked with supporting millions of home users. Because smart-home malfunctions can be the result of complex factors within and even outside the home domain— in the service cloud, for example—ISPs are unable to address many types of anomalies. Often, when customers report problems to the ISP support center, technical support staff have no way of seeing them, let alone reproducing, analyzing and resolving them.

“Technical support costs the ISPs a fortune in human resources, wasted time, unnecessary truck rolls and unwarranted hardware replacements,” stated Veego CEO, Amir Kotler. “Smart-home customers become quite frustrated with the time, effort and mistakes involved in support calls. The customer experience degrades, leading to churn and damage to the ISP’s reputation.”

Veego perfects the customer experience while reducing the time and expense involved in supporting smart homes.

The router-resident Veego Agent enables ISPs to “see” what devices are present in the home and what services they are consuming at any moment. The Agent automatically detects behavior aberrations and actual problems—often before the user experiences them. The Veego Cloud hosts a giant and growing Malfunction Knowledgebase that automatically analyzes and pinpoints the root cause of problems—within and beyond the smart home. It enables the Agent to resolve many problems on the spot or it supplies the ISP support center with all the information and analysis necessary to drastically shorten support calls and resolve problems promptly and accurately, eliminating wasteful truck rolls and hardware replacements.

“We are on a mission to establish order in the smart-home market for ISPs and their customers,” declared Kotler. “By applying the power of AI and other advanced technologies to this untamed market, we are able to assure a vastly improved smart-home experience for millions of people along with drastic cost reductions for the ISPs who support them.”

Tweet this: @Veego gives eyes to ISPs – https://www.veego.io/category/news/

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About Veego

Veego puts an end to malfunctions in the smart home, autonomously discovering devices and services, and resolving problems before customers experience them. The company’s software-only solution provides smart-home service providers with visibility into the customer experience. Via its unique Malfunction Knowledgebase, Veego automatically detects, analyzes and resolves problems, perfecting the customer experience. With Veego, support calls are deflected and shortened, truck rolls are reduced, and unnecessary hardware replacements are eliminated. To learn more, please visit http://www.veego.io.

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Industry: Healthcare

Anelto Health has announced its “Partnership for Better Outcomes” by releasing its new “No-Risk RPM Platform” for Remote Patient Monitoring

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“We have removed all the barriers associated with organizations that are unfamiliar with buying or leasing equipment”, said David Fronk, SVP of Business Development and Sales at Anelto Health


THE COLONY, Texas (PRWEB)

Anelto Health, has launched its new “No-Risk RPM Platform for Remote Patient Monitoring. The platform can integrate with software systems for Chronic Care Management, CCM, Care Management, CM, or Transitional Care Management, TCM. In conjunction with TCM, CCM or Care Management, the 2-way dynamic voice hub pairs with vital sign monitors and activity trackers to improve the health of the senior and to prevent unnecessary ER visits and hospitalizations. It has built in alerts and dynamic, intuitive patient reactive questionnaires and ability to integrate with a 24/7 clinical call center. Anelto’s No-Risk RPM Platform eliminates the risk associated with owning and deploying hardware-based systems.

“We have removed all the barriers associated with organizations that are unfamiliar with buying or leasing equipment”, said David Fronk, SVP of Business Development and Sales at Anelto Health. “Hospitals and companies that want to implement an RPM solution for better care and outcomes for their patients can now move forward with confidence. If they can’t bill for the equipment, by using the existing CPT 99454 for RPM, there is no monthly equipment charge from Anelto. Anelto Health is determined to make sure our equipment does what it was designed to do, and that is to improve communication with the patient, engage them in their health and get them to take their vital signs daily so the data and the analytics can help improve the patient’s life by improving their chronic diseases.”

RPM is a new efficient way of caring for seniors outside of their doctor’s office that can reduce the cost associated with caring for this subset of the population while dramatically improving clinical outcomes and their quality of life. This allows them to “age in place”, which over 80% of seniors prefer. We believe with CPT code 99454, that the economic benefits for CCM companies or hospitals make this a win-win for the patient and those providing services to the patient.

Additional benefits of Anelto Health’s Remote Patient Monitoring System include:


  • Easy to set up and use.

  • Always on with a 3-day emergency battery pack for times when power is out.

  • Comes with a friends and family app to keep up with your loved one. Know how they are doing on their chronic disease care, activity and allows for communication and encouragement.

  • Fun activities and communications to keep the senior engaged and help with depression from loneliness

  • Programmable call functionality to allow a 24/7 call center integration or their doctor or his/her care team to call into the hub relieving the stress of answering the phone of an unknown caller.


To make an appointment for a meeting at the upcoming HIMSS Health 2.0 Conference in Santa Clara, CA on 9/16 – 9/18/2019 or to know more about Anelto Health, it’s Remote Patient Monitoring Platform, request a white paper or clinical paper: Visit its website at https://www.aneltohealth.com and also view the patient interactive video on Anelto Health’s unique platform.

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Business: Insurance

Dental Care Alliance’s Mike Cole Honored with NADP Leadership Award

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“Mike Cole is a determined leader, who has served DCA’s affiliated practices and patients for more than 20 years,” commented James Nick, DCA Chief Revenue Officer. “His contributions to the industry and ability to foster meaningful relationships with insurance plans is second to none.”


SARASOTA, Fla. (PRWEB)

Encouraging a spirit of partnership and collaboration between plans and Dental Service Organizations (DSOs) has earned Michael Cole, Vice President of Insurance Plan Management for Dental Care Alliance, the 2019 Don Mayes Leadership Award, presented today by the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP) at their annual conference, CONVERGE 2019, in Orlando. This award commends exemplary service by volunteer group chairs and vice chairs with NADP association leadership spanning three or more years.

Volunteer Service

As Vice Chair of the NADP Operations WorkGroup, Cole serves as an important communications link between the WorkGroup and the DSO Advisory Council on multiple projects, including provider directory validation and credentialing.

Truly a leader by example, Cole actively participated in the development of the Provider Directory Validation process; and, his company, Dental Care Alliance, was one of the first DSOs to participate in the program.

In 2014, Mike came prepared to a face-to-face meeting of the Operations WorkGroup focused on streamlining credentialing. His notebooks, filled with credentialing requirements from multiple plans, helped to facilitate the discussion. As a result, the Operations WorkGroup developed a one-page credentialing form for member use, that is available today on the NADP website.

In his eight years as an NADP Member, Cole has also developed numerous CONVERGE educational sessions, offering both plan as well as DSO perspectives.

“Mike’s contributions to understanding and breaking down the barriers to the successful partnership of DSOs and dental plans has been critical to several NADP initiatives,” said NADP Executive Director Evelyn F. Ireland, CAE. “He is an asset to both the industry and association.”

“Mike Cole is a determined leader, who has served DCA’s affiliated practices and patients for more than 20 years,” commented James Nick, Dental Care Alliance’s Chief Revenue Officer. “His contributions to the industry and ability to foster meaningful relationships with insurance plans is second to none. We couldn’t be more proud of Mike and are grateful that the association has recognized his decades of service.”

Professional Biography

In April 1999, Mike Cole joined Dental Care Alliance (DCA), an NADP Associate Member, and one of the largest dental service organizations in the country. As Vice President of Insurance Plan Management, he oversees the teams responsible for insurance relations, revenue cycling and the credentialing departments. Prior to joining DCA, Cole was a network manager for both Prudential Healthcare and United Concordia. With more than 25 years in the dental healthcare industry, he was instrumental in fostering partnerships between DCA and the insurance plans.

Cole is a graduate of the University of Missouri – Columbia and is also a Certified Employee Assistance Professional (CEAP).

About NADP

National Association of Dental Plans (NADP), a Texas nonprofit corporation with headquarters in Dallas, Texas, is the “representative and recognized resource of the dental benefits industry.” NADP is the only national trade organization that includes the full spectrum of dental benefits companies operating in the United States. NADP’s members provide Dental HMO, Dental PPO, Dental Indemnity and Discount Dental products to more than 200 million Americans.

About DCA

Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Sarasota, FL, Dental Care Alliance supports 325 affiliated dental practices in 20 states, making it one of the largest multi-branded dental support organizations in the country. DCA-affiliated practices provide a full suite of dental services, including general dentistry, hygiene, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, endodontics, periodontics and oral surgery. DCA’s mission is to improve the practice of dentistry by partnering with and supporting dental professionals, so they can create a lifetime of healthy smiles for their patients.

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Business: Executives

Maine Pointe Continues Investment in Total Value Optimization (TVO)™ Development with Strategic Hires

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https://www.prweb.com/

Maine Pointe’s strength is in our TVO approach to accelerated supply chain transformation, as well as with the skilled industry leaders who drive measurable change.


BOSTON (PRWEB)

Global supply chain and operations consulting firm Maine Pointe announced two industry thought leaders with decades of C-level strategic and tactical experience will join the firm. These appointments are part of the firm’s ongoing initiative to deliver the greatest value to customers, shareholders and stakeholders through Total Value Optimization (TVO)™, Maine Pointe’s methodology which incorporates supply chain optimization to create value for stakeholders across the entire end-to-end supply chain.

Joining Maine Pointe with more than 30 years of sales, marketing, supply chain, and operations experience, Brad Stitt will serve as EVP, Supply Chain Management. Throughout his career, Brad has delivered hundreds of millions of dollars in revenues and profits for employees and clients. His real-world sales and operations experience, as well as senior-level positions in supply chain and S&OP, gives him a unique level of expertise and strength in leveraging the supply chain as a competitive weapon to deliver lasting value and growth to clients.

Steve Thevenin will serve as Maine Pointe’s EVP, Leader and Organization Improvement (LOI). Steve brings more than 30 years of experience in LOI, and deep experience in hands-on implementation of transformative initiatives. LOI is an essential component in successful TVO supply chain and operations transformation. Already a Maine Pointe veteran, Steve has led several successful LOI initiatives with Maine Pointe clients. In his new role, he will be responsible for the planning, development, and consistent deployment of LOI in Maine Pointe engagements, with the goal of achieving sustainable Total Value Optimization.

“Maine Pointe’s strength is in our TVO approach to accelerated supply chain transformation, as well as with the skilled industry leaders who drive measurable change,” said Steven Bowen, Chairman and CEO of Maine Pointe. “As one of the most important business methodologies in use today, TVO has been essential in delivering lasting value and positive ROI. Steve and Brad bring a powerful combination of insight, thought leadership and experience which directly relates to the successful implementation of supply chain and operations change. I am confident these industry experts will prove essential in rounding out our depth of expertise and delivering lasting value to all stakeholders in our clients’ end-to-end digital supply chains.”

About Maine Pointe

Maine Pointe, a member of the SGS Group, is a global supply chain and operations consulting firm trusted by many chief executives and private equity firms to drive compelling economic returns for their companies. We achieve this by delivering accelerated, sustainable improvements in EBITDA, cash and growth across their procurement, logistics and operations. Our hands-on implementation experts work with executives and their teams to rapidly break through functional silos and transform the buy-make-move-fulfill supply chain to deliver the greatest value to customers and investors at the lowest cost to business. We call this Total Value Optimization (TVO)™.

Maine Pointe’s engagements are results-driven and deliver between 4:1-8:1 ROI. We are so confident in our work and our processes that we provide a unique 100% guarantee of engagement fees based on annualized savings. http://www.mainepointe.com

About SGS

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 97,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

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Health

Red Spot Interactive and NextGen Healthcare Build Partnership to Strengthen Patient Acquisition and Provider Retention

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“We appreciate NextGen’s drive to provide software for healthcare solutions and look forward to seeing our mutual practices grow stronger and excel with respect to ROI-driven patient acquisition and management,” said Jason Tuschman, CEO and Founder of Red Spot Interactive.


JUPITER, Fla. (PRWEB)

Red Spot Interactive (RSI), a marketing and patient acquisition company, is proud to establish a new partnership with NextGen Healthcare Inc., a leading healthcare solutions provider for ambulatory and specialty practices. This adds to RSI’s growing list of partners, which include Nextech, DrChrono, Symplast and Azalea, with additional partnerships to announce in the near future. The partnership will equip NextGen Healthcare consumers with marketing and patient scheduling performance solutions, patient retention solutions, and appointment request software.

“NextGen is a leader in providing software for healthcare solutions for ambulatory and specialty practices,” said Jason Tuschman, CEO and Founder of Red Spot Interactive. “We appreciate their drive to provide such solutions and look forward to seeing our mutual practices grow stronger and excel with respect to ROI-driven patient acquisition and management.”

By merging with Red Spot Interactive and utilizing the company’s integrated tools and technology, NextGen Healthcare clients will have the opportunity to:


  • Track website revenue, appointments, missed calls and email lead conversions

  • Track all key performance indicators (KPIs) associated with website rankings, SEO factors, and website traffic types

  • Track revenue and media costs of their practice website, marketing channels and patient acquisition KPIs, regarding phone/email lead management and patient scheduling

  • Send out automated appointment reminders and automated consultation and patient surveys with online review generation

  • Receive hourly email notifications of new consumer online reviews

  • Utilize HIPAA-compliant two-way texting with patients

  • Give patients 24/7 access to view available appt. times per procedure and provider, and book their appt. online

Through these advanced tools, NexGen consumers will have access to invaluable information that will allow them to develop a thorough understanding of their marketing ROI and patient scheduling challenges, as well as their consultation and service performance from a consumer perspective.

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Technology: Computer

National CyberWatch Center Announced Innovations in Cybersecurity Education Program Awards

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Together, we discover innovation and deliver success.


CHEVY CHASE, Md. (PRWEB)

More than 50 creative ideas, projects and programs were submitted and five winners earned honors and recognition in the National CyberWatch Center’s (NCC) Innovations in Cybersecurity Education award program.

Awards crossed four categories: evidence-based strategies, instruction, practice and program development. Winning submissions were: Pathway to Advancement in Cybersecurity Education; Thinking Outside the Box: Using Escape Room Games to Interest Teachers and Students in Cybersecurity; Incentive-Based Platform for Teaching Cryptocurrenty, Bug Bounty, Reconnaissance and More; and Three Colleges + Three Degrees = One Successful Cyber Career. An honorable mention was also awarded for the submission titled PCI Credit Card Security.

“Education drives progress, and gamified learning makes that progress come alive. As a passionate cybersecurity practitioner, I am honored to receive this award and hope that GenCyberCoin will plant a seed of bold enthusiasm in students to pursue a cybersecurity career. I am especially grateful for the opportunity to share this project with the larger community of educators across the nation, who are fully devoted to students and their education. Together, we discover innovation and deliver success,” said Vitaly Ford, from Arcadia University, who submitted the winning entry, Incentive-Based Platform for Teaching Cryptocurrency, Bug Bounty, Reconnaissance and More.

This is the third year of the program, which highlights some of the best cybersecurity education innovators in the country. Winners were announced at the 2019 Community College Cyber Summit, July 30 to Aug. 1, in Shreveport, LA.

“A byproduct of our awards and recognition program, the Innovations submissions showcase a range of creative and pioneering ideas in the higher education information security space. My hope is that this publication will accelerate the adoption and adaptation of new ideas throughout the academic and workforce development communities, while at the same time, recognizing individuals and organizations for their work,” said Casey W. O’Brien, executive director, National CyberWatch Center.

Through this awards program, educators can share their concepts, accelerate adoption throughout the academic community and receive proper recognition for the work. Cybersecurity educators also can learn from these submissions and use the ideas in their own classrooms.

For additional information, visit https://www.nationalcyberwatch.org/innovations.

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Technology: Electronics

New Acer H6535i Delivers Wireless, Affordable 1080p Home Theater

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https://www.prweb.com/

The Acer H6535i wirelessly projects movies and photos from an Android, IOS or Windows 10 device.

“Priced affordably, our newest projector lets more people experience the thrill of enjoying movies and more on a big screen from the comfort of home,” said Ronald Lau, Acer America director – stationary products.


SAN JOSE, Calif. (PRWEB)

Acer America announced its Acer H6535i home entertainment projector is now available in the United States. This new model offers wireless projection of movies, games and photos in Full HD to a big screen for an affordable price of $699.99 MSRP.

This DLP® LED projector with HDMI input can project a giant 25 foot image from a distance of up to 36 feet with a high 3,500 lumens brightness. Paired with a wireless dongle(2), it projects content wirelessly from a smartphone or PC. Miracast(3) support allows quick and seamless screen mirroring without installing an extra app. HDMI, VGA and USB ports connect to Android(3) devices for easily sharing travel photos or home videos.

“Priced affordably, our newest projector lets more people experience the thrill of enjoying movies and more on a big screen from the comfort of home,” said Ronald Lau, Acer America director – stationary products. “It’s bright enough for projecting content in ambient light and works wirelessly with a variety of devices.”

The 20,000:1 contrast ratio delivers vivid images. Even dark scenes are clearly displayed with no loss of detail thanks to DynamicBlack™ technology, which improves image contrast by analyzing on-screen content frame-by-frame, then dynamically adjusting lamp power to optimize black levels. A 1.2X zoom ratio maximizes positioning options for the projector, while four corner correction quickly and easily adjusts corners to eliminate distortion.

Integrated ColorBoost3D technology features an optimized 6-segment color wheel, advanced lamp illumination and powerful image processing to deliver excellent color reproduction and saturation without sacrificing brightness. In addition, ColorSafe II prevents color decay even after thousands of hours of use. To help prevent eye fatigue, the Acer H6535i has Acer BlueLightShield, an adjustable filter to reduce blue light emissions up to 30 percent. It features three filter levels to accommodate different usage scenarios.

The Acer H6535i delivers a good return on investment with a long product lifespan of up to 10,000 hours in ECO mode(4) and up to 15,000 hours in ExtremeECO mode. It’s also outfitted with a 2W speaker and comes with a remote control.(5)

Pricing/Availability

The Acer H6535i home entertainment projector is available at online retailers in the United States for $699.99 (MSRP). It comes with a limited one-year parts and labor warranty (6).

Editor’s Summary

  • Affordable projector for wirelessly projecting movies and photos from an Android(1), IOS or Windows 10 device(2)

  • High 3,500 ANSI lumens delivers a huge, clear and bright picture – up to 25 feet – even during daylight

  • Delivers sharp 1080p Full HD visuals with natural color

About Acer

Founded in 1976, Acer is now one of the world’s top ICT companies and has a presence in over 160 countries. As Acer looks into the future, it is focused on enabling a world where hardware, software and services will fuse with one another to open up new possibilities for consumers and businesses alike. From service-oriented technologies to the Internet of Things to gaming and virtual reality, Acer’s 7,000+ employees are dedicated to the research, design, marketing, sale, and support of products and solutions that break barriers between people and technology. Please visit http://www.acer.com for more information.

Media Contact

Erin Davern

Tel: +949-471-7785

Email: erin.davern@acer.com

© 2019 Acer America Corp. All rights reserved. Acer and the Acer logo are registered trademarks of Acer Inc. Other trademarks, registered trademarks, and/or service marks, indicated or otherwise, are the property of their respective owners. All offers subject to change without notice or obligation and may not be available through all sales channels. Prices listed are manufacturer suggested retail prices and may vary by location. Applicable sales tax extra.

1) Android 5.0 & above

2) Wireless dongle is required for wireless projection.

3) Additional device must support Miracast technology.

4) Lamp life depends on a variety of factors including brightness and can be maximized via Acer EcoProjection Technology, which allows the user to customize power-saving configurations.

5) Two AAA batteries required for the remote control are not included.

6) Limited warranty agreement applies. For a copy, write to Acer Customer Service, P.O. Box 6137, Temple, TX 76503.

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health and fitness

ZENB Expands Its Veggie Stick Line With New Pumpkin And Carrot Flavors

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We are thrilled to introduce our new Pumpkin and Carrot flavors to consumers just in time for the fall season


CHICAGO (PRWEB)

ZENB, a plant-based food company that launched earlier this year, today announced the roll out of two new flavors in its Veggie Stick product line: Pumpkin and Carrot. The savory, fall-inspired Veggie Sticks bring ZENB fans a total of five flavor options as the company continues to innovate new ways to deliver wholesome vegetables in convenient snacking options.

The new Veggie Stick flavors, available year-round, boast 3-4g of fiber, 3g of protein and are less than 150 calories each per serving. By using organic, whole vegetables, ZENB’s Veggie Sticks offer a good source of daily fiber and clean ingredients in every Stick. As part of a commitment to using whole, fiber-rich vegetables, ZENB also incorporates parts of the vegetables that are often thrown away, like the seeds of the pumpkin and peel of the carrot. Thanks to a rigorous sourcing and manufacturing process, ZENB’s Veggie Sticks are gluten-free, vegan, and USDA organic, and offer consumers a clean label option for any occasion.

“We are thrilled to introduce our new Pumpkin and Carrot flavors to consumers just in time for the fall season. These flavors are sure to appeal with their savory taste profiles, colorful appearance and ode to the season,” says Christiane Paul, CMO of ZENB. “Moving forward, our commitment is to not only develop more Veggie Stick flavors like these, but also to provide a comprehensive line of plant-based, delicious products that fit into multiple dining occasions.”

Each Veggie Stick flavor offers a unique taste profile for an elevated snacking experience. Using the whole pumpkin, including skin and seeds, Pumpkin Veggie Sticks offer full-flavored veggie taste with a touch of cinnamon & nutmeg that’s perfect for the fall but can be enjoyed all year long. For on-the-go fiber and nutrition, the Carrot Veggie Sticks, made with the whole carrot, including the skin, offer the taste of organically grown carrots with a hint of flavorful coriander.

ZENB’s Veggie Sticks come in five distinct flavors: Corn, Beet, Red Bell Pepper, Carrot and Pumpkin. They are available all year direct-to-consumer via single sale and subscription boxes on ZENB.com, starting at $17.99 for a box of six. ZENB also offers a free trial pack (plus $4.99 shipping & handling and applicable tax) for veggie-lovers to try multiple flavors. Subject to terms and conditions, please see ZENB.com for more information.

About ZENB

ZENB is changing the way consumers think about nutrition by placing food that is wholesome and delicious at the center of everyday lives. By offering products that use often discarded parts of vegetables in each product, ZENB helps consumers enjoy plant-based foods in a way that is more mindful of the world around us. The company’s debut product, ZENB Veggie Sticks, are just the beginning of ZENB’s vision to empower a wholesome lifestyle filled with delicious, convenient options that incorporates a more plant-based diet. For more information about the ZENB community and product offerings, visit us at http://www.ZENB.com.

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Industry: Healthcare

A ‘New Dawn’ in Treating Early Osteoarthritis of the Basal Joint

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https://www.prweb.com/

Dr. Alejandro Badia

Until now, effective treatments for stopping the progression of osteoarthritis have been limited but increasing studies of the biological basis of the disorder are leading to new therapies, including application of protease inhibitors.


MIAMI (PRWEB)

Scientists writing in a 2017 issue of European Medical Journal predicted that new, more effective therapeutic agents to stop the progressive destruction of joint cartilage in osteoarthritis are “on the close horizon.” Well, that day may already have dawned, says Miami-based hand and upper limb orthopedic surgeon Alejandro Badia, MD, founder and chief medical officer of the Badia Hand to Shoulder Center and OrthoNOW®, who is using advanced techniques, including natural biomaterials, to treat osteoarthritis of the thumb.

An expert in orthobiologics, Dr. Badia is harnessing the power of protease inhibitors to slow, and potentially halt, destruction of joint cartilage in the basal — carpometacarpal (CMC) – joint at the base of the thumb in patients with early osteoarthritis of the hand.

Orthobiologics involves utilizing a patient’s own biologic substances, or those of a donor, including blood platelets (PRP therapy) and adult (mesenchymal) stem cells, to mitigate inflammation, relieve chronic musculoskeletal pain and repair orthopedic injuries.

Dr. Badia explains that inflammation is a response to age-related wear-and-tear or injury to a joint and is believed to support the transition to pathological osteoarthritis. Although many factors can contribute to the development of osteoarthritis, nobody knows the primary cause of the debilitating disease. Many sedentary people develop this as they age, and both occupational and genetic factors play a part. It is certain however that repetitive and acute injuries, if untreated, will worsen the symptoms of underlying arthritis and accelerate its development and progression.

Researchers have determined that cartilage degradation is accelerated by chronic inflammation through the excessive activity of proteases, enzymes that normally function to clear damaged tissue after an injury but when they persist in chronically-inflamed joints they lead to degradation of cartilage and subsequent joint pain. Cartilage serves as a cushion for joints; its breakdown leads to joint stiffness and pain, Dr. Badia explains. Proteases are vital to many biological functions, such as digestion and cellular repair, but over-activity of these enzymes in the joint can speed the degradation of cartilage’s extracellular matrix.

But, protease inhibitors, like alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin, are molecules that can be harvested from blood plasma and other tissues to inhibit inflammatory proteases and clear them from the joint.

“Injection of these inhibitors into the basal joint is proving successful in some patients for relieving the debilitating pain of osteoarthritis of the thumb and potentially helping rebuild some of the lost cartilage,” says Dr. Badia. He and his team at OrthoNOW have treated arthritic patients using a variety of advanced surgical, non-surgical and orthobiologic approaches.

Osteoarthritis is the most common joint disease overall. Basal joint osteoarthritis, a specific form of the disorder, is the second most common arthritic condition of the hand, Dr. Badia says. The thumb disorder can result in severe pain, loss of grip function, strength and restricted range of motion and even deformity – to the point where a patient has difficulty holding a can or glass, opening a jar lid or buttoning a shirt, Dr. Badia notes.

Until now, effective treatments for stopping the progression of osteoarthritis have been limited but increasing studies of the biological basis of the disorder are leading to new therapies, including application of protease inhibitors.

Dr. Badia credits scientists like Shawn Browning Ph.D., vice president of research and development at Holding Technologies, who has studied the biology of joint cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis, and medical innovators, such as Ziad Hamandi, chief executive officer of ABT Medical, for progress in treating osteoarthritis with protease inhibitors and other orthobiologics. Under Hamandi’s leadership, ABT Medical and their physician collaborators have designed advanced processes for separating blood and other fluid biologics into needed therapeutic components.

“The mission ABT Medical is to be innovative in the development of comprehensive blood management programs that are both responsive and reliable,” Hamandi states.

Orthobiologic therapies are not without risk, according to the federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Side effects can include reactions at site of injection, failure of biomaterials to perform as intended, and migration of injected cells away from treatment areas, potentially changing into unwanted cell types, multiplying, and negatively affecting other tissues.

Dr. Badia advises caregivers to exercise caution when administering biomaterials and exhorts patients to be especially careful when seeking medical help in the area of orthobiologics, a specialization in which practitioners often lack necessary training and expertise. It is imperative for patients who are considering regenerative medicine options to seek a clinician who can offer multiple remedies and solutions depending on the patient’s needs and stage of disease. In many cases, clinicians who have stem cell clinics are limited in what they can offer. OrthoNOW provides autologous access to stem cell therapies as well as other conservative therapies that the patient may benefit from, including anti-inflammatory mediators, physical therapy, procedures such as a joint arthroscopy, or even joint replacement for more severe cases. Dr. Badia worries that sometimes patients are being misled by practitioners who are not fully qualified to do regenerative medicine.

“Better than the best therapies for osteoarthritis, of course, is prevention,” states Dr. Badia. “You cannot stop joints from growing older, but you can reduce your risk for joint problems.” He offers the following recommendations:

  • Maintain an appropriate weight.

  • Keep joints heathy through exercise.

  • Control blood sugar.

  • Avoid joint injuries by wearing the proper protective gear when engaged in sports.

See an orthopedic specialist as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment if a joint injury fails to heal. Injured joints are seven times more likely to develop osteoarthritis, according to the Arthritis Foundation.

Bio: Alejandro Badia, MD, FACS, internationally renowned hand and upper-limb surgeon and founder of Badia Hand to Shoulder Center and OrthoNOW®, a walk-in orthopedic care clinic. He is a member the American Society for Surgery of the Hand, American Association for Hand Surgery, and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. He is a specialist in treating all problems related to the hand and upper extremity including trauma, sports injury, joint reconstruction, nerve injuries and arthroscopic surgeries. OrthoNOWcare.com and drbadia.com.

Business: Insurance

Fastest Growing Provider of Self-Directed Retirement Plans Sees High Demand for Solo 401(k) Plans

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solo 401(k) for self-employed and small business owners

IRA Financial, leading provider of Self-Directed Retirement plans, surpasses 6,000 Solo 401(k) Plan Clients

I have written two books on the self-directed solo 401(k) plan and believe it is the most robust retirement plan for the self-employed or small business owner with no full-time employees


MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (PRWEB)

IRA Financial Group & IRA Financial Trust Company (“IRA Financial”), a leading financial technology Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401(k) plan provider & custodian, announces that is has surpassed 6,000 self-directed Solo 401(k) plans, believed to be the most in the country.

“I have written two books on the self-directed solo 401(k) plan and believe it is the most robust retirement plan for the self-employed or small business owner with no full-time employees,” says Adam Bergman, President of IRA Financial Group & IRA Financial Trust Company.

The Solo 401(k) structure, also known as the one-participant plan, allows business owners to invest in traditional as well as alternative asset investments, such as real estate, tax liens and cryptocurrency. The plan also allows participants to make higher contributions (up to $62,000 in pre-tax, after-tax, or Roth) and borrow up to $50,000 tax and penalty free.

“IRA Financial’s Solo 401(k) plan is 100% open architecture and self-directed,” explains Mr. Bergman. “IRA Financial handles all plan IRS administration for one low annual fee.”

IRA Financial, one of the country’s fastest growing providers of Self-Directed retirement plans, has helped over 16,000 clients invest over $4.5 billion in retirement funds in alternative assets through its self-directed IRA and self-directed solo 401(k) plans. IRA Financial has also developed the first mobile app in the self-directed marketplace that allows clients to be onboarded and invest in alternative asset investments 100% digitally.

IRA Financial Group & IRA Financial Trust Company offers the Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401(k) plan platform, which allows investors to invest in IRS approved alternative asset investments digitally and with no account valuation or minimum balance fees. The primary advantage of using a self-directed solo 401(k) plan to make private IRS approved alternative asset investments, is that one can diversify their retirement assets and invest in what one knows and trusts. In addition, with a self-directed solo 401(k) plan generally all income and gains associated with the retirement account investment grow tax-deferred or tax-free in the case of a Roth solo 401(k).

“We continue to see huge demand for the self-directed solo 401(k) plan because of the multitude of exciting retirement and investment options it offers,” stated Mr. Bergman.

IRA Financial Group is the market’s fastest growing provider of self-directed retirement plans. IRA Financial Group has helped over 16,000 thousand clients take back control over their retirement funds while gaining the ability to invest in almost any type of investment, including real estate, cryptocurrency, and private business investments.

The IRA Financial Trust Company, a self-directed IRA custodian, was founded by Adam Bergman, a partner with the IRA Financial Group. Mr. Bergman is a leading expert on the taxation of retirement funds and has authored multiples articles on how to use a self-directed IRA to buy cryptocurrencies.

Adam Bergman, IRA Financial Group partner, has written seven books on the topic of self-directed retirement plans, including, “How to use Retirement Funds to Purchase Cryptocurrencies,” “Turning Retirement Funds into Start-Up Dreams,” “Solo 401(k) Plan in a Nutshell,” and “In God We Trust in Roth We Prosper.”

To learn more about the IRA Financial Group please visit their website at http://www.irafinancialgroup.com or call 800-472-0646.

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