Dr. Sonoa Au

Most STIs are treatable and catching an infection early can prevent more serious complications. The dermatologist’s office is a valuable resource, as many STIs have skin symptoms.

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. (PRWEB)
November 13, 2019

“One aspect of the challenge of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is the stigma,” notes Dr. Sonoa Au, a dermatologist with Advanced Dermatology PC. “But consensual sexual activity, which is a natural part of adult life, involves intimate contact that can spread infection. And millions of people get STIs every year.”

Make that about 20 million new cases a year, according to the CDC, including infections such as gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia — and genital herpes.

In terms of genital herpes, the American Sexual Health Association states that as many as one out of five people is infected, usually with the “simplex two” form of the virus (HSV-2).

Genital herpes, as well as other STIs such as syphilis and HPV (the human papillomavirus), can be transmitted via skin-to-skin contact.

“Condoms are effective at blocking transmission of fluid-borne STIs, like chlamydia, HIV, and gonorrhea,” explains Dr. Au. “But with infections that are transmitted via the skin, while condoms can help, they won’t block infection from an uncovered area.”

“Increasing openness and awareness is crucial,” continues Dr. Au. “Most STIs are treatable and catching an infection early can prevent more serious complications. The dermatologist’s office is a valuable resource, as many STIs have skin symptoms.”

Organizations such as the American Sexual Health Association and The STI Project (also founded by the Herpes Activist Network’s Pierce) are making important inroads in providing resources and support.

“In terms of stigma,” observes Dr. Au, “genital herpes, in particular, triggers anxiety because it is what we call a ‘recurrent’ infection: once a person has it, they have it for life.”

In this regard, HSV-2 is similar to its oral relative, the “simplex one” form of the virus (HSV-1), which can cause cold sores and fever blisters. About half of adults have HSV-1, typically the result of non-sexual childhood exposure, for example from a relative’s kiss. “Like HSV-1, genital herpes is also usually mild and manageable,” says Dr. Au. “So much so that a person may not even know they have it. Some are not symptomatic. And mild outbreaks can easily be attributed to other causes, like an insect bite.”

To increase awareness and reduce stigma regarding genital herpes, Dr. Au offers the following advice:

5 Tips for Understanding Genital Herpes:

1. See your doctor if you’re worried: “Different tests have distinct parameters,” explains Dr. Au. “If you notice a skin abnormality – a sore, a blister or a pimple – this can be swabbed and checked. DNA testing of the swabbed sample is the most accurate choice. In the absence of symptoms, a blood test for IgG antibodies can detect long-term infections.”

2. Positive results? There are management options: “For patients with regular outbreaks, there are effective means of limiting frequency,” says Dr. Au. “For example, daily anti-viral medications such as valacyclovir pills can reduce outbreaks by at least 75 percent.”

3. Be aware of symptomless transmission: “One challenge with HSV-2 is that at certain times the virus is present on the skin even though there is no visible outbreak,” states Dr. Au. “Skin-to-skin contact at such times can transmit the infection. Condoms can limit the extent of skin exposure. And daily anti-viral medications seem to decrease risk.”

4. Pregnant? Ensure a safe delivery: “Pregnant women can be tested for genital herpes because an outbreak is a health risk during delivery,” notes Dr. Au. “Those who know they have the virus should inform their doctor. In most cases, there is no impact on the delivery, but if there is an outbreak at that time, many doctors will advise for a C-section to protect the baby from serious health problems.”

5. Oral sex can cause genital infections: “With genital herpes, we usually think HSV-2,” observes Dr. Au. “But oral sex can transmit HSV-1 to the genitals. Awareness can guide people’s choices.”    

“Genital herpes may not have a celebrity spokesperson,” concludes Dr. Au. “But a lot of regular people have it, and they’re leading full and happy lives.”

Sonoa Au, MD, is a board-certified physician and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology

Advanced Dermatology P.C. and the Center for Laser and Cosmetic Surgery (New York & New Jersey) is one of the leading dermatology centers in the nation, offering highly experienced physicians in the fields of cosmetic and laser dermatology as well as plastic surgery and state-of-the-art medical technologies. http://www.advanceddermatologypc.com.

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Mr. Peterson’s extensive experience leading cross-functional regulatory and product development teams in both small and large companies will bring great value to our clients who need full support for their product development programs.

ROCHELLE, Va. (PRWEB)
November 13, 2019

NDA Partners Chairman Carl Peck, MD, announced today that Robert Peterson, RAC, a regulatory affairs and program management executive with more than 33 years of regulatory and product development experience in the biopharmaceutical and medical device industries, has joined the firm as an Expert Consultant.

Robert Peterson has extensive experience in formulating and executing regulatory, clinical, and product development strategies, interfacing with regulatory agencies, and filing regulatory submissions. In addition, he has extensive hands-on experience in research and development, manufacturing, nonclinical and clinical studies, and leading cross-functional teams in both small and large companies.

Most recently, Mr. Peterson was Executive Director of Regulatory Affairs at Liquidia Technologies Inc. He has also served as Vice President of Product Development and Regulatory Affairs at Nephrogenex Inc., Director of Research and Development at Cardiopolymers Inc., and Director of Product Development at Biostratum Inc. In his early career, he served as Director of Research and Development in the Vascular Division at Baxter Healthcare.

“Mr. Peterson’s extensive experience leading cross-functional regulatory and product development teams in both small and large companies will bring great value to our clients who need full support for their product development programs,” said Dr. Peck. “We are pleased to welcome him to NDA Partners.”

Robert Peterson earned his Master of Engineering degree in biomedical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and his Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York.

About NDA Partners

NDA Partners is a life sciences management consulting and contract development organization (CDO) focused on providing product development and regulatory services to the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries worldwide. The highly experienced Principals and Expert Consultants in NDA Partners include three former FDA Center Directors; the former Chairman of the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the UK; the former Chief Executive Officer and Chief Science Officer at the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP); an international team of more than 100 former pharmaceutical industry and regulatory agency senior executives; and an extensive roster of highly proficient experts in specialized areas including nonclinical development, toxicology, pharmacokinetics, CMC, medical device design control and quality systems, clinical development, regulatory submissions, and development program management. Services include product development and regulatory strategy, expert consulting, high-impact project teams, and contract management of client product development programs.

Contact

Earle Martin, Chief Executive Officer

Office: 540-738-2550

MartinEarle@ndapartners.com

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Minnesota Vikings Rejuvenate Plunges

“There is increased demand in athletics for additional customization in plunge recovery solutions. The Rejuvenate™ line of plunges meets these needs.”

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. (PRWEB)
November 12, 2019

The Rejuvenate™ line is the latest addition in aquatic therapy solutions. First inspired by the Minnesota Vikings, the new HydroWorx plunge products are designed to enhance athletic recovery.

A key focus for elite athletes and athletic trainers is recovery, returning to peak condition following games and strenuous workouts in preparation for the next game. Aquatic therapy is a key element in player care and essential swift recovery.

HydroWorx is the market leader in professional sports aquatic therapy. Currently twenty-seven out of the thirty-two professional football teams in the U.S. rely on HydroWorx aquatic therapy products to care for their elite athletes.

“Athletic trainers and athletes depend on our hydrotherapy solutions to accelerate healing and recovery,” said Timothy McCarthy, Chief Executive Officer for HydroWorx. “As part of our Recovery™ line of plunge products, the new Rejuvenate™ plunges were inspired by customer feedback and represent our most advanced and configurable plunge solutions to date. There is increased demand in athletics for additional customization in plunge recovery solutions. The Rejuvenate™ line of plunges meets these needs.” added McCarthy.

Athletic trainers and athletes require the best in conditioning solutions along with faster and more efficient recovery. This is why sports medicine professionals rely on HydroWorx technologies and the unique use of water to keep their players healthy and get them back in the game after an injury.

“The hydrotherapy area is probably the showpiece of our entire athletic training room. In addition to the HydroWorx 2000 underwater treadmill, we also selected the Rejuvenate™ hot and cold plunge products. We explored various plunge options but felt the size and depths of the HydroWorx best fit our needs. The hot and cold plunges are in-ground and fit up to fifteen athletes apiece,” said Eric Sugarman, MS, LAT, ATC, Vice President, Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer, Minnesota Vikings.

“Our customer engagement initiatives guided the design of new line of plunge products,” said McCarthy. “We’ve expanded the line to include eight size configurations, including a 12’x28’ model for larger programs in need of faster turnover for their athletes. Other important updates include configurability of stairs for improved traffic flow, ability to customize bench configurations and flexibility to accommodate local pool code requirements. These new plunges are designed for new construction or to accommodate existing facilities and replace outdated products, by fitting through existing doorways,” says McCarthy.

Success for hydrotherapy requires a detailed understanding of team needs and objectives. At the outset and over the long term HydroWorx engages with each team to identify the best solutions for hot, cold and other water-based therapy solutions.

About HydroWorx

HydroWorx harnesses the power of water to accelerate healing and movement through unique and innovative technology by providing world class, evidence-based, products, services and education.

HydroWorx helps people achieve their potential by accelerating healing through our advanced and unique use of water. We design and manufacture the world’s finest water therapy and conditioning equipment for the sports, healthcare, senior living and wellness markets. The company leads the industry in scientific research and data supporting the therapeutic and rehabilitative properties of water therapy. HydroWorx has sold products in 50 states and twelve countries. Among its extensive and elite client list are: Dr. James Andrews, renowned orthopedic surgeon; the 2019 World Series champion Washington Nationals, the U.S. Navy Seals, NASA, the Kennedy Krieger Institute, Manchester United, the NHL champion Washington Capitals, the NCAA men’s basketball national champion University of Virginia, University of Notre Dame and Appalachian State. To learn more about HydroWorx, please visit http://www.hydroworx.com.

We make water work to help you achieve your potential.

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“Code of Conduct training is one of the essentials to ensure employees can respond appropriately to ethical and legal issues they may face in their day-to-day decisions,” said Mike Pallatta, Traliant CEO and Co-Founder.

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif. (PRWEB)
November 12, 2019

Traliant, an innovator in online sexual harassment training, today announced the availability of a new training course, Healthcare Code of Conduct. The interactive course is designed to educate employees on key laws and regulations affecting the healthcare industry, and reinforce standards of ethical behavior.

For more information, please visit Traliant at: Healthcare Code of Conduct

“Code of Conduct training is one of the essentials to ensure employees can respond appropriately to ethical and legal issues they may face in their day-to-day decisions,” said Mike Pallatta, Traliant CEO and Co-Founder. “As part of a comprehensive ethics and compliance program, our Healthcare Code of Conduct training can help organizations prevent misconduct and reduce the risk of violations and penalties.”

Traliant’s Healthcare Code of Conduct is a 60-minute interactive training course tailored for employees and managers working in the healthcare industry. The modern format features a series of short episodes, video vignettes, news stories and assessments and challenges.

Topics such as preventing Medicare fraud, waste and abuse, False Claims Act, Stark Law and the Anti-Kickback Statute are discussed in plain language and illustrated through realistic video scenarios. The course also covers key ethical and compliance issues including political activities, third-party due diligence, recordkeeping, data privacy, information security and maintaining a respectful workplace.

Healthcare Code of Conduct is the latest addition to Traliant’s healthcare course library, which includes Preventing Discrimination & Harassment: Healthcare Edition, HIPAA For Covered Entities, HIPAA For Business Associates, Bloodbourne Pathogens, Active Shooter Response and other relevant topics for healthcare organizations.

About Traliant

Traliant was founded by industry veterans from some of the world’s most successful compliance training companies to meet the challenge of transforming compliance training from boring to brilliant. Backed by Martinson Ventures, Traliant delivers award-winning compliance training on an eLearning platform that enables fast and easy customization. Courses are available on numerous workplace topics including Diversity Training and Sensitivity Training. For more information, visit: http://www.traliant.com.

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Expanded availability of HRAs promotes healthcare choice and competition

President Trump has promised Americans that he will put them in control of their healthcare, and this expansion of health reimbursement arrangements will help deliver on that promise by providing Americans with more options that better meet their needs.

MADISON, Wis. (PRWEB)
November 12, 2019

One of the biggest challenges that small employers face is attracting and retaining employees. Beginning January 1, 2020, employers who have multiple employees can offer an Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) to employees to reimburse individual insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses. These changes will make it easier for employers to provide a valuable benefit. This policy is a result of Executive Order 13813. This order was issued by President Trump in 2017 to expand the availability and use of Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and promote healthcare choice and competition.

HRAs are employer-sponsored and -funded health plans used to reimburse employees for medical expenses on a tax-free basis. It’s estimated this expansion of HRAs will benefit approximately 800,000 employers. This number includes small businesses, which comprise more than 11 million employees and family members, including an estimated 800,000 Americans who were previously uninsured.

According to HHS Secretary Alex Azar, “President Trump has promised Americans that he will put them in control of their healthcare, and this expansion of health reimbursement arrangements will help deliver on that promise by providing Americans with more options that better meet their needs.”

Some highlights of the legislation and ICHRA features:

• 
  Any employer can offer an ICHRA. There are no size restrictions and no minimum participation requirements.
• Employees can use employer-funded ICHRAs to buy individual insurance coverage, including insurance purchased on the public exchange.
• Offering an ICHRA counts as an offer of coverage under the employer mandate.
• Employers who sponsor Group insurance may also offer an ICHRA to employees who have elected not to participate in the Group insurance plan.
• Multiple classes are allowed. This gives employers flexibility to offer different amounts based on such criteria as full- versus part-time employment, salaried versus hourly employees, geographic location, and more.
• HRAs are solely funded by an employer; they are employer-sponsored and reimbursed benefits.
• An employer who sponsors an ICHRA plan will be able to enhance this offering with additional benefits—such as Individual insurance premiums, healthcare FSA, dependent care, and Health Savings Account on a pre-tax basis.
• HRAs are not pre-funded and must be based on a calendar year.

ICHRAs will allow small employers to overcome many of the limitations of previous HRA offerings as described below:

IRS Notice 2013-54, issued in September 2013, limited the ability of small business owners to utilize stand-alone HRAs. Prior to this guidance, many had used HRAs to reimburse their employees for certain medical expenses using pre-tax dollars. As a result of IRS Notice 2013-54, a company with more than one eligible employee could no longer receive a tax advantage through an HRA unless it sponsored Group insurance (an expense that’s beyond many small companies’ reach) —or offered a Limited Purpose HRA (which can only provide coverage for dental, orthodontia, vision and long-term care).

In 2016, the Cures Act established the Qualified Small Employer HRA (QSEHRA). This legislation overturned guidance issued in IRS Notice 2013-54 and once again allowed employers with fewer than 50 employees (companies not subject to the ACA’s Employer Mandate) to utilize HRAs as a pre-tax health and welfare benefit. The QSEHRA has many restrictions and requirements that the ICHRA does not. For example, a QSEHRA is only available to employers with fewer than 50 eligible employees and employer contributions are capped.

About TASC:

TASC is an award-winning, national third-party benefits administrator of tax-advantaged health benefits plans. The company offers comprehensive services for clients, participants, and Providers and serves companies ranging in size from one employee to thousands. TASC has created a simple, intuitive way to manage benefits: Universal Benefit Account. This revolutionary service is designed around how people think, rather than overcomplicated rules, and helps employers work smarter and faster.

AgriPlan and BizPlan (Section 105 HRAs) are products that fall under TASC’s Microbusiness umbrella. AgriPlan and BizPlan save small business owners an average of more than $5,800 a year on their insurance premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses.

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Paul and Jeremy Garavel of Garavel Subaru on a Mikey’s Way Day at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital

“Garavel Subaru has taken their philosophy of giving and put it into action to help the most vulnerable among us.”-Les Friedman, CEO of Mikey’s Way Foundation

FAIRFIELD, Conn. (PRWEB)
November 12, 2019

Garavel Subaru of Norwalk has once again chosen Mikey’s Way Foundation to be the hometown charity recipient for their annual Share the Love Event. From November 15, 2019 to January 2, 2020, Subaru of America will donate $250 for every new Subaru vehicle purchased or leased at Garavel Subaru in Norwalk. In addition, every time Mikey’s Way Foundation is chosen as the charity of choice, Garavel Subaru will donate an additional $100 to Mikey’s Way for each sold or leased vehicle.

Since 2014, Garavel’s Share The Love Event has raised close to $200,000 for Mikey’s Way Foundation. That translates into more than 1,000 brand new electronic gifts such as laptop computers and tablets for pediatric cancer patients in treatment. In addition, Mikey’s Way was able to outfit each in-patient pediatric hematology/oncology room at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital with an iPad for use during prolonged stays.

“We believe people will be remembered for what they do in the community, not for their individual accomplishments,” says Paul Garavel, President and owner of Garavel Subaru. “We are delighted to be partnering with Mikey’s Way once again this year, working to ease the strain of long-term treatment for pediatric cancer patients and their families.”

“We are honored and humbled to be chosen once again this year as the hometown charity for Garavel Subaru’s Share the Love event,” says Les Friedman, CEO of Mikey’s Way Foundation. “The Subaru organization, and Garavel Subaru in particular, genuinely cares about the people in need in our community. They’ve taken their philosophy of giving and put it into action to help the most vulnerable among us – and we are so grateful.”

Mikey’s Way Foundation was founded by Michael “Mikey” Friedman, who was diagnosed at 15 with a rare form of cancer. The Foundation gives laptop computers, tablets, and other Wi-Fi ready electronics to kids affected by the emotional and physical hardships of long-term debilitating treatment. They distribute these electronic gifts via their Mikey’s Way Day and Mikey’s Wish List programs to children all over the country with an emphasis in Connecticut and New York. The gifts provide diversion and connection with family and friends, helping them to cope with cancer… Mikey’s Way.

Garavel Subaru is located at 10 Tindall Avenue in Norwalk, CT. Everyday Garavel Subaru holds true to their motto: “Selling cars is what we do. Helping the community is who we are.” For more information about Garavel Subaru visit http://www.garavelsubaru.com.

For more information about Mikey’s Way Foundation, visit http://www.mikeysway.org and follow Mikey’s Way on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

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Genedata Biologics gives all our R&D groups a central place to record and access TCR-related information in real time, along the end-to-end workflow.

BASEL, Switzerland (PRWEB)
November 12, 2019

Genedata, the leading provider of enterprise software solutions for biopharmaceutical R&D, today announced that Immatics Biotechnologies, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing T-cell receptor (TCR)-based cancer immunotherapies, has adopted Genedata Biologics® to streamline their R&D operations related to the discovery and development of high-affinity and high-specificity T-cell receptors for adoptive cell therapies (ACT) and bispecific TCRs.

“We required a scalable software solution that is compatible with Immatics’ proprietary XCEPTOR® platform to facilitate the systematic analysis of our TCR data for our proprietary and partnered programs,” said Dominik Maurer, Ph.D., VP Immunology at Immatics. “Genedata Biologics gives all our R&D groups a central place to record and access TCR-related information in real time, along the end-to-end workflow, including Immatics’ ACTengine®, ACTallo® and TCER® bispecific TCR molecule development. We expect Genedata Biologics to foster our internal information exchange and further increase our efficiency.”

Integrated E2E Workflow Platform for Cell & Gene Therapy

As highly engineered entities, bispecific molecules and cell and gene therapies pose new design, cloning, expression, purification, and analytics challenges. Genedata Biologics provides purpose-built functionality for the design and evaluation of large panels of novel cellular modalities, such as engineered TCRs and their variations. In particular, the platform enables the automation of screening, engineering, production, and testing of these innovative therapeutic modalities. The workflow platform handles next-generation molecule-specific designs in high throughput and includes dedicated tools for developability and manufacturability assessments. Genedata Biologics is an end-to-end (E2E) platform that streamlines the design, generation, validation, and unique identification of TCR- based molecules, resulting in more efficient evaluation and production.

“We are excited that Immatics, a leader in immuno-oncology, has selected Genedata as their partner,” said Othmar Pfannes, Ph.D., CEO of Genedata. “We are delighted that Genedata Biologics helps our customers to increase the efficiency of the discovery and development of novel gene and cellular therapeutics, and we will continue to invest in expanding the platform’s capabilities to address new technologies and requirements in this quickly evolving field.”

About Genedata

Genedata transforms data into intelligence with innovative software solutions and domain-specific consulting services that automate complex, large-scale experimental processes and enable organizations to maximize the ROI in their R&D, spanning early discovery all the way to the clinic. Founded in 1997, Genedata is headquartered in Switzerland with additional offices in Germany, Japan, Singapore, the UK, and the US.

http://www.genedata.com

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Contact

Miles Fisher-Pollard

Genedata

Public Relations

Phone: +41 61 511 85 61

pr@genedata.com

Disclaimer

The statements in this press release that relate to future plans, events or performance are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with uncertainties related to contract cancellations, developing risks, competitive factors, uncertainties pertaining to customer orders, demand for products and services, development of markets for the Company’s products and services. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

All product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

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