Dr. Praveen Kadimcherla

ALIF surgery aims to stop long-lasting pain that hasn’t responded to other therapies. When motion is the source of the pain, spinal fusion surgeries such as ALIF can prove extremely helpful.

WEST ORANGE, N.J. (PRWEB)
June 04, 2020

While most cases of lower back pain will resolve with non-surgical treatments, some patients with chronic back and/or leg pain can benefit greatly from a surgery with a strange name: ALIF, or anterior lumbar interbody fusion, according to Dr. Praveen Kadimcherla with Atlantic Spine Center.

Most spinal surgeries are approached from the back, or posterior, side of the patient. An ALIF, however, accesses the spine using an anterior, or front approach. The goal of the surgery is to fuse together painful vertebrae to heal into a single, solid bone. What spine conditions can prompt the need for an ALIF? According to Dr. Kadimcherla, the procedure can treat these conditions:

• Instability and trauma
• Degenerative disc disease
• Disc tears
• Failed back and neck surgery
• Facet joint syndrome
• Foraminal stenosis

But regardless of the exact condition it’s meant to correct, ALIF surgery aims to stop long-lasting pain that hasn’t responded to other therapies. “When motion is the source of the pain, spinal fusion surgeries such as ALIF can prove extremely helpful,” Dr. Kadimcherla explains. “If painful vertebrae cannot move, then they should not hurt.”

Benefits of ALIF

Compared to spine surgeries that approach the spine from the back, ALIF offers several key benefits, Dr. Kadimcherla says. They include:

• Leaving back muscles and surrounding nerves undisturbed
• Offering a larger surface area to operate from
• Elevating the disc space more effectively, relieving painful pressure on surrounding nerves
• Using a larger implant, leading to more stability in the affected area of the spine

How is the surgery performed? Your surgeon will make a small incision in the lower abdomen, carefully moving your abdominal muscles, organs and large blood vessels aside to access the spine. Then your damaged lumbar disc is removed, and a special implant called a cage is placed in the resulting space, restoring correct spacing between vertebrae. Within 2 to 3 hours, the surgery is complete and all structures in your abdomen are returned to their original spots.

“An anterior approach may be chosen for a variety of reasons, especially if you’d already undergone several previous spine surgeries approached from the back,” Dr. Kadimcherla explains. “The front approach also gives the surgeon more direct access to your vertebral discs, and the recovery can be quicker.”

Recovery tips

Full recovery from spinal fusion surgeries such as ALIF take time, mainly because the bone graft needs to grow and fill in spaces around the implant to form a “bone bridge” connecting the surrounding vertebrae. This fusion may also require screws or rods to be implanted during the surgery.

But short-term recovery is relatively quick, Dr. Kadimcherla notes. Most patients remain in the hospital for 1 to 3 days after surgery, where pain will be controlled and you’ll start to stand and walk around more and more.

To speed your recovery, Dr. Kadimcherla advises ALIF patients to perform any prescribed exercises diligently, as well as to walk about carefully. “It’s also important to avoid any twisting motions with your back as well as avoid bending or lifting heavy items,” he says.

If all goes well – as it usually does – ALIF patients can expect big benefits when their recovery is complete: A huge reduction in lower back pain, as well as in any disability they might have experienced before the surgery.

“Talk to your doctor about the possibility of ALIF surgery if your lower back pain has been insistent and long-lasting,” Dr. Kadimcherla says. “Your surgeon will be able to determine if you’re a good fit for this innovative procedure.”

Atlantic Spine Center is a nationally recognized leader for endoscopic spine surgery with several locations in NJ and NYC. http://www.atlanticspinecenter.com, http://www.atlanticspinecenter.nyc

Praveen Kadimcherla, MD, is a board-certified orthopedic spine surgeon at Atlantic Spine Center.

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Caroline A. Reich, MD, PhD, President & CEO of Women’s Imaging Associates

it (Transpara) integrates seamlessly with our current IT infrastructure and gives us the option of using the Exam Score to prioritize higher risk patients within our worklist.”

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (PRWEB)
June 04, 2020

As a leading independent teleradiology provider of breast imaging services, Women’s Imaging Associates reviews over 60,000 mammograms for OB-GYN offices, multi-specialty clinics and rural hospitals across the country every year.

All the radiologists at Women’s Imaging Associates are breast imaging experts who meet MQSA accreditation standards and participate in robust quality control and peer review programs. Their expertise allows them to minimize unnecessary callbacks without sacrificing appropriate cancer detection while ensuring that the best study is performed at the appropriate time and tailored to each patient’s individual needs.

Caroline A. Reich, MD, PhD, President & CEO of Women’s Imaging Associates is always at the forefront of implementing new technologies and sees the potential for introducing breast AI at Women’s Imaging Associates to help improve accuracy and workflow.

Dr. Reich states, “After reviewing the evidence, we made the decision to implement Transpara® as it integrates seamlessly with our current IT infrastructure and gives us the option of using the Exam Score to prioritize higher risk patients within our worklist.”

Expectations are, by using Transpara, that Dr. Reich and the team will be able to help improve accuracy with a second set of eyes and decrease time to diagnostic evaluation for patients needing additional imaging or biopsy. Importantly, the team at Women’s Imaging Associates will also be involved in research projects using Transpara to bring further benefits to their customers.

Nico Karssemeijer, CEO and founder of ScreenPoint Medical, added, “We are very excited about this strategic partnership with Women’s Imaging Associates. This gives us a unique opportunity to work with a respected breast imaging provider in the United States. We share the vision with Women’s Imaging Associates that innovative AI solutions are needed to help radiologists deal with increasing demands on quality and efficiency, while diagnostic imaging procedures are getting more complex. This is especially true as we are facing the challenges associated with COVID-19. We are proud that Transpara AI for early detection of breast cancer was selected by Dr Reich and her team.

Transpara® is an AI solution for breast cancer screening, that uses deep learning algorithms to automatically detect lesions suspicious for breast cancer in 2D and 3D mammograms. The software categorises mammograms on a 10-point scale indicating the risk that cancer is present. This Exam Score can be used to help radiologists prioritise patients for further investigation. Decision support marks for calcifications and soft tissue lesions are provided to support radiologists with image interpretation. Studies have shown that Transpara matches the performance of radiologists, thus acting as a second opinion which increases diagnostic confidence and accuracy. It is FDA cleared for 2D and 3D mammography.

1. “Stand-alone artificial intelligence for breast cancer detection in mammography: Comparison with 101 radiologists”, Rodriguez-Ruiz et al, JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, djy222, https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djy222, 2019

2. “Detection of Breast Cancer with Mammography: Effect of an Artificial Intelligence Support System” Rodríguez-Ruiz et al, Radiology 290:2, 305-314, 2019.

3. FDA approval number K193229

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iJoin gives recordkeepers and advisors unparalleled access to trending data that focuses on plan and participant success.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (PRWEB)
June 04, 2020

LDI-MAP LLC (d.b.a. iJoin) has announced 20 retirement plan recordkeepers have deployed the platform in less than one year since the introduction of its new product suite. iJoin’s personalized, goal-based enrollment, engagement, and managed account program uniquely positions recordkeepers and their advisor partners to help drive plan and participant success. Its combination of speed, personalization, and cost-efficiency is making iJoin one of the most rapidly adopted retirement plan technologies in the industry.

iJoin gives recordkeepers and advisors unparalleled access to trending data that focuses on plan and participant success. Partners can more clearly illustrate how they deliver value by demonstrating trending participation, increases in contribution rates, and the percentage of employees on path to reach their retirement goals. Importantly, iJoin makes it easy for partners to assert their brand and message to reach every participant in every plan through its customizable email campaign builder.

iJoin’s CEO Steve McCoy explained, “Forward-leaning recordkeepers and advisors know they need to help drive plan success rather than report on traditional benchmarks. We believe it is the best way to truly differentiate and deliver value. And iJoin is purpose-built to help them deliver on this. We are humbled to get such rapid market validation and to be able to support the evolution of our industry. It’s all about outcomes.”

iJoin is a personalized, goal-based retirement plan experience for investors at every step of their savings journey. iJoin considers dozens of personal data points including each person’s income, savings, age, location, gender, and retirement destination to calculate their retirement funding goal. This immediate clarity initiates suggestions to optimize individual savings potential to reach their retirement income goal.

iJoin’s Managed Account Program offers a progressive option to investment managers seeking a QDIA alternative to traditional Target Date Funds. The MAP’s investment methodology is founded on Liability Driven Investing principles that have been long deployed in defined benefit plans. In this defined contribution model, LDI takes center stage in modeling each person’s retirement “liability” or retirement income sufficiency goal. The calculated target return needed to reach the goal is mapped to each person based on the investment manager’s fund lineup. Unlike “set it and forget it” models, iJoin continuously monitors and updates the mapping based on changes to savings rates, account balance, and other factors.

Learn more about iJoin at ijoinsuccess.com.

About LDI-MAP, LLC (dba iJoin)

The iJoin team is committed to personalizing retirement success™ and making it easy for millions of savers to get on a path to better retirement outcomes. As a financial technology partner to the retirement plan industry, iJoin’s goal-based retirement plan enrollment experience helps people immediately understand their retirement funding need and encourages action to get on track. iJoin supports financial advisors and recordkeepers with actionable data and tools to more effectively engage both employers and their employees. LDI-MAP (d.b.a. iJoin) is a registered investment advisor with the State of Arizona – 14646 N. Kierland Boulevard, Suite 125 Scottsdale, AZ 85254. Learn more at ijoinsuccess.com.

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My goal is to give patients access to innovative cosmetic procedures that can enhance their life and appearance. I am truly passionate about what I do, and it is an honor to be recognized as a Top Patient Rated Plastic Surgeon, says Dr. Christine Blaine

NEW YORK (PRWEB)
June 04, 2020

Christine Blaine, M.D., FACS, is a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in a wide spectrum of cosmetic and reconstructive surgeries for the face, eyes, nose, breasts and body. Dr. Christine Blaine’s exceptional reviews through reputable online sources have helped her earn this distinguished award from Find Local Doctors. Find Local Doctors is a user-friendly online directory, helping consumers connect with skilled physicians in their area who are well known for their expertise.

Blaine Plastic Surgery has medical offices located in Manhattan, Staten Island and Huntington, NY. Dr. Christine Blaine and her all-female staff welcome the opportunity to assist patients in looking and feeling their best, improving confidence and quality of life. Whether patients are considering a “Mommy Makeover” or need facial reconstructive surgery after a traumatic accident, Dr. Blaine and her medical team can help. Blaine Plastic Surgery offers an extensive menu of services, including surgical and non-surgical facial rejuvenation, body sculpting, breast surgery and intimate plastic surgery. Every procedure is personalized to achieve natural, lasting results. Dr. Christine Blaine has earned a stellar reputation as one of the best New York plastic and cosmetic surgeons. Dr. Blaine offers a compassionate approach and has had tremendous success creating stunning outcomes for her patients.

“My goal is to give patients access to innovative cosmetic procedures that can enhance their life and appearance. I am truly passionate about what I do, and it is an honor to be recognized as a Top Patient Rated Plastic Surgeon,” says Dr. Christine Blaine

More about Dr. Christine Blaine:

Christine Blaine, M.D., FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon with three New York offices in Huntington, Staten Island and NYC. Dr. Blaine graduated from Albany Medical College in 2005 and has been in practice for 11 years. She is well known and respected in the field of plastic surgery, specializing in both cosmetic and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Blaine frequently participates in research and is a published author in the Annals of Plastic Surgery. She has presented her work at national meetings, such as the Northeast Society of Plastic Surgeons and is an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons and the American Academy of Plastic Surgeons. Dr. Blaine’s mission is to treat the individual patient as a whole, providing the highest level of comprehensive cosmetic, plastic and reconstructive surgical and non-surgical care.

To find out more about the office locations and procedures offered at Blaine Plastic Surgery please call (631)-336-2984, or visit the website at http://www.blaineplasticsurgery.com.

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John Chiminski, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, Catalent

SOMERSET, N.J. (PRWEB)
June 04, 2020

Catalent, the leading global provider of advanced delivery technologies, development, and manufacturing solutions for drugs, biologics, cell and gene therapies, and consumer health products, today announced that John Chiminski, Chair and Chief Executive Officer, will join other R&D leaders to present during BIO Digital, which will take place on June 8 – 12, 2020.

On Tuesday, June 9 at 10 a.m. EDT, Mr. Chiminski will participate in the “Endpoints at BIO20” panel session, titled, “R&D Leadership During the Pandemic”. He will join panelists from Amgen, GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson and Takeda to discuss the structures they have put in place at their respective companies in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, how they have prioritized new programs, and the ways the experience will influence operations after the pandemic to improve ongoing working practices and efficiency

Mr. Chiminski joined Catalent in 2009 after more than 20 years of experience at GE Healthcare in engineering, operations, and senior leadership roles. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University and a master’s from Purdue University, both in electrical engineering, as well as a master’s degree in management from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.

As part of the conference’s scientific agenda, three of Catalent’s biologics experts will present on the company’s innovations and technologies. Graham Brearley, Ph.D., General Manager of Catalent’s biologics facility in Madison, Wisconsin will be joined by Jared Davis, Vice President of Technical Operations and Manufacturing at Arcturus Therapeutics, to present “How COVID-19 is Reshaping Vaccine Development: Innovations in Vaccine Technology and Manufacturing Partnerships,” which will be available on-demand to BIO Digital registrants from June 8. Dr. Brearley and Mr. Davis will discuss the recently announced partnership between the two companies that will enable and expedite scale-up to large-scale manufacturing for Arcturus’ COVID-19 mRNA vaccine candidate. They will also discuss how lessons learned during the pandemic can be applied to future vaccine development and supply.

During the BioProcess International Theatre, which will also be available on-demand, Julien Meissonnier, Catalent’s Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer, will present “Technology Integrators in Cell and Gene Therapy: Increased Efficiency and Standardization” and discuss how optimized methodologies such as Manufacturing by Design (MbD) have achieved accelerated progress through the clinical phases of development.

Additionally, Gregory Bleck, Ph.D., Global Head of R&D, Catalent Biologics, will present “GPEx Boost: A Novel Approach for High-Expressing CHO Cell Line Engineering,” and will explain how improvements to Catalent’s GPEx® cell line development technology can result in highly specific productivities, titers, and improved cell growth characteristics for most protein products.

Dr. Brearley joined Catalent in 2018 and has over 25 years’ technical, operations and business experience in the biopharmaceutical industry, having previously held senior leadership positions at companies including Shire, Sigma-Aldrich and Baxter. He has a bachelor’s degree in applied biology from Thames Polytechnic, U.K. and a doctorate in biochemistry from the Council of National Academic Awards.

Mr. Meissonnier leads the company’s scientific community and its customer advisory partnerships. He is responsible for Catalent’s new product development and technology innovation programs, and co-chairs the Catalent Applied Drug Delivery Institute that leverages emerging new therapeutic modalities. Mr. Meissonnier holds an engineering degree in physico-chemistry from the ENSI in Caen, France.

Dr. Bleck has more than 20 years of experience in biopharmaceutical research and development. He has a bachelor’s degree and doctorate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and performed postdoctoral work at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign working in the areas of gene regulation and expression. At Catalent, Dr. Bleck has transferred his knowledge of gene expression and transgenic systems to the development and continued optimization of retrovector expression systems and development of the proprietary GPEx process.

For more information about the event, please visit https://www.catalent.com/events/bio-digital/.

Catalent and GPEx are registered trademarks of Catalent, Inc. or its affiliates or subsidiaries.

About Catalent

Catalent is the leading global provider of advanced delivery technologies, development, and manufacturing solutions for drugs, biologics, cell and gene therapies, and consumer health products. With over 85 years serving the industry, Catalent has proven expertise in bringing more customer products to market faster, enhancing product performance and ensuring reliable global clinical and commercial product supply. Catalent employs over 13,500 people, including over 2,400 scientists and technicians, at more than 40 facilities, and in fiscal year 2019 generated over $2.5 billion in annual revenue. Catalent is headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey. For more information, visit http://www.catalent.com.

More products. Better treatments. Reliably supplied.™

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