[We] see these results as a great advance, creating a new prevention option for people at risk for HIV who prefer not to take oral medication.

BOSTON (PRWEB)
May 18, 2020

Today ViiV Healthcare announced the interim analysis of the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 083 study evaluating the safety and efficacy of investigational, long-acting, injectable cabotegravir for HIV prevention. In the study, cabotegravir was found to be 69% more effective in preventing HIV acquisition in men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women who have sex with men when compared to the current standard of care, daily oral emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate 300 mg and 200 mg (TDF/FTC) tablets. Fenway Health was the only New England study site involved in this groundbreaking research.

The HPTN 083 study, with approximately 4,600 participants across more than 40 sites in North and South America, Asia, and Africa, is one of the first-ever clinical trials to directly compare two active prevention agents. In a planned interim review, the independent Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) found the study data clearly indicated that long-acting injectable cabotegravir was highly effective at preventing HIV in the study population. Among the 50 people in the trial who acquired HIV, 12 were randomized to the long-acting cabotegravir arm and 38 were randomized to the daily, oral TDF/FTC arm. This translated to an HIV incidence rate of 0.38% in the cabotegravir group and 1.21%  in the TDF/FTC group. Adherence to oral TDF/FTC was high, based on a random subset sampling that detected tenofovir in 87% of all samples tested. Despite this high level of adherence to oral therapy, long-acting cabotegravir was 69% more effective than TDF/FTC in preventing HIV acquisition in the study population.

“As one of the first centers in the world to study the use of antiretroviral medication for HIV prevention, Fenway Health is gratified to see HPTN 083 ending early because of the high level of efficacy of injectable cabotegravir in protecting participants against HIV,” said said Dr. Kenneth Mayer, Medical Research Director at Fenway Health and Co-Director of The Fenway Institute. “Fenway Health was the only site in New England to enroll participants in this landmark study, and see these results as a great advance, creating a new prevention option for people at risk for HIV who prefer not to take oral medication.”

Following review of these findings, the DSMB recommended the blinded, randomized portion of the study be stopped early and results released. Participants who were in the TDF/FTC arm will be offered CAB LA and participants in the CAB LA arm will continue to receive it. Participants who do not want to receive CAB LA will be offered TDF/FTC until the end of the originally planned blinded component of the study. The DSMB decision was approved by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the study sponsor. The HPTN 083 study enrolled HIV-negative men who have sex with men and transgender women who have sex with men, participants considered at risk for HIV acquisition. Two-thirds of study participants were under 30 years of age, and 12% were transgender women. Half of the participants in the United States identified as black or African American.

“These study results demonstrate that long-acting injectable cabotegravir dosed every two months can successfully reduce HIV acquisition in at-risk MSM and transgender women,” said Kimberly Smith, M.D., Head of Research & Development at ViiV Healthcare. “We are thrilled with the results not only because of the high efficacy of cabotegravir but also because we have demonstrated high efficacy in a study that adequately represents some of the populations most disproportionately impacted by HIV — black MSM in the US, young MSM globally and transgender women. We continue to be focused on the completion of the HPTN 084 study, which will give us important information about the effectiveness of cabotegravir in women. New options are needed for HIV prevention that offer an effective alternative to daily oral PrEP. If approved, this long-acting injectable has the potential to be a game-changer for HIV prevention by reducing the frequency of dosing from 365 days to six times per year.”

Since 1971, Fenway Health has been working to make life healthier for the people in our neighborhoods, the LGBTQIA+ community, people living with HIV/AIDS and the broader population. The Fenway Institute at Fenway Health is an interdisciplinary center for research, training, education and policy development focusing on national and international health issues.

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Dr. Agalliu’s innovation shows how the antibodies get into the brain, using previously undiscovered mechanisms in the olfactory system. -Diana Pohlman, Director of the PANDAS Network

WASHINGTON (PRWEB)
May 18, 2020

New research has discovered a previously unknown mechanism through which certain infections can impact the brain causing post infectious encephalitis. The work was conducted to determine if PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) and PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome) could adversely attack the central nervous system and create brain inflammation as well. PANDAS and PANS cause devastating symptoms, which can include a sudden, dramatic onset of obsessive compulsive disorder, or severely restrictive food intake, together with severe anxiety, depression, tics, neurological conditions, sleep disturbances, and a host of other psychiatric behaviors.

PANDAS and PANS afflict roughly one in every 200 children in the U.S. The conditions are caused by an autoimmune reaction triggered by infections such as strep throat, walking pneumonia, viruses and Lyme disease, which result in inflammation of the child’s brain.

Research conducted by Dr. Dritan Agalliu in the Department of Neurology at Columbia University Irving Medical Center, reveals that immune cells responding to strep throat bacteria and likely other infections can travel through nasal passages up into the brain area called the olfactory bulb, where they damage the blood-brain barrier in mice. Compromising that barrier — which is meant to keep molecules out of the brain that don’t belong there — allows autoantibodies to enter and inappropriately attack healthy brain cells and damage blood vessels. That attack causes neuroinflammation and neuronal dysfunction, leading to the abrupt onset of severe neurological and/or psychiatric symptoms.

Dr. Agalliu was investigating autoimmune encephalitis (AE), a group of central nervous system disorders. Specifically, he was probing the mechanisms that cause post-infectious basal ganglia encephalitis (BGE) disorders, a subset of AE that is triggered by either bacterial, viral or fungal infections. The basal ganglia are in an area of the brain associated with regulating functions such as motor movement, cognitive and emotional response, and procedural learning.

“The loss of taste and smell in BGE patients was an unexpected clue,” said Diana Pohlman, director of the nonprofit PANDAS Network. “Dr. Agalliu’s innovation shows how the antibodies get into the brain, using previously undiscovered mechanisms in the olfactory system.”

In honor of the children and adults who have suffered from AE, the PANDAS Network sponsored the development of an animated video — “How Immune Response to Infection Triggers Basal Ganglia Encephalitis Through the Breakdown of the Blood-Brain Barrier” — to illustrate the mechanism discovered by Dr. Agalliu’s research.

“As we explain in the video, early diagnosis and treatment is imperative for this complex patient population,” added Pohlman. “We hope this video helps healthcare providers better understand the neurological processes causing the disturbing and confusing symptoms these patients often present with that are often misdiagnosed, which can include crippling OCD, tics, inability to eat and in some cases periods of intense seizure-like rage and breaks from reality.”

The free video is available for viewing online here.

This research was funded by a RO1 Grant from the National Institute of Mental Health.

About PANDAS Network

PANDAS Network is dedicated to improving the diagnosis and treatment of children with PANDAS (Pediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorders Associated with Streptococcal Infections) and PANS (Pediatric Acute-onset Neuropsychiatric Syndrome). Armed with an impressive network of doctors, researchers and scientists, PANDAS Network strives to collaborate with subject matter experts, build public awareness, provide family support, and gather data and resources to better inform parents and the medical community about PANDAS and PANS. To learn more or donate, visit http://www.pandasnetwork.org.

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MOBILE, Ala. (PRWEB)
May 18, 2020

Decades of studies have shown the life expectancy for people living with serious mental illness is 25 years less than the rest of the population. Contributing factors include deficits in primary and preventative medical care, lack of health insurance, under-recognition of illness, inadequate treatment, the individual’s resistance to care, and being compliant with treatment. For many of the same reasons, people with mental illness are twice as likely to spend more time behind bars.

As a behavioral healthcare provider, AltaPointe Health must help find solutions to reverse high mortality and incarceration rates.

The Stepping Up Initiative is one program put in motion to turn the tides. AltaPointe partnered with the Alabama Department of Mental Health for guidance and technical support. Stepping Up is a national initiative to reduce the number of people with mental illnesses in jails. It links individuals to treatment and resources using a community approach in hopes of breaking the cycle of repeat incarceration of mentally ill people. Case managers identify individuals who are not a threat to the community but have frequent contact with law enforcement and local emergency departments.

The month of May is deemed a month of action for the Stepping Up Initiative. To raise awareness about the initiative and promote good physical health for people with mental illness, AltaPointe plans to hold a Zumbathon. It will take place Monday, May 18, at Medal of Honor Park in Mobile at the Pavillon from 6 p.m to 7:30 p.m.

Launched in May 2015 by the National Association of Counties, the Council of State Governments Justice Center, and the American Psychiatric Association Foundation, more than 425 counties across 43 states have signed on to join the Stepping Up Initiative. For more information on AltaPointe’s Stepping Up Initiative, you can call (251) 327-0794.

AltaPointe Health is Alabama’s largest and most comprehensive health and human services organization and psychiatric hospital system. It is the second largest in the southeastern US serving Mobile, Baldwin, and Washington counties in south Alabama and Clay, Coosa, Randolph, and Talladega counties to the north. Each year it provides mental health, substance abuse, and intellectual disability, and primary services to more than 35,000 children and adults.

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Kenalls Indigo-Clean: safe, proven disinfection lighting.

Patrick Marry, President of Kenall, stated, “Kenall is moving into our next phase of championing disinfection using safe wavelengths of visible light. Sublicensing Strathclyde’s core patents using the Indigo-Clean brand will further expand the use of this unique, life-saving technology.”

KENOSHA, Wis. (PRWEB)
May 18, 2020

Kenall Manufacturing has licensed visible light disinfection patents to Pinnacle Architectural Lighting of Denver, Colorado. Both lighting companies are part of Legrand North and Central America.

The patent licenses will allow Pinnacle to provide Indigo-Clean® visible light disinfection across a broad range of their product line, using the core disinfection patents from the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. Indigo-Clean employs visible light to disinfect and is safe for continuous human exposure.

Patrick Marry, President of Kenall, stated, “Kenall is moving into our next phase of championing disinfection using safe wavelengths of visible light. Sublicensing Strathclyde’s core patents using the Indigo-Clean brand will further expand the use of this unique, life-saving technology.”

Cameron Cole, President of Pinnacle, stated, “Pinnacle is pleased to be at the forefront of bringing disinfection lighting to a broader market. This is a natural benefit of both lighting companies being part of Legrand.”

Kenall and Pinnacle are leading manufacturers of specialized solid-state lighting equipment and controls as part of Legrand’s Lighting Sector. The companies focus on architectural and specification-grade lighting for offices, education, healthcare, laboratories and many other critical environments. To learn more about Legrand North and Central America, visit http://www.legrand.us.

Indigo-Clean is a registered trademark of Kenall Manufacturing, Inc.

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“I’m honored to be selected to work with this incredibly talented group of attorneys to lead this nationwide litigation,” said Ms. Miller.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (PRWEB)
May 18, 2020

Cory Watson attorney Lauren S. Miller has been named to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC) for In Re: Zantac (Ranitidine) Products Liability Litigation, the multidistrict litigation involving Zantac medication linked to cancer.

Ms. Miller is one of 20 attorneys appointed by U.S. District Judge Robin L. Rosenberg to the PSC out of 62 applicants. The PSC will continue to investigate and develop the Zantac (ranitidine) claims. The committee also oversees the coordination, preparation, and presentation of the cases.

“I’m honored to be selected to work with this incredibly talented group of attorneys to lead this nationwide litigation,” said Ms. Miller.

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation established MDL 2924 in February, consolidating defective drug liability cases involving Zantac in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Over 200 cases have been filed in the federal MDL, with thousands more expected to be filed against the manufacturers and distributors of Zantac and ranitidine.

The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation established the MDL in February consolidating 140 lawsuits. The litigation is In Re: Zantac Ranitidine Products Liability Litigation, case number MDL 2924 and is located in the U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida.

About Lauren S. Miller

Lauren S. Miller joined Cory Watson Attorneys in 2015 and is licensed to practice law in the state and federal courts of Alabama. Ms. Miller primarily focuses her practice on personal injury and represents plaintiffs in complex litigations involving dangerous pharmaceutical drugs, medical devices, and consumer products.

In addition to her complex litigation practice, Ms. Miller represents clients in individual personal injury claims and pursues justice for sexual assault survivors.

Ms. Miller’s experience includes serving on the discovery, expert, and Daubert committees in In Re: Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate) and Cialis (Tadalafil) Products Liability Litigation (MDL 2691) where she was part of a six-attorney team from multiple law firms across the country that presented expert witnesses and scientific evidence in a four-day causation hearing in federal court in San Francisco, California. She was also recently part of a national team that favorably resolved over 500 cases against a well-known medical device manufacturer for individuals injured by the company’s defective device.

About Cory Watson Attorneys

Cory Watson Attorneys is a nationally recognized personal injury law firm with offices in Birmingham, Alabama, and Nashville, Tennessee. The firm has recovered more than $2.7 billion for clients across the country. Attorneys are frequently at the forefront of major class actions and multidistrict litigations involving dangerous pharmaceuticals and product liability, and are often appointed to leadership positions in national cases. Firm practice areas include Personal Injury, Product Liability, Class Action, Asbestos, Business & Commercial Litigation, Dangerous Pharmaceuticals, Defective Medical Devices, and Environmental/Toxic Torts. To learn more, visit CoryWatson.com.

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Dental Care Alliance + Safe Smiles Initiative

“DCA, thanks to its strong leadership, acted much more rapidly to COVID-19 than others and has continued to lead the way for affiliated offices more effectively than, in my opinion, any individual or group of dental practices,” commented Bryan Laskin, DDS, of Lake Minnetonka Dental in Minnesota.

SARASOTA, Fla. (PRWEB)
May 18, 2020

Dental Care Alliance (DCA) today revealed a comprehensive new program to support its partner doctors in the safe operation of their practices in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. The Safe Smiles Initiative provides step-by-step processes and training on new safety protocols, so that patients can visit a DCA-affiliated practice with confidence.

Utilizing detailed guidelines provided by the CDC, ADA, OSHA, and state dental boards, a cross-functional leadership team was assembled to launch the Safe Smiles Initiative and develop a comprehensive playbook that allows supported practices to safely welcome back staff and patients. Effort was made to make the Safe Smiles Playbook and Training thorough and easy to follow, removing the uncertainty of how to reopen and treat patients safely in a rapidly changing environment.

With many dental providers struggling to understand how to operate in uncertain times, Dental Care Alliance has proactively developed extensive operating manuals, secured Personal Protective Equipment, and conducted hundreds of required training sessions for 100% of its affiliated team members.

“Having DCA as a business partner during this unprecedented tragedy has provided a wealth of support, expertise, and teamwork I could never have experienced as a sole practitioner,” explains Todd Jorgenson, DMD, East Valley Implant & Periodontal Center. “I am happy to have somewhere to turn for solutions I could not possibly offer on my own as a single proprietor.”

Bryan Laskin, DDS, of Lake Minnetonka Dental concurs, “As a dentist that is actively engaged in entrepreneurship and leadership programs, I have seen many different businesses respond to this unprecedented crisis that we are all living through. DCA, thanks to its strong leadership, acted much more rapidly to COVID-19 than others and has continued to lead the way for affiliated offices more effectively than, in my opinion, any individual or group of dental practices.”

As part of the Safe Smiles Initiative, patients will notice enhanced safety measures such as phone screening before appointments, curbside check-in, and required temperature checks before entering the office. They will be treated by team members who are screened twice daily and who wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. In addition, all patient equipment will be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected between patients to maintain a safe environment. Additional details of the initiative are explained in an informative patient video on the DCA website, at https://bit.ly/dca-safe-smiles-initiative.

“Having a support center that is constantly evaluating the situation and guiding us how to respond and communicate to our teams has been key to navigating this crisis. I believe that, due to the immediate response and ongoing direction we are receiving from the support center, DCA offices will come out of this environment much stronger,” Laskin adds.

For further information regarding the Safe Smiles Initiative and Dental Care Alliance, please contact Shawn Wherry, Vice President of Marketing, at swherry@dentalcarealliance.com.

Founded in 1991 and headquartered in Sarasota, FL, Dental Care Alliance supports more than 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 advance the practice of dentistry by partnering with and supporting dental professionals to create a lifetime of healthy smiles.

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GILBERT, Ariz. (PRWEB)
May 18, 2020

According to a study led by Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health(1), and published in the journal, Circulation, women who drink four or more sugar-sweetened beverages per day not only increase the risk of diabetes, but also have an increased risk of cardiovascular death.

Another recent study(2) published by the American Heart Association (AHA) found that women who drank two or more artificially sweetened drinks daily were 31% more likely to have a clot-based stroke, 29% more likely to have heart disease and 16% more likely to die from any cause than women who drank low- or no-calorie drinks fewer than once a week or none at all. And yet, the AHA4 says that Americans are striving for less sugar in their diets.

Some alarming statistics were recently released: Consuming more sugary or artificially sweetened beverages is linked to a higher risk of type 2 diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association(3). At least one additional half-serving increases that risk by 16%, but when the sugary or artificially sweetened drink is replaced by water, coffee or tea, the risk drops to as low as 2%, according to the study. Researchers analyzed data from 80,647 women participating in the Nurses’ Health Study (1980-2014) and from 37,716 men in the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (1986-2014). For both studies, participants answered questionnaires about lifestyle factors and health status every two years.

“The American Heart Association recommends a daily added sugar limit of no more than 9 teaspoons/36 grams for men and 6 teaspoons/24 grams for women and children ages 2 through 18; zero added sugar to children below the age of 2,” said Carol May, CEO of Wisdom Natural Brands®, maker of SweetLeaf® Sweeteners. “While one 12-ounce soda (nearly 10 teaspoons/39 grams of sugar) a day exceeds the recommended amount of added dietary sugars, SweetLeaf provides a zero calorie, no artificial sweeteners, no sugars option for those wanting to reduce added sugars in foods and beverages—with all the great taste and desired sweetness.”

“The first, easy step to adopting a better diet is to start by reducing added sugars in your foods, beverages, and recipes,” says May. “No matter what diet you are following, using a sweetener to keep the taste you desire with zero calories and no sugars is a very simple but effective beginning to a healthier lifestyle.”

SweetLeaf Sweeteners are a plant-based sugar alternative that will reduce added sugar intake without losing the sweetness. With zero calories, zero carbs, no sugars and no artificial sweeteners, SweetLeaf adds award-winning taste without the negative health effects of added dietary sugars. From SweetLeaf’s natural and organic packets to fruit-flavored Water Drops® for a delicious upgrade to still or sparkling water to 16 flavors of Sweet Drops® in everyday beverages and foods, SweetLeaf provides endless options to reduce or eliminate added dietary sugars.

SweetLeaf has developed a conversion chart on its website to help make that change.

For more information about SweetLeaf, visit SweetLeaf.com. For product home delivery go to: Shop.SweetLeaf.com

1 ”Higher consumption of sugary beverages linked with increased risk of mortality.” https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/news/press-releases/sugary-beverages-linked-with-higher-risk-of-death/, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, March 2019, accessed April 2020.

2 “Artificially Sweetened Beverages and Stroke, Coronary Heart Disease, and All-Cause Mortality in the Women’s Health Initiative.” https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/STROKEAHA.118.023100, American Heart Association Journals, February 14, 2019, accessed April 2020.

3 “Changes in Consumption of Sugary Beverages and Artificially Sweetened Beverages and Subsequent Risk of Type 2 Diabetes: Results From Three Large Prospective U.S. Cohorts of Women and Men.” https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/42/12/2181.long, American Diabetes Association, December, 2019, accessed April 2020.

For interviews with company leadership, please contact the name listed at the bottom of the release.

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About WISDOM NATURAL BRANDS®, maker of SweetLeaf Sweeteners

Wisdom Natural Brands®, based in Gilbert, Ariz., has been the leading stevia expert and industry pioneer with its plant-based SweetLeaf®Sweeteners brand for more than 35 years. SweetLeaf is the only stevia brand winning 36 awards for taste and innovation. SweetLeaf Organic Monk Fruit is a 1:1 sugar replacement and available in granular, squeezable, and liquid drops, totalling 18 products. SweetLeaf Sweeteners have zero calories, no sugars, a non-glycemic response, and no artificial ingredients. SweetLeaf Stevia is sold in boxes containing 35 or 70 packets and shaker jars (organic or natural) for easy home use. SweetLeaf Liquid Stevia Sweet Drops®add flavor without calories, no sugars, or artificial sweeteners to foods, beverages, and recipes. Organic Sweet Drops are available in three popular flavors: English Toffee, Vanilla Crème, and SteviaClear®. SweetLeaf Stevia Water Drops®add delicious flavor to still or sparkling water. New Better than Sugar!®powdered and granular, natural and organic, is a sugar replacement measuring cup-for-cup like sugar—without any of the calories or carbs and no sugar. SweetLeaf Sugar-Free Stevia Syrup, in three popular flavors, brings the incredible sweetness of stevia and monk fruit, with only 70 calories per serving. Wisdom introduced herbal blends made from Yerba Maté through its Wisdom of the Ancients®brand, one of the most respected herbal lines in the natural industry. Wisdom of the Ancients herbal blends are available in bags and loose leaves and come in a variety of beneficial flavors. And new no-sugar, zero-calorie Yerba Maté Energy Shots, available in regular and orange flavors, provide energy with 200 nutrients and 100% naturally occurring caffeine. SweetLeaf Sweeteners and Wisdom of the Ancients’ products are available at: Shop.SweetLeaf.com, health food stores, natural groceries, supermarkets, and online retailers.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Barbara McFadden    

McFadden/Gavender

O: (520) 882-6262

M: (520) 990-6040

barbara@mcfaddengavender.com

Website:

SweetLeaf.com

WisdomNaturalBrands.com

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