Dr. Jennifer Hirshfeld-Cytron with Fertility Centers of Illinois

While we don’t have control over the future right now, holistic alternatives and virtual events give us the power to feel better, manage stress and improve overall mental outlook.

CHICAGO (PRWEB)
April 15, 2020

As a result of Covid-19, couples and individuals across the country have found their fertility treatments changed or canceled after fertility centers follow the latest guidance of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine with the goal of keeping patients, staff, and society as a whole safe from the virus.

Amidst the uncertainty of the pandemic, planned in-person events around National Infertility Awareness Week® (April 19 through April 25) have been cancelled. To honor those impacted by infertility and build awareness of the disease, Fertility Centers of Illinois will continue to recognize this important week through a series of web-based events offering insight as to how eastern holistic methods can help boost the physical and mental well-being of those looking to conceive in the future.

According to RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, one in eight couples experience infertility issues. Those pursuing treatment have likely spent months or years planning, saving, and scheduling procedures and appointments in the goal of building a family. Published research shows that stress is the primary reason why insured patients discontinue IVF before achieving success. Taking into account unexpected treatment changes and uncertainty around COVID-19, fertility patients are at an even higher risk of increased stress, anxiety, and depression.

Survey: How Have Holistic Options Helped You?

Holistic options can provide a positive solution to combat the challenging situation COVID-19 presents for those dealing with infertility. In a 2017 study by Fertility Centers of Illinois and Pulling Down the Moon, online yoga and group discussion was found to be just as effective at reducing stress compared to the in-person program option. After a six-week program consisting of weekly yoga and a 30-minute discussion, anxiety was reduced by 26% and 23% respectively.

In a recent Fertility Centers of Illinois survey of 890 women impacted by infertility, approximately 66% had used holistic or support options on their fertility journey such as massage, yoga, acupuncture, nutrition counseling, natural supplements, counseling and support groups. The most popular options included acupuncture (40%), natural supplements (35%), massage (29%) and yoga (24%). Respondents shared that these options helped with reduced stress (46%), improved mental well-being (39%), induced relaxation (27%) and enhanced fertility (16%).

“We know this is an especially trying time for those in the infertility community, and we want to do everything we can to offer hope and support,” states Dr. Jennifer Hirshfeld-Cytron, a board certified reproductive endocrinologist with Fertility Centers of Illinois. “While we don’t have control over the future right now, these holistic alternatives and virtual events give us the power to feel better, manage stress and improve overall mental outlook.”

Free Virtual Events During National Infertility Awareness Week:

To honor the week, Fertility Centers of Illinois is hosting the free virtual events below.

NIAW Virtual Conference presented by Beat Infertility (April 19-25)

The virtual conference will include presentations from our team on the following topics:

Choosing a Center w/Dr. Meike Uhler

Diagnosing Infertility w/Dr. Allison Rodgers

Fertility Medications w/Dr. Meike Uhler

Health & Wellness w/Dr. Hirshfeld-Cytron

IVF w/Dr. Allison Rodgers

Oncofertility w/Dr. Hirshfeld-Cytron

Yoga for Fertility w/Beth Heller of Pulling Down the Moon

Webinar: Why You Need Yoga for Fertility (April 22)

Webinar: How to Boost Fertility Naturally with Dr. Allison Rodgers (April 23)

To register for free virtual events or to learn more about infertility during National Infertility Awareness Week, visit http://www.fcionline.com/NIAW.

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Fertility Centers of Illinois (FCI) is one of the leading fertility treatment practices in the United States, providing advanced reproductive endocrinology services for over 30 years with more than 35,000 babies born. With an 11-physician team of nationally and internationally recognized doctors who treat thousands of patients each year, the practice has earned a reputation for medical and clinical excellence and continues to invest in the latest state of the art technologies and research. FCI offers a comprehensive range of fertility treatments with an emphasis on in vitro fertilization, third party reproduction, egg donation, gestational carriers, genetic embryo screening, and egg freezing/oocyte vitrification, allowing patients to receive all of their care at one center. As the premier and largest fertility practice in the Midwest region, Fertility Centers of Illinois serves patients in the Chicagoland region, northern Indiana, and southern Wisconsin. Patients receive individualized care with accommodating financial options and a free patient support program. Learn more by calling 877-324-4483 or visiting fcionline.com

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Community Coalition, Giving Back to Gyms Affected by COVID-19

I’m worried about the thousands of gyms that might close permanently around the country. So instead of pulling back, we’ve pulled together a coalition of like-minded brands committed to donating 50% of their profits from online sales to local gym owners.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (PRWEB)
April 15, 2020

Thousands of independently owned and operated gyms have been forced to shut down as a result of COVID-19. But an unexpected force, O2 Recovery Drink, has created a profit share program that could funnel millions of dollars to fitness professionals and gym owners to support them in a challenging time.

Those businesses and their owners now face indefinite closures and uncertainties. “This is a scary time,” said O2 founder and CEO, Dave Colina. “Like many companies, I’m concerned about the impact COVID-19 is going to have on our business, but even more so, I’m worried about the thousands of gyms that might close permanently around the country. So instead of pulling back, we’ve pulled together a coalition of like-minded brands committed to donating 50% of their profits from online sales to local gym owners.”

“I have no other words right now to express my gratitude. This is incredible,” said Teri Williamson, owner of Black Bull CrossFit. “God bless you.”

So far, the coalition has raised well into the six figures. One participating brand, Born Primitive, raised $186,641 alone through sales on their website. “Consumer behavior has changed drastically in recent weeks,” said Bear Handlon, co-owner of Born Primitive. “All brands and businesses are hurting right now. So while offering 50% of our profits might seem drastic, I think it is necessary to send the message to all the gym owners out there that the community has their back. No one is alone and we will get through this.”

Gym members from all over the United States have rallied in support of their gym owners and favorite instructors, and the proof is in the voice of the fitness community. So far, the number of people across the United States that have supported their local gym as a result of the initiative is nearing 10,000 and growing exponentially.

“This wasn’t a hard decision to make, it came down to doing the right thing for the community,” said Colina. “We have no plans of stopping and are currently exploring ways to expand O2’s impact and reach with other partners and brands. This is about supporting the people who got us to where we are today.”

Gym owners that have been forced to close because of COVID19 or Brand Owners who would like to join, may contact: chalkup@drinko2.com.

About O2

Now more than ever, people are working out like elite athletes, but not taking the time to recover like the pros. O2 is making recovery more accessible, enjoyable, and convenient to help solve that problem. Developed by a physician and a CrossFit® trainer, O2 is a non-carbonated, keto-friendly recovery drink blending oxygenated water with electrolytes to help athletes accelerate their recovery without compromising their health.

Spend less time recuperating and more time accomplishing. Check out drinko2.com for more info and follow @drinko2recovery on Instagram.

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TransAd, Inc

The surveys offer intelligence for public health decision-making, including equipment and human resource deployment.

LOS ANGELES (PRWEB)
April 15, 2020

TransAd is doing its part by donating advanced interactive survey technology to health organizations, such as state health departments, to poll citizens on a mass scale regarding the current state of their health as it relates to COVID-19. The patented technology embeds brief health surveys into online ads that are ubiquitously seen on the Internet 24/7. People can complete the survey within the ad. They are not routed to another website nor asked to download an app, thereby increasing the likelihood of an individual completing the survey.

“We’re in a race, and the quicker we harvest topline health data that gives the picture in real time of how a particular community is doing, the better armed we’ll be during this fast-moving pandemic,” said Soorena Salari, TransAd CEO. “The surveys offer intelligence for public health decision-making, including equipment and human resource deployment.”

In addition to collecting health data, the surveys provide consumers with guidance on possible action steps, such as calling a doctor, visiting an ER, or dialing 911. Mass online surveys have been proven to be effective in England and Israel and is currently being considered by U.S. public health and emergency organizations.

Get a TransAd demo here: covid19.transad.com

About TransAd

CEO and Founder Soorena Salari is a technology architect who has worked with leading enterprises such as TRW, AT&T, Bank of America, and EMI. He was granted a patent for the in-ad ecommerce software platform. TransAd’s “Transactional Ads” host the entire shopping or polling process — from interest to conversion — within the ad itself, thereby providing online shoppers an interactive and engaging experience right on the page where the ad is displayed. With TransAd, advertisers can significantly achieve higher conversion rates with verifiable customers. The platform is available in Lead Generation, Polling/Survey, and Ecommerce formats. To learn more, visit http://www.transad.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Shirley Gines

ZingPR — http://www.zingpr.com

shirley@zingpr.com 858.395.0888

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This charming companion is not focused merely on COVID-19 precautions but instead strives to develop an all-around healthy lifestyle through consistency, education, and friendly reminders.

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (PRWEB)
April 15, 2020

Today, Roybi Robot, the world’s first AI-powered smart toy that teaches languages and STEM skills to young children, launches a first-of-its-kind, patent-pending companion character named DOCBI: a “scientist friend” who helps children stay in good health —and high spirits.

Using cutting-edge AI technology, the DOCBI character will be integrated into various lessons and interactive games to help children practice good hygiene while assisting parents as they navigate through the current environment, communicating this crucial information to children in a positive way.

Developed with recommendations by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), the DOCBI character delivers messages created to teach young children, not just about issues related to the current times, but continued health, self-care, and well-being. Through playful and engaging content, DOCBI teaches problem-solving skills, the scientific method and other research-backed information surrounding children’s health.

“We’re thrilled to introduce DOCBI, who was created in just three weeks time, to the ROYBI world and into your child’s hearts,” ROYBI Founder & CEO, Elnaz Sarraf shares. “This can be a scary time for both adults and children alike and we love the idea of our friend DOCBI helping to lighten that load for all of us.” Practices from hand washing to healthy eating are reinforced in a very developmentally appropriate way with this new, friendly character. DOCBI reminds children to cover mouths when sneezing or coughing, to brush and floss teeth daily, and to drink water, among a multitude of other health-conscious reminders.

Roybi Robot is on track to become the global leader in speech recognition, cloud-based and offline real-time ASR intended to serve children all around the world. The ROYBI team is dedicated to developing innovative pedagogical practices through scientific research and digital ingenuity. With the addition of DOCBI, the ROYBI family introduces the first educational AI robot created to aid in the fight against COVID-19.

More information on DOCBI https://bit.ly/2VsRrAD

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Named by TIME Magazine as one of The Best Inventions of 2019, Roybi Robot is the world’s first AI-powered Robot that provides children 3+ with a personalized education based on their individual learning pace and interests, setting the foundation for a successful future. With over 500 lessons, including language learning, basic STEM, stories, games, and songs, Roybi Robot creates a fun and interactive learning experience for children. Using facial recognition and emotion detection, it initiates friendly interactive conversations and provides social-emotional support for children and as your child grows up, the AI assessment, helps ROYBI grow with them too!

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MCG is the healthcare industry leader in evidence-based, clinical guidelines.

“MCG continues to be a partner to all healthcare professionals through this time of need, and we want to stand with them as we face the most challenging healthcare event of our lifetime.” – Jon Shreve, MCG President and CEO

SEATTLE (PRWEB)
April 15, 2020

MCG Health, part of the Hearst Health network, announces it is providing access to six new evidence-based guidelines dealing with the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. Specifically, these guidelines address Acute Viral Illness and apply to patients with COVID-19. The new guidance is currently available at https://www.mcg.com/care-guidelines/coronavirus-covid-19-guidelines/.

Additionally, to help hospital systems respond to this crisis, MCG will be providing temporary access to selected guideline volumes deemed most helpful during the COVID-19 crisis. This access will be granted to both existing clients as well as non-licensing healthcare organizations. Finally, for organizations that are creating temporary facility expansions or “pop-up” locations to accommodate increased patient volumes, the new facilities can utilize the same MCG solutions licensed by their parent organization at no extra charge.

In this time of crisis, MCG felt it was important to act as a partner with the healthcare community and provide those resources that they have seen hospitals use to improve efficiency. Hospitals using MCG care guidelines have leveraged the evidence to (1) Determine the need for hospitalization and the appropriate level of care; (2) Optimize care delivery in the hospital by identifying and tracking daily milestones that are key to a patient’s recovery; (3) Evaluate the need for an extended stay in a hospital; (4) Assess the appropriateness for discharge to home or other recovery facilities.

Of the new guidance and support for hospitals, MCG President and CEO, Jon Shreve, said, “MCG continues to be a partner to all healthcare professionals through this time of need, and we want to stand with them as we face the most challenging healthcare event of our lifetime.”

To learn more about MCG visit http://www.mcg.com or call (888) 464-4746.

About MCG Health

MCG, part of the Hearst Health network, helps healthcare organizations implement informed care strategies that proactively and efficiently move people toward health. MCG’s transparent assessment of the latest research and scholarly articles, along with our own data analysis, gives patients, providers, and payers the vetted information they need to feel confident in every care decision, in every moment. For more information visit http://www.mcg.com or follow our Twitter handle at @MCG_Health.

About Hearst Health

The mission of Hearst Health is to help guide the most important care moments by delivering vital information into the hands of everyone who touches a person’s health journey. Each year in the U.S., care guidance from Hearst Health reaches 85 percent of discharged patients, 205 million insured individuals, 99 million home health visits and 3.2 billion dispensed prescriptions. The Hearst Health network includes FDB (First Databank), Zynx Health, MCG, Homecare Homebase, MHK (formerly MedHOK—Medical House of Knowledge) and Hearst Health Ventures (http://www.hearsthealth.com). Hearst also holds a minority interest in the precision medicine and oncology analytics company M2Gen. Follow Hearst Health on Twitter @HearstHealth or LinkedIn @Hearst-Health.

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“We are pleased to recognize Dr. Timothy Goodson as a UroLift Center of Excellence for his commitment to providing consistent care to BPH patients using the UroLift System treatment,” said Dave Amerson

PLEASANTON, Calif. (PRWEB)
April 15, 2020

NeoTract, a wholly owned subsidiary of Teleflex Incorporated (NYSE:TFX) focused on addressing unmet needs in the field of urology, today announced that Timothy Goodson, M.D., Arkansas Urology Group in Little Rock, AR, has been designated as a UroLift® Center of Excellence. The designation recognizes that Dr. Goodson has achieved a high level of training and experience with the UroLift® System and demonstrated a commitment to exemplary care for men suffering from symptoms associated with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate.

Recommended for the treatment of BPH in both the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology clinical guidelines, the FDA-cleared Prostatic Urethral Lift procedure using the UroLift System is a proven, minimally invasive technology for treating lower urinary tract symptoms due to BPH. The UroLift permanent implants, delivered during a transurethral outpatient procedure, relieve prostate obstruction and open the urethra directly without cutting, heating, or removing prostate tissue.

The UroLift Center of Excellence program is designed to highlight urologists who are committed to educating their patients on BPH and the UroLift System as a treatment option and consistently seek to deliver excellent patient outcomes and experiences.

“We are pleased to recognize Dr. Timothy Goodson as a UroLift Center of Excellence for his commitment to providing consistent care to BPH patients using the UroLift System treatment,” said Dave Amerson, president of the Teleflex Interventional Urology business unit. “This achievement has helped many patients experience durable, longterm relief from the burdensome symptoms of BPH while preserving sexual function*1,2.”

Over 40 million men in the United States are affected by BPH, a condition that occurs when the prostate gland that surrounds the male urethra becomes enlarged with advancing age and begins to obstruct the urinary system. Symptoms of BPH often include interrupted sleep and urinary problems and can cause loss of productivity, depression and decreased quality of life.

Medication is often the first-line therapy for enlarged prostate, but relief can be inadequate and temporary. Side effects of medication treatment can include sexual dysfunction, dizziness and headaches, prompting many patients to quit using the drugs. For these patients, the classic alternative is surgery that cuts, heats or removes prostate tissue to open the blocked urethra. While current surgical options can be very effective in relieving symptoms, they can also leave patients with permanent side effects such as urinary incontinence, erectile dysfunction, and retrograde ejaculation.

About the UroLift® System

The FDA-cleared UroLift System is a proven, minimally invasive technology for treating lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The UroLift permanent implants, delivered during a minimally invasive transurethral outpatient procedure, relieve prostate obstruction and open the urethra directly without cutting, heating, or removing prostate tissue. Clinical data from a pivotal 206-patient randomized controlled study showed that patients with enlarged prostate receiving UroLift implants reported rapid and durable symptomatic and urinary flow rate improvement without compromising sexual function*1,2. Patients also experienced a significant improvement in quality of life. Over 100,000 men have been treated with the UroLift System in the U.S. Most common adverse events reported include hematuria, dysuria, micturition urgency, pelvic pain, and urge incontinence. Most symptoms were mild to moderate in severity and resolved within two to four weeks after the procedure. The Prostatic Urethral Lift procedure using the UroLift System is recommended for the treatment of BPH in both the American Urological Association and European Association of Urology clinical guidelines. The UroLift System is available in the U.S., Europe, Australia, Canada, Mexico and South Korea. Learn more at http://www.UroLift.com.

About NeoTract | Teleflex Interventional Urology

A wholly owned subsidiary of Teleflex Incorporated, the Interventional Urology Business Unit is dedicated to developing innovative, minimally invasive and clinically effective devices that address unmet needs in the field of urology. Our initial focus is on improving the standard of care for patients with BPH using the UroLift System, a minimally invasive permanent implant system that treats symptoms while preserving normal sexual function*1,2. Learn more at http://www.NeoTract.com.

About Teleflex Incorporated

Teleflex is a global provider of medical technologies designed to improve the health and quality of people’s lives. We apply purpose driven innovation – a relentless pursuit of identifying unmet clinical needs – to benefit patients and healthcare providers. Our portfolio is diverse, with solutions in the fields of vascular and interventional access, surgical, anesthesia, cardiac care, urology, emergency medicine and respiratory care. Teleflex employees worldwide are united in the understanding that what we do every day makes a difference. For more information, please visit http://www.teleflex.com.

Teleflex is the home of Arrow®, Deknatel®, Hudson RCI®, LMA®, Pilling®, Rusch®, UroLift® and Weck® – trusted brands united by a common sense of purpose

For Teleflex Incorporated:

Jake Elguicze, 610.948.2836

Treasurer and Vice President, Investor Relations

Media:

Nicole Osmer, 650.454.0504 nicole@healthandcommerce.com

*No instances of new, sustained erectile or ejaculatory dysfunction

1. Roehrborn, J Urology 2013 LIFT Study

2.McVary, J Sex Med 2016

MAC00968-01 Rev A

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Creating the highest quality standardized botanical extracts

We’re excited about these dual innovations: the high quality of Euromed’s Olive Leaf Extract as made by our Innovation Center in Barcelona, and advancement of food safety.

BRIDGEVILLE, Pa. (PRWEB)
April 15, 2020

A study recently published in Nanoscale, 2020, a journal from the Royal Society of Chemistry, showed that the Olive Leaf Extract made by Euromed demonstrably inhibits the growth of the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. Traditionally, Olive Leaf Extract has been used as an herbal dietary supplement due to it containing oleuropein and other polyphenolic compounds which have been known to offer health benefits for blood pressure, heart health and the immune system. Now, this unique study brings the good news that in addition to enhancing human health, olive leaf extract may also be used as an antimicrobial to control potential foodborne pathogens.

The full title is “Natural flagella-templated Au nanowires as a novel adjuvant against Listeria monocytogenes” and its authors are Yanhong Liu, Renjie Du, Yuejun Qu, Phoebe X. Qi, Xingpin Sunand Min Zhao. The link to the complete study is: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32100780/?from_term=flagella-templated&from_pos=1.

Secondary plant substances, such as olive leaf extract, are gaining increasing attention as potential antibacterial and food preservative agents. These naturally occurring compounds possess diverse chemical structures, along with a wide range of biological activities, and are ideally aligned with continuing consumer trends seeking foods produced with natural ingredients.

Innovative Approach: Gold nanowires

Foodborne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes – often found in dairy products, vegetables, and ready-to-eat foods – can survive and grow in harsh conditions such as low temperatures. As such, the elimination of these bacteria is a significant challenge for the food industry.

In this current study, Dr. Yanhong Liu and her research colleagues did something very unusual: They synthesized gold nanowires using bacteria flagella as a template. Gold nanowires are highly effective catalysts that improve the efficiencies of secondary plant metabolites as bacterial inhibitors. The researchers were excited to find that Euromed’s Olive Leaf Extract inhibits the growth of Listeria monocytogenes completely. In addition, the gold nanowires demonstrated high electrocatalytic activity and showed NO mutagenic effect at the concentration used.

This can be profoundly good news: The gold nanowires fabricated in this work have the potential to be used as new antimicrobial packing materials to enhance food safety.

Plus, the potential here for olive leaf extract is enormous, as well.

There was a previously published study that showed promising results as well: Dr. Yanhong Liu and her fellow researchers investigated the antimicrobial effect of olive leaf extract against major foodborne pathogens, including Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enteritidis. The results showed that at a concentration of 62.5 mg/ml, olive leaf extract almost completely inhibited the growth of these three pathogens. Furthermore, it also inhibited biofilm formation in Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella enteritidis, and reduced cell motility in Listeria monocytogenes.

About EUROMED:

Founded in 1971 by the German pharmaceutical company MADAUS, Euromed is a leading producer of standardized herbal extracts and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) of botanical origin for the international pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, food, and cosmetic industries.

A biomass of more than 5000 tons is extracted at the company’s manufacturing facilities in Barcelona and in Murcia, Spain annually. The new production plant in Murcia further expands Euromed’s capabilities with eco-friendly technologies, such as one that uses a sophisticated water-based extraction method, Pure-Hydro Process™.

All extracts comply with worldwide GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) and international pharmacopoeias. Euromed has a long history of expertise in research and development, laboratory analyses, and extraction technologies. The company is committed to the highest quality standards in terms of analytical, chemical, and evidence-based therapeutic aspects. This experience is now available to the rapidly expanding global nutraceutical market, increasingly seeking scientifically evidence-based ingredients.

Euromed’s US office headquarters is located in Bridgeville, Pennsylvania. For more information, visit http://www.euromedusa.com or call 877-696-3960.

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