Category Archives: Health

What is new in the field of Health. Trending topics, and cutting edge research in the are of Health. Press Releases that give us updates on Health.

Health

Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization Elects New Board Chair and Adds New Board Members

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“I am honored to be elected Chair of the iBIO Board of Directors and look forward to continuing the great work of my predecessor, Marilyn Vetter. I am excited to work with the board and our members to advance policies that drive innovation, foster collaboration, and promote the growth of Illinois’ biosciences industry. And look forward to collaborating with stakeholders across the biosciences ecosystem to create a more resilient and inclusive community that delivers innovative solutions to patients,” said Ken Johnson, Chair, iBIO Board of Directors and Senior Vice President, Global Development and Medical Affairs, Xeris Biopharma.

About Ken Johnson, Xeris Biopharma

Dr. Ken Johnson is the Senior Vice President, Global Development and Medical Affairs of Xeris Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Johnson is responsible for leading clinical and nonclinical development, regulatory, quality and medical affairs to effectively generate high-quality scientific and clinical evidence for Xeris’ products to support product approval, advance clinical education and practice, inform policy, and improve health outcomes for patients.

Dr. Johnson has more than 30 years of professional experience in the pharmaceutical industry, pharmaceutical benefits management, and academia. Dr. Johnson was most recently Executive Director, US Medical Affairs for Hospital Specialty Products at Merck. Previously, Dr. Johnson held senior management positions in Medical Affairs and Outcomes Research at Circassia Pharmaceuticals, Durata Therapeutics, Horizon Pharma, Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America, NeoPharm, Searle/Pharmacia, and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

About Heidi Gilmore, TerSera

Heidi Gillmore is the Senior Vice President of Marketing / Strategic Planning at TerSera Therapeutics. Heidi has been with TerSera since the company’s inception in 2016 and has held several different commercial leadership roles during that time. Prior to TerSera, Heidi served as Vice President of Marketing at Crealta Pharmaceuticals, which was acquired by Horizon Pharma in 2016. Heidi also worked in marketing, market access and business development for TAP Pharmaceuticals and Takeda Pharmaceuticals North America. Heidi spent the early part of her career at Arthur Andersen in the supply chain technology services practice within the firm’s business consulting division.

About Joe Hrdlicka, Genentech

Joe Hrdlicka is the Senior Manager of State Government Affairs for Genentech. He’s responsible for several Upper Midwest states working with executive and legislative branch policymakers to develop favorable policy toward innovation and patient access toward innovative treatments. Hrdlicka was the executive director of the Iowa Biotechnology Association from 2014 to 2018. He served as chief executive of this 100-member organization of biotech companies where he was responsible for annual budgeting and direction of all operations including strategic planning, member communication, events and advocacy.

About Kevin Johnson, Amgen

Kevin Johnson is Senior Manager, State Government Affairs at Amgen, where he supports Amgen’s State and Local legislative and regulatory efforts and shapes the advocacy environment in 6 midwestern states. He is the Health Equity and Inflammation team lead, charged with developing the team’s State and Local educational and engagement strategies to demonstrate Amgen’s ongoing commitment to addressing health disparities.

About iBIO

The Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization (iBIO) is a life sciences industry association that represents the 91,000 life sciences employees in Illinois. iBIO promotes the industry’s value to the public and policymakers; connects innovators to investment and talent; stimulates collaboration and fosters the next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs to transform patient lives through groundbreaking research and works to grow the Illinois economy. To learn more about iBIO and its programs, visit http://www.ibio.org.

Media Contact

John Conrad, Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization, 1 3124221111, [email protected], http://ibio.org

SOURCE Illinois Biotechnology Innovation Organization

Health

StartUp Health Launches Global Alzheimer’s Moonshot with Support from the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF) and Gates Ventures

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The Alzheimer’s Moonshot Community is powered by StartUp Health and its Health Transformer University, an entrepreneurial mastery program and lifelong learning community for ambitious founders and funders who are solving the biggest health challenges of our time.

“There are over 55 million people worldwide living with Alzheimer’s disease, which is a complex, uniformly fatal disease, creating an urgent need to develop novel therapeutics and identify the combination regimens necessary to stop Alzheimer’s in its tracks,” notes Howard Fillit, MD, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer at the ADDF. “The ADDF welcomes the opportunity to partner with StartUp Health to launch the Alzheimer’s Moonshot as it is uniquely positioned to bring mission-aligned founders together to collaborate and innovate, accelerating much-needed breakthroughs in Alzheimer’s research.”

As part of the launch, StartUp Health announced that Dr. Phyllis Barkman Ferrell will serve as the Chief Impact Officer of the Alzheimer’s Moonshot and lead its Impact Board. Dr. Ferrell has three decades of related experience, most recently serving as the Global Head of Alzheimer’s and Neurodegeneration at Eli Lilly and Strategic Advisor to the Davos Alzheimer’s Collaborative. The Alzheimer’s Moonshot Impact Board will also include representatives from the ADDF, Gates Ventures, and a diverse group of stakeholders from industry, clinical medicine, academia, investment and patient and caregiver communities.

Initial funding to launch the Alzheimer’s Moonshot is provided by Gates Ventures and the DxA, which is a $100 million global research initiative dedicated to fast-tracking the development of biomarkers and diagnostic tools. The DxA aims to develop these tools to aid with the early detection and diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.

During the inaugural year of the Alzheimer’s Moonshot, StartUp Health is excited to invite twenty select innovative companies and research teams who are committed to advancing their solutions into the realm of commercialization and scalability to join the Health Moonshot Community. Recipients will be awarded Alzheimer’s Moonshot Fellowships to Health Transformer University, StartUp Health’s long-term program designed to accelerate health startups and novel technology solutions through early stages of growth from R&D through commercial scale.

Fellowship selection will be driven by the Alzheimer’s Moonshot Scorecard, a criteria and framework that will serve as the foundational measurement for the initiative. Developed in collaboration with the Alzheimer’s Moonshot Impact Board, the scorecard is at the center of a multi-step, data-driven process that ensures all prospective Fellowship awardees align on mission and mindset. The finalized scorecard will be made available to the public to help catalyze advancements in Alzheimer’s research and innovation.

“History has taught us that collaboration inspired by purpose can produce wonders,” says Unity Stoakes, Co-founder and President of StartUp Health. “Humans have already been to the moon and back; now let’s band together to supercharge this new era of progress for brain health and finally eradicate Alzheimer’s for good.”

Calling all Alzheimer’s-focused startups and research teams

Are you an academic founder, founder, startup or research team focused on Alzheimer’s innovation who would like to join the Alzheimer’s Moonshot? Discover more and submit your application at www.startuphealth.com/apply

Become an Alzheimer’s Moonshot Champion

Health moonshots, like the Alzheimer’s Moonshot, are fueled by mission-aligned families, foundations and industry organizations committed to solving big challenges. To explore how your organization can become part of the Alzheimer’s Moonshot (or one of our 14 global health moonshots) please reach out to us at [email protected].

For media inquiries, please contact [email protected].

About The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation (ADDF)

Founded in 1998 by Leonard A. and Ronald S. Lauder, the Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation is dedicated to rapidly accelerating the discovery of drugs to prevent, treat and cure Alzheimer’s disease. The ADDF is the only public charity solely focused on funding the development of drugs for Alzheimer’s, employing a venture philanthropy model to support research in academia and the biotech industry. The ADDF’s leadership and contributions to the field have played a pivotal role in bringing the first Alzheimer’s PET scan (Amyvid®) and blood test (PrecivityAD®) to market, as well as fueling the current robust and diverse drug pipeline. Through the generosity of its donors, the ADDF has awarded more than $270 million to fund over 730 Alzheimer’s drug development programs, biomarker programs and clinical trials in 19 countries. To learn more, please visit: http://www.alzdiscovery.org/.

About The Diagnostics Accelerator (DxA)

The Diagnostics Accelerator, created in July 2018, is a $100 million global research initiative from partners including ADDF Co-Founder Leonard A. Lauder, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, MacKenzie Scott, the Dolby family, the Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation, The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, among others, to develop novel biomarkers for the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

This research initiative is dedicated to accelerating the development of affordable and accessible biomarkers to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and advance the clinical development of more targeted treatments. Through translational research awards and access to consulting support from industry experts, this program will challenge, assist and fund the research community in both academia and industry to develop novel peripheral and digital biomarkers.

About StartUp Health

Since 2011, StartUp Health has been on a mission to solve the biggest health challenges of our time by creating and sustaining a global ecosystem of health moonshot communities. StartUp Health has provided support to more than 1,000 founders and contributed to the development of more than 500 health innovation companies. Our valued partners include The California Healthcare Foundation, The Helmsley Charitable Trust, The Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation and Gates Ventures in addition to nearly 100 families and mission-aligned organizations. Visit startuphealth.com.

Media Contact

Logan Plaster, StartUp Health, 1 410-980-0628, [email protected], www.startuphealth.com

SOURCE StartUp Health

Health: Mental Health

NEW DSX Sales Organization – a Welcome Collaboration of Products and Knowledge

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DSX Sales Team…Viewed as the Experts

Who wants to be sold by someone that is simply regurgitating marketing jargon? Too often, lack of depth of knowledge related to the product and the dental profession renders the wrong purchase decision or no decision. This produces neither the breakthrough operational processes nor the blockbuster business model practices need to stay relevant to patient’s demands.

Clinicians want to know how their investment in technology and equipment will solve their pain points and how it complements their current process. “Product knowledge is a key component of consultative selling and will distinguish the new DSX (Dental Solutions and Technology), sales organization from the rest.” commented Carlos Martinez, Senior Director of Sales for DENTALEZ

Today’s fast paced innovative marketplace requires sales professionals to not only know their product but know the dental practice ecosystem surrounding the product. The DSX sales organization’s knowledge about both the product and the dental industry gives you the clinician the ability to engage in deeper, more consultative conversations. These conversations are bound to be much more productive and collaborative than the typical transactional sale. This power of knowledge makes the sales cycle as seamless as possible allowing you to get back to your field of expertise… dentistry and enhancing patients’ quality of life.

Technology and people are a winning combination in which the best mix of branded product performance and human talent will make the real difference. Welcome the new DSX (Dental Solutions and Technology), organization. Find your rep at DSXsales.com.

ABOUT:

DENTALEZ:

DENTALEZ® is committed to providing state-of-the-art dental practice solutions for unlimited interconnectivity, choice and control. DENTALEZ has a proven history of providing tried-and-true dental products and equipment, while it continues to manufacture a full line of, technologically advanced front-to-back office solutions from well-known brands, including: Star®, Ramvac®, Forest®, Nevin™, Imagine + and Columbia Dentoform®. For more information, please visit www.dentalez.com.

Star Dental Handpieces:

Dental Handpieces with Serious Star Power.

DENTALEZ put the power of smart design in your hands with cutting-edge handpieces by Star. Our dental handpieces are designed to provide ample power and exceptional control for fast, precise results in every procedure, and now they’re an even smarter choice with Aeras Intel.

Ramvac Dental Utility Room Equipment:

Dental Utility Equipment that is Reliable, Quiet and Smarter than Ever.

Backed by industry-leading warranties, our comprehensive line of smart air and vacuum solutions provide the quality and reliability of the industry leader. Ramvac is equipped with Aeras Intel, making it the smart choice in utility equipment.

Forest Equipment:

Forest Dental Equipment Sets the Stage for a Positive Dental Experience.

A positive dental experience begins with an inviting, comfortable operatory and the Designer Friendly® Forest dental equipment line is the perfect place to start. Our equipment, from correct lighting to sturdy, ergonomic chairs, brings comfort and efficiency to your treatment room at an exceptional value.

Imagine+ Cabinetry:

A New Cabinetry Line that Delivers Everyday Style and Functionality.

Designed and engineered to deliver for any application. With a complete selection of colors and styles, Imagine+ is the new go-to cabinetry line.

Columbia Dentoform:

Dental Models for Student and Patient Education.

Quality begins with education. Trusted by dental schools, universities, training facilities, and laboratories across the globe, teaching aids by Columbia Dentoform allow students to perfect their techniques through realistic simulations and hands-on practice. Equip the next generation of dental professionals with the most trusted teaching aids and products in the dental industry.

Nevin Workstations:

Functional Dental Lab Equipment for an Orderly Workstation.

Create an orderly workstation with lab equipment from Nevin. For more than 85 years, Nevin has been creating components that provide the optimal environment for dental work, from clean air to ample lighting and fully equipped workstations. Nevin provides a range of workstations and workstation materials to accommodate a variety of applications and budgets. Our planners will be happy to help you select the best materials for your specific needs.

Porter, the Trusted Name in Nitrous:

For over 50 years Porter Instrument has been known as the “Trusted Name In Nitrous”.  Featuring the widest product portfolio in the dental and medical nitrous oxide and oxygen delivery system industry, Porter has built our reputation on safety, reliability, precision accuracy, and support.   

ILS Dental Cabinets :

Integrated Laminate Systems has been supplying the dental community with high quality custom and modular dental cabinetry for 30 years. Our philosophy is simple, offer a wide variety of products and support our customers and national sales force with highly trained designers, engineers, customer service and technical service representatives.

Media Contact

Karen Enright, Dental Solutions & Technology, 1 800-293-5206 1357, [email protected], dsxsales.com

SOURCE Dental Solutions & Technology

Health: Addiction

Slim Pickings: Finding Cost-Effective Obesity Solutions

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A shift to office work has reduced our energy use. Technology advances, automation, urbanization, cars and other energy-saving changes have also contributed. During the 1960s, half of all jobs required moderate intensity physical energy expenditure, whereas in 2010, fewer than 20% did.

Trends in Obesity: 1963 to 2018 (CDC)

Corpulent Costs

Obesity not only increases health risks and reduces quality of life and mobility; but also produces a significant economic impact. Two primary drivers behind this cost burden include medical care and productivity.

A 2021 study found that obese adults were burdened with medical costs $2,505 greater than individuals of normal weight. It found that obese individuals covered by public health insurance programs incurred more costs than average, adding $2,868 per year. Overall health care costs attributed to obesity in the United States were an estimated $261 billion in 2018 and 2.2% of gross domestic product in 2019.

Annual Health Spending: Obese vs. Not

Obesity is associated with lower work productivity and absenteeism. Research has identified material health-related productivity losses. Obese workers are overall less likely to be employed and suffer from other challenges that impair work efficiency. There is also an association between obesity and reduced motivation. Depression, poor self-image, loss of enjoyment and other related factors are all more common in obese persons compared to normal-weight counterparts.

Obesity Death Rate/100,000 Individuals (IHME)

Reclaiming the Spotlight

The search for an effective weight loss product has followed a winding path throughout the decades. Regulators have added and deleted products based on developing information. However, the rapidly-growing obese population demands robust solutions.

Glucagon-like peptide (GLP-1) agonists were first approved for Type 2 diabetes in 2005. They stimulate insulin production and inhibit glucagon release from the pancreas. GLP-1s also delay gastric emptying, which limits blood sugar volatility. Other GLP-1 agonists were later approved to address type 2 diabetes including semaglutide, liraglutide and dulaglutide. Researchers found that GLP-1 patients reduced food intake and lost weight. This led to additional studies and the 2014 approval of liraglutide for weight loss; however, its effectiveness was mediocre. In 2021, semaglutide (Wegovy) produced better outcomes, generating impressive results in a clinical study, angling the spotlight towards weight loss and GLP-1s. A recent Goldman Sachs report estimates the market could reach $100 billion by 2030.

Obesity Treatment

The first prescription to achieve weight loss is a change in diet and exercise. Avoiding high-sugar foods and consuming fresh fruits and vegetables are other interventions. Evidence shows regular physical activity can also be an effective complement.

For many, medicines may be necessary as diet and exercise are not enough. These are generally recommended for people with a BMI over 30 (obesity) or a BMI over 27 (overweight) with weight-related health conditions like diabetes or hypertension.

While the weight loss benefits of GLP-1s have attracted the eye of dieters, so has their burdensome price which can range from $800 to $1,350 per month. Except for the occasional billionaire, most patients are not able to afford the product without insurance. And many insurers have been reducing coverage due to cost. Combined with the shortage of GLP-1s, the need for alternatives becomes clear.

While recent interest in GLP-1 agonists such as Wegovy and Zepbound has rallied interest in the whole group and captured the limelight, there are many therapeutics available. Other prominent options include orlistat, phentermine hydrochloride & topiramate, and deoxycholic acid.

A literature review by Mital and Nguyen [1] found that, of the four leading anti-obesity drugs approved for pediatric use, phentermine-topiramate (Qsymia) was most cost effective. All [2] demonstrated similar, mild to moderate, adverse events. Of the four, only Qsymia generated an incremental cost effectiveness ratio (ICER) under payors’ standard threshold. Over a 30-year horizon Qsymia’s ICER advantage was even greater.

Weight Loss Medications

Summary

There is much to consider when addressing obesity. The health risks are well documented and can dramatically affect quality of life and wealth. While obesity’s solution is sometimes simplified to exercise and diet, these are frequently inadequate and further intervention is needed. Surgery or medications can help achieve weight loss but bear significant costs and side effects which must be balanced against outcomes. With the additional healthcare burden of obesity exceeding thousands of dollars per year, a balance between treatment cost and benefit is needed. This requires alternative approaches and comprehensive efforts that combine cost-effective medications with diet and exercise to reduce excessive obesity rates.

Extended version of article here with references.

[1] Mital, S., Nguyen, H. Cost-Effectiveness of Anti-obesity Drugs for Adolescents With Severe Obesity. JAMA Network. October 2023.

[2] Other medicines: orlistat, liraglutide & semaglutide

Media Contact

John Vandermosten, Unboxing Biotech, 1 (240) 778-4204, [email protected], unboxingbiotech.com

SOURCE Unboxing Biotech

Health

The World’s First Flaxseed Fiber Gummy

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These ancient civilizations didn’t just revere the fiber of flax. They also prized its seed, a nutrient-rich food source that is rich in fiber, essential fatty acids, and minerals.

We know even more about these benefits today, with studies suggesting that “Supplementation of the diet with milled flaxseed has many healthy benefits to the body”. (4) Yet it doesn’t appear as frequently in fiber products and superfood concoctions as it might (and perhaps should).

ColoFlax™ is one of the products bucking that trend. Created by ColoBotanix, it proudly calls itself the “World’s First Flaxseed Fiber Gummy”.

Gummies are all the rage these days, flaxseed has many proven benefits, and ColoFlax™ first appeared as recently as 2022, but despite all of those facts working against it, that statement is 100% accurate.

First, let’s see what Google has to say.

These are the first 25 results for “flaxseed fiber gummy” in the United States (see attached).

As you can see, some of these articles reference ColoFlax, which unsurprisingly ranks high for any variation of “flaxseed fiber gummy”. Many of them also reference products that contain flaxseed, albeit not in a gummy form.

And then you have the inevitable listicles that cover many different products, highlighting the “best” or the “most popular”.

If we put all of these (including the ones in the listicles) into a table, this is what we end up with:

  • Product Name
  • Does it Contain Flaxseed?
  • Is it a Gummy?
  • Total Number of Mentions

It’s an expansive selection, to say the least, and ColoFlax™ is clearly the only one that contains flaxseed fiber in gummy form.

In fact, fiber gummies in general are hard to come by. Excluding ColoFlax™, just 8 of the products listed above are in gummy form, and many of them contain only the most basic ingredients.

Fiber Well Gummy Vitamins, for instance, contains polydextrose, a synthetic polymer that’s used as a prebiotic fiber, as well as gelatin, sweeteners, and an array of additives.

Why is ColoFlax™ the World’s First Flaxseed Fiber Gummy?

Most fiber supplements contain Inulin (often from chicory root fiber) and psyllium husk. These ingredients are cheap and safe. They are also a good source of fiber.

Flaxseed has more nutrients and is arguably the better choice. Studies suggest that flaxseed could be more effective at treating the symptoms of constipation while assisting with weight, glycemic, and lipid control. (5)

But flaxseed isn’t the cheapest solution, and it also has a stronger flavor. The nuttiness of flaxseed makes it a great choice for salads, oatmeal, and other superfood dishes, but if you’re making a fruit-flavored gummy, it’s not easy to get the flavor or texture right.

The ColoFlax™ product spent many months in development. It underwent countless taste tests and trials. ColoBotanix sought a solution and it found one.

What is ColoFlax?

ColoFlax™ is a 3-in-1 fiber gummy that contains a blend of soluble and insoluble fiber, along with prebiotics and probiotics. A single serving (2 gummies) contains 5g of fiber, contributing to 20% of the average person’s daily value. Much of this fiber comes from flaxseed, but the ColoFlax™ proprietary fiber blend also contains inulin and arabinogalactan.

This fiber blend is supported by two other proprietary formulas: ColoShield® and ColoBiome®.

ColoFlax™

  • 5,000mg per serving
  • Organic Lignan-rich Flaxseed
  • Inulin
  • Arabinogalactan

ColoShield™

  • 3mg per serving (1 Billion CFU)
  • Lactobacillus Acidophilus
  • L. Plantarum
  • L. Brevis
  • B. Bifidum

ColoBiome™

  • 100mg per serving
  • Elderberry
  • Black Currant
  • Turmeric

Other Ingredients

In addition to the above, ColoFlax™ contains natural flavorings and thickeners to create a delicious tasting gummy. These include cane sugar and citrus pectin. The manufacturers have seemingly made a conscious effort to avoid sweeteners and artificial ingredients and to create something that is suitable for many diets. It is all-natural, gluten-free, and thanks to the omission of gelatin (a common ingredient in gummies) it is vegetarian-friendly.

How Does ColoFlax™ Compare?

We’ve established that ColoFlax™ is the world’s first flaxseed fiber supplement. And from the table above, you can see there are a lot of other fiber products on the market.

So, how does ColoFlax™ compare? What makes this product unique beyond the inclusion of one of history’s most potent food crops?

  • Convenient Gummies
  • Great Taste
  • Vegetarian and Gluten-Free
  • Lab Tested, GMP, and Made in the USA
  • A Synergistic and Complete Formula

Summary: The World’s First Flaxseed Fiber Gummy

Mahatma Gandhi once observed, “Wherever flaxseed becomes a regular food item among the people, there will be better health”. Flax has been grown, eaten, and used for thousands of years. It has an array of health benefits and is packed with fiber, lignans, and other healthy compounds.

Yet, flaxseed is often overlooked in favor of newer and “trendier” superfoods.

ColoFlax™ has brought these potent seeds back to the fore with its flaxseed fiber gummy. It’s a fruit-flavored, antioxidant-rich, fiber-full gummy. And as the tagline promises and this article proves, it really is the world’s first flaxseed fiber gummy.

At the time of writing, it’s also the only flaxseed fiber gummy, but as more consumers add these gummies to their daily routine and more manufacturers realize the benefits, it likely won’t stay that way for very long.

Media Contact

Sydney Farooq, ColoBotanix LLC, 1 813-327-5842, [email protected], https://coloflax.com

Sydney Farooq, ColoBotanix LLC, 1 813-327-5842, [email protected], https://coloflax.com

Twitter, LinkedIn

SOURCE ColoBotanix LLC



Health

Knowtex and 4D EMR Announce Groundbreaking Partnership to Revolutionize Clinical Workflow with Specialty-Specific Voice and Generative AI EMR System

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Dr. Robert Pollack, CEO of 4D EMR and a physician working for over 34 years, expressed his long-awaited anticipation for such innovation: “This partnership is the holy grail of doctor ease of use. As a physician, I’ve been eagerly waiting for voice and generative AI workflows like those from Knowtex. It’s a game-changer, allowing doctors to interact with EMR systems in the most natural and efficient way possible. This is the future of medical record-keeping.”

The integrated voice AI EMR system by Knowtex and 4D EMR is designed to understand the nuances of different medical specialties, offering tailored solutions that meet the specific needs of each practice area. This breakthrough will not only streamline documentation and data retrieval but also significantly reduce the administrative burden on healthcare professionals.

As part of this strategic partnership, both companies will continue to work closely to further innovate and refine their technologies, ensuring they stay at the forefront of the medtech industry. This collaboration is a shining example of how technological advancements can directly improve clinical workflows and patient care.

About Knowtex

Knowtex is a leading healthcare technology company specializing in voice and generative AI solutions which has revolutionized medical documentation and coding, making it faster, more accurate, and efficient. Founded in 2022 by Caroline Zhang and Jocelyn Kang, Knowtex is headquartered in San Francisco, CA and is backed by Y Combinator, Amazon Web Services (AWS), the UCSF Rosenman Institute, and MedTech Innovators among others. To learn more, visit www.knowtex.ai.

About 4D EMR

4D EMR is the next evolution of electronic medical record and practice management software for specialty physician practices. Built by a practicing plastic surgeon, the company’s cloud software is designed with an intuitive interface which meets the unique workflow requirements of its customers. 4D EMR allows specialty practices to streamline operations and improve the clinical experience of patients, staff, and doctors. For more information please visit https://4d-emr.com.

Media Contact

Robert Pollack, MD, 4th Dimension EMR, Inc, 1 (844) 878-2434, [email protected], https://www.4d-emr.com/

Caroline Zhang, Knowtex, 1 (858) 353-6696, [email protected], https://www.knowtex.ai

SOURCE 4th Dimension EMR, Inc

Health: Mental Health

Family Source Consultants is proud to celebrate 17 years of unwavering commitment, relentless passion, and shared successes on January 8, 2024

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Indeed, FSC has helped bring almost thirteen-hundred babies to happy parents globally and continues to diligently work with Intended Parents to build or expand their family. The agency is now recognized around the world as a leader in third-party reproduction as a comprehensive international gestational surrogacy and egg donation agency. FSC has served parents in over 34 countries, including the Europe, Australia, Asia, and the Americas, and continues to provide optimal services by matching gestational surrogates with intended parents through a diligent screening process. The agency boasts a 98% success rate for first-match meetings between surrogates and intended parents and an impressive 95% success rate overall: a statistic that sees nearly all its Intended Parents bringing home a baby via surrogacy.

But it’s not about the numbers, according to CEO and founder Staci Swiderski. Family Source was born out of a genuine desire to help others realize the joy of becoming moms and dads: a desire that is as strong today as it was then.

“I launched this agency out of compassion for helping hopeful parents create and grow their families,” Staci says. “But more than that, I wanted to operate an agency that leads with professionalism, compassion, and robust personal experience.”

That personal experience runs through the entire agency. Swiderski herself is a former Intended Parent, having grown her own family with the help of a surrogate. She later became a known (open) egg donor as a way of “giving back” to the world of third-party reproduction, which then inspired her to create Family Source Consultants.

With over 80% of FSC staff having had personal experience with third-party reproduction, clients are often able to work with a team member who has also been an egg donor, surrogate, or Intended Parent themselves. This shared connection and focus on empathy has certainly contributed to their being named one of the reasons FSC was named as one of the Best Surrogacy Agencies for the second year in a row by Very Well Family, an online parenting resource.

Swiderski says that FSC prides itself on quick and transparent communication, regardless of whether a client lives in the same state or on the other side of the world. Their staff includes speakers fluent in Spanish, French, German, Mandarin, and Japanese, and translators are sourced where necessary, ensuring all clients can communicate in their preferred language.

Inclusion is also central to the agency’s philosophy. FSC welcomes couples and individuals from all races, sexual orientations, and religious and ethnic backgrounds. Half of their clientele are same-sex couples, along with over 300 international clients in the past five years alone.

As demand for third-party reproductive services continues to grow, FSC is looking forward to helping more moms and dads realize their dreams for years to come.

For more information about Family Source Consultants’ Surrogacy and Egg Donation programs, please visit http://www.familysourceconsultants.com.

FSC is a proud member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, Resolve (The National Fertility Association), and SEEDS (The Society for Ethics in Egg Donation and Surrogacy). The agency also works with experienced psychologists, reproductive attorneys, and reproductive endocrinologists to provide even better service to their clientele.

For more information about Family Source Consultants’ Surrogacy and Egg Donation programs, please visit http://www.familysourceconsultants.com.

Media Contact

Cara Maple, Family Source Consultants, 1 3129892326, [email protected], www.familysourceconsultants.com

Twitter

SOURCE Family Source Consultants



Health

Nationwide facilities services company jumps into the fire in 2024

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“Our decision to launch the Fire and Life Safety Division exemplifies our commitment to pursuing services where our involvement enhances the results,” said Mark Rashkow, CEO and Chief Growth Officer at UmbrellaOne. “With Michael’s leadership, we are well-positioned to offer comprehensive facilities maintenance solutions that encompass every aspect of our clients’ safety needs.”

The expansion into the fire and life safety sector aligns perfectly with UmbrellaOne’s mission to provide reliable, cost-effective, and quality repair and maintenance services. By addressing the unique challenges multi-site clients face in the retail, restaurant, healthcare, and grocery industries, the company aims to streamline operations, minimize downtime, and create safer environments for its clients.

The Fire and Life Safety Division will offer a wide range of services designed to meet the needs of companies in today’s retail, restaurant, healthcare, and grocery vertical markets. These services will include inspections, maintenance, repairs, monitoring, and installations for the following systems:

  • Fire Alarm Systems
  • Fire Sprinkler Systems
  • Fire Extinguishers
  • Emergency Exit Lighting
  • Kitchen Hood Fire Suppression
  • Backflow Prevention Devices

For more information about UmbrellaOne’s Fire and Life Safety Division, please visit www.umbrellaone.com or contact Michael Vezinaat at 651-955-6173 or [email protected].

About UmbrellaOne – UmbrellaOne is a leading provider of facilities maintenance solutions, dedicated to delivering reliable and cost-effective services to clients in various industries. With a commitment to excellence and safety, the company’s expansion into the Fire and Life Safety Division demonstrates its dedication to meeting the evolving needs of its clients in the retail, restaurant, healthcare, and grocery vertical markets.

Media Contact

Michael Vezina, UmbrellaOne | Nationwide Facilities Services, 1 651-955-6173, [email protected], www.umbrellaone.com

SOURCE UmbrellaOne | Nationwide Facilities Services

Health

Sacrix Provides Safe Alternative to Risky Revision Spine Surgery, Publishing Groundbreaking Results in Renowned Spine Journal

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Study Objective:
Sacrix’s objective was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients suffering from sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pseudoarthrosis after failed direct lateral fixation. The study introduces a novel percutaneous lateral-oblique transfixation technique using two variable-threaded screws while preserving the original implants, providing a safer alternative to implant removal. “I was faced with the decision to remove the three lateral implants and leave massive holes in the ilium with the patient still suffering from SIJ pain. The Sacrix percutaneous LESS technique avoided this option and provided a better one,” says Dr. William Costigan, Chief Spine Surgeon at a major hospital in California.

Case Description:
Harvard-trained orthopedic spine surgeons detailed the Sacrix technique performed in patients with clinical symptoms and computed tomograms (CT) scans confirming SIJ pseudoarthrosis and loose implants. Patients, enduring preoperative pain for nearly two years before surgery, were discharged on the same day with minimal blood loss. Sacrix SacroFuse® screws, filled with NanoFuse Biologics synthetic bioactive glass and demineralized bone matrix (DBM), exhibited immediate stability and early fusion, resulting in a remarkable 89% decrease in the mean Visual Analog Score (VAS) from 9.5 to 1. Dr. Richard Francis, a pioneering spine surgeon in Houston, Texas, stated, “the Sacrix technique and device is the best option for this problem.”

Conclusions:
This groundbreaking report introduces the first-ever reconstructive surgery for revising failed direct lateral implants without removal, mitigating potential neurovascular risks associated with traditional approaches. The Sacrix technique offers immediate stability and documented long-term fusion, marking a significant advancement in outpatient orthopedic spine surgery. “We are humbled, as spine surgeons, to work collaboratively with engineers at KIC Ventures, to constantly innovate outpatient spine surgery technologies and techniques for outpatient surgery,” says Dr. Erik Spayde, Harvard-Trained Orthopedic Spine Surgeon, and Chief Medical Officer at KIC Ventures.

About Sacrix:
Sacrix, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nanisx LLC and KIC Ventures LLC, is dedicated to advancing outpatient surgical techniques and technologies to enhance patient outcomes. Embracing the proven Less Exposure Spine Surgery (LESS) philosophy introduced by Dr. Kingsley R Chin after his studies at Harvard Medical School and being Chief of Spine Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. Sacrix was FDA approved since 2015 and has been granted several USA patents. Sacrix continues to innovate, reshaping the landscape of sacroiliac joint spine surgery.

Media Inquiries
[email protected]
Visit: http://www.KICventures.com | http://www.NANISX.com | http://www.MySacrix.com 

Media Contact

Kingsley R Chin, MD MBA, NANISX LLC, 617-697-5442, [email protected], www.NANSIX.com

Aditya Humad, KIC Ventures, 267-342-3968, [email protected], www.KICventures.com

SOURCE NANISX LLC

Health: Psychology

Inspiring True Story of Overcoming Childhood Trauma and Rebuilding with Metal and Iron

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IFBB Bikini Pro shares her path to taking control of her life and healing her inner child

BRANDON, MB, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — On the surface, Laura Louise projects confidence and discipline, however this is not something that has always come easily to her. In her new book, “The Need to Nurture: Broken by Hearts of Steel, Rebuilt by Metal and Iron,” she reveals her difficult childhood that left her navigating layers of trauma and how she turned that trauma into success as a bodybuilding champion.

In this memoir about childhood trauma, abandonment, and abuse, Louise shares how she was a latchkey kid who learned how to protect herself by any means necessary.

“Over the years, the violence and head games persisted, leaving one painful scar after another,” Louise said. “As a latchkey kid, I was parenting myself and my brother, who I was only about two years older than. I was missing the parental aspect of nurturing. As a child myself, my role had been changed, and my needs as a child were stripped from me. I was always under a spotlight, criticized for my every flaw and mistake, no matter how minor.”

As she got older, and began to overwork herself as a distraction, pushing her goals further and further to the point that they were unreachable, just to keep her mind from being idle. It was once she turned her fear into fuel as an adult that she was able to turn a corner and begin to heal, turning to the gym as an outlet, and earning her IFBB pro card as a result.

“The need to nurture and the need to feel productive has fueled my purpose,” Louise said. “I couldn’t control my environment, so I decided to take control of myself and my body. I’ve competed in over 40 bodybuilding competitions. Now when I’m in the spotlight, it’s because I put myself there to show off my hard work.”

Louise plans to continue sharing her story in future books to help others who are looking to overcome their own traumas.

“The Need to Nurture: Broken by Hearts of Steel, Rebuilt by Metal and Iron”
By Laura Louise
ISBN: 9781665742139 (softcover); 9781665742122 (hardcover); 9781665742146 (electronic)
Available at Archway Publishing, Amazon and Barnes & Noble

About the author

Laura Louise is an entrepreneur in the fitness industry as well as the food and beverage community. She is the mother of four grown children and nine morkies. Married for over 33 years, she works toward creating a latchkey program for children. This is her first book. To learn more, please visit her Instagram or https://www.lauralouiseauthor.com/.

General Inquiries:            
LAVIDGE – Phoenix                        
Ashley Fletcher
[email protected]

Media Contact

Ashley Fletcher, LAVIDGE, 4809982600, [email protected] 

SOURCE Laura Louise