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The state Department of Health announcement Tuesday that all Pennsylvania residents 65 years and older are eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine is good news in this ongoing battle against a pandemic that has claimed more than 400,000 lives in the U.S. in the past 10 months.

But expanding the eligibility doesnt get the preventative medicine in peoples arms. As long as a majority remain unvaccinated, the virus will continue spreading -- at an even faster rate with mutations that are taking hold.

The lags in getting vaccinated are for the most part due to supply and demand. In a state like Pennsylvania where 2.27 million people are over 65, there are just not enough doses. So far Pennsylvania has received only about 900,000 doses, according to the state Department of Health.

While that news is frustrating, there is encouragement that supplies will be replenished as manufacturing ramps up as additions from drugmakers AstraZeneca and Johnson & Johnson are expected to get FDA review and enter the pipeline in coming weeks.

And it is inevitable that states and counties will get better at the distribution and availability of vaccine, as well as boosting the signup capability. Right now, systems are crashing and people are waiting hours just to get access to websites to register for appointments.

However, what is even more troubling as thousands wait for the chance to be vaccinated is the reluctance among those who can get the vaccine and the skepticism being spun by naysayers.

In Berks County, Phil Salamone, public information officer of the Berks County EMS COVID-19 Joint Task Force and director of operations for Lower Alsace Ambulance, estimated there are 300 to 400 total workers in the ambulance crews in Berks and about a third of them "simply aren't interested in obtaining the vaccine."

Some of the reasons for refusing the vaccine might be that younger people don't believe getting COVID will do them much harm, while other people have heard of side effects that are simply rumors and have no basis in science; those who had COVID believe they are immune anyway, and some people simply bristle at what they consider to be a herd mentality.

"The message needs to be that if we're going to get through this pandemic we need to vaccinate as many people as possible. We wouldn't recommend something if the benefit didn't outweigh the risk," Dr. Robert J. Tomsho told The Reading Eagle. Tomsho is medical director of the emergency medicine institute, Lehigh Valley Health Network, and oversees training for ambulance crews.

The Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are essentially 100 percent effective against serious disease, Dr. Paul Offit, the director of the Vaccine Education Center at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, told David Leonhardt for The New York Times "The Morning" newsletter. Its ridiculously encouraging.

These vaccines are among the best vaccines ever created, with effectiveness rates of about 95 percent after two doses, Leonhardt wrote. If there is an example of a vaccine in widespread clinical use that has this selective effect prevents disease but not infection I cant think of one! Dr. Paul Sax of Harvard has written in The New England Journal of Medicine, dismissing speculation that getting a vaccine won't stop the spread.

"The risks for vaccinated people are still not zero, because almost nothing in the real world is zero risk. A tiny percentage of people may have allergic reactions. But the evidence so far suggests that the vaccines are akin to a cure," Leonhardt wrote.

Concerns are reported to be even more widespread among low-income and people of color, even though those populations have suffered the most cases and deaths. Officials in Montgomery County addressed those concerns head-on Thursday night in a town hall with Black church leaders encouraging their communitiues to participate and air their concerns.

The lack of supply, lack of an orderly and well-communicated system of distribution, and misinformation about vaccine safety have all contributed to diminishing the initial excitement that followed the approval of vaccines. The value, however, is as important as ever.

A few decades ago, the nation underwent a rollout of another vaccine that successfully eradicated polio, and then more vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella all of them having dramatic effect on public health and saving thousands of lives. This rollout needs to proceed with the hopeful enthusiasm that accompanied those vaccines. Efficiency and communication should be easier, not harder, in this age of technology and internet sophistication.

This vaccine remains our best chance to tame the pandemic and restore normalcy. This is our best shot; we need to take it.

See more here:
Editorial: Vaccines can be the game-winning shot - The Reporter

Dr. Kathy Rollinger recently was named the 2020 Family Physician of the Year by the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Physicians.

Photo provided by Kathy Rollinger

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ROSEVILLE Dr. Kathy Rollinger has been practicing medicine in southeast Michigan for her entire career and has saved and changed untold lives during that time.

Recently, her service was honored by the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Physicians, which named her the 2020 Family Physician of the Year.

Its very humbling to be recognized by the peers within your organization and for promoting family medicine in the area where you grew up and were raised, she remarked.

A Roseville native, Rollinger has spent her career helping residents on the east side.

I was raised in Roseville and went through Roseville schools and lived there for more than 30 years. My practice is in St. Clair Shores, and I live in Clinton Township. Basically, after medical school, you have to do a residency in what area youre interested in, and I became affiliated with both St. Johns (Hospital) and Beaumont (of Grosse Pointe) and went into family medicine. This is everything from delivering babies to individuals who are in their later years.

Rollinger said she loves working in family medicine and wishes more doctors would go into it since it offers more complete help to patients and requires a fuller knowledge of medicine on the part of the physician.

Family medicine is a specialty with a whole person approach to medicine, she explained. As an osteopathic family physician, our philosophy is to regard your body as an integrated whole. During medical school, we receive additional training in the musculoskeletal system. After completing medical school, and receiving your DO or MD degree, an additional three years of supervised training is required in family medicine. This training covers general medicine and specialty areas including preventative health care. I have been fortunate to incorporate low risk obstetrics, delivering babies and pediatrics into my family medicine practice.

She had to be nominated by her colleagues for the award.

You are nominated by fellow colleagues within the profession, and then a committee would vote on it, said Rollinger. I won a different award last year from them, the Distinguished Service Award. A few of my colleagues within the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Physicians were familiar with my work, and I think one of them nominated me.

Unbeknownst to Rollinger at the time, it was a former Michigan State University classmate of hers who nominated her for the award: Dr. Steve Swetech.

I have watched my classmate evolve into an exemplary osteopathic family physician, Swetech wrote in his nomination letter. She is the prime example of a hard-working successful female physician who even delivers babies! She is a pillar of her community and a champion for women in the medical profession.

Rollinger said being a doctor can be a double-edged sword, providing untold challenges but also being the most fulfilling thing she could imagine.

I think one of the most challenging aspects of family medicine is trying to provide comprehensive care in a real efficient manner, she said. I also work with family medicine residents, so I am helping teach them, and that is challenging, but the hardest parts are the time constraints because you want to give people the best care but only have so much time. I enjoy taking care of individuals and families the best. Getting to take care of babies I deliver and then continuing to take care of that family as they grow up is incredibly rewarding.

Rollinger also received the Michigan Osteopathic Associations Women of Excellence Award for 2020, which she said was nearly as much of an honor.

I think female physicians have continued to excel in the profession, and I am appreciative to work for a major hospital, Beaumont, and feel very supported by them, she said.

Rollinger added that being a family doctor allows her to be often both the first and last line of defense as people fight for their health.

There could be more awareness in the full spectrum in what family practitioners can provide to families, she said. I feel well trained in pediatrics, geriatrics and general medicine and so forth, and I certainly value my consultants in the specialty areas, but I think there is a special value of having a family doctor who knows everything about you and sees the whole picture.

Swetech said he could think of no other colleague more deserving for recognition than Rollinger.

She is a credit to her family, her schools and to society as a whole, wrote Swetech in his nomination letter. I entreat you to give serious consideration to the warrior and champion of womens recognition in the medical profession. Susan B. Anthony would be proud of this trailblazing osteopathic family physician.

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Roseville native named Family Physician of the Year - C&G Newspapers

Technology is constantly changing the way we interact with the world. The healthcare industry, in particular, is continuously evolving in tandem with technology. Many of the things we now view as easily treatable were once death sentences. Consider the fact that simple antibiotics are less than 100 years old.

In most cases, technology changes the health industry for the better. Here are seven ways technology is changing and improving healthcare now.

One of the most notable developments in recent decades is the streamlining of service delivery through the implementation of technology. Twenty years ago, most medical practices were using paper files, charts, and fax machines. There was no centralized access for patient information, making service delivery between specialists and GPs a nightmare.

According to RevenueXL, the implementation of Electronic Health Record (EHR) technology has streamlined everything from scheduling to insurance claims to billing. The use of this technology reduces the risks of patients falling between the cracks while mitigating human error. According to John Hopkins Medicine, medical errors were deemed to be the third leading cause of death in the U.S. at the dawn of the millennium.

While it may seem secondary to some of the more notable healthcare innovations of the last few decades, these clerical tools help improve patient care, from experience to quality.

Another significant development in recent years is the surge in telemedicine. Accessibility to reliable internet and cloud-based technology has made it easier for patients to seek medical attention especially in rural areas.

The use of this particular technological development skyrocketed during 2020 when many government agencies advised switching to this type of practice. Like EHR systems, telemedicine also streamlines and improves service delivery.

Rather than commuting and waiting to see a doctor, often missing work and losing income in the process, patients can seek assistance from anywhere. This access has tremendous benefits, especially for certain socioeconomic groups or people living in rural areas.

The discussion surrounding vaccine development is at the forefront of everyones minds. Much of the controversy surrounding the COVID-19 vaccine stems from the fact that mRNA vaccines have never been utilized to such a scale before.

While the use of mRNA vaccines was first put forth by Hungarian scientist Katalin Karik during the 1990s, the idea was well ahead of its time. Ironically, the innovation thats now at the global pandemics frontlines ended up being a career killer for Karik.

After the SARS outbreak in the early 2000s, mRNA vaccines were revisited as a possible combatant against epidemic outbreaks. While the process is yet to be refined, and COVID-19 is still a top priority, many scientists believe that the last decades developments will help them develop singular vaccines for various infectious diseases. Furthermore, these developments make production significantly faster.

Were still in the primordial ooze when it comes to AR and VRs potential in our world. However, many healthcare institutions are already capitalizing on this exciting technology to train medical professionals. Surgeons, in particular, are benefiting from VR training opportunities to hone their skills. The introduction of this technology has already marked a 230% improvement in performance over traditional training methods.

Augmented reality is being used similarly, mitigating the need for live patients or medical cadavers on which to train. The result? Better healthcare providers with fewer resources.

3D printed organs arent quite ready yet. However, bioengineered bladders have been effectively 3D printed and used successfully for several years. The challenge is that organ transplant demand for bladders is low, and the other organs are considerably more complex.

As of 2019, the team at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have successfully printed skin with blood vessels. This development, though not yet in clinical trials, could revolutionize wound treatment.

Technology has also improved diagnostics and preventative medicine by providing tools for self-led health tracking.

Wearable technology, such as the FitBit and Apple Watch, capture useful biometrics that could someday be used to assist with healthcare. Imagine walking into the doctors office and scanning your fitness tracker to share your resting heart rate, sleep patterns, etc.

Another area of self-led health tracking and diagnostics comes in the form of genetic sequencing. Services like 23andMe are giving customers insights into their genetic health backgrounds, highlighting potential issues well before they develop.

Finally, the internet and AI have made medical forecasting more accurate and attainable. Data from internet searches can help predict where outbreaks will occur. Applications are now available that allow patients experiencing certain illnesses to self-report and improve tracking, as weve seen with COVID-19.

With technology developing at an exponential rate, its exhilarating to watch how the world of healthcare unfolds in response.

More here:
7 Ways Technology is Changing and Improving Healthcare - TFOT - The Future of Things

We're all looking for the magic bullet to cure or prevent a cold or the flu. Herbs and medicine like echinacea and elderberries are often hyped as ways to keep from getting sick, especially in the winter. But do they work? While they certainly don't replace a flu shot, studies have shown that they can be beneficial at protecting against the common flu and cold. While elderberries have been used in traditional medicine for years, modern science gives us some clues as to why.

"They are rich in flavonoids quercetin and anthocyanidins, which are rich in antioxidants that protect your cells from damaging free radicals," explains Serena Poon, CN, CHC, CHN, chef, nutritionist, Reiki master, and founder of the Culinary Alchemy program. "Quercetin have properties that can protect against viruses, inflammation, and carcinogens. Anthocyanidins, a kind of plant pigment, are known for their anti-inflammatory benefits."

Poon also notes that studies have linked elderberries specifically to reducing the upper respiratory symptoms from cold and flu as well as reducing cold duration and severity. Poon recommends elderberries as preventative medicine, citing them as a low-risk way to protect yourself. It is important to note, however, that no studies have been done on elderberries and COVID-19, and elderberries do not replace CDC-endorsed measures like wearing a mask or social distancing.

While there are lots of good reasons to consider adding elderberry to your diet, you are going to be hard-pressed to find them for sale in the produce section. Raw elderberries are toxic, so that's actually a good thing. Instead, you'll find elderberries in different supplements and syrup. Poon recommends syrups as an easy way to get elderberry benefits but cautions that not all syrups and pills are created equal.

"It is really important to do your research on any supplement, including elderberry syrups or capsules," she says. When shopping either online or at your local health store, Poon has some tips for what to look out for: products that are certified organic, with transparent outsourcing practices, and that have third-party testing or certifications. She also recommends looking for supplements free from animal products, gluten, soy, and dairy.

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While that may sound like a lot to look out for, Poon notes that it's fairly easy to find high-quality elderberry syrups online. But if you want something now, there are also other immune-boosting foods you can find at your local grocery store. Poon recommends zinc and vitamin C during cold and flu season, which should be in any drugstore vitamin aisle. Taken alone or with elderberry supplements, these vitamins and minerals can provide a much-needed wellness boost during a time of the year when we're all worried about catching colds and the flu.

Take a look at some elderberry and immune-boosting supplements below.

Nature's Way Original Sambucus Elderberry Syrup ($20)

BioSchwartz Sambucus Elderberry Capsules With Zinc & Vitamin C ($10)

MaryRuth Organics Organic Liquid Elderberry ($20)

Garden of Life Mykind Organics Elderberry Gummy ($25)

Nature's Way Black Elderberry Capsules ($8)

Zarbee's Naturals Elderberry Immune Support Gummies ($17)

Gaia Herbs Black Elderberry Syrup ($20)

Sports Research Elderberry Capsules With Zinc & Vitamin C ($20)

Nature's Bounty Elderberry Gummies ($11)

Sambucol Black Elderberry Syrup ($13)

NOW Foods Elderberry ($8)

Next up: 9 Simple Things You Can Do Now to Boost Your Immune System

This article originally appeared on The Thirty

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The Secret Ingredient That Can Make Your Cold and Flu Season Way Better - Yahoo Lifestyle

The pandemic has highlighted some serious flaws in the U.S. health care system. Mislabeled as a free market system, Americans have spent more money on combating the pandemic and received fewer benefits per dollar than any other nation.

Our health care system has slowly been taking us to the proverbial cleaners, but the pandemic has put us in the fast lane.

Primary care is secondary to for-profit health insurance: The whole point of insurance is to provide funds in the event of an emergency or life-altering occurrence. Health insurance was and still is designed to cover the cost of catastrophic health care. This is the inherent problem of basing the nations health care on a system designed to only cover catastrophes: It was never intended for routine care.

Health maintenance, such as routine visits to a primary care provider, is a secondary issue to health insurance companies. Primary care appointments will cost you an extra copay, which may or may not be a part of your deductible. As a result of these extra costs, Americans tend to see their primary care providers less frequently than citizens of other industrialized countries. If you have no insurance, many practices will not even schedule an appointment.

One of the reasons that Americans are particularly vulnerable to the ravages of coronavirus is the high number of people with health risk factors such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. All of these risk factors are reduced with routine check-ups with primary care providers.

But costs alone are not the only reason Americans have fewer preventive visits. The lack of availability of primary care providers is also a byproduct of for-profit health care. Insurance companies reimburse (pay) primary care providers less than they pay specialists. More U.S. medical school graduates become specialists in order to pay off their education costs in a timely manner. This also explains why many U.S. primary care providers are either nurse practitioners, physician assistants, or a graduate from a non-U.S. medical school.

Pandemics require planning and prevention: The U.S. was warned of the coronavirus pandemic as early as December 2019. While it is true that China was slow in announcing details that would have helped to slow the spread of the disease, we cant control what happens in China, but we could have taken precautions here at home, precautions that never materialized.

Sure, politics and a presidential denial were major factors in the devastating impact the virus had in the U.S., but the CDC and other public health agencies could have had more visibility earlier in the process to organize the preventative measures necessary to lessen the early impact of the virus. Given how poorly equipped our health care system is in preventing illness and the high number of people with health risk factors, this was a crucial oversight.

You cant fight an invading army with militias: We have some of the most advanced medical teams and technologies in the world, but without a centralized, coordinating health care system, much of this advantage is wasted. The for-profit, free market approach to health care is based upon the principle of competition and fragmentation. When a strong, unified and swiftly moving invasion force like the coronavirus hits our shores, we have no coordinated system to combat it.

Our fragmented system against a powerful and fast-moving pandemic is akin to fighting an army with amateur militias. This problem was compounded by the president, who saw no need to take the necessary precautions recommended by the CDC and his security advisers. Closing the border to China except for 40,000 people cannot be considered a serious prevention, as verified by history.

The fragmented system can be subjected to a considerable amount of mixed messaging. One of the reasons that President Trump was able to politicize the virus and the U.S. response was the lack of a central medical voice giving us the facts. Dr. Fauci and to a lesser extent, Dr. Birx symbolized the central response to the virus, but without a system in place to direct the messaging to health care providers and facilities, much of that information was delayed or subverted.

There were other people with medical degrees who espoused unproven contrary messages that confused the public and led to unnecessary medical delays and death. Without a central system in place, this type of problem can recur and in even greater numbers.

Vaccination distribution problems: The U.S. had planned to vaccinate 20 million people by the end of December, but only 2.8 million actually received the vaccine. Unsurprisingly, our free market health care system played a major role in this discrepancy because it was never designed to treat the country as a whole.

Without a national system in place, pharmaceutical companies were doing their best to get their product to 50 different states each with several vaccine distributors. We came up with an organizational plan about which groups should receive the vaccines and in which order, but with a myriad of competing health care systems, there was no way to ensure that the vaccines reached the proper providers.

At the current rate of distribution, the U.S. is projected to reach herd immunity in October 2023.

The problem of tying health insurance to employment: You cant claim that the U.S. has a free-market system of health care if individual consumers (thats all of us) dont pick the product, but our employers do. We wouldnt tolerate it if our employers determined which grocery stores we could shop in, so why do we want our employers determining our health insurance plans and the doctors associated with those plans? Even if our employers offer a choice of plans, they, not we, get do decide which options are available.

Many people fear socialized medicine, where other people direct our health care, but that is exactly what we have now. How ironic that the social medicine fear mongers rave against public options where the individual members of the public pick their doctors and their health plans.

Heres the problem: Before the pandemic, 10% of Americans had no health care coverage, and an estimated 30-40% of Americans were said to have inadequate health care coverage with high deductibles.

During the pandemic, many thousands of small businesses have closed and millions lost their insurance with their jobs. Now, many more people are without health care during the pandemic when they need it the most.

The future of American health care: How much weve learned from the pandemic depends upon where we go from here.

The private health insurance and pharmaceutical industries are each spending hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising and political funding to convince us that they should be the only option for health care. This effort will continue despite having the pandemic expose the inherit problems with our for-profit, fractionated, healthcare system.

There is no ideal health care system, but the health care system we have now is arguably the least perfect system possible due to its high costs and inefficiencies. We need an affordable, universal, easily accessible system under minimal political influence that can coordinate care in times of national medical emergencies such as a pandemic. This includes the need for basic health insurance that is independent of ones employment.

Our current Medicare system is an example often cited that comes close to meeting those needs listed above. Expanding that system would be costly and cause an increase in taxes to support it which would be more than offset by not having to pay higher premiums. We would be able to eliminate other government programs that are more expensive (Medicaid, CHIP).

But that is only one possible solution for replacing the present system which costs more money and more paperwork. In other health care systems, Americans would actually see an increase in their disposable income and fewer medical bills. We would also see a faster and better coordinated response to future pandemics.

There may be other options to consider as well, but those options might require recreating a whole new system of care.

Most importantly, whatever option we choose, a universal health care system would address the need for preventive care which would save Americans sick days, hospitalizations, paperwork, time and money. It would also make us better prepared to weather or even prevent the next pandemic.

(Dr. James Fieseher lives in Dover.)

Read this article:
My Turn: Our system of health care failed during the pandemic - Concord Monitor

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:Raveena CharaLoma Linda UniversityLoma Linda, CA

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: In a country struggling with an epidemic of obesity, Hispanics are one of the fastest growing population groups in the U.S. and have the highest prevalence of obesity. They are also least likely to enroll in weight reduction programs, complete them, and successfully lose weight (though reasons for this remain elusive).

Obesity- a leading predisposing factor for many chronic diseases is a complex biophysical phenomenon shaped by many factors, including a persons social environment, health and culture. Culture permeates many aspects of ones life including how a person views weight and behaviors associated with eating and physical activity. Indeed, for many values and norms about what is culturally acceptable and views on body weight vary culturally and affect their decisions about weight and weight loss. This too is the case within the Hispanic population in the US. Given the rising human and financial impact of obesity, preventing and reducing obesity, diabetes and other weight related medical conditions is a growing priority, especially for low income Hispanics.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response: The purpose of our study was to explore socio-cultural influences on weight and the barriers to weight loss in monolingual and bi-lingual immigrant Hispanics. In order to do so we explored perceived social environmental influences, community perceptions, religious and cultural influences, support systems related to weight, and weight loss. This study helped reveal two important themes associated with obesity in the Hispanic community; sociocultural themes and structural themes.

Sociocultural Themes:

Structural Themes:

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: Preventing and reducing obesity is an urgent and complex matter that is affected by individuals social environment. Our female Latino immigrant participants spoke of the critical role socio-cultural factors play, such as the lack of family and community support due to the central nature of food in social life, cultural views about weight and beauty (a little thick is beautiful), and mental health (eating as coping) due to the many pressures they experienced. They also spoke of structural factors, such as the effect of immigration to the U.S., affecting their ability to freely walk/meet for exercise (less walking, more driving), more access to fast food because of its ever-growing presence in their communities, pricing, and lack of easily accessible and affordable produce alternatives. CHWs [also Latino immigrants] who conducted these interviews also shared that, more recently, the political climate in the U.S. has created fear, impacting social engagement and resulted in a reluctance by those interested in lifestyle changes to engage in programing, outdoor activities as well as social events.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: For weight loss to become successful in our immigrant Latino populations, programs must address both structural as well as sociocultural factors in line with the Social Determinants of Health Framework. Lifestyle changes rather than weight -loss alone should be targeted. Programs need to find practical and culturally informed ways to help participants begin what will need to become a lifelong quest to alter the way they eat and live. Cultural expectations that are maladaptive to healthy changes include: food having a central role in social life, cultural views of weight and obesity (weight gain is not seen as a problem), eating well is a sign of wealth/success, and when eating together everyone is expected to eat the same thing. Understanding these cultural beliefs and expectations is critical to any lifestyle programing. Finally, programing needs to occur in a safe political environment and take participants stress and mental health needs into account.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: While a complex challenge for everyone, achieving weight loss is even more complex among immigrant Latinos than it is in non-Hispanic whites. Even if participants want to engage in healthy behaviors, the social determinants in their lives often negatively impact their health and ability to attend programming. Efforts to reduce health disparities need to take these issues into consideration and seek creative culturally aligned and acceptable solutions. When working in communities with multiple challenges, especially communities affected by the current political and immigrant policies, any program promoting lifestyle changes should take into consideration safety, meeting places and social determinants of health and cultural beliefs.

No Disclosures

Citations:

APHA 2020 abstract: Sociocultural factors affecting obesity in immigrant hispanic womenAbstract: 2036.0:Sociocultural factors affecting obesity in immigrant hispanic womenRaveena Chara1, Maud Joachim-Clestin, MD, DrPH, CHES1, Guljinder Chera, MD(IP)2, Carmen Soret, MPH(c)1, Marisol Lara, B.S., MPH1and Susanne Montgomery, PhD, MPH, MS1, (1)Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, (2)American University of Antigua, Coolidge, Antigua and Barbuda

https://apha.confex.com/apha/2020/meetingapp.cgi/Session/60436

Kaplan, M. S., Huguet, N., Newsom, J. T., & Mcfarland, B. H. (2004). The association between length of residence and obesity among Hispanic immigrants. American Journal of Preventative Medicine. Retrieved July 25, 2019, fromhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S07 49379704001825#aep-bibliography id12.

-Hruby, A., & Hu, F. B. (2015). The Epidemiology of Obesity: A Big Picture. NCBI. Retrieved July 25, 2019, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4859313/.

-Kaufman, L., & Karpati, A. (2007). Understanding the sociocultural roots of childhood obesity: Food practices among Latino families of Bushwick, Brooklyn. Social Science and Medicine. Retrieved July 25, 2019, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S027795 3607000640.

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The information on MedicalResearch.com is provided for educational purposes only, and is in no way intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical or other condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In addition to all other limitations and disclaimers in this agreement, service provider and its third party providers disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the content provided on this website.

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Challenges to Weight Loss in the Immigrant LatinX Community - MedicalResearch.com

A new informative report on the Global Preventative Healthcare Technologies and Services Market has recently been published by DBMR and added to its widespread database which will help to make better strategic decisions in the businesses. such as Company Overview, Financial Overview, Product Portfolio, Business Strategies, and Recent Developments. Moreover, it offers summarized data on various business perspectives such as global market shares, drivers, restraints, recent innovative trends, and challenges in front of the global Preventative Healthcare Technologies and Services market. Preventative Healthcare Technologies and Services industry report firstly introduced the Preventative Healthcare Technologies and Services basics: Definitions, Classifications, Applications and Market Overview; product specifications; manufacturing processes; cost structures, raw materials and so on. Then it analyzed the worlds main region Preventative Healthcare Technologies and Services market conditions, including the product Price, Profit, Capacity, Production, Supply, forecast (2021 -2027), demand, market growth rate etc.

Preventative healthcare technologies and services market is expected to gain market growth in the forecast period of 2020 to 2027. Data Bridge Market Research analyses the market to account to growing at a CAGR of 11.10% in the above-mentioned forecast period. The growing awareness amongst the physicians and patients regarding the benefits of advance technology as well as services will help in boosting the growth of the market.

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The major players who are leading the market throughout the globe are:

COVID 19 scenario analysis:

Preventative Healthcare Technologies and Services Market Segmentation:

By Type (Early Detection and Screening Technologies, Chronic Disease Management Technologies, Vaccines, Advanced Technologies to Reduce Errors)

By Application (Hospitals, Clinics, Others)

MAJOR TOC OF THE REPORT:-

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Competitive Landscape and Preventative Healthcare Technologies and Services Market Share Analysis

Preventative healthcare technologies and services market competitive landscape provides details by competitor. Details included are company overview, company financials, revenue generated, market potential, investment in research and development, new market initiatives, global presence, production sites and facilities, production capacities, company strengths and weaknesses, product launch, product width and breadth, application dominance. The above data points provided are only related to the companies focus related to preventative healthcare technologies and services market.

The major players covered in the preventative healthcare technologies and services market report are Myriad Genetics, Inc., Quest Diagnostics Incorporated., Medtronic, Abbott., Merck & Co., Inc., GlaxoSmithKline plc., Omnicell, Inc., McKesson Corporation, Pfizer Inc., Dilon Technologies, Inc., OMRON Healthcare Europe B.V., among other domestic and global players. Market share data is available for Global, North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America separately. DBMR analysts understand competitive strengths and provide competitive analysis for each competitor separately.

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Global Preventative Healthcare Technologies and Services Market Scope and Market Size

Based on type, preventative healthcare technologies and services market is segmented into early detection and screening technologies, chronic disease management technologies, vaccines, and advanced technologies to reduce errors. Early detection and screening technologies have been further segmented into automated screening, personalized medicine, and other advanced screening technologies. Chronic disease management technologies have been further segmented into blood pressure monitors, asthma monitors, cardiovascular monitors, and glucose monitors.

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Coronavirus (Covid-19) Impact On Global Preventative Healthcare Technologies and Services Market 2021: Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, Medtronic,...

Mini- and MicroLED big screen TVs. Autonomous driving car tech. Gaming PCs and accessories. Smart appliances and smart home. Robots. 5G. COVID COVID COVID health/wellness-related products. Work-from-home office tech. These are all products and technologies we expected to see represented at CES 2021. But hidden in the crevices of virtual CES 2021, we found some cool gadgets that you may have missed.

ActiveLook EVAD-1 Smart SunglassesSometimes checking your workout progress on a smart watch or smartphone can be distracting or, if youre running on a road, dangerous. These smart sunglasses, paired with a smartphone, projects your performance data such as beats per minute, pace, speed and distance on the inside of the lenses thanks to a heads-up display powered by Microleds ActiveLook technology. (May, apx. $500)

AirPop Active+ with Halo Sensor Smart Face MaskHow long will we have to wear face masks? Even if by some miracle we become a maskless society sooner than we think, wearing this AirPop may still be a good idea. Its makers say AirPop Active+ is the worlds first smart air wearable to helps wearers gain a deeper understanding of their respiratory health, capturing and correlating breathing-related data with real-time air quality and location data. The Halo sensor, working in tandem with the AirPop app, provides an overview of the wearers breathing behavior, breathing cycles, biometric data, pollutants the mask has blocked, and when to replace their masks snap-in filter, which blocks >99% of particles. (Q1, $149.99)

ArchelisFX ExoskeletonHopefully well all be back in Las Vegas for CES in January 2022. Hopefully, well be able to buy one of these admittedly ungainly a nerdy exoskeleton suit so we can stay on our feet on the show floor for 16 hours a day without requiring several post-show chiropractic appointments. Initially designed for factory workers and doctors, the archelisFX enables wearers to walk and bend their knees freely and to sit or rest anywhere while technically standing. The suit is all mechanical no power needed. Archelis execs say the company is working on a consumer version, hopefully one we can wear under our clothes a year from now at the LVCC. (Q1, $1,000)

Fluo Labs Fl Allergy ManagementYou may not be able to expose your body to bright light to kill COVID, but you can shine this Fl device up your nostils for 10 seconds each up to two times a day to help alleviate seasonal allergies and hay fever symptoms. But this is not merely digital snake oil. The Fl nose light is actually a medical technology called photobiomodulation. Fluo Labs is a medical device company and its been researching this allergy alleviation solution for 15 years. A recent clinical test yielded a 31% improvement over baseline, better than antihistamines or other drugs, with no known side effects. Two more trials are planned as the company works toward FDA to make Fl a welcome and potentially revolutionary over-the-counter solutions for seasonal allergy congestion, itching, runny nose and sneezing. (Q4, <$100)

GoSun Flow Solar Powered Water Purifier & PumpIn what could be the perfect accessory for Naked & Afraid contestants or wannabees or anyone spending long stretches in the wilderness the GoSun Flow Solar Powered Water Purifier & Pump not only knocks out 99.99% of pathogens from water, but also functions as a portable handwashing station or even a hot shower. Small enough to fit into a backpack, the Flow is a solar-powered pump that can sucks fresh water from an unclean source then automatically filters one liter per minute through a three-stage filter cartridge, good for cleansing 1,000 liters. One full Flow solar charge can filter 100 gallons of water, and the its battery power bank recharges in the sun. A faucet can be clamped to a collapsible basin, and a 12-volt submersible heater provides washing/bathing-appropriate warm or hot water. (March, $349)

Kohler Stillness Infinity Experience Freestanding BathtubIf even the virtual version of CES has unnerved and exhausted you, why not take a nice hot bath after all, the best preventative medicine is to just plain relax. Using the Kohler app, users can remotely fill this 48 x 48 x 23.64-inch deep, 111.5-gallon tub, and set the desired water temperature. The water overflows into the Hinoki wood infinity pool mote surrounding the tub to create a soothing sound, which, combined with light, fog, and essential oils aromas, creates what Kohler calls an immersive journey of the senses designed to relax the mind, soothe the body and renew the spirit. Of course, the Stillness Infinity price might tighten you up all over again. (October, $15,998)

MaskFone Face Mask/EarbudsHow many times have your earbuds been accidentally jerked out of your ears when taking off your surgical face mask? MaskFone solves this problem attached to it are a pair of Bluetooth noise canceling earbuds. The mask itself is made of a soft but durable machine washable twill fabric that easily forms to all face shapes, and includes a nose wire. Its disposable, interchangeable N95 filters provide 95% virus protection. To keep the mask from muffling your voice during phone calls, MaskFone includes voice projection powered by the Hubble Connect app for clear audio. Amazon Alexa is included to provide voice control over your music play and your other smart devices, and you get 12 hours of single-charge listening time. (February, $49.99)

Milo The Action CommunicatorThis re-imagined family radio enables people within 2,000 feet of each other in outdoor environment to stay in contact, extended out by the MiloNet mesh network when your group spreads out. But instead of hand-held push-to-talk operation, the palm-sized Milo The Action Communicator works more like a Star Trek communication badge. Clipped to a pocket, handlebars, or an armband, the IP67 water- and dust-proof Milo, available in signature red, white and black, provides full-duplex group voice conversations on what the company describes as an all-day battery. For more precise communication, you can plug in or pair Bluetooth earphones to them. Milo is developing a longer-range mode that, in testing, has exceeded more than a mile; new features will be delivered via regular software updates. (February, $169)

Olive Pro True Wireless Buds/Hearing AidsMany true wireless buds with ambient sound modes purport to boost your hearing yeah, not really. These stylish Olive Pros actually do theyve been classified as an FDA class II medical device. But wait, theres more: the buds AI engine identifies and amplifies voices while simultaneously detecting and eliminating background noise, plus theres a 10-band EQ in the app as well. You get 7 hours of single-charge listening and two more full charges from the battery case, and theyre IPX7 water resistant. (Q1, $299)

Samsung Slim Over The Range MicrowaveGot an oven hood? Got a microwave? Got a kitchen space problem? Samsung lets you combine two capacious cooking installations with its smart Slim Over-the-Range (OTR) Microwave. Designed to simply replace your under-cabinet hood, the Slim OTR Microwave is equipped with a power ventilation system capable of vacuuming an impressive 550 cubic foot per minute of steam, fumes, odors, and, we hope not, smoke. The microwave also packs power, with an industry best 1100-watt output, which speeds your food prep. (price, availability not yet announced)

SelfSafe ID BraceletNot that you want to think about it, but what will happen to you in case you lose your ID, wallet, home or consciousness? This password-protected USB emergency identification waterproof bracelet stores all your important personal information, including medical, financial, insurance, travel documents, personal identification and more. The bracelets secure, yet quickly accessible design allows you to be prepared for lifes unexpected emergencies. ($29.95)

Targus UV-C LED Disinfection LightWhile there are several frequently touched spots in your home prone to retain harmful microscopic lifeforms, arguably the most touched surface after your face is your PC keyboard. As long as its motion sensor senses no activity within or directly outside its active cleaning area, this Targus UV-C LED Disinfection Light switches for five minutes every hour to disinfect surfaces it bathes, eliminating potential disease-bearing pathogens. Literally, just set it and forget it to remain healthy. (Spring, $299)

Tata Band/Tat Pad Child Car Seat AlarmHow anyone can leave then forget a child locked in hot car beggars the imagination. But for the potentially fatal absent-minded theres two Tata baby car seat safety alarm solutions: a band that wraps around one of the seatbelt straps, or a pad your child sits on. Both get paired via Bluetooth to a smartphone, then is programmed to emit a series of increasingly frantic alarms when that connection is broken, i.e., when your smartphone is out of Tata range of your car and child. After three minutes the phone emits a sound notification. A minute later, the parents phone gets a call. Three minutes after that, the Tata calls and leaves messages for emergency contacts. The company is looking for international partners. ($59 each)

See also: TWICE, Residential Systems & TechRadar Pro Announce Picks Awards Winners For CES 2021

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CES 2021: Some Of The Coolest Gadgets We Saw - TWICE - Twice

This article was originally published here

BMJ Open. 2021 Jan 20;11(1):e042270. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042270.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The COVID-19 pandemic is demanding for occupational medicine and for public health. As healthcare workers (HCWs) fight impacts of SARS-CoV-2 on front lines, we must create safe work environments through comprehensive risk assessments, evaluation and effective implementation of counter-measures. We ask: What does current literature report on health risks at workplaces regarding COVID-19? and What do current studies report on the effectiveness of enacted preventative recommendations?

METHODS: As a snapshot of early HCW research, on 26 April 2020, we conducted a rapid systematic literature search in three databases (PubMed, Web of Science and PsycInfo) for COVID-19-related health outcomes and preventive measures in healthcare-associated workplaces.

RESULTS: 27 studies were identified as relevant for exploring the risk of infection, 11 studies evaluated preventive measures. The studies described that SARS-CoV-2 impacts significantly on HCWs health and well-being, not only through infections (n=6), but also from a mental health perspective (n=16). 4 studies reported indirect risks such as skin injuries, one study described headaches to result from the use of personal protective equipment. Few studies provided information on the effectiveness of prevention strategies. Overall, most studies on health risks as well as on the effectiveness of preventive measures were of a moderate-to-low quality; this was mainly due to limitations in study design, imprecise exposure and outcome assessments.

CONCLUSIONS: Due to widespread exposure of HCW to SARS-CoV-2, workplaces in healthcare must be as safe as possible. Information from HCW can provide valuable insights into how infections spread, into direct and indirect health effects and into how effectively counter-measures mitigate adverse health outcomes. However, available research disallows to judge which counter-measure(s) of a current mix should be prioritised for HCW. To arrive at evidence-based cost-effective prevention strategies, more well-conceived studies on the effectiveness of counter-measures are needed.

PMID:33472783 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-042270

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COVID-19 and healthcare workers: a rapid systematic review into risks and preventive measures - DocWire News

You know strength training is key to building muscle, but how bad is it to skip?

Image Credit: LIVESTRONG.com Creative

How Bad Is It Really? sets the record straight on all the habits and behaviors youve heard might be unhealthy.

Official guidelines recommend doing muscle-strengthening activities at least two times per week. But only about a quarter of adults meet those requirements.

That's nearly half as many people who have a regular cardio workout, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"Some people don't know how to resistance train and are worried they might get injured, while others have an injury or condition that doesn't allow them to weight train to a full capacity," says Araceli De Leon, CPT, a certified personal trainer, kinesiologist and spokesperson for the American Council on Exercise.

"In addition, there is a misconception around weight training among some females, who think they might get too bulky or gain too much muscle," she says.

Another common barrier is "gym-timidation," a lack of knowledge about how to use weight-lifting equipment and the intimidation that can come with it. Women, in particular, reported lower comfort using gym facilities, including strength machines and free weights, according to a November 2020 study from Penn State University.

But hey, as long as you're exercising regularly, does skipping out on pumping iron actually matter that much? Is strength training mandatory?

Cardio bunnies, consider this your wake-up call.

Why Doing Cardio Alone Isn't Enough

Let's be clear: We're not knocking a heart-pumping aerobic workout, which is amazing for your health in so many ways. But if you don't also incorporate resistance work, your body will pay the price.

"Your muscles might atrophy you will lose muscle mass and endurance because you're not using your muscles as much," De Leon says. "Your ligaments and tendons can also weaken."

Skipping out on strengthening is also bad for your bones. "Weight training puts stress on your bones, which nudges bone-forming cells into action," De Leon says. "If you don't do resistance exercises, your bones may get weaker and lose some mineral content."

This is especially important for older adults primarily those who are postmenopausal, as the decline in estrogen levels leads to bone loss, increasing your risk of fractures.

In fact, resistance exercise alone or in combination with other forms of physical activity is the ideal training for improving bone mass in postmenopausal women, middle-aged men and older adults, according to a December 2018 review in Endocrinology and Metabolism.

Finally, if weight loss is your goal, you won't torch nearly as many calories without resistance training, says A. Brion Gardner, MD, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in sports medicine at the Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics in Manassas, Virginia.

"When you do a 30-minute cardio session, you are burning calories for that 30 minutes," he says. "But a 30-minute weight-lifting session will have you burning calories for the rest of the day, an effect known as excess post-exercise oxygen consumption."

That's because strength training, by causing microscopic stress to your muscles, triggers your body to enter a recovery state. That muscle recovery uses calories for energy.

Plus, the more lean muscle you have, the more you'll increase your basal metabolic rate, the number of calories you burn each day just to maintain normal biological function. Muscle is metabolically active, meaning it burns more calories at rest than body fat, he says.

The Benefits of Strength Training

Not convinced yet? "There are so many benefits to resistance training, even if you already have an aerobic program," De Leon says. "Because everything in the body is connected, having a solid muscular foundation is important in the way one's body moves, heals and interacts with other body systems."

Just check out all these major payoffs.

You'll Prevent Injury and Promote Healing

Increasing your strength training volume and intensity are associated with a reduced risk in sports injury risks, according to an August 2018 meta-analysis in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

A 2017 report from the American College of Sports Medicine also shows that following a resistance-training program is associated with a lower incidence of stress fractures, falls and low-back injuries in people who are physically active.

And if you do get hurt? You'll bounce back more quickly and efficiently if you've been sculpting muscles.

"Resistance training strengthens your tendons and ligaments, which can help you recover from injuries, like a sprained ankle or dislocated shoulder," De Leon says. "It will also improve your balance and posture by strengthening the small stabilizers that keep you erect."

It Will Enhance Your Athletic Performance

Runners with a strength-training practice significantly improve their speed and endurance, according to a September 2019 study in the British Journal of Medicine. "Increased muscle fiber size and contractile strength lead to greater physical capacity," De Leon says.

She explains that her own resistance workouts have helped her become stronger in other pursuits. "I'm a long-distance runner, and targeting my leg, core and glute muscles helps me have longer, more successful runs," she says.

Her strength-training routine also allows her to be a more powerful rock climber, stabilizes her in yoga practice and prepares her for snowboarding days.

You May Reduce Your Risk of Disease

A November 2017 study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that moderate strength training (between 100 to 145 minutes per week) is associated with a lower all-cause mortality risk in older women.

In fact, older adults age 65 and over who followed recommended guidelines to strength train at least twice per week had 46 percent lower odds of all-cause mortality than those who didn't, in a February 2016 study in Preventative Medicine.

But that's not all research shows that women who focus on strengthening their muscles reduce their risk of type 2 diabetes by 30 percent and cardiovascular disease by 17 percent compared with those who don't strength train, according to a January 2017 study in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

The bottom line: Combining strength training with aerobic exercise is linked to an even lower risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and early death than doing cardio alone.

It Can Help Boost Your Mood

According to a June 2018 meta-analysis in JAMA Psychiatry, resistance training reduces symptoms of mild to moderate depression.

"Resistance training regulates your blood flow and heart rate, which clears away brain fog and pumps you full of feel-good endorphins," De Leon says.

As you perform new feats of strength, your mental strength and confidence will also improve.

You'll Reduce Low-Back Pain

A small May 2020 study in BMC Sports Science, Medicine and Rehabilitation found that people with lower back pain experienced significantly less discomfort and saw improvements in pain-related disability when they followed a strength-training program. (A randomized clinical trial looking at this effect is currently underway.)

De Leon explains that strengthening your core via resistance work lends support to your lumbar spine (lower back), relieving pressure and pain. Bonus: The study participants also reported an increase in energy levels.

You Might Sleep Better at Night

Building muscle may even improve shuteye, according to a small May 2015 study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, in which people fell asleep faster and had fewer nighttime awakenings on days when they engaged in resistance training.

Which Kind of Strength Training Is Best?

There are many different ways to strength train, but the best modality for you depends on your abilities, goals and needs. Here's the 101.

"Although both machines and free weights, such as dumbbells and kettlebells, allow you to gain a similar amount of muscle size and strength, free weights require more core engagement and activate more muscle groups than a machine," De Leon says. Without the support of a machine to hold you in the proper position, your body is forced to work harder to maintain your posture.

"As a result, free weights are better for building muscle long term, compared to a machine that may only be targeting specific muscles," De Leon says.

Because machines provide more support, they can be a good bet for beginners who haven't yet honed their form. "A machine is also great to work on improving your form and range of motion after an injury," De Leon says.

"These [resistance bands] are cheap and portable," De Leon says. "Although they do increase muscle size and strength, in the long run, they will become less challenging." To make your strength workouts more challenging with resistance bands, you can add them to your dumbbells or kettlebells.

"Body-weight workouts use your own weight to provide resistance against gravity," De Leon says. The best part is that body-weight exercises don't require any special equipment, like weight machines, dumbbells or even resistance bands. You can do them anytime, anywhere, which is especially helpful if you're avoiding the gym during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"To build muscle using body-weight training, gradually increase the amount of reps or train until failure for example, by doing squats until you physically can't do any more," De Leon says. "You can also try a 'time under tension' workout, where you perform each movement very slowly so that it becomes more difficult."

So, How Bad Is It Really to Never Strength Train?

As long as you are still getting an aerobic workout, you're not doomed if you skip pumping iron. "There is no harm per se in not weight training," Dr. Gardner says.

But it's certainly not ideal. "Over time, it can lead to adverse health effects and the loss of fitness gains," De Leon says. "People with a strength-training practice have an overall greater quality of life."

Aim to strength train at least twice per week, and experiment with different types of resistance-training equipment to help you figure out what will help you reach your goals. Because the more you enjoy that activity, the higher the chances you'll stick to a routine.

Ultimately, you'll be better off if you quit resisting resistance training. Now drop and give us 20!

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The Benefits of Strength Training: Why Cardio Isn't Enough - LIVESTRONG.COM

ROCKAWAY, N.J., Jan. 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- electroCore, Inc.(Nasdaq: ECOR), a commercial-stage bioelectronic medicine company, today announced that Health Improvement Scotland (HIS) has published a Scottish Health Technology Group (SHTG) adaptation for NHS Scotland on the use of gammaCore for cluster headache. The SHTG publication is based on guidance produced in 2019 by the U.K. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), which states that gammaCore, when used alongside standard of care, can reduce the frequency and intensity of cluster headache attacks, leading to significant quality of life benefits for people living with this condition and can save an average of 450 per patient in the first year of treatment through a reduction in acute rescue medication use, and with electroCore offering no-cost evaluations for all patients. The SHTG publication recommends that gammaCore should be available for a 3-month trial period for use in treating NHS Scotland patients suffering from cluster headache and the SHTG adaptation will now be disseminated across NHS Scotland health boards by HIS, to inform the use of gammaCore for cluster headache.

We are delighted by the recommendation from the Scottish Health Technology Group to consider the application of the medical technology guidance produced by NICE in 2019 to NHS Scotland, saidIain Strickland, electroCores VP of European Operations. We welcome the opportunity to provide our proven and established therapy to more patients in Scotland suffering from the debilitating condition of cluster headache. I would like to thank the Scottish experts who worked on this assessment and arrived at the conclusion that an equivalent recommendation to the one in effect in England and Wales was also needed in Scotland. The publication notes the devastating impact that cluster headaches can have on the lives of sufferers and the desperation that can result from ineffective treatment, so the further ratification of gammaCore as an effective treatment option is great to see.

The SHTG adaptation can be viewed at:

http://www.healthcareimprovementscotland.org/our_work/technologies_and_medicines/topics_assessed/adaptation_01-21.aspx

About Scottish Health Technology Group

The Scottish Health Technologies Group (SHTG) is a national health technology assessment (HTA) agency. They provide evidence support and advice to NHS Scotland on the use of new and existing health technologies which are not medicines and which are likely to have significant implications for peoples care.

About electroCore, Inc.electroCore, Inc. is a commercial-stage bioelectronic medicine company dedicated to improving patient outcomes through its platform non-invasive vagus nerve stimulation therapy initially focused on the treatment of multiple conditions in neurology. The companys current indications are the preventative treatment of cluster headache and migraine and acute treatment of migraine and episodic cluster headache.

For more information, visit http://www.electrocore.com.

About gammaCoregammaCore(nVNS) is the first non-invasive, hand-held medical therapy applied at the neck as an adjunctive therapy to treat migraine and cluster headache through the utilization of a mild electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve that passes through the skin. Designed as a portable, easy-to-use technology, gammaCore can be self-administered by patients, as needed, without the potential side effects associated with commonly prescribed drugs. When placed on a patients neck over the vagus nerve, gammaCore stimulates the nerves afferent fibers, which may lead to a reduction of pain in patients.

gammaCore is FDA cleared in the United States for adjunctive use for the preventive treatment of cluster headache in adult patients, the acute treatment of pain associated with episodic cluster headache in adult patients, the acute treatment of pain associated with migraine headache in adult patients, and the prevention of migraine in adult patients. gammaCore is CE-marked in the European Union for the acute and/or prophylactic treatment of primary headache (Migraine, Cluster Headache, Trigeminal Autonomic Cephalalgias and Hemicrania Continua) and Medication Overuse Headache in adults.

In the US, the FDA has not cleared gammaCore for the treatment of pneumonia and/or respiratory disorders such as acute respiratory stress disorder associated with COVID-19.

Please refer to the gammaCore Instructions for Use for all of the important warnings and precautions before using or prescribing this product.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release and other written and oral statements made by representatives of electroCore may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about anticipated government support provided by the HIS, SHTG, NHS and NICE; statements about electroCore's business prospects and clinical and product development plans; its pipeline or potential markets for its technologies; the timing, outcome and impact of regulatory, clinical and commercial developments; the Companys business prospects in Eastern Europe and other new markets and other statements that are not historical in nature, particularly those that utilize terminology such as "anticipates," "will," "expects," "believes," "intends," other words of similar meaning, derivations of such words and the use of future dates. Actual results could differ from those projected in any forward-looking statements due to numerous factors. Such factors include, among others, the ability to raise the additional funding needed to continue to pursue electroCores business and product development plans, the inherent uncertainties associated with developing new products or technologies, the ability to commercialize gammaCore, the potential impact and effects of COVID-19 on the business of electroCore, electroCores results of operations and financial performance, and any measures electroCore has and may take in response to COVID-19 and any expectations electroCore may have with respect thereto, competition in the industry in which electroCore operates and overall market conditions. Any forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and electroCore assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking statements or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those projected in the forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Investors should consult all of the information set forth herein and should also refer to the risk factor disclosure set forth in the reports and other documents electroCore files with the SEC available at http://www.sec.gov.

Investors:Hans VitzthumLifeSci Advisors617-430-7578hans@lifesciadvisors.com

or

Media Contact:Jackie DorskyelectroCore973-290-0097jackie.dorsky@electrocore.com

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electroCore, Inc. Announces Scottish Health Technology Group Recommendation For Use of gammaCore in NHS Scotland Cluster Headache Patients -...

Without a doubt, 2020 will be recorded in history with the theme of COVID-19. The pandemic heavily affected our lives, creating new global challenges in almost all spheres, including security and defense. While the new normal is reshaping our reality, the existing security threats have not disappeared. It gives a reason to enhance our cooperation and develop a flexible approach more than any time before.

The outbreak has consequently led to a thorough examination of the armed forces role in countering this unprecedented crisis resulting from the spread of the virus.

Since the beginning, the Polish Armed Forces have been actively engaged in supporting civilian authorities and the health care system. Every day, an average of about 10,000 soldiers were actively fighting the pandemic, and another 10,000 were on standby. Fourteen military hospitals, five medical preventative medicine centers, and the Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology are constantly providing support to the national health care system. Soldiers were collecting around 55 thousand swabs each week and were supported almost 700 hospitals, 173 sanitary-epidemiological stations, and about 11,000 combatants, veterans, seniors and medical staff families. Soldiers are also supporting construction of 17 temporary hospitals, have built over 50 isolation centers and have operated over 20 field-admission points.

In this demanding period, the Polish Territorial Defence Forces the relatively young fifth service of the Polish Armed Forces have impeccably proved their importance and effectiveness.

At the same time, Poland has been a part of numerous activities on the international level. NATO is using its existing mechanisms and bodies, such as the Euro-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Center and strategic airlift programs, to support allies. It has also developed new tools such as new operations plans and a trust fund to strengthen response capabilities. NATO members provide mutual assistance to each other by donating vital medical equipment and relief material. These actions are a visible proof of international solidarity in response to this extraordinary multidimensional challenge we face nowadays. They also constitute valuable lessons learned to be implemented to be better prepared and resilient for similar challenges in the future.

We realized that without exchanging experience, our efforts would not be so efficient. Therefore, in spring 2020, our Military Institute of Medicine led several medical missions to Italy, the United States and Slovenia. Our experts had a unique opportunity to share best practices and obtain knowledge that could be applied to design national response measures.

Regardless of our fight against COVID-19, effective deterrence and defense remain the core task of our armed forces. Therefore, throughout 2020 we made every effort to fulfill previously planned activities and goals. Several top exercises such as Defender Europe 2020, conducted in a highly sanitary regime, proved allied determination to sustain high readiness of its forces.

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The COVID-19 pandemic will most likely have an impact on national security policies, including defense budgets, but we remain committed to keeping out defense spending above the required 2 percent of gross domestic product.

On the national level, Poland continues to strengthen its defense potential through further development of the Polish Armed Forces and their modernization.

We intend to keep up international cooperation aimed at increasing defense capabilities, specifically contributing to the needs of the alliance and the European Union. In this respect, we will implement state-of-the-art equipment, such as the F-35 fighter jet, the Patriot missile defense system and the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.

Where applicable, we will engage our national defense industry in modernization projects to include procurement of self-propelled howitzers and mortars.

As before, close international collaboration aimed at meeting key commitments and pledges will be of the utmost importance. Despite the negative effects that COVID-19 may bring to our economies, Poland will maintain its involvement in allied missions, operations and initiatives in line with the 360-degree approach applying to NATOs eastern flank and other strategic directions. It translates to our constant engagement in the Enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia, the Tailored Forward Presence in Romania and the Baltic Air Policing mission, as well as in peacekeeping activities in the Western Balkans. We will continue to declare significant forces to the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, NATO Response Force and NATO Readiness Initiative, not to mention our support to the international community in the fight against terrorism.

The COVID-19 pandemic proves that stronger cooperation in security is needed, though some may raise the argument that with the public health challenges we confront every day, defense expenditures are secondary. Nevertheless, as we are responsible for building a security landscape for the coming decades, we must concentrate on common defense projects and put emphasis on solidarity.

Mariusz Blaszczak is Polands minister of defense.

Continued here:
Poland's defense minister: COVID-19 is forcing the military to reexamine its role - DefenseNews.com

The Covid-19 pandemic has disrupted daily life on a global scale faster and more severely than any previous economic recession or natural disaster, resulting in significant psychological distress.

A new longitudinal study, published in Preventative Medicine, has revealed that the first month of the pandemic caused as much distress in American individuals as experienced during the entire previous year.

The researchers used longitudinal data from a nationally representative sample of US adults over the age of 20 to compare psychological distress during the first two months of the pandemic with the highest level of distress experienced during the year before the pandemic.

The baseline survey, according to the researchers, was conducted in February 2019 and the survey focusing on the pandemic was conducted in May 2020, eight weeks after the declaration of the national emergency in the US.

Measuring distress

Researchers assessed psychological distress by using the Kessler-6 (K6), which is an instrument commonly used to determine clinically significant psychiatric conditions, the study explains.

According to the study, the researchers found that the prevalence of psychological distress during the pandemic exceeded levels that would be expected in the absence of the pandemic.

Moreover, the study states that people experienced the same amount of psychological distress in 30 days of the pandemic as experienced over an entire year before the pandemic.

The researchers also found an increased prevalence of psychological distress across all demographic groups in the sample, which makes the pandemic the most persistent and complex stressor that has affected the US population, the study explains.

Younger people report more psychological distress

Findings from the research reveal that the risk of psychological distress was higher among participants younger than 60.

Distress may be driven more by economic stressors than fears specific to the disease, since older individuals are widely reported to be at higher risk of morbidity and mortality related to the virus, the researchers state.

Although previous research suggests that those who experience psychological distress following a disaster will return to pre-disaster levels over time, the researchers state that the pandemics effects may continue for an extended period.

Tracing patterns of persistence of serious psychological distress will provide important information to guide the national public health response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the researchers concluded.

READ |The Covid-19 pandemic is causing anxious, upsetting dreams in many people, especially women

READ |SA involved in massive global study on effects of Covid-19 pandemic - and you can play your part

READ |Mental health effects of Covid-19 pandemic, lockdown - and concern over suicide risk

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New study reveals extent of psychological distress resulting from Covid-19 pandemic - News24

Understanding how opiates work is something that most people are not that well-educated about. This poses a major problem, given that the United States has some of the highest opiate abuse rates in the world. Every hour, over five people die due to drug overdoses within the US. The first step in reducing opiate addiction rates is to educate people on how opioids work and how they lead to a high level of addiction seldom seen.Dr. Russell Surasky is someone who has become an expert on opiate addiction. He is triple board-certified in neurology, addiction medicine, and preventative medicine. Dr. Surasky is the medical director of Bridge Back to Life, which is a multi-center outpatient addiction treatment program that helps those addicted to dangerous opiates like fentanyl. He has also founded the Surasky Neurological Center for Addiction in Great Neck, NY.Dr. Surasky believes that once someone understands how opioids work, they will also realize why it is incredibly difficult for someone addicted to them to stop cold turkey. Rather than being a moral failing, as politicians have been telling us for decades, addiction is a complex chronic disease that includes a lifetime risk of relapse. Thankfully, there have been advances in our understanding of the brain and how opiates affect it. There are now treatments, which Dr. Surasky uses, that have the power to reverse the neurological damage caused by opiates, leading to a permanent recovery.The first step in understanding opioid addiction is to understand what opioids are themselves. Generally, the word opioid refers to drugs that originate from the opium poppy. These include morphine, codeine, heroin, fentanyl, and others. Synthetic drugs like Oxycodone and Hydrocodone, known as Percocet and Vicodin, are also classified as opioids. The way they work is by lighting up the opiate receptors in the brain and spinal cord. These opioids have the power to significantly reduce the amount of pain someone feels. However, opiate receptors will also play into how we feel, both mentally and emotionally. That leads to opioids temporarily improving someones well-being. In fact, they will drastically lower feelings of depression and anxiety in the user, but only temporarily.Opioids that get prescribed to mitigate pain can indeed provide pain relief. However, they do so at a cost. It is very easy to misuse them and get hooked on them. That is due to these drugs overstimulating the brain's reward system. There is a euphoria experienced when using opioids that, once gone, turns to depression.As soon as the drug wears off, it will detach from the opiate receptors it was locked into, which tells the brain that it needs more. Thankfully, there are safe and non-addictive methods today that can effectively wean people off of opiates, including Vivitrol and spinal adjustments, among others.

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Dr. Russell Surasky Helping Others Understand Opioid Addiction and the La - The Jerusalem Post

The emerging clean wellness industry is about minimizing human exposure to harmful chemicals.

The clean beauty market has been growing immensely in recent years, with people demanding products that are free of toxic chemicals. According to experts, the Covid-19 pandemic has only increased the desire of conscious consumers to spend their money on companies who are committed to sustainability and social change. Here are two companies taking the lead in the emerging clean wellness movement. WTHN offers traditional healing methods including acupuncture and herbs. Genexa makes the only OTC medications that are free from allergens and other potentially harmful ingredients.

Michelle Larivee is the CEO and Cofounder of WTHN.

1)WTHN

WTHN is a modern wellness brand that shares the ancient healing techniques of acupuncture, cupping, and traditional Chinese herbal medicine through its retail studios and a clean wellness boutique that carries their own products as well as others. After opening at the end of 2018, in their first year they earned revenue of over $2 million and gave over 5,000 people their first ever acupuncture treatment. They helped women trying to get pregnant, clients struggling with chronic pain and mental health issues, and more.

WTHN also sells organic herbal supplements for stress, sleep, and immunity-boosting on their website as well as through partners like Goop, Erewhon, and Standard Dose. As the Covid-19 pandemic has forced the closure of the WTHN studio in Manhattan, the company has pivoted to expanding their online healing platform.

We fundamentally believe that there is a broad shift happening in US healthcare right now toward preventative care, says Michelle Larivee, the CEO and Cofounder of WTHN. Health and wellness is defined by being proactive and not just seeing the doctor when youre sick. Its about more than just eating healthy and working out. Its about knowing your body and mind and being empowered to make decisions that are right for you. The Covid-19 crisis has only increased the urgency around the need for more awareness of tools for preventative health.

Laviree has worked in the healthcare industry for the last 15 years. But her journey to WTHN began with a personal health transformation. Six years ago, she had a ski accident that left her with chronic neck pain. After countless rounds of physical therapy and other treatments, she tried acupuncture and herbal medicine. Not only did they give her pain relief, but also she found herself sleeping better, less stressed, and with a stronger immune system that resulted in fewer sick days. She also credits the treatments with helping her get pregnant.

The entrepreneurship journey is all about highs and lows and navigating those extremes, which can be exhausting, says Laviree. There is no boss or mentor or built-in comforts like in any other job I have had in the past, so a lot of self-reliance is required. One of the most helpful things I have done is to build out my own very strong support network that includes mentors, colleagues, other founders, and friends.

David Johnson is the CEO and cofounder of Genexa.

2) Genexa

Genexa makes clean, safe, over-the-counter (OTC) medicines using the same active ingredients as big brands but without the toxic, harmful ingredients. These medications include antacids, laxatives, pain relievers, and more. The products are available in more than 30,000 stores nationwide.

Along with business partner Max Spielberg, CEO David Johnson founded Genexa because as new fathers, they discovered that there were no clean medicines for their children to take. We were shocked to find out that many oral medications contain a potential allergen and almost half contain ingredients like lactose, hard-to-digest sugars and more. We believed medicine could and should be made cleaner, so we decided to do something about it.

Johnson grew up in a healthy household with parents who were naturopathic physicians and used only clean, organic ingredients in everything from food to cleaning products. When he had his son, he therefore found it extremely frustrating to not be able to find medicines without ingredients like red dye no. 40 and sucrose. Everyone deserves clean, safe medicine that works. Being able to provide that to consumers worldwide is my lifes purpose, he says.

To aspiring changemakers and entrepreneurs, Johnson offers this advice. Do the thing you cant stop thinking about, even if you dont know where to start. My partner and I werent scientists, pharmacists or doctors. We were two dads who believed there was a better way. A lot of doors were slammed in our faces, but we didnt stop trying. We couldnt stop thinking about what the world would look like if we could make another industry cleaner.

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These 2 Companies Are Leading The Clean Wellness Movement - Forbes

The University of Washington Medical Center is very quiet on April 1, 2020.

Think twice about the COVID-19 test you just took, because the rapid Abbott BinaxNOW COVID-19 antigen test has been found to be about 100 times less sensitive than standard lab tests, according to a new study by UW Medicine. That means those cleared by the test may still be infected with low levels of the virus and can transmit it to others.

The research, conducted by laboratory medicine and pathology assistant professor Dr. Alex Greninger, compared the sensitivity of Abbott tests to tests typically used in clinical labs, also known as real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests, or rRT-PCR tests.

It found that the Abbott test is only able to detect the virus 95% of the time when samples contain at least 40,000 viruses. The rRT-PCR test only requires a few hundred viruses in a sample to detect it, making it around 100 times more sensitive.

As such, the Abbott test works well when administered within seven days of symptom onset, which is when infected individuals tend to shed large amounts of the virus. However, the test becomes less effective in detecting the virus past that period, even if those tested are still infected, according to UW Medicine.

The virus behaves so differently from person to person, so it really depends on the context, Greninger said. We dont recommend [the Abbott test] for hospital use, but it might be alright for a public health approach.

The Abbott test was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration back in August, and was subsequently distributed across the country to be used in clinics, offices, and schools. The test works by rubbing a nasal sample on a rapid-result card, which can detect the presence of a coronavirus protein within 15 minutes.

Its convenience and affordability have made it a popular option as quarantine protocols increasingly hinge on negative COVID-19 tests. Greninger even speculates that the Abbott test might be available for over-the-counter use within the next year.

However, that does not mean that the Abbott test should serve as a greenlight for people to resume traveling or other infectious behaviors.

We hope [the Abbott test] will be used as an added test, [a] preventative measure, not a reason to change behavior, Greninger said. We are still very much in the midst of a pandemic.

As these tests are often administered to screen those without obvious symptoms, that means they are being used to clear people for whom they are least effective, which means that some of those infected can still slip through and continue to transmit the virus.

Especially with the recent emergence of the even more contagious COVID-19 strain first found in the United Kingdom, which he speculates will probably spread across the United States as well, Greninger recommends that people remain cautious in their behavior and remember that although the vaccine may be out, there is still a long road ahead of us.

Reach reporter Katherine Lin at news@dailyuw.com. Twitter: @linkat18

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Rapid antigen COVID-19 test not greenlight to return to pre-pandemic behavior - Dailyuw

Dr. Russell Surasky has been turning heads with his effective use of VIVITROL for successfully treating opioid addiction. This monthly injection has been found to reduce addictive cravings for opiate drugs. Unlike other alternatives like Suboxone and Methadone, it is not an opiate itself.

The fact that VIVITROL is not an opiate also means that it is not addictive. There is absolutely no physical dependency risk associated with taking it. Additionally, there are no negative side effects that similar alternatives feature, such as feeling high or sick. In fact, not much of anything is felt after receiving a Vivitrol injection.

The intense cravings to get the next fix of an opiate are gone after using VIVITROL. One of the best features of VIVITROL is the fact that a patient does not need to continue receiving injections for the rest of their lives. After one year of taking Vivitrol once a month, there is no further need to keep taking it.

Dr. Russell Surasky is triple board-certified in neurology, addiction medicine, and preventative medicine. This makes him an expert on addictions and how to treat them. At his multi-center outpatient addiction treatment programmed called Bridge Back to Life, Dr. Surasky has been administering VIVITROL to his patients. The results have been so remarkable that he has called VIVITROL one of the most effective treatments for opiate addictions.

However, VIVITROL isnt a miracle-maker. There has to be a bit of personal responsibility on the side of the patient that is undertaken. As long as a patient is firmly committed to getting rid of their opiate addiction, they will find VIVITROL treatment successful. They should also adhere to substance abuse therapy and have a healthy support system. You are the five or six people you spend the most time around, making it important to have an environment that reinforces healthy habits.

To date, Dr. Surasky has nothing but good things to say about VIVITROL. From his experience working with it, patients have seen dramatic improvements. VIVITROL has led to patients no longer feeling the intense cravings for opiate drugs they once had. Even further, they no longer even think about them. The patients Dr. Surasky has treated have expressed their relief about having finally freed themselves from the destructive additions that come with taking opiate drugs.

Dr. Surasky believes there is nothing more important than keeping families together and healthy. If someone in a family has fallen prey to opiate addiction, their family ends up suffering as well. Opiate addiction has found its way into every area of society. Nobody is immune to its dangers. That is why something like VIVITROL is a welcome solution that can help families everywhere avoid the terribly destructive consequences of opiate addiction.

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VIVITROL Is Quickly Becoming the Go-To Treatment Option for Getting Rid of Opioid Addiction - The Ritz Herald

It seems as though a llama may hold the answer we've been waiting for, in terms of combatting the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. A study conducted at Uniformed Services University's (USU) Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine showed that nanobodies produced by an absolutely gorgeous llama named Cormac may potentially be able to protect human lungs from infections such as COVID-19.

As previously mentioned, USU's researchers have been working with specific antibodies known as nanobodies derived from camels and llamas, which may be able to take down the coronavirus pandemic. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, when manipulated in the form of an aerosol or liquid form, nanobodies can act as a virus preventative and combatant. They weigh about 10 percent of a human antibody, and can apparently recognize virus proteins, latch themselves on, and fight them off.

Nanobodies are cheap and easy to work with in the realm of medical engineering, which is why USU's researchers had been testing them for months. Eventually, they discovered that Cormac the llama was producing a certain type of nanobody, NIH-CoVnb-112, which is thought to prevent, detect, and disembody SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. Scientists tested this by immunizing Cormac five times over the course of a few weeks, using low levels of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, and seeing how he reacted.

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From doing this, researchers found that Cormac was producing low levels of the NIH-CoVnb-112 nanobodies, which latch onto the COVID-19 protein and prevent it from entering the body's cells. The nanobodies were then further tested in terms of infection prevention in petri dishes, and were eventually tested through an inhaler that used on asthma patients, which showed could work to treat patients in the form of a spray, according to National Institutes of Health.

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"One of the exciting things about nanobodies is that, unlike most regular antibodies, they can be aerosolized and inhaled to coat the lungs and airways," said Dr. David Brody, director of USU's Center for Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, and leader of the study. "This is promising in that it could potentially be used to protect the lungs from infections."

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Alberto Carvalho has been able to do what hundreds of his fellow superintendents have not: fully open his districts schools in the pandemic.

The head of Miami-Dade County Public Schools said hes been able to rely on the advice of scientific experts and follow through on a plan that has worked and gained trust.

Weve been well-informed by public health and medical experts. We convened a task force of experts, in pediatric medicine, in immunology, he told CNN, adding that one of the experts is Dr. Vivek Murthy, whom President-elect Joe Biden has nominated for US Surgeon General.

Weve been in good hands and that has translated into a set of protocols that has left very little room for doubting ourselves.

Those protocols listed in the county website include: daily health checks before students leave home, the wearing of masks and more space around children on school buses and in classrooms and cafeteria.

Carvalhos lack of doubt has helped win over many parents of the more than 350,000 students enrolled in his schools.

When you communicate that to the parents, then theres a sense of calm and trust that parents need prior to sending their students to school, he said.

Miami-Dade is the fourth largest school district in the country and the largest to reopen fully in the fall.

Carvalhos determination stems from his belief that there is no good replacement for in-person instruction.

There is no substitute, regardless of how great the technology may be, he said bluntly. You cannot Zoom effectively into a full understanding, a full level of engagement for students.

Carvalho also sees schools as an indispensable safe harbor for children academically, physically and emotionally even or perhaps especially in the middle of a pandemic.

I am a staunch believer that if we want to keep schools open if we want that normalcy and regularity to continue, if we want that protective umbrella for students, pedagogically speaking, academically speaking, in terms of their cognitive and emotional development if we will want that to happen, then the schools can do all they can in terms of preventative measures in terms of mitigating strategies in terms of protocols.

He said the cases of coronavirus in his schools are lower than in the community at large. Miami-Dade alone has reported more than a fifth of all Covid-19 cases in Florida, according to Johns Hopkins University data. But Carvalho said schools had an advantage.

Here in Miami-Dade, we see a greater adherence to protocols in schools because it is a controlled, safe environment than we see those same protocols being followed in their community in general, whether were talking about the bars and restaurants at the beach or social gatherings, he said.

New York City is seeing a similar outcome after it reopened its public elementary schools last month, despite an increasing coronavirus test positivity rate in the city as a whole.

The city has conducted about 100,000 Covid tests in schools, and found a positivity rate of 0.68%, far below the citywide rate of just under 9%, according to New York City data.

The evidence that schools are not hotbeds of virus spread led New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to reverse a policy requiring schools to close if the community positivity rate hit 9% or higher.

If their schools are below the level of positivity in the community then they can keep the schools open, he said last week, returning more control to local school districts.

While there is no official national database tracking the spread of Covid within schools, independent analysis suggests that schools can safely reopen if proper mitigation strategies are followed.

Its an issue on which even governors from political opposites can share similar views.

Last week Cuomo, a Democrat and frequent critic of President Donald Trump, said: The safest place in New York City is, of course, our public schools.

And last October, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican ally of the President, said: Closing schools due to coronavirus is probably the biggest public health blunder in modern American history.

But many school districts are not ready to reopen. Los Angeles, the second largest district behind New York City, remains fully online, as do San Francisco and Washington, DC.

On Monday, some Chicago students in pre-K and special education got to return to school for the first time since March. But the push to reopen schools was met with heavy resistance from the citys teachers union, which argued that the city had not invested enough in measures to make in-person learning safe for staff and children.

That also appears to be the feeling among many Chicago parents. Students in kindergarten through 8th grade may go back to in-person learning next month, but so far less than one-third have signed up.

Biden said reopening public schools is one of his priorities for his first 100 days in office.

With Miami-Dade already having met that bar, Carvalho has his own next priority in mind: make sure teachers are among the first to be vaccinated.

If our teachers are essential professionals, indispensable to our society, to our economy, then we ought to prioritize their status in terms of access to the vaccine, the superintendent said.

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How Miami-Dade opened all its public schools - and kept them open - KVIA El Paso

JERUSALEM and MUMBAI, India, Dec. 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- VOTIS Subdermal Imaging Technologies, Ltd., an Israeli corporation, and ii Ventures Private Limited (iiV), an Indian company, announced today that they have entered into a memorandum of understanding to develop a system to screen the largely rural Indian population for peripheral artery disease (PAD). The devices, which allow for the early detection of the disease before tangible symptoms appear, will utilize the same technology that VOTIS is building into other devices intended for use in the US and Europe.

"PAD afflicts between 41 and 54 million Indians. Many of these people are impoverished, illiterate, and lack access to good healthcare," said Alfred Arambhan, Co-Founder and Mentor of iiV. "There is a great need for a system that is convenient, accurate, and affordable. We have found it in the VOTIS technology."

"In India, access to healthcare among the rural population is extremely limited," Mr. Arambhan explained. "Preventative healthcare is especially difficult to implement. In poor rural communities, preserving feet is crucial. Since rural life is agricultural, when someone loses a foot to amputation he is in a particularly desperate economic state, even as compared to the urban poor."

Mr. Arambhan continued, "India has been declared the Diabetic Capital of the world. Our initial plan is to establish VOTIS solutions in villages throughout India, and to create a robust and reliable platform for introducing and launching similar devices and solutions in the future. We are gratified that our plan has received encouragement and support from Governmental, private, and NGO sources in India."

"Our technology is especially suited for the Indian market," said Merrill Weber, Chief Executive Officer and President of VOTIS. "Our devices are entirely non-invasive and do not use X-rays (Roentgen) or other ionizing radiation. They are inexpensive and dependable. In India, the screening devices will enable easy, intuitive use. That will permit testing to be performed by technicians and nurses in the villages rather than medical doctors at hospitals or clinics. People found to have PAD will immediately be directed to specific locations where they can receive suitable medical treatment. With early disease identification and quick access to medical care, we expect incidence of PAD-related amputation to be reduced substantially."

Mr. Arambhan added, "We look to this plan to be a game changer in the Preventive Health Care Space in India."

The VOTIS devices use vascular optical tomographic imaging, or VOTI, an imaging technology developed under the leadership of Prof. Andreas Hielscher, professor and chair of the newly-formed Department of Biomedical Engineering at the New York University Tandon School of Engineering. The technology was developed in Prof. Hielscher's biophotonics and optical radiology laboratory, which he ran as professor of biomedical engineering, radiology and electrical engineering at the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Columbia University.

VOTIS plans to release its devices commercially in 2022.

About VOTIS Subdermal Imaging Technologies, Ltd.

VOTIS Subdermal Imaging Technologies, Ltd. is an Israeli corporation that is developing a suite of devices that will be used to help diabetic patients keep their feet. The first device, the PedCheck, will be used to screen the feet of asymptomatic patients for PAD. If PAD is found, then the second device, the PedScan, will be used to stage and monitor disease progression and the impact of therapies applied by the patient's physician. The third device, the PedFlo, will be used during a revascularization procedure, in order to inform the practicing doctor regarding the level of blood flow in the foot. All three VOTIS devices use the same technology, software, and system architecture. They are safe, non-invasive, and free of ionizing radiation. More information is available at http://www.votis.net.

About ii Ventures Private Limited

ii Ventures Private Limited was Co-Founded and Mentored by Alfred Arambhan an early well-wisher of Israel India Business & Cultural relationship for the last 18 years. He is a Mumbai-based Serial Entrepreneur. Mr. Arambhan founded iiV to bring Israeli knowhow, technology, and experience to India in the Health, Agri, and Deep Tech space. iiV has been invited by a Singapore based US$50 Million fund to partner in their Business Plan. Mr. Arambhan's daughter, Pooja Armbhan, is CEO of iiV. She is an Israel-Asia Fellow who received her MBA from Tel Aviv University on a full scholarship from the Parasol Foundation.

For further information, contact: Merrill WeberTel.: (312) 340-0895Tel.: +972-(0)58-406-2386Email: merrillweber@votis.net

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VOTIS Subdermal Imaging Technologies And ii Ventures Announce Plans To Develop Preventative Medicine Devices To Screen For Peripheral Artery Disease...