A new survey from the Gout & Uric Acid Education Society (GUAES) finds many Americans with gout may be placing too much emphasis on diet when it comes to managing the disease and controlling painful flares. Of all the steps taken to manage gout, respondents cited changing their diet by eliminating or reducing consumption of certain foods as their top step taken (50 percent)—even ahead of taking medications to lower their uric acid levels (40 percent) and maintaining an overall healthy fitness level (33 percent). Furthermore, nearly one in three with gout incorrectly believes that the disease can be completely avoided by eliminating certain foods; and more than one in four said they would not take medications if they were making dietary changes.
“Physicians all too often see patients who believe they can successfully manage their gout with diet alone,” said N. Lawrence Edwards, M.D., a rheumatologist and GUAES chairman. “But even with extremely rigid diet restrictions, most gout patients will only be able to lower their uric acid levels slightly—not nearly enough to achieve a healthy level to control flares and reduce risk for long-term damage.”
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7835451-guaes-diet-survey/
Children who have disabilities will be able to express their unique experiences like never before thanks to a first-of-its-kind app developed by Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare in St. Paul, Minnesota.
The app, an ability-themed emoji keyboard called Emojability, will allow families, patients, caregivers and advocates in the special needs community to communicate, support one another and feel empowered to celebrate the goals and successes they’ve achieved. From adaptive equipment and therapy emojis to words of encouragement, Emojability brings to life symbols and phrases that don’t exist on other emoji keyboards. The free app is now available for download on smartphones.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7823251-gillette-childrens-emojability/
Motherhood is a lifelong promise to love, protect and fight for your child. For some mothers, the greatest fight isn’t their own – it’s helping their child battle cancer.
Beginning today and throughout May, Northwestern Mutual, through its Foundation, is honoring heroic moms of childhood cancer patients by sharing their inspiring stories of strength. Additionally, the foundation is making a $50,000 grant in support of these moms to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) to help find a cure.
Northwestern Mutual will share the personal stories of eight mothers and their children from across the country through a Facebook campaign.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7730651-northwestern-mutual-mothers-day/
Merck (NYSE: MRK), known as MSD outside the United States and Canada, and the American Diabetes Association today issued a new challenge to the millions of Americans affected by type 2 diabetes as part of the program America’s Diabetes Challenge: Get to Your Goals. In 2015, award-winning artist Tim McGraw, celebrated actress S. Epatha Merkerson and chef Leticia Moreinos Schwartz each shared their personal connection to type 2 diabetes. This year, they’re calling on people to share their stories.
Living with diabetes isn’t easy, and that’s why America’s Diabetes Challenge encourages people with type 2 diabetes to work with their doctor to set and reach their A1C goal. The program will aim to identify the most common challenges patients submit and will offer tips to help address them. The program is also designed to help people learn if they’re at risk of low blood glucose, known as hypoglycemia, and how to help reduce that risk.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7785551-merck-americas-diabetes-challenge/
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) today released new advertising as part of its “From Hope to Cures” campaign, highlighting the stories of rare blood and lung cancer survivors.
The newest video in the collection features Matt, who was diagnosed nearly seven years ago with advanced non-small cell lung cancer. When he was diagnosed, he was given a slim chance of living up to five years. However, today Matt continues to lead an active life due to recent advancements in targeted gene therapies and innovations in cancer medicines.
The latest print and digital ads feature Jamie, a vibrant woman diagnosed 15 years ago with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Watching her son grow up was a primary focus for her, and she’s been able to continue to do that and so much more. Thanks to advancements in CML treatments, today she maintains her sense of humor and imparts an infectious joy on those who meet her.
Earlier this year, the first collection of digital and print ads was released featuring Rhys, a five-year-old living with type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. Unveiled alongside the advertising was a video, titled “We’re Fighting Back,” which features both Rhys and Jamie, as well as Jen, a researcher who wakes up every day working to find new treatments and cures for patients.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7738431-phrma-from-hope-to-cures/
Over 80% of Americans want to spend their last days at home, with friends and family. Yet, despite these desires, 75% of Americans will spend their last days in a hospital room. Many people will spend hours each day getting painful and often useless treatments and tests, and be asked to take dozens of debilitating drugs. For many, the cure is worse than the disease. This often has negative and lasting effects on family and friends who are often left with feelings of guilt and regret for years to come.
Hospice Support Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting end of life care at home rather than in a hospital so patients can spend their last days in dignity and peace, pain-free in familiar, comfortable surroundings with friends and family.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7785451-hospice-support-fund-end-of-life-care-psa/
The sixth annual Productive Innovation Index released by IDEA Pharma today, which ranks biopharmaceutical companies by their ability to successfully bring innovations to market, sees Johnson & Johnson top the industry for the fourth year running.
The Productive Innovation Index measures, scores and celebrates a company’s ability to deliver innovation to patients, by objectively evaluating performance data based on a rolling five year period (2010-2015), and operates on the premise: if you gave the same molecule to two different companies in early phase, which would make the best of it?
The success of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson and its consolidation of 1st place across the past four years’ rankings is driven largely by innovations in the field of oncology, immunology, neuroscience and cardiovascular/metabolism. Notable performers include Zytiga® (prostate cancer), Imbruvica® (chronic lymphocytic leukemia and mantle cell lymphoma (co-developed and co-marketed with Pharmacyclics, an AbbVie company)), Simponi®/Simponi Aria® (rheumatoid arthritis), Stelara® (psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis), Invega Sustenna® and Invega Trinza® (schizophrenia).
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/uk/7770851-johnson-and-johnson-tops-idea-pharma/
With the onset of winter season in the country, breathing problems and respiratory diseases will also be on the rise. To ensure that patients with respiratory problems breathe with ease, a comprehensive patient Mobile App named “My Breathefree” has been launched as a virtual caregiver by ‘Breathefree’, a public service initiative by Cipla. This app is specifically designed for Indian conditions and is available on Google play store and iOS platform for all patients, caregivers and doctors.
One of the major chronic respiratory problems in the country is asthma and “My Breathefree” app will be a great help towards better asthma management and control. Asthma causes limitations in daily activities, loss of school and work days, lung function impairment, reduced quality of life and an adverse socioeconomic burden. However, if monitored and treated properly, asthmatics can control their disease and lead an absolutely normal and healthy life.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7562351-lung-care-asthma-mobile-app/
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® officials and guests today marked the opening of the St. Jude Red Frog Events Proton Therapy Center, the first proton therapy center in the world dedicated solely to children with cancer.
Patients are now being treated at the center using precisely delivered, high-energy particles called protons to kill or shrink tumors while minimizing damage to healthy tissue and organs. For patients with brain tumors and certain other cancers, research suggests proton beam therapy may be more effective than conventional radiation at preventing the growth and spread of tumors while reducing the risk of treatment-related side effects.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7713451-st-jude-proton-therapy-opening/
Long before it's time for hospice care, many people with serious illness can benefit from palliative care but don’t realize it. Sometimes referred to as “comfort care,” palliative care is a specialized approach to the treatment of patients with a serious or life-threatening illness. Palliative care has helped Deadra Gladden get her life back through symptom management and support from Samaritan Healthcare & Hospice, Marlton, N.J.
In May of 2014 Deadra, age 28, was in the hospital, feeling hopeless and in excruciating pain due to lupus, a disease she has been battling for over half her young life. Deadra's doctors told her family it was time to call hospice. But after consulting with a nurse from Samaritan Healthcare and Hospice, a palliative care team was brought in instead.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7429131-moments-of-life-by-hospice/
The most detailed analysis yet of the role germline mutations in genes associated with cancer predisposition play in the development of childhood cancer suggests that comprehensive genomic screening may be warranted on all pediatric cancer patients, not just those with a family history of cancer. The study from the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital – Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project appears in the November 19 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Ultimately, researchers anticipate that systematic monitoring of patients and family members who have germline mutations in cancer predisposition genes will allow the detection of cancers at their earliest and most curable stage, thereby improving the outcomes for these children and family members.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7692851-st-jude-hospital-genome-project/
Following FDA approval of the AspireSR® generator for the VNS Therapy® system in June 2015, more than a thousand patients with drug-resistant epilepsy across the United States have received this new treatment option. Many of these patients are experiencing benefits which have positively impacted their lives – and are sharing their stories during Epilepsy Awareness Month with the hope of encouraging others to seek new treatments for drug-resistant epilepsy. Numerous hospitals nationwide have begun providing the AspireSR device to patients with drug-resistant epilepsy – a condition that affects as many as one-third of people with epilepsy, causing them to have seizures in spite of treatment with antiepileptic medications.
The VNS Therapy system is a minimally invasive option in which a medical device is placed under the skin in the upper chest area during an outpatient procedure. The device sends mild electrical pulses through the vagus nerve to areas of the brain known to be associated with seizures. The new AspireSR generator takes the VNS Therapy technology a step further – detecting relative heart-rate increases that are often associated with seizures in people with epilepsy and providing responsive stimulation in an attempt to stop and shorten seizures and improve recovery.
To view the multimedia release go to:
http://www.multivu.com/players/English/7651751-livanova-aspiresr-treatment/
