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Sept. 16, 2020

FITNESS & WELLNESS

The safest ways to exercise during a pandemic Popular Science If you’re feeling a little more sluggish than usual after months upon months of working and socializing from home, you aren’t alone. With the options winnowed down to running outside, it can be especially tough to scrounge up fitness gear and get a jump start on your routine. But giving up on working out isn’t always the healthiest option, despite what’s going on in the world. READ MORE

The emotional benefits of weight training: Why lifting makes us feel so good Metro Exercise gives us endorphins. We know this. Going to a spin class, or even just a light jog, will flood your body with feel-good chemicals that make you feel pretty amazing. But there is a special kind of buzz that you get from lifting weights. A feeling of invincibility, as though you’re untouchable — and that high can stay with you for ages. READ MORE

Health experts agree this exercise is best during COVID-19 Inverse We often get bombarded with the message “regular physical activity is the key to good health and well-being”. To most of us, when we hear “physical activity”, we typically think of aerobic exercises such as walking, jogging and cycling. But recent evidence suggests muscle-strengthening exercise is very beneficial to our health. READ MORE

DIET & NUTRITION

Going on a low-carb diet could be more effective for weight loss than cutting calories, especially for people with insulin resistance Insider Counting carbohydrates, not calories alone, could boost weight loss for people struggling on a regular diet, particularly those with diabetes, according to research presented at the 2020 European and International Obesity Congress. READ MORE

Does the Mediterranean diet protect against rheumatoid arthritis? ScienceDaily Previous research has demonstrated a variety of health benefits associated with the Mediterranean diet, which is rich in olive oil, cereals, fruit and vegetables, fish and a moderate amount of dairy, meat and wine. Now results suggest that the diet may also help prevent rheumatoid arthritis in individuals who smoke or used to smoke. READ MORE

Why there is no such thing as a healthy diet that works for everyone New Scientist For about a decade, geneticist Tim Spector of King’s College London ate the same thing every day: a tuna and sweetcorn sandwich on brown bread, followed by a banana. He thought it was a healthy choice, until he turned the microscope on himself and discovered that it was about the worst possible thing he could eat. READ MORE

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Exercise has positive effects on learning and memory in young adults News-Medical.Net Just a single exercise workout has positive effects on learning and memory in young adults, according to a recent review of published studies. The review, which is published in Translational Sports Medicine, included 13 relevant studies. The types of exercise that were studied involved walking, running and bicycling in individuals between 18 to 35 years of age. READ MORE

Study: Exercise strengthens brain’s resilience to stress Leisure Opportunities A study by researchers at Emory University in the U.S. has shown how exercise can strengthen the brain's resilience to stress through a protein called galanin. The research team studied two groups — one which regularly exercised and another which didn't. They then measured anxious behavior in the test subjects 24 hours after an artificially created stressful event. READ MORE

Study finds what you eat is linked to when you eat Medical News Today Maintaining a healthful diet is associated with how late in the day people consume most of their food, according to research presented at the European and International Conference on Obesity. The study found that people who consume most of their calories in the evening tend to consume more of them and have a lower quality diet. READ MORE

VITAMINS & PHARMACEUTICALS

Vitamin D and K status linked to reduced mortality risk, say researchers NutraIngredients.com Combined low vitamin D and K status are associated with increased all-cause mortality risk and possibly with cardiovascular events, according to a newly published cohort study. READ MORE

Vitamin B1 deficiency a key factor in the development of alcohol-related dementia Medical University of Vienna via ScienceDaily A common consequence of chronically high alcohol consumption is a decline in cognitive function, which can even progress to full-blown dementia. However, we do not yet fully understand how alcohol damages the brain. A research group led by Stephan Listabarth from MedUni Vienna's Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Division of Social Psychiatry, has now developed a hypothesis whereby iron deposits in the brain — resulting from alcohol-induced vitamin B1 deficiency — can be regarded as key factors in cognitive decline. READ MORE

Does vitamin D deficiency increase COVID-19 risk? Optometry Times Results from a new retrospective study suggest those with vitamin D deficiency may be at an increased risk of contracting the novel coronavirus. A total of 489 University of Chicago Medicine patients were studied to determine if vitamin D status affects COVID-19. Participants’ vitamin D levels were determined two months prior to being tested for COVID-19. READ MORE

NAMCP UPDATES

LivaNova PLC, a market-leading medical technology and innovation company, today announced the publication of a new study in the International Journal of Bipolar Disorders that showed adding Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy (VNS Therapy®) to treatment as usual (TAU) significantly improves outcomes in patients with treatment-resistant bipolar depression (TRBD). The study examined patients from a five-year prospective registry and found 63% of TRBD patients treated with adjunctive VNS Therapy in addition to TAU had a significant reduction in depressive symptoms, as measured by a 50% or greater reduction in the Montgomery–Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), compared with 39% of patients in the TAU alone group. Click here to view the entire press release. Click here to view the entire press release. Additionally, LivaNova PLC announced a publication in Contemporary Clinical Trials, which details the design for “A Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized Controlled Blinded Trial Demonstrating the Safety and Effectiveness of VNS Therapy® System as Adjunctive Therapy Versus a No Stimulation Control in Subjects With Treatment-Resistant Depression” or the RECOVER clinical study. RECOVER is currently under way as part of a Coverage with Evidence Development framework of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) National Coverage Determination process. Click here to view the entire press release. In late 2018, the National Association of Managed Care Physicians (NAMCP) decided to create the Value Based Care Council (VBCC). The VBCC mission supports empowering medical directors with information and resources to assist them in making value based decisions that support achieving the Triple AIM of improved outcomes and the patient experience while reducing overall costs. The goal is to improve the integration of cost, quality, and access in the clinical decision making process so as to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of extracting value from the associated spend in order to optimize outcomes. Pursuant to the above, and in response to an unmet need in the marketplace, the VBCC developed a short form in order to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency with which value propositions can be shared between industry and the medical leadership of various payers throughout the country. This same short form provides a concise and consistent manner with which value propositions can be shared and provides the ability to align expectations prior to actually conducting conversations or having a meeting regarding a product or service. The Product Value Proposition Customer Engagement Short Form can be found on the NAMCP website (www.namcp.org) in the Value Based Care Council subsection of the Councils tab, under tools and resources. Please contact Will Williams at wwilliams@namcp.org with questions or for additional information. Jazz Pharmaceuticals is excited to announce the approval of ZEPZELCA™ (lurbinectedin) for the treatment of adult patients with metastatic small cell lung cancer (SCLC) with disease progression on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. ZEPZELCA is a second-line therapy that has been studied in both platinum-sensitive and -resistant SCLC patients. Please click here for more information. Takeda Pharmaceuticals is part of, "The Fight Is In Us", an initiative to maximize the individual and societal benefit of COVID-19 plasma. The campaign will focus on recruiting COVID-19 survivors to donate their plasma at licensed blood and plasma donor centers. If you’ve recovered from #COVID19, your immune system has antibodies that could be used as a treatment. See if you can help others by donating plasma www.TheFightIsInUs.org. #TheFightIsInUS The antibodies that helped you or someone you know fight off COVID-19 may be able to help others. Visit www.TheFightIsInUs.org to see if you qualify to donate plasma. #TheFightIsInUs You are a survivor, now you could be a hero. Plasma from recovered #COVID19 patients could play a key role in creating a potential therapy for coronavirus. Learn how you can donate at www.TheFightIsInUs.org #TheFightIsInUs Biodesix, Inc., a leading diagnostic company in lung disease, recently announced a partnership with Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (NYSE: BIO and BIOb) to bring a COVID-19 Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) test to the FDA for an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) approval to support the escalating need for testing in the U.S. Two studies published this month, ahead of peer review, reported that ddPCR testing showed superior sensitivity and precision for clinical detection of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) compared to existing test methods that are performed using qPCR. Biodesix currently has a focus on lung disease and offers other diagnostic testing for lung cancer utilizing the ddPCR platform.Click here for more information. "Modeling Cost-Effectiveness of On-Demand Treatment for Hereditary Angioedema Attack" was recently published in the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy's February 2020 issue. Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a rare disease that causes painful and potentially fatal episodes of swelling (attacks). HAE attacks can be unpredictable and the need to treat sudden attacks promptly and effectively is critical to minimize risk of hospitalization, morbidity, and mortality. A cost-effectiveness model was evaluated that considers evaluation of on-demand medications, healthcare utilization and patient well-being. For access to the publication, please click here. Biodesix, Inc. announced initiation of the next phase of their biomarker development program with Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and Pfizer Inc. The companies have completed initial discovery and development of a new proteomic test that identifies likely responders to the anti-PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor (BAVENCIO®) (avelumab). Development efforts will now focus on transferring the test into Biodesix's CLIA lab in Boulder, CO for clinical phase test validation. The new test was developed through retrospective analysis of the circulating proteome of cancer patients treated with the investigational drug candidate, utilizing the proprietary Biodesix Diagnostic Cortex™ artificial intelligence (AI) platform. Click here to read the full press release. The NAMCP Medical Directors Institute recently held the first meeting of its Executive Leadership Council (ELC) at the recent Fall Managed Care Forum. The NAMCP Medical Directors Institute decided in late 2018 to create the Value Based Care Council (VBCC) with a mission to empower medical directors with information and resources to assist them in making value based decisions that support achieving the Triple AIM of improved outcomes and the patient experience while reducing overall costs. Click here to view an overview of the genesis, formation, and work of NAMCP's Value Based Care Council. Please click here to view the press release. LivaNova PLC (NASDAQ:LIVN), a market-leading medical technology and innovation company, today announced the first patient enrolled in "A Prospective, Multi-center, Randomized Controlled Blinded Trial Demonstrating the Safety and Effectiveness of VNS Therapy® System as Adjunctive Therapy Versus a No Stimulation Control in Subjects With Treatment-Resistant Depression" (RECOVER). The study will evaluate Vagus Nerve Stimulation Therapy (VNS Therapy) for Treatment-Resistant Depression (TRD) in accordance with the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) National Coverage Determination as part of its Coverage with Evidence Development Program. The first patient was enrolled by Dr. Azfar Malik in St. Louis. Click here to read the full press release. Biodesix, Inc. this week highlighted findings from multiple studies demonstrating the significance and clinical utility of its VeriStrat® blood-based proteomic test as a predictive biomarker for patient survival outcomes and as a diagnostic tool to improve the clinical management of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This information is vital to implementing optimal treatment strategies for patients and supports disease state monitoring. To date, VeriStrat testing has helped more than 50,000 patients in determining the best treatment for their lung cancer. Click here to see the full press release.

eNews on Prevention, Wellness & Lifestyle   Connect with NAMCP Dennis Hall, Director of Publishing, 469-420-2656 | Download media kit Contribute news NAMCP Medical Directors Institute 4435 Waterfront Drive, Suite 101 | Glen Allen, VA 23060 804-527-1905 | Contact Us | www.namcp.org Click here to unsubscribe. Learn how to add us to your safe sender list so our emails get to your inbox. ADVERTISE SUBSCRIBE PAST ISSUES 7701 Las Colinas Ridge, Ste. 800, Irving, TX, 75063