Q&A with Paula Williams: Guidelines allow voluntary employer wellness programs

Q: A federal court recently heard a case involving a corporate wellness program. What was the basis for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit in this case? A: Orion Energy Systems implemented a “wellness program,” which asked employees to participate in a heath assessment to improve the health of Orion’s workforce and, as a result, reduce Orion’s health care spending.

Takeda and PvP Biologics Form $35M GI Pact

Takeda and PvP Biologics have formed an agreement for the development of KumaMax, a novel enzyme designed to break down the immune-reactive parts of gluten in the stomach, thereby avoiding the painful symptoms and damage done in the small intestine from accidental gluten ingestion. PvP will conduct all research and development through phase 1 proof-of-principle studies per a pre-defined development plan.

Neovacs to Collaborate with the Sunnybrook Research Inst.

Neovacs has formed a collaboration with Professor Robert Kerbel and his team at the Sunnybrook Research Institute of Toronto, Canada for preclinical development of Neovacs’ VEGF Kinoid, specifically to obtain the proof of concept for the treatment of colorectal and ovarian cancer. The Neovacs technology presents a new therapeutic opportunity for these types of cancers where the VEGF-A protein plays an important role in the vascularization of the tumor.

NeuroMetrix to Present at the Digital Medicine Showcase 2017: At the…

NeuroMetrix, Inc. today announced that Shai N. Gozani M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer, is scheduled to speak at the Digital Medicine Showcase 2017 at the Parc 55 San Francisco in San Francisco, . The Digital Medicine Showcase brings together innovative companies showcasing clinically impactful digital health technologies, venture capital and private equity investors, pharma executives and professional advisors.

EpiCast Report 2016: Breast Cancer (HER2+, HER2-) – Epidemiology…

The epidemiologists forecast that the diagnosed incident cases of invasive breast cancer in the 8MM for women will grow by an Annual Growth Rate of 1.94% over the next 10 years, from 795,114 cases in 2015 to 949,161 cases in 2025. In 2015, the 60-69 year age group had the highest number of diagnosed incident cases of invasive breast cancer, contributing 195,701 cases of the total in the 8MM.

Conte confirms Zouma will return for Chelsea in the FA Cup

The Blues defender has been on the long-term injured list for sometime but he will start in the FA Cup match against lower league opposition Kurt Zouma will return for Chelsea against Peterborough United in the FA Cup on Sunday after over 11 months out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The France international was a regular for his club last season before he was injured against Manchester United in the Premier League, and he’ll return to boost Antonio Conte’s squad on Sunday.

Former Chargers team doctor reaches settlement in Junior Seau case

The California medical board claimed that Seau, in the months before his suicide in 2012, didn’t receive proper care from Dr. David Chao. The former Chargers team doctor accused by the California state medical board of gross negligence for his treatment of Hall of Fame NFL linebacker Junior Seau has reached a settlement with the board, USA Today reported Thursday.

Planned Parenthood To Be DE-FUNDED After All

… has opposed past efforts. The vast majority of federal money that Planned Parenthood does receive funds preventive health care, birth control, pregnancy tests, breast cancer screening and other women’s health care services. Democrats also point out …

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DECEMBER 22, 2016 – Portrait of Tabitha Wegner and her children Gage, 9 and Nevaeh, 10 at their Windsor home on December 22, 2016. Tabitha Wegner won’t see her children grow up and fall in love.

HCM City Export Zone Reports Outbreak Of Chickenpox

HO CHI MINH CITY, Jan 6 — An outbreak of chickenpox has been reported at Gunze Vietnam Co Ltd in HCM City’s Tan Thuan Export Processing Zone, with 30 people contracting the disease since Nov 17, Vietnam news agency reported the HCM City Preventive Health Centre as saying. The centre warned that the current weather is favourable for the spread of chickenpox.

Medicare Failed To Recover Up To $125 Million In Overpayments From Private Insurers

A Medicare Advantage plan run by Independence Blue Cross, headquartered in Philadelphia, was among those audited for overcharging by the federal government. Six years ago, federal health officials were confident they could save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars annually by auditing private Medicare Advantage insurance plans that allegedly overcharged the government for medical services.

Bernie Sanders Says Trump Won Because Democrats Are Out Of Touch

Sen. Bernie Sanders talks to reporters about preserving the Affordable Care Act with fellow Democrats from both the House and Senate after a meeting with President Obama at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 4 in Washington, D.C. “Look, you can’t simply go around to wealthy people’s homes raising money and expect to win elections,” the Vermont senator, who gave Clinton a surprisingly strong run for the Democratic nomination, told NPR’s David Greene in an interview airing on Morning Edition. “You’ve got to go out and mix it up and be with ordinary people.”

Low Iron Levels May Be Linked to Hearing Loss

When people have low levels of iron in their blood, they may develop a condition called iron deficiency anemia, which is known to have wide-ranging effects throughout the body, and now, a new study suggests that this condition may be linked to hearing loss as well. In the study, adults who had iron deficiency anemia were more than twice as likely to develop a specific type of hearing loss, called combined hearing loss, compared with those who did not have iron deficiency anemia, according to the study.

Upstart ‘Toni Erdmann’ defies convention every step of the way

But upstart German filmmaker Maren Ade employed an especially unconventional technique in greeting the stars of her new picture “Toni Erdmann” for the Romanian portion of production. Ade showed up at the down-on-its-heels Bucharest airport as an over-the-top character – tricked out as a goofball mogul wearing bathroom slippers and pouring Champagne in the back of a white stretch limo.

Widespread in NH, flu hits 2 VA units

… at least half of state regions and laboratory-confirmed reports of influenza. Chan based his decision on reports from health care providers, hospital emergency rooms and medical laboratories. New Hampshire was the only New England state with …

DEA chief to visit China as US pushes to halt opioid supply

The top U.S. drug enforcement official plans to visit China next week, a sign of intensifying efforts to stop the flow of deadly synthetic drugs from China to the United States. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration confirmed Friday that acting administrator Chuck Rosenberg will visit Beijing, Guangzhou and Hong Kong Monday through Thursday, at the invitation of China’s Ministry of Public Security.

Radon

… for those who would like to learn more. Nearby, events will be Jan. 13 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Lentz Public Health Center at 2500 Charlotte Ave. in Nashville and Jan. 31 from 8 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. at the Legislative Plaza at 301 Sixth Ave. …