Area Teen Delivers More Than 1,000 Gifts to Jefferson Health New Jersey Patients

in Honor of Late Brother

Shown, from right, are: DJ’s aunt, Lakesia Anderson; John Graham, Chief Administrative Officer, Jefferson Washington Township Hospital; DJ Alexis; and his “elf” friends, who helped deliver the gifts to pediatric patients.

Turnersville, NJ –

DJ Alexis, a 17-year-old high school student from Sicklerville, NJ, came to Jefferson Washington Township Hospital on Monday, December 23 — along with his parents and several friends — to deliver toys and books for young patients in the ED, Women’s and Children’s, and Pediatric units, as well as kids and teens who receive care through Jefferson’s New Jersey-based Behavioral Health program.

This is the eighth year DJ has held his toy drive in memory of his newborn brother, Emanuel, who died at the hospital during the holiday season in 2006. DJ’s efforts this year resulted in his largest donation day yet — a combined 1,350 toys and books, after a months-long toy drive that pooled the efforts of friends, schoolmates, family members, and area businesses.

People Still Have Reflux Symptoms Despite Taking Meds

Cedars-Sinai\’s Nationwide Study Shows Most Patients Still Have Symptoms Despite Taking Medications

Newswise — LOS ANGELES (Dec. 19, 2019) —

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a digestive disorder that causes heartburn and other uncomfortable symptoms, may affect nearly a third of U.S. adults each week, and most of those who take certain popular medications for it still have symptoms, according to a new Cedars-Sinai study.

Also known as acid reflux,

GERD

is caused by gastric acid from the stomach flowing back up into a person\’s food pipe, or esophagus. This backup can happen when the lower esophageal sphincter, a muscle that briefly opens to let food into the stomach and closes to take food inside, relaxes too often or too long. Besides causing the burning sensation in the throat and chest known as heartburn, GERD can damage tissues and cause food to be regurgitated.

For their research, published today in the journal

Gastroenterology

, investigators conducted an online survey of more than 71,000 people age 18 or over across the U.S., asking them if they experienced specific GERD symptoms and how often, and if they were taking drugs for it.

\”Our study is among the largest and most diverse population-based studies on gastrointestinal symptoms ever conducted,\” said

Brennan Spiegel, MD, MSHS

, director of Cedars-Sinai\’s Health Service Research, professor of Medicine and corresponding author of the journal article. Most previous published research on GERD, which found a somewhat lower incidence of the disease than this study did, was conducted within limited geographic areas or with a less representative sampling of U.S. adults, he explained.

An important feature of the new study was its finding that more than half of GERD patients who took popular over-the-counter drugs known as proton pump inhibitors, designed to reduce the amount of acid in the stomach, still reported persistent symptoms.

The survey also indicated that certain categories of people, including younger people, women, Latinos, and people with irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn\’s disease, were less likely to respond to proton pump inhibitors.

\”Given the significant effect of GERD on quality of life for millions of Americans, further research and development of new therapies are needed to help patients whose disease does not respond to proton pump inhibitors,\” said Spiegel, who also directs the Cedars-Sinai Center for Outcomes Research and Education.

The investigators conducted their nationwide survey in October and November 2015 using MyGiHealth, a mobile app that asked respondents to select any symptoms they had experienced in the past week or \”ever experienced.\” Investigators measured the severity of patients\’ symptoms, using validated questionairres from the National Institutes of Health. The symptoms included GERD-relevant ones — such as heartburn, acid reflux, or gastroesophageal reflux — plus other general gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, constipation and nausea.

Out of 71,812 people who responded to the survey, 44.1% reported experiencing GERD symptoms in the past and 30.9% in the last week. More than a third of the GERD sufferers said they were currently on therapy, mostly involving proton pump inhibitors. Of those taking daily proton pump inhibitors, 54.1% reported persistent GERD symptoms.

\”The MyGiHealth digital platform allowed us to efficiently recruit a large, highly diverse, representative population in a very short period of time,\” said

Christopher Almario, MD

, MSHPM, assistant professor of Medicine at Cedars-Sinai. Yet it also carried potential limitations because individuals with limited computer skills or poor access to the internet may be underrepresented, he explained. In addition, since the study was described as a \”GI Survey\” to potential respondents, it may have led to overestimating GERD prevalence since those without gastrointestinal issues may have opted not to complete the survey.

The other authors of the study were Sean Delshad, MD, MBA, a former research intern at the Cedars-Sinai Center for Outcomes Research and Education, and William Chey, MD, professor in the Division of Gastroenterology at Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Disclosures

: Brennan Spiegel and William Chey are consultants for Ironwood Pharmaceuticals and patent holders and principals at My Total Health. Christopher Almario has a stock option grant in My Total Health.

Funding

: This study was funded by Ironwood Pharmaceuticals, which did not have a role in the collection, analysis, or interpretation of data, or drafting of the manuscript. The Cedars-Sinai Center for Outcomes Research and Education is supported by The Marc and Sheri Rapaport Fund for Digital Health Sciences & Precision Health. Christopher Almario was supported by a career development award from the American College of Gastroenterology. Almario and Spiegel are supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Science of the National Institutes of Health under UCLA CTSI Grant Number UL1TR001881.

Vaping of marijuana on the rise among teens

NIH’s 2019 Monitoring the Future survey finds continuing declines in prescription opioid misuse, tobacco cigarettes, and alcohol.

Findings from the 2019 Monitoring the Future (MTF) survey demonstrate the appeal of vaping to teens, as seen in the increased prevalence of marijuana use as well as nicotine vaping.

Results from the 45th annual MTF survey, a nationally representative sample of eighth, 10th and 12th graders in hundreds of U.S. schools, were announced today by the director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, along with the University of Michigan scientist who leads the research team. The self-report survey is given annually to students who respond to questions about their drug use and attitudes.

Past year vaping of marijuana, which has more than doubled in the past two years, was reported at 20.8% among 12th graders, with 10th graders not far behind at 19.4% and eighth graders at 7.0%. Past month marijuana vaping among 12th graders nearly doubled in a single year to 14% from 7.5%–the second largest one-year jump ever tracked for any substance in the history of the survey. (The largest was from 2017-2018 with past month nicotine vaping among 12th graders). For the first time, the survey measured daily marijuana vaping, which was reported at 3.5% among 12th graders, 3.0% among 10th graders, and 0.8% among eighth graders. The MTF investigators documented more detailed findings on teen vaping of marijuana in a

research letter

released today in the

Journal of the American Medical Association.

High rates of nicotine vaping reported in the MTF survey were

released

in September.

Marijuana continues to be the most commonly used illicit drug by adolescents. After remaining mostly stable for many years, daily use of marijuana went up significantly since 2018 among eighth and 10th graders–now at 1.3% and 4.8% respectively. However, overall past year marijuana use rates remain steady among teens (35.7% among 12th graders; 28.8% among 10th graders; and 11.8% among eighth graders).

Past year rates of any illicit drug use, other than marijuana, remain relatively low among 12th graders; past year use was 3.6% for LSD; 3.3% for synthetic cannabinoids; 2.2% for both cocaine and MDMA (ecstasy); and 0.4% for heroin. Other drug use, including the misuse of prescription medicines and the use of alcohol as well as tobacco cigarettes, continues to decline.

“We are heartened to see the continuing decline in the use of many drugs, particularly non-medical use of prescription opioids; however, teens are clearly attracted to vaping products, which are often concentrated amounts of drugs disguised as electronic gadgets,” said NIDA Director Dr. Nora Volkow. “Their growing popularity threatens to undo years of progress protecting the health of adolescents in the U.S.”

Other highlights

Prescription Drugs

Past year rates of misuse of the opioid pain reliever Oxycontin dropped significantly among 12th graders over the past five years, with only 1.7% reporting in 2019–the lowest level of use since it was first measured in 2002 (at 4.0%).

Past year rates of misuse of the opioid pain reliever Vicodin is now at 1.1% for both 12th graders and 10th graders. For 12th graders, it is a significant drop from 2018 and the lowest rate since it was first measured in 2002 (at 9.6%). These rates represent a significant five-year decline in these two grades.

Past year misuse of the ADHD medication Adderall saw a significant decline over the past five years among 10th and 12th graders–from 4.6% to 3.1% for 10th graders and from 6.8% to 3.9%, for 12th graders. However, there was a significant increase among eighth graders — now reported to be 2.5%, up from 1.3% in 2014.

Tobacco Products

Use of regular cigarettes continues to decline among teens, especially among 12th graders who had a significant decline in past month use, now at 5.7%, down from 7.6% last year and 13.6% five years ago.

In 2019, 2.4% of 12

graders said they smoked cigarettes daily, a significant decline from 3.6% in 2018. However, 11.7% said they vaped nicotine daily in 2019, the first year daily vaping use has been measured.

One in 4 12th graders say they vaped nicotine in the past month, along with 1 in 5 10th graders, and nearly 1 in 10 eighth graders.

Many teens say they vape for the flavor, to experiment, for social reasons, or to feel good. However, from 2018-2019, the number of 12th graders saying they vape because they are “hooked” more than doubled to 8.1%, up from 3.6%. It is important to note that not all teens know what is in the products they are vaping.

Alcohol

Alcohol use (past year) saw a significant five-year drop among 10th and 12th graders in 2019, now at 37.7% and 52.1%.

There was also a five-year decrease in binge drinking in the 10th and 12th grades. The survey reports that 14.4% of 12th graders said they binge drank in 2019 compared to 19.4% in 2014. Among 10th graders, 8.5% reported binge drinking compared to 12.6% five years ago. Binge drinking is defined as five or more drinks in a row in the past two weeks.

To highlight the MTF survey findings, NIDA will post two

infographics

on its website: one related to vaping and the other on several other drug categories.

The survey, conducted since 1975, is funded by a government grant to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and is the only comprehensive, large-scale federal government survey on teen drug use that releases findings the same year the data is collected. In 2019, questions were added on daily vaping to address public health concerns about e-cigarettes and vaping devices. This year, the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have warned the public about lung illnesses and deaths related to vaping, with some patients as young as 13. The CDC posts periodic

updates and recommendations

for the public.

The MTF investigators have published several papers and research letters related to these findings:

Trends in Adolescent Vaping, 2017–2019

The

New England Journal of Medicine,

Sept. 18, 2019 (online).

NIDA Press Release

Teen e-cigarette use doubles since 2017

Flavors of e-Cigarettes Used by Youths in the United States

, Journal

of the American Medical Association

, Nov. 5, 2019.

NIDA Science Spotlight

NIH-funded study finds teens prefer mint and mango vaping flavors

Trends in Reported Marijuana Vaping among U.S. Adolescents

, 2017-2019,

Journal of the American Medical Association

, Dec. 18, 2019.

Overall, 42,531 students from 396 public and private schools participated in this year\’s MTF survey. The survey has generally been administered to students in paper form, but investigators have been transitioning to electronic tablets. The survey will be fully electronic by 2020. The survey measures drug, alcohol, and cigarette use and related attitudes in eighth, 10th and 12th graders nationwide. Survey participants generally report their drug use behaviors across multiple time periods: lifetime, past year, past month, and in some cases, daily. NIDA has provided grant funding for the survey since its inception. MTF is funded under grant number DA001411.

Follow Monitoring the Future 2019 news on Twitter at @NIDANews or join the conversation by using: #MTF2019. Information on all drugs can be found on

NIDA\’s website

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) is a component of the National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIDA supports most of the world’s research on the health aspects of drug use and addiction. The Institute carries out a large variety of programs to inform policy and improve practice. Fact sheets on the health effects of drugs of abuse and information on NIDA research and other activities can be found at

https://www.drugabuse.gov

, which is compatible with your smartphone, iPad or tablet. To order publications in English or Spanish, call NIDA’s DrugPubs research dissemination center at 1-877-NIDA-NIH or 240-645-0228 (TDD) or email requests to

drugpubs@nida.nih.gov

. Online ordering is available at

https://drugpubs.drugabuse.gov

. NIDA’s media guide can be found at

https://drugabuse.gov/mediaguide

, and its easy-to-read website can be found at

htt

ps://www.easyread.drugabuse.gov

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):

NIH, the nation\’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit

www.nih.gov

NIH…Turning Discovery Into Health

Winter Holidays Arrived Early for Pediatric Patients at Virtua Health

Annual Toy Run Delivered Gifts and Smiles to Local Children

Young patients at Virtua Voorhees Hospital received a touch of holiday magic recently when the Joseph Lacroce Foundation hosted its ninth annual toy delivery. A caravan of classic and collector cars traveled to the hospital, where an assembly line of volunteers unloaded dozens of donated gifts.

Leading the line-up was Virtua’s Mobile Pediatric Unit, a specially equipped van that brings much-needed health services to children in underserved communities. Virtua launched the mobile program in spring 2018 thanks to a $1 million donation from the Lacroce Foundation. Services include developmental screenings, lead testing and education, and flu shots.

The Joseph Lacroce Foundation is a Cherry Hill-based not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the hospital experience for children throughout South Jersey. President Sam Lacroce established the foundation in 2011 in memory of his son Joseph, who passed away from leukemia in 1975 at age 12.

“Our supporters are always excited to participate in the toy run because it recalls the true spirit of the season,” said Sam Lacroce. “The toys and games do a lot to help make the hospital experience less stressful for the kids. We thank everyone for their generosity.”

“For me, this event marks the start of the holiday season,” said Virtua Health President and CEO Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE. “Few things are as rewarding as watching a child’s face light up with joy; it’s something Sam Lacroce understands better than anyone.”

– A caravan of classic cars brought donated gifts to pediatric patients at Virtua Voorhees for the 2019 Joseph Lacroce Foundation 9

Annual Toy Drive.

– Volunteers form an assembly line to move the gifts into Virtua Voorhees.

– Volunteers of all ages participated in the toy assembly line.

– A special surprise for a pediatric patient is wheeled into the hospital.

– Even the smallest patient enjoyed the gifts donated by the Joseph Lacroce Foundation.

About Virtua Health:

Virtua Health is committed to helping the people of South Jersey be well, get well, and stay well by providing the complete spectrum of advanced, accessible, and trusted health care services. Virtua’s 14,000 colleagues provide tertiary care, including a renowned cardiology program, complemented by a community-based care portfolio. In addition to five hospitals, two satellite emergency departments, and more than 280 other locations, Virtua brings health services directly into communities through home health, rehabilitation, mobile screenings, and its paramedic program. Virtua has 2,850 affiliated doctors and other clinicians, and its specialties include orthopedics, advanced surgery, and maternity. Virtua is affiliated with Penn Medicine for cancer and neuroscience, and the Children\’s Hospital of Philadelphia for pediatrics. As a not-for-profit, Virtua is committed to the well-being of the community and provides innovative outreach programs that address social challenges affecting health, from addiction and other behavioral issues to lack of nutritious food and stable housing. A Magnet-recognized health system ranked by U.S. News and World Report, Virtua has received many

awards

for quality, safety, and its outstanding work environment. For more information, visit

ThisIsVirtua.org

. To help Virtua make a difference, visit

GiveToVirtua.org

ASTRO Issues New Clinical Guideline on Radiation Therapy

for Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers

Newswise — ARLINGTON, Va., December 10, 2019 — A new clinical guideline from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) provides recommendations on the use of radiation therapy to treat patients

diagnosed with the most common types of skin cancers. The guideline details when radiation treatments are appropriate as stand-alone therapy or following surgery for basal and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas (BCC, cSCC), and it suggests dosing and fractionation for these treatments. The

executive summary

and

full-text version

of ASTRO\’s first guideline for skin cancer are published online in

Practical Radiation Oncology

Skin cancer is the most prevalent cancer in the United States, with more than 5 million cases diagnosed each year. More than 95% of these diagnoses are BCC or cSCC, which, in contrast to melanomas, respond well to radiation therapy if treated promptly and properly. Although surgery to remove the lesion is considered the primary approach for definitive/curative treatment of these non-melanoma skin cancers, radiation therapy can play an integral role in both the curative and post-operative settings.

ASTRO developed the new guideline to provide clarity about treatment options. \”There is significant variation in practice about when and how radiation should be used for non-melanoma skin cancers, largely because few randomized studies have compared modern treatment options head-to-head,\” explained Phillip Devlin, MD, FASTRO, chair of the guideline task force and a radiation oncologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.

\”For this guideline, we drew on the consensus of a multidisciplinary group of leading experts, as well as a systematic review of the evidence, to help physicians understand when radiation is most likely to benefit their patients and to encourage informed discussion about treatment options,\” added Anna Likhacheva, MD, MPH, vice chair of the guideline task force and a radiation oncologist with Sutter Medical Group in Sacramento.

Recommendations for Radiation Therapy for BCC and cSCC

The guideline first defines appropriate indications for radiation therapy (1) as definitive/curative treatment for BCC and cSCC, (2) as adjuvant treatment following surgery and (3) as definitive or adjuvant treatment for disease that has spread to a patient\’s regional lymph nodes. Recommendations are as follows:

In the

definitive/curative setting

, radiation is strongly recommended for patients with BCC or cSCC who cannot undergo or decline surgical resection. It is conditionally recommended for patients with BCC or cSCC located in anatomically sensitive areas such as the nose or lips, where surgery could compromise function or cosmetic outcomes. Definitive radiation therapy is discouraged, however, for patients with genetic conditions that predispose them to be more sensitive to radiation.

In the

adjuvant/post-operative setting

, radiation following surgery is recommended for patients at high risk of cancer recurrence, including a strong recommendation when there is evidence that BCC or cSCC has spread to a patient\’s nerves. Post-operative radiation is also recommended for patients at high risk of recurrence following surgical resection, including strong recommendations for high-risk patients with cSCC and conditional recommendations for high-risk patients with the relatively less aggressive BCC. Recommendations also outline prognostic features that indicate which patients are at greater risk for recurrence and spread.

For patients with BCC or cSCC that has

spread to regional lymph nodes

, surgical removal of the affected lymph nodes followed by radiation is strongly recommended for both BCC and cSCC, although not for patients with one small involved lymph node without extracapsular spread. The guideline also strongly recommends definitive radiation for patients with regional cSCC spread who cannot undergo surgery.

Recommendations address technical aspects of radiation therapy, suggest dosing and fractionation schedules and include a brief discussion of the different types of radiation delivery methods. The task force concluded that the appropriate use of any of the major radiation modalities results in similar cancer control and cosmetic outcomes. The guideline also considers the use of drug therapies such as chemotherapy, biologic and immunotherapy agents in combination with radiation.

About the Guideline

The guideline was based on a systematic literature review which produced more than 1,500 articles, of which 143 (published from May 1988 through June 2018) were then carefully evaluated. The task force included a multidisciplinary team of radiation, medical and surgical oncologists, a radiation oncology resident, medical physicist, dermatologist and dermatopathologists. The guideline was developed in collaboration with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO), who provided representatives and peer reviewers.

ASTRO\’s clinical guidelines are intended as tools to promote appropriately individualized, shared decision-making between physicians and patients. None should be construed as strict or superseding the appropriately informed and considered judgments of individual physicians and patients.

“Definitive and Postoperative Radiation Therapy for Basal and Squamous Cell Cancers of the Skin: An ASTRO Clinical Practice Guideline” is available as a free access article. To interview the task force chairs or outside experts in skin cancer, contact ASTRO’s media relations team at

press@astro.org

or 703-286-1600.

Can CBD Oil Help with Essential Tremor?

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Dec. 10, 2019)–If you’re not fully clued up with the condition, essential tremor is a nerve disorder that is characterized by uncontrollable shaking in different areas or sides of the body.

The most commonly affected areas include the hands, arms, head, larynx (voice box), tongue and chin and, although rare, the lower body can also be affected.

The condition is not life-threatening providing that the affected individual is not restricted in their ability to care for themselves.

Most of those suffering will be able to live normal lives, although difficulty in everyday tasks may be found (eating, dressing, writing etc.).

If the case in which tremors become severe, disability may be caused and full-time carers may be required.

What causes essential tremor?

Prevention and treatment of essential tremor are difficult without first knowing what causes the condition and, although mountains of research have been conducted, the true cause is not fully understood.

As of current, it is thought that

abnormal electrical brain activity

that causes tremor is processed through the thalamus, a structure deep in the brain responsible for coordination and muscle activity. Genetics is thought to be responsible for approximately half of all of those suffering from the condition with children born to a parent suffering essential tremor having a 50% chance of inheriting the gene responsible, although they may never experience any of the symptoms.

Essential tremor does become more pronounced with age, most notably between the ages of 40 and 50, although it can strike at any age, affecting up to 10 million people in the US alone.

What are the symptoms of essential tremor?

The symptoms of essential tremor are the most likely areas that

CBD will be able to improve

with consistent CBD dosages.

Some of the most noteworthy symptoms surrounding essential tremor include the following:

Uncontrollable shaking occurring for brief periods of time

Shaky voice

Nodding head

Tremors worsening during emotionally stressful periods

Tremors worsening with purposeful movement

Tremors lessening with rest

Balance problems (in some rare cases)

However, the characteristic uncontrollable shaking found with those suffering from ET is not unique to the condition and many others can also cause tremors. With Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS), brain tumors, metabolic abnormalities, and drug withdrawal, just to name a few – it can be very difficult to pinpoint the condition.

Typical essential tremor treatments

As of current, for those looking for treatment for essential tremors, there are

three main options

to choose from with medication, surgery and MRI-guided focused high-intensity ultrasound.

Medication

The first choice of treatment comes in the form of medication and, specifically oral drugs can significantly reduce the severity of essential tremor.

Some typical medications include:

Propranolol (Inderal)

Primidone (Mysoline)

Gabapentin (Neurontin)

Topiramate (Topamax)

Benzodiazepines Lorazepam (Ativan)

Clonazepam (Klonopin)

Diazepam (Valium)

Alprazolam (Xanax)

Botox injections – particularly effective for those suffering vocal and head tremors.

Surgery

If and when it comes to surgery, patients have the option to choose a Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) procedure.

The surgery, a treatment option for those suffering from severe tremors involves the implantation of electrical leads into the thalamus. This area of the brain, responsible for coordination and muscle control, is the area thought to be responsible for the tremors felt.

MRI-guided focused high-intensity ultrasound

Finally, MRI can be used to focus ultrasound with the goal to destroy the tissue in the thalamus.

Patients will remain awake during the procedure, something that isn’t comfortable for many of those suffering who opt against.

CBD oil to treat essential tremor

This moves us on to the alternative treatment of

CBD

to treat essential tremor and with evidence surrounding the potential for the treatment of MS, Parkinson’s and substance withdrawal, it’s something that has perked the interest of health professionals around the world.

When it comes to the power of CBD, it’s the direct connection to the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that comes with the most interest. The ECS and the endocannabinoid receptors are the main regulators of the majority of the body’s functions (pain, hunger, emotions etc.). That means that when there’s a problem with the body, it’s up to that system to begin the healing processing and, when consuming CBD, this

healing process is enhanced

with the increased production of endocannabinoids.

When the

CBD oil

is used for the purpose of treating essential tremor, the cannabinoids within the oil are able to both target and regulate the ESC receptors, located in both the brain and throughout the body, responsible for muscle movement. These receptors can be regulated by the CBD oil that enables relaxation, reduces inflammation and, as a result, eases the symptoms of tremors and confirming CBD can effectively act as a neuroprotectant – something that

studies have confirmed

The University of California in San Diego Research has officially begun an FDA approved trial to view the effects of CBD and THC on essential tremor. Although we’re still waiting on the outcome at this current moment in time, the lead investigator, Dr. Fatta Nahab, is one individual that’s very excited about the prospect of a symptom reliever:

“Essential tremor is 10 times more common than Parkinson’s and yet nobody really knows about essential tremor. That we’re finally getting to a potential therapeutic option in an area that is untapped is a big deal.”

image courtesy of unsplash.com

The Best CBD Gummies – Review and Buying Guide

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(Dec. 10, 2019)–We, here at

MarijuanaBreak

, will stop at nothing to find the

best CBD gummies

out there. We recognize that there are a lot of great brands with top-quality products to choose from. However, in our opinion, the CBD gummies in this article represent one of the best

CBD Products

available.

What makes these CBD gummies great? Well, for starters, they are made by some of the most successful brands in the CBD industry. Also, they tick a lot of boxes when it comes to quality and purity. These brands are big believers in transparency; that’s why they provide independent third-party lab-testing results for all of their products.

While transparency is hugely important, there are some other vital factors that potential buyers should consider before making a purchase. We recommend opting for brands whose products contain less than 0.3% THC. Ideally, you should look for CBD gummies made from CBD isolates, which are 100% THC-free.

We also recommend that you choose companies that use solventless extraction methods, such as supercritical CO2 extraction. This ensures that you won’t have to be concerned about any residual solvents in the CBD gummies you are eating.

All of the CBD gummies in this list are sourced from organically-grown, non-GMO hemp, which means they are free from herbicides and pesticides too.

When making your choice, you will also need to consider why you want to consume CBD gummies in the first place. Are you looking for the best CBD gummies for pain? Are you looking for CBD gummies to help you sleep? Or do you simply want to consume CBD gummies as a dietary supplement?

Whatever your needs might be, we hope that this list will help you to make up your mind. Check out these tasty CBD gummies from some of the top brands out there.

Green Roads – CBD Froggie 25mg ($4.95)

If you are looking for a reputable brand, then a great place to start is with Green Roads. They are an award-winning CBD company with over 10,000 retail locations. Not only that; according to the Brightfield Research Group, Green Roads is the largest privately-owned CBD company in America.

Green Roads offer a wide range of CBD gummies, which come in a variety of different shapes, flavors, and CBD concentrations. Many of these are formulated to help relieve specific conditions. For example, Green Roads CBD Sleepy Z’s contain 0.5mg melatonin per gummy and are intended for nighttime use as a sleep aid.

Green Roads describe its CBD Froggies as their “flagship edible product.” According to Green Roads, its 25mg On The Go! Froggies are pharmacist-formulated, supercritical

CO2-extracted

and triple

lab-tested

to ensure what’s on the label is what’s in the package.”

These On The Go! Froggies are a great place to start if you are trying out CBD gummies for the first time.

Pure Kana – CBD Vegan Gummies 500mg Bottle ($40)

As you can see from the price, these CBD gummies by Pure Kana are at the premium end of the market. So, what are you getting for your hard-earned money? Well, this bottle contains 20 gummies, and each one is packed with 25mg of CBD.

All of Pure Kana’s CBD gummies are sourced from a 99% pure CBD isolate, which is 100% THC-free. They are 100% vegan, and non-GMO, too.

Premium Jane – CBD Gummies 750mg ($55)

These premium-end CBD gummies are from the appropriately-named Premium Jane company.

The reason for the higher price is that Premium Jane’s bottle contains 750mg, whereas Pure Kana’s contains 500mg. In simple terms, Premium Jane’s bottle contains 30 CBD gummies, and Pure Kana’s contains 20 CBD gummies.

Premium Jane’s CBD gummies, just like Pure Kana’s, are made from a 99% CBD isolate, which is 100% THC-free. Also, like Pure Kana’s CBD gummies, each Premium Jane gummy contains 25mg CBD.

The similarities between these two brand’s CBD gummies do not stop there either. Premium Jane’s CBD gummies are also 100% vegan and non-GMO. They are organic and free from pesticides, solvents, and chemical fertilizers. Furthermore, Premium Jane’s CBD gummies are lab-tested for safety, purity, and potency.

Whether you opt for Premium Jane’s CBD gummies is largely a matter of personal taste. You may choose Premium Jane’s CBD gummies if you are looking for a slightly larger bottle with more gummies inside.

Hemp Bombs – High Potency CBD Gummies 750mg ($79.99)

As you may have noticed, Hemp Bombs High-Potency CBD gummies are more expensive than both Premium Jane’s and Pure Kana’s. Like Premium Jane’s CBD gummies, Hemp Bombs High-Potency CBD gummies come in a 750mg bottle containing 30 gummies.

Hemp Bombs High-Potency CBD gummies also contain 25mg of CBD per gummy. However, they do offer a less expensive variety, i.e., Original CBD gummies. These contain a lower amount of CBD, with 15mg per gummy. If price is an important deciding factor, then you can always opt for these instead.

Hemp Bombs CBD is extracted from industrial hemp that contains no more than 0.3% THC by dry weight. Similar to Green Roads, Hemp Bombs offers a wide variety of CBD gummy products. These include the aforementioned Original and High-Potency variety, as well as CBD Sleep Gummies. Each of these three varieties are sold in packs containing 5, 15, 30, or 60, CBD gummies.

CBDISTILLERY – CBD Gummies 750mg ($55)

Introducing the new and improved CBD Gummies by CBDistillery. CBDistillery’s 750mg bottle contains five fewer gummies (25 as opposed to 30) than Premium Jane’s and Hemp Bombs’ 750mg bottle. While there are only 25 gummies in CBDistillery’s 750mg bottle, each gummy is packed with an additional 5mg per gummy (30mg of CBD per gummy as opposed to 25mg of CBD per gummy).

As is the case with the other brands in this list, CBDistillery’s CBD Gummies are made from 99% pure CBD isolate, which is 100% THC-free. Not only that, they are gluten-free, allergen-free, vegan, and kosher. Each bottle of CBD gummies contains a variety of flavors, including raspberry-lemon, raspberry, and strawberry.

Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Named a 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospital

Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital

Named a 2020 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospital

Prestigious designation awarded by Watson Health national benchmark series

Camden City, NJ — Virtua Health is proud to announce the inclusion of Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital on Watson Health’s list of 2020 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals. The list is based on an annual study identifying hospitals that

demonstrate the highest performance in hospital cardiovascular services.

The 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals designation is part of Watson Health 100 Top Hospitals® program, which uses objective public data and proprietary analytics to evaluate hospital and health system performance. The ranking of cardiovascular programs is based on the measurement of hospital outcomes and the calculation of a composite score for certain cardiovascular admissions. The evaluation is respected for its independence and integrity in the industry.

According to Watson Health, “The 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals study identifies U.S. hospitals that have achieved the highest performance on a balanced scorecard of performance measures. This year, based on comparisons between the study winners and a peer group of similar hospitals that were not winners, we found that our study winners delivered better outcomes while operating more efficiently and at a lower cost.”

“It is extremely gratifying to be recognized as a top cardiovascular hospital—and the only one in New Jersey,” said Hans Bauer, MD, Chief, Division of Cardiology; Chairman, Department of Medicine at Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. “The excellence of our cardiovascular program is a direct result of our team’s outstanding medical expertise and exceptionally caring nature. We want to assure our patients that we are continuing to work toward even greater improvements in cardiovascular medicine and that we are always committed to their health and well-being.”

Virtua Health President and CEO Dennis W. Pullin, FACHE, agrees, “Recognition like this reinforces the patient-centric and accountable care we strive for each day at Virtua Health. I applaud the cardiovascular group for its teamwork, continuous learning, and ongoing pursuit of excellence.”

Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital has often been recognized for its programs and services. Previously, the hospital was designated as a Truven Health 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospital (prior to Watson Health’s purchase of Truven). In November 2019, the hospital received the highest ranking, an A, in the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade report.

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About Virtua Health:

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for quality, safety, and its outstanding work environment. For more information, visit

ThisIsVirtua.org

. To help Virtua make a difference, visit

GiveToVirtua.org

Your Guide to the Rise and Evolution of the Pot Store

(Gloucestercitynews.net)(December 9, 2019)–To say that marijuana has been booming into the avenues of business, politics, and the cultural zeitgeist would be an understatement.

With the advent of more and more legalization across the United States and other countries, the humble pot store has gone from humble origins to big business interests.

Where did it all start? Where does it all lead? The cannabis industry is riding high and we\’re here to follow its evolution.

The Humble Beginnings

Marijuana has long since been a common medicine for calming nerves and healing inflammation and other cases. It wasn\’t until the 20th century that prohibition movements banned the drug and started a mistrustful campaign against it.

In the 21st century that is all overturning and with it comes a rise of many variants on the pot store. Back in the 60s and 70s, the pot business was a bit more wild and uncertain. Dealers sold it almost anywhere and in cheap bundles.

The biggest reason for the coming growth comes from the fast unfolding band of legalization.

Legalization on Multiple Levels

It started with a few states legalizing the use of medical marijuana. Then came the likes of Utah and Washington allowing recreational usage of the plant.

With more and more pressure on the government, the idea of nationally legalized marijuana may be soon around the corner.

With the bounds of government banning coming down, this only invites the potential markets of big business. With the potential of

big profits showcased in Nevada

and Washington, many entrepreneurs are eager to invest in the pot store.

Working Around the Restrictions

For now, there is still legislation from stopping full-on major investment. This hasn\’t stopped any companies so much as made them change tactics.

Figuring out ways to work within the law has been a common theme in many businesses.

1. Vertical Integration

Vertical integration

refers to a company that owns all levels of its production. This means they grow the plant, harvest the plant, process the plant, and sell the plant and its byproducts.

This allows companies to control their limited markets. Because federal law still prohibits marijuana from crossing state lines, this is a good foundation to have.

2. Mergers and Buyouts

Big companies are pushing and moving in preparation for something bigger. Some say that the legalization of marijuana at the federal level is inevitable and some businesses seem to think so.

While the Canadian pot industry is already booming due to its full legalization, American companies are not far behind. Major corporations are snatching up the small-time pot growers who have come from the initial legalizations.

Their ever-growing product and company base pushes them for massive pot franchises and huge superstores.

The Pinnacle of Pot Store Levels

All of this corporate moving and big investments lead to only one thing and that is massive pot store showcases. Things like the

Planet 13 Superstore

may be a common thing in the near future.

The humble pot store is now far from humble. There is a lot more change on the horizon as the potential of full legalization unleashes the floodtides of corporate interests.

History, Information, and the News at Your Fingertips

Your local pot store may become not only a more common site but bigger and more corporate. These changes look to be inevitable as a lot of investments and resources pour in. What this evolution will bring is anyone\’s guess.

For all things news in the South Jersey and Philadelphia areas, we have you covered. Check out our other articles for more items and keep yourself updated.

Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Expands CAPP+ Program

PHILADELPHIA PA–Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) is proud to announce a partnership with

The Enterprise Center

, in conjunction with Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC), to build the number of licensed contractors in Philadelphia and expand CHOP’s

Community Asthma Prevention Program Plus Home Repairs (CAPP+) initiative.

This effort will offer training and resources to local contractors interested in scaling up their business and create economic opportunity for minority contractors as the partners build a pipeline of PHDC-approved contractors for CAPP+.

CHOP, in partnership with PHDC, launched the CAPP+ Home Repairs Program in 2018. The program addresses the impact of unhealthy housing on pediatric asthma outcomes in West Philadelphia neighborhoods, where asthma affects approximately one out of four children. CAPP+ expands the focus of CHOP’s award-winning

CAPP program

to include home repairs aiming to further reduce asthma-related emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations by removing asthma triggers in the home.

“To-date, CAPP+’s pilot program has successfully renovated 10 homes with plans underway to renovate another 29 homes within the first phase of our program. We are confident that by helping to build the supply of qualified contractors in Philadelphia, we will be able to complete even more renovations,” said Peter Grollman, Senior Vice President for External Affairs at CHOP. “In the pilot phase of the program, the average time from clinician referral to the program to final home inspection was 111 days. With our new Enterprise Center partnership and scaled up workforce, we anticipate reducing this time dramatically so that families can get into renovated homes faster, with less disruption to their daily lives.”

“The Enterprise Center is partnering with CHOP’s CAPP+ program to provide technical assistance to participating construction and construction-related businesses remediating and repairing homes to fight asthma,” said Seulky McInneshin, PhD, Executive Vice President, The Enterprise Center. “We will provide resources to help contractors achieve all of the requirements needed to make them eligible to compete for PHDC jobs, including support to obtain a contactors license, offering classes in lead containment during repairs and opportunities to boost insurance coverage.”

“The Enterprise Center will funnel contractors through to PHDC and track metrics for 5 years to watch how the businesses grow,” added McInneshin.

“With the CAPP+ Program, we’ve created the need for a construction market that didn’t exist a year ago, and we need more qualified contractors in the pipeline,” said David S. Thomas, President & CEO, PHDC. “This is the ideal opportunity for someone who wants to grow their business; we are looking for trade specialists, as well.”

After successfully meeting all of the requirements for a PHDC job, the companies can also become certified as a women/minority-owned business, and be eligible to bid on additional construction opportunities throughout the city.

CAPP+ is a component of

Healthier Together

, CHOP’s umbrella initiative that focuses on some of the most pressing health and economic needs in neighborhoods surrounding the hospital’s campus.

Interested contractors can apply here:

bit.ly/TECBusinessSupport