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Retaining walls to the rescue

2019-02-28T10:01:00

(BPT) – Segmental retaining wall (SRW) units are one of the most versatile landscaping tools in the homeowner’s and professional landscaper’s toolbox. Retaining wall units have evolved from just being used to retain soil, transition slopes and prevent erosion. Today’s SRWs can do all that plus serve as multipurpose building blocks for a variety of outdoor-living features, including stairs, columns, freestanding walls, tiered walls, curved walls, seating and more.

Creative designs

While SRWs still beautifully accomplish their original intent, professionals and homeowners alike can easily create hardscape features that make outdoor-living spaces more useful and enjoyable. “Our landscape designers are very inventive in their use of segmental retaining wall units, and our customers really appreciate all the features that can be created with SRWs,” says Scott Arnold, manager of Villa Landscapes in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Products such as the VERSA-LOK retaining wall system can be creatively adapted by homeowners and professionals to accommodate curves, corners, columns and tiers — without any special pieces. For example, one popular application is a retaining wall that employs a convex curve set into a small slope. Additional courses can be stacked against the lower courses of the wall to create a “couch” or seating area to surround a circular paver patio and fire pit installed at ground level.

Freestanding walls

Freestanding walls are common applications for retaining wall units. Sometimes called garden or seat walls, freestanding walls are designed to surround the perimeter of a patio and can serve as space for seating or potted plants. They also add a measure of privacy around an outdoor-living space, and when designed with inset columns, can be a support for fencing.

Tiered walls

Tiered walls are a common solution for grade changes and erosion control. The benefit of tiered walls is that they look great, and the space in between the walls can be used for a patio or for perennials, shrubs, vegetables or herbs. Tiered walls add visual depth and texture to a hardscape design and can be more aesthetically pleasing than a single wall. Stairs incorporated into a tiered wall design give safe access to a home on a slope or hill. A tiered design also creates a low-maintenance landscape, eliminating the need to mow a difficult slope.

Stepping up

Retaining wall units can serve as risers for steps. Stair treads can be finished with special precast stair tread units or bullnose (round-edged) paving stones. When installed in a contrasting shade or color, stair treads add interest to a hardscape design. Stairs created from retaining wall units can be placed within a tiered wall design, in a single wall or with wing walls on each side. Raised patios, built with a foundation created by SRWs, are another popular feature that is often used to replace high-maintenance decks.

Can-do columns

Columns created with SRWs are a versatile, beautiful and functional feature within a hardscape design. They can support a pergola, lighting or other landscape features such as statuary, and are used to finish off the ends of a freestanding or seat wall. They can also be installed at intervals within a wall design, and columns create an attractive way to frame and support fencing.

The use of SRWs is limited only by the imagination for outdoor-living features. With a variety of colors, textures and configurations, the VERSA-LOK retaining wall system is one that can do it all — from landscape walls designed with curves, columns, corners and steps to professionally engineered, soil-reinforced retaining walls. VERSA-LOK, the original solid, pinned SRW system, enables homeowners and professionals to create multi-angle corners, curves, stairs, columns and freestanding walls with just one type of unit, and no voids to fill or special pieces to purchase.

“VERSA-LOK is the one block I do 90 percent of my projects with; it can do it all,” says Stan Genadek, owner of Genadek Excavating and Landscaping in Mendota Heights, Minnesota, and the creator and host of a popular YouTube channel on landscaping, “Stanley ‘Dirt Monkey’ Genadek.” Says Genadek: “Because of its versatility and ease of installation, VERSA-LOK is the gold standard in retaining wall systems.”


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Renew an old concrete patio with pavers

2019-02-28T08:01:00

(BPT) – Nearly 70 percent of homeowners spend more time outside after completing a landscaping project, according to a 2018 Houzz survey. While this is not a new trend, upgrading the backyard and the curb appeal of a home continues to be a smart investment, especially when hardscapes are involved. Few things improve the look and the value of a home like a paver driveway or patio, and it’s hard to beat entertaining family and friends around an outdoor kitchen or fireplace made of concrete stone.

As the primary focal point for outdoor living at most homes, the patio is a great place to start a backyard makeover. Unfortunately, that often means dealing with an old, worn-out concrete surface that’s not going to look any better after being painted or stained. An alternative is tearing up the concrete and pouring a new patio, which is expensive and time consuming. The fast, easy, attractive and affordable way to go is renewing the concrete patio with a sleek thin paver like Panorama Demi 3cm from Keystone Hardscapes, often called remodeling pavers.

The simplified process of laying these remodeling pavers over an existing concrete surface is less labor intensive than traditional paver installations, but homeowners are well served to understand the process before hiring a contractor for the job.

Installing Remodeling Pavers of Concrete Surfaces

  • Start by evenly spreading sand over the concrete, making sure to cover any cracks, uneven areas, joints or imperfections using a rake. This will provide a flat surface and prevent any issues with standing water. The sand should slope to force water to flow away from the home.
  • Lay out the remodeling pavers in the desired pattern from the truest 90 degree angled corner. This will help to keep your bond lines straight. Working back and forth in a pyramid, keep your patterns’ bond lines as straight as possible remembering to try and break up your bond lines whenever you can. The shorter the bond lines are, the stronger the interlock of the pavers.
  • When laying the pavers down, use the drop-and-click method, which is placing one paver up against its neighbor and letting it drop into place. Make sure that the joint is snug, but the spacers on the sides of the pavers will leave a slight gap in the joints. You can use a rubber mallet to give the paver a couple of taps as needed.
  • Near the edges, cutting pavers could be necessary. If you have a soldier course or band around the edges, measure and make cuts inside the soldier course in the field of the pattern by laying the pattern beyond the intended bond line. If there is a threshold at the door, make the cuts so the ledge of the threshold covers the cut side.
  • Once the field pattern has been finished, remove your soldier course, apply Quikrete Construction Adhesive and attach the soldier course to the edges of the old patio. This will hold your soldier course in place and act as a horizontal lock to keep the pavers from shifting and will also keep your pattern intact.
  • Fill in your joints top to bottom with Pavestone’s Patio/Paver Sand and work the sand back down into the joints with a broom.

Transforming an old, worn-out concrete patio into the envy of the neighborhood using remodeling pavers is growing in popularity. The full installation process is available on YouTube. For more information on outdoor living upgrades using pavers, retaining walls and other hardscapes, visit www.KeystoneHardscapes.com.


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What Is a Rare Disease? A Closer Look [Infographic]

2019-02-28T06:01:00

(BPT) – In the United States, a rare disease is defined as a condition that affects fewer than 200,000 people. Whether the underlying condition has a name or is some as-yet-unnamed genetic syndrome resulting in a life-threatening condition, the disease is far from “rare” for families who are affected. Even though some rare disorders affect perhaps only 50 children nationwide, to families, it is present every day. Take a look at this infographic to learn a little more.


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6 nutrition trends and fads explained

2019-02-27T18:05:00

(BPT) – The expanded variety of health and wellness options available today can be confusing for consumers who are trying to learn all they can to make the most informed, healthy choices for themselves and their families.

Below, Dr. Nicole Avena, assistant professor of neuroscience at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and visiting professor of health psychology at Princeton University, explains six popular nutrition trends including sustainable snacks, new plant-based milks, prebiotics and probiotics and the latest on gummy supplements vs. traditional vitamins:

1. When it comes to a caffeine buzz, choose matcha over coffee. A premium green tea powder from Japan, matcha is used for drinking as tea or as an ingredient in recipes. While coffee and matcha have about the same amount of caffeine, matcha packs lots of great antioxidants. Check the label to make sure it has been tested for heavy metals, as some matcha can contain lead from the soil where it was grown.

2. Shelf-stable probiotics have some advantages over refrigerated. Only two strains of probiotics are shelf-stable, whereas different and diverse strains can be present in refrigerated probiotics. But, shelf-stable probiotics have the advantage that they can be used in other food products, like granolas, butter, soups, etc. Just don’t mess with the packaging or open blister packs until you want to use them, as they are packed for preservation. Dead probiotics won’t harm you, but they don’t have any health benefits either. Remember there are different probiotic strains for different issues: i.e., you don’t want to take a digestive or immunity probiotic for vaginal health issues. Instead, try Pro-B as it contains two strains of lactobacilli, which are optimal to promote vaginal health.

3. Algae oil trumps fish oil and olive oil. Algae oil is vegetarian and a source of omega-3s and DHA (good fats to support brain health). Algae oil is safe to use in pregnancy (when eating too much fish can be harmful because of mercury) and is heart healthy (studies show it lowers cholesterol and triglycerides). It also has more monounsaturated fat than olive oil.

4. Cow’s milk is healthier than almond milk. Despite its popularity, almond milk often has less than 2 percent actual almonds in it, has a lot of added sugar, and is not necessarily better for the environment because it takes five liters of water to grow one almond.

5. 1000 mcg’s of Folate with vitamin D and calcium is essential in a prenatal vitamin. The nutrients in your prenatal vitamins are crucial pre- and postpartum, especially if you are breastfeeding.

6. Gummy vitamins are just as effective as pills and chewables. The best way to get needed nutrients is through food, but, people don’t always have eating habits that provide them with all the nutrition they need. Others have deficiencies that diet alone can’t resolve. Supplements can fill the gap, but people are more likely to take their supplements regularly if they taste good and they’re convenient. Pills require a liquid to take them with, they’re not tasty and sometimes leave an unpleasant aftertaste! Gummies can be a good option, and clinical tests show that their absorption is equivalent or better than traditional vitamin pills. vitafusion offers more than 30 types of gummy vitamins, with no artificial flavors, high fructose corn syrup, gluten or dairy.

Nicole Avena, Ph.D., is a research neuroscientist and pioneer in the field of food and nutrition. She is also the author of What to Eat When You’re Pregnant.


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5 tips for the healthiest hair

2019-02-27T10:01:00

(BPT) – The changing seasons, environmental factors, overuse of harmful products and ingrained grooming habits can actually be damaging the health of your hair. Getting the strong, shiny hair you want is as easy as following a few simple tips for the health of your hair and scalp.

1. Wash in lukewarm water. Washing your hair in overly hot water can strip too much of the hair and scalp’s natural oils and moisture, and leave your hair looking and feeling dehydrated. Using lukewarm or even cool water (which can feel great in the summer!) while you shampoo and rinse helps protect your hair and your scalp.

2. Dry with warm or cool air. Blow drying daily using the hottest air setting can damage hair over time, causing frizz and split ends. First, air dry for a while or gently towel dry the hair then choose the warm or even cool setting when drying. You can also get a diffuser attachment to use on the hair dryer to help reduce damage while styling.

3. Treat hair before washing. To help replenish moisture and give your hair a healthy boost, use a pre-shampoo treatment such as MONAT’s REJUVENIQE Oil Intensive to provide much needed nourishment that washing alone may remove. Just one pea-sized drop of this product will nourish your hair, and it can be used either as a pre-shampoo treatment, intensive hydrating treatment or as a leave-in finishing treatment. REJUVENIQE was developed as a result of MONAT’s researchers scouring the world to uncover 13 unique ingredients, including Abyssinian oil (selected for its remarkable rejuvenating properties), antioxidants, beta-carotene and omega-3 fatty acids to balance and benefit the hair.

4. Don’t over-wash. Depending on your lifestyle, hair type and personal styling needs, giving your hair a rest from daily washing can help further protect your hair from damage. Try a good quality dry shampoo to maintain hair’s natural bounce and beauty.

5. Use naturally based products. Avoid potentially harmful ingredients such as parabens, polyethylene glycol, petrolatum, mineral oil, paraffin wax, plastic microbeads, formaldehyde releasers, and harmful colors or fragrances. MONAT offers dermatologist-tested, naturally based shampoos and conditioners that do not contain these harmful ingredients. Additionally, all MONAT products are cruelty free, vegan and Leaping Bunny Certified.

Treating your hair with the same gentle care you give to your skin will show visible results. It will also maximize your hair cut and style giving you the strongest and most vibrant locks you’ve ever had.


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Undergoing Surgery? What You Should Know About Tissue Sterilization

2019-02-26T08:01:00

(BPT) – Having surgery can be overwhelming, and one of the most important things people can do to prepare is talk with their surgeon to learn more about available options. For instance, people undergoing certain types of procedures, including anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, meniscus transplantation and fracture repair, may receive a tissue-based implant. There are several types of tissue-based implants, including allograft and autograft.

  • Allograft is tissue surgically transplanted from one person (the donor) to another, and may include bone, tendons, cartilage, skin, heart valves and veins. Allografts have been used successfully in various medical procedures for more than 150 years, and about 1.5 million allografts are transplanted each year in the United States.[i]
  • Autograft is tissue surgically removed from one area of a person’s body and transplanted to another part of their body. Autograft is used frequently, but because it creates two surgery sites on the body it may lead to additional pain, risk and a possible longer hospital stay.

One important consideration for people receiving allograft is whether the tissue has been sterilized. Despite certain infections associated with unsterilized allograft tissue, sterilization is not required or consistently performed.[ii] While there is some risk of disease transmission for all donated human tissue, sterilization provides a measure of added safety beyond tissue screening and testing alone.[iii]

RTI Surgical’s validated, proprietary BioCleanse® Tissue Sterilization Process advances beyond aseptic processing to address the risk of donor-to-recipient disease transmission. Potential donors are screened for risk factors and eligibility is determined by RTI’s medical director, a licensed physician. The BioCleanse Process is used to sterilize grafts and is validated to inactivate or remove a panel of viruses, including HIV and hepatitis, as well as bacteria, fungi and spores. RTI recently reached the milestone of providing more than 8 million tissue-based implants processed through its three proprietary sterilization processes (including the BioCleanse Process) with zero confirmed incidence of implant-associated infection.

“The BioCleanse Process offers sterility and quality — it’s that simple,” said Dr. Patrick Joyner, an orthopedic surgeon in Naples, Fla. “While some methods of cleaning grafts can make them weaker, the BioCleanse Process sterilizes tissue without compromising its strength.”

The BioCleanse Process sterilizes tissue to a sterility assurance level (SAL) of 10-6 (which indicates a one-in-one million likelihood of an organism surviving to the end of the process)[iv] using a complex, proprietary combination of mechanical and chemical processes, working in conjunction with each other.

The BioCleanse Process:

  • Is effective against a wide range of microorganisms including viruses, bacteria, fungi and spores*
  • Thoroughly penetrates tissue to sterilize the entire graft*
  • Maintains structural integrity and biocompatibility[v]
  • Is validated to SAL 10-6 using most difficult case scenario organism (spores) and tissue (Achilles)*
  • Is scientifically proven and clinically successful[v]

Tendons that have gone through the BioCleanse Process are not terminally sterilized (a process in which an implant is sterilized in its final container or packaging). Studies suggest allograft tendons are negatively impacted by terminal sterilization.[v] [vi] [vii] Instead, following the BioCleanse Process, tendons are aseptically packaged to preserve the biomechanical properties and clinical performance.[vi]

“For a graft that’s both strong and sterile, the best option is one that has gone through the BioCleanse Process,” said Dr. Joyner.

To learn more about the BioCleanse Process, talk with your surgeon and visit www.rtix.com/biocleanse.

® indicates U.S. trademark registration. All trademarks and/or images are the property of their respective owners or holders.


[i] Data on file at RTI Donor Services, Inc.

[ii] Kainer et al. “Clostridium Infections Associated with Musculoskeletal-Tissue Allografts.” New England Journal of Medicine, 2004. Online at https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa023222.

[iii] Data on file at RTI Surgical, Inc. Why Choose RTI Surgical Tendons?

[iv] Woedtke and Kramer. “The limits of sterility assurance.” GMS Krankenhhyg Interdiszip. 2008. Online at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2831250/.

[v] Schimizzi, et al. “Effects of a Novel Sterilization Process on Soft Tissue Mechanical Properties for Anterior Cruciate Ligament Allografts.” American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2007. Online at https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0de6/83e4751a4bf58179f92598a863d489c162c6.pdf.

[vi] Indelicato et al. “Aseptically processed and chemically sterilized BTB allografts for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a prospective randomized study.” Knee Surgery Sports Traumatology Arthroscopy, 2012. Online at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3751503/.

[vii] AAMI TIR37:2013, Sterilizaton of health care products – Radiation – Guidance on sterilization of biologics and tissue-based products. Online at http://my.aami.org/aamiresources/previewfiles/TIR37_1407_preview.pdf.

*Data on file at RTI Surgical, Inc.


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The Future of HIV Treatment: Long-Awaited Innovation for Patients

2019-02-26T09:31:00

(BPT) –

In the late 1980s, Dr. Kimberly Smith was studying medicine at the University of Michigan. It was early in the AIDS epidemic but increasing numbers of cases were coming in.

“There was confusion, fear and chaos — we were just beginning to learn about the disease, we had no form of treatment, and we had no idea what kind of devastation the disease would have on families and communities,” she said.

Since those early days of the epidemic, Dr. Smith has spent much of her career as a researcher studying HIV and its treatment and as a physician caring for people living with HIV in Chicago. She now serves as the Vice President and Head of Global Research and Medical Strategy for ViiV Healthcare, a pharmaceutical company celebrating 10 years supporting and developing medicines solely for people living with HIV/AIDS.

“The progress has been amazing,” said Dr. Smith. “Thanks to the perseverance of countless advocates and dedicated efforts of the medical community, our understanding of the HIV virus, how it’s transmitted and how to treat it has grown tremendously.”

Today, an HIV diagnosis is no longer a death sentence and people living with HIV are leading longer and healthier lives. In fact, thanks to highly effective antiretroviral treatments, those living with HIV who have access to treatment can expect to live nearly as long as the general population[1]. That means they can focus on aging well — including good nutrition, regular exercise and stress reduction — alongside lifelong antiretroviral treatment to achieve and maintain viral suppression, or when the amount of virus in the blood is lowered to levels that are undetectable by standard tests.

As the needs of people living with HIV have evolved, so has innovation. Over the past 30 years, science and disease management approaches have transformed from treatment to reducing transmission rates. Now, clinicians and researchers are focused on addressing the quality of life challenges that remain, namely those associated with stigma and the overall impact of lifelong therapy.

In a global survey of more than 1,100 people living with HIV, 72 percent of respondents said they sometimes worry about the long-term effects of HIV medicines, yet only 26 percent discussed these concerns with their doctor[2]. As people living with HIV age, they will likely face associated health conditions that may lead to needing more medications, in addition to their daily HIV treatment regimen.

“This is a new era and people living with HIV, along with their doctors, have more choices,” said Dr. Smith. “Healthcare providers can work to ensure treatment regimens align with a patient’s health history and long-term health goals. They can select an HIV treatment option that maintains viral suppression while helping patients achieve their health goals and addressing important factors like tolerability and convenience.”

For Dr. Smith, reflecting on the remarkable progress made to date serves as motivation to advance different approaches that improve lives and meet the needs of people living with HIV.

“Scientific innovation and research in HIV have shifted to focus more on the needs of people living with the virus. 2019 will be a critical year with many advancements on the horizon that aim to lessen the lifetime burden of therapy on people living with HIV. Through these efforts, we are addressing the challenges of today’s patient and striving to make HIV a smaller part of people’s lives.”

To learn more about ViiV Healthcare and the HIV community, visit https://www.viivhealthcare.com/en-us/.

###

[1] Samji H, et al. Closing the Gap: Increases in Life Expectancy among Treated HIV-Positive Individuals in the United States and Canada. PLOS One. 2013; 8 doi: 10.1371. Accessed January 23, 2019. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24367482?dopt=Abstract.

[2] Positive Perspective Survey, 2017. ViiV Data on File. Available at: http://gskvideo.edgesuite.net/Viiv/viivhealthcare/pdf_files/master/main/positive-perspectives-survey-report-finalcompressed.pdf.



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5 steps to ensure your beard gets its due

2019-02-26T10:51:00

(BPT) – Men with worship-worthy whiskers know the best beards aren’t born — they’re made. It takes patience and care to get that nod of respect as you pass other bearded brethren on the street. If this isn’t happening, however, don’t chalk it up to your genetics. With a little knowledge, the right tools and quality products, you too can achieve next-level facial hair.

If anyone can offer advice on how to get your beard noticed, it’s Phil Wahl. Not only does Phil command respect with his own beard, his family’s company has been perfecting men’s grooming tools for a century.

Wahl Clipper Corporation has long been the authority on quality beard trimmers, but as 2019 marks the company’s 100th anniversary, as well as the launch of their new line of beard care products, they’ve solidified themselves as the world’s go-to beard brand.

“For ages we’ve heard from men who struggle with dryness, itchiness, hair loss and skin irritation,” explains Phil. “We took this all to heart and created a very special line of products specifically for men and the grooming challenges they face.”

According to Phil, “the scent is a huge selling point, but our proprietary formula of four essential oils, called the W-Blend, is what really makes our beard product line exceptional.”

Phil’s advice for a beard that stands out from the pack is to put Wahl’s new products to work, and establish a regimen with these five simple steps:

Step 1: Tool up

A poor craftsman blames his tools — don’t let this be your excuse. Whether you’re sporting a Lumberjack, Garibaldi or Van Dyke, keeping your style sharp will require a good trimmer. Choose one that has power and precision, like Wahl’s Lithium Ion Stainless Steel Trimmer. It’s wrapped in a sleek armor, delivers a 6-hour runtime and, with a series of interchangeable heads, it’s an all-in-one grooming arsenal.

Step 2: Take a fresh approach

The hair on your face is different from the hair on your head, so don’t reach for any old shampoo. While strong enough to lather and cleanse, our new beard wash has no irritants and won’t strip away the moisture needed for healthy whiskers and skin.

Step 3: Get in good condition

Once your beard is clean, it takes mere seconds to deep condition it with a beard softener. Wahl’s softener has special ingredients that penetrate the coarse whiskers and soften them from within.

Step 4: Be true to form

In addition to soft and healthy whiskers, the key to a great-looking beard is structure. Along with the W-Blend of essential oils, our beard balm contains beeswax and shea butter so you can shape your beard into the look you desire.

Step 5: Stay strong

Last, but certainly not least, the most critical product for healthy facial hair is beard oil. While it can be the finishing touch for a shiny and polished-looking beard, its real benefit comes from creating an environment of extra hydration to nourish the hair and skin. This alleviates the discomforts that often dissuade men from growing out their beards, and allows them to accomplish their beard goals.

To get more grooming tips and to see Wahl’s full lineup of grooming tools and products, visit WahlUSA.com.


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New blood test for heart attacks helps to shorten ER wait times

2019-02-26T16:01:00

(BPT) – Waiting in an emergency room frustrates patients across the country. Billboards are even popping up on local highways advertising the wait time and a promise for faster care. Chest pain is estimated to cause more than eight million visits annually to overcrowded emergency departments, but a small fraction of patients actually are experiencing heart attacks.

This presents a challenge for physicians who need to determine the next steps for a patient’s care quickly. They don’t want to keep a patient waiting unnecessarily, as it limits the resources available to treat other waiting patients. And they don’t want to risk overlooking a critical diagnosis by discharging a patient too soon. A new blood test is helping physicians address this issue and diagnose patients suffering from heart attacks as quickly as possible.

When a patient experiencing chest pain enters the ER, a physician typically orders a blood test to determine whether the biomarker protein troponin is present. As blood flow to the heart is blocked, the heart muscle begins to die in as few as 30 to 60 minutes and releases this troponin into the bloodstream. The earlier troponin elevations are confirmed, the earlier a physician can initiate care for a patient, potentially minimizing damage to a patient’s heart.

If troponin is not elevated in the first blood draw, sequential blood draws are typically taken to measure troponin levels over the course of a few hours to see if there is an increase. It is during this monitoring period that ERs can become filled with patients. The Siemens Healthineers High-Sensitivity Troponin I test detects smaller changes in a patient’s troponin level as repeat testing occurs, offering physicians greater confidence in the results to enable them to triage patients more quickly.

Confidence in a patient’s test result can determine what steps come next for the patient, steps that could be invasive and costly, explained Jim Freeman of Siemens Healthineers. Physicians need to be able to trust the results before leading a patient down an intensive care pathway, but it’s increasingly challenging with lifestyle and dietary factors that can affect test results if not disclosed by the patient.

“A vitamin supplement that is rising in popularity, called biotin, is known to interfere with some testing biomarkers such as troponin,” Freeman said. “In an emergency situation a patient may not be able to share that they’ve been taking a supplement, so when developing the High Sensitivity Troponin I assay, we took this into account and eliminated the impact of biotin as high as 3500 ng/mL on test results.”

The benefits of the test for hospitals and their patients are significant, Freeman said. “First, the ability to diagnose heart attacks earlier can help to reduce heart death to improve patient outcomes. Second, the ability to exclude heart attacks earlier in a crowded ER can allow for faster care for patients with other emergencies. Third, the increased precision of the Siemens Healthineers High-Sensitivity Troponin I assay enables providers to make more confident decisions, whether admitting the patient or sending the patient home with an antacid.”

The cost of unnecessary admissions and misdiagnosis of heart attacks reaches billions of dollars each year, presenting an opportunity for healthcare providers to improve medical care related to heart attack admissions.

“Our emergency department is overcrowded with patients. If we can do a more efficient job at triaging patients to receive the proper level of care and to discharge the patients who do not need to stay in the emergency department, this will have a tremendous economic advantage for our healthcare system,” said Dr. Alan Wu of Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center.


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Top 2019 outdoor living trends

2019-02-26T14:01:00

(BPT) – With busy schedules and on-the-go lifestyles, outdoor living spaces offer a chance to decompress, enjoy nature and connect with friends and family. Thanks to the impressive design and quality of today’s outdoor products, these spaces often rival the convenience, comfort and design of the indoors.

As the heart of the home shifts outdoors, following are some of the top trends that will dominate the outdoor living landscape.

Sustainable solutions

There is a growing interest in sustainable alternatives to wood products, which contribute to deforestation and can leave a heavy carbon footprint. Composite decking offers an appealing option that outperforms wood, with greater durability, less ongoing maintenance and fewer harmful environmental impacts. Trex decking, for example, is made from 95 percent recycled and reclaimed materials, diverting more than 250 million pounds of plastic film and bags from landfills each year.

Beyond decking, composite materials also can be found in today’s hottest outdoor furnishings. Manufactured from recycled milk jugs and other polyethylene plastics, these high-performance, on-trend designs offer environmentally responsible options for comfortable, stylish outdoor living.

Cozy and clean

As homeowners spend more time enjoying their outdoor living spaces, comfort is key. From plush cushions and throws to cozy pergolas, today’s outdoor spaces are designed to evoke serenity and peace.

However, trend experts are quick to point out that “cozy” doesn’t equal “clutter.” Clean, minimalist looks are growing in popularity, as homeowners emphasize quality over quantity. In outdoor spaces, this trend is manifesting in sleek lines, simple styles and a preference for long-lasting products.

On decks, this minimalist trend can be seen in the popularity of streamlined, aluminum railings. Another must-have is outdoor cabinetry such as built-in trash bins and ice chests that can be color-coordinated to integrate seamlessly into a deck design.

Illuminated spaces

From candles and tiki torches to fireplaces and integrated fixtures, outdoor lighting is another “bright” idea that is in high demand.

The right lighting can take any outdoor space from invisible to inviting — especially when it’s integrated in innovative ways to accentuate key features. Spotlights highlighting an accent wall or tread lights incorporated into a bar top are both popular options. Adding dimmable LED lighting to the railing and stairs not only adds ambiance but also enhances safety. By choosing which outdoor elements to highlight, it’s easy to change the look of an outdoor living space without moving any furniture.

Decidedly DIY

More homeowners than ever are feeling confident about building their own outdoor living spaces. Lighter weight deck boards such as Trex Enhance, as well as innovative, easy-to-install railing panels, have made creating a dream deck on your own easier than ever.

If you are comfortable using a hammer, a power saw and a drill, you can build your own deck. Or, if you have a deck but it is showing signs of wear, you can easily resurface it in just one weekend, so long as the substructure is intact.

For those ready to DIY, expert help is never more than a click away. Installation guides, instructional videos and detailed plans are readily available online.