Cannabinoids, chemical compounds found in marijuana, may be a key player in omega-3’s anti-inflammatory abilities. A new study reveals the chemical reactions that convert omega-3 fatty acids into cannabinoids—and the potential health benefits this process holds.
The study found that the cannabinoids in marijuana and endocannabinoids produced through omega-3s in the body both support the body’s immune system. However, the main cannabinoid in marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is known to have unwanted psychotropic effects. With this in mind, omega-3s are attractive targets for the development of anti-inflammatory therapeutics.
Aditi Das, lead author of the study and a University of Illinois professor of comparative biosciences and biochemistry, notes that cannabinoids bind to two types of cannabinoid receptors in the body. One of them is found in the nervous system, while the other is located in the immune system.
“Some cannabinoids, such as THC in marijuana or endocannabinoids can bind to these receptors and elicit anti-inflammatory and anti-pain action,” she said. “Our team discovered an enzymatic pathway that converts omega-3-derived endocannabinoids into more potent anti-inflammatory molecules that predominantly bind to the receptors found in the immune system. This finding demonstrates how omega-3 fatty acids can produce some of the same medicinal qualities as marijuana, but without a psychotropic effect.”

While it is widely known that fluctuations in hormones can affect depression in females, it is unclear why some women experience these changes more strongly than others. A new study published in the journal of The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) suggests that this may correlate to estradiol levels.
The study looked at more than 1,300 regularly menstruating premenopausal women aged 42 to 52 years. Its overarching goal was to understand why some women are more vulnerable to depression, despite the fact that all women experience hormone fluctuations.
Researchers focused on the effect of estradiol, the predominant estrogen present during the reproductive years, on women. Estradiol modulates the synthesis, availability, and metabolism of serotonin, which is a key neurotransmitter in depression. Among adult women, the duration of exposure to estradiol varies largely.
The study found that longer duration of estrogen exposure was significantly associated with a reduced risk of depression—especially during the transition to menopause and for up to 10 years afterward. What’s more, a longer duration of birth control use was associated with a decreased risk of depression.
“Women are more vulnerable to depressive symptoms during and after the menopause transition because of fluctuating hormone changes,” says Dr. JoAnn Pinkerton, executive director of NAMS. “This study additionally found a higher risk for depression in those with earlier menopause, fewer menstrual cycles over lifespan, or more frequent hot flashes. Women and their providers need to recognize symptoms of depression such as mood changes, loss of pleasure, changes in weight or sleep, fatigue, feeling worthless, being unable to make decisions, or feeling persistently sad and take appropriate action.”

A new white paper from digital marketing agency DAC Group offers reasoning for recent Canadian retail closures. According to the organization, retailers must focus on customer service and the digital transformation of the industry in order to stay afloat.

DAC notes that personalization is key when it comes to successful customer service. According to the group, this comes from retailers getting to know their market very well, especially by tapping into data.

The paper also points to recent research from The Boston Consulting Group, which suggests that using digital technologies and proprietary data to create a one-of-a-kind in-store experience can create revenue increases of six to 10 per cent. This represents two to three times faster growth than other companies.

What’s more, it was noted that some retailers are struggling due to their failure to create engaging and inspiring experiences for customers. With innovators like Amazon changing the retail game, businesses need to adapt their offerings at a much faster rate.

“The future belongs to those retailers who constantly test, innovate and really take chances,” says Diane J. Brisebois, president and CEO of the Retail Council of Canada, in the report.

Providing a seamless omnichannel experience is crucial to this, says DAC. The paper notes that both digital and mobile channels are necessary to success, and having a strategy around those channels is vital.

This being said, research also found that bricks-and-mortar retail is far from dead. Experts note that challenge for retailers lies in maintaining the right balance of in-store and online operations as the industry continues to evolve.

Last week, Sears Canada was granted permission by an Ontario court to immediately seek out a potential buyer while under creditor protection.

The motion was approved by Ontario Superior Court Justice Glenn Hainey after rigorous discussion between lawyers representing the company, its lenders, and retirees and laid-off employees. With this approval, the retailer and FTI Consulting Inc., its court-ordered monitor, can select one or more proposals by October 25.

Sears Canada’s chief financial officer notes that it is “crucial” to begin liquidation sales of inventory before July 21 and to complete them by October 12. The motion for this will be heard by Hainey on Tuesday.

Last week, the retailer also struck a deal over benefit and pension payments to retired employees. Initially, it had asked the court for permission to immediately stop payments for pension, health, and dental benefits for laid-off employees, retirees, and surviving spouses due to a severe cash crunch. However, it has since agreed to continue payments to retirees until Sept. 30.

KGK Science Inc., a leading contract research organization offering human clinical trials and regulatory services to the health nutrition industry, is pleased to announce the completion of an investment from CPS Capital, an independent private equity firm that seeks to work with owners looking for additional board and advisory resources for the operations and growth of their business.

“CPS Capital’s investment in KGK Science is a strong vote of confidence in the future of KGK and the value clinical research brings to the health nutrition industry,” stated Najla Guthrie, President and CEO of KGK Science. “We are pleased to partner with investors who are dedicated to working towards our shared vision of growth while providing quality science to the Natural Products industry. The reputation, strategic and operational experience of CPS Capital’s team will be a welcome addition to our company.”

Founded by a pair of entrepreneurs, CPS Capital seeks to find, invest-in and advise high-quality small and/or medium sized businesses. CPS provides business owners with a unique structure that is an attractive option compared to traditional financial or strategic investors. As Ivey graduates, CPS Capital’s team brings strong and diverse experience from a variety of industries and functions, with decades of international management experience. As a part of the partnership with KGK, CPS Capital will advise KGK operationally while helping to grow the business organically.

“KGK Science offers a unique investment opportunity for us,” said Wei Lin of CPS Capital.  “We are excited to be partnered with a leading Contract Research Organization for the supplement and ingredient industries. Since pioneering the market in 1997, KGK has helped to advise and define the clinical research and regulatory industry within Canada and the United States. As the regulatory environment has become more stringent, the demand for clinical research and regulatory support offers a vast opportunity for KGK. We are looking forward to working with KGK’s management team as they pursue their strategic growth opportunities.”

About KGK Science Inc:
KGK Science is the leading contract research organization offering clinical trial services and regulatory consulting for the dietary supplement, functional food, ingredient, and cosmetic industry. For over 20 years, KGK has been designing and conducting clinical trials to support clients with claims substantiation and product marketing.
KGK offers a seamless solution to clients’ clinical research and regulatory needs. As your one stop shop, KGK provides research strategy, regulatory support, clinical trials, and clinical trial management all under one roof. Prove it! With KGK! www.kgkscience.com.

About CPS Capital:
CPS Capital is a private equity firm based out of Vancouver and Toronto. CPS was founded by a pair of entrepreneurs with top tier management consulting and capital markets experience, looking to invest in and advise high quality small and/or medium sized private businesses across Canada and the US. CPS Capital’s investor base consists of primarily high net-worth private individuals across Canada. All of CPS Capital’s current principals are graduates of the MBA program from the Ivey Business School in London Ontario.www.cpscapital.com.

The German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) suggests that gut health could play a role in heart failure. According to this research, important groups of bacteria are found less frequently in those with heart disease, and the gut flora is not as diverse as in healthy individuals.

It has been long understood that heart failure and gut health are linked; in these instances, the gut has a worse blood supply, and the intestinal wall becomes more susceptible to bacterial permeation. Also, it is known that gut composition is altered in other chronic diseases, like type 2 diabetes.

Interested in how this may relate to heart disease, DZHK researchers analyzed gut bacteria in stool samples of healthy individuals and patients with heart failure. Ultimately, results showed that a significantly lower proportion of different bacteria are found in the guts of heart failure patients than in healthy controls. However, it is still not understood whether the gut flora is altered as a result of heart failure, or whether it is a trigger.

These differences were mostly caused by the loss of bacteria from the Blautia, Collinsella, Erysipelotrichaceae, and Ruminococcaceae genera.

Prior research suggests that Blautia may reduce inflammation, which accompanies heart failure. However, scientists generally believe that the gut flora changes as a consequence of heart failure. Further investigation is needed on the subject.

Despite this, these findings offer hope to heart disease patients—as well as potential for the probiotic market. As this area of research grows, natural products such as these could take a front-seat role.

A new approach to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) may work wonders for individuals suffering from chronic pain. According to research reported in The Journal of Pain, a combination of Acceptance and Commitment therapy (ACT) and psychological flexibility may assist greatly in the healing process for these patients.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is based on the psychological flexibility model, which includes a therapeutic process known as “self-as-context” (SAC)—a process that involves acting as an observer of one’s own psychological experiences.

“Psychological flexibility is the ability to be more aware, more focused on goals and more engaged. Another aspect of psychological flexibility pertinent to chronic pain, and supported by SAC, is called committed action, which involves goal-directed, flexible persistence,” said co-author Lance M. McCracken, Professor of Behavioral Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Kings College London. “For pain management, ACT is an approach based on the psychological flexibility model and focuses on building effective patterns of behavior change rather than symptom reduction.”

For this study, 412 adults referred to a pain management center at Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospital in London completed measures of treatment processes, such as SAC and committed action, and outcomes, including pain-related interference, work and social adjustment, and depression before treatment, upon treatment completion and after nine months.

Ultimately, scores from all measures significantly improved after treatment and were maintained at a nine-month follow-up. The ACT-oriented treatment was associated with improved SAC as well as improved functioning. In turn, this was associated with changes in pain-related interference, work and social adjustment, and depression.

“Greater psychological flexibility is associated with less pain-related anxiety and avoidance, less depression, less physical and psycho-social disability and other measures of patient function,” said McCracken. “Based on studies of forms of CBT that did not include ACT, acceptance of pain, one component of psychological flexibility, may be a general mechanism by which CBT treatments achieve improvements in functioning, and more specific targeting of pain-related acceptance may lead to further improvement is CBT outcomes.”

A new study out of the University of Adelaide and the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) notes that phthalates could be causing your male patients cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, and high blood pressure.

Simply put, phthalates are found in everyday plastics like toys, medications, and other consumer products. What’s more, they can be found in certain foods—namely, those that have been processed and packaged.

This study looked at 1500 Australian men aged 35 and over. In 99.6 per cent of those examined, phthalates were present in urine samples.

“We found that the prevalence of cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure increased among those men with higher total phthalate levels,” says senior author Associate Professor Zumin Shi, from the University of Adelaide’s Adelaide Medical School and the Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men’s Health, and a member of SAHMRI’s Nutrition & Metabolism theme.

“While we still don’t understand the exact reasons why phthalates are independently linked to disease, we do know the chemicals impact on the human endocrine system, which controls hormone release that regulate the body’s growth, metabolism, and sexual development and function. In addition to chronic diseases, higher phthalate levels were associated with increased levels of a range of inflammatory biomarkers in the body,” he adds.

What’s more, previous studies have shown that men who ate less fresh fruit and vegetables and more processed and packaged foods have higher levels of phthalates in their urine. As such, it is important to ensure that your clients are following a proper diet, as well as steering toward phthalate-free containers and medications.

Associate Professor Shi says that although the studies were conducted in men, the findings are also likely to be relevant to women.

Gilles Houde, the Canadian president and general manager of GNC, has announced his retirement from the company. After 35 years of work with GNC, Houde’s last day will take place on Friday, August 18.

At this time, John Castiglione will take over as GNC’s new general manager. Until then, Houde is working to ensure a smooth transitional process.
Gilles began his work with the retailer in 1982, operating out of the store’s Montreal office. Since that time, he has also worked for locations in South Carolina, Oregon, England, ultimately returning to his native location 16 years ago.
“GNC has been good to me and continues to do so,” Houde said in an email statement. “I will forever be grateful to GNC and the many colleagues I worked with inside and outside of GNC.”