Clinical Trial Underway: Laser Therapy to Treat COVID-19
The Ministry of Health in Brazil has approved a clinical trial to investigate whether laser therapy can help COVID-19 patients in the recovery process. The study, led by Drs. Fabio Francio, Ernesto Leal-Junior, and Thiago DeMarchi, "aims to use low level laser therapy for general improvement of hospitalized COVID-19 patients in intensive care units by decreasing the length of hospitalization of these patients through improving ventilation and immune response, and decreasing inflammation," according to a press release announcing the investigation.
Patients will be recruited from the Hospital Tacchini in Bento Gonçalves, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; and a specific laser, MultiRadiance's hand-held, super-pulsed laser, will be utilized in the treatment protocol. Dr. Leal-Junior, whose team has conducted numerous other studies on the benefits of low-level laser therapy as part of its Laboratory of Phototherapy and Innovative Technology, explained the rationale for the current study:
"Prior trials have successfully demonstrated improvement in lung function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients," he said in the press release. "The hospital contacted us due to the solid and robust outcomes published in many randomized clinical trials using MultiRadiance technology,"
First WFC Female President Elected
The World Federation of Chiropractic recently announced a new executive team, with new WFC President Dr. Vivian Kil leading the way. Dr. Kil is the youngest elected president in WFC history and its first female leader. Among her professional accomplishments, she is a past president of the Netherlands Chiropractic Association and a former vice president of the European Chiropractors' Union.
Dr. Kil joins Drs. Michele Maiers and Keisuke Takeyachi on the executive committee, both of whom were re-elected (vice president and secretary-treasurer, respectively). Dr. Maiers is the executive director of research and innovation at Northwestern University of Health Sciences and current ACA vice president; while Dr Takeyachi has been the president of the Japanese Association of Chiropractors since 2013.
"This is an important time for the WFC and for the chiropractic profession," said Secretary-General Dr. Richard Brown. "As we discharge the key elements of our strategic plan and advocate for high standards of education, conduct and practice consistent with the EPIC principles of evidence-based, people-centered, interprofessional and collaborative care, strong leadership is a core requirement. In Drs. Kil, Maiers and Takeyachi, the WFC can be confident of a dedicated team of committed leaders that will pursue the WFC's vision and mission with purpose and enthusiasm."
F4CP Posture Series Recognized
The Foundation for Chiropractic Progress received a Merit Award in the Digital Health Media/Publications category of the 22nd annual Digital Health Awards program. Held each spring and fall, the awards program is organized by the Health Information Resource Center (HIRC), a national clearinghouse for professionals who work in consumer health fields; and recognizes the world's best digital health information resources. The F4CP received the award for its five-article digital series on posture.
"We were delighted to participate in the 22nd annual Digital Health Awards competition and were honored to be selected as a winner," said Sherry McAllister, DC, executive vice president of F4CP. "Our winning entry was chosen from more than 300 entries judged by a panel of distinguished experts from WebMD, Optum, AARP, American Medical Association and Cardinal Health, to name a few."
The F4CP is on a proverbial roll when it comes to racking up awards; this Merit Award adds to recent honors including Ragan's Healthcare PR and Marketing Awards, Community Outreach category, for the foundation's "Save Lives, Stop Opioid Abuse, Choose Chiropractic" campaign; a gold PR World Award in the Health Care category for its campaign to educate consumers on opioids dangers and the benefits of chiropractic as a drug-free alternative; and Dr. McAllister's inclusion as one of PR News' Top Women in Healthcare for 2019 (co-winner in the Directors category).
