Latest news with #ChrisWinter
NZ Herald
10-07-2025
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Whanganui club rugby: Undefeated Ruapehu take on Marist Knights in Senior final
Brought to you by Whanganui Rugby Both teams have known the heartache and now they want the glory when the Tasman Tanning Senior final is decided at Cooks Gardens on Saturday. The undefeated McCarthy's Transport Ruapehu take on the back-to-back finalists, the Forest 360 Marist Knights. While coaches Chris Winter
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Orthosomnia' Might Be Ruining Your Sleep. Here's What You Should Know.
From Oura rings to mobile apps to smart mattress pads, sleep-tracking technology is abundant nowadays. These tools promise to help us improve our rest by sharing insights into how much we sleep, how well and even when we should go to bed and wake up. But this tech-driven pursuit of better sleep isn't always so helpful. In fact for some people, it might even be counterproductive to that ultimate goal ― giving rise to a condition experts have dubbed 'orthosomnia.' Orthosomnia is a condition characterized by poor sleep that stems from an obsessive pursuit of optimal sleep. Coined by researchers in 2017, this emerging term is not yet recognized as a formal diagnosis in the DSM-5, the official handbook of mental health disorders. But that may change as people continue to use wearable technology to track all kind of biometrics. 'Orthosomnia is when people get so caught up in trying to sleep 'perfectly' that the stress actually keeps them from sleeping well,' Dr. Raj Dasgupta, a sleep medicine doctor and chief medical advisor for Sleepopolis, told HuffPost. 'A lot of the time, it's triggered by sleep tracker data. People see a low score and start worrying about it night after night. Ironically, the harder they try to control their sleep, the worse it gets.' You might compare orthosomnia to orthorexia ― an excessive preoccupation with healthy eating that reaches psychologically unhealthy levels. Both terms draw from the Greek word 'orthos,' meaning 'straight' or 'correct.' And both show the potential dark side of recent wellness trends. 'We are surrounded by information that feeds the fire of orthosomnia,' said neurologist and sleep specialist Dr. Chris Winter. 'Articles are everywhere that overpathologize sleep and make the normal ups and downs of sleep seem imminently dangerous.' He explained that reports about the bad things that can happen when humans don't get enough sleep and the lists of 'tips and tricks' for improving rest don't necessarily reach the people actively engaged in sleep deprivation who need this information. Instead, these articles find their way to folks struggling with insomnia and serve to intensify their quest for perfection. 'At its core, orthosomnia is a performance anxiety, so in that way, it's probably existed forever,' Winter added. 'People have stressed about their sleep quality for a long time.' Modern technology, however, has has made our sleep 'scores' more concrete. 'Orthosomnia is definitely a newer issue,' Dasgupta said. 'The rise of wearable tech and sleep apps has made people hyper-aware of their sleep patterns, sometimes to the point where it backfires. These tools can be helpful, but if you're relying on the numbers more than how you actually feel, that's where problems start.' 'Symptoms of orthosomnia may include excessive concern about sleep duration and quality, anxiety related to data insights from sleep trackers and monitoring, excessive time spent trying to improve metrics and perhaps difficulty falling or staying asleep in relation to an attempt to improve metrics,' said Dr. William J. Healy, an assistant professor in the division of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine at the Medical College of Georgia. If you're invested in tracking your sleep, try to pay attention to how your interest affects your actual sleep experience. 'Some red flags are constantly checking your sleep app, feeling frustrated or anxious about your sleep or waking up feeling tired even when you've had a full night in bed,' Dasgupta said. 'People might also have trouble falling asleep or wake up a lot during the night because their minds are so focused on how they're 'supposed' to be sleeping.' A big issue with orthosomnia is that even the best sleep trackers are not totally accurate, so people who are getting solid sleep might come to believe otherwise ― leading to stress that subsequently does harm their sleep. 'In general, sleep trackers are not measuring sleep itself, the stages of sleep or of wakefulness after the onset of sleep,' noted Dr. Indira Gurubhagavatula, a professor of medicine in the division of Sleep Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. 'They use indirect data like heart rate, movement or body position to estimate whether the person is awake or asleep. They may even tell you that this 'sleep' is 'light,' 'deep' or 'REM' sleep.' She added that the algorithms these trackers use may also be proprietary ― leading to a lack of transparency as to how exactly their determinations are made. 'The gold standard for measuring sleep is usually done in a laboratory, using soft electrodes taped to the scalp, which assess electrical activity of the brain, and electrodes near the eyes to see if REM sleep is happening,' Gurubhagavatula said. 'Wearable trackers are not using such signals to measure sleep.' A lot of people who use this technology are unaware of the difference, however, and may even view the numbers they see on their devices as exact sleep measures ― perhaps using this info to self-diagnose sleep disorders as well. Researchers have shared stories of individuals so attached to the data from their wearable devices that they refused to believe it could be wrong, even after undergoing overnight lab studies with different results. The hyper-focus on rest can actually be counterproductive to wellness, leading to heightened anxiety or guilt around sleep metrics. People with orthosomnia might also cancel plans with friends, skip workouts or totally overhaul their routines to chase a better sleep score. 'I've seen patients who use sleep trackers engage in behaviors that may cause even more problems ― for example, lying awake in bed for long hours, hoping to get a a better sleep score,' Gurubhagavatula said. 'Since the trackers are not great at assessing true sleep versus lying quietly in bed, those who stay in bed for a long time without sleeping may get artificially higher scores. This can then perpetuate the practice of lying awake quietly in bed for a long time, which can worsen insomnia.' 'Treatment for orthosomnia may involve curtailing use of sleep tracking and reading on improvement in sleep metrics, at least for a time, to see if this improves symptoms,' Healy said. Just as you've been experimenting with optimizing your sleep, consider experimenting with taking a break from such a data-driven pursuit. 'I suggest backing off the sleep tracking for a bit,' Dasgupta said. 'You don't have to delete your app forever, but maybe don't check it every morning. Focus more on how rested you feel, not just the numbers on your screen.' If you have trouble letting go of your sleep trackers or even scaling back your influx of data, you might want to reach out to a mental health professional. 'The best treatment is usually cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, or CBT-I,' Dasgupta said. 'It helps people reset their thoughts around sleep.' Ultimately, the goal is to focus on how you're feeling, rather than what data says. Engage in healthy sleep practices, but don't put so much effort into tracking and achieving highly specific goals. 'I encourage patients to follow good sleep hygiene on most days,' Gurubhagavatula said, listing things like consistent bedtimes, moderation with caffeine and alcohol, healthy eating, regular exercise and light exposure and a nice sleep environment. 'However, there is wiggle room and one doesn't have to be perfect 100% of the time.' As with other areas of wellness, the goal with sleep is balance, not perfection. More Americans Are Choosing This Unconventional Type Of Vacation How To Sleep Better On Planes The 5-Minute Habits That Help Sleep Experts Fall Asleep Faster
Cision Canada
24-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
New AI Rollouts Signal Shift From Hype to Healthcare Reality
VANCOUVER, BC, June 24, 2025 /CNW/ -- With populations again, and chronic diseases on the rise, global healthcare systems are facing enormous challenges ahead. However, there is hope on the horizon to alleviate some of these burdens, coming from the rise of AI in healthcare, as the new tech is proving it can improve diagnostic accuracies, drug discoveries, and administration work flow. Healthcare leaders are already reporting benefits, including reduced clinician workloads through voice-based AI tools and the use of AI agents to boost efficiency and support smarter care delivery. Behind the scenes, the tech is being developed by innovators who have been making serious progress for AI in healthcare, including updates from Avant Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: AVAI), Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY), Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR), Koninklijke Philips N.V. (NYSE: PHG), and Waystar Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: WAY). According to private equity investors, this year could be even bigger than 2024 for health technology companies. Recent private raises include $101 million for Tennr, $45 million for Ellipsis Health and $28 million for Autonomize AI. In the public markets, there are several opportunities that involve actual rollouts of AI healthcare tech in practice. Avant Technologies, Inc. (OTCQB: AVAI) just signaled its biggest move yet: the creation of a new company dedicated to developing a potential treatment for diabetes. According to their latest update, Avant is set to launch either a joint venture, partnership, or an acquisition to accomplish this intention as it expands its interests in diabetes, which impacts over 500 million people globally. Avant's flagship Vision AI tech is designed to detect the early markers of diseases like diabetic retinopathy, which is the leading cause of blindness among working age adults. Vision AI is a cutting-edge, AI-driven platform that can detect diabetic retinopathy and other retinal diseases with high accuracy and speed using retinal scans, as well as diseases unrelated to the retina like cardiovascular disease, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, fatty liver diseases, and chronic kidney disease. "It is the work we're doing with Ainnova to screen diabetes patients to identify the early signs of diabetic retinopathy that is driving Avant to contribute even more to the fast-growing disease—a potential treatment," said Chris Winter, CEO of Avant Technologies. "We are exploring several promising opportunities to get involved in the development of a treatment for diabetes globally, and if successful, we want to be ready to hit the ground running with the formation of a company to house that opportunity." Over 30% of those living with diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy, a disease that can be prevented with an accurate diagnosis. More recently, Avant and joint-venture partner Ainnova Tech have begun offering free Vision AI scans inside Grupo Dökka's Fischel and La Bomba pharmacy chains. "As we begin similar initiatives in Mexico, our goal is to close the patient care loop with timely treatment, connecting every step of the journey," said Vinicio Vargas, CEO of Ainnova Tech and board member of Ai-nova Acquisition Corp. "We are integrating pharma, retail, ophthalmologists, and our technology into a unified experience, all driven by one incentive, the well-being of the diabetic patient." Back in late 2024, Avant entered into the joint venture with Ainnova Tech to form Ai-nova Acquisition Corp (AAC) to advance and commercialize Ainnova's technology portfolio, including the Vision AI platform, and its versatile retinal cameras. Avant now expects that a new relationship will allow it to expand its diabetes program to both identify the early markers of the disease and to treat diabetes. Recently, Avant signed a non-binding letter of intent to acquire 100% of Ainnova Tech —bringing leadership, data, and intellectual property together ahead of a scheduled FDA pre-submission meeting in July. Folding the joint venture into a single public entity would remove the current holding-company structure, streamlining everything from regulatory filings to revenue recognition. Management sees the unified cap table as a potential draw for both investors and strategic partners. While the legal teams work through due diligence, engineers are finalizing a low-cost, automated retinal camera built to work seamlessly with the Vision AI platform. Legacy fundus cameras can run into the tens of thousands and typically require skilled operators. Avant's prototype is fully automated, cloud-connected, and designed for a fraction of the cost. If performance holds up to internal testing, the system could enable large-scale diabetic screenings in clinics and low-resource settings—without the need for additional specialist staff. Vision AI is also expanding beyond diabetic eye disease. A patented dementia-risk module —pairing a five-minute blood test with AI pattern recognition—is now in validation, while cardiovascular-risk analytics are advancing through pilot studies across Latin America. Because every new use case plugs into the same software backbone, Avant looks more like a scalable platform than a single-product company. Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) has welcomed RyboDyn into its Lilly Gateway Labs program in San Diego as part of its Catalyze360™ model for accelerating biotech innovation. The move supports development of RyboDyn's AI-powered immunotherapies targeting the "dark proteome," a novel set of cancer-specific markers absent in healthy tissues. "We're thrilled to join the LGL community and collaborate with peers who share our urgency to translate high-impact science," said Imad Ajjawi, PhD, MBA, CEO and Co-founder of RyboDyn. " Lilly's support comes at a pivotal moment as we advance our first wave of programs toward therapeutic development." Backed by early results from Moffitt Cancer Center, the company is now advancing these targets toward first-in-human studies. Palantir Technologies Inc. (NASDAQ: PLTR) has entered a strategic partnership with TeleTracking to improve hospital operations using AI-driven insights. The collaboration integrates Palantir's Foundry and AIP platforms with TeleTracking's Operations IQ to optimize staffing, capacity, and patient flow across healthcare systems. "This partnership with TeleTracking represents the AI revolution in healthcare we are in the midst of-where we continue to move closer to a world where all hospitals and health systems are embracing, implementing and operating with an AI-powered approach, helping to streamline operations allowing for increased focus on providing the best level of care," said Alex Karp, CEO at Palantir. The joint solution delivers near real-time situational awareness to reduce caregiver burden and improve outcomes. Koninklijke Philips N.V. (NYSE: PHG) has published new APAC data from its Future Health Index 2025, spotlighting the region's critical care delays and strained health systems. Two-thirds of patients are facing average wait times of 47 days for specialist access, with 33% reporting worsened health outcomes as a result. Meanwhile, 89% of healthcare professionals surveyed believe AI can save lives through faster interventions, while 76% report losing time due to incomplete patient data. "The need for AI has never been greater. Our survey shows that patients are anxiously waiting more than a month for specialist care, while some healthcare professionals are losing about four working weeks of clinical time a year due to incomplete patient data," said Jasper Westerink, Senior Vice President and Representative Director of Philips Japan and Acting Managing Director of Philips APAC. "There is a clear role for AI to help clinicians act faster, make better decisions, and anticipate patient needs earlier as we strive to deliver better care for more people." These findings underscore a growing consensus that AI adoption is no longer optional but essential for long-term care delivery improvements across Asia Pacific. Waystar Holding Corp. (NASDAQ: WAY) has published new research showing that artificial intelligence is now a mission-critical component of revenue cycle management for healthcare providers. "This research reinforces what we're seeing across the industry. AI is no longer theoretical and is fundamentally reshaping how providers operate," said Matt Hawkins, CEO of Waystar. "As healthcare organizations navigate growing complexity, the study shows they're relying on proven and trusted RCM software providers to deploy AI." According to the Forrester Consulting study, AI is delivering 13–37% gains in areas like claim accuracy, payment speed, and workforce efficiency. With 82% of healthcare leaders calling AI essential to their operations, the report marks a clear inflection point in healthcare's digital transformation. DISCLAIMER: Nothing in this publication should be considered as personalized financial advice. We are not licensed under securities laws to address your particular financial situation. No communication by our employees to you should be deemed as personalized financial advice. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decision. This is a paid advertisement and is neither an offer nor recommendation to buy or sell any security. We hold no investment licenses and are thus neither licensed nor qualified to provide investment advice. The content in this report or email is not provided to any individual with a view toward their individual circumstances. USA News Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Market IQ Media Group, Inc. ("MIQ"). MIQ has been paid a fee for Avant Technologies Inc. advertising and digital media from the company directly. There may be 3rd parties who may have shares Avant Technologies Inc., and may liquidate their shares which could have a negative effect on the price of the stock. This compensation constitutes a conflict of interest as to our ability to remain objective in our communication regarding the profiled company. Because of this conflict, individuals are strongly encouraged to not use this publication as the basis for any investment decision. The owner/operator of MIQ own shares of Avant Technologies Inc. which were purchased in the open market. MIQ reserves the right to buy and sell, and will buy and sell shares of Avant Technologies Inc. at any time thereafter without any further notice. We also expect further compensation as an ongoing digital media effort to increase visibility for the company, no further notice will be given, but let this disclaimer serve as notice that all material disseminated by MIQ has been approved by the above mentioned company; this is a paid advertisement, and we own shares of the mentioned company that we will sell, and we also reserve the right to buy shares of the company in the open market, or through other investment vehicles. While all information is believed to be reliable, it is not guaranteed by us to be accurate. Individuals should assume that all information contained in our newsletter is not trustworthy unless verified by their own independent research. Also, because events and circumstances frequently do not occur as expected, there will likely be differences between any predictions and actual results. Always consult a licensed investment professional before making any investment decision. Be extremely careful, investing in securities carries a high degree of risk; you may likely lose some or all of the investment.
Yahoo
24-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Avant Technologies Creating New Company for Expansion of Diabetes Program
LAS VEGAS, June 24, 2025 /CNW/ -- Avant Technologies Inc. (OTCQB: AVAI) ("Avant" or the "Company"), an emerging technology company developing healthcare solutions using both artificial intelligence (AI) and developments in biotechnology, today announced that it will create a new company to house either a joint venture, partnership, or acquisition as it further expands its interests in diabetes. Avant's Chief Executive Officer, Chris Winter, said, "It is the work we're doing with Ainnova to screen diabetes patients to identify the early signs of diabetic retinopathy that is driving Avant to contribute even more to the fast-growing disease - a potential treatment. We are exploring several promising opportunities to get involved in the development of a treatment for diabetes globally, and if successful, we want to be ready to hit the ground running with the formation of a company to house that opportunity." In late 2024, Avant entered into a joint venture and licensing agreement with Ainnova Tech, Inc., when the two companies formed Ai-nova Acquisition Corp (AAC) to advance and commercialize Ainnova's technology portfolio, including its Vision AI platform and its versatile retinal cameras. Vision AI is a cutting-edge, AI-driven platform that can detect diabetic retinopathy and other retinal diseases with high accuracy and speed using retinal scans, as well as diseases unrelated to the retina like cardiovascular disease, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, fatty liver diseases, and chronic kidney disease. With over 500 million people living with diabetes globally, Vision AI is designed to detect the early markers of diseases like diabetic retinopathy, which is the leading cause of blindness among working age adults. Over 30% of those living with diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy, a disease that can be prevented with an accurate diagnosis. Avant expects that a new relationship will allow it to expand its diabetes program to both identify the early markers of the disease and to treat diabetes. About Avant Technologies Inc. Avant Technologies Inc. is an emerging technology company developing solutions in healthcare using artificial intelligence and biotechnologies. With a focus on pushing the boundaries of what is possible in AI and biotechnology, Avant serves a diverse range of industries, driving progress and efficiency through state-of-the-art technology. More information about Avant can be found at You can also follow us on social media at: Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements because of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website ( In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, governmental and public policy changes, the Company's ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, if at all, the Company's successful development of its products and the integration into its existing products and the commercial acceptance of the Company's products. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date after the date of the press release. Contact: Avant Technologies Video - Logo - View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Avant Technologies Inc. View original content to download multimedia: Sign in to access your portfolio
Cision Canada
24-06-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Avant Technologies Creating New Company for Expansion of Diabetes Program
LAS VEGAS, June 24, 2025 /CNW/ -- Avant Technologies Inc. (OTCQB: AVAI) ("Avant" or the "Company"), an emerging technology company developing healthcare solutions using both artificial intelligence (AI) and developments in biotechnology, today announced that it will create a new company to house either a joint venture, partnership, or acquisition as it further expands its interests in diabetes. Avant's Chief Executive Officer, Chris Winter, said, "It is the work we're doing with Ainnova to screen diabetes patients to identify the early signs of diabetic retinopathy that is driving Avant to contribute even more to the fast-growing disease - a potential treatment. We are exploring several promising opportunities to get involved in the development of a treatment for diabetes globally, and if successful, we want to be ready to hit the ground running with the formation of a company to house that opportunity." In late 2024, Avant entered into a joint venture and licensing agreement with Ainnova Tech, Inc., when the two companies formed Ai-nova Acquisition Corp (AAC) to advance and commercialize Ainnova's technology portfolio, including its Vision AI platform and its versatile retinal cameras. Vision AI is a cutting-edge, AI-driven platform that can detect diabetic retinopathy and other retinal diseases with high accuracy and speed using retinal scans, as well as diseases unrelated to the retina like cardiovascular disease, prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, fatty liver diseases, and chronic kidney disease. With over 500 million people living with diabetes globally, Vision AI is designed to detect the early markers of diseases like diabetic retinopathy, which is the leading cause of blindness among working age adults. Over 30% of those living with diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy, a disease that can be prevented with an accurate diagnosis. Avant expects that a new relationship will allow it to expand its diabetes program to both identify the early markers of the disease and to treat diabetes. About Avant Technologies Inc. Avant Technologies Inc. is an emerging technology company developing solutions in healthcare using artificial intelligence and biotechnologies. With a focus on pushing the boundaries of what is possible in AI and biotechnology, Avant serves a diverse range of industries, driving progress and efficiency through state-of-the-art technology. More information about Avant can be found at You can also follow us on social media at: Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements because of various important factors as disclosed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission located at their website ( In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, governmental and public policy changes, the Company's ability to raise capital on acceptable terms, if at all, the Company's successful development of its products and the integration into its existing products and the commercial acceptance of the Company's products. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date after the date of the press release.
