Latest news with #ICES
New Indian Express
30-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Surrogacy vs mental health
From Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan (AbRam) to Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao (Azad), Tusshar Kapoor (Laksshya), and Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas (Malti Marie), several celebrities have turned to surrogacy to build their families. As public awareness grows and stigma fades, surrogacy has become a more accepted reproductive option, especially in cases where medical complications prevent women from carrying a pregnancy themselves. However, a new study has added an important dimension to this evolving narrative. Published in JAMA Network Open, the landmark research by McGill University and the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), Canada, reveals that surrogacy may carry a higher risk of mental health challenges for gestational carriers — commonly known as surrogates. Study at a glance The study analysed an extensive dataset of 7,67,406 pregnancies in Ontario, Canada, between 2012 and 2021. It found that women who carry a pregnancy for others are significantly more likely to develop new-onset mental health conditions during or after pregnancy compared to women who conceive either naturally or via IVF. 'Pregnancy is not just a biological process, it's deeply emotional,' says Dr Sumina Reddy, fertility consultant and director at Fertilica IVF & Women Care, Hyderabad. 'For surrogates, the journey comes with added psychological layers. Even if there is no genetic link to the baby, they still undergo all the hormonal, physical, and emotional changes that pregnancy brings,' she adds. Diagnosed conditions ranged from mood and anxiety disorders to psychosis, substance use, and self-harm. Alarmingly, many diagnoses were made in emergency or inpatient settings, pointing to delayed support and crisis-level interventions. 'Surrogates face a higher likelihood of developing mental health issues compared to women who carry their own children,' notes Dr Sarada Vani N, senior consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and high-risk pregnancy specialist at Yashoda Hospitals, Hyderabad. 'Mood and anxiety disorders were most common, and the median time from conception to diagnosis was around two and a half years. This shows how some issues may emerge long after the pregnancy ends,' she notes. The doctor adds that surrogates who previously experienced mental health issues were particularly vulnerable. Even when compared to women who conceived without assistance but no longer lived with their child a year after birth, surrogates showed elevated risks, hinting at a grief-like experience akin to that seen in adoption or foster care.
Medscape
18-07-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Care Seeking for Concussion Varies by Material Deprivation
Children with the least material deprivation visit the emergency department (ED) for concussion more frequently than children with the most material deprivation, according to a Canadian study. The results suggest inequality in access to care, the study authors wrote. 'Underserved youth are about 1.5 to 1.8 times less likely to seek care than those in the highest socioeconomic bracket,' study author Alison Macpherson, PhD, professor of kinesiology and health science at York University in Toronto, told Medscape Medical News . The study was published online on July 11 in Injury Prevention . A Wide Gap ED visits for concussion have increased substantially over the past decade among patients younger than 20 years in Toronto. In the current study, researchers analyzed data for all Ontario ED visits for children and adolescents (ages 0-19 years) diagnosed with concussion between 2010 and 2020. The study population included 140,031 patients. Data were obtained from ICES (formerly known as the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences), a health services research organization funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health. Socioeconomic status was assessed using factors of household material deprivation, which included low income, unemployment, single-parent families, parents without a high school diploma, and living in residences in need of major repair. Data were compared by age and sex. All age groups saw a rise in rates of concussion-related visits from 2010 to 2019, but the 10- to 14-year-olds and 15- to 19-year-olds saw the largest increases. For the former group, concussion-related visits per 100,000 increased from 350 in 2010 to 737 in 2019. For the latter group, visits increased from 382 in 2010 to 872 in 2019. Sex-related differences in concussion have been decreasing, and by 2019-2020, there were no significant differences between males and females, the researchers found. The gap in visits due to material deprivation was wide. The rates of concussion-related ED visits per 100,000 children were 36.7 in 2010 and 43.3 in 2020 among children with the greatest material deprivation. The corresponding rates in children with the lowest material deprivation were 62.6 and 61.8. Part of the reason for the difference could be inequitable participation in organized sports, Macpherson said, 'but the socioeconomic association persisted in 2020' amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a time when most organized sports were canceled. The study 'suggests that something else is going on,' she added. Concussions are 'an invisible injury,' and while the decision to seek care is clear-cut with a broken bone, for example, the decision is less automatic for a concussion, Macpherson said. Some of the barriers to seeking care may include a lack of awareness about concussions and parents' decreased ability to take time off to present their child for care. Rowan's Law in Ontario, which mandates concussion education in all high schools, and Parachute Canada, Canada's injury prevention organization, provide many of the education tools, Macpherson said. However, some parents might be unable to read the materials in English and might need them in another language. Special education may be needed in low-income areas with parent meetings, for example. Also, awareness could better expand to playgrounds and other areas outside of organized team sports settings, Macpherson said. A limitation of the study is that it was not able to determine whether care for concussion was sought in healthcare facilities outside EDs, the study authors acknowledged. Education Through Sports Commenting on the study for Medscape Medical News, Shannon Scratch, PhD, a clinician scientist and director of the Neurorehab Outcomes via Education and Learning Laboratory at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital in Toronto, said that she was heartened to see that sex differences in concussion care seeking in the ED are fading away. 'This is a really promising trend,' she said. 'It is also clear that there is a concussion care access divide based on socioeconomic status. We now need to focus on closing this gap,' Scratch added. 'Education initiatives in equitable settings may be one factor. But it is important to know that there are many reasons why some families do not feel comfortable or are unable to present to emergency services in Ontario.' So far, many adults have received concussion education only through their child's sports setting, Scratch said. Families from lower socioeconomic backgrounds do not have the same access to organized sports in the community and outside of school settings. 'There are also high barriers to entry in sports like hockey — for example, registration and equipment costs and ability to travel — where we have seen the greatest focus on concussion education and protocol development,' Scratch continued. 'Therefore, a more balanced and equitable approach to concussion education is needed. Young people and their parents should be provided with concussion education, including how to recognize symptoms and access care, within schools and their local communities. Focusing education on adults who support young people, including teachers and coaches, should also continue,' she said. The study was initially supported by a Canadian Institutes of Health Research Chair in Child and Youth Health Services and Policy Research. Macpherson and Scratch reported having no relevant financial relationships.
Techday NZ
26-06-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
KnowBe4 integrates with Microsoft to boost email threat defence
KnowBe4 has announced a strategic integration with Microsoft Defender for Office 365, marking the first partnership within Microsoft's new Integrated Cloud Email Security (ICES) vendor ecosystem. This new collaboration brings KnowBe4's AI-powered threat detection and human risk management capabilities together with Microsoft's email security tools, aiming to create a more unified defence against email-based threats for organisations using Microsoft 365. According to KnowBe4, the integration is specifically designed to complement Microsoft 365's existing security infrastructure rather than replace it. By incorporating KnowBe4 Defend's advanced inbound threat detection, organisations can retain their current Microsoft security configuration while adding another protective layer focused on specialised threat identification and response. One of the main features of the integration is the seamless flow of KnowBe4 alerts directly into the Microsoft Defender quarantine console. This functionality enables security teams to manage threats and investigate alerts within a single interface, streamlining workflows and improving response efficiencies. The partnership is positioned as a significant development in Microsoft's ICES ecosystem, which promotes collaborative cybersecurity between Microsoft and third-party vendors. The approach reflects a broader trend in the industry towards integrated, interoperable solutions that support a layered security model. This new collaboration is driving meaningful innovation in cybersecurity. By combining Microsoft's email and collaboration security infrastructure with KnowBe4's leadership in human risk management and robust threat detection capabilities, organisations can now capitalise on a truly integrated defence strategy that benefits from the unique strengths of both platforms. We look forward to offering this to our global customers to help them enhance their security efforts. The integration aims to increase the probability of detecting and preventing sophisticated email threats before they can impact end users. By leveraging multiple methods of analysis and detection across both platforms, the solution offers organisations a multilayered approach to email security. Additionally, it provides security operations centres (SOC) unified tools for quick investigation, root cause analysis, and tactical response to incidents. KnowBe4 describes its platform as an AI-driven system for human risk management, used by more than 70,000 organisations globally. The company's HRM+ platform features modules such as security awareness and compliance training, cloud email security, real-time coaching, crowdsourced anti-phishing services, and AI defence agents. The integration with Microsoft Defender for Office 365 expands this toolkit, allowing organisations already invested in Microsoft's email security products to build upon their existing defences. The new collaboration provides a practical example of how security vendors can cooperate to deliver enhanced protection for their shared customer base. The inclusion of KnowBe4 as the first vendor in Microsoft's ICES ecosystem is expected to encourage further partnerships and integrations, supporting an industry shift towards a more collaborative and integrated security landscape. Follow us on: Share on:
Business Wire
25-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
KnowBe4 Collaborates With Microsoft to Strengthen Email Security Through Strategic Integration
TAMPA BAY, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--KnowBe4, a world-renowned cybersecurity platform that comprehensively addresses human risk management, today announced a strategic integration with Microsoft to strengthen email security. As the first initiative in Microsoft's ICES (Integrated Cloud Email Security) vendor ecosystem, this integration establishes a blueprint for how leading security vendors can work together to deliver enhanced protection for mutual customers. KnowBe4 Defend brings agentic AI approaches to advanced inbound threat detection capabilities that complement and enhance Microsoft's native protections Share Created specifically to complement Microsoft 365's existing email security, KnowBe4 Defend brings agentic AI approaches to advanced inbound threat detection capabilities that complement and enhance Microsoft's native protections. The integration allows organizations to maintain their existing Microsoft security investments while adding an additional layer of specialized threat detection and response. 'This new collaboration is driving meaningful innovation in cybersecurity,' said Stuart Clark, VP of product strategy, KnowBe4. 'By combining Microsoft's email and collaboration security infrastructure with KnowBe4's leadership in human risk management and robust threat detection capabilities, organizations can now capitalize on a truly integrated defense strategy that benefits from the unique strengths of both platforms. We look forward to offering this to our global customers to help them enhance their security efforts.' The integration between KnowBe4 Defend and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 creates multiple layers of analysis and detection, significantly increasing the likelihood of identifying and stopping threats before they reach end users. It also provides unified tools for SOC tools for rapid investigation, root cause analysis and tactical response. For more information on this new collaboration, read our blog. About KnowBe4 KnowBe4 empowers workforces to make smarter security decisions every day. Trusted by over 70,000 organizations worldwide, KnowBe4 helps to strengthen security culture and manage human risk. KnowBe4 offers a comprehensive AI-driven 'best-of-suite' platform for Human Risk Management, creating an adaptive defense layer that fortifies user behavior against the latest cybersecurity threats. The HRM+ platform includes modules for awareness & compliance training, cloud email security, real-time coaching, crowdsourced anti-phishing, AI Defense Agents, and more. As the only global security platform of its kind, KnowBe4 utilizes personalized and relevant cybersecurity protection content, tools and techniques to mobilize workforces to transform from the largest attack surface to an organization's biggest asset.
Business Upturn
25-06-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
KnowBe4 Collaborates With Microsoft to Strengthen Email Security Through Strategic Integration
By Business Wire India Published on June 25, 2025, 18:17 IST TAMPA BAY, Fla., United States: KnowBe4, a world-renowned cybersecurity platform that comprehensively addresses human risk management, today announced a strategic integration with Microsoft to strengthen email security. As the first initiative in Microsoft's ICES (Integrated Cloud Email Security) vendor ecosystem, this integration establishes a blueprint for how leading security vendors can work together to deliver enhanced protection for mutual customers. Created specifically to complement Microsoft 365's existing email security, KnowBe4 Defend brings agentic AI approaches to advanced inbound threat detection capabilities that complement and enhance Microsoft's native protections. The integration allows organizations to maintain their existing Microsoft security investments while adding an additional layer of specialized threat detection and response. 'This new collaboration is driving meaningful innovation in cybersecurity,' said Stuart Clark, VP of product strategy, KnowBe4. 'By combining Microsoft's email and collaboration security infrastructure with KnowBe4's leadership in human risk management and robust threat detection capabilities, organizations can now capitalize on a truly integrated defense strategy that benefits from the unique strengths of both platforms. We look forward to offering this to our global customers to help them enhance their security efforts.' The integration between KnowBe4 Defend and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 creates multiple layers of analysis and detection, significantly increasing the likelihood of identifying and stopping threats before they reach end users. It also provides unified tools for SOC tools for rapid investigation, root cause analysis and tactical response. For more information on this new collaboration, read our blog . About KnowBe4 KnowBe4 empowers workforces to make smarter security decisions every day. Trusted by over 70,000 organizations worldwide, KnowBe4 helps to strengthen security culture and manage human risk. KnowBe4 offers a comprehensive AI-driven 'best-of-suite' platform for Human Risk Management, creating an adaptive defense layer that fortifies user behavior against the latest cybersecurity threats. The HRM+ platform includes modules for awareness & compliance training, cloud email security, real-time coaching, crowdsourced anti-phishing, AI Defense Agents, and more. As the only global security platform of its kind, KnowBe4 utilizes personalized and relevant cybersecurity protection content, tools and techniques to mobilize workforces to transform from the largest attack surface to an organization's biggest asset. View source version on Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Business Wire. Business Upturn takes no editorial responsibility for the same. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Business Wire India, established in 2002, India's premier media distribution company ensures guaranteed media coverage through its network of 30+ cities and top news agencies.
