Scientists from the Monell Center report that approximately one third of patients with unexplained body malodor production test positive for the metabolic disorder trimethylaminuria (TMAU). A definitive diagnosis offers relief to these individuals, as symptoms of TMAU can hinder social and workplace interactions and cause psychological distress. But once the disease is identified, these debilitating symptoms can be ameliorated using changes in diet and other approaches.

“Health care professionals must arrive at a correct diagnosis to suggest appropriate treatment,” said study lead author Paul M. Wise, Ph.D., a sensory psychologist at Monell. “This research raises awareness of both the disease and also the proper methods of diagnosis and treatment.”

TMAU is a genetically-transmitted disease that inhibits the ability of an enzyme to metabolize or transform trimethylamine (TMA), a chemical compound produced naturally from many foods. TMA has a foul, fishy odor. At lower concentrations, it may be perceived as unpleasant or “garbage-like.”

Production of TMA is associated with foods rich in the dietary constituent, choline. Such foods include eggs, certain legumes, wheat germ, saltwater fish and organ meats.

The distressing symptoms of TMAU stem from the accumulation of excess TMA — and its associated unpleasant odor — which is then excreted from the body in urine, sweat, saliva, and breath.

Importantly, TMA production and associated odor symptoms depend on what foods recently have been eaten and therefore may occur in irregular and seemingly unpredictable intervals. This makes the disease difficult to diagnose, as patients can appear to be odor-free when they consult a health professional.

In the study, published online in The American Journal of Medicine, the authors tested 353 patients who had contacted the Monell Center because of unexplained personal malodor production. The offensive odors persisted despite good personal hygiene and the underlying causes could not be identified by medical and dental professionals.

Testing at Monell included a choline challenge, in which each patient ingests a set amount of choline and urinary TMA levels are measured over the next 24 hours using sophisticated chemical instrumentation. A high level of urinary TMA confirmed a diagnosis of TMAU in 118 individuals.

Monell’s malodor evaluation protocol has the unique advantage of combining sensory evaluation with analytical chemistry techniques. In the current study, sensory findings described a high degree of variation in the quality and severity of malodors associated with TMAU. The authors point out that such individual differences in odor production indicate that the choline challenge test is necessary to confirm the diagnosis of TMAU.

“Although the scientific and popular literature typically describes TMAU sufferers as smelling fishy, our sensory exams demonstrated this not to be so,” said study author George Preti, Ph.D., an analytical organic chemist at Monell. “The odors are diverse and only after a choline challenge do the most severe cases have a fish-like odor.”

Understanding the genetic and dietary bases of these individual differences will be one of several subjects for future research.

TMAU is classified as a “rare disease,” meaning that it affects less than 200,000 people in the United States. However, its actual incidence remains questionable, due in part to the inconclusive diagnostic techniques used previously.

The current study was funded primarily by private and patient donations. “Only a few laboratories worldwide study TMAU and very little government or foundation funding is available,” said Wise. “Yet our research is advancing clinical knowledge while also producing relief and hope for those who suffer from malodor production.”

Finally, the scientists note that 65 percent of the afflicted individuals examined did not test positive for TMAU and that future studies will seek to identify other causes of malodor production.

—

On the Net:

• Monell Chemical Senses Center
• The American Journal of Medicine

Intra-aortic balloon pumps do not reduce infarct size in patients with STEMI without cardiac shock
Intra-aortic balloon pump counterpulsation prior to PCI in patients with ST segment elevation MI does not reduce infarct size as measured by MRI, according to results from the Counterpulsation Reduces Infarct Size Acute Myocardial Infarction (CRISP AMI) trial.
Intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation is a procedure in which a balloon inserted in the aorta is timed to inflate at the start of diastole and to deflate before the start of systole. This increases diastolic pressure, which increases coronary perfusion and oxygen delivery to the myocardium, and facilitates ejection of blood from the left ventricle. There is evidence that LV unloading before reperfusion can reduce the extent of the infarct; infarct size has been shown to predict LV function after AMI.
Principal investigator Dr Manesh Patel from the Duke Clinical Research Institute of Duke University, Durham, USA, explained: “Animal studies had suggested that inserting a balloon pump before opening the vessel would reduce the heart’s workload and, by doing so, could potentially reduce infarct size. However, having tested this observation in humans, we did not show similar results.”
CRISP AMI was a multicentre, prospective, randomised trial in patients with acute ST segment elevation MI without shock. They were recruited within six hours of chest pain onset and planned primary PCI. Of the 337 patients enrolled, 161 were randomised to receive intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (IABC) prior to primary PCI, and 176 to standard care (SOC, primary PCI without IABC support).
The primary efficacy endpoint of the trial was infarct size measured by cardiac MRI at 3-5 days post-PCI. The secondary clinical endpoint was the composite of major adverse clinical events including death, reinfarction, and heart failure at six months.
Results showed that mean infarct size was not significantly different between the IABC and SOC groups (42.1% vs. 37.5%, representing the percentage of left ventricle affected). At 30 days, major bleeding or transfusion had occurred in five (3.1%) of IABC patients and three (1.7%) of SOC patients. Major vascular complications occurred in seven IABC (4.3%) and two SOC (1.1%) patients. By six months, death had occurred in three (1.9%) of the IABC and nine (5.2%) of the SOC group.
While the study did not meet its primary endpoint, and was not powered to draw significant conclusions on clinical events, Dr Patel says the results nevertheless offer an insight into the treatment of STEMI patients. “The most striking observation is the excellent overall outcome for the highest risk patients within the context of this trial,” he says. “The IABC group had less than 5% mortality, and it’s difficult to improve that. We’ve become very good at treating AMI patients.” In the USA acute mortality risk in AMI is between 6% and 15%; one-year mortality is estimated at 38% for women and 25% for men.
Dr Patel adds that 15 of the patients in the SOC group crossed over to receive IABC, and five patients crossed over prior to PCI and ten patients after PCI. “While this trial shows that the routine use of IABC cannot be recommended in STEMI, physicians should be vigilant about identifying those patients who are at risk for rapid deterioration and may benefit from counterpulsation,” he says.
—
On the Net:

• European Society of Cardiology

Reconnecting severed blood vessels is mostly done the same way today – with sutures – as it was 100 years ago, when the French surgeon Alexis Carrel won a Nobel Prize for advancing the technique. Now, a team of researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine has developed a sutureless method that appears to be a faster, safer and easier alternative.

In animal studies, a team led by Stanford microsurgeon Geoffrey Gurtner, MD, used a poloxamer gel and bioadhesive rather than a needle and thread to join together blood vessels, a procedure called vascular anastomosis. Results of the research will be published online Aug. 28 in Nature Medicine. Lead authors of the study were Stanford postdoctoral scholar Edward Chang, MD, and surgery resident Michael Galvez, MD.

The big drawback of sutures is that they are difficult to use on blood vessels less than 1 millimeter wide. Gurtner began thinking about alternatives to sutures about a decade ago. “Back in 2002, I was chief of microsurgery at Bellevue in New York City, and we had an infant – 10 to 12 months old – who had a finger amputated by the spinning wheel of an indoor exercise bike,” said Gurtner, senior author of the study and professor of surgery. “We struggled with reattaching the digit because the blood vessels were so small – maybe half a millimeter. The surgery took more than five hours, and at the end we were only able to get in three sutures.

“Everything turned out OK in that case,” he continued. “But what struck me was how the whole paradigm of sewing with a needle and thread kind of falls apart at that level of smallness.”

Sutures are troublesome in other ways, too. They can lead to complications, such as intimal hyperplasia, in which cells respond to the trauma of the needle and thread by proliferating on the inside wall of the blood vessel, causing it to narrow at that point. This increases the risk of a blood clot getting stuck and obstructing blood flow. In addition, sutures may trigger an immune response, leading to inflamed tissue that also increases the risk of a blockage.

The new method could sidestep these problems. “Ultimately, this has the potential to improve patient care by decreasing amputations, strokes and heart attacks while reducing health-care costs,” the authors write in the study.

Earlier in his career, as Gurtner contemplated a better way of joining together blood vessels, he considered whether ice could be used to fill the lumen, the inner space of the blood vessel, to keep both ends open to their full diameter long enough to glue them together. Not feasible, he concluded. “Water turns to ice quite slowly and you would have to drop the temperature of the surgical site a lot – from 98.6 degrees to 32 degrees Fahrenheit,” he said.

Shortly after arriving at Stanford in 2005, Gurtner approached fellow faculty member Gerald Fuller, PhD, professor of chemical engineering and the Fletcher Jones II Professor in the School of Engineering, about whether he knew of a substance that could be turned easily from a liquid to a solid and back to a liquid again, and that would also be safe to use in vascular surgery. Fuller immediately suggested a Food and Drug Administration-approved thermoreversible poloxamer called Poloxamer 407. It is constructed of polymer blocks whose properties can be reversed by heating.

Fuller teamed up with Jayakumar Rajadas, PhD, director of the Stanford Biomaterials and Advanced Drug Delivery Laboratory, to modify the poloxamer so that it would become solid and elastic when heated above body temperature but dissolve harmlessly into the bloodstream when cooled. The poloxamer then was used to distend both openings of a severed blood vessel, allowing researchers to glue them together precisely.

The researchers used a simple halogen lamp to heat the gel. In tests on animals, the technique was found to be five times faster than the traditional hand-sewn method, according to the study. It also resulted in considerably less inflammation and scarring after two years. The method even worked on extremely slim blood vessels – those only 0.2 mm wide – which would have been too tiny and delicate for sutures. “That’s where it really shines,” Gurtner said.

Dermabond, a surgical sealant, was used to attach the ends of the blood vessels together.

Poloxamers have been used before as a vehicle for delivering drugs, including chemotherapeutics, vaccines and anti-viral therapies. Researchers have used Poloxamer 407 to occlude blood vessels in experimental animals for the purpose of evaluating the gel’s safety and efficacy in so-called “beating heart surgery,” in which certain vessels need to be temporarily blocked to improve visibility for the surgeons performing a coronary artery bypass.

Although other sutureless methods have been developed, they generally have not produced better outcomes, the authors said. “Often, the use of microclips, staples or magnets is itself traumatic to blood vessels leading to failure rates comparable to or higher than sutured anastomoses,” they wrote.

“This is a novel approach to anastomosis that could play a valuable role in microvascular surgery,” said Frank Sellke, MD, chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Brown University Medical Center and associate editor of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, who was not involved in the study. “But it really needs to show that it holds up in clinical trials.”

The authors say further testing on large animals is needed before human trials can begin, but they note that all of the components used in the technique are already approved by the FDA. “This technology has the potential to progress rapidly from the ‘bench to bedside,'” they write.

Gurtner said he believes the new technique could satisfy a huge unmet need and prove especially useful in minimally invasive surgeries, in which manipulating sutures takes on a whole new level of difficulty.

Michael Longaker, MD, the Deane P. and Louise Mitchell Professor in the School of Medicine and a co-author of the study, called the technique a “potential game-changer.”

“When you’re bringing together hollow tubes, whether they’re large structures, like the colon or the aorta, or a small structure, like a vein in the finger of a child, you’re always worried about lining them up directly and effectively sealing them,” Longaker said. “The technique that Dr. Gurtner has pioneered could allow surgeons to perform anastomosis more quickly and with improved precision.”

He continued: “Coming up with this solution was the result of the classic Stanford model of bringing together researchers from a variety of disciplines.”

—

On the Net:

• Stanford University Medical Center
• Nature Medicine

Why do some folks who take every precaution still get the flu, while others never even get the sniffles?

It comes down to a person’s immune system response to the flu virus, says Alfred Hero, professor at the University of Michigan College of Engineering. In one of the first known studies of its kind, Hero and colleagues from Duke University Medical Center and the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy, used genomics to begin to unravel what in our complex genomic data accounts for why some get sick while others don’t. The study findings will appear in PLoS Genetics Aug. 25.

Hero’s analysis group used several methods, including a pattern recognition algorithm previously developed for satellite imaging of the environment to discover the genomic signatures associated with immune response and flu symptoms. Using these genomic signatures, researchers compared the responses of previously healthy participants inoculated with the flu, and found significant and complex immune responses in both people who got sick and those who did not.

The gene expression data gets to the heart of how the immune system reacts and orchestrates its response to the flu virus, which dictates whether people get sick.

“We looked at over 22,000 genes in 267 blood samples,” said Hero, who is also affiliated with the U-M College of Literature, Science & Arts and the U-M Medical School. “No study of this magnitude has ever been done on human immune response.”

Geoff Ginsburg, study co-author and director of the Center for Genomic Medicine at the Duke Institute for Genome Sciences & Policy, said the study reveals what happens after virus exposure.

“It also points out, importantly, that remaining asymptomatic in the face of an exposure to a virus is an active process in the immune system, and we can now begin to probe the underlying biology to resisting infection,” Ginsburg said.

The team inoculated 17 healthy individuals with the flu virus and about half of them got sick. They then collected gene expression data from each individual at 16 time points over 132 hours. These data provided a clear picture of the gene expression over time in those who developed flu symptoms and those who did not.

Eventually, if scientists can understand what happens at the level of the genome that makes people more or less susceptible to viral illness, they could potentially develop therapies to prevent the illness. Hero said the inflammatory genomic signature that differentiated the well group from the sick group was measurable up to about 36 hours before peak flu symptoms developed. It may, therefore, be possible to detect illness early, allowing people to take precautions and perhaps even prevent the worst symptoms.

Mathematical methods for finding hidden correlations within large quantities of data were a key component of the analysis performed by Hero and his former doctoral student Yongsheng Huang, who is lead author on the study. One of the principal analysis methods was a pattern-recognition tool previously developed for processing hyperspectral satellite images of the earth. Called Bayes Linear Unmixing, Hero applied it with virtually no modification to image the patterns of gene expression.

—

On the Net:

• University of Michigan
• PLoS Genetics

Dinesh Khanna, M.D., M.Sc., Honored at Annual Banquet in San Francisco

DANVERS, Mass., Aug. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Scleroderma Foundation named Dinesh Khanna, M.D., M.Sc., its 2011 Doctor of the Year during this year’s National Patient Education Conference held last month in San Francisco. The award recognizes a skilled physician or researcher for his or her involvement within the Foundation, and for helping provide guidance and support to the organization’s patient population.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110819/DC54642)

“Those who know Dr. Khanna as a physician and caretaker know that he is a caring and compassionate doctor who does not lose sight of the fact those patients always come first,” said Scleroderma Foundation’s CEO Robert J. Riggs. “He is a highly-regarded researcher who is well respected among his peers in the medical community, and his patients also know him as a compassionate physician who always puts their well-being first and foremost.”

Dr. Khanna is the Marvin & Betty Danto Research Professor of Connective Tissue Research and Associate Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Rheumatology, and the newly-appointed director of the Scleroderma Program at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He previously was the clinical director of the scleroderma clinic at the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California at Los Angeles.

He has authored more than 120 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters including a defining paper on gastrointestinal issues in scleroderma. Dr. Khanna received his medical training at the University College of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India. He completed his residency at Wright State University School of Medicine in Dayton, Ohio, and a fellowship in rheumatology and a Master of Science in Clinical Research at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine.

The leadership of the Scleroderma Foundation is proud to honor Dr. Khanna for his dedication to individuals impacted by this disease. He has made powerful contributions to research aimed at unraveling the cause of scleroderma, and the search to find effective treatments to enhance the lives of people living with this complex autoimmune disease.

About Scleroderma

Scleroderma is a chronic, often progressive, autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its own body.

Scleroderma means “hard skin.” It can cause a thickening and tightening of the skin. In some cases, it causes serious damage to internal organs including the lungs, heart, kidneys, esophagus and gastrointestinal tract. As scarring, or sclerosis, of these organs and organ systems progress, they work less effectively, and can lead to organ failure and death.

Some medications and treatments can help with certain symptoms, but there is no cure for scleroderma. The disease affects about 300,000 people across the U.S. In comparison, approximately the same number of people are affected by multiple sclerosis.

About the Scleroderma Foundation

The Scleroderma Foundation is the national organization for people with scleroderma, their families and friends. It was formed Jan. 1, 1998, by a merger between the United Scleroderma Foundation and the Scleroderma Federation.

The Scleroderma Foundation is headquartered in the metro Boston area in Danvers, Mass. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to serving the interests of people living with scleroderma. The Foundation has a network of 23 chapters and 145 support groups committed to carrying out the three-fold mission of support, education and research. The Scleroderma Foundation funds an average of $1 million in new grants each year to find the cause and cure for scleroderma.

For more information about the Scleroderma Foundation, visit www.scleroderma.org or call (800) 722-HOPE (4673).

SOURCE Scleroderma Foundation

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Quanterix Corporation, a company enabling a new generation of molecular diagnostic tests based on its revolutionary Single Molecule Array (SiMoA((TM))) technology, today announced results of a pilot study to measure biomarkers of inflammation from patients with Crohn’s disease. The precise measurement of low abundance cytokines, which was possible using Quanterix’s high sensitivity digital ELISA, allowed significant changes to be detected in patients before and after initiation of therapy. The study was published online in the Journal of Immunological Methods.

“Quanterix’s digital ELISA enabled physiologically relevant concentrations of two important cytokines, TNF-alpha and IL-6, to be measured in plasma from all patient samples tested. Previous studies have not been able to quantify these biomarkers in all patients due to insufficient sensitivity,” explained David Duffy, Ph.D., corresponding author of the study. “The inherent sensitivity of this technology also made it possible, for the first time, to accurately quantify changes in protein levels during the course of anti-TNF-alpha therapy. This work has important implications for patient management, including the ability to provide a quantitative index for how an individual is responding to therapy.”

“Our collaboration with the Mayo Clinic is another example that highlights how unprecedented sensitivity enables important contributions to life science research and in vitro diagnostics,” said Martin Madaus, Ph.D., Quanterix Executive Chairman. “Although larger studies will be needed to fully understand the potential utility of cytokine measurements in the diagnosis of inflammatory diseases such as Crohn’s, these results provide some indication of how sensitive and precise protein measurements enabled by SiMoA could be used clinically.”

About Quanterix

Quanterix Corporation is developing its proprietary Single Molecule Array (SiMoA(TM)) technology for the in vitro diagnostics and life science research markets. The digital nature of SiMoA yields unprecedented assay performance, stemming from a 1,000-fold improvement in sensitivity compared with today’s analog only technology. SiMoA will enable researchers in life science to validate novel, low abundance biomolecules from a single droplet of blood, leading to greater insight into disease detection, diagnosis, therapy selection and disease monitoring. Automated systems based on SiMoA will provide diagnostic test information to healthcare practitioners faster, with greater reliability, unprecedented range and increased cost effectiveness. Founded in 2007, the privately held Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company is backed by leading life science investors including ARCH Venture Partners, Bain Capital Ventures, and Flagship Ventures. For additional information, please visit www.quanterix.com.

SOURCE Quanterix Corporation

NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Following a vote of its membership on August 18, St. Vincent’s Employees Federal Credit Union (SVEFCU) has approved a merger with McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union. As a result of the merger, St. Vincent’s Employees FCU’s 1,300 members will now have access to a significantly expanded product line, cutting-edge remote access technology, and a team of skilled member advocates dedicated to fostering financial wellness.

The merger announcement provides stability to what had been a turbulent year for employees of Saint Vincent’s Hospital Manhattan. Although SVEFCU was an independent financial service provider, the employees of the hospital were its primary responsibility. After 161 years of operation, the healthcare facility shut its doors in 2010, impacting the organization’s ability to grow. St. Vincent’s Hospital had gained prominence as the primary admitting hospital to those injured in the September 11 attacks. During this national disaster, employees of the credit union worked around the clock to ensure money was available to members and worked side-by-side with hospital employees volunteering in many capacities. The tragedy deepened an already strong bond between St. Vincent’s Employees FCU and its members – one that made the 2010 closing of Saint Vincent’s hospital painful for both members and credit union personnel.

That’s why it was imperative for the merger between the two credit unions to keep the bond between members and credit union staff intact. Not only will the merger provide members with a breadth of new products and services, but it will also allow members to maintain contact with familiar faces once the merger is complete. Arlene Bernard and Norma Carrasquillo, longstanding employees of St. Vincent’s Employees FCU, will join McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union’s team as Business Development Executive and Branch Administrator, respectively, thus providing continuity to existing members.

According to Shawn Gilfedder, President and CEO of McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union, his organization is committed to continuing a rich tradition of service, which has been a hallmark of St. Vincent’s Employees FCU, while taking each member’s financial experience to a whole new level.

“This merger unites two organizations that share a common mission of serving members. St. Vincent’s Employees Federal Credit Union is rich with history and has been committed to supporting the financial needs of its members since its inception. McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union looks forward to continuing this commitment to service by introducing these members to financial solutions that, until now, were not available to them,” he added.

Enthusiasm for the merger was echoed by Joseph Davis, St. Vincent’s Employees FCU president. “McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union is a stable and financially-sound institution that shares our values and commitment to exceeding members’ expectations,” he emphasized. “This merger will provide members with a multitude of new products and services that they have asked for over the years. We know our members will be pleased with, and take advantage of, the new offerings that will now be available to them.”

Both credit unions have worked to integrate the membership and ensure a seamless transition of accounts by September 1, 2011. Former St. Vincent’s Employees FCU CEO Arlene Bernard anticipates members will view this merger as “a celebration of what we created between members and employees at Saint Vincent’s hospital. Now, because of the merger with McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union, it will live on.”

St. Vincent’s Employees FCU brings to McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union 1,300 members and $8.5 million in assets. Following the completion of the merger, McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union will have approximately 18,500 members and $267 million in total assets.

“I am delighted that this merger is with a credit union that shares our commitment to and passion for exceeding member expectations,” Gilfedder explained.

About McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union

McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union, a member-owned cooperative, is a leading and progressive financial institution committed to members and the community at large through financial technology, financial education and literacy, and a consultative approach to banking. The credit union offers a full range of banking, investing and insurance services to more than 18,500 members worldwide and serves more than 120 companies. For more information, visit www.McGrawhillFCU.org or view a Welcome to St. Vincent’s Employees FCU members at www.mcgrawhillfcu.org/welcome

CONTACT:
LEZA RAFFEL
(215) 884-6499

SOURCE McGraw-Hill Federal Credit Union

BOTHELL, Wash., Aug. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Verathon Inc. is pleased to introduce in Europe the Heartscape(TM) 3D ECG System with 80-lead vest, designed to give Emergency Department (ED) physicians, Interventional Cardiologists, and ED nurses a more complete diagnostic picture by providing a 360 degree electrocardiographic view of the heart.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110819/SF54845)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20061011/SFW044LOGO)

The Heartscape 3D ECG System, successor to the PRIME® ECG technology, uses the same clinically supported diagnostic algorithm to help physicians identify indications of possible Myocardial Infarction (MI) – including MIs without ST-segment elevation on traditional 12-lead ECGs, and in patients with Left Bundle Branch Block (LBBB). Studies demonstrate greater sensitivity and comparable specificity in detecting acute MIs compared to 12-lead ECGs.(1-3) All told, numerous studies – collectively involving thousands of patients – have shown that the Heartscape system’s 80-lead technology can improve early diagnosis and help detect acute MIs missed by traditional 12-lead ECGs. To review clinical studies, visit verathon.com/heartscapeEU.

The device’s unique design features a rapid-application 2-part Vest containing 80 leads, and an intuitive touchscreen color monitor that displays the Heartscape 360 degree Exam. The Heartscape system facilitates rapid data input and exam results to help accelerate triage for cardiac patients, making it ideal for emergency settings.

“Emergency physicians and Interventional Cardiologists told us that more definitive ECG information could help them identify high-risk cardiac patients more quickly, when seconds count,” stated Gerald McMorrow, founder and CEO of Verathon. “By offering a 360 degree view of the electrical activity of the heart, Heartscape is designed to help healthcare providers assess the patients’ status faster and accelerate their treatment. We believe that with more accurate diagnosis, better outcomes and lower costs are the result.”

According to the statistical office of the European Union, the average total number of deaths caused by ischemic cardiopathy in 27 selected European countries was over 693,000 from 2007 – 2009.(4) In France alone, where this year’s European Society of Cardiology is convening, it is estimated that every year approximately 100,000 patients are affected by myocardial infarction.(5)

Heartscape applications include standard ECGs and non-diagnostic 12-lead ECGs, such as Anterior MIs, Posterior MIs, Inferior MIs, and more Lateral MIs (outside of the standard 12-lead view). The Heartscape system can also assist with confounding factors such as Bundle Branch Blocks (eg, LBBBs), Early Repolarization, or Left Ventricular Hypertrophy (LVH).

The Heartscape 3D ECG System debuts at the European Society of Cardiology in Paris, France on August 27, 2011 (Booth A334, Hall 6). A U.S. introduction is anticipated in 2012. For more information, visit verathon.com/heartscapeEU.

About the Heartscape 2-Part Vest System

The proprietary 80-lead Vest System consists of 2 parts and provides 58 anterior leads, 12 lateral leads, and 10 posterior leads. Available in 4 sizes (small, medium, large, and extra large), the vest is designed to quickly and comfortably fit a wide range of adult male and female patients.

About the Heartscape 360 degree Exam

The Heartscape system provides three options for exam results: an anatomical tracing from 80 leads, a 12-lead tracing, and the new Heartscape 360 degree Exam which indicates ST Elevation (STEMI), ST Depression, NSTEMI, and other heart abnormalities in an easy-to-read, rotating 3D color-graphic diagnostic algorithm.

Designed for ease of use, the Heartscape touchscreen monitor offers a short video tutorial on how to utilize the system. A wireless color printer is also included for printing hard copies of exam results. The Heartscape 3D ECG System is battery powered and comes with a 1-year warranty.

About Verathon Inc.

Verathon® designs and manufactures reliable, state-of-the-art medical devices and services that offer a meaningful improvement in patient care to the healthcare community. The company’s noninvasive BladderScan® instrument is a standard of care for portable bladder volume measurement. The brand is found in over 60 countries in Urology and Primary Care practices, as well as Acute and Extended Care facilities. With the January 2006 acquisition of Saturn Biomedical Systems in Vancouver, Canada, Verathon entered Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Emergency markets with the GlideScope® video laryngoscope brand. Verathon is headquartered in Bothell, Washington and operates as a subsidiary of Roper Industries. For more information, please visit www.verathon.com.

About Roper Industries

Roper Industries is a market-driven, diversified growth company and is a constituent of the S&P 500, Fortune 1000, and the Russell 1000 indices. Roper provides engineered products and solutions for global niche markets, including water, energy, transportation, medical, education, and SaaS-based information networks. Additional information about Roper Industries is available on the Company’s website at www.roperind.com.

Verathon Media Contacts: Todd Berard, New Product Manager, Verathon Medical, 425.867.1348 (Ext. 5686). Alternate Contact: Jane Mueller, VP of Marketing, 425.867.1348 (Ext. 5600).

References: 1. Owens et al. Prehospital 80-lead mapping: Does it add significantly to the diagnosis of acute coronary syndrome? J Electrocard. 2004/37(suppl): 223-232. 2. McClelland et al. Comparison of the 80-lead body surface map to physician and to 12-lead electrocardiogram in detection of acute myocardial infarction. Am J Cardiol. 2003/92: 252-257. 3. Ornato et al. Body surface mapping vs 12-lead electrocardiography to detect ST-elevation mycocardial infarction. Am J Emerg Med. 2009/27: 779-784. 4. Ischaemic heart diseases (ICD 120-125). European Commission Eurostat Web site. Available at: http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do. Accessed August 8, 2011. 5. Together, let’s improve myocardial infarction management: A progress report in 2009. Haute Autorite de Sante Web site. Available at: http://www.has-sante.fr/portail/upload/docs/application/pdf/2010-11/idm_etape_3_v5_en_vf.pdf. Accessed August 5, 2011.

BladderScan, GlideScope, Heartscape, Verathon, and the Verathon Torch symbol are registered trademarks of Verathon Inc.
© 2011 Verathon Inc.

SOURCE Verathon Inc.

Computer scientists in the field of artificial intelligence have made an important advance that blends computer vision, machine learning and automated planning, and created a new system that may improve everything from factory efficiency to airport operation or nursing care.

And it’s based on watching the Oregon State University Beavers play football.

The idea is for a computer to observe a complex operation, learn how to do it, and then optimize those operations or accomplish other related tasks. In this project, the goal is for the computer to watch video of football plays, learn from them, and then design plays and control players in a football simulation or video game.

As it turns out, football is very complex, and computers struggle to see and understand plays a coach or even an average fan would find routine.

The findings of the new study were just published in AI Magazine, a professional journal of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence.

“This is one of the first attempts to put several systems together and let a computer see something in the visual world, study it and then learn how to control it,” said Alan Fern, an associate professor of computer science at OSU.

“Football actually makes a pretty good test bed, because it’s much more complicated that you might think both visually and strategically, but also takes place in a structured setting,” he said. “This makes it quite analogous to other potential applications.”

Even everyday tasks that are simple for a human, Fern said, are a lot more complicated than they seem.

Consider driving home in your car, he said. What you actually have to do is walk to the parking lot, check for other traffic as you cross the street, select the correct key to put in the ignition, back it up, consider the anticipated traffic to plan a route home, slow down and move a little out of your lane to avoid the child wobbling down the street on a bicycle, make sure you have enough gas. And so on.

Then consider designing an OSU Beavers passing play, which is very fast-paced, designed to confuse the opponent, and based on complex rules; the ball could be thrown to any of several receivers and it still only works about half the time. For a computer that initially has no concept of pass routes and blocking, that’s difficult.

“Using football, we created learning algorithms that allow the computer to see the plays, analyze them and learn from them,” Fern said. “Ultimately these systems should be able to see what is happening, understand it and maybe even improve upon it.”

The work could have multiple applications. Control and logistics planning is hugely important in industry, and even small improvements in efficiency could save billions of dollars. Computer vision and controls might be useful in hospitals or nursing homes to help monitor patients and see who needs care. Large operations such as an airport offer multiple control challenges, or the military could use such approaches to improve supply chains for troops in the field.

The research has been supported by the National Science Foundation and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency of the U.S. Department of Defense. It is a collaboration of OSU and the Institute for the Study of Learning and Expertise in Palo Alto, Calif.

The research is still at a basic stage, the scientists said, but could have commercial applications within a few years. The new study outlines a clear “proof of concept” in action recognition, transferring that recognition into procedural knowledge, and adapting those procedures to new tasks, the scientists said in their conclusion.

“One thing I’d also like to do is return the favor to the football team,” Fern said.

“The study of these football plays is helping us to create intelligent computer systems,” he said. “When this is more fully developed, we should be able to actually apply it to football, maybe help coaches analyze an upcoming opponent, let the computer determine what they are doing and suggest a strategic nugget to the coach.”

—

On the Net:

• OSU

PIKE COUNTY, K.Y., Aug. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Keeper Springs Natural Spring Water, a bottled water provider that donates 100 percent of its profits to support America’s waterways, in partnership with Appalachian Voices and Kentuckians for the Commonwealth (KFTC), today announced the arrangement for the immediate donation and delivery of 30,000 bottles of Keeper Springs and Nestle Pure Life Purified Water to 13 Kentucky families in Pike County whose well water is contaminated with methane gas.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110818/NY54741 )

“Keeper Springs understands that bottled water plays an important role when safe drinking water is unavailable,” said Chris Bartle, co-founder of Keeper Springs. “Our involvement with the Upper Watauga Riverkeeper at Appalachian Voices alerted us to this tragedy. Supplying a truck load of bottled water to these families is part of our mission, because we believe clean, safe water is a basic human right.”

Residents had reported to local authorities back in May of 2011 that their highly contaminated water had the ability to catch on fire, turn to black or orange, and that it burned their skin upon contact. After alerting Pike County Judge Executive Wayne T. Rutherford and a nearby coal mining company in hopes of resolving the issue, the residents still find themselves without a permanent source of clean, safe drinking water.

“Based on my direct, first hand experience with contamination of water by coal operations, I am deeply worried about the safety of the drinking water of these families,” said Ted Withrow, the former Big Sandy River Basin coordinator for the Kentucky Division of Water. “I just had to take the bull by the horns and get something done.”

“In all my 20 years of working on water quality problems, I have never seen a drinking water well catch on fire and burn continuously for days on end,” said Donna Lisenby of Appalachian Voices. “When Ted sent me the link to the WKYT news story, I was stunned beyond belief and realized I had to do something. Thankfully, Appalachian Voices has a strong partnership with Keeper Springs, and we were able to act quickly.”

The shipment of bottled water will arrive to affected Pike County residents on August 18. Water recipient, Jessica Bevins, expressed her relief and gratitude: “It’s good to know there are still a few people that will help someone [they’ve] never even met. I promise you, I’ll never forget [them] for what [they’re] doing to help me.”

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth and Appalachian Voices hosted a brief press conference at 1:30p.m. on August 18, 2011, in Pike County, at: 2884 Big Branch Road, Pikeville, Kentucky. Any media interested in learning more are encouraged to contact Vanessa Giacoppo at [email protected].

About Keeper Springs

Founded in 1999, Keeper Springs Natural Spring Water was launched by environmental lawyer and advocate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and two friends, John Hoving and Chris Bartle, with one mission: to help support, protect and restore our nation’s waterways by donating 100 percent of profits to this cause. The brand Keeper Springs is named to honor the keepers of the Waterkeeper® Alliance, environmental heroes who fight to protect waterways all over the world from polluters and degradation. To date, Keeper Springs is proud to have raised more than $900,000 to support America’s waterways.

Keeper Springs uses only 100 percent natural and sustainable spring water, sourced and bottled locally, and keeps our carbon footprint to a minimum by using LEED-certified bottling plants and shipping our water no more than 500 miles from our springs. In addition, Keeper Springs uses bottles made from at least 50 percent recycled PET…and is working towards a 100 percent recycled bottle. Keeper Springs also supports the most comprehensive recycling legislation and has spent over a decade helping to fight for better regulation, tough penalties and solutions. Keeper Springs is available at beverage retailers in many of the Eastern states, and is expanding distribution on the West Coast. For more information, visit http://www.KeeperSprings.com.

About Appalachian Voices

Appalachian Voices is an award-winning, environmental non-profit committed to protecting the land, air and water of the central and southern Appalachian region, focusing on reducing coal’s impact on the region and advancing our vision for a cleaner energy future. Founded in 1997, they are headquartered in Boone, N.C. with offices in Charlottesville, Va. and Washington, D.C. Since they believe working in concert with others produces maximum results, they are proud members of the Alliance for Appalachia, Waterkeeper Alliance, Wise Energy for Virginia, and Repowering NC coalitions. The Resource Renewal Institute recognized Appalachian Voices with a 2010 River Warrior award for our work to protect and improve water quality, fish, wildlife and river ecosystems. We were also awarded a 2010 BENNY Award by the Business Ethics Network for our role as a supporting organization in Rainforest Action Network’s Global Finance Campaign. E, the Environmental Magazine recently listed Appalachian Voices as one of their top five favorite ways to become environmentally active. They have also been recognized as a Google Earth Hero for their work on the website, iLoveMountains.org, which was also named one of the first ever GOOD 100 “people, ideas, and organizations changing the world for good” by Good Magazine. For more information, visit http://appvoices.org.

About Kentuckians for the Commonwealth

Kentuckians for the Commonwealth is a community of people taking action for justice. They work with people to organize in their home communities and across the state. They help everyday community members become extraordinary community leaders. They support community leaders as they build effective organizations. Together, we win important issue campaigns. For more information, please visit: www.kftc.org.

    Media Contact:                            Gregg Hirschorn/Vanessa Giacoppo
    --------------
                                              Blue Wolf Communications
                                              [email protected]
                                              [email protected]
                                              (516) 767-9653 (office)

SOURCE Keeper Springs Natural Spring Water

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Leading angiogenesis and cancer researcher Dr. Robert S. Kerbel of the University of Toronto will deliver the Future of Medicine Keynote Address at the Angiogenesis Foundation’s 9th International M. Judah Folkman Conference — New Frontiers in Therapeutic Development. The conference will take place on October 29-30, 2011 in Cambridge, MA, and attracts key opinion leaders from academia, industry and government to discuss the latest scientific and clinical findings on antiangiogenic cancer therapies.

Dr. Kerbel is one of the world’s leading authorities on tumor angiogenesis. His research group at the University of Toronto is looking at innovative new ways to use both conventional chemotherapy and antiangiogenic agents to treat cancer. Dr. Kerbel’s keynote address, titled “Metronomic Antiangiogenic Chemotherapy: Past, Present and Future,” will present his latest findings on antiangiogenic metronomic cancer therapy.

Registration for the conference is now open. To review the topic and speaker agenda visit http://www.angio.org/programs-cp-aa11.php.

This year’s conference will include presentations by leaders from Harvard Medical School, the U.S. National Cancer Institute, University of Texas MD Anderson, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Stanford University, Queen’s University Belfast, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, IRCCS Multimedica Milan, and other top research institutions.

Topics to be covered at this year’s meeting include:

• Anti-VEGF therapy resistance and antiangiogenic escape
• VEGF-independent tumor angiogenesis
• Glioblastoma vasculature and stem cells
• Novel therapy biomarker
• Influence of diet on angiogenic signaling pathways

As the world’s leading non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the field of angiogenesis research, the Angiogenesis Foundation takes a multidisciplinary approach to its annual conference, bringing together experts and key stakeholders from basic research, life sciences industry, clinical investigation, and government to foster new collaborations and exchanges between faculty and attendees.

Due to limited space, early registration is encouraged. For additional information please contact, Michelle Sylvanowicz at (617) 401-2779.

SOURCE The Angiogenesis Foundation

NEW YORK, Aug. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Mr. Icahn stated, concerning Forest Labs, that he sent the following e-mail to Howard Solomon today:

“Congratulations on your victory! I look forward to our next meeting.”

Mr. Icahn went on to state that activism, especially in bio-tech, usually takes longer than you believe it will. Recent examples are: Imclone, Genzyme, and Biogen Idec.

SOURCE Carl Icahn

SHENZHEN, China, Aug. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ — Winner Medical Group Inc. (Nasdaq: WWIN; “Winner Medical” or the “Company”), a leading manufacturer of medical dressings, medical disposables and non-woven fabric made from 100% natural PurCotton® products in China, proudly announced today that it was granted the COTTON USA Mark license by Cotton Council International (“CCI”) for its PurCotton® products, which use and contain 100% U.S.-grown cotton.

According to CCI, all licensed products must contain at least 50 percent U.S.-grown cotton out of the cotton content with superior quality and reasonable selling price if sold outside the United States and 100% of the cotton must be made from U.S. cotton fiber if sold in the United States. After a long series of stringent verification and inspection process by Wakefield Inspection Services Ltd, one of the most famous independent inspection companies in the world specializing in the classification of cotton, Winner Medical was verified and recognized for using 100% U.S. cotton in its PurCotton® branded medical and consumer products, not only making the Company one of the few which may use Cotton USA Mark internationally, but more important, the only company in China which may use Cotton USA Mark for products sold in the U.S. market, echoing the CCI’s slogan as “Look for the Cotton USA Mark only on quality pure cotton products.”

Jianquan Li, chief executive officer and director at Winner Medical comments, “We are excited to become the only domestic licensee that may use Cotton USA Mark in China market and overseas markets; such recognition represents the quality, versatility and value of our products. With growing majorities of consumers perceiving U.S. cotton-containing finished goods to be more durable, comfortable and stylish, our group would be able to deepen the expansion of international medical market and consumer market in China for PurCotton® products, while further enhancing our partnership with CCI.”

About Winner Medical:

Winner Medical is a leading medical disposable products manufacturer in China, with business operations consisting of manufacturing, researching, developing and marketing cotton-based medical dressings and medical disposables, as well as consumer products. The Company has fourteen wholly-owned operating subsidiaries and three joint ventures, which manufacture tailored medical disposables and dressings, as well as non-woven fabric made from 100% natural cotton. With a vertically integrated supply chain ranging from spinning fabric to finished goods, the Company provides its customers with a wide range of products, from surgical and wound care to consumer products. The Company sells and markets its medical products and 100% natural cotton non-woven jumbo rolls in China and abroad. For nine consecutive years, the Company has been ranked as one of the top medical dressing exporters in China, with the United States, Europe, China and Japan being its most important markets. In addition, the Company distributes finished cotton non-woven consumer products under its own “PurCotton” brand name in China. With more than 20 years of international experience in the medical dressings and disposables field, the Company has a deep market understanding. This provides Winner Medical with a solid foundation upon which it plans to expand by growing its medical grade 100% cotton retail business. To learn more about Winner Medical, please visit Winner Medical’s website at: http://winnermedical.investorroom.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains certain statements that may include “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact included herein are “forward-looking statements” including statements regarding Winner Medical and its subsidiary companies’ business strategy, plans and objectives and statements of non-historical information. These forward-looking statements are often identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects” or similar expressions. Although Winner Medical believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions and involve known and unknown, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Winner Medical’s actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in Winner Medical’s periodic reports that are filed with and available from the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements attributable to Winner Medical or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these factors. Other than as required under the securities laws, Winner Medical does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

For more information, please contact:

Company:
Ms. Huixuan Chen (Fiona)
Investor Relations Manager
Winner Medical Group Inc.
Tel: +86-755-2806-6858
+86-755-2813-8888 x691
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://winnermedical.investorroom.com

SOURCE Winner Medical Group Inc.

NEW YORK, Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Dr. David Samadi, Vice Chairman, Department of Urology, and Chief of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery at The Mount Sinai Medical Center knows the wide range of emotions and fears that men with prostate cancer face. As a robotic prostatectomy and prostate cancer treatment expert, Dr. Samadi cares for the total patient, helping them deal with all aspects of treatment, recovery and cure. Robotic prostatectomy procedures, performed to remove the prostate gland and all surrounding cancer, can provide very good cancer cure results, though many men fear the potential side effects of the surgery. Top on their list of concerns: will they be able to have and enjoy sex after prostate cancer treatment?

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110817/NY54087 )

Dr. Samadi understands this concern. “For most men, sexual function is every bit as important as eliminating prostate cancer. But many of their fears about sex after surgery are carry-overs from what they know of older open and laparoscopic prostatectomy techniques. Thanks to robotic surgery, these fears can be greatly reduced.” Historically, the prostate gland was removed through invasive abdominal surgery during which surgeons had a very difficult time sparing the tiny nerve bundles responsible for erectile and sexual function. Often, a man’s ability to have sex after surgery was negatively impacted. Today, with the advent of robotic surgery techniques, experienced surgeons like Dr. Samadi have an enhanced view of the prostate gland, allowing increased precision and dexterity. As a result, the risk of damage to the nerves vital to sexual function is significantly diminished.

When treating his prostate cancer patients, Dr. Samadi employs a start-to-finish approach, including an individualized evaluation of sexual function prior to surgery and on-going, post-surgical assessments of options to aid in the return of sexual function. “I consider robotic surgery successful when the cancer is cured and the patient has full continence and potency. All three criteria must be met for me to consider the surgery a success.” Dr. Samadi dubs this whole-patient approach, “The Treatment Trifecta.”

Dr. Samadi customizes robotic surgery with his own SMART (Samadi Modified Advanced Robotic Technique) method. Using the da Vinci Surgical System, the commonly recommended treatment for localized prostate cancer, Dr. Samadi is able to perform highly precise movements at the surgical site: cancerous tissue is cleanly removed and critical nerves are spared. By not opening the surrounding fascia around the prostate and not suturing the dorsal vein complex, Dr. Samadi has improved the quality of men’s post operative sex life. Ultimately, this leads to faster recovery and an improved outlook for regaining sexual function and urinary continence.

“Men want to know they can return to a normal life when this is all over. They want the cancer gone and they want to move on and enjoy sex the way they always have,” says Dr. Samadi. While the resumption of sexual potency can take up to 12 months or more, Dr. Samadi assures patients that this is within the normal course of recovery. His comprehensive approach to prostate cancer treatment and sexual wellbeing continues beyond surgery. “It’s not uncommon for men to experience some ED immediately following prostatectomy procedures, but this is not an indication of their long-term sexual potency. I continue to work with patients to achieve the complete results they desire.”

More can be seen from prostate cancer expert, Dr. David Samadi, who is also part of the Fox News Medical A-Team.

Robotic Surgery on Good Day New York

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wr8EEhQrNl0

Comparing Prostate Cancer Options – Robotic Surgery vs. Watchful Waiting

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dC4T9JAJss

Related Links: RoboticOncology.com

SOURCE Smart-Surgery.com

ATLANTA, Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The physicians of North Atlanta Surgical Associates (NASA) recently announced the opening of the first single-specialty general surgery center in Georgia at the Center Pointe Medical Office complex at 1100 Johnson Ferry Road adjacent to Northside and St. Joseph’s hospitals.

The new 7,764-square foot Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) includes two operating rooms, one minor procedure room, three pre-op bays, and six recovery bays. Prior to opening, the ASC earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval(TM) for accreditation by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in ambulatory care organizations.

Dr. Iqbal Garcha, director of the NASA Surgery Center LLC, said, “We recognize Joint Commission accreditation as the Gold Seal for providing safe, high quality patient care. Achieving accreditation from The Joint Commission is a team effort that will bring confidence to our patients and give us a framework to provide the best care possible.”

ASCs are health care facilities that offer patients the opportunity to have selected surgical and procedural services performed outside the hospital setting. The goal of ASCs is to provide a high-quality, cost-effective alternative to outpatient hospital care for surgical services.

Until recently, general surgery was not considered a single specialty, making this facility the first of its kind in the state.

Each member of the NASA practice is board certified in general surgery.

Dr. Garcha said that the surgery center allows surgeons to schedule procedures more conveniently, assemble teams of specially-trained and highly skilled staff, and ensure the equipment and supplies being used are best suited to their technique. The doctors worked closely with architects to design the center to meet the needs of their patients.

North Atlanta Surgical Associates is committed to providing superior surgical care. The practice’s 27 general surgeons are dedicated to maintaining a position as regional leaders and providing the highest quality of care and service to their patients. Each of the practice’s general surgeons operates at one or more of these Atlanta hospitals: Emory John’s Creek Hospital, Northside Hospital, Northside Hospital Forsyth, North Fulton Hospital, Piedmont Hospital, Piedmont Fayette Hospital, and St. Joseph’s Hospital.

Interviews available upon request.

CONTACT: Ryan Klee | Lenz, Inc.
404.373.2021
[email protected]

SOURCE North Atlanta Surgical Associates

A research team at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has come up with a potential solution to a two-pronged problem in medical research: How to capture cells on a particular spot on a surface using electric fields and keep them alive long enough to run experiments on them.

Their method, which involves innovations upon conventional cell-capture techniques, has already proved effective in creating arrays of human liver cells and mouse pluripotent cells””which, similar to stem cells, can develop into more than one cell type.

“The technique could prove valuable for learning about how cells communicate and differentiate,” says NIST chemist Darwin Reyes. “We think this method could provide an effective way to selectively induce cells to differentiate and watch their behavior as they develop.”

Adherent cells need to be attached to a surface to survive, and one common way of getting them there is by using a technique called dielectrophoresis (DEP), which Reyes says is not necessarily the best for cells’ health. A batch of cells is placed into a fluid medium that has low electrical conductivity””sucrose in water, for example””and then subjected to an electric field that attracts the cells to a nearby surface. But the DEP process requires the cells to spend between 20 and 30 minutes in the medium, which appears to cause problems when the cells are trying to attach to the surface.

“Cells typically die rather soon after that much time exposed to the sucrose, since they cannot attach to the surface,” Reyes says. “It’s tough to run useful experiments if you only have a short window of opportunity.”

The team experimented with different materials before finding that they could use a layer of substance called polyelectrolyte that has its own positive electric charge, which attracts the cells quickly. Before depositing this material, they laid down a thin layer of natural protein called fibronectin that helps cells to survive once they stick. With this new hybrid surface, the cells need spend only about four minutes in the fluid before they are returned to a more nurturing medium that helps them grow and attach better. As a result, the cells can survive on the surface for a week or more.

Because of their success in creating arrays of neural cells, the team has recently started to pattern liver cells as well. Combining liver cells with this technique could be useful in toxicology studies, Reyes suggests. “The liver is made up of several types of cells that work together,” he says. “Creating arrays of them with certain cells positioned in particular locations could help us study how each of them might contribute to the overall process of filtering out a toxin from the bloodstream.”

—

On the Net:

• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

IRVINE, Calif., Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Over 90 Pacific Dental Services affiliated offices with 1200 volunteers, including over 125 Pacific Dental Services affiliated dentists, served their communities on August 13 by participating in the first-ever Smile Generation Serve Day. The dental offices provided pro-bono treatment to those in need and were able to help over 750 people during this community outreach event. In total they provided over $850,000 in free dentistry.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20081111/LATU128LOGO-c)

Pacific Dental Services affiliated offices teamed up with local organizations such as churches, non-profits, women shelters, and youth centers to assist in making this day a huge success. The community partners assisted in identifying individuals that were in need of basic dental care. They also reached out to existing patients that may have lost their job and had treatment that needed to be done that they couldn’t pay for.

“Smile Generation Serve Day is a day of giving back to our community, and that’s something that Pacific Dental Services is very passionate about,” said Pacific Dental Services Founder, President, and CEO Stephen Thorne. “All of the treatment provided was completely free. We were able to provide $850,000 in dentistry but we’re not done; we have a number of affiliated offices who plan to do a day of free dentistry in the next few weeks. We hope to provide over 1 million dollars in donated dentistry.”

Nation-wide, patients received everything ranging from cleanings, exams, and x-rays to extractions, fillings, and crowns. The supplies for these treatments were generously donated by Henry Schein®( )Dental, Ivoclar Vivadent®, and Vident(TM).

Also partnering with Pacific Dental Services on Smile Generation Serve Day was United Concordia Dental. “We are pleased to partner with Pacific Dental Services on the first-ever Smile Generation Serve Day. Together, we are providing a variety of free dental services — from exams to cleanings, x-rays to oral hygiene instruction – to individuals with minimal or no insurance,” said Julia Mallory, community outreach representative for United Concordia Dental. Pacific Dental Services affiliated offices are preferred providers for United Concordia Dental.

About Pacific Dental Services

Founded in 1994, Pacific Dental Services (PDS) is one of the country’s leading dental service organizations, providing state-of-the-art support services that allow dentists to concentrate on the highest levels of cost-effective patient care. PDS has pioneered the concept of Modern Dentistry – combining advances in the latest technology with best operational practices and procedures, highly skilled support staff and a commitment to ongoing training and education – to grow to more than 250 innovative, modern, affiliated dental offices in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Texas. Their Private Practice + model provides supported autonomy to each affiliated dentist, allowing the local affiliated dentists the freedom to focus on what they do best. Together with their affiliated owner dentists, they aim to become the provider of choice in all the markets that they serve.

For more information:

www.PacificDentalServices.com

Visit our blog: http://www.pacificdentalservices.com/blog

Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.pacden.com

Fan us on Facebook: http://facebook.pacden.com

SOURCE Pacific Dental Services

AUGUSTA, Ga., Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Drs. Edouard J. Servy and Joe B. Massey announce the opening of the Servy Massey Fertility Institute (SMFI), designed to provide high tech fertility care at affordable prices. They have offices in Augusta and Atlanta, Georgia, working in collaboration with the Georgia Health Sciences University (formerly known as Medical College of Georgia or MCG).

The reduced cost announced offers the first in vitro fertilization (IVF) cycle for $6,575 – as much as a 50 percent discount compared with the national average. It includes blood work, ultrasounds, egg retrieval, embryo transfer and micro manipulation (intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and assisted hatching) when necessary. Patients requiring additional cycles will receive an even greater discount.

Both Drs. Massey and Servy are pioneers in reproductive endocrinology and the treatment of infertility. In 1983, Dr. Massey co-founded Reproductive Biology Associates in Atlanta, GA. The clinic team led many advances in IVF, including the first ICSI and first egg freezing pregnancies in the US and the first assisted hatching procedure in the world.

After completing his medical training at MCG, Dr. Servy established a private practice in Augusta, GA. He is responsible for the first human intrauterine insemination (IUI) in the world in 1978, the first embryo transfer at day 5 blastocyst stage in the US, and the first live birth after blastocyst cryopreservation following ICSI in the world.

Drs. Massey and Servy are now working together to provide a new solution for hopeful parents-to-be. In the past, the high cost of fertility treatment has been a barrier for many couples. SMFI was founded on the idea that infertility treatment should be more accessible to all. The institute’s unique low cost program provides affordable treatment to hopeful couples, in a quality setting with proven results.

For more information, see www.ivfga.com.

SOURCE Servy Massey Fertility Institute

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — To meet the continually evolving needs in the field of psychology, Walden University’s School of Psychology is adding new specializations in its online M.S. in Psychology and Ph.D. in Psychology degree programs, which are designed to help professionals meet their career goals and gain expertise and credentials to help others. In addition, many specializations in these programs have been redesigned to offer the latest curriculum, including new courses that employ unique instructional tools designed to facilitate interactive, engaging learning experiences.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110112/CL29101LOGO )

Some of the new offerings include:

• Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in Social Psychology: This program–the first of its kind available online–gives students the opportunity to expand their understanding of how social factors influence human psychology and behavior. Students apply their knowledge of social psychological theory to conduct research on such important social issues as social cognition, attitudes, interpersonal processes and group dynamics.
• Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in Forensic Psychology: Students develop a greater understanding of the criminal justice system and the mental health issues that drive many aspects of criminal behavior. They gain the skills needed to prepare for a career as a researcher or consultant in law enforcement, government, education and nonprofit sectors.
• Ph.D. in Psychology with a specialization in Educational Psychology: Students in the program contribute to the field of education through independent, professional research and their understanding of key psychological theories affecting issues related to the learning experiences of both high achievers and individuals with specialized needs. This specialization can prepare graduates to become a higher education faculty member, educational psychologist, researcher, program administrator or consultant.
• M.S. in Psychology with a specialization in Educational Psychology: This program gives students a multicultural perspective to help them understand, evaluate and apply research and to gain the skills and knowledge to enhance their work in the classroom and other educational settings.
• M.S. in Psychology with a specialization in Applied Psychology: Students explore the fundamentals of psychology, including methods, theory and principles of the field, while learning about psychopathology, intervention and principles of ethics in professional psychology practice. This specialization offers a broad exposure to the field of psychology, including both research and practice-oriented elements of the profession.

Students can choose from a total 14 specializations in Walden’s M.S. in Psychology and eight in the Ph.D. in Psychology. Other offerings in Walden’s portfolio of psychology programs include the B.S. in Psychology, B.S. in Forensic Psychology, M.S. in Clinical Psychology, M.S. in Forensic Psychology and psychology certificates. For more information, go to www.WaldenU.edu/psychology.

About Walden University

For more than 40 years, Walden University has supported working professionals in achieving their academic goals and making a greater impact in their professions and their communities. Today, more than 46,500 students from all 50 states and more than 120 countries are pursuing their bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees online at Walden. The university provides students with an engaging educational experience that connects them with expert faculty and peers around the world. Walden is the flagship online university in the Laureate International Universities network–a global network of 57 campus-based and online universities in 28 countries.

Walden offers more than 60 degree programs with more than 300 specializations and concentrations. Areas of study include health sciences, counseling, human services, management, psychology, education, public health, nursing, public administration and information technology. For more information, visit www.WaldenU.edu. Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, www.ncahlc.org.

SOURCE Walden University

Findings could be used to develop treatments to protect other nerve cell types responsible for speech and movement

Neuroscientists have identified a natural protection mechanism in some of the brain’s nerve cells during the onset of stroke. The findings, published today [17 August] in the Journal of Neuroscience, could be used to develop treatments to protect other nerve cell types responsible for speech and movement.

Stroke “” the third largest cause of death in the UK “” causes disruption to the blood supply to the brain, depriving nerve cells of oxygen and nutrients. This leads to the death of nerve cells and the consequent loss of the brain’s cognitive functions such as speech and movement. However, not all nerve cells are equally susceptible to stroke-induced damage.

The research, led by Dr Jack Mellor from the University of Bristol, examined two types of nerve cell in a part of the brain called the hippocampus “” the region linked to memory and navigation. One of these cell types, the CA1 cell, is highly susceptible to damage after stroke whereas the other, the CA3 cell, is much more resistant despite many other similarities between the two cell types.

Dr Mellor, Senior Lecturer in the University’s School of Physiology and Pharmacology, said: “We hope that if we can understand why some nerve cells are resistant to stroke damage we may be able to develop strategies to protect those cells that are sensitive.”

The researchers found that the CA3 cells possess a mechanism for reducing their susceptibility during, and immediately after, a laboratory-based model for stroke. This mechanism involved making the CA3 cells less sensitive to the neurotransmitter glutamate, which is released in large quantities during stroke, by removing glutamate receptor proteins from the surface of these cells.

The removal of glutamate receptors was triggered by adenosine A3 receptors that are activated by very high levels of the neurotransmitter adenosine found only during stroke conditions. Interestingly, CA1 cells that are susceptible to stroke damage did not have adenosine A3 receptors and did not respond to the stroke model by removing surface glutamate receptors. The findings reveal that CA3 cells possess a mechanism for neuronal protection during stroke.

Dr Mellor added: “Historically, stroke has been very difficult to treat because of its unpredictability and the need to administer drugs within minutes of the onset of a stroke. These problems will not be overcome by our research but our findings do reveal a natural protection mechanism in some nerve cells, which may be useful in developing treatments to protect other nerve cell types.”

—

On the Net:

• University of Bristol
• Journal of Neuroscience

KIRKLAND, Wash., Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Evergreen Healthcare today announced that it will implement a suite of state-of-the-art healthcare information technology solutions that will enable the organization to securely share patient information in real-time across its network of medical centers, improving patient safety and empowering medical staff to provide superior care.

After evaluating several technology solution options, Evergreen selected Cerner Corporation to establish a secure electronic health record (EHR) system, which is designed to enhance collaboration among providers of Evergreen’s in- and out-patient medical services.

“A comprehensive electronic medical record system is key to increasing the efficacy of information sharing across our growing network of medical centers, primary care practices and specialty care centers,” said Evergreen Healthcare CEO Bob Malte. “As Evergreen grows to meet the needs of an expanding community, we’re committed to continually improving how we use technologies to better serve our patients.”

Cerner’s system will virtually consolidate patient records across Evergreen’s Eastside network into one central online location, where multiple providers throughout the care continuum will access patient medical history, lab results, current medications and other critical data.

The system will also offer a patient portal, which will allow Evergreen patients to request appointments, check test results and communicate directly with physicians in a convenient, secure online environment.

For physicians, the system provides a common platform that will allow easier collaboration with colleagues and specialists and help them make more informed decisions. According to Cerner, many physicians also see the benefit in the management of certain chronic conditions, such as asthma and diabetes, as the system tracks long-term trends in patient outcomes against national quality standards.

A fully connected Evergreen network will not only improve patient safety, but will also reduce costs through optimized processes, integrated workflow and fewer errors as information is captured and shared between practices.

As part of the full integration of Cerner solutions into the Evergreen network, the two organizations have begun work to design and test the user experience, and will officially launch the system in April 2012.

To learn more about Evergreen Healthcare visit www.evergreenhealthcare.org or call the Evergreen Healthline at 425.899.3000.

About Evergreen Healthcare

Evergreen Healthcare, a public hospital district and community-based health care organization established in 1972, offers a breadth of services and programs that is among the most comprehensive in the region. More than 950 physicians provide clinical excellence within more than 80 specialties, including cardiac, oncology, surgical care, orthopedics, a Neuroscience Institute, Women’s and Children’s services, hospice care, pulmonary care, a Sleep Disorders Center and Home Health services care. Evergreen serves more than 400,000 residents in its primary service area of northern King and southern Snohomish counties with Evergreen Medical Group, a network of primary and urgent care practices, and Evergreen Hospital Medical Center, its main hospital campus in Kirkland, Wash. Evergreen also provides emergency care at two sites; its main hospital campus and the Evergreen Redmond Medical Center. In addition to clinical care, Evergreen offers extensive community health outreach and education programs, anchored by Evergreen Healthline, a 24/7 nurse consultation service. For more information, visit www.evergreenhealthcare.org.

CONTACTS:

Kay Taylor
VP of Marketing
Evergreen Healthcare
425.899.2604

Kristi Clough
Firmani + Associates Inc.
206.443.9357
[email protected]

SOURCE Evergreen Healthcare

LIBERTY, Mo. and DANBURY, Conn., Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Planet Biopharmaceuticals, Inc. and its wholly owned Subsidiaries (collectively, “Planet”), a privately held specialty pharmaceutical company focused on providing products for allergy and asthma sufferers, today announced that Theron (Ted) E. Odlaug, Ph.D. has been named as the company’s Executive Chairman and will assume the additional role of Chief Executive Officer on August 29, 2011. Odlaug will replace William (Bill) Goldberg, who has joined MediMedia USA, Inc. as Chief Executive Officer. Goldberg will remain on Planet’s board of directors as an independent director.

Odlaug will be responsible for day-to-day operations and corporate strategy. “Ted’s extensive experience in the pharmaceutical and life sciences arenas make him the ideal candidate to lead the company,” said Goldberg.

Scott Glenn, Chairman, commented, “Ted has an impressive record of accomplishment. We are confident in his ability to guide Planet through its next stage of corporate development. We also thank Bill for the tremendous job he has done with Planet. We wish him well in his new role with MediMedia.”

“I am pleased to lead Planet at such an exciting time in the company’s history,” said Odlaug.

From 2008 until January of this year Ted was President and CEO of CyDex Pharmaceuticals, Inc when the company was sold under Ted’s leadership to Ligand Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Prior to CyDex, Ted served as Managing Partner of EIR Healthcare Advisors, LLC. Prior to that, he was Executive Vice President and a member of the senior management committee at Fujisawa Healthcare Inc. until its merger with Yamanouchi in 2005, which resulted in the formation of Astellas Pharma. He left Astellas in 2006 after successfully supporting the U.S. post-merger integration process.

Odlaug holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the University of Missouri at Kansas City and a Ph.D. in Public Health from the University of Minnesota.

Contact:

Planet Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.
Francesca DiNota, Vice President and CFO
816-792-8512

SOURCE Planet Biopharmaceuticals, Inc.

Second melanoma drug approved this year that improves overall survival

SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Zelboraf (vemurafenib), a drug to treat patients with late-stage (metastatic) or unresectable (cannot be removed by surgery) melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090824/FDALOGO)

Zelboraf is specifically indicated for the treatment of patients with melanoma whose tumors express a gene mutation called BRAF V600E. The drug has not been studied in patients whose melanoma tests negative for that mutation by an FDA approved diagnostic.

Zelboraf is being approved with a first-of-a-kind test called the cobas 4800 BRAF V600 Mutation Test, a companion diagnostic that will help determine if a patient’s melanoma cells have the BRAF V600E mutation.

The BRAF protein is normally involved in regulating cell growth, but is mutated in about half of the patients with late-stage melanomas. Zelboraf is a BRAF inhibitor that is able to block the function of the V600E-mutated BRAF protein.

“This has been an important year for patients with late-stage melanoma. Zelboraf is the second new cancer drug approved that demonstrates an improvement in overall survival,” said Richard Pazdur, M.D., director of the Office of Oncology Drug Products in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. “In March, we approved Yervoy (ipilimumab), another new treatment for late-stage melanoma that also showed patients live longer after receiving the drug.”

Zelboraf was reviewed under the FDA’s priority review program that provides for an expedited six-month review of drugs that may offer major advances in treatment or that provide a treatment when no adequate therapy exists. Zelboraf and the companion BRAF V600E test are being approved ahead of the drug’s Oct. 28, 2011 goal date and the companion diagnostics’ Nov. 12, 2011 goal date.

Zelboraf’s safety and effectiveness were established in a single international trial of 675 patients with late-stage melanoma with the BRAF V600E mutation who had not received prior therapy. Patients were assigned to receive either Zelboraf or dacarbazine, another anti-cancer therapy. The trial was designed to measure overall survival (the length of time between start of treatment and death of a patient).

The median survival (the length of time a patient lives after treatment) of patients receiving Zelboraf has not been reached (77 percent still living) while the median survival for those who received dacarbazine was 8 months (64 percent still living).

“Today’s approval of Zelboraf and the cobas test is a great example of how companion diagnostics can be developed and used to ensure patients are exposed to highly effective, more personalized therapies in a safe manner,” said Alberto Gutierrez, Ph.D., director of the Office of In Vitro Diagnostic Device Evaluation and Safety in the FDA’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.

The FDA’s approval of the cobas 4800 BRAF V600 Mutation Test was based on data from the clinical study that also evaluated the safety and effectiveness of Zelboraf. Samples of a patient’s melanoma tissue were collected to test for the mutation.

The most common side effects reported in patients receiving Zelboraf included joint pain, rash, hair loss, fatigue, nausea, and skin sensitivity when exposed to the sun. About 26 percent of patients developed a skin-related cancer called cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, which was managed with surgery. Patients treated with Zelboraf should avoid sun exposure.

Zelboraf is being approved with a Medication Guide to inform health care professionals and patients of Zelboraf’s potential risks.

In July 2011, the FDA issued a new draft guidance to facilitate the development and review of companion diagnostics. The guidance, currently available for public comment, is intended to provide companies with guidance on the agency’s policy for reviewing a companion diagnostic and the corresponding drug therapy.

Melanoma is the leading cause of death from skin disease. The National Cancer Institute estimated that 68,130 new cases of melanoma were diagnosed in the United States during 2010; about 8,700 people died from the disease.

Zelboraf is marketed by South San Francisco based-Genentech, a member of the Roche Group. The cobas 4800 BRAF V600 Mutation Test is manufactured by Roche Molecular Systems in Pleasanton, Calif.

For more information:

FDA: Office of Oncology Drug Products

http://www.fda.gov/AboutFDA/CentersOffices/CDER/ucm091745.htm

FDA: Office of In Vitro Diagnostics

http://www.fda.gov/medicaldevices/productsandmedicalprocedures/invitrodiagnostics/default.htm

FDA: Draft Guidance – In Vitro Companion Diagnostic Devices

http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/DeviceRegulationandGuidance/GuidanceDocuments/ucm262292.htm

FDA: Approved Drugs: Questions and Answers

http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/ucm054420.htm

NCI: Melanoma

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/types/melanoma

CDC: Skin Cancer

http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

Media Inquiries: Erica Jefferson, 301-796-4988, [email protected]
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Chia seeds are fast gaining popularity amongst athletes, nutritionists and other health-conscious people. With more and more studies underway, it might soon emerge as the next big superfood. While Chia seeds have been cultivated and consumed for thousands of years by early civilizations like the Aztecs, Mayas, and other Native American peoples, it has recently been re-discovered and is about to start a new food revolution.

This is not surprising, considering Chia seeds contain essential fatty acids (an excellent vegetarian source of omega-3s), fiber, calcium, antioxidants, iron, and many other nutrients. You may have noticed the many companies now offering this product but why not trust the one company that has been dealing with this tiny seed full of power for decades? You know this company well: Joseph Enterprises, the Makers of the Famous Chia Pet®, the pottery that grows! Joseph Enterprises has over three decades of experience in identifying, buying, cleaning, and packaging Chia seeds. Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia® Omega-3(TM) Chia Seeds are just the logical evolution into a product that can lead to the new food revolution!

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia® Omega-3(TM) Chia Seeds come in a 1-pound jar or as softgels, a dietary supplement. For more information and tasty Chia seed recipes visit http://www.chia.com. Look for Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia® in the name to ensure top quality and the highest level of nutrients! And what an abundance of nutrients there are: The excellent source of ALA Omega-3 promotes heart health, the fiber is for digestive health and calcium promotes strong bones.

Latest research of the NSRI (Nutritional Science Research Institute) shows Chia seeds are “the world’s richest whole food source of omega 3 fatty acids, dietary fiber, calcium and antioxidants. These abundant nutrients support cardiovascular, digestive, bone, joint, neurological, visual and immune health.”

Learn more about the benefits Chia seeds on http://www.chia.com.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Chia® Omega-3 Chia Seeds are sodium and gluten free and contain no cholesterol. The product is available now at Walgreens, CVS and Supervalu and online at http://www.chia.com

CONTACT: Kyra Schlebrowski, [email protected]

SOURCE Joseph Enterprises

TARRYTOWN, N.Y., Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: REGN) today announced that it has received notification from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that the agency has extended its target date to complete the priority review of the EYLEA Biologics License Application (BLA) for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD) to November 18, 2011, which is a three month extension from the original Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) action date.

The extension is a result of the agency classifying recent responses to questions regarding the chemistry, manufacturing, and controls (CMC) section of the BLA as a major amendment to the BLA. The new action date will give the agency additional time to review the information submitted.

About EYLEA

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is a naturally occurring protein in the body. Its normal role in a healthy organism is to trigger formation of new blood vessels (angiogenesis) supporting the growth of the body’s tissues and organs. However, in certain diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration, it is also associated with the growth of abnormal new blood vessels in the eye, which exhibit vascular permeability and lead to edema.

EYLEA (aflibercept injection) for intravitreal use, also known as VEGF Trap-Eye, is a fully human fusion protein, consisting of portions of VEGF receptors 1 and 2, that binds all forms of VEGF-A along with the related Placental Growth Factor (PlGF). EYLEA is a specific and highly potent blocker of these growth factors. EYLEA is specially purified and contains iso-osmotic buffer concentrations, allowing for injection into the eye.

Regeneron and Bayer HealthCare are collaborating on the global development of EYLEA for the treatment of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (wet AMD), central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO), diabetic macular edema (DME), and other eye diseases and disorders. Bayer submitted an application for marketing authorization in Europe in wet AMD in June 2011.

Bayer HealthCare will market EYLEA(TM) (aflibercept injection) outside the United States, where the companies will share equally the profits from any future sales of EYLEA. Regeneron maintains exclusive rights to EYLEA in the United States.

Conference Call Information

Leonard S. Schleifer, M.D., Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer of Regeneron, and other members of senior management will host a conference call to discuss the extension of the review period for EYLEA BLA for the treatment of patients with wet AMD, as well as other corporate matters. The interactive call will be held on August 17, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time and can be accessed live through the Regeneron website at www.regeneron.com on the Investor Relations page. The call, including the question and answer session, can also be accessed by dialing:

Domestic Dial-in Number: (888) 660-6127

International Dial-in Number: (973) 890-8355

Participant Passcode: 92316573

An archived version of the conference call will be available for 30 days on the company’s website at www.regeneron.com on the Investor Relations page.

About Regeneron Pharmaceuticals

Regeneron is a fully integrated biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and commercializes medicines for the treatment of serious medical conditions. In addition to ARCALYST® (rilonacept) Injection for Subcutaneous Use, its first commercialized product, Regeneron has therapeutic candidates in Phase 3 clinical trials for the potential treatment of gout, diseases of the eye (wet age-related macular degeneration, central retinal vein occlusion, and diabetic macular edema), and certain cancers. Additional therapeutic candidates developed from proprietary Regeneron technologies for creating fully human monoclonal antibodies are in earlier stage development programs in rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory conditions, pain, cholesterol reduction, allergic and immune conditions, and cancer. Additional information about Regeneron and recent news releases are available on Regeneron’s web site at www.regeneron.com.

Regeneron Forward Looking Statement

This news release includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties relating to future events and the future financial performance of Regeneron, and actual events or results may differ materially from these forward-looking statements. These statements concern, and these risks and uncertainties include, among others, the nature, timing, and possible success and therapeutic applications of Regeneron’s product candidates and research and clinical programs now underway or planned, the likelihood and timing of possible regulatory approval and commercial launch of Regeneron’s late-stage product candidates, determinations by regulatory and administrative governmental authorities which may delay or restrict Regeneron’s ability to continue to develop or commercialize its product and drug candidates, competing drugs that may be superior to Regeneron’s product and drug candidates, uncertainty of market acceptance of Regeneron’s product and drug candidates, unanticipated expenses, the availability and cost of capital, the costs of developing, producing, and selling products, the potential for any license or collaboration agreement, including Regeneron’s agreements with Sanofi and Bayer HealthCare, to be canceled or terminated without any product success, and risks associated with third party intellectual property and pending or future litigation relating thereto. A more complete description of these and other material risks can be found in Regeneron’s filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2011. Regeneron does not undertake any obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, unless required by law.

    Contact Information:

    Michael Aberman, M.D.                     Peter Dworkin
    Investor Relations                        Corporate Communications
    914.345.7799                              914.345.7640
    [email protected]             [email protected]

SOURCE Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

    * Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) regulates neuronal plasticity.
    * Researchers have found high serum BDNF levels among alcohol-dependent (AD) but abstinent individuals that do not correlate with either chronic drinking or associated toxicity.
    * These findings suggest that BDNF may predict relapse in AD individuals undergoing treatment.

One of the ways an alcohol dependence (AD) diagnosis can be made is through measurement of biological markers of hepatic injury such as gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and mean corpuscular volume (MCV). These markers, however, are not always sufficiently sensitive or specific enough for determining AD, nor do their levels change rapidly in response to abstinence or relapse. A new study of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which regulates neuronal plasticity, indicates it may predict relapse in AD individuals undergoing treatment.

Results will be published in the November 2011 issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research and are currently available at Early View.

“As we are [located] in a psychiatric hospital, we were sensitive to BDNF and its role in psychiatric diseases,” explained Murielle Girard, a researcher at the Centre Hospitalier Esquirol in Limoges, France and corresponding author for the study. “At the same time, we were beginning [to follow] a cohort of AD subjects in an attempt to better understand their clinical evolution. This study helped us to realize that abstinence from a clinical point of view is not the same as abstinence from a biological point of view.”

Girard explained that the concept of abstinence in this current study includes the notion of abstinent behavior and not just the linkage between alcohol consumption and related toxicity, which is traditionally evaluated through biological markers. “A subject can have reduced alcohol consumption and normalized biological markers but still remain sensitive to drinking and have a high risk of relapse,” she said. “[Markers] are absolutely not an indicator of alcohol dependence, or alcohol craving, they just indicate somatic consequences of excessive alcohol consumption.”

“Three biological markers are pertinent for measuring alcohol consumption,” added Philippe Nubukpo, chief of the addiction department at the Centre Hospitalier Esquirol, “GGT for hepatic injury, MCV for macrocytose without anemia, and carbohydrate deficient transferrin (CDT).” He agreed with Girard that these markers give information on chronically excessive drinking but not on AD. “What we need today is a biomarker which can reflect AD, and we know that this relies on many interconnected mechanisms. To our knowledge, this study is the first to look for links between BDNF and alcohol abstinence.”

Girard and her colleagues examined serum BDNF levels in 101 (84 men, 17 women) abstinent and relapsing AD individuals at the moment of hospitalization for alcohol withdrawal as well as six months later, and compared those findings to serum BDNF levels of 39 (28 men, 11 women) non-AD individuals who were matched on age and gender. Participants were also tested for their GGT levels, their MCV values, and their score on the Beck Depression Inventory questionnaire.

“Our study [showed] that alcohol consumption and toxicity markers do not exactly reflect the dependence status of the AD subjects,” said Girard. “[Additionally,] abstinence and non-abstinence condition may be accompanied by neurological mechanisms which must be taken into account in the care and the way the patients with dependence are attended.

“People used to believe that AD, due to its neurologic and cerebral toxicity, induced a decrease of BDNF in plasma and that abstinence reversed this because of neuroadaptation and neurogenesis,” said Nubukpo. “In this study, the mean BDNF rate at baseline and six months later showed no difference between AD persons and controls. In fact, those who were totally abstinent or partially abstinent had increased BDNF levels between these two time points. This means that alcohol withdrawal may induce neurological transformations that are reflected by peripheral levels of BDNF.”

“[AD] subjects are often cared for according to a marker of alcohol consumption, rather than a marker of their dependence, but it is the latter that care should target,” said Girard. “[We need to consider] the AD patient from the [perspective] that dependence relies on neurological mechanisms, [and that] patient care [should] consider this dependence status, [not just] their evolution in alcohol consumption, which may be less persistent.”

“Monitoring serum BDNF concentrations could help to characterize AD profiles in clinical practice, help predict relapses, and assist in adjusting care to prevent difficulties in alcohol withdrawal and define people with higher risks of relapse,” said Nubukpo. “In clinical practice, these findings may help to remind professionals that biological markers are only relevant in terms of the toxicity of alcohol consumption, and in no way are they indicators of the behavior in relation to alcohol, which has to be taken into account and explored with other tools. It is too early to assess BDNF as a biological marker of AD, but it should be useful in conjunction with other clinical data.”

—

On the Net:

• Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research

Experts say kids should limit use, and keep phones away from heads

PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y., Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Grassroots Environmental Education, a New York-based environmental health non-profit, is urging parents to teach their children five simple rules to limit their exposure to cell phone radiation. The group, citing increasing scientific evidence of potential harm from exposure to cell phone radiation, says children are particularly vulnerable.

“With a new school year upon us, the list of back-to-school supplies may include a new cell phone, typically one that has more power and can perform more functions,” says Patti Wood, Executive Director of Grassroots. “But emerging studies from all over the world are telling us to be extremely cautious about these wireless devices, especially where children are concerned. Parents should set rules for their kids about cell phones, and schools should adopt similar protective guidelines.”

Grassroots is urging parents to teach their children the following five simple rules for cell phone use:

1. Never hold a cell phone directly against your head.
2. Use the speaker setting or a corded headset whenever possible.
3. Switch side (ears) frequently if you have to hold it near your head.
4. Do not carry cell phones in pockets or anywhere else on your body.
5. Use cell phones only for emergencies or quick check-ins.

Wireless devices, transmitters and cell phone towers emit non-ionizing “radio frequency” or “microwave radiation.” A growing number of studies suggest that prolonged exposure to this type of radiation can damage DNA and cause other health problems, particularly in vulnerable populations, such as children.

Cell phone radiation is transmitted by the phone’s antenna, which is embedded in the case of the phone in most current models. Virtually all manufacturers warn against holding the device next to the head, advising users to maintain a distance of about one inch.

“The allowable limit for adult exposure to RF radiation in the United States is much higher than it is in many other countries and protects us only against heating,” says Dr. Magda Havas, Associate Professor of Environmental & Resource Studies at Trent University in Canada. “Children are more sensitive than adults to all kinds of environmental exposures yet we use the same high exposure standard for children. This doesn’t make any sense.”

More information at www.GrassrootsInfo.org./cellphones.html

SOURCE Grassroots Environmental Education

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Three nursing students have been selected as winners of the “Back to School” nursing scholarships sponsored by BestNursingDegree.com, a comprehensive education and career resource for current and aspiring nurses.

The scholarships, in the amount of $2,500 each, were created to support nursing education at various levels. Winners were chosen from a pool of over 500 applicants on the strength of their academic and extracurricular records.

Donna Holder, of Pickens, South Carolina, who will be attending Chamberlain College of Nursing, was selected for the RN to BSN scholarship. “Chamberlain College of Nursing is thrilled that BestNursingDegree.com chose to honor nursing student Donna Holder with the ‘Back to School’ scholarship,” said Margaret Lou Wheeler, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, dean of the RN to BSN online degree completion option at Chamberlain College of Nursing. “Chamberlain offers the RN to BSN online degree completion option to aspiring nurses looking to advance their education, and we are proud such a promising student is enrolled in our option.”

Benjamin Hilliard, of Littleton, Colorado, was the recipient of the Accelerated BSN scholarship, and is enrolled in the nursing program at the University of Colorado. “Ben started our baccalaureate nursing degree program as an accelerated student this summer. He is a very bright, enthusiastic and engaged student in the classroom,” said Tammy Spencer, RN, MS, Senior Instructor at the College of Nursing, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.

Tresa Zielinski, of Chicago, Illinois, was awarded a scholarship to pursue her DNP degree at Rush University. “Tresa exemplifies exceptional professionalism through her advocacy at the national level for the advanced practice role… She is a credit to the profession and a role model for those nurses who wish to further their careers and take an active role in shaping the future of nursing practice,” said Beth Bolick, DNP, NP, Interim Chair of Women’s, Children’s and Family Nursing.

The scholarship program was managed by Scholarship America, the country’s largest administrator of private scholarships. BestNursingDegree.com will begin accepting applications for the next round of the “Back to School” nursing scholarships in March 2012.

About BestNursingDegree.com:

BestNursingDegree.com, founded in 2008, is a comprehensive online resource for nursing careers and education. For more information, please visit www.bestnursingdegree.com.

Press Contact:
Jane Dashevsky
617.401.2393
[email protected]

SOURCE BestNursingDegree.com

ROSENBERG, Texas, Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — OCuSOFT, Inc., an ophthalmic research, development, and supply company is pleased to announce that Tears Again® advanced Liposome Spray, an adjunct to OCuSOFT® Lid Scrub(TM) Eyelid Cleansers, is now available nationwide at all CVS drug stores.

Recent reports from the International Workshop on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction* (MGD) demonstrate an improvement of symptoms associated with Evaporative Dry Eye and Stage 2 MGD when a liposome spray, namely Tears Again® advanced Liposome Spray, was added to treatment plans. Compared with hyaluronate eye drops and triglyceride gels, the liposome spray was significantly more effective at reducing lid margin inflammation and improving tear film stability.

Utilizing patented liposome technology to deposit water and lipids as well as vitamins A, C, and E, Tears Again® advanced Liposome Spray provides moisture to soothe and relieve discomfort. Simply spray the cool, refreshing mist onto closed eyelids throughout the day as often as needed.

For a complete eyelid hygiene regimen, use Tears Again® advanced Liposome Spray in conjunction with OCuSOFT® Lid Scrub(TM) Eyelid Cleansers, which are also conveniently available at your local CVS.

For more information, visit www.tearsagainspray.com or call (800) 233-5469.

*Nichols KK, Foulks GN, Bron AJ, Glasgow BJ, Dogru M, Tsubota K, Lemp MA, Sullivan DA. The International Workshop on Meibomian Gland Dysfunction, Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, Special Issue 2011, Vol. 52, No. 4

SOURCE OCuSOFT, Inc.

Subject matter experts from across health care continuum will inform trends and keep online resource evergreen

MOUNT LAUREL, N.J., Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Commission for Case Manager Certification (the Commission) announced the launch of its Case Management Body of Knowledge(TM) (CMBOK(TM)). The online education tool is the first comprehensive, Web-based, peer-reviewed, online case management knowledge resource. To underscore its evergreen value to case managers, the Commission also announced the members of its CMBOK Editorial Advisory Board today. This panel of subject matter experts will inform trends and promote the addition of vital new materials to the CMBOK as the profession advances in today’s rapidly evolving health care landscape.

CMBOK offers the foundational knowledge a professional case manager must possess to work independently and effectively. The CMBOK was written by leading case management experts in an effort to embody both the science and art of case management. Its two years in development represent the Commission’s commitment to excellence and realize the Commission’s vision for the advancement and evolution of case management.

“The CMBOK Editorial Advisory Board represents the diverse health care community, with membership across the health care continuum,” said Patrice Sminkey, RN, the Commission’s chief executive officer. “These dedicated individuals are in touch with the trends and nuances in health care delivery, and will provide the Commission with needed input to help the CMBOK stay in front of the educational needs of case manager with regard to topics such as care coordination, new models of care, health reform and team-based care delivery.”

Members of the CMBOK Editorial Advisory Board named today are

• Christine Bechtel, vice president, National Partnership for Women and Families;
• Jennifer Covich-Bordenick, chief executive officer, eHealth Initiative;
• Laurel Pickering, MPH, executive director, New York Business Group on Health;
• Marissa Schlaifer, R.Ph., MS, pharmacy affairs director, Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy;
• Joanne M. Shear MS, FNP-BC, VACO primary care clinical program manager, Office of Patient Care Services, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; and
• Carrie Valiant, member of the Washington, DC-based firm Epstein Becker & Green, P.C.

To see biographical information about members of the CMBOK Editorial Advisory Board, click here.

The CMBOK is structured along the parameters of the Case Management Knowledge Framework, developed by the Commission to assist all partners in health care quality to identify training needs of professional case managers as they take expanded roles in new models of care. It is the Commission’s belief that the Knowledge Framework, offered to be freely used by the public in April, and the CMBOK itself will inform community health programs, medical practices, hospital programs, and health plans as they develop new products and services designed to effectively coordinate care in a meaningful way. The Knowledge Framework educates the case manager in seven knowledge domains. Within those domains the CMBOK fleshes out 38 sub-domains, more than 350 specific knowledge topics, and nine major phases in the case management process.

Subscribers to the CMBOK who are also board-certified will be able to obtain continuing education credit through the CMBOK and automatically update their personal education records through the Commission’s online CM Dashboard. To find out more, go to http://www.cmbodyofknowledge.com/.

Click here to read the issue brief, “Current, evolving and always available: The Case Management Body of Knowledge.”

For FAQs about the CMBOK, click here.

About the Commission for Case Manager Certification

The Commission for Case Manager Certification is the first and largest nationally accredited organization that certifies more than 30,000 professional case managers. The Commission is a nonprofit, volunteer organization that oversees the process of case manager certification with its CCM® credential. The Commission is positioned as the most active and prestigious certification organization supporting the practice of case management. For more information, visit www.ccmcertification.org, connect with CCMC on Facebook or follow us on Twitter @CCM_Cert.

SOURCE Commission for Case Manager Certification

COLUMBIA, S.C., Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Companion Life Insurance Co., which offers affordable and quality dental insurance to employer groups nationwide, has implemented a program to provide additional peace of mind to its dental policyholders who travel.

Effective immediately, all of Companion Life’s dental insureds whose coverage is insured and administered by Companion Life are entitled to the emergency assistance services offered by Assist America Inc. if they become ill or injured while traveling 100 miles or more away from home, or in another country. Policyholders are automatically enrolled at no extra charge, and coverage is in effect during personal and business travel.

Assist America’s services include medical referral and monitoring, emergency medical evacuation, repatriation, hospital admission guarantee, prescription assistance, child care arrangements, companion transport and more.

Companion Life President Trescott N. Hinton Jr. said Companion Life is the first national dental carrier to team with Assist America. He said emergency assistance coverage is sometimes a value-added component of life and health insurance, but is not normally included in dental coverage.

“We are pleased to provide this coverage to our dental customers at no additional cost,” Hinton said. “Assist America is known for outstanding customer service and its commitment to respond quickly when a policyholder has a medical emergency. In an emergency, Assist America is there with an array of services, whether it’s replacing a lost or forgotten prescription, locating a hospital or physician, arranging travel, or even arranging child care for a sick or injured policyholder who is away from home.”

In addition to Assist America’s services, Companion Life’s dental insureds also receive a hearing services plan and vision care discounts at no additional charge.

“Companion Life is a trusted name in the insurance industry, and they share the same belief as Assist America – that customer expectations should be met and exceeded in every way,” said Stephanie Croquez, Assist America’s vice president of business development. “Assist America’s services are a valuable and robust enhancement to their wide range of insurance offerings.”

About Companion Life
Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., Companion Life Insurance Co. (www.CompanionLife.com) has specialized in employee benefits since 1971. The company markets life, dental, disability, accident and specialty health insurance products through a network of independent agents and brokers, general agents, and managing general underwriters. Companion Life is licensed in 45 states and the District of Columbia. It holds an A.M. Best Rating of A+ (Superior).

About Assist America
Founded in 1990, Assist America Inc. is the world’s largest provider of global emergency assistance services in partnership with employee benefit plans. Its worldwide network of professionals responds quickly to any eligible member who becomes medically compromised while traveling away from home. The company, headquartered in Princeton, N.J., serves more than 30 million members and more than 300,000 enterprises through programs from the world’s most prominent group benefit providers. For more information, visit www.AssistAmerica.com.

SOURCE Companion Life Insurance Co.

BODEGA BAY, Calif., Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Wellness should be a way of life, sown and grown as tenderly and conscientiously as the most delicate of gardens. That’s why Nozomu (Nez) Tokugawa and Donna Tokugawa, co-founders of Chado-En (http://www.chadoen.com), have been planting the roots for the non-profit The Wellness Gardens (http://www.thewellnessgardens.org) along with a new partner, Ceres Community Project (http://www.ceresproject.org).

As importers of fine Asian teas, Chado-En has always followed a broader mission to spur and sustain healing, wellbeing and peace. Likewise, Ceres Community Project, an award-winning nonprofit based in California’s Sonoma Valley, works tirelessly to restore local, organic whole food to its place as “the foundation” of health for people, communities and the planet.

“Similar to our collaboration with Second Harvest Japan, which has been providing food and aid in Japan since 2000, this alliance with Ceres Community Project is a natural fit,” says Nez Tokugawa. “Chado-En strives to fulfill a mission that’s committed to rejuvenation and restoration of the body, mind and spirit. As both a new Ceres board member and founder of The Wellness Gardens, I’ll be pursuing Chado-En’s goals, helping cultivate a harmonious, healing project. We invite the community to support this endeavor.”

The scapes and features of The Wellness Gardens, which will be installed in a repurposed building in Sebastopol, will not only be beautiful to view, but also planned with specific healing outcomes that complement Ceres’ goals. The Wellness Gardens will support individuals battling cancer and other life-threatening illnesses; raise awareness about alternative therapies; host events/classes dedicated to good health, wellbeing and sustainable communities; and empower teens with healthy, lifelong habits and skills.

“The Wellness Gardens has become a perfect project for Ceres to undertake, and we’re excited to be the new home for the gardens, and also incorporate this program into our organization’s very fabric,” says Cathryn Couch, Ceres’ executive director. “It’s an exciting opportunity to say the least.”

Rev. Koichi Barrish (http://www.tsubakishrine.org), a senior Shinto priest who is the first non-Japanese Shinto priest in the world, will lead The Wellness Gardens’ community purification ceremony and blessing at 11 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 27 at 7351 Bodega Highway, Sebastopol, Calif. A private reception, talk and blessing ceremony will take place Friday evening, Aug. 26. For details about either event, contact [email protected] or 707-829-5833×4.

About The Wellness Gardens

A California 501(c)3, The Wellness Gardens promotes healing and wellbeing through specially designed garden retreats, education on the healing influences of garden environments and horticulture therapy, psychosocial support for cancer survivors, events raising awareness of alternative therapies and provision of facilities to others promoting good health. Donations may be sent to PO Box 5, Bodega Bay CA 94923.

Contact:

Donna Tokugawa
The Wellness Gardens
707-875-9370
[email protected]

This press release was issued through eReleases(R). For more information, visit eReleases Press Release Distribution at http://www.ereleases.com.

SOURCE The Wellness Gardens

WASHINGTON, Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Workers’ compensation benefits for Washington workers injured on the job increased by 5.4 percent to $2.3 billion in 2009, according to a study released today by the National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI). The number of covered workers in Washington fell to 2.7 million in 2009 (the most recent year with complete data), a 4.3 percent drop from the previous year, due in large part to the economic downturn.

Workers’ compensation benefits for medical care in Washington increased by 1.1 percent to $0.8 billion and cash benefits increased by 7.9 percent to $1.5 billion in 2009. Spending on medical care in Washington constituted 35 percent of total benefits.

Nationally, workers’ compensation benefits increased 0.4 percent to $58.3 billion. This change included both a 1.1 percent decrease in medical benefits and 1.9 percent increase in cash benefits. Employment of covered workers fell by 4.4 percent, while employer costs declined by 7.6 percent; both numbers represent the biggest percentage declines in over 20 years.

The new report, Workers’ Compensation: Benefits, Coverage and Costs, 2009, is the fourteenth in the series which provides the only comprehensive data on workers’ compensation benefits for the nation, the states, the District of Columbia, and federal programs.

       Workers' Compensation Benefits and Coverage
                          2009
                       WASHINGTON
                                          Change In
      Aggregate Amounts            2009     Percent
      Covered workers (in
       millions)                    2.7        -4.3
      Covered wages (in
       billions)                   $127        -2.5
      Workers' compensation
       benefits paid (in
       billions)                   $2.3         5.4
          Medical benefits          0.8         1.1
          Cash benefits             1.5         7.9
      Medical benefits share         35%          -
                     UNITED STATES
     Covered workers (in
      millions)                   124.9        -4.4
     Covered wages (in
      billions)                  $5,675        -4.7
     Workers' compensation
      benefits paid (in
      billions)                   $58.3         0.4
         Medical benefits          28.9        -1.1
         Cash benefits             29.4         1.9
     Employer costs               $73.9        -7.6

The National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI) is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization made up of the nation’s leading experts on social insurance. Its mission is to promote understanding of how social insurance contributes to economic security and a vibrant economy.

SOURCE The National Academy of Social Insurance