CHICAGO , Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Center for Health Value Innovation (CHVI), the nation’s leading organization devoted to health improvement through action, innovation and cost containment, announced the speakers and agenda for its Annual Meeting and Innovation Summit being held November 14 at the Renaissance Chicago Hotel. The meeting is co-located with the AHIP Annual Fall Forum and will feature a discussion on population health management. Presentation partner Mayo Clinic and the Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation will be highlighting emerging technologies, solutions for aging and family health records (in partnership with Dossia).

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110615/DC20388LOGO)

“We are building on our mission of bringing innovative ideas from leading visionaries to help employers improve the value of their benefits investments and health of their employees,” said Cyndy Nayer, CHVI president, CEO and co-founder. “Our meeting will also include updates on the development of CHVI programs to help purchasers build accountability and engagement, including Outcomes-Based Contracting(TM) and the early results from the deployment of our Health Value Accelerator(TM).”

Participating speaker faculty includes:

• Marcia Bondi, Director, New Product Implementation, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield
• Wayne Burton, MD, Chief Medical Officer, American Express Corporation
• Joycelyn Elders, MD, former U.S. Surgeon General
• Thomas Ferraro, Senior Director, Corporate Accounts, Mayo Clinic
• Tami Graham, Director, Global Benefits Design, Intel
• Peter Hayes, Principal, Health Solutions Partners and Secretary, Center for Health Value Innovation
• David Hoke, Manager, Global Health and Well-Being, Yum! Brands
• Cindy Johnson, Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Group Health Cooperative
• Robert Kritzler, MD, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Johns Hopkins HealthCare
• Jack Mahoney, MD, MPH, Co-founder & Chief Medical Officer, Center for Health Value Innovation
• Michael Matly, MD, Director, Business Development, Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation
• Steve Munini, Chief Operating Officer, Dossia
• Brent Pawlecki, MD, MMM, Chief Health Officer, The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company
• Dena Pflieger, Consumer Engagement Project Leader, Michigan Health Information Alliance
• Jerry Reeves, MD, Director, Community Health Innovation, Center for Health Value Innovation
• Bruce Sherman, MD, Medical Director, Center for Health Value Innovation
• Michael Taylor, MD, Chairman, Center for Health Value Innovation
• Ron Whiting, Executive Director, Wichita Business Coalition on Health Care

Additional details and registration information for the Annual Meeting and Innovation Summit can be found here.

About the Health Value Accelerator(TM)

CHVI’s Health Value Accelerator, is an easy-to-use online tool that prioritizes the redistribution of benefits and resources for better engagement and accountability in care. The Accelerator addresses key health care issues that drive higher health cost and allows health care purchasers to create personalized, actionable reports founded on value-based benefit design, changing the contracting mechanisms focused on the end goal of improved health.

About the Center for Health Value Innovation (CHVI)

CHVI (501c3) is focused on the relentless pursuit of innovation in benefit designs that improve engagement, accelerate accountability and create a predictable health cost trend. CHVI members represent over 60 million lives from all market segments in the health value supply chain, sharing the evidence of improved health and economic outcomes through value-based designs, including the Outcomes-Based Contracting(TM) platform for accelerating meaningful change. The Center for Health Value Innovation’s goal is to improve the health of people, organizations and communities throughout the U.S. www.vbhealth.org

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link. https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=103281

SOURCE Center for Health Value Innovation

Regular exercise could help prevent brain damage associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, according to research published this month in Elsevier’s journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.

“Exercise allows the brain to rapidly produce chemicals that prevent damaging inflammation”, said Professor Jean Harry, who led the study at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in the United States. “This could help us develop a therapeutic approach for early intervention in preventing damage to the brain.”

Previous research has already demonstrated that exercise after brain injury can help the repair mechanisms. This new study shows that exercise before the onset of damage modifies the brain environment in such a way that the neurons are protected from severe insults. The study used an experimental model of brain damage, in which mice are exposed to a chemical that destroys the hippocampus, an area of the brain which controls learning and memory. Mice that were exercised regularly prior to exposure produced an immune messenger called interleukin-6 in the brain, which dampens the harmful inflammatory response to this damage, and prevents the loss of function that is usually observed.

Pharmacological therapies to downregulate inflammation and address cognitive decline in older adults, and those with Alzheimer’s disease, have been less successful. This research helps understand how exercise could be used to affect the path of many human conditions, such as neurodevelopmental disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, as a chemical model of neuronal damage was used, it also raises the possibility that exercise could offer protection against the potentially harmful effects of environmental toxins.

“This elegant series of experiments reveals an alternative pathway by which voluntary physical exercise may protect hippocampal neurons”, said Dr. Ruth Barrientos from the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at the University of Colorado. “The study on the role of exercise as a therapeutic intervention will undoubtedly get a workout in the years to come. Perhaps the greatest challenge with this line of research will not be more discoveries of compelling evidence of the anti-neuroinflammatory effects of exercise, but instead, getting humans to exercise voluntarily and regularly.”

—

On the Net:

• Elsevier
• Brain, Behavior, and Immunity

DES MOINES, Iowa, Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Palisade Systems, the leader in Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions for mid-size businesses, announced today PacketSure SaaS DLP, a comprehensive, low-cost Software as a Service (SaaS) solution. PacketSure SaaS DLP offers complete DLP functionality to end-users of all sizes and industries and is available exclusively through Managed Service Providers (MSPs). PacketSure SaaS DLP is the first product offering of the Palisade MSP Partner Program, which was also announced today.

All healthcare and financial services firms are held to the same regulatory compliance issues, regardless of size or available resources. To make full DLP more accessible to a broader market, Palisade has delivered PacketSure SaaS DLP, providing virtual images of their full PacketSure DLP solution available for MSPs to turn on in their data centers for client use.

“We have numerous customers who handle sensitive data, yet don’t have the budget or resources to implement and manage DLP solutions,” explained Brian Winchester, CEO of Reach Networks, a leading MSP. “We knew of PacketSure DLP from another client and understood how easy it was to deploy, customize and maintain, so when we were able to provide it as a SaaS solution, we jumped at the opportunity to offer it to our clients.”

With PacketSure SaaS DLP, MSPs can offer complete DLP functionality to users of all sizes and industries who want to protect sensitive data and avoid potential data breaches, and meet personally identifiable information (PII), personal health information (PHI), and personal financial information (PFI) requirements of HIPAA/HITECH, SOX, GLBA, PCI DSS and other data regulations.

“Smaller companies need to protect sensitive client and patient data, yet many lack the resources to do so,” explained Spencer Snedecor, CEO of Palisade Systems. “With PacketSure SaaS DLP, these businesses can cost-effectively avoid data breaches and costly fines and confidently protect their data.”

Partner Webinar

Palisade is presenting a webinar on how you can “Capture DLP Growth with Palisade” by becoming a Palisade Partner. Listen to DLP leaders explain the status of the DLP market and how you can leverage this growth for your business. Register Now

About Palisade Systems

Palisade Systems, Inc. is an industry leader in the Data Loss Prevention (DLP) market. Focused on delivering solutions for mid-size and small businesses, Palisade’s patented DLP product, PacketSure, helps healthcare and financial organizations proactively secure sensitive and proprietary intellectual property from leaving data networks, defines and enforces access to internal network resources, and enforces compliance with federal privacy and industry security regulations such as HIPAA/HITECH, PCI DSS, SOX and GLBA. Visit http://palisadesystems.com or call 1.888.824.0720.

Palisade Systems, Palisade, the Palisade Logo and PacketSure are trademarks of Palisade Systems, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their registered owners.

SOURCE Palisade Systems

MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — James S. Krause, Ph.D., a Wadena Minnesota native, is the 2011 recipient of the Medtronic National Courage Award presented by Courage Center. Dr. Krause, a professor and associate dean for Research in the College of Health Professions at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in Charleston, is a leading national expert and researcher who specializes in health and longevity following a spinal cord injury.

The award is especially meaningful to Dr. Krause, who has a spinal cord injury at the C4-5 level. From 1976-79, he was a patient at Courage Center’s Transitional Rehabilitation Program (TRP), known then as Courage Residence. A three-year inpatient stay at Courage Center was common during in the 1970s and 1980s. Today, the average length of stay for someone with a spinal cord injury is 99 days.

“With numerous medical rehabilitation and assistive technological advancements in the past 25 years, our client’s length of stay in the TRP has been dramatically reduced,” said Martha Swenson, senior director, Transitional Rehabilitation Program. “Our program continues to be based on a holistic approach to rehabilitation with the belief that our clients can realize their full potential in every aspect of life.”

After leaving Courage Center, Dr. Krause received his B.A. degree in 1980 and his Ph.D. in 1990 from the Dept. of Psychology at the University of Minnesota. He worked at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, a nationally known rehabilitation facility, for 13 years. His career includes numerous published articles in professional journals, as well as numerous awards. In 2008, Dr. Krause was inducted into the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Hall of Fame by the National SCI Association for his research in quality of life.

“I am truly honored beyond anything that can easily be put into words,” said Dr. Krause upon learning of his award. “I was a Courage Center inpatient for more than three years and certainly would not have been able to accomplish nearly as much as I have without the benefit of the services I received there. It gave me a foundation from which to build. The friendships I developed there have lasted. Receiving this award will help me continue my work and to positively impact the lives of people with disabilities.”

The Medtronic National Courage Award, presented annually by Courage Center and the Medtronic Foundation, recognizes an individual’s outstanding contributions to the health, welfare and rehabilitation of people with disabilities. This year’s award will be presented during the annual Celebration of Courage on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2011, at Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center, Minn. Click here for a list of former National Courage Award recipients.

About Courage Center

Courage Center is a nonprofit rehabilitation and resource center that advances the lives of children and adults experiencing barriers to health and independence. At Courage Center, we specialize in treating brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, chronic pain, autism, and disabilities experienced since birth. Founded in 1928, Minneapolis-based Courage Center offers advanced technologies and innovation provided in part through the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors. For more information, visit www.CourageCenter.org.

                      Jacob Johnson, 763-520-0365,
    Contact:          [email protected]
                      Sue Warner, Courage Center, 763-520-0263;
                      [email protected]

SOURCE Courage Center

NEW YORK, Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — KPS Capital Partners, LP (“KPS”) announced today that it signed a definitive agreement to sell its portfolio company, Attends Healthcare, Inc. (“Attends” or the “Company”), to Domtar Corporation (NYSE: UFS) (TSX: UFS) for $315 million in cash.

Raquel Palmer, a Partner of KPS, stated, “During our ownership, Attends completed a stunning turnaround and has achieved significant revenue growth year after year. We are proud to be the catalyst for the transformation of Attends, which has resulted in the Company’s acquisition by a leading strategic buyer. We congratulate and thank Michael Fagan, Attends’ Chief Executive Officer, and his management team for their strategic vision and brilliant tactical execution. The enormous value created for our investors since we formed the Company in 2007 is the result of their collective effort.”

Michael Fagan, Chief Executive Officer of Attends, added, “KPS was the only investor to recognize the potential value of our business four years ago. Working in partnership with KPS, we quickly executed a remarkable turnaround that formed the foundation for our significant growth. We are very grateful to KPS for its leadership and its commitment to growing our business, which included funding the modernization of our manufacturing platform. We are thrilled to join Domtar, which has the material resources, access to capital and global reach that will enable Attends to reach another level of success.”

Completion of the transaction, which is expected during the third quarter, is subject to customary closing conditions.

Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison LLP served as legal counsel to KPS with respect to the transaction.

About Attends Healthcare, Inc.

Attends Healthcare, Inc. is a leading manufacturer and distributor of a complete line of adult incontinence products for the North American marketplace that are sold primarily under the Attends® brand name. Attends Healthcare primarily serves the non-retail sectors with a focus on the acute care, long-term care, and rapidly growing home healthcare sectors. With over 300 employees, Attends is headquartered in Greenville, NC. For more information please visit www.attends.com.

About KPS Capital Partners, LP

KPS Capital Partners, LP is the manager of the KPS Special Situations Funds, a family of private equity funds with over $2.9 billion of assets under management focused on constructive investing in restructurings, turnarounds and other special situations. KPS has created new companies to purchase operating assets out of bankruptcy; established stand-alone entities to operate divested assets; and recapitalized highly leveraged public and private companies. The KPS investment strategy targets companies with strong franchises that are experiencing operating and financial problems. KPS invests its capital concurrently with a turnaround plan predicated on cost reduction, capital investment and capital availability. Typically, the KPS turnaround plan is accompanied by a financial restructuring of the company’s liabilities. The KPS investment strategy and portfolio companies are described in detail at the firm’s website: www.kpsfund.com.

SOURCE KPS Capital Partners, LP

NASHVILLE, Tenn., Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Emdeon Inc. (NYSE: EM), a leading provider of healthcare revenue and payment cycle management and clinical information exchange solutions, today announced its support for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA’s) quicker-to-market option for electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS).

On June 1, 2010, prescribers became legally allowed to electronically transmit controlled substance prescriptions to the pharmacy of a patient’s choice, and pharmacies were allowed to electronically receive these prescriptions so long as certain required security measures were in place. Over a year after the DEA Interim Final Rule (IFR) enabling EPCS became effective, the healthcare industry still has not completed implementation of the electronic prescribing software systems necessary to transmit controlled substance prescriptions pursuant to the IFR. Emdeon believes many of the challenges faced by prescribers and pharmacies may be addressed expeditiously through an option that is currently offered within the IFR.

The DEA gave two options in the IFR to allow for EPCS between prescribers and pharmacies. One option, which has been referred to in the industry as “Option 1,” entails end-to-end public key infrastructure where the prescription is digitally signed with the prescriber’s digital certificate and that signature is verified by the pharmacy using the prescriber’s public key. Option 1 requires a coordination of effort between prescriber and pharmacy to capture, transmit, receive, validate and store the digital signature assigned to each prescription. Because the technology requirements related to Option 1 are complex and standards continue to be developed, the required software upgrades may be delayed behind other regulatory compliance initiatives for many pharmacies.

The other DEA-allowable option, which has been referred to in the industry as “Option 2,” requires the transmission of a flag from the prescriber to the pharmacy indicating that a controlled substance prescription has been sent by a DEA-certified prescriber using a two-factor authentication method. The digital signature is validated, captured and stored, all by the prescriber, but not transmitted to the pharmacy. This option requires the pharmacy or last intermediary to digitally sign the transaction as received to verify that the data has not been modified after receipt. Option 2 utilizes currently available software and industry standard transaction data to confirm the authenticity of the transmission resulting in easier compliance with the IFR.

“While Emdeon supports both options, in an effort to speed the implementation of EPCS, we broadly support Option 2 as an initial phase of implementation,” said Mark Lyle, senior vice president of pharmacy services for Emdeon. “We believe that Option 2 will enable prescribers and pharmacies to adopt EPCS more quickly and still meet the requirements of the IFR.”

As the only ePrescribing network with market-based experience in transmitting EPCS, Emdeon through its eRx Network is already demonstrating the achievability of EPCS and its potential impact on healthcare. Emdeon is participating in a multi-year research project with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MDPH), DrFirst and several other leading industry providers to support this project for EPCS.

“Prescribers and pharmacies are excited about closing the loop on ePrescribing by implementing EPCS,” said Peter Kaufman, chief medical officer for DrFirst. “We support the industry’s efforts in promoting this quick-to-market option to allow broader adoption of ePrescribing.”

Emdeon’s secure and interoperable network is the largest financial and administrative healthcare information exchange in the nation. Clinical exchange volumes among Emdeon’s suite of solutions are increasing with a current annual run rate of 100 million ePrescriptions and 30 million clinical messages per year. In total, Emdeon currently facilitates over 5 billion healthcare information exchanges each year through its network which reaches approximately 500,000 physicians, 81,000 dentists, 60,000 pharmacies, 5,000 hospitals and 1,200 payers.

About Emdeon

Emdeon is a leading provider of revenue and payment cycle management and clinical information exchange solutions, connecting payers, providers and patients in the U.S. healthcare system. Emdeon’s product and service offerings integrate and automate key business and administrative functions of its payer and provider customers throughout the patient encounter. Through the use of Emdeon’s comprehensive suite of products and services, which are designed to easily integrate with existing technology infrastructures, customers are able to improve efficiency, reduce costs, increase cash flow and more efficiently manage the complex revenue and payment cycle and clinical information exchange processes. For more information, visit www.emdeon.com.

SOURCE Emdeon Inc.

HARTFORD, Conn., Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Aetna (NYSE: AET) and CareCentrix announced today that Aetna has named CareCentrix as its preferred provider of home health care services to its 1.2 million members in Florida. Aetna has also contracted with CareCentrix to provide its members with access to a program focused on assisting them with transitioning from hospital care to home care, and consequently reducing the rising rate of hospital readmissions.

CareCentrix, the nation’s leading provider of home health benefits management services, will work directly with Aetna’s providers in Florida to coordinate home health care needs, consisting of skilled nursing, physical, occupational and speech therapy, aide services and medical social work services. Aetna’s members also will have access to CareCentrix’s Successful Transition And Recovery in the home program (HomeSTAR)(TM). This program offers specialized nursing support, telephonic coaching and telemonitoring to help patients safely transition from the hospital to their home. HomeSTAR has proven to reduce the number of people being readmitted to the hospital, which recent studies estimate to be as high as one in five nationally. Some exclusions will apply.

“Aetna is very pleased to announce this affiliation with CareCentrix,” said Dr. Robert Kropp, Aetna’s Southeast Region medical director. “People are living longer today, and they are more likely to need home health care services at some point. CareCentrix will help assure that our Florida members receive access to high-quality home care, while improving quality by reducing patients’ risk for readmission.”

“We are excited to collaborate with one of the nation’s leading health care benefits companies to promote affordable access to health care and combat the rising problem of people being readmitted to the hospital,” said Dr. William Kerr, chief medical officer, CareCentrix. “Our HomeSTAR program is built upon industry best practices that, coupled with our home health care expertise, is reducing hospital readmissions and enabling people to successfully recover at home. We believe home health care can play a leading role in helping Aetna’s members achieve better health outcomes at an improved cost.”

About Aetna

Aetna is one of the nation’s leading diversified health care benefits companies, serving approximately 36.5 million people with information and resources to help them make better informed decisions about their health care. Aetna offers a broad range of traditional, voluntary and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services, including medical, pharmacy, dental, behavioral health, group life and disability plans, and medical management capabilities and health care management services for Medicaid plans. Our customers include employer groups, individuals, college students, part-time and hourly workers, health plans, governmental units, government-sponsored plans, labor groups and expatriates. For more information, see www.aetna.com.

About CareCentrix

Founded in 1996, CareCentrix manages home nursing, infusion and medical equipment services for more than 30 million people across the country through a network of over 7,000 credentialed home care providers. The company provides health care plans and providers with a one-stop solution that coordinates care for patients in the home including skilled nursing services, durable medical equipment and home infusion drug therapies. CareCentrix recently introduced a program, HomeSTAR(TM), that will help payers and providers reduce the rising rate of hospital readmissions. The company has secured contracts with leading health plans that have increased its contracted revenue from $300 million in 2008 to approximately $750 million in 2011. CareCentrix is headquartered in East Hartford, Connecticut, and has operations in Melville, New York; Phoenix, Arizona; Tampa, Florida; Albuquerque, New Mexico and Overland Park, Kansas. CareCentrix is a company of Water Street Healthcare Partners, a strategic private equity firm focused exclusively on health care. For more information about CareCentrix visit www.carecentrix.com.

SOURCE CareCentrix

WESTWOOD, Mass., Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — One year ago this September, an eight-year-old boy with autism wandered into the ocean in Quincy, Massachusetts and was fortunately rescued from the sea in only 14 minutes–thanks to the valiant efforts of local police and his SafetyNet by LoJack tracking bracelet. In an effort to provide this type of valuable protection to others at risk of wandering and as part of the celebration of its 25th anniversary, LoJack® Corporation (NASDAQ: LOJN) and its wholly-owned subsidiary LoJack SafetyNet(TM), Inc. are offering 1,500 free SafetyNet devices for a limited time in the greater Boston, Miami and Philadelphia markets. The initiative, called “SafetyNet Race to Keep Safe,” is valid only from August 15 – September 30, 2011 or while supplies last–hence the “race” to keep safe those in danger of wandering.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080512/NEM054LOGO )

The device is just one element of the SafetyNet Service, which helps caregivers provide an added layer of protection for loved ones with autism or Alzheimer’s who are prone to the dangerous habit of wandering. The “SafetyNet Race to Keep Safe” initiative includes a SafetyNet Bracelet, batteries and straps along with instructions and information on the SafetyNet Service, all shipped at no cost. The enrollment and monthly fees are waived, allowing families to experience the service without any financial commitment for a full six months. There is no obligation to continue the service once the six-month period has ended.

“As part of our 25th anniversary celebration, LoJack Corporation and LoJack SafetyNet are giving back in a variety of ways to each of their audiences. We felt that the best way to show our appreciation and commitment to the autism and Alzheimer’s communities was to provide some comfort for families who live with the ever-present fear that their loved one might wander and not return,” said Kathy Kelleher, Vice President, LoJack SafetyNet. “Our hope is that this offer will encourage people to try this valuable service, which in turn could offer protection to those at risk of wandering and much-needed peace of mind to caregivers.”

To receive a free SafetyNet device, caregivers should go to www.safetynetbylojack.com and fill out a simple online form that includes information about the client, which will be entered into a secure database that will be used to assist in search and rescue. Within 7-10 business days, caregivers will receive the bracelet that is worn by the person at risk typically on their wrist or ankle. “SafetyNet Race to Keep Safe” also includes access to LoJack SafetyNet’s 24×7 emergency caregiver support.

How the SafetyNet Service Works

The SafetyNet Bracelet constantly emits a Radio Frequency signal. Radio Frequency is the technology of choice because, unlike cellular and GPS technology, its signal doesn’t rely on cellular networks or satellite signals and can often be tracked when a client wanders into a shallow body of water, a densely wooded area, a concrete structure such as a garage, or a building constructed with steel.

SafetyNet Search and Rescue Receivers are used by public safety agencies and can detect the Radio Frequency signal emitted from the SafetyNet Bracelet typically within a range of approximately one mile in on-the-ground searches and 5-7 miles in searches by helicopter.

SafetyNet personnel provides certified training for public safety agencies that focuses on the use of its specialized electronic equipment, its technology and procedures, and on how to effectively communicate with and approach individuals who have cognitive conditions. The information that has been provided by the caregiver and stored in SafetyNet’s secure database gives the search and rescue team insight into the individual’s personal habits and how he or she should be approached, spoken to and comforted.

More Information

To see if the SafetyNet Service is available in your area and/or to receive a free SafetyNet device, please go to www.safetynetbylojack.com. For more information about the SafetyNet Service, please call (877) 4-FIND-THEM (877-434-6384) or visit www.safetynetbylojack.com.

About LoJack Corporation

LoJack Corporation, the company that invented the stolen vehicle recovery market more than two decades ago, is the global leader in finding and recovering a wide range of mobile assets including cars, construction equipment and motorcycles–having recovered nearly $4 billion USD in stolen assets worldwide. In today’s rapidly changing world, LoJack’s core competencies are more valuable and more relevant than ever as they are now being applied into new areas, such as the prevention, detection and recovery of stolen cargo and finding and rescuing people with cognitive conditions such as autism and Alzheimer’s. For more information, visit http://www.lojack.com, http://twitter.com/SafetyNetSource or www.Facebook.com/LoJackSafetyNet.

LoJack is a registered trademark of LoJack Corporation and SafetyNet is a trademark of LoJack SafetyNet, Inc.

    CONTACT:
    Jeremy
     Warnick      Jeanne Bock    Laura Feng
                   Tier One
    LoJack Corp.   Partners      Tier One Partners
    617-640-6601  781-861-5249   978-975-1414

SOURCE LoJack Corporation

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The leading website about lowering cholesterol naturally, All-About-Lowering-Cholesterol.com (http://www.all-about-lowering-cholesterol.com), unequivocally recommends that all patients with high cholesterol educate themselves on natural methods for lowering cholesterol, before they ever think of using any statin drug.

This education becomes even more important now, since there are voices recommending that some statin drugs may be available over-the-counter (OTC), despite observed statin side effects.

There are half a dozen ways to lower cholesterol without drugs. One can change their diet, exercise more, give up smoking, lose weight, reduce alcohol consumption or use natural supplements that lower cholesterol.

There are proven supplements that lower cholesterol naturally like red yeast rice, garlic, flaxseed and guggul. The founder of the website, Artin Vaqari, has experienced himself the cholesterol-lowering effects of such natural supplements. At the beginning of this year he lowered his cholesterol by 58 points in 2 months by using natural supplements.

“It is going to be very helpful if drug companies work to educate patients that have high cholesterol, rather than just asking them to take statin drugs,” he said. “While some people may really need cholesterol lowering drugs, in many cases it may not be necessary since a patient may not have that high cholesterol levels, or simple changes in lifestyles as mentioned above may bring cholesterol under control.”

Education is key.

“With such education, patients with high cholesterol will be able to determine for themselves whether to take cholesterol lowering drugs or not. As a matter of fact, drugs have their own place to lower cholesterol, but a patient may need to take a drug only after exhausting natural alternatives first. If that is not successful, then a patient may carefully and with the advice of a doctor start a regime of drugs and also be alert for potential side effects,” he said.

Find out firsthand about statin side effects at http://www.all-about-lowering-cholesterol.com/lipitor-side-effects.html, including comments from people who actually suffered such side effects. The site also shows alternatives for lowering cholesterol naturally. Once at the website, visitors can get a digital copy of the web’s most downloaded cholesterol report, Cholesterol Lowering Secrets.

About All-About-Lowering-Cholesterol.com

http://www.all-about-lowering-cholesterol.com is the leading website about lowering cholesterol naturally, which is visited by more than 1 million visitors a year. The website provides comprehensive information regarding cholesterol, cholesterol drugs, supplements, triglycerides, etc. Visit the website for more information or email [email protected]

Contact:

Artin Vaqari
[email protected]
+60122201480

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

SOURCE All-About-Lowering-Cholesterol.com

CHICAGO, Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The most complete workers’ compensation medical fee database has hit the State of Wisconsin. “ClearChoice-Wisconsin,” developed by medical cost containment company Rising Medical Solutions, is one of just a select few certified database services in the State. ClearChoice-Wisconsin has four Facility and Non-Facility certifications, making it the most comprehensive of all certified database options.

In the nation, Wisconsin has among the highest workers’ compensation medical reimbursement rates per procedure. With no published medical fee schedule and an employee’s choice of medical provider, options are limited in Wisconsin when it comes to medical cost containment. So the State’s approval of ClearChoice-Wisconsin is good news for Payers looking for enhanced savings.

“ClearChoice-Wisconsin addresses the largest number of medical fee codes in the State, which gives our Wisconsin customers access to the most discounts available,” says Dan Trahan, COO of Rising Medical Solutions.

ClearChoice-Wisconsin is retroactive to July 1, 2011 dates of service and it is available through Rising’s medical bill review program or as a standalone offering.

About Rising Medical Solutions Inc.

Rising Medical Solutions is a national medical-financial solutions firm that provides medical bill review, hospital bill review and medical cost containment services to the workers’ compensation, auto, liability, and group health markets. Inc. magazine and the Private Company Index (PCI) rank the Chicago-based company as one of the fastest growing private enterprises in America.

Media Contact
Leslie Yeransian / 617.733.1225, [email protected]

SOURCE Rising Medical Solutions Inc.

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Highmark Caring Place introduced Children’s Grief Awareness Day three years ago to help raise awareness of the impact of death on children and need to support children who are grieving the death. In 2010 the event grew to become a national observance. This year’s event, set for Thursday, Nov. 17, will become international through the introduction of a new element to the annual observance day, the “Holding on to HOPE” butterfly campaign.

“We are excited about the ‘HOPE’ campaign since it provides a creative and easy way for people across the nation and worldwide to let grieving children know they’re not alone and that we as individuals and as a nation support them,” said Terese Vorsheck, director of the Highmark Caring Place. “We invite individuals, businesses and organizations who care about children and families to join our movement to raise awareness of the needs of these children and families.”

Participants can add their voice, their photo and location to their messages of hope to show grieving children everywhere that they are not alone. The campaign hopes to secure as many photographs of as many people in as many places possible with HOPE.

“Through the use of a variety of different social media tools such as e-mail, Facebook and Twitter, participants can pass hope on electronically to colleagues, friends and family everywhere,” said Vorsheck. “Holding on to HOPE has taken flight, and the more people who know about our butterfly campaign, the more hope can find its way into the lives of grieving children,” said Vorsheck.

For more information about how to become involved in the “Holding on to HOPE” campaign, visit www.highmarkcaringplace.com and click on the Children’s Grief Awareness Day tab.

The Highmark Caring Place provides peer support groups, referral services, adult telephone support and educational programs and resources for grieving children and families in four Pennsylvania facilities. For those in need of grief support materials who live outside Pennsylvania, a variety of online tools and materials are available free of charge.

The Caring Place is a signature partner of Highmark Healthy High 5, an initiative of the Highmark Foundation. In addition, the Caring Place is supported by community contributions. For more information, call 1-866-212-HOPE (4673).

SOURCE Highmark Caring Place

ZUG, Switzerland and ZURICH, Aug. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — SmartGene, a provider of innovative software services for the management and analysis of genetic data, and the Institute of Medical Microbiology (“IMM”), University of Zurich, Switzerland, today announced an expanded collaboration, under which the University of Zurich will make use of the SmartGene platform and its associated reference databases to validate and provide ongoing back-up for mass spectrometry analysis, for the identification of infectious pathogens in diagnostic routine procedures.

The parties already enjoy a long-standing relationship, under which SmartGene’s advanced technology and integrated Web-based services are used by the IMM for the analysis and identification of bacterial, fungal and mycobacterial pathogens by sequence analysis. The IMM is one of Europe’s leading centers of expertise for molecular and conventional diagnostic microbiology and serves as a national and international reference laboratory. Experts at IMM conduct various research projects and also curate an ITS sequence reference database for identifying yeasts and molds, which is available to other institutions via SmartGene’s service platform.

Clinical microbiology is undergoing a paradigm shift, whereby novel technologies such as mass spectrometry will partially replace conventional culture-based methods for identification of bacterial pathogens. The introduction of mass spectrometry technology promises a shorter turn-around time for results, along with reduced labor and consumable expense per test. However, earlier studies suggest that mass spectrometry may partly not be sufficiently discriminatory, for which case sequence-based identification will serve as back-up and gold standard. The IMM plans to work out an optimized workflow for the routine clinical laboratory, hence taking advantage of its long-standing expertise in sequence-based identification.

Erik C. Boettger, MD, Professor of Medicine and Microbiology, and the Director and Chairman of the Institute of Medical Microbiology at the University of Zurich, stated that: “Our institution has a long term expertise in implementing new technologies in the diagnostic laboratory, and we have always paid attention to carefully optimizing the work flow. We will now evaluate how mass spec technologies and sequence-based identifications can work together in our laboratory, for best accuracy and efficiency in supporting patient care. With mass spec platforms holding the promise of rapid identification of microorganisms, it is critical for the quality of our work, to be able to back-up and complement these results with our DNA sequencing routine and with our database cumulated from many clinical isolates over the years. Given the diversity of microorganisms, sequencing of microbial genes will play an important role in a modern microbiology laboratory. At our institution we appreciate SmartGene’s technology which helps us not only to streamline sequence analysis, but also to leverage the expertise gained with the analyzed isolates.”

“We are very happy to expand the scope of our collaboration with Professor Boettger and his team,” said Stefan Emler, MD, Chief Executive Officer of SmartGene GmbH. “It is very important for the community to position mass spectrometry methods for pathogen identification in the context of species diversity, evolution and changing taxonomy. The introduction of these new techniques, together with the increasing scarcity of expertise in conventional culture-based identification, reinforces the continuing importance of sequencing as the gold standard. SmartGene already facilitates the efficient and accurate identification of pathogens by sequencing; this expanded collaboration with IMM is another step towards our goal of ultimately providing solutions which address pathogenicity, drug resistance and host susceptibility for best management of challenging infections.”

About SmartGene

SmartGene GmbH is a privately-held company based in Zug, Switzerland, with subsidiaries in Lausanne, Switzerland and Raleigh, North Carolina. SmartGene provides web-based suites of functionality worldwide to facilitate sequence-based analysis for a variety of clinical, medical research, and veterinary applications. Constant updates to reference data and interpretive algorithms keep SmartGene’s customers in step with evolving science and improve the accuracy of sequence interpretation. SmartGene’s integrated services increase the speed to result for sequence-based diagnostics and improve workflow in the laboratory. SmartGene’s modules address Bacteria, Fungi, HIV, HCV, MLST, Influenza, and HLA typing. Discover more at www.smartgene.com.

About IMM

See institute’s website: http://www.imm.uzh.ch/index.html.

SOURCE SmartGene

ATLANTA, Aug. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) family of stores in Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, and Eastern Tennessee are asking customers to check their refrigerators and freezers for certain items containing ground beef with “sell by” dates of July 29 through August 12. A complete list of the items included in this recall is below. This ground beef is part of a recall announced by National Beef because the product may contain E. Coli O157:H7. Customers should return the items to stores for a full refund or a replacement.

The items included in the recall are:

• Kroger 5 lb. Pkg. Flavorseal Ground Chuck (UPC: 1111097028 (only date included for this product is “Freeze By 8-12-2011)
• Kroger Beef Chuck Ground 80-85% (UPC 22251500000, 22251510000, 22251520000, 22251530000, 22251550000, 22251560000, 22251570000, 22251580000)
• Ground Beef Patties – Regular & Family Pack (UPCs: 22250400000, 22250410000, 22250420000, 22250430000, 22251600000, 22251610000, 22251620000, 22251630000)
• Ground Beef Seasoned Patties – Regular & Family Pack (UPCs: 29116750000, 29116760000, 29116770000, 29116780000, 29116850000, 29116860000, 29116870000, 29116880000)
• In Store Made Meatballs – packaged and service case (UPCs: 29119600000, 29119610000, 29119620000, 29119630000, 29119640000)
• In Store Made Meatloaf – packaged and service case (UPCs: 29109100000, 29109110000, 29109120000, 29109130000, 29109140000)

Customers can visit www.kroger.com/recall for the list of affected products.

What Kroger is Doing

Kroger has removed affected items from store shelves and initiated its customer recall notification system. Customers who may have purchased the affected products will receive register receipt messages and/or automated phone calls. Kroger is also placing signs in stores in meat departments.

What Customers Should Do

Kroger is asking customers to carefully check their refrigearators and freezers for these recalled ground beef products because they may contain E. Coli O157:H7. Any opened or unopened products included in this recall should not be consumed and should be returned to their local Kroger store for a full refund.

Consumers are reminded that proper handling, storage and cooking of ground beef offers the best protection against food-borne illness. According to the USDA, when ground beef is thoroughly cooked to an internal temperature of no less than 160 degrees, any harmful bacteria are destroyed and the ground beef is safe to consume.

E. coli O157:H7 is a potentially deadly bacterium that can cause bloody diarrhea, dehydration, and in the most severe cases, kidney failure. The very young, seniors and persons with weak immune systems are the most susceptible to foodborne illness.

Customers with additional questions can contact 1-800-KROGERS.

SOURCE The Kroger Co.

PHOENIX, Aug. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Veterinarians at the Phoenix Zoo welcomed the help of the Associate Chief of Cardiovascular Surgery at St. Joseph’s Heart & Lung Institute, Dr. Brian deGuzman, to perform a delicate surgery on the oldest mandrill in the United States.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110812/LA51743)

Wucaria, a 34-year-old female mandrill, a species of monkey, had a large abscess on her kidney. Phoenix Zoo veterinarians Dr. Gary West and Dr. Julie Swenson, discussed all options available to Wucaria. They also enlisted the aid of the Animal Health Advisory Committee, a team of specialists, consisting of mostly veterinarians, but also including “human” specialists, who volunteer their time and services, offering specialized medical care in areas like dentistry, cardiology, and surgery.

Wucaria’s case was discussed and it was determined that Dr. deGuzman, a Harvard-trained surgeon, would assist with the removal of Wucaria’s right kidney. Veterinarian Dr. West says, “Dr. deGuzman is able to bring his specialized skills to the operating table, offering us opportunities to provide exceptional care to our Zoo’s animals.”

With more than a half dozen people on the team including the Phoenix Zoo’s three veterinarians, a veterinary anesthesiologist, a veterinary surgeon, Dr. deGuzman and St. Joseph’s nurse, Jenifer Traylor, the kidney was successfully removed on June 2.

Wucaria is now comfortable and back on exhibit with her troupe. “A procedure like this requires an incredible amount of teamwork,” says Dr. deGuzman. “The Phoenix Zoo veterinarians are an extraordinary team and have been really accepting of the advice that I can provide on the animal cases. Each person on the team brings something different and unique to the table to help out these animals.”

Dr. deGuzman began volunteering at the Zoo three years ago as a member of the Animal Health Advisory Committee. “Volunteering at the Zoo is so gratifying as a physician,” says Dr. deGuzman. “The animals are innocent, they rely on us to help with their illnesses and provide them with the best care possible. We treat them in a compassionate and calming manner, and our goal is to always help them continue to live life to the fullest.”

“Dr. deGuzman brings the highest level of medicine from the human side which we can try to strive for,” says Dr. Swenson. “The specialists we are able to work with on the Advisory Committee bring very specific skills to some of our difficult cases.”

About the Phoenix Zoo

The Phoenix Zoo is a non-profit zoological park that serves 1.5 million guests annually. Home to more than 1,300 animals and many endangered and threatened species, the Zoo is dedicated to providing experiences that inspire people and motivate them to care for the natural world. For more information about the Zoo and upcoming events visit phoenixzoo.org.

About St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center

Located in the heart of Phoenix, St. Joseph’s is a 607-bed, not-for-profit hospital that provides a wide range of health, social and support services, with special advocacy for the poor and underserved. St. Joseph’s includes the internationally renowned Barrow Neurological Institute, the Heart & Lung Institute and a Level I Trauma Center and the Muhammad Ali Parkinsons Center.

SOURCE St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center; Phoenix Zoo

QUEBEC CITY, QC, Aug. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Medicago Inc. (TSX: MDG), a
biotechnology company focused on developing highly effective and
affordable vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and
Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), today announced its operational and
financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2011. The
Company’s financial statements and management report are available at www.sedar.com and at www.medicago.com.

“During the second quarter, we made significant progress on the clinical
advancement of our product pipeline. Our positive Phase II clinical
trial results for our H5N1 vaccine candidate coupled with our positive
U.S. Phase I clinical trial results for our seasonal vaccine candidate
continue to demonstrate that our rapid plant-based vaccine technology
produces VLP vaccines that are safe and among the most effective of the
industry,” said Andy Sheldon, President and CEO of Medicago. “The
second half of 2011 will see the opening of our 97,000 square foot U.S.
grade vaccine facility, the continued development of our seasonal flu
vaccine candidate with a U.S. clinical trial, as well as the expansion
of our product pipeline outside of influenza and potential contracts
with governments and pharmaceutical companies.”

Highlights:

Corporate

        --  Reported positive phase II results for its clinical trial with
            its H5N1 avian influenza vaccine. The vaccine was found to be
            safe, well tolerated and also induced a solid immune response
            which is among the most effective of the industry.
        --  Reported positive U.S. phase I results in its clinical trial
            with its H1N1 / seasonal influenza vaccine candidate. All
            tested doses were found safe and well-tolerated. A single dose
            of 5 ¼g met the 3 CHMP immunogenicity criteria.This phase I
            trial is expected to lead to Medicago's U.S. phase IIa trial
            for its seasonal trivalent vaccine with the recommended H1N1,
            H3N2 and B influenza strains.
        --  Signed research collaboration with the U.S. Army Medical
            Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID) for the
            development of a VLP vaccine candidate for the prevention of
            Ebola.
        --  Signed research collaboration with a top 10 global
            pharmaceutical company for the development of a non-influenza
            vaccine candidate.

Financial

        --  Received the third milestone payment of $5.6 million (U.S.)
            from DARPA. This is part of the $21-million (U.S.) DARPA grant
            awarded to Medicago to demonstrate the scalable manufacturing
            of its plant-expressed virus-like particle vaccines in the
            United States under a technology investment agreement. Medicago
            has received $16.3 million (U.S.) to date for this project.
        --  Closed an offering of 34,117,600 units at a price of $0.51 per
            unit, representing gross proceeds of $17,399,976. Each Unit is
            comprised of one common share and one quarter of one common
            share purchase warrant.  Each full Warrant has an exercise
            price of $0.75, exercisable for a period of 24 months. Philip
            Morris Investments BV, an insider of the Company, participated
            in the offering and acquired 17,058,800 units.

Outlook

Upcoming milestones include among others:

        --  Operational U.S. vaccine facility
        --  Initiation of U.S. phase II  clinical trial with trivalent
            seasonal vaccine if authorization granted by the FDA
        --  Potential contracts  with governments and pharmaceutical
            companies
        --  Addition of new pipeline candidates

Financial Results

The Compay’s unaudited interim consolidated financial statements as at
June 30, 2011 and for the six months then ended have been prepared in
accordance with IFRS as issued by the International Accounting
Standards Board. Additionally, the Company’s unaudited consolidated
statement of financial position as at January 1, 2010 and the
comparative unaudited consolidated financial statements for 2010 have
been adjusted to reflect our adoption of IFRS on a retrospective basis,
effective on January 1, 2010 (the “Transition Date”). Consequently, all
comparative financial information presented in this MD&A reflects the
consistent, retrospective application of IFRS.

For the three and six-month period ended June 30, 2011, the Company had
revenues of $38,000 that were generated by the research collaboration
agreement for the development of a non-influenza vaccine candidate with
a top 10 global pharmaceutical company announced earlier this year. 
Revenues in 2010 were generated by the successful completion of the
proof of concept contract with the United States Army Research,
Development and Engineering Command for $34,000.

Consolidated loss for the three and six-month period ended June 30, 2011
were  $4,883,000 and $9,934,000, or $0.03 and $0.06 per basic and
diluted share compared to a loss of $3,998,000 and $7,741,000, or $0.03
and $0.07 per basic and diluted share for the three and six-month
period ended June 30, 2010. Increase in the loss for the six month
period is mainly explained by the increase in R&D expenses in relation
with the H5N1 Phase II clinical trial and the H1N1/seasonal vaccine
Phase I clinical trial.

Cash and short-term investments were $16.6 million as at June 30, 2011
an increase of $8.1 Million from December 31, 2010.  In April 2011,
Medicago closed an offering of 34,117,600 units at a price of $0.51 per
Unit, representing gross proceeds of $17,399,976.

As at August 12, 2011, there were 173,416,202 common shares issued and
outstanding as well as 8,539,508 stock options outstanding.  Warrants
outstanding and Unit options outstanding as at August 12, 2011
represented a total of 27,277,736.

About Medicago

Medicago is committed to provide highly effective and competitive
vaccines based on proprietary Virus-Like Particle (VLP) and
manufacturing technologies. Medicago is developing VLP vaccines to
protect against pandemic and seasonal influenza, using a transient
expression system which produces recombinant vaccine antigens in the
cells of non-transgenic plants. This technology has potential to offer
advantages of speed and cost over competitive technologies. It promises
a vaccine for testing in about a month after the identification and
reception of genetic sequences from a pandemic strain. This production
time frame has the potential to allow vaccination of the population
before the first wave of a pandemic strikes and to supply large volumes
of vaccine antigens to the world market. Additional information about
Medicago is available at www.medicago.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This news release includes certain forward-looking statements that are
based upon current expectations, which involve risks and uncertainties
associated with Medicago’s business and the environment in which the
business operates. Any statements contained herein that are not
statements o historical facts may be deemed to be forward-looking,
including those identified by the expressions “anticipate”, “believe”,
“plan”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, and similar expressions to the
extent they relate to Medicago or its management. The forward-looking
statements are not historical facts, but reflect Medicago’s current
expectations regarding future results or events. These forward-looking
statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that
could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current
expectations, including the matters discussed under “Risks Factors and
Uncertainties” in Medicago’s Annual Information Form filed on March 31,
2011 with the regulatory authorities. Medicago assumes no obligation to
update the forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why
actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking
statements.

SOURCE Medicago Inc.

NIH awards $3 million to prepare for clinical trials; developers hope vaccine will alleviate suffering caused by mosquito-borne virus in Asia and Africa and limit its spread

Researchers have developed a new candidate vaccine to protect against chikungunya virus, a mosquito-borne pathogen that produces an intensely painful and often chronic arthritic disease that has stricken millions of people in India, Southeast Asia and Africa.

A single dose of the experimental vaccine protected lab mice from infection with the virus, according to a paper published online in the journal PLoS Pathogens by researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Inviragen, Inc., of Ft. Collins, Colorado, the University of Wisconsin, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the University of Alabama.

“Currently, we have no approved treatment or vaccine for chikungunya, and there’s a real need for an effective vaccine to protect against this debilitating and economically devastating infection,” said Scott Weaver, director of UTMB’s Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, scientific director of the Galveston National Laboratory and senior author of the paper. “Everything we’ve seen so far suggests this vaccine candidate could fill that need.”

The experimental vaccine is a “recombinant live-attenuated vaccine” created by genetically modifying the chikungunya virus using techniques developed with the initial support from the Western Regional Center of Excellence in Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, headquartered at UTMB. The resulting vaccine strain differs from wild-type chikungunya virus in two ways: it doesn’t cause disease, and it’s incapable of infecting mosquitoes; the latter trait is an important safety feature to ensure that the vaccine strain cannot initiate transmission in nonendemic locations where travelers might be immunized before a trip to Africa or Asia. But it still provokes an immune response to protect against future chikungunya infections.

Such a live virus vaccine would also be relatively economical to produce in large quantities “” an important factor given the limited resources available in the areas hit hardest by chikungunya.

“We need to slow this virus down in India and Southeast Asia, not just to protect the people there but to reduce the very real risk that it might become endemic here after an infected traveler arrives,” Weaver said. “The best way to do that is with a vaccine, and if you’re going to make a vaccine you have to look at where it’s going to be used and what they can afford.”

UTMB has signed a license agreement with Inviragen for commercialization of the new vaccine candidate. In addition, the two partners have been chosen to receive a four-year, $3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to complete the preclinical development work needed submit an investigational new drug application to the Food and Drug Administration, opening the door to human trials.

—

On the Net:

• University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston
• PLoS Pathogens

A computer model of the spread of West Nile virus was able to predict areas where human cases would be concentrated, especially around Sacramento in 2005. The success of the model, say researchers, depended on its focus on biological factors and on a high volume of reports from members of the public.

A computerized epidemiological model of the spread of the mosquito-borne West Nile virus in 17 counties of California in 2005 successfully predicted where 81.6 percent of human cases of the disease would arise and defined high-risk areas where the risk of infection turned out to be 39 times higher than in low-risk areas, according to newly published research. The DYCAST software used in those predictions is now open-source and is being applied to other diseases.

“One of the things that really differentiates DYCAST from other approaches is that it’s based on biological parameters,” said Ryan Carney, a Brown University graduate student who is the lead author on a paper about DYCAST’s performance that appears in the current issue of the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, published by the Centers for Disease Control. “All of the parameters in the model are based on experimental data related to the biology and ecology of the virus, mosquito vector, and bird host.”

For example, the spatial parameters of the model include how far mosquitoes and infected birds are likely to fly. Key time parameters include how long the virus needs to incubate in mosquitoes before they become infectious and the lifespan of infected birds. Carney said that by using biology to define the geographic and temporal attributes of the model rather than county or census tract borders, which are convenient for humans but irrelevant to birds and mosquitoes, the model allowed the California Department of Public Health to provide early warnings to an area stretching from the Bay Area through Sacramento to the Nevada line, as well as regions in southern California.

Carney implemented the software when he worked for the California department in 2005. (The software was created by Constandinos Theophilides at the City University of New York.) Feeding the model in 2005 were 109,358 dead bird reports phoned in or entered by members of the public via a state hotline and website.

As more dead birds were reported in close proximity, the software would generate daily maps of areas at high risk for human infection, providing an early warning to local public health officials. The software, for example, predicted areas as high-risk more than a month before the first human cases arose, on average.

Predicting the course of disease

DYCAST software generated daily maps of high West Nile virus risk areas (red) and human cases (black dots) in the greater Sacramento area in 2005. The animation condenses four and a half months into just over a minute.

In Sacramento County, location of the largest West Nile virus epidemic in the United States that year, DYCAST helped mosquito control officials target their testing and spraying resources “” actions that ultimately reduced human illness, Carney said.

After 2005, the department implemented the model throughout the state, although the number of human cases and reported dead birds, along with the model’s prediction rates, dropped sharply.

In 2007 Carney enrolled as a master’s student at Yale and adapted the DYCAST model to track dengue fever in Brazil, using a version of the software that his CUNY collaborators had converted to an open-source platform. With the specific parameters of that disease, DYCAST was able to predict its spread in the city of Riberão Preto in Brazil, Carney said, citing unpublished data.

Carney has continued his analysis and development of DYCAST and dengue at Brown, where he is a doctoral student of ecology and evolutionary biology. He said the software at its core has potential to be adapted as an early warning system for other infectious diseases or even bioterrorism attacks.

In addition to Carney, other authors on the paper include Sean Ahearn and Alan McConchie of CUNY (McConchie is now at the University of British Columbia”“Vancouver), Carol Glaser, Cynthia Jean, Kerry Padgett, Erin Parker, Ervic Aquino, and Vicki Kramer of the California Department of Public Health, and Chris Barker and Bborie Park of the University of California”“Davis.

The Centers for Disease Control funded the research.

—

On the Net:

• Brown University

The sex hormone oestrogen could help protect women from cardiovascular disease by keeping the body’s immune system in check, new research from Queen Mary, University of London has revealed.

The study has shown that the female sex hormone works on white blood cells to stop them from sticking to the insides of blood vessels, a process which can lead to dangerous blockages.

The results could help explain why cardiovascular disease rates tend to be higher in men and why they soar in women after the menopause.

The researchers compared white blood cells from men and pre-menopausal women blood donors. They found that cells from premenopausal women have much higher levels of protein called annexin-A1 on the surface of their white blood cells.

The scientists also found that annexin-A1 and oestrogen levels were strongly linked throughout the menstrual cycle.

White blood cells play a vital role in protecting the body from infections. When they are activated they stick to the walls of blood vessels. This process normally helps the cells to tackle infection but if it happens too much, it can lead to blood vessel damage, which in turn can lead to cardiovascular disease. However, when annexin-A1 is on the surface of these white blood cells, it prevents them from sticking to the blood vessel wall.

The new research shows that oestrogen can move annexin-A1 from inside the white blood cell, where it is normally stored, to the surface of the cells, thereby preventing the cells from sticking to blood vessel walls and causing vascular damage. This may have important implications in cardiovascular disease.

Dr Suchita Nadkarni from the William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary, University of London, who led the research, said: “We’ve known for a long time that oestrogen protects pre-menopausal women from heart disease, but we don’t know exactly why. This study brings us a step closer to understanding how natural oestrogen might help protect our blood vessels.

“We’ve shown a clear relationship between oestrogen levels and the behaviour of these white blood cells. Our results suggest that oestrogen helps maintain the delicate balance between fighting infections, and protecting arteries from damage that can lead to cardiovascular disease.

“Understanding how the body fights heart disease naturally is vital for developing new treatments.”

—

On the Net:

• Queen Mary, University of London

(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Robot-assisted therapy offers many benefits for stroke patients with a weaker arm, according to a new study, which is the first to use accelerometers to track improvement in patients and compare real world results.

Researchers enrolled 20 patients to compare robot-assisted therapy combined with functional training to an active control treatment group. They had patients wear accelerometers on both arms daily as they went about their normal tasks.

During the study, both groups received intensive training for 90 to 105 minutes per session, five days a week for four weeks. Therapy in the control group was designed to match the robot-assisted therapy in amount of therapy hours, and these participants served as a dose-matched comparison group.

Results showed robot-assisted therapy, when combined with functional task training, helps functional arm use and improves bimanual arm activity in daily life. Robots have previously been shown to improve arm motor function and muscle strength during rehabilitation, but some studies suggested these improvements did not continue in patients’ everyday lives. This new study addressed these issues.

The rehab robots give sensorimotor feedback during training sessions to facilitate patients’ motor learning. Researchers say because robots never become tired, they can provide massive and intense training in a consistent manner without suffering fatigue.

The investigators also found accelerometers are suitable tools for measuring real world arm activity in stroke patients. These devices provide objective information about physical activity by measuring the acceleration of body movements. Stroke patients can wear accelerometers like a wristwatch on each arm.

“In this study of rehabilitation approaches for patients with mild-to-moderate upper limb impairment six months after a stroke, we found significantly greater benefits of robot-assisted therapy compared with the active control group on the amount and quality of functional arm activity for the hemiplegic hand in the living environment,” Keh-chung Lin, from the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Taipei Hospital, was quoted as saying. “Moreover, robot-assisted therapy had superior benefits on improving bimanual arm activity.”

SOURCE: Clinical Rehabilitation, August 11, 2011

Scientists have developed a new micro-electronics technology that allows an “electronic tattoo” to monitor the vital signs of hospital patients, representing a radical improvement over existing medical monitoring equipment, according to a study published Thursday in the journal Science.

The researchers successfully used the tiny, wireless patch, which includes a sensor that attaches to the skin, to monitor patients’ heart and brain activity.  The device, which is thinner than a human hair and resembles a temporary tattoo, can move, wrinkle and stretch without breaking.

Researchers said they hope the patch could someday replace the bulky health monitoring equipment in use today, which can include unwieldy cables, wires, electrodes and monitors.

Such equipment can be “distressing” for some people, such as heart patients, who have to wear a cumbersome monitor for up to a month “in order to capture abnormal but rare cardiac events,” the scientists said.

“What we are trying to do here is to really reshape and redefine electronics … to look a lot more like the human body, in this case the surface layers of the skin,” said John Rogers, a professor in the materials science and engineering department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

“The goal is really to blur the distinction between electronics and biological tissue.”

To develop the new monitoring device, researchers created a new class of microelectronics technology they call an epidermal electronic system (EES), which incorporates miniature sensors, light-emitting diodes, tiny transmitters and receivers, and networks of carefully crafted wire filaments.

“Our goal was to develop an electronic technology that could integrate with the skin in a way that is mechanically and physiologically invisible to the user,” said Rogers.

“We found a solution that involves devices we designed to achieve physical properties that match to the epidermis itself.  It’s a technology that blurs the distinction between electronics and biology.”
 
The scientists used a combination of careful theoretical modeling and precise micro-manufacturing to develop a new type of ultra-thin, self-adhesive electronics device that effectively measures data about the heart, brain waves and muscle activity ““ all without the use of bulky equipment, conductive fluids, or glues.

Although existing technologies accurately measure heart rate, brain waves and muscle activity, EES devices offer the opportunity to seamlessly apply sensors that have almost no weight, no external wires and require negligible power.

Furthermore, because of the small power requirements, the devices can draw power from stray (or transmitted) electromagnetic radiation through the process of induction, and can even harvest a portion of their energy requirements from miniature solar collectors.

The EES designs produce flat devices less than 50-microns in diameter — thinner than a human hair — that can be integrated onto the polyester backing familiar from stick-on tattoos.

The devices are so thin that close-contact forces known as van der Waals interactions dominate the adhesion at the molecular level, so the electronic tattoos adhere to the skin without any glues and stay in place for hours.

The study demonstrated device lifetimes of up to 24 hours under ideal conditions.

“The mechanics behind the design for our serpentine-shaped electronics makes the device as soft as the human skin,” said engineer Yonggang Huang of Northwestern University, one of the project’s lead researchers.

“The design enables brittle, inorganic semiconductors to achieve extremely vast stretchability and flexibility. Plus, the serpentine design is very useful for self adhesion to any surface without using glues.”

While some areas of the body, such as the elbow, are ill suited to adhesive electronics, most regions commonly targeted for medical and experimental studies are ideal, including the forehead, extremities and the chest.

This means that regions of the body that were previously difficult to fit with sensors may now be monitored, including the throat.

“This type of device might provide utility for those who suffer from certain diseases of the larynx,” said Rogers.

“It could also form the basis of a sub-vocal communication capability, suitable for covert or other uses.”

“This work is really just beginning,” said Rogers.

“On the technology side, our focus is on wireless communication and improved solutions for power””such as batteries, storage capacitors and mechanical energy harvesters””to complement the inductive and solar concepts that we demonstrate in the present paper.”

The researchers are also exploring clinical approaches, particularly for ailments where sensor size is vital, such as sleep apnea and neonatal care.

Longer term, they hope to incorporate microfluidic devices into their technology, opening up a new arena of electronic bandages and enhanced-functioning skin, potentially accelerating wound healing or treating burns and other skin conditions.

A report about the EES technology is published in the August 12, 2011, issue of the journal Science.

—

Image 1: The newly developed device, an epidermal electronic system created by an international team of engineers and scientists. Credit: J. Rogers, University of Illinois

Image 2: A newly developed stick-on tattoo with integrated sensor technology, prior to application (from reverse). Credit: J. Rogers, University of Illinois

Image 3: When compressed and pulled, the epidermal electronics device conforms with the skin, remaining in place and intact. Credit: J. Rogers, University of Illinois

—

On the Net:

• Science Abstract
• University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
• Northwestern University

Study finds clear association between clinic accessibility and emergency room visits

Access to health care and the usage of emergency departments are popular topics in the news.

David Jones, a graduate student in the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health, along with Linda Carroll, professor in the School of Public Health, and Leonard Frank, executive director of the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network, recently completed a study that examined whether or not there was a clear association between the number of visits to the emergency department and the availability of an after-hours care clinic in Leduc, Alberta.

Jones took into account 28 months worth of data with a population size of about 20,000 people. The statistics took into consideration non-urgent and semi”“urgent patient visits to the Leduc Hospital emergency department for 14 months prior to the opening of an after-hours clinic and 14 months after the clinic opened.

Based on this study, “there was a 40 per cent reduction in semi-urgent patients using the emergency department,” said Jones.

Semi-urgent patients are classified, for example, as those that have suffered minor trauma, or who have abdominal pain or acute joint swelling. Non-urgent patients typically suffer from ailments such as nasal congestion or chronic low back pain, says the Canadian Triage and Acuity Scale.

The after-hours clinic is operated by the Leduc Beaumont Devon Primary Care Network, a joint partnership between participating family physicians in the area and Alberta Health Services, said Frank. “Primary care networks are based on the idea of finding local solutions to local needs and this clinic is a tremendous example of that.”

The family physicians who work at the Leduc Hospital noted that increasingly patients were being seen in the emergency departments who could have been better served in a primary care setting such as the after-hours clinic. “Having a more appropriate use of resources was important to the physicians in trying to best serve their patients,” said Frank.

Jones agrees. “These two types of patients, it has been argued in the literature, can be well served in a physician’s office rather than an emergency department, but they contribute to emergency department overcrowding.”

The after-hours clinic provided access to a physician between the hours of 6 p.m., Monday through Thursday.

“This study provides further evidence that offering these services can positively impact emergency department use, and while we have to be careful about population size and intervention, we did see a definite reduction in emergency room visits,” said Jones.

—

On the Net:

• University of Alberta

HOUSTON, Aug. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Texas Children’s Health Plan (TCHP) has been tentatively awarded managed care renewed contracts by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). The contracts are for the STAR Medicaid and CHIP programs. As part of the contract, Texas Children’s Health Plan will also provide CHIP perinate benefits, which include prenatal care for the unborn children of low-income women who do not qualify for Medicaid.

“We are pleased that HHSC has given our organization the opportunity to continue to offer excellent service and quality health coverage to underserved adults, pregnant women, and children in Houston/Harris and 19 surrounding counties,” said Christopher Born, President and CEO. “We will continue our commitment to building a community of healthy families, and we look forward to providing access to health care for pregnant women through CHIP perinate.”

Texas Children’s Health Plan retained its current service areas. It will expand its STAR product to 11 additional counties. The new service areas will include:

    STAR and CHIP Harris Service Areas STAR and CHIP Jefferson Service Areas
    Austin                             Chambers
    Brazoria                           Hardin
    Fort Bend                          Jasper
    Galveston                          Jefferson
    Harris                             Liberty
    Matagorda                          Newton
    Montgomery                         Orange
    Waller                             Polk
    Wharton                            San Jacinto
                                       Tyler
                                       Walker

To date, Texas Children’s Health Plan serves more than 300,000 members. The new contract is effective March 2012.

About Texas Children’s Health Plan

Texas Children’s Health Plan was founded in 1996 by Texas Children’s Hospital. It is the nation’s first health maintenance organization (HMO) created just for children. Texas Children’s Health Plan provides STAR/Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to pregnant women, teens, children, and adults in Houston and surrounding areas. Currently, the Health Plan has more than 300,000 members. The staff and network of more than 2,100 providers are committed to providing excellent service and patient care to Texas Children’s Health Plan members. Texas Children’s Health Plan is also the largest combined STAR/CHIP Managed Care Organization in the Harris County service area. For more information on Texas Children’s Health Plan, go to www.TexasChildrensHealthPlan.org or call 1-800-990-8247.

News media contacts:
Osjetta Gascey-Morris, Texas Children’s Health Plan
832-828-1068 or [email protected]

SOURCE Texas Children’s Health Plan

ABBOTT PARK, Ill., Aug. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — (NYSE: ABT) — Providing proper nutrition is one of the most important things moms can do to help kids grow and develop. However, a recent survey by Abbott, the makers of PediaSure nutritional shakes, reveals that getting kids to eat a balanced diet is just as challenging as getting them to do homework. In fact, more than two-thirds of moms surveyed have a picky eater, and nine out of ten of these moms indicate they are unsuccessful at getting their picky eater to eat healthy and nutritious foods every day.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, go to: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/pediasure/51562/

This mealtime “battle” can have a significant emotional toll on moms, with more than two out of three respondents saying that they feel like the “bad guy” when it comes to trying to influence their child’s picky eating. To aid moms in their pursuit of healthy eating habits and restore order to the dinner table, Abbott introduces the PediaSure Mom Brigade, a team of real mom experts with experience in children’s health and nutrition.

The PediaSure Mom Brigade is designed to connect with moms, provide tips and expert advice to help them ensure that, even with picky eaters, they are feeding their children’s potential throughout the year. Members of the Mom Brigade include:

• Dr. Rallie McAllister, MD, MPH – Family physician, who specializes in nutrition and wellness, and mother and cofounder of MommyMDGuides.com and coauthor of The Mommy MD Guide to Your Baby’s First Year.
• Dr. Felicia D. Stoler, DCN, MS, RD, FACSM – Registered dietitian and exercise physiologist. Author of Living Skinny in Fat Genes(TM): The Healthy Way to Lose Weight and Feel Great. Felicia is an on-air personality, journalist, consultant and mom.
• Sylvia Melendez-Klinger – Registered dietitian and mother, member of the American Dietetic Association and founder of Hispanic Food Communications, a nutrition and culinary communications consulting company.

Moms on Picky Eating: Survey Facts

• 58 percent say their biggest daily challenge is ensuring their child eats healthy and nutritious meals every day.
• Three in four have used persuasive tactics, such as disguising nutritious foods and ingredients (43 percent), giving rewards for eating healthy (38 percent), and bargaining (32 percent).
• 80 percent sometimes feel like they have no control over their child’s picky eating habits.
• More than 75 percent give in to their picky eater rather than struggle.
• 25 percent make a completely separate meal at dinnertime for their picky eater.
• Concerns about picky eating include slower physical growth (42 percent), lack of attention and focus in school (39 percent) and obesity (38 percent).

Helping Moms “Win” At Mealtime

The kitchen table is often a place to discuss current events, school and friends, but picky eating can turn mealtime into a stressful struggle over what a child will or will not eat. PediaSure®’s Mom Brigade offers the following tips for turning mealtime chaos into an opportunity for teaching healthy eating habits.

1. Make dinner a group activity. Eat together! Children like to eat with their whole family, and eating as a group allows you to set a good example of which foods are nutritious. Designate a family dinner night where everyone can be together while eating, and it just might become your child’s favorite night and meal of the week.
2. Help children get involved. Every mom knows that children love to help and by letting your picky eater help with the meal preparation process they are more likely to enjoy the final product. Cooking meals can be fun, and children may eat foods they help to prepare.
3. Teaching healthy habits for life is the ultimate goal. For moms with picky eaters, patience is key because the problem won’t be solved overnight. It is important to provide some freedom for children to eat his or her own way, rather than forcing them to eat. In the meantime, to help with a child’s daily nutritional well-being and for mom’s peace of mind, try PediaSure® or PediaSure SideKicks®. PediaSure is a source of complete, balanced nutrition that’s clinically proven to help children grow*. For picky eaters who are not behind on the growth curve, PediaSure SideKicks is a source of supplemental nutrition to help balance out their uneven diet.
4. When children are given the opportunity to observe other children eating vegetables that they themselves previously refused to eat, their intake of the vegetable increases significantly. With this in mind, it’s a good idea to serve nutritious foods at play dates and at family get-togethers. If one child eats his carrots and broccoli with gusto, the rest of the children are likely to follow suit.
5. It’s important to allow young children to make some decisions, including decisions about which foods to eat as long as those foods meet your approval. The key is to create a win-win situation by offering your child a choice between two similar, wholesome foods. Whichever food they choose, they’ll be getting good nutrition and you’ll be happy.

Commentary on Picky Eating:

From Dr. Rallie McAllister, MD, MDH, family physician, nutrition specialist, mother

“It would be great if our children ate every nutritious meal we fed them, but the fact is that when it comes to eating, they definitely have minds of their own. The good news is that while moms are encouraging their children to opt for healthy choices, they can help keep their child’s daily nutritional well-being on track with PediaSure.”

*Studied in children at risk for malnutrition

From Tama Bloch, RD, research scientist, Abbott Nutrition

“If moms are struggling with a daily picky eater, their child may not be getting essential nutrients for growth and development. The scientists at Abbott, like me, are constantly working to identify new ways to address nutritional challenges so that a child’s nutrition is a little less worrisome to mom.”

From Katherine Doyle, vice president, Pediatric Nutrition, Abbott Nutrition

“We understand that mom wants to ensure her child practices lifelong healthy eating habits. By empowering moms with expert information on nutrition and mealtime tips, PediaSure® is sharing tools to help make sure our children get good, balanced nutrition every day.”

Where to Buy PediaSure Products

PediaSure products are available nationwide in the Baby/Toddler aisle at most grocery stores, drug stores and mass-merchandisers. PediaSure also can be ordered online at www.abbottstore.com.

About the Survey

The survey was conducted by Wakefield Research, on behalf of Abbott Nutrition, among 1,001 mothers in the U.S. with children ages 2-10, between April 14th and April 20th, 2011, using an email invitation and an online survey. Results of any sample are subject to sampling variation. The magnitude of the variation is measurable and is affected by the number of interviews and the level of the percentages expressing the results. For the interviews conducted in this particular study, the chances are 95 in 100 that a survey result does not vary, plus or minus, by more than 3.1 percentage points from the result that would be obtained if interviews had been conducted with all persons in the universe represented by the sample.

About PediaSure®

A leader in providing complete, balanced nutrition® for more than 20 years, PediaSure is the number-one Pediatrician recommended brand for children’s nutritional supplements, clinically proven to help children grow*. Each serving (8-fluid-ounce) is a good source of protein, and 23 vitamins and minerals including calcium and vitamin D for bone health, and antioxidant vitamins C & E and selenium for immune system health and prebiotics for digestive system health. PediaSure may be used as a nutritional supplement with or between meals, or as an ingredient in recipes to help add nutrition and calories to favorite meals and snacks. Great-tasting PediaSure Shakes are available in a variety of “Kid Approved” flavors: Vanilla, Vanilla with Fiber, Strawberry, Chocolate, Banana and Berry. (natural and artificial flavors)

PediaSure SideKicks® provides 25 essential vitamins and minerals, 7g of protein, and 3g of fiber to support your child’s nutrition. PediaSure SideKicks is for kids who are growing fine, but may be missing nutrients. Great-tasting PediaSure SideKicks are available in three “Kid Approved” flavors: Vanilla, Strawberry, Chocolate. (natural and artificial flavors)

Always consult a health care professional for use in children under 2 years of age. When advised by a health care professional, PediaSure brand products may be used as a sole source of nutrition. Use as part of a healthy diet.

About Abbott Nutrition

For more than 85 years, Abbott Nutrition has been developing and marketing science-based nutritional products to support the growth, health and wellness of people of all ages. Internationally recognized brands include the Similac® brand of infant formulas; the Gain® brand of growing-up milks; the PediaSure® brand of complete and balanced nutrition for children; the Ensure® brand of complete and balanced nutrition for adults; and Glucerna® brand of nutrition shakes and bars for people with diabetes. Abbott Nutrition also offers EAS® specialized products to meet the unique nutritional needs of athletes, as well as ZonePerfect® all-natural nutrition bars for busy, active lifestyles.

More information about Abbott Nutrition’s products is available on the Web at www.AbbottNutrition.com.

About Abbott

Abbott is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs nearly 90,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries. Abbott’s news releases and other information are available on the company’s Web site at www.abbott.com.

*Studied in children at risk for malnutrition

SOURCE Abbott

SWIFTWATER, Pa. and WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Aug. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Sounds of Pertussis(R) Campaign motors into New York City today to rev up the third annual Pertussis Awareness Day with an array of educational and interactive activities, including the chance to join thousands of others across the country in the Race to Blanket America(SM) by designing a quilt square for the growing Sounds of Pertussis Protection Quilt. The Campaign encourages parents, grandparents, caregivers and others in close contact with infants to get vaccinated against pertussis – commonly known as whooping cough – with an adult Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis) booster, to help reduce their risk of getting the disease and spreading it to the babies in their lives.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, go to: http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/soundsofpertussis/50717/

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110811/MM26934 )

The Office of the Mayor of New York City has proclaimed Aug. 11, 2011 as Pertussis Awareness Day, which falls during National Immunization Awareness Month. The Sounds of Pertussis Campaign will host an exhibit today on Military Island at the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue between 43rd and 44th Streets from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. New Yorkers and visitors alike will be able to unleash their “inner quilter” to help raise awareness of pertussis and share the need for adult pertussis vaccination with family and friends. Exhibit visitors also can view the first fabric panel of the Sounds of Pertussis Protection Quilt, featuring the square submitted by four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion, children’s health advocate and Sounds of Pertussis spokesperson, Jeff Gordon, and his wife, model Ingrid Vandebosch.

“When we were expecting our first child, we were completely unaware of the threat of pertussis and the importance of adult vaccination to help protect ourselves. We could have gotten sick and easily spread the disease to Ella,” said Gordon. “So last year when Leo was born, we didn’t hesitate to get our Tdap booster vaccines. With the Campaign’s Pertussis Awareness Day event and the Sounds of Pertussis Protection Quilt project, we have an important opportunity to educate others about the urgency of pertussis prevention in a fun and engaging way.”

The exhibit will offer information about pertussis and adult Tdap vaccination as well as a chance for visitors to play the educational “transmission toss” game. They also can take pictures with Perri Tussis, a giant costumed replica of the Bordetella pertussis bacterium. Adults nationwide can participate and become Pertussis Champions by joining the Race to Blanket America at www.SoundsofPertussis.com, where they can submit a quilt square online. Visitors to the Campaign’s website can use a unique, interactive quilt design tool with a wide selection of colors, patterns, icons and text to personalize quilt squares and then share their digital creations with family and friends. For each square added to the quilt in New York and online, Sanofi Pasteur will donate $1 to March of Dimes (up to $10,000).

The quilt is the centerpiece of Sounds of Pertussis’ newest initiative, the Race to Blanket America, and serves as a visual reminder of how the adults closest to a baby can help create a “cocoon” – a blanket of protection – around the tiniest members of their family by getting an adult Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and acellular pertussis) booster vaccine. Babies don’t start receiving their own immunizations against pertussis until they’re 2 months old, and they may not be fully protected until they’ve had at least three doses of the infant DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and acellular pertussis) vaccine. During this time, they’re particularly vulnerable to the disease. That’s why it’s important for all the adults who are in close contact with an infant to help protect themselves against pertussis so they don’t get sick and spread the disease to babies.(1)

The quilt has grown from the first quilt square created by Gordon and Vandebosch in April to more than a thousand squares from individuals hoping to spread the word about pertussis prevention. Later this year, a fabric quilt will be created from the online submissions and displayed at Jeff Gordon Children’s Hospital in Concord, N.C.(a) Only squares submitted before midnight on Sept. 1, 2011 can be included in the fabric quilt, so consumers are urged to design their square as soon as possible.

“Adult pertussis immunization rates are surprisingly low – estimates have shown only about 7 percent of adults have reported receiving the vaccine. With Pertussis Awareness Day, we hope to drive home the urgency of pertussis prevention,”(2) said Dr. Alan R. Fleischman, senior vice president and medical director for March of Dimes.

“Through a community-building effort like the Sounds of Pertussis Protection Quilt, we are able to vividly illustrate a key point and help raise awareness of the importance of adult Tdap vaccination,” Gordon added.

(a) From squares submitted on or before Sept. 1, 2011 at 11:59 p.m. or up to 10,000 squares, whichever comes first.

Pertussis: Still a Serious Threat

Pertussis is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that is spread through the air by infectious respiratory droplets. It is caused by a bacterium called Bordetella pertussis, which is found in the mouth, nose and throat of the person infected with the disease. The milder form of the disease, which usually occurs in adults and older children, is often mistaken for the common cold or bronchitis and can be easily spread. The disease is usually more severe in babies and young children, who will often experience severe coughing that can be followed by a “whooping” sound as they gasp for air. Oftentimes, coughing episodes can be so intense that vomiting follows. Pertussis also can lead to other serious complications, such as pneumonia, hospitalizations and even death.(3, 4) In recent years, about 92 percent of pertussis deaths have occurred in infants younger than 12 months of age.(5)

Often considered to be a disease of the past, pertussis is in fact on the rise; in 2010, more than 22,000 provisional cases of pertussis, including 26 deaths associated with the disease, were reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).(6) California declared a pertussis epidemic in June 2010. Throughout the year, more than 9,000 cases of pertussis were reported statewide, according to the California Department of Public Health. This is the greatest number of cases reported in 65 years and the highest incidence in 52 years. Moreover, 10 infants in California died from pertussis in 2010, compared to three in 2009.(7)

“It’s important that adults, particularly ones in close contact with babies, understand that pertussis remains a threat that needs to be taken seriously,” said Dr. Fleischman. “They need to be aware that the disease burden of pertussis is believed to be substantially more than what is reported.(8) This is because pertussis often is undiagnosed, misdiagnosed and unreported. Estimates suggest that there may be as many as 800,000 to 3.3 million adult and adolescent cases of pertussis in any given year.”(9)

Immunity from childhood pertussis vaccinations wears off over time, after about five to 10 years.(10) That’s why the CDC recommends that adults and adolescents, especially those in close contact with an infant, receive a single dose of a Tdap vaccine.(11) If you’re pregnant and have never had a pertussis booster vaccine, talk to your health-care provider about the best time for you to receive the vaccine, because there have been some recent updates to the recommendations. For the most current CDC guidelines, please visit (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/provisional/default.htm).(12)

For additional information about pertussis and immunization, and the relationship between Sanofi Pasteur and March of Dimes, please visit www.SoundsofPertussis.com. March of Dimes does not endorse specific products or brands.

About the Sounds of Pertussis

Sanofi Pasteur and March of Dimes are working together on the Sounds of Pertussis Campaign to help protect the health and wellness of adults and infants. The mission is to raise awareness about pertussis and to let parents, grandparents, caregivers and others in close contact with infants know how important it is to get vaccinated with an adult Tdap vaccine. Now in its third year, the Campaign sponsors creative, informative programs to educate the public about this serious disease.

At the heart of the Campaign is the Sounds of Pertussis public service announcement (PSA) featuring Gordon. The PSA utilizes the sound of a race car travelling more than 100 miles per hour as an analogy to illustrate how breath expelled by a child coughing could achieve the same speed. In the PSA, Gordon reminds parents about the dangers of pertussis and urges them to take the appropriate steps to help protect themselves and their families. You can learn more about the Campaign at: www.SoundsofPertussis.com.

About March of Dimes

March of Dimes is the leading organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and through its premier event, March for Babies, the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit www.marchofdimes.com or www.nacersano.org.

About Sanofi

Sanofi, a global and diversified healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients’ needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, rare diseases, consumer healthcare, emerging markets and animal health. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, provides more than 1 billion doses of vaccine each year, making it possible to immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the vaccine industry, Sanofi Pasteur offers the broadest range of vaccines protecting against 20 infectious diseases. The company’s heritage, to create vaccines that protect life, dates back more than a century. Sanofi Pasteur is the largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company invests more than EUR 1 million in research and development. For more information, please visit: www.sanofipasteur.com or www.sanofipasteur.us

    References
    (1.)  Centers for Disease Control and
     Prevention (CDC). Disease Information:
     Pertussis: Prevention. http://
     www.cdc.gov/pertussis/about/
     prevention.html. Accessed March 21,
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    (2.)  Centers for Disease Control and
     Prevention (CDC). 2009 NHIS Adult
     Vaccination Coverage. http://
     www.cdc.gov/vaccines/stats-surv/imz-
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    (3.)  Centers for Disease Control and
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    (6.)  Centers for Disease Control and
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    (7.)  California Department of Public
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     http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/
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    (8.)  Centers for Disease Control and
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    (9.)  Cherry JD. The epidemiology of
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SOURCE Sanofi Pasteur

(Ivanhoe Newswire) — Johns Hopkins scientists have launched a pioneering research program to create, for the first time, human platelet cells from stem cells in order to study inherited blood clotting abnormalities ranging from clots that cause heart attacks and stroke to bleeding disorders.

One goal of the Hopkins research is to increase understanding of how genes regulate the function of platelets, which are the sticky cells in blood that are important to stop excessive bleeding. The researchers will also investigate how genetic variations can affect a person’s responsiveness to aspirin and other medications that are designed to prevent clotting, in order to find new ways to prevent and treat abnormal clotting. Current anticoagulants, or “blood thinner” medications that are essential to prevent life-threatening complications from some heart or vascular diseases, are not always effective for individuals with certain genetic variations.

The other key aspect of the research will be to develop the technical capacity to produce large numbers of blood platelets from a single individual’s blood sample. That way, patients who need platelet transfusions, such as those whose platelets were wiped out following chemotherapy, would be able to be transfused with their own platelets without the risk of rejection that comes with receiving platelets donated from others.

“We will work to develop a completely new approach to generating blood cells for people who are desperately in need of chronic infusions,” Lewis Becker, M.D., professor of medicine and cardiologist at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who is the co-principal investigator of the study, called Functional Genomics of Platelet Aggregation Using iPS and Derived Megakaryocites, was quoted as saying.

To begin the research, small blood samples will be taken from 400 adult study volunteers. White blood cells from those donated samples will be transformed into immortal induced pluripotent stems cells, or iPS cells. Those iPS cells can be reprogramed into any type of human tissue. In this case, they will be converted into megakaryocytes, which are few in number, reside in bone marrow and produce platelets. The researchers will use brand new technology developed just four years ago by Japanese scientists to reprogram human cells. Previously, iPS cells could only be obtained from biopsies of skin or other organs, so having the ability to create them from blood samples is a big advance.

“We are essentially turning back the clock, transforming these adults cells back to their origins into an embryonic-like state,” says Linzhao Cheng, Ph.D., professor of medicine and associate director for basic research in the Division of Hematology. He is also a member of the Johns Hopkins Institute for Cell Engineering and a co-principal investigator of the study.

The blood samples will come from a large group of people who previously participated in the Johns Hopkins GeneSTAR study, a genetic research initiative with a database of 4,000 people who have family members with early heart disease. That study, which was the largest platelet function study in the world, uncovered an important genetic region related to platelet function and the effect of aspirin on blood clotting.

The five-year study is one of nine new stem cell projects funded by the NIH to examine how gene variants cause disease. “These studies will illuminate how specific genes behave in different tissues and should clarify the mechanisms by which a gene associated with a disease affects the biology of different tissues,” Susan B. Shurin, M.D., acting director of the NIH’s National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, was quoted as saying. “Understanding the cellular and tissue biology will allow us to develop and test new therapies and prevention methods. These approaches, using iPS cells on a large scale, could improve the predictive value of preclinical testing, benefit regenerative medicine and reduce the need for animal models of disease,” she said.

NAPLES, Fla., Aug. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — BistroMD, the weight loss program that provides great tasting, nutritionally sound meals for a lighter, healthier you, is proud to announce the latest addition to their culinary team, Chef Krishna Chand.

“We are proud to welcome Chef Krishna to our team of culinary professionals,” says Ed Cederquist, President of BistroMD. “With Chef Krishna’s expertise in creating authentic exotic cuisine, our clients will continue to be able to enjoy a new variety of unique and delicious meals while they achieve their weight loss goals.”

Chef Krishna earned his Associate Degree in Culinary Arts from the Art Institute of Atlanta in 1992. However, his interest in the culinary arts began years ago on the island of Antigua. As a child, Chef Krishna developed a passion for cooking at an early age.

“My earliest memories of cooking were of me helping my mother in the kitchen,” says Krishna. “I can remember sitting on my mother’s lap, beating eggs, helping her make palm cakes for her restaurant. Our family owned the only Indian restaurant on Antigua, which is where I grew up.”

Motivated by his love for cooking at an early age, Chef Krishna always knew he wanted to pursue a career as a chef. Since then, he has created fantastic culinary creations across Atlanta and across the country, serving as Executive Chef and Executive Corporate Chef for many local restaurants as well as national food distributors.

“I have always been at peace in the kitchen, no matter what’s going on in life,” says Krishna. “It brings me true happiness.”

As one of the top weight loss programs in the nation, BistroMD avoids bland and boring diet meals by working with a team of expert and specially trained chefs to prepare each meal. With Chef Krishna’s experience in perfecting exotic dishes, BistroMD will be able to offer clients even more healthy cuisine.

“Chef Krishna has a unique culinary background with his expertise in preparing Mediterranean, Moroccan, and Middle-Eastern cuisine,” says Cederquist. “We are looking forward to offering Chef Krishna’s fantastic and unique creations to our clients in the near future.”

To learn more about BistroMD, please visit http://www.BistroMD.com for more information.

Photos:

Chef Krishna Creating New Entrees:

http://www.ereleases.com/pic/ChefKrishnaCreatingNewEntrees.jpg

In his spare time, Chef Krishna loves to prepare new dishes and try out new ingredients for BistroMD.

Incorporating Exotic Flair:

http://www.ereleases.com/pic/IncorporatingExoticFlair.jpg

Chef Krishna is an expert at creating exotic dishes. Here he is slicing plantains to use in one of his unique recipes.

About BistroMD

Headquartered in Naples, Florida, BistroMD is a weight loss program that provides nutritionally sound, great-tasting meals, designed for a lighter, healthier you.

Founding physician Caroline J. Cederquist, M.D., is the medical director of the Cederquist Medical Wellness Center. As a board-certified bariatric physician, as well as a family practice physician, her scientific understanding of medical weight management through proper nutrition has allowed her to help patients all over the world achieve healthy weight loss.

BistroMD’s home-delivered meals are healthy, delicious and convenient, going beyond the diet industry’s focus on portion control. Each meal is chef-prepared with the proper combinations of food scientifically proven to support weight loss. For more information on BistroMD, please visit: http://www.BistroMD.com.

Contact: Amanda Paul
Phone: (239) 514-0700
Email: [email protected]

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

SOURCE BistroMD

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Aug. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACRX), (“AcelRx”), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of acute and breakthrough pain, reported financial results today for the second quarter and six months ended June 30, 2011.

Net loss for the second quarter of 2011 was $4.8 million, or $0.25 per share, compared with a net loss of $3.5 million, or $5.41 per share, for the second quarter of 2010. Common shares used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share were 19,375,000 in the second quarter of 2011 compared to 654,000 common shares in the second quarter of 2010.

During the second quarter of 2011, AcelRx recognized revenue of $40,000 resulting from reimbursement for work completed under a research grant from the US Army Medical Research and Material Command, or USAMRMC, for development of our ARX-04 product candidate, which became effective June 1, 2011. Research and development expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2011 totaled $3.0 million, compared with $2.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010. The increase was primarily due to development expenses for ARX-01 as AcelRx prepared for its planned Phase 3 trials. General and administrative expenses were $1.6 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2011, compared with $1.3 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2010. The increase results primarily from expenses associated with operation as a public company.

For the six months ended June 30, 2011, AcelRx reported a net loss of $8.0 million, or $0.53 per share, compared with a net loss of $7.2 million, or $11.26 per share for the same period in 2010. Common shares used in calculating basic and diluted earnings per share were 15,059,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to 641,000 common shares for the same period in the prior year.

As of June 30, 2011, AcelRx had cash, cash equivalents and investments of $37.8 million, compared with $3.7 million as of December 31, 2010. In February 2011, AcelRx completed its initial public offering, resulting in net proceeds to AcelRx of $34.9 million. In June 2011, AcelRx entered into a $20 million secured loan agreement with Hercules Technology Growth Capital, or Hercules. Upon execution of the agreement, AcelRx received $10 million in the first tranche of the loan.

“During the second quarter of 2011, we made significant strides towards initiation of Phase 3 studies for ARX-01, our lead product candidate for acute post-operative pain, and towards initiation later this year of the Phase 2 study for ARX-04, our product candidate for management of acute pain, being developed under a grant from USAMRMC,” said Richard King, President and CEO of AcelRx. “We remain on track to initiate enrollment in the first ARX-01 Phase 3 study, an efficacy study in major abdominal surgery later this year, to be followed by initiation of the second Phase 3 study, a head-to-head comparison of ARX-01 to the standard of care, intravenous patient-controlled analgesia, or IV PCA, in early 2012. We anticipate data from these studies to be available in the first half of 2012,” said Mr. King.

Development Updates

• The contract research organization, PharmaNet has been engaged to conduct the first two ARX-01 Phase 3 studies. Clinical sites have been identified for our first planned Phase 3 study, the abdominal surgery study, and each site has provided a completed capability assessment to PharmaNet as part of the site selection process.
• The ARX-01 system design for the dispensing device has been finalized, and AcelRx has completed two of a total of four planned user studies. The remaining two user studies, and final software validation are planned to be completed in the second half of 2011, and are required for review by FDA prior to initiation of the ARX-01 Phase 3 studies.
• Construction of the NanoTab commercial manufacturing facility has been completed at our contract manufacturer Patheon, Inc., and facility qualification is underway. This facility will manufacture clinical and commercial supplies.
• The ARX-04 Phase 2 study will evaluate two different doses of sufentanil in patients suffering from moderate-to-severe acute pain. PharmaNet has been retained to conduct the Phase 2 study, and the clinical trial sites for this study have been selected.

Financial Outlook

AcelRx anticipates that research and development expenses will increase over the next several years as it seeks to complete Phase 3 development of ARX-01. The development of ARX-02, a product candidate for the treatment of cancer breakthrough pain, and ARX-03, a product candidate for mild sedation and pain relief in procedures conducted in a physician’s office, will not advance until additional funding or the identification of a partner to support these efforts is secured. The development of ARX-04 beyond Phase 2 and initial preparations for Phase 3 is dependent on additional funding from the USAMRMC or the identification of a partner to support these efforts. Additionally, AcelRx anticipates increases in general and administrative expenses due to costs associated with operating as a public company and expansion of its corporate infrastructure to support ongoing development of its product candidates.

AcelRx believes its current cash, cash equivalents and investments, including the drawing, at AcelRx’s option, of the second $10 million tranche pursuant to the $20 million Hercules loan facility are sufficient to fund operations into the first quarter of 2013.

About AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Based in Redwood City, CA, AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACRX) is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the development and commercialization of innovative therapies for the treatment of acute and breakthrough pain. AcelRx’s lead product candidate, the ARX-01 Sufentanil NanoTab PCA System, which is in preparation for Phase 3 clinical development, is designed to solve the problems associated with post-operative intravenous patient-controlled analgesia which has been shown to cause harm to patients following surgery because of the side effects of morphine, the invasive IV route of delivery and the inherent potential for programming and delivery errors associated with the complexity of infusion pumps. AcelRx has two additional product candidates which have completed Phase 2 clinical development: ARX-02 for the treatment of cancer breakthrough pain, and ARX-03 for providing mild sedation, anxiety reduction and pain relief for patients undergoing painful procedures in a physician’s office. A fourth product candidate, ARX-04, is a sufentanil product for the treatment of moderate-to-severe acute pain that is expected to enter Phase 2 clinical development in the second half of 2011 under a grant from USAMRMC.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to AcelRx Pharmaceuticals’ financial viability, the sufficiency of funds to support its clinical trials and operations, planned or anticipated future clinical development of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals’ product candidates, including the anticipated timing for the clinical trials, the therapeutic and commercial potential of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals’ product candidates, and statements related to future events under the loan and security agreement with Hercules, including its ability to access the second tranche funds under such agreement. These forward-looking statements are based on AcelRx Pharmaceuticals’ current expectations and inherently involve significant risks and uncertainties. AcelRx Pharmaceuticals’ actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements as a result of these risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation, risks related to: the success, cost and timing of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals’ product development activities and clinical trials; the uncertain clinical development process, including the risk that planned clinical trials may not begin on time, have an effective design, enroll a sufficient number of patients, or be initiated or completed on schedule, if at all; its ability to obtain adequate clinical supplies of the drug and device components of its product candidates; its ability to attract funding partners or collaborators with development, regulatory and commercialization expertise; its ability to obtain sufficient financing to complete development and registration of its product candidates in the United States and Europe; its ability to obtain and maintain regulatory approvals of its product candidates; the market potential for its product candidates; the accuracy of AcelRx Pharmaceuticals’ estimates regarding expenses, capital requirements and needs for financing; AcelRx Pharmaceuticals’ ability to satisfy the conditions required to access the second tranche funds under the loan and security agreement with Hercules, extend the interest-only period under such agreement and repay a portion of the principal thereunder with common stock; and other risks detailed in the “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in AcelRx Pharmaceuticals’ U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings and reports, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. AcelRx Pharmaceuticals undertakes no duty or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained in this release as a result of new information, future events or changes in its expectations.

                                     SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
                              (in thousands, except per share data)
                                           (unaudited)

                                                   Three Months Ended
                                                        June 30,
                                                        --------
                                                 2011                  2010
                                                 ----                  ----
    Statement of Operations Data
    Research grant revenue                        $40                    $-

    Operating expenses:
      Research and development (1)              3,029                 2,033
      General and administrative
       (1)                                      1,630                 1,276
                                                                      -----
        Total operating expenses                4,659                 3,309
                                                -----                 -----
    Loss from operations                       (4,619)               (3,309)

    Interest expense                             (156)                 (214)
    Interest income and Other
     income (expense), net                         12                   (14)
                                                  ---                   ---
    Net loss                                  $(4,763)              $(3,537)
                                              =======               =======

    Basic and diluted net loss
     per common share                          $(0.25)               $(5.41)

    Shares used in computing
     basic and diluted net loss
     per common share                          19,375                   654
                                               ======                   ===




         (1)   Includes the following
          noncash, stock-based
          compensation expense

                Research and development         $204                  $423
                General and administrative        262                   317
                       Total non-cash, stock-
                        based expense            $466                  $740
                                                 ====                  ====

                                                        Six Months Ended
                                                            June 30,
                                                            --------
                                                        2011          2010
                                                        ----          ----
    Statement of Operations Data
    Research grant revenue                               $40            $-

    Operating expenses:
      Research and development (1)                     4,975         4,795
      General and administrative (1)                   3,220         1,948
                                                                     -----
        Total operating expenses                       8,195         6,743
                                                       -----         -----
    Loss from operations                              (8,155)       (6,743)

    Interest expense                                  (1,514)         (458)
    Interest income and Other
     income (expense), net                             1,702           (18)
                                                       -----           ---
    Net loss                                         $(7,967)      $(7,219)
                                                     =======       =======

    Basic and diluted net loss per
     common share                                     $(0.53)      $(11.26)

    Shares used in computing basic
     and diluted net loss per
     common share                                     15,059           641
                                                      ======           ===




         (1)   Includes the following
          noncash, stock-based
          compensation expense

                Research and development                $325          $547
                General and administrative               464           319
                       Total non-cash, stock-based
                        expense                         $789          $866
                                                        ====          ====

    Selected Balance Sheet Data
                                            June 30,   December 31,
                                              2011         2010
                                           ---------  -------------

    Cash, cash equivalents and investments    $37,802         $3,682
    Total assets                               40,987          6,830
    Total liabilities                          12,572         16,781
    Total stockholders' equity (deficit)       28,415         (9,951)

SOURCE AcelRx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Mariusz A. Wasik, MD, professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Qian Zhang, MD, PhD, research assistant professor, both from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and their colleagues, found that a cancer-causing fusion protein works by silencing the tumor suppressor gene IL-2R common gamma-chain (IL-2RÃŽ³). The results, which appeared in a recent Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, suggest news targets for lymphoma and other types of cancer.

Fusion proteins are created by two genes — originally coding for separate proteins — joining together. Translation of the fusion gene into an active protein results in a molecule with properties derived from each of the originals. Fusion proteins are relatively commonly found in cancer cells.

The team looked at a fusion protein called NPM-ALK. Anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), which physiologically is expressed only by neurons in fetal life, causes cancer when it is mistakenly expressed in non-neural tissues as a fusion protein with nucleophosphin (NPM) and other partners. NPM-ALK works by silencing the tumor suppressor gene IL-2RÃŽ³. The ALK fusion genes are active in several cancer types including some carcinomas of the lung, thyroid, and kidney.

The protein IL-2RÃŽ³ is shared by receptors for several proteins called cytokines that play key roles in the maturation and growth of normal immune cells called CD4+ T cells. The Penn team found that IL-2RÃŽ³ expression is inhibited in T-cell lymphoma cells expressing NPM-ALK as a result of epigenetic silencing. The IL-2RÃŽ³ gene promoter is silenced by a chemical change to the DNA itself, in this case, the adding of a methyl group to DNA’s molecular backbone.

Role of Epigenetic Silencing

Epigenetic gene silencing represents an important mechanism of inhibiting tumor suppressor gene expression in cancer cells. The silencing affects gene promoter regions within DNA, in two ways: methylation of the DNA and modification of histones and other proteins. The methylation is mediated by enzymes called DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs). Histones are modified by histone deacetylases.

Silencing of the IL-2RÃŽ³ promoter via methylation is induced in malignant T cells by NPM-ALK by activating another protein called STAT3. STAT3 increases expression of one of the DNMTs and facilitates attachment of this and other DNMTs to the IL-2RÃŽ³ gene promoter. Strikingly, when IL-2RÃŽ³ is expressed, NPM-ALK disappears from the cancerous T cells, and they eventually die. These results demonstrate that NPM-ALK induces epigenetic silencing of the IL-2RÃŽ³ gene and that IL-2RÃŽ³ acts as a tumor suppressor by reciprocally inhibiting expression of NPM-ALK.

“Epigenetic silencing is not an independent event, and genetics “” in the form of the aberrant fusion protein “” drives an epigenetic change,” says Wasik. “Is this phenomenon generalizable? Can we overcome the tumor suppressor gene silencing using inhibitors of DNA methylation, which are already approved to treat some forms of blood cancer, to inhibit the expression of NPM-ALK and possibly other cancer-causing proteins in patients?”

This approach could potentially complement inhibition of fusion protein activity as is routinely done for BCR-ABL in chronic myelogeneous leukemia and experimentally for ALK in lung carcinoma, lymphoma and other malignancies expressing ALK.

The research was funded by the grants from the National Cancer Institute and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

—

On the Net:

• Penn Medicine
• Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

NEW YORK, Aug. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC) today announced the first two of its keynote speakers for its Digital Health Conference 2011: U.S. Health and Human Services Chief Technology Officer Todd Park and acclaimed healthcare writer/reporter T.R. Reid.

In addition, NYeC continues to look for other speakers to share their experiences, insights and ideas on health information technology (HIT). Educational sessions will be held throughout the day and will focus on four areas of HIT innovation – Chronic Disease Management, Advances in the Hospital Setting, Delivery of Primary Care, and Health and Wellness. These sessions may take the form of a traditional presentation with a discussion, an interactive panel discussion with a moderator, a technological demonstration, or any other type of interactive/creative display. If you are interested in presenting, please contact Tom Tagariello, NYeC Events Manager, at [email protected] or visit www.digitalhealthconference.com.

Todd Park, Chief Technology Officer at the United States Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for helping HHS leadership harness the power of data, technology, and innovation to improve the health and welfare of the nation. Mr. Park’s distinguished career has focused on developing technologies and services to help healthcare systems work. He is co-founder of Athenahealth, a vendor of health information technology and electronic medical record services. Mr. Park graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa from Harvard College with an A.B. in economics.

T.R. Reid has become one of the nation’s best-known reporters through his coverage of global affairs for The Washington Post, his books and documentary films, and his work with National Public Radio and PBS. Reid is known for his in-depth investigations of healthcare here in the United States and across the globe. He has written and hosted documentary films for National Geographic TV, PBS, and the A&E network. His Frontline documentary “Sick Around the World” garnered wide acclaim and his latest book “The Healing of America,” was a national best-seller.

About the Digital Health Conference:

The conference, running Dec. 1st and 2nd and located in New York City, will draw healthcare providers of all types, as well as participants from the public sector, private industry, health plans, hospital administration, healthcare venders, and many others to showcase the latest technologies, celebrate achievements, inspire collaboration, and generally support the advancement of healthcare innovation.

NYeC was founded in 2006 and later designated by the federal government and the state of New York to advance HIT statewide- improving healthcare and reducing costs for all New Yorkers. While it receives support and official designations from the state and federal governments, NYeC is an independent collaborative. It partners with stakeholders from around the state and across the nation to promote innovation, provide support, and establish policies necessary to advance HIT in New York. NYeC works to ensure that its mission of statewide HIT implementation is successful through a specific focus on four key areas: education, public and private collaboration, the construction of a statewide health information network for New York (SHIN-NY), and technical and adoption services to help providers adopt electronic health records in their practices.

SOURCE New York eHealth Collaborative

COVINGTON, La., Aug. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — With more Americans “stressed out” due to financial strain, Evamor Natural Artesian Water is granting Texans stress relief wishes from wedding gowns to baby cribs on www.EncounterGoodness.com. Through the Encounter Goodness campaign – a pay it forward movement created by Evamor to help relieve stresses of life – visitors to www.EncounterGoodness.com share what is causing their stress, for the chance to let Evamor provide relief.

“At Evamor, we are passionate about our customers and are concerned about their well-being beyond their physical health,” said Bo Reily, president of Evamor. “The Encounter Goodness movement is our way of supporting people in need and an idea we hope will inspire others to help a neighbor, friend or family member anyway they can. Whether new parents-to-be are stressed to find the money to purchase a crib for their newborn, or a bride can’t afford her dream dress, we look forward to granting wishes to Texans in need.”

Evamor, which boasts a natural alkalinity level 100 times higher than other bottled waters, is focused on keeping Texans healthy with increased dietary alkalinity, which leads to a more active and enjoyable lifestyle. Bottled at the source and never touched by human hands, Evamor was filtered by the Earth’s natural processes centuries ago and protected in an artesian aquifer half a mile underground in Covington, La. With a pH level at 8.8, Evamor also aids in combating excess acids introduced by the modern diet loaded with sugars, preservatives and fats, as well as, excess acids caused by stress.

To learn more about Encounter Goodness, please visit www.EncounterGoodness.com.

Evamor Natural Artesian Water can be found at the following locations:

    --   Brookshire Bros                      --   Rice Epicurean
    --   Central Market                       --   Timewise
    --   Fiesta Mart                          --   Tom Thumb
    --   H-E-B                                --   United Supermarkets
    --   Kroger                               --   Whole Foods
    --   Randall's

Evamor Products, Inc. is a privately held company based in Covington, La. and is a subsidiary of Wm. B. Reily & Co., Inc. For more information, including pH facts and additional locations where Evamor is available, please visit us on the web at http://www.wateryoucanfeel.com/.

About Evamor pH levels: New Evamor is now a Natural Artesian Water that is bottled at the source in a brand new state of the art bottling plant. The natural artesian source of Evamor can fluctuate between 8.6 and 9.1 over time. Because Evamor follows all Federal, State and Local laws, the lowest pH measurement is stated on the label. Be assured that the New Evamor is the finest alkaline water available.

SOURCE Evamor Natural Artesian Water

WASHINGTON, Aug. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The American Telemedicine Association has issued a call for abstracts for presentation at ATA 2012, the Association’s 17th Annual International Meeting & Exposition, April 29 – May 1, 2012, in San Jose, California. Recognized throughout the world as the primary forum for the telemedicine industry, the ATA 2012 program meets the changing needs of professionals who utilize telehealth technologies. For full submission guidelines, visit www.ata2012.com.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110810/DC49954LOGO)

“This is a very exciting time to be involved with ATA and telemedicine. The benefits of remote medicine have been clearly established and every day new telemedicine applications are improving the delivery of healthcare,” said Jon Linkous, Chief Executive Officer of the American Telemedicine Association. “We encourage any and all professionals involved with telehealth technologies to share their latest research and developments at the upcoming ATA 2012 conference.”

High-quality abstracts on any topic relating to telemedicine, telehealth, mHealth and remote medical technologies will be considered. However, abstracts that focus on the following five focus areas are of particular interest for the ATA 2012 program.

• The business, finance and economics of telemedicine
• Best practices to ensure quality of care, reduced costs and/or improved access
• Scientific research, outcomes and evidence for telemedicine
• Innovative telehealth applications
• Public policy, reimbursement and licensure issues for telemedicine

For full guidelines and an online submission form, visit www.ata2012.com.

The ATA Annual Meeting is the world’s largest meeting and exposition focusing exclusively on telemedicine, telehealth, mHealth and remote medical technologies. In 2011 it was recognized as the world’s 7th fastest growing meeting by the publication Tradeshow Executive. This year, over 4,500 attendees and 250 vendors are expected to convene in the San Jose Convention Center, April 29 – May 1, 2012. Whether you are a novice or expert, ATA 2012 offers a revitalized approach to presenting and learning about telemedicine, telehealth and mHealth. For more information, visit www.ata2012.com.

The American Telemedicine Association is the leading international resource and advocate promoting the use of advanced remote medical technologies. ATA and its diverse membership work to fully integrate telemedicine into healthcare systems to improve quality, equity and affordability of healthcare throughout the world. Established in 1993, ATA is headquartered in Washington, DC. For more information visit www.americantelemed.org.

Contact: Benjamin Forstag, 202-223-3333, [email protected]

SOURCE AMERICAN TELEMEDICINE ASSOCIATION

(Ivanhoe Newswire) ““ A new study reveals that prescriptions for antidepressants are increasing among Americans with no psychiatric diagnosis.

Antidepressants are one of the most costly and the third most commonly prescribed drugs in the United States. In the last two decades, the use of antidepressants has grown tremendously. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports from 2005 to 2008 nearly nine percent of Americans during any given month, had at least one antidepressant prescription in their medicine cabinet.

Researchers used data from the 1996-2007 National Ambulatory Medical Care Surveys. They studied a national sample of office-based physician visits by patients’ ages 18 years and older during a one-week period. The team compared antidepressant visits lacking psychiatric diagnoses with antidepressant visits including psychiatric diagnoses and visits lacking both prescriptions for antidepressants and psychiatric diagnoses.

“Nearly four out of every five antidepressant prescriptions are written by non-psychiatrist providers. Between 1996 and 2007, the number of visits where individuals were prescribed antidepressants with no psychiatric diagnoses increased from 59.5 percent to 72.7 percent and the share of providers who prescribed antidepressants without a concurrent psychiatric diagnosis increased from 30 percent of all non-psychiatrist physicians in 1996 to 55.4 percent in 2007,” Ramin Mojtabai, M.D., PhD, M.P.H., lead study author, and an associate professor with the Bloomberg School’s Department of Mental Health, was quoted saying.

The researchers recommend that antidepressants should be prescribed primarily to individuals with severe depression or a confirmed psychiatric diagnosis.

“Antidepressants are being prescribed for uses not supported by clinical evidence. There may be a need to improve providers’ prescribing practices, revamp drug formularies or undertake broad reforms of the health care system that will increase communication between primary care providers and mental health specialists,” Dr. Mojtabai said.

SOURCE: Health Affairs, August 10, 2011.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Aug. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — MSC Care Management, a national leader in delivery of medical products and care management solutions to the workers’ compensation industry, introduces MSC CareTrack, a program that offers important patient data to help our customers manage patient care progress and product utilization.

The program, which is free to MSC customers, targets vital patient feedback on the quality of care they are receiving from MSC in particular, as well as changes or improvements to their overall quality of life in general. Tools such as standardized health surveys, utilization management reporting and quality assurance follow-up are gathered and combined to gain a total patient snapshot. Through MSC CareTrack, MSC conducts telephonic, automated outreach at predetermined intervals to each patient, throughout the continuum of care.

“Collectively, the information gathered through MSC CareTrack helps payors make informed decisions about adjustments to patient care that will help return the patient to work and an optimal level of functioning,” explained Joe Delaney, President and CEO of MSC Care Management.

MSC CareTrack’s automated health survey tracks patient progress and helps payors determine how well treatments are working. Powered by QualityMetric SF12v2® Health Survey (Short Form 12), this is a special breed of health survey that is scientifically valid and will capture practical, reliable, and accurate information to fill in the gaps and provide a unique understanding of what is really happening with a patient. This survey can provide a snapshot of overall health status and point to trends that could signal an important change in a patient’s condition. The results can be used to prospectively assess risk, improve quality of care, and contain costs.

Application of our survey tool also provides ongoing oversight of our medical rentals management – usually a time-intensive process for claims professionals – and is conducted throughout a patient’s care by verifying that the patient is continuing to use each rental product. This process allows MSC to more effectively monitor high-cost rental items for its customers and terminate rentals when the patient no longer uses or needs them, dramatically reducing the average monthly duration of rental products.

Data collected by MSC CareTrack can be used to make informed decisions about adjustments to patient care, while that care is being rendered, that will best contribute to a return to an optimal level of work and functioning. In addition, a payor now has access to a tool to evaluate progress for a defined population of patients and the related outcomes of new and innovative methods of treatment.

About MSC

Jacksonville, Fla.-based MSC is the nation’s leading care management company serving post-injury workers’ compensation patients. The company provides technology-driven solutions with a clinically based foundation to the country’s largest workers’ compensation insurers, third-party administrators and self-insured employers. By focusing on specialized ancillary services, MSC offers distinct expertise via a single point of contact. MSC’s service areas include Catastrophic & Home Health Services, Equipment & Device Management, and Optimal Care Transportation & Translation. For more information, visit www.YourMSC.com.

SOURCE MSC Care Management

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Genesis Biopharma, Inc. (OTC/BB: GNBP), a biotechnology company developing targeted cancer immunotherapies, today announced it has signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Under the terms of the five-year cooperative research and development agreement, Genesis Biopharma will work with Steven A. Rosenberg, M.D., Ph.D., the NCI Surgery Branch Chief, to develop adoptive cell immunotherapies that are designed to destroy metastatic melanoma cells using a patient’s tumor infiltrating lymphocytes.

Specifically, the CRADA will (i) support the in vitro development of improved methods for the generation and selection of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes with anti-tumor reactivity from patients with metastatic melanoma, (ii) develop approaches for large-scale production of tumor infiltrating lymphocytes that are in accord with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) procedures suitable for use in treating patients with metastatic melanoma, and (iii) allow the conduct of clinical trials using these improved methods of generating tumor infiltrating lymphocytes as well as improved adoptive cell therapy preparative regimens for the treatment of metastatic melanoma.

Both Genesis Biopharma and the NCI may provide personnel, services, facilities, equipment or other resources under the agreement. Genesis Biopharma will provide funding for the CRADA research project. Genesis Biopharma will have an exclusive option to negotiate an exclusive license to any new inventions developed jointly or solely by NCI scientists as a result of the research activities under the CRADA.

“The medical oncology community is very aware of Dr. Rosenberg’s groundbreaking work using adoptive cell therapy and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes for the treatment of metastatic melanoma,” stated Anthony J. Cataldo, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Genesis Biopharma. “We look forward to working with Dr. Rosenberg and his colleagues at the NCI on this research project.”

Genesis Biopharma has been independently developing Contego(TM), the Company’s autologous cell therapy product candidate for the treatment of metastatic melanoma, and has partnered with members of its Scientific and Medical Advisory Board for advice and assistance. Genesis Biopharma’s Scientific and Medical Advisory Board is comprised of leading oncology researchers and clinicians, and includes:

• Cassian Yee, M.D., of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
• James Mule, Ph.D. and Jeffrey Weber, M.D., Ph.D., of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
• Patrick Hwu, M.D. and Laszlo Radvanyi, Ph.D., of MD Anderson Cancer Center
• Daniel Powell, Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
• Mario Sznol, M.D., of Yale University School of Medicine
• David DiGiusto, Ph.D., of the City of Hope

Genesis Biopharma also recently announced the signing of a process development and scale-up agreement relating to the manufacture of Contego with Lonza, one of the world’s leading suppliers to the pharmaceutical, healthcare and life science industries. Lonza is also one of the largest manufacturers of autologous cell therapy products.

About Genesis Biopharma, Inc.

Genesis Biopharma, Inc. is a development-stage biotechnology company engaged in the development of targeted cancer immunotherapies. For more information about the company, visit www.genesis-biopharma.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

The foregoing announcement contains forward-looking statements that can be identified by such terminology as “expects,” “hopes,” “potential,” “suggests,” “bodes,” “may,” “should,” “could,” or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. In particular, management’s expectations regarding future research, development and/or commercial results could be affected by, among other things, uncertainties relating to clinical trials and product development; availability of future financing; unexpected regulatory delays or government regulation generally; the company’s ability to obtain or maintain patent and other proprietary intellectual property protection; and competition in general. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. The company does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect circumstances or events that occur after the date the forward-looking statements are made.

SOURCE Genesis Biopharma, Inc.

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — At a time when the world economy is sputtering and stock market charts have more peaks and valleys than the Grand Canyon, domestic violence charity founder and filmmaker, Rich Tola, is seeking sponsors for his 30,000 mile, 100 Cities in 100 Days, fundraising tour.

The Boulevard Zen Foundation (www.boulevardzen.com) teaches yoga to women and children living in domestic violence shelters. Tola, a fitness and yoga master with degrees from Wharton and Kellogg, has taught more than 15,000 students. “For 100 days straight, we’ll entertain and motivate you with 100 cool, travelogue workout videos from 100 historic places throughout the United States,” Tola said. “We’re seeking health conscious sponsors to be included in more than 150 videos and trailers. Sponsors who believe in our cause to empower women and children survivors of domestic violence, and who support our efforts to thwart childhood and adult obesity with the help of a daily fitness program based on yoga.” Plus, Tola plans to invite celebrities to join them on the tour.

Tola donates his time and 10% of all DVD sales, including his film, Boulevard Zen, Rich Tola’s Yoga Survival Guide and Rich Tola’s 15 Minute Fat Burning Workouts, to the nonprofit. “We have a proven model to expand into domestic violence shelters in all 50 states,” says Tola, “and our weekly yoga classes help stop the cycle of violence by strengthening their self-confidence and self-esteem.”

In preparation for his “Fat Burn America Tour: 100 Cities in 100 Days”, Tola completed a 100 day web series, 5 Minute Fat Burning Workouts: 100 Workouts in 100 Days, and the Tour’s Hollywood Walk of Fame Sneak Preview, both available on YouTube: www.youtube.com/boulevardzen. Soon, his team of celebrity yoga teachers and film crew will visit historic sites throughout America, distributing 15-minute travelogue workout videos to the Internet every day for free. “We want to create a movement,” Tola says, “for the world – especially America – to burn fat while helping The Boulevard Zen Foundation change lives.”

To inquire about Sponsorship, please call (310) 600-1651 or email [email protected].

Follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/BlvdZen and Twitter: www.twitter.com/BlvdZen.

This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com.

SOURCE The Boulevard Zen Foundation

MUMBAI, August 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ —

        
        - Revamilast is a PDE4 inhibitor, under development for
          Asthma, Rheumatoid Arthritis and other inflammatory disorders
        - The molecule successfully completed pre-clinical trials and
          Phase I studies
             - Phase I studies on healthy volunteers were carried out
             mainly in the UK
        - Glenmark has initiated global Phase IIb studies for both
          indications in Europe and Asia
        - Huge unmet medical need as globally they are over 300 million
          Asthma patients and over 20 million Rheumatoid Arthritis patients

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals today announced that its Novel Chemical Entity
“Revamilast” (GRC 4039) has initiated Phase IIb human dose range finding
trials globally. Revamilast is an orally active, potent and selective
inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE 4) that is currently being developed
by Glenmark for the treatment of chronic inflammatory disorders such as
Asthma, Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory diseases. The Phase
IIb studies that will be carried out will help establish the efficacy and
safety of the molecule and will also provide dose range finding data for
Revamilast.

Dr. Steffen Stuerzebecher, President & Chief Medical Officer, Glenmark
Pharmaceuticals Ltd said “The clinical trials and the animal studies data
for Revamilast are promising for both indications i.e. Asthma and Rheumatoid
Arthritis. There is a huge unmet need for both these chronic medical
conditions globally. For Glenmark, this is a significant development as we
have built on more than a decade of experience in the PDE 4 space to
progress an exciting molecule to Phase II human trials.”

In Phase I studies carried out mainly in the United Kingdom, nearly 150
healthy volunteers have been dosed and no Serious Adverse Events have been
noted. The pharmacodynamic evaluation in healthy human volunteers treated
with Revamilast suggests a good ex-vivo inhibition of the inflammatory
marker TNF-alpha with maximum inhibition upto 93%. Based on these results
and animal model data, it is expected that Revamilast would be beneficial in
a variety of inflammatory disorders. Additionally, Revamilast does not
appear to be metabolized to carcinogenic metabolites (ADCP N-oxide and ADCP
N-oxide epoxide); and plasma samples from a Phase 1 study analyzed for such
metabolites of Revamilast, showed no levels were detected in human plasma.

With the completion of several Phase I studies, Glenmark has initiated a
global Phase IIb trial for Revamilast in patients with Asthma. Glenmark has
already received approval from respective authorities in the UK, Poland,
India and Czech Republic to conduct Phase IIb studies. Regulatory
submissions have also been completed in Russia. The primary objective of
this 12-week, double blind, placebo controlled, dose range finding study is
to evaluate the effects of Revamilast at three doses on lung function (FEV1)
in nearly 450 patients with chronic persistent Asthma.

Glenmark has also initiated another global Phase IIb trial with
Revamilast in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Glenmark has already
received approval from the MHRA, UK, India, Poland and the Philippines to
conduct Phase IIb studies for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Regulatory submissions
have also been completed in Sri Lanka. The objective is to determine the
efficacy of three doses of Revamilast compared to placebo in the treatment
of more than 400 patients with active Rheumatoid Arthritis who showed an
inadequate response to methotrexate.

In parallel to these two clinical studies, Glenmark is also conducting
various other clinical and non-clinical studies to ensure timely entry into
Phase III trials. Glenmark intends to initiate Phase III trials for at least
one indication in the second half of FY 2012-13

PDE4 inhibitors (Impact on Asthma and RA)

PDE 4 inhibitors represent class of therapeutic agents with a unique
mechanism of action for the treatment of a range of chronic inflammatory
disorders including COPD, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, IBD and psoriasis.
This mechanism of action of PDE4 inhibitors would be useful in treating
chronic inflammatory conditions such as RA and asthma. Many manifestations
of RA are significantly influenced by the effects of pro-inflammatory
cytokines (e.g., TNF, IL-1, IL-6). In asthma, there remains a need for the
development of novel anti-inflammatory therapies that are at least equally
effective and possess a superior safety profile in comparison to
corticosteroids.

PDE 4 inhibitors relax smooth muscles and attenuate the inflammatory
response to a wide variety of stimuli and in particular suppress many
cytokines, including TNF-alpha production in mononuclear cells. Therefore,
PDE 4 inhibitors present a novel treatment opportunity for a range of
chronic inflammatory diseases.

A first-in-class PDE 4 inhibitor, Roflumilast, has recently been
approved in the European Union and in Mar’2011, Forest Laboratories Inc. and
Nycomed A/S have received US FDA approval for Roflumilast to treat symptoms
associated with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Patient Population

Globally there are over 300 million asthma patients and over 20 million
patients have RA. The current RA market is estimated at USD 26 billion and
the Asthma market is estimated at USD 30 bn

About Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd

Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (GPL) is a research-driven, global,
integrated pharmaceutical company headquartered at Mumbai, India. It is a
leading player in the discovery of new molecules both NCEs (new chemical
entity) and NBEs (new biological entity). Glenmark has eight molecules in
various stages of clinical development and is primarily focused in the areas
of Inflammation [asthma/COPD, rheumatoid arthritis etc.] Pain [neuropathic
pain and inflammatory pain] and Oncology[Luekemias/Lymphomas]. The company
has a significant presence in branded generics markets across emerging
economies including India. GPL along with its subsidiary has twelve
manufacturing facilities in four countries and has five R&D centres.

        
        For further information, please contact:
        Jason D'Souza
        Glenmark, Mumbai, India Tel: [+91-22]40189919
        Email : [email protected]

SOURCE Glenmark Pharmaceuticals Ltd.

SALT LAKE CITY, Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Dr. Mark Taylor, a board certified dermatologist at the Gateway Aesthetic Institute & Laser Center in Salt Lake City, Utah, has developed a new method for treating acne scars that is showing tremendous results. The treatment combines several proven acne scar treatment methods into a more potent, single session. The multi-step process combines tumescent anesthesia (to swell and numb the skin), extensive subcision (to release scar tissue creating divots and pits), chemical peeling, laser resurfacing and Fraxel Repair Laser treatment. Dr. Taylor even designed a custom surgical tool, and then had it manufactured, to better perform the extensive subcision portion of the procedure.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110809/LA49844)

Dr. Taylor was invited to present the new technique last year to medical colleagues at the International Masters Course on Aging Skin in Paris, France. Dr. Taylor notes, “With this new combined treatment method, we have been achieving greater improvement, often 70+ percent improvement, in a single treatment.”

The entire treatment is performed in-office as an outpatient procedure and takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes. Patients are given oral medications, topical anesthetic and tumescent anesthesia to insure that they are comfortable. After the procedure, most patients require 7 to 14 days before returning to work or to sensitive social situations. After recovery, residual depressed acne scars can also be filled with Perlane® or Juvederm® for even greater improvement.

Anyone interested in learning if they are a good candidate for treatment may call the Gateway Aesthetic Institute & Laser Center at 801-595-1600 to schedule a consultation. Out of town patients (who have come as far away as England), are welcome to send a clear photo of their acne scars and one of Dr. Taylor’s professional staff members will follow-up with a quote regarding cost and details of treatment.

The Gateway Aesthetic Institute & Laser Center is located at the south end of the Gateway Mall at 440 West 200 South, Suite 250, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101. For additional information visit www.GatewayLaserCenter.com, call 801-595-1600, or email [email protected]

Other services and treatments available at the Gateway Aesthetic Institute & Laser Center include Botox® & Dysport®, Restylane® & Juvederm, Sculptra®, SmartLipo®, Tumescent liposuction, laser eyelid surgery, wrinkle & scar treatment, light & laser facials, spider vein treatment, laser hair removal, laser tattoo removal, dermatology and more.

Mark B. Taylor, M.D. is a world-renowned dermatologist and cosmetic laser surgeon who has been in practice for over thirty years. Since the origination of laser treatments for skin, Dr. Taylor has been a leader in the field of cosmetic laser surgery, pioneering and teaching many new laser techniques to over 4,000 doctors world-wide. Dr. Taylor owns and operates the largest dedicated cosmetic laser center in the world.

Dr. Taylor and his well-trained staff use leading-edge products and over forty different lasers to provide a range of high-quality services including removal of birthmarks, hair, scars, spider veins, and tattoos; skin rejuvenation and resurfacing; eyelid restoration and lip enhancement; tumescent liposuction and cosmetic skin surgery, acne, cellulite, and stretch mark treatments.

Dr. Taylor received his medical degree from the University of Utah, specialized in dermatology at the University of Oregon, and is board-certified in dermatology through the American Board of Dermatology. He is a member of the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery as well as many other professional organizations. In addition, Dr. Taylor has developed new techniques for many other laser treatments and cosmetic surgery which he performs on a regular basis in his Salt Lake City practice.

SOURCE Gateway Aesthetic Institute & Laser Center

New course on designing the hybrid operating room to be held in August at Perkins+Will

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — ECRI Institute, an independent nonprofit that researches the best approaches to improving patient care, announces its new designation as an American Institute of Architects (AIA/CES) approved provider of continuing education services for the healthcare design world. Two courses have been developed already including, “Building a Hybrid Operating Room,” a program being offered August 31, 2011, at the award-winning architecture firm, Perkins+Will, in their New York City offices.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110112/DC29081LOGO)

“These AIA/CES-approved programs are an excellent way to bring ECRI Institute’s in-depth expertise in medical technology, especially our clinical knowledge of emerging technologies, to the healthcare design field,” said Thomas Skorup, MBA, Vice President, Applied Solutions at ECRI Institute. “It’s very important for architects to understand these new technologies so that the hospitals they are designing now are more likely to be future-proof and meet clinical workflow and patient safety goals.”

The curriculum for the August course, taught by ECRI Institute’s Jay Ticer, Senior Associate, Applied Solutions, explores the concept of the hybrid operating room and the varied components used to provide patient care in this environment. It addresses issues related to the design, layout and implementation of these highly sophisticated patient care spaces. Upon completion of the program, participants will be able to recognize the procedure types and related imaging systems required for a hybrid operating room and differentiate the types of hybrid operating rooms and their unique benefits and challenges.

“Having worked with ECRI Institute’s medical equipment planners, we know their depth of expertise,” notes John Rodenbeck, Senior Associate at Perkins+Will. “These new AIA/CES-approved courses from ECRI will be very helpful to my architect colleagues.”

An AIA/CES-approved course provided by ECRI Institute is “Infection Control Risk Assessment for Healthcare Construction Activities,” a hands-on learning course for architects and construction healthcare management professionals. “Integrating the Operating Room” and “The Hybrid Operating Room” are two additional programs that may be of interest to architects.

ECRI Institute’s expert staff provides medical equipment planning services to architects, their healthcare clients, and directly to healthcare providers worldwide for over four decades. Their unique set of competencies includes complete scientific objectivity, a full range of project management skills, equipment procurement and management support, and up-to-date information on effective new clinical technologies. Backed by the depth of ECRI’s expertise, they help hospitals design the best possible clinical and operational workflows. ECRI Institute’s equipment planning staff draws on the knowledge of the organization’s multi-disciplinary staff of 350 full-time physicians, nurses, architects, engineers, equipment analysts, and planners.

For more information about ECRI Institute’s AIA/CES-approved courses or medical equipment planning support, contact ECRI Institute by mail at 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462-1298, USA; by telephone at (610) 825-6000; by e-mail at [email protected], or by fax at (610) 834-1275.

About ECRI Institute
ECRI Institute (www.ecri.org), a nonprofit organization, dedicates itself to bringing the discipline of applied scientific research to healthcare to discover which medical procedures, devices, drugs, and processes are best to enable improved patient care. As pioneers in this science for more than 40 years, ECRI Institute marries experience and independence with the objectivity of evidence-based research. Strict conflict-of-interest guidelines ensure objectivity. ECRI Institute was designated as a Collaborating Center of the World Health Organization and is designated as an Evidence-based Practice Center by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. ECRI Institute PSO, listed as a federally certified Patient Safety Organization by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, strives to achieve the highest levels of safety and quality in healthcare by collecting and analyzing patient safety information and sharing lessons learned and best practices. Find ECRI Institute on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ECRIInstitute) and on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ECRI_Institute).

About The American Institute of Architects
For over 150 years, members of the American Institute of Architects have worked with each other and their communities to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings and cityscapes. Members adhere to a code of ethics and professional conduct to ensure the highest standards in professional practice. Embracing their responsibility to serve society, AIA/CES members engage civic and government leaders and the public in helping find needed solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation, and world. Visit www.aia.org.

SOURCE ECRI Institute

Petitions call for management to honor their contractual commitment to provide RNs with Taft-Hartley Pension Plan; Nurses will also Testify at Public Hearing for Sale of Quincy Medical Center

CANTON, Mass., Aug. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A delegation of MNA nurses working at local Caritas/Steward hospitals will hand-deliver hundreds of signed petitions to Ralph de la Torre, CEO of Steward Health Care. The petitions call for Steward management to sign the documents that will establish the MNA Taft-Hartley multi-employer defined benefit pension plan as proposed and agreed to under the limited master agreement signed and ratified with Steward over nine months ago.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20060525/NETH016LOGO)

Since that time, Steward has:

1. Failed to honor the nurses’ existing contract by failing to establish the agreed upon Taft-Hartley plan.
2. As of last month, Steward is proposing a completely different pension plan, even though nurses made agreements at the bargaining table on other matters in exchange for the MNA Taft Hartley Plan as originally proposed and ratified.

The petition delivery will occur the same day the attorney general holds a public hearing at Quincy High School specific to Steward’s interest in purchasing Quincy Medical Center, which recently filed for bankruptcy and is next on Steward’s list of hospitals to buy.

MNA nurses will attend the Attorney General’s public hearing for the Steward purchase of Quincy Medical Center (QMC). Nurses will testify that, while they support the sale to save QMC; given the critical importance of this pension issue the MNA feels strongly that Steward should be accountable to its previous agreements with its existing facilities before acquisition of any new facilities are concluded.

The MNA, which represents more than 1,800 registered nurses and health professionals at four Caritas/Steward facilities including St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Brighton, Good Samaritan Medical Center in Brockton, Carney Hospital in Dorchester and Norwood Hospital, had completed and ratified an agreement with Steward in October of 2010. The centerpiece of that agreement was the creation of a Taft Hartley, multiemployer defined benefit pension similar in design to the Central Pension Fund of the operating engineers.

“We would expect that the pension benefits for hundreds of workers who have devoted a career to caring for the patients in the Steward facilities is of major concern for the attorney general’s office,” said Betsy Prescott, RN, chair of the nurses’ local bargaining unit at Caritas/Steward St. Elizabeth’s. “These petitions call upon Steward Health Care to end its delay in implementing our pension plan and to uphold the agreements they made in good faith.”

SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association