PORT OF SPAIN, Trini-dad and Tobago – The government will consider legislating a ban on smoking in public places, improve physical education facilities at public schools and provide tax incentives for the creation of on-the-job exercise facilities, all as part of its ongoing commitment to stemming the incidences of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) in The Bahamas, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham said Saturday.
Prime Minister Ingraham's remarks came during an interview with Trinidad and Tobago's C-News Station at CARICOM's Summit on Chronic Non-Communicable Diseases – diseases the Caribbean Community has dubbed one of the greatest threats to development in the region.
Back in 2001, CARICOM Heads adopted the Nassau Declaration that The Health of the Region is the Wealth of the Region, which was designed to accelerate the response to various health conditions facing the region. The 2007 summit in Trinidad was the result of progress from the Declaration adopted in The Bahamas.
"Specifically, we have a problem with respect to hypertension," Ingraham indicated. "We have high levels of diabetes.
"Apart from the fact that we are going to put in place a national program for the provision of medicines for all persons irrespective of ability to pay for their prescriptions, we are also going to have a major effort in terms of prevention."
Diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and cancer, coupled with obesity and a lack of physical activity, are the leading cause of death and disability in The Bahamas, with the summit revealing that Bahamians are 10-times more likely to die of hypertension than their Canadian counterparts.
Highlighting the government's recent announcement of a new dietary program for all public schools, the prime minister also foreshadowed improvements to public school exercise facilities, adding that the government is going to seek to have health promotion as a major part of initiatives within the public health sector.
"We are going to seek to duplicate what we have in a few government offices, that is rooms with exercise equipment in many more government facilities and we are going to seek to encourage employers to do so by providing incentives and tax exemptions for them to acquire equipment to be able to facilitate people engaging in exercise," Prime Minister Ingraham said.
Emphasising that most CNCDs can be prevented through lifestyle changes in diet and exercise, the Trinidad summit also placed emphasis on the role of tobacco consumption in the incidences of cancer and heart disease in the region, and the need to enact tobacco control measures such as increased import taxation and the prohibition of smoking in public places.
A 2005 Ministry of Health study on CNCDs revealed that just over seven percent of the Bahamian population smokes cigarettes.
The Prime Minister pointed out that The Bahamas currently has a 200 percent tax on cigarettes and that during its previous terms in office, his government made the now Lynden Pindling International Airport a smoke-free environment.
He indicated that decisions will now have to be made regarding the way forward for tobacco control measures in The Bahamas.
"We are now going to consider banning (smoking) in public places period," the prime minister noted. "We have casinos (and) we have conflicting views as to whether or not a casino should be exempted from a policy.
"We are going to make some decisions about that but I think at the end of day we will either have a total ban on smoking in all public places, or the number of public places will be very minimal and even if that happens that will have to be for a minimal period of time, I think."
Seconded by The Bahamas, CARICOM Heads adopted its Trinidad summit declaration entitled, "Uniting to Stop the Epidemic of Chronic NCDs" Saturday afternoon.
The Declaration included the commitment from the Heads of Government to give full support for the initiatives and mechanisms aimed at strengthening regional health institutions; immediate pursuance of a legislative agenda for passage of the legal provisions related to the International Framework Convention on Tobacco Control and the development of public education programs on lifestyle management as well as through the formal education system.
The Declaration also called for the mandating of the re-introduction of physical education in schools where necessary; provide incentives and resources to effect this policy and ensure that our education sectors promote programs aimed at providing healthy school meals and promoting healthy eating.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Doc's White Coats Spread Contagious Diseases, Says Britain
LONDON — British hospitals are banning white coats, neckties, and jewelry in an effort to stop the spread of deadly hospital-born infections, according to new rules published Monday.
Hospital dress codes typically urge doctors to look professional, which, for male practitioners, has usually meant wearing a tie. But as concern over hospital-born infections has intensified, doctors are taking a closer look at their clothing.
"Ties are rarely laundered but worn daily," the Department of Health said in a statement. "They perform no beneficial function in patient care and have been shown to be colonized by pathogens."
The new regulations would mean an end to doctors' traditional white coats, Health Secretary Alan Johnson said. Fake nails, jewelry and watches, which the department warned could harbor germs, are also out.
Johnson said the "bare below the elbows" dress code would help prevent the spread of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, the deadly bacteria resistant to nearly every available antibiotic.
Popularly known as a "superbug," MRSA accounts for more than 40 percent of in-hospital blood infections in Britain. Because the bacteria is so hard to kill, health care workers have instead focused on containing its spread through improvements to hospital hygiene.
A 2004 study of doctors' neckties at a New York hospital found that nearly half of them carried at least one species of infectious microbe. In 2006, the British Medical Association urged doctors to go without the accessories, calling them "functionless clothing items."
The dress code comes into force next year.
Hospital dress codes typically urge doctors to look professional, which, for male practitioners, has usually meant wearing a tie. But as concern over hospital-born infections has intensified, doctors are taking a closer look at their clothing.
"Ties are rarely laundered but worn daily," the Department of Health said in a statement. "They perform no beneficial function in patient care and have been shown to be colonized by pathogens."
The new regulations would mean an end to doctors' traditional white coats, Health Secretary Alan Johnson said. Fake nails, jewelry and watches, which the department warned could harbor germs, are also out.
Johnson said the "bare below the elbows" dress code would help prevent the spread of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, the deadly bacteria resistant to nearly every available antibiotic.
Popularly known as a "superbug," MRSA accounts for more than 40 percent of in-hospital blood infections in Britain. Because the bacteria is so hard to kill, health care workers have instead focused on containing its spread through improvements to hospital hygiene.
A 2004 study of doctors' neckties at a New York hospital found that nearly half of them carried at least one species of infectious microbe. In 2006, the British Medical Association urged doctors to go without the accessories, calling them "functionless clothing items."
The dress code comes into force next year.
Babies to get jabs against 11 diseases
Babies will soon be immunised against a type of meningitis that kills about 10 under-fives each year and leaves dozens more permanently disabled.
Health Minister Pete Hodgson has confirmed the National Immunisation Schedule for 2008. It includes the pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar for all babies born from January 1.
The acting manager of the National Immunisation Programme, Dr Alison Roberts, said all babies would now have free access to immunisations protecting against 11 serious diseases.
"A baby's immune system responds very well to multiple vaccines at one visit," she said.
"The ministry's advice is that it is safe and effective."
Health Minister Pete Hodgson has confirmed the National Immunisation Schedule for 2008. It includes the pneumococcal vaccine Prevenar for all babies born from January 1.
The acting manager of the National Immunisation Programme, Dr Alison Roberts, said all babies would now have free access to immunisations protecting against 11 serious diseases.
"A baby's immune system responds very well to multiple vaccines at one visit," she said.
"The ministry's advice is that it is safe and effective."
High cost for treatment of non-communicable diseases
ACCORDING to a recent study, the proper treatment of diabetes and high blood pressure in this country would cost US$89.4 million.
Outlining such figures for select regional countries from the report conducted by the Caribbean Commission on Health and Development was Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Patrick Manning as he addressed the media summit on non-communicable diseases held in Port of Spain on Saturday.
The report also points out that based on available statistics, if these diseases were to be properly treated, the combined economic burden of diabetes and high blood pressure, would be US$59.4 million in the Bahamas, US$89.4 million in Barbados, US$419.3 million in Jamaica and US$496.7 million in Trinidad and Tobago, he cited.
Speaking on the grave issue, he said the study had shown that five times as many people died from such diseases as from all the other illnesses combined.
In term of the health, per se, of the people of our region, there is a major challenge on our hands, he stressed.
Pointing to the economics effect, he noted that the Caribbean had a great cause for concern.
Saying that it was necessary to identify strategies for the primary prevention of these diseases, Manning noted that these would be located by acknowledging that the use of tobacco and alcohol, inadequate physical education and diets that lead to obesity were the most significant factors.
We are hoping to establish a collective approach for accelerating the management and control of non-communicable diseases, including making provisions for screening for early detection and treatment, strengthening our health services infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted provision of medication especially for those financially challenged. There is a range of issues requiring collective attention, he said.
Commenting on the last Heads of Government Conference held in July, he said a decision had been made that the leaders would pursue functional co-operation as a basis for achieving our community goals and aspirations, and therefore urged the co-operation of the media in helping to outline these required lifestyle changes to the masses.(JM)
Outlining such figures for select regional countries from the report conducted by the Caribbean Commission on Health and Development was Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Patrick Manning as he addressed the media summit on non-communicable diseases held in Port of Spain on Saturday.
The report also points out that based on available statistics, if these diseases were to be properly treated, the combined economic burden of diabetes and high blood pressure, would be US$59.4 million in the Bahamas, US$89.4 million in Barbados, US$419.3 million in Jamaica and US$496.7 million in Trinidad and Tobago, he cited.
Speaking on the grave issue, he said the study had shown that five times as many people died from such diseases as from all the other illnesses combined.
In term of the health, per se, of the people of our region, there is a major challenge on our hands, he stressed.
Pointing to the economics effect, he noted that the Caribbean had a great cause for concern.
Saying that it was necessary to identify strategies for the primary prevention of these diseases, Manning noted that these would be located by acknowledging that the use of tobacco and alcohol, inadequate physical education and diets that lead to obesity were the most significant factors.
We are hoping to establish a collective approach for accelerating the management and control of non-communicable diseases, including making provisions for screening for early detection and treatment, strengthening our health services infrastructure, ensuring uninterrupted provision of medication especially for those financially challenged. There is a range of issues requiring collective attention, he said.
Commenting on the last Heads of Government Conference held in July, he said a decision had been made that the leaders would pursue functional co-operation as a basis for achieving our community goals and aspirations, and therefore urged the co-operation of the media in helping to outline these required lifestyle changes to the masses.(JM)
Friday, February 03, 2006
Stem cell treatment for tendon, cartilage repair gains momentum
The use of stem cells to repair tendon and cartilage damage in horses is gaining momentum, with a British company saying its has successfully used it in the treatment on 300 performance horses.
The company behind it is VetCell Bioscience Ltd, set up by Britain's Royal Veterinary College in 2002.
Similar success is being enjoyed by researchers at Colorado State University's Equine Orthopaedic Center, reported on Horsetalk on January 6: http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/0601/003.shtml
The Colorado University's center, headed by New Zealand-born Dr Wayne McIlwraith, is among a handful of medical sites pioneering the revolutionary approach to treating equine joint injuries - ligament, tendon or bone fractures - with stem cells.
The London-based Vetcell is reportedly now going from strength to strength, and the firm says some of the most devastating injuries and diseases of performance horses are now treatable thanks to the therapy. Stem cells, for the first time, offer the prospect of a return to a fully functional tendon.
Like human athletes, competitive horses are vulnerable to joint injuries, especially tendon. Performance horses, like human athletes, are often pushed to their limits and this can lead to tendon or ligament injury. Injury to tendons is healed by extensive scar tissue, which limits the tendon?s normal role. The scar tissue impairs movement and is stronger than normal tendon, so does not stretch in the same way as normal tendon. In turn, this is likely lead to further lameness.
But, using the new technique to reduce the scar tissue formation caused by injury, and even regenerate damaged tendons, which is notoriously difficult in horses, can lead to complete recovery. The stem cell treatment is unique as it uses tissues to grow more tendon-like cells.
VetCell scientists are now working on revolutionary treatments to speed up human biological healing processes with stem cells. It is possible that similar repair mechanisms can be instituted in humans.
Greg McGarrell, CEO of VetCell, describes his firm as "a real zero to hero biotechnology company", built on a "shoe string".
"Our success is largely due to the cutting edge research at the Royal Veterinary College being combined with the knowledge of professional city people. This means that VetCell has had a commercial focus right from the start. While universities are keen to create spin-out companies, far too few of these become successful businesses. A key problem with spin-outs is that they lack good business management.
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/
The company behind it is VetCell Bioscience Ltd, set up by Britain's Royal Veterinary College in 2002.
Similar success is being enjoyed by researchers at Colorado State University's Equine Orthopaedic Center, reported on Horsetalk on January 6: http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/0601/003.shtml
The Colorado University's center, headed by New Zealand-born Dr Wayne McIlwraith, is among a handful of medical sites pioneering the revolutionary approach to treating equine joint injuries - ligament, tendon or bone fractures - with stem cells.
The London-based Vetcell is reportedly now going from strength to strength, and the firm says some of the most devastating injuries and diseases of performance horses are now treatable thanks to the therapy. Stem cells, for the first time, offer the prospect of a return to a fully functional tendon.
Like human athletes, competitive horses are vulnerable to joint injuries, especially tendon. Performance horses, like human athletes, are often pushed to their limits and this can lead to tendon or ligament injury. Injury to tendons is healed by extensive scar tissue, which limits the tendon?s normal role. The scar tissue impairs movement and is stronger than normal tendon, so does not stretch in the same way as normal tendon. In turn, this is likely lead to further lameness.
But, using the new technique to reduce the scar tissue formation caused by injury, and even regenerate damaged tendons, which is notoriously difficult in horses, can lead to complete recovery. The stem cell treatment is unique as it uses tissues to grow more tendon-like cells.
VetCell scientists are now working on revolutionary treatments to speed up human biological healing processes with stem cells. It is possible that similar repair mechanisms can be instituted in humans.
Greg McGarrell, CEO of VetCell, describes his firm as "a real zero to hero biotechnology company", built on a "shoe string".
"Our success is largely due to the cutting edge research at the Royal Veterinary College being combined with the knowledge of professional city people. This means that VetCell has had a commercial focus right from the start. While universities are keen to create spin-out companies, far too few of these become successful businesses. A key problem with spin-outs is that they lack good business management.
http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/
Stem cell treatment for tendon, cartilage repair gains momentum
The use of stem cells to repair tendon and cartilage damage in horses is gaining momentum, with a British company saying its has successfully used it in the treatment on 300 performance horses.
The company behind it is VetCell Bioscience Ltd, set up by Britain's Royal Veterinary College in 2002.
Similar success is being enjoyed by researchers at Colorado State University's Equine Orthopaedic Center, reported on Horsetalk on January 6: http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/0601/003.shtml
The Colorado University's center, headed by New Zealand-born Dr Wayne McIlwraith, is among a handful of medical sites pioneering the revolutionary approach to treating equine joint injuries - ligament, tendon or bone fractures - with stem cells.
The London-based Vetcell is reportedly now going from strength to strength, and the firm says some of the most devastating injuries and diseases of performance horses are now treatable thanks to the therapy. Stem cells, for the first time, offer the prospect of a return to a fully functional tendon.
Like human athletes, competitive horses are vulnerable to joint injuries, especially tendon. Performance horses, like human athletes, are often pushed to their limits and this can lead to tendon or ligament injury. Injury to tendons is healed by extensive scar tissue, which limits the tendon?s normal role. The scar tissue impairs movement and is stronger than normal tendon, so does not stretch in the same way as normal tendon. In turn, this is likely lead to further lameness.
But, using the new technique to reduce the scar tissue formation caused by injury, and even regenerate damaged tendons, which is notoriously difficult in horses, can lead to complete recovery. The stem cell treatment is unique as it uses tissues to grow more tendon-like cells.
VetCell scientists are now working on revolutionary treatments to speed up human biological healing processes with stem cells. It is possible that similar repair mechanisms can be instituted in humans.
Greg McGarrell, CEO of VetCell, describes his firm as "a real zero to hero biotechnology company", built on a "shoe string".
"Our success is largely due to the cutting edge research at the Royal Veterinary College being combined with the knowledge of professional city people. This means that VetCell has had a commercial focus right from the start. While universities are keen to create spin-out companies, far too few of these become successful businesses. A key problem with spin-outs is that they lack good business management.
www.horsetalk.co.nz
The company behind it is VetCell Bioscience Ltd, set up by Britain's Royal Veterinary College in 2002.
Similar success is being enjoyed by researchers at Colorado State University's Equine Orthopaedic Center, reported on Horsetalk on January 6: http://www.horsetalk.co.nz/news/0601/003.shtml
The Colorado University's center, headed by New Zealand-born Dr Wayne McIlwraith, is among a handful of medical sites pioneering the revolutionary approach to treating equine joint injuries - ligament, tendon or bone fractures - with stem cells.
The London-based Vetcell is reportedly now going from strength to strength, and the firm says some of the most devastating injuries and diseases of performance horses are now treatable thanks to the therapy. Stem cells, for the first time, offer the prospect of a return to a fully functional tendon.
Like human athletes, competitive horses are vulnerable to joint injuries, especially tendon. Performance horses, like human athletes, are often pushed to their limits and this can lead to tendon or ligament injury. Injury to tendons is healed by extensive scar tissue, which limits the tendon?s normal role. The scar tissue impairs movement and is stronger than normal tendon, so does not stretch in the same way as normal tendon. In turn, this is likely lead to further lameness.
But, using the new technique to reduce the scar tissue formation caused by injury, and even regenerate damaged tendons, which is notoriously difficult in horses, can lead to complete recovery. The stem cell treatment is unique as it uses tissues to grow more tendon-like cells.
VetCell scientists are now working on revolutionary treatments to speed up human biological healing processes with stem cells. It is possible that similar repair mechanisms can be instituted in humans.
Greg McGarrell, CEO of VetCell, describes his firm as "a real zero to hero biotechnology company", built on a "shoe string".
"Our success is largely due to the cutting edge research at the Royal Veterinary College being combined with the knowledge of professional city people. This means that VetCell has had a commercial focus right from the start. While universities are keen to create spin-out companies, far too few of these become successful businesses. A key problem with spin-outs is that they lack good business management.
www.horsetalk.co.nz
Society Of Nuclear Medicine Experts Focus On Advances In Molecular Imaging For Cancer, Addiction, Alzheimer's Disease, Congestive Heart Disease
RESTON, Va.-Leading medical investigators will present recent developments in the diagnosis of cancer and heart and brain diseases during the Society of Nuclear Medicine's Mid-Winter Educational Symposium Feb. 11-12 at Wyndham Buttes in Tempe, Ariz. Noted physicians, scientists and technologists will present the latest news about using nuclear medicine and molecular imaging for the diagnosis, management and treatment of diseases to several hundred nuclear medicine physicians, radiologists, cardiologists, oncologists, technologists, pharmacists, medical physicists and other health care professionals. SNM is the largest scientific organization dedicated to nuclear medicine and molecular imaging, with more than 16,000 members.
This year's topics include new molecular imaging agents for oncology, new developments in Alzheimer's disease and addiction, an overview of congestive heart failure and nuclear imaging, imaging atherosclerosis and stem cells, radiation safety, potential future clinical tracers, an introduction to cell and molecular biology, small animal imaging instrumentation and the evolving role of a nuclear medicine technologist. “The society offers an exciting program in Tempe exploring the development of novel probes in molecular imaging, monitoring treatment response with positron emission tomography, radiotracer imaging in congestive heart failure, advanced image processing and clinical nuclear medicine technology,” said SNM President Peter S. Conti, M.D., Ph.D., professor of radiology, clinical pharmacy and biomedical engineering at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
“In addition, the evolving role of nuclear medicine technologists will be examined,” added SNM Technologist Section (SNMTS) President Valerie R. Cronin, CNMT, FSNMTS, director of imaging services in the Catholic Health System of Western New York in Buffalo, N.Y. Programs and speakers for this two-day symposium are listed here. * “Clinical Implementation of Advanced Image Processing and Reconstruction Algorithms,” Mark T. Madsen, Ph.D., organizer/moderator; James Halama, Ph.D., co-moderator; Hans Vijay, Ph.D.; Salvador Borges-Neto, M.D.; Eric C. Frey, Ph.D.; Richard W. Myers, M.D., and Jody Garrad.* “SPECT/CT: Instrumentation and Clinical Applications,” Mark T. Madsen, Ph.D., organizer/moderator; James Halama, Ph.D.; co-moderator; Manuel D. Cerqueira, M.D.; Frank P. DiFilippo, Ph.D.; James A. Patton, Ph.D.; and Jack A. Ziffer, M.D., Ph.D.* “Monitoring Treatment Response With PET,” Alan H. Maurer, M.D., and Alexander J. McEwan, M.D., organizers and moderators; Homer A. Macapinlac, M.D.; Michael M. Graham, Ph.D., M.D.; Lale Kostakoglu, M.D.; Dominique Delbeke, M.D., Ph.D.; David A. Mankoff, M.D.; Chaitanya R. Divgi, M.D.; Sanjiv Gambhir, M.D., Ph.D.; and Alexander J. McEwan, M.D.* “Molecular Imaging: Development of Novel Probes,” Mathew L.Thakur, Ph.D., and Henry F. VanBrocklin, Ph.D., organizers; Michael Welch, Ph.D., moderator; Sanjiv Gambhir, M.D., Ph.D.; David R. Piwnica-Worms, M.D., Ph.D.; Martin G. Pomper, M.D., Ph.D.; Michael F. Tweedle, Ph.D.; Frank M. Bengel, M.D.; H. William Strauss, M.D.; Mehran M. Sadeghi, M.D.; Arion F. Chatziioannou, Ph.D.; Wolfgang A. Weber, M.D.; Chester A. Mathis, Ph.D.; and Joanna S. Fowler, Ph.D.* “Radiotracer Imaging in Congestive Heart Failure,” Albert J. Sinusas, M.D., organizer; Mark I. Travin, M.D., and Albert J. Sinusas, M.D., moderators; James A. Arrighi, M.D., and Mehran M. Sadeghi, M.D., co-moderators; Manuel D. Cerqueira, M.D.; Scott D. Flamm, M.D.; Elias H. Botvinick, M.D.; Marcelo F. Di Carli, M.D.; Mark I. Travin, M.D.; Rory Hachamovitch, M.D.; Albert J. Sinusas, M.D.; Joseph C. Wu,* M.D., Ph.D.; Vasken Dilsizian, M.D.; Albert J. Sinusas, M.D.; Wawrzyniec L. Dobrucki, Ph.D.; and Jeanne M. Link, Ph.D.* “Clinical Nuclear Medicine Technology,” Kathy S. Thomas, CNMT, FSNMTS, organizer/moderator; Frances L. Neagley, CNMT, FSNMTS, co-moderator; David Gilmore, CNMT, RT(R)(N); April Mann, CNMT, RT(N), FSNMTS; Martha W. Pickett, CNMT, FSNMTS; Paul E. Christian, CNMT; Nancy M. Swanston, CNMT, RT(N); Susan M. Minerich, CNMT; Vanessa L. Gates; and Frances L. Neagley, CNMT, FSNMTS.* “Translational Applications of Molecular Imaging and Radionuclide Therapy,” William C. Eckelman, Ph.D., organizer/moderator; Yu-Shin Ding, Ph.D.; Ronald G. Blasberg, M.D.; Hank F. Kung, Ph.D.; David R. Vera, Ph.D.; David A. Mankoff, M.D.; Jorge A. Carrasquillo, M.D.; Wynn A. Volkert, Ph.D.; and Robert W. Atcher, Ph.D.For more information or to register, visit SNM's Web site: http://www.snm.org/mwm. About the Society of Nuclear MedicineThe Society of Nuclear Medicine is an international scientific and professional organization of more than 16,000 members dedicated to promoting the science, technology and practical applications of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging to diagnose, manage and treat diseases in women, men and children. Founded more than 50 years ago, SNM continues to train physicians, technologists, scientists, physicists, chemists and radiopharmacists in state-of-the-art imaging procedures and advances; provide essential resources for health care practitioners and patients; publish the most prominent peer-reviewed resource in the field of nuclear and molecular imaging: The Journal of Nuclear Medicine; sponsor research grants, fellowships and awards; and host the premier nuclear medicine annual meeting. SNM members have introduced-and continue to explore-biological and technological innovations in medicine that noninvasively investigate the molecular basis of diseases, benefiting countless generations of patients. SNM is based in Reston, Va.; additional information can be found online at http://www.snm.org/. Society of Nuclear Medicine · 1850 Samuel Morse Drive · Reston, Copyright © 2006 SNM
www.medicalnewstoday.com
This year's topics include new molecular imaging agents for oncology, new developments in Alzheimer's disease and addiction, an overview of congestive heart failure and nuclear imaging, imaging atherosclerosis and stem cells, radiation safety, potential future clinical tracers, an introduction to cell and molecular biology, small animal imaging instrumentation and the evolving role of a nuclear medicine technologist. “The society offers an exciting program in Tempe exploring the development of novel probes in molecular imaging, monitoring treatment response with positron emission tomography, radiotracer imaging in congestive heart failure, advanced image processing and clinical nuclear medicine technology,” said SNM President Peter S. Conti, M.D., Ph.D., professor of radiology, clinical pharmacy and biomedical engineering at the University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
“In addition, the evolving role of nuclear medicine technologists will be examined,” added SNM Technologist Section (SNMTS) President Valerie R. Cronin, CNMT, FSNMTS, director of imaging services in the Catholic Health System of Western New York in Buffalo, N.Y. Programs and speakers for this two-day symposium are listed here. * “Clinical Implementation of Advanced Image Processing and Reconstruction Algorithms,” Mark T. Madsen, Ph.D., organizer/moderator; James Halama, Ph.D., co-moderator; Hans Vijay, Ph.D.; Salvador Borges-Neto, M.D.; Eric C. Frey, Ph.D.; Richard W. Myers, M.D., and Jody Garrad.* “SPECT/CT: Instrumentation and Clinical Applications,” Mark T. Madsen, Ph.D., organizer/moderator; James Halama, Ph.D.; co-moderator; Manuel D. Cerqueira, M.D.; Frank P. DiFilippo, Ph.D.; James A. Patton, Ph.D.; and Jack A. Ziffer, M.D., Ph.D.* “Monitoring Treatment Response With PET,” Alan H. Maurer, M.D., and Alexander J. McEwan, M.D., organizers and moderators; Homer A. Macapinlac, M.D.; Michael M. Graham, Ph.D., M.D.; Lale Kostakoglu, M.D.; Dominique Delbeke, M.D., Ph.D.; David A. Mankoff, M.D.; Chaitanya R. Divgi, M.D.; Sanjiv Gambhir, M.D., Ph.D.; and Alexander J. McEwan, M.D.* “Molecular Imaging: Development of Novel Probes,” Mathew L.Thakur, Ph.D., and Henry F. VanBrocklin, Ph.D., organizers; Michael Welch, Ph.D., moderator; Sanjiv Gambhir, M.D., Ph.D.; David R. Piwnica-Worms, M.D., Ph.D.; Martin G. Pomper, M.D., Ph.D.; Michael F. Tweedle, Ph.D.; Frank M. Bengel, M.D.; H. William Strauss, M.D.; Mehran M. Sadeghi, M.D.; Arion F. Chatziioannou, Ph.D.; Wolfgang A. Weber, M.D.; Chester A. Mathis, Ph.D.; and Joanna S. Fowler, Ph.D.* “Radiotracer Imaging in Congestive Heart Failure,” Albert J. Sinusas, M.D., organizer; Mark I. Travin, M.D., and Albert J. Sinusas, M.D., moderators; James A. Arrighi, M.D., and Mehran M. Sadeghi, M.D., co-moderators; Manuel D. Cerqueira, M.D.; Scott D. Flamm, M.D.; Elias H. Botvinick, M.D.; Marcelo F. Di Carli, M.D.; Mark I. Travin, M.D.; Rory Hachamovitch, M.D.; Albert J. Sinusas, M.D.; Joseph C. Wu,* M.D., Ph.D.; Vasken Dilsizian, M.D.; Albert J. Sinusas, M.D.; Wawrzyniec L. Dobrucki, Ph.D.; and Jeanne M. Link, Ph.D.* “Clinical Nuclear Medicine Technology,” Kathy S. Thomas, CNMT, FSNMTS, organizer/moderator; Frances L. Neagley, CNMT, FSNMTS, co-moderator; David Gilmore, CNMT, RT(R)(N); April Mann, CNMT, RT(N), FSNMTS; Martha W. Pickett, CNMT, FSNMTS; Paul E. Christian, CNMT; Nancy M. Swanston, CNMT, RT(N); Susan M. Minerich, CNMT; Vanessa L. Gates; and Frances L. Neagley, CNMT, FSNMTS.* “Translational Applications of Molecular Imaging and Radionuclide Therapy,” William C. Eckelman, Ph.D., organizer/moderator; Yu-Shin Ding, Ph.D.; Ronald G. Blasberg, M.D.; Hank F. Kung, Ph.D.; David R. Vera, Ph.D.; David A. Mankoff, M.D.; Jorge A. Carrasquillo, M.D.; Wynn A. Volkert, Ph.D.; and Robert W. Atcher, Ph.D.For more information or to register, visit SNM's Web site: http://www.snm.org/mwm. About the Society of Nuclear MedicineThe Society of Nuclear Medicine is an international scientific and professional organization of more than 16,000 members dedicated to promoting the science, technology and practical applications of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging to diagnose, manage and treat diseases in women, men and children. Founded more than 50 years ago, SNM continues to train physicians, technologists, scientists, physicists, chemists and radiopharmacists in state-of-the-art imaging procedures and advances; provide essential resources for health care practitioners and patients; publish the most prominent peer-reviewed resource in the field of nuclear and molecular imaging: The Journal of Nuclear Medicine; sponsor research grants, fellowships and awards; and host the premier nuclear medicine annual meeting. SNM members have introduced-and continue to explore-biological and technological innovations in medicine that noninvasively investigate the molecular basis of diseases, benefiting countless generations of patients. SNM is based in Reston, Va.; additional information can be found online at http://www.snm.org/. Society of Nuclear Medicine · 1850 Samuel Morse Drive · Reston, Copyright © 2006 SNM
www.medicalnewstoday.com
Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Mexican clinic where King died known for alternative treatments
ELLIOT SPAGAT
Associated Press
ROSARITO BEACH, Mexico - The Mexican clinic where Coretta Scott King died Tuesday was known for providing alternative treatments to patients with incurable diseases.
King, 78, suffered a serious stroke and heart attack last year, but her family and clinic employees declined to release any information about her treatment at the Santa Monica Health Institute.
Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potter's House church in Dallas said he helped King get to Mexico, but he didn't know what kind of treatment she was seeking.
"Mrs. King was very health conscious, even before she got ill. I'm not surprised that she would explore every possible way of seeking treatment," Jakes said.
King died at 1 a.m. Tuesday, said Lorena Blanco, a spokeswoman for the U.S. consulate in Tijuana.
U.S. Embassy officials will work with the King family to ensure that their interaction with Mexican authorities is as smooth as possible - something they do whenever a U.S. citizen dies abroad, said Julia Tully, a spokeswoman at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.
King's daughters Bernice and Yolanda were at the hospital, where Mexican authorities told the family there is a legal requirement that King's body be embalmed before it is brought back to the United States, according to King's sister, Edythe Scott Bagley of Cheyney, Penn.
She said the family is complying and that it expects the body to be released later Tuesday.
"I do know that the body is going to be embalmed and the body and the children will be coming in tonight," said Bagley, who spoke with Yolanda King at the hospital.
Bagley also said that Mexican authorities were being cooperative with the family.
Mexican officials were not immediately available to comment.
Located 16 miles south of San Diego in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, the Santa Monica Health Institute says on its Web site that it uses an eclectic approach to diseases that are often believed to be incurable.
"The major patient clientele is comprised of cancer patients who have been told that there is no more hope, all traditional therapies having failed," it says.
The clinic says it also treats cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hepatitis C, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other auto-immune diseases.
Employees answering the phone at the clinic's San Diego corporate offices refused to give out any information regarding patients.
www.macon.com
Associated Press
ROSARITO BEACH, Mexico - The Mexican clinic where Coretta Scott King died Tuesday was known for providing alternative treatments to patients with incurable diseases.
King, 78, suffered a serious stroke and heart attack last year, but her family and clinic employees declined to release any information about her treatment at the Santa Monica Health Institute.
Bishop T.D. Jakes of The Potter's House church in Dallas said he helped King get to Mexico, but he didn't know what kind of treatment she was seeking.
"Mrs. King was very health conscious, even before she got ill. I'm not surprised that she would explore every possible way of seeking treatment," Jakes said.
King died at 1 a.m. Tuesday, said Lorena Blanco, a spokeswoman for the U.S. consulate in Tijuana.
U.S. Embassy officials will work with the King family to ensure that their interaction with Mexican authorities is as smooth as possible - something they do whenever a U.S. citizen dies abroad, said Julia Tully, a spokeswoman at the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City.
King's daughters Bernice and Yolanda were at the hospital, where Mexican authorities told the family there is a legal requirement that King's body be embalmed before it is brought back to the United States, according to King's sister, Edythe Scott Bagley of Cheyney, Penn.
She said the family is complying and that it expects the body to be released later Tuesday.
"I do know that the body is going to be embalmed and the body and the children will be coming in tonight," said Bagley, who spoke with Yolanda King at the hospital.
Bagley also said that Mexican authorities were being cooperative with the family.
Mexican officials were not immediately available to comment.
Located 16 miles south of San Diego in Rosarito Beach, Mexico, the Santa Monica Health Institute says on its Web site that it uses an eclectic approach to diseases that are often believed to be incurable.
"The major patient clientele is comprised of cancer patients who have been told that there is no more hope, all traditional therapies having failed," it says.
The clinic says it also treats cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hepatitis C, arthritis, multiple sclerosis and other auto-immune diseases.
Employees answering the phone at the clinic's San Diego corporate offices refused to give out any information regarding patients.
www.macon.com
Sacred Heart Offers New Laser Treatment for Narrowed Arteries
by Mike Burke
PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A new laser procedure offered at Sacred Heart Hospital may prevent many people from having to undergo lower limb amputations. Sacred Heart is one of the first health systems in the country to begin using a new laser procedure called CLiRpath® (Cool Laser Revascularization for Peripheral Artery Therapy).
Peripheral vascular disease refers to a narrowing of vessels that carry blood to the legs, arms, stomach or kidneys. Common symptoms include leg pain during activity, weakness or fatigue in the legs, cramping or discomfort. One of the most advanced forms of peripheral vascular disease results in the obstruction of blood flow in the legs, which leads to rest pain, the development of foot ulcers and the onset of limb loss, which often results in amputation. The new laser produces an intense light beam, and short bursts of ultraviolet energy help clear the blockage. With restored blood flow, there may be a greater chance that wounds can heal, limbs can be saved, and that patient’s psychological and physical well-being can be improved.
“Technology continues to evolve, allowing us to treat more extensive vascular disease with minimally invasive techniques,” explains Dr. Christopher Bosarge, interventional radiologist. “This new technology offers patients with advanced peripheral vascular disease the best chance at avoiding the devastating complications of amputation.”The new laser treatment provides hope to the more than 100,000 Americans each year that have a toe, foot or leg amputated due to peripheral vascular disease.
“My ongoing collaboration with the interventional radiologists at Sacred Heart allows us to offer each patient individualized, comprehensive care for vascular disease,” expressed Dr. Stuart Harlin, vascular surgeon. “Adding the CLIRpath Laser system is another vital tool in our collection to successfully treat our patients with advanced peripheral vascular disease.”Patients at greatest risk for developing PVD are over the age of 50, smoke, have high blood pressure, do not exercise or have a family history of vascular diseases.For more information, please call (850) 479-1805.
http://www.gulf1.com/
PENSACOLA, Fla. -- A new laser procedure offered at Sacred Heart Hospital may prevent many people from having to undergo lower limb amputations. Sacred Heart is one of the first health systems in the country to begin using a new laser procedure called CLiRpath® (Cool Laser Revascularization for Peripheral Artery Therapy).
Peripheral vascular disease refers to a narrowing of vessels that carry blood to the legs, arms, stomach or kidneys. Common symptoms include leg pain during activity, weakness or fatigue in the legs, cramping or discomfort. One of the most advanced forms of peripheral vascular disease results in the obstruction of blood flow in the legs, which leads to rest pain, the development of foot ulcers and the onset of limb loss, which often results in amputation. The new laser produces an intense light beam, and short bursts of ultraviolet energy help clear the blockage. With restored blood flow, there may be a greater chance that wounds can heal, limbs can be saved, and that patient’s psychological and physical well-being can be improved.
“Technology continues to evolve, allowing us to treat more extensive vascular disease with minimally invasive techniques,” explains Dr. Christopher Bosarge, interventional radiologist. “This new technology offers patients with advanced peripheral vascular disease the best chance at avoiding the devastating complications of amputation.”The new laser treatment provides hope to the more than 100,000 Americans each year that have a toe, foot or leg amputated due to peripheral vascular disease.
“My ongoing collaboration with the interventional radiologists at Sacred Heart allows us to offer each patient individualized, comprehensive care for vascular disease,” expressed Dr. Stuart Harlin, vascular surgeon. “Adding the CLIRpath Laser system is another vital tool in our collection to successfully treat our patients with advanced peripheral vascular disease.”Patients at greatest risk for developing PVD are over the age of 50, smoke, have high blood pressure, do not exercise or have a family history of vascular diseases.For more information, please call (850) 479-1805.
http://www.gulf1.com/
Monday, January 30, 2006
High Mobile Termination Rates Discourage Usage - report
(www.cellular-news.com).- A new report from Telecommunications Management Group notes that while mobile telephone subscribers surpassed fixed line subscribers globally in 2002, mobile usage significantly lags fixed line usage. The main reason is the high price of mobile calls, which are often caused by high mobile termination rates (MTRs, the cost per minute of terminating a call on a mobile network).
There is compelling evidence that mobile users in countries with low termination rates or that charge the receiving party for the call spend more time talking on their phones. For example, users in the United States, where the receiving party pays for calls, speak on their mobile phones almost 600 minutes a month, whereas users in the European Union, where the calling party is charged for the call, use their mobiles an average of 142 minutes monthly.
The report finds that the average MTR in the world was US$0.142 at the beginning of 2005. MTRs among countries that have announced phased reductions are forecast to fall below US$0.109 per minute by 2007, a decline of 19% a year. There is significant variation in MTRs around the world, with Asian rates the lowest at US$0.048 per minute.
MTR by region, 2005
US$
Asia
0.048
Africa
0.116
Americas
0.131
World
0.142
Europe
0.162
Pacific
0.200
There is compelling evidence that mobile users in countries with low termination rates or that charge the receiving party for the call spend more time talking on their phones. For example, users in the United States, where the receiving party pays for calls, speak on their mobile phones almost 600 minutes a month, whereas users in the European Union, where the calling party is charged for the call, use their mobiles an average of 142 minutes monthly.
The report finds that the average MTR in the world was US$0.142 at the beginning of 2005. MTRs among countries that have announced phased reductions are forecast to fall below US$0.109 per minute by 2007, a decline of 19% a year. There is significant variation in MTRs around the world, with Asian rates the lowest at US$0.048 per minute.
MTR by region, 2005
US$
Asia
0.048
Africa
0.116
Americas
0.131
World
0.142
Europe
0.162
Pacific
0.200
The mysterious guttural pouch
While the function of the guttural pouch in athletic performance is unclear, disease of the area can be deadly
(www.thoroughbredtimes.com).- A HORSE'S guttural pouch is the Bermuda Triangle of horse anatomy. Though the area can be well defined and located, it remains somewhat a mystery as to its purpose. Diseases that occur in this region can be quite severe, and, like the Bermuda Triangle, small problems can have deadly consequences.
Guttural pouch diseases do not occur frequently. They represented less than 0.5% of all cases presented to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in California over a two-year period. But the potential adverse effects of these conditions on the individual horse warrant attention and discussion.
What is a guttural pouch?
A guttural pouch is an air-filled out-pouching of the auditory or Eustachian tube. While all mammals have auditory tubes, not all have these pouches. Horses, mules, and donkeys have the largest, with one pouch lying on each side of the back of the throat.
Eustachian tubes extend from the inner surface of each eardrum to the sides of the pharynx. The pharynx is the large opening in the back of the mouth/throat where the nasal passages and the oral cavity join before separating into the trachea (airway) and the esophagus (feeding tube). Eustachian tubes connect to this large pharyngeal cavity as slit-like openings on either side of the back of the throat.
Auditory tubes serve an important function by regulating pressure on the eardrums. (Some children have had surgery to implant drainage tubes in the Eustachian tubes to reduce earaches.) The outer ear of all animals is exposed to atmospheric pressure while the inner ear and the ends of the auditory tubes are exposed to the pressure within the throat, which can be very different.
As a horse or human ascends a high mountain, the atmospheric pressure becomes lower. If the pressure is severe enough, the eardrum begins to bulge outward, and, if not for the auditory tubes, it probably would rupture. The auditory tubes, however, allow the body to equalize this pressure.
Each time an individual swallows, the pharyngeal or lower end of the tube opens. If the outer ear pressure is higher, some air is taken into the tube until the pressure on both sides of the eardrum is equalized. The reverse occurs if the outside pressure is less than the inner pressure.
Because the horse spent much of its evolutionary development on flat grassland, pressure regulation does not appear to be a factor in explaining the extreme size of the equine guttural pouch. More recent research points to its ability to significantly cool the horse's brain by moving air in and out of the guttural pouch as probably its key function.
The exercising horse generates a tremendous amount of heat because of the massive amount of muscular work required for high-speed motion. This heat must be removed from the body or internal temperatures will rise to debilitating levels. Many large arteries and veins that supply the head and brain are closely associated with the inner lining of the guttural pouches.
Researchers now believe that heat is removed from the exercising horse's brain via transfer from the blood to the air in the guttural pouch and then out through the pharynx. This mechanism also provides a clue as to why diseases occur in this anatomical area and why those diseases can be deadly.
Potential for disaster
With each swallow, air enters or leaves the guttural pouch of the horse. This means that any bacteria, fungi, or other infectious agents inhaled or ingested by the horse have ready access to both pouches. These potentially disease-causing particles can enter the pouches and usually become trapped in the mucus that lines these structures.
Most of the time, the horse's immune system successfully destroys these agents, but bacteria or fungi occasionally survive and continue to grow by invading the lining of the pouches.
The guttural pouch is a two-chambered space separated by the stylohyoid bone, and it can hold roughly 20 ounces of fluid or air. The medial or innermost chamber has several important blood vessels and nerves located on its surface. These nerves are responsible for various crucial body functions, such as breathing, swallowing, and chewing.
The lateral or outermost chamber is associated with more nerves and contains the internal carotid artery and the maxillary-facial vein. Proximity of the guttural pouches and the nerves, arteries, and veins associated with them also exposes these critical structures to infection and damage. The design of the guttural pouch is a beneficial marvel for the horse, but it also is a potential disaster waiting to happen.
Tympany
There are three main diseases of the guttural pouch. The first is guttural pouch tympany.
Horses with this problem are born with a defect that causes the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube to act like a one-way valve. Air can get in, but it cannot get out. This condition usually occurs in only one pouch, but it can affect both.
Because it is a problem present from birth, most cases of tympany are noted within the first few days of a foal's life. Several recent studies have looked at the genetic component of guttural pouch tympany, and links with the disease have been made to some Arabian and Hanoverian bloodlines.
Horses with tympany show massive swelling of the neck and throatlatch. If this swollen area is tapped with a finger, it resonates like a drum, which gives the condition its name. Affected horses might exhibit mild discomfort or be unable to breathe and swallow correctly if the swelling is severe enough.
Diagnosis is made based on the observed swelling and the foal's age, then the condition usually is confirmed by radiographs and endoscopic examination. Surgical correction is the treatment of choice, and one-sided tympany usually is easily corrected with a favorable prognosis. Those rare foals with both pouches affected require a much more complicated surgery and have a less favorable outcome, though recent advances employing laser surgery could soon improve their chances.
Pus-filled pouches
Guttural pouch empyema, or the presence of pus in the pouches caused by bacterial growth, is more common than tympany. Empyema usually occurs following an infection of the pharynx. Often significant infection can be present before external swelling of the pouch is noted.
The most common organism involved is Streptococcus equi, the causative agent of strangles. Horses with strangles often have abscesses in the pharynx that rupture and drain, which allows Streptococcus bacteria to gain entry into the guttural pouch. This bacterial strain can live in the guttural pouch for weeks to months causing a large amount of mucus that contains white blood cells from the immune system, bacteria, and necrotic tissue from the guttural pouch. A thick, pasty material develops that is not easily drained away.
The top part of the pouch might contain more fluid, but the bottom of the pouch holds a thicker material of almost cottage-cheese consistency with occasional solid masses of debris called chondroids.
An affected horse will show a persistent, creamy discharge, usually from one nostril. When the horse lowers its head to graze, the discharge usually increases as gravity allows more pus to exit the pouch into the pharynx and flow out the nasal passage.
Initially, these horses are rarely sick, but chronic infection will result in progressive weight loss, debilitation, and potential damage to the nerves and vessels within the pouch.
If the nerves become involved, horses can exhibit difficulty eating and swallowing. They also can have difficulty breathing. Research has shown that one potential cause of laryngeal paralysis, or roaring, is infection of the guttural pouch. Dorsal displacement of the soft palate, which also affects breathing, can be a complication. If the facial nerves are affected, some horses also might develop a drooped lip or ear.
Some cases of empyema resolve themselves without treatment as the pus eventually drains from the pouch. The majority of horses, however, will require aggressive flushing of the pouch and antibiotic therapy. Specialized catheters are placed in the affected pouch, and large volumes of fluids are repeatedly flushed in and out with significant pressure.
If the condition is chronic and severe enough, surgery sometimes is needed to drain the pouch. This is especially true if large chondroids have formed. Though the surgical approach is technically difficult, horses that receive treatment before damage occurs to nerves and blood vessels show good response and might recover fully.
Danger to carotid artery
Guttural pouch mycosis is the most serious of the three pouch diseases and is caused by the presence of fungi in the pouch. Aspergillus, Candida, Penicillium, and Mucor are the fungi most commonly found; they easily are encountered in hay, forage, and other parts of the horse's natural environment.
Fungal infections in the guttural pouch usually begin over one of the main arteries that traverse the pouch walls. Interestingly, research has shown that a defect in the artery wall is necessary for the fungal infection to start and that restricting blood flow through the artery might cure the condition without other treatment. If the mycosis is not resolved, however, the fungal infection slowly will erode the walls of the blood vessel, and the horse will begin to bleed.
The first sign of guttural pouch mycosis might be intermittent bleeding from one nostril, or epistaxis. If this mild bleeding is allowed to continue untreated, the blood vessel eventually will rupture, and the horse will bleed to death.
Fungal damage also can occur to the nerves within the walls of the pouches. Horses with this condition, even if they are treated and do not succumb to bleeding, could remain unable to eat and swallow. They often lose tremendous amounts of weight and eventually die.
Treatment involves a complicated surgery to ligate or tie off the blood vessels traveling through the affected pouch. Balloon catheters and surgical lasers now are being used in these procedures, but the prognosis for these horses remains guarded.
Antifungal medication is administered along with surgery for optimal chances of return to function in these cases. If the diagnosis can be made early, there is a better chance that surgery can be done and that no permanent damage will occur to crucial blood vessels and nerves.
Pay close attention
Few other areas in the horse's body are as important to its ability to function as an athlete but can lead to its destruction. Add the fact that the guttural pouches cannot be seen and are difficult to comprehend even with a description.
Yet, knowing about their existence, their function, and the signs of possible disease might allow you seek early treatment for your horse. Problems in this area do not happen often, but when they do, quick response could save a horse's life.
(www.thoroughbredtimes.com).- A HORSE'S guttural pouch is the Bermuda Triangle of horse anatomy. Though the area can be well defined and located, it remains somewhat a mystery as to its purpose. Diseases that occur in this region can be quite severe, and, like the Bermuda Triangle, small problems can have deadly consequences.
Guttural pouch diseases do not occur frequently. They represented less than 0.5% of all cases presented to the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in California over a two-year period. But the potential adverse effects of these conditions on the individual horse warrant attention and discussion.
What is a guttural pouch?
A guttural pouch is an air-filled out-pouching of the auditory or Eustachian tube. While all mammals have auditory tubes, not all have these pouches. Horses, mules, and donkeys have the largest, with one pouch lying on each side of the back of the throat.
Eustachian tubes extend from the inner surface of each eardrum to the sides of the pharynx. The pharynx is the large opening in the back of the mouth/throat where the nasal passages and the oral cavity join before separating into the trachea (airway) and the esophagus (feeding tube). Eustachian tubes connect to this large pharyngeal cavity as slit-like openings on either side of the back of the throat.
Auditory tubes serve an important function by regulating pressure on the eardrums. (Some children have had surgery to implant drainage tubes in the Eustachian tubes to reduce earaches.) The outer ear of all animals is exposed to atmospheric pressure while the inner ear and the ends of the auditory tubes are exposed to the pressure within the throat, which can be very different.
As a horse or human ascends a high mountain, the atmospheric pressure becomes lower. If the pressure is severe enough, the eardrum begins to bulge outward, and, if not for the auditory tubes, it probably would rupture. The auditory tubes, however, allow the body to equalize this pressure.
Each time an individual swallows, the pharyngeal or lower end of the tube opens. If the outer ear pressure is higher, some air is taken into the tube until the pressure on both sides of the eardrum is equalized. The reverse occurs if the outside pressure is less than the inner pressure.
Because the horse spent much of its evolutionary development on flat grassland, pressure regulation does not appear to be a factor in explaining the extreme size of the equine guttural pouch. More recent research points to its ability to significantly cool the horse's brain by moving air in and out of the guttural pouch as probably its key function.
The exercising horse generates a tremendous amount of heat because of the massive amount of muscular work required for high-speed motion. This heat must be removed from the body or internal temperatures will rise to debilitating levels. Many large arteries and veins that supply the head and brain are closely associated with the inner lining of the guttural pouches.
Researchers now believe that heat is removed from the exercising horse's brain via transfer from the blood to the air in the guttural pouch and then out through the pharynx. This mechanism also provides a clue as to why diseases occur in this anatomical area and why those diseases can be deadly.
Potential for disaster
With each swallow, air enters or leaves the guttural pouch of the horse. This means that any bacteria, fungi, or other infectious agents inhaled or ingested by the horse have ready access to both pouches. These potentially disease-causing particles can enter the pouches and usually become trapped in the mucus that lines these structures.
Most of the time, the horse's immune system successfully destroys these agents, but bacteria or fungi occasionally survive and continue to grow by invading the lining of the pouches.
The guttural pouch is a two-chambered space separated by the stylohyoid bone, and it can hold roughly 20 ounces of fluid or air. The medial or innermost chamber has several important blood vessels and nerves located on its surface. These nerves are responsible for various crucial body functions, such as breathing, swallowing, and chewing.
The lateral or outermost chamber is associated with more nerves and contains the internal carotid artery and the maxillary-facial vein. Proximity of the guttural pouches and the nerves, arteries, and veins associated with them also exposes these critical structures to infection and damage. The design of the guttural pouch is a beneficial marvel for the horse, but it also is a potential disaster waiting to happen.
Tympany
There are three main diseases of the guttural pouch. The first is guttural pouch tympany.
Horses with this problem are born with a defect that causes the pharyngeal opening of the Eustachian tube to act like a one-way valve. Air can get in, but it cannot get out. This condition usually occurs in only one pouch, but it can affect both.
Because it is a problem present from birth, most cases of tympany are noted within the first few days of a foal's life. Several recent studies have looked at the genetic component of guttural pouch tympany, and links with the disease have been made to some Arabian and Hanoverian bloodlines.
Horses with tympany show massive swelling of the neck and throatlatch. If this swollen area is tapped with a finger, it resonates like a drum, which gives the condition its name. Affected horses might exhibit mild discomfort or be unable to breathe and swallow correctly if the swelling is severe enough.
Diagnosis is made based on the observed swelling and the foal's age, then the condition usually is confirmed by radiographs and endoscopic examination. Surgical correction is the treatment of choice, and one-sided tympany usually is easily corrected with a favorable prognosis. Those rare foals with both pouches affected require a much more complicated surgery and have a less favorable outcome, though recent advances employing laser surgery could soon improve their chances.
Pus-filled pouches
Guttural pouch empyema, or the presence of pus in the pouches caused by bacterial growth, is more common than tympany. Empyema usually occurs following an infection of the pharynx. Often significant infection can be present before external swelling of the pouch is noted.
The most common organism involved is Streptococcus equi, the causative agent of strangles. Horses with strangles often have abscesses in the pharynx that rupture and drain, which allows Streptococcus bacteria to gain entry into the guttural pouch. This bacterial strain can live in the guttural pouch for weeks to months causing a large amount of mucus that contains white blood cells from the immune system, bacteria, and necrotic tissue from the guttural pouch. A thick, pasty material develops that is not easily drained away.
The top part of the pouch might contain more fluid, but the bottom of the pouch holds a thicker material of almost cottage-cheese consistency with occasional solid masses of debris called chondroids.
An affected horse will show a persistent, creamy discharge, usually from one nostril. When the horse lowers its head to graze, the discharge usually increases as gravity allows more pus to exit the pouch into the pharynx and flow out the nasal passage.
Initially, these horses are rarely sick, but chronic infection will result in progressive weight loss, debilitation, and potential damage to the nerves and vessels within the pouch.
If the nerves become involved, horses can exhibit difficulty eating and swallowing. They also can have difficulty breathing. Research has shown that one potential cause of laryngeal paralysis, or roaring, is infection of the guttural pouch. Dorsal displacement of the soft palate, which also affects breathing, can be a complication. If the facial nerves are affected, some horses also might develop a drooped lip or ear.
Some cases of empyema resolve themselves without treatment as the pus eventually drains from the pouch. The majority of horses, however, will require aggressive flushing of the pouch and antibiotic therapy. Specialized catheters are placed in the affected pouch, and large volumes of fluids are repeatedly flushed in and out with significant pressure.
If the condition is chronic and severe enough, surgery sometimes is needed to drain the pouch. This is especially true if large chondroids have formed. Though the surgical approach is technically difficult, horses that receive treatment before damage occurs to nerves and blood vessels show good response and might recover fully.
Danger to carotid artery
Guttural pouch mycosis is the most serious of the three pouch diseases and is caused by the presence of fungi in the pouch. Aspergillus, Candida, Penicillium, and Mucor are the fungi most commonly found; they easily are encountered in hay, forage, and other parts of the horse's natural environment.
Fungal infections in the guttural pouch usually begin over one of the main arteries that traverse the pouch walls. Interestingly, research has shown that a defect in the artery wall is necessary for the fungal infection to start and that restricting blood flow through the artery might cure the condition without other treatment. If the mycosis is not resolved, however, the fungal infection slowly will erode the walls of the blood vessel, and the horse will begin to bleed.
The first sign of guttural pouch mycosis might be intermittent bleeding from one nostril, or epistaxis. If this mild bleeding is allowed to continue untreated, the blood vessel eventually will rupture, and the horse will bleed to death.
Fungal damage also can occur to the nerves within the walls of the pouches. Horses with this condition, even if they are treated and do not succumb to bleeding, could remain unable to eat and swallow. They often lose tremendous amounts of weight and eventually die.
Treatment involves a complicated surgery to ligate or tie off the blood vessels traveling through the affected pouch. Balloon catheters and surgical lasers now are being used in these procedures, but the prognosis for these horses remains guarded.
Antifungal medication is administered along with surgery for optimal chances of return to function in these cases. If the diagnosis can be made early, there is a better chance that surgery can be done and that no permanent damage will occur to crucial blood vessels and nerves.
Pay close attention
Few other areas in the horse's body are as important to its ability to function as an athlete but can lead to its destruction. Add the fact that the guttural pouches cannot be seen and are difficult to comprehend even with a description.
Yet, knowing about their existence, their function, and the signs of possible disease might allow you seek early treatment for your horse. Problems in this area do not happen often, but when they do, quick response could save a horse's life.
Zenyth Strengthens Therapeutic Antibody Capabilities
(www.pharmalive.com).- VICTORIA, Australia, Jan. 30, 2006- Zenyth Therapeutics (ASX: ZTL) today announced that it has entered into an antibody library license agreement with Dyax Corporation (Cambridge, MA; Nasdaq: DYAX). Under the agreement Zenyth will use Dyax technology for the discovery and development of new human antibody-based therapies for inflammation and cancer.
The agreement provides Zenyth with access to Dyax phage display libraries of human antibodies. Human antibodies represent an exciting new generation of medicines that are currently being used to successfully treat diseases such as arthritis and breast cancer. Phage display technology is one of the approaches widely employed by leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for the discovery of novel human antibody-based therapeutics.
Dr Andrew Nash, Zenyth’s Chief Executive Officer, said “This agreement with Dyax provides Zenyth with a powerful tool for the discovery of human antibody drugs. We have immediate plans for the application of this technology to both existing and new projects, and we expect to make announcements regarding these new projects very shortly”.
Dr Nash noted that the agreement with Dyax cemented Zenyth’s position as Australia’s leading therapeutic antibody company. “Together with our partners Merck & Co., Inc. and Cambridge Antibody Technology we have two therapeutic antibody programs heading towards clinical studies for asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, respectively. Our in-house team of scientists has had great success with the Medarex UltiMAbÒ human antibody platform, and we expect that the Dyax platform will further enhance our capacity to generate new drug candidates moving forward” said Dr Nash.
About Zenyth
Zenyth Therapeutics Limited is an Australian biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialisation of antibody-based therapies in the areas of inflammation and cancer. Zenyth has strong intellectual property covering targets such as the IL-13 receptor, the GM-CSF receptor and VEGF-B, and together with its partners is developing therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of diseases such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Further information about Zenyth and its projects can be found at www.zenyth.com.au
The agreement provides Zenyth with access to Dyax phage display libraries of human antibodies. Human antibodies represent an exciting new generation of medicines that are currently being used to successfully treat diseases such as arthritis and breast cancer. Phage display technology is one of the approaches widely employed by leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies for the discovery of novel human antibody-based therapeutics.
Dr Andrew Nash, Zenyth’s Chief Executive Officer, said “This agreement with Dyax provides Zenyth with a powerful tool for the discovery of human antibody drugs. We have immediate plans for the application of this technology to both existing and new projects, and we expect to make announcements regarding these new projects very shortly”.
Dr Nash noted that the agreement with Dyax cemented Zenyth’s position as Australia’s leading therapeutic antibody company. “Together with our partners Merck & Co., Inc. and Cambridge Antibody Technology we have two therapeutic antibody programs heading towards clinical studies for asthma and rheumatoid arthritis, respectively. Our in-house team of scientists has had great success with the Medarex UltiMAbÒ human antibody platform, and we expect that the Dyax platform will further enhance our capacity to generate new drug candidates moving forward” said Dr Nash.
About Zenyth
Zenyth Therapeutics Limited is an Australian biotechnology company focused on the development and commercialisation of antibody-based therapies in the areas of inflammation and cancer. Zenyth has strong intellectual property covering targets such as the IL-13 receptor, the GM-CSF receptor and VEGF-B, and together with its partners is developing therapeutic antibodies for the treatment of diseases such as asthma and rheumatoid arthritis. Further information about Zenyth and its projects can be found at www.zenyth.com.au
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Optimata Granted Patent for Use of Virtual Patient Technology in Cancer
Optimata Ltd. announced today that the US Patent and Trademark Office has granted patent approval for the use of Optimata's Virtual Patient biosimulation technology in the optimization of drug treatments for cancer patients. This is the first approval of a series of patent applications filed by Optimata for the company's platform technology, which employs mathematical modeling to optimize the use of drugs in the development of new drugs and in the treatment of diseases.
The approved patent is titled "System and Methods for Optimized Drug Delivery and Progression of Diseased and Normal Cells" and is registered as patent number 6,871,171.
"The awarding of this patent, which covers the company's core Virtual Patient technology, reinforces Optimata's position as the leading developer of innovative biosimulation solutions aimed at dramatically accelerating drug development. We have already successfully used this technology in our collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotech companies," said Guy Malchi, Optimata's president.
Optimata's technology is based on a computer-generated method of accurately predicting how individual patients or patient populations will respond to a compound. The technology combines computer models of human physiology, specific diseases and the therapeutic impact of a compound. The technology forecasts the results of putative preclinical and clinical experiments at an unprecedented scale, allowing an unlimited number of "virtual trials" to be carried out on a wide range of dosages, treatment schedules and patient population characteristics.
In this way it is possible to overcome the time and cost limitations of the trial-and-error methods currently used in drug development and to establish the optimal therapy protocol in a significantly quicker way.
Optimata is currently completing a clinical trial to predict breast cancer therapy outcomes for cancer drugs such as Adriamycin, Docetaxel, Paclitaxel, Vinorelbine and Tamoxifen at Nottingham City Hospital in the UK and at
the Soroka Medical Center in Israel.
About Optimata
Optimata is the developer of the Optimata Virtual Patient system biology technologies for use in drug development and in the individualization of therapeutic treatments. Located in Ramat Gan, Israel, Optimata was founded by Prof. Zvia Agur, a world-renowned biomathematician who has pioneered methods of using computer modeling for optimizing treatment protocols in cancer and pathogenic diseases.
The approved patent is titled "System and Methods for Optimized Drug Delivery and Progression of Diseased and Normal Cells" and is registered as patent number 6,871,171.
"The awarding of this patent, which covers the company's core Virtual Patient technology, reinforces Optimata's position as the leading developer of innovative biosimulation solutions aimed at dramatically accelerating drug development. We have already successfully used this technology in our collaborations with pharmaceutical and biotech companies," said Guy Malchi, Optimata's president.
Optimata's technology is based on a computer-generated method of accurately predicting how individual patients or patient populations will respond to a compound. The technology combines computer models of human physiology, specific diseases and the therapeutic impact of a compound. The technology forecasts the results of putative preclinical and clinical experiments at an unprecedented scale, allowing an unlimited number of "virtual trials" to be carried out on a wide range of dosages, treatment schedules and patient population characteristics.
In this way it is possible to overcome the time and cost limitations of the trial-and-error methods currently used in drug development and to establish the optimal therapy protocol in a significantly quicker way.
Optimata is currently completing a clinical trial to predict breast cancer therapy outcomes for cancer drugs such as Adriamycin, Docetaxel, Paclitaxel, Vinorelbine and Tamoxifen at Nottingham City Hospital in the UK and at
the Soroka Medical Center in Israel.
About Optimata
Optimata is the developer of the Optimata Virtual Patient system biology technologies for use in drug development and in the individualization of therapeutic treatments. Located in Ramat Gan, Israel, Optimata was founded by Prof. Zvia Agur, a world-renowned biomathematician who has pioneered methods of using computer modeling for optimizing treatment protocols in cancer and pathogenic diseases.
FDA Approves New Treatment for Gastrointestinal and Kidney Cancer
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) today announced approval of Sutent (sunitinib), a new targeted anti-cancer treatment for patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), a rare stomach cancer, and advanced kidney cancer. Today's action marks the first time the agency has approved a new oncology product for two indications simultaneously.
Sutent, which received a priority review and was approved in less than six months, is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor working through multiple targets to deprive the tumor cells of the blood and nutrients needed to grow.
"Today's approval is a major step forward in making breakthrough treatments available for patients with rare and difficult to treat forms of cancer" said Steven Galson, MD, Director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "New targeted therapies such as Sutent are helping FDA expand options for patients for whom there are limited alternatives."
According to the American Cancer Society, about 32,000 new cases of advanced kidney cancer and 5,000 cases of GIST are diagnosed each year.
Sutent was approved for the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) whose disease has progressed or who are unable to tolerate treatment with Gleevec, the current treatment for GIST patients. While studying the treatment in patients, researchers conducted an early (interim) analysis of data that showed Sutent delayed the time it takes for tumors or new lesions to grow in patients with this rare type of stomach cancer. Specifically, the median time-to-tumor progression (TTP) for patients treated with Sutent was 27 weeks compared to 6 weeks for patients who were not treated.
FDA also granted accelerated approval for Sutent in the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In contrast to the approval for GIST, which was based on the drug's ability to delay the growth of the tumors, this approval was based on Sutent's ability to reduce the size of the tumors in patients. An overall response rate ranging from 26-37 percent was found in patients with metastatic kidney cancer whose tumors had progressed following cytokine-based therapy.
"Today's approval of this drug for these indications provides compelling evidence that the use of alternative data endpoints allows us to see the benefits of novel therapies earlier in patients," said Richard Pazdur, MD, Director of FDA's Office of Oncology Drug Products.
The FDA has a long-standing commitment of providing patients suffering from serious and life-threatening diseases access to safe and effective treatments, in some cases prior to FDA approval. In the GIST clinical trial, significant clinical benefit was determined through an early interim analysis of data, thereby allowing researchers to convert all patients in the trial to treatment. For the RCC indication, the FDA used its accelerated approval process, a regulatory mechanism that expedites drug approvals for serious and life-threatening diseases.
FDA worked with the product sponsor to offer an expanded access program prior to approval, making the product available to patients not enrolled in a clinical trial. Currently, more than 1700 patients are being treated with Sutent through the expanded access program.
"Expanded access programs have proven to be an effective way to get treatment to patients who need it most, especially in cancer," said Ellen Stovall, President of the National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship. "There needs to be a greater awareness among patients and doctors about both the option to participate in clinical research as well as in these expanded access programs in order to make promising new therapies available to as many patients as possible."
The most commonly reported Sutent-related side effects included diarrhea, skin discoloration, mouth irritation, weakness, and altered taste. Patients treated with Sutent also experienced, fatigue, high blood pressure, bleeding, swelling, and taste disturbance. Hypothyroidism was also observed.
Sutent will be distributed by Pfizer Labs, Division of Pfizer, Inc. in New York, NY.
Sutent, which received a priority review and was approved in less than six months, is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor working through multiple targets to deprive the tumor cells of the blood and nutrients needed to grow.
"Today's approval is a major step forward in making breakthrough treatments available for patients with rare and difficult to treat forms of cancer" said Steven Galson, MD, Director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "New targeted therapies such as Sutent are helping FDA expand options for patients for whom there are limited alternatives."
According to the American Cancer Society, about 32,000 new cases of advanced kidney cancer and 5,000 cases of GIST are diagnosed each year.
Sutent was approved for the treatment of patients with gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) whose disease has progressed or who are unable to tolerate treatment with Gleevec, the current treatment for GIST patients. While studying the treatment in patients, researchers conducted an early (interim) analysis of data that showed Sutent delayed the time it takes for tumors or new lesions to grow in patients with this rare type of stomach cancer. Specifically, the median time-to-tumor progression (TTP) for patients treated with Sutent was 27 weeks compared to 6 weeks for patients who were not treated.
FDA also granted accelerated approval for Sutent in the treatment of patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). In contrast to the approval for GIST, which was based on the drug's ability to delay the growth of the tumors, this approval was based on Sutent's ability to reduce the size of the tumors in patients. An overall response rate ranging from 26-37 percent was found in patients with metastatic kidney cancer whose tumors had progressed following cytokine-based therapy.
"Today's approval of this drug for these indications provides compelling evidence that the use of alternative data endpoints allows us to see the benefits of novel therapies earlier in patients," said Richard Pazdur, MD, Director of FDA's Office of Oncology Drug Products.
The FDA has a long-standing commitment of providing patients suffering from serious and life-threatening diseases access to safe and effective treatments, in some cases prior to FDA approval. In the GIST clinical trial, significant clinical benefit was determined through an early interim analysis of data, thereby allowing researchers to convert all patients in the trial to treatment. For the RCC indication, the FDA used its accelerated approval process, a regulatory mechanism that expedites drug approvals for serious and life-threatening diseases.
FDA worked with the product sponsor to offer an expanded access program prior to approval, making the product available to patients not enrolled in a clinical trial. Currently, more than 1700 patients are being treated with Sutent through the expanded access program.
"Expanded access programs have proven to be an effective way to get treatment to patients who need it most, especially in cancer," said Ellen Stovall, President of the National Coalition of Cancer Survivorship. "There needs to be a greater awareness among patients and doctors about both the option to participate in clinical research as well as in these expanded access programs in order to make promising new therapies available to as many patients as possible."
The most commonly reported Sutent-related side effects included diarrhea, skin discoloration, mouth irritation, weakness, and altered taste. Patients treated with Sutent also experienced, fatigue, high blood pressure, bleeding, swelling, and taste disturbance. Hypothyroidism was also observed.
Sutent will be distributed by Pfizer Labs, Division of Pfizer, Inc. in New York, NY.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
ALR Technologies Medication Compliance Reminder Product Selected for Use in Kenya Research Study for AIDS Patients
WINSTON-SALEM, NC -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 01/18/2006 -- ALR Technologies Inc. (OTC BB: ALRT), headquartered in Winston-Salem, NC, announces today that one of their medication compliance reminder products, the ALRT PC200, has been selected for use with an AIDS study to be conducted in Kenya.
The study, conducted by the University of Washington, Seattle, WA and the University of Nairobi, Kenya, is designed to determine whether certain interventions can improve compliance to antiretroviral medications among patients living with AIDS in Kenya. The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is being performed at the Hope Center for Infectious Diseases at the Coptic Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.
According to Dr. Michael Chung of the University of Washington, compliance to antiretroviral medications is essential for the proper treatment of AIDS in Africa; "Delivering antiretroviral medications to those in need is of paramount concern, yet once the drugs are made available proper compliance in the administration of the medications is essential. The ALR devices used in this study will help us determine possible methods for improving compliance."
Based on data available from the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 39.4 million people internationally living with HIV/AIDS and there were 4.9 million new infections in 2004. The WHO information further reported there are about 25.4 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa living with HIV, 7.1 million in South and South-East Asia, 1.1 million in East Asia, 1.7 million in Latin America, 1.4 million in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, 1 million in North America and 610,000 in Western and Central Europe.
ALR Technologies reports that the ALRT PC200 product selected for the research study is now being marketed in North America and many HIV/AIDS clinics are now using it. The product was designed for ease of use and it can be quickly and easily set by a technician and then given to the patient to take home. It can be set for one or up to eight daily reminder events and takes only a few seconds to customize for an individual patient's needs. The ALRT PC200 product can be viewed at http://www.alrt.com/PC200.
About ALR Technologies, Inc.
ALR Technologies, which specializes in health and disease management products and services, has designed and manufactures medication compliance products and compliance home-monitoring and intervention systems to meet the needs for several targeted user groups. Products are now in use by patients taking medications or treatments for conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, Parkinson, diabetes, organ transplant, depression, anxiety, asthma, glaucoma and more. More information on ALR Technologies and its products can be found at http://www.alrt.com.
This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" relating to ALR Tech's business, and these statements reflect the current views of ALR Tech with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. When used, the words "estimate," "expect," "anticipate," "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. There are many factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of ALR Tech and its products to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Further management discussions of risks and uncertainties can be found in the company's quarterly filings with the Securities Exchange Commission.
www.marketwire.com
The study, conducted by the University of Washington, Seattle, WA and the University of Nairobi, Kenya, is designed to determine whether certain interventions can improve compliance to antiretroviral medications among patients living with AIDS in Kenya. The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is being performed at the Hope Center for Infectious Diseases at the Coptic Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.
According to Dr. Michael Chung of the University of Washington, compliance to antiretroviral medications is essential for the proper treatment of AIDS in Africa; "Delivering antiretroviral medications to those in need is of paramount concern, yet once the drugs are made available proper compliance in the administration of the medications is essential. The ALR devices used in this study will help us determine possible methods for improving compliance."
Based on data available from the World Health Organization (WHO), there are approximately 39.4 million people internationally living with HIV/AIDS and there were 4.9 million new infections in 2004. The WHO information further reported there are about 25.4 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa living with HIV, 7.1 million in South and South-East Asia, 1.1 million in East Asia, 1.7 million in Latin America, 1.4 million in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, 1 million in North America and 610,000 in Western and Central Europe.
ALR Technologies reports that the ALRT PC200 product selected for the research study is now being marketed in North America and many HIV/AIDS clinics are now using it. The product was designed for ease of use and it can be quickly and easily set by a technician and then given to the patient to take home. It can be set for one or up to eight daily reminder events and takes only a few seconds to customize for an individual patient's needs. The ALRT PC200 product can be viewed at http://www.alrt.com/PC200.
About ALR Technologies, Inc.
ALR Technologies, which specializes in health and disease management products and services, has designed and manufactures medication compliance products and compliance home-monitoring and intervention systems to meet the needs for several targeted user groups. Products are now in use by patients taking medications or treatments for conditions such as hypertension, high cholesterol, Parkinson, diabetes, organ transplant, depression, anxiety, asthma, glaucoma and more. More information on ALR Technologies and its products can be found at http://www.alrt.com.
This release contains certain "forward-looking statements" relating to ALR Tech's business, and these statements reflect the current views of ALR Tech with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. When used, the words "estimate," "expect," "anticipate," "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. There are many factors that could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of ALR Tech and its products to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Further management discussions of risks and uncertainties can be found in the company's quarterly filings with the Securities Exchange Commission.
www.marketwire.com
Vasomedical Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2006 Financial Results; Conference Call to Be Held January 18 at 9:00 a.m. ET
1/17/2006 4:10:00 PM EST
Vasomedical, Inc. (Nasdaq SC: VASO), a leader in the noninvasive treatment and management of cardiovascular diseases, today announced financial results for the three and six months ended November 30, 2005.
Total revenues were $2.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2006, compared with total revenues of $3.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2005. Equipment rentals and services were $946,000 in the three months ended November 30, 2005, up slightly from $939,000 in the same period last year. Average selling prices improved approximately 10% during the quarter, however equipment shipments declined significantly. The Company recorded a loss from operations of $1.5 million during the three months ended November 30, 2005, a slight improvement from the operating loss of $1.6 million in the same period in fiscal 2005. Net loss attributable to common shareholders in the second quarter was $8.7 million, or $0.15 per share, compared with a net loss of $1.6 million, or $0.03 per share in the year-ago quarter. During the fiscal 2006-second quarter, Vasomedical recorded a provision for income taxes of $7.1 million to increase the valuation allowance for the deferred tax asset.
Tom Glover, president and chief executive officer of Vasomedical, commented, "These have been difficult times for Vasomedical, management has allocated a significant amount of time and resources leading up to and immediately following the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services draft decision for extended reimbursement coverage related to congestive heart failure. We have been working diligently to try to obtain a more positive decision. In the meantime, we are restructuring our costs to be better aligned with potential near-term sales, and continuing to explore traditional and new opportunities for EECP(R) therapy as well as additional geographic areas. The restructuring will reduce manufacturing and operating cost by approximately $3 million per year compared with current levels."
For the first six months of fiscal 2006, total revenues were $6.2 million, compared with $8.3 million for the first six months of fiscal 2005. The net loss attributable to common shareholders for the six months ended November 30, 2005, was $10.4 million, or $0.18 per share, compared with a net loss of $2.5 million, or $0.04 per share, for the six months ended November 30, 2004.
Cash, cash equivalents and certificates of deposit at November 30, 2005, were $2.9 million, compared with $2.7 million at May 31, 2005.
Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call to discuss these financial results January 18 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To participate in the live call by telephone, please dial (800) 639-0297 from the U.S., or (706) 634-7417 from outside the U.S. A telephone replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time January 21, 2006 by dialing (800) 642-1687 from the U.S. or (706) 645-9291 for international callers and entering passcode 4226633.
Those interested in listening to the conference call live via the Internet may do so by visiting the Company's web site at www.vasomedical.com, under the investor relations tab. To listen to the live call, please go to the Web site 15 minutes prior to its start to register, download, and install the necessary audio software. The webcast will be archived for 30 days.
About EECP(R) Therapy - External Counterpulsation
EECP external counterpulsation therapy is typically given in 35 one-hour sessions over seven weeks. Patients recline on a contoured treatment table and their calves, lower thighs and upper thighs are wrapped in a pneumatic cuff set. The system, which is synchronized to the individual patient's cardiac cycle, inflates the cuffs with air to create external pressure when the heart is resting and deflates the cuffs just before the next heartbeat. The system's action, which pulses counter to the heart's beating, increases blood flow to the heart muscle and other organs and decreases the heart's workload, creating a greater oxygen supply for the heart muscle while lowering its need for oxygen.
About Vasomedical
Vasomedical, Inc. is primarily engaged in designing, manufacturing, marketing and supporting EECP external counterpulsation systems based on the Company's unique proprietary technology. EECP therapy is a noninvasive, outpatient therapy for the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system currently indicated for use in cases of stable or unstable angina, congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock. The therapy serves to increase circulation in areas of the heart with less than adequate blood supply and may restore systemic vascular function. The Company provides hospitals, clinics and private practices with EECP equipment, treatment guidance and a staff training and equipment maintenance program designed to provide optimal patient outcomes. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.vasomedical.com.
Except for historical information contained in this report, the matters discussed are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. When used in this report, words such as "anticipated," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "may," "plans," "potential" and "intends" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company's management. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the effect of the dramatic changes taking place in the healthcare environment; the impact of competitive procedures and products and their pricing; medical insurance reimbursement policies including the continued inability to obtain Medicare reimbursement for congestive heart failure patients; unexpected manufacturing or supplier problems; the ability to attract and retain qualified executives and employees; unforeseen difficulties and delays in the conduct of clinical trials and other product development programs; the actions of regulatory authorities and third-party payers in the United States and overseas; uncertainties about the acceptance of a novel therapeutic modality by the medical community; and the risk factors reported from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments.
www.genengnews.com/
Vasomedical, Inc. (Nasdaq SC: VASO), a leader in the noninvasive treatment and management of cardiovascular diseases, today announced financial results for the three and six months ended November 30, 2005.
Total revenues were $2.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2006, compared with total revenues of $3.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2005. Equipment rentals and services were $946,000 in the three months ended November 30, 2005, up slightly from $939,000 in the same period last year. Average selling prices improved approximately 10% during the quarter, however equipment shipments declined significantly. The Company recorded a loss from operations of $1.5 million during the three months ended November 30, 2005, a slight improvement from the operating loss of $1.6 million in the same period in fiscal 2005. Net loss attributable to common shareholders in the second quarter was $8.7 million, or $0.15 per share, compared with a net loss of $1.6 million, or $0.03 per share in the year-ago quarter. During the fiscal 2006-second quarter, Vasomedical recorded a provision for income taxes of $7.1 million to increase the valuation allowance for the deferred tax asset.
Tom Glover, president and chief executive officer of Vasomedical, commented, "These have been difficult times for Vasomedical, management has allocated a significant amount of time and resources leading up to and immediately following the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services draft decision for extended reimbursement coverage related to congestive heart failure. We have been working diligently to try to obtain a more positive decision. In the meantime, we are restructuring our costs to be better aligned with potential near-term sales, and continuing to explore traditional and new opportunities for EECP(R) therapy as well as additional geographic areas. The restructuring will reduce manufacturing and operating cost by approximately $3 million per year compared with current levels."
For the first six months of fiscal 2006, total revenues were $6.2 million, compared with $8.3 million for the first six months of fiscal 2005. The net loss attributable to common shareholders for the six months ended November 30, 2005, was $10.4 million, or $0.18 per share, compared with a net loss of $2.5 million, or $0.04 per share, for the six months ended November 30, 2004.
Cash, cash equivalents and certificates of deposit at November 30, 2005, were $2.9 million, compared with $2.7 million at May 31, 2005.
Conference Call
The Company will host a conference call to discuss these financial results January 18 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. To participate in the live call by telephone, please dial (800) 639-0297 from the U.S., or (706) 634-7417 from outside the U.S. A telephone replay will be available until 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time January 21, 2006 by dialing (800) 642-1687 from the U.S. or (706) 645-9291 for international callers and entering passcode 4226633.
Those interested in listening to the conference call live via the Internet may do so by visiting the Company's web site at www.vasomedical.com, under the investor relations tab. To listen to the live call, please go to the Web site 15 minutes prior to its start to register, download, and install the necessary audio software. The webcast will be archived for 30 days.
About EECP(R) Therapy - External Counterpulsation
EECP external counterpulsation therapy is typically given in 35 one-hour sessions over seven weeks. Patients recline on a contoured treatment table and their calves, lower thighs and upper thighs are wrapped in a pneumatic cuff set. The system, which is synchronized to the individual patient's cardiac cycle, inflates the cuffs with air to create external pressure when the heart is resting and deflates the cuffs just before the next heartbeat. The system's action, which pulses counter to the heart's beating, increases blood flow to the heart muscle and other organs and decreases the heart's workload, creating a greater oxygen supply for the heart muscle while lowering its need for oxygen.
About Vasomedical
Vasomedical, Inc. is primarily engaged in designing, manufacturing, marketing and supporting EECP external counterpulsation systems based on the Company's unique proprietary technology. EECP therapy is a noninvasive, outpatient therapy for the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system currently indicated for use in cases of stable or unstable angina, congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction and cardiogenic shock. The therapy serves to increase circulation in areas of the heart with less than adequate blood supply and may restore systemic vascular function. The Company provides hospitals, clinics and private practices with EECP equipment, treatment guidance and a staff training and equipment maintenance program designed to provide optimal patient outcomes. Additional information is available on the Company's website at www.vasomedical.com.
Except for historical information contained in this report, the matters discussed are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. When used in this report, words such as "anticipated," "believes," "could," "estimates," "expects," "may," "plans," "potential" and "intends" and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or its management, identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the Company's management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company's management. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: the effect of the dramatic changes taking place in the healthcare environment; the impact of competitive procedures and products and their pricing; medical insurance reimbursement policies including the continued inability to obtain Medicare reimbursement for congestive heart failure patients; unexpected manufacturing or supplier problems; the ability to attract and retain qualified executives and employees; unforeseen difficulties and delays in the conduct of clinical trials and other product development programs; the actions of regulatory authorities and third-party payers in the United States and overseas; uncertainties about the acceptance of a novel therapeutic modality by the medical community; and the risk factors reported from time to time in the Company's SEC reports. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements as a result of future events or developments.
www.genengnews.com/
China calls for global early warning system against epidemics
BEIJING, Jan. 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on Wednesday suggested that the international community set up a monitoring and early warning system against epidemic diseases as soon as possible and help all countries in their capacity building in this regard.
The international community should make joint efforts to intensify scientific research in the area of epidemiology and medicine development for bird flu prevention and control, Wen told the ongoing international pledging conference on avian and human pandemic influenza.
"China is ready to provide personnel training to member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the neighboring countries, and conduct technical exchange with concerned countries on epidemiological survey, early warning and monitoring, laboratory testing, and clinical diagnosis and treatment," the premier said.
"We are also willing to cooperate with concerned countries and international organizations in the development of vaccine and medicine for effective prevention and control of bird flu," Wen added.
Wen also called on the international community to establish a global cooperation mechanism for the prevention and control of avian influenza.
The international community should make full use of the advantages of various regional and sub-regional mechanisms, and draw out specific measures for bird flu prevention and control, he said.
In order to promote the global cooperation, Wen suggested the international community set up a mechanism for joint prevention and control.
China is a responsible country and is ready to continue cooperating with the international community in this regard, said the premier.
"We are willing to share our experience with relevant countries and help them work out measures for the prevention and control of avian influenza." Wen said.
Wen Jiabao expressed the belief that the global efforts will finally lead to victory in the fight against bird flu.
The international community attaches great importance to bird flu prevention and control, and related international cooperation,which is in full swing, has resulted in remarkable achievements, said the premier.
However, he said, the epidemic situation is still grave and bird flu prevention and control remains a tough job.
"I believe that through the joint efforts of the international community and all delegates here, we are sure to bring bird flu under control and make new contribution to the civilization and progress of mankind," said Wen.
Nearly 700 delegates representing more than 100 countries and regions and 20 international organizations attended the conference in a bid to pool financial resources to curb the spread of bird flu. Enditem
Related Story
The international community should make joint efforts to intensify scientific research in the area of epidemiology and medicine development for bird flu prevention and control, Wen told the ongoing international pledging conference on avian and human pandemic influenza.
"China is ready to provide personnel training to member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the neighboring countries, and conduct technical exchange with concerned countries on epidemiological survey, early warning and monitoring, laboratory testing, and clinical diagnosis and treatment," the premier said.
"We are also willing to cooperate with concerned countries and international organizations in the development of vaccine and medicine for effective prevention and control of bird flu," Wen added.
Wen also called on the international community to establish a global cooperation mechanism for the prevention and control of avian influenza.
The international community should make full use of the advantages of various regional and sub-regional mechanisms, and draw out specific measures for bird flu prevention and control, he said.
In order to promote the global cooperation, Wen suggested the international community set up a mechanism for joint prevention and control.
China is a responsible country and is ready to continue cooperating with the international community in this regard, said the premier.
"We are willing to share our experience with relevant countries and help them work out measures for the prevention and control of avian influenza." Wen said.
Wen Jiabao expressed the belief that the global efforts will finally lead to victory in the fight against bird flu.
The international community attaches great importance to bird flu prevention and control, and related international cooperation,which is in full swing, has resulted in remarkable achievements, said the premier.
However, he said, the epidemic situation is still grave and bird flu prevention and control remains a tough job.
"I believe that through the joint efforts of the international community and all delegates here, we are sure to bring bird flu under control and make new contribution to the civilization and progress of mankind," said Wen.
Nearly 700 delegates representing more than 100 countries and regions and 20 international organizations attended the conference in a bid to pool financial resources to curb the spread of bird flu. Enditem
Related Story
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Discovery may aid autoimmune treatment
ANN ARBOR, Mich., Jan. 11 (UPI) -- University of Michigan scientists say a new discovery could help scientists understand what causes autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis.
Related Headlines
T-cell boost may increase immunity (December 28, 2005) -- Researchers are looking at ways to re-invigorate exhausted CD8 T cells. They says the cells eventually become exhausted in their battle against ... > full story
Protein ID'd in viral immune response (December 13, 2005) -- Memphis, Tenn., scientists say a protein called TRAF3, with a previously unknown job in immune cells, is a key part of one's early response to ... > full story
Study: Tumors ready sites for metastases (December 7, 2005) -- Cornell University scientists say they have determined tumors help prepare remote sites in the body for the formation of metastases. David Lyden, ... > full story
Gene pathway offers new therapeutic target (November 29, 2005) -- Johns Hopkins scientists in Baltimore have discovered a gene pathway that might lead to new treatments for such diseases as multiple sclerosis. The ... > full story
Autoimmune system in humans viewed (November 29, 2005) -- University of California-San Francisco scientists say they've devised a way to view how the human body averts autoimmunity. Jeffrey Bluestone, ... > full story
In a study published online in Nature, researchers from the university's medical school found that the protein cryopyrin responds to invading bacteria by triggering the activation of a powerful inflammatory molecule called IL-1beta, which signals the immune system to attack pathogens and induces fever to protect the body against infection.
Found in the fluid inside cells, cryopyrin is a member of the NOD-LRR family of proteins, which protect cells against microbial infection. Defective cryopyrin is associated with increased susceptibility to infection.
Small mutations in CIAS1 --the human gene for cryopyrin-- are known to cause three rare autoinflammatory diseases: familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome, Muckle-Wells syndrome and neonatal-onset multiple-system inflammatory disease.
The scientists found that activated cryopyrin triggers an enzyme called caspase-1, which splits the immature form of IL-1beta to produce the active form of the molecule. Once IL-1beta is activated, it can be secreted out of the cell where it binds to the IL-1beta receptor on other cells to trigger an immune response.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
Related Headlines
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In a study published online in Nature, researchers from the university's medical school found that the protein cryopyrin responds to invading bacteria by triggering the activation of a powerful inflammatory molecule called IL-1beta, which signals the immune system to attack pathogens and induces fever to protect the body against infection.
Found in the fluid inside cells, cryopyrin is a member of the NOD-LRR family of proteins, which protect cells against microbial infection. Defective cryopyrin is associated with increased susceptibility to infection.
Small mutations in CIAS1 --the human gene for cryopyrin-- are known to cause three rare autoinflammatory diseases: familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome, Muckle-Wells syndrome and neonatal-onset multiple-system inflammatory disease.
The scientists found that activated cryopyrin triggers an enzyme called caspase-1, which splits the immature form of IL-1beta to produce the active form of the molecule. Once IL-1beta is activated, it can be secreted out of the cell where it binds to the IL-1beta receptor on other cells to trigger an immune response.
Copyright 2006 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
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