Institute Pasteur Korea and Euroscreen Form Strategic Alliance for GPCR Drug Discovery

The Institute Pasteur Korea (IPK) and Euroscreen s.a. today announced a partnership to perform screening of G protein coupled receptors using internalization assays. The development at the Institute Pasteur Korea of a visual-based High Throughput Screening platform offers unique opportunities for the identification of drug candidates activating receptor internalization while Euroscreen’s receptor cell lines and GPCR library compounds will provide the initial direction and components for this drug discovery collaboration.

(PRWEB) February 27, 2006 -- The Institute Pasteur Korea (IPK) and Euroscreen s.a. today announced a partnership to perform screening of G protein coupled receptors using internalization assays. The development at the Institute Pasteur Korea of a visual-based High Throughput Screening platform offers unique opportunities for the identification of drug candidates activating receptor internalization while Euroscreen’s receptor cell lines and GPCR library compounds will provide the initial direction and components for this drug discovery collaboration.

This partnership takes thus advantage of both IPK expertise in the image analysis and HCS fields and Euroscreen competence in GPCR biology and Chemistry tools.

“We are delighted to be working with Euroscreen s.a. on this GPCR Drug Discovery project. This partnership highlights the increasing interest in visual-based screening technologies to identify more selective drug candidates. It validates the screening approach we develop at IPK” commented Dr. Thierry Christophe, Head of Screening Technologies and Pharmacology at Institute Pasteur Korea.

“Collaborating with one of the World’s leaders in the GPCR science sector signifies an important step in materialising IPK’s innovative approach. We are enthusiastic to have found a highly competent partner in Euroscreen, to take HCS screening to the next level.” added Dr. Ulf Nehrbass, Director and CEO of IPK.

“This should provide our companies with a rapid, joint opportunity to develop drug candidates which selectively cause the internalization of GPCRs for their therapeutic action in vivo,” said Dr. François Roman, the Head of Drug Development R&D at Euroscreen.

For further information, please contact:

Euroscreen s.a.: Tel: +32 71 348 500

Michel Detheux, Ph.D.
Head of New Target & Drug Discovery Programs Initiatives

IPK

Thierry Christophe, Ph.D.
Head of Screening Technologies and Pharmacology

Tel: 0082.2.3299.0341
Web site: www.ip-korea.org

About IP-Korea
Institute Pasteur Korea (IP-Korea) has been created in 2004 with the strategic focus on enabling technologies and therapeutics development in disease models pertaining to public health. In order to meet this goal, IP-Korea was one of the few world research centers to develop High Throughput Screening facilities based on internal and collaborative development of new screening assays. Today IP-Korea can take advantage of the diversity of its research, including biology groups, image mining, new microscopy development or medicinal and nano chemistry.

IP-Korea is a part of the International Network of Pasteur Institutes, which allows IP-Korea the access to the research developed through the 28 other Institutes. In addition, IP-Korea has agreements with the French CNRS (Centre National pour le Recherche Scientifique), the KRICT (Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology) and the KIST (Korea Institute of Science and Technology).

In the screening area, the goal of IP-Korea is to develop disease-based assays to visualize the physiological effect of the disease on the cellular level. To this end, IP-Korea has implemented the first worldwide uHTS platform from Evotec Technologies in a BSL-3 lab including an automatized confocal microscope (Opera) but also fluorescence/luminescence readers to perform High Content and HTScreens.
For more information, please contact Dr. Philip Bernstein (email protected from spam bots)

Institute Pasteur Korea is a non-profit organization based in Seoul, South Korea.

About Euroscreen SA
Euroscreen is a world leader in G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). The Company integrates its research expertise in this area with its patented high-throughput AequoScreen™ cellular assay platform to patent new GPCR targets and drug candidates.

The Company is building its own patent portfolio of GPCR targets and novel drug leads for licensing to biopharmaceutical companies, and to date has agreements with Amersham/GE Healthcare, Cephalon, ChemDiv, Evotec, ICOS, Merck & Co, Pfizer Inc, Solvay, Syngenta and UCB. Euroscreen has also established collaborations with numerous academic centers for access to licenses to help in making available its broad menu of GPCR-based products (recombinant cell lines and membrane preparations) and services (custom screening and cloning).

Euroscreen has grown significant and strong patent positions to protect many key drug targets for licensing. Such patents include CCR5, ChemR23, GPR43, GPR7/8, purinergic receptors (P2Y4, P2Y11 and P2Y13) and SHIP2 for type II diabetes. Euroscreen is able to offer intellectual property rights to companies for the development of therapeutic drugs that act through the above-mentioned targets. For more information regarding the Euroscreen’s portfolio, please contact Dr. Vincent Lannoy.

Euroscreen is a privately held company based in Brussels, Belgium with 80 employees of which 50 are in R&D.

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¶ 12:49 PM 0 comments

Study Shows 20 Percent Suffer Chronic Pain While At-Home Relief is Available

A recent study indicates that 1 in 5 people with chronic pain do not seek medical assistance, according to the February issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings. The National Fibromyalgia Association estimates 3% to 6% of the U.S. population is afflicted with debilitating pain. Thousands of Americans suffer from muscle tension left untreated while self-care toolkits are readily available to alleviate trigger point pain.

Gilbertsville, PA (PRWEB) February 24, 2006 -- Untreated pain has reached epidemic levels while a non-invasive, effective pain management solution is available. Physician administered trigger point therapy has been proven to reduce muscle pain; however, ongoing treatment can prove costly. The Pressure Positive Company has released affordable at-home, self-care toolkits to alleviate trigger point pain caused by muscle tension, Fibromyalgia and more.

The Pressure Positive Company has recently made available two at-home toolkits that capitalize on the benefits of trigger point therapy without the exorbitant cost of ongoing office visits. The Trigger Point Self-Care Toolkit includes the #1 best-selling book by Clair Davies, The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook, 2nd Edition, praised in the November 2005 issue of Dynamic Chiropractor for its concise instruction on daily management of trigger point pain. The Fibromyalgia Self-Care Toolkit contains the book Taking Charge of Fibromyalgia by Julie Kelly, MS, RN and Rosalie Devonshire, MSW, LCSW.

Both toolkits include self-care massage tool for reaching difficult points in the neck, back and shoulders. Kits also include tools that spare finger and thumb injuries during deep tissue massage. Both toolkits are only $57.95 each and are currently available online at: http://www.pressurepositive.com.

Renee Gladieux, Director of Sales and Marketing for The Pressure Positive Company, said, "Almost daily we receive phone calls from individuals who claim that our tools are the only things that have made a difference. We have hundreds of testimonials from people who have managed their pain and regained control of their lives. It's tremendously gratifying to be able to help so many people enjoy their lives again."

For over 27 years, The Pressure Positive Company has been designing and manufacturing unique massage therapy tools for the self-care of trigger point pain for use by health professionals and patients. Founder, Bernard “Bun” Gladieux has been at the forefront of the non-invasive pain management field since its inception.

Contact:

Renee Gladieux, The Pressure Positive Company
Gilbertsville, PA 19525
800-603-5107
website: www.pressurepositive.com

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¶ 4:37 PM 0 comments

Parker & Waichman, LLP Files Suit Against Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc. on Behalf of Victim of Ortho Evra Birth Control Patch

Lawsuit filed on behalf of 33 year plaintiff who was diagnosed with serious blod clots and stroke after using the Ortho Evra birth control patch for 6 months.

New York, NY (PRWEB) February 24, 2006 -- Parker & Waichman, LLP (http://www.yourlawyer.com) announced that it has filed suit against Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical, Inc., a division of Johnson and Johnson Inc., on behalf of a 33-year-old woman who suffered a venous thrombosis (blood clot) and stroke after using the Ortho Evra contraceptive patch for 6 months. In February 2004, the plaintiff began suffering from headaches, nausea and vomiting. Shortly thereafter, the plaintiff’s conditions worsened, and she was taken to the emergency room at the Henry Medical Center in Stockbridge, Georgia. Diagnostic tests revealed venous thrombosis and stroke. The plaintiff was subsequently airlifted to Emory University Hospital and was admitted to the Neuro Intensive Care Unit where she underwent Heparin and Coumadin (anticoagulant) therapy. The plaintiff will likely undergo prolonged treatment with these medications, which may be necessary for the remainder of her life. The suit was filed in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey in Newark, New Jersey (Docket #06-cv-713). For more information on Ortho Evra please visit http://www.orthopatchlawsuit.com or http://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/Ortho_Evra_Patch.

On November 10, 2005, Ortho McNeil, in conjunction with the FDA, issued a warning about the increased risks of blood clots associated with Ortho Evra. In the new warning, Ortho-McNeil admitted for the first time that women who use the patch will be exposed to up to 60% more estrogen than they would be exposed to if they were taking a birth control pill with 35 micrograms of estrogen. The patch is only intended to deliver 20 micrograms of estrogen. The FDA's announcement on this warning can be found at http://www.fda.gov/bbs/topics/news/2005/NEW01262.html. It is widely understood that increased exposure to estrogen greatly increases the risk of blood clots, which can cause serious injury or death.

Venous thrombosis is a blood clot formation in the veins that most commonly forms in the veins of the legs. The thrombus can interfere with circulation; it may break off and travel through the blood stream, which can cause pulmonary embolism or stroke. Treatment may include long term use of anticoagulant medications and/or surgery. The new warnings from the FDA and Ortho-McNeil indicate that the risk of developing blood clots may be significantly higher with the Ortho Evra patch than with oral contraceptives.

Stroke occurs when the blood supply to a part of the brain is suddenly interrupted. In brain tissue, a reduction of blood flow can damage or kill brain cells. Death of brain tissue can lead to loss of the function controlled by that tissue. Stroke is an extremely serious medical condition that often leads to adult disability and death. It is important to identify a stroke as early as possible because patients who are treated earlier are more likely to survive and have better recoveries. The new warnings from the FDA and Ortho-McNeil indicate that the risk of stroke may be significantly higher with the Ortho Evra patch than with oral contraceptives.

It is alleged that Ortho-McNeil was aware of the increased medical risks associated with Ortho Evra before the drug was approved and that, once approved, the company failed to adequately warn patients about these risks. Evidence shows that the risk of blood clots, heart attack and stroke associated with Ortho Evra is significantly higher than with oral contraceptive pills. The incidence of embolisms and thrombotic injuries in Phase III trials of Ortho Evra was reportedly six times greater than the incidence of such events in oral contraceptives using the hormone levonorgestral. The FDA has logged 9,116 reports of adverse reactions to the patch in a 17 month period, whereas Ortho Tri-Cyclen, a birth control pill, only generated 1,237 adverse reports in a six year period. During a 12 month period, 44 serious injuries or deaths have been associated with Ortho Evra, whereas only 17 such reports were linked to the birth control pill during a similar time period. The pattern is further magnified when usage rates are considered: Ortho Tri-Cyclen has six times the number of users as Ortho Evra.

Ortho Evra is an adhesive, transdermal birth control patch that is worn on the torso. The patch is intended to release 150 mcg of norelgestromin and 20 mcg of ethinyl estradiol into the bloodstream per 24 hours. It is replaced once a week for three weeks, and no patch is worn during the fourth week during menstruation. The regimen is then repeated. Ortho Evra was approved by the FDA in November 2001, and over 4 million women have used Ortho Evra since its approval. Ortho Evra continues to be marketed aggressively to both consumers and physicians.

About Parker & Waichman, LLP
Parker & Waichman, LLP is a leading products liability and personal injury law firm that represents plaintiffs nationwide. The firm has offices in New York and New Jersey. Parker & Waichman, LLP has assisted thousands of clients in receiving fair compensation for injuries resulting from defective medications and medical devices. For more information on Parker & Waichman, LLP please visit: (http://www.yourlawyer.com) or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).

CONTACT: Parker & Waichman, LLP
          Jason Mark, Esq.
          Melanie H. Muhlstock, Esq.
          1-800-LAW-INFO
          1-800-529-4636 -- toll-free
          http://www.yourlawyer.com

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¶ 8:50 AM 0 comments

Mesothelioma Medical Experts Oppose Asbestos Trust Fund, Saying FAIR Act Hurts More than Helps

¶ 9:50 PM 0 comments

Pain Relief - New “Acupuncture without Needles” Technique Reports 80% Effectiveness, Often Out-Performing Drugs

Chronic pain, the most costly health problem in America today, often responds within minutes to EFT, a simple do-it-yourself acupressure technique.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) February 23, 2006 -- EFT, a new do-it-yourself pain relief procedure has shown remarkable benefits in thousands of clinical applications. Its potential use worldwide may produce major economic breakthroughs in pain management.

For example, chronic pain costs the United States an estimated $50 billion every year, making it the country’s most expensive health problem. An estimated 7 million are partially or completely disabled by back pain, and most adults experience occasional back problems. Arthritis affects 40 million and costs over $4 billion in lost income and health care. Another 45 million suffer chronic, recurrent headaches and spend $4 billion per year on medication.

Prescription drugs provide some relief, but they don’t always work, their side effects can be serious, and the pain usually returns.

One promising treatment recognized by the National Institutes of Health is acupuncture, the ancient Oriental practice of inserting needles at key points along energy meridians. Acupuncture works by removing blocks along these meridians, allowing energy to flow freely, relieving pain and other symptoms in the process.

Now a do-it-yourself procedure takes acupuncture to a new level by addressing unresolved emotional issues that contribute to pain. Emotional Freedom Techniques, or EFT, combines gentle fingertip tapping on key acupuncture points with focused thought, effectively reducing – and often permanently eliminating – chronic pain. According to Its practitioners, EFT is more than 80-percent effective in treating headaches, back pain, cancer pain, arthritis, and pain from other conditions.

Steve Wells, an Australian EFT practitioner, worked with a Vietnam War veteran whose chronic lower back pain disappeared in less than a minute. “He spent the remainder of the session trying to bring his pain back,” says Wells, “but it didn’t return.” Wells reports similar results for clients with shoulder pain, migraine headaches, knee pain, and other conditions.

According to Stephanie Rothman, CHT, “My clients have experienced relief from pain and discomfort from headaches, neck stiffness, PMS, allergies, asthma, fibromyalgia, hiccups, stomach cramps, hangovers, and post-surgical discomfort, using only EFT.”

Los Angeles physician Eric Robins, MD, finds that EFT often works when conventional therapies fail. “Again and again,” he says, “patients with chronic pain have unresolved emotional issues or anger that’s tied to past traumas. Stress and negative emotions aren’t just in our heads, they are stored in our bodies, often in skeletal or smooth muscles. It’s hard for blood to flow through chronically tensed muscles.”

This model, he explains, agrees with the theories of John Sarno, MD, Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at New York University in New York City and author of the best-selling Healing Back Pain: The Mind-Body Connection and other books. Dr. Sarno treats patients not with drugs or surgery but with anger management.

“He sees some of the worse chronic pain patients in the world,” says Dr. Robins. “Most have been in pain for 10 to 30 years despite surgeries, epidural injections, and years of physical therapy. He teaches them that the cause of their pain is anger and that when they let go of the anger, their pain will disappear. He consistently produces a cure rate that’s close to 70 percent in terms of pain and function, and an additional 15 percent are much improved.”

Dr. Robins considers EFT the most effective, fastest-acting anger management technique available. “Like most doctors, I’m always in a hurry,” he says. “If I can teach EFT to a patient in just a few minutes and completely resolve not only chronic symptoms but their underlying cause, that’s terrific. In fact, it’s phenomenal. Nothing in the pharmaceutical world comes close.”

Although most Americans have yet to hear of it, EFT may be the world’s fastest-growing self-help technique. Between 5,000 and 10,000 worldwide – including hundreds of health care practitioners – download the EFT website’s free instruction manual each week, and 175,000 subscribe to its online newsletter.

The EFT website generously offers a EFT Free Get Started Package to the public. It includes the EFT Manual (contains all the basics so you can apply it right away) and a free subscription to its popular online newsletter. It can be freely downloaded at…

http://www.emofree.com/downloadeftmanual.asp?ref=prw-pain

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¶ 8:05 AM 0 comments

AmeriPlan USA Incorporates Discount Health Benefits with Online Tele-Mental Health Service Through LetsTalkCounseling.com

AmeriPlan USA®, and LetsTalkCounseling.com deliver the industry’s first comprehensive and affordable mental health service for millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans.

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) February 23, 2006 -- Let’s Talk Interactive, Inc., a privately held Charlotte, North Carolina corporation, established in 2001, announced today the marriage of discount benefits and online mental health service. With health care costs skyrocketing and out of reach for many people, discount health benefits are becoming the only option for a growing population. LetsTalkCounseling.com was designed to provide online counseling Tele-Health services to this growing group of people.

For more than a decade, AmeriPlan USA®, a Fortune 100 Corporation has been the leader in providing affordable discounted healthcare benefits. To the millions of uninsured and underinsured Americans, AmeriPlan® offers a very affordable, comprehensive, medical alternative. AmeriPlan® membership base includes in excess of one million individuals, a growing provider base that includes dental providers, optical providers, retail pharmacies, chiropractors, and now online mental health providers.

This is the first of its kind Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant Tele-Health Mental health online counseling delivery system. AmeriPlan® members will have access to AmeriPlan ®providers through a no-charge search for participating providers. AmeriPlan® members will also receive a 50% discount off of services provided by an AmeriPlan USA® provider using the LetsTalkCounseling.com network. AmeriPlan® members will also have free access to hundreds of self-help articles on mental health as well as receiving service online.

LetsTalkCounseling.com allows access to HIPAA compliant tools such as Highly Secure encrypted email, Secure Chat, with an Audio connection built in for phone quality sessions at dial-up speeds. For the DSL or Cable High Speed Internet user, LetsTalkCounseling.com offers Secure Live Audio Visual online counseling sessions were clients can actually see and hear their providers. There is no longer the need to let distance barriers or physical barriers prevent someone from receiving Licensed/Certified Health care. LetsTalkCounseling.com helps provide the freedom mixed with the affordability that Tele-Mental Health online counseling services provide.

LetsTalkCounseling.com is proud to provide AmeriPlan USA® members and providers with online counseling access. For additional information,
visit www.LetsTalkCounseling.com.

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¶ 8:02 AM 0 comments

Coalition to Address the State of HIV/AIDS in Indiana; Calls for HIV Gap Fund to Address Medical Costs Under New Medicare/Medicaid

The Indiana Minority Health Coalition (IMHC), the state’s leading minority health research and community care agency, today launches its 2006 Indiana Minority Health Call to Action focusing on HIV/AIDS. The agency will offer several advocacy activities and rally statewide support of a new fund, “The HIV Gap Fund,” to offset increased changes in state and federal support.

Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) February 22, 2006--The Indiana Minority Health Coalition (IMHC), the state’s leading minority health research and community care agency, today launches its 2006 Indiana Minority Health Call to Action focusing on HIV/AIDS. The agency will offer several advocacy activities and rally statewide support of a new fund, “The HIV Gap Fund,” to offset increased changes in state and federal support.

The theme of this year’s initiative is “Think Global Act Local: a focus on HIV/AIDS.” IMHC, along with a planning group comprised of People Living with HIV and AIDS, public health leaders, elected officials, and faith, community and business leaders, will engage in advocacy and action days around the state culminating with a march from Monument Circle in Indianapolis to the Indiana State House on April 19, from 1 -3 p.m.; and the 12th annual initiative luncheon featuring an international celebrity, humanitarian and HIV/AIDS spokesperson on April 20 at The Westin Hotel, in downtown Indianapolis, from 11 am – 2 pm.

Since 1981 when the first cases were diagnosed, AIDS has killed more than 20 million people, in the minorities/ethnic communities, accounting for 40 percent of those deaths. In addition, in the United States racial/ethnic minorities account for more than 40 percent of the estimated 944,306 AIDS cases that have been diagnosed, making up 12.2 percent of the population.

To address this health concern, IMHC will work with community members to encourage them to take action within their counties. The organization is partnering with the 12 regions for the initiative, based on care coordination sites defined by the Indiana State Department of Health. Volunteers and participants in each region will receive HIV/AIDS Issues and Action Toolkits that will include current Indiana HIV/AIDS data and talking points that affect those infected and impacted; guide communities on developing their own local events; and develop methods to engaged elected officials such as the HIV/AIDS education day.

HIV/AIDS education is the priority for the initiative with the key message of getting support for the HIV Gap Fund to help save Hoosier lives. The fund is critical to Indiana residents who lack financial and social support resources. People living with HIV/AIDS and other life altering diseases are in a difficult position because they can not absorb the high cost of medications. Some HIV/AIDS medications alone range from $800-$1,250 per person per month.

The HIV Gap Fund will provide individuals with resource to help obtain their medication if they are faced with shortfalls in insurance, co-pays, spend downs or lack of social services.

“IMHC is dedicated to closing the gap in health care in our communities. We are rallying to save the lives of our loved ones, neighbors and co-workers. The HIV/AIDS education and advocacy activities from now through April are just our way of bringing awareness about this health epidemic and the action needed to prolong life right here in Indiana,” said IMHC CEO and President Nancy Jewell.

For more information on how to participate in IMHC’s Call to Action: HIV/AIDS Lobby Days, call 1-877-367-4642

About IMHC: The Indiana Minority Health Coalition is a statewide non-profit organization formed by a grassroots movement in 1992 to ensure that no racial or ethnic minority child, adolescent, or adult suffers more from a preventable adverse health condition than non-minorities. IMHC has 16 local coalition affiliates servicing 29 counties throughout the state that provide a myriad of health programs and services to the community with the goal of eliminating health disparities.

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¶ 9:13 AM 0 comments

Swisslog Healthcare Division Announces Release of New Infection Control Procedure for Hospital Transport Systems

This guideline procedure addresses potential system spills using pneumatic tube systems in hospitals. Infection control clean up procedures are presented as well as packaging guidelines - and the latest federal regulatory agency citations such as OSHA, the CDC and CLSI.

Denver, Colorado (PRWEB) February 22, 2006 -- Swisslog Healthcare Solutions Division announces the release of it’s new Infection Control Procedure for the Transport of Specimens in a Swisslog Pneumatic Tube System.

The 8-page document outlines specimen transport and handling issues relating to potential spills associated with automated material transport in hospitals. Included are guidelines for container testing, and secure packaging of specimens

The report focuses on pneumatic tube system use – and addresses system spill procedure, decontamination and disinfectant situations. Swisslog has monitored reports provided by safety regulation agencies including the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and has incorporated pertinent references to agency reports and guidelines.

Swisslog provides a comprehensive hospital training program for it’s pneumatic tube system users entitled “Template for Pneumatic Tube System Protocol” which has become a standard in many North American hospital institutions. The Infection Control Procedure is presented as an integral component in that protocol program.

The new Infection Control document new incorporates agency contact information, web resources, and references to pertinent infection control publications, agencies and more.

Hospital staffs can learn more about Swisslog’s Infection Control Procedure by visiting the Swisslog Healthcare Solutions Patient Protection web page at:

http://www.swisslog.com/hcs-index/hcs-departments/hcs-protection.htm

Hospital staffs may contact Swisslog’s Customer Solutions Group and requesting either an electronic or printed edition of the new procedure (1-800-764-0300).

About Swisslog
Swisslog is a global provider of integrated logistic solutions for warehouses, distribution centers and hospitals. The comprehensive portfolio ranges from building complex warehouses and distribution centers including Swisslog’s software, in-house logistics solutions for hospitals as well as software and consulting services in the field of supply chain management. Swisslog’s solutions optimize the customer’s production, logistics and distribution processes in order to increase their flexibility, responsiveness and quality of service, while minimizing logistics costs.

With years of experience in the development and implementation of integrated logistics solutions, Swisslog provides the expertise that customers in more than 50 countries around the world rely on. Headquartered in Buchs/Aarau, Switzerland, Swisslog currently employs around 1,850 staff in 23 countries worldwide. For more information, go to www.swisslog.com and visit the Swisslog Healthcare Solutions Division.

###

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¶ 9:04 AM 0 comments

Pick the Winner in a New Star Search: FLAVORx Seeks Everyday Child to Make Famous

Many child stars have arisen from everyday walks of life and stumbled upon stardom. In a nationwide search for the first annual FLAVORx SuperKid, the company looks to tap into a resource brimming over with kids with great personalities and million-dollar smiles: nominations from the American public. Similarly, to determine who appeals to the public the most, FLAVORx is opening the voting to the people. The top 20 finalists will be featured on the company website and consumers will be able to vote online for their favorite nominee and choose the winner.

Bethesda, MD (PRWEB) February 22, 2006 -- FLAVORx, Inc., the company responsible for supplying over 37,500 pharmacies nationwide with scientifically-tested and specifically developed medicinal flavorings, is looking for its newest child spokesperson. While most child stars are discovered through modeling and acting agencies, FLAVORx plans to dive into an untapped goldmine: everyday kids. Some of the most famous and talented child stars have been found by chance and stumbled into stardom. Likewise, FLAVORx turns to the American public for their nominations and votes to find a cute, funny, down-to-earth child full of personality to be the new face of FLAVORx. This FLAVORx SuperKid will win a $1,000 college scholarship fund and a roundtrip flight to Washington, D.C. for a photo shoot and be featured on marketing materials that will be displayed nationwide at its independent and chain pharmacies such as CVS, Wal-Mart and Rite-Aid.    

What’s the best way to find the perfect child that appeals the most to the American public? Ask the American public for the ideal nominees, of course. Kids full of character and beaming with ear-to-ear smiles could be related to you, right next door, in your classroom, playing on the local sports team or even making you laugh in line at the grocery store. And because the American public knows who would make the absolute best FLAVORx SuperKid, the company is turning to your votes to determine the winner.

Children’s faces that have graced products such as Coppertone® Suntan Lotion and the Gerber® Baby have been made famous based on everyday kids. Coppertone was inspired by a company member’s family photo and the Gerber baby was based on the baby face of a Gerber family friend.    

Ever heard of Hallie Eisenberg, the young girl who captured the nation’s heart in Pepsi commercials? Or Alyssa Milano, the child star of “Who’s the Boss?” and current successful actress on “Charmed”? Both of these young starlets accidentally found fame. Hallie Eisenberg was discovered while tagging on an interview with her older brother. Similarly, Alyssa Milano was dragged to her babysitter’s audition where the producers fell in love with Alyssa instead of her babysitter. In the case of “American Idol” or “Star Search,” these talent contests helped launch the careers of everyday people such as Kelly Clarkson, Britney Spears, Rosie O'Donnell, Christina Aguilera, Destiny’s Child, Ray Romano, Sinbad and Martin Lawrence.

To provide opportunity and reach out to children of all backgrounds and all walks of life, FLAVORx will reach out to children’s organizations such as Make-A-Wish, Shane’s Inspiration, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Celiac Sprue Association, the Pediatric/Adolescent Gastroesophageal Reflux Association and local Children’s Hospitals and charities from now until the contest’s deadline on April 30th. Additionally, information and materials will be distributed to FLAVORx-participating pharmacies.

It is FLAVORx's intention that the $1,000 college scholarship fund will help offset the rising costs of higher education and skills training. In general, college tuition rates will increase at about twice the general inflation rate. On average, tuition tends to increase 8% per year, meaning that about every 9 years the cost of college tuition will double. Financial assistance on any level will provide great value to aspiring children and their families.

The top 20 finalists will be featured on the FLAVORx website. Voting details will follow as finalists are determined. The winner will receive a $1,000 college scholarship, a roundtrip flight to Washington, D.C. for a photo shoot and the person who nominates the winner will receive a $500 cash prize. Nomination forms are currently available online at www.flavorx.com/human/superkid.asp or through hard-copy by contacting Teresa Chen at 800.884.5771, extension 234.

# # #

Press Contact: Teresa Chen
Company Name: FLAVORX, INC.
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 240.223.0953
Website: www.flavorx.com

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Avian Influenza: Significance of Mutations in the H5N1 Virus

GENEVA, Feb. 21 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- Several recent media reports have included speculations about the significance of mutations in H5N1 avian influenza viruses. Some reports have suggested that the likelihood of another pandemic may have increased as a result of changes in the virus.

Since 1997, when the first human infections with the H5N1 avian influenza virus were documented, the virus has undergone a number of changes.

These changes have affected patterns of virus transmission and spread among domestic and wild birds. They have not, however, had any discernible impact on the disease in humans, including its modes of transmission. Human infections remain a rare event. The virus does not spread easily from birds to humans or readily from person to person.

Influenza viruses are inherently unstable. As these viruses lack a genetic proof-reading mechanism, small errors that occur when the virus copies itself go undetected and uncorrected. Specific mutations and evolution in influenza viruses cannot be predicted, making it difficult if not impossible to know if or when a virus such as H5N1 might acquire the properties needed to spread easily and sustainably among humans. This difficulty is increased by the present lack of understanding concerning which specific mutations would lead to increased transmissibility of the virus among humans.

Animal viruses

Virtually all the known subtypes of influenza A viruses circulate in some wild birds, most notably wild waterfowl. In these birds, different viruses constantly mingle with each other and frequently exchange genetic material, resulting in a huge pool of constantly changing viruses. Mutations and reassortment events are commonly observed in the affected bird populations.

In animals, some recent evolutionary changes in the H5N1 virus appear to have made control efforts more difficult and further international spread of the virus in birds more likely. Such changes are fully understandable, particularly in view of the exceptionally large number of birds that have been infected with the H5N1 virus and the frequent interactions between infected free-ranging poultry and wild waterfowl.

Studies have shown that H5N1 viruses from the current outbreaks, when compared with viruses from 1997 and 2003, have become progressively more lethal in experimentally infected chickens and mice, and are also hardier, surviving several days longer in the environment. Other studies have shown that the virus is not yet fully adapted to poultry and is continuing to evolve.

Domestic ducks have acquired an ability to resist the disease caused by some strains, and are now capable of excreting large quantities of highly pathogenic virus without showing the warning signs of illness. In endemic countries, this altered role of domestic ducks is now thought to contribute to perpetuation of the transmission cycle. Research conducted in South-east Asia has recently shown that multiple distinct lineages of H5N1 virus have become established in poultry in different geographical regions, indicating the long- term endemicity of the virus in parts of Asia. That research also detected highly pathogenic H5N1 virus in apparently healthy migratory birds.

In birds, one important recent finding has been the remarkable similarity of viruses from recent outbreaks to those isolated from migratory birds that began dying at the Qinghai Lake nature reserve in central China in late April 2005. Evidence is mounting that this event, which resulted in the deaths of more than 6,000 wild birds, signalled an important change in the way the virus interacts with its natural reservoir host.

Unlike the case with mutations of human viruses (some of which have been transient), it appears that some changes have become fixed in viruses circulating in at least some species of wild birds.

Prior to the Qinghai Lake event, the highly pathogenic H5N1 virus was known to cause occasional sporadic deaths in migratory waterfowl, but not to kill them in large numbers or be carried by them over long distances.

Viruses from Qinghai Lake showed a distinctive mutation at one site experimentally associated with greater lethality in birds and mice. Viruses from the most recent outbreaks, in Nigeria, Iraq, and Turkey, as well as from earlier outbreaks in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia, are virtually identical to Qinghai Lake viruses.

It is considered unusual for an avian influenza virus causing outbreaks in birds to remain this genetically stable over so many months. This finding raises the possibility that the virus -- in its highly pathogenic form -- has now adapted to at least some species of migratory waterfowl and is co-existing with these birds in evolutionary equilibrium, causing no apparent harm, and travelling with these birds along their migratory routes.

If further research verifies this hypothesis, re-introduction of the virus or spread to new geographical areas can be anticipated when migratory birds begin returning to their breeding areas.

The recent appearance of the virus in birds in a rapidly growing number of countries is of public health concern, as it expands opportunities for human exposures and infections to occur. These opportunities increase when the virus spreads from wild to domestic birds, especially when these birds are kept as backyard flocks in close proximity to humans.

To date, no human cases have been linked to exposure to wild birds. Close contact with infected poultry and other domestic birds remains the most important source of human infections.

Human viruses

Some mutations have been detected in human viruses isolated in 2005 and, most recently, in one virus isolated from a fatal case in the January 2006 outbreak in Turkey. Although these mutations were found at the receptor- binding site and involved the substitution of more mammalian-like amino acids, the effect of these changes on transmissibility of the virus, either from birds to humans or from one person to another, is not fully understood. Moreover, recent studies show that these mutations were transient and did not become fixed in the circulating viruses.

Scientists do not presently know which specific mutations are needed to make the H5N1 virus easily and sustainably transmissible among humans. For example, it is not known whether the absence of a specific receptor in humans for this purely avian virus is responsible for the present lack of efficient human-to-human transmission. For this reason, virological evidence of mutational changes must be assessed together with epidemiological information about transmission patterns actually occurring in human populations. This necessity further underscores the importance of close surveillance and thorough investigation during every outbreak involving human cases.

Assessments of the outbreak in Turkey, conducted by WHO investigative teams, have produced no convincing evidence that mutations have altered the epidemiology of the disease in humans, which was similar to the pattern consistently seen in affected parts of Asia. There is no evidence, at present, from any outbreak site that the virus has increased its ability to spread easily from one person to another.

 
http://www.who.int/csr/2006_02_20/en/print.html

             Cumulative Number of Confirmed Human Cases of Avian
                      Influenza A/(H5N1) Reported to WHO

                             20 February 2006

   Country      2003         2004         2005        2006         Total
            cases deaths cases deaths cases deaths cases deaths cases deaths

   Cambodia   0     0      0     0      4     4      0     0      4     4
   China      0     0      0     0      8     5      4     3     12     8
   Indonesia  0     0      0     0     17    11      9     8     26    19
   Iraq       0     0      0     0      0     0      1     1      1     1
   Thailand   0     0     17    12      5     2      0     0     22    14
   Turkey     0     0      0     0      0     0     12     4     12     4
   Viet Nam   3     3     29    20     61    19      0     0     93    42
   Total      3     3     46    32     95    41     26    16    170    92

   Total number of cases includes number of deaths.

WHO reports only laboratory-confirmed cases. http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/country/
cases_table_2006_02_20/ en/print.html

  For more information, please contact:

   Aphaluck Bhatiasevi
   Communications Officer
   World Health Organization (China)
   Mobile: +86-1361-117-4072
   Tel:    +86-10-6532-5687
   Fax:    +86-10-6532-2359
   Email:  bhatiasevia@chn.wpro.who.int

Photo: NewsCom:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040610/CNTH001LOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, +1-888-776-6555 or +1-212-782-2840

Source: World Health Organization

CONTACT: Aphaluck Bhatiasevi of World Health Organization (China),
+86-1361-117-4072 or +86-10-6532-5687, or fax, +86-10-6532-2359, or
bhatiasevia@chn.wpro.who.int

Web Site: http://www.who.int/csr/2006_02_20/en/print.html
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Student Hires Illinois Product Liability Lawyers to Sue BALCO Chemist for Damaging Side Effects of Steroid

Patrick Arnold indicted in the BALCO (Bay Area Laboratories Cooperative) scandal named along with Proviant Technologies President Ramlakhan Boodram

Champaign, Illinois (PRWEB) February 20, 2005 – Christopher Roney Jr., a University of Illinois student, has hired Illinois product liability lawyers Power, Rogers & Smith to represent him in a case against Chemist Patrick Arnold and Proviant Technologies, the firm that housed his laboratories. Roney purchased 1-AD, a synthetic version of the steroid Androgen. Arnold is credited with inventing 1-AD and Roney has suffered damaging side effects of steroid use.

“Christopher Roney Jr. purchased 1-AD on the internet two years ago, the product label did not indicate the serious side effects steroid use.” explained Todd Smith, partner at Power, Rogers and Smith Chicago product liability lawyers. “The FDA sent warning letters to the manufacturers of this synthetic steroid two years ago, and they banned the substance over one year ago. If a product such as a synthetic steroid has damaging side effects the company has a responsibility to inform purchasers.”

When Roney Jr. purchased the products, they were advertised as natural occurring supplements that came from Scottish pine trees. After taking the product, Roney has suffered from endocrine imbalance and testosterone deficiency. He suffers from feelings of despair, lack of energy and had lost over 45 pounds. “Other people are at risk, and I have come forward due to a concern for others who may be in danger.” said Roney Jr. “Taking this product has caused serious problems. I never would have taken them if I had any idea something like this would happen.”

“If there is a substantial risk of harm to people, we should put a spotlight on it, explained Chicago product liability lawyer Todd Smith, “The law is you have to make a product reasonably safe and fully inform the consumer about any risk. It was clear the manufacturer was not policing themselves and not informing the public of risks.”

The case, #06L25, was filed in the Circuit Court for the 6th Judicial Circuit of Illinois, Champaign County.

About Power, Rogers & Smith:
Illinois product liability lawyers Power, Rogers & Smith have been fighting and winning the hard fight for more than a quarter of a century. Armed with the top Chicago product liability lawyers, Power, Rogers & Smith has recovered over $260 million on behalf of their clients in the past two years alone. The firm has recently been hired to represent Christopher Roney Jr. in a lawsuit on the side effects of steroid 1-AD, developed by Patrick Arnold and manufactured by Proviant Technologies. For more information, visit http://www.prslaw.com.

###

Press Contact: Jay Berkowitz
Company Name: Cepac
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Phone: 561-620-9121
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¶ 8:35 AM 0 comments

McCulley/Cuppan Creates Division to Launch Web-based Technical Training for Busy Professionals in the Biopharmaceutical Industry

McCulley/Cuppan announced today the launch of new division to provide leading edge web-based training programs for scientists in the biopharmaceutical industry. The creation of the E-learning Division is to support McCulley/Cuppan’s expanded training programs focused specifically on the development and delivery of web-based skills development courses for the busy biopharmaceutical professional.

Salt Lake City, UT (PRWEB) February 17, 2006 -- McCulley/Cuppan announced today the launch of a new division that will provide web-based training programs for scientists in the biopharmaceutical industry. The creation of the E-learning Division is to support McCulley/Cuppan’s expanded training programs that will specifically focus on the development and delivery of web-based skills development courses for the busy biopharmaceutical professional.

“Many scientists working the biopharmaceutical industry do not have the time to attend traditional skill development seminars that often take them away from work for more than a day. What they need is the ability to participate in such events right from their office or conference room.” said Burke Johnstun, E-learning Program Manager at McCulley/Cuppan. “Our E-learning Division is developing a suite of training programs we call Short Course Webinars that will deliver focused training regarding technical and scientific document development and management to these busy professionals.”

About McCulley/Cuppan Short Course Webinars
McCulley/Cuppan will launch in March 2006 the first three in an extensive series of Short Course Webinars. Plans are to deliver all webinars four times a year. Each Short Course Webinar is directed at a specific class of technical documents routinely produced in the biopharmaceutical product research and development or manufacturing environments.

The initial Short Course Webinars will address:
•     Writing High Quality Method Validation Reports
•     Deviation Investigation Reporting
•     Authoring High Quality Pharmaceutical Development Reports

The webinars will be a maximum of three hours in length and will be delivered “live” via the World Wide Web by McCulley/Cuppan facilitators skilled at providing e-training in the virtual classroom. The webinars are each tailored to address the documentary demands of a specific class of technical reports that are routinely produced and generally subject to regulatory scrutiny. The design of each Short Course Webinar is based on the collective experience of McCulley/Cuppan consultants working the past 12 years in developing and delivering training to biopharmaceutical companies and a deep understanding of how to design web-based training to build knowledge and skills that can be readily applied in the workplace setting.

“We are excited to produce and host these short courses via the web.” commented Gregory Cuppan, Managing Partner of McCulley/Cuppan LLC. “Our clients, scientists working in the biopharmaceutical industry, are incredibly busy and therefore they are looking for skills development avenues that can accommodate their workplace time demands. Additionally we believe our clients will see the suite of Short Course Webinars