Drug Store Directory Blog

Friday, March 31, 2006

Malignant Mesothelioma ONCONASE (ranpirnase) Trial Goal Reached

Alfacell Achieves Full Patient Enrollment Milestone for the ONCONASE Phase IIIb Registration Study in Unresectable Malignant Mesothelioma

BLOOMFIELD, N.J., Feb. 27 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Alfacell Corporation (Nasdaq: ACEL - News) today announced that the full enrollment target of 316 patients has been reached for the international, confirmatory Phase IIIb registration trial evaluating ONCONASE® (ranpirnase), the Company's lead investigational drug candidate, as a treatment for unresectable malignant mesothelioma (UMM).

The Company has developed and managed one of the largest UMM clinical programs ever undertaken. Over 600 UMM patients have been enrolled in the ONCONASE UMM study, including newly-diagnosed and refractory patients treated with ONCONASE as a single agent and in combination with doxorubicin.

"We are pleased to have achieved this important milestone ahead of schedule, and look forward to completion of all other regulatory requirements for the marketing approval of ONCONASE in the U.S., E.U. and other markets," stated Kuslima Shogen, Chief Executive Officer of Alfacell.

About the ONCONASE Phase IIIb Registration Study

ONCONASE is being evaluated at over 40 investigator sites across 10 countries in a centrally-randomized, open-label Phase IIIb trial as a treatment for UMM, an asbestos-related cancer that afflicts approximately 10,000 people worldwide -- including 4,000 in the U.S. -- each year. The study is being conducted to determine whether survival is prolonged in UMM patients treated with ONCONASE in combination with doxorubicin compared to doxorubicin alone. The estimated global UMM market is $300 million.

About ONCONASE

ONCONASE is a first-in-class therapeutic from Alfacell's proprietary ribonuclease (RNase) technology platform. ONCONASE has been shown to target tumor cells while sparing normal cells. ONCONASE is internalized by endocytosis and released into the cytosol of the cancerous cell, where it selectively degrades tRNA beyond repair. In doing so, ONCONASE inhibits protein synthesis, stops cell cycle proliferation, and induces apoptosis (programmed cell death).

ONCONASE has previously been granted Orphan Drug designation from EMEA and TGA (Australia), as well as Fast Track status by the FDA. The latter has enabled the Company to complete and submit sections of the New Drug Application (NDA) on an accelerated, rolling basis.

In addition to the Phase IIIb UMM registration trial, the Company is conducting an ONCONASE Phase I / II trial in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). The NSCLC market is expected to exceed $4 billion by 2012.

Also, pre-clinical studies examining ONCONASE conjugates as potential treatments for gliomas and Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (NHL) are being conducted at Johns Hopkins University and the National Cancer Institute (NCI), respectively.

¶ 11:20 PM 0 comments

Thursday, March 30, 2006

Alzheimer's Disease Drug Trials To Start

Humanetics Corporation and Mount Sinai School of Medicine to Begin Clinical Trials of New Alzheimer's Compound; FDA Clears the Way with Approval of Investigational New Drug (IND) Application

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 30, 2006--In an announcement today, Humanetics Corporation said that the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the start of human trials for Humanetics' promising new oral compound, NIC5-15, aimed at combating Alzheimer's disease.

Based on the Investigational New Drug Application (IND) submitted to FDA for NIC5-15, Mount Sinai School of Medicine (MSSM) will proceed immediately with Phase I and Phase II studies in a population of early stage Alzheimer's disease patients. The studies will be conducted at Mount Sinai in New York and at the Bronx VA Medical Center. According to Giulio Maria Pasinetti, M.D., Ph.D. of Mount Sinai's Department of Psychiatry and the clinical trials' principal investigator, "the studies will measure safety, dosing, efficacy and biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease."

"We are pleased that FDA has approved the start of clinical trials for NIC5-15," stated Ronald Zenk, President and CEO of Humanetics. "NIC5-15 represents the potential for a new class of compounds focused on modifying the disease itself by slowing or preventing its progression," he said.

Humanetics and Mount Sinai School of Medicine Working Collaboratively

In December 2005, Humanetics entered into two agreements with Mount Sinai School of Medicine connected to the development of NIC5-15. The first is a clinical research agreement related to this announcement, which allows investigators at Mount Sinai to study Alzheimer's patients to assess if NIC5-15 is well tolerated and to compare doses with respect to tolerability and clinical efficacy. The second--an exclusive licensing agreement--provides Humanetics with exclusive rights under pending patents to commercialize products containing NIC5-15.

In the earlier pre-clinical studies and animal models, NIC5-15 was found to be effective in preventing the formation or slowing the progression of beta amyloid plaques, which are believed to be a cause of Alzheimer's disease. In animal models specifically, moderate doses of the compound improved cognitive function in mice with Alzheimer's type neuropathology and memory impairment.

Discovery and development of NIC5-15 for Alzheimer's disease has been under the direction of Dr. Pasinetti who added that "NIC5-15 was chosen to move into human trials because of its selectivity, safety and potency--making it an ideal agent for long-term prophylactic administration in this population."

About Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Located in Manhattan, Mount Sinai School of Medicine is internationally recognized for ground-breaking clinical and basic-science research, and innovative approaches to medical education. Through the Mount Sinai Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Mount Sinai trains biomedical researchers with an emphasis on the rapid translation of discoveries of basic research into new techniques for fighting disease. One indication of Mount Sinai's leadership in scientific investigation is its receipt during fiscal year 2004 of $153.2 million. Mount Sinai now ranks 25th among the nation's medical schools in receipt of research support from NIH. Mount Sinai School of Medicine also is known for unique educational programs such as the Humanities in Medicine program, which creates opportunities for liberal arts students to pursue medical school, and instructional innovations like The Morchand Center, the nation's largest program teaching students and physicians with "standardized patients" to become not only highly skilled, but compassionate caregivers. Long dedicated to improving its community, the School extends its boundaries to work with East Harlem and surrounding communities to provide access to health care and educational programs to at risk populations.

About Humanetics Corporation
Humanetics is a privately-held specialty pharmaceutical company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Company is focused on the rapid discovery, development and commercialization of orally-administered bioactive compounds for prevention and treatment of diseases in categories with urgent and unmet needs. The Company has several proprietary compounds in preclinical and/or clinical stages of development in the areas of Alzheimer's disease, bioterrorism and obesity. For further information, visit: http://www.humaneticscorp.com.

This Press Release contains discussion of certain expectations regarding Humanetics' future performance. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current views and assumptions. Actual results could differ materially from these current expectations and projections, and from historical performance.

Contacts
Latitude
Pam Pettinella, 952-404-1853
pam@latitude-c.com

¶ 1:37 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, March 29, 2006

Who's Stealing Your Health Records?

Get the Scoop on the 7 Hottest Topics in Healthcare

Augusta, MI - 49012 - March 29 2006

Get The Scoop On The 7 Hottest Topics In Healthcare!

1. Who's Stealing Your Health Records?
Healthcare Privacy/HIPAA - Hundreds of medical records are lost everyday due to neglect and theft. Are your healthcare records safe? What will happen to you if they fall into the hands of a rogue medical worker or identity thief? How can healthcare organizations and patients protect themselves?

2. Bracing for Disaster
The State of Emergency Care Systems in the US - How well can the current healthcare system deal with another hurricane or terrorist attack? How would the displacement of millions of Americans affect your ability to get the health services you need? How can hospitals, medical offi ces, and patients prevent the loss of medical records?

3. Risky Records
The Truth About EHRs - Following Hurricane Katrina, many healthcare providers have made the switch to Electronic Health Records. What they don't know is that many Electronic Health Record systems may be producing incomplete records that won't stand up to scrutiny in a legal or administrative proceeding. How can you tell if your records are complete and accurate? How can you fix the problem without buying a new system?

4. Price Gouging Patients
Healthcare Insurance - 60 Minutes broke the story first: Uninsured patients are being charged up to 4 times that of insured patients due to a misunderstanding in the regulations. Why? And what can we do about it?

5. Dirty Doctors
Sexual Harassment in the Medical Environment - Hospitals and doctor's offices have some of the highest incidents of harassment among any work environment. Why is this and what can we do as patients and workers to protect ourselves?

6. Is Your Doctor Following the Rules?
Healthcare Compliance - Doctors and hospitals must follow strict government regulations. Find out what they are and what to do if your healthcare provider is not following the rules.

7. Medicare/Medicaid
What Do The Changes Mean for You? - How do changes in Medicare/Medicaid laws affect patients and healthcare providers? Are the changes good or bad? What changes still need to be made?

Nation's #1 healthcare compliance expert comments on breaking health news.

Patricia Trites, CHCC, CPC, CHP is one of the nation's leading experts on Medicare, Medicaid, disaster recovery, and the healthcare compliance laws protecting your health, your privacy, and your money. She is CEO of Healthcare Compliance Resources, LLC (www.ComplianceResources.com), a company that provides compliance certification, training, and resources for healthcare organizations and professionals. She sits on the editorial advisory boards of the industry's top publications, and is the author of the Healthcare Organization and Medical Office Compliance Program Guide, Compliance Guide for the Medical Practice, and Due Diligence evaluating EHR Systems: A Hands on Manual for the Compliant EMR Before and After Purchase.

Patricia Trites (pati@complianceresources.com)
CEO
Healthcare Compliance Resources
507 W. Jefferson
Augusta, MI 49012
Phone : 269-731-2561
Fax : 269-731-4346

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¶ 6:59 PM 0 comments

Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Safety Expert Warns About Chocolate Bunnies

Can Easter Holiday Traditions Harm or Kill Children and Pets???

Hollywood, FL 33021 - March 28 2006

Debra Holtzman, J.D., M.A.

Easter Celebrations are supposed to be enjoyable. We prepare delicious food, arrange fun activities and gather together with our family and friends.

"But with all the joys of the Easter Holiday comes potential safety hazards which can result in injury and even death," warns Debra Holtzman, J.D, M.A, an internationally recognized safety and health expert and author of the new book, The Safe Baby: A Do-it-yourself Guide to Home Safety (Sentient Publications, 2005.)
Debra Holtzman suggests following these simple tips to keep your family and pets safe this Easter.

1. Easter Lily: All parts of the lily plant are considered toxic to cats and consuming even small amounts can cause severe poisoning. Cat owners should be aware of the dangers of lily ingestion and remove them from their cat's access.

2. Chocolate Bunnies: Pet owners beware! Chocolate is toxic, and sometimes even fatal, for animals! Watch out for Eggs hidden around the house, or chocolate kept in a child's room

3. Hard candy: A child under age six should never be served hard, round candy. Popcorn and nuts are also a choking hazard.
Holtzman also recommends that you ask guests beforehand if they or their children are allergic to any food.

4. Baby Chicks: If you are thinking of adding an adorable Easter chick or duckling to go along with your child's Easter basket, think again! Federal health officials warn that baby chicks sold to children during the Easter season may harbor Salmonella bacteria. In fact, the CDC has reported that the risk posed by chicks and ducklings may be the highest for children, since Salmonella infections in children may be more severe.

5. EGGS. Hard-cooked eggs should be cooked thoroughly. Make sure to refrigerate eggs within 2 hours of cooking and use them within a week. To dye hard-cooked eggs, use a food-safe coloring and place them in the refrigerator within 2 hours. Hard-cooked eggs for an egg hunt must be prepared with care to prevent cracking the shells. If the shells crack, bacteria could contaminate the inside. Eggs should be hidden in places that are protected from dirt, pets, and other sources of bacteria. The total time for hiding and hunting eggs should not be longer than 2 hours. The "found" eggs must be re-refrigerated until eaten. If the Easter egg hunt will take longer than 2 hours, hide plastic eggs.

6. Cookie dough: If you have raw eggs in the cookie dough batter, eat your homemade cookies cooked! Raw eggs can be contaminated with salmonella, a food-borne illness that can prove fatal if untreated.

7. Pies: all custard-type pies need to be refrigerated. Pies at room temperature can grow dangerous bacteria.

8. Perishable foods: Never leave perishable food at room temperature over two hours. Perishable foods include raw and cooked meat, poultry and seafood products. Once fruits and vegetables are cut, it is safest to also limit their time at room temperature. If perishable food is left at room temperature for over two hours, bacteria can grow to harmful levels.

9. Alcohol: Alcohol affects children more drastically than adults, so even small amounts of alcohol can be dangerous to children. It causes a quick drop in blood sugar, drowsiness, seizures and even death. Spiked punch should be kept out of the reach of children. Remove all empty and partially empty cups as soon as possible. Store alcohol in a locked cabinet out of reach and sight of children. Don't store it in your refrigerator where a child could have easy access. Remember that children imitate adults, and may drink the beverages they see adults drinking.

10. Cribs: Children might be using an outdated or recalled crib, particularly when visiting someone who must borrow one or has picked up a crib at a yard sale. Call the CPSC at (800) 638-2772 or visit their website www.cpsc.gov to check if products have been recalled.
A quick note on crib slats: the slat space should be no more than 2 and three-eighths inches apart. A good rule of thumb: if you can pass a soda can between the slats, they're too far apart.

Debra Holtzman is an internationally recognized safety and health expert and award winning author. She has nearly two decades of experience in the safety and health fields. Debra is the safety expert on the Discovery Health Channel. The Safe Baby: A Do-it-yourself Guide to Home Safety (Sentient Publications, 2005) is in bookstores everywhere.

Interviews may be arranged via: E-mail: safebook@aol.com
Telephone: 954-963-7702
http://thesafetyexpert.com

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¶ 5:14 PM 0 comments

Anti-Counterfeiting Label Catches Eye, Counterfeit Products

3M Introduces New Confirm Security Label with Floating Image Technology at Authentication Connections Forum in Tampa, Fla.; Strong Overt and Covert Technologies Combine to Help Fight Counterfeit Products

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 28, 2006--3M today announced its newest, high-security anti-counterfeiting label will be introduced on March 30 at the Authentication Connections Forum in Tampa, Fla. This new security solution, the 3M Confirm authentication label with floating image technology, incorporates a unique eye-visible security feature that provides powerful product authentication and can be verified easily with or without the use of a tool.

The label's floating image has an optically variable device (OVD) - a unique, overt security feature. The OVD image appears to "float" above or "sink" below the surface of the label and then disappear as the viewing angle changes. Dramatic movement of the image is easy to detect and recognize using only the human eye, enabling quick and easy authentication that proves the label and product are genuine. The label also incorporates a very secure and time-tested covert security feature inherent to Confirm security material.

"Electronics, pharmaceuticals, automotive parts, apparel, and cosmetics - the list of items that are counterfeited is endless," said Bill Markovitz, marketing development manager, 3M Security Systems. "The new Confirm security label will allow manufacturers and distributors to certify their products as authentic and then let wholesalers, retailers and end-consumers rapidly identify fakes. 3M currently sells a similar security product to governments for passports and driver's license programs. That same high level of security now will be available for commercial applications."

These labels build on 3M's proven retroreflective security technology - 3M Confirm security labels - which have been very well-accepted in the security marketplace for more than 25 years. The new floating image security feature enhances the inherent security of Confirm authentication labels and is based on proprietary technology. Verification is easier than ever and can be accomplished by a diverse population.

For more than 30 years, 3M has provided premier security solutions and services that identify, authenticate, secure and track materials and information by combining security and productivity. Drawing on its broad technology base and expertise, 3M creates solutions for a wide array of security needs. Examples include issuance and authentication of travel documents and personal identification cards, brand and asset protection solutions to fight counterfeiting and tampering, file tracking solutions, and library security and workflow management solutions.

About 3M -- A Global, Diversified Technology Company
Every day, 3M people find new ways to make amazing things happen. Wherever they are, whatever they do, the company's customers know they can rely on 3M to help make their lives better. 3M's brands include Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, Command and Vikuiti. Serving customers in more than 200 countries around the world, the company's 69,000 people use their expertise, technologies and global strength to lead in major markets including consumer and office; display and graphics; electronics and telecommunications; safety, security and protection services; health care; industrial and transportation. For more information, including the latest product and technology news, visit www.3M.com.

3M, Confirm, Scotch, Post-it, Scotchgard, Thinsulate, Scotch-Brite, Filtrete, Command and Vikuiti are trademarks of 3M.

Contacts
3M Security Systems, St. Paul
Joan M. Olseen, 651-736-1163
or
3M Public Relations
Connie S. Thompson, 651-733-8914
http://www.3m.com/PressContact

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¶ 12:51 PM 0 comments

Irish Stents Starts Suit, Injunction

Medtronic Sues Guidant in Ireland; Alleges Patent Infringement by Vision(R) and Xience(TM) Stents; Seeks Damages and Injunction

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 28, 2006--Medtronic, Inc. (NYSE:MDT) today announced that it has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Guidant Corporation in the High Court in Dublin, Ireland. The lawsuit alleges that the Guidant MULTI-LINK Vision(R) and Xience(TM) V coronary stents infringe patents under exclusive worldwide license to Medtronic Vascular from evYsio Medical Devices, a private Canadian company. Guidant manufactures the affected stent products in Ireland and the United States. Medtronic is seeking monetary damages and an injunction against the Vision and Xience stents.

The action in Ireland is one of four patent infringement actions against Guidant products involving the evYsio patents. On February 15, 2006, Medtronic filed a patent infringement case against Guidant in United States District Court for the Northern District of California, alleging that Guidant's Vision stent and certain Guidant catheter systems infringe the evYsio stent design patents and Medtronic's Fitzmaurice patents. The Fitzmaurice patents relate to a unique, tapered design feature of Medtronic coronary and peripheral catheters.

evYsio also filed patent infringement cases against Guidant in France in 2001 and 2003, resulting in a ruling on December 17, 2004 against the Guidant Vision stent. Finding that the Vision stent likely infringed the evYsio patent and that the evYsio patent was likely valid, the French court ordered Guidant to post a warranty of EUR 800,000 to avoid an injunction against the sales of Vision in France. On March 3, 2006, the validity of evYsio's European patent was affirmed by the European Patent Office during an opposition hearing initiated by Guidant, and evYsio continues to independently pursue its two suits against Guidant in the French courts. In addition to Ireland, France and the United States, the evYsio patents are registered in several other countries.

Medtronic's lawsuits against Guidant in the United States and Ireland follow other significant legal developments involving Medtronic's vascular business. On March 23, Medtronic announced a positive arbitration panel ruling obtained against Johnson and Johnson/Cordis. On March 1, Medtronic filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas against Boston Scientific, alleging that the TAXUS(R) Paclitaxel-eluting coronary stent system infringes Medtronic's Fitzmaurice and Anderson patents. The Anderson patents cover a method of manufacturing balloon catheters used in stent delivery. In addition, on February 14 the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted Medtronic's Request for Reexamination for each of the four Guidant Lau patents on which Guidant has sued Medtronic for infringement in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware. Finding that "substantial questions exist" regarding the validity of the Lau patent claims in view of prior art submitted by Medtronic with the Request for Reexamination, the USPTO will now reconsider whether the Lau patents should have been granted in the first instance, though the timing of such reexamination is not known.

"We value the strength of our intellectual property portfolio and we will continue to pursue legal actions against products that we believe infringe our patents, such as the Guidant Vision and Xience stents and the Boston Scientific Taxus stent," said Scott Ward, Medtronic senior vice president and president of Medtronic Vascular, Santa Rosa, Calif. "Because of the industry's intensely competitive environment, we will be tenacious in protecting and enforcing our patent rights. Our strong preference is to resolve these matters without litigation. However, if that is not possible, then we are prepared to assert our rights in court."

About Medtronic

Medtronic, Inc. (www.medtronic.com), headquartered in Minneapolis, is the global leader in medical technology - alleviating pain, restoring health, and extending life for millions of people around the world.

This press release contains forward-looking statements described in Medtronic's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended January 27, 2006. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results. Medtronic does not undertake to update its forward-looking statement.

Contacts
Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis
Public Relations:
Scott Papillon, 707-591-7367
or
Investor Relations:
Jeff Warren, 763-505-2696At A Glance

Medtronic, Inc.
Source: via Business Wire
Updated 09/16/2005 by company
Headquarters: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Website: http://www.medtronic.com
CEO: Art Collins
Employees: 33,000
Ticker: MDT (NYSE)

¶ 12:36 PM 0 comments

Waiting Room Patients Targeted In Sick Scheme

VISI Networks Teams with LabCorp(R) to Launch LabCorp Health Network; A Direct-to-Patient Digital Signage Network for LabCorp's Patient Service Centers Nationwide

LabCorp Health Network (LHN) - a direct-to-patient digital signage network for LabCorp's Patient Service Centers - is a customized channel of healthcare information specifically designed to provide patients using LabCorp's patient service centers a comfortable waiting environment through the delivery of quality commercial, educational, informational and entertainment segments via an internet driven, nationally networked narrowcast system. (Photo: Business Wire)

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 28, 2006--VISI Networks and Laboratory Corporation of America(R) Holdings (LabCorp(R)) (NYSE:LH), a leading, national provider of diagnostic services and a pioneer in new diagnostic technologies, have teamed to create the LabCorp Health Network - a direct-to-patient digital signage network for LabCorp's Patient Service Centers.

The LabCorp Health Network (LHN) is a customized channel of healthcare information specifically designed to provide patients using LabCorp's patient service centers a comfortable waiting environment through the delivery of quality commercial, educational, informational and entertainment segments via an internet driven, nationally networked narrowcast system. Presented on large, flat-panel screens installed in LabCorp's Patient Service Centers, LHN provides an opportunity for advertisers and content partners to reach a health conscious audience with known demographic and statistical data.

"Through the LabCorp Health Network, we are providing a dynamic channel to educate patients and visitors as to the latest testing procedures and preventive measures they can take to lead happier and healthier lives," said Joseph Erhart, CEO of VISI Networks.

"We are extremely excited about this network. This private channel represents an opportunity for LabCorp and their content partners to reach a sizeable health conscious audience with relevant messaging that connects directly with their customer base in a way that was previously impossible," said Michael Erhart, VP of Business Development for VISI Networks. "By being able to deliver messages directly to real patients - ensuring they receive the most up-to-date information in a timely manner - this narrowcast network establishes itself as a superior alternative to traditional media."

Currently, the LabCorp Health Network can be found in over 300 of LabCorp's more than 1,300 Patient Service Centers in the U.S.

About VISI Networks

Founded by nationally recognized wayfinding and signage information display system expert Joseph Erhart, VISI Networks develops proprietary network information display systems capable of delivering high-impact digital multimedia messages to targeted consumers. VISI Networks has tested their infrastructure with networks in Florida Hospital Critical Care Centers, SunTrust Bank and Orlando-Sanford International Airport. To learn more about VISI Networks, visit www.VISInetworks.com.

About LabCorp(R)

Laboratory Corporation of America(R) Holdings, a S&P 500 company with an investment-grade credit rating, is a pioneer in commercializing new diagnostic technologies and the first in its industry to embrace genomic testing. With annual revenues of $3.3 billion in 2005, approximately 24,000 employees nationwide, and more than 220,000 clients, LabCorp offers clinical assays ranging from routine blood analyses to HIV and genomic testing. LabCorp combines its expertise in innovative clinical testing technology with its Centers of Excellence: The Center for Molecular Biology and Pathology, in Research Triangle Park, NC; National Genetics Institute, Inc. in Los Angeles, CA; ViroMed Laboratories, Inc. based in Minneapolis, MN; The Center for Esoteric Testing in Burlington, NC; DIANON Systems, Inc. based in Stratford, CT, US LABS based in Irvine, CA, and Esoterix and its Colorado Coagulation, Endocrine Sciences, and Cytometry Associates laboratories. LabCorp clients include physicians, government agencies, managed care organizations, hospitals, clinical labs, and pharmaceutical companies. To learn more about LabCorp, visit www.LabCorp.com.

Contacts
Media Contacts
Tier 1 Public Relations
Dan Dyer, 513-478-7818
ddyer@tier1pr.com
or
LabCorp
Pam Sherry, 336-436-4855
sherryp@labcorp.com
OR
Advertising Contact
VISI Networks Inc.
Jenny Sue Rhoades, 407-566-1437
jennysue@visinetworks.comAt A Glance
VISI Networks
Source: via Business Wire
Updated 03/24/2006 by company

[Editor's comments: Great. Now when I have to see a doctor I can look forward to having my desperate-for-a-distraction mind feed commercial messages not unlike waiting for a plane at the airport. I predict the day is near when you use a public restroom and close the door you will sit (or stand) to have a yammering screen that wants to take your moment of privacy and join you for a little marketing one-on-one.

It's information. It's advertising. It's intrusive. And It's obnoxious.

(hris ]

¶ 10:35 AM 0 comments

Sunday, March 26, 2006

Early Detection Tests For Conditions Leading to Mesothelioma Sought

New Tests in Development For Early Detection of Conditions Leading to Mesothelioma

High blood levels of a protein called osteopontin are linked to the development of pleural mesothelioma

The key to curing any disease is early detection and progress has been made for an early-detection test that could improve survival for people with a deadly cancer linked to asbestos exposure.

High blood levels of a protein called osteopontin are linked to the development of pleural mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer that invades the chest cavity and the lining of the lungs.

In a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Harvey Pass, professor of surgery at New York University School of Medicine said, "The earlier you detect it, the better the chance that you can do therapy that impacts survival,"

Mesothelioma Screening Still Eludes
There is currently no way to screen for mesothelioma, a potential hazard for the 7.5 million American workers with a history of workplace exposure to asbestos. Those people include foundry workers, miners, shipbuilders and an estimated 1.5 million maintenance and construction workers. The challenge is to single out those who will develop the cancer from those with other asbestos-related lung conditions.
Although the work is preliminary, osteopontin levels may point to heightened mesothelioma risk, Pass said. The findings are based on a study of 190 people -- 69 with noncancerous asbestos-related disease, 76 with mesothelioma and 45 smokers with no exposure to asbestos.

Blood tests showed that the levels of osteopontin rose along with years of asbestos exposure -- the lowest levels were in people exposed to asbestos for less than 10 years, while levels doubled for people with more than 10 years of exposure and increased steadily with asbestos-caused damage to the lungs.

Blood concentrations of osteopontin were six times normal levels in people with mesothelioma, even during the early stages of the disease, the researchers found.

A blood marker that helped doctors catch the disease early could offer patients real hope, Pass said. "If you find that this marker of risk is high, you can take action, starting with CT scanning to detect the disease early," he noted.

Osteopontin Test May be Flawed
But that optimism was not echoed by Dr. Mark R. Cullen, a professor of medicine and public health at Yale University, who wrote an accompanying editorial. Longer survival through early detection has been shown in breast cancer, colon cancer and some other malignancies, Cullen said, but the evidence for it in mesothelioma is weak. It is possible that detecting an inevitably fatal cancer early gives the illusion of longer survival, since the time after diagnosis is longer than if the tumor is detected closer to death, he noted.

And the osteopontin test has a major weakness, Cullen said. It lacks specificity, which means it also detects other, less fatal conditions, putting those patients through testing that might be unnecessary.

Nevertheless, he said, "I strongly encourage this kind of research in the hope that many good things might come of it -- an early blood test, a very good diagnostic test, and hopefully over the next few years a breakthrough in treatment."

Pass is continuing his work, which is funded by a grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). In fact, his NYU facility has been designated a "biomarker laboratory" by the NCI, he said.

Pass and his colleagues will soon start screening banked blood samples from mesothelioma patients. That and future studies will aim at determining the exact levels of osteopontin that could be used in a screening test.

"If we find the same relationship with banked serum [blood] -- something that should take two years -- and if the marker holds up, then we can proceed to a prospective trial to see if it finds mesothelioma early," he said.

About 2,500 cases of mesothelioma are reported in the United States each year, Pass said, although he believes the cancer might be underdiagnosed because there is no official registry for it. Only 5 percent of cases are detected early, Pass said. The life expectancy for those diagnosed late is just nine to 12 months.

However, detected early, mesothelioma "does respond to therapy," he said. Treatments include radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery.

source: Ed Edelson, HealthDay

¶ 12:25 AM 0 comments

Thursday, March 23, 2006

Smiths Medical Launches GRIPPER PLUS(R) Safety Needles with Enhanced Needlestick Safety

ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 23, 2006--Smiths Medical MD, Inc. has added a new version of their popular GRIPPER PLUS(R) Safety Huber Needles to the existing product line. The new GRIPPER PLUS(R) Safety Huber Needles with a luer-activated needleless access connector will allow direct connection of a syringe or tubing with standard luer accommodating additional patient therapies. With this addition to the GRIPPER PLUS(R) needle product line, Smiths Medical now offers three configurations of the extension set that connect to the needle, including a non-auxiliary site, a split septum needleless access auxiliary site, and the new luer-activated needleless access auxiliary site.

GRIPPER PLUS(R) Safety Huber Needles are used to deliver medications intravenously through a patient's implanted port. Their unique feature is a safety arm that is lifted to lock the needle into a protected position when de-accessing it from an implanted port. An audible click provides clinicians with confirmation that the de-accessed needle is in its locked safety position. With the addition of a needleless access site, GRIPPER PLUS(R) Safety Huber Needles continue to be an important part of an organization's needlestick safety program.

Smiths Medical has sold millions of GRIPPER PLUS(R) Safety Huber Needles since their launch in 2002.

Smiths Medical is a world leader in the design, manufacture, and distribution of medical devices used in infusion therapy, including CADD(R) ambulatory infusion pumps, PORT-A-CATH(R) implantable access systems, GRIPPER PLUS(R) safety huber needles, CliniCath(R) PICC infusion catheters, and the CozMore(R) insulin technology system. Headquartered in St. Paul, MN, Smiths Medical MD (Medication Delivery) is part of Smiths Group, London, and is committed to developing the highest quality, most reliable products to provide innovative, convenient and cost-effective drug delivery worldwide. For more information, visit www.smiths-medical.com or call 1-800-426-2448.

Contacts

Smiths Medical MD, Inc., St. Paul
Marketing Communications:
Terri Servais, 651-628-7248
E-mail: terri.servais@smiths-medical.com

¶ 8:22 PM 0 comments

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Caring Today Magazine: Worthwhile, But Somewhat Superficial

Caring Today

by Phyllis Fine, Wednesday, March 22, 2006
WHEN DANA REEVE, ARGUABLY America's most famous caregiver, died recently, the obits mentioned she'd given up an acting and singing career to devote herself to her husband, paralyzed movie star Christopher Reeve (now deceased too, of course).

Dana, described as a model of graceful serenity in her caregiving role, often noted that she had no bitterness about her sacrifice.

As profiled in the magazine Caring Today, then-19-year-old Bridget Bennett also gave up her acting dreams to become a caregiver for her mother, Helene, a breast cancer victim. And as far as I'm concerned, Bridget made an even bigger sacrifice. Helene told Bridget it was time for her to quit college, where she was a theater and journalism major, and go into the family business--home and car insurance. "It's not something I had dreamed of doing," Bridget is quoted as saying, "but I enjoy working with the people." As with all accounts of Dana Reeve, Bridget's story focuses on the positive: "My mother's illness has made me more spiritual" and inspired her to lose 80 pounds, Bridget says.

I'm sure if I were a caregiver, I'd be heartened by this story, but also a little pissed off at getting only the superficial side. Where is the anger and ambivalence that Bridget must have felt, having to stop the fun of acting classes to attend "the Professional Insurance Agent school"?

While Caring Today does a competent job of fulfilling the mission in its tagline--providing "practical advice for the family caregiver"--digging a little deeper would serve its readers well and spice up a sometimes-bland mix of articles, like a boring food column and the front-of-the-book medical items, which are way too long and read like press releases.

The longer medical features are better. A three-part diabetes section targets readers smartly, focusing on the subtle surface symptoms of the disease in teeth, skin and feet that caregivers need to watch for. "Understanding Arthritis" puts the condition in context as the nation's leading cause of disability, discussing its various permutations and treatments simply enough so that even a medical idiot (me, for instance) could understand.

"Gentle Travel Adventures" helpfully discusses the accessibility of three U.S. cities, but is marred by its generic travel brochure style, complete with the worst fault of the genre, the baffling mention of a supposedly world-famous sight: Chattanooga's Ross's Landing, "where the infamous Trail of Tears began"--what trail? What tears? The blurb with the story asks a good question that never gets answered: "If your traveling companion has a physical disability, you face a unique challenge. So, how do you get the real break you need?" A first-person approach here, maybe describing how a caregiver went on a trip and balanced her needs with those of her charge, would have livened things up considerably.

A story about a New Hampshire-based breast cancer support group--"Oh, Those Breast Friends!"--thankfully livens its inspirational tone with humor, like the mention of The Young and The Breastless, a rock band one of the support group's members wanted to form.

Though I'm not usually big on reader-written stories, the best piece in this issue is one penned by a reader, Ami S., about the dog that takes care of Ami's Alzheimer's-stricken mother. Any tendency toward the maudlin is counterbalanced by Ami's clear-eyed voice and detailed focus on a dog who does everything short of putting on a nurse's uniform and asking, "How are we feeling today?" Madison, the dog, "wears a backpack containing a change of clothes, medicine, money, ID and other things my mother needs but no longer can keep track of, recognize or carry." Ami even claims that Madison "can hand a clerk a credit card (but won't sign for the purchase)."

Since it's the real-life stories that shine, it's particularly disturbing that Caring Today's cover photos are actually posed model shots. In place of the March/April phony cover, I wish the mag's editors had chosen a great inside photo of Bridget, the young caregiver, with her mother, Helene: Helen is wearing that chemo-bald look, which makes the photo more genuine still.

If Caring Today's editors want to be heartwarming, they should focus more on the real heart of the mag's topic, and forget the generic photos and text.

Phyllis Fine is columns editor for MediaPost.

Magazine Rack for Wednesday, March 22, 2006:
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¶ 4:29 PM 0 comments

Monday, March 20, 2006

Quest for Cure of Asbestos Joinded By Asbestos Workers Union

Asbestos Workers Union Joins New Medical Foundation's Quest for Cure of Asbestos and Benzene-Related Cancers

LOS ANGELES, March 20 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pacific Heart, Lung and Blood Institute ("PACHLAB") is pleased to announce the addition of Terry Lynch as a member of its Board of Directors. PACHLAB is a 501(c)(3) non-profit medical research foundation devoted to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of occupational diseases through independent research, collaboration, and education.

Terry Lynch is Vice President at Large of the International Association Heat & Frost Insulators & Asbestos Workers and also serves as the Health and Safety Director for the Union. He comes from a proud family of asbestos insulators, which include his grandfather, father, uncle, brother, and many cousins. Mr. Lynch's son, Jason, now completes the family's fourth generation of insulators. Over the years, Mr. Lynch has witnessed first hand the ravages of asbestos on the lives of countless Union brothers.

"The suffering must stop," Mr. Lynch said. "Too many insulators and other working people have died. We have known about asbestos cancer for decades, yet not enough has been done to lift the curse of mesothelioma. We must work with industry, government, doctors, and drug companies to establish research programs that will end the apathy and build hope."

"I am proud to join PACHLAB," Mr. Lynch continued. "We will be conducting research in the Punch Worthington lab at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. We have high expectations that our research will lead to novel treatments." Mr. Lynch will act as a liaison between PACHLAB and construction and shipyard labor unions whose members are at risk for asbestos and benzene-related cancers.

Dr. Cameron, one of PACHLAB's scientific advisors, stated, "I have agreed to work closely with PACHLAB because it offers a unique approach to collaborative research. Not only will we work with patients, doctors and donors to raise funds for promising new research, we will actually do the bench work studies in-house, either alone or in conjunction with other investigators."

"'Punch' Worthington is a patient of mine who suffers from an asbestos-related cancer," Dr. Cameron explained. "As a painter-taper, Punch is also at risk for another occupational cancer, acute myelogenous leukemia. We came up with the idea for a research environment that fosters basic research that is often pegged as too preliminary to receive funding from standard sources. This type of research, although highly speculative, also holds the most promise for true innovation."

PACHLAB's first project will study immunologic and anti-angiogenic (anti-blood vessel) therapies, both of which have been praised as potential "cures" for mesothelioma. PACHLAB aims to conduct research in its own laboratory and in coordination with other institutions, such as the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

"This is a true 21st Century approach to medical research," Cameron continued, "And is the brainchild of Punch Worthington who is a true scientist and scholar. Punch believes, for instance, that bringing all the parties involved in asbestos litigation together to support and fund this type of research by donating a portion of legal settlements, will accelerate the long overdue discovery of truly effective therapies for this awful disease. With heroes like Punch, scientists like myself cannot help but take up the challenge."

Also joining PACHLAB's Board of Directors is Terry McCann of Dana Point, California. Mr. McCann, who was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in 2005, has led an exemplary life. He won the Olympic Gold Medal in wrestling in 1960. He helped manage the Surfriders Foundation, served on several Olympic Games committees, and was the CEO of Toastmasters International for 25 years.

Contact: Robert Cameron, MD
Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute
11818 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 200
Los Angeles, CA 90025
Tel: (310) 622-4960
Fax: (310) 231-2131
E-Mail: info@phlbi.org
http://www.phlbi.org

SOURCE Pacific Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
Web Site: http://www.phlbi.org

¶ 11:13 PM 0 comments

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Mesothelioma Associated With Exposure to Volcanic Mineral

Exposure to volcanic mineral associated with increased mesothelioma incidence in Turkey

High exposure to a fibrous volcanic mineral called erionite was associated with a high incidence of a type of cancer called mesothelioma, according to a study in the March 15 issue of the Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

Public release date: 14-Mar-2006 - Many cases of environment-related mesothelioma have been reported in the Cappadocia region or Anatolian plateau of Turkey. Blocks of erionite from volcanic tuff have been used in construction, and storage rooms for produce have been cut in the tuff. Past reports have suggested that erionite exposure may increase the risk of mesothelioma, and studies have shown that erionite is associated with a higher risk of cancer development in animals than any other fiber previously tested.

Y. Izzettin Baris, M.D., of Hacettepe University in Ankara, Turkey, and colleagues followed 891 men and women age 20 years and older in three villages in Turkey two exposed to erionite, one control for 23 years. During this period, 372 deaths occurred, and 119 of these deaths occurred from mesothelioma. This form of cancer mainly affects the lining of the lung and was the cause of 44.5% of all deaths in the two villages with erionite exposure. Only two cases of mesothelioma occurred in the control village, both in people born outside of the control village.

The mortality data were analyzed jointly with Philippe Grandjean, M.D., Ph.D., of the Harvard School of Public Health. When standardized to the world population, the annual incidence of pleural mesothelioma in the two exposed villages was 200 and 700 cases per 100,000 people annually, compared to a rate of 10 cases per 100,000 people each year in the control village. The authors conclude that the long-term exposure to erionite is the cause of the exceedingly high risk of developing mesothelioma.

"Our results emphasize the severity of the mesothelioma endemic in erionite-exposed areas of Turkey," the authors write. They add, "In the rural part of central Anatolia, Turkey, millions of inhibitants are likely exposed to hazardous amounts of mineral fibers from the environment. Resources should therefore be directed to preventing these environmental exposures and additional study of the association between environmental exposure to nonasbestos fibers and the risk of cancer."

###

Contact: Christina Roache, Office of Communications, Harvard School of Public Health, 617-432-6052, croache@hsph.harvard.edu

Citation: Baris YI and Grandjean P. Prospective Study of Mesothelioma Mortality in Turkish Villages With Exposure to Fibrous Zeolite. J Natl Cancer Inst 2006; 98: 414-417.

Note: The Journal of the National Cancer Institute is published by Oxford University Press and is not affiliated with the National Cancer Institute. Attribution to the Journal of the National Cancer Institute is requested in all news coverage. Visit the Journal online at http://jncicancerspectrum.oxfordjournals.org/.

Contact: Ariel Whitworth
jncimedia@oxfordjournals.org
301-841-1287
Journal of the National Cancer Institute

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Free trade and professional industry magazines are available at
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Lung Cancer caused by asbestos exposure is known as
Mesothelioma. Learn more about this killer cancer.
Visit http://www.Mesothelioma-Search-Engine.com
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¶ 3:01 PM 0 comments

Thursday, March 16, 2006

Digital kanban Aligns Inventory Levels With Actual Consumption

Curator Companion Supplier Interface Tool for Signum Digital Kanban

Supplier Interface Tool for Curator Companion by Signum Digital Kanban

[ClickPress, Wed Mar 15 2006] Signum is Datacraft Solutions, Inc. (www.datacraftsolutions.com) flagship digital kanban automation solution, which streamlines replenishment and enables collaborative communication throughout the supply chain. Curator is Signum's companion supplier interface tool, provided free of charge to client's suppliers. It enables them to view and confirm orders as well as anticipate and prepare for upcoming demand spikes.

Curator completes the path to a more truly integrated, streamlined, responsive supply chain by providing increased visibility of process information. Whenever a supplier confirms, denies or ships an order, Signum automatically updates inventory and order status. The needs of a manufacturing operation are always visible, and always up-to-date.

Signum integrates inventory barcode scanners with an easy-to-use desktop interface. Manufacturers can automatically issue replenishment signals to suppliers at the point of use. Built-in monitoring, customizable alerts and control features ensure that inventory levels are properly maintained. According to Matthew Marotta, founder of Datacraft Solutions, The result is a dramatic increase in visibility and control, adding up to a significant reduction in the number of required replenishment transactions.

According to Marotta, As digital kanban solutions continue to spread throughout the manufacturing industry we are able to draw on the insights and experiences of our clients to enhance the functionality of offerings. We are, in effect, applying the lessons of continuous improvement to our own platform, optimizing Signum and Curator to make Digital Kanban implementation more efficient and effective.

Digital kanban aligns inventory levels with actual consumption; a signal is sent to produce and deliver a new shipment when material is consumed. These signals are tracked through the replenishment cycle and bring extraordinary visibility to suppliers and buyers. Working seamlessly with existing visual board systems, Datacraft Solutions Digital Kanban solution allows individual cells or entire supply chains to realize an immediate and dramatic return from an extremely small process automation investment, by vastly reducing the management time and information gathering required to monitor, update and transmit card-based replenishment needs.

Datacraft Solutions
www.datacraftsolutions.com
Kelly Pryor
800-819-5326

Company: Datacraft Solutions
Contact Name: Kelly Pryor
Contact Email: media@datacraftsolutions.net
Contact Phone: 800-819-5326

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Wednesday, March 15, 2006

FW: Food Allergy Expert Reacts to McDonald's News of Allergens in Cooking Oil

Food Allergy Expert Reacts to McDonald's News of Allergens in Cooking Oil

Dr. Ellen Cutler is concerned about the hidden allergins in fast food and feels that parents need to know what their kids are eating.

San Francisco, CA (PRWEB) March 15, 2006 -- After years of misinformation to the public about their fries being free of allergens, McDonalds has recently disclosed that the very oil they cook the fries in has allergens in the form of derivatives of dairy, wheat and gluten in it. Allergy specialist, Dr. Ellen Cutler announced today that she has some deep concerns about the publics health and their absolute need to know about the ingredients in their food.

Dr. Cutler is the author of the Food Allergy Cure and says that the ingredients in McDonalds frying oil can cause severe allergic reaction to many and children are the most vulnerable. Even the slightest hint of wheat, for example, can cause highly allergic symptoms such as fatigue, asthma, rashes, ADD symptoms, as well as all the myriad of digestive distress such as heartburn, bloating and irritable bowel, she said.

Dairy can also cause a severe allergic reaction for some people and is very common in autistic children and children with ADHD, Just a little bit of dairy can create severe setbacks, she added. Sometimes even a little bit of dairy can cause asthma, severe digestive symptoms, and anaphylactic reaction in individuals and this is especially true for children.

Ellen Cutler, DC, MD has written three books on the prevention and treatment of allergies, obesity and chronic health problems, including Winning the War Against Asthma and Allergies, Winning the War Against Immune Disorders and Allergies and The Food Allergy Cure. Her latest work is reflected in her latest book MicroMiracles, Discover the Healing Power of Enzymes (Rodale Press, September 2005). She is available for interviews on this topic. For media interviews call Connie St John, The St John Group, 415-454-2243.

# # #

Press Contact: Constance St. John
Company Name: THE ST. JOHN GROUP
Email: email protected from spam bots
Phone: 415-454--2243
Website: www.bioset.net

_______________________________________________________
Free trade and professional industry magazines are available at
http://www.consultant-directory.tradepub.com
_______________________________________________________
Lung Cancer caused by asbestos exposure is known as
Mesothelioma. Learn more about this killer cancer.
Visit http://www.Mesothelioma-Search-Engine.com
_______________________________________________________
JR Roberts, a Security Expert Witness can help you prosecute or defend
your criminal or negligent liability case in court.
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¶ 9:58 AM 0 comments

Vioxx Rushed, Execs Knew

Merck executive acknowledges pressure to bring Vioxx to market
Winston-Salem Journal - Winston-Salem,NC,USA
calculated in the 1990s that it would lose $611 million in sales if it failed to develop its Vioxx painkiller before a rival introduced a similar product, the ...

Merck accused of rushing Vioxx
New Zealand Herald - New Zealand
Drug company Merck & Co accelerated development of its Vioxx pain reliever because it calculated it could lose more than US$600 million ($925.49 million) a ...
Vioxx plaintiff admits files don't reflect his claim
OregonLive.com - Portland,OR,USA
SAN FRANCISCO -- The city of Santa Clara, Calif., agreed to pay Enron Corp. creditors $36.5 million to settle a lawsuit over terminated ...

Merck Defends Vioxx as 'One of Most-Studied' Drugs as Latest Trial ...
Insurance Journal - USA
insisted at the start of another Vioxx trial that the company adequately investigated the drug's safety and asserted it was heart disease and other ailments ...

Merck rushed Vioxx development, court told
Reuters - USA
By Jon Hurdle. ATLANTIC CITY, NJ, March 7 (Reuters) - Merck & Co. Inc. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) accelerated development of its Vioxx pain drug because ...

Merck accused of withholding Vioxx facts
NewKerala.com - Ernakulam,Kerala,India
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ: A trial is under way in Atlantic City, NJ, in which pharmaceutical maker Merck & Co. is accused of withholding Vioxx safety information. ...

Plaintiff takes stand, describes heart attack he blames on Vioxx
East Valley Tribune - Mesa,AZ,USA
ATLANTIC CITY, NJ -A man who blames Vioxx for his heart attack took the stand in his lawsuit against Merck & Co. on Friday, acknowledging ...
Merck rushed Vioxx development, court told
Reuters - USA
... accelerated development of its Vioxx pain drug because it calculated it could lose more than $600 million a year if it did not beat competitors to market, a ...

Jury Sees Merck Documents in Vioxx Case
CBS News - USA
(AP) A jury hearing a Vioxx product liability case got its first look Tuesday at e-mail messages, internal documents and other materials showing manufacturer ...

_______________________________________________________
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Lung Cancer caused by asbestos exposure is known as
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¶ 9:40 AM 0 comments

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

Ovarian Cancer Drug Closer to Marketplace

United Therapeutics Ovarian Cancer Drug Closer to Commercialization

Leading Canadian scientist gets behind new ovarian cancer drug as United Therapeutics conducts Phase III trials in more than 60 research centers across the U.S. New biotech drug, with a reported benign safety profile, may extend ovarian cancer patients life by 22 months.

SARASOTA, FL (PRWEB) March 14, 2006 -- Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, Chief Executive of ViRexx Medical (AMEX: REX; Toronto: VIR), told StockInterview, This is a study where the drug has been given fast track approval and orphan drug status. Dr. Tyrrell referred to the Phase III clinical trials now being conducted for his companys monoclonal antibody OvaRex MAb. A subsidiary of United Therapeutics (NASDAQ: UTHR), which has licensed OvaRex from ViRexx Medical is testing the ovarian cancer drug on more than 300 late-stage ovarian cancer patients in more than 60 research centers across the U.S.

According to Dr. Tyrrell, OvaRex had been tested in Canada prior to the current testing, There have been a number of patients that have received OvaRex. Weve had no adverse effects from these patients. Dr. Tyrrell is on sabbatical from the University of Alberta, as professor or medical microbiology and immunology, to ensure OvaRex MAb continues advancing through the current clinical studies and into the marketplace.

Will OvaRex MAb cure ovarian cancer? Dr. Tyrrell told StockInterview, In most cases, it will be a delay (of death). We hope that one day we will be able to cure this disease. This has the potential to be an important step at helping to stimulate immune response to achieve a better outcome. Hopefully, one day we can improve that to where it is a cure. Said Chief Executive of United Therapeutics Martine Rothblatt, It is our hope that OvaRex will help women and their physicians combat this disease.

Market Outlook Journal

Dr. Tyrrell is featured in StockInterviews Market Outlook Journal, which can be viewed in its entirety at http://www.stockinterview.com/journal.html

About ViRexx Medical

ViRexx Medical Corp. (AMEX: REX; Toronto: VIR) is a biotechnology company, which develops therapeutic products for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, other infectious diseases, and selected solid tumors. The companys lead product OvaRex MAb is currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials through a subsidiary of United Therapeutics.

CONTACT:

Julie Ickes,
Editor, StockInterview.com
Tel: 1-941-929-1640
Email: email protected from spam bots
WWW: http://www.stockinterview.com

(SOURCE: StockInterview.com)

###

Press Contact: Julie Ickes
Company Name: STOCKINTERVIEW.COM
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Website: www.stockinterview.com

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¶ 12:25 PM 0 comments

Software Enables Healthcare Organization To Stay Competitive

Maxwell Releases MedConferencelive 2.0

Software upgrade delivers increased functionality, flexibility and interactivity of online medical, pharma and biotech events.

Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) March 14, 2006 The Maxwell Group, provider of the only web conferencing platform developed specifically for delivery of live, online brand product promotion and medical education programs, will release the Medconferencelive 2.0 software upgrade today.

Maxwells proprietary Medconferencelive platform set the standard for live, online web conferencing events in 2003 and 2004. Delivering more than 6000 events in 2005, feature-rich Medconferencelive offers a full range of interactivity including: private and public chat, whiteboards, interactive surveys, audience polling and exit surveys. The 2.0 Release enhances the tools functionality with streaming audio, streaming video, indexing of slides, customizable links, and attendance tracking. It also boosts event flexibility with the ability to upload presenter slides, speaker photos and other images on the fly.

Medconferencelive 2.0 enables todays healthcare organization to stay competitive in the current marketplace, say James Miller, Maxwells Director of Sales. As product managers seek out efficient and cost-effective ways to deliver strategic communications to the medical industry, Medconferencelive 2.0 simplifies the realities of presenting, participating in and viewing live, OnDemand and podcasted events.

Differentiating Live 2.0 from off-the-shelf competitors is the platforms extensive branding capabilities, which incorporate client logos and colors; speaker photos, talk titles and biographies; links to product web sites; custom client links; and custom forms and surveys to deliver fully-branded pharmaceutical, biotechnology and other healthcare communication programs to groups of 250 or more.
Also unique to Maxwells platform, Live and Live 2.0 are built in the Macromedia Flash environment allowing for seamless, autonomous operation within the Flash Player readily available from more than 98% of personal computers in use today.

Events delivered by Medconferencelive 2.0 are seamlessly integrated with Maxwells Medconference Manager servicea hosted, fully-secure, web-enabled event management solution that administers all phases of event production, from scheduling to event marketing, to registration and confirmation services, to technical event support and facilitation to data collection and reportingand is available on a pay-per-event model requiring no up-front capital investment.

For more information about Medconferencelive 2.0 or The Maxwell Group, visit www.themaxwellgroupinc.com.

About The Maxwell Group
The Maxwell Group is the leading provider of live web conferencing solutions to Fortune 1,000 companies. Founded in 1989, The Maxwell Group is a pioneer in the field of online events, eLearning webcasts, web conferencing and Podcasting, offering a comprehensive menu of pre-event, live-event and post-event services.

The Maxwell Group manages more live, direct-to-physician, web conferencing events than any other company in the world. This year, the company will conduct more than 6,000 events, reaching some 300,000 physicians around the world. Through MedConferenceLive, the companys proprietary web conferencing platform, The Maxwell Group offers the only fully-integrated web conferencing technology and support service package specifically designed to assist pharmaceutical companies in brand promotion, speaker training, advisory board meetings, clinical investigator training and more.

MedConferenceLive improves physician access and time to market in a convenient and flexible format providing pharmaceutical companies a distinct competitive edge.

###

Press Contact: Amy Alderfer
Company Name: THE MAXWELL GROUP INC.
Email: email protected from spam bots
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_______________________________________________________
Free trade and professional industry magazines are available at
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_______________________________________________________
Lung Cancer caused by asbestos exposure is known as
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Visit http://www.Mesothelioma-Search-Engine.com
_______________________________________________________
JR Roberts, a Security Expert Witness can help you prosecute or defend
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¶ 11:38 AM 0 comments

Healthcare Statistics, Facts, And Figures From 2005 Research Studies Offered

Healthcare Research Tool Consolidates 12 Months of Industry Data on Searchable CD-ROM

A new searchable electronic resource compiled by the Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN) places the latest healthcare statistics, facts and figures from 2005 research studies at the fingertips of industry professionals. The Healthcare Daily Data Bytes 2006, a keyword-searchable database on CD-ROM, is aimed at healthcare professionals researching new projects, writing reports and compiling presentations. This resource allows users to get the healthcare statistics and figures they need from the leading healthcare consulting firms, think tanks and research and government institutionswithout having to wade through periodicals, journals and other documents or conduct Internet searches for that one piece of necessary data.

Manasquan, NJ (PRWEB) March 14, 2006 -- A new searchable electronic resource compiled by the Healthcare Intelligence Network (HIN) places the latest healthcare statistics, facts and figures from 2005 research studies at the fingertips of industry professionals. The Healthcare Daily Data Bytes 2006, a keyword-searchable database on CD-ROM, is aimed at healthcare professionals researching new projects, writing reports and compiling presentations.

This resource allows users to get the healthcare statistics and figures they need from the leading healthcare consulting firms, think tanks and research and government institutionswithout having to wade through periodicals, journals and other documents or conduct Internet searches for that one piece of necessary data. For more information, please visit http://www.hin.com/cgi-local/link/news/pl.cgi?databytepr.

Compiled each business day in 2005 from the most current research available, each of the more than 250 Data Bytes on the CD-ROM contains an abstract of a newly announced healthcare research study, a link to the original study source and a related resource. Users can conduct instant keyword searches on the latest findings in consumer-driven healthcare, disease management, e-health, wellness, Medicare, Medicaid, pay-for-performance, and many other areas. Search results are returned by relevancy and can be printed for easy reference.

According to Melanie Matthews, HIN executive vice president and chief operating officer, the Healthcare Daily Data Bytes 2006, Keyword Searchable CD-ROM is drawn from the Data Bytes that HIN publishes each business day for its clients in the healthcare industry. So often industry professionals are seeking that one statistic to back up a proposal or budget request or complete a research effort, Matthews states. The Healthcare Daily Data Bytes 2006 facilitates these tasks by putting a years worth of current studies in one electronic tool. In the time that it takes to hit the Enter" key, the information appears on the users computer screen. With one more keystroke, it can be saved to a file or sent to a computer printer.

The 2006 edition of Healthcare Daily Data Bytes contains statistics on hundreds of topics, including the following:
* Cost of Chronic Health Conditions;
* Employers Adopting Health Management, Consumer-Directed Programs to Control Costs;
* Growth of Consumer-Driven Healthcare Plans;
* Impact of Medicare Payment Cuts;
* Most Popular Form of Health Insurance;
* Pay-for-Performance Results Show Improvements in Healthcare;
* Performance Gap Narrows Between Successful Medical Groups and Others;
* Quality Report Cards: Improves Ability to Identify Best Providers by Racial Minorities;
* Survey Sheds Light on Key Regional Health Information Organizations Benefits and Issues; and
* Women's Health in the United States Shows Patterns by State for Key Indicators.
In addition to these studies, the CD-ROM contains more than 200 other relevant findings. For more information, please visit http://www.hin.com/cgi-local/link/news/pl.cgi?databytepr.

About the Healthcare Intelligence NetworkHIN is the premier advisory service for executives seeking high-quality strategic information on the business of healthcare. For more information, contact the Healthcare Intelligence Network, PO Box 1442, Wall Township, NJ 07719-1442, (888) 446-3530, fax (732) 292-3073 or visit http://www.hin.com.

Contact:
Patricia Donovan
Phone: (732) 528-4468
Fax: (732) 292-3073

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¶ 8:55 AM 0 comments

Cycle Disorders Discovered

Vicious Cycle Disorders Discovered as Cause of Unresolved Symptoms With New Home Health Test

Millions of Americans dont feel well while their medical tests indicate their health is okay. Yet they continue to suffer from symptoms that fail to respond to conventional forms of treatment. A Vicious Cycle Disorder may be the reason.

Virginia Beach, VA (PRWEB) March 14, 2006 - Many are suffering needlessly from unresolved symptoms and don't know what to do. Not feeling well is not normal, but now there's an answer.

Dr. Richard DiCenso has identified the experience of constant unresolved symptoms as a Vicious Cycle Disorder (VCD). This experience is distinguished by chronic, low grade symptoms with no apparent cause that concern an individual and interfere with his or her enjoyment of life.

If you suffer from aches, pains, and ailments that fail to respond to conventional forms of treatment; if the medications you are taking are making you tired because they only temporarily mask your symptoms and fail to address the underlying cause of your ailments; if you have undergone countless tests and exams only to find your results fall within normal limits indicating that youre healthy when you know youre not, a Vicious Cycle Disorder (VCD) may be the cause.

Theres always a reason behind every health situation, he said. The challenge is to find the reason, and its not always obvious through normal medical testing. Now there's a way to find the cause of a VCD (vicious cycle disorder).

Dr. DiCenso recently developed the Matrix Assessment Profile (MAP), a two-part testing program, which is administered in the home. The results of our testing and subsequent follow-up have been literally amazing, Dr. DiCenso noted. Ninety per cent of the people who submit to this testing get ninety per cent of their results within ninety days, regardless of the presenting symptoms.

With credentials in both the conventional and complementary care arenas, Dr. DiCenso is recognized as a leading authority in "Whole Person Therapy." He details the causes of Vicious Cycle Disorders (VCD) in his new book, "Beyond Medicine, exploring a new way of thinking" and offers suggestions for turning your symptoms into solutions.

Dr. DiCenso maintains an active practice as the Clinical Director of Advanced Therapeutics in Virginia Beach, VA.You can obtain a free copy of his new report on Vicious Cycle Disorders (VCD) called Why You Feel The Way You Do And What You Can Do About It, at his website at http://www.MatrixTransformation.com.

# # #

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¶ 8:44 AM 0 comments

Monday, March 13, 2006

Chemotherapy Pump May Provide Options

Kinder, Gentler Chemotherapy

With the advent of technology brought to the U.S. from France, having to postpone, even stop, regular life activities to go to a chemo ward to receive chemotherapy treatments, may be a thing of the past. Utilizing a portable, computerized pump that can fit in a fanny pack, patients receive their chemotherapy at a time when it will be most effective and least toxic.

Evanston, IL (PRWEB) March 13, 2006 -- With the advent of technology brought to the U.S. from France, having to postpone, even stop, regular life activities to go to a chemo ward to receive chemotherapy treatments, may be a thing of the past. Utilizing a portable, computerized pump that can fit in a fanny pack, patients receive their chemotherapy at a time when it will be most effective and least toxic.

"Using a portable, computerized pump to deliver chemotherapy allows patients to participate in normal daily activities such as walking, jogging, yoga, and even sleeping while they are receiving their treatments," states cancer specialist Keith Block, MD, who brought this technology to the U.S, and is a member of the National Cancer Institutes PDQ Cancer CAM Editorial Board. This unique pump allows for a more specialized method of chemotherapy administration than just modifying the timing of the drug alone. This revolutionary delivery system has demonstrated in large randomized trials its potential to improve survival."

One patient, LisaAnn McConnell, used to go in-line skating along Lake Michigan wearing that special fanny pack. Little did anyone know that the fanny pack she wore was administering chemotherapy for her colon cancer.

"It allows for larger doses to be delivered more frequently, with higher efficacy and lower toxicity," said pioneering chronobiologist Dr. William Hrushesky, a senior clinical investigator at the Dorn VA Medical Center in South Carolina, one of just a handful of U.S. locations that offers chronotherapy. "It's kinder, gentler and at the same time, more aggressive and effective."

"Every drug has an optimal time when it is least toxic and most effective," says Dr. Block. "For cancer treatment, this is determined by several factors, including the biological uniqueness of the particular drug being given, the time when the specific type of cancer cells divide the most, when the normal healthy cells of the patient generally divide the least, the patients circadian clock and individual rest-activity cycles, and even the time zone the person resides in."

"We have found that often patients receiving their chemotherapy this way reduce what would have been recurring side effects of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue," explained Dr. Block cofounder and Medical/Scientific Director of the Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care, and Director of Integrative Medicine Program at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago. This is important because the debilitation caused by chemo can cause patients to reduce or even stop treatments that could otherwise help them win their battle with cancer." In fact, current research shows that up to 1/3 of chemotherapy patients abandon treatments prematurely due to the side effects.

According to Dr. Block, "Even after prior treatments have failed patients, using our specialized pumps to administer chronomodulated chemotherapy, we have been able to re-challenge these same patients with the identical drug regimen and this time around gotten successful results."

McConnell, who was diagnosed with colon cancer at age 46, is the third generation in her family to have been diagnosed with this form of cancer, and until now there have been no survivors. Im happy to say that my doctors now think that my cancer is 100% gone, says McConnell, now 47.

The Block Center for Integrative Cancer Care located in Evanston, Illinois, was founded in 1980 by Penny and Keith Block, M.D., committed to the unrelenting belief that no cancer patient should ever be given up on, and with a focus on treating the patient as a whole person, not simply treating the diagnosis. The Center's research-based treatment integrates an innovative approach to the best of conventional medicine with scientifically sound complementary therapies -- therapeutic nutrition, botanical and phytonutrient supplementation, prescriptive exercise, and systematic mind-body strategies, to enhance the recovery process. Block has pioneered this "middle ground" approach to cancer care and optimal health -- designing a total treatment plan that is tailored to the precise needs of each patient, using a unique set of clinical and laboratory assessments. The Block Center is breaking new ground with the creation and development of Cancer Rehab as an innovative treatment modality, and is currently the only private North American medical center using chronomodulated chemotherapy. Dr .Block is a member of the National Cancer Institutes PDQ Cancer Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Editorial Board in Washington, D.C. While the Block Center is a full treatment clinic, it is also officially a CCOP site through the National Cancer Institute, and is engaged in clinical cancer research with the University of Illinois and other university facilities in the United States and Israel (www.blockmd.com)

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¶ 12:41 PM 0 comments

Verification of Pharmaceuticals Patent Issued

Seventh US Patent Issued to Analytical Spectral Devices, Inc. Related to Verification of Pharmaceuticals

Analytical Spectral Devices, Inc. (ASD), manufacturer of precision analytical instruments for real-time, field based material identification and verification, announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued Patent Number 7,006,214 related to ASDs innovative solution, RxSpec® technology.

Boulder, Colo., March 10, 2006 Analytical Spectral Devices, Inc. (ASD), manufacturer of precision analytical instruments for real-time, field based material identification and verification, announced today that the United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued Patent Number 7,006,214 related to ASDs innovative solution, RxSpec® technology.

This is ASDs seventh patent covering pharmaceutical verification and the second patent specifically related to our RxSpec® drug verification solution says Dave Rzasa, President and CEO. These patents further strengthen ASDs leadership position in providing solutions to furthering pharmacist productivity, while at the same time combating counterfeits.

ASDs patented RxSpec® technology utilizes a combined visible and near infrared spectroscopy inspection system to directly check the prescription drug while in the dispensing vial. The real-time measurement is sensitive to chemical composition, color, and dosage level. The measured chemical fingerprint is compared to an extensive known database, thereby providing absolute assurance that the dispensed drug is correct in both type and concentration, regardless of similarity in appearance. In seconds, RxSpec® technology verifies the identity and dosage of a prescription drug dispensed by a pharmacy, thereby reducing potentially harmful filling errors, as well as detecting counterfeit drugs. And because RxSpec® technology is non-destructive, it can be used to inspect 100% of the prescriptions prepared by a pharmacy.

ASD currently has systems installed at two large central fill and mail order pharmacies which have verified several million filled prescriptions very successfully. With the systems currently in operation, combined with the installations at the two new Department of Veterans Affairs Consolidated Mail Outpatient Pharmacies in Chelmsford, Massachusetts and Tucson, Arizona, ASD will continue to grow an already extensive library of unique spectral fingerprints of the most commonly dispensed prescription drugs.

RxSpec® technology is the first real tool to automate the time consuming and labor intensive manual verification process used in virtually every pharmacy. The technology is applicable in all pharmacy environments, including central fill, mail order, retail, and hospital pharmacies, says Dr. Brian Curtiss, Chief Technology Officer. While ASDs current systems have focused on verification of solid dosage pharmaceuticals in high volume pharmacies, ASD has versions of the RxSpec® system in development for a wide range of additional dosage forms, including injectables and IV solutions.

About ASD
Founded in 1990, Analytical Spectral Devices manufactures cost-effective, precision, transportable and field-portable, laboratory-quality Vis/NIR spectrometers, spectroradiometers, spectrophotometers and corresponding software and accessories. ASDs instruments perform well in a range of environmental conditions, in and outside the laboratory, and have applications in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, analytical chemistry, mining, grain, food and dairy, remote sensing, pulp and paper industries world-wide. For more information, please contact Amanda Griffin, Analytical Spectral Devices, 5335 Sterling Dr., Suite A, Boulder, CO, 80301; 303/444-6522, 303/444-6825 (fax); www.asdi.com.

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¶ 10:21 AM 0 comments

Doctors Offered Solution For Malpractice Worries

Fleeing Doctors Run No More; Pennsylvania Organization, MDS, Says They Have the Solution to the Rampant Malpractice Dilemma

A company in Pennsylvania, founded by physicians and attorneys, has developed a solution to the rampant litigation and awards plaguing the medical community. For years, due to unbridled litigation, the threat of litigation and ridiculous judgments and settlements, doctors have been fleeing the areas they are needed the most to avoid persecution. Malpractice Defense Services provides a revolutionary approach to malpractice defense.

Plymouth Meeting, PA (PRWEB) March 13, 2006 -- A company in Pennsylvania, founded by physicians and attorneys, has developed a solution to the rampant litigation and awards plaguing the medical community.

Malpractice Defense Services Home Page

In many states, medical practitioners are being subjected to a high number of frivolous lawsuits that affect the physicians' professional and private lives, as well as their accessibility to patients.

These suits, coupled with the resulting annual bump in medical malpractice premiums, have caused many physicians to flee to other, less dangerous, locations. This is especially the case in states in the Northeast such as Pennsylvania, the location of MDS' headquarters.

"People have been discussing what it would be like if it was difficult, if not impossible, to find a specialist in their own county or even state. Well, it's no longer a matter of 'what if'. Communities are losing great doctors due to the impotence of the current system", says Dr. Todd Morehouse, an ear, nose and throat surgeon and a Director at MDS.

"Unfortunately for the defendants involved in these protracted lawsuits, there is no one who is truly on their side", states attorney Todd Nurick, MDS' President and CEO. "The insurance-appointed attorneys are paid hourly. They are looking out for the best interests of the insurance company, not the doctor, and have no incentive to have the physician removed from the litigation as soon as possible."

Why is this?

"It's the result of what we call the 'Triple Threat'. The insurance company pays the insurance-appointed attorneys bill;
Its the insurance companys money at stake in a settlement or judgment; and,
The insurance company directs the attorneys actions.
The real client is the insurance company."

Seemingly, then, the doctors have no one looking out for them, making sure that their voice is heard.

Morehouse agrees, stating that, "Clearly, the current method for protecting yourself, as a practitioner, is not sufficient. This has resulted in higher judgments, higher settlements and longer litigation. Thats why premiums are increasing again in 2006."

"Most medical practitioners have been forced to hire private counsel to augment the insurance-appointed counsel in malpractice litigation. That can cost from $10,000 to $40,000 or more", says Morehouse.

Both Nurick and Morehouse are confident that MDS is the solution to what they claim is a plague, especially in the Northeast.

Dr. Morehouse states, "MDS is a 'revolutionary approach to malpractice defense'."

"MDS is a retainer-based organization that was created to be more-than-affordable to the medical community. We provide the doctors with the highest level of malpractice defense. No more need to go running around trying to find an attorney at the last minute and shelling out perhaps tens of thousands of dollars at once. MDS is not there just before or at the beginning of litigation, but throughout the entire process."

MDS not only provides the practitioner with preventive information and advice, but will be there the second that doctor is named as a defendant in a lawsuit. We don't just write a few letters threatening to sue back if the doc wins. We actually serve as the client's personal counsel throughout the entire litigation. The 'missing link', if you will", says Nurick.

Unlike other companies Nurick claims are "run by 'profiteers' with the goal of benefiting from the pain of the doctors and their communities, MDS, the 'original', serves as a physician's personal attorney."

And, unlike those other organizations Nurick refers to, MDS does not just write a few letters on the physicians' behalf and refer them to an outside law firm. MDS is committed to being the doctor's private counsel and colleague.

MDS' goal is to get the doctor out of any litigation as soon as possible, without stretching out the process to generate fees for plaintiff attorneys and insurance appointed defense attorneys. "We've found that most of the doctors named are not even targets of the litigation. They're just being named for the sake of greed."

Whose greed?

"We'll leave that to the public to answer. I believe in common sense, and I believe that common sense will eventually prevail. If we do our job the way it should be done, MDS will have a permanent effect on malpractice litigation and premiums", Nurick says.

Additionally, MDS fees may be deductible as a legitimate business expense. Check with your accountant.

About Malpractice Defense Services:
MDS was founded in 2004 by attorneys and physicians with the single goal of protecting physicians in litigation, preventing litigation and protecting the community.

MDS is dedicated to the permanent reduction of malpractice lawsuits, premiums, judgments and settlements via the active monitoring of, and aggressive intervention and participation in, malpractice litigation.

MDS is committed to the highest standards of ethics in law and medicine.

Malpractice Defense Services Home Page

###

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¶ 10:05 AM 0 comments

Saturday, March 11, 2006

Asbestos Mining Victims Gain Another Victory

Another Victory For Asbestos Mining Victims
---------------------------------------------------------------

By Sizwe samaYende

07 Mar 2006 - Nelspruit - There is hope of compensation in sight for more asbestos miners who contracted diseases and other life-threatening ailments because of their jobs. Nelspruit-based lawyer Richard Spoor has brokered a deal with Swiss Eternit Group, a multinational company, to establish a trust that will pay the workers for the next 20 years.

The Kgalagadi Relief Trust will pay individuals who used to work at the group's asbestos mines at Kuruman and Danielskuil in the Northern Cape between 1952 and 1981. Spoor said the structure and organisation of the trust would be modeled on the existing Asbestos Relief Trust.

The Asbestos Relief Trust, which Spoor was instrumental in creating, was established in 2003 following an out-of-court settlement between asbestos sufferers and their former bosses, Msauli, Gencor and Gefco. The three companies agreed to set aside R460 million to compensate ex-workers from mines in Mpumalanga, Limpopo and the Northern Cape.

This trust's formation followed a victory by about 7 000 asbestos victims who used to work for British multinational company, Cape Plc.

Cape Plc's employees set a precedent by forcing the company to pay about R97 million in 2001 to compensate sickly workers and relatives of workers who had died from asbestos-related diseases. "To avoid unnecessary duplication, the Asbestos Relief Trust will be entrusted with the management and administration of the new trust," Spoor said.

He declined to reveal how much Swiss Eternit Group set aside for the compensation of its ex-worker s but said that both parties were satisfied that "the grants payable to qualifying applicants are fair and equitable."

"The contributions are confidential but [we] are confident that they will be sufficient to enable the trust to fulfill its obligations to beneficiaries," said Spoor. Spoor added that the Kgalagadi Relief Trust would become active from the beginning of next month.

Meanwhile, the Asbestos Relief Trust was planning to set up claim offices in the neighbouring countries of Mozambique, Swaziland and Lesotho this year to facilitate the compensation of ex-workers from these countries. This trust has approved about R100.9 million to date, to be paid to qualifying ex-mineworkers. - BuaNews

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¶ 10:27 PM 0 comments

Friday, March 10, 2006

Federal Court Sees Ambien Class Action Filed

Ambien Class Action Filed in NY Federal Court: Warnings Needed About Adverse Side Effects

Bizarre & Dangerous Behaviors Reported Nationwide Related to Ambien use. It Doesn't Give Some Consumers a Good Night's Sleep But Causes Them to Enter into a Hypnotic State & Drive Cars & Binge Eat Without Any Memory

New York, NY (PRWEB) March 10, 2006 -- The New York Times recently reported that last year some 26.5 million prescriptions of Ambien were filled and the manufacturer made some $2.2 billion in sales for a drug they advertise that will put you asleep, BUT some Ambien users nationwide experience bizarre side effects of sleep walking, sleep eating and memory loss that landed them in Jail, they lost their jobs or they were seriously injured, without any memory of what happened to them. Scientific research confirms that Ambien is a powerful hypnotic that can reel people into sleep walking and sleep eating instead of a good nights sleep.

New York City Attorney Susan Chana Lask filed a class action complaint in the Southern District of New York on March 6, 2006, Case No. 06CIV1762. Ms. Lask interviewed people nationwide and an expert pharmacologist-all confirmed the dangerous side effects of Ambien. Four class representatives relate their experiences in the Complaint of taking Ambien for good nights sleep and waking up only to find themselves in jail, driving cars while in a hypnotic state and binge eating at night where their spouses shoveled food from their mouths. Attorney Susan Chana Lask explains, "The purpose of our lawsuit is to insure Ambien warns consumers and doctors about the adverse side effects of sleep walking and sleep eating because it is unfair to Ambien users to enter this hypnotic state then sleep walk and drive, putting themselves and others in danger. You don't want to be that other person crossing the road when an Ambien user is hypnotically driving towards you. The worst part of those side effects is that these people have absolutely no memory of what happened to them after they took Ambien." The filed complaint is at http://www.appellatebrief.com/ambien.html.

The class representatives range from a housewife in Florida, a Texas woman studying for her CPA, a Lab Technician in New York and a Lieutenant in the US Navy. The Florida housewife ate everything in sight, including raw eggs, uncooked canned vegetables and loaves of bread in one evening, and she did this multiple times. Her husband would find her in the morning with her mouth gorged with food and shovel it out of her mouth. The woman from Texas took Ambien one night and woke up on a cement jail floor the next day only to discover she was arrested for driving her car in a zombie like state and crashing into other parked vehicles. She now faces criminal charges. The Lieutenant had a stellar record with the Navy and a high classified position when she took her Ambien and was arrested the next day for shoplifting DVD's from a store. She also drove while on her "shopping spree". She has no memory of the incident and now faces court martial and the loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars in pension and other work related compensation for DVD's worth some $20--something that makes absolutely no sense. The New York Lab Technician was actually assaulted twice when she took her Ambien and entered into a hypnotic state where she opened her door for a stranger and another time she was found in her car in a hypnotic state. Her life has been devastated from the assault where she has horrific fragmented memories of it.

A PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD MONDAY, MARCH 13, 2006 at 10 A.M. at the Southern District of New York Courthouse steps at Centre Street, New York City.

Contact:
Susan Chana Lask, Esq.
212-358-5762
917-533-7880

###

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¶ 10:14 AM 0 comments

Wednesday, March 08, 2006

Bird Stew: Best Protection From Bird Flu?

Bird Flu Almost Ready to Go Pandemic

Scientists discover bird flu virus one gene away from human to human transmission.

(PRWEB) March 8, 2006 -- Scientists have now verified through gene sequencing that the H5N1 virus has been rapidly mutating and evolving towards a strain that will be deadly for humans. Six months ago scientists estimated that the H5N1 virus needed to make about five changes to its gene structure for it to be deadly for humans. Now it requires only one last change.

The present strains of avian influenza (bird flu) are mainly infecting only birds, with only a relatively small number of humans being infected. The reason for the drastic preparations now being made by most countries in the world to protect themselves from this virus is that the H5N1 virus still has a very high mortality rate. It can kill up to 100% of domestic chickens and at present can kill an alarming 55% of people that become infected. If a pandemic occurs from a virus with even one quarter of this mortality rate then the world consequences will be horrendous.

>From the World Health Organization statistics only 190 people have been infected since 2003 with the H5N1 virus and of these 92 have died. Most of these people had some direct contact with infected chickens of some kind. Some inefficient human to human transmission has also occurred in some cases.

It appears that it is inevitable that a bird flu pandemic will eventually occur. Some scientists expect that the last genetic change needed for efficient human to human transmission by the H5N1 virus may occur when migrating birds carrying the H5N1 virus begin their return journey in Spring. (Northern hemisphere). This means that there is a possibility that a pandemic could occur within two months.

The H5N1 bird flu virus has now spread to at least 40 countries around the world. The general unhygienic practices combined with poorly developed health systems in some of these countries will create many opportunities for the last genetic change needed for the H5N1 virus to spread from humans to humans as easily as the common cold. It is likely that this change could occur several times in different countries. If it occurs in an underdeveloped country then there will be little chance of detecting it or stopping it from spreading worldwide.

It is estimated that when the H5N1 virus changes to an efficient human to human strain that it would only take three weeks for human H5N1 virus outbreaks to occur everywhere around the world. Computer models from the Los Alamos laboratory predict that it will only take another three to six weeks for the pandemic to spread completely through a country and reach its peak infection rate. This rapid rate of spreading infection will be due to the international and domestic plane transport system. Since H5N1 has an incubation period of two to ten days then it will be impossible to screen infected but still contagious passengers. Depending on the country it originates in, a contagious and deadly H5N1 virus could be seeded around the world before health authorities are aware that a pandemic has started. The World Health Organization has stated that all health systems in every country will be overwhelmed and infected people will have to be cared for at home.

Apart from the direct consequences of large numbers of infected people dying, a potentially worst catastrophe will also occur. Recent surveys have shown that only 30% to 50 % of workers would show up for work if a pandemic occurred. Combined this with 50% of willing workers being infected and others being quarantined then the workforce will be seriously deleted.

It would be very prudent to expect essential supplies and services of any kind will be in very short supply throughout the main wave of the pandemic. This may occur throughout the whole world at the same time. If you think about the possible nightmare consequences of this then you will realize the importance of stocking up your own personal supplies now. Panic buying will ensure that no stocks will be available when the pandemic begins. There is a series of important items to help protect you from the virus which can be found at http://www.bird-flu-influenza.com.

Us officials are now going state to start telling communities to prepare for a six week quarantine. Ontario is bringing in legislation to fine absentee qualified health workers $100,000 and one jail for each day absent. Australian local councils are all attending government sponsored bird flu workshops. These isolated government actions suggests something may be happening soon.

Information from governments to the public is being suppressed and downplayed to prevent panic. The Australian government will not release information to the public on how to prepare for a pandemic and look after infected family members until a pandemic starts. By then it will be too late to buy stocks and understand what to do. This is not a normal flu.

By Stephen Jones
Biologist and Author of the Bird Flu Survival Guide (www.bird-flu-influenza.com)

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Hypnosis Download Now Available To Help Stop Smoking

Stop Smoking Hypnosis Download Now Available

A downloadable version of a successful hypnosis CD to stop smoking is now available at www.EasilyStopSmoking.com at a discounted price for a limited time.

London, UK (PRWEB) March 8, 2006 -- EasilyStopSmoking.com, the most successful stop smoking hypnosis system, announces the availability of a downloadable version of its hypnosis CD to quit smoking at less-than-half of the normal CD price. The price discount is available only for a limited time and can be ordered at http://easilystopsmoking.com/downloadCD.php.

The CD was created by a hypnotherapist named Randy Charach who has been helping people change their lives and quit smoking for over 20 years. He has worked with celebrities like John Travolta, Madonna and Sean Penn. EasilyStopSmoking.com founder and director Martin Popham arranged for the rights to sell the product after he and his wife had both used the product and succeeded with it. It took him less than a week to quit smoking using the hypnosis, when he once smoked 40 cigarettes a day for 18 years.

The stop smoking hypnosis program is just like a session in the office of a hypnotherapist. The site now offers a free audio sample, so potential users can listen and know exactly what to expect from the treatment before purchasing.

The success rate of the program is around 93.2%, which is one of the highest rates of any hypnosis product on the market. There is a money-back guarantee within 60 days for customers who are not completely satisfied.

Many people have tried hypnosis without success, but Martin says that those people should not give up. People are too incredibly busy and stressed these days. Its hard to rush off down to the doctors office and be able to sit and relax enough to go under the spell and achieve success. Our program is one which is designed to be listened to in the evening while in bed or while relaxing in a quiet room, and due to the convenience factor, the success rate is much higher.

The downloadable file is available in MP3 and WMA formats and is available for $37 (approximately £20). Users have access to the download page for 30 days so they may access the file as much as they wish in that time. It will work with Windows Media Player or any other audio or media player and can be burned onto a CD or uploaded in an MP3 player to be used anywhere. The file is just over 30 megabytes in size, so users with a slow internet connection should consider ordering the CD instead (which sells for $77, or approximately £43) and this option now comes with free shipping worldwide.

The low price and quick access to the product through the download will make it more accessible to everyone, Martin said. When you are a smoker, and you really and truly find a way to quit, you want to share it with as many people as possible.

About EasilyStopSmoking.com (www.easilystopsmoking.com)
EasilyStopSmoking.com, based out of London, UK, has used its stop smoking hypnosis program to help nearly 1000 people from all over the world stop smoking in only six months of operation. Company founder and director Martin Popham began sharing the program with others after his personal battle with smoking was successful after using the treatment. New features on the site include an audio sample and the availability of both MP3 and WMA files.

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http://www.easilystopsmoking.com

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New Guide to Inform Consumers About Patient Safety

New Guide Facilitates Partnerships between Hospitals, Public Libraries to Inform Consumers About Patient Safety

A new tool is now available to help organizations develop and provide consumer awareness programming for patient safety. Partnering for Patient Empowerment Through Community Awareness (PPECA), a hospital-library collaborative program, is releasing new content this week. The PPECA Facilitators Guide and module presentations are now freely available for organizations to use in their own patient safety educational efforts.

CHICAGO (PRWEB) March 8, 2006 -- National Patient Safety Awareness Week is about promoting the importance of partnership with patients to reduce medical error.

To support other national efforts, Partnering for Patient Empowerment Through Community Awareness (PPECA), a hospital-library collaborative program, is releasing new content this week. The PPECA Facilitators Guide and module presentations are now freely available. The modules and guide will provide direction on presenting a patient safety program that hospitals and libraries can host together to increase awareness among consumers about patient safety.

"We felt it was important to participate in a program that shared information on how patients could become proactive partners in their own safe care," stated Carolyn Anthony, Director of Skokie Public Library, one of the PPECA library participants. Roxanne Goeltz, co-founder of Consumers Advancing Patient Safety (CAPS) and consumer speaker on patient safety agreed: Patients must prepare themselves to be more involved in their healthcare. The atmosphere and resources available at the public libraries partnered with the knowledge and dedication of the hospitals will strengthen the safety net for all patients.

To develop the PPECA model, five northern Illinois hospitals and public libraries worked together to refine content and the program development process. The free Facilitators Guide shares that expertise so others can initiate similar adult education sessions that feature health care practitioners, librarians and consumers as speakers. Program planners who need additional content for their sessions can access streaming video of the presentations from the project Web site at http://www.galter.northwestern.edu/PPECA/index.htm.

PPECA is the first model for building patient safety awareness through participatory community partnerships involving a public library and a healthcare institution. Public libraries have a history of providing educational programs on topics of interest to their communities, says Linda Walton, associate director, Galter Health Sciences Library and PPECA principal investigator. Many people feel more comfortable in a public library environment than in a hospital setting for learning.

The educational sessions include three short presentations designed to raise consumer awareness of:
    The consumers role in working with healthcare providers to manage risk of avoidable patient injury;
    Patient-centered clinical and systems-based approaches to patient safety; and
    Effective medical information gathering to support safe care.

PPECA was developed in collaboration with Consumers Advancing Patient Safety, the Health Learning Center of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Zipperer Project Management and the Metropolitan Library System. The program has been funded in whole or in part with federal funds from the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, under Contract. No. NO1-LM-1-3513.

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Secrets on How to Avoid Becoming Healthcare System Victim Exposed By Medical Doctor

Medical Doctor Exposes Secrets on How to Avoid Becoming Victim to the Healthcare System

Overcoming powerful forces that influence the way a patient is treated within the healthcare system is discussed in a recently published book.

Salem, OR (PRWEB) March 8, 2006 -- In this recently published book, Secrets of Medical Decision Making, (ISBN 1932690174, January 2006,) Oleg I. Reznik, M.D. brings to light exactly how a physicians recommendations can be influenced by powerful forces that have nothing to do with the patients best interest. Fear of litigation is one of these forces with power to change the way medicine is practiced, claims Reznik.

A recent report in JAMA (2005; 293) revealed that nearly all (93%) physicians, in six specialties, surveyed reported practicing defensive medicine. The report further states that most physicians avoid procedures and patients that were perceived to elevate the probability of litigation. Furthermore, nearly half of them reported that they had taken steps to restrict their practice by eliminating procedures prone to complications, such as trauma surgery, and avoiding patients who had complex medical problems or were perceived as litigious.

The influence of the pharmaceutical industry on creating medical guidelines is another force responsible for the direction of todays medicine. The current medical model, which was created close to one hundred years ago mainly for the treatment of the acute illnesses, and is now applied to our current plaguechronic illness, explains Reznik. Financial and time pressure is another challenge that is contributing more and more to what happens to the quality of out interaction with a physician, as our health care dollars are dwindling. Speaking about his book, Reznik continues, while the existence of these challenges has been recognized before, I believe that Ive made a contribution in clarifying exactly how they translate into the everyday doctor-patient interaction.

Awareness of the factors that go into medical decision making will always help to find a better solution to any given medical problem. The patient can learn the limiting aspects of the physicians and of their own thinking that lead to more suffering. Physicians, bound by their own fears and pressures, are one such source of such suffering. Patients unreasonable expectations are another. The audience should be aware every time they see a commercial advertising a medication or a medical service on TV, that such advertising does not have purely altruistic motives. For this reason it is biased, prone to inaccuracies and to giving false impressions. Our false impressions about the capabilities of medicine drive us to its unnecessary consumption, to disappointment, frustration, resentment, to emotional and physical pain, claims Reznik.

While modern medicine does have an effective arsenal of treatments for the acute medical problems, things are different when it comes to chronic illness. A modest slowing of progression is the most modern medicine can boast, when it comes to most chronic illness. In my book I accurately describe what medicine can and cannot do for some of the common medical problems. It is my hope awareness of these issues would motivate the reader/listener to take charge of their own lives and consider their health in the light of their own lifestyles, instead of believing that someone else (the medical system) will fix it for them, reiterates Reznik. I wrote this book to bring a sense of independence and self-empowerment to the prospective patients. During my training and practice as a physician I became acutely aware of the great deal of suffering that stems not only from the illnesses, but more so from the beliefs that most people have regarding the capabilities of the modern medical system. These beliefs almost invariably lead to disappointment, frustration, and a great deal of physical and emotional pain. Patients with such beliefs submit themselves to tests and invasive procedures that bring them nothing more than additional suffering.

Oleg I. Reznik, M.D., practices almost exclusively mind-body medicine in his private practice, while continuing to do conventional medicine, hospital work, and low-risk obstetrics at Willamette Family Medical Center in Salem, Oregon. Secrets of Medical Decision Making: How to Avoid Becoming a Victim of the Healthcare Machine, published by Loving Healing Press, is available through online bookstores or may be purchased at a local bookstore. Loving Healing Press books are distributed by Ingram, Baker & Taylor, and New Leaf Distributing. For a review copy, contact email protected from spam bots

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Tuesday, March 07, 2006

HIV and AIDS Children Get Innovative Solution from FLAVORx

FLAVORx Develops Innovative Solution for HIV and AIDS Children -- Company Reaches Out to Children in Thailand and the Dominican Republic

FLAVORx Inc has recently wrapped up studies to provide palatable solutions to combat the bitter taste of antiretroviral HIV and AIDS medications. Because taste plays a crucial role in medicinal compliance, the design of a liquid medication that children can actually swallow allows these young patients to receive the live-saving treatment they need. Due to its success with patients in Thailand and the Dominican Republic, FLAVORx has submitted the manuscript to the CDC, the Clinton Foundation and the Clinical Infectious Diseases Journal.

Bethesda, MD (PRWEB) March 7, 2006 -- FLAVORx, Inc, the company that sets the gold standard in developing scientifically tested medicinal flavorings has expanded its pharmaceutical repertoire to include antiretroviral medications used to treat patients with HIV and AIDS. The company will use its proprietary taste masking agents to improve the existing taste of these medications to increase adherence to drugs and, as a result of improved treatment, lengthen lives. According to Doctors Without Borders, an international medical humanitarian organization, efforts to treat children with HIV and AIDS are hampered by foul-tasting medications. Regardless of a childs obedience or willingness, in some cases the intolerable taste of a medication will illicit a biological and uncontrollable response that forces rejection of the medication. Many children that are HIV positive do not understand why they must endure a horrible tasting medication when they dont feel bad. Alternatively, caretakers realize the importance of a life-saving antiretroviral medication but find it extremely difficult to administer to children. This illustrates the point that taste alone can impede a child from receiving treatment necessary for his/her survival.

The World Health Organization estimated that at the end of 2005, 2.3 million children around the world were living with HIV. Of the 3.1 million people who died of AIDS last year, over half a million were children aged below 15 years. These statistics are a sobering reflection of the impact of HIV and AIDS on young lives. During 2005, it is estimated that 700,000 children globally were newly infected with HIV. More than 80% of infections occurred in Africa, with countries in Asia and the Caribbean also seeing an increase in HIV infection numbers among children. Sadly, global child mortality rates show that 25% of newborns infected with HIV die before the age of one, up to 60% die before reaching their second birthday, and most die before they hit the age of five. However, as reported by the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS, these numbers are markedly different in higher-income countries, with children having access to a wide range of treatment options and often surviving into adulthood. Accordingly, with the proper treatment and resources available in lower-income countries, the world may be able to avoid high rates of infection and death. Critical medications are essential to health and survival.

Zidovudine (Retrovir), an antiretroviral medication manufactured by both GSK (GlaxoSmithKline) and Cipla Pharmaceuticals, was the first drug approved to treat HIV infection, and is commonly recommended for treatment of symptomatic children. The taste is regarded as bitter and metallic, unbearable to the point that some actually stop taking the medication. The consequences of this non-compliance can be life-threatening.

Children have up to 10 times the amount of taste buds as adults, making them much more sensitive to bitter tastes. As reported by Duke University doctors Susan Schiffman and Jennifer Zervakis, the reason why patients fail to take life saving drugs as prescribed may largely be attributed to taste.

The HIV-Netherlands Amsterdam Thailand Research Collaboration recently completed clinical trials with FLAVORx on major antiretroviral medications used for pediatric treatment in Thailand. With each medication and flavor combination tested for safety and effectiveness, FLAVORx developed successful formulations to mask the taste of antiretroviral medications. The results were extremely positive, said Kenny Kramm, CEO of FLAVORx, Inc. We had 100% compliant and much happier pediatric patients who were able to take the proper dosages and follow drug regimens successfully. The manuscripts have been submitted to the CDC, the Clinical Infectious Diseases Journal and the Clinton Foundation for publishing as a recommendation that flavoring be used in all parts of the world to help HIV-infected children live happier, less traumatic lives. The report also asks for assistance to support impoverished countries.

Based on the experience and data collection from Thailand, FLAVORx is currently working on expanded clinical trials in the Dominican Republic before offering its solution to HIV and AIDS afflicted children in all areas of the world. Dr. Consuela Beck-Sague of the Centro de Familia AIDS Clinic in La Romana noted, FLAVORx is used to help alleviate much of the trauma associated with children that are on current HIV-ARV medications. It is a huge help to patients and clinicians.

The FLAVORx FDA-approved flavors and formulary will soon be offered in cooperation with the Clinton Foundation to help children worldwide. If you have worked with children suffering from HIV/AIDS, see how your experience compares to others by taking this short survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=64541861562

For more information, please contact Teresa Chen at 800.884.5771, extension 234.

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Medical Scheduling Software Introduced, HIPPA compliant

SpectraSoft Introduces AppointmentsPRO 9 Medical Scheduling Software

SpectraSoft officially launches Version 9 of its popular AppointmentsPRO medical scheduling software today. The upgrade offers new features designed to cut patient wait times, improve practice teamwork, simplify paperwork and reduce claim denials. The appointment software is designed for physical therapy practices, medical clinics and hospitals.

Tempe, AZ (PRWEB) March 7, 2006 -- SpectraSoft officially launches Version 9 of its popular AppointmentsPRO medical scheduling software today. AppointmentsPRO 9 offers new features designed to cut patient wait times, improve practice teamwork, simplify paperwork and reduce claim denials. The appointment scheduler is designed for physical therapy practices, medical clinics and hospitals.

The new AppointmentsPRO scheduling system improves office communication with an auto-notification feature that alerts practitioners when a patient has arrived, rescheduled or canceled an appointment. There is also a Task Manager that lets users assign or receive tasks to/from other people in the organization, then monitor the status of each task to ensure critical responsibilities are completed.

Rehab practices will appreciate the expanded patient intake window in AppointmentsPRO 9. It tracks multiple insurance coverages and the number of visits remaining for each authorization. New fields for subscriber, policy number, group number and employer ensure the billing department has all the critical information needed to gain payment for services.

"We set out to create an appointment scheduling system that streamlines workflow throughout a practice to make it more productive and profitable," said Steve Petrie, SpectraSoft's CEO. "I'm very excited with the result. This is not just a front desk [appointment scheduler. It's a communication hub for the entire office and a powerful practice management tool."

AppointmentsPRO 9 includes more than 90 practice management reports, as well as trend reporting with graphs that compare key practice metrics from one month to the next. A new Recall List feature lets you mark patients to be scheduled in the future (i.e. six-month evaluation). Improved security and updated HIPPA compliance make AppointmentsPRO 9 an essential upgrade for any medical practice, rehab clinic or healthcare facility.

In addition to the standard version of AppointmentsPRO 9, there are enhanced versions designed for centralized scheduling, SQL networks and hospital scheduling.

Visit http://www.spectrasoft.com to :
    Schedule a call to learn more about AppointmentsPRO 9
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ABOUT SPECTRASOFT
SpectraSoft, Inc. is a leader in simplifying complex appointment-scheduling and documentation tasks for medical practices, physical therapy clinics, hospitals, businesses and government agencies. Founded in 1993, SpectraSoft is located in Tempe, Arizona.

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Monday, March 06, 2006

Vioxx Length Of Use Seen As Key In Murky Merck Trial

Length of time using Vioxx seen key in Merck trial

By Anna Driver

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Opening arguments in the next Vioxx liability trial start on Monday as Merck & Co. (MRK.N: Quote, Profile, Research) faces the lone lawyer who has beaten the company in one of these cases -- this time representing two long-term users of the painkiller who say it caused their heart attacks.

So far, two juries have found Merck not liable, while Mark Lanier, a flamboyant Texas lawyer, helped secure a $253 million judgment for the widow of a Vioxx user last August. The trial, set to begin next week in New Jersey Superior Court in Atlantic City, marks the first involving plaintiffs who took the painkiller for more than 18 months.

Merck withdrew the arthritis drug from the market in September 2004 after a study showed the risk of heart attack and stroke doubled in patients who took Vioxx for at least 18 months. The company, based in Whitehouse, New Jersey, faces nearly 10,000 lawsuits from people accusing it of hiding health risks of a medicine that once generated annual sales of $2.5 billion.

In earlier trials, Merck maintained there was no evidence of heightened risk for short-term Vioxx users. "The length of exposure is a critical issue in these cases," Howard Erichson, a law professor at Seton Hall University, said. "The scientific evidence on causation is stronger for long-term use than short-term use, but that doesn't mean the defendant just lays down."

Lanier is representing Thomas Cona, a 59-year-old New Jersey businessman who says he took Vioxx for 22 months prior to suffering a heart attack in June 2003. The other plaintiff, John McDarby, 77, says he took Vioxx for four years and had a heart attack in April 2004 after a fall in which he also broke his hip.

"I think what you are going to see is that the plaintiffs are going to have a difficult task showing that Vioxx caused their heart attacks," Chuck Harrell, one of Merck's attorneys in Atlantic City, said. "Each of them had multiple pre-existing risk factors that are well known to cause heart attacks." Both men had a history of high blood pressure and high cholesterol and were smokers, Harrell said.

In court documents, Merck, citing prescription records, has also argued that Cona was not even a long-term user of Vioxx.

LANIER FACTOR?

Some even say the outcome of the trial could hinge on the performance of Lanier, a gifted attorney and preacher who has won hundreds of millions of dollars in damages for his clients in product liability cases. "Only one out of four juries was able to reach a conclusion that Merck had withheld important information about Vioxx even though they all received similar factual records," Benjamin Zipursky, a professor at Fordham University School of Law, said.

"One obvious conjecture is that Mr. Lanier has the ability to present these facts in a way that is highly persuasive to the ordinary people sitting on juries," he said. Still, there is some doubt about whether Lanier's folksy Southern style will play in Atlantic City, where an eight-woman and two-man jury was selected to hear the case.

"With trial lawyers, rapport with the jury is very important," Howard Erichson, a law professor at Seton Hall University, said. "An out-of-state lawyer may find it more difficult to connect with a jury, but it's all about preparation."

Merck is based in New Jersey, but its lead attorney in the case is Christy Jones, from the Jackson, Mississippi, firm of Butler, Snow, O'Mara, Stevens & Cannada. The trial is expected to last three to four weeks, an attorney for Merck said.

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¶ 10:11 PM 0 comments

Health Search Engine Decides What You Are Looking For

Fealth.com Unveils Comprehensive Health Search Engine - Vertical Health Search Engine Fealth.com Launched

Fealth.com today unveiled the internets most comprehensive Health Search Engine at http://www.fealth.com. Fealth.com search results provide highly relevant and reliable health information from the vast amount of information available on the Internet. Using industry accepted trust indicators, such as health certifications, to establish high value rankings, Fealth.com filters out irrelevant search results, such as searching for information on a virus though most search engines providing information on computer viruses.

Westlake Village, CA (PRWEB) March 6, 2006 -- Fealth.com today unveiled the Internet's most comprehensive Health Search Engine at http://www.fealth.com. Fealth.com search results provide highly relevant and reliable health information from the vast amount of information available on the Internet. Using industry accepted trust indicators, such as health certifications, to establish high value rankings, Fealth.com filters out irrelevant search results, such as searching for information on a virus though most search engines providing information on computer viruses.

Fealth, derived from fitness and health is available at http://www.fealth.com and is also available for license to internet portals and publishers for integration within their own websites. An initial portal partner, stayhealthy.com which launched in 1995 as one of the first healthcare websites, is using Fealths on-demand and highly customizable search solution to compliment and expand its own health related products.

Fealth is a perfect choice to more than 110 million Internet users who are looking for health information. Cluttered information on the web and lack of a good health search engines cause a significant amount of lost time and effort for any consumer or health care professional. Said Ravi Kalidindi, founder and CEO of Findica Inc, Our search engine provides highly qualified and relevant information without having to page though volumes of irrelevant material.

Fealth is providing us excellent on-demand and highly customizable health search and information solutions. These solutions fit very well into our portal, were easily integrated and give our visitors incredibly qualified information which compliments our own products. said John Collins, CEO of StayHealthy.com We've already received fantastic feedback from our visitors and customers who are finding highly relevant health information that they otherwise would not have found.

About Findica Inc and Fealth

Findica was founded in 2004 with a vision to become a leading provider of industry specific information and search solutions for internet and corporate users. Fealth.com is its first product providing the best health search and navigation experience on the web. Findica is based in Westlake Village, CA, and may be contacted with questions and investment queries via email; or visit our Web site at http://www.fealth.com

Media Contact
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(512) 832-9995

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Saturday, March 04, 2006

Detroit Attorney Lectures Others

Detroit Attorney Jermaine A. Wyrick Lectures on the Fourth Amendment.

Attorney Wyrick Lectures on "Searches" under the Fourth Amendment.

DETROIT, MI (PRWEB) March 4, 2006 -- The Law Offices of Jermaine A. Wyrick P.L.L.C. is pleased to announce that on February 24, 2006, Attorney Jermaine A. Wyrick spoke for Lorman Education Services at the Arrest, Search, and Seizure Seminar on the Fourth Amendment. The subtopics included Search of Persons, Search of Premises, Vehicle and Consent Searches.

Attorney Wyrick has practiced law since 1997. His commitment to helping people is apparent by his chosen areas of practice which include Civil Rights Law, Criminal Defense, Juvenile Law, Personal Injury, and Probate Law.

He is currently a member of the Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, the State Bar of Michigan, Michigan Trial Lawyers Association, the National Bar Association, and the Board of Directors for the Wolverine Bar Association.

His other civic activities, includes the Coleman A. Young Scholarship Foundation - Board of Directors, Detroit Recovery Project Board of Directors, Detroit Rainbow Push Second Tuesday Network, and the State Bar of Michigan Public Outreach Committee.

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Friday, March 03, 2006

Hospital Pharmacists Covet Baxa Automated Pharmacy Production Equipment

Baxa Automated Pharmacy Production Equipment on Show at the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists Congress

UK-based pharmacy products supplier, Baxa Ltd will feature its proprietary systems for automating pharmacy fluid handling and streamlining multi-source mixing applications at the 11th annual Congress of the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) in Geneva from 22nd to 24th March 2006. The EAHP Congress, entitled Quality and Medication Safety Hand in Hand, will focus on quality and safety improvements within the pharmacy and reducing patient risk.

ASCOT, Berkshire (PRWEB) March 3, 2006 -- Baxa Ltd will feature its proprietary systems for automating pharmacy fluid handling and streamlining multi-source mixing applications at the 11th annual Congress of the European Association of Hospital Pharmacists (EAHP) in Geneva from 22nd to 24th March 2006. The EAHP Congress, entitled Quality and Medication Safety Hand in Hand, will focus on quality and safety improvements within the pharmacy and reducing patient risk.

Baxa Corporations innovative approach to product development has produced a succession of leading-edge automated compounders and pumps designed for increased accuracy, safety and efficiency. This includes the state-of-the-art Exacta-Mix 2400 Compounder for multi-source, multi-ingredient compounding such as total parenteral nutrition.

This years EAHP Congress includes the seminar, Production of TPN: evolution over 30 years, a topic for which Baxa has focused both product development and technical support efforts. During the meeting, demonstrations will be available for Baxa automated compounders, as well as the Rapid-Fill Automated Syringe Filler, which automates the process of sterile syringe filling, capping and labeling.

The Congress is being held at the Palexpo Congress Centre, Geneva, Switzerland. Further information can be obtained from http://www.eahponline.org.

About Baxa Corporation

Baxa, a customer-focused medical device company, provides innovative, solution-based technologies for fluid handling and delivery. Its systems and devices promote the safe and efficient preparation, handling, packaging, and administration of fluid medications. Key products include Rapid-Fill??Automated Syringe Fillers, Exacta-Med? Oral Dispensers, MicroFuse? Syringe Infusers, Repeater? Pharmacy Pumps, and Exacta-Mix? and MicroMacro? Multi-Source Compounders; used worldwide in hospitals and healthcare facilities. Privately held, Baxa Corporation has subsidiaries and sales offices in Canada and the United Kingdom; direct representation in Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg and The Netherlands; and distribution partners worldwide. Further information is available at http://www.baxa.com.

Contacts:

Stephanie Scott, Marketing, Baxa Ltd:
Tel: +44 (0)1344 890916
Fax: +44 (0)1344 890917

Maggie Chamberlin Holben, APR
Absolutely Public Relations: 303.984.9801 or 303.669.3558

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¶ 10:50 AM 0 comments

Compounding Pharmacies Get Cleanrooms Option

Wall Systems Help Create Economical Solution for Cleanrooms at Compounding Pharmacies

Modular wall systems are a fast and economical solution for Cleanrooms. Porta-King's wall systems meet the new 797 regulations.

ST. LOUIS, MO (PRWEB) March 3, 2006 -- Under the new United States Pharmacopeia (USP) 797 regulation, a cleanroom at a compounding pharmacy or at a pharmaceutical mixing lab must now be in class 10,000. An economical way to incorporate this new regulation is by installing modular cleanrooms by Porta-King.

Gregg Pearlstone, Vice President at Porta-King, notes that prefabricated modular walls and ceiling systems can be a fast and cost-efficient solution for cleanrooms. Porta-King offers four different wall systems that meet the needs of compounding pharmacies.

Porta-Kings modular systems are easy to install, which means that they are much less expensive than the total cost of other cleanroom construction alternatives, Pearlstone said. Our pre-engineered designs can be assembled by people with little or no construction experience. However, if someone needs installation service, we offer a nationwide network of factory authorized contractors who can provide turn-key installation services.

Porta-Kings modular cleanroom walls not only help to create cleaner environments for the compounding process, but can also provide storage for pharmaceutical materials. The modular walls can be customized to accommodate any layout requirements. Filtration systems can also be easily incorporated to create a complete cleanroom package.

Porta-King has been a leader in modular cleanroom systems since 1969. In addition to its modular cleanrooms, Porta-King offers a full line of modular wall systems for a wide variety of other construction applications. In addition, Porta-King manufactures structural steel mezzanines used for storage, production and elevated office space. Porta-King buildings provide shelter and storage solutions for virtually any working environment. For more information, visit www.portaking.com or call 800-284-5346.

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Thursday, March 02, 2006

Tamiflu's Taste Bitter Barrier To Block Bird Flu Finality?

Antiviral Medication Noncompliance During an Avian Flu Pandemic - Deadly Results, If Not For An Easy Solution

According to officials, it is not a question of if the avian flu virus will mutate but when? On March 1st, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued their recommendation to control the virus with a particular focus on children, the main carrier of the flu. To this end, the US government is procuring millions of doses of Tamiflu® as its first line of defense. However, the pediatric version of this drug has an extremely bitter taste making it not only difficult for children to swallow but to keep down. In response, specialty pharma FLAVORx, Inc has developed four flavors to mask the bitterness and ensure 100% compliance.

Bethesda, MD. (PRWEB) March 2, 2006 -- FLAVORx, Inc has recently concluded testing on its proprietary taste-masking agents in liquid antiviral medications such as Tamiflu®. Combining these flavoring agents with antivirals will safely alleviate the medications existing bitter, unpleasant taste and ensure medicinal adherence for children in the event of an avian flu pandemic. The International Association of Medicinal Compliance (IAMC), a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization dedicated to creating a healthier world through taking medication properly, recognizes the widespread impact on public health as a result of infectious spread in children. Accordingly, a necessity for palatable medication exists not only to eliminate difficulties in swallowing medicines, but more importantly to ensure effectiveness and proper dosing to control the spread of a deadly virus. The IAMC is currently reaching out to government officials to resolve these concerns. To date, the avian flu has rapidly spread across Asia, into Africa and Europe, with seven European countries seeing outbreaks of the virus in birds. With this type of spread the question is not if the avian flu will reach the U.S., but when. Therefore, state and federal government leaders now realize the sense of urgency in planning for a pandemic outbreak and will partner with companies such as FLAVORx to ensure the nations preparedness.

On March 1, 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued their recommendation that should the bird flu mutate and affect human beings, spread among American children should be controlled, because viruses are spread through sneezing, coughing and contact, all of which occur with high frequency among children. Several cases of well-documented research support this advisory. In a 1957 flu outbreak in England, over 50% of cases were reported in children. Although many infections occurred in June of that year, the pandemic was not triggered until September, when children returned to school. Additionally, when Japan implemented a flu-control policy derived on the sole vaccination of children, results were markedly similar. During the time of this policy, deaths from pneumonia and flu decreased by numbers of 10,000-12,000 per year, and thus as reported by the New England Journal of Medicine, controlling the spread of flu in children protects the entire population, including the elderly.

As there is currently no approved vaccine in the marketplace, the US government is procuring millions of doses of Tamiflu® as its first line of defense in the event of an avian flu pandemic. The liquid version of this drug will be used to treat children who are not old enough (infants to approximately 8- years old) or have difficulty swallowing pills. The issue of non-compliance among children could prove highly detrimental to all of society. Taking a medication improperly or not completing a full regimen leads to a reduction in symptoms, but does not lead to eradication of an illness. While seemingly inconsequential, not fully ridding the body of infection could lead to children and adults returning to school or the workplace symptom-free but still as viral carriers. Thus the virus will not be completely contained and infection will continue to spread, likely with a more virulent strain that has become partially resistant to a drugs effects, and rendering the original drug and the nations only avian pandemic solution, ineffective.

A childs sense of taste differs vastly from that of an adult. With 10,000 taste buds that rejuvenate themselves every three days (elderly adults have approximately 300 taste buds), children are much more sensitive to bitterness, and therefore unable to tolerate acrid tasting liquid medications that are unpleasant to them. FLAVORx, a company that specializes in taste-masking, has expressly developed four formulations to cover the bitter taste of Tamiflu®, which would prove life-saving in the event of an avian flu outbreak. These formulations have been rigorously tested for safety and stability to ensure that their addition does not affect the medications benefits. Furthermore, studies show that medicinal compliance, and a childs willingness to accept and take medication properly, increased from 53% with the unflavored medication to over 97% with the addition of the medicinal flavoring.

Currently members of Congress such as Congressman Chris Van Hollen are urging states to stockpile pre-formulated FLAVORx flavor packets to be distributed with antiviral medications to ensure safety for the nations citizens. According to Van Hollen, The availability of antivirals, however, will only be effective if flu victims use them in the appropriate manner and doses. Van Hollen further adds, While we all agree that parents have a responsibility to ensure that their children take the required flu doses, pharmacists and others have noted that it can be virtually impossible to get some children to take very bitter medicine. It seems any comprehensive avian flu plan should anticipate this problem and address it appropriately.

To participate and view the latest results on Americans public take on government avian flu preparedness click on http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=836251835358. For more information, please contact Gunjan Koul at 240.223.0949.

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Wednesday, March 01, 2006

Patients' Needs Addressed With Feedback Project

Feedback Project Focuses On Patients' Needs

The Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) launched the Patient Initiated Quality Improvement Project in January, a pilot program designed to improve the quality of clinical care and customer service at the center.

Little Rock, AR (PRWEB) March 1, 2006 -- The Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy (http://myeloma.uams.edu) at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS -- http://www.uams.edu) launched the Patient Initiated Quality Improvement Project in January, a pilot program designed to improve the quality of clinical care and customer service at the center.

The six-month project, funded by a grant from the Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, involves the analysis of detailed patient feedback by a committee comprised of UAMS staff and Myeloma Institute (http://myeloma.uams.edu) patients. A total of 12 patients are providing the committee with electronic feedback regarding their clinical experiences and other aspects of treatment via e-mail, according to Dr. Elias Anaissie, the Myeloma Institute's director of the Supportive Care Division.

"We've encouraged them to take notes while they are going to their appointments, seeing the nurse, seeing the doctor. We want to hear whatever they have to say, the good, the bad and the ugly," said Anaissie, who is on the committee along with Dr. Charles Smith, UAMS' medical director, and two MIRT patients.

All of the patients' remarks are kept confidential, Anaissie said, adding that certain suggestions have already led to improvements in treatment processes.

"The healthcare system in this country and worldwide is not patient-friendly. We believe that the solution is not going to come from Congress or some think tank but from the patient. Empowering the patient as a partner, rather than a passive recipient of care, has the potential to transform healthcare in a most positive way. Patient issues must be taken into consideration and corrective action must be taken if we are to better serve our patients and improve our efficiency," Anaissie said.

Besides the e-mail responses, the committee is also reviewing feedback forms handed out to patients during their clinic visits as well as written suggestions from those patients undergoing stem cell transplants.

"This idea is where the future of medicine is heading," said Smith, who expects similar projects to be utilized in all UAMS clinics in the near future. "The doctor-patient encounter is becoming demystified. This will provide us with guidance on how the system needs to change and make it more sensitive to patient needs."

About the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS):

UAMS is the state's only comprehensive academic health center, with five colleges, a graduate school, a medical center, five centers of excellence and a statewide network of regional centers. UAMS has about 2,320 students and 690 residents and is one of the state's largest public employers with almost 9,000 employees. UAMS and its affiliates have an economic impact in Arkansas of $4.3 billion a year. UAMS centers of excellence are the Arkansas Cancer Research Center (http://www.acrc.uams.edu), Harvey and Bernice Jones Eye Institute (http://www.uams.edu/jei), Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging (http://centeronaging.uams.edu), Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy (http://myeloma.uams.edu/) and Jackson T. Stephens Spine & Neurosciences Institute (http://www.uams.edu/stephensinstitute).

Contact:

Leslie W. Taylor, 501-686-8998
Wireless phone: 501-951-7260
http://www.uams.edu / http://myeloma.uams.edu

Andrea Peel, 501-686-8996
Wireless phone: 501-351-7903
http://www.uams.edu / http://myeloma.uams.edu

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