Hey Everyone, Log Off Twitter And Hear Real Tweets Instead

Hey Everyone, Log Off Twitter And Hear Real Tweets Instead

Where to go to spot wildlife on the move

Arlington, VA (Vocus) May 10, 2010

It’s spring, and the animals of the world are in motion again—flying, swimming, running and crawling to their summer homes and breeding grounds.

But what’s out there? Where – and when – should people head outside to spot them? The Nature Conservancy (http://www. nature. org/) polled its scientists from New York to California and found the top “must see” migrations in more than 30 states. The Conservancy’s lead scientist, M. Sanjayan, weighed in with his own list of the top 10 migrating animals to see this season.

“Mass migration in the animal kingdom is truly a modern day spectacle,” explained Sanjayan. “It’s also an issue critical to conservation. It teaches us that it is not enough to just protect them in your backyard, but all along their journey.”

To view the list, and to find the best spots to watch wildlife on the move near you, visit www. nature. org/migration (http://www. nature. org/migration).

Besides the fun of seeing whales, songbirds, salamanders and turtles, there’s an added benefit to bringing your family along.

Soon, millions of school-age children will wrap-up their daily classroom routines. Many will spend those first days of summer “plugged in” – attached to their cell phones, TVs, computers, iPods and Xboxes – instead of outside (http://www. nature. org/tncscience/bigideas/people/art27830.html). In fact, a January study by the Kaiser Family Foundation showed that kids 8-18 are spending 7.5 hours each day in front a TV, iPhone, video game or computer. And because they’re often multi-tasking (like texting a friend while watching TV) the study revealed they are actually cramming 11 hours worth of media into their day.

“Getting kids outside – early and often – is the key to establishing that lifelong connection to nature,” said Brigitte Griswold, director of youth programs for The Nature Conservancy in New York. “The bottom line is that kids need nature. There’s a continuing body of research that shows children who are exposed to nature are happier, healthier and smarter as a result.”

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. To date, the Conservancy and its more than one million members have helped protect 130 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at http://www. nature. org/ (http://www. nature. org/).

# # #

Past President of the Washington D. C. Ophthalmological Society Joins with Retasure to Prevent Vision Loss

Past President of the Washington D. C. Ophthalmological Society Joins with Retasure to Prevent Vision Loss

Dr. David Parver has partnered to read digital retinal images for Retasure™ by Digital Healthcare, a Wake Forest, NC company specializing in retinal health assessment for diabetics. Dr. Parver is the past president of the Washington D. C. Ophthalmological Society and a board certified Retina and Vitreous specialist that practices in Washington, D. C., Maryland and Virginia.

Wake Forest, NC (PRWEB) February 10, 2009

Dr. David Parver has partnered to read digital retinal images for Retasure™ by Digital Healthcare, a Wake Forest, NC company specializing in retinal health assessment for diabetics. Dr. Parver is the past president of the Washington D. C. Ophthalmological Society and a board certified Retina and Vitreous specialist that practices in Washington, D. C., Maryland and Virginia.

The Retasure™ solution developed by Digital Healthcare provides a simple, affordable, and non-invasive solution that allows physicians to capture their patients' retinal images during a three to five minute procedure. Certified readers, like Dr. Parver, use the ophthalmic specific review tools in Retasure™ to assess the images and consult with the primary care physician.

"The incidence of Diabetic Eye Disease in our population is growing exponentially. Early diagnosis and treatment of diabetic retinopathy will prevent vision loss in our patients and will allow them to lead productive and independent lives. Examination of the retina is key to preventing vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy. The most important health care priority is the delivery of quality medical care. Retasure will help you help your patients." states Dr. Parver.

Scott Sanner, Vice President of North American Operations for Digital Healthcare, agrees. "The National Eye Institute states that diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among working age adults in America," he says, "but fewer than half of all diabetic patients are assessed annually for retinopathy, despite the high frequency of this complication."

Digital Healthcare's Retasure solution offers several advantages for primary care and endocrinologist physicians and their patients: It can be operated by non-clinicians; it is non-invasive and requires no dilation. This FDA-approved technology is used by a broad range of doctors and facilities throughout the United States and the United Kingdom, including leading hospitals and research centers, primary care groups, private ophthalmology and optometry groups, family practice residency centers, and internal, multi-specialty and endocrinology groups. More than a million patients around the world have received a retinal health assessment using Digital Healthcare software.

For additional information, please visit www. retasure. com

CONTACT: Scott Sanner (866) 539-4213

###

Fuel Up Device Make Every Stop Full Service and Saves Money

Fuel Up Device Make Every Stop Full Service and Saves Money

The Smart Way to pump your gas. America's favorite travel accessory. Ingenious device automatically pumps gas for you. Today's drivers never have to babysit and waste time pumping their own gas again. No more over fills, spills, and wasted gas resulting in savings at every fuel stop. GasBuddy-Nozzlepal drivers have more free time to safety check their vehicle's tires, wipers oil and engine. GasBuddy-NozzlePal inserts easily and works for boats, trucks, campers and RV's. Makes a great, unique gift and stocking stuffer.

Naples, FL (PRWEB) April 23, 2008

GasBuddyNozzlePal announced today a unique travel accessory that allows travelers more freedom at the every fuel stop.. An ingenious device, GasBuddy, easily inserts between the gas pump handle and its baseanmd automatically pumps gas.
GasBuddyNozzlePal gives travelers more time and great convenience.

GasBuddy expedites the free flow of gas eliminating the need for consumers to hold and babysit the gas pump handle to pump their gas. Users save money since they never overfill, spill and wasytre gas!

GasBuddy-NozzlePal automatically adjusts the gas flow pressure and automatically releases the pump handle to terminate the fill process. GasBuddy is specially designed and tested to "cut off" automatically freeing drivers from pumping gas themselves.

Gasbuddy also has proven to pump gas faster than a normal operating gas pump operation. With GasBuddy every stop is full service.

Drivers can now get away from the pump, perform safety checks, shop, relax and have a better overall travel experience," observed Bill Tucker, the inventor. "Plus, saves money at the pump since drivers never overfill their tanks, spill and waste gas!"

Exposure to toxic fumes is a health concern while standing at the pump. Gas BuddyNozzlePal allows travelers the convenience to get away from exposure to fumes and gas odors. Drivers are then free to safety check their car, shop, relax and better enjoy their travel.

Personal safety is another benefit. Drivers can now go inside the gas station reducing vulnerability to strangers or car jacking. "I feel safer with my GasBuddy. It gets me out of bad weather. I hated standing there wasting my time filling up my tank in the rain," stated user, Katrine Karley, Sarasota, Fl.

GasBuddyNozzlePal works on boats, trucks, campers and RVs saves even more time since the gas tanks are larger.

"GasBuddy gives me peace of mind. I can better watch my kids during a fuel up. Even go inside, shop, relax and away from danger and intruders." EBay Cusotmer.

GasBuddyNozzlePal retails for only $6.95. (plus $4.95 shipping. The Internet special is only $12.95.
Best value is to purchase three (3) for ONLY $19.95 includes FREE shipping

Gasbuddy makes a great gift and stocking stuffer.. Dogs and kids even love to play with GasBudddy as a ball and play toy.

Contact: Bill Tucker: 239.821.9737 - e mail: Ad2web@aol. com

Visit:www. GasBuddyNozzlePal. com for all details

###

Millennium Trust Company Employee Published in Realty Times

Millennium Trust Company Employee Published in Realty Times

Gene Meeker, Millennium Trust Company SVP of Alternative Investments, recently had an article published in Realty Times advising the realty community of options for investing in real estate within a self directed IRA or Solo 401(k).

Oak Brook, IL (PRWEB) August 19, 2007

Gene Meeker, Millennium Trust Company SVP of Alternative Investments, recently had an article published in Realty Times advising the realty community of options for investing in real estate within a self directed IRA or Solo 401(k).

Many realtors have benefited from a healthy environment for realtor services and their own investments in various forms of real estate. Many self-employed realtors may not be aware of the fact that the success they've enjoyed in their real estate investments, they could also be experiencing with real estate held in their self directed IRA or Solo 401(k).

The complete article can be found at http://www. mtrustcompany. com/pdf/news/RealtyTimesArticles2.pdf (http://www. mtrustcompany. com/pdf/news/RealtyTimesArticles2.pdf).

For more information about the custody of alternative investments, such as real estate, hedge funds, futures, private equities and others in your self directed IRA or Solo 401(k), visit our website at www. mtrustcompany. com or call our client services department at 1-800-258-7878.

About The Company:
Millennium Trust Company, LLC is an independent trust company and leading provider of administrative and custody services. Millennium offers a wide variety of self directed investment plans including Traditional, Roth and SEP IRAs for individuals, Solo 401(k)s for sole proprietors, integrated Health Savings Accounts for individuals and the group market and also an Automatic Rollover IRA solution for plan sponsors, and Personal Trust Administration and Advisor Services. It custodies more than 30,000 accounts. For more information visit www. mtrustcompany. com

###

Diamond Resorts International(R) Assists the Women of Haiti

Diamond Resorts International(R) Assists the Women of Haiti

Global hospitality provider pulls its custom uniform inventory and sends to the Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti

Las Vegas, NV (PRWEB) February 10, 2010

Diamond Resorts International® (DRI), a global leader in the vacation ownership industry, has today announced the donation of its current inventory of custom designed island wear to assist the women of Haiti with a basic necessity.

"We had to do something," said Stephen J. Cloobeck, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Resorts International®. "The world is responding to the people of Haiti and as I watch the images of destruction bring this tragedy into my home, creating a reality of suffering in so many aspects, I knew that we had to do something. And that something had to make a difference."

Launched just three years ago, the Diamond brand is a young company emerging through one of the most challenging economic times in recent history. Cloobeck struggled with finding an avenue of relief that would help the people of Haiti. "We are a hospitality company that makes a difference in the everyday lives of our owners and members -- we're not a healthcare or financial services provider -- but I knew there had to be some small difference we could make for the people of Haiti. And then I saw the women washing their children in the streets, hanging the only clothes they survived with over fences and makeshift tents and I realized that we could do something. We could give the women a basic necessity and hope to restore some of their dignity. The Haitians are a resilient culture -- a proud people -- and if Diamond could provide some small gesture of hope and care to the women of Haiti, we would be humbled to do so."

Working with the Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti, Diamond has arranged to ship more than 2,400 custom designed dresses and 3,800 silk scarves to the island nation. Originally created for resort staff uniforms at resorts in St. Maarten and Hawaii, Diamond Resorts International® owns and operates timeshare resorts in a variety of destinations throughout the world. "I contacted our executive staff and said 'pull the stock off the shelves and ship our women's apparel to Haiti.' As is typical of my team members worldwide, they immediately began coordinating this relief effort. It's what we do at Diamond. We are a family and we respond to the needs of our customers every day. And today, the people of Haiti are our customers." As the Haitian Congress to Fortify Haiti schedules medical supplies for transport into the devastated nation first, they are appreciative of the gesture and, according to Aline Lauture, Executive Director, our "generous donation of beautiful dresses and silk scarves is yet another way we can help our Haitian women dress up to feel good about themselves after such a terrible tragedy. On behalf of the Haitian people, once again we extend our thanks."

Annually, nearly 1.4 million owners, members and guests enjoy the simplicity, choice and comfort Diamond Resorts International® offers through our branded hospitality experience.

Diamond Resorts International®, with global headquarters in Las Vegas, Nev., is one of the largest vacation ownership companies in the world with more than 160 branded and affiliated resorts and over 24,000 guest beds in 26 countries with destinations throughout the continental United States and Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. Offering simplicity, choice and comfort to more than 400,000 owners and members through the branded hospitality service of more than 5,500 team members worldwide, Diamond Resorts International® is dedicated to providing its guests with effortless and relaxing vacation experiences every time, for a lifetime. To learn more, visit DiamondResorts. com.

###

E-CURRICULUM AND UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO WORK TO IMPROVE EVALUATION OF ONLINE EDUCATION

E-CURRICULUM AND UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO WORK TO IMPROVE EVALUATION OF ONLINE EDUCATION

(PRWEB) March 7, 2000

Educators Conduct Evaluation Research on Instruments Designed to Measure

Success of Internet Education

DENVER, Color., March 3, 2000 – E-Curriculum Corp, a Berkeley-based education consulting company, and the University of Colorado will work in tandem for the next year to perform reliability, instrument reduction, and internal consistency tests on assessment content deployed through E-Curriculum’s evaluation engine, CoursemetricÔ.

To insure that education outcomes measured with Coursemetric™ are statistically valid, E-Curriculum will work with researchers at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center to test questions designed specifically to assess learner satisfaction and technology performance in online education.

Current forecasts indicate that nearly 85% of all colleges and universities will be offering education online within the next two years, and this will have significant effects on teaching and learning. “A distinctly different kind of teaching is necessary for this new environment. And this new manner of teaching requires new modes of evaluation, and new forms of collaboration” notes Dr. Mary McHugh, who will direct the project and is an expert in the field of Informatics. “Blending private-sector technology with education-area expertise will allow education to achieve more goals in their Internet education projects in a much shorter amount of time. I think this research can be a model for future public-private partnerships for educational research and corporate innovations.”

Dr. McHugh has previously examined issues critical to the learning process when the material is taught through the Internet and will work directly with educators from E-Curriculum to validate measurement instruments for online education. These instruments will be tested for face validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability.

E-Curriculum CEO David Harden says, “Working with the University of Colorado to validate these instruments is an important step in achieving our shared goal of providing educators with a simple, cost-effective way of understanding the effect new technologies have on the ways we teach and the ways we learn.”

The results will be delivered via the Web through E-Curriculum’s unique leaning evaluation engine: Coursemetric™. Automating the communication process related to teaching and learning evaluation, Coursemetric™ is designed to anonymously survey students and instructors regarding their teaching and learning experiences in any education environment. Requiring only a Web-browser to operate, this tool provides instructors and trainers with instantaneous feedback and allows education organizations and training entities the first means ever to immediately aggregate learning outcomes: across courses, departments, instructors and institutions, and over time.

About E-Curriculum

E-Curriculum, Inc., based in Berkeley, CA, provides Web-based tools and information management solutions designed to optimize the quality of the learning.

For more information visit http://www. e-curriculum. com (http://www. e-curriculum. com).

Contact: Kristin Gray, 510.548.9507, kristing@e-curriculum. com.   

About UCHS

The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center is the only academic health center in the state and region. With a four-part mission of education, research, patient care and community service, the campus serves as the hub of a broad network for health care delivery.

For more information visit http://www. uchsc. edu (http://www. uchsc. edu).

# # #

Healthier Valentine’s Day Choices Offered by Adora Calcium

Healthier Valentine’s Day Choices Offered by Adora Calcium

Tips to making healthier decisions.

Meriden, CT (PRWEB) February 1, 2007

Valentine’s Day, with all its beautifully wrapped heart-shaped boxes of chocolates and treats, falls right in the middle of American Heart Month. Is this irony or a well executed reminder by the American Heart Association? Heart disease, the leading cause of death in the US, is certainly no laughing matter. Healthy eating is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of heart disease or stroke, so here are three tips from Adora Calcium (www. adoracalcium. com) to make healthier decisions this Valentine’s Day:

Shop Smart – Don’t let the emotion of the “Valentine’s aisle” persuade you to buy impulsively. Treating your loved one to chocolate is a great idea, but plan ahead and buy smart. There are numerous health-conscious choices available, so decide ahead of time what you want to avoid last second decisions you may regret. Also, by shopping at the last minute you will limit your choices to what’s left over. Smart shoppers will shop early enough to make the right healthy choice for their loved ones.

Put Your Heart Into It - Create a customized gift for your loved one. Add a personal touch by creating a hand-made box or create a themed gift basket filled with heart-healthy chocolates, dried fruits and nuts, CDs of their favorite group and a bottle of red wine. Develop an “All-Organic” gift basket. Whole Foods and Wild Oats stores are fabulous places to find all-natural, organic and dark chocolates. If you like shopping online, try TheHealthyBasket. com.

Good Chocolate Choices – Valentine’s Day means “chocolate”. Here are some guidelines for selecting healthier chocolates:

The Dark Side – The darker the chocolate, the higher the amount of heart-friendly antioxidant compounds known as flavonoids. In a 2005 release, Dr. Melvyn Rubenfire, MD, Director of Preventive Cardiology at the University of Michigan, claimed “Chocolate has good antioxidants that are cardiac - or vascular-protective”. (1)

All-Natural Ingredients – Who wants to give hydrogenated oils, artificial flavors and trans-fats to their loved ones? For fresher quality chocolate, avoid preservatives, selecting only chocolates made with all-natural ingredients that you can pronounce, like “chocolate, cocoa butter, sugar and vanilla”.

Healthful Chocolates – Look for chocolates with added benefits such as Cocoa-Via™, the product line created by Mars and Adora Calcium™, a premium all-natural chocolate-based product containing half of the RDA of calcium in each piece. Adora is made by a 128 year old chocolatier and has a Valentine’s Special available online at adoraCalcium. com

By shopping for healthier alternatives this Valentine’s Day, you can show your loved one how much you really care.

(1) - http://www. med. umich. edu/opm/newspage/2005/hmvalday. htm (http://www. med. umich. edu/opm/newspage/2005/hmvalday. htm)
Cocoa-Via™ is a registered trademark of Mars Nutrition for Health & Well-Being, a division of Mars, Incorporated.

Adora Calcium™ is a registered trademark of Thompson Brands

Www. adoracalcium. com

###

MS Patients More Compliant with Medications When Managed by Specialty Pharmacy, According to HealthCore Study Presented at ISPOR

MS Patients More Compliant with Medications When Managed by Specialty Pharmacy, According to HealthCore Study Presented at ISPOR

Multiple sclerosis patients managed by a specialty pharmacy program were more compliant with medication, and had a lower risk of being hospitalized for their disease than those who were not managed by a specialty pharmacy program, according to a study completed by HealthCore, Inc.

Orlando, FL (PRWEB) May 21, 2009

Multiple sclerosis patients managed by a specialty pharmacy program were more compliant with medication, and had a lower risk of being hospitalized for their disease than those who were not managed by a specialty pharmacy program, according to a study completed by HealthCore, Inc.

HealthCore researcher Jingbo Yu presented the study today at the International Society of Pharmacoeconomic and Outcomes Research 14th Annual International Meeting in Orlando, Fla. The retrospective study analyzed medical and pharmacy claims data.

The HealthCore study compared 3,055 patients managed by PrecisionRx Specialty Solutions to 807 patients who were not part of a specialty pharmacy-managed group over a period of one year. PrecisionRx provided patient education materials, regularly scheduled nurse calls and refill reminders to its members.

The study showed that those in the managed group had a 47 percent lower risk of being hospitalized to treat conditions associated with MS compared to the non-managed group.

Average overall MS-related total cost of care for one year was $20,105 for the managed group versus $16,857 for the non-managed group. The difference was driven by improved persistence with medications. Over time, the average MS-related medical cost decreased $270 among the managed patients, while it increased $1,245 among the un-managed group.

The study showed that the overall cost of care among the group managed by PrecisionRx Specialty Solutions, a subsidiary of WellPoint Inc., was higher because these members adhered better to their MS medication, which is costly. Reduced short-term disability costs, improved presenteeism and productivity were not directly assessed in the study, but likely are significant due to the significantly decreased utilization of medical services.

"Outcomes are clearly better for patients when they receive more sophisticated support and education that is encouraging them to stay compliant with their medication," said Dr. Joseph Singer, vice president of clinical affairs for HealthCore, the research outcomes subsidiary for WellPoint Inc. "It's well-documented that these drugs keep patients healthier and functioning at a higher level for a much longer period of time than if they weren't taking these drugs, despite their common side effects."

Multiple sclerosis is a chronic and progressive inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that affects about 400,000 people in the United States. The medications currently available to treat MS are effective in reducing relapses but are associated with side effects that reduce their tolerability. Those patients managed by PrecisionRx achieved a length of continuous therapy over 290 days compared to 209 days by the non-managed group, which was statistically and clinically significant.

"Because MS drugs have significant side effects, the regularly scheduled nurse calls-at three, six and then 12 months, can make a huge difference in how that member continues with therapy," said Tracy Nolan, vice president of PrecisionRx Specialty Solutions. "We develop relationships with members that open the door to them sharing with us issues they may have in being compliant. By knowing what those problems are, we can often help them figure out a solution."

About the study
A total of 3,862 patients were identified in the study with 79 percent managed and 21 percent non-managed. The median age was 46 years and the majority was female. More than one-third of the patients used Avonex as index medication, while others used Copaxone (31 percent), Rebif (17 percent), Betaseron (14 percent) and Tysabri (less than 1 percent).

About HealthCore
HealthCore, based in Wilmington, Del., is the clinical outcomes research subsidiary of WellPoint. HealthCore has a team of highly experienced researchers including physicians, biostatisticians, pharmacists, epidemiologists, health economists and other scientists who study the "real world" safety and effectiveness of drugs, medical devices and care management interventions. HealthCore offers insight on how to best use this data and communicates these findings to health care decision-makers to support evidence-based medicine, product development decisions, safety monitoring, coverage decisions, process improvement and overall cost-effective health care. For more information, go to www. healthcore. com.

Media contact:
Lori McLaughlin, 317.488.6898/317.407.7403

# # #

Vascure Natural LLC Introduces a New All-In-One Heart Health Supplement

Vascure Natural LLC Introduces a New All-In-One Heart Health Supplement

Simpler, less expensive cardiovascular support now available in a single capsule.

Brielle, NJ (PRWEB) February 18, 2010

Vascure Natural LLC http://www. VascureNatural. com (http://www. VascureNatural. com) today announced the introduction of it’s new, combination cardiovascular herbal supplement capsule that makes it easier and less expensive for people to support a healthy heart.

The Vascure NaturalTM All-In-One Heart Health Supplement capsule is simpler in that just one accomplishes what it currently takes three capsules to do. “Each Vascure NaturalTM capsule is a unique combination of CoQ10, red yeast rice and phytosterol”, explained Thomas McCrink, President & CEO. “Consumers no longer need to buy 3 different supplements because Vascure NaturalTM is engineered to provide optimum strength support for the heart with all three ingredients combined into one. It’s a much simpler approach to heart health.”

In addition, one patent-pending Vascure NaturalTM brand All-In-One Heart Health Supplement bottle is far less expensive than one bottle of each of its three main ingredients. “You could expect to pay a total of as much as $105 for a monthly supply of CoQ10, red yeast rice and phytosterol when purchased separately. The Vascure NaturalTM brand is just $49.95 for a one month supply, a savings of more than 50%. The savings is even greater with the discount on our three month supply”, said Mr. McCrink.

The quality of ingredients is another issue faced by those trying to protect their heart with the aid of supplements. According to Mr. McCrink, the question is one of truly knowing what is in them. “You just don’t know what you’re really getting. We’re committed to manufacturing the Vascure NaturalTM brand with nothing but the finest, purest grade ingredients available.”

Vascure NaturalTM (VascureNatural. com) is endorsed by Dr. Scott Eisenberg DO, FACC. Dr Eisenberg is board-certified in Cardiology, Lipidiology, and Anti-Aging medicine. Dr. Eisenberg is one of only 400 licensed Lipidologist in the US and recommends Vascure Natural because the cardio support supplements contain powerful antioxidants that support a healthy inflammatory response*, reduce free radical damage*, support healthy triglyceride and cholesterol levels*, and promote arterial integrity*. Dr. Eisenberg is currently enrolling patients in the ACT NOW clinical trial.

Vascure NaturalTM does not have the side effects some people suffer with medications. It can be used in place of such medications, or, as a supplement to medication in order to reduce the amount of medication needed. Those who are simply concerned with their heart health would find the Vascure NaturalTM brand a good herbal supplement. Those with a family history of slightly elevated cholesterol might want to try Vascure NaturalTM as well. Mr. McCrink related that a 3-month program is the best way to begin. The product is backed with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.

The Vascure NaturalTM product line includes, in addition to the All-In-One Hearth Health Supplement, omega-3 fish oil as well as vitamin D. The pharmaceutical-grade Vascure NaturalTM Omega-3 Fish Oil features an enteric coated formulation. Each softgel is coated with a material that permits transit through the stomach to the small intestine before the medication is released. This helps to eliminate the annoying, bothersome side effects associated with many other fish oil supplements.

Millions of people are vitamin D deficient, which can help lead to osteoporosis, immune deficiencies, as well as high blood pressure, diabetes and inflammation. All of these conditions can increase cardiovascular risk. Vascure NaturalTM Vitamin D3 is an efficient and convenient way to help ensure optimal vitamin D intake.

About The Company
Vascure Natural LLC launched in the winter of 2009 to help people take care of their hearts in a simpler, less costly manner. The family of products include Vascure NaturalTM All-In-One Heart Health Supplements, Vascure NaturalTM Vitamin D, and Vascure NaturalTM Omega-3 Fish Oil. Fully funded, staffed and advised by industry experts, Vascure Natural LLC plans to add to the Vascure Natural TM brand product line in the coming year additional products that will help people protect their hearts.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. A doctor should be consulted before taking this or any dietary supplement.

###

Hot Banana Unveils Multilingual Web CMS Module, Automates Web Site Translation Process

Hot Banana Unveils Multilingual Web CMS Module, Automates Web Site Translation Process

Hot Banana Software, Inc. (www. hotbanana. com), a leader in Web content management software for marketing and a wholly-owned subsidiary of J. L. Halsey (OTCBB:JLHY), today introduced a unique multilingual content management plug-in that automates the process of translating and publishing Web site content into multiple languages. Hot Banana announced the new feature at the Gilbane Conference on Content Technologies (Booth #130), here through Nov. 30. Developed By Connexion Corporate Communications of Belgium, Module Adds To Hot Banana's Multilingual Localization Strengths.

Boston, MA (PRWEB) November 29, 2006

Hot Banana Software, Inc. (www. hotbanana. com), a leader in Web content management software for marketing and a wholly-owned subsidiary of J. L. Halsey (OTCBB:JLHY), today introduced a unique multilingual content management plug-in that automates the process of translating and publishing Web site content into multiple languages. Hot Banana announced the new feature at the Gilbane Conference on Content Technologies (Booth #130), here through Nov. 30.

Connexion Corporate Communications s. a. (www. connexion. be), a Belgium business-to-business multilingual communications agency and prominent integrator of Web content management software in Europe, independently developed the multilingual content management module and is making the module available to all Hot Banana channel partners and clients.

From the Hot Banana interface, site publishers can now send Web pages, portions of Web pages and even entire Web sites to an XML-compatible translation memory system (TMS), such as DéjàVu, Trados or SDLX. Once human translators have edited the content in their TMS of choice, their translation work is sent back to Hot Banana's Web CMS for publication in just a few clicks. The translated content, navigation, metadata, pictures and links appear in the same layout as the original pages, which the Hot Banana user can then choose to further validate, get approvals or instantly publish.

"As a business-to-business multilingual communications agency that services some of Europe's largest corporations, we needed a more cost-effective and time-efficient way to translate content into several languages using a Web CMS," said Stany van Gelder, marketing director, Connexion. "Hot Banana's Unicode compliance, search-engine friendly platform and ease-of-use made building an add-on translation module to help automate the translation process the obvious and easiest choice. We're pleased that other Hot Banana partners and clients can now deliver multilingual Web content faster and at reduced costs simply by using our module."

The new multilingual translation module works with any Hot Banana implementation. Connexion Corporate Communications licenses the module direct.

"We strategically built Hot Banana as an open platform to allow partners to add modules easily," said Krista LaRiviere, general manager, Hot Banana Software Inc. "With the launch of this add-on, Connexion went beyond customization to monetization. We're eager to see other channel partners follow their lead, and develop and resell their own innovative add-ons to Hot Banana that might reflect the niche or sector that they specialize in."

A long-time Hot Banana channel partner, Connexion Corporate Communications recently won two CMS Awards 2006 in the "Best Content" category for its launch of the Boom Chicago Web site (www. boomchicago. nl), which integrates the comedy institution's stage-show ticketing system with Hot Banana to manage seat availability and sales in real time. Boom Chicago experienced a 20 percent surge in visits and a 50 percent boost in online sales just 15 days after the new site went live.

Hot Banana, the leading ColdFusion Web CMS solution, is built upon Adobe's ColdFusion MX technology. It is available as software-as-a-service or as a licensed offering. It complies with the Unicode language standard, enabling it to handle non-Roman character sets, such as Chinese, Arabic and Punjabi.

At last spring's San Francisco Gilbane Conference on Content Management, Hot Banana was voted the most innovative content management solution by conference attendees, winning the 2006 "CMS Idol" crown. The company was also recently recognized in CMS Watch as a "mid-market challenger."

About Hot Banana Software, Inc.

Hot Banana is a leader in Web content management software for marketing, powering corporate Web sites, Intranets, Extranets, micro marketing sites and landing pages for more than 200 companies worldwide in more than 16 languages. Built for non-technical users, Hot Banana's core technology is an easy-to-use, search-engine-friendly, Web content management suite designed to manage a Web site's content creation, publishing and optimization process.

Hot Banana's uniqueness is its Active Marketing Solution, an eMarketing platform - loaded with tools for increasing Web traffic, acquiring sales leads and converting prospects into customers.

Hot Banana is available directly, or from 22+ Channel Partners Worldwide, either On-Demand (SaaS), or as a Licensed ColdFusion CMS. Clients include: InsureMe, Unico System, Hondros College, General Board of Global Ministries - UMC, Algoma Steel, Bell Industries, Parents Action for Children, Archdiocese of New York, Ansell Healthcare Europe, Ingersoll Rand, World Vision, Johns Hopkins University, Law Society of Upper Canada, and Expertech.

Headquartered in Barrie, Ontario, Canada, with a U. S. office in Menlo Park, California, Hot Banana Software, Inc. is a subsidiary of the J. L. Halsey Corporation (OTCBB:JLHY - News), a leading eMarketing company that provides technology solutions for marketers at mid-size businesses. J. L. Halsey is also the parent company of Lyris Technologies, EmailLabs and ClickTracks. For more information, visit www. hotbanana. com, or call 866-296-1803.

About Connexion Corporate Communications SA

Connexion Corporate Communications is a Belgian business-to-business communications agency and Web CMS integrator that has been operating on the international market since 1987. Connexion was appointed a Hot Banana Channel Partner for Europe in 2004. Connexion Corporate Communications' clients include large high-technology corporations, such as Belgacom, Cognos, Econocom, Electrabel, Novell, SAS Institute and Tractebel; major industrial and services companies, such as Ansell Healthcare Europe, Ingersoll Rand and International Post Corporation; and aggressive, small and medium-sized enterprises, such as Grey, 4C Consulting, Boom Chicago and Xpedite.

Media Contacts:

Ken Greenberg

Edge Communications, Inc.

818/990-5001

David Terry

Vice president, marketing, Hot Banana

705/792-3880 x. 222

###

GE Healthcare Demonstrates Sync Tool™ on its Xeleris 2 Workstation -- Nuclear Cardiac Imaging Software Licensed from Syntermed

GE Healthcare Demonstrates Sync Tool™ on its Xeleris 2 Workstation -- Nuclear Cardiac Imaging Software Licensed from Syntermed

SyncTool software helps to predict which heart failure patients will benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Syntermed also unveils ReconTools™ at the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, Sept. 10-14, Boston, MA. Emory University announced it is exclusively licensing Emory Reconstruction Toolbox (ERTb) to Syntermed and the company will market ERTb software as ReconTools™. ReconTools provide reconstructed data sets that can be analyzed by many quantitative platforms including Emory Cardiac Toolbox™ (ECTb), providing an integrated, complete software solution for myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging.

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) September 12, 2008

Syntermed Inc., an exhibitor at the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) announced today GE Healthcare would be demonstrating Syntermed's SyncTool™, a new diagnostic tool for heart failure, on GE Xeleris 2 workstations. GE Healthcare is licensing SyncTool software as part of an Emory Cardiac Toolbox (ECTb) upgrade on all Xeleris 2 workstations. This software helps to predict which heart failure patients will benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).

"SyncTool is yet another important development for the diagnosis and care of heart failure patients," said Michael Lee, CEO, Syntermed, Inc. "The inclusion of SyncTool on the ECTb platform of all GE Healthcare Xeleris 2 workstations will greatly expand the diagnostic toolset for the nuclear cardiologist."

SyncTool uses multiharmonic phase analysis (MHPA), a technology developed by Emory University medical scientists Ernest Garcia, PhD, and Ji Chen, PhD and was licensed exclusively to Syntermed by Emory in June 2008. The software provides a novel automated analysis of LV function of conventional ECG-gated SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging.

"We designed this new nuclear imaging software to improve image clarity and to provide additional features and automation that should eliminate variations in interpretation and help physicians more accurately assess patients with left ventricular dyssynchrony," said Ernest V. Garcia, PhD, professor of radiology, Emory University School of Medicine. 

Garcia and Chen's research with MHPA has been reported in more than 15 journal publications. The most recent article, in the May 2008 issue of the Journal of Nuclear Cardiology, reports the benefits of using MHPA to measure left-ventricular mechanical dyssynchrony in predicting the outcome of CRT.

ReconTools ™ -- New cardiac nuclear imaging software unveiled at ASNC

Emory University announced it is exclusively licensing Emory Reconstruction Toolbox (ERTb) to Syntermed. The company will market ERTb software as ReconTools™.

This comprehensive software package performs image reconstruction, quality control, and correction for patient and physical phenomena, which degrade image quality in myocardial perfusion SPECT images. ReconTools is being introduced at the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) 2008 annual meeting in Boston, September 10-14. It runs on stand-alone PCs and easily improves processing functions on older workstations, making it ideal for labs seeking to upgrade and or refurbish their existing workstations at a cost savings. ReconTools provide reconstructed data sets that can be analyzed by many quantitative platforms. In particular, it works with the Emory Cardiac Toolbox™ (ECTb) as an integrated, complete software solution for myocardial perfusion SPECT imaging.

ReconTools feature eight functions that can be bundled together or customized as plug-and-play modules to meet customer needs. One such feature is the deconvolution approach to compensate for degraded images caused by imaging agents such as I-123 and use of low-energy collimators. This software offers state-of-the-art automatic iterative motion correction, improving image quality, speed and processing power. The software bundle also includes an automatic reorientation program and correction function that improves the quality of the attenuation maps, produces more accurate images, and aids diagnosis by reducing the number of false positives.

ReconTools was developed in collaboration with E. V. Garcia, PhD, J. Chen, PhD, and their colleagues at Emory University's nuclear medicine department and supported by a Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) grant. GRA provides grants to university researchers conducting promising collaborative research with a Georgia company that is capable of commercializing the research.

About Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT)

CRT is also referred to as "biventricular pacing." This surgical procedure benefits patients with severe heart failure (NYHA class III and IV) at a cost of about $30,000 per procedure; however, about 20-30% of the patients who have the procedure do not respond to CRT. LV dyssynchrony is an important predictor of a positive response to CRT. Dyssynchrony greatly reduces the efficiency of the ventricles in patients with heart failure, whose hearts are already damaged.

CRT devices are similar in size and shape to regular pacemakers but differ in function, send electrical signals to the ventricles to restore synchrony. Studies have shown that CRT devices can improve quality of life in heart failure patients, especially shortness of breath (dyspnea), fatigue, and exercise tolerance.

More than 5 million people in the U. S. currently have some form of heart failure, and more than 550,000 people are diagnosed annually; 300,000 deaths occur each year from heart failure. This condition develops slowly as the heart muscle weakens and results in the inability of the heart to keep an adequate supply of blood flowing through the body. Heart failure occurs when the heart has been damaged by a heart attack, long-term high blood pressure, an abnormality of the heart valves, coronary artery disease, and/or an infection such as endocarditis or myocarditis. Because the weakened heart must work harder to meet the demands of the body, in its advanced stages the disease causes people to feel tired and short-of-breath.

For more information about SyncTool and ReconTools, consult the company's website http:/./www. syntermed. com or call Ken VanTrain, President, Syntermed at 888-263-4446 x102.

About Syntermed, Inc.

Syntermed, Inc. is a privately owned, Atlanta-based nuclear medicine imaging and informatics software company established in 1999 as a spin-off of research and technology from Emory University and Georgia Tech. Syntermed transformed the nuclear imaging field by being the first to offer a PET and SPECT software program untethered from its imaging hardware. Syntermed's first product was Emory Cardiac Toolbox™ (ECTb), and today the Company has many other products that support 3-D cardiac imaging. The Syntermed Live™ system provides physicians easy access to secure high-resolution heart images, diagnostic information and archived files from any PC/MAC at any time, and even has web-based access for convenient remote reading access. Syntermed also has neurological imaging software NeuroQ™ 3.0 and EQuAL™ for advanced brain PET quantitative analysis of dementia and temporal lobe epilepsy. Syntermed's software solutions are licensed to medical imaging companies including GE Healthcare, Siemens Medical Solutions, Philips Medical Systems, McKesson Information Solutions, MedImage, Mediso, Medx, Segami, Thinking Systems, and Cardinal Health. In addition, the company's products are sold directly to diagnostic imaging centers and nuclear cardiologists. www. syntermed. com; email info(at)syntermed. com.

###

The Studios At Lion Salon For Beauty Professionals Opens In The Heart Of Hollywood

The Studios At Lion Salon For Beauty Professionals Opens In The Heart Of Hollywood

Thirty Private Studios Available to Aesthetic Health and Beauty Professionals

Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) June 15, 2009

The Studios at Lion Salon announced today the opening of Lion Salon a high concept beauty facility which is located in the trendiest spot in Los Angeles, the Sunset and Vine district. The salon will feature individually operated beauty suites for today's up and coming and well established beauty and aesthetic professionals. This salon will appeal to professionals who want to work in a space that they can call their own. Lion Salon is perfect for anyone wanting to start their own beauty business without the hassle of overhead. Lion Salon amenities include a common reception area, the ability to personalize and brand your own studio, individual temperature control in each studio with utilities included, and a convenient parking garage which offers direct access to the salon with reasonable rates. Add to this a built in high tech vacuum system in each private suite, janitorial and cleaning services in common areas, and a free listing on the Lion Salons' website as well as a link to each professional's personal website. All this for the same cost and often less than a chair rental in a beauty salon. The Studios at Lion Salon offer established professionals a place to own their own personally customized and fully enclosed suite in an aesthetically pleasing environment. Each owner can successfully operate a business without the large capital requirement and associated risk of opening a new salon.

The Lion Salon location is ideal as it is minutes away from the successful ArcLight Cinemas and directly across the street from the new W Hotel which promises to change the landscape of Hollywood in that area. Scores of young and trendy actors, directors, screenwriters and young professionals from downtown and the west side as far as Santa Monica are relocating to this hot and trendy area and Lion Salon is now in the middle of it all. It's perfect for beauty professionals and their clientele. An added benefit for stylists, make-up artists, etc. is the proximity to places such as The Kodak Theatre and ArcLight Cinemas. Lion Salon can offer day rentals for studio space for special events, premieres and award shows.

"We're thrilled to be opening Lion Salon in Hollywood and particularly at Sunset and Vine. This neighborhood is bustling with excitement and we're glad to be part of it," said Lion Salon Vice President Gene Tolegian.

For more information on The Studios at Lion Salon please go to www. lionsalon. com or contact Tas Steiner Public Relations at 323.857.6700 or tas(at)tspr-la. com

# # #

Experts Encourage Atlanta's Seniors to Ask Questions

Experts Encourage Atlanta's Seniors to Ask Questions

"Behind the Headlines: Making the Most of Your Retirement" focused on estate planning, the economy, investing and being prepared

Atlanta, GA (Vocus) March 19, 2009

On Monday, March 16, 2009 Peachtree Hills Place hosted "Behind the Headlines: Making the Most of Your Retirement," a panel discussion that addressed issues such as estate planning, asset allocation, health care management, living wills, retirement strategies and various other financial topics appealing to the 70+ age group. Atlanta's seniors turned out to listen to advice given by experts on investing, estate planning, family planning, writing wills and more. The overall theme of the discussion focused on the importance to this age group of being prepared and asking questions to make smart investments.

The discussion, held at the Atlanta History Center, featured an expert group of panelists including: Jim Hansberger, Managing Director, The Hansberger Group; John J. Geraghty, Executive Vice-President of SunTrust Bank; Henry Bowden, founder of The Bowden Law Firm; Michael A. Mohr, Managing Director of The Bank of New York Mellon in Atlanta; and Donna Barwick, Senior Director of Wealth Management for The Bank of New York Mellon.

Hansberger explained that every period has danger and opportunity and that it is up to the smart consumer to take advantage of the opportunity by asking the right questions. He believes that a lack of regulation lead to today's troubled market, but was optimistic that mistakes made in the past can be reversed.

Geraghty stated that now is the time for questions and that as investors, Atlanta's seniors must remember to approach investing unemotionally and be firm on an investment philosophy. He also reassured the audience that the market will return to normal over time.

Bowden presented audience members with several important questions to ask their estate planner and advised attendees to find an estate planner that they could trust to ask these questions.

Mohr advised attendees that need the returns on their investments within the next five years to withdraw from the stock market and invest in more dependable growth-generating assets such as municipal bonds, but to stringently evaluate any decision to be prepared for its consequences.

Barwick addressed planning for the time when seniors will no longer be able to do so themselves. According to Barwick, the best way to keep peace among family members is to have complete transparency and open communication. Seniors should designate individuals now to make choices for them once they can no longer make decisions for themselves. She also advised attendees to write down all important information and make sure that designated people know what you have and where to find it.

Peachtree Hills Place member, Emory Schwall, moderated the discussion. Schwall is an Atlanta attorney, Certified Estate Planner and Special Assistant Attorney General for the State of Georgia representing the Insurance Commission.

"Behind the Headlines: Making the Most of Your Retirement" was the second discussion in a three-part series, hosted by Peachtree Hills Place, a residential community offering a continuum of care in Buckhead for people ages 55 and older, that will discuss he issues directly affecting this demographic.

The April discussion will focus on the health risks seniors face and how to manage the cost associated with future health care. For more information, visit www. peachtreehillsplace. com] or call 404-467-4900.

Peachtree Hills Place is a residential community for people ages 55 and older seeking to live a secure, independent lifestyle with easy access to a continuum of healthcare. Peachtree Hills Place is being developed on the 23.3-acre site at the intersection of Peachtree Hills Avenue and Virginia Place, in the heart of south Buckhead, near Atlanta's best shopping, dining and cultural outlets. The new, $200 million community will include 274 independent residences, 36 skilled nursing and memory care suites, a clubhouse, fitness center, and greenhouse. Peachtree Hills Place will address the total wellness of its members, with programs and facilities in place to help members blend a satisfying life through Physical, Psychological, Social, Spiritual, Intellectual and Occupational components. When health status changes, members will have access to an on-site health center. Life Care Services, LLC, a leading management company of senior communities in the nation, will oversee management and administration of Peachtree Hills Place.

Isakson Living is Atlanta's leading developer of residential communities offering a continuum of care for adults ages 55 and older. Isakson Living upholds a personal and professional commitment to empowering members through groundbreaking wellness opportunities, concierge medicine and hands-on involvement in their communities. Isakson Living has won multiple awards for its flagship community, Park Springs in Stone Mountain, Ga., and Peachtree Hills Place in Atlanta, currently in development. For more information on Isakson Living, visit www. isaksonliving. com or call 770-559-4829.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Flammer Relations, Inc.
Amanda Winters
770-383-3360 x27
Www. FlammerPR. com

# # #

Texas A&M Study Proves Effectiveness of HydroWorx Pools

Texas A&M Study Proves Effectiveness of HydroWorx Pools

A recent Texas A&M University study shows that running on a HydroWorx underwater treadmill not only improves overall health, but can be more effective than running on traditional land-based treadmills.

Middletown, PA (PRWEB) August 15, 2007

A recent Texas A&M University study shows that running on a HydroWorx underwater treadmill not only improves overall health, but can be more effective than running on traditional land-based treadmills.

The study focused on the effectiveness of HydroWorx aquatic therapy for exercise, rehabilitation and weight loss. A team of Texas A&M University scientists compared land-based treadmill exercise to HydroWorx pool exercise in two separate experiments. The study was headed up by Stephen F. Crouse, Ph. D., FACSM and Interim Director at the Sydney and J. L. Huffines Institute for Sports Medicine and Human Performance at Texas A&M University. Thirty-two overweight adults all over 40 years of age took part in the study, which lasted three months.

A HydroWorx 1000 Series pool was utilized in the study. Among its key features are a powered variable speed underwater treadmill, adjustable water depth and resistance jets that are known to rehabilitate and condition thousands of athletes and patients throughout the world. Texas A&M owns three HydroWorx pools: the 2000 series and the Thermal and Polar Plunges. These pools are utilized by Texas A&M's Big 12 Conference football team. The University also recently purchased three more HydroWorx pools: the 1200 series and two more Plunge pools.

In two experiments, scientists studied the participants' physiological responses to exercise and overall improvement in fitness from using a HydroWorx pool vs. a land-based treadmill. The studies resulted in several important findings. The scientists discovered that HydroWorx underwater treadmill exercise burns more calories per minute than land treadmill exercise when walking or jogging at 4mph or above (jets at 50% or above). It was also found that subjects using the HydroWorx underwater treadmill gained more lean muscle mass than those using the land treadmill (jets above 50%). Subjects also lost more body fat percent using the HydroWorx pool than with the land treadmill. Four out of five subjects participating in the study preferred exercising in the HydroWorx pool over land-based treadmill running.

Results showed that the study participants improved their overall health and fitness with HydroWorx exercise, but without the joint trauma and "wear and tear" that one normally experiences working out on land, a significant finding according to the Texas A&M scientists and Dr. Crouse: "Our research results to date suggest that using HydroWorx aquatic therapy for training people who are overweight can effectively promote the loss of body fat, and may even help an overweight person increase muscle tissue. HydroWorx aquatic exercise is effective at burning calories, while at the same time is more comfortable to perform - people just like it better than conventional exercise on a land treadmill. For anyone who is overweight and considering exercise as a part of their comprehensive weight-loss program, I would highly recommend HydroWorx exercise."

About HydroWorx
HydroWorx specializes in designing, manufacturing and marketing the world's finest water therapy and conditioning equipment for the home, sports, healthcare, eldercare and fitness markets. HydroWorx has sold products in 50 states and 12 countries. Among its extensive and elite client list are: Dr. James Andrews, renowned orthopedic surgeon; Texas Longhorns; Navy Seals; Frazier Rehabilitation Institute; Manchester United; Nike; Athlete's Performance Institute; Notre Dame and Chelsea FC. For more information on HydroWorx products, the company, or for interviews with company officials, please contact Amanda Brunish at abrunish(at)hydroworx. com, or visit HydroWorx on the web at hydroworx. com

###

State Approves Plans For Kidney Transplants At Advocate Christ Medical Center

State Approves Plans For Kidney Transplants At Advocate Christ Medical Center

Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill. has become the state’s newest kidney transplant center and the first for Chicago’s south and southwest suburbs, following formal approval of the hospital’s plans today (December 1) by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board.

Springfield, Ill. (Vocus) December 2, 2009

Advocate Christ Medical Center (http://www. advocatehealth. com/christ) in Oak Lawn, Ill. has become the state’s newest kidney transplant center and the first for Chicago’s south and southwest suburbs, following formal approval of the hospital’s plans today (December 1) by the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board.

As a result of the vote, physicians at the medical center expect to begin seeing and evaluating patients as potential candidates for kidney transplantation and potential candidates for living kidney donation.

“Kidney transplantation is a much preferred alternative to life-long kidney dialysis for patients with end stage kidney disease,” Dominica Tallarico, chief operating officer for Advocate Christ Medical Center and Hope Children’s Hospital, told the state planning board. “Kidney transplantation is less costly than dialysis over the life of the patient and immeasurably improves a patient’s life. We are prepared to offer this quality option to patients in a portion of the Chicago area not now served by a kidney transplant center.”

“Christ Medical Center’s commitment to transplantation is reflected in its success as a heart transplant center and its status as a leading provider of organs and donor tissue in Illinois and Northwest Indiana,” said Deepak Mital MD FACS, director of the new kidney transplant program and lead surgeon. “The state’s approval of our role as a kidney transplant center will now encourage people to donate more organs and increase the number of transplant surgeries that can be performed.
“Establishing a kidney transplant program is a logical extension of the medical center’s extremely strong nephrology service,” he added. “We currently have 22 nephrologists on staff providing both pre - and post-transplant services.”

Kasturi Vinay Ranga MD, transplant nephrologist, said that the same risk factors responsible for heart disease cause kidney diseases. Also, an increasing number of patients are in need of heart-kidney transplants.

“It make sense that a heart transplant center offer kidney transplants as well to ensure that patients have access to a full spectrum of care in the same facility,” said

Dr. Ranga, who is the lead medical kidney transplant specialist for the medical center.

Hypertension and diabetes, primary causes of chronic kidney disease, are prevalent in the Chicago area, and the incidence of these diseases is expected to increase. Lacking a kidney transplant center closer to home, growing numbers of kidney patients from the south and southwest areas of Chicago and surrounding suburbs have had to travel long distances to obtain needed services at kidney transplant centers located primarily in and around the central portions of the city.
Development of a kidney transplant program at Christ Medical Center – the Southland’s only provider of tertiary and quaternary health care – will improve these patients’ access to transplantation services and help them avoid long commutes.

The state planning board’s approval of Christ Medical Center’s Certificate of Need for kidney transplantation follows the United Network for Organ Sharing’s designation of the medical center for kidney transplants earlier this year. UNOS is the national agency that accredits institutions for solid organ transplantation following rigorous review and analysis of the institution and personnel.
Formerly director of pancreas transplantation at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Dr. Mital has extensive clinical and research experience, providing care to more than 1,000 transplant patients in his career and serving as principal investigator in several national and international studies of immnosuppressive agents. He has published several articles on transplantation and is on the editorial board of many journals.

Before coming to Christ Medical Center, Dr. Ranga was director of the division of transplant medicine at Hartford Hospital in Connecticut, served as UNOS medical director for pancreas transplant at Hartford Hospital and held appointment as an assistant professor of nephrology at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. He has received several teaching awards and presented extensively at transplant meetings nationally and internationally.

Howard Sankary MD, professor of surgery and chief of the division of intra-abdominal transplantation at Loyola University Medical Center and a member of the Christ Medical Center staff, will provide back-up for Dr. Mital’s surgical team under an agreement between the two institutions. Dr. Mital also is a clinical professor of surgery at Loyola University Medical Center. The academic collaboration will ensure that patients at Advocate Christ Medical Center have access to the latest research and technology in renal transplantation, Dr. Mital said.

Mike Maggio
708-684-5063

Stephanie Johnson
708-684-5061

###

LetsMove. gov Website Challenges America to Tackle Childhood Obesity

LetsMove. gov Website Challenges America to Tackle Childhood Obesity

Let's Move Campaign website built in hours to support First Lady Michelle Obama’s nationwide campaign.

Woburn, MA (PRWEB) March 8, 2010

Percussion Software, provider of Web Content Management (WCM) (http://www. percussion. com/products/) software that helps organizations increase traffic, drive conversion, and improve social interaction, is proud to welcome LetsMove. gov (http://www. letsmove. gov/) to the growing family of websites powered by Percussion CM System. Let’s Move is a nationwide campaign attempting to solve the childhood obesity epidemic within one generation, spearheaded by First Lady Michelle Obama.

In February, President Obama issued a memorandum establishing a task force on childhood obesity which was followed closely by the establishment of the Partnership For A Healthier America. The partnership is an independent, nonpartisan organization acting as a catalyst to mobilize broad-based support to solve the childhood obesity challenge. Let’s Move was established to give parents the support they need, provide healthier foods in schools, encourage children to be more physically active, and increase the availability of nutritious, affordable foods.

LetsMove. gov – built in a matter of hours on Percussion CM System – promotes healthy lifestyles by bringing together community leaders, teachers, doctors, nurses, and moms and dads. The website employs interactive elements intended to engage and involve visitors:
 A Let’s Move Blog, featuring posts by Secretary of Health Kathleen Sibelius, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, US Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, and Cammie Croft, the White House’s Deputy New Media Director  A video gallery of public service announcements, press clips, and messages  Social Links to Let’s Move’s Facebook Page and YouTube channel  A Kid’s Collection of books, games, and posters related to healthy nutrition

“We’re very pleased to support this campaign to improve children’s health and we are delighted at the success of the launch,” said Joe Wykes, President of Percussion. “That HHS was able to independently build this site quickly is a testament to the speed to market that organizations can achieve with CM System, particularly with critical efforts like Let’s Move.”

Other websites in the U. S. Department of Health & Human Services powered by Percussion include HHS. gov (http://www. hhs. gov/), Flu. gov (http://www. flu. gov/), and Cancer. gov (http://www. cancer. gov/).

###

AB 405 California Decides Whether to Ban Use of Experimental Pesticides in Schools

AB 405 California Decides Whether to Ban Use of Experimental Pesticides in Schools

AB 405 will protect California public K-12 children, teachers, school workers, and community members from products where the health effects are unknown.

(PRWEB) May 4, 2005

This week, the California Legislature tackles an important, though little-known, topic: the use of experimental pesticide products in schools. Currently, no definitive data exist on products designated "experimental." Because of this, school safety advocates worry that children, teachers, and all school employees will pay the price -- with their health. Thus, this legislation is seen as vital to protecting children from becoming human test subjects.

Assembly Bill 405 [Cindy Montanez, Democrat, 39th District] prevents the use of pesticides that have not had full chemical hazard testing from being used on school sites. Montanez's bill amends the state Education Code so that school teachers and children are not exposed to experimental and/or insufficiently tested pesticides. AB 405 also prohibits using pesticide products where the registration has been cancelled, suspended, or marked to be phased out on school sites as well. AB 405 will protect California public K-12 children, teachers, school workers, and community members from products where the health effects are unknown.

"Children and teachers are not lab rats," said Robina Suwol, Executive Director of California Safe Schools, a sponsor of AB 405. "We are extremely grateful for the immediate response from Assemblywoman MontanezÂ’ office in authoring this legislation, which will protect children, teachers, staff and community members who live near school sites from exposure to what could be dangerous chemicals. It's especially shocking that these experiments are allowed to continue given the recent scandal over the CHEERS study."

CHEERS, a pesticide industry study conducted under the auspices of the federal Environmental Protection Agency, proposed paying lower income families with infants in Dade County, Florida, $970.00; families also were to receive a bib, a video camera and a certificate of appreciation. In exchange, the families agreed to allow pesticides to be used in their homes and their children to be monitored for pesticide effects. The CHEERS study was halted due to public outcry and pressure from a number of US Senators.

California law currently allows pesticides that have not been fully evaluated to be used on school sites. Historically, pesticides with only conditional registrations or experimental use permits are sold and used for years without completing the data requirements necessary to give regulators a full chemical hazard profile. This significant flaw allows chemicals with incomplete hazard assessments to be used on school sites, creating harm for students and teachers.

Pesticides contain toxic substances, many of which have a detrimental effect on human health and the environment. These effects may be most serious for children because children are more susceptible for various reasons. For example, current threshold levels of pesticide exposure and heath studies are determined using the standard of an adult male of approximately 160 pounds; children clearly fall well below this standard, and as a result the effects may be more significant.

The vote is expected to take place Thursday, May 5.

# # #

FITNESS ATHLETE HAS LIFE AFTER 30 !

FITNESS ATHLETE HAS LIFE AFTER 30 !

(PRWEB) July 25, 2000

St. Petersburg, Florida, 07/21/00—With his 40th birthday a mere four weeks away, fitness athlete Ed Emlaw, a Professional Fitness Coach with 25 years in the health and fitness field, has broken yet new ground in his personal quest to "win at life"! Having gone through a culmination of personal difficulties in 1998, Ed realized that at 38 years of age, he was facing a crucial crossroads of life, and made a commitment to reorganize himself by formulating and implementing his own personal improvement plan. The first step was a fitness program that would create the environment needed to be able to resurrect the discipline it would take not only to get back into mental and physical shape, but to attain the highest level of personal performance and accomplishment in all that he did. The supreme variable that needed to be mastered was will and desire. Without these foundations for success energized at an all-time high, Ed knew he would never be able to accomplish the ambitious goals for success that he had set before him.

Being victorious in October of 1999, by capturing an overall win in the NABF Natural Mr. Florida Masters Bodybuilding Championships, Ed set higher goals to train for the Florida Sunshine-State Track and Field Championships in 2000. Held July 9th in Gainesville, Florida, Ed competed in the mens 35-39 age group 100 meter sprint. Surrounded by veteran track athletes, Ed, who until this time had never competed in a track event, took a close third place finish and a bronze medal. This qualified him to represent Florida in the upcoming national championships in 2001 being held in St. Louis, MO. This win helped bring together his goal of creating a marketable fitness athlete image, and showing people of all ages, that will, desire and dedication can make dreams come true! Along the way, Ed created and has a patent pending on a simple and effective Personal Rehabilitative Stretching Tool, named Solo-Stretch™, that allows the user to have full control over increasing the flexibility and vitality of the lower back, hips, legs and calves. National sales of Solo-Stretch™ are expected to skyrocket, and a website devoted to this innovation, www. solo - stretch. com, explains the importance of personal flexibility, health, and motivation. You can contact Ed Emlaw, a U. S. Army veteran, at 727-347-9450 or www. solo-stretch. com for interviews or information as a motivational guest speaker and for professional fitness coaching as well.

Smoke Detector Batteries and Insurance Policies Go Hand in Hand

Smoke Detector Batteries and Insurance Policies Go Hand in Hand.

It's that time of year again and there are two things you can do that could save lives or make a difference in the quality of life you live.

(PRWEB) November 29, 2004

Auto-rv-life-health-insurance. com recommends that changing the batteries in your smoke detectors reestablishes the benefit of the device for protection against a critical home fire. Dead or missing batteries are the most common element for a non-working smoke detector. Your risk of dying in a tragic home fire is cut by 50% when you have correctly operating smoke detectors. It is estimated that many of the 3,800 deaths and 60,000 to 100,000 injuries caused by home fires are contributed to non-working smoke detectors.

The easy and simple task of changing the smoke detector batteries once a year is the most effective way to reduce these related tragic injuries and deaths.

In addition to changing smoke detector batteries, http://auto-rv-life-health-insurance. com (http://auto-rv-life-health-insurance. com) recommends you review all of your insurance policies at the same time.

Home insurance policy: If your home has substantially increased in value, talk to your insurance agent and ask him if the existing policy covers the new replacement cost of your home or do you need to increase your policy. If you need to increase your policy, get a quote from your current provider, then get another quote from a different provider to compare cost. Sometimes, you will be surprised at the difference.

Auto insurance policy: Insuring a new vehicle and insuring a used vehicle is a big difference. Most of the time, people find themselves paying the same amount of money for auto insurance as three years ago when the vehicle was new. The fact is, the replacement cost of the new vehicle is a lot higher than the replacement cost of the same vehicle that is three years old. Taking a few minutes to get a new auto quote can save you considerable money. Remember, auto insurance companies are highly competitive and want your business.

Boat insurance and RV insurance policies: The same holds true as with the auto insurance. Ask yourself some simple questions. Do I still need the insurance coverage? Do I need to increase the insurance coverage? Do I need to shop around and compare prices?

Life insurance policy:

A quick review of your life insurance needs should not only be a part of your long-term financial plan but should also give you the peace of mind that your loved ones won't have the burden of expensive funeral and burial costs. Tremendous value can be placed on a life insurance policy at this time in our lives. It's never to late to get a life insurance quote.

Health insurance policy: Medical care costs can devastate your financial well-being if not properly insured. The complex and constantly changing health insurance system is why reviewing your health insurance needs should be a top priority every year.

Http://auto-rv-life-health-insurance. com (http://auto-rv-life-health-insurance. com) is pleased to announce they can assist you with your insurance questions and help with the search for insurance quotes.

# # #

New Jersey IT Services Firm, Exigent Technologies, Becomes gloStream Certified Partner

New Jersey IT Services Firm, Exigent Technologies, Becomes gloStream Certified Partner

Exigent Technologies is now qualified to sell and support gloStream electronic medical record (EMR), electronic prescribing and practice management software solutions.

Mt. Arlington, NJ (PRWEB) June 20, 2009

Exigent Technologies, a leading provider of IT services serving New Jersey and New York City, announced today that it has become a gloStream Certified Partner (http://www. exigent. net/home/). Exigent Technologies has been awarded this certification because they have demonstrated the IT proficiency and capability to sell and support gloStream's voice-enabled, Microsoft Office embedded electronic medical record (EMR) software and practice management solutions to physician practices.

"Use of electronic medical records is fast becoming the expected manner in which to operate a medical practice," said Dan Haurey, Exigent's President and CEO. "The opportunity for physicians to offer improved patient care while simultaneously improving productivity for their staff is tremendous."

Additionally, the passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) includes more than $19 billion to aid the development of technology infrastructure for healthcare. This will assist providers in adopting and using healthcare technology. The ARRA also makes available up to $44,000 to $64,000 for individual physicians.

The gloStream partner program offers Exigent Technologies access to sales, marketing and support tools, special trainings and a variety of other exclusive programs. Exigent Technologies will use these tools to enhance its brand recognition and increase its footprint within the healthcare community, while providing valuable local support to the physicians they serve.

"We're thrilled to have Exigent Technologies on board as a gloStream partner," said John Bamberger, gloStream's Chief Channel Officer. "Their understanding of technology and advanced networking will help medical professionals within New Jersey and New York realize the tremendous benefits of electronic medical record technology."

Dan Haurey continued "We've been providing IT support services for physicians in New Jersey and Manhattan for several years. With the recent stimulus legislation providing substantial incentives for physicians to adopt electronic medical records software, it made perfect sense for us to partner up with a solid EMR software vendor. We chose gloStream due to their partner-centric delivery model. With gloStream, sales and support are delivered by a local, trusted vendor like Exigent."

About Exigent Technologies:
Exigent Technologies LLC is a full-service information technology consulting firm that implements and maintains high-performance IT systems for small and medium-sized organizations in a wide range of industries (http://www. Exigent. net). Established in 1997, Exigent brings proven experience and expertise to every engagement. They differentiate themselves through a consistent emphasis on integrity, responsiveness and value-added service. For more information visit www. Exigent. net.

About gloStream:
GloStream provides physicians and healthcare facilities with certified electronic medical record software and practice management solutions delivered and supported through a nationwide network of local technology partners. gloStream solutions are secure, easy-to-use applications and the only ones on the market embedded with Microsoft Office. Using familiar tools, a simple user interface, robust voice recognition technology, and single-click access to all patient data, gloStream products help doctors improve patient care by streamlining workflow and creating efficiencies in office administration. For more information visit www. gloStream. com.

###

Global Super-Absorbent Polymers Market to Reach 1.9 Million Metric Tons by 2015, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc

Global Super-Absorbent Polymers Market to Reach 1.9 Million Metric Tons by 2015, According to New Report by Global Industry Analysts, Inc.

GIA announces the release of a comprehensive global report on Super-Absorbent Polymers market. The global market for super-absorbent polymers is projected to reach 1.9 million metric tons by the year 2015, led by increasing demand from developing markets and new applications.

San Jose, California (Vocus) June 1, 2010

Super-absorbent polymers (SAP) are unique functional polymers, which are capable of absorbing fluids up to several hundred times their weight. A rapidly aging population and growing health awareness among consumers comprise key macro economic factors contributing towards higher demand for SAP products. Rising demand for hygiene products and disposable diapers is a major contributor to the high demand for SAP as a raw material. Technological advancements associated with SAP are also expected to facilitate expansion of end-use applications. In particular, biodegradable SAP is expected to have a profound impact on the future market growth.

Europe and the United States dominate the global SAP market with over 59% share of volume sales, as stated by the new market research report on Super-Absorbent Polymers market. Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Latin America offer the maximum growth opportunities for the SAP market. Although the global financial crisis and subsequent decline in consumer spending affected the demand for SAP-based products, the market is expected to recover owing to resurgent demand from emerging economies of China, India and Brazil. Developing nations from Eastern Europe, Latin America, Asia, and the Middle East are likely to be the growth engines for SAP use in hygiene products. In Asia-Pacific, the consumption of SAP in disposable diapers is projected to reach 216.3 thousand metric tons by 2012.

Increasing consumer focus on sustainable products is contributing to the growing popularity of bio-based super-absorbent polymers. Apart from offering an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative to various non-renewable petroleum-based materials, bio-based super-absorbent polymers exhibit high levels of efficiency in absorbency and moisture retention. Consequently, bio-based SAPs are increasingly finding use in personal hygiene applications such as baby diapers, feminine hygiene and adult incontinence. In addition, bio-based products are also being used for food packaging and industrial applications. Cellulose, starch, chitin, and natural gums (guar, alginates and xanthan) are among the most significant polysaccharides. However, high-cost and low-performance characteristics, when compared to synthetic polymers, are major drawbacks for the adoption of natural SAP.

The global SAP market is predominated by the presence of Japanese producers, in terms of production. Nippon Shokubai SAP, with production facilities in Japan, China, Europe and the US, leads the global market, in terms of production capacity. Major players profiled in the report include BASF SE, Evonik Degussa GmbH, LG Chem Ltd., Nippon Shokubai Co., Ltd., Sanyo Chemical Industries, Ltd., and Sumitomo Seika Chemicals Company Limited.

The report titled “Super-Absorbent Polymers: A Global Strategic Business Report” announced by Global Industry Analysts, Inc., provides a comprehensive review of market trends, competitive scenario, product introductions/innovations, and recent industry activity. The study analyzes market data and analytics in terms of value sales for regions including The United States, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and Middle East. The global and regional SAP markets are analyzed by end-use segments, namely Disposable Diapers, Adult Incontinence Pads, Feminine Hygiene Products, and Miscellaneous Applications.

For more details about this comprehensive market research report, please visit –
Http://www. strategyr. com/Super_Absorbent_Polymers_Market_Report. asp

About Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (GIA) is a reputed publisher of off-the-shelf market research. Founded in 1987, the company is globally recognized as one of the world’s largest market research publishers. The company employs over 800 people worldwide and publishes more than 1100 full-scale research reports each year. Additionally, the company also offers thousands of smaller research products including company reports, market trend reports, and industry reports encompassing all major industries worldwide.

Global Industry Analysts, Inc.
Telephone 408-528-9966
Fax 408-528-9977
Email press(at)StrategyR(dot)com
Web Site http://www. StrategyR. com/

# # #

Two New Phytochemicals with Anti-Inflammatory Activity Found in Noni Fruit

Two New Phytochemicals with Anti-Inflammatory Activity Found in Noni Fruit

New Compounds Isolated Were Previously Unknown to the World

Provo, Utah (Vocus) April 21, 2010

Tahitian Noni International announced that two new phytochemicals have now been identified in noni fruit from Tahiti that were previously unknown to the world. In a peer-reviewed study published by the prestigious Journal of Natural Products, TNI’s Research and Development team of Shixin Deng, Afa Palu, Brett West, Chen Su, and Bing Nan Zhou reported that two completely new compounds, as well as seven other known compounds isolated in the study, exhibited good anti-inflammatory effects. Besides the two new compounds, three of the seven known compounds were isolated for the first time in the noni fruit.

Noni fruit from Tahiti is the basis for Tahitian Noni® Bioactive Beverages™, the world-wide leader in bioactive beverages. “For years, people have been drinking Tahitian Noni® Original for its healthful benefits,” stated Brett West, director of Noni Benefits Research. “We are now beginning to isolate the specific compounds within the juice that are responsible for those benefits. We have also isolated two new compounds that are not found anywhere else in the world.” The two new compounds identified have been given the names Tahitianin A and Tahitianin B by their discoverers.

With the largest noni research center in the world, Tahitian Noni International is committed to investigating, isolating, and documenting the benefits of the noni fruit from Tahiti. There are over 150 bioactive compounds that have now been isolated in the noni fruit, including 12 unique iridoids. Iridoids have been studied by scientists for over 50 years and have been linked to over two dozen real health benefits. The 14 human clinical studies have proven the efficacy of Tahitian Noni bioactive beverages.

About the Company
Tahitian Noni International is a global, research-driven bioactive products (http://products. tni. com/united_states/english/nonistore/v9index. html) company that was the first to introduce the health benefits of the noni (http://research. tni. com/united_states/english/research/difference. html) plant—a bioactive-rich, adaptogenic plant, containing iridoid compounds—to the world outside of Tahiti. Tahitian Noni International is the leader in the discovery, development, manufacturing, and marketing of noni-based bioactive products including beverages, beauty, and weight loss lines. Tahitian Noni International has a presence in over 70 markets worldwide, and is the world-wide leader in bioactive beverages.

###

McCABE ANNOUNCES WEB-BASED PROCESS MANAGEMENT SOLUTION

McCABE ANNOUNCES WEB-BASED PROCESS MANAGEMENT SOLUTION

TRUEtrack 3.0 Enables Dynamic Defect Tracking and Reporting Across Platforms and the Internet

WARWICK, RI (PRWEB) September 2, 2004

McCabe & Associates Inc., a leading provider of Configuration Management and Software Quality Management solutions worldwide, announces the availability of TRUEtrack 3.0. The release of TRUEtrack 3.0 continues McCabeÂ’s major initiative, which started with the release of TRUEchange 3.0, providing comprehensive Configuration Management solutions that benefit from lower total costs of ownership.

TRUEtrack 3.0 is a highly-customizable, defect tracking and reporting solution, empowering worldwide process management via the Internet. With minimal administrative overhead, organizations map their existing workflow process to manage change across the development enterprise, helping increase visibility and accountability throughout the application development lifecycle.

TRUEtrack integrates seamlessly with McCabeÂ’s flagship CM solution, TRUEchange, delivering automatic documentation of changes, without relying on external discipline and processes. TRUEtrackÂ’s automated escalation and notification services, task management, and comprehensive reporting, support and enhance any development workflow process.

TRUEtrack enhances internal communications, providing global access to all information related to change requests. This single point of access is used enterprise-wide, enhancing cross-functional communications and keeping problems from “falling through the cracks.”

TRUEtrackÂ’s centralized deployment, whether by LAN or Internet, ensures everyone is using the latest version without deploying at each desktop. This is especially beneficial to distributed teams.

About McCabe & Associates, Inc.

McCabe & Associates is the leading provider of Configuration Management and Software Quality Management solutions worldwide to top commercial software, finance, defense, healthcare, and telecommunication providers. Our TRUEchange line of SCM solutions helps organizations manage changes faster and more efficiently to ensure quality throughout the Application Lifecycle. McCabeÂ’s IQ suite of tools has been used to analyze the quality and test coverage of over 100 billion lines of code, utilizing a comprehensive set of advanced software metrics including the McCabe-authored Cyclomatic Complexity metric. McCabeÂ’s IQ tools are the standard upon which mission, life and business critical applications are measured. McCabe & Associates has offices in the United States, Great Britain and Australia and distributes its products worldwide and can be found on the web at www. mccabe. com.

###

Jackson Tragedy May Serve to Educate Public on Addiction, Says American Society of Addiction Medicine

Jackson Tragedy May Serve to Educate Public on Addiction, Says American Society of Addiction Medicine

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), the tragedy of Michael Jackson's untimely passing, whether or not his death is ultimately attributed to drugs or addiction, may help stimulate a public dialogue about the nature of addiction, its treatment, and how those affected by this disease and their families can get the best addiction care available. Addiction to alcohol, tobacco, prescription and other drugs, and addiction treatment, are often misunderstood or stigmatized, as are those with addictions. ASAM is the nation's leading professional society of physicians involved in addiction prevention, treatment, research, education, and public policy.

Chevy Chase, MD (PRWEB) July 22, 2009

Media reports on the death of "The King of Pop," Michael Jackson, have included speculation about Mr. Jackson's use of prescription drugs, the potential role of health care professionals in his life and death, and the possibility that addiction may have contributed to his premature demise.

According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), the tragedy of Mr. Jackson's untimely passing, whether or not his death is ultimately attributed to drugs or addiction, may help stimulate a public dialogue about the nature of addiction, its treatment, and how those affected by this disease and their families can get the best addiction care available. ASAM is the nation's leading professional society of physicians involved in addiction prevention, treatment, research, education, and public policy.

"We have an obligation to educate the public about the nature of addiction and addiction treatment, and the news media has an obligation to accurately report on it," said Louis E. Baxter, Sr., MD, FASAM, President and Board Chair, American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) and Executive Medical Director, Professional Assistance Program of New Jersey, Inc., Princeton, NJ. "We want to help the public understand addiction, and make sure that those with addictions know how to get the most effective, evidence-based help available."

Addiction to alcohol, tobacco, prescription and other drugs, and addiction treatment, are often misunderstood or stigmatized, as are those with addictions. Research and experience have shown that addiction is a chronic disease that may run the course of a lifetime, and those with addictions may experience relapses and remissions. A disease of the brain, addiction is also influenced by genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors. Addiction is characterized by: significant time spent using or obtaining a drug that interferes with one's ability to meet obligations; continued drug use despite one's awareness that it is causing or worsening a medical or psychological condition; drug use in larger amounts or over longer periods of time than were planned by the user; and the physiological processes of tolerance and withdrawal.

"It is important to remember that the diagnosis of addiction requires an examination by a qualified addiction professional, such as a physician certified in addiction medicine," said Michael M. Miller, MD, FASAM, FAPA, Immediate Past President, ASAM and Medical Director, NewStart Program, Meriter Hospital, Madison, WI. "Once diagnosed, addiction should be treated using scientifically proven methods, with an intensity and duration of treatment sufficient to address each individual patient's condition."

"Unfortunately, not all services offered to persons with addictions are evidence-based or effective," said Dr. Miller. "But there are health care professionals, including physicians board-certified by the American Board of Addiction Medicine, and other members of the American Society of Addiction Medicine, who understand addiction, are trained to make an appropriate diagnosis, and can provide appropriate treatment."

When administered properly, addiction treatment is as effective as the treatment of many other chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and asthma. Treating addiction appropriately yields excellent outcomes with recovery rates reported as high as 70% at one year. Care should be individualized for each patient, based on the nature of his or her addictive disorder and other physical and mental health conditions.

Addiction treatment, which sometimes includes detoxification services as a first step, involves patient education about the disease and the development of techniques to avoid relapse. It also frequently includes a physician's prescription of FDA-approved medications that block craving or the drug's pleasurable effects to directly address the addiction process. Counseling and medical management continue for weeks, months, or even years to address the patient's relapse potential.

"Addiction treatment saves lives," said Dr. Baxter. "When someone loses his or her life as a result of substance use or addiction, it is a tragedy to be mourned. ASAM and its members continue to strive to reduce and eliminate such deaths through timely identification and treatment of addiction and improved education for our fellow physicians and other health professionals."

Misuse of and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing national problem. Overdoses of prescription drugs can occur accidentally or intentionally, and interaction among alcohol, other sedative agents, and various prescription drugs can contribute to catastrophic outcomes. ASAM supports additional research on the extent of prescription drug addiction and overdose deaths, the factors leading to the current epidemic of prescription drug misuse and addiction, and specific clinical and policy strategies to minimize death and illness from prescription drug misuse.

For more information on the American Society of Addiction Medicine, please visit http://www. asam. org (http://www. asam. org).

###

IQMax Featured on Microsoft Health Blog

IQMax Featured on Microsoft Health Blog

IQMax is pleased to announce that it has been chosen to participate in Microsoft's "House Calls for Healthcare Professionals" program hosted by Dr. Bill Crounse, global healthcare director at Microsoft. On the program, Paul Adkison, the CEO and Founder of IQMax, discussed with Dr. Crounse how IQMax's mobile healthcare solutions can benefit healthcare professionals and improve their daily workflow by connecting them with clinical information at the point of care anytime, anywhere.

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) April 18, 2008

IQMax is pleased to announce that it has been chosen to participate in Microsoft's "House Calls for Healthcare Professionals" program hosted by Dr. Bill Crounse, global healthcare director at Microsoft. On the program, Paul Adkison, the CEO and Founder of IQMax, discussed with Dr. Crounse how IQMax's mobile healthcare solutions can benefit healthcare professionals and improve their daily workflow by connecting them with clinical information at the point of care anytime, anywhere. IQMax's mobile solutions are entirely built utilizing Microsoft products, using the Microsoft. NET Framework and supporting Microsoft SQL Server and Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) technology, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Windows Mobile.

IQMax's solutions include IQRounds for mobile access to clinical information, IQCharge for capture of billable charges, and IQSpeak for the dictation and documentation of patient encounters. Together, these solutions provide caregivers with a powerful set of workflow tools that allow caregivers to render better patient care and reduce medical errors in any healthcare setting. IQMax's mobile healthcare solutions enable healthcare providers to render care in any setting, whether acute or ambulatory, to providers of any size. IQMax can deliver its solutions as software-as-a-service (SaaS), hosted by IQMax, with minimal upfront capital costs required by the provider, or as an on-premise installed solution with IQEnterprise. IQMax has extensive experience in integrating with disparate back end clinical information systems. To date, the company has interfaced with over 50 diverse systems including those from leading healthcare organizations.

"IQMax is pleased to work with Microsoft in providing the healthcare community with innovative mobile solutions that improve patient care, enhance physician productivity and streamline the process of rendering care," said Paul Adkison, CEO and Founder of IQMax.

"Physicians require powerful tools that provide them with the right information at the right time, and that are flexible enough to fit their daily schedules, whether rendering care at the hospital, clinic or anywhere in between," said Chris Sullivan, U. S. health industry solutions director, Microsoft Corp. "IQMax is working with Microsoft to deliver innovative solutions built on Microsoft's familiar, easy-to-use and widely supported platform to empower physicians to deliver better quality care to their patients."

To view the interview with Dr. Crounse and Paul Adkison, CEO and Founder of IQMax, visit Dr. Crounse's Health Blog at http://blogs. msdn. com/healthblog/ (http://blogs. msdn. com/healthblog/).

# # #

QualityBeddingStore. com Announces Debut of Company Blog

QualityBeddingStore. com Announces Debut of Company Blog

A site dedicated to comforters, duvet covers, memory foam pads, and linens has recently launched an informational blog, which will provide posts concerning both their products and bedding in general.

Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada (PRWEB) November 1, 2008

QualityBeddingStore. com sells a variety of bedding options such as comforters, linens, memory foam pads, and duvet covers. Providing an informational venue for their customers, the site recently launched a company blog, located at www. DuvetComforterBedding. com.

QualityBeddingStore. com was founded by Ron Kukko in December 2007. Since, the site has been steadily accruing its inventory of various bedding products.

"Our site offers a lot of variety," said Kukko. "In that way, we're really a one-stop shop. Now you can get your memory foam pad from the same place you can get your comforter."

The blog, which debuted in September 2008, will contain a series of informational posts, all of which are related to various issues about bedding.

"The blog will be a great place for people to learn what makes bedding high quality," said Kukko. "There are a lot of little things, like thread count, that people might ignore. But they make a big difference in the quality of product you're purchasing."

Posts will also discuss how high quality bedding is more than just a matter of luxury or comfort. There are also some very serious benefits associated with certain types of bedding.

"The right kind of bedding can alleviate all kinds of health problems," said Kukko. "The right sheets can help with allergies, and memory foam pads can provide relief from sleep apnea and back pain. Your bedding is definitely an important part of a good night's rest."

While the blog discusses the facts of the available products, Kukko is quick to point out the value of his inventory.

"I sell quality products at quality prices," said Kukko. "And I'm always looking for better prices, so that I can pass that along to my customers. It's my belief that you don't have to gouge people to make money."

If you would like more information about the bedding options provided by this site, please visit www. QualityBeddingStore. com.

About R. O.Kukko Ltd.

QualityBeddingStore. com launched in December 2007 and was founded by Ron Kukko. Carrying a diverse inventory related to the bedding industry, the site has recently added a company blog that will address the informational end of the business.

Ron Kukko
Www. QualityBeddingStore. com
(807) 624-6700

IePlexus, Inc.
Www. iePlexus. com

# # #