Monthly Archives: June 2012

Eating Local 101

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Durham, NC - Andrea Munson speared a blueberry with a toothpick, popped the berry in her mouth, then selected another blueberry from a different bowl.

"Oh," said Munson as she savored the second berry, "these must be the local ones."

She was right.

"Local berries pack a lot of flavor because they are picked at their peak," said Cate Smith, executive chef for Duke Integrative Medicine and Duke Diet and Fitness Center.

The blueberry taste test was part of a "Buy Local, Buy Green" seminar sponsored by DukeWell, Duke's health improvement program. The free, 90-minute seminar at Duke Integrative Medicine in June offered tips on how to eat locally and covered the environmental and health advantages of a local diet.

Smith said the Triangle area is rich in options for buying local food with farmers markets, community sponsored agriculture, roadside farm stands and grocery stores that stock produce from local farms. She said she considers food "local" if it makes it to market in less than six hours. That's faster than most grocery store produce, which ripens for a week or more in transit while travelling an average of 2,000 miles from field to shelf, she said.

"Buying local is great for the local economy and for reducing your carbon footprint, but for me, the most compelling reason to buy local is flavor and freshness," Smith said. "You just can't get that from food that has been trucked across the country."

Smith also likes the educational aspect of getting food from local farmers. She encouraged buyers to ask farmers about use of pesticides, genetically modified seeds and water supply sources.

"Fruits and vegetables are living, breathing things that soak up whatever is around them in their environment," Smith said. "If you meet the person you are buying food from, you can ask questions about how and where it was grown."

Shoppers can expect to pay slightly more for local food, since most of it is not produced in bulk, she said. But, she added, smart shoppers can find a bargain by following these tips:

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Eating Local 101

The Expanding Role of Integrative Medicine in Cancer Treatment

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Newswise MUNICHCancer is an insidious disease that often finds ways to defeat the most advanced treatments. As a result, the scientific and medical communities have become increasingly aware that a multi-pronged approach is the best way to beat cancer. On June 16-17, at the Second International Congress on Complementary Oncology in Munich, Germany, integrative medicine pioneer Isaac Eliaz, M.D. joined leading experts in the field of complementary oncology. During his visit, he shared research advancements demonstrating how integrative therapies can boost our abilities against cancer.

It was a privilege to speak to such a receptive audience at the Germany International Congress on Complementary Oncology. This conference provides a wonderful opportunity to share important information on integrative treatments and learn about new strategies to defeat cancer, says Dr. Eliaz. Having the opportunity to give two separate presentations on each day of the congress allowed me to cover a wider array of important topics.

First Presentation In his first presentation, delivered on June 16, Dr. Eliaz outlined the case against Galectin-3, a protein that has been widely implicated in cancer, heart disease and other conditions. The presentation, Galectin-3 and the Role of Modified Citrus Pectin in Cancer and Beyond, unraveled the biology of Galectin-3 and why its overabundance can so dramatically contribute to disease. Galectin-3 is a culprit biomarker that promotes metastasis and has additional value in predicting the outcome of diseasethe more Galectin-3 in the body, the lower the overall survival rates. A new FDA approved blood test can easily measure Galectin-3 levels in the blood, serving as an important tool in determining risk and prognosis of numerous diseases related to elevated Galectin-3. In cancer, Galectin-3 plays a role in cell to cell adhesion, cancer cell aggregation, tumor growth, metastasis, angiogenesis and the inhibition of programmed cell death (apoptosis) -- a veritable perfect storm of conditions for the advancement of cancer.

Derived from citrus peels, Modified Citrus Pectin (MCP) is a powerful Galectin-3 antagonist. Dr. Eliaz presented research on how MCP binds to Galectin-3 and blocks cancer cell aggregation, as well as interactions that cause angiogenesis (growth of new blood vessels to the tumor) and metastasis. In addition, MCP complements chemotherapy, protects against radiation damage, and enhances the immune system.

Study after study has demonstrated that elevated Galectin-3 levels in the body fuel the formation and progression of cancer and other chronic diseases, says Dr. Eliaz. Modified Citrus Pectin is thus earning an important reputation among doctors and researchers as a powerful natural Galectin-3 inhibitor.

Second Presentation The next day, Dr. Eliaz presented Integrative Approaches to Prostate Cancer, during which he outlined a wide array of diagnostic tests to detect prostate cancer early, before it can spread. He went on to discuss how MCP, medicinal mushrooms, honokiol (derived from magnolia bark), specific botanicals and other natural agents can bolster the immune system against prostate cancer, support hormone balance and, in some cases, act directly against the disease. Dr. Eliaz presented studies which showed how MCP and other natural compounds suppressed invasive prostate cancers. In this lecture, Dr. Eliaz also presented a comprehensive model of the ongoing dialogue between health and disease. He demonstrated how mind-body medicine can be integrated into such a model, resulting in profound health benefits for the patient on all levels.

Complementary cancer therapies, like all cancer treatments, must be part of a comprehensive, multi-layered approach against cancer, says Dr. Eliaz. As new data demonstrates the ability of botanical formulas and natural compounds to target specific features of aggressive cancer, we must do more to integrate these agents into highly strategic treatment protocols.

As a pioneer in integrative medicine, Dr. Eliaz has been treating cancer and chronically ill patients for more than 25 years, drawing on his extensive training in a diverse range of medical systems. By integrating Western and complementary protocols, botanical and nutritional therapies, mind-body medicine and multiple healing modalities, Dr. Eliaz specializes in individualized care that is unique to each patients preferences and needs.

About Better Health Publishing: Better Health Publishing (BHP) focuses on the publication of key works promoting health and wellness. BHP believes that education and accessible information are the core components of a healthy and sustainable society.

For Media Questions/Interviews with Dr. Isaac Eliaz, Contact: Better Health Publishing info@betterhealthpublishing.com (707) 583-8619

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The Expanding Role of Integrative Medicine in Cancer Treatment

The H5N1 bird flu virus could change into a form able to spread rapidly between humans, scientists have warned.

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The H5N1 bird flu virus could change into a form able to spread rapidly between humans, scientists have warned.

Researchers have identified five genetic changes that could allow the virus to start a deadly pandemic.

Writing in the journal Science, they say it would be theoretically possible for these changes to occur in nature.

A US agency has tried unsuccessfully to ban publication of parts of the research fearing it could be used by terrorists to create a bioweapon.

According to Prof Ron Fouchier from the Erasmus Medical Centre in the Netherlands, who led the research, publication of the work in full will give the wider scientific community the best possible chance to combat future flu pandemics.

"We hope to learn which viruses can cause pandemics and by knowing that we might be able to prevent them by enforcing strict eradication programmes," he told BBC News.

He added that his work might also speed the development of vaccines and anti-viral drugs against a lethal form of bird flu that could spread rapidly among people.

The H5N1 virus has been responsible for the deaths of tens of millions of birds and has led to hundreds of millions more being slaughtered to stop its spread.

The virus is also deadly to humans but can only be transmitted by close contact with infected birds.

Coughs and sneezes

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The H5N1 bird flu virus could change into a form able to spread rapidly between humans, scientists have warned.

Research and Markets: Translational Regenerative Medicine – Oncology, CNS and Cardiovascular-Rich Pipeline Features …

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/skdhnn/translational_rege) has announced the addition of the "Translational Regenerative Medicine - Oncology, CNS and Cardiovascular-Rich Pipeline Features Innovative Stem Cell and Gene Therapy Applications" report to their offering.

More Guidelines Needed to Grow Regenerative Medicine Market, Report Finds

Standardized research guidelines are needed to control and encourage the development of gene therapy and stem cell treatments, according to a new report by healthcare experts GBI Research.

The new report* shows how regenerative medicine is seen as an area with high future potential, as countries need ways to cope with the burden of an aging population.

The stem cell market alone is predicted to grow to around $5.1 billion by 2014, while gene therapy has also shown promise despite poor understanding of some areas of regenerative medicine and a lack of major approvals (the only approvals to date being made in Asia).

Up until now, securing research within clinics has been difficult, with a high number of failures and discontinuations throughout all phases of clinical study. Stem cell therapy uses bone marrow transplants as an established treatment method, but the development of the therapy into further applications and has not yet become common practice.

Similarly, tissue engineering has been successful in the areas of skin and bone grafts, but translation into more complex therapies has been an issue for researchers. Although scientific possibilities are ever-increasing, the true potential of regenerative medicine has yet to be demonstrated fully.

A desire to discover new and innovative technologies has encouraged governments in the UK and Singapore to focus directly on regenerative medicine as a future potential economy booster.

Companies Mentioned:

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Research and Markets: Translational Regenerative Medicine - Oncology, CNS and Cardiovascular-Rich Pipeline Features ...

Chemistry between old flames Daisy Lowe and Matt Smith at Hackney Weekend

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The pair, who split just before Christmas, bumped into each other at Radio 1's Hackney Weekend music event on Saturday and enjoyed a romantic cuddle, with Matt even squeezing his ex's bum, leading onlookers to speculate they may have secretly reconciled.

A source said: "Matt was trying to disguise himself by wearing his hood up as he hobnobbed backstage. But when Daisy came over he didn't seem to care who was watching.

"His eyes just lit up and they were locked into deep conversation - hugging each other all the time. At one point he gave her bum a big squeeze. If they're not together any more then they have a funny way of showing it."

Friends of the Doctor Who star say he is still in love with the 23-year-old model, who he has been spotted with a few times since their split, and would jump at the chance to reconcile with her.

A pal said: "Matt adores Daisy. He has been obsessed with her for years, so it's no surprise that he's still in love with her."

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Chemistry between old flames Daisy Lowe and Matt Smith at Hackney Weekend

Myriant Expands Scientific Advisory Board with the Addition of Notable Chemistry Expert, Professor John F. Hartwig, Ph …

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QUINCY, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Myriant Corporation announced today the addition of Dr. John F. Hartwig to its Scientific Advisory Board. Dr. Hartwig, a globally renowned professor, lecturer and researcher in the field of organic chemistry, currently serves as The Henry Rapoport Chair in Organic Chemistry for the University of California at Berkeley and, as a Senior Faculty Scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California.

Dr. Hartwigs research is primarily focused on the areas of areas of organic and inorganic chemistry, and organometallics. His research centers on the discovery and understanding of new reactions of organic compounds catalyzed by transition metal complexes. These findings result from a combination of organic synthesis, organometallic synthesis and mechanistic analysis of catalytic systems.

Its an honor to welcome Dr. Hartwig to Myriants Scientific Advisory Board, said Stephen J. Gatto, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Myriant. As a recognized thought leader in the research and discovery of novel compounds and bio-catalysts, Dr. Hartwigs insights and guidance will be most valuable as Myriant continues to advance its pipeline of bio-based chemicals. His primary knowledge of metal chemistry and its practical application in catalytic synthetic methods will greatly complement the exceptional skills and talents of the current members of our Scientific Advisory Board.

Dr. Hartwig possesses nearly two decades of successful professorship in the area of chemistry. Previously, he served as the Kenneth L. Reinhart Jr. Professor of Chemistry at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Additionally, Dr. Hartwig spent more than a decade as a Professor of Chemistry at Yale University, ultimately serving as the Irne P. duPont Professor of Chemistry.

Dr. Hartwig graduated with high honors from Princeton University with a B.A. in Chemistry. He received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Hartwig also served as an American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Associate at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Dr. Hartwig is the recipient of more than 25 notable industry and academic awards for his work including most recently being elected to the National Academy of Sciences in 2012, receiving the GlaxoSmithKline Scholars Award, the National Institutes of Health MERIT Award and Mitsui Chemicals Catalysis Science Award. He currently serves as a Council Delegate for Chemistry Section of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and is a member of the Editorial Advisory Board for CHEMCATCHEM. He also provides extensive article reviewing for journals such as Science, Nature, Nature-Chemistry, Wiley Journals, Chemical Communications, and the Journal of the American Chemical Society. Dr. Hartwig is the author of the textbook titled Organotransition Metal Chemistry: From Bonding to Catalysis published December 2009.

Myriant's Scientific Advisory Board is comprised of world-class researchers and subject matter experts who serve in an advisory capacity to the Company regarding its research and product development efforts. The Board is chaired by Dr. Joseph P. Glas, Myriants Chief Technology Officer and former Vice President and General Manager for DuPont Biotechnology. Members of Myriants Scientific Advisory Board, in addition to Dr. Hartwig, include Dr. Stephen J. Benkovic, Evan Pugh Professor and Eberly Chair in Chemistry at Penn State University and Member of the National Academy of Sciences and its Institute of Medicine; Dr. Lonnie Ingram, Distinguished Professor, Department of Microbiology and Cell Science, University of Florida, and Director, Florida Center for Renewable Chemicals and Fuels, and Member of the National Academy of Sciences; Dr. Gregory Stephanopoulos, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering, MIT, and Member of the National Academy of Engineering; Dr. Jan Westpheling, Professor, Department of Genetics, University of Georgia; and, Dr. Huimin Zhao, Professor, Centennial Endowed Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois, Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

About Myriant Corporation

Myriant utilizes proprietary technology to provide innovative, performance-based renewable chemicals utilizing low-cost sugars. In December 2010, Myriant broke ground on its 30 million pound commercial succinic acid facility in Lake Providence, Louisiana. The companys D(-) lactic acid started production at commercial scale in June 2008 for use in polylactic acid. Myriant has agreements with Uhde GmbH for engineering, Davy Process Technology for the integration of Myriants succinic acid process with the Davy butanediol process for the production of bio-based butanediol, and PTT Chemical for the commercialization of Myriants technology in South East Asia. Myriant is headquartered in Quincy, Massachusetts. Details are available at http://www.myriant.com.

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Sarnia-Lambton chemistry industry poised to attract $2.5 billion in investment over coming decade; Minister Duguid to …

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SARNIA, ON, June 25, 2012 /CNW/ - Ontario's Minister of Economic Development and Innovation Brad Duguid will visit four Sarnia chemical manufacturers today, and will hear about the chemistry sector's potential to attract significant investment to the region over the next decade.

Sarnia-Lambton is home to one of Canada's leading bio-hybrid chemistry clusters, with companies manufacturing chemicals from both petroleum and bio-based raw materials. Those chemicals form the building blocks for more than 70,000 products essential to everyday life - from clothing and pharmaceuticals, to energy-efficient homes and cars.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for Minister Duguid to see first-hand the cutting-edge chemistry that's happening in Sarnia right now," said Richard Paton, President of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (CIAC), the trade association representing the industry.

"Sarnia-Lambton's chemistry industry is poised for growth: it's got the infrastructure, the access to raw materials, a trained workforce, and a huge U.S. market practically on its doorstep."

CIAC estimates that Sarnia's chemistry industry could attract up to $2.5 billion in investment over the rest of the decade - much of that stemming from the region's access to shale gas liquids and biomass feedstock.

"Ontario's chemistry sector is an important contributor to our economy that supports thousands of jobs in the province," said Minister of Economic Development and Innovation Brad Duguid.

"The Sarnia region is a leader in Ontario's chemistry industry, developing innovative products and capabilities that drive our global competitiveness."

Minister Duguid will visit BioAmber, Imperial Oil, LANXESS and NOVA Chemicals - all of which adhere to Responsible Care, CIAC's U.N.-recognized sustainability initiative. Duguid will also tour Lambton College's Centre of Excellence for Process Manufacturing, where he'll learn about the college's training programs and innovative partnership with the local chemistry industry.

Ontario's chemistry industry is a $20-billion sector, employing 42,000 Ontarians directly, and supporting 250,000 total jobs in the province's economy.

Sarah Mayes Chemistry Industry Association of Canada (613) 237-6215 ext. 239

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Sarnia-Lambton chemistry industry poised to attract $2.5 billion in investment over coming decade; Minister Duguid to ...

Angel Biotechnology – Successful Completion of MHRA Inspection

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25 June 2012

Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc

("Angel" or "the Company")

Medicines (Xetra: 938858 - news) and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) inspection

Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc, (AIM:ABH), the biopharmaceutical contract manufacturer, is pleased to announce that the inspection in early June of our Cramlington site, by the MHRA, was completed successfully. The inspector spent three days at our facility and raised no critical or major observations. Critical and/or major observations is the terminology used by the inspector to define shortcomings that usually require remedial action before a license can be granted. The first inspection of what is effectively a new facility is the most challenging and it is a credit to the Angel team that Cramlington met the standard required to be added to Angel's GMP (KOSDAQ: 018290.KQ - news) license.

Dr Paul Harper, ABH Chairman said: "This is a significant achievement for the company and opens the way to expand our business by being able to offer GMP capacity suitable to accommodate larger programmes. This has been achieved whilst maintaining our existing business activities and undertaking the integration of Angel Biomedical Ltd as a new Group company. The Board of Directors wish to commend the team for an exemplary performance."

For further information:

Angel Biotechnology Holdings plc

Lorna Peers, Finance Director +44 (0) 131 445 6077

Stewart White, Acting CEO/Commercial Director http://www.angelbio.com

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Angel Biotechnology - Successful Completion of MHRA Inspection

TaiGen Biotechnology Out-Licensed China Rights of Novel Antibiotic, Nemonoxacin, to Zhejiang Medicine

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TAIPEI, June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- TaiGen Biotechnology Company, Limited ("TaiGen") and Zhejiang Medicine Company, Limited ("ZMC") today announced that they have signed an exclusive agreement to manufacture and commercialize nemonoxacin, a novel broad-spectrum antibiotic, in China (excluding Hong Kong, and Macau). Nemonoxacin is a novel broad-spectrum non-fluorinated quinolone antibiotic under development for respiratory infections. TaiGen will be responsible for completing the Phase 3 clinical trial for community acquired pneumonia ("CAP") in China. ZMC will be responsible for manufacturing, sales and marketing of nemonoxacin in China through its wholly-owned subsidiary, XinChang Pharmaceuticals. TaiGen will retain full development and commercialization rights outside the licensed territory including Taiwan, the United States, European Union, and Japan. Under the terms of the agreement, TaiGen will receive an upfront payment of US$ 8 million from ZMC and will receive additional milestones as well as royalties on product sales. The term of the agreement is 20 years.

Nemonoxacin has demonstrated efficacy and safety in CAP and diabetic foot infection in multinational and multi-center clinical trials conducted by TaiGen. In particular, nemonoxacin has excellent activity against drug-resistant bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and quinolone-resistant MRSA. Nemonoxacin is taken once-a-day and available in both oral and intravenous formulations. Currently, TaiGen is completing a Phase 3 CAP trial with more than 500 patients from Taiwan and mainland China and expects to file new drug applications in Taiwan and mainland China simultaneously in early 2013.

China is one of the major antibiotic markets in the world. According to IMS, the sales of antibiotics in 2011 were approximately US$ 11 billion (RMB 68 billion) and account for almost 20% of the total pharmaceuticals sales. Rate of antibiotic resistant infections in China is among the highest in the world.

Mr. Li Chun Bo, Chairman of the ZMC, commented, "We are impressed with nemonoxacin's broad spectrum activity towards drug-resistant bacteria, in particular, MRSA, and excellent safety profile. We are excited to establish this partnership with TaiGen because of its reputation as a premier research-based biotech company in Asia. This partnership will break new ground for cross-strait collaboration in the pharmaceutical industry. Nemonoxacin will be a major addition to ZMC's antibiotic product line and significant profit driver".

Dr. Ming-Chu Hsu, President and Chief Executive Officer of TaiGen, said, "China is the world's fastest growing pharmaceutical market. It is poised to overtake Japan as the second largest pharmaceutical market. We are extremely please to establish our nemonoxacin partnership with ZMC, a first-class pharmaceutical company and major player in the Chinese antibiotics market. With nemonoxacin, TaiGen and ZMC together will bring new medicine to treat unmet medical needs in China. This partnership will not only set a new record for pharmaceutical licensing involving a Taiwanese and a mainland Chinese company but hopefully will also become a model of the future collaborations," Dr. Hsu also added, "With the conclusion of the partnership in China, we will actively pursue nemonoxacin licensing discussions in other territories such as European Union."

About Zhejiang Medicine

Zhejiang Medicine Company, Limited is a leading pharmaceutical company in China specializing in sales and distribution of pharmaceuticals and manufacturing of active pharmaceutical ingredients (vitamins and antibiotics). Its sales revenue in 2011 is US $740 million (RMB 4.8 billion). ZMC is a leader in the Chinese antibiotic market with levofloxacin, vancomycin, and teicoplanin in the product line. ZMC's Lai Li Xin, a branded levofloxacin, is one of the top selling antibiotics in China with 2011 sales exceeding US $110 million (RMB 735 million). In addition to pharmaceuticals sales, ZMC is also known for its manufacturing quality. Its vancomycin active pharmaceutical ingredient has obtained GMP qualification from US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and exported to western countries. ZMC is publicly listed in the Shanghai Stock Exchange (600216) and has a market capitalization of RMB 11 billion.

About TaiGen Biotechnology

TaiGen Biotechnology is a leading research-based and product-driven biotechnology company in Taiwan with a wholly-owned subsidiary in Beijing, mainland China. TaiGen has full discovery research capacity in Taiwan and clinical development in mainland China/Taiwan/US. In addition to nemonoxacin, TaiGen has two other in-house discovered new chemical entities in clinical development under IND with US FDA: TG-0054, a chemokine receptor antagonist for stem cell transplantation and chemosensitization, in Phase 2 and TG-2349, a HCV protease inhibitor for treatment of chronic hepatitis infection, in Phase 1. Both TG-0054 and TG-2349 are currently in clinical development in the US.

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TaiGen Biotechnology Out-Licensed China Rights of Novel Antibiotic, Nemonoxacin, to Zhejiang Medicine

Ezose Sciences Announces Appointment of Chief Operating Officer

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PINE BROOK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Ezose Sciences Inc. announced today that Scott A. Siegel, Ph.D., Vice President, Business Development, has been named Chief Operating Officer, a new position at the company.

Dr. Siegel will assume broad responsibility for operations at Ezose, which focuses on glycomics research to identify biomarkers for use in drug development and disease management, and to characterize biotherapeutic glycoforms. He will also continue to lead Business Development. In his new role he will continue to report to Kiyoshi Nagata,Ph.D., Chairman andChief Executive OfficerofEzose.

Scott has made Ezose a partner of choice for healthcare companies and academic institutions that seek to realize the promise of glycomics in their R&D programs, said Dr. Nagata. At the same time, his talents and energies have already supported various operational activities at Ezose. We look forward to the still broader contributions he will make in his new position.

The naming of a chief operating officer, together with the other appointments we are announcing today, demonstrates our commitment to helping our partners establish glycomics as a basic tool in their biomedical research.

Dr. Siegel brings to his role more than 25 years of experience in the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries. Before joining Ezose in 2009 he was Vice President of Corporate Development for Redpoint Bio, a publically traded biotechnology company. Earlier, he held various positions in New Business Development and Worldwide Strategic Marketing at Johnson & Johnson. He has served in R&D capacities at Phytera, Inc., Centocor, Inc., and Becton Dickinson and Co., and as Adjunct Associate Professor of Microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Siegel is one of the inventors of Remicade (Infliximab), a therapy for rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory disorders.

Dr. Siegel earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, and completed his postdoctoral studies in the Department of Pharmacology at Yale University School of Medicine.

In other recent appointments, Ezose named:

About Glycomics

Glycomics is the study of glycans, the sugar chains that during the biochemical process known as glycosylation become attached to many proteins expressed by human cells. The particular glycans involved may crucially determine the function of the resulting glycoprotein and its role in health and disease.

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Ezose Sciences Announces Appointment of Chief Operating Officer

Kevin McKidd talks 'Brave,' 'mooning' scene, Scotland & 'Grey's Anatomy' future (Video)

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Kevin McKidd of "Grey's Anatomy" fame was happy to return to his roots with Disney-Pixar's new animated film, "Brave," which is set in the Scottish kingdom of DunBroch.

In the movie, the 38-year-old actor and native of Scotland plays two characters - Lord MacGuffin and his son, Young MacGuffin. The lord and two others, Craig Ferguson's character, Lord Macintosh, and Robbie Coltrane's Lord Dingwall, present their boys to compete for the hand of Princess Merida, the film's heroine, played by Kelly MacDonald. Billy Connolly plays her father, King Fergus.

McKidd disguises his Scottish accent when he plays former US Army trauma surgeon Dr. Owen Hunt on "Grey's Anatomy," ABC's it medical drama series.

"In 'Grey's, I have to be American, I have to be quite controlled. Owen Hunt's a tortured guy and he's very serious a character," McKidd told OnTheRedCarpet.com, while talking about "Brave." "It's nice to be kind of wild and zany and Scottish for a while."

In the animated film, the male characters wear traditional kilts. In one scene, Lord Dingwall moons Lord MacGuffin and others by lifting his up in front of them, yelling: "Feast your eyes!"

"They just kind of said, 'Now he's gonna show his [butt] to you,'" McKidd said. "And I was like, 'What?' That was a lot of fun. The shame is none of us got to really hang out together, you know, Craig [Ferguson] and Billy Connolly. We're all doing separate sessions. I would have loved to have been doing all that together."

McKidd says he owns two kilts in real life and that he was taught to dance traditional Scottish dances when he was a child.

"We were taught that in PE, physical education, in Scottish school," he said. "Every boy and girl [is] taught those dances for kind of like a month and a half, at Christmas time, when it's so cold you can't go outside. You're in the gym hall and you get taught all those dances. So it's like riding a bicycle for me."

"It's so much fun, I can't tell you how much fun that dancing is for me," he added. "It's such a social thing. It breaks down so many barriers. I'm very proud of my heritage."

McKidd began his on-screen career in the 1990s. He and Macdonald both starred in the 1996 movie "Trainspotting," which deals with the drug scene in Edinburgh. The film helped launch the Hollywood career of main star and fellow Scotland native Ewan McGregor.

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OXIS Announces the International Launch of Online Sales for ErgoFlex(TM)

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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., June 25, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OXIS International, Inc. (OXIS) (OXI.PA) today announced the international commercial launch of its proprietary, clinically proven, joint health product, ErgoFlex(TM) (www.ergoflexbest.com). A study published last month in the peer reviewed journal of Preventive Medicine clearly demonstrated ErgoFlex's ability to reduce pain, increase range of motion and significantly improve the quality of life from people who suffer from joint pain.

Unlike any other antioxidant available to consumers, our catalyst ingredient in ErgoFlex, EGT, is referred to as the "intelligent antioxidant" because it is the only antioxidant having a dedicated transport mechanism in the body to deliver it through the cell membrane and even into the mitochondria, the energy producing area of the cell. Additionally, when other powerful antioxidants are also present, the body preferentially utilizes ergothioneine.

OXIS holds the exclusive patent to manufacture EGT, which has received full GRAS (safety) approval. OXIS' marketing partner, engage:BDR, has been developing a comprehensive, full digital advertising campaign for a pipeline of OXIS' proprietary EGT(TM) dietary supplements and anti-aging personal care products.

"This is a major step forward in demonstrating the company's focus of delivering our proprietary EGT(TM) based products direct to consumers. Our partners at engage:BDR have an outstanding track record executing on direct-to-consumer product campaigns and ability to deliver our product message to a much-targeted audience that will make for a very successful launch. I am anticipating significant revenue ramp-up with ErgoFlex with additional products to follow soon," said David Saloff, Chairman and CEO of OXIS International.

"OXIS International's team has demonstrated tremendous expertise in product development, one such being the EGT product line which we're extremely excited to deliver to the market," said Ted Dhanik, president, engage:BDR.

About OXIS International, Inc.

OXIS International, Inc. develops technologies and products to research, diagnose, treat and prevent diseases of oxidative stress/inflammation associated with damage from free radical and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The company holds the rights to several therapeutic classes of compounds in the area of oxidative stress, including EGT(TM) (99% pure L-ergothioneine), known as the intelligent antioxidant.

About engage:BDR

engage:BDR provides advertisers cutting-edge marketing solutions, advanced technology and custom programming by integrating display, video and branded entertainment into a single network. Whether it's driving qualified traffic and leads or building awareness and engagement, engage:BDR is committed to providing innovative solutions to reach consumers and deliver the highest quality results to their partners. Headquartered in Los Angeles, engage:BDR attracts a list of top name partners and customers including Ask.com, Bose, CBS Interactive, eHarmony, Live Nation, Sony Pictures among others.

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Travel Curious Often, Monthly Online Magazine, Celebrates Its First Anniversary and a Year's Worth of Visits Around …

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PENSACOLA, Fla., June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Travel Curious Often has spent one full year exploring destinations around the globe. Readers saw iconic landmarks, spectacular scenery and even a few celebrities along the way! Stops included: Poland, New Orleans, Bangkok, New York, Peru, Kaua'i, Hong Kong, Paris, Rio de Janeiro and Ireland -- in fact the Irish Government Tourist Board recently named TCO one of the best travel magazines.

The TCO fan-base has increased the past year as well, because of features like Food Quest. As the name suggests, Food Quest consists primarily of restaurant critiques. But also on the menu were recipes from food bloggers and interviews with celebrity chefs -- like John Besh, Top Chef contender Marisa Churchill, and Canadian TV stars Chefs Run Wild.

Another popular segment Curious & Thirsty has taken readers on excursions to coffee plantations in Kaua'i, vodka distilleries in Poland, and wineries throughout Napa and Sonoma, with a tour of the legendary Far Niente for a chat with proprietress Beth Nickel.

Publisher Marla Norman-Freytag continues to scout out unique properties to present in Hotel Finds. Past reviews included Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel at Machu Picchu and the historic Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City -- with a lively report about stars who book into the property: Lady Gaga, Daniel Craig, Rihanna and Eva Longoria. The tallest hotel in the world, The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong, has also been featured along with a 200-acre ranch in the Texas Hill Country where guests can mingle with herds of wild Axis Deer and Elk. Lots of variety in just one year.

Each issue of Travel Curious Often provides videos, maps, links to hotels, restaurants, and bars -- all the usual gadgets to help readers stay on the right path. But the Pronunciation tab continues to fascinate readers above all. Recordings by native speakers -- of French, German, Spanish, Thai, Polish, Chinese and Hawaiian -- reciting the names of local places helps travelers to acclimate anywhere.

Finally the newly added TCO Store is a destination in and of itself, with great travel gear, cute road-worthy clothing for men & women, and souvenirs from all the places featured in Travel Curious Often. The TCO Store is truly one-stop shopping for busy globetrotters.

Travel Curious Often covered plenty of ground its first year. But the TCO staff is confident that this is just the beginning of a very long adventure. Hop onboard!

Contact Marla Norman-Freytag, publisher, for additional information or permission to reprint TRAVEL CURIOUS OFTEN articles and photos: marlanorman@travelcuriousoften.com or 786-200-6241

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

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Travel Curious Often, Monthly Online Magazine, Celebrates Its First Anniversary and a Year's Worth of Visits Around ...

HipGeo and Rough Guides Team to Provide New Way to Share Travel Adventures Instantly Using iPhone and iPad Photos and …

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FULLERTON, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

HipGeo and Rough Guides are proud to announce the Rough Guide Trip Lens app for iPad and iPhone is now available and free to download from the App Store. Now, for the first time, users can transform a collection of individual iPhone photos and text into a creative narrative of travel adventures under the respected Rough Guide brand.

Rough Guide Trip Lens presents the newest way to document and share travel adventures. The jointly developed Rough Guide Trip Lens app uses unique location-based technology to pinpoint the users location, helping travellers connect with family and friends back home and record their journey as it happens; transforming photos and text into a creative narrative of their travel adventures.

Travellers can post photos and text from anywhere in the world, and watch their travels unfold on a map at each destination, creating a continuous and cohesive story of their journey. Locations and photos can also be shared instantly in the app via Facebook and Twitter, and link to a website that compiles all the photos from the journey into a personalized blog for friends and family to see.

Travellers can find inspiration from the adventures of other users, instantly becoming part of a community of other travellers who are sharing their experiences, and, if no WiFi is available, all posts are saved and automatically uploaded once connected.

Rich Rygg, co-founder of HipGeo said: Combining the travel know-how of Rough Guides with a custom version of our app means that whether people are memorializing adventures locally or from far away, theyre telling continuous and cohesive stories about their adventures in a way never before possible. Everyone wants to capture and share memories about the coolest places on the planet and this is the ultimate way to share those journeys virtually.

Peter Buckley, Digital Publisher for Rough Guides said: We know that travellers want to capture and share their experiences in the easiest way possible while theyre on the go. This is therefore the ultimate travellers app, allowing them to do that whilst instantly connecting them to a community of like-minded travellers who are also seeking exciting adventures.

About Rough Guides

Rough Guides is a leading travel content provider with more than 700 travel guides, gift-books, reference titles, maps, phrasebooks, bespoke custom publishing guides and digital products, including eBooks and mobile applications. Start your journey at http://www.roughguides.com and whatever you do, Make The Most Of Your Time On Earth

About HipGeo

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HipGeo and Rough Guides Team to Provide New Way to Share Travel Adventures Instantly Using iPhone and iPad Photos and ...

Shutter Tours Earns 2012 Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence

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Honored as a Highly Rated Sightseeing and Photography Tour Company as Reviewed by Travelers on the World’s Largest Travel SiteSeattle, Washington (PRWEB) June 25, 2012 Shutter Tours, a sightseeing and photography tour company, today announced that it has received a TripAdvisor® Certificate of Excellence award. The accolade, which honors hospitality excellence, is given only to establishments ...

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Shutter Tours Earns 2012 Tripadvisor Certificate of Excellence

Watch #7.Transformers Games Review Part 2: Transformers The Movie 2007 By William Cosh – – Video

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23-06-2012 12:29 Watch Full Movie Here Transformers for Game Transformers Games Transformers Games For Kids Transformers Games for kids Transformer Games Transformers (toy Line) of Review William the transformers revenge Gameplay Cosh tips & tricks ati radeon series play games online Cybertron ignentertainment Dark extreme driving playstation super computer Transformers 2 revenge fallen asome game hd Multiplayer Video Game Moon Pc game play Commentary commentary Devastator gameplay video review Revenge Fall 047875842281 047875841383 clevvergames playstation3 thestudgames Bumblebee 8RODIMUS Optimus flash games Fallen The Decepticons 47875841383 automobiles environment games video game bubble bee Deathmatch technology angrybirds xbox360 Part megan fox airplanes cybertron unlimited adventure official animated revenge Online Convoy Prime movie game Autobots consoles analysis tutorial destroid cyberton Defender upcoming download portable terrible bruticus highmoon grimlock nintendo trailer optimus fallen video Game: 4850 hd station Network Detroit weapons toysrus Dungeon Pinball classic hockey2 Perfect Android release

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Watch #7.Transformers Games Review Part 2: Transformers The Movie 2007 By William Cosh - - Video

Bioheart's Chief Science Officer Kristin Comella Presents at 10th Annual Meeting of International Society for Stem …

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SUNRISE, Fla., June 25, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bioheart, Inc. (BHRT.OB) announced today that Kristin Comella, the company's Chief Science Officer presented at the 10th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) in Yokohama, Japan June 13 - 16, 2012. One of the world's premier stem cell research events, the ISSCR format includes international research and poster presentations from invited speakers, exceptional peer-to-peer learning and unparalleled networking opportunities.

Comella presented a poster on clinical applications of adipose or fat derived stem cells (ADSCs).

The ISSCR annual meeting serves as the largest forum for stem cell and regenerative medicine professionals from around the world. Through lectures, symposia, workshops, and events attendees experience innovative stem cell and regenerative medicine research, advances and what's on the horizon. The meeting features more than 1,000 abstracts, nearly 150 speakers and provides numerous networking and professional development opportunities and social events. For additional information, visit http://www.isscr.org.

Kristin Comella has over 14 years experience in corporate entities with expertise in regenerative medicine, training and education, research, product development and senior management including more than 10 years of cell culturing experience. She has made a significant contribution to Bioheart's product development, manufacturing and quality systems since she joined the company in September 2004.

About Bioheart, Inc.

Bioheart is committed to maintaining its leading position within the cardiovascular sector of the cell technology industry delivering cell therapies and biologics that help address congestive heart failure, lower limb ischemia, chronic heart ischemia, acute myocardial infarctions and other issues. Bioheart's goals are to cause damaged tissue to be regenerated, when possible, and to improve a patient's quality of life and reduce health care costs and hospitalizations.

Specific to biotechnology, Bioheart is focused on the discovery, development and, subject to regulatory approval, commercialization of autologous cell therapies for the treatment of chronic and acute heart damage and peripheral vascular disease. Its leading product, MyoCell, is a clinical muscle-derived cell therapy designed to populate regions of scar tissue within a patient's heart with new living cells for the purpose of improving cardiac function in chronic heart failure patients. For more information on Bioheart, visit http://www.bioheartinc.com, or visit us on Facebook: Bioheart and Twitter @BioheartInc.

Forward-Looking Statements: Except for historical matters contained herein, statements made in this press release are forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, words such as "may," "will," "to," "plan," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "would," "estimate," or "continue" or the negative other variations thereof or comparable terminology are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Also, forward-looking statements represent our management's beliefs and assumptions only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, we assume no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future.

The Company is subject to the risks and uncertainties described in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the section entitled "Risk Factors" in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 30, 2012.

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Bioheart's Chief Science Officer Kristin Comella Presents at 10th Annual Meeting of International Society for Stem ...

NeoStem Awarded NIAID Research Grant for the Development of VSEL Technology for Radiation Exposure

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NEW YORK, June 25, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NeoStem, Inc. (NYSE MKT:NBS) ("NeoStem" or the "Company"), a cell therapy company, today announced that it has been awarded a two year grant totaling $595,252 for the "Development of Human, Autologous, Pluripotent Very Small Embryonic Like (VSELs) Stem Cells as a Countermeasure to Radiation Threat" from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), a division of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). This peer reviewed grant was awarded to support research to be headed by Denis O. Rodgerson, Ph.D., Director of Stem Cell Science for NeoStem and Mariusz Ratajczak, M.D., Ph.D., who is the head of the Stem Cell Biology Program at the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at the University of Louisville and co-inventor of VSELTM Technology.

This award will fund studies to investigate the potential of very small embryonic-like stem cells as a countermeasure to radiological and nuclear threat. The product candidate, which is an autologous stem cell therapy derived from the patient's own stem cells, will be developed to rescue patients who have been exposed to radiation due to nuclear accident or terrorist threat and to treat cancer patients who have undergone radiation therapy and who consequently have compromised immune systems. The award includes $295,252 for the first year and $300,000 for the second year of the project.

Dr. Denis O. Rodgerson, Director of Stem Cell Science for NeoStem, said, "We are very excited to add radiation treatment to the growing list of indications for which our VSELTM Technology is being evaluated. Those exposed to acute high-dose radiation have compromised immune systems such that the virulence and infectivity of biological agents is dramatically increased. Death can occur within 1-6 weeks following radiation exposure. Currently there is only one intervention that saves a fatally irradiated person -- a rescue through stem cell transplantation. VSELs might be an ideal cell therapy to regenerate the body's immune system and repair other tissues damaged by radiation exposure. Most importantly, early studies show VSELs are resistant to lethal radiation which destroys other immune system restoring stem cells in the body, making autologous treatment post-exposure possible."

Dr. Robin L. Smith, Chairman and CEO of NeoStem, added, "NeoStem is pleased that the NIAID is funding this cutting edge technology that we hope will reinvent the treatment landscape for acute radiation syndrome. We plan to continue to pursue NIH SBIR grants to fund our VSEL technology platform development with non-dilutive capital."

About VSELTM Technology

NeoStem has a worldwide exclusive license to VSELTM Technology. Research by Dr. Mariusz Ratajczak, M.D., Ph.D., and others at the University of Louisville provides compelling evidence that bone marrow contains a heterogeneous population of stem cells that have properties similar to those of an embryonic stem cell. These cells are referred to as very small embryonic-like stem cells. This finding opens the possibility of capturing some of the key advantages associated with embryonic stem cells without the ethical or moral dilemmas and without some of the potential negative biological effects associated with stem cells of embryonic derivation. The possibility of autologous VSEL treatments is yet another important potential benefit to this unique population of adult stem cells. VSELTM Technology offers the potential to go beyond the paracrine effect, yielding cells that actually differentiate into the target tissue creating true cellular regeneration.

About NeoStem, Inc.

NeoStem, Inc. ("we," "NeoStem" or the "Company") continues to develop and build on its core capabilities in cell therapy to capitalize on the paradigm shift that we see occurring in medicine. In particular, we anticipate that cell therapy will have a large role in the fight against chronic disease and in lessening the economic burden that these diseases pose to modern society. Our January 2011 acquisition of Progenitor Cell Therapy, LLC ("PCT") provides NeoStem with a foundation in both manufacturing and regulatory affairs expertise. We believe this expertise, coupled with our existing research capabilities and collaborations, will allow us to achieve our mission of becoming a premier cell therapy company. Our PCT subsidiary's manufacturing base is one of the few current Good Manufacturing Practices ("cGMP") facilities available for contracting in the burgeoning cell therapy industry. Amorcyte, LLC ("Amorcyte"), which we acquired in October 2011, is developing a cell therapy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. Amorcyte's lead compound, AMR-001, represents NeoStem's most clinically advanced therapeutic and Amorcyte is enrolling patients for a Phase 2 trial to investigate AMR-001's efficacy in preserving heart function after a heart attack. We also expect to begin a Phase 1 clinical trial by 2012/2013 to investigate AMR-001's utility in arresting the progression of congestive heart failure and the associated comorbidities of that disease. Athelos Corporation ("Athelos"), which is approximately 80%-owned by our subsidiary, PCT, is engaged in collaboration with Becton-Dickinson that is exploring the earlier stage clinical development of a T-cell therapy for autoimmune conditions. In addition, our pre-clinical assets include our VSELTM Technology platform as well as our MSC (mesenchymal stem cells) product candidate for regenerative medicine.

For more information on NeoStem, please visit http://www.neostem.com.

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NeoStem Awarded NIAID Research Grant for the Development of VSEL Technology for Radiation Exposure

Religious leader visits Columbia

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Myriad colors and cultures mixed Sunday in Columbia when more than 100 devotees of the ultimate humanitarian gathered to celebrate a gift of spiritual enlightenment and their leaders birthday.

The city was the site of a divya milan, a divine meeting, with the man known as His Divine Holiness Acharya Swaminshree Purushottampriyadasji Maharaj, or Bapa to celebrants, the leader of Shree Swaminarayan Gadi Sansthan a Hindu sect based on the preservation of moral and cultural values.

Shashi Kerai, one of the organizers of Sundays gathering at Columbias American Legion Post 19 and president of the Shree Muktajeevan Academy of Excellence in Chicago, said the visit is incredibly rare. Every year, he said, Maharaj and several saints tour the world to spread the faiths message of peace, tolerance and understanding of all religions and nations. Nearly 30 other U.S. cities had been nominated by followers to host the spiritual leader but did not make the final list of seven stops.

He visits Europe, London, the Far East, America and so forth. This countrys a really big country, so he cannot accommodate every city, Kerai said. Columbia is the most fortunate this year along with Los Angeles, Chicago to be nominated to receive him and to celebrate his arrival.

For their leaders 70th birthday, which he celebrated last month, congregants melded their cultures oldest traditions with all the trimmings of an American party.

As a traditional parade of followers circled the legion hall to bless and bring peace to the land, the crack of party poppers broke out of the cacophony of singing voices, clapping hands and clinking bangles.

Kerai, who works as a surgical neurophysiologist when he is not traveling on behalf of his faith, said much of the celebration is also to instill a sense of heritage and culture in congregants young and old. For followers, the event is as big if not bigger than a visit from the Pope of the Catholic faith, he said.

In recognition of the meetings host, American Legion Post 19 Post Commander Bob Stephenson and First Vice Commander Gary Fisher were blessed by His Divine Holiness. Fisher said the post was blessed to be chosen for the visit.

Kerai said that because of the number of devotees living and working in Tennessee, its possible that a temple could be constructed sometime in the near future, but it remains uncertain where. Until then, he said local congregants will continue to promote the morality and performance of charitable acts of their faith.

To obtain more information on His Divine Holiness and his teachings, visit http://www.swaminarayangadi.com.

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Religious leader visits Columbia