Monthly Archives: July 2012

Gene therapy restores Ontario man’s vision

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CTVNews.ca Staff Published Tuesday, Jul. 31, 2012 8:46AM EDT Last Updated Tuesday, Jul. 31, 2012 8:50AM EDT

Dale Turner remembers the day his view of the world changed, literally, thanks to a groundbreaking clinical trial that partially restored his vision.

It was 2008 and the 25-year-old lawyer from Peterborough, Ont., who was diagnosed with an incurable genetic eye disease that causes blindness in childhood, was recovering from an eye surgery in Florida as part of the clinical trial.

Three days after the surgery, Turner removed his eye patch and realized his vision had been partially restored.

When I peeled back the patch, I was outside of the University of Florida on a nice bright, sunny day and I had never seen the sky like I had seen it before. It was just one of those things that the proof was right in the sight, Turner told CTVs Canada AM on Tuesday.

Turner was diagnosed with a disease called Lebers congenital amaurosis when he was six years old. The eye disease is hereditary and affects around one in 80,000 newborns and is one of the most common causes of childhood blindness.

Turners family was told by doctors that the disease would lead to total blindness by the time he was 10.

But in 2007 scientists announced they had discovered the gene mutation that was responsible for causing the blindness.

The gene is called the NMNAT1 and doctors estimate it causes around five per cent of cases of Lebers congenital amaurosis.

Turner was asked to participate in an experimental clinical trial that would treat his eye with gene therapy.

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Gene therapy restores Ontario man’s vision

2012 Freedom Award Winners Give Vision, Voice and Life to Beneficiaries

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The National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Award honorees include Bernard Lafayette, Muhammad Yunus, Marlo Thomas and The Three Doctors.Memphis,TN (PRWEB) July 31, 2012 The National Civil Rights Museum today announced the selection of Freedom Award recipients who will be honored during the Freedom Award event slated for Tuesday, October 16, 2012. Freedom Award honorees include: Muhammad Yunus ...

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2012 Freedom Award Winners Give Vision, Voice and Life to Beneficiaries

Countdown to Marketing Freedom Begins in Western Canada

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SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN--(Marketwire -07/31/12)- Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz today marked the eve of marketing freedom for Western Canadian wheat, durum and barley growers. Minister Ritz was joined by Senator Donald Plett, local Member of Parliament Kelly Block (Saskatoon Rosetown-Biggar) and representatives from the western grain industry to mark the countdown to marketing freedom.

"In just 12 short hours, the doors to marketing freedom will, at long last, be opened," said Minister Ritz. "The Harper Government has delivered on our long-standing commitment to give western wheat and barley farmers the same freedom to make business decisions that other farmers in Canada have long enjoyed."

The countdown to marketing freedom began today at Innovation Place in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The location highlighted the potential for greater investment, innovation and competition for the western grain industry in an open market.

The Harper Government's top priority is the economy, and the agriculture industry plays an important role in creating jobs and keeping the economy strong. Canada is the world's fifth-largest exporter of agriculture and food products, with last year's exports hitting an all-time high of more than $40 billion.

"It's an exciting time as we look forward to the historic day tomorrow when wheat and barley farmers across Western Canada will have the full freedom to run their own businesses," said Senator Plett. "Marketing freedom will allow our hardworking farmers to achieve greater success by dealing directly in the marketplace."

Additional information on marketing freedom can be found at http://www.agr.gc.ca/freedom.

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Countdown to Marketing Freedom Begins in Western Canada

Water Contact Not Advised at Four Northland Beaches

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July 31, 2012 Updated Jul 31, 2012 at 10:46 AM CDT

Duluth, MN (Northland's NewsCenter) --- Beach goers are advised not to enter the water at four Northland beaches due to elevated E. coli bacteria.

Water contact is not advised at the following beaches: 1. Kadunce Creek Beach at Kadunce Creek picnic area north of Grand Marais, on the north-west side of the Kadunce Creek mouth.

2. Agate Bay Beach in Two Harbors.

3. 20th Street / Hearding Island Canal Beach on the harbor-side of Park Point, at 20th Street.

4. Sky Harbor Parking Lot Beach on the harbor-side of Park Point in Duluth, at the end of Minnesota Avenue.

The elevated E. coli bacteria levels could be due to fecal contamination around the beaches.

If you become sick after contact with the water at these beaches, please call the Minnesota Health Department.

Water samples will be taken again at these beaches on July 31st.

Posted to the web by Krista Burns

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Water Contact Not Advised at Four Northland Beaches

Acobot Updates Chatbot for WebsiteAlive to Turn More Leads into Sales

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The artificial intelligence company Acobot enables its chatbot to seamlessly work together with AliveChat by WebsiteAlive, helping clients to turn more leads into sales.Sunnyvale, CA (PRWEB) July 31, 2012 Acobot, LLC is a leading developer of artificial intelligence (AI) live chat technologies. It has recently improved its chatbot to work with a variety of live chat software programs including ...

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Acobot Updates Chatbot for WebsiteAlive to Turn More Leads into Sales

Profit plunge at Italian aerospace giant Finmeccanica

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Italian aerospace and defence giant Finmeccanica on Tuesday reported a sharp drop in its second-quarter profits to 44 million euros ($54 million) but said its gross revenues rose 33 percent.

The company, which is majority controlled by the Italian state, said it was confirming its targets for the year of operating profit of around 1.1 billion euros and sales of between 16.9 billion and 17.3 billion euros.

While the net profit plunged to 44 million euros compared to 449 million euros in the same period 12 months ago, last year included a capital gain of 443 million euros from the sale of 45 percent stake in Ansaldo Energia.

In the April-June period, the group's gross adjusted EBITA (earnings before interest, tax and amortisation) jumped by 33 percent to 285 million euros, while its sales slumped by 3.0 percent to 4.3 billion euros.

"The results from the first and particularly the second quarter show an encouraging improvement of the principle indicators and a return to profitability," Finmeccanica boss Giuseppe Orsi said in a statement.

"It's a sign that the restructuring and efficiency plan is going ahead as forecast," he added.

However, "2012 remains a delicate transition year," he added.

The defence giant posted a 2.3 billion euro net loss for 2011, blaming an "extraordinarily difficult year".

Orsi took over last year after the resignation of Pier Francesco Guarguaglini, who was brought down by a corruption scandal.

He is pushing ahead with his plan for the company to concentrate on activities in which it can be a global leader and sell off assets.

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Profit plunge at Italian aerospace giant Finmeccanica

Research and Markets: Global Computational Fluid Dynamics Market in Aerospace and Defense Industry 2011-2015: Ansys …

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/z7bx5v/global_cfd_market) has announced the addition of the "Global CFD Market in Aerospace and Defense Industry 2011-2015" report to their offering.

TechNavio's analysts forecast the Global CFD market in the Aerospace and Defense industry to grow at a CAGR of 13.8 percent over the period 2011-2015. One of the key factors contributing to this market growth is the increasing military expenditures in the developing countries. The Global CFD market in the Aerospace and Defense industry has also been witnessing the use of GPU accelerators in CFD simulation. However, development of in-house or research codes could pose a challenge to the growth of this market.

TechNavio's report, the Global CFD Market in the Aerospace and Defense Industry 2011-2015, has been prepared based on an in-depth analysis of the market with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the Americas, and the EMEA and APAC regions; it also covers the Global CFD market in the Aerospace and Defense industry landscape and its growth prospects in the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.

Key vendors dominating this market space include Ansys Inc., CD-adapco Ltd and Mentor Graphics Corp.

Other vendors mentioned in the report: EXA corp., Blue Ridge Numerics Inc. (Autodesk Inc.), Computational Engineering International (CEI) Inc., Numeca International Inc. and Flow Science Inc.

Key questions answered in this report:

Key Topics Covered:

01. Executive Summary

02. Introduction

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Research and Markets: Global Computational Fluid Dynamics Market in Aerospace and Defense Industry 2011-2015: Ansys ...

B/E Aerospace to Present at Jefferies Conference in New York on August 8, 2012

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WELLINGTON, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

B/E Aerospace (BEAV) will make a presentation to institutional investors at the Jefferies Global Industrial and Aerospace and Defense Conference in New York City on Wednesday, August 8, 2012.

The presentation will begin at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time on Wednesday, August 8, 2012.

A live audio broadcast of the presentation will be available on the investor relations page of the companys website at http://www.beaerospace.com.

About B/E Aerospace

B/E Aerospace is the worlds leading manufacturer of aircraft cabin interior products and the worlds leading distributor of aerospace fasteners and consumables. B/E Aerospace designs, develops and manufactures a broad range of products for both commercial aircraft and business jets. B/E Aerospace manufactured products include aircraft cabin seating, lighting, oxygen, and food and beverage preparation and storage equipment. The company also provides cabin interior design, reconfiguration and passenger-to-freighter conversion services. B/E Aerospace sells and supports its products through its own global direct sales and product support organization. For more information, visit the B/E Aerospace website at http://www.beaerospace.com.

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B/E Aerospace to Present at Jefferies Conference in New York on August 8, 2012

Life-Science Firm That Received Federal, Purdue Funding is Generating Revenue

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

A Purdue-based new venture that develops nanotechnology to improve research and development in life-science companies, pharmaceutical companies and cancer research centers has succeeded in generating its first revenues from sales after only two years in business.

Tymora Analytical Operations LLC has begun selling its PolyMAC product to university professors and industry researchers. The technology, which promotes the discovery of new cancer drugs in laboratory settings, is based on research by W. Andy Tao, an associate professor in Purdue's Department of Biochemistry. Anton Iliuk is the company's president and chief technology officer.

Iliuk said PolyMAC helps drug developers and researchers discover new cancer drug targets and analyze the source of drug resistance after prolonged treatment.

"PolyMAC more correctly pinpoints whether a candidate for drug development is targeting the intended proteins," he said. "Researchers can feel more confident in their results because PolyMAC is a more reliable and sensitive tool, which is a key in effective early-stage drug discovery."

Tymora Analytical Operations has received funding from several sources to develop Tao's research into commercialized products. These sources include the National Science Foundation, Purdue's Emerging Innovations Fund and business plan competitions, including the Burton D. Morgan Business Plan Competition.

Elizabeth Hart-Wells, assistant vice president and director of the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization, said Purdue's Emerging Innovations Fund strengthens early-stage companies that license technology from the Purdue Office of Technology Commercialization or are based in the Purdue Research Park, aiming to increase their chances of successful commercialization.

Richard Cosier, the Avrum and Joyce Gray Director of the Burton D. Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship, said students from Purdue University's Krannert School of Management participated in the due diligence process to select Emerging Innovations Fund recipients.

Iliuk said the Emerging Innovations Fund is more likely than other sources to take a chance on promising technology at an earlier stage.

"The Emerging Innovations Fund funding we received has allowed us to commercialize and start marketing and make the first sales of our first product, PolyMAC, and will support our commercialization efforts for the next product release in the near future," he said.

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Life-Science Firm That Received Federal, Purdue Funding is Generating Revenue

$5 Million Grant Awarded by Private Foundation to Study Immortality

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The John Templeton Foundation grant to UC Riverside philosopher John Fischer will fund research on aspects of immortality, including near-death experiences and the impact of belief in an afterlife on human behavior

By Bettye Miller on July 31, 2012

The John Templeton Foundation has awarded philosopher John Martin Fischer $5 million to study issues related to immortality.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. For millennia, humans have pondered their mortality and whether death is the end of existence or a gateway to an afterlife. Millions of Americans have reported near-death or out-of-body experiences. And adherents of the worlds major religions believe in an afterlife, from reincarnation to resurrection and immortality.

Anecdotal reports of glimpses of an afterlife abound, but there has been no comprehensive and rigorous, scientific study of global reports about near-death and other experiences, or of how belief in immortality influences human behavior. That will change with the award of a three-year, $5 million grant by the John Templeton Foundation to John Martin Fischer, distinguished professor of philosophy at the University of California, Riverside, to undertake a rigorous examination of a wide range of issues related to immortality. It is the largest grant ever awarded to a humanities professor at UC Riverside, and one of the largest given to an individual at the university.

People have been thinking about immortality throughout history. We have a deep human need to figure out what happens to us after death, said Fischer, the principal investigator of The Immortality Project. Much of the discussion has been in literature, especially in fantasy and science fiction, and in theology in the context of an afterlife, heaven, hell, purgatory and karma. No one has taken a comprehensive and sustained look at immortality that brings together the science, theology and philosophy.

The John Templeton Foundation, located near Philadelphia, supports research on subjects ranging from complexity, evolution and infinity to creativity, forgiveness, love, and free will.

Half of the $5 million grant will be awarded for research projects. The grant will also fund two conferences, the first of which will be held at the end of the projects second year and the second at the end of the grant period. A website will include a variety of resources, from glossaries and bibliographies to announcements of research conferences and links to published research. Some recent work in Anglo-American philosophy will be translated for German philosophers who, in the last 30 years, have been increasingly studying the work of American philosophers.

UC Riverside Chancellor Timothy P. White said Fischers research takes a universal concern and subjects it to rigorous examination to sift fact from fiction. His work will provide guidance for discussion of immortality and the human experience for generations to come. We are extremely proud that he is leading the investigation of this critical area of knowledge.

Noting Fischers renown as a scholar of free will and moral responsibility, Stephen Cullenberg, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, said, There is perhaps no one better suited to lead a multidisciplinary research project on the question of immortality and its social implications. The Templeton Foundations generous support will enable scholars from across the world to come to UCR to investigate how the question of immortality affects all cultures, albeit in different ways.

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$5 Million Grant Awarded by Private Foundation to Study Immortality

$5 million grant awarded to UC Riverside to study immortality

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Public release date: 31-Jul-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Bettye Miller bettye.miller@ucr.edu 951-827-7847 University of California - Riverside

RIVERSIDE, Calif. For millennia, humans have pondered their mortality and whether death is the end of existence or a gateway to an afterlife. Millions of Americans have reported near-death or out-of-body experiences. And adherents of the world's major religions believe in an afterlife, from reincarnation to resurrection and immortality.

Anecdotal reports of glimpses of an afterlife abound, but there has been no comprehensive and rigorous, scientific study of global reports about near-death and other experiences, or of how belief in immortality influences human behavior. That will change with the award of a three-year, $5 million grant by the John Templeton Foundation to John Martin Fischer, distinguished professor of philosophy at the University of California, Riverside, to undertake a rigorous examination of a wide range of issues related to immortality. It is the largest grant ever awarded to a humanities professor at UC Riverside, and one of the largest given to an individual at the university.

"People have been thinking about immortality throughout history. We have a deep human need to figure out what happens to us after death," said Fischer, the principal investigator of The Immortality Project. "Much of the discussion has been in literature, especially in fantasy and science fiction, and in theology in the context of an afterlife, heaven, hell, purgatory and karma. No one has taken a comprehensive and sustained look at immortality that brings together the science, theology and philosophy."

The John Templeton Foundation, located near Philadelphia, supports research on subjects ranging from complexity, evolution and infinity to creativity, forgiveness, love, and free will.

Half of the $5 million grant will be awarded for research projects. The grant will also fund two conferences, the first of which will be held at the end of the project's second year and the second at the end of the grant period. A website will include a variety of resources, from glossaries and bibliographies to announcements of research conferences and links to published research. Some recent work in Anglo-American philosophy will be translated for German philosophers who, in the last 30 years, have been increasingly studying the work of American philosophers.

UC Riverside Chancellor Timothy P. White said Fischer's research "takes a universal concern and subjects it to rigorous examination to sift fact from fiction. His work will provide guidance for discussion of immortality and the human experience for generations to come. We are extremely proud that he is leading the investigation of this critical area of knowledge."

Noting Fischer's renown as a scholar of free will and moral responsibility, Stephen Cullenberg, dean of the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, said, "There is perhaps no one better suited to lead a multidisciplinary research project on the question of immortality and its social implications. The Templeton Foundation's generous support will enable scholars from across the world to come to UCR to investigate how the question of immortality affects all cultures, albeit in different ways."

Anecdotal reports of near-death experiences, out-of-body experiences and past lives are plentiful, but it is important to subject these reports to careful analysis, Fischer said. The Immortality Project will solicit research proposals from eminent scientists, philosophers and theologians whose work will be reviewed by respected leaders in their fields and published in academic and popular journals.

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$5 million grant awarded to UC Riverside to study immortality

Chemistry on Mars video with Curiosity Rover from the American Chemical Society

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WASHINGTON, July 31, 2012 -- After an epic 354-million-mile trek through space, the Mars Curiosity Rover is zooming along at 13,000 miles per hour toward a scheduled August 6 landing on the Red Planet to search for evidence of extraterrestrial life. The newest episode of the American Chemical Society's (ACS') award-winning Bytesize Science video series highlights Curiosity Rover's mission, scientific instrumentation and the role that chemistry plays in the search for life on other planets. The video, produced by the ACS Office of Public Affairs, is available at http://www.BytesizeScience.com.

It features Mars Science Laboratory Deputy Science Manager Ashwin Vasavada, Ph.D., of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Vasavada takes viewers "under the hood" of the rover, explaining the role of the analytical chemistry instruments found onboard the Curiosity. The use of analytical chemistry techniques will aid in Curiosity's primary mission goal: to determine the habitability of the Gale Crater, which scientists believe was once filled with water.

The video explains several chemical processes that Curiosity is equipped to perform, including laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, mineralogy tests and X-ray spectroscopy. Test results from these instruments will pave the way for future Mars missions and may provide insight in the search for life on other planets.

For more entertaining, informative science videos and podcasts from the ACS Office of Public Affairs, view Prized Science, Spellbound, Science Elements and Global Challenges/Chemistry Solutions.

The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 164,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook.

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Chemistry on Mars video with Curiosity Rover from the American Chemical Society

Lixte Biotechnology Holdings Announces Increased Funding And FDA Allowance To Conduct A Phase I Trial Of Its Lead Anti …

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EAST SETAUKET, N.Y., July 31, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc. (LIXT.PK), announced allowance by the Food and Drug Administration to conduct a Phase I trial of its lead, potentially first-in-class, anti-cancer compound, LB-100. The trial will be conducted at a National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Lixte also reported raising $2,468,250 to initiate this trial and to continue its drug discovery research through an offering to holders of warrants for exercising their rights in cash.

Dr. John S. Kovach, founder and president of Lixte, said that, "LB-100, a novel anti-cancer compound, inhibits a target enzyme that has multiple activities in various tissues, including mediating the response of cells to DNA damage. Many standard anti-cancer drugs and radiation exert their therapeutic activity by damaging DNA. Inhibition of the target enzyme by LB-100 prevents cancer cells from defending themselves against this injury thereby enhancing the effectiveness of the treatment. Our priority is to determine the safety of LB-100 in the upcoming Phase I clinical trial and subsequently the extent of its anti-cancer activity in Phase II trials. Given the novel mechanism of action of LB-100 and its effectiveness in potentiating standard chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation in animal models, we are hopeful that LB-100 will be a significant addition to treatment regimens for a range of cancers. We are grateful to our investors who continue to support our programs as we achieve significant milestones."

About Lixte Biotechnology Holdings, Inc.Lixte is engaged primarily in development of improved treatments for cancer. The company was created to capitalize on opportunities to develop low cost, specific and sensitive tests for the early detection of cancers. Over the past five years, however, Lixte has evolved into what is now primarily a drug discovery company, using biomarker technology to identify vulnerable enzyme targets, which contribute to cancer and other serious non-malignant common diseases, and then design novel compounds to attack those targets.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. For example, statements regarding the Company's financial position, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations, and assumptions and predictions about future product demand, supply, manufacturing, costs, marketing and pricing factors are all forward-looking statements. These statements are generally accompanied by words such as "intend," anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "potential(ly)," "continue," "forecast," "predict," "plan," "may," "will," "could," "would," "should," "expect" or the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. The Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, based on information available to it on the date hereof, but the Company cannot provide assurances that these assumptions and expectations will prove to have been correct or that the Company will take any action that the Company may presently be planning. However, these forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or experience may differ materially from those expected or anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, regulatory policies, available cash, research results, competition from other similar businesses, and market and general economic factors. This discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in the Quarterly Report on Form 10Q for March 31, 2012.

For additional information, please see: http://www.Lixte.com

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Plandai Biotechnology Announces That in Recent Test Results Its Patented Phytofare(TM) Natural Green Tea "Catechins …

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SEATTLE, July 31, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plandai Biotechnology, Inc. (PLPL), a producer of highly bioavailable plant extracts, today announced recent test results support the use of catechins in preventing the spread of HIV. The report, published in Clinical Immunology, states that four catechins with the galloyl moiety, including catechin gallate (CG), epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), gallocatechin gallate (GCG), and epicatechin gallate (ECG), were found to effectively inhibit HIV-1 integrase. Integrase is the enzyme produced by a virus that allows it to be integrated into the infected cell. Inhibiting integrase is seen as a key component in preventing the spread of retroviruses such as HIV.

The study, while recognizing previous research demonstrating the potential for green tea catechins in preventing HIV, sought to isolate the operative factors that yielded these results. The researchers found that the four catechins may bind between the HIV-1 integrase, thus disrupting its interaction with virus DNA. The four catechins have a highly cooperative inhibitory effect, suggesting that catechins with the galloyl moiety could be a novel and effective class of HIV-1 integrase inhibitors.

In 2007 the first HIV-1 integrase target drug, Raltegravir, was approved by the Food and Drug Administration. While HIV-1 integrase has become an attractive drug target recently, raltegravir resistance mutations have been found in clinical trials.

Roger Duffield, Chief Executive Officer of Plandai, commented, "The recently approved clinical integrase inhibitors are almost all derived from diketo acid (DKA), a synthetic compound that selectively inhibits the strand transfer step of integration. Catechins, however, are natural compounds found in tea that are well-known for their healthy effects and safety. Thus, catechins may provide a safe and well-tolerated drug. Furthermore, catechins are cheap natural compounds. A clinical dose of our green tea derived catechin extract would be approximately 700 times cheaper than raltegravir. Thus, catechins that contain a galloyl moiety may drastically reduce the prescription cost for HIV-1 patients and may be popular among low-income populations."

Plandai Biotechnology's patented highly-bioavailable green tea extract, Phytofare(TM), is a green tea-based extract rich in all four catechins and eight times better absorbed by human tissue.

About Plandai Biotechnology, Inc.

Plandai Biotechnology, Inc. focuses on the farming of whole fruits, vegetables and live plant material and the production of proprietary functional foods and botanical extracts for the health and wellness industry. Its principle holdings consist of land, farms and infrastructure in South Africa. Web site: http://www.plandaibiotech.com/

Safe Harbor Statement

The information provided may contain forward-looking statements and involve risks and uncertainties. Results, events and performances could vary from those contemplated. These statements involve risks and uncertainties which may cause actual results, expressed or implied, to differ from predicted outcomes. Risks and uncertainties include product demand, market competition, and Plandai's ability to meet current or future plans. Investors should study and understand all risks before making an investment decision. Readers are recommended not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. Plandai is not obliged to publicly release revisions to any forward-looking statement, to reflect events or circumstances afterward, or to disclose unanticipated occurrences, except as required under applicable laws.

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Annabelle to undergo stem cell therapy

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MANILA, Philippines Talent manager Annabelle Rama revealed that she will be undergoing stem cell therapy in September.

She confirmed this report to The Philippine Stars entertainment columnist Ricky Lo.

Rama said shes been suffering from several illnesses and that stem cell therapy may help make her feel better.

Im suffering from high-blood pressure, high-blood sugar and other ailments and from what I heard, after the therapy I would feel better. Lahat daw yon gagaling, she said.

Rama said her son Richard Gutierrez, who will be paying for the whole procedure, also urged her to have her back problem checked.

Richard wants me to have my scoliosis checked and my lumbar region which are giving me so much pain. So I will have two more injections for that, each costing an extra one thousand euros, she said.

Lo said in his article that the whole package, which will include nine injections, will cost around P1 million.

Meanwhile, although she earlier vented on Twitter her disappointment that her family is against her plan to run for Congress, it seems that her children have changed their mind about politics.

Rama said she is hoping that she will feel renewed after her upcoming stem cell therapy so she will be ready to file her certificate of candidacy as a Cebu congresswoman when she comes back.

Richard and my other children want me to be physically fit for the campaign, Rama said.

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Annabelle to undergo stem cell therapy

Approach stem cell therapy with caution, doctors say

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Stem cell therapy has been building quite the reputation as a costly but groundbreaking medical procedure that promises to restore youth and revitalize those who choose to undergo treatment.

However, doctors from the Philippine Medical Association (PMA) and the Department of Health (DOH) have advised the public to be careful about choosing where to go for therapy.

Ang proseso nito talagang mabusisi at professional dapat ang gumagawa nito, at dapat sa malaking medical center lang, molecular biologist and stem cell therapy expert Dr. Sam Bernal said in an interview Friday with Susan Enriquez on GMA News Unang Hirit.

Likewise, in a report on GMA News TVs Balitanghali on July 9, PMA vice-president Dr. Leo Olarte said kailangan ay pumunta ka diyan sa kilalang doctor or kilalang hospital which is known for honesty, competence, credibility.

Bernal explained that human organs originated from stem cells.

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Approach stem cell therapy with caution, doctors say

NASA Announces Media Activities for Mars Curiosity Mission Landing

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WASHINGTON -- News briefings, photo opportunities, and other media events at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, Calif., are set for the upcoming landing of NASA's Curiosity rover on Mars.

NASA's Mars Science Laboratory mission will deliver the 1-ton, car-size robotic roving laboratory to the surface of Mars at 1:31 a.m. EDT Aug. 6 (10:31 p.m. PDT Aug. 5). Curiosity's landing will mark the start of a two-year prime mission to investigate whether one of the most intriguing places on Mars ever has offered an environment favorable for microbial life.

ACCREDITATION AND PARKING PASSES

News media representatives who wish to cover the rover landing and Mars surface operations from JPL must have accreditation in advance from the JPL Media Relations Office. The application period has been open since June 5 and some deadlines have passed. For more information, visit the credentialing website at: http://media-credentials.jpl.nasa.gov/

Media who have completed applications and received confirmation their applications have been approved may pick up credentials at JPL Visitor Reception during newsroom operating hours. Credentials must be picked up in person and valid photo identification must be shown. Non-U.S. citizens must bring their passport and visa or a permanent resident alien registration card. JPL is located at 4800 Oak Grove Dr. in Pasadena. Parking passes also will be distributed with credentials and will be essential for parking Aug. 5. The following times are all PDT.

The JPL Newsroom will open at 9 a.m. Aug. 1. Newsroom operating hours, subject to change, are:

Wednesday, Aug. 1 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 2 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 5 8:30 a.m. to round-the-clock Monday, Aug. 6 round-the-clock to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 8 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 9 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The JPL Newsroom telephone number is 818-354-5011.

NEWS BRIEFING AND TELEVISED EVENT SCHEDULE

News briefings will be held at JPL beginning Thursday, Aug. 2, and carried live on NASA Television. Additional events, including a NASA Social Media event Aug. 1 and landing commentary Aug. 5 will be televised. A full schedule of live news briefings is available at: http://www.nasa.gov/ntvnews and http://www.nasa.gov/msl

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NASA Announces Media Activities for Mars Curiosity Mission Landing

NASA Ames Celebrates Curiosity Rover's Landing on Mars

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PRESS RELEASE Date Released: Monday, July 30, 2012 Source: Ames Research Center

NASA Ames Celebrates Curiosity Rover's Landing on Mars

MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. - NASA's Ames Research Center will celebrate the upcoming landing of the Curiosity rover on Mars with a variety of activities. Included will be pre- and post-landing live televised broadcasts of NASA news briefings featuring local Mars experts, a huge public event expected to attract thousands of spectators, and the first ever multi-center NASA Social highlighting Ames' role in the mission for social media.

During a critical period lasting about seven minutes, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft carrying Curiosity must decelerate from about 13,200 mph to about 1.7 mph for the rover to land on the surface at approximately 10:31 p.m. PDT Aug. 5. Curiosity will investigate whether an area with a wet history inside Mars' Gale Crater ever has offered an environment favorable for microbial life. The mission is a precursor for future human missions to Mars, which President Obama has set a challenge to reach in the 2030s.

Ames is contributing to this exciting mission in a variety of ways, including:

- CheMin: Ames is the lead for the Chemical and Mineralogy (CheMin) instrument that will identify and quantify the minerals in Martian rocks and soils.

- Arc Jet testing: The MSL heat shield was tested at Ames' Arc Jet Complex, which reproduces heating and pressure conditions similar to those experienced by spacecraft during atmospheric re-entry.

- Parachute testing: Wind tunnel engineers conducted a full-scale MSL parachute deployment, small-scale verification tests and supersonic tests to study the interaction between the MSL capsule and parachute during atmospheric entry.

- PICA: Researchers invented the unique thermal protection system consisting of tiles made of Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) that the MSL spacecraft will use to safely reach the surface of the Red Planet.

- MEDLI: The Mars Science Laboratory Entry, Descent and Landing Instrument (MEDLI) contains multiple sophisticated temperature sensors to measure atmospheric conditions and performance of the capsule's heat shield.

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NASA Ames Celebrates Curiosity Rover's Landing on Mars

Northwestern Medicine hosts the National Marfan Foundation's Annual Conference

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Contact: Todd Medland tmedland@nmh.org 312-926-0735 Northwestern Memorial Hospital

The National Marfan Foundation is gearing up for its 28th Annual conference, held at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, August 2-5. Hosted by Northwestern Medicine and the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, the four-day conference has something for everyone with Marfan syndrome (MFS) and related disorders, including access to many of the top MFS experts in the world. Among the notable MFS experts will be Northwestern's own Marla A. Mendelson, MD, cardiologist, and cardiac surgeon, S. Chris Malaisrie, MD.

"In addition to the medical presentations and small-group workshops, conference attendees have the opportunity to make an appointment for a free evaluation with some of the top Marfan experts," said Marla Mendelson, MD, medical director of the Program for Women's Cardiovascular Health at Northwestern Memorial's Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. "It's extremely important that people with Marfan syndrome get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment advice to prevent serious and even life-threatening consequences."

MFS affects men and women, young and old, and people of all races and ethnicities. MFS is most often genetic, although one in four instances occurs in people with no family history. It's an abnormality in the body's connective tissue. Connective tissue helps support all parts of the body and helps regulate growth and development. Therefore, MFS patients can experience problems in many areas, including the eyes, heart, bones, lungs and spinal cord. One of the most serious complications of MFS involves the heart's main blood vessel, the aorta, which is a major source for pumping blood throughout the body. When MFS is present, the aorta can stretch and grow weak, leading to an aortic aneurysm. An aneurysm may tear, leak blood, or even worse, burst. A very serious condition called aortic dissection can lead to severe heart problems or even death as well.

"This comprehensive conference offers a CME course for physicians and healthcare professionals on current diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for patients with Marfan syndrome and related disorders," said Chris Malaisrie, MD, cardiac surgeon at Northwestern's Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute. Malaisrie adds that early intervention is imperative, and that the cardiovascular abnormalities are by far the most serious, requiring major medical and potentially surgical intervention.

"Children and teens with Marfan syndrome can encounter multiple physical and psychosocial challenges related to their disorder," said Luciana Young, MD, cardiologist and director of echocardiography at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. "Due to the risk for aortic dissection, many young MFS patients require restricted physical activities. And, psychosocially speaking, children and teens may struggle with issues of self-esteem related to their physical appearance."

Drs. Mendelson, Malaisrie and Young reiterate that this conference is designed for people with MFS and related disorders to come together and learn from experts. There are workshops for children, teens and young adults to give those with MFS and related disorders a platform to discuss their issues and bond with one another. Nearly 7,500 individuals with MFS, families, spouses, siblings and medical professionals have attended this event since it kicked off in 1982.

Northwestern Medicine is the shared vision that joins Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and the Feinberg School in a collaborative effort to transform medicine through quality healthcare, academic excellence and scientific discovery.

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Northwestern Medicine hosts the National Marfan Foundation's Annual Conference