Monthly Archives: July 2012

UA medical school in Phoenix a hub of growth

Posted on by

by Ken Alltucker - Jul. 21, 2012 03:37 PM The Republic | azcentral.com

With the arrival of 80 fresh-faced medical students for classes this week at University of Arizona's medical school in Phoenix, Arizona's grand experiment to create a medical and research hub in downtown Phoenix takes another step forward.

The 80 students represent the largest class since the UA College of Medicine established a downtown Phoenix campus five years ago. Those future doctors soon will share the newly opened health sciences education building with Northern Arizona University students who are studying to become physical therapists and physician assistants.

Beyond the new building, new programs and new students, the campus is scheduled to expand later this year with the groundbreakings of a 250,000-square-foot University of Arizona Cancer Center and a privately funded biotech lab next to the building anchored by the Translational Genomics Research Institute and International Genomics Consortium.

The downtown Phoenix campus also could receive renewed focus from the University of Arizona's new president, Ann Weaver Hart, and the Arizona Board of Regents' newly formed health committee.

Arizona leaders have high expectations that the Phoenix Biomedical Campus will sprout jobs, health-care professionals and medical discoveries that bolster Arizona's effort to grow its health-care and biotechnology sectors. And even though the biomedical campus has had challenges -- such as Arizona State University ending its partnership with UA's medical school and leadership changes -- university officials are optimistic about the biomedical campus' potential.

"It's important to show it is continuing forward progress," said Jay Heiler, who chairs the Arizona Board of Regents health committee. "It is critical not only for the universities. It is going to end up emerging as a very important piece of Arizona's economy."

Although the medical-school campus has classroom and lab space, it does not have clinical space where practitioners and health-care students can hone their craft and treat patients. The Arizona Cancer Center is slated to become the campus' first clinical presence with a scheduled groundbreaking later this year.

St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center and the University of Arizona are still negotiating lease terms for the $135 million cancer center even though the Phoenix wanted such details to be completed by the end of June. Both parties insist that they are on track to meet the most important goal established by Phoenix: starting construction by Dec. 22.

Plans call for St. Joseph's Hospital to operate the cancer center's clinic, and 70 percent of the building's area will be devoted to clinical space. But the exact amount of space that St. Joseph's will require is subject to ongoing talks between the two groups, said Dr. David Alberts, director of the Arizona Cancer Center.

View post:
UA medical school in Phoenix a hub of growth

Why is NASA's latest Mars Rover biggest and best yet?

Posted on by

NASA's Mars Curiosity Rover, expected to land on the Red planet in three weeks, is NASA's most advanced robotic mission yet.

When NASA's newest rover, Curiosity, reaches Mars in about three weeks, it will not be the first to set its wheels on the Red Planet, but it will be the largest and most advanced robotic explorer that has ever been sent to our planetary neighbor.

Subscribe Today to the Monitor

Click Here for your FREE 30 DAYS of The Christian Science Monitor Weekly Digital Edition

TheCuriosity rover, also called the Mars Science Laboratory, was launched in late November 2011, and is expected to land on Mars on the night of Aug. 5 PDT (early Aug. 6 EDT). The $2.5 billion rover will touch down at Gale Crater, and is designed to search for clues that Mars could be now, or in the ancient past, a habitable planet for microbial life.

NASA first set its sights on landing on the Red Planet in the 1970s. The agency achieved its first Mars landing in 1976 with the Viking 1 lander. Since then, the agency has had six spacecraft successfullytouch down on the Martian surface. But with the impending arrival of Curiosity, NASA will showcase the most sophisticated Martian rover yet.

"The Curiosity landing is the hardest NASA robotic mission ever attempted in the history ofexploration of Mars, or any of our robot exploration," John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said in a news briefing Monday (July 16) at the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

For starters, the way Curiosity will lower itself to the surface of Mars in less than 20 days is unprecedented. The rover will use a new and complex sky crane system to slow its descent.

According to Doug McCuistion, director of the Mars Exploration Program at NASA Headquarters, Curiosity's landing "could arguably be the most important event most significant event in the history of planetary exploration." [How Curiosity's Nail-Biting Landing Works (Pictures)]

Previous Mars rovers, such as the twin Spirit and Opportunity rovers (collectively known as theMars Exploration Rovers), used airbags to cushion their landing. Spirit and Opportunity arrived at the Red Planet about three weeks apart in January 2004. Each rover weighs about 384 pounds (174 kilograms), but since Curiosity tips the scales at 1 ton, it was deemed too heavy and too large for an airbag-assisted landing.

Read the original here:

Why is NASA's latest Mars Rover biggest and best yet?

Real life shooting imitates training exercise at Parker medical school

Posted on by

The tragedy that played out in an Aurora movie theater Friday was ironically paralleled as a classroom learning experience in a medical school in Parker the same day.

Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine is in the middle of holding specialized classes in disaster life support for 150 second-year medical students. Along with response to natural disasters like hurricanes and floods and terrorist attacks, one of the scenarios being used to train the students is how to respond if a shooter fires at people in a movie theater and also uses a bomb in the attack.

"The irony is amazing, just amazing," said Rocky Vista Dean Dr. Bruce Dubin.

He said emergency specialist physicians from Parkland Hospital in Dallas as well as from several other emergency programs around the country are teaching the Advanced Disaster Life Support Training. Rocky Vista is the only medical school in the nation to make that training a part of the curriculum.

"They are trained to respond in every type of disaster," Dubin said.

The shootings in Aurora were incorporated into the teaching Friday, Dubin said.

"It made these medical students very aware that these kinds of things can happen anywhere," he said. "The events of this tragedy have helped to drive that home."

Nancy Lofholm: 970-256-1957, nlofholm@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nlofholm

See the original post here:

Real life shooting imitates training exercise at Parker medical school

Pierce candidate's presidency at medical school ended in lawsuits

Posted on by

Congressional candidate Stan Flemming, a Pierce County councilman, touts numerous public and civic accomplishments to underline his leadership skills. They include his tenure from 2007 to 2009 as president of the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, a medical school in Yakima.

However, Flemming doesnt mention that his stint ended in a flurry of lawsuits and acrimony.

Court records tell two stories of Flemmings term as president. Both revolve around money.

Version A:

In 2007, Flemming reluctantly takes charge of Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences, a new nonprofit college built on shaky financial footing and a dubious business model.

Flemming steers the place to long-term viability. He departs in November 2009 after local powers usurp his authority, offend his ethics and violate his contract. He sues the university for his severance pay: $708,000.

Version B:

University leaders sue Flemming, saying he doesnt deserve his severance pay. They contend he verbally resigned his position on Nov. 10, 2009, after a period of escalating misconduct, fiduciary and contractual breaches that would have otherwise led to his termination.

The stories ended at the same moment in May 2010: a settlement agreement with strict confidentiality provisions, noted at the end of the case file in Yakima County Superior Court.

Attorneys for both sides say they cant discuss terms of the settlement. Flemming says he never resigned. He says the university agreed to pay him in full, 100 percent.

Go here to see the original:

Pierce candidate's presidency at medical school ended in lawsuits

Liberty Eyeing James River As Power Source

Posted on by

Virginia Man Gets 30 Days For Strangling Cat Virginia Man Gets 30 Days For Strangling Cat

Updated: Saturday, July 21 2012 1:44 PM EDT2012-07-21 17:44:04 GMT

Updated: Saturday, July 21 2012 12:59 PM EDT2012-07-21 16:59:07 GMT

Updated: Saturday, July 21 2012 11:58 AM EDT2012-07-21 15:58:17 GMT

Updated: Saturday, July 21 2012 10:55 AM EDT2012-07-21 14:55:46 GMT

LYNCHBURG, VA. (AP) - Liberty University is studying the possibility of using the James River to generate electricity. The Lynchburg university founded by the late Jerry Falwell has filed an application with the Federal Regulatory Commission proposing to study the feasibility of installing a powerhouse with four generators at the Scotts Mill Dam near Lynchburg. LU spokesman Lee Beaumont told the News & Advance of Lynchburg the university is investigating whether the power source could lead to savings on energy. He said Liberty is amid a review of its energy policy. The application to FERC seeks a preliminary permit. That's a first step in what would be a long licensing process with the agency.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

See original here:

Liberty Eyeing James River As Power Source

Liberty University Nursing Adds New Certificate Program This Fall

Posted on by

Liberty University’s new Maternal-Child Critical Care Certificate Program through the Department of Nursing gives students with a passion for critical care of mothers and babies increased knowledge that will strengthen their skillset as they enter the field.Lynchburg, VA (PRWEB) July 21, 2012 Liberty University’s new Maternal-Child Critical Care Certificate Program through the Department of ...

Originally posted here:

Liberty University Nursing Adds New Certificate Program This Fall

Libertarian presidential candidate visits NC

Posted on by

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Libertarian Party's presidential candidate will join the party's gubernatorial hopeful in North Carolina to run on the campaign trail both figuratively and literally.

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson plans to join North Carolina nominee Barbara Howe on Saturday morning in a 5-kilometer run north of Charlotte. Howe said it will be her 50th 5K run since promising to run that distance in all 100 counties as part of her campaign.

The state Libertarian Party says Johnson will campaign in Charlotte later Saturday. He'll hold a lunch fundraiser, speak at a rally of conservatives opposed to what they call unconstitutional wars and participate in a dinner at a Charlotte country club.

Howe has run for governor two previous times.

Read more here:

Libertarian presidential candidate visits NC

Owners of islands shun PM Noda’s bid

Posted on by

Reuters/Tokyo

Prime Minister Yoshihiko Nodas effort to nationalise a chain of disputed islands long a source of friction between Japan and China faced rough going after the isles owners said yesterday that they would keep negotiating their sale to Tokyos governor. The stance by the Kurihara family, which owns four of the five uninhabited islands in the East China Sea, complicates Nodas efforts to dampen friction between the two Asian giants over the islands, claimed by China, Taiwan and Japan and located near rich fishing grounds and potential gas and oil fields. The starting line of our negotiations was with the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and at present we are proceeding with these discussions, said Hiroyuki Kurihara, whose brother and sister own the islands and lease them to Japans government. It is not our familys idea to suddenly switch partners just because someone else has appeared on the scene, Kurihara, 65, told a news conference. Noda said this month the government was considering buying the islands instead of letting Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara an outspoken China critic go ahead with a similar plan. Diplomatic experts said Nodas move was intended to avoid a worsening of Sino-Japanese tensions but risked backfiring and indeed, Beijing has harshly criticised both plans, arguing the islands have been its territory since ancient times. Ties between Beijing and Tokyo went into a deep chill in 2010 after Japan arrested a Chinese trawler captain whose boat collided with Japanese Coast Guard vessels near the islands, and analysts say the feud has the potential to flare again. The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is expected to apply soon for permission to land on the islands, a move that could put the central government in a tight spot. Activists from Japan, China and Taiwan have landed on the islands in the past, sparking diplomatic disputes.

See the original post:

Owners of islands shun PM Noda’s bid

Jail time for trio in Cook Islands drug bust

Posted on by

Published: 8:57PM Saturday July 21, 2012 Source: ONE News

Three people involved in the Cook Islands' biggest ever drug bust have been sent to jail for up to six years.

Former senior policewoman Inano Matapo, her partner Giovanni Marsters and the postal worker who helped them Sam Tangaroa were all sentenced after admitting the role they played in a drug ring busted last year by 11 Kiwi cops.

Marsters was jailed for six years after pleading guilty to cannabis charges, including importing the drug.

Matapo, who's also the daughter of the former police commissioner, admitted selling the drug and corruption charges and was sentenced to two and a half years.

And Tangaroa, a postal worker who would intercept drug parcels before police dogs could detect them, will spend four years in jail for selling and supplying cannabis and importing the seeds.

Their arrests followed a year long investigation into the importation and distribution of cannabis in the Cook Islands.

A total of 13 people were arrested including a former high-ranking New Zealand policeman.

Mark Franklin was a Detective Inspector before leaving the police force to work as an independent investigator in Rarotonga.

It is alleged he was a small time dealer selling cannabis from a local bar.

Originally posted here:

Jail time for trio in Cook Islands drug bust

Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands join for ocean project

Posted on by

Colo. shooting spurs campaigns to limit schedules Colo. shooting spurs campaigns to limit schedules The deadly shootings at a movie theater in Colorado have briefly silenced the presidential campaign, prompting both President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney to cut short their schedules. The deadly shooting at a movie theater in Colorado has briefly silenced the presidential campaign, prompting both President Barack Obama and likely Republican challenger Mitt Romney to cut short their schedules and pull... Names of victims emerge in Colo. theater rampage Names of victims emerge in Colo. theater rampage A sports blogger who recently wrote about surviving a shooting in Canada. A man preparing to celebrate his first wedding anniversary. A young woman whose death announcement brought heartbreak, yet closure, to her... Ashley Moser drifted in and out of consciousness in the ICU, bullets lodged in her throat and abdomen. In her waking moments, she called for her 6-year-old daughter Veronica. News guide to the Colorado movie theater massacre News guide to the Colorado movie theater massacre By The Associated Press Here's a guide to some key questions in the wake of the mass shooting at a Colorado movie theater during a showing of "The Dark Knight Rises." By The Associated Press Here's a guide to some key questions in the wake of the mass shooting at a Colorado movie theater during a showing of "The Dark Knight Rises." US pledge to rebuild Haiti not being met US pledge to rebuild Haiti not being met The deadly earthquake that leveled Haiti's capital more than two years ago brought a thread of hope: a promise of renewal. With the United States taking the lead, international donors pledged billions of dollars... The deadly earthquake that leveled Haiti's capital more than two years ago brought a thread of hope: a promise of renewal. With the United States taking the lead, international donors pledged billions of dollars to help... Syria revolt reaches Aleppo; rebels target cities Syria revolt reaches Aleppo; rebels target cities Activists and opposition groups say Syrian troops and rebels have clashed for a second day in the northern city of Aleppo. Riding a wave of momentum, Syrian rebels made a run on Aleppo Saturday in some of the fiercest fighting seen in the country's largest city, which has been a key bastion of support for President Bashar Assad over the... Suspect arrested in LA homeless stabbings Suspect arrested in LA homeless stabbings Detectives have discovered that a fake name appeared on notes left at the scenes of three stabbings of homeless people in the Los Angeles area. Police arrested a suspect in the stabbings of three Los Angeles-area homeless people in recent weeks, a man they say goes by a name signed on "death warrants" found with the wounded victims. Bomb squads disarm traps at Colo. suspect's apt Bomb squads disarm traps at Colo. suspect's apt A Colorado suburb shocked and saddened by a deadly shooting spree at a midnight unveiling of the latest Batman movie grieved for the victims while authorities sought a motive and a safe way to reach clues inside... Authorities on Saturday began disarming trip wires and explosive devices "set up to kill" inside the apartment of the suspect in the deadly Colorado movie theater shooting, hoping to find clues to his motive without... Drew Peterson heads to trial in third wife's death Drew Peterson heads to trial in third wife's death Drew Peterson, the former police officer accused in the drowning death of his third wife, returns to the national spotlight next week when he goes on trial in suburban Chicago. For a man whose fourth wife had just disappeared, Drew Peterson didn't sound the least bit worried. He seemed almost gleeful, suggesting that she had run off with another man and that all her threats of divorce coincided... Authorities refocus efforts to locate 2 Iowa girls Authorities refocus efforts to locate 2 Iowa girls Authorities say the FBI divers who searched a northeast Iowa lake for two missing cousins have left the state as investigators explore other possibilites. Authorities say the FBI divers who searched a northeast Iowa lake for two missing cousins have left the state as investigators explore other possibilites. Air Force instructor sentenced to 20 years Air Force instructor sentenced to 20 years An Air Force instructor convicted of raping a female recruit and sexually assaulting several others is asking a military jury not to give him a life sentence. An Air Force instructor was sentenced to 20 years in prison Saturday, after being convicted of rape and sexual assault in a sweeping sex scandal that rocked one of the nation's busiest military training centers. Obama speaks on Colorado movie theater rampage Obama speaks on Colorado movie theater rampage Obama: Colorado shooting is reminder that 'small things' don't matter; Romney also to respond Obama: Colorado shooting is reminder that 'small things' don't matter; Romney also to respond Yahoo turns to former nemesis to be its CEO savior Yahoo turns to former nemesis to be its CEO savior After losing to Google for years, Yahoo strikes back by raiding its rival for its new CEO After losing to Google for years, Yahoo strikes back by raiding its rival for its new CEO NASA builds menu for planned Mars mission in 2030s Martian menu: Planned 2030 mission to Mars may give astronauts the chance to cook in space Martian menu: Planned 2030 mission to Mars may give astronauts the chance to cook in space Obama gets a second chance on the Kiss Cam Obama gets a second chance on the Kiss Cam A cautious Obama passes up kissing the first lady on basketball arena screen _ but not twice A cautious Obama passes up kissing the first lady on basketball arena screen _ but not twice Obama: I believe in in-sourcing Obama: I believe in in-sourcing Obama discusses his jobs program at an election rally Obama discusses his jobs program at an election rally Tart cherry crop in Midwest destroyed by weather Tart cherry crop in Midwest destroyed by weather Tart cherry companies struggle after warm spring followed by freeze destroys Midwest crop Tart cherry companies struggle after warm spring followed by freeze destroys Midwest crop Penn State probe accuses Paterno of cover-up Penn State probe accuses Paterno of cover-up Penn State probe says Paterno and others hushed up sex abuse reports for fear of bad publicity Penn State probe says Paterno and others hushed up sex abuse reports for fear of bad publicity Freeh: Penn St. disregarded children's safety Freeh: Penn St. disregarded children's safety Freeh: Penn St. officials had 'total disregard' for safety, welfare of Jerry Sandusky victims Freeh: Penn St. officials had 'total disregard' for safety, welfare of Jerry Sandusky victims Vet uses music to heal -- but says he's no 'hero' Vet uses music to heal -- but says he's no 'hero' 'Hero' label can be a barrier to healing after war, so vet singer tells it like it is 'Hero' label can be a barrier to healing after war, so vet singer tells it like it is Click it: Remember to check computer for malware Click it: Remember to check computer for malware In between scanning Twitter feeds, Facebook accounts, remember to check computer for malware In between scanning Twitter feeds, Facebook accounts, remember to check computer for malware

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are partnering to better manage and preserve their coastal and ocean resources.

Puerto Rico's natural resources secretary says the partnership will target pollution, tourism, fishing, renewable energy and other issues. Daniel Galan Kercado says both U.S. territories also will share resources to study marine ecosystems and develop an economic plan to boost tourism.

The Caribbean Regional Ocean Partnership was signed late Friday.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Originally posted here:

Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands join for ocean project

Refugee claimant cuts cost system

Posted on by

Federal cuts that have left refugee claimants with little to no health coverage are expected to come at a high cost to Hamilton's health system.

Many area health care providers continue to care for refugee claimants at the expense of their bottom line since the cuts to the interim federal health program took effect June 30.

My background is to treat patients that need you regardless of whether they have funding or not, said Dr. Allen Greenspoon, a family doctor at the Hamilton Community Health Centre on Victoria Avenue North. My first and foremost commitment is to patients. We just see patients if they need our help.

Health Minister Deb Matthews estimates caring for refugees cost $1.3 million at one Toronto hospital alone. Hamilton is also bracing to be hit hard as one of Ontario's top destinations for newcomers.

It's not sustainable to continue to see patients without funding, said Greenspoon. There has to be a proper plan in place to treat patients as necessary.

Hamilton's hospitals and the Maternity Centre of Hamilton have all said they won't turn refugee claimants away. They'll try to work out payment plans with them but are aware they'll likely end up absorbing a lot of bad debts. About 10 per cent of the maternity centre's 800 patients a year are funded by the interim federal health program.

It's not going to unhinge us, said Claudia Steffler, the centre's unit director. But it is something that factors into the big scheme of keeping things afloat.

Federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq said during her first trip to Hamilton this week that the health care system simply can't afford to care for refugee claimants.

We plan for our health-care system with our population, she said. What we don't do is plan for a health-care system of non Canadians. I think this is about fairness to Canadians and Canadians would expect that.

Ontario's health minister counters that the move only saves the federal government money while putting a tremendous burden on the provincial health care systems.

See the original post:

Refugee claimant cuts cost system

Health care reform law will lead to rational care, not rationing

Posted on by

In this file photo taken May 14, 2012, Kathy Watson sits outside Shands Lake Shore Hospital, where she receives her cancer treatment and also picks up patients for her medical transport company, in Lake City, Fla. Watson voted Republican in 2008 and believes the government has no right telling Americans to get health insurance. Nonetheless, she says she'd be dead if it weren't for President Barack Obama's health care law.

Associated Press

Enlarge photo

The Affordable Care Act remains in Republican crosshairs and very much in the news. In recent days, several patients have asked me what the law will mean for them. Many of the people I care for are incurably ill and need expensive medical care to stay alive. They've heard politicians say "Obamacare" will take away their choices, rob them of hope for living longer and cast their fate to "death panels" of faceless bureaucrats. Fortunately, none of this is true.

As a palliative care physician, I was relieved by the Supreme Court's ruling and hope Congress allows the law to stand. This is not a partisan reaction. Diseases know no politics. I'm relieved because this law may well unravel patterns of payment and practice that promote irrational care and make dying much harder than it has to be.

Today, most doctors are salaried employees and health care is a complex industry. Yet we still pay physicians for the quantity of procedures they perform rather than the quality of care and results they provide. Our system is specialist-centered rather than patient-centered. And anyone who has watched a loved one die badly will tell you that sometimes specialists do too much.

Our current structure for financing and delivering medical treatment developed in the decades after World War II, when doctors' offices were the engines of the health care system. Doctors were paid for services: an office visit, house call, setting a broken bone, performing an appendectomy or tonsillectomy. The busier doctors were, because of demand or reputation, the more money they made.

The state of end-of-life care in America is marked by too many treatments and too little attention to alleviating pain, clear communication between doctors and patients (or their families) and coordination among multiple specialists or treatment centers. In the quest to save lives, our health care system has become exclusively a disease-treatment system.

Medical miracles abound: antibiotics, sophisticated surgery, organ transplantation, artificial kidneys, mechanical ventilators, implantable defibrillators and pumps to assist failing hearts. But medical science has yet to make one person immortal although from the way the health care is paid for and delivered, you would think we had.

In the prevailing fee-for-service financing system, insurers, including Medicare and Medicaid, routinely reimburse hospitals and doctors for treatments regardless of whether they have been proved to be effective. All of this makes money for doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical and medical device companies. But it makes no sense for dying people, only adding to their and their families' miseries.

Original post:

Health care reform law will lead to rational care, not rationing

Wapello clinic will shut down

Posted on by

WAPELLO - The University of Iowa Health Care clinic in Wapello is closing its doors after 14 years of service, UI Health Care officials announced Thursday.

Russell Quinton, a physicians assistant at the clinic, said the staff was notified Wednesday. The last day of services will be Aug. 31.

"Economic reality and other factors indicate that our direct involvement in providing primary care services in this community cannot continue," Rami Boutros, executive medical director for off-site clinics, said in a release. "At this point, we need to consolidate our medical resources in locations where they will be able to serve more people."

The clinic is located at 218 N. Second St. in Wapello.

Advertisement

"Their dollars are getting short, and they had to consolidate. It makes business sense," Quinton said. "They want to focus more on the clinics closer to Iowa City."

Patient care at the site is provided by Quinton and additional staff.

Quinton, a receptionist and two nurses now are left looking for another job.

"(The University) is closing the clinic, but they are helping us find work," Quinton said. "They are trying to support the staff through all of this."

Finding work, Quinton said, is not his main concern.

Read more:

Wapello clinic will shut down

European Agency Recommends Gene Therapy Approval

Posted on by

redOrbit Staff & Wire Reports Your Universe Online

A European Union agency for the evaluation of medicinal products is recommending the approval of a gene therapy treatment for a rare disease, which would be the first time a treatment of this kind has received the regulatory go-ahead for use in the West, according to various reports published Friday.

A statement released by the European Medicines Agency (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) officially recommended the authorization of Glybera (alipogene tiparvovec) for use throughout all EU member states. Glybera, which is manufactured by the Dutch firm uniQure, is used to treat lipoprotein lipase deficiency (LPLD), an extremely rare disorder that prevents people from digesting fat.

It had previously been rejected by the EMA on three occasions, but was approved at the behest of the European Commission, the Associated Press (AP) explained. Furthermore, the agency recommended approval under strict conditions, including requiring uniQure to create a registry in order to track patients using the experimental treatment, which had only been tested on 27 patients during previous clinical trials.

The recommendation requires final approval from the European Commission, but as Thomas H. Maugh II of the Los Angeles Times points out, the Commission generally follows the recommendations of the agency, and if it does so this time, the product could be available in all 27 members of the European Union by the end of the year.

If Glybera does indeed receive approval, it will become the first gene therapy to be made available outside a clinical trial in either Europe or the United States, Guardian reporter Ian Sample said. In 2004, a gene therapy designed to treat cancer was approved in China, but the prospect of this type of treatment becoming widely available outside of the Asian market has created excitements amongst experts.

This is a watershed moment. Gene therapy holds incredible promise for people, especially those with rare diseases, former FDA Director of Orphan Products Development Tim Cot, currently an independent consultant at the Keck Graduate Institute in California, told Sample. This is not an isolated example, this is the beginning of something. It paves the way for the approval of other treatments of this kind.

There are about 3,000 of these rare genetic diseases out there waiting for a cure and this is the first one to come through. If you ask me, gene therapy is the way were going to cure those 3,000 diseases, he added.

Essentially, gene therapy replaces problematic genes with healthy copies, and while the process can be easily explained, it has been far harder to master, Sample said. Several early forms of the treatment proved ineffective as they were unable to produce enough copies of the correct cell types, and some even created the incorrect types of genes, in some cases resulting in patient death.

LPLD, which affects approximately one or two out of every million individuals, occurs when a persons body lacks an enzyme that breaks down chylomicrons, or large fat-carrying molecules that enter the circulation following a meal. The deficiency of the lipoprotein causes the chylomicrons to accumulate, leading to whitening of the blood, the blocking of smaller blood vessels, and inflammation of the pancreas.

See the rest here:

European Agency Recommends Gene Therapy Approval

Freedom Post Shutout to End Losing Streak

Posted on by

July 20, 2012 - Frontier League (FL) Florence Freedom O'Fallon,MO - The Florence Freedom shutout the River City Rascals Friday night with a 7-0 win. With the victory, the Freedom improved to 29-27 on the season and ended their five game losing streak.

The Freedom jumped out to a 2-0 lead, thanks to a pair of solo homeruns by Eddie Rodriguez and Jim Jacquot. Rodriguez hit his 7th of the year in the 2nd inning while Jacquot launched his 5th long ball of the season in the 4th. Andres Caceres improved to 5-2, as the Freedom starter went 5.1 innings, yielding only 3 hits, while walking 5 and striking out 2.

The Freedom added to their lead in the 8th inning sending eight men to the plate as Esteban Meletiche scored from 3rd on a wild pitch, Peter Fatse hit a bases clearing three run triple, and Rodriguez added a SAC Fly. Victor Gomez led the Freedom offense going 3-3 at the plate. The Freedom got 3.2 scoreless innings out of the bullpen from Jose Velazquez, Brennan Flick, and Matt Kline.

The Freedom will go for the series win, as they wrap up their 9 game road Saturday night against the Rascals. Saturday's game can be heard with Steve Jarnicki starting at 7:50 pm on Real Talk 1160 and realtalk1160.com.

Discuss this story on the Frontier League message board... Digg this story Add to Del.icio.us

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Originally posted here:

Freedom Post Shutout to End Losing Streak

Keeping the beaches safe and swimmable

Posted on by

In high unattractive boots with an extended pole and a sterile bottle, public health inspector students all over the city are testing Hamilton and Halton beaches.

Hamilton public health tests eight beaches and Halton Region tests seven. Out of those 15, only two are currently labelled as unsafe; Coronation Park West in Oakville and Bayfront Park beach in Hamilton.

As per Ontario Ministry of the Environment regulations, beaches must be tested at least once a week. In Hamilton, Bayfront and Pier 4 are tested four times a week.

The harbour beaches are tested more often because of the large population of waterfowl and historically those beaches have had a high population of contaminants, such as Escherichia coli, or E. coli. For a beach to be safe there must be less than 100 E. coli bacterium per 100 mL of beach water.

E. coli can indicate other bacteria and viruses are present in the water, said Dr. Hamidah Meghani, an associate medical officer of health for the City of Hamilton. Beach water can contain germs such as bacteria, viruses and parasites which can cause diarrhea, fever and respiratory infections in swimmers.

Nicole Mathews, manager of healthy environments for the Halton Region, said that E. coli is a big problem in Oakville.

I dont know why they have more geese, said Mathews. They seem to be attracted there.

Goose droppings are one of the biggest issues to any beach but especially the bay beaches because they are sheltered from the wind and strong current.

The geese and the sewer water are the main reasons why a beach would be marked unsafe. When it rains, the waste droppings naturally run off into the water.

Its important to know that entering the water itself isnt the issue, but its swallowing the water, said Meghani. Taking in E. coli can cause diarrhea, fever, and respiratory issues but rarely death.

Continued here:

Keeping the beaches safe and swimmable

Bathing ban lifted at Clare beaches

Posted on by

irishtimes.com - Last Updated: Saturday, July 21, 2012, 14:53

A ban on swimming at three beaches in Co Clare has been lifted today after tests on water samples showed the amount of bacteria in the water had fallen.

The restrictions were implemented yesterday at the Kilkee, Lahinch and Spanish Point beaches amid concern over E-coli pollution in the sea, which was thought to have arisen because of abnormal weather conditions.

Clare County Council said this afternoon that preliminary results of water samples taken from the beaches yesterday had shown a dramatic reduction in the levels of bacteria in the water. This was due to improved weather, the council said.

On the advice of the HSE and following analysis of water samples, the council is delighted to be able to announce the lifting of all restrictions relating to bathing at Lahinch, Kilkee and Spanish Point, said the councils director of services Anne Haugh said.

Public notices indicating that swimming and surfing at the three locations are no longer prohibited are being erected this afternoon, while the Blue Flag at Lahinch and Kilkee beaches have been restored having been temporarily withdrawn on Friday.

The council said yesterday that the pollution was caused by water runoff from excessive and sustained rainfall over the past two months.

Read the original here:

Bathing ban lifted at Clare beaches

MSM tackles the need to explore… and gets it very right | Bad Astronomy

Posted on by

BABloggee Steven Avery on Twitter sent me a link to a story about astronomy done on MSNBC and its great. Seriously, its worth the 11:30 to watch it. They show not just what were doing, but why were doing it. Its rare for any mainstream medium to cover this well, but its extraordinary that they delve into the philosophy and sheer joy of exploration.

[You may need to refresh this page to get the video to load.]

Visit NBCNews.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Fantastic. The short segment after, with Brian Williams talking to Harry Smith is simply wonderful. Its uplifting to see two news people talking about how much they love this sort of thing. I wish we had more of this. I spend a lot of time shaking my head and gritting my teeth over science coverage in the news in this country, so something like this is a breath of fresh air so sweet its staggering.

Related Posts:

- Debating Space - Did a meteor plunge into the ocean near Perth? Im thinking no. - Wall Street Journal: neutrinos show climate change isnt real - Big Picture Science: climate change denial on Fox News - Homeopathy slammed by Australian TV news show

See the original post here:

MSM tackles the need to explore… and gets it very right | Bad Astronomy

Research and Markets: Nutrition and Vitamin Partnering 2007-2012

Posted on by

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/fnttfk/nutrition_and_vita) has announced the addition of the "Nutrition and Vitamin Partnering 2007-2012" company profile to their offering.

Nutrition & Vitamins Partnering 2007-2012 provides understanding and access to the nutrition & vitamins partnering deals and agreements entered into by the worlds leading healthcare companies.

The report provides an analysis of nutrition & vitamins partnering deals. The majority of deals are discovery or development stage whereby the licensee obtains a right or an option right to license the licensors nutrition & vitamins technology. These deals tend to be multicomponent, starting with collaborative R&D, and commercialization of outcomes.

Understanding the flexibility of a prospective partners negotiated deals terms provides critical insight into the negotiation process in terms of what you can expect to achieve during the negotiation of terms. Whilst many smaller companies will be seeking details of the payments clauses, the devil is in the detail in terms of how payments are triggered contract documents provide this insight where press releases do not.

This data driven report contains over 220 links to online copies of actual liver disease deals and contract documents as submitted to the Securities Exchange Commission by companies and their partners, where available. Contract documents provide the answers to numerous questions about a prospective partners flexibility on a wide range of important issues, many of which will have a significant impact on each party's ability to derive value from the deal.

In conclusion, this report provides everything a prospective dealmaker needs to know about partnering in the

research, development and commercialization of nutrition & vitamins technologies and products.

Report scope

Nutrition & Vitamins Partnering 2007-2012 is intended to provide the reader with an in-depth understanding and access to nutrition & vitamins trends and structure of deals entered into by leading companies worldwide.

The rest is here:
Research and Markets: Nutrition and Vitamin Partnering 2007-2012