Monthly Archives: August 2012

Tone It Up!™ Announces New 50-Serving Size Of Perfect Fit Protein

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HERMOSA BEACH, Calif., Aug.13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Tone It Up, a lifestyle community focused on fitness and nutrition, founded by certified nutritionists and personal trainers Katrina Hodgson and Karena Dawn, announced that their 100% natural, Perfect Fit Protein is now available in a 50-serving bag. Already a favorite with Tone It Up's devoted fans in the single-serving size, the new resealable bag is the perfect solution for cooking with Perfect Fit Protein at home as a replacement for flour in pancakes, muffins, cookies and more in addition to mixing it into classic smoothies or just plain water.

Perfect Fit Protein provides a complete amino acid profile and is free of dairy, lactose, fat, gluten, soy, corn, sugar and allergens, in addition to being raw, kosher and vegan. A natural way to curb one's appetite, Perfect Fit Protein is high in antioxidants and readily bioavailable, includes 15 grams of protein per serving and helps burn fat, shape a lean physique and aid in muscle recovery. Perfect Fit Protein is crafted from only five ingredients, all of which are organic: sprouted whole grain brown rice protein, vanilla flavor, guar gum, stevia and sea salt.

"As nutritionists, we realized that there was truly an unmet need for a protein powder that was appropriate for anyone, regardless of their dietary restrictions," said Katrina Hodgson, co-founder of Tone It Up. "We spent several years developing and refining Perfect Fit into one of the few certified organic protein powders currently available. The fact that members of our community are using it so creatively in their recipes shows that Perfect Fit Protein is both a tasty and cost-effective way to eat healthy."

Available exclusively online at http://www.perfectfitprotein.com, the individual packets of Perfect Fit Protein are already immensely popular among the members of the Tone It Up community. As members increasingly incorporated Perfect Fit Protein into their diets, shared it with friends and family, and used it in creative and fun recipes, the always-communicative Tone It Up members requested a bigger container and Karena and Katrina answered the call.

"Members of our community tell us that they're bringing Perfect Fit Protein to coffee and juice bars and having it mixed into their favorite drinks," said Karena Dawn, co-founder of Tone It Up. "Perfect Fit has become more than just a supplement for our members, it's part of their lifestyle now."

For more information about Tone It Up, please contact Melissa Skabich at 973-850-7310 or mskabich@jcprinc.com.

About Tone It UpTone It Up is a multi-platform lifestyle company focused on fitness, nutrition and community founded bycertified personal trainers and nutrition coaches Katrina Hodgson and Karena Dawn. Tone It Up's mission is to empower as many women as possible around the world to live a healthy, happy lifestyle, while also making fitness fun. The duo has been dubbed 'The New Faces of Fitness' by Jane Fondaand the 'Power Duo' byMarie Claire. They've been profiled on the pages ofSELF Magazine, Vogue, In Style, and featured onExtra, Oprah, and Ellen for their fitness DVDs and YouTube videos. Tone It Up offers an online nutrition plan, workout DVDs, an organic protein powder, and hundreds of free workouts, as well as free fitness and nutrition tips available online. For more information, visit http://www.toneitup.com.

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Tone It Up!™ Announces New 50-Serving Size Of Perfect Fit Protein

States With Tough School-Nutrition Laws Show Slimmer Kids

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Lawrence LeBlond for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

The war on childhood obesity has just received a big helping hand. New federal nutrition standards are going into effect this year at schools all across the country curbing sales of junk foods and sugary drinks in an effort to help keep Americas children slim and trim.

The new regulations require all schools to meet strict standards in order to get federal meal reimbursements. Many schools are overhauling their lunch menu programs in accordance with the new standards, but some have already made significant improvements over the past few years.

In adding support to the federal standards, a recent national study looked at how regulation of foods and beverages sold outside federal meal programs at schools may have helped curb childhood obesity.

The study found that fifth graders in states with strong competitive food laws gained less weight than did kids in states with no such legislation.

Study author Daniel R. Taber, of the University of Illinois at Chicago, said there is strong evidence that such laws can have a positive impact. But we need to recognize that it is not going to influence all students.

Childhood obesity has ballooned over the past 20-30 years, with more than a third of US children now either overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The US Department of Agricultures Healthy and Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 is one of a number of programs geared toward curbing obesity by providing healthier school foods. Another recent study has shown that only half as many students as in 2006 can still buy sugary sodas in school.

However, noted Taber, there has been little evidence showing that such programs actually work.

So, in the new study, published in the journal Pediatrics, Taber and colleagues tapped into an earlier study following 6,300 students in 40 states from 2003 to 2006, focusing on fifth-to-eighth graders. Researchers compared childrens body mass index (BMI) with competitive food laws in each state.

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States With Tough School-Nutrition Laws Show Slimmer Kids

Price, taste and brand overrule nutrition labelling

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Price, taste and brand overrule nutrition labelling when it comes to what makes consumers buy one food and drink product over another, according to fresh research from the European Food Information Council (EUFIC).

The organisation reviewed the scientific evidence published between 2007 and March 2012 on the influence of nutrition labelling on the way people shop for food and drink. EUFIC researchers probed the public online databases Pubmed and Social Sciences Research Network for scientific publications related to nutrition labelling and obesity.

They conclude that shoppers know enough to be able to use the different labelling schemes available to identify low calorie options, but lack the motivation to take action based on that. Price, taste and brand take far more precedence in influencing shoppers purchasing decisions, says EUFIC.

Time pressure

The organisation adds: Shopping under time pressure, a common phenomenon nowadays, seemed to further compromise the impact nutrition labels could possibly have.

It suggested that refocusing consumers minds on health using health claims and logos might be one way to encourage them to take more account of nutrition labelling.

Another core finding from EUFICs investigation is that to date no scientific data exists from Europe to indicate the impact of nutrition labelling on body weight. However, modelling studies do exist confirming that choosing diets with a more healthy profile will result in better public health and lower healthcare costs.

Studies into the potential impact of nutrition labelling on obesity need to include body weight measurements if they want to establish causal relationships, says EUFIC.

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Price, taste and brand overrule nutrition labelling

Scientists discover new type of virus responsible for a devastating disease in snakes

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Public release date: 14-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jim Sliwa jsliwa@asmusa.org 202-942-9297 American Society for Microbiology

A mysterious condition called Inclusion Body Disease (IBD) strikes captive boa constrictors and pythons, causing bizarre behavioral changes and eventually death. Scientists investigating an outbreak of IBD among snakes at the Steinhart Aquarium in San Francisco report they may well have found a virus that is responsible for this common but deadly disease, a discovery that could eventually lead to prevention and treatment options. The study appears in the August 14 issue of mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology. The authors report that the virus represents a whole new class of arenaviruses scientists have never seen before.

Among captive boas, IBD is the most commonly diagnosed disease that is thought to be caused by a virus. Snakes that have contracted IBD may initially regurgitate food, but they eventually show dramatic neurological problems, says Michael Buchmeier, a professor of infectious diseases at the University of California, Irvine. Neurological signs include "stargazing," in which the snake stares upwards for long periods of time.

"Some of the symptoms are pretty bizarre - this stargazing behavior, looking like they're drunk, they tie themselves in a knot and they can't get out of it," says Buchmeier. The condition, which is named for the inclusions, or pockets of foreign material, found inside the cells of affected animals, is ultimately fatal. IBD is devastating for large aquariums, as it can infect a large number of snakes before it is identified and quarantine measures can be put in place. Since there is currently no treatment for the disease, infected snakes must be euthanized to prevent them from infecting other animals.

When the disease recently struck a number of boas and pythons at the Steinhart Aquarium at the California Academy of Sciences, the aquarium requested help from scientists at the University of California San Francisco who specialize in discovering novel viruses.

The researchers extracted DNA from tissue samples taken from boas and pythons diagnosed with IBD, and used rapid, high-throughput techniques to learn the sequence of those strands of DNA. In amongst all the snake DNA sequences there were sequences of DNA that clearly belonged to viruses - viruses that are members of the arenavirus family. The authors were later able to grow and isolate one of those viruses using snake tissues cultured in the laboratory.

While it is an important development from a practical standpoint, since identifying the causative agent for a disease is the first step in developing treatments, vaccines, diagnostics, and prevention policies it is also an incredible discovery for virology: the virus belongs to a group of viruses no one knew existed.

"This is one of the most exciting things that has happened to us in virology in a very long time. The fact that we have apparently identified a whole new lineage of arenaviruses that may predate the New and Old world is very exciting," says Buchmeier.

According to Buchmeier, this new isolate doesn't fall neatly into either of the two known categories of arenaviruses, Old World arenaviruses and New World arenaviruses. The fact that the virus was found in snakes adds another surprise twist, since up until now arenaviruses had only ever been found in mammals.

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Scientists discover new type of virus responsible for a devastating disease in snakes

Study Published in Journal of Clinical Microbiology Reports the Sensitivity and Specificity of Great Basin Corporation …

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SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

A study published in the August issue of Journal of Clinical Microbiology showed that Great Basin Corporations toxigenic Clostridium difficile (C. diff) molecular diagnostic test has a 97 percent sensitivity and 100 percent specificity rate compared with a competing FDA-approved polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test. In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted 510(k) clearance for Great Basins C. diff assay.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of infection for C. diff remains at historically high levels and the severity of the disease in the U.S. has risen alarmingly, resulting in an estimated $1 billion annually in additional heath care costs. Because of the growing challenges of the disease, C. diff is one of the infections targeted in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Action Plan to Prevent Healthcare-Associated Infections, which is a federal initiative to reduce preventable infections in hospitals.

The need for early and accurate diagnosis of C. diff has never been more critical in both assuring a positive outcome for the infected patient and in preventing the spread of C. diff to other at-risk patients, said Rob Jenison, Great Basin CTO and study co-author. Results of this study were similar to our recently completed clinical trial, demonstrating the sensitivity and specificity of Great Basins assay. By addressing the growing need for accurate and quick testing, we provide a significant advantage to hospitals in reducing the rate and recurrence of this life-threatening infection.

In addition to FDA clearance, the assay has received CE-IVD product marking, allowing the test to be marketed in both the U.S. and the EU.

Since we began marketing our C. diff assay in May, the reception from clinicians has been enthusiastic, thanks to our unique ability to offer accurate results coupled with a simplified workflow and competitive pricing, said Ryan Ashton, president and CEO, Great Basin Corporation. We are encouraged by the data regarding the sensitivity and specificity of our breakthrough approach, and are eager to expand our menu of sample-to-result assays for other troubling infectious diseases such as staph, fungal infections, and tuberculosis.

Great Basins technology entails an integrated disposable cartridge containing all necessary reagents and an inexpensive bench-top analyzer that executes the assay, interprets the results and provides electronic output to the clinician. The platform has several key advantages over other molecular solutions:

The lead author of the study is Brian Hicke, director of research for Great Basin. In addition to Hicke and Jenison, co-authors from Great Basin include Chris Pasko, Benjamin Groves, Maylene Corpuz, Georges Frech, Denton Munns, Wendy Smith, Ashley Warcup, Wes Lindsey, Charles Owen, and Larry Rea. Additional co-authors are Edward Ager of the Clinical Microbiology-Immunology Laboratories at the University of North Carolina; Gerald Denys of Indiana University Hospital; and Nathan A. Ledeboer of the Medical College of Wisconsins Department of Pathology.

About Great Basin Corporation

Great Basin Corporation is a privately held molecular diagnostics company that commercializes breakthrough chip-based technologies. The company is dedicated to the development of simple, yet powerful, sample-to-result technology and products that provide fast, multiple-pathogen diagnoses of infectious diseases. By providing more diagnostic data per sample, healthcare providers are able to treat patients with the right medication sooner, improving outcomes and reducing costs. The companys vision is to make molecular diagnostic testing so simple and cost-effective that every patient will be tested for every serious infection, reducing misdiagnoses and significantly limiting the spread of infectious disease. More information can be found on the companys website at http://www.gbscience.com.

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Study Published in Journal of Clinical Microbiology Reports the Sensitivity and Specificity of Great Basin Corporation ...

Due to Demand, The Center for Productive Longevity Has Lowered the Age Requirements for the Later-Life Story Contest

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BOULDER, CO--(Marketwire -08/13/12)- The Center for Productive Longevity (CPL) has decided to expand the Later-Life Story Contest to include entries from people 50 and older, down from the 55+ age requirement, due to substantial interest expressed by people in that younger age bracket. While CPL generally focuses on people 55 and older, many people are also starting businesses and living inspirational lives within the prime years of 50-55. Over the course of the contest, CPL has received feedback asking for the age qualifications to be lowered and so CPL decided to honor that request.

A panel of three influential, highly regarded judges will select one winner in each of the following two categories: (1) Entrepreneurship Success Stories and (2) Inspirational Life Stories. The winners will each receive $1,000 and a specially designed trophy. From the entries, CPL will select a variety of entrepreneur success stories to post on its website, along with the stories of the two winners.

The essential purpose of this contest is to demonstrate that older people in America can continue to lead successful and inspirational lives. With 30 years added to longevity in the 20th century, people will be doing so into their 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond.

The deadline to enter the contest is coming up quickly, August 31, 2012. CPL will announce the two winners on October 1, 2012.

To submit a story, visit http://www.ctrpl.org/laterlifestorycontest and complete a submission form. Entrants must be 50 and older and be willing to have their story posted on the CPL website for viewing and for possible publication. Stories may also be sent to James Hooks at jhooks@ctrpl.org.

For more information on CPL and the Later-Life Story Contest for older entrepreneurs, visit http://www.ctrpl.org or Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CTRPL.

About the Center for Productive LongevityThe mission of CPL is to stimulate the substantially increased engagement of people 55 and older in productive activities, paid and volunteer, where they are qualified and ready to continue adding value. Visit ctrpl.org for more information. Follow us on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/CTRPL.

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Due to Demand, The Center for Productive Longevity Has Lowered the Age Requirements for the Later-Life Story Contest

DNA test leads to charges in Hopedale break-in

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Authorities have charged a Concord man in connection with a 2-year-old liquor store break-in after they said they used his blood to tie him to the crime.

Investigators pulled a blood sample from the scene of the 2010 break-in and sent it to a state police crime lab for DNA testing, according to a report filed in Milford District Court by Hopedale Police Sgt. Steve Mahan. Mahan said the DNA profile matched 48-year-old Edward Joness.

In April, police formally charged Jones, of 965 Elm St., with nighttime breaking and entering for a felony, larceny under $250, destruction of property under $250, and larceny from a building.

Currently being held on unrelated charges at the Massachusetts Correctional Institute in Concord, he was scheduled to be arraigned Monday in Milford District Court, but was not transferred from the prison. Judge Robert Calagione rescheduled the arraignment for Oct. 12.

On June 23, 2010, Mahan responded at 10:55 p.m. to Grape Expectations, 156 Hartford Ave., and found all of the glass in the front of the store shattered. He said $200 and five lottery tickets had been stolen, and a 15-inch metal crowbar was left by the register.

The investigation initially stalled because the stores video camera had stopped recording for a week, Mahan said, apparently due to a power outage. And police were not able to lift any fingerprints from the store.

The blood - discovered, Mahan said, on three paper grocery bags behind the counter - proved to be the only physical evidence police extracted from the scene.

Later, however, the case got its first suspect when Mahan received information from the Medway Police Department regarding Jones. Sgt. William Kingsbury told Mahan that Jones had been linked to several liquor store break-ins in the area and that the thefts all followed a similar pattern.

"Sgt. Kingsbury advised me that Mr. Jones would break a window and steal from the register," Mahan said.

State Police ran the blood sample Mahan took from the store through the Combined DNA Index System on April 11, and Hopedale police, armed with the matching DNA profile, charged Jones.

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DNA tests for $17 in pilot projects

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SHEEP producers now have the opportunity to DNA test their breeding stock for parentage and poll status in Merinos for just $17, as part of a new research program being run by the Cooperative Research Centre for Sheep Industry Innovation (Sheep CRC).

The Sheep CRC is calling for registrations from sheep breeders for the 2012 Genomics Pilot Project, with applications open from this Wednesday, August 15.

The Project offers three DNA testing programs: a SNP test for parentage at $17/test; a SNP test for Merino poll for $17/test; and the 50k SNP test for prediction of genomic breeding values for sires at a cost of $50/test. Merinos tested for parentage, or with the 50k SNP, will receive the poll test results at no additional cost.

The 2012 Pilot Project will deliver valuable commercial information to breeders, while at the same time providing research answers to questions such as: what is the gene frequency of horn genes in the Merino sheep population; and how to sample and use the tests most effectively in breeding programs.

The ability to DNA test for parentage in any breed, Merino poll and a range of other genetically inherited traits, will provide ram breeders with greater certainty when selecting breeding stock, Sheep CRC chief executive officer James Rowe said.

Sheep breeders will be able to use DNA testing in young rams to identify a wide range of traits and achieve faster gains and better balance in ram selection and breeding programs.

Prof. Rowe said the prices set for the tests would be attractive to producers, and were in line with similar programs in other livestock breeding programs.

The cost of genotyping is continuing to fall and we are confident that in 2013 the genomic tests will be available to the industry on a commercial basis at prices that will deliver a good return on investment, he said.

The CRC has decided to provide the 50k genotyping test at $50 because we are confident that this is close to the commercial price for testing in 2013 and beyond.

The beef and dairy industries already have 7-10k SNP tests available around this price and a similar product will be available for the Australian sheep industry by 2013.

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DNA tests for $17 in pilot projects

Posted in DNA

DNA matches convicted murderer to 1992 Central West End rape

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ST. LOUIS DNA has linked a convicted murderer to a 1992 rape in the Central West End, according to charges filed Monday.

Authorities say Derrick Cobb, 54, of Bowling Green, struck a woman in the head with a beer bottle then raped herat the 4700 block of McPherson Avenue on April 19, 1992.

The crime went unsolved until a recent DNA match identified Cobb as the culprit. He has been charged in St. Louis Circuit Court with a count each of rape and sodomy.

Cobb is 17 years into a 30-year prison sentence forsecond-degree murder in the killing of a Jennings deliveryman and father of twoin September 1992.

James Crimi, 31, was returning tohis home in the 7000 block of Garesche Avenue from visiting a relative when Cobb, who was homeless at the time, fatally struck him in the side of the head then stole his car.Cobb sold the parts to buy crack cocaine, then attempted to rob three students on the St. Louis University campus about an hour later, authorities said at the time.

A campussecurity officer identified Crimi's car as the one involved in the attempted robbery. Detectives then linked Cobb to the murder.

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DNA matches convicted murderer to 1992 Central West End rape

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Open Solutions DNA Wins Three Core Banking Awards from Aite Group

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GLASTONBURY, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Open Solutions Inc., the leading provider of collaborative enterprise technology to community-based financial institutions worldwide, announced today that its revolutionary DNA core processing platform has won the Technology, User Experience, and Alliance Core Banking Awards from Aite Group, a leading independent research and advisory firm focused on the financial services space. DNA won the most awards of any core platform mentioned in the report - including systems from Fiserv, FIS, Jack Henry and Harland demonstrating how DNA is a dramatically different core banking platform.

Aite Groups July 2012 report, The Leading US Core Vendors: Fueling Financial Institution Initiatives, analyzes the state of the U.S. core vendor market and compares the leading platforms of 21 vendors targeting U.S. banks and credit unions. The comprehensive 63 page report describes DNA as a real-time, relationship-based (rather than transaction-based) solution and one of the most modern core solutions offered by a U.S. vendor.

Aite Group identifies several reasons why DNA won its coveted Technology Award, starting with DNAs single code line, which allows the platform to serve any institution type, regardless of geographic location a fact Aite Group identifies as a key differentiator that enables a more focused core development strategy. The report continues to note that another strength of the DNA solution is its usability. And finally, Aite Group states: The DNAappstore was the first of its kind for a core vendor, and, in time, has the potential to create a paradigm shift for the financial services industry.

DNAs User Experience Award is the result of multiple interviews Aite Group conducted with DNA customers, who, according to Aite Group, tend to be extremely customer-focused and strive to offer unique capabilities different from the bank down the street. The report also observes how "existing customers seem very satisfied with Open Solutions service and product offerings.

Finally, Aite Group recognized DNA with its Alliance Award based on the platforms open architecture, which makes it easy for virtually any financial services vendor to integrate their solutions with DNA. As a result, Open Solutions boasts a long list of what Aite Group identifies as best-of-breed partners, including Yodlee for PFM, mFoundry for mobile, and Vantiv for ATM/EFT.

In total, the three awards validate why Aite Group thinks Open Solutions is better positioned today than in the past to offer greater flexibility for innovation and to grow its market share.

Commenting on the report, Open Solutions chairman and CEO, Louis Hernandez Jr., stated: Aite Groups independent evaluation of DNA highlights what we at Open Solutions have known all along DNA is radically different. The platforms award winning technology, world class user experience and revolutionary open architecture offer community banks and credit unions around the world a way to overcome the limitations of legacy technology that have left them ill-equipped to compete.

Aite Group

Aite Group is a leading independent research and advisory firm focused on business, technology and regulatory issues and their impact on the financial services industry. It was founded by leading industry experts in Banking and Securities & Investments. Aite Group brings together a team of business strategy, technology and regulatory experts to deliver comprehensive, timely, and actionable advice to financial institutions and technology vendors. It seeks to become a true partner, advisor, and catalyst by exchanging ideas and challenging basic assumptions to ensure that our clients always stay one step ahead of the competition. Learn more at http://www.AiteGroup.com.

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Protective bacteria in the infant gut have resourceful way of helping babies break down breast milk

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Public release date: 13-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Angela Hopp ahopp@asbmb.org 240-283-6614 American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

A research team at the University of California, Davis, has found that important and resourceful bacteria in the baby microbiome can ferret out nourishment from a previously unknown source, possibly helping at-risk infants break down components of breast milk.

Breast milk is amazingly intricate, providing all of the nutrients necessary to sustain and strengthen infants in the first months of life. Moreover, this natural source of nutrition provides protection from infections, allergies and many other illnesses.

Breast milk also promotes the growth of protective bacteria in an infant's intestine. Because breast milk contains glycans (complex sugars) that infants cannot breakdown, it promotes the growth a specific type of bacteria, called bifidobacteria, that can process these glycans. While it is known that bifidobacteria avail themselves of the free glycans in breast milk, it was not known whether these bacteria could also obtain glycans that were linked to proteins. Such proteins are called glycoproteins, and they are abundant in breast milk.

The research team led by David A. Mills at the UC-Davis investigated the ability of bifidobacteria to remove glycans from milk glycoproteins. Their work was recently published in the journal Molecular & Cellular Proteomics.

Mills' group found that specific strains of bifidobacteria possessed enzymes capable of removing glycan groups from glycoproteins, enabling them to use these glycans as an additional food source. Surprisingly, one of the enzymes, EndoBI-1, was able to remove any type of N-linked glycan (glycans attached to proteins by the amino acid asparagine). This is unique among enzymes of this type and may provide a growth advantage for bifidobacteria in the infant intestine because the glycoproteins in breast milk have complex glycans attached.

Mills explains that the ability of EndBI-1 to remove a variety of complex N-linked glycans combined with its unusual heat stability make "this potentially a very useful tool in both food processing and proteomics/pharmaceutical research."

The team's work suggests that bifidobacteria do not primarily feed on the glycans from milk glycoproteins. However, the study did show that under the proper conditions bidfidobacteria can grow when protein-linked glycans are the only energy source.

"One obvious goal of this research is to find ways to translate the benefits provided by milk and bifidobacteria to at risk populations such as premature infants, malnourished children, among many others," Mills says.

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Caltech Chemist Wins ASBMB Young Investigator Award

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The American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (ASBMB) named Caltech chemistry professor Shu-ou Shan a recipient of the 2013 Young Investigator Award. The award will be presented at the ASBMB annual meeting in Boston next April.

Shan was recognized for her research that addresses how "a novel class of nucleotide hydrolases drives the efficient and accurate delivery of newly synthesized proteins to their correct destinations."

"This award would not have been possible without the support from my subgroup and division and all the wonderful Caltech students and postdocs who work so hard," says Shan.

"We are extremely happy that ASBMB has selected Shu-ou Shan for the Young Investigators Award," said Jacqueline Barton, Arthur and Marian Hanisch Memorial Professor, professor of chemistry, and chair of the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at Caltech. "It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of Shan and her team here at Caltech."

Shan's research interfaces between chemistry and biology to understand fundamental cellular processes at the level of chemical and physical principles. More information about Shan's research group at Caltech can be found at http://shangroup.caltech.edu.

The ASBMB Young Investigator Award recognizes outstanding research contributions to biochemistry and molecular biology. The recipient must have no more than 15 years postdoctoral experience. Nominations for these awards are made by ASBMB members, but nominees need not be members. The award consists of a plaque, $5,000, transportation, and expenses to present a lecture at the 2013 ASBMB annual meeting.

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Caltech Chemist Wins ASBMB Young Investigator Award

Anatomy Of Running Focuses On Biomechanics Of The Body

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August 13, 2012

Lawrence LeBlond for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

When it comes to modern era distance running, experts have mixed opinions: some say humans are born to run while others say our bodies need careful cross training to stay healthy. Jay Dicharry, author of the new book Anatomy for Runners, believes running alone cannot make you a better runner.

Running is typically a one-dimensional sport, said Dicharry, a physical therapist and the director of Biomechanics at Rebound Physical Therapy in Bend, Oregon. Youre basically just moving forward. Youre not really developing as a true athlete.

Because many people do not take training into mind when running, nearly a third get hurt every single year. When they read fitness magazines, they say I can do that. So they go out and do it, and then they get hurt and wonder why, said Dicharry. If we prepare ourselves well do a better job.

In his book, Dicharry focuses on identifying weaknesses, offers detailed tools for gait analysis, offers tips on preventing injuries, and explains how to exercise in a correct manner that aids the running body.

While many books focus on the cardiovascular system (engine) in regards to the runner, Dicharrys book focuses on the biomechanical body (chassis).

Coaches get lots of information on how to train the heart and lungs. But we dont get enough on how to keep the body healthy, he said. The more stable the chassis, the more efficient you can be. The book focuses on whats wrong and how to fix it.

Robert Forster, an expert in sports physical therapy in Santa Monica, California, said the human body has evolved to run.

Our tree-dwelling ancestors had shorter legs, longer arms and shorter feet. The body actually changed to be effective at running. But we lost our ability to co-opt that economy of motion, Forster, told Reuters by telephone from London, where he had been working with the US Olympic Track and Field team.

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Anatomy Of Running Focuses On Biomechanics Of The Body

Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates welcomes Dr. Larry Tran

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Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates is proud to welcome Larry Tran, M.D., to their practice.

We are very delighted to have Dr. Tran join our group, said Eddie Patton Jr., M.D., with Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates. He shares the values-based, personal approach to quality patient care that makes Methodist unique and this relationship such a great fit. Our patients will benefit from his personal nature and passion for neurology.

Its an honor to join the outstanding staff at Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates, said Dr. Tran, a board certified neurologist with fellowship training in neurophysiology from University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. My mission is to deliver quality care in a patient oriented environment. I also strive to achieve open communication with my patients in an effort to work as a team to develop treatment plans, all the while keeping them updated on the latest advances in treatment and care.

Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates offer diagnosis and treatment of the most common and most complex neurological disorders. From sleep apnea, migraines, epilepsy and dementia, to complex spine, peripheral neurological disorders and neuromuscular disorders, the physicians at Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates can provide answers and options using the latest technology and therapeutic techniques, backed by the resources and staff of Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates is located at 16659 Southwest Freeway, Suite 131 in Medical Office Building II. To schedule an appointment, please call 281-494-6387.

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Methodist Sugar Land Neurology Associates welcomes Dr. Larry Tran

Brewer Science to Exhibit Technologies of the Future for America's Defense at Nanotechnology …

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Brewer Science, a global leader in developing and manufacturing specialty materials, integrated processes, and laboratory-scale wafer processing equipment, is exhibiting at the 10th Annual NanoTechnology for Defense (NT4D) Conference, 6-9 August 2012, at the Red Rock Resort in Summerlin, Nevada.

Initiated a decade ago by the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Army Research Laboratory, the Office of Naval Research, the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, the NT4D Conference remains the premier event addressing emerging and nano-scale technologies for defense.

To highlight its advances in carbon nanotube technology to produce flexible electronics, Brewer Science will present "Design, prototying, and characterization of combustible passive radio-frequency identification (RFID) sensors on flexible substrates" during the conference poster session in the Red Rock Ballroom.

Visit Brewer Science at Booth No. 313 to learn about the advanced materials we offer for applications in U.S. Government energy and defense sectors.

Visit http://www.usasymposium.com/nano/exhibitors.htm for more information about the NT4D Conference.

About Brewer Science Brewer Science is a global technology leader in developing and manufacturing specialty materials, integrated processes, and laboratory-scale wafer processing equipment for applications in semiconductors, compound semiconductors, advanced packaging/3-D integrated circuits, MEMS, sensors, displays, LEDs, and printed electronics. The company continuously introduces high-technology solutions that enable reliable fabrication of cutting-edge, high-performance integrated microdevices used in the most advanced and elegant electronics such as tablet computers, smart phones, digital cameras, flat-panel monitors and TVs, and LED lighting. Since 1981, when its ARC material technology revolutionized lithography processes, Brewer Science has expanded its spectrum of technology to include products currently used in advanced lithography, chemical and mechanical device protection, thin layer handling, and 3-D integration, as well as products based on carbon nanotubes and nanotechnology. For more information on Brewer Science, please visit http://www.brewerscience.com

Brewer Science was recently named one of the top places to work by Missouri's largest daily newspaper, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

For additional information, contact: Patti Shaw, Marketing Communications Manager +1 573 364-0444, ext. 1183 pshaw@brewerscience.com

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Brewer Science to Exhibit Technologies of the Future for America's Defense at Nanotechnology ...

Dr. Saumil Merchant, ear specialist beloved by patients, colleagues

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As a clinician, research scientist, scholar, and teacher at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Dr. Saumil Nalin Merchant had a reputation that reached around the world.

He worked in the field of otology, treating disorders and diseases of the ear, and was one of the American members of the Collegium Oto-Rhino-Laryngologicum Amicitiae Sacrum, the premier international society for otologic research.

Yet despite such renown, his neighbors in Acton knew he was available to treat any medical emergency.

He was the kindest, most gentle man I ever met, said his neighbor Susan Pinsky, who added that Dr. Merchant was always glad to examine a neighborhood child with an earache.

He was so generous with his time, efforts, and knowledge, she said. My daughter burst into tears when she heard he had died.

Dr. Merchant, the son of two physicians, was the Gudrun Larsen Eliasen and Nels Kristian Eliasen Professor of Otology and Laryngology.

He died of complications following a heart attack June 27 in the Kaplan Hospice House in Danvers. He was 51 and had lived in Acton.

He was such a kind person and so caring, said Herb Chambers of Boston, who owns automobile dealerships. He would take whatever time was necessary for you and would come to my office in Somerville if I needed him. He was brilliant.

Dr. Merchants other research passion was the study of the pathology of the human temporal bone.

In a tribute, Dr. Joseph B. Nadol Jr., chief of otolarygology at Mass. Eye and Ear, and Dr. Michael J. McKenna, a professor of otolaryngology and laryngology at Harvard Medical School, wrote that Dr. Merchants research was consistently supported by National Institutes of Health funding, a clear testament to the high regard in which his research work was held.

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Dr. Saumil Merchant, ear specialist beloved by patients, colleagues

Medical Professionals Not Always Leading Healthy Lifestyles

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HERSHAW DAVIS JR., LEFT,said he is trying to eat better and exercise more to control his weight, but finds his 12-hour, overnight shift as an ER nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital makes it difficult. (GABRIELLA DEMCZUK | THE BALTIMORE SUN)

Taylor DesRosiers was a competitive swimmer throughout her life, always fit. But in her first year of medical school, she realized that had changed - she was at an unhealthy weight.

The rigors of her education had piled on top of two rough years in which she went through a broken-off engagement and supporting her mother through a health scare. During a course on obesity, she realized, according to body mass index charts, she was technically obese herself.

"It just kind of hit me: I need to make a large change," DesRosiers said.

She had some support in doing that: Two fellow Johns Hopkins University students recently launched the Patient Promise, a program that aims to ensure health professionals do as they tell patients when it comes to healthy lifestyles. It is one of many similar programs to arise in the industry as health professionals seek to tackle rising obesity rates nationwide by starting with themselves. (Lakeland Regional Medical Center, for example, offers Living Well: Lakeland Regional's Culture of Health. It includes classes on nutrition, diabetes, smoking cessation and more, as well as an exercises series and health screenings.)

Research has shown that healthy lifestyle choices on the part of physicians can translate into better care for obese patients. That care is important as the health industry seeks to tackle the rising costs of care, particularly for many chronic conditions that can stem from obesity.

About 36 percent of adults in the U.S. are obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control. For a 5-foot-4-inch adult, a weight above 174 pounds is considered obese, while a 5-foot-9-inch person weighing 203 or more would qualify, for example. Obesity-related conditions like heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some types of cancer are among the leading causes of death.

Hopkins students Shiv Gaglani and David Gatz started talking about the idea behind the Patient Promise early this year, realizing that their career choices were taking a toll on their health.

"Our own healthy-lifestyle behaviors were going out the window," Gaglani said, given time spent sedentary in classes or studying and busy schedules leaving little room for exercise or healthy cooking. "It's sort of a sacrificial career. By sacrificing our own health, we would become potentially less effective as clinicians because we wouldn't be credible."

The pair got about a dozen students together, including DesRosiers, to draft the Patient Promise, and they launched it in June. Within a few weeks, 300 medical professionals and students across the country had signed it, and the organizers plan to raise that to a few thousand eventually.

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Medical Professionals Not Always Leading Healthy Lifestyles

Aeterna Zentaris to Present Preclinical Data for PI3K/Erk 1/2 Inhibitor, AEZS-136, at ACS National Meeting

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QUBEC CITY, Aug. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Aeterna Zentaris Inc. (AEZS) (TSX:AEZ) (the"Company") today announced that its V.P., Medicinal Chemistry, Matthias Gerlach, PhD, will be making a poster presentation on preclinical results for the Company's novel orally active anticancer PI3K/Erk 1/2 inhibitor, AEZS-136, during the 244th National Meeting of the American Chemistry Society which will be held August 19-23, 2012, in Philadelphia.

About AEZS-136

AEZS-136 is an integral part of the Company's kinase research program comprising the investigation of different compounds for single Erk inhibition, single PI3K inhibition and dualErk/PI3K kinase inhibition. AEZS-136 selectively inhibits the kinase activity of Erk 1/2 and class 1 PI3Ks, enabling simultaneous inhibition of the Raf-Mek-Erk and the PI3K-Akt signaling cascades. AEZS-136 was discovered using the Company's proprietary compound library and high throughput screening technology.

About Aeterna Zentaris

Aeterna Zentaris is an oncology and endocrinology drug development company currently investigating treatments for various unmet medical needs. The Company's pipeline encompasses compounds at all stages of development, from drug discovery through to marketed products. For more information please visit http://www.aezsinc.com.

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Aeterna Zentaris to Present Preclinical Data for PI3K/Erk 1/2 Inhibitor, AEZS-136, at ACS National Meeting

Biotech ETFs Cool After Strong Run

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An exchange traded fund indexed to biotechnology stocks has pulled back about 10% from its all-time reached last month as the sector cools after leading the market higher through much of 2012.

Biotech ETFs have been successful in 2012, with some funds returning more than 30% year to date.

However, SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) is down 9.5% from the record high set in July.

Given the jarring pace of change, single-product liability, regulatory uncertainties, and intellectual property rights, picking biotech-sector stocksis a high-risk/high-reward proposition. As such, we think investing in the industry via an exchange-traded fund makes a lot of sense; its an extremely low-cost way to gain exposure to the industry in one trade, Robert Goldsborough wrote for Morningstar. [Biotech ETFs for an M&A Boom]

The biotech industry has been susceptible to the patent cliff that began expiring big pharmaceutical companies patents on major drugs. Health care reform has also been an ongoing issue, and industry tax is another weight. Come 2014, Medicare should be covering more people, which should boost volumes and the drug industry. [Follow the Breakthrough Drug Makers with Biotech ETFs]

The biotechnology industry has benefitted from the merger and acquisition activity that has been rapidly taking place within the sector. Many speculate there is more activity to come as Big Pharma looks for cash-hungry biotech companies, reports Goldsborough. [Biotech ETF in Stealth Bull Market]

ETFs are one of the best ways to gain exposure to this volatile industry. The biotech companies are still relatively new, making investment in a single company ultra risky. By investing in a basket of bioetch companies, the risk is mitigated and the chances of investing in a successful company is greater. This illustrates the need to look at the underlying holdings in such ETFs.

The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.

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Biotech ETFs Cool After Strong Run

Biotech Industry Showing Impressive Growth in 2012 Despite Navigating a More Challenging Regulation Process

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NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire -08/13/12)- The Biotechnology Industry has been soaring in 2012 as companies -- both large and small -- have shown impressive growth. The SPDR S&P Biotech ETF (XBI) and the First Trust NYSE Arca Biotech Index ETF (FBT) are up roughly 30 percent for the year, outperforming the broader market by a wide margin. The Paragon Report examines investing opportunities in the Biotechnology Industry and provides equity research on Amarin Corporation plc (AMRN) and Exelixis, Inc. (EXEL).

Access to the full company reports can be found at:

http://www.ParagonReport.com/AMRN

http://www.ParagonReport.com/EXEL

Despite having to negotiate a more challenging regulation process biotech companies have continued to show investors strong gains in 2012. The FDA Amendments Act of 2007 forced regulators to increase standards for approvals of new drugs, introducing mandatory risk evaluation and mitigation strategies. According to a Pharmaceuticals & Biotechnology report from IMAP, several pharmaceutical firms have altered their drug portfolios from primary care driven blockbusters towards specialties such as oncology, immunology and inflammation, where the medical need is "so high that prices are more easily accepted by the regulators."

Paragon Report releases regular market updates on the Biotechnology Industry so investors can stay ahead of the crowd and make the best investment decisions to maximize their returns. Take a few minutes to register with us free at http://www.ParagonReport.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

Amarin is a biopharmaceutical company focused on the commercialization and development of therapeutics to improve cardiovascular health. Shares of the company soared nearly 14 percent last Thursday after reported their second quarter 2012 results and provided and operational update on recently FDA-approved drug Vascepa.

Exelixis, Inc. is a biotechnology company committed to developing small molecule therapies for the treatment of cancer. Exelixis is focusing its proprietary resources and development efforts exclusively on cabozantinib (XL184), its most advanced product candidate, in order to maximize the therapeutic and commercial potential of this compound.

The Paragon Report has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned publicly traded companies. Paragon Report is compensated by other third party organizations for advertising services. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at: http://www.paragonreport.com/disclaimer

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Biotech Industry Showing Impressive Growth in 2012 Despite Navigating a More Challenging Regulation Process