Monthly Archives: September 2012

New scholarships for top chemistry grads to teach

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-Prestigious 20,000 scholarships to be led by Royal Society of Chemistry - - Government confirms teacher training bursaries for 2013/14 - - New recruitment targets to focus on quality of graduates -

New teacher training scholarships in chemistry led by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) have been announced today.

Around 130 scholarships worth 20,000 each will be available. Any graduate with a 2.1 or first class degree will be eligible to apply for a scholarship on a chemistry Initial Teacher Training (ITT) course.

Working with experts in teaching practice, the RSC will award scholarships to candidates with exceptional subject knowledge, enthusiasm for the study of chemistry, and outstanding potential to teach. The RSCs relationship with the scholars will continue into their teaching careers to develop a cadre of outstanding chemistry teachers who are part of a community of chemists across schools, universities and industry.

The scholarship comes as part of the Governments teacher training strategy, Training our next generation of outstanding teachers, and follows on from the success of the physics scholarship with the Institute of Physics.

Education Secretary Michael Gove said:

If we want to have an education system that ranks with the best in the world, then we need to attract the best people into the profession, and we need to give them outstanding training.

By joining up with the prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry, the scholarship will help make sure we have excellent chemistry teachers in this country with deep subject knowledge. They will help raise the status of the teaching profession and also make a huge difference in the lives of children.

Dr Robert Parker, RSC chief executive, said:

The RSC is delighted to be leading this exciting initiative. We believe passionately in the need for inspirational teaching, and our fervent hope is that this scholarship will increase the number of inspirational chemistry teachers.

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New scholarships for top chemistry grads to teach

Prana Scientist to Participate in Webcast to Discuss Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutics: Recent Setbacks and Emerging …

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA--(Marketwire - Sep 28, 2012) - Prana Biotechnology ( NASDAQ : PRAN ) ( ASX : PBT ) today announced that Chief Scientific Advisor, Rudy Tanzi, Joseph P. and Rose F. Kennedy, Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, will take part in a webcasthosted by George Zavoico, Ph.D., Managing Director and Senior Analyst, of MLV & Co.The topic of the webcast will be: "Alzheimer's Disease Therapeutics: Recent Setbacks and Emerging Alternatives."The webcast will take place on Monday, October 1, at 2:00 pm Eastern Daylight Time (NYC).

The session will consider what are the most promising new technologies for fighting Alzheimer's Disease which, with all other types of dementia, currently affects more than 36 million people worldwide.Participants will hear about innovative technologies and the best way forward for combating Alzheimer's and other age related diseases.Professor Tanzi will address the potential impact of the recent failures of Pfizer's bapineuzumab and Eli Lilly's solanezumab Phase 3 trials and discuss the possible scientific reasons why they did not succeed.

Investors are invited to participate.To obtain dial-in information please contact: Leslie Goedken at 646-556-9206, lgoedken@mlvco.com;or Scott Ammaturo at 646-556-9218, sammaturo@mlvco.com.

About Prana Biotechnology Limited Prana Biotechnology was established to commercialize research into age-related neurodegenerative disorders. The Company was incorporated in 1997 and listed on the Australian Securities Exchange in March 2000 and listed on NASDAQ in September 2002.Researchers at prominent international institutions including The University of Melbourne, The Mental Health Research Institute (Melbourne) and Massachusetts General Hospital, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School, contributed to the discovery of Prana's technology.

For further information please visit the Company's web site at http://www.pranabio.com.

Forward Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.The Company has tried to identify such forward-looking statements by use of such words as "expects," "intends," "hopes," "anticipates," "believes," "could," "may," "evidences" and "estimates," and other similar expressions, but these words are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements.Such statements include, but are not limited to any statements relating to the Company's drug development program, including, but not limited to the initiation, progress and outcomes of clinical trials of the Company's drug development program, including, but not limited to, PBT2, and any other statements that are not historical facts.Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those risks and uncertainties relating to the difficulties or delays in financing, development, testing, regulatory approval, production and marketing of the Company's drug components, including, but not limited to, PBT2, the ability of the Company to procure additional future sources of financing, unexpected adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy of the Company's drug compounds, including, but not limited to, PBT2, that could slow or prevent products coming to market, the uncertainty of patent protection for the Company's intellectual property or trade secrets, including, but not limited to, the intellectual property relating to PBT2, and otherrisks detailed from time to time in the filings the Company makes with Securities and Exchange Commission including its annual reports on Form 20-F and its reports on Form 6-K.Such statements are based on management's current expectations, but actual results may differ materially due to various factions including those risks and uncertainties mentioned or referred to in this press release.Accordingly, you should not rely on those forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual future results.

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Biotech Industry Look to Benefit From the Introduction of the High Technology Small Business Research Incentives Act

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NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwire - Sep 28, 2012) - The Biotechnology Industry has seen increased investor interest in 2012 as it continues to impress with strong gains. The iShares NASDAQ Biotechnology Index ETF (IBB) has gained over 35 percent this year, more than double the S&P 500 Index's gain of 15 percent. New legislation, increased mergers & acquisition activity as a result of major patent expirations have all been contributing factors to the industry's rapid rise in 2012. Five Star Equities examines the outlook for companies in the Biotech Industry and provides equity research on AEterna Zentaris Inc. ( NASDAQ : AEZS ) and Cell Therapeutics Inc. ( NASDAQ : CTIC ).

Access to the full company reports can be found at:

http://www.FiveStarEquities.com/AEZS

http://www.FiveStarEquities.com/CTIC

The Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) has recently praised the introduction of the High Technology Small Business Research Incentives Act. The new legislation would allow investors of joint venture R&D projects to utilize the losses and tax credits.

"Through the tax code, Congress historically has provided opportunities that encourage private investment in pre-revenue, R&D-intensive companies. The early growth of the biotech industry in the 1980s was due in part to the ability of investors to support projects aimed at finding new cures and treatments through similar joint ventures. This legislation will help spur greater private investment in biotech and other R&D intensive industries," BIO's President and CEO Jim Greenwood said in a statement.

Five Star Equities releases regular market updates on the Biotech 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.FiveStarEquities.com and get exclusive access to our numerous stock reports and industry newsletters.

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. The company recently reported that Fast Track designation had not been granted from the FDA for AEZS-130.

Cell Therapeutics is a biopharmaceutical company committed to developing an integrated portfolio of oncology products aimed at making cancer more treatable. The company recently reported positive results from their phase 1 study of its highly selective oral JAK2 inhibitor pacritinib, or SB1518.

Five Star Equities provides Market Research focused on equities that offer growth opportunities, value, and strong potential return. We strive to provide the most up-to-date market activities. We constantly create research reports and newsletters for our members. Five Star Equities has not been compensated by any of the above-mentioned companies. We act as an independent research portal and are aware that all investment entails inherent risks. Please view the full disclaimer at:

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Biotech Industry Look to Benefit From the Introduction of the High Technology Small Business Research Incentives Act

Grey's Anatomy Scoop: Jessica Capshaw Discusses Arizona's Fate and What's Next

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Jessica Capshaw

[Warning: This story contains major spoilers from the season premiere of Grey's Anatomy. Read at your own risk!]

After spending an entire summer wondering about the fates of our favorite Grey's Anatomy doctors, Thursday's premiere dropped several bombshells that forever changed the staff of Seattle Grace. Cristina (Sandra Oh) moved to Minnesota, Mark (Eric Dane) was pulled off life support, and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) was missing in action throughout most of the hour.

Missed the season premiere of Grey's Anatomy? Read our recap

The sad truth was that she was at home in bed, destroyed by the fact that not only lives were lost in the plane crash: Her left leg, which was severely injured in the accident, had to be amputated. Yes, the always chipper and bubbly pediatric surgeon who used to roll around the hospital on wheelie shoes is now missing a leg and she blames her wife Callie (Sara Ramirez) for it.

How will Arizona deal with the road ahead? TVGuide.com caught up with Capshaw to get the scoop on that and what this means for Calzona. (Shonda Rhimes, don't you dare break them up!) Get the scoop:

What was your reaction when Shonda told you she was planning to amputate Arizona's leg? Capshaw: I was shocked. I definitely didn't see that one coming. Which, in hindsight seems silly of me given that there was a very, very real and very profound injury at the end of last season, but I just didn't know. I didn't even go there. I guess that's why I don't create shows. [Laughs]

Arizona has always been the pillar of happiness. How dark will her journey go? Capshaw: I think that's the point. There is no light without dark, and there's no dark without light. Yes, at the inception of the character, I think there was something really nice about how light she was. ... Then, ever since going to Africa, when she came back, things just weren't the same. Something happened. It was the car crash. There was the baby. [And now] an airplane crash. She should just walk [out]. Now I say that and look what happened.

What will we see as Arizona is dealing with this? Capshaw: The writers and Shonda are obviously trying to tell good stories. It seems, in the many conversations that we've had, there was a real story here. It was an opportunity to tell a good story of something very profoundly difficult happening to Arizona. Now, we'll see the story of how she comes to terms with that, how long it will be dark, and when it will get light again. Hopefully, it's that whole thing about all the people in London and Seattle: When it rains all the time, that one day that you get that's sunny is like the best day ever. I think that's the idea.

Grey's Anatomy: Where were we and what's next?

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Grey's Anatomy Scoop: Jessica Capshaw Discusses Arizona's Fate and What's Next

Health junket for 76 costs taxpayers $200k

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DOZENS of Pathology Queensland staff enjoyed the delights of Darwin this week while their union complains cuts could cripple services.

The Courier-Mail can reveal that 76 staff from Queensland Health's pathology arm took off to the Top End for an annual conference, with $200,000 of their costs covered by taxpayers.

The four-day conference comes amid union warnings the LNP Government's plans to cut about 100 pathology staff would impact patients.

Health Minister Lawrence Springborg yesterday described the number of Queensland Health employees attending the one conference as "eye opening".

However, Mr Springborg said he was not aware of any impact the en masse absence of staff had on services.

However, Together Union secretary Alex Scott said it was a "furphy" for Mr Springborg to claim Pathology Queensland would not be impacted by job cuts if it could cater for conferences.

Mr Scott said 76 was just a fraction of the 1600 pathology workforce and more staff should have attended.

"If we had staff cuts we wouldn't have had people at this conference and the health system as a result would be worse off."

Queensland's contingent to the four-day conference included three pathologists, 23 phlebotomists and laboratory assistants and 50 scientists.

Staged by the Australian Institute of Medical Scientists, the conference came complete with a cocktail function and a special dinner at the Darwin Sailing Club.

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Health junket for 76 costs taxpayers $200k

Ventura schools honored for work helping with healthy eating habits

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Nutrition took center stage Thursday at Ventura's De Anza Academy of Technology and the Arts as eight schools were honored for their work in getting students to eat better and be more active.

De Anza received the silver award in the U.S. Department of Agriculture's HealthierUS School Challenge. Bronze awards went to Anacapa, Balboa and Cabrillo middle schools and Buena, Foothill, Pacific and Ventura high schools.

USDA Food and Nutrition Service Regional Administrator Allen Ng was on hand for the awards ceremony.

According to Sandip Kaur, director of Nutrition Service for the California Department of Education, the Ventura Unified School District is one of only 16 in the state to be honored for its nutrition program.

"That puts you among the top 5 to 6 percent top districts in California to receive the award," Kaur said. "You have all the ingredients for success."

De Anza Principal Hector Guerrero said credit for the school's successful food and fitness program should go to Sandy Curwood, director of food and nutrition services for the district, and Rebecca Murphy, who runs the cafeteria at De Anza.

"We offered fresh fruits and vegetable in the premises for children to eat every day," Guerrero said. "We've also done away with food as a reward."

De Anza offers a fresh fruit and salad bar each day for 450 to 600 students, as well as healthy entrees, which Thursday included hamburgers on whole wheat buns or turkey sandwiches.

Guerrero said catering to students' palate can be a challenge, but he said schools have found that students make better food choices with offerings of tastings and food preparation lessons.

"They are all required to take a fruit or vegetable, and later on in the day, you'll see them munching carrots or taking raisins to class," Guerrero said. "You don't see as many kids as tired when they are in the classroom."

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Ventura schools honored for work helping with healthy eating habits

$1.7M grant helps students earn microbiology degrees

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By Tom Ruiz Date posted: September 28, 2012

Eric Triplett, chair of the University of Floridas Microbiology and Cell Science Department, is pictured in his laboratory.

A team of University of Florida and Miami Dade College faculty members has won a five-year, $1.7 million federal grant to expand a distance-education program enabling MDC students to earn a bachelors degree in microbiology from UF.

The grant was announced in August by the National Science Foundations Division of Undergraduate Education. The grant is part of an NSF effort to increase the number of science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates, known as the STEM Talent Expansion Program.

We believe this program will allow students to become science graduates who otherwise would be unable to do so for financial or cultural reasons, said Eric Triplett, principal investigator for the grant and chair of UFs Microbiology and Cell Science Department, part of the Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences. This is one of the very few science degrees available by distance education anywhere in the U.S. from a top research university.

Launched last fall, the program is aimed at students from minority groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM disciplines. Its based at MDCs North Campus, where 90 percent of students are Hispanic or African- American.

With the distance ed option, students can attend UF without relocating to Gainesville, thereby reducing expenses and enabling students to maintain employment and personal responsibilities. These factors could improve retention, said Jennifer Drew, an instructor with the UF microbiology and cell science department and a co principal investigator.

Drew said the funding will help officials at both institutions improve the existing program by offering new features that may improve retention: scholarships, peer-to-peer tutoring, career mentoring and undergraduate research experiences.

Lecture classes are taught online, but students will do their lab work in person at MDC or one of several UF facilities in South Florida.

The program is open to all students, regardless of ethnicity, who have received an associate of arts degree from MDC and earned minimum grades in prerequisite courses. Beginning next fall, UF plans to offer a similar distance-ed program at community colleges across the state, Triplett said.

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$1.7M grant helps students earn microbiology degrees

Research and Markets: Analysis of Emerging Microbiology Tests and Strategic Profiles of Leading Suppliers

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/27k7vh/analysis_of) has announced the addition of the "Analysis of Emerging Microbiology Tests and Strategic Profiles of Leading Suppliers" report to their offering.

This 760-page report presents a comprehensive marketing and technological assessment, as well as medical rationale and diagnostic prospects for nearly 100 infectious diseases and viruses, including their scientific background, clinical significance and market needs for new tests, vaccines, drugs and extensive listings of companies developing or marketing innovative technologies and products.

The report also presents strategic assessments of leading market players and emerging suppliers with innovative technologies and products, including their sales, product portfolios, distribution tactics, technological know-how, new products in R&D, collaborative arrangements, and business strategies.

Competitive Profiles:

- Abbott

- Affymetrix

- Beckman Coulter/Danaher

- Becton Dickinson

- bioMerieux

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Research and Markets: Analysis of Emerging Microbiology Tests and Strategic Profiles of Leading Suppliers

DNA remains focus in Highway of Tears cases

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VANCOUVER - RCMP scientists will continue to resubmit DNA to Interpol after announcing this week the process confirmed a dead U.S. convict killed at least one of the 18 victims on B.C.'s so-called Highway of Tears, an investigator said Thursday.

Staff Sgt. Wayne Clary said samples of genetic material submitted to the international law enforcement agency have to meet standards, which could mean having to isolate the suspects DNA from other contaminants, including blood from the victim.

That was the case in victim Colleen MacMillens murder: her blood was mixed with that of her presumed killer, Bobby Jack Fowler. (Fowlers guilt is not proven in a court of law because of his passing in 2006 in an Oregon prison.)

A previous attempt five years ago to separate Fowlers blood was unsuccessful, but new technology made it possible this year. That meant the isolated Fowler DNA was now acceptable for comparison with international police records.

Were very cognizant of advances in DNA and we would resubmit when we can, Clary told QMI Agency. In particular, when there are older cases that have already gone through (our system) once.

The investigator said police have also traced four additional British Columbian male suspects -- two living and two dead -- related to the missing and murdered women.

One of the suspects continues to be sought in connection to Maureen Mosies death. The 33-year-old was last seen alive in Salmon Arm on May 8, 1981. The next day, her remains were located 100 kilometres west, near Kamloops.

Mounties still seek witnesses who saw a two-door compact car with an Alberta plate driven by a man with a dark beard.

We think whoever drove that car killed Maureen Mosie.

Though no names were released, Clary said the two dead suspects linked to two separate killings perished before the Highway of Tears task force launched in 2005.

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DNA remains focus in Highway of Tears cases

Posted in DNA

Some Women's Brains Contain Male DNA: Study

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Latest Womens Health News

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 26 (HealthDay News) -- Male DNA and cells are commonly found in some women's brains and most likely come from male fetuses, according to a small new study.

The medical implications of male DNA and male cells in women's brains are unknown. Previous studies of microchimerism -- the presence of genetic material and cells that were exchanged between fetuses and mothers during pregnancy -- have linked it to autoimmune diseases and cancer in both helpful and harmful ways.

Researchers at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle analyzed brain autopsy specimens from 59 women who died between the ages of 32 and 101. Male DNA was detected in 63 percent of the women and was distributed in various brain regions. The oldest woman with male DNA was 94.

Thirty-three of the 59 women in the study had Alzheimer's disease. These women had a somewhat lower prevalence of male DNA, which was present in lower concentrations in regions of the brain most affected by Alzheimer's.

Because of the small number of women in the study and their largely unknown pregnancy history, it is not possible to establish a link between Alzheimer's disease and levels of male DNA and cells from a fetus, the researchers said in a cancer center news release.

They also added that the study does not show an association between male microchimerism in women's brains and their health or risk of disease. Further research is needed to investigate this area.

The study was published Sept. 26 in the journal PLoS One.

-- Robert Preidt

Copyright 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

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Some Women's Brains Contain Male DNA: Study

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Burn victim identified by DNA in maggots

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It isn't pretty, but it's a first for science. A dead body, burned beyond recognition, was discovered in the woods by Mexican police. Investigators had a lead on the identity of the victim, but the body was too damaged to provide DNA for analysis. That is, until scientists stepped in with an innovative and unorthodox solution: extracting DNA from maggots found on the corpse.

Pathologists from the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon, in San Nicolas, Mexico, dissected three maggot larvae found on the corpse and extracted the contents of their gastrointestinal tracts. They were then able to isolate the human DNA found within and find a match.

Police believed the victim to be a young woman who had been reported missing ten weeks earlier. The DNA from the maggots was compared to samples taken from the woman's father and found to be a 99.68 percent match.

The pathology team, led by Maria de Lourdes Chavez-Briones and Marta Ortega-Martinez, reported their work in the Journal of Forensic Science. The idea of extracting human DNA from insects has been studied for several years. But this was the first time the theory was put to practice in a criminal case.

The team hopes that their work will encourage law enforcement officials to pay more mind to insects found at crime scenes.

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Burn victim identified by DNA in maggots

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CEO of Abbott’s spinoff didn’t receive college degrees claimed in filings

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September 27, 2012 5:02PM

Updated: September 28, 2012 2:29AM

Abbott Laboratories is shrugging off the fact that the company overstated the education level of the man chosen to helm its pharmaceutical spinoff, which is expected to make $18 billion in sales next year. Longtime Abbott exec Richard Gonzalez didnt receive either a bachelors degree in biochemistry from the University of Houston or a masters in biochemistry from the University of Miami contrary to biographical information filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in 2007 and several years prior while he was a director at the company. There was an administrative error many years ago when the bio was written, said Abbott spokesman Melissa Brotz. When we became aware of it a while back we corrected it promptly I dont have an exact date. Theres absolutely no issues with his educational background or ability to lead. Hes had a distinguished career reaching the highest levels in the company with a proven track record, said Brotz. Gonzalez will take the reigns of the pharmaceutical spinoff AbbVie when the nascent company completes its separation Jan. 1. AbbVie (pronounced Abb-vee) will be the new research-based pharmaceutical firm expected to be launched by Abbott Laboratories by the end of the year. In October 2011, North Chicago-based Abbott said it would separate into two publicly traded firms one in diversified medical products, the other in research-based pharmaceuticals. AbbVie will include Abbotts current portfolio of proprietary pharmaceuticals and biologics. The name is derived from a combination of Abbott and vie, which references the Latin root vi meaning life. The AbbVie logo and graphic identity will be unveiled when the new company is launched. The diversified medical products company, which will retain the Abbott name, will consist of Abbotts existing products portfolio, including its branded generic pharmaceutical, devices, diagnostics and nutritional businesses. AbbVie has nearly $18 billion in annual revenue and will have a portfolio of market-leading brands, including Humira, Lupron, Synagis, Kaletra, Creon and Synthroid. Gonzalez joined Abbott in 1977 and retired briefly in 2007 as the companys No. 2 man before returning in 2009 to head its investment arm and is currently executive vice president of the pharmaceutical products group. A spokesman for the University of Houston confirmed Gonzalez took classes at the school in 1972 and 1973, but did not earn a degree. School administrators from the University of Miami were not immediately available Thursday. Crains Chicago Business first broke the story.

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CEO of Abbott’s spinoff didn’t receive college degrees claimed in filings

CEO of Abbott spinoff lacks degrees claimed in filings

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SUN-TIMES MEDIA September 27, 2012 6:58PM

Updated: September 28, 2012 3:00AM

Abbott Laboratories gave incorrect education credentials for the executive chosen to lead its pharmaceutical spinoff in regulatory filings between 2002 and 2007, Crains Chicago Business is reporting.

Richard A. Gonzalez, named CEO of AbbVie, did not receive a biochemistry bachelors degree nor a biochemistry masters degree from the universities Abbott filings listed, Crains reported.

According to Crains, Gonzalez did not receive a bachelors degree in biochemistry from the University of Houston, nor a masters degree in biochemistry from the University of Miami, contrary to claims in Abbotts filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission when the longtime company executive was a director.

He started at the company in 1977 and retired from Abbott as president and chief operating officer in 2007, but returned two years later.

Gonzalez, 58, currently executive vice president, Global Pharmaceuticals at Abbott, was chosen to be chairman and CEO of AbbVie (pronounced Abb-vee), the new research-based pharmaceutical firm, which is projected to have $18 billion in annual sales after it is spun off later this year.

Abbott external communications Vice President Melissa Brotz confirmed to Crains that Gonzalez did not receive degrees from either university.

The inaccurate information about his education was included in SEC filings as a result of an internal administrative error. She told Crains that Abbott learned about the errors some time ago. The company corrected the information on its Web site immediately after the errors were discovered, she said.

According to the companys Web site, Gonzalez is listed as a research biochemist at the University of Miami School of Medicine and attended the University of Houston, majoring in biochemistry,

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'Grey's Anatomy' recap: Life Support

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Image credit: Karen Neal/ABC

R.I.P. MCSTEAMYSeattle Grace mourned the loss of Mark Sloan (Eric Dane), as the doctor was pulled off life support in yet another tragic episode of Grey's Anatomy.

For the first few minutes of tonights ninth season premiere of Greys Anatomy, I was convinced we were in the midst of another alterna-reality episode of the ABC soap. My brain knew otherwise, of course, but remember when they did that oddly intriguing and oddly weird What If? episode last season? Yep, this return to the Greys world felt so different that it was reminiscent of the feeling that episode exuded.

So many things were weird: Lexie was dead! There were new interns and residents! Cristina was away working in Minnesota! Karev was headed to Johns Hopkins! There was no sign of Kepner or Arizona! Bailey was deliriously happy! Derek and Callie were shattered with grief! Meredith was tearing around the hospital as the new Bailey/Nazi, nicknamed Medusa! Sloan was laying there on life support! Sorry for all the exclamation marks, but they seemed rather necessary, considering how dire all of these things are. Is this the Seattle Grace we left last May when a huge portion of our beloved doctors were stranded after their plane crashed in Idaho? Nope, not exactly -- in fact, not at all. Clearly, lots had changed, making this an intriguing hour of television.

Granted, while many things had changed as we zeroed back into Seattle Grace Mercy West after a summer away, some were exactly the same. Like, say, how Meredith opened the hour with her patented monologue that cut right to the chase. Dying changes everything, Meredith began, foreshadowing the grim hour to come. The world just keeps on goingwithout you. Meredith was surely referencing the death of her sister Lexie, who died under a chunk of a plane in Mays finale, plus another death to come in this hour, that of Mark Sloan, who was lying in a hospital bed, on life support, presumably after his internal injuries from the finales plane crash got the best of him. And thats probably where we should start.

Because it would never be any other way on a show as sudsy as Greys, creator Shonda Rhimes decided to kill Mark Sloan -- also known lovingly as McSteamy, due to his shower-steam-and-towel introduction to Grey's in season 2 -- in an excruciating and melodramatic way. At the top of the hour, a deadline was set: 5 p.m. We viewers didnt know exactly what the deadline was for, but it wasnt hard to guess, especially after we learned that the life-supported and unresponsive Sloan had a directive in his living will, spelling out that if after 30 days, there were no signs of recovery, Richard Webber said, Mark wanted to be let go. And then he added: Thats all were doing. Honoring his wish.

The weird thing about it whole situation, of course, was the fact that we didnt know how Sloan got to this devastatingly injured point. So his internal injuries must have gotten worse from what we'd seen in the finale? But how exactly? What happened out there in the wilds after last Mays finale cut off? It must have been bad if a guy as strong as Sloan couldnt survive -- or his injuries must have been just that bad and we didn't know it.

NEXT: I keep thinking if I say something big enough or shocking enough hell open his eyes.

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'Grey's Anatomy' recap: Life Support

Grey's Anatomy Scoop: Jessica Capshaw Discusses Arizona's Fate and What's Next

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Jessica Capshaw

[Warning: This story contains major spoilers from the season premiere of Grey's Anatomy. Read at your own risk!]

After spending an entire summer wondering about the fates of our favorite Grey's Anatomy doctors, Thursday's premiere dropped several bombshells that forever changed the staff of Seattle Grace. Cristina (Sandra Oh) moved to Minnesota, Mark (Eric Dane) was pulled off life support, and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) was missing in action throughout most of the hour.

Missed the season premiere of Grey's Anatomy? Read our recap

The sad truth was that she was at home in bed, destroyed by the fact that not only lives were lost in the plane crash: Her left leg, which was severely injured in the accident, had to be amputated. Yes, the always chipper and bubbly pediatric surgeon who used to roll around the hospital on wheelie shoes is now missing a leg and she blames her wife Callie (Sara Ramirez) for it.

How will Arizona deal with the road ahead? TVGuide.com caught up with Capshaw to get the scoop on that and what this means for Calzona. (Shonda Rhimes, don't you dare break them up!) Get the scoop:

What was your reaction when Shonda told you she was planning to amputate Arizona's leg? Capshaw: I was shocked. I definitely didn't see that one coming. Which, in hindsight seems silly of me given that there was a very, very real and very profound injury at the end of last season, but I just didn't know. I didn't even go there. I guess that's why I don't create shows. [Laughs]

Arizona has always been the pillar of happiness. How dark will her journey go? Capshaw: I think that's the point. There is no light without dark, and there's no dark without light. Yes, at the inception of the character, I think there was something really nice about how light she was. ... Then, ever since going to Africa, when she came back, things just weren't the same. Something happened. It was the car crash. There was the baby. [And now] an airplane crash. She should just walk [out]. Now I say that and look what happened.

What will we see as Arizona is dealing with this? Capshaw: The writers and Shonda are obviously trying to tell good stories. It seems, in the many conversations that we've had, there was a real story here. It was an opportunity to tell a good story of something very profoundly difficult happening to Arizona. Now, we'll see the story of how she comes to terms with that, how long it will be dark, and when it will get light again. Hopefully, it's that whole thing about all the people in London and Seattle: When it rains all the time, that one day that you get that's sunny is like the best day ever. I think that's the idea.

Grey's Anatomy: Where were we and what's next?

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Grey's Anatomy Scoop: Jessica Capshaw Discusses Arizona's Fate and What's Next

Hacienda Tres Ríos Receives World Travel Award for Excellence in Tourism

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The hotel received this award for leading, hands down, in the All Inclusive Resort category in México and Central America.(PRWEB) September 28, 2012 Hacienda Tres Ríos Resort, Spa & Nature Park confirmed its level of quality and prestige in tourist services in the Caribbean upon receiving this year’s prestigious World Travel Award in the All Inclusive Resort category, aptly naming the company ...

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Hacienda Tres Ríos Receives World Travel Award for Excellence in Tourism

TravelersInsights.com Magazine Launches World Heritage Tourism and Travel Edition with a Travel Video Promotion

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New World Heritage Tourism and Travel magazine, brings travelers to the top heritage hotels and holiday destinations in the world. Each edition will feature places of special merit as a cultural, historical and travel destination: The first edition features Barbados' heritage, culture, people and holidays. http://travelersinsights.com/magazines/world-heritage-travel-tourism/Bridgetown, ...

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TravelersInsights.com Magazine Launches World Heritage Tourism and Travel Edition with a Travel Video Promotion

Avis, Island Auto Rentals Honored at World Travel Awards

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The World Travel Awards recognized Avis and Island Auto Rentals as the top car rental companies in the Caribbean and Jamaica.

For the fifth consecutive year, Avis was honored as the Caribbeans Leading Car Rental Company. This years nominees in the category included Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Holiday Autos.

Island Auto Rentals was selected as Jamaicas Leading Car Rental Company for 2012. The company was also honored with the award in 2011. Other nominees included Avis, Budget, Europcar, Hertz and Thrifty.

Click here to see the full list of travel winners.

The World Travel Awards acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. The next awards are Oct. 6 in Portugal for the Europe ceremony and awards.

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Avis, Island Auto Rentals Honored at World Travel Awards

Cytori’s Stem Cell Therapy for Burns Wins U.S. Contract

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By Ryan Flinn - 2012-09-28T16:23:41Z

Cytori Therapeutics Inc. (CYTX), a biotechnology company with $10 million in annual revenue, rose the most in more than a year after the company won a $4.7 million U.S. government contract to develop a stem cell therapy to treat burns caused by thermal or radioactive bombs.

Cytori jumped 19 percent to $4.58 at 12:11 p.m. New York time, after earlier reaching $4.93 for the biggest intraday increase since August 2011. The shares of the San Diego-based company rose 75 percent this year through yesterday.

Were seeing a lot of momentum, Chief Executive Officer Christopher Calhoun said today in an interview with Bloomberg Television. This contract is one more major thing that we are delivering on, and there is more to come. This is an important year for us.

The two-year contract with the Department of Health and Human Services Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority may be worth $106 million over five years if certain milestones are met, Cytori said today in a statement. The company had a net loss last year of $32 million, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Cytoris experimental therapy takes adipose tissue, or body fat, from a patient and through its device separates the adult stem and regenerative cells before transferring them to a burn wound. Money from the contract will be used to develop the device and take it through the U.S. regulatory approval process with the Food and Drug Administration, Calhoun said.

These cells help to facilitate the healing of the injury, he said in a telephone interview earlier this week. They release growth factors that stimulate new blood flow.

Testing the technology in a clinical trial and getting approval may take five years, Calhoun said. The company is currently testing its therapy for other soft tissue damage, as well as cardiovascular disease.

Once approved, the device will be deployed in hospitals across the country, and can be used for routine burns as well as a treatment for patients in wake of a mass casualty event that could injure 10,000 people, Cytori said in the statement.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ryan Flinn in San Francisco at rflinn@bloomberg.net

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Cytori’s Stem Cell Therapy for Burns Wins U.S. Contract