Monthly Archives: October 2012

FDA issues warning to local stem cell company

Posted on by

The Food and Drug Administration has informed the Sugar Land company involved in Gov. Rick Perry's adult stem-cell procedure that it is illegally marketing an unlicensed drug.

In a warning letter, the FDA gave Celltex Therapeutics Corp. 15 business days to submit a plan to address the agency's concerns, including correcting previously cited manufacturing problems. The letter said that failure to respond promptly could result in seizure or injunction by the FDA.

"Based on (our) information, your product violates the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Public Health Service Act," says the letter, sent on Sept. 24 and publicly posted Tuesday.

The letter comes about six months after the FDA made a 10-day inspection of the facilities where Celltex banks and grows stem cells taken from prospective patients. The agency subsequently filed a report, obtained by the Chronicle in June, detailing dozens of manufacturing deficiencies, from incorrectly labeled products to failed sterility tests.

The new warning letter reiterates those problems and asks for more information about them.

David Eller, Celltex's CEO, was unavailable Tuesday, but a public relations official said the company on Wednesday would make available a redacted copy of its letter to the FDA.

In a previous news release, Eller said Celltex "respectfully but firmly" disagreed with the FDA's position that its process causes the cells to be considered biological drugs and thus subject to the federal agency's regulations. Biological drugs involve living human cells, as opposed to chemically synthesized drugs.

"We are considering all options as we work with the agency toward a resolution," Eller said in the release.

Adult stem cells multiply to replenish dying cells. Long used to treat leukemia and other cancers, they have recently shown promise for tissue repair in other diseases, though most scientists in the field consider them not ready for mainstream use.

Treatment, at a price

Go here to see the original:
FDA issues warning to local stem cell company

Antidepressants linked to increased risk of stroke, but risk is low, study finds

Posted on by

ScienceDaily (Oct. 17, 2012) Research shows that use of popular antidepressants is linked to an increased risk of some strokes caused by bleeding in the brain, but that the risk is low, according to a multi-study analysis published in the October 17, 2012, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

For the research, scientists analyzed all of the studies that have looked at antidepressant use and stroke, which included 16 studies with more than 500,000 total participants. They found that people taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are the most commonly used antidepressants, were 50 percent more likely to have an intracranial hemorrhage than those not taking the antidepressants and about 40 percent more likely to have an intracerebral hemorrhage.

But study author Daniel G. Hackam, MD, PhD, FRCPC, of Western University in London, Ontario, said the findings should be viewed with caution. "Because these types of strokes are very rare, the actual increased risk for the average person is very low," he said.

An estimated 24.6 of these strokes occur per 100,000 people per year. According to the research, the use of SSRIs would increase the risk by one additional stroke per 10,000 people per year.

"Overall, these results should not deter anyone from taking an SSRI when it is needed," Hackam said. "In general these drugs are safe, and obviously there are risks to having depression go untreated. But doctors might consider other types of antidepressants for people who already have risk factors for these types of strokes, such as those taking blood thinners, people who have had similar strokes already or those with severe alcohol abuse."

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Academy of Neurology (AAN).

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

See the original post here:
Antidepressants linked to increased risk of stroke, but risk is low, study finds

Antidepressants linked to increased risk of stroke, but risk is low

Posted on by

Public release date: 17-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Angela Babb, APR ababb@aan.com 612-928-6102 American Academy of Neurology

MINNEAPOLIS Research shows that use of popular antidepressants is linked to an increased risk of some strokes caused by bleeding in the brain, but that the risk is low, according to a multi-study analysis published in the October 17, 2012, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

For the research, scientists analyzed all of the studies that have looked at antidepressant use and stroke, which included 16 studies with more than 500,000 total participants. They found that people taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are the most commonly used antidepressants, were 50 percent more likely to have an intracranial hemorrhage than those not taking the antidepressants and about 40 percent more likely to have an intracerebral hemorrhage.

But study author Daniel G. Hackam, MD, PhD, FRCPC, of Western University in London, Ontario, said the findings should be viewed with caution. "Because these types of strokes are very rare, the actual increased risk for the average person is very low," he said.

An estimated 24.6 of these strokes occur per 100,000 people per year. According to the research, the use of SSRIs would increase the risk by one additional stroke per 10,000 people per year.

"Overall, these results should not deter anyone from taking an SSRI when it is needed," Hackam said. "In general these drugs are safe, and obviously there are risks to having depression go untreated. But doctors might consider other types of antidepressants for people who already have risk factors for these types of strokes, such as those taking blood thinners, people who have had similar strokes already or those with severe alcohol abuse."

###

To learn more about stroke, visit http://www.aan.com/patients.

The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 25,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, stroke, migraine, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, Parkinson's disease and epilepsy.

Go here to see the original:
Antidepressants linked to increased risk of stroke, but risk is low

Taming Nanotechnology's Potential Risks

Posted on by

Taking a proactive approach to the possible liability implications of nanomaterials could save manufacturers major litigation trouble down the road.

All signs point toward the industrial and economic impact of nanotechnology getting exponentially bigger in the very near future -- to the tune of $3 trillion by 2015, according to some projections.

This microscopic technology, which utilizes particles and engineered structures as small as one ten-thousandth the diameter of a human hair, has already found practical application in medical technology, pharmaceuticals, and personal care products. It is poised to transform electronics and communications, manufacturing processes and tools, materials development, pollution control, batteries, and other products and industries.

But the health and environmental effects of most nanotechnologies are not well studied or understood, and a growing body of evidence suggests that some types of nanotechnology might be associated with significant adverse effects on human health and the environment.

Some in the insurance industry have already labeled nanotechnology as an emerging risk, and, to compound the uncertainty, complex concerns regarding regulatory oversight are on the rise, not to mention calls to ban nanotechnology outright.

So where does this leave manufacturers, innovators and other businesses whose industries are ready to ride the wave of nanoparticles into the future? Likely facing a host of potential lawsuits at some point for a number of potential reasons.

While no nanotechnology-specific personal injury claims have been brought against manufacturers yet, and no specific human disease or verifiable environmental mishap has been ascribed to nanomaterials, such claims are practically inevitable.

But understanding the potential risks and courtroom implications can help manufacturers and other businesses in the supply chain take proactive steps to manage and minimize their exposure to liability.

More:
Taming Nanotechnology's Potential Risks

Dr. Taft Bhuket Elected Alameda County Medical Center's Chief of Medical Staff

Posted on by

OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 17, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Oakland Gastroenterologist Taft Bhuket, MD, has been elected Alameda County Medical Center's (ACMC) Chief of Medical Staff for 2012-14. In this position, he is responsible for leading the medical staff, whose primary purpose is to oversee and improve issues related to the quality of patient care and safety at ACMC.

"It is my honor to serve as Chief of Staff for Alameda County Medical Center," said Dr. Bhuket. "These next few years will be an exciting and challenging time for both our medical center and for American healthcare in general. I look forward to collaborating with the medical staff and ACMC's leadership as we plan for and respond to this dynamic healthcare environment."

The newly-installed ACMC Medical Staff Officers for 2012-2014 include Lyn Berry, MD, immediate past Chief of Medical Staff; Joe Walker, MD, Vice Chief of Staff; and Michelle "Mickye" Adams, MD, Secretary/Treasurer. Members at large include Swapnil Shah, MD; Pat Twomey, MD; David English, MD; Arlen Ho, MD; Suzie Bruch, MD; and Jackie Bolds, MD.

Dr. Bhuket has practiced at ACMC since 2008, when he was named Chief of Gastroenterology and Director of the Endoscopy Unit. His professional interests are clinical education, systems improvements and operations, and expansion of access to care. Under his leadership, there has been a marked expansion and operational streamlining of GI services, including significant reductions in endoscopy wait times, the launch of the hepatitis C clinic, and the development of the ACMC Colorectal Cancer Screening Program. Dr. Bhuket is a two-time winner of the Department of Medicine's "Teacher of the Year" award and was selected into the prestigious California Healthcare Foundation Leadership Fellowship Program for 2011-13. His scholarly interests are colorectal cancer screening, gastrointestinal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, and complications of liver disease.

Dr. Bhuket earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Texas at Austin. He went on to complete both medical school and an internal medicine residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas. He subsequently completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at the University of Michigan Medical School where he served as Chief GI Fellow. Dr. Bhuket is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in both Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine. He is a member of the American College of Gastroenterology, the American Gastroenterological Association and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.

NOTE TO EDITORS: A high-resolution photo of Dr. Bhuket is available upon request.

Alameda County Medical Center is a nationally recognized public healthcare system with more than 2,800 employees, 500 physicians, and 475 accredited beds. ACMC provides comprehensive, high quality medical treatment and compassionate care to all residents of Alameda County. The integrated system of hospitals, clinics, and health services is staffed by healthcare professionals who are responsive to the diverse cultural needs of our community. ACMC fosters a learning environment with a wide range of educational programs and activities including medical research and education for students, interns and residents as well as continuing medical education for medical, nursing and other staff. ACMC operates six facilities: Highland Hospital in Oakland, John George Psychiatric Pavilion in San Leandro, Fairmont Hospital in San Leandro and three community-based wellness centers. The system provides a range of services from family and women's health to pediatrics, oncology and orthopedics.

More here:
Dr. Taft Bhuket Elected Alameda County Medical Center's Chief of Medical Staff

Exercise Vital Sign Could Aid Treatment of Disease, Cut Healthcare Costs

Posted on by

ACSM Study: Asking patients about their exercise routine could improve care and treatment.

Indianapolis, IN (PRWEB) October 17, 2012

This research offers preliminary support that implementing an exercise vital sign in addition to the traditional vital signs pulse, blood pressure, temperature, and respirations in a large healthcare system is very possible and could offer many benefits as well as additional patient data, said the primary investigator, Karen Coleman, Ph.D., of Kaiser Permanentes Department of Research and Evaluation.

The authors reviewed data from April 2010 to March 2011 from more than 1.7 million outpatient visits to Kaiser Permanente Southern California. Kaiser Permanente began using the exercise vital sign in October 2009. Patients at Kaiser are routinely asked questions about their usual daily levels of activity and are assigned a minutes-per-week value based on their answer. Using a regression model, this study demonstrated that a greater disease burden increased the likelihood of physical inactivity among the sample patient population. As expected, researchers also found lower activity levels among patients who were older, obese or members of ethnic minorities.

There is no better indicator of a persons health and longevity than the minutes per week of activity a patient engages in, said Robert E. Sallis, M.D., one of the authors and also the chairman of the Exercise is Medicine advisory board. When incorporated in a healthcare setting, the exercise vital sign can be an important tool for prevention and management of disease.

The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. More than 45,000 international, national and regional members and certified professionals are dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.

Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise is the official journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, and is available from Lippincott Williams & Wilkins at 1-800-638-6423. For a complete copy of the research paper (Vol. 44, No. 11, pp: 2071-2076) or to speak with a leading sports medicine expert on the topic, contact the Department of Communications and Public Information at 317-637-9200 ext. 133. Visit ACSM online at http://www.acsm.org.

The conclusions outlined in this news release are those of the researchers only, and should not be construed as an official statement of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Annie Spencer American College of Sports Medicine (317) 637-9200 Email Information

Read the original post:
Exercise Vital Sign Could Aid Treatment of Disease, Cut Healthcare Costs

Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) Names Katherine Anderson, ND, FABNO as National Director, Naturopathic …

Posted on by

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Oct. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) announced the appointment of Katherine Anderson, ND, FABNO as National Director, Naturopathic Medicine. Dr. Anderson is based at the CTCA Southwestern Regional Medical Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she is that facility's Director of Naturopathic Medicine and has served as the interim National Director for the past six months prior to her official appointment in September, 2012.

"We are pleased to have Dr. Anderson join our National Leadership team," said Carolyn Lammersfeld, MS, RD, CSO, LD, CNSC, CTCA Vice President of Integrative Medicine. "Her expertise in the field of naturopathic medicine, coupled with her leadership skills will help us to continue to be a leader in integrative medicine, and to offer our patients high quality of comprehensive cancer care."

A graduate of the Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia with Bachelor of Science degrees in both Mathematics and Kinesiology, Dr. Anderson went on to receive her degree in Naturopathic Medicine from the Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine in Toronto. She is currently working toward a Master in Business Administration from Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.

Dr. Anderson began her professional career as an Area Coordinator at Simon Fraser University. She went on to serve as an Electrocardiogram Assistant at the Nanaimo Regional Hospital in British Columbia before beginning her Naturopathic residency at the CTCA Southwestern Regional Medical Center in Tulsa in 2004. Upon completion of her residency, Dr. Anderson joined the Southwestern staff as a Naturopathic Staff Physician and was later named Senior Clinical Lead in 2007. She was promoted to Director of Naturopathic Medicine at Southwestern in 2009, a position she currently holds.

Dr. Anderson has conducted clinical research in the field of integrative medicine, most recently in the area of low level laser therapy for oral mucositis. The recipient of the Swiss Herbal Remedies Bursary in recognition of Excellence in the Promotion of Women's Health, Dr. Anderson is also a Fellow of the American Board of Naturopathic Oncologists, and a member of the American Association of Naturopathic Medicine, Oncology Association of Naturopathic Physicians, The American Society of Clinical Oncology and the Oklahoma Association of Naturopathic Physicians.

About Cancer Treatment Centers of America

Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Inc. (CTCA) is a national network of hospitals focusing on complex and advanced stage cancer. CTCA offers a comprehensive, fully integrative approach to cancer treatment and serves patients from all 50 states at facilities located in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa. Known for delivering the Mother Standard of care and Patient Empowerment Medicine, CTCA provides patients with information about cancer and their treatment options so they can control their treatment decisions. For more information about CTCA, go to http://www.cancercenter.com.

SOURCE Cancer Treatment Centers of America

View post:
Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) Names Katherine Anderson, ND, FABNO as National Director, Naturopathic ...

The Recipe For Immortality | DISCOVER

Posted on by

Shutterstock

The yearning for immortality dates back at least to ancient times. As human brain size increased rapidly over the past million years, our ancestors began to think increasingly about the inevitability of death and the redemptive possibility of everlasting life. Ancient pharaohs, queens, and kings used every means to ensure their vestigial persistence through future ages. They had themselves enshrined in legends, songs, and poems; they had their remains preserved in vast pyramids.

Part of the reason for that yearning may lie in the fact that people already live so long and with such self-awareness. Our species is distinctive in its ability to remember and to predict future events based upon past experience. Before the invention of writing, and even afterward, reliable predictions required the presence of memories in a living person. People well past their reproductive years could add value to their tribe by remembering early warning signs of rare phenomena, such as drought, locusts, and disease.

In modern times our learning extends even further. It includes postdoctoral studies and on-the-job training that may continue well into our 60s. Like our ancient predecessors, we enshrine the most important bits of our collective knowledge, only in more sophisticated embodiments: scientific publications, books, music, video, websites. Nevertheless, when people die, their wisdomthe memories and mental processes that produced that knowledgedies too.

Throughout history, death was associated with assaults, sickness, and privation. Now an increasingly common cause of death is aging. As the wealth of nations increases and exposure to toxins and infectious agents drops, aging will become the cause of most disease, debility, and death. At the same time, many more people will remain active beyond the age of 100. So, beyond the fear of death, there are practical reasons to explore extending our healthy years.

Scientists have much to learn from the longest-lived humans, many of whom will have their DNA sequenced in the next two years. The effort to extend lifeand, even more, to extend lifes youthful, vigorous phaseis a clear opportunity for synthetic biology, the technique of extensively engineering the genome. [George Church is a leading researcher in this emerging field.] The cure for aging will probably require a thorough redo of our genome.

Read more here:
The Recipe For Immortality | DISCOVER

Women whose first pregnancy was ectopic have fewer children

Posted on by

Public release date: 17-Oct-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Emma Mason wordmason@mac.com European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology

Women whose first pregnancy is ectopic are likely to have fewer children in the following 20-30 years than women whose first pregnancy ends in a delivery, miscarriage or abortion, according to results from a study of nearly 3,000 women in Denmark. In addition, these women have a five-fold increased risk of a subsequent ectopic pregnancy.

The first study to look at long-term reproductive outcomes in women whose first pregnancy was ectopic is published online today (Thursday) in Europe's leading reproductive medicine journal Human Reproduction [1].

Ectopic pregnancies are pregnancies where a fertilised egg implants somewhere other than the lining of the womb; often it's in one of the Fallopian tubes. Approximately one per cent of pregnancies are ectopic, and they are never viable; often the eggs die, sometimes a drug called methotrexate is given so that the pregnancy tissue is absorbed into the woman's body, and sometimes surgery is needed.

Although it is already known that a previous ectopic pregnancy can increase the risk of a subsequent one, most studies have been small and with short follow-up. "We found no controlled study assessing long-term reproductive prognosis in women whose first pregnancy is ectopic," write the authors of the current study.

The researchers collected data from four Danish registries covering the period 1977-2009. They found 2,917 women whose first pregnancy was ectopic between 1977-1982 and who, except for those who died or emigrated, were followed to the end of 2009 or for an average of 23 years.

These women were matched with other women of the same age whose first pregnancy resulted in a delivery, miscarriage or abortion. They were also compared with a fourth group of women who had no recorded pregnancy in the year of matching.

Dr Line Lund Krhus (MD), a research student in the Gynaecological Clinic at the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen, Denmark, said: "We found that the group of women who had a first ectopic pregnancy had the lowest delivery rate and total number of pregnancies over the following 20-30 years when compared with the other groups, and also lower rates of miscarriages and abortions. They had a 4.7-10-fold increased risk of further ectopic pregnancies."

Women who had had an ectopic pregnancy had the lowest long-term rate of subsequent deliveries of 69 per 100 women, compared with 126 per 100 among women who had a first miscarriage, 77 per 100 among women who had a first abortion, 73 per 100 among women whose first pregnancy ended in a delivery, and 101 per 100 among the women who were not pregnant in the year the women were matched with each other.

Original post:
Women whose first pregnancy was ectopic have fewer children

Debate gets high marks

Posted on by

Home News Politics Loading

Published: 10/17/2012 - Updated: 15 hours ago

BY TOM TROY BLADE POLITICS WRITER

Debate-viewers at a downtown Toledo eatery and watering hole saw a more aggressive Barack Obama in the second presidential debate on Tuesday night.

Whether that added up to a victory for Mr. Obama and a defeat for Republican Mitt Romney was another question.

RELATED: Obama, Romney feud on issues

"Definitely Obama is different from the last time, more engaged and aggressive," said Zachary Reaver, 22, a University of Toledo student from Millersport, Ohio, majoring in bioengineering and biochemistry. "Before he was looking down. Now hes engaged, smiling. I cant really say whos winning or losing. I think theyre both actively engaged in answering the questions."

A small crowd of debate watchers followed the presidential pugilistics in the bar of PizzaPapalis Taverna some of them at the invitation of The Blade through Facebook and social media, others just because they happened to be there.

13abc.com: Breaking News, Weather and Sports

Paige Strancar, 29, a volunteer coordinator from a nonprofit agency who lives in West Toledo, admitted she's an Obama supporter who was pleased with his performance. She was disappointed when the candidates seemed to be avoiding the issues she was interested in poverty, women's health, contraception, and education but said eventually all those topics were touched upon.

More here:
Debate gets high marks

This McMaster scientist has a taste for cage fighting

Posted on by

The biochemistry research that should earn him a PhD by next summer involves categorizing the structure of a nonpathogenic protein from an obscure bacteria that apparently exist at a near-atomic level.

I think thats what its about, anyway. Youd need a couple of masters degrees to do more than simply nod along politely as he talks about bioremediation and terraforming and something called Deinococcus Radiodurans that can apparently recover from extreme damage, which makes it a huge deal for doctors and even NASA, which has taken some into space for study. Or something like that.

Smart? Uh, yeah. Seiji Sugiman-Marangos is off the charts.

Which makes you wonder why a McMaster student with a brain like this will walk into a cage on Friday night and risk it by fighting another man in a mixed martial arts bout. After all, its kind of a given that being kicked and punched and elbowed and kneed in the head isnt ideal for brain cells.

For me, its just about competing, he says.

Make no mistake, the 27-year-old featherweight whose name is pronounced Say-jee Soogie-man Marangoes is acutely aware of the danger. He gets how valuable the cargo inside his skull is for his future. He understands the risks. But he also feels the lure of the game.

Growing up, he says he wasnt good at any sports. But as soon as he tried karate as a teenager, he found his sweet spot. He was good at it right away and loved it. That led to taekwondo and other martial arts before finding his way into a jiu-jitsu gym.

His laughs talking about his first time sparring when a teenage girl and then a very small boy manhandled him. But he worked at and soon became pretty proficient.

Watching a couple of professional fighters work out, he started thinking he should give the game a try for real. Mostly because he says it seemed like a waste of time to spend so much time training for nothing.

But the thought of taking blows to the head is never far away. He can take a punch. He has. Truth is, hes fearless and maybe too tough for his own good.

The rest is here:
This McMaster scientist has a taste for cage fighting

Unorthodox OSU prof sings to class

Posted on by

CORVALLIS Its a Tuesday morning, and Kevin Ahern is entertaining a room full of college students in an introductory class to biochemistry and biophysics with a voice that carries and a lesson that is positively lyrical.

The class is full of young students, many of them in the second week of their first year of college. They have many reasons to be nervous; their course work is among the most difficult at the university. But Ahern, a senior instructor of biophysics and biochemistry at Oregon State University, has found a way to calm jitters.

Music.

After brief announcements and role call during which Ahern proves that he knows his class of about 50 students by name and face he projects song lyrics on an overhead screen that contain words like ribosome and DNA.

Then, without hesitation, he begins to sing the scientific lyrics to the melody of America, the Beautiful and the class follows his lead.

This is Metabolic Melodies, one of Aherns unconventional teaching methods to cut through the anxiety that new students often feel when first entering his class.

Ahern, who jokingly claims the title of frustrated musician, began writing the melodies in 1990.

I originally conceived of the melodies because biochemistry itself is a pretty scary subject for students, he said.

Metabolic Melodies have made a big enough impression on the student population that Ahern often has students enrolling in his courses because of the songs.

But while they are entertaining and make the professor less intimidating, the melodies, like his other unusual teaching methods, serve a practical purpose as well.

The rest is here:
Unorthodox OSU prof sings to class

McMaster biochemistry student making his mark as an MMA fighter

Posted on by

The biochemistry research that should earn him a PhD by next summer involves categorizing the structure of a nonpathogenic protein from an obscure bacteria that apparently exist at a near-atomic level.

I think thats what its about, anyway. Youd need a couple of masters degrees to do more than simply nod along politely as he talks about bioremediation and terraforming and something called Deinococcus Radiodurans that can apparently recover from extreme damage, which makes it a huge deal for doctors and even NASA, which has taken some into space for study. Or something like that.

Smart? Uh, yeah. Seiji Sugiman-Marangos is off the charts.

Which makes you wonder why a McMaster student with a brain like this will walk into a cage on Friday night and risk it by fighting another man in a mixed martial arts bout. After all, its kind of a given that being kicked and punched and elbowed and kneed in the head isnt ideal for brain cells.

For me, its just about competing, he says.

Make no mistake, the 27-year-old featherweight whose name is pronounced Say-jee Soogie-man Marangoes is acutely aware of the danger. He gets how valuable the cargo inside his skull is for his future. He understands the risks. But he also feels the lure of the game.

Growing up, he says he wasnt good at any sports. But as soon as he tried karate as a teenager, he found his sweet spot. He was good at it right away and loved it. That led to taekwondo and other martial arts before finding his way into a jiu-jitsu gym.

His laughs talking about his first time sparring when a teenage girl and then a very small boy manhandled him. But he worked at and soon became pretty proficient.

Watching a couple of professional fighters work out, he started thinking he should give the game a try for real. Mostly because he says it seemed like a waste of time to spend so much time training for nothing.

But the thought of taking blows to the head is never far away. He can take a punch. He has. Truth is, hes fearless and maybe too tough for his own good.

See the original post here:
McMaster biochemistry student making his mark as an MMA fighter

UCSF anatomy center's high-tech upgrade

Posted on by

For the new Anatomy Learning Center at UCSF's Parnassus campus, school officials sought to integrate high-tech tools with the classic cadaveric dissection.

The result: Instead of paper manuals, each lab table has an iPad uploaded with the manual, interactive graphics and quizzes. Faculty use mobile cameras to beam images of a cadaver wirelessly to TV screens and the iPads throughout the room. And students can watch surgeries taking place somewhere else on campus.

"It's about making the lab extend beyond the walls," said Chandler Mayfield, director of technology-enhanced learning in the university's School of Medicine.

The university and designers consulted with students and faculty for months to find out what they wanted to see in the $7.5 million learning center, which opened in August and was paid for with public and private funding. In addition to the lab, it includes offices, a classroom with wireless video capabilities, and a memorial wall where students can commemorate those who donated their bodies for their education.

The university shut down the old anatomy lab in September 2010 because its ventilation system was so outdated that chemical levels got too high. For the past two years, while the new center was being designed and built, students and faculty had to make do sharing the School of Dentistry's lab.

The old lab was a relic of the 1950s. The tables were made mostly of wood and were too tall for many students. The lights provided uneven lighting for students dissecting cadavers. And the circulation problems left the smelly embalming chemicals hanging in the air.

"Your hair would reek, your clothes would reek," said anatomy Professor Kimberly Topp. "You would get into the elevator, and everyone knew where you had been."

The new 3,500-square-foot lab is in the same place as the old lab on the medical school's 13th floor. Wall-to-wall windows look out onto Golden Gate Park and into Marin. It feels light and spacious, despite the 30 exam tables with four students buzzing around each.

Six 72-inch TV screens line the wall opposite the windows, and whiteboards with handwritten lists of muscles, bones and ligaments cover much of the remaining wall space. The ceiling is dotted with wireless routers, retractable extension cords and surgical lights that students can maneuver over their cadavers.

Architect Malvin Whang of the firm Harley Ellis Devereaux said he tried to create a warm and inviting space where students would want to study and that also met the functional needs of an anatomy lab.

See original here:
UCSF anatomy center's high-tech upgrade

Anatomy of a Debate Fight: The Energy Question

Posted on by

There were a couple exciting moments in the presidential debate last night when President Obama and Mitt Romney revealed they do not like each other very much. One of those was on the not-typically-emotionally-charged issue of energy permits. Relive it in our GIF anatomy of the fight.

RELATED: Ryan Better Liked Than Biden Ahead of Debate

Setup:

RELATED: Conservatives Will Love Moderate Mitt as Long as He's Winning

Romney responds to a question about gas prices by saying that Obama hasn't pursued an energy policy that would drive prices down. Obama responds that he's encouraged growth in all energy sectors, both clean and dirty, and that that will create jobs. "That's the strategy you need, an all-of-the-above strategy, and that's what we're going to do in the next four years."

RELATED: A Second-by-Second Preview of What Romney Will Do at the Debate

Step 1: The provocation.

RELATED: Debate Recap: Obama's Second Chance

Romney cuts in. "But that's not what you've done in the last four years. That's the problem.In the last four years, you've cut permits and licences on federal lands and federal waters in half."

RELATED: Mark Your Calendars for Presidential Debate Season

Here is the original post:
Anatomy of a Debate Fight: The Energy Question

Grey's Anatomy Scoop: Is There Hope for Cristina and Owen?

Posted on by

Sandra Oh, Kevin McKidd

Sure, Mark Sloan and Lexie Grey died, and Arizona had her leg amputated. But what has been most painful for some Grey's Anatomy fans this season is the agonizing distance between Cristina (Sandra Oh) and Owen (Kevin McKidd).

After the plane crash, Cristina hightailed it out of Seattle, willing to deal with the harsh winter of Minnesota to get as far away from her old stomping grounds as possible. Does her move signal the end of C/O as we know it? "I think they really are destined to be together," McKidd tells TVGuide.com.

Grey's Anatomy Sneak Peeks: April's back! Cristina's miserable!

Let's all take a moment to exhale. Below, McKidd dishes on what's in store for the troubled lovers this season, including Owen's big move. Plus: What are the repercussions of the plane crash? Get the scoop:

What can you tell us about Cristina and Owen's journey this year? Kevin McKidd: It's hard to see just how they're going to fix things. They're pretty damaged and there have been wrongs done on both sides. They're both pretty strong-willed people, they love each other and they've got this deep connection that's undeniable. In the first couple of episodes, you don't really see them make much headway. Owen's trying to reach out to Cristina and she's not really able or willing to receive much from Owen yet. There's still that distance between them that hopefully will break down as they move forward. They're very much as separate as they've ever been even though they're married.

But is there hope for them? McKidd: I think there's hope. I just hope they can make it because I think they're a cool couple and I think they really are destined to be together, but how they do that is hard to tell at the moment. I think it's going to be Owen striving to win her back, but it's going to take a while.

With all the death and damage from the plane crash, Owen seems to be handling being in charge well. McKidd: The good thing about Owen this year is he's rising to the occasion. Even though this is maybe the toughest year at Seattle Grace with all this loss going on, he's doing a good job. He's not a shoulder to cry on or touchy-feely, but he knows what people need.

He also needs his own safety valve. I think he realizes, in the episode that I'm directing, through speaking to Callie [Sara Ramirez] and going through his own process, that he needs to simplify his life. Things are so complex here. So, he decides that he's moving out of the firehouse and he's going to ask Derek [Patrick Dempsey] if he can stay in the woods in the trailer. It seems like the natural place for Owen to regress to when things are really bad. He goes to the ultimate man cave and just really downsizes his life and just lives out in the woods and runs the hospital. He's in a bit of a holding pattern, in a way. He's waiting to see where Cristina is, he's feeling very helpless and very out of control and all that stuff, so that's how he's coping with it.

Grey's Anatomy Scoop: Jessica Capshaw discusses Arizona's fate and what's next

Read more:
Grey's Anatomy Scoop: Is There Hope for Cristina and Owen?

Corinthia hotels in Malta and Russia bag travel industry 'oscars'

Posted on by

Corinthia Hotels announces that its five-star Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa in Malta and its Corinthia Hotel St Petersburg in Russia, were among Europe's travel elite to walk off with top honours at a World Travel Awards (WTA) ceremony hosted in the Algarve on Saturday 6th October 2012.

The former has been voted Maltas Leading Hotel for the fourth consecutive year, whereas the latter was named Russias leading Conference Hotel. The luxury Corinthia Hotels brand is this year celebrating its 50th Anniversary.

Other Corinthia hotels that featured prominently among the WTA finalists in various categories included the Corinthia Hotel London, Corinthia Hotel Budapest, Corinthia Hotel St Georges Bay and Corinthia Hotel Lisbon.

Hailed as The Oscars of the Travel Industry by the global media, World Travel Awards is acknowledged across the globe as the ultimate travel accolade, and highlights and rewards those travel brands that have made the greatest contribution to the industry over the past year. A packed delegation of VIPs, senior tourism figures and international media travelled from 35 nations to attend the event.

Set in extensive landscaped gardens, the Corinthia Palace Hotel & Spa, the Grand Lady of Maltas luxury hotels, was the very first hotel to fly the Corinthia flag when it opened in 1968 in the presence of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh. Since then, the world renowned hotel has become the benchmark for excellence in Maltas luxury hotel sector and the catalyst for the worldwide expansion of the Corinthia Hotels brand.

Following extensive refurbishment and restructuring work, the 400-room luxury Corinthia Hotel St Petersburg was re-launched with more bedrooms and more facilities under one roof than any other luxury five-star hotel in the City. The hotel, together with grand properties on either side of it on the citys main boulevard, was acquired as an operating hotel in 2002 by International Hotel Investments plc. (IHI).

IHI, which is the owner, developer and operator of all Corinthia Hotels, has since invested a further Euro 100 million in the total refurbishment of the original hotel, complete with a new grand foyer, a new restaurant and new bars. The adjoining buildings on either side of the hotel were demolished and carefully reconstructed with ornate facades matching their original splendour, rebuilt using traditional techniques. The hotel also has the citys first grand ballroom in a five-star hotel.

Underlining the depth and quality of the travel and tourism sector across Europe Graham E. Cooke, President and Founder, World Travel Awards said: During times of economic austerity world-class brands come into their own, and the winners at our Europe Ceremony represent the cream of the continent.

Link:

Corinthia hotels in Malta and Russia bag travel industry 'oscars'

Cadence Travel Recognized by A-List World’s Top Travel Agents

Posted on by

Carol Arkind and Doris White from Cadence Travel Ranked in 2012 A-List

La Jolla, California (PRWEB) October 17, 2012

According to Travel Leisure, in an era of do-it-yourself vacations, travelers have more toolsonline travel agencies, review sites, booking appsat their fingertips than ever before. But when it comes to expert advice about a destination and customization, it is highly recommended to collaborate with a Trusted Advisor at Cadence. For every trip, long or short, Cadence travel has the proven advantage in making "a world of difference" in the way every person experiences travel.

"Our trusted advisors know what our customers need and strive to exceed their highest level of expectations. With so many choices, Cadence Travel works hard to stand out and above the rest, states Elaine San Juan, Chief Operating Officer of CADENCE.

Cadence Travel understands most every facet of travel and personally relates with the traveler. While the benefits of getting professional advice for a trip, business or leisure, are clear, with Cadence, every traveler is a part of the ultimate global travel community of preferred providers and travelers. Visit http://www.CadenceTravelManagement.com today to find more information and to schedule an appointment to speak with one of the top rated agents.

About CADENCE:

CADENCE handles every travel related necessity, from meetings and incentives to all corporate related travel needs. CADENCE also provides full-service leisure travel planning, which includes the outstanding vacation experiences available through the Virtuoso luxury travel network. Clients enjoy complimentary upgrades, special amenities and VIP treatment around the world, as well as insider travel planning to ensure that every trip is flawless and rewarding.

Wendy Burk CADENCE Travel (877) 551-4777 Email Information

View original post here:

Cadence Travel Recognized by A-List World’s Top Travel Agents

Husband testifies wife 'was looking for a cure' and found Bonita stem-cell doctor

Posted on by

The Grekos hearing is scheduled to resume today. The location is the Collier County Courthouse in room 4-D, according to a case filing Monday.

The hearing before J. Lawrence Johnson, an administrative law judge from Tallahassee, is scheduled to last four days. The Collier County Courthouse is located at 3315 U.S. 41 E.

Photo by Allie Garza

Zannos Grekos

EAST NAPLES The patient was friends with the mother of Dr. Zannos Grekos, a Bonita Springs cardiologist who performed stem cell therapy on people with debilitating illnesses.

Chemotherapy for breast cancer several years earlier had left the 69-year-old patient, Domenica Fitzgerald, with numbness in her legs. She was unable to walk for more than 10 minutes. She hoped Grekos and his stem cell treatment could help.

"She was looking for a cure. She wanted to get well," her husband, John "Jack" Fitzgerald, testified Tuesday.

A four-day administrative hearing started Tuesday in a Collier County courtroom for a state Department of Health complaint against Grekos. The state says he committed medical malpractice and violated other standards of care when he performed a stem cell treatment on the patient on March 24, 2010. The patient suffered brain damage.

The state is only identifying the patient in its complaint by her initials, D.F. The Daily News learned of her identity by a public records request to the Collier County Medical Examiner's Office of all people who died on April 4, 2010, in the county. That was the day that Fitzgerald died after being taken off life support.

The state last year restricted Grekos' license after her death and ordered him not to do anything with stem cells with other patients. His license was fully suspended earlier this year when the state said he violated the order by treating another patient who also died.

Follow this link:

Husband testifies wife 'was looking for a cure' and found Bonita stem-cell doctor