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Mannatech Presents Product Science at the 9th Annual International Society of Sports Nutrition Conference and Expo

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COPPELL, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Mannatech, Incorporated (NASDAQ: MTEX), the leading innovator and provider of naturally sourced supplements based on Real Food Technology solutions, recently presented product research at the 9th Annual International Society of Sports Nutrition Conference and Expo, which was held in Clearwater, Fla., on June 22-23, 2012.

The open-label human clinical trial showed that intake of Mannatech products resulted in statistically significant improvements in numerous self-reported measures of physical and mental health, quality of life, memory, and elbow and knee pain reduction.* The 15 retired football players who participated in the study took Mannatechs Ambrotose complex powder, Omega-3 with Vitamin D3, Ambrotose AO capsules, PhytoMatrix caplets and PLUS caplets.

The study was authored by Dr. Robert Sinnott, Dr. Rolando L. Maddela, Dr. Sejong Bae and Dr. Talitha Best. Dr. Sinnott is the CEO and Chief Science Officer at Mannatech, and Dr. Maddela is the Clinical Research Administration Manager at Mannatech. Dr. Bae is a Professor in the Department of Biostatistics at the University of North Texas Health Science Centers School of Public Health in Fort Worth, Texas; Dr. Best is a Research Fellow in the Nutritional Physiology Research Center, Sansom Institute for Health Research, University of South Australia, Adelaide, South Australia.

The International Society of Sports Nutritions annual conference and expo brings together scientists, physicians and athletes interested in sharing the latest science evaluating nutritional and behavioral approaches to optimizing human health and performance. More information about the meeting can be found here: https://www.sportsnutritionsociety.org/CONBrochures/issn9thannualco.pdf

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

This study was funded by Mannatech.

About Mannatech

Mannatech, Incorporated, develops high-quality health, weight and fitness, and skin care products that are based on the solid foundation of nutritional science and development standards. Mannatech is dedicated to its platform of Social Entrepreneurship based on the foundation of promoting, aiding and optimizing nutrition where it is needed most around the world. Mannatechs proprietary products are available through independent sales Associates around the globe including the United States, Canada, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Denmark, Germany, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Estonia, Finland, the Republic of Ireland, Czech Republic, the Republic of Korea, Mexico and Namibia. For more information, visit Mannatech.com.

Please note: This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by use of phrases or terminology such as believe, intend or other similar words or the negative of such terminology. Similarly, descriptions of Mannatechs objectives, strategies, plans, goals or targets contained herein are also considered forward-looking statements. Mannatech believes this release should be read in conjunction with all of its filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and cautions its readers that these forward-looking statements are subject to certain events, risks, uncertainties and other factors. Some of these factors include, among others, Mannatechs inability to attract and retain Associates and Members, increases in competition, litigation, regulatory changes and its planned growth into new international markets. Although Mannatech believes that the expectations, statements and assumptions reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cautions readers to always consider all of the risk factors and any other cautionary statements carefully in evaluating each forward-looking statement in this release, as well as those set forth in its latest Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and other filings filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, including its current reports on Form 8-K. All of the forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date of this release.

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Mannatech Presents Product Science at the 9th Annual International Society of Sports Nutrition Conference and Expo

Sexuality Expert Dr. Rich Blonna Releases New Sexual Self-Help Book; Will Speak at ACBS Conference

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HILLSBOROUGH, N.J., June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dr. Rich Blonna, author, professor, life coach, and sex expert, will give two presentations on how to unleash the power of your sexual mind at the 10th World Conference of the Association for Contextual and Behavioral Science (ACBS) in Washington, D.C., to be held from July 22-25, 2012. His talks are adapted from his new book, Sex-ACT: Unleash the Power of Your Sexual Mind with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Dr. Blonna is the first practitioner to apply Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to improving one's sex life.

"Don't let the word 'therapy' in the title scare you. The presentations and book are for people like you who enjoy sex but feel something is missing. My work targets healthy folks who want to enhance their sex lives, deepen their relationships, and have more sexual fun," said Dr. Blonna, a full-time tenured university professor with over 25 years of experience teaching human sexuality, stress management and health counseling.

"Your most important sexual organ is not between your legs. It is between your ears with your thoughts, feelings, mental images, and self-talk - plus your values and goals about your personal sexuality and your relationships," said Dr. Blonna, a sex expert. "Bringing the right mind-set to your sexuality gives you the power to fantasize, play, create, and relate."

Blonna's presentations and book help you start to develop the right mind-set by answering such key questions such as:

The Association for Contextual and Behavioral Science (ACBS) is the professional society for Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). The 10th World Conference of ACBS will bring together therapists, counselors, coaches, and other practitioners from around the world who integrate Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles and practices into their work with clients.

Dr. Blonna also will do a book signing, which offers sex tips for everyday people on Monday evening, July 23 from 8:30-9:30 p.m., in the Grand Ballroom of the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.

His website is: http://www.drrichblonna.com

To see video tips on how to unleash the power of your sexual mind go to: Sex-ACT Podcast

About Dr. Rich Blonna

Dr. Rich Blonna is a Nationally Certified Coach (CPC), Counselor (NCC), Distance Counselor (DCC), and Health Education Specialist (CHES). He is the author of four textbooks, two trade paperbacks, and several journal articles.

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Sexuality Expert Dr. Rich Blonna Releases New Sexual Self-Help Book; Will Speak at ACBS Conference

OXIS Announces the International Launch of Online Sales for ErgoFlex(TM)

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BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., June 25, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OXIS International, Inc. (OXIS) (OXI.PA) today announced the international commercial launch of its proprietary, clinically proven, joint health product, ErgoFlex(TM) (www.ergoflexbest.com). A study published last month in the peer reviewed journal of Preventive Medicine clearly demonstrated ErgoFlex's ability to reduce pain, increase range of motion and significantly improve the quality of life from people who suffer from joint pain.

Unlike any other antioxidant available to consumers, our catalyst ingredient in ErgoFlex, EGT, is referred to as the "intelligent antioxidant" because it is the only antioxidant having a dedicated transport mechanism in the body to deliver it through the cell membrane and even into the mitochondria, the energy producing area of the cell. Additionally, when other powerful antioxidants are also present, the body preferentially utilizes ergothioneine.

OXIS holds the exclusive patent to manufacture EGT, which has received full GRAS (safety) approval. OXIS' marketing partner, engage:BDR, has been developing a comprehensive, full digital advertising campaign for a pipeline of OXIS' proprietary EGT(TM) dietary supplements and anti-aging personal care products.

"This is a major step forward in demonstrating the company's focus of delivering our proprietary EGT(TM) based products direct to consumers. Our partners at engage:BDR have an outstanding track record executing on direct-to-consumer product campaigns and ability to deliver our product message to a much-targeted audience that will make for a very successful launch. I am anticipating significant revenue ramp-up with ErgoFlex with additional products to follow soon," said David Saloff, Chairman and CEO of OXIS International.

"OXIS International's team has demonstrated tremendous expertise in product development, one such being the EGT product line which we're extremely excited to deliver to the market," said Ted Dhanik, president, engage:BDR.

About OXIS International, Inc.

OXIS International, Inc. develops technologies and products to research, diagnose, treat and prevent diseases of oxidative stress/inflammation associated with damage from free radical and reactive oxygen species (ROS). The company holds the rights to several therapeutic classes of compounds in the area of oxidative stress, including EGT(TM) (99% pure L-ergothioneine), known as the intelligent antioxidant.

About engage:BDR

engage:BDR provides advertisers cutting-edge marketing solutions, advanced technology and custom programming by integrating display, video and branded entertainment into a single network. Whether it's driving qualified traffic and leads or building awareness and engagement, engage:BDR is committed to providing innovative solutions to reach consumers and deliver the highest quality results to their partners. Headquartered in Los Angeles, engage:BDR attracts a list of top name partners and customers including Ask.com, Bose, CBS Interactive, eHarmony, Live Nation, Sony Pictures among others.

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OXIS Announces the International Launch of Online Sales for ErgoFlex(TM)

Brain Physiology and the Chris Benoit Tragedy

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Before I dive right into Benoit, it is important to have an understanding of what a concussion is and how it affects people. Concussions are the most common form of brain injury, yet they are still widely misunderstood.

Concussions occur when the brain strikes the interior surface of the skull. When a persons head is rapidly moved, the brain inside moves as well. The brain is not stationary, so rapid movements cause the brain to sway inside. As the brain impacts the skull, bruises are formed, and the bruising is what concussions are, on a basic level. Once a bruise (concussion) happens on the brain, it is there forever. The brain is made up of nerve cells, and oddly enough, nerve cells do not go through cell division. Cell division is how all our other cells get repaired when they are damaged.

Now, since these cells do not get repaired, it is critical that a person not suffer more than one concussion in the same area of the brain. By injuring the same spot over and over, you begin to develop severe deficits that will affect how you live your life.

This was the problem with Chris Benoit. It is my theory that due to Benoits style of wrestling, and signature moves he performed, it was likely that he suffered multiple concussions in the same area of the brain. June 24, 2007. Wow, has it really been that long? That night, the ECW Championship was to be won by the Rabid Wolverine, Chris Benoit. At the time, we were told that Benoit would not be able to make the event. We were left a bit confused and also a bit skeptical. This announcement could easily have been a swerve, or it could have been an appetizer to a brand new storyline.

The following night on Raw, we learned that Chris and his family had died. There were more questions than answers, and we were left with a hole in our wrestling hearts. Another great talent in the business died far too early. It was not until later in the month did we find out that something had happened to Chris that made him kill his family and then himself. The mainstream media jumped all over this tragic tale, stating that steroids were what made Benoit snap. Nobody seemed to consider any other options.

At the time, I was just beginning my paramedic career, and I knew very little about brain injuries and the impact they have on the rest of your life. Now, after many more years of medical experience, I feel confident that the Benoit tragedy was because the brain in Chris head had suffered so much impact over his incredible career that he no longer was able to differentiate right from wrong, reality from fantasy.

We all know that one of Chris trademark moves was the diving head butt. Even though he would not make head-to-head contact, he would still make impact with the shoulder and chest area of his opponent. Over time, his body realized that his head was making constant impacts, and it began tosend more calcium to skull to protect it. Calcium is what our bones are made up of. The skull, which is the only bone in the body to protect the brain, built up calcium on the front of his skull. This calcium deposit, over time, provided extra strength to the bone itself so it would not develop a stress fracture.

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Brain Physiology and the Chris Benoit Tragedy

Cranberry industry wary of upcoming nutrition standards

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WASHINGTON (USA TODAY) The federal government is expected to propose new nutrition standards soon that could leave a bitter taste in the mouths of cranberry growers from Massachusetts to Wisconsin.

To address childhood obesity in America, an effort spurred by first lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" initiative, the Department of Agriculture is finalizing guidelines for what can be sold in school vending machines, stores and a la carte cafeteria lines. Sugar is widely viewed as a target, and sweetened beverages like cranberry juice cocktail could be deemed unhealthy.

That would be unfortunate and unfair, cranberry industry officials say, because the tart, deep red fruit is loaded with nutrients and health benefits. But for consumers to avail themselves of those benefits, cranberries must be sweetened.

"Cranberries can be sweetened with anything," said Linda Prehn, a cranberry grower in Tomah, Wis., citing apple juice as an example. "But you can't eat 'em raw. They're tough to eat straight up."

Prehn, chairman of United Cranberry Growers Cooperative, a collective of 85 growers in Massachusetts, Oregon and Wisconsin in the U.S. and New Brunswick and Quebec in Canada, was among cranberry industry honchos attending the recent inaugural meeting of the Congressional Cranberry Caucus on Capitol Hill.

Prehn and others are hoping the bipartisan caucus led by Reps. Reid Ribble, R-Wis., and Bill Keating, D-Mass., and Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Scott Brown, R-Mass., can help persuade agriculture officials to make an exception for cranberry products in its nutrition standards for added-sugar products.

"Given the beneficial and scientifically proven health properties of cranberries, we believe there is a need to establish clear standards that recognize cranberries as a part of a healthy diet," the lawmakers wrote in a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "We ask that you consider including a variety of cranberry juice and dried cranberry products in USDA's food nutrition program so that children, seniors and adults served by these programs are not denied benefits unique to cranberries."

The lawmakers sent a similar letter to the first lady, pointing out cranberries "contribute to whole body health, particularly urinary tract health and the potential to fight cancer and other diseases."

At stake is exclusion from an estimated $2.3 billion school vending machine business and an image that could have a negative impact on the marketing of cranberry products worldwide, particularly cranberry juice cocktail, industry officials say.

"If we're put into a category that says these types of products are unhealthy, we think it would be inaccurate and unfair," said Tom Lochner, executive director of the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association. "Lumping us in with other beverages that don't have the health benefits associated with them that cranberries do is definitely going to affect our ability to sell cranberry products."

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Cranberry industry wary of upcoming nutrition standards

Michelle Obama's War on Cranberries [Nutrition]

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The First Lady is not making many friends in the cranberry industry.

Thanks to Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" initiative, the Department of Agriculture will soon create stricter guidelines for what can be sold in school vending machines and cafeterias. This could signal the end of young people drinking cranberry juice cocktail and that's bad news for the cranberry industry.

Yes, cranberry juice cocktail. It's made with real fruit, sure, but it's also full of sugar. Cranberries are incredibly bitter and tart on their own, which is why they're usually mixed with an awful lot of sweetener. Despite the nutrition benefits, these sugary blends may not mesh with new guidelines.

Wisconsin cranberry grower Linda Prehn breaks it down for you.

Cranberries can be sweetened with anything. But you can't eat 'em raw. They're tough to eat straight up.

"Anything," you say? Prehn recommends apple juice. OK, so school vending machines might ditch the good stuff, but surely there's some sort of healthy cranberry juice alternative. (Sorry, Ocean Spray.)

After all, cranberries do a lot of good they contain antioxidants (more than most other fruits) and can prevent urinary tract infections by promoting bladder and kidney health. The cranberry industry has sent appeals to Michelle Obama and to the Department of Agriculture, noting that the benefits of cranberries outweigh the risks of a little added sugar intake.

But the debate rages on. Margo Wootan, director of nutrition policy for the Center for Science in the Public Interest, believes that cranberry juice cocktails' sugar content are of the utmost concern.

There's some evidence to show that cranberry juice can prevent urinary tract infections, but that doesn't mean everyone should be drinking cranberry juice every day. Only 3 percent of kids a year have urinary tract infections, compared to one-third who are overweight. Urinary tract infection is not a booming epidemic. Obesity is.

Sure, parents could still buy cranberry juice for their kids outside of school, but the cranberry industry worries what kind of message these school policies send after all, cranberry juice is being lumped together with soda and other "things we know are pretty bad for you." That could create an association between Coca-Cola and cranberry, which might dissuade adults from keeping their fridge stocked with Ocean Spray.

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Michelle Obama's War on Cranberries [Nutrition]

KOTD – Rap Battle – DNA vs Eurgh – Video

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24-06-2012 19:10 **PLEASE? Click 'LIKE'? & Add To Favourites If You Enjoyed This Video!!! Make sure to check out the KOTD website at - World Domination 3 tickets on sale soon - Since the dawn of the new era of battling, few rappers have shown as much passion and work-ethic as DNA. Getting his start with Grind Time as one of the youngest battlers in the league, he quickly proved that age was not a factor as he moved up in the ranks. After facing opponents such as Rone, Loe Pesci and P-Nut, DNA moved onto the Ultimate Rap League and debuted against Oun P. Since then, DNA has faced top-tier opponents such as T-Rex, Tsu-Surf, Young Ill, X-Factor, Big T, Tech 9, as well as the highly publicized match against Dizaster at KOTD: Flatline. With his sharp wordplay, rapidfire delivery, and uncanny freestyle ability, DNA has shown that he is able to win over any crowd, even when the odds are seemingly against him. Eurgh will be DNA's first overseas opponent, and his second battle for KOTD. Ever since he entered the JumpOff WRC Qualifiers in 2007 at the age of 17, Eurgh has been a force to be reckoned with. At the time, known simply as Arkaic's partner, Eurgh made his mark with his lyrical wit, and also for his infamous angry speech after discovering that he and his partner would not be going to the finals. Since then, however, Eurgh has become a forerunner in the British battle scene, starting Don't Flop in 2008 with fellow rapper Cruger, a league that has ...

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KOTD - Rap Battle - DNA vs Eurgh - Video

Posted in DNA

Sperm of smoking dads can hurt child DNA

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BRADFORD, England, June 24 (UPI) -- Men who smoke before conception can damage the DNA of their offspring in the womb that may give him or her a higher risk of disease, British researchers say.

Diana Anderson of the School of Life Sciences at the University of Bradford in England, and colleagues found evidence showing why men should be urged to stop smoking before trying to conceive in the same way women have been urged to quit tobacco.

A fertile sperm cell takes about three months to fully develop; therefore men would ultimately need to quit smoking long before conception to avoid causing genetic problems, Anderson said.

Anderson and colleagues used DNA biomarkers to measure genetic changes in the paternal blood and semen around conception, as well as maternal and umbilical cord blood at delivery in families from two different European regions in central England and a Greek island.

Information regarding the lifestyle, environmental and occupational exposures of these families was taken from validated questionnaires. The combined analysis of exposures and DNA biomarkers was used to evaluate the role of exposures before conception and during pregnancy in the causation of genetic changes in the offspring.

"These transmitted genetic changes may raise the risk of developing cancer in childhood, particularly leukemia and other genetic diseases," Anderson said in a statement. "We hope that this knowledge will urge men to cease smoking before trying to conceive."

The findings were published in the FASEB Journal.

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Sperm of smoking dads can hurt child DNA

Posted in DNA

Anatomy of a bottleneck

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As tight spots go, the stretch of St. Clair West that ducks beneath the Georgetown rail corridor, between Old Weston Road and Keele Street, is as close to a traffic funnel as can be found anywhere in Toronto.

Densely populated neighbourhoods fan out to the east. To the west sit acres of car-friendly big box stores, with more on the way. Since construction this year closed a shortcut around the area, cars, buses and trucks crawl through the underpass, which offers one lane in either direction. Streetcars use a dedicated right-of-way.

You stand here for a little while and youll get a glimpse of what the people deal with everyday, Don Panos, chair of the St. Clair Gardens BIA, said recently as he stood at the corner of Old Weston, watching trucks trying to make tight right turns as cars backed up towards Caledonia. You just see how frustrating it is.

Council is considering how best to break the logjam, recently voting for an environmental assessment. One idea, favoured by the areas representative, Cesar Palacio, is to add two lanes to the underpass, but its a highly complex venture that would take years to complete and would cost more than $30-million.

Traffic engineers say the problem isnt just the width of the underpass; it also involves the constricted layout of busy intersections at either end, which regulate the volume of traffic passing beneath the 80-year-old bridge.

During the construction of the right-of-way, the intersections were not built according to approved designs because the city wanted to cut the cost of the land acquisitions needed to widen parts of the roadway, TTC experts said.

We have intersections that are not designed in accordance to what was agreed to, said TTC service planning manager Mitch Stambler. Decisions were made that were outside the planning and EA process by the construction managers.

Gord MacMillan, the citys director of design and construction, acknowledged that pressure to complete the project made it impossible to buy the additional strips of land for new turn lanes. As well, city project managers encountered technical problems that didnt surface during the planning process, he said.

Its impossible to know if the original design would have eased congestion. Yet the question is not moot. Traffic will swell in coming years with waves of new development. Metrolinxs Air Rail Link, slated to run on the Georgetown corridor starting in 2015, will make it much more complicated to rebuild the underpass once it is operating.

How to open the bottleneck:

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Anatomy of a bottleneck

Do sugary snacks make you stupid?

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By Madeline Haller Men's Health

Prepping for a big presentation but can't seem to remember any of the content? Blame your sweet tooth.

A diet high in sugar may hamper your memory and ability to learn, says a study published in the Journal of Physiology.

Researchers had two groups of rats drink water mixed with fructose, a type of sugar. One of the groups also received omega-3 fatty acids as a part of their diet. After 6 weeks, the rats who drank only sugar water completed a maze slower than the omega-3-fed mice. (We know you're not a mouse -- but you can still take steps to navigate the maze of life. Check out these 27 Ways to Power Up Your Brain.)

Not only were they slower in the maze, the rats who drank only sugar water had higher triglyceride, glucose, and insulin levels. It appears that they entered a state of insulin resistance, which is where the hormone insulin becomes less effective at lowering your blood sugar, says Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, Ph.D., lead study author and a professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

Why did sugar wreak havoc on their system?

Here's how it works: Insulin, in addition to controlling blood sugar, also influences the ways in which your brain cells operate. And within the hippocampus -- the part of the brain responsible for short-term and long-term memory -- insulin signaling actually facilitates memory. Therefore, an insulin resistance may be what's causing a disruption in the rats' ability to recall the route they'd learned 6 weeks ago, the researchers hypothesize.

But the good news is, omega-3 fatty acids appeared to have protective effect on the brain.

How so? Although the researchers are unaware of what's happening on a molecular level in the brain, Gomez-Pinilla says it may have to do with the large amount of DHA (the type of omega-3 fatty acid they monitored in the study) that's already present in the brain.

So could sugar slow down your brain, too? The researchers say yes. But since the study monitored the rats for nearly two months, the effect on humans would take several years of exposure to fructose to see these effects. (If you're looking to wean yourself off of sugar, check out these 9 Sneaky Ways to Eat Less.)

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Do sugary snacks make you stupid?

Healthy market addition: Complete Nutrition wants to expand in El Paso

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One of the nation's fastest-growing franchises is planning to open several stores in El Paso.

Complete Nutrition, which specializes in weight loss, sports nutrition and healthy aging products, will have the stores operating by the end of this year, officials said.

Each store will add six to 10 jobs.

"We would like to try to develop two stores in the next 12 months," Steve Brewster, director of development for Complete Nutrition, said in an email. "Ultimately, we hope to have a presence of three to four stores in El Paso.

The company would like to have its stores next to sites with strong co-tenants such as well-known national brands Target, Verizon, Starbucks and Chipotle.

El Paso is ideal for franchise expansion based on a number of carefully measured factors, Brewster said.

"Based on our market analysis and the strength of the Complete Nutrition brand, we are confident that El Paso will be a successful market to enter," he said. "With more than 50 percent of adult Americans taking a daily supplement, the room for growth in communities such as El Paso is limitless."

Company officials are looking for El Pasoans interested in becoming franchisees, he said.

"There has been some franchising interest in the area," Brewster said. "We're still working on the discovery process to find the right owner-operator with health and industry knowledge."

The expansion into the El Paso market is part of a nationwide expansion initiative, which aims to increase Complete

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Healthy market addition: Complete Nutrition wants to expand in El Paso

DNA evidence leads to three robbery suspects

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DNA evidence leads to three robbery suspectsby Chris BristolYakima Herald-Republic

YAKIMA, Wash. -- DNA evidence usually gets headlines in murder cases and sex crimes.

But the discovery of cigarettes butts at the scene of a robbery outside Toppenish last year illustrates the potential DNA has for becoming an everyday crime-fighting tool.

It took nine months for results, but now three people are in custody and a fourth is being sought.

"It's a little unusual," said Stew Graham, chief of detectives for the Yakima County Sheriff's Office. "We have a few more options nowadays."

The arrests stemmed from an incident in September that began at Legends Casino.

According to arrest affidavits, a 42-year-old Toppenish man told deputies he was approached inside the casino by two women about going somewhere for "a little fun."

The man said the trio left the casino and drove a few miles away to Becker Road. One of the women rode with him, directing him where to go, while the other followed in a maroon Jeep Cherokee.

The robbery occurred on a dirt lane off Becker when a small white car blocked the man's vehicle, which was boxed in by the Cherokee from behind. The man said he got out and was beaten and robbed by two men who had been waiting in the white car. They took his wallet and his money -- $47.

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DNA evidence leads to three robbery suspects

Posted in DNA

Brain structure helps guide behavior by anticipating changing demands

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Public release date: 24-Jun-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Sue McGreevey smcgreevey@partners.org 617-724-2764 Massachusetts General Hospital

Every day the human brain is presented with tasks ranging from the trivial to the complex. How much mental effort and attention are devoted to each task is usually determined in a split second and without conscious awareness. Now a study from Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) researchers finds that a structure deep within the brain, believed to play an important role in regulating conscious control of goal-directed behavior, helps to optimize behavioral responses by predicting how difficult upcoming tasks will be. The report is receiving advance online publication in Nature.

"The dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), which lies deep beneath the outer layer of the frontal lobes, is part of an ancient and enigmatic part of the brain," says Emad Eskandar, MD, of the MGH Department of Neurosurgery, senior author of the Nature paper. "Some have speculated that it plays a role in detecting errors or monitoring for conflicting demands, but exactly how it contributes to regulating behavioral responses is unclear, so we used a variety of scientific techniques to get a better picture of its function."

The study enrolled six participants who were scheduled to undergo cingulotomy a procedure in which a small, precisely placed lesion is created within the ACC to treat severe obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) that has not responded to other types of treatment. A standard part of the cingulotomy procedure involves microelectrode recordings of the activity of single neurons in the area where the lesion is to be placed. To evaluate dACC function, the investigators recorded brain activity from several neurons within the structure while participants performed a behavioral task testing their reactions to visual images.

The task presented participants with a random series of images of three numerals, which could be 0, 1, 2, or 3. In each image, two of the numerals were identical. Participants responded by pressing one of three buttons, the position of which would indicate the identity of the number that was different, with the left button indicating 1, the middle 2 and the right button 3. Each image was ranked in difficulty depending on how much the position of the target numeral or the identity of the duplicate numerals might distract participants from the correct response. For example, when presented with 3-3-2, the correct response would be to press the middle button for number 2; and that image would be ranked more difficult than 3-2-3, in which both the target number and the correct button were in the same position.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of four participants performing the behavioral task prior to the cingulotomy procedure revealed that the task increased metabolic activity within the dACC, a result seen in previous fMRI studies. The fMRI images also revealed that responding to more difficult images produced greater activity levels within the dACC and in other structures known to be involved in decision making. Intraoperative microelectrode recordings of all participants demonstrated that this apparent increase in metabolic activity corresponded with an increase in neuronal activity, linking for the first time the increased activation revealed by fMRI with increased neuronal firing.

Analysis of individual neuron activity indicated that dACC neuronal activity remained elevated immediately after difficult trials. Moreover, participant reaction time revealed that the difficulty of the prior trial had an impact on the next trial: if the preceding trial was of the same level of difficulty, reaction time was shorter; if the two tests were of different difficulty levels even if the second test was easier reaction time was longer. By anticipating the difficulty of upcoming tasks, the authors note, it appears that the dACC speeds up responses when difficulty levels are constant but slows response time down when faced with changing demands in order to promote accuracy.

While behavioral tests conducted after the cingulotomy procedure which destroys tissue within the dACC did not indicate a change in participants' ability to perform the test accurately, the impact of preceding trials on reaction time appeared to vanish. "Participants could still perform the task, but the dACC's role of priming the system based on immediate prior experience was gone," Eskandar explains. "We believe this result indicates an important role for the dACC in rapidly adjusting to different cognitive demands, possibly by recruiting other areas of the brain to solve particular problems."

An associate professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School, Eskandar adds that, while significant cognitive changes have not been reported in patients undergoing cingulotomy, the apparent role of the dACC in adapting to changing situations implies a possible role for the structure in several psychiataric disorders. "A lack of behavior flexibility and adjustment is characteristic of OCD, for example. Whether or not our findings directly relate to these disorders remains to be determined, but we hope that continued study using complex tasks, such as the behavioral test used here, will be helpful in diagnosing or monitoring psychiatric disorders."

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Brain structure helps guide behavior by anticipating changing demands

Carl Zeiss Microscopes Now Available from SPOT Imaging Solutions

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SPOT Imaging Solutions, a leading national supplier of scientific imaging equipment, is pleased to announce that they have been appointed an authorized Carl Zeiss microscope dealer in the USA.  The addition of the Zeiss microscopes rounds out SPOT Imaging Solutions’ extensive portfolio of high quality instruments for bioresearch, industrial, education and clinical laboratories.  

Carl Zeiss microscopes are well known for their exceptional optics, innovative design and long life.  Upright, inverted and stereo microscopes from Carl Zeiss are an investment that will prove their worth for years to come.

The Carl Zeiss microscopes are available from local SPOT Imaging Solutions imaging specialists across the country, who configure complete systems to meet your laboratory’s specific application and budget.  SPOT imaging specialists provide installation, training and support for the system, making it simple and easy to get great value.

View the Carl Zeiss Microscopes from SPOT Imaging Solutions online.

Contact SPOT Imaging Solutions

Web: http://www.spotimaging.com

Email: info@spotimaging.com

Phone: 1-866-604-SPOT



 

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Leica Microsystems and Indica Labs Announce Availability of Integrated Advanced Digital Pathology Image Analysis

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Wetzlar, Germany / New Mexico, USA –21 June, 2012

Leica Microsystems, world-leading providers of Total Digital Pathology solutions, and Indica Labs, developing excellence in image analysis for Digital Pathology, today announce the integration of Indica Labs advanced image analysis algorithm portfolio into Leica Microsystems digital pathology solution. Users of the Leica Microsystems Tissue IA product can now source from Indica Labs, a range of image analysis algorithms, providing solutions to many diverse tissue-based quantification applications.

Indica Labs image analysis algorithms for molecular assay and morphological feature detection and quantification in whole slide images, coupled with Leica Microsystems’ Tissue IA, provides an easy to use solution for complex image analysis problems in Digital Pathology. Leica Microsystems Tissue IA software is a key component of the Total Digital Pathology portfolio and enables the analysis of whole slide images at the touch of a button. The Indica Labs range, including algorithms for neurobiology, toxicological pathology and brightfield ISH, can now be seamlessly integrated with Leica’s Tissue IA, providing a powerful, yet easy-to-use solution for a broad range of targeted applications. Furthermore, custom image analysis algorithms can be developed by Indica Labs to meet users’ varied and specific requirements, facilitating true flexibility in analysis options.

Donal O’Shea, Head of Digital Pathology in Leica Microsystems says, “Leica Microsystems remain committed to our open and collaborative approach with third party vendors in the digital pathology market. This collaboration with Indica Labs provides additional choice for our Digital Pathology customers in translational research and biopharma, allowing them engage with a specialist vendor to seek high end image analysis capability, while leveraging the underlying power of Leica Microsystems Digital Pathology solution.”

Indica Labs image analysis solutions are developed with a key focus on the end users’ requirements, providing meaningful output data for publications, reports and studies. With particular focus and experience in the pharmaceutical industry, Indica’s analysis solutions “provide a unique complement to Leica product line.” remarked Indica CEO, Steven Hashagen. “Together we’ve been able to achieve a truly seamless integration which will allow Leica users to access Indica’s large portfolio of precision image analysis  tools within the familiar Tissue IA workflow.”

While Leica will continue to develop and expand their  existing range of Digital Pathology image analysis solutions, including Tissue IA and the Ariol system,  the integration with Indica Labs give additional options to customers, enabling them to choose the  analysis solution that is right for their needs. 

Visit the Leica Microsystems Booth at the Society of  Toxicological Pathology (STP) 2012 Annual Meeting for more information.

About Leica Microsystems
Leica Microsystems is a world leader in microscopes and scientific instruments. Founded as a family business in the nineteenth century, the company’s history was marked by unparalleled innovation on its way to becoming a global enterprise. Its historically close cooperation with the scientific community is the key to Leica Microsystems’ tradition of innovation, which draws on users’ ideas and creates solutions tailored to their requirements. At the global level, Leica Microsystems is organized in four divisions, all of which are among the leaders in their respective fields: the Life Science Division, Industry Division, Biosystems Division and Medical Division. Leica Microsystems' Biosystems Division, also known as Leica Biosystems, offers histopathology laboratories the most extensive product range with appropriate products for each work step in histology and for a high level of productivity in the working processes of the entire laboratory. The company is represented in over 100 countries with 12 manufacturing facilities in 7 countries, sales and service organizations in 19 countries and an international network of dealers. The company is headquartered in Wetzlar, Germany. Further information can be found at http://www.leicamicrosystems.com
Leica – Total Digital Pathology

About Indica Labs
Indica Labs is the first company to offer tissue specific and application specific image analysis algorithms in a truly integrated digital pathology environment. Pharmaceutical, healthcare, and research organizations worldwide utilize Indica tools for high-throughput, whole-slide image quantification in areas such as neuroscience, metabolism, oncology, toxicological pathology, and more. For more information, please visit http://indicalab.com
Indica – Informed Pathology

Source: Leica Microsystems and Indica Labs

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Definiens Expands Large Data Analytics Functionality to Accelerate Image-based Research and Development

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New Definiens Image Miner™ 2 tightly integrates data mining with image analysis to streamline the knowledge-generation process

Munich, Germany, June 21, 2012 / B3C newswire / - Definiens®, the leading provider of image analysis and data mining solutions for quantitative digital pathology, today announced the release of Definiens Image Miner™ 2. The new product provides researchers in the life sciences with deeper insights into underlying biology by integrating image with data analysis. Image Miner 2 makes the wealth of information in biomedical images accessible, accelerating life sciences research and allowing for successful biomarker development.

By supporting highly effective data exploration and study results, the duration of image-based studies can be reduced from weeks to days. Definiens Image Miner 2 provides researchers with the unique ability to easily switch between investigating trends and patterns in large data sets and drawing attention to subtle analysis details in single images. Using the statistic toolbox and the comprehensive visualization options, insights and new knowledge can be generated from images in an unprecedented way. In combination with Definiens image analysis solutions, Image Miner facilitates the processing of even very large data sets.

“For the first time in this industry workflows are available that allow researchers to unlock the information and knowledge residing in images in a highly productive manner.” says Thomas Heydler, CEO of Definiens. “Biomedical images are a vast, often untapped source of information and represent big data at the same time. Up to this point they often have not been available for detailed analysis. By turning images into computational information, Definiens supports researchers in their endeavors to efficiently develop novel biomarkers, drugs and diagnostics.” 

With seamless links between readouts and underlying images, related target structures are only a mouse-click away from relevant data points. Image Miner 2 supports predictive modeling by correlating image analysis results with data from other sources, such as patient outcome data in the development of predictive biomarkers. Interactive plots and data tables provide real-time feedback on study trends, while quality control and assay validation are facilitated by instant identification of outliers and artifacts.

For more information on Definiens Image Miner 2, sign up for the introductory launch webinar, and find examples illustrating how Definiens Image Miner 2 supports tissue-based biomarker development or high content screening, respectively.

Link to the press release

 

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About Definiens
Definiens is the leading provider of image analysis and data mining solutions for quantitative digital pathology in the life sciences, diagnostic biomarkers and healthcare industries. Definiens software provides detailed readouts from whole tissue slides, cell-based assays and full body scans and allows correlating this information with data derived from other sources. By automating analysis workflows, Definiens helps pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, research institutions, clinical service organizations and pathologists to generate new knowledge and supports better decisions in research, diagnostics and therapy. Definiens’ vision is to open new fields of research, to contribute to development of personalized medicine and to significantly improve the quality of patients’ lives.

Definiens is headquartered in Munich, Germany, and has offices throughout the United States.

 

 

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MMRGlobal and Fujitsu Offer Low-Cost System to Digitize Medical Records

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MMR GlobalFujitsu

LOS ANGELES and SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- MMRGlobal, Inc. (OTC: MMRF) and Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc., the market leader in document imaging scanners, announced today a strategic alignment to assist physicians in smaller practices to efficiently digitize their medical records and start to meet the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act's meaningful use requirement to provide patients timely online access to their medical records by the end of 2014.

To help physicians convert from paper-based record-keeping to computerized health records, MMRPro, MMRGlobal's premiere scanning and Web-based document management technology, is now integrated with the Fujitsu ScanSnap N1800 Network Scanner. Utilizing a proprietary interface created by DocuFi™, the document imaging solution offers smaller physician offices, community hospitals and surgery centers the ability to digitize, store, manage and share medical records without making the significant investment required while transitioning to a full-blown EMR system. MMRPro is also designed with an integrated patient portal, MMRPatientView, and includes the MMR Stimulus Program, which allows doctors the opportunity to earn administrative reimbursements when their patients upgrade from the free portal to a full-featured patented MyMedicalRecords Personal Health Record. 

"Deploying our network scanning strategy for healthcare providers is seamless to the way an office operates with paper. Additionally, the learning curve to scan, archive and share documents across a physician's office or in a small hospital is minimal," said Marni Carmichael, director of business development, Fujitsu Computer Products of America, Inc. "We're excited to be a part of offering MMRPro to physicians to help them cost-effectively transition from paper to electronic records to improve their overall workflow and patient care."

"Fujitsu has a history of providing quality document imaging solutions to its customers," said Robert H. Lorsch, MMRGlobal Chairman and CEO. "The integration of our patented document imaging system provides physician offices with the necessary tools to easily and affordably digitize their documents in an electronic format and have the ability to securely access patient records remotely using an Internet-connected device, including their iPad."

The Fujitsu ScanSnap N1800 Network Scanner is designed to simplify document collaboration for all types of organizations, including small and midsize businesses (SMBs), groups within an enterprise and across the front office to the back office. The latest network scanner added to the award-winning line of Fujitsu ScanSnap scanning solutions offers new tools to make digitizing documents simple and specialized training unnecessary, enhanced security features to combat the threat of data compromise, and added flexibility to easily create customizable interface screens for a consistent user experience. 

"Our relationship with MMRGlobal and Fujitsu brings a highly automated solution to the patient records management world using ImageRamp™ for MMRGlobal," said Dave Wilson, president and CEO of DocuFi. "ImageRamp enables touch screen use of the Fujitsu ScanSnap N1800 Network Scanner to provide intelligent reading and xml formatting of patient medical records, stored in 2-D barcode form. Users of any skill level can now easily capture medical records into a cloud or SaaS EMR infrastructure."

Source: PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1eT2R)

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Sucessful 3rd International Definiens Symposium

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Definiens thanks all participants of the 3rd International Definiens Symposium last week in Munich for inspiring presentations, fruitful discussions and an stimulating atmosphere. We enjoyed meeting you and exchanging ideas during plenary sessions, workshops, coffee breaks and the evening events.

We will shortly publish additional images and recordings from the presentations.

Thanks for joining us in Munich!

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PathXchange Case of the Week

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This week's Case of the Week is a case by Aldo Alcaraz, a pathologist from Instituto Mexicano Del Seguro Social HGR 180 in Guadalajara, JAL, Mexico. 

Title: Bladder Tumor

Case Information: 56 year old male with dysuria gross hematuria and weight loss. A diagnostic cystoscopy showed a bladder extensively infiltrated by a large tumor with ulceration and hemorrhage. Procedure: Transurethral resection.

Case Creator: Aldo Alcaraz

 

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Case of the Week Program

The PX Case of the Week is a program that allows PX members to showcase rare and interesting cases to the online community. Take this opportunity to get in the spotlight with our huge digital pathology community! Creating cases on PathXchange is very simple.

Take a look at this Step-by-Step PDF Guide if you are creating a case for the first time.

Log on now. See you online!

PathXchange Team

 

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PathCentral’s 30 Minute Webinars – Creating an Effective Pathology Outreach Program

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Learn what it takes to create an effective pathology outreach program from the company exclusively focused on community pathologists. We will share the top 5 components necessary to be successful against national competitors and easy tools you can use to gain an advantage now! 

You will gain insight into: 

•     How to assess the market potential in your community. 

•     Evaluating your stengths and leveraging them. 

•     The power of marketing tools. What works and what doesn’t. 

•     Finding the low hanging fruit. 

•     EMR interfaces? Assessing cost versus reward. 

•     The “Must Haves” for service

 

Title:

PathCentral's 30 Minute Webinars - Creating an Effective Pathology Outreach Program

Date:

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Time:

9:00 AM - 10:00 PM PDT

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

 

Macintosh®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

 

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/666248638

 

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