1. Medicine

Category Archives: Medicine

Medicine Wheel celebrates ‘living art and culture'

Posted on by

By KATH CAMERON

WANTAGE -- When you plant a garden, sometimes you get more than you expect. Gardeners Paul Cardillo and Brian Hennessey had a vision "inherited from area youth" in the early 2000s for a community garden at the historical Lusscroft Farm area of High Point State Park. Since installing the Medicine Wheel Garden in 2009, the community of volunteers and admirers continues to grow, drawing gardeners, farmers, educators, artists and nature lovers to celebrate this Sussex County gem each spring.

The Medicine Wheel volunteers are hosting their fifth annual Medicine Wheel Celebration on May 18 and 19 in conjunction with the Heritage and Agriculture Association, a friends group of Lusscroft Farm. The event features an array of local music, gardening workshops, tours, perennial plant sale, craft and food vendors, community discussions and more to support the continued growth and preservation of the gardens and historical buildings.

Hennessey sees the gardens and celebration as "living art and culture" in northwestern New Jersey. "The Medicine Wheel group has given Lusscroft Farm and New Jersey a healing and growing presence, a living example of people and nature together, which is the Sussex County motto," Hennessey said.

The Medicine Wheel Garden designed by Cardillo and a compost system designed by Hennessey were installed at Lusscroft Farm in 2009. The Medicine Wheel is a circular garden sliced into 12 sections, each featuring three medicinal and deer resistant companion perennials. The gardens use permaculture or permanent agriculture, a method of farming with natural cycles and interconnection. In 2010 a crescent-shaped moon garden was added. It's silvery, white and fuzzy foliage and flowers reflect the moonlight on summer evenings. In 2012, period plantings were installed at the the historical manor house and managers dwelling by the Medicine Wheel group.

Saturday, May 18 activities include a garden meditation, dedication of the wood carved owl in the Sister Moon Garden, Spirit Hoopers performance, garden tours, a plant walk, and workshops on gardening and mushroom propagation.

There will be morning roundtable discussions on water quality and community food protection with Sister Miriam McGillis of Genesis Farm and Dr. William Thomas of Montclair State University's School of Conservation. There will be an afternoon open mic with poetry and music, hosted by the musical duo Morning Door, from 3 p.m. to dusk.

"It is a fun and fundraising event," Hennessey said. "Plant sales, raffles and auctions will generate money for Outlook Lodge and other Heritage and Agriculture Association projects at Lusscroft Farm." The plant sale will offer native and deer resistant landscape, medicinal plants and herbs, heirloom and organic vegetables, fruits, berries and more.

Sunday, May 19, there will be a panel discussion on "Living Art and Culture in Northwest New Jersey," featuring internationally-acclaimed artist France Garrido and chainsaw sculpture Brett McLain. Sunday workshops include soil fertility and sustainability with Brian Hennessey, biology and structure of mushrooms with Ian Blanchard, garlic as medicine with Roman Osadca, and organic fruit orchards and propagation with Pete Tischler. Throughout the weekend there will be tours of the Medicine Wheel Gardens with designer Paul Cardillo.

An afternoon of local music features Alex Phillips, Maribyrd, Jordan Koza, Maura Glynn, the Hawk Owls, Eric Waldman, Mike Lawlor and Joe Biglin with Friends. The Matty Carle Band will headline the Sunday musical lineup. Music runs from 12 p.m. to dusk.

Originally posted here:

Medicine Wheel celebrates ‘living art and culture'

Historic brick factory opens for guided tours in Medicine Hat clay district

Posted on by

MEDICINE HAT, Alta. - A brick and tile factory that was forced to close because of flooding in 2010 will open for guided tours this summer in Medicine Hat's Historic Clay District.

Until its closing, the large-scale plant had been one of the oldest continually operating industrial sites in Western Canada, with operations dating back to the mid-1880s.

It was acquired for $4 million in December 2011 from I-XL Industries Ltd. by the Friends of Medalta Society, which plans to preserve it as a heritage site. The non-profit organization operates the Medalta Potteries National Historic Site.

The cavernous space includes over a century of brick-making equipment, right up to computerized robotic machinery installed just a few years before the complex shut down, said Medalta marketing co-ordinator Quentin Randall.

Last December the provincial government designated the plant a Provincial Historic Resource.

"That entire range of industrialization is evident on site," said Randall. "All the equipment that was in there when it was operating (in 2010) is still there."

Daily group tours, leaving from Medalta, will be launched on the Canada Day long weekend in July and run until September, he said.

An official opening reception is planned for July 13, with a soft-mud brick demonstration of the plant's early manufacturing methods.

___

Online: http://medalta.org/

Originally posted here:

Historic brick factory opens for guided tours in Medicine Hat clay district

BG Medicine Reports 2013 First Quarter Financial Results

Posted on by

Abbott and bioMerieux Obtain CE Mark and Launch Galectin-3 Tests in EU

BGM Galectin-3 Revenues Coupled With Operational Discipline Drive Improved Financial Results

WALTHAM, Mass., May 9, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BG Medicine, Inc. (BGMD), a diagnostics company focused on the development and commercialization of novel cardiovascular tests, today reported financial results for the first quarter of 2013 and provided an update on its progress in expanding the commercial adoption of its innovative diagnostic tests for cardiovascular disease.

Product revenue from the BGM Galectin-3(R) test was $0.8 million in the first quarter of 2013, compared to $0.4 million in the same period of 2012. Total revenues increased to $0.9 million in the first quarter of 2013 compared to $0.5 million in the same period of 2012. Product margin was 66% in the first quarter of 2013, up from 65% in the first quarter of 2012.

Net loss for the quarter was $5.4 million compared with a loss of $7.7 million in the first quarter of 2012. The $2.3 million year over year decrease results primarily from lower operating expenses in research and development and sales and marketing. Basic and diluted net loss per share attributable to common shareholders was $0.21 in the first quarter of 2013, compared with basic and diluted net loss per share of $0.38 for the same period of 2012.

Operating cash burn decreased by $1.5 million in the first quarter of 2013 to $4.2 million compared to the same period in 2012. At March 31, 2013, the Company had cash and cash equivalents totaling approximately $21.4 million and common shares outstanding of 27.6 million.

"In the first quarter we demonstrated the potential of our new commercial strategy to drive revenue growth and improve bottom line performance," said Eric Bouvier, President and Chief Executive Officer of BG Medicine. "Product sales increased compared with the same quarter a year ago, while we managed expenses tightly and continued to invest in activities that will drive sales sustainably over the long-term. We are encouraged by these results and believe they provide an early validation of the direction we are heading."

Recent Business Highlights

As previously announced in April 2013, Abbott announced the CE Marking for the ARCHITECT(R) Galectin-3 assay and its availability in several European countries. Abbott is offering the ARCHITECT(R) Galectin-3 assay through its ARCHITECT(R) System. Earlier in 2013, bioMerieux announced the CE Marking for its VIDAS(R) Gal-3 test and launched it in several European countries as well. bioMerieux is offering the VIDAS(R) Gal-3 test through its VIDAS(R) immunoassay platform.

In May 2013, the Trenton Health Team (THT) announced that it has adopted the BGM Galectin-3(R) test throughout their organization to identify patients at near term risk of rehospitalization due to heart failure. THT is a community health improvement collaborative that serves Trenton, New Jersey and is developing one of the first CMS-approved accountable care organizations in the United States.

Originally posted here:

BG Medicine Reports 2013 First Quarter Financial Results

BG Medicine Appoints Dr. Paul Sohmer as Chief Executive Officer

Posted on by

WALTHAM, Mass., May 9, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BG Medicine, Inc. (BGMD), a diagnostics company focused on the development and commercialization of novel cardiovascular tests, today announced that it has appointed Paul Sohmer, M.D., as its President & Chief Executive Officer and a member of its Board of Directors, effective immediately. Dr. Sohmer, who brings more than 25 years of experience leading the growth of commercial-stage companies focused on diagnostics, laboratory services, and medical devices, replaces Eric Bouvier as CEO.

"Paul Sohmer has a strong track record of building commercially successful diagnostic companies and we are excited to have him lead BG Medicine at this critical time," said Stephane Bancel, Executive Chairman of BG Medicine. "With two innovative diagnostic tests that aim to meet important needs in cardiovascular care and a sharpened focus on execution, we believe the pieces are in place to accelerate our commercial growth and deliver strong results for our shareholders."

Dr. Sohmer has led multiple high-growth companies in the areas of in vitro diagnostics and hospital-based and esoteric reference laboratory services. He served most recently as president and CEO of Viracor-IBT Laboratories, Inc., a diagnostic and research laboratory specializing in allergy, immunology and infectious disease testing. Previously, Sohmer was CEO of Orthocon, Inc., a developer, manufacturer and marketer of implantable medical products; and before that, served as interim CEO of Cylex, Inc. and CEO of Pathway Diagnostics Ltd. He was president and CEO of publicly traded Neuromedical Systems, Inc., before its acquisition by TriPath Imaging, Inc., and was TriPath's chairman, president and CEO before its acquisition by Becton, Dickinson and Company. Earlier in his career, Dr. Sohmer served as president and CEO of Genetrix, Inc., a genetic testing lab that was acquired by Genzyme Corporation. Dr. Sohmer holds a B.A. from Northwestern University and an M.D. from the Chicago Medical School.

"I am thrilled to be asked to lead BG Medicine, which is poised to bring major improvements to the quality and delivery of cardiovascular care through its innovative diagnostic tests for heart failure, and for the prediction of major cardiovascular events," Dr. Sohmer said. "The clinical case for widespread galectin-3 testing in heart failure continues to grow stronger; especially given the role it can play as part of a comprehensive strategy to reduce unplanned hospital readmissions for heart failure patients. CardioSCORE, which is now available in the EU, is expected to play an important role in identifying patients at high risk of a near-term cardiovascular events. Our challenge now is to unlock the clinical and commercial potential of the company's innovative diagnostic tests. Going forward we will work to enhance and leverage our assets to create a commercial engine that will allow us to grow and drive our margin."

Separately today, BG Medicine released its quarterly results for the first quarter of 2013 and is conducting a conference call at 8:30 am ET regarding the earnings and commercial progress of the company. For more information, please see the company's earnings release which will issue May 9, 2013, which also contains conference call and web cast information.

"The Board would like to thank Eric Bouvier for his leadership and for the role he played in helping to transform the company from an R&D-focused organization to a commercial one," Bancel said. "We are in a great position to execute on the opportunities ahead of us, and we look forward to working with Paul and the team to drive the long-term success of the business."

About BG Medicine, Inc.

BG Medicine, Inc. (BGMD) is a diagnostics company focused on the development and commercialization of novel cardiovascular tests to address significant unmet medical needs, improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. The Company has two products: the BGM Galectin-3(R) test for use in patients with chronic heart failure is available in the United States and Europe; and the CardioSCORE(TM) test for the risk prediction of major cardiovascular events is expected to be launched in Europe in the first half of 2013. For additional information about BG Medicine, heart failure and galectin-3 testing, please visit http://www.bg-medicine.com and http://www.galectin-3.com.

The BG Medicine Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=10352

See the original post here:

BG Medicine Appoints Dr. Paul Sohmer as Chief Executive Officer

Dr Chris Luke, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, on Whooping Cough And Immunisation, RTÉ Today Show. – Video

Posted on by


Dr Chris Luke, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, on Whooping Cough And Immunisation, RT Today Show.
Dr Chris Luke, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, on Whooping Cough And Immunisation, RT Today Show.

By: IAEMofficial

View original post here:

Dr Chris Luke, Consultant in Emergency Medicine, on Whooping Cough And Immunisation, RTÉ Today Show. - Video


  1. Medicine