Stephanie Abbuhl, MD, Vice Chair of Faculty Affairs for Emergency Medicine and executive director of FOCUS on Health and Leadership for Women in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania has received the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) 2012 Group on Women in Medicine and Science Leadership Development Award for an individual.

According to the AAMC, this distinction recognizes extraordinary, innovative, and far-reaching contributions supporting womens leadership and success in academic medicine. As executive director of FOCUS on Health and Leadership for Women, Abbuhl has played an integral role in numerous gender equality initiatives throughout the Perelman School of Medicine. The FOCUS program was awarded AAMC's Women in Medicine Leadership Development Award in 2004.

This work is an important priority for Penn Medicine, where Abbuhls research and programs are aimed at increasing the recruitment, retention, and promotion of women physicians and researchers through the ranks of academic medicine. While 48 percent of students accepted into U.S. medical schools today are women, their numbers dwindle at the higher rungs of the academic ladder: women make up about 42 percent of assistant professors in the nations medical schools, but only 31 percent of associate professors and 19 percent of full professors. They comprise just 13 percent of department chairs and 13 percent of deans.

Abbuhl co-leads the NIH Transforming Academic Culture (NIH-TAC) Trial, a $1.5 million National Institutes of Health-funded cluster-randomized trial to study a multi-faceted intervention in the Perelman School of Medicine aimed at improving the academic productivity and job satisfaction of women faculty. Although much has been learned about what barriers stand in the way of women advancing to the highest levels of academic science and medicine, this project is the first federally funded endeavor to examine interventions to alter this gender gap.

Abbuhl has received many other honors and is credited with more than 100 publications on operational and administrative issues in emergency medicine, and faculty development, among other areas.

She will formally receive the honor at the AAMC Annual meeting in November.

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Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $4.3 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine is currently ranked #2 in U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $479.3 million awarded in the 2011 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania -- recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report; Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; and Pennsylvania Hospital the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Penn Medicine also includes additional patient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region.

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Penn Medicine's Stephanie Abbuhl, MD, Receives 2012 AAMC Group on Women in Medicine and Science Leadership Development ...

PHILADELPHIA Rahul M. Kohli, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of Medicine and Biochemistry & Biophysics, is one of the recipients of a New Innovator Award from National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The NIH Directors New Innovator Award, totaling $1.5 million over five years, supports highly innovative research and creative, new investigators who exhibit strong potential to make great advances on a critical biomedical or behavioral research problem.

Kohlis lab will use the grant to study the enzymes that drive bacterial evolution, aiming to devise new methods to combat the emergence of drug-resistant bacteria.

The ability of pathogens to quickly build up resistance to the best available antibiotics leads to potentially devastating consequences to human health. Past responses to this concern have largely focused on modifying existing drugs, which can offer a brief reprieve, but eventually fosters more drug resistance. Kohlis research seeks to change the paradigm of attacking drug resistance, by targeting the very pathways that allow the pathogen to mutate.

Rather than focusing on drugs that kill bacteria, understanding and targeting bacterias ability to adapt could be an effective new approach to drug resistance, said Kohli. Given the clinical importance of the problem, Im excited about the opportunities we can pursue with this award.

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Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $4.3 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine is currently ranked #2 in U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $479.3 million awarded in the 2011 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania -- recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report; Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; and Pennsylvania Hospital the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Penn Medicine also includes additional patient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2011, Penn Medicine provided $854 million to benefit our community.

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Penn Medicine Researcher Receives New Innovator Award from National Institutes of Health

October designated as 'National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month'WASHINGTON, Sept. 20, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA) and the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) applaud the U.S. Senate for passing S.Res.564, a resolution calling for increased national attention and awareness of prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicine ...

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U.S. Senate Resolution Urges Communities, Parents to Fight Teen Medicine Abuse

CAMBRIDGE, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Foundation Medicine today announced the completion of a $42.5 million Series B financing. In this round, public crossover funds Deerfield Management Company, L.P., Casdin Capital, Redmile Group and strategic investors Roche Venture Fund and WuXi Corporate Venture Fund joined founding investor Third Rock Ventures and current venture capital backers Google Ventures and Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. One undisclosed fund and one undisclosed strategic investor also joined the round. Foundation Medicines board of directors remains unchanged.

In just two years, Foundation Medicine has turned promising science into an established business that is changing the way cancer is treated, said William Slattery, partner at Deerfield Management Company, L.P. While the medical world readily accepts that genomic drivers are the key to matching patients with cancer to the best treatment for their disease, Foundation Medicine has successfully brought this concept to clinical practice. Their single, comprehensive assay uncovers cancer-driving pathways in a patients tumor and can inform treatment decisions. We look forward to supporting the companys continued commercial acceleration.

The proceeds from the financing will help Foundation Medicine expand commercial operations, scale laboratory capabilities and develop additional genomic profiling and information services. FoundationOne is a genomic assay for all solid tumors that identifies oncogenic alterations in the tumor and provides a concise report to help physicians match patients with the targeted drugs or clinical trials that may be best suited for their unique cancer. Launched in June 2012, FoundationOne has already been ordered by more than 400 physicians from 16 countries.

Over 80 percent of cancer care occurs in the community. It is critical that patients and oncologists have access to information to help them understand what treatment options may be available, said Krishna Yeshwant, M.D., partner, Google Ventures. Genomic data, combined with clinical outcomes as more patients are treated, will inform and improve the development of new cancer drugs and serve as a powerful resource for patients. We are excited to continue our collaboration with Foundation Medicine as they work to bring genomics to clinical medicine and impact the care of millions.

It has been our privilege to serve our initial physician clients and their patients, said Michael Pellini, M.D., president and CEO of Foundation Medicine. Their stories and early successes are the primary motivation for our work and we are grateful to have assembled such an outstanding group of investors to support our mission. The financial and strategic capabilities of this syndicate will help us take Foundation Medicine to the next level.

About FoundationOneTM

FoundationOne is a fully informative genomic profile that complements traditional cancer decision tools and often expands treatment options by matching each patient with targeted therapies that may be relevant to the molecular changes in their tumor. Using next-generation sequencing, FoundationOne interrogates all genes somatically altered in human cancers that are validated targets for therapy or unambiguous drivers of oncogenesis based on current knowledge. It reveals all classes of genomic alterations including base substitutions, insertions, deletions, copy number alterations and select rearrangements. Each patients genomic profile is reported to the physician matched with targeted therapies and clinical trials that may be relevant based on the molecular blueprint of their tumor. Results are supported by the latest scientific and medical evidence. FoundationOne has been optimized to fit easily into the clinical workflow of a practicing oncologist. It is available for all solid tumors and clinical grade results can be obtained from as little as 50ng of DNA obtained from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue samples. FoundationOne is a laboratory-developed test performed at Foundation Medicines CLIA-certified facility and is currently available for all solid tumor types. Please visit http://www.foundationone.com for more information.

About Foundation Medicine

Foundation Medicine is a molecular information company dedicated to a transformation in cancer care in which treatment is informed by a deep understanding of the genomic changes that contribute to each patients unique cancer. The companys initial clinical assay, FoundationOneTM, is a fully informative genomic profile to identify a patients individual molecular alterations and match them with relevant targeted therapies and clinical trials. Foundation Medicines molecular information platform aims to improve day-to-day care for patients by serving the needs of clinicians, academic researchers and drug developers to help advance the science of molecular medicine in cancer. For more information, please visit http://www.foundationmedicine.com.

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Foundation Medicine Announces $42.5 Million Series B Financing

Queenstown Regenerative Medicine - http://www.queenstownRM.co.nz

Professor Richard Boyd and Dr Dan Bates Latest developments of Stem Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine

Queenstown Regenerative Medicine, in association with Monash University Immunology and Stem Cell Centre (MISCL), has the pleasure of requesting your attendance at an evening lecture by Prof Richard Boyd, Head of MISCL and Dr Dan Bates, Sports Medicine Physician from Melbourne AFL Club.

Professor Richard Boyd is a world leader in the research and development of potential uses of stem cells to treat disease in both human and animal. He is the Director of Australia's largest and most prestigious Stem Cell Laboratory and a recipient of numerous International Awards for unique research into how stem cells and the immune system develop and how they have their effects in the body.

Professor Boyd's talk will give an overall background to stem cells and the work going on around the world to put these cellular therapies and regenerative medicine into the clinic.

Doctor Dan Bates is a Sports Medicine Physician working with Professor Boyd in the development and use of cellular medicine applications in the field of Sports Medicine and musculoskeletal injuries. Dan is the current team doctor of the Melbourne AFL club and will speak on his experiences using Platelet Rich Plasma to treat musculoskeletal injuries and the opening of stem cell treatment centres in conjunction with MISCL in Australia.

This is a unique opportunity to get first- hand knowledge from some of the best people in the field. These talks will be aimed at the practical applications of how you can use these therapies currently, as well as giving an idea of what the near future holds.

Date: Friday 21 September 2012 Time: from 6 pm 7.30 pm Location: Heritage Hotel, 91 Fernhill Road, Queenstown (Icon Conference Room) Cost: Free of charge

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Developments of Stem Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine

LOS ANGELES, Sept. 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine honors Sumner M. Redstone and Nobel Laureate Murray Gell-Mann, Ph.D. at its REBELS WITH A CAUSE gala, September 19, 2012, at the Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. The evening will raise funds to support the lifesaving research of David B. Agus, M.D., Director, USC Westside Cancer Center and USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine. Carmen A. Puliafito, M.D., M.B.A., Dean, Keck School of Medicine of USC is Honorary Co-Chair; Beverly and Robert Cohen Co-Chair. The gala will feature performances by Tony Bennett and Neil Young; Tracey Ullman, emcees.

Sumner M. Redstone, Executive Chairman of Viacom and CBS Corporation has been Chairman of the Board of National Amusements since 1986, and CEO since 1967. He is a member of the Advisory Council for the ATAS Foundation and is on the Board of Trustees for The Paley Center for Media. He also served as COB of the National Association of Theatre Owners, and is currently a member of its Executive Committee. Before that, he was President of the Theatre Owners of America. Mr. Redstone was recently honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.Mr. Redstone has devoted himself to a wide variety of civic and community affairs efforts, contributing over $150 million to worthy charities.

Murray Gell-Mann, Ph.D., is a Distinguished Fellow at the Santa Fe Institute as well as the Robert Andrews Millikan Professor Emeritus at the California Institute of Technology. In 2010, he was appointed Presidential Professor of physics and medicine at USC. In 1969 he received the Nobel Prize in physics for his work on the theory of elementary particles. He is the author of The Quark and the Jaguar.

The goal of the USC Center for Applied Molecular Medicine is the development of novel treatment strategies for cancer. The Center was implemented to enable multiple disciplines to work on treatment and the care of patients with cancer. The program includes the clinical care of patients at the USC Westside Cancer Center and has team members with expertise spanning cancer biology, biochemistry, molecular biology, bioinformatics, computer science, electrical engineering, bioorganic chemistry, physics and applied mathematics. http://camm.usc.edu/.

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USC Center For Applied Molecular Medicine To Honor Sumner Redstone And Murray Gell-Mann, Ph.D. At The Inaugural REBELS ...

ALAMEDA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

BioTime, Inc. (NYSE MKT: BTX) announced that Chief Executive Officer Michael D. West, Ph.D. will present at the Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2012 in Cambridge, MA on Thursday, September 20, 2012. Dr. West will speak on Second Generation hES Cell-Based Therapies: Achieving Purity and Scalability in the Midst of Diversity in the session Developments in Novel Therapeutics. The presentation will be made available on BioTime's website at http://www.biotimeinc.com.

The Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2012, September 20-21, is North Americas leading commercial stem cell event. This years conference will focus on strategies and business models for navigating the stem cell and regenerative medicine marketplace for pharma, biotech, and investors.

About BioTime, Inc.

BioTime, headquartered in Alameda, California, is a biotechnology company focused on regenerative medicine and blood plasma volume expanders. Its broad platform of stem cell technologies is enhanced through subsidiaries focused on specific fields of application. BioTime develops and markets research products in the field of stem cells and regenerative medicine, including a wide array of proprietary ACTCellerate cell lines, HyStem hydrogels, culture media, and differentiation kits. BioTime is developing Renevia (formerly known as HyStem-Rx), a biocompatible, implantable hyaluronan and collagen-based matrix for cell delivery in human clinical applications. BioTime's therapeutic product development strategy is pursued through subsidiaries that focus on specific organ systems and related diseases for which there is a high unmet medical need. BioTime's majority owned subsidiary Cell Cure Neurosciences Ltd. is developing therapeutic products derived from stem cells for the treatment of retinal and neural degenerative diseases. BioTime's subsidiary OrthoCyte Corporation is developing therapeutic applications of stem cells to treat orthopedic diseases and injuries. Another subsidiary, OncoCyte Corporation, focuses on the diagnostic and therapeutic applications of stem cell technology in cancer, including the diagnostic product PanC-Dx currently being developed for the detection of cancer in blood samples. ReCyte Therapeutics, Inc. is developing applications of BioTime's proprietary induced pluripotent stem cell technology to reverse the developmental aging of human cells to treat cardiovascular and blood cell diseases. BioTime's subsidiary, LifeMap Sciences, Inc., markets GeneCards, the leading human gene database, and is developing an integrated database suite to complement GeneCards that will also include the LifeMap database of embryonic development, stem cell research and regenerative medicine, and MalaCards, the human disease database. LifeMap will also market BioTime research products. BioTime's lead product, Hextend, is a blood plasma volume expander manufactured and distributed in the U.S. by Hospira, Inc. and in South Korea by CJ CheilJedang Corporation under exclusive licensing agreements. Additional information about BioTime can be found on the web at http://www.biotimeinc.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Statements pertaining to future financial and/or operating results, future growth in research, technology, clinical development, and potential opportunities for BioTime and its subsidiaries, along with other statements about the future expectations, beliefs, goals, plans, or prospects expressed by management constitute forward-looking statements. Any statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as "will," "believes," "plans," "anticipates," "expects," "estimates") should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, uncertainty in the results of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, need and ability to obtain future capital, and maintenance of intellectual property rights. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the business of BioTime and its subsidiaries, particularly those mentioned in the cautionary statements found in BioTime's Securities and Exchange Commission filings. BioTime disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

To receive ongoing BioTime corporate communications, please click on the following link to join our email alert list:

http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=83805&p=irol-alerts

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BioTime CEO Michael D. West to Present at Stem Cells USA & Regenerative Medicine Congress 2012

Public release date: 18-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Karen Kreeger karen.kreeger@uphs.upenn.edu 215-349-5658 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

The Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics' 7th Annual International Symposium (ITMAT) will be held October 16 and 17 at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. This unique gathering brings together international experts to debate opportunities and hazards in systems pharmacology and translational medicine, or how drugs work on specific pathways, variability in patient response and why many treatments fail. Thought leaders from academic medical centers and industry will be speaking on topics including, Global Approaches to Translational Medicine, Translational Therapeutics, The Individualization of Therapy and Systems Pharmacology.

Garret A. FitzGerald, Director of ITMAT, will be hosting the event. He has some great speakers lined up, including:

The full agenda and list of speakers can be found on ITMAT's website. There will also be opportunities to meet and speak with presenters and fellow attendees, which will include academics and industry executives.

Registration is required for attendance, and there is also an option to participate via web. Please contact me to register as a reporter for this event or to view on the web.

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Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $4.3 billion enterprise.

The Perelman School of Medicine is currently ranked #2 in U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $479.3 million awarded in the 2011 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania -- recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report; Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; and Pennsylvania Hospital -- the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Penn Medicine also includes additional patient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region.

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Penn Translational Medicine Institute to hold 7th Annual Symposium

Public release date: 18-Sep-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Mattias Lorentzon, University of Gothenburg mattias.lorentzon@medic.gu.se 46-031-342-4929 University of Gothenburg

A big international study has identified a special gene that regulates bone density and bone strength. The gene can be used as a risk marker for fractures and opens up opportunities for preventive medicine against fractures. The study, led by the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, was published in the journal PLoS Genetics.

The international study, which involved more than 50 researchers from Europe, North America and Australia and was led by Associate Professor Mattias Lorentzon and Professor Claes Ohlsson at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, is based on extensive genetic analyses of the genetic material of 10,000 patients and experimental studies in mice.

Through the combined studies, researchers have succeeded in identifying a special gene, Wnt16, with a strong link to bone density and so-called cortical bone thickness, which is decisive to bone strength.

The genetic variation studied by the international research network could predict, for example, the risk of a forearm fracture in a large patient group of older women.

"In the experimental study, we could then establish that the gene had a crucial effect on the thickness and density of the femur. In mice without the Wnt16 gene, the strength of the femur was up to 61 per cent lower," according to Mattias Lorentzon at the Institute of Medicine, the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg.

The discovery opens up opportunities to develop new medicines to prevent the most common fractures.

"Low cortical bone mass is a decisive factor in, for example, hip and forearm fractures. Unfortunately, the treatments currently used for brittleness of the bones have very little effect on the cortical bone mass," says Mattias Lorentzon.

"If we can learn to stimulate the signaling routes of the Wnt16 gene, we could strengthen the skeleton in these parts too, thereby preventing the most common and serious fractures. The discovery of Wnt16 and its regulation of cortical bone mass is therefore very important," according to Mattias Lorentzon.

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New gene offers hope for preventive medicine against fractures

SEREMBAN, Sept 17 A man who claimed to be an Islamic medicine practitioner was arrested by the Negri Sembilan Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAINS) today while trying to perform sex on his patient he was treating at her house in Kampung LBJ, here, today.

The 48-year-old man was nabbed in a raid by JHEAINS at 12.30pm while purportedly treating the 24-year-old woman.

JHEAINS enforcement division principal assistant director Ahmad Husaini Mustafa said the suspect, from Kuala Lumpur, had earlier contacted the victim to treat her difficulty to conceive.

Upon arriving at the victims house, he recited some Quranic verses to treat her and perform nikah batin (spiritual marriage) with her which was contrary to Islamic teachings.

The man then tried to take advantage of the unsuspecting woman by performing sex on her, but his attempt was foiled by the JHEAINS raiding team, he told a news conference, here.

Ahmad Husaini said the raid was conducted following public information and complaints received.

We believe the suspect, who is married with children, is not knowledgeable in Islam but was using Quranic verses to dupe the victim in order to take advantage of her.

He said a number of items including a Quran and a religious booklet believed to be used in the treatment, were also seized during the raid.

Ahmad Husaini said the suspect was believed to have been involved in the activity for quite some time, and their initial investigation showed that he had treated three women.

The case is being investigated under Section 49 of the Negri Sembilan Syariah Criminal Enactment for misusing Quranic verses, Section 50 of the same Enactment for insulting Islam and Section 77 for seducing a woman. Bernama

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Medicine man busted trying to have sex with patient

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

Contact: Angela Collom acollom@acponline.org 215-351-2653 American College of Physicians

1. Hospital-initiated Transitional Care Interventions Can Improve Outcomes in Stroke and MI

Transitional care is the treatment patients receive in between levels of care, or in between hospitalization and release to home. For chronically ill, older patients, transitional care strategies can reduce unnecessary use of health services and improve patient outcomes. Less is known about the benefits and harms of transitional care strategies for patients who have a new acute event. Researchers summarized 44 studies that compared usual care with transitional care strategies for adults with acute stroke or myocardial infarction (MI). The researchers evaluated four types of transitional care strategies to determine their benefits and harms on patient outcomes and the health care system. The four types of care included hospital-initiated support into home or intermediary care; hospital-based or community-based patient and family education; community-based models of support interventions; and chronic disease management models of care. The researchers found moderate-strength evidence that hospital-initiated support reduced length of stay for patients who had a stroke and low-strength evidence that hospital-initiated support reduced mortality for patients who had an MI. There was insufficient evidence about patient and family education programs and community-based support interventions.

Note: For a PDF, please contact Angela Collom. To reach the author, please contact Julie McKeel at Julie.mckeep@duke.edu or 919-668-5939. To contact the editorialist, please contact Jordan Schupbach at jordan.schupbach@va.gov or 303-393-5205.

2. Interventions Improve Handovers from Hospital to Primary Care

Patient safety and cost issues related to care transitions have become a major concern of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and other insurance providers. Ineffective patient transition from hospital to home can result in rehospitalization, adverse medical events, or death. Researchers reviewed 36 randomized, controlled trials of interventions intended to improve patient transition from hospital to primary care. They found that the most effective interventions were medication reconciliation; use of electronic records and information sharing; discharge planning; and shared involvement in follow-up by hospital and community care providers. Most interventions had positive effects. These included reduced hospital use, improvement of continuity of care, and improvement of patient status after discharge. The author of an accompanying editorial writes that a well-executed transition should include logistical arrangements, education of the patient and family, and coordination among health professionals. While more research is needed, these evidence reviews help to identify important gaps in the available research and provide a structure upon which to design future studies that will ultimately lead to the development of effective programs.

Note: For a PDF or an interview with Dr. Hesselink, Scientific Institute for Quality of Healthcare, Nijmegen, the Netherlands, please contact Angela Collom. To contact the editorialist, please contact Jordan Schupbach at jordan.schupbach@va.gov or 303-393-5205.

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Annals of Internal Medicine tip sheet for Sept. 18. 2012

Orthopedic surgeons Charles C. Craig, Ryan W. Livermore and J. Scott Pigg and sports medicine physician Jennifer Scott Koontz will join Newton Medical Center to create Newton Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. The program was announced Monday and will begin Oct. 1.

We see the whole gamut of orthopedic issues, from knee and hip replacement to ACL repairs, rotator cuff repairs. We dont do spine surgery, but the surgeons pretty much do everything else, said Koontz, who does non-operative work.

The doctors will remain in their current office at 800 Medical Center Drive on the Newton Medical Center campus. They come from Pinnacle Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics, which also has locations in Hutchinson and McPherson. Those locations will continue to operate under Pinnacle.

Koontz said their team will work with schools for sports medicine and nursing homes for things such as joint replacements. She said there will not be changes to the current staff or office.

The move was a natural step, she said.

Being a part of Newton Medical Center would be a good affiliation to have stronger connections in the community, Koontz said. It was a mutual connection that you just develop a relationship with your local hospital. You spend so much time together, and we recognized it would be beneficial for both of us want to offer a wider range of beneficial services for the community that it just made sense.

Newton Medical Center CEO Steve Kelly said he is excited about the group joining the hospital.

At Newton Medical Center, we have a very great relationship with our physicians, so when there came an opportunity for them to partnership with us, they approached us and were very excited about making that formal, Kelly said. The physicians in that group are excellent. Were going to be able to really market their services in a larger area because of the group that we have.

The physicians will be employed by Newton Medical Center. The number of physicians employed by Newton Medical Center has gone from none six years ago to 23 as of Oct. 1.

Craig received his medical degree from the University of Kansas, where he conducted a residency in orthopedic surgery. He served at Kenner Army Community Hospital at Fort Lee in Virginia before joining Axtell Clinic in 1978. Hes been in the Newton community several years.

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Newton Medical Center to launch Newton Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine on Oct. 1

Euthanasia outside the discipline of Palliative Medicine

The TV1, 7pm news programme on Sunday 16th September 2012 described the tragic story of Rosies death, a person with multiple sclerosis. As a society of Palliative Medicine doctors we care for patients with advanced multiple sclerosis as well as patients with advanced illnesses from many other sources. Unlike last nights distressing story of Rosies decision, the patients we care for with multiple sclerosis do not have their lives ended prematurely and do not request this.

In our experience patients with advanced illnesses such as multiple sclerosis can be supported, as well as their family and friends, by multidisciplinary team of Palliative Care with community general practice and hospital support. Rosies daughter Amy Nankivell said in the documentary she regretted that no one had said to her mother not to kill herself. In our opinion the legalisation of euthanasia in New Zealand would be the equivalent of this state and society saying, when someone expresses that life is difficult, yes go ahead, lets end your life. rather than as Rosies daughter suggested saying no dont do it, we will look after you.

The Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine Inc., (ANZSPM), believes that the practice of euthanasia and assisted suicide are outside the discipline of Palliative Medicine. The Society endorses the New Zealand Medical Associations Position Statement on Euthanasia, and similarly the World Medical Associations which state that euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide are unethical. This position is not dependent on euthanasia and doctor-assisted suicide remaining unlawful. Even if they were to become legal, or decriminalised, the NZMA would continue to regard them as unethical.

ANZSPM recommends that a request for euthanasia or assisted suicide be acknowledged with respect and be extensively explored in order to understand, appropriately address and if possible remedy the underlying difficulties that gave rise to the request. Appropriate ongoing care consistent with the goals of Palliative Medicine should continue to be offered. ANZSPM recommends that when requests for euthanasia or assisted suicide arise, particular attention be given to gaining good symptom control, utilising the skills of a multidisciplinary team.

The Australian and New Zealand Society of Palliative Medicine (ANZSPM) is a society of medical practitioners who practice or have an interest in palliative medicine. The full ANZSPM position statement on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide can be found at http://www.anzspm.org.au.

Ends.

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Euthanasia outside the discipline of Palliative Medicine

September 16, 2012

Image Caption: NanoEngineering Professor Shaochen Chen has demonstrated the capability of printing three-dimensional blood vessels in mere seconds out of soft, biocompatible hydrogels. Being able to print blood vessels is essential to achieving the promise of regenerative medicine because it is how the body distributes oxygen and nutrients. Image Credit: Biomedical Nanotechnology Laboratory, Chen Research Group, UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering.

April Flowers for redOrbit.com Your Universe Online

Nanoengineers at the University of California, San Diego have created a new technology that has far-reaching implications for regenerative medicine. The results of the project have been reported in Advanced Materials.

The team has been able to fabricate, in seconds, microscale three-dimensional (3D) structures out of soft biocompatible hydrogels. This could lead to better systems for growing and studying cells, including stem cells, in the laboratory. In the long-term, the goal is to be able to print biological tissues for regenerative medicine. For example, repairing the damage caused by a heart attack by replacing it with tissue from a printer.

Professor Shaochen Chen developed this new biofabrication technology, called dynamic optical projection stereolithography (DOPsL). Current fabrication techniques, such as photolithography and micro-contact printing, are limited to generating simple geometries or 2D patterns. Stereolithography is best known for its ability to print large objects such as tools and car parts.

The difference between earlier stereolithography and DOPsL, Chen says, is in the micro- and nanoscale resolution required to print tissues that mimic natures fine-grained details, including blood vessels, which are essential for distributing nutrients and oxygen throughout the body. Without the ability to print vasculature, an engineered liver or kidney, for example, is useless in regenerative medicine. With DOPsL, Chens team was able to achieve more complex geometries common in nature such as flowers, spirals and hemispheres. Other current 3D fabrication techniques, such as two-photon photopolymerization, can take hours to fabricate a 3D part.

The system uses a computer projection system and precisely controlled micromirrors to shine light on a selected area of a solution containing photo-sensitive biopolymers and cells. This begins the solidification process, which forms one layer of solid structure at a time, but in a continuous fashion. The Obama administration in March launched a $1 billion investment in advanced manufacturing technologies, including creating the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Institute with $30 million in federal funding to focus on 3D printing. The term additive manufacturing refers to the way 3D structures are built layering very thin materials.

The development of this new technology is part of a grant that Chen received from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Chens research group focuses on fabrication of nanostructured biomaterials and nanophotonics for biomedical engineering.

Source: April Flowers for redOrbit.com - Your Universe Online

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Regenerative Medicine Gets A Boost With Quick Printing Of 3D Microstructures

Hundreds of Quebec medical students took part in workshops this weekend designed to woo them into family medicine and ease the province's shortage of general practitioners.

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Med schools try to woo students into family medicine

Yellow Medicine County is currently looking for Volunteers for their Circle programs. We have three different types of Circles operating out of the Restorative Justice Department: Circle Sentencing, Family and Community Circle, and Circle of HOPE. The Circle Sentencing process involves members of the community participating in the actual sentencing process for youthful offenders. The Circle will meet with the youth and their support people on a regular basis typically every other week. The victim(s) may also become involved if they wish; and together, the circle, the youth, and possibly the victim, will work to establish goals that will not only rehabilitate the youth but also restore them to their community, building skills that will ensure lasting positive change. The referrals for the Family and Community Circle come directly from Family Services or the Court after a child protection report or child welfare concern has been reported. Family and Community Circle is a strength-based process to enhance the ability of families and communities to keep children and families physically and emotionally safe and unified. Acting thru the Circle, community members and family members play an equal role in encouraging and assisting families to identify and enhance their strengths while searching for solutions. Most recently, Circle of HOPE was developed in the community of Granite Falls. Circle of HOPE provides a community strength-based process to help persons in recovery (from alcoholism/addiction) make a safe and healthy transition to their community upon completion of treatment. The Circle balances support with accountability for those in recovery, helping them maintain sobriety and assist them in making amends. It is important to note that participation in all of the Circles is completely voluntary on the part of participants, whether they are children, parents, or community members. Without the commitment and volunteerism of the community, Circles would not be as successful as they are today. Many people in the community are concerned about crime and the impact it has had on our neighborhoods, schools, and businesses. The Circle Sentencing process allows citizens of the community to directly participate in attempting to reduce crime and negative juvenile behavior, help support victims, and restore youth to their communities. While it is strictly a voluntary effort, it offers the potential for a very personally enriching experience while also providing a great service to the community. If you are interested in volunteering, they are asked to please contact Sharon Hendrichs, Yellow Medicine County Restorative Justice Coordinator at 320-313-3028 or via email at: sharon.hendrichs@co.ym.mn.gov

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Yellow Medicine County Circle programs looking for volunteers

PARAMUS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Proteonomix, Inc. (OTC/BB: PROT), a biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics based upon the use of human cells and their derivatives, today announced it has entered into an agreement with Piscataway, N.J.-based University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) to conducted a Phase 1 clinical trial with its proprietary, patent-pending mobilization technology UMK-121 in patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD). The Company also announced that Chief Executive Officer Michael Cohen made a presentation at the National Investment Banking Associations (NIBA) 123rd Investment Conference yesterday at the New York Marriott Downtown in New York City.

The single-center Phase 1 clinical trial, Mobilization of Stem Cells with UMK 121 in Patients with Cirrhosis, will enroll 15 patients with ESLD. The trial will study the safety of mobilization of stem cells in this patient population, as well as the effects of mobilization of stems cells from bone marrow to the peripheral circulation on liver function. Baburao Koneru, M.D., Professor and Chief of the Division of Transplant and Hepatobiliary Surgery at New Jersey Medical School, will serve as the trials principal investigator.

We are extremely pleased to announce that our trial will be conducted at this highly respected institution under the direction of Dr. Koneru, who is a renowned expert in the field of liver function, said Mr. Cohen. Our presentation to the investment professionals attending the NIBA conference provided an opportunity to discuss the potential of UMK-121 in ESLD as we make preparations to commence this clinical trial, which we hope to initiate in the coming months.

UMK-121 combines two existing FDA-approved drugs with the intention of mobilizing mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow to the peripheral circulation. This proprietary drug combination is designed to reduce inflammation and increase angiogenesis to restore liver function, potentially extending the life of ESLD patients awaiting liver transplant.

About the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) is New Jerseys only health sciences university with more than 6,000 students on five campuses attending three medical schools, the States only dental school, a graduate school of biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions, a school of nursing and New Jerseys only school of public health. UMDNJ operates University Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center in Newark, and University Behavioral HealthCare, which provides a continuum of healthcare services with multiple locations throughout the State.

About National Investment Banking Association (NIBA)

NIBA is the only national not-for-profit trade association of regional and independent brokerages, investment banking firms, institutional investors and related capital market service providers. Since its inception, NIBA member firms have successfully completed more than 1,000 equity offerings totaling approximately $10 billion in new capital. The member firms of NIBA represent more than 8,000 registered representatives with an estimated $78 billion in assets under management, and are responsible for 90% of all Initial Public Offerings under $20 million. For more information, please visit http://www.nibanet.org.

About Proteonomix, Inc.

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Proteonomix Announces Agreement with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) to Conduct a Phase ...

The City of Medicine Hat says it seems to be winning its war against rats after dozens were found in a local landfill this summer.

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Medicine Hat winning rat battle

PHILADELPHIA Mitchell D. Schnall, MD, PhD, has been named Chair of the Department of Radiology in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, Dr. Schnall is the Matthew J. Wilson Professor of Research Radiology and Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Radiology.

Schnall completed his medical training as a radiology resident at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was chief resident in 1989.He was appointed as an assistant professor in 1991, an associate professor in 1994, and professor in 2002. For seven years, he was Chief of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and has served as the departments Vice Chair for Research since 1997.

Dr. Schnall is an international leader in translational biomedical imaging research, and his work has led to fundamental changes in imaging approaches for breast and prostate cancer, said J. Larry Jameson, MD, PhD, dean of the Perelman School of the Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and executive vice president for the Health System. We are confident that his combination of research excellence and constant focus on clinical applications will lead our thriving Department of Radiology to even greater achievements.

His academic background reflects Penns dedication to interdisciplinary education. As a University Scholar, Schnall was able to pursue a customized curriculum integrating physics and medicine culminating in an undergraduate degree in physics, a medical degree and a PhD in biophysics from the University of Pennsylvania.

He currently serves as the Principal Investigator of the American College of Radiology Imaging Network, an NCI funded cooperative group that has made several seminal contributions to cancer imaging including the NLST trial that demonstrated the effectiveness of CT lung cancer screening to reduce lung cancer mortality.He is also a principal investigator for the recently funded Penn Center for Innovation in Personalized Breast Screening, and was also a co-principal investigator of a five-year, $10 million grant to study the progression of breast cancer using state-of-the-art imaging techniques and animal models, with the goal of developing more effective therapies. With that grant, the Perelman School of Medicine was named a Breast Cancer Center of Excellence by the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program.

Schnall also serves on multiple editorial boards and scientific advisory committees including the National Cancer Institutes Clinical Trials and Translational Research Advisory Committee. He is a member of the Radiology Society of North America and the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and was elected as a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, and the Association of American Physicians.

The Perelman School of Medicine is currently ranked #2 in U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $479.3 million awarded in the 2011 fiscal year.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania -- recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report; Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; and Pennsylvania Hospital the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Penn Medicine also includes additional patient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2011, Penn Medicine provided $854 million to benefit our community.

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PMitchell D. Schnall Named Chair of Penn Medicine Department of Radiology

TORONTO, Sept. 13, 2012 /CNW/ - Today, the University of Toronto's Faculty of Medicine launched a $500-million fundraising effort aimed at improving health in Canada and around the world.

As a cornerstone of the University's overall $2-billion Boundless campaign, the Faculty of Medicine aims to transform health care by training future health care leaders and putting scientific discovery into action. The campaign's promise centres on the Faculty's unique role as an integrator and catalyst for collaboration - across university disciplines, within the Greater Toronto Area's unparalleled academic health sciences network and globally.

Dean Catharine Whiteside announced the campaign - the largest-ever fundraising initiative for a medical school in Canadian history - at an event in the Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research that drew more than 300 supporters and members of the medical community. To date, the Faculty has already raised $252 million towards its goal.

"The complexity of the health challenges we face today requires solutions that can only emerge through innovation that is collaborative and cross-disciplinary," said Whiteside. "The Faculty of Medicine's integrating role uniquely positions us to spark the discoveries and drive the changes that will transform health globally in the 21st century, with the help of our supporters."

The Faculty of Medicine's academic network is vast. In partnership with nine fully affiliated health institutions and 18 community affiliates, the Faculty's 6,800 academic and clinical faculty members educate more than 8,600 trainees annually, including MD students, graduate and doctoral students, health sciences professionals, residents and fellows. To ensure these trainees have continued access to world-class opportunities, the Faculty will seek to raise $100 million for student programming and financial aid.

"Students in the Faculty of Medicine will become the next generation of health professionals and leaders. They inspire me to be confident in the future of health care in Canada and around the world," said Dr. Terrence Donnelly, a generous supporter of the faculty and chair of recruitment for the campaign.

Research in the Faculty of Medicine boasts a critical mass of expertise in four areas, reflected in the campaign's strategic priorities; human development, global health, neuroscience and brain health, and complex diseases. To provide the Faculty's scientists with leading-edge research technology, the campaign will seek to raise $200 million for research programs and infrastructure.

Recruiting and retaining world-leading faculty is also a top priority for the campaign, which aims to raise $200 million to support faculty. "Our campaign will enable us to continue to attract and retain the best academic talent in the world," said Whiteside.

For more information about the Faculty of Medicine's campaign, please visit: http://www.medicine.utoronto.ca or http://boundless.utoronto.ca/medicine.

SOURCE: University of Toronto

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U of T's Faculty of Medicine Launches Historic Campaign