PHILADELPHIA Two teams of employees were selected as winners in Penn Medicine's first employee "Your Big Idea" Innovation Tournament for projects aimed at improving the patient and caregiver experience at Penn Medicine. The winning projects include an online appointment scheduling program as well as kiosks to help patients and visitors navigate their way to appointments and through the hospital. Throughout the five-month long tournament, teams of employees crafted business plans and pitches, working with experts from the Wharton School, culminating with presentations in front of Penn Medicine Leadership last week. The winning ideas will be funded by Penn Medicine and piloted by an implementation team which includes the employees who submitted the winning ideas and other subject matter experts from throughout the organization.

The 2012 "Your Big Idea" Penn Medicine Innovation Tournament winning ideas include:

"The Innovation Tournament engaged nearly a third of our nearly 16,000 person workforce," said Judy L. Schueler, vice president of Organization Development & Chief Human Resource Officer for the University of Pennsylvania Health System. "Faculty and staff either submitted or rated an idea. The level of engagement is a tribute to the men and women of Penn Medicine who dedicate their talents each and every day to improve the patient experience."

"In our outpatient practices, we see that delays at the front desk cause unnecessary frustration and that interactions prior to seeing the physician/provider can set the tone for the outpatient appointment," said Leslie A. Allen, leader of the Patient Service Kiosk team and senior practice administrator in the Department of Medicine's divisions of Renal, Electrolyte and Hypertension, and Infectious Disease. "I submitted the idea one afternoon in between tasks and never thought submitting an idea would develop into all of this."

"The quantity and the quality of the ideas we received exceeded our most optimistic forecasts," said Christian Terwiesch, PhD, professor of Operations and Information Management in the Wharton School. "The tournament ended up being more than just an idea management process it released an enormous amount of creative energy and enthusiasm which left a true mark on the organization"

"The rapid mobilization of Penn Medicine resources to test the winning ideas is one of the great outcomes of the Innovation Tournament," said Kevin Mahoney, senior vice president and Chief Administrative Officer. "The future will require us to be nimble, take risks and continuously adapt our processes. The pilot testing of the winning ideas will engage campus resources from Information Technology, Organization Development, Clinical Practices, Patient and Family Advisory Councils and Program Evaluation, as well as the Innovation Tournament winning teams to ensure a successful implementation."

The first Penn Medicine "Your Big Idea" Innovation Tournament is part of an ongoing effort to share ideas across the University of Pennsylvania Health System. An online social network, called The Square, was recently launched and is currently in beta mode at Penn Medicine. The Square will help faculty and staff of Penn Medicine connect, collaborate, and share ideas beyond unit and departmental borders.

In addition to the two winners, a runner up team, "Their Big Idea," was also selected, to have another Penn Medicine Innovation Tournament in the future, where Penn Medicine patients are the contestants.

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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.

Originally posted here:

Two Penn Medicine Innovation Tournament Winners Selected for Interactive Improvements to Patient Scheduling and ...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. and DALLAS, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --U.S. Preventive Medicine's Macaw, enabled by Qualcomm Life Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, was named the winner in the Mobile Applications: Health, Wellness and Fitness category of CTIA's Emerging Technology (E-Tech) Awards. In its seventh year, the CTIA E-Tech Awards honor the industry's most innovative wireless products and services in the areas of mobile apps, consumer electronics, enterprise and vertical markets and infrastructure. Winners were announced at International CTIA WIRELESS 2012 taking place earlier this month in New Orleans.

Unlike other available health and fitness apps, Macaw is based on the clinical science of preventive medicine and is universally designed for people who exercise regularly as well as those who are novices when it comes to physical activity. By leveraging Qualcomm Life's expertise in wireless technology, Macaw will transform a smartphone into the ultimate personal health monitor, connecting an individual's health apps and wireless devices for tracking weight, fitness, overall activity and biometrics including pedometers, glucose meters, activity armbands, scales, labs, sleep managers, mobile weight loss apps and blood pressure cuffs into a single app for complete tracking.

Macaw currently allows integration with the Fitlinxx Actiped+ all-day activity monitor, WorkSmart Labs' weight loss and fitness app Noom Weight Loss and Withings WiFi Body Scale. Macaw users are able to track their physical activity, nutrition, progress and health knowledge while engaging in games that unlock prizes.

Macaw is available for download on the iPhone App Store and Android Market. You can also stay up-to-date by following Macaw on Facebook (Facebook.com/ThePreventionPlan), Twitter (@MacawApp) and YouTube (YouTube.com/MacawApp). View the video at http://www.youtube.com/macawapp.

"CTIA is pleased to congratulate U.S. Preventive Medicine and Qualcomm Life on winning the CTIA E-Tech Award for representing the best in wireless innovation for mobile applications in health, wellness and fitness," said Robert Mesirow, vice president and show director for CTIA.

Nearly 250 entries across 15 awards categories were judged by a panel of media and industry analysts and scored on innovation, functionality, technological importance, implementation and overall "wow" factor.

"This award helps to validate our mission of utilizing technology to transform the way people think about and manage their health," said Christopher Fey, founder, CEO and chairman of U.S. Preventive Medicine. "Through Macaw, U.S. Preventive Medicine is making it easier for people to engage in actions to improve their health while on the go. Macaw enables people to take control, improve their own health status, and possibly reduce their health care costs along the way."

For more information on the CTIA E-Tech Awards, visit http://www.ctiashows.com/awards.

To learn more about International CTIA WIRELESS 2012, visit http://www.ctiawireless.com.

Follow CTIA Shows:Facebook: http://www.ctiashows.com/facebook LinkedIn: http://www.ctiashows.com/linkedin Twitter: http://www.ctiashows.com/twitter(#CTIAW12)

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Macaw Health and Fitness App from U.S. Preventive Medicine Wins CTIA E-Tech Award

DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/xf5djc/plasma_medicine_a) has announced the addition of the "Plasma Medicine. Applications of Low-Temperature Gas Plasmas in Medicine and Biology" report to their offering.

The introduction of low temperature plasma technology to medical research and to the healthcare arena in general is set to revolutionise the way we cure diseases. This innovative medium offers a valid and advantageous replacement of traditional chemical-based medications. Its application in the inactivation of pathogens in particular, avoids the recurrent problem of drug resistant microorganisms. This is the first book dedicated exclusively to the emerging interdisciplinary field of plasma medicine. The opening chapters discuss plasmas and plasma chemistry, the fundamentals of non-equilibrium plasmas and cell biology. The rest of the book is dedicated to current applications, illustrating a plasma-based approach to wound healing, electrosurgery, cancer treatment and even dentistry. The text provides a clear and integrated introduction to plasma technology and has been devised to answer the needs of researchers from different communities. It will appeal to graduate students and physicists, engineers, biologists, medical doctors and biochemists.

Key Topics Covered:

Foreword

Part I. Introduction to Non-equilibrium Plasma, Cell Biology, and Contamination:

1. Introduction

2. Fundamentals of non-equilibrium plasmas

3. Non-equilibrium plasma sources

4. Basic cell biology

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Research and Markets: Plasma Medicine. Applications of Low-Temperature Gas Plasmas in Medicine and Biology

Public release date: 23-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Kim Menard kim.menard@uphs.upenn.edu 215-662-6183 University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

PHILADELPHIA - While researchers are busy identifying new biomarkers to detect disease and tailor treatments to individual needs, legal battles have been waged all the way up to the Supreme Court, trying to sort out whether a private company can own the rights to a particular biomarker.

In a new Perspective piece published today in the New England Journal of Medicine, Jason Karlawish, MD, professor of Medicine, Medical Ethics and Health Policy in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, and co-author Aaron S. Kesselheim, MD, JD, MPH, from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, delve into a series of high profile court cases testing the limits of patent protection.

In the months since a US Supreme Court ruling unanimously "rendered invalid two patents covering a method for determining proper drug dosage," as Nature reports, discussions have swirled about how to pay for personalized medicine. The NEJM co-authors report that "a patentable process now needs to involve an inventive and novel application of a law of nature beyond well-understood, routine, conventional activity, previously engaged in by those in the field."

Without patents protecting such medical discoveries, some have argued that there is no way to recoup the costs of biomarker innovation. To that end, Supreme Court Justice Breyer suggested whether special market-exclusivity protection was warranted.

Instead, the authors suggest that enhanced public funding, public-private partnerships, and open-source consortia may improve biomarker discovery and development, more than a private model. According to the NEJM piece, "the Supreme Court's move to free the fundamental processes of medical diagnosis from private ownershipcould ultimately enhance the public health."

As biomarkers become more and more prevalent -- helping diagnose diseases, and pairing with treatments targeted to individual needs -- there will need to be solutions to balance the needs of ensuring access to this useful information and paying for personalized medicine.

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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.

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Who pays for personalized medicine?

PITTSBURGH--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Center for Connected Medicine, a global thought leader defining the transformation of health care, today announced that GE Healthcare has joined the organization as a founding partner. A provider of transformational medical technologies and services shaping a new age of patient care, GE Healthcare joins four other founding organizations and nine strategic partners to advance the Centers mission of developing a blueprint for overcoming the fragmented state of health care today.

Connected medicine is vital to creating a sustainable health care system in the United States, says Marcelo Mosci, president and CEO of GE Healthcare for the US and Canada. GE has long been committed to offering innovative and integrated health care technology and solutions that can help improve patient care. The Center for Connected Medicines efforts align closely with GEs own healthymagination vision of better healthcare for more people at lower cost and we welcome this opportunity to join the Center in driving much needed change.

In the past two years, the Center for Connected Medicine has hosted more than 10,000 visitors, representing 57 countries. Those touring the Center engage in discussions about how best to overcome barriers to achieve a more cohesive approach to medicine, and experience ways technology developed by each of the Centers partners can be integrated to transform and enhance care delivery.

GEs commitment to continuously develop innovations focused on reducing costs, increasing access and improving quality is a perfect fit with the Centers ideals, notes Angela Pantelas, Executive Director at the Center for Connected Medicine. We believe that, together, we can showcase the value of a connected medicine environment to GEs customers, prospects and the industry at large.

GE Healthcare is a leader and innovator, says Andrew Watson, MD, MLitt, FACS, Medical Director at the Center for Connected Medicine. The companys broad experience across many sectors of the health care industry is invaluable, and its holistic viewpoint no doubt will help us further define solutions for health care. We are excited to leverage the contributions GE will make to the Centers vision and activities.

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR CONNECTED MEDICINE

The Center for Connected Medicine is defining the transformation of health care by serving as a global thought leader. It is developing the blueprint for innovative patient-centered and population health models using strategically integrated health information technology solutions. Based in Pittsburgh, the Center was established in 2009 by four founding partnersAlcatel-Lucent, IBM, UPMC and Verizonand eight strategic partners representing multiple facets of the HIT community. By engaging health care stakeholderspolicy-makers, providers, payers, vendorsthe Center promotes cultural change, coordinated care delivery, and greater patient accountability to improve access, cost and quality on a societal level. To learn more about connected medicine, as well as the Centers vision and initiatives, please visit http://www.connectedmed.com.

ABOUT GE HEALTHCARE

GE Healthcare provides transformational medical technologies and services that are shaping a new age of patient care. Our broad expertise in medical imaging and information technologies, medical diagnostics, patient monitoring systems, drug discovery, biopharmaceutical manufacturing technologies, performance improvement and performance solutions services help our customers to deliver better care to more people around the world at a lower cost. In addition, we partner with healthcare leaders, striving to leverage the global policy change necessary to implement a successful shift to sustainable healthcare systems.

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The Center for Connected Medicine Welcomes GE Healthcare as Founding Partner

By Dr. John Sotos, Special to CNN

updated 8:08 AM EDT, Mon May 21, 2012

The TV show "House M.D." showed many ways the human body can malfunction.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Editor's note: Dr. John Sotos, medical technical adviser for the television series "House M.D.," is a cardiologist and computer scientist based in Silicon Valley. He is the author of three books: "Zebra Cards: An Aid to Obscure Diagnosis," "The Physical Lincoln" and "The Physical Lincoln Sourcebook."

(CNN) -- I'm proud of the medical work we did on "House." Each week (for a total of 177), we showed millions of people a different, insidious way the human body can malfunction and how physicians might figure out the problem.

And the ratings prove that we made it interesting.

We paid a lot of attention to accuracy. But rather than creating an onscreen textbook of medicine, the writers constructed and inhabited a modified universe in which probabilities and time were severely stretched but not broken.

Dramatists have been doing this since Aeschylus, 2,500 years ago, so I don't feel the need to apologize for it.

I'm especially proud that we did not dumb down the medicine. In fact, we often made it extraordinarily complicated, bending Occam's razor in every possible manner.

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'House' adviser: Why we didn't dumb down the medicine

A Congressman investigating wholesalers accused of jacking up prices of crucial prescription drugs in short supply on Tuesday introduced a bill meant to curb the problem.

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Bill introduced to reform sales of scarce medicine

The task force acknowledged that "some men will continue to request screening," but said doctors "should not offer or order" it unless they first "engage in shared decision-making that enables an informed choice by the patients."

Urologists and advocacy groups immediately decried the advice - as they did when a draft version was released last October - and worried that insurers may stop paying for PSA testing.

But other experts applauded the unflinching recommendation, pointing out that screening dilemmas have already led the medical community to turn away from automatic PSA testing. Even the American Urological Association recommends that testing be "individualized" and that men be informed about the risks of over-detection and overtreatment.

The association nonetheless on Monday condemned the blanket rejection of screening as "inappropriate and irresponsible."

One of the most vocal critics of routine testing - Richard J. Ablin, 72, who discovered the prostate-specific antigen in 1970 - was jubilant. For decades, he has said that using the blood protein to try to flag cancer in the reproductive gland is "hardly more effective than a coin toss." He says the test should be reserved for monitoring prostate cancer patients for recurrence after treatment.

"I'm thrilled that I lived to see this," said Ablin, an immunobiologist at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. "For 38 years I was called a wacko" for saying the PSA test was being misused.

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Recommendation against prostate screening shakes medicine

Newswise This year marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, an innovative medical school designed to train future physician-researchers. Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve celebrated the milestone May 19 and 20, as members of the fourth graduating class received their diplomas at commencement ceremonies on both campuses.

The Lerner College of Medicine was established with a $100 million gift from local philanthropists Al and Norma Lerner with the goal of encouraging more doctors who could not only care for patients, but also understand basic science and conduct research. Since its founding in 2002, the college has challenged conventional medical school norms by eliminating class rankings and documented grades, accepting only 32 highly selected students in each class, eliminating lecture-based classes in favor of group seminars, encouraging student interactions with patients in the first year, and focusing on empathy and the human side of medicine.

The Lerner College of Medicine continues Cleveland Clinics legacy of innovation through research and education, and the Lerners gift has made all of this possible, Cleveland Clinic CEO and President Delos M. Toby Cosgrove, M.D., said. We take great pride in our students and faculty, and are grateful for our collaboration with Case Western Reserve University. Our partnership in education has helped attract some of the best and brightest minds in science and medicine to the college and to the region.

After two years of preparations, the college welcomed its first class of students in July 2004. The five-year program, which includes an extra year for students to perform biomedical research, graduated its first class in May 2009. After this weekends commencement ceremony, the college has graduated 120 physician-researchers.

One of the key components of the Lerner College of Medicine is the close relationship between students and professors, said James Young, M.D., Executive Dean of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. This unique aspect is critical to their career development, and allows our students a guide to navigate and master the curriculum throughout all five years.

We are pleased to recognize Al and Norma Lerner and celebrate their commitment to advancing medical education, said Pamela B. Davis, MD, PhD, Dean, School of Medicine, and Vice President of Medical Affairs, Case Western Reserve University. This anniversary commemorates their benevolent vision to cultivate clinical research physicians who embody compassionate care and research prowess.

Thanks to the colleges innovative structure and a focus on fostering a group-practice environment, Lerner College students are well equipped to excel in the changing healthcare environment. They also graduate from medical school without tuition debt, thanks to full-tuition scholarships for all Lerner College students. Without the normal financial burden of medical school, students are free to choose any specialty, including research, for their long-term career, and are not pressured to choose a higher-paying career to pay off school loans.

With its unique structure and format, the college has become a sought-after medical school for top-tier students. Students admitted to Lerner College have a higher average Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) score than the national average (11.5 vs. 10.25), and graduates have landed positions at such prestigious medical organizations as Johns Hopkins Hospital; New York-Presbyterian Hospital; and Yale-New Haven Hospital. Cleveland Clinic has retained several Lerner College graduates.

Commencement ceremonies were held in coordination with Case Western Reserve University, including a ceremony on the evening of May 19 at the Intercontinental Hotel on the campus of Cleveland Clinic and a graduation ceremony May 20 at Case Western Reserve University.

For more information about the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, please visit clevelandclinic.org/lcm.

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Lerner College of Medicine Celebrates 10th Anniversary

While many doctors remain suspicious of natural medicine, a growing number now accept that there are compelling alternatives to leading drugs that are supported by just as much scientific evidence, without the nasty side effects, says one leading player in integrative medicine.

Dr Tieraona Low Dog is a clinical associate professor of medicine at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine and has a doctor of medicine degree from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine.

Speaking at an event in Salt Lake Cityorganized by the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA) to celebrate its 20-year anniversary, she admitted that many of her colleagues in the medical profession are still dismissive of alternative or even integrative medicine.

She also acknowledged that unscrupulous firms peddling snake oil to fight cancer have not helped the dietary supplements industry tackle negative perceptions.

The bottom line: Does it work?

However, a growing number of doctors now recognized that pitting conventional versus natural/traditional medicine is unhelpful, she said.

It is also illogical given that many conventional drugs are sourced from plants, or are synthetic analogs of compounds found in plants, she said.

Patients, meanwhile, just want products that work, that have strong science behind them, and don't come with costs - in the form of unwelcome side effects - that outweigh the benefits, she said.

If there is evidence behind it and it is safe, I dont care if it comes from Pfizer, a supplement manufacturer or the end of an acupuncturists needle.

Its not a case of either or. Conventional medicine can work alongside traditional medicine and dietary supplements.

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Is it time to move beyond conventional ‘vs’ natural medicine?

The future of medicine is a vast, opening playing field. If we could invent a magic pill for everything, perhaps we?d never deal with disease and pain again. For now, our human bodies are fallible. And in those fallacies, there is complicated science.

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Future Medicine: Pills, Platforms, And A Better Band-Aid

Regenerative Medicine is now being used in Avascular Necrosis at the Center for Regenerative Medicine, according to A. J. Farshchian MD, an Orthopedic Regenerative physician at the Center for Regenerative Medicine.Miami, Florida (PRWEB) May 19, 2012 Regenerative medicine may help with Avascular Necrosis, according to A. J. Farshchian MD an Orthopedic Regenerative physician at the Center for ...

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Regenerative Medicine Now Being Used in Avascular Necrosis at the Center for Regenerative Medicine

In order for innovation to thrive, medicine needs to find a way to imitate the billionaire-making tech economy.

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Four Ways to Make Medicine More Like Facebook

Medicine can never be like Facebook, despite what Matt Herper argues over at Forbes. Perhaps he was just trolling for hits on a day when everyone is thinking about the Facebook IPO, but Herper proposed, with apparently seriousness, that medicine needs to model itself on the tech world in order to match the kind of ...

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You Know Nothing, Dr. Snow: Why Medicine Can't Be More Like Facebook

MEDICINE BOW Students scattered around the Medicine Bow elementary school music room. They had a performance that night, practice would be critical.

Warm it up, said teacher John Steinhardt. I dont hear any music.

An ear-splitting cacophony erupted of seemingly random notes on pianos, clarinets, cymbals and drums.

Steinhardt, 56, settled at his drum set at the front of the room. If he makes them play, he plays, too. The chaos calmed.

Sitting on a stool, his long blond hair pulled back in a ponytail, wearing a yellow shirt and bald eagle tie, he whacked his drumsticks together to count the beat of the first song. Each of the 11 players, from third to sixth grade, came together.

Steinhardt, known on stage as Schizoid Johnny is settled in Medicine Bow, for now, anyway. After spending 36 years performing in nightclubs, schools and theaters across the globe, Steinhardt wants to focus on his music and performances meant to teach students about respect, diversity and tolerance.

Some songs, like his most recent Smoke A Pack A Day, are a little unconventional

Some of the guys who get the song on the radio station think its about smoking cigarettes, he said.

In reality, the lyrics are a half serious, half joking way to promote wolf hunting. Everyones opinions should be respected and tolerated, not just the politically correct ones, he said.

He has spent hours listening to Montana ranchers talk about wolves hurting their businesses and slimming big game herds. Wolf hunting should be allowed through conservation, he argues, to help keep a balance in nature.

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Medicine Bow music teacher sings, plays, motivates

ATLANTA, May 15, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine, a US-based non-profit dedicated to funding research for the treatment of mitochondrial disease, has awarded a $10,000 grant to Dr. Robin Morris and his team of researchers at the Department of Psychology at Georgia State University for a joint research study at the Georgia State/Georgia Tech Joint Center for Advanced Brain Imaging. The research project will study brain function in 30 children with mitochondrial disease and in a control group of 30 children without mitochondrial disease using Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging and other technology.

The aim of the study is to determine if children with oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) defects in mitochondrial disease/dysfunction show indices of brain "fatigue" through testing by functional MRI (fMRI), diffusion tensor imagine (DTI) and neuropsychological testing. OXPHOS is a cellular metabolic process the body uses to turn oxidation of nutrients into energy.

The OXPHOS process uses approximately 95 percent of the oxygen delivered to tissues, and defects in this process can impact cellular energy functions throughout the body. While less than 2 percent of the adult human's body weight, at rest the brain consumes about 20 percent of the oxygen, making the study of active brain function using techniques such as fMRI a useful approach for understanding the impact of OXPHOS defects.

The study is evaluating the concept of cognitive fatigue in these children, many of whom have difficulty maintaining the necessary mental focus and sustained attention over typical periods of activities and learning, which impacts their performance in school and other activities. The study is an essential step in being able to perform large-scale epidemiological studies of mitochondrial disease using more widely available measures, and ultimately being able to implement clinical trials for new pharmaceutical agents emerging for treatment of such defects.

There is already evidence that OXPHOS defects are associated with changes in the brain's structure and function, and this study will integrate many types of information, including laboratory measures of OXPHOS defects, tests of neuropsychological functioning, measures of brain structure and function calibrated blood flow.

During the study, Dr. Morris and his team will conduct high-resolution anatomic brain scans to identify regions of interest for analyses of fMRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) data to identify possible differences in white matter connectivity between the two groups of children (with and without OXPHOS). They will assess each child using thinking tasks that vary in degree of verbal working memory and sustained attention while undergoing functional MRI scans to evaluate changes in brain function over time.

The ultimate objective is to establish whether, and how, OXPHOS defects relate to the neurologic features of some children, causing rapid "cognitive fatigue." Currently, such studies are difficult because definitive diagnosis of OXPHOS defects requires muscle biopsy and complex, unique genetic analyses.

The funding by the Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine will enable Dr. Morris and his fellow researchers to study at least 10 participants in depth. Dr. Morris is a developmental neuropsychologist on the faculty in the Department of Psychology at Georgia State University and a licensed psychologist in the state of Georgia. He has an extensive history of studying children with both developmental and acquired neurological disorders, including studies of children with mitochondrial disease and autism. His fellow researcher Dr. Diana Robins has an extensive history of studying autism spectrum disorders and conducting fMRI studies, and Dr. Tricia King has been conducting fMRI and DTI studies with children and adults with a variety of acquired neurological disorders for many years as well.

The Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine's mission is to support the development of the most promising research and treatments of the many forms of mitochondrial disease. In addition to the current grant, the Foundation is currently funding drug compound research by Dr. Jan Smeitink of Khondrion in the Netherlands, and has funded an FDA-approved drug trial in 2010. Mitochondrial disease is an energy production problem that occurs when the cell's mitochondria, or "power plants," don't function properly and create an energy crisis. The disease primarily affects brain, heart and muscle cells in varying degrees. More than 1 in 2,500 are affected by mitochondrial disease, and the treatments and cures for mitochondrial disease can impact cures for related diseases like Autism, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and muscular dystrophy among others. For more information on the Foundation and information about funding of specific research projects, please visit http://www.mitochondrialdiseases.org.

Media contacts: Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine -- Jennifer Grizzle, 770-409-1152, jennifer@theprstudio.com Georgia State University -- Jeremy Craig, 404-413-1357, jcraig@gsu.edu Georgia Institute of Technology -- Jason Maderer, 404.385.2966, maderer@gatech.edu

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Foundation for Mitochondrial Medicine Awards Grant to Functional MRI Study of Children With Mitochondrial Disease

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

Foundation Medicine, Inc., a molecular information company that brings comprehensive cancer genomic analysis to routine clinical care, today announced that new clinical data highlighting the companys comprehensive cancer genomic profile and next-generation sequencing approach in clinical oncology will be presented at the 2012 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) being held June 1-5, 2012 in Chicago.

The data to be presented at ASCO support Foundation Medicines deep sequencing approach to simultaneously detect all classes of genomic alterations across hundreds of genes known to be related to cancer, said Michael J. Pellini, M.D., president and chief executive officer, Foundation Medicine. In our clinical experience abstract, this approach detected actionable alterations those associated with available targeted treatments or ongoing clinical trials for 74% of tumor samples in the study. Foundation Medicines test has also been shown to identify novel genomic alterations in multiple tumor types, including potentially druggable gene fusions. The combined evidence presented in these studies suggests that fully informative genomic profiling can now become a routine component of cancer patient care.

The schedule for Foundation Medicines oral presentation is as follows:

Date & Time:

Session:

Abstract Number:

Title:

Discovery of recurrent KIF5B-RET fusions and other targetable alterations from clinical NSCLC specimens.

Location:

Link:

New Clinical Data Highlighting Foundation Medicine’s Comprehensive Cancer Genomic Profile to be Presented at 2012 ASCO ...

Public release date: 15-May-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Zina Poletz zpoletz@webershandwick.com 612-719-2024 Weber Shandwick Worldwide

FORT KNOX, Ky., May 15, 2012 The U.S. Army Medical Department announced today the election of two of its own to Mastership in the American College of Physicians (MACP). Only 43 medical leaders from around the world who have achieved eminence through their contributions to the field of internal medicine in at least one area, such as practice, teaching, research or volunteerism, were awarded a Mastership in 2012. One of the Masters, Col. Gregory J. Argyros, M.D., MACP, who is board-certified in critical care medicine, pulmonology and internal medicine, is director of education, training and research for the Joint Task Force National Capital Region Medical, and professor of medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. He previously served as chief of medicine and director of the internal medicine residency program at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, and as the ACP Army Chapter Governor from 2005-2009. In addition, Dr. Argyros has received numerous teaching awards over the years.

Recently retired as an Army colonel after a 27-year career, Alan J. Magill, M.D., MACP, was also honored as a Master by the College. Dr. Magill is currently a program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, where he develops effective interventions in the event of an influenza epidemic. He previously served as director of the Division of Experimental Therapeutics at the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, and is an attending physician with the Infectious Disease Service at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He also teaches at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Magill has held leadership positions in infectious disease at the National Institute of Health, International Society of Travel Medicine, American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, and other organizations.

"That two Army physicians were inducted as Masters by the American College of Physicians speaks to the high quality of physicians who choose to make the Army their career and the extraordinary opportunities Army medicine offers them," said Col. Jeanne Tofferi, M.D., MPH, FACP, internal medicine consultant to the Army Surgeon General. "Both of them have made tremendous contributions to our nation through teaching, medical practice and research."

On April 19, during the ACP annual meeting in New Orleans, six Army internal medicine physicians and subspecialists joined their Army ACP Chapter Governor, Col. Lisa Zacher, M.D., FACP, for a convocation ceremony during which they were inducted as Fellows of the American College of Physicians (FACP). These physicians included: Lt. Col. Michael G. Rossman, M.D. (Rheumatology), Daniel W. Franks, D.O. (Internal Medicine), Maj. Kimberly C. Salazar (Allergy/Immunology), Maj. Paige E. Waterman, M.D. (Infectious Disease), Anne B. Rossignol, M.D. (Hospice Care & Palliative Medicine) and Mark Garfinkle, M.D. (Internal Medicine).

Criteria for Fellowship include board certification by the American Board of Internal Medicine, recognition by other internists for excellence and skill in medical practice, teaching or research, and commitment to continued education and advanced training. Fellows of ACP are recommended by their peers based on character, ethics and excellence in medical practice, and undergo the review by ACP's Credentials Subcommittee.

"The Army makes board certification and continuing medical education a top priority," said Col. Zacher, who is also the pulmonary consultant to the Army surgeon general and chief, Department of Medicine, Brooke Army Medical Center. "The fact that so many Army physicians have become Fellows of the ACP speaks to their professional excellence in internal medicine and dedication to the highest quality of patient care."

The following Army internists and subspecialists were elected as Fellows in 2012 (listed by Army medical center or affiliation):

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (Washington, D.C.) Col. Ronald D. DeGuzman, M.D. (Allergy/Immunology); Maj. Fouad J. Moawad, M.D. (Gastroenterology); Maj. James E. Moon, M.D. (Internal Medicine); Maj. Kristopher M. Paolino, M.D. (Infectious Disease); Maj. Sheri K. Dennison, M.D. (Hematology/Oncology); Maj. Aaron B. Holley, M.D. (Pulmonology/Critical Care Medicine); Maj. Jeffrey S. Kunz, M.D. (Cardiology); Maj. Kevin M. Woods, M.D. (Cardiology); Maj. Ganesh Veerappan, M.D. (Gastroenterology); Lt. Col. Paige E. Waterman, M.D. (Infectious Disease ); Maj. Jason A. Regules, M.D. (Infectious Disease)

The rest is here:

US Army internal medicine Masters, Fellows honored by American College of Physicians

WALTHAM, Mass., May 14, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- BG Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq:BGMD - News), a company focused on the development and commercialization of novel cardiovascular diagnostics, announced today that Mayo Medical Laboratory (Mayo) now offers galectin-3 testing services to its laboratory customers and physicians. Mayo will offer the BGM Galectin-3TM test, which was cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in November 2010, as an aid in assessing the prognosis of patients diagnosed with chronic heart failure. Galectin-3 testing provides physicians with clinical information on fibrosis formation and cardiac remodeling, which are important biological processes in the development and progression of heart failure. BG Medicine plans to continue to expand commercial availability of its BGM Galectin-3 test through major U.S. laboratories.

About BG Medicine, Inc.

BG Medicine, Inc. (Nasdaq:BGMD - News) is a life sciences company focused on the discovery, development and commercialization of novel cardiovascular diagnostics to address significant unmet medical needs, improve patient outcomes and contain healthcare costs. The Company's first commercialized product, the BGM Galectin-3TM test for use in patients with heart failure, is available in the United States and Europe. BG Medicine has also developed CardioSCORE, a blood test designed to identify individuals at high risk for near-term major cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke. 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

Special Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

Certain statements made in this news release contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are intended to be covered by the "safe harbor" created by those sections. Forward-looking statements, which are based on certain assumptions and describe our future plans, strategies and expectations, can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "believe," "expect," "may," "will," "should," "could," "seek," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "anticipate" or other comparable terms. Forward-looking statements in this news release address our beliefs regarding the clinical utility of galectin-3 testing and our plans to expand commercial availability of galectin-3 testing services. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and involve inherent risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements, as a result of various factors including those risks and uncertainties described in the Risk Factors and in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations sections of our recent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. We urge you to consider those risks and uncertainties in evaluating our forward-looking statements. We caution readers not to place undue reliance upon any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as otherwise required by the federal securities laws, we disclaim any obligation or undertaking to publicly release any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained herein (or elsewhere) to reflect any change in our expectations with regard thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.

Read more:

BG Medicine, Inc. Announces Availability of Galectin-3 Diagnostic Testing Through Mayo Medical Laboratories

Most medicine cabinets contain a jumble of over-the-counter health products, but knowing what to use, when, can be confusing. Just because a medication is sold without a prescription doesn't mean it is harmless, and some old standbys can do more harm than good. Based on consultations with experts and reference materials, here is a deceptively easy quiz from The Wall Street Journal to test your home-remedy literacy.

1. You have a headache. Should you take: A) Advil (ibuprofen) B) Tylenol (acetaminophen) C) Aspirin

Answer: A, B or C

All of them will relieve a simple headache, but through different means and with different side effects.

Advil and Motrin (ibuprofen), Aleve (naproxen sodium) and aspirin all reduce pain by fighting inflammation, which also makes them particularly useful for combating arthritis, tooth pain, menstrual cramps and muscle sprains. But they can cause stomach bleeding, so people with peptic ulcers, liver, kidney or heart disease should talk to their doctors before taking them.

Aspirin has the added benefit of preventing blood clots, which is why taking one daily can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. But aspirin shouldn't be used by people who have low blood pressure or open wounds, or by children who have the flu or chickenpox due to the risk of Reye's syndrome, a rare neurological disorder.

Tylenol (acetaminophen) works by calming pain signals in the brain. But it can cause liver damage if you regularly have three or more alcoholic drinks a day or take a higher dosage than recommended.

All in all, ibuprofen is arguably the strongest, but aspirin works faster, naproxen lasts longer and acetaminophen is safer if you have stomach problems (and aren't a heavy drinker). A few brands contain both acetaminophen and aspirin, but don't mix them on your own and don't take any of them for more than five days straight, since they can cause "rebound" headaches, in which the body feels withdrawal when they wear off.

2. To clean a cut or scrape, it is best to use: A) Hydrogen peroxide B) Isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol C) Neither D) Both

Answer: C

Excerpt from:

The medicine cabinet quiz