A health care extravaganza – Wed, 08 Aug 2012 PST

Posted on by

August 8, 2012 in Opinion

Kevin Horrigan

Perhaps not surprisingly in a country where health care reform is so controversial, it was the high-profile presence of the NHS that stunned many American writers. Certainly the U.S. equivalent, which would be dancing health insurance corporate executives, was hard to imagine. Paul Harris, in the Guardian, July28

Hah, hah, hah. Very funny. Its not hard at all to imagine what the U.S. equivalent to your Olympic Opening Ceremonys salute to Britains National Health Service would look like. Im already working onit.

Sure, dancing health insurance corporate executives will be part of it. If youd made that much money last year, youd want to dance,too.

Executives in the top spots at the countrys seven largest publicly traded health plans were paid a collective $87 million for their services in 2011, American Medical News reported inMay.

Picture this: Its night in Florida. Were in a darkened Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, jammed with 66,000 delegates to the Republican National Convention and their guests. A spotlight illuminates the stage. The seven top health care CEOs, carrying canes and dressed in white top hats and tails, prance on stage as the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings Puttin on theRitz.

Pretty nice, huh? And thats just thestart.

The spotlight widens to show 94 primary care doctors, in multicolored scrub suits, forming a ring around David Cordani, the CEO of Cigna Health Care, bowing and scraping to honor the fact that at $19.1 million, Cordani made more in 2011 than all 94 of themcombined.

See the original post here:

A health care extravaganza - Wed, 08 Aug 2012 PST

Pitney Bowes Recognized for Reducing Health Care Disparities in Workplace

Posted on by

STAMFORD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Pitney Bowes Inc. (PBI) was recognized yesterday by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in conjunction with the White House Business Council and the National Business Group on Health, for the Companys collaboration with UnitedHealthcare (UHC) to reduce health care disparities in the workplace and support a diverse workforce. The Company, along with UHC and seven other U.S. organizations, was honored at a White House roundtable event organized by HHS.

Pitney Bowes worked with UnitedHealthcare to improve the health status of Pitney Bowes employees and engage the Companys Spanish-preference employees. UHC brought in a dedicated team of Hispanic professionals - Latino Health Solutions (LHS) to improve the health and well-being of its Hispanic/Latino members. Since its inception, UHC LHS has provided a robust array of culturally-relevant, bilingual health and wellness information, tools, services and resources especially tailored to meet the unique healthcare needs of its Hispanic/Latino members.

Pitney Bowes chairman, president and CEO Murray Martin met with President Barack Obama in 2009 to share with the President how the companys total value approach to employee well-being has boosted productivity, enhanced employee well-being and saved money. Pitney Bowes was also honored by the National Business Group on Health as recipient of its annual Award for Innovation in Reducing Health Care Disparities in 2012.

Nationally recognized as a leader and innovator in the programming and measurement of employee health and wellness initiatives, Pitney Bowes pursues an integrated approach to providing value-based health care focusing on preventive care, removing barriers to receiving care and providing resources which empower employees to take control of their own health.

About Pitney Bowes

Delivering more than 90 years of innovation, Pitney Bowes provides software, hardware and services that integrate physical and digital communications channels. Long known for making its customers more productive, Pitney Bowes is increasingly helping other companies grow their business through advanced customer communications management. Pitney Bowes is a $5.3 billion company with 29,000 employees worldwide. Pitney Bowes: Every connection is a new opportunity.

Supporting Quotes

U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin: We applaud Pitney Bowes and the other honorees as forward-thinking organizations for their commitment and ongoing efforts to address and lower health care disparities. They are among a select group of organizations who understand that reducing health disparities in the workplace will lead to improved health, productivity and quality of life of their employees and families. It is our hope that employers all around the country will follow their lead to improve health, productivity and quality of life of their employees and dependents.

Helen Darling, President and CEO of the National Business Group on Health: We are thrilled that Pitney Bowes has been recognized by us this year for their innovative programs to reduce health disparities and are being honored by the U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, MD, MPH. Dr. Benjamin, the White House Business Council and the National Business Group on Health know that good health for the entire population is crucial to quality of life, our standard of living, productivity and the nations overall success. Because minorities suffer from more health problems than others and also have access to fewer, high quality, effective services, Pitney Bowes recognizes that they must do much more in a focused way to ensure health equity for all employees and their families.

Follow this link:

Pitney Bowes Recognized for Reducing Health Care Disparities in Workplace

Humana and HumanaVitality Sponsor First Annual Illinois’ Healthiest Employers Awards

Posted on by

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Humana Inc. (HUM), a leading health care company, and HumanaVitality, a comprehensive wellness and loyalty solution, today announced their sponsorship of the first annual Illinois Healthiest Employers awards, presented by Crains Custom Media, which recognize organizations that have a proven commitment to workplace wellness. Submissions for the awards are currently being accepted at http://www.healthiestemployers.com/illinois and companies ranging in size from two to 5,000+ employees are encouraged to apply.

The awards are designed to reward companies that demonstrate innovation and leadership within their wellness programs. The deadline for submissions is August 24, 2012.

Were thrilled to support an initiative that recognizes best practices in workplace wellness and gives credit to employers who are taking innovative steps to help their employees live healthier lives, said Dave Reynolds, Illinois Commercial Market President at Humana. This sponsorship is a perfect way for Humana to execute on its mission of helping people achieve lifelong well-being.

While 2012 marks the first year of the award in Illinois, similar models have proven successful in other states including Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. The award utilizes an online assessment tool and measures wellness programming in six key categories:

Despite research that shows preventable diseases are among the most costly health problems in the U.S., finding the motivation for sustained behavior change is often difficult, said Joe Woods, CEO of HumanaVitality. Companies that implement effective wellness solutions will see significant benefits including lower health care costs, increased productivity and higher employee morale. These organizations should be recognized as an example for others to emulate.

All submissions for the award are reviewed independently by Healthiest Employer LLC, a company dedicated to measuring wellness programming among todays employers. Winners of the Illinois Healthiest Employers awards will be recognized at a special awards luncheon on Nov. 7, 2012 at the Westin River North in Chicago.

About Humana

Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a leading health care company that offers a wide range of insurance products and health and wellness services that incorporate an integrated approach to lifelong well-being. By leveraging the strengths of its core businesses, Humana believes it can better explore opportunities for existing and emerging adjacencies in health care that can further enhance wellness opportunities for the millions of people across the nation with whom the company has relationships.

More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the companys web site at http://www.humana.com, including copies of:

View post:

Humana and HumanaVitality Sponsor First Annual Illinois’ Healthiest Employers Awards

Henry Schein Cares Supports Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders Leadership Event

Posted on by

MELVILLE, N.Y., Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --Henry Schein, Inc. (HSIC), the world's largest provider of health care products and services to office-based dental, medical and animal health practitioners, hosted a two-day leadership event for the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders, an organization aimed at promoting and facilitating collaboration among oral health academic organizations, industry partners, and other organizations with the goal of using the power of oral health care to promote peace. Henry Schein Cares, the Company's global corporate social responsibility program, sponsored the event together with Septodont, DMG America, Premier Dental and Bedford Healthcare Solutions. Henry Schein served as a founding sponsor of the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders at the organization's inception last year.

"Our Alliance truly represents the future of public-private partnership, representing collaboration across borders, cultures, and health care professions," said Stanley M. Bergman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Henry Schein, Inc. "Henry Schein is deeply committed to the mission of the Alliance to provide a forum for oral health leaders to rise above any political or cultural differences of the past with the shared purpose of improving oral health around the world. There has been tremendous progress of this organization since the signing of the Charter a year ago in Philadelphia, and we are looking forward to close collaboration as we work to accomplish great things together in the future."

The Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders event, entitled "Integrating Dialogue, Leadership and Advocacy: Towards the Alliance Ethic and Developmental Agenda," brought together more than forty oral health leaders from around the world, including from Canada, China, Israel, Japan, Palestine, Turkey and the USA. The event provided a forum to explore the role that leaders at all levels from students to dental academics to business leaders and dental professionals can play in fostering peace through oral health. A series of workshops were facilitated by Rachelle Weiman, Ph.D., Senior Director for Global Education and Program Development for the Dialogue Institute; Ziad Fahed, Ph.D., Assistant Dean of Students and Associate Professor of Humanities at Notre Dame University in Beirut, Lebanon; and Tom Kennie, BSc, Ph.D., MBA, FRICS, CMIPD, CMC, Founding Director, Ranmore Consulting Group and the Innovation Laboratory for Higher Education. Stanley Bergman and Marion Bergman hosted a dinner for participants at E&E Grill House in New York City.

"The gathering in New York City of the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders will plant the seeds for tolerance, understanding, and respect among representatives from diverse geographic, political, religious and other groups," said Dr. Amid Ismail, Dean and Professor at the Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University and one of the Founding Board Members of the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders. "The workshop will prepare ambassadors and identify oral-health focused projects where the seeds of tolerance and respect will flourish for the goodness of humanity."

The goals for the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders include: the promotion of peace through oral health as part of total health and the reduction of disparities; the improvement of oral health through an enhanced understanding of the social, political, and other causes of conflicts; the development of leadership and advocacy programs to promote peace through oral health; the promotion of opportunities for dental students and educators for exchange to familiarize them with state-of-the-art technology and science in all disciplines of dentistry throughout different parts of the world; and the facilitation of international collaborative research among participants of the Alliance.

The Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders was born out of Bridges to Peace, a joint effort between Hebrew University-Hadassah School of Dentistry founded by Alpha Omega Fraternity and Al Quds University School of Dentistry, under the auspices of the D. Walter Cohen, DDS Middle East Center for Dental Education, to facilitate opportunities for dental professionals, educators, and students to reach beyond political or religious divides and use oral health as a means to improve the quality of life for people of all nationalities.

The Founders of the Bridges to Peace program Dr. Adam Stabholz, Dean of Hebrew University Hadassah School of Dental Medicine, and Dr. Musa Bajali, Dean of the Al Quds University School of Dentistry serve on the Founding Board for the Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders. The other Founding Board Members are Steve Kess, Vice President of Global Professional Relations, Henry Schein, Inc.; Dr. Amid Ismail, Dean and Professor at the Kornberg School of Dentistry at Temple University; Dr. Bruce Donoff, Dean of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine; Dr. Jerold Goldberg, Dean of the CASE School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University; and Dr. Ferda Tasar, Former Dean of the Hacettepe University Faculty of Dentistry.

Please visit http://youtu.be/rC8iBII6Xjo to view a video about the program.

About Henry Schein Cares

Henry Schein Cares, Henry Schein's global corporate social responsibility program, enhances access to health care for underserved and at-risk communities around the world. Activities supported by Henry Schein Cares focus on three main areas: advancing wellness, building capacity in the delivery of health care services, and assisting in emergency preparedness and relief. Firmly rooted in a deep commitment to social responsibility and the concept of enlightened self-interest championed by Benjamin Franklin, the philosophy behind Henry Schein Cares is a vision of "doing well by doing good." Through the work of Henry Schein Cares to enhance access to care for those in need, the Company believes that it is furthering its long-term success.

Continue reading here:

Henry Schein Cares Supports Alliance for Oral Health Across Borders Leadership Event

Why David Brin Hates Yoda, Loves Radical Transparency

Posted on by

In his new novel Existence, David Brin writes about an unusual contact with aliens. Photo: Cheryl Brigham

Best-selling author and futurist David Brin doesnt mince words when it comes to his disdain for Yoda, the diminutive sage of the Star Wars saga.

[dewplayer:http://downloads.wired.com/podcasts/assets/underwire/geeksguide66.mp3"]

I consider Yoda to be just about the most evil character that Ive ever seen in the history of literature, says Brin in this weeks episode of the Geeks Guide to the Galaxy podcast.

Brin is just as unsparing when it comes to Star Wars creator George Lucas, whom he accuses of peddling romantic claptrap about how demigods and mystic warriors are better than democracy.

For Brin, narratives that glorify the prerogative of an elite caste are no trivial matter. His 1998 book The Transparent Society argues that current notions of privacy allow the rich to operate in secret as they dismantle democracy. Unless we have radical transparency in human civilization, says Brin, this attempted putsch by a new aristocracy is going to succeed.

Read our complete interview with David Brin below, in which he explains why SETI is doing it wrong, muses about whether self-righteous indignation is a form of addiction, and talks about his epic new first-contact novel, Existence. Or listen to the interview in Episode 66 of Geeks Guide to the Galaxy (above), which also features a discussion between hosts John Joseph Adams and David Barr Kirtley and guest geek Rob Bland about Batman in film, comics and television.

Wired: Tell us about your new novel, Existence. Whats it about?

David Brin: Existence is about the world of roughly 2050, and terrible things have happened, but guess what? People have reacted to the terrible things by coping, as they always have. Theyre dealing with it. Theyre dealing with living in a world of augmented reality, where youd step outside and you can scroll through all the overlays of augmented reality that are laid upon the surface world. Google Glass is just heading us down in that direction, but I take it 40 years into the future.

See original here:

Why David Brin Hates Yoda, Loves Radical Transparency

Futurist and Forecaster Jack Uldrich Releases New Book

Posted on by

How can understanding the trends and technologies of tomorrow transform your business today? Best-selling author and global futurist Jack Uldrich invites readers to explore how key developments are creating and redefining what it takes to compete and win in the future in his new book Foresight 20/20.New York, NY (PRWEB) August 08, 2012 The rapid advancement of technology has already redefined ...

Read the original:

Futurist and Forecaster Jack Uldrich Releases New Book

Russia's punk rock band say nobody can steal their inner freedom

Posted on by

MOSCOW (Reuters) - Members of the Pussy Riot punk band likened themselves to Soviet-era dissidents on Wednesday, saying their trial for performing an anti-Kremlin stunt on a cathedral altar was unjust, but that nobody could take away their inner freedom. To occasional bursts of applause from supporters, the three women were making their last pleas before a court rules whether they are guilty of ...

Read more from the original source:

Russia's punk rock band say nobody can steal their inner freedom

Madonna Urges Freedom for Anti-Putin Punk Band at Moscow Concert

Posted on by

Apple Temporarily Suspends Apple ID Password Resets Via Phone

By Henry Meyer - 2012-08-08T08:38:46Z

Camera Press/Ria Novosti via Redux

Members of the Pussy Riot, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, left, Maria Alyokhina and Yekaterina Samutsevich during the hearings on the merits on their case in Moscow's Hamovniki Court.

Madonna appealed for the freedom of three members of an all-female Russian punk band, on trial for a protest against Vladimir Putin in the countrys main Orthodox Christian cathedral.

I think that these three girls -- Masha, Katya, Nadya --I think that they have done something courageous, the pop star said in footage of her Moscow concert last night posted on the Ekho Moskvy radio stations website. They have paid a price for this act. I pray for their freedom.

The U.S. government has condemned the prosecution of the Pussy Riot band members, who have been declared prisoners of conscience by Amnesty International. Music stars including Peter Gabriel and Sting have rallied to their defense. Pussy Riot performed what they called a punk prayer in February inside Moscows Christ the Savior cathedral, targeting Putin who extended his 12-year rule in presidential elections in March.

Prosecutors yesterday demanded a three-year prison sentence for Maria Alekhina, 24, Ekaterina Samutsevich, 29, and Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, who are on trial for hooliganism and inciting religious hatred.

The three defendants, who were among five Pussy Riot band members who staged the performance in masks and skimpy dresses, face a maximum of seven years in prison under the Russian criminal code.

Yoko Ono yesterday called for the young womens release on her Twitter Inc. account. Mr. Putin, you are a wise man & dont need to fight with musicians and their friends. Keep space in prison for serious criminals, John Lennons widow said.

Go here to read the rest:

Madonna Urges Freedom for Anti-Putin Punk Band at Moscow Concert

Freedom Hawk Kayaks Enters Stand Up Paddleboard Fishing Market with New Predator Fishing SUP

Posted on by

Freedom Hawk Kayaks and VEC Surfboards have introduced the first stand up paddleboard for the SUP fishing market designed by East Coast fisherman and surfers. Born from a shared passion for the water, the two Massachusetts-based sporting outfits have formed a unique partnership to manufacture and market the best paddleboard specially designed for stand up fishing in all types of water. ...

Read more:

Freedom Hawk Kayaks Enters Stand Up Paddleboard Fishing Market with New Predator Fishing SUP

Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings Launches New Website

Posted on by

Andover, Kan. - Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings has launched a new, informative website to assist aircraft coatings specifiers, influencers and users. It can be accessed by clicking on http://www.swaerospace.com.

The new website is one of the most detailed in the aircraft coatings industry; it is easy to maneuver and provides more connectivity for visitors. Users will find its clean appearance extremely intuitive to navigate and allows them to directly search via their specific market niche (general, business, commercial and military aviation markets), and/or product system (interior, exterior coatings, primers, fillers, etc.).

The new site also complements the corporate Sherwin-Williams site. This now brings a consistent look and better positions the brand in accordance with its status as one of the aerospace maintenance industrys market leaders.

A highlight of the new site is its detailed products and systems section. In particular, this includes information specific to SKYscapes, its new basecoat/clearcoat exterior paint system. This state-of-the-art product line now has two complete coating systems - including pretreatment, corrosion protective primer, topcoat and clearcoat - certified with SAE Internationals Aerospace Material Specification 3095 (AMS 3095).

Also featured in the products section is Jet Glo Express Polyurethane topcoat, which is a high performance, multi-purpose product often preferred as a complete painting system for commercial airline fleets. It is also qualified to numerous general aviation OEM specifications and is military aircraft-qualified to MIL-PRF-85285, Type I, Class H.

The new website also allows immediate access to the brands recently launched YouTube channel. This has been developed specifically for airline manufacturing engineers and procurement executives, maintenance repair overhaul professionals and painting crews. Now they can see video firsthand on both: the features, advantages and benefits of Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings products; as well step-by-step instructional video of the aircraft painting and repair process. The main link to these informational videos is available via direct link on You Tube at: http://www.youtube.com/user/swaerospace1

In addition, the new site provides more extensive technical data for its global audience. This includes providing information in more languages and regulatory documents that are easily available. Other features on the new site include:

. Re-organized and focused site map . Comprehensive product listings . Paint systems specifically designed for each product segment . New downloadable product flyers and sell sheets . An updated Qualified Products List

For more information on Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings, call 1-888-888-5593 or visit its new website at http://www.swaerospace.com.

Read more here:

Sherwin-Williams Aerospace Coatings Launches New Website

LMI Aerospace, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2012 Results

Posted on by

ST. LOUIS, Aug. 8, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- LMI Aerospace, Inc. (LMIA), a leading provider of design engineering services and supplier of structural assemblies, kits and components to the aerospace, defense and technology markets, today announced financial results for the second quarter of 2012.

Second Quarter 2012 Highlights

Second Quarter Results

Net sales for the second quarter of 2012 increased 9.5 percent to $69.3 million compared to $63.3 million in the second quarter of 2011. Net income for the second quarter of 2012 was $5.1 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, compared to $4.0 million, or $0.34 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2011. Second quarter 2011 results included a pre-tax charge of $0.7 million for cost growth on the Mitsubishi Regional Jet program and $0.6 million of non-recurring costs related to potential financing alternatives the company decided not to pursue. Excluding these charges, earnings per diluted share would have been $0.41.

"During the last few months, we have won additional business for both the Aerostructures and Engineering Services segments," said Ronald S. Saks, Chief Executive Officer of LMI. "New programs starting in 2012 for Aerostructures include Boeing 737 assemblies valued at more than $30,000 per shipset in revenue with production expected to start in 2013 at a rate of seven to eight aircraft per month and an award on the Boeing 787 for assemblies with a per shipset revenue of $15,000. Additionally, we received awards on the Boeing 747-8 and Gulfstream G550 for components from Tier 1 customers. Engineering Services has also continued to grow with added business on the Learjet 85, Lockheed F-16 and some limited Airbus work, and additional growth is expected in 2013. This activity has led to hiring employees in both segments in order to handle present and expected demand."

"Aerostructures operating performance was solid with demand increasing in most areas, offset by some continuing delays on a regional jet program and certain new program start ups. One large customer claim was successfully settled in the quarter and we expect a second should close in the third quarter, each providing some gross profit support. A remaining claim is expected to close by the end of the year. Engineering Services continues to outperform and is expected to maintain revenue and gross profit levels for the balance of 2012. We project results in the second half of 2012 to exceed those reached in the first half of the year."

Aerostructures Segment

Increased production rates and new business on the Boeing 737 model drove a 10.4 percent increase in net sales of large commercial products and the Gulfstream G650 and G280 models contributed to a 19.2 percent rise in corporate and regional market net sales. Reduced sales related to the Blackhawk program due to customer inventory management drove the decline in military products, which the Company believes is temporary.

The segment generated gross profit of $11.7 million, or 26.7 percent of net sales, in the second quarter of 2012 versus $11.2 million, or 27.5 percent of net sales, in the second quarter of 2011. The sales mix shift primarily contributed to the decline in gross margin percentage with increased sales on less mature, less profitable work statements.

Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) were largely unchanged at $6.8 million in the second quarter of 2012 versus $6.7 million in the second quarter of 2011.

Here is the original post:

LMI Aerospace, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2012 Results

MARKED™ Performance Nutrition Line Developed by Mark Wahlberg Now Available at GNC

Posted on by

PITTSBURGH, Aug. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --GNC Holdings, Inc. (GNC), the nation's largest specialty retailer of health, wellness and sports nutrition products, today announced the nationwide availability of MARKED, a new comprehensive line of performance nutrition products developed by leading GNC scientists and wellness experts in partnership with Mark Wahlberg. The MARKED line consisting of seven sports and active nutrition products provides the ultimate performance nutrition for anyone who wants to achieve their health and fitness goals.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/57554-gnc-marked-performance-nutrition-line-developed-by-mark-wahlberg

(Logo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120807/MM52198LOGO) (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110302/NE57701LOGO)

"Much of my success can be attributed to my dedication and hard work. I push myself to be the best that I can, from acting to staying in peak physical shape. I'm committed to living a healthy and productive life and helping the people around me do the same," said Mark Wahlberg. "That's why I teamed up with GNC, a brand I trust for quality and integrity, to develop MARKED and, I'm proud the line will contribute to my foundation that supports inner city youth."

MARKED is now available in GNC stores and GNC.com, and is expected to be widely available through other leading retailers in the U.S. and abroad this year. A portion of all sales of MARKED products will benefit the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation, whose mission is to improve the quality of life for inner city youth.

"GNC and Mark share a strong mutual passion for helping people improve their quality of life through proper exercise, diet and supplementation. I have seen Mark repetitively reinforce this message in his everyday life and could not be more pleased that we are undertaking this initiative together," said Joe Fortunato, President and CEO.

Every MARKED product has been rigorously tested for banned substances by HFL Sports Science, a world-class sports anti-doping lab, and based on cutting edge nutritional science using only the highest quality ingredients. Each product also features Mark Wahlberg's exclusive Supplementation and Nutrition Plan for improving strength, lean mass and workout performance to maximize muscle size and definition. The products can be taken individually or stacked and are designed to deliver optimal results:

"We are very proud of our partnership with Mark and look forward to growing this brand to help others who aspire to live a healthy lifestyle," said Tom Dowd, EVP, Chief Merchandising Officer and General Manager. "In celebration of the launch of MARKED, GNC is deploying street teams in New York City to present exclusive product offers and help inspire consumers to 'Get MARKED' today."

Wahlberg will serve as the leading brand ambassador and will drive the marketing approach for the MARKED product line. As part of this role, on September 20th Wahlberg will participate in a live webcast to discuss the MARKED line and answer questions. Details about how to join will be available at http://www.MarkedNutrition.com in September. For more information about the MARKED line, including additional training tips, visit http://www.MarkedNutrition.com, or GNC.com. Connect with MARKED on Facebook: Facebook.com/MarkedNutrition and follow MARKED on Twitter: @MarkedNutrition

About the Mark Wahlberg Youth FoundationMark Wahlberg and his family established the Mark Wahlberg Youth Foundation on the belief that no child should be prevented from living up to his or her potential due to financial hardship. The Foundation works to improve the quality of life for teens living in urban communities and distributes funds to support local youth service and enrichment programs nationwide. A life-long member and advocate of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Mark comes from a family of nine children with limited means and spent most of his afternoons and evenings at his local club. He credits a large part of his success to the fact that he was fortunate to spend his free time in a positive and nurturing environment. Visit http://www.markwahlbergyouthfoundation.com.

Read the original:
MARKED™ Performance Nutrition Line Developed by Mark Wahlberg Now Available at GNC

LabCorp Completes and Publishes a Clinical Study for the Development and Validation of a PCR Assay for the Diagnosis …

Posted on by

BURLINGTON, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (LabCorp) (LH) announced today the publication in the July 2012 Journal of Clinical Microbiology of a clinical study that supports validation of a new clinical diagnostic test for bacterial vaginosis. These studies were completed under IRB approval in collaboration with the Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, and the article was co-authored by physicians and scientists from both organizations.

During the study, quantitative PCR assays were developed for 4 organisms reported previously to be useful positive indicators for the diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) and a single organism that had been implicated as a negative indicator for BV. A total of 402 women were enrolled in the study between April and October 2011.

The new test, which is called Bacterial Vaginosis, is currently available as part of the NuSwabsm series of tests. In 2011, LabCorp introduced NuSwab as a single collection device that improves the convenience and efficacy of sample collection for clinically validated test profiles for targeted womens health clinical conditions. The tests are configured to be cost-effective for payers and patients, while providing high quality results to guide diagnosis & treatment.

Bacterial vaginosis is a common condition, but physicians have limited tools to diagnose it properly, said Dr. Mark Brecher, LabCorps Chief Medical Officer. This test will help physicians diagnose BV with more specificityand provide better care. Patients are seeing demonstrable benefits from the NuSwab tests, and we will continue to enhance our NuSwab offerings to support better patient care.

This enhancement to LabCorps test menu is an adjunct to its broad womens health test options, including tests that focus on both screening and diagnosis of disease. In addition to its womens health services, LabCorp offers a comprehensive menu of individual tests and test combinations to address specific patient needs.

About LabCorp

Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings, an S&P 500 company, is a pioneer in commercializing new diagnostic technologies and the first in its industry to embrace genomic testing. With annual revenues of $5.5 billion in 2011, over 31,000 employees worldwide, and more than 220,000 clients, LabCorp offers more than 4,000 tests ranging from routine blood analyses to reproductive genetics to companion diagnostics. LabCorp furthers its scientific expertise and innovative clinical testing technology through its LabCorp Specialty Testing Group: The Center for Molecular Biology and Pathology, National Genetics Institute, ViroMed Laboratories, Inc., The Center for Esoteric Testing, Litholink Corporation, Integrated Genetics, Integrated Oncology, DIANON Systems, Inc., Monogram Biosciences, Inc., Colorado Coagulation, and Endocrine Sciences. LabCorp conducts clinical trials testing through its LabCorp Clinical Trials division. LabCorp clients include physicians, government agencies, managed care organizations, hospitals, clinical labs, and pharmaceutical companies. To learn more about our organization, visit our Web site at: http://www.labcorp.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Each of the forward-looking statements is subject to change based on various important factors, including without limitation, competitive actions in the marketplace and adverse actions of governmental and other third-party payors. Actual results could differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements. Further information on potential factors that could affect LabCorps financial results is included in the Companys Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011, and subsequent SEC filings.

See original here:
LabCorp Completes and Publishes a Clinical Study for the Development and Validation of a PCR Assay for the Diagnosis ...

New non-toxic disinfectant could tackle hospital infections

Posted on by

Public release date: 7-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Laura Udakis l.udakis@sgm.ac.uk 44-011-898-81843 Society for General Microbiology

A new disinfectant, Akwaton, that works at extremely low concentrations could be used in healthcare settings to help control persistent hospital-acquired infections such as Clostridium difficile. The study is reported online in the Journal of Medical Microbiology.

Researchers from the Universit de Saint-Boniface in Winnipeg, Canada tested the new compound, Akwaton, against bacterial spores that attach to surfaces and are difficult to destroy. Previous work by the group has shown Akwaton is also effective at low concentrations against strains of Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.

Spore-forming bacteria include C. difficile - a common bacterium found in healthcare settings whose spores can survive on surfaces for long periods of time. Spores are heat-tolerant and can survive a number of years in a dehydrated state before they are reactivated. Most chemical disinfectants control or prevent spore growth rather than irreversibly destroying them.

The present study showed that Akwaton was able to destroy Bacillus subtilis bacterial spores, suspended in water and attached to stainless steel or glass surfaces, at concentrations well below 1% after just 90 seconds' treatment. It was equally as effective at more dilute concentrations (below 0.1%) if left to act for longer periods.

Lead researcher Dr Mathias Oul, explained the advantages over other chemical compounds currently used against bacterial spores. "Most disinfectants have to be applied at much higher concentrations typically between 4-10% - to properly get rid of bacterial spores. Unfortunately such high levels of these compounds may also be harmful to humans and other animals. Akwaton is non-corrosive, non-irritable, odourless and is effective at very low concentrations," he said.

"Bacterial spores demonstrate a remarkable resistance to physical and chemical agents as well as ordinary antiseptics. On top of this micro-organisms are becoming increasingly resistant to disinfectants as well as antibiotics. Our latest study shows Akwaton is effective at destroying these spores as well as bacteria that are known problems in healthcare environments"

Akwaton is fast-acting and non-toxic for humans at low concentrations. Other studies have shown that the compound is also environmentally safe. "All these properties make it an ideal disinfectant for hospitals and laboratories. It may also have great value in the food industry to tackle spore-forming food pathogens such as Bacillus cereus and Clostridium perfringens," explained Dr Oul.

###

See the article here:
New non-toxic disinfectant could tackle hospital infections

Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News unveils ‘Biotech Boulevard’

Posted on by

Public release date: 7-Aug-2012 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: John Sterling jsterling@genengnews.com 914-740-2196 Mary Ann Liebert, Inc./Genetic Engineering News

New Rochelle, NY, August 6, 2012Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (http://www.genengnews.com) (GEN) has launched a unique microsite called Biotech Boulevard (http://www.genengnews.com/biotechblvr). Biotech Boulevard features entrepreneurial biotechnology firms that are already making their mark on the global bioindustry. Many of these promising young companies are engaged in the discovery of novel therapeutics; others are developing new tools and technologies to support biotech activities ranging from early-stage R&D to biomanufacturing.

Each Biotech Boulevard listing includes a company name, website, logo, and short description of the company's field of focus. "Biotech Boulevard allows our website visitors to discover, invest, and collaborate," said John Sterling, Editor-in-Chief, GEN. "Company listings will be updated regularly."

"Biotech Boulevard is another GEN innovation that enables business growth in biotech," added Mary Ann Liebert, GEN publisher and president and CEO of Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. "And we are the best at that."

If you would like your company to be considered for possible inclusion in Biotech Boulevard, please email your company name and website to jsterling@genengnews.com

###

Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News (http://www.genengnews.com), which is published 21 times a year by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (http://www.liebertpub.com), is the most widely read biotechnology news magazine worldwide. It includes articles on Drug Discovery, Bioprocessing, OMICS, Biobusiness, and Translational Medicine.

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Follow this link:
Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News unveils 'Biotech Boulevard'

geneME® teams with America's Health Coach, MD®, Dr. Asa Andrew, on one of the world's first and only customized DNA …

Posted on by

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- geneME (www.geneme.me), the leading provider of whole food based personalized health, beauty and wellness products customized to your individual DNA, announced today that it has partnered with America's Health Coach, MD, Dr. Asa Andrew on the launch of one of the world's first and only customized DNA nutritional supplements. Dr. Asa, a national best-selling author, host of the nationally-syndicated primetime radio program, "Dr. Asa On Call", and founder of Diagnosis HOPE, a non-profit dedicated to health education and supporting the uninsured, will endorse geneME and its mission of serving the public with the highest standards in natural products and groundbreaking new research in the field of DNA and genetics.

geneME is the culmination of almost 20 years of research by a group of top physicians, scientists, and researchers who have harnessed the incredible breakthroughs in DNA research to create one of the first, and only, line of supplement products that are truly customized to the requirements of each individual's DNA.

"We are pleased to have someone of Dr. Asa's caliber on board the geneME team," said Dany Sfeir, Chief Marketing Officer with geneME. "Dr. Asa firmly believes, as we do, that the solution to the growing healthcare dilemma is not a one-size-fits-all solution but rather products and services that are truly customized to the requirements and needs of each individual's DNA. We look forward to a long and fruitful relationship with America's Health Coach, MD, Dr. Asa, by educating and sharing with the public the exciting breakthroughs in DNA research and testing."

"geneME is truly at the cutting-edge in terms of developing whole food based supplements tailored exclusively for a consumer's unique genetic makeup," said Dr. Asa Andrew. "I'm a firm believer in the vision and research of geneME and their mission to enable consumers to live longer, healthier, happier lives through personalized healthcare. This research is the future of nutrition and prevention."

America's Health Coach, MD, Dr. Asa, is a national best-selling author, lifestyle transformation expert, host of one of the fastest growing nationally-syndicated radio and television programsin America, "Dr. Asa On Call", and is a much-in-demand health contributor to FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, and other media outlets. With his national best-selling book, newly-launching educational curriculum, upcoming television projects, still serving as CEO of his rapidly growing media companies, and dedicating considerable time to his non-profit organization, Diagnosis Hope, Dr. Asa is on a nationwide crusade to see people transform their lives to get well, stay well, and live well. Having moved away from clinical practice to focus on educational media, Dr. Asa is an active member of the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, the American College of Preventative Medicine, The National Strength and Conditioning Association, and has served as an honorary chair to the American Diabetes Association.

About geneME

geneME (www.geneme.me) is the culmination of almost 20 years of research by a group of physicians, scientists, and researchers who have harnessed the incredible breakthroughs in DNA research to create the first, and only, line of products that are truly customized. geneME actually manufactures one-of-a-kind formulations to the requirements of each individual's DNA. For more information on geneME, visit http://www.geneme.me.

About America's Health Coach, MD, Dr. Asa Andrew

America's Health Coach, MD, Dr. Asa is a national best-selling author,host of one of the fastest growing nationally syndicated radio and television programsin America, "Dr. Asa On Call", and is a healthcontributor to FOX, ABC, NBC, CBS, and other media outlets. For more information on Dr. Asa Andrew, visit http://www.DrAsa.com or Twitter @DrAsa.

Read the original here:
geneME® teams with America's Health Coach, MD®, Dr. Asa Andrew, on one of the world's first and only customized DNA ...

Posted in DNA

DNA test denied for man convicted in fatal beating

Posted on by

A man convicted of killing his roommate with a ball bat requested that more of the DNA on the weapon be tested in hopes of exonerating himself, but a judge has denied him.

Kenneth Eugene Carter, 51, was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Ron Fortner, 51, and the malicious wounding of another Buehring Avenue roommate, Brady Dunlap, 61.

His first trial in March ended in a hung jury, but a second jury in May found him guilty.

He is serving a life sentence without a chance for parole.

On Tuesday, Kanawha Circuit Judge James Stucky denied Carter's motion to have 20 swabs taken by police from the ball bat tested for DNA. Prosecutors objected and said any information from further testing would be "confusing and not relevant."

Charles Hamilton, Carter's court-appointed public defense attorney, has appealed his murder conviction to the state Supreme Court. He claims the state was negligent when a lab tested only six of those 26 swabs.

Hamilton said, "We have this evidence that is sitting there at the State Police lab. I think it is

pretty obvious and significant that there could be another person's DNA and he's entitled to another testing."

Hamilton said he and co-counsel David Dawson originally believed that only six of the 26 samples were tested because the rest weren't viable. He said they discovered more recently that wasn't true.

"The idea of the perpetrator of the crime was a significant issue in this case," Hamilton said. "Who wielded that bat? Kenny Carter has maintained his innocence from day one."

Read the original:
DNA test denied for man convicted in fatal beating

Posted in DNA

DNA traces historic Jewish migrations

Posted on by

Published: Aug. 7, 2012 at 5:36 PM

NEW YORK, Aug. 7 (UPI) -- North African Jews are more closely related to Jews from other parts of the world than to their non-Jewish neighbors in North Africa, a DNA study has found.

The study strengthens other research suggesting Jewish people from Europe and the Middle East share more DNA with one another than they do with outside groups, study author Harry Ostrer, a medical geneticist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, said.

"Jews tend to be more related to one another than they are to non-Jews, including non-Jews living nearby -- it's true in every region," he told the Los Angeles Times.

DNA carries a record of Jewish migrations over the centuries, the study researchers said.

Some DNA traces back to the Middle Eastern peoples thought to have migrated to North Africa more than 2,000 years ago, while other DNA proves connections to Spanish and Portuguese Jews who fled to North Africa after their expulsion from the Iberian Peninsula in the late 15th century.

Ostrer and his colleagues analyzed DNA samples from 145 people of North African Jewish origin from Morocco, Algeria,Tunisia, Djerba (an island off the Tunisian coast) and Libya.

North African Jewish populations clearly had genetic patterns more similar to European and Middle Eastern Jews than non-Jewish people currently living in the region, the researchers said, suggesting that once established in their communities Jews in the region did not often intermarry with non-Jewish neighbors.

Go here to read the rest:
DNA traces historic Jewish migrations

Posted in DNA

Applied DNA Sciences Expands Plant and Personnel

Posted on by

STONY BROOK, NY--(Marketwire -08/07/12)- Applied DNA Sciences, Inc. (APDN) (Twitter: @APDN), a provider of DNA-based anti-counterfeiting technology and product authentication solutions, announced today that it has significantly expanded its office, production, and laboratory space and increased its personnel. The expansion reflects the company's continued worldwide growth in production capacity, technology advancement, and global customer support. Those factors are also seen in a steady rise in shipments of its DNA products, the core technology around which the company's authentication services are built.

The company's brick-and-mortar footprint has increased by well over 50% over the last year. The company has added nine positions in that time.

Dr. James A. Hayward, President and CEO of APDN, pointed out that the expansion has been driven in part by product shipments. "By the end of December, 2011, we recorded a substantial increase in our monthly shipments of DNA; as a result, our last two previously announced quarters were each record-setters. Incremental demand should be sustained as new opportunities are addressed."

Dr. Hayward concluded: "In addition to the current growth we are experiencing across the firm, our LMI-managed microchip project is leading the DOD's Defense Logistics Agency to seriously consider mandating SigNature DNA for microcircuits. We are confident we can support a DOD mandate and continue to source additional candidates as this effort might expand.

"In addition, the initial responses to our new product lines, smartDNA and digitalDNA, have been encouraging. Our management team felt it appropriate to grow our resources at this time."

About Applied DNA Sciences

APDN is a provider of botanical-DNA based security and authentication solutions that can help protect products, brands and intellectual property of companies, governments and consumers from theft, counterfeiting, fraud and diversion. SigNature DNA and smartDNA, our principal anti-counterfeiting and product authentication solutions that essentially cannot be copied, provide a forensic chain of evidence and can be used to prosecute perpetrators.

The statements made by APDN may be forward-looking in nature. Forward-looking statements describe APDN's future plans, projections, strategies and expectations, and are based on assumptions and involve a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of APDN. Actual results could differ materially from those projected due to our short operating history, limited financial resources, limited market acceptance, market competition and various other factors detailed from time to time in APDN's SEC reports and filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on December 8, 2011 and our subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q. APDN undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date hereof to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

More:
Applied DNA Sciences Expands Plant and Personnel

Posted in DNA

Study reveals impact of historical domestic cattle hybridization with American bison

Posted on by

Plains bison are an iconic symbol of America on everything from coins to state flags. Now scientists writing in Conservation Biology are exploring how the cross-breeding of bison with domestic cattle in the late 1800s may still have unwanted effects on modern populations of the species.

"The plains bison are an iconic symbol of rugged individualism and the will to survive," said Professor James Derr from Texas A&M University. "The population crash and the spectacular recovery over the last 125 years is a classic example of the resilience of this species and the success of science based wildlife conservation."

Plains bison (Bison bison bison) once numbered in the tens of millions, but they were driven to the brink of extinction in the late 1880's during America's westward expansion. A small population of wild bison survived in Yellowstone National Park, while 5 herds remained in the hands of private ranchers. It is estimated that less than 100 surviving bison became the common ancestors of today's herds.

In some of these privately held herds, bison were crossed with domesticated cattle in an attempt to introduce the hardy bison traits into beef producing animals. While this effort failed to produce new and improved beef breeds, some hybrids were created, and with the use of molecular technologies, these scientists have discovered there remains a legacy of small amount of cattle genetic contamination in most bison herds in North America.

"Looking at the long-term recovery of the bison it is important to find out if this small amount of cattle genetics in an otherwise normal bison can really have a biological effect," said Derr. "We brought together researchers from Arizona, California, Montana and Texas to find out."

The team recorded size measurements for over 900 bison from a nutritionally harsh environment for bison on Santa Catalina Island in California and a nutritionally rich environment on a ranch in Montana.

The results revealed that bison with a particular domestic cattle genetic trait, mitochondrial DNA, were consistently smaller and lighter than animals with true bison mitochondrial DNA in both environments.

"We have found that this cattle ancestry affects phenotypic traits and most likely fitness of bison in herds which are maintained for both production and species conservation," concluded Derr. "Long term management efforts with bison, and possibly other species with a history of hybridization, must carefully consider the importance of genome integrity in order to preserve what is the foundation and essence of these species, their genomes."

More information: Derr. J, Hendrick. P, Halbert. N, Plough. L, Dobson. L, King, J , Calvin. D, Hunter. D, Cohen. N, Hedgecock. D, Phenotypic Effects of Cattle Mitochondrial DNA in American Bison, Conservation Biology, 2012, DOI: 10.1111/j.1523-1739.2012.01905.x

Journal reference: Conservation Biology

Link:
Study reveals impact of historical domestic cattle hybridization with American bison