Disgraced former health care chief Scrushy freed

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HOUSTON (AP) Disgraced former health care executive Richard Scrushy has been released from federal custody after nearly six years.

Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesman Chris Burke says the former multimillionaire HealthSouth Corp. founder and CEO was freed Wednesday from home confinement in Houston, the final step as he begins three years of supervised release.

Scrushy was acquitted on multiple criminal charges in an accounting scheme in 2005 but was sentenced to almost eight years in prison for a bribery conspiracy involving former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman. The term later was trimmed to 70 months.

He served time in a federal prison in Beaumont, then was moved to a halfway house and to home confinement.

Scrushy still faces a $2.9 billion judgment from a separate Alabama civil suit related to the accounting scheme.

2012 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Gazette.Net: New report to help guide changes to county health system

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Related story: University doctors in Laurel hospital this month, two other centers by next year

A recent checkup on the health of Prince Georges residents might affect the setup of health care delivery across the county.

A coalition of state and county leaders and health care professionals unveiled a report July 25 that outlines the health challenges faced by residents. Planners say the report will play a role in developing a comprehensive countywide health system.

Produced by the University of Marylands School of Public Health, the report largely echoes findings made in a 2009 study by the California-based Rand Corp., which found that compared to its neighboring counties, Prince Georges County appears to be in worse shape.

This new study highlights that diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, asthma and cancer are particularly strong chronic diseases in the county and those most likely to be fixed with a better health care system, according to the report.

County residents deal with those ailments at a rate higher than neighboring Montgomery, Anne Arundel and Howard counties, and in some cases at rates higher than the statewide averages, according to the study.

The trouble is particularly stark when it comes to deaths attributed to heart disease and cancer. About 224 county residents out 100,000 will die from a heart-disease-related illness, a number higher than that in Montgomery, Howard and Anne Arundel counties, as well as higher than the state baseline of about 194 deaths per 100,000 people. Cancer also claims Prince Georges residents at a high rate, as well. About 173 county residents out of 100,000 will die of cancer, a number that is lower than the 195.2 who will succumb to cancer in Anne Arundel County but higher than both Montgomery and Howard counties, and nearly as high as the states average of about 178.

The report findings open the doors for planners to work toward creating a new and effective model for delivering care within Prince Georges, said Joshua Sharfstein, secretary of the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.

Most of the time when we talk about the health system, we talk of turning the ship, and its a big ship, he said. This is an opportunity to think differently on health care in the county.

The report comes as July 21 marked the one-year anniversary of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Prince Georges government, the state and leaders from the University of Maryland Medical System and Dimensions Healthcare System to work to improve the health of residents and the quality of care they receive at hospitals.

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How to Get Covered Without Obamacare, or a Job

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NEW YORK (BankingMyWay) -- Ever hear of short-term health insurance? It's an increasingly hot topic as consumers and businesses weigh the impact of health care reform, and as the job market remains volatile. By and large, short-term insurance helps consumers in transition. For example, someone who is temporarily out of work, new employees waiting to get on their company's health care plan, and recent college graduates looking for their first career job all may need short-term health care. Policies aren't difficult to get. Most insurers provide them, with some policies offering health care consumers up to $5 million coverage. Typical short-term health care plans last from anywhere between one-and-six months, and they typically come with low -- in some cases, extremely low -- payment premiums. That's the consensus from a study by Mountain View, California-based eHealth, an online health care services provider. The report, entitled "Cost & Benefits of Short-term Health Insurance Plans," says that individual consumers paid, on average, $67 per month for short-term health insurance, with an average $1,821 deductible. Families paid more -- about $153 per month with a $1,877 deductible. What is really interesting from the eHealth study is the opposite directions in which short-term health care premiums and deductibles are headed. The study says that from October 2009 through October 2011, the average short-term policy premium decreased 4.2% for individuals and decreased 5% for families. The average deductible increased 19.6% for individuals and 20.4% for families, according to eHealth. Another unique finding of ther study involved gender and health insurance. Women pay more than men for short-term health care, at $69 per month versus $64 per month for men on an an individual policy. But deductibles didn't follow this gender trend either. The eHealth study says that in 2011, men paid $1,874 per month for short-term health care deductibles, an increase of 17% from 2009. Women, on the other hand, paid $1,792 in deductibles, an increase of 16% over the same time period. On average, eHealth says that the average duration of a short-term health care plan is 184 days, just about six months, although some plans go as high as one year in duration. Here are some other takeaways from the study: 3.3% of enrollees retained coverage under their short-term policy for 300 days or more. Younger consumers tend to use short-term plans the most. eHealth says that in October 2011, 59% of all active short-term health insurance policyholders were between the ages of 25 and 44. In October 2011, policyholders between the ages of 45 and 64 made up 25% of active policies. 16% of active policies covered people ages 24 or younger. The average coinsurance for a short-term health insurance policy was 22%. By definition, co-insurance is a policy provision where the consumer and the health insurance provider share the total cost of covered medical services after the deductible has been cleared. About two-thirds of all plans offer prescription drug coverage. eHealth says that 67% of all active short-term health insurance policies offered prescription drug coverage. One caveat on short-term health care plans. Don't assume you can just roll over your plan after the six-months are up. Most health care providers will ratchet up your premiums if you try to go back-to-back with consecutive short-term heath plans, or steer you into a full-blown health care plan, which typically cost more than short-term plans. But if you are in a life transition, short-term health care is a viable and affordable option. Since more and more providers offer them, these plans are now easier to get, as well. More on health insurance:

Age impacts insurance premiums, but how?

Health insurance tips for the unemployed: Part 1

Health insurance tips for the unemployed: Part 2 --By Brian O'Connell Follow TheStreet on Twitter and become a fan on Facebook.

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How to Get Covered Without Obamacare, or a Job

Debunking The Myth That Chinese Can't Innovate

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In my last post,Doing the Undoable, I discussed the rapid development of genetics, particularly genetic engineering. Having the video presentation of Juan Enriquez available helped get the point across. Today, Im going to look at a related area that also raises the possibility of sudden and unexpected change in the not-so-distant future (anytime from tomorrow on).

Once again, Im assisted by the work of another commentator who, like Mr. Enriquez, provides a good overview of other changes that are already underway, but whose impact has yet to be felt by most of us, at least knowingly.

I am referring to an article in Foreign Policy magazine by Dr. Vivek Wadhwa, director of research at the Center for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization at Duke University and fellow at the Arthur and Toni Rembe Rock Center for Corporate Governance at Stanford University.

Published on July 17th of this year, it is titled, The Future of Manufacturing Is in America, Not China. Thats a nice provocative title. I will provide a link to the full article (its not that long and free of most technical jargon), but first Ill use his words to briefly summarize four important areas where advances have led him to choose that title.

It all sounds very exciting, full of potential for good things. Dr. Wadhwas summarizes his argument reflected in his articles title when he says, All of these advances play well into Americas ability to innovate, demolish old industries, and continually reinvent itself. The Chinese are still busy copying technologies we built over the past few decades. They havent cracked the nut on how to innovate yet.

Yes, it sounds great, but hold on a minute. Like all things human, the potentially good comes coupled with the potentially bad. I have two very basic concerns.

The first is true of so much that I read these days, including a lot that is written on what the Eurozone has to do to deal with its problems. Oddly enough, those varied European solutions have something in common with the idea that Foxconn plans to install one million robots within three years to do the work that its workers in China presently do. It has found even low-cost Chinese labor to be too expensive and demanding. Too many commentators on the Eurozone today forget that all the zones nations are functioning democracies.

China obviously is not, but even casually following Chinas internal political and economic trends provides plenty of evidence that non-democratic states also have to consider the feelings and fears of their citizens. We are continuously told that the Chinese Communist Party fears uprisings among the people. There is more than one way to vote and get your voice heard.

So Foxconn will replace Chinese workers with robots. Great. That ought to make folks happy in China. But hold on, theres good news. We can do the same in the US! Wonderful, now we have a means of massively increasing US unemployment too! Pardon the sarcasm. Im sure Dr. Wadhwa is well aware that robots will replace human workers who may not be able to find replacement jobs easily or at all. His relatively short article is focused on the good news, so he doesnt try to address problems that might result.

But one sentence stands out as unacceptable to me.The Chinese are still busy copying technologies we built over the past few decades.They havent cracked the nut on how to innovate yet.

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Gene therapy holds promise for reversing congenital hearing loss

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ScienceDaily (July 25, 2012) A new gene therapy approach can reverse hearing loss caused by a genetic defect in a mouse model of congenital deafness, according to a preclinical study published by Cell Press in the July 26 issue of the journal Neuron. The findings present a promising therapeutic avenue for potentially treating individuals who are born deaf.

"This is the first time that an inherited, genetic hearing loss has been successfully treated in laboratory mice, and as such represents an important milestone for treating genetic deafness in humans," says senior study author Lawrence Lustig of the University of California, San Francisco.

Hearing loss is one of the most common human sensory deficits, and it results from damage to hair cells in the inner ear. About half of the cases of congenital hearing loss are caused by genetic defects. However, the current treatment options -- hearing amplification devices and cochlear implants -- do not restore hearing to normal levels. Correcting the underlying genetic defects has the potential to fully restore hearing, but previous attempts to reverse hearing loss caused by genetic mutations have not been successful.

Addressing this challenge in the new study, Lustig and his team used mice with hereditary deafness caused by a mutation in a gene coding for a protein called vesicular glutamate transporter-3 (VGLUT3). This protein is crucial for inner hair cells to send signals that enable hearing. Two weeks after the researchers delivered the VGLUT3 gene into the inner ear through an injection, hearing was restored in all of the mice. This improvement lasted between seven weeks and one and a half years when adult mice were treated, and at least nine months when newborn mice received the treatment.

The therapy did not damage the inner ear, and it even corrected some structural defects in the inner hair cells. Because the specific gene delivery method used is safe and effective in animals, the findings hold promise for future human studies. "For years, scientists have been hinting at the possibility of gene therapy as a potential cure for deafness," Lustig says. "In this study, we now provide a very real and big step towards that goal."

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Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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From World Factory To Learning Society – The Education Landscape In China And The Future Plan

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English: Roadside billboard of Deng Xiaoping at the entrance of the Lychee Park in Shenzhen (Photo credit: Wikipedia) By Alex Zhu, Futurist, Technology Innovation, SAP It was a rainy Friday afternoon. After a four-hour train trip from Shanghai, I finally arrived at Linhai, a coastal city located in the south of Zhejiang [...]

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From World Factory To Learning Society - The Education Landscape In China And The Future Plan

McCartney found freedom in Scotland

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Sir Paul McCartney found freedom when he, his wife Linda and their young family moved to Scotland after the break-up of The Beatles.

The legendary musician took his wife Linda and their young children - Heather, Linda's child from a previous relationship, and Mary - to their farm on the Mull of Kintyre, Scotland, in the wake of the dissolution of The Beatles to avoid dealing with all the legal problems that arose with the end of the group.

Paul said: "It was a good relief from everything that was going on, after The Beatles had broken up. For me, from the early days in Liverpool right through to the Ed Sullivan show to the big American tours, that had been my life, so when it suddenly ended in disarray, over business things, it was very unpleasant.

"So my thought at the time was, 'Just get away, don't' just sit in all these meetings with people saying, 'You've got to do that, oh no, no...' and it was really miserable and it was the opposite of what The Beatles had been.

"We just got away, Linda and I and took the kids and went to Scotland and found freedom. Freedom to raise our young family. And we suddenly realised how important that was. Otherwise I was, 'See you later love, you raise the kids, I've got to go to some heavy meeting, talk about business,' so we got away."

While they stayed on the farm, Paul and Linda worked on their musical collaboration 'Ram' which he says reflected the peaceful and idyllic background they found themselves in.

He added to BBC Radio6 music: "That was the spirit that 'Ram' was written in, I could go up, over the hills with my guitar, just write a little song, come back and stick it down in my notebook, then go off and record, and we went off to New York and later Los Angeles.

"It was great, it was freedom, so that album sums up the freedom that we were feeling at the time and it think it is reflected in the music."

'Ram' was re-released in May with a number of extra tracks and exclusive content, as well as in a Deluxe Edition Box Set.

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Freedom's sale of Register complete

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Freedom Communications Inc. in Irvine, parent of The Orange County Register, today completed the sale of the paper and six other remaining properties to 2100 Trust LLC, an investment group headed by a Massachusetts businessman. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The other Freedom properties include The Gazette in Colorado Springs, The Sun in Yuma, Ariz., and four California papers, the Barstow Dispatch, Appeal-Democrat in Marysville, The Porterville Recorder and the Daily Press in Victorville.

The Orange County Register headquarters building is on Grand Avenue in Santa Ana.

FILE PHOTO, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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As part of the deal, Freedom Communications will make an additional one-time contribution to the company's retirement plan. The amount of the contribution was not disclosed.

The new owner will also continue to operate the company under the Freedom Communications name.

Mitch Stern, Freedom's chief executive, praised Freedom's excellence in journalism and commitment to engaging with the community.

"We're very pleased that the name is being passed to new ownership that firmly believes newspapers continue to play an essential role in providing the news and information that is vital in the lives of the communities they serve," Stern said.

Aaron Kushner, chief executive of 2100 Trust, also cited Freedom's journalistic excellence and community involvement.

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Two If By T: Best MBTA-Accessible Beaches Around Boston

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(photo credit: Thinkstock)

So, sitting in Cape Cod traffic isnt your thing? Good news. There are some great beaches around Boston you can get to without even having to set foot in a car. Paul Revere never had to pay for parking, so why should you? (Theres your tie-in to the title.) Thats why we came up with the list of best beaches accessible by MBTA.

Singing Beach in Manchester-By-The-Sea (credit: singingbeach.com)

119 Beach Street Manchester By The Sea, MA 01944 Line: Rockport Stop: Manchester Distance To Beach: 0.5 miles Cost: $8.75 for a one way ticket. $5 beach walk on fee.

Non-resident parking can be almost impossible to come by at Singing Beach. When you set foot on the soft white sands, youll understand why. The sands do actually sing (learn about it here). The beach is immaculate, the views are breathtaking, and the amenities (changing rooms, restrooms, etc.) make life a little bit easier.

The North Shore cycling option: The MBTA runs a special bike train on weekends in the summer. Its a short ride (but a long walk) to a number of gorgeous beaches in Gloucester, Rockport, or Newburyport.

(Photo Credit: Mass.gov)

Hull Shore Drive Hull, MA 02045 Line: Greenbush Line Stop: Nantasket Distance to beach: 2-3 miles

The South Shore is tough if you want to walk to the beach. Everything is about a couple miles away. So why not ride? Bikes are allowed on all commuter rail trains during off-peak hours. And the Greenbush Line has a special cycle train running on weekends. Nantasket is one of the South Shores most popular beaches. Its great for activities. Nantasket is close to mini golfing, a carousel, an arcade, ice cream places, restaurants, and plenty more. You can also lock up the bike, rent a kayak and do a little cross-training.

(Photo: Carson Beach) credit: Elizabeth Evans

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All Evanston Beaches Closed Due To High Bacteria Levels

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(credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

EVANSTON, Ill. (CBS) The City of Evanston has closed all of its lakefront beaches for the day, after water tests showed dangerous levels of E. coli bacteria.

The five public beaches in Evanston at South Boulevard, Lee Street, Greenwood Street, Clark Street and Lighthouse beaches are all closed. Only the dog beach at Church Street remains open.

Northwestern University also operates a private beach, which is also closed.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradios Bob Roberts Reports

The City of Evanston tests the water daily at all the beaches daily. When E. coli counts exceed 235 CFU, or chloroform forming units, it is likely that bacteria are forming colonies in the water.

On Wednesday, the samples showed counts to between 238 and 800 CFU at Evanston beaches.

E. coli occur naturally in the fecal waste of humans and other warm-blooded animals. Some strains can be harmful, and they can indicate the presence of other disease-causing bacteria.

A variety of factors can cause E. coli pollution, including illegal sewer connections or discharges, malfunctioning sewer systems, storm runoff after rainfall, or even swimmers pooping in the lake, the City of Evanston said.

The bacteria will dissipate as a result of natural die-off, wind and wave action, or ultraviolet light from the sun. It usually takes 24 hours, but the timeframe is unpredictable, the City of Evanston said.

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All Evanston Beaches Closed Due To High Bacteria Levels

Blue-Green Algae Closes Some Texoma Beaches

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flickr/Robert Nunnally

Eisenhower State Park, near Lake Texoma on the Texas-Oklahoma border.

Visitors are no longer allowed on the sand at some Lake Texoma beaches.

Beaches on the Bryan County, Okla., side of Lake Texoma are closed due to an advisory about blue-green algae bloom.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers detected the bloom around the Burns Run East and West areas and closed the associated beaches. The closure only pertains to the designated swim beaches.

The algae blooms are more likely to occur when water levels are low and temperatures are high.

The blue-green algae can cause skin irritation and intestinal or respiratory problems in humans. Additionally, it can prove deadly to pets if they drink too much of the water where the algae is present.

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On sweltering day, high bacteria levels close all Evanston beaches

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SUN-TIMES MEDIA July 25, 2012 11:40AM

Updated: July 25, 2012 8:16PM

Evanston health officials have closed all five city public beaches to swimming for Wednesday as a result of high bacterial counts, the city said.

The city tests on the water from the five beaches, one dog beach and Northwestern Universitys beach on a daily basis. The samples take 18 hours in an incubator to test. When E. coli counts exceed 235 chloroform forming units, an indicator of bacterial colonies in the water, the Evanston Health Department closes the beach.

Sample results for Wednesday indicated a count of 238 to about 800 CFU at Evanston beaches, the city said.

Factors such as natural die-off, wind and wave action, and ultraviolet light from the sun will help to reduce the level of bacteria. The length of time this takes is unpredictable, but it is usually less than 24 hours, the city said.

The water needs to be resampled before the beaches will be allowed to reopen.

Residents who want to check beach status for Evanston beaches in advance have several options. They can call the lakefront operations recorded message at (847) 859-7822 or check the citys beach status page at http://www.cityofevanston.org. Starting this season, beach patrons also are able to sign up for text or email alerts from that page.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria live in the digestive systems of humans and other warm-blooded animals, so they are found in sewage and other wastewater. Most strains are not harmful, but some are, and they can indicate the presence of other disease-causing bacteria, the city said.

E. coli can cause gastroenteritis-type illnesses that come with symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headache and low-grade fever. Skin rashes and earaches also may be experienced.

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17-Year-Old Google Science Fair Winner Builds Artificial Brain to Diagnose Breast Cancer

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Innovation sometimes comes from strange places, even the unexpectedly young. Wenger is a 17-year-old who has won the grand prize at Google Science Fair 2012, for an amazing use of artificial intelligence. The whiz kid from Florida has created an artificial brain for assessing signs of breast cancer, providing more confidence to a minimally invasive procedure.

I came across artificial intelligence and was just enthralled. I went home the next day and bought a programming book and decided that was what I was going to teach myself to do, Wenger said.

Thousands of entries were received in the Google online science fair from around 100 countries, out of which Google picked 15 finalists. Wengers project uses artificial intelligence and neural networks to allow doctors use the minimally invasive procedure, called Fine Needle Aspirate and simplify the process of examining tissues or lumps. What motivated Wenger to develop this technology is her keen interest in artificial intelligence and a zeal to help cure breast cancer patients in a timely manner, especially because one of her family members also suffers from this affliction.

I taught the computer how to diagnose breast cancer. And this is really important because currently the least invasive form of biopsy is actually the least conclusive, so a lot of doctors cant use them. Early detection is really important. And that is what Im trying to do with my neural network, noted Wenger.

Wenger created a neural network with Java and deployed it to the cloud. She ran 7.6 million trials and discovered 99.1 percent sensitivity to malignancy. According to her, the project is ready to be used by hospitals. With minor coding and some data trials, it can be used for other medical problems and cancer types as well. For this accomplishment, Google has awarded the little whiz with $50,000 in scholarship money, an internship with a fair sponsor and a 10-day trip to the Galapagos Islands.

[Image Credit: Google.]

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Park Electrochemical Corp. Announces Appointment of Steve Pittari as Vice President-Aerospace

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MELVILLE, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Park Electrochemical Corp. (NYSE-PKE) announced the appointment of Steve Pittari as Vice President-Aerospace of the Company. In this new position, Mr. Pittari will be responsible for the Companys aerospace activities globally. Mr. Pittari will continue to serve as President of the Companys Park Aerospace Technologies Corp. aerospace advanced composite materials, parts and assemblies manufacturing and design business unit located in Newton, Kansas. Mr. Pittari will continue to report to Brian Shore, the President and CEO of Park Electrochemical Corp.

Prior to his appointment as President of Park Aerospace Technologies Corp. in March 2012, Mr. Pittari had been Senior Director of Manufacturing Engineering of Park Electrochemical Corp. since January 2011. He joined Park Electrochemical Corp. in December 2010 as Director of OEM Program Management. Prior to joining Park, Mr. Pittari was Chief Operating Officer of Sonostics, Inc., an early stage medical device manufacturing company, located in Binghamton, New York since April 2009. Prior to April 2009, Mr. Pittari held management positions with Sanmina-SCI Corporation, a leading electronics contract manufacturing services company. From June 2001 to April 2009, Mr. Pittari was Vice President and General Manager of Sanmina-SCI Owego; from January 1999 to June 2001, he was Managing Director of Sanmina Kuching; and from October 1996 to January 1999, he was Director of Operations of Sanmina Kuching. During the twelve years prior to 1996, Mr. Pittari held several positions with AMP-AKZO, Zycon Corporation and Photocircuits Corporation. Mr. Pittari received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from Polytechnic Institute of New York and a Master of Business Administration degree from San Jose State University.

Park Electrochemical Corp. is a global advanced materials company which develops and manufactures high-technology digital and RF/microwave printed circuit materials principally for the telecommunications and internet infrastructure and high-end computing markets and advanced composite materials, parts and assemblies for the aerospace markets. Parks core capabilities are in the areas of polymer chemistry formulation and coating technology. The Companys manufacturing facilities are located in Singapore, France, Connecticut, Kansas, Arizona and California. The Company also maintains R & D facilities in Arizona, Kansas and Singapore.

Additional corporate information is available on the Companys web site at http://www.parkelectro.com

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How a common fungus knows when to attack

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ScienceDaily (July 24, 2012) The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans inconspicuously lives in our bodies until it senses that we are weak, when it quickly adapts to go on the offensive. The fungus, known for causing yeast and other minor infections, also causes a sometimes-fatal infection known as candidemia in immunocompromised patients. An in vivo study, published in mBio, demonstrates how C. albicans can distinguish between a healthy and an unhealthy host and alter its physiology to attack.

"The ability of the fungus to sense the immune status of its host may be key to its ability to colonize harmlessly in some people but become a deadly pathogen in others," said Jessica V. Pierce, BA, PhD student in the molecular microbiology program at the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences at Tufts.

"Effective detection and treatment of disease in immunocompromised patients could potentially work by targeting the levels of a protein, Efg1p, that we found influenced the growth of Candida albicans inside the host," she continued.

The researchers knew from previous research that Efg1p influences the expression of genes that regulate how harmful a fungal cell can become. Surprisingly, the investigators found that lower Efg1p levels allow the fungal cells to grow to high levels inside a host. Higher levels of the protein result in less growth.

To examine how the immune status could affect the growth of C. albicans within a host, the researchers fed both healthy and immunocompromised mice equal amounts of two fungal strains containing two different levels of the Efg1p protein.

Fecal pellets from the mice were tested to determine which strain of fungi thrived. In a healthy host, the fungal cells with higher levels of the protein predominated.

In immunocompromised mice, the fungal cells with lower levels of the protein flourished. The researchers noted that lack of interactions with immune cells in the intestinal tract most likely caused the necessary environmental conditions favoring fungal cells that express lower levels of the protein, resulting in fungal overgrowth and setting the stage for systemic infection.

"By having a mixed population with some high Efg1p cells and some low Efg1p cells, the fungus can adjust its physiology to remain benign or become harmful when it colonizes hosts with varying immune statuses. These findings are important because they provide the first steps toward developing more effective methods for detecting and treating serious and stubborn infections caused by Candida albicans, such as candidemia," said Carol A. Kumamoto, PhD, professor of molecular biology and microbiology at Tufts University School of Medicine and member of the molecular microbiology and genetics program faculties at the Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences.

The immune system and "good bacteria" within the body act to regulate the size of C. albicans fungal populations in healthy individuals. When the immune system is compromised, the fungus can spread throughout the body. Candidemia, i.e. blood-borne Candida, is the fourth most common blood infection among hospitalized patients in the United States and is found in immunocompromised patients such as babies, those with catheters, and the critically ill.

This research was supported in part by grants #AI076156, #AI08179, and #AI07422 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, part of the National Institutes of Health.

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Too much salt could mean to too little calcium, say researchers

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High dietary intake of sodium could lead to depletion of calcium in the body, according to new research.

The study published in the American Journal of Physiology Renal Physiology reveals that sodium and calcium extraction are regulated by the same cellular systems, meaning that when the body tries to excrete excess sodium from a high-salt-diet it also flushes calcium out.

"We asked a simple question with our research could sodium and calcium absorption be linked?" explains Dr Todd Alexander, from the University of Alberta, Canada, who led the research. "And we discovered that they are."He says the findings provide very real biological evidence that a relationship between sodium and calcium balance is real and linked."

"When the body tries to get rid of sodium via the urine, our findings suggest the body also gets rid of calcium at the same time," he says. This is significant because we are eating more and more sodium in our diets, which means our bodies are getting rid of more and more calcium. Our findings reinforce why it is important to have a low-sodium diet and why it is important to have lower sodium levels in processed foods."

The researchers warn that as calcium is excreted in urine it raises the risk of developing kidney stones while inadequate levels of calcium in the body can lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis.

Study details

The authors note that while it has been long known that the sodiumhydrogen exchanger 3(NHE3)molecule was responsible for sodium absorption in the body, the discovery that it also plays a role in regulating calcium levels is new. "We found a molecule that seems to have two jobs regulating the levels of both calcium and sodium in the body, says Alexander.

In their research, the team worked with lab models that lacked the gene to code for the NHE3 receptor molecule. They found those animals with no NHE3 receptor had urine that contained high levels of calcium.

Alexander and his team add that because calcium was not absorbed and retained by the body, the bones of the lab animals became thin.

Source: American Journal of Physiology Renal Physiology Volume 302, Number8, Pages F943-F956, doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00504.2010 The epithelial sodium/proton exchanger, NHE3, is necessary for renal and intestinal calcium (re)absorption Authors: Wanling Pan, Jelena Borovac, Zachary Spicer, Joost G. Hoenderop, Ren J. Bindels, et al

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Too much salt could mean to too little calcium, say researchers

ARAMARK Creates Hub of Health and Nutrition Education to Help Denver Residents Live Healthier Lives

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DENVER, July 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --In the neighborhoods of west Denver, many residents, particularly the elderly, suffer from nutrition-related illnesses, like high rates of diabetes and heart disease. The problem is compounded by lack of access to adequate nutrition education and grocery stores that offer good selections of fresh, healthy food.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110907/PH63208LOGO )

Today ARAMARK, the global professional services company, will create an ARAMARK Building Community Opportunity Zonethat will be a hub for ongoing nutrition and wellness programs at Southwest Improvement Council (SWIC), which provides health and human services programs, affordable housing, meals for senior citizens and other services to underserved neighborhoods of west Denver. In partnership with the SWIC, the company will also launch a series of health and wellness workshops to help combat health issues facing many local residents

"Obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases are major issues in our community, especially for the elderly. In fact, more than 15 percent of Coloradans over 65 suffer from diabetes," said Jan Marie Belle, SWIC's executive director. "People in this area often have a difficult time finding nutritious food. Our partnership with ARAMARK, and the work they are doing here today to create a place for our families to focus on health and nutrition, will be key to overcoming barriers to healthy lifestyles."

This effort is part of ARAMARK Building Community (ABC), the company's global volunteer and philanthropic program focused on strengthening local community centers and helping struggling families in 50 cities in the U.S. and abroad. Through ABC, employees use their culinary, hospitality, food and nutrition, facilities management and human resources expertise to create strong and vital communities.

"The mission of ARAMARK Building Community is to put our skills to work to improve neighborhoods by working with local community centers to enhance their capacity and programs. Our culinary and nutrition experts help people achieve healthier lifestyles that are essential to leading happy, productive lives," said Carl Mittleman, Regional Vice President for ARAMARK Sports and Entertainment. "Through our partnership with SWIC, we've been helping people succeed and neighborhoods thrive."

The ABC Opportunity Zone will include a new community health garden, created by the participating ARAMARK volunteers, to help senior citizens who are in need of access to fresh, healthy foods. The garden will supplement the center's existing food pantry and be available to the dozens of seniors who visit the center each day, including those who rely on the center for their daily lunch. In addition, an unused outdoor area will be transformed into a welcoming outdoor classroom, and will serve as a dedicated space for local residents to learn about nutrition and healthy and active lifestyles.

ARAMARK volunteers also donated healthy food items such as canned fruits and vegetables and whole-grain cereals for SWIC's food pantry, and a variety of gardening tools for the center's senior citizens to use in the new community garden.

Throughout the year, ARAMARK culinary and nutrition experts will host wellness educational classes for residents to help them understand health issues and identify solutions such as workshops on "Diabetes and Your Health," and "Shopping for Health." Classes will include healthy cooking demonstrations and nutritional information at the annual health and wellness day.

About Southwest Improvement Council (SWIC) Southwest Improvement Council is a nonprofit charity formed in 1987 by the residents of Westwood, an impoverished neighborhood in urban southwest Denver. SWIC's purpose is to improve living conditions for its residents through civic engagement, health and human service programs, and affordable housing, by identifying and building on the assets of the people in the community. SWIC's first projects included neighborhood cleanups, home repairs for seniors, and after-school education programs for children. Today SWIC provides housing counseling, meals and food for seniors, exercise and fitness programs, health and disease-prevention programs, afterschool programs for youth, evening recreation and gang-diversion programs, an urban wildlife refuge and 19 units of affordable multi-family housing. SWIC serves more than 3,000 people each year. Visit http://www.SWIC.denver.org for more information.

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ARAMARK Creates Hub of Health and Nutrition Education to Help Denver Residents Live Healthier Lives

Vinluan: Athletes and Nutrition

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By Bobby Vinluan

Sports Psychology

Thursday, July 26, 2012

BALANCED DIET! That is what the nutrition month means, aside from the eating habit of less fat, less calories, more protein etc. Nutrition is one of the key components of being healthy, fit and strong, and what brings us together closer to knowing the right nutrition is food servings and the dining table.

July is the National Nutrition Month, and there are things to be considered and pondered upon when it comes to NUTRITION. Unless the individual thinks otherwise, nutrition will be just having our daily bread and eating three times a day, its just like saying that nutrition can be available when you can buy it then you can have it.

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On the other hand, like a mother who prepares food following the food pyramid to maintain health through nutrition, in sports, nutrition is the best supplement an athlete can get to maintain the essential vitamins, and nutrients the body need to cope up with the daily training and exercise to be in shape.

Nothing is forbidden about eating, food is a primordial need for reasons of health and sustenance, but to be sure you get the most from your food choices, it is best to have a target intake, know your food combinations and especially your diet. To a layman, diet may simply mean the shredding of fat or calories to lose weight or eating a kings breakfast to gain weight, or simply eating and drinking for his daily fare.

On the other hand, the athletes diet is more serious, about not just losing or gaining weight; He makes sure that his diet is met in a regulated manner because to the athlete it is at least 50% of the battle during their off-season cycle and as competition approaches, diet becomes increasingly important until it is up to 80% of the battle. Dieting plus the intensive exercise and training the athlete does give the athlete the edge of being successful in his desire to develop a championship physique.

Athletes can train like Trojans with a perfect mental attitude, but everything will go for nothing if nutrition and diet is faulty. Exercise is not all that helps in the achievement of health, it happens in the kitchen too, but only if yours is stocked with the right foods and supplements necessary to build strength, stamina, and muscle tissue, and that which have the vitally important vitamins, minerals, and enzymes, to achieve the overall psychology and philosophy of what nutrition and diet is.

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Vinluan: Athletes and Nutrition