AssureRx Health Launches Personalized Medicine Test for ADHD

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MASON, Ohio, May 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --AssureRx Health, Inc. today announced it has launched a personalized medicine test for the growing number of children and adults diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The new pharmacogenomic test can assist clinicians with important medication decisions that result from genomic differences in how individual patients tolerate ADHD medications.

GeneSightRx ADHD analyzes variations in three genes that influence how a patient might metabolize certain medications used to treat ADHD in children and adults. Understanding a patient's unique genomic profile may help a clinician individualize a patient's medication selection and avoid side effects that often occur with these medications. The test provides objective, evidence-based information for clinicians to personalize medication selection for each patient.

The GeneSightRx ADHD analysis is based on pharmacogenomics, FDA-approved manufacturer's drug labels, published peer reviewed research, and proven pharmacology. The new ADHD test adds to the company's treatment decision support products that include GeneSightRx Psychotropic, a psychiatric pharmacogenomic product that tests important genomic variants affecting metabolism to psychiatric medications for individual patients.

ADHD diagnoses increased 66 percent from 6.2 million in 2000 to 10.4 million in 2010, according to a study published in the March/April 2012 issue of Academic Pediatrics. ADHD is the most common childhood disorder and can continue into adulthood. Symptoms of ADHD include an inability to stay focused or pay attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity.

"ADHD is a neurobehavioral disorder affecting millions of children and adults. With the introduction of GeneSightRx ADHD, clinicians now have an objective, evidence-based tool for individualizing ADHD medications," said James S. Burns, president and CEO of AssureRx Health."Our goal is to build a portfolio of innovative pharmacogenomic and other treatment decision support products to help physicians individualize the treatment of patients with neuropsychiatric and other disorders."

When a clinician orders the test, a DNA sample is taken from the patient with a simple, non-invasive cheek swab. The specimen is sent overnight to AssureRx Health's CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory. The ordering clinician receives the patient report via a secure online portal that presents the patient's genomic information in an easy-to-read and clinically actionable format.

About GeneSightRx

GeneSightRx is a laboratory developed genomic test that uses cutting edge technology to measure and analyze clinically important genomic variants in the treatment of psychiatric disorders. The results of the GeneSightRx report can help a clinician understand the way a patient's unique genomic makeup may affect certain psychiatric drugs. The analysis is based on pharmacogenomics, the study of genomic factors that influence an individual's response to drug treatments, FDA approved manufacturer's drug labels, peer-reviewed scientific and clinical publications, and proven drug pharmacology. Quick turnaround time, combined with a customized report of the patient's genomic makeup, clinical experience, and other factors can help a physician make personalized drug treatment choices for each individual patient. To learn more about pharmacogenomics and GeneSightRx, please click here. Be sure to watch the educational video on our YouTube channel.

About AssureRx Health

AssureRx Health, Inc. is a personalized medicine company that specializes in pharmacogenomics dedicated to helping clinicians determine the right drug for individual patients suffering from neuropsychiatric and other disorders. The GeneSightRx analysis is based on pharmacogenomics the study of the genomic factors that influence an individual's response to drug treatments, using FDA approved manufacturers' drug labels, scientific and clinical peer-reviewed publications, and proven pharmacology. The company was founded to commercialize industry-leading personalized medicine technology. To learn more about pharmacogenomics and GeneSightRx, visit http://www.assurerxhealth.com.

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AssureRx Health Launches Personalized Medicine Test for ADHD

Harvard Medical School Adviser: Fainting could signal larger medical issue

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QUESTION: Last week I was running errands when I suddenly broke out in a sweat. Before I knew it, I had fainted. This has never happened to me before. What made me faint? Could something serious be wrong? And how can I prevent this from happening again?

ANSWER: Few things are more alarming than a sudden and complete loss of consciousness and control. Often, you start out feeling a little nauseated and the room grows dim. You may feel clammy and sweaty. Then you wake up -- on the floor. It's all over in a minute or two, and you quickly get back to normal. But it's been a frightening and embarrassing experience.

Most people would call it fainting, blacking out or passing out. But doctors call it "syncope"(SIN-co-pee). By definition, it's a brief loss of consciousness that resolves without medical treatment within minutes.

In many cases, syncope is a harmless event. But in some people it can be a red flag. Even if healthy functions return quickly and spontaneously, a fainting spell should not be ignored. Anyone who faints should notify a doctor. And if you have previously diagnosed heart disease, you should get prompt medical attention.

People pass out when the brain doesn't get enough blood and becomes deprived of fuel and oxygen. This is usually caused by a sudden drop in blood pressure. The question is what caused your blood pressure to drop suddenly?

You can help your doctor figure out what caused you to faint by providing a full account of the events that occurred before and after you fainted. A witness may be able to fill in the details.

Your doctor will review your medical history and list of current medications. He or she will perform a physical exam, including measuring your blood pressure both lying down and standing, and an electrocardiogram (EKG). If there are any suggestions of heart disease, neurological abnormalities or other serious problems, you'll need other tests.

Your doctor will try to confirm or rule out a few major causes for your fainting.

The first is a temporary malfunction of the nerves and arteries that doctors call neurovascular syncope. You'll know it as a garden-variety fainting spell.

Neurovascular syncope is by far the most common type of fainting. It occurs when the heart slows down instead of speeding up and the blood vessels widen instead of narrowing.

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Harvard Medical School Adviser: Fainting could signal larger medical issue

FCC rejects Liberty Media bid for Sirius XM control

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(Reuters) - A federal regulator dismissed John Malone's Liberty Media Corp's application to take control of Sirius XM Radio Inc with its current stake of 40 percent. Friday's decision by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission came after Liberty Media, Sirius XM's largest shareholder, in March requested approval to take over the company's operating licenses, arguing that it had de facto ...

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FCC rejects Liberty Media bid for Sirius XM control

Ron Paul backers take control of state GOP convention

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STATE HOUSE BUREAU

By Steve Mistler smistler@pressherald.com Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul commandeered the Maine Republican Party convention Saturday, as part of a multi-state strategy designed to give him a voice at the national GOP convention in Tampa, Fla.

click image to enlarge

ANNOUNCEMENT: GOP chairman Charles Webster addresses the GOP State Convention Saturday at the Augusta Civic Center.

Maine Sunday Telegram photo by John Patriquin

Despite pre-emptive efforts by state party Chairman Charlie Webster, Paul's highly organized volunteers and supporters took over the proceedings at the Augusta Civic Center.

Using pre-printed ballots and floor generals who flashed large signs reminding backers which candidates to support, the Paul campaign bested supporters of Mitt Romney, the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee.

Paul's backers took control of key parliamentary positions and the convention agenda. The effort was part of the Paul campaign's national effort to overtake Republican state conventions and win enough state delegates to send to the national convention.

National pundits believe Paul, a proselytizer of free-market economics and libertarianism who hasn't won a single state primary, has a slim chance of forcing a brokered convention in Tampa to challenge Romney. However, Paul's supporters in Maine said sending enough delegates to the event will force the Republican National Committee to give him a prominent speaking role to amplify his message.

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Ron Paul backers take control of state GOP convention

Well-organized, Ron Paul forces taking control

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GOP STATE CONVENTION

By Steve Mistler smistler@pressherald.com Staff Writer

AUGUSTA -- Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul commandeered the Maine Republican Party convention Saturday, as part of a multi-state strategy designed to give him a voice at the national GOP convention in Tampa, Fla.

click image to enlarge

Linda Silvia, of China, and a delegate from Kennebec County, holds up a blue card Saturday while voting for Ron Morrell to be convention secretary during the Maine Republican Convention at the Augusta Civic Center.

AP

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The town of Standish was represented by Lester Ordway and Will Hamilton and others wearing custom made shirts at the GOP State Convention at the Augusta Civic Center.

Sunday Maine Telegram photo by John Patriquin

Despite pre-emptive efforts by state party Chairman Charlie Webster, Paul's highly organized volunteers and supporters took over the proceedings at the Augusta Civic Center.

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Well-organized, Ron Paul forces taking control

Libertarians Pick Johnson For President At Las Vegas Convention

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Posted: May 5, 2012 | 12:52 p.m.

Aside from the muscular gentleman in the slinky party skirt and halter top, a delegate wearing a Guy Fawkes mask and a prominent speaker sporting a powdered wig, it was a typical political convention.

And by the time the Libertarian National Convention concluded in Las Vegas on Saturday, party members had the man they hope can propel them to relevance in presidential politics.

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson won about 70 percent of the vote on more than 600 ballots, finishing well ahead of Libertarian newsletter founder Lee Wrights.

What it means is Johnson, a former Republican who served two terms as governor from 1995 to 2003, will carry the party's torch in a campaign against Democratic incumbent President Barack Obama and presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney.

Johnson says a "pie-in-the-sky" goal for himself and vice presidential candidate Jim Gray, an Orange County, Calif., Superior Court judge and outspoken critic of the war on drugs, is to generate enough support to qualify for debates on the same stage as Obama and Romney.

"If that happens, anything is possible," Johnson said. "I don't think either Obama or Romney are talking about solutions to the problems."

He's betting a swell of supporters for Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul will shift to the Libertarian candidates once Romney becomes the nominee.

"As much as I would like (Paul) to be the nominee, I don't think that is going to happen," Johnson said.

History says a Libertarian probably will not be included in the debates.

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Libertarians Pick Johnson For President At Las Vegas Convention

Maine GOP Convention: Paul shakes up the party

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Yesterday at 9:52 AM Hoping to send the maverick to Tampa, Ron Paul supporters secure key posts and take over the state convention agenda

By Steve Mistler smistler@pressherald.com Staff Writer

AUGUSTA - Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul commandeered the Maine Republican Party convention Saturday as part of a multi-state strategy designed to give him a voice at the national GOP convention in Tampa, Fla.

click image to enlarge

Linda Silvia of China, a Kennebec County delegate, votes for Ron Morrell to be convention secretary at the Maine Republican Convention in Augusta on Saturday. A Paul backer also was elected convention chairman.

Robert F. Bukaty/The Associated Press

click image to enlarge

Republican Party state chairman Charles Webster addresses the GOP State Convention at the Augusta Civic Center.

John Patriquin/Staff Photographer

Despite pre-emptive efforts by state party Chairman Charlie Webster, Paul's highly organized volunteers and supporters took over the proceedings at the Augusta Civic Center. Using preprinted ballots and floor generals who flashed large signs reminding backers which candidates to support, the Paul campaign bested supporters of Mitt Romney, the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee.

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Maine GOP Convention: Paul shakes up the party

Libertarians nominate ex-Governor Gary Johnson for president

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LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - The U.S. Libertarian Party on Saturday chose former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, who was once a Republican White House hopeful, as its presidential candidate in the November 6 election. Johnson, who announced in December he would run for president as a Libertarian after mounting a long-shot candidacy for the Republican nomination, won 70 percent of the votes cast by ...

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Libertarians nominate ex-Governor Gary Johnson for president

Gary Johnson wins Libertarian Party presidential nomination

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(CNN) Former GOP presidential candidate Gary Johnson won and accepted the presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party on Saturday, which his campaign said earns him a spot on November ballots in all 50 states.

Johnson, a former governor of New Mexico and business owner, won the nomination with more than 70% of the vote at the party convention in Las Vegas. He entered the Libertarian primary race after dropping his 2012 Republican bid in late December. Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker

He is best known for his support for the legalization of marijuana and the end of the so-called war on drugs. He supports same-sex marriage, an immediate end to the war in Afghanistan, and proposes slashing the federal budget by 43% to eliminate deficit spending.

I think theres a mathematical consequence to continue to print money to the tune of 43 cents to the dollar that we are spending, he told CNN by phone after winning the nod.

Its a mutual sacrifice by all of us to prevent a catastrophe down the line, he continued, saying the United States is within a decade of the fiscal collapse which hit Greece.

On the campaign trail, Johnson presents himself as an alternative to both major party candidates, especially on civil liberties issues. He has touted the hundreds of bills he vetoed as the New Mexico governor from 1995 to 2003, his successful re-election and balanced budgets enacted under his administration.

Johnson said that were he president at the time, he would have favored military action against al Qaeda in Afghanistan, but would have withdrawn U.S. troops within two to six months.

I would get out of Afghanistan tomorrow, Johnson said Saturday. I want to bring our troops home.

He appeared at two GOP presidential debates in 2011 and may be best remembered for his answer to a question on the economy. Referring to Obama administration initiatives to fund public works projects, Johnson quipped that his next door neighbor's two dogs have created more shovel-ready jobs than this current administration.

Since his decision to pursue the Libertarian nomination, he has visited many state-level Libertarian conventions and held online town hall meetings with supporters.

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Gary Johnson wins Libertarian Party presidential nomination

Gary Johnson wins Libertarian presidential nomination

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Reuters

Former GOP presidential candidate Gary Johnson won and accepted the presidential nomination of the Libertarian Party on Saturday, which his campaign said earns him a spot on November ballots in all 50 states.

Johnson, a former governor of New Mexico and business owner, won the nomination with more than 70% of the vote at the party convention in Las Vegas. He entered the Libertarian primary race after dropping his 2012 Republican bid in late December.

He is best known for his support for the legalization of marijuana and the end of the so-called war on drugs. He supports same-sex marriage, an immediate end to the war in Afghanistan, and proposes slashing the federal budget by 43% to eliminate deficit spending.

"I think there's a mathematical consequence to continue to print money to the tune of 43 cents to the dollar that we are spending," he told CNN by phone after winning the nod.

"It's a mutual sacrifice by all of us to prevent a catastrophe down the line," he continued, saying the United States is within a decade of the fiscal collapse which hit Greece.

On the campaign trail, Johnson presents himself as an alternative to both major party candidates, especially on civil liberties issues. He has touted the hundreds of bills he vetoed as the New Mexico governor from 1995 to 2003, his successful re-election and balanced budgets enacted under his administration.

Johnson said that were he president at the time, he would have favored military action against al Qaeda in Afghanistan, but would have withdrawn U.S. troops within two to six months.

"I would get out of Afghanistan tomorrow," Johnson said Saturday. "I want to bring our troops home."

He appeared at two GOP presidential debates in 2011 and may be best remembered for his answer to a question on the economy. Referring to Obama administration initiatives to fund public works projects, Johnson quipped that his "next door neighbor's two dogs have created more shovel-ready jobs than this current administration."

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Gary Johnson wins Libertarian presidential nomination

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson wins Libertarian nomination

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LAS VEGAS Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson is campaigning to win the White House as a Libertarian after receiving scant attention in the Republican presidential race.

Johnson easily became the party's presidential nominee at the Libertarian national convention in Las Vegas on Saturday. He hopes to appeal to voters fed up with the traditional two-party system this November.

Johnson was a longshot candidate for the Republican presidential nomination when he announced in December that he would instead pursue the Libertarian ticket.

He won 74 percent of the vote on the first ballot in Las Vegas, an unusual showing of support. In 2008, Libertarian delegates needed six rounds of voting to pick a presidential nominee.

Johnson supports legalized marijuana, low taxes and immigration reform.

He was elected New Mexico's governor in 1994.

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Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson wins Libertarian nomination

Johnson wins Libertarian nod for president

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LAS VEGAS, May 5 (UPI) -- Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson Saturday won the Libertarian Party nomination for U.S. president.

Johnson, who spent much of last year seeking the Republican Party's nomination, received 70 percent percent of the vote in the first round of balloting at the Libertarians' national convention in Las Vegas. He received 419 of the 595 votes cast, while R. Lee Wrights of Texas came in second with 152 votes, the party said in a release on its Web site.

The Taos, N.M., businessman said he will offer U.S. voters a clear and viable alternative to Democratic President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, the presumptive GOP nominee. The long-shot candidate said the Libertarian platform will offer Americans effective solutions to sluggish economic growth, high unemployment and overseas military commitments that weaken the country's financially.

"I am honored and I just want to pledge that no one will be disappointed. We're going to grow the Libertarian Party," he said.

Joining Johnson on the Libertarian ticket was Judge James P. Gray of Newport Beach, Calif., party officials said. Gray received 59 percent of the vote in the first round, He received 357 votes to Wrights' 229.

"I am proud. I am invigorated. I am excited," said Gray, whose goals are to downsize the federal government and legalize marijuana. "With Gov. Gary Johnson. I am determined to bring back prosperity and liberty to the United States of America."

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Johnson wins Libertarian nod for president

Presidential Race Takes Libertarian Tilt In Nev.

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The Libertarian Party held its convention in Las Vegas over the weekend, choosing a presidential and vice-presidential nominee. NPR's David Welna reports that it came as no surprise that the Libertarian Party put Gary Johnson at the top of its ticket.

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RACHEL MARTIN, HOST:

And in case you missed it, the Libertarian Party held its national nominating convention in Las Vegas yesterday and chose a former Republican named Gary Johnson as its presidential nominee. Meanwhile, in Sparks, Nevada, supporters of Republican presidential contender Ron Paul dominated the state's GOP convention with Paul himself addressing the gathering. NPR's David Welna has more.

DAVID WELNA, BYLINE: It came as no surprise that the Libertarian Party put Gary Johnson at the top of its ticket. He got 70 percent of the votes at the party's nominating convention after dropping out as a candidate in the Republican presidential race in January. The former two-term GOP governor of New Mexico wants to pull the U.S. troops out of Afghanistan immediately. He wants same-sex marriage recognized nationally and he wants marijuana legalized, much as alcohol was when Prohibition ended.

GARY JOHNSON: I don't smoke pot. I don't drink alcohol. But I have drank alcohol and I have smoked marijuana, and I will tell you that in no category is marijuana more dangerous than alcohol.

WELNA: Johnson hopes to get the minimum 15 percent support in national polls that he'd need to be in next fall's presidential debates. For that, Johnson is counting on the supporters of Ron Paul, the 1988 Libertarian presidential candidate and who seems to have little chance of being the Republican nominee this year. But Paul is showing no signs of dropping out of the GOP presidential race. Yesterday, he brought hundreds of supporters to their feet at the GOP state convention here in Sparks.

RON PAUL: I think it's very important that we restore confidence in the Republican Party, that we are the fiscal conservatives, we care about personal liberty and we care about a foreign policy that provides for a strong national defense without going into war carelessly.

(SOUNDBITE OF CHEERING)

WELNA: Paul supporters packed the convention, as they have in other states that held primary caucuses. They don't consider Mitt Romney the inevitable Republican facing off with President Obama in November, even though Paul has not yet won a single primary. David Welna, NPR News, Sparks, Nevada.

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Presidential Race Takes Libertarian Tilt In Nev.

Solomon Islands 'blond' gene found

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Dark-skinned, blond-haired indigenous people on the Solomon Islands have a gene that is unique to the South Pacific nation and was not picked up from interbreeding with Europeans, scientists say.

Outsiders have long presumed the unusually fair-haired Melanesians were a result of long-ago liaisons with European traders, while locals often attributed their golden locks to a diet rich in fish or the constant exposure to the Sun.

But the reason why some five to 10 per cent of the islanders are blond comes down to simple genetics - a gene called TYRP1 that natives of the Solomon Islands possess but Europeans do not, said the study in the US journal, Science.

'So the human characteristic of blond hair arose independently in equatorial Oceania. That's quite unexpected and fascinating,' said lead author Eimear Kenny, a postdoctoral scholar at Stanford University in California.

Researchers gained the trust of a local chief and collected data from 1000 people, including hair and skin colour assessments, blood pressure, height and weight and saliva samples for DNA.

The lab analysis on samples from 43 blond and 42 dark-haired natives began in September 2010 and 'within a week, we had our initial result', said Kenny.

'It was such a striking signal pointing to a single gene - a result you could hang your hat on. That rarely happens in science.'

The idea to study the genetics of the population came from co-author Sean Myles, a former Stanford postdoctoral scholar who is now an assistant professor at the Nova Scotia Agricultural College, after a trip there in 2004.

'They have this very dark skin and bright blond hair. It was mind-blowing,' said Myles.

'As a geneticist on the beach watching the kids playing, you count up the frequency of kids with blond hair, and say, 'Wow, it's five to 10 per cent.''

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Solomon Islands 'blond' gene found

Solomon Islands to Work Towards Improved Services

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Grant Signing: Solomon Islands to Work Towards Improved Services World Bank, Government of Solomon Islands Sign US$2 Million Development Policy Grant

MANILA, May 4, 2012 ----- Today the World Bank and the Government of Solomon Islands signed a US$2 million grant agreement to boost the economy and support effective service delivery for the countrys population of 530,000 people. The agreement was signed by Pamela Cox, Vice President for East Asia and the Pacific at the World Bankand Rick Houenipwela, Minister for Finance in Solomon Islands at the annual meetings of the Asian Development Bank in Manila.

Over recent years the Government of Solomon Islands has delivered on a number of important reforms that have helped build a stronger economy, said Cox. The grant will take this forward and deliver better services and poverty reduction for all Solomon Islanders.

Developed in coordination with the government-led multi-donor Core Economic Working Group, the operation will support government-led reforms that will help to improve the budget process, make the process more consultative and encourage civil society involvement. It will also help strengthen financial management of state owned enterprises in the water and electricity sectors.

In addition the funding will support the Governments efforts to provide clearer information about mining revenues, as they look to achieve compliance with the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI). EITI is a global initiative that aims to strengthen governance in the extractives sector, a growing industry in Solomon Islands.

These reforms, along with additional efforts by the government and its donor partners, are expected to contribute over time to an improvement in public service delivery for the country's citizens.

The operation supports the priorities of the Solomon Islands Governments National Development Strategy, 2011-20, which focuses on efficient service delivery, transparency and accountability. It will be funded by a grant from the International Development Association, the World Banks fund for the poorest countries.

For more information about the World Bank in the Pacific, please visit http://www.worldbank.org/pi

ENDS

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Solomon Islands to Work Towards Improved Services