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Santa Clara County tightening nutrition standards

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) - Nutrition standards are being tightened at Santa Clara County facilities.

The San Jose Mercury News (http://bit.ly/wo1yff ) calls them the most comprehensive healthy food and beverage policy in California.

County leaders are expected to approve the nutrition rules on Tuesday. If approved, the rules will take effect in July.

Pizza and burgers will still be on cafeteria menus. But, when possible, they'll be made with more healthful ingredients.

County vending machines are already required to contain 50% healthful items. But candy, potato chips or sugared sodas currently offered could be replaced with such things as trail mix, baked chips, water and iced tea.

The rules would apply to vending machines and meals at the county jailhouse, hospitals and other areas.

The new nutritional standards are part of the county's obesity-prevention efforts.

Information from: San Jose Mercury News, http://www.sjmercury.com

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Santa Clara County tightening nutrition standards

The MIND™ Vending Touch Screen Provides Nutrition Information and More

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

CLEVELAND, Feb. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- With several thousand installations, the MIND™ (Make Informed Nutritional Decisions) touch screen from Vendors Exchange International has provided nutrition information on vending machine products in hospitals, universities, and other health conscious locations BEFORE a selection has been made by the consumer.

To view the multimedia assets associated with this release, please click http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-mind-vending-touch-screen-provides-nutrition-information-and-more-140138373.html

VE has now introduced an improved version of the Display Builder software (Version 2.0) that makes the MIND touch screen even easier to program and design for a fun and engaging interactive experience. The software works with the website nutritionaldatabase.org where screen shots for vending products are stored on a secure database. In addition, the software for the MIND touch screen can now show more than just nutrition information. Vending operators can use it to improve the interactive experience with slide shows, advertising, promotions and public service announcements like tips for healthy eating. The flexibility of the MIND touch screen has improved to benefit the operator and the consumer.

The MIND touch screen has successfully provided nutrition information and interactive experiences on all types of vending machines and kiosks. Featured in magazines, cable news outlets like CNN and on-line information sources like the Huffington Post, the MIND touch screen has been described as not only providing information but also "the coolest thing about this [vending] machine."[1] Easy to install (either 5.7" or 7" screens available) and now to program, the MIND touch screen is a previous winner of the NAMA 2010 Innovation Award. To find out more about the MIND touch screen, check the Vendors Exchange website (http://www.veii.com/new_technology/mind_nutrition_touch_screen), see our promotional video (http://youtu.be/CqiEeA4NYVE) or call Ryan Garson at 800.321.2311 extension 105.

ABOUT

Vendors Exchange International, Inc. has been serving the vending industry since 1960. The company provides quality new, reconditioned, and as-is can soda, snack, food and coffee machines; VE branded and OEM replacement parts; and electronics repair service, offering pick-up and delivery within a limited service area. For additional information, contact Rick Solomon by phone 216.432.1800, fax 216.432.2786, or e-mail Rick.solomon@veii.com. Details may also be obtained through the web at http://www.veii.com.

[1] Kimberly Procaccino, clinical nutrition director at Lehigh Valley Health Network, uppermacungie.patch.com, July 14, 2011

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Study: Consumers Ignore Nutrition Labels, Go For What's Tasty

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

When Congress passed the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1993 (NLEA), the intent was to increase consumers' awareness of food. But a study conducted by three Duke University academics found that intent has not stopped neither companies from making unhealthy food nor Americans from eating such fare.

The researchers, whose report will be published in March, found the overall nutritional quality of brand name foods in supermarkets fell but became tastier. The paradoxical result came after many food companies made the decision to emphasize taste over nutrition, according to Prof. Christine Moorman, one of the three academics.

"The fact is that consumers actually don't care about nutrition as they care about taste," she said, adding the nutrition label did not overcome past consumer biases. "We find that there's a not a lot of use of the label itself, especially in categories where consumers have a lot of experience. Most people don't and even if they do see it, it's hard from them to switch (to another brand)."

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The problems range deeper though. Not only do consumers largely ignore nutrition labels, the overriding perception equates healthy foods with bland tastes, Moorman added.

"Since nutrition is perceived to be negatively correlated with taste, we believe many companies decided to reduce the nutritional value of their food products after the passage of the NLEA," she said. "Nutrition labels were generally not present before the NLEA, consumers would not be aware of these changes, only that the product competed well on taste."

The findings are actually an amalgam of two studies, one which compared food products that fell under NLEA and featured nutrition labels after 1993, and a second set which didn't. The second part of the study used Consumer Reports assessments to check for changes in nutrition and taste.

But the results of the study were not wholly dire. Nutrition labels did improve so-called "junk foods," which have become healthier since the passage of NLEA. Also, companies with smaller or fewer brands were more likely to improve the nutritional quality of their foods, the study found.

"This makes sense because companies may have hoped to grab the attention of health-conscious consumers while many of their large counterparts hesitated for fear of negative consumer reactions," Moorman said.

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Get the Real Deal on Your Meal During Nutrition Month 2012

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

Dietitians of Canada busting food myths

TORONTO, Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - March is National Nutrition Month and dietitians across Canada are busy busting myths and misinformation about Canadians' food and nutrition. This year's theme encourages people to 'Get the Real Deal on Your Meal'. Every day in March, Dietitians of Canada (DC) will discuss a different food myth and present the 'real deal' to DC website visitors. The campaign is based on real-life situations dietitians have experienced with clients, family and friends.

A client reads a tweet about the latest superfoods they should eat to be healthier A shopper searches the grocery store shelves for gluten-free foods because a friend told her that everyone should avoid gluten A diner takes the bun off their burger because they think cutting carbs will help them lose weight

"Nutrition information has never been more accessible than right now," said Janice Macdonald, Director, Communications, Dietitians of Canada. "Ironically, there's also more confusion and misinformation than ever before. We want to talk about the most popular myths - and more importantly - focus on the facts."

DC polled its members from coast to coast and selected the top 39 myths. Food and nutrition research was then collected to debunk each myth and arm dietitians with the evidence needed to talk to Canadians.

"We want Canadians to have accurate information so they can make informed choices about the food they eat," said Macdonald. "Dietitians are the reliable, year-round source for the most current thinking on food and nutrition."

About Dietitians of Canada

Dietitians of Canada (DC) is the national professional association for dietitians, representing more than 6000 members at the local, provincial and national levels. DC is one of the largest organizations of dietetic professionals in the world and has led the Nutrition Month Campaign for 30 years.

About Nutrition Month Sponsors

DC acknowledges its partners who help to bring Nutrition Month messages to Canadians. This year's Sponsors are: Official Sponsors - Dairy Farmers of Canada and Loblaw Companies Limited through its livelifewell™ program, and Participating Sponsors - General Mills Canada Corporation, Hellmann's and Lipton® Tea. For more information about Dietitians of Canada and Nutrition Month, visit http://www.dietitians.ca. 

Dietitians of Canada Nutrition Month 2012
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Nutrition Month 2012: Executive Summary

Image with caption: "March is Nutrition Month (CNW Group/Dietitians of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120228_C7127_PHOTO_EN_10478.jpg

Image with caption: "Get the real deal on your meal (CNW Group/Dietitians of Canada)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20120228_C7127_PHOTO_EN_10415.jpg

PDF with caption: "Fact Sheet". PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2012/02/28/20120228_C7127_DOC_EN_10420.pdf

Video with caption: "Amanda explains the impact of sodium on health and how to decrease your intake.". Video available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/cgi-bin/playback.cgi?file=20120228_C7127_VIDEO_EN_10480.mp4&posterurl=http://photos.newswire.ca/images/20120228_C7127_PHOTO_EN_10480.jpg&clientName=Dietitians%20of%20Canada&caption=Amanda%20explains%20the%20impact%20of%20sodium%20on%20health%20and%20how%20to%20decrease%20your%20intake%2E&title=DIETITIANS%20OF%20CANADA%20%2D%20Get%20the%20Real%20Deal%20on%20Your%20Meal%20During%20Nutrition%20Month%202012&headline=Get%20the%20Real%20Deal%20on%20Your%20Meal%20During%20Nutrition%20Month%202012

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Get the Real Deal on Your Meal During Nutrition Month 2012

Trend Micro Provides Longevity for Android in BETA

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

BARCELONA, Spain, Feb. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- (Mobile World Congress) -- Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704, #TrendMicro), a global cloud security leader and long-time innovator in mobile security, today announced the BETA availability of Trend Micro Longevity, the only app that leverages the cloud to warn users when an app that they have just downloaded consumes a great deal of battery power. Trend Micro Longevity is available for Android smartphones and the beta is available on the Android Market.

The battery life of smartphones has become an important concern for many users since smartphones have become critical parts of people's everyday lives. For the average smartphone user knowing which functions to switch off and how to do it is beyond them. Designed for the everyday user and extremely simple to use, Trend Micro Longevity for Android is a solution that provides average users with basic tools on how to stretch or squeeze out more battery life out of their smartphone.

This is the first Trend Micro app which integrates the recently unveiled Trend Micro Mobile App Reputation technology that analyzes the underlying code of apps and the websites that they connect to, as well as the behavior of apps. It can then correlate the information detected and identify malicious and resource-hogging mobile apps. This service leverages Trend Micro's global cloud intelligence system that scans and rates more than 45-billion files, emails, websites and now mobile apps every day.

With a simple UI and the ability to optimize a device's functions and ability to identify and stop high power consuming apps and tasks, Longevity empowers the everyday user with:

Just-a-Phone mode - enables a user with limited technical know-how to turn off the majority of battery draining functions, and just enable the basic things that allow their device to perform as a phone. It can extend the battery life of the phone by up to several hours. Fast Drain alert - warns users when their phone has started to consume battery faster than normal, so they can take immediate action. Power Hog App Alert - utilizes one-of-a-kind cloud intelligence to alert users when a new app they just downloaded consumes a great deal of battery power or negatively impacts the battery life of their smartphone.

"There are over 400,000 applications currently available on the Android Market, and anyone can develop and post an app. Poorly coded apps or apps that extensively use battery draining functions such as the GPS can have a drastic impact on a device's battery, and users will not know about the problem until it is too late. Longevity makes this easy and helps increase the likelihood that your phone will still be working at the end of the day," said Khoi Nguyen Head of Consumer Mobile Business Trend Micro. "And when people are stuck without a charger and all they want is to stay contactable, the Just-a-phone function makes it easy for anyone to turn their smartphone into just-a-phone, to squeeze every last bit of power out of the battery and ensure they can receive those all-important calls and messages."

Consumers can download and test the beta of Trend Micro Longevity at:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.trendmicro.mobileutilities.optimizer

About Trend Micro
Trend Micro Incorporated (TYO: 4704; TSE: 4704), a global cloud security leader, creates a world safe for exchanging digital information with its Internet content security and threat management solutions for businesses and consumers. A pioneer in server security with over 20 years' experience, we deliver top-ranked client, server and cloud-based security that fits our customers' and partners' needs, stops new threats faster, and protects data in physical, virtualized and cloud environments. Powered by the industry-leading Trend Micro Smart Protection Network cloud computing security infrastructure, our products and services stop threats where they emerge – from the Internet. They are supported by 1,000+ threat intelligence experts around the globe.

Additional information about Trend Micro Incorporated and its products and services are available at Trend Micro.com. This Trend Micro news release and other announcements are available at http://NewsRoom.TrendMicro.com and as part of an RSS feed at http://www.trendmicro.com/rss.  Or follow our news on Twitter at @TrendMicro.

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‘Scope for innovation in genetic medicine’

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

There is a tremendous opportunity in genetic medicine for innovation and for new players to make significant contributions, because it is still experimental, noted biologist and Nobel Laureate Dr David Baltimore said yesterday.
“Today, it is mainly the province of biotechnology companies and universities, not big pharmaceutical companies,” he observed in a keynote presentation at the Qatar International Conference on Stem Cell Science and Policy 2012.
There are new genetic tools available – though they are still experimental - to treat diseases which involve adding, subtracting or modifying genes in the cells of the body.
“However, they are powerful tools and I am confident they will be an important part of the medicine of the future,” he said.
Speaking on ‘The hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) as a target for therapy against cancer and Aids,’ Dr Baltimore explained that HSCs are one of the few cell types routinely used for bone marrow transplant.
The HSCs are easily accessible, retroviruses can be used to carry genes into these stem cells, the genes are then expressed in all of cells that derive from the HSC and can correct inherited defects and bring genes that perform therapy under a programme called engineering immunity.
“Though the human immune system is a wondrous creation of evolution yet it is not without certain limitations. One, in particular, is its poor ability to stop the growth of cancer cells– another is its hosting of HIV.
“In the case of cancer, the machinery of immunity can attack cancers but it rarely attacks with the necessary power. For HIV, the ability of the virus to use the CD4 and CCR5 proteins as receptors means that CD4 cells are the major cell type in which the virus grows.
“We have been trying to supply genes to the immune system by gene transfer methods that would improve its ability to block cancer and block infection of CD4 cells by HIV.
“For cancer, we have focused on T cell receptor genes. For HIV, we have used a small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA) targeted to CCR5. We have been quite successful in mice with both strategies and are now moving to humans.
“In both cases, our experiments with mice have focused on putting genes into HSCs as, once these cells are altered, they provide modified blood cells to the body for life.
“In our human cancer trials we first used peripheral T cells for modification with dramatic effect but it has been transient.
“We are now moving to stem cells. For the siRNA against CCR5, we plan to initiate trials within six months using autologous, gene-modified stem cells,” he added.
The ensuing panel discussion on ‘Opportunities and challenges for stem cell research,’ saw Prof Irving Weissman (Stanford Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine) cautioning against ‘phoney organisations engaged in stem cell therapy.’
Prof Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte (Salk Institute for Biological Studies, US) stated that stem cells derived from umbilical cord blood should be considered as one of the key cells for use in regenerative medicine.
The session also featured Dr Alan Trounson (California Institute of Regenerative Medicine), Prof Roger Pedersen (The Anne McLaren Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, University of Cambridge), Dr Lawrence Corey (University of Washington) and with Dr Richard Klausner (managing partner of biotechnology venture capital firm The Column Group) as moderator.
Earlier, Ambassador Edward P Djerejian (founding director, James A Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Rice University, Houston, Texas, US) spoke about the collaboration with Qatar Foundation on stem cell research.

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‘Scope for innovation in genetic medicine’

Budget cuts force lay-offs at UN biotechnology centre

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, headquartered in Trieste, Italy, is facing its first budget cut in 25 years.

ICGEB

An international biotechnology research centre is facing lay-offs and equipment shortages following budget cuts by Italy, one of its main funders.

The International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) was set up in 1987 by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization to advance research and training in biomedicine and plant biotechnology for the developing world. The centre is now an autonomous, intergovernmental organization in the UN system. It has 61 member states, many of which are developing countries, and employs more than 500 scientists at campuses in Trieste, Italy; New Delhi; and Cape Town, South Africa. The Italian site focuses on biomedicine and molecular biology, the Indian one on virology, immunology and plant biotechnology, and the South African campus on infectious diseases and cancer.

Marc Van Montagu, founder of the Institute of Plant Biotechnology for Developing Countries in Ghent, Belgium, and a scientific advisor to the ICGEB, says that the UN centre has an important role in international development. “The time of giving aid money to developing countries should come to an end; the ICGEB teaches these countries how to have access to their own agricultural resources,” he says.

The governments of the countries that host the research campuses together cover 95% of the nearly €17-million (US$22.8-million) core budget. But this year, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is cutting €2 million from its €12.4-million contribution, as part of a multi-billion-euro package of austerity measures approved by the Italian parliament last November.

“This is the first time we have suffered cuts in 25 years,” says Francisco Baralle, a molecular biologist and director-general of the ICGEB. “Some personnel reduction will be necessary in Trieste and New Delhi.” The Cape Town campus has a separate budget provided by the South African government, and won’t be affected by the funding squeeze.

“No member state seems prepared to take over from Italy.”

Austerity measures

The cuts will be distributed equally between the Italian and Indian sites, which will have to lay off some of the 171 staffers who are paid from the core budget. The ICGEB has already asked for voluntary resignations, with a non-voluntary phase to follow if necessary.

Pierre Chambon, founder of the Institute for Genetics and Cellular and Molecular Biology in Strasbourg, France, and a former scientific adviser to the ICGEB, says that the Trieste campus is “one of the best research centres in Italy, but these cuts will hit it hard”.

Fabian Feiguin, a neurobiologist and group leader at the Trieste site, is worried. “These measures will affect the number and length of fellowships, and are already affecting equipment affordability,” he says.

The New Delhi campus is facing further problems. Its budget is already too small to cover electricity and maintenance expenses, says Baralle; researchers must seek authorization to perform experiments at night not only for security reasons, but also to reduce electricity costs.

In a statement to Nature, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Italy is asking for more cooperation from other member states. “We are supporting the ICGEB mainly on a voluntary basis and will continue to do so, but it is desirable to reach a new equilibrium among donors,” it said. Italy is also urging member states that are behind with their dues to pay up.

Baralle hopes to mitigate the effects of the cuts by expanding the centre’s non-core budget, which currently makes up 30% of the total and comes from external research grants. But, warns Chambon, “it’s not easy to cover such a sum with extra grants”.

The ICGEB will also ask other member countries to increase their contributions. However, Van Montagu fears that it will prove difficult to get more money. “No member state seems prepared to take over from Italy,” he says.

Child adversity may cause DNA changes

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

Published: Feb. 28, 2012 at 2:00 AM

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Feb. 28 (UPI) -- Childhood adversity might lead to DNA changes that increase the risk for psychiatric disorders, U.S. researchers said.

Dr. Audrey Tyrka of Butler Hospital, an associate professor at Brown University in Providence, R.I., said multiple studies have established the association between childhood adversity, including parental loss and childhood maltreatment, and risk for psychiatric disorders such as depression and anxiety.

"We need to understand the biology of this effect in order to develop better treatment and prevention programs," Tyrka said in a statement. "Our research group turned to the field of epigenetics to determine how environmental conditions in childhood can influence the biological stress response."

Epigenetics is the study of changes to the genome that do not alter the DNA sequence, but influence whether genes will be expressed, or "turned on," versus whether they will be silenced, Tyrka said.

Researchers looked at 99 healthy adults, some who had a history of parental loss or childhood maltreatment. DNA was extracted using a blood sample, and then analyzed to identify epigenetic changes to the glucocorticoid receptor.

The study, published in the journal PLoS ONE, found among adults with a history of childhood adversity -- maltreatment or parental loss -- there had been changes in the way the gene behaved.

"Our results suggest that exposure to stressful experiences during childhood may actually alter the programming of an individual's genome," Tyrka said. "This concept may have broad public health implications, because it linked childhood trauma with poor health outcomes."

DNA Solves Cold Case

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

PERRY – Kenneth L. Knight, 52, pled guilty to the Feb. 18, 1988 murder of an Indiana woman after DNA linked him to the homicide. Leads into the murder of Sandra Espinoza, 22, dried up soon after her body was discovered dumped along US 27 in Perry, but the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office never stopped searching for her killer.

Taylor County Sherriff’s Office and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement reexamined the case utilizing old crime scene evidence which resulted in a DNA hit linking Knight to the homicide in 2008. Knight, a truck driver, pled guilty to 2nd degree murder on Friday, Feb. 24, 2012.

“It feels good to get closure to such an old case,” said Taylor County Sheriff’s Office Captain Ron Rice. “Hopefully the victim’s family can now experience some level of peace.”

“This case is an example of what can be accomplished when law enforcement agencies work together,” said Taylor County Sheriff L.E. “Bummy” Williams.

“Florida’s DNA database is an effective tool for law enforcement generating 3,600 hits last year alone,” said FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey. “As DNA profile collections continue to expand the database, we will see more cold cases solved and contemporary crimes solved more quickly.”

Knight will be sentenced on March 20, 2012 and faces 23 years in prison. He is currently in the Taylor County Jail.

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DNA Solves Cold Case

DNA advances may solve brutal murders

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

Police have revealed that the notorious murders of two young Sydney girls half a century ago could be solved through improved DNA technology.

The girls, Marianne Schmidt and Christine Sharrock, were horribly killed at Wanda Beach and buried in shallow graves in the mid-1960s.

Dubbed the "Wanda Beach Murders", it is one of the thousands of cold cases - some decades old - that police now say they may be able to solve due to technological advances in DNA.

Police say a bloodstain has recently given a weak DNA match, but it will be several more years before the case could move forward.

On January 11, 1965, Marrianne and Christine were both stabbed, and Christine had her throat slashed.

In an ABC archive tape which was made in late January 1965, two weeks after the murders, an ABC reporter spoke to Detective Inspector Haynes, who was leading the investigation.

"We feel that this man is a compulsive killer who must stab and have sexual intercourse with his victim as an overall part of the act. We feel that if he is not caught soon he will act again," Mr Haynes said

When asked if he thinks he will ever catch the murderer, Mr Haynes replies: "We feel that we will eventually get this man."

But 47 years later, police are still hunting the killer.

Superintendent Mark Sweeney, who was a young boy when the girls were killed, is now a forensics police officer who is investigating the case.

"We had two young girls...who were victims of a homicide, that actually turned the psyche of Sydney on its head at the time," he said.

"Recently in the last 15 months a number of items have been examined arising from the Wanda beach murders."

One of those items was a pair of jeans worn by one of the two girls when they were killed.

There is a bloodstain on the front of those pants that did not yield any clues at the time.

Now a new DNA test of the bloodstain has given what is termed a "weak" identity clue.

"We understand that it is a male profile. But at this point in time, as I speak, we are unable to progress," Mr Sweeney said.

Police admit the current technology is not good enough to give a more specific identification, but they do know the girls were last seen with a teenage boy.

Bond University criminologist Wayne Petherick says some of the advances that have come about are in better machinery that can reproduce DNA.

"When you get a DNA sample, if that sample is small, you have to use a machine to effectively amplify the amount of DNA you have to test," he said.

He says time passing may help cold case policing in another way.

"After a period of time people might be more likely to come forward about the crime that's occurred," Mr Petherick said.

"For example, back in the day they might have been scared of the perpetrator - they knew who did it, but didn't want to say anything because of fear they themselves would get harmed.

"Perhaps the perpetrator's since died so they can come forward with information now so the crime can be closed...so some things just get better with time."

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DNA advances may solve brutal murders

DNA Brands Signs New Marketing Agreement With Radio Talk Show Personality "Bubba The Love Sponge"

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

BOCA RATON, Fla., Feb. 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DNA Brands, Inc. (DNAX.OB), holders of the prestigious "best-tasting energy drink award" at the 2010 World Beverage Competition and producers of DNA Energy Drinks(R) and DNA Meat Snacks sold at major retailers including Walgreens, Circle-K and Race Trac, today announced it has renewed its marketing arrangement with radio talk-show personality Bubba The Love Sponge.

"We are excited knowing that we once again will be working with Bubba to promote the DNA brand. Bubba The Love Sponge's syndicated radio show reaches hundreds of thousands of people, most of which is our core demographic. As we continue to grow our mid-west and California markets it is reassuring to know that Bubba will be there getting the DNA message out to our target market and supporting our other marketing initiatives," said Geoff Armstrong VP Marketing for DNA Brands Inc. Armstrong concluded, "We are also happy to announce that will continue to produce the special "Bubba Army" Cranrazberry co-op can in which a portion of sales are donated to the BTLS Foundation."

"We are very pleased to have renewed our agreement with DNA Brands. DNA has been a great sponsor of our show, and a big supporter of the Bubba Army. We like that these guys are here in our own backyard building their brand, these guys provide the kind of support we look for in our sponsors....we are pleased to help DNA get their name out in front of our massive listening audience and help DNA to promote their brand. We like the product. Out team drinks DNA every day to get us through our demanding days!"

The Bubba The Love Sponge radio show reaches hundreds of thousands of listeners daily in the United States and Canada through their nationally syndicated program, Radio IO and social media. Bubba Clem is also an avid car racer in the state of Florida and created the BTLS foundation, which supports worthy causes and its victims including fallen officer's families.

About DNA Brands, Inc.

DNA BRANDS, make DNA Energy Drink(R), the award-winning, best-tasting energy drink at the 2010 World Beverage Competition, and DNA Beef Jerky(TM) and DNA Shred Stix(TM). DNA Energy Drink(R) is a proprietary blend of quality ingredients in four flavors Citrus, Lemon Lime, Sugar Free Citrus and CRANRAZBERRY. DNA is a proud sponsor of many action sport teams consisting of top athletes from Motorcross, Surf, Wakeboard and Skateboard has received tremendous TV and media coverage.

Independent retailers throughout the state sell the DNA Brand products as well as national retailers including Walgreens, CVS, Race Trac and Circle K.

True to its actions sports roots, DNA BRANDS, INC., has earned national recognition through its sponsorship of the DNA Energy Drink/Jeff Ward Racing team where it competes on a world-class level in Supercross and Motocross, reaching millions of fans. DNA Energy Drink(R) can also be found in other action sports such as Surfing, BMX, Wakeboarding and Skateboarding and its athletes are recognized stars in their own right.

For more information about DNA Energy Drink, its athletes and sponsorships, please visit http://www.dnabrandsusa.com

The DNA Beverage Corp. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=7258

Safe Harbor Forward-Looking Statements

To the extent that statements in this press release are not strictly historical, including statements as to revenue projections, business strategy, outlook, objectives, future milestones, plans, intentions, goals, future financial conditions, future collaboration agreements, the success of the Company's development, events conditioned on stockholder or other approval, or otherwise as to future events, such statements are forward-looking, and are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements contained in this release are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made.

DNA focus for Thai murder police

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

28 February 2012 Last updated at 11:22 ET

A senior detective said he is more optimistic than ever that Thai police will catch the killer of a backpacker from Powys.

Kirsty Jones, 23, from Tredomen, near Brecon, was raped and strangled at a guesthouse in Chiang Mai in 2000.

The head of CID at Dyfed-Powys Police said investigations are now focused on a DNA profile recovered from the scene.

Thai Police are carrying out a programme of testing possible suspects for a match.

Det Ch Supt Steve Wilkins and Ch Insp Andy John have returned from a meeting with Thai authorities to discuss the long-running investigation.

Det Ch Supt Wilkins, head of CID, said Thai Police agreed with him that the DNA evidence should be the focus of the inquiry.

"One of the lines of inquiry that we discussed with the Thais was the testing of individuals who were repeat offenders in the area of where the murder took place," he said.

Continue reading the main story “Start Quote

I find it difficult to believe that the person has not come to the notice of the police before or certainly won't come to their notice in the future”

End Quote Det Ch Supt Steve Wilkins Dyfed-Powys Police

"Certainly that would be a line I would be looking to take if the murder took place in Wales."

He said under Thai law police had to have evidence to support the taking of a DNA sample which ruled out mass testing.

But he said he believed it was likely the DNA retrieved belonged to the killer or someone who assisted them.

He said: "I find it difficult to believe that the person has not come to the notice of the police before or certainly won't come to their notice in the future."

He said there was a renewed focus on the investigation in Thailand and he was very encouraged by discussions he had with the Thai department of special investigations.

"The will and the skills are there to do it," he added.

Thai authorities have offered to provide bi-monthly updates on how the investigation is proceeding and officers from Dyfed-Powys will fly to Thailand again in six months time.

Substantial reward

Det Ch Supt Wilkins said Dyfed-Powys had offered help in relation to a new appeal in the Thai media.

The force is exploring the possibility and legality of offering a substantial reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the offender.

Det Ch Supt Wilkins said it had proved successful in cold case reviews in Wales.

He added: "On our return we spoke with Sue Jones, Kirsty's mother who is pleased with the outcome of our discussions."

Farmer's daughter Ms Jones, a Liverpool University graduate, was found dead in a room at the Aree guest house in Chiang Mai in northern Thailand, 435 miles (700km) north of the country's capital Bangkok.

She was three months into a two-year around-the-world trip.

Her mother Sue Jones has pledged never to give up the fight to see her daughter's murderer caught.

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DNA focus for Thai murder police

Why a Portable DNA Device Could Yield Better Data

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

Mini sequencer: The MinION from Oxford Nanopore plugs into a computer like a USB memory stick. The single-use sequencer will be on the market for under $900 sometime this year.
Oxford Nanopore

Why a Portable DNA Device Could Yield Better Data

Oxford Nanopore's approach reads longer stretches of DNA at once—and could more accurately spot structural variations linked to certain diseases.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012 By Katherine Bourzac

Oxford Nanopore Technologies announced recently that it has two products capable of sequencing DNA by reading the chemical bases in a DNA molecule directly, as it is threaded through a nanoscopic hole in a protein. The U.K.-based company will begin selling a simple, disposable, portable $900 DNA-reading device, and a more comprehensive desktop model, by the end of the year.

If Oxford Nanopore's technology can do what the company claims, it will be "a total game-changer," says Jeffery Schloss, director for technology development at the National Human Genome Research Institute, part of the National Institutes of Health.

The technology relies on the fact that each DNA base has a slightly different electrical charge. Electrodes measure the change in electrical potential as DNA molecules are fed through protein nanopores; an electrical gradient drives the DNA through the pore, while molecular "controllers" attached to the molecules mechanically slow them down so that their electrical signals may be recorded.

This approach has two important advantages.

First, the system is compact and doesn't require a supply of expensive reagents. That means sequencing can come out of the lab, making it useful for personalized medicine or for use in resource-poor clinics. Indeed, the disposable sequencer the company is about to introduce is the size of a USB memory stick.

Second, the technology reads much longer stretches of DNA than other rapid sequencing approaches, which means it's better at spotting important "structural variants" related to disease. These variants occur when a whole segment of chromosome is moved, inverted, duplicated, or otherwise changed. When DNA is chopped into shorter stretches to be sequenced and then put back together on a computer, it is easier to miss, or misinterpret, such variants.

The best way to identify variants is still to use conventional sequencing methods, which are highly accurate but also expensive and slow. Rapid sequencers released by Life Technologies and Pacific Biosciences in recent years are fast and inexpensive, but they do a poorer job of spotting structural variants.

Better structural information could be useful for personalized medicine. Among other things, it could identify cases of translocation, a chromosomal abnormality in which large stretches of DNA break away from the chromosome where they belong and reattach someplace else. These mutations can cause cancer and other diseases.

The company's portable nanopore sequencers could be used in the field—for example, to quickly identify or sequence a new strain of bacteria. A spokesperson for Oxford Nanopore says the portable sequencers might be used to monitor wound care in hospitals or to aid in on-site monitoring of agricultural sites for food safety.

At a research conference last week in Marco Island, Florida, Oxford Nanopore reported continuously sequencing 100,000-base stretches of DNA in the lab—sequences about 10 to 100 times longer than any other company has read. Pacific Biosciences' newest commercial machines are capable of sequencing up to 3,000 bases at once, says the company's director of product management, Edwin Hauw.

But nanopore sequencing could go way beyond this. In theory, the only limit on the length the system can sequence is researchers' ability to prepare the inherently fragile samples. Human chromosomes encompass a million or so DNA bases.

The Oxford Nanopore system so far has a raw error rate of 4 percent. But the company says this can be improved by sequencing the same strand of DNA multiple times, threading it back and forth through the pore.

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Why a Portable DNA Device Could Yield Better Data

Unlocking the Secrets of Life Together – New Research Infrastructure for Structural Biology

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

27.02.2012 - (idw) Max-Planck-Institut f?r Biochemie

Its the small things that matter in life. In structural biology these include proteins, enzymes and viruses. A single change in their molecular structure can mean the difference between function and malfunction, health and disease. On Thursday, February 23, the EU project Instruct launches a new distributed research infrastructure for the science of structural biology. The launch of Instruct will give academic and commercial scientists across Europe access to a full portfolio of integrated technologies. Wolfgang Baumeister, director at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry (MPIB) in Martinsried near Munich, Germany, is one of the members of the Instruct consortium. Breakthroughs in biomedical science are a step closer today, with the launch of a new distributed research infrastructure for the science of structural biology. Instruct is the dynamic hub of structural biology providing an integrated infrastructure of cutting edge technology, scientific expertise and pioneering training to enable structure determination from macromolecular to atomic resolution of proteins, protein complexes and single particles. It provides access to some of the most advanced technology in the world and is funded by the European Unions 7th Framework Program. The MPIB contributes as center of European excellence in the field of electron microscopy (EM). It offers state-of-the-art infrastructure for cryo-electron tomography as well as for single particle analysis, the full periphery for sample preparation including ion beam milling and the computational analysis of EM data. A full catalogue of the accessible technology is available on the Instruct Hub at http://www.structuralbiology.eu.

Instruct will be formally launched at a signing ceremony in Brussels on Thursday, February 23, attended by the Principal Investigators of each of the Instruct Centres, the national and regional funding agencies and Robert-Jan Smits, European Commission Director-General for Research and Innovation. Prof. Dave Stuart, Instruct Director, says; Never before have European biologists had a single point of access to all the technology and expertise they need to further their research. By bringing together the different disciplines, technologies and experts in European biology, Instruct will be helping to make the vision of truly integrated biology a reality for the first time.

Contact
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Baumeister
Molecular Structural Biology
Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry
Am Klopferspitz 18
82152 Martinsried
E-Mail: baumeist@biochem.mpg.de
http://www.biochem.mpg.de/baumeister

Dr. Julia Rieder
EU Office
Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry
Am Klopferspitz 18
82152 Martinsried
Phone: +49 (0) 89 8578-2451
E-Mail: rieder@biochem.mpg.de
http://www.biochem.mpg.de/eu jQuery(document).ready(function($) { $("fb_share").attr("share_url") = encodeURIComponent(window.location); });
Weitere Informationen: http://www.structuralbiology.eu/content/instruct-launch-signals-new-opportunitie... - Instruct Press Release http://www.structuralbiology.eu - Instruct Homepage http://www.biochem.mpg.de/en/news/pressroom/index.html - Press Releases of the MPI of Biochemistry

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Unlocking the Secrets of Life Together - New Research Infrastructure for Structural Biology

Biology-oriented synthesis (BIOS) – cancer drugs based on natural models

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

In order to find a new substance that may one day find its way into a new cancer drug, scientists must first detect suitable drug candidates among all of the possible molecules. Once they have discovered a promising molecule, they must synthesise it and test its effectiveness before its further development into a drug can begin – all in all a laborious and, above all, time-consuming undertaking.

In the early 1990s, researchers pinned their hopes on the assembling of as many molecules as possible with the help of synthesis robots, and then trawling through these vast substance libraries for suitable compounds with the help of automated procedures. However, the initial enthusiasm for this approach soon turned into disillusionment: very few of the newly discovered molecules displayed any effect on living cells, and almost none of them completed the process of development into a finished product.

As a result, Herbert Waldmann and his colleagues at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology in Dortmund are looking for more efficient methods. The researchers’ main concern here is to both limit the search and simplify the associated synthesis process. “There are simply far too many different compounds to search randomly on the off chance that you’ll stumble onto something,” says Herbert Waldmann. The chemical structural space that includes all possible drug-like structures contains an estimated 1062 different molecules – a number, which, written out in full, fills two thirds of a line on a closely spaced typed page. Therefore, pre-selection is the most important thing.

To this end, the scientists search the chemical structural space using an ingenious computer program called Scaffold Hunter, which was developed at the Max Planck Institute in Dortmund. Scaffold Hunter generates maps of a selected chemical structural space based on structural criteria and enables the researchers to navigate the sea of possible molecules and approach islands of biological activity on the computer screen. “It actually works as simply as a video game,” says Herbert Waldmann. When navigating, the Scaffold Hunter searches for structural motifs that resemble already known structures with a particular biological characteristic. Because chemically related compounds are also very likely to have similar properties, the researchers can track down promising structures in this way. They can then use these as a basis and experiment with different chemical appendages to synthesise new compounds.

But how do the researchers actually know what they should look for? “We take direction from models found in nature,” Herbert Waldmann says, explaining the principle of biology-oriented synthesis (BIOS), based on which the Dortmund scientists carry out their work. “Natural substances were selected over the course of evolution to fulfil important tasks, mostly by binding to a certain protein receptor.” Many of these substances, which arise in animals, plants or microorganisms not only affect their actual target, but also influence human cells. The plant substances morphine and digitalis, which are used for pain relief and in the treatment of heart disease, are a well-known example of this. In total, over one third of all drugs are based on natural substances; in the area of cancer therapy, the proportion is even higher.

Such natural substances and other substances closely related to them are usually complex in structure - the second biggest challenge for the chemists. In order to synthesize the substances, the scientists usually must carry out numerous individual steps in sequence, and repeatedly isolate and purify the intermediate products before they finally obtain the desired end product. Synthesis robots usually fail when faced with the complexity of this task: because they can only master comparatively simple conversions, they can only produce small molecules whose structures are not very complex. Thus, the synthesis of natural substances requires manual work.

However, as Herbert Waldmann and his colleagues have shown, elegant methods are also available for this task. Using a so-called reaction cascade, the team succeeded in synthesising active substances from the centrocountin group – complex molecules with four ring systems in the middle which intervene in cell division and may, therefore, point the way to new anti-tumour drugs. And as is so often the case in science, the discovery arose by chance, as the researchers were actually aiming to synthesise an entirely different molecule. “But the reaction did not unfold as planned and we unexpectedly set a world record,” says Herbert Waldmann. The reaction cascade included a total of twelve steps – a length that has not yet been exceeded in cascade synthesis.

To set the reaction in motion, the researchers simply provided tryptamine and formylchromone and added two catalysts. All of the conversions then proceeded completely automatically, like a domino effect in which all of the tiles fall in succession, once the first one is toppled. The entire synthesis took place in a single vessel and included nine different individual reactions, in which two catalysis mechanisms were involved. “The synthesis of such complex molecules using traditional methods takes days, if not weeks,” says Kamal Kumar, who made a significant contribution to the development of the synthesis method. With the reaction cascade, the production process was successfully completed within a maximum of 30 minutes.

Once the researchers had isolated the new compounds, they wanted to establish, via tests on cell cultures, whether the molecules would have an effect on living cells. They made an important discovery here: following treatment with the centrocountins, during the division phase, instead of two daughter cells, three or more were produced from one cell. However, they were not viable. “The effect is due to the fact that the centrocountins influence the formation of the spindle apparatus,” explains Herbert Waldmann. This spindle-shaped structure usually forms on opposite sides of the dividing cell and ensures that chromosomes are halved and pulled back into the two daughter cells.

As the scientists demonstrated, following the addition of centrocountins, the cells form not two but several attachment points for the spindle apparatus, known as the centrosomes. Because the cell no longer appears to be capable of counting its centrosomes, the researchers gave the substances the name “centrocountins”. Due to the presence of numerous centrosomes, chromosomes are unevenly divided between the daughter cells. The division cycle then comes to a halt and programmed cell death is triggered in the newly produced cells – they commit suicide so to speak.

Could this effect possibly also be used to cause tumour cells to commit suicide? This is the hope of the scientists in Dortmund. The effect of the centrocountins arises from the fact that they bind to two proteins called NPM and Crm1. Both play an important role in the formation of the spindle apparatus and are, therefore, potential target molecules for cancer treatment. “A drug that binds to both NPM and Crm1 has not existed up to now,” says Slava Ziegler, another scientist in Herbert Waldmann’s team.

The researchers do not yet know the precise mechanism by which the newly-discovered substances influence the function of the two proteins. For this reason, they are now focusing on clarifying the biochemical processes involved. When they have obtained this information, they then aim to synthesise a compound based on the centrocountins which cou
ld become a possible active agent candidate – and with a lot of luck, eventually find its way into a new cancer drug.

Provided by Max-Planck-Gesellschaft (news : web)

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Biology-oriented synthesis (BIOS) - cancer drugs based on natural models

Marine biology students seek hidden creatures

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

FOR many south-west residents, the abundance of seaweed on Warrnambool’s foreshore is little more than an eyesore and a reason to pinch their noses.

But a group of second-year Deakin University marine biology students this week found the slimy mounds to be a habitat rich with life.

In a project designed to improve their ability to sort through marine samples and identify organisms, the students were surprised to find so much activity, according to senior lecturer in marine biology and ecology Alecia Bellgrove.

“It’s a really important component of the ecosystem,” she said.

“A group of second-year marine biology students came back to uni a couple of weeks early for a pre-trimester field trip.

“We wanted to capitalise on the better weather and low tides.

“The main focus is to sample the biodiversity of marine organisms in the local environment.”

Records of the changes in biodiversity over time can also help to explain climate change, Dr Bellgrove said.

The 41 students collected samples of organisms in the seaweed near the harbour pavilion, in the sandstone pools of Lady Bay and in the mouth of Port Fairy’s Moyne River.

“They looked at what sorts of species there are, how many species groups — what’s living where, basically,” Dr Bellgrove said.

“What species are native, what species are occurring naturally and are abundant.

“They’ll get a bunch of different samples and use microscopes to work out what they are in the labs.”

The group scoured the mouth of the Moyne River on Wednesday for organisms living high and low on the shore and under the water.

“Some of them went in a boat ... they were running a dredge along to find out what organisms are living in the sediment on the bottom of the ocean,” Dr Bellgrove said.

The students will work in groups to collate the data for a graded report, the lecturer said.

Next year they will finish the three-year course with a bachelor of environmental science and marine biology.

Yesterday marked the final day of the intensive field trip, which began last Tuesday.

Originally posted here:
Marine biology students seek hidden creatures

European Institutes Form Structural Biology Resource

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

By a GenomeWeb staff reporter

NEW YORK (GenomeWeb News) – A group of international research institutes have joined together to launch an initiative to provide access to resources for structural biology research to scientists across Europe and in Israel.

Organized by the European Union's European Strategy Forum of Research Infrastructures program, the Instruct Integrating Biology, or Instruct, initiative will provide academic and commercial researchers access to equipment and expertise spread across 15 collaborating research centers.

The collaborators launched the Instruct initiative at a signing ceremony on Thursday in Brussels, and agreed to provide access to up to 20 percent of their resources.

Instruct will provide access to a range of technologies including tools for proteomic and labeling mass spectrometry applications, computational biology resources, and technologies and expertise for use in sample production, biophysical characterization, crystallization, nuclear magnetic resonance imaging, and others.

"Never before have European biologists had a single point of access to all the technology and expertise they need to further their research. By bringing together the different disciplines, technologies and experts in European biology, Instruct will be helping to make the vision of truly integrated biology a reality for the first time," Instruct Director Dave Stuart said in a statement.

"Instruct will allow laboratories throughout Europe to gain ready access to the most advanced facilities, technologies, and methodologies. Israeli scientists and their European counterparts will now have access to facilities they could only have dreamed of before," added Gideon Schreiber, a professor at the Weizmann Institute and deputy director of Israel's Instruct Core Centre.

The program is based around an online hub that already includes over 500 researchers from 25 countries, and enables them to tailor their online profiles to match their interests and priorities.

Members from institutes in eight countries signed the the agreement joining Instruct on Thursday, including the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, Portugal, and the UK.

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European Institutes Form Structural Biology Resource

Business Briefs 2-26

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

Schroeder accepts MBU director role

CARTERVILLE —Julia Schroeder, Ph.D., has assumed the role of director of Missouri Baptist University at John A. Logan College. She most recently served as vice president for instruction at Logan.

MBU currently offers bachelors degrees in criminal justice, applied science and behavioral science, along with the MBA and Master of Arts in Counseling programs at Logan. The partnership provides Southern Illinois residents with the opportunity to seamlessly complete a four-year degree or graduate program.

Ribbon cutting set at Liaison Technologies

CARBONDALE — Carbondale Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. Monday at Liaison Technologies, 1075 Reed Station Road, Ste. B, in Carbondale. Liaison Technologies is a global integration and data management company.

SIU Chancellor Rita Cheng will speak, as well as Saluki Innovation Lab Executive Director Kyle Harfst. Refreshments will be served, and tours of the new facility will be provided. The event is open to the public.

Garden named after SI Elder Law

MARION — Hospice of Southern Illinois recently announced that Tiffanny and Chris Sievers from the Marion-based SI Elder Law have taken the lead commitment toward the creation of a memory garden on Halfway Road in Marion.

Construction on SI Elder Law Memory Garden will begin once the $60,000 goal has been acquired to meet all expenses. To learn about additional naming opportunities, visit http://www.hopsice.org — How Can I Support — Memory Garden.

First National Bank awarded top rating

PINCKNEYVILLE — First National Bank in Pinckneyville was awarded an A rating by Weiss Ratings, a leading independent assessor of U.S. financial institutions.

The bank was cited for its “exceptional financial strength” and “excellent financial stability.” Fewer than 2 percent of banks of any size nationwide meet these criteria, according to Weiss.

Aisin plants recognized for safety

MARION — For the sixth consecutive year, Marion Aisin plants were recognized for their safety performance. Aisin Mfg. Illinois, Aisin Light Metals and Aisin Electronics Illinois were presented safety achievement awards at the Aisin North American Presidents’ Meeting for their safety programs and 2011 safety results. The award recognized the North American plants that achieved safety performance targets.

Aisin Light Metals and Aisin Electronics were the recipients of the President’s Award for achieving zero recordables. This is the third year in a row Aisin Electronics has achieved zero recordable injuries. Aisin Mfg. Illinois received the Platinum Award for achieving only one recordable injury.

B and A Travel receive Disney distinction

CARBONDALE — B and A Travel Service, with facilities in Carbondale and Marion, recently was designated by Disney Destinations as Southern Illinois’ Authorized Disney Vacation Planner for 2012.

This designation is based on the company’s support in selling Disney vacations, as well as its superior service and specialized knowledge on Disneyland, Walt Disney World, Disney Cruise Line and Adventures by Disney.

— The Southern

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Business Briefs 2-26

Proteonomix (PROT) Updates Status of Clinical Trial

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ--(Marketwire -02/28/12)- PROTEONOMIX, INC. (OTC.BB: PROT.OB - News), a biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics based upon the use of human cells and their derivatives, announced today progress regarding human trials on its product, UMK-121.

Proteonomix has been informed that patient screening has commenced at the University of Miami.

Proteonomix, CTO, Steven Byle stated that "We are excited to see our years of hard work and research investment coming to fruition. We at Proteonomix consider ourselves fortunate to be involved in a business that has the opportunity to try and help people in such dire need. We look forward to monitoring the trials going forward."

It should be noted that effective March 7, 2012, a new FDA rule will require that informed consent documents state that the clinical trial has been or will be registered and the results will be published in the National Institutes of Health/National Library of Medicine clinical trials database (www.clinicaltrials.gov). After such date, it is anticipated that any person may find out additional information and follow the progress of these human trials on this government informational site.

About Proteonomix, Inc.:

Proteonomix is a biotechnology company focused on developing therapeutics based upon the use of human cells and their derivatives. The Proteonomix Family of companies includes Proteoderm, StromaCel, PRTMI and THOR Biopharma. Proteoderm, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary that has developed an anti-aging line of skin care products. StromaCel, Inc. develops therapeutic modalities for the treatment of Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). Proteonomix Regenerative Translational Medicine Institute, Inc. ("PRTMI") intends to focus on the translation of promising research in stem cell biology and cellular therapy to clinical applications of regenerative medicine. Proteonomix intends to create and dedicate a subsidiary to each of its technologies. Please also visit http://www.proteonomix.com/, http://www.proteoderm.com/, http://www.otcqb.com/ and http://www.sec.gov/.

Forward-looking statements:

Certain statements contained herein are "forward-looking statements" (as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Proteonomix, Inc. cautions that statements made in this press release constitute forward-looking statements and makes no guarantee of future performance. Actual results or developments may differ materially from projections. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and opinions of management at the time statements are made.

Beaufort Memorial Hospital community seminar to focus on anti-aging debate

Posted on February 28, 2012 by ev1

Think your family history of coronary disease predisposes you to a heart attack? Think again. Comprehensive lifestyle changes can dramatically alter how your genes affect you.

"People tend to be fatalistic, but that's just an excuse to continue a bad habit," said Dr. Philip Cusumano, a board-certified internist with Beaufort Memorial Lady's Island Internal Medicine. "Seventy percent of the patients who come into our office have health issues that are preventable."

As part of a new "Life, Lived Better" community series being hosted by Beaufort Memorial Hospital, Cusumano will present "New Findings in the Anti-Aging Debate" at 4:30 p.m. March 7 at Magnolia Hall in Sun City Hilton Head.

The seminar will explore major causes of aging and practical changes you can make to improve your health, wellness and longevity.

"We're sedentary, we overeat, we don't sleep enough and we're stressed," said Cusumano, formerly with the Cleveland Clinic. "It's a recipe for disaster."

Based on the best-selling book, "YOU -- Staying Young" by Drs. Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz, Cusumano will cover six of the 14 biological processes that control your rate of aging.

"I'm going to talk about the most salient findings in the book and relay them to people in a way they can understand," Cusumano said. "I hope it will encourage them to read the book and change their lifestyles."

In most cases, the ill effects of bad habits can be reversed. Smokers, for instance, can decrease their risk of heart attack and stroke 24 hours after they quit. The risk for lung cancer returns to that of a nonsmoker 10 years after smoking cessation.

Men with early-stage prostate cancer can decrease the expression of prostate cancer-promoting genes with improved nutrition, stress management, walking and social support, according to a study by the National Academy of Science.

By controlling their blood pressure, lowering their cholesterol and giving up cigarettes, men and women who carry the gene for premature coronary artery disease can greatly reduce their risk of developing cardio-vascular problems.

"Heart attacks and strokes cause 700,000 deaths a year in the United States," Cusumano said. "That's more than 200 times the number of people that died in 9/11. The terrorist threat is nothing compared to what Americans inflict upon themselves."

One of the most effective ways to delay the aging process is to reduce your caloric intake by 15 percent. Scientists say it both cuts the risks for some diseases and slows metabolism and tissue aging.

"You can add 15 to 20 years to your life by making two behavioral changes -- reducing your stress and dramatically changing your diet," Cusumano said. "If people took care of themselves like they were supposed to, I'd be looking for another job."

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