Girls basketball: Hawks hang on against Comets

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BY CODY CUTTER ccutter@saukvalley.com 800-798-4085, ext. 5555

DIXON Throughout its opening-round game at the KSB Holiday Tournament in Dixon, the Oregon Hawks stuck with its usual zone defense against the Newman Comets.

While the vastly-different Hawks offense kept a lead on the Comets, they were never able to get comfortable. As the seconds ticked away in the fourth quarter to a mere 2.4, the Comets were only within one point and had the ball at mid-court.

Thats when Oregon coach Kristy Eckardt decided to switch things up. For the first time in the game, the Hawks switched to a man defense which was able to force a tip out-of-bounds, and then a shot attempt not from lead scorer Kelsey Simpson but from Sarah Trujillo 14 feet from the basket.

Trujillos shot to try to give her team its third win of the year bounced off the rim, preserving a 43-42 Oregon win at Lancaster Gym.

We wanted to throw them off because we had been running our zone defense the whole game, Oregon junior guard Anni Wilson said. We wanted to throw them off and see how they would react to a man. We were trying to cut off No. 23 [Simpson] because she made a lot of shots, so our goal was to cut her off and we did real well on that.

We were wanting to get the ball to Kelsey Simpson, Newman coach Brandon Kreczmer said. Shes been our lead scorer and our best shooter. They took her away, and I called another timeout to use her as a decoy. We just couldnt get a good shot in. Im just happy that they battled back in the end.

The Hawks (10-4), by the slim margin, move on to todays second-round meeting with United Township at 2:30. Theyll do so without the services of its lead scorer in Emy Wright.

Wright tore her ACL during the Hawks finale at the Polo tournament last Thursday, and was on crutches as she watched her team from two rows up behind the bench. She will be out for the remainder of the season.

It was a bummer Christmas present, Eckhart said. They were very positive and were all supporting Emy. The girls came out, and no one was scared. They all knew they had their roles to play, and now everyone just has to pick it up a little. But they did well stepping into their spots.

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Girls basketball: Hawks hang on against Comets

The Wall Street Journal: Novartis psoriasis drug approved in Japan

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The Novartis headquarters in Basel, Switzerland.

ZURICH--Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis AG said Friday that it won approval in Japan for a new psoriasis drug, the first country to give the treatment a green light for commercialization.

Novartis NOVN, -1.28% said secukinumab, marketed as Cosentyx, is approved in the country to treat psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis in patients who dont respond to other medication.

The drug is seen by some analysts as a potential blockbuster, industry jargon for medicines that generate more than $1 billion in sales annually. Demand for new treatments for psoriasis and related diseases is high.

Psoriasis is a chronic disease that is characterized by thick and extensive skin lesions. It causes itching, scaling and pain. Psoriatic arthritis causes joint pain, stiffness and irreversible joint damage.

Cosentyx inhibits the action of a protein found in high concentrations in skin affected by psoriasis, Novartis said.

An expanded version of this report appears at WSJ.com.

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The Wall Street Journal: Novartis psoriasis drug approved in Japan

Novartis Psoriasis Drug Approved In Japan

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Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis AG (NVS: Quote) said Friday that Cosentyx has been approved in Japan for both psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis, marking the first country approval for Cosentyx in the world. The approval also makes Cosentyx the first interleukin-17A or IL-17A inhibitor to receive regulatory approval in either of these indications in Japan.

Novartis said that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approved Cosentyx or secukinumab, formerly known as AIN457, for the treatment of both psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis or PsA in adults who are not adequately responding to systemic therapies.

David Epstein, Division Head, Novartis Pharmaceuticals said, "We are pleased that Japan is the first country to approve Cosentyx for both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, providing an alternative treatment option for more than 400,000 Japanese citizens who are living with psoriasis, and those also living with psoriatic arthritis."

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated disease characterized by thick and extensive skin lesions, called plaques. The plaques are known to cause itching, scaling and pain, and is associated with significant impairment of physical and psychological quality of life.

Closely linked with psoriasis, PsA causes joint pain and stiffness, skin and nail psoriasis, swollen toes and fingers, persistent painful tendonitis and irreversible joint damage. Psoriatic arthritis affects 30 percent of psoriasis patients globally and can cause irreversible joint damage.

Cosentyx works by inhibiting the action of IL-17A, a protein that is found in high concentrations in skin affected by psoriasis and central to the development of inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis and PsA.

Novartis noted that many patients do not respond to or tolerate current psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis treatments, indicating an unmet need for new therapies for these diseases. The company noted that with today's approval, these patients now have a new treatment option that effectively treats both diseases.

The Japanese approval was based on the safety and efficacy results from more than 10 Phase II and Phase III studies, which included nearly 4,000 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

It was also supported by two pivotal Phase III studies, FUTURE 1 and FUTURE 2, involving more than 1,000 patients with PsA. In all studies, Cosentyx demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with similar incidence and severity of adverse events between Cosentyx treatment arms of 300 mg and 150 mg.

Novartis obtained a positive opinion from the European Medicines Agency's Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use or CHMP in November 2014, recommending Cosentyx as a first-line treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis patients in Europe.

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Novartis Psoriasis Drug Approved In Japan

Itchy Japan first to approve Novartis psoriasis drug

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GENEVA Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis said Friday it has won approval to market its Cosentyx psoriasis treatment in Japan, making it the first country to authorize commercialization of the drug.

The Japanese decision allows Novartis to sell secukinumab, sold under the name Cosentyx, to adult patients suffering psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis, and who arent responding to other medication.

The drug is considered by experts to have potentially enormous market value of between $1 billion and $2.5 billion annually. Its estimated 3 percent of the worlds population or over 125 million people suffer from some form of psoriasis, including over 400,000 in Japan alone.

Psoriasis vulgaris is a skin disease provoking thick, itchy lesions, while the articular variant causes stiffness and pain in joints.

Novartis said in a statement that during clinical testing of the drug, 70 percent of patients experienced improvement or complete clearing of their psoriasis symptoms.

Approval in Japan follows the recommendation by European drug regulators in November that Cosentyx be approved for sale as a first-line treatment for psoriasis.

Similarly, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to approve the medication in early 2015 after its panel issued a similarly positive recommendation in October.

Novartis says Cosentyx is a human monoclonal antibody that neutralizes a protein that is present in highly concentrated levels in psoriasis patients.

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Itchy Japan first to approve Novartis psoriasis drug

Novartis Drug Cosentyx Approved In Japan For Psoriasis And Psoriatic Arthritis

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By RTT News, December 26, 2014, 07:22:00 AM EDT

(RTTNews.com) - Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis AG ( NVS ) said Friday that Cosentyx has been approved in Japan for both psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis, marking the first country approval for Cosentyx in the world. The approval also makes Cosentyx the first interleukin-17A or IL-17A inhibitor to receive regulatory approval in either of these indications in Japan.

Novartis said that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare approved Cosentyx or secukinumab, formerly known as AIN457, for the treatment of both psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis or PsA in adults who are not adequately responding to systemic therapies.

David Epstein, Division Head, Novartis Pharmaceuticals said, "We are pleased that Japan is the first country to approve Cosentyx for both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, providing an alternative treatment option for more than 400,000 Japanese citizens who are living with psoriasis, and those also living with psoriatic arthritis."

Psoriasis is a chronic immune-mediated disease characterized by thick and extensive skin lesions, called plaques. The plaques are known to cause itching, scaling and pain, and is associated with significant impairment of physical and psychological quality of life.

Closely linked with psoriasis, PsA causes joint pain and stiffness, skin and nail psoriasis, swollen toes and fingers, persistent painful tendonitis and irreversible joint damage. Psoriatic arthritis affects 30 percent of psoriasis patients globally and can cause irreversible joint damage.

Cosentyx works by inhibiting the action of IL-17A, a protein that is found in high concentrations in skin affected by psoriasis and central to the development of inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis and PsA.

Novartis noted that many patients do not respond to or tolerate current psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis treatments, indicating an unmet need for new therapies for these diseases. The company noted that with today's approval, these patients now have a new treatment option that effectively treats both diseases.

The Japanese approval was based on the safety and efficacy results from more than 10 Phase II and Phase III studies, which included nearly 4,000 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis.

It was also supported by two pivotal Phase III studies, FUTURE 1 and FUTURE 2, involving more than 1,000 patients with PsA. In all studies, Cosentyx demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with similar incidence and severity of adverse events between Cosentyx treatment arms of 300 mg and 150 mg.

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Novartis Drug Cosentyx Approved In Japan For Psoriasis And Psoriatic Arthritis

Novartis'' Cosentyx Approved In Japan For Both Psoriasis And Psoriatic Arthritis

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By RTT News, December 26, 2014, 02:39:00 AM EDT

(RTTNews.com) - Novartis ( NVS ) said Friday that the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare or MHLW approved Cosentyx (secukinumab, formerly known as AIN457), for the treatment of both psoriasis vulgaris and psoriatic arthritis or PsA in adults who are not adequately responding to systemic therapies (except for biologics).

The company noted that the approval marks the first country approval for Cosentyx in the world and makes it the first interleukin-17A or IL-17A inhibitor to receive regulatory approval in either of these indications in Japan.

The approval was based on the safety and efficacy results from more than 10 Phase II and Phase III studies which included nearly 4,000 patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis and supported by two pivotal Phase III studies, FUTURE 1 and FUTURE 2, involving more than 1,000 patients with PsA.

In all studies, Cosentyx demonstrated a favorable safety profile, with similar incidence and severity of adverse events or AEs between Cosentyx treatment arms (300 mg and 150 mg).

Cosentyx works by inhibiting the action of IL-17A, a protein that is found in high concentrations in skin affected by psoriasis and central to the development of inflammatory diseases, including psoriasis and PsA. As approximately 30% of psoriasis patients are also affected by PsA globally.

Psoriatic arthritis is a debilitating, long-lasting inflammatory disease linked with significant disability, poor quality of life and reduced life expectancy.

The company said that the US Food and Drug Administration approval in the same indication is anticipated in early 2015 following the unanimous recommendation of approval in October 2014 from the Dermatologic and Ophthalmic Drugs Advisory Committee (DODAC) to the US FDA.

For comments and feedback: contact editorial@rttnews.com

http://www.rttnews.com

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Novartis'' Cosentyx Approved In Japan For Both Psoriasis And Psoriatic Arthritis

Top travel destinations for 2015

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Where should you travel in 2015? If you want to make the most of your budget, consider Tunisia, Samoa or Uruguay. Lonely Planet includes these three spots in its list of best value destinations for 2015. If you're like me and you're too lazy to renew your expired passport, how about Wildwood, N.J., or Nags Head, N.C.? They topped TripAdvisor's list of upcoming U.S. destinations for 2015.

To help you decide where to go in the new year, here are more destination recommendations from Lonely Planet, TripAdvisor and others:

Lonely Planet

Best value destinations

TripAdvisor

Travelers' Choice Destinations on the Rise - U.S.

Travelers' Choice Destinations on the Rise - World

National Geographic Traveler

Best trips

More destinations at National Geographic Traveler

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Top travel destinations for 2015

Did stem cells really help Gordie Howe?

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Dr. Murray Howe and his hockey great father, Gordie Howe, on a fishing trip in Saskatchewan in 2013.

Hockey legend Gordie Howe is making a dramatic recovery from a serious stroke thanks to stem cell therapy developed by San Diego-based Stemedica, his family says. Some medical scientists aren't so sure, however.

Howe, 86, suffered the stroke in late October, leaving him unable to walk and disoriented. He began improving within hours after receiving the stem cells in early December, said Dr. Murray Howe, a radiologist and one of Howes sons. For example, Howe insisted on walking to the bathroom, which he previously could not do.

"If I did not witness my father's astonishing response, I would not have believed it myself," Murray Howe said by email Thursday. "Our father had one foot in the grave on December 1. He could not walk, and was barely able to talk or eat."

"Our father's progress continues," the email continued. "Today, Christmas, I spoke with him on FaceTime. I asked him what Santa brought him. He said 'A headache.' I told him I was flying down to see him in a week. He said, 'Thanks for the warning.'"

Howe is receiving speech and physical therapy at his home in Lubbock, Texas, and his therapists say he is much better than before receiving the stem cells.

Howe received the treatment from Novastem, a Mexican stem cell company that has licensed the use of Stemedica's cells for clinical trials approved by the Mexican government. Howe was given neural stem cells to help his brain repair damage, and stem cells derived from bone marrow to improve blood circulation in the brain. The procedure took place at Novastem's Clinica Santa Clarita in Tijuana.

Such use of unproven stem cell therapies outside the U.S. clinical trial system draws objections from some American health care professionals. They warn of the potential for abuse, say there's a lack of rigorous scientific standards, and call for tighter federal regulation of the proliferation of stem cell treatments.

Nevertheless, patients with ailments that don't response to approved treatments continue to seek such care. These patients and families say they have the right to make their own judgments. And they may not have time to wait for proof, so they're willing to take a chance.

Stemedica says it follows U.S. government law, and requires those licensing its stem cells in foreign countries to obey the laws of those countries.

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Did stem cells really help Gordie Howe?

The Spirituality of Sex Part 2: Sex, Sin and Sensuality! Divorce. Get The Biblical Truth! – Video

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The Spirituality of Sex Part 2: Sex, Sin and Sensuality! Divorce. Get The Biblical Truth!
Visit http://HardcoreChristianity.com for our healing/self-deliverance guide and details of our Phoenix and online meeting schedule. Be equipped! Join us at ...

By: House of Healing AZ / Hardcore Christianity

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The Spirituality of Sex Part 2: Sex, Sin and Sensuality! Divorce. Get The Biblical Truth! - Video

Labour reforms for the unorganised sector a priority: Minister

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Patheticsituation of the tea garden workers in West Bengal, Assam a major concern

Kolkata, Dec 27:

Labour reforms for the unorganised sector is a priority for the Narendra Modi government. And steps are being accordingly taken in this regard by the Centre, the Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Bandaru Dattatreya, said here.

According to him, some of the steps taken include the setting up of the Shram Suvidha Portal (SSP) where a unique labour identity number will be provided to workers (in the unorganised sector) of various establishments.

Dattatreya was in the city to attend the Srei organised event, World Confluence of Humanity, Power and Spirituality.

My focus area will be the unorganised sector. We have taken a new initiative, the Shram Suvidha Portal (SSP), that will help provide labour identity number (LIN) to the establishments, he said.

So far, labour identity numbers have been provided by the Centre to 7.5 lakh institutions. The numbers will go up soon.

According to Dattatreya, steps are being taken to further decentralise labour services with the Central government allotting a Universal Account Number (UAN).

The UAN is a portable number which gives the members greater control over their money and links EPF and ESI services.

Meeting

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Labour reforms for the unorganised sector a priority: Minister

Executed NYPD cop remembered as a man of faith

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His faith was true blue.

Police officer Rafael Ramos was remembered today as a devoted father, husband, and dedicated cop whose indomitable spirituality touched everyone around him.

Ramos, 40, was ambushed and executed in his patrol car along with fellow officer Wengjian Liu, 32, gunned down by cop-hating madman Ismaaiyl Brinsley, 28, in a random attack in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn last Saturday.

It was a brutal end for a gentle soul such as Ramos, who saw working for the NYPD as his chance to do Gods work.

He felt that he was protecting and serving his community and that was a sort of a ministry for him, Rev. Marcos Miranda, president of the interfaith New York State Chaplain Task Force, told Arise America.

Ramos, who studied at the Faith Evangelical College and Seminary in Washington State, spent 10 weeks training in the program and was just an hour away from graduating before he was murdered.

He said this type of ministry, the chaplaincy, he could see himself doing this in the future as a full-time ministry after he retired from the NYPD, Miranda said.

Rafael RamosPhoto: Getty Images

Ramos, who friends called Ralph, leaves behind a wife, Maritza, his high school sweetheart who he married in 1993, and two sons, Jaden, 13, and Justin, a Bowdoin College sophomore.

His funeral today is at Christ Tabernacle Church in Glendale, where Ramos was a 14-year member.

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Executed NYPD cop remembered as a man of faith

Master Shas Soul Healing Center Leads Toronto Community In New Years Empowerment for 2015s Spiritual Journey With …

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New York, NY (PRWEB) December 26, 2014

Master Shas Soul Healing Centre is supporting the Toronto community with a New Years Eve program designed to help individuals experience a more reflective start to the new year by connecting soul to soul and heart to heart with each other and all of humanity regardless of religious affiliation. Master Shas Soul Healing Center is open to everyone on December 31st to provide many opportunities to offer their love, forgiveness, compassion and light to the world. The Centre is located at 1160 Ellesmere Road, Scarborough, ON M1P 2X4, Canada. To register for upcoming events, visit https://www.drsha.com/soul-healing-centers or call 416-609-2777.

World renowned Soul Healer Dr. and Master Zhi Gang Sha has Soul Healing Centers around the world to help individuals live healthier, more connected, more enlightened lives on a community level, while Master Sha connects to audiences on an international level. Master Shas Centers seek to empower individuals to heal and transform every aspect of their life and to transform the world. I have the power to heal myself. You have the power to heal yourself. Together, we have the power to heal the world, says Dr. and Master Sha.

Dr. and Master Sha has personally trained and selected Master Lynda Chaplin, Master Lynne Nusyna and Master Sher ORourke as his Worldwide Representatives to lead and serve the community at Master Shas Soul Healing Center in Toronto, Canada. During this holiday season, they welcome everyone to experience the unconditional love, forgiveness, compassion and light available at Master Shas Soul Healing Center through events, blessings, meditations, teachings and support.

Meet Master Lynda, Master Lynne and Master Sher at these upcoming events that bring in the New Year with the life-changing power of soul teachings on December 31, 2014:

12:00pm Meditate with The Source Ling Guang Calligraphy (Honor Fee: $15) Thousands of people have flocked to experience Dr. and Master Shas Ling Guang Calligraphy scrolls featured in the Soul Healing Miracles book. Because Master Sha channels the Source, he transmits blessings to the calligraphies, instantly incorporating the teachings and wisdom into these sacred scrolls. When meditating with The Source Chinese Calligraphy scrolls, participants can adsorb the healing field created with the Source (frequency and vibration) power to transform all life, including boosting energy, stamina, vitality and immunity, as well as healing individuals spiritual, mental, emotional and physical bodies, thus preventing sickness, transforming relationships and bringing success to every aspect of a persons life.

1:00pm Chant for Love, Peace and Harmony to Offer Service to Humanity (Complimentary) Merging with 48 days of continuous chanting for World Love, Peace & Harmony, The Centre will instruct participants how to use chanting, singing and positive visualization to help the world and all its inhabitants heal and harmonize.

2:00pm Dr. and Master Shas New Years Eve Blessing (Complimentary) Join thousands of spiritually-guided beings for Dr. and Master Shas annual New Years Eve Blessing teleconference which is expected to bring together people from more than 50 countries. Dr. and Master Shas extraordinarily uplifting one-hour spiritual ceremony is the perfect way finish the last few hours of 2014. During Dr. and Master Shas New Years Eve Blessings teleconference, he will lead individuals to chant to create love, peace and harmony and will bestow soul blessings to humanity, all souls, all animals, Mother Earth and all universes.

Please register for services in advance by calling 416-609-2777.

The spiritual team at Master Shas Soul Healing Centre in Toronto are honored to serve the community and to personally guide individuals in developing their soul healing abilities, opening their spiritual channels, and advancing on their souls journey. These special holiday and new year programs are in addition to the Centres regular services and programs.

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Master Shas Soul Healing Center Leads Toronto Community In New Years Empowerment for 2015s Spiritual Journey With ...