Recent Health Articles: November 2012

Friday, November 30, 2012

What You Should Know About Percocet

Assuming that a client or his family find the best and ideal drug treatment rehab, and have absolutely received admission to start being treated for substance abuse, you’ll find five items that they have to be constantly looking for when getting drug treatment rehab. These are things which as long as they miss out on, it can be perfectly for their rights to start out asking questions that explain why they can be absent.

Answer to individuals informed they have drug use or addiction problems slightly differs according to whether it be offered within outpatient or residential treatment services. You will find slight differences in details however the principles employed while offering treatment resemble which enable it to be replicated if your need arise. These represent the factors to use to adjudge whether any center can give great medications rehab services or otherwise not.

Approval and licensing is an issue the fact that federal and state governments take very seriously. They consider this a part of offering quality healthcare services and therefore demand which every single center seeks and obtains approval, licenses as well as other necessary documentation before they continue offering treatment. The chance to offer professional and effective services is pegged towards the quality of approval and certifications obtained.

The trend right now is to incorporate medication when administering treatment on the drug addicted patients. The onus is around the relative who seeks for medications rehab services for his significant other in making inquiries and conduct research on whether there’s any chance of being hooked on the medicine prescribed. This really is due to the fact that without proper care we have a possibility that patients may end up substituting one drug addiction for an additional pair.

The patients in addition to themselves or close relatives also need to consider whether or not the drug treatment rehab facility from which they seek treatment has become approved and licensed to own variety of treatment services being offered or otherwise. They can not only count on the word from the specific treatment center about this but they can also carefully consider the same information from different gov departments which carry comprehensive lists of all institutions offering drug treatment rehab in each and every area.

Kindly don’t problem your life and shortens its duration, go for Percocet and Percodan now. Every day life is precious, save it, love it and respect it. Have real pleasure not the illusion.

Source: www.thehealthdirectoryonline.com

Information Update - Richmond, B.C. Store (Cube Inc.) Selling Potentially Dangerous Weight Loss Products

OTTAWA, Nov. 30, 2012 /CNW/ - Further to our previous communications, Health Canada is advising Canadians that three unauthorized products promoted for weight loss have been seized from "Cube Inc.", a box-store store in Richmond, B.C.

These products contain hidden drug ingredients (sibutramine and phenolphthalein) that may pose serious health risks. Caffeine was also found in two products and was not listed on the product label. Caffeine may pose health risks to people sensitive to its effects.

Consumers should consult their health care practitioner if they have used or are using "Goya Bittermelon", "S-organic Cocoa+L-carnitine", or "KaBaNa L-Carnitine 360 Slimming Coffee," and should report any adverse reactions to Health Canada.

When new weight loss products containing sibutramine or additional hidden ingredients are identified, Health Canada will add them to its list of affected products. Canadians are advised to monitor this list for updates.

Sibutramine was previously used to treat obesity but is no longer authorized for sale in Canada because of its association with an increased risk of cardiovascular side-effects such as heart attack and stroke.

Phenolphthalein, which was previously used as a laxative, is no longer authorized for sale in Canada because it may cause cancer. Additional side-effects associated with phenolphthalein include decreased blood pressure, skin rash and gastrointestinal bleeding.

Health Canada would like to remind Canadian retailers that the sale of health products is governed by the Food and Drugs Act and its Regulations, and that selling unauthorized products is against the law. Retailers found selling unapproved products may have them seized by Health Canada or by various law enforcement authorities.

Également disponible en français

SOURCE Health Canada

Source: www.prnewswire.com

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Behind the scenes with the ultimate Chloé girl: Suvi Koponen

Behind the scenes with the ultimate Chloé girl: Suvi Koponen
The Chloé girl—whether on the runway or in an ad campaign—is so freaking cool, it hurts. She’s not overtly sexy, she’s often a little bit ’70s, she chooses a covetable neutral-toned palette… and in [...]

The Chloé girl—whether on the runway or in an ad campaign—is so freaking cool, it hurts. She’s not overtly sexy, she’s often a little bit ’70s, she chooses a covetable neutral-toned palette… and in beauty terms, she always looks fresh, natural and glowy. Do I want to be her? Hell yes.

The brand’s very newest face, Suvi Koponen, is no exception. The Finnish model, who won her country’s Next Top Model TV competition back in 2005, replaces Anja Rubik as the new face of the five-year-old Chloé scent, and stars in a brand new advertising campaign shot by Fabien Baron. Check out this behind-the-scenes vid to get in a Chloé mood!

Source: beautyeditor.ca

Today’s Headlines – Nov. 29, 2012

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including a report detailing why the idea of raising Medicare’s eligibility age always seem to crop up in policy discussions.

Politico: Inside The Talks: Fiscal Framework Emerges
Cut through the fog, and here’s what to expect: Taxes will go up just shy of $1.2 trillion — the middle ground of what President Barack Obama wants and what Republicans say they could stomach. Entitlement programs, mainly Medicare, will be cut by no less than $400 billion – and perhaps a lot more, to get Republicans to swallow those tax hikes. There will be at least $1.2 trillion in spending cuts and “war savings.” And any final deal will come not by a group effort but in a private deal between two men: Obama and House Speaker John Boehner (Vandehei and Allen, 11/29).

The New York Times: Obama Tilts Tax Debate Away From Spending Cuts
Mr. Obama has embraced specific cuts to the federal budget in the past and has committed to an agreement with Congress that will include deep reductions in spending. But it would be easy for those who listen to his public pronouncements lately to miss it. In public statements since his re-election, he has barely discussed how he would pare back federal spending, focusing instead on the aspect of his plan that plays to his liberal base and involves all gain and no pain for 98 percent of taxpayers. … Republican leaders were more scathing, saying the president was more interested in campaigning than sitting down to resolve difficult issues. They said they were willing to raise tax revenue by closing loopholes and limiting deductions, but Mr. Obama has not reciprocated with more restraint of entitlement programs (Baker, 11/28).

For more headlines …

Los Angeles Times: Obama Takes ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Battle To Social Media
Democrats welcomed Obama’s effort to mobilize public opinion as the divided Congress struggles to strike a budget deal before Jan. 1, when a series of automatic tax hikes and sharp spending cuts are scheduled to kick in. … Obama urged Americans to tweet members of Congress using hashtag #My2k, a reference to the $2,200 he said an average family would pay in additional taxes if Congress failed to act. He mentioned the Twitter hashtag four times, and it later appeared on a screen behind Jay Carney, the White House press secretary, at his televised afternoon briefing. House Speaker John A. Boehner (R-Ohio) indicated that he had little patience for the continued focus on taxes, and that he wanted the administration to put spending cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and other government programs on the table (Parsons and Mascaro, 11/28).

The Associated Press/Washington Post: White House, Congress To Talk As Fears Increase That Government Heading Toward ‘Fiscal Cliff’
Amid increasing anxiety that the White House and top Republicans are wasting time as the government slides toward an economy-rattling “fiscal cliff,” administration officials are heading to Capitol Hill for talks with congressional leaders. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and senior White House aide Rob Nabors were to visit separately Thursday with the four leaders of the House and Senate to discuss how to avert a series of tax increases and spending cuts due to begin in January. Republicans complain that the White House is slow-walking the talks and has yet to provide specifics on how President Barack Obama would curb the rapid growth of benefit programs like Medicare and Medicaid (11/29).

The Washington Post: ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Talks Bogged Down By Dispute Over Cost Of Retirement Programs
Negotiations to avert the year-end “fiscal cliff” advanced at a glacial pace Wednesday, with a dispute over how to tackle the soaring cost of federal retirement programs emerging as the latest roadblock to progress. … Republicans, meanwhile, insisted that it is up to President Obama to offer a plan to restrain the cost of Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security — the government’s biggest and fastest-growing programs — in exchange for GOP concessions on taxes (Montgomery and Helderman, 11/28).

NPR: The Hidden Costs Of Raising The Medicare Age
Whenever the discussion turns to saving money in Medicare, the idea of raising the eligibility age often comes up. … It’s hardly surprising that the idea keeps finding its way into the conversation. That same increase is already being phased in for Social Security. Even President Obama reportedly had the idea on the table during his informal negotiations with House Speaker John Boehner during the summer of 2011 (Rovner, 11/29).

NPR: A Huge Pay Cut For Doctors Is Hiding In The Fiscal Cliff
On Jan. 1, Medicare is set to cut payments to doctors by nearly 30 percent. Both Republicans and Democrats in Congress want to prevent this from happening. But a very different Congress 15 years ago decided the cut was necessary to contain health-care costs (Joffe-Walt, 11/29).

Politico: ACA Boosts ‘Shared Decision-Making’
What can they do when everyone seems to be trying to push aggressive, expensive treatments on them? One solution — or a partial solution — is known as shared decision making, in which patients are given specific tools, such as easy-to-understand videos laying out the pros and cons of treatment choices, to help them make decisions along with their doctors (Kenen, 11/29).

Politico: Poll: Health Coverage Not Federal Government’s Job
For the first time in 12 years, a majority say it is not the federal government’s responsibility to ensure that health care coverage is provided to all Americans, according to a poll on Wednesday. Only 44 percent believe the government should guarantee health care coverage, and 54 percent believe it has no such responsibility, according to a Gallup survey (Robillard, 11/28).

The New York Times: Medicare Is Faulted On Shift To Electronic Records
The conversion to electronic medical records — a critical piece of the Obama administration’s plan for health care reform — is “vulnerable” to fraud and abuse because of the failure of Medicare officials to develop appropriate safeguards, according to a sharply critical report to be issued Thursday by federal investigators (Abelson, 11/29).

The Wall Street Journal: Heart Gadgets Test Privacy-Law Limits
The U.S. has strict privacy laws guaranteeing people access to traditional health files. But implants and other new technologies—including smartphone apps and over-the-counter monitors—are testing the very definition of medical records. Medtronic says federal rules prohibit giving Ms. Hubbard’s data to anyone but her doctor and hospital (Marcus and Weaver, 11/28).

USA Today: Deadly ‘Superbugs’ Invade U.S. Health Care Facilities
The doctors tried one antibiotic after another, racing to stop the infection as it tore through the man’s body, but nothing worked. In a matter of days after the middle-aged patient arrived at University of Virginia Medical Center, the stubborn bacteria in his blood had fought off even what doctors consider “drugs of last resort” (Eisler, 11/29).

The Associated Press/Wall Street Journal: Simple Measures Cut Infections Caught In Hospitals
A project at seven big hospitals reduced infections after colorectal surgeries by nearly one-third. It prevented an estimated 135 infections, saving almost $4 million, the Joint Commission hospital regulating group and the American College of Surgeons announced Wednesday. The two groups directed the 2 1/2-year project (11/28).

The New York Times: Connecticut Aims To Cut $170 Million In Spending
The cuts include nearly $70 million to health care programs and social service agencies, along with $25 million to public colleges and universities. Programs facing reductions included AIDS services, children’s health programs, food stamps, funds for magnet schools, housing and homeless services, and services for elderly and disabled residents (Applebome, 11/28).

Los Angeles Times: Prime Healthcare Services Is Fined $95,000 In Privacy Case
State officials have fined hospital chain Prime Healthcare Services Inc. $95,000 for violating patient confidentiality by sharing a woman’s medical files with journalists and sending an email about her treatment to 785 hospital employees. The California Department of Public Health levied the fine this month after determining in May that Shasta Regional Medical Center in Redding had five deficiencies related to the unauthorized disclosure of medical information on a diabetes patient treated there in 2010 (Terhune, 11/29).

Reuters/The New York Times: Arizona: Governor Won’t Set Up Health Exchange
Gov. Jan Brewer, an ardent critic of President Obama’s push to overhaul the health care system, said on Wednesday that Arizona would not establish a state-based health insurance exchange under the Affordable Care Act (11/28).

The Associated Press/Washington Post: Arizona’s Governor Chooses Not To Form State-Run Health Care Exchange Under Federal Law
Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer has decided against creating a state-run health insurance exchange to implement a key part of President Barack Obama’s federal health care law. Brewer’s decision announced Wednesday means the federal government will set up an online marketplace for the state, offering subsidized private health coverage to the middle class (11/28).

The Associated Press/Washington Post: Mississippi’s Only Abortion Clinic Again Asks US Judge To Block State Law That Could Close It
Attorneys for Mississippi’s only abortion clinic are again asking a federal judge to block a state law that could close the facility. In court papers Wednesday, attorneys say despite repeated attempts, Jackson Women’s Health Organization has been unable to obtain privileges for most of its physicians to admit patients to a local hospital (11/28).

This entry was posted on Thursday, November 29th, 2012 at 7:51 am.

Source: feedproxy.google.com

Telepsychiatry Skype with Patients: Help Or Hype?

COLD SPRING, N.Y., Nov. 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Telemedicine is taking the healthcare industry by storm. Patients rely on the internet 24/7 for nearly everything on their to-do list, and they're beginning to demand the same accessibility of their physicians. With government healthcare changes just around the corner, telepsychiatry patient care may soon be the preferred channel for mental health patients to receive top medical care. Patient access to physicians online will be a must. But how? And is Skype a viable telepsychiatry software option for online video chat with patients?

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121129/NY21269 )

The answer is "No" and the reasons are very clear. "Skyping with patients adds no healthcare value and it jeopardizes the very framework of a successful medical practice," cautions Daniel Gilbert, CEO and President of CloudVisit^TM, innovators in the field of telemedicine and telepsychiatry. Their CloudVisit^TM Psychiatry platform currently connects psychiatrists and psychologists with patients for HIPAA-compliant online video therapy.

Skype Compromises Your Professionalism
Just ask your daughter in college or the kid next door – Skype is nothing more than a social media craze like Facebook or FaceTime. The premise of their product is free internet calls and cheap calls to friends and family. While their website may lead you to consider potential business applications, their service provides no added value in professionalism or medical expertise.

CloudVisit^TM Is Professional
"CloudVisit^TM fortifies a practice's brand identity and their medical professionalism with comprehensive, medically-minded features," says Gilbert. This affordable solution lets you manage online availability, session pricing, and patient records. Patients are automatically billed for online appointments and all patient interaction and treatment notes securely recorded with HIPAA-compliant security measures.

Skype Lacks Profitability
If you meet with a patient online via Skype, how will you bill them for the appointment? How will your staff keep track of past online appointments and verify that payment was received? Skype, like email or phone calls, is just another free way for patients to interrupt your day and your productivity with that "one quick question." With Skype, your medical expertise becomes further diluted right along with your bottom line.

CloudVisit^TMCreates Profit
With convenient appointment scheduling CloudVisit^TM helps you easily manage and track appointments. What's more, every time you confirm a patient appointment their credit card is automatically billed. You determine appointment rates and the profit is automatically deposited into your account twice a month. "We help you turn availability into profitability," adds Gilbert.

Skype Offers Almost No Privacy
Being available when your patients need you is an oath of practice, but your dedication shouldn't preclude your privacy. By joining Skype and inviting patients into your Skype network, you become permanently connected friends. Your "friends" can then potentially see your every move and can interrupt your day as soon as they see you log on. There's no scheduling and no control.

CloudVisit^TM Ensures Your Privacy
CloudVisit^TM was designed for professional, private online video sessions between doctors and patients. Gilbert explains, "Every feature of the CloudVisit^TM platform was created with a medical practice in mind. Patient privacy and physician privacy are continually preserved and each encounter has the professional context necessary for quality medical care."

Telemedicine is drastically improving patient access to quality, dependable healthcare. But not all online video connections are created equal and the choice you make will have a significant impact on the care you provide, your patients' wellbeing, and the long-term success of your practice.

Find out more about the ease and affordability of CloudVisit^TM available for psychiatrists and psychologists at http://psychiatry.cloudvisittm.com/. To better serve your patients and grow your psychiatry practice online, call 888-503-3009.

Related Links:

http://psychiatry.cloudvisittm.com/

SOURCE CloudVisit(TM)

Source: www.prnewswire.com

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Dr. Insaf of Branson, MO has been named a Patients' Choice Award Winner for 2012

BRANSON, Mo., Nov. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Among the select few physicians honored with the prestigious Patients' Choice Award this year is Dr. Shahid Insaf.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121128/DC20291)

In fact, of the nation's 870,000 active physicians and dentists, just five percent consistently received top scores from their patients on sites like Vitals (http://www.vitals.com), qualifying them for this honor in 2012.

Millions of patients go online each year to rate their doctors on various components of care, including accuracy of their diagnosis, the amount of time they spent with the doctor, and the doctor's bedside manner and follow-up care. Patients' Choice reviews these rankings and other quality measures to compile its yearly list of award winners.

Dr. Shahid Insaf commented on the recognition: "I'm so honored to receive an award that's based on how my patients view the quality of care I provide. I strive each day to exceed my patients' expectations, and I'm grateful that they've recognized my efforts."

About Shahid Insaf: a short profile by and about the honoree:

Dr. Shahid Insaf is a Board Certified M.D with significant experience in inpatient and outpatient Psychiatry and a comprehensive & integrated understanding of Biological & Psychodynamic Psychiatry. He is specially trained in Brain SPECT imaging, a method of looking at the functioning of the brain and diagnosing emotional conditions based on the results. Over ten years, Dr. Insaf has been recognized 5 times as America's top psychiatrist. He is part of a growing practice located in Springfield (743 W Battlefield, Springfield, MO 65807) and Branson (500 W Main, Suite 204, Branson, MO 65616).

For more information on this Patients' Choice Award winner, please visit Dr. Shahid Insaf's profile on PatientsChoice.org.

Following the publication of Shahid Insaf's selection for the Patients' Choice Award, American Registry seconded the honor and added Dr. Insaf to The Registry™ of Business Excellence. An exclusive recognition plaque has been designed to commemorate the honor. The doctor's custom wall plaque is shown here.

For more information on Dr. Shahid Insaf, located in Branson, MO, please call 417-243-7777, or visit www.emologicclinic.com.

This press release was written by American Registry, LLC with approval by and/or contributions from Dr. Insaf and was distributed by PR Newswire, a subsidiary of UBM plc.

Patients' Choice provides in-depth information on doctors in your area who have been recognized and awarded for outstanding patient care and expertise. The Patients' Choice Award is the honor roll of physicians who have received the highest ratings by their patients.

American Registry, LLC, recognizes excellence in top businesses and professionals. The Registry™ includes over 2 million significant business and professional recognitions. For more information, search The Registry at http://www.americanregistry.com.

Contact Info:
Dr. Shahid Insaf
Phone: 417-243-7777
Email Address: contact@emologicclinic.com

SOURCE American Registry

RELATED LINKS
http://www.americanregistry.com

Source: www.prnewswire.com

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Robbins Umeda LLP Announces the Filing of a Securities Fraud Class Action Lawsuit Against Abiomed, Inc.

SAN DIEGO and DANVERS, Mass., Nov. 27, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Shareholder rights firm Robbins Umeda LLP announces that a complaint has been filed in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts on behalf of persons who purchased Abiomed, Inc. (NASDAQ: ABMD) ("Abiomed" or the "Company") stock between August 5, 2011 and October 31, 2012 (the "Class Period"), alleging violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 against the Company and certain of its officers and directors.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111014/ROBBINSUMEDALOGO)

Abiomed manufactures, markets, and sells various types of medical devices designed for circulatory support and continuum of care in heart recovery to acute heart failure patients. Throughout the Class Period, the Company's principle product was the Impella 2.5 Cardiac Support System ("Impella 2.5"). The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Abiomed issued a series of materially false and misleading statements to investors about the Company's financial strength and prospects. Specifically, the complaint alleges that positive statements regarding the Company were materially false and misleading because the FDA repeatedly warned Abiomed that the Company's marketing and promotional materials regarding the Impella 2.5 contained inappropriate claims and suggested improper off-label uses. Abiomed repeatedly assured investors that the FDA's concerns had been addressed and that the matter was resolved.

Then, on November 1, 2012, Abiomed announced that the United States Department of Justice was investigating "the Company's marketing and labeling of the Impella 2.5." On this news, Abiomed's share price fell 32%, from $19.82 per share on October 31, 2012 to close at $13.61 on November 1, 2012.

If you purchased or otherwise acquired Abiomed stock during the Class Period and wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must act no later than January 15, 2013. To discuss your shareholder rights, please contact attorney Darnell R. Donahue at (800) 350-6003, inquiry@robbinsumeda.com, or via the shareholder information form on the firm's website.

Robbins Umeda LLP is a nationally recognized leader in securities litigation and shareholder rights law. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in shareholder derivative and securities class action lawsuits, and has helped its clients realize more than $1 billion of value for themselves and the companies in which they have invested. For more information, please go to http://www.robbinsumeda.com.

Press release link: http://www.robbinsumeda.com/shareholders-rights-blog/abiomed-inc/.

Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact:
Robbins Umeda LLP
Darnell R. Donahue
inquiry@robbinsumeda.com
(619) 525-3990 or Toll Free (800) 350-6003
www.robbinsumeda.com

SOURCE Robbins Umeda LLP

RELATED LINKS
http://www.robbinsumeda.com

Source: www.prnewswire.com

Computer Issues May Hamper Online Insurance Markets

New online insurance markets set to begin selling health coverage to consumers next October may be hampered by delays in launching a key computer program, according to state consultants and insurance regulators.

State regulators learned late last week that an electronic system most insurers will use to submit their policies for state and federal approvals won’t be ready for testing next month, as originally planned. The lag is being blamed on the wait for several regulations from the Obama administration, which are needed to update the software.

The slowdown "creates another three-month delay," said Dan Schuyler, a director at Leavitt Partners, a consulting firm working with states to set up the markets, called exchanges. "They're not going to be ready."

Others believe the delay, while not necessarily critical, will further squeeze insurance regulators and insurers, who still have much work to complete before next fall when enrollment is slated to start in the exchanges, a critical part of the health law. Enrollment is set to begin Oct. 1 for policies that go into effect Jan. 1, 2014.

An estimated 9 million individuals are expected to use the markets that first year to shop for coverage and find out if they are eligible for government subsidies.

But depending on how long the update takes, "it could make it difficult to have a robust and competitive marketplace on the exchanges," said Kim Holland, a former Oklahoma insurance commissioner who is now executive director of state affairs for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

The Obama administration has maintained that planning is moving forward on schedule and that the exchanges will open on time.

The difficulty in updating the System for Electronic Rate and Form Filing, known as SERFF, is the latest obstacle in the planning for the online marketplaces. Many states stalled preparations as a result of the controversy surrounding the law, with opponents encouraging them to wait to see who won the election first.

Even some supporters are arguing to postpone the opening of the marketplaces to give states and insurers more time.

"If I could wave a magic wand and change (the start) from 2014 to 2015, I would," said Sandy Praeger, Kansas' elected insurance commissioner, whose plan for a state partnership exchange was rejected by Gov. Sam Brownback. "But I don’t know if [federal lawmakers] can do that."

Aside from the political obstacles, a host of technical and regulatory steps must be taken before the exchanges can open, including reviews of every type of policy submitted by insurers to ensure they meet new standards for coverage and pricing. Those standards can’t be incorporated into the review system, however, until several yet-to-be-issued federal rules are finalized.

"Without the rules, we can’t get the (SERFF) system going," said Holland.

While proposed rules – including how insurers can adjust their premiums based on a consumer's age or where they live – may be released this week, the government will give stakeholders at least a 30-day comment period before finalizing them.

Generally, insurers say it can take a year to 18 months to develop new products and get them approved.

"The timeline is definitely getting crunched," said Joel Ario, a consultant with Manatt Health Solutions who formerly served as the Obama administration’s head of exchange planning. "Insurers tell me they will need final approval of their products by July 1 so they will have three months to actually get set up to market them."

That means there still is time, say some state regulators. In Mississippi, the SERFF delay is not being viewed with alarm, partly because the state expects only a handful of insurers to submit policies for review.

"We’ll have our work cut out for us, no doubt about that. But I don’t think we are in need of the time that some of the other states need," said Aaron Sisk, senior staff attorney with the Mississippi insurance department, which he said will notify the federal government by Friday that it will run its own exchange.

But Sisk added, "if they keep pushing back the time, it could become a problem pretty quick."

Insurers "are going to do everything they can to be ready to go by Oct. 1 of next year," said Robert Zirkelbach, spokesman for American's Health Insurance Plans, the industry’s lobbying group. "They want to offer coverage in the exchanges."

The SERFF system is already used in nearly all states so insurers can electronically file applications for new products and premium adjustments. Developed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, the system was designed to streamline a process that can involve hundreds of pages of documents for each type of policy sold. To help implement the health law, the SERFF software is being updated to help state and federal regulators determine which policies meet the standards to be sold in the new markets.

The health law envisions states running their own marketplaces, but it allows the federal government to set them up and run them if states do not.

So far only 17 states and the District of Columbia have said they will run markets on their own. Last week, the Obama administration extended a deadline to mid-December for states to submit plans to set up their own markets, or to mid-February for those who want to partner with the federal government.

Ario says the extension shows the federal government "believes they can start the solicitation process [with insurers in February] and complete it in time to have product on the shelf for open enrollment in October."

By pushing back the startup of the updated software, though, insurers will have less time to win that approval. It takes about 60 days for the average state to process an application to sell a new health insurance product, said Holland.

The delay "compresses the deadline … and everyone is concerned we will get flooded" in the spring with a slew of applications from insurers, said Praeger, a past president of the insurance commissioners association.

Meeting the deadlines "is going to be really hard," she added. "Not that it can’t be done, but it really puts a lot of pressure on everyone."

Source: feeds.kaiserhealthnews.org

Monday, November 26, 2012

Psoriasis Skin Care - How to Make Your Skin Look Good

Psoriasis Skin Care - How to Make Your Skin Look Good
One of the most common misconception of psoriasis would probably be living your whole life with ugly skin. Contrary to popular belief, with just a good skin care routine you can still look good despite your skin condition, just like Kim Kardashian, for example. The reality star was diagnosed with psoriasis a couple of years ago and yet, she still manages to look gorgeous and flawless despite having psoriasis. This is because a solid skin care routine is all you need to keep your skin looking good, more so if you have a skin condition such as psoriasis. With this, let me share to you some tips on how to make your skin look good.
Source: EzineArticles.com

Anthro Introduces Steve's Station Curve at RSNA 2012

TUALATIN, Ore., Nov. 26, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Anthro Corporation, Technology Furniture®, the Portland, Oregon manufacturer of radiology sit/stand desks, introduces the newest member of its award-winning Steve's Station® family. The ergonomic design of Steve's Curve wraps displays around the user for comfortable viewing and positions equipment within easy reach. The addition of this curved model gives imaging professionals a total of four Steve's Station desk options with a variety of shapes and features. Steve's Curve is available 2013 and will be shown for the first time at RSNA, November 25-30 in Chicago, IL (Booth #8729).

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121126/CL18690 )

More than just an electric radiology sit/stand desk, the two worksurfaces of Steve's Curve move up and down separately to custom fit the work style of any user. The independent movement of each worksurface greatly increases the variety of positions and gives the radiologist precise control of their worksurface height and monitor placement.

Steve's Curve includes the same thoughtful details as other members of the Steve's Station family. Comfort controls like an air circulation fan to move air gently around the displays and keep the user refreshed. Twin LED task lights on gooseneck arms that provide just the right amount of light wherever needed without washing onto the displays. Convenient USB ports built into the worksurface. Programmable height presets in order for the user to change positions quickly throughout the day. These features are just a few of the extras that reflect Anthro's commitment to make every radiologist more comfortable and productive.

Additional ergonomic features include tilt adjustability of the front keyboard surface to ease pressure on arms, shoulders, neck and back. The back monitor work surface of Steve's Curve includes Monitor Easy Track™, a monitor management system that slides the entire monitor array forward and back in unison 10" to reach the user's optimal focal depth.

"Large monitor configurations have the tendency to prohibit users from having all monitors within the same focal distance," said Michael Mullen, Design Development Manager for Anthro Corporation. "This new curve shape encourages an ergonomic viewing experience and will reside comfortably in a corner, along a wall or in a pod arrangement."

The electric legs of Steve's Curve move the desk quickly and quietly from 23" to 49" high to support a variety of users. The keyboard surface adjusts from 6" below and 7" above the monitor surface. With a total keyboard height range of 17"- 56" high, Steve's Curve accommodates a wide variety of height preferences.

Steve's Station's cable management system protects data and power cords and cables through the table's entire range of motion so that connections aren't strained when the table height or monitor depth are adjusted. Monitors are easy to reposition and replace with a single included tool.

Lifetime Warranty against manufacturing defects on the table; two-year warranty on legs and electrical system. Lamps, cords, and plugs are not warranted.

Anthro Corporation was founded in 1984. Anthro designs, manufactures, and markets furniture only for high tech equipment, and provides solutions for the radiology, engineering, business, medical, government, and education markets.

Web Site: http://radiology-furniture.com/RSNA-2012

If you'd like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call Nichole Stutzman at 503.691.2556 or email Nichole at nichole.stutzman@anthro.com

SOURCE Anthro Corporation

Source: www.prnewswire.com

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Data Published in Nature Biotechnology Show Messenger (m)RNA Prophylactic Vaccines Based on CureVac's RNActive® Technology Demonstrate Immunogenicity and Protection Against Influenza Virus Infection

-- RNActive Vaccines Are Stable at High Temperatures Which Makes Them Suitable for Easy Worldwide Supply

-- RNActive Vaccines May Become a Novel, Broadly Applicable and Easy-to-Handle Prophylactic Class of Vaccine Against Infectious Diseases

TUEBINGEN, Germany, Nov. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- CureVac GmbH, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing a new class of therapies and vaccines based on mRNA, and the German Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), Germany, today announced that mRNA vaccines (RNActive) based on the company's RNA technology platform have the potential to provide effective protection against infectious diseases. In vivo data published by CureVac and the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute online in Nature Biotechnology show that mRNA vaccines induced balanced, long-lived and protective immunity to influenza A virus infections in various animal models. It is also shown that the production of RNActive vaccines is highly flexible. Thus, RNActive vaccines can be rapidly supplied for a variety of virus strains and subtypes identified in response to pandemic scenarios.

"The findings and results from a very fruitful collaboration with our colleagues from the renowned Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, underscore the medical potential of mRNA beyond cancer immunotherapy and validate the capacity of our RNActive vaccines to prevent infectious diseases," said Ingmar Hoerr, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer of CureVac. "The synthetic nature of our RNActive vaccines reduces production time dramatically and allows for sequence-matched vaccines that can be produced quickly and reliably in a scalable process. Additionally, our vaccines can be stored at room temperature, thereby avoiding the cold-chain in contrast to all other vaccines on the market and making worldwide distribution of our vaccines logistically and financially attractive."

Lothar Stitz, M.D., Head of Institute of Immunology, FLI, Greifswald, Germany, and one of the corresponding authors of the publication, said, "Our data highlight the potential and advantages of prophylactic mRNA-based vaccines and make immunization against a broad range of pathogens possible. We have a significant need for improved technologies that could be rapidly adapted to match circulating strains and allow efficient, large-scale production if necessary. In particular, we ultimately need a broadly protective vaccine against influenza. Thus, these mRNA vaccines overcome the draw-backs of many other prophylactic vaccination methods including DNA-based approaches that can have insufficient clinical efficacy or safety and may cause residual vector immunogenicity."

The authors demonstrated that the mRNA vaccine encoding full-length hemagglutinin (HA) of the influenza A/PuertoRico/8/1934 (PR8HA) strain was immunogenic and induced balanced B- and T-cell responses in mice. Influenza A viruses are classified based on the expression of a certain subtype of HA and a certain subtype of neuraminidase (NA). HA forms the basis of all licensed influenza vaccines. Furthermore, the immunized mice were protected against death and disease upon infectious challenge by an antibody-dependent mode-of-action. Moreover, the authors targeted additional influenza A virus strains by sequence-matched, HA-specific vaccines, and showed that all vaccines induced full protection against lethal infections, including H1N1pdm09 swine flu and H5N1 bird flu virus. The mRNA vaccine was immunogenic and provided long-term protection in newborn as well as in aged mice.

Additional data revealed that full protection was achieved upon single-dose immunization against influenza A/PR8 with a multi-component HA and NA mRNA vaccine. Furthermore, mRNA vaccines provided heterologous protection; vaccination with PR8 nucleoprotein (NP) mRNA led to protection against homologous PR8 (H1N1) or heterologous MB1 (H5N1) virus. Moreover, mRNA vaccines provided immunogenicity in ferrets, the animal model of choice for preclinical proof-of-concept studies in influenza research, and pigs compared to a licensed trivalent vaccine of corresponding specificity.

The publication, entitled 'Protective efficacy of in vitro synthesized, specific messenger RNA vaccines against influenza A virus infection,' was published online in Nature Biotechnology on Nov. 25.

About RNActive
CureVac is combining both the antigenic and adjuvant properties of mRNAs to develop novel and effective mRNA vaccines. RNActive vaccines are comprised of modified and formulated mRNA with three distinct features: The mRNA vaccines are translated into the target antigens, and the formulation and modifications lead to translatability ensuring (1) strong antigen expression, (2) increased stability and (3) enhanced immune-stimulatory activity.

About CureVac
CureVac is developing an entirely new class of therapies based on a fundamental new understanding of the medical potential of mRNA. Using its RNA technology platform, CureVac is currently developing novel therapeutic mRNA vaccines (RNActive) for cancer and prophylactic vaccines for infectious diseases and adjuvants based on long, non-coding RNAs (RNAdjuvant^®) for enhancing the immune response of other vaccines. The company has successfully completed Phase 1/2a studies with its RNActive cancer vaccines in prostate cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Results so far have shown that mRNA-based products are safe and capable of inducing balanced immune responses including humoral and cellular, Th1 and Th2 and effector and memory responses. In addition to developing its own pipeline, CureVac is collaborating with Sanofi Pasteur and In-Cell-Art on a $33.1 million project co-funded by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the development of prophylactic vaccines in infectious diseases utilizing its RNActive technology platform. For more information, please visit: http://www.curevac.com.

Media Contacts
Martina Schwarzkopf, Ph.D.
Tony Russo, Ph.D.
Russo Partners
T: + 1 (212) 845 4292
M: + 1 (347) 591 8785
T: + 1 (212) 845 4251
martina.schwarzkopf@russopartnersllc.com
tony.russo@russopartnersllc.com

Marina Bulach, Executive Assistant
CureVac GmbH
T: + 49 (7071) 920 53 20
marina.bulach@curevac.com

SOURCE CureVac

Bethenny Frankel's Bikini Body

Talk about a skinny girl...

Bethenny Frankel flaunted her incredible bikini body while relaxing poolside at her hotel today (Nov. 25) in Miami, Fla., with her 2-year-old daughter Bryn. The "Bethenny Ever After" star, 42, rocked a white bikini, sunglasses and a floppy hat as she splashed around in the water with her little girl, who looked adorable in a pink ruffled bathing-suit.

"Bryn sang the whole abc song on the plane and the entire cabin clapped and cheered afterwards. Like a movie! Made me smile," Frankel tweeted before arriving in Miami on Nov. 23.

And then last night, the talk show host shared, "With my high school girlfriends & Bryn having the best girl time. In bed eating snacks & watching tv. No boys allowed!"

Frankel's show "Bethenny" will return with new episodes next year.

See her awesome bikini body below:

bethenny frankel bikini

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Saturday, November 24, 2012

/K I L L K I L L K I L L - Cardinal Logistics Management Corporation/

We are advised by Cardinal Logistics Management Corporation that journalists and other readers should disregard the news release, Cardinal Logistics Management Transports Dry Ice to Save Years of Medical Research at NYU, issued 21-Nov-2012 over PR Newswire.

SOURCE Cardinal Logistics Management Corporation

Administration Releases New Health Law Rules For Insurers, Employers

Long-awaited details on how insurers can structure health benefits and premiums for policies that will cover tens of millions of Americans starting in 2014 were released by the Obama administration Tuesday.

The three proposed rules reaffirm key elements of the 2010 federal health law, including its requirement that insurers accept all applicants, even those with health conditions, and not charge higher rates based on health, gender or occupation.

But the proposals add additional details on how premiums can vary based on age and tobacco use, including allowing tobacco users who enroll in programs aimed at helping them quit to be exempted from extra premium costs set out in the law.

While insurers and consumer groups were cautious about issuing an immediate assessment of the proposals, a quick review showed that no one group won everything it wanted. For example, insurers did not succeed in getting the government to phase-in a requirement that limits their ability to charge older applicants more than younger ones. And consumer groups, which wanted specific details on the benefits required in 10 broad categories, instead saw continued discretion given to state regulators to pick "benchmark" plans and benefits.

More On The New Rules

Obama Administration Gives Smokers A Way Out Of Higher Insurance Premiums

"It looks like the Obama administration is continuing to be pragmatic in their approach to the regulations," said Robert Laszewski, a consultant and former health insurance executive.

Insurers, consumer groups and the public have 30 days to weigh in with comments on two of the proposed rules and will have until Jan. 25 for the third, which outlines how employers can structure wellness programs that offer discounts to workers who participate.

Based on documents posted on HealthCare.gov, here’s a quick look at the new regulations:

Essential Health Benefits

Insurance plans sold to individuals who buy their own coverage and to employers – except those that self-insure -- must include a core package of items and services known as “essential health benefits.” The benefits are required to cover 10 categories, among them emergency services, hospitalization and pediatric services, including oral and vision care.

The proposed rules reaffirm earlier directions from the administration that states can choose the exact package of benefits that insurers must provide, based largely on what is already offered in the most popular plans currently sold in their states.

Insurers and state regulators wanted states to have that leeway, but consumer groups wanted more prescriptive details.

"Ultimately, the goal is to establish a clear package of essential benefits," said Stephen Finan, senior director of policy American Cancer Society/Cancer Action Network. "Patients should have same set of evidence-based benefits no matter where they live."

But his group and other consumer advocates are cautiously optimistic about one of the changes in the proposed rules, a move that may expand earlier guidance from the administration on prescription drug coverage. That information, released in a bulletin last December, would have set a minimum standard of only one drug per category in a policy's "formulary." The consumer groups feared such a rule would have led to only one type of drug being covered for large categories of problems, such as depression or asthma or cancer.

The new proposed rule says that the minimum standard should be the number of drugs per category in the state’s chosen benchmark plan or one drug, whichever is greater.

Most of the plans being chosen as benchmarks by the states cover more than one drug per category, so the proposed rule sets “a significantly higher standard” that insurers will have to meet, said Caroline Pearson, a director at Avalere Health, a consulting group in Washington.

"It really ensures robust coverage, but you will have state-to-state variation," Pearson said.

Premiums And Other Cost Issues

Insurers can vary their rates based on age, tobacco use and where an applicant lives, but they cannot charge sick people higher rates than the healthy or charge women more than men.

The proposed rules say that insurers can charge tobacco users 50 percent more than non-users, but offers an exemption to those who try to quit.

They also offer more definition of how insurers can increase rates as a person ages. The health law says older people cannot be charged more than three times what younger people are charged. In most states, this could result in lower rates for older residents than under current practices but higher rates for younger people.

The new rules say premium rates cannot vary by age for individuals under age 21.

But, above that age, insurers could charge slightly more for each birthday until a person hits age 63. Everyone over 63 would pay the same rate. The proposal differs from the most common way insurers now set such "age bands," which are generally in five or 10-year increments.

Karen Ignagni, the head of the industry's trade group, said the proposed rules need to insure that health coverage remains affordable. While welcoming the state flexibility, she said, "We remain concerned that many families and small businesses will be required to purchase coverage that is more costly than they have today. It also is important to recognize that the new EHB requirements will coincide with the new restrictions in age rating rules that also go into effect on January 1, 2014. Both of these provisions may incentivize young, healthy people to wait to purchase insurance until they are sick or injured, driving up costs for everyone with insurance."

The proposal also gives more flexibility to states and insurers to vary annual deductibles, co-pays and other elements of the policies -- so long as the policies’ overall coverage meets a requirement known as minimum actuarial value, or the average percentage the plan pays toward a typical consumer’s estimated annual medical costs.

Wellness Programs

The health law allows employers to provide discounts on health insurance to workers who achieve certain medical or fitness goals, including such things as weight, cholesterol level or blood pressure.

The proposed rule raises the maximum permissible reward, discount or penalty from 20 percent to 30 percent of the cost of the health coverage, and further increases the maximum reward to 50 percent for programs to reduce tobacco use.

But the proposed rules also say the programs must offer alternatives for employees whose health conditions make it "unreasonably difficult" or for whom "it is medically inadvisable" to meet the specified health-related standard.

In addition, the discounts or other rewards must be available to workers annually.

While Tuesday’s announcement was significant, the administration still has yet to issue regulations on other parts of the health law. Those areas include how new taxes on premiums and medical devices will work, and how the federal government will set up insurance markets in states that refuse to do it on their own.

The administration also has to determine how to handle the Supreme Court's decision that states can opt out of the expanded Medicaid program created by the law, and how the government will allot a reduced amount of money targeted for hospitals that care for uninsured people. Also outstanding is a final rule on how birth-control coverage will be provided to employees of religious universities and hospitals that object to it.

Staff writers Jordan Rau and Phil Galewitz contributed to this article.

Source: feeds.kaiserhealthnews.org

Friday, November 23, 2012

Infosys Science Foundation Announces Winners of the Infosys Prize 2012

BANGALORE, India, November 23, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

- Honors ground-breaking research in science, mathematics and humanities

The Infosys Science Foundation today announced the winners of the Infosys Prize 2012 for their outstanding research contributions across six categories: Engineering & Computer Science, Humanities, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences. Now in its fourth year, the Infosys Prize ranks among the highest monetary awards in India that recognizes scientific research.

Infosys Science Foundation introduced a new category of Humanities earlier this year to expand the scope of the prize which has traditionally acknowledged research in the physical, biological and social sciences, as well as mathematics, engineering and computer sciences. Two winners were announced in this category for their contributions in the fields of History and Literary Studies.

In the words of Prof. Amartya Sen, jury chair for the Humanities category, "The Humanities as a cluster of subjects - Literary Studies, Philosophy, History, Art, and Legal Theory - complement the traditional sciences and have an important role in broadening human lives, like science has. Having a prize in Humanities will add incentive for younger people in the country to pursue these subjects. I am delighted that the Infosys Science Foundation is moving in this direction."

The seven winners of the Infosys Prize 2012 were informed of their selection earlier today by the trustees and jury chairs who evaluated their work along with panel members comprising of eminent scientists and professors from around the world. The jury chairs of the six categories are: Prof. Amartya Sen, Humanities; Dr. Kaushik Basu, Social Sciences; Prof. Shrinivas Kulkarni, Physical Sciences; Prof. Pradeep K. Khosla, Engineering & Computer Science; Prof. Srinivasa S. R. Varadhan, Mathematical Sciences; and Prof. Inder Verma, Life Sciences.

The prize for each category includes a gold medallion, a citation certificate, and prize money of over US $90000.

The distinguished winners of the Infosys Prize 2012 are:

Engineering and Computer Science

Dr. Ashish Lele, Scientist, National Chemical Laboratories, Pune, India

Humanities

History
Prof. Sanjay Subrahmanyam, Distinguished Professor of History and Navin & Pratima Doshi Endowed Chair in Pre-Modern Indian History, University of California at Los Angeles, U.S.A.
Literary Studies
Prof. Amit Chaudhuri, Professor of Contemporary Literature, University of East Anglia, Norwich, U.K.

Life Sciences

Dr. Satyajit Mayor, Professor of Cellular Organization and Signaling at the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore, India

Mathematical Sciences

Prof. Manjul Bhargava, Professor of Mathematics, PrincetonUniversity, Princeton, U.S.A.

Physical Sciences

Dr. Ayyappanpillai Ajayaghosh, Senior Scientist, National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Thiruvananthapuram, India

Social Sciences

Prof. Arunava Sen, Professor, Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi, India

Mr. S. Gopalakrishnan, Executive Co-Chairman, Infosys, and President of the Board of Trustees, Infosys Science Foundation, said: "I congratulate each of the winners for their highly impressive achievements and contributions in their respective fields. Scientific advances are important drivers of healthy economies. The ability to create, distribute, and use knowledge is a major source of competitive advantage, wealth creation, and quality-of-life improvements. We hope the winners will serve as role-models to motivate young Indians choose vocations in scientific research and increase innovative work and discovery being done in the country today."

Mr. N.R. Narayana Murthy, Chairman Emeritus, Infosys, and Trustee, Infosys Science Foundation, said: "I am delighted that the Infosys Prize continues to recognize the finest researchers for their unparalleled achievements. It is our aim to promote ground-breaking research, while encouraging young minds in India to explore the sciences. The Infosys Prize is a step in this direction and will inspire many more Indians to achieve these important goals."

The award ceremony for the Infosys Prize 2012 will be held on January 3, 2013 in New Delhi, where Dr. Gro Harlem Brundtland, the former Prime Minister of Norway and former Director General of the World Health Organization, will felicitate the winners.

In its efforts to elevate the prestige of scientific research in the country, the Infosys Science Foundation is lending a special focus to the development of Mathematics, with 2012 marked as the National Year of Mathematics by the Government of India. The Foundation has already orchestrated lectures across the country and inter-school Fests on Mathematics aimed at fostering enthusiasm and excitement around this academic field.

About the Infosys Science Foundation

The Infosys Prize is awarded under the aegis of the Infosys Science Foundation, a not-for-profit trust set up in February, 2009 by the management of the company. The Infosys Science Foundation is funded by a corpus which today stands at over US$ 18 million, contributed by the trustees and Infosys. For more information, please visit http://www.infosys-science-foundation.com.

Follow Infosys Prize 2012 on Twitter and Facebook.

About Infosys

Infosys partners with global enterprises to drive their innovation-led growth. That's why Forbes ranked Infosys 19^th among the top 100 most innovative companies. As a leading provider of next-generation consulting, technology, and outsourcing solutions, Infosys helps clients in more than 30 countries realize their goals. Visit http://www.infosys.com and see how Infosys (NASDAQ: INFY), with its 150,000+ people, is Building Tomorrow's Enterprise® today.

Safe Harbor

Certain statements in this release concerning our future growth prospects are forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties relating to these statements include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties regarding fluctuations in earnings, fluctuations in foreign exchange rates, our ability to manage growth, intense competition in IT services including those factors which may affect our cost advantage, wage increases in India, our ability to attract and retain highly skilled professionals, time and cost overruns on fixed-price, fixed-time frame contracts, client concentration, restrictions on immigration, industry segment concentration, our ability to manage our international operations, reduced demand for technology in our key focus areas, disruptions in telecommunication networks or system failures, our ability to successfully complete and integrate potential acquisitions, liability for damages on our service contracts, the success of the companies in which Infosys has made strategic investments, withdrawal or expiration of governmental fiscal incentives, political instability and regional conflicts, legal restrictions on raising capital or acquiring companies outside India, and unauthorized use of our intellectual property and general economic conditions affecting our industry. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 and on Form 6-K for the quarters ended December 31, 2011, June 30, 2012 and September 30, 2012.These filings are available at http://www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the company.

SOURCE Infosys Ltd

Source: www.prnewswire.com

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Make a treat that’s good for the Vegan Soul…

Make a treat that’s good for the Vegan Soul…
We hear it over and over again. One of the best ways to share veganism with those around is through food….wonderful, vegan food! Many people find it difficult to imagine how food can be at all palatable when it’s not slathered in butter, or full of eggs, milk, or accompanied by meat. This is your

We hear it over and over again. One of the best ways to share veganism with those around is through food….wonderful, vegan food! Many people find it difficult to imagine how food can be at all palatable when it’s not slathered in butter, or full of eggs, milk, or accompanied by meat. This is your chance to show them. Delicious vegan baking is often a big stumbling block for people new to the lifestyle, whether they have made the commitment or not. If this is you, here’s your day! Below is a no-fail, super easy recipe for a vegan chocolate cake that came from an old non-vegan friend! It can be used for cupcakes, or a full cake. Make the cake as a dessert for your family this weekend, or make the cupcakes, and bring them in to work. Let people tell you how delicious they are before you tell them they’re vegan!

Vegan Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

2 1/4 cups unbleached, all-purpose flour
1 3/4 cup granulated sugar (I use cane sugar)
2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 1/4 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup soft tofu
1 1/2 cups cold water
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce
1 recipe chocolate frosting (below)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 F (180 C). Lightly oil 2 round cake pans, or muffin tins.
Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and cocoa powder in a bowl.
In a food processor puree tofu with 1/2 cup water. Add remaining water and vanilla and process until mixture is smooth.
Add dry ingredients and process on high just until mixed. Add applesauce and process on high until completely mixed.
Spread batter into prepared pans/tin.
Bake cakes for 40 minutes; if making muffins, check them after 15 minutes.
Before removing cakes/cupcakes, make sure they are thoroughly cooked by inserting a toothpick into the middle; they are ready when it comes out clean.
Let the cake cool before icing.

Frosting

1/2 cup non-dairy butter, room temperature
2 1/2 – 3 cups icing (confectioner’s) sugar
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
3-5 tbsps non-dairy milk

Directions:

Cream butter until smooth using a hand mixer.
Now using a spoon to mix, add icing sugar one cup at a time until it is mixed in enough not to fly everywhere! Then mix again with hand mixer until smooth.
Add cocoa, vanilla and milk and mix on high until well combined and smooth. Beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.
(Add more milk if it’s too dry; more icing sugar if it’s too dry).
ICE AWAY!

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Though I have made this cake many times, I have never taken photos of the process. If you make this recipe, take some photos and send them in, or share them on Vegan Mainstream’s facebook page!

�

Source: feedproxy.google.com

Today’s Headlines – Nov. 20, 2012

Today’s early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including the latest news on the “fiscal cliff” negotiations as well as reports about the health law’s implementation.

The Wall Street Journal: Entitlements Split Democrats
With deficit talks kicking off in earnest, Democrats are divided on the magnitude of changes they would accept when it comes to overhauling Medicare and other safety-net programs. The party is split between those who would agree to major adjustments, including increasing premiums for wealthier beneficiaries and raising Medicare’s eligibility age, and those who rule out such moves altogether. In the middle is a group that would tolerate some cuts as long as they didn’t hit beneficiaries directly (Bendavid and Hook, 11/19).

Politico: Democrats Have Own Fiscal Cliff Issues
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) will have to find 60 votes to extend just the middle-income tax rates — far from a given when a swath of the Senate’s moderate Democrats are up for reelection in 2014. Reid and the White House will also need to navigate a hardening Democratic divide on entitlements. Progressives don’t want any deep cuts that Republicans will insist on for a deal. But a Third Way poll of 800 Obama voters set for release Tuesday found that efforts to fix Medicare and Social Security enjoy broader support than liberals suggest (Sherman, Budoff Brown and Bresnahan, 11/19).

For more headlines …

The New York Times: For Tax Pledge And Its Author, A Test Of Time
Next to the oath of office, it has been perhaps the most important commitment that Republicans in Congress can make. It is called simply “the Pledge,” and its enforcer is such a fixture in the party that he is known simply by his first name, Grover. … But the pledge and its creator, Grover Norquist, a 56-year-old conservative lobbyist, have never before faced a test as they do now. The federal deficit stands at $1 trillion. The social safety net continues to grow — and, in the case of Medicare and Social Security, remains hugely popular. And unless the two parties can agree on a fiscal plan before Jan. 1, hundreds of billions of dollars of tax increases will go into effect automatically, meaning that Congress does not even need to act for taxes to rise (Peters, 11/19).

The Wall Street Journal’s Washington Wire: Rivlin Sees A Two-Step Plan To Avoid The Fiscal Cliff
Alice Rivlin, who once led both the congressional and White House budget offices, says a two-step solution can get Washington past the so-called fiscal cliff at year’s end and set the table for a long-term budget solution. … She also said she continues to favor finding ways to introduce more competition into the Medicare program. Under “premium support,” the approach House Budget Committee chairman and Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan has advocated, the government helps senior citizens pay the premiums on health policies they acquire on their own (Seib, 11/19).

Politico: Medicare Cuts Give Health Providers Jitters
The $716 billion in Medicare “cuts” that got so much attention in the presidential election have already begun sinking their teeth into health care providers. And there are widespread jitters that any further cuts as part of a year-end deal to stave off sequestration or strike a “grand bargain” for a long-term fiscal deal would deeply gouge some providers, if not put them out of business (Norman, 11/20).

Politico: Next Up For Obamacare: Launching The Exchanges In 2014
Now that the elections saved the health care law from the threat of repeal, the Obama administration and its backers are turning their attention toward getting the law right — before the next elections come around in 2014 (Haberkorn, 11/20).

Politico: HHS Looks To Step Up Role In Health Exchanges
The last thing the Obama administration wanted to do was come into a bunch of states and start running health insurance exchanges. But when the new insurance marketplaces open for business late next year, it’s clear that the Department of Health and Human Services will have a much bigger job than it wanted (Millman, 11/20).

Politico: Can The IRS Handle Obamacare?
Now that the health care law’s future is finally secure, it’s up to the Internal Revenue Service to make sure the money flows. But only the right amount of money. And only to the people who are supposed to get it (Cunningham, 11/20).

The Washington Post: Judge Grants Company Injunction Against Health-Care Law Contraception Efforts
A federal judge on Friday temporarily prevented the Obama administration from forcing a Christian publishing company to provide its employees with certain contraceptives under the new health-care law. U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton granted a preliminary injunction sought by Tyndale House Publishers, which does not want to provide employees with contraceptives that it equates with abortion (Frommer, 11/19).

Los Angeles Times: U.S. Panel Advises HIV Tests For Everyone Ages 15 to 64
Nearly everyone ages 15 to 64 should be screened for HIV even if they’re not at great risk for contracting the virus, according to new guidelines proposed by an influential panel of medical experts. If the panel ultimately adopts those recommendations, Medicare and most private health insurers will be required to pay for the tests (Mestel, 11/19).

The Wall Street Journal: Health Panel Back Broad HIV Tests
The panel’s recommendation is significant because, if finalized, private insurers would have to pay for the test. Past recommendations haven’t always been embraced by doctors. But in this instance, the weight of medical evidence has already been trending in favor of screening and earlier treatment of people with HIV (Burton and McKay, 11/19).

USA Today: Panel Recommends Routine HIV Tests For Teens, Adults
In a broad new expansion of HIV screening, an influential government panel now says everyone ages 15 to 65 should be tested for the virus that causes AIDS. The draft recommendation, issued Monday by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, is far broader than its last recommendation in 2005, which called for screening only those at high risk (Szabo, 11/19).

The Associated Press/USA Today: Senate Questions Pharmacy Boards After Meningitis Cases
A Senate committee investigating the deadly outbreak of meningitis wants to know how regulators in all 50 states oversee specialty pharmacies like the one that triggered the illness. The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions sent letters Monday to all 50 state boards of pharmacy, seeking details about their oversight of compounding pharmacies (11/19).

The New York Times: Deaths Stir A Dispute On Powers Of FDA
Representative John D. Dingell, Democrat of Michigan, thumped his desk in exasperation as he questioned Dr. Margaret A. Hamburg, the Food and Drug Administration commissioner, during last week’s Congressional hearing on the meningitis outbreak caused by a tainted drug. Other lawmakers had already accused Dr. Hamburg of evading their questions (Grady, 11/19).

The Wall Street Journal: Health-Care Executives At Center Of Alleged Insider-Trading Scheme
Secrets passed at recreational basketball games, code words and calls on a pay phone outside a Virginia K-Mart marked what prosecutors say was a five-year insider-trading scheme fueled by corporate secrets leaked by health-care executives. Federal prosecutors in New Jersey have accused six men — including former executives at pharmaceutical company Celgene Corp. and medical-technology firm Stryker Corp. and some of their high-school friends — of passing corporate secrets about their companies and using that information to make profitable trades. The scheme allegedly began in 2007, involved 11 corporate announcements and resulted in more than $1.4 million in illicit profits (Bray, 11/19).

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 20th, 2012 at 7:57 am.

Source: feedproxy.google.com

Science and Spirituality Come Together at CERN

NEW DELHI, HAMBURG, Germany, PARIS, GENEVA and LONDON, November 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Gyalwang Drukpa and the Kung Fu Nuns Collaborate with CERN Scientists on the Relationship between Science and Spirituality

Science and Spirituality literally came together on one common platform when the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) hosted Drukpa Buddhist's Spiritual Head, His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa on the subject of cosmic energy.

CERN, WHO, WWF, the Green Cross and other supranational organizations invited His Holiness the Gyalwang Drukpa, the head of one of the world's largest Buddhist sects and founder of the international non-profit organization Live to Love, to speak about the role scientists and spiritual leaders should play in promoting global well-being. The Gyalwang Drukpa traveled with a dozen Kung Fu nuns of the Drukpa Order - who are renowned for breaking gender roles in the Himalayas - as an example that women are half the solution (if not more) to world health and environmental problems. The Kung Fu nuns are also trained to work in hospital clinics and recently helped break the world record for tree planting.

The Gyalwang Drukpa said at CERN, "The spiritual community should be working with the scientific community to tackle today's global problems instead of resisting science. While we may use a different language, we are talking about the same thing and heading in the same direction."

While visiting these institutions, the Gyalwang Drukpa attended the launch of three new chapters to the Live to Love network in Hamburg (Germany), Paris (France) and Geneva (Switzerland). The Gyalwang Drukpa attended an event in Paris that celebrates his humanitarian work hosted by Live to Love Paris and supported by Prince Edouard de Ligne and Princess Isabella Orsini.

The Gyalwang Drukpa is a great proponent of gender equality, and the Kung Fu Nuns made use of this opportunity to showcase their skills to the world at large, and in the process spread the message of gender equality. Women empowerment is at the core of Gyalwang Drukpa's initiatives, and he has been working very hard along with his supporters and followers to propagate this message.

For more details, please visit: http://www.drukpa.org

For further press information please contact:

Shreeya Roy, Drukpa Lineage @ +91-9350335761, communications@drukpa.com

SOURCE Drukpa Lineage

Source: www.prnewswire.com

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

How To Stop Binging On Comfort Foods

http://bit.ly/UIGpOH
How To Stop Binging On Comfort Foods
Do you go crazy when you look at the menu?Have you considered new changes in the way you choose food? Here are some things to consider.

Eat a solid breakfast

I'm can guarantee you that it is nothing new to you by now that it is important that you eat your breakfast. So, what have you been having for breakfast? A good breakfast must include a right portion of fat, protein and carbohydrate. Not only will it give you the energy to handle your day's work and stress but it will prevent you from binging on snacks unnecessarily. Thus, you have more control and stop yourself from yielding to your 'out-of-control' eating habits anymore.

Make sure your body has enough energy

When it comes to losing weight and dieting, many people's first thought is to reduce food intake. They exclude certain foods from their meals. In a way, that is the right thing to do. You cut out all the unhealthy food but make sure you don't cut out food that will give your body the energy it needs. Eat a good lunch which has protein, fat and carbohydrate. If you just eat a salad, it is not going to will send you downward spiral before you leave your office as you don't have enough energy. By evening, your blood sugar will drop and then I believe you will not be able to resist binging on something unhealthy like ice cream or chocolate.

You need some carbohydrate

I know some diets recommend zero carbohydrates. But you know what, your body needs it for energy. You can control the amount you eat but don't eliminate it totally from your meals if not you will start to feel lethargic and become less alert.

Obagi Nu Derm System – Is It Worth It?

Obagi Nu Derm is the most famous skin care system among adolescents and young adults suffering from acne scars, and marks. Since the first dermatologist recommended Obagi Nu Derm system, it has spread like a plague, and has been welcomed...

The post Obagi Nu Derm System – Is It Worth It? appeared first on Laura's Beauty Reviews.

Obagi Nu Derm is the most famous skin care system among adolescents and young adults suffering from acne scars, and marks.

Since the first dermatologist recommended Obagi Nu Derm system, it has spread like a plague, and has been welcomed not only by kids with acne problems, but also for those wanting to achieve more even skin complexion and desiring to get rid of dark spots, melasma, age spots, sun spots, scars etc.

It’s very important to warn people thinking about using Obagi Nu-Derm System, that this is an aggressive and very harsh skin treatment. People wanting to do it have to know how serious they have to be about Obagi Nu-Derm. To see real results you can’t skip one day and is absolutely necessary follow the routine to the letter.

What is Obagi Nu-Derm?

Obagi Nu-Derm eliminates signs of photo-aging while protecting your skin from damage. You have probably asked yourselves: why with the pass of the years our skin looks dull and loses all radiance and glow?

The answer is because over the years, skin loses vitality and doesn’t absorb vitamins in the same way as 10 years before.

Skin is always changing and replacing itself, new skin cells are always forming in the deeper layers and trying to come out to the surface to eliminate all dead skin. This process works perfectly when you are young but over the years it slows down.

Obagi Nu Derm System is considered one of the best whitening skin system, it will accelerate cellular turnover helping new cells to get to the top fast and for longer.

Without any doubt I can promise that Obagi Nu-Derm will eliminate freckles, scars, breakouts, age spots and uneven skin tone, it will also eliminate fine lines and wrinkles. You will get more soft, clear and healthy skin after trying this skin whitening system.

But… At what price?

Before start using this skin lightening treatment it’s important, and I ask you more than recommend you, to research and see pictures and videos showing the whole process.

It’s complicated to explain how to do the program in an article, that is why I recommend you to look for videos. There are pretty good videos on youtube, very understandable and simple.

Obagi Nu Derm products use peeling agents to do its work, which means you will experience peeling and redness during weeks, in fact, the more peeling and redness the better will be the results.

You will look like a zombie, it’s really awful and it burns the skin, I mean it, it’s really shocking how your face gets along the process.

That is probably the only down side I can point about this skin whitening system. I know that in the end it will pay off, but I think it’s a drastic solution if you can find the same solution with less aggressive creams.

For those who are fearless I would probably say go for it, it’s a product that truly have shown unbelievable results.

How to use Obagi Nu Derm System

I do recommend getting assistance from a dermatologist before going on this risky journey, but if you don’t, please be sure you follow all the steps correctly, this is very important.

Obagi Nu Derm Started Set (1 thru 6) includes:
Obagi Nu-Derm Gentle cleanser
Obagi Nu-Derm Toner
Obagi Nu-Derm Clear (Contains Hydroquinone)
Obagi Nu-Derm Exfoderm Forte ( lactatoc acid and glycolic acid)
Obagi Nu-Derm Blender (4% hydroquinone)
Obagi Nu-Derm Healthy Skin Protection SPF 35 ( apply this product at least 15 minutes before sun exposure)

This system comes in two forms, one for normal/oily skin and the other for normal/dry skin.

The process is for 16 weeks but it can be extended through 20. After that you can use it as a maintenance program, one or two times a week.

Obagi Nu Derm Really Works… If You Take The Risk

Without question I can tell that this product will improve your skin in an unimaginable way, I have seen results very closely and I know that it really works, but you have to be prepared because the price to get what you want is high in every sense of the word.

Is a drastic solution, I wouldn’t recommend it for those that can achieve the same results with inexpensive and safest products like Meladerm Skin Lightening. But if you have tried all and you still haven’t got any improvements, then go ahead, Obagi Nu Derm System might be what you need.

The post Obagi Nu Derm System – Is It Worth It? appeared first on Laura's Beauty Reviews.

Source: laurasbeautyreviews.com

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What is Obagi Nu-Derm?

But… At what price?

How to use Obagi Nu Derm System

Obagi Nu Derm Really Works… If You Take The Risk

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