Orange County Resident Bill Holmes Donates $27 Million To Children's Hospital of Orange County To Name New Tower

Orange County Resident Bill Holmes Donates $27 Million To Children's Hospital of Orange County To Name New Tower

ORANGE, Calif., Jan. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Children's Hospital of Orange County (CHOC Children's) today announced that Newport Beach, Calif. resident and retired businessman Bill Holmes made a $27 million gift to name its new pediatric hospital tower, set to open on its main campus in spring 2013. In honor of Holmes' generosity, the tower will be named The Bill Holmes Tower. The Holmes gift is the largest investment in the organization's history from a living donor and is the first to name a building at CHOC Children's.

The 425,000-square-foot tower will house Orange County's only fully-dedicated pediatric emergency department, in addition to advanced operating rooms, laboratory, pathology and imaging services – each with a pediatric environment and staff. The seven-story building, featuring leading design and safety principles, includes enhanced patient and family amenities to create a serene, healing environment for children.

"We are extremely grateful for the support from Mr. Holmes," said Kim Cripe , president and CEO, CHOC Children's. "His generous donation will help us usher in a new era at CHOC; one that truly transforms pediatric medicine, making children's futures brighter than ever."

In addition to his $27 million gift, Holmes previously pledged $200,000 to CHOC Children's, which included a donation to name one of the private patient rooms on the oncology floor of the new patient care tower.

"This is my legacy gift to CHOC Children's and to the children and families in the community," explained Holmes, who moved to Southern California from the Midwest in his teens and built his career in the region.

He added, "The new tower expands on what CHOC can do for the children in our community. Orange County residents should take tremendous pride in having a world-class pediatric facility here."

"We are grateful to Bill Holmes for this legacy gift and his tremendous investment in pediatric healthcare, improving the lives of children and families here in Orange County and beyond for generations to come," said Graig Eastin , vice president, CHOC Children's Foundation.

Holmes' $27 million gift demonstrates significant momentum in the "Change CHOC, Change the World" campaign, which concludes in June 2013. The comprehensive fundraising campaign is designed to help CHOC Children's realize its vision of achieving national recognition as a premier children's hospital by building a new pediatric care tower; establishing a substantial endowment to support recruiting more of the world's top pediatric experts who can drive research and clinical breakthroughs; and building upon the academic and research affiliation with UC Irvine and its School of Medicine to advance innovative treatments and cures for children – locally and across the globe.

To learn more about ways to give to CHOC Children's, call the Foundation at (714) 509-8690 or visit www.choc.org/giving.

For photos of the donor and of The Bill Holmes Tower, please visit http://chocchildrensgift.porternovelli.com.

About CHOC Children's
Named one of the best children's hospitals by U.S. News & World Report (2012-2013), CHOC Children's is exclusively committed to the health and well-being of children through clinical expertise, advocacy, outreach and research that brings advanced treatment to pediatric patients. Affiliated with the University of California, Irvine, CHOC's regional healthcare network includes two state-of-the-art hospitals in Orange and Mission Viejo, several primary and specialty care clinics, a pediatric residency program, and four centers of excellence - The CHOC Children's Heart, Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Hyundai Cancer Institutes.

Media Contact:
Denise Almazan , Director of Public Relations
(714) 509-8680 office; (714) 275-1452 pager
dalmazan@choc.org

SOURCE Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC)

RELATED LINKS
http://www.choc.org/giving

Source: www.prnewswire.com

What Is A Probiotic?

What Is A Probiotic?

What is a probiotic? What makes a good probiotic supplement? And, what role do probiotics play in digestive health?

Probiotics are "friendly" bacteria that include several species of lactobacillis such as acidophilus and bifidophilus. They aid in the digestion of proteins and the absorption of nutrients, especially the B vitamins. They have antifungal and detoxifying properties, and are very important to the immune system.

The intestinal flora of a healthy human colon should have a thriving colony of about 85 percent lactobacilli and 15 percent coliform bateria (Balch). Unfortunately, modern diets, lifestyles and pollution have these numbers reversed in a vast majority of the human population.

An imbalance in the intestinal flora can cause consumed food to be improperly digested, which then leads to a toxic buildup of fecal matter and gas in the colon. If not quickly moved through the bowel, these toxins then leak into the blood and other areas of the body. Toxins in the blood and organs present themselves as various symptoms, and if not caught in the beginning, lead to a domino, chain reaction of health problems.

An unhealthy intestinal flora can lead to:

• Intestinal gas and bloating
• Heart burn/acid reflux
• Intestinal toxicity
• Immune system deficiency
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Crohn's Disease
• Colitis
• Diverticulitis
• Allergies
• Leaky Gut Syndrome
• Systemic Toxicity
• Constipation and diarrhea
• Nutritional Deficiencies
• Yeast infections
• Rashes (even diaper rash and cradle cap)
• Itching
• Pancreatitis
• Cold sores
• Diabetes
• Hypoglycemia
• Hormone Imbalance
• Fibromyalgia
• Celiac Disease
• Cancer
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
• Lupus
• Fungal infections (such as athlete's foot, jock itch)
• Anorexia
• and more

To support the balance of friendly bacteria in the intestinal system, supplements called probiotics are highly beneficial. However, not all probiotics are created equal. It's important to know and have confidence in the manufacturing practices of the brand of probiotic you use.

A probiotic supplement needs to have viable, living strains of bacteria in order for it to be of benefit. 1 billion organisms per gram are advisable. Also, a non-dairy formula may be best for some people with food allergies, as dairy is a common food allergen.

At high temperatures, probiotics lose their viability as the friendly bacteria die. Thus, it's important to keep probiotics in a cool, dry place such as in a refrigerator.

Antibiotics are especially damaging to friendly bacteria as they not only kill harmful bacteria, but they destroy the beneficial ones as well. So, it is very important to support and rebuild the balance of beneficial bacteria in the intestinal system after antibiotics are finished. If balance is not regained, digestion problems may ensue. This then leads to toxicity in the body and other health problems.

It may be hard to acknowledge that some bacteria are our "friends", and that we need to nurture and protect them. However, it is vital that we do.

From time to time, we need to add more bacteria "friends" to our intestinal party to keep the "thugs" from taking over and stealing our health. On these occasions, a high quality probiotic supplement can get our digestive system back in check and stop a health crisis in it's tracks.

If you no longer have to ask the question, "what is a probiotic?" you're one step closer to having a whole host of happy "friends".

Resource:Balch, Phyllis A., et al, Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Second Edition, (1997): 56.

For educational purposes only, not intended to diagnose or prescribe.

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Aflac Honored by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in Atlanta

Aflac Honored by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in Atlanta

COLUMBUS, Ga., Jan. 20, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Aflac, the number one provider of supplemental insurance in the United States, and six time recipient of Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies designation, was honored Saturday evening with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center's 2013 Salute to Greatness Award. Aflac Chairman and CEO Dan Amos attended the event held at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta and accepted the award on behalf of the company.

In announcing that Aflac would receive the prestigious award, the King Center acknowledged Aflac's commitment to diversity, its support for the Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta and the company's consistent appearance on such lists as FORTUNE's 100 Best Places to Work, on which the company has appeared for 15 consecutive years.

"To receive this award, particularly in the same year that our nation will celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Dr. King's profound 'I Have a Dream' speech, is indeed a proud achievement," Mr. Amos said. "We are humbled to be associated with his legacy as it validates Aflac's efforts to maintain the type of values that would make Dr. King proud."

"The King Center was delighted to have this chance to honor Aflac, Inc., which has been among the most public-spirited corporations in America," said King Center C.E.O. Bernice A. King. "We were proud to present the Salute to Greatness Award to Aflac, Inc. Chairman and CEO Daniel Amos , who has done an outstanding job of keeping Aflac in the forefront of corporate social responsibility."

The 2013 celebration marks the 45^th annual Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday observance by the King Center. The Center serves as the premier resource for information about Dr. King, the movement he led and efforts to apply his teachings in current struggles for freedom, justice and human rights.

Past notable recipients of the Salute to Greatness award include Secretary of State Hillary Clinton , entertainer Oprah Winfrey , Ambassador Andrew J. Young , U.S. Poet Laureate Maya Angelou, athlete Ervin "Magic" Johnson and singers Bono and Stevie Wonder .

About Aflac
When a policyholder gets sick or hurt, Aflac pays cash benefits fast. For more than 58 years, Aflac insurance policies have given policyholders the opportunity to focus on recovery, not financial stress. In the United States, Aflac is the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance. In Japan, Aflac is the number one life insurance company in terms of individual policies in force. Aflac individual and group insurance products provide protection to more than 50 million people worldwide. For six consecutive years, Aflac has been recognized by Ethisphere magazine as one of the World's Most Ethical Companies. In 2013, FORTUNE magazine recognized Aflac as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America for the 15th consecutive year. Also, FORTUNE magazine included Aflac on its list of Most Admired Companies for the 11th time in 2012. Aflac Incorporated is a Fortune 500 company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AFL. To find out more about Aflac, visit aflac.com or espanol.aflac.com.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130120/CL45349)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100423/CL92305LOGO)

Media Contacts:	Analyst and Investor Contact:
Laura Kane	Robin Y. Wilkey
Aflac Incorporated	Aflac Incorporated
706.596.3493	1.800.235.2667
706.593.0786 (cell)	Fax: 706.324.6330
lkane@aflac.com	rwilkey@aflac.com
Jon A. Sullivan
Aflac Incorporated
706.596.3493
706.573.7610 (cell)
jsullivan@aflac.com

SOURCE Aflac

RELATED LINKS
http://www.aflac.com

Source: www.prnewswire.com

Reha Technology AG recibe una importante financiación de HBM BioCapital II

Reha Technology AG recibe una importante financiación de HBM BioCapital II

OLTEN, Suiza, January 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

- Reha Technology AG recibe una importante financiación del inversor sanitario internacional HBM BioCapital II

 

Reha Technology AG anunció hoy el cierre de la financiación por parte de HBM BioCapital II LP; un socio de patrimonio privado asesorado por HBM Partners AG, Suiza.

Reha Technology AG es una compañía suiza que diseña, fabrica y distribuye globalmente sistemas avanzados asistidos por robótica para la neurorehabilitación. El desarrollo para el G-EO System™ patentado que es el primer y único dispositivo de rehabilitación para caminar del mundo con la capacidad de simular subir y bajar escalones, comenzó en 2007 en Bolzano, Italia. La compañía comenzó las operaciones en Suiza en 2012. Desde entonces, se ha establecido en Estados Unidos una red distribuidora y de operaciones. La expansión de la red global y el lanzamiento de productos adicionales son los principales objetivos para 2013.

Junto con la financiación, HBM BioCapital II adquirió una importante participación minoritaria en Reha Technology AG. El capital será empleado para expandir el negocio de Reha Technology a nivel mundial. HBM es un importante inversor de asistencia sanitaria europeo con activos de unos 800 millones de dólares bajo gestión. HBM apoya a compañías farmacéuticas, de tecnología médica y de diagnóstico en su expansión empresarial mundial.

René Trost, consejero delegado de Reha Technology AG, comentó: "Estamos orgullosos de haber sido capaces de atraer a un importante inversor del sector sanitario como un nuevo accionista para Reha Technology. Con el apoyo de HBM, seremos capaces de expandir y hacer crecer sustancialmente nuestro negocio de venta de los sistemas robóticos de rehabilitación más avanzados a los clientes de todo el mundo."

Acerca de Reha Technology AG

Reha Technology AG mejora la calidad de vida de aquellas personas que se encuentran lesionadas o discapacitadas por enfermedad o accidente. Para conseguir este objetivo, la compañía emplea la investigación y el desarrollo de nuevas tecnologías centradas en la rehabilitación de asistencia robótica y hace que las tecnologías más nuevas y más efectivas estén disponibles para los dispositivos médicos de rehabilitación. PARA UNA VIDA MEJOR .

Acerca de HBM Partners

HBM Partners se encuentra entre los líderes globales de inversión centrada en la asistencia sanitaria con aproximadamente 800 millones de dólares bajo gestión. HBM se centra en la financiación de fases de desarrollo, crecimiento y compra de acciones de compañías privadas así como de inversiones en compañías públicas. HBM Partners asesora a HBM Healthcare Investments AG, HBM BioCapital I & II y otros fondos especializados de patrimonio privado y público. HBM ha sido un activo contribuidor a la creación de valor en numerosas empresas, generando más de 40 ventas comerciales e IPOs desde el comienzo. Para más información visite: http://www.hbmpartners.com.

Detalles de contacto

Reha Technology AG
René Trost, CEO
Teléfono +41-62-205-4488
Rene.trost@rehatechnology.com
http://www.rehatechnology.com

SOURCE REHA Technology AG

Source: www.prnewswire.com

Michelle Obama got bangs (and I heartily approve—do you?)

Michelle Obama got bangs (and I heartily approve—do you?)
Bangs! Everyone’s getting them. Kate Middleton, Karlie Kloss, Kerry Washington… and now the first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama. Here’s a refresher pic of her previous hairstyle: It’s a little… TV anchorwoman. [...]

Bangs! Everyone’s getting them. Kate Middleton, Karlie Kloss, Kerry Washington… and now the first lady of the United States, Michelle Obama.

Here’s a refresher pic of her previous hairstyle:

It’s a little… TV anchorwoman. But what am I going to say? She’s the first lady! This kind of hairdo (along with skirt suits and double strands of pearls) sort of goes with the territory. It’s professional and it’s classy… but it sure ain’t trendy.

Which is why her new look is a total shocker! Here’s the big reveal:

Thick, eyebrow-skimming, face-framing bangs. And long layers in the rest of her hair, which is looking super-shiny, I might add.

I really wish I could find a front-on pic, but from what I see so far it looks really good, right? As a beauty person I am SO endorsing this—the fringe just makes her look cooler, fresher, edgier. And younger, because you know what they say: bangs are better than Botox! Michelle actually just turned 49 yesterday, and I think her new cut has totally turned back the clock.

Pro beauty tip: if you’re a lady of a certain age and you want a younger look that’s NOT from injectables, bangs are totes the way to go.

What say you?

Are you a fan of Michelle’s new look?
Or do you think her “before” style was more appropriate?
Are all of these famous people inspiring you to get bangs too? (For me this is The Big Beauty Question that I’m always in turmoil over. To chop or not to chop!)

Source: beautyeditor.ca