Earliest and Newest HIV RNA PCR Test from 7 Days after HIV Exposure Launched by Freedomhealth London, UK

Earliest and Newest HIV RNA PCR Test from 7 Days after HIV Exposure Launched by Freedomhealth London, UK

Early HIV testing using HIV RNA PCR HIV tests together with HIV p24 testing may prevent up to 50 % of further new HIV cases in the industrialised world. This new test has been launched by Freedomhealth London. There is mounting evidence that newly HIV infected people will accidentally pass on HIV to others because they don't know they have been exposed to and infected by HIV and during the initial phase, the amount of HIV in their blood, semen and vaginal secretions is massive. Continued sexual activity in this key phase will inadvertently contaminate others. Very early testing for HIV using this new application for established technology has potential to slash these onward transmission rates.

(PRWeb UK) July 26, 2010

Early identification of new infections of HIV (http://www. freedomhealth. co. uk/sexual-health/early-symptoms-of-hiv-early-hiv-test-and-testing/80/) will limit onward spread of HIV by more than 50%. That's the conclusion of a number of researchers whose work has helped underpin the New York State Department of Health AIDS Insitute recent update on the Diagnosis and Management of Acute HIV Infection.

Dr Sean Cummings of London's Freedomhealth Clinic (http://www. freedomhealth. co. uk/) said "Identifying early or acute HIV infection is crucial in preventing inadvertent onward transmission to other HIV negative people and slowing disease progression in newly HIV positive people. The HIV RNA PCR test allows for the earliest diagnosis possible and this is then always followed with confirmatory testing".

Freedomhealth has partnered with The Doctors Laboratory to launch this new HIV 1 and 2 RNA PCR test via the Freedomhealth Clinic in Central London or by post from anywhere around the world.

A number of factors act to increase the risk of HIV transmission during the acute or very early phase of the disease. These include the fact that many people will be unaware that they have contracted the disease and will maintain risky sexual behaviour with other, currently HIV negative individuals. Newly HIV positive people will have very high initial "viral loads" (the amount of HIV virus in their blood, vaginal secretions and also semen). Finally, the earliest symptoms of HIV are very often non specific and go un-noticed.

Doctors in all settings including primary care physicians and emergency department doctors as well obviously as Sexual Health specialists should have a high index of suspicion to ensure prompt recognition of early HIV disease. Acute HIV infection is often referred to as ARS (Acute Retroviral Syndrome) or sometimes referred to as a "seroconversion illness" where someone moves from being HIV antibody negative to HIV antibody positive. The change from one to another is often accompanied in up to 70% of people by a classic triad of early HIV symptoms comprising very high fever, very sore throat and a whole body rash. These patients need to be considered for a number of diseases including glandular fever (infectious mononucleosis), a streptococcal infection of the throat and also of course HIV if they are sexually active or inject recreational drugs.

HIV testing (http://www. freedomhealth. co. uk/sexual-health/hiv-test-hiv-testing-london/125/) at an early stage is imperative in order to limit further onward spread of HIV and also to facilitate potential early HIV treatment and screening for other sexually transmitted diseases (http://www. freedomhealth. co. uk/sexual-health/std-sti-test-and-testing-clinic-london/175/) which may co-exist.

Plasma HIV RNA PCR testing (http://www. freedomhealth. co. uk/sexual-health/early-hiv-and-hepatitis-c-detection-blood-test-london/192/) allows for very early identification of new HIV infection well before antibody tests may become positive. Typically, after HIV infection, HIV antibodies take 2 to 6 weeks to form and be detectable. The detection of antibodies will vary depending on the individual patient's immune system but also on the quality of the HIV test and which generation HIV test is used. Modern third generation HIV tests will identify more than 99% of newly acquired HIV infection by 6 weeks post exposure.

Fourth generation combined HIV 1 and 2 antibody plus p24 antigen tests (http://www. freedomhealth. co. uk/sexual-health/hiv-test-hiv-testing-london/125/) are extremely accurate and will identify greater than 99.8% of new HIV infection by 28 days post exposure. These 4th generation HIV tests have been in widespread use in Western Europe for the best part of a decade but have only just achieved US FDA approval for use in the USA. The availability of HIV testing and the quality or generation of HIV test devices across the USA varies significantly with some areas until very recently offering poor 1st generation HIV antibody tests and many others offering 2nd generation. By contrast, the UK has 4th generation HIV testing as the basic standard test method.

The acccuracy of HIV RNA PCR testing dramatically shortens the interval from infection to testing from 28 days to a minimum of 7 days following exposure. This means that newly infected HIV positive people can be successfully identified and the inadvertent onward transmission process terminated before others are infected.

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Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba Receives Diversity Award

Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba Receives Diversity Award

The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB) has been recognized for its achievements in workplace diversity. Last night, the WCB was awarded a Silver HR Leadership Award by the Human Resource Management Association of Manitoba (HRMAM) that recognizes the organization’s work in order to “successfully promote cultural awareness, employment equity, and multiculturalism.”

Winnipeg, MB (PRWEB) March 18, 2006

The Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba (WCB) has been recognized for its achievements in workplace diversity. Last night, the WCB was awarded a Silver HR Leadership Award by the Human Resource Management Association of Manitoba (HRMAM) that recognizes the organization’s work in order to “successfully promote cultural awareness, employment equity, and multiculturalism.”

“The WCB strives to have our workforce reflect the cultural makeup of the province we serve,” says Rob Campbell, Director of Human Resources. “We support diversity through a number of ongoing projects, such as holding cultural awareness workshops, and having a dedicated Diversity Specialist on staff.”

The HR Leadership Awards are designed to showcase companies that have successfully demonstrated leadership in HR programs or service by creating, developing and implementing initiatives that have resulted in significant and measurable benefits to the organization.

The WCB has undertaken a number of measures that support the goal of having an open-minded and diverse workforce. Primary among these was the creation of a joint Employment Equity committee which has developed education and communications strategies, launched an accessibility audit, and conducted a workforce survey to determine additional opportunities.

“This award is an endorsement of the WCB’s diversity initiatives, and the steps we have taken, and continue to take, to become a community leader,” says Doug Sexsmith, President and CEO. “Supporting a diverse environment at the WCB compliments our vision and supports the WCB’s five-year stewardship goal of providing a safe, healthy, respectful and diverse workplace.”

Along with Diversity, the awards ceremony, which took place at the Delta Hotel, recognized best practices in a number of other categories, including Organizational Development, Employer of Choice, Business Impact, and Innovation. In receiving an HR Leadership Award, the WCB was honoured along with other industry leaders from the public and private sector.

The HRMAM Excellence in Leadership Awards were announced at a ceremony on March 15, 2006 at the Delta Winnipeg Hotel.

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Sizzling Summer Specials Found at Beacon’s Glow Collectibles

Sizzling Summer Specials Found at Beacon’s Glow Collectibles

Despite the fact that summer has not officially arrived; several parts of the US are experiencing unusually hot summer-like, record-breaking temperatures. According to the National Weather Service (NWS) more than half of the lower 48 states have been classified as abnormally hot and dry for this part of the year.

Pflugerville, TX (PRWEB) June 19, 2006

Beacon's Glow Collectibles (http://www. beaconsglow. com/ (http://www. beaconsglow. com/)), an online gift and collectibles retail store specializing in dolls, bears, & candles, announces several sizzling summer specials sure to please consumers this summer, and take their minds off of the record heat.

This online retail store is discounting several product lines in their entirety up to 30 percent off of Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP), and plan to run these specials throughout the summer. In addition, back by popular demand, Beacon’s Glow Collectibles is running a shipping special. There is free UPS Ground Shipping (Domestic US) for all orders over $100.00.

Product lines that have been discounted for this very special sale are as follows:

Annette Funicello Collectible Bears (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Subcat563.htm (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Subcat563.htm)) all have been discounted 20 percent. Incidentally, this may be the last opportunity that collectors have the opportunity to own an Annette Funcicello Bear as her company has closed due to Annette’s failing health, and is no longer producing collectible bears.

All of Linda Rick’s Doll Maker dolls (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Category173.htm (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Category173.htm)) to include both Doll Maker & Friends, and Linda Rick’s Lovee dolls have been reduced 30 percent this summer. At the current time, there is a wide selection of 44 different dolls to choose from, including award winners and nominees such as “Sent From Heaven Above” (http://www. beaconsglow. com/SuperItem1899x173.htm (http://www. beaconsglow. com/SuperItem1899x173.htm)), “A Rose Is A Rose” (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Item2357x173.htm (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Item2357x173.htm)), and “Tuesday is Laundry Day” (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Item2376x173.htm (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Item2376x173.htm)).

Remaining Ganz Cottage Collectibles (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Subcat463.htm (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Subcat463.htm)) in stock are also included in this company’s summer special. These hard-to-find pieces are no longer manufactured as Lorraine Chien, the talented artist behind these bears, and Ganz dissolved their business ties.

And, last but not least, Robin Rive Bears (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Subcat588.htm (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Subcat588.htm)), handcrafted in New Zealand, are also part of this summer special. These fine hand-made bears have won several prestigious Teddy Bear of the Year (TOBY) awards. The owner of Beacon’s Glow Collectibles had the unique opportunity to meet Robin Rive personally at the 2005 Doll and Teddy Expo held in Washington, D. C. At that time, Robin hand-signed two of her bears – Albertine (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Item2409x179.htm (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Item2409x179.htm)); and Digger (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Item2424x179.htm (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Item2424x179.htm)). Robin’s signatures make these limited edition bears even more special.

In addition, Beacon’s Glow Collectibles regularly has a “Monthly Specials” (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Specials. htm (http://www. beaconsglow. com/Specials. htm)) category on their site.

What a perfect opportunity to stock up on your favorite collectibles!

Beacon's Glow Collectibles also carries many other manufacturers’ line of collectibles in addition to these collectible doll and bear product lines. Other doll manufacturers include: Marie Osmond Dolls; Lee Middleton Original Dolls, Ginny Dolls by Vogue; Jan McLean Designs Dolls; Pauline Collectible dolls; Precious Moments Dolls; and Susan Wakeen Dolls. Their bear and plush animal manufacturers include: Steiff; Boyd’s Collection; and Bearington Collection.

Please take a moment to browse their site (http://www. beaconsglow. com (http://www. beaconsglow. com)) - Collectors of all types will be pleasantly surprised at their wide variety of popular manufacturer's lines and products.

Beacon’s Glow Collectibles have an impressive pledge to their customers and firmly stand behind it – “All items on our site are guaranteed in stock; & all orders will ship by 6:00 p. m. the following business day.” This is certainly welcome news for collectors of all types.

About Beacon’s Glow -

Beacon’s Glow Collectibles is committed to offering customers a wide variety of collectible dolls, bears, and candles at competitive prices, as well as exceptional customer service. This company guarantees their customers total satisfaction and offer a “30-day, no questions asked, money-back guarantee” on all orders.

All major credit cards are accepted (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover), as well as personal checks and money orders. Site security is insured with Comodo’s Instant SSL Pro Certificate through encryption. The company also respects their customer’s right to privacy, and ensures that it will never be compromised.

Upon request during the check-out process, gift cards can be included with personalized messages, which are free of charge to customers.

International customers are encouraged to email Beacon’s Glow Collectibles for additional information in regards to placing an order. Staff will work with each customer on an individualized basis to ensure their international order process runs smoothly.

Layaway plans are available, and they are willing to work with customers on an individualized basis to find a plan that best suit their needs.

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Appetite Be Gone with Hoodia Gordonii Appetite Suppressant

Appetite Be Gone with Hoodia Gordonii Appetite Suppressant

Possibly the safest most effective and powerful appetite suppressant in history.

(PRWEB) February 21, 2004

TORONTO, CANADA, February 21, 2004 -- Millennium Health Supplements (Canada) Inc. is introducing 100% Pure Hoodia Gordonii directly from South Africa.

Hoodia GordoniiÂ’s revolutionary properties will take the multi-billion dollar diet industry by storm, after much research by South African scientists and western pharmaceutical companies have proven that Hoodia has no known side effects and no stimulants.

Hoodia Gordonii grows in the high deserts of the Kalahari Desert region of South Africa where temperatures reach as high as 50 degrees Celsius. Although there are other species of Hoodia, the Gordonii is the only one that contains the all-natural appetite suppressant.

South African scientists have been testing the Hoodia plant since 1996 when they discovered the plant contained a previously unknown molecule, dubbed P57 by BritainÂ’s leading pharmaceutical researcher, replicates the effect glucose has on nerve cells in the brain fooling the body into thinking it is full, even when it is not. HoodiaÂ’s appetite suppressing molecule is said to be almost 10,000 times stronger than glucose.

Pharmaceutical giant Phytopharm is rushing to produce a drug for the weight loss industry in the next few years, but pure Hoodia Gordonii works incredibly well in its natural form.

Results of human clinical trials in Britain suggest that P57 could reduce the appetite by up to 2,000 calories a day.

The San (Kung) Bushmen can trace their heritage back more than 27,000 years based on rock paintings and are one of the world's oldest and most primitive tribes, and they have known about the properties of Hoodia Gordonii for thousands of years.

In an interview with ABCNEWS, a spokesman for the San people who live in the Kalahari Desert, Andries Steenkamp says, "I learned how to eat it from my forefathers," as he prepared a piece of the cactus-like plant called hoodia by trimming off the prickly spikes. "It is my food, my water, and also a medicine for me."

"Hoodia stops hunger and also treats sickness," Steenkamp told ABCNEWS. "We San, use the plant during hunting to fight off the pain of hunger and thirst."

World Health Organization reports that Globesity is rapidly becoming the biggest threat to westernerÂ’s health. According to the WHO, more than 1 billion people are overweight with 300 million of those clinically or morbidly obese (double their normal weight). The medical community reports excessive weight gain is directly related to severe medical problems including heart disease, diabetes, cancer and the onset of strokes.

Reports say that over the next 5 years, deaths related to obesity will increase by 20% in keeping with a reported 20% increase in plus-size coffin sales over the last 5 years in the USA.

Hoodia Gordonii is available in a one-month supply of 60-200mg capsules by mail order or bulk powder for the wholesale market. Dosage is from 400mg to 800mg per day.

Contact:

Jen Cully – 1-800-416-3147/1-905-623-9239

Fax: 1-905-623-0728

Email: sales@hoodiahoodia. com

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Heart-Failure Experts to Offer Rare Historic Review of Condition, Therapy, and Diversity in Chicago

Heart-Failure Experts to Offer Rare Historic Review of Condition, Therapy, and Diversity in Chicago

Four renowned cardiac physicians to address gathered cardiology communities on the historic-modern interplay and role of diversity in heart-failure diagnostic and treatment success in an effort to improve patient health and outcomes.

Springfield, MO (PRWEB) March 27, 2008

On the evening of March 31st, in Chicago, a premier group of heart-failure experts will present a vital retrospective into the nature of the disease, in order to change its future course. "A History of Heart Failure: A Journey from Ancient Therapies to Modern Interventions," will address gathered cardiology communities on the historic-modern interplay and role of diversity in diagnostic and treatment success.

Chronic cardiac disease is documented as far back as ancient Egypt. While morbidity rates have decreased markedly and solution options have advanced substantially in the last 50 years, in the U. S. alone nearly 5 million people still suffer from heart failure and another 550,000 more join the group each year. The History of Heart Failure Project aims to improve patient health and outcomes with highly effective, specialized insight from the medical community, for the medical community.

On March 31st, four renowned cardiac physicians will deliver four unique assessments of heart-failure documentation, research, and solutions; they are:
Hector Ventura -- Chairman, Graduate Medical Education, Section Head, Heart Failure/Transplantation, Ochsner Heart & Vascular Institute, Associate Professor, Medicine, Louisiana State University School of Medicine, Professor, Medicine, Tulane University School of Medicine -- "The First Writings of Heart Failure." Kirkwood Adams -- Associate Professor, Medicine & Radiology -- Cardiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Transplant Cardiologist & Director, Heart Failure Program -- "Good and Bad Adaptation: History of Hypertrophy -- Muscle to Matrix." Jim Young -- Chairman, Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Professor, Medicine, and Academic Chairman, Department of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Medical Director, Cleveland Clinic Kaufman Center for Heart Failure -- "Modern Therapies & Interventions." Clyde Yancy -- Medical Director, Baylor Heart & Vascular Institute, Chief of Cardiothoracic Transplantation, Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas -- "The History of Diversity in Cardiovascular Research."

Laura McCaskill, President & CEO of MEDAVERA, Inc., event co-sponsor, stated, "As a condition, heart failure has survived thousands of years. While the medical community has made remarkable progress in staying disease impact, new occurrences of the disease remain steady, challenging us to reach further and innovate farther. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to learn from such a distinctive forum of experts. The exceptional knowledge and perspective that will be disseminated in one evening is uncommon, even today. And, reaffirming medical science in full chronological and cultural context surely boosts our societal ability to meet a truly human cause."

"A History of Heart Failure: A Journey from Ancient Therapies to Modern Interventions," will occur from 7pm-9pm Central, Monday, March 31, 2008, in the Empire Room of the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago, Illinois. Individuals attending the session are eligible for Continuing Medical Education credits through Educational Review Systems. The event is jointly sponsored by MEDAVERA, Inc., and the Medical Teaching Foundation, Inc., with unrestricted, non-vendor-biased educational grant support from Amgen, Biosite, Inc., CHF Solutions, Otsuka America Pharmaceutical, and ResMed.

While not directly associated with ACC.08 (occurring March 29th to April 1st in Chicago), the "History of Heart Failure" event is intended to occur in parallel with ACC.08 in order to bestow additional useful knowledge to the convened medical community. The event is not part of the official ACC Annual Scientific Session and/or the SCAI Annual Scientific Sessions in Partnership with ACC i2 Summit as planned by their Program Committees.

About The History of Heart Failure Project
The History of Heart Failure Project is a collaborative educational effort designed to improve future patient care by enhancing medical professional understanding of historic and modern factors. For more information about The History of Heart Failure Project, please visit http://www. hfhistory. com (http://www. hfhistory. com).

About MEDAVERA, Inc.
MEDAVERA is a medical education company headquartered in Springfield, MO. The company mission is to improve patient health by identifying educational need and transferring medical knowledge with superior communication strategies and tools. For more information about MEDAVERA, please visit http://www. medavera. com (http://www. medavera. com).

Forward-Looking Statements
Except for statements of historical fact, the matters discussed herein are forward-looking, reflect numerous assumptions, and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control and may cause actual results to differ materially from stated expectations. We undertake no obligation to release publicly the results of any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect changes in events or circumstances arising after the date hereof.

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Jenzabar Delivers Powerful Products to Monitor Institutional Performance More Effectively

Jenzabar Delivers Powerful Products to Monitor Institutional Performance More Effectively

Jenzabar's Institutional Intelligence Solution Delivers Actionable Information to Executive's Desktop

Boston, MA (Vocus) July 28, 2009

Jenzabar, Inc., a leading provider of software, services and strategies for higher education, announced today the release of new Jenzabar Institutional Intelligence (http://www. jenzabar. com/products. aspx? id=149) products. Offering strong reporting and analytical capabilities, the Jenzabar products help colleges and universities monitor the health of their institutions and provide executives with effective, actionable information on the areas that have the greatest impact on institutional success.

Going a step beyond standard business metrics, the Jenzabar Institutional Intelligence products support the extensive measures that are vital to higher education. These include keeping pace with changing goals and strategies and changing constituents, who represent the core business of higher education institutions. Supporting the ultimate goals of recruitment and retention of the best students, financial health, regulatory compliance, and fundraising success, these tools give executives direct access to critical records through a standardized interface, with assurance of data integrity.

When integrated with the Jenzabar EX or Jenzabar CX administrative systems, Jenzabar's Institutional Intelligence solution allows the institution to analyze a wide range of office and project statistics from a single database. In addition, Jenzabar has leveraged its long-standing partnership with IBM-Cognos®, a world leader of business intelligence and performance planning software, to seamlessly integrate Cognos 8 reporting tools with its Institutional Intelligence solution, allowing for fast, powerful and flexible reporting on all institutional data residing in the Jenzabar solution.

"Evaluating the effectiveness of operational initiatives and forecasting future trends can be extremely challenging for higher education institutions, especially amidst a changing economy," said Robert A. Maginn, Jr., Jenzabar Chairman and CEO. "Jenzabar's Institutional Intelligence solution was designed to address the need for executives to have easy access to and a clear understanding of institution-wide data, and the capability to apply this data to future planning and strategic decision making."

About Jenzabar, Inc.:
Jenzabar, Inc. is a leading provider of enterprise software and services developed exclusively for higher education. With more than 35 years of combined experience offering technology solutions to colleges and universities, Jenzabar is the trusted partner of choice to more than 700 campuses worldwide, including private liberal arts, state, and community colleges and business, medical, law and other graduate schools. Jenzabar is headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, with regional offices located across the United States. For more information, please visit www. jenzabar. com].

Contact:
Carina Ganias
Public Relations Specialist
Jenzabar, Inc.
617-492-9099 ext. 365

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Continence Nurses in the US Come to the Aid of Patients for the Management of Urinary Incontinence and Overactive Bladder

Continence Nurses in the US Come to the Aid of Patients for the Management of Urinary Incontinence and Overactive Bladder

Research and Markets (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c35545) has announced the addition of Urinary Incontinence and Overactive Bladder - The Perspective of the Continence Nurse in the US to their offering.

Dublin (PRWEB) April 13, 2006

Research and Markets (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c35545 (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c35545)) has announced the addition of Urinary Incontinence and Overactive Bladder - The Perspective of the Continence Nurse in the US to their offering.

Urinary incontinence and overactive bladder disorders are estimated to affect more than 10% of the female population. However, presentation, diagnosis and treatments rates are poor. In the US, the employment of Continence Nurses provides an ideal opportunity to ensure that patients are able to gain access to expert advice and treatment.

Scope of this title:

Assessment of the responsibilities of the US Continence Nurse including their role in the referral pathway, diagnosis and prescribing of drug therapy

Evaluation of reasons influencing patient presentation including educational and marketing campaigns

Analysis of treatment methods employed, influences on treatment choice and perception of current drug therapies

Identification of unmet needs and potential drivers of change

Highlights of this title:

Continence Nurses in the US play a varied role in the management of urinary incontinence and overactive bladder patients, with over two thirds recommending or prescribing pharmacological therapies. Pharmaceutical companies promoting pharmacological therapies in the US should consider Continence Nurses as key targets.

For more than 50% of patients presenting to Continence Nurses, this is the first healthcare professional that the patient will have spoken to about their condition; frequently identified as a direct result of presenting for another condition. Therefore, Continence Nurses are vital to the diagnosis and referral of this subgroup of patients.

Continence Nurses are likely to have more time than other physicians to discuss the nature of symptoms and side effects with patients. By supporting Continence Nurses, pharmaceutical companies could improve patients knowledge of the condition and its treatment, thereby improving treatment retention and switching rates.

Reasons to order your copy:

Understand the role of Continence Nurses in the treatment of urinary incontinence and overactive bladder for strategic product planning and targeting

Evaluate methods for improving presentation rates and thereby utilization of treatments for urinary incontinence and overactive bladder disorders

Identify concerns of Continence Nurses and patients regarding current treatment and unmet needs

For more information visit http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c35545 (http://www. researchandmarkets. com/reports/c35545)

Source: Datamonitor

Laura Wood

Senior Manager

Research and Markets

Fax: +353 1 4100 980

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US NetCare Launches Health Care Insurance for Non-US Citizens in California

US NetCare Launches Health Care Insurance for Non-US Citizens in California

US NetCare, an online administrator of healthcare and medical insurance for non-US citizens living in the United States, announced its plan to launch its services in Southern California. "California has the largest immigrant population in the United States and our products have been custom designed to be affordable and easy to apply. Our hope is that the Immigrant population which is in dire need of healthcare coverage will welcome us and our products," according to Jacob Harel, chairman of US NetCare Corp.

(PRWEB) August 10, 2007

US NetCare, an online administrator of healthcare and medical insurance for non-US citizens living in the United States, announced its plan to launch its services in Southern California. "California has the largest immigrant population in the United States and our products have been custom designed to be affordable and easy to apply. Our hope is that the Immigrant population which is in dire need of healthcare coverage will welcome us and our products," according to Jacob Harel, chairman of US NetCare Corp.

US NetCare plans to reach out to the Hispanic community in Southern California through grass roots marketing programs targeted to the communities where they live. The Multi-media marketing plan will be comprised of TV, radio, direct mail, shared mail, door hangers, and Online advertising.

There are over 30 million non-US citizens currently living in the US, many of whom have come seeking employment or other opportunities to better their lives and the lives of their families. Health insurance for them has been unavailable in the past. For the first time, US NetCare offers comprehensive, flexible and affordable plans that support this diverse group and their needs. The plans have been streamlined to give the right coverage at the most efficient price.

Non-citizens residing in the US can include immigrants, foreign workers, exchange scholars, international executives, expatriates, green card holders, international students, undocumented individuals, and diplomats, among others. Through US NetCare, these individuals and their families can obtain coverage during their stay in the United States.

US NetCare's medical services are provided by First Health PPO, an extensive, nationwide network of medical professionals that share US NetCare's commitment to the well-being of the non-US citizen population. Non-US Citizens residing in the US are eligible, and there are no long medical history forms to submit for enrollment. US NetCare also features multi-lingual customer service representatives to assist individuals during the enrollment process and throughout the duration of their coverage.

About US NetCare
US NetCare is a pioneer health insurance administrator, established with the purpose of improving the well-being of foreigners and immigrants in the USA. By providing innovative medical insurance plans at affordable rates, US NetCare serves the vast population of non-US citizens in America. Through extensive experience serving foreigners of many nationalities, regardless of immigration or visa status and financial capabilities, US NetCare has a broad knowledge of the special needs of this group. With multi-lingual service representatives, convenient enrollment process and commitment to customer care, US NetCare provides a comprehensive solution for the healthcare needs of the non-citizen community.

For more information, visit www. usnetcare. com.

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Get Wild, Child! Celebrate National Wildlife Week March 15-21

Get Wild, Child! Celebrate National Wildlife Week March 15-21

National Wildlife Week (March 15-21) encourages kids to unleash their wild child to learn, explore, and discover, surrounded by a world of green. The 2010 theme, Be Out There at Home, School, and Play, will bring children and their families together in nature.

Reston, VA (Vocus) February 19, 2010

It’s time to get those “inside kids” to take a walk on the wild side, and National Wildlife Week is the perfect time to do it.

Sponsored by NWF, National Wildlife Week (March 15-21) encourages kids to unleash their wild child to learn, explore, discover and imagine, surrounded by a world of green. The 2010 theme, Be Out There At Home, School and Play, will bring children and their families together in nature, get schools involved in going green, and will show kids how the outdoors can be a favorite play space.

The rise of the indoor childhood
The first National Wildlife Week observance took place more than 70 years ago when kids spent time climbing trees, skipping stones, and running barefoot in the grass. Oh, how times have changed. Today’s average child spends only 4-7 minutes outside each day. Compare that to the astounding 7 hours and 38 minutes per day the average kid spends engaged with electronic media, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

“We’re raising a generation of indoor children who are missing out on the simple joys found in nature,” said Rebecca Garland, Executive Director of NWF’s Be Out There movement. “Our kids need to know why they call it the great outdoors.”

First Lady Michelle Obama’s new anti-childhood obesity initiative says “Let’s Move”. National Wildlife Federation says “Let Move–Outside”.

A part of National Wildlife Federation’s Be Out There movement, celebrating National Wildlife Week is a way to develop happier, healthier kids with a lifelong appreciation of nature. Visit nwf. org/WildlifeWeek for Be Out There resources for kids, parents and educators, including an official Family Activity Passport with a week’s worth of local plant and animal watch lists and fun nature-themed games.

Don’t forget to spring forward your clocks on March 14, and enjoy one extra hour of daylight outside during National Wildlife Week March 15-21. Get wild, child!

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Economist's Article on Smoking Bans in the December Issue of Applied Economics says the economic cost of smoking restrictions is paid by restaurant customers as well as workers and owners

Economist's Article on Smoking Bans in the December Issue of Applied Economics says the economic cost of smoking restrictions is paid by restaurant customers as well as workers and owners.

John Dunham has just published the article "The Economic Incidence Of Smoking Laws" in the peer-reviewed journal Applied Economics (Volume 35, Number 18 / 15 December 2003). The bottom line of this research is that the economic cost of smoking restrictions is paid by all restaurant customers, workers and owners.

(PRWEB) December 31, 2003

John Dunham and Associates is pleased to announce that the peer-reviewed journal Applied Economics (Volume 35, Number 18 / 15 December 2003) has just published the article "The Economic Incidence Of Smoking Laws" by John Dunham (John Dunham & Associates, 141 West 28th Street, New York, NY, 10001, USA) and Michael L. Marlow (College of Business, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA).

An Abstract of the Article Follows:

Although laws restricting smoking in restaurants are becoming commonplace, most research has focused on either the health benefits that laws may provide customers and workers or whether laws harm owners. But while smoking laws may directly alter profits, owners may alter prices, output, and other business attributes in ways that affect the welfare of customers and workers. This study examines whether restaurant and bar owners modify prices, entertainment, hours of operation and other business attributes in response to local smoking laws. Substantial support is found for these attribute changes in the Wisconsin hospitality industry. One implication is that an overall assessment of the desirability of smoking laws should consider economic effects imposed on not just owners, but also customers and workers, as well as health benefits that follow laws.

The bottom line of this research is that the economic cost of smoking restrictions is paid by all restaurant customers, workers and owners.

Anyone wishing to receive a copy of the article “The Economic Incidence of Smoking Laws,” by John Dunham and Michael Marlow should contact John Dunham and Associates at 212-239-2105. Visit John Dunham & Associates at http://www. guerrillaeconomics. com (http://www. guerrillaeconomics. com)
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December 29, 2003

John Dunham and Associates, Inc.

For More Information Please Contact:

Ms Ann Spiegel

212-239-2105

AVS@GuerrillaEconomics. com

Gilsbar, Inc. Expands Sales and Service Operations in the Southwest

Gilsbar, Inc. Expands Sales and Service Operations in the Southwest

Gilsbar, Inc., a leading benefit plan administrator, announced today the opening of its new sales and service office in Phoenix, Arizona.

(PRWEB) September 4, 2004

Gilsbar, Inc., a leading benefit plan administrator, announced today the opening of its new sales and service office in Phoenix, Arizona. Growing steadily in the Southwest over the past several years, Gilsbar now administers self-funded health plan benefits for over 19,000 covered lives in Arizona, New Mexico, and Nevada. Clients include school districts, casinos, municipalities, Native American Nations and financial institutions.

Leading the sales effort in Arizona is Christian Westerman. Chris brings immense knowledge of benefits management, with nearly 10 years sales and consulting experience in the Southwest market. Ms. Stacie McIntyre is transferring from GilsbarÂ’s corporate headquarters to join the Arizona office as Field Service Representative. Her expertise in managing plans, will allow her to assist employers with continuous plan improvement.

Gilsbar’s President and CEO, Hank Miltenberger is pleased to announce the expansion. “The Southwest has been one of our fastest growing areas of benefit plan management over the last few years. This is largely due to our providing outstanding network and plan management options and delivering timely, accurate claims payment services. But that’s just the beginning. We work with each broker and client individually to propose a total health benefit plan, including options such as medical management, wellness and EAP’s - - programs that help employers manage costs. We have a long-term commitment to the region and our clients and look forward to working with the local brokerage community to extend Gilsbar’s services to new clients.”

Founded in 1959, Gilsbar, Inc. is a leading provider of comprehensive insurance services. Gilsbar serves employers, affinity groups, insurance companies and individuals, offering various services including third-party administration, plan management, and quality insurance products. Gilsbar distinguishes itself through integrity, responsive service, integrated technological solutions and unwavering commitment to client satisfaction.

For more information on GilsbarÂ’s services in the Southwest, call 480-344-3439.

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UW Olympian Erik Miller One of Six Locals to Qualify for World Indoor Rowing Championships

UW Olympian Erik Miller One of Six Locals to Qualify for World Indoor Rowing Championships

Former University of Washington rower and 2004 Olympian Erik Miller of Renton was one of six rowers to qualify for the World Indoor Rowing Championships Saturday at Ergomania, the Northwest Indoor Rowing Championships.

Seattle, WA (PRWEB) February 2, 2005

Former University of Washington rower and 2004 Olympian Erik Miller of Renton was one of six rowers to qualify for the World Indoor Rowing Championships Saturday at Ergomania, the Northwest Indoor Rowing Championships. Over 300 rowers from colleges, high schools, rowing, health and fitness clubs and the public participated in the annual competition at the Center House on the Seattle Center campus.

Miller, 30, a spare on the 2004 U. S. Olympic Rowing Team and winner of eight world-level rowing medals as a U. S. National Team athlete, met the time standard for the World Indoor Championships Feb. 13 in Boston along with Onna Poeter, 18 of Colorado Springs, Col. who only took up the sport in September and Jennifer Cromwell and Kelly Amsler of RedmondÂ’s Sammamish Rowing Association. Other qualifiers include Luanne Mills, the defending 60-69 age category world indoor champion and Robert Meenk, 43, of Seattle. The indoor rowers will now have the opportunity to accept an invitation to the Feb. 13 event in Boston.

Ergomania is in its 18th year and is sponsored by the Seattle Center, Concept2, The Space Needle, Experience Music Project, Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, Whirling Girl Water Sports Jewelry and SeattleÂ’s Pocock Rowing Center (www. pocockrowing. org)

Miller clocked a 6:22.7 to defeat Sam Brown by over 25 seconds over 2,000 meters in the masters men’s singles. Chris Hofman, a masters rower from Seattle’s Pocock Rowing Center finished third. “This is the first time I’ve met the qualifying standard for the indoor world championships,” said Miller who is a volunteer coach at the University of Washington. “It’s pretty important to go to Boston to compete against the best in the world. I’m excited.”

The junior womenÂ’s singles was won in 7:15.9 by Poeter who is attending college in Tacoma. She was followed by Sammamish rowers Cromwell and Amsler. All three indoor rowers met the time standard for the Boston regatta. Sammamish rower Kari Stenbakken, a member of the 2004 U. S. Junior National Rowing Team finished fourth. In the womenÂ’s veteran B singles, Mills, 66, of Seattle qualified for her third trip to the World Indoor Championships with a 8:02.1. The Olympic View Elementary School teacher is a three-time member in her age group of the U. S. World Indoor Rowing Team.

In the menÂ’s senior singles, Robert Meenk, 43 of Sound Rowers outlasted David Saxen of the Pocock Rowing Center and Alen Erickson of the Everett Rowing Association to earn an invitation to the Boston regatta. MeenkÂ’s time of 6:31.3 was over five seconds ahead of Saxen.

In the boys junior singles Everett Rowing AssociationÂ’s Dave Goulet and Matthew Wheeler of the Oregon Association of Rowers finished in a dead-heat to share the event title with a time of 6:32.7. Gustaf Gordon finished 7.1 seconds behind followed by Bronson Shafer of Sammamish. The top 16 finishers in the event earned spots at SundayÂ’s identification camp for the 2005 U. S. Junior National Rowing Team - the first stage in the selection of the U. S. junior boys team that will compete this summer at the World Junior Championships in Brandenburg, Germany.

In other indoor rowing action, Lia Pernell, of Pocock and member of the U. S. womenÂ’s four that finished seventh at the 2004 World Rowing Championships, won the womenÂ’s open singles with a time of 6:57.4. She was followed by PocockÂ’s Ruth Stiver who clocked a 7:00.0 over 2,000 meters on the rowing ergometer. PocockÂ’s Samantha Twardowski won the lightweight event in 7:15.1. In the menÂ’s collegiate event, Spokane rowers Patrick Haffey, David Hinshaw, Nathan Wilson and Benjamin Foledy swept the first five positions followed by Dave Worley of Washington State University. Haffey clocked a 6:17.6 for the win.

Since its inception in 1988, the indoor regatta series has evolved from a winter-time competition for collegiate rowers whose rivers had frozen over, to an international competition with popularity among recreational athletes who have never been in a rowing shell, to collegiate level rowers and Olympic champions. In 2004 over 7,500 indoor rowers participated in 50 indoor regattas throughout North America. A rowing ergometer is a stationary indoor rower with sliding seat and an oar handle affixed by a chain to a bicycle-style flywheel. Considered the preferred training and testing apparatus for Olympic caliber rowers, rowing ergometers are simple for non-rowers to master and are found in most leading health and fitness clubs. Anyone with an interest in participating in Ergomania should contact the Pocock Rowing Center at 206.328.0778 or visit www. pocockrowing. org.

About Concept2

Based in Morrisville, Vermont, Concept2 is the world's leading manufacturer of indoor rowers. The unique design of Concept2's new Model D Indoor Rower provides one of the most effective cross-training workouts available. By engaging all muscle groups, rowing challenges the cardiovascular system like no other activity can. To view an animated rowing ergometer and learn more about the benefits of indoor rowing, click on http://www. concept2.com/rowing/gs/gettingstarted. asp (http://www. concept2.com/rowing/gs/gettingstarted. asp) or www. Concept2.com.

About the George Pocock Rowing Foundation

The George Pocock Rowing Foundation serves as a catalyst and a national model for the development and growth of rowing for all ages and abilities. The foundation was founded in 1984 and is named for the late world-renowned shell-builder George Pocock. Its facility, The Pocock Rowing Center on Seattle’s Portage Bay, is home to over 400 Seattle rowers and six rowing clubs. The George Pocock Rowing Foundation provides public learn-to-row classes, rowing opportunities for “at risk” children in the community, meeting space for community events, and sponsors men and women training for the U. S. National Rowing Team. www. pocockrowing. org

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Passport to Fun Provides Helpful Hints on How Family Fun Can Be Truly Affordable

Passport to Fun Provides Helpful Hints on How Family Fun Can Be Truly Affordable

AP9 PassportToFun provides members significant savings on family needs and entertainment.

Norwalk, CT (PRWEB) March 28, 2008

Sometimes it seems like all the fun family activities always involve spending tons of money. Members of Passport to Fun (http://www. passporttofun-program. com/) (SM), a premier recreation and entertainment savings program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC (http://www. adaptivemarketing. com/ap9/passport-to-fun. asp), know that's simply not true. They can count on their benefits and savings to come up with creative ways to have fun as a family for hours on end.

The key word is creativity, notes Passport to Fun (http://www. passporttofun-program. com/PassportToFun_qanda. html). Anyone can plan a whole afternoon or an entire weekend of entertaining games and activities for the family, no matter the age differences or the size of the group. The thing is, people have gotten so used to paying for everything, including entertainment, that they forget how to do it themselves in a simple, more affordable way.

Get your creative juices going, and start off with some of these ideas, brought to you by AP9 PassportToFun:

Board Game Day
Any rainy Saturday or Sunday afternoon is ideal for playing lots of board games. Place three different games on three different corners of the house. Start early, and kick things off with some milk and cookies to get everyone excited. Go to the living room, and put a puzzle together as a start, then play Pictionary or Scrabble in the kitchen, and for the finale, let the kids rule in the Beat the Parents Family Trivia Game.

Write a play... and act it out!
Role-playing is one activity that everyone enjoys, and kids actually learn a lot by role-playing. It's a perfect activity when relatives are visiting -- the more people involved, the merrier. Split the whole family in two groups, then act the plays just like Broadway professionals. Let each group invent the argument of the play, or use a theme, such as: "Mom and Dad's wedding day" or "life when grandma and grandpa were kids," etc.

Free Day to Learn
The major expense for this idea might be gas. Schedule a family outing to a nearby museum on a day when admission is free. (Many galleries, museums, zoos and aquariums have a special day of the week when admission is either discounted or free.) Seize the chance to take the whole family, and make it a fun and learning day. Pack sandwiches and refreshments to keep costs to a minimum.

Show and Tell
Reverse the roles, and make the kids the spectators. Include aunts and uncles, Grandma, Grandpa, other relatives, or even neighbors specially invited for the occasion. Adults can make it fun for kids if they tell funny stories or tales of their youth or times when their parents were little. Use pictures or homemade movies to make your presentation more enticing.

When it comes to quality time with loved ones, money isn't important. With ideas like the ones included here and many more you can plan together, family recreation won't push you into bankruptcy, reports Passport to Fun (http://travelandleisure. mygreatdeals. com/journal/2007/9/12/passport-to-fun-shares-creative-tips-to-throw-a-theme-party. html).

About PassportToFun
Passport to Fun is a leading membership discount program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC. Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., Adaptive Marketing is a category leader in membership programs, bringing value direct to consumers through an array of benefits in healthcare, discounts, security, personal property and personals. Members may access their benefits at PassportToFun. com (http://www. passporttofun. com). With broad online and offline distribution capabilities, Adaptive Marketing offers its corporate client partners effective tools to enhance market presence, strengthen customer affinity and generate additional value through programs such as AP9 PassportToFun.

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PetInfoCard. com Appoints a New CFO to Propel the New Company into a Successful Future

PetInfoCard. com Appoints a New CFO to Propel the New Company into a Successful Future

Animal identification card company, PetInfoCard. com, proudly appoints Brieann McCloskey to the position of CFO and General Manager to ensure a bright future for the new company.

Simi Valley, CA (Vocus) May 29, 2010

PetInfoCard. com L. L.C. has appointed Ms. Brieann McCloskey to position of CFO and General Manager. In this early formation of the newly expanding PetInfoCard corporation, McCloskey brings years of superb experience in the field of business management. This is a very exciting opportunity for the young company to combine business discipline with creativity to ensure a successful future.

McCloskey’s background is in corporate management in the engineering field. Her combined abilities in accounting, as well as the daily operations of Client Development and Field Work Coordination will prove to be an asset in helping develop this new company. Having previously worked in the management field, she offers an accomplished youthful spirit with imagination, creativity and qualifying skills fitting for this company.

Pet Info Card is new to the world and finding someone fitting for the tasks and requirements would take time and effort; however, McCloskey is best suited for the job due to her exceptionally high business skills, self-motivation, management capability, problem solving and energetic way of finishing every task she is assigned. She has demonstrated these characteristics on many previous occasions, such as working at Westcon Engineering where she had to go to numerous cities for approvals, manage permits, estimates and processing, attend many city meetings, calculate taxes and perform organized book keeping.

“Ms. McCloskey is strategic, friendly, precise and very logical with everything that is asked of her. She handles circumstances seriously and does every engagement to the highest capability of the expectations presented by this company and prior prerequisites.”

During its formative years, the PetInfoCard company needs to be taken in the right direction to grow, mature, evolve and succeed. They have the utmost of confidence, faith and the highest regards for McCloskey due to her prestigious background, management capabilities and strength in this particular line of work. Their expectations are high and strict and without a doubt, McCloskey reaches all of them far beyond any other prospect considered for the position.

The PetInfoCard company is ecstatic to have the opportunity and acceptance of Briann McCloskey as CFO and General Manager to be able to begin the process of progressing with this new company into the future.

The creators of PetInfoCard. com are not only pet owners, but parents as well. Just as they saw a need for the "Ident-A-Kid" type of programs for children, they saw a need for quick access to pet records. Pet info cards help make a stressful visit to the vet a little less hectic as the pet id tag cards contain all the important information the vet needs to know so that you can worry less about the details and paperwork and more about your pet's comfort and health.

CONTACT:
Kenny Bergquist
President
805-444-6313
Info(at)petinfocard(dot)com

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Leading Home Shopping Channel to Exclusively Host the US Launch of Korean Floor Care Leader HAAN

Leading Home Shopping Channel to Exclusively Host the US Launch of Korean Floor Care Leader HAAN

Innovative steam cleaning technology aims to revolutionize US floor care.

New York, NY (PRWEB) September 21, 2007

On September 22, 2007 at 11:00 a. m. EST, HAAN Corporation, a multi-million dollar company specializing in steam technology, will be launching its products on America's leading home shopping service.

In 2004, HAAN sold nearly 10,000 steam cleaners in just one hour, making it one of the leading products on Korea's LG Home Shopping Channel. The steam cleaners, which will now be available in the US through this shopping channel and the HAAN website, (www. HAANUSA. com) can be used on marble, ceramic, stone, vinyl, laminate, linoleum and sealed hardwood floors.

The HAAN Steam Cleaner originated from Romi Haan's idea to help liberate Korean housewives from their most laborious household chore -- wiping the floors. HAAN's technology uses high temperature steam at over 212°F to loosen and wipe away dirt, kill germs, mites, fungus and E. coli, also allowing the user to sanitize beds, sofas and rugs for under $100.00. It has remarkable cleaning power to remove not just ordinary dirt but also hard-to-remove grease stains on a variety of hard surfaces.

The company was founded in 1999, with only $100k in assets, and since the launch of the first steam cleaner in 2001, HAAN Corporation has seen expansive growth -- doubling and quadrupling its revenue every year, the company achieved sales of over $100 million dollars in 2006. Within the last three years alone, more than four million units have been sold. HAAN is projected to reach $120 million in sales in 2007. With over a 70 percent market share, HAAN is the leading steam cleaner corporation in Korea today, and has expanded worldwide into markets in Japan, China, and now the United States.

About Romi Haan: In 1998, Romi Haan, a young wife and mother, was frustrated and tired from traditional methods of cleaning the floor. She found a healthier and cleaner way, and the following year started the HAAN Corporation with the mission of alleviating the pain of this common household chore. Today she is CEO of this multi-million dollar company, and a well-known personality in Korea. Romi previously worked for the International Olympic Committee and received her MBA from California State University. In 2005, her biography "My Life, My Story" was published by Random House Korea. She currently resides in California.

For more information, please visit www. HAANUSA. com.

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Pet Health Wiki: Pet WellBeing Unveils Interactive Online Resource for Natural Dog and Cat Health Info

Pet Health Wiki: Pet WellBeing Unveils Interactive Online Resource for Natural Dog and Cat Health Info

Pet lovers across the continent are steadily growing in number and in their enthusiasm for ensuring that their beloved animal friends enjoy the happiest and healthiest lives possible. Catering to these ever-rising interests, PetWellbeing has launched a new wiki that provides a wealth of valuable information on pet health and medical care.

Bellingham, WA (PRWEB) July 3, 2007

Pet owners seeking information on pet ailments and health issues now have a place to turn. From dogs with allergies to cats with heart disease, PetWellbeing's new interactive online resource helps pet owners understand what their pets are going through and how they can help.

With pet ownership on the rise, there has been an upsurge in interest in all areas of pet health (http://www. petwellbeing. com/) ranging from pet accessories to dietary supplements. When it comes to medical care, pet owners want only the best for their non-human family members.

Known for its innovative natural pet supplies (http://www. petwellbeing. com/), PetWellbeing shares in this devotion and commitment to companion animals and believes that pets truly are members of the family. Now, PetWellbeing has decided to take their passion for pets one step further by helping other pet lovers actively promote the health, happiness, and comfort of their beloved animal companions.

In response to the need and desire on the part of pet owners for access to information on pet health, PetWellbeing has just released a pet health wiki (http://pethealth. petwellbeing. com/wiki/Main_Page) on their web site, www. petwellbeing. com. This interactive resource is easy to use and provides pet owners with information on various ailments that commonly affect companion animals.

Covering topics such as signs and symptoms, pathophysiology, causes, and treatment methods, the articles found within this wiki allow pet lovers to educate themselves on the medical and health issues affecting them and their pets. And for those who choose to actively contribute, the wiki format makes it possible for anyone to edit or add new articles.

Simply with the help of an Internet connection, pet lovers can quickly access the site's wide selection of articles, find answers to their dog and cat health (http://www. petwellbeing. com/) questions, and -- if they wish -- add their own opinions and experiences.

With a wealth of information that's clear and easy to understand, Petwellbeing. com's wiki is an excellent and exciting new online resource for modern pet owners.

Contact Information:
PetWellbeing. com
3888 Sound Way
Bellingham WA
98226
1-877-633-2401
Www. PetWellbeing. com

Placed by VKI Studios - Internet Marketing (http://www. vkistudios. com/marketing. html) and Web Usability (http://www. vkistudios. com/usability. html)

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Britain Puts Price Before Professional Practice When It Comes To Cosmetic Surgery

Britain Puts Price Before Professional Practice When It Comes To Cosmetic Surgery

Study Unearths Alarming Surgery Myths and Misconceptions

London (PRWEB) January 19, 2006

Cosmetic surgery may be tipped to become one of the biggest growth sectors in 2006, but according to a study released today by Sanctuary Cosmetic Surgeons (SCS)*, decisions on cosmetic surgery are based more on price than professional practice and ethics.

The SCS study of over 2000 men and women from across the UK found that in spite of the large percentage of people who say that they have actively considered surgery (25%), over half of all respondents (52%) believe that price is more important than accreditation & experience (49%) when considering a plastic surgeon.

Other myths, misconceptions and beliefs unearthed by the SCS study, include:

 52% of people say price is the most important factor when considering a surgeon;  30% said a free consultation is the most important factor in their decision;  35% of people had considered surgery to lose weight, more that those who wanted to look younger (26%);  13% of people believe liposuction can get rid of a beer belly;  37% of people believe liposuction does not remove fat from underneath the skin;  27% of women believe that society is the greatest influence of their self-image;  11% of men say that work and career is the greatest influence on their self-image.

“There are so many misconceptions about what to consider when looking for a cosmetic surgeon,” says Mr Addie Grobbelaar, Consultant Surgeon for Sanctuary Cosmetic Surgeons.

“I am extremely alarmed that 30% of the respondents are lured by the offer of a free consultation and that price was the final driving factor. Accreditation is a key issue and consumers must be made more aware of unscrupulous and commercial practices of some UK operators. When choosing a surgeon look for consultants with: an NHS track record; BAAPS members; and registration on the specialist plastics register of the GMC,” he continues.

77% Believe Breast Surgery is Scar less

When asked about specific procedures, the survey reveals even more alarming statistics such as:

 77% of people believe that there are no scars after breast surgery and 24% of people believe that nowadays cosmetic surgery is scarless;  62% of people believe that facelifts are carried out under a local anaesthetic;  50% of people don’t understand what Botox involves;  90% did not understand that depression is a common immediate after-effect of surgery.

Sanctuary Cosmetic Surgeon, Addie Grobbelaar says: “Whether it is breast augmentation or a tummy tuck, surgery is never scarless. The healing process from any surgery is extremely important. Scarring often takes months to fade. In our quick fix society, we don’t understand that whenever cosmetic or medical surgery is invasive the skin needs time to heal.”

He continues: “Botox is one of the most common procedures available and yet 50% of people do not understand that the wrinkle free result is actually due to muscle paralysis of the treated area. However, 94% do understand that it is a temporary treatment lasting less than six months.”

42% Believe Breast Implants Often Leak

When asked about breast surgery, 42% of respondents believe old scare stories that breast implants often leak and need to be taken out. In fact, twice as many women (51%) as men (26%) believe the implant scare stories.

Says Mr. Norbert Kang, Consultant Surgeon for Sanctuary Cosmetic Surgeons: “This is a common misconception based on old stories about breast implants leaking or exploding on airplanes. This is just untrue. With today’s technology, even when the implant coating is punctured, the silicone gel inside is held in place by the scar capsule. As for implants exploding in mid air, well this is just ridiculous.”

The study was conducted by Sanctuary Cosmetic Surgeons (SCS), the new private provider of cosmetic surgery in the UK. Founded by a group of UK trained and accredited plastic surgeons, SCS aims to provide the highest standards of cosmetic surgery and healthcare in the UK.

SCS associates are UK trained and accredited BAAPS/BAPS surgeons; who operate both in private and NHS practices across the UK, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bristol, Liverpool, Leicester, Nottingham, Edinburgh, Salisbury and Cambridge.

SCS will offer a full range of surgical and non-surgical procedures including facial lifts and treatments, breast reduction and augmentation, upper body procedures and liposuction. Each procedure is part of a holistic approach to surgery which involves a discussion of diet and lifestyle during a full consultation with the surgeon, which will also include information on suitability for the surgery, potential risks and post surgical recovery and care. Prices are available on request but serve as a guide only as procedures vary from patient to patient. Prices always include surgeon, hospital and anaesthetist fees.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

SCS Surgeons’ Mr Addie Grobbelaar, Mr Jag Chana and Mr Norbert Kang are available for interview.

List of procedures, company details and biographies are available upon request.

For further information, please contact:

Katie Sheppard / Rebecca Oatley - Cherish PR Limited

Tel: 020 8996 9541 / 020 8996 9543

Email: katie. sheppard@cherishpr. com; Rebecca. oatley@cherishpr. com

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Home at Last Animal Rescue "Adopts" Smith Marketing Group, Inc. as Agency of Record

Home at Last Animal Rescue "Adopts" Smith Marketing Group, Inc. as Agency of Record

Berkeley organization turns to smith marketing group for marketing and publicity

Campbell, CA (PRWEB) April 7, 2005

Smith Marketing Group, Inc. has been selected by Home at Last Animal Rescue as agency of record. smith marketing group will assist in the planning, creation and implementation of marketing and publicity activities for the Berkeley, California based animal rescue organization.

“We are thrilled to be working with smith marketing group,” said Suzanne Seraphin, president of Home at Last Animal Rescue. “Not only is the team at smith marketing group wonderful to work with, they are also dedicated to the well-being and welfare of our adoptable dogs and cats. I am looking forward to a long and rewarding working relationship.”

“The work that Home at Last does on behalf or abandoned and neglected animals is so worthwhile,” said Karen R. Smith, owner of smith marketing group. “We at smith marketing group are honored to partner with Home at Last to help them achieve their worthy goals.”

About Home At Last Rescue

Home At Last Rescue (HAL) plays an active role in the "no-kill" movement by rescuing animals from city shelters, providing temporary foster care, and bringing these animals to the public for placement in high-quality, loving homes. Historically, HAL has operated primarily in the Berkeley area and has been instrumental in lowering the euthanasia rate in the Berkeley municipal shelter from over 60% three years ago, to under 20% this past year. For more information visit their website at: http://www. homeatlastrescue. org (http://www. homeatlastrescue. org).

About smith marketing group

Smith marketing group (smg) is a Silicon Valley-based full-service marketing, communications and public relations agency specializing in marketing services and consulting resources. smgÂ’s combined expertise across a variety of functions allows for customized solutions for individual business needs in industries including entertainment, real estate, education, high-tech, financial services, non-profits and health care. For more information, visit www. smithmarketinggroup. com.

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Smartling Secures US$4 Million in First Funding Round Led by Venrock

Smartling Secures US$4 Million in First Funding Round Led by Venrock

Smartling, Inc., a provider of real-time, crowdsourced translations for Internet based businesses, announced today that it has secured a US$ 4 million Series A round of investment, led by Venrock. The round also included funding from US Venture Partners, First Round Capital and several angel investors. The company will use the funding to expand its operations and support product development.

New York (PRWEB) March 18, 2010

Smartling (http://www. smartling. com), Inc., a provider of real-time, crowdsourced translations for Internet based businesses, announced today that it has secured a US$ 4 million Series A round of investment, led by Venrock (http://www. venrock. com). The round also included funding from US Venture Partners (http://www. usvp. com), First Round Capital (http://www. firstround. com) and several angel investors. The company will use the funding to expand its operations and support product development.

Founded in 2009, Smartling offers accurate, quick, and affordable online translations to Internet based businesses. The company combines high-quality translations, crowdsourcing tools, and software services to create localized Websites in a fraction of the time and costs of traditional localization methods. Using crowdsourcing technology, Smartling empowers companies to rapidly reach new customers in their native tongue.

“We build companies that shape the future using smart technology,” said David Pakman, Partner at Venrock. “Looking at the company’s leadership, vision, and innovative product, Smartling is poised to transform the way companies do business on the Internet. We believe that Smartling has tremendous market potential.”

Industry surveys have shown that people are more likely to buy products and services in their native language. More than 70 percent of the Internet users do not speak English. These are unexplored market opportunities, especially for small to medium size businesses. Costs have often prevented companies to reach non-English speaking customers. Smartling provides businesses with an easy and affordable way to customize their sites to attract customers in multiple languages.

“We are very pleased to be working with this esteemed group of investors. Their experience in building successful Internet-based companies will accelerate our business growth,” stated Jack Welde (http://www. linkedin. com/in/jackwelde), CEO of Smartling. “Our vision is to democratize translations and explore new frontiers by removing language barriers on the Web. Smartling helps businesses to better use their Websites by speaking to customers in their native language in real time.”

About Venrock
Venrock is a premier venture capital firm with offices in Palo Alto, New York, Cambridge, MA, and Israel. Originally established as the venture capital arm of the Rockefeller family, Venrock continues the eight-decade tradition of partnering with entrepreneurs to establish successful, enduring companies. Having invested $2.5 billion in nearly 450 companies resulting in more than 120 IPOs in 41 years, Venrock’s investment returns place it among the top tier venture capital firms that have achieved consistently superior performance. With a primary focus on technology, healthcare, and energy, portfolio companies have included Adify, Adnexus Therapeutics, Apple Computer, athenahealth, Centocor, Check Point Software, DoubleClick, Gilead Sciences, Idec Pharmaceuticals, Illumina, Intel, Ironwood, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Sirna Therapeutics, StrataCom, and Vontu. For more information, please visit Venrock’s website at http://www. venrock. com (http://www. venrock. com).

About First Round Capital First Round Capital is a seed-stage venture capital firm dedicated to helping talented entrepreneurs build remarkable companies. First Round Capital typically funds pre-revenue companies - and often provides a company's first outside capital. As former entrepreneurs, the partners at First Round understand the challenges of launching a new enterprise, and strive to offer insight and expertise that are as valuable as its venture capital. The firm invests nationally with offices in San Francisco, Philadelphia and New York City.

About U. S. Venture Partners
U. S. Venture Partners (USVP) is a leading Silicon Valley-based venture capital firm, helping
Entrepreneurs build world-class companies since 1981. USVP focuses on early stage
Opportunities in sectors where the Partners have the domain expertise, operating experience and
Network of relationships to contribute to the success of an enterprise. Currently, the firm invests
In digital communications, network systems, consumer and business services, media,
Semiconductors, clean technologies, biopharmaceuticals and medical devices. http://www. usvp. com (http://www. usvp. com)

About Smartling
Founded in 2009 in New York, Smartling Inc., provides Internet based businesses with affordable, real-time, crowdsourced and professional website translations. The Smartling Translation Delivery Network (TDN) combines high-quality translations and technology automation to provide businesses with localized Websites quickly and affordably. Smartling empowers companies to quickly reach new markets in their native tongue. For more information, please see http://www. smartling. com (http://www. smartling. com).

Contact:
Katja Schroeder
(917) 607-6567

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