Hospice care and palliative medicine focus on relieving a patient's physical symptoms and helps patients and their families with their spiritual and mental health needs. San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine is the only hospice and palliative care provider in the nation with a full-time palliative care psychiatry program. Its work with ketamine is one of the many clinical trials that the nonprofit organization has conducted.
 
'Our goal at San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine is to prevent and relieve suffering and promote quality of life,' noted Dr. Irwin. 'Standard antidepressants do not work often enough or fast enough for relieving the tremendous suffering associated with depression for patients. Ketamine promises to work better and faster, allowing us to achieve this goal.'
 
About San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine
San Diego Hospice and The Institute for Palliative Medicine is one of the largest community-owned, nonprofit hospices in the country, and considered the only academic hospice program in the region. San Diego Hospice brings compassionate, expert medical care to nearly 1,200 seriously ill adults and children each day throughout the county. More information is available online at www.sdhospice.org or call toll-free: 1-866-688-1600. Join our online communities on Facebook, Twitter,  YouTube and Google+.

— WebWireID152319 —

The tours will be held in Hangzhou, China, which is a prime location to experience some of the best of Chinese culture.  To kick off the event there will be weekend sight-seeing at tea plantations, 800 year old temples, and Chinese medicine museums.  This will be followed by a bicycle ride around the magnificent Western Lake, which is surrounded by antique gardens, pagodas, and bamboo forests. 

During the course of studies participants will do clinical rounds in numerous Chinese medicine hospitals, and they may choose to study acupuncture or herbal medicine.  In acupuncture clinic students may study in specialty departments including neurology, gynecology, the treatment of headaches and musculo-skeletal conditions.  In herbal medicine, clinical rounds are available in gastro-enterology, gynecology, respiratory therapy, and pediatrics.

The tour is approved for continuing education credits by the NCCAOM, and it also includes 50 hours of study, 4 star accommodations, group meals, weekend events, tour guide services, and a spa treatment.

For more information about this event please visit: www.ihsociety.com     

— WebWireID152267 —

What are electronic health records, you may ask? Electronic health records are a digital copy of a patient's medical history, including known allergies, demographics, immunization records, laboratory results, radiology images, vital signs, age, weight and billing information. Storing health records in this way helps to reduce cost by saving paper.

Aspire Medical Solutions also offers a broad range of equipment and testing. One example of the types of testing and equipment they offer is the VAT-ENG for dizziness, vertigo, and fall prevention. The ​​VAT-ENG is similar to the VNG equipment but clinically more significant.

This equipment is used when testing for vertigo. This vertigo testing equipment is a must have for any Internal Medicine, Family Practice, and Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist.

Check out the following web page at http://www.aspiremed.org/care-and-profit-analysis/ to learn more about how Aspire Medical Records can help your practice.

— WebWireID152258 —

— WebWireID152215 —

— WebWireID152099 —

1. Creams that temporarily improve the appearance of skin
2. Lymphatic massage to remove some swelling
3. Endermologie suction assisted massage
4. Cynosure Smooth Shapes
5. Lasers and heat to target small areas and remove fat cells
6. Mesotherapy (LipoDissolve)

About Dr Barry A.S. Lycka
Barry A. S. Lycka, Edmonton based Cosmetic Dermatologist, is one of North America's foremost authorities on cosmetic surgery, skin cancer surgery, reconstructive surgery and laser surgery of the skin. He founded YourCosmeticDoctor.tv to be an unbiased source of credible information on cosmetic surgery.

For further information on this new service, cellulite causes and cellulite treatments or any other questions relating to Cosmetic Dermatology, Dr Lycka can be contacted via his website www.barrylyckamd.com or by telephone at his Edmonton office (780) 425-1212.

— WebWireID152165 —

Evan-Esh, in particular, hones in on the need to focus on three or fewer areas so that personal trainers can succeed in a niche rather than flounder by trying to do everything at once as well as the ease and importance of marketing today, which is more affordable and available than ever. He also shares personal stories and tips for better work and life productivity.

'If you are a fitness or strength conditioning coach or have an interest in personal training, you will really enjoy this fun, insightful, no-holds-barred interview with Zach. He offers some unique nuggets of wisdom that can help all fitness and coaching pros, whether you prefer conventional or unconventional training methods, hardcore training or mind-body training,' said John Spencer Ellis, founder of John Spencer Ellis Enterprises, a fitness and personal development solutions company.
In addition, the free online interview session also offers a list of Ellis' and Evan-Esh's top books and ebooks that offer useful lessons for fitness and life, streamlining, productivity and saving time, the use of technology in strength and conditioning, the importance of continuing education and personal growth as well as information on the fitness, strength and conditioning program created by Evan-Esh.
'I wish I had learned to train the mind when I was younger,' said Evan-Esh, who combines strength training with mountain biking, combat sports, swimming, running and more. 'Exercise is easy to find, but learning about the mind is a little more intricate and unique, but so powerful.'
The interview is now available online at http://johnspencerellis.com/zach-evan-esh-fitness-business-and-training-interview-with-john-spencer-ellis/
(more)

About John Spencer Ellis Enterprises
John Spencer Ellis Enterprises is a solutions provider for fitness and coaching professionals around the world, providing education, turn-key business programs, coaching and resources for new and advanced fitness and coaching professionals.  For more information about John Spencer Ellis Enterprises or to view the online interview with Zach Evan-Esh, please visit http://johnspencerellis.com/zach-evan-esh-fitness-business-and-training-interview-with-john-spencer-ellis/  

— WebWireID152164 —

A spokesperson for the DH said: 'The procurement was conducted against the ASCC framework using an in-house team and has delivered a flexible contract that will result in savings of around 40% on the current cost of service across the life of the contract.'

The contract draws together the desktop solution for the Department and some of its Arms Length Bodies, such as, the Care Quality Commission, into a common, high-quality, integrated, shared service. It supports the aims of the Government Strategy for ICT, both in reducing costs and ensuring the necessary ICT is in place to deliver DH reforms and modernisation in 2012 and beyond.

Wayne Gibson, Senior Vice President Government and Health at Atos said: 'Our new solution makes the Government's ICT Strategy, Sustainability and Open Source initiatives a reality. We will work with SMEs and use Open Source software to deliver a service that offers value for money.'

'ICT Shared Services is a core business for Atos and, as a company committed to service excellence, we will ensure that migration to the new solution is as seamless and easy as possible. We will deliver a scalable, robust and cost-effective service for people working in the Department and those Arms Length Bodies who will also use our service.'

The Atos solution is built using existing good practices together with modern desktop solutions to provide a people-centric service that enables flexible and collaborative working. To ensure a minimum impact on people and to help drive continuous service improvement, Atos will deliver a comprehensive internal communication programme and people training. It will also deliver a new data centre infrastructure, enabling maximised applications performance, reliability and availability on the desktop, with the flexibility to scale cost effectively.

About Atos
Atos is an international information technology services company with annual revenues of €8.6 billion and 74,000 employees in 42 countries. Serving a global client base, it delivers hi-tech transactional services, consulting and technology services, systems integration and managed services. Atos is focused on business technology that powers progress and helps organizations to create their firm of the future. It is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic and Paralympic Games and is quoted on the Paris Eurolist Market. Atos operates under the brands Atos, Atos Consulting & Technology Services, Atos Worldline and Atos Worldgrid. For more information visit Atos UK.

— WebWireID152140 —

Since 2009, Abbott has provided compounds for DNDi to screen for activity against neglected diseases. This new agreement expands this relationship, and provides DNDi access to selected classes of molecules and accompanying data generated by Abbott that are crucial for the development of effective and accessible new treatments for neglected diseases.

"Innovative product development partnerships have significant potential for addressing neglected diseases," said
Dr. John Leonard, senior vice president, Pharmaceuticals, Research and Development, Abbott. "By combining the unique scientific expertise and resources of DNDi and Abbott, we look forward to accelerating research to find practical new treatment options for people affected by these diseases."

"Abbott has demonstrated a great level of commitment by partnering with DNDi to share not only its compounds, but also its expertise and resources. For DNDi, this implies a new critical mass of knowledge to pursue our goals of addressing the unmet needs of neglected patients in the poorest areas of the world," said Dr Bernard Pécoul, Executive Director of DNDi.

Equitable access to treatments for neglected diseases in all endemic countries, not only least-developed countries, is at the core of this agreement, and DNDi has committed to ensuring the lowest sustainable pricing for any products developed and distributed as a result of the agreement. Intellectual property (IP) related to this agreement, existing relevant Abbott IP and new IP generated by this collaboration will be subject to a principle of non-exclusive licensing to address neglected diseases in endemic countries. Under the agreement, Abbott has the right of first negotiation to become DNDi's development and distribution partner. DNDi is free to engage other partners if Abbott chooses not to serve as a development and distribution partner.

The agreement, in short implies:

-- Both DNDi and Abbott share their unique scientific expertise and resources to advance the development of drugs adapted to patient needs.
-- DNDi gains access to Abbott compounds, data and information to accelerate drug development.
-- Non-exclusive licensing structure for relevant IP in the neglected diseases field provides flexibility, thus expanding the potential of drug development.
-- Any resulting products will be provided in endemic countries at the lowest sustainable price to expand patient access.

About the London NTD event

The commitments announced by DNDi are a key part of a new, coordinated push by a diverse range of public and private partners to combat 10 Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) by 2020. Today, 13 pharmaceutical companies, the U.S. and U.K. governments, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Bank and officials from NTD-endemic countries pledged to bring a unique focus to defeating these diseases and to work together to improve the lives of the billion people worldwide affected by NTDs.

In the largest coordinated effort to date to combat NTDs, the group announced at an event at the Royal College of Physicians that they would: sustain or expand existing drug donation programs to meet demand through 2020; share expertise and compounds to accelerate research and development of new drugs; and provide more than US$785 million to support R&D efforts and strengthen drug distribution and implementation programmes. The partners also signed onto the 'London Declaration on Neglected Tropical Diseases,' in which they pledged new levels of collaboration and tracking and reporting of progress.

New funding commitments will fully support work toward the eradication of Guinea worm, as well as expedite progress toward the 2020 goals of: elimination for lymphatic filariasis, blinding trachoma, sleeping sickness and leprosy; and control of soil-transmitted helminthes, schistosomiasis, river blindness, Chagas and visceral leishmaniasis.

About Neglected Tropical Diseases

Neglected diseases are a group of tropical infections that disproportionately affect the world's poor and marginalized populations. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than a billion people or one-sixth of the global population suffer from one or more tropical infectious diseases. The partnership between DNDi and Abbott is focused on finding new treatments to address the following diseases:

-- Chagas disease is endemic in 21 countries across Latin America and kills more people in the region than any other parasite-borne disease, including malaria. In total, 100 million people are at risk worldwide and patient numbers are growing in non-endemic countries such as the United States, Australia, and Europe. The disease is transmitted by an insect known as the "kissing bug" and, without treatment, is potentially fatal. Existing treatments have an unsatisfactory cure rate and can have toxic side effects.
-- Helminth infections include filarial diseases, onchocerciasis (river blindness) and lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis) caused by parasitic worms, which inflict the heaviest socioeconomic burden of all the neglected tropical diseases and affect millions in poverty-stricken areas. Current treatments for these diseases cannot be used for patients who are infected with a related nematode worm, Loa loa, because of the severe side effects caused by rapid killing of juvenile Loa loa worms. There is an urgent need for a new treatment for onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis in Loa loa endemic regions.
-- Leishmaniasis occurs in 98 countries, placing 350 million people at risk worldwide. The parasite that leads to infection is called Leishmania and transmitted by sandflies. Leishmaniasis is a poverty-associated disease with several different forms. Visceral leismaniasis, which is fatal without treatment, and cutaneous leshmaniasis are the most common. Existing treatments are difficult to administer, toxic, and costly. Drug resistance also is an increasing problem.
-- Sleeping sickness, or Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), is endemic in 36 African countries and around 60 million people are at risk of being infected. HAT is transmitted by the tsetse fly and is fatal without treatment. Up until 2009, existing treatments for stage 2 of the disease were toxic or difficult to administer. In 2009, DNDi and its partners launched the first new treatment for HAT in 25 years.

About Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi)

The Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) is a not-for-profit research and development organization working to deliver new treatments for neglected diseases, in particular sleeping sickness (human African trypanosomiasis), Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, specific helminth infections, paediatric HIV, and malaria. DNDi was established in 2003 by Médecins Sans Frontières/Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FIOCRUZ) from Brazil, Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Ministry of Health of Malaysia, and Pasteur Institute of France. The Special Programme for Tropical Disease Research (TDR) serves as a permanent observer. Since its inception, DNDi has delivered six new treatments for neglected patients: two fixed-dose antimalarials (ASAQ and ASMQ), nifurtimox-eflornithine combination therapy (NECT) for late-stage sleeping sickness, sodium stibogluconate and paromomycin (SSG&PM) combination therapy for visceral leishmaniasis in Africa, a set of combination therapies for visceral leishmaniasis in Asia, and a paediatric dosage form of benznidazole for Chagas disease. www.dndi.org

About Abbott

Abbott and its philanthropic foundation, the Abbott Fund, are supporting innovative new efforts to advance the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of neglected diseases around the world. In 2009, Abbott created an Executive Council for Neglected Diseases to coordinate efforts across the company to contribute innovative technologies, drug compounds and scientific expertise, working in partnership with non-profit organizations, academic research institutions and multilateral agencies. The Abbott Fund also supports programs to advance research and expand community education and outreach on neglected diseases.

Abbott (NYSE: ABT) is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs approximately 91,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.

— WebWireID152134 —

— WebWireID152098 —

— WebWireID152105 —

Following the recent FDA crackdowns and raiding of several supplement companies due to bad manufacturing practices and poor ingredient quality, ClinicVitamins.com openly stated this week that they will only distribute pure, independently tested, all natural vitamins and supplements to reinforce their commitment to client safety.The owner, Dr. Jacob Canfield, a Michigan-based Chiropractor and natural vitamin specialist, has long been a watchdog with regard to what his patients take under his care.

Following the launch of Clinic Vitamins, the practitioner has taken extra steps to ensure that online shoppers are as safe as the patients who visit his office: 'We upped the standards with which we evaluate the brands we carry because, at the end of the day, we're here to improve lives, not to simply make money. There is a lot of deception in the all natural vitamin industry and we're actively taking steps to ensure everything in our store is clinical-strength and free of anything I'd advise patients against taking,' the practitioner said.

While Dr. Canfield said they already had strict guidelines in place, there were several brands that, while natural, contained natural binding agents that he felt could potentially cause mild health concerns to those with certain allergies. The move is indicative of the industry shirt to all natural vitamins and the increasing demand for brands with strict quality control standards and vigilant testing for impurities and potency.

About Clinic Vitamins

ClinicVitamins.com, a Grand Rapids, MI based wellness clinic and supplement dispensary, offers a wide-array of clinical-strength, all natural vitamins and health supplements. Their present offerings include only professional brands, typically sold to clinics and medical professionals. The online retail powerhouse presently distributes highly reputable professional brands, including Designs for Health and Thorne supplements. Additionally, Dr. Canfield specializes in helping clients balance their vitamins and nutrient levels through specific medical and nutritional testing via blood tests, which are available to clinic patients and clients, nationwide.

— WebWireID152084 —

Aspire's operators are the perfect solution in setting up a medical call center because the service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Services include after hours emergency calls, interactive services and virtual PBX.

Emergency situations must often by dealt with immediately. That is why Aspire's answering service for doctors provides clients with a variety of ways to deal with incoming calls. Doctors may receive messages in a variety of ways, via text, email, patching, faxes or voicemail. When using text messages, clients may communicate with the operator to give them instructions, relay replies, etc.

With every medical call center package, doctors receive a log of all calls received. New clients also receive a month of free services. Call 800-450-7811 for details.

— WebWireID152078 —

At American Longevity Center, doctors utilize the latest in hormone replacement treatments to combat many of the negative effects of aging. Offering the newest developments in Hormone Replacement Therapy, the experts at ALC are able to effectively treat menopause, andropause, low testosterone and a host of other conditions commonly associated with hormone imbalances.

Many of the common ailments that afflict men and women as they age are related to hormonal imbalances and deficiencies. Some may begin to experience symptoms as early as their mid-thirties while others may not feel the effects until their forties or fifties.  The decline in physical condition, irritability, depression, and lowered libido that many people chalk up as the inevitable slowing down of age can actually be treated and reversed through Hormone Replacement Therapy at ALC.

While Hormonal Replacement Therapy is often associated only with women suffering from extreme symptoms of menopause, the truth is that many people from both sexes can enjoy its benefits. Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT as it is known, supplements the body's natural hormone production, restoring the body to its natural balance and revitalizing the patient. At American Longevity Center, they've got it down to a science.

The doctors at ALC use the latest, most high-tech diagnostic testing available to develop a health profile of each patient. They design a customized treatment program personalized to each patient's unique situation and body chemistry. Through the most advanced Hormone Replacement Therapy available and other cutting edge treatments, patients at the ALC don't just get healthier, they feel and even look younger. Thanks to Hormone Replacement Therapy available at American Longevity Center, now age really is just a number.

To learn more about Hormone Replacement Therapy, visit American Longevity Center online at http://www.americanlongevitycenter.com/

About American Longevity Center:
American Longevity Center is an advanced medical facility that treats and prevents the signs and symptoms associated with aging and hormone imbalances. American Longevity Center offers hormone replacement therapy and advanced healthy aging medicine for men and women who want to look and feel their best as they age. Their medical facilities offer physician prescribed and monitored treatment programs that incorporate the latest breakthroughs in anti-aging therapies including Human Growth Hormone and Testosterone replacement treatments. 

The most highly trained physicians are available for consultations and treatment at ALC.  Their doctors are nationally recognized experts in the field of anti-aging medicine and are Board Certified from the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine.
Please visit their website for a complete list of our healthy aging and functional medicine specialties.

www.americanlongevitycenter.com

Media Contact:
David Kohn
Media Relations
American Longevity Center
david@americanlongevitycenter.com
800-777-8332
 
 

— WebWireID152070 —

The Manchester practice is renowned for offering patients a comfortable and anxiety-free visit. Its patient lounge has been designed specifically to ensure a relaxing and calming atmosphere, providing patients with an up-to-date selection of magazines, a plasma television, and a range of drinks and fruits.

The practice prides itself on providing high quality dental care and services such as white filling, crowns, bridges, dentures, full mouth detox services, full mouth reconstruction, restorative dentistry, and root canal treatments. The practice's reputation is founded on the principles of excellence that is exemplified by this approach.

Furthermore, the St. Ann's dental team is dedicated to making visits as comfortable and as stress free as possible, as well as to providing a quality of service and care that makes patients feel valued and important.

For more information regarding the Manchester dental practice, visit www.jameshull.co.uk/stanns. 

Additionally, for direct enquiries, see contact details below:

St. Ann's Dental Practice
14 St. Ann's Square
Manchester
M2 7HQ

Tel: 0161 820 6294

Opening hours:

Monday 09:00-20:00
Tuesday 09:00-17:30
Wednesday 09:00-17:30 (every other Wed 09:00-20:00)
Thursday 09:00-17:30
Friday 09:00-17:00

— WebWireID152054 —

'EVOC-101 Web's success is measured by its ability to change behavior of emergency drivers by giving them a heightened awareness of the hazards encountered when running lights and siren.  Its popularity induced requests from customers for modifications and gave us the opportunity to create the four versions of the basic program,' said Reginald Welles, President & CEO of AST. 'Our instructional design strategy allows us to take advantage of the interactive properties available for online programs making EVOC-101 Web one of the most compelling low cost solutions to quickly reduce risk of crashes for emergency vehicle operators.'
 
About Applied Simulation Technologies, Inc.
AST develops online, simulator-based, and custom driver training solutions for police, emergency response, commercial truck, fleet, and teen drivers. AST combines extensive experience in instructional and simulator systems design with knowledgeable subject matter experts to create training solutions that have been proven to train safer drivers and reduce accidents. Further information may be obtained at AST's website: www.appliedsimtech.com. 

— WebWireID152029 —

1. Thinning of the skin & stretch marks
2. Dells & valleys as the skin is pulled down by fibre septae
3. An abundance of fat
4. Poor circulation causes swelling & oedema
5. Free radicals cause changes to skin colour & texture

A new video has been released as part of a four part series on YourCosmeticDoctor.tv information channel. Featured in January & February 2012, these videos from Dr. Lycka will focus on what is cellulite, cellulite causes, and different ways to get rid of cellulite, and some specific new cellulite treatment.

About Dr. Barry A.S. Lycka
Barry A. S. Lycka, Edmonton based Cosmetic Dermatologist, is one of North America's foremost authorities on cosmetic surgery, skin cancer surgery, reconstructive surgery and laser surgery of the skin. He founded YourCosmeticDoctor.tv to be an unbiased source of credible information on cosmetic surgery.

For further information on this new service, cellulite causes and cellulite treatments or any other questions relating to Cosmetic Dermatology, Dr. Lycka can be contacted via his website www.barrylyckamd.com or by telephone at his Edmonton office (780) 425-1212.

— WebWireID152034 —

The video blog breaks down complex science into easy-to-understand concepts and terminology for personal trainers, coaches, fitness pros and athletes looking for more information on corrective exercise.

In particular, Carey explains that:
Therapeutic exercises are based on physical therapy and are part of a treatment protocol, an exercise program structured around the rehabilitation of a particular injury.
Corrective exercises focus on identifying incorrect patterns of movement, identifying what muscles are weak or strong, lengthened or shortened, and what can be done to correct imbalances in the body.

Post-rehab exercises are exercises that can be therapeutic in nature, but chiefly focus on long-term treatment for a client's holistic health. Post-rehab exercises can be step one and lead into corrective exercises.

'Regardless of what you do to get fit, it's important to understand how you can improve the quality of your movement, so you can avoid compounding existing problems and get the most of your ongoing workouts,' said Ellis, founder of John Spencer Ellis Enterprises, a fitness and personal development solutions company. 'Whether you have an injury or are a personal trainer working with clients with injuries, understanding corrective exercises can make a big difference in your long-term health and productivity.'

The online interview also discusses misconceptions and misinformation about this aspect of the fitness industry as well as different definitions of functional and sports-specific exercises. In addition, it addresses the importance of understanding these exercises, as well as more passive healing modalities, for fitness professionals, whether they are looking to heal from an injury, improve performance or train for an event.

(more)

About John Spencer Ellis Enterprises
John Spencer Ellis Enterprises is a solutions provider for fitness and coaching professionals around the world, providing education, turn-key business programs, coaching and resources for new and advanced fitness and coaching professionals.  For more information about John Spencer Ellis Enterprises or the Anthony Carey video blog interview on corrective exercises, please visit http://johnspencerellis.com/anthony-carey-interview-with-john-spencer-ellis-therapeutic-exercises-vs-corrective-exercises-vs-post-rehab-exercises/

— WebWireID152032 —

Davos-Klosters, Switzerland – The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today renewed its commitment to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Announced at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, the Gates Foundation is giving US$ 750 million through a promissory note – a new and innovative funding mechanism.

'These are tough economic times, but that is no excuse for cutting aid to the world's poorest,' said Bill Gates, Co-Chair of the Gates Foundation. 'The Global Fund is one of the most effective ways we invest our money in every year.'

Providing funding through a promissory note gives the Global Fund the flexibility and authority to distribute funds efficiently based on immediate needs, leading to greater impact.

'By supporting the Global Fund, we can help to change the fortunes of the poorest countries in the world,' said Gates. 'I can't think of more important work.'

Global Fund financing helps developing countries fighting against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. This public-private partnership creates economic opportunity and makes those living in poverty less dependent on aid.

Since 2002, investments in the Global Fund have financed innovative prevention and treatment programmes in 150 countries with high burdens of disease. The Global Fund continues to save 100,000 lives a month. The Fund has provided antiretroviral treatment to 3.3 million people, detected and treated 8.2 million people with tuberculosis, and provided 230 million bed nets to families to prevent malaria.

The new commitment is in addition to the US$ 650 million the Gates Foundation has already contributed since the Global Fund was launched 10 years ago at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, which convenes the world's top business and political leaders.

The Foundation commends the recent political and financial commitments to the Global Fund by donor governments. All donors – rich, middle-income and poor countries, as well as the private sector – must continue to invest in the lifesaving work of the Global Fund.

On the heels of releasing his fourth annual letter yesterday in London, Gates continued to challenge global leaders to invest in innovations that are accelerating progress against poverty or risk a future where millions needlessly die. While there has been tremendous progress against AIDS, TB and malaria, more must be done. Through unique partnerships and new financing mechanisms, the global community has the opportunity to have an even greater impact and save more lives.

With record participation of over 2,600 leaders from government, academia, business and civil society, the theme of this year's Annual Meeting is The Great Transformation: Shaping New Models.

The Co-Chairs of the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2012 are: Yasuchika Hasegawa, President and Chief Executive Officer, Takeda Pharmaceutical, Japan; Vikram Pandit, Chief Executive Officer, Citi, USA; Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer, Unilever, United Kingdom; Alejandro Ramirez, Chief Executive Officer, Cinepolis, Mexico; Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer, Facebook, USA; and Peter Voser, Chief Executive Officer, Royal Dutch Shell, Netherlands.

Notes to Editors

Find more information about the Annual Meeting 2012 at http://wef.ch/Davos
View the best photographs from the Annual Meeting on Flickr at http://wef.ch/pix
Watch live webcasts of the sessions on Livestream at http://wef.ch/live
Watch the sessions on YouTube at http://wef.ch/youtube or Youku at http://wef.ch/youku
Ask a World Leader on YouTube: http://wef.ch/askaleader
Become a fan of the Forum on Facebook at http://wef.ch/facebook
Follow the Forum on Twitter at http://wef.ch/twitter and http://wef.ch/livetweet
Listen to the Forum Podcast at http://wef.ch/podcast
Read the Forum Blog at http://wef.ch/blog
Read Forum reports on Scribd at http://wef.ch/scribd
Follow the Meeting on the iPhone at http://wef.ch/app
Upcoming Forum events at http://wef.ch/events
Subscribe to Forum News Releases at http://wef.ch/news
Connect with the Forum at http://wef.ch/connect

— WebWireID152027 —

The paper will be published in the January 26 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

"This paper adds to the substantial body of evidence that modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors in healthy men and women heavily influence the likelihood of developing cardiovascular disease later in life, regardless of their backgrounds," said Susan B. Shurin, M.D., acting director of the NIH's National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

"Prevention of cardiovascular disease is a lifetime opportunity for and a responsibility of individuals, families, communities, and the health care system. This paper reinforces that cardiovascular disease can be prevented and controlled throughout the course of an adult's lifetime," she added.

As part of the Cardiovascular Lifetime Risk Pooling Project, investigators analyzed 50 years of data from 18 existing cohort, or population-based, studies in the United States. The investigators pooled the data from the 18 cohorts and measured traditional CVD risk factors — including high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, diabetes, and smoking status — in men and women from both black and white populations at ages 45, 55, 65, and 75 years.

Men who were 55 years old with at least two major risk factors were six times as likely to die from CVD by age 80 as were men with none or one CVD risk factor (29.6 percent vs. 4.7 percent). Women with at least two major risk factors were three times as likely to die from CVD as were women with no or one CVD risk factor (20.5 percent vs. 6.4 percent).

When all CVD events — fatal and non-fatal — were considered, the results were even more striking. Forty-five-year-old men with two or more risk factors had a 49.5 percent chance of having a major CVD event through age 80, while 45-year-old women had a 30.7 percent chance. On the other hand, men with optimal risk factor levels only had a 1.4 percent chance of having a major CVD event, while women had a 4.1 percent chance of having a major CVD event through age 80.

The results from each individual study were consistent with one another and with those of the pooled group, and showed that traditional risk factors predicted a person's long-term development of CVD more than age. All of the risk factors appeared to carry the same levels of risk as they did 20, 30, or 40 years ago. While black Americans had a higher prevalence of CVD risk factors than white Americans, their lifetime risks were similar when their risk factor profiles were similar.

"In general, previous studies have only looked at CVD risk factors across one specific age or gender in white populations," said Donald M. Lloyd-Jones, M.D., principal investigator of the study and an associate professor and chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago. "We analyzed an enormous pool of available data, which allowed for a more precise estimate of lifetime CVD risks across the age, sex, race, and risk factor spectrum."

Lloyd-Jones added, "These data have important implications for prevention. We need to get more serious about promoting healthy lifestyles in children and young adults, since even mild elevations in risk factors by middle age seem to have profound effects on the remaining lifetime risks for CVD."

The NHLBI supported several of the cohort studies involved, including the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, Cardiovascular Heart Study, Framingham Heart Study, Framingham Offspring Study, Honolulu Heart Program, Puerto Rico Heart Health Program, and Women's Health Initiative.

"This paper illustrates the power of pooling data from epidemiological studies," said Michael Lauer, M.D., director of the NHLBI's Division of Cardiovascular Sciences. "Because of the U.S. government's investments in these studies, it was possible for the investigators to gather and analyze data on over a quarter of a million people, which could lead to substantial public health and clinical practice implications."

'"It is important for adults to know their blood pressure and cholesterol numbers and whether they are at risk for diabetes and also to understand the different approaches they can take to prevent or control their risks for CVD. As American Heart Month approaches in February, this paper underscores the importance of raising awareness of heart disease and coronary heart disease — the most common type of heart disease and the number one killer of both men and women in the United States," said Lloyd-Jones and Shurin.

In an effort to help people reduce their risks of cardiovascular disease, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently launched the Million Hearts Campaign, a national initiative to prevent 1 million heart attacks and strokes over the next five years.

Also, in December 2010, in an effort to promote healthy behaviors and prevent diseases, including cardiovascular disease, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services launched Healthy People 2020. Healthy People 2020 and its specific, measurable health objectives represent the nation's disease prevention and health promotion goals for the coming decade.

For additional information or to arrange an interview with an NHLBI spokesperson, please contact the NHLBI Communications Office at 301-496-4236 or nhlbi_news@nhlbi.nih.gov.

To arrange an interview with Dr. Lloyd-Jones, contact Marla Paul at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine at 312-503-8928.

Part of the National Institutes of Health, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) plans, conducts, and supports research related to the causes, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of heart, blood vessel, lung, and blood diseases; and sleep disorders. The Institute also administers national health education campaigns on women and heart disease, healthy weight for children, and other topics. NHLBI press releases and other materials are available online at www.nhlbi.nih.gov.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH):
NIH, the nation's medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit www.nih.gov.

— WebWireID152024 —