ARA) - With about three-quarters of the nation’s population taking at least one prescribed medication, it’s no secret that our bodies need help to be healthy. Heart disease, insomnia, depression and other diseases have reached epidemic levels.
Heart disease has almost quadrupled since 2000. Nearly 80 million people in the United States have heart disease, up from 22 million. More than 70 million people in the United States suffer from insomnia, a number that has stayed the same for a number of years. Roughly 18 million adults in the United States suffer from depression. Ten times more people suffer from major depression now compared to 60 years ago.
Fortunately drugs like Lipitor, Ambien and Zoloft have improved our quality of life and allow people to live longer, healthier lives.Lipitor is used to lower the amount of bad cholesterol, and Ambien is used for people with insomnia to help them sleep better. Zoloft is an antidepressant, but it’s also used to help obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder, social phobia and post-traumatic stress disorder.
These valuable drugs don’t happen by themselves. And often, the frontline of drug discovery and ultimately development begins with a relatively unknown profession: veterinary pathology. These scientists are part of a team that not only finds the drugs that keep us healthy; they also keep thousands of unsafe drugs from ever hitting the drug store shelves.
These individuals are uniquely aware of animals’ and humans’ responses to drugs, because to know the animal body makes it easy to know the human body.
Ricardo Ochoa, a veterinary pathologist and pharmaceutical consultant, says veterinary pathologists have helped keep thousands of compounds that could have been harmful to humans from getting into development. Ochoa has worked extensively in the pharmaceutical industry discovering and developing drugs as a drug development scientist.
“People don’t realize that most of the compounds that we start working with actually don’t make it,” adds Ochoa. “Veterinary pathologists are guardians of the safety of compounds, and ultimately, of the greater population. The odds of becoming a winner in American Idol are better than getting a compound to the market.”
Hundreds of processes go into producing a therapeutic drug. Veterinary pathologists have proved to be invaluable assets in the pharmaceutical industry, but there is currently a shortage in the pipeline that could hinder future pharmaceutical development. Currently there are approximately 1,500 licensed veterinary pathologists – and only a small percentage in the pharmaceutical industry.
Ochoa says that the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) is working hard to ensure that there will be sufficient veterinary pathologists to continue to serve humanity. For more information on the profession, and other areas of public health served by veterinary pathologists, go to http://www.acvp.org . And the next time you pop a pill, quietly thank a veterinary pathologist.
(ARA) - From flowers to guest lists, engaged couples spend months planning the perfect wedding. After the vows are said and the reception is complete, most newlyweds are ready to relax. But there are several steps newlyweds should take before their happily ever after can begin.
“Settling into life as a married couple takes some work,” says Lindsey Leesmann, a recent newlywed and contributor to YesYouCanOnline.info. “If you’re taking your husband’s last name, you must complete the name change in several places. You also have to discuss managing money as a couple and learn how to live together.”
Leesmann offers the following to-do list for newlyweds changing their last names:
Obtain a copy of your marriage license
If you stated you’d be changing your last name when purchasing your marriage license, you’ll receive a copy of the license in the mail. This license should be taken to each location on your path toward a new last name.
Go online
Next, acquire a new Social Security card and update your passport. Complete Form SS-5 and take it to the local Social Security office to obtain a new card. The form can be found on the Social Security Administration’s Web site (www.ssa.gov). Your passport can be changed by completing Form DS-5504, found at www.travel.state.gov.
Drive to the DMV
The next stop for newlyweds is the local Department of Motor Vehicles. Each state is different, so make sure to bring all the items required to get your name changed and renew your driver’s license.
Check in at your bank
Most banks simply need a copy of the marriage license and the account holder’s signature to approve a name change. Some may also require your spouse to be present.
Drop by the post office
To change your name at the post office, just pick up a change of address envelope, fill it out and mail it back.
Once the name change is complete, newlyweds can focus on managing money as a couple.
“Money is often a tricky topic for new couples,” says Sam Goller, award-winning author of “Yes, You Can… Achieve Financial Harmony.” “But it’s important to start communicating about money at the beginning of your marriage.”
Goller offers the following suggestions for newlyweds working to manage their finances as a couple:
Determine priorities
Prior to creating a financial plan, talk about your histories with money and what’s most important to each of you when it comes to money.
Find missing dollars
You have to understand your spending habits before you can spend money in a way that helps meet your goals. Consider keeping a spending journal to find out where your money really goes.
Choose a system that works for you
You may prefer to sit down each month as a couple to pay bills and develop a monthly budget. Or maybe one of you is better at handling expenses and prefers to do it alone. Find a system that works with your needs.
“The key to managing money as a couple is to never stop talking,” says Goller. “With shared determination, a plan and open communication, newlyweds have the power to improve their financial position both now and well into retirement.”
For more information on managing money as a couple, visit http://www.YesYouCanOnline.info .
(ARA) - Warmer weather brings more outdoor sports – and with them, the increased risk of eye injury. Every year in the United States more than 40,000 sports-related eye injures require emergency room attention, with almost half happening to people younger than 15. The majority of these injuries could be prevented simply by using appropriate protective eyewear when playing sports.
“Even if they’re just playing a quick pickup game in the park, eye protection should be a major concern for kids,” says Florida optometrist and former University of Miami football player Dr. Pat Del Vecchio. “This is very important when playing certain sports – like baseball, basketball or football – where there is a higher risk of eye injury.”
When choosing eye protection for children, first make sure the eyewear is specifically designed for sports, Del Vecchio advises. Conventional frames and lenses can shatter and turn a small impact into a sight-threatening injury. “The eye protection should also be comfortable and not obscure vision during the game” he adds. “If it doesn’t meet these two criteria, then kids just aren’t going to wear it.”
While on-field collisions remain the most frequent cause of sports-related eye injuries, sometimes the playing field itself can be the culprit. Playing outdoors kicks up dust and dirt that can adhere to the eye and cause scratches or even more severe problems. This is a particular concern for young contact lens wearers. For these situations, Del Vecchio recommends taking along a multi-purpose solution in case you need to remove your lenses. “A good multi-purpose disinfecting solution, like OPTI-FREE RepleniSH MPDS, removes the irritants, and is an effective way to kill the germs that can cause eye infections,” he says.
Ultimately, the most important tip of all is to see your eye doctor at least once each year, Del Vecchio says. “Your eyes need to be taken care of just like any other piece of athletic equipment. As a former athlete, I can tell you they are the most important part of any sport, so a yearly visit to the eye doctor can identify any problems early, help maintain healthy vision and ensure you’re able to keep your eye on the ball.”
Quick Tips for Protecting Your Eyes
* Wear protective eyewear. Do not substitute ordinary glasses for appropriate protection. Sports-protective eyewear is specifically tested to meet rigid impact standards.
* Know your eye safety options. If you are not sure what protection works best, visit your eye doctor to see what is available.
* Add eye protection to other protective gear. If you are playing a sport that requires a helmet, consider wearing a helmet with full face protection.
* Take out contacts before getting in the water. Don’t wear your contact lenses while swimming. Certain organisms present in the water can attach to contact lenses and can cause eye infections. Remember to always care for your contact lenses with a Multi-Purpose Disinfecting Solution, like OPTI-FREE RepleniSH.
* Protect your eyes from the sun. To prevent eyes from being over exposed to UV rays, give your eyes a break by wearing sunglasses when not playing on the field.
(ARA) –The rising cost of fuel will likely keep many Americans closer to home this summer, financial analysts say. But the money set aside for travel won’t be staying in their bank accounts.
Americans will be spending a lot of their discretionary money updating their homes, according to the Home Improvement Research Institute (HIRI). At a time when other industries are suffering double-digit declines in revenue, the agency is predicting home improvement businesses will average a growth rate of 6 percent annually for the next four years, reaching $381 billion by 2012.
As usual, kitchen and bathroom remodels are expected to be popular this summer. So are projects that allow homeowners in need of more space to expand their living areas. But with budgets tight, not too many people will be doing add-ons this year. They are instead expected to focus their attention on outdoor living as a way to expand.
“Outdoor living is a lot more sophisticated, today, than it was as recently as five years ago. People now have outdoor kitchens and living rooms, and since they are decorating them a lot like they would an interior room it’s getting hard to tell the outdoor living spaces from the indoor ones,” says Joe Rey-Barreau, an associate professor at the University of Kentucky’s School of Interior Design and the education consultant for the American Lighting Association (ALA). He travels the country tracking trends and one he’s noticed lately is the focus on decorative accents outside.
“It doesn’t matter where in the country I am; when I visit an outdoor living room these days, I will find decorative table lamps and chandeliers, even wall scones that are UL rated; and hanging from the ceiling are these beautiful fans. A far cry from the industrial-looking models of yesteryear,” says Rey-Barreau.
Take, for example, the Bellaria Collection by Zionsville, Ind.-based Famimation. “Fans in this collection are decorative as well as functional,” says Tom Underwood, the company’s national sales manager. “They look like indoor products by virtue of their detail, but are meant to be used outdoors.”
The Bellaria fans feature a composite housing that is rust-proof, all-weather blades and wet-labeled light kits. They are available in seven different finishes ranging from white to aged copper.
The Emerson Ceiling Fan company of St. Louis, Mo., also has some strong offerings for the outdoor living market. “We’ve expanded our outdoor offerings quite a bit in recent years,” says Steve Cox, vice president and general manager of Emerson Air Comfort Products. “Emerson offers all the traditional and contemporary designs you’d expect. Plus we have a lot of models with a tropical look.”
Cox expects The Maui Bay line to do extremely well this summer. The fan motors, which come in a corrosion resistant housing that is perfect for an outdoor deck or gazebo, and blades in this collection are sold separately, allowing home owners to create a look that is truly unique.
In the meantime, the designers at Regency Fans, which is based in Fenton, Mo., expect their Miranda collection to do well with the outdoor living crowd. “Our outdoor models have the same quiet D/C motor fans as our interior units do,” says Kim Noerteman, Regency’s product and marketing director. “Consumers can find regular ceiling hung fans, as well as wall, pedestal and decorative tandem models available for both the inside and out in this collection. The only real difference if you decide to go outside rather than in would be the more weather-resistant housing and blade options.”
For more information about ceiling fans designed for outdoor use, or to find a showroom near you that carries them, log on to the American Lighting Association’s Web site at www.AmericanLightingAssoc.com or call (800) BRIGHT-IDEAS (800-274-4484).
More than 60 percent of non-traumatic, lower-limb amputations occur among people with diabetes. Don’t become one of them.
(NewsUSA) - Nearly 21 million people in the United States are afflicted with diabetes, which accounts for 7 percent of the population. The prevalence of the disease is even higher among African Americans. In fact, approximately 13 percent of African Americans aged 20 years or older have the disease. And while diabetes is a chronic disease that can be managed, people need to be more aware of the complications associated with it.
Diabetic complications can cause nerve and vascular damage, which can eventually lead to foot ulcers. If not treated in time, these ulcers can result in amputation. In fact, more than 60 percent of non-traumatic, lower-limb amputations in the United States occur among people with diabetes.
What can you do? The American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA) recommends regular visits to an APMA podiatric physician as part of a comprehensive foot care plan to help reduce your risk of amputation. Additionally, the APMA suggests following these simple tips at home.
* Check your feet every day
Especially if you have a loss of sensation, visually inspecting your feet daily will help you notice any cuts, sores, blisters or changes in the skin or toenails. You can use a hand mirror to help you check the bottoms of your feet. If you notice a change in your feet, see your podiatrist immediately.
* Clean your feet daily
Washing your feet will help avoid the build-up of bacteria. Be sure to wash in warm water, rather than hot. Completely dry your feet after washing, and pay special attention to drying between the toes.
* Keep skin healthy
By lightly applying lotion or moisturizer to your feet, you can help prevent dry, flaky or cracked skin. Use lotion on the tops and bottoms of your feet but never between the toes because excess moisture between the toes creates conditions favorable to forming an infection.
* Always wear shoes and socks
Soft, lightly padded socks will help you avoid blisters and sores. Socks with no seams are best. Also, examine the insides of your shoes to be sure there is nothing harmful that will injure your feet.
* Choose shoes that fit well and protect your feet
One of the best ways to avoid injuries to your feet is to wear sturdy and supportive shoes at all times.
For more information on diabetes and your feet or to find an APMA podiatrist in your area, visit www.apma.org.
(ARA) - It’s a home comfort emergency. Your air conditioning system breaks down in the middle of a heat wave, or your current heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system sounds and feels like it’s on its last legs. When you need to replace your system quickly, what should you do?
The folks at American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning offer a list of things to consider when you need to replace your home comfort system in a hurry without getting worried.
Choose the right HVAC dealer.
The most important step is finding someone you can trust to provide expert advice and properly install your new system. When selecting the best professional dealer, ask friends and neighbors for a recommendation, check credentials through the Better Business Bureau and learn about the dealer’s credentials and services, including whether removal of old equipment is included. Some dealers also have North American Technician Excellence (NATE) certification, confirming the highest level of training for installation and service.
Get an in-home assessment.
Before any professional dealers can share a solution, they need to diagnose the situation and understand your family’s comfort needs. The dealer should conduct an in-home assessment to determine the right system that will deliver the greatest comfort and energy efficiency for your home. This includes asking questions about your lifestyle and comfort requirements, checking your insulation, ductwork and building materials, and measuring your windows and rooms.
Ask about a matched system.
In a matched system, indoor and outdoor units are integrated to give you the best comfort and efficiency. For example, the indoor unit — either a furnace or air handler — works in conjunction with the outside unit such as an air conditioner or heat pump. Matched systems are quieter, more reliable, more efficient and last longer to make the most of your investment.
Some matched systems also offer added convenience and comfort through built-in technology that allows all HVAC components to “communicate” with each other. For example, the American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning AccuLink system ensures all components are automatically and properly charged, configured and calibrated for sustained reliability, peak performance and energy efficiency. In addition, the AccuLink communicating system also provides homeowners with remote telephone access to their system, meaning they can adjust temperatures and control the system whether they are home or away.
Add an air filtration system.
If you have family members with allergies or asthma, or if you want to improve the indoor air quality in your home, consider adding an air filtration system to your furnace or air handler. Most systems have only a standard one-inch air filter that simply protects components from clogging. A whole-home air cleaner, like the American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning AccuClean, removes up to 99.98 percent of dust, pollen, bacteria and pet dander from your filtered air — making it 100 times more effective than a standard throwaway filter. In addition, it removes more than 99 percent of the influenza A virus from the filtered air your family breathes.
Ask about extended warranties and financing options.
Many dealers offer financing options that fit your budget. In addition, understand the limited warranties that come with your new equipment and how you may extend the warranty coverage on parts and labor to provide further peace of mind.
Plan ahead.
If your furnace, air handler, air conditioner or heat pump is eight years or older, it may make sense to replace them with more up-to-date models — before they break down. Recent increases in government efficiency ratings mean that the new systems may help you increase your family’s comfort while decreasing your home’s energy costs.
For more information on choosing an HVAC system or to find an American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning independent dealer near you, visit http://www.americanstandardair.com .
New search engines that don’t rely on keywords could revolutionize the way that users find information on the Internet.
(NewsUSA) - People now use search engines so often, the word “Google” has become a verb.
Search engines help students find statistics, cooks locate recipes, and politicos spot blog updates. But today’s most popular search engines still have limitations.
Search engines use words. But searching for one word or phrase might not yield every relevant result.
For example, Alexander the Great goes by other names -; Alejandro Magno, Büyük Iskender, Lissandru la Granni. A student typing the name “Alexander the Great” into a search engine might miss the information needed to give her project an “A.”
Instead of word-based search engines, companies want to develop entity-based Internet searches.
An entity-based search engine would recognize Lissandru la Granni as Alexander the Great, even if a surfer didn’t know to search for him under that name.
One Hungarian-based technology company, Power of the Dream Ventures, Inc., has developed an entity-based search engine that will start running in late 2008.
The search engine and integrated online content manager, iGlue, will not only make understanding information on the Internet easier, it will also help the Internet adapt to its users.
iGlue can manage entities, not keywords, that appear in Web content. It can find information about a topic even when Web sites present that topic in different terms.
Today, most Web pages connect through hyperlinks, which connect documents to documents. If a user clicks on a hyperlinked image, he won’t go straight to that picture on another page, but to an entire Web site.
iGlue uses a hyperdata model instead. Words, images and pieces of data can all be used to establish relationships among different information sources. Relationships among people, places and events become clear.
Users will not download iGlue but will access the program on the Web. iGlue will always be available in its newest version.
For more information, visit www.powerofthedream.com. Power of the Dream trades under the symbol PWRV on the OTCBB exchange.
Insurance companies reduce premiums for homeowners who install high-tech safeguards against water damage.
(NewsUSA) - Water damage can prove devastating. Ruptured washing machine hoses, leaking water heaters, leaky pipes and failed plumbing systems can make entire rooms or basements flood. Floods can stain ceilings and walls, warp wooden floors, destroy expensive electronics and ruin personal items.
Such water damage causes many homeowners to file insurance claims. In the U.S., only home fires cause more damage.
Small water leaks can also create moist areas -; perfect places for mold, one of the major sources of low indoor air quality, to grow.
In allergic or asthmatic people, indoor mold can cause rashes or asthma attacks. Even people without allergies develop respiratory, skin and eye irritation when exposed to mold.
Mold can damage home ventilation systems, walls and carpets, not to mention sentimental items like old wedding clothes or fine art. Carpets containing mold must be replaced, and moldy wall installation requires removal. According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average homeowner’s claim is $3,000 to $4,000 dollars.
For water damage combined with mold, homeowners typically claim $15,000 to $30,000.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mold is nearly impossible to remove. Homeowners or contractors can scrub off visible mold from walls and replace rugs, but the only way to reduce mold is to reduce a home’s moisture content.
The best way to handle mold? Prevent the water leaks and damage from encouraging mold growth.
Insurance companies now give discounts to homeowners who install high-tech devices to limit water damage. The FloLogic System, an automatic water shut-off system, acts like a circuit breaker for water systems.
From the water main, the FloLogic monitors a home’s water flow. If the system detects a change in pressure resulting from a pinhole leak, flooding appliance or running faucet, the FloLogic sounds an alarm and shuts off the water before flood and mold damage can occur.
Insurance companies recognize that early detection limits damage and reduces claims, and many offer reduced rates to homeowners who install the FloLogic system.
For homeowners, using high-tech devices to prevent water damage can become a double boon -; they can protect their valuables and pay less money to insure their homes. To learn more, visit www.flologic.com.
(NewsUSA) - In an increasingly technological world, the ability of our environments to be “smart” is becoming increasingly important.
Smart environments delivered by Johnson Controls, a global diversified, multi-industrial company, use products, systems and technologies that make our lives more comfortable, safe and sustainable through user-friendly interfaces and intelligent design.
Advances in technology are driving consumers to expect greater levels of personalization, customization, productivity and environmental sensitivity in their everyday lives. People want to feel more secure and at ease; they want to reduce their carbon footprint and prefer to do business with eco-friendly companies.
Geopolitical factors, including the drive for energy independence and the potential impact of climate change, are thought to be triggering increased attention to products and services that optimize energy use. Johnson Controls’ smart environments align with these expectations.
These technologies affect many aspects of our everyday lives.
* An improved automotive experience. Johnson Controls’ systems that link mobile electronic devices - including cell phones, navigational devices and MP3 players - to the vehicle allow the driver to interface with these devices safely and easily.
The company also provides a number of safety-oriented features, including the riACT head restraint, which optimizes the anti-whiplash performance of seats, and soy-content foam for vehicle seating pads that reduce the levels of harmful chemicals required to produce current seat-grade foam.
* Eco-friendly, efficient homes. Making a home into a smart environment means implementing sustainable, cost-saving measures, but it can also enhance the home’s decor and exterior. Johnson Controls’ York Affinity Series air conditioners not only offer an energy-efficient solution to homeowners’ cooling needs, but also enable individuals to customize unit colors to match their home’s exterior. Its quiet-drive system provides unobtrusive, energy-efficient performance contributing to up to 60 percent savings on a homeowner’s energy bills.
* Hybrid solutions for a more sustainable world. Vehicles with hybrid technology are the future of sustainable transportation. Hybrid vehicle technology greatly improves fuel-economy by using battery power to propel the car at lower speeds.
The lithium-ion battery is the most advanced hybrid-vehicle battery available and a critical link to the mass production of hybrid electric vehicles. They are key to reducing our carbon emissions and fuel costs. Johnson Controls’ joint venture with Saft Advanced Power Solutions is a global leader in developing this technology and supporting its acceptance in the marketplace. Additionally, Johnson Controls is the world’s largest recycler of lead-acid batteries and manages a closed-loop recycling system that contributes to a “smart environment” while minimizing the use of virgin lead.
“Lord, Save Us from Your Followers” takes a look into the contentious world of the Christian faith.
(NewsUSA) - Although nine out of ten Americans claim a belief in God, public expression of faith is more conflicting than ever.
Even as discussion of religion floods the media like never before, the rhetoric is divisive and hyper as the 2008 elections loom on the horizon. Fed up with the angry, strident language filling the airwaves that has come to represent the Christian faith; author, director, and follower Dan Merchant set out to explore the collision of faith and culture in America.
“To me, the division of America, this separateness, isn’t getting any of us anywhere,” writes Merchant. “And both sides are making the same mistake - they think the so-called ‘culture war’ is a winnable war. Some think, eventually, one side will win out over the other. I don’t see it that way. I’m concerned that calling it a Culture War presumes a few things, like if it’s a war, there is an enemy. This kind of adversarial posture serves to further entrench us in our own positions. The sad fact is our country is polarized because we like it. It’s much simpler to pretend the world is black and white. An ‘us vs. them’ attitude is simpler than critical self-reflection and allows us to blame the other.”
Merchant’s journey, which actually begins in famine-ravaged Ethiopia, opens a panoramic view of how God’s people are viewed by everyday Americans and the world-at-large. From the man-on-the-street blitz of “Bumpersticker Man” to the controversial and moving “Confession Booth” at Gay Pride Day, Lord, Save Us from Your Followers delves into all the hot-button issues with candor, humor and balance. With exclusive interviews with comedian/senatorial candidate Al Franken, former Sen. Rick Santorum, noted evangelical Tony Campolo, conservative radio host Michael Reagan and others, no stone is left unturned in this engaging, unpredictable and challenging look at the conflict over religion in America.
Dan Merchant is an award-winning television writer/producer, novelist and frequent church attendee. Merchant has been happily married for 20 years and is the father of two teenage boys.
For more information, visit www.lordsaveusthemovie.com.
