Link-Systems International and SUNY Partner in Support of Sharing Technology and Academic Resources New York (the STAR-NY Consortium)
Tampa, FL, November 07, 2011 –(PR.com)– Teri Vigars of SUNY-Cortland along with Jen Drake of TC3 and Chris Bergeron of Link-Systems International were recently discussing SUNY’s issues regarding current available resources and budgetary constraints. the conversation of system-wide sharing of existing resources blossomed into the idea of forming an online tutoring consortium and the STAR-NY Consortium was born. “we realized that SUNY Cortland had both the technological skills, thanks to the support and guidance of LSI, and the administrative experience running an online tutoring program necessary to create a SUNY tutoring consortium,” said Teri Vigars, Assistant Director of the Academic Support and Achievement Program at SUNY-Cortland. the STAR-NY Consortium was formed to promote campus-to-campus collaboration and to implement strategies to improve efficiency, generate cost savings, build capacity, and expand student services.
The founding members of the consortium (SUNY Cortland, SUNY Delhi, TC3 and SUNY Buffalo) and Link-Systems International have agreed to a one-year pilot of LSI’s WorldWideWhiteboard® online collaborative suite to provide live, online tutorial support for writing. “Coordinating the launch of the STAR-NY Consortium with the founding members—connecting students and tutors from across the SUNY community—has been a rewarding experience. In this difficult economy, it is more important than ever to offer the resources necessary to help students achieve their goals. Joining the STAR-NY Consortium will allow SUNY institutions to do that while contributing to their goals of improving performance in critical areas like student course completion and retention and degree completion,” said Chris Bergeron, Northeast Representative for Link-Systems International, Inc.
Each member of the STAR-NY Consortium provides a tutor, and all tutors participate in ongoing technical and pedagogical training. Students at participating campuses will benefit from expanded tutorial support for writing, yet no individual campus has to entirely staff and fund online tutoring five nights per week. the consortium hopes to expand service to include other subjects in the future. LSI will provide technical support and training for all participating members.
About the SUNY System
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY, is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the world, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus 1.1 million adult education students spanning 64 campuses across the state. the SUNY system has 88,000 faculty members and some 7,660 degree and certificate programs overall and a $10.7 billion budget. SUNY includes numerous comprehensive and community colleges and four University Centers. SUNY's administrative offices are in Albany.
About Link-Systems International, Inc.
Link-Systems International, Incorporated (LSI) is a privately held technology services and content development company that has been dedicated to providing student success and student retention solutions since 1995. LSI’s core technologies include a very flexible online tutoring/teaching platform, an online grade book, an online algorithm engine with metadata and workflow capabilities, and an online business intelligence/data mining technology designed to provide real-time alerts regarding student/school/teacher performance, attendance, and other metrics. LSI’s core services include content development, consulting, and online tutoring through our NetTutor® brand. LSI customers include K-12 publishers, higher education publishers, virtual high schools, higher education institutions, technology companies, and joint programs dedicated to providing online educational content to members of organized labor and their families.
For more information, visit link-systems.com.
This press release is provided for informational purposes only. Claims made in the above release have not been reviewed by and are not endorsed by JAGSReport, LLC or its editorial staff.
Television reviews
Reece Mastin will learn if he has the X-Factor in tonight’s final. Picture: Ella Pellegrini Source: the Daily Telegraph
NOT sure what to watch on the box tonight? Check out Cameron Adam's pick for Tuesday 22 November:
THE X FACTOR, CHANNEL 7, 7.30pm
GRAND final. With even more Kylie. She’ll perform one of her hits, Australia will pick a winner and hopefully someone will show them Alityan Childs’ (he won last year, remember?) Today Tonight interview as a crash course in what not to do during the next three months. And can someone at seven HQ sign up Mel B as a judge again for next year? just sayin’.
THE GRUMPY GUIDE TO . . . FOOD, ABC1, 8.30pm
ARE the grumps getting younger? or is there just more to whinge about these days that we need to start earlier? This British show hits on a grump-friendly topic for the series return – food. that miserable voice-over chap is back to take us through everything from "Vegie, vegan, right-on limp-wristed lettuce eaters" to the "flowery, poncy lingo" on today’s restaurant menus. Superfoods, acai berries, farmers’ markets – plenty of ammunition for some British moaning and a few jokes.
HAPPY ENDINGS, CHANNEL 7, 9.30pm
THIS US comedy is really good. think a twisted update of Friends. it starts with runaway bride Alex (Elisha Cuthbert), who jilts fiance Dave (Zachary Knighton, left) at the altar. Soon he’s labelled the ‘Runaway Douche’ on YouTube and is holed up listening to Indigo Girls. "You’re giving off a real Howard Hughes vibe," his friends tell him. "You’re 10 minutes away from storing your urine in jars." Before long he’s hooked up with a skank with a tramp stamp and is drinking gin smoothies. Result!
THE OFFICE, ELEVEN, 8.30pm
WE’RE on the home run of episodes with Steve Carell (left). for some of his last business as Michael Scott, he gets his girlfriend to get his pal Todd Packer, the dirt-bag pantsman salesman, an office job instead of an on-the-road job. or from an "outdoor cat" to an "indoor cat". for a gauge of Packer’s humour, he calls genital warts "love bumps on my ding dong". Everyone in the office already hates him. What could possibly go wrong?
High platelet count doesn’t always call for treatment
DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Would you please provide information on a high platelet count? I am 84 and need to know if this is serious. — C.P. ANSWER: Platelets, also called thrombocytes, are small blood cells that initiate clot formation. They plug broken or cut blood vessels. without platelets, we would bleed to death. An excess number of platelets is called thrombocytosis. Thrombocytosis is found in many conditions such as polycythemia, iron deficiency anemia, lupus and some cancers, such as leukemia and lymphomas. These names may be foreign to your ears, but your doctor knows about them and knows what to look for in considering them. Ask the doctor if he or she is of the opinion that you have essential thrombocytosis, a high platelet count without a discoverable cause. if that is the case, then experts in this field tell us to focus on the patient and not the platelet count. An elevated platelet count in a person who has no symptoms and is not at high risk of heart problems doesn’t require immediate therapy. such a person can be followed. Symptoms to be aware of are headaches, chest pain, blood clots and bleeding. Should any suggestion of trouble arise, the doctor can begin treatment that lowers the count. DEAR DR. DONOHUE: my husband has been suffering with psoriasis for more than 60 years. He has tried many treatments, with varying results. Right now he is on Remicade infusions. his psoriasis is better, but he has sore spots all over his body. The dermatologist tells us they are cancer spots resulting from all the ultraviolet light treatments he has gotten through the years and the sun exposure he has had. Don’t they recommend this anymore? what can he do? He is also on Coumadin (a blood thinner), so sometimes the sores bleed. his dermatologist recommends cutting them out. He is 87 and does not want any cutting. Can you help? — J.T. ANSWER: Ultraviolet treatments are still used for psoriasis, but the manner in which they’re given differs from the way they used to be given. that cuts down the chances of developing skin cancers. I’m not sure what your husband’s skin lesions are. They might be actinic keratoses, flat or elevated red skin blotches with a surface that looks similar to the surface of a wart. These precancerous lesions often can be taken care of by applying 5 FU cream to them or freezing them. Basal cell skin cancer is another possibility. It starts out as a waxy growth on the skin, and it has a central depression, making it appear a bit like a volcano. sometimes basal cell cancers can also be treated with medicines applied directly to them. Squamous cell skin cancers are dangerous because they can spread to other parts of the body. They begin as dull red patches with tiny bright-red streaks running through. They eventually form a little hill, and then they become an open sore. Surgery is the recommended treatment. Skin-cell surgery isn’t as daunting as your husband might think. The pain is minimal. your husband doesn’t need an anesthetic to put him to sleep. He returns home after the procedure, which can be done in stages if he has many sores. Ask your husband to reconsider his stand on getting these things removed. He’ll regret that he didn’t. my grandfather has a sore on his nose that he neglected. He lost one half of his nose as a result. The sore was a skin cancer. DEAR DR. DONOHUE: when doctors speak of electrolytes, what are they talking about? — C.C. ANSWER: They’re talking about sodium, potassium chloride and bicarbonate, all chemicals that carry an electric charge. The positively charged sodium and potassium cancel out the negatively charged chloride and bicarbonate to keep the body electrically neutral.
* * *Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from rbmamall.com.
(c) 2011 North America Syndicate Inc. All Rights Reserved
News » Local News
Galway Advertiser, November 24, 2011.
a voluntary organisation which offers support and care to people affected by HIV/AIDS is organising a candelit memorial service in the city to mark World AIDS Day on December 1.
the event, which is being run by AIDS West, will take place at St Nicholas’ Church at 8pm and will feature the Cois Cladaigh Choir, Delia Boyce and Sandra Shalks. Fr Peter McVerry, the Dublin based Jesuit priest who has been a champion of young homeless people, is the guest speaker. Everyone is welcome.
About 6,000 people nationally have HIV, the virus which causes AIDS, according to John Flannery, the general manager of AIDS West. one person is diagnosed with it in Ireland every day.
He says about 30 to 40 people in the west are diagnosed with the virus annually. AIDS West has 120 to 130 clients of which about 60 per cent are men. Clients range in age from 18 years to people in their 50s
“getting the news that you have HIV can be earth-shattering,” he says. “It tends to be an awful shock. the first reaction tends to be one of disbelief. a lot of people never thought they’d get it. You may or may not get symptoms. People might feel really unwell but that’s not always the case. You could have contracted it and it could be latent in you for years.”
mr Flannery says many do not realise that having the virus is not a “death sentence” anymore. while HIV is not curable it is treatable. Fewer and fewer people go on to develop full blown AIDS [AIDS is the most advanced stage of the HIV infection] nowadays, he says.
“It is a chronic complaint but thankfully the medicine has improved. It is very good now and people with HIV are living relatively normal lives. When people are diagnosed (most are referred to AIDS West from the infectious diseases clinic at UHG) we make them aware that it is not the end of the world. HIV attacks the immune system and, while the medicine does not kill it. it staves it off. the treatment has improved, people would take about one to three tablets a day now.”
however, “stigma, isolation and discrimination” still continue to be “huge” issues for people with the condition, he says, and most are reluctant to tell others. In many cases people’s families do not even know of their diagnoses. Some will only confide in one or two people. Many clients live in rural areas and their diagnosis coupled with their geographical isolation is a “double hit” for these people, according to mr Flannery.
“In the last five years there has been more openness but people still get labelled and there is a lot of misinformation around. HIV can only be transmitted through semen or vaginal fluid, breast milk or blood transfusions. People mistakenly think they can get it by drinking from a cup [used by someone with HIV].”
He urges anyone who thinks they may have been exposed to the virus to get tested [at UHG]. “anyone who has taken a risk would be as well off to be tested. this applies to older people as well as younger people. If they are worried we would advocate the use of condoms to protect oneself.”
AIDS West – which was founded 25 years ago by Evelyn Stevens and Angela Savage and is financed by the HSE, donations and fundraising – has three main roles, he says. To support people living with HIV, to provide education on sexual health and the impact of drugs/alcohol and to heighten awareness.
the organisation, which serves Galway, Mayo and Roscommon and is based at Ozanam House, St Augustine Street, targets students as part of its second and third level education programmes.
“We do huge work in education. We went into 44 of the 90 secondary schools last year in the west. We provide a programme usually for transition year students, then second years. We do three one-and-a-half hour sessions, covering relationships, contraception, the dangers of pregnancy and infection. We would say to students if they are taking chances then protect themselves. We also provide education for parenting workshops, youth organisations, marginalised groups, such as asylum seekers and the gay community, and other organisation such as Cope, Simon, Rape Crisis Centre, etc.”
while the issue of HIV tends to attract the spotlight he stresses there are “high levels” of other sexually transmitted infections, both bacterial and viral, in Ireland.
“these include chlamydia (bacterial) – 15/17 people a day in Ireland are diagnosed with it. Untreated infection can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease in women which is linked to infertility. Men may experience painful swollen testicles if untreated. Chlamydia also affects the quality of sperm and is linked to fertility issues in men. About 10 people are diagnosed with genital warts (viral) daily in this country.”
AIDS West can be contacted at (091) 566266.
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Is the HPV vaccine “weak science?” (Hint: no) : Aetiology
Oh, Discover. You’re such a tease. you have Ed and Carl and Razib and Phil and Sean, an (all-male, ahem) cluster of science bloggy goodness. but then you also fawn over HIV deniers Lynn Margulis and Peter Duesberg. why can’t you just stick with the science and keep the denial out?*
But no, now they’ve let it spill into their esteemed blogs. I was interested to see a new blog pop up there, The Crux, a group blog “on big ideas in science and how these ideas are playing out in the world. the blog is written by an outstanding group of writer/bloggers and scientist/writers who will bring you the most compelling thoughts throughout the world of science, the stuff most worth knowing.” Sounds ok, let’s see what stories are up…oh, one on HPV! Right up my alley. and hey, a woman! Bonus.
Ohhhhh, it’s actually one on HPV vaccine misinformation, written by the author of the fawning Duesberg article referenced above. Faaantastic.
The author, Jeanne Lenzer, poses the question, Should boys be given the HPV vaccine? and answers herself that “the science is weaker than the marketing.”
What does she base this conclusion on? a recent paper examining HPV vaccine in boys, maybe? No, of course not. she uses the 4-year-old NEJM study demonstrating the efficacy of the then-new vaccine as the main basis of her claim, and it’s a house of cards from there. Let’s look at what she says, shall we?
First, let’s start with the 2007 NEJM paper. This paper tested the multivalent HPV vaccine, which contains HPV types 6 and 11 (these cause warts and aren’t further examined in this particular paper) and 16 and 18 (cause cancer, focus of this research). the goal was to “assess the prevention of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 2 or 3, adenocarcinoma in situ, and cervical cancer caused by HPV-16 or HPV-18.” This makes sense that they’re looking at cancer outcomes only due to types 16 and 18–after all, while other HPV strains can cause cancer, HPV 16 and 18 are the only cancer-causing types included in the vaccine. they even note in the introduction that HPV 16 and 18 cause about 70% of all HPV-related cervical cancers, but that’s still not 100%. I mean, they state this right in the paper: “The primary hypothesis stated that, as compared with placebo, the vaccine would reduce the incidence of high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia related to HPV-16 or HPV-18 in the per-protocol susceptible population.” I spell this out because this is one of Lenzer’s criticisms, which I’ll come to in a bit.
So they have this vaccine. Who did they test it on? in this trial, it was women ages 15-26, and the mean age of this group was approximately 20 years old. Age at sexual debut was 16–so on average, women in this trial had been having sex for about 4 years with 2 sexual partners by the time they were vaccinated. Now, for those of you familiar with the vaccine, that age range may seem a bit odd–because the vaccine is currently recommended to be given to girls starting at around age 11. but you see, this is one way they ended up at that recommendation–because of SCIENCE! (I’ll also come to that in a minute).
All right, they have young women, initially just a bit over 12,000 of them in 13 countries. Let’s look at their eligibility criteria (who could actually participate):
Women were eligible to participate in the study if they were not pregnant, did not report abnormal results on a Papanicolaou smear, and had had a lifetime number of no more than four sex partners.
That’s it, and it’s an important thing to note. for initial enrollment, they didn’t have to be HPV negative. This becomes important later.
The eligible women were randomized into the treatment or placebo groups, and then received 3 doses of the vaccine (or placebo), and were asked to report any serious adverse events for up to 15 days post-vaccination. the women also underwent pap smears and HPV testing at this point. they also had a number of follow-up visits to be re-tested, up to 4 years post-vaccination.
About those baseline tests. Even though they enrolled a bit over 12K women, they found that at baseline, pap smears were abnormal for 11.8% of subjects in the vaccine group and 11.1% in the placebo group. in other words, they were already infected with a strain of HPV at the beginning of the study. they further examined everyone using both DNA and serological testing for HPV 16 and 18, and found that about 10% of their cohort was already positive for HPV 16, and about 3-4% for HPV 18. Thus, they analyzed their data in several different ways, including doing an analysis including the pre-existing HPV 16 & 18 positive participants, and another one without them.
They also analyzed by eliminating participants who hadn’t fully followed or completed the protocol, including getting only one or two doses instead of the targeted three; having missing samples; or “general protocol violations,” which apparently consisted largely of not getting the month 7 swab at the right time, or administration of IgG, immunosuppressive drugs, or blood products–all things that could affect study outcomes.
Now the numbers. when they looked at women who’d followed protocol *and* were susceptible (ie not already infected with HPV 16 or 18 upon entry into the study), efficacy was 98% at preventing HPV-16/18-related high-grade cervical lesions. and what are “high-grade cervical lesions,” you might ask? according to the NCI:
High-grade means that there are more evident changes in the size and shape of the abnormal (precancerous) cells and that the cells look very different from normal cells. HSILs are more severe abnormalities that have a higher likelihood of progressing to cancer. HSILs include lesions with moderate or severe dysplasia or carcinoma in situ.
This is basically the step before cancer, and as noted above, one of the endpoints of the study, yet Lanzer calls them “innocent cellular abnormalities” and cites this paper, which doesn’t match her claim. If she’s referring to the line that “most HPV infections are easily cleared by the immune system,” I hate to break it to her that the ones that are “easily cleared” aren’t usually the ones causing the more serious dysplasia and carcinoma in situ. Rather, those HPV-caused lesions typically are examined via colposcopy and biopsy of the area to check for cancer. (Bonus scavenger hunt for the phrase “coffee ground-like discharge!”). next, a woman with abnormal cells can expect to undergo a LEEP procedure, where portions of your cervix are removed with a burning electric wire under local anesthetic, and the foul smoking remains of your cells are sucked up into the smoke shark, “a sleep, powerful, smoke-eating machine.” after that one, side effects include infection, hemorrhage and possibly cervical incompetence. these are rare, but if we’re talking vaccine side effects versus possible outcomes from HPV infection, these types of outcomes need to be considered as well–not just death from cervical cancer.
What I’m trying to say here is that Lanzer may be minimizing these “innocent” non-cancer findings just a wee bit.
OK, so 98% efficacy in their target population who followed the study perfectly. what about if they included everyone? for that, they do what’s called an “intent to treat” analysis, basically putting everyone back in the pot. as Lanzer notes, this is when efficacy falls to a reported 44%, but she completely fails to note that the bulk of this was because the women had pre-existing HPV 16/18 infections and/or lesions. Like almost all vaccines, getting it isn’t going to help you if you’re already infected and showing symptoms. as I mentioned before, SCIENCE! This is why it’s so strongly recommended now to get the vaccine prior to the onset of sexual activity–if you’re already HPV-infected, the vaccine will not do you as much good. hence, the current recommendation to receive the vaccine prior to the onset of sexual activity (ages 11-12ish).
OK, I’ve had about all I can take and this is getting to be a post of Oracian lengths. to jump to the end–why didn’t they just wait 20 years or so to see if there would be more cancers in the placebo versus unvaccinated group? Besides the whole waiting 20+ years thing, maybe because that would be totally unethical? I’ll take this right from the discussion section:
Although prevention of invasive cervical cancer is the main goal of prophylactic HPV vaccination, it is ethically unacceptable to use invasive cancer as the end point in efficacy trials. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 and adenocarcinoma in situ, which the International Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology classifies as stage 0 noninvasive cervical cancers, are clinically important outcomes because they are likely to persist and may become invasive without treatment.
Thing is, even if they had followed these women for 20 years, doing checkups say every 6 months, they would have to follow standard treatment protocols (like the LEEP nastiness I mentioned above) and as such, would be doing everything they could to prevent cervical cancer in any case. So, these precancer endpoints are more ethical substitutes, and still show the ability of the vaccine to prevent abnormal cell changes that can lead to cancer.
Finally–Lenzer uses her supposed refutation of HPV vaccine efficacy in girls to then argue that we’re looking to give this vaccine to boys unnecessarily. she cites first that there are only 300 anal cancer deaths in the US every year (one of the cancers the HPV vaccine should reduce in men–and women, I might add). Small potatoes–why give the vaccine to boys over 300 deaths, right? but oddly enough (or, not?), she gives the barest of lip service to a group of HPV-associated cancers which affect men more than women, head and neck cancers. Guess what–there’s a lot more of those than anal cancers, and several studies suggest that HPV-associated head and neck cancers are actually increasing in incidence.
Even when she does mention oral cancers, she asks rhetorically, “what about the claim that Gardasil might prevent anal and oral cancers men may get from having sex with other men?” Um….why focus only on men having sex with men? perhaps it hasn’t occurred to Lenzer that oral and anal cancers in men can also be transmitted to them by female partners, and vice versa–so we’re not just talking about “gay” cancers in men. I wonder if her wording was purposeful, though, as it’s easier for many in society to dismiss concerns about diseases that are transmitted via homosexual sex acts.
To wrap up, some drama. Lenzer frets about the possibility of developing Guillain-Barré syndrome from the HPV vaccine:
given this, is it worth the risk of exposing millions of youth to the as yet uncertain harms of the vaccine? the CDC states that in rare instances, some vaccines may trigger the potentially fatal and paralyzing condition Guillain-Barré, and Nizar Souayah, MD, of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of new Jersey in Newark, says he and his colleagues found “clear evidence from our database of an increased incidence of Guillain-Barré syndrome in the first six weeks, especially the first two weeks, after [HPV] vaccination.” Guillain-Barré is very rare, even among people who are HPV vaccinated, but the problem is emblematic of the downsides of subjecting millions of people to any medical treatment.
The link takes you to a WebMD article from the 2009 American Academy of Neurology meeting reporting on a study by Nizar Souayah. the WebMD article states:
overall, the vaccine does not raise the odds of developing Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), a disorder of the peripheral nervous system, says Nizar Souayah, MD, of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of new Jersey in Newark.
“But there is clear evidence from our database [the VAERS database--TS] of an increased incidence of Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) in the first six weeks, especially the first two weeks, after vaccination,” he tells WebMD.
Still, the risk is extremely low: 26 in 10 million in the first two weeks and 30 in 10 million in the first six weeks after vaccination. that compares to 5 in 10 million odds in the general population, Souayah says.
Leznar bills herself as an investigative reporter, but didn’t even bother to dig up the published version of this research. the numbers are fairly similar, so even if we accept that your chance of developing GBS from the HPV vaccine are 30 in 10 million (which are a bit sketchy coming from the VAERS database), that would still be only 3-6 times higher than those who didn’t receive the vaccine, with a condition that’s extremely rare to begin with. (To put it in perspective, the likelihood that you’d be struck by lightning in any year are about 1 in 750,000 according to NOAA). you have much better odds of contracting GBS from eating a poorly cooked chicken breast, as Campylobacter infections are a bigger cause of GBS than vaccinations. Even influenza infections cause more GBS than vaccines.
To sum up, in case it’s not painfully obvious by now, Leznar’s article is full of half-truths and omitted facts–so many that it would take me an entire series of articles to go through the rest of her post, and I haven’t even gotten into any post-2007 HPV vaccine research! to top it all off, she doesn’t even try the “fair and balanced” journalist approach, instead quoting only vaccine “skeptics” but not those who are in favor of HPV, and of then ends on the “I’m not anti-vaccine” note–she can’t be, as she thinks smallpox is bad! (Of course you’re not, neither is anti-vaccine advocate Barbara Loe Fisher. is there a drinking game for that somewhere?)
I’ll end with my own addendum.
My 11-year old daughter is vaccinated for HPV. My 9-year-old son will be vaccinated. I wish they’d had the vaccine when I was younger, so I didn’t have first-hand knowledge of the Smoke Shark, who still haunts my dreams.
*And yes, I know that Discover is owned by the Gucciones, who have ties to another HIV denialist besides Duesberg and Margulis. [UPDATE: Turns out Guccione doesn't appear to own Discover any longer, and that it was sold last year to Kalmbach publishing. thanks to Ed & Razib for the correction.]
Moberg Derma AB: Moberg Derma is Granted MSEK 4 for Limtop
STOCKHOLM–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Regulatory News:
“we are very pleased that Limtop in hard competition was selected for financing. Vinnova’s grant to Limtop is the largest in this round of the grant programme”
Moberg Derma AB (OMX: MOB) has been granted 4 MSEK by Vinnova for the development of Limtop, an innovative formulation for the treatment of actinic keratosis, genital warts and basal cell cancer. The goal of the Vinnova funding is that small and medium-sized enterprises will increase their competitiveness and growth by investing in research and development and thus contribute to growth in Sweden.
Limtop is an innovative formulation aimed for the treatment of actinic keratosis, genital warts and basal cell cancer. The objective is a product with short treatment duration, an improved safety profile and an efficacy that is similar to or better than that of competing preparations. Limtop is based on a patent-pending formulation of a proven compound that results in a high and precise dose being transported into the skin. The company’s preclinical results show that Limtop has a far greater capacity than existing preparations when it comes to transporting the active substance to the target tissue in the skin.
The grant of MSEK 4 will be used for development of the project that currently is in preclinical phase, with a goal to initiate clinical studies in the first half of 2012.
“We are very pleased that Limtop in hard competition was selected for financing. Vinnova’s grant to Limtop is the largest in this round of the grant programme”, said Peter Wolpert, CEO of Moberg Derma.
Vinnova is planning to formalize decisions for projects grants no later than December 8th.
About this information
Moberg Derma discloses the information provided herein pursuant to the Securities Markets Act and/or the Financial Instruments Trading Act. The information was submitted for publication at 12:00 am (CET) on November 15th, 2011.
Moberg Derma AB (publ), based in Stockholm, develops patented topical pharmaceuticals for the treatment of common disorders through the use of innovative drug delivery. The company’s products are based on proven compounds, which reduce time to market, development costs and risk. Moberg Derma’s product Nalox™/Emtrix®- for nail disorders – is the Nordic market leader and international launch is ongoing. The portfolio includes approved and launched products to projects in the preclinical and clinical phase. The company began operations at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm in 2006. The share of Moberg Derma is quoted on the Small Cap list of the NASDAQ OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm. for further information, please visit: mobergderma.com
This information was brought to you by Cision cisionwire.com
Medicis Pharmaceutical Corporation : Medicis Wins Auction for Graceway Pharmaceuticals
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Nov. 18, 2011 — Medicis (NYSE:MRX) today announced that it was the successful bidder at a bankruptcy auction conducted by Graceway Pharmaceuticals, LLC (Graceway) for substantially all of the outstanding U.S. and Canadian pharmaceutical assets of Graceway. Graceway filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on September 29, 2011.
Under the terms of its bid, Medicis will pay to Graceway a purchase price of $455 million. In turn, Medicis will receive Graceway's commercial pharmaceutical product portfolio, which includes prescription products in the dermatology, respiratory and women's health specialties, and certain other assets. Medicis will add to its research and development pipeline:
— a formulation-stage dermatology project with an applied-for patent and projected annual peak sales in excess of $200 million;
— a Phase 2 dermatology new chemical entity product currently patent-protected through 2016 with a potential patent term extension of up to five years and projected peak sales in excess of $200 million; and
— a nearer-term women's health product which has completed Phase 2 and will soon enter Phase 3 with an applied-for patent and projected annual peak sales in excess of $100 million.
Additionally, Medicis will have the opportunity to launch two recently approved line extensions for the Zyclara? franchise, which has several applied-for patents currently under accelerated examination in the U.S. and related patent protection in Canada already obtained.
The transaction is subject to approval by Graceway's board of directors and execution of a definitive asset purchase agreement, which will include customary closing conditions, including clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and final approval by the bankruptcy court. while Medicis expects the transaction to be accretive in 2012, the Company anticipates updating financial guidance upon closing.
"we are pleased to announce this strategic acquisition of the Graceway product portfolio, and the ability to broaden our presence within dermatology," said Jonah Shacknai, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Medicis. "we anticipate near-term positive cash flow as we market certain newly acquired Graceway products which are currently approved for various dermatological and women's health conditions. Additionally, we are very pleased to be adding to our pipeline several mid- and late-stage products with a combined annual net sales peak potential of over $500 million in the dermatology and women's health categories."
Key Graceway Pharmaceutical Products (See Important Safety Information Below)
The following key Graceway pharmaceutical products to be acquired represent in excess of $125 million in annual revenues.1
Aldara? (imiquimod) Cream, 5% is indicated for: the topical treatment of clinically typical, nonhyperkeratotic, nonhypertrophic actinic keratoses (AK) on the face or scalp in immunocompetent adults; the topical treatment of biopsy-confirmed, primary superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC) in immunocompetent adults, with a maximum tumor diameter of 2.0 cm, located on the trunk (excluding anogenital skin), neck, or extremities (excluding hands and feet), when surgical methods are medically less appropriate and patient follow-up can be reasonably assured; and the treatment of external genital and perianal warts/condyloma acuminata in patients 12 years old or older.
Atopiclair? Nonsteroidal Cream is a nonsteroidal cream indicated to manage and relieve the itching, burning and pain experienced with various types of dermatoses, including atopic dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis.
Zyclara? (imiquimod) Cream, 3.75% and 2.5% are indicated for the treatment of external genital and perianal warts (EGW)/condyloma acuminata in patients 12 years or older. Additionally, Zyclara 3.75% is indicated for the topical treatment of clinically typical visible or palpable, AK of the full face or balding scalp in immunocompetent adults.
Maxair? Autohaler? (pirbuterol acetate inhalation aerosol) is indicated for the prevention of and reversal of bronchospasm in patients aged 12 years and older with reversible bronchospasm, including asthma.
Estrasorb? (estradiol topical emulsion) is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes) associated with menopause.
MetroGel-Vaginal? (metronidazole vaginal gel) 0.75% Vaginal Gel is indicated in the treatment of bacterial vaginosis.
about Medicis
Medicis is the leading independent specialty pharmaceutical company in the United States focusing primarily on the treatment of dermatological and aesthetic conditions. The Company is dedicated to helping patients attain a healthy and youthful appearance and self-image. Medicis has leading branded prescription products in a number of therapeutic and aesthetic categories. The Company's products have earned wide acceptance by both physicians and patients due to their clinical effectiveness, high quality and cosmetic elegance.
The Company's products include the brands DYSPORT? (abobotulinumtoxinA) 300 Units for Injection, PERLANE? Injectable Gel, PERLANE-L? Injectable Gel with 0.3% Lidocaine, RESTYLANE? Injectable Gel, RESTYLANE-L? Injectable Gel with 0.3% Lidocaine, LOPROX? (ciclopirox) Gel 0.77% and Shampoo 1%, SOLODYN? (minocycline HCl, USP) Extended Release Tablets, VANOS? (fluocinonide) Cream, 0.1%, ZIANA? (clindamycin phosphate 1.2% and tretinoin 0.025%) Gel, AMMONUL? (sodium phenylacetate and sodium benzoate) Injection 10%/10%, BUPHENYL? (sodium phenylbutyrate) Tablets and Powder and the over-the-counter brand ESOTERICA?.
For more information about Medicis, please visit the Company's website at Medicis.com. Printed copies of the Company's complete audited financial statements are available free of charge upon request.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act. all statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Medicis expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. these statements, including the ability of the parties to consummate the proposed acquisition and the timing, scope and financial terms or effect of the proposed acquisition, each as described above, current estimates with respect to projected peak sales for certain of Graceway's products, the anticipated cash flow contribution of the Graceway products and the expectation that the acquisition will be accretive in 2012, are based on certain assumptions made by Medicis based on its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. No assurances can be given, however, that these activities, events or developments will occur or that such results will be achieved. such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Medicis. Several of these risks are outlined in the Company's most recent annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, and other documents we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements represent the judgment of Medicis management as of the date of this release, and Medicis disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein, which speak as of the date hereof.
Important Safety Information about Graceway Products Mentioned in this Release
The histological diagnosis of superficial basal cell carcinoma (sBCC) should be established prior to treatment. Aldara Cream is not recommended for treatment of BCC subtypes other than the superficial variant (i.e., sBCC). Aldara Cream should be used with caution in patients with pre-existing autoimmune conditions. Flu-like signs and symptoms may accompany, or even precede, local inflammatory reactions and may include malaise, fever, nausea, myalgias and rigors. Patients may also experience application site reactions such as itching and/or burning. Most patients using Aldara Cream for the treatment of AK experience erythema, flaking/scaling/dryness and scabbing/crusting at the application site with normal dosing. Most patients using Aldara Cream for the treatment of sBCC experience erythema, edema, induration, erosion, scabbing/crusting and flaking/scaling at the application site with normal dosing. other adverse reactions observed in clinical trials of Aldara Cream include respiratory infection, sinusitis, headache, carcinoma squamous, diahhrea, eczema, back pain, fatigue, atrial fibrillation, viral infection, dizziness, vomiting, urinary tract infection, and fever.
For external use only; avoid contact with eyes. For under the supervision of a health care professional only. Atopiclair nonsteroidal cream contains shea butter (butyrospermum parkii), a derivative of shea nut oil (not peanut oil). Frequently reported adverse events in Atopiclair-treated and vehicle-treated groups were burning (6.9% vs 7.1%) and stinging (8.3% vs 2.8%).
Intense local skin reactions including skin weeping or erosion can occur after a few applications of Zyclara Cream and may require an interruption of dosing. Zyclara Cream has the potential to exacerbate inflammatory conditions of the skin, including chronic graft versus host disease. Severe local inflammatory reactions of the female external genitalia can lead to severe vulvar swelling. Severe vulvar swelling can lead to urinary retention. A transient increase in lesion counts may be observed during treatment. Response to treatment cannot be adequately assessed until resolution of local skin reactions. Lymphadenopathy occurred in 2% of subjects with actinic keratosis treated with Zyclara Cream, 3.75% and in 3% of subjects treated with Zyclara Cream, 2.5%. Concomitant use of Zyclara and any other imiquimod products, in the same treatment area, should be avoided since they contain the same active ingredient (imiquimod) and may increase the risk for and severity of local skin reactions. Zyclara Cream should be used with caution in patients with pre-existing autoimmune conditions because imiquimod activates immune cells. Patients may experience local skin reactions during treatment with Zyclara Cream. Potential local skin reactions include erythema, edema, erosions/ulcerations, weeping/exudate, flaking/scaling/dryness, and scabbing/crusting.
Maxair? Autohaler?:
Maxair Autohaler is contraindicated in patients with a history of hypersensitivity to pirbuterol or any of its ingredients. WARNINGS. Cardiovascular: Maxair Autohaler, like other inhaled beta adrenergic agonists, can produce a clinically significant cardiovascular effect in some patients, as measured by pulse rate, blood pressure and/or symptoms. Paradoxical Bronchospasm: Maxair Autohaler can produce paradoxical bronchospasm, which can be life threatening. If paradoxical bronchospasm occurs, Maxair Autohaler should be discontinued immediately and alternative therapy instituted. use of Anti-Inflammatory Agents: The use of beta adrenergic agonist bronchodilators alone may not be adequate to control asthma in many patients. Deterioration of Asthma: Asthma may deteriorate acutely over a period of hours or chronically over several days or longer. Drug Interactions: other short-acting beta adrenergic aerosol bronchodilators should not be used concomitantly with Maxair Autohaler because they may have additive effects. Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors or Tricyclic Antidepressants: Pirbuterol should be administered with extreme caution to patients being treated with monoamine oxidase inhibitors or tricyclic antidepressants, or within 2 weeks of discontinuation of such agents, because the action of pirbuterol on the vascular system may be potentiated. Beta Blockers: Beta adrenergic receptor blocking agents not only block the pulmonary effect of beta-agonists, such as Maxair Autohaler, but may produce severe bronchospasm in asthmatic patients. Diuretics: The ECG changes and/or hypokalemia that may result from the administration of nonpotassium sparing diuretics (such as loop or thiazide diuretics) can be acutely worsened by betaagonists, especially when the recommended dose of the beta-agonist is exceeded. Labor and Delivery: because of the potential for beta-agonist interference with uterine contractility, use of Maxair Autohaler for relief of bronchospasm during labor should be restricted to those patients in whom the benefits clearly outweigh the risk. Nursing Mothers: It is not known whether pirbuterol is excreted in human milk. therefore, Maxair Autohaler should be used during nursing only if the potential benefit justifies the possible risk to the newborn. Pediatric use: Maxair Autohaler is not recommended for patients under the age of 12 years because of insufficient clinical data to establish safety and effectiveness. The following were the adverse reactions reported more frequently than 1 in 100 patients: CNS: nervousness (6.9%), tremor (6.0%), headache (2.0%), dizziness (1.2%). Cardiovascular: palpitations (1.7%), tachycardia (1.2%). Respiratory: cough (1.2%). Gastrointestinal: nausea (1.7%). The following adverse reactions occurred less frequently than 1 in 100 patients and there may be a causal relationship with pirbuterol: CNS: depression, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, weakness, hyperkinesia, syncope. Cardiovascular: hypotension, skipped beats, chest pain. Gastrointestinal: dry mouth, glossitis, abdominal pain/cramps, anorexia, diarrhea, stomatitis, nausea and vomiting. Ear, Nose and Throat: smell/taste changes, sore throat. Dermatological: rash, pruritus. other: numbness in extremities, alopecia, bruising, fatigue, edema, weight gain, flushing.
ESTROGENS INCREASE THE RISK OF ENDOMETRIAL CANCER Close clinical surveillance of all women taking estrogen is important. Adequate diagnostic measures, including endometrial sampling when indicated, should be undertaken to rule out malignancy in all cases of undiagnosed persistent or recurring abnormal vaginal bleeding. there is no evidence that the use of "natural" estrogens results in a different endometrial risk profile than synthetic estrogens at equivalent estrogenic doses.
CARDIOVASCULAR AND OTHER RISKS Estrogens with or without progestins should not be used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease. The Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study reported increased risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, invasive breast cancer, pulmonary emboli, and deep vein thrombosis in postmenopausal women during 5 years of treatment with conjugated equine estrogens (CE 0.625 mg) combined with medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA 2.5 mg) relative to placebo. other doses of conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone acetate, and other combinations of estrogens and progestins were not studies in the WHI and, in the absence of comparable data, these risks should be assumed to be similar. because of these risks, estrogens with or without progestins should be prescribed at the lowest effective doses and for the shortest duration consistent with treatment goals and risks for the individual woman.
CONTRAINDICATIONS Estrogens should not be used in women with any of the following conditions: 1. Undiagnosed abnormal genital bleeding. 2. known, suspected, or history of cancer of the breast except in appropriately selected patients being treated for metastatic disease. 3. known or suspected estrogen-dependent neoplasia. 4. Active deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism or history of these conditions. 5. Active or recent (e.g., within the past year) arterial thromboembolic disease (e.g., stroke, myocardial infarction). 6. Liver dysfunction or disease. 7. Estrasorb should not be used in patients with known hypersensitivity to its ingredients. 8. known or suspected pregnancy. there is no indication for Estrasorb in pregnancy. there appears to be little or no increased risk of birth defects in women who have used estrogens and progestins from oral contraceptives inadvertently during early pregnancy.
WARNINGS see BOXED WARNINGS. The use of unopposed estrogens in women who have a uterus is associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer. 1. Cardiovascular disorders. Estrogen and estrogen/progestin therapy have been associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction and stroke, as well as venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (venous thromboembolism or VTE). should any of these occur or be suspected, estrogens should be discontinued immediately. Risk factors for arterial vascular disease (e.g., hypertension, diabetes mellitus, tobacco use, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity) and/or venous thromboembolism (e.g., personal history or family history of VTE, obesity, and systemic lupus erythematosus) should be managed appropriately. a. Coronary heart disease and stroke. In the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study, an increase in the number of myocardial infarctions and strokes has been observed in women receiving CE compared to placebo. these observations are preliminary, and the study is continuing. In the CE/MPA substudy of WHI an increased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) events (defined as non-fatal myocardial infarction and CHD death) was observed in women receiving CE/MPA compared to women receiving placebo (37 vs 30 per 10,000 person-years). The increase in risk was observed after the first year and persisted. In the same substudy of WHI, an increased risk of stroke was observed in women receiving CE/MPA compared to women receiving placebo (29 vs 21 per 10,000 person-years). The increase in risk was observed after the first year and persisted. In postmenopausal women with documented heart disease (n = 2,763, average age 66.7 years) a controlled clinical trial of secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease (Heart and Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study; HERS) treatment with CE/MPA (0.625 mg/2.5 mg per day) demonstrated no cardiovascular benefit. During an average follow-up of 4.1 years, treatment with CE/MPA did not reduce the overall rate of CHD events in postmenopausal women with established coronary heart disease. there were more CHD events in the CE/MPA-treated group than in the placebo group in year 1, but not during the subsequent years. two thousand three hundred and twenty one women from the original HERS trial agreed to participate in an open label extension of HERS. Average follow-up in HERS was an additional 2.7 years, for a total of 6.8 years overall. Rates of CHD events were comparable among women in the CE/MPA group and the placebo group in HERS, and overall. Large doses of estrogen (5 mg conjugated estrogens per day), comparable to those used to treat cancer of the prostate and breast, have been shown in a large prospective clinical trial in men to increase the risks of nonfatal myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, and thrombophlebitis. b. Venous thromboembolism (VTE). In the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study, an increase in VTE has been observed in women receiving CE compared to placebo. these observations are preliminary, and the study is continuing. In the CE/MPA substudy of WHI, a 2-fold greater rate of VTE, including deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism, was observed in women receiving CE/MPA compared to women receiving placebo. The rate of VTE was 34 per 10,000 person-years in the CE/MPA group compared to 16 per 10,000 person-years in the placebo group. The increase in VTE risk was observed during the first year and persisted. If feasible, estrogens should be discontinued at least 4 to 6 weeks before surgery of the type associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism, or during periods of prolonged immobilization. 2. Malignant neoplasms. a. Endometrial cancer. The use of unopposed estrogens in women with intact uteri has been associated with an increased risk of endometrial cancer. The reported endometrial cancer risk among unopposed estrogen users is about 2- to 12-fold greater than in nonusers, and appears dependent on duration of treatment and on estrogen dose. Most studies show no significant increased risk associated with the use of estrogens for less than 1 year. The greatest risk appears associated with prolonged use, with increased risks of 15- to 24-fold for use over 5 to 10 years or more, and this risk has been shown to persist at least 8 to 15 years after estrogen therapy is discontinued. Clinical surveillance of all women taking estrogen/progestin combinations is important. Adequate diagnostic measures, including endometrial sampling when indicated, should be undertaken to rule out malignancy in all cases of undiagnosed persistent or recurring abnormal vaginal bleeding. there is no evidence that the use of natural estrogens results in a different endometrial risk profile than synthetic estrogens of equivalent estrogen dose. Adding a progestin to postmenopausal estrogen therapy has been shown to reduce the risk of endometrial hyperplasia, which may be a precursor to endometrial cancer. b. Breast cancer. Estrogen and estrogen/progestin therapy in postmenopausal women has been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. In the CE/MPA substudy of the Women's Health Initiative (WHI) study, a 26% increase in invasive breast cancer (38 vs 30 per 10,000 person-years) after an average of 5.2 years of treatment was observed in women receiving CE/MPA compared to women receiving placebo. The increased risk of breast cancer became apparent after 4 years of treatment with CE/MPA. The women reporting prior postmenopausal use of estrogens and/or estrogens with progestin had a higher relative risk for breast cancer associated with CE/MPA than those who had never used these hormones. In the WHI, no increased risk of breast cancer in CE-treated women compared to placebo was reported after an average of 5.2 years of therapy. these data are preliminary and that substudy of WHI is continuing. Epidemiologic studies have reported an increased risk of breast cancer in association with increasing duration of postmenopausal treatment with estrogens with or without a progestin. This association was reanalyzed in original data from 51 studies that involved various doses and types of estrogens, with and without progestin. In the reanalysis, an increased risk of having breast cancer diagnosed became apparent after about 5 years of continuous treatment and subsided after treatment had been discontinued for 5 years or longer. some later studies have suggested that postmenopausal treatment with estrogens and progestin increases the risk of breast cancer more than treatment with estrogen alone. 3. Gallbladder disease. A 2- to 4-fold increase in the risk of gallbladder disease requiring surgery in postmenopausal women receiving estrogens has been reported. 4. Hypercalcemia. Estrogen administration may lead to severe hypercalcemia in patients with breast cancer and bone metastases. If hypercalcemia occurs, the drug should be stopped and appropriate measures taken to reduce the serum calcium level. 5. Visual abnormalities. Retinal vascular thrombosis has been reported in patients receiving estrogens. Discontinue medication pending examination if there is sudden partial or complete loss of vision, or a sudden onset of proptosis, diplopia, or migraine. If examination reveals papilledema or retinal vascular lesions, estrogens should be discontinued.
The following adverse reactions have been reported with estrogen therapy: 1. Genitourinary system. changes in vaginal bleeding pattern and abnormal withdrawal bleeding or flow; breakthrough bleeding, spotting; increase in size of uterine leiomyomata; vaginal candidiasis; change in amount of cervical secretion; changes in cervical ectropion; ovarian cancer, endometrial hyperplasia; endometrial cancer. 2. Breasts. Tenderness, enlargement, pain, nipple discharge, galactorrhea; fibrocystic breast changes; breast cancer. 3. Cardiovascular. Deep and superficial venous thrombosis; pulmonary embolism; thrombophlebitis; myocardial infarction; stroke; increase in blood pressure. 4. Gastrointestinal. Nausea, vomiting; abdominal cramps, bloating; cholestatic jaundice; increased incidence of gall bladder disease; pancreatitis. 5. Skin. Chloasma or melasma that may persist when drug is discontinued; erythema multiforme; erythema nodosum; hemorrhagic eruption; loss of scalp hair; hirsutism; pruritis, rash. 6. Eyes. Retinal vascular thrombosis, steepening of corneal curvature, intolerance to contact lenses. 7. Central Nervous system. Headache, migraine, dizziness; mental depression; chorea; nervousness; mood disturbance; anxiety; irritability; insomnia; somnolence; exacerbation of epilepsy. 8. Miscellaneous. Increase or decrease in weight; reduced carbohydrate tolerance; aggravation of porphyria; edema; arthralgia; leg cramps; changes in libido; anaphylactoid/anaphylactic reactions; hypocalcemia; exacerbation of asthma; increased triglycerides.
MetroGel-Vaginal is contraindicated in patients with a prior history of hypersensitivity to metronidazole, parabens, other ingredients of the formulation, or other nitroimidazole derivatives. WARNINGS: Convulsive Seizures and Peripheral Neuropathy: Convulsive seizures and peripheral neuropathy, the latter characterized mainly by numbness or paresthesia of an extremity, have been reported in patients treated with oral or intravenous metronidazole. Psychotic Reactions: Psychotic reactions have been reported in alcoholic patients who were using oral metronidazole and disulfiram concurrently. Metronidazole vaginal gel should not be administered to patients who have taken disulfiram within the last two weeks. PRECAUTIONS: MetroGel-Vaginal affords minimal peak serum levels and systemic exposure (AUCs) of metronidazole compared to 500mg oral metronidazole dosing. although these lower levels of exposure are less likely to produce the common reactions seen with oral metronidazole, the possibility of these and other reactions cannot be excluded presently. General: Patients with severe hepatic disease metabolize metronidazole slowly. This results in the accumulation of metronidazole and its metabolites in the plasma. Accordingly, for such patients, metronidazole vaginal gel should be administered cautiously. known or previously unrecognized vaginal candidiasis may present more prominent symptoms during therapy with metronidazole vaginal gel. Approximately 6-10%of patients treated with MetroGel-Vaginal developed symptomatic Candida vaginitis during or immediately after therapy. Disulfiram-like reaction to alcohol has been reported with oral metronidazole, thus the possibility of such a reaction occurring while on metronidazole vaginal gel therapy cannot be excluded.
Metronidazole has shown evidence of carcinogenic activity in a number of studies involving chronic oral administration in mice and rats. Adverse events reported with the use of MetroGel Vaginal include: Reproductive: Vaginal discharge (12%), Symptomatic Candida cervicitis/vaginitis (10%), Vulva/vaginal irritative symptoms (9%), Pelvic discomfort (3%). Gastrointestinal: Gastrointestinal discomfort (7%), Nausea and/or vomiting (4%), Unusual taste (2%), Diarrhea/loose stools (1%), Decreased appetite (1%), Abdominal bloating/gas; thirsty, drymouth. Neurologic: Headache (5%), Dizziness (2%), Depression. Dermatologic: Generalized itching or rash. other: Unspecified cramping (1%), Fatigue, Darkened urine.
NOTE: full prescribing information for any Medicis prescription product is available by contacting the Company or by visiting Medicis.com. all trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
1 IMS Health NPA MAT 9/11
CONTACT: Medicis Kara Stancell (media) (480) 291-5454 Sean Andrews (investors) (480) 291-5854
NHS Choices: How healthy is your penis?
LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Could you spot genital warts from herpes, or crabs from a rash? now you can. NHS Choices, the health information website for the NHS, has launched a new penis health gallery to help men spot common problems with their penises.
whether you’ve got a slight itch, a growth, or want to check out how healthy your penis is NHS Choices recommends you visit their new penis health gallery at nhs.uk/penischeck
Dr Knut Schroder, GP and spokesperson for NHS Choices, commented: “Many men find it difficult talking to medical professionals about intimate concerns and often turn to the internet for advice. Male patients of mine often delay visiting the surgery with a private problem, sometimes until it’s very late. This is worrying if it means that conditions are going untreated or causing unnecessary anxiety and discomfort. If they are looking for men’s health advice online in the meantime it’s vital that they seek out a reliable source. For this reason, NHS Choices now offers a great opportunity for men to check out their penis problems with a visual guide that could either alleviate any concerns they have, or encourage them to visit their GP as appropriate.”
In addition to the penis gallery, NHS Choices has a section dedicated to penis health and would encourage all men to log on and find out more about their penis and how to keep penis healthy.
Notes to the editor
NHS Choices at nhs.uk is the most popular online source of health information in the UK, attracting more than 10m visits per month. the website has the most comprehensive A-Z of health conditions available, advice on healthy living, guides to local health services, and a daily analysis of the science behind the medical headlines.
Rise in sexually transmitted diseases linked to bisexuality
I have herpes and I am an engineer who works for the largest herpes dating and support site SinglesHerpes. com. I have to tell you a secret, you can choose not to believe me. But the truth is that this site has more than 650,000 members and about 80% members are good looking in my estimation.
Unfortunately, STD rates soar worldwide and most people with STDs don’t even know that they have them. The government should grant more money for STD education to lower the rates of STD transmission.
Like or Dislike: 1 0
Michael W Gardner has nothing but praise for the NHS (From Hereford Times)
Michael W Gardner has nothing but praise for the NHS
7:00am Thursday 10th November 2011
- Comments(0)
BAD news often makes good copy these days, particularly when “defenceless” services like the NHS are concerned.
they have no one to call back against disgruntled broadsides from dissatisfied people. However, I would wish to redress the mudslinging with some praise.
I have seen in my career as an occupational therapist more hospital wards than I can recall and at last I am on the receiving end of the service – in this case Arrow Ward (the cardiology/lung care facility) at County Hospital.
I was admitted on October 10 and within 36 hours or so a diagnosis had been made and treatment got underway thereafter.
The facilities and treatment have left me slack-jawed with astonishment. no detail has been too much to bother with. All my questions and concerns have been addressed and basically nothing is too much trouble. The staff are all working very hard and always with unstinting good humour and with a depth of compassion and patience that outreaches any superlatives.
I have every confidence in the staff here and really do trust them with my life, utterly and completely.
For the worry warts who spout complaints and whinge about what a sorry state the health service is in, I can only say: you don’t know you are born. in other countries a child dies every three seconds for lack of simple health care. get down on your knees and give thanks for what you have got in Hereford County Hospital.
Eardisland, Leominster.
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