The National Resource Journal

Scientists Pushing for Breakthroughs in Lou Gehrig's Disease

Andrew Beckner — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:52:31 -0400

Since claiming the life of New York Yankee legend Lou Gehrig decades ago, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, has gone without any medical breakthroughs. However, using a new technique to reprogram cells, scientists are growing neurons from people with the illness, which may be a possible first step in understanding how it develops.

ALS is a disease that damages the nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord, eventually leading to death. The ALS Association estimates that as many as 30,000 Americans may have the disease at any given time. "What we now have in the culture dish is cells that have the same genetic makeup as the ALS patient and they are the same cells that are affected by the disease," said Dr. Chris Henderson, co-director of the Center for Motor Neuron Biology and Disease at Columbia University. This means that, for the first time, scientists hope to be able to study the development of the disease in the cells and, from that, possibly begin studies for treatments.

The cells were acquired using skin cells of two patients, ages 82 and 89. A report from the journal Science says that the scientists were able to “reprogram” the cells into a form of adult stem cells, then changed them into nerve cells. Dr. Kevin Eggan of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute, a co-author of the journal, says that now they hope to do studies of the cells in a lab and compare them to cells that do not have the disease.

Henderson says that even though the vast majority of cases are caused by different triggers, they hope to learn about the mechanism of the disease and how it develops after being triggered.

"Up until now, it's been impossible to get access to the neurons affected by ALS and, although everyone was excited by the potential of the new technology, it was uncertain that we would be able to obtain them from patients' skin cells," Henderson said.

"Our paper now shows that we can generate hundreds of millions of motor neurons that are genetically identical to a patient's own neurons. This will be an immense help as we try to uncover the mechanisms behind this disease and screen for drugs that can prolong life."

Preparing for Greatness: Dr. Matt Lively, WVSOM and College Football’s Biggest Stage

Andrew Beckner — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:51:06 -0400

Matt Lively had it all figured out: graduate from medical school, set up shop in a small town and spend his Friday nights taping kids’ ankles from the high school football sidelines.

And why not? It’s a good career...stable, rewarding, fun.

Yet there he was, just a few months back, standing on a very different sideline: The 2008 Fiesta Bowl, one of the premier showcases of talent and prestige in all of college football. Better still, his team—the West Virginia University Mountaineers—had just won its second Bowl Championship Series game in three years, firmly establishing it as one of the top programs in the country.

Lively can’t say it was a dream come true on that steamy January night in Scottsdale, Arizona, watching the Mountaineers rout the No. 3-ranked and heavily favored Oklahoma Sooners, 48-28. That’s because he never envisioned being there in the first place.

“I actually went to medical school so that I could stay involved in sports medicine,” says Lively, who has served as the WVU team physician since 1995. “I was an athletic trainer before I became a doctor. I wanted to do sports medicine all along. But I assumed that would mean being in private practice somewhere covering the local high school. I mean, that’s what I always figured. That I would be back in (rural) Oak Hill (West Virginia) or in Lewisburg (West Virginia) and be in one of those places taking care of the local high schools or whatever. That’s what I had foreseen.”

But that was before Lively graduated from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg, West Virginia. His experiences there, at one of the best medical schools in the country—U.S.News & World Report has listed WVSOM as one of its top medical schools 10 consecutive years—gave him the tools to succeed far beyond what he’d dreamed. Instead of Friday night lights, Lively spends his time in the national spotlight as a key member of one of 2009’s top contenders for the BCS National Championship.

WVSOM trains its students in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMT), manual-based therapies that doctors of osteopathic medicine use to align the body and allow its own natural processes to speed healing. So, for doctors like Matt Lively who are interested in sports medicine, WVSOM is a natural fit. Not only is its legacy of excellence well documented, its emphasis on OMT provides an avenue for athletic training at the highest levels of sports today.

Of course, students who attend WVSOM can specialize in any field they wish. WVSOM graduates have gone on to practice brain surgery, deliver babies and work as primary care physicians in rural areas.

But for Lively, his initial path was clear. “I had been involved with sports medicine before I went to medical school,” he says. Indeed, it was that prior training that led him to select WVSOM. Then, when he entered his residency at WVU, a unique opportunity fell into his lap.

“I remember two-a-day football practices were going on, and there was a transition going on in the (WVU team) medical staff,” Lively recalls. “They knew I was there, and knew I specialized in sports medicine. They called me up and said they needed a team physician and asked, ‘Would you be willing to do it?’

“So I went to the training room during two-a-days, and they hired me right there,” he says. “That was it. It happened that fast and that luckily. It fell into my lap.”

Well, not exactly. Luck favors the prepared, or so the saying goes.

Matt Lively? After four years at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, he was more than prepared.

Earlier HIV/AIDS Treatments Urged

Andrew Beckner — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:41:04 -0400

Earlier HIV/AIDS Treatment

New guidelines for treating HIV and AIDS patients with anti-retroviral medications suggest earlier therapy might be more effective, according to findings presented at the International AIDS Conference in Mexico City.

The guidelines, written by the International AIDS Society-USA Panel, suggest starting therapy before immune-system CD4 cell counts decline to fewer than 350 cells per microliter. Experts say that additional factors, such as the existence of other diseases like hepatitis B or C and cardiovascular risk, should be taken into account when considering when to start anti-retroviral therapy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently estimated that roughly 56,300 new HIV infections occurred in the United States in 2006—a figure 40 percent higher than the former estimate of 40,000 infections each year.

A report from the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, issued at the AIDS conference, explores the possibility of whether taking daily medication can prevent HIV infection. In June, after the CDC reported an increase in false positives on certain oral fluid tests, U.S. News offered a caution about rapid HIV tests.

Koko Fitness, Inc. launches Koko FitClub Franchise

Andrew Beckner — Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:35:43 -0400

Norwell, Mass.—Koko Fitness, Inc., the specialized fitness technology and equipment company that developed the Koko Smartrainer® computerized commercial multi-gym, has announced their entry into the health club franchise business with the launch of Koko FitClub, LLC. The new company will be the exclusive franchisor of The Koko Smartraining System.

Koko FitClub is a specialty gym revolving around Koko’s proprietary 30-minute Smartraining™ cardio and strength training workout system. Koko Fitness, Inc. originally opened a club in September 2007 as their working laboratory and, with a rapid growth in membership, quickly discovered an enormous opportunity.

Just months after the club’s opening, it was voted one of the area’s favorite health clubs. Further, the club has received a steady stream of unsolicited inquiries about franchising opportunities nationwide, according to Koko FitClub’s president and co-founder, Mary Obana.

“Because there was so much interest in the Koko FitClub concept, the decision to offer franchises was an easy and logical one,” said Obana. “Koko FitClub uniquely serves the vast majority of people who belonged to gyms in the past, but whose needs are no longer met by traditional clubs. There are over 250 million Americans who do not currently belong to health clubs. We believe there is a sizable market for this opportunity.”

Along with her husband and business partner, Mike Lannon, Obana set out to create “a new type of gym and a whole new way to workout” that suited the couple’s own busy lifestyle. Koko is for busy men and women who want and need to exercise, but can’t afford to waste the time or mental energy thinking about how to get the best results. Koko FitClub’s exclusive Smartraining System does it all for them in a clean, civilized, hassle-free environment where members are able to focus on themselves for 30 uninterrupted minutes. “It’s a true fitness oasis,” said Obana.

The Koko Smartraining System, the industry’s most advanced and effective 30-minute workout method, gives Koko FitClub franchisees an obvious distinction and competitive advantage over other health clubs and fitness franchises, helping to attract new members faster and retain them longer. With the Smartraining System, each strength and cardio workout is precisely planned and customized for each member based on unique goals and fitness levels. Workouts take just 30 minutes or less, with instruction, guidance, pace, and feedback provided dynamically throughout each session. The member’s results and progress are automatically tracked and displayed on a private web page.

“Our equipment and our franchise model are based on the premise that anyone can achieve their goals if given the right system and tools to make it easy…and rewarding,” Obana said. Franchise owners will bring this brand of easy, affordable and engaging exercise to the masses, according to the company’s director of customer communications, Lauren Dell’Olio. “It’s a great business opportunity for people with philosophies rooted in making life simpler and healthier. Koko FitClub makes it easy for members to exercise and franchisees to own and operate.”

To that end, Koko has leveraged its expertise in advanced technology to create its own SmartClub System™, a complete, fully customized and integrated club management system. The SmartClub System incorporates everything franchisees need to run their business into one, easy-to-use operating platform with features including prospect management, member registration and check-in, account management, business metrics and usage reporting, acquisition and retention tracking, e-communications and more. SmartClub allows Koko FitClub operators to avoid the inefficiencies of piecing together multiple, unrelated systems, and removes the operational hassles often associated with running a typical gym.

“We’ve precisely engineered every aspect of the Koko FitClub model to be incredibly simple to operate,” said Obana. “Koko FitClub is affordable to open and easy to run. One manager or owner can easily operate multiple locations…and have a family life too.”

Each FitClub location will be a sleekly designed, studio-sized space, outfitted with at least six Smartrainers and multiple Smartraining-enabled cardio units. To activate any machine, members receive a personal Koko Key, loaded with a customized, multi-week workout plan with programs developed by celebrity trainers like Kathy Kaehler and Rob Parr, who train stars such as Jennifer Aniston, Bruce Willis and Naomi Watts, and elite private trainers such as Certified Sports Conditioning Specialist, Michael Wood, who is also Koko’s Chief Fitness Officer.

“Koko provides every member with consistent, world class fitness coaching,” said Wood. “We manage every component of their personal workout regimen, delivering the benefits of a 60-90 minute workout in just 30 minutes. Members get great results in less time. There is nothing else like it.”

“Our goal is to make people excited to work out by helping them overcome the barriers to exercise, such as time, money, motivation and quantified results,” said Obana. “When it comes to franchising – Koko FitClub is following the same approach.”

For more information on Koko FitClub franchise opportunities, contact the company at 1-877-KOKOFIT or visit www.kokofitclub.com.

About Koko FitClub, LLC

Koko FitClub, LLC, a subsidiary of Koko Fitness, Inc., is the exclusive franchisor of the Koko Smartraining System™, the industry’s most advanced strength and cardio exercise system, and creator of the SmartClub System™, a fully integrated club management system designed exclusively for the Koko FitClub franchise system. Koko FitClub leverages technology to deliver a clear and protected point of market differentiation, enabling franchisees to affordably acquire, serve and retain members of the over 140 million “ex-exerciser” market who seek a new way – and a new place – to exercise that fits easily into their busy lifestyle.

The company’s mission is to make exercise -- and club operations -- easier and affordable by creating highly interactive, personalized exercise experiences for men and women. The company’s name “Koko,” is derived from the Japanese word meaning “one-to-one.” More information about Koko FitClub, LLC (Norwell, Mass.) is available at www.kokofitclub.com.

All product and company names herein may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Digitek Dosage Could Have Harmed Patients

Andrew Beckner — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 03:34:53 -0400

The pharmaceutical company Actavis Totowa is recalling the prescription drug Digitek, used to treat heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms. The drug is being recalled because of a risk that recently manufactured tablets may contain twice the approved level of the active ingredient, digitalis.

The toxicity of digitalis can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness, low blood pressure, cardiac instability, bradycardia and possibly death. Several illnesses and injuries have been reported by patients.

The existence of double-strength tablets poses a risk of digitalis toxicity in patients with renal failure or impaired kidney function. Individuals with renal failure could suffer from a potentially fatal illness known as digitalis toxicity. This occurs when an excessive amount of digitalis accumulates in the body.

Digitalis toxicity symptoms could include:

Nausea
Vomiting
Dizziness
Low Blood Pressure
Cardiac Instability
Bradycardia (slow heartbeat)
Death

Digitalis toxicity can occur from a single exposure to the medication. Other symptoms of digitalis toxicity include unusual visual changes, loss of appetite, confusion and irregular pulse. In order to diagnose digitalis toxicity, blood work may be taken and an EKG may be performed to check for heart disturbances.

Patients who have suffered from digitalis toxicity or that have suffered other medical complication as a result of the medication have begun filing lawsuits in West Virginia alleging that the product liability statutes have been violated due to the defective product. If you have been adversely affected from Digitek and feel you are entitled to compensation from the manufacturer, you should seek the advice of an experienced personal injury lawyer.

For more information, contact the Warner Law Offices, PLLC.