ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Mayo Clinic researchers have shown why, in a minority of HIV patients, immune function improves despite a lack of response to standard anti-retroviral treatment. In these cases, researchers say, the virus has lost its ability to kill immune cells. The findings appear in the online journal PLoS Pathogens. The goal of current treatments for HIV is to block the virus from reproducing, thereby allowing the immune system to repair itself. These findings show for the first time that not all HIV viruses are equally bad for the immune system. Patients who ...

BOSTON – November 30, 2010 – The brain contains more cholesterol than any other organ in the body, has to produce its own cholesterol and won't function normally if it doesn't churn out enough. Defects in cholesterol metabolism have been linked with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. Now researchers at Joslin Diabetes Center have discovered that diabetes can affect how much cholesterol the brain can make. Scientists in the laboratory of C. Ronald Kahn, M.D., head of Joslin's Integrative Physiology and Metabolism research section, found that brain ...

GLENDALE, Arizona (November 30, 2010)—What are the earliest brain changes associated with the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease? A scientific report published in the October Journal of Alzheimer's Disease finds reduced activity of an energy-generating enzyme in deceased young adult brain donors who carry a common genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease—before the protein changes or microscopic abnormalities commonly associated with the disease and almost five decades before the age at which they might have developed memory and thinking problems. Arizona researchers ...

Despite medical advances enabling those with diabetes to live longer today than in the past, a 50-year-old with the disease still can expect to live 8.5 years fewer years, on average, than a 50-year-old without the disease. This critical finding comes from a new report commissioned by The National Academy on an Aging Society and supported by sanofi-aventis U.S. The analysis — based on data from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) — found that older adults with diabetes have a lower life expectancy at every age than those without the disease. At age 60, for example, ...

PHILADELPHIA — Scientists working with the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary and The Academy of Natural Sciences have made an important discovery in the Delaware River between Chester, Pennsylvania, and Trenton, New Jersey: beds of freshwater mussels. This includes several uncommon species, two of which were previously believed to no longer exist in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. "Freshwater mussels are very sensitive to a variety of problems, including pollution, dams, water flows, loss of forests, and harvesting for their shells and as bait," said Dr. Danielle ...

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – New research shows the NSAID Celebrex may help prevent some non-melanoma skin cancers from developing in patients who have pre-cancerous actinic keratoses lesions and are at high risk for having the disease. The researchers, led by University of Alabama at Birmingham dermatologist and the study's lead author, Craig Elmets, M.D., evaluated the efficacy and safety of celecoxib as a chemo-preventive agent for actinic keratoses. The results were published online Nov. 30, 2010, in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. It will appear in the print ...

Most Americans receive health insurance coverage through their employer, or through an employed family member's dependent coverage. Yet having a job is no guarantee of coverage, according to a new policy brief from the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research. Using data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), the brief's authors found that one-fifth of Californians under age 65 who lived in households with at least one employed family member — or 5.7 million – had no access to job-based health insurance in 2007. Adults without access to job-based insurance ...

(ORLANDO, November 30, 2010) – The American Society of Hematology (ASH) will host its 52nd annual meeting at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, December 4-7. More than 20,000 attendees are expected for this event, which will highlight emerging research trends in the diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of blood disorders. "It gives me great pleasure to host the 2010 ASH annual meeting, which provides a stellar educational and scientific program for hematologists across the globe," said ASH President Hal E. Broxmeyer, PhD, Distinguished Professor of ...

(SACRAMENTO, Calif.) — In what might be one of the world's first medicinal body piercings, UC Davis Health System surgeons announced today that they have successfully implanted an experimental device in the throat of a man that will enable him to manually control his ability to swallow. The device, which could offer an effective treatment option for people suffering from severe swallowing problems, is controlled by pulling on a tiny metal pin that extends through the skin in the neck. The post, when pulled forward, manually opens the esophagus and allows food and water ...

In summer Russia's largest grain processor in Siberia and the Far East has signed a contract with a wholesaling company from the capital of Khabarovsk territory, which enabled the Company to add cereals and feed mixes to the range of shipped products. PAVA has long history of shipping flour to Komsomolsk-on-Amur but up until recently the Company only worked with manufacturers of bread, bakery and pasta products. According to Company's representatives, the flour is shipped to one of the best producers in the city. From now on PAVA's flour is also supplied to wholesalers. ...

Spinal decompression therapy and chiropractic care in San Diego may put an end to the back pain. Those forced to quit because of frustrating back pain are finding new relief. At New Century Spine Centers in San Diego, the chiropractic doctor Carissa Hang, DC regularly treats patients with back pain right after starting an exercise program. "Exercise should not hurt" says Dr. Carissa Hang, DC. The Marines have a slogan that says, "Pain is merely weakness leaving the body." That may be okay for preparing 18 year old men and women for battle, but it is not okay or the reality ...

Single adults of all ages are invited to meet new friends who love to travel, at exotic destinations worldwide. "Most singles have delayed their travel plans over the past two years, due to the Great Recession," says Ann Thomas, Director of The Singles Travel Company. "But there are great bargains out there, especially if you can avoid the dreaded singles supplement by traveling with a roommate, which we guarantee for everyone who wants one." Ann Thomas is the veteran of numerous interviews, including The New York Times, Houston Chronicle, Frommer's Budget Travel, Los ...

Every Tuesday evening at 7:03 PM eastern time, you can listen to Wellness, Wholeness & Wisdom radio with host Psychologist Parthenia Izzard, CNHP. The program is archived within minutes of the live broadcast on the internet and rebroadcast Saturday mornings at 9:03 AM eastern time. On your computer go to http://www.amtherapies.com and click on the Radio link to listen to the show live online or on your phone! Program topics range from authors like Bishop Jordan, James Redfield, Immaculee Ilibagiza, and William Tiller to owners of products like Rishi Teas, and Dr. Kracker. ...

The American Academy of Dance is pleased to present "A Holiday Festival of Dance" at 1:00 pm on Saturday, December 4 at the Pollak Theater on the campus of Monmouth University to benefit The New School of Monmouth County. Contact The New School at 732-787-7900 for advance ticket sales or purchase at the door, $15. Under the direction of owner Melissa Fagliarone, The American Academy of Dance is celebrating its tenth year, offering classes in ballet, tap, jazz, musical theater and hip hop for children ages 3-18, as well as adult dance classes. Ms. Fagliarone's commitment ...

Independent and unsigned music website Boost Independent Music (www.boostindependentmusic.com) invites music lovers to celebrate this Festive Season with Christmas themed songs from one of the world's leading music download sites. Boost Independent Music features a huge collection of independent and unsigned artists and bands from around the world, and has nearly 20,000 songs to choose from. The Boost website offers easy to use search functionality by music style or country location, making it easy for music lovers to find the exact music they are looking for to suit ...

29 November - OCEAN Hospitality will open its first hotel the StarCity Saigon Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City in late 2010. StarCity Saigon Hotel - a four star hotel on Nguyen Van Troi. Phu Nhuan District - is only 10 minutes away from Tan Son Nhat International Airport. All 199 rooms and suites are overlooking the city and complete with modern facilities, offer luxurious and comfortable accommodation for business and leisure travelers. The rooms are crafted individually to give guests a real experience of comfort away from home. The hotel features exclusive rooms for non-smokers ...

Stratus Building Solutions, the nation's fastest-growing building services and maintenance franchise company, is one of the "50 Top Franchises for Minorities" selected by the respected National Minority Franchising Initiative (NMFI) in a process that evaluated hundreds of U.S. franchisors. Stratus Building Solutions was identified in a USA Today feature article about the growth of minority franchising and the value of NMFI as a reliable barometer of minority franchise opportunity. Stratus Building Solutions CEO Dennis Jarrett and President Pete Frese said in a statement: ...

The new full-length debut novel, Belfast Girls - from Ireland's award-winning author, Gerry McCullough - has just been released on Amazon by new UK publisher, Night Publishing. This story of three girls growing up in contemporary Belfast captures the high life - and lowlife - of these post-conflict times, including drugs, high fashion, addiction and crime. Gerry has been a successful short story writer for many years - with stories, poems and articles published regularly in magazines and anthologies in Ireland, UK and USA, and broadcast on BBC Radio. In 2005 she won ...

Karen and Kevin Hill , twins both 16 at publication date, created the newest children's book sensation, Me and My Big Career. Karen Hill, a senior film student at Detroit School of Arts (DSA), proposed the fictional story to her mother and owner of Upheaval Media, LLC., a media publisher. Her brother, Kevin Hill, a senior visual art student, also at DSA , illustrated the cover and pictures for the 24 page book for children ages 0-9 years. Me and My Big Career is a story of Andrew who wants to leave his small, small , small town to become a star. Andrew explores 16 careers ...

Fantasy Author, Wendy Raven McNair, prepares for a whirlwind holiday book tour to present her newly released novel, Awake, book 2 of the Asleep trilogy. "Awake is a fantasy story and would be a wonderful gift for this holiday season. The story is about African American teen super beings and the uplifting theme fits in perfectly with Christmas and Kwanzaa because it celebrates family." ~ McNair Many have complained that over the years Christmas has become too commercialized. Black Friday, the day following Thanksgiving, marks the beginning of the Christmas shopping ...

As the number of individuals reaching the ages of 45 to 62 expands enormously in the coming years, they will be facing challenges in all aspects of their life. Absolute Transitions, a newly launched life transition coaching company in Maplewood, New Jersey is there to provide them the emotional support they need. Founder Tony Calabrese is well experienced in many of these issues. In the last 5 years he has endured the death of a spouse, moved on from a 30 year corporate career, returned to school to study for a new career venture, has started his own business and has ...

Essen Travel is pleased to announce a new feature on their website. The point and click map feature allows you to quickly find information about hotels no matter where in the world you travel. When traveling in the state of Colorado it's easy to search for Denver hotels that fit your needs and your budget. The point and click map eliminates unnecessary time spent trying to find just the right hotel for you and your family. Using the point and click map feature is effortless, with fast results. Simply click on the continent of your choice, such as the United States. Then ...

World Computer Exchange (www.worldcomputerexchange.org) today launched "Hanging with the Stars", a holiday appeal to connect youth in 71 developing countries to the skills, opportunities and understanding of the Internet while keeping working computers out of landfills. . In sponsorship with People's Choice Awards, World Computer Exchange is launching "Hanging with the Stars," a sweepstakes allowing fans who donate to be automatically entered to win the grand prize: 2 VIP Tickets (Orchestra Section) to the People's Choice Awards January 5, 2011, Los Angeles 3 Night ...

As many businesses and high net worth individuals scramble to engage in year-end tax reduction strategies, many will find themselves investing in what the IRS considers an abusive tax shelter. Thousands of taxpayers each year rely on insurance agents and financial planners for complex tax advice. That sometimes results in big problems, according to Wisconsin tax lawyer Brian Mahany. Mahany says the problem is acute with so called "419 plans" and captive insurance companies. The IRS considers these plans as "listed transactions" subject to extra scrutiny and special ...

Sketch Maven is celebrating its first anniversary in business, commemorating a year of many achievements. The site was launched November 29, 2009 as a marketplace where artists and collectors could buy and sell one-of-a-kind published original comic art. Since then it has added to the breadth of original comic art available for purchase on the site and expanded over the last year to include thousands of pieces of color guides and sketches. Now nearly every type of comic artwork can be bought and sold easily on Sketch Maven. "We've come a long way since we launched last ...