New Approaches in HIV Cure Research: functional or sterilizing?

Following the last edition of the "International Workshop on HIV Persistence, Reservoirs and Eradication Strategies" held earlier this month, scientists envision the practical ways of implementing the first eradication trials in the clinic.

Tucker, GA, December 30, 2011 -- The failure of antiretroviral therapy (ART) to eradicate HIV infection lies in the fact that HIV remains quiescent in latent reservoirs. Latently infected resting CD4+ cells carry transcriptionally silent HIV-1 and represent the predominant viral reservoir in patients on suppressive ART. Other cells may also act as reservoirs such as macrophages, dendritic cells and astrocytes.

HIV is a retrovirus that integrates into the host genome and as such, on cell division will be automatically present in both daughter cells. The mechanisms involved in the maintenance of HIV reservoirs are progressively deciphered.

An HIV cure could be envisaged as either sterilizing, equivalent to HIV eradication, or functional, equivalent to HIV remission.

The concept of a functional cure implies to deplete virus reservoirs to such an extent that a “controller” status is achieved. In this way, HIV is maintained at low levels for long periods of time in the absence of ART, equivalent to that observed in known HIV “Elite controllers”.

Approaches to deplete HIV reservoirs include “purging” these reservoirs by selective activation of latently infected cells (such as memory cells) in the presence of ART such that released virus may not infect and replicate in neighboring cells. Agents include histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, cytokines, as IL-15, and bryostatin, a protein kinase C activator.

In order to demonstrate a sustained virological response (functional cure), ART will ultimately need to be stopped in order to show that virus levels remain undetectable.

The current skepticism regarding treatment interruption means that inclusion criteria for patients in such studies will take in to consideration both pre ART and nadir CD4+ T-cell counts.

It is likely that a cocktail of potent anti-latency compounds will be needed in concert with intensified ART regimen to reach an HIV cure. This implies assessing the ratio between benefit and risk and clearly informing patients about ethical issues.

The next edition of the “International Workshop on HIV Persistence, Reservoirs and Eradication Strategies” will take place in Miami, Florida, 3-6 December 2013. Meanwhile, the scientists that met together at the last meeting will keep regular ties in order to implement the first proof-of-concept trials of HIV functional cure.

Media Contact:
Alain Lafeuillade
Informed Horizons, LLC
1860 Montreal Road, Suite 2
Tucker GA 30084
Tel: 33-4-94616340

Pinnacle Foods-Owned Farmer's Garden™ by Vlasic® and National Gardening Association Congratulate 2011 “Farm to School Project” Grant Winners

Grant Helps 35 Urban Schools Nationwide Build and Maintain Gardens.

MOUNTAIN LAKES, NJ (December 30, 2011) -- Thirty-five schools is urban cities throughout the country were selected from thousands of gardening programs nationwide by the National Gardening Association (NGA) (http://www.farmersgardenvlasic.com/nga/) to receive a 2011 “Farm to School Project” grant from Farmer’s Garden™ by Vlasic® (http://www.farmersgardenbyvlasic.com), a Pinnacle Foods Group LLC brand.

The grant was allocated among the following winning schools, each of which received a $1,100 Farmer’s Garden™ by Vlasic® Farm to School Project kit stocked full of indoor and outdoor gardening supplies, including a tiered light garden for starting seeds, seed starting kit, plant beds, tool kits, composter, kids gloves, nutrition books and more:

University Place Elementary (Tuscaloosa, AL)
Imagine Schools at Avondale (Avondale, AZ)
Melrose Elementary (Los Angeles, CA)
Pacific Beach Middle School (San Diego, CA)
St. James School (San Francisco, CA)
Denver Green School (Denver, CO)
PAL @ Stanton Elementary (Washington, DC)
Richmond Heights Middle (Miami, FL)
David Lawrence Jr. K-8 Center (North Miami, FL)
Roscoe Academy (Chicago, IL)
Topeka Public School (Topeka, KS)
RSD School District-Dr. Charles Drew School (New Orleans, LA)
Maria L. Baldwin School (Cambridge, MA)
Campus Learning Center (Lawrence, MA)
Dearborn Middle School (Roxbury, MA)
Baltimore Montessori Public Charter (Baltimore, MD)
Lyseth Elementary Garden Club (Portland , ME)
Genesee Intermediate School (Flint, MI)
Garlough Environmental Magnet (West St Paul, MN)
University City Children's Center (St. Louis, MO)
Brier Creek Elementary School (Raleigh, NC)
Duncan Elementary (Omaha, NE)
Chaplain Charles J. Watters School (Jersey City, NJ)
Salazar Elementary School (Santa Fe, NM)
Bertha Ronzone Elementary (Las Vegas, NV)
Duncan Elementary (Reno, NV)
MS442 (Brooklyn, NY)
P373R The Robert Randall School (Staten Island, NY)
Dater Montessori School (Cincinnati, OH)
Belmont Academy Charter (Philadelphia, PA)
Meeting Street Academy (Charleston, SC)
Dr. William H. Brewster Elementary (Memphis, TN)
Park Place Elementary (Houston, TX)
Champlain Elementary School (Burlington, VT)
Glendale Elementary (Madison, WI)

The gardens give children the opportunity to learn about fresh fruits and vegetables through a mentored, hands-on learning environment. The students will be able to see the gardening process from start to finish, and taste the fruits of their labor.

Each school program was selected because of its continued commitment to actively and creatively engaging youth in the gardening process,” said National Gardening Association President Michael Metallo. The NGA promotes home, school and community gardening as a means to renew and sustain the essential connections between people, plants and the environment. “The National Gardening Association proudly supports this important children’s garden for their respective communities.”

The partnership with NGA, a nonprofit leader in plant-based education for more than 35 years, underscores Farmer’s Garden™ by Vlasic’s® commitment to honest ingredients, and support of the farm to table lifestyle. The “Farm to School Project” also helps engage children's imaginations, spark their creative forces, and teach them how to keep a healthy and balanced diet.

Children at these schools will now have an opportunity to experience fruits and vegetables through hands-on learning through their very own ‘edible classroom’,” said Vlasic Marketing Director, Greg Greene. “Farmer’s Garden™ by Vlasic® is proud to be able to recognize the teachers’ dedication and efforts in showing kids the importance of produce in their lives.”

To learn more about Farmer’s Garden™ by Vlasic®, visit http://www.farmersgardenbyvlasic.com. To learn more about the NGA's school gardening initiatives, visit http://www.kidsgardening.org.

About Pinnacle Foods Group LLC
Millions of times a day in more than 85% of American households, consumers reach for Pinnacle Foods brands. We are a leading producer, marketer and distributor of high-quality branded food products, which have been trusted household names for decades. Headquartered in Parsippany, NJ, our business employs more than 4,300 people in North America. We are a leader in the shelf stable and frozen foods segments and our brands hold the #1 or #2 market position in 10 out of 13 major category segments in which they compete. Our Duncan Hines Grocery Division manages brands such as Duncan Hines® baking mixes and frostings, Vlasic® pickles, peppers, and relish, Comstock® and Wilderness® Fruit Pie Fillings, Mrs. Butterworth’s® and Log Cabin® syrups, Armour® canned meats, Nalley® and Brooks® chili and chili ingredients, and Open Pit® barbecue sauces. Our Birds Eye Frozen Division manages brands such as Birds Eye®, Birds Eye Steamfresh®, C&W®, McKenzie’s®, and Fresh like® vegetables, Birds Eye Voila!® complete bag meals, Aunt Jemima® frozen breakfasts, Swanson® and Hungry-Man® dinners and entrees, Van de Kamp’s® and Mrs. Paul’s® seafood, Lender’s® bagels and Celeste® pizza. Our Specialty Foods Division manages Tim’s Cascade Snacks®, Hawaiian™ Kettle Style Potato Chips, Snyder of Berlin® and Husman’s® in addition to our food service and private label businesses. Further information is available at http://www.pinnaclefoods.com.

About National Gardening Association
About the National Gardening Association Founded in 1973, National Gardening Association (NGA) is a national nonprofit leader in plant-based education, respected for its award-winning, information-rich websites and newsletters; grants, curricula, and resources for youth gardens; and research for the lawn and garden industry. NGA’s mission is to promote home, school, and community gardening as a means to renew and sustain the essential connection between people, plants, and the environment. To learn more about gardening with children, please visit http://www.kidsgardening.org.

Media Contacts:
Mike Metallo
National Gardening Association (NGA)
802-863-5251 x123

Mary Sudasassi
Pinnacle Foods Group, LLC
1 Bloomfield Avenue
Mountain Lakes, NJ 07046-1429
305-448-6163

Zevrix Extends Holiday Sale until January 5: 50% off All Products

Zevrix Solutions, a solutions developer for graphics, print and file delivery, announces today it has extended its holiday season sale until January 5. The company offers 50% discount on everything in Zevrix online store including product bundles. Zevrix produces such popular plug-ins for Adobe InDesign automation as LinkOptimizer, BatchOutput and InPreflight, as well as productivity solutions for graphic files checkup, Microsoft Office, file delivery and PDF workflow automation.

Toronto, Canada - December 30, 2011 -- Zevrix Solutions, a solutions developer for graphics, print and file delivery, announces today it has extended its holiday season sale until January 5. The company offers 50% discount on everything in its online store including product bundles. Zevrix makes several popular automation plug-ins for Adobe InDesign and Illustrator, as well as solutions for graphic files checkup, PDF workflows and automated file delivery.

The Zevrix line of products includes the following key solutions:

LinkOptimizer: an InDesign plug-in which lets users reduce linked image size, performs essential image adjustments and converts file formats automatically. The software is also available for Adobe Illustrator as ArtOptimizer.

BatchOutput: an InDesign plug-in which automates printing and exporting from InDesign and offers single page output, variable file names, PDF preflight and more.

InPreflight: an InDesign plug-in which lets users collect multiple files automatically, perform thorough quality control, and create graphic preflight reports.

Graphic Inspector: a quality control solution which checks entire folders of images and vector graphic files for multitude of attributes.

PDF Checkpoint: a PDF workflow automation solution to preflight and convert batches of PDF files.

Deliver: a file delivery solution which lets users send and share files easily over the Internet and local networks, and offers hot folder processing, automatic email notifications, compression, detailed history and more.

BatchOutput Office: a suit of productivity tools for Microsoft Office which automate printing and PDF production from Word, Excel and PowerPoint.

Pricing and Availability:
Zevrix software can be purchased at 50% off until January 5, 2012 from Zevrix website, http://www.zevrix.com. For the sale conditions, please visit the website. Product trials are also available for download. All Zevrix products require Mac OS X 10.4.2-10.7, InDesign solutions require Adobe CS3-CS5.5.

About Zevrix Solutions

Located in Toronto, Canada, Zevrix Solutions provides productivity solutions for Adobe Creative Suite software, graphic file diagnostics, PDF workflow, digital delivery, and Microsoft Office on Mac OS. Zevrix Solutions is dedicated to helping professionals achieve more while doing less through automating their everyday tasks, producing error-free documents, saving disk space and cutting production costs. For more information, visit http://www.zevrix.com.

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Contact:
Leo Revzin
Owner
Zevrix Solutions
105 McCAUL St, Suite 301
Toronto Ontario M5T 2X4 Canada
Tel: 858-206-0607