HIV Cure Research Workshop Clinical Report

Following the last "International Workshop on HIV Persistence, Reservoirs and Eradication Strategies", scientists are now working into translating the recent basic discoveries into clinical trials for patients.

Toulon, France, January 04, 2012 -- Although a number of promising approaches have led to testable hypotheses for an HIV cure, for which small animal and primate models may provide preliminary information, ultimately proof of concept and validation studies in human subjects will be required. These trials will need to balance the risks of significant toxicity, morbidity and mortality of novel strategies against the possible benefit to individual patients and knowledge gained overall. However, it is challenging to define an acceptable level of risk in the context of generally safe and effective life-long therapy. Would a small risk of fatal complication be acceptable? Would a modest risk of mortality, like 1-2% for coronary artery bypass grafting, be acceptable if a cure is on the horizon, or even more? The answers will probably depend of the therapies tested and their goal: functional (for how long) or sterilizing cure?

There are already innovative strategies ready to be tested in the clinic but most researchers think that only a combination of these therapies could lead to an HIV cure. Combining, or sequencing, these approaches also means increasing the risks. On the other side, do we have to test them one after the other, as we did with antiretroviral drugs, before moving to combinations? These are difficult questions to answer, as it is evident that the first patients included in a single approach will get limited benefit from it, if any. This situation is particularly true for the first anti-latency agents tested. They will probably lack the potency to purge all HIV reservoirs, and it is not known if a remaining few infected cells would not be enough to reignite a whole infection.

All these questions were discussed in-depth at the last “International Workshop on HIV Persistence, Reservoirs and Eradication Strategies” held in December 2011. Participants coming from the lab, from the clinic, from agencies, and from pharmaceutical companies were all tied by their commitment toward an HIV cure. A detailed analysis of what they defined as their main priorities is currently underwriting and will be published soon.

Meanwhile, focused reports are available on the workshop website.

Media Contact:
Alain Lafeuillade
AVPS
1208 Avenue Colonel Picot
83056 Toulon, Var, France
Tel: 33-4-94616340

BusinessVibes - Alternative Solutions for Intranet

BusinessVibes has come up with an idea of website that gives companies all the features available in the Intranet and much more.

London, UK, January 04, 2012 -- Big and well developed companies more and more often nowadays invest in internal networks called Intranet, which allows its employees to search for information about the companies, share files and exchange some data. This tool improves everyday work and significantly fastens the flow of information within the company. Unfortunately not every company can afford creating its own Intranet. Some of them are simply too small and creating Intranet for them is pointless.

BusinessVibes (http://www.businessvibes.com), new global platform connecting companies and associations all over the world has come up with an idea of website that gives companies all the features available in the Intranet and much more. First of all, platform allows creating one company profile with multiple user accounts. It simply means that more than one user can claim the profile of one company and use information available there. Administrator of the profile decides which information should be visible for others and which one should be added additionally. As one of the option, administrator can add detailed information about events organised by the company or updates concerning its activity. In case of necessity to share documents, website allows companies to upload files to their profiles and share it freely with others.

BusinessVibes provides as well possibility to send messages, create virtual business cards and receive comments and testimonials about company itself and events organized by them. Platform is great alternative for Intranet, but has as well a lot of other features, which companies can freely use. BusinessVibes’ main goal is to help companies and associations to search for clients, buyers, suppliers and business partners. A wide range of tools, from internal search engine, through industry directories to creating network is available to help all members develop their business activity.

Contact:
Marta Munia
Marketing Executive - Europe
Infiniti Research Limited
8 Wimpole Street
London W1G 9SP
Tel: +44 20 7291 0883
Follow us on Twitter: @businessvibes

IAPAM's hCG Training for Physicians January 27, 2012

In February and June of 2011, Dr. Oz’s comments ignited unprecedented positive interest in hCG for weight loss. To meet this patient demand, the IAPAM is helping physicians enter this lucrative market for 2012, by offering their physician-led hCG Training in Scottsdale, Arizona on January 27, 2012. Physicians will learn and receive everything they need to start safely and profitably offering hCG for weight loss to their patients this New Year.

Las Vegas, NV, January 04, 2012 -- The IAPAM (http://www.iapam.com) has trained over 600 physicians on how to effectively offer hCG (human Chorionic Gonadotropin) for weight loss to their patients. To date, well over 15,000 patients have successfully lost weight on hCG using the IAPAM’s Exclusive hCG Diet (http://www.hcgtraining.com), based on Dr. Simeons manuscript, Pounds and Inches (http://www.iapam.com/dr-simeons-pounds-and-inches-manuscript.html).

Join the IAPAM for the first hCG Training session of 2012, on January 27, 2012, in Scottsdale, Arizona, and prepare to offer hCG for Weight Loss to the flood of patients with a New Year’s Resolution to lose weight.

This respected program is taught by true hCG experts, who operate hCG weight loss clinics, and who have completed the hCG Protocol themselves. This allows physicians and their staff to learn from the IAPAM faculty’s vast experience.

The IAPAM’s hCG Training includes:

- Detailed IAPAM hCG Program Protocols
- Patient selection criteria
- Common medical hCG contraindications
- Consent forms, medical history forms
- Patient hCG Program Guidebook to offer patients (hCG friendly recipes, food journal, tips)
- Patient PowerPoint presentations for the waiting room
- Phone scripts & call logs for your staff
- Legal/Insurance considerations, and current FDA status
- hCG ordering information and special pharmaceutical hCG pricing
- Special hCG Facebook discussion forum
- VLCD/LCD diet programs
- Meal replacement diet programs
- Ketogenic based diet programs
- Utilizing B6/B12 injections in weight loss
- Using prescription appetite suppressants in weight loss
- Metabolism testing as a profit center
- Laser assisted lipolysis
- Listing of your hCG Clinic in the IAPAM’s NEW hCG Diet Clinic Directory (http://www.iapam.com/aesthetic-resources/hcg-diet-clinics)

Finally, the IAPAM’s hCG Training is the only Physician hCG Training program in North America approved for a special medical malpractice rate for those who have attended and have been certified by the IAPAM. This medical malpractice coverage is not offered to any other hCG training program.

Jeff Russell, Executive Director of the IAPAM, and a member of the expert faculty of instructors at the IAPAM’s hCG Training, notes that, “as hCG for weight loss is being requested by more and more patients, we are seeing a correlating increase in physician attendance at the IAPAM’s hCG training.” Mr. Russell also emphasizes that, “through the comprehensive education, and the year of practice support offered by the IAPAM, physicians can appreciate the effects of medications, the implications of plateauing, the importance of vitamin supplements, engage in ongoing dialogue with each other and hCG experts, and understand all the other nuances of the IAPAM protocol that result in patient satisfaction and enduring weight loss.”

For additional information or to register for the January 27, 2012 hCG Training Seminar, please contact the IAPAM, at 1-800-219-5108 ext. 708, email info@theiapam.com or visit http://www.hcgtraining.com.

About the IAPAM: The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine

The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine is a voluntary global association of physicians and supporters, which sets standards for the aesthetic medical profession worldwide. The goal of the association is to offer education, ethical standards, credentialing, and member benefits to members around the globe. IAPAM membership is open to all licensed medical doctors (MDs), doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), physicians assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). The IAPAM offers aesthetic medicine and hCG medical weight management programs, including: botox training, medical aesthetic training, laser training, physician hCG training, and aesthetic practice business training. Additional information about the association can be accessed through the IAPAM’s website (http://www.iapam.com) or by contacting:

Jeff Russell, Executive-Director
International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM)
1-800-219-5108 ext. 708

FPL's four steps for getting your home "energy fit" in the New Year

It's no secret that this is the time of year for New Year's resolutions, and Florida Power & Light (FPL) wants you to add one more resolution to your list that can you help you save energy and money: Make your home "energy fit".

Juno Beach, FL, January 04, 2012 -- It’s no secret that this is the time of year for New Year’s resolutions, and Florida Power & Light (FPL) wants you to add one more resolution to your list that can you help you save energy and money: Make your home "energy fit".

FPL’s energy efficiency blogger, Danielle Mousseau, recommends getting your home “energy fit” by following her four-step plan. “Like any good fitness plan, you have to understand the basics,” she says. “Evaluate where you are, make a plan based on where you want to go, set realistic goals and measure against them.”

She offers four steps to getting your home “energy fit” this year.

Step 1: Before you can get your home “energy fit,” find out what kind of shape it’s in by completing the new Online Home Energy Survey at http://www.FPL.com/newohes. Whether your home is a power pro that only needs routine energy efficiency maintenance, or an energy novice that needs a boot camp-like regimen, there are always things you can do to make improvements. The Online Home Energy Survey has new features such as a new user-friendly design and a more printer-friendly personalized energy-savings plan.

Step 2: Review and print your personalized energy-savings plan. Take note of recommendations that you can implement right away at little or no cost, such as adjusting habits or appliance settings. If there are recommendations for making energy efficiency upgrades to your home equipment like your ducts or A/C, highlight the FPL program that can offer you an incentive or rebate for doing so.

Step 3: Set goals based on your plan’s recommendations. Since goals are very personal, yours may vary based on how much effort, time and money you want to invest. If you only want to implement low-cost, or no-cost measures like adjusting habits or switching to compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs), your goal will be very different than if you decide to upgrade your refrigerator to an Energy Star® model or replace your air conditioner at a higher seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER).

Step 4: Set a timeline for your goals and measure against them. You will need to determine your timeframe for measuring savings. You may want to save past bills or log in to FPL.com to compare this year’s costs to last year’s costs if you are making substantial energy upgrades to your home appliances or equipment like an air conditioner. If you are making small adjustments to your everyday habits, you may prefer to measure month-over-month for a one-year period.

FPL customers already have the lowest electric bills in the state, and getting your home “energy fit” is a way to make that bill even lower. To find out what kind of energy efficiency shape your home’s in, take the new Online Home Energy Survey today at http://www.FPL.com/newohes.

Media Contact:
FPL Media Line
Florida Power & Light Company
700 Universe Blvd.
Juno Beach, FL 33408
305-552-3888

IAPAM Reports on Top Aesthetic Medicine Trends for 2012

The International Association For Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM) has surveyed its membership, its medical faculty, and has consulted with numerous experts in aesthetic medicine, to develop a forecast for the top aesthetic medicine treatments or trends physicians can expect to see in 2012. Ultimately, physicians with successful aesthetic practices in 2012, will need to offer “combination” treatment packages, integrating: botox and other facial injectables, medical skin care, IPL/laser rejuvenation and non-invasive body contouring.

Las Vegas, NV, January 04, 2012 – The IAPAM (http://www.iapam.com) sees the market for minimally-invasive procedures continuing to grow in 2012. Dr. Tom D. Wang, President of the AAFPRS agrees that “consumer interest in aesthetic procedures and treatment has continued in strong fashion. However, some effects from the recent recession still linger. Some patients [are] choosing to have less invasive injectable treatments or non-surgical procedures in an effort to defer facial surgery for the time being.” To capture this knowledgeable patient population, physicians must be expertly trained (IAPAM’s physician-lead botox training at http://www.aestheticmedicinesymposium.com) and need to offer the latest aesthetic medicine procedures, utilizing the most current technologies and must package synergistic treatments for the most effective, yet cost effective results.

1. Combining Non-Invasive Procedures Gives the Best Results

Dr. Gregory Buford, notes that, “as we head into 2012, consumers are becoming more savvy about which tips and tricks from their practitioners really work and which do not.” Drs. Tess Mauricio and Buford see “more application and research on combination treatments. More aesthetic providers are abandoning mono-therapy and combining medical skin care, facial injectables, and laser conditioning and offering these synergistic packages to their clients. This “Holy Triad” of facial rejuvenation can be extremely effective in addressing age-related changes on multiple levels and produce results far more dramatic than previously seen.”

The IAPAM agrees that successful aesthetic practices are those that offer patients a combination of minimally invasive procedures. Just offering Botox ® alone is not enough to provide a physician with a successful, and more importantly, a profitable aesthetic practice. “The key is combining neurotoxins like Botox ®, Dysport ® or Xeomin ® with other complementary skin rejuvenation procedures,” says Jeff Russell, IAPAM Executive Director.

2. New Cosmetic Injectables will Offer Choice to Consumers

New neurotoxins, specifically Xeomin ®, will capture increasing segments of the injectables market in 2012. Dermatologist, Dr. Bruce Katz, comments that, “Xeomin ®, the latest neurotoxin [will] rival Botox ®” in 2012. Dr. Francesca Fuso mentions, “there are new neurotoxins that are still undergoing clinical trials. They will have the same effect as Botox ®, but instead of being injected, they can be applied topically. If these new products are approved in 2012, they will provide patients with yet another option in a year of options.” Finally, new fillers, such as Belotero ® and LaViv ® will offer increased choice to both physicians and patients in the dermal filler arena. Dr. Mitchel Goldman MD, recognizes that, “the approval of LaViv ® the first autologous fibroblast filler and Belotero ® along with the FDA approval of Lip Augmentation with Restylane ® will enhance the use of fillers in 2012 and provide additional products to enhance patient care.”

3. Expanded Uses for Neurotoxins

Dr. Houtan Chaboki, offers an interesting insight into alternative uses for Botox ® and other neurotoxins. One trend [that he is seeing] is the use of neuromodulators (Botox & Dysport) to reshape the face, instead of wrinkles. From microbotox to migraines to multiple sclerosis, the uses and markets for neurotoxins will continue to expand in 2012.

4. Higher Demand for Non-Invasive Body Contouring Treatments

Non-invasive devices like the Zerona ® and VelaSmooth ® will continue reshaping the body, with new entrants expected in 2012. Dr. Mitchel Goldman MD adds, “the advancement of lasers and energy devices such as Ulthera’s focused ultrasound, Bela Countour ® and Exilis radiofrequency and Lutronic’s advanced Nd:YAG laser will enhance treatment of skin laxity and pigmented lesions.”

5. Turning Back the Hands of Time

Dr. Fusco also envisions that, “in 2012 lots of people will be having work done on their hands.” Turning back ‘the hands of time’ of the hands typically requires a combination of dermal fillers as well as IPL/laser rejuvenation to help eliminate age/sun spots.

6. Lasers are For More than Hair Removal

Dr. Bruce Katz predicts “a higher demand for laser treatments in 2012. Some of the newer laser treatments offer truly compelling results without invasive surgery, significant pain and substantial downtime.” IPL (Intense Pulse Light) and lasers can accomplish a full range of anti-aging treatments including: skin tightening, vein removal, removal of age and sun spots, skin resurfacing, as well as treating acne scars and rosacea.

Conclusion

The market for anti-aging treatments will continue to grow in 2012. With new technologies, as well as new ways to bundle and market existing procedures, the trend toward more minimally invasive procedures does not appear to be going away any time soon. Jeff Russell, Executive Director of the IAPAM concludes that, “as we have seen with our past annual trends predictions, the key is to create an anti-aging program for each patients needs. Patients just do not come in for Botox ®; they want a combination anti-aging treatments which often includes neurotoxins, dermal fillers and skin rejuvenation with chemical peels, microdermabrasion and skin care.”

Since 2005, the IAPAM has been a leader in providing aesthetic medicine industry trends. For a complete copy of the IAPAM’s Top Aesthetic Medicine Trends for 2012, go to http://www.aestheticmedicinenews.com/iapam-reports-on-the-top-aesthetic-medicine-trends-for-2012.htm.

To REGISTER for an upcoming Aesthetic Medicine Symposium or Physician hCG Training Seminar, please visit http://www.aestheticmedicinesymposium.com or http://www.hcgtraining.com or contact the IAPAM at 1-800-219-5108 ext. 704, or by email at info@theiapam.com.

About the IAPAM: The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine

The International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine is a voluntary association of physicians and supporters, which sets standards for the aesthetic medical profession. The goal of the association is to offer education, ethical standards, credentialing, and member benefits. IAPAM membership is open to all licensed medical doctors (MDs), dentists (DDSs/DMDs) doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs), physicians assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs). The IAPAM offers aesthetic medicine and hCG medical weight management programs, including: Botox ® training, medical aesthetic training, laser training, physician hCG training, and aesthetic practice business training. Additional information about the association can be accessed through the IAPAM’s website (http://www.iapam.com) or by contacting:

Jeff Russell, Executive-Director
International Association for Physicians in Aesthetic Medicine (IAPAM)
1-800-219-5108 x704
Twitter: @IAPAM