In the News

Emerson Ecologics Selected as a Distribution Partner for ProThera Nutraceuticals

New Clinical Study Results of Guided Therapeutics’ LuViva Advanced Cervical Scan to be Presented by Key Opinion Leaders at Top International Medical Conference

Moran Eye Center Researcher Dr. Wolfgang Baehr and Collaborators Discover Vital Relationship between Thyroid Hormones and Macular Degeneration

Six Studies to Highlight Effectiveness of Spiritual Care in Health Care for People Facing Serious Illness

Stage Four Lung Cancer 10 Years Cancer-Free Through Nontoxic Alternative Cancer Treatment

Proton therapy for prostate cancer results in long-term patient survival and excellent quality of life

Study Involving Twin Sisters Provides Clues for Battling Aggressive Cancers

Life Fulfillment Coach Nat Couropmitree Offers Free Self-Care Guide Tailored for “Healing Professionals” to Help Prevent Stress and Cultivate Self-Nurturing Habits

Crossing The Lines Between Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s

Clinical Research Commences On The Dukan Diet; Early Findings Show Immediate Results And Significant Weight Loss

New Study Shows Positive Relationship Between Physical Fitness and Academic Test Scores among Kansas Students

Emerson Ecologics Selected as a Distribution Partner for ProThera Nutraceuticals

Emerson Ecologics, LLC—the leading provider of the highest quality professional nutritional supplements to healthcare practitioners and their patients for over 30 years—today announced their expanded strategic partnership with ProThera Inc., an integrated nutraceuticals company for healthcare professionals. Effective today, February 24, 2014, ProThera brand products will be available to Emerson Ecologics’ practitioner customers throughout the United States. Although ProThera’s Klaire Labs brand has been available to Emerson customers for many years, ProThera brand products were only available in the US through ProThera Inc. until now. While ProThera’s direct distribution of its ProThera and Klaire Labs brands to healthcare professionals will not change, ProThera’s decision to partner with Emerson Ecologics will allow expanded reach to complement their strong direct to practitioner business.

ProThera Inc. develops and sells an integrated selection of nutraceuticals to healthcare professionals, including its ProThera and Klaire Labs product lines. The ProThera line is differentiated by an integrated approach to formulation that maximizes synergism between nutrients to avoid nutrient redundancy, maintain cost-effectiveness, and encourage patient compliance. It offers versatile multiple vitamin/mineral supplements including MultiThera and VitaPrime complemented by focused multi-nutrient and single ingredient formulas to target patient needs while using fewer pills at lower cost. Its Klaire Labs line is well known for hypoallergenic probiotics, enzymes, and specialty nutraceuticals.

Emerson Ecologics CEO, Andy Greenawalt, remarked, “We are excited to have been selected as a US distribution partner for ProThera. Their commitment to quality is aligned with Emerson’s objective to provide practitioners and their patients access to the safest and most effective products. We look forward to the opportunity to educate our customers on the ProThera brand and collaborating with ProThera to expand their reach.”

“Our commitment to providing healthcare professionals with access to clinically relevant supplement formulations coupled with prompt, personalized attention has always been our top priority,” stated ProThera president and CEO, Dennis Meiss, PhD. “Offering expanded access to both ProThera and Klaire Labs brands through an alliance with Emerson Ecologics furthers that goal.”

Emerson Ecologics offers the complete line of current ProThera healthcare practitioner products at the same price as direct through ProThera. Additionally, Emerson carries thousands of products, enabling practitioners to save valuable time and money by selecting from over 275 brands in a single order.

Orders can be placed online 24 hours a day at http://www.emersonecologics.com or by phone at 800.654.4432 from 8:30 am-8:00 pm ET.

New Clinical Study Results of Guided Therapeutics’ LuViva Advanced Cervical Scan to be Presented by Key Opinion Leaders at Top International Medical Conference

The Secretary General of the International Federation for Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy (IFCPC), Dr. James Bentley, will present results of a new clinical study of the LuViva Advanced Cervical Scan at the 15th World Congress for Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy, being held May 26 – 30 in London. The LuViva, a noninvasive device used to detect cervical disease instantly at the point of care, is a product of Guided Therapeutics, Inc.

The title of the abstract is “LuViva Cervical Scan as a Triage Test to Reduce Unnecessary Colposcopy and Biopsy.” The study was conducted by Dr. James Bentley, who is also professor and division head of gynecology oncology at Dalhousie University School of Medicine in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Dr. Richard Zane at the Atlanta Women’s Research Institute in Atlanta, Georgia.

“We believe that the results of this new clinical study, to be presented to the leading cervical cancer experts from around the world, will further validate LuViva’s future role in improving the diagnosis of cervical cancer in women across the globe,” said Gene Cartwright, CEO of Guided Therapeutics. “There is a critical unmet need in gynecology for a product like LuViva that provides immediate results at the point of care, eliminates unnecessary procedures, and finds disease that can be missed by the standard of care. We believe that the opportunity for LuViva, particularly in international markets, is tremendous and we plan on capturing that opportunity.”

“We also want to thank Dr. Bentley and Dr. Zane for their hard work and for recognizing the potential of LuViva at an early stage,” said Mr. Cartwright. “Once published, the study will be used in our approved international markets to support our distributors and LuViva’s expanding product launch.”

Moran Eye Center Researcher Dr. Wolfgang Baehr and Collaborators Discover Vital Relationship between Thyroid Hormones and Macular Degeneration

The University of Utah’s John A. Moran Eye Center announced today that Wolfgang B. Baehr, PhD—professor of ophthalmology, adjunct professor of biology and neurobiology and anatomy—and a team of six researchers from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, and researchers from the National Eye Institute (NEI) have discovered a link between lower levels of thyroid hormones and reduced damage to photoreceptor cone cells in mouse models with retinal degeneration. Age-related macular degeneration and other retinal diseases are the result of damage to cone cells in the eyes.

The study, titled “Suppressing thyroid hormone signaling preserves cone photoreceptors in mouse models of retinal degeneration,” is featured in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, one of the world’s most-cited multidisciplinary scientific publications.

Photoreceptor cells, found in the back of the eye (the retina), are made up of rods and cones that respond to light, colors, and shapes. They are necessary for human sight. In many retinal diseases—including age-related macular degeneration—vision loss occurs because the cone cells degenerate. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure available for macular degeneration.

Thyroid hormones are essential to proper development and differentiation of all cells in the human body. The process of producing thyroid hormones and delivering them to the retina through the bloodstream is called thyroid hormone signaling. In previous studies, researchers discovered that excess thyroid hormone signaling caused cones to degenerate and die. Dr. Baehr, together with the Oklahoma and NEI researchers, discovered that when thyroid hormone signaling was reduced in mouse models, cones were preserved and the retina did not degenerate in mouse models with retinal degeneration.

What is the potential significance for patient care? This discovery may one day provide doctors with an additional approach to the management of patients with retinal degeneration. “This is a great honor for me and the Moran Eye,” Baehr said. “Working with such talented researchers will further our understanding of photoreceptor signaling and disease progression. We hope to discover ways to sustain cone viability in the eyes of individuals with macular degeneration and other retinal diseases.”

In addition to Baehr, the study was co-authored by Hongwei Ma, Arjun Thapa, Xi-Quin Ding, and Lynsie Morris of the University of Oklahoma Heath Sciences Center; and T. Michael Redmond of the Laboratory of Retinal Cell and Molecular Biology at the National Eye Institute. The research was supported by generous grants from the National Eye Institute, the National Center for Research Resources, and the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement of Science and Technology.

“Dr. Baehr has received international respect and acclaim, making him an indispensable asset to our team,” said Dr. Randall J Olson, Moran Eye Center CEO and chair, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Utah Health Care. “Being published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences is an accomplishment in itself, but more importantly, he and the other researchers have hypothesized and then discovered promising results that someday could be a crucial link in treating diseases of the retina.”

Six Studies to Highlight Effectiveness of Spiritual Care in Health Care for People Facing Serious Illness

New field of research to launch at 2014 HealthCare Chaplaincy Network Conference

Six groundbreaking studies will be presented at the HealthCare Chaplaincy Network’s (HCCN) first annual conference, Caring for the Human Spirit: Driving the Research Agenda for Spiritual Care in HealthCare, taking place March 31 to April 3, 2014 at The New York Academy of Medicine in New York City.

Research addressed spiritual care intervention with seriously ill patients, including those with advanced cancer and ALS. The studies focused on urban populations, caregivers, families of critically ill children, the benefits of a common language and set of activities, and the impact on medical outcomes at the end of life. All the research has implications for palliative care, hospice, and advance care planning.

“This is the first large-scale attempt at forming an evidence base for spiritual care effectiveness in health care,” said Rev. Eric J. Hall, HCCN President and CEO.

Funded by the John Templeton Foundation, the studies include:

• Hospital Chaplaincy and Medical Outcomes at the End of Life
  Dana Farber Cancer Institute (Boston)
• Understanding Pediatric Chaplaincy in Crisis Situations
  Children’s Mercy Hospital (Kansas City)
• Impact of Hospital-Based Chaplain Support on Decision-Making During Serious Illness in a Diverse Urban Palliative Care Population
  Emory University (Atlanta)
• Caregiver Outlook: An Evidence-Based Intervention for the Chaplain Toolkit
  Duke University Medical Center (Durham, NC)
• Spiritual Assessment and Intervention Model (AIM) in Outpatient Palliative Care for Patients with Advanced Cancer
  UCSF (San Francisco)
• “What do I do” – Developing a Taxonomy of Chaplaincy Activities and Interventions for Spiritual Care in ICU Palliative Care
  Advocate Charitable Foundation & Advocate Health Care (Chicago)

A live webcast of most conference sessions will be available. Attendees are able to register online at healthcarechaplaincy.org.

Stage Four Lung Cancer 10 Years Cancer-Free Through Nontoxic Alternative Cancer Treatment

Recurrent lung cancer responds to integrative immunotherapy

Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death worldwide, with the highly malignant small cell lung cancer having the worst prognosis. In recent years the surge of immunotherapy has given cancer sufferers new hope.

While several leading cancer centers have only begun introducing immunotherapy, Issels has been a leader in integrative immunotherapy for decades.

In 1951, Josef M. Issels, MD, founded the world’s first hospital specializing in integrative oncology based on integrative immunotherapy. He achieved documented complete long-term remissions of standard therapy-resistant cancers. In view of his expertise, Dr. Issels was invited to serve as an expert member of the German Federal Government Commission in the Fight against Cancer from 1981 until his retirement in 1987.

Issels Integrative Immunotherapy distinguishes itself decisively from mere vaccine administration by integrating specific autologous cancer vaccines—such as dendritic cell vaccine as well as autologous lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells and activated autologous natural killer (NK) cells—which work on the cellular level of the immune system into a comprehensive immunobiologic core treatment addressing the tumor microenvironment. The Issels strategy enhances the body’s complex defense mechanisms, potentiating the efficacy of vaccine and cell therapies, as seen in the case of Jim Gibson.

In March 2003, Jim Gibson commenced the nontoxic Issels integrative immunotherapy including dendritic cell vaccine for his recurring small cell lung cancer, which is the most lethal kind of all lung cancers. After four weeks of exclusive Issels immunotherapy he achieved complete tumor remission and is still cancer free and very active 10 years later without any standard therapy.

Nicole Tupper describes her experience with solely using Issels immunobiologic core treatment for her metastatic adenocarcinoma of the appendix: “I found Issels as a last resort. When I came here, I was a mess ... and all of a sudden I started making leaps and bounds. In my last ultrasound my 12-centimeter tumor completely disappeared and all my other abdominal tumors reduced to less than half.”

Nicole underwent the Issels immunobiologic core treatment at the Issels US outpatient facility, where patients can also receive advanced genetically targeted cancer therapies.

The Issels medical team brings decades of expertise in providing highly personalized comprehensive immunotherapy programs. Vaccine and cell therapies are administered at the most modern facility of the largest private hospital network of 22 hospitals in Mexico, which meets the highest US and international standards. It is the only full-service hospital in Mexico offering integrative medicine. Visit the Issels website www.issels.com to learn more about the Issels treatment programs and facilities or watch more videos of patient testimonials.

Proton therapy for prostate cancer results in long-term patient survival and excellent quality of life

Five years after having proton therapy for early- and intermediate-risk prostate cancer, 99 percent of men are living cancer-free and with excellent quality of life, according to a University of Florida Proton Therapy Institute study published today. Three-quarters of those with high-risk prostate cancer are also disease-free.

The study, published in today’s online edition of the International Journal of Radiation Oncology Biology Physics, adds to the body of evidence pointing to a significant role for proton therapy in the effective and efficient treatment of prostate cancer, said Nancy P. Mendenhall, MD, lead author and medical director of the UF Proton Therapy Institute.

“These proton therapy results compare very favorably with IMRT results, particularly for intermediate risk-disease, where disease control rates of 70 percent to 85 percent are typical,” said Mendenhall, the associate chair of the UF College of Medicine department of radiation oncology. IMRT is intensity modulated radiation therapy, a form of radiation that uses photons, or X-rays, to deliver radiation. Proton therapy uses protons, particles of an atom, to deliver radiation.

The study tracked 211 patients who participated in prospective Institutional Review Board-approved trials. In each track, patients were given proton therapy over an eight-week period, a shorter interval than typical with IMRT, which may last nine to nine and a half weeks. Researchers used standardized data-gathering methods for both physician-reported and patient-reported outcomes.

Physician-reported data show cancer-free survival rates at five years for low-, intermediate-, and high-risk patients are 99 percent, 99 percent, and 76 percent, respectively, while overall survival rates are 93 percent, 88 percent, and 90 percent.

Moreover, the rate of serious gastrointestinal and urologic complications is low, at 1.4 percent and 5.3 percent respectively for all patients. Patients also reported good outcomes with respect to both urologic and bowel function.

UF Proton Therapy Institute is a nonprofit 501(c)3 organization affiliated with the UF College of Medicine, dedicated to delivering state-of-the-art cancer treatment and setting new standards for treating and curing cancer. The cancer treatment facility houses both conventional radiation and proton therapy, and delivers proton therapy to 110 patients a day. For more information about the UF Proton Therapy Institute, please visit www.floridaproton.org, or call toll-free 877-686-6009

Study Involving Twin Sisters Provides Clues for Battling Aggressive Cancers

Analyzing the genomes of twin three-year-old sisters—one healthy and one with aggressive leukemia—led an international team of researchers to identify a novel molecular target that could become a way to treat recurring and deadly malignancies.

Scientists in China and the United States report their findings online Feb. 9 in Nature Genetics. The study points to a molecular pathway involving a gene called SETD2, which can mutate in blood cells during a critical step as DNA is being transcribed and replicated.

The findings stem from the uniquely rare opportunity to compare the whole genomes of the monozygotic twin sisters (which means they came from a single egg). This led to a series of follow-up experiments in human samples from leukemia patients and mouse models of human disease. Those tests verified and extended initial findings researchers gleaned from the twin sisters’ blood samples, according to Gang Huang, PhD, co-corresponding author and a researcher in the divisions of Pathology and Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.

“We reasoned that monozygotic twins discordant for human leukemia would have identical inherited genetic backgrounds and well-matched tissue-specific events,” Huang said. “This provided a strong basis for comparison and analysis. We identified a gene mutation involving SETD2 that contributes to the initiation and progression of leukemia by promoting the self-renewal potential of leukemia stem cells.”

The twin sisters’ genomes were compared at the laboratory of co-corresponding author Qian-fei Wang, PhD, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, China. The sick sister had a particularly acute and aggressive form of the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) known as MLL, or multi-lineage leukemia.

Acute and aggressive leukemia like MLL develops and progresses rapidly in patients, requiring prompt treatment with chemotherapy, radiation, or bone marrow transplant. These treatments can be risky or only partially effective. About 70 percent of people with AML respond initially to standard chemotherapy. Unfortunately, five-year survival rates vary between 15-70 percent, depending on the subtype of AML.

The researchers are searching for improved and more targeted treatment strategies. The authors show in their current study that the onset of aggressive and acute leukemia is fueled by a spiraling cascade of multiple gene mutations and what are called chromosomal translocations – essentially incorrect alignments of DNA and genetic information during cell replication.

In comparing the blood cells of both twin sisters, these researchers identified a chromosomal translocation generated what is known as the MLL-NRIP3 fusion leukemia gene. When they activated the MLL-NRIP3 gene in laboratory mouse models, the animals developed the same type of leukemia, but it took a long period of time for them to do so. Researchers said this suggested that there had to be additional cooperative epigenetic and molecular events in play to induce full-blown leukemia.

The authors went on to demonstrate that activation of the MLL-NRIP3 fusion leukemia gene cooperated with the molecular cascade (including mutations in SETD2) to cause the multi-lineage form of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). The scientists’ initial clue came by looking for additional genomic alterations in the leukemic blood cells of the sick twin sister. They discovered activation of the MLL-NRIP3 fusion leukemia started the molecular cascade that led to bi-allelic (two mutations) in the gene SETD2, a tumor suppressor and enzyme that regulates a specific histone modification protein called H3K36me3.

During a process called transcriptional elongation, SETD2 and H3K36me3 normally mark the zone for accurate gene transcription along the DNA. In the case of the sick twin sister, the gene mutations and molecular cascade disrupted the H3K36me3 mark, leading to abnormal transcription and the multi-lineage form of acute leukemia.

Researchers then analyzed blood samples from 241 people who had different forms acute leukemia. SETD2 mutations were found in samples from 6.2 percent of those patients. Patients with SETD2 mutations also had a leukemia associated with major chromosomal translocations and disruption of the H3K36me3 mark.

In follow-up tests on cell cultures of pre-leukemic cells and mouse models, researchers saw the same progression of gene mutations and related molecular events fuel the growth of leukemic cells. Researchers also noticed mutation of SETD2 activated two genes (MTOR and JAK-STAT) that known contributors to cancer and leukemia. The scientists decided to test two existing targeted molecular inhibitors of MTOR on pre-leukemic cells that are generated by SETD2 gene mutations.

That treatment resulted in a marked decrease in cell growth, indicating that SETD2 mutations activate numerous molecular pathways to generate leukemia. Huang said the tests also demonstrate that there are multiple opportunities to find new molecular targets for developing more effective drugs – in particular those that would target the MLL fusion-SETD2-H3K36me3 pathway for treating acute and aggressive multi-lineage leukemia.

Researchers are following up their current study by identifying additional pathways activated by mutations of SETD2. They also are looking possible new molecular targets and therapeutic strategies for block disruptions in the MLL fusions-SETD2-H3K36me3 pathway.

Life Fulfillment Coach Nat Couropmitree Offers Free Self-Care Guide Tailored for “Healing Professionals” to Help Prevent Stress and Cultivate Self-Nurturing Habits

Most people assume that holistic professionals have figured out how to balance work and family, live the life they dreamed of when they set up their businesses, and have the ongoing satisfaction of helping their clients improve their lives.

Not so. Life fulfillment coach Nat Couropmitree says, “Holistic professionals have unique frustrations, challenges, and struggles. Often they care so much about helping their clients that they sacrifice their own well-being in the process. They turn to me to effectively empower themselves to shift easily away from the patterns that are causing them great stress.”

It’s natural for healing professionals to want to give so much. They get into business because they care about improving the lives of others. Because they’re so dedicated to their business and clients’ needs, they often sacrifice their own needs. As a result, these professionals repeatedly feel drained, overwhelmed, frustrated, and unfulfilled. The solution to feeling less stressed and more fulfilled comes from taking care of oneself first.

Rita Rose Pasquale, co-owner of United Martial Arts Center, is a client who speaks very highly of Nat’s self-care coaching practice: “Nat has been my teacher and the changes that I have experienced in a very short time have been life-changing for me. In only 12 weeks I was able to make changes to improve the quality of my life, and I had been struggling for years. I injured my back six years ago and haven’t been able to train. As a result I gained a lot of weight and no matter what I did I couldn’t lose it. I have lost 25 pounds in 7 weeks and the only thing that is really different is how I treat myself.”

Couropmitree believes that when healing professionals learn to put themselves first and practice self-nurturing habits, they can actually make an even bigger impact in the world.

As a means to support more professionals, Couropmitree has written a self-care e-book entitled The Giving Person’s Self-Care Guide. This free e-book offers 9 mindful tips that caring professionals can use to not only relieve stress instantly, but also to prevent it in the future. It’s available as a free download at http://FreeSelfCareGuide.com.

About Nat Couropmitree

Nat Couropmitree is passionate about empowering holistic professionals to partner with themselves for lasting fulfillment. He holds a degree in anthropology from the University of Chicago and a master’s of public health from Boston University. Nat hosts “The Nat Couropmitree Show,” a podcast that explores the benefits of self-love.

Anyone interested in learning more about Nat Couropmitree’s services can contact him at (617) 332-9659 or at EmbraceYourWealth.com

Crossing The Lines Between Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s

Mounting evidence of biological similarities inspires funding program to advance understanding of the two most common brain diseases

As research unveils overlap in the biology—in addition to long-noted shared clinical symptoms—of Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, three nonprofit organizations are uniting to encourage further study into the similarities and differences between the two most common brain diseases, which affect tens of millions of people worldwide.

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF), the Alzheimer’s Association, and The W. Garfield Weston Foundation seek to inspire scientists to envision research projects that will use existing data and/or biological samples from two large-scale biomarker studies, the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) and the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI).

“Age is the biggest risk factor for these diseases and, with an aging population, the need for greater understanding and better treatments is urgent,” said Todd Sherer, PhD, CEO of MJFF. “We hope that through cross-disease analysis, we’ll uncover shared pathways or convergences which could lead to therapies that could help patients across the continuum of neurodegeneration.”

The three organizations have created and funded a new research grant program—Biomarkers Across Neurodegenerative Diseases—that will support initiatives including, but not limited to, those that:

• analyze datasets to test hypotheses related to aging and neurodegenerative disorders
• seek to identify panels or pathways that may play a role in disease mechanisms, such as around inflammation
• pursue shared or disparate biochemical markers of disease risk, onset, or progression
• assess potential commonalities across the disease spectrum, including around other neurological disorders such as Lewy body dementia

All projects must use data or specimens from both PPMI and ADNI. The two-year awards will grant up to $150,000, although higher cost projects may be considered. The W. Garfield Weston Foundation’s funding contribution will go to selected Canadian researchers.

“The most important aspect of this funding, in addition to the innovative collaboration between our three organizations, is the potential to uncover hidden secrets in the existing data, treasures that might have been missed, or which could only be found with the further analysis that these dollars will enable,” said Maria Carrillo, PhD, Alzheimer’s Association vice president of Medical and Scientific Relations. “This program is an opportunity to leverage existing scientific information to generate possible real-world solutions for people facing these devastating diseases.”

Although Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are distinct conditions, mounting evidence shows possible links between the genetics and brain changes associated with them. For example, analysis from PPMI has shown that levels of a protein implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (amyloid-beta) are lower in the cerebrospinal fluid of individuals with Parkinson’s compared to individuals without Parkinson’s. In addition, postmortem studies have found heightened load of amyloid-beta in the brains of some people with Parkinson’s and increased presence of a Parkinson’s-implicated protein (alpha-synuclein) in some people with Alzheimer’s.

The PPMI study was modeled after ADNI, and they share similar methods of collecting and characterizing clinical and imaging data and biological samples. ADNI launched in 2004 through a public-private partnership that included the Alzheimer’s Association and was driven by the Foundation for the National Institutes of Health. This landmark study now includes more than 1,000 participants, including people without memory problems, individuals who may be at risk of developing Alzheimer’s, those with mild cognitive impairment, and people with Alzheimer’s disease. PPMI began enrollment in 2010, met an initial goal of 400 Parkinson’s patients and 200 controls in April 2013, and now is recruiting people with Parkinson’s risk factors like smell loss, REM sleep behavior disorder, and certain genetic mutations. Both studies have allowed qualified researchers access to data and biospecimens in real time.

“With a new mandate to accelerate safe and effective treatments for neurodegenerative diseases of aging, we are excited that this program will help build bridges between Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s research,” said W. Galen Weston, chairman and president of The W. Garfield Weston Foundation.

More information about how and when to apply for funding through this program is available at www.alz.org/BAND.

Clinical Research Commences On The Dukan Diet; Early Findings Show Immediate Results And Significant Weight Loss

Early results from a recently commenced independent clinical trial released by Medicus Research and presented at the Scripps Natural Supplement 2014 Conference show The Dukan Diet to be an effective commercially available weight loss program. Researchers said the results also suggest The Dukan Diet’s personalized online coaching is a critical component to immediate results and weight loss success.

“Early in our clinical research on The Dukan Diet, we are finding statistically significant weight loss in our participants with varying True Weight goals,” said Dr. Jay Udani, lead researcher, CEO, and medical director at Medicus Research. “During the four-week trial period which includes the Attack and Cruise phases of The Dukan Diet, participants lost nearly 6 pounds on average and reported no adverse effects while doing it.”

“The coaching offering of The Dukan Diet appears to be an essential factor in this early weight loss success,” said Udani. “We are continuing our research to measure the effectiveness of The Dukan Diet over an extended period and look forward to completing our study later this year.”

According to Udani, participants in the study are healthy individuals who weighed 25 pounds or more than their True Weight, a target individualized weight identified by The Dukan Diet’s proprietary algorithm which considers several key parameters. Participants received the New York Times bestselling book, The Dukan Diet and membership to The Dukan Diet online coaching program. Study participants utilized smartphone application-based monitoring software from Medicus Research for daily meal and weight entry.

The initial four-week study is part of a larger 24-week independent clinical study designed to evaluate The Dukan Diet and its online coaching program. Complete results are scheduled for release later this year.

According to internationally recognized nutrition adviser and author, Jacqueline B. Marcus, MS, RDN, LD, CNS, FADA, FAND, “These initial findings demonstrate some of the key reasons why I’ve been a third-party advocate of The Dukan Diet. This is a diet that provides a clear plan toward achievable goals, immediate results, and long-lasting success while eating real foods from the start, including lean proteins and fresh vegetables.”

“What we see here in this initial stage of the study is The Dukan Diet works and study participants felt well while they were following the first two phases of the diet plan,” said Marcus. “This research is an important step toward connecting scientific evidence with a diet people around the world have been following for more than 40 years.”

The Dukan Diet is a four-phase program with 24/7 online coaching to support and provide advice to members during their journey. The first two phases focus on lean proteins, non-starchy vegetables, oat bran, water, and daily walking, while the final two phases incorporate a full range of foods and beverages in managed amounts, including starchier vegetables, whole grains, fruits, cheese and even wine, if desired.

Medicus Research, an internationally-renowned research organization, is conducting the 2014 clinical study which is funded by The Dukan Diet.

“We know The Dukan Diet works. It’s been proven in the lives of millions of people around the world who have followed the plan. We know it is safe and effective with immediate and long-lasting results,” said Nicolas Holleville, managing director of The Dukan Diet in the U.S. “We are committed to investing in independent research to gain scientific evidence to support Dr. Dukan’s lifelong work and achievements.”

New Study Shows Positive Relationship Between Physical Fitness and Academic Test Scores among Kansas Students

New data affirms importance of physical activity in and out of school

The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) and Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) today announced the results of a new study funded by the Kansas Health Foundation that indicate, on average, students who are physically fit score above standard on Kansas state assessments in reading and math and miss fewer days of school.

In 2011, the Healthy Kansas Schools program, a partnership between KSDE and KDHE, began a statewide initiative to track and improve fitness in Kansas schools. This initiative, called Kansas Fitness Information Tracking (K-FIT), links fitness test results using a fitness assessment tool called FitnessGram with academic performance of students in grades 4-9.

The findings, released at a news conference at Seaman Middle School in Topeka today, highlight aggregate, de-identified data from more than 13,000 students in grades 4-9 during the 2011-2012 school year. The FitnessGram tests, which measure aerobic capacity, muscular strength, endurance, and flexibility, determine whether students are in a “healthy fitness zone” for their age and gender.

The results concluded that the odds of being above math and reading performance standards were significantly higher among students who met fitness standards in all five fitness tests compared to those who did not. For students who met fitness standards for zero to one fitness tests, 50.4 and 41.8 percent scored above standard on reading and math assessments, respectively. In comparison, among students who met fitness standards for all five fitness tests, 73.5 and 70.3 percent scored above standard on reading and math assessments, respectively.

“We remain focused on improving the health of Kansas children and making strides in their reading levels. By examining the K-FIT information, we have an opportunity to positively impact the lives of Kansas children and future generations in a variety of ways. I encourage our kids, as well as my adult peers, to never give up on their fitness goals,” said Governor Sam Brownback.

“Encouraging fitness and healthy eating within our Kansas schools has always been a priority for us,” said Dr. Diane DeBacker, Kansas commissioner of education, KSDE, “and this report further emphasizes the critical role USDA’s revised school nutrition standards and programs like Healthy Kansas Schools and Team Nutrition play in the overall learning success of students. We recognize that schools provide one of the most important venues for modeling consistent, healthy behaviors for students of all ages, and we’re committed to ensuring this is happening.”

“Exercise has a tremendous impact on the growing brain. We’ve known for years that increased physical activity and a good diet are important to help children stay focused, stay alert, and learn better. This data reinforces that the national trends we’re seeing are certainly true for our children in Kansas,” said Dr. Robert Moser, secretary and state health officer, KDHE. K-FIT is funded by the Kansas Health Foundation (KHF), whose mission is to improve the health of all Kansans. Up to 900 schools can be funded for the K-FIT project, and to date, more than 650 are actively participating. The program is part of a partnership between KSDE, KDHE and KHF.

“The evidence is clear—we must prioritize getting our kids active in all schools across Kansas whether it includes after-school programs, active recess, quality PE classes, or broadly an increased culture of activity,” said Steve Coen, president and CEO of the Kansas Health Foundation.

This announcement is part of a new collaboration between Healthy Kansas Schools and KHF to facilitate a pattern of healthy behaviors among the youth in Kansas and pave the way for a lifetime of positive health outcomes. KHF supports a number of school-based wellness initiatives centered around making the school buildings and districts across the state healthy environments for our children. This includes K-FIT, Let’s Move! Active Kansas Schools, Youth Risk Behavior Survey, School Health Profiles, and local school wellness policies.