Ridgefield, CT, September 14, 2011 – Landmark public health campaign DRIVE4COPD today announced the unveiling of 24M: The DRIVE4COPD Monument, a visual representation of the impact of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the United States. Reaching 14 feet at its highest peak and spanning half a football field, this first-of-its-kind monument comprised of 24 large-scale pinwheels to represent the 24 million Americans who may be living with COPD, was designed by internationally renowned artist and sculptor Michael Kalish.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/51245-24m-the-drive4copd-monument/
Music icon Barry Manilow today revealed his long struggle to manage a serious heart disease called atrial fibrillation (AFib). He has joined with Sanofi US to kick-off Get Back in Rhythm™, a national education campaign to raise awareness about AFib, and to encourage people to learn more about all the risks of AFib and the importance of keeping the heart in rhythm.
Today, approximately 2.5 million Americans have AFib and that number is expected to grow to 12 million by 2050. A serious heart disease that causes the heart to race and beat out of rhythm, AFib can lead to permanent heart damage, heart attack, heart failure, stroke and death.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/51813-get-back-in-rhythm-barry-manilow-afib-awareness
CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic announced their “You vs. Flu” campaign today. Flu vaccinations are now available at all CVS/pharmacy and MinuteClinic locations nationwide to help consumers win against the flu. CVS/pharmacy has more than 7,200 locations and MinuteClinic has nearly 600 locations inside select CVS/pharmacy stores.
Flu shots are being provided by CVS pharmacists and MinuteClinic nurse practitioners and physician assistants every day, including evenings and weekends, with no appointment necessary. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone ages six months and older get a flu shot as soon as vaccine is available, including those who were vaccinated last flu season.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/51328-cvs-minuteclinic-flu-shot
Nearly 10 percent of U.S. high schoolers report being hit, slapped or physically hurt by their boyfriend or girlfriend in the past year, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control. And nearly one in four have been victimized through technology, according to a nationwide survey by Liz Claiborne Inc. and the Family Prevention Fund.
To help raise awareness of teen dating violence and the dangers of digital abuse, BeSmartBeWell.com shares the story of Kari, a high school girl who went from an ambitious achiever to a tragic victim of teen dating violence.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/besmartbewell/50820/
A new national survey shows most preteens and teens engage in day-to-day activities that may put them at risk of contracting meningococcal meningitis, a rare, but serious bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and take the life of an otherwise healthy child in just a single day. The National Association of School Nurses (NASN), in collaboration with Sanofi Pasteur, conducted the survey as part of its Voices of Meningitis back-to-school vaccination awareness initiative.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/voicesofmeningitis/50125/
The Sanford Guide, recognized as the essential reference for infectious disease treatment, announced the release of its first mobile app for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. The Sanford Guide App, available on Apple’s App Store for $29.99, contains the comprehensive guidelines and recommendations featured in the well-known pocket-size guides used by health care professionals in treatment decision making for over 40 years.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/sanfordguide/50808/
The Ad Council is joining the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, in partnership with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), to debut their first joint national multimedia public service campaign to help families prevent food poisoning in the home.
The Food Safe Families campaign was announced this morning by USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius in time for the July 4th holiday and the start of summer when foodborne illnesses tend to increase—a time when many families celebrate with food. It’s also a time when foodborne illnesses tend to increase with more outdoor meals, and other factors that increase the risk for disease-causing bacteria in food.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/adcouncil/50582/
New data revealed that nearly 100 percent (99%) of 200 U.S. primary care physicians surveyed agree that heart disease and stroke are the number one cause of death and disability among type 2 diabetes patients; however, almost 40 percent (36%) of these physicians underestimate the number of patients who die from cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, while people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to have heart disease than people without diabetes, the survey, conducted by Harris Interactive and supported by Merck, found only one out of five (21%) patients (n=664) listed heart attack or heart failure as their biggest worry regarding diabetes complications, and even fewer patients (7%) listed stroke.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/merck/50638/
Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) today introduced the HomeLox portable liquid oxygen system. The innovative system enables oxygen users to generate and store the liquid form of oxygen in the home setting. The HomeLox system offers users the long-lasting and lightweight characteristics of traditional liquid systems, while freeing them from difficulties of filling and dependence on deliveries associated with conventional systems.
Home oxygen is a critical, life-sustaining medical treatment prescribed to nearly 1.5 million Medicare patients annually who suffer from respiratory illnesses such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/philips/45648/
An international team of researchers led by Gerard D. Schellenberg, PhD, a member of the CurePSP Genetics Consortium and professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, has identified three new genes that can increase the risk of people developing Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP).
PSP is a rare neurodegenerative brain disease, similar to Parkinson’s disease, which causes severe disability by destroying parts of cells that allow the brain to function normally. While PSP has underlying biological similarities to Alzheimer’s disease, a disease which primarily affects memory, PSP impacts a person’s physical movement and bodily functions. PSP leads to progressive decline in patients — there is no known cause or cure.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/psp/49958/
Join P&G and the Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program (CSDW) to provide clean drinking water to children in need.
GIVE HEALTH partners with the non-profit P&G Children’s Safe Drinking Water Program (CSDW) to provide PUR packets in developing countries. These packets, developed by P&G and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, use some of the same ingredients as municipal water systems to remove pollutants from contaminated water. Since 2004, CSDW has provided more than 3 billion liters of water to children in need in over 60 countries.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/players/English/49448-PG-myGive-Campaign/
Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: OPTR) announced today that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the company’s antibacterial drug DIFICID™ (fidaxomicin) tablets for the treatment of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) in adults 18 years of age and older. CDAD is a significant medical problem in hospitals and long-term care facilities, and is beginning to emerge in the community among people previously at low risk for the disease. In the largest Phase 3 clinical studies ever conducted in CDAD, DIFICID had clinical response rates at the end of treatment that were non-inferior to oral vancomycin. DIFICID was superior to vancomycin in sustaining clinical response through 25 days beyond the end of treatment. DIFICID is the only FDA-approved antibacterial drug proven to be superior to vancomycin in sustained clinical response for CDAD.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/optimerpharma/50177/
