FDA cleared, automated dry chemistry analyzer

Polymedco, Inc. is pleased to announce the introduction of a new, FDA cleared, automated dry chemistry analyzer to their expanding line of diagnostic equipment. The SPOTCHEM(TM) EZ analyzer, manufactured by ARKRAY, Inc., is a compact system that provides physicians with the ability to perform routine chemistry testing in their own laboratory rather than sending it out to a reference lab. The SPOTCHEM EZ fits a segment of the market that is in need of such an instrument because many labs are not large enough to support a full size chemistry instrument.
SPOTCHEM EZ eliminates costly waste by utilizing stable test strips rather than liquid reagents. The analyzer is easy to use as it is electronically calibrated. It processes whole blood specimens, a convenience for patients and users. Doctors will value having the ability to run multiple tests simultaneously, reducing the time necessary to process patient results.
The initial launch menu of the SPOTCHEM EZ included lipids and diabetes tests. This allows physicians to conveniently monitor the success of their patients' course of therapy during an office visit. By utilizing both the lipid panel and liver function tests, a doctor assesses cholesterol reduction therapy, while the glucose and fructosamine tests allow the doctor to assess a patient's diabetic status. In the coming months, complimentary assays for routine chemistry testing will be released for the SPOTCHEM EZ analyzer. The upcoming tests include albumin, amylase, calcium, CK, creatinine, GGT, LDH, magnesium, phosphorous, total bilirubin, total protein, BUN and uric acid. These tests will be available individually and in a panel format.
Polymedco Inc. is one of the leading marketing and distribution companies in the clinical laboratory marketplace. Since the company's inception in 1980, Polymedco has evolved into a highly skilled and successful marketing and sales organization. Polymedco is an innovative company that often leads the marketplace with new products.

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Study of Zaka volunteers shows surprisingly low levels of PTSD

Jerusalem Post | Breaking News from Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish World: "A recent psychological investigation on the resilience of Zaka volunteers to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and other psychological disorders has found relatively low levels of psychological malady, despite repeated exposure to scenes of terror attacks and other types of violence. ".....click more
The study, carried out by clinical psychologist Dr. Howard Fine of England's University of Surrey, chose Zaka – Israel's Disaster Victims Identification organization – due to its unique population.

Zaka is a voluntary, humanitarian organisation whose members can normally be found at the site of a terror attack after the police have finished sealing off the area and the ambulance sirens have dissolved into the background. Usually recognised by their bright-yellow vests, the volunteers have two jobs. The first is to search the area for any detached body parts of the injured in order to rush them to hospital for reattachment. The second task is to collect all remaining limbs and pieces of flesh and blood from the scene in order to bury the dead in complete accordance with Jewish law.

PTSD is a psychiatric disorder that can occur months after experiencing or witnessing life-threatening events such as military combat, natural disasters and terror attacks. It can often cause nightmares and flashbacks while the patient relives the experience. PTSD is also known to occur in conjunction with other physical and mental problems, including depression, memory and cognition disorders, and social problems, such as marital, family and parenting difficulties.

One would assume, looking at the occurrence rate of PTSD in the Israeli population and internationally, that Zaka's volunteers are probably higher up on the PTSD frequency scale than most. However, studies have proven this assumption wrong. In fact, investigations into the effects of repeated trauma, dating back from the beginning of the second intifada four years ago, have demonstrated quite the opposite.

Fine's investigation aimed to study the impact of mass-casualty incidents such as terror attacks on a specialised emergency response group. Zaka was chosen for its unique character, as the majority of volunteers are part of the Orthodox community. The study aimed to examine the effects of the volunteers' work on their mental and physical health, particularly concerning the development of PTSD.

One of Fine's intentions was to understand the volunteers' culture, societal and religious perceptions, and to provide recognition of the unique pressures that this particular group of people endures throughout the course of their work. He wanted to use his findings to assist in shaping training programs for emergency first-responder and body-handler volunteers, in order to develop psychological resilience.

With the help of Fine's research assistant, Lilach Benisti from Netanya, questionnaires were sent to 829 volunteers in six locations throughout Israel, investigating measures of ''personality, trait resilience, severity of PTSD symptomatology and general psychiatric symptomatology.'' The questionnaires included queries about religiosity, how much time - if any - spent serving in the IDF, and general questions about the volunteer, such as age, marital status, education and employment.

The investigation noted that in the past, Israelis were well known for their ability to recover rapidly after war. Although recent studies have focussed on Israel's PTSD rate after terror attacks, Fine directed his research toward factors that lead to the development of PTSD.

Zaka volunteers are a very appropriate choice of population for evaluating the factor of religiousness on the development of PTSD. The volunteers are mainly religious Orthodox men, who spend their time volunteering because they believe they need to try their utmost to ensure that the dead are buried with maximum dignity and according to Jewish rituals.

Jewish law regards the human body as holy, placing great importance on treating the deceased with the utmost dignity. Of all benevolent acts that a person can perform, caring for the dead is considered almost pure altruism, for the beneficiary cannot repay the deed.

Preparing the deceased for burial is a difficult duty, even in normal conditions, and is further exacerbated under the extreme environment of a terrorist attack or a violent accident, Fine told The Jerusalem Post.

In his report, Fine highlights the importance of a ''sense of belonging, strong group cohesion and social support network'' that a religious lifestyle encompasses. He stresses that these are likely to be contributing elements to the unusually high levels of psychological wellbeing among Zaka volunteers in comparison to the rest of the Israeli population and other workers who come in contact with mass-casualty scenes.

Religiosity in this particular context does not necessarily refer to being a religious observant Jew, Fine explained. Being raised with a strong sense of ideology can aid in fostering resilience and lead to an improved state of mental health. In addition, it has been argued that these religiously motivated elements are also associated with a decrease in the incidence of physiological diseases and an improved quality of life.

In addition to the unique factor of religiosity, studies have shown other protective factors relevant to Zaka volunteers that may help foster resilience to trauma. These elements include being male, well educated, employed and married.

The results indicated that the more religious and agreeable the volunteer, the less effected he was by PTSD. Mental wellbeing deteriorated in accordance with the degree of neuroticism and openness of the volunteer.

Fine attributes these results primarily to the fact that because the volunteers are mainly very religious, they have developed "religious resilience'' in order to create a direction for their efforts.

"Surviving adverse life events may be achieved through a sense of religious belief that the individual is here for a purpose. This purpose in life, or existential meaning, helps these resilient individuals endure hardships in order to continue with duties," according to Fine's report.

These results are particularly interesting, as Zaka volunteers are also fully aware that they are at risk of being involved in secondary disaster incidents, such as hostage situations or second explosions on the scene. Fine's study found that although these dangers add to the stress of the situation, the volunteers seem to cope remarkably well.

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Zyvex Introduces Carbon Nanotube-Based Epoxy Concentrates

RICHARDSON, Texas, Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Zyvex Corporation today announced that it has expanded its NanoSolve(TM) product line with nine new product offerings.

The new epoxy concentrates blend several industry-standard epoxies with multi-wall or single wall nanotubes, or carbon nanofibers, to deliver significant increases in electrical and thermal conductivity, as well as improved mechanical strength.
"Our new line of epoxy concentrates can create composite materials which exploit the intrinsic properties of carbon nanotubes,"said Zyvex President, Thomas A. Cellucci, PhD, MBA. "By offering a range of concentrations, we can provide customers with more flexibility to choose the amount of CNTs they want in their final product."
Zyvex's patented Kentera(TM) technology (a non-covalent modification of carbon nanomaterials) exfoliates, disperses, and adheres to the host material when it is combined with carbon nanomaterials. This creates a NanoSolve additive or concentrate -- successfully incorporating the electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties into the host polymer.
"Our new NanoSolve epoxy concentrates give composite manufacturers a range of formulation options to choose from that meet specific material design and price parameters, "said Robert Folaron, Director of Product Development at Zyvex. "By leveraging our reliable quality supply chain, Zyvex is ready to offer these industrial materials in production quantities."
The NanoSolve concentrates utilize industry-standard epoxies as a host material for enhanced polymer concentrates. This provides a range of formulation options that meet specific material design and price parameters.
About the Companies
Based in Richardson, Texas, Zyvex is providing nanotechnology solutions -- today. Zyvex's vision is to be the leading worldwide supplier of tools, products, and services that enable adaptable, affordable, and molecularly precise manufacturing. Zyvex commercializes nanotechnology to address real-world applications with high growth potential. Zyvex carries its scientific breakthroughs into key commercial applications in the area of materials, tools, and structures.
Quelle: Zyvex Corporation

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gestational diabetes (onset and provocation)

Diabetes is a condition that causes high levels of sugar in the blood. Some women have diabetes before they become pregnant. Others develop it during pregnancy, a form called gestational diabetes.......click more


Hormones cause a normal rise in blood sugar in all pregnant women. You may develop diabetes in pregnancy if your body has trouble with this increase in blood sugar. You may need to start a special diet or even take insulin shots.

If you had diabetes before you became pregnant, it may be harder for you to control your sugar levels during pregnancy. You may need to change your insulin dosage. If you were not using insulin before the pregnancy, you may need to use it while you are pregnant.

If diabetes is not treated before and during pregnancy, these problems might occur:

- The high sugar levels in your blood might cause the baby to get too big before birth. Very large babies tend to have more problems before birth, during delivery, and after birth. Babies who are large or have other problems may need to be delivered by cesarean section (C section).

- The baby might have birth defects, such as problems with the heart, kidney, spine, or brain.

- You might have high blood pressure during the pregnancy (preeclampsia), which can cause problems for both you and the baby.

- You might go into preterm labor (before 37 weeks of pregnancy), or the baby might need to be delivered early.

- After delivery the baby may have low blood sugar problems (hypoglycemia).

- The baby might have high levels of bilirubin in the body (jaundice).

- After delivery the baby may have trouble breathing because the lungs are not fully developed.

- The baby could die in the uterus before delivery.

If you have proper treatment before and during your pregnancy, there is a good chance you will deliver a healthy baby.

How does it occur?

Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It helps your body change sugar to energy. Pregnancy hormones can change the way insulin works, so during pregnancy the pancreas needs to release more insulin than normal. Sometimes the pancreas cannot make enough insulin to control the sugar level and you become diabetic. After delivery the sugar level usually returns to normal and you are no longer diabetic (unless you were diabetic before you became pregnant).

No one knows why some people develop diabetes and others do not. It may be a problem you can inherit from your parents. Women with the following histories or conditions are particularly at risk for developing diabetes during pregnancy:

- a family history of diabetes;

- overweight, especially over 200 pounds;

- a previous baby that weighed more than 9 pounds (4000 grams) at birth;

- a previous baby born dead;

- a previous baby with birth defects;

- previous miscarriages;

- age over 35 years.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of diabetes include:

- excessive thirst;

- weight loss;

- eating too much;

- urinating a lot;

- unexplained fatigue.

Gestational diabetes can occur without noticeable symptoms. However, urine and blood tests during your pregnancy may show that you have diabetes.

A woman who already has diabetes and becomes pregnant will notice that her diabetes is harder to control.

How is it diagnosed?

Urine checks for diabetes are done during prenatal visits.

If you are at risk for developing diabetes, you will probably have a blood test to screen for diabetes at your first prenatal visit and again later in the pregnancy. If you are not known to be at risk, you may be screened around the 24th to 28th week of pregnancy. The screening is done by having you drink a sugar drink. A sample of your blood is then taken 1 hour later.

If the result of the first blood test is not normal, your health care provider may order a 3-hour glucose tolerance test. For this test, a sample of your blood is taken soon after you get up in the morning, when you have not eaten anything since the night before. Then you drink a sugar drink, and your blood and urine are tested every hour for three hours.

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Debunking constipation myths

Debunking constipation myths
Sharon Agsalda
The truth about high fiber diets and laxatives
There are a lot of common myths about constipation treatment. An article in the January issue of The American Journal of Gastroenterology dispels those myths and clears numerous misconceptions regarding chronic constipation. From a high fiber diet to taking laxatives, researchers address the common beliefs concerning various aspects of the condition and review results based on medical trials.
"Chronic constipation is uncomfortable, but not dangerous," states lead author Stefan A. Müller-Lissner, MD. "This might be the reason why medical doctors often do not take it seriously. There are many unproven beliefs about constipation, but most of them are not tenable upon closer investigation with scientific methods." .......Click more

According to the authors, although there is no doubt that fiber increases stool bulk and frequency, the role of dietary fiber to treat chronic constipation is exaggerated. A low fiber diet has been proven not to be the cause of constipation and the success of fiber intake as treatment is modest. The study reviewed conducted by Voderholzer et al showed that only 20% of slow transit patients benefited from fiber. Further data suggests that while many patients may be helped by a fiber-rich diet, some actually suffer from worse symptoms when increasing their fiber intake.

On the opposite end, not even increased fluids are guaranteed to help bowel activity. Fluid ingestion to treat chronic constipation is over-emphasized as well, according to Dr. Müller-Lissner, and the success of fluid treatment is probably none. Unless there is evidence of dehydration, there is no data supporting the fact that increasing fluid intake can successfully treat constipation. The article further addresses the myths behind chronic use of laxatives and whether these drugs can be linked to nerve damage and risks of colorectal or other cancers. Data shows that those on the market today are safe when appropriate drugs are prescribed and taken at recommended doses.

With this information, Dr. Müller-Lissner suggests that "patients may no longer be bothered by ineffective advice regarding fiber and fluid ingestion nor threatened by the side effects of laxatives. Also, unnecessary colonic resections may be avoided."

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, constipation is one of the most frequent gastrointestinal complaints in the US and Western countries. There are at least 2.5 million doctor visits for constipation in the US each year and hundreds of millions of dollars are spent for laxatives yearly. With chronic constipation, patients may suffer from constipation for weeks or have recurring bouts over long periods of time.


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This study is published in the American Journal of Gastroenterology.

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Light Shed On Photolyases, the repair of DNA Dimers

C&EN: Latest News - Light Shed On Photolyases: "DNA photolyase enzymes harness light energy to repair DNA damaged by ultraviolet radiation. The first X-ray structure of one of these enzymes bound to its damaged DNA substrate was recently reported by German crystallographers. In addition to confirming many suspicions about how these enzymes recognize and repair light-induced DNA damage, this long-awaited structure paints a picture of the enzyme midway through its work."

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