Marketing Campaigns and Increasing Public Awareness Maintain Growth in the Minimally Invasive Surgery Spinal Fusion Market

Marketing Campaigns and Increasing Public Awareness Maintain Growth in the Minimally Invasive Surgery Spinal Fusion Market

Technical Learning Curve Will Hinder Market Growth Slightly According to a New Report by Millennium Research Group

Waltham, MA (PRWEB) May 29, 2006

Millennium Research Group (MRG), the global authority on medical technology market intelligence, reports that strong marketing efforts by leading manufacturers and surgeon demand for less invasive surgeries will help to maintain robust growth for the minimally invasive surgery (MIS) spinal fusion market over the next five years. Nevertheless, according to the new report US Markets for MIS Spinal Fusion Technologies 2006, the steep learning curve associated with MIS techniques will limit the adoption of MIS fusion.

“There are other roadblocks for this market as well,” said Sarit Daniel, senior analyst at Millennium Research Group. “The current lack of clinical data deters physicians from adopting MIS fusion procedures. Surgeons also continue to voice concern over the limited visual access to the surgical space.”

MRG’s US Markets for MIS Spinal Fusion Technologies 2006 covers various key industry competitors, such as Medtronic Sofamor Danek (MDT), DePuy (JNJ), Nuvasive (NUVA), Abbott Spine (ABT) and Endius.

About MIS Spinal Fusion Market

The MIS spinal fusion market, comprising traditional thoracolumbar implants (such as hooks, rods, and screws), interbody devices, and MIS access instrumentation, represents one of the most dynamic segments within the entire spinal implant market. Valued at almost $200 million in 2005, this market will experience significant growth over the next five years. In its comprehensive report, MRG defines an MIS spinal fusion as an instrumented fusion procedure in which specialized access instrumentation is used to minimize the amount of soft tissue damage and muscle retraction.

About Millennium Research Group

Millennium Research Group (www. MRG. net) is a leading provider of strategic information to the health care sector. Focused solely on the medical device, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries, the company provides its clients with the benefits of its specialized industry expertise through published reports and customized consulting services.

All company, brand, or product names contained in this document may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

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ISSA Explains How To Protect Yourself Against Fraudulent Supplement Claims

ISSA Explains How To Protect Yourself Against Fraudulent Supplement Claims

Although nutritional supplements are viewed as an important component of the International Sport Sciences Association's overall integrated approach to personal training, these products should not be taken without doing the proper research first. The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) reminds consumers of a few easy rules to remember in order to protect yourself against fraudulent supplement claims.

Carpinteria, CA (PRWEB) September 27, 2007

Nutritional supplements are big business in the U. S. And while most Americans know that taking these products is not without risk, the FDA estimates that 38 million Americans have used a fraudulent health product within the past year. Though a recent FDA ruling will "ensure the quality of dietary supplements so that consumers can be confident that the products they purchase contain what is on the label," per an FDA spokesperson, consumers will still not be assured of the efficacy or safety of dietary supplements under the new ruling.

While supplementation is an integral part of the International Sports Sciences Association's Nutrition Approach, we remind consumers that the supplement industry thrives on individual hopes and dreams for life-altering changes. Desperation to fill the mold of the perfect body places many in a vulnerable position. This vulnerability manifests itself as trust in the manufacturers' claims. As a result, each year, Americans spend billions on the health and fitness industry in search of these easy results. Unfortunately these "easy" results rarely seem to be delivered.

That said, scientific studies show that in addition to well-known benefits of maintaining proper health, certain supplements on the market truly can enhance your physical and mental performance. Supplements are viewed as an important component of the overall ISSA integrated approach to personal training.

A few easy rules to remember with regard to supplementation are:

1. Supplement only for what you feel is lacking from a traditional diet - for instance, if you drink alcohol, you're depleting B vitamins, and if you smoke, your need for anti-oxidants is higher than average.

2. Gather all the information you can about a supplement you'd like to try. Always try to find a summary of the latest scientific thinking on the supplement, concentrating on those that have demonstrated a track record of reliability and integrity. The ISSA recommends referring to the following sources: 

Http://www. ajcn. org/ (http://www. ajcn. org/)
Http://www. consumerlab. com/ (http://www. consumerlab. com/)
Http://www. fda. gov/ (http://www. fda. gov/) and
Http://www. americanheart. org/presenter. jhtml? identifier=1200010 (http://www. americanheart. org/presenter. jhtml? identifier=1200010)

3. Review all the information you have gathered, asking yourself two essential questions:

A. Is this supplement safe? If it's not, no matter how effective it might be (or appear to be), don't take it! If it is safe, move on to the next question.

B. Is this supplement effective? Remember that unless there is independent evidence that a supplement is effective, it's probably a waste of money.

4. Most importantly, Dr. Sal Arria, CEO of the ISSA warns, "Do not take the advertising hype you see in all of the magazines as gospel. Often times, articles have been authored by a doctor that's been hired by the supplement company so that illegal claims can be made 'safely.' Self-education is the best protection against fraudulent claims."

About ISSA
Since 1988, the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) has provided certification and continuing education to over 80,000 fitness professionals. ISSA certifications are recognized worldwide. The ISSA offers nine specialization certificates, including Specialist in Performance Nutrition, and dozens of continuing education courses. For more information on the ISSA, please visit: www. issaonline. com

To schedule an interview with a representative of ISSA, please contact:

Sabeen Sadiq
Director of Public Relations for the ISSA
Toll-free: 1-800-892-4772
International: (805) 745-8111

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Rosacea Breakthrough

Rosacea Breakthrough

After 30 years of research on over 900 000 patients worldwide, this team of doctors discovered that the use of SEABUCKTHORN OIL kills the human demodex parasite and restore the skin to its natural beauty.

O (PRWEB) November 17, 2003

Ne of the most common yet often over diagnosed facial rashes is rosacea, a chronic, relapsing and potentially life-disruptive disorder of the facial skin that affects an estimated 14 million Americans. Many patients come to the clinic with redness on the cheeks, nose, chin or forehead that may come and go. The disease is more frequently diagnosed in women, but more severe symptoms tend to be seen in men.

Facial burning, stinging and itching are commonly reported by many rosacea patients. Certain rosacea sufferers may also experience some swelling (edema) in the face that may become noticeable as early as the initial stage of the disease. It is also believed that in some patients this swelling process may contribute to the development of excess tissue on the nose (rhinophyma), the condition that gave the late comedian W. C. Fields his trademark nose.

It is often thought that fair-skinned patients who tend to flush or blush easily are believed to be at greatest risk, while in fact facial redness from rosacea is simply more obvious in lighter skin. A normal blush or sunburn may appear the same, as can flushing from medications such as niacin or some antihypertension drugs. Flushing occurs when a large amount of blood flows through vessels quickly and the vessels expand under the skin to handle the flow. However, people with extensive sun damage, certain skin types and even treated rosacea patients can still have a red face or blood vessel streaks, which is often misdiagnosed as active rosacea. This is because visible blood vessels (telangiectasia) not only develop with rosacea (or were likely always there), but there may be some residual persistence of redness from the dilation of blood vessels during active disease.

Unfortunately these patients continue their medications unnecessarily while more appropriate treatments include camouflage makeup, sunscreens, a vascular laser, or intense pulsed light source.
Unlike some conditions, there are no histological, serological or other diagnostic tests for rosacea. A thorough examination of signs (appearance of bumps or pimples) and symptoms (redness, flushing, and swelling, burning, itching or stinging) as well as a medical history of potential triggers lead to the diagnosis. The National Rosacea Society suggests that the most common triggers of rosacea were sun exposure, emotional stress, hot or cold weather, wind, alcohol, spicy foods, heavy exercise, hot baths, heated beverages and certain skin-care products. In other words, almost anything that is potentially stimulating is bad news for rosacea. Unfortunately for some, certain conditions such as lupus, seborrheic dermatitis, drug eruptions, and even rare forms of lymphoma can look just like rosacea and are often missed by the untrained eye or worse when the patients are diagnosing themselves.

Rosacea is not an infectious disease, and there is no evidence that it can be spread by contact with the skin or through inhaling airborne bacteria. However, there has long been a theory that parasites in the hair follicles or oil glands or the face can stimulate inflammation by their activity or even their presence. One such organism is the Demodex folliculorum mite, which studies have shown to be more prevalent and active in rosacea patients then in control groups. Early vascular and connective tissue changes probably create a favorable setting for a growth of Demodex folliculorum. This may represent an important cofactor especially in papulopustular rosacea, in which a delayed hypersensitivity reaction is suspected, but it is not the cause of rosacea. On the other hand, clearing rosacea signs after oral tetracycline or sulfur ointment may not affect the resident demodex population.

The incidence of demodex is age related. It was found up to 20 years in about 25%, up to 50 years in about 30%, up to 80 years in about 50% and in all aged 90 or older. In healthy persons, one can find one or more Demodex in every tenth eyelash. This index rise with increasing age. In blepharitis or other external eye diseases, demodex is found in about every sixth eyelash. Therapy of chronic blepharitis in association with demodex may include antibiotics, steroids, Quecksilber 2% or Lindane. Massage of lid margins is essential because local treatment is of no effect as long as the mite remains deep in the pilosebaceous complex.

As rosacea is characterized by flare-ups and remissions, and research has shown that long-term medical therapy significantly increased the rate of remission in rosacea patients, it behooves patients to use a maintenance regimen. In a six-month multicenter clinical study, 42 percent of those not using medication had relapsed, compared to 23 percent of those who continued to apply a topical antibiotic. Therefore, treatment between flare-ups can prevent them. A rosacea facial care routine often starts with a gentle a refreshing cleansing of the face each morning. Sufferers should use a mild soap or cleanser that is not grainy or abrasive, and spread it with their fingertips. A soft pad or washcloth can also be used, but avoid rough washcloths, loofahs, brushes or sponges. The face should be rinsed with lukewarm water several times and blot dry with a thick cotton towel.

A new treatment available is seabuckthorn oil (Hippophae rhamnoides), which is the active ingredient in FACEDOCTOR soap. Its activity is targeted against the mite to reduce the inflammation under the skin and therefore provide relief of the mechanisms that cause the rosacea complex of symptoms. The advantage that patients find with the soap is the elegance of the cleansing vehicle in otherwise sensitive skin, the presence of Vitamin E and aloe Vera which provide additional healing properties, and other active ingredients such as astragalus membraceus and spirodela polyrhiza, useful yeasts that augment the activity of the seabuckthorn oil.

My patients have found this to be well tolerated and useful either as monotherapy or in addition to their other topical and/or systemic medications. We conducted a small placebo-controlled double-blind study in the office which showed that the majority of patients had a reduction of symptomatic erythema as well as reduction of response to triggers.
In conclusion, this study has demonstrated the Face Doctor line of soaps to be an effective natural weapon against the parasite and therefore the disease.
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Neal Bhatia, M. D.
Assistant Clinical Professor of Dermatology
UCSD School of Medicine
Private Practice Dermatologist, San Diego
Http://www. facedoctor. ca

NEW RITTER STERILIZER FEATURES IMPROVE RELABILITY AND EFFICIENCY

NEW RITTER STERILIZER FEATURES IMPROVE RELABILITY AND EFFICIENCY

Intuitive Displays and Simple Prompts Make Midmark's Ritter M9 and M11 Ultraclave® Automatic Sterilizers Even Easier to Use

(PRWEB) July 18, 2003

VERSAILLES, Ohio (PRWEB) July, 2003 – Midmark Corporation, the healthcare leader in tabletop sterilizers, today announced it has improved its line of sterilizers for the medical market. These updates to the Ritter M9 and M11 Ultraclave Automatic Sterilizers increase the proven reliability of the products, as well as take their intuitive design to a new level.

“Our success in the medical industry can only be measured by how well we meet our customer’s needs, so we are constantly looking for ways to improve our products and continue our commitment to medical practices and their patients,” said Fred Elsass, Midmark’s sterilizer product manager.

“Through Midmark’s experience and ongoing customer research, we discover efficiencies and deliver them to our customers in the products we produce. The improvements to the Ritter M9 and M11 Ultraclave Sterilizers are just one more example of how we deliver efficiencies through our products to improve our customers’ practices.”

The Ritter M9 and M11 Ultraclave Automatic Sterilizers have a number of new features including:

-Electronic air valve for increased reliability and efficient chamber air removal

-New improved, whisper quiet, automatic opening door

-Convenient front water fill reservoir to maximize space utilization

-A new, user-friendly LCD text display with helpful operation information

-Programmable settings that can be customized for a userÂ’s needs

-Maintenance prompts to remind users when cleaning is recommended

More Reliable, Efficient Sterilization

The Ritter M9 and M11Â’s new electronic air valve operation removes more than 94 percent of the air from the chamber during the pre-sterilization process, making the sterilizers more efficient overall while enhancing the productÂ’s reliability.

Once the sterilization process is complete, the door opens automatically and quietly to dissipate the steam and provide fast and efficient drying time of instruments. Midmark is the exclusive provider of this patented automatic opening sterilizer door design.

Ease of draining and filling is paramount to busy attendants and helps facilities adhere to regulations regarding a clean working environment. Both the M9Â’s and M11Â’s reservoir fill ports and drain tubes are in the front of the unit, not on top or in the back, to make this process more convenient and maximize space utilization.

The display has been updated to a new LCD text display system that indicates cycle selected, cycle temperature and exposure time through a printed display that prompts the user for directions. When the cycle enters sterilization mode and dry mode, the remaining cycle time is displayed with the temperature and pressure.

The LCD display also boasts programmable controls to create different cycle parameters for special sterilization needs, such as varying instrument cleaning instructions, in addition to the existing pre-programmed controls.

Maintenance prompts also help practices remember when to clean the units with a prompt each seven days for the weekly cleaning and once every 28 days for the monthly cleaning.

About Midmark

Founded in 1915, Midmark Corporation is committed to developing quality products, services and technologies that allow healthcare providers to increase effectiveness in their practices. With a full line of high-quality products for the medical, dental and digital diagnostic markets, MidmarkÂ’s trusted equipment helps providers deliver more efficient patient care.

Headquartered in Versailles, Ohio, Midmark also has subsidiaries in Torrance and Fresno, California as well as Ernee, France. For more information about Midmark or any of its products, visit the companyÂ’s Web site at www. midmark. com.

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Simple Ultrasound Exam May Predict Osteoporosis Risk

Simple Ultrasound Exam May Predict Osteoporosis Risk

An ultrasound exam of the heel may be able to predict if a woman is at heightened risk for fractures due to osteoporosis, according to a new multicenter study being published in the July issue of the journal Radiology.

Oak Brook, IL (Vocus) June 24, 2008

An ultrasound exam of the heel may be able to predict if a woman is at heightened risk for fractures due to osteoporosis, according to a new multicenter study being published in the July issue of the journal Radiology. Along with certain risk factors, including age or recent fall, radiation-free ultrasound of the heel may be used to better select women who need further bone density testing, such as a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA) exam.

“Osteoporosis is a major public health issue expected to increase in association with worldwide aging of the population,” said the study’s lead author Idris Guessous, M. D., senior research fellow in the Department of Internal Medicine at Lausanne University Hospital in Switzerland. “The incidence of osteoporosis will outpace economic resources, and the development of strategies to better identify women who need to be tested is crucial.”

Osteoporosis is a disease that is characterized by low bone mass and the deterioration of bone tissue and is a major public health threat. According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, 10 million Americans currently have osteoporosis and approximately 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass, increasing their risk of developing the disease. Eighty percent of those affected are women.

“Patients with osteoporosis are not optimally treated because of a lack of general awareness,” Dr. Guessous said. “A simple prediction rule might be a useful clinical tool for healthcare providers to optimize osteoporosis screening.”

In the three-year multicenter study, 6,174 women age 70 to 85 with no previous formal diagnosis of osteoporosis were screened with heel-bone quantitative ultrasound (QUS), a diagnostic test used to assess bone density. QUS was used to calculate the stiffness index, which is an indicator of bone strength, at the heel. Researchers added in risk factors such as age, history of fractures or a recent fall to the results of the heel-bone ultrasound to develop a predictive rule to estimate the risk of fractures. The results showed that 1,464 women (23.7 percent) were considered lower risk and 4,710 (76.3 percent) were considered higher risk.

Study participants where mailed questionnaires every six months for up to 32 months to record any changes in medical conditions, including illness, changes in medications or any fracture. If a fracture had occurred, the patients were asked to specify the fracture’s precise location and trauma level and to include a medical report from the physician in charge.

In the group of higher risk women, 290 (6.1 percent) developed fractures whereas only 27 (1.8 percent) of the women in the lower risk group developed fractures. Among the 66 women who developed a hip fracture, 60 (90 percent) were in the higher risk group.

The results show that heel QUS is not only effective at identifying high-risk patients who should receive further testing, but also may be helpful in identifying patients for whom further testing can be avoided.

“Heel QUS in conjunction with clinical risk factors can be used to identify a population at a very low fracture probability in which no further diagnostic evaluation may be necessary,” Dr. Guessous said.

AT A GLANCE
 A new multicenter study has found that heel ultrasound can help predict fractures due to osteoporosis.

 A “predictive rule” was developed to determine the risk for fractures using heel ultrasound and other factors, such as age or recent fall.

 Approximately 10 million Americans have osteoporosis and approximately 34 million more are at risk. Eighty percent of those affected are women.

“Osteoporotic Fracture Risk in Elderly Women: Estimation with Quantitative Heel US and Clinical Risk Factors.” Collaborating with Dr. Guessous were Jacques Cornuz, M. D., M. P.H. (Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland), Christiane Ruffieux, Ph. D.(University Institute of Social and Preventative Medicine), Peter Burckhardt, M. D. (Bois-Cerf Clinic, Lausanne, Switzerland), and Marc-Antoine Krieg, M. D. (Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland). Journal attribution requested.

Radiology is edited by Herbert Y. Kressel, M. D., Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass., and owned and published by the Radiological Society of North America, Inc. (RSNA. org/radiologyjnl (http://rsna. org/radiologyjnl))

The Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) is an association of more than 41,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists and related scientists committed to excellence in patient care through education and research. (RSNA. org (http://www. rsna. org/))

For patient-friendly information on ultrasound, visit RadiologyInfo. org.

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AP9 BusinessMax Offers Tips for Five Cool Summer Company Outings

AP9 BusinessMax Offers Tips for Five Cool Summer Company Outings

AP9 Business Max gives the word on keeping company morale high.

Norwalk, CT (PRWEB) May 16, 2007

Once spring fever hit the workforce last month, AP9 BusinessMax (http://www. businessmax-program. com/) immediately began crafting ideas and suggestions for company summer outings. AP9 Business Max is a leading membership discount program offering members savings on everything from office supplies and services to professional development. And part of cultivating that professionalism is realizing that an "all work and no play" mantra cannot only wear on the individual employee's psyche, it can also be potentially harmful to overall company morale.

We've all heard it thousands of times, "Work is work. That's why we get paid to go there." While this is certainly true, think about how much time the average full-time employee spends at work.

That's where the "play" part of the "all work and no play" axiom becomes relevant. Plain and simple, a well-run workforce needs to take some time away from the office environs -- to refuel, bond and take a collective break from the grind. Here are a few suggestions from AP9 BusinessMax (http://www. businessmax-program. com/BusinessMax_qanda. html) geared towards fostering that mindset -- ideas for company outings that will send the troops back to work refreshed and raring to go:

-- Hit the links. While some employees may take the game of golf too seriously, others may simply enjoy the open air and a chance to be away from their office cubicles. When organizing a company golf outing, make a concerted effort to create foursomes that will generally get along. Too much competition could mar the potentially "laid back" nature of the company event. 

-- Start a snipe hunt. Once a company offsite location has been determined, why have a plain ol' scavenger hunt … when a snipe hunt (e. g., a futile search for something that does not actually exist) might be far more entertaining? Don't let the ruse last too long, but a good practical joke may provide just the ice-breaker employees need to kick back and laugh at themselves.

-- Tour the briny. As long as Dramamine is made available to all those who want and need it, a boat cruise might be just the thing for a hard-working corporate team. Let employees know their value by treating them to a playday on the water.

-- Take it to the alley. No, this is NOT meant to goad the corporate team into choosing up sides and launching an all-out melee. Instead, AP9 Business Max suggests renting out a bowling alley and spending the day at the lanes. Most people have been bowling at least once, and with the convenience of automated scoring systems, employees can relax and have fun. 

Having access to these handy workforce tips is just one aspect of what AP9 BusinessMax can provide. For all those little things that give businesses a decided edge and keep employees happy in their work, the name to remember is AP9 Business Max.

About AP9 BusinessMax
AP9 Business Max (http://www. businessmax-program. com/) is a leading membership discount program offered by Adaptive Marketing LLC. Headquartered in Norwalk, Conn., Adaptive Marketing (http://www. adaptivemarketing. com/) is a category leader in membership programs, bringing value direct to consumers through an array of benefits in healthcare, discounts, security, personal property and personals. Members may access their benefits at BusinessMax123.com (http://www. businessmax123.com/). With broad online and offline distribution capabilities, Adaptive Marketing offers its corporate client partners effective tools to enhance market presence, strengthen customer affinity and generate additional value through programs such as AP9 BusinessMax.

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Natural Health Wonders for the Millennium

Natural Health Wonders for the Millennium

(PRWEB) December 13, 2000

Natural Health Wonders for the Millennium

SheMeansBusiness. com brings common

Sense to health care.

More and more people these days are

Developing an interest in health

Issues. The main reason being

That the population is growing older

As the years go by. The major

Contributors to this situation

Are the members of the Baby Boom

Generation.

Additionally,  people  are 

Choosing to take an active role in

Their own health care rather than

Depending upon medical authorities

As the ultimate voice in the

Decision process.

About Alternative Treatments:

Those who arbitrarily receive

And heed their doctor's advice

Ofttimes suffer needlessly because

Less traditional treatments are not

Included in therapy. Moreover, we can

Benefit significantly by building a

Strong immune system and optimal

Health in an effort to preclude the

Attack of diseases and slow the

Natural aging process.

Recent studies have shown progress

In dealing with health matters

Ranging from menopause to congestive

Heart failure. Even Father Time is

Being given a good fight.

About SheMeansBusiness. com:

Our goal is to get the word out

About less expensive and/or more

Effective treatments. Preventive

Health care is available through

Alternative medicine being sought by

People who seek rational and up-to-date

Information easily understood by the

Average person.