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“16 & Pregnant” Has Reached Over 31 Million Viewers Season To Date And Is # 1 In Its Time Period Across Cable Among F12-34 And Across All Of Television Among F18-24

“16 & Pregnant: Life After Labor” Finale Special Hosted By Dr. Drew Pinsky Set To Air On Thursday, July 23 At 10PM ET/PT

Reflecting on one of the most controversial and thought-provoking topics, MTV President of Programming Tony DiSanto announced today that after only 3 episodes aired, the network is picking up a second season of the captivating series “16 and Pregnant.” In addition, MTV will also air “16 and Pregnant: Life After Labor” finale special, hosted by Dr. Drew Pinsky, on Thursday, July 23rd at 10PM ET/PT. “16 & Pregnant” can currently be seen on Thursdays at 10PM ET/PT.

The series follows the lives of teenage girls for 5-7 months as they navigate the unfamiliar territory and uncertainty of being pregnant. MTV captured every moment and reaction in real time, including several of the births and how the young mothers and fathers dealt with new parenthood. The series tackles a variety of issues including marriage, adoption, attending school and dealing with gossip. Cameras continued to follow the teens for a significant amount of time after they gave birth to document how they coped with taking care of their infants in addition to balancing adult responsibilities with teenage life.

The “16 and Pregnant: Life After Labor” finale special, hosted by Dr. Drew Pinsky, will be an issue-driven forum on teen pregnancy. All six of the teen mothers profiled on season one of the series will participate in this event. Dr. Drew will discuss each girl’s episode, specific issues and challenges and update us on what’s going on in their lives now. This open discussion will provide a platform to address the controversial topics that were shown in season one: birth control, adoption, abortion, marriage, religion, gossip, finances, high school graduation and employment. During the show, Dr. Drew will field questions by members of the live studio audience, as well as select emails from viewers.

Since its debut, “16 & Pregnant,” has garnered amazing ratings reaching an audience of over 31 million views and consistently taking the #1 spot in its time period among F12-34 and #1 across all of television among F18-24. In addition, the show has improved its time period by 162% among P12-34 and 184% among F12-34. “16 & Pregnant” has also found success online. Since premiering on June 11th, the show delivered over 3.4M streams to date, making it the second most streamed series on MTV.com within their time period underneath “The Hills.”

The National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy is working with MTV to support “16 & Pregnant.” In partnership with MTV, The National Campaign will continue to create viewing guides for each episode so educators, key organizations and individuals can use the show, which will be available rights free for distribution, as a platform to have an honest discussion around sexual health and pregnancy with teens. Additionally, The National Campaign launched an online resource supporting the show at www.stayteen.org to answer viewers’ most commonly asked questions surrounding pregnancy and provide young people with the information they need to be fully informed on this topic.

“16 & Pregnant” is Executive Produced by Morgan J Freeman. Tony DiSanto is President of Programming for MTV. Dia Sokol is Co-Executive Producer. Liz Gateley and Lauren Dolgen are Executives in charge for MTV. Jessica Zalkind is Executive for MTV. Concept by Lauren Dolgen.

Executive Producer Morgan J. Freeman (MTV’s Taking The Stage, Laguna Beach,) made a name for himself as the Sundance award-winning writer/director of Hurricane Streets, a film centered on the trails and tribulations of teenage life. Freeman’s latest film is called Homecoming, a thriller starring Mischa Barton and Jessica Stroup (90210) and is being released theatrical July 17th.

Source: MTV

New Study Shows that Employees Struggle to Eat Healthy in the Workplace

With warmer weather finally here, company employees are quickly trying to shed unwanted winter weight to head to the beach. But a new study suggests that unhealthy snacks lingering around the office are derailing employees’ efforts to stay healthy.

The Peapod Biz Bites Survey, a study investigating workplace eating habits sponsored by Peapod Business Delivery, shows that approximately 2 out of 3 employees (63%) find it a challenge to eat healthy in the workplace. What’s more, only 7% of respondents claimed to eat healthier in the office than at home. Workers cite unhealthy snack options as the number one obstacle to eating healthy while at work.

“One of the best ways to support healthy lifestyles in the workplace is also one of the easiest,” says Cathy Leman, a Chicago-area registered dietitian and certified personal trainer who provides worksite nutrition services to local corporations and businesses. “When you control the environment that you spend 8 plus hours per day in, you automatically set yourself up for success. That means stocking the break room with healthy, accessible snack foods. Offer a variety of choices like fresh and dried fruit, yogurt, whole grain crackers, nuts, raw veggies with lowfat dip, hummus and baked pita chips, and oatmeal raisin cookies. Many of my corporate clients use Peapod Business Delivery for the convenience, but also because they know productive employees require healthy fuel!”

Findings from The Peapod Biz Bites Survey show that there are major disparities in the workplace between what people want and what they are getting.

• Nearly half of employees (47%) cite having too many tempting snack options in their workplaces as the top reason they are not able to eat healthy in the workplace

• Less than 3 out of 10 employees (28%) claim that they are fully satisfied with the amount of healthy snack options provided to them in the workplace

• The #1 food employees want in the workplace is fresh produce; however only 36% of companies that provide food for employees regularly purchase fruits and vegetables

• The least desired food item that employees want in the workplace is candy; yet 1 out of 3 businesses (35%) provide candy for their employees on a regular basis

Survey findings also show that employees whose companies use grocery delivery services such as Peapod Business Delivery, eat the healthiest while at work. Out of these respondents, more than half (54%) said they were satisfied with the amount of healthy food options their office provides for them. However, only 14% of respondents whose offices used other means to provide food in the office, claimed to be satisfied with the amount of healthy food options provided for them.

“More and more businesses (over 3000) are starting to rely on Peapod to provide their employees with a healthy balance of food options,” says Peapod President, Andrew Parkinson. “We carry thousands of grocery items, from soda and cold cuts to yogurt and paper towels. Interestingly, one of the most popular items for our workplace customers is our new best of the season fruit basket. “

The purposes of food are to promote growth, to supply force and heat, and to furnish material to repair the waste which is constantly taking place in the body.

Every breath, every thought, every motion, wears out some portion of the delicate and wonderful house in which we live. Various vital processes remove these worn and useless particles; and to keep the body in health, their loss must be made good by constantly renewed supplies of material properly adapted to replenish the worn and impaired tissues. This renovating material must be supplied through the medium of food and drink, and the best food is that by which the desired end may be most readily and perfectly attained. The great diversity in character of the several tissues of the body, makes it necessary that food should contain a variety of elements, in order that each part may be properly nourished and replenished.

The food elements.
The various elements found in food are the following: Starch, sugar, fats, albumen, mineral substances, indigestible substances.

The digestible food elements are often grouped, according to their chemical composition, into three classes; vis., carbonaceous, nitrogenous, and inorganic. The carbonaceous class includes starch, sugar, and fats; the nitrogenous, all albuminous elements; and the inorganic comprises the mineral elements.

Starch is only found in vegetable foods; all grains, most vegetables, and some fruits, contain starch in abundance. Several kinds of sugar are made in nature’s laboratory; cane, grape, fruit, and milk sugar. The first is obtained from the sugar-cane, the sap of maple trees, and from the beet root. Grape and fruit sugars are found in most fruits and in honey. Milk sugar is one of the constituents of milk. Glucose, an artificial sugar resembling grape sugar, is now largely manufactured by subjecting the starch of corn or potatoes to a chemical process; but it lacks the sweetness of natural sugars, and is by no means a proper substitute for them. Albumen is found in its purest, uncombined state in the white of an egg, which is almost wholly composed of albumen. It exists, combined with other food elements, in many other foods, both animal and vegetable. It is found abundant in oatmeal, and to some extent in the other grains, and in the juices of vegetables. All natural foods contain elements which in many respects resemble albumen, and are so closely allied to it that for convenience they are usually classified under the general name of “albumen.” The chief of these is gluten, which is found in wheat, rye, and barley. Casein, found in peas, beans, and milk, and the fibrin of flesh, are elements of this class.

Fats are found in both animal and vegetable foods. Of animal fats, butter and suet are common examples. In vegetable form, fat is abundant in nuts, peas, beans, in various of the grains, and in a few fruits, as the olive. As furnished by nature in nuts, legumes, grains, fruits, and milk, this element is always found in a state of fine subdivision, which condition is the one best adapted to its digestion. As most commonly used, in the form of free fats, as butter, lard, etc., it is not only difficult of digestion itself, but often interferes with the digestion of the other food elements which are mixed with it. It was doubtless never intended that fats should be so modified from their natural condition and separated from other food elements as to be used as a separate article of food. The same may be said of the other carbonaceous elements, sugar and starch, neither of which, when used alone, is capable of sustaining life, although when combined in a proper and natural manner with other food elements, they perform a most important part in the nutrition of the body. Most foods contain a percentage of the mineral elements. Grains and milk furnish these elements in abundance. The cellulose, or woody tissue, of vegetables, and the bran of wheat, are examples of indigestible elements, which although they cannot be converted into blood in tissue, serve an important purpose by giving bulk to the food.

With the exception of gluten, none of the food elements, when used alone, are capable of supporting life. A true food substance contains some of all the food elements, the amount of each varying in different foods.

Uses of the food elements.
Concerning the purpose which these different elements serve, it has been demonstrated by the experiments of eminent physiologists that the carbonaceous elements, which in general comprise the greater bulk of the food, serve three purposes in the body;

1. They furnish material for the production of heat;

2. They are a source of force when taken in connection with other food elements;

3. They replenish the fatty tissues of the body. Of the carbonaceous elements, starch, sugar, and fats, fats produce the greatest amount of heat in proportion to quantity; that is, more heat is developed from a pound of fat than from an equal weight of sugar or starch; but this apparent advantage is more than counterbalanced by the fact that fats are much more difficult of digestion than are the other carbonaceous elements, and if relied upon to furnish adequate material for bodily heat, would be productive of much mischief in overtaxing and producing disease of the digestive organs. The fact that nature has made a much more ample provision of starch and sugars than of fats in man’s natural diet, would seem to indicate that they were intended to be the chief source of carbonaceous food; nevertheless, fats, when taken in such proportion as nature supplies them, are necessary and important food elements.

The nitrogenous food elements especially nourish the brain, nerves, muscles, and all the more highly vitalized and active tissues of the body, and also serve as a stimulus to tissue change. Hence it may be said that a food deficient in these elements is a particularly poor food.

The inorganic elements, chief of which are the phosphates, in the carbonates of potash, soda, and lime, aid in furnishing the requisite building material for bones and nerves.

Proper combinations of foods.
While it is important that our food should contain some of all the various food elements,  experiments upon both animals and human beings show it is necessary that these elements, especially the nitrogenous and carbonaceous, be used in certain definite proportions, as the system is only able to appropriate a certain amount of each; and all excess, especially of nitrogenous elements, is not only useless, but even injurious, since to rid the system of the surplus imposes an additional task upon the digestive and excretory organs. The relative proportion of these elements necessary to constitute a food which perfectly meets the requirements of the system, is six of carbonaceous to one of nitrogenous. Scientists have devoted much careful study and experimentation to the determination of the quantities of each of the food elements required for the daily nourishment of individuals under the varying conditions of life, and it has come to be commonly accepted that of the nitrogenous material which should constitute one sixth of the nutrients taken, about three ounces is all that can be made use of in twenty-four hours, by a healthy adult of average weight, doing a moderate amount of work. Many articles of food are, however, deficient in one or the other of these elements, and need to be supplemented by other articles containing the deficient element in superabundance, since to employ a dietary in which any one of the nutritive elements is lacking, although in bulk it may be all the digestive organs can manage, is really starvation, and will in time occasion serious results.

It is thus apparent that much care should be exercised in the selection and combination of food materials. Such knowledge is of first importance  in the education of cooks and housekeepers, since to them falls the selection  of the food for the daily needs of the household; and they should not only understand what foods are best suited to supply these needs, but how to combine them in accordance with physiological laws.

President and CEO of ICON Information Consultants Winner in Houston and Gulf Coast Area

ICON Information Consultants, a premier provider of Human Capital Solutions, today announced its President and CEO, Pamela Chambers O’Rourke, has received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year 2009 Award in the Business Services and Staffing category for the Houston and Gulf Coast Area. The award, which recognizes outstanding entrepreneurs who are building and leading dynamic, growing businesses, was presented to O’Rourke during a gala event at the InterContinental Houston Hotel on June 18.

“I am honored to be recognized with this prestigious award,” said O’Rourke, who founded ICON Information Consultants 11 years ago. “Being an entrepreneur is the best decision I ever made. It allows my team and me to fulfill our vision of what a consulting company should be. This award reflects ICON’s determination to stay at the top of our industry, always learning, always improving–and always putting our customers first.”

ICON specializes in identifying and recruiting highly qualified professionals at all levels in the areas of Information Technology, Accounting, Finance, Human Resources, and Procurement along with a “specialized” Project Management division (iSolutions, Ltd). Under O’Rourke’s leadership, ICON has grown, prospered and has never experienced a single quarter without a profit by remaining steadfastly customer-oriented despite the ever-changing IT market. In fact, the company has reached “Top Tier” status and preferred vendor status with many of its clients.

Since the moment ICON opened its doors, the company has exceeded O’Rourke’s expectations and has outgrown any plan she has ever written. In its first year, the company had one staff member, O’Rourke herself, who without consultants or interoffice employees, achieved revenues totaling $2.5 million. Today, ICON boasts revenues in excess of $81.5 million, with more than 750 employees in 48 states.

“We are proud to recognize the achievements of Pamela Chambers O’Rourke,” said Doug Bogart, Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur of the Year Program Director for the Houston and Gulf Coast Area. “Winners of the Entrepreneur of the Year award build leading businesses and contribute significantly to the strength of our region’s economy. Their success helps our area grow stronger.”

As a Houston and Gulf Coast Area award winner, O’Rourke is now eligible for consideration for the Ernst & Young LLP Entrepreneur of the Year 2009 National Program. Award winners in several national categories, as well as the overall national Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year award winner, will be announced at the annual awards gala in Palm Springs, California, on November 14, 2009.

In addition to Ernst & Young, several other organizations have recognized O’Rourke for her business savvy. She has been named “Women in Business Champion of the Year” by the U.S. Small Business Administration; recognized as one of the “Top 25 Women Business Builders” by Fast Company Magazine; awarded the “Women’s Business Enterprise Star” from the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council; named a “Women of Excellence” by Women’s Business Enterprise Magazine; and honored as the “Woman Business Advocate of the Year by the Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance.

O’Rourke also is a leader in the community. She supports women business enterprise organizations and serves on the Boards of Directors for the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council and Women’s Business Council Southwest. In addition, O’Rourke is a Board member of AVANCE, a nonprofit Head Start program that serves economically disadvantaged children and families.

For more information, visit www.iconconsultants.com

Airship Ventures Eureka Returns Offers Aerial Adventures Above Los Angeles July 3-7

As fireworks shows light the Fourth of July night sky in Los Angeles, the most spectacular views will be enjoyed soaring 1000 feet above the Pacific Coast aboard the Airship Ventures Zeppelin Eureka. Returning to the Southern California skies after a sold-out engagement in May, Eureka will offer flightseeing tours above L.A July 3-7, 2009.

The highlight of Eureka’s return trip to the L.A. skies is a special two-hour Independence Day fireworks flight that takes advantage of the Zeppelin’s 360-degree panoramas to offer passengers stunning views of fireworks shows up and down the L.A. coastline. The fireworks flight is one of many tours offered during the Zeppelin’s six-day excursion to Los Angeles, which also include one- and two-hour flightseeing tours and private charters. Flightseeing experiences offer magnificent views of Southern California landmarks, such as the historic Queen Mary, Long Beach Harbor, the Sunset Strip, the Hollywood sign, as well as sweeping vistas of the Pacific Coast from Huntington Beach to Santa Monica.

For those seeking the ultimate Zeppelin experience, tours are available on the transit flights between Long Beach and the San Francisco Bay Area. Soaring above the California Coastline and Central Valley, these 8-hour cruises follow Highway 1 on July 1st (southbound), and July 8 (northbound) as the Zeppelin travels to and from Long Beach from her homebase at Moffett Field near San Francisco.

Los Angeles-area flights will depart from the AirFlite FBO terminal, adjacent to the main terminal at Long Beach Airport (3250 Airflite Way, Long Beach, CA 90807, at the corner of Cherry and Wardlow). One-hour flights are $495, plus tax, per person; two-hour flights are $990, plus tax, per person; and the spectacular Fourth of July fireworks flight is $1,200, plus tax, per person.

One- and two-hour flightseeing tours booked before June 30, 2009, will be eligible for the company’s “buy one flightseeing ticket, save 50% on the second,” promotional pricing (excluding the Fourth of July Fireworks Flight). Passengers on every flight will receive a certificate redeemable for a buy-one-get-one-free general admission to the Queen Mary, good through September 30, 2009.

At 246 feet in length, Airship Ventures’ Eureka is the world’s largest airship–15 feet longer than a Boeing 747, and dwarfing the largest blimp by more than 50 feet. One of only three Zeppelins currently operating in the world, Eureka offers passengers spectacular 360-degree views of the sights on flightseeing tours above the San Francisco Bay, Silicon Valley, Monterey and Los Angeles.

Source: Airship Ventures

On “Rosie Radio” the beloved entertainer will redefine morning radio

Radio as entertaining and diverse as Rosie herself

Daily call-in show will tackle everything from pop culture to politics, movie stars to stay-at-home moms

SIRIUS XM Radio announced an agreement with Rosie O’Donnell – the Emmy-award winning talk show host, movie star, and stand-up comedienne – to host Rosie Radio, a new daily morning radio show.

Rosie Radio will launch this fall and air Monday through Friday from 10:00 am – 12:00 pm ET/7:00 – 9:00 am PT exclusively on SIRIUS XM Stars, SIRIUS channel 102 and XM channel 155. Rosie Radio will be a daily, two-hour talk show on which the multi-talented entertainer will blend her many passions and interests – an eclectic mix of humor, pop culture and serious conversation.

“Rosie O’Donnell is a powerful, dynamic and entertaining voice and now you can only get her on SIRIUS XM,” said Scott Greenstein, President and Chief Content Officer, SIRIUS XM Radio. “Rosie’s millions of fans will hear her as they never have before, and have the chance to call in and talk to her and her intriguing guests. Rosie Radio will entertain, inform, surprise and delight.”‘

“This is an exciting new adventure – two hours of talk show entertainment, without having to wear makeup. Perfection,” said Rosie O’Donnell. “I can’t wait to jumpstart each day with millions of SIRIUS XM listeners across the country.”

Rosie’s extraordinary life, interests, and experiences will drive content for the show. On Rosie Radio she will tackle a variety of topics with honesty and humor. The show will have an ensemble feel, and a wide range of guests will stop by to hang out including celebrities, everyday Americans, and other people of note that Rosie wants to have join the conversation.

Rosie Radio joins a compelling and expanding lineup of women’s programming and hosts on SIRIUS XM that includes Oprah Radio, Martha Stewart Living Radio, and Barbara Walters.

Source: SIRIUS XM Radio

With the official start of summer here, look no further than The Alleghenies for an outdoor adventure. With close proximity to Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Washington DC, and Philadelphia the region, The Alleghenies, located in Southcentral Pennsylvania, is perfectly situated for an affordable close to home weekend getaway. Visitors will find a wealth of opportunities including on- and off-road cycling, fishing, boating, spelunking, and the ability to explore the history and heritage of the region.

Here’s a look at the Top Ten reasons to visit (in no specific order):

1. Visit a State Park – Trough Creek State Park (Raystown Lake Region)

The 554-acre state park is a scenic gorge with vistas overlooking Raystown Lake. Known for rugged hiking trails, the park also offers unique natural attractions like Balanced Rock, the Ice Mine and Rainbow Falls.

2. Plan an Adventure – Alleghenies Adventures (various regions of The Alleghenies)

Take the planning out of your next weekend getaway Alleghenies Adventures are 3-day multi-sport adventure itineraries geared towards individual travelers as well as families. Along with outdoor activities, the Adventures also point out things to do, great spots to eat and the best places to stay as you explore the region. Begin your adventure with Go All Out or Let’s Roll.

3. Community Outreach – Festivals/Fairs (various regions of The Alleghenies)

Another great way to experience The Alleghenies is through the variety of festivals and fairs in the region. During the summer popular gatherings include the annual Thunder in the Valley (June 25-28) — one of the country’s top 50 motorcycle rallies; Central PA Festival of the Arts (July 9-12) — more than 125,000 visitors descend upon State College to celebrate this nationally recognized event; and Juniata River Fest (June 27) — a celebration in Lewistown featuring a raft regatta, community float, 5k river rampage run and fireworks.

4. Bike a New Trail – Allegrippis Trail System (Raystown Lake Region)

The possibilities are endless when 30 miles of sustainable, multi-use trail lie in front of you. The Allegrippis Trails, located near the shores of Raystown Lake, are one of the International Mountain Bicycling Association’s single biggest trail system builds ever — for trail mileage and the number of trails. The rides range in difficulty from beginner to expert.

5. Discover a Cave – Penn’s Cave (State College Region)

Penn’s Cave is America’s only all-water cavern and wildlife park. A one-hour guided tour by motorboat through the underground stream features limestone corridors, stalagmites, stalactites, waterfalls and jumping trout.

6. Hike to a Vista – Conemaugh Gap Scenic Overlook (Johnstown Region)

Explore the deepest gorge (1,350 foot) east of the Mississippi River. The Conemaugh Gap extends for seven miles and was cut by the Conemaugh River channeling through the Laurel Ridge Mountain.

7. Paddle Unique Waterways – Juniata River Water Trail (Raystown Lake Region)

The Juniata River runs approximately 90 miles through several mountain ranges, affording paddlers bald eagle spotting opportunities as well as views of historic stone arch railroad trestles, which are remnants of the Pennsylvania Main Line Canal System.

8. Explore a New Scene – Artisan Trails (various regions of The Alleghenies)

Take a journey through an eclectic mix of arts and cultural attractions, on one of the artisan trails in the region. Many of the artisans choose this region for the inspiration of the surrounding beauty — the earth, hills, valleys, and streams. Visit Art Thrives on 45 or heART of the Alleghenies to learn more.

9. Cultural Experience – Big Valley/Belleville Amish Market (Juniata River Region)

Looking for a fun way to interact with the Pennsylvania Amish? Big Valley is one of the most unique Amish settlements, populated by three main Old Order Amish groups. Every Wednesday the large farming and Amish population gather to sell baked goods, produce and livestock, and shop the large flea market.

10. Travel to a Historic Site – Motor Touring (various regions of The Alleghenies)

Explore historic sites, picturesque covered bridges and endless mountain scenery on seven distinct tours that feature more than 800 miles of unforgettable cruising.

Source: The Alleghenies Tourism Council

A little extra weight may protect people from early death

Underweight people and those who are extremely obese die earlier than people of normal weight – but those who are overweight actually live longer than people of normal weight. Those are the findings of a new study published online in Obesity by researchers at Statistics Canada, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland State University, Oregon Health & Science University, and McGill University.

“It’s not surprising that extreme underweight and extreme obesity increase the risk of dying, but it is surprising that carrying a little extra weight may give people a longevity advantage,” said David Feeny, PhD, coauthor of the study and senior investigator for the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research.

“It may be that a few extra pounds actually protect older people as their health declines, but that doesn’t mean that people in the normal weight range should try to put on a few pounds,” said Mark Kaplan, DrPH, coauthor and Professor of Community Health at Portland State University. “Our study only looked at mortality, not at quality of life, and there are many negative health consequences associated with obesity, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.”

“Good health is more than a BMI or a number on a scale. We know that people who choose a healthy lifestyle enjoy better health: good food choices, being physically active everyday, managing stress, and keeping blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels in check,” said Keith Bachman MD, a weight management specialist with Kaiser Permanente’s Care Management Institute.

The study examined the relationship between body mass index and death among 11,326 adults in Canada over a 12-year period. (BMI uses height and weight to estimate body fat.) Researchers found that underweight people had the highest risk of dying, and the extremely obese had the second highest risk. Overweight people had a lower risk of dying than those of normal weight.

This is the first large Canadian study to show that people who are overweight may actually live longer than those of normal weight. An earlier study, conducted in the United States and published in 2005 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, showed similar results.

For this study, researchers used data from the National Population Health Survey conducted by Statistics Canada every two years. During the study period, from 1994/1995 through 2006/2007, underweight people were 70 percent more likely than people of normal weight to die, and extremely obese people were 36 percent more likely to die. But overweight individuals were 17 percent less likely to die. The relative risk for obese people was nearly the same as for people of normal weight. The authors controlled for factors such as age, sex, physical activity, and smoking.

The study was funded by grants from the National Institute on Aging, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the Canadian Embassy in Washington D.C. Authors include: Heather Orpana, PhD, Statistics Canada; JM Berthelot, Canadian Institute for Health Information and McGill University; Mark Kaplan, DrPH, Portland State University; David Feeny, PhD, Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research; Bentson H. McFarland, MD, PhD, Oregon Health & Science University and Nancy Ross, PhD, McGill University.

If you want to know more about health risks related to your weight and BMI, ask your doctor or get more information at kp.org/weight.

In a First, Immunotherapy Works Against Neuroblastoma

A multicenter research team has announced encouraging results for an experimental therapy using elements of the body’s immune system to improve cure rates for children with neuroblastoma, a challenging cancer of the nervous system.

John M. Maris, M.D., chief of Oncology at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, co-authored the phase 3 clinical trial, which was led by Alice Yu, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of California, San Diego. Maris chairs the committee supervising the trial for the Children’s Oncology Group, a cooperative organization that pools resources from leading medical centers to study and devise new treatments for pediatric cancers.

Neuroblastoma, a cancer of the peripheral nervous system, usually appears as a solid tumor in the chest or abdomen. Neuroblastoma accounts for 7 percent of all childhood cancers, but due to its often aggressive nature, causes 15 percent of all childhood cancer deaths.

Yu presented the neuroblastoma study results on June 2 at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Orlando, Fla. In advance of the meeting, ASCO published the findings online on May 14.

Maris explained that immunotherapy for cancer involves triggering the body’s immune system to attack cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies are molecules customized to target particular cancers, while cytokines are naturally occurring signaling proteins that regulate the body’s immune responses.

In the current study, Children’s Oncology Group researchers studied 226 children with high-risk neuroblastoma. Half received the immunotherapy, while half received standard therapy (chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation). The patients who received the immunotherapy were 20 percent more likely than those in the standard therapy group to live disease-free two years after treatment. “This 20 percent improvement in preventing relapse led to a greater cure rate — the first substantial increase in cure rate for neuroblastoma for more than a decade,” said Maris.

The researchers halted the trial earlier than expected after early results showed the benefits of immunotherapy. “This experimental immunotherapy is poised to become part of the new standard of care for children with the aggressive form of neuroblastoma,” said Maris.

Maris added that the supply of the antibodies and cytokines used in the trial was limited, and that pediatric oncologists were seeking biotechnology companies to move the biological agents into commercial production to make the treatment readily available to children with neuroblastoma.

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia has one of the nation’s largest clinical and research programs in neuroblastoma. In 2008, Maris led a study that was the first to identify the gene location at which neuroblastoma originates. His laboratory continues to investigate how genes contribute to the disease, using that knowledge to devise new treatments.

Maris served as an oncologist for Alex Scott, the child with neuroblastoma who started a lemonade stand in 2000 to raise money for programs in childhood cancer. Now operated through the Scott family, the Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation supports ongoing research by members of the Children’s Oncology Group.

Source: The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia

Are you planning to join the large community of women working from home but don’t know where to begin? Perhaps you are feeling doubtful because you have nothing to sell. The good news is, there are ways to make money on the Internet even if you don’t have a product to sell. Like I said before,  running an online home business takes time and effort, just like running any business. There is no shortcut to success.

There are many limiting beliefs in each one of us. Perhaps you are wondering if you need to be a computer expert to run an online business. The answer is a resounding ‘no’ but you do need to learn how to set up a website, or have the resources to pay someone else to do it for you if you haven’t had the time to learn.

Here are a couple of ways to earn money from home online, even if you don’t have your own product:

1) Set up Affiliate Stores or Join Affiliate programs
To be called an affiliate simply means you are selling other people’s products. You will get a percentage of the sale or make a small fee for each person who purchase the product and ask for more information, depending on the terms. More and more retailers are offering affiliate programs for all kinds of products and sercice. To get started, you need to find a niche that serves a targeted group of people.

For example, rather than selling gifts to everyone, you might start a baby gift site that sells baby products and gifts to parents or moms to be. You can also find smaller retailers who may offer more specialized products, from pressure washers to fitness equipment as you identify the commission scale as well. Different products will cater to a different group of buyers.

A good place to start is Commission Junction (http://www.CJ.com) or Shareasale , and you’ll get an idea of the list of products you can be affiliated to. While finding your niche, try to find something that interest you, or has a passion for, or have a little knowledge on. Many women working from home market from baby to health products.

2) Adsense from Google
Many of you who are already earning money from home knows that adsense is an advertising program from the largest search engine, Google. By placing google ads on your site, you earn money for each person who clicks on the ad. All you have to do is place the code on your web page, and Google does the rest. Be careful not to click on your own ads or you will be penalized.

There are other programs that allow you to sell individual ads where you can determine your own rates for your sites. But using a program like Google is straight forward, and if your set gets a lot of traffic to your site, you can make decent money.

No matter what ways you choose to earn money online from home , the best way to succeed is to find a niche, create a website around that niche, drive traffic to the site and watch your income grow as you work from home.