Identity Theft Complaints Increase Significantly in 2008
2008 FTC Fraud and Identity Theft Complaint Data Documents Highest Ever Number of Identity Theft Complaints; Jump in Tax Return Fraud Complaints
Today the Federal Trade Commission documented the most cases of identity theft ever in one year in the 2008 Fraud and Identity Theft Complaint Data.
Affinion Security Center, a leading provider of identity theft protection services, has also reported over the last six months an increase of approximately 25 percent in the illegal trade of personal information in online chat rooms where thieves buy and sell stolen information such as credit card and social security numbers.
In 2008, the FTC reported that it had received approximately 1,200,000 complaints related to fraud, identity theft and other consumer complaints, an approximately 50 percent increase over the previous year. Those consumers reported fraud related losses of more than $1.8 billion. While the report showed that identity theft is widespread, the states reporting the most complaints – Arizona, California, and Florida, coincide with the states reporting the highest rates of foreclosure, demonstrating that the economic downturn has coincided with an upturn in fraud.
“This FTC report confirms what we have been seeing in the online chat rooms where identity thieves buy and sell stolen personal information. Since we are constantly monitoring these rooms on behalf of our customers, we’ve been able to track a significant increase in activity over the last six months,” said Dan Clements, vice president, Affinion Security Center. “In fact, we think that the number of complaints that the FTC receives are just the tip of the iceberg, and there are actually many more cases of identity theft that go unreported. Americans, more than any other nation, are vulnerable to identity theft,” he added.
The FTC report also showed that credit card fraud was the most common form of identity theft. When credit card information is stolen, the thieves often turn to online chat rooms where they buy and sell this information and also conduct tests to ensure the validity of the card. Affinion Security Center’s CardCops team monitors these forums on behalf of customers, alerting them if their information is ever found in a chat room. In addition, the CardCops team has been able to track down the source of hundreds of data breaches through its research, providing a consumer service by alerting businesses that their information may have been leaked and their customer data compromised.
2008 also demonstrated a more than 50 percent increase in the percentage of identity theft complaints related to fraudulent tax returns filed.
“The difficult economic environment is coinciding with a significant increase in cases of identity theft,” said Tom Rusin, president of Affinion Security Center. “We believe that solutions such as IdentitySecure, which protect against many types of identity threats, can help bring consumers some peace of mind that they are protected.”
Each feature of the IdentitySecure solution is designed to address the modern threats facing consumers, threats that can’t be adequately monitored by an average, or even technology-savvy, individual. The IdentitySecure service includes features such as monitoring of social security numbers and public records to detect criminal activity, frequent data sweeps of the internet for personal information, credit monitoring, and monitoring of underground chat rooms that buy and sell personal information. While breaches are often unavoidable, IdentitySecure provides proactive searches, early detection and recovery assistance.
For more information, please visit www.affinionsecuritycenter.com.
Affinion Security Center
Affinion Security Center, a division of Norwalk, Connecticut-based Affinion Group, is a premier security, credit monitoring and identity theft protection innovator with nearly 35 years of global experience. It launched HotLine, a leading ID theft, credit card, fraud protection and security service in 1969. PrivacyGuard, a comprehensive membership credit monitoring product which was created in 1992, remains one of the most widely used in the U.S. In 2006, ID Secure, a sophisticated tool that uses leading-edge public records, Social Security number and credit monitoring technology to fight ID theft, was born. Another ID theft protection service in Affinion’s growing security business is PC SafetyPlus, an identity theft software service that protects members with a personal firewall to thwart hackers and other online ID threats. PC SafetyPlus software features automatic updates and service upgrades for protection against prevailing computer viruses, spyware and worms. In 2008 BreachShield, the preeminent solution to corporate data breach response, was introduced to the product line. Affinion Security Center is part of the steering committee of the Identity Theft Prevention and Identity Management Standards Panel (IDSP) and is a member of the Staples Security Council. For more information please visit www.affinionsecuritycenter.com.
Landmark Policy Report: Many Cancers Could Be Prevented Across the Globe
Comprehensive, Evidence-Based Recommendations for All Levels of Society
A new global policy report estimates that approximately 37 percent of colon cancer cases and 28 percent of breast cancer cases in Brazil and other middle-income countries in South America are preventable through diet, physical activity and weight maintenance. The report also sets out recommendations for policies to reduce the global number of cancer cases.
The overall message of the report, Policy and Action for Cancer Prevention, published today by World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) and American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR), is that all sections of society need to make public health, and cancer prevention in particular, a higher priority.
It includes estimates on the proportion of many different types of cancer that could be prevented through diet, physical activity and weight. In South America, about one third of the most common cancers could be prevented. That figure does not include smoking, which alone accounts for about a third of cancers.
Different Policy Recommendations for Different Groups
As part of the evidence-based report, thought to be the most comprehensive ever published on the subject, two independent teams of scientists systematically examined the evidence for how policy changes can influence the behaviors that affect cancer risk.
Following this, a panel of 23 world-renowned experts made a total of 48 recommendations, divided between nine different but often overlapping sectors of society — called “actor groups” in the report. These actor groups are: multinational bodies; civil society organizations; government; industry; media; schools; workplaces and institutions; health and other professionals; and people.
Among the recommendations:
- Governments should require widespread walking and cycling routes to encourage physical activity.
- Governments should encourage healthy food and discourage unhealthy food through legislation and pricing.
- Industry should give a higher priority for goods and services that encourage people to be active, particularly young people.
- The food and drinks industry should make public health an explicit priority at all stages of production.
- Schools should actively encourage physical activity and provide healthy food for children.
- Schools, workplaces and institutions should not have unhealthy foods available in vending machines.
- Health professionals should take a lead in giving the public information about public health, including cancer prevention.
- People should use independent nutrition guides and food labels to make sure the food they buy for their family is healthy.
Professor Sir Michael Marmot, Chair of the WCRF/AICR Panel, said, “When people think of policy reports, they often think they only speak to governments. But the evidence shows that when it comes to cancer prevention, all groups in society have a vital role to play. “
Panel member Tim Byers, M.D., MPH of the University of Colorado at Denver said, “Estimating cancer preventability is a very complex prospect that involves making a number of assumptions. Having said that, the figures in this report are as good an estimate it is possible to achieve about the proportion of cancer cases that could be prevented through healthy diet, regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight.”
“On a global level every year, there are millions of cancer cases that could have been prevented. This is why we need to act now before the situation gets even worse.”
The report includes preventability for Brazil (considered a middle-income country), as well as for the U.S. and U.K. (considered a high-income countries), and China, considered a low-income countries. The global preventability estimate ranges between one quarter and one third of all cancers.
Policy Report Represents the Next Step
The new WCRF/AICR Policy Report is a companion document to the expert report Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: A Global Perspective, which was published by AICR and WCRF in November of 2007. That expert report evaluated the scientific evidence from over 7000 studies and came away with 10 recommendations for lowering cancer risk.
“The 2007 expert report identified the specific choices that people can make to protect themselves against cancer, but actually making those healthy choices remains difficult for many people,” said policy report panel member Ricardo Uauy, M.D., Ph.D., of the Instituto de Nutricion y Technologia de los Alimentos in Santiago, Chile. “The policy report takes the next step — it identifies opportunities for us as a society to make those choices easier.”
The American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) is the cancer charity that fosters research on the relationship of nutrition, physical activity and weight management to cancer risk, interprets the scientific literature and educates the public about the results. It has contributed more than $86 million for innovative research conducted at universities, hospitals and research centers across the country. AICR has published two landmark reports that interpret the accumulated research in the field and is committed to a process of continuous review. AICR also provides a wide range of educational programs to help millions of Americans learn to make dietary changes for lower cancer risk. Its award-winning New American Plate program is presented in brochures, seminars and on its Web site, www.aicr.org. AICR is a member of the World Cancer Research Fund International.
In Greater Phoenix, the Old Ballgame Never Looked So Good
Dodgers, Indians, White Sox Christen New Stadiums for Start of Spring Training
Cactus League Spring Training cracks to life today across Greater Phoenix with more teams, more stadiums and more games than ever before.
But fans can expect one constant at the ballpark: sunny skies and 80-degree temperatures.
Cactus League baseball, a seasonal rite in Greater Phoenix features 14 teams and more than 200 games. Games begin today at 1:05 p.m. MST, with action scheduled every day in March.
A dozen Cactus League teams call the Phoenix area home, and that roster includes two new additions for 2009: the Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland Indians.
The Dodgers have relocated “Dodgertown” from Florida to a beautiful new training complex in Glendale called Camelback Ranch. The tradition-rich National League franchise shares the stadium with the Chicago White Sox, who recently migrated to Phoenix from Tucson.
The Indians were one of the adventurous franchises that gave birth to the Cactus League when they came to Arizona to train for the 1946 season. This spring, the Indians return to the desert in grand style, playing in a new stadium in Goodyear.
Baseball fans from Los Angeles, Cleveland and everywhere else will be pleased to discover that tickets to Cactus League games remain famously inexpensive — from $5 for lawn seating to $30 for a lower-level perch behind home plate.
Cactus League officials expect a record 1.5 million-plus fans to fill ballparks across Greater Phoenix this season, from the Chicago Cubs’ historic Hohokam Park to the San Francisco Giants’ popular Scottsdale Stadium to the Oakland Athletics’ red-rock-shrouded Phoenix Municipal Stadium.
Next year the league will grow to 15 teams when the Cincinnati Reds move their spring training operations to Greater Phoenix from Sarasota, Fla. The Reds will share Goodyear Ballpark with the Indians, creating a little piece of Ohio in Phoenix’s West Valley.
The recent westward migration of major league franchises from Florida’s Grapefruit League to Arizona’s Cactus League is attributable not only to metropolitan Phoenix’s new stadiums but its consistent weather and concentration of facilities. “Road trips” in the Cactus League tend to be short (no more than 30 minutes in most cases), and the temperature on a typical spring afternoon hovers in the 70s.
Last season, not a single Cactus League game was rained out. This year, the forecast for opening week calls for sunshine, highs in the mid-80s and zero chance of rain.
“Greater Phoenix’s marvelous spring weather is a boon for teams and fans alike,” said Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau spokesperson Doug MacKenzie. “No rainouts mean no wasted training days for players and coaches, and sunny skies mean fun times at the ballpark for spectators. The weather is also ideal for golfing, hiking or dining on outdoor patios.”
In otherwise gloomy economic times, the Cactus League also packs great value. Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport is a hub for two low-fare carriers (Southwest Airlines and US Airways), and several Phoenix-area hotels and resorts are offering unseasonably low spring rates.
To find some of those rates, baseball fans can log on to www.visitphoenix.com and click on “Spring Training Deals”.
Source: Greater Phoenix Convention & Visitors Bureau
The First MCE-5 VCRi Vehicle Will be Presented at the 79th International Motor Show in Geneva
The 79th International Motor Show in Geneva is kicking off a sluggish year for the automotive industry.
Following on the heels of high oil prices, limited access to credit and the consequences of the financial crisis on purchasing power are today penalizing the automotive industry. The development of new gasoline engines will be essential to revive the industry since these engines will continue to represent over 80% of the market for the next 20 to 30 years. These new engines must be able to boost the market and meet new regulations.
Their production costs must remain affordable. In line with these objectives, MCE-5 technology already has a 12 year lead on what should be a fundamental stage in the development of IC engines: an “intelligent” variable compression ratio. VCRi heralds the renewal of car engine technology.
The first VCRi vehicle: a leap forward for automobiles
The Peugeot 407 type demonstration vehicle presented on the MCE-5 DEVELOPMENT stand (No 3000 in the Green Pavilion) is powered by a 1.5L MCE-5 VCRi engine that develops 220 hp, equal to that of a 3.0L V6 engine, and 420 Nm of torque as of 1500 rpm, comparable to that of a V8 gasoline engine. These results are achieved with a fuel consumption of 6.7 L / 100 km on the NEDC (158 g of CO2/km). This high performance 1.5L demonstration can of course be applied to lower engine capacities. These results are only intermediary ones obtained on an engine in development that is not equipped with GDI (gasoline direct injection) or the optimized combustion chambers expected in late 2009.
A 2010 version of MCE-5 VCRi engine will be equipped with GDI, optimized combustion chambers as well as the advanced management of engine temperature, of the cylinder head, pistons and exhaust manifold. The power and torque will respectively be ramped up to 270 hp and 460 Nm, while average consumption on the NDEC will drop under the 6.0 L / 100 km mark (less than 140 g of CO2/km). With this type of engine, reaching the target of 120 g of CO2/km seems realistic by 2012-2013 for high-performance vehicles, with a strong reduction in fuel consumption for the whole vehicle range.
A clear strategy from prototype to mass production
Many prototypes never reach mass production for functional, economic or strategic reasons. As opposed to many other technologies that have been explored, the MCE-5 engine benefited as of the start of its development in 1997 from an approach resolutely focused on mass production. In 2009, twelve companies including major European Tier 1 automotive industry suppliers combined their talents to propose to carmakers a program intended to develop and manufacture the MCE-5 VCRi engine in the coming 6 to 8 years.
This proposal makes even more sense in the current economic, energy and environmental context, by addressing the main factor that will condition the automotive industry for the next 20 to 30 years: gasoline engine efficiency.
Source: MCE-5 DEVELOPMENT SA
Donate Cell Phones to New Phone Brigade Program, an Innovative Recycling Initiative Launched by ReCellular and TerraCycle
ReCellular and TerraCycle encourage consumers and organizations to donate cell phones to help kids, communities and the environment
ReCellular, the world’s leading electronics sustainability firm, today announced a new strategic partnership with TerraCycle, the upcycling company that has revolutionized the market for recycled goods. By the end of the year, the partnership hopes to have over 1,000 brigades that collect and donate cell phones, raise funds for local causes and keep e-waste out of landfills. The companies have also committed to expand the relationship through additional upcycling opportunities in the future.
The partnership provides a convenient solution for TerraCycle to expand their upcycling efforts to include consumer electronics. TerraCycle first launched the Brigade concept in 2006, paying schools and non-profits to collect 20-ounce soda bottles. TerraCycle’s Brigade concept quickly became a grassroots phenomenon, with more than 20,000 participating locations by the end of 2008. In just two years, the programs raised more than $100,000, primarily donated to public-school organizations, and rescued and reused tens of millions of soda bottles, yogurt cups, and snack wrappers.
Based on the success of their bottle and wrapper brigades, TerraCycle decided to expand their upcycling collections to help address the estimated 65,000 tons of cell phones that are discarded every year. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, these phones could pose a toxic risk in landfills, but their small size and percentage of valuable materials make cell phones ideal for recycling.
Anyone can sign up to participate in the TerraCycle Phone Brigade. For program details and to donate cell phones, visit http://www.terracycle.net/cellphone/cellphone.htm. After registration, volunteers will receive donation boxes for collecting and shipping phones. Like other Brigade programs, volunteers will be compensated for each item they collect – which provides schools and other grassroots organizations with an innovative way to augment their strained budgets. More significantly, TerraCycle has found that the Brigade programs offer a turn-key environmental education program that empowers kids to make a difference in their own future.
After volunteers donate cell phones through the Brigade, the phones will be delivered to the Michigan-based ReCellular phone processing facility. There, phones are either refurbished and reprogrammed for reuse, or are recycled to reclaim materials needed to make new electronics equipment – such as precious metals from circuit boards, heavy metals from batteries.
Since its founding in 1991, ReCellular has worked to revolutionize the electronics sector by creating a second life for used mobile devices. Partnering with leading wireless carriers, retailers, Fortune 500 enterprises and charities, ReCellular collected over 5.5 million phones and raised over $4 million for charitable causes in 2008.
“Economic, social and environmental sustainability have been at the core of our business long before the term ‘triple-bottom line’ was coined,” says Chuck Newman, CEO and founder of ReCellular. “Today, we are proud to be a part of the emerging green economy, and to partner with an innovative company such as TerraCycle. We look forward to expanding this relationship over the coming months.”
Source: ReCellular
Sony Computer Entertainment America Expands Its Playstation Business Reach With Its Launch in Latin America
Regional Expansion Provides Latin America with PLAYSTATION(R)3, PSP(R) (PlayStation(R) Portable), PlayStation(R)2 and PlayStation(R)Network Gaming and Entertainment Experiences
Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) officially announced the expansion of PlayStation(R) business into Latin America, making its award-winning computer entertainment systems and services formally available to the region. Latin America is a pivotal step in SCEA’s mission to bring engaging entertainment to people around the world, already consisting of an active worldwide install base of 21.3 million PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system, in addition to more than 17 million registered accounts for PlayStation(R)Network. The Latin America expansion will specifically introduce the PS3 system, PSP(R) (PlayStation(R)Portable) system and PlayStation(R)2 system to 13 different countries in the region.
“Our commitment to expand PlayStation business into Latin America supports our vision to provide access to social entertainment experiences that can be shared among friends and family from around the world,” said Mark Stanley, director and general manager, Latin America, SCEA. “This expansion is the direct result of us listening closely to our community, and we’re proud to deliver premium hardware and software services that will allow them to easily connect, play and communicate with one another.”
Through a distribution partnership with Sony Latin America, PlayStation services are now available in select countries throughout the Latin America region. This includes access to PlayStation Network, a free entertainment network service that delivers original content, future-proofing system software updates, and online services that foster community among its worldwide audience.
In the coming weeks, PlayStation.com, the official PlayStation website, will introduce a localized Web site providing the most current PlayStation news and information relevant to users in select countries in Latin America. Features of the site include access to the PlayStation Blog, detailed product pages with PS3, PlayStation 2, PSP and PlayStation Network content, public forums to engage with the PlayStation community.
In addition to software services, Latin American users will now have the opportunity to maximize their online experiences with added functionality from peripherals that make it easier to communicate. Peripherals like the PS3 Bluetooth Headset and PlayStation Wireless Keypad enable users to connect and communicate with each other in and out of games.
For the Latin American users on the go, one of the biggest value offerings from PlayStation is the connectivity between PS3 and PSP platforms, providing a seamless solution for those looking to experience their entertainment when and where they want. With each device’s built-in Wi-Fi capabilities and remote play functionality, users will have access to many of their entertainment and media stored on their PS3 remotely, enabling them to play games, watch movies, and listen to their music when on the move.*
Visit www.PlayStation.com for more information on the expansion of PlayStation business into Latin America.
The 3 Big Myths That Can Make You a Victim of Identity Fraud During Tax Season
Ten Security Tips for Preventing Identity Theft
The continued popularity of electronic tax filing has made this annual burden incredibly simple for many taxpayers. As a result, some individuals mistakenly equate ease-of-use with safety. Identity Finder presents 3 big myths that risk your identity during tax season, as well as important security tips to prevent identity theft.
Myth #1: Supporting documents such as PDFs used in the creation of your tax returns are safe on your computer.
Truth: By default PDFs are not secured and hackers may attempt to access your computer in various ways via viruses, Trojans and botnets.
- Password-protect all tax returns that you print to PDF from your tax software so Social Security Numbers are secure. Use a digital shredder to permanently delete unsecured documents on your computer that contain personal information used to prepare your tax return.
- Configure all peer-to-peer file sharing programs to disable the sharing of your personal folders so identity thieves can’t download your tax return.
- Install the latest updates to your operating system to prevent known Windows or Mac vulnerabilities from being exploited by hackers.
- Don’t save your password in your web browser when accessing payroll services, employers, banks and other institutions that keep your personal information.
Myth #2: It’s safe to electronically transmit confidential data to an accountant, employer, or the IRS.
Truth: Your personal information is at great risk when it is en route from one location to another. Hackers and identity thieves have the ability to eavesdrop or spy on it when it is unprotected.
- Encrypt supporting tax documents you plan to email to your accountant to prevent anyone from snooping on your network and gaining access to your financial information.
- Create strong passwords when registering to download your IRS W2 forms, 1099s, and other personal tax documents from your employer so they are not easily guessed by strangers.
Myth #3: Paper copies of your tax documentation are always safe since they are not accessible to electronic hackers.
Truth: Identity thieves are incredibly creative and will attempt to access your confidential information for their own personal gain however and wherever possible, especially when you least expect it.
- When you postal mail your tax return to the IRS, send it from a secured location, like the post office or an official USPS collection box, and do not let it sit in the box overnight as it could be stolen. For added security use certified mail.
- If making photocopies of your financial documents, make sure the photocopier does not store images of them in memory.
- Using a traditional paper shredder, destroy the printed documents used during tax preparation that you no longer need.
The government takes your tax dollars on April 15th. Don’t let thieves take your identity, too. Employ a multi-step approach in the prevention of identity theft that includes awareness, changes in behavior, and security tools.
One final tip:
- Monitor your credit report regularly and download Identity Finder Free Edition (http://www.identityfinder.com/free) to check your computer for unprotected personal information.
Six Health Insurance Resolutions to Keep in 2009
The New Year is two months old, and so are the usual resolutions to lose weight, exercise and stop smoking. But according to a consumer advocacy group specializing in health insurance education, there are at least six resolutions you must keep this year to protect your health and well-being – this year, and in years to come.
“If you have a successful career but work in a volatile industry, a company’s single failed investment or financial downturn can impact your future,” said Bob Johnson, president of the Consumers for Competitive Choice Education Fund (C4CC). “Although you may resolve to stick it out, you have to be prepared for the worst, which may mean losing your job and your family’s health insurance coverage all at once.”
Consumers who want to protect their future and ensure reliable health care coverage should immediately resolve to:
1. Evaluate your current situation.
Look closely at your industry. Is it recession-proof? Is your company on stable ground? Your job and your health insurance coverage may be at risk due to job loss, temporary layoff, furlough, or cost-cutting measures.
2. Take a close and realistic look at your financial situation.
If you lost your job, would you be able to afford COBRA coverage to protect your family? A recent Families USA study showed that many Americans would have to pay an unrealistic amount to continue their current health care coverage.
3. Research your options.
First, know that COBRA isn’t your only option. Vow to spend an evening researching individual medical plans. This doesn’t have to be a bridge; it can be a permanent solution to lowering your health care costs while providing the personalized solution that might be best for your family, Johnson said.
4. Find and consult with a trusted advisor.
Many popular insurance companies, including those who may provide your home, auto or life insurance, also can refer you to an individual medical plan provider whose deductibles, coverage and service plans might be right for you.
5. Make a plan today.
Realize that you may not have any advance notice of a job loss. Resolve today to draft a plan that’s right for your family. Know the terminology, the players and make a list of providers to call to set up an individual medical plan that’s right for you, Johnson added.
6. Do not be afraid to put the plan in motion.
Pick yourself up and follow the steps you’ve outlined. Your family’s health and peace of mind is paramount.
Consumers who keep these resolutions will be ahead of the game, now and in the future, Johnson said.
Learn more about health insurance options, or ask questions and get answers at www.simplecoverage.org. A discussion forum is available for people shopping for new coverage or weighing options after a job loss.
Gene Mutation Increases Drug Toxicity, Rejection Risk in Pediatric Kidney Transplants
Study Suggests Genetic Approach to Personalized Screening of Anti-Rejection Drug Dosing
Screening for mutations in a gene that helps the body metabolize a kidney transplant anti-rejection drug may predict which children are at higher risk for side effects, including compromised white blood cell count or organ rejection, according to new research.
Published online Feb. 18 by the Nature journal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, the study suggests this genetic approach could also help physicians tailor personalized anti-rejection drug doses to prevent adverse reactions, said senior investigators Alexander A. Vinks, Pharm.D., Ph.D., and Jens Goebel M.D., of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center.
“There are better ways than just giving standard doses of these drugs, and in due course these types of technologies will be available worldwide to help patients,” said Dr. Vinks, director of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and the Pediatric Pharmacology Research Unit at Cincinnati Children’s. “This pilot study shows personalized and prospective MMF dosing and monitoring may be feasible to reduce the high incidence of drug toxicity in children without compromising the drug’s protective effects against kidney graft rejection.”
MMF, or Mycophenolate Mofetil, is an immunosuppressive agent commonly used to prevent rejection in organ transplants, particularly in kidney transplants. After taken orally, the drug is quickly processed by the body into active form. During this time, patients with a specific point mutation in the gene that helps break down the drug, UGT, metabolize the drug slower. This point mutation, called UGT1A9-331, causes overexposure and adverse side effects in the affected children, the study concluded. UGT encodes the drug’s main metabolizing enzyme in the body, uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyl transferase.
Adverse side effects most commonly linked to MMF have included gastrointestinal complications (such as diarrhea) or leukopenia – a drop in white blood cell count that can put patients at higher risk for infections. In some instances, patients have to be taken off the drug or have their dosage reduced to the point where they risk rejection of the new organ.
The current study analyzed 38 children who had received kidney transplants. Sixteen of the children experienced adverse side effects from MMF therapy. In the adverse reaction group, nine children with the specific UGT point mutation developed leukopenia. The researchers found no strong association between UGT gene variants and diarrhea – the most common side effect linked to MMF – suggesting gastrointestinal reactions to the drug may be caused by other factors.
Some previous studies have linked UGT gene mutations and MMF-related side effects in kidney transplant recipients, while others have suggested a greater risk for adverse events in children. A review of earlier research combined with their current data led researchers in this study to conclude that pediatric kidney transplant recipients on MMF therapy have a significantly higher likelihood of drug-related complications than adult patients. One previous study compared 22 pediatric and 37 adult transplant recipients, all who started with the standard recommended doses of MMF. Among the children, 54.5 percent experienced adverse side effects compared to 21.6 percent of the adults.
Besides the UGT1A9-331 point mutation, other studies have also linked a second variation, called UGT2B7-900, to possible MMF overexposure and development of leukopenia, said Tsuyoshi Fukuda, Ph.D., co-author on the current study and a colleague in Dr. Vinks’ division at Cincinnati Children’s. The research team recently completed pharmacokinetic and biomarker studies – which analyze how the body metabolizes a drug – to solidify the connection between different variants of UGT and MMF overexposure in pediatric kidney transplant patients.
Researchers want to use data from these pharmacokinetic studies as a basis for showing whether increased MMF exposure in adults can also be linked to specific variations in the UGT gene, according to Dr. Fukuda.
The pilot study is part of the growing field of genetic-based pharmacology, or pharmacogenetics. Combining biology and information technology, researchers are developing computer-based algorithms that allow taking a few drops of blood and analyzing how quickly a person’s body will break down and absorb a drug based on their genetic makeup. The goal is to reduce drug-related side affects by optimizing drug doses for individual patients.
Dr. Goebel is medical director of Kidney Transplantation Program in the Division of Nephrology and Hypertension at Cincinnati Children’s. Also participating in this study were the divisions of Human Genetics and Biostatistics/Epidemiology at Cincinnati Children’s, the National Institutes of Health’s Pediatric Pharmacology Research Unit network, the Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Little Rock, Ark.
Funding support came from the National Institutes of Health and a translational research initiative grant from Cincinnati Children’s.
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center is one of America’s top three children’s hospitals for general pediatrics and is highly ranked for its expertise in digestive diseases, respiratory diseases, cancer, neonatal care, heart care and neurosurgery, according to the annual ranking of best children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report. One of the three largest children’s hospitals in the U.S., Cincinnati Children’s is affiliated with the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and is one of the top two recipients of pediatric research grants from the National Institutes of Health. For its achievements in transforming healthcare, Cincinnati Children’s is one of six U.S. hospitals since 2002 to be awarded the American Hospital Association-McKesson Quest for Quality Prize(R) for leadership and innovation in quality, safety and commitment to patient care. The hospital is a national and international referral center for complex cases, so that children with the most difficult-to-treat diseases and conditions receive the most advanced care leading to better outcomes. Additional information can be found at www.cincinnatichildrens.org.
Hotmail Just Got Hotter
Push Windows Live Hotmail to Your Mobile Device With Emoze
Emoze now offers more than 260 million active Windows Live Hotmail users the ultimate mobile messaging service currently being enjoyed by webmail users and it’s as simple as 1-2-3! Download Emoze to your mobile device, configure your Windows Live Hotmail account and start enjoying revolutionary, true, push email services immediately.
Windows Live Hotmail users can now experience the ultimate in mobile messaging. Available on the broadest range of mobile devices, from smartphones to simple phones (Nokia, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Motorola and more), Emoze is easy, affordable and fun to use. Featuring the most advanced graphics with great animations and really cool themes it has intuitive interfaces, which mimics the look and feel of Windows Live Hotmail experience already familiar on your PC.
“We are determined to ‘push’ forward and continuously expand Emoze’s mass-market messaging uptake,” said Eitan Linker, Emoze CEO. “Our solution is a win-win for handset vendors, operators and end users alike. The addition of Windows Live Hotmail proves once again that Emoze is not just a technology, but a lifestyle!”
Emoze gives everyone the freedom to truly balance their lifestyle by turning one mobile device into an entire communication center. Install your family, business, personal Windows Live Hotmail, other web-based accounts and even social media, like Facebook, all on the same device.
Share information in real-time to respond faster, handle problems better and make quicker, more fitting decisions while on the go, without the necessity of carrying a dozen different devices. No longer deskbound, read, reply, view attachments while in a taxi, on a train or anywhere else, with no need to seek out wireless resources. Depending on the mobile device and carrier’s data plan, it is even possible to manage contacts, personal information and calendar entries, offering everyone the opportunity to stay in touch with family, friends and colleagues all the time.
Synchronization and security are high priorities and users can rest assured that Emoze delivers every email in the safest, most secure manner, employing compression and encryption to provide the highest level of security. In addition, Emoze never stores email on a 3rd party server. Messaging is pushed only when the mobile device is open and ready to receive. Emoze push mail mobility is cost efficient as there is no need for the device to continuously poll the server. Email, events and attachments are pushed as they arrive and transmissions are optimized to conserve batteries and minimize data charges.
Join the revolution today and step up to the highest level of mobile communication available. Visit http://www.emoze.com or navigate on your web-enabled handset to https://emoze.com to download Emoze. The online wizard will guide you on your journey to install Emoze and to go e-mobile with Windows Live Hotmail on your handset, Anytime, Anywhere!
Emoze
Founded in 2006, Emoze is revolutionizing the way people communicate. Enabling users from all walks of life to turn their mobile device into a fully functional personal communication buddy, Emoze’s proprietary messaging technologies are patent-pending worldwide and are specifically designed to provide a seamless and secure messaging experience across all types of networks. Emoze engineers have developed real push-event technology delivering real-time, secure mobile synchronization with optimum settings conserving battery and power for device and cost efficiency.
For more information, please visit http://www.emoze.com.