U.S. nationwide meningitis outbreak update

ScienceDaily (Oct. 7, 2012) ? In response to a nationwide outbreak of meningitis and stroke associated with a widely distributed medication, CDC is providing updated guidance to clinicians and patients about contaminated medication products received from the New England Compounding Center located in Framingham, Mass. Patients have suffered a variety of symptoms, including those associated with a rare form of fungal meningitis (brain infection) and stroke.

On October 3, 2012, the pharmaceutical compounding center ceased all production and initiated recall of all methylprednisolone acetate (a steroid medication) and other drug products prepared for injections in and around the spinal cord (known as intrathecal administration). In addition, CDC and state health departments have released the names of approximately 75 healthcare facilities in 23 states that have received contaminated product.

As of October 5, a total of 47 cases* in 7 states and 5 deaths have been identified with a clinical picture consistent with fungal infection: Florida (2 cases), Indiana (3 cases), Maryland (2 cases, including 1 death), Michigan (4 cases), North Carolina (1 case), Tennessee (29 cases, including 3 deaths), and Virginia (6 cases, including 1 death). Fungus has been identified in specimens obtained from 9 patients, including Aspergillus and Exserohilum.

"All patients who may have received these medications need to be tracked down immediately. Patients can find the names of the clinics that used these medications on the CDC website," said Benjamin Park, M.D., medical officer, Mycotic Diseases Branch, CDC. "It is possible that if patients with infection are identified soon and put on appropriate antifungal therapy, lives may be saved."

Infected patients have developed a variety of symptoms approximately 1 to 4 weeks following their injection, including fever, new or worsening headache, nausea, and new neurological deficit (consistent with deep brain stroke). Some of these patients' symptoms were very mild in nature. Cerebrospinal fluid obtained from these patients has shown findings consistent with meningitis.

On September 26, 2012, the New England Compounding Center voluntarily recalled the following lots of methylprednisolone acetate (PF) 80mg/ml:

  • Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #05212012@68, BUD 11/17/2012
  • Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #06292012@26, BUD 12/26/2012
  • Methylprednisolone Acetate (PF) 80 mg/ml Injection, Lot #08102012@51, BUD 2/6/2013

Physicians should immediately contact patients who have had an injection (e.g., spinal, joint) using any of the three lots of methylprednisolone acetate listed above to determine if they are having any symptoms. Although all cases detected to date occurred after injections with products from these three lots, out of an abundance of caution, CDC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend that healthcare professionals cease use of any product produced by the New England Compounding Center until further information is available.

Patients who have had an epidural steroid injection since May 21, 2012, and have any of the following symptoms, should talk to their doctor as soon as possible.

  • Worsening headache
  • Fever
  • Sensitivity to light
  • Stiff neck
  • New weakness or numbness in any part of your body
  • Slurred speech

CDC has activated its Emergency Operations Center in an effort to maximize its response capabilities and to ensure that CDC recommendations are distributed as broadly as possible. CDC has provided guidance to clinicians on diagnostic testing that should be performed on patient specimens: http://www.cdc.gov/hai/pdfs/outbreaks/Outbreak-diagnostic-protocol-cleared.pdf

Clinicians should inform their State health department of any patients undergoing evaluation for this infection. Clinicians should report any suspected adverse events following use of these products to FDA's MedWatch program at 1-800-332-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch.

The 23 states where the contaminated product was shipped are California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Texas, and West Virginia. For a list of all of the facilities who have received contaminated product, please see: http://www.cdc.gov/hai/outbreaks/meningitis-facilities-map.html

*CDC Case Definition

  1. A person with meningitis1 of sub-acute onset (1-4 weeks) following epidural injection after May 21, 2012.
  2. A person, who has not received a lumbar puncture, with basilar stroke 1-4 weeks following epidural injection after May 21, 20122.
  3. A person with evidence of spinal osteomyelitis or epidural abscess at the site of an epidural injection diagnosed 1-4 weeks after epidural injection after May 21, 2012. 1clinically diagnosed meningitis meaning 1 or more of the following symptoms: headache, fever, stiff neck, or photophobia and a cerebrospinal fluid profile consistent with meningitis (elevated protein/low glucose/pleocytosis) 2These people, if possible, should have a lumbar puncture.

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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/top_health/~3/TMhODuXMqtU/121007190851.htm

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Seabourn and Swiss Brand Hublot Announce Partnership

Seattle, September 3, 2012? ??Hublot, the?luxury Swiss brand?which brings the ?Art of Fusion? to watchmaking,?has been named the Official Timekeeper of the award-winning ultra luxury cruise line?Seabourn.???Guests enjoying voyages on any of Seabourn?s six intimate, all-suite ships will now be kept abreast of the current ship?s time by means of handsome Hublot wall clocks, designed and finished with the same flair and elegance that have made Hublot?s wristwatches multi-faceted icons of?a constantly evolving Swiss watchmaking tradition, which pay tribute to it by connecting it with the future.?The clocks are a perfect complement to the stunning beauty of the ships themselves, adding a luxurious accent and an eye-catching cachet to various locations throughout each vessel.

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?Hublot?s distinctive porthole-styled timepieces are crafted with a commitment to innovation grounded in respect for tradition,??noted Seabourn?s president Richard D. Meadows. ?They display a dedication to excellence and an attention to detail that resonates with Seabourn?s mission. Our companies share a common goal ? to be the very best at what we do.?

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?This partnership is a story of friendship, a human story. It is about mutual great respect based on a shared passion for the sea, a love of sport and the quest for performance and excellence,? added Hublot?s Chairman of the Board Jean-Claude Biver.??Hublot and Seabourn share many core values. Hublot has always been close to the sea world, through its very name of course, which is the French word for a porthole, but also through prestigious partnerships such as with the Yacht Club of Monaco, the Monaco Oceanographic Museum and the Real Club Nautico de Palma to name just a few of them.Today, teaming up with Seabourn is an honor and forms a perfect extension.? ?? ?? ?


In addition to the ship?s clocks, Hublot will represent a stylish presence on Seabourn?s website and in other marketing materials, and the ships will host select trunk shows of Hublot timepieces to guests on selected cruises.

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Seabourn and Hublot share a reputation for excellence that has earned both companies recognition and awards from authoritative critics and loyal support from a discerning clientele.


Hublot??A different way to progress,? say those who know this unique Swiss watch company, where each and every moment moves forward to create the future at breathtaking speed. A dream, initiated and developed by Hublot?s Chairman Jean-Claude Biver with CEO, Ricardo Guadalupe, these two men are responsible for turning the Hublot brand into a genuine success story in which the Big Bang, King Power, Classic Fusion and Masterpieces represent the symbols of a constantly evolving?tradition. From watch complications and revolutionary materials to world class?collaborations such as FIFA World Cup?, Formula One?, Ferrari and Manchester United, Hublot characterizes itself through the ?Art of Fusion? philosophy, bringing tradition into?the?future.?For more information about Hublot, visit?www.hublot.com.?Seabourn?s intimate ships and genuine, intuitive style of personalized service have consistently placed it at the top of readers? polls and rankings by knowledgeable cruise experts. The company was recently awarded the title of World?s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line for the fourth consecutive year in the annual?Travel + Leisure??World?s Best? readers? survey. Seabourn was also named the best small-ship cruise line in the?Cond? Nast Traveler?Readers? Choice Awards for 2008, 2010 and 2011, and has been on that magazine?s elite Gold List of luxury travel options every year since the list was created. Five of Seabourn?s six ships are among the top seven ships in the world, according to theBerlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships?(Seabourn Quest, launched in June 0f 2011, was too late to be reviewed.) In addition, the line has been honored with the Six Star Diamond Award by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences.?For more information on Seabourn, consult a professional travel agent or visitwww.Seabourn.com.?

Editor?s Note: Images are available upon request.

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Source: http://www.theepicureanexplorer.com/2012/10/seabourn-and-swiss-brand-hublot-announce-partnership.html

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Pioneer's latest Raku Navi GPS units take commands from hand gestures

Pioneer's latest Raku Navi GPS units take commands from hand gestures

An AR heads-up display wasn't the only navigation hardware Pioneer showed off at CEATEC 2012. The firm also took the opportunity to tear the wraps off a new line of gesture-controlled Raku Navi GPS units. With the infrared-powered Air Gesture feature, drivers can wave their hand in front of a device to pull up a menu with commands such as setting their home or a personal haunt as a destination or skipping to the next tune on a playlist. Once a hand is retracted, the menu will be replaced with the usual map interface. Though the solution isn't completely hands-free, horizontal hand waves can be assigned one of ten different functions. Japanese store shelves will be lined with two dashboard-embeddable units by mid-October, while four console-independent models will join them in early November. As of now, there's no word if the hardware will make the pilgrimage stateside.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/07/pioneer-raku-navi-gps-hand-gesture-controlled/

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