The Health Resource

GAITHERSBURG, Md. (Map) - GAITHERSBURG, Md., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- MedImmune, Inc. today announced the publication of the first clinical results studying chitinase-like protein, YKL-40, suggesting that the molecule may play an important role in determining the mechanisms of severe asthma. Data to be published in the November 15, 2007 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine suggest that circulating serum levels of YKL-40, also known as HcGP-39, are increased in patients with asthma, compared to those without disease, and correlate with asthma severity. Supplementing preclinical evidence demonstrating that chitinases play a critical role in asthma, these data suggest that YKL-40 may serve as a potential new biomarker for disease severity, prompting further clinical study.

"This study represents the collaborative efforts between MedImmune researchers and other leaders in the field of respiratory illness to explore novel biologic pathways to disease," said Anthony Coyle, Ph.D., vice president, respiratory, inflammation and autoimmune disease research.

McKinney Calendar and NEWS BRIEFS

Descendants of early Collin County settlers will have their first reunion from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.Activities begin with a tour of the McKinney Performing Arts Center - the renovated old county courthouse at 111 N. Tennessee Street. Participants should meet at the Tennessee Street entrance.A program and reception will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. at the library, 101 E. Hunt Street. Glenda Mounger will present "A Days of the Republic of Texas Trunk Show," and Bruce Pastusek will display and demonstrate items used during the Civil War.RSVP by Wednesday to Faye Chism at 972-924-3818, 469-767-8957 or Chmtraildixietx@aol.com. Princeton groupsto 'Stuff the Bus'The Princeton ISD and the Princeton Lions Club are co-sponsoring a "Stuff the Bus" activity to recruit donations of non-perishable food items, unwrapped new toys, money and new clothing.

2007 InfoWorld 100 Awards

Abbott Laboratories www.abbott.com Sales and Financial Data Warehouse Initiative Project Lead: Peggy Mathias, Senior Manager HQ IT Applications, International Division Project Description: Abbott launched an international sales data consolidation effort, developing a flexible information management infrastructure capable of accommodating future organizational changes and rapidly evolving business needs. The project integrated Kalido as a data warehouse, Oracle and PL/SQL for data staging, and Cognos for its reporting front end, providing 250 finance and marketing executives in 65 countries access to consistent, high-quality data. Industry: Pharmaceuticals .

American Specialty Health Names Pamela Lauper Chief Sales Officer

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 27, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- American Specialty Health (ASH), one of the nation's premier personal health improvement organizations, recently named Pamela Lauper its chief sales officer. As CSO, Lauper will lead and direct all sales-related activities of the company. In addition to fulfilling these responsibilities, Lauper will work closely with CEO George DeVries on ASH's executive management team.

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More Employers to Offer Workers Financial Incentives for Healthy Behavior

With continuing pressure to control health care costs, more companies plan to offer financial incentives to reward workers who adopt healthy lifestyles, according to a new survey by Watson Wyatt, a leading global consulting firm, and the National Business Group on Health, a non-profit association of 285 large employers. Those employers best controlling costs and increasing productivity are integrating a broad array of health management programs.

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People in Business

Mary Rolando, policy analyst in the Governor's Office of Children's Care Coordination, has been elected to the board of directors of Catholic Charities of Tennessee Inc. She will serve a three-year term. Rolando has more than 20 years of public policy experience focused on mental health, developmental and health care services. She is active in numerous civic and charitable organizations.

Medicaid program offers ‘coaches’ to nurse chronic ailments

JEFFERSON CITY — Coaches are called upon to strategize and execute a game plan. In Missouri, there is a need for this type of coach — not to aid the floundering St. Louis Rams, but to help patients in lower income brackets who are suffering from chronic illnesses.

“A coach recommended to the patient the use of a food diary to help monitor blood-sugar levels; now the patient will have good news to deliver to the physician, instead of just bad news," she said.