Thursday, May 15, 2008

FDA approves new NovoSeven product

On May, 13 the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Novo Nordisk's new formulation of NovoSeven(R)RT recombinant factor VIIa product. What makes the new Novo so novel? The RT is for room temperature. RT can be stored at room temperature. According to the press release the new NovoSeven will be available in higer concentrations for smaller infusion volumes.

From the Press Release:

NovoSeven(R) RT has been manufactured to be room temperature stable (from 36 degrees F to 77 degrees F outside a refrigerator). The new formulation does not require refrigeration and can be moved in and out of the refrigerator. In addition, NovoSeven(R) RT has a higher concentration for lower infusion volumes and quick administration. The needed infusion amount is almost half of that needed with the original NovoSeven(R).

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Unassisted triple play

No, not Jack in little league,but the Tribe's Asdrubal Cabrera. On Monday night the Cleveland Indian second baseman turned only the 14th such feat in Major League history. To put it into perspective there have been 15 perfect games which makes the unassisted triple play the rarest of baseball achievements. What's really cool about the play-by-play call is that even before Cabrera caught the ball the announcers were calling 'triple play, triple play.' The runners were moving on the pitch and the broken bat liner was so close to second base Cabrera couldn't help but turn the rare three-out play.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

'Good night, neighbor'

Veteran Houston newsman, Ron Stone, passed away Tuesday after a bout with cancer. Ron Stone was on the air on Channel 2, KPRC when my family moved to Houston in the late 70's. The team of Stone, weatherman Doug Johnson and sportscaster Ron Franklin were the best, most relaxed, funniest and down to earth news team I've ever seen.

Stone and company were the genuine article. He signed off each night with, "Good night, neighbors." And one felt that he truly meant it and I know he did. He came into our homes each night and gave us the news as a neighbor. When he presented the news it was like you could go outside, walk over to the fence and continue the conversation with him.

For so many years he was a part our Houston life, first on Channel 2 then picking up for Ray Miller on 'The Eyes of Texas' and later with his production company, Stonefilms of Texas.

I also remember staying up as late as I could manage and watching Ron and the rest on the local broadcast of the Jerry Lewis MDA telethon.

I haven't thought about Ron Stone in a while, things change and you move on. But now that he has passed it's hard to forget him. Thanks for years and good night, neighbor.

KPRC report.

Houston Chronicle article.

Channel 11, KHOU report

Channel 13m KTRK report

Monday, May 12, 2008

'Impossible is nothing'

This is a great story about an amazing young woman from the Wichita Eagle. Ngoc Trang Nguyen is the valedictorian at East High School in Wichita, Kansas. That's nice, but so what, you say. Four short years ago, having emigrated from Vietnam, she spoke no English. By junior year, she was doubling up on math and science courses and getting straight A's. Trang plans to attend Creighton University in Omaha and major in biochemistry. But that's not the best part.

"I imagine myself in a lab coat," she said. "One of my wishes is to figure out the cure for hemophilia, which is a blood disorder."

In Vietnam, one of Trang's best friends had hemophilia. "But his family was so poor, they could not afford medication, and he suffered tremendously from that," she said. "This is what inspires me."


This is a story that warms the heart on so many levels. It's fantastic that someone so bright wishes to work on a cure for hemophilia. It also shows that in the meritocracy of this great nation of ours opportunities exist for anyone. With encouragement and dedication, hard work is rewarded regardless of ones background. It's there for the taking. As the Nike slogan says "Just Do It."

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Happy Mother's Day

I hope it was a joyful and restful day for all the Mothers and Grandmothers today. These are the ladies in our lives that keep the rest of us from falling apart. Without them we'd be hungry, dirty, smelly and wrinkled.

So it's appropriate to remind everyone of Project Red Flag, NHF's awareness program for Women's Bleeding Disorders. The most common bleeding disorder for women is von Willebrand Disease (VWD).

Earlier this year the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services issued the first clinical guidelines in the United States for the diagnosis and management of VWD.

Here's the NHLBI press release.

And here's NHF's press release.