Archive for October 2011
Pharmaceutical Companies, Sugar and the Alzheimer’s Disease, Searching For the Cause of Alzheimer’s
October 9, 2011 | 
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What exactly is causing Alzheimer’s? We always hear or see ads for various medications that propose to aid in the symptoms of Alzheimer’s. But why is it we never hear anything relating to the cause of Alzheimer’s? I am beginning to think that we are being manipulated by Pharmaceutical Companies? I was told by someone in the medical profession that acceptable cholesterol levels were lowered so more cholesterol medicine could be sold. Is that really true? How much do we really know about the research and the long-term effects of medication that is prescribed to us? Medication to me always seems to be treating the symptoms and not the causes. For example, look at all the cold medications that are on the market shelves. There are medications for congestion, for coughs, for sore throat and headaches. Where is the medication to aid the cause, the virus? It seems that it takes more time to create multiple medications to treat multiple cold symptoms than to cure one virus. If they cured the virus, no need for medication, less and eventually no money. How many of us have become blasé about what is prescribed to us and don’t question what we are putting into our bodies?
On a recent quest for information regarding my Mother’s Alzheimer’s disease, I wanted to know what research was occurring to determine the cause and not just the symptoms of this disease since it is growing at an alarming rate. There are supposedly 4.5 million people in America with the disease and this number is expected to double within the next 5 years. To me, there has to be something in our environment or something that we are consuming that is causing this disease. What has increased to cause Alzheimer’s? I am trying to find the answer to that question by surveying some of our elderly population who still have their wits and are not showing any signs of Alzheimer’s. My questions relate to their diet, their environment, their cleaning supplies, and cookware, activities and education level. I am looking for the common thread that binds all these people who still remain intelligent and youthful in their minds. Some of my candidates are in their 80′s like my Mom.
Reviewing my Mom’s situation and examining what has increased over time for her, I keep on saying it is sugar. Desserts, sweets played a very big role in our diet growing up. Pies, cookies, cakes, ice cream, fudge, candy, etc., you name it, my Mom made it from scratch and we ate it every day. My Mom was the master baker. But just think hypothetically for a moment if it really is sugar and the impact it would have on the food industry. It wouldn’t be surprising if the food industry wanted to silence this knowledge. Look at all the products we consume that contain sugar. Sugar is added to our desserts, our cereals, our pasta sauces, our drinks, our sauces, ketchup, alcohol and much more. Our consumption of sugar has gotten out of control. There should be a warning label on sugar and sugar products similar to that which is on cigarettes. Is sugar addictive like cigarettes? Are we subtly being controlled by this substance? This product to me seems to be the only substance that we have increased exponentially in our diet. What is your guess or what do you think? White sugar is also whitened with bleach and processed with chemicals which may contribute to the cause or be the direct link, BINGO.
Recently I read in the news that two groups of people are at a higher risk of having Alzheimer’s. These two groups are people who have Diabetes and people who are pear shaped, i.e. fatter around the waist and butt area. What causes diabetes and pear shapes? SUGAR!!! Women are at a higher risk. What is a women’s weakness? SUGAR!!!
Well back to my quest to seek what type of research is being performed for the Alzheimer’s disease. For starters, I asked my Mom’s doctor if only drug companies conduct the research for all drugs and she said yes because they are the only entities with MONEY. If we work just on the symptoms, drug companies make more money selling more medications. It is BIG corporate business It is like jail, we need criminals to employ police, security guards, build facilities (contractors), purchase building supplies, employ maintenance staff, purchase food services, etc., and it is job security for the masses.
To further my research, I went to the Alzheimer’s Association because in my mind they should have the greatest source of information on understanding this disease. I met with the Director for the local chapter where my Mom is living. I asked the question, “What research is being done to determine the cause of the disease?” She could not answer this question but she provided me with a source to check. She said to visit their website and navigate to the library section and pose my question to the contact. I followed her instructions to a tee and following is the information I received, word for word, spelling for spelling:
“Library Question – Answer [Question #5738763]
Hi Kathryn, thank you for contacting the Alzheimer’s Association.
We don’t differentiate in our annual or financial reports, I’m afraid. I’ve never seen a figure for cause dollars compared to treatment dollars and I didn’t see one overall when I just checked. “
Is it just me, or don’t you think they should be tracking data especially if they are funding some of these research projects? Is everyone in it for the money? Everything seems to be just “Big Business” and getting richer from innocent people.
My Mom has seen approximately 10 Doctors in the last 2 years for her Alzheimer’s disease. Each doctor had paperwork to complete for my Mom, like insurance information and who is financially responsible for services, MONEY. Not one Doctor asked what does she eat, or what cleaning detergents was she exposed to during her lifetime or did she live near a factory, was she physically active or was she a scholar and an avid reader? Not one question was asked that would help determine CAUSE. They wanted to know about her memory, behavior, and sleeping pattern. The doctors she has seen during this period are not concentrated in just one geographical location but are in several areas, i.e. the Northeast, West Coast and Mid-West. We are talking doctors who practice at Dartmouth, WASHU and in Southern California. And Doctors who were educated from Harvard, Dartmouth, Berkley, Stanford, UCLA, etc.
My Mom is involved with a research trial program for a large pharmaceutical company who again is working on the symptoms and not cause. I don’t know about you, but I want to know what is causing it so I can stop eating it, breathing it or do something other than take a PILL or injection. I have created a survey that addresses some of the items that I have discussed in this article to determine the cause of Alzheimer’s.
Posted in Pharmaceutical Companies | 
Tags: Alzheimer S Disease, Congestion, Headaches | 
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Balanced Scorecard Solutions – Companies’ Lifesavers
Every company has one desire above all else – to make it in the business world. This goal can only be reached when the productivity of the company is supported by good performance in all levels and departments. In the same manner, this can only be ensured through the formulation of balanced scorecard solutions. Companies need not spend so much in monitoring their own performance levels since this method is already self-reliant by being able to monitor all the aspects of a company’s functions comprehensively. More, the instrument is easy enough to be implemented that it does not need an entire team of evaluators to use the same.
The usual problem in the different levels and departments of a company is that performance is usually not being monitored and that as time goes by, productivity levels decrease as performance levels fail. This results in a drastic decrease in overall productivity, which will eventually lead to the failure of the business and ultimately, the dissolution of the company and losses that would amount to hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of hard-earned dollars.
Fortunately, the balanced scorecard is an economical and self-reliant method of monitoring the performance levels of a company by taking into consideration all the aspects of production and performance that contribute to the overall standing of the company. Even a common person can implement the method just by understanding the principles behind it and being familiar with the aspects that need monitoring and measurement. There is also no need to spend a substantial amount of money in its implementation for the reason that there is no more need to conduct other programs aside from the method itself, unlike other measurement and evaluation tools.
What the company needs is an efficient and effective measurement and evaluation tool that can do the job at minimal cost and effort. This is what the balanced scorecard is all about. With the information that is given out by the key performance indicators under the method, there is an instant basis for analysis and study. Recommendations can then be made and solutions and remedies can easily be formulated as a result. These will be used by the company in addressing the problems and insufficiencies that plague its departments for the purpose of enhancing productivity and performance for the good of the company and ultimately, for the good of its members.
Being able to comprehend and implement the balanced scorecard will indeed become a benefit to the company. It would be able to save money and have an efficient and accurate description of its current status for its own benefit. All that has to be done by the person in charge of its implementation is to monitor the same and record all the results and information given by the key performance indicators to come up with the balanced scorecard solutions. Companies will be able to easily improve their performance and productivity levels and will have more than a good fighting chance to recover and get back on its feet from any state it may be, for as long as the instrument is implemented properly and effectively.
Shredder Companies
Shredder companies offer solutions to material destruction by manufacturing shredder equipments. Shredders tear out papers and such materials in the required sizes for disposal of materials. A.A. Low is credited as the designer of the first paper shredder in 1908. Adolph Ehinger popularized paper shredders among the public, with the introduction of a convenient paper shredder model in 1936. Now, a number of companies compete in the market with various shedder models. Some companies concentrate on the production of particular models such as electrical shredders. Most companies offer a wide range of product to choose from.
Shredder companies offer an excellent choice of shredder products in different styles and capacities. Most companies provide shredders with all cutting mechanisms such as strip cut, crosscut, and confetti cut to meet the requirements of customers. ‘Volume capacity’ is the maximum capacity of the materials processed at a time. It varies from less than 5 sheets per feed to 45 or more sheets per feed. Many companies also have introduced multi utility shredders that can process all material such as paper, cardboard, plastic, video tapes, computer discs etc.
Most shredder companies offer products in competitive pricing. Products can avail discounts up to 40%, which varies with the customer policy of the companies. Most companies assure durability of their products with warranty. The reliability of the products is met with certifications for quality standards. Most companies offer free transportation of the product to the customer destination.
Allegheny Shredders, Ameri-Shred, Cummins Allison, Dahle, GBC Shredmaster, Fellowes, Intimus, Destroyit, HSM, and Clary are some of the leading shredder companies.
Who Is an Entrepreneur?
There are people, who would do anything to stick on to a job and there are people, who would do anything to run away from it and do things on their own. The second category of people are typically called as entrepreneurs.
George Bernard Shaw once said
“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man. “
The entrepreneur is the unreasonable man. Can you ever imagine life without an electrical bulb? If Thomas Alva Edison did not take pains, failed about 10,000 times and not persisted, we would be today living in the dark. The entrepreneurs of the world make it a place worth living. Just look around yourself, how many things you see started with a small bit of entrepreneurship and ended up changing the world. Some of the examples are computers, Television, internet etc.
Some people are born to lead and become entrepreneurs, while others learn on the way. Most of them however often have similar characteristics. I have outlined some of these characteristics.
An Entrepreneur is a person,
who is not happy with status quo who wants to bring a positive change to the world who has definite ideas and a plan who does not worry about failures who has willingness to take risks and to spend his hard earned money who is constantly learning new things who sees setbacks as opportunities who understands that success comes with patience who takes criticism in his stride, talks less and is action oriented who goes against the ‘popular wisdom’
To summarize, an entrepreneur is a person who believes in his idea, is not afraid to take risks and is action oriented.
If you feel that you have these in you, what are you waiting for? Go ahead and jump in the pool of entrepreneurship. At least you will learn swimming.
The Entrepreneur – A Modern-day Artist
Usually when you think of an artist or creator, your mind immediately associates those words with images of painters, musicians, or writers. Or in other words, people who make something as tangible as a work of art or a piece of music that can be viewed or heard. However, one of the great creators of the modern world is the entrepreneur. Though his work can’t be viewed like a sculpture in a museum or listened to as you would a song in a concert hall, what the entrepreneur creates is just as tangible.
Entrepreneurs create ideas. The word entrepreneur is of French origin and means “to undertake.” This phrase, in relation to its modern association, was originally coined by French economist, Jean-Baptiste Say. This simple definition both understates the complex role and also adequately describes it. Because an entrepreneur does so many different things, a more specific definition might leave something out.
In today’s world, when we hear this word, we usually associate it with someone who comes up with an idea and then creates a business or company around that idea. However, an entrepreneur is more than just an idea man. He also assumes the responsibility of his idea and must see it through to accomplishment. Because of the dangers and difficulties of presenting new ideas and creating new companies, an entrepreneur’s reputation, like a musician or a painter, is at stake, depending on the outcome.
Due to the prevalence of successful companies that started with the hard work and groundbreaking idea of a single person, entrepreneurship is viewed as something to aspire to. So in today’s world, when a child is asked what he wants to be when he grows up, his answer might include something new…An entrepreneur.
Major Pharmaceutical Companies
Pharmaceutical companies have a major social responsibility while performing on a profitable motive. Several public platforms are shared by major pharmaceutical companies for this very purpose.
The pharmaceutical industry has several issues to contend with for profitable survival. The United States does not have regulations for drug prices, but several other regulations monitor the functioning of pharmaceutical companies in the country. Fierce competition from illegal drug imports is also an issue that cannot be ignored by major pharmaceutical companies.
There are several associations that represent pharmaceutical manufacturers. The International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers and Associations is an organization that is at the apex. It is a non-profit and non-governmental organization. Its members are several research based pharmaceutical, biotech and vaccine companies from both USA and other countries as well.
Organizations such as these, work for a global policy environment that is conducive to innovation in the pharmaceutical field. A survey of major pharmaceutical manufacturers indicates that collectively the industry has almost 700 medicines in the pipeline. These medicines are aimed at providing relief to people suffering from various diseases like HIV/AIDS, cancer, heart diseases and stroke among others.
The existence of a platform like an international association provides opportunities to major pharmaceutical companies to have collaborative relationships among themselves and foster industry growth in such a manner that provides avenues for overall improvement in public health while being commercially profitable.
One of the major pharmaceutical companies is Eli Lily, a global player. Their specialties include drugs for cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurological disorders, endocrinal disorders, diabetes and several infectious diseases. Cephalosporin, erythromycin, insulin and Prozac are among Eli Lily’s major pharmaceutical breakthroughs. Pfizer is another major pharmaceutical company that has contributed a lot to alleviate human and animal suffering. Based in New York, Pfizer has been around since 1849.
Parke-Davis, Proctor & Gamble, Bristol-Myers Squib, Johnson & Johnson, 3M Company, Mars Incorporated, Bayer AG, Quest Diagnostics, Tyco International and Cardinal Health Incorporated are a few of the major pharmaceutical companies in the USA.
Posted in Pharmaceutical Companies | Tags: Eli Lily, Infectious Diseases, Neurological Disorders | No Comments »
Timeshare Companies
Timeshare companies sell various vacation properties to all kinds of people for a particular amount of time. These properties were originally sold as condominiums, but now timeshare companies also selling yachts, boats, motor homes, luxury cars, recreational vehicles and campgrounds to people who wish to buy them on a timeshare basis.
The roots of timeshare companies can be traced to the 1960s in Europe. One of the oldest timeshare companies was the Soci
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Pharmaceutical Industry in India, Top Pharma Companies and Jobs
Pharmaceutical companies in India are growing at a very fast pace and this has made the Indian pharmaceutical industry as the second largest growing industry. Also the pharmaceutical industry in India is the third largest in the world, which will be of US$20 billion by 2015. Mergers and acquisitions are the part of this growth. The compounded annual growth rate of pharma in India is 12-15% and the global figures are 4-7% for the period of 2008-2013. With such a profound growth of pharmaceutical companies in India numerous pharmaceutical jobs can be seen. This in turn is helping biotechnology industry and booming the biotechnology jobs in India.
Angel Broking has done a research on the growth of pharmaceutical industry and found that by 2015 the pharmaceutical industry in India will be in the top 10 markets. Yet another finding of FICCI-Ernst & Young study reveals that the population of high income group in India is rising which will give rise to more influx of MNCs and expensive drugs.
Pharmaceutical companies along with native companies are also competing with the top MNCs. Such a profound growth is because of the heavy population figures and with the increasing number of middle class people and their income the access to drugs and medicines is also increasing. But still the low-priced generics are popular in Indian pharmaceutical industry.
From India in year 2007-08 total of US$ 8.25 billion were exported and there was seen 29% rise in this figure in 2009. MR Anand Sharma, Union Minister of Commerce said that pharmaceutical sector in India has grown and it is the major contributor to exports from India. In 1990 the amount was meager as compare to today’s massive figures.
Initiatives by Government
Tax breaks are offered to pharma industry New procedure for the development drugs Proper clinical procedures New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative and the Drugs and Pharmaceuticals Research Programme – Two schemes launched by the government.
Some Vital Information on Pharmaceutical Companies in India
In terms of volume – India’s pharmaceutical industry is the third largest in the entire world. In terms of value – India’s pharmaceutical industry ranks fourteenth By 2015 – It will be in the list of top 10 global pharmaceutical markets and it will touch US $ 20 billion. 2008-2009 – Saw 29% growth in exports of pharmaceutical drugs as compared to 2007 2013 – Indian formulation market is expected to touch US$ 13.7 billion
Top 10 Pharmaceutical Companies in India
Ranbaxy Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Cipla Sun Pharma Industries Lupin Labs Aurobindo Pharma GlaxoSmithKline Pharma Cadila Healthcare Aventis Pharma Ipca Laboratories
Maximize Small Business Tax Deductions and Tax Credits For 2009, 2010
Owning a small business can give you an edge at income tax time, if you are armed with as much information about business tax credits and deductions as you can.
Since small business owners are three times more likely to be audited by the IRS than a non-owner, it is very important to have accurate information, and to make sure you qualify for the credits and deductions you are claiming.
This article will touch on a few tax deductions available to business owners.
What deductions can you safely claim? You can claim business tax deductions on things that are reasonable and necessary to run your business. This could include your home office, office supplies, furniture and equipment, mileage necessary to operate your business, travel, dinner and entertainment expenses.
It can also include real estate tax, mortgage interest, depreciation costs, insurance, rent, security systems and utilities and services like phone, internet and garbage collection. Health insurance cost and liability insurance costs may be taken as deductions.
With this many items or more to think about, it is important that you have the most recent and accurate information about small tax credit and deductions.
It is also important to know about self-employment tax as your obligation for contributions to social security and any real or potential retirement contributions to a SEP/IRA. There is help for you.
Since I know that as a small business owner you are independent minded and like to do things on your own, you may find an on-line small business tax preparation program helpful. Such a program can walk you through all the deductions and credits, so that you will know when you file that you have taken advantage of all the credit breaks you deserve, and have met all the qualifications required by the IRS.
You want to feel that if you are one of the “three times more likely”, that you are in the best possible standings you can be for that audit.
Owning a small business can be rewarding and give you a break at tax time. Make sure you have as much accurate information about small business tax credits and deductions that you can. An on-line tax preparation program may be just what you are looking for to keep that edge.