Idol GIves Back Videos On iTunes Thursday By Apple

Apple and American Idol have partnered to offer audio and video downloads of “Idol Gives Back,” the two-night American Idol special on Fox airing as I write this. The special is to raise awareness and funds for children and young people living in extreme poverty in the United States and Africa.

Celebrities participating in the event include Celine Dion, Kelly Clarkson, Gwen Stefani, Earth, Wind & Fire, Il Divo, Keira Knightley, Hugh Grant, Josh Groban with the African Children’s Choir, Jack Black, Helen Mirren, Rascal Flatts, Quincy Jones, Carrie Underwood, Annie Lennox and many others.

Apple said that all proceeds from the “Idol Gives Back” performances on the iTunes Store will be distributed to relief organizations within the U.S. and Africa via the Charity Projects Entertainment Fund (CPEF).

Performances from the show will be available for download beginning on Thursday.

Great News on the Parkinson's Front

Today is a beautiful day. The sun is shining and I woke up with every cell in my body healthy and awaiting my command for action. It is not so easy for those with Parkinson's Disease. For them, not every cell acts on command - in fact, some cells seem to have willful minds of their own.

About Parkinson's disease

Parkinson's disease is a progressive movement disorder that affects at least one million people in the United States. It is caused by a reduction in dopamine containing nerve cells of the midbrain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter involved in controlling movement and coordination, so Parkinson's patients experiencing a reduction of dopamine-producing nerve cells exhibit the progressive inability to initiate and control physical movements. There is currently no cure for Parkinson's disease.

Today, I am grateful for my health and happy to bring good new to those with Parkinson's.. . . .


Medical News Today

April 17, 2007

Ceregene, Inc., a biopharmaceutical company, today presented long term follow-up data from a Phase 1 clinical trial of CERE-120, a gene therapy product in development for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, demonstrating a 36 percent (p<0.001) reduction in Parkinson's symptoms at 12 months after administration. . .

"We are pleased with the results of this early study which suggests that the majority of patients treated with CERE-120 may have exhibited significant and stable improvement for a full year after receiving a single administration of CERE-120," stated Jeffrey M. Ostrove, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Ceregene. "Each of our products, much like CERE-120, is aimed at unmet neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (AML or Lou Gehrig's disease) with the goal of not only improving the symptoms but also preventing progression of the disease."

This Phase 1 clinical trial was partially supported by a grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research. Based on the results of the Phase 1 study, the Foundation has provided a $1.9 million grant, which will provide partial funding for Ceregene's ongoing Phase 2 trial.
Read the entire article here.

Virginia Tech Sets Up Memorial Fund

Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund

April 16, 2007, will be remembered as one of the darkest days in the history of the Virginia Tech community and the world beyond.

To remember and honor the victims of those tragic events, the university has established the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to aid in the healing process and generate financial support.

The fund will be used to cover expenses including but not limited to:

* Grief counseling
* Memorials
* Communication expenses
* Comfort expenses
* Incidental needs