Local Teens Stand Up to Deadly In-Store Cigarette Advertising

WE’VE SEEN ENOUGH! WORLD NO TOBACCO DAY

This World No Tobacco Day, when it comes to in-store tobacco advertising, Buffalo-area youth want to send a clear message to cigarette makers: “We’ve seen enough!”

Recruiting “replacement smokers,” also known as kids, is a building block for big tobacco’s marketing strategy. Recent surveys have shown that kids are consistently targeted by flashy cigarette advertising in local stores. On May 31, local teens joined together at Clarence High School to raise awareness about this deadly influence.

“Teens are tired of turning a blind eye to deadly in-store advertising,” said Anthony Billoni, Director of the Erie-Niagara Tobacco-Free Coalition, which is based at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI). “This is about standing up to these giant, cancer-causing corporations and letting them know young people aren’t going to be pushed into a lifelong tobacco addiction.”

As part of World No Tobacco Day, more than 30 students from Clarence High School along with young people from Kenmore West High School, the Amherst Youth Consortium and Reality Check gathered for the event. The students wanted to send a message that dangerous tobacco marketing should be removed from stores where kids shop.

“We were honored to host this year’s event and give the students of Clarence High the opportunity to demonstrate positive community involvement,” said Kenneth Smith, Principal of Clarence High School. “It is also imperative that, as educators and parents, we too become aware and understand the impact that tobacco products promotion has on our youth.”

Across New York State, a virtual demonstration was held online as teens posted photos on a special Facebook page set up for the effort. Buffalo-area youth groups that participated in the online conversation included the University at Buffalo and Buffalo State College chapters of Colleges Against Cancer and the Yroswell Street Team. An online petition urging people to take a stand against in-store advertising is posted at TobaccoFreeNYS.org.

Research in the U.S. and abroad suggests that exposure to in-store tobacco promotions is a primary cause of youth smoking. Very few adult smokers begin after high school, with 90 percent of adult smokers starting at or before age 18.

“We should not have to cover our eyes. There are too many stores with too much tobacco marketing. Today, we stand up and send a message that it is time to change the way tobacco products are promoted in our stores,” said Kasheef Moore, Youth Advocate for Reality Check.

Researchers recently evaluated support for tobacco control policies in a telephone survey of Erie and Niagara county residents. Results found that 67% of adults and 80% of youth see tobacco advertising inside and outside of stores. Nearly 80% of adults think tobacco product displays increases the chance that a child will start smoking. Rules that would require tobacco products in stores to be hidden from display are favored by 60% of residents.

As a result of the recent Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (FDA law) and the Master Settlement Agreement (MSA), retail stores are one of the last places where tobacco companies can expose kids to their advertising. Consequently, tobacco companies spend billions of dollars each year marketing their deadly products at the point of sale. This is done by controlling dominant display space in retail stores and through in-store advertising. Both are typically found around the cash register, sometimes referred to as the “goal post” because it is the one place in the store where everyone must go. Tobacco companies invest a lot at these locations in creating so-called “power walls,” large, visually appealing displays of products intended to attract the interest of customers.

About ACS:
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight. As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

About the ENTFC:
The Erie-Niagara Tobacco-Free Coalition is funded by the New York State Tobacco Control Program. The goal is to educate community leaders and the public about the dangers and social costs of tobacco use, engage local stakeholders to adopt policies that restrict the tobacco industry’s presence in our communities, seek to de-normalize tobacco use and eliminate secondhand smoke. For more information, visit www.tobaccofreewny.com or www.tobaccofreenys.org.

Free Canning Program at the Lancaster Market

The Lancaster Market has been selected to participate in the "Discover You Can Summer" by Jarden Home Brand, makers of Ball Brand Fresh Preserving Products, to educate and create meaningful connections with the local farmers and the community. This selection was one of two in New York State and one of fifty in the country. The program is to encourage the canning of local produced fruits and vegetable. This educational program will be held at the Lancaster Market the Save I lot parking lot on Broadway and Aurora Streets. Saturdays and Sundays 7am till 1 pm people can start to pick up coupons and begin to plan their canning projects with the market instructor. Program will include canning contests, recipe exchange, demonstrations on techniques and free canning product. Call Ann Jordan at 481-2961 or lancastervillagemarket@gmail.com and visit www.lancastervillagemarket.com.

Online Health Promotion Programs Educate Prevention for Adults and Children

Adults and children have access to new health and wellness learning opportunities through the launch of online programs this month by BWI Health Promotions and BWI National Health Promotion Training Institute.The training institute, housed at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, was established to offer web-based learning certificate programs to employers, professionals and individuals interested in enhancing their knowledge in the health promotion field. The following courses are now available:

· BWI Health Promotion Coordinator Certification: provides education, support and tools to begin and maintain a successful worksite health promotion program; ideal for human resource professionals and wellness managers/team members

· BWI Personal Health Certification: educates individuals in how to make true lifestyle and behavior changes needed for living a healthier life; ideal for organizations to offer to their employees and/or tied to incentive programs

· BWI "Be Fit Kids" Instructor Certification: trains facilitators to lead, implement and instruct students from kindergarten through sixth grade in a behavior modification program that empowers children and families to take responsibility for their health; ideal for educators and recreation staff members

Continuing education units have been approved by IACET, NYS-PT and BOC through Learning Partners, as well as the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI) in association with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) national chapter.

BWI will also soon release an interactive and educational computer game that excites children about making healthy choices and incorporates New York State Learning Standards. BWI’s “Be Fit Kids-Online,” which complements BWI’s after-school program of the same name, is being added to Master Guru’s learning tool used in schools throughout New York. The program is also ideal for recreation programs and families.

“Be Fit Kids-Online” incorporates a learning management system of customized reports that detail learning gaps, as well as references to interactive websites, lesson plans and activities that can help address individual needs. In addition to the primary version geared toward grades 3 through 5, programs are offered for two other age groups: “Be Fit Little Kids” for pre-K through grade 2 and “Be Fit Tweens” for grades 6 through 8.

For more information on any of the above programs, visit www.bwihp.com or call 1-800-606-7422.

Neuronetics Receives TiE50 Award for Technology Entrepreneurship

New Treatment for Depression Recognized in Life Sciences Category MALVERN, Penn. - May 9, 2011 - Neuronetics, Inc., maker of the NeuroStar Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Therapy® System, has been selected by TiE Silicon Valley as a 2011 recipient of the TiE 50 Award. Neuronetics' NeuroStar TMS Therapy System is the first and only non-systemic and non-invasive TMS device cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD).* More than 1,600 technology startups worldwide are screened for the 50 awards in five categories of the TiE50, TiE's premier annual awards program. Awards are presented at TiEcon, the world's largest entrepreneur's conference. An awards ceremony will take place on May 13 in Santa Clara, Calif. "It is a great honor to be a 2011 TiE50 Award winner," said Neuronetics' President and CEO, Bruce Shook. "Everyone at Neuronetics has worked incredibly hard to make our NeuroStar® TMS system widely available to people suffering from depression. Thousands have benefited from the entrepreneurial spirit and focused effort that made NeuroStar TMS Therapy a reality. It is a privilege to have our hard work recognized by TiE." TiE is a global, not-for-profit network dedicated to the advancement of entrepreneurship. It provides a platform for mentoring, networking and education to entrepreneurs with more than 13,000 members in 56 chapters across 13 countries. About NeuroStar TMS Therapy NeuroStar TMS Therapy was cleared by the FDA in October 2008 for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder in adult patients who have failed to achieve satisfactory improvement from one prior antidepressant medication at or above the minimal effective dose and duration in the current episode. NeuroStar TMS Therapy is a non-systemic (does not circulate in the bloodstream throughout the body) and non-invasive (does not involve surgery) form of neuromodulation. It stimulates nerve cells in an area of the brain that has been linked to depression, by delivering highly focused MRI-strength magnetic field pulses. The treatment is typically administered daily for four to six weeks. In clinical trials, patients treated with active NeuroStar TMS Therapy experienced an average reduction in their depression symptom score of 22.1 percent compared to a 9 percent reduction in patients receiving inactive treatment.[1] In an open-label clinical trial, which is most like real world clinical practice, approximately one in two patients experienced significant improvement in symptoms, and one in three experienced complete symptom resolution.[2] There were no systemic side effects such as those experienced with some antidepressant medications. The most common adverse events related to treatment were scalp pain or discomfort at the treatment area during active treatments.[3] There is a rare risk of seizure with TMS Therapy (0.1 percent of patients under general clinical use). NeuroStar TMS Therapy is contraindicated in patients with non-removable metallic objects in or around the head. NeuroStar TMS Therapy is not indicated or effective for all patients with depression; it is available only upon the prescription of a psychiatrist. For full safety and prescribing information, visit www.NeuroStarTMS.com. Availability of NeuroStar TMS Therapy Treatment with NeuroStar TMS Therapy is available at more than 300 treatment centers throughout the United States. For information on specific treatment locations that offer NeuroStar TMS Therapy, please visit www.NeuroStar.com or call the Neuronetics Customer Service Center at (877) 600-7555. About Neuronetics Neuronetics, Inc., is a privately held medical device company focused on developing non-invasive therapies for psychiatric and neurological disorders using MRI-strength magnetic-field pulses. Based in Malvern, PA, Neuronetics is the leader in the development of TMS Therapy, a non-invasive form of neuromodulation. For more information, please visit www.neuronetics.com. About Depression Depression affects at least 14 million American adults each year. Of those suffering from depression, 6.8 million do not even seek treatment. [4]Often a debilitating disorder, depression results in a persistent state of sadness that interferes with an individual's thoughts, behavior, mood, and physical health. It is important to recognize the symptoms and seek treatment as soon as possible. NeuroStar®, NeuroStar TMS Therapy®, and TMS Therapy® are registered trademarks of Neuronetics, Inc. ### [1] Data on file, Neuronetics, Inc. [2] Demitrack, M. A. and M. Thase (2009). "Clinical Significance of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in the Treatment of Pharmacoresistant Depression: Synthesis of Recent Data."Psychopharmacology Bulletin 42(2): 5 - 38. [3] Janicak, P., J. P. O'Reardon, et al. (2008). "Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder: A Comprehensive Summary of Safety Experience from Acute Exposure, Extended Exposure, and During Reintroduction Treatment." Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 69(2): 222 - 232. [4] Kessler, R., P. Berglund, et al. (2003). "The Epidemiology of Major Depressive Disorder: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R)." (JAMA) Journal of the American Medical Association 289(23): 3095-3105.

Buffalo Medical Group’s My BMG Chart Available on iPhones

WILLIAMSVILLE, NY - Buffalo Medical Group patients can now view their MyBMGChart medical information on their iPhone! The secure application enables patients to access many of the features available on MyBMGChart such as test results, upcoming and past appointments, and messages and health reminders sent from their providers. The app is available from the iPhone app store free of charge and can be accessed by clicking on the “App Store” icon, searching for “MyChart”, and clicking on the iconà. Once the app is downloaded, patients should click the information button to find Buffalo Medical Group, and proceed to log in with the user ID and password they created when they signed up for MyBMGChart. Buffalo Medical Group patients must have an active MyBMGChart account to use this app. If they do not have an account, they should contact their physician’s office to request an access code. The app requires an Apple iOperating system version 3.1.3 or later. As in the case of MyBMGChart, the iPhone app is secure and uses the highest standards to protect patient information. More than 23,000 Buffalo Medical Group patients are now enrolled in MyBMGChart, the patient portal in BMG’s electronic medical record system. It was unveiled in 2008 to enable the Group’s patients to access their own health information from anywhere in the world using a password protected and secure internet connection. Additional information about MyBMGChart is available on the Buffalo Medical Group web site at www.buffalomedicalgroup.com. Interested BMG patients also may call 630-1087.

Treatment with Oral Lenalidomide After Stem-Cell Transplant

MAINTENANCE TREATMENT WITH ORAL LENALIDOMIDE AFTER STEM-CELL TRANSPLANT IMPROVES MULTIPLE MYELOMA SURVIVAL, REDUCES RISK OF DISEASE PROGRESSION
Roswell Park Investigator Dr. Philip McCarthy Presents Data at the 13^th International Myeloma Workshop

BUFFALO, NY — Updated data from a National Cancer Institute-sponsored clinical trial conducted by the Cancer and Leukemia Group (CALGB) was presented May 5 at the 13^th International Myeloma Workshop in Paris, France. The phase III study evaluated the benefits of continuous, or maintenance, treatment with lenalidomide (Revlimid) following an autologous stem-cell transplant in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients and found that lenalidomide delays time to disease progression and improves overall survival compared to placebo. Maintenance therapy is an ongoing treatment given after patients achieve response with initial therapy to try to prolong that response. As of April 2011, patients receiving continuous lenalidomide therapy demonstrated an overall survival rate of 90% at more than two years following transplant, compared to 83% for patients receiving placebo (unadjusted p<0.018). The updated results also further demonstrated that lenalidomide maintenance therapy resulted in longer remissions, delaying disease progression to a median of four years. “This study answers the important question regarding continuous therapy, and the new survival data further validate long-term maintenance with lenalidomide as an important, and effective, treatment option for patients with multiple myeloma,” said Principal Investigator Philip McCarthy, Jr., MD, Professor of Oncology and Director of the Blood & Marrow Transplant Program at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI). “The updated results from the CALGB trial are important and welcome news for patients, especially because so many will relapse or have progressive disease even after a stem-cell transplant.” Lenalidomide is an oral drug that is already used to treat myeloma that recurs or persists despite prior therapy. Multiple myeloma occurs when a type of immune cell, called a plasma cell, becomes too numerous and crowds out healthy blood cells in the bone marrow, causing pain, and gradually damaging the bones and other body organs. An estimated 20,580 people were diagnosed with multiple myeloma in the United States in 2010. Multiple myeloma is treated with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation — a procedure in which some of a patient’s stem cells are removed before therapy and returned after treatment to rebuild the patient’s immune system. However, more than 90 percent of patients eventually experience a cancer relapse. Newly diagnosed patients will find state-of-the-art care and promising new therapies at RPCI.

New Team Leader at VA

The Buffalo Vet Center announced Paul J. Harrigan, Ph.D., as the new Team Leader joining the counseling staff located at 2372 Sweet Home Road, Suite 1, Buffalo 14228. Dr. Harrigan brings military and counseling experience to the Buffalo Vet Center serving as a Supervisory Psychologist/Team Leader responsible for the effective management of the clinic to deliver the highest quality outreach and counseling services for combat Veterans and those who experience Military Sexual Trauma (MST).

During 2008-2011, Dr. Harrigan worked at VA Western New York Healthcare System Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Clinic in Batavia, specializing in the treatment of co-occurring PTSD and Substance Abuse Disorders for outpatient and inpatient Veterans.

Dr. Harrigan’s military experience began with active duty in the United States Marine Corps (USMC) between 1988 and 1992, serving in Operation Sharpe Edge, Monrovia, Liberia and in support of Operation Desert Shield, with the 22^nd Marine Expeditionary Unit, 1990-1991. Upon release from active duty he completed undergraduate studies at Niagara County Community College (NCCC) and earned Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, Niagara University, 1997. Dr. Harrigan then earned his Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology at Columbia University, 1999. He worked as a counselor in community mental health in New York City for a year and then moved to Florida where he earned his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Counseling Psychology from the University of Miami, 2007. While attending University of Miami, Dr. Harrigan completed practicum and was hired at the Miami Vet Center where he worked between 2001 and 2005. He completed his Psychology Internship at the Miami Veteran’s Hospital in 2004. In 2007 Dr. Harrigan relocated back to New York State and served as Home Based Primary Care (HBPC) Psychologist at the Bath, VA medical center for one year. In 2010 he re-enlisted and is currently serving as a Psychologist with the United States Army Reserve.

Dr. Harrigan and the counseling staff at The Department of Veteran Affairs, Buffalo Vet Center can be reached at (716) 862-7350.

Cigarette Packaging Needs To Change

BUFFALO, NY — The messages that cigarette pack labels convey to smokers and nonsmokers have been evaluated by Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) researchers in three studies published in the June 2011 issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The conclusion from these studies is that manufacturers have deceived consumers about the risks of their products for years and that remedial actions are needed so consumers can make informed decisions about the products that they purchase.

“Tobacco companies have used attractive packaging and persuasive images to market their products for decades. These studies support efforts by the FDA to regulate cigarette pack labeling,” said lead author Maansi Bansal-Travers, PhD, Behavioral Research Scientist at RPCI.

Tobacco manufacturers have effectively used cigarette pack design, colors and descriptive terms to create the illusion that filtered and so-called light/mild cigarettes are safer than unfiltered and full-flavor cigarettes, when this is not the case. Beginning in June 2010, regulations contained in the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act have prohibited tobacco companies from using descriptive terms such as “light,” “mild” or “low” in advertising and on cigarette packaging. “While the removal of these obviously misleading terms was a good first step, we discovered that cigarette manufacturers have circumvented the regulation by using different terms such as ‘gold’ and ‘silver’ and changing the colors on packs to continue to mislead consumers about their products,” said Dr. Bansal-Travers.

The paper titled “What Do Cigarette Pack Colors Communicate to Smokers in the U.S.?” found that both colors and descriptors are perceived by smokers to communicate health-risk information. The authors recommend that color-coding be restricted in the same way that descriptors have been to reduce consumer misperceptions.

The paper titled “The Impact of Cigarette Pack Design, Descriptor, and Warning Labels on Risk Perception in the U.S.” found that larger graphic health warnings that convey negative messages are the most effective in communicating health risks to adults and that packs with descriptors such as “smooth” or “silver,” or in specific colors, misleadingly conveyed lower health risks to consumers. The authors concluded that manufacturers should be barred from using any labeling that might be misperceived by consumers and that all cigarettes be sold in standardized plain packs.

The third paper, titled “Correcting Over 50 Years of Tobacco Industry Misinformation,” analyzed proposed corrective statements required by U.S. federal court in the Department of Justice case against cigarette manufacturers. The study found that the proposed corrective statements were effective in correcting false beliefs about smoking and health. The authors also recommended that these statements be printed on cigarette packs and at the point of sale.

K. Michael Cummings, PhD, MPH, Chair of the Department of Health Behavior at RPCI, added, “These studies reveal how consumers are likely to respond to government-mandated changes in package labeling and offer insights and recommendations about how to correct decades of misleading product marketing, so that consumers can make more informed choices about the products they purchase.”

The paper abstracts are available at http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797%2811%2900161-9/abstract, http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797%2811%2900166-8/abstract and http://www.ajpmonline.org/article/S0749-3797%2811%2900163-2/abstract.

Learn more at http://www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or email askrpci@roswellpark.org.

Univera Names New Chief Medical Officer

Richard Vienne, D.O., promoted vice president

and chief medical officer of Univera Healthcare

Dr. Richard Vienne has been appointed vice president and chief medical officer of Univera Healthcare, a Buffalo-based nonprofit health insurer. Vienne will hold the same position with Univera Community Health, a separate nonprofit company that offers government-funded Child Health Plus, Family Health Plus and Plus Med to the uninsured and underinsured in Western New York. He previously served as Regional Medical Director for the health plan.

Vienne resides in Clarence, N.Y. with his wife Melissa and their children Kaitlin, Alex and Andrew.

Breast Cancer Facts and Mammography Screening

Breast cancer, the second leading cause of cancer death (behind lung cancer) among American women, claimed the lives of more than 14,000 New York state women from 2003 through 2007, and a total of 70,000 new cases were diagnosed statewide from 2002 through 2006, according to a new report released by Univera Healthcare. To view the complete fact sheet, go towww.univerahealthcare.com/factsheets.