Israel ETF Investing 101 - Zacks.com

Israel has had a tumultuous history since its inception back in 1948. Be it the age old conflict between its immediate neighbors or with much larger states like Iran, Israel has continually been in the spotlight from a geopolitical perspective.

However, amidst endless political animosity and conflict, the nation has been able to make a name for itself on the economic front. The country?s economy has proven to be quite resilient and a hotbed of technological innovation, despite constant worries from its political situation.

The country?s strong economic policies and adequate capitalization of banks have coupled with efforts to remove barriers to trade and capital flows to the rest of the world have gone a long way in facing the challenges posted by the global economic downturn (see Peru ETF Investing 101).

In fact, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said that ?Israel economy is strong despite the global crisis?. The IMF has also praised their fiscal policies that have kept the economy relatively safe from the economic contagion affecting developed economies in the rest of the world. Also, a low rate of inflation and modest levels of unemployment are the key positives for the nation going forward according to the IMF.

However, political and social unrest have acted as a major bottleneck in the Israeli economy growth trajectory.? As Iran becomes more and more likely-- at least according to some?a nuclear power, it is widely believed that the Islamic nation will clash with the Jewish state before long.

After all, along with Israel, many of the major Western nations (including the U.S.) have also opposed the idea of Iran possessing a nuclear weapon. Given these circumstances, it is quite possible that the two nations might square off in the near future. Although this is by no means guaranteed, if it happens, it could have serious negative implications in the Israeli economy (read Is The Israel ETF Back On Track?).

Nevertheless, some maintain that a diplomatic situation will be achieved with Iran or that the issue will not boil over into a full scale conflict. As we have seen in North Korea, at least so far, a rouge state with nuclear weapons is not always the end of the world, and if anything, can allow investors to get into nearby countries at a geopolitical discount.

Given this, some investors may want to consider a closer look at the Israeli economy despite the headwinds that are currently facing the nation. For this exposure, investors should probably look to the top ETF choice in the nation for a diversified play on the still strong Israeli economy:??

The iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market ETF (EIS) is pretty much the only product from the ETF space that provides an opportunity for a pure play in the Israeli equity space. It tracks the MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market Index, which in turn tracks the performance of the Israeli equity markets. Although the equity ETF was launched in March of 2008, it has managed to amass $76.50 million in its asset base.

The product charges a net expense ratio of 59 basis points per annum and pays out 2.74% as yield. The EIS portfolio is composed of 70 stocks across various sectors.

The ETF has its assets spread across the entire spectrum of market capitalization with a particular bias towards large cap stocks. However, it has a relatively lower average daily volume of around 19,000 shares which give rise to relatively high bid-ask spreads.

EIS has a large exposure in the Financial (28%) and Healthcare (22%) sector as these two sectors taken together, account for around 50% of its total assets.?

Among other segments, it also places its bets heavily in the Material (15%) as well as Information Technology (14.78%) sectors with double digit exposure. Industrials (6.17%), Consumer Staples (2.94%), Energy (2.30%) and Consumer Discretionary (1.32%) are the other sectors in which the ETF has a weighting in (read Forget the BRIC ETFs, Focus on the PICKs).

However, looking at it from an individual holdings point of view, it is revealed that EIS tends to place its bets heavily in the top five holdings which together account for almost 53% of its total assets.

Moreover, a single pharmaceutical company with the largest holdings-- Teva Pharmaceuticals Ltd (TEVA) -- accounts more almost 21.61% of its total assets. Such disparities in the individual holdings could result in a lack of diversification (in terms of company/event specific risk) when compared to other ETFs.

It is also prudent to note that the ETF has an R-Squared value of just 64% against the S&P 500 (since inception). This implies that EIS has low levels of correlation with the broader U.S. equity market. It thus also provides an opportunity for international diversification for U.S investors seeking exposure in the Israeli economy (see Three ETFs With Incredible Diversification).

Also, EIS being a function of emerging market equities one might imagine that the ETF is relatively less volatile than its other counterparts in the region with a three year annualized standard deviation of around 24%.

Although iShares MSCI Israel Capped Investable Market ETF (EIS) posted phenomenally high returns in 2009 (80%) and 2010 (15%) for two consecutive years post the sub-prime mortgage crisis, the ETF lost its way after the latter half of fiscal 2011 amidst the deteriorating global economic conditions and its slippery political relationship with neighbor Iran.

As political intensity heats up between Israel and Iran, investors shun away from the ETF causing massive sell offs during late 2011. This caused the ETF to lose almost 33% for the year 2011. However, it rebounded somewhat in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 returning around 8% for the quarter ending 31st March 2012.

Still, this was short lived as the global economic turmoil again caused a risk-aversion climate among investors. For the quarter ending 30th June 2012, the EIS returned -14.05%. Going into the third quarter, the ETF needed something substantial to happen, in order to restore confidence among investors in this fund amidst its pre-war political intensity with Iran.

Just then, the Fed announced the third round of Quantitative Easing to restore investor confidence in the risky asset classes, a move which led to a rebound in the EIS share price. The ETF returned 10% for the third quarter ending 30th September. Since the announcement of QE3 on September 13th, the ETF has added about 5% (as on 30th September 2012) (read Four ETFs Up More Than 30% YTD).

Having said this, it is also important to note that this by no means is a signal of a trend reversal. Going forward, investor appetite in the fund will be more dependent on Israel?s domestic factors such as political ties with its neighbors and civil peace and harmony within its territories, rather than events surrounding the global economic conditions.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>

Source: http://www.zacks.com/stock/news/84326/israel-etf-investing-101

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Fresh blood not better for transfusions for premature infants, clinical trial shows

ScienceDaily (Oct. 8, 2012) ? In a finding that runs counter to commonly held beliefs about fresh being better, a clinical trial published October 8 by the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that acutely ill premature babies who received fresher blood did not fare better than those who received the current standard of care. There was no difference between the two approaches with respect to major organ injury, mortality and infection.

"Before now, most of the literature on the subject suggested that fresh red blood cells are better," says lead author Dr. Dean Fergusson, who heads up the Clinical Epidemiology Program at the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute and is an associate professor at the University of Ottawa. "However, the effect of fresher blood on clinical outcomes had never been examined using a randomized clinical trial in human patients, which is considered the gold standard in medical science. Now it has, and we found the standards currently in place are no different for this highly vulnerable population of pre-term infants than a policy and system that would favour fresh blood."

Previous observational studies of patient outcomes used already existing clinical data, which is problematic for a number of key reasons. Determining the average age of blood and its impact for those transfused more than once is very difficult because the age of red blood cells used in each transfusion could range dramatically within the acceptable shelf life of 42 days.

Called the ARIPI Randomized Trial, which stands for Age of Red Blood Cells in Premature Infants, this study involved 377 babies weighing less than 1,250 grams and requiring red blood cell transfusions. Randomly, they either received blood that had been stored a week or less, or received the current standard of practice used by blood banks. It turned out that there was no difference in outcome between the two groups.

"Over the years, the number of retrospective studies showing possible harm from older blood has created pressure to change the management of the blood supply to provide fresher transfusion products," says Dr. Dana Devine, Vice President, Medical, Scientific & Research Affairs of Canadian Blood Services. "This is a huge undertaking that would require many more donations than we currently have and greatly increase the cost of operating the blood system.

"To have this particular human clinical trial saying otherwise is important because it is the first such study using the highest level of evidence, the randomized controlled trial, and it was done in a very vulnerable patient population."

The findings of this trial, which took place between May 2006 and June 2011, could not have happened without the hundreds of parents who consented to enroll their children in the study.

"For the families, it's a difficult decision at a difficult time to allow their tiny and fragile child to be a part of a clinical trial. On behalf of the entire team involved in this trial, I salute and thank the families for allowing us to make this important finding," says Dr. Nicole Rouvinez-Bouali, an academic neonatologist at the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario.

The ARIPI trial included six Canadian hospitals: The Ottawa Hospital, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (Ottawa), Jewish General Hospital (Montreal), Royal University Hospital (Saskatoon), Children's and Women's Health Centre of British Columbia (Vancouver), and CHU Sainte-Justine (Montreal).

Funding for the ARIPI Randomized Trial was provided by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Ottawa Hospital Research Institute.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.


Journal Reference:

  1. Dean A. Fergusson et al. Effects of Fresh Red Blood Cell Transfusions on Clinical Outcomes in Premature, Very Low-Birth-Weight Infants. JAMA, 2012 DOI: 10.1001/2012.jama.11953

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/KYJVP-PbH8M/121008091653.htm

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Physical Therapy - When do you need it? | Shannon Miller Lifestyle

Posted In: Fitness : 10/5/2012

Author: Shannon Miller Lifestyle

When do you need Physical Therapy?

Many people start physical therapy because of an accident or trauma that makes certain movements difficult.

A physical therapist uses exercise, massage, and other techniques to help the person become more mobile in that area.

Your physical therapist can also:

  • help reduce risk of injury
  • improve balance and prevent falls
  • help with diabetes

A physical therapist is much more than someone who helps move body parts.? A trained and licensed physical therapist can test for, diagnose, and treat weaknesses and imbalances in the body. She may be able to see the root cause of the problem, where the person suffering may only find the symptom.

Injury happens in repetitive movement.

Golfers, tennis players, and baseball players know this all too well. Repetitive movement starts to add wear and tear to the joints and muscles involved. If one side uses more movement than the other, for instance, the body begins to lose musculoskeletal balance from one side to the other. The result could be injuries or falls.

In the case of Diabetes Type II, one of the roles of a physical therapist is to start a sedentary person on an aerobic routine with proper supervision. They can also help a diabetes patient develop muscle tissue, which in turn helps the body regulate blood sugar easier.

Stroke victims and brain injury patients are not always destined for a future of immobility.

Physical therapists know how to exercise the body and the brain, so that movement can become possible. Now, some stroke victims, with help of physical therapists, re-learn their muscle movements, and lead quite normal lives.

Balance problems can arise in anyone!

Balance problems lead to injuries and falls. They can become a problem for just about anyone. A physical therapist can work on a person?s stride in movement, as well as general balance and muscle toning exercises that balance the body. When the musculature and myofascial tissue is strengthened on both sides, balance problems and falling happen far less often.

Women, in fact, have difficulty as they age or as they become very active in sports, with joints and myofascial (connective) tissue. Because a woman?s body changes at puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, bones and structural tissue may not line up the way it did before.

The results of women?s body changes can be:

  • joint pain
  • back pain
  • hip pain
  • torn ligaments
  • balance problems

SML TIP:? Women encountering these difficulties can find help in a physical therapist such as our friends over at In Motion Physical Therapy in Jacksonville, FL. To find a physical therapist near you, go to the APTA index.

Tags: healthy tips, wellness, women

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Source: http://shannonmillerlifestyle.com/fitness/national-physical-therapy-month

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Auto Credit Analyst (Underwriter) ? DFW - Career Search Network

Overview:
Santander Consumer USA Inc. (?SC USA?) is a leading consumer finance company, whose core business is indirect, direct and third-party originations and servicing of auto loans. With its Drive?, Santander Auto Finance and RoadLoans.com? brands, SC USA?s finance programs help consumers with less-than-perfect credit purchase vehicles. The company began originating loans in 1997, and is headquartered in Dallas with satellite offices throughout the U.S. We are owned by global banking leader Banco Santander (NYSE: STD), which was named ?Best Bank in the World? by EuroMoney Magazine, and one of the ?Top 10 Safest Banks? by Global Finance Magazine.

Associates who work for SC USA are provided with comprehensive benefits, including a Medical PPO, Dental and Vision plans, 401(k) with 100% matching up to 6%. Employees also receive Paid Time Off, paid holidays, Life/LTD/STD Insurance as well as numerous voluntary products such as Medical and Dependent Care FSA, and more. SC USA is an equal opportunity employer. Visit us online at www.SantanderConsumerUSA.com.

Responsibilities:
Summary of Responsibilities:

The Carmax Analyst is responsible for funding retail installment contracts, reviewing and analyzing credit information as well as performing risk analysis of new loan requests from assigned Carmax dealerships.

Essential Functions:

Responsible for managing a queue of customer files with limited supervision or guidance.
Performs verifications to ensure credit guidelines are achieved.
Use analytic skills to assess accuracy of verifications, calculations and data.
Provide world-class customer service through daily interaction with all customers.
Analyze credit applications based on Santander Consumer USA?s (SCUSA) published Carmax program.
Follow up with Carmax Finance Support division on pending contracts.
Assist in resolving problems that may arise on pending contracts.
Building and fostering relationships with assigned customers to support SCUSA?s growth targets through the following activities:
Provide training on SCUSA?s current and new programs.
Follow-up on current approvals.
Support Originations associates (Credit, Funding and Sales) as needed to ensure customer satisfaction and advocacy.
Decision and/or communicate loan approvals, conditions and declines; rehashing when necessary to obtain approvals.
Answer in-bound calls to provide resolution or, if needed, manage the escalation required for issues, questions, requests.
Utilizes creative methods to generate results and to foster teamwork.
Identifies appropriate title work for various states.
Assist with other lines of business as directed by management and business needs.

Other Functions:

Special projects as requested.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Participation in team related activities and meetings.
Working Conditions:

Overtime work may be required throughout the year.
Coverage must be provided during Carmax business hours, 8am-11pm.
Shifts and/or schedules will change throughout the year as directed by management and business needs, flexibility required.
Schedules will include some evening, weekend and holiday shifts.

Qualifications:
Requirements:

Bachelor?s Degree preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted for degree.
Two (2) years experience in the financial services industry required; auto-finance experience and specialty finance experience a must.
Detailed understanding of credit bureau reports.
Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
PC/Windows skills ? including Microsoft Office.
Ability to maintain confidentiality.

If you?re interested, please contact Nicole at nprior@santanderconsumerusa.com. You may also apply online at https://jobs-santanderconsumerusa.icims.com/jobs/4675/carmax-analyst/job.

Source: http://search4uinc.com/2012/10/auto-credit-analyst-underwriter/

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Mollusc missing link revealed in 3-D

[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 3-Oct-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Simon Levey
s.levey@imperial.ac.uk
44-020-759-46702
Imperial College London

Scientists have discovered a rare fossil called Kulindroplax, the missing link between two mollusc groups, which is revealed in a 3D computer model, in research published today in the journal Nature.

The researchers have unearthed the worm-like partly shelled Kulindroplax, which they have modelled in a 3D computer animation. Kulindroplax lived in the sea during the Silurian Period, approximately 425 million years ago, when most life lived in the oceans and the first plants were beginning to grow on land. The team found the Kulindroplax fossil, the only one of its kind in the world, in the Welsh borderland, and it is providing the evolutionary missing link between two groups of molluscs and shedding more light on the their early origins.

The study was led by Dr Mark Sutton, from the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London, in conjunction with researchers from the Universities of Oxford, Leicester, Yale and Queen's University Belfast.

Dr Sutton says: "Most people don't realise that molluscs, which have been around for hundreds of millions of years, are an extremely rich and diverse branch of life on Earth. Just as tracing a long lost uncle is important for developing a more complete family tree, unearthing this extremely rare and ancient Kulindroplax fossil is helping us to understand the relationship between two mollusc groups, which is also helping us to understand how molluscs have evolved on Earth."

For over 20 years, scientists have debated the evolutionary relationship between two groups of molluscs called the aplacophorans, which are carnivorous, worm-like, sea-living creatures, and the chitons, which are molluscs that have shell plates for armour and live in the sea or on the seashore both still live in Earth's oceans today.

The researchers in today's study analysed the 3D model of Kulindroplax and discovered that it had the worm-like body of the aplacophorans, but was partly shelled like the chitons. The combination of features in Kulindroplax confirmed to the team that that aplacophorans and chitons are closely related. Furthermore, the researchers believe that their 3D fossil is the missing link that shows how the worm-like aplacophorans evolved from chiton-like ancestors by losing their shells, providing fresh insight into the mollusc evolutionary tree.

The researchers discovered the Kulindroplax fossil, which is the size of a small caterpillar, in a deposit called the Herefordshire Lagersttte. This deposit was formed when a cloud of volcanic ash settled through the Siluian seas and entombed a range of species, including Kulindroplax, as almost perfectly preserved fossils.

In order to develop their 3D animation, the team cut the Kulindroplax fossil into 1300 slices, taking digital images of each one, which were fed into a computer. The researchers in the study say this method provides unprecedented detail from the fossils, enabling them to analyse features that have been previously unseen.

###


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] Public release date: 3-Oct-2012
[ | E-mail | Share Share ]

Contact: Simon Levey
s.levey@imperial.ac.uk
44-020-759-46702
Imperial College London

Scientists have discovered a rare fossil called Kulindroplax, the missing link between two mollusc groups, which is revealed in a 3D computer model, in research published today in the journal Nature.

The researchers have unearthed the worm-like partly shelled Kulindroplax, which they have modelled in a 3D computer animation. Kulindroplax lived in the sea during the Silurian Period, approximately 425 million years ago, when most life lived in the oceans and the first plants were beginning to grow on land. The team found the Kulindroplax fossil, the only one of its kind in the world, in the Welsh borderland, and it is providing the evolutionary missing link between two groups of molluscs and shedding more light on the their early origins.

The study was led by Dr Mark Sutton, from the Department of Earth Science and Engineering at Imperial College London, in conjunction with researchers from the Universities of Oxford, Leicester, Yale and Queen's University Belfast.

Dr Sutton says: "Most people don't realise that molluscs, which have been around for hundreds of millions of years, are an extremely rich and diverse branch of life on Earth. Just as tracing a long lost uncle is important for developing a more complete family tree, unearthing this extremely rare and ancient Kulindroplax fossil is helping us to understand the relationship between two mollusc groups, which is also helping us to understand how molluscs have evolved on Earth."

For over 20 years, scientists have debated the evolutionary relationship between two groups of molluscs called the aplacophorans, which are carnivorous, worm-like, sea-living creatures, and the chitons, which are molluscs that have shell plates for armour and live in the sea or on the seashore both still live in Earth's oceans today.

The researchers in today's study analysed the 3D model of Kulindroplax and discovered that it had the worm-like body of the aplacophorans, but was partly shelled like the chitons. The combination of features in Kulindroplax confirmed to the team that that aplacophorans and chitons are closely related. Furthermore, the researchers believe that their 3D fossil is the missing link that shows how the worm-like aplacophorans evolved from chiton-like ancestors by losing their shells, providing fresh insight into the mollusc evolutionary tree.

The researchers discovered the Kulindroplax fossil, which is the size of a small caterpillar, in a deposit called the Herefordshire Lagersttte. This deposit was formed when a cloud of volcanic ash settled through the Siluian seas and entombed a range of species, including Kulindroplax, as almost perfectly preserved fossils.

In order to develop their 3D animation, the team cut the Kulindroplax fossil into 1300 slices, taking digital images of each one, which were fed into a computer. The researchers in the study say this method provides unprecedented detail from the fossils, enabling them to analyse features that have been previously unseen.

###


[ Back to EurekAlert! ] [ | E-mail | Share Share ]

?


AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.


Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2012-10/icl-mml100112.php

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Machine Gun Kelly, Ryan Leslie Urge Young Voters To Think Local

'On a very local and individual and personal level, there's a lot that can be done to start rebuilding this nation,' Leslie tells 'RapFix Live.'
By Rob Markman


Machine Gun Kelly on "RapFix Live"
Photo: MTV News

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1694980/machine-gun-kelly-ryan-leslie-elections.jhtml

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Survey of Polls: Presidential Race in Battlegrounds by Demographics

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/survey-polls-presidential-race-battlegrounds-demographics-100149480--politics.html

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UK government ditches rail contract

LONDON (AP) ? The British government's rail policy was thrown into chaos Wednesday after it canceled a disputed contract to run one of the country's busiest lines following the discovery of "unacceptable mistakes" in the way it awarded the franchise.

The announcement is a partial victory for the line's present operator, Richard Branson's Virgin Group, which lost out on the 13-year contract to run the west coast London-to-Scotland service in August to rival operator FirstGroup.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin called off the contract because of "deeply regrettable and completely unacceptable mistakes" made by his department in the way it managed the bidding process.

The errors were uncovered as the department was preparing to deal with a High Court challenge brought by Branson, who challenged the contract's award.

McLoughlin said staff had been suspended and an investigation had been launched. The bidding process will be run again.

The government's errors related to how the level of risk in the bids was evaluated. The department said in a statement that "mistakes were made in the way in which inflation and passenger numbers were taken into account."

The problem raises questions about the department's overall ability to assess and make decisions on contracts, said rail expert Christian Wolmar. Everything will be placed on hold.

"It's a very small team there," he said.

The announcement struck a nerve in a country where the privatization of railways in the 1990s has left a troubled legacy. Critics say the nationalization was rushed and resulted in a system that is both complicated and inefficient. Trains are often crowded and consumer groups argue that services are often three to five times more expensive than their European counterparts.

Train tracks are not maintained by train operators. And with some contracts as short as five years, rail operators are largely discouraged from investing in the system.

What's often lost in discussions on contracts are the passengers, said the consumer group Campaign for Better Transport.

"It shows the difficulties with the current system," said Richard Hebditch, the campaign director. "The point of the franchising is to improve the service, but I don't think that really happened."

Branson, the Virgin chief, praised transport authorities for reconsidering their decision. He said he was hopeful Virgin, which had been running the route since 1997, could continue operating the franchise.

FirstGroup said it was "extremely disappointed" at the news. Its shares plunged just over 20 percent Wednesday in London trading.

The uncertainty over the line's franchise also prompted concern about the economy in the region. Adam Marshall, director of policy at the British Chambers of Commerce, said that the government needs to move quickly to ensure that investment in the railway network does not suffer.

"The West Coast line is one of Britain's most important business corridors, and companies in cities up and down the country will be concerned that this situation could affect both current services and future investment in critical passenger services," he said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uk-government-ditches-rail-contract-121147315--finance.html

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Doctor: Md. man imprisoned in Cuba may have cancer

WASHINGTON (AP) ? A doctor says an American man imprisoned in Cuba may have a cancerous growth on his shoulder, contradicting the Cuban government which has said his health is normal.

A lawyer for the imprisoned man, Maryland native Alan Gross, said Tuesday that a U.S. physician came to that conclusion after reviewing medical records sent by Cuba. The doctor said the mass that appeared more than five months ago behind Gross' right shoulder must be assumed to be cancerous unless proven harmless.

Gross, 63, has been in prison in Cuba since late 2009. He was working as a U.S. government subcontractor when he was arrested, and his case has become a sticking point in U.S.-Cuba relations.

A senior Cuban diplomat, Foreign Ministry official Josefina Vidal, said in September that Gross's health "continues to be normal and he exercises regularly."

But Dr. Alan A. Cohen, a Maryland radiologist who reviewed medical records sent by Cuba, said in a statement released Tuesday by Gross' lawyer that some of the studies were mislabeled and that the mass "has yet to be properly evaluated." He said it would be preferable if Gross was immediately examined at a facility in the United States.

Messages left early Tuesday with Cuban government officials in Havana and a spokesman for the Cuban Interests Section in Washington, which Cuba maintains instead of an embassy, were not immediately returned. Gross' lawyer, Jared Genser, said Cohen's review was sent to the Interests Section by email Monday.

Genser also released a statement from Gross' wife, Judy Gross, in which she asked Cuban President Raul Castro to allow her husband to be examined by a doctor chosen by Gross and his family. She and her lawyer have made the same request before.

"President Castro, I beg you not to let my husband die on your watch," Judy Gross said. "Your country claims to have such a wonderful health care system - yet why have your doctors misdiagnosed him and failed to order the right tests to determine what is actually happening?"

Gross is serving a 15-year prison sentence imposed by a Cuban court in March 2011. The sentence stems from his work importing satellite and other communications equipment into the communist country as part of a democracy-building program funded by the United States Agency for International Development. Cuba considers such programs to be attempts against its sovereignty.

___

Associated Press writer Peter Orsi in Havana contributed to this report.

___

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Source: http://news.yahoo.com/doctor-md-man-imprisoned-cuba-may-cancer-154121697.html

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Fuchs' Corneal Dystrophy: My Story - Eyes & Vision Article by ...

I was recently diagnosed with Fuchs' corneal dystrophy (Fuchs) in my right eye. I?d like to share my experience.

According to the Mayo Clinic, ?Fuchs' dystrophy (fooks DIS-truh-fee) is an uncommon, slowly progressive disorder that affects the cornea ? the transparent front surface of your eye. Fuchs' dystrophy is a type of corneal dystrophy, a group of conditions that may cause a hazy deposit to build up over the cornea.?

My optometrist first recognized that I had Fuchs when I went to see him for cloudy eyes. To give you as description, it was as if my right eye was steamed over like a windshield. I thought it was eyestrain. I was wrong.

From there, the optometrist referred me to a corneal specialist who confirmed the diagnosis as Fuchs. He prescribed me with over-the-counter eye drops called Muro 128, which is basically sodium chloride. This helps dry out the cornea to slow down the leak, which causes the cloudiness.

After two weeks of using Muro 128 eye drops every hour on the hour, the specialist told me that the only cure would be a corneal transplant because there is no cure for Fuchs.

It would continually get worse, but it could take days, months or years. However, he would not do a transplant until I went totally blind. Wrong answer, in my opinion.

At that point, I did consider myself totally blind in the right eye unless I used the Muro eyedrops every half hour during my waking hours. I also wear glasses, but the right eye prescription was totally wrong by this time.

So, after two months of carrying Muro 128 eye drops in a tiny pouch around my neck, constantly putting in eye drops, I decided it was time for another opinion.

I found a young, enthusiastic ophthalmologist named Dr. Albert Caruana at Cleveland Clinic Florida who specializes in corneal transplants. I say "young and enthusiatic" because as I get older, the doctors look like kids to me, but in my case, I was happy to find a doctor that was almost right out of medical school.

Dr. Caruana did the corneal transplant within a few months. It was a simple day surgery followed by check-up appointments after the first few weeks.

We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

Source: http://www.empowher.com/eyes-amp-vision/content/fuchs-corneal-dystrophy-my-story

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