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Gary Lipton Media Relations Manager Phone: 1-(800)-222-5551 Fax: 1-(800)-990-4329 Web site: www. napsnet .com e-mail: printmedia@napsnet.com #2620 North American Precis Syndicate, Inc., 415 Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10017 Eat Salad To Your Health Tackling Rare Diseases That Affect Millions (NAPSA)—The estimated 25 million Americans who suffer from one of the 7,000 identified rare diseases may be relieved to know biopharmaceutical researchers are working on over 400 new medicines to help fight those conditions. The Challenge Roughly 80 percent of rare diseases affect fewer than 6,000 patients in the U.S. There is a great need for new medicines to treat these diseases, most of which afflict children. However, the challenges of finding new treatments can be equally great. Many of these diseases are little understood and it can take years just to get an accurate diagnosis, which also limits the pool of potential clinical trial participants. That can make it difficult to enroll enough clinical trial participants to meet the Food and Drug Administration’s requirements. Because of this and other hurdles, rare disease research can be significantly more challenging and time consuming than other biopharmaceutical research, which can generally take 10 to 15 years and cost, on average, $1.3 billion to bring a new medicine to patients. Some Solutions Meanwhile, positive policies such as the Orphan Drug Act help spur innovation by providing fair incentives to companies that accept the burden, cost and risk of entering this field of research. Says Chris Silber, M.D., vice president of U.S. Clinical Research and Medical Affairs for Lundbeck, Inc., “Finding Orphan drug research can bring a first-of-its-kind medicine to patients and give them hope for the future. a therapy that really works in an underserved population that has been through tremendous adversity is one of the most gratifying things I can imagine.” “Once you’ve talked to a desperate parent whose child is suffering or dying, you will be forever convinced of the need for medical innovation, including for terrible diseases that afflict even just a few,” adds PhRMA President and CEO John J. Castellani. “Researchers at biopharmaceutical companies are working every day to bring hope to patients with limited options.” PhRMA represents the country’s leading pharmaceutical research and biotechnology companies, which are devoted to inventing medicines that allow patients to live longer, healthier lives. (NAPSA)—An excellent way to get the recommended nutrient needs each day is to eat a lot of salad. Salad eaters tend to have higher intakes of certain essential nutrients, such as vitamins C and E and folate, and the healthy oils in salad dressings can help the body to absorb many of these important nutrients. Plus, most salad dressings are free of trans fat. What’s the key to a healthy salad? According to Sarah Wally, M.S., R.D., “The nutritional value of your salad depends on what ingredients you choose.” Selecting A well-dressed salad with pears and pecans can be a delicious and healthful addition to your day. Photo courtesy of the Association for Dressings & Sauces and the National Pecan Shellers Association. a rainbow of colorful fruits and vegetables for salads ensures that you’re eating a wide range of beneficial nutrients. What’s more, you can enjoy a different salad with dressing every day of the year. The Association for Dressings & Sauces, an association of salad dressing, mayonnaise and condiment sauce manufacturers and suppliers, has a way to help health-conscious consumers do just that. You can find information about salads and hundreds of creative salad recipe ideas on www.saladaday.org. Note to Editors: Although The Association for Dressings & Sauces has celebrated May as National Salad Month since 1992, this article can benefit your readers at any time. A Complete Kitchen Makeover For Under $500 (NAPSA)—The kitchen has always been the heart of the home —a place where the family socializes and entertains friends. It’s no wonder a kitchen remodel occupies first place on many homeowners’ wish list, especially at a time when families are spending less time dining out and more time at home. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most expensive and timeconsuming home improvement projects a family will undertake, ranging from $17,000 to $20,000 for a basic kitchen remodel. “Since the kitchen occupies a highly visible space in the home, it’s understandable that families want it to reflect their style and personality. But unfortunately, a traditional kitchen remodel can mean a bigger investment of time and money than many families can handle,” says Ann Gearty, Rust-Oleum senior brand manager. “Fortunately, now there’s an affordable alternative. For less than $500, homeowners can update their old, outdated cabinets and countertops and make them look brand new thanks to breakthrough coating technologies.” Here’s how: Start with the cabinets: They are the focal point of any kitchen and will set the tone for the look and feel of the entire room. Instead of replacing or refacing, it’s easy to transform worn, outdated cabinets to the look of beautiful handcrafted cabinets with Rust-Oleum Cabinet Transformations. The refinishing system provides you with all the tools you need to give your cabinets a fresh, new look for under $150—without the stripping, sanding or priming associated with cabinet painting. It works on all types of cabinets—wood, You don’t have to replace your countertop to get a sleek new look. melamine, laminate and more. Plus, it is available in 70 beautiful finishes and is guaranteed to last for years to come. Rethink your current countertop: You don’t have to replace your countertop to get a sleek new look. With new Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformations, you can transform your worn or damaged laminate countertops at a fraction of the cost of replacement. Available in a convenient kit for $250, the innovative coating system comes with all the tools needed to transform your outdated countertops to mirror the look of natural stone—like granite. The coating was put through extensive testing to ensure it could stand up against daily wear and tear. It’s available in five different colors, and is so easy to use, the entire project can be completed in less than a weekend. Don’t forget the details: It’s easy to make your old cabinet knobs and pulls look brand new with a few coats of spray paint. Try a spray paint such as Universal Oil-Rubbed Bronze to mimic one of today’s hottest metal finishes. For more information on alternatives to the traditional kitchen remodel, visit www.rustoleum transformations.com.