PARIS (AP) ? Only a few living designers can execute a couture show where almost every look glistens as much with classic timelessness as it does with innovation.
Fashion legend Giorgio Armani, 78, is one of them.
Proof was Armani Prive's spring-summer 2013 show on Tuesday: a finely balanced affair contrasting the classic with the exotic.
In 54 looks, the designer tastefully combined luxurious materials ?like Mikado silks, clean satins, organzas and silk jacquards ? alongside Africa-style patterns, geometric zigzags and bold color like saffron yellow, ruby red and orange.
A huge lightning bolt down the catwalk added to the eclectic energy coming from ethnic-style jewelry, art deco hats and mysterious wands.
The statement was loud and clear: this season it was about intensity.
There were cheers at one point for one funky full skirt with its loud geometric pattern and bold grosgrain effect waistcoat.
The taste of the ensemble was maintained with black satin pants underneath that featured on high rotation throughout the show in a looser slimline shape.
Rhinestones, sequins and fringes in black jet added the Armani-style class, which periodically attracts stars such as Hilary Swank, Uma Thurman and Claudia Cardinale.
They were seen, loyally, watching from the front row.
___
Thomas Adamson can be followed at http://Twitter.com/ThomasAdamsonAP
BANGKOK (AP) ? Asian stock markets fell Wednesday ahead of a U.S. vote on raising the nation's borrowing limit.
Analysts said that stock markets have room for gains if U.S. lawmakers make progress on raising the debt ceiling. The House is set to vote on a motion to increase the nation's $16.4 trillion borrowing authority for three months.
Without congressional action, the Treasury sometime in late February or early March will not have enough money to pay for all of its obligations, creating the possibility of a first-ever default on the government's debts.
"A vote is expected today, and if it is passed as expected it should clear the very short term obstacles for risk appetite, although battles on automatic spending cuts and the budget itself are not so long away," said analysts at Credit Agricole CIB in a market commentary.
Japan's Nikkei 225 index tumbled 1.3 percent to 10,566.59, a day after the country's central bank announced widely expected measures to help the economy, including open-ended asset purchases starting in 2014. Some analysts said investors were disappointed that the central bank didn't take more aggressive measures.
Francis Lun, managing director of Lyncean Holdings in Hong Kong, said the Bank of Japan's latest efforts won't reverse two decades of stagnant growth without addressing the country's budget deficit and public debt, which ballooned under years of efforts to stimulate the economy.
"They are not doing anything to address the problem. They are just using the same old methods, of printing money to sustain economic growth. If you use that too often, it will lose its efficacy," Lun said.
South Korea's Kospi shed 0.5 percent to 1,987.99. Hong Kong's Hang Seng fell 0.4 percent to 23,559.29. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 bucked the trend, rising 0.2 percent to 4,787.80.
Among individual stocks, BHP Billiton rose 1.3 percent in Sydney after the mining giant's half-year iron ore production results exceeded expectations. Japan's Kobe Steel plummeted 7.5 percent while banking giant Nomura Holdings fell 3.7 percent.
Strong earnings reports from big U.S. companies helped push the Dow Jones industrial average to its eighth gain in nine sessions Tuesday. The gains came despite a report showing sales of previously occupied homes dipped in December from November.
The news wasn't as bad as it looked. Sales rose last year to 4.65 million, a 9.2 percent increase from the previous year and the most in five years.
The Dow closed up 0.5 percent at 13,712.21. The Standard & Poor's 500 index gained 0.4 percent to 1,492.56. The Nasdaq composite average rose 0.3 percent to 3,143.18. Tech behemoths Google and IBM reported solid earnings gains after the market closed.
Benchmark oil for March delivery was down 14 cents to $96.54 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract rose 68 cents to close at $96.24 a barrel on the Nymex on Tuesday.
In currencies, the euro fell to $1.3309 from $1.3317 in New York on Tuesday. The dollar fell to 88.44 yen from 88.76 yen.
___
Follow Pamela Sampson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pamelasampson
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu emerged the bruised winner of Israel's election on Tuesday, with his hawkish bloc unexpectedly losing ground to resurgent center-left challengers, exit polls showed.
They suggested the Israeli leader's Likud party, yoked with the ultra-nationalist Yisrael Beitenu group, would still be the biggest bloc in the 120-member assembly with 31 of the 120 seats, 11 fewer than the 42 they had in the previous parliament.
If the exit polls compiled by three Israeli television channels prove correct, Netanyahu would be on course to secure a third term in office, perhaps leading a hardline coalition that would promote Jewish settlement on occupied land.
But his weakened showing in an election he himself called earlier than necessary could complicate the struggle to forge an alliance with a stable majority in parliament.
The projections showed right-wing parties with a combined strength of 61-62 seats against 58-59 for the center-left.
The 63-year-old Israeli leader promised during his election campaign to focus on tackling Iran's nuclear ambitions if he won, shunting Palestinian peacemaking well down the agenda despite Western concern to keep the quest for a solution alive.
After a lackluster campaign, Israelis voted in droves on a sunny winter day, registering the highest projected turnout since 1999 when Netanyahu, serving his first term as prime minister, was defeated by then-Labour Party leader Ehud Barak.
The strong turnout buoyed center-left parties which had pinned their hopes on energizing an army of undecided voters against Netanyahu and his nationalist-religious allies.
The centrist Yesh Atid (There is a Future) party, led by former television talk show host Yair Lapid, came second with 18 or 19 seats, exit polls showed - a stunning result for a fledgling newcomer to Israeli politics.
Lapid won support amongst middle-class, secular voters by promising to resolve a growing housing shortage, abolish military draft exemptions for Jewish seminary students and seek an overhaul of the failing education system.
The once dominant Labour party led by Shelly Yachimovich was projected to take third place with 17 seats.
A stream of opinion polls before the election had predicted an easy win for Netanyahu. The final opinion polls on Friday showed his Likud-Beitenu group still on top, but losing some ground to the Jewish Home party, which opposes a Palestinian state and advocates annexing chunks of the occupied West Bank.
Jewish Home was projected to take 12 seats.
COALITION BUILDING
Full election results are due by Wednesday morning and official ones will be announced on January 30. After that, President Shimon Peres is likely to ask Netanyahu, as leader of the biggest bloc in parliament, to try to form a government.
The former commando has traditionally looked to religious, conservative parties for backing and is widely expected to seek out self-made millionaire Naftali Bennett, who heads the Jewish Home party and stole much of the limelight during the campaign.
Political sources said before the election that Netanyahu might approach center-left parties in an effort to broaden his coalition and present a more moderate face to worried allies.
British Foreign Secretary William Hague warned Israel on Tuesday it was losing international support, saying prospects for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were almost dead because of expanding Jewish settlements.
U.S.-brokered peace talks broke down in 2010 amid mutual acrimony. Since then Israel has accelerated construction in the West Bank and east Jerusalem - land the Palestinians want for their future state - much to the anger of Western partners.
Tuesday's vote is the first in Israel since Arab uprisings swept the region two years ago, reshaping the Middle East.
Netanyahu has said the turbulence, which has brought Islamist governments to power in several countries long ruled by secularist autocrats, including neighboring Egypt, shows the importance of strengthening national security.
He views Iran's nuclear program as a mortal threat to the Jewish state and has vowed not to let Tehran enrich enough uranium to make a single nuclear bomb - a threshold Israeli experts say could arrive as early as mid-2013.
Iran denies it is planning to build the bomb, and says Israel, widely believed to have the only nuclear arsenal in the Middle East, is the biggest threat to the region.
The issue barely registered during the election campaign, with a poll in Haaretz newspaper on Friday saying 47 percent of Israelis thought social and economic issues were the most pressing concern, against just 10 percent who cited Iran.
One of the first problems to face the next government, which is unlikely to take power before the middle of next month at the earliest, is the stuttering economy.
Data last week showed the budget deficit rose to 4.2 percent of gross domestic product in 2012, double the original estimate, meaning spending cuts and tax hikes look certain.
(Additional reporting by Jerusalem bureau; Editing by Alistair Lyon and Alastair Macdonald)
Providing both satisfying and challenging work along with a highly professional and friendly work atmosphere, Sedgwick has a strong commitment to its colleagues and its clients. If you are seeking place where you can do great things for those whose lives you touch while maximizing your own career possibilities, Sedgwick is the place for you. As the largest and most innovative Third Party Administrator in the claims industry and the first and only TPA to receive both recognition as the Best TPA in America and the coveted Employer of Choice designation, we invite you to come be a part of our team and, ?Claim Your Future.?
PRIMARY PURPOSE : To supervise the operation of multiple teams of examiners and technical staff for workers compensation for clients; to monitor colleagues' workloads, provide training, and monitor individual claim activities; to provide technical/jurisdictional direction to examiner reports on claims adjudication; and to maintain a diary on claims in the teams including frequent diaries on complex or high exposure claims.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS and RESPONSIBILITIES
Supervises multiple teams of examiners, multiple product line examiners and/or several (minimum seven) technical operations colleagues for a wide span of control; may delegate some duties to others within the unit.
Identifies and advises management of trends, problems, and issues as well as recommended course of action; informs management of new procedures and ideas for continuous process improvement; and coordinates with management projects for the office.
Provides technical/jurisdictional direction to examiner reports on claims adjudication.
Compiles, reviews and analyzes management reports and takes appropriate action.
Performs quality review on claims in compliance with audit requirements, service contract requirements, and quality standards.
Acts as second level of appeal for client and claimant issues regarding claim specific, procedural or special requests; implements final disposition of the appeal.
Reviews reserve amounts on high cost claims and claims over the authority of the individual examiner.
Monitors third party claims; maintains periodical review of litigated claims, serious vocational rehabilitation claims, questionable claims and sensitive claims as determined by client.
Maintains contact with the client on claims and promotes a professional client relationship; makes recommendations to client as suggested by the claim status; and provides written resumes of specific claims as requested by client.
Assures that direct reports are properly licensed in the jurisdictions serviced.
Ensures claims files are coded correctly and adequate documentation is made by claims examiners.
ADDITIONAL FUNCTIONS and RESPONSIBILITIES
Performs other duties as assigned.
Supports the organization's quality program(s).
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
Administers company personnel policies in all areas and follows company staffing standards and training recommendations.
Interviews, hires and establishes colleague performance development plans; conducts colleague performance discussions.
Provides support, guidance, leadership and motivation to promote maximum performance.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education & Licensing Baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university preferred. Licenses as required. Professional certifications as applicable to line of business preferred.
Experience Six (6) years claims experience including two ( 2) years claims supervisor experience with the company required.
Skills & Knowledge
Thorough knowledge of claims management processes and procedures for multiple product lines
Excellent oral and written communication, including presentation skills
PC literate, including Microsoft Office products
Leadership/management/motivational skills
Analytical and interpretive skills
Strong organizational skills
Excellent interpersonal skills
Excellent negotiation skills
Ability to work in a team environment
Ability to meet or exceed Performance Competencies
WORK ENVIRONMENT When applicable and appropriate, consideration will be given to reasonable accommodations.
Mental: Clear and conceptual thinking ability; excellent judgment, troubleshooting, problem solving, analysis, and discretion; ability to handle work-related stress; ability to handle multiple priorities simultaneously; and ability to meet deadlines
Physical: Computer keyboarding, travel as required
Auditory/Visual: Hearing, vision and talking
NOTE : Credit security clearance, confirmed via a background credit check, is required for this position .
The statements contained in this document are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by a colleague assigned to this description. They are not intended to constitute a comprehensive list of functions, duties, or local variances. Management retains the discretion to add or to change the duties of the position at any time.
Choose a category that best suits your article: ??????????????????????????- Arts and Entertainment: Astrology Arts and Entertainment: Casino Gambling Arts and Entertainment: General Arts and Entertainment: Humanities Arts and Entertainment: Humor Arts and Entertainment: Movies TV Arts and Entertainment: Music Arts and Entertainment: Performing Arts Arts and Entertainment: Philosophy Arts and Entertainment: Photography Arts and Entertainment: Poetry Arts and Entertainment: Tattoos Automotive: ATV Automotive: General Automotive: Mobile Audio Video Automotive: Motorcycles Automotive: RV Automotive: Trucks Business: Accounting Business: Accounting Payroll Business: Advertising Business: Branding Business: Careers Employment Business: Change Management Business: Continuity Disaster Recovery Business: Customer Service Business: Entrepreneurialism Business: Ethics Business: Franchising Business: Fund Raising Business: General Business: Industrial Mechanical Business: Management Business: Marketing Business: Marketing Direct Business: Negotiation Business: Networking Business: Non Profit Business: Outsourcing Business: PR Business: Presentation Business: Productivity Business: Renewable Energy Business: Resume Cover Letters Business: Retail Business: Sales Business: Sales Management Business: Sales Telleselling Business: Sales Training Business: Security Business: Small Business Business: Solo Professionals Business: Strategic Planning Business: Team Building Business: Top X Number of Tips Business: Venture Capital Business: Workplace Communication Cancer: Breast Cancer Cancer: Colon Rectal Cancer Cancer: General Cancer: Leukemia Lymphoma Cancer Cancer: Lung Mesothelioma Asbestos Cancer: Ovarian Cervical Uterine Cancer Cancer: Prostate Cancer Cancer: Skin Cancer Communications: Broadband Internet Communications: Fax Communications: General Communications: GPS Communications: Mobile Cell Phone Communications: Satellite Radio Communications: Satellite TV Communications: Telephone Systems Communications: Video Conferencing Communications: VOIP Computers and Technology: Certification Tests Computers and Technology: Computer Forensics Computers and Technology: Data Recovery Computers and Technology: Games Computers and Technology: General Computers and Technology: Hardware Computers and Technology: Mobile Computing Computers and Technology: Personal Tech Computers and Technology: Software Finance: Bankruptcy Finance: Credit Finance: Currency Trading Finance: Day Trading Finance: Debt Consolidation Finance: Debt Relief Finance: Estate Plan Trusts Finance: General Finance: Investing Finance: Leases Leasing Finance: Loans Finance: Personal Finance Finance: Stocks Mutual Funds Finance: Structured Settlements Finance: Taxes Finance: Taxes Property Finance: Wealth Building Food and Drink: Chocolate Food and Drink: Coffee Food and Drink: Cooking Tips Food and Drink: Crockpot Recipes Food and Drink: Desserts Food and Drink: General Food and Drink: Low Calorie Food and Drink: Main Course Food and Drink: Pasta Dishes Food and Drink: Recipes Food and Drink: Restaurant Reviews Food and Drink: Salads Food and Drink: Soups Food and Drink: Tea Food and Drink: Wine Spirits Health and Fitness: Acne Health and Fitness: Aerobics Cardio Health and Fitness: Allergies Health and Fitness: Alternative Health and Fitness: Anti Aging Health and Fitness: Arthritis Health and Fitness: Back Pain Health and Fitness: Beauty Health and Fitness: Build Muscle Health and Fitness: Dental Care Health and Fitness: Depression Health and Fitness: Detoxification Health and Fitness: Diabetes Health and Fitness: Diseases Health and Fitness: Drug Abuse Health and Fitness: Ears Hearing Health and Fitness: Eating Disorders Health and Fitness: Ergonomics Health and Fitness: Exercise Health and Fitness: Eyes Vision Health and Fitness: Fitness Equipment Health and Fitness: General Health and Fitness: Hair Loss Health and Fitness: Healing Arts Health and Fitness: Heart Disease Health and Fitness: Home Health Care Health and Fitness: Massage Health and Fitness: Medicine Health and Fitness: Meditation Health and Fitness: Men?s Issues Health and Fitness: Mental Health Health and Fitness: Nutrition Health and Fitness: Obesity Health and Fitness: Pain Management Health and Fitness: Physical Therapy Health and Fitness: Popular Diets Health and Fitness: Quit Smoking Health and Fitness: Skin Care Health and Fitness: Sleep Snoring Health and Fitness: Speech Pathology Health and Fitness: Supplements Health and Fitness: Weight Loss Health and Fitness: Women?s Issues Health and Fitness: Yoga Home and Family: Antiques and Collectibles Home and Family: Babies Toddler Home and Family: Baby Boomer Home and Family: Crafts Hobbies Home and Family: Death Dying Home and Family: Elder Care Home and Family: Gardening Home and Family: Genealogy Home and Family: General Home and Family: Grandparenting Home and Family: Holidays Home and Family: Parenting Home and Family: Parties Home and Family: Pregnancy Home and Family: Retirement Home and Family: Scrapbooking Home Based Business: General Home Based Business: Network Marketing Home Improvement: Appliances Home Improvement: Audio Video Home Improvement: Bath and Shower Home Improvement: Cabinets Home Improvement: Cleaning Tips and Tools Home Improvement: Concrete Home Improvement: DIY Home Improvement: Doors Home Improvement: Electrical Home Improvement: Feng Shui Home Improvement: Flooring Home Improvement: Foundation Home Improvement: Furniture Home Improvement: General Home Improvement: Heating and Air Conditioning Home Improvement: House Plans Home Improvement: Interior Design and Decorating Home Improvement: Kitchen Improvements Home Improvement: Landscaping Outdoor Decorating Home Improvement: Lighting Home Improvement: New Construction Home Improvement: Painting Home Improvement: Patio Deck Home Improvement: Plumbing Home Improvement: Remodeling Home Improvement: Roofing Home Improvement: Security Home Improvement: Stone Brick Home Improvement: Storage Garage Home Improvement: Tools and Equipment Home Improvement: Windows Insurance: Agents Marketers Insurance: Car Auto Insurance: Commercial Insurance: Dental Insurance: Disability Insurance: Flood Insurance: General Insurance: Health Insurance: Home Owners Renters Insurance: Life Annuities Insurance: Long Term Care Insurance: Personal Property Insurance: Pet Insurance: RV Motorcycle Insurance: Supplemental Insurance: Travel Insurance: Umbrella Insurance: Vision Insurance: Watercraft Insurance: Workers Compensation Internet and Businesses Online: Affiliate Revenue Internet and Businesses Online: Auctions Internet and Businesses Online: Audio Streaming Internet and Businesses Online: Autoresponders Internet and Businesses Online: Banner Advertising Internet and Businesses Online: Blogging Internet and Businesses Online: Domain Names Internet and Businesses Online: E Books Internet and Businesses Online: Ecommerce Internet and Businesses Online: Email Marketing Internet and Businesses Online: Ezine Publishing Internet and Businesses Online: Forums Internet and Businesses Online: General Internet and Businesses Online: Internet Marketing Internet and Businesses Online: Link Popularity Internet and Businesses Online: List Building Internet and Businesses Online: Paid Surveys Internet and Businesses Online: Podcasting Internet and Businesses Online: PPC Advertising Internet and Businesses Online: PPC Publishing Internet and Businesses Online: Product Creation Internet and Businesses Online: Product Launch Internet and Businesses Online: RSS Internet and Businesses Online: Search Engine Marketing Internet and Businesses Online: Security Internet and Businesses Online: SEO Internet and Businesses Online: Site Promotion Internet and Businesses Online: Social Bookmarking Internet and Businesses Online: Social Media Internet and Businesses Online: Social Networking Internet and Businesses Online: Spam Blocker Internet and Businesses Online: Traffic Building Internet and Businesses Online: Video Marketing Internet and Businesses Online: Video Streaming Internet and Businesses Online: Web Design Internet and Businesses Online: Web Development Internet and Businesses Online: Web Hosting Kids and Teens Legal: Copyright Legal: Corporations LLC Legal: Cyber Law Legal: General Legal: Identity Theft Legal: Intellectual Property Legal: Living Will Legal: Medical Malpractice Legal: National State Local Legal: Patents Legal: Personal Injury Legal: Real Estate Law Legal: Regulatory Compliance Legal: Trademarks News and Society: Crime News and Society: Economics News and Society: Energy News and Society: Environmental News and Society: General News and Society: Military News and Society: Politics News and Society: Pure Opinion News and Society: Religion News and Society: Weather Pets: Birds Pets: Cats Pets: Dogs Pets: Exotic Pets: Farm Ranch Pets: Fish Pets: General Pets: Horses Pets: Reptiles Amphibians Real Estate: Building a Home Real Estate: Buying Real Estate: Commercial Construction Real Estate: Commercial Property Real Estate: Condominiums Real Estate: Foreclosures Real Estate: FSBO Real Estate: General Real Estate: Homes Real Estate: Investing Real Estate: Land Real Estate: Leasing Renting Real Estate: Marketing Real Estate: Mortgage Refinance Real Estate: Moving Relocating Real Estate: Property Management Real Estate: Selling Recreation and Sports: Archery Recreation and Sports: Auto Racing Recreation and Sports: Baseball Recreation and Sports: Basketball Recreation and Sports: Boating Recreation and Sports: Bodybuilding Recreation and Sports: Bowling Recreation and Sports: Boxing Recreation and Sports: Cheerleading Recreation and Sports: Climbing Recreation and Sports: Cricket Recreation and Sports: Cycling Recreation and Sports: Equestrian Recreation and Sports: Extreme Recreation and Sports: Fantasy Sports Recreation and Sports: Figure Skating Recreation and Sports: Fishing Recreation and Sports: Football Recreation and Sports: General Recreation and Sports: Golf Recreation and Sports: Gymnastics Recreation and Sports: Hockey Recreation and Sports: Horse Racing Recreation and Sports: Hunting Recreation and Sports: Martial Arts Recreation and Sports: Mountain Biking Recreation and Sports: Olympics Recreation and Sports: Outdoors Recreation and Sports: Racquetball Recreation and Sports: Rodeo Recreation and Sports: Rugby Recreation and Sports: Running Recreation and Sports: Scuba Diving Recreation and Sports: Skateboarding Recreation and Sports: Skiing Recreation and Sports: Snowboarding Recreation and Sports: Soccer Recreation and Sports: Sports Apparel Recreation and Sports: Sports Betting Recreation and Sports: Surfing Recreation and Sports: Swimming Recreation and Sports: Tennis Recreation and Sports: Track and Field Recreation and Sports: Triathlon Recreation and Sports: Volleyball Recreation and Sports: Wrestling Reference and Education: College University Reference and Education: Financial Aid Reference and Education: Future Concepts Reference and Education: General Reference and Education: Home Schooling Reference and Education: Languages Reference and Education: Online Education Reference and Education: Paranormal Reference and Education: Psychic Reference and Education: Psychology Reference and Education: Science Reference and Education: Vocational Trade Schools Relationships: Affairs Relationships: Anniversaries Relationships: Commitment Relationships: Communication Relationships: Conflict Relationships: Dating Relationships: Divorce Relationships: Enhancement Relationships: Friendship Relationships: Gay Lesbian Relationships: General Relationships: Love Relationships: Marriage Relationships: Post Divorce Relationships: Readiness Relationships: Sexuality Relationships: Singles Relationships: Wedding Self Improvement: Addictions Self Improvement: Anger Management Self Improvement: Attraction Self Improvement: Coaching Self Improvement: Creativity Self Improvement: General Self Improvement: Goal Setting Self Improvement: Grief Loss Self Improvement: Happiness Self Improvement: Innovation Self Improvement: Inspirational Self Improvement: Leadership Self Improvement: Motivation Self Improvement: NLP Hypnosis Self Improvement: Organizing Self Improvement: Positive Attitude Self Improvement: Self Esteem Self Improvement: Spirituality Self Improvement: Stress Management Self Improvement: Success Self Improvement: Techniques Self Improvement: Time Management Shopping and Product Reviews: Book Reviews Shopping and Product Reviews: Cosmetics Shopping and Product Reviews: Fashion Style Shopping and Product Reviews: General Shopping and Product Reviews: Gifts Shopping and Product Reviews: Jewelry Diamonds Travel and Leisure: Airline Travel Travel and Leisure: Aviation Airplanes Travel and Leisure: Camping Travel and Leisure: Charter Jets Travel and Leisure: Cruising Travel and Leisure: General Travel and Leisure: Hotel Accommodations Travel and Leisure: Outdoors Travel and Leisure: Sailing Travel and Leisure: Timeshare Travel and Leisure: Vacation Rentals Women?s Interest Writing and Speaking: Article Marketing Writing and Speaking: Book Marketing Writing and Speaking: Copywriting Writing and Speaking: General Writing and Speaking: Public Speaking Writing and Speaking: Teleseminars Writing and Speaking: Writing Writing and Speaking: Writing Articles
?Didn't find what you are looking for? Search our site NOW!?
Genomic sequencing identifies mutant 'drivers' of common brain tumorPublic release date: 22-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Bill Schaller william_schaller@dfci.harvard.edu 617-632-5357 Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Study pinpoints targets for potential drug treatment of meningiomas
BOSTONLarge-scale genomic sequencing has revealed two DNA mutations that appear to drive about 15 percent of brain tumors known as meningiomas, a finding that could lead to the first effective drug treatments for the tumors, report scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute.
Surgery and radiation currently are the only treatments for meningiomas slow-growing, often benign tumors that develop in the membranes surrounding the brain. Meningiomas can grow dangerously large, however, causing seizures and limb weakness, and occasionally are fatal. In some instances, the tumors grow aggressively or their locations make surgery and radiation a challenge to carry out, and chemotherapy has proven ineffective as an alternative.
The researchers report in the journal Nature Genetics that they have identified two mutations, SMO and AKT1, in the genomes of 15 percent of a group of meningiomas removed during surgery. The findings are being published on the journal's web site in advance of appearing in a print edition.
"The wonderful thing about those mutations is that there are already drugs in the clinic to target cancers with those mutations," said Rameen Beroukhim, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist and cancer biologist at Dana-Farber and the Broad Institute.
"Clinically, there is no medical treatment for meningioma that is known to be effective," said Beroukhim, senior author of the paper along with William C. Hahn, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Cancer Genome Discovery at Dana-Farber, and Ian F. Dunn, MD, a neurosurgeon at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center (DF/BWCC).
Beroukhim said that surgery can effectively treat many meningiomas, but the locations of some tumors make surgery a difficult or impossible option. For other patients, there are not curative treatments, so the discovery of the mutations in some meningiomas "is potentially the first path to an effective medical treatment," Beroukhim noted.
Meningiomas are diagnosed in about 18,000 patients annually in the United States. They account for about one-third of primary brain tumors (those that originate in the brain) and are twice as common in women. They are generally slow-growing, and many patients don't require treatment unless the tumor expands and presses on vital structures. But a significant number recur following treatment, and many become malignant.
Beroukhim said that little has been uncovered about the genetic makeup of meningiomas. In the current study, the scientists sequenced either the entire genome or just the protein-coding regions (exomes) in samples of 17 meningiomas. Genes that were found to be altered in those tumors were then sequenced in two additional groups of tumors.
Compared to most types of tumors, the researchers found, the meningiomas had fewer numbers of genetic changes or damage. In some of the tumors they found mutations in two genes that have roles in known cancer-causing signaling pathways. One, SMO, found in three tumors, is a member of the Hedgehog pathway. The second, AKT1, was discovered in five tumors and is a part of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathways that is implicated in breast, colorectal and lung cancers. A sixth tumor had a previously unknown mutation in the mTOR pathway.
Together, these mutant gene pathways appeared to be key drivers of 15 percent of the meningiomas studied. Experimental drugs that inhibit those abnormal pathways are in clinical trials and have shown promising activity, the researchers said, suggesting "that patients with these meningiomas may benefit from such targeted therapies already in development or use."
###
Co-first authors of the report are Priscilla Brastianos, MD, of Dana-Farber and Peleg Horowitz, MD, PhD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital. Other authors are at the Broad, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's, and Massachusetts General Hospital.
The research was supported by the Brain Science Foundation, the Pediatric Low-Grade Astrocytoma Foundation, and other foundations, the National Institutes of Health (K08 CA122833, K08 NS064168 and K12 CA090354-11), and the U.S. Department of Defense (W81XWH-12-1-0136.)
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and is among the leading cancer research and care centers in the United States. It is a founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute. It provides adult cancer care with Brigham and Women's Hospital as Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center and it provides pediatric care with Boston Children's Hospital as Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center. Dana-Farber is the top ranked cancer center in New England, according to U.S. News & World Report, and one of the largest recipients among independent hospitals of National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health grant funding. Follow Dana-Farber on Twitter: @danafarber or Facebook: facebook.com/danafarbercancerinstitute.
[ | E-mail | 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.
Genomic sequencing identifies mutant 'drivers' of common brain tumorPublic release date: 22-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Bill Schaller william_schaller@dfci.harvard.edu 617-632-5357 Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Study pinpoints targets for potential drug treatment of meningiomas
BOSTONLarge-scale genomic sequencing has revealed two DNA mutations that appear to drive about 15 percent of brain tumors known as meningiomas, a finding that could lead to the first effective drug treatments for the tumors, report scientists from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Broad Institute.
Surgery and radiation currently are the only treatments for meningiomas slow-growing, often benign tumors that develop in the membranes surrounding the brain. Meningiomas can grow dangerously large, however, causing seizures and limb weakness, and occasionally are fatal. In some instances, the tumors grow aggressively or their locations make surgery and radiation a challenge to carry out, and chemotherapy has proven ineffective as an alternative.
The researchers report in the journal Nature Genetics that they have identified two mutations, SMO and AKT1, in the genomes of 15 percent of a group of meningiomas removed during surgery. The findings are being published on the journal's web site in advance of appearing in a print edition.
"The wonderful thing about those mutations is that there are already drugs in the clinic to target cancers with those mutations," said Rameen Beroukhim, MD, PhD, a medical oncologist and cancer biologist at Dana-Farber and the Broad Institute.
"Clinically, there is no medical treatment for meningioma that is known to be effective," said Beroukhim, senior author of the paper along with William C. Hahn, MD, PhD, director of the Center for Cancer Genome Discovery at Dana-Farber, and Ian F. Dunn, MD, a neurosurgeon at Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center (DF/BWCC).
Beroukhim said that surgery can effectively treat many meningiomas, but the locations of some tumors make surgery a difficult or impossible option. For other patients, there are not curative treatments, so the discovery of the mutations in some meningiomas "is potentially the first path to an effective medical treatment," Beroukhim noted.
Meningiomas are diagnosed in about 18,000 patients annually in the United States. They account for about one-third of primary brain tumors (those that originate in the brain) and are twice as common in women. They are generally slow-growing, and many patients don't require treatment unless the tumor expands and presses on vital structures. But a significant number recur following treatment, and many become malignant.
Beroukhim said that little has been uncovered about the genetic makeup of meningiomas. In the current study, the scientists sequenced either the entire genome or just the protein-coding regions (exomes) in samples of 17 meningiomas. Genes that were found to be altered in those tumors were then sequenced in two additional groups of tumors.
Compared to most types of tumors, the researchers found, the meningiomas had fewer numbers of genetic changes or damage. In some of the tumors they found mutations in two genes that have roles in known cancer-causing signaling pathways. One, SMO, found in three tumors, is a member of the Hedgehog pathway. The second, AKT1, was discovered in five tumors and is a part of the PI3K-AKT-mTOR pathways that is implicated in breast, colorectal and lung cancers. A sixth tumor had a previously unknown mutation in the mTOR pathway.
Together, these mutant gene pathways appeared to be key drivers of 15 percent of the meningiomas studied. Experimental drugs that inhibit those abnormal pathways are in clinical trials and have shown promising activity, the researchers said, suggesting "that patients with these meningiomas may benefit from such targeted therapies already in development or use."
###
Co-first authors of the report are Priscilla Brastianos, MD, of Dana-Farber and Peleg Horowitz, MD, PhD, of Brigham and Women's Hospital. Other authors are at the Broad, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's, and Massachusetts General Hospital.
The research was supported by the Brain Science Foundation, the Pediatric Low-Grade Astrocytoma Foundation, and other foundations, the National Institutes of Health (K08 CA122833, K08 NS064168 and K12 CA090354-11), and the U.S. Department of Defense (W81XWH-12-1-0136.)
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute is a principal teaching affiliate of the Harvard Medical School and is among the leading cancer research and care centers in the United States. It is a founding member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center (DF/HCC), designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute. It provides adult cancer care with Brigham and Women's Hospital as Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center and it provides pediatric care with Boston Children's Hospital as Dana-Farber/Children's Hospital Cancer Center. Dana-Farber is the top ranked cancer center in New England, according to U.S. News & World Report, and one of the largest recipients among independent hospitals of National Cancer Institute and National Institutes of Health grant funding. Follow Dana-Farber on Twitter: @danafarber or Facebook: facebook.com/danafarbercancerinstitute.
[ | E-mail | 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.
The Thompsan family just moved to LA from a small town in Kentucky. [mother] is a doctor and got an offer at hopsital in LA that pais better, little do we know theres more to it then that. [Father] is a social worker and has been doing this for about 12 years. They have three children, two there own and one they adopted when he was six. Each of them have there own path in life, still trying to figure themselves out and do whats best for themselves. Little does the family know that life in LA may change everything for thr Catholic family.
There are two roles that are open:
Son 1//Name:(__) Thompsan//Age:17//FC://Open He is the cocky basketball star, he doesnt understand his sister and agrees more with his mom on the issue. He thinks he deserves everything and can be an asshole sometimes. Starts dating girl 2 at somepoint.
Boy 2 //Name: //Age:17//FC://Open Is a smart guy, hispanic, and becomes good friends with Son 2. He feels there is a lot of racism in LA. He is smart and does well in school. He is not into drugs or the party scene.
![[ Back to EurekAlert! ]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uK7yaisgZRxnjlCA_7TuHvDX71uzK0haCqOb4_VFr8dh5PV856bJavHIcb6Vwd5R3PQSyK1kP0EbErjLvw4FI3YhWkvhpwBxGLqDpTBnY=s0-d){kind=small}
Public release date: 22-Jan-2013
Share ]