NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Older men with other illnesses may not live long enough to benefit from aggressive prostate cancer treatments, such as prostate removal or radiation, and they'd have to live with their side effects, says a new study.
"If you're going to die of a heart attack in five years, what's the point of going through radiation?" asked Dr. David Penson, the study's senior author from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.
"The key point is that when men are choosing therapy for prostate cancer, they need to consider their tumor characteristics, their age and other characteristics," he said.
About one man in every six will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime, according the American Cancer Society (ACS). While it can be a serious disease, the ACS says most men don't die from the slow-moving cancer.
Still, many choose to have surgery and/or radiation to treat the cancer, even though it can lead to side effects that impact quality of life, including erectile dysfunction, incontinence and other problems (see Reuters Health article of June 27, 2012: http://reut.rs/MpPr4t.)
As an alternative to surgery and radiation, some doctors recommend so-called active surveillance, also known as watchful waiting.
For the new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine on Monday, Penson and his colleagues used data from a national database to see what effects age, other illnesses and tumor characteristics had on risk of death from cancer and other conditions.
The researchers included men between the ages 39 to 89 years old who were diagnosed with early-stage prostate cancer between October 1994 and October 1995.
They collected information on the men's other conditions - including diabetes, heart problems, and strokes - and tracked them through the database over 14 years.
Over that time, the researchers found the risk of dying from high-risk prostate cancer was 18 percent. The risk of dying from low-risk prostate cancer was 3 percent and 7 percent for high-risk disease.
Older men were more likely to die from something else during the 10 years following diagnosis if they had other ailments.
For example, about 40 percent of men between the ages of 61 and 74 years old died within the 10 years after their prostate cancer diagnosis if they had three or more comorbidities, compared to 71 percent of men 75 years old and older.
WEIGHING OPTIONS
"This is just the type of study we need at this time to help us determine who will and will not benefit from treatment," said Dr. H. Ballentine Carter, a urologist and oncologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore.
But Carter, who was not involved with the new study, told Reuters Health it's important to look at each individual patient.
"For that (75-year-old) guy who has no comorbidities or few, he may be more likely to benefit from treatment than the 60-year-old who has a low-grade tumor and multiple comorbidities," he said.
"The challenge for the physician is to accurately evaluate the life expectancy of a patient in order to balance the risk for prostate cancer mortality with that of other-cause mortality," wrote Italian Drs. Lazzaro Repetto, Angela Marie Abbatecola and Giuseppe Paolisso in an editorial accompanying the study.
Penson and his colleagues, caution however, that their results shouldn't be used to decide whether or not a person should be screened for prostate cancer.
Currently the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a government-backed panel, recommends against prostate cancer screening for average-risk men of all ages.
Earlier this month, the American Urological Association made news when they recommended against screening average-risk men under age 55 or any man over 70 using prostate-specific antigen, or PSA, blood tests (see Reuters Health article of May 3, 2013 here: http://reut.rs/13FUGEe.)
SOURCE: http://bit.ly/Zwi3u5 Annals of Internal Medicine, online May 20, 2013.
CONCORD, N.C. (AP) ? Cross another milestone off of Jimmie Johnson's list. He stands alone in All-Star history.
"Five-time" became the first four-time winner of NASCAR's annual All-Star race, breaking a tie with the late Dale Earnhardt and teammate Jeff Gordon on Saturday night.
"To beat Jeff and Earnhardt, two guys that I have looked up to my whole life, two massive icons of our sport, this means the world to me," Johnson said.
He also joined the late Davey Allison as only the second driver to win back-to-back All-Star races.
It was fitting that he did it at Charlotte Motor Speedway, the track Johnson, the five-time NASCAR champion, has dominated since his 2002 rookie season. Johnson has won six points races at Charlotte, led more than 1,600 laps and the win in the $1 million Sprint All-Star Race was his second straight, fourth in 12 years. He also won in 2003 and 2006.
"The only four-time All-Star champion ? I am very proud of you," crew chief Chad Knaus radioed after Johnson took the checkered flag.
A day after Johnson overshot his pit stall during qualifying to earn a poor starting spot, his Hendrick Motorsports crew changed four tires in 11 seconds on the mandatory final spot to send Johnson back onto the track in second place for the final restart.
He lined up inside of teammate Kasey Kahne for the final 10-lap sprint to the cash, and the two battled side-by-side for a little more than a lap before Johnson cleared Kahne completely. He then sailed away to an easy victory.
"We are doing great things and we are amazing ourselves in the process," Johnson said.
Joey Logano finished second and Kyle Busch, who won two of the first four segments, was third as neither had a shot at running down Johnson once he got his No. 48 Chevrolet out front.
"The 48, once he got that clean air, he was gone," Logano said. "Second isn't anything to hang your head, but it's about the million bucks tonight."
Kahne faded to fourth and Kurt Busch, who also won two segments to give the Busch brothers a sweep, was fifth.
It was disappointing for both Busch brothers, who had the cars to beat through the first 80 laps. New scoring rules designed to stop sandbagging sent the drivers onto pit road for the mandatory final stop in order of their average finish in the first four segments.
The Busch brothers tied with an average finish of 2.0, and Kurt went down pit road as the leader based on the tiebreaker of winning the final segment.
But the two Hendrick cars beat everybody off pit road, Kyle Busch exited in third and a poor final pit stop dropped Kurt to fifth.
"Ultimately, it came down to pit road, where my guys always prove their worth," Kyle Busch said. "Unfortunately, we didn't have the best of stops and to come out third, well, that was the race right there. You have to be on the front row if you're going to win this thing."
Johnson didn't think he had a shot at winning the All-Star race after botching his qualifying run and starting 20th in the 22-car field. By staying patient through the four 20-lap segments, he was in position at the end to make his move.
"Worked our way through there and got the job done," Johnson said. "It's just dedication and drive from every member of this Hendrick Motorsports team. When we started on the front row for the last segment, I knew we had a great shot at it."
The win capped a big day for Chevrolet, which swept the first 10 spots in Indianapolis 500 qualifying shortly before racing began at Charlotte. Then Johnson, the current Sprint Cup points leader, put the manufacturer in Victory Lane.
Jamie McMurray won the 40-lap Sprint Showdown before the All-Star race to transfer into the main event, and Ricky Stenhouse Jr. finished second to earn the other berth.
Danica Patrick won the Sprint fan vote to claim the last open spot in the race. It wasn't a big surprise that Patrick won the vote ? her fans last year elected her most popular driver of the Nationwide Series ? and her public relations team was ready with a "Thank You Fans" bumper sticker she slapped on the side of her Chevrolet before the All-Star race began. She finished 20th.
Before the race, she said she wasn't sure why her fans so ardently support her.
"I've said many times that I'm not sure what it is people like or see in me or why they cheer for me," Patrick said. "To some degree being different, being a girl, there are things there. But what is it? There are a lot of different and unique drivers out there. All I know is that I try do my best to be myself all of the time. I try to be honest with the fans and at the end of the day, even if they don't agree with what I say or do, they can respect my honesty."
DAMASCUS, Va. (AP) ? Witnesses described a frantic scene and close calls after an elderly driver plowed into dozens of hikers marching in a small Virginia mountain town's parade. Investigators were looking into whether the motorist had suffered a medical emergency before the accident.
About 50 to 60 people suffered injuries ranging from critical to superficial, but no fatalities were reported. Three of the worst injured were flown by helicopter to area hospitals. Their conditions weren't immediately available.
Another 12 to 15 victims were taken to hospitals by ambulance and the rest were treated at the scene, where some paramedics and other first-responders were participating in the parade.
It happened around 2:10 p.m. during the Hikers Parade at the Trail Days festival, an annual celebration of the Appalachian Trail in Damascus, near the Tennessee state line about a half-hour drive east of Bristol.
Damascus Police Chief Bill Nunley didn't release the driver's name or age but said he was participating in the parade and he had traversed the Appalachian Trail in the past. Several witnesses described him as an elderly man.
Nunley said the man's 1997 Cadillac was one of the last vehicles in the parade and the driver might have suffered an unspecified medical problem when his car accelerated to about 25 mph and struck the crowd on a two-lane bridge along the town's main road. The driver was among those taken to hospitals.
"It is under investigation and charges may be placed," Nunley said.
Rudolph "Chip" Cenci, 64, of Minoa, N.Y., told The News-Item newspaper in Shamokin, Pa., that he heard people yelling "get out of the way" and turned around to find the car was about to hit him. He jumped onto the hood and held onto the gap at the base of the windshield near the wipers. He said the driver had a blank stare on his face.
"I bet you that man never realized someone was on his hood," Cenci said.
Cenci said he had a bump on his knee but was otherwise OK. He added that his wife, Susan, 63, narrowly missed being hit.
Amanda Puckett, who was watching the parade with her children, ran to the car, where she and others lifted the car off those pinned underneath.
"Everybody just threw our hands up on the car and we just lifted the car up," she said.
Keith Neumann, a hiker from South Carolina, said he was part of the group that scrambled around the car. They pushed the car backward to free a woman trapped underneath and lifted it off the ground to make sure no one else was trapped.
"There's no single heroes. We're talking about a group effort of everybody jumping in," he said.
Nunley cited quick action by police, firefighters, paramedics and hikers to tend to the victims, including a volunteer firefighter who dove into the car to turn off the ignition. The firefighter, whose name wasn't released, suffered minor injuries.
Mayor Jack McCrady had encouraged people to attend the festival on Sunday, its final day.
"In 27 years of this, we've never had anything of this magnitude, and is it our job to make sure it doesn't happen again," he said.
McCrady said a donation fund was being set up to assist the injured, some of whom don't have medical insurance.
"We want to make sure they don't suffer any greater loss than they already have," he said.
Ginger compounds may be effective in treating asthma symptomsPublic release date: 19-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Nathaniel Dunford ndunford@thoracic.org American Thoracic Society
ATS 2013, PHILADELPHIA ? Gourmands and foodies everywhere have long recognized ginger as a great way to add a little peppery zing to both sweet and savory dishes; now, a study from researchers at Columbia University shows purified components of the spicy root also may have properties that help asthma patients breathe more easily.
The results of the study will be presented at the ATS 2013 International Conference.
Asthma is characterized by bronchoconstriction, a tightening of the bronchial tubes that carry air into and out of the lungs. Bronchodilating medications called beta-agonists (?-agonists) are among the most common types of asthma medications and work by relaxing the airway smooth muscle (ASM) tissues. This study looked at whether specific components of ginger could help enhance the relaxing effects of bronchodilators.
"Asthma has become more prevalent in recent years, but despite an improved understanding of what causes asthma and how it develops, during the past 40 years few new treatment agents have been approved for targeting asthma symptoms," said lead author Elizabeth Townsend, PhD, post-doctoral research fellow in the Columbia University Department of Anesthesiology. "In our study, we demonstrated that purified components of ginger can work synergistically with ?-agonists to relax ASM."
To conduct their study, the researchers took human ASM tissue samples and caused the samples to contract by exposing them to acetylcholine, a neurotransmitting compound that causes bronchoconstriction. Next, the researchers mixed the ?-agonist isoproterenol with three separate components of ginger: 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol or 6-shogaol. Contracted tissue samples were exposed to each of these three mixtures as well as unadulterated isoproterenol and the relaxation responses were recorded and compared.
At the conclusion of their study, the researchers found that tissues treated with the combination of purified ginger components and isoproterenol exhibited significantly greater relaxation than those treated only with isoproterenol; of the three ginger components, 6-shogaol appeared most effective in increasing the relaxing effects of the ?-agonist.
Once they were able to demonstrate that the ginger components enhanced the relaxing effects of the ?-agonist, they turned their attention to learning why. First, the researchers wanted to determine if the ginger components might work by affecting an enzyme called phosphodiesterase4D (PDE4D). Previous studies have shown that PDE4D, which is found in the lungs, inhibits processes that otherwise help relax ASM and lessen inflammation. Using a technique called fluorescent polarization, they found that all three components significantly inhibited PDE4D.
Next, the study looked at F-actin filaments, a protein structure which previous studies have shown plays a role in the constriction of ASM, and found that 6-shogaol was effective in speedily dissolving these filaments.
"Taken together, these data show that ginger constituents 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol and 6-shogaol act synergistically with the ?-agonist in relaxing ASM, indicating that these compounds may provide additional relief of asthma symptoms when used in combination with ?-agonists," Dr. Townsend noted."By understanding the mechanisms by which these ginger compounds affect the airway, we can explore the use of these therapeutics in alleviating asthma symptoms."
Dr. Townsend and her colleague, Dr. Charles Emala, hope future studies will enable them to gain a better understanding of the cellular mechanisms that facilitate ASM relaxation and to determine whether aerosol delivery of these purified constituents of ginger may have therapeutic benefit in asthma and other bronchoconstrictive diseases.
###
* Please note that numbers in this release may differ slightly from those in the abstract. Many of these investigations are ongoing; the release represents the most up-to-date data available at press time.
Abstract 38824
Active Constituents Of Ginger Potentiate ?-Agonist-Induced Relaxation Of Airway Smooth Muscle
Type: Scientific Abstract
Category: 03.10 - Smooth Muscle: Airway (RSF)
Authors: E.A. Townsend, Y. Zhang, C. Xu, R. Wakita, C. Emala; Columbia University - New York, NY/US
Abstract Body
Rationale: Asthma prevalence has steadily increased and is characterized by bronchoconstriction. Bronchodilators are the first-line therapy to reverse airway obstruction by relaxing airway smooth muscle (ASM). Asthma therapies include ?-agonists that induce bronchodilation by activating adenylyl cyclase, increasing cAMP and activating protein kinase A. Despite improved understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma, few novel therapeutics have been approved for targeting asthma symptoms in the last 40 years. This highlights the need for new therapies that relax contracted airways while also augmenting traditional therapies. We demonstrated that purified components of ginger can relax ASM. By understanding the mechanisms by which these compounds exert their effects on the airway, we can explore the use of these phytotherapeutics in alleviating asthma symptoms. We hypothesized that unique chemical components of ginger have bronchorelaxant properties and work synergistically with ?-agonist signaling to relax ASM.
Methods and Results: Epithelial-denuded human ASM tissue (deidentified; exempt from Columbia's IRB) was contracted with acetylcholine in organ baths. ASM tissues were then relaxed dose-dependently with ?-agonist, isoproterenol (100 pM 10 ?M, half-log increments). The tissues were treated concurrently at 300 pM isoproterenol with vehicle, 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, or 6-shogaol (100 ?M). Significant potentiation of isoproterenol-induced relaxation was observed with each of the ginger constituents. 6-shogaol showed the largest leftward shift in the EC50 for isoproterenol. Purified phosphodiesterase 4D enzyme, the prominent isoform in the lung, was used to assess PDE inhibitory action of the ginger constituents using fluorescent polarization analyses. 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, and 6-shogaol (100 ?M, 15 min) significantly inhibited PDE4D compared to vehicle control (0.2% DMSO), the PDE4-selective inhibitor, rolipram (10 ?M) and non-selective PDE inhibitor, IBMX (250 ?M) were used as positive controls. ?-agonist induced depolymerization of actin via a PKA-HSP20-dependent pathway contributes to ASM relaxation. In primary human ASM cells transiently transfected with RFP-actin, treatment with 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, or 6-shogaol showed acute (within seconds) dissolution of F-actin filaments. This was not due to PKA phosphorylation of HSP20.
Conclusions: Taken together, these data show synergistic effects of ginger constituents 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, and 6-shogaol with ?-agonist in relaxing ASM. This may be attributed to increased cAMP due to PDE4D inhibitory activity. Additionally, these compounds stimulate actin depolymerization through a novel PKA-independent pathway, providing another pathway for potentiation with ?-agonists. These compounds may provide additional relief of asthma symptoms when used in combination with ?2-agonists and highlight novel use of phytotherapeutics in the treatment of obstructive lung disease.
[ | 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.
Ginger compounds may be effective in treating asthma symptomsPublic release date: 19-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Nathaniel Dunford ndunford@thoracic.org American Thoracic Society
ATS 2013, PHILADELPHIA ? Gourmands and foodies everywhere have long recognized ginger as a great way to add a little peppery zing to both sweet and savory dishes; now, a study from researchers at Columbia University shows purified components of the spicy root also may have properties that help asthma patients breathe more easily.
The results of the study will be presented at the ATS 2013 International Conference.
Asthma is characterized by bronchoconstriction, a tightening of the bronchial tubes that carry air into and out of the lungs. Bronchodilating medications called beta-agonists (?-agonists) are among the most common types of asthma medications and work by relaxing the airway smooth muscle (ASM) tissues. This study looked at whether specific components of ginger could help enhance the relaxing effects of bronchodilators.
"Asthma has become more prevalent in recent years, but despite an improved understanding of what causes asthma and how it develops, during the past 40 years few new treatment agents have been approved for targeting asthma symptoms," said lead author Elizabeth Townsend, PhD, post-doctoral research fellow in the Columbia University Department of Anesthesiology. "In our study, we demonstrated that purified components of ginger can work synergistically with ?-agonists to relax ASM."
To conduct their study, the researchers took human ASM tissue samples and caused the samples to contract by exposing them to acetylcholine, a neurotransmitting compound that causes bronchoconstriction. Next, the researchers mixed the ?-agonist isoproterenol with three separate components of ginger: 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol or 6-shogaol. Contracted tissue samples were exposed to each of these three mixtures as well as unadulterated isoproterenol and the relaxation responses were recorded and compared.
At the conclusion of their study, the researchers found that tissues treated with the combination of purified ginger components and isoproterenol exhibited significantly greater relaxation than those treated only with isoproterenol; of the three ginger components, 6-shogaol appeared most effective in increasing the relaxing effects of the ?-agonist.
Once they were able to demonstrate that the ginger components enhanced the relaxing effects of the ?-agonist, they turned their attention to learning why. First, the researchers wanted to determine if the ginger components might work by affecting an enzyme called phosphodiesterase4D (PDE4D). Previous studies have shown that PDE4D, which is found in the lungs, inhibits processes that otherwise help relax ASM and lessen inflammation. Using a technique called fluorescent polarization, they found that all three components significantly inhibited PDE4D.
Next, the study looked at F-actin filaments, a protein structure which previous studies have shown plays a role in the constriction of ASM, and found that 6-shogaol was effective in speedily dissolving these filaments.
"Taken together, these data show that ginger constituents 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol and 6-shogaol act synergistically with the ?-agonist in relaxing ASM, indicating that these compounds may provide additional relief of asthma symptoms when used in combination with ?-agonists," Dr. Townsend noted."By understanding the mechanisms by which these ginger compounds affect the airway, we can explore the use of these therapeutics in alleviating asthma symptoms."
Dr. Townsend and her colleague, Dr. Charles Emala, hope future studies will enable them to gain a better understanding of the cellular mechanisms that facilitate ASM relaxation and to determine whether aerosol delivery of these purified constituents of ginger may have therapeutic benefit in asthma and other bronchoconstrictive diseases.
###
* Please note that numbers in this release may differ slightly from those in the abstract. Many of these investigations are ongoing; the release represents the most up-to-date data available at press time.
Abstract 38824
Active Constituents Of Ginger Potentiate ?-Agonist-Induced Relaxation Of Airway Smooth Muscle
Type: Scientific Abstract
Category: 03.10 - Smooth Muscle: Airway (RSF)
Authors: E.A. Townsend, Y. Zhang, C. Xu, R. Wakita, C. Emala; Columbia University - New York, NY/US
Abstract Body
Rationale: Asthma prevalence has steadily increased and is characterized by bronchoconstriction. Bronchodilators are the first-line therapy to reverse airway obstruction by relaxing airway smooth muscle (ASM). Asthma therapies include ?-agonists that induce bronchodilation by activating adenylyl cyclase, increasing cAMP and activating protein kinase A. Despite improved understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma, few novel therapeutics have been approved for targeting asthma symptoms in the last 40 years. This highlights the need for new therapies that relax contracted airways while also augmenting traditional therapies. We demonstrated that purified components of ginger can relax ASM. By understanding the mechanisms by which these compounds exert their effects on the airway, we can explore the use of these phytotherapeutics in alleviating asthma symptoms. We hypothesized that unique chemical components of ginger have bronchorelaxant properties and work synergistically with ?-agonist signaling to relax ASM.
Methods and Results: Epithelial-denuded human ASM tissue (deidentified; exempt from Columbia's IRB) was contracted with acetylcholine in organ baths. ASM tissues were then relaxed dose-dependently with ?-agonist, isoproterenol (100 pM 10 ?M, half-log increments). The tissues were treated concurrently at 300 pM isoproterenol with vehicle, 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, or 6-shogaol (100 ?M). Significant potentiation of isoproterenol-induced relaxation was observed with each of the ginger constituents. 6-shogaol showed the largest leftward shift in the EC50 for isoproterenol. Purified phosphodiesterase 4D enzyme, the prominent isoform in the lung, was used to assess PDE inhibitory action of the ginger constituents using fluorescent polarization analyses. 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, and 6-shogaol (100 ?M, 15 min) significantly inhibited PDE4D compared to vehicle control (0.2% DMSO), the PDE4-selective inhibitor, rolipram (10 ?M) and non-selective PDE inhibitor, IBMX (250 ?M) were used as positive controls. ?-agonist induced depolymerization of actin via a PKA-HSP20-dependent pathway contributes to ASM relaxation. In primary human ASM cells transiently transfected with RFP-actin, treatment with 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, or 6-shogaol showed acute (within seconds) dissolution of F-actin filaments. This was not due to PKA phosphorylation of HSP20.
Conclusions: Taken together, these data show synergistic effects of ginger constituents 6-gingerol, 8-gingerol, and 6-shogaol with ?-agonist in relaxing ASM. This may be attributed to increased cAMP due to PDE4D inhibitory activity. Additionally, these compounds stimulate actin depolymerization through a novel PKA-independent pathway, providing another pathway for potentiation with ?-agonists. These compounds may provide additional relief of asthma symptoms when used in combination with ?2-agonists and highlight novel use of phytotherapeutics in the treatment of obstructive lung disease.
[ | 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.
Alt-week takes a look at the best science and alternative tech stories from the last seven days.
If we're to find a common thread in this week's collection of stories, it'd be nature's guiding hand. How it inspires science, how we seek to imitate it, and how unnatural the future of policing could be. This is alt-week,
The Publix in Zephyrhills, Florida, where the winning ticket was sold.
By Becky Bratu, Staff Writer, NBC News
Do you have the lucky ticket? A winner for the huge Powerball jackpot was sold at a supermarket in Zephyrhills, Fla., a Florida Lottery official confirmed to NBC News early Sunday.
The winning Powerball numbers drawn late Saturday were 10, 13, 14, 22, 52 with Powerball number 11.
Powerball's website said one winner was sold in Florida, and David Bishop of the Florida Lottery confirmed that it was sold at a Publix supermarket in Zephyrhills, a suburb of Tampa.
The jackpot of the 43-state lottery game surged ahead of the drawing and had been estimated at $600 million -- the second-largest pot in U.S. lottery history. Powerball officials later revised that to more than $590 million.
Still, that grand prize, accumulated after two months of drawings, surpassed the previous record Powerball payoff of $587.5 million, set in November 2012. That was split by two winners.
The largest jackpot in U.S. history stands at $656 million, won in the Mega Millions lottery of March 2012. That prize was split between winners in Maryland, Kansas and Illinois.
The store where the winning ticket was sold will receive an $85,000 bonus commission, according to Shelly Gerteisen, a spokeswoman for the Florida Lottery.
Who has the lucky ticket? The winning ticket for the $590 million Powerball jackpot was sold at a supermarket in Zephyrhills, Fla., just south of Tampa. NBC's Kerry Sanders reports.
The chances of winning the big prize were low ? 1 in 175.2 million ? but it didn't stop hopeful Americans across the country from purchasing about 80 percent of all possible combinations, according to lottery officials.
In addition to the big prize at stake Saturday, tickets worth $2 million were sold in New York and South Carolina. In California, which joined the Powerball lottery in April and figures winnings by pari-mutuel, two tickets each worth $2.3 million were sold, according to the California State Lottery website.
The estimated cash value of Saturday's drawing, if it had hit $600 million and the winner chose to be paid in one lump sum, would have been roughly $377 million -- before taxes, of course.
Tiffany Satchell told NBCMiami.com that she knows exactly what she'd do if she won.
"Pay off all my bills," she said. "I really want a Range Rover."
NBC News' Hasani Gittens, Justin Kirschner and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Saturday night, someone who felt lucky may turn out to be the luckiest person in the world as they pick the numbers for the Powerball jackpot, now at $600 million. NBC's Miguel Almaguer reports.
This story was originally published on Sun May 19, 2013 10:28 AM EDT
WASHINGTON (AP) ? Despite Democratic fears, predictions of the demise of President Barack Obama's agenda appear exaggerated after a week of cascading controversies, political triage by the administration and party leaders in Congress and lack of evidence to date of wrongdoing close to the Oval Office.
"Absolutely not," Steven Miller, the recently resigned acting head of the Internal Revenue Service, responded Friday when asked if he had any contact with the White House about targeting conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status for special treatment.
"The president's re-election campaign?" persisted Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif.
"No," said Miller.
The hearing took place at the end of a week in which Republicans repeatedly assailed Obama and were attacked by Democrats in turn ? yet sweeping immigration legislation advanced methodically toward bipartisan approval in the Senate Judiciary Committee. The measure "has strong support of its own in the Senate," said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., a member of the panel.
Across the Capitol, a bipartisan House group reported agreement in principle toward a compromise on the issue, which looms as Obama's best chance for a signature second-term domestic achievement. "I continue to believe that the House needs to deal with this," said House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, who is not directly involved in the talks.
The president's nominee to become energy secretary, Ernest Moniz, won Senate confirmation, 97-0. And there were signs that Republicans might allow confirmation of Sri Srinivasan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, sometimes a stepping stone to the Supreme Court.
Separately, a House committee approved legislation to prevent a spike in interest rates on student loans on July 1. It moves in the direction of a White House-backed proposal for future rate changes to be based on private markets.
Even so, Rep. Fred Upton, R-Mich., chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, said, "It's been a bad week for the administration."
Several Democratic lawmakers and aides agreed and expressed concern about the impact on Obama's agenda ? even though much of it has been stymied by Republicans for months already.
At the same time, Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., voiced optimism that the IRS controversy would boost the push for an overhaul of the tax code, rather than derail it. "It may make a case for a simpler tax code, where the IRS has less discretion," he said.
Long-term budget issues, the main flash point of divided government since 2011, have receded as projected deficits fall in the wake of an improving economy and recently enacted spending cuts and tax increases.
Even before Obama began grappling with the IRS, the fallout from last year's deadly attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, and from the Justice Department's secret seizure of Associated Press phone records, the two parties were at odds over steps to replace $85 billion in across-the-board spending cuts. In particular, Obama's call for higher taxes is a nonstarter with Republicans.
Other high-profile legislation and presidential appointees face difficulties that predate the current controversies.
Months ago, Obama scaled back requested gun safety legislation to center on expanded background checks for firearms purchasers. That was derailed in the Senate, has even less chance in the House and is unlikely to reach the president's desk.
Republicans oppose other recommendations from the president's State of the Union address, including automatic increases in the minimum wage, a pre-kindergarten program funded by higher cigarette taxes and more federal money for highways and bridge repair.
In a clash that long predates the IRS controversy, Senate Republicans seem intent on blocking Obama's nomination of Tom Perez as labor secretary. Gina McCarthy's nomination to head the Environmental Protection Agency is also on hold, at least temporarily, and Democrats expect Republican opposition awaits Penny Pritzger, Obama's choice for commerce secretary.
Rhetorically, the two parties fell into two camps when it came to the White House troubles. Democrats tended to describe them as controversies, Republicans often used less flattering terms.
Speaking on the Senate floor, Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., accused the administration of fostering a "culture of intimidation." He referred to the IRS, the handling of the Benghazi attack and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius' "fundraising among the industry people she regulates on behalf of the president's health care law."
Two days later, Camp, a 23-year veteran lawmaker, opened the IRS hearing by calling the agency's actions part of a "culture of cover-ups and intimidation in this administration." He offered no other examples.
Rep. Trey Radel, a first-term Florida Republican, said in an interview, "What we're looking at now is a breach of trust" from the White House.
House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California offered a scathing response when asked if the controversies would hamper Obama's ability to win legislation from the Republican-controlled House. "Well, the last two years there was nothing that went through this Congress, and it was no AP, IRS or any other (thing) that we were dealing with."
"They just want to do nothing. And their timetable is never," she said of GOP lawmakers.
Similarly, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid gave no ground on Benghazi, a dispute that increasingly centered on talking points written for administration officials to use on television after the attack last September in which U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other Americans were killed.
"It's obvious it's an attempt to embarrass President Obama and embarrass Hillary Clinton," he said of Republican criticism that first flared during last year's election campaign.
On a third front, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., resurrected legislation that would requiring a judge to approve subpoenas for news media communications records when investigating news leaks said to threaten the national security. It was a response to the FBI's secret, successful pursuit of Associated Press phone records in a current probe.
While Democrats counterattacked on Benghazi and parried on leaks, they bashed the IRS' treatment of conservative groups as improper if not illegal ? and warned Republicans not to overplay their hand.
Like many hobbyists, I rely on a good soldering iron. ?I’ve been soldering since the 3rd grade, and I’ve had quite a few soldering irons over the years. ?I’m currently using a Weller soldering station that I’ve had over 20 years (still going strong), so when I had a chance to try a new?Weller [...]
Adobe's Photoshop Express has been taking care of our botched photos on Android and iOS for quite some time, but it hasn't had its turn on a desktop-class platform. That changes with today's launch of a version for Windows 8 and RT. Like their mobile counterparts, Windows users can now make basic edits, apply filters and sync photos to Revel in a touch-friendly interface; the chief difference is the landscape-oriented Windows Store look. If you've wanted to use your Surface as a mobile photo workshop without paying for apps, you can grab Express for free at the source link.
Moffitt Cancer Center researchers analyze how Spanish smoking relapse booklets are distributedPublic release date: 17-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Kim Polacek kim.polacek@moffitt.org 813-745-7408 H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Active, passive methods do not necessarily target the right population
Researchers from Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida have evaluated how Florida health care and social service agencies distribute "Libres para Siempre" ("Forever Free"), a Spanish smoking relapse prevention booklet series.
Their analysis found that 10 agencies distributed the booklets actively and passively, but those methods may not have helped the material reach its intended audience, Spanish-speaking smokers who have quit but are at risk for relapse.
Their study appeared in a March issue of the Journal of Cancer Education.
"Previous research suggests that although the current smoking rates among Hispanics are lower than the overall prevalence in the United States, Hispanic smokers are less likely to quit successfully or to use smoking cessation aids," said study co-author Vani Nath Simmons, Ph.D., assistant member of the Health Outcomes and Behavior Program at Moffitt. "Consequently, there is a great need to increase the availability of culturally relevant tobacco information in Spanish. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution process of 'Libres para Siempre' to identify the strategies, methods and barriers to distribution. Secondly, we wanted feedback from the agencies on the booklets' quality and usefulness."
The researchers noted that the relapse rate for self-quitters is 95 to 98 percent and that Hispanic smokers are less likely than their non-Hispanic white counterparts to be advised to quit smoking.
"Forever Free," a series of self-help booklets developed at Moffitt to help smokers, who have quit from relapsing, was found to be cost effective and beneficial for reducing smoking relapse among English speakers. To increase its reach to more diverse populations, the "Forever Free" booklets were adapted to create a culturally appropriate Spanish version, "Libres para Siempre." This study examined how health care and social service agencies in Florida disseminated those Spanish booklets.
"To truly make an impact, we needed to make sure the booklets were getting into the hands of the intended audience," Simmons said.
Active distribution included in-person presentation of the booklets at community events or use of the booklet as part of counseling or tobacco-related classes. Passive distribution included displaying the booklet at agency lobbies, events and health fairs.
There were barriers to optimal distribution. For example, the booklets are a set of eight. Some agencies distributed booklets individually. Some distributors gave booklets to those who may have been interested in quitting smoking, rather than those who had quit and were likely to relapse. The booklets target those in danger of relapse.
"Understanding how these booklets are used in the real world can lead to future research to test alternative distribution strategies," noted Simmons. "We determined that some agencies were unable to understand the distinction between interventions for initial smoking cessation and intervention as relapse prevention."
In evaluating the quality and usefulness of the booklets, agency representatives found them beneficial for their clients.
The authors concluded that the distribution process for "Libres para Siempre" could serve as a pilot study to evaluate strategies and methods of distribution, and find the best ways to reach those Hispanics needing relapse prevention materials.
###
Funding for the study came from the University of South Florida Area Health Education Center and the Florida Department of Health.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Moffitt is one of only 41 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt's excellence in research, its contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Since 1999, Moffitt has been listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Hospitals" for cancer. With more than 4,200 employees, Moffitt has an economic impact on the state of nearly $2 billion. For more information, visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the Moffitt momentum on Facebook, twitter and YouTube.
Media release by Florida Science Communications
[ | E-mail | Share ]
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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.
Moffitt Cancer Center researchers analyze how Spanish smoking relapse booklets are distributedPublic release date: 17-May-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Kim Polacek kim.polacek@moffitt.org 813-745-7408 H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute
Active, passive methods do not necessarily target the right population
Researchers from Moffitt Cancer Center and the University of South Florida have evaluated how Florida health care and social service agencies distribute "Libres para Siempre" ("Forever Free"), a Spanish smoking relapse prevention booklet series.
Their analysis found that 10 agencies distributed the booklets actively and passively, but those methods may not have helped the material reach its intended audience, Spanish-speaking smokers who have quit but are at risk for relapse.
Their study appeared in a March issue of the Journal of Cancer Education.
"Previous research suggests that although the current smoking rates among Hispanics are lower than the overall prevalence in the United States, Hispanic smokers are less likely to quit successfully or to use smoking cessation aids," said study co-author Vani Nath Simmons, Ph.D., assistant member of the Health Outcomes and Behavior Program at Moffitt. "Consequently, there is a great need to increase the availability of culturally relevant tobacco information in Spanish. The first aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution process of 'Libres para Siempre' to identify the strategies, methods and barriers to distribution. Secondly, we wanted feedback from the agencies on the booklets' quality and usefulness."
The researchers noted that the relapse rate for self-quitters is 95 to 98 percent and that Hispanic smokers are less likely than their non-Hispanic white counterparts to be advised to quit smoking.
"Forever Free," a series of self-help booklets developed at Moffitt to help smokers, who have quit from relapsing, was found to be cost effective and beneficial for reducing smoking relapse among English speakers. To increase its reach to more diverse populations, the "Forever Free" booklets were adapted to create a culturally appropriate Spanish version, "Libres para Siempre." This study examined how health care and social service agencies in Florida disseminated those Spanish booklets.
"To truly make an impact, we needed to make sure the booklets were getting into the hands of the intended audience," Simmons said.
Active distribution included in-person presentation of the booklets at community events or use of the booklet as part of counseling or tobacco-related classes. Passive distribution included displaying the booklet at agency lobbies, events and health fairs.
There were barriers to optimal distribution. For example, the booklets are a set of eight. Some agencies distributed booklets individually. Some distributors gave booklets to those who may have been interested in quitting smoking, rather than those who had quit and were likely to relapse. The booklets target those in danger of relapse.
"Understanding how these booklets are used in the real world can lead to future research to test alternative distribution strategies," noted Simmons. "We determined that some agencies were unable to understand the distinction between interventions for initial smoking cessation and intervention as relapse prevention."
In evaluating the quality and usefulness of the booklets, agency representatives found them beneficial for their clients.
The authors concluded that the distribution process for "Libres para Siempre" could serve as a pilot study to evaluate strategies and methods of distribution, and find the best ways to reach those Hispanics needing relapse prevention materials.
###
Funding for the study came from the University of South Florida Area Health Education Center and the Florida Department of Health.
About Moffitt Cancer Center
Located in Tampa, Moffitt is one of only 41 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt's excellence in research, its contributions to clinical trials, prevention and cancer control. Since 1999, Moffitt has been listed in U.S. News & World Report as one of "America's Best Hospitals" for cancer. With more than 4,200 employees, Moffitt has an economic impact on the state of nearly $2 billion. For more information, visit MOFFITT.org, and follow the Moffitt momentum on Facebook, twitter and YouTube.
Media release by Florida Science Communications
[ | 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.
It's been seven months since Hurricane Sandy ravaged New York City-area beaches, decimating facilities like lifeguard stations and changing rooms, and it's been a race against the clock to get the beaches back in shape for the summer season. As part of the rebuilding effort, Garrison Architects were tapped to create 37 modular beach pavilions to replace the ones that were washed away?and starting next week, they'll be popping up at destinations like Rockaway Beach and Coney Island.
There are three types of structures: one for comfort stations, one for lifeguards, and one for offices. Each unit will sit on concrete stilts, which raise the rooms off the ground to meet FEMA's storm standards, and they're accessed by stairs and ramps from the boardwalk. Each one's 15 feet high by 12 feet wide, jibing with interstate shipping limitations since they're being driven up to NYC from Pennsylvania.
As rebuilding efforts generally go, the new modules are better and stronger than the buildings Sandy swallowed back in October. They're made of galvanized steel frames designed to withstand severe weather, in the event we're hit with another beach-bombing natural disaster. Finished with high-grade stainless steel and reinforced concrete, they also have rain screen cladding systems and double ventilated roofs with solar panels on the top to save on energy consumption. And most importantly, they'll be at the beach just in time for summer. [Garrison Architects via Architizer]
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two U.S. lawmakers urged Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel to ensure that the Air Force complied with a law requiring the service to buy three high-altitude Global Hawk unmanned planes built by Northrop Grumman Corp that it had tried to cancel.
Representatives Buck McKeon, the Republican who heads the House Armed Services Committee, and Jim Moran, a Democrat from Northrop's home district in Virginia, sent Hagel a strongly worded letter in which they accused the Air Force of ignoring congressional mandates by failing to procure the spy drones.
A copy of the letter, which was dated May 13, was obtained by Reuters late on Thursday.
The Air Force had proposed mothballing the Global Hawk Block 30 program in its fiscal 2013 budget request, arguing that it would be less expensive to keep flying manned U-2 spy planes given pressure to reduce funding.
However, Congress rejected those plans, reinstated funding to keep the fleet of Block 30 planes flying, and ordered the Air Force to buy three final Global Hawk Block 30 planes.
The Pentagon proposed the same programmatic cut in its fiscal 2014 budget, for projected savings of $324 million.
McKeon and Moran said Congress rejected the plan to mothball the Global Hawk program because it was based on "highly questionable assumptions." They say the Air Force is ignoring "unambiguous" instructions to buy the three last Global Hawk aircraft, using previously authorized and appropriated funds.
Air Force officials had indicated during a May 9 hearing that they were was "petitioning for 'relief' from congressional intent," the lawmakers told Hagel.
"We encourage you to deny these efforts and ensure that the Air Force is in compliance with current law," McKeon and Moran wrote in the letter, which was dated May 13.
(Reporting By Andrea Shalal-Esa; Editing by Daniel Magnowski)
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Justice Department's controversial decision to seize phone records of Associated Press journalists was just one element in a sweeping U.S.government investigation into media leaks about a Yemen-based plot to bomb a U.S. airliner, government officials said on Wednesday.
The search for who leaked the information is being led by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington and has involved extensive FBI interviews of personnel at the Justice Department, U.S. intelligence agencies, the White House's National Security staff and the FBI itself.
The interviews have been lengthy and thorough, said people who have been questioned in the investigation, but requested anonymity. Two of those interviewed said leak inquiries were always aggressive and that being questioned is a wearing and unpleasant experience.
The investigation, which a law enforcement official has said was prompted by a May 7, 2012, AP story about the operation to foil the Yemen plot, appears to be ongoing. Some potential witnesses have been advised they are likely to be interviewed in the next two or three weeks.
Officials in the office of Ronald Machen, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Attorney General Eric Holder, who recused himself from involvement in the case, largely sidestepped questions from angry lawmakers on Wednesday about his department's secret seizure of AP records, which the news agency revealed on Monday.
The seizure, denounced by critics as a gross intrusion into freedom of the press, has created an uproar in Washington and led to questions about how the Obama administration is balancing the need for national security with privacy rights.
There are signs the administration's efforts to find the alleged leaker were unproductive - at least before the Justice Department seized two months of records of phone calls by the AP and its journalists.
"Seeking toll records associated with media organizations is undertaken only after all other reasonable alternative investigative steps have been taken," Holder's deputy, James Cole, said in a letter on Tuesday to AP President Gary Pruitt, who has protested the government's action.
In that letter, Cole revealed the Justice Department had conducted more than 550 interviews and reviewed tens of thousands of documents before subpoenaing phone company records of AP calls.
Reuters was one of nearly 50 news organizations that signed a letter to Holder on Tuesday complaining about the AP phone record seizures.
'BREATHTAKING SCOPE'
Floyd Abrams, a prominent First Amendment and media attorney, said, "The breathtaking scope of these subpoenas served on the telephone companies might suggest that after all this time, they have no idea who they're looking for."
Another possibility is "they are touching all bases" because they suspect someone but are not sure, said Abrams, a partner at Cahill Gordon and Reindel LLP in New York. He said it was difficult for an outsider to know.
"I don't think that there is any doubt that this is a serious investigation that they have spent a lot of time on and that they feel deeply about," Abrams said. Justice's targeting of a large number of phone lines and the AP journalists who use them "taken together, certainly makes it look like the largest, most intrusive action by the government vis-a-vis the press that I can remember."
Holder has called the leak "very, very serious" and said it "put the American people at risk." He did not provide details.
The AP has reported that it delayed reporting the story of how the United States had foiled a plot by a suicide bomber affiliated with Yemen-based Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, or AQAP, at the request of government officials, who said it would jeopardize national security. Once U.S. officials said those concerns were allayed, the AP said, it disclosed the plot.
A law enforcement official said on Wednesday that because officials were so concerned and shocked by the leak, they opened an investigation into how the AP found out about the spy operation even before the news agency ran its initial story. The AP had contacted the government and asked for comment several days before the story was published.
The AP's first story reported the CIA had "thwarted an ambitious plot" by AQAP to attack an airline with a newly designed underwear bomb and said the FBI had acquired the bomb. The AP reported it did not know what had happened to the alleged bomber.
A few hours after the story was published, John Brennan, then chief White House counterterrorism adviser and now director of the CIA, held a conference call with former counterterrorism officials who frequently appear as TV commentators. Brennan said the plot was never a threat to the U.S. public or air safety because Washington had "inside control" over it.
That night, Richard Clarke, a former counterterrorism adviser to Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, suggested on ABC News there was a Western spy or double agent in on the plot. "The U.S. government is saying it never came close because they had insider information, insider control, which implies that they had somebody on the inside who wasn't going to let it happen," Clarke said.
The next day's headlines were filled with news of a U.S. spy planted inside AQAP who had acquired the latest, non-metallic model of the underwear bomb and handed it over to U.S. authorities.
Reuters subsequently reported that the spy inside AQAP had been recruited by British intelligence, principally the counterterrorism agency known as MI-5, that the informant had to be whisked to safety, and that UK authorities were deeply distressed that news of the operation had leaked.
During Senate consideration of his nomination to become CIA director, Brennan confirmed he had been interviewed by people investigating both the foiled bomb plot leak and another series of leaks related to alleged U.S. cyber warfare against Iran's nuclear program.
Brennan strongly denied he had leaked any sensitive or secret information to the media. Sources familiar with Brennan's conference call with the TV pundits said at least two of the former officials who were on the call with Brennan had not been contacted by leak investigators.
WASHINGTON (AP) ? President Barack Obama said Thursday that the U.S. and Turkey will keep ramping up pressure to oust Syrian President Bashar Assad from power, but there's "no magic formula" to stop his violence.
At a news conference with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan in the White House Rose Garden, Obama says the only way to resolve the crisis is for Assad to hand over power to a transitional government.
"We're going to keep increasing the pressure on the Assad regime and working with the Syrian opposition," Obama said. "We both agree that Assad needs to go."
Erdogan says the U.S. and Turkey have overlapping goals when it comes to Syria. Neither leader mentioned that the U.S. and Turkey remain far apart on just how to handle Syria's bloody civil war. Erdogan did not directly answer a question about what he asked from Obama on Syria.
Obama said the United States can't act alone to bring peace to Syria and needs the cooperation of international partners.
"There's no magic formula for dealing with an extraordinarily violent and difficult situation like Syria," Obama said.
Erdogan is visiting Washington just days after two car bombs in Turkey killed dozens in the deadliest terrorist attack there in years. Turkish authorities have blamed Syrian intelligence, and Erdogan has been calling for more aggressive steps to topple Assad's government. Obama extended condolences for what he called the "outrageous bombings" and said the United States stands with Turkey in fighting terror threats.
But the Obama administration remains reluctant to take the kind of action Turkey would like to see, including establishing a no-fly zone in Syria.
The disagreement was unlikely to spoil a day of pomp for Erdogan, who arrived at the White House under the flags of a U.S. military honor guard lining the north driveway. He met with Obama in the Oval Office for three hours focusing largely on Mideast security issues, but Obama said they also agreed to create "a new high level committee" to focus on increasing trade and investment between the two countries.
Erdogan also was being treated to a formal lunch at the State Department lunch with Vice President Joe Biden and Secretary of State John Kerry before his return to the White House for a working dinner with the president.
Despite differences over Syria, Erdogan will welcome the opportunity to showcase his close ties with Obama. He arrives after recently marking 10 years in office as a dominant figure in Turkish politics. As much as Erdogan wants the U.S. to exert greater power in Syria, the Obama administration sees Turkey as a critical broker on a host of issues in the region.
The administration recently negotiated a deal to repair ties between Turkey and Israel, which were severed following a 2010 Israeli raid on a Gaza-bound aid flotilla in which eight Turks and a Turkish-American were killed. The administration hopes to see an understanding sealed during Erdogan's visit on compensation for the victims of the raid and their families. The U.S. sees reconciliation between Turkey and Israel as critical as it seeks to revitalize peace talks between Israelis and Palestinians.
Standing next to Obama, Erdogan made clear that he intends to carry through with a visit to the Gaza strip next month, despite objections from the U.S., Israel and the Palestinian authority, which fears the move will bolster Hamas. Erdogan said he would also visit the West Bank.
Later, State Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the U.S. remains opposed to any engagement with Hamas. Hamas, she told reporters, is a "foreign terrorist organization which remains a destabilizing force in Gaza and the region."
It is also looking for Turkish help in ramping up sanctions on Iran and in cooling ethnic tensions in Iraq. Both Turkey and the U.S. see an opportunity this year to restart talks on the reunification of Cyprus, an issue that is also likely to come up in talks between Obama and Erdogan. Cyprus was split in 1974, when Turkey invaded after a coup by supporters of a union with Greece. A Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence in 1983 is recognized only by Turkey, which maintains 35,000 troops there. Turkey doesn't recognize Cyprus as a sovereign country.
Following the recent terrorist attacks in Turkey, Erdogan and Obama also will look to step up cooperation on counterterrorism.
Finally, the U.S. administration is likely to reassure Erdogan that Turkey will not lose out as the administration seeks a massive free trade deal with the European Union. Obama may also offer praise for Erdogan's initiative to make peace with Kurdish rebels after a nearly 30-year battle.
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Follow Desmond Butler on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/desmondbutler
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Public release date: 19-May-2013
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