For those that have yet to travel to Japan for business, there are a couple of things you should know before booking your ticket and inviting clients out to eat. Japanese culture is centered on politeness, overall respect for people, age reverence, gracious apology for wrongdoing, and living in harmony.

Foreigners, when eating out in Japanese restaurants, need to understand the basics of the Japanese dining etiquette to avoid offending the Japanese by committing a dining blunder!

There are some essential basic rules to be mindful of when dining in a Japanese restaurant. First of all, when the food is served, join your hands in the “Namaste” gesture and say quietly, “Itadakimasu” the phrase translates as “I humbly receive.” The gesture is an expression of gratitude for the collective efforts made by many in growing and preparing the meal.

If you feel you need a bit of soy sauce for your meal, you should serve yourself by pouring a small amount into your soya dish. It is considered rude to directly pour the soy sauce on your meal. If you’re having sushi, dip the sushi in the soy dish and bring it to your mouth. Avoid pouring excessive amount of soy and hovering over your dish. When eating rice or soup, you are allowed to bring the entire bowl closer to your mouth so that you don’t spill any food. In addition, it is considered rude to burp at the table unlike in some other Asian cultures like Chinese or Korean, where it can be received as a sign of satisfaction.

As for the chopsticks, never put your chopsticks in a bowl of rice because it resembles the burning of incense sticks at a Japanese funeral. Instead, lay your chopsticks on the chopsticks holder or at the edge of your individual plate.

At the dining table, do not pour yourself a drink but rather serve others at the table. Another thoughtful person should pour your drink for you when you are finished serving.

At the end of the meal, thank the chef by saying “Gochisosama deshita!” Thank you for this great meal!

The new store takes the number of branches of BinSina pharmacy in the UAE to 32 representing a 12.3 per cent market share
 
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 7th March, 2010: To cater to the needs of the people living in the Jebel Ali real-estate developments including The Gardens and Discovery Gardens as well as visitors of the mall, BinSina Pharmacy has opened its newest store in Ibn Battuta Mall, the world’s largest themed shopping mall.
 
The newly opened store in Ibn Battuta Mall reflects the cozy ambience of the mall. The new store is a one-stop destination for all those interested in good health and well-being. 
 
The new outlet offers an exciting and modern shopping environment: a combination of a high-quality pharmacy and a specialized retail outlet providing an extensive range of health and wellbeing products, supported with a wealth information and helpful advice from specialist professional staff.
 
The new store offers health and beauty products ranging from cosmetics, personal care and revolutionary skincare.
 
BinSina group of pharmacies select their location in due diligence, keeping in mind the need for accessibility, availability of medicines, selection of non-prescription items, hours of operation, professional and customer-friendly service.
 
With this addition at Ibn Battuta Mall, BinSina Pharmacy is having 32 stores in the UAE   representing a 12.3 per cent market share.
 
Ayman Hanbali, Marketing Manager, BinSina Pharmacy said: “As the oldest pharmacy in the UAE, BinSina Pharmacy is a unique pharmacy offering world-class service to its customers. As more patients look to take control of their health care options, we provide a fast, convenient and world class service for our customers.”
 
The opening of BinSina Pharmacy at Ibn Battuta Mall will provide a greater draw for the mall’s regular customers, and further enhance the Ibn Battuta shopping experience. The store is well appointed and well stocked to cater to the mall’s wide range of visitors.
 
With the nearby Gardens residential developments, the opening of the BinSina Pharmacy is being driven by increased customer demand. The mall has already got off to a great start in 2010 and the new store offers shoppers the widest selection of pharmacy, skincare products and toiletries under one roof.
 
BinSina Pharmacy has always played a strong role in making healthcare available to everyone.
 
Hanbali added: “The need for a world class pharmacy in the Jebel Ali area was identified. The new pharmacy is about providing the best possible service to our customers from the surroundings of the mall plus visitors of the mall.”
 
Now Ibn Battuta Mall visitors can enjoy high-end pharmacy products and services. The inimitable and relentless pursuit at reinvigorating BinSina Pharmacy in the light of changing consumer demands and perceptions and ever-increasing competition, have given it an enviable market-standing few can match. BinSina opened up in major key retail locations in the UAE and this demonstrates the group’s confidence in the local healthcare retail market and its pursue to serve the region’s expanding communities. 

• Small, easy-to-use device enables physicians to provide more rapid diagnoses by enhancing the physical exam
• Launched at the NYSORA World Anesthesia Congress in Dubai 

Dubai, UAE; March 6, 2010: GE Healthcare today announced the availability of Vscan, a new, pocket-sized visualization tool developed to provide physicians with imaging capabilities at the point-of-care, in the Middle East.

Roughly the size of a smart phone, Vscan houses powerful, ultra-smart ultrasound technology that provides clinicians with an immediate, non-invasive method to help secure visual information about what is happening inside the body. Vscan is portable and can easily be taken from room to room to be used in many clinical, hospital or primary care settings.

The VScan, showcased at Arab Health 2010 in January, was officially launched in the Middle East at the New York School of Regional Anesthesia (NYSORA) World Anesthesia Congress being held from March 7 to 12 at the Dubai International Convention Centre.

Hisham Youssef, General Manager – Ultra Sound, Middle East, Africa & Turkey, GE Healthcare, said the launch of VScan in the Middle East will significantly add to the convenience of healthcare professionals in providing early health care. “Early and timely diagnosis is the key to more effective treatment. The pocket-size Vscan means that doctors can arrive at the same diagnostic inferences without necessarily having to shift the patient to hospitals for diagnostic reasons. This revolutionary product complements GE’s own ‘healthymagination’ initiative of reducing healthcare costs through timely care.”

The Vscan imaging device received 510(k) clearance in the U.S. by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the CE Mark by the European Union, as well as the Medical Device License from Health Canada and is now commercially available in the U.S., Europe, India, Canada and the Middle East

The ability to take a quick look inside the body using Vscan may help clinicians detect disease earlier. This may prove invaluable in today’s busy practice environment including primary care physicians and those specializing in cardiology, critical and emergency care and women’s health, as well as hospitalists.
 
Vscan offers the image quality that until recently was only available with a console ultrasound. Vscan leverages GE’s high-quality black and white image technology and color-coded blood flow imaging in a device that fits into a pocket and weighs less than one pound (about 400 grams) at 3 inches (7.6 cm) wide and 5.3  (13.5 cm) inches long. Other features include:

• An online portal provides Vscan users with training tools for the product and basic clinical applications with sections about imaging technique, anatomy and trouble shooting
• Intuitive user interface that can be controlled using the thumb
• Intelligent workflow enhancements
• Battery charger station and battery life of one hour scanning – good for up to 30 patients based on average of 2 minutes per scan
• Voice annotation
• USB docking station
• Link to a PC for organization and export of data
• Gateway software with services tools and remote diagnostics

The Vscan is a prescription device for ultrasound imaging, measurement and analysis in the clinical applications of abdominal; cardiac (adult and pediatric); urological, fetal/OB; pediatric; and thoracic/pleural motion and fluid detection, as well as for patient examination in primary care and in special care areas.

Every year millions of people decide “This is the year for me!”  Promises are made and plans are set in place for a new, better you.  Most of these resolutions fade within a month.  Few survive to the see the spring, much less the heat of summer.

So what happens if you slip off the track?  You could just promise to try again next year, or you could take the initiative today and make a resolution for yourself that doesn’t have to compromise!  Here are a few tips to help you make everyday changes for the better.

1. Be realistic in setting your goals.  Even if you are feeling ambitious, realize that you’re only human.  You can’t end war and save the planet all by yourself, and winning a new BMW is largely out of your influence.
2. Have a specific goal in mind.  Want to save the planet?  Start by planting a new tree once a month.  Volunteer your time at a charity organization or community centre.  These are the kinds of goals you should be thinking about; clear and concise.
3. Create a resolution where you can measure your success throughout the year.  People tend to say things like “I’m going to be a better husband/wife”.  What does that mean in terms of new behaviour?  If you can’t evaluate your progress than the whole resolution is worthless.  If you say “I’m going to spend two hours every weekend alone with my husband/wife doing something she enjoys”, that’s a bit more manageable.  Commit to a schedule, a specific activity, or a certain location.  You should feel good about honouring your goals, so make sure you give yourself the chance.
4. Do something worthwhile.  It’s never too late to do something for yourself and the greater good.  Watching two hours of TV instead of three isn’t going to alter your life or anyone else’s.  Think about what you have to offer the world, your passions and hobbies, and what problem in your community you can help solve.
5. Consider alternatives instead of just “quitting”.  This is an extremely valuable lesson in terms of personal psychology.  If you want to quit smoking for instance, all power to you!  What will help you in the long run is if you can say “instead of smoking right when I get up in the morning, I’m going to take a hot bath to relax.”  Instead of lighting up at the office, make it a point to chat with a co-worker you haven’t spoken to that week.  It’s these little alternatives that keep your mind occupied as you wean off of unhealthy practices.

US FDA approves a new indication for ROSUVASTATIN CALCIUM in prevention of heart attacks and ailments based on clinical study results

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 25th February, 2010: Local medical experts have called for focusing on the prevention rather than treatment of heart disease, which has attained alarming proportions in the UAE and become the No. 1 killer Data. According to the Abu Dhabi Health Authority (HAAD) the cardiovascular diseases contributed to 24% of all deaths in the emirate in 2008 .

Experts say more intensive heart-related campaigns are needed to raise awareness and adopt preventive steps, including medication, as nearly 40 per cent of the residents are believed to be unaware of their heart ailments.

The call comes at a time when the US FDA has recently granted approval to for a new indication for ROSUVASTATIN. NB: ROSUVASTATIN CALCIUM is the chemical name of the drug. ROSUVASTATIN is a lipid lowering drug that belongs to a class known as statins that reduce cholesterol in blood. The new indication for ROSUVASTATIN is to reduce risk of stroke, heart attack and revascularization procedures in individuals without evident heart disease but with increased risk of cardiovascular disease based on certain indicators. Previously such patients were not eligible for such treatment.

Dr. Abdullah Shehab, Director of CME, Emirates Society of Cardiology said that just around 10 percent of UAE resident are aware of heart issues and follow a healthy lifestyle. About 50 percent are aware of their heart condition but fail to make any lifestyle changes, while 40 percent are ignorant of their condition and therefore don’t not take any remedial measures.

Dr. Shehab was speaking at a press conference to announce that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had approved ROSUVASTATIN from AstraZeneca, which reduces the risk of stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack) and arterial revascularization procedures in individuals without clinically evident coronary heart disease, but with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) based on age (men ≥50 and women ≥60), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) ≥ 2 mg/L, and the presence of at least one additional CVD risk factor, such as hypertension, low HDL-C, smoking, or a family history of premature coronary heart disease.

Dr. Shehab said that while UAE has seen an improvement in diagnosis, evaluation, treatment and the medical management of cardiovascular disease, still more heart-related campaigns are needed.

”With the approval of this new indication for ROSUVASTATIN, a new phase of cardiologic prevention has begun. “Usually, we treat patients after we discover they have a cardiological disease, but this medicine can tackle the early signs of the diseases,” he added.

In the UAE, the cardiovascular diseases are the number one cause of death and the numbers are rising. By 2015, almost 20m people in the world will die from cardiovascular ailments, mainly from heart disease and stroke.

The FDA approval was based on the findings of a landmark JUPITER (Justification for the Use of statins in Primary prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin) study which evaluated the impact of ROSUVASTATIN 20 mg on reducing major cardiovascular (CV) events in a previously unstudied population. In JUPITER, ROSUVASTATIN significantly reduced the relative risk of heart attack by 54% (p<0.001), stroke by 48% (p=0.002), and arterial revascularization by 46% (p<0.001) vs placebo.

“Not only is this approval a significant milestone for AstraZeneca, but it is also important for the patients who could now benefit from a new phase of therapy under this approved indication,” said Dr Fadel Shaker, Medical Manager AstraZeneca Gulf. “This new indication adds to the significant body of evidence physicians use to evaluate ROSUVASTATIN as a treatment option.”

Dr. Azan Binbrek of Cardiology Department, Rashid Hospital in Dubai said: “We should play an active role in the community by promoting health awareness about diseases and their prevention, such as cardiovascular diseases. We primarily ask our patients to lose weight, do regular exercise and stop smoking. UAE still has a long way to go in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases because this is multi disciplinary where it is the joint responsibility of the government and media and schools have a role to play in planting healthy lifestyle for the kids and keep junk food out of their reach and train them to have exercise as part of their daily lives.”

Speaking about the highest factors for cardiovascular diseases, Dr Binbrek said that the UAE is the second in the world in diabetes where around 25 per cent of people in the UAE are diabetic, 25 per cent have high blood pressure and 20-25 percent have high cholesterol not to mention smoking that is dramatically and worryingly increasing amongst teenagers in the age of 15 to 18, figures that were not so high in the past years.

The major cardiovascular diseases include coronary heart disease (heart attacks), cerebrovascular disease (strokes), hypertension, heart failure and rheumatic heart disease.

Dr. Binbrek added: “The UAE has a very high rate of heart attacks, strokes and heart failure due to the huge lifestyle changes, and we must try to prevent these diseases.”

Dr. Binbrek concluded: “I was the principle investigator for an international study including the Middle East, East Europe and South America about cardiovascular diseases and we found that in milligram to milligram, ROSUVASTATIN is the most powerful statin that we have.”

Dr. Shehab pointed out that some doctors themselves had a bad lifestyle, with many of them being obese, heavy smokers, junk food consumers and avoiding exercise. Dr. Shehab said the UAE is at high risk for more cardiovascular diseases because risks factors like diabetes, smoking, hypertension, lack of exercise and high cholesterol are highly prevalent.

• Campaign held in cooperation with Al Wasl hospital

Dubai; UAE, February 23, 2010: Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) recently conducted a blood donation drive in association with Al Wasl Hospital in Dubai as part of its commitment to partner in community-oriented activities.

ENOC employees and their family members donated blood at ENOC’s in house clinic located at the ENOC complex. Held regularly, the campaign aims to help save lives by donating blood for patients in need.

Khalid Hadi, ENOC Group Brand and Marketing Manager, said: “Partnering in initiatives that make a difference to the community is part of our ongoing strategy and our cooperation with hospitals through blood donation campaigns helps us fulfill that commitment.”
 
ENOC works with many support groups and community healthcare providers to promote awareness on health issues. The participation in various awareness campaigns and initiatives has helped communities formulate better responses to health concerns through prevention, timely intervention and effective management.

Al Ain, 21st February, 2010: Doctors at SEHA’s Tawam Hospital in Al Ain have saved the life of a 13 year old road accident victim using a rare technique that avoided potentially lethal surgery.

The young Emirati suffered multiple injuries to his chest following a serious car crash on the Al Ain to Abu Dhabi road, including a tear in his aorta, the largest blood vessel in the body. To repair the aorta, which acts as the main conductor of blood between the heart and organs, would normally involve complicated, high-risk surgery.

However, a team of Tawam specialists from the divisions of Pediatric Cardiology, Interventional Radiology, Thoracic Surgery, Adult Cardiology, and Vascular Surgery, used a procedure never before practiced in the UAE, to close the tear without operating. The procedure was performed by Dr. Mohamed Hamdan, Chief of Pediatric Cardiology, and Dr. Ayman Saleh, Chief of Interventional Radiology.

“We went in through a small opening in the groin vessels to reach the damaged area”, Dr. Hamdan said. (Figure 1 arrow) “We then put a specially designed stent (a platinum frame, coated with 24K gold) covered with a special tissue (Figure 2) into the damaged area to close the tear, and stop the blood from leaking outside the vessel wall (Figure 3 arrow),” he added. A number of stents had been brought to Tawam Hospital from the U.S.A. just days earlier. The stents, which are permanent, can be made bigger as the child grows older. They can be used in small children as young as 1 year up to adult size. The stent can de expanded as the patient grows. “The timing was extremely fortunate, in that we had only just received an adequate number of stents,” Dr. Saleh said. “Otherwise, we would have had to send the patient for a difficult emergency surgery, to repair the tear and stop the blood loss.” The patient is described as being in an excellent condition.

Tawam is managed by Johns Hopkins Medicine and owned and operated by SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

• Bank organises free screening for customers and employees in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain
• Bank committed to raising awareness of health concerns in UAE

Dubai, February 16, 2010: In line with its commitment to raising awareness about health concerns in the UAE, Emirates NBD, the largest banking group in the Middle East in terms of assets, announced today that it is hosting two consecutive medical screening events in coordination with the UAE Genetic Diseases Association (GDA). 

The event will give both Emirates NBD customers and employees in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain the opportunity to have free screening for inherited blood disorders such as Thalassemia, which is said to effect 1 in 12 people in the UAE.

“Thalassemia and other genetic disorders are a major concern in the UAE,” said Abdulelah Al Kindy, Head of Retail Banking, Abu Dhabi Region, Emirates NBD, “but they can easily be prevented with a simple blood test. At Emirates NBD, we strive to educate our customers and employees to make informed choices that will benefit them in all aspects of their lives. Our screening event in Abu Dhabi received a good response from all attendees, many of whom were not aware of the dangers genetic blood disorders can pose.”

“The UAEGDA has been able to considerably reduce the impact of common genetic disorders prevalent in the country, through its community outreach programs, health education, counseling and free screening tests,” said Dr. Maryam Matar Founder and Executive Director- UAE Genetic Diseases Association. “UAEGDA now has a genetic clinic and a state-of-the-art screening facility, supervised by internationally renowned experts, and with introduction of mobile units, screening has been extended to remote areas and corporate groups.”

Emirates NBD Abu Dhabi screening event successfully took place on February 14, and the Al Ain screening event will take place on February 17, at Emirates NBD main branch, from 9AM–2PM.

• Also serves the Emirates Hills, The Lakes and The Springs neighbourhoods

Dubai, UAE; February 13, 2010: Emaar Healthcare Group, the healthcare subsidiary of Emaar Properties, has opened the Meadows Clinic, the first community clinic that will also serve residents of Emaar’s other master-planned communities including Emirates Hills, The Lakes and The Springs.

Meadows Clinic is the second healthcare centre opened by Emaar Healthcare Group and follows the opening of The Dubai Mall Medical Centre, the largest outpatient facility in the region. A third clinic will open shortly in Arabian Ranches, another established neighbourhood of Emaar.

The Meadows Clinic currently has four specialities – Internal Medicine, Paediatrics, ENT and Obstetrics & Gynaecology - selected for their importance to residents. More specialities including Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, Dentistry and Visiting Specialists will be shortly introduced.

Mr. Omar Al Shunnar, Chief Executive Officer, Emaar Healthcare Group, said: “The opening of Meadows Clinic complements our development ethos of offering advanced and world-class healthcare facilities in close proximity and within our communities. This is in line with Emaar’s vision of developing integrated lifestyle communities.”

He added: “Meadows Clinic upholds the highest standards promoted by Emaar Healthcare including healthcare expertise managed by Methodist International – the international arm of the global premier healthcare provider The Methodist Hospital. The clinic will adhere to international best practices and serve as a convenient and trusted centre for all primary healthcare needs. The opening of the clinic also indicates our desire of not just being an offering within The Meadows community but also being a part of it by serving the neighbourhood through various outreach programs.”

Meadows Clinic will soon be organizing programs within the Emirates Living community including free dietary consultations, Blood donation drives and health related talks.

Elegantly designed taking into consideration the needs of patients, Meadows Clinic has a soothing ambience. The clinic has facilities including a laboratory and radiology set-up and follows an electronic record system for the convenience of patients.

Meadows Clinic is conveniently located in Meadows 2 near the Emirates International School and can be contacted at Tel: 04 4453999.

Emaar Healthcare Group serves as a true vehicle of change by redefining healthcare delivery in the region, improving the quality of life significantly, and offering truly world-class healthcare services – not only to smaller communities but across large-scale projects through an integrated approach to healthcare.

Who would have thought that healthy sandwiches would replace the days of French fries and Big Macs?  That’s right; Subway is officially the world’s largest and fastest-growing restaurant chain.  Subway sells around 2,500 sandwiches a minute from more than 30,000 locations in over 90 countries.

In 1965, Dr. Peter Buck was working as a nuclear physicist.  Fred DeLuca had barely graduated high school and was dying to make some money for college.  It was an unlikely pair of entrepreneurs to say the least.  The two men were connected through family friends, and after a BBQ one summer day, Buck pulled out a checkbook and wrote a $1,000 check to DeLuca.  “Open a subway shop Fred.”  That’s where it all began.

Today, Buck and DeLuca are thought to be billionaires, although they work hard to stay out of the public spotlight.  In some ways, the total number of locations—like all records—is just a symbol.  It doesn’t necessarily account for revenue or popularity, but it does point to a distinct business method. McDonald’s for instance, entered into the international market years ago and is now focused on making profits in existing locations rather than opening up new ones (Subway’s current strategy).   Subway is also different from European chains like Pret a Manger and Benjys, which offer only pre-wrapped and pre-made sandwiches.

They’ve definitely hit upon a branding strategy that has stimulated the public’s appetite for subs. It’s all about eating healthy on the run.  Anyone can be healthier if they choose Subway over any of the competition in the market. That message has struck a chord with many consumers at a time when obesity rates are up and many people feel they lack the time to prepare home-cooked meals.

Good ideas = strong brands.  After all, who wouldn’t want to “Eat Fresh”?