See-through braces help patients beam from ear to ear

Dubai: Residents with crooked teeth have reason to smile after wearing see-through aligners, or ‘clear braces’, a specialist said.

The virtually invisible aligners can be pulled out when the patient wants to brush, floss or eat, said Dr Sameer Kumar, Assistant Director of Administration, GMC Super Speciality Dental Centre, Ajman.

He added that over 2,000 residents have been treated with clear braces after a UAE distributor (3D Ortholine) introduced them in 2006. The treatment starts with an impression, X-rays and photos of the teeth, all of which are used to create 3D images of the final teeth positions and to determine the corrections needed to get there.

After approval, a set of [teeth] trays are made and the patient wears the braces, changing them for the next one in the series until the teeth are lined up properly.

The number of trays, treatment time and costs differ from case to case, Dr Kumar stressed. Typically, however, it can involve up to a dozen sets and take about a year.

Treatment prices range from Dh15,000 to Dh20,000 — roughly double the cost of metal braces. Also, clear aligners are not used for patients with skeletal irregularities, he said. But because they can be removed at will, success also depends on the patient’s cooperation, he pointed out.

“You should only take them out for very short periods, like when brushing or eating. And yes, it’s compulsory to keep them on at sleeping time,” Dr Kumar said.

BawadiMall_Spain

Al Ain, United Arab Emirates, (July 29, 2010) – International troupes from Syria, Palestine, Spain and other countries are delighting shoppers with a spectacular and colorful entertainment program at Bawadi Mall in Al Ain.

Bawadi Mall, the largest shopping mall in Al Ain, is host to “Around the World in 60 Days” shopping program until August 6, 2010.

With a charming and an attractive bright atmosphere, and in the presence of a large audience of various nationalities and ages, Julnar performed a spectacular show which delighted the crowd. The renowned Pan Arab band effortlessly introduced the Syrian cultural tradition in a wonderful contemporary art form which was greatly appreciated by the audience.

The band begins with a dance taking spectators into the age of Arabic enlightenment into the glorious Arab past. The band moved swaying in a lively way evoking the golden era of Arabic tradition.

The band in its performance, took the audience to a Syrian panorama with its excerpts of diverse Syrian folkloric glimpses where it ascended mountains and descended valleys. It visited deserts and provided a view of the Al Furat River with all its heroic traditions. Then at last it rested on Tartoos beach and concluded its act in the ancient city Damascus. The performance of the Syrian troupe brought a convincing image of Damascus.

The band presented a skilled flutist and a drummer in the introduction to present the village section in all its glory. Then with a flourish, the band sang “Lalala” songs and danced with absolute poise as it did to the tune of “Ala Al Many Ala Al Many” song transporting some members of the audience back in time to Syria, among fields of wheat or on mountain tops.

The band celebrated the spring festivals before introducing the Arabic panel which motivated the audience as it toured through dance into the Arabic states greeting Syrians, nudging its audience to revisit Arabic tradition in art, literature, dancing, singing the Dabkee. By this amazing and motivating tour, Julnar accomplished a total of fifteen folklore dances and artistic themes.

Julnar is considered the biggest and most popular Syrian band where it is actively sought in various ceremonies; international, Arabic and local ones. It consists of more than forty professional dancers.

The popular Palestinian folkloric dance was presented in a variety of traditional exhibits that included the popular Dabkeh from Nablos, Ramalla and other Palestinian cities such as Gaza and Haifa. It is considered as an old folk heritage. The Palestinian folklore is performed with hands together symbolizing cooperation and unity as well as feet hit to as a symbol of obstinacy and strength of men.  This dance was accompanied with songs that expressed the deep belonging to Palestine.

The Folklore Dancing Band was presented in Palestinian weddings .It depended on the movement of the feet as Kradieh or Tayarah which is known by rapid rhythm and with accompaniment by the guitar, clarinet, drums and flute player in addition to short performances of other expressive dances that motivates the audience to see more and more.

Majdlawi band presented Aldalona with its special songs where quick movements and rapid rhythms were distinguished. Ya Zareef Al Tool dance had the sweetest words which signified the joyful lives of couples.

The band was careful to wear the traditional suits that represent the Palestinian culture as proof of their fondness for their land. The girls wore black traditional dresses with handmade embroidery that symbolize the villages they are from.

To acknowledge the folklore in Spain, the Spanish band performed their show in the folk traditional ceremony in Bawadi Mall.  Ten dancers performed various kinds of dancing, however the most important one was the Flamenco dance.

The Flamenco dance is considered the most popular one in Spain. It was danced by the gypsies in the south of the country. Every dance was characterized by unplanned personal performance. This gave a special meaning to the pop music which accompanied the dance.

The  colorful costumes and the  elegance  of  the  Spanish  dancers  and  the rhythm  of  their  finger-clicks  added  a lot  of  excitement  to  the  performance.

Organization encourages free and confidential testing through blood screening drive for all internal employees

Dubai, July 29 2010-  UAE Genetic Diseases Association (UAEGDA), the sole non-profit genetic organization in the UAE, recently announced that they are on track to achieve their “UAE Free from Thalassemia 2012” initiative, saying that the target looks quite achievable to eliminate births of children born with the genetic blood disease within the next two years.  Offering free and confidential testing and in association with National Bonds Corporation PJSC, the organisation held a blood screening drive earlier this week for its employees to screen them for the most commonly inherited blood genetic disorders—including as Beta Thalassemia, sickle cell anaemia, G6PD deficiency and Diabetes Mellitus—in support of UAEGDA’s national health campaign.

Regularly organized screening drives help to increase an individual’s awareness on the health risks posed by genetic blood disorders, which can be passed from one generation to the other. The process begins by registering online at the UAEGDA website. Bar-coded labels are then printed and placed on the individuals testing tubes after which the sample of blood is processed in the UAEGDA laboratory. The results are then sent directly to the individual’s email with all the details being handled solely between the client and the organization.

Dr. Maryam Matar, Founder & Chairman of UAEGDA, says that genetic blood diseases like thalassemia are highly prevalent in the UAE but can be addressed with a simple and inexpensive blood test as a primary solution in helping to reduce the presence of hereditary diseases in the country.   “We are confident that with the rapid increase in the activities of our organization and with all the awareness events organized by UAEGDA across the country, we can make the UAE free of thalassemia by 2012,” adds Dr. Matar.

As one of UAEGDA’s leading partners, National Bonds Corporation PJSC takes responsibility towards its employees seriously and is working in association with UAEGDA to support the government’s campaign to eradicate thalassemia in the country by 2012.  “We are committed to stepping up the fight against thalassemia and working towards the health of the nation, both in terms of physical and financial wellbeing,” comments Mr. Mohammed Qasim Al Ali, CEO of National Bonds Corporation PJSC.  “By offering our employees UAEGDA’s free and confidential voluntary tests, we can ensure their own wellbeing as well as that of future generations.”

The UAE Genetic Diseases Association 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. They also have a free genetic clinic equipped with a state-of-the-art screening facility supervised by internationally renowned experts.

Targets UAE youth population by partnering with Rock Nation; conducts three successful concerts in Dubai

Dubai – July 29th, 2010: SanDisk® Corporation (NASDAQ: SNDK), the inventor and world’s largest supplier of flash storage cards for digital consumer products today announced its participation with Rock Nation, the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) first local rock talent platform. For the month of July, Rock Nation is conducting the July Rockathon, which is sponsored by SanDisk Middle East and Africa to encourage budding local rock music talent.

The July Rockathon is an on-going rock and roll event that has 16 bands playing on four back-to-back weekends all through the month of July at different venues across Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Elaborating on SanDisk’s participation, Tareq Husseini, SanDisk’s Middle East and Africa Sales Director said: “We have constantly read about the lack of sponsors in the entertainment industry to encourage and harness young talent in the region. We, at SanDisk, believe in encouraging new talent and providing them a platform to showcase their skills. We hope that our partnership with Rock Nation will provide rock music in the region the much-needed boost.”

The performances so far in the month of July included IED, Fatiniza – the Columbian performer who launched her debut album – Confusion, GoPilot – The energy punk rock and BrownFusion – the reggae rock band among others.

The final performance slated for July 30th, 2010 is an acoustic show for all ages and will be held at The Shelter, Al Quoz. Some of the performing bands include Point of View, IED, BrownFusion, Ray the BeatBoxer and many more. One band will be selected from the 16 finalists that have the talent to put Dubai on the international rock and roll map.

Sage Software holds more than 30 per cent share in UAE’s ERP and CRM software market

July 29, 2010

UAE retail sector will spend heavily on Enterprise Application Software, according to Sage Software, the leading global supplier of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and (Human Resource Management) HRM solutions to medium and large organisations, as increasing competition in the retail sector will lead to a rollout of heavy EAS investment by 2013.Currently Sage holds in excess of 30 per cent of the total UAE market share, after witnessing a rapid transformation over the last couple of years from offering desktop accounting packages to full-blown ERP and CRM solutions. The company further revealed that there is a growing demand from governments and enterprises across the MENA region for more powerful and highly customized EAS solutions in order to gain a competitive edge and enhance business efficiency in their respective industries.

According to recent reports, the UAE is one of the region’s fastest-rising ERP markets, while CRM solutions are poised for growth especially within the country’s SME sector. This year, ERP vendors are also expected to increase their focus on SMEs, given the rising saturation levels being seen in the corporate market. Having successfully amassed over 6.1 million customers from across the globe, Sage Software is eyeing the USD 580 million the UAE is expected to spend on software this year according to BMI by targeting the local companies and highlighting the benefits its ERP offerings, such as full interoperability among dispersed teams, customer experience improvement, lower the total cost of ownership, reduced complexity and improved accuracy of information.

“In today’s developing retail environment, a robust ERP and CRM solution is witnessing a growing popularity as an essential tool to help local companies capitalise on prospects and deal with the challenges of their businesses,” said Vikram Suri, Managing Director, Sage Software. “This growing demand, especially in the UAE, poses a major opportunity for us to expand the reach of our highly advanced and market-leading ERP offerings, given the success we have already seen in the country as reflected by our share in the local ERP market. The country remains a key market for us and our goal is to help more businesses take advantage of the advantages of efficient management of resources within their internal processes through our solutions.”

A global market leader in the field of business management software and services with a 13,000 strong workforce, Sage Software offers highly customisable ERP, CRM and HRM solutions that easily adopt a company’s local requirements and solve business challenges. Its family of  award-winning ERP software include the latest ‘Sage ERP X3’, which is drawing huge attention from regional mid-sized and micro-multinational companies seeking to reduce IT infrastructure costs and adopt a single solution that can serve all of their regional operations.

“As local companies concentrate on transitioning from manual environments to full automation of back-office systems with aims to boost efficiencies, our goal is to deliver robust technologies that can accommodate the diversity of all major markets. Through our solutions, organisations can build competitive advantages and increase their profits, which will effectively drive the growth of various markets,” concluded Suri.

Kids Session - Hygiene Council- Saudi Arabia

Riyadh, 29th, July, 2010: – More than 20 local children today participated in a fun and interactive session to learn about the importance of hand hygiene. The kids’ session, organised by the Hygiene Council and Dettol, was held immediately after the results of the Hygiene Home Truths Study 2010 were revealed during the fifth annual Hygiene Council meeting at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The session was headed by Prof. Tariq Madani, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Advisor to His Excellency the Minister of Health, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Prof. Madani involved the children in a number of fun activities such as games and team quizzes with colorful rewards.

One of the activities found to be the most interesting for kids was the Hygiene Hand Globe. The hygiene globe device exposed the germs on children’s hands before and after hand washing.

“We are very glad and proud to have held such a session. All the children learnt about good hygiene practices in a fun and entertaining atmosphere. We gave them proof of the existence of harmful germs using the Hygiene Hand Globe, and taught them how to destroy these germs. The children at today’s session will set an example for their peers and help them to learn and practice proper hygiene techniques.

“The Hygiene Council is  committed to holding these kids’ sessions as millions of children around the world die every year from preventable diseases. We can help diminish that number by providing children with the proper educational tools they need to protect themselves,” said Prof. Madani.

- Hygiene Council meets in Riyadh, recommends more targeted cleaning approach to ‘break the chain of infection’
- Council releases findings from international, regional and local study
- Nine out of ten fridges in Saudi Homes are a breeding ground for germs

Prof. Tariq Madani

Riyadh, 29th, July, 2010: – The results of the international, regional and local Hygiene Home Truths Study 2010, were revealed today during the fifth annual Hygiene Council meeting held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The study, supported and organized by Dettol, showed that bathroom seals, the insides of fridges, general purpose kitchen towels and kettle handles are some of the most highly contaminated hygiene hotspots in homes worldwide and especially in Saudi Arabia – and are caused by ineffective cleaning.

The Hygiene Council study, which was carried out in nine countries across the globe including Saudi Arabia, illustrated that it is not necessarily how frequently cleaning takes place that matters, but rather targeting the right areas with the right cleaning methods.

According to the study, bathroom seals are the dirtiest site in homes worldwide, with over two thirds (70%) failing bacterial tests, and over half (56%) failing mould tests, despite more than a third (37%) appearing clean. This is a concern, as evidence from existing studies shows a relationship between the presence of household mould or damp and an increase in the incidence of health problems such as fungal infections, respiratory illness, asthma and allergies. ,  ,  ,  

The inside of fridges came a close second to bathroom seals in the contaminated hygiene hotspots stakes, with nearly half (46%) of households worldwide failing bacterial contamination tests and more than two fifths (44%) of households showing mould build up. Fridge temperatures were found to be unsatisfactory in many instances, allowing bacteria to grow to high numbers. Fridges were also found to be one of the least regularly items in the home, especially in terms of using disinfectant products such as Dettol.

In Saudi Arabian homes, the dirtiest items were bathroom seals and fridge interiors with nine out of ten (90%) of both areas found to be unsatisfactory or heavily contaminated – well above the global average.  This finding was particularly surprising given the fact that the same number of people - nine out of ten householders (90%) - said that they cleaned their fridge at least once a week, with eight out of ten (80%) claiming to clean their bath or shower daily.

Furthermore, the results of the consumer survey on home hygiene in Saudi Arabia showed that four out of every five respondents said that they encountered mould in their households; with the majority of mould found in bathrooms, kitchens and around sinks.

Professor John Oxford, chairman of the Hygiene Council and Professor of Virology at Barts and the London School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, a guest speaker at today’s event, said, “Bathroom seals are the dirtiest sites in Saudi Arabian homes, as they are worldwide. Even though surfaces can often appear clean to the naked eye, it is important that people understand that mould spores in areas such as bathroom seals can have a detrimental effect on their health. This means that precautions need to be taken to reduce mould spores just as with as other bacteria that people might be more aware of.”

General purpose kitchen towels were found to be unsatisfactory or unacceptably dirty in more than a third (36%) of cases worldwide. Although more than four in ten (42%) respondents said they changed the kitchen towel daily, almost three in ten (29%) washed it below 60°C, too low a temperature to kill bacteria, especially when disinfectants such as Dettol are not added. Astonishingly, 1% of respondents said they never changed the kitchen towel.

“The study results show that certain areas in our homes are being neglected when it comes to hygiene,” said Professor Tariq Madani, Professor of Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Advisor to His Excellency the Minister of Health, Ministry of Health, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and guest speaker at the Hygiene Council meeting. “What is apparent is that people do clean, but not necessarily effectively enough by targeting specific areas with a method that works. For example, cleaning with a dirty cloth, wrong product or not thoroughly washing hands will simply spread bacteria and mould around the home, rather than killing harmful organisms. Practicing good hygiene through targeted cleaning is something we can all do to break the chain of infection.”

Globally, kettle handles were dirtier than computer keyboards (with 22% vs. 19% failing bacterial tests).  In Saudi Arabia these items were the third and fourth dirtiest items in the home, with more than three times international average (75%) found to be unsatisfactory or heavily contaminated. 

Worldwide, the cleanest surface tested was the push chair with only 6% failing bacterial tests.  The hypothesis behind this figure is that parents, especially mothers, are usually very careful about keeping items that are in their child’s surroundings very clean and regularly disinfected.

Effective cleaning of surfaces in homes is particularly important because it was also shown that the flu virus can remain infectious for up to 24 hours on stainless steel and plastic surfaces, and for up to 48 hours on wooden surfaces.

Dubai, UAE, 29 July 2010: Dubai Refreshments (P.S.C) - sole franchisee and distributor of PepsiCo products - in cooperation with the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) continued its initiative in distributing free Aquafina bottled water to Dubai bus commuters.

A free 600 ml bottle of Aquafina water was given to every Dubai bus commuter who boards at a major station, including Gold Souq, Sabkha, Hor Al Anz, Al Qusais, Rashidya, Satwa, Al Ghubaiba Qadima, Al Ghubaiba Sadida, Al Ghubaiba Inter-city bus Station, Al Ittihad Square, Ibn Battuta and Mall of the Emirates. 

DRC has been providing free Aquafina to Dubai’s bus commuters every July since 2008.  During the first two years of the initiative, more than 480,000 free bottles of water were distributed and the company anticipates giving away a further 240,000 bottles this July.

- Khalid Hadi recognized for Excellence in Branding and Marketing

ENOC's brand & marketing wins brand super achiever award

Dubai, July 28, 2010: Khalid Hadi, Group Brand and Marketing Manager of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC) received the prestigious ‘Brand Super Achiever Award’ from CMO Asia for Excellence in Branding and Marketing. The Award recognizes individuals with proven leadership in building brands supported by consistent innovation and strategic marketing.

Khalid Hadi received the award at the CMO Asia Awards ceremony held recently at SUNTEC Singapore International Convention and Exhibition centre for his contribution towards building and promoting the ENOC brand for the past 15 years.

The Award selection was based on the internal and external perception of the brand in the public domain, its contribution to the economy, the track record of organizational performance and financial results and values, integrity and work-life balance. 

Khalid Hadi said: “It is an honour to receive this award from an international organization that recognizes excellence brand promotion in the Middle East. I dedicate this award to my colleagues at ENOC who have helped the company achieve its fifth Superbrand laurel recently. The award is a reiteration of our organisation’s commitment to business excellence across business practices. Building a strong, powerful, and successful brand takes many years, and we have adopted a multi-pronged approach to boost the brand identity and equity of ENOC locally and internationally with a focus on upholding our key values and commitment to the society.”

Khalid Hadi joined ENOC in 1995, his current areas of responsibilities include managing brands, advertising, public relations, sales promotions, sponsorships, corporate social responsibility,  market research and intelligence and event management for the ENOC Group, which consists of more than 30 companies within the UAE and abroad.

Security now the top priority for consumers and businesses

Dubai, United Arab Emirates

As the online threat landscape continues to evolve and grow, global spending on IT security is estimated to rise to US$ 60 billion, according to market research company, RNCOS. The study also shows that IT security in the Middle East is projected to grow by 12% over the next three years, as governments and financial institutions adopt advanced security solutions.

During GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK 2010 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 17-21 October 2010, leading vendors will showcase a range of the latest security products including IT security appliances, services and software.

Trixee Loh, Senior Vice President, Dubai World Trade Centre, organiser of GITEX said: “Security is a key focus area at this year’s GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK and will address the growing need for a safe and secure technology environment. The event attracts leading vendors such as Kaspersky, Trend Micro Middle East and Symantec who will showcase the most advanced IT security solutions to protect consumers and businesses in the region. The event also provides a strategic platform to discuss issues relating to security and keep businesses informed of the latest security technologies and trends.”
 
According to a recent study by security firm, Symantec, online deception and data theft have hit businesses hard. An estimated $5 billion has been filtered from small business bank accounts and credit cards alone. Cyber criminals are increasingly using malware, phishing schemes, database attacks and sophisticated software to steal information and transfer funds and assets. Coupled with an increase in the number of online virus infections, there is an urgent need for businesses and corporate networks to have a stable and secure computing environment.

In June 2010, Kaspersky Labs reported that a total of 327,598,028 attempts were made to infect users’ computers worldwide, 26.8% higher than the previous quarter. There is an exponential growth of online security threats as technology advances and online use increases. As online fraud and identity theft rises, industry experts advise that security should be top priority for businesses and individuals. Without it, companies are vulnerable to attacks and identity and data theft.

Tarek Kuzbari, Managing Director, Kaspersky Lab Middle East said, “Everyone needs to be better educated about online threats and how to defend against them. This includes IT professionals defending today’s networks and the software developers who work alongside them. This year, at GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK we will be showcasing a suite of advanced security solutions that will help protect customers and provide them with a more secure, private and reliable computing experience.”

GITEX TECHNOLOGY WEEK, the region’s largest and most established ICT trade event, will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 17-21 October 2010.

To register or for more information please visit www.gitex.com

*Source: Independent research: RNCOS, Symantec and Kaspersky Labs.