Health Uncle:What Is Prehypertension-and what should be done about it

Prehypertension is now considered to be an early stage of hypertension,or high blood pressure.In a person with prehypertension,harm may already be being done to their bodies.People with prehypertension,defined as blood pressure from 120-139 systolic or 80-89 diastolic,have no symptoms,yet have twice the risk of developing cardiovascular disease as those with lower blood pressure.They are already at an increased risk of suffering a stroke or heart attack.
Prehypertension has a number of possible causes,such as atherosclerosis;sleep apnea;kidney disease;and thyroid disease.Risk factors for the condition include being overweight;of the male sex;having a family history of high blood pressure;a sedentary lifestyle;high sodium or low potassium intake;tobacco use;alcoholism;and having high cholesterol or diabetes.
Prehypertension with diabetes,kidney or cardiovascular disease may be treated with blood pressure medications.Lifestyle changes alone are typically prescribed for the other patients with prehypertension.Low fat/high fiber diets;more exercise;giving up tobacco;and limiting alcohol are recommended to reduce blood pressure.
In the case of prehypertension,what was once glossed over is now seen as requiring a plan of action to alleviate both the present and future risk of cardiovascular events.

Should You Invest in Housing

I think housing has turned around,said Rebecca Patterson,Managing Director and Chief Investment Officer at Bessemer Trust.There's a slow improvement in consumer wealth.
We're being very selective on the financials that we own right now.We're gonna be judicious in what we own.It's definitely less than what we had in the past.
We don't want to get over-excited about housing.There's a good trend to play there,but it's not easy money,Ms.Patterson cautioned.
Consider the homebuilders;home improvement firms;financials;and mortgage-backed securities,or MBS.MBS can have structural flow support longer than was expected.
Rebecca Patterson has an MBA from New York University;an MA in International Economics from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies;and a BS in Journalism from the University of Florida.She had been a journalist covering economics and financials for the Associated Press and Dow Jones,parent company of The Wall Street Journal.
KB Home(KBH),Toll Brothers(TOL)

Violent Unrest Rocks Chinese iPhone Factory-Apple contractor reacts

Eyewitness photos reviewed by this blog show that a violent incident took place Sunday night and early Monday morning at a Foxconn plant in Northern China that makes the back casing of Apple's iPhone 5.The photos were posted to the Internet and depict a disturbing scene.Windows of a factory building were smashed.A gatehouse was overturned and the iron gate was smashed.A vehicle's windshield was busted.Helmeted riot police faced off with a large crowd of workers.The long line of riot police was supplemented by security personnel in camouflage fatigues.Hundreds of male workers milled about in a courtyard or parking lot outside the plant.
Apple contractor Foxconn said the incident began at its Taiyuan factory dormitory over a worker fight.A source with knowledge of the situation,however,pointed out that the ruckus actually began when security guards beat a worker up.The undercover source revealed that the factory is known for its harsh management and practically compulsory overtime work.
The riot erupted when about 2,000 workers protested security guards striking a worker at 10 pm local time.At the factory,there has been an unprecedented ramping up of  Apple iPhone 5 production.Foxconn said it is still investigating the incident.Spokesman Louis Woo said our decision is to take a day off for that particular plant today.There had been previous trouble at the Taiyuan factory.
Apple declined to comment on the story,The Wall Street Journal reported.
Apple Computer(AAPL)

Pfizer Leukemia Pill Approved

Pfizer,the world's largest pharmaceutical company,has announced FDA approval of its new oral medication BOSULIF(R) for adults previously treated for chronic myelogenous leukemia,or CML,with the Philadelphia chromosome abnormality.There will be an estimated 5400 cases of CML diagnosed in 2012,resulting in 610 deaths.
Bosulif is described as an important new addition to the CML treatment landscape by a Pfizer lead investigator,Jorge Cortes,MD,professor of medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Care Center in Houston and Chief,CML Section,Department of Leukemia.Bosulif is one of a series of CML drugs called tyrosine kinase inhibitors that inhibit production of the tyrosine kinase enzyme by the bone marrow.They are based on a better understanding of the molecular basis of CML.
In clinical trials,about 55% of patients previously treated with other CML drugs returned to normal blood counts within the first 48 weeks of treatment with Bosulif,with a major response to treatment of at least 18 months.Novartis' GLEEVEC(R) is one of the main first line treatments for CML.
Up to 26,000 Americans are living with CML today.An unmet need remains for many CML patients,Dr.Cortes pointed out.Bosulif offers a distinct adverse event profile and a convenient once-daily dosing regimen,said Marc Rothenberg,MD,Pfizer vice president of Clinical Development and Medical Affairs.
Although it cannot be described as being a cure,Bosulif is indeed another step forward in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Pfizer(PFE),Novartis AG(NVS)

Should You Buy Activision and Electronic Arts Shares

Mike Olson,analyst at Piper Jaffray,points out that those gaming consoles are getting old.They are even being sold on Craigslist.With the stocks' valuations where they are,they may look interesting.Both Electronic Arts and Activision are within 15% of their low valuation.
We can see over the horizon that new consoles are coming in holiday 2013.From 6-18 months after the launch of a new console,they significantly beat the market.Piper Jaffray has a buy rating on both stocks.
Among Activision's games are Skylanders Cloud Patrol(TM);the upcoming Call of Duty(R):Modern Warfare 5(R);and World of Warcraft:Mists of Panderia(TM).Electronic Arts publishes titles such as Battlefield 3;SimCity;and FIFA 13.
Activision Blizzard(ATVI),Electronic Arts(EA)

Academic Positions,Hong Kong

The City University of Hong Kong is conducting a worldwide talent search for 100 scholars over the next 2 years.The University is seeking to fill openings in the following disciplines:science;engineering;business;social sciences;humanities;law;creative media;energy;environment;and other strategic growth areas in life sciences.There are also opportunities to teach and conduct research in collaboration with the University's scholars for periods of 1 month to 1 year.
City University is ranked 95th in world university rankings,and 12th in Asia.
A senior delegation from the University led by President Way Kuo will make a presentation of City University's vision for the future on October 2,2012 from 5:30-7:30 pm at
The Dupont Circle Hotel
1500 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington,DC 20036
To register,and to make an appointment to meet the delegation,please email http://www.cityu.edu.hk

The US Embassy Crisis:Friday Prayers Regarded Warily

Today's Friday prayers in the Islamic world will not be routine.First,what the imams say at the prayers will be closely monitored.Inflammatory anti-US rhetoric could send enraged mobs into the streets outside US embassy compounds.Even if such messages are not spread by Muslim clergy,the period after Friday prayers is a traditional time for large protests in the Muslim world.US officials are gravely concerned about the safety of US citizens who may be doing business at US embassies on Friday.
As well,the controversy over an offensive anti-Islam video posted on YouTube will possibly encourage the rise of  homegrown radical groups and plots,or bring an increased risk of terrorist attacks within the US by foreigners.
Senator John McCain,R-Arizona,said we are seeing an effort to stir up trouble against the US using this bogus film.Egypt is of vital importance.These are very difficult times.This virus is probably going to spread through the Arab world.
We have to be very careful and measured in our response.Egypt has gone from a staunch ally to a country seeking its own way.Its going through a significant transformation.It's in our interest to have a working relationship with them,given their importance in the Arab world.
Libya is a weak government,but the Libyan people want us and are grateful to us.They voted for moderates,not Islamists.They do have porous borders.They need technical assistance.
The political ticktock is not something I'm paying attention at at this time of the sacrifice of Ambassador Chris Stevens and the three other brave Americans,Senator McCain added.Chris Stevens' life was under threat every single hour of every day.
Besides Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens,killed in the Benghazi consulate rocket attack were US Air Force veteran and computer expert Sean Smith;former US Navy SEAL and security specialist Glen Doherty;and his security colleague Tyrone Woods,also a former SEAL.
Ansar al-Sharia,the Enforcers of Islamic Law,is one of the main militant  groups suspected to be behind the attack,despite their denial of complicity in the incident.Ansar al-Sharia has links to al-Qaida.
Anti-American protests have occurred in 11 countries from Casablanca,Morocco to Kashmir,India.

A Critical View:Does The Market Have It Right

The corporate bonds aren't telling us things are as as good as the market has been,according to Adam Parker,PhD,Chief US Equity Strategist and Managing Director at Morgan Stanley.Our house call is that there won't be any QE3 by the Fed until after the November election.People are more aggressive because of the pain train higher thing.
The year end view is a framework.You have to be tactical with the low and volatile growth and extreme ten year Treasurys.I haven't found somebody who's bearish on earnings yet.Deflation is a real risk.At some point,you'll run out of band-aids.
If the revised estimates are right,the earnings expectations are too high.About half of US companies get margin expansion on average;the analysts are saying 86%.
What matters is the fiscal cliff.I am more worried than the market.You still have very close to no economic growth next year.People could be in a different mindset in three months than they are now,Dr.Parker pointed out.
Adam Parker got his doctorate in Statistics from Boston University.He was named to Institutional Investor's All-American Team in Portfolio Strategy and Quantitative Research in 2009 and 2010.
QE3 would be the Federal Reserve's third asset purchasing program to buck the market up.
Morgan Stanley(MS)

Asia This Day:Optimism About China,Japan Airlines

Japan Ailrlines' 663 billion yen initial public offering has priced at the top of its range,3.790 yen a share.The relisting of JAL shares will take place September 19.The airline is retiring its entire fleet of Boeing 747 aircraft and has 47 new planes on order.
Japan's Q2 GDP growth was only up 0.7%,missing the government's estimate by more than half.Morgan Stanley has cut its global growth forecast for 2012 to 3.2%.
India's rupee is trading at a 2 week high on optimism about further Federal Reserve stimulus action.
IMF President Christine Lagarde said China is rebalancing its economy.Its growth is still about 8%.China's 2013 growth will be better than 2012,Ms.Lagarde predicted.
In the UAE,Abu Dhabi shares rose 1.01 on Sunday,their best day in six months.The MSCI Asia Pacific index was flat in Monday morning trading.
Dariusz Kowalczyk,Senior Economist at Credit Agricole,is long on Chinese stocks.He said I am sure they are doing the right thing in China,monitoring growth.They have the goal of stabilising house prices.The Q4 GDP growth will rebound.Housing construction is rebounding now.
South Korea's Jiyai Shin and America's Paula Creamer engaged in an epic playoff on Sunday at the Kingsmill Championship in Williamsburg,Virginia.Neither LPGA golfer has won since 2010.Their abilities were so evenly matched,they had to retire for the evening after eight playoff holes failed to resolve the final round.Play will resume at 9am Eastern today.

Federal Rules Impel SAIC To Split Itself Up

Federal conflict of interest rules are forcing SAIC,the former Science Applications International Corporation,to divide into two separate companies.The rules make it harder for a company that combines services and solutions functions as SAIC does to compete for contracts.Under the leadership of new CEO General John P. Jumper,US Air Force retired,the IT-oriented research group will spin off its 4 billion dollar a year services business from the larger 7 billion a year solutions business.
The services business will provide systems engineering and technical assistance,plus financial analysis and program office support.The solutions business will offer science and technology for national security,engineering and health projects such as communications,intelligence,logistics and electronic warfare initiatives.
SAIC was founded by a small group of scientists led by physicist J. Robert Beyster,PhD in 1969.The FORTUNE 500 company addresses complex and critical technology-related needs such as cancer research at its SAIC-Frederick subsidiary in Maryland.SAIC-Frederick develops and applies advanced technologies to translational research,accelerating the delivery of new cancer and AIDS treatments.The activity supports the National Institutes of Health's Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research,employing nanotechnology,genomics and biomedical imagery in both basic and applied research.
SAIC employs about 40,000 people at locations from Virginia to Saudi Arabia,Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates.
SAIC,Inc(SAI)

Should You Buy Hewlett-Packard Shares

Hewlett-Packard reported mixed Q2 results,beating estimates on earnings,or profit,but missing estimates on revenue,or sales.The PC group was particularly weak on revenue.They have to transform their business model,said David Pearl,Chief Investment Officer at Epoch Investments.It wants to look a little more like IBM.
The stock is very cheap,but they have a lot of transformation to do in their business.It's gonna be a multi-year process.
Shaw Wu,Senior Research Analyst at Sterne Agee,said we like this stock.We have a buy rating on it.They're actually very profitable.We think they're in the best position for a turnaround.They have about a 30% exposure to the PC market.Our price target for the stock is 33.00.
HP CEO Meg Whitman indicated they may sell some of their smaller businesses.They will defend their PC business by bringing down prices through bringing down the cost of making them.
HP is competing with China's Lenovo in the PC space.
Shaw Wu was recently ranked #2 for stock picking and #3 for accuracy by StarMine.He has a BS in Finance and Information Systems from New York University's Stern School of Business.Sterne Agee is a brokerage,advisory and trust company with offices nationwide.It was founded in 1901.
Hewlett-Packard(HPQ)

Professional and General Positions-September 2012

The Washington Post is holding a Mega Career Fair,including the Professional and General Positions Career Fair which is open to all levels and experience.It will be held on Tuesday,September 11,2012 from 10am to 3pm at
Dulles Expo and Conference Center
4368 Chantilly Shopping Center
Chantilly,VA 20153
Employers attending will include Cox Communications;Farmers Insurance;ING Financial Partners;LSG Sky Chefs;The Ross Companies;Total Wine&More;Transportation Security Administration;and others.Free seminars will be provided by Anointed Words.
Those unable to attend may submit resumes to resume@expoexpertsllc.com