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Apparently man’s best friend is taking on a whole new meaning…lifesavers! I’m not talking about Lassie, seeing eye dogs, or Newfoundland rescue dogs. I’m talking about trained “health care professionals.”

About five years ago, research began as an investigation done by an orthopedic surgeon, Dr. John Hunt. He was curious about numerous reports of dogs pestering their owners repeatedly on parts of their bodies that were later found to be cancerous. Hunt’s research showed that dogs’ hypersensitive noses are capable of detecting cancer cells and abnormalities in humans. Recently, the case of Paul Jackson, who suffers from diabetes, revealed that dogs can also warn their owners when their sugar levels get too low.

These findings led to British dogs specifically being trained to sniff out certain health dangers in humans at the Cancer and Bio-Detection Dogs research centre in Aylesburg, England. This Reuters article offers great insight on the details of how dogs are capable of having this innate skill.

So, is this the beginning of a new means for patient diagnosis? It may not be practical to have a dog in every doctor’s office, but researchers are attempting to invent an electronic nose that will be capable of mimicking this ability. The device is currently said to be about 15 years behind. Either way, these findings definitely prove that man’s best friend offers much more than companionship.

Contributed by: Ashley Hollingsworth

Thought Subway’s new “Fauxbesity” lingo sounded strange? Check out another coined word that is gracing the pages of our magazine advertisements. In response to looming economic concerns, Kraft has teamed up with other snack food vendors to put the hungry tummy at ease. These powerhouse snack sellers have created a line of combination snacks in order to satisfy your cravings without leaving a huge dent in your wallet. While advertising these products, Kraft has used the increasingly popular tactic of coining a brand new word in order to define a common scenario facing many consumers today. Thus, the introduction of a “snackrifice” (www.whysnackrifice.com).

Kraft’s introduction of “tasty snack combinations” begs this question of consumers: “why snackrifice?” They want to know why you would give up snack time when “you can have a delicious snack for about a dollar.” These and many other companies are very aware of how consumers are consciously cutting back on going out to eat and spending money on unnecessary products. They have planned marketing campaigns that highlight the benefits and convenience of packaged goods, and demonstrate how snacks can still fit into your budget. The Kraft Snackrifice campaign, and many others, have appealed to consumers by promising more bang for your buck.

Snack on.

Contributed by Carrie Friedrich

Contributed by Carrie Friedrich

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Addison Whitney has two new names and logos to add to its portfolio in the running world: StabilicoreTM, which is a technology brand for New Balance shoes, and Aceba, a Dry Lubricant used in Asics Chafe FreeTM products.

For those who think that Nike is supreme when it comes to athletic footwear, runners will tell you a different story. Runners are very loyal to brands that work, and Asics and New Balance have emerged as trusted names for those who hit the pavement every day.

A quick poll of AW’s running group, “Brand, Sweat and Tears”, revealed the following insights about running brands:

• “I am more loyal to technologies than I am to master brands”
• “I don’t care if it’s popular- I care if it has got the specifics that I need! (e.g. high-arch support)”
• “If I find a technology that works for me, I am more likely to buy other items from that brand (the shoes fit, why not buy the matching shorts and tank!)”

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