United States - Each year on June 23, people across the United States celebrate National Pink Day.  Today’s holiday is all about pink, whether it is wearing it, eating it, drinking it, driving in it, laying on the beach with it, carrying it, covering up with it or etc. it is just all about pink. So, think pink and celebrate!

You can use your imagination today with food coloring, adding it to many different foods, and make pink pancakes, pink scrambled eggs, pink waffles, pink oatmeal, pink cookies, pink cupcakes, pink bread, pink donuts, pink coolwhip, pink pudding, pink milk, pink milkshakes, pink salad dressing, pink coleslaw and the list goes on and on.  Have fun with your creativity.

When you get dressed you have the option of pink shoes, pink socks, pink pants, pink shorts, pink skirt, pink shirt, pink hair accessory, pink hat and pink sunglasses.

Join in the fun, with everyone else, and go pink for the day!

NATIONAL PINK DAY HISTORY

Within our research, we were unable to find the creator and origin for National Pink Day, an “unofficial” National holiday.

For more great information on these and other holidays, check out the “Queen of Holidays” Jace Shoemaker-Galloway at http://www.examiner.com/holidays-in-national/jace-shoemaker-galloway

Dexter, Missouri - Ms. Petunia Pig has made a full recovery thanks to her competent doctors and nurses!  If you have driven by Dexter Queen lately you may have noticed that Ms. Petunia was not on her post at the entrance.  No, she didn't run away to find her night in shining armor,  Mr. Oinks-A-Lot nor was she taken by the big bad wolf.

Ms. Petunia was mowed down by a vehicle in a horrible accident that occurred several weeks ago.  While not sustaining life-threatening injuries, she did suffer numerous scrapes and abrasions.  She also suffered minor damage to her legs and face and has been recuperating in Dana's shop.

After a few weeks of rest and recovery her Piggy Doctor  along with advice from her plastic surgeon gave her the all-clear.  She was released to full duty.

Yesterday Ms. Petunia made her grand appearance after receiving wonderful care from Lori Hawkins, owner of Dexter Queen. She also received a complete make-over.  Her eyes are just as gorgeous as ever and her complexion couldn't me more beautiful!  Her flag is bright red and her tail purple.  She is ready for duty!

Ms. Petunia is glad to be back at job on her post working seven days a week.  She has completed her duties effortlessly for years and has become quite an icon in the city of Dexter.

When asked, "Ms. Petunia has made a speedy and full recovery and is proud to be back at work receiving mail for Dexter Queen".

The Dexter community is glad to see her doing so well and we wish her the best as she sits upon her post at Dexter Queen each and every day, rain or shine, she will be working diligently.

Ms. Petunia can be seen at Dexter Queen, 1109 Highway Bus. 60 and don't forget to come in and get a Lotta Pig!!  Check out their website by clicking HERE.

Columbia, Missouri - Researchers at the University of Missouri have proven that a compound initially developed as a cholesterol-fighting molecule not only halts the progression of breast cancer, but also can kill the cancerous cells.

“Cholesterol is a molecule found in all animal cells and serves as a structural component of cell membranes,” said Salman Hyder, the Zalk Endowed Professor in Tumor Angiogenesis and professor of biomedical sciences in the College of Veterinary Medicine and the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center at MU. “Because tumor cells grow rapidly they need to synthesize more cholesterol. Scientists working to cure breast cancer often seek out alternative targets that might slow or stop the progression of the disease, including the elimination of the cancerous cells. In our study, we targeted the production of cholesterol in cancer cells leading to death of breast cancer cells.”

Previous studies suggest that 70 percent of breast cancers found in women are hormone dependent and can be treated with anti-hormone medicines such as tamoxifen. Although tumor cells may initially respond to therapies, most eventually develop resistance, which causes breast cancer cells to grow and spread. Cholesterol also can contribute to the development of anti-hormone resistance because cholesterol is converted into hormones in tumor cells. Therefore, these cholesterol-forming pathways are attractive therapeutic targets for the treatment of breast cancer.

Using compounds initially developed by Roche Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of high cholesterol, which reduces cholesterol in a different manner than the widely used statins.  Hyder and his team administered the molecule to human breast cancer cells. They found that the compound was effective in reducing human breast cancer cell growth and often caused cancer cell death. Most interestingly they found that the cholesterol lowering drug they tested destroyed an estrogen receptor, a protein which encourages the tumor cells to grow.

Equipped with this information, Hyder and the team tested the results in mice with breast cancer. Following injection of the compound, Hyder found that the molecule was effective at killing breast cancer cells by reducing the presence of estrogen receptors in tumor cells, Hyder said.

“The compound exhibited anti-tumor properties in both human samples, which were outside the body, and in samples that were administered by injection into the mice,” Hyder said. “In both cases, the proteins that cause tumors to grow were eliminated, leading to more aggressive cell death.”

Hyder believes that further clinical testing can lead to a drug that has the dual purpose of fighting high cholesterol and cancer.

Researchers involved with the study included Yayun Liang, research associate professor at Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center; Cynthia Besch-Williford, professor of veterinary pathobiology at MU; Benford Mafuvadze, post-doctoral fellow at Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center; Matthew Cook, pre-doctoral fellow in Biomedical Sciences; and Xiaoqin Zou, associate professor of physics and biochemistry and a researcher at the Dalton Cardiovascular Research Center. Johannes Aebi from Roche Pharmaceuticals also contributed to the research.

The study, “Cholesterol biosynthesis inhibitors as potent novel anti-cancer agents: suppression of hormone-dependent breast cancer by the oxidosqualene cyclase inhibitor RO 48-8071,” was published in Breast Cancer Research and Treatment and was funded by a grant from the Department of Defense Breast Cancer Program.

Poplar Bluff, Missouri - After years of work by local planning agencies and transportation partners, Missourians are now asked to weigh in on a list of transportation projects and improvements that could improve safety, create jobs, and boost Missouri's economy.

The Missouri Department of Transportation has coordinated a series of open house meetings to ask residents to take a look at the draft list of local priorities and share their comments. The list a provision of Constitutional Amendment 7, an Aug. 5 ballot measure to temporarily raise Missouri's sales tax by ¾ cent.

Members of the media are encouraged to attend a public meeting anytime during the advertised hours to view the draft transportation improvements list and speak with key regional transportation partners. No formal presentations will be made.

The entire public meeting schedule, the draft transportation improvement list, and an online comment form are available at noon on June 13 at www.modot.org/movingforward.

WHAT:       Open House Public Meeting to Gather Comments on Transportation Improvement List

WHEN:      Tuesday, June 17 from 4-7 p.m.

WHERE:   Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce, 111 W. Pine Street, Poplar Bluff, Mo.

WHO:        MoDOT Employees, Regional Planning Commission Representatives

United States - Thinking about a fall getaway? There's an Amtrk Station in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.  Amtrak has a special discount available. If you purchase your tickets during the month of June, you can receive a 30 percent discount on travel during the month of September. The discount is valid on two train services in Missouri: the Missouri River Runner and the Lincoln Service.

The Missouri River Runner offers twice daily service between Kansas City and St. Louis. The Lincoln Service provides four daily trains between St. Louis and Chicago.

The details on the 30 percent sale are as follows:

Terms and Conditions:

•        Sale Period:  June 1 - June 30, 2014

•        Travel Period:  September 2 - September 30, 2014

•        Blackout Dates:  None

•        Valid for Coach seats only; no accommodation upgrades permitted

•        Offer valid on the following trains only:  Missouri River Runner, Lincoln Service and Heartland Flyer

•        Non-refundable (once ticketed); exchangeable prior to original travel date

•        Up to two children, ages 2-12 may accompany each adult at half fare

•        Must refer to Discount Code C318

For more information, visit http://www.amtrak.com/.