Yesterday, Truett-Hurst Inc. (THST-NASDAQ) summed up nicely its numerous packaging awards and recognitions received in 2014 alone. The California winemaker is frequently recognized by the beverage industry for the quality of its wines, but also from the graphic design industry due to its packaging innovations and uniquely artistic style of branding its wines. The latter point hinges on the talents of the Company’s creative director, Kevin Shaw, who is founder of beverage design group Stranger & Stranger.

For more on the Company, its wines, and its product design, please consult our Executive Informational Overview published on August 20, 2014.

Truett-Hurst’s 2014 Awards to Date in Packaging

Pressure BioSciences, Inc. (PBIO-OTC) reported this morning that it has received an important third-party validation of the protein analysis possibilities enabled by its proprietary pressure cycling technology (PCT). Earlier this month, at the 13^th Human Proteome Organization World Congress in Madrid, Spain, renowned protein scientist Professor Ruedi Aebersold from ETH Zurich and the University of Zurich combined PCT with AB SCIEX’s SWATH mass spectrometry method, and was able to analyze thousands of proteins by mass spectrometry on small, needle biopsy samples. In presenting his process and findings, Dr. Aebersold noted that prior to the combination of the mass spectrometry method with Pressure BioSciences’ PCT platform, it had been nearly impossible to accomplish the quantification of thousands of proteins in needle biopsy samples.

Laboratory instrumentation company Pressure BioSciences, Inc. (PBIO-OTC) announced this morning that it had entered into an exclusive, three-year distribution agreement with a Chinese distributor of analytical instruments and other equipment to China's biotech, pharma, agricultural, environmental, food safety, and commercial laboratory markets. Pressure BioSciences reports that the company, Powertech Technology Company Ltd., is a recognized distributor to the Chinese market, with a network of 18 distribution offices, a maintenance center, an applications laboratory, and multiple sub-dealers. The press release further stated that Powertech's current business partners aside from Pressure BioSciences include Dupont, GE Healthcare, Sartorius, Zeiss, and Agilent.

Biotechnology company Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. (AMBS-OTC) reported this morning that it had applied to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) for Orphan Drug Designation for MANF (mesencephalic-astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor) in retinitis pigmentosa. The company's stock appeared to be responding well to the news, and was up over 9% as of 11 am (ET).

On Tuesday, October 14, Crystal Research Associates' senior pharmaceutical analyst and chief executive officer, Jeff Kraws, sat down with Andrew Schmertz, host of Arise TV's Xchange program, to discuss public and private efforts at curbing the Ebola outbreak.

Biotech company Amarantus Bioscience Holdings, Inc. (AMBS-OTC) has reported positive data from its LP-002 study of the Lymphocyte Proliferation Test (LymPro Test) blood diagnostic for Alzheimer's disease (AD). LymPro achieved highly statistically significant results in correctly distinguishing patients with moderate-to-severe AD from healthy controls. As a result of these positive findings, Amarantus is expanding the study to assess LymPro's predictive value in diagnosing early-stage AD patients. Amarantus anticipates launching LymPro in the fourth quarter of 2014.

After announcing last week that it would be implementing its SMART Monitoring-based HeartCheck™ ECG screening solution in select Rexall Pharmacies as part of the Canadian Stroke Prevention Intervention Network's ("C-SPIN") trial for atrial fibrillation screening and stroke prevention, CardioComm Solutions (EKG-TSX.V) today announced that it has become an approved vendor for the sale of HeartCheck™ products and ECG-based software solutions into numerous organizations within the umbrella of the U.S. Federal Government. As an active registrar in the U.S. Federal Government's System for Award Management (SAM), CardioComm Solutions is now eligible for contracts, assistance awards and to do business with the U.S. Federal Government and its agencies globally.

On Sunday, October 5, 2014, an innovative molecular diagnostics technology from MetaStat, Inc. (MTST-OTC) was spotlighted in a WABC-TV news special.

In addition to the leadership additions announced last week by Boston Therapeutics (BTHE-OTC), the company today announced that is has also appointed David S.H. Bell, MB, FACP, FACE, to its Medical Advisory Board. This increases the number of members of the Board to eight.

Pharmaceutical company Boston Therapeutics (BTHE-OTC) announced this week the launch of a new commercial phase for the company's sugardown® dietary supplement to help control glucose levels. Sugardown® is presently sold over-the-counter as a non-systemic, chewable dietary supplement taken prior to meals to support healthy blood sugar and help moderate post-meal blood glucose. The product works in the gastrointestinal tract to reduce the sharp spikes in blood sugar associated with eating carbohydrate foods. Sugardown® has previously been sold over the Internet in the U.S. and by distribution partners in China, Hong Kong, Macau, and South Korea.

CardioComm Solutions, Inc. (EKG-TSX.V) has announced that it would be implementing its SMART Monitoring-based HeartCheck™ ECG screening solution in select Rexall Pharmacies during October 2014. Rexall is a Canadian pharmacy chain that operates more than 450 locations across 180 communities in Canada. 

This news is part of the Canadian Stroke Prevention Intervention Network's ("C-SPIN") trial for atrial fibrillation screening and stroke prevention, for which in-pharmacy screening is taking place at 20 select Rexall locations across Ontario and Alberta. The trial uses CardioComm's technology to aid in its atrial fibrillation screening process.