SEC hosts global training program

The SEC's 16th annual international Institute for Securities Market Development begins today in Washington. The two-week, senior-level program is the SEC's flagship global training program, providing an opportunity to discuss the core principles of securities regulation and features lectures, panels and workshops that focus on the development, operation and regulation of securities markets. The Institute's faculty includes senior SEC officials as well as representatives of other governmental agencies, securities exchanges and other key securities industry participants.

According to Ethiopis Tafara, director of the Commission's Office of International Affairs, this year's gathering will be the largest to date, including more than 170 senior securities officials from 72 emerging market countries.

"We recognize that no one has a monopoly on good ideas and that, in a globalized market, a regulatory concern in one country can quickly and effortlessly spread to another," Tafara said. "The Institute affords participants and SEC staff the opportunity to share experiences."

Genetics contributes to snoring

Young children born to parents who snore have an increased risk of snoring, according to research published in the April issue of CHEST, the journal of the American College of Chest Physicians (Northbrook, Illinois). The research indicates that infants who had at least one parent who snored frequently, were three times more likely to snore frequently than children with no parental history of snoring. And children who tested positive for atopy, an early indicator for the development of asthma and allergies, were twice as likely to be frequent snorers as compared to non-atopic children.

Lead author Maninder Kalra, MD, of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center , said: "Snoring is the primary symptom of sleep-disordered breathing, which, in children, is associated with learning disabilities and metabolic and cardiovascular disorders."

NovaMed notified of possible Nasdaq delisting

NovaMed (Chicago) reported receiving a Nasdaq Staff Determination on April 12 indicating that it fails to comply with the filing requirements for continued listing because it has not yet filed its Annual Report for the fiscal year ended Dec. 31 and is subject to delisting from the Nasdaq National Market.

NovaMed said it will request a hearing to appeal the staff's determination and that pending a decision its common stock will remain listed on the Nasdaq. As previously disclosed, the delay in filing of NovaMed's 2005 Form 10-K will allow for the completion and audit of adjustments to previously filed financial statements.

NovaMed has ownership interests in 29 surgery centers located in 16 states.