S and Europe during the first half of 2009

Rodney Stuckey and Will Bynum combined for 42 points and 12 assists which played big factors in the Pistons big win against Atlanta.So how does losing three starters and having a 7 game losing streak show improvement for the PistonsA big thing is giving the bench players big minutes and making them into more legit players coming off the bench when Rip, Tay, and Ben Gordon come back. Austin Daye is getting a better feel of the game on both the offensive and defensive end.Jason Maxiell has been stepping up both on offense and especially defense showing how effective he is starting to become off the bench.Kwame Brown has also been putting up descent numbers and playing good defense down in the post showing he can continue the good defense that Ben Wallace provides while he's on the court.The biggest surprise for the Pistons is rookie sensation Jonas Jerebko. His biggest rolls were to take on Kobe Bryant of the Lakers, and Vince Carter on the Orlando Magic.Jerebko had started off slow but has been showingimprovement in each and every game Sure he is only averaging 6.5 points per game. But he shows great hustle and defense on the court while he's in.Jerebko has been becoming a bigger scoring threat as the games go on, putting up 10 last night against the Hawks, and a career high 22 against the Clippers. With Jerebko continuing to show improvement in his game, it is a great sign seeing him come off the bench as an elite player when Prince comes back.So despite sitting on a 6-11 record thus far, the season is still young.

Pistons are down 3 starters, and Charlie Villanueva may be questionable due to his injury against the Hawks in the 4th quarter.But once Rip, Tay, and Gordon come back and with how affective the bench players have filled in for starting rolls, it shows a bright future in the season for the Pistons.. Program Expands on Successful Results from prior U.S., U.K and China TrialsSAN DIEGO, Jan 7 /PRNewswire/ Vital Therapies, Inc. (VTI), a developmentstage company targeting liver disease, today announced patient enrollment hasbegun for a randomized, controlled, multi-center, Phase 2 clinical trial thatwill study the Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device (ELAD) as a treatment forpatients with Acute Liver Failure (ALF) under three protocols The study isopen for enrollment at seven U.S sites, which will be expanded to 15 sites inthe U.S and Europe during the first half of 2009. A marketing application was submitted toChina's State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) in September 2007 and isunder review.ALF afflicts more than 30,000 U.S.

patients each year including people withchronic liver disease like hepatitis, or without chronic disease, such asindividuals whose livers were harmed by taking too much acetaminophen painmedicine.For ALF patients, liver transplantation is the only therapy proven to impactsurvival. However, it has a cost exceeding $350,000 and there is a worldwideshortage of livers for transplant.ELAD was designed to address both problemssince it may support regeneration of a patient's native liver, or maintainsufficient liver function until a transplant organ is available.VTI Chairman and CEO Terry Winters, Ph.D., said, "With the continuing shortageof donor livers for transplantation and the large number of patients unlistedfor transplant, patients are dying who do not have access to a donor liver ora living donor transplant.Our goal is to get ELAD to market as soon aspossible so patients with ALF may have another treatment option."VTI is currently enrolling patients in three separate protocols:Two are randomized, controlled studies of patients with ACLF(Acute-on-Chronic Liver Failure) or FHF (Fulminant Hepatic Failure). Continuous ELAD treatment is for a minimum of three and a maximum of30days.The third is an Expanded Access protocol with cost recovery allowingemergency treatment of patients who do not qualify for the first twoprotocols.For more details on the protocols and study sites, please go to,About ELADELAD is a bedside system whose central component is four cartridges containing440 grams of immortalized human liver cells and 32,000 hollow fibers.Thepatient's plasma flows inside of the hollow fibers to allow two-way transferof metabolites.During ELAD therapy the cells metabolize toxins andsynthesize proteins and other liver specific products essential for life. (VTI) is based in San Diego, California, with a whollyowned subsidiary in Beijing, China.VTI is developing the first human livercell-based Extracorporeal Liver Assist Device (ELAD).ELAD could providesupport for patients with severe liver failure by processing toxins andsynthesizing proteins and metabolites that are key products of normal humanliver function. ELAD is in investigational clinical trials and VTI completed apivotal trial and filed for market approval in China in September 2007.ELAD is a trademark of Vital Therapies, Inc.SOURCEVital Therapies, Inc.Kevin Knight, 1-972-385-9384, cell, 1-214-732-9392, . Brigtsen's, Bayona, Commander's, Galatoire's and Stella Pace Dining Scene; PatO'Brien's, Preservation Hall and Polo Lounge Dominate the Night; The WindsorCourt and Ritz-Carlton are Best Big Easy Hotels; Audubon Aquarium and NationalWWII Museum - Top AttractionsAlmost all of City's Favorite Eateries have Re-Opened since Katrina; DiningFrequency and Meal Prices Rise in one of the Nation's Best and Most AffordableCulinary DestinationsNEW YORK, Jan.

The guide in its 20th edition covers 704of the city's finest restaurants, nightspots, attractions and hotels, based onthe input from 3,877 local consumers."The guide was created to help both visitors and locals rediscover theuniquely rich cultural and culinary assets of New Orleans," said Tim Zagat,Zagat Survey CEO."In today's economy, we're anticipating an increase indomestic travel, and we encourage Americans to experience what this mostdistinctive city has to offer."Dining Forecast: In light of the economic storm battering the nation, touristsand locals alike appreciate the fact that New Orleans's renowned restaurantindustry offers one of the lowest average meal costs in the UnitedStates$28.52 vs. the national average of $34.31.Despite the fact that 70of respondents report spending more per meal compared to two years ago, 41say they are eating out more often versus only 17 who say they're dining lessoften.New restaurants such as the following show the resurgent strength ofthe city's dining scene:ArabesqueCreole SkilletGimchiHostelIl Posto CafeLagoPellicanoRamblaWest Indies CafeWolfe'sWinners: Since 28 of surveyors in New Orleans named Creole and Cajun as theirfavorite cuisines, it is no surprise that Brigtsen's (Contemp. Louisiana) wonTop Food and Top Service; while Commander's Palace (Creole) was voted MostPopular restaurant (as it has been every time it's surveyed) and Top Decor toboot.Best Bets for a bite at top value are at Hansen's Sno-Bliz, AngeloBrocatoand Morning Call. Other food and popularity winners are:AugustBayonaCafe Du MondeDakotaGalatoire'sStella!Back In Business: In the three years since Hurricane Katrina, 97 of surveyorsreport their favorite restaurants are back in business.