Media Release
December 2001
New Zealand Professors Present At An International Urogynaecological Conference
Two prominent and respected New Zealand specialists in urology and gynaecology were speakers at the 2001 International
Urogynaecology Conference held recently in Melbourne, Australia.
Professor Edward Arnold, Head of the Department of Urology at Canterbury University and Professor Don Wilson, Head of
the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago presented papers at the
symposium concerning Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) in the Female.
Professor Arnold spoke about the importance of early detection of UTI while Professor Wilson discussed the impact of UTI
in pregnancy.
Other participants at this informative symposium included Dr Mary O’Reilly, Department of Infectious Diseases, Box Hill
Hospital in Melbourne, Australia and international authorities in UTI, Dr Peter Dwyer, Head of Urogynaecology at the
Royal Women’s and Mercy Hospitals in Melbourne, Australia and Professor Stuart Stanton, Head of Urogynaecology at St
George’s Hospital Medical School in London, UK.
The speakers at the Symposium, made reference to several published studies which confirmed that cranberries have
numerous health benefits, the foremost being its “anti-adhesion” effect on certain bacteria.
Ocean Spray Cranberry Classic contains natural cranberry compounds called Vaccinium proanthocyanidins or VACPACs, which
are the compounds believed responsible for the anti-stick mechanism that helps maintain urinary tract health. In other
words, VACPACs “disable” certain harmful bacteria in the body, so the “bugs don’t stick”.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School, using Ocean Spray cranberry fruit drink suggests that drinking at least 300 ml of
cranberry juice daily can help reduce the amount of bacteria in the urine which, in turn, helps prevent cystitis.
A separate group of researchers in a Rutgers University study also found the same such preventative benefits achievable
from eating at least ¼ cup of Ocean Spray® Craisins® sweetened dried cranberries daily, as they have similarly high
levels of cranberry concentrate.
More than 800 professionals from around the world attended the 2001 International Urogynaecology Conference with almost
half of the attendees present at the Ocean Spray sponsored symposium.
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