New research on how skin cancer begins has identified adjacent cancer cells that scientists are calling co-conspirators in the genesis of melanoma, in findings that could someday hold the key to predicting, preventing and stopping this hard-to-treat cancer before it spreads.

Homebuilder Hovnanian Enterprises has reported a total revenues of $380.6m for the fiscal third quarter ended July 31, 2010, compared to $387.11m for the same period in 2009.

Fresh Healthy Vending, a provider of healthy vending machines and products, has secured placement for their healthy vending machines on the campuses of several Scottsdale schools.

Manulife Asset Management (Taiwan) has said that the Manulife Emerging Market High Yield Bond Fund has been approved as a securities investment trust fund by the Taiwanese regulator and will be available for offering on September 15, 2010.

UnitedHealth Group will invest $10m to help California’s Critical Access Hospitals improve their health information technology (IT) systems and adopt electronic health records.

IT services provider Accenture will work with Stanford Hospital & Clinics on a seven-year, connected health technology initiative to improve patient care and operational efficiency.

Del Monte Foods has reported net sales of $804.6m for the fiscal first quarter ended August 1, 2010, a decrease of 1.1 percent compared to $813.7m for the same period in 2009.

Freedom Communications and mobile technology firm Ace Mobi have expanded their partnership in which Ace Mobi will deliver interactive content and mobile text-alert functionality into Freedom’s advertising offerings, with a particular focus on its newspaper classifieds.

Hill & Knowlton, a public relations and public affairs consultancy, has appointed Thomas Tindemans as managing director EU public affairs at Hill & Knowlton International Belgium.