<P ALIGN="RIGHT"><DIV ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT FACE="TIMES NEW ROMAN, TIMES, SERIF" SIZE="2"><B>Exhibit 10.24</B></FONT></DIV></P>

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<H1 ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>PROMISSORY NOTE </FONT></H1>

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     <TD WIDTH=50% ALIGN=LEFT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>$25,000.00</FONT></TD>
        <TD WIDTH=50% ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>January 4, 2006<BR>Vienna, Virginia
</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>    Echo Healthcare Acquisition Corp.
(the “Maker”) promises to pay to the order of Chicago Investments, Inc. (the
“Payee”) the principal sum of Twenty Five Thousand Dollars and No Cents
($25,000.00) in lawful money of the United States of America, on the terms and conditions
described below.  </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>    1.    <B>Principal. </B>The
principal balance of this Note shall be repayable on the earlier of (i)           January
4, 2007 or (ii) the date on which Maker consummates an initial public           offering
of its securities.  </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>    2.    <B>Interest. </B> No
interest shall accrue on the unpaid principal balance of this Note.  </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>    3.    <B>Application
of Payments.</B> All payments shall be applied first to payment in full of any costs
incurred in the collection of any sum due under this Note, including (without limitation)
reasonable attorney’s fees, then to the payment in full of any late charges and
finally to the reduction of the unpaid principal balance of this Note. </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>    4.    <B>Events of Default.</B>
  The
following shall constitute Events of Default: </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>        (a)    <U>Failure
to Make Required Payments.</U> Failure by Maker to pay the           principal of this
Note within five (5) business days following the date when           due.  </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>        (b)    <U>Voluntary
Bankruptcy, Etc.</U> The commencement by Maker of a voluntary           case under the
Federal Bankruptcy Code, as now constituted or hereafter amended,           or any other
applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
          rehabilitation or other similar law, or the consent by it to the appointment of
          or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian,
          sequestrator (or other similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part
of           its property, or the making by it of any assignment for the benefit of
          creditors, or the failure of Maker generally to pay its debts as such debts
          become due, or the taking of corporate action by Maker in furtherance of any of
          the foregoing.  </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>        (c)    <U>Involuntary
Bankruptcy, Etc.</U> The entry of a decree or order for           relief by a court
having jurisdiction in the premises in respect of Maker in an           involuntary case
under the Federal Bankruptcy Code, as now or hereafter           constituted, or any
other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or           other similar law,
or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian,           trustee,
sequestrator (or similar official) of Maker or for any substantial part           of its
property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs, and           the
continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period           of
sixty (60) consecutive days.  </FONT></P>


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<A NAME=A005></A>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>    5.    <B>Remedies.</B> </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>        (a)    Upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 4(a),           Payee may, by
written notice to Maker, declare this Note to be due and payable,           whereupon the
principal amount of this Note, and all other amounts payable           thereunder, shall
become immediately due and payable without presentment,           demand, protest or
other notice of any kind, all of which are hereby expressly           waived, anything
contained herein or in the documents evidencing the same to the           contrary
notwithstanding.  </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>        (b)    Upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Sections 4(b) and           4(c), the
unpaid principal balance of, and all other sums payable with regard           to, this
Note shall automatically and immediately become due and payable, in all           cases
without any action on the part of Payee.  </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>    6.    <B>Waivers.</B>
           Maker
and all endorsers and guarantors of, and sureties for, this Note waive
          presentment for payment, demand, notice of dishonor, protest, and notice of
          protest with regard to the Note, all errors, defects and imperfections in any
          proceedings instituted by Payee under the terms of this Note, and all benefits
          that might accrue to Maker by virtue of any present or future laws exempting
any           property, real or personal, or any part of the proceeds arising from any
sale of           any such property, from attachment, levy or sale under execution, or
providing           for any stay of execution, exemption from civil process, or extension
of time           for payment; and Maker agrees that any real estate that may be levied
upon           pursuant to a judgment obtained by virtue hereof, on any writ of execution
          issued hereon, may be sold upon any such writ in whole or in part in any order
          desired by Payee.  </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>    7.    <B>Unconditional
Liability.</B> Maker hereby waives all notices in connection with the delivery,
acceptance, performance, default, or enforcement of the payment of this Note, and agrees
that its liability shall be unconditional, without regard to the liability of any other
party, and shall not be affected in any manner by any indulgence, extension of time,
renewal, waiver or modification granted or consented to by Payee, and consents to any and
all extensions of time, renewals, waivers, or modifications that may be granted by Payee
with respect to the payment or other provisions of this Note, and agree that additional
makers, endorsers, guarantors, or sureties may become parties hereto without notice to
them or affecting their liability hereunder.  </FONT></P>

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     <P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>    8.    <B>Notices.</B> 
          Any notice called for hereunder shall be deemed properly given if (i) sent by
          certified mail, return receipt requested, (ii) personally delivered, (iii)
          dispatched by any form of private or governmental express mail or delivery
          service providing receipted delivery or (iv) sent by facsimile or (v) to the
          following addresses or to such other address as either party may designate by
          notice in accordance with this Section: </FONT></P>


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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>If to Maker:  </FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>  </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=95%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
Echo Healthcare Acquisition Corp.<BR>
8000 Towers Crescent Drive<BR>
Suite 1300<BR>
Vienna, Virginia 22182<BR>
Attention: Joel Kanter, President<BR>
Facsimile: (515) 244-2346</FONT></P>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>with a copy to:  </FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>  </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=95%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
Powell Goldstein LLP<BR>
One Atlantic Center, Fourteenth Floor<BR>
1201 W. Peachtree Street, NW<BR>
Atlanta, Georgia 30309-3488<BR>
Attention: Richard H. Miller, Esq.<BR>
Facsimile: (404) 572-6999 </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>

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<A NAME=A010></A>
<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>If to Payee:  </FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH=5%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>  </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=95%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
Chicago Investments, Inc.<BR>
8000 Towers Crescent Drive<BR>
Suite 1300<BR>
Vienna, Virginia 22182<BR>
Attention: Joel Kanter<BR>
Facsimile: (515) 244-2346 </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Notice shall be deemed given on the
earlier of (i) actual receipt by the receiving party, (ii) the date shown on a facsimile
transmission confirmation, (iii) the date reflected on a signed delivery receipt, or (iv)
two (2) Business Days following tender of delivery or dispatch by express mail or
delivery service.  </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>    9.    <B>Construction.</B> THIS
NOTE SHALL BE CONSTRUED AND ENFORCED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DOMESTIC,           INTERNAL
LAW, BUT NOT THE LAW OF CONFLICT OF LAWS, OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE.  </FONT></P>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>    10.   <B>Severability.</B> Any
provision contained in this Note which is prohibited or unenforceable in any
          jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of
          such prohibition or unenforceability without invalidating the remaining
          provisions hereof, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any
          jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any
          other jurisdiction.  </FONT></P>

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<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2><B>[Remainder of Page
Intentionally Left Blank]</B></FONT></P>



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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>        IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, Maker, intending to be legally bound hereby, has caused this Note to be
duly executed by its President the day and year first above written. </FONT></P>

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<TD WIDTH=50%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>  </FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=50%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
<B>ECHO HEALTHCARE ACQUISITION CORP.</B><BR> <BR></FONT></TD>
</TR>

<TR VALIGN=TOP>
<TD WIDTH=50%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>Date: January 4, 2005</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH=50%><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>
By: /s/ Joel Kanter<BR>___________________________________<BR> <BR>Name: Joel Kanter<BR>Title: President </FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<BR>

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<P><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>973455</FONT></P>
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<P ALIGN=CENTER><FONT FACE="Times New Roman, Times, Serif" SIZE=2>4 </FONT></P>

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