For a smart baby, eat more fish.

Although fatty fish, such as salmon and tuna, are rich in heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, in recent years the government has warned pregnant women to restrict their intake to avoid exposure to high levels of mercury.

Butresearchers at the Harvard School of Medicine have found a diet high in omega-3 may outweigh the risks posed by environmental pollution.

Their report, published in the April issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology , found that pregnant women who ate more than the recommended two servings of fish a week during their second trimester had preschool children who performed better on verbal, visual and motor skills tests than their peers.

Do kids who eat fish automatically go to the head of the class?

Scientists say it’s too early to know for sure, but you’re not likely to go wrong with The Star ‘s Salmon Mini-Burgers With Wasabi Mayonnaise. Offering small portions isone way to help kids develop a taste for fish, while the wasabi-spiked mayo gives enough punch to keep their parents interested.

Shopping tips: Farm-raised and wild salmon are considered a low mercury risk. Use either fillets or steaks. If purchasing fillets, ask the fishmonger or butcher to remove the skin on the fish. Just before mincing, run your fingers over the salmon to remove any small bones that may remain.

For the mini-buns, select round, whole-wheat dinner rolls available in the bakery section of many grocery stores. If desired, substitute 8 mini whole-wheat pita breads, warmed, for rolls. Cut each pita to form 2 circles, wrap in aluminum foil and bake at 350 degreesabout 10 minutes or until warm.

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SALMON MINI-BURGERS WITH WASABI MAYONNAISE

Makes 8 servings

1 pound boneless, skinless fresh salmon

\ cup dry bread crumbs

2 green onions, minced, divided

1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger

[ teaspoon salt

\ teaspoon pepper

1 egg white

1 cup finely shredded iceberg lettuce

1 tablespoon minced cilantro

\ cup low-fat mayonnaise

1 teaspoon wasabi powder, paste or prepared condiment

8 whole-wheat dinner rolls (about 2 { to 3 inches in diameter), split and lightly toasted

Chill salmon well or place in freezer about 30 minutes or until very cold. Mince finely and place in mixing bowl. Add bread crumbs, 1 green onion, ginger, salt, pepper and egg white. Stir well. Shape into 8 patties, each 2 { to 3 inches in diameter.

Preheat grill or allow coals to burn down to white ash. Spray grill grate with nonstick spray coating. Grill patties over medium-high direct heat 2 to 3 minutes per side or until patties are lightly browned and set; do not overcook.

Meanwhile, combine lettuce, cilantro and remaining green onion. In another bowl, blend together mayonnaise and wasabi.

Spread about 1 { teaspoons mayonnaise mixture on each roll. Top with salmon patty and about 2 tablespoons lettuce mixture. Serve immediately.

Per serving: 180 calories (27 percent from fat), 6 grams total fat (1 gram saturated), 32 milligrams cholesterol, 18 grams carbohydrates, 15 grams protein, 280 milligrams sodium, 2 grams dietary fiber.

By Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, Maine

Jul. 14–The nomination deadline for the eighth annual 2 Those Who Care awards is Friday, July 18, reports Meredith Eaton of United Way of Eastern Maine, which co-sponsors the award with WLBZ-2, both of Bangor.

This program “seeks to find and honor individuals who demonstrate exceptional service to the community,” Eaton wrote of the honorees who will be recognized during a dinner in October at Husson College.

Presented and supported by Webber Energy Fuels and Merrill Bank, individual honorees receive an award and a cash contribution to the nonprofit organization of their choice. The program also offers the John W. Coombs Award to a UWEM agency volunteer best exemplifying the “integrity, dedication and professionalism set forth by the late John Coombs,” Eaton wrote of the award first presented in 1984 in memory of Coombs, who served the Bangor YMCA for 33 years.

For information about making a nomination and learning more about the 2 Those Who Care award, visit WLBZ2.com, click on Community and then click on 2 Those Who Care, or call Emma Pope-Welch of UWEM at 941-2800, ext. 208, or e-mail [email protected].

Nominations must be received by 5 p.m. Friday, July 18.

ToniMailloux e-mailed that a free blood pressure clinic will be offered from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, at the Belfast Public Health Nursing Association office, 119 Northport Ave. in Belfast.

Appointments are not needed and walk-ins are welcome.

For information, call Belfast public health nurse, Diane Whitten, at 338-3368.

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The GEAR Parent Network, a group of parents, grandparents and foster parents of children with special mental health needs, invites you to its support group meeting 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, at Wings for Children and Families, 900 Hammond St. in Bangor.

Penobscot Partners for Children and Families, a community collaborative, is holding a tea and focused discussion about creating an avenue for parent voice in planning services for children living in Maine communities.

Refreshments will be available, RSVP by calling Wings at 800-823-2988.

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Nicole

Heanssler reports Waldo County TRIAD, the Belfast Police Department and Waldo County General Hospital will sponsor a Medication Collection Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at Redman Hall on Main Street in Belfast.

She urges residents “to bring any unused or expired medication for proper disposal.”

—

Carol

Lackedy e-mailed that the Neighbors Supporting Neighbors Community Pantry is open from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursdays, and that the next opening, Thursday, July 17, on Route 2 in Hermon, is for residents of Hermon and Levant.

The cupboard will be open at the same time Thursday, July 24, for Carmel, Etna and Dixmont residents.

For information about this community service, call Lackedy at 299-5186.

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Librarian Lyn Smith of the Pittsfield Public Library e-mailed to remind parents and guardians of coming sessions of its 2008 Summer Reading Program, “Catch the Reading Bug!”

Sessions are offered at 1 and 2 p.m. Tuesdays, in July, at the library. The 1 p.m. session is for children ages 4-7, and the 2 p.m. session is for children ages 8-12.

“Hooray for Honeybees” is the title of the 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 15, session and “Exploring Bees” is the title of the 2 p.m. session.

Also, “Science You Can Eat,” for children age 7 and older is 11 a.m. Thursdays, at the library.

The next session, July 17, is “Kitchen Chaos”; after which there will be “Chemistry of Chocolate,” July 24; and “Smell the Difference,” July 31. This program is sponsored with Maine Nutrition Network and Cornerstones of Science.

For information, call the library at 487-5880.

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Members of the Blue Hill Historical Society invite you to an Antiques Appraisal Day from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, July 17, at the historic Carriage House behind the Holt House on Water Street in Blue Hill.

The appraisal day will be conducted by Jim Julia and Associates, reports Jan Crofoot, and fees will be charged for items appraised. Sandwiches and cold drinks will be available.

For information, visit www.bluehillhistory.org/HoltHouse.htm.

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My sincerest sympathies are extended to Manna Ministries of Bangor executive director Bill Rae and his family after the death last week of his wife of 34 years, Karen Rae.

Karen was a marvelous helpmate and supporter of those in need, and I always appreciated hearing from her as she worked to assist others.

Joni Averill, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402; [email protected]; 990-8288.

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To see more of the Bangor Daily News, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.bangordailynews.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, Bangor Daily News, Maine

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

By Ryan LaFontaine, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

Jul. 14–D’IBERVILLE — Pouring rain and howling winds did not keep about 300 people from an autism awareness event at the Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church in D’Iberville on Sunday.

Thirty-five vendors showed up for the day to help raise money for autism programs.

“This is actually a part of the three-day fundraising event. Today is more like a fun day for kids. The guest speaker, Steve McNair, a Mississippi native who recently retired from the Baltimore Ravens, partnered up with his cousin Dr. Alfred McNair to help raise money and awareness for people with autism,” said Don Weatherell, executive director for the Steve McNair Foundation.

“This event is to show people the effect autism has on young kids. The purpose is to lend support and awareness to the disease (programs),” said Steve McNair. The Steve McNair Foundation was founded in 2001 to assist charitable causes for at-risk youth.

“I spent this last weekend at USM in Hattiesburg at two football camps where around 1,000 kids attended this camp. We have been conducting football camps for 10 years in Mississippi,” said Steve McNair.

At the camps, the kids are taught about the fundamentals of football and life skills. Guest speakers spoke about gang awareness, drugs and staying out of trouble. The kids receive a free T-shirt and autographed pictures of Steve McNair.

“We have been very successful, particularly in Harrison County, in providing training and reinforcing throughout the year for teachers in order for them to better handle and teach children with autism. It is important to identify children with autism at the age of 3 or 4 in order to maximize what treatment can be done healthwise,” said Dr. Alfred McNair, 56, chairman and founder of Mississippi Centers for Autism and Related Developmental Disabilities.

Various local businesses sponsored the event, including the IP Casino Resort and Spa, Gulf Coast Rehabilitation, WJZD Inc., Coast Cardiovascular Consultants, PLLC and Winn Dixie.

There were several activities available Sunday, including a colorful playground for the children. The Pony Patch brought a couple of goats, two rabbits, twin ponies and a couple of horses.

Karen Davdison-Travis, 48, owner of the Pony Patch, said she wanted to bring the animals for the kids to enjoy.

“We travel for special events like this one,” she said.

A Celebrity Golf Tournament for Autism will be today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Shell Landing in Gautier. On Tuesday, the Black Tip Shark Fishing Tournament will take place from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Competitors can sign up for the tournament at the Isle of Capri Marina. Show time is at 7 a.m. and the event takes place until 2 p.m. Various fees apply.

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To see more of The Sun Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.sunherald.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, The Sun Herald, Biloxi, Miss.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

NASDAQ-NMS:WINN,

MINNEAPOLIS _ Dr. Sayeed Ikramuddin is no stranger to weight-loss surgery. He’s done it at least 3,000 times.

But the University of Minnesota surgeon knows that some people, no matter how overweight, can’t fathom the idea of having their internal organs snipped, tied or rearranged.

Now he’s trying to find out if an implantable device can help them lose weight by interfering with their ability to feel hunger.

This summer, Ikramuddin plans to implant the device, made by a St. Paul, Minn., company called EnteroMedics, in up to 30 volunteers as part of an international research study.

It’s a new frontier in obesity research: focusing on the parts of the brain that control the urge to eat.

Obesity has become a huge issue not only for individuals who struggle to lose weight, but also with the increased health care costs from weight-related medical problems, such as diabetes. With 134 million Americans overweight or obese, some are betting the solution may lie in a new kind of technology that literally taps into the power of the mind.

More than 80 potential recruits showed up this month to hear about the experiment at the University of Minnesota, one of 15 sites testing the device. “The room was full each time,” said Ikramuddin, who hosted three information sessions. “Everybody wants to lose weight. The issue is, how?”

In this case, a pacemakerlike device is inserted just beneath the skin near the rib cage. It sends electrical impulses to block the vagus nerve, which tells the brain when the stomach is empty. The idea, in effect, is to trick the brain in order to curb the appetite.

So far, attempts to use technology to tame hunger have been hit or miss. In 2005, Medtronic shelved one such device, which was designed to make people feel full by stimulating the stomach, after tests showed it didn’t help them lose weight.

Yet last year, when scientists at the VA Medical Center in Minneapolis tested a nerve-stimulation device for depression, they discovered that many of the subjects unexpectedly lost weight, too. They called it a “serendipitous observation.”

The EnteroMedics device, known as VBLOC, has shown some promise in a series of small studies. The latest, released June 19, tracked 12 obese patients who had the device for a year and found that they lost an average of 29 percent of their “excess weight.”

Mayo Clinic researchers, who helped develop the device, found an average weight loss of 15 percent in six months, in a separate study. They concluded that the device “shows promise as a reversible and less extreme alternative to existing bariatric surgeries.”

Now the company has set out to prove its worth in a larger study, with 300 participants, in hopes of winning approval from the Food and Drug Administration.

Mark Knudson, who founded EnteroMedics, said he saw a “huge unmet need” when he came up with the idea for the weight-loss device.

An estimated 64 million Americans are obese, and the most effective treatment _ bypass surgery _ can be unpleasant and risky, with strict diets (liquids and purees for several weeks) and nasty side effects if patients eat the wrong things.

Knudson, who has made a career inventing medical devices, was looking for a kinder, gentler and more high-tech solution. With a device, “the anatomy is not permanently altered,” he said. “It doesn’t require them to undergo a permanent and onerous lifestyle change.”

Scientists have long suspected that some people overeat because of a faulty connection in the brain. They don’t get the message that they’re full, so “they just don’t know when to stop eating,” said Knudson.

He and his colleagues focused on the vagus nerve, which sends messages between the digestive system and the brain.

Years ago, doctors discovered that cutting the vagus nerve _ once a common treatment for peptic ulcers _ could also cause weight loss.

Even today, they’re not sure why, said Dr. Charles Billington, an obesity researcher at the University of Minnesota and VA Medical Center who is a consultant on the EnteroMedics study. That discovery has fueled interest by several companies in finding ways to manipulate the vagus nerve.

“We realized that you needed to turn that nerve off … or at least turn it down,” said Knudson. “That’s what we did.”

The device, which is connected to the nerve by wires, pulses on and off every five minutes while the patient is awake (it’s turned off at night).

“It’s like a stoplight for the nerve,” said Knudson. “It prevents the signals from the stomach and the rest of your gastrointestinal tract from going up to the brain and telling the brain that you’re hungry.”

The result: “It allows patients to feel that feeling of fullness and push back from the table sooner,” he said.

He estimates the overall cost will be comparable to bariatric surgery: about $35,000. But he admits there’s no way of knowing how long the pounds will stay off.

After 25 years of battling her weight, Cindy Leehy, a saleswoman in Richmond, Va., had the device implanted in April.

Since then, she has lost 18 pounds toward her goal of 80 pounds. Technically, she doesn’t know whether the device is working: as part of the study, it’s turned off in about a third of the patients for the first year.

But she believes it has helped change her ways. “It wasn’t a quick and easy fix,” said Leehy, 46. “It was learning how to eat again with the help of the implant.” Along with the device, she’s received coaching on nutrition and weight-loss tips.

“The whole point is, they’re trying to teach you to stop eating when you get full,” she said. She said she’s barely aware of the device, except for occasional “waves of sensation” in her esophagus and the battery pack she wears on a belt. Meanwhile, she’s still losing weight. “That to me says I picked the right program,” she said.

The researchers, though, say there’s a lot to learn before it’s ready for prime time.

They still don’t know what kind of long-term effects it might have on the vagus nerve, said Ikramuddin, the surgeon. He also wonders how willing patients will be to change their old habits. Even with weight-loss surgery, he notes, “if you don’t exercise and eat right … it’s all coming back.”

Billington said everyone is searching for the same thing in obesity treatment: something that has a big impact, few side effects and a long-lasting effect.

“So far, as I think everyone knows, we haven’t had a lot of luck finding those things,” he said. “I don’t think there is [one] answer. I think we’re going to need a lot of answers.”

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(c) 2008, Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

Visit the Star Tribune Web edition on the World Wide Web at http://www.startribune.com

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

By Rick Ruggles, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.

Jul. 14–The era of hospitals with pale walls and an institutional antiseptic stench is gone.

As new hospitals are built and old ones are expanded, they increasingly look and feel like hotels. They contain gardens and fireplaces, pianos and fountains.

Walk into Lakeside Hospital in west Omaha and you’ll find earth tones on floors and walls and a high bank of glass that allows natural light in. Bellevue Medical Center, expected to open in two years, will feature an outdoor boardwalk through a natural wetland and garden.

Some is for show, some is for dough and some is for healing. The trend toward more attractive hospital interiors has been in place since the 1990s. Among its tenets is single-occupancy rooms, which not only please patients and their families but also reduce infections.

Administrators also say more soothing, quieter environs are better for patients than intimidating places in which tubes and devices hang from walls and doctors and nurses are constantly being paged.

“Traditional hospitals are more nurse- and physician- and employee-focused,” said Cindy Alloway, chief operating officer at Lakeside Hospital. New hospitals put the patient first, she said, allowing family members to visit day or night, improving menus and creating a more appealing ambience.

At Lakeside, she said, staffers bake cookies and bread on patient floors, in part because the aroma is so much nicer than the smell of medicine and disinfectant.

It makes sense that a relaxed patient gets better faster than a tense one, said Cindy Arbaugh, project administrator for Bellevue Medical Center.

“Your mind has a powerful effect on how you feel,” Arbaugh said.

At Omaha’s Children’s Hospital, families walk into the vast space just to the left of the information desk and see goofy bird sculptures overhead. One bird appears to ride a unicycle, one wears running shoes and one has a rocket on his back. A blue clock with multi-colored gears is in the middle of the room.

The lobby’s key feature is an artificial river in which children place hands and feet or toss coins and stones.

Hannah Jo Thomas, 17 months old, splashed her feet in the 30-foot-long river one recent afternoon. Her mother, Manda Thomas, stayed close.

Hannah Jo, of Wiota, Iowa, visits the hospital regularly for physical therapy because she has been slow to walk or crawl. Her mother said Hannah Jo is miffed if they don’t arrive early enough for her to splash in the river.

“She loves it,” her mother said. “Water has a very calming effect on kids.”

Hannah Jo’s grandmother and great-grandmother sat nearby as the girl splashed. “She pounds on the water and gets everybody else wet,” said her grandma, Mary Lee.

Gary Perkins, chief executive officer of Children’s, said that when the hospital opened eight years ago, administrators wanted to convey that it would be a safe place for kids. The goal “was to do things that were fun and not silly . . . childlike without being childish,” Perkins said.

The information desk has rounded edges instead of sharp corners, and there is an emphasis throughout the hospital on carpeting to cushion falls. The carpet and slate panels on the walls have numerous animal and plant designs.

Images of blue sky and clouds are painted above some nurses’ stations and twinkle lights on the ceilings distract children in ultrasound rooms. There is children’s art throughout the hospital.

At Lakeside, small touches make the hospital feel less institutional. Patient bathrooms have 18-by-18-inch stained-glass panels embedded in them, and iron railings feature prairie grass designs.

On a tour one recent afternoon, Alloway pointed out that no one was sitting in a waiting room on a floor with 16 intensive-care rooms and 16 other patient rooms. That’s because family members are encouraged to spend time in the patient’s room and have the space to be there, she said.

Omaha-based HDR Architecture Inc., a leading designer of hospitals nationwide, designed Children’s Hospital, and the pediatric specialty center that is being added to it. HDR also is designing Methodist Women’s Hospital and Bellevue Medical Center.

Robert Holm, an interior designer for HDR, said a package of hotel-like improvements to hospital design can add about 1 percent in construction costs to a project, but the amenities have health and financial benefits.

The Center for Health Design, a California-based organization that promotes excellence in hospital design, suggests that appealing buildings and intelligent features can improve market share, decrease staff turnover and improve the care provided.

The center encourages single-occupancy rooms, installation of more hand-washing dispensers and noise reduction through carpet and better ceiling and wall sound absorption. The center also advocates gardens, art and natural light in today’s hospitals.

Sue Korth, chief operating officer of Methodist Women’s Hospital, said patients give up considerable control when they are admitted to a hospital. They want to walk into a warm, inviting setting where they are confident they will be treated with dignity, she said, and well-lighted, carpeted hallways with art on the walls tell the patient that her comfort and care are critical.

–Contact the writer: 444-1123, [email protected]

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To see more of the Omaha World-Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.omaha.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

By Michael O’Connor and Rick Ruggles, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.

Jul. 14–According to state documents, officials with the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services have issued the following allegations and disciplinary actions against medical professionals licensed in Nebraska:

–Suspended registered nurse Nancy Brtek’s license for 30 days and ordered her to take an ethics course. Brtek gave her computer password and log-on information to a co-worker so that individual could complete an advanced cardiac life support test for Brtek, of Norfolk.

–Extended through Oct. 16, 2010, the probation of licensed practical nurse Stephanie Carolus of Lincoln. Carolus, who had been issued a probationary license in October 2007 because of infractions involving alcohol, tested positive for alcohol in December 2007. Her probationary terms required her to abstain from alcohol.

–Censured registered nurse Carol Cheetsos of Gothenburg and ordered her to take an ethics course for accessing medical records and sharing confidential information with co-workers in violation of federal regulations.

–Fined Omaha dentist Bruce Govier $1,000 and censured him for unprofessional conduct for prescribing drugs for a person who was not his patient and without meeting or examining that patient.

–Suspended until Jan. 10, 2009, Dr. Donald Harrison’s license to practice medicine and surgery. Among other reasons, documents show, Harrison, of Omaha, tested positive for Tramadol in 2006 and did not have a prescription for it.

–Censured registered nurse Jack McCord of Oshkosh for sleeping on duty in an empty patient room on May 4, 2007.

–Suspended for 30 days the license of Leslee Mosley, a licensed practical nurse, for unprofessional conduct and failure to exercise competence. Mosley, of Omaha, was accused of leaving her nursing shift at a facility without providing a verbal report and for failing to report her termination from the facility to the state within 30 days. Mosley, who was censured, also left her shift early at another facility without completing treatments, without providing the other nurse with patient reports and without charting, documents say.

–Revoked the license of Jeannette Nielsen of Omaha as a licensed practical nurse for unprofessional conduct involving “habitual intoxication or dependence upon controlled substances and alcohol.”

–Fined pharmacist Monique Robinson $5,000, censured her and gave her probation for two years. Robinson, of Phoenix, Ill., dispensed controlled substances without a medical order while practicing in Omaha and failed to maintain accurate records.

–Ordered licensed practical nurse Janice F. Staman of Scottsbluff to complete a refresher course, at her own expense, covering her scope of practice. Staman also was censured. The discipline involved improprieties in her application of intravenous fluid to a patient in August 2006.

–Censured Lara Sumpter of Hamburg, Iowa, for practicing beyond her authorized scope as a licensed practical nurse. Documents indicate she “assessed, diagnosed and treated” patients, behaving beyond her scope while a physician was on vacation.

–Ordered registered nurse Geraldine Tanderup to continue to receive counseling and be on probation for two years . Tanderup, of Ord, was convicted of violating a protection harassment order and third degree assault, both misdemeanors.

Iowa actions

Officials with the Iowa Board of Nursing issued the following allegations and disciplinary actions against medical professionals licensed in western Iowa:

–Indefinitely suspended the license of Sioux City nurse Sandra Christensen pending a chemical dependency evaluation. She administered medication hours before schedule at a long-term care facility and charted medication not given. While on duty at another facility, she was intoxicated as demonstrated by a chemical test.

–Fined Teresa Ann Gardner of Fonda $100 for working at a long-term care facility in March and April 2006 while her license was inactive.

–Suspended Linda Hovde’s nursing license for at least a year for unethical conduct. Hovde, of South Sioux City, Neb., failed to perform a complete assessment of a patient, failed to document assessments and changes in the patient’s status and failed to notify the patient’s physician of changes.

–Tracy A. Loucks of Bismarck, Mo., agreed to relinquish her right to practice nursing in Iowa. She admitted to diverting a drug, Fentanyl, from a Nebraska hospital for about five months while living in Iowa and working in Nebraska. Her privilege to practice nursing in Nebraska had previously been revoked.

–Placed the license of Sioux City nurse Stacey R. Monell on probation for 12 months. Monell self-reported alcohol, marijuana and amphetamine addiction.

–Issued a warning to Manning nurse Kadee Smith. Smith was counseled for medication errors and failing to perform an exam prior to the initiation of medication in accordance with facility policy.

–Contact the writer: 444-1122, [email protected]

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To see more of the Omaha World-Herald, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.omaha.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

By Sandi Kahn Shelton, New Haven Register, Conn.

Jul. 14–If you could wave a magic wand and open your wallet to help solve some of the problems of the world, what kinds of things would you do?

This is something that Carol Sirot of Guilford thinks about a lot. Mind you, she doesn’t have a magic wand, but she is interested in philanthropy and loves the idea of reaching out to help people around her.

“This is something that has sort of taken over my life, as it were,” she says with a smile. “Every time I see or read something, I’m thinking: How can this bring benefit to people?”

Looking for ways to be helpful is a lovely way to look at life, and Sirot is clearly delighted with her ability to fix problems here and there that make a big difference in the lives of local people.

Take the stairs at the Yale Repertory Theatre, for example. Sirot says she heard that people were having difficulty with the rise and the slope of the stairs inside, so she donated money to have handrails installed at the end of each aisle. As a sufferer of fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome herself, Sirot says she knows what it’s like to have difficulty with something as straightforward as climbing a curb.

And then there is the waiting area at the Yale-New Haven Shoreline Medical Center in Guilford, where Sirot has occasionally been a patient. It’s a relatively new facility, but the wide-open layout made it impossible to register more than one patient privately at a time, so people needed to wait much longer than they should have.

Sirot donated $100,000 to have the space redesigned so that more than one patient can have privacy while their personal information is being taken by the registrar.

Sara Newman, patient service manager for the Shoreline Emergency Department, said the staff was so happy with Sirot’s bequest that they insisted on throwing a reception for her.

“It was like Christmas,” Newman says. “We’re so thrilled because it will make such a difference for the patients and the staff. But, mostly, we’re so thrilled that our patients see so much value in our department that they want to invest in us.”

Ruth Feldman, director of accessibility services at the Yale Rep, calls Sirot “our handrail angel.”

“Getting handrails installed isn’t the kind of thing you can just stand out on the street with a coffee can and ask for donations for,” says Feldman. “These bricks-and-mortar kinds of things tend to be really expensive. We had to create custommade handrails that were sturdy enough to help people and yet didn’t interfere with sight lines to the stage. They were installed a year ago last spring, and I am so pleased. Every single patron uses them every time.”

“It makes me happy to do this kind of thing — looking at needs that nobody else might pay attention to,” confides Sirot. “To me, it just doesn’t seem as useful to do what everyone else is doing. When it comes to larger problems, like Katrina, what I could do would just be a drop in the bucket. I like to do things where I can see the results for myself. And I hope that this kind of giving can be catalytic, that other people will see the needs around them and do the same thing.”

Sirot, an artist, mother and grandmother, was married to Gustave Sirot, a Yale Medical School faculty member and dermatologist. Together they raised two children and participated in social and political causes, traveling and attending theater and opera. Sirot was the president of the New Haven Wine and Food Society and an active member of the Yale University Women’s Organization.

Sirot studied art at Smith College and accepted a teaching fellowship at Oberlin, where she taught drawing, design and sculpture. At Yale, she studied with Josef Albers, whose seminal work, “Interaction of Color,” incorporated many of her color studies.

In 1980, Gustave developed aphasia which led to generalized dementia, and Carol Sirot became his full-time caretaker for 14 years. Since his death 15 years ago, Sirot has had to deal with health problems of her own, yet she says the joy she gets in giving has made her life so much better than dealing with her own aches and pains.

In addition to her local philanthropic work, she has donated money through Smith College to help a researcher who is studying autoimmune diseases. She has endowed scholarships to help midlife women return to school, through the Gustave and Carol Lynn Sirot Scholarship through YUWO. She’s also interested in a project that will enable aging people to remain in their homes.

Someday she hopes to create an outdoor meditation space at Connecticut Hospice in Branford — a winding, fragrant path, she says, large enough to accommodate wheelchairs and hospice beds so that patients and their families can go down to the water to enjoy the tranquility there. The project hasn’t materialized yet, but Sirot isn’t giving up.

“I hope that it can become what I want it to be,” she says. “It’s a mission I still have in mind. I’m a strong believer in finding a problem and then fixing it. People can be very effective when they’re determined. I see so many needs in so many areas that I can’t reach them all. Each of us is really just a speck of dust, but when we work together, amazing things can happen.”

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To see more of New Haven Register, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.nhregister.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, New Haven Register, Conn.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

By Drew Brooks, The Fayetteville Observer, N.C.

Jul. 14–CLINTON — Sampson County investigators looking into the fatal overdose by a 12-year-old have finished their investigation and turned the case over to the district attorney.

Capt. Julian Carr with the Sampson County Sheriff’s Office said District Attorney Dewey Hudson Jr.’s office would determine whether any charges would be filed.

Hudson, who also represents Onslow, Jones and Duplin counties, was out of the office and did not return a message left with his Sampson County office.

Caleb Wayne Bevil died April 26 after spending several days in a hospital in Raleigh.

Bevil was thought to have suffered from an overdose of the drug methadone, which is a painkiller and is also used to help heroin abusers break their addiction. A report from the state Medical Examiner’s Office released in mid-June confirmed the cause of death.

Investigators were waiting for the report before turning the information over to the district attorney.

A toxicology report found traces of methadone, benzodiazepine and marijuana in the boy’s system. Benzodiazepine is a class of drugs that includes Xanax.

According to the report, Bevil’s stepfather, a cancer patient, told investigators that he was missing methadone and Xanax.

Staff writer Drew Brooks can be reached at [email protected] or 486-3567.

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To see more of The Fayetteville Observer, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.fayettevillenc.com/.

Copyright (c) 2008, The Fayetteville Observer, N.C.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

By Stephanie Desmon, The Baltimore Sun

Jul. 14–At 0800 hours yesterday, the lobby of the Veterans Affairs Baltimore Medical Center was filled with dozens of soldiers recently back from Iraq, dressed in their combat fatigues and reporting for yet another one of their duties — to be sure they are holding up both physically and mentally from what they went through in the war zone.

About 100 Maryland National Guard troops who returned from missions in Iraq in February and March had time to sit down with medical professionals — doctors, nurse practitioners, physician assistants — to discuss any enduring aches and pains, any war-related stress they might have. They were told they were entitled to five years of free medical treatment from the VA Maryland Health Care System and anyone who felt the need could set up an appointment for a full mental health evaluation.

“It doesn’t mean they’re crazy,” said VA spokesman Michael E. Dukes. “It means they’re smart because they’re being taken care of.”

Just as it trained these troops to go to war, the military has been training them to return home. It is not always the simpler of the two tasks.

“The intent is that no one falls through the cracks and has any lingering problems from deployment,” said Lt. Col. Charles Kohler, a spokesman for the Maryland National Guard. “The soldier came to us whole, and we want him to return whole.”

Soldiers were warned, while they were still overseas, that they might find it difficult to readjust to the simple tasks of daily life back in the United States. Soon after they return, the military makes sure they connect with the soldiers’ families, offering counseling to both the soldiers and their spouses.

They are told it is normal to have trouble sleeping, to feel down, to be easily startled. What matters is that they learn to recognize when those problems have gone on too long or when their way of handling them — self-medicating with alcohol, lashing out in anger — has taken a turn down a hazardous path.

Maryland National Guard Spc. Chris Leins, 28, said he gets more nervous dealing with crowds now than before he went to Iraq.

“Obviously, you don’t trust anybody [in Iraq] and you bring that back here … and you’re leery of everyone,” said Leins, a drug and alcohol counselor in Wilmington, Del. “They’ve worked with us to help us calm our nerves a bit and respond to normal, everyday situations in a normal way.”

The military has been working to make sure the transition back to families, jobs and communities is as smooth as possible, knowing that statistics show returning guard members often face divorce or separation in their first year home or drop out of college in their first semester back. Nearly half report psychiatric problems in the first 100 days home.

Veterans Affairs in Maryland has held these screening events for the past 18 months, and there have been occasions when soldiers have been admitted to the hospital with physical problems and committed with severe mental health problems.

Lorie J. Morris, a clinical psychologist at VA, said she teaches these veterans that they have gone through a biological shift. They react to things most civilians would ignore. They are quick to startle and to respond. These skills, while helpful in a war zone, will only cause trouble at home, she said.

She knows some veterans will get agitated if they see a soda pop can on the street — potentially an explosive device if seen in Iraq, someone’s litter here in Baltimore. She’s even heard of some who would drive off the road to avoid the can, a common response in Iraq and a dangerous one here.

“We teach people this is a normal shift and behaviorally, you need to respond differently, but first you have to be aware of what’s going on,” she said.

“When you’re deployed and you’re overseas, you’re so focused on your mission, literally everything is taken care of for him — his laundry, his food,” Kohler continued. “When you get home, you’ve got to pick up kids at sports games, you have to pick up groceries, you’re going from the simple to the complex, and people don’t think of it that way.”

When Spc. Keith Lee, 28, enters a store, for example, he looks to see who is around him and makes sure he knows where the nearest exits are — something that was vital in Iraq. “You get used to walking around with a weapon all day,” said Lee, who lives with his wife and two children in Cockeysville. “The first day I waked out of my house, I felt like I was missing something.”

Staff Sgt. Mark Pheabus said re-entry hasn’t been difficult for him. He’s single. He went straight back to working security at Camp Fretterd in Reisterstown upon return.

“Some of these guys lost marriages, families, businesses,” he said. “Some of them have had problems. You have to feel bad for some of them.”

[email protected]

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To see more of The Baltimore Sun, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.baltimoresun.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, The Baltimore Sun

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

Micrus Endovascular Corporation (Nasdaq:MEND) today announced that the Vitesse Intracranial Stent Study for Ischemic Therapy (VISSIT) clinical trial application has been conditionally approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The Pharos(TM) Vitesse(TM) intracranial stent is Micrus Endovascular’s second balloon-expandable stent for the treatment of intracranial ischemic stenosis and is the subject of an investigational device exemption (IDE) study designed to compare the clinical outcomes between patients treated with the stent and another medical therapy. The Company is in the process of initiating study sites in the United States, Europe and China.

“We are pleased to obtain IDE approval for VISSIT and proud to support the first global, industry-sponsored prospective, randomized clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of an intracranial stent for this significant medical condition,” said John Kilcoyne, Chairman and CEO of Micrus Endovascular. “Our second-generation Pharos Vitesse stent is designed with a series of technical advances for improved handling and navigability and also incorporates a proprietary coating that we believe may reduce the need for retreatment due to restenosis.”

The Pharos Vitesse is manufactured exclusively for Micrus Endovascular through a collaborative agreement with Switzerland-based Biotronik AG. It enables the intracranial delivery and deployment of a stent in one step, eliminating the need for pre-dilation of constricted vasculature.

About Micrus Endovascular Corporation

Micrus develops, manufactures and markets implantable and disposable medical devices for use in the treatment of cerebral vascular diseases. Micrus products are used by interventional neuroradiologists, interventional neurologists and neurosurgeons to treat both cerebral aneurysms responsible for hemorrhagic stroke and intracranial atherosclerosis, which may lead to ischemic stroke. Hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke are both significant causes of death and disability worldwide. The Micrus product line enables physicians to gain access to the brain in a minimally invasive manner through the vessels of the circulatory system. Micrus’ proprietary, three-dimensional microcoils automatically deploy within the aneurysm, forming a scaffold that conforms to a wide diversity of aneurysm shapes and sizes. Micrus also sells accessory devices and products used in conjunction with its microcoils. For more information, visit www.micruscorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

Micrus, from time to time, may discuss forward-looking information, including estimated fiscal 2009 revenues. Except for the historical information contained in this release, all forward-looking statements are predictions by the Company’s management and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that may cause results to differ from management’s current expectations. Such factors include the risk of inconclusive or unfavorable clinical trial results, the uncertain market for balloon-expandable stents to treat intracranial stenoses, , the Company’s ability to obtain, and the timing of, regulatory approvals and clearances for its products, product enhancements or future products, and other risks affecting the Company, including the Company’s involvement in patent litigation with Boston Scientific Corporation, the Company’s limited operating history and history of significant operating losses, fluctuations in quarterly operating results, which are difficult to predict, the Company’s dependence on developing new products or product enhancements, challenges associated with complying with applicable state, federal and international regulations related to sales of medical devices and governing Micrus’ relationships with physicians and other consultants, the Company’s ability to compete with large, well-established medical device manufacturers with significant resources and other risks as detailed from time to time in risk factors and other disclosures in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008, and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements in this release represent the Company’s judgment as of the date of this release. The Company disclaims, however, any intention or obligation to update forward-looking statements.

By Robert Davis and Steve Sternberg

From the soldier wounded on the battlefield to the medical student digging for answers, the legacy of pioneering heart specialist Michael DeBakey will be felt across the world of medicine today, tomorrow and beyond.

DeBakey died Friday in Houston at age 99 at the hospital where he worked, Baylor College of Medicine and The Methodist Hospital.

But because of his lifelong, perfectionist’s passion to help patients, DeBakey leaves behind a huge imprint on modern medicine. Clamps, pumps, tubing, techniques, protocols, scientific breakthroughs, a vast medical library and entire health care systems and approaches all bear his mark — and often his name.

“Medicine is an extremely complex system, and he contributed to every part of it,” says Norm McSwain, a surgery professor at Tulane University in New Orleans, where DeBakey studied medicine. “If you look at it from the big perspective, he is the best surgeon who ever lived.”

DeBakey operated on 60,000 people, including the Duke of Windsor, Marlene Dietrich and comedian Jerry Lewis. But whom DeBakey treated did not change how he treated them.

Fellow surgeon Kenneth Mattox says DeBakey treated patients who came into the trauma center “just as specifically as he treated the royalty who came to see him from around the world.”

DeBakey’s values, Mattox says, came from the childhood lessons learned in Lake Charles, La.

Michael Ellis DeBakey was born Sept. 7, 1908, to Shaker Morris and Reheeja Zorba DeBakey, who had emigrated from Lebanon to the USA as children.

They were self-educated and successful, with a drugstore and investments in rice farming, real estate and construction.

“Every Sunday when he was growing up, they would go to an orphanage,” Mattox says. One day DeBakey’s mother forced her son to give another boy his baseball cap. “He said something back to her and she said, ‘Michael, you have many caps. This child you have just given your cap to has none.’ That kind of value stayed with him all of his life.”

DeBakey went on to help create entire systems to help others.

After World War II broke out, DeBakey went to work in the U.S. Army Surgeon General’s Office. With childhood friend Gordon Holcombe, he set up the first M.A.S.H. units and a network of health services for returning veterans. That network evolved into the Veterans Administration.

After the war, while serving on a Hoover administration medical task force, he persuaded President Hoover to use the collection from the shabby, neglected library of the U.S. Surgeon General as the basis of a new, independent National Library of Medicine in Bethesda, Md.

In 1948, DeBakey also began lobbying for the creation of the research center now known as the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

DeBakey loved to learn.

He recalled in a 1998 interview with USA TODAY how, as a child, “we were virtually required to go to the library each week, borrow a new book and read it.”

One week, DeBakey said, he came home from the library in a funk because “the best book they had, they wouldn’t let you take home. I told my father about that. He asked what book it was. It was the Encyclopaedia Britannica.”

His dad bought a set.

As a surgeon, DeBakey applied his problem-solving skills to everything from clogged arteries to lung cancer to surgical infections. He also made it possible for thousands of other surgeons to cure people. He invented many of the tools now used routinely in heart surgery, even stitching the first synthetic blood vessels using his wife’s sewing machine.

One of his favorite accomplishments was the DeBakey Left Ventricular Assist Device, which he created with help from NASA. The pump supports failing hearts. “Thank God, I’ve lived to see this,” DeBakey said in 1998.

In recent years, Mattox says, DeBakey was particularly concerned about more money going to the management of health care systems than to patient care.

Antonio Gotto, dean of Cornell University School of Medicine in New York and a DeBakey collaborator for 25 years, says, “I know of no one who has made a greater contribution, not only in cardiovascular medicine, but also as a medical statesman and leader.”

<>

By EXCLUSIVE Lyn Barton

One of the most high-profile health bosses in Cornwall has quit over plans to move specialist cancer treatment out of the county, the WMN has learned.

Peter Davies, the Chairman of the Royal Cornwall Hospital Trust was believed to be upset by the increasing centralisation of services despite a public outcry.

Yesterday morning, he is understood to have handed in a letter of resignation.

Mr Davies, who has been in the non-executive post for nine months, could not be contacted by the WMN last night.

However, it is understood that he was increasingly concerned over proposals to move upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery from Truro to Plymouth’s Derriford Hospital.

It is believed that Mr Davies was deeply worried about the shift he felt amounted to the centralisation of services away from Cornwall. It is thought he felt under pressure to toe the line and felt that the huge public protests had not been heeded by the Strategic Health Authority.

Andrew George, the MP for St Ives, who has been a tireless campaigner against health cuts in Cornwall, paid tribute to Mr Davies as a “very principled man”.

On Tuesday, Cornwall County Council’s Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee will meet to discuss the plans to move cancer services.

Mr George said he hoped that such a high-profile resignation would force them to think very carefully. “I and my other parliamentary colleagues in Cornwall have called for a further review of the removal of this surgery,” he said.

“Peter Davies’s resignation will put a great deal of pressure of the Scrutiny Committee next Tuesday to back-pedal a bit on any decision.”

Matthew Taylor, MP for Truro and St Austell, said it was a shame for the people of Cornwall that Mr Davies felt he had to resign.

“The chairman of the trust, who is there as a representative of the community, has done the honourable thing but it is not good news for the hospital to lose such a talented chairman. If it is the case that senior people have been gagged at the hospital, that is totally unacceptable. The people of Cornwall want to hear from those with the expertise to comment on cancer services.”

It is understood that Mr Davies, a former chairman of Central Cornwall Primary Care Trust and former chief executive of Cornwall County Council, will leave his post at the end of the month.

Mr Davies is the second chairman to resign in just over a year.

Last June, Professor Colin Roberts stood down as chairman of the RCH Trust after 18 months at the helm. Mr Davies was then named as interim non-executive chairman. A few days before Prof Roberts’ resignation, it emerged that the trust was in the red to the tune of pounds36.5 million.

In tending his resignation, Prof Roberts was the third person to step down from the board trust over the past ten months. Under Mr Davies’ chairmanship, the previously beleaguered hospital trust was able to cast off its debts and the title of Britain’s worst hospital.

Earlier this month, the independent watchdog the Heathcare Commission named the RCH as the most improved in the country. There was nobody available to comment on Mr Davies’ resignation at RCH as the WMN went to press last night.

(c) 2008 Western Morning News, The Plymouth (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

By Thomas Lee, Star Tribune, Minneapolis

Jul. 14–Doctors use balloon catheters to open clogged arteries. Now, one local start-up hopes to apply the same technology to people who have clogged sinuses.

Entellus Medical Inc., based in Maple Grove, has developed what it bills as a cheaper and less invasive away to treat sinusitis, or severe chronic sinus infections.

The procedure involves inserting a balloon catheter into the nasal cavity through a tiny incision under the lip, expanding the balloon in the passageway and draining excess mucus from the sinus. Entellus officials say the treatment, called FinESS, could be a better option than outright surgery; FinESS can be done in a doctor’s office under local anesthesia.

“Patients can recover in hours vs. days,” said CEO Thomas Ressemann. “The balloon lends itself nicely to an office procedure, because there is less bleeding and no cutting of tissue.”

Entellus said in June that it raised $15 million more in venture financing from Montagu Newhall Associates, Split Rock Partners and SV Life Sciences. The company is testing FinESS on 100 patients in 16 states, including Minnesota, and hopes to publish the data this year in a peer-reviewed journal.

FinESS has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and Entellus hopes to secure Medicare reimbursement for the procedure by 2009.

But one expert says FinESS would help only a small percentage of people who suffer from chronic sinusitis. And it’s too early to know whether patients’ nasal passages will close again after the balloon is removed, said Dr. Steven Koutroupas, an ear, nose and throat specialist at Allina Medical Clinic in Coon Rapids.

The idea for Entellus came in a roundabout fashion. In 2006, Ressemann and co-founder Peter Keith approached Josh Baltzell, a managing director at Eden Prairie-based Split Rock Partners, with an unrelated idea. Baltzell passed on the deal, but he suggested the duo take a look at the ear, nose and throat market, an area that is only now starting to attract more investor interest, he said.

“There are a lot of companies in the cardiovascular space,” Baltzell said.

“The bar for value-added [innovation] is higher than other disease states. With ENT [ear, nose and throat], there are more opportunities and fewer participants. That’s a nice formula.”

Baltzell said he was particularly interested in technology that would allow procedures to be done in an office rather than an operating room, a distinction that could save millions of dollars.

“We are looking for ways to streamline the delivery of health care,” he said.

Ressemann and Keith zeroed in on chronic sinusitis, a condition that affects an estimated 37 million people in the United States. Allergies, mold or viruses cause nasal passages to close, trapping mucus in the sinus. The mucus buildup results in an infection.

Normally, doctors use nasal washes or drugs to treat sinusitis. But chronic sufferers, those who have symptoms lasting 12 weeks or more, might need surgery to free mucus flow by removing bone and tissue from the nose. That requires general anesthesia and several days of recovery.

Finding a less expensive way

Rather than inventing new technology, Ressemann, an engineer who also holds an MBA, said he focused on how to make sinusitis treatment cheaper.

“One of the first things we looked at is the economics,” Ressemann said. “We came at it from the other side. We set out to understand those needs before we even designed the device.

“There are a lot of good technologies out there that do a very good job at treating patients. But you have to understand how the patients get there in the first place. The best treatment meets all of the stakeholders’ needs. Insurance companies want to pay less. Doctors want to get paid well for their time. Patients want a painless-as-possible procedure and [want to] get back to their normal lives as soon as possible. Understanding the economics first before we started designing was what allowed us to meet all of the three stakeholders’ needs.”

The answer was to use a balloon catheter, a minimally invasive device cardiologists use to enlarge clogged arteries. Doctors inflate the balloons, which in turn enlarge nasal passages and allow the mucus to drain from the nose. Ressemann is familiar with the technology, having worked at SciMed and other medical device companies for 20 years.

By inserting the balloon directly into the sinus cavity through the upper lip, doctors can avoid damaging the delicate bone and tissue structure of the nose during surgery. That’s why doctors can perform the procedure in an office rather than in a surgical center.

Too early to tell?

However, experts say using balloon technology to treat sinusitis is relatively new, and long-term results aren’t clear. The biggest question is whether the passages will reseal after the balloon is removed. Ressemann says that Entellus data show patients were doing fine after six months. “Typically, if you are going to have a problem with surgery, recurrence of sinusitis, it will happen in the first six months,” he said.

But Koutroupas, the ENT specialist in Coon Rapids, said six months is a “grossly inadequate” amount of time to determine whether FinESS works. It would take “at least a few years or several allergy and winter seasons to see whether the procedure holds up,” he said.

While FinESS is less invasive than surgery, the procedure comes with its own risks, including possible nerve and tooth root damage, Koutroupas said.

In general, Entellus officials claim the procedure costs much less than regular surgery, but say that they need more long-term data to quantify the savings. Koutroupas, though, is skeptical.

Patients can choose effective, less-expensive treatments such as nasal washes and drugs, he said. Compared with regular surgery, nasal washes are comparable to FinESS but at a fraction of the cost, Koutroupas said.

Plus, FinESS clears only one sinus cavity, the maxillary sinus. People who suffer from chronic sinusitis experience mucus blockage in several sinuses. Koutroupas estimates that only 5 percent of people can benefit from the FinESS procedure, a figure he calls “generous.”

Ressemann said FinESS is only the first step for Entellus. Over time, he wants to apply the procedure to other sinuses.

“The goal is that one day we would be able to treat a large majority of patients under local [anesthesia] in the office rather than the operating room,” Ressemann said.

Thomas Lee –612-673-7744

—–

To see more of the Star Tribune, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.startribune.com/.

Copyright (c) 2008, Star Tribune, Minneapolis

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

Given Imaging Ltd. (NASDAQ: GIVN) (TELAVIV: GIVN), the global leader in capsule endoscopy, today announced that Medical Mutual of Ohio, the state’s oldest and largest health insurance company serving more than 3.9 million individuals in Ohio and South Carolina, has updated its capsule endoscopy policy effective May 9, 2008. Under the new guidelines, Medical Mutual will allow physicians to use PillCam SB as a primary test (standard endoscopic procedures and or SBFT are not required) for symptoms indicative of small bowel tumors or Crohn’s disease. Another change is that Medical Mutual will now allow the use of PillCam ESO in the evaluation of esophageal varices in patients who have esophageal varices or portal hypertension and when esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is contraindicated. The company also announced Medical Mutual’s further policy expansions to include the use of the Agile patency capsule used to verify adequate patency of the gastrointestinal tract in patients with known or suspected strictures prior to the administration of the PillCam video capsule.

Prior to this update, PillCam capsule endoscopy of the small bowel under the Medical Mutual of Ohio policy could be used only after a negative upper and/or lower endoscopy to diagnose disorders such as Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, benign and cancerous tumors, ulcerative colitis as well as other disorders.

“We are pleased that Medical Mutual of Ohio has recognized the value of PillCam capsule endoscopy to both patients and physicians,” said Homi Shamir, president and CEO of Given Imaging. “Today, more than 210 million Americans have reimbursed access to PillCam SB including 34 million Americans with access as a primary diagnostic tool. In addition, approximately 35 million Americans have reimbursed access to PillCam ESO. We anticipate additional coverage decisions like this in the future.”

Physicians seeking additional information can access the updated policy at http://www.medmutual.com or can contact Given Imaging’s Reimbursement Help Line at 1-888-389-5200.

About Given Imaging Ltd.

Given Imaging is redefining gastrointestinal diagnosis by developing, producing and marketing innovative, patient-friendly products for detecting gastrointestinal disorders. The company’s technology platform is the PillCam(R) Platform, featuring the PillCam video capsule, a disposable, miniature video camera contained in a capsule, which is ingested by the patient, a sensor array, data recorder and RAPID(R) software. Given Imaging has a number of available capsules: the PillCam SB video capsule to visualize the entire small intestine which is currently marketed in the United States and in more than 60 other countries; the PillCam ESO video capsule to visualize the esophagus; the Agile(TM) patency capsule to determine the free passage of the PillCam capsule in the GI tract and the PillCam COLON video capsule to visualize the colon that has been cleared for marketing in the European Union. PillCam COLON has received a CE Mark, but is not cleared for marketing or available for commercial distribution in the USA. More than 700,000 patients worldwide have benefited from the PillCam capsule endoscopy procedure. Given Imaging’s headquarters, manufacturing and R&D facilities are located in Yoqneam, Israel. It has operating subsidiary companies in the United States, Germany, France, Japan, Australia and Singapore. Given Imaging’s largest shareholders include Elron Electronic Industries (NASDAQ & TASE: ELRN). For more information, visit http://www.givenimaging.com.

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, projections about our business and our future revenues, expenses and profitability. Forward-looking statements may be, but are not necessarily, identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,””anticipates,””estimates,””expects,””intends,””plans,””believes,” and words and terms of similar substance. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual events, results, performance, circumstances or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future events, results, performance, circumstances or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, circumstances or achievements to differ from such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) satisfactory results of clinical trials with PillCam COLON (2) our ability to receive regulatory clearance or approval to market our products or changes in regulatory environment, (3) our success in implementing our sales, marketing and manufacturing plans, (4) protection and validity of patents and other intellectual property rights, (5) the impact of currency exchange rates, (6) the effect of competition by other companies, (7) the outcome of future litigation, including patent litigation with Olympus Corporation, (8) our ability to obtain reimbursement for our product from government and commercial payors, (9) quarterly variations in operating results, (10) the possibility of armed conflict or civil or military unrest in Israel, and (11) other risks and factors disclosed in our filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, risks and factors identified under such headings as “Risk Factors,””Cautionary Language Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” and “Operating Results and Financial Review and Prospects” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2007. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except for the Company’s ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the applicable securities laws, it undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events.

 For further information contact:  Fern Lazar/David Carey Lazar Partners Ltd. 1-(866) GIVEN-IR Email ContactEmail Contact

SOURCE: Given Imaging

A national contract signed with Blue Cross Blue Shield, effective July 1, 2008, makes Angel MedFlight Worldwide Air Ambulance Services a preferred transportation services provider to BCBS members nationwide.

Angel MedFlight is an Arizona-based air ambulance company offering international patient transfer and medical evacuation services.

“Our new partnership with Blue Cross allows us to offer the best air ambulance transportation to even more patients,” says Angel MedFlight President and CEO Jeremy Freer. “We’re really excited to bring our level of service to so many people who need it.”

Though headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona, Angel MedFlight has medically outfitted aircraft based across the country, allowing for more rapid response times to patient transport requests. “When you’re dealing with a patient who needs to be transferred by air, time is critical,” Freer says. “Having dedicated air ambulance aircraft nationwide helps us reach more patients faster.”

Another benefit to having dedicated air ambulance aircraft based at different airports is that vacant flights are minimized, considerably reducing operating costs. “Not having to reposition a jet to our Arizona home base significantly reduces fuel costs,” Freer says. “We’re doing all we can to reduce costs for patients without compromising quality of care, safety and service.”

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is an alliance of 39 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross Blue Shield companies. BCBSA is the nation’s oldest and largest family of health benefits companies, serving the needs of 100,000,000 – nearly one in three – Americans. Nationwide, more than 90 percent of hospitals and 80 percent of physicians contract with BCBS companies.

“Blue Cross Blue Shield patients or their case managers can call us and we’ll arrange all aspects of a transfer,” Freer says. “Our goal is to make the transport as smooth and safe as possible for everyone involved.”

Angel MedFlight has a pristine safety record, with no incidents or accidents.

About Angel MedFlight:

Angel MedFlight is a full service provider of medical ground and air transport. Angel MedFlight is the only medical transport company in the country that will arrange ground transportation in addition to air travel. This superior service is part of the “One Touch Promise”, which was created to provide safe, quality, affordable air medical transport and relieve case managers and patients’ families of the burden of travel logistics.

Blue Cross Blue Shield information from bcbs.com.

For more information on the air ambulance transportation and transit services offered by Angel MedFlight, visit www.angelmedflight.com.

By Shobha John

NEW DELHI: Strokes are the second most common cause of deaths and the commonest cause of severe disability.

Now a study has shown that deficiency of Vitamin B12, usually seen in vegetarians, can predispose a person to strokes much more than the usual risk factors – diabetes and hypertension.

“While 20% of Indians suffer from diabetes and high BP,” says Dr Arun Garg, consultant neurologist, Max Hospitals, “incidence of homocysteinemia (increased levels of homocysteine, an amino acid) caused by vitamin B12 deficiency, is 70%. This is seen more among vegetarians as this vitamin is mainly found in meat and milk, if it’s neither boiled nor pasteurised.” In fact, deficiency of vitamins B12, B6 and folate causes two-thirds of strokes.

This risk is four times higher in vegetarians. As folate is found in vegetables and fruits, its deficiency is rare among Indians, but that of vitamin B12 is common.

Normal levels of homocysteine are 5-15 micromol per litre. Increased levels heighten the chances of blood clotting, which can lead to decrease in blood supply to the brain, causing a stroke. Studies have found high levels of homocysteine in over 80% of stroke patients. Even a rise of five micromol increases the risk of stroke by two times.

The link between strokes and vegetarianism was confirmed in a five-year study by Garg and Dr A K Jain, neurologist, Jain Neuro Centre, in two Max hospitals and this Centre. From 2003, 4,680 OPD patients were screened for vitamin B12 and homocysteine levels. Those with a history of stroke, heart disease, diabetes, chronic renal, liver problems, alcoholics and those on vitamin supplements were excluded. Most had vague complaints – tingling, numbness, chronic headaches and depressive symptoms like sleeplessness and fatigue.

It was found that 60% patients had vitamin B12 levels below 400 pg/ml and 38.9% had less than 200 pg/ml. Homocysteine levels were high (over 15 micromol/l) in 36%. And out of these, over 80% were either strict vegetarians or took non-vegetarian food less than once a week. This showed the co-relation between vegetarians and strokes.

To confirm the study, 418 ischemic stroke patients between 30-85 years admitted during the same period were analysed. It was found that homocysteine levels were high (over 15 micromol/l) in 77.5% of the patients showing vitamin deficiency can result in strokes. The effects of a stroke are serious and sometimes fatal – paralysis, loss of speech and vision, unsteadiness, double vision or even unconsciousness.

Dr Vinay Goyal, associate professor, neurology, AIIMS, says, “It’s true that vegetarians have less vitamin B12 as compared to non-vegetarians. This has been proven in Indian Americans, Germans, and Chinese/Singaporeans.”

Prevention would cost less than Rs 10 per day, says Garg. All one has to do is take prescribed doses of vitamin B12 and B6 and folic acid. These are shown to reduce homocysteine level by 38% and the risk of stroke by 20-30%. Goyal says, “Vitamin B12 is also there in soyabean, legumes, dairy products, cottage cheese, etc.” Garg and Jain gave vegetarian patients in their study daily vitamin supplements.

Their symptoms disappeared completely after 3-6 months of therapy. Vegetarians with vitamin B12 deficiency need life-long treatment. A dose of 1-1.5 mg/day is required, says Garg. The government too should fortify food with it, much like iodized salt. Also, as India has a high proportion of vegetarians, screening should be done. So get going to quell that stroke of bad luck.

(c) 2008 The Times of India. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

IN the last two decades, there has been a lot of attention on the body’s defence (immune) system as the foundation of health.

Researchers now know a lot more about how the immune system works and realise that it is the ultimate basis of how well we feel and how we respond to health challenges.

Just how important is the immune system?

For example, a patient with active tuberculosis (TB) gets on a flight to London.

Of the 300 passengers on that flight, 50 subsequently tested positive for TB. The others were also exposed but they were able to ward off the infection and this has something to do with their strong immune system.

The immune system, the body’s first line of defence, is composed of billions of white blood cells (macrophages, neutrophils and natural killer cells, etc) that constantly identify, engulf and destroy pathogens (organisms capable of causing disease; eg bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc) and cancer cells.

Beta-glucans found in baker’s yeast and certain fungi are thought to have anticancer properties. Each day, we breathe in millions of germs (bacteria and viruses) and there are millions more already in our body. If our immune system is strong, these are not a problem.

Occasionally, a germ or virus gets past the immune system and you catch a cold or the flu. Falling sick is a sign that your immune system has weakened.

Today, our immune system has to protect us from the new, “super” germs being created through antibiotic resistance. Commonly prescribed antibiotics no longer work.

Other infectious diseases such as tuberculosis – once thought to be under control – have resurfaced and the issue of bacterial resistance is just one of the many serious health concerns our immune system has to deal with.

Many beneficial health supplements are available in the market, like those which are beta glucan-based. Beta glucan are found in the bran of cereal grains, like barley and oats, certain types of fungi, and many kinds of mushrooms.

For instance, whole glucan particle (WGP), a special form of beta glucan derived from a patented strain of yeast, is the purest form of beta-glucan available and is effective in strengthening the immune system.

Here’s how beta glucan works:

* Speeds up immune response by stimulating the neutrophils, the most abundant of the innate/inborn immune cells, to move quickly to the site of infection, resulting in faster healing;

* Increases the killing capacity of the neutrophils, macrophages and natural killer cells to destroy foreign intruders like infections and cancer cells.

* Activates other immune cells (T- and B-Cells) and stimulate the production of antibodies. The antibodies can completely deactivate the intruders or at least delay them long enough for other immune cells to arrive and kill them.

Various types of immune cells are constantly watching out for the intruders and if our immune system is compromised in any way, it increases the risk of infections and cancer cells developing into tumours.

So keeping our immune system healthy and strong should be our first priority for optimum health. How we age and the quality of our life depend largely on the health of our immune system.

This advertorial is courtesy of Stay-well to Live-well by Pahang Pharmacy Sdn Bhd. For more information, consult your pharmacist or call Stay-well to Live-well at 1-800-88-1450 (Monday to Friday, 9am- 5pm) or email [email protected]

(c) 2008 New Straits Times. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

Neurogen Corporation (Nasdaq: NRGN) today announced that, as planned, it commenced a Phase 2/3 clinical trial in chronic insomnia patients with the Company’s insomnia agent, adipiplon and that, based upon reports from initial dosing of a higher than anticipated rate of unwanted next day effects, the Company has suspended dosing in the study. Neurogen believes that the bilayer tablet formulation of adipiplon being used in the study may not be performing as expected.

The Company plans additional investigation of the bilayer tablet before proceeding further. In prior studies Neurogen has simultaneously administered various doses of both immediate release and controlled release forms of adipiplon. The current study is the first trial in which it has used the two forms laminated together into one bilayer tablet. In previous testing in over 600 subjects, adipiplon has been well tolerated.

“We are disappointed by this setback,” said Stephen R. Davis, Neurogen’s President and CEO. “We do not yet know whether there is a path forward with lower doses of the existing formulation or whether further formulation development would be required. Until we further assess the situation and determine whether there is a path forward we can and should take, we will carefully limit our resource commitments to this program. We remain focused on our ongoing Phase 2 studies with our dopamine partial agonist, aplindore, in Parkinson’s disease and in restless legs syndrome,” Mr. Davis continued.

About Neurogen’s Insomnia Program

Adipiplon has been tested in Phase 1 and 2 studies in over 600 subjects for the treatment of insomnia, demonstrating statistical significance compared to placebo on primary endpoints for sleep initiation and maintenance in patients with chronic insomnia. Adipiplon has also demonstrated statistical significance compared to placebo for self-reported quality of sleep in all completed Phase 2 studies to date. Additionally, in studies completed to date it has been well tolerated at all doses tested.

The leading prescription drugs approved for treatment of both onset and maintenance symptoms of insomnia work by modulating the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) system of neurotransmitters. GABA is a chemical naturally released in certain parts of the brain to inhibit brain activity. Adipiplon is a partial agonist which preferentially targets the alpha-3 receptor subtype of the GABA-A neurotransmitter system. Neurogen believes this unique profile may provide a wider therapeutic window than that achieved with other insomnia agents.

Helpful websites for information on insomnia:

National Sleep Foundation http://www.sleepfoundation.org

National Institutes of Health http://www.nih.gov

About Neurogen

Neurogen Corporation is a drug development company focusing on small-molecule drugs to improve the lives of patients suffering from disorders with significant unmet medical need, including insomnia, Parkinson’s disease, restless legs syndrome (RLS), anxiety and pain. Neurogen conducts its drug development independently and, when advantageous, collaborates with world-class pharmaceutical companies to access additional resources and expertise.

Webcast

Neurogen will host a conference call and webcast to discuss these results at 8:30 a.m. ET on July 14, 2008. The webcast will be available in the Investor Relations section of www.neurogen.com and will also be archived there. A replay of the call will be available after 10:30 a.m. ET on July 14, 2008 and accessible through the close of business, July 21, 2008. To replay the conference call, dial 888-286-8010, or for international callers 617-801-6888, and use the pass code 10975330.

Safe Harbor Statement

The information in this press release contains certain forward-looking statements, made pursuant to applicable securities laws that involve risks and uncertainties as detailed from time to time in Neurogen’s SEC filings, including its most recent 10-K. Such forward-looking statements relate to events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future and include, but are not limited to, statements that are not historical facts relating to the timing and occurrence of anticipated clinical trials, and potential collaborations or extensions of existing collaborations. Actual results may differ materially from such forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, but not limited to, risks associated with the inherent uncertainty of drug research and development, difficulties or delays in development, testing, regulatory approval, production and marketing of any of the Company’s drug candidates, adverse side effects or inadequate therapeutic efficacy or pharmacokinetic properties of the Company’s drug candidates or other properties of drug candidates which could make them unattractive for commercialization, advancement of competitive products, dependence on corporate partners, the Company’s ability to retain key employees, sufficiency of cash to fund the Company’s planned operations and patent, product liability and third party reimbursement risks associated with the pharmaceutical industry. For such statements, Neurogen claims the protection of applicable laws. Future results may also differ from previously reported results. For example, positive results or safety and tolerability in one clinical study provides no assurance that this will be true in future studies. Neurogen disclaims any intent and does not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements, other than as may be required under applicable law.

By Ronnie Thomas, The Decatur Daily, Ala.

Jul. 13–SOMERVILLE — Birthdays come and go, and there comes a time you’d just as soon not have a reminder.

Pam McKee of Somerville isn’t likely to forget her 46th on June 18. She got one of her best gifts ever, a phone call that her quadriplegic son was approved for treatment closer to home.

The one-hour, $30,000 procedure at a clinic in the Dominican Republic will not involve the extensive stay that a planned trip for treatments in China would have required. The family anticipates even greater results.

Skylar Holmes, 20, suffered spinal cord injuries Sept. 29 when his pickup hit a culvert on Union Hill Road and flipped. The wreck paralyzed him from his neck down.

McKee said there were too many obstacles to reach the clinic in Shenyang City, China, previously set for May, where he would have undergone stem cell injections and therapy for a month.

Technicians take the stem cells from umbilical cords of healthy babies.

McKee said traveling to the airport, flying time and expense were too much to overcome.

“We faced a four-hour drive to Atlanta and a 14-hour direct flight to China,” she said. “To avoid pressure sores, Skylar has to do weight shifts every 30 minutes, reclining back and sitting up. You can’t do that in a regular seat on an airplane, and there was $4,000 difference in ticket prices between coach and business class. We looked for alternatives.”

The breakthrough came after she had spoken to her doctor and his nurse in Huntsville. Several weeks later, the nurse faxed McKee an article about Dr. William C. Rader, medical director for Medra Inc.

He transplants human fetal stem cells into a patient, usually intravenously.

According to his Web site, the fetal stem cell “searches out, detects and then attempts to repair any damage or deficiency discovered, as well as releases growth factors, which stimulate the body’s own repair mechanisms.”

Rader developed the principles of the treatment program at the Betty Ford Recovery Center. He opened the first HIV program in Latin America and shifted to fetal stem cell research in 1994.

He spent a year learning the process in Eastern Europe and China.

Since then he claims to have treated more than 1,000 patients, including children and adults suffering many of mankind’s most devastating diseases.

“I know that fetal stem cell transplants are a very controversial issue,” McKee said. “However, we were given this situation, and I think any parent will always choose what’s best for their child. That is what I am doing.”

McKee recalled the day that she learned Holmes had been accepted.

“What a joy it was,” said

McKee. “This process has taken months, and the first time we tried, they didn’t accept us. They were only doing incomplete quadriplegics at the time, and Skylar is considered complete.”

He returned to the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, where he had spent three months after the accident, and began using different equipment.

After a week, doctors did an assessment and found some improvement. She reported his status to Medra.

In addition to the clinic in Tunta Cana, Dominican Republic, Medra has offices and laboratories in California, Germany and the Republic of Georgia, in the former Soviet Union.

“Dr. Rader travels to the clinic to do the procedures on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays,” McKee said. “We will depart Birmingham on Wednesday, July 23, a flight that will take just over six hours. Skylar will have the procedure Friday and we return home Sunday.”

McKee said she moved the schedule ahead one day to alleviate flight delays.

“As I’ve told US Airways, a flight delay could be a $30,000 mistake,” she said.

McKee’s niece, Jacqueline Mann, and her husband, Josh Mann, will accompany them. Jacqueline Mann works at Open Biosystems in Huntsville and is familiar with the process Holmes faces.

Her company helps investigators unlock the functions of human genes and their relationships to normal and disease development.

“I feel pretty good about it,” Holmes said of the trip and the chance at a different type of therapy. “It’s supposed to be better than what China offered, and I’m for trying anything that will give me improvement.”

When he returns, he will enter Lakeshore Rehabilitation Center in Birmingham for occupational and physical therapy.

Fundraisers will continue for Holmes’ medical bills. His aunt, Terri Holmes of Decatur, is handling a cookbook project with proceeds going to the Skylar Holmes Fund.

“We’re publishing recipes provided by family and friends,” she said. “The books are $12, and people can pre-order by phoning me at 584-6880.”

Terri Holmes adds another twist to her nephew’s trip, which she hopes will be a good omen.

“The day he’s slated for the treatment is my birthday,” she said.

—–

To see more of The Decatur Daily, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.decaturdaily.com

Copyright (c) 2008, The Decatur Daily, Ala.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

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By Cary Aspinwall, Tulsa World, Okla.

Jul. 13–Some kids spend all summer outdoors, playing tag or baseball, riding bikes and swimming.

Others become summer slugs, watching junk on TV, surfing the afternoon away on the Internet or playing hours of video games — and in Oklahoma’s uphill battle against childhood obesity, that’s bad news.

Health experts say childhood obesity rates in Oklahoma have more than doubled in the past 20 years. The Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition reports that one-third of the state’s children are obese, overweight or at risk for either.

Obesity during childhood also increases the risk of being obese or overweight as an adult, so there’s no time like the present to get kids exercising more.

Catherine Hendrix, fitness director at the Daily Family YMCA in Bixby, said she’s added several classes targeted toward children in recent years to make it easier for families to work out together.

“My goal is to help kids find something they enjoy doing so they will continue exercising as they get older,” she said.

Amy Randolph’s 13-year-old daughter, Amber, has lost several pounds and become more active as a result of attending kids’ hip-hop and

Zumba classes with her mom at the Daily YMCA. Amber is no longer a borderline type 2 diabetic as a result of her fitness routines and healthier eating, Randolph said.

“It’s been really good for her and has helped her self-esteem,” Randolph said.

Even if your kids aren’t interested in sports or traditional summer activities such as bike riding or swimming, there are plenty of ways to get them off the couch and into a more active routine, Hendrix said.

1. STAY CLASSY

Competitive sports keep many kids active, but not every child loves playing sports or team competition. Local YMCA branches and community centers often offer classes geared toward kids and teens such as Kids’ Kardio and Hip-Hop Dance at the Daily Family YMCA in Bixby. Yoga is another great alternative for kids — it lets them work at their pace and ability and helps build balance and stability. Tulsa Parks & Recreation offers special summer classes in break dance, belly dancing, African and Irish dance and more, all geared toward ‘tweens and teens.

Hip Hop for Kids, 11:15 a.m. Wednesdays at the Daily Family YMCA in Bixby, 7910 E. 134th St. 396-9622.

Other YMCA locations: tulsaworld.com/ymcatulsa

For information on Tulsa Parks & Recreation programs, call 596-7275 or visit tulsaworld.com/parksfunguide.

2. TV = PERSONAL TRAINER

Perhaps because they recognize how much time kids spend in front of a TV these days, there’s a growing market of exercise DVDs marketed toward teens and younger children, including Gaiam’s Yoga Kids DVD series targeted for children ages 3 to 6, and videos such as “65 Energy Blasts” ($20, Toys R Us) offer fun ways to get kids moving in their own living rooms. If you’ve got a teen who’s a fan of TV shows such as “The Biggest Loser” or “Dancing with the Stars,” try one of the workout DVDs associated with those series to pique their interest in exercising.

For the ultimate couch potato or video-game junkie, parents may want to consider investing in Nintendo’s Wii Fit set, an innovative way to get kids moving and exercising with a video game console and special equipment that can be purchased and used with the Wii for cardio, yoga, strength training and balance exercises. The Wii console with the Fit board, programs and equipment can cost more than $500 altogether, so this isn’t a cheap solution. But if your kids are video-game junkies, this may be the get-off-the-couch solution you’re seeking.

3. TOYS FOR FITNESS (AND FUN)

For younger children, making fitness into playtime or a fun game is probably the easiest way to get them active.

R & R Games “Hide & Seek Safari Tiger” (about $25, Amazon.com) has won multiple awards for making hide-and-seek fun and active. One person hides the tiger indoors or outside, and then kids use the “seeker” wand to track down the hidden tiger. The wand lights up and beeps as the kids get closer, making this a fun adventure game (and sneaky exercise tool) for kids ages 5 to 12. There are also monkey and dinosaur versions.

Wild Planet Hyper Dash ($20, Target stores) is high-tech, all-ages tag, with an electronic tagger that plays prerecorded music and calls out which of the multicolored, numbered targets you need to strike. It tracks the amount of time taken to complete each course, using radio frequency identification to recognize the targets, which can be set up side-by-side or spread across the length of a football field. The farther you spread the targets, the more exercise kids will get. It can be played indoors or outdoors, solo, in pairs or in teams.

Playskool Tag Tails Zoo Chase ($16, Wal-Mart stores)

These playful breakaway animal tails are a way to dress up the classic game of tag and chase, geared for kids ages 3 and older.

4. BACKYARD INGENUITY

Want to get your kids outside? Set up a backyard obstacle course

with some of the toys, jump ropes and extra (nonsharp) gardening equipment and lawn chairs that take up space in your garage. Overturned planters can become cones to run around, and bags of gardening soil or pieces of edging can be used as mini-hurdles. Grab a digital watch or kitchen timer and time each of your young Olympians as they compete on the course.

Or try organizing a neighborhood nature hike or scavenger hunt with other parents. Print lists (with pictures) of flowers, plants and trees for kids to locate in your neighborhood and send them on a mission combining science and fitness. For the scavenger hunt, get together with a group of parents and ask other neighbors you know to let the kids on your block knock on doors and collect items for a scavenger hunt. They can even collect items for charity or recycling, to add philanthropy to their activity.

Cary Aspinwall 581-8477 [email protected]

— Move more. Try to get between 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Several 10- to 15-minute sessions of moderate activity each day add up.

— Include regular physical activity into your routine. Walk as a family before or after meals.

— Limit TV, computer and video game time to a total of one to two hours per day. Encourage physical activity instead.

— Balance energy calories with activity calories. The energy you get from the foods and beverages should equal the calories you burn in activity every day.

— Increase household activities (e.g., walking the dog, dusting, vacuuming, gardening). These activities are good ways to burn calories.

— Include an activity like hiking or bike riding when you go on vacation.

— Make playtime with your family more active by shooting hoops or walking to the park.

Source: American Academy of Family Physicians

—–

To see more of the Tulsa World, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.tulsaworld.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, Tulsa World, Okla.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

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By Jennifer Jacob, The Meridian Star, Miss.

Jul. 13–For teens in Meridian, there is one complaint that goes around less in waves than in tsunamis: “This town is so boring,” they say as if in chorus. “There’s nothing to do here.”

“I really don’t think there’s enough to do,” said Grant Williams, a Meridian High School student who will turn 17 next month. “In the summer I find myself trying to look for little small jobs because there’s nothing else to do.”

“There’s not really much to do,” said 16 year old Northeast Lauderdale High School student Sam Hall. “I play music and just hang around with my friends, but there’s not really enough to do without spending a lot of money.”

Teenage boredom, especially in the summer months, has been rampant across the United States probably for as long as the United States has been here, but it recently caused some controversy in Meridian when officials at Bonita Lakes Mall announced that they were imposing a new youth policy.

Meridian Police Chief Benny Dubose said some young people had been “intimidating” customers and making inappropriate comments to women.

The mall called the local chapter of the NAACP about the problem. NAACP members Randall Jennings and Milton Johnson responded to the call by complaining to the city council about what they said was a lack of inexpensive, easily accessible activities for teenagers in the Meridian area.

Meridian Mayor John Robert Smith responded during his press conference that Jennings had previously procured funds from the city, supposedly to implement a teen mentoring program, but neither implemented the program nor returned the funds.

Jennings said he spent the funds on preparation for the program, but that additional funds needed to fully implement the program fell through.

But Jennings and Johnson aren’t the only people who say they are frustrated with the lack of teen activities in Meridian. Some Lauderdale County teens and their parents complain that there is a definite lack of recreation that teens, who crave independence, and parents, who want their kids to be safe and supervised, can agree on.

“For the ages, like the middle school kids, 12 to 14, there’s nothing for them to do,” said Grant Williams’ mother, Beth. “They’re too young to work, so they sit around the house all day, and they’re bored, and that can cause problems. For the older kids, if they want to get involved in the community there’s plenty to do, but its more like volunteer work than recreation.”

Sam Hall’s mom, Carol, feels the same way.

“There is nothing for teenagers to do around here when school is out,” she said. “They don’t do anything but hang around and get into trouble.”

Of course, not all teens and their parents feel the same way. Mackenzie Carver, a 13 year old student at Lamar School, said she thinks there’s plenty to do.

“I’ve been kind of busy this summer,” she said. “I’ve been swimming a lot, but usually I’ve just been kind of hanging out. I do think there’s enough to do.”

Hannah Hamilton, a 14-year-old Clarkdale student, also felt that the Meridian area offered more than enough for teens to do.

“I’ve been hanging out with my friends and traveling around and going swimming,” she said. “I think there’s plenty to do in the summer.”

“I think as far as physical activity, sports activity … I think Meridian is a great resource in that area,” said Mackenzie’s mom, Andrea Carver. “And I think that with the (Meridian) Museum of Art and the Riley Center, Meridian provides a lot of arts activities through that.”

Certainly, the list of opportunities to play sports in Meridian is long — at least for kids who are able to procure adequate transportation. The greater Meridian area has seven public baseball fields, according to the city of Meridian’s Web site, ten soccer fields, two softball complexes, and four public tennis courts. There are also numerous city-sponsored soccer leagues, as well as baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and softball programs at local schools.

For kids who prefer individual sports, there is a disc golf course at ClarkCo State Park in northern Clark County, and the Centerhill Refuge Skatepark in Bailey is scheduled to re-open this September.

In addition, water recreation is available in Lauderdale County thanks to Okatibbee Lake, Bonita Lakes, and the Chunky River. Between the three bodies of water, Meridianites can find venues for kayaking, canoeing, fishing, and swimming. Camping and hiking are also available.

Some kids, though, just aren’t into sports — especially not during sweltering Mississippi summers. For them, activities are less than plentiful.

The Meridian Museum of Art, for example, no longer conducts programs aimed at teens, said Interim Director Sylvia Follis, because of a lack of interest in past programs. Instead, she said, teens are invited to volunteer as teacher’s assistants at programs for younger kids. But, Follis said, the museum does hope to begin new teen programs sometime in the coming months.

Local artist Greg Cartmell is offering a free painting demonstration for people of all ages, each Sunday in August. Those interested may want to take private art lessons from him.

Teenage thespians may have a hard time finding something to do over the summer. The Meridian Little Theater is closed in July, and the workshops it offers earlier excludes teens.

The MSU-Riley Center for the Performing Arts, though one of its main goals is arts education, has no summer program for teens. Marketing Director Penny Kemp said that the facility, which has only been in existence for a few years, does hope to provide some teen workshops in the future, but that no concrete plans have been made so far.

Musical types will have an easier time finding ways to keep busy over the summer. Meridian Underground Music on 22nd Avenue holds frequent all-ages, admission-free shows where kids can listen or play for an audience. And the UPBEAT! Community Orchestra, an all ages, open-to-anyone orchestral group, offers strings classes for about $550 a year, with help available to kids with financial need. Private music lessons, for families that can afford it, are also available from various teachers.

Many kids take part in the UPBEAT! program. But it’s not surprising that many more just don’t want to spend their summers going to classes.

Carol Hall has a wish list of sorts for summer teen activities. She thinks many teens are less inclined to join a team or take a class because those things require a commitment. More casual activities, she said, are what our area lacks most.

“It would be great if the city would have like a music day,” she said, “where big groups of kids can just get together and jam on whatever instrument they play. Or sports days, where kids can just show up and join in on games without having to be part of a league.”

One part of Hall’s wish list is likely to be fulfilled soon.

“Meridian could use a skate park,” she said.

The Centerhill Refuge Skatepark, located at the old Centerhill school in Bailey, has been closed for about six months. But, said skate park manager Libby Nutter, its scheduled to re-open this September.

The facility provides ramps and rails for skateboarding, in-line skating, and stunt biking, as well as a stage for band performances.

The non-profit skate park charges $8 admission, but will be free one day a week to kids who attend “Skate Church.”

Nutter, who has four kids ranging in ages from 5-17, said she opened the park because “I just knew that it was just needed for the kids, for the community.”

When the park re-opens, Nutter said, she hopes to find sponsors to help implement an after-school mentoring program and provide internet access for kids who don’t have it at home.

“The main goal is to help kids stay in school,” she said. “I’m looking for something that speaks to the middle and high school students, because that’s when you see their grades really start to slack off.”

Nutter said she’s awed by the camaraderie that exists in the skating community, and that she feels skating is a great way for kids to find a peer support group.

“A lot of kids just don’t do well in team activities,” she added, “but this allows them to excel and develop skills on their own.”

What bothers Nutter most is the lack of community and parental support, which, she said, is what caused the park to close six months ago.

“Adults need to — even though we’re not 100 percent interested in what the kids are interested in — we need to be involved,” Hall said.

PLACES TO GO …

THINGS TO DO

Here are some places to go and things to do in the greater Meridian area:

–Disc Golf: ClarkCo State Park in northern Clark County offers a disc golf course. Discs can be rented or bought for a low fee.

–Canoeing: Stuckey’s Bridge Canoe Rental offers 2-hour, 4-hour, and all-day floats down the Chunky River for $35 per canoe, per day. Renters are welcome to hunt for arrowheads, fish, or camp. Call Brice Smith at (601)527-3595 for more information.

–Skateboarding: The Centerhill Refuge Skate Park has been closed for about 6 months, but is scheduled to re-open in September. Admission is $8 and is free to kids who attend Skate Church.

–The Park on North Hills Street has video games, skee ball, go-karting, and putt-putt. Prices vary.

–The Dixie Bowl bowling alley on North Hills Street

–Skate Odyssey of Meridian on North Hills Street

Water

–Bonita Lakes offers kayaking, fishing, horseback riding trails, walking paths, and barbeque grills, all for free. Bring your own kayak.

–Okatibbee Lake offers camping for a small fee, and free swimming, fishing, and picnicking.

–Dunn’s Falls on the Chunky River offers swimming, camping, and hiking for a small fee.

Music and art

–Meridian Underground Music on 22nd Avenue offers free all-ages music shows for anyone who wants to turn up. It’s also a venue for local bands who write their own songs. Private guitar and drum lessons also are offered at an hourly rate.

–UPBEAT! Community Orchestra is an all-ages orchestra that provides strings classes for people of all skill levels and opportunities to perform in public. There is a $50 registration fee and $550 a year tuition, but some students can get financial assistance through sponsors, and UPBEAT! can provide instruments.

–Art Lessons: Local artist Greg Cartmell will offer a free instructive painting demonstration at his studio on Buntin-Gun Road in Bailey each Sunday this August. He also offers private lessons. For more information, call the Cartmell Gallery at (601) 485-1122.

Clubs and Scouting

–Boy Scouts: The Choctaw Area Council Boy Scouts offer sessions at Camp Binachi for $145, which feature canoeing, shooting, a climbing tower and a ropes course. Registration to join a Boy Scout troop is $10 a year, and many troops go on camping, spelunking, and canoeing trips. Some financial assistance is available for needy kids.

–Girl Scouts: The Girl Scouts of Gulf Pines Council offer sessions at Camp Meridale for an average of $200 a week, or shorter sessions starting at $60. The annual membership fee for Girl Scout members is $10. Individual troops take part in different activities, and some financial help is available for needy students.

–Boys and Girls Club: The Boys and GIrls Club West End branch in Meridian offers a variety of activities aimed specifically at teens.

–4-H: The Lauderdale County 4-H offers activities ranging from nutritional workshops to photography clubs. Most programs have no fee.

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To see more of The Meridian Star or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.meridianstar.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, The Meridian Star, Miss.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

By Eric Hrin, The Daily Review, Towanda, Pa.

Jul. 13–OWEGO, N.Y. — The hood of a red Stingray, looking like a tongue, was propped open as if it were saying aaa-hhh.

As people gathered around, a man started the car up, its motor coming alive. Everywhere, rows of other cars sat on the green lawn of Hickories Park in Owego, N.Y., Saturday for the first day of “Cars in the Park,” put on by Triple Cities Street Rods of Binghamton, Johnson City and Endicott, N.Y.

Ed Gillette of Endicott, N.Y. was impressed. “I think it’s great,” he said. He didn’t have a favorite car. “I like them all, really.” Gillette said he had an Olds 442 from 1986 at the show.

Vendors were also on the green, some selling food as oldies music drifted through the air, invoking the sounds of yesterday.

“Stop in the name of love … before you break my heart … think it o-o-ver…”

Another wave of nostalgia broke. “Take good care of my baby … now don’t you ever make her cry. …”

And it was clear that these car owners were taking good care of their babies. The cars’ chrome glistened and their paint — reds, greens, blues, even purples — sparkled in the sun.

Butch Ayers from Rome, the president of the organization, said 70 vehicles were there. These included antique cars, street rods, muscle cars and even some motorcycles.

The event benefits local charities, including some in northeastern Pennsylvania. He said the organization is a “good outfit. It’s a lot of fun. It’s all about families.”

In addition to helping charities, the group assists individuals in need and also aids students. Ayers said tools have been given to top mechanics students at schools in New York and Pennsylvania, including here in Bradford County.

Saturday’s events included children’s activities, a 50/50 drawing, a Poker Fun Run and a Sock Hop with Ricky and the Blue Shadows. There was even a teeter-totter competition and balloon toss for all ages included in the schedule.

“We call this our fun day,” he said. “We do things with the children.”

The event continues today — it’s called “Show and Shine Day” — with an awards presentation at 3 p.m. Ayers said the participants judge each other.

“They get to judge on each other’s cars and we give trophies and plaques away.”

Todd Warner from Campville, N.Y., attended Saturday. “It’s a nice show,” he said.

Here are some of the events on today’s schedule:

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Chinese Auction

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Teeter-Totter Competition

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Children’s Activities

11 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Ross Park Zoomobile

1:30 p.m. — Children’s Awards

2 p.m. — Teeter-Totter Finals

2:30 p.m. — 50/50 Drawing

3 p.m. — Awards Presentation and Grand Prize Give-Away

Eric Hrin can be reached at (570) 297-5251; e-mail: [email protected]

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To see more of The Daily Review or to subscribe to the newspaper, visit http://www.thedailyreview.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, The Daily Review, Towanda, Pa.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

By Bob Stiles, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.

Jul. 13–Holly Pedder and Missy Dahlstrom said they scrambled for about two months to find a new doctor after their former physician, Dr. Antoine Francis Cawog, was arrested for peddling prescriptions for pain pills and closed his Irwin office.

The sisters said they were turned down by other physicians or their office staffs, apparently because they were patients of Cawog.

They aren’t alone.

Other patients of Cawog, 63, of 102 Foxwood Drive, Unity, found themselves in similar straits.

Cawog faces a preliminary hearing Thursday before Greensburg District Judge James Albert on 24 drug-related counts and 10 counts of attempting to commit Medicaid fraud.

Authorities allege that he was selling prescriptions to patients, often for pain medicine, without doing proper examinations or any examinations at all.

Dahlstrom, 29, of Arona said she was turned down by four doctors or their staffs before finding one willing to take her on as a patient.

“They don’t want nothing to do with him, which I can understand … but it’s not our fault,” said Dahlstrom. She and her sister have seen Cawog since they were children.

“They would not see me,” said Pedder, 31, of Penn Borough. “They didn’t want to go to jail. I said, ‘I don’t understand.’ They said, ‘I can’t see you.’ “

Part of the difficulty for patients in finding another doctor is the volume of pain medicine dispensed by Cawog, said Pedder, Dahlstrom and other patients who didn’t want their names to be used. Another reason is that patients have been unable to obtain their medical records, they said.

Many of Cawog’s patients were on medical assistance.

Ruth Brown, 48, of Jeannette said a Greensburg doctor began seeing her late last month on a temporary basis. That doctor cut back on the pain medicine she had been taking, she said.

Brown said at least five other doctors or their staffs turned her away before she found the Greensburg physician.

“As soon as I mentioned (Cawog’s) name, they refused to see us,” Brown said.

Her current doctor has advised her to go to a pain clinic, she added.

Dr. Tom Whitten, of the Westmoreland Pain Management Center in Unity, said he has been treating about 10 of Cawog’s patients since his arrest, and all were using pain medicine.

“We’ve had some. To be honest, I have to look with a very, very jaded eye,” Whitten said.

He said all of the patients were taking short-acting narcotics, such as Vicodin, and he changed the medication for those in severe pain to control-released pain medicines, which he described as less harmful, with a lower potential for abuse.

“That’s the standard of care recommended across the board,” Whitten said.

Personnel at MedTech Rehabilitation, a methadone clinic in Hempfield, said the number of their potential clients rose by at least 10 percent the first week after Cawog’s arrest, although they could not directly link the increase to the doctor.

Joanne Bergquist, executive director of the Westmoreland Medical Society, said physicians are not required to accept patients, and most doctors dispense pain medicine sparingly.

“It’s really just seeing if they can find people willing to see them,” she said. “The majority of doctors don’t like to prescribe painkillers unless it’s absolutely necessary.”

Bergquist said another complication is that there aren’t enough doctors in the area. Some left for other states to avoid high premiums for medical malpractice insurance, she said.

“Physicians can only see so many patients, and we’ve lost physicians across the state to elsewhere. The sheer number of patients remain, but not the doctors,” Bergquist said.

“Unfortunately, if a doctor could see more patients, he would, but many times he’s already at maximum. I don’t have a solution for it. I don’t have a recommendation (for people unable to find a physician).”

Stacy Kriedeman, state health department spokeswoman, said she has no solution for the former Cawog patients having trouble finding a doctor, except to keep trying or contact their local medical society.

Cawog’s attorney, Tim McCormick, didn’t return phone calls seeking comment.

Local and state authorities allege that some of the transactions involving Cawog, a native of Syria who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1980, included him driving to rendezvous spots, sometimes in his Cadillac Escalade.

Other prescription exchanges occurred inside Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital in Greensburg, where Cawog formerly was on staff, police said. Money orders allegedly were sent to his home for prescriptions, or people did work at his residence in exchange for prescriptions.

Federal authorities have charged Cawog with money laundering. He is accused of sending $275,000 to a bank in Lebanon with the intent of “concealment of assets in connection with a bankruptcy case,” according to court papers.

Records with the state Board of Medicine show that Cawog’s medical license came into question in 1994 after he pleaded guilty in 1991 to one count of filing a false income tax return, a felony.

Cawog, who told examiners that he was unfamiliar with the income tax laws and procedures, had his medical license suspended for 18 months, but that decision was stayed because Cawog met the terms of his federal court sentence, according to the licensing board’s ruling.

—–

To see more of the Tribune-Review or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribunereview/.

Copyright (c) 2008, Tribune-Review, Greensburg, Pa.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

By SerVaas, Cory Braun, Wendy

“If you don’t think every day is a good day, just try missing one.”-Cavett Robert Glaucoma and Central Corneal Thickness

Dear Dr. SerVaas,

I was diagnosed with glaucoma about three years ago at age 65. Only last month was my corneal thickness measured. It was discovered to be thin, which necessitated adding four points to my eye pressure for a more accurate reading. What are the ramifications of thin corneas for my future eyesight? How is the thickness of the cornea related to glaucoma?

Any other pertinent information would be appreciated.

Wilma Harp

Selah, Washington

In people with glaucoma, a buildup of aqueous humor fluid damages the optic nerve and threatens vision. Laser and non-laser surgery help drain away fluid or slow its production.

Glaucoma expert Darrell WuDunn, M.D., Ph.D., at Indiana University School of Medicine responds:

“Having a thin central cornea does have some ramifications for glaucoma. Persons with thinner corneas have a higher risk of developing glaucoma when the eye pressures are elevated. There has also been some speculation that a thin central cornea thickness may reflect a thin back wall of the eye and thus an increased susceptibility of the optic nerve to elevated eye pressure. However, this has not yet been well studied.

“Conventional devices for measuring eye pressure tend to underestimate the true pressure in eyes with thin central corneal thickness. As a result, the doctor and patient may be under a false sense of security if the eye pressure seems to be in a good range. However, close, regular monitoring of the optic nerve and visual fields will help determine if the eye pressure control has been adequate, regardless of the corneal thickness.”

There are many types of eye drops that ophthalmologists may prescribe to help reduce or stabilize internal ocular (eye) pressure. If drops don’t work adequately, surgical procedures may further lower ocular pressure by draining away excess eye fluid. Laser surgery is an option. In laser trabeculoplasty (and a newer procedure called selective laser trabeculoplasty), ophthalmic surgeons direct a beam of light at the eye’s drainage system. Other laser therapies target the colored area of the eye or the ciliary body that produces eye fluid (see picture above). Laser procedures for glaucoma are usually painless and performed in an ophthalmic surgeon’s office or hospital.

Blood Donation

Dear Dr. SerVaas,

After I gave blood at a local drive, I received a letter saying that they had “Identified a red cell antibody called antl-big-K (KeIl).” The letter added that having the antibody had no bearing on my health, but may be important in the event I required a blood transfusion. Could you explain what anti-big-K (KeIl) is and how one contracts it? Does it ever go away? I was asked not to donate blood in the future.

Vera Arthur

Winters, California

We sent your letter to Dr. Christopher D. Hillyer, director of the Emory Center for Transfusion and Cellular Therapies in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Hillyer, who is also a professor at Emory University School of Medicine and editor of several textbooks on transfusion medicine, comments:

“Red blood cells, or erythrocytes, have many interesting and different molecules on their cell surface. Referred to as blood group antigens, these molecules are determined by our genetic makeup. The most familiar blood group antigens are A, B, and O. People with Type A blood have the A antigen and those with Type B blood have the B antigen-again based on their genes.

“You ask about the K antigen, which is also called KeIl. There are more than 20 different KeIl molecules with names such as big-K and little-K. When someone who does not have K on her red blood cells is exposed to the K antigen, her body ‘sees’ the K antigen as a foreign molecule and responds by producing an antibody.

“You were told you have anti-blg-K, an antibody directed at big- K molecules. This raises the question of how or when you were exposed to red blood cells with the K antigen. Typically, this type of exposure happens through transfusion. It may also occur during pregnancy or delivery when the baby inherits the K gene from the father.

“Therefore, making antl-K Is a normal response in some circumstances and does not cause harm. The antibody may go away on Its own accord, but knowing whether it Is (or was) present is important when considering future transfusion, transplant, or pregnancy. Fortunately, the risk of medical issues In these situations is low and quite readily managed.

“Finally, there is no regulation against a person with antl-K donating blood. Some community blood programs, however, may choose to not accept the donation because of concern that transfusing the antl-K might lead to some (likely minor) complication in a specific recipient.”

Give blood whenever possible. One unit could help save multiple lives. For local donation sites, visit aabb.org.

Seeing Flashes After Eye Surgery

Dear Dr. SerVaas,

After cataract surgery on both eyes, I began to see flashes of light with the left eye. usually only once every day or two. My ophthalmologist could not find any problem with the retina, and since his exam I only see much smaller flashes. Do you have any suggestions as to what is causing these flashes? My optician says it is not due to my glasses.

Mrs. L. Myers

Tampa, Florida

You were right to follow up with your eye specialist. New Orleans ophthalmologist Monica L. Monica, M.D., Ph.D., a clinical correspondent for the American Academy of Ophthalmology, offers the following information:

“Seeing flashes of light is common after cataract surgery. The problem is due to a separation or pull on the gel-like material inside the eye called the vitreous. When disturbed by the ‘trauma’ of cataract surgery, the vitreous may pull on the retina and stimulate flashes of light. Flashing tends to calm down over a period of days to weeks. For most people, it is resolved within about one week after surgery. If not, a more significant separation or pull may exist, and the retina should be checked.”

As explained above, seeing flashes of light after cataract surgery may be part of the normal recovery process. It also may signal a serious complication. Ophthalmic surgeons advise their patients to report sudden vision changes right away.

Lichen Sclerosus

Dear Dr. SerVaas,

I have consulted several gynecologists regarding a problem called lichen sclerosus. I have also had a biopsy done due to constant vulvar burning. Pills and creams do not seem to work. I would appreciate any information on this problem and what might be done to help it.

Mrs. M. Larson

Tinley Park, Illinois

We suggest that you might consider seeking the opinion of a dermatologist with special interest in lichen sclerosus, a long- term problem of the skin. Strong cortisone creams are considered first-line therapy. For hard-to-treat cases, retinoids (vitamin A- like drugs) and tacrolimus ointment may be of benefit. In initial stages, small white spots appear on the skin. The spots later grow into patches that usually itch and sometimes burn or scar. Lichen sclerosus is not contagious. Ongoing research suggests that genes, hormones, and an overactive immune system may play a role in its development. To find a local dermatologist, contact the American Academy of Dermatology by phone (866-503-7546) or computer (www.aad.org).

Help for Pelvic Floor Problems

Dear Dr. SerVaas,

I have a pelvic floor muscle injury that occurred in January of 2006. I continue with my struggle to locate a physician who understands my particular injury. My hope is that you or one of your many readers will know of a facility that specializes in pelvic floor muscle injuries. Thank you for any help.

Nancy Bell

Roopville, Georgia

Left untreated, women with injuries to pelvic floor muscles often experience musculoskeletal pain and urinary problems. Dr. Colleen M. Fitzgerald, chief of staff and medical director for the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago’s Women’s Health Rehabilitation Program, provides the following advice:

“I am sorry to hear about your pelvic floor muscle injury, especially since you have been suffering with your pain for so long. No matter where you are in your treatment course, I can assure you that you are not alone. A recent study Indicated that one in three women has a pelvic floor disorder.

“Despite the numbers, the pelvic floor musculature Is often a ‘forgotten’ entity. Many women with pelvic floor pain and weakness are often led to believe that this is an acceptable course of femininity. Most physicians are not trained in assessing the pelvic floor, so related problems remain hidden. Women, if educated at all about them, are told that they should do Kegel exercises. Ironically, only half the women who are told to do this have any Idea how to do Kegels, and, In the setting of pain or injury, this may be the wrong advice.

“Please be reassured that there is help out there. I would advise seeking out a physlatrist-a physician who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation-who can diagnose your specific problem and prescribe a course of physical therapy, exercise, and treatments that may include injections or, in some cases, medication. Consulting someone who specializes In pelvic floor assessment and rehabilitation can help you relieve pain and regain inner strength. Best wishes.” She Needs Help for Heel Pain

Dear Dr. SerVaas,

I have had heel spurs for two years. Cortisone shots, ultrasound treatment, and arch supports have offered little or no relief from the pain. I have also used heel lifts, cold gel, and every imaginable exercise for stretching and (supposedly) healing. Surgery has been suggested, but I doubt that would help.

Just a small amount of walking can cause pain, sometimes to the point of nausea. I try to stay within my appropriate weight for my height. Is there anyone who can give me some ideas of how they dealt successfully with this pain?

Edith M. Wubben

Arlington, Virginia

We will explore the research and seek expert recommendations about heel spurs that defy conventional treatment. Perhaps Post readers can help, too. A preliminary Internet search turned up a product called EZorb Calcium that claims to help heel pain. However, a review of the medical literature reveals no published studies on the product. Interested computer users may search for EZorb or visit www.elixirindustry.com/heelspurs.htm.

Heel spurs commonly form where the plantar fascia attaches to the calcaneus (heel) bone.

HDL and Omega-Ss: The “Good” Fats

Dear Dr. SerVaas,

In the Jan. /Feb. 2008 copy of The Saturday Evening Post, you wrote about fish oil supplements and triglycerides. I was wondering what omega-3s do for HDL cholesterol. Is there anything that will raise the HDL besides exercise? Also, my husband says that fish oil supplements help his knee joints.

Walona Ulrich

Clear Lake, Wisconsin

While regular exercise is key, experts agree that dietary changes can also help raise levels of HDL, the “good” cholesterol. Current recommendations include:

* Replace dietary trans fats with monounsaturated fats such as canola, peanut, or olive oil. Fats in peanut butter, for example, may increase HDL. Trans fats reduce “good” cholesterol.

* Eat at least two daily servings of soluble fiber found in oats, fruits, vegetables, and legumes.

* Consume omega-3s from foods and supplements. Fish oil may have a positive, but modest, effect on HDL in addition to lowering LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.

Emerging research confirms that omega-3s promote heart, joint, and mental health. For more on the beneficial fats, see Ted Kreiter’s interview with Harvard-educated Dr. Carol Locke on page 28.

Gesundheit

Dear Dr. SerVaas,

My nose runs whenever I eat. Also, I sneeze at least five but no more than nine times in a row. I’ve never found an explanation. Will you help me?

Dorm Ashcroft

Fremont, Michigan

We suspect that our genes determine the variety of ways that people sneeze-as well as what causes one. Pepper, cold air, and dust make most of us sneeze. Looking at bright light triggers a sneeze in about 30 percent of the population.

People who get a runny nose when they eat may have a condition that doctors call gustatory rhinitis. According to The Merck Manual of Geriatrics, this problem may be linked to nerve fibers in the nose that overreact to eating foods (especially cold, heated, or spicy ones). The exaggerated response makes blood vessels dilate, or widen, and produces a watery nasal discharge. In general, ipratropium bromide nasal spray may help relieve gustatory rhinitis. It is only available by prescription.

Check Labels for Vitamin K

Dear Dr. SerVaas,

In answer to Alan Timm’s inquiry in the March/April issue about multivitamins without K, I have a suggestion. Go to a health food/ supplement store and explain your needs. Ask about the prices. These products come in a range of prices, so be careful not to spend too much. I went to a GNC store and found a brand that is easy to take and not expensive.

Zelda Cooke Wilson

Dahlonega, Georgia

Dear Dr. SerVaas,

In response to the letter in the March/April issue, I have been getting vitamins without vitamin K at a CVS pharmacy and convenience store for a number of years. It is necessary to check the various forms.

Joan Artz

Beacon, New York

Tart and Tangy

Dear Dr. SerVaas,

I’ve enjoyed things that tasted sour since I was a kid. Now I’m 86 years old and come and go as I please. My wife has a fit when I drink pickle juice left in the jar. Is there anything that is not good for me in pickles and their juice?

I have a pacemaker and had open-heart surgery and a stroke in 1993.

Harold Gilbert

Dans ville, New York

An occasional pickle or sip of pickle juice seems safe. Check the label on the jar for sodium content. In general, doctors advise their heart patients that eating too many salty foods may cause fluid retention and contribute to puffy eyes, swollen ankles, or high blood pressure. When we have a taste for something sour, we opt for a three-bean or spinach salad with vinegar dressing. A summertime favorite is sliced cucumbers served with vinegar and pepper.

Hard to Swallow

Dear Dr. SerVaas,

For years I was told I had acid reflux, but a recent motility study showed that my esophagus is not working. Two prescribed medicines provided no relief. The one thing that does help is to lay down flat shortly after the pain begins. I can get up after about 30 minutes, and the symptoms will not return. Eating smaller meals also helps but is no guarantee. Hopefully someone out there has discovered something to ease the discomfort. Thank you.

Barbara Gerriets

Topeka, Kansas

We hope other readers will offer some helpful suggestions for you. A properly functioning esophagus moves food from the mouth to the stomach in a synchronized series of muscle contractions. When this process fails, swallowed food may remain in the esophagus for extended periods-a condition that gastroenterologists call achalasia. Characteristic symptoms of the disorder include difficulty swallowing, heartburn, weight loss, and chest pain.

Treatment options include oral medicines, botulism toxin injection, and balloon dilation to improve esophageal emptying. Surgery to cut the muscle between the stomach and esophagus may be recommended in some cases. The cause of achalasia is not yet understood. Some researchers believe a virus is to blame.

Microwave Cooking Preserves Nutrients

Dear Dr. SerVaas,

Recently, I heard brief remarks on television cooking shows to the effect that heating foods in a microwave oven destroys much of the food’s nutritional value. I am trying to find someone who will research the facts and report the truth. Can you help me with this?

I have always cooked in large quantities and then frozen the leftovers in meal-size containers. So many of our meals are wanned in the microwave. I need an answer on this.

Margaret Roth

Fort Way ne, Indiana

Registered dietician, nutrition consultant, and author Colleen Pierre reports the following:

“Microwave rumors abound, but this one is pretty surprising. Although there isn’t an abundance of research, what exists is pretty clear: microwave cooking is one of the best ways to preserve the nutrients in vegetables-probably because you cook them so quickly without boiling the water-soluble vitamins into the cooking water. In one recent study, for instance, boiled broccoli lost 34 percent of its vitamin C and steamed broccoli lost 22 percent. In addition, both cooking methods destroyed an antioxidant called sulforaphane that appears to fight cancer, especially breast cancer. Meanwhile, broccoli cooked by microwave or pressure cooker retained more than 90 percent of its vitamin C and all of its sulforaphane.

In another study, stir-frying and microwaving preserved the most flavonoids (another health-protective antioxidant) in nine different vegetables, while boiling and stewing lost the most.

It’s possible the TV hosts were comparing cooked and raw vegetables. But even then, many nutrients such as beta carotene and other antioxidants become more available when vegetables are lightly cooked. You can relax and continue to reheat your food in the microwave, knowing you’re getting the most nutrients possible.”

Persistent Perspiration

Dear Dr. SerVaas,

For the past five or six years, my mother has had sweating episodes during which she perspires across her upper back, shoulders, chest, and the crooks of her arms. She becomes chilled and quite uncomfortable. The problem only happens when the weather is cold. It starts around noon and lasts until 7:00 or 8:00 pm. She wears compression hose and takes medicines, as her blood pressure has been fluctuating. I would appreciate any feedback you might provide.

Jeannette Snyder

Virginia Beach, Virginia

It is interesting to note that she has sweating episodes as well as blood pressure problems. Both body functions are controlled by the autonomic nervous system, a part of the nervous system that also regulates heart rate, digestion, bladder and bowel emptying, and blood flow to the arms and legs. Autonomie testing can help neurologists detect whether this part of the nervous system is under- or overactive. In general, autonomie function testing laboratories are located at major medical centers,

Readers may send their letters to Medical Mailbox, 1100 Waterway Blvd., Indianapolis, IN 46202. Please include mailing address. Via e- mail: [email protected].

by Cory SerVaas M.D. & Wendy Braun, R.N., B.S.N.

Copyright Benjamin Franklin Literary & Medical Society Jul/Aug 2008

(c) 2008 Saturday Evening Post, The. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

By SHARON K GHAG

Spam, that fabulous find of the ’30s and ’40s, is enjoying renewed popularity because of tough economic times.

This touted “Miracle Meat of a Million Uses” can be used in sandwiches, salads, mac and cheese; with eggs; skewered with pineapple chunks or vegetables and grilled; in casseroles; sliced, diced, baked or fried; and in soups and stir-fries.

There’s classic Spam in a can. Other varieties of Spam include oven-roasted turkey, with cheese, with bacon, hickory smoke flavored, hot and spicy, “lite,” low-sodium … the list goes on.

Memories of Spam take many people back to their childhood.

Oakdale, Calif., native Dallas Brunetti enjoyed “hot-dog surprise” as a youngster.

“I first remember Mom fixing these in the late ’50s. I didn’t know at the time that we were in hard times like everyone else around us,” she said. “I remember these being a real treat to have.”

Some get nostalgic for the sweet-and-salty taste of Spam and peaches cooked over an open fire after a hard day of hiking as part of a Boy Scout troop, while others remember the taste of their mom’s Spam loaf glazed with brown sugar and stuffed with half rings of pineapple.

Ethel Hall, 85, of Waterford, Calif., may be one of the reasons Spam is nearly an institution.

“We had fried eggs and Spam for breakfast,” she said of eating the product in the mid-1940s. “Spam sandwiches for lunch. Best of all, I think, was Spam for dinner. I spread the meat with mustard, covered it with brown sugar and baked it, serving with potatoes and salad.”

For others still, Spam brings back memories of wartime hardships.

“You use it to survive,” recalled Lois Alldrin of Ripon, Calif., who turns up her nose at the mere mention of Spam. “Everything was rationed. You couldn’t buy meat unless you had a coupon. We used a lot of Spam. I know the servicemen ate a lot of Spam.”

Spam gained popularity from its role during World War II, when Hormel provided 15 million cans of luncheon meat to troops every week.

Nancy Cline of Modesto, Calif., recalled those times. “People got so tired of Spam during the war [including the GIs] that it became a bad word.”

These days, more than 122 million cans of Spam are sold worldwide each year, according to Hormel. The luncheon meat is distributed in 41 countries.

In Asia, Spam is the darling at mealtime.

“South Koreans are the biggest consumers of Spam in the Asia/ Pacific, with Japanese and Filipinos coming in at second and third, respectively,” according to an article in the Eatz! section of a July 2006 issue of Asian Week. “In South Korea, Spam is seen as an upscale food and a nice hostess gift. Some Japanese eat Spam every day, and in the Philippines, Spam is a household product.”

But nowhere is Spam more loved than in Hawaii.

Says Hormel: “Hawaii has the highest consumption per capita for Spam, where it is available in restaurants, convenience stores and as a staple in nearly every kitchen pantry.”

**********

Hot Dog Surprise

1 can Spam

1 cup cheddar cheese

1 large dill pickle

White or yellow onion (optional)

Mayonnaise, to taste

Hot dog buns (do NOT substitute bread)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grate first four ingredients into a large bowl. Stir in enough mayonnaise to coat ingredients well. Spoon into buns. Wrap each bun in aluminum foil. Put these inside a covered lid roasting pan and bake for about 20 minutes or until cheese is melted.

**********

Spam Loaf Hawaiian

2 cans Spam

Mustard, to taste

1 can pineapple rings

Brown sugar, to taste

Cut four slits in each loaf of Spam, but not all the way through. Spread a little mustard inside the slits, then put a half ring of pineapple in each slit. Sprinkle brown sugar on top and bake in a 350-degree oven until it is hot and the sugar gets glazed, about 15 to 20 minutes. Slice it so that each serving has a slice of the pineapple.

**********

Luncheon Meat Chili

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 garlic clove, minced

2 tablespoons fat

1/2 cup chopped green pepper

1 12-ounce can Spam, chopped

1 No. 2 can kidney beans

1 1/2 cups canned tomatoes

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/8 teaspoon pepper

Saute onion and garlic in fat. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 30 minutes.

**********

Spam with Pork ‘n’ Beans

2 cans pork and beans

1 medium onion, diced

1/3 bell pepper, diced

2 tablespoons brown sugar

1 can Spam

Pour both cans of pork and beans into a 9-by-12-inch glass baking dish.

Saute the onion and bell pepper in oiled frying pan, then add to beans. Add brown sugar. Slice the Spam into 12 long pieces (very thin).

Brown in the frying pan, then lay in two rows on top of the beans.

Bake in a 350 degrees oven for 30 to 40 minutes.

**********

Spamtastick

1 tablespoon oil

1 can Spam, diced

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 20-ounce can pineapple slices

Red maraschino cherries, drained and halved

1 box pineapple cake mix, mixed according to package ingredients

Whipped topping

Mint leaves

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Heat oil in skillet and saute Spam. Drain on paper towel. Melt butter in 9-by-13-inch pan. Sprinkle Spam and sugar evenly in pan, top with pineapple slices. Place cherries cut side up in center of pineapple slices. Prepare cake mix according to package directions and pour batter evenly in pan. Bake 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean. Cool five minutes, then invert cake. Top slices with whipped topping and mint.

**********

Spam Dinner

2 tablespoons canola oil

1/4 medium onion, finely chopped

1 can Spam, cut into 1/4-inch squares

2 tablespoons flour

1 tablespoon crushed chili powder (optional)

1/4 can (small) tomato sauce

3/4 cup water

1 dozen soft tortillas

Heat oil in frying pan over medium-high heat. Saute onion until translucent. Add Spam, stirring frequently to heat evenly. Sprinkle the 2 tablespoons flour over the Spam. Add chili powder, if desired.

Stir in tomato sauce, stirring well to incorporate. Add water and bring to a full boil. Turn down heat and simmer for three to five minutes.

Serve with refried beans or heat tortillas and place 3 tablespoons of filling in the center of each tortilla before folding it into a burrito.

You can also add a scrambled egg or refried beans to the tortilla. Do not add salt and pepper.

Prashant Rupera & Tushar Tere

VADODARA/AHMEDABAD: The lure of a rave party was irresistible for Neelam Shah (name changed), a schoolgirl from Vadodara. It was a ‘cool’ thing to do, she was told by her friends. But once there, she got high on drugs and

liquor and ended up having sex with a friend. When the high wore off, she went into a depression.

Psychiatrists have sounded an alarm over increasing number of minor girls landing up at rave parties and indulging in sex and drugs even before they step out of school.

Psychiatrist Yogesh Patel, who runs a de-addiction centre in Vadodara, says: “In the past fortnight, I have come across three cases from Vadodara and one from Ahmedabad of minor girls suddenly being exposed to drugs and sexual abuse at rave parties.”

The girls have told him the parties are organised by adults from neo-rich families. They were lured by promises of careers in modelling and Bollywood by men claiming to have contacts in the glamour industry. Patel has also alerted Vadodara police commissioner Rakesh Asthana about the new trend. “It is a sensitive matter. We are looking for more details,” Asthana told TOI.

In the last case, the girl’s music teacher took her to a private party near Umeta Bridge where she was exposed to certain chemicals.

TOI spoke to a 25-year-old girl in Vadodara who comes to Ahmedabad to attend raves. On condition of anonymity, she said: “Schoolgirls turn up at raves out of curiosity and often get hooked on. For any first-timer, the free-flowing drugs and liquor can be a shocker. Many of them end up in bed after a high.”

“I had treated a schoolgirl who attended a rave party without informing her parents. After ending up in bed with a friend, she was guilty and depressed and then came to me,” says psychiatrist Dr Sandeep Shah.

“I’ve treated six schoolchildren, four of them girls, hooked to deadly drugs after going to a rave party. The girls took ‘Ecstasy’ tablets, after which they started physical relations with boys,” says Ahmedabad-based doctor Vishwamohan Thakur, who runs a private de-addiction centre.

Inputs by Ankur Jain

(c) 2008 The Times of India. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

By Rob Rogers, The Marin Independent Journal, Novato, Calif.

Jul. 12–Marin’s health care network will continue providing adequate coverage for residents for the next 20 years, even if Marin General Hospital closes its doors, a county consultant says.

But Marin’s doctors and leaders should do more to improve efficiency and prevent long-term illness and injuries, according to the latest report by the Abaris Group, a consultant hired by the county to assess Marin’s health needs.

“We have guarded optimism that Marin General will have a successful journey to the future and we are very committed to that,” said Larry Meredith, director of the county Department of Health and Human Services. “But just because we’re in relatively good shape doesn’t mean we’re in good shape. We want to drive down the use of expensive acute care environments and look at home care and community alternatives that by and large are associated with an improved quality of life.

“That’s not to say we don’t need institutions,” Meredith said. “But we want them to be the alternative of last resort.”

The consultant will host a series of meetings throughout Marin next week to discuss its latest report on the county’s “health care safety net,” which it released Thursday. Abaris released a preliminary version of the report in February, and is currently preparing a final version.

The report “helps make sure we have a good understanding of and further informs our planning for the future of health care, helping us to deal with issues like

the future of Marin General Hospital,” said County Administrator Matthew Hymel.

The consultant defines the “safety net” as that part of the county’s health network which cares for under-insured or uninsured residents. Those residents make up as much as 38.7 percent of Marin’s population, according to the report — and that number is expected to increase as the county’s population ages.

About 67 percent of patients covered by the “safety net” were treated at Marin General Hospital in 2006, according to the consultant’s February report. The closure of Marin General Hospital would cost the county 235 beds, a significant number even if other hospitals — such as Novato Community — expands, the report says.

“When we started the report, there was no transition plan in place between the health department and Sutter Health,” said Mike Williams, principal consultant for the Abaris Group. “Most of our preliminary recommendations to the Board of Supervisors, such as extending the lease (for Marin General) were agreed to. But we don’t have recommendations about hospital services expanding for the network.”

Under-insured and uninsured residents will be among the primary clientele of the new, $60 million Marin Health and Wellness Campus, scheduled to open in the fall.

Residents receiving employer-based insurance will fall by 34.6 percent and those dependent on Medicare will rise, the report predicts. By 2025, Medicare will cover one quarter of Marin’s residents, the report says.

The report recommends efforts to prevent chronic diseases and accidents, such as heart disease and falls; finding better ways to serve frequent users of emergency services; creating better links between clinics and hospital emergency departments; and expanding surgery options for under-insured and uninsured residents.

Contact Rob Rogers via e-mail at [email protected]

The Abaris Group will host a discussion of its report on the county’s health care at the following times and locations:

10 a.m. Monday at the Hill Community Room, 1560 Hill Road in Novato; 1:30 p.m. Monday at the Marguerita C. Johnson Senior Center, 640 Drake Ave. in Marin City; 3:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Pickleweed Park Multipurpose Room, 50 Canal St. in San Rafael; 6 p.m. Wednesday at the San Rafael City Hall, 1400 5th Ave.; and 11:30 a.m. Thursday at the Dance Palace, 503 B St. in Point Reyes Station.

Copies of the report are available on the Web at www.abarisgroup.com. For more information, call (888) 367-0911.

—–

To see more of The Marin Independent Journal or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.marinij.com/.

Copyright (c) 2008, The Marin Independent Journal, Novato, Calif.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

BUDDING casualty doctors have been put to the test with the first emergency medicine exams staged in Cardiff.

More than 200 medics were put through their paces with practical sessions on diagnosing and treating cases aimed at identifying the best young medics for accident and emergency work.

Dr Jo Mower, consultant in emergency medicine in Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, which organised the event, said: “It’s a real coup for Cardiff.

“There were 200 candidates and 64 examiners from across Britain, including colleagues from the University Hospital of Wales Department of Emergency Medicine. Lots of people within the Trust made this a success, including medical students who gave their time to assist, as well as nurses, medical students, post-graduates and actors.”

Peter Driscoll, Dean of the College of Emergency Medicine, described the success as a “great first for Cardiff” and thanked Dr Mower for organising the event over the past 18 months.

He said: “The examaims to identify new trainees for the new speciality of emergency medicine.

“The development of the speciality has been given key importance by the Government to improve patient care and I anticipate further exams will be held in Cardiff.”

(c) 2008 South Wales Echo. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

By Sawsan Kazak, Kuwait Times

Jul. 12–One experience that truly brings me joy is when I get a massage. A sense of relaxation sweeps over me during a massage that is overwhelming. Every muscle in my body loosens and turns to butter and my nerves seem to fall asleep temporarily. I feel serene and at peace, hoping the massage would last forever. The enduring feeling of light euphoria that follows a few hours after the rubdown is quite refreshing; giving you the illusion that you can deal with anything that comes your way.

Sadly, since moving to Kuwait I have not been able to get to that level of relaxation. I have yet to find a masseuse that gives good relaxing massages. Most massage salons are too expensive and the massages are not professional, others are reasonably priced yet the massage leaves me in pain and not at all relaxed. For these reasons, I vowed off massages in Kuwait and get them whenever I’m on vacation or business trips. My friend convinced me to give it one more try last week at a salon in Hawally. I love m assages so much that I was lured in and agreed to give a try; a final time.

Unfortunately, this massage was not only bad, but the worst I have received, ever. It was the most uncomfortable and downright annoying massages that I have experienced. Let me count the so-many-ways this massage went horribly wrong. Hello, is anybody there?

Upon walking into the salon, the staff looked at us in sheer amazement. They did not seem accustomed to receiving customers, and they clearly weren’t expecting us. They led us to the ‘secretary’ and we informed her that we had indeed made an appointment. She just stood there and gave us this blank stare. It didn’t take us long to realize that this salon didn’t even maintain an appointment register. With the blank stare still plastered on the secretary’s face, we explained the kind of services we required. After a few repetitions, in Arabic as well as English, she gradually seemed to comprehend. What we weren’t informed, however, was that they had only one massage room, meaning we both had to wait our turns to get our massages.

I decided to go first, so the nice lady led me to the changing room. I changed, placed myself on the massage table and waited…and then I waited some more. After what seemed a good fifteen minutes had passed, my masseuse entered the room. She switched on the lights and began preparing for the massage. After a full five minutes of hovering around behind me, she finally announced: “Okay, we will start the massage now,” and proceeded to leave the room. Baffled, I lay there waiting for something to happen.

Shhhhhhhh, I’m trying to relax!

The massage began and I tried to forget everything that had previously taken place. I closed my eyes, pictured myself lying on a white sandy beach and began to relax. That’s when I heard a booming voice: “So, how long have you been in Kuwait?” I answered that question and about 20 others concerning my life, nationality, hopes, dreams, aspirations and plans for the future. I answered each question with just one word and with a tone that clearly indicated irritation. The questions didn’t stop until I was fli pped over and my face was almost smothered in a towel. At that point I told her that I couldn’t hear her and could no longer answer her questions.

This may sound completely self-centered, but when I get a massage I usually like it to be relatively quiet. I don’t think that it is the appropriate time to be interviewed by the masseuse. I felt as though I was applying for a job or enrolled in a speed dating service. It’s like talking to someone who is trying to sleep; it’s just plain inconsiderate. I don’t want to use my brain at this time, and you can’t make me.

That belongs in the kitchen

Most massages I have received so far are done with massage oils that are either unscented or infused with pleasant soothing scents like lavender, lemon or ginger. However, the oil of choice at this particular salon was apparently olive oil. Yes, that’s right! The same oil that you usually cook with, was used on my body for massage purposes. Sadly, it didn’t even smell pleasant. It appeared to be of a cheap knockdown quality that smelled somewhere between vegetable oil and cut grass. I felt as though I was getting a rubdown with last week’s leftover salad dressing. I was so disgusted, that I next expected her to shred some feta cheese in my hair, sprinkle some salt on my hands and legs and pass it off as a massage.

It doesn’t hurt there

While we are on the topic of inappropriate behavior, I should mention that some of the areas that were massaged were not at all suitable for a rubdown. For example, the masseuse concentrated on some body parts that don’t really require that much attention. My belly button, wrists, armpits, ankles and belly are but a few of the uselessly massaged areas.

I can assure you that I have never uttered the words: “Wow, my belly button really hurts, I’m really stressed down there, I need to go and get all that massaged.” All that only annoyed me further and prevented me from relaxing. I kept calculating how much time these useless maneuvers were taking from my precious one hour session. I contemplated jumping off the table and screaming: “Really? Do you feel stress in your armpits?” But I held on to the hope that it would eventually get better, so I kept my mouth shut and concentrated on relaxing instead.

That was fast

I certainly did not want the massage to go on any longer than the scheduled hour although I definitely wanted to get my money’s worth. And that is when I was completely shocked when I heard her say the massage was over after only about 40 minutes. I know this for sure, because I have received so many massages in my life that I have the capability of mentally determining how long the massage lasted (it’s one of my hidden talents). I guess she ran out of small talk and figured it was high time she ran out on the massage time too; before she got bored.

It now hurts even more

I was seething; having paid for something I could have done myself with my own kitchen ingredients, and this stressed me out. This particular massage turned out to be exactly opposite of what it was supposed to do; Relax and soothe me! I was very annoyed that I had such a bad experience, I was so mad that it lasted just about half the scheduled time and I was extremely upset that I now had olive oil running down my hair and had to go to work.

Word to the wise: Be wary of places that hand out coupons or those that get their massage equipment from their lunch boxes. Most importantly, if the staff is surprised to see you at their doorstep; don’t just be worried, panic!

Email: [email protected]

—–

To see more of The Kuwait Times or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.kuwaittimes.net/.

Copyright (c) 2008, Kuwait Times

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

A California gynecologist is facing three years behind bars for sexually assaulting a teenage girl during what he claimed was an exam, officials say.

Anthony Lee, 64, of Villa Park, Calif., pleaded guilty to felony charges of sexual battery by fraud, first-degree residential burglary for going into the victim’s home to sexually assault her and lewd acts on child, the Los Angeles Times reported.

He was ordered Friday to spend three years in prison and had his medical license taken away, the Orange County district attorney’s office said. He also is required to register as a sex offender, the newspaper said.

Lee, a friend of the 16-year-old girl’s relatives, arrived at her home in March 2006, saying he was visiting to advise the girl on birth control and give her a medical consultation.

He then went into the girl’s bedroom, where he fondled her breasts, kissed her, asked her to make sexual poses and digitally penetrated her, the Times said.

By Bill Johnson

She is upstairs, lying fast asleep on the king-sized bed, a completely still, tiny bump beneath the sea of blankets, from which only her head swathed in a purple floral scarf is visible.

Pretty much all she does is sleep now, this young woman about whom so many are talking, their voices dripping with heartache on the telephone, their words filled with despair in e-mails.

Downstairs, 72-year-old Bob Wrapp sits in his chair, one hand still gripping his walking cane, struggling hard to find just the right words.

“Life is never fair,” he finally says, before looking away. “She is such a good kid, always thinking of others. . . .”

He and his wife, Carolyn, 64, have had her for nearly 10 years now. She was a student in Carolyn’s eighth-grade bilingual science class at Lake Middle School when a caseworker kept coming around to chat about the young girl.

Sitting in the living room of their Lakewood home, the Wrapps spell out how they came to this moment and, now, this very uncertain near-future.

The young woman was born in El Salvador 23 years ago, during the height of the guerrilla war there. Her mother, with a chance to flee as a refugee, offered the girl to her father. He declined.

She then promised her half sister regular payments from America if she would take the girl in and put her in school. A deal was struck.

But the girl, their daughter, Bob and Carolyn Wrapp recount, never went to school. The remitted money stayed with the aunt. The girl would be dispatched from the aunt’s dirt-floor hut every day to sweep the sand from rich people’s homes, to climb coconut trees with a machete and feed the fruit to the pigs. When allegations of abuse trickled to the girl’s mother in America, she paid coyotes, human traffickers, to bring her north.

“She waded through rivers, was stuffed into the baggage compartment of buses,” Carolyn Wrapp says. “They ran through the desert just to get here.”

At age 13 and reunited with her mother, more allegations of abuse arose. Social services in Denver pulled her from the home. At age 13, she found herself seated in Carolyn Wrapp’s classroom.

They had hosted foreign-exchange students before. It wasn’t too bad. And besides, their three children were grown and gone. Sure, they finally told the social worker, they would take the girl.

Wary of past abuses by other adults, it would take the girl six months to warm to the couple. Only when Carolyn Wrapp showed more attention to a classmate as she helped them with a science project did the young girl accept her.

“She told me her only wish from the time she was little was to have a pencil and to learn to write,” Carolyn Wrapp said, “that, and to have a mother who is a teacher.”

She now calls Bob and Carolyn Wrapp mom and dad.

She excelled in high school, though forced to learn English on the fly, finally graduating from Green Mountain High School with a 3.8 grade point average.

Scholarships poured in. Bill Ritter, then the Denver district attorney, arranged a job for her at a prestigious law firm.

She enrolled at Metropolitan State College of Denver, garnering still more top grades and academic awards. The young woman who arrived in Denver unable to read or write soon began tutoring other students.

It was not quite spring, and she was working as a nurse’s aide in Aspen when the first fall occurred. She hit her head hard on the ice. With no health insurance, she refused treatment.

Other falls would follow, the last one being a hard fall on concrete steps outside her Carbondale home. She went for tests.

There would be one series, and then more. In May came the diagnosis: cancer of the brain stem, in layman’s terms.

For months, she kept the bad news to herself. Once told, the Wrapps and those who know her and about her – and there are multitudes – have arranged treatment for her, which now includes chemotherapy, and, of course, the daily regimen of pills.

“It’s not good,” Carolyn Wrapp says of the prognosis. “The cancer is growing tentacles. We don’t know where this is going. Nobody does.”

Alicia Valiente smiles when I walk in the room. She is groggy but invites me to sit at the side of the bed.

She waves me off when I inquire about her, as if she knows her parents have already told me the story.

“I’m a fighter,” she said, her head buried in the pillows. “After all these challenges I have faced in my life, I guess I am ready to face this one.”

She spends her waking hours on the computer, chatting with other cancer patients, telling them her story, urging them not to give up.

“You should tell people,” Alicia Valiente says, indicating that I should write it down, “that they should live each day to the fullest, to appreciate the most simple things.

“Now, when I wake up, I like to lay here and listen to the birds.”

Of not telling her parents initially about her cancer, she says she did not want to upset them.

“My mom just recently lost grandma. It was my way of protecting her. They have done so much for me, being with me on this roller coaster since I came here. They need peace.”

She offers her hand when I tell her goodbye. I shake it.

“I think I am an old soul, you know,” Alicia Valiente says as I reach the door. “I don’t want people to know so they will feel sorry for me.

“It just means I think I have the upper hand in coping with and understanding things, in helping people and being there for them.”

I’ll keep to myself what I did when I left the room.

Originally published by Bill Johnson, Rocky Mountain News.

(c) 2008 Rocky Mountain News. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

By DENA POTTER

By Dena Potter

The Associated Press

FREDERICKSBURG

A Virginia mental hospital urged a state human rights committee Friday to reject a lower panel’s findings that it violated the law by holding a mentally ill patient in solitary confinement for 20 years.

The hospital argued the patient should continue existing treatment and remain isolated from others because he is violent.

Western State Hospital’s director argued that a local human rights committee erred in May when it found that the hospital violated laws governing the use of seclusion in the case.

The patient, Cesar Chumil, lives in a dormitory-style room with a separate bathroom and a small outdoor area where he remains separated from other patients. His meals are pushed through a slot in a solid door that remains locked.

Dr. Jack Barber argued that Chumil is so violent that it is safer to keep him in the so-called limited containment suite, calling that the least restrictive way to treat him.

Virginia law outlines when patients can be secluded and restrained and requires those methods be used only in extreme circumstances and for short periods.

The hospital had received permission – a so-called variance – from the state human rights committee to allow a doctor to sign off on Chumil’s seclusion every 24 hours, instead of every four hours.

Barber asked the committee to renew that variance, which expired in September.

But Chumil’s attorney, Nathan Veldhuis, urged the committee to reject the hospital’s request for what he described as effectively a standing order for Chumil’s seclusion.

“There should be no authoritative body that can declare the law not to be the law,” Veldhuis argued.

The committee is expected to rule on both the appeal and the variance on Aug. 1.

Chumil has been in solitary confinement for long periods of time since the 1980s, when he came to Western State Hospital and was diagnosed as paranoid and schizophrenic. Chumil has lived in permanent isolation since 1993.

At that time, Chumil’s family supported the idea of the containment suite, but Veldhuis said they didn’t expect it would last this long.

Despite his living arrangements, Chumil has been allowed numerous trips with his family to local parks, his favorite restaurants and Wal-Mart unaccompanied by hospital staff.

The local human rights committee recommended that Chumil be transferred to a facility closer to his family in northern Virginia and that a treatment plan be developed that includes increasing increments of time out of his suite while at Western State, located in Staunton.

medical laws

A lower panel found that a hospital had violated the law by confining and isolating a patient for 20 years. Virginia law says the methods used should be for short periods.

Originally published by BY DENA POTTER.

(c) 2008 Virginian – Pilot. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

By GEORGE B SaNCHEZ

cover story

A clarity arrived with my cancer. * The infinity of time and life that cradles youth slipped away. I discovered my boundaries. The fragility of the body I had once pushed with reckless abandon became obvious. * This is my story of cancer: just mine. Every one is different. Every body is different. I don’t speak for anyone but myself.

I am lucky. Testicular cancer is the most common form of cancer for males between their teenage years and mid-30s. But in the pantheon of cancers, it’s highly curable. In my 29 years, the mortality rates have reversed: The chance of surviving testicular cancer, just 10 percent in the past, is now 95 percent.

When my disease was diagnosed, I started on a very specific path. There were options, each with its own risk, but every decision had a very precise aim: surviving the growth inside my body.

Talkin’ cancer

People always ask, “How did you know?” or “How did you find it?”

Well, I touched myself.

To be specific, I touched my right testicle. How do I explain? To be honest, I must have been getting ready to masturbate. I don’t know. Picture me shrugging my shoulders.

When I tell my male friends, I can see the gears cranking behind their eyeballs.

“What did it feel like?”

“I found a hardened spot, like a sharp edge, on my right testicle.”

This usually prompts them to check themselves – and inform me later that they did so.

The drummer in my old band actually checked himself while we were on the phone. My brother got so concerned that I think he checked himself too often.

My sister asked me what it was like to get stitches in my scrotum. I asked her where she got that idea from. My sister, like most of my friends and family, thought my testicle was removed through my sack.

You can hear the surprise – and relief – when I explain that the surgeon didn’t cut through my scrotum, but removed my testicle through a small incision in my lower abdomen, at the root.

A ton of other questions pop out.

“Can you have sex?” Yes. Oh, yes. A friend from high school, Adrian, went through the same thing – testicular cancer – when he was 18. It was our senior year. He said he was back in the saddle within two weeks. So I vowed to beat his record.

During chemotherapy, the nurses warned me that if I had sex, I had to be careful, because the toxins were in my semen. My oncologist told me that, because of this, survivors generally shouldn’t try to conceive for six months after chemotherapy.

My best friend jokingly snarled later: “You have radio- active sperm.” I suppose I do, er, did.

At the same time, the questions are telling.

More than a few adults – fathers – had trouble asking if I was going to bank my sperm. One asked me if I was “going to save some of my man juice.”

Men asked if I considered getting a prosthetic testicle.

While back home in Los Angeles for Christmas, my family ate at an Italian restaurant we’ve patronized for more than 15 years. My mom told everyone I was a survivor. Our waiter, whom we’ve known for 15 years, too, asked what I survived.

When I said testicular cancer, he was confused. I said it was in my right testicle.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“My balls,” I responded.

“I’ll be right back with your garlic bread,” he said as he stepped away from the table.

Options

When I met my urologist, Dr. Jennifer Peters, she explained that my testicle had to be removed. A biopsy would follow to see if it was cancerous.

With some forms of testicular cancer, removal of the testicle is all that’s necessary. But because of what I had – my tumor was actually composed of two types of cancers: embryonal carcinoma and teratoma – this wouldn’t be the case.

Life was no longer this seemingly endless highway, but a series of small roads. I wouldn’t wake up cured. There wasn’t a magic pill, or treatment, to make it all go away in an afternoon.

Instead of looking at this as a single, massive journey, I recognized it as small steps: test to test, appointment to appointment, day by day, one day at a time.

After my testicle was removed, I had three choices:

A) Undergo a second, invasive surgery to remove the lymph nodes in my lower abdomen, where the cancer was likely to spread.

In plain language, this surgery entailed cutting me open from my belly button to my pelvis, moving my organs on one side and, one by one, removing about 200 grape-size lymph nodes. The surgery would last at least four hours.

Complications could include infection, blood loss and a 5 percent chance that my ejaculatory muscle could be damaged, causing my penis to inject, rather than eject, semen.

B) Begin chemotherapy.

C) Monitor what are called cancer markers through weekly blood tests.

My urologist recommended I have my lymph nodes removed.

I sought second, third, fourth and fifth opinions.

Not long afterward, I met Dr. Fredrick Ahmann, my oncologist.

Dr. Ahmann dresses for work like my dad used to: slacks and a short-sleeve collared shirt with a tie. In some strange way, his ’70s detective style was comforting.

He also puts up with my many, many questions.

The surgery would be intense, he said. Following the removal of my lymph nodes, doctors would perform biopsies of the little glands. If they turned out to be cancerous, after recovering from surgery I would still have to undergo chemotherapy.

That being the case, Dr. Ahmann said, chemotherapy would be no cakewalk.

Uncomfortable with the idea of having a Frankenstein-like torso, I opted for weekly blood tests to monitor the cancer markers. After a confusing two months in which the markers went up and down, the cancer levels rose and it became clear that I needed to undergo chemotherapy.

Months later, Dr. Ahmann would tell me if any of the treatment doses were doubled, it could kill me.

Family

There are certain things no parents should have to endure. Watching their child endure cancer treatment is one.

Family and friends expressed helplessness as they watched me undergo chemotherapy.

It took my father, Bernard, a while to get used to watching me, his young, otherwise healthy son, get connected to a machine, injected with chemicals and see my eyes go from nervous and tense to drugged and dopey.

During the first week of chemotherapy, as I sat in the recliner at the clinic and intravenously received my treatment, I turned to my father and saw anxiety in his eyes, concerned by not knowing and not being able to protect, his fear and confusion apparent.

“What’s up?” I asked.

He grunted something. We grunt.

Then a few minutes later he got up and said he was going to find my mom. He didn’t come back until it was time to go.

I couldn’t blame him.

No father I know likes to show fear. Not to their wives or children, not to their friends or community. That’s not how they were raised.

My dad grew up in a two-room shack in Echo Park, north of downtown Los Angeles. Four generations of Sanchezes had been raised in New Mexico. My father was the first not born on the dusty rancho.

Two days before I began chemotherapy, for the first time in both our lives he’d cried in my arms. It was a shock to both of us, and my mother, who was the only other soul present.

My father and I were arguing. I was about to head out for my last night on the town.

My dad is a scientist. He has a degree in chemistry and criminology and at one point headed the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hazardous Materials Division. More than most, he knows what scientific research says about the effects of drugs and alcohol on the body.

He told me alcohol can spread cancer. I laughed at first and told him he should have told me that a few months earlier.

He begged me not to go out. He asked me to promise that I wouldn’t drink anything. He kept telling me I would only do my body more harm.

Then he burst into tears, sobbing like a child, vulnerable like I’d never seen.

I didn’t know what to do. So I did what he did when I, his first- born son, was a child. I put my arms around him and held him close. I felt his tears soak my T-shirt and told him it would be all right.

“Doing really well”

It has been more than six months since I completed chemotherapy. But thoughts of cancer and chemotherapy don’t seem to fade.

On Memorial Day I was swimming at the Downtown YMCA. I stood up to take a breath and looked out onto the empty pool. The surface was calm and still. Suddenly, the image of shunts and tubes connected to my wrist appeared in my head. Just as quickly as it appeared, the image was gone.

While the scar from my surgery is somewhat hidden under the hair that has returned, when I shower I notice my pubic hair is still thin. It reminds me of being hairless during chemotherapy. I just want the hair to grow back like it was.

A few weeks ago, I went to a barbecue for my friend Paul’s 30th birthday party. Five years ago, he was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Though he still smokes and eats more chili cheeseburgers than he probably should, Paul’s otherwise in fine health.

When I arrived, his father greeted me, asked how I was.

“I’m doing really well. All my tests are clean and I’ve got my hair back,” I said. That’s my typical post-chemo response.

“I’m really glad to hear that,” he said.

Questions continue from friends and family: How are you? Are you done? Are you cured?

A disease was diagnosed and, for the most part, there was a treatment and cure. But for the rest of my life, there will be regular blood tests and CT scans.

I find encouragement in fellow survivors, like Paul. Not the ones with best-selling books, like Lance Armstrong, another survivor of testicular cancer, but those in my daily life.

In every walk of my life, there are survivors. Sources are survivors. Co-workers are survivors. Yoga classmates are survivors. College and high school classmates are survivors.

We’re everywhere, I’ve discovered. So we might as well be honest and talk about it.

TIMELINE

* April 29, 2007: Discovered something hard on my right testicle.

* May 3, 2007: Had my first doctor visit about it.

* May 9, 2007: Had an ultrasound that revealed what looked like a tumor.

* May 15, 2007: Underwent an orchiectomy – my right testicle was removed during outpatient surgery.

* May 17, 2007: Learned the tumor was a mix of two types of cancer: embryonal carcinoma and teratoma.

* July 31, 2007: Decided to undergo chemotherapy, after more than two months of weekly blood tests and two CT scans.

* Aug. 10, 2007: Worked my last day at the Star before I took sick leave to undergo chemotherapy.

* Aug. 13, 2007: Began chemotherapy at the Arizona Cancer Center, 3838 N. Campbell Ave., at Allen Road.

* Oct. 9, 2007: Finished my third and final round of chemotherapy. To celebrate, the nurses blew soap bubbles over me.

* Oct. 11, 2007: Returned to work at the Star.

* June 11, 2008: Marked eight months of being cancer-free.

CANCER SONGS

Music is a key component of my life. When chemotherapy began, my fingers became very swollen and I found myself unable to play my stringed instruments or my accordion. For a short time, I also lost the ability to tune my instruments by ear.

During chemotherapy, I came up with the idea of a Top 10 list of songs to accompany my cancer treatment. I excluded songs with any reference of cancer and specifically looked for upbeat, lyrically positive songs.

Here are a few, in no particular order:

* “El Pajaro Cu,” from “Viejas Canciones para Viejos Amigos” by Francisco Gonzalez.

This is one of my favorite Son Jarocho songs, and this recording, by a beloved friend and musical maestro, makes me smile every time I hear it.

* “Attitude,” from 1983’s “Rock for Light” by Bad Brains.

These are all the words in the song: “Don’t care what they may say/we got that attitude/don’t care what they may do/we got that attitude/Hey/we got the PMA.”

PMA stands for Positive Mental Attitude. The song is barely a minute long.

* “There Is a Light That Never Goes Out,” from 1986’s “The Queen Is Dead” by The Smiths.

Singer Morrissey makes any musical list of mine. Despite a chorus that ponders a horrific automobile accident (or two), this song has always inspired me. The final coda, from which the title is taken, is as upbeat as any pop lyric.

* “The Black and the Red,” from 2003’s “All Rivers Run South, All Roads Lead Home” by One Reason.

I don’t know much about this band, but a friend included this song on a mix CD he sent me during chemotherapy. The first verse, about a half-drunk phone call to a friend in the middle of the night, just about sums up our friendship. The fierce determinism in the simple, bellowed phrase, “This life is what you make it,” is infectious.

* “Search and Destroy,” from 1973’s “Raw Power” by Iggy and the Stooges.

Repeat the first line – “I’m a street-walking cheetah with a heart full of napalm” – and try not to feel fierce. The second (and third) verse opens, “Look out honey ’cause I’m using technology.” I thought that was a good warning to my cancer. Besides, I think the phrase “search and destroy” pretty much sums up the scorched-earth technique that is chemotherapy.

FIVE QUESTIONS WITH DR. FREDRICK AHMANN

1. What is testicular cancer?

Cancer is an uncontrolled growth that usually has the ability to grow into surrounding tissue (invasion) and ultimately spread to other locations in the body (metastasize). Cancers are named based on the normal tissue in the body from which they arise. For testicular cancer, that tissue is the germ cells whose normal function is to produce sperm.

2. How do you get testicular cancer? Who gets it?

We don’t know for certain what the cause of testicular cancer is, but the best interpretation is that some men are born with abnormal testicles and that some of these men can and will develop testicular cancer.

Medical science has identified a few recognized factors associated with a significant risk of developing testicular cancer: being born with an “undescended testicle,” having Klinefelter’s Syndrome (a genetic abnormality), having had a testicular cancer in one testicle, and a family in which multiple males have had the disease (truly rare). Most men who develop testicular cancer do not have one of these recognized risk factors.

3. How is it treated?

(A) surgery, (B) radiotherapy or (C) chemotherapy. Almost all men have their testicle surgically removed even if the cancer already has spread.

4. What are the long-term effects of testicular cancer?

There are long-term effects both from having testicular cancer and from the treatments for the disease.

For example, men with testicular cancer are inherently more likely to have difficulty fathering children. Undergoing surgical treatment also may interfere with a man’s fertility and may cause a lower testosterone level. Similarly, chemotherapy may interfere with a man’s fertility as well as his male hormone level.

In addition, chemotherapy may cause long-term damage to nerves, blood vessels, blood production, hearing, the lungs and the kidneys. Radiation therapy can cause scarring and damage to whatever structures are close to the areas receiving radiation.

5. What can men do to lessen the risk of testicular cancer?

Medical science knows of no way to reduce a man’s risk of developing testicular cancer. The key is to find it as early as possible and informing/educating men that any hard area that appears in their testicles, particularly if it gets larger, should be checked out by a physician.

Dr. Ahmann is a professor of medicine, surgery, hematology/ oncology and urology at the UA College of Medicine. An active medical and cancer researcher, he has been named one of the best doctors in America for prostate and genitourinary malignancies by Best Doctors Inc.

On StarNet: Watch a video of me talking about my cancer experience and making a return visit to the clinic where I was treated: go.azstarnet.com/localvideos.

* Contact reporter George B. Sanchez at [email protected].

Originally published by GEORGE B. SaNCHEZ, ARIZONA DAILY STAR.

(c) 2008 Arizona Daily Star. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

By Delthia Ricks and Kimberley A. Martin, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.

Jul. 12–Jessica Shutovich, 23, of St. James, went under the lamps of a tanning salon twice a week for six years until she noticed skin damage and freckles under her eyes.

Now, unnerved by her family history of skin cancers, she spray tans once every few months — though she’d still prefer the bronzed look she got from the lamps. “My face is pale now. It’s like it needs the tanning or something,” she said as she waited for a session at Beach Bum Tanning in Stony Brook.

It’s women such as Shutovich who are the subject of concern in new research on the deadliest form of skin cancer, which shows escalating rates among women compared to male counterparts. The study, published Thursday, looked at the incidence of melanoma over a 30-year period.

Led by Mark Purdue of the National Cancer Institute, it examined melanoma incidence between 1973 and 2004, and found the rate jumped by 50 percent since 1980 for women between the ages of 15 and 39. For men of the same age, the rate remained stable.

Purdue blames a combination of excessive sun exposure and the possible overuse of tanning salons, which tend to cater more to women than to men. Tanning beds emit ultraviolet rays that can damage the skin the same way that the sun can.

In response to the study, Sarah Longwell, spokeswoman for the Indoor Tanning Association, said the main cause of melanoma is genetic, adding the research “just isn’t borne out by science.”

Melanoma often first appears as a harmless mole, though it has a notorious potential to spread.

Dr. Colette Pameijer, a cancer surgeon at Stony Brook University Medical Center, said excessive, unprotected sun exposure as well as artificial tanning play roles in the cancer.

“Just over the last 50 years if you look at the percent change in a number of different cancers, you’ll find a 600 percent change [in the melanoma rate] between 1950 and now. So melanoma is off the charts,” Pameijer said Friday.

No other form of cancer has increased so dramatically, said Pameijer, who leads Stony Brook’s melanoma cancer team. “I personally think tanning is absolutely related to it. … Beauty concepts have changed over time. In the past if you were tanned, you were a laborer. Now if you’re tanned, you’re relaxed and have a nice lifestyle.”

Pameijer said this is more of an issue for young women than men. “It’s like an addiction for women. They either have to be in the tanning booth or they have to be in the sun.”

ON TANNING SALONS

LIers sound off on why they tan, despite risks.

By Arielle Brechisci and Kimberley A. Martin

“I’m addicted. It’s a hell of a lot more dangerous than being outside.” Of skin cancer: “I’m sure I’ll get it someday.” — Michele Carrasquillo, 25, of Levittown, who says she has tanned every day

the past year

“I worry about skin cancer. I have fair skin and burn easily. I’ve had first-degree burns before from the beach.” — Kathleen Ward, 25, of Wantagh, who got a spray tan Friday afternoon and goes out in the sun once or twice a month

“Yeah, getting skin cancer and wrinkles worries me.”

– Nicole Foy, 20, of Levittown, says the cancer risk “hasn’t really” stopped her from tanning every two weeks for the past four years. She spends about $50 a month on tanning.

“Though I know it’s one of the deadliest cancers, with skin cancer, I feel as though I can get it fixed because it’s on top of the skin. It’s easier to detect.”

– Jessica Shutovich, 23, of St. James, who visited tanning beds but stopped when she noticed skin damage

“I feel better with just a little bit of color. And I’m not a sun person. I work a lot and don’t have time to lay out. Ten minutes in here works for me. It has to be safer than baking in the sun all day.”

– Nicole Calabria, 29, of Lake Ronkonkoma, who started tanning last year; she tans twice a month

—–

To see more of Newsday, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.newsday.com

Copyright (c) 2008, Newsday, Melville, N.Y.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

WINGVILLE TOWNSHIP, Wis. – Nine people were injured when a car packed over its capacity with teens was involved in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday near Wingville Township.Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene of the accident around 6:30 p.m. at Grant County G and Oak Grove Road and used the Jaws of Life to extricate at least one passenger, Tamara Graf, 18, of Lancaster, from the car, according the Grant County Sheriff’s Department.Graf was flown by helicopter to the University of Wisconsin Hospitals in Madison, along with Steve Krueger, 18, of Montfort, and Julie Graf, 17, and Leah Sanson, 17, both of Lancaster, authorities said. Julie Graf sustained a head injury, Sanson sustained spinal, pelvic and chest injuries, and Krueger and Tamara Graf sustained pelvic fractures.Sanson was listed in critical condition and Krueger in good condition. Hospital officials said they had no information for Julie or Tamara Graf on Thursday morning.Two others in the car were injured, including Amber Simpson, 17, of Lancaster, who sustained a pelvic fracture and punctured lung. The driver, Kipp Holman, 18, of Montfort, sustained a chest injury.The people in the other vehicle had less severe injuries, authorities said. The driver, David Lange, 55, of Montfort, received lacerations and bruising, and a passenger, Stephanie Maag, 19, of Fennimore, complained of back pain. Lori Reinsbach, 45, of Fennimore, had chest pains and a broken foot. The victims were transported to various area hospitals.Lange was headed south on Grant County G in a mid-sized truck when Holman pulled out in front of him from Oak Grove Road, police said. Lange struck Holman’s car on the passenger side and it slid into a ditch, ejecting several passengers.Police said it’s still unknown whether anyone was wearing a seat belt, but the car, a 2000 Plymouth Neon, is intended to seat five people. With six occupants, there would have been at least one person without a properly secured safety belt.The crash is under investigation.

Originally published by TH staff.

(c) 2008 Telegraph – Herald (Dubuque). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

To: NATIONAL EDITORS

Contact: Marcela Howell of Advocates for Youth, +1-202-419-3420, [email protected]; Jodi Jacobson of the American Jewish World Service, +1-301-257-7897, +1-202-408-1380 (office), [email protected]; Serra Sippel of the Center for Heath and Gender Equity, +1-301-270-1182, +1-301-768-7162, [email protected]; Kelly Castagnaro of the International Womens Health Coalition, +1- 212-979-8500 ext. 266, +1-646-707-1004, [email protected]; Emily Alfano of the National Council of Jewish Women, +1-202-296-2588 ext. 5, [email protected]; or Patrick Malone of SIECUS,1-212-819-9770 ext. 316, [email protected]

WASHINGTON, July 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — In a letter to the Senate, forty-five leading human rights and global health organizations urge policymakers to address critical shortfalls in legislation that would reauthorize the Presidents Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). With the Senate poised to vote on a five-year, $50 billion HIV/AIDS relief package, the organizations call on policymakers to both set and correct policies based on evidence gathered and lessons learned after five years and nearly $20 billion of U.S. funding for global AIDS programs since PEPFAR was enacted in 2003.

Many have publicly touted PEPFAR as the Bush Administrations legacy-building success and called for speedy passage through the Senate following the House vote in April. Today, the Administration estimates that nearly two million more people have access to anti- retroviral medication than five years ago due to U.S. government support. However, for every two people put on treatment five are newly infected with HIV — hardly a far-sighted approach to public health programming.

The failure to stem the tide of new infections is due in part to restrictions contained in the original PEPFAR legislation. Much has been learned since PEPFAR was enacted. Yet rather than heeding the evidence collected by our own government agencies, the bill now before the Senate continues to compromise sound public health practice for ideology and political expediency.

Under pressure to act quickly to reauthorize PEPFAR, Congress is poised to pass a bill that will lock these restrictions into law for five more years. Doing so threatens scarce public resources, leaves more lives at risk, and impedes the development of a comprehensive approach that would make a difference in the lives of millions. The following changes must be made to the bill before final passage:

Abolish arbitrary funding guidelines.In a 2007 report, The Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommended removing the current PEPFAR requirement that one-third of prevention funds be spent on abstinence-until-marriage programs. The Senate bill ignores the findings of this congressionally-mandated study and findings from the governments own Accountability Office (GAO) about the ineffectiveness of this approach. The current bill calls for spending at least fifty percent of prevention funds designed to halt the sexual transmission of HIV, in countries with generalized epidemics, onlyon abstinence and faithfulness programs. PEPFAR recipients that do not meet this requirement must justify their programmatic decisions through an onerous reporting requirement to Congress, potentially facing defunding.

Every individual needs a range of information and services to protect him or herself against HIV, and public health experts on the ground must be able to determine the best mix of prevention programming for their own communities. As it stands, their hands are tied by policies from Washington.

Support prevention strategies that reach the largest number of people.In most regions, the number of new infections is growing most rapidly among women and adolescents, primarily through sexual transmission. These two groups are more likely to use family planning and other reproductive health services than any other segment of the population, and would be better equipped to protect themselves from HIV if their access to reproductive health services and education was expanded.

The U.S. government concluded that integrating family planning with HIV prevention and treatment services could double the effectiveness of programs to prevent transmission of HIV from mother to infants by expanding womens choices about pregnancy and childbearing. Recent studies suggest that upwards of 90 percent of HIV-positive pregnant women in countries such as Uganda and South Africa have unmet need for integrated family planning and HIV services. However, the current bill before the Senate fails to call for or even acknowledge the need to strengthen critical linkages between family planning and reproductive health services and HIV prevention efforts.

Remove the unconscionable conscience clause.The 2003 PEPFAR legislation contains a provision that enables organizations receiving U.S. funding to pick and choose the prevention and treatment services they wish to provide. Millions of dollars go to organizations to provide prevention services, even though they refuse to discuss the potential of condoms or other contraceptives in preventing the spread of HIV. As abstinence and partner reduction programs have outpaced programs that enable individuals to have all the information they need to prevent HIV, the law stands in the way of effective use of resources. The Senate bill takes this bad policy and makes it worse by extending the so-called conscience clause to organizations that provide care and support to people living with HIV/AIDS, their families and their communities.

This provision paves the way for taxpayer-funded discrimination based on moral and religious grounds leaving it wide open to refuse care to someone based on their religion, how they got infected or any other basis. The refusal clause is another damaging provision that flies in the face of good public health practice.

Eliminate the prostitution pledge.Current law requires groups fighting HIV/AIDS overseas to pledge their opposition to prostitution and sex trafficking before receiving U.S. money. Sex workers are among the most marginalized people in every country and often lack access to social and health support systems. Prevention programs that have reached sex workers through first building trust have yielded dramatic reductions in HIV infections among these populations. Some continue to believe that having organizations sign such a pledge will help end prostitution, but in reality, the opposite may be true. According to numerous reports, the pledge has led to further alienation of already-stigmatized groups and given free rein to police and resulted in further discrimination against women in sex work. Instead of reducing dependence on sex work, the policy is driving sex workers under ground and away from the non- governmental organizations and health workers best poised to help them and to prevent HIV.

It is our moral obligation and fiscal responsibility to use PEPFAR funding to prevent as many infections as possible. However, large sums of money, spent unwisely, will not save lives and will require an ever-growing need for increased resources in the future. The bills fall short exactly where more was needed: full and flexible funding of prevention programs that will enable us to end the pandemic and eliminate the stigma and discrimination that fuel its spread.

To read the letter, click hereor visit www.iwhc.org/global/ uspolicy/hivaids/senateletterjuly08.cfm

To arrange an interview or for more information, contact:

Contact:

Advocates for Youth (http://www.advocatesforyouth.org/)

Contact: Marcela Howell, 202-419-3420/ [email protected]

American Jewish World Service (www.ajws.org)

Contact: Jodi Jacobson, 301 257-7897/202 408-1380 office/ [email protected]

Center for Heath and Gender Equity (www.genderhealth.org)

Contact: SerraSippel,301.270.1182/ 301.768.7162/ [email protected]

International Womens Health Coalition (www.iwhc.org)

Contact: Kelly Castagnaro, 212.979.8500 x.266 /646.707.1004/ [email protected]

National Council of Jewish Women (www.ncjw.org)

Contact: Emily Alfano, 202. 296. 2588 x. 5;[email protected]

SIECUS (www.siecus.org)

Contact: Patrick Malone, 212.819.9770 x. 316/[email protected]

SOURCE American Jewish World Service

(c) 2008 U.S. Newswire. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.

By Jennifer L. Boen, The News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Jul. 11–New housing has been a haven of help, hope and improved health for Cheri Finton, a Fort Wayne woman with multiple health problems including osteoporosis.

Wellington House, an eight-unit efficiency apartment complex and a hybrid of independent living, home care and assisted living, opened in early June at 1232 Maumee Ave. near downtown Fort Wayne.

Although just 53 years old, Finton landed in a nursing home rehabilitation unit because of a broken hip and pelvis. When she was well enough to be discharged — but still not well enough to live without help — she began searching for affordable alternatives.

“The day before my insurance ran out, we got a flier about this place,” Finton said as her dog, Sadie, enthusiastically licked her face. Pets under 20 pounds are allowed at Wellington House as long as their owners can provide adequate care.

Amy Huser and her husband, Ty, bought the building three years ago and initially turned it into apartments for students at neighboring Indiana Tech. Before that, the building had been a Masonic temple and then abandoned for a time.

When the university began requiring non-commuter students to live on campus, the Husers had to find another use for their investment.

Amy Huser was working as a nursing assistant in long-term care at the time and saw the need for affordable housing for seniors or those with disabilities who did not necessarily qualify for a nursing home and couldn’t afford private assisted living but who needed some assistance and someone to “regularly check in on them.

“The more research I did, the more I realized there was a need for something like this,” she said.

Her oldest child was getting ready to head off to college at the time, majoring in pre-med.

“I said, ‘You go to med school and become a doctor, and I’ll go to nursing school.'” Huser, now a hybrid of her own making that includes personal attendant, chauffer, scheduler, nurse aide and case manager, will graduate next spring with a nursing degree from Ivy Tech.

The last of the Indiana Tech students moved out in May, in time for the Husers to do some refurbishing, including adding a wheelchair- accessible shower in one first-floor apartment.

All eight units, half of which are occupied, have bedrooms set off from the living room/kitchen area by a partial wall. A refrigerator, microwave and all utilities are included in the $580 monthly rent, as are weekly cleaning and laundering of bed linens. Local phone, cable TV and Internet service also are included in the cost.

“At that price many who live here qualify for food stamps, Medicaid (medical care) and transportation services,” Huser said.

Staff is on-site about eight hours a day, and bedtime assistance is available as needed. For a fee of $5 for 15 minutes, Huser and two certified nursing assistants will do such things as take residents to the doctor, schedule appointments and assist with meals. Huser does blood pressure checks.

“We can maximize the time, doing several things,” she said. “We don’t sit for an hour waiting for the laundry to dry.” Cost to do personal laundry is $1 a pound.

Once Huser is a licensed nurse, she will be able to provide a few more complicated medical services at higher rates, but she doesn’t want to take more medically complex residents because of the licensing involved. In the future, she may apply for a classification that would allow Medicaid to cover some services for qualifying residents.

Because Wellington House’s second floor is accessible only by stairs, residents living on that floor must be able to climb steps. The building, which is nonsmoking, includes keyless entry, 24-hour video surveillance and four parking spots. The closest bus stop is on East Washington Boulevard, on the other side of Indiana Tech.

And despite the steady noise of traffic along Maumee, which bothers Finton some, “I love it here,” she said, noting if it weren’t for Wellington House, “I don’t know where I’d be.”

“They’re so good to me here. They really look after you. I’m doing so much better than when I came.”

Wellington House isn’t for everyone, Huser said. “But there is a niche for this. People can afford this on their Social Security. This is helping them maintain that level of independence and of dignity that is so important.”

—–

To see more of The News-Sentinel, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.FortWayne.com.

Copyright (c) 2008, The News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

AngioScore has launched new longer and larger AngioSculpt percutaneous transluminal angioplasty scoring balloon catheters for the treatment of peripheral artery disease.

The new devices have received the FDA 510(k) clearance to market for the dilatation of lesions in the iliac, femoral, ilio-femoral, popliteal, and infra popliteal arteries, and for the treatment of obstructive lesions of native or synthetic arteriovenous dialysis fistulae.

The new AngioSculpt devices incorporate longer (40mm) balloons and scoring elements in the larger- diameter (4mm and 5mm) balloons. These new sizes are expected to be particularly useful in treating long and diffuse lesions typically encountered in the treatment of complex peripheral artery disease.

The percutaneous transluminal angioplasty catheter is not labeled for use in the coronary or neuro-vasculature.

AngioScore has received prior pre-market approval of smaller versions of the AngioSculpt PTCA scoring balloon catheter for treatment of hemodynamically significant coronary artery stenosis, including in-stent restenosis and complex type C lesions, for the purpose of improving myocardial perfusion.

The Woman’s Hospital of Texas (TWHT) announced today it is ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s 2008 survey of America’s top 50 best hospitals for gynecologic care. For a second consecutive year, TWHT earned one of two spots awarded to institutions located in the Texas Medical Center.

“The America’s Best Hospitals rankings provide readers with trusted material during some of life’s most concerning times — hospitalization,” said Brian Kelly, editor of U.S. News & World Report. “Our rankings highlight the internal culture of excellence embraced by caregivers in the great hospitals throughout the U.S.”

The latest issue of America’s Best Hospitals is accessible today online at www.usnews.com/besthospitals and on sale at newsstands Monday, July 14. Authoritative and influential, the 2008 America’s Best Hospitals guide ranks 170 medical centers nationwide in 16 specialties.

The rankings in 12 of the 16 specialties — of which gynecologic care is included — weigh three elements equally: reputation, death rate, and a set of care-related factors such as nursing and patient services. In these 12 specialties, hospitals have to pass through several gates to be ranked and considered a Best Hospital:

   1. The first gate determines whether a hospital is eligible to be ranked      at all by requiring that any of three conditions be met -- to be a      teaching hospital, to be affiliated with a teaching hospital, or to      have at least six important medical technologies from a defined list      of 13.   2. The second gate determines whether a hospital is eligible to be      ranked in a particular specialty. To be eligible, the hospital had to      either have at least a specified volume in certain procedures and      conditions over three years, or had to have been nominated in the      yearly specialist survey.   3. The third gate is whether a hospital does well enough to be ranked,      based on its reputation, death rate, and factors like nurse staffing      and technology. 

“For more than 30 years, The Woman’s Hospital of Texas has been the state’s premier care provider for women and newborns. It is such a great honor to be recognized by U.S. News & World Report for what we do best, and we’re pleased that our dedication translates to the highest level of service for our patients,” said Linda Russell, CEO of TWHT.

TWHT focuses not only on outstanding gynecological care but also medical care throughout every stage of a woman’s life including regular obstetrical care, high risk pregnancy and minimally invasive surgery. In fall 2009, TWHT is slated to unveil its $75 million expansion which will add 92 additional beds to its Texas Medical Center location.

About the Woman’s Hospital of Texas

Established in 1976, The Woman’s Hospital of Texas (TWHT) is a nationally recognized, specialty hospital in the Houston area dedicated exclusively to the care of women and infants. TWHT’s staff, a cutting-edge Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and one-on-one labor and delivery nurses, are dedicated to excellent, personalized service and education. TWHT helps women at every stage of life get well and stay healthy. Since 2007, U.S. News & World Report ranked TWHT in their top 50 hospitals nationwide for gynecologic care. The Woman’s Hospital of Texas. Every Woman. Every Baby. www.womanshospital.com

About the U.S. News Media Group

The U.S. News Media Group is a multi-platform digital publisher of news and analysis which includes U.S. News & World Report magazine, www.usnews.com and www.rankingsandreviews.com. Focusing on Health, Money & Business, Education and Public Service/Opinion, the U.S. News Media Group has earned a reputation as the leading provider of service news and information that improves the quality of life of its readers. The U.S. News Media Group’s signature franchises include its News You Can Use(R) brand of journalism and its “America’s Best” series of consumer guides that include rankings of colleges, graduate schools, hospitals, health plans and more.

 Contact: Kris Muller 713-791-7168 [email protected]

SOURCE: The Woman’s Hospital of Texas

Vascular Technologies, Inc. is one of the fastest growing medical device companies in the United States. Its principal product is the breakthrough Ultroid(R) Medical System, a less expensive and more effective treatment than current procedures for the treatment of hemorrhoids with new applications for other varicose and spider veins. Ultroid(R) is a painless, non-invasive outpatient treatment with an over 90% effectiveness rate that replaces ineffective over-the-counter creams and painful surgeries that can be accompanied by infection and prolonged recovery. The Ultroid(R) procedure can be performed by any physician, regardless of specialty, in their office, in approximately 10-15 minutes. Patients are able to resume their normal daily activities immediately, versus the several month recovery often associated with current laser and other surgical treatments. Ultroid(R) is FDA-cleared and accepted by most insurers and Medicare.

 Company:                 Ultroid Technologies, Inc.  Headquarters Address:    405 Central Avenue Suite 100 St. Petersburg, FL 33701  Main Telephone:          727-898-0717  Website:                 www.Ultroid.com  Type of Organization:    Private PR  Industry:                Medical Devices  Key Executives:          CEO: Brent Willis CFO: Michael Knox President: Gerald Spurgin  Public Relations Contact:                 Michael Wodstrchill Phone:                   727-898-0717 Email:                   [email protected] 

By Bart Mills, The Lima News, Ohio

Jul. 11–LIMA — Despite earlier reports, there will be nurses among the 49 workers laid off from St. Rita’s Medical Center.

Hospital President Jim Reber said Thursday that three registered nurses were among those affected by the hospital’s staff cuts. A day earlier, Reber had said no nurses or direct patient-care staffers would be included in the layoffs.

Three RNs will be among those cut in an effort to reduce operational hours and low-volume services, Reber said in a statement sent by the hospital Thursday afternoon to media and hospital employees. There will also be direct patient-care providers other than nurses laid off, including imaging technologists.

The cuts come at a time when St. Rita’s and hospitals are facing economic challenges largely from a combination of growing patient numbers and costs coupled with insufficient reimbursement from federal programs including Medicare and Medicaid

The cuts come from across the hospital’s roughly 50 departments, including maintenance, patient accounting, and other support departments. Most are from areas where patient volumes have declined or shifted. Layoffs are seniority based by department. Job performance was not a consideration.

Reber apologized Thursday for his earlier comments, saying he should have been more clear about where the cuts were taking place.

“I should have said inpatient bedside registered nurses are not being laid off. Layoffs are very hard, often heart-wrenching decisions. Please keep everyone in thoughts and prayers during these difficult times,” Reber said

St. Rita’s patient count has increased by more than 3 percent in the past year, but those patients increasingly lack insurance or are underinsured. One in 10 patients seen at St. Rita’s has either no insurance or insufficient insurance to cover costs. At the same time, Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements are trailing costs by 3 percent to 5 percent. That difference has come to $12 million during the past two years.

You can comment on this story at www.limaohio.com.

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MADISON, Wis., July 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Sonic Foundry, Inc. , the recognized market leader for rich media webcasting and knowledge management, today announced findings from Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Penn State College of Medicine that medical students have adopted lecture capture with Mediasite as an essential part of their educational program.

A Mediasite campus since January 2004, Penn State Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine deployed a pilot program at the onset of the 2007-2008 academic year to record lectures to first year medical students. Previously, the hospital and college had adopted Mediasite for grand rounds, continuing medical education, internal review board meetings and other campus education programs (http://media1.hmc.psu.edu/mediasite/catalog). Under the pilot, all large-room lectures would be mediasited and then posted online minutes after the classes ended. Due to the success of the pilot, the school made Mediasite a permanent program and expanded it to record lectures to all second year students in January. During this academic year, lectures to the first year students were viewed a total of 22,451 times, averaging out to about 59.1 views per lecture by a class of 154 students. Student Mediasite use increased throughout the academic year, with 97 percent of students using Mediasite to review lectures by the semester’s end.

Almost half of the students surveyed (41 percent) cited reviewing complicated material as the number one motivator for using Mediasite. The majority (88 percent) agreed that Mediasite helps them achieve their educational goals. Much fewer (25 percent) said podcasting had the same effect.

“The fact that students prefer Mediasite over podcasting makes sense to us because in medical school the slides and the visual information are very important. You cannot learn a medical school curriculum just by listening to audio,” said Dr. Russ Scaduto, Director of Education Technology at Penn State Hershey Medical Center and College of Medicine. “Mediasite encapsulates the entire classroom experience, helping students put themselves back in that environment. Reviewing the lecture in its complete format helps them remember what happened in class, down to the hand gestures of the faculty member.”

Faculty members reported that recording their lectures did not decrease class attendance. The survey also revealed a correlation between the grading method and the use of Mediasite. Students watch lectures more often via Mediasite for classes where grades are awarded as honors, high pass, pass and fail, vs. pass/fail.

Feedback received during the survey included anecdotal comments from the first and second year medical students, including:

   -- "I love Mediasite, it helps me a lot because I am able to go back and      listen to parts of the lecture that I didn't understand the first time      or catch pieces of material I missed."    -- "This is an amazing resource that has helped me to actively answer my      own questions without having to waste both my and my professor's time      by seeking them outside of class."    -- "Mediasite is really great because I can pause the lecture to write      notes and not miss anything."    -- "I came to every class but use Mediasite for difficult to understand      lectures, fill in my notes and clarify difficult points."     Additional Penn State Hershey Medical Center findings include:   -- Students took advantage of Mediasite's anytime, anywhere access to      information by watching lectures around the clock, seven days a week.       -- Most lectures were watched on Wednesdays (18 percent). On weekends,         students accessed the same lectures, but with lower frequency (11         percent Saturday, 12 percent Sunday)       -- Peak hours for students to watch lectures were between 3 and 5 p.m.         followed by steady usage to 10 p.m. Students continued to watch         throughout the night, with some viewing even between 4 a.m. and         5 a.m.    -- Students are using Mediasite to keep up with their studies and want the      information as soon as it is presented.       -- 30 percent of the viewing occurred the afternoon the day the lecture         was recorded.       -- 55 percent of the viewing occurred in the first 3 days.       -- 95 percent of all viewing took place in the first 15 days.    

Student surveys were performed on November 26, 2007 and May 5, 2008. In November, 85 percent of the respondents were Mediasite users. In May, 97 percent were Mediasite users. This groundbreaking study is the first to reveal student preference of rich media to podcasting and having immediate access to on-demand lectures. Additional information can be viewed at http://www.sonicfoundry.com/hershey-student-survey.

About Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Founded in 1963 through a gift from The Milton S. Hershey Foundation, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is one of the leading teaching and research hospitals in the country. The 501-bed Medical Center is a provider of high-level, patient-focused medical care. Annually the Medical Center admits more than 27,000 patients, accepts more than 788,000 outpatient visits, receives nearly 48,000 patients for emergency room visits and performs more than 23,000 surgical procedures. The Medical Center campus also includes Penn State College of Medicine (Penn State University’s medical school), Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, and Penn State Hershey Children’s Hospital — the region’s only children’s hospital.

About Penn State College of Medicine

Enrolling its first students in 1967, the College of Medicine at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center confers the Doctor of Medicine degree and, in conjunction with Penn State’s Graduate School, offers Doctor of Philosophy and Master of Science degrees in anatomy, biochemistry and molecular biology, bioengineering, cell and molecular biology, genetics, integrative biosciences, microbiology and immunology, neuroscience, pharmacology, and physiology. In addition, the College of Medicine offers Master of Science degrees in laboratory animal medicine, health evaluation sciences, and homeland security. Collectively, the College and Medical Center boasts a portfolio of approximately $100 million in funded research. Projects range from the development of artificial organs and advanced diagnostics to groundbreaking cancer treatments and understanding the fundamental causes of disease.

About Sonic Foundry(R), Inc.

Founded in 1991, Sonic Foundry is the recognized market leader for rich media webcasting and knowledge management, providing education and training solutions and services that link an information-driven world. Based in Madison, Wisconsin, the company has received numerous awards including the 2007 Frost & Sullivan Global Market Leadership Award, Ziff Davis Media’s Baseline Magazine’s sixth fastest-growing software company with sales under $150 million and Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500. Named a Bersin & Associates 2007 Learning Leader, Sonic Foundry’s webcasting and knowledge management solutions are trusted by education institutions, Fortune 500 companies and government agencies for a variety of critical communication needs. Sonic Foundry is changing the way organizations communicate via the web and how people around the globe receive vital information needed for education, business, professional advancement and safety. Product and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of Sonic Foundry, Inc. or their respective owners.

Certain statements contained in this news release regarding matters that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements. Because such forward-looking statements include risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, uncertainties pertaining to continued market acceptance for Sonic Foundry’s products, its ability to succeed in capturing significant revenues from media services and/or systems, the effect of new competitors in its market, integration of acquired business and other risk factors identified from time to time in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Sonic Foundry, Inc.

CONTACT: Tammy Kramer of Sonic Foundry, Inc., +1-608-237-8592,[email protected]

Web site: http://www.sonicfoundry.com/

A fitness studio has opened in Utica Square that offers a signature series of strength-training equipment, which the owners say is the next generation in fitness technology.

Exerbotics Premier Fitness Studio, operated by Bert Davison, president, and brother Matt Davison, director of marketing, offers clients equipment with computerized sensor systems that measure forces and provide data that continually measures user performance.

Bert Davison, who describes the facility as a fitness boutique, said the studio’s approach combines Exerbotics’ advanced technology strength training equipment with the experience of personal trainers.

“Our unique client culture is centered on individual attention dedicated to understanding our clients personal needs and developing programs designed to help them achieve and reach their health and fitness goals utilizing revolutionary technology,” Bert Davison said.

The studio provides a mix of services, including one-on-one personal fitness training, weight loss management programs, registered dietitian services, small group fitness training, Pilates, Egoscue postural therapy, golf fitness, medical exercise services and sports conditioning.

Exerbotics strength training equipment is completely automated and computerized — there are no weights or weights stacks. The enabling technology precisely extracts a user’s level of strength and applied forces to measure and accurately gauge user improvement.

An added benefit to users is the integrated LCD touch screens in each Exerbotics machine. The screens graphically illustrate the user’s effort level corresponding to their motion and force, providing data for the clients and trainers.

The brothers call the Utica Square location their “beta launch site,” and hope to open franchises throughout the country.

Exerbotics is located at 1876 Utica Square, Suite 1B.

For more information, call 551-6868, or visit www.tulsaworld.com/ exerbotics.

(c) 2008 Tulsa World. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.