Our Town 50
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Alzheimer's Association, Inc. 800-272-3900
American Cancer Society 800-ACS-2345
American Heart Association
American Liver Foundation 800-223-0179
American Paralysis Association 800-225-0292
American Social Health 800-227-8922
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Association 800-782-4747
Anxiety Disorders of America Association
American Diabetes Association 800-232-3472
American Lung Association 800-LUNG-USA
Arthritis Foundation 800-283-7800
American Tinnitus Association
Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America 800-7-ASTHMA
Crohn's & Colitis Foundation of America 800-932-2423
Children & Adults with Attention Deficit Disorder 800-233-4050
Epilepsy Foundation of America 800-EFA-1000
The Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health
Hospice Foundation of America
Huntington's Disease Society of America 800-345-HOSA
Glaucoma Research Foundation
Interstitial Cystitis Association
Juvenile Diabetes Foundation International 800-223-1138
Lupus Foundation of America 301-670-9292
Leukemia Society of America
March of Dimes 914-428-7100
Myasthenia Gravis Foundation
National Osteoporosis Foundation Association 800-223-9994
National Down Syndrome Society 800-221-4602
National Easter Seal Society 312-726-6200
National Family Caregivers Association
National Hemophilia Foundation 800-42-HANDI
National Hospice Organization 800-658-8898
National Kidney Cancer Association
National Osteoporosis Foundation 800-223-9994
National Neurofibromatosis Foundation
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
National Psoriasis Foundation
National Sleep Foundation
National Tuberous Sclerosis 800-225-6872
Orton Dyslexia Society 800-222-3123
The Paget Foundation 800-23-PAGET
Prevent Blindness America 800-331-2020
Spina Bifida Association of America 800-621-3141
Tourette Syndrome Association 800-237-0717
United Ostomy Association 800-826-0826
Fat Smart is a Registered Trademark of Our Town 50, Inc.
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Odor testing helps diagnosis of Parkinson's disease A test of olfactory functioning can be used to
distinguish Parkinson's disease from similar conditions, researchers
say. In this study, 18 patients with Parkinson's disease, 14 with vascular parkinsonism and 27 controls were given a smell identification test that involves sampling 40 different odors on paper strips. Those who had Parkinson's had lower test scores than either of the other groups. The olfactory test is easy to carry out, so it's to be hoped it might be adopted for a more accurate diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. Other research has suggested that many with vascular parkinsonism are sometimes wrongly diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Source
Computer over-use may lead to glaucoma People who are short-sighted and also use computers a lot may be at increased use of glaucoma. Glaucoma is an eye condition in which there is a build-up of pressure within the eyeball. This leads to damage of the optic nerve and visual impairment - even blindness. Japanese researchers looked at around 10,000 workers in four different companies and found that around five per cent had some visual abnormalities. Of these people, around a third had suspected glaucoma. The participants had been asked about computer use - how many years they'd used a computer and how long they spent at the screen at any one time. Heavy computer use - many years and several hours at one time - were risk factors for glaucoma, especially if the person was already short-sighted. The study suggests that those at risk might monitor their computer use to protect their eyesight. Source Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health November 2004 Volume 58 pages 1021-1027 Fatty acid does not Treatment with vitamin A and the fatty acid DHA did not
retard the progression of retinitis pigmentosa. They studied 221 patients with retinitis pigmentosa already on vitamin A. They were given either 1,200 milligrams a day of DHA or a placebo. There were no significant differences between the two groups after four years. Further analysis showed that DHA did benefit a sub-group of patients - those not taking vitamin A therapy at the start of the trial - for the first two years of the trial. The researchers conclude that vitamin A is certainly required for all with retinitis pigmentosa but the addition of DHA will only benefit a few. Source Corneal thickness can affect glaucoma management Thickness of the cornea may be important in making
treatment decisions in glaucoma. Researchers at the Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, Columbia University, New York, looked at how CCT measurements might affect treatment decisions in a group of 188 patients with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma. They found that 56 per cent of the group had a measurement of CCT that led to the need for an adjustment in intraocular pressure reading. This, in turn lead to changes in therapy - for eye drop medication, laser therapy or even glaucoma surgery. Clearly CCT should be an important factor in determining how glaucoma should best be managed. Source
Obese women run higher colorectal cancer risk A new study reveals that a high body mass index among
women increases their risk of colorectal cancer. The link, however, was only significant for women. Those with a BMI over 40 had a 5.2 times greater risk of colon cancer compared to those with a BMI of 25 or less. The difference between men and women might be explained by women having more body fat, the researchers say. More work is needed to clarify this. In the meantime, doctors should take this risk into account when advising overweight or obese women about attending for colonoscopy. Source Osteoporosis drugs useful A new study of older women shows that drugs taken for
osteoporosis can also help with knee arthritis. They looked at a group of 818 women, average age 75, of whom around a quarter were taking the bone antiresorptive drugs estrogen or alendronate. Those on these osteoporosis treatments had fewer bone abnormalities as revealed by magnetic resonance imaging of the knee than those not on these drugs. They also had less knee pain. However, there was no benefit to cartilage, which is usually worn away in arthritis. The study suggests that estrogen and alendronate may be of some value in slowing down the progress of arthritis. Source
Drug reduces prostate cancer risk A drug which reduces an enlarged prostate gland also
reduces the risk of prostate cancer, a study finds. Researchers at the University of Texas have now found that finasteride also reduces the risk of prostate cancer. They report from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial, a seven year study involving nearly 10,000 men showed that finasteride can reduce the risk of prostate cancer by 25 per cent. However, the drug can also have some significant sexual side effects, which should be taken into account when balancing the benefit risk equation. It may also increase the risk of high-grade prostate cancer in some patients. Source
Simpler procedure for
detecting breast cancer spread
New Option in Early Breast Cancer
Detection...And It Doesn't Hurt!!  available in the Venice-Sarasota area! What, you ask, is Digital
Infrared Thermal Imaging? Simply put, DITI is an infrared detector that
can record the body's physiological changes by measuring body
temperature patterns. This test is non-invasive, does not emit any
radiation and does not cause any pain or discomfort.Unlike radiation-based, or X-ray testing which views anatomical structure, DITI looks at the body's physiology as it reacts to disease or injury. Each human body has its own unique thermal patterns - a "fingerprint" - which allows DITI to monitor subtle changes of these thermal patterns when disease develops or injuries occur. Health Imaging, owned by Rita Rimmer, a Certified Clinical Thermographer, is located at the Lotus Garden at 1910 Robinhood Street in Sarasota. Rita came to Sarasota almost 3 years ago from the Boston area. She's a graduate of Northeastern University in Boston and was planning to continue her studies in the field of Psychology here in Florida. But, as fate would have it, her very good friend, Annette Thornhill of Sarasota, convinced her to become involved with this most important testing. Mrs. Thornhill, 86, a retired medical librarian, learned about thermography on a trip to China, where, she states, "they use thermography all the time and x-rays only when absolutely necessary, if ever." Since her trip 10 years ago, Mrs. Thornhill has been tirelessly educating and promoting its use here in U.S. Rita has now taken up her banner and has established a laboratory for thermographic testing. She strongly believes in this testing modality and has become an advocate for healthier, earlier breast cancer screening and breast cancer prevention. DITI's most important use is in breast cancer screening. DITI has been approved by the FDA as an adjunctive test to existing imaging modalities, and can be used as a first-step screening test to see where abnormalities exist that may require further testing. In the breast, DITI can detect an area of disease at very early stages of development when used as yearly screening and monitoring tool. All women, of any age, (and men - they get breast cancer, too!) should consider this new option for breast cancer screening; particularly women under 50, whose breast density causes mammograms to be ineffective. DITI is also recommended for women who are pregnant, who have implants, who've had a mastectomy, and those women who avoid mammograms because they are aware of the risks of additional radiation every year or fear the discomfort of the mammogram machine. Breast cancer is still on the rise for many reasons and our best offense is still early detection. DITI, in addition to diagnostic mammography and ultrasound and monthly breast self-exams can increase early detection to over 95%. DITI can also help decrease the number of needless biopsies, which are now done, almost routinely, due to the many flaws with mammograms. DITI can help many women avoid yearly doses of potentially harmful radiation (even though we're told it's a "very small dose") if they have healthy breasts. The cost of DITI for the breast is comparable to a "screening" mammogram. Full Body Scans are also available. Presently, only some insurance companies are reimbursing for this test and Medicare does not. You can contact Rita for more information at 923-9509 or e-mail her at RiRim@msn.com. She is also available to speak to groups and organizations.
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Breaking News: A promising new cancer treatment that may one day replace radiation and chemotherapy is edging closer to human trials. Kanzius RF therapy attaches microscopic nanoparticles to cancer cells and then "cooks" tumors inside the body with harmless radio waves. Based on technology developed by Pennsylvania inventor John Kanzius, a retired radio and TV engineer, the treatment has proven 100 percent effective at killing cancer cells while leaving neighboring healthy cells unharmed. It is currently being tested at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
* Bradenton homeless coalition hopes to have new shelter open for families with children.
Overweight increases kidney stone risk A new report from two long-running
studies shows that obesity and weight gain increase the risk of
developing a kidney stone. The data come from the long-running Health Professionals Follow-Up study, involving over 45,000 men, and the Nurses' Health Study which covers nearly 94,000 women. Men weighing more than 220 pounds had a 44 per cent greater chance of kidney stones than those weighing less than 150 pounds. For women in these weight categories, the increased risk was about 90 per cent - the exact figure dependent on age. When it came to weight gain, those who had put on more than 35 pounds since age 21 had a 39 per cent increased risk, compared to those who had stayed the same weight. For women, the equivalent risk was 70 per cent for older women and 82 per cent for younger women. It looks as if there is no specific dietary component that promotes - or protects from - kidney stones. Rather, it is overweight itself that is the risk factor. Source
Anticoagulant gives moderate but useful benefit after heart attack The new anticoagulant, reviparin, reduces
the rate of death, heart attack or stroke after a heart attack. A group of over 15,000 patients received either reviparin or placebo after a heart attack and the combined outcome of a further heart attack, stroke or death was measured. At seven days, those on reviparin had a 13 per cent reduced risk of one of these events compared to placebo. The benefit persisted up to 30 days. Further analysis revealed that the results were best when reviparin was given early - two hours after symptom onset. The benefit may be modest but there are other advantages to this new drug. It can be given subcutaneously rather than as an infusion and it is rather less expensive than some other drugs in its class. The researchers believe it could be used to help people in both developed and less developed countries. Source
New drug treats pulmonary hypertension How marriage affects men's health In some ways, men stop taking care of their health when
they re-marry, although they improve in other ways. On the other hand, those who re-married also had a better diet, with a higher vegetable intake, compared to widowed or divorced/separated men. Men whose wives died tended to both increase alcohol intake and increase alcohol consumption. The conclusion is that marriage break-up - whether through death or divorce - can have a negative impact on a man's health, because it can trigger an unhealthy lifestyle. Source Sunshine may protect against lymphoma Oral antiseptic as effective as dental floss A study shows that rinsing with an oral antiseptic
removes at least as much plaque as using dental floss. A survey shows that Americans do not, on the whole, have time or energy for flossing. Only a quarter thought their dentist would give them an 'A' grade for oral hygiene. But there may be another way. A comparison of rinsing twice a day with Listerine mouthwash and using floss showed that both remove plaque - and antiseptic might remove a bit more. However, the dentist is not about to suggest antiseptic as an alternative to floss - it is best to use both to ensure you get rid of the maximum amount of plaque. Source
Hardening of leg arteries is a danger sign People with blocked arteries in their legs probably have
a similar problem in other vessels, which could lead to heart disease or
stroke. PAD may lead to some pain in their legs and problems with walking. The trouble is that many people assume this is a normal sign of aging and don't do anything about it. And, quite often, PAD doesn't give rise to any symptoms at all. But it's possible to screen those at risk using a painless procedure called the ankle brachial index (ABI) test. This involves measuring the blood pressure in the legs and comparing it with the blood pressure in the arms. If PAD is found, it can be managed by many of the same measures we use to protect against heart disease - smoking cessation, dietary changes, physical activity and maybe certain medications. Source
Get the Facts on Surgery for Obesity About two-thirds of people in the USA are overweight,
and of these, almost half are obese. And the groups showing the most
rapid increase in numbers are the very obese (those with a BMI over 35)
and the morbidly obese Morbid obesity is accompanied by an increased likelihood of type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and several other serious conditions. Morbidly obese men and women aged 22 have a reduced life span of 12 and 8 years, respectively. Diet and medication are unsuccessful in morbid obesity. However, over the last 10 years bariatric surgery2 has offered new hope for the management of this condition. A report in the Journal of the American Medical Association has analyzed the results of over 22,000 individual surgeries to assess the benefits and risks of this approach. Here's a summary of the main findings. The analyzed patients The data from 136 published studies were pooled for analysis (i.e. this was a meta-analysis). About 4 out of 5 of the patients were women; their average age was 39, and their average BMI was 47. There were 4 kinds of bariatric surgery: gastric banding, gastric bypass, stomach stapling (gastroplasty), and other procedures involving diversion of the bile duct, etc. The results of the meta-analysis are given in this
table:
Other beneficial results of bariatric surgery included improvement of high blood cholesterol in 70% of patients, normalization of high blood pressure in 62%, and resolution of sleep apnea in 84% of patients. There is no doubt that such improvements in these and other related conditions will result in longer lives for these patients. What this analysis means It's clear that bariatric surgery in morbidly obese patients results in effective weight loss, coupled with improvements or resolution of diabetes as well as a number of serious conditions. And it seems to be relatively safe, with postoperative mortality ranging from 0.1% for the simpler procedures (gastric banding and stapling), with 0.5% for gastric bypass, to as high as 1.1% for the more complicated procedures. Obviously it would be best if nobody developed morbid obesity in the first place. Correct nutrition and plenty of physical activity should begin in childhood, hopefully becoming habitual. But obesity in adolescents and young adults can be reversed in a proportion of cases, given sufficient support and resources. For those who have progressed to morbid obesity, with all the complications that follow, bariatric surgery offers real hope of a longer and more comfortable life. Source
Footnotes
Do you really need a physical every year? The traditional annual medical examination does not lead
to earlier disease detection or a longer life, doctors say. Doctors should concentrated on factors like cholesterol levels, blood pressure, weight, and, for women, mammography. Other tests should be conducted only if appropriate for the individual. The complete physical has not been shown to add benefit in terms of early disease detection or reduced mortality. It does, however, perhaps strengthen the doctor-patient relationship - but regular, more focused, checks should also achieve this objective. So don't feel cheated if you're not offered a thorough physical - but do attend for the tests that are important for you to have. Source
New treatment for ulcerative colitis According to a new study, patients with moderate
ulcerative colitis can benefit from a higher dose of the drug mesalamine. Researchers at the Mayo Clinic now report on a study that shows that a higher dose tablet of mesalamine is effective for those with moderate disease. In a trial of 268 patients, 71.8 per cent of those on 4.8 grams a day of mesalamine responded, compared to 59.2 per cent of those on half this dose. Clearly this is an effective new treatment option for patients with ulcerative colitis that saves them having to use steroids to control their disease. Source
A single pill to reduce heart risk? A designer tablet containing a cocktail of drugs to
reduce heart risk factors could cut heart attacks and strokes
dramatically. If given to all people over 55, you could see a
reduction of 80 per cent in heart attack, stroke and other
cardiovascular problems, the researchers predict. There'd be no more
need to measure and treat risk factors such as high blood pressure
individually. Instead, practically everyone would just take this one
pill. Trials are already being planned, to see if this approach is safe
and effective. Source
Animal study reveals health benefits in meal skipping Women and men benefit from early intervention in heart disease A group of men and women with acute coronary syndrome
did better if they received early angioplasty, according to a new study. A new trial, covering 2,200 patients with ACS drawn from North America and Europe, now suggests that early intervention is important and works well in both women and men. Half the group received angioplasty and a platelet inhibitor, which would prevent clotting, and the rest had conventional care. All received treatments such as aspirin and heparin to prevent clotting. The risk of death, heart attack or re-hospitalization
was reduced by 36 per cent in men and 28 per cent in women - a
significant decrease in risk. The important point here is that women do
as well as men in terms of clinical outcomes if they are offered early
intervention for ACS. Source
How vitamin E fights prostate cancer A new study shows that vitamin E acts in unexpected ways
against prostate cancer. When they exposed prostate cancer cells to vitamin E, they found that it blocks production of two proteins which help the cancer develop. One is the familiar prostate specific antigen (PSA) which is used as a marker for the disease in screening. The other is the androgen receptor, which is where testosterone binds in the prostate cells. Conventional drug therapy for prostate cancer often relies on blocking testosterone. This research suggest you may be able to achieve similar results by disabling the receptor instead. The study showed that there was a marked decrease in the
prostate cell population after vitamin E exposure, presumably by
interference with the two key proteins. Work on humans, rather than
isolated cells in test tubes, is now needed to know whether vitamin E
supplementation really can prevent prostate cancer.
Source
Tea increases bone density Drinking tea over a long period of time is associated with
higher bone density, say researchers in Taiwan. Now researchers in Taiwan show that long-time tea drinking
benefits the bones. They asked around 500 Chinese men and 500 Chinese
women aged over 30 about their tea drinking and did a full bone mineral
density scan. Of the tea drinkers, nine per cent drank black tea, and the
rest either green or oolong tea. It was the duration of tea drinking that
had the most significant effect with those who had drunk tea for ten years
or more having the highest bone density. This adds to the other benefits
of tea - it's said to protect against cancer and heart disease too. What's
more, it's a health habit that most people find very pleasurable.
Source st active in diseased and healthy tissue, they have found a new gene that's linked with prostate cancer. The gene is known as AMACR (methylacyl-CoA racemase) and
it's involved in breaking down fatty acids that are found at high levels
in dairy products and beef, but at lower levels in chicken and fish. The
dietary connection is intriguing - but much more research is needed before
we can assume this is the reason why prostate cancer seems to be linked to
saturated fat consumption. In the meantime, the AMACR test could turn out
to be a useful diagnostic - for the gene is found to be active in 95 per
cent of prostate cancer samples tested, in this research, but is not found
in healthy tissue. Source How to choose low-fat food Source: Swiss Nutrition Institute Funny as it may sound, fat reduction actually starts in the head! Anyone who for health reasons wants to reduce the amount of fat in his or her daily diet needs to know what low-fat alternatives there are to high-fat food and to be able to make the right choices. This not only applies to planning one's menus at home, but is also important for those who often eat out - of the the many dishes on offer, you can only make a healthy choice if you know what the low-fat options are. Some suggestions are provided in the following list.
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