Matt's Blog

Kurt Vonnegut's last interview recorded live in Second Life
The staff of The Infinite Mind was saddened to hear of the death of author Kurt
Vonnegut.
Vonnegut's last major sit-down interview was recorded live in the virtual 3-D
on-line community Second Life, with The Infinite Mind's John Hockenberry. The
interview will air as part of a special re-broadcast of The Infinite Mind
program "Through the Looking Glass: The Transmission of Experience," during the
week beginning Wednesday, April 18.
Click here to see video of the Kurt Vonnegut interview recorded live in Second
Life at Google video
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2140455044291565033&q=vonnegut
Click here to see photos of the Kurt Vonnegut interview recorded live in Second
Life.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/78184734@N00/sets/72157594238671721/
Read more about LCMedia in Second Life at www.LCMedia.com/newpublicmedia.htm

Needle Exchange Program For Addicts To Be Expanded
KUALA LUMPUR, April 12 (Bernama) -- The Syringe Needle Exchange Program for drug
addicts which was carried out on a pilot project in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and
Johor since February last year would be extended to Kuantan in Pahang, Kota
Baharu in Kelantan and Alor Setar in Kedah this year.
Health Ministry Parliamentary Secretary Lee Kah Choon told the Dewan Rakyat
today that 3,000 addicts were targeted for the program this year.
"Currently, the selection of a non-governmental body (NGO) as the program
implementer is being carried out," he said when replying to Abdul Fatah Harun
(PAS-Rantau Panjang).
He said the program aimed to eliminate or reduce the risk of infectious diseases
such as the HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C being spread among addicts.
He said the pilot project carried out in Chow Kit in Kuala Lumpur, Jelutong in
Penang and Ngee Heng in Johor last year involved 1,380 addicts using syringe
needles and was run by the Malaysian Aids Prevention Foundation.
"Thirty-seven percent of the program participants received clean needles once a
month as replacement for the ones which have been used or contaminated," he
said.
On the supply of free condoms to those with high risk of being infected with
HIV/Aids which was raised by Abdul Fatah in a supplementary question, Lee said
it should not be perceived as encouraging adultery because efforts at preventing
HIV and Aids from spreading to the loved ones were more important.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Internal Security Datuk Mohd Johari Baharum said
22,811 drug addicts were detected throughout last year, a decline of 30.47
percent from 2005.
Of the 22,811 addicts recorded by the National Drugs Information System (Nadi),
10,381 were new addicts while 12,430 were repeat addicts, he said replying to
Datuk Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan).
-- BERNAMA
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/news_lite.php?id=256344

Schering-Plough commits to chronic hepatitis C research
Pharmaceutical News
Published: Wednesday, 11-Apr-2007
Schering-Plough has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the science and
treatment of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection with several key data
presentations at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) 42nd
annual meeting in Barcelona, Spain, April 11-15.
Among these are several studies with PEGINTRON (peginterferon alfa-2b) and
REBETOL (ribavirin) combination therapy, a current standard of care in the
treatment of chronic hepatitis C, evaluating how results at important treatment
milestones can help physicians make informed treatment decisions.
Schering-Plough also is exploring novel therapeutic approaches, both
through targeted internal research programs and strategic collaborations. Chief
among these efforts is boceprevir (SCH 503034), Schering-Plough's
investigational oral HCV protease inhibitor currently in Phase II clinical
development for treating chronic hepatitis C. Individual in vitro studies of
boceprevir in combination with investigational oral HCV polymerase inhibitors
from Wyeth/ViroPharma and Idenix/Novartis have been completed and will be
presented at EASL.
"Schering-Plough is proud of its long-term role in introducing innovative
treatments to the field of hepatitis," said Robert J. Spiegel, M.D., chief
medical officer and senior vice president, Schering-Plough Research Institute.
"Our vision with PEGINTRON, our cornerstone HCV therapy, and ongoing work with
boceprevir, our investigational oral HCV protease inhibitor, is to continue to
advance the science and deliver additional treatment options for patients with
hepatitis C infection."
http://www.schering-plough.com
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=23445

FDA Bans Some Rx Nausea Drugs
Suppositories With Unapproved Drug Taken Off U.S. Market
By Todd Zwillich
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
April 6, 2007 -- The FDA has ordered several brands of prescription nausea and
vomiting medication off the U.S. market, saying the drugs had not received
government approval.
Regulators said roughly a dozen manufacturers and distributors have until May 9
to cease sales of rectal suppositories containing the drug. The move does not
affect several trimethobenzamide-containing oral drugs and injection drugs also
used for nausea and vomiting.
About 2 million suppositories containing trimethobenzamide were sold last year,
according to FDA.
The ban affects widely distributed brands including Tigan, Tegamide,
Trimethobenz, and Trimazide.
Patients taking any of those brands should talk with their doctors, says Jason
Woo, MD, associate director of scientific and medical affairs in the FDA's
Office of Compliance. Officials said they had no safety concerns but that
manufacturers had not shown substantial evidence that trimethobenzamide is
effective in suppository form.
"[Patients] should discuss the alternatives. There are approved suppository
products that are on the market," he says.
Trimethobenzamide is one of hundreds of drugs circulating in the U.S. despite
never gaining FDA approval. A 1962 law forcing companies to prove a drug's
effectiveness before selling it exempted products on the market before that
year.
The FDA first determined in 1979 that companies never proved trimethobenzamide
suppositories are effective. But in June 2006, the agency began a crackdown on
unapproved drugs.
Deborah M. Autor, director of the FDA's Office of Compliance, acknowledged that
trimethobenzamide has remained unhindered for a long time.
"I think there are probably several hundred unapproved prescription drugs out
there," Autor says. "We think it's important to get the word out to the
industry."
Any company wishing to continue selling trimethobenzamide suppository after May
9 must go through the FDA's full approval process, says Michael Levy, director
of the agency's New Drugs and Labeling Compliance division.
Those that don't "will then be subject to immediate enforcement action such as
seizure and injunction," he says.
SOURCES: Jason Woo, MD, associate director of scientific and medical affairs,
Office of Compliance, FDA. Deborah M. Autor, director, Office of Compliance,
FDA. Michael Levy, director, New Drugs and Labeling Compliance division, FDA.
http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/news/20070406/FDA-bans-some-Rx-nausea-d\
rugs?ecd=wnl_gid_041207

Did I read that sign right?
TOILET OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE USE FLOOR BELOW
In a Laundromat:
AUTOMATIC WASHING MACHINES: PLEASE REMOVE ALL YOUR CLOTHES WHEN THE LIGHT GOES
OUT
In a London department store:
BARGAIN BASEMENT UPSTAIRS
In an office:
WOULD THE PERSON WHO TOOK THE STEP LADDER YESTERDAY PLEASE BRING IT BACK OR
FURTHER STEPS WILL BE TAKEN
In an office:
AFTER TEA BREAK STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE
DRAINING BOARD
Outside a secondhand shop:
WE EXCHANGE ANYTHING - BICYCLES, WASHING MACHINES, ETC. WHY NOT BRING YOUR WIFE
ALONG AND GET A WONDERFUL BARGAIN?
Notice in health food shop window:
CLOSED DUE TO ILLNESS
Spotted in a safari park: (I sure hope so)
ELEPHANTS PLEASE STAY IN YOUR CAR
Seen during a conference:
FOR ANYONE WHO HAS CHILDREN AND DOESN'T KNOW IT, THERE IS A DAY CARE ON THE 1ST
FLOOR
Notice in a farmer's field:
THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES.
Message on a leaflet:
IF YOU CANNOT READ, THIS LEAFLET WILL TELL YOU HOW TO GET LESSONS
On a repair shop door:
WE CAN REPAIR ANYTHING. (PLEASE KNOCK HARD ON THE DOOR - THE BELL DOESN'T
WORK)
Now that you've smiled at least once, it's your turn to spread the stupidity
and send this to someone you want to bring a smile to (maybe even a chuckle). We
all need a good laugh

Subject: Test
This test is not just another "silly" test, it is rather conclusive.
www.personaldna.com

test
---------...and the beat goes on......." Sonny Bono.....I will say of the L-rd,
He is my refuge andmy fortress: my G-d; in Him will I trust.Psalm

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
NIH News
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
<http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Wednesday, April 11, 2007
CONTACT: Bob Kuska, 301-594-7560, <e-mail: kuskar@...
SALIVARY DIAGNOSTIC DEVICE SHOWS PROMISE
Researchers supported by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial
Research (NIDCR), part of the National Institutes of Health, have engineered a
portable, phone-sized test that in minutes measures proteins in saliva that may
indicate a developing disease in the mouth or possibly elsewhere in the body.
The point-of-care test, one of several saliva-based diagnostic devices now under
development with NIDCR support, one day in the future could become a common
sight in the dentist's office. As envisioned by the researchers, a dentist
would collect a small saliva sample with a patient's consent, load it into the
diagnostic cartridge, start the assay, and have a read out waiting after a
cleaning or a dental procedure has been completed.
Called IMPOD, the device is described in the March 27 issue of the "Proceedings
of the National Academy of Sciences." In the report, the scientists offer the
results of proof of principle experiments in which IMPOD reliably measured the
concentrations of MMP-8, an enzyme associated with chronic inflammation of the
gums called periodontitis.
"The IMPOD is designed to measure up to 20 analytes, or biochemicals, at once,"
said Dr. Anup Singh, a chemical engineer at the Sandia National Laboratories in
Livermore, Cal. and senior author on the paper. "We haven't scaled up to that
point, but we are doing multi-analyte analyses in the laboratory. Our greatest
need right now is validated biomarkers to enable further clinical studies. The
basic engineering of the device has been completed."
According to Singh, he and his colleagues were intrigued a few years ago by the
many potential advantages of saliva as a diagnostic fluid. These include easy
collection, no painful needle sticks, portability of the tests, and potentially
a lower cost to patients than blood assays.
But they were initially daunted by the research task at hand. "Saliva is a
mirror of blood, but with a caveat, said Singh. "It's not an exact mirror,
meaning everything that is present in blood is present in saliva but at
concentrations 1,000 to 10,000 times lower. It's diluted by saliva and the
other secretions in the mouth. So we needed sensitivity 1,000 to 10,000 times
better than we'd need if we were screening serum samples." Sensitivity refers to
the lowest amount of an analyte that a test can detect.
Singh said he and his colleagues chose to use a lab-on-a-chip device. The term
refers in this case to a microchip, roughly the size of a laboratory slide,
containing networks of tiny channels and chambers in which the salivary assay,
or biochemical test, is performed. For the researchers, the challenge was to
design the entire assay to fit into the microchip. The scientists also had to
miniaturize the components required to run the microchip, such as the power
supply and optical detection unit, and integrate them into a rapid, fully
automated diagnostic system.
The result is the IMPOD, short for Integrated Microfluidic Platform for Oral
Diagnostics. The process begins with a series of microwells, each as distinct
as fingers on a hand. One well holds the saliva sample, while the other wells
contain cleansing buffering solution and antibodies that are preprogrammed to
bind the specific protein of interest in saliva. The antibodies are tagged with
a fluorescent dye that can be illuminated and measured at the end of the assay.
With the punch of a button, the contents of the wells are released and merge
into a single channel about 40 microns wide, or roughly the width of a human
hair. As the mixture flows in these tight quarters, the antibodies readily find
the proteins of interest, tag them, and continue forward to be trapped on a
porous gel membrane that serves as a filter.
"The bound proteins stack against the membrane because they are too big to
squeeze through the pores," said Amy Herr, also at Sandia National Laboratories
and lead author on the paper. "Conversely, the many smaller molecules in saliva
flow right through the pores and are filtered out and routed to a waste
chamber."
Thereafter, a voltage reversal releases the trapped proteins from the gel. They
continue down a channel, where a standard diode laser shines onto the
fluorescent tags and quantifies the concentration of the protein in the sample.
The dentist reads the result and determines whether the protein levels correlate
with a given disease.
To put their lab on a chip to the test, they collected saliva from 23 people --
14 with periodontitis and nine in good oral health. Loading roughly one-tenth of
a drop of saliva for analysis, the IMPOD processed the samples and produced a
result in less than five minutes. The results showed that on average those in
good oral health had lower concentrations of MMP, while people with
periodontitis on average had elevated levels of the tissue-damaging enzyme. The
results were confirmed with a standard ELISA blood test, currently the gold
standard.
"The data correlate nicely with those from other types of studies that show that
MMP-8 is indicative of periodontitis," said Dr. William Giannobile, a researcher
at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in Ann Arbor. "There is every
reason to believe additional biomarkers for periodontitis can be identified, as
the work to catalogue salivary genes and proteins nears completion and our
understanding of periodontal disease continues to advance."
The researchers noted that IMPOD, although developed for saliva, could be used
to test other diagnostic fluids such as blood and urine.
The National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research is the Nation's
leading funder of research on oral, dental, and craniofacial health.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- The Nation's Medical Research Agency
-- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U. S. Department
of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for conducting
and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and it
investigates the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare
diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit
<http://www.nih.gov

The Spring 2007 Connections Newsletter has been posted on the Hep C Connection
website. Please visit us at www.hepc-connection.org . Simply click on "Support
Services" and select "Newsletters" to read and print off the PDF version of our
Newsletter.
On our website you will also find information about our 2nd Annual May Awareness
Walk, Community Dinner and Education Forum for People with Hepatitis C and free
HCV screening at Hep C Connection.

Hi Pam,
I think I have seen a few of these reports already, maybe not in the
detail that they will be presented at the EASL, but I don't see much
to get excited about here. Just have to wait and see the details.
I would have hoped for ALOT BETTER this year than this trite
offering and I just can't imagine why research is so slow and why
there is no medical research money, ore where all the mojey was
diverted to (?) Nope can't imagine where money could have been
waisted. 1 and a half trillion dollars in new weapons for 2008, up
from 400 billion in 2001.
Who needs medicine when you have 1 and a half trillion dollars in
weapons. Hell, who needs food even? or Air?

Turning pain and defeat into hope and success: In InnerView, Tommy Higgins
conquers the past with Skyway House
By MARY NUGENT - Staff Writer
Article Launched: 04/10/2007 12:00:00 AM PDT
Tommy Higgins remembers when his life began to change. "It wasn't inner
strength. I was admitting defeat and not wanting to fight anymore. I think the
more broken you are, the better your chances are in recovery."
Higgins, who has been clean and sober for 15 years, knows there is no quick fix
for addiction. "Before there can be physical and mental recovery, before you can
mature and grow, you have to face a lot of things."
In the Skyway House office in Chico, with paid staff and private counseling
rooms, it's clear how far Higgins has come. His structured program also operates
two homes for men, one for women and a perinatal home is in the works. Skyway
House is a nonprofit agency and operates on state, county and grant money, along
with private donations.
Higgins has waiting lists, and it's especially gratifying when former addicts
visit to share their successes with him. Wednesday morning before noon, two
stopped by the office on Rio Lindo Avenue.
"It's God-driven," he said. "We're successful, despite ourselves."
Jokes aside, Higgins, 58, recalls a life out of control by the time he was
barely a teenager. "I got kicked out of Catholic school in the eighth grade. I
ran away, I was 'incorrigible.' I was into the system - juvenile hall, Youth
Authority, jail, prison - until I was 40. I'd failed as a father, failed as a
son. My life was about pain and defeat."
A former heroin addict, Higgins is committed to helping people who are just like
he was. "Addicts are not the most favorite people. I stand for people who stand
alone," he said.
Higgins is the founder and executive director of Skyway House. He started it 14
years ago and today there is outpatient and residential treatment in a
structured environment for people seeking help, and those who are court-ordered.
The programs are state licensed and certified.
"With any addiction, you're dealing with a tough population. And they're getting
younger and younger," he said.
Higgins remembers when he decided to help others overcome addictions. "It was
not really that I wanted to start a program, it was more that I wanted to help
another person. I started in my mom's garage in Paradise in 1993. There were six
guys. Eventually we got a little house. No furniture - we sat on orange crates."
He kept track of the original six men. "Half are OK and half died violent
deaths," he said. That's better than average odds, he said - statistically, far
less than half successfully recover from addiction.
"We had no funding. But it grew so fast; the tail was wagging the dog. Good
treatment works, but what used to be a 60-day treatment is now 30 days. There
are not enough (financial) resources ... When you look at the disease, it's very
political.
"When someone has been abused physically and mentally, has lost their kids, has
experienced violence - 30 days is not long enough for treatment. Three weeks is
barely long enough to learn the names of the staff. Trust takes a long time."
Skyway House also helps people with housing and employment. "But nothing is
free," said Higgins. "When people start with nothing it's much harder."
He employs certified counselors. "This profession is intense. These jobs are
really training for good county jobs. There is a lot of burnout."
But Higgins said he knows Skyway House is a success. "It's more than a job. The
atmosphere here is like family. Listen - you can hear people laughing and
talking."
Higgins considers the casualties of his past. "I had five kids and I walked away
because of drugs. They're all grown now and I've gotten a second chance. They
call me. I am most proud of that. I also have three grandchildren. I'm a good
grandfather and the best father I can be. I have a lot of lessons to teach
them."
He remembers his parents, both deceased, and how hard they tried with him. "My
dad died with 20 years of sobriety; he started me in the 12-step program. My
mother was a Mexican lady who tried to keep the family together. She never lost
the love for her addict son who was in and out of prison. When she was dying of
Parkinson's disease, I had the chance to be there for her. I helped her, held
her hand. I was her friend."
Another misfortune of Higgins' past is that he has hepatitis C. He has undergone
an unpleasant year of interferon treatments and is facing more.
"I've lost a lot of friends in the last two or three months from hep C. Hep C
has changed my whole life. I want to try to live. There's work I have to do.
I've changed my diet - less caffeine, no sugar or processed white flour.
"And I pray. I am blessed."
Staff writer Mary Nugent can be reached at 896-7764 or mnugent@...
http://www.chicoer.com/lifestyle/ci_5631298

First of all, it is extremely doubtful that this treatment
has 'cured' anyone of hep-c by modern society's definition
of 'cure'. In China, 'cure' traditionally has meant improvement of
symptoms. When the symptoms are remedied then that is called
a 'cure' even though the hepatitis-c virus is still active and
chronic hepatitis-c still persists as verified by moidern scientific
lab testing. When blood tests were used to verify that someone
was 'cured' they where only liver panel tests and normalization of
ALT and AST occured with patients this was considered to be a cure.
Cure did/does NOT mean the same thing that it does in Europe and the
USA, that is, to eliminate the virus as verified by state of the art
scientific medical blood tests and verified as undetectable at six
months and again at one year after completing treatment.
In order to properly understand what this article is really saying,
one must become aware of these differences in perception between
Traditional Chinese Medicine and 'Western' medicine. Western
medicine is much more scientific and much less subjective.
What this article says is that tens of thousands of people have been
cured of heptitis-c with this treatment, but what it means is the
10's of thousands of people have been relieved of their symptoms (to
whatever degree, maybe only slightly relieved or maybe alot relieved)
and at best ALT and AST have been normalized where and when those
tests were even used. That is NOT a cure for hepatitis-c according
to western standards.
We've been through this whole thing (discussion) numerous times on
hep-c lists over the years with regard to the differences in
interpretation of what constitutes a cure in China compared to what
constitutes a cure in modern scientific or 'Western' medicine and
Dr. Zhang is certainly not a new name in these discussions.
Incidently there has never been any valid scientific proof that TCM,
herbal or other alternative remedies can cure hepatitis-c in terms of
eliminating the virus or achieving long term and durable sustained
viral response (SVR) and that includes Dr. Zhang's treatment
protocols.
I think that within the definitions that modern medicine applies
to 'cure' of hep-c, most TCM practitioners, homeopathic Drs, etc. who
have modern scientific and medical training will agree that
these 'traditional' forms of medicine will not 'cure' hepatitis-c.
As long as there IS the hepatitis virus in the blood stream it IS
replicating. It's very presence and detectability is PROOF that it
is replicating in very large numbers because one virus does not
live very long (only a matter of hours usually). In order to
replicate it penetrates cells robs the RNA to make copies of itself,
destroying the cell in the process and releasing new viri in the
blood stream to go on and infect other cells.
Relief from symptoms in varying degrees and normalization of ALT and
AST are desireable but as we all should know this virus persists and
continues to cause damage in the absence of apparent symptioms and
when ALT and AST are normal, so if you want to call remdying the
symptomes to some degree and normalizing ALT and AST a "CURE" then
you can believe that if you want, but the fact reamins that the virus
is still there, still causing damage, etc.
I am trying to refrain from saying that this whole article is
misleading and 'bullshit' but only because I am keeping in mind the
differences in perception about what 'cure' means. In the frame of
reference of a person who lives in China and is accustomed to
Traditional Chinese methods, then the article is very positive. Not
so within the frame of reference of 'Western' medicine.
It seems pretty clear that this article was translated from Chinese
and the article was originally intended for Chinese people living in
China, within a traditional herbal medicine frame of reference, and
this is evidenced throughout the article including the geographical
refernces. so, when the article is speaking about 'cure' it is
within that context.
It seems to me that I have seen this very same data presented years
ago, like 1999 or therabouts. At that time alot of people were also
confused by the fact that we had two very different perspectives on
what 'cure' means and ALOT of abstracts from China were
misinterpreted because of those differences. These Chinese abstracts
did not make it very clear that they were not talking about
eliminating the virus but were instead talking about normalizing ALT
and AST.
The 3 times per week dosing of standard interferon for 6 months as a
monotherapy was used way back in the early to mid 1990s. (ancient
history as far as research and treatments for hep-c) By late 1997 it
became obsolete and fell by the wayside because Ribavirin was
approved in 1998 which dramatically improved treatment outcomes. Then
later of course there was high dayily dosing of interferon and
pegylated interferons those combined with ribavirin which finalkly
put us over the 50% average cure rate accross all combined genotypes
It is difficult to tell what kind of laboratory or test data the
author of this article is talking about and therfore it's not
possible to clearly understand what it means. I recall that PCR
viral measurement tests that were used in China in years past were
very inadequate and may have only been able to detect viral loads
down to about 250,000 viral copies per mililiter of blood serum.
an 'undetectable' result from a test like that would be considered
useless for determining if someone had in fact cleared the virus. I
don't know what kinds of tests they used here to copare their herbal
remedy with thew interferon data, but I am willing to bet that that
they would be unacceptable by western medicine standards. I say that
because it is common knowlege that these herbal treatments do not
cure hepatitis-c by Western medicine definitions, and therefore
by 'our' definitions there certainly were NOT 10's of thousands of
people cured of hepatitis-c by Dr. Zhang, or anybody else
using 'alternative' medicine approaches.
The whole page of testimonials that was posted was ridiculous and
meaningless in my opinion.
Anyhow, I don't have the time and convenience to dig through all of
this history again to prove all of these points. I am just bringing
it to everyones attention about what the article actually means and
people who want to pursue it further can.
If you want to believe what is written in the article at face value
and believe that 10's of thousands of people have been cured with
these herbs, then that's up to you. Those claims never could hold up
to scientific validation.
Until some such treatment can be validated as actually eliminating
the virus and curing hep-c then it still remains that there is no
alternative cure for hepatitis-c. The only treatments that cure hep-
c are interferon based treatments.
Surely there will be testimonials arguing this point, but there won't
be scientific vbalidation for such claims. Surely there will be a
very few people who have actually cleared the virus while taking such
alternative treatments, BUT there are as many people who clear the
virus without taking anything at all, it is called spontaneous
resolution or spontaneous clearance. Those cases are few and far
between.
When there is some VALID scientific validation that these remedies
actually eliminate the virus, THEN and only then should we take it
seriously. (That is MY opinion)
On the other hand, if that is what you are looking for, relief of
symptoms in some degree (big or small) and normalization of ALT and
AST, trainslating to some improvement in the conditiopn of chronic
hep-c then maybe there is something there for you in which case go
for it.
For me, I am looking to get rid of the damned virus altogether, that
is a real cure, not to play it along with expensive alternative and
herbal treatments that don't work.
Sally, there a a few hepatitis-c groups that focus exclusively, or
almost excclusively on these alternative treatments. I think those
groups sound RIGHT for you since you make it very clear that you are
NOT goig to do an interferon based therapy. One of those groups is
the JOVO list. I think that is still around. I think that there is

Ancient Art Rivals Vaccines for Immunity Against Shingles
By Neil Osterweil, Senior Associate Editor, MedPage Today
Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine,
University of California, San Francisco
April 09, 2007
LOS ANGELES, April 9 -- The Chinese art of tai chi appears to protect against
shingles as efficiently as a vaccine against varicella zoster and even augment
the immunity conferred by the vaccine.
In a controlled study of adults vaccinated against varicella zoster virus, those
who had earlier been assigned to perform a westernized version of tai chi
exercises had significantly higher levels of vaccine-stimulated cell-mediated
immunity than did controls, found Michael R. Irwin, M.D., of the University of
California at Los Angeles, and colleagues at UC San Diego.
And even before they were vaccinated, tai chi alone helped those who practiced
it to mount an immune response to varicella zoster virus comparable to that of
patients half their age, the investigators reported in the April issue of the
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.
"Tai chi alone induced an increase in varicella zoster virus -cell-media that
was comparable in magnitude with that induced by varicella vaccine, and the two
were additive," they wrote. But they pointed out that they could not determine
whether tai chi could reduce the occurrence of herpes zoster.
The research "demonstrated that a centuries-old behavioral intervention, tai
chi, resulted in a level of immune response similar to that of a modern
biological intervention, the varicella vaccine, and that tai chi boosted the
positive effects of the vaccine," said Andrew Monjan, Ph.D., chief of the
National Institute on Aging's Neurobiology of Aging Branch, which co-funded the
study.
The study of 112 patients was the first convincing demonstration that a
behavioral intervention can help protect adults against herpes zoster and
postherpetic neuralgia, added the NIH.
Although earlier studies have suggested that tai chi could have a positive
protective effect against varicella zoster virus, those studies were small,
non-randomized, and enlisted younger participants at lower risk for compromised
immunity than the current study, Dr. Irwin and colleagues noted.
They designed a study that would apply the most rigorous science possible to an
intervention whose clinical benefits are hard to quantify through conventional
means.
The risk of herpes zoster is thought to be strongly linked to cell-mediated
immunity, and tai chi combines aerobic activity, relaxation, and meditation, all
of which are thought to boost cell-mediated immune responses.
In addition, the gentle, methodical movements of tai chi are low impact and can
be performed by older persons with limited mobility, the authors noted.
In the prospective controlled trial, 112 healthy older adults 59 to 86 years old
were randomized to receive training and participation in tai chi chih, a
westernized, standardized form of the art, or to a health-education program,
both for 25 weeks.
After the 16th week of the respective intervention, all participants received
one dose of Varivax, a live, attenuated varicella zoster virus licensed by the
FDA to prevent of varicella viral infections.
The primary outcome was a quantitative measure of varicella zoster virus
cell-mediated immunity, determined by measuring the frequency of peripheral
blood mononuclear cells. A secondary outcome was the score on the scores on the
Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36).
Cell-mediated immunity was assessed at baseline and at weeks eight, 12, 16 and
25.
The authors found that the tai chi practitioners had higher levels of varicella
zoster virus-cell-mediated immunity than the health-education group (P<0.05). In
addition, the tai chi group had a significant rate of increase (P<0.001) that
was nearly double that of controls.
"Tai chi, together with vaccine, produced a substantially higher level of
varicella zoster virus-cell-mediated immunity than vaccine alone. The tai chi
group also showed significant improvements in SF-36 scores for physical
functioning, bodily pain, vitality, and mental health (P<0.05).
The investigators speculated that tai chi chih's apparent effect on immunity
might boost the response in older adults to other forms of immunization, such as
influenza vaccines.
"However, it is not known whether administration of tai chi chih before or after
vaccination might augment primary, as well as anamnestic, immune responses,"
they added.
The authors noted several study limitations, including a cohort that was
healthier than age-matched peers, and it is not clear whether tai chi would have
the same effects in participants with medical morbidity. In addition, the
participants trended toward higher social status and income groups, and the
authors pointed out that they did not determine whether tai chi chih reduced the
occurrence of shingles.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/PrimaryCare/AlternativeMedicine/dh/5402

New HCV Drugs at EASL, Barcelona liver meeting
NATAP http://natap.org/

Roche to acquire BioVeris for $600 million
5th April 2007
By Victoria Harrison
Roche has reported it is to acquire the diagnostics and vaccinology company
BioVeris Corporation for $21.50 per share in cash, or a total of approximately
$600 million.
Roche Diagnostics said the acquisition would allow it to expand its
immunochemistry business from the human diagnostics field into new market
segments such as life science research, life science development, patient self
testing, veterinary testing, drug discovery, drug development and clinical
trials.
By acquiring BioVeris, Roche will own the complete patent estate of the
electrochemiluminescence (ECL) technology deployed in its Elecsys product line.
"ECL is a highly innovative technology. In comparison with other detection
technologies ECL offers distinct advantages such as enhanced sensitivity, short
incubation times and broad measuring ranges. This acquisition ensures that Roche
will be able to provide unrestricted access to all customers and therefore
represents a significant growth opportunity for our immunochemistry business,"
said Severin Schwan, CEO Division Roche Diagnostics.
The transaction is subject to the approval of BioVeris's shareholders, receipt
of certain regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Subject
to satisfaction of these conditions, it is expected that the transaction will be
closed during the third calendar quarter of 2007.
http://www.pharmaceutical-business-review.com/article_news.asp?guid=11B6397D-310\
F-4D07-9DCA-C6FB6DC2D8FA

Resources for Clinical Research Professionals
2007 Thomson CenterWatch Survey of Study Volunteers
Dear CenterWatch Clinical Trials Notification Service Subscriber,
We are asking for your help with a survey that we are conducting.
Thomson CenterWatch is interested in your feedback about your participation in
clinical trials. If you have participated in a clinical trial or medical
research study, we would like you to complete an anonymous survey about your
views and opinions, on the experience. It should take about 15 minutes to
complete.
We are interested primarily in patients who have recently enrolled
in a trial or have completed a trial within the last two years. The goal of this
research project is to gather data and insights reflective of patient
experiences in clinical trials. We are also interested in the impact of public
perceptions upon participation levels; and what needs to be done to improve
clinical research and experiences for volunteers who ultimately bring drugs to
market faster.
If you would like to respond to this survey please click on the
link below:
2007 Survey of Study Volunteers
Please complete the survey by May 4th. Thank you for your help with
this very important survey!
Best wishes,
Thomson CenterWatch
Market Research Department
If the link above isnt working, you can paste this URL
address into your browser:
http://www.centerwatch.com/surveyapp/TakeSurvey.asp?SurveyID=4MH8p30Lln4KG

Diabetes Linked to Mild Cognitive Impairment
By Neil Osterweil, Senior Associate Editor, MedPage Today
Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine,
University of California, San Francisco
April 09, 2007
NEW YORK, April 9 -- Diabetes increases the risk of mild cognitive impairment
with memory loss, often a precursor to Alzheimer's disease, investigators here
have found.
The rate of mild cognitive impairment is especially high among groups at risk
for type 2 diabetes, particularly Hispanics and African Americans, said José
Luchsinger, M.D., of Columbia, and colleagues, reported the April issue of the
Archives of Neurology.
"Our results provide further support to the potentially important independent
role of diabetes in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease," the investigators
asserted.
They suggested that diabetes might be linked to higher risk of Alzheimer's
disease by contributing to cerebrovascular disease, or by direct effects on
mechanisms of amyloid deposition.
Diabetes might also be a risk factor for non-amnestic forms of mild cognitive
impairment, the authors noted, but they did not have a large enough study sample
to confirm the findings.
They looked for evidence of an association between diabetes and mild cognitive
impairment in a multiethnic cohort of Northern Manhattan residents who were part
of a longitudinal study.
The investigators studied participants who had neither mild cognitive impairment
nor dementia at baseline and who had at least one 18-month follow-up interval.
They identified at total of 918 participants, all of whom had had a complete
neuropsychological exam at study entry. The primary study outcome measures were
the association between self-reported diabetes and all-cause, amnestic, and
non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment.
There were 334 incident case of mild cognitive impairment, 47.9% of them
amnestic, and 52.1% non-amnestic. The authors found that after adjusting for
age, gender, years of education, ethnic group, apolipoprotein E-4 allele status,
hypertension, LDL levels, current smoking, heart disease, and stroke, diabetes
was still related to a significantly higher risk for all-cause mild cognitive
impairment. The hazard ratio for diabetics for all-cause impairment was 1.4 (95%
confidence interval, 1.0-1.8, P=0.04).
Similarly, the hazard ratio for amnestic impairment among diabetics was 1.5 (95%
CI, 1.0-2.2, P=0.02). But when they looked at nonamnestic impairment, they found
that the effect was significant in models controlling for some of the
co-variates, but became non-significant after socioeconomic variables and
vascular risk factors were thrown into the mix.
Diabetes contributed an 8.8% excess risk for diabetes among the whole, and
accounted for a higher risk among African Americans (8.4%) and Hispanics (11%)
compared with non-Hispanic whites (4.6%). This difference reflected the higher
prevalence of diabetes in minority populations in the United States, the author
noted.
"Diabetes is related to a higher risk of Alzheimer's disease," the investigators
wrote. "Thus, we expected that it would be related to all-cause and amnestic
mild cognitive impairment, which is a predictor of Alzheimer's disease. Because
diabetes is related to a higher risk of cerebrovascular disease and vascular
dementia, we also expected that it would be related to a higher risk of
non-amnestic mild cognitive impairment, which is more likely to be related to
vascular cognitive syndromes."
They noted that because data on diabetes in their study came from self-reports,
they could not determine whether patients had hyperglycemia or glucose
intolerance, or whether there might have been undiagnosed cases of diabetes that
might have affected their results.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Endocrinology/Diabetes/dh/5406

China Detains Six People Involved in Blood Selling Scheme in Guangdong Province
Chinese authorities on Wednesday detained six people involved in a blood
selling scheme in Jieyang city in China's Guangdong province, including the
"mastermind" of the scheme and five sellers, the AP/International Herald Tribune
reports (AP/International Herald Tribune, 4/6). Blood selling practices during
the 1990s in China's Henan province contributed to the spread of HIV, which
affected about one million people, according to some advocates. The situation in
Henan led officials to pledge reform, and China's Ministry of Health says that
it maintains stringent supervision of blood-collection centers in the country.
According to the health ministry, it closed about 150 illegal collection and
supply agencies nationwide in 2004, the last year for which official figures are
available (Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report, 3/2). According to the United Nations
and the Chinese government, tainted blood largely has been brought under control
in the country, the AP/Herald Tribune reports. About 5% of newly diagnosed HIV
cases last year were the result of tainted blood transfusions or blood selling,
according to the health ministry. A Xinhua News Agency report posted on the
Jieyang government's Web site said that blood sellers still number in the
hundreds. The report also said that people who sell their blood often take
medication that allows them to sell blood frequently and some sell their blood
up to 16 times monthly. It is not clear if the detainees received HIV tests, the
AP/Herald Tribune reports (AP/International Herald Tribune, 4/6).
http://www.kaisernetwork.org/daily_reports/rep_index.cfm?DR_ID=44132

Extra Filtration of Donated Blood May Lower Infection Risk
By Crystal Phend, Staff Writer, MedPage Today
Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine,
University of California, San Francisco
April 09, 2007
ROCHESTER, N.Y., April 9 -- Filtering WBCs from donated blood may reduce
postoperative infections by 10% among transfused surgical patients, according to
a meta-analysis.
The meta-analyses excluded data from patients who never received a transfusion,
a confounder that clouded previous meta-analyses of the benefits of
leukoreduction, said Neil Blumberg, M.D., of the University of Rochester Medical
Center here, and colleagues.
Minus patients who never received transfusions, the current meta-analysis
revealed about a 50% reduction in the odds of postoperative infection from
leukoreduced blood versus standard transfusions, Dr. Blumberg and colleagues
reported in the April issue of the journal Transfusion.
Leukoreduction may reduce the occurrence of infections carried in white blood
cells, such as human T-cell leukemia virus, cytomegalovirus, herpesviruses, and
Epstein-Barr virus, they said. They speculated that leukoreduced blood could
also reduce impaired immunity that follows a transfusion, which could contribute
to post-surgical infection rates.
Leukoreduction is done prior to storage for donated blood in Canadian blood
banks, but is not recommended by the FDA nor widely adopted in the United
States.
The meta-analysis included nine randomized trials and 11 meta-analyses comparing
pre- or post-storage leukoreduced transfusions with transfusions of unmodified
red cells, whole blood, buffy coat-depleted red blood cells (60% to 80%
leukoreduced), or plasma-reduced red blood cells. All had post-operative
infections as a primary or secondary outcome. Surgery was predominantly
colorectal or cardiac.
More than half of the studies did intent-to-treat analyses, which resulted in
35% of the overall patients contributing infection data without having ever
received a transfusion. Although excluding these untransfused patients would
have diluted the statistical power of any single study, including them would
have significantly reduced the power of the meta-analysis to detect a difference
between treatments, the researchers said.
"Because it is unlikely that randomization assignment in the transfusion service
affects the likelihood of transfusion in the operating room, excluding patients
who do not receive a transfusion will have little or no effect on the integrity
and robustness of the randomization process," they added.
So, randomized but untreated patients were excluded with nearly equal numbers
excluded in control and leukoreduced arms. After adding unpublished data from
the authors of the original trials, a total of 3,093 transfused patients were
analyzed.
The findings were:
a.. Leukoreduced transfusions significantly reduced the odds of postoperative
infection versus nonleukoreduced transfusions (summary odds ratio 0.522, 95%
confidence interval 0.332 to 0.821, P=0.005).
b.. The occurrence of postoperative infection was 23% among patients who
received leukoreduced transfusions versus 33% among those who received
nonleukoreduced transfusions (absolute risk reduction 10%, relative risk
reduction 36%).
c.. Among colorectal surgery patients, a random-effects model indicated
nonsignificant two-thirds reduction in the odds of postoperative infection
favoring leukoreduction (OR 0.337, 95% CI 0.105 to 1.084).
d.. Among cardiac surgery patients, a fixed-effects model indicated a
significant one-third reduction in postoperative infection with leukoreduction
(OR 0.657, 95% CI 0.516 to 0.837).
e.. Among cardiac surgery patients, a more conservative random-effects model
still showed significant advantage in infections for leukoreduction (OR 0.655,
95% CI 0.514 to 0.835, P=0.0006).
The difference in postoperative infection risk between leukoreduced to partial
leukoreduced (buffy coat-removed red blood cells) transfusions was less than the
difference between leukoreduced and unmodified red blood cells or whole blood
transfusions (OR 0.668, 95% CI 0.416 to 1.074, versus 0.425, 95% CI 0.257 to
0.703).
This finding suggested a dose response between degree of leukoreduction and
postoperative infection, Dr. Blumberg and colleagues said.
Heterogeneity between studies was most likely due to variation in postoperative
infection rates at different centers, the two types of surgery included, and the
inclusion of two multicenter studies amidst seven single- or two-center studies,
they added.
All but one of the previous meta-analyses concluded that there was little or no
evidence for a treatment benefit from leukoreduced transfusions in surgery.
However, the researchers noted that they almost all used intent-to-treat data
even when the original studies did not.
"These results demonstrate the importance of including only scientifically valid
data in clinical trials and meta-analyses," they wrote. "The intention-to-treat
principle should never lead to inclusion of data not actually derived from
experimental results."
In clinical trials of blood transfusion, blinding treating and evaluating
personnel to allocation is particularly challenging, they noted. Randomization
at the time of transfusion is usually impractical due to logistics. "Innovative
new approaches are needed to allow lower rates of protocol violations in
transfusion studies, and randomization closer to the time transfusion is
required," they concluded.
The studies included in the meta-analysis only included surgical patients. The
infection risk may differ for cancer patients or those who receive transfusions
in other settings.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/HematologyOncology/Hematology/dh/5403

I am in digest mode and I cannot read them anymore! PLEASE PLEASE clean up
your posts before you hit send!!
There will never be attachments allowed on this group or any of my groups
because they sometimes contain viruses. If you want attachments that have

Help is here for drug users
By ANDREW McLEOD
While the true extent, social impact and causes behind the rise of ice are still
fiercely debated by experts, no one disputes the toll it takes on individuals.
It is a highly addictive stimulant, which has severe mental and physical effects
on users, and kicking a habit can be incredibly hard.
Emergency departments and specialist drug treatment clinics across the region
have seen a recent increase in people presenting with ice and amphetamine
problems.
Those problems are often violence related. One of the biggest problems with ice
and treating users is that the drug is equally harmful to a user's body and
mind.
"Methamphetamine can affect a person's mental state, ranging from overactivity,
anxiety, depression and paranoia, to aggressive and psychotic behaviours," Dr
Adrian Dunlop from the Stimulant Treatment Program said.
He says users are also at risk of heart attack, seizures and kidney failure.
Diseases and viruses can also be transmitted between users who share equipment
such as pipes and syringes, including HIV and Hepatitis C.
While there are similarities in treating addictions to all drugs, health
professionals have realised treating ice dependence requires specialised
treatment.
The Stimulant Treatment Program (STP) opened a clinic in the McCaffrey Wing of
the Royal Newcastle Hospital complex in November last year.
It was started to help users of any stimulant, including ice, amphetamines,
cocaine and speed.
For support or information about stimulant drugs call 1800 101 188; or for
information and help for other drugs, call 4923 2060.
http://newcastle.yourguide.com.au/detail.asp?class=news&subclass=general&story_i\
d=573876&category=general

Spitting draws assault charge; Police believe man has HIV, hepatitis C
Local News - Tuesday, April 10, 2007 @ 08:00
A man police believe is a carrier of HIV and hepatitis C allegedly spat at
officers and has been charged with assaulting police, Owen Sound Police Services
said in a news release.
The 28-year-old male, of no fixed address, is also charged with mischief and
breaching probation,
Police said the man was fighting and threatening people and "wearing out his
welcome at several locations throughout the city" over the Easter weekend. He
was finally arrested after causing several hundred dollars damage to a motel
room. Then he spat at officers and attempted to assault them while he was being
fingerprinted at police headquarters, the release said. The man was in custody
Monday waiting for a bail hearing, the release said.
http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/webapp/sitepages/content.asp?contentid=480032&c\
atname=Local+News&classif=

Haemophiliac set for kayak adventure
By SIMON MCCARTHY - The Southland Times | Tuesday, 10 April 2007
Aucklander Jack Finn is about to embark on an unusual journey that would see him
become the first person to circumnavigate the Auckland Islands by kayak.
The attempt is made more impressive by the fact the 24-year-old suffers from
haemophilia and hepatitis C, which he contracted after receiving a blood
transfusion when he was 9.
The trip has taken 18 months to organise and will take two weeks to complete,
leaving from Bluff on Wednesday at noon.
"I wanted to do it because it is an area that has never been explored by kayak
before ... there is an element of high risk in the trip," Finn said.
The journey had been made as safe as possible with a support vessel and Finn's
nurse coming from Auckland to join the support crew.
Part of Finn's support crew will be his mother, Mary Hancock.
"When Jack came up to me and told me about this adventure I took a deep breath
but, having experienced his past adventures, I was prepared for it," she said.
In 2004 Finn travelled from Cape Reinga to Bluff by bike and kayak.
"It is a very dangerous thing that Jack is going to attempt, so I am worried but
I think it is achievable and he is well prepared for it," Mrs Hancock said.
"I am anxious, but I would rather be there on board, as a sailor myself, than
sitting at home worrying," she said.
Finn works as a sea kayak guide in West Auckland but says he is under no
illusions that the journey is going to be a walk in the park.
"The water around there can be very rough and the winds strong ...
this time of year the temperature is between 4 and 6 degrees, it is not going to
be easy to kayak for eight hours a day," Finn said.
Mrs Hancock added: "Potentially we could encounter big seas but Jack's not
stupid, he will be choosing when he goes out." Finn said he wanted to inspire
others, especially those who also have haemophilia.
"I also feel that I am carrying the weight of those whose condition is not as
mild as mine and are unable to do these sort of things." Finn said he was not
deterred by recent high-profile disasters, like that of Australian Andrew
McAuley.
"It was a shame. He obviously had an eye for adventure, and what makes it
adventure is that there is an element of risk involved," he said.
Rescue Centre spokesman Steve Corbett said they had no extra concerns about Mr
Finn than they held for anyone else.
" As long as he has taken the appropriate safety gear and the proper
precautions, we are not worried ... there is always risk - the most experienced
skipper in the world can get into trouble," Mr Corbett said.
The journey is estimated to have cost $35,000 which was raised with the help of
sponsors.
Included in supplies are 12,000 units of blood, which is about five or six
treatments worth, should an accident occur.
"I take my hat off to Jack. It's amazing that he got here. I was proud of him
having a dream to do something like this," Mrs Hancock said.
Finn's progress will be posted on the New Zealand haemophilia website
www.haemophilia.org.nz
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4021517a11.html

Film follows life of Hepatitis C sufferer
Publisher: Pam Caulfield
Published: 10/04/2007 - 10:48:26 AM
A moving documentary that follows the efforts of a hepatitis C sufferer to lift
the lid on the potentially fatal disease is to be shown on digital television
today.
"Louie, Me and Hepatitis C" shows the daily struggle of single mother Gemma
Peppe as she undergoes treatment and tries to bring up her son.
The documentary, being shown on the Community Channel today and April 12 at
9.30pm, portrays the human side of a disease which affects an estimated 500,000
people in the UK. Out of that number, less than 1% are receiving treatment.
Gemma, a former drug addict, believes she caught hepatitis C by injecting
herself with a dirty needle.
She explores the prejudice experienced by hepatitis C sufferers and is worried
that politicians and many health professionals are not taking the potential
scale of the disease seriously.
Community Channel broadcasts 24 hours a day, every day on Sky 539, Virgin TV 233
and from 6-9am on Freeview 87.
It aims to make viewers think again about the world, and inspire them to take
action on the causes and issues that matter to them.
Don't miss the 24dash.com audio bulletins for the latest news and information -
http://www.24dash.com/podcasts
http://www.24dash.com/health/19083.htm

No strike out for this preemie
By KATHY PORTIE
In the early hours of April 7, 1989, Nikki Ramirez gave birth to her third
child, Elias, at Bear Valley Community Hospital in Big Bear Lake. He was nine
weeks premature.
"Nikki woke me up in the middle of the night and there was blood all over the
bed," Nikki's husband, Ray, says remembering that fateful day. "Our doctor told
us if Nikki started bleeding to bring her immediately to the hospital. He told
us we had 10 minutes or we'd lose them both."
Nikki was suffering from a placental abruptio. After being rushed to Bear Valley
Community Hospital, doctors performed an emergency C-section and put out an
urgent call to Loma Linda University Medical Center. Elias and Nikki were in
critical condition.
"Elias was very fragile," Nikki says. "They didn't have a ventilator at the
hospital here so while they were waiting for transport to Loma Linda, he was put
in these bags. All his air sacs popped."
Elias weighed two pounds. He spent the first 10 weeks of his life in the
neonatal intensive care unit at Loma Linda. He had brochopulmonary dysplasis, a
condition caused by immature lungs. After Elias was brought home, he needed to
be on oxygen 24 hours a day.
The Ramirezes were a typical 1980s Big Bear family. They owned a successful
janitorial business in the Valley. Youth sports was the major pastime. Ray
coached youth baseball. But doctors said competitive sports were probably not in
Elias' future.
Nikki and Ray weren't going to let the predictions limit their son. "We would
take Elias everywhere, to football games and baseball games," Nikki says. "We
had a portable oxygen tank, and people would come up to us and ask us what was
wrong with Elias."
Baseball was the glue binding the Ramirez family. By the time Elias was old
enough to play T-ball, he was strong enough to play, too, Ray says. Elias had
his picture taken with his team and played in the outfield during the first game
of the season. Unfortunately, it was Elias' last game, too, at least for a
while. During the game, he came down with a bad case of hives, an allergic
reaction that to this day the Ramirezes don't know the cause.
The Big Bear High School pitcher doesn't remember having serious health
problems. "I can remember having a bit of asthma now and then," he says with a
shrug. He also remembers that first T-ball game.
While living in Big Bear, another son, Aric, was born without complications.
Older children Mark and Christy were also active in school and youth activities.
In 1995 the family moved to Henderson, Nev., to take advantage of the booming
growth of the area. The Ramirez' fifth child, Christian was born premature in
Nevada without major complications. While Christian does not play baseball, he
is a whiz at video games, Nikki says.
While in Nevada, baseball continued to be important to the family. Elias and
Aric played club baseball and Ray continued to coach. Nikki, who wasn't much of
a sports fan, developed a love for the game. "She watches more baseball than we
do," Ray says with a laugh.
Elias was good enough to play high school ball during his freshman and sophomore
years. He displayed no signs of those early health problems. But his love for
the game waned and he did not play his junior year. His decision to quit the
team had nothing to do with the coach. "It was the whole environment," Elias
says.
"They don't have the sense of community there that there is here," Nikki says.
It took another major health event to bring the Ramirezes back to Big Bear. When
Ray developed Hepatitis C from a bad blood transfusion and needed a liver
transplant, they packed their bags and moved back to Big Bear. The nearest
places to get on a waiting list were Loma Linda or UCLA medical centers, Nikki
says.
Ray's oldest son, Mark, has offered to be tested for compatibility as a living
donor. A living donor can donate a section of liver for transplant since the
liver can regenerate itself to some extent. The procedure does pose some risk.
"Mark came to us with this idea," Nikki says. If he is a match there is a chance
the procedure can be done by this summer.
While they wait for Ray to get better, the family remains energized by baseball.
Elias loves the game again. As a pitcher for the Big Bear High School varsity
team, Elias has been the king of strikeouts with 34 Ks in 18 innings.
Elias admits he wasn't thrilled at first to spend his final year of high school
in new surroundings. But while he's doing well on the mound, the more important
thing to him is fitting in with his new teammates, he says. His mother says the
kids in Big Bear have been great. "It's like they've known each other all their
lives," Nikki says about the relationships Elias has formed.
While the Ramirez boys are adjusting to life in Big Bear, Ray is making
adjustments, too. He's had to slow down a lot, taking each day as it comes.
Coaching is a thing of the past. "I like coaching," Ray says with a laugh, "but
I'm on a lot of medication right now. I know what I want to tell them, but I
can't seem to always say it. So, now I keep my mouth shut ... most of the time."
With graduation already in sight for Elias, he has plans for the future. The
former preemie who weighed barely two pounds is joining the Marines. "I want to
be a cop, and then a homicide detective," he says.
And the entire Ramirez clan wants to see the father who loves baseball healthy
again.
http://www.bigbeargrizzly.net/articles/2007/04/09/news/elias.txt

Hepatitis C 'rife in SA jails'
POLLY HAYNES
HEPATITIS C infection is rife among the state's prison population, with almost
half of the 1700 prisoners infected with the virus, according to a University of
Adelaide study.
Epidemiologist and University of Adelaide PhD graduate Dr Emma Miller said
injecting drug use -common among the State's prisoners - was responsible for 42
per cent of them having the blood-borne virus.
"Seventy per cent of people entering our prisons have a history of injecting
drug use and although most of them modify that behaviour in prison, contaminated
needles represent a significant threat to other prisoners and staff," she said.
Tattoos also accounted for up to 5% of all newly notified cases of Hepatitis C
in South Australia, the study found.
The majority of these tattoos were applied within the prison system.
About 700 inmates were interviewed for the 15-month study of South Australia's
eight publicly- operated prisons, which revealed an entry prevalence of
Hepatitis C about 40 times higher than in the general population.
The figure for female prison entrants was even higher, at 65%.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21538123-5006301,00.html

Wow..I missed all the excitement about this doctor! Is he really being
successful in treating Hep C? Where can I go to find out...the link about him
treating Hep
Anyone point me in the right direction please...and Thanks!
Have a great week everyone!
Deb
nmilover <nmilover@...
Sally Roberts <sallyrob@...

Sally. Please do NOT misinterpret this but please understand what I
am saying and why I am saying it. First I thought you started your
own group for informational posts. Why are you posting so much info
to this group a lot of which is repeats that I have already posted.
Also Dr. Zhang or any other homeopathic, naturopathic, herbal *doc*
has never cured a single Hep C patient and never will. You know I
think herbs help. I take them. But I am not deluded enough to
think they will ever cure the Hep C. Except for the informational
posts that I make I would like to keep this group for light chatter
and hopefully Cingles meeting Cingles. Please let's get back to that
and keep this group upbeat, light hearted, supportive, and helpful.
Thanks for understanding and please take the time to read this word
for word in the spirit in which it was intended because you have
accused me in the past of being mean to you, of deleting you from
groups that I have no control over, and other various things that I
just can't deal with right now. EVERYONE PLEASE GET ALONG and THANK
YOU!

Sally Roberts <sallyrob@...

Experts to work on Hepatitis C vaccine
Sally (nmilover@...) has sent you the Feature News page Personal
message:
ok trying something new
Experts to work on Hepatitis C vaccine

The inquisitional information of Hepatitis C patient condition I'm on a roll
l
Date: Mon, 9 Apr 2007 21:27:26 -0700
 China Liaoning Province Tieling City Â
Hepatopathy Research Institute
The Road To Health Of The Patients With Hepatitis C
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The inquisitional information of Hepatitis C patientâ condition
Thankful letter
Hello, Professor Kezhang
I am one patientâs relation, the patient has bought the drug from your
research institute. Today we have received the drug, especially thank you for
your mailing drug service!
My mother has got Hepatitis C for many years, and has treated for many years,
but without any improvement. From using the new drug âYugandanâ which is
produced by your research institute, my motherâs condition has improved
obviously. Now she has taken the drug for almost 1 course, the effect is good,
and the liver disease is nearly cured! So I represent my family to thank your
research institute heartily! Your knight service offers the our patients great
convenience. At the same time, I will thank passional service of professor
Zhang!
The drug has such supernatural effect, so we will propagandize it for you in
order to make all patients with Hepatitis C to get well early.
At last, I wish the drug of your research institute to become famous at China
and foreign countries early, and let more and more patients benefit from it!
 Xiaoyi
                      11/14/00
2. Â Â Case analysis
The patient is a doctor of No.242 hospital of Shenyang, who infected Hepatitis C
because of an operation in 1995, the transaminase all the while keep at 70-110
u/L in the 2 years after that. The patient feels comfortlessness at liver
region, sometimes feels slight pain, feels fatigued, and easy to catch cold. He
has used interferon 3000 thousands to inject via muscle every other day, at the
same time take interferon tablet orally, but the transaminase is still not
stable, mark of Hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV), HCVRNA are both positive, after
using Yugandan for 1 course, all of the symptoms disappear, by exam, HCVRNA
turns to negative, anti-HCV also decreases, then takes the drug for several
courses continuously, now the patientâs state of illness is stable, without
any symptom, anti-HCV is minimum.
3. Lifenglian, female, 67 years old, live at developing area of Dalian
She was in hospital to treat the disease at Spring Festival of 2001, often felt
fatigued, bed-ridden on account of illness, after taking Yugandan for 1 month,
she can get up, and afford common housework, and her constitution becomes better
than ever.
4. Yanghuiping, female, 32 years old, live in Jilin province
She taking Yugandan from March 2001, before that HCVRNA is positive, and after
took the drug, HCVRNA turns to negative.
5. Wangwei, female, 18 years old, lives in Henan Province, a student
She got blood transfusion in an operation 10 years ago, and was found the
antibody of Hepatitis C-anti-HCV also positive when she offered blood in
January, 2001, at the same time, she felt fatigued, colour was not good, often
caught cold, with poor appetite and disliked oily food and other symptoms,
sometime had loose bowels, and she has used interferon and used some Chinese
traditional medicine at native hospital, but without any improvement, she knew
that Yugandan has good effect on treating Hepatitis C through internet in
January, 2001, and began to use the drug the last ten-day of January, different
kinds of symptoms were all improved obviously after 10 days, examined HCV turns
to negative after 1 course, then she continued to take the drug, reexamined in
September, 2001, found HCV was still negative, anti-HCV has disappeared for 9
months until now, we will continue to follow-up this case.
6. Someone surname is Su, male, 18 years old, Xinxiang City, Henan province
He hospitalized at 12-12-2001, who got examed at Shanghai Infectious Disease
Hospital (assay number is No.0114891,7-20-2001), HCV typeâ b. After taking
Yugandan until 3-18-2002, he got examed at No. Hospital affiliated to Xinxiang
Medical College, Henan province. His Hepatitis C virus was 1.79E+5 copy per
milliliter (sample number is 0010744), and he continued to take Yugandan until
5-8-2002 and got examed at the same hospital and his Hepatitis C virus HCVRNA
was 4.9E+4 copy per milliliter (sample number is 0011558). And then he continued
to take the drug until 7-12-2002, and got examed at the same hospital, his
Hepatitis C virus HCVRNA was 3.3E+2 copy per milliliter (sample number is
0017722) (normal value is <300 copy per milliliter). After taking Yugandan for
half a year, the load virus amount decreased to almost normal from 9.28E+5 of
the beginning, at the same time, the patientâs symptoms like fatiguing and
inertia, anorexia, hepatic region pain all disappeared
after taking the drug for one to two months.
ã
back
Advisory E-mail: drzhangke@...
"Employ thy time well if thou meanest to get leisure" Benjamin Franklin
Sally Roberts
sallyrob@...
nmilover@...

The new breakthrough in treatment of Hepatitis C
The Hepatitis C is an intractable disease, which threaten human health severely,
and has been considered hard to cure for many years. Through several years
clinical study by Hepatopathy Research Institute of Tieling City, Liaoning
Province of China, the oral-take traditional Chinese medicineââYugandanâ
has been manufactured, and it has a significant and apparent effect on treating
Hepatitis C. It has cured tens of thousands patients with Hepatitis C for 7
years clinical use, and a lot of patients'HCVRNA turn to negative thoroughly
(without rebound), which break through the myth that Hepatitis C is hard to
cure, even can't be cure thoroughly, and therefore gains belauded by many
patients'.
For a long time, Hepatitis C has been a great problem of medical study
constantly, the reason that Hepatitis C is hard to be cured is that Hepatitis C
virus locates in the nucleus of hepatic cell, so if you use drug to kill
Hepatitis virus directly, certainly, it will kill both virus and hepatic cell.
So we can say that in a short time, human medicine still can't solve the
question of killing hepatitis virus without killing hepatic cell.
Now, the drug mostly used on treating Hepatitis C is interferon, and interferon
has certain effect on some type of Hepatitis C, but has no effect on type â b
Hepatitis C. And the rate of HCVRNA turn to negative is about 25% on treating
type â¡b, â¢b Hepatitis C which is suitable for interferon. Interferon can let
some patients' HCVRNA turn to negative, but is easy to rebound, and has obvious
side effect, which can make some patients to suffer fever, muscular pain,
baldness and other hard-to-endure reactions, so has to break off use of it.
Together with long term course, expensive cost, makes some patients to be unable
to afford it. Which can be said that the drug to treat Hepatitis C is far to
satisfy clinical demand.
So how about the effect of Chinese herbal medicine (the drug that is made of
natural plant) on treating Hepatitis C? A great deal of clinical practice has
shown that Chinese herbal medicine has obvious effect on increasing human body
immunity, and to neutralizing poison, clearing out liver, protecting liver,
healing liver, and so on, so it has unique advantage on treating liver disease.
The reason that the effect of some Chinese herbal medicine which is used to
treat Hepatitis is still not obvious is because of having not really uncovered
the advantage of traditional Chinese medicine, the reasons are as follows:
1.The excavation of traditional Chinese medicine is inadequate, some medicine
that has special effect on liver disease has still not been found or been
applied extensively (especially in bread frigid region of north).
2.The common traditional Chinese medicine has been applied for thousands of
years, so it has made the human beings to have more or less tolerance.
3.Now most commonly used traditional Chinese medicine is man-planted crop, so
the effective component is far from enough.
4.The liver disease virus is located in the hepatic cell, and the detoxification
effect of common drug is hard to enter hepatic cell, so we must filtrate the
drug with strong soakage and osmosis, to make the drug reach the inside of
hepatic cell, only in this way, the effect of drug can be exerted thoroughly.
From all of the above, the personnel of research institute have carried through
clinical observation for many years, and studied with great concentration, used
traditional Chinese effective medical prescription for reference, paid attention
to excavating medical prescription among the people, and exhumed wild vegetable
medicine through practice time after time and finally developed liver disease
series drugââYugandanâ.
The principal component of âYugandanâ is the rare wild plant collection from
Changbai mountain, and collect the plant after defoliation in the fall, the
plant grow at narrow and long zone south of Zhangguangcai mountain of Changbai
mountain, the altitude of Zhangguangcai mountain is 1350 meters. Put the plant
indoors after collection, and the plant can emit light after turn off the lamp
in the night. By scientific analysis, the drug has a great deal of rare
microelement that human being must have, which can't be assimilated by modern
drug. At the same time, match with Hongjingtian (resist high temperature,
tolerate tire), American ginseng ( to nourish negative and benefit for breath),
indigo wood root ( to neutralize poison, to cool the blood and benefit for
liver), and other mild flavor traditional Chinese herbs.
The characteristics are:
  1.The flavor is mild, neither cold nor dry, and suit for the physiology
characteristic of liver. At the same time it also has the original effect of
strengthen the liver and spleen, to stimulate liver and to neutralize poison.The
pharmacody is to improve the blood circulation of the liver, and increase the
blood flow of the liver and oxygen content of the cell, to improve rebirth of
hepatic cell, to enhance the virus resistant capability of the liver, and make
the virus decrease gradually until disappear. And it also has the effect to
improve liver fibrosis, to correct inversion of protein, to make swelling liver
turn to normal, and eliminate ascites caused by hepatocirrhosis.
2.In the âYugandanâ there are components of relative strong ability of
soakage and infiltration (the flavour is acerbity appreciably), so it can make
the effective component of the drug to infiltrate into the nucleus of hepatic
cell, and exert the drug effect better, and hence to eliminating Hepatitis C
Virus and turning positive into negative.
3.Cure both indication and origin, and after cured,not easy to rebound.
4.It is processed by pure natural wild vegetable drug, the material is pure, the
effect of drug is credible without any toxicity and side effects.
After taking for 3-5 days, the following symptoms begin abating until
disappearing gradually. Such as: breast suffocation, hepatic region pain, dry
mouth or feeling mouth bitter, abdominal distention, inappetence, nausea,
fatigue, swirl or insomnia, waist and knee feeling sour and feeble, yellow
emiction, have loose bowels, and others. It can make liver return to normal in
short time, 3 months later, the virus symbol turn to negative gradually. At this
time, it needs consolidating for some time, and to make the albumin (A) to
increase in vivo, globulin (G) decrease, so it can make the liver and spleen of
patient to get back to normal form gradually.
Â
Attached table : Clinical test (compare with the result of interferon)
(1)Â Short-term course
Group A: Interferon 3miu tiw for 6 months
Group B: Yugandan 8 pills per time tiB po for 6 months Â
ã Effective rate Long-term Effective rate The ratio of nonexistence of
virus in the serum after treatment The amount of residual virus The grade of
improvement of liver
Group A 30.8% 8.1% 31% 32±10 11±5
Group B 44.7% 22.3% 65.4% 18±13 30±3
Conclusion: The patients with chronic Hepatitis C oral taking Yugandan for 6
months, the result is obviously better than using interferon for improving liver
and resuming ALT for the same period.
 (2) Long-term course
Group A: Interferon 3miu tiw for 6 months+3miu tiw for 12 months
Group B: Yugandan 8 pills per time tiB po 18 mouths
ã Effective rate Long-term Effective rate The ratio of nonexistence of
virus in the serum after treatment The amount of residual virus The grade of
improvement of liver
Group A 42% 20.3% 60.4% 13±8 27±3
Group B 69.2% 28.3% 66.5% 9±6 60±3
Conclusion: The patients with chronic Hepatitis C oral taking Yugandan for a
long-term course has much more obvious effect than interferon.
Summary: âYugandanâ has obvious effect for treating refractory chronic
Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis C.This medicine is made by our Institute and saled
only from here,this is the only way to get it for the patient.
Advisory E-mail: drzhangke@...
Sally Roberts
sallyrob@...
nmilover@...
...."And the Beat goes on...." Sonny Bono

marconews.com Health Notes: April 10 Monday, April 9, 2007
The Eagle welcomes your health and fitness news. Send e- mail to
mail@..., fax to (239) 213-5382 or mail to Health Notes, c/o Marco
Eagle, P.O. Box 579, Marco Island, FL 34146..
Support groups
Al-Anon meetings on Marco are held each week at 11 a.m. Monday and at noon and
7 p.m. Thursday at United Church of Marco Island, 320 N. Barfield Drive. Call
394-6401.
Alcoholics Anonymous meets at noon, 5:30 and 8 p.m. Monday through Friday; at
9 a.m., noon and 6:30 p.m. Saturday; and at 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Sunday at 944 N.
Collier Blvd. Call 394-6401.
Alzheimer's Caregiver Support Online is staffed by University of Florida
psychology professionals who conduct live, interactive classes on subjects such
as stress management, understanding and dealing with memory loss, and managing
difficult caregiving tasks. A message board and regular telephone conferences
with experts in Alzheimer's care also are available so participants can share
comments and ask questions. Call toll- free at (866) 260-2466 or visit
www.AlzOnLine.net.
Alzheimer's Support Network meets at 10 a.m. the third Friday of each month at
the Bank of America community room, 614 Bald Eagle Drive. Caregivers and others
involved in the daily care of Alzheimer's-dementia patients can share
observations, feelings, coping techniques and experiences. Meetings also are
held at 10 a.m. Tuesday (except the first Tuesday of the month) and Thursday at
Caregivers Resource Center, 660 U.S. 41 N., suite 21, Naples. Call 262-8388.
Anti-Tobacco Partnership meetings are at 5 p.m. the first Thursday of each
month at Golden Gate Community Center. The public is invited. Call Bob Troesch
at 732-2672.
Better Breathing program: Those with asthma, emphysema or chronic bronchitis
can get help from the American Lung Associations Better Breathing program. The
program is designed for people with lung disease and consists of monthly
meetings that combine beneficial information and educational programs with
social activities. Call 436-5283.
A breast-feeding mothers luncheon is offered from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the
first Monday of each month at NCH North Collier Hospital, 11190 Health Park
Blvd., Naples. An optional lunch is available for $6. The group is for nursing
mothers and pregnant women who want to learn more about breast-feeding. Weight
checks are available for babies. Deadline for reservations is the Wednesday
before the luncheon. Call 513-7546.
Cancer Society programs: The Marco Island unit of the American Cancer Society
has the following programs available (call the American Cancer Society office at
642-8800, ext. 113):
Cancer Support Group meets from 10:30 a.m. to noon the first and third
Thursday of each month at the American Cancer Society office at 917 N. Collier
Blvd.
Look Good, Feel Better, a beauty techniques program for female cancer
patients undergoing treatment, meets from 7 to 9 p.m. the first Monday of each
month at the American Cancer Society office.
Bereavement Support Group meets from 10 to 11:30 a.m. the second Thursday of
each month at the American Cancer Society office.
Caregiver Support Group meets from 5:30 to 7 p.m. the fourth Thursday of
each month at the American Cancer Society office.
Cancervive provides support and assistance to all cancer patients. The group
meets at 7 p.m. Monday in the Cleveland Clinic cafeteria, 6101 Pine Ridge Road,
Naples. Call Judy at 352-0726.
Candlelighters of Southwest Florida Inc. is a nonprofit charity providing
support, education and assistance to families that have children diagnosed with
cancer or blood-related diseases. The charity is at The Children's Hospital of
Southwest Florida in Fort Myers. Group activities include family picnics,
holiday parties and educational seminars to help families learn to cope with the
effects of the disease. Call (239) 432-2223.
Coffee and Comfort Grief Support Group, for mothers of all faiths who have
experienced the death of a child, meets at St. Marks Episcopal Church library at
7:30 p.m. the second Wednesday of each month. Call Nanette Moll at 394-7112.
Fibromyalgia Support Group: The Arthritis Foundation meets to accommodate
those with fibromyalgia. The meetings are held at 2 p.m. the second Tuesday of
each month at NCH Wellness Center, 300 Goodlette-Frank Road, Naples. Call the
Arthritis Foundation at (800) 741-4008.
Food-for-healthy-kids class: Learn how to help your children grow up healthy
in a fast-food world. This free one-hour class meets at 4 p.m. Monday at the
Collier County Health Department, room 206. Classes are available in Spanish and
English. Call Pete at 732-2594.
Fort Myers Autism Support Group: This group is for parents of children with
autism spectrum disorder (ASD), including ADD and ADHD. The group normally meets
at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2439 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, to exchange
ideas that will enhance the quality of life for autistic loved ones and their
parents. Nutrition, therapeutic approaches and networking are components of each
meeting. Call Kathy Grey at (239) 277-3152 for information.
Grandparent Support Group, sponsored by the Naples Alliance for Children,
offers grandparents and other relatives who are surrogate parents mutual support
and information sharing. Call the Naples Alliance for Children at 649-5260.
Grief Support Group, for those of all faiths who have experienced the loss of
a loved one, meets at 1 p.m. each Friday at the parish office of San Marco
Catholic Church. Call 394-5181 for information.
Hepatitis Support Group: A support group for family members, caregivers and
those infected with hepatitis is held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. the first Wednesday
of each month at the Collier County Health Department, room 144. Call Michelle
Plaxton at 732-2578.
Hospice of Naples, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane off Pine Ridge Road, offers a
variety of support groups led by experienced professionals for those who have
lost a loved one. The groups are free and open to the public.
Naples 1 to 2:30 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month at
Hospice.
Northern Collier County 2 to 3:30 p.m. the second and fourth Thursday of
each month at Hospice of Naples north office, 15495 U.S. 41 N., suite 125 (in
Audubon Plaza, just south of Bonita Beach Road).
American Cancer Society 5:30 to 7 p.m. the fourth Thursday of each month
at 917 N. Collier Blvd. Call 642-8800.
Heron House 3 to 4:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at 5175 U.S.
41 E.
La Leche League meets at noon the second Tuesday of each month in the nursery
of the education wing of Marco Presbyterian Church. Meetings are open to all
women interested in breast- feeding. Meetings include the latest medical
information as well as the personal experiences of successful nursing mothers.
Babies are always welcome. Call 394-5965.
Man to Man Support Group meets at 7 p.m. the last Monday of each month,
October through May, at Lutgert Pavilion, 681 Fourth Ave. N. The group is for
men to share current information about prostate cancer. Spouses, friends and
relatives are invited to special meetings. Call 592-9750.
Multiple Sclerosis Society: Learn more about the Multiple Sclerosis Society by
contacting the South Florida Chapter of the National MS Society at (800) FIGHT
MS.
Narcotics Anonymous meetings are held at 8 p.m. each Monday at 336 Capri
Blvd., Isles of Capri. NA is a fellowship of men and women who are learning to
live without drugs.
The Nutrition and Health Center offers a heart-disease-reversal program, a
weight-loss support group, osteoporosis exercise and education, supplements/
antioxidants, a class in vegetarian cooking, an individualized weight-loss
program, the New Healthy Plate Program, and diabetes self- management classes.
Call 436-6755.
The Parkinson Association of Southwest Florida Inc. offers exercise classes
and support groups on Marco Island. Exercise classes and support groups for
caregivers are at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at United Church of Marco
Island, 320 N. Barfield Drive. Other specialized support groups, such as for
early-stage Parkinson's, meet monthly. Call 948-5303.
Pet Grief and Loss Support Groups: Hospice of Naples holds support group
meetings for those who have experienced the loss of a pet from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
the third Monday of each month at Hospice of Naples, 1095 Whippoorwill Lane,
Naples. Call 261-4404.
Project Help offers trained counselors to provide individual counseling,
family counseling, court advocacy, victim support and support groups. Services
are free and confidential. Contact the Project Help office from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday at 649-1404.
Stress-relief training: Carolyn Katchmar, a licensed psychotherapist, teaches
coping techniques and skills in a free group from 10:30 a.m. to noon each Friday
at United Church of Marco Island, 320 N. Barfield Drive. Confidentiality is
strictly respected. Call Katchmar at 394-1784.
Health services
Arthritis aquatic class: If you have pain and stiffness due to fibromyalgia,
osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or any rheumatic disease, a twice-weekly
arthritis aquatic class may increase muscle strength and flexibility. Classes
are held at Naples Lakes Country Club, 4785 Inverness Club Drive, Naples. The
movements are gentle stretches: slow, controlled movements within each persons
comfort zone. No swimming is required. The class does not replace a medical
regimen of therapeutic exercise. Call 739-2729 for information or an
application.
The Arthritis Foundation offers the public a free directory of attorneys,
CPAs, trust officers, financial consultants and investment advisers in the area.
To get a free copy of the referral directory, call the Planned Giving Service
Center at (800) 664-2182. If you are a professional adviser and would like more
information about joining the Arthritis Forum in Florida, call (407) 772-1409.
Community Blood Centers
Community Blood Center of Naples, 681 Fourth Ave. N., is open from 7 a.m. to
5 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. the third Wednesday of
each month.
Community Blood Center of Bonita Springs, 28321 U.S. 41 S., is open from 8
a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday and Friday; from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday; and closed
Tuesday and Wednesday. Call 495-1138.
Island Rehabilitation Center:
Free screening and education for low- back pain from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
every Thursday. Call Terrie at 394-4135 to schedule a free evaluation.
Free educational seminar for bladder and bowel health from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30
p.m. every Tuesday. Call Sara at 394-4135 for a confidential appointment.
Island Rehabilitation Center Inc. is located at 19 Bald Eagle Drive, suite F.
Marco Healthcare Center, 40 Heathwood Drive, offers the following services:
Cardiac rehabilitation for patients who have had coronary surgery, a heart
attack or angina in the past year is available by calling 393-4033.
A comprehensive pain clinic for chronic and acute pain management is
available each Tuesday. Call 393-4067 for an appointment.
The laboratories for outpatient testing and pre-employment and random drug
testing are open from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Physical and occupational therapy is offered by appointment. Call 393-4079
for scheduling.
Pulmonary health and rehabilitation services, including education and
supervised, monitored exercise, are available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday,
Wednesday and Friday. Call 393-4076.
Free blood-pressure screenings are available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily in
the Outpatient Services building.
Pediatric services can be arranged by calling 394-0693.
The National Marrow Donor Program Registry: Each year more than 30,000
children and adults are diagnosed with leukemia and other diseases for which a
stem-cell transplant may be the only cure. Only 30 percent of these people will
find matching donors within their families. The others will look to the National
Marrow Donor Program Registry for a potential lifesaving match. At any given
time, 3,000 patients are searching the donor registry for a potentially
lifesaving stem- cell donor. For more information or to register, call (800)
MARROW-2 or visit www.marrow.org.
© 2007 Marco Daily News and NDN Productions. Published in Marco Island,
Florida, USA by the E.W. Scripps Co.
_uacct = "UA-418798-1"; urchinTracker();
---------...and the beat goes on......." Sonny Bono.....I will say of the L-rd,
He is my refuge andmy fortress: my G-d; in Him will I trust.Psalm

Licorice
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070409091359.htm
A weekly look at the nutritional value, or lack thereof, of some of our favorite
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WEB EXCLUSIVE
By Joan Raymond
Newsweek
Updated: 8:31 a.m. PT April 9, 2007
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April 9, 2007 - Licorice is a stickier subject than you might imagine.
Strawberry and Cherry Twizzlers, for example, the oh-so-popular movie candies
that everybody thinks of as licorice, don't contain licorice of any kind. And
real licorice, which is derived from the root of a shrubby plant called
Glycyrrhiza glabra, has been linked to an array of health problems.
Though it seems benign, licorice is a "good news and bad news kind of herb,"
says registered dietitian Roberta Anding of Texas Children's Hospital. For
centuries, licorice has been used to treat a multitude of ailments, including
stomach ulcers, bronchitis, sore throat and viral infections. A review of
several clinical trials found that glycyrrhizic acid, a molecule found in
licorice root, might actually reduce complications from hepatitis C in some
patients. But the "trials were poorly designed," says Anding, and there isn't
enough evidence to actually say that licorice can help with any medical
problems.
But it might cause a few. According to the National Institutes of Health,
licorice has been linked to salt and water retention and low potassium levels.
It can also cause an increase in levels of cortisol, a hormone linked to high
blood pressure. Some research suggests it may even cause preterm labor. To top
it off, licorice may not be good for the libido. Hormonal imbalances have been
reported with the use of licorice, such as abnormally low testosterone levels in
men.
Most licorice candies (especially those in the U.S.) are flavored with anise oil
(a spice with a licorice taste) or made with a licorice root extract called DGL
(deglycyrrhizinated licorice root) that does not contain glycyrrhizic acid. DGL
is not associated with many of the adverse effects of licorice. But if you
satisfy your sweet tooth on occasion with some real-deal licorice candy
available at import stores or online, don't panic. Levels of licorice root in a
serving-size portion of candy are not as high as those found in herbal
supplements. But don't binge on it, either. Limit yourself to a few pieces. And
avoid it if you have high blood pressure or heart disease.
If you plan on buying a licorice root supplement at your local health food
store, be smart and talk to your doctor. Once you get an OK, follow dosing
guidelines, which may differ depending on the product you purchase. High doses
of licorice root (50 grams or more per day) and taking it longer than two to six
weeks, may cause high blood pressure, among other problems. "Licorice is an herb
that should be taken very seriously," says Christine Gerbstadt, M.D., R.D.,
spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. "Just because something is
natural doesn't mean it's safe."
When it comes to Twizzlers, it's actually sugar that you need to think about.
Only the black (licorice) version contains licorice extract, minus the acid. One
serving of the licorice or strawberry flavorfour piecescontains 20-21 grams of
sugar. That's about five teaspoons of sugar per serving. Although you won't
have any of the bad biological effects from licorice root, "you're going to have
one heck of a sugar buzz if you eat the whole bag at the movies like most of us
do," says Gerbstadt.
© 2007 Newsweek, Inc. | Subscribe to Newsweek
---------...and the beat goes on......." Sonny Bono.....I will say of the L-rd,
He is my refuge andmy fortress: my G-d; in Him will I trust.Psalm

sorry about this.... so posting articles
nmilover <nmilover@...

stuff.co.nz Tuesday, 10 Apr 2007
Haemophiliac set for kayak adventure Aucklander Jack Finn is about to embark
on an unusual journey that would see him become the first person to
circumnavigate the Auckland Islands by kayak.
The attempt is made more impressive by the fact the 24-year-old suffers from
haemophilia and hepatitis C, which he contracted after receiving a blood
transfusion when he was 9. The trip has taken 18 months to organise and will
take two weeks to complete, leaving from Bluff on Wednesday at noon.
"I wanted to do it because it is an area that has never been explored by kayak
before ... there is an element of high risk in the trip," Finn said.
The journey had been made as safe as possible with a support vessel and Finn's
nurse coming from Auckland to join the support crew.
Part of Finn's support crew will be his mother, Mary Hancock.
"When Jack came up to me and told me about this adventure I took a deep breath
but, having experienced his past adventures, I was prepared for it," she said.
In 2004 Finn travelled from Cape Reinga to Bluff by bike and kayak.
"It is a very dangerous thing that Jack is going to attempt, so I am worried but
I think it is achievable and he is well prepared for it," Mrs Hancock said.
"I am anxious, but I would rather be there on board, as a sailor myself, than
sitting at home worrying," she said.
Finn works as a sea kayak guide in West Auckland but says he is under no
illusions that the journey is going to be a walk in the park.
"The water around there can be very rough and the winds strong ...
this time of year the temperature is between 4 and 6 degrees, it is not going to
be easy to kayak for eight hours a day," Finn said.
Mrs Hancock added: "Potentially we could encounter big seas but Jack's not
stupid, he will be choosing when he goes out." Finn said he wanted to inspire
others, especially those who also have haemophilia.
"I also feel that I am carrying the weight of those whose condition is not as
mild as mine and are unable to do these sort of things." Finn said he was not
deterred by recent high-profile disasters, like that of Australian Andrew
McAuley.
"It was a shame. He obviously had an eye for adventure, and what makes it
adventure is that there is an element of risk involved," he said.
Rescue Centre spokesman Steve Corbett said they had no extra concerns about Mr
Finn than they held for anyone else.
" As long as he has taken the appropriate safety gear and the proper
precautions, we are not worried ... there is always risk the most experienced
skipper in the world can get into trouble," Mr Corbett said.
The journey is estimated to have cost $35,000 which was raised with the help of
sponsors.
Included in supplies are 12,000 units of blood, which is about five or six
treatments worth, should an accident occur.
"I take my hat off to Jack. It's amazing that he got here. I was proud of him
having a dream to do something like this," Mrs Hancock said.
Finn's progress will be posted on the New Zealand haemophilia website
www.haemophilia.org.nz
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Public release date: 9-Apr-2007
Contact: Franklin Hoke
hoke@...
215-898-3716
The Wistar Institute
How do the rules of immunity change during chronic infections? New study finds
an altered immune response to viruses like HIV and hepatitis C (PHILADELPHIA)
-- After a viral infection, a small percentage of the T cells generated to kill
virus-infected cells remain on guard to establish long-term immunity. These
so-called memory T cells, which derive from a family of immune cells known as
CD8 T cells, engage in a self-renewal process that is essential to their
persistence. This ongoing process ensures effective protection against any
repeat infection by the same virus, even decades later.
But not all infections are equal. While most viral infections are cleared from
the body within a few days or weeks, some infections, such as HIV or hepatitis C
infections, become chronic. Some studies have suggested that the virus-specific
CD8 T cells generated during a chronic infection may not develop the same
characteristics as the CD8 T cells that persist after an acute infection.
Now, scientists at The Wistar Institute have found that the CD8 T cells
generated to fight a chronic infection operate under an entirely different
maintenance scheme than do the CD8 T cells that become memory T cells following
an acute infection, becoming wholly dependent upon the presence of virus for
their continuation. Details of the study will appear in the April 16 issue of
The Journal of Experimental Medicine, published online April 9.
In addition, the CD8 T cells maintained during chronic infections establish a
distinct pattern of cell division that creates a rapid turnover of cells, a
characteristic that could be manipulated to design new therapeutic options for
chronic infections, says E. John Wherry, Ph.D., senior author on the study and
an assistant professor in the Immunology Program at Wistar.
"It appears the immune system responds to viral infections with two very
different cell types," Wherry says. "In one case, when virus is completely
cleared, you have a memory T cell capable of self-renewal. But during chronic
infection, you have a totally different type of T cell that is not governed by
the same pathways and mechanisms."
Understanding how the bodys immune response operates during chronic
infections, and why it fails to clear these infections, cou