Here Are Some Great Tips!

See the links for the full article.

In Honor of Earth Day

A Wonderful Gift from Our very own JMDD/JMFC member Janie H. in her own words about her beloved husband and sweetheart...Henry.

"In the mid 1970's Henry woke up with the idea of changing the fluorescent bulb from a one foot long to more than 4 feet long bulb.  He felt that if the glass was put into a different shape that it could be made to fit into an incandescent lamp.  He took the idea to work, told the glass blower and the engineer he worked with and they proceeded to eventually make the now popular compact lamp. The first lamp came out in 1980.  He now holds 14 patents with the US patent office which belonged to Westinghouse.  He was paid $500.00 for each one. Today being earth day Home Depot is giving out one million free compact lamps."

 

One Step Ahead of a Car Theft
>
 READ THIS AND FOLLOW THE ADVICE.

 

WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF NEXT?

 Seems that car  thieves have found yet another way to steal  your  car or truck without any effort at  all. The car  thieves  peer through the windshield of your car or  truck, write  down the VIN # from the  label on  the dash, go to the local car  dealership and request a duplicate key based on the VIN   #.  My friend didn't  believe this e-mail, so she  called
 Chrysler-Dodge and pretended she had lost her  keys. They  told her to just bring in the VIN #,  and they would cut her one on  the spot, and she  could order the keyless device if she   wanted.

 The Car Dealer's  Parts Department will make a  duplicate  key from  the VIN #, and collect payment from the thief who will  return  to your car. He doesn't have to break in, do any   damage to the vehicle, or draw attention to  himself. All he has to  do is walk up to your  car, insert the key and off he goes to a  local  Chop Shop with your  vehicle.
You don't  believe  it? It IS that  easy.  To avoid  this from happening to you,  simply
put some tape  (electrical tape, duct tape or medical  tape)  across the VIN Metal Label located on the dash   board. By law, you cannot remove the VIN, but  you can cover it so it can't be viewed through  the windshield by a car  thief.  I  urge you to  forward this to your friends before some other  car  thief steals another car or  truck.

 Good tip: Slipped a 3 x 5  card over  the VIN  NUMBER.

 Ahhhh....don't ya just love how smart we're getting? 

  Firms Offer Private Mobile Phone Records for Sale

  By Leslie Cauley, USA TODAY

Your Cell Phone Calls are not Secret

 

(Jan. 17) - Cingular Wireless is taking on companies that have been selling private phone records - the actual numbers dialed, that is - of unwary customers to anyone who asks.

Cingular obtained a temporary restraining order late last week against operators of Locatecell.com and others of its ilk that specialize in offering private cellphone records for a flat fee. There are dozens of such services available, mostly through the Web.

From AOL Fitness and Health

Slow Workout is So Good for YOU!

 

A Great Way To Exercise!

 

SuperSlow, a strength-training technique that focuses on lifting weights at very slow counts -- for only minutes per week.
 

CHEDDAR Crust APPLE PIE--YUM YUM

Simple Showcase Desserts

from Cooking Light

Cheddar-Crusted Apple Pie
"I can't recommend this recipe enough," says reviewer Bdmdp. "The sweetness of the apples and the tangy, salty flavor of the cheese really work the taste buds. Yum!" Get the recipe.

Next: Chocolate Italian Cake  

Becky Luigart-Stayner

See More at AOL Food ►

Knowing when to eat can help you KEEP WEIGHT OFF

 

Eating Infrequently Can Stall Weight Loss:

 

Losing weight and keeping it off is a all about timing.  It's crucial to eat something every three hours.  If you don't, the body will switch from a fat-burning mode to a fat-preservation mode.  Not a good thing.  Your metabolism plummets and guess what, you gain weight.

 

Read more tips on keeping your weight down.

Tips to KEEP WEIGHT OFF

11-3-2005

AOL Organizing

 from Real Simple  magazine

 Don't Trash Those Bags

Fun & Functional Uses for Old Plastic Sacks--5 Clever Twists

Five Fab Ideas

1) Plastic Fantastic

from Real Simple

They multiply like Tribbles in drawers and closets -- which is why you need smart ways to reuse plastic grocery bags.

Improvised Knee Pads
Need to kneel in your garden to pull weeds, or on the street to change a tire, but don't want to preserve the memory eternally on your pant legs? Grab a couple of plastic bags and tie one around each knee, covering the entire area that will be exposed to dirt and grime. Next ►

10-31-2k5

AOL Organizing

 from Real Simple  magazine

How to Cut Your Gas Costs

 

You can’t change rising fuel prices, but you can ease your pain at the pump

Slow Down
When it comes to putting a cap on gas guzzling, how you drive is almost as important as what you drive. “Fuel economy suffers at speeds higher than 60 and drops like a stone above 70,” says Chris Grundler of the National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions Laboratory, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Adds Richard Beard, an associate professor at Utah State University who researches fuel efficiency, “Slowing from 70 to 55 can increase your miles per gallon by 15 percent.” Putting the brakes on “jackrabbit starts” (stomping on the gas after a red light) cuts use by 25 percent, says Grundler, and cruise control also saves fuel.

Limit use of gas-chugging air conditioners and defrosters. Avoid idling, Beard advises: “One minute of idle is almost equal to starting the car.” Finally, leave the car lot with the best gas hoarder by consulting www.epa.gov/greenvehicles before you buy.

Next ►

10-30-2006

Reminder: 'Fall Back' to Standard Time Oct. 30

In 2007, U.S. Will 'Spring Forward' Earlier to Save Energy
By J.P. MAFFETT, AOL RESEARCH & LEARN

 

Fall Locks Fall Back

Set your clocks back one hour Sun., Oct. 30 at 2AM, as daylight-saving time (DST) ends and most of the nation returns to Standard Time. Enjoy your extra hour of sleep, or perhaps you can use that hour for something really special. This is also one time of year (with each clock change) that fire departments recommend changing the batteries on your smoke detector.

 

Springing Forward' Sooner

As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 that President George W. Bush signed last August, DST will begin on the second Sunday of March in 2007 instead of in April. It will end on the first Sunday of November. The concept behind this change is that it will help save precious energy.

 

You should set your clocks back one hour, Sun., Oct. 30 at 2AM, unless you live in Arizona, Hawaii, or parts of Indiana.

Learn More
Official U.S. Time
World Book: Time
Homework Help: Time Links
More Time Facts
12 Energy-Saving Tips

10-30-2006

MOM GUIDE

 

The Origins of Bad Behavior

Why kids act up -- and how to make yours stop

 

The key to curbing bad behavior? Empathy! If you can understand your child instead of getting angry at her, you're more likely to get to the root of the problem. Here, some common reasons kids misbehave and how you can control it:

Running on empty
Like adults, when kids are tired, hungry, or not feeling well, they get cranky and irritable. But unlike us, they can't yet control these emotions. The result? Monstrous meltdowns.
What to do: When it comes to sleep- or food-deficit-induced mania, prevention is key: Schedule around her naptime. And be prepared: Stockpile snacks and activities in your purse. Learn more about what to do when things fall apart in public.   Next: The need to experiment ►

10-27-2006

Alert to Parents

Sex Offenders See New Limits For Halloween

By ANAHAD O'CONNOR, The New York Times

All across the country this year, local and state authorities are placing registered offenders under one-night curfews or other restrictions out of fear that in only a few days, costumed children asking for candy will be arriving on their doorsteps.

The measures come at a time of growing unease about the nation's most dangerous sexual predators. In the last year, two small children were abducted and killed in Florida and a 56-year-old woman was stabbed to death at a mall in downtown White Plains, all at the hands of registered sex offenders, the authorities say.

Most states classify sex offenders by their likelihood of committing new crimes while on parole or probation, but do not distinguish between pedophiles and those whose crimes are against adults.

In effectively detaining sex offenders on Halloween, most officials say they are not responding to any attacks known to have occurred on past holidays but are concerned that the occasion presents a tantalizing opportunity for offenders to have unsupervised contact with children.

10-24-2005

25 Extreme Energy-Saving Tips

By Aleksandra Todorova

 

IT'S NO SECRET THAT home-heating costs are expected to soar this winter. Fortunately, homeowners can cut their heating bills dramatically by taking a few relatively painless steps.

10-20-2005

How TO Say NO To Kids

 

"I Waaant It!"
Reality-tested tips for taming kiddie greed

 

The problem: "My kids want everything they see on TV"
 

How to handle it: You might think limiting your child's access to commercial TV is the answer. But while monitoring the shows he watches can be an effective way to respond, it's not your only option.

Best Places to Live 2005

Whether or not you're looking to relocate, it's always good to know the best places to live. MONEY magazine and CNN/Money spent months looking for great American towns -- where you would want to raise your children and celebrate life's milestones. Starting with more than 1,300 cities, they settled on 10 winners.

Ask a Teacher

Welcome to Ask a Teacher, the ultimate online destination for Ontario high school homework help. Polynomials a pain? Chemistry confusing?

Spend some time on Ask a Teacher—it’s easy, fun and free!

Select a region.
Contextual glossary.
Add this page to your locker.
Open a printer-friendly version of this page.

Here’s what you’ll find:
Ask a Teacher

10-18-2005

Read More at Link

Seven Foods to Reconsider

If giving up one of the following foods guaranteed a weight loss of 15 pounds by the end of the month, could you abstain?

 

We've all heard the story about a friend who dropped 15-20 pounds by giving up one food or drink. In truth, it's easy to recognize your guilty pleasures, but most of us overlook the obvious sources of fat and calories in our diets. Are you looking the other way?

10-16-2005

10 Things Your Butcher Won't Tell You

 

Many butchers don't know a whole lot about the meat they're hawking — where it comes from or basic information about varying cuts, preparation or cooking time. So where do you go if you want to know how to butterfly a leg of lamb? Look for an old-fashioned, owner-operated butcher shop, or visit an upscale market, such as Whole Foods.

10-10-2005

Tests: Indonesian boy has bird flu 10-10-2005

From CNN's Taffy Santiago
 

JAKARTA, Indonesia (CNN) -- Preliminary tests indicate a 4-year-old boy in Indonesia has been infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of avian influenza, according to officials from the national Department of Health's bird flu monitoring center.

If confirmed, the case would be the sixth in Indonesia.

The boy, Herdi Setiawan, is from Lampung province on Sumatra, officials said. Initial tests were performed in Jakarta, and blood samples have been sent to Hong Kong for confirmation of the results. Those test results are expected early next week, officials said.

Four Indonesians suffering from the H5N1 strain have died since July.

Since December 2003, the strain has turned up in at least 10 Asian countries, infecting more than 100 people and killing at least 60. It is believed to spread when humans come in contact with an infected bird or a contaminated surface, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control. Human-to-human transmission of the virus is rare and has not continued beyond one other person, the CDC said.

However, last month the World Health Organization warned that an avian flu pandemic among humans was "imminent" and urged nations to prepare to battle an outbreak.

As a result, U.S. officials have sprung into action, hosting a two-day conference earlier this week on preventing the spread of the avian flu and drafting plans to handle a possible pandemic.

On Friday, White House officials met with representatives of the U.S. pharmaceutical industry to encourage them to get involved in the manufacture of a flu vaccine.

10-9-2005

"AOL Members--AOL is Revising their Privacy Policy"

 

AOL Member Privacy Policy Frequently Asked Questions
 

AOL is revising its Member Privacy Policy. You can read AOL’s Privacy Commitments to Members to understand our key objectives for protecting your privacy and security.

Why are you making these revisions?
The last significant revision to the AOL Member Privacy Policy was more than seven years ago, in 1998. A lot has changed since then, including an explosion of new technologies and the AOL Service's move away from a proprietary/closed environment to the Web. We are revising our policy to reflect these changes and, going forward, to allow you to take advantage of new technologies by offering greater personalization of your online experience based on your use of the AOL service.

To whom does the revised Privacy Policy apply?
The revised Privacy Policy applies to Members of the AOL Service. Other AOL offerings, such as AIM and the AOL Network, have their own privacy policies.

When do the revisions take effect?
These changes will take effect on November 10th and are not retroactive.

Do you/will you read my private e-mails or Instant Messages?
No. We do not disclose or read the private online communications of AOL Members except in the limited circumstances described in the Privacy Policy (for example, in response to a subpoena or court order).

Do you/will you sell my private information to other companies?
No. Although the existing Privacy Policy for AOL Members permitted us to share your name and/or address with other companies for marketing, we suspended that practice over a year ago. The revised policy reflects AOL's actual practices - we do not sell or rent a Member's name, address, screen name, phone number, or credit card number to outside companies. We only share your AOL Member information with third parties to provide products and services you have requested, when we have your consent, or to present joint offers to you as described in our Privacy Policy.

Do you/will you use information about where I personally go on AOL?
Under our existing Privacy Policy, we said we would not use any information about where Members personally went on the AOL Service. That meant we were unable to offer personalized content, features, and promotions - like news headlines or banners - to Members based on that information

AOL's 1998 policy was simply outdated in this respect. Almost every major Web site - including Amazon, MSN and Yahoo! -- already collects information about where its users go and what they do on their sites and pages, and uses that information to customize their users' experience.

Once the new policy takes effect, we will be able to use information about what you do on the AOL Service and where you go on AOL sites and pages to help personalize your online experience. For example, the millions of AOL Members who regularly visit AOL Sports might see top scores and highlights on their Welcome Screen, or get offers for tickets to home games.

Do you/will you use information about where I personally go on the Web outside AOL?
No. Just as under the existing policy, we do not use personal information about where you go outside the AOL Service unless you ask us to (such as when you activate the Enhanced History feature).

How does AOL use information about searches?
You decide how AOL uses search information. Like other major search engines, we may use information about your searches through the AOL Service and how you use the results of those searches to help customize and improve your search results and, over time, to provide more relevant content and offers to you. If you want, you can turn this functionality off completely or disable the functionality for either specific searches or all searches, as well as to review and/or delete any or all of your past searches.

What choices do I have about the use of AOL Member information?
We want our Members to receive marketing information about products and services that interest them, so we offer a special area where you can decide the types of marketing offers you would prefer to receive.

Do you check out other software on my computer?
Yes. To protect your security and improve your online experience, our systems may look at other software on your machine. This allows us to find and remove viruses before they delete important files or tell you when you've been infected with spyware that can hurt your computer or steal your identity. Read our Privacy Policy to learn more.

* * * Effective 11/10/05

10-5-2005

Antioxidant in Green Tea May Fight Alzheimer's
By Jennifer Warner
WebMD Medical News

Ingredient May Prevent Buildup of Plaque in Brain Linked to Alzheimer's Disease

 

There's an antioxidant in green tea that may prevent the gradual brain damage seen with Alzheimer's disease.

Will the helpful substance make the jump from treat to treatment?

 

Sept. 20, 2005 -- An antioxidant found in green tea may protect the brain and fight the memory-robbing effects seen with plaque deposits in Alzheimer's disease.

A new study shows high doses of the green tea ingredient -- known as epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) -- significantly reduced the formation of beta-amyloid proteins in the brains of mice that were altered to develop Alzheimer's disease. An abnormal buildup of beta-amyloid plaque in the brain is implicated in the nerve damage and memory loss seen in Alzheimer's disease.

EGCG is one of a group of antioxidants called flavonoids found in plants. They have been linked to a variety of health benefits seen in diets rich in fruits and vegetables, such as protecting against cancer or reducing the risk of heart disease.

Antioxidant May Protect Brain

In the study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience, researchers studied the effects of treating mice genetically altered to develop Alzheimer's disease with high doses of the green tea antioxidant.

After several months of daily injections of EGCG, the results showed that the nerve cells of treated mice generated as much as 54% fewer beta-amyloid protein than nontreated mice nerve cells.

"The findings suggest that a concentrated component of green tea can decrease brain beta-amyloid plaque formation," says researcher Jun Tan, PhD, MD, director of the Neuroimmunology Laboratory at the University of South Florida, in a news release. "If beta-amyloid pathology in this Alzheimer's mouse model is representative of Alzheimer's disease pathology in humans, EGCG dietary supplementation may be effective in preventing and treating the disease."

Drinking Green Tea Not Enough

Green tea contains many different antioxidants. The researchers found other green tea antioxidants actually decreased EGCG's ability to reduce beta-amyloid protein production. Therefore, drinking green tea alone may not be enough to fight Alzheimer's disease.

"This finding suggests that green tea extract selectively concentrating EGCG would be needed to override the counteractive effect of other flavonoids found in green tea," says researcher Doug Shytle, PhD, of the University of South Florida, in the release.

Researchers say the dose of the green tea antioxidant humans would need to replicate the dose given the mice would be about 1,500 to 1,600 milligrams daily. That dose has already been studied in humans and found to be safe.

If further studies show treatment with EGCG can reduce memory loss in mice with Alzheimer's disease as well as reduce plaque formation, researchers say the next step would be clinical trials of the green tea antioxidant in humans to prevent and treat Alzheimer's disease.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SOURCES: Rezai-Zadeh, K. Journal of Neuroscience, Sept. 21, 2005; vol 25. News release, University of South Florida Health.

10-4-2005

By Stephanie AuWerter

BARRING AN UNFORSEEN MIRACLE, this year's home-heating bills will likely be a lot higher than last year's — which were a lot higher than the year before. According to the Energy Information Administration (EIA), a typical homeowner in the Northeast — where two thirds of oil-heated homes are located — can expect to spend an average of $1,675 this winter season, a 31% increase over last year. Homeowners who use natural gas will be spending more, too, with the EIA predicting a 46% increase over last year, to $1,480. Read the rest of the article at link>

Tips on Saving Hundreds on Your Heating Bill

Snap, Crackle, Drop
Source AOL> diet & Fitness ……Sponsored by eDiets.com September 13, 2005

Everyone knows breakfast is the most important meal of the day. But when you're watching your  weight, that mantra doesn't give you license to gorge on pancakes, bagels and muffins. When it comes to staying slim, cold cereal eaters have the edge.

Not All Created Equal
Two new studies support the notion that a regular morning meal of cereal and milk wards off weight problems. But even though the studies were funded by two major cereal manufacturers, leading nutritionists agree with their findings. "Cereal with milk is quick and easy, and if you chose the right cereal you get calcium, fiber, and plenty of nutrients," says American Dietetic Association spokeswoman Bonnie Taub-Dix, RD.

Of course, eating a sugar-laden cereal straight from the box can create a diet disaster. Taub-Dix recommends a cereal with no more than 3 grams of sugar per serving and roughly 5 grams of fiber, topped with skimmed milk and berries. If you can't live without your Cocoa Puffs, which has 13 grams of sugar per serving, try cutting the sugar by mixing it with a low-sugar option like Cheerios or Kix.

Smart Snacking
Cereal is also often touted as a healthy snack. The best choice would be a whole-grain variety that's high in fiber and protein. Again, portion and sugar control are key if you choose this as your between-meals treat. Here are some more tips for smart snacking.
 

Getting fit is smart medicine for women Their 50s

By Debbie Cafazzo Tacoma NewsTribune

 

TACOMA, Wash.-In their 30s, women worry about gaining weight on their hips or butts.  But by the time they reach their 50s, approaching or already into menopause, the fat action shifts to a woman's midsection.  This, says exercise physiologist Robyn Stuhr, is the abdominal weight gain associated with changing hormones.  It can signal potential heart disease, diabetes and other health problems associated with aging.

            Stuhr is director of the Women's Sports Medicine Center in New York and gives talks about how keeping fit might be the best medicine for women as they age.  In her video/DVD series "Keeping Fit in Your 50s," Stuhr demonstrates simple exercises that can promote strength, flexibility and aerobic fitness.  "There are so many different areas of health that exercise has an impact on," Stuhr says, "Most people are not aware of how powerful it is, in terms of disease prevention and [preserving] function."

            Stuhr says that in her talks, she focuses on how women 50' and older can start exercising, and how they can avoid mistakes. They include: Doing too much too soon.  "You get enthusiastic, and sign up for killer aerobics, weight training and Pilates," Stuhr says. But charging into a challenging exercise routing too quickly can create injuries or leave you worn out and unmotivated.

 

Robyn Stuhr's advice on avoiding exercise mistakes..

 

        Starting without getting advice from a health professional. Walking into the gym, you might meet a staff of "20:yearolds who know nothing about the body of a 50-year-old."  Stuhr advises you to check with a sports medicine facility, physical therapy practice or hospital for advice before beginning.  If you have knee or back injuries or other health issues such as diabetes, a heath professional's advice is vital.

 

'Give yourself permission to leave class early. "Don't do anything that hurts.'

 

            Beginning with a class that's not designed for beginners can lead to sore muscles and frustration.  Stuhr recommends that beginners get their bodies used to being active, perhaps with a home program that helps develop strength and endurance, "Give yourself permission to leave class early;" she advises. "Don't do anything that hurts. Or change it so it doesn’t hurt you."

            Stuhr, 51, has always been active.  She has a master's degree in exercise physiology.  But even she has made exercise mistakes. "I went to a water exercise class once, and I had a shoulder injury;" she says.  The instructor kept pointing to her: "Over there. Lift your arm way out of the water. I couldn't do it."  Stuhr learned an important lesson: Discuss any physical limitations you have ahead of time with a class instructor.

            The good thing about being a little older, you are a little more assertive," Stuhr says.

WGN-TV: Friday, March 8, 2005

 Help for Hair loss

 

            Fifty percent of people, both men and women will begin to lose their hair by the age of 50, but few seek help. Most people think there's nothing they can do and for women whose hair begins to fall out, they think they are in the minority. Although half the people in our country suffer, only 3 percent seek help. And there is help out there.

            "I started noticing it driving to work in the morning with the sun coming up and I'd look in the mirror and count the hairs on my forehead. It was starting to really bother me," says Nancy Parise, a hair lose patient. So Nancy decided to stop watching her hair fall out and start looking for someone who would help her make it stop.

            "I just decided that I wanted to do something," she says.

            The first thing doctors try to do is diagnose the underlying cause of hair loss. The most common culprit is hormones.

            "Certain medications can have an effect with that, birth control pills, there are side effects to medications that people can be on and that can be causing hair loss," says Dr. Craig Ziering, of Medical Hair Restoration.

Testing for a hormone imbalance, a thyroid problem, anemia or other inflammatory conditions can pinpoint the root of the problem.

            If any of these conditions are corrected the hair will stop falling out.  If all tests are normal, a final test is performed to find a genetic link. And for those who have poor follicles due to a family history, the first course of treatment is Rogaine, a somewhat weaker dose for women than men; 2 percent vs. 5 percent.

            "What this medication can do is it increases the size of that miniaturized follicle. Subsequently, it can increase the size of the hair shaft that that follicle can produce," Dr. Ziering says.

Nancy says, "Since I have been using it, I haven't noticed any hair loss."

            Once the hair loss is stabilized, patients can add hair through a transplant. A procedure that's easier in women since their hair loss is often diffuse throughout the scalp.

            "We can take hair and take it from the back, transplant it in the front in individual follicular units so they can grow. Groups of one, two and three hair grafts and get a very natural result," Dr. Ziering says.

And that means none of the old telltale signs of hair replacement. While there are stitches in the back, where the hair is removed, there are none where the hair is replaced.

            "There's virtually no scarring on top of the head. In the old days, with the plugs you were removing a big piece of tissue and putting a big round block in there and so you were seeing the marks and evidence of that," Dr. Ziering says.  "These tiny little hairs are the transplanted grafts. You'll start to see a development of fullness over the next few months or so."

            But three months after her transplant, Nancy is already enjoying fuller hair.

            "I can see progress and I'm very encouraged that it will fill in and I'll be very happy with the results," Nancy says.

            Women as young as 25 years old begin to see hair thinning, but generally hair loss begins in the 30s for women and at age 18 for men. The earlier either men or women seek treatment, the better the outcome will be.

WGN-TV: Wednesday, March 20, 2005

 Saving the Spine

A new drug can save the spine even after a devastating injury, After six long years studying the experimental drug, doctors now say with conviction it works.

You don't need statistical data to see how well sygen worked for former football star Dennis Byrd. Following a devastating injury on the field, Byrd regained the ability to walk after getting access to the experimental drug. Patients from 28 neuro trauma centers also tested sygen after damaging their spinal cords.

"What the drug is doing is enhancing the ability of the body to do its natural regeneration process both making it faster and making the recovery more complete," says Dr. Fred H. Geisler, a Chicago Institute of Neurosurgery and Neuroresearch (CINN) neurosurgeon.

The spinal cord contains all of the fibers that control sensory and motor motion in the body. To damage the spinal cord means breaking the electrical connection with the brain that allows for sensation and bowel and bladder function.

"Just making a small little cut in here or stroke in here or traumatic lesion will cause a devastating neurologic injury," says Dr. Geisler.
Sygen stimulates damaged nerves to repair themselves. And that means patients feel more like themselves again.

"Very rarely was it back to normal, but it's a functional recovery that helps them in their every day lives and makes them more mobile and more functional," Dr. Geisler says.

Sygen works best if administered within 72 hours after an injury. Chinese gymnast Sang Lan got the drug after she fell during practice at the Goodwill Games. The experts knew what to ask for, but doctors say sygen is not available in mass quantities so when a patient is injured they need quick information. To get the drug soon after an accident and continue taking it for two months.

"The recovery occurs over a one year period with about half the recovery you're ultimately going to obtain in about two months," says Dr. Geisler.

Sygen works the same whether the spinal injury is low or high in the back. But it is most effective for people who still have some sensation below the injury level. Even if that's just slight feeling or the ability to wiggle a toe. Sygen can improve on that tiny movement.

Ultimately, doctors believe a multi-drug approach will help people with spinal injuries, first sygen to begin the process and another drug to continue that regeneration.

WGN-TV: Wednesday, April 3, 2005

Needle-Free Injections
 

A new type of syringe is giving patients a taste of needle-free medicine and taking the pain out of injections.
Doctors are now able to tell their patients they can deliver some medications without a needle and if they absolutely have to give you a shot they can safely say "It won't hurt a bit."

"One, two three. Did you feel it?" says Dr. William Chamberlin, the UIC medical director.
"No," says Chris, a patient.

You read it right. Chris said he didn't feel the medication enter his body. A far cry from most times he's come to the hospital.

"If they draw blood then I can feel the needle, then I'll be scared," Chris says.
With the anesthetic injector the fear factor is gone. And even when nurses need to use a needle to draw blood, there's no pain.

"I didn't even feel nothing," Chris says.
That's because the initial syringe was filled with lidocaine, which numbs the skin.

"It's a little simple process of anesthetizing before we stick IVs in or in certain circumstances particularly with kids before we draw blood.

The high pressure injector device can also be used to deliver insulin for diabetics or blood thinner to those at risk for blood clots.

"It works by having a high pressure cartridge which when released will in this case with a smaller syringe, push the medication intradermally into the skin," says Chamberlin. "There is a plunger on this that breaks and will push the medication out the syringe through the skin. So if I break that, it shoots the syringe. "

And doctors say it cuts down the risks for health care workers. While a sterile needle goes into a patient, when it comes out, it could carry infection.

"If we can get to a position where we don't need needles then healthcare workers will be safer," Dr. Chamberlin says.
And patients will just be happier.

"I think this one is good because the kids won't be able to feel it and they won't be afraid of needles anymore," Dr. Chamberlin says.
In addition to this syringe which injects medications under the skin, there is an injector that uses higher pressure to deliver medicine into the muscle.
 

It's all part of an effort to move to a completely needle free hospital environment.

WGN-TV: Thursday, April 11, 2005

 Circumcision

 

Doctors say the protection for boys begins right after the procedure.

 

Now a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine says women see the benefits as adults, if their sexual partner is circumcised, they have a reduced risk for getting cervical cancer.

 

Some moms don't think twice about it, they have a baby boy, they send him for circumcision before they ever take him home.

 

"It was never really a decision, we just knew we were going to do it," says Laura Ward.

 

And doctors say it's a good thinking they did have Conner circumcised.

 

"There are certain types of carcinomas in men, penial carcinomas, which are exceedingly rare in men who have been circumcised and more common in men who are not," says Dr. Kevin McVary, a Northwestern University urologist.

 

Avoiding cancer is one reason for a newborn male to get circumcised. Avoiding the potential for passing a cancer causing virus to someone else is another.

 

"In women who have partners who have a been circumcised, the foreskin removed around the penis, generally done just after birth, that those women have a much lower rate of cervical carcinoma," Dr.McVary says..

 

One cause of cervical cancer is the human pappiloma virus, which is harbored in foreskin and passed on to women through intercourse.

 

"The cervix is a landing zone for the viral particles and it sets up an inflammatory process in the tissues of the cervix that leads to carcinoma," Dr. McVary says.

 

"That would just reinforce that we did the right thing. We would have done it anyway, but one more good reason," Ward says.

Exercise a good fit for mind and body

^{More energy, less worry and better memory top list of workout benefits}

By Janet L Stoodley

Special to the Tribune

 

            We all know that regular exercise helps strengthen our heart and lungs, helps ward off illness and certain diseases, but does it do anything for our gray matter? Can regular exercise strengthen our brain like it strengthens our heart?

            The answer is, probably.

            Exercise offers a host of mental benefits that scientists are just beginning to uncover.

            "The psychological benefits of exercise by some account are as significant and meaningful as the physiological." said Jack Raglin, associate professor of kinesiology at Indiana University

            Recent studies indicate the benefits of exercise include everything from decreased anxiety, increased energy and self-confidence to improved memory, reaction time and reasoning skills. .

            The most obvious effect of exercise, however, may be on mood. Raglin said that the feelings of well-being that many people report after exercising is more complicated than simply release of endorphins or secretions of dopamine or serotonin.

            "Exercise produces a cocktail of chemicals and a whole host of physical and psychological changes." said Raglin, “anyone of which may be the key"

            Ralph La Forge. (In exercise physiologist at Duke University Medical Center and spokesman for the American Council on exercise, said, "The brain is an integrated organ. There are some 65 different neurotransmitters in the brain that are all probably involved in mood regulation. How could you affect one and not have it affect others?"

        Another theory of why people feel better after they exercise has nothing to do with chemicals at all. Rather it's thought to be the sense of accomplishment people feel following a workout. Or because they've spent an hour with other people or been outside in the fresh air. Or because for a while at least, they've been able to focus on something other than the stresses in their life.

            These psychological factors may contribute more to the decreased anxiety levels and elevated mood than is commonly believed. Raglin, who has been doing research in the area of the psychological benefits of exercise for more than 13 years, found that people who exercised at a rate far below that necessary for the release of "neurochemicals" still reported these psychological benefits.

            Even exercise such as cutting the grass, washing the car or gardening produced the same elevation in mood once thought exclusive to more traditional exercise such as running or cycling.

            "When you exercise, so many things are changed," Raglin said," many of which are implicated in the regulation of mental health. And then there are these psychological explanations that are independent of all the physiological occurrences”. That may be why exercise is so effective. It influences all these things."

            Just about any kind of exercise will make you feel better but how much better may depend on how you feel going into that exercise session. 

            If you  are already feeling pretty good going into your aerobics class, studies show that you'll probably come out feeling somewhat better. The same holds true for mind-body exercises such as tai chi or yoga.

            However, if you're stressed going into an exercise session, an aerobic workout will significantly lower your stress level, as will a mind-body type exercise.

            With strength training, it's a bit different.

            Weight training seems to result in little difference in mood -,\-hen the exerciser starts a session already pretty relaxed.

           

As far as decreasing anxiety in an already stressed athlete, weight training was thought to have little effect. But a new study by Raglin, not yet published, suggests otherwise.

            He found the reduced anxiety level that follows an aerobic workout is also apparent following a circuit of weight training.

            "So, if you're stressed” Raglin said," go ahead and lift weights. But if you want to get calmer and you're already OK, then aerobics is probably more effective."

Regular exercise may ease depression

 

            Recent research on exercise .and mood has focused on people with medically diagnosed psychological disorders.

            A study done at Duke University showed that exercise can be an effective tool in treating depression as long as patients stayed with the exercise program.

            But Ralph La Forge, an exercise physiologist at Duke University Medical Center and spokesman for the American Council on exercise, is careful to point out that exercise is not a cure for depression.

            It doesn't mean they will never be depressed again. But there is less tendency to have mood swings and high depression scores."

            For those with panic disorder, patients traditionally have been told to stay away from strenuous exercise, fearing that such activity could bring on a