Dear Classmates,
When we come across an article that just does not really fit one of our regular categories
we call it an EXTRA bit of news. Hence our "EXTRA" news section.
John Manion

BenefitsCheckUp Screenings Can Help Seniors Identify and Access More than 2,000 Benefits Programs Nationwide

By Business Wire
May 7, 2010

WASHINGTON-- In recognition of Older Americans Month, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) invites seniors nationwide to take advantage of free online screenings for benefits programs through its BenefitsCheckUp program.

BenefitsCheckUp is the nation's most comprehensive Web-based service to screen seniors with limited income and resources for benefits programs. By visiting www.benefitscheckup.org, seniors can search through more than 2,000 federal, state, and local benefits programs to find help with the cost of health care, prescription drugs, food, housing, utility bills, and more. In addition, local and state agencies across the country provide free screenings and support for seniors using BenefitsCheckUp. Many agencies are using Older Americans Month as an opportunity to extend and promote outreach of this valuable service.

“In recognition of Older Americans Month, the Administration on Aging is calling for older Americans to Age Strong! Live Strong!,” said Stuart Spector, senior vice president at NCOA. “BenefitsCheckUp is designed to help vulnerable older adults improve their opportunities to age strong by providing information on and access to thousands of benefits programs in one, comprehensive, easy-to-access format.”

Two Thousand Programs Strong
It’s important for seniors to check their eligibility for various benefits programs, as eligibility requirements frequently change. BenefitsCheckUp continually makes updates to account for these changes, making it quick and easy for seniors to access updated information, eligibility rules and application forms. Seniors should use BenefitsCheckUp as a resource to check their eligibility for 2,000 federal, state, and local programs that can help with utilities, food, housing, and other basic needs. Enrollment forms for most programs are provided as part of BenefitsCheckUp’s interactive screening process. Since 2001, more than 2.4 million people have used the service, identifying benefits valued at more than $8.3 billion.

About NCOA
The National Council on Aging is a nonprofit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA is a national voice for older Americans—especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged—and the community organizations that serve them. It brings together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently and remain active in their communities. For more information, please visit www.ncoa.org.

by Kim Komando (www.komando.com )
There's nothing more important than your health. But it can sometimes feel out of your control. Maybe you don't have all the information you need. Or, maybe you're struggling to control your health records.

Whatever the issue, there are resources that can help. I've found some great ones. They'll help you stay on top of your health care. You'll be more informed and empowered.

Google Health—Your health records contain very specific and important information. But you probably don't have them. They're probably stored in manila folders at various doctor's offices. You don't have direct control over your personal health records.

But it doesn't have to be that way. You can maintain and organize your health records at Google Health. You'll also be able to share them with family or other doctors. It's much easier than requesting records from multiple doctors or hospitals. You decide where your health records go.

HealthVault—This is another site for storing, managing and sharing your health records. As with Google Health, you'll compile and enter your information. Then you get to decide how it's used and distributed.

You can quickly share your information with new doctors. You can store and access children's immunization records. You can also find health advice Web sites staffed by real doctors. Sharing specific information can help them give you the best advice.

CareLogger—Nearly 24 million people in the United States have diabetes. It's a condition that can be managed. But it also has to be monitored. Many diabetics must log their glucose levels, heart rate and medications daily.

This site makes that process much simpler. You'll create an online logbook that you can access from anywhere. Adding new entries takes just a few seconds. It also helps you make use of the data. Review your progress with handy graphs and charts. Then, share this information with your doctors.

Heart Profilers—Heart conditions are complicated. But the more you understand, the better off you'll be. And you'll be better able to work with your doctors. Getting that information isn't always easy. But the American Heart Association has tools that can help.

You'll find separate tools for different conditions. These include heart failure, high blood pressure, cholesterol and more. In each, enter as much information about your condition as possible. You'll get treatment options and research tailored to you.

PDRhealth—The Physicians' Desktop Reference contains a wealth of medical information. But it's best known as a resource for detailed information on prescription drugs. This site catalogs any drug your doctor is likely to prescribe.

You can learn about the proper dosage for each drug. You'll see what you should avoid while on the drug. You can read about possible side effects. And you'll find advice on what to discuss with your doctor.

ClinicalTrials.gov—The medical field is always getting better. New drugs, technology and procedures are being invented. But each has to be tested before becoming available to the public. This testing happens in carefully monitored clinical trials.

This site catalogs the progress of more than 80,000 such trials. You can learn what research is being done. And you can see which trials are looking for participants. At the least, you may find things to discuss with your doctors.

World Community Grid—Your computer can connect you to many health resources. But it can also be a resource for others. Distributed computing programs allow researchers to use your computer. You can help them make amazing breakthroughs.

This is one such program. It helps researchers work on cures for HIV and cancer. It allows them to access your idle computer time. When you step out for coffee, you're really helping to cure diseases.

Life-saving iPhone apps—Medical emergencies can happen anywhere. Knowing how to handle them can save your life. Or, you may be able to save the life of someone else. But where do you get the knowledge?

With these iPhone apps, you'll find it right in your pocket. You'll get step-by-step instructions for various first aid situations. They can also help you get emergency information from official sources.

Cost: Free
System: Windows XP, Vista and 7, Mac OS X

. . http://www.virtualwall.org/iStates.htm
This is a virtual wall of all those lost during the Viet Nam war with the names, bio's and other information on our lost comrades. It is a very interesting link, and those who served in that timeframe and lost friends or family can look them up on this site.
Pass it on to other veterans who you think would like this. ND56 Classmate Harold Alwan is listed under Peoria, IL.

First click on a state......then when it opens .........a name.......then it should show you a picture of the person or at least his bio and medals......

"INSIDE THE HEART WHERE LOVE LIES, ALL THAT'S GOOD CAN NEVER BE FORGOTTEN"

About Heart Attacks

There are other symptoms of an heart attack besides the pain on the left arm. One must also be aware of an intense pain on the chin, as well as nausea and lots of sweating, however these symptoms may also occur less frequently.

Note: There may be no pain in the chest during a heart attack. The majority of people (about 60%) who had an heart attack during their sleep, did not wake up. However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep.

If that happens, immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow them with a bit of water.
Afterwards
- phone a neighbor or a family member who lives very close by
- say "heart attack!"
- say that you have taken 2 aspirins.
- take a seat on a chair or sofa near the front door, and wait for their arrival and...
~ do NOT lie down ~

I was Executive Director of the Institute for Burn Medicine for San Diego and Imperial Counties when we lived in California . Besides raising the money to establish a Burn Treatment Center at the University Hospital there, I conducted extensive public education campaigns in Burn Prevention. A friend recently sent me the attached short video - and like an old fire-horse, I heard the bell ring and am rushing to send this excellent prevention piece to each of you. It is well worth watching! And it could save your life.

This is very stunning - please read first and then watch the very short clip. I never realized that a wet dishcloth can be a one size fits all lid to cover a fire in a pan!

This is a dramatic video (30-second, very short) about how to deal with a common kitchen fire ...oil in a frying pan. Read the following Introduction, then watch the show ...It's a real eye-opener!!

At the Fire Fighting Training school they would demonstrate this with a deep fat fryer set on the fire field. An instructor would don a fire suit and using an 8 oz cup at the end of a 10-foot pole to toss water onto the grease fire.

The results got the attention of the students. The water, being heavier than oil, sinks to the bottom where it instantly becomes superheated.

The explosive force of the steam blows the burning oil up and out. On the open field, it became a thirty foot high fireball that resembled a nuclear blast.

Inside the confines of a kitchen, the fire ball hits the ceiling and fills the entire room. Also, do not throw sugar or flour on a grease fire. One cup of either creates the explosive force of two sticks of dynamite.

This is a powerful message----watch the video and don't forget what you see.
Click here to see the video.

This is a very good article. Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about Heart Attacks.

The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating.

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer! It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

Common Symptoms Of Heart Attack

A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting. Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.

You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive

Webmaster, Dick Yeager was talking with a friend recently, and put to use some information he received. (It many not be new, but it is invaluable).

I put myself in the situation of having been robbed in some god-forsaken place like Belleville, IL.

What information do I need?

First question was where to store the data? I hit upon the idea of putting it in my address book on my Bell South Email account. They are very generous with the space they allow per entry. They have one spot per entry called "personal" where you can store 1,000 bytes of info, which is pretty much.

I just sat down here with my wallet and typed in the info, card for card, including my driver’s licensee, Mary’s medic alert number, Costco and BJ member numbers. The whole thing took less than an hour and rankly I am pretty dam pleased with myself.

All the 800 contact numbers were on the back of the cards. I hope I never have to use it but thank you for passing that Email along. Subject: Make sure you read to bottom!!

ATTORNEY'S ADVICE - NO CHARGE ( Not a Joke! If you dislike attorneys... You will love them for these tips.) Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. May be we should all take some of his advice! 1. Do not sign the back of your credit cards. Instead, put 'PHOTO ID REQUIRED.'

2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the 'For' line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number, and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. If you do not have a PO Box, use your work address.
Never have your SS# printed on your checks. (DUH!) You can add it if it is necessary. But if you have It printed, anyone can get it.

4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine. Do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place.

I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad. We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a Name, address, Social Security number, credit cards.

Unfortunately, I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more.

But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know:

5. We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them.

6. File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where your credit cards, etc ., were stolen. This proves to credit providers you were diligent, and this is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

But here's what is perhaps most important of all: (I never even thought to do this.)

7. Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and also call the Social Security fraud line number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the internet in my name.

The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen, and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit.

By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them dead in their tracks.

Now, here are the numbers you always need to contact about your wallet, if it has been stolen:
1.) Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
2.) Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
3.) Trans Union : 1-800-680 7289
4.) Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271
On Jan. 6, 2008, SNOPES researched this suject;
click on their web site for further details on the subject: http://www.snopes.com/inboxer/scams/credit.asp

STROKE IDENTIFICATION:
During a BBQ, a friend stumbled and took a little fall - she assured everyone that she was fine (they offered to call paramedics) and just tripped over a brick because of her new shoes. They got her cleaned up and got her a new plate of food - while she appeared a bit shaken up, Ingrid went about enjoying herself the rest of the evening. Ingrid's husband called later telling everyone that his wife had been taken to the hospital - (at 6:00pm, Ingrid passed away). She had suffered a stroke at the BBQ. Had they known how to identify the signs of a stroke, perhaps Ingrid would be with us today. Some don't die. They end up in a helpless, hopeless condition instead.

It only takes a minute to read this...

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE
Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps, STR . Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S *Ask the individual to SMILE.

T *Ask the person to TALK . to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE
(Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today)

R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS

{NOTE: Another 'sign' of a stroke is this: Ask the person to 'stick' out their tongue... if the tongue is 'crooked', if it goes to one side or the other that is also an indication of a stroke}

If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call 911 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

JOHN CHOMEAU works these days as an EMT and treating stroke victims is one of his most difficult tasks.

"I would add to the list you have provided that it is important to try to ascertain when the stroke occured (especially good of course if it was witnessed, but many happen during sleep in the night). If we can get to the victim in time and rush transport to a hospital especially equipped to handle strokes (not all are) then there is a good chance the doctors can treat the stroke and prevent serious damage. With modern advances in medicine, even those who fall outside the three hour magic window can be helped today. the big thing is not to delay calling 911 and to tell the dispatcher that you have a possible stroke victim. This gets the responders to move quite rapidly--I usually fly out on a helicopter my stroke victims for we are 43 minutes from the hospital in an ambulance--even with flashing lights and siren."

Women and heart attacks (Myocardial infarction)

TRUE; SNOPES:
http://www.snopes.com/medical/disease/heartattack.asp

Did you know that women rarely have the same dramatic Symptoms that men have when experiencing heart Attack...you know, the sudden stabbing pain in the Chest, the cold sweat, grabbing the chest & dropping To the floor that we see in the movies. Here is the Story of one woman's experience with a heart attack.

"I had a completely unexpected heart attack at about 10:30 Pm with NO prior exertion, NO prior emotional Trauma that one would suspect might've brought it on.

I was sitting all snugly & warm on a cold evening, With my purring cat in my lap, reading an interesting Story my friend had sent me, and actually Thinking,"A-A-h, this is the life, all cozy and warm In my soft, cushy Lazy Boy with my feet propped up." A Moment later, I felt that awful sensation of Indigestion, when you've been in a hurry and grabbed a Bite of sandwich and washed it down with a dash of Water, and that hurried bite seems to feel like you've Swallowed a golf ball going down the esophagus in slow Motion and it is most uncomfortable. You realize you Shouldn't have gulped it down so fast and needed to Chew it more thoroughly and this time drink a glass of Water to hasten its progress down to the s stomach.

This was my initial sensation---the only trouble was That I hadn't taken a bite of anything since about 5:00 p.m.

"After that had seemed to subside, the next sensation Was like little squeezing motions that seemed to be Racing up my SPINE (hind-sight, it was probably my Aorta spasming), gaining speed as they continued Racing up and under my sternum (breast bone, where one Presses rhythmically when administering CPR). This Fascinating process continued on into my throat and Branched out into both jaws.

"AHA!! NOW I stopped puzzling about what was Happening--we all have read and/or heard about pain in The jaws being one of the signals of an MI happening, Haven't we? I said aloud to myself and the cat, "Dear God, I think I'm having a heart attack !" I lowered The foot rest, dumping the cat from my lap, started to Take a step and fell on the floor instead. I thought To myself "If this is a heart attack, I shouldn't be Walking into the next room where the phone is or Anywhere else.......but, on the other hand, if I Don't, nobody will know that I need help, and if I Wait any longer I may not be able to get up in Moment."

"I pulled myself up with the arms of the chair, walked Slowly into the next room and dialed the Paramedics...

I told her I thought I was having a heart attack due To the pressure building under the sternum and Radiating into my jaws. I didn't feel hysterical or Afraid, just stating the facts. She said she was Sending the Paramedics over immediately, asked if the Front door was near to me, and if so, to unbolt the Door and then lie down on the floor where they could See me when they came in.

"I then laid down on the floor as instructed and lost Consciousness, as I don't remember the medics coming In, their examination, lifting me onto a gurney or Getting me into their ambulance, or hearing the call They made to St. Jude ER on the way, but I did briefly Awaken when we arrived and saw that the Cardiologist Was already there in his surgical blues and cap, Helping the medics pull my stretcher out of the Ambulance. He was bending over me asking questions (probably something like "Have you taken any Medications?") but I couldn't make my mind interpret What he was saying, or form an answer, and nodded off Again, not waking up until the Cardiologist and Partner had already threaded the teeny angiogram Balloon up my femoral artery into the aorta and into My heart where they installed 2 side by side stints to Hold open my right coronary artery.

"I know it sounds like all my thinking and actions at Home must have taken at least 20-30 minutes before Calling the Paramedics, but actually it took perhaps 4-5 minutes before the call, and both the fire station And St.Jude are only minutes away from my home, and My Cardiologist was already to go to the OR in his Scrubs and get going on restarting my heart (which had Stopped somewhere between my arrival and the Procedure) and installing the stints.

"Why have I written all of this to you with so much Detail? Because I want all of you who are so important in my life to know what I learned first hand."

1. Be aware that something very different is happening in your body not the usual men's symptoms, but inexplicable things happening (until my sternum and jaws got into the act ). It is said that many more women than men die of their first (and last) MI because they didn't know they were having one, and commonly mistake it as indigestion, take some Maalox or other anti-heartburn preparation, and go to bed, hoping they'll feel better in the morning when they wake up....which doesn't happen. My female friends, your symptoms might not be exactly like mine, so I advise you to call the Paramedics if ANYTHING is unpleasantly happening that you've not felt before. It is better to have a "false alarm" visitation than to risk your life guessing what it might be!

2. Note that I said "Call the Paramedics". Ladies, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE! Do NOT try to drive yourself to the ER--you're a hazard to others on the road, and so is your panicked husband who will be speeding and looking anxiously at what's happening with you instead of the road. Do NOT call your doctor--he doesn't know where you live and if it's at night you won't reach him anyway, and if it's daytime, his assistants (or answering service) will tell you to call the Paramedics. He doesn't carry the equipment in his car that you need to be saved! The Paramedics do, principally OXYGEN that you need ASAP. Your Dr. will be notified later.

3. Don't assume it couldn't be a heart attack because you have a normal cholesterol count Research has discovered that a cholesterol elevated reading is rarely the cause of an MI (unless it's unbelievably high,and/or accompanied by high blood pressure.) MI's are usually caused by long-term stress and inflammation in the body, which dumps all sorts of deadly hormones into your system to sludge things up in there. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive...

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.

**Please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about**

1. Surviving the Summer Sun
What you eat and drink before going out into the sun this summertime could make the difference between getting a beautiful tan, a painful sunburn, or skin cancer.

Sip a Margarita before sunning, for example, and you increase your risk of ending the day with blistered lips and sizzling skin. The reason is that two ingredients in this drink – alcohol and lime oil – are both what scientists have identified as “photosensitizing” chemicals that increase our body’s sensitivity and reactivity to sunlight.

Many foods, drinks, and other substances are photosensitizing or even phototoxic and make the sun’s rays more dangerous. Other foods can help reduce damage from the sun’s rays. This article will tell which things are safest under the sun, and what foods should be eaten in the shade or after sundown. This information could literally save your or your family’s lives.

The Dangers:
Lemon oil, buckwheat, natural vanilla, carrots, celery, parsnips and parsley, dill, fennel, and figs all possess chemicals that make those who eat them a little, or a lot, more reactive to sunlight. The degree of this photosensitivity varies from one person to another.

Many people experience “photoallergies” triggered in their immune systems by photosensitizing chemicals. The resulting rashes, which typically appear 24 to 48 hours after sunlight overexposure, can look like eczema, hives, or other allergic conditions.

Some sunbathers slather their skins with mineral oil, but one of its effects is to make skin more reactive to sunlight. Many petroleum-based or coal-based chemicals are photosensitizing or phototoxic.

Sunbathers should avoid “Earl Grey” tea. This beverage gets its distinctive flavor from Oil of Bergamot, a citrus extract that used to be found in African-American hair care products and “quick tan” lotions. (It elicited quick skin reaction to sunlight because it is photosensitizing.)

Scientists have also identified photosensitizing chemicals in quinine and Quinine water, in various birth control pills and bodybuilder steroids, in nutrients such as selenium and riboflavin (vitamin B-2), in deodorant soaps containing halogenated salicylanilides, and even in the musk ambrette in perfume.

Many prescription drugs – from antibiotics to antifungals, diuretics, tranquilizers and one heart arrhythmia drug – are supposed to carry labels to warn patients that these medications increase sensitivity to sunlight. Users should take these warnings seriously, and ask your doctor and pharmacist about such side-effects of your prescriptions.

Some over-the-counter drugs can also cause photosensitivity or phototoxicity, e.g., old-fashioned antihistamines for colds and allergies whose ingredients include promethazine, dimethothiazine, Triprolidine or Diphenhydramine hydrochloride.

The Protectants:
To reduce your and your family’s risk of sunburn this summer, eat foods rich in the antioxidants vitamin C such as cantaloupe and strawberries, vitamin E such as nutmeats and tomatoes, and the vitamin A precursor beta carotene such as cantaloupe and apricots. Eggs are an excellent natural dietary source of the free-radical scavenging amino acid glutathione, which can reduce skin damage from sunlight.

Taking antioxidant vitamins prior to sunbathing, as well as immediately after getting too much sun, has the potential to reduce at least a small part of the free radical damage a sunburn can cause in your body. Such substances therefore could almost be called photo-desensitizing because of their protective effect (albeit limited) against the sun's damage.

What to Do for Sunburn:
If you fell asleep in the sun or lost track of time, and now your skin is hot with a sunburn, and you reach for the local anaesthetic benzocaine to cool the fire, be sure not to go back into the sun. Benzocaine is photosensitizing. Whatever you do, do not grab ibuprofen to ease your agony. Ibuprofen is also photosensitizing.

The best pain reliever for sunburn is aspirin. Like a heart attack, much of the damage from sunburn happens in the minutes and hours after the initial injury. Part of sunburn’s damage is associated with unleashed chemicals called prostaglandins. Aspirin can intercept prostaglandins. Taking up to four aspirin can somewhat limit the chemical damage that continues for hours after your skin has been sunburned. But, as with all medications, do so only with your doctor's approval.

NewsMax contributing editor Lowell Ponte was the roving science editor of Reader’s Digest Magazine for 15 years.

2. Sleep Loss, Air Conditioning Making Us Fat
"Super-sized" fast food meals and TV time shouldn't take all the blame for the U.S. obesity problem.

Writing in the International Journal of Obesity, researchers argue that obesity research and prevention efforts need to look beyond beefed-up portion sizes and added sugar; and reduced physical activity from factors such as cuts in school gym classes.

It's equally plausible that a range of other factors are also involved.

Lack of sleep is one. Research in animals and humans suggests that chronic sleep deprivation boosts appetite and eating, and studies also show that U.S. adults and children are sleeping less than they used to. In recent decades, adults have gone from sleeping for an average of nine hours to about seven hours, the researchers point out.

There is also evidence that industrial chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors may increase body fat. These chemicals, which are used in products such as pesticides and plastics, alter hormonal activity when they get into the body. Studies suggest that people have been increasingly exposed to these chemicals through the food chain in recent decades.

Another factor potentially weighing Americans down is air conditioning. The body burns calories when forced to regulate its own temperature and people tend to eat less in hot, humid weather.

3. B Vitamins Don’t Keep Memory Sharp
Folate and B vitamin pills failed to help keep elderly people's brains and memories sharp in the longest study yet to test this approach.

Folate and B vitamins lower homocysteine, a blood substance that can make arteries stiffen and clog. Many studies have observed that people with higher levels of homocysteine also have a greater risk of heart disease, Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia.

But whether lowering homocysteine can prevent these problems is unknown. In two studies of people at high risk of dementia, vitamin pills did not help, but these experiments lasted less than four months.

Researchers at the University of Otago in New Zealand tested the approach for two years in 276 healthy people ages 65 and older with relatively high levels of homocysteine at the outset.

Half were given daily pills containing 1,000 micrograms of folate, 500 micrograms of B-12 and 10 milligrams of B-6; the other half were given placebos. Homocysteine levels fell in those taking the supplements, but cognitive function, as measured by several different tests, remained the same in both groups.

People may need to take the pills even longer to benefit, or start earlier in life.

4. Drug-Resistent 'Superbug' Spreading Across U.S.
An antibiotic-resistant strain of staph bacteria similar to the bug that has plagued hospital patients for years is now spreading across America.

Called community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the potentially fatal infection has turned up in parts of California, Texas, Illinois, and Alaska and has recently been detected in New York and Pennsylvania.

Several strains of staph bacteria have been infecting hospital patients for the past 15 years, but the new, related MRSA strain began turning up in the general population in the late 1990s, according to Time magazine.

The superbug spreads quickly, and is resistant to the most common antibiotics. It is also showing up among prison inmates, athletic teams, and others who are in close contact and may share contaminated items.

MRSA usually begins as a skin infection. The danger comes when a scrape or cut allows the bacteria to enter the body.

Six recent outbreaks of MRSA have been traced to unlicensed tattoo artists, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

MRSA infection typically manifests as abscesses or areas of inflammation on the skin, though it can also lead to more serious problems such as pneumonia, blood infections or, in some cases, necrotizing fasciitis, also referred to as the ‘flesh-eating disease.'

Doctors advise that if you have a skin infection accompanied by a high fever, a lot of redness or an abscess, you should seek medical attention to find out if you have an MRSA infection.

5. Coffee Cuts Risk of Adult Diabetes
Coffee, especially the decaffeinated kind, seems to offer protection against adult-onset diabetes.

What causes the apparent effect is unclear, the report from the University of Minnesota said, but it is possible that minerals and non-nutritive plant chemicals found in rich amounts in the coffee bean may favorably affect blood-sugar levels or protect the pancreas from stress.

The finding, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, was based on a study of more than 28,000 post-menopausal women in Iowa who were followed for 11 years.

When the study of the Iowa women began, more than 14,000 of them - about half - drank one to three cups of coffee per day, 2,875 drank more than six cups, 5,554 four to five cups, 3,231 less than one cup and 2,928 none.

Over the 11 years of the study 1,418 of the women reported on surveys that they had been newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Women who drank more than six cups of any type of coffee per day were 22 percent less likely than those who drank no coffee to be diagnosed with diabetes, the study found. Those who drank more than six cups of decaffeinated coffee daily had a 33 percent risk reduction compared with those who drank no coffee at all, it said.

6. Heart Troubles Often Lead to Depression
As many as half of all people hospitalized for surgery or other procedures to treat blocked heart arteries develop depression, according to a report in Wednesday's Journal of the American Medical Association.

Doctors believe the depression is brought on by the mental stress of facing serious illness, or perhaps by microscopic damage done to the brain by the surgery itself. For some patients, the depression is a new thing; for others, it may have been present beforehand.

The good news for the more than 71 million Americans suffering from some type of cardiovascular disease is that not only is depression treatable, but more than half of patients respond to initial drug treatment and 80 percent eventually respond to at least one antidepressant, research says.

Guidelines advise doctors to look for depression in heart patients, and simple questionnaires are available to help them do this, but specialists say that not enough doctors are checking for this problem. Depression is present in one of five people with coronary heart disease and in one of three with heart failure - far more than the one in 20 in the general population who have it, Whooley wrote.

Also, studies have shown that after bypass surgery, microclots can travel to a patient's brain and cause problems that can include depression, said Dr. Cara East, medical director of the clinical cardiovascular research center at Baylor Heart and Vascular Hospital in Dallas.

7. Cancer Cell Research 'Discovery'
Experts say they have made a discovery which could help improve treatment of diseases like cancer.

A team at Dundee University in the United Kingdom found that the way the body's cells divided was contrary to conventional views.

It is hoped the discovery will lead to a better understanding of cancer, which is caused by cells dividing and multiplying out of control.

The findings have been reported in the scientific journal Cell.

Dr Tomo Tanaka, of the university's school of life sciences, said, “Cells can copy DNA accurately and efficiently by moving it through a stationary copying machine, rather than by moving the copying machinery along stationary DNA.

"Because errors in DNA copying cause human diseases such as cancers, it is crucial to understand how our cells organize the copying of DNA in space and time."

8. Cell Phones as Dangerous as Drunk Driving
A study from The University of Utah found that even talking hands-free was no less distracting than holding the phone, reports the BBC.

Forty volunteers had their reactions tested in four separate circumstances when they drove without distractions, while using a handheld phone and a hands-free phone and while intoxicated.

Motorists who talked on mobiles, both handheld and hands-free, were as impaired as drunk drivers and more likely to be involved in traffic accidents.

Professor David Strayer and his team of researchers believe having a phone conversation alters how drivers perceive and react to information.

Even when the drivers using the phones were looking at objects they often failed to see them.

Professor Strayer said: "We suggest that talking on a cell phone creates a form of inattention blindness, muting driver's awareness of important information in the driving scene."

A new partnership with the University Alumni Travel Benefits company, allows the University of Notre Dame to offer special values on vacation rentals throughout the year. You can rent a resort condo for $349/week! See details at http://alumnitravelbenefits.com/nd.asp

Click here to read all about this new service

Clem O'Neill shares some serious thoughts "game-style" and provides something for our classmates to test their longevity. Unlike golf, a high score is good on this one.

Click on the Longevity Game Logo to check yourself.

FOR USE ON PCS ONLY; NO MACS...

You first need to put a file named ftnirish.ani into your computer at C:\Windows\Cursors.
If you are using Windows XP, Email Dick Yeager at . He will Email you the file.
If you are using Windows 98 or lower you can click on the picture of the computer on the right. That action will bring up a "File Download" box with some option buttons.
You want to push the "Save" button.
Point to C:\WINDOWS\CURSORS and push the save button.
You now have the animated leprechaun file saved in your computer.

Following are instructions to use the animated file:
1. Click on Start, Settings, Control Panel
2. Click on your Mouse icon
3. Pick pointers from your tab selections
4. Highlight the busy icon, click on browse
5. Make sure the directory is C:\Windows\Cursors
6. Scan the directory and select the file ftnirish.ani or the Little Irish guy. 7. Click on open
8. Click on apply and then ok.

You are now set so that instead of the hourglass appearing when you open documents the irish guy will show up.

If you have a problem (especially if you are using Microsoft XP), Email John Manion for an Email to simplify your need; it will work.
John F. Manion

Leo Sandmann keeps up very well on software available to facilitate and secure his internet activity.

He recommends SPYBOT to us; it is easy and free to download, and could save us money and grief.

Click on the PC World logo to get the download from their site. You can contact Leo at
John F. Manion

The ND Dome Cam is now the ND Campus Cam.

It now offers nine differant views of the campus inluding the original shot of the dome and the Sacred Heart spire.

You can get to the Dome Cam via the Notre Dame main page. Click on "Popular Sites" and then select "sites and sounds".

Or you can click on the picture of our camcorder to see what the view is right now.

Before you forward a story that really is "an inside" scoop, please save yourself the embarrassment of being the perpetrator of untrue gossip and/or a hoax.

Click on the SNOPES logo and learn the real story ...

Barney Del Bello has found a website with a number of Notre Dame pictures that would make good computer wallpaper material.

You can click on the picture to the right to go to that webpage.

Instructions on how to do it are contained on the website.

If you get stuck Barney will be glad to help you out.

Barney Del Bello

Kathy and Dr. Mike Luberto were traveling in SC recently, and learned of a site for nationwide Mass times and locations. It has a 1-800-627-7846 number or web site at http://www.Masstimes.org.
It may be of interest to our classmates when traveling. Mike Luberto

Want to improve the effectiveness of cancer medicine? Take time to educate the patient

SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE
By DAVID RUMBACH
August 24,2003

Not all improvements in chemotherapy come from test tubes in the labs of pharmaceutical companies. A recent study by University of Notre Dame researchers suggests patient education might also be a key ingredient in successful medical treatment of cancer.

Their study, which involved nearly 250 local patients, found that people benefited from having a full understanding of what lay in store for them before they began their battle with cancer.

That knowledge included some potentially harsh doses of reality, including their chances of survival with and without treatment, how chemotherapy would make them feel and how both their illness and their medicine were likely to change their finances and their lives.

Dr. Rudolph Navari, director of ND's Walther Cancer Research Center, said the study compared 239 patients who went to see four local cancer specialists after being diagnosed with a malignancy.

The patients ranged in age from 27 to 85, with the average age being about 63. They were about evenly split between men and women.

Some of the patients received extra education to help them understand their situation while others did not, said Navari, who is also a practicing oncologist in South Bend.

Those chosen, at random, for the "educational intervention'' were given a prompt sheet listing nine suggested questions for them to ask the oncologist.

They also were shown a 35-minute video depicting five different vignettes of patient-doctor interaction.

The researchers wanted to see if the education would improve the course of treatment, Navari said.

And they found that it did. A big improvement.

Knowledge is power
Patients who received the educational intervention were more likely to complete their course of chemotherapy rather than giving up and quitting early. And they were less likely to experience serious side effects.

One possible explanation: Expecting hardship makes it easier to endure.

"If you know you're going to lose your hair, if you understand that's going to happen, you're less likely to stop treatment,'' Navari said.

Among breast cancer patients, 86 percent of those who received the extra education had either completed their treatment or were still on course after six months. That compares with only 63 percent of those who do not receive the educational intervention.

Similarly, 78 percent of colon cancer patients who received extra education completed their treatment, compared with 59 percent for those who didn't.

The results for toxicity were also impressive. Thirty percent of breast cancer patients in the non-intervention group reported having serious toxic side effects, compared with only 12 percent of those who did receive intervention.

Besides having the advantage of being forewarned, Navari said, people who received the added education may have chosen treatments that were less toxic and more compatible with their lifestyles than they otherwise might have.

The study found that most patients didn't truly understand their cancer diagnosis after it was first given to them by their primary care doctor or surgeon, even though modern practice calls for full disclosure by the diagnosing physician.

That may be because of shortcomings in doctors' communication skills.

Or, the study suggests, it may be because patients, having just gotten some very bad news, are still too anxious to comprehend what they're told about their condition. They may be in a state of denial.

"Once they hear the word 'cancer,' they may not hear much else, even if the doctor goes on to give them a lengthy, detailed explanation,'' Navari said.

Benefits of question-asking
The study suggests patients learn more if they go into their meeting with the oncologist armed with a set of questions.

The "question-asking'' technique, through the use of a prompt sheet of suggested queries, may have helped patients participate more actively in the treatment decision, Navari said, even though they may still wind up simply asking the doctors what to do.

"It's a two-way thing,'' he said. "Often after a lot of questions, the person will just ask the doctor, 'What would you do if it were you, or your loved one?' ''

Navari said the researchers will continue to follow patients included in the study group to see if the educational intervention has an even bigger impact: allowing cancer patients to live longer.

Navari said the study's findings also highlight the importance of doctors having good communications skills, what people often refer to as having a good "bedside manner.'' The National Board of Medical Examiners recently announced that, starting next year, medical students will have to pass a live-action exam of their communications skills before they are certified as doctors.

"Having a good bedside manner is simply communicating information patients need to know in a way that indicates you care about them,'' he said. "The more patients know about what they have, the better off they are. It's all tied together.''

Staff writer David Rumbach: (574) 235-6358

VACCINES YOU GET AFTER YOU HAVE SURGERY

VACCINATING CANCER PATIENTS after their initial treatment may be one way to prevent the disease from recurring. Encouraging data were presented in Orlando for two experimental vaccines aimed at prostate cancer, which afflicts millions, including former New York Mayor Rudolf Giuliani. Therion Biologics in Cambridge, Mass., designed its Prostvac vaccine to prompt an immune response against any cells that display a protein called prostate-specific antigen (PSA), which is overproduced by prostate-tumor cells. The vaccine was tested on 70 patients who had undergone surgery or radiation, with intriguing results. The trial subjects' PSA levels were already rising, usually a sign that the disease will recur. But at the two-year mark, the vaccine had halted the PSA rise in 53% of the patients. Plus, 78% of the patients remained free of the disease.

Cell Genesys in Foster City, Calif., has a vaccine, called GVAX, that is made from inactive tumor cells that are genetically modified to secrete an immune hormone. Researchers tested the vaccine on 34 patients whose prostate cancer had already spread to the bone, which usually marks the final stage of the disease. After 2 1/2 years, 16 of the patients were still alive, compared with a standard life expectancy at this stage of 7 to 11 months. Both companies are still several years away from seeking FDA approval

CHEMO'S ARSENAL COULD GET A BOOSTER SHOT

ALTHOUGH HIGH-TECH CANCER drugs are in the pipeline, chemotherapy remains the primary treatment for most patients. But even chemo can be improved on, as a large study of the Sanofi Pharmaceuticals drug oxaliplatin showed. The Food & Drug Administration rejected oxaliplatin two years ago, but it is widely used in Europe. The U.S. study presented at ASCO showed it to be significantly more effective against colon cancer than standard drug therapies.

Half of 795 patients got the two standard chemo drugs used against colon cancer, while the other half got the two plus oxaliplatin. Dr. Richard M. Goldberg of the Mayo Clinic, the lead investigator of the trial, says that after one year of treatment, 71% of patients who received the new combination were still alive, compared with 58% of patients on standard treatment. Dr. Leonard Saltz of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, a leading colon-cancer specialist, says the survival results are the most dramatic he has seen in a colon-cancer trial.

Dr. Alain Herrera, head of oncology marketing for Sanofi, says oxaliplatin has been available throughout Europe since 1999. The FDA asked for more data when it rejected the drug in 2000 because the European trials did not follow U.S. guidelines. The agency agreed in early May to reconsider oxaliplatin on an expedited basis.

TRULY, IT'S NEVER T00 LATE TO QUIT

LUNG-CANCER PATIENTS WHO CONTINUE TO SMOKE DURING CHEMOTHERAPY ARE more likely to die within five years than those don't. That may sound obvious, but many patients - 90% of whom get the disease as a result of smoking-fail to kick the habit during treatment. Dr. Greg Videtic of Dana-Farber cancer Institute in Boston reported that of the 186 patients in his trial, 79 smoked during treatment, while 107 quit before chemo started. Both tolerated the therapy equally well, but two years after completion, of nonsmokers 28% of nonsmokers were still alive, vs. 16% of smokers. Five years out, almost 9% of the quitters were still alive, vs. just 4% of the smokers. Ex-smokers have further cause for cheer: A preliminary study found that a derivative of Vitamin A called 9-cisretinoic acid can reverse some precancerous changes in the lungs of former smokers-a group that accounts for 50% of lung cancer eases in the U.S.

Because cancer has affected you or someone you love, you have reached out to us. We'd like to know what else we can do for you.

Perhaps you'd like to know more about a certain type of cancer, or about new research developments. Or maybe you'd like to get more involved.

Please take a minute to tell us more about yourself and your interest in cancer issues. Click on the logo.

In the meantime, please know that we are here for you and those you love, anytime day or night. Visit us at www.cancer.org or call us at 1.800.ACS.2345.

A Website specially designed to make searching the World Wide Web for information about cancer faster and easier. Click on the CANCERLINKS logo to go to the site.

Karen Ogle, MD., Professor of Family Practice in the College of Human Medicine, and Director of the Program in Palliative Care Education and Research at the Cancer Center at Michigan State University directed the content development of Easing Cancer Pain. This program was funded by the Cancer Center at MSU and the MSU Office of Computing and Technology.

Click on the picture to go to their site.

WEB SITES CONCERNING PROSTATE CANCER One of our classmates sent the following note
"These references may be a useful addendum to the CSG bulletin. Found most of them on a set of CD's I had, called the
HOME MEDICAL ADVISOR".
Click on the picture of the HOME MEDICAL ADVISOR to go to the list of references.
John Manion

The July monthly JUNO Newsletter listed some WEB SITES they feel may be of interest... It would appear the following three would be of interest to Classmates...

Just click on the picture describing the WEB site to go to that site.

Ads From Yesteryear
Nostalgic for those great old advertisements that once appeared in magazines like Life and The Saturday Evening Post? If you are, there's a great collection of them in the Ad*Access archive at Duke University. From old TVs and radios to appeals for WWII-era readers to buy war bonds, these engaging messages are a great window into the past-and, at times, pieces of art in their own right.

Nature Field Guides Online
Whether you're driving around the country in an RV, attending Camp Miwatchee, or simply spending the weekend in the countryside, you'll want to take a look at this site before heading into the great outdoors. At enature.com, you can download information (drawn from the famous Audubon guides) about pretty much anything you might see outside, from birds and other wildlife to plants and flowers. Impress your friends with your Euell Gibbons-like knowledge of nature!

Legal Help for Seniors
The National Senior Citizens Law Center, a Washington, DC-based advocacy organization for Americans past retirement age, offers an excellent collection of resources to help the financially less well-off as well as older women and older individuals with disabilities. If you fall into one of these groups (or know someone who does) and need legal help of any sort, the NSCLC is a great place to turn to. The site is well-designed and pretty comprehensive. If you don't find material on the subject that interests you, you can also just e-mail them.

UN Hunger Site..posted 11/6/99
Every 3.6 seconds someone dies of hunger. 3/4 of the deaths are children under 5. When a country dims on this map, it signifies a death from hunger in that country.
Classmate Frank Reznick forwarded this for us, and I appreciated getting it. It takes only a couple of mouse clicks to feed a hungry person. Quite clever of the U.N. to do this. John Manion

Go to the Hunger Site at the U.N. by clicking on the map.
When you get there click a button and somewhere in the world some hungry person gets a meal to eat at no cost to you. The food is paid for by corporate sponsors. All you do is go to the site and click. But, you're only allowed one click per day so bookmark ("favorite") the site and spread the word to others.
I think it's a great idea.