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In-home senior care providers such as Comfort Keepers, assisted living and senior care related businesses will be on hand May 17, 2012 to provide information to senior citizens and their families at the Senior Living Expo at Harrah's Chester - now Harrah's Philly. The event runs from 9am to 1pm, is FREE and open to the public.
This year, Comfort Keepers will be collecting canned and dry goods at the fair for its Stop Senior Hunger program. For each pound a senior donates, he or she will receive one ticket per pound to be entered into drawing for great prizes. Bring 10 pounds food and get 10 tickets or 10 chances to win. For more information on the food donations or senior care call Comfort Keepers at 610-543-6300.
For information about the Senior Fair or being a vendor, call COSA at 610-490-1300.
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Happy Mother's Day 2012!
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Yesterday a person posted on one of my social media sites a story about 6 generations of women celebrating Mother's Day 2012. This was shocking to me and at first I could not figure out the 6 generations. I thought to myself, Tuesday I attended the Centenarian Luncheon where 47 residents of Delaware County who were 100 years old or older attended with their families. At that event the oldest person was 108. So I started counting down.
If mom was 108 then daughter might be 88, her daughter 68, the next women 48, the next one 28 and then an 8 year old. This would mean that everyone in the chain would have had to had a child at the age of 20. That seems almost impossible especially in this day and age when many women are working and having children later in their late 20's often mid 30's.
And then I read the story. At first I was confused because the title read great-great-great grandmother? Oh my what did that mean? Well this ggggrandma, if I can call her that is 111! Yes, 111. The youngest of the tribe is 6 weeks old. In between there a woman in her 80's one in her 60's, one in her late 30's and then the sixteen year old who had the baby that is now 6 weeks old.
This was unbelievable to me. I have seen 5 generations in person at the Delaware County Centenarian Luncheon and that was amazing but 6? That seemed unbelievable. It is however true and does exist and yes all 6 are women. The story was sent to me via social media and originally appeared on the Huffington Post website, a website I do not read but because of the story, the person sent it to me.
So Happy Mother's Day to those 6 ladies and all Mothers everywhere.
If mom was 108 then daughter might be 88, her daughter 68, the next women 48, the next one 28 and then an 8 year old. This would mean that everyone in the chain would have had to had a child at the age of 20. That seems almost impossible especially in this day and age when many women are working and having children later in their late 20's often mid 30's.
And then I read the story. At first I was confused because the title read great-great-great grandmother? Oh my what did that mean? Well this ggggrandma, if I can call her that is 111! Yes, 111. The youngest of the tribe is 6 weeks old. In between there a woman in her 80's one in her 60's, one in her late 30's and then the sixteen year old who had the baby that is now 6 weeks old.
This was unbelievable to me. I have seen 5 generations in person at the Delaware County Centenarian Luncheon and that was amazing but 6? That seemed unbelievable. It is however true and does exist and yes all 6 are women. The story was sent to me via social media and originally appeared on the Huffington Post website, a website I do not read but because of the story, the person sent it to me.
So Happy Mother's Day to those 6 ladies and all Mothers everywhere.
COSA Waiver Care Management - Will be a thing of past if you don't raise you voice
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If you have not heard the Secretary of Aging in the state of PA is proposing to make changes to the Waiver Care Management Program. The Waiver Care Management Program is currently a system whereby once COSA intake staff assesses a client and places him or her into the waiver program, the consumer or the client is assigned a care manager. This care manager is located in the local county office so in Delaware County, the care managers are in the Eddystone PA office.
Many of these care managers live locally and part of our community. The same goes for Montgomery County Adult and Aging Services as well as Chester County's Department of Aging. Each location has a set of care managers that work with seniors in their community.
These care managers go out and visit the clients, they speak with clients on the phone about their needs and they support and provide assistance to many family members as well. Some clients live alone and have no support so the local care manager visiting or calling and knowing the client makes a world of difference in the senior's life. Individuals with multiple needs may call the care manager several times a week with issues ranging from not feeling well, to having a problem understanding a service they are receiving to any issue related to their care.
For providers like Comfort Keepers, our office phone rings with concerns from clients and as a provider we feel very comfortable referring the client back to his or care manager in Eddystone. Knowing the care managers are local residents and the office is not far from ours, we can be assured that if required the care manager could visit the client and address any issues in person. Many clients suffer from loss of hearing so often it is easier to speak in person than over a phone.
If the Secretary of Aging in the state of PA enacts Act 22, the care management system could change. There will no longer be a local representation of care management. The proposed change is to hire an outside agency, one agency, to provide care management for the entire state of PA. No one seems to know where this agency will be located. This means if the agency is located in say Pittsburgh, the agency will provide care management for our COSA clients in Delaware County. The other change proposed is to have the agency provided a limited amount of care management per month to each client. Once that amount has been reached it does not matter whether it is first of month or 25th of month, the client have met his or her limit for care management.
If you feel this is something that will greatly impact your services or services of a loved one, there is a petition you can sign to help stop the enactment of Act 22. If you are interested in joining the fight or writing a letter to the Governor, please click here - http://www.change.org/petitions/governor-tom-corbett-stop-dpw-from-enacting-the-planned-regulations-which-will-harm-seniors
Many of these care managers live locally and part of our community. The same goes for Montgomery County Adult and Aging Services as well as Chester County's Department of Aging. Each location has a set of care managers that work with seniors in their community.
These care managers go out and visit the clients, they speak with clients on the phone about their needs and they support and provide assistance to many family members as well. Some clients live alone and have no support so the local care manager visiting or calling and knowing the client makes a world of difference in the senior's life. Individuals with multiple needs may call the care manager several times a week with issues ranging from not feeling well, to having a problem understanding a service they are receiving to any issue related to their care.
For providers like Comfort Keepers, our office phone rings with concerns from clients and as a provider we feel very comfortable referring the client back to his or care manager in Eddystone. Knowing the care managers are local residents and the office is not far from ours, we can be assured that if required the care manager could visit the client and address any issues in person. Many clients suffer from loss of hearing so often it is easier to speak in person than over a phone.
If the Secretary of Aging in the state of PA enacts Act 22, the care management system could change. There will no longer be a local representation of care management. The proposed change is to hire an outside agency, one agency, to provide care management for the entire state of PA. No one seems to know where this agency will be located. This means if the agency is located in say Pittsburgh, the agency will provide care management for our COSA clients in Delaware County. The other change proposed is to have the agency provided a limited amount of care management per month to each client. Once that amount has been reached it does not matter whether it is first of month or 25th of month, the client have met his or her limit for care management.
If you feel this is something that will greatly impact your services or services of a loved one, there is a petition you can sign to help stop the enactment of Act 22. If you are interested in joining the fight or writing a letter to the Governor, please click here - http://www.change.org/petitions/governor-tom-corbett-stop-dpw-from-enacting-the-planned-regulations-which-will-harm-seniors
Happy 90th Birthday Judy Garland: We can only imagine
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Yesterday on the Internet there was a brief article about it being Judy Garland's 90th birthday. It doesn't seem possible but then again about a month ago or so it was Lucille Ball's 100th Birthday.
Watching old reruns of their movies and television shows keeps them young in our minds and with their passing many of us remember them as these super talents that could never age. That is the power of television and movies. It allows us to remember people as the characters they played in movies, their talent and sometimes their children as in the case of Judy and Lucy. Both of them have super talented children. Liza Minelli and Lucy Arnez who has been on Broadway for many years have made their own way in the world and are recognized for their own achievements, good or bad.
It would be interesting to ask these adult children of celebrities if the world is an easier or tougher place to be a celebrity in today. In the days of their mother, Lucy privately dealt with infidelity of a husband and was the first woman on television to have a baby. Judy Garland dealt with some many personal issues off screen which most people really did not know about or know how difficult her life was especially in later years. Nowadays in this era of social media, talk shows, tabloid shows, a person like Liza Minelli cannot hide much. We all know about her marriages and the details, the alleged addictions, her medical issues and just everything under the sun. Lucy Arnez however has been able to keep a much lower profile probably because she is on Broadway an Broadway actors usually don't have the national following unless they are in some television show or movie, like a Neil Patrick Harris.
My guess is the adult children would say today's life is good and bad. A person like Rock Hudson who towards the end of his life admitted he was gay would not have to live a secret life. Judy with her alleged addictions would be sent off to rehab and forgiven much easier for her discretion and Lucy would have garnered much more sympathy for the infidelity. Interesting when you think about it. But the bad part is the celebrity has no privacy so it went from the public hearing nothing in their day to everything nowadays. What do you think? If Lucy and Judy were alive, wonder what they would think about life today.
Watching old reruns of their movies and television shows keeps them young in our minds and with their passing many of us remember them as these super talents that could never age. That is the power of television and movies. It allows us to remember people as the characters they played in movies, their talent and sometimes their children as in the case of Judy and Lucy. Both of them have super talented children. Liza Minelli and Lucy Arnez who has been on Broadway for many years have made their own way in the world and are recognized for their own achievements, good or bad.
It would be interesting to ask these adult children of celebrities if the world is an easier or tougher place to be a celebrity in today. In the days of their mother, Lucy privately dealt with infidelity of a husband and was the first woman on television to have a baby. Judy Garland dealt with some many personal issues off screen which most people really did not know about or know how difficult her life was especially in later years. Nowadays in this era of social media, talk shows, tabloid shows, a person like Liza Minelli cannot hide much. We all know about her marriages and the details, the alleged addictions, her medical issues and just everything under the sun. Lucy Arnez however has been able to keep a much lower profile probably because she is on Broadway an Broadway actors usually don't have the national following unless they are in some television show or movie, like a Neil Patrick Harris.
My guess is the adult children would say today's life is good and bad. A person like Rock Hudson who towards the end of his life admitted he was gay would not have to live a secret life. Judy with her alleged addictions would be sent off to rehab and forgiven much easier for her discretion and Lucy would have garnered much more sympathy for the infidelity. Interesting when you think about it. But the bad part is the celebrity has no privacy so it went from the public hearing nothing in their day to everything nowadays. What do you think? If Lucy and Judy were alive, wonder what they would think about life today.
Looking for a place to donate canned food or dry goods?
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Are you looking for place to donate canned goods or dry foods in Delaware County, PA? If so, consider Comfort Keepers in Springfield. Comfort Keepers participates in the national campaign to Stop Senior Hunger. Since 2009, Comfort Keepers in Springfield has been collecting food and to date has donated over 10.000 pounds of food to local senior citizen apartment and centers with food pantries in the area.
If you are interested in donating or learning more about Stop Senior Hunger, please visit the webpage at: http://www.comfortkeepers.com/office-326/information-center/senior-nutrition
To reach Comfort Keepers by phone, please call 610-543-6300. If you would like to bring food to Comfort Keepers office, we are located at 920 W. Sproul Rd in Springfield, PA 19064. The office is located in the McKee Plaza at corner of Sproul and route 1 state rd south entrance. Comfort Keepers is in the middle building of 3 with State Rep. Bill Adolph. The Congressman Pat Meehan is in the building next door and Citadel Credit Union is across the street. The Alden Lamp Store is right before the office complex on Sproul Rd coming from the Broomall direction. If you need assistance please call our office.
If you are interested in donating or learning more about Stop Senior Hunger, please visit the webpage at: http://www.comfortkeepers.com/office-326/information-center/senior-nutrition
To reach Comfort Keepers by phone, please call 610-543-6300. If you would like to bring food to Comfort Keepers office, we are located at 920 W. Sproul Rd in Springfield, PA 19064. The office is located in the McKee Plaza at corner of Sproul and route 1 state rd south entrance. Comfort Keepers is in the middle building of 3 with State Rep. Bill Adolph. The Congressman Pat Meehan is in the building next door and Citadel Credit Union is across the street. The Alden Lamp Store is right before the office complex on Sproul Rd coming from the Broomall direction. If you need assistance please call our office.
Monday, June 25, 2012
Gregg Ratliff Joins Herget's Trust and Investment Management Group
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Gregg Ratliff has joined Herget Bank’s Trust and InvestmentManagement Group as a Trust Administrator where he will be responsible for account management and businessdevelopment in the Department. Gregg graduated from Illinois College inJacksonville were he received his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration.
Ratliff comes to Herget after being publisher of The PekinDaily Times newspaper, serving in that capacity for 7 years.
Active in community affairs, Ratliff serves on the City ofPekin EDAC and Human Rights Committees, is the Treasurer of the Pekin Area Chamberof Commerce Board of Directors, and is an elder at Pekin First Church of God.
Gregg and his wife Debbie residein Pekin. They have one son Todd and three grandsons.
Gregg Ratliff has joined Herget Bank’s Trust and InvestmentManagement Group as a Trust Administrator where he will be responsible for account management and businessdevelopment in the Department. Gregg graduated from Illinois College inJacksonville were he received his Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. Ratliff comes to Herget after being publisher of The PekinDaily Times newspaper, serving in that capacity for 7 years.
Active in community affairs, Ratliff serves on the City ofPekin EDAC and Human Rights Committees, is the Treasurer of the Pekin Area Chamberof Commerce Board of Directors, and is an elder at Pekin First Church of God.
Gregg and his wife Debbie residein Pekin. They have one son Todd and three grandsons.
Fleming Completes First Year at Institute for Organzation Management; Receives Sam's Club Scholarship
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Washington D.C.—Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce that William T. Fleming, Executive Director of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce recently completed his first year at Institute for Organization Management, a four-year nonprofit leadership training program at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
Fleming was also the recipient of a Sam’s Club scholarship. Awarded to 20 first-year attendees from across the U.S., the Sam’s Club scholarships recognize individuals that exhibit excellent nonprofit management practices in several areas, including involvement in professional industry organizations, community involvement and demonstrated leadership.
“The U.S. Chamber is proud to partner with Sam’s Club to provide dedicated professionals like Bill Fleming the opportunity to attend Institute and educate them on how to better represent their members and expand their organizations’ influence,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, vice president of Institute for Organization Management at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “We are pleased to help these talented individuals advance their careers and organizations, and we appreciate the commitment from Sam’s Club to the business community.”
“Institute participants are recognized across the country as leaders in their communities,” said. Towle. “These individuals have the knowledge, skills, and dedication to achieve professional and organizational success in the dynamic association and chamber industries.”
Since its commencement in 1921, the Institute program has educated tens of thousands of association, chamber, and other nonprofit leaders on how to build stronger organizations, better serve their members and become strong business advocates. Institute’s curriculum consists of four weeklong sessions offered at five different university locations throughout the country. Through a combination of required courses and electives in areas such as leadership, advocacy, marketing, finance, and membership, Institute participants are able to enhance their own organizational management skills and add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively.
Graduates of Institute receive the IOM recognition, signifying completion of 96 hours of course instruction in nonprofit management. In addition, participants can earn credit hours toward the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) or Certified Association Executive (CAE) certifications. Nearly 1,000 individuals attend Institute annually.
Institute is a 501(c) (3) affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is the premier nonprofit professional development program for nonprofit professionals, fostering individual growth through interactive learning and networking opportunities.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.
Washington D.C.—Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is pleased to announce that William T. Fleming, Executive Director of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce recently completed his first year at Institute for Organization Management, a four-year nonprofit leadership training program at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Fleming was also the recipient of a Sam’s Club scholarship. Awarded to 20 first-year attendees from across the U.S., the Sam’s Club scholarships recognize individuals that exhibit excellent nonprofit management practices in several areas, including involvement in professional industry organizations, community involvement and demonstrated leadership.
“The U.S. Chamber is proud to partner with Sam’s Club to provide dedicated professionals like Bill Fleming the opportunity to attend Institute and educate them on how to better represent their members and expand their organizations’ influence,” said Raymond P. Towle, IOM, CAE, vice president of Institute for Organization Management at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “We are pleased to help these talented individuals advance their careers and organizations, and we appreciate the commitment from Sam’s Club to the business community.”
“Institute participants are recognized across the country as leaders in their communities,” said. Towle. “These individuals have the knowledge, skills, and dedication to achieve professional and organizational success in the dynamic association and chamber industries.”
Since its commencement in 1921, the Institute program has educated tens of thousands of association, chamber, and other nonprofit leaders on how to build stronger organizations, better serve their members and become strong business advocates. Institute’s curriculum consists of four weeklong sessions offered at five different university locations throughout the country. Through a combination of required courses and electives in areas such as leadership, advocacy, marketing, finance, and membership, Institute participants are able to enhance their own organizational management skills and add new fuel to their organizations, making them run more efficiently and effectively.
Graduates of Institute receive the IOM recognition, signifying completion of 96 hours of course instruction in nonprofit management. In addition, participants can earn credit hours toward the Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) or Certified Association Executive (CAE) certifications. Nearly 1,000 individuals attend Institute annually.
Institute is a 501(c) (3) affiliate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and is the premier nonprofit professional development program for nonprofit professionals, fostering individual growth through interactive learning and networking opportunities.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world's largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.
Welcome New Member: Enviro-Dry Clean Carpets
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Enviro-Dry Clean Carpets, 466 Wildwood Drive, Groveland, IL 61535; phone: (309) 267-6253; email: EnviroDryCleanCarpets@gmail.com; website: www.envirodryllc.com; Nick Fleming, Owner. Enviro-Dry Clean Carpets is a dry extraction carpet cleaning system that leaves carpets clean and dry for immediate use. It lives and revives matted carpet pile, cleans and improves the look of high traffic areas, leaves a fresh clean scent, and deep cleans to remove spots and spills. The system reduces dust mites, allergens and mold spores, with Green-Sealed certified products that are safe for the whole family.
CEFCU Announces Retirements and Management Moves
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CEFCU announces the retirements of Melody Dickerson, Pete Jain, Linda Keyser, and Marianne Moll. Tim Dunton has been promoted to Chief Technology Officer; Denise Ghere, Joe Varda and Dave Zimmerman have been promoted to Vice President; and Todd Haller becomes Vice President of Auditing & Risk Management.
Dickerson has been an employee of CEFCU for 38 years, serving as the Chief Technology Officer since 2007. Her retirement will be effective on July 1, 2012.
Jain has been an employee of CEFCU for 32 years, serving as Vice President of Cash Management since 1996. Jain’s retirement will be effective on July 1, 2012.
Keyser has been an employee of CEFCU for 34 years, serving as Internet Information Security Manager since 2001. Her retirement is effective July 1, 2012.
Moll has been an employee of CEFCU for 33 years, serving as Vice President of Auditing & Risk Management since 2003. Moll’s retirement is effective July, 1, 2012.
Dunton was promoted to Chief Technology Officer. His job responsibilities include overseeing technological resources for the Credit Union as well as directing the future development and acquisition of new technology for the Credit Union.
Ghere was promoted to Vice President of Electronic Funds Transfer. Her job responsibilities include research and development of new products and services and enhancement of existing products, services, and delivery channels.
Haller will assume the position of Vice President of Auditing and Risk Management. His job responsibilities include development and implementation of a robust risk infrastructure and internal controls framework. In addition, he will lead efforts to interpret and apply new audit and regulatory concepts efficiently and effectively.
Varda has been promoted to Vice President of Cash Management. His job responsibilities include managing CEFCU's Investment Portfolio, providing liquidity, and facilitating the cash management process.
Zimmerman has been promoted to Vice President of Information Services. His job responsibilities include overseeing CEFCU’s Information Services’ Programming, Operations, Network Communications, Internet Services, and Information Security areas.
With assets totaling over $4.8 billion, CEFCU serves over 288,000 members through
20 central Illinois Member Centers and 3 Member Centers in Santa Clara County, California; the CEFCU Financial Center; the Money Center 24 ATM Network; CEFCU’s website, cefcu.com; cefcu.mobi; the surcharge-free CO-OP ATM Network; and the CU Service Center Shared Branch Network.
Dickerson has been an employee of CEFCU for 38 years, serving as the Chief Technology Officer since 2007. Her retirement will be effective on July 1, 2012.
Jain has been an employee of CEFCU for 32 years, serving as Vice President of Cash Management since 1996. Jain’s retirement will be effective on July 1, 2012.
Keyser has been an employee of CEFCU for 34 years, serving as Internet Information Security Manager since 2001. Her retirement is effective July 1, 2012.
Moll has been an employee of CEFCU for 33 years, serving as Vice President of Auditing & Risk Management since 2003. Moll’s retirement is effective July, 1, 2012.
Dunton was promoted to Chief Technology Officer. His job responsibilities include overseeing technological resources for the Credit Union as well as directing the future development and acquisition of new technology for the Credit Union.
Ghere was promoted to Vice President of Electronic Funds Transfer. Her job responsibilities include research and development of new products and services and enhancement of existing products, services, and delivery channels.
Haller will assume the position of Vice President of Auditing and Risk Management. His job responsibilities include development and implementation of a robust risk infrastructure and internal controls framework. In addition, he will lead efforts to interpret and apply new audit and regulatory concepts efficiently and effectively.
Varda has been promoted to Vice President of Cash Management. His job responsibilities include managing CEFCU's Investment Portfolio, providing liquidity, and facilitating the cash management process.
Zimmerman has been promoted to Vice President of Information Services. His job responsibilities include overseeing CEFCU’s Information Services’ Programming, Operations, Network Communications, Internet Services, and Information Security areas.
With assets totaling over $4.8 billion, CEFCU serves over 288,000 members through
20 central Illinois Member Centers and 3 Member Centers in Santa Clara County, California; the CEFCU Financial Center; the Money Center 24 ATM Network; CEFCU’s website, cefcu.com; cefcu.mobi; the surcharge-free CO-OP ATM Network; and the CU Service Center Shared Branch Network.
Pekin Main Street to Host July Jubilee Carnival
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Pekin Main Street will be hosting a carnival as part of the first ever July Jubilee, July 4th-July 7th in downtown Pekin. This family friendly event will feature rides, games and food by Miller Spectacular Shows.
The carnival will be on the empty lot formerly home to Vogel’s Grocery store on 2nd Street and Sabella Streets in downtown Pekin. Visitors are encouraged to park in the vacant lot closes to the T-Shirt House and in the lot at Riverfront Park. Hours for the Carnival are: July 4th – 4:00pm-11:00pm, July 5th – 4pm-10pm, July 6th – 3:00pm-11pm and July 7th – 1pm-10pm.
A portion of the proceeds from the carnival will be donated back to Pekin Main Street, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization with a mission to preserve, restore and revitalize downtown Pekin.
For more information, contact the Pekin Main Street office at (309) 353-3100 or visit www.pekinmainstreet.com.
The carnival will be on the empty lot formerly home to Vogel’s Grocery store on 2nd Street and Sabella Streets in downtown Pekin. Visitors are encouraged to park in the vacant lot closes to the T-Shirt House and in the lot at Riverfront Park. Hours for the Carnival are: July 4th – 4:00pm-11:00pm, July 5th – 4pm-10pm, July 6th – 3:00pm-11pm and July 7th – 1pm-10pm.
A portion of the proceeds from the carnival will be donated back to Pekin Main Street, a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization with a mission to preserve, restore and revitalize downtown Pekin.
For more information, contact the Pekin Main Street office at (309) 353-3100 or visit www.pekinmainstreet.com.
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Autism Postscript: State of the Science on Causes and Mechanisms
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Friday we lamented the lack of any clinical evidence to support the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in children with autism. Yet the science in this field continues to fascinate. Later that night we enjoyed Charlie Rose's enlightening conversation with some leading autism experts: Eric Kandel of Columbia University, Gerald Fischbach of the Simons Foundation, Uta Frith of University College London, Matthew State of Yale University, and Alison Singer of the Autism Science Foundation. Part of Rose's ongoing Brain Series, the discussion touched on the latest findings and prevailing theories about the (especially) genetic causes and mechanisms of autism spectrum disorders.
Friday we lamented the lack of any clinical evidence to support the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy in children with autism. Yet the science in this field continues to fascinate. Later that night we enjoyed Charlie Rose's enlightening conversation with some leading autism experts: Eric Kandel of Columbia University, Gerald Fischbach of the Simons Foundation, Uta Frith of University College London, Matthew State of Yale University, and Alison Singer of the Autism Science Foundation. Part of Rose's ongoing Brain Series, the discussion touched on the latest findings and prevailing theories about the (especially) genetic causes and mechanisms of autism spectrum disorders.
Hyperbaric Oxygen and Type 1 Diabetes: New Animal Study Suggests Preventive Effect
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When HyperbaricLink talks diabetes we're usually talking diabetic ulcers. But we note with great interest a promising new paper published online last week in the American Diabetes Association journal Diabetes, in which scientists at the University of Miami say they used hyperbaric oxygen to prevent or slow the progression of Type 1 diabetes in mice.
Our first question is, How does hyperbaric oxygen work? From the abstract:
We won't pretend to understand much of this beyond the given abbreviations: hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HOT), non-obese diabetic (NOD), and dendritic cells (DC). But we do know how difficult it can be to translate findings from animal laboratory experiments to human clinical studies. And we're not quite sure how physicians would know how to select patients and whether or when to use hyperbaric oxygen. A neat summary of the paper in HealthDay raises these and other questions.
That hyperbaric oxygen affects diabetes is not news to many researchers. Back in July 2010 we noted a paper in the Polish Journal of Endocrinology concluding "HBOT was shown to have beneficial effects on atherosclerosis and glycaemic control" in a study of 28 diabetes patients with foot ulcers.
The Miami study used 100% oxygen at 2.0 atmospheres absolute (ATA) and the Polish study at 2.4 ATA. Of course such subtleties will not stop every inflatable bag dealer from claiming this evidence as their own. Let the buyer beware.
For the evidence-based hyperbaric medical community, this is an altogether fascinating area of hyperbaric medical research. We have reached out to the Miami research team and eagerly await further studies.
When HyperbaricLink talks diabetes we're usually talking diabetic ulcers. But we note with great interest a promising new paper published online last week in the American Diabetes Association journal Diabetes, in which scientists at the University of Miami say they used hyperbaric oxygen to prevent or slow the progression of Type 1 diabetes in mice.Our first question is, How does hyperbaric oxygen work? From the abstract:
HOT reduces autoimmune diabetes incidence in NOD mice via increased resting T cells and reduced activation of DCs with preservation of β-cell mass resulting from decreased apoptosis and increased proliferation.
We won't pretend to understand much of this beyond the given abbreviations: hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HOT), non-obese diabetic (NOD), and dendritic cells (DC). But we do know how difficult it can be to translate findings from animal laboratory experiments to human clinical studies. And we're not quite sure how physicians would know how to select patients and whether or when to use hyperbaric oxygen. A neat summary of the paper in HealthDay raises these and other questions.
That hyperbaric oxygen affects diabetes is not news to many researchers. Back in July 2010 we noted a paper in the Polish Journal of Endocrinology concluding "HBOT was shown to have beneficial effects on atherosclerosis and glycaemic control" in a study of 28 diabetes patients with foot ulcers.
The Miami study used 100% oxygen at 2.0 atmospheres absolute (ATA) and the Polish study at 2.4 ATA. Of course such subtleties will not stop every inflatable bag dealer from claiming this evidence as their own. Let the buyer beware.
For the evidence-based hyperbaric medical community, this is an altogether fascinating area of hyperbaric medical research. We have reached out to the Miami research team and eagerly await further studies.
Hyperbaric Oxygen for Necrotizing Fasciitis: Georgia Woman Loses Limbs and Fights for Life
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Our thoughts today with Aimee Copeland, the 24-year-old University of West Georgia graduate student who is fighting a very public battle against necrotizing fasciitis at Doctors Hospital in Augusta. Copeland suffered a deep gash to her leg in a zip-lining accident on May 1. By May 4 the wound had become infected with the rare flesh-eating bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors amputated most of her left leg and worked to stop the potentially deadly infection from spreading. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, begun last Wednesday, failed to salvage her remaining foot and both hands. Copeland remains in critical condition.
In the treatment of necrotizing fasciitis, hyperbaric oxygen inhibits bacteria from replicating, spreading, and releasing damaging toxins. It may also boost the effect of antibiotics, enhance the body’s natural defenses against flesh-eating bacteria, and help resolve or delay the onset of sepsis, a deadly blood poisoning. From the commentary section of our necrotizing infections page:
Keep track of Aimee's condition on Facebook.
[Photo: Copeland family Facebook page]
Our thoughts today with Aimee Copeland, the 24-year-old University of West Georgia graduate student who is fighting a very public battle against necrotizing fasciitis at Doctors Hospital in Augusta. Copeland suffered a deep gash to her leg in a zip-lining accident on May 1. By May 4 the wound had become infected with the rare flesh-eating bacterium Aeromonas hydrophila. She was rushed to the hospital, where doctors amputated most of her left leg and worked to stop the potentially deadly infection from spreading. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy, begun last Wednesday, failed to salvage her remaining foot and both hands. Copeland remains in critical condition.In the treatment of necrotizing fasciitis, hyperbaric oxygen inhibits bacteria from replicating, spreading, and releasing damaging toxins. It may also boost the effect of antibiotics, enhance the body’s natural defenses against flesh-eating bacteria, and help resolve or delay the onset of sepsis, a deadly blood poisoning. From the commentary section of our necrotizing infections page:
Hyperbaric oxygen can be a potent bactericide and also treats the hypoxia at the root of soft tissue necrosis. One analysis [Undersea Hyperb. Med. 2005 Nov-Dec; 32(6):437-43] showed significantly fewer deaths and amputations with HBOT. As the [UHMS] writeup concludes: “With such strong case series evidence of reductions in morbidity and mortality for necrotizing fasciitis and the subset of Fournier's Gangrene, it is difficult to envision ever seeing a controlled, double-blinded study of hyperbaric oxygen therapy.” In other words, considering the deadly seriousness of necrotizing infection and the demonstrated effectiveness of HBOT, withholding treatment from a control group for comparative study would not be medically or ethically acceptable. As antibiotics and other traditional weapons against these worrisome microscopic invaders begin to weaken, HBOT provides a vital backstop.
Keep track of Aimee's condition on Facebook.
[Photo: Copeland family Facebook page]
Multibillion-dollar Losses at JPMorgan Linked to Key Executive's Struggle with Lyme Disease
To contact us Click HERE
When we read "JPMorgan's $6 Billion Case of Lyme Disease" in Forbes we thought maybe it was an Onion headline. But, sure enough, bank insiders and Wall Street traders have placed part of the blame for the massive blunder on the health problems of one top executive. Ina Drew, pictured right, started missing work after she contracted Lyme disease in 2010. Apparently she played a key role in keeping the peace and refereeing shouting matches in the chief investment office, and her frequent absence threw the team into chaos.
Drew resigned earlier this month. She was the bank's fourth-highest-paid officer.
Spend one of your free visits on the fascinating New York Times article that broke the story. You may also wish to join tick and Lyme disease experts in a surprisingly informative discussion with Science Friday. More about hyperbaric oxygen therapy for Lyme disease on HyperbaricLink and in our previous blogposts.
We are told to expect an unusually active tick season after this year's mild winter. No comment about other, possibly human, pests and parasites that may spoil our summer.
[Photo: JPMorgan via Bloomberg News and New York Times]
When we read "JPMorgan's $6 Billion Case of Lyme Disease" in Forbes we thought maybe it was an Onion headline. But, sure enough, bank insiders and Wall Street traders have placed part of the blame for the massive blunder on the health problems of one top executive. Ina Drew, pictured right, started missing work after she contracted Lyme disease in 2010. Apparently she played a key role in keeping the peace and refereeing shouting matches in the chief investment office, and her frequent absence threw the team into chaos.Drew resigned earlier this month. She was the bank's fourth-highest-paid officer.
Spend one of your free visits on the fascinating New York Times article that broke the story. You may also wish to join tick and Lyme disease experts in a surprisingly informative discussion with Science Friday. More about hyperbaric oxygen therapy for Lyme disease on HyperbaricLink and in our previous blogposts.
We are told to expect an unusually active tick season after this year's mild winter. No comment about other, possibly human, pests and parasites that may spoil our summer.
[Photo: JPMorgan via Bloomberg News and New York Times]
UHMS Accredits Hyperbaric Medicine at Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, Georgia
To contact us Click HERE
The Hyperbaric Medicine Service at Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Fort Gordon, Georgia, has received accreditation from the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS). Fort Gordon is home to the US Army Signal Corp. The military-only center is not open to the public. About UHMS accreditation, medical director Michael Madsen, MD, said it:
Read the announcement in The Fort Gordon Signal. Learn more about facility accreditation in our UHMS profile and on the UHMS website.
[Photo: Eisenhower Army Medical Center website]
The Hyperbaric Medicine Service at Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center in Fort Gordon, Georgia, has received accreditation from the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society (UHMS). Fort Gordon is home to the US Army Signal Corp. The military-only center is not open to the public. About UHMS accreditation, medical director Michael Madsen, MD, said it:... signifies Eisenhower Army Medical Center’s commitment to patient safety and upholding the highest performance standards when treating patients with hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Read the announcement in The Fort Gordon Signal. Learn more about facility accreditation in our UHMS profile and on the UHMS website.
[Photo: Eisenhower Army Medical Center website]
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Cuce' Shoes & Devotee Boot Giveaway
To contact us Click HERE
Photography by M and FashionByHeNew York Jets Devotee Boot by Cuce'
Founded in 2012 by twin sisters, Kathleen and Kristina Cuce, Cuce' Shoes are the most perfect, most stylish, and most comfortable footwear for any and all loyal female fans! With collections featuring NFL, NHL, as well as college NCAA teams, Cuce' offers a wide variety of fun, fabulous, and completely functional boots that represent fanwear at its absolute finest. Rooting for your team never looked better.
Thanks to the Cuce Twins themselves, we are able to team up with Cuce' Shoes to offer all of you devoted NFL fans a chance to win a pair of Cuce' Devotee Boots to ensure that you are the very most stylish fan this coming season. Fuzzy and flitry, these boots will keep you warm while showing your true team spirit and support. Scroll down for contest rules and regulations as well as a list of which boots are available to choose from.
Cuce' Devotee Boot-Available styles and sizes for giveaway: Dallas Cowboys- Gray- sizes 6-10Miami Dolphins- Gray- sizes 6-10New England Patriots- Gray- sizes 6-10Oakland Raiders- Gray- sizes 6-10New York Giants- Gray- sizes 6-10Tennessee Titans- Gray- sizes 6-10Minnesota Vikings- Black- sizes 6-10Green Bay Packers- Black- sizes 6-10San Francisco 49ers- Black- sizes 6-10New York Jets- Black- sizes 6-10Pittsburgh Steelers- Black- sizes 6-10Cincinnati Bengals- Black- sizes 6-10Baltimore Ravens- Black- sizes 6-10Chicago Bears- Black- sizes 6-10
To Enter the Cuce Devotee NFL Boot Giveaway1. Follow us and leave a comment here on Blogger, stating how much you're devoted to your team and how much you need these boots! 2. Add Belles&Rebelles (here) on Twitter and tweet at us saying "@BELLESnREBELLES I'm a Cuce Devotee!" 3. Like Belles&Rebelles (here) and Cuce Shoes (here) on Facebook and leave a comment under this post about how much you would like to win a pair of Devotee Boots.4. Or, lastly, just click the "like" button for this post once you've joined us at our Facebook Fan Page (here).
If you choose to do all of the above, you will be entered in the raffle four times (each action will guarantee you one raffle entry). The contest will run through the end of this week only, ending at midnight on Saturday, June 9, 2012. (Contest deadline is midnight USA EST Time on Saturday, June 9, 2012. The winner will be announced and notified on Sunday, June 10 2012.)
To learn more, see more, and to shop for Cuce Shoes, click here.
To purchase Devotee Boots directly, click here.
To see more Belles&Rebelles coverage of Cuce Shoes/Gear, click here.
Big Thanks to FashionByHe for the photography. To check out FashionByHe's blog, click here.Big Thanks to Kathleen and Kristina Cuce for making this giveaway possible!
xx.
M
Photography by M and FashionByHeNew York Jets Devotee Boot by Cuce' Founded in 2012 by twin sisters, Kathleen and Kristina Cuce, Cuce' Shoes are the most perfect, most stylish, and most comfortable footwear for any and all loyal female fans! With collections featuring NFL, NHL, as well as college NCAA teams, Cuce' offers a wide variety of fun, fabulous, and completely functional boots that represent fanwear at its absolute finest. Rooting for your team never looked better.
Thanks to the Cuce Twins themselves, we are able to team up with Cuce' Shoes to offer all of you devoted NFL fans a chance to win a pair of Cuce' Devotee Boots to ensure that you are the very most stylish fan this coming season. Fuzzy and flitry, these boots will keep you warm while showing your true team spirit and support. Scroll down for contest rules and regulations as well as a list of which boots are available to choose from.
Cuce' Devotee Boot-Available styles and sizes for giveaway: Dallas Cowboys- Gray- sizes 6-10Miami Dolphins- Gray- sizes 6-10New England Patriots- Gray- sizes 6-10Oakland Raiders- Gray- sizes 6-10New York Giants- Gray- sizes 6-10Tennessee Titans- Gray- sizes 6-10Minnesota Vikings- Black- sizes 6-10Green Bay Packers- Black- sizes 6-10San Francisco 49ers- Black- sizes 6-10New York Jets- Black- sizes 6-10Pittsburgh Steelers- Black- sizes 6-10Cincinnati Bengals- Black- sizes 6-10Baltimore Ravens- Black- sizes 6-10Chicago Bears- Black- sizes 6-10
To Enter the Cuce Devotee NFL Boot Giveaway1. Follow us and leave a comment here on Blogger, stating how much you're devoted to your team and how much you need these boots! 2. Add Belles&Rebelles (here) on Twitter and tweet at us saying "@BELLESnREBELLES I'm a Cuce Devotee!" 3. Like Belles&Rebelles (here) and Cuce Shoes (here) on Facebook and leave a comment under this post about how much you would like to win a pair of Devotee Boots.4. Or, lastly, just click the "like" button for this post once you've joined us at our Facebook Fan Page (here).
If you choose to do all of the above, you will be entered in the raffle four times (each action will guarantee you one raffle entry). The contest will run through the end of this week only, ending at midnight on Saturday, June 9, 2012. (Contest deadline is midnight USA EST Time on Saturday, June 9, 2012. The winner will be announced and notified on Sunday, June 10 2012.)
To learn more, see more, and to shop for Cuce Shoes, click here.
To purchase Devotee Boots directly, click here.
To see more Belles&Rebelles coverage of Cuce Shoes/Gear, click here.
Big Thanks to FashionByHe for the photography. To check out FashionByHe's blog, click here.Big Thanks to Kathleen and Kristina Cuce for making this giveaway possible!
xx.
M
K/LLER Collection Jewelry
To contact us Click HERE
K/LLER Collection, which was showcased at a trunk show event at the Cynthia Vincent SoHo boutique, can only be described as, well... killer.
To learn more, see more, and to shop for K/LLER Collection jewelry, click here.To learn more, see more, and to shop for Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, click here.Big Thanks Bade Scruggs of Cynthia Vincent for sharing the collection with us!Big Thanks to Angie Niles for the invitation to this event!
xx.
M
K/LLER Collection, which was showcased at a trunk show event at the Cynthia Vincent SoHo boutique, can only be described as, well... killer.
To learn more, see more, and to shop for K/LLER Collection jewelry, click here.To learn more, see more, and to shop for Twelfth Street by Cynthia Vincent, click here.Big Thanks Bade Scruggs of Cynthia Vincent for sharing the collection with us!Big Thanks to Angie Niles for the invitation to this event!
xx.
M
Rorin
To contact us Click HERE
Designer Erin Tufts, best known for her stint as head designer of Nire Collection, just dropped a new collection of clutches. Named Rorin, this new brand features an array of versatile clutch "Frannie" bags which are all hand stitched and made with both fine quality and faux leathers.
To learn more, see more, and to shop Ronin Clutches, click here.To see more Belles&Rebelles coverage of Designer Erin Tufts and Nire Collection, click here.Big Thanks to Deisgner Erin Tufts for sending this our way!
xx.M
Designer Erin Tufts, best known for her stint as head designer of Nire Collection, just dropped a new collection of clutches. Named Rorin, this new brand features an array of versatile clutch "Frannie" bags which are all hand stitched and made with both fine quality and faux leathers.
To learn more, see more, and to shop Ronin Clutches, click here.To see more Belles&Rebelles coverage of Designer Erin Tufts and Nire Collection, click here.Big Thanks to Deisgner Erin Tufts for sending this our way!
xx.M
Nina Nguyen Designs Fall/Winter 2012
To contact us Click HERE
With an Earth conscious mind and Earth conscious materials, Nina Nguyen Designs embraces the planet's natural processes. With organic gemstones, fossilized and mineralized stones, and the world's finest raw materials, designer Nina Nguyen communicates her international travels and credits her Vietnam upbringing as her inspiration for her high end jewelry collection. At a recent preview event at exclusive NYC speakeasy, Bathtub Gin, Ms. Nguyen displayed her artistic flair and worldly spirit in her Fall/Winter 2012 collection. With a goal to empower the wearer, each and every piece embodied a true and unique beauty of its own.
To learn more, see more, and to shop for Nina Nguyen Designs, click here.Big Thanks to Jessy Fofana of LaRue PR for the invitation to this event!
xx.
M
With an Earth conscious mind and Earth conscious materials, Nina Nguyen Designs embraces the planet's natural processes. With organic gemstones, fossilized and mineralized stones, and the world's finest raw materials, designer Nina Nguyen communicates her international travels and credits her Vietnam upbringing as her inspiration for her high end jewelry collection. At a recent preview event at exclusive NYC speakeasy, Bathtub Gin, Ms. Nguyen displayed her artistic flair and worldly spirit in her Fall/Winter 2012 collection. With a goal to empower the wearer, each and every piece embodied a true and unique beauty of its own.
To learn more, see more, and to shop for Nina Nguyen Designs, click here.Big Thanks to Jessy Fofana of LaRue PR for the invitation to this event!
xx.
M
Bijulesterie
To contact us Click HERE
Bijulesterie is officially open. A seance ushered in this new chapter for NYC-based jewelry brand, Bijules. With a space on the Bowery, designer Jules Kim, revealed her showroom as well as her latest collection. The atmosphere evoked a new experience, touching upon the senses, not only through a newly developed scent (which Ms. Kim created with renowned perfumery Six Scents), but with beautiful flower styling by 11x11 and unbelievably unique art by Sylvia Hommert. Displayed in a 125 gallon antique aquarium, discovering the Bijules brand is by appointment only.
To learn more, see more, and to shop for Bijules jewelry, click here.To learn more, see more, and to shop for 11x11 Flowers, click here.To learn more, see more, and to shop for art by Sylvia Horrmert, click here.
xx.
M
Bijulesterie is officially open. A seance ushered in this new chapter for NYC-based jewelry brand, Bijules. With a space on the Bowery, designer Jules Kim, revealed her showroom as well as her latest collection. The atmosphere evoked a new experience, touching upon the senses, not only through a newly developed scent (which Ms. Kim created with renowned perfumery Six Scents), but with beautiful flower styling by 11x11 and unbelievably unique art by Sylvia Hommert. Displayed in a 125 gallon antique aquarium, discovering the Bijules brand is by appointment only.
To learn more, see more, and to shop for Bijules jewelry, click here.To learn more, see more, and to shop for 11x11 Flowers, click here.To learn more, see more, and to shop for art by Sylvia Horrmert, click here.
xx.
M
Thursday, June 21, 2012
To contact us Click HERE
In-home senior care provider Comfort Keepers of Springfield, PA has been participating in the nationwide Stop Senior Hunger campaign to collect dry goods and canned foods for low income seniors for the last 3 years.
With close to 10.000 pounds of food collected and donated, Comfort Keepers prides itself on working with community leaders and business partners to set up food drives to collect the donations. For the second year in a row, Citadel, the Federal Credit Union that has several locations in Chester and Delaware County, PA has partnered with Comfort Keepers to collect food in their Springfield location.
The food drive will take place at the Springfield location during the month of May which is Older American’s Month. Lead by Dianna Armstrong of Citadel, the employees and customers made generous donations last year to help Comfort Keepers move closer to their goal of 10.000 pounds collected. Since Comfort Keepers has collected almost 10.000 pounds, Citadel donations will help Comfort Keepers get to its next goal of 25, 0000 pounds collected by December of 2012.
For more information on Citadel Federal Credit Union, click HERE. To find address and directions to Springfield Citadel click HERE. For information on Stop Senior Hunger, click HERE and for in-home services click HERE.
In-home senior care provider Comfort Keepers of Springfield, PA has been participating in the nationwide Stop Senior Hunger campaign to collect dry goods and canned foods for low income seniors for the last 3 years.With close to 10.000 pounds of food collected and donated, Comfort Keepers prides itself on working with community leaders and business partners to set up food drives to collect the donations. For the second year in a row, Citadel, the Federal Credit Union that has several locations in Chester and Delaware County, PA has partnered with Comfort Keepers to collect food in their Springfield location.
The food drive will take place at the Springfield location during the month of May which is Older American’s Month. Lead by Dianna Armstrong of Citadel, the employees and customers made generous donations last year to help Comfort Keepers move closer to their goal of 10.000 pounds collected. Since Comfort Keepers has collected almost 10.000 pounds, Citadel donations will help Comfort Keepers get to its next goal of 25, 0000 pounds collected by December of 2012.
For more information on Citadel Federal Credit Union, click HERE. To find address and directions to Springfield Citadel click HERE. For information on Stop Senior Hunger, click HERE and for in-home services click HERE.
Centenarians to be honored May 8, 2012 Drexelbrook
To contact us Click HERE
The annual Centenarian Luncheon will take place on Tuesday May 8, 2012 at the Drexelbrook in Drexel Hill. The Luncheon is held every year to celebrate the birthdays of all Delaware County residents who are 100 years old and older. Individuals who are 99 and will be 100 this year are welcome to attend but must register first.
The event is a beautiful recognition of the lives of these Centenarians. County Council members are present to declare the day and the luncheon is a well organized and wonderful event hosted by COSA, the County Office Service of the Aging as part of their Older American Month activities.
Comfort Keepers is a proud major sponsor of Older American Month activities for last 8 years.
The event is a beautiful recognition of the lives of these Centenarians. County Council members are present to declare the day and the luncheon is a well organized and wonderful event hosted by COSA, the County Office Service of the Aging as part of their Older American Month activities.
Comfort Keepers is a proud major sponsor of Older American Month activities for last 8 years.
COSA Senior Living Expo Fair May 17, 2012 Harrah's Chester Philly
To contact us Click HERE
In-home senior care providers such as Comfort Keepers, assisted living and senior care related businesses will be on hand May 17, 2012 to provide information to senior citizens and their families at the Senior Living Expo at Harrah's Chester - now Harrah's Philly. The event runs from 9am to 1pm, is FREE and open to the public.
This year, Comfort Keepers will be collecting canned and dry goods at the fair for its Stop Senior Hunger program. For each pound a senior donates, he or she will receive one ticket per pound to be entered into drawing for great prizes. Bring 10 pounds food and get 10 tickets or 10 chances to win. For more information on the food donations or senior care call Comfort Keepers at 610-543-6300.
For information about the Senior Fair or being a vendor, call COSA at 610-490-1300.
This year, Comfort Keepers will be collecting canned and dry goods at the fair for its Stop Senior Hunger program. For each pound a senior donates, he or she will receive one ticket per pound to be entered into drawing for great prizes. Bring 10 pounds food and get 10 tickets or 10 chances to win. For more information on the food donations or senior care call Comfort Keepers at 610-543-6300.
For information about the Senior Fair or being a vendor, call COSA at 610-490-1300.
Happy Mother's Day 2012!
To contact us Click HERE
Yesterday a person posted on one of my social media sites a story about 6 generations of women celebrating Mother's Day 2012. This was shocking to me and at first I could not figure out the 6 generations. I thought to myself, Tuesday I attended the Centenarian Luncheon where 47 residents of Delaware County who were 100 years old or older attended with their families. At that event the oldest person was 108. So I started counting down.
If mom was 108 then daughter might be 88, her daughter 68, the next women 48, the next one 28 and then an 8 year old. This would mean that everyone in the chain would have had to had a child at the age of 20. That seems almost impossible especially in this day and age when many women are working and having children later in their late 20's often mid 30's.
And then I read the story. At first I was confused because the title read great-great-great grandmother? Oh my what did that mean? Well this ggggrandma, if I can call her that is 111! Yes, 111. The youngest of the tribe is 6 weeks old. In between there a woman in her 80's one in her 60's, one in her late 30's and then the sixteen year old who had the baby that is now 6 weeks old.
This was unbelievable to me. I have seen 5 generations in person at the Delaware County Centenarian Luncheon and that was amazing but 6? That seemed unbelievable. It is however true and does exist and yes all 6 are women. The story was sent to me via social media and originally appeared on the Huffington Post website, a website I do not read but because of the story, the person sent it to me.
So Happy Mother's Day to those 6 ladies and all Mothers everywhere.
If mom was 108 then daughter might be 88, her daughter 68, the next women 48, the next one 28 and then an 8 year old. This would mean that everyone in the chain would have had to had a child at the age of 20. That seems almost impossible especially in this day and age when many women are working and having children later in their late 20's often mid 30's.
And then I read the story. At first I was confused because the title read great-great-great grandmother? Oh my what did that mean? Well this ggggrandma, if I can call her that is 111! Yes, 111. The youngest of the tribe is 6 weeks old. In between there a woman in her 80's one in her 60's, one in her late 30's and then the sixteen year old who had the baby that is now 6 weeks old.
This was unbelievable to me. I have seen 5 generations in person at the Delaware County Centenarian Luncheon and that was amazing but 6? That seemed unbelievable. It is however true and does exist and yes all 6 are women. The story was sent to me via social media and originally appeared on the Huffington Post website, a website I do not read but because of the story, the person sent it to me.
So Happy Mother's Day to those 6 ladies and all Mothers everywhere.
COSA Waiver Care Management - Will be a thing of past if you don't raise you voice
To contact us Click HERE
If you have not heard the Secretary of Aging in the state of PA is proposing to make changes to the Waiver Care Management Program. The Waiver Care Management Program is currently a system whereby once COSA intake staff assesses a client and places him or her into the waiver program, the consumer or the client is assigned a care manager. This care manager is located in the local county office so in Delaware County, the care managers are in the Eddystone PA office.
Many of these care managers live locally and part of our community. The same goes for Montgomery County Adult and Aging Services as well as Chester County's Department of Aging. Each location has a set of care managers that work with seniors in their community.
These care managers go out and visit the clients, they speak with clients on the phone about their needs and they support and provide assistance to many family members as well. Some clients live alone and have no support so the local care manager visiting or calling and knowing the client makes a world of difference in the senior's life. Individuals with multiple needs may call the care manager several times a week with issues ranging from not feeling well, to having a problem understanding a service they are receiving to any issue related to their care.
For providers like Comfort Keepers, our office phone rings with concerns from clients and as a provider we feel very comfortable referring the client back to his or care manager in Eddystone. Knowing the care managers are local residents and the office is not far from ours, we can be assured that if required the care manager could visit the client and address any issues in person. Many clients suffer from loss of hearing so often it is easier to speak in person than over a phone.
If the Secretary of Aging in the state of PA enacts Act 22, the care management system could change. There will no longer be a local representation of care management. The proposed change is to hire an outside agency, one agency, to provide care management for the entire state of PA. No one seems to know where this agency will be located. This means if the agency is located in say Pittsburgh, the agency will provide care management for our COSA clients in Delaware County. The other change proposed is to have the agency provided a limited amount of care management per month to each client. Once that amount has been reached it does not matter whether it is first of month or 25th of month, the client have met his or her limit for care management.
If you feel this is something that will greatly impact your services or services of a loved one, there is a petition you can sign to help stop the enactment of Act 22. If you are interested in joining the fight or writing a letter to the Governor, please click here - http://www.change.org/petitions/governor-tom-corbett-stop-dpw-from-enacting-the-planned-regulations-which-will-harm-seniors
Many of these care managers live locally and part of our community. The same goes for Montgomery County Adult and Aging Services as well as Chester County's Department of Aging. Each location has a set of care managers that work with seniors in their community.
These care managers go out and visit the clients, they speak with clients on the phone about their needs and they support and provide assistance to many family members as well. Some clients live alone and have no support so the local care manager visiting or calling and knowing the client makes a world of difference in the senior's life. Individuals with multiple needs may call the care manager several times a week with issues ranging from not feeling well, to having a problem understanding a service they are receiving to any issue related to their care.
For providers like Comfort Keepers, our office phone rings with concerns from clients and as a provider we feel very comfortable referring the client back to his or care manager in Eddystone. Knowing the care managers are local residents and the office is not far from ours, we can be assured that if required the care manager could visit the client and address any issues in person. Many clients suffer from loss of hearing so often it is easier to speak in person than over a phone.
If the Secretary of Aging in the state of PA enacts Act 22, the care management system could change. There will no longer be a local representation of care management. The proposed change is to hire an outside agency, one agency, to provide care management for the entire state of PA. No one seems to know where this agency will be located. This means if the agency is located in say Pittsburgh, the agency will provide care management for our COSA clients in Delaware County. The other change proposed is to have the agency provided a limited amount of care management per month to each client. Once that amount has been reached it does not matter whether it is first of month or 25th of month, the client have met his or her limit for care management.
If you feel this is something that will greatly impact your services or services of a loved one, there is a petition you can sign to help stop the enactment of Act 22. If you are interested in joining the fight or writing a letter to the Governor, please click here - http://www.change.org/petitions/governor-tom-corbett-stop-dpw-from-enacting-the-planned-regulations-which-will-harm-seniors
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
In the News: Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy for Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON)?
To contact us Click HERE
Today the National Hyperbaric Centre of Dublin, Ireland, reports success in using hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to save the eyesight of a young man with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), a mitochondrial disease that usually causes a loss of central vision within two to eight weeks. Eric Lokko, pictured here, began losing his eyesight at age 12, started HBOT at 14, and can see well enough at 16 to qualify for a driver's license. More of this story on Independent.ie.
Cheers to Eric, his family, and his clinical team, and thanks for inspiring us to look into the medical literature on this subject. Hyperbaric oxygen is now indicated for the treatment of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), a kind of stroke of the eye, a vascular event requiring speedy attention. Proper treatment in the first 24 hours is critical. Until today's news we had not heard of any longer-term use of hyperbaric oxygen to preserve or restore eyesight or prevent blindness.
About HBOT for Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, the International Foundation for Optic Nerve Disease (IFOND) says:
This paragraph does not sound like the work of someone who has made a serious study of the hyperbaric medical literature. A quick search for "optic AND neuropathy AND hyperbaric" yields 8 entries in the Rubicon Research Repository and 33 papers on PubMed. We better get reading.
[Photo: Independent.ie]
Today the National Hyperbaric Centre of Dublin, Ireland, reports success in using hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) to save the eyesight of a young man with Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON), a mitochondrial disease that usually causes a loss of central vision within two to eight weeks. Eric Lokko, pictured here, began losing his eyesight at age 12, started HBOT at 14, and can see well enough at 16 to qualify for a driver's license. More of this story on Independent.ie.Cheers to Eric, his family, and his clinical team, and thanks for inspiring us to look into the medical literature on this subject. Hyperbaric oxygen is now indicated for the treatment of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), a kind of stroke of the eye, a vascular event requiring speedy attention. Proper treatment in the first 24 hours is critical. Until today's news we had not heard of any longer-term use of hyperbaric oxygen to preserve or restore eyesight or prevent blindness.
About HBOT for Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, the International Foundation for Optic Nerve Disease (IFOND) says:
The sparse negative anectodal evidence of Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy [HBO] treatment specifically in LHON is not encouraging. This is not currently a line of active research in LHON. HBO has been suggested as a treatment by delivering increased levels of oxygen to the affected nerve cell during its "starvation" period, or period of onset of blindness. A counter argument is that too much oxygen may be toxic in the context of poor cell antioxidant functioning. Oxygen toxicity to the eye is a known problem in premature babies on oxygen. There has been some success, however, using HBO with with other nerve diseases.
This paragraph does not sound like the work of someone who has made a serious study of the hyperbaric medical literature. A quick search for "optic AND neuropathy AND hyperbaric" yields 8 entries in the Rubicon Research Repository and 33 papers on PubMed. We better get reading.
[Photo: Independent.ie]
Diabetic Ulcers without Optimal Glycemic Control: New Study Concludes HBOT Should Not Be Delayed
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Physicians treating wounds in patients with diabetes often delay hyperbaric oxygen therapy until the patient has attained optimal blood sugar levels. A new multicenter, prospective cohort study, presented 24 May 2012 in Philadelphia at the annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinoligists, suggests that, in patients with diabetic ulcers of the lower extremities, the success of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not affected by pretreatment glycemic control.
Here's the complete abstract from the AACE 2012 Abstract Book:
Previous studies have shown that hyperglycemia inhibits wound healing. Here there was no significant difference between the controlled and uncontrolled groups. Why? Lead author Mansuri, in widespread press coverage of the findings, has said, "We suspect that the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy was potent enough to overcome the negative effect of hyperglycemia." We're eager to learn more from any wound care and hyperbaric medical experts who may wish to comment.
Physicians treating wounds in patients with diabetes often delay hyperbaric oxygen therapy until the patient has attained optimal blood sugar levels. A new multicenter, prospective cohort study, presented 24 May 2012 in Philadelphia at the annual meeting of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinoligists, suggests that, in patients with diabetic ulcers of the lower extremities, the success of hyperbaric oxygen therapy is not affected by pretreatment glycemic control.Here's the complete abstract from the AACE 2012 Abstract Book:
GLYCEMIC CONTROL AT INITIATION OF HYPERBARIC OXYGEN THERAPY DOES NOT AFFECT DIABETIC LOWER EXTREMITY WOUND HEALING
Owaise Mansuri, MD, Parkash Bakhtiani, MBBS, Abhijeet Yadav, Chima Osuoha, Patricia Knight, Robert McLafferty, Michael Jakoby, IV, MD
Objective: Diabetic lower extremity ulcers are a major cause of disability and mortality, accounting for approximately two-thirds of all non-traumatic amputations performed in the United States. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) is increasingly used as an adjunct to antibiotics, debridement, and revascularization for therapy of chronic, non-healing wounds associated with diabetes mellitus. We investigated whether glycemic control at time of HBO therapy measured by hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) has a significant impact on diabetic wound healing. Methods: A multi-center, prospective cohort study assessing lower extremity wound healing rates among adult patients with diabetes mellitus treated with HBO was conducted at the Regional Wound Care Center in Springfield, IL and University Medical Center Hyperbaric Oxygen Center and Burn Care Unit in Las Vegas, NV. Patients underwent 20 sessions of HBO over the course of one month, and ulcer size (surface area and depth) and location were recorded at each visit. Transcutaneous oxygen pressures (TcPO2) were measured during each session. HbA1c was measured at first and last HBO treatments from capillary blood specimens using a Siemens DCA Vantage A1c Analyzer. Patient characteristics including age, gender, weight, type and duration of diabetes mellitus, current diabetes treatment regimen, hypertension, peripheral artery disease (PAD), tobacco use, ulcer duration, and additional wound care therapies (e.g. debridement, platelet derived growth factor) were determined. Results: Complete data were collected for 22 patients who were included in the study analysis and divided into two groups based on pre-HBO HbA1c. Patients in the “controlled diabetes” group had HbA1c < 7.5%, and patients in the “uncontrolled diabetes” group had HbA1c ≥ 7.5%. Mean HbA1c in the “controlled diabetes” group (6.5 ± 0.8%, N=12) was significantly lower (P < 0.001) than in the “uncontrolled diabetes” group (8.8 ± 1.4%, N=10). Both groups were well matched across all other recorded characteristics. Wound volume was reduced by 65 ± 29% in the “controlled diabetes” group and 71 ± 30% in the “uncontrolled diabetes” group (P = 0.60). Wound healing was also unaffected by presence or absence of PAD, hypertension, tobacco use, weight, duration of diabetes, or ulcer duration. Discussion: This study demonstrates that diabetic lower extremity wound response to HBO treatment is unaffected by pre-treatment glycemic control and several other clinical factors that may adversely impact wound healing. Conclusion: HBO treatment should not be delayed if glycemic control is suboptimal at time that therapy is prescribed.
Previous studies have shown that hyperglycemia inhibits wound healing. Here there was no significant difference between the controlled and uncontrolled groups. Why? Lead author Mansuri, in widespread press coverage of the findings, has said, "We suspect that the effect of hyperbaric oxygen therapy was potent enough to overcome the negative effect of hyperglycemia." We're eager to learn more from any wound care and hyperbaric medical experts who may wish to comment.
Hyperbaric Oxygen for Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): Systematic Review of the Medical Literature
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We are loath to recommend the work of such a controversial figure as Dr Daniel Rossignol. But his new systematic review and analysis of the medical literature on hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for inflammatory bowel disease is very helpful indeed.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the chronic inflammation of all or part of the digestive tract, includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Rossignol's review includes both human and animal models, touches on some of the physiologic mechanisms that may (or may not) be involved, and finds the published clinical evidence for HBOT stronger for Crohn's than for ulcerative colitis:
This self-serving argument and the mild HBOT studies cited, 117-122, including Rossignol's own widely discredited autism study, significantly weaken an otherwise fine review of the medical literature on this important topic.
[Image: findingDulcinea]
We are loath to recommend the work of such a controversial figure as Dr Daniel Rossignol. But his new systematic review and analysis of the medical literature on hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) for inflammatory bowel disease is very helpful indeed.Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), the chronic inflammation of all or part of the digestive tract, includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. Rossignol's review includes both human and animal models, touches on some of the physiologic mechanisms that may (or may not) be involved, and finds the published clinical evidence for HBOT stronger for Crohn's than for ulcerative colitis:
In the studies of Crohn's disease, 78% of treated patients had an improvement with HBOT at a pressure ranging from 2.0 to 2.8 ATA. In the studies of ulcerative colitis, all treated patients showed improvements with a pressure delivered at 2.0 ATA. These studies suggest that a higher pressure may be needed to achieve these improvements. However, because none of these studies utilized a lower pressure of HBOT, it is not known if a lower pressure or oxygen level would be beneficial in IBD. However, some investigators have reported improvements in GI function in some children with autism using HBOT at 1.3 to 1.5 ATA [117,118]. Furthermore, previous studies have reported improvements in certain neurological conditions using hyperbaric treatment at lower pressures and/or oxygen levels [119-122]. Additional studies using HBOT at varying oxygen concentrations and atmospheric pressures would be helpful in determining optimal treatment protocols.
This self-serving argument and the mild HBOT studies cited, 117-122, including Rossignol's own widely discredited autism study, significantly weaken an otherwise fine review of the medical literature on this important topic.
[Image: findingDulcinea]
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