Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Aug. 28, 2008, edition 1 / Page 7
Part of Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
Health & Wellness Oral contraceptives may women with severe PMS A new clinical trial at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill using a popular low-dose contraceptive could uncover a more effective treatment for the 5 to 10 percent of women who ?offer from premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). . i PMDD is much more severe than premenstrual | syndrome, or PMS. The disorder interferes with a m's ability to function effectively several out of each month, every month. Physical * is include bloating, low energy, heart pal and joint or muscle pain. Far more dis emotional symptoms include irritability, ty, depression, mood swings, difficulty ng and trouble sleeping. For many women PMDD, five or more of these symptoms the week before menstruation starts and dis a few days after the period begins. : National Institute of Mental Health award UNC a S3 million grant for a five-year clinical 1 using a low-dose contraceptive called YAZ Bttyl estradiol/drospirenone). The trial is based I previous research by Dr. David Rubinow, the d Meymandi Distinguished Professor and ir of psychiatry in the UNC School of ^licine. Rubinow discovered it is thech^nge in - not felevel of - reproductive hormones OhU triggers ssion in women who are susceptible to D. In other words, women with the disorder have abnormal levels of reproductive hor s, but are more sensitive to the shifts in them occur prior to menstruation. That sensitivity gers mood symptoms. "This study will potentially demonstrate that it i .the regimen of administration of birth control I rather than their specific formulation that irf successful treatment of PMDD," jw said. His colleague and fellow co-princi I investigator of the trial, Susan Girdler, Ph.D., of psychiatry, added: "If we can elimi I the hormone cycling, we should eliminate the symptoms " Baptist weight loss surgery sam gets accreditation Adolfo "Fuzz" Fernandez and his team at Wake pat University Baptist Medical Center's irUtric Surgery Program have been awarded a 3 ?r accreditation as an American Society of fgtftbolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Bariatric Surgery Center of Fernandez f Excellence, one ot the held s highest levels of recognition. The ASMBS, a leader in research and development of weight loss surgery, pro motes the delivery of bariatric surgical care with: the highest levels of efficacy* efficiency, and patient safety. To qualify, the surgeon and hospital must meet stringent requirements. Surgeons must complete at Jeast 50 surgeries per year with a minimum life experience of 125 surgeries. In 2007, ; performed 1 34 bariatric surgeries and is I to complete 200 surgeries in 2008. Bariatric Surgery Program at Wake Forest sity Baptist Medcial Center provides Roux ' gastric bypass and gastric banding procedures : patient obesity by limiting the capacity for intake. Fernandez also performs sleeve gas 9, procedures that create a long tube to : the stomach and reduce the amount of food can consume. This procedure is recog the ASMBS but is still considered exper patients prepare to in Nation's Capital American Association of Kidney Patients will hold its 35th Annual Convention in J, D.C., Aug. 28-31. Convention is being held at the Grand t Washington located on H Street NW During ay event, attendees participate in i sessions for those with chronic kidney to long-term dialysis and ?. Participants also learn about various treat ^ for each stage of kidney disease. ire excited to be in our Nation s Capitol idney patients and their families obtain ion they need and want to live healthy lives," stated AAKP President and two transplant recipient Roberta Wager, "We're also celebrating the 33th / of our Annual Convention which con grow and that means patients are really from the work we do year round." 26 million people in the United from chronic kidney disease. Diabetes blood pressure are the leading causes of . Those with a family history of lrid and minorities have an increased risk _ the disease. The AAKP Annual lis the largest national convention of its fide kidney disease patients, as well as j and family members the opportunity their concerns and share their experi i learning about important issues affect lthcare. The Convention also hosts ial events where kidney patients can a person-to-person basis with fellow land healthcare professionals. Grants available to fight disparities CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT The NC Health and Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF) is investing millions of dollars to eliminate health disparities between white and minority Tarheel residents. Over the next three years, the Fund will make $7.5 million in grants available to agencies and initiatives that target dispari ties. Last week, H W T F began accepting a p p 1 i c a - tions from eligible organiza tions with document ed experi ence and success in developing and imple m e n t i n g services to reduce dis parities in health sta tus by pro v i a i n g services to one or more of the groups target ed in the HWTF Eliminating Health Disparities Initiative (HDI) or facilitating the development of such services. Funds are available to initiate new proj ects, or to expand existing projects that are specifically designed to focus on reducing health disparities related to diabetes, cardio vascular disease and cancer among adults. Funds are also available for efforts designed to increase the cultural competency of health care providers in North Carolina and to increase the quality of services provided to African American, American Indian, Latino and low-income patients with dia betes, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Organizations such as state agencies and nonprofits with a significant purpose of pro moting the public's health are among those eligible for funds. ,<r Proposal and other application materials are available at www.healthwellnc.com. Final applications must be received by Oct. 1. A regional informational session about the grants will be held Sept. 3 at the Guilford County Department of Public Health in Greensboro from 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. in room 122. Breast Cancer Navigation Programs: A Compass in a Time of Storm Approximately 1 ,500 Americans die of cancer each flay. A disproportionate number of people who die from this dis ease are poor and underserved. Although disparities in outcome have been attributed to a lot of different issues, many researchers have considered dif ficulties in navigating the med ical system as a primary cause of these disparities. Effective cancer care is crit ically dependent on the delivery of care during the critical win dow of opportunity. This critical window exists between the point of the suspi cious finding to the resolution of the finding by further diagno sis and treatment. Minority patients, however, face signifi i 'Tt&affo's Cfotic m I1W* ftwnou Drawn ltm? <#&**? ' ' "4s S on RImOWTV ttwH-TH1 j| Vtoke Forest Uiuwsir. cant barriers during this win dow of opportunity for cure. 0 Difficulties in navigating the medical system magnify financial, communication, and information barriers. In addi tion, inherent distrust of the medical establishment estab lishes emotional barriers to treatment. Because these barri ers ultimately impact survival in patients with cancer, navigation programs have been created to guide patients through the com plex treatment situations that are part of the multidisciplinary care of patients with cancer. Therefore, the growth of such navigation programs is essential to eliminate disparities in cancer care. This article will discuss current patient naviga tion programs and their useful ness in patients. O What is the role of a patient navigator? Navigators bridge the gaps in women's access to care. Specifically, patient navigators connect patients with resources, facilitate interaction and com munication with healthcare staff See Cancer on All Mother & Son PRNewsFoto/Better World Advertising. Duane Cramer Daniel of Oakland, Calif., is one of 12 HIV-positive spokesmodels featured in a nationwide advertising cam paign , HIV Stops With l/s. Also pictured in the ad, which was shot by world-renowned photographer Duane Cramer, is Daniel's mother. O EHR HIV STOPS WITH U ORG ?mmt Push for organ donors to be stronger next month CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT A Burlington couple that took up the cause of promoting (Srgan donation after the death of their son has convinced Gov. Mike Easley to proclaim next month as Organ Donation Awareness Month in North Carolina. Bruce and Mary Jo Collins lost their son, Christopher Duffy, almost three years ago. It's all about LIFE ilimy 80 000 AowncwM am wwttng We-wung organ imnaplaoei hundwda o? tnuMnH mora 001*1 hanallt Mm taaua >mn*(Mr?s UrHDrttinalay tha naad tor donom a much ataalat tian ma vauw numttar ct drmora >*?# mmnKmaM to organ and Hia moat important part of dacafcng to Da a donor ? laMtog your tamrty rrtung about rtorwrtton (torn not ma an taMng about Jaart I is taftang ataut lha oppnrtuoty to grwn arothar pannt a aaconrt rhanca m LIFE E??n I you hava MgnaO a donor card or todimlad your artan to donala on your itixai'a fcanaa. you naad to Ml your tanaty aa<oa *<ay tM Ql?MainnMlaaJa*Mt Christopher had been on dialysis for more than two years, awaiting a kidney transplant. They have dedicated their lives to edu cating others about organ donation in the hopes that other families will be spared the pain they experienced. Mary Jo Collins convinced the Governor's office to approve September 2008 as Organ Donation Awareness Month. The governor's proclamation approving the month only applies to September of this year, but Collins is trying to get a law passed so it will be celebrated annually in September, "My senator, Tony Foriest, has assured me that when the legislature meets in 2009, he is behind me 100 percent to try to make it a North Carolina general statute, so we do not have to worry about renewing a procla mation every year," she said. "A law will give it more punch." Sen. Foriest, D-Alamance, will intro duce the bill in the January session of the General Assembly. ? The Collinses, who are Carolina Donor Services volunteers, will work closely with the agency to help educate North Carolinians about donation and the new Proclamation. In observance of Organ Donation Awareness Month, students at community colleges throughout the state will be encour aged to sign up to become organ donors dur ing next month's Community College Challenge across North Carolina. Through the online registry at www.donatelifenc.org students will be able to register as organ, eye and tissue donors and indicate the college they attend. After a month's worth of activities on each campus geared at educating the students about donation, a donor drive will take place. The school with the most regis trants will win the challenge and be recognized with a plaque. Folwell thanked for working to save lives CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT \ / State Rep. Dale Folwell \R J) - Winston-Salem) was presented a Certificate of Appreciation during the American Red Cross Celebration of Excellence for his dedication in helping to pass Senate Bill 1651 /Anatomical Gifts, which lowers the minimum age for blood donation from 17 to 16. Several other states already permit 16-year-olds to donate blood. After co-sponsoring similar leg islation in the House (HB 2223), Folwell rallied support for the Senate bill among his House col leagues. The primary sponsors of the bill were Sen. Fletcher Hartsell (R - Cabarrus) and Rep. Deborah Ross (D -Wake) Folwell hopes that the change allows the American Red Cross and all those who support local blood Folwell drives to better meet the ever-increasing need for blood in North Carolina. Every two seconds, someone needs a blood transfu sion. The expanded pool of potential donors is likely to increase North Carolina's blood supply by more than 20,000 pints per year, helping thousands of recipients. Folwell's award was presented recently at the Koury Center by Robert Fechner. CEO of the American Red Cross - Carolinas Region. Folwell is well-known for his work involving organ and tissue donation. In 2007. he was instrumental in the passage of The Heart Prevails legislation, enabling legal consent for organ and eye donation through the state dri ver's license donor registry. Previously, the registry repre sented only an intent to donate. This legislation has result ed in a 50 percent increase in organ recipients in North Carolina in the first 6 months of 2008 according to the North Carolina Eye and Tissue Bank. In his remarks, Folwell acknowledged the support of every member of the House and Senate who voted for the change. He also expressed appreciation to Barry Porter of the Triangle Chapter of the American Red Cross and Hugh Quinn of the Winston-Salem Chapter for their assistance and support
Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 28, 2008, edition 1
7
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75