February 14, 2012 11:42:00 pm by ERIC ADLER – The Kansas City Star

Just before 10 a.m. Tuesday, Jake — a hobbling, 12-year-old yellow Labrador retriever — went into surgery at the Stanley Veterinary Clinic in Overland Park with crippling arthritis, no longer able to run without pain or even walk down stairs.

He had already been on months of medications that seemed to turn the normally happy dog sad. And hip and joint replacements costing tens of thousands of dollars were not feasible, said owners Mike and Elizabeth LeBlanc of Leawood.

still, their 8-year-old daughter, Mia, had just one request at Christmas. “all I want is for Jake to feel better,” she wrote.

So, on Tuesday morning, Jake became one of the first canines in the Kansas City area to undergo a somewhat new and controversial procedure in which stem cells were harvested from the fat of his own body and then injected into his joints. The expectation is that within a few weeks the cells will regenerate missing cartilage and turn his arthritic joints healthy again.

“It’s amazing,” said veterinarian Les E. Pelfrey, who conducted the procedure. “A few weeks later, these guys are running up and down.”

The stem-cell procedure, which has gained notice in recent years with anecdotal stories of success on YouTube and cable television, remains controversial not only for its quick adoption in veterinary clinics nationwide, but also because some researchers say it remains scientifically unproven and expensive, at $1,800 or more per treatment.

“Let me tell you one thing,” said James L. Cook, a professor of orthopedics at the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine. “I don’t want to write off stem cells. Stem cells may hold the key for truly restorative medicine.”

In horses, stems cells have been shown to help rejuvenate damaged tendons and other problems. They are being tested for cardiac problems.

“But in the joints for dogs with arthritis? No way,” Cook said. “I would never recommend anyone get this done.”

Stem cells essentially are the equivalent of young and impressionable cells whose genetic gears have yet to determine their fate. because they are so young, they theoretically can turn into any kind of cell, from cartilage to neurons. In humans, stem cells have long been held out as possible therapy for diseases such as Parkinson’s.

The problem, Cook said, is that although a few studies have shown that the injection of stem cells into arthritic canine joints does reduce pain, compared with “control” dogs not injected with stems cells, no studies have convincingly shown that stems cells are any better at helping dogs than the current, and less expensive, standard of care. that typically involves a combination of weight loss, pain medications and, when necessary, injections of hyaluronic acid, a slippery substance that often goes missing in arthritis.

Those injections, given a couple of times a year, cost less than $100 each.

moreover, even if the stem cells work, no one knows at this point how long the improvement will persist, although some vets have noted benefits lasting a year or more.

“we know for sure that it (stem cell injections) does have some palliative effects. It can make symptoms better,” Cook said. “And we do know for sure that it does not regenerate cartilage in arthritic joints. The palliative effects are not as good, or no better, than hyaluronic acid injections.”

that is far from the case being made by companies now promoting stem-cell therapy in dogs, or owners who believe in it.

A number of stem-cell companies have emerged in recent years. Chief among them are Vet-Stem, based in Poway, Calif., and MediVet America, a division of MediVet, based in Sydney, Australia, which notes that it is currently conducting studies on canines, stem cells and cartilage regeneration.

Both use largely similar technologies and methods. at the vet’s office, the dog undergoes a quick procedure in which a bolus of fat about the size of a golf ball is taken from above the shoulder.

The fat is processed and treated with chemicals to extract millions of stem cells. Some of those cells are then injected into a dog’s damaged joints; the rest enter the body through an intravenous line into the bloodstream.

One prime difference between the Vet-Stem and MediVet systems is that Vet-Stem costs about $3,000 or more.

Vet-Stem requires the veterinarian to ship the fat sample to California, where it is processed and sent back for injection. several dogs in the Kansas City area have been injected with stem cells from Vet-Stem.

The MediVet system costs pet owners about $1,800. It provides veterinarians with a kit to process the stem cells in their own offices over about four hours. Dogs are injected with stems cells on the same day the fat is removed. The pet typically goes home the next day.

In Topeka, the University Bird and Small Animal Clinic has used the MediVet kit and system with what it says are positive results on about 40 dogs since November 2010. A veterinarian there, Larry Snyder, helped train Pelfrey in Overland Park.

Snyder came to the clinic two weeks ago to perform the procedure on another hobbled yellow Labrador retriever, Milo, owned by dentist Jon Finley and his wife, Sharon, in Leawood.

“Dr. Pelfrey and mrs. Finley didn’t tell me how much this procedure was going to cost,” Jon Finley said, “and I’d rather you not tell me. No matter what, he’s walking better, standing upright, feeling better. I can’t help but think he’s going to get better and better.”

Jake’s owner said that, whatever the outcome, she knows that the procedure is not a cure.

“I’m hoping this gives him a better quality of life,” Elizabeth LeBlanc said. “I got him when he was just 6 weeks old. He was such a blessing. It will be worth it, even if I can give him one more great summer.”

To reach Eric Adler, call 816-234-4431 or send email to .

ATLANTA — the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday released new recommendations to treat latent tuberculosis infection.

The new recommendations, published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, provide guidance on how to administer a new 12-dose regimen for TB preventive therapy that will significantly shorten and simplify the course of treatment from about nine months to 12 weeks. the recommendations are based on the results of three clinical trials, as well as expert opinion.

“this regimen has the potential to be a game-changer in the United States when it comes to fighting TB,” CDC director Thomas Frieden said. “it gives us a new, effective option that will reduce by two-thirds — from nine months to three months — the length of time someone needs to take medicine to prevent latent TB infection from progressing to active TB disease.”

Latent TB infection occurs when a person has TB bacteria but does not have symptoms and cannot transmit the bacteria to others. In the United States, the number of persons with TB disease is at an all-time low (11,182 total cases were reported in 2010); however, approximately 4% of the U.S. population, or 11 million people, are infected with the TB bacterium. TB continues to disproportionately affect people of color and foreign-born persons in this country.

“If we are going to achieve our goal of TB elimination in the United States, we must ensure that those with latent TB infection receive appropriate evaluation and treatment to prevent their infection from progressing to TB disease and possibly spreading to others,” said Kevin Fenton, M.D., director of CDC’s National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention.  “it is critical that we accelerate progress against TB in the United States in order to avoid a resurgence of the disease.”

The new 12-dose regimen adds another effective treatment option to the prevention toolkit for TB, and is not meant to replace other preventative treatment regimens for all patients where the new regimen is not the best option. the regimen includes 12 once-weekly doses of rifapentine and isoniazid. Doses should be taken under the supervision of a health care worker to ensure completion of doses and to allow for monitoring of safety among patients.

Palm Springs, California (NAPSI) – Healthcare providers know that no two patients are alike-and that diseases can manifest themselves quite differently between men and women.

For example, heart attacks plague both genders, but the symptoms vary. Men having heart attacks typically report chest pain that radiates down the arm, while women may instead feel indigestion, extreme fatigue and nausea.

Women often metabolize medicines differently than men in ways that aren’t explained simply by differences in body sizes.

For example, researchers have found that women metabolize nicotine more quickly than men, so a lower-dose nicotine patch for smoking cessation may not be as effective for women.

Women are also more prone to diseases that aren’t obviously related to their sex—diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, migraines, osteoporosis and fibromyalgia. About 90 percent of Americans suffering from lupus, migraines and fibromyalgia are women.

Recognizing these differences, PhRMA recently released a report on new medicines in development, which finds that America’s biopharmaceutical research companies now have 851 medicines in the pipeline for diseases that exclusively or disproportionately affect women.

Some of the greatest strides are being made in understanding and treating autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, which is two to three times more prevalent among women than men.

Currently, more than 100 medicines for autoimmune diseases are in clinical trials or awaiting Food and Drug Administration review.

Many common cancers only or predominantly affect women. Companies are currently working on 139 medicines for these cancers, such as ovarian cancer and breast cancer.

A better understanding of how women react to stress is helping researchers understand how to approach treatments for autoimmune diseases and psychiatric illnesses such as depression and anxiety.

Women’s bodies, for example, react to stress by producing higher levels of cytokines, which are cells secreted by the nervous system, said Lorraine Fitzpatrick, M.D., Medicine Development Leader for GlaxoSmithKline.

Progress in understanding and treating autoimmune diseases represents “one of the great strides made recently for women’s health,” she added.

To find out more, visit youtube.com/watch?v=ppiculo5b6c. For more information on biopharmaceutical research and medicines in development, visit phrma.org/research/new-medicines.

Reporter: Lewis Jones Date online: 07 March 2011

A GOVERNMENT pilot scheme to boost dementia diagnosis has been launched after it was revealed over half of Oldham sufferers are undiagnosed. Latest figures show an estimated 2,318 people with dementia in Oldham, but it is thought that 1,206 are missing out on the right treatment through lack of diagnosis. The Early Signs and Symptoms campaign is being piloted in the North-West and Yorkshire and Humber this month and will involved TV, radio and press advertising to send a clear message that an early diagnosis is key. Dr Mike Cheshire, medical director of NHS North-West, said; “Research has shown that people don’t know enough about dementia to be able to help — recognising the signs and symptoms, talking about it and seeking advice are the crucial steps to receiving a diagnosis. “I would urge people who are worried about dementia symptoms to seek advice from their GP.” An estimated 82,661 people in the North-West alone are sufferers. Experts have warned family and friends to be on the look out for early signs of the degenerative disease that can be delayed with medication and treatment. They include: ::Struggling to remember recent events, although a person can easily recall things that happened in the past. ::Finding it hard to follow conversations or programmes on TV. ::Forgetting the names of friends or everyday objects. ::Difficulty recalling things that have been heard, seen or read. ::Repeating things or losing the thread of what they are saying. ::Problems with thinking and reasoning. ::Feeling anxious, depressed or angry about memory loss. ::Finding that other people start to comment on a person’s memory loss. ::Feeling confused even when in a familiar environment. Care Services Minister Paul Burstow, said: “People are afraid of dementia and rather than face the possibility someone they love has the condition, they can wrongly put memory problems down to ‘senior moments’. “but if you are worried, the sooner you discuss it and help the person seek support the better.”

Palestine — a few years ago, Ramiro Romo knew he was dying. a man of faith and humility, he began to make his peace with the Lord. “I told him, ‘I don’t deserve all these years and the blessings you have given me,” Romo recalled. “I started making my peace with God.” Romo’s conversation with God took place the day before he was to be ordained as a deacon for the Catholic Diocese of Tyler, in December 2007. “The day before my ordination at the cathedral, I felt like I was going to die in the motel room,” Romo said. “I was feeling really bad. I didn’t think I was going to make it. I talked to the bishop and told him I didn’t think I was going to make it.” The bishop prayed for Romo and tried to reassure him that he would be OK. The 77-year-old Romo, who has worked in the building and real estate trade since he was a young man, didn’t quite know what was wrong with him, only that he felt tired and weak all the time. Often, he slept in a chair because it was easier on his pained, fatigued body. “I was sick for quite a few years. I used to do everything before I got sick,” said Romo, who with his wife, Felicita, has lived in Crockett for the past 20 years. “I felt worn down,” he continued. “I had been feeling bad since 1994.” Romo had seen doctors in Crockett, Tyler and Palestine for years. he said his doctors would encourage him to sit down and take things easy, something that for the active Romo was near impossible. The doctors would give him new medications, which would usually  make him feel better for a while, but eventually the tired and weak feeling would return. The fatigue and pain that slowed Romo the past several years had also taken a toll on his wife of 56 years. “my husband was dying,” an emotional Felicita said. She remembers family members helping her get her husband into the car for the drive over to the cathedral. The next day, on Dec. 8, 2007, Romo was ordained in Tyler and has since served as a deacon at St. Francis of the Tejas Catholic Church in Crockett. “Romy, suffered a lot,” she said about her husband and his many trips back and forth to doctors. “he was so physically weak.” a spiritual and vibrant woman, Felicita enlisted the help of her family members to try to save her husband’s life. a week before Romo was to be ordained, he and his wife were on retreat at the Montserrat Jesuit Retreat House in Dallas when their family members, including grandson Tony Romo, quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys, stopped by to visit them. during that visit, Tony noticed that his grandfather did not look well. Felicita took her grandson aside and let him know how seriously ill his grandfather was. “he and his grandma went up to the lake to talk; I was too weak to go with them,” Romo recalled. Felicita admits she discussed her husband’s failing health with Tony and the rest of the family. “We had a family discussion. It was very important to us,” Felicita continued. “my husband had suffered for six years; he was very ill.” The next day, the Romo family went to dinner and again Tony observed his grandfather’s condition. “he said to me, ‘Grandpa, you’re dragging. What’s wrong with you?’” Romo said. Gravely concerned about the Romo patriarch, Tony called one of the doctors who works for the Dallas Cowboys and told him about his grandfather’s health. That phone call put his grandfather in touch with a doctor who could help him. Romo was examined by Dr. Michael Donsky, a cardiologist at Baylor Hospital’s Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Center in Dallas. Dr. Donsky found Romo to be suffering from a leaking heart valve, also known as mitral valve regurgitation. Romo, the cardiologist concluded, was too weak for open heart surgery. “he (Donsky) told me, ‘you really need open heart surgery but you will never make it,’” Romo remembered. The leaking valve in Romo’s heart was causing fluid to build up around his heart, causing his heart to work harder, and slowly killing him. Romo was hospitalized at Baylor for a few days until he was stabilized. Donsky changed Romo’s medicine and told him to wait until an alternative procedure to help him could be found. For the next year and a half, Romo and Donsky stayed in contact between scheduled appointments. in the summer of 2009, the cardiologist informed Romo that a group was developing a new surgery, the MitraClip therapy system, to reduce mitral regurgitation (MR) in a less invasive catheter-based procedure. The doctor also told Romo that he was a very good candidate for the new procedure because it would take less of a toll on his body than open heart surgery.   Donsky recommended Romo for the new procedure. Over the next few months, the Romos discussed the options with their family. Romo could either stay on the medication regimen he was on and his health continue to decline, or opt to undergo a new procedure not-yet approved by the FDA. after much consideration and prayer, Romo agreed to undergo the procedure. he said the four-inch thick stack of paperwork he had to read and sign prior to having the procure scared him a bit. The MitraClip device, manufactured by Abbott, is designed to reduce MR by clipping together the leaflets of the mitral valve, one of the four valves of the heart. because MitraClip has not been FDA approved, Romo said he essentially “loaned his body” to a clinical trial in the hopes that it would improve his quality of life. Romo said his grandson was a driving factor in his decision to undergo the cutting-edge surgery. “It’s up to you to loan your body (for this procedure),” Romo said his grandson encouraged him. “he said, “Grandpa it will be a good deed to put your life on the table to save others. We will be so proud of you.”’ Romo thought about his grandson’s advice. “If I die on the table trying to live, it will be better than sitting here like this for the rest of my life,” Romo admitted. On Nov. 19, 2009, Romo was the first to undergo the MitraClip therapy procedure at Baylor Hospital in Dallas as part of the Everest II clinical trial. “before we went into the operating room, my wife called all the doctors together and asked them if they would pray with us. they all agreed,” Romo remembered. “they asked God to bless their hands.” The Romos were told the surgery would take about six hours. When the doctors came out 47 minutes later, Felicita could not believe they were finished. “The doctors, nurses, and anesthetists came out dancing,” she said. “they had the biggest smiles on their faces and were so happy. they said, ‘We’re finished. He’s OK.’ they were so happy.” Romo was hospitalized at Baylor for only three days to make sure there were no complications and so his recovery could be documented for the clinical trial. “It was a miracle,” Romo said. “God has been good to us. I thought I was a goner; but God is awesome.” Felicita agreed. “This surgery is a miracle,” she said. “he is doing really well. God is so awesome to us.” since having the life-saving surgery, Romo’s recovery and overall health has been remarkable. “The first day after the procedure, I felt a difference,” Romo admits. “I started feeling stronger every day. “Now, I feel 100 percent better. I have more energy to do the things I want to do. It (the surgery) was worth it.” recently, Romo returned to his cardiologist for a checkup. “The doctor said I was perfect, one year later,” Romo said. Felicita can attest to her husband’s extraordinary recovery. “The surgery worked too great; he runs me ragged,” she smiled. “I feel like I’m 50 years old again,” Romo laughed. Romo wants to encourage people who are suffering with MR or any illness, to seek answers when it comes to their health. “It’s always nice to have a second opinion,” he stated, remembering that for years he was told he would have to live with the pain and exhaustion. “I want to tell people, ‘Don’t be afraid. Don’t die because of your fear. you might as well die trying to live,’” he continued. Fifteen months after undergoing the MitraClip therapy procedure, which is up for FDA approval this year, Romo said he would recommend it to others. “The more we tell people about this procedure the more people they can save,” Felicita added. Romo said he purposely waited a year before publicly discussing the surgery that saved his life because he wanted to make sure it worked. The surgery not only saved his life, but gave him back the energy to do the things he enjoys. things like remodeling houses and bowling with his grandchildren.   recently, Romo started doing interviews, television commercials and testimonials about the success of the MitraClip procedure and how it has changed his life. “If you’re tired and weak all the time, don’t think that it comes with being 70-something,” he said. “Don’t be afraid if you’re in the same position I was in, and have no other options.” The Romos said they were touched by the warmth shown to them by the staff at Baylor’s Jack and Jane Hamilton Heart and Vascular Center. Today, Romo remains humble and thankful to so many, including his grandson. “I’m blessed because Tony was there that night and noticed I was sick. he took action,” Romo said. “I appreciate him very much. “I still ask God, ‘Who am I to deserve so much?”   ——– Angie Alvarado may be reached by e-mail at editor@palestineherald.com. The Palestine Herald Press is a sister publication of the Daily Sun. want to “Soundoff” on this story? E-mail: soundoff@corsicanadailysun.com About MR Mitral valve regurgitation, also known as mitral regurgitation, is a condition in which the heart’s mitral valve leaflets do not seal properly. This valvular defect allows blood to flow backward in the heart and is referred to as a “leaking heart valve.” Often, mitral regurgitation is mild and develops slowly over time. because those who suffer from MR have no symptoms, many are completely unaware that they have this condition. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine, “when signs and symptoms of mitral valve regurgitation develop, they do so gradually because the heart is able to compensate for the valve defect.” Many times MR is detected when a doctor hears a heart murmur with a stethoscope. sometimes, however, the disorder develops quickly, and sufferers may experience an abrupt onset of more severe symptoms. Indicators of mitral valve regurgitation include: •  Shortness of breath, especially with exertion or when you lie down • Fatigue, especially during times of increased activity • Cough, especially at night or when lying down • Heart palpitations — sensations of a rapid, fluttering heartbeat • Swollen feet or ankles • Heart murmur • Excessive urination  

CHICAGO—Hot flashes that bedevil many women in menopause might actually be a good thing, depending on when they strike, according to new data from a long-running government study.

Women who had hot flashes at the start of menopause but not later seemed to have a lower risk for heart attack and death than women who never had hot flashes, or those whose symptoms persisted long after menopause began.

By contrast, among the few women who developed hot flashes late—in some cases many years after menopause began—there were more heart attacks and deaths when compared with the other groups.

The research involved more than 60,000 women followed for an average of almost 10 years. It’s the first to examine timing of menopausal symptoms and subsequent risks for heart problems and deaths, said co-author Dr. JoAnn Manson, chief of preventive medicine at Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Recent studies linked hot flashes with higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which could suggest a higher risk for heart problems, but the new research offers a more detailed look, Manson said.

Lead author Dr. Emily Szmuilowicz, an endocrinologist with Northwestern University’s medical school, said the results should reassure millions of women who experience hot flashes or night sweats, which are essentially hot flashes that can be bothersome enough to awaken women.

The results suggest “there may be a positive side” to having these annoying symptoms, Szmuilowicz said.

The study was released online Thursday in the journal Menopause.

Dr. Elsa-Grace Giardina, a Columbia University specialist in women’s heart disease who was not involved in the study, said the research has several limitations and that more rigorous study is needed to prove the results.

Few women developed hot flashes long after menopause began, and for at least some, previous use of hormone pills may have increased their risks for heart problems, Giardina said.

But more than one-third of the women with late-onset symptoms never used hormones, and Szmuilowicz said the researchers took past hormone use into consideration and still found timing of symptoms played a role.

Menopause occurs when women stop having periods and estrogen levels dwindle. most women experience symptoms including hot flashes that can last for several years. But they don’t usually persist indefinitely or begin long after the beginning of menopause.

Hot flashes aren’t well studied but are thought to result from blood vessels dilating in response to the normal hormone fluctuations of menopause, Manson said. if they occur long after menopause begins it could signal a blood vessel abnormality that could also affect the heart, she said.

The research involved 60,027 women from the ongoing Women’s Health Initiative observational study, examining disease risk factors and health outcomes and funded by the National Institutes of Health.

Women were in their early 60s on average, about 14 years past the start of menopause, when they answered questionnaires about their health, education history, and symptoms including hot flashes and night sweats. Cardiovascular problems and deaths were tracked during almost 10 years of follow-up.

More than one-third, or almost 25,000 women, had early symptoms—hot flashes at the onset of menopause that had stopped before they enrolled. just 1,391 had late symptoms—hot flashes at enrollment but not at the start of menopause.

About 2.5 percent of women with early symptoms had heart attacks, compared with 3.4 percent of women with no symptoms and 5.5 percent of those with late symptoms. also, about 6 percent of the early symptom women died, versus 11 percent of the late symptom group and 8 percent of the symptomless women. Women who had persistent hot flashes throughout menopause had risks similar to those without symptoms.

Giardina noted that high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and obesity—which all can contribute to heart problems—were more common among the late symptom women.

But the researchers said they accounted for that and still found that timing of menopause symptoms played a role in later heart attacks and deaths.

———

Online:

Menopause: journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/pages/default.aspx

Women’s Health Initiative: nhlbi.nih.gov/whi

You had a great time Friday night, hooking up with someone as lonely as you were. but did your partner, whom you might never see again, leave something behind to remember him or her by?

Sexually transmitted infections have increased in number since El Paso County dumped its testing, surveillance and treatment program in late 2008. in 2009, the incidence of chlamydia — the most common STI — surged by 10 percent, to 2,928 cases. That pushed the incidence rate up from 447 per 100,000 people in 2008 to 484 in 2009. During that same time, the number of people statewide with the disease went up by 4 percent.

But more concerning to those who monitor such things may be the five local cases of syphilis, because they’re part of a dramatic uptick statewide. Thanks largely to an outbreak in Denver last year, the number infected with the worrisome STI increased by 56 percent, to 164.

“A 50 percent increase is an alarming increase,” says Ralph Wilmoth, who oversees the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s STI/HIV Disease Control and Environmental Epidemiology Division. “We’re working with Denver public health and notifying providers to be attentive to that. We’re working with the community so the community knows, so they’re aware of their need to be attentive to symptoms and to inform their health care providers that they should be tested.”

In late 2008, after a county sales-tax ballot measure was defeated, the El Paso County Department of Health and Environment announced cuts. in addition to 23 workers, investigations of sexually transmitted diseases were among the casualties. Gone were the county’s clinical and surveillance components, which included testing and treatment, plus efforts to notify a patient’s partners.

“When you have a local finger on the pulse in terms of STIs and doing investigations, you’re going to stay a bit more up to date, because you’re there every day,” says medical director Dr. Bernadette Albanese. “And we don’t have that anymore. For our community, it’s a loss.”

Not only does surveillance identify infected partners, it’s an avenue for education and prevention of diseases whose symptoms can be invisible, Albanese says. For instance, some STIs can cause scarring of the reproductive tract, which can lead to infertility, and even infection of a newborn.

The state has taken on El Paso County’s surveillance in special cases, as it already did for other counties. but it doesn’t test or treat except when dealing with outbreaks, like the Denver syphilis problem. its numbers come from labs and private physicians, all required to report positive test results.

The latest state numbers for chlamydia, for 2009, show that 2,029 women tested positive in El Paso County — higher than the preceding five years. (Data from 2010 won’t be available until May.) both Albanese and Wilmoth say chlamydia is probably not more prevalent in women than men, but women are more apt to seek medical services.

The syphilis numbers, while small, do present cause for concern; the 11 cases over the last two years represent a big jump from 2005′s single case. Late-stage syphilis can bring some nasty symptoms, even blindness and dementia, and syphilis at any stage also makes contracting HIV/AIDS easier.

Using active surveillance — “beating the bushes” for infected partners — can lead to treatment and the lowering of infection rates over time, says John Potterat, who worked STI investigations for the county between 1972 and 2001. When he started, he saw one case of syphilis a week. “When I left, we had a case per year,” he says. “If you’re not digging cases out of the woodwork, you really don’t know what’s out there.”

The state reports El Paso County is the third-highest for number of people living with HIV, at 422. in 2009, there were 22 new cases reported locally. Albanese says the county has a small grant to perform HIV testing but, again, mostly relies on the state.

When Victoria Stone, outreach case manager for homeless youth agency Urban Peak, started organizing an HIV testing program, she found little coordination.

“There are so many services and collaborators in Denver, and we don’t have that here,” she says. She notes, however, the Southern Colorado AIDS Project, planned Parenthood, the Pride Center and the Health Department have agreed to help. The goal of the “You know Different” campaign is to test everyone under 25 — the group with the fastest-growing incidence nationwide.

Testing is key, she says, because one in four people who have HIV don’t know it.

Stone and program worker Eric Pizana started with the LGBT community. in recent months, they’ve tested 17 young people with oral swabs that yield preliminary results within 20 minutes. no positives so far. anyone with a reactive test would be referred to Denver Children’s Hospital.

“If you get on medication,” Stone says, “you can live for a long time.”

Athens — Ignoring the symptoms won’t help you beat cancer, Todd Sigmon, vice president of the ETMC Cancer Institute, told the Athens Noon Kiwanis, Tuesday. Check-ups and early detection will give a better chance of surviving most forms, and can turn a potential death sentence into a manageable, chronic disease. “Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells, and if you don’t treat them they’ll go crazy,” Sigmon said. Cancer is actually an umbrella term that covers many different diseases. “Breast cancer is not the same thing as lung cancer,” Sigmon said. “I don’t really mean just the organ it originates in, but there are actually cells that are different.” if someone gets breast cancer and it spreads to the bones, it does not become bone cancer. “That’s important because different cancers respond to different treatments,” Sigmon said. there are multiple factors that can lead to a person being stricken with cancer, Sigmon said. there are genetic causes. Lifestyle choices, like smoking can increase its likelihood. Infections can play a role, as can environmental conditions. Men and women are affected by cancers at different rates, Sigmon said. Common among men is prostate cancer, which accounts for 28 percent of the cases. Lung cancer is the second most common among male cases with 15 percent. Twenty-eight percent of the malignancies among women are breast cancer cases. Lung cancer is also the second most likely to affect women, accounting for 14 percent of the cancer diagnoses. “many cancers are curable now, especially with early detection,” Sigmon said. Breast cancer and colon cancer are among those where early detection is critical. they are easily treatable in their early stages, but potentially fatal, if allowed to grow and metastasize. Prostate cancer and skin cancer patients also fare well if treatment is started early, Sigmon said. There’s nothing sadder for a doctor than to look into the eyes of someone who has terminal cancer, knowing they could have been treated with a simple surgery, had they had it examined earlier. Fighting cancer is a team effort. some team members you see, but many you don’t. besides the doctor and oncologist, there are pathologists, radiologists and maybe 20 others who could be involved in your case, Sigmon said. “I would want to know that there’s more than one person who’s going to decide what is best for me,” Sigmon said. there are multiple treatments for cancer. Surgery gives the patient the best chance of living cancer free.  “It’s typically the most curative,” Sigmon said. “it allows the surgeon the opportunity to remove as much of the tumor as is necessary, and even a little sliver of healthy tissues to make sure the cancer hasn’t invaded anything around it. Surgery ceases to be an option when the cancer has spread to other locations in the body. Chemotherapy, drug therapy and radiation may be used in those locations.  “The technology you’d get if you get it in Athens is the same as in Tyler or Dallas,” Sigmon said. “The chemo they use, and the radiation is the same.” The ETMC Cancer Center at their location is at 2000 S. Palestine St. across from ETMC Athens.  

Ada — by Justin Lofton Staff Writer ADA—Michael Echelle, director of Pontotoc County Health Department, said the first two months of the year offer the greatest risk in contracting the flu bug. “Mid-January through February is Oklahoma’s peak influenza season,” Echelle said.  “That is typical of what is being seen right now.” Echelle said Valley View Regional Hospital representatives have said the hospital has cases of influenza this year. “none of the cultures that have been in Pontotoc County have cultured positive for H1N1, which was the strain for Swine Flu,” he said. Echelle said Pontotoc County residents should get vaccinations as soon as possible. “It’s never too late to be vaccinated,” he said.  “Vaccine is available, either through health care providers or through the county health department.” He said the vaccine cannot give a person influenza. “It’s a very effective vaccine,” said Lawrence Burnsed, director of communicable diseases at Oklahoma Department of Health.  “It does provide a good level of protection.  any vaccine is not 100 percent protective but they are very protective, so it is possible an individual may have recently received an influenza vaccine and may have symptoms similar to influenza.  It may not even be influenza.  There are other viruses circulating this time of year.” Echelle said a subject’s body typically takes about two weeks to build immunity to influenza after a vaccination. “It gives you protection through the flu season,” he said.  “if individuals opt not to get an influenza vaccination, there are precautions that they can take to protect themselves from getting the flu.” Echelle and Burnsed offered some precautions to prevent contracting or spreading influenza: • Cover nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.  if a tissue is unavailable, cough into bend of arm. • Avoid individuals who may have influenza. • Wash hands often. • Stay at home when sick. “Typical symptoms of influenza include fever and a cough,” Burnsed said.  “some people have a sore throat, body aches or muscle aches—and those can last for several days.” if these symptoms are present in individuals or their children, Burnsed said residents should consider staying home or keeping their children home. “get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids.  if you have a high fever or have concerns about your symptoms, you should certainly contact your physician,” he said.

Jacob Porter is joined in the hospital by his parents, Donald and Elaine, following his liver transplant.

HIGHLAND — when Jacob Porter got sick on a Highland High School French Club trip to Montreal in late 2007, everyone assumed a tilapia dinner was responsible.little did he know that he had begun a three-year ordeal that would be marked with frequent stops at the emergency room, eventually culminate in a life-saving operation in which his liver would be replaced by a 54-year-old West Virginia woman’s, and leave his parents with an estimated $115,000 in unpaid medical bills.when Porter, then a junior, returned home to Highland in 2007, his symptoms lingered. he recalled thinking he had a nasty cold or the flu — that is until jaundice set in.Local doctors thought he might have mononucleosis, and in early 2008, Porter, now 19 years old, was sent to Westchester Medical Center for a liver biopsy.Westchester doctors then consulted with University of Pittsburgh Medical Center experts. the new diagnosis was more serious than the “kissing disease” — doctors determined he had autoimmune hepatitis and sclerosing cholangitis.Porter’s father, Donald, explained the autoimmune disease, to which he later learned his son was genetically predisposed because a relative has an autoimmune skin condition, resulted in his immune system attacking his liver cells — mistaking them for harmful invaders — and the sclerosing cholangitis condition entails swelling, scarring, and destruction of liver bile ducts.Westchester doctors initially thought Porter would need a liver transplant quickly, but Pittsburgh doctors said the timeline could range from five years to never. Porter began taking steroid medication for the autoimmune disease and said he began to feel better.By the end of his senior year, “I was almost completely healthy and thought I was in remission,” said Porter, who then went on to study engineering at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and had a relatively healthy freshman year until he caught a sinus infection in the spring semester.at that point, he and his family recalled, Porter’s autoimmune disease gained momentum, and his health quickly deteriorated. he began to frequent Albany Medical Center, and his mother, Elaine, called what ensued “a parent’s worst nightmare.”a side effect of having a faulty liver can result in a condition Porter’s father described as being “like varicose veins around the esophogus,” which can enlarge blood vessels, stymie the blood flow to the liver, and threaten to burst, pooling blood in the stomach. a few endoscopies later, surgeons found an enlarged vein and tied it off.a steady myriad of other maladies ensued. Porter’s “blood counts went bad and the (bile salt level in his bloodstream) climbed, a sign of deteriorating liver function,” said his father.meanwhile, Porter’s stomach puffed up; his water retention abilities diminished; his blood clotting abilities also dwindled, causing him to suffer frequent nose bleeds; and his potassium levels fell to dangerous levels, putting him at risk of various heart problems and requiring him to get regular blood tests at the Samaritan Hospital in Troy, two of which alone led to emergency room trips.Porter fought through it, however, and made the Dean’s List both semesters. his father, an IBM engineer, described his son as smart, determined and unflappable through most of the crucible.“One of my doctors told me I can sit inside and be sick, or I can go out and live,” Porter said of his ability to keep a positive attitude.Over the summer of 2010, Porter’s condition worsened to the point at which he qualified for the transplant waiting list, and while he waited, Porter insisted that he continue his studies. despite his best efforts, however, by October he could no longer endure and took a medical leave of absence from college.the family was summoned to the Pittsburgh Medical Center in October when the hospital got notice a liver had become available, but when they arrived, it turned out the liver had too much fatty tissue to be transplanted.Porter said waiting was the hardest part of the process, and his father noted his primary concern was whether a liver would be available in time.In the Northeast, the elder Porter said, the demand for organs is much greater than the supply of donations.Porter returned home, but on Nov. 2, the potassium problem caught up with him, and he was hospitalized at Vassar with a heart arrhythmia. the following day, he was airlifted to back to Pittsburgh, where he waited at a room provided by the Ronald McDonald House with either his mother or father — depending on whose turn it was to stay home with Porter’s other three siblings — to not risk travel difficulties in a snowstorm should a liver become available.Porter finally got his liver when a 54-year-old West Virginia woman was killed in a shooting, and his father recalled his son wept when he learned the procedure could finally be done. the younger Porter was in the middle of getting a deep IV installed when he heard the news.on Dec. 17, the 6 1/2-hour transplant went smoothly, according to Porter’s family, and two weeks after the surgery was performed, Porter was sore, but compared to how he had felt, said “I feel terrific.”Porter was being bombarded with anti-rejection medicine, and his father said he is expected to be discharged from the hospital early this week. Jacob Porter has his eye on returning to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute for the fall semester.meanwhile, back home, friends, relatives, and organizations were helping raise money to cover the cost of the bills. Porter said he has health insurance, but the Children’s Organ Transplant Association — a charity helping the family raise money — estimated more than $100,000 of the bills would not be covered, and the last time he checked the liver account, it had between $5,000 and $10,000 in it.the Porter family is looking for volunteers to help with fundraising activities. Interested people can get involved by contacting Tami Ulbrandt at (845) 834-3229 or .for those who are intested in donating, donations can be made at any Bank of America branch location using account number 483035428054 or mailed to the Children’s Organ Transplant Association, 2501 West COTA Drive, Bloomington, Ind., 47403. Checks or money orders should be made payable to COTA, with “In Honor of Jacob P.” written on the memo line of the check. Secure credit card donations are also accepted online at COTAforJacobP.com.

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