Mouse Study: Alzheimer's May Be Infectious, Transmissible.
MSNBC /MyHealthNewsDaily (10/5) reports that, according to a mouse study  published online Oct. 4 in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, "Alzheimer's disease may in fact be the result of an infection, and may even be transmissible."  After injecting mice "with humanbrain tissue from Alzheimer's patients," researchers found that the rodents "developed brain damage characteristic of Alzheimer's disease, and over time, the damage spread throughout their brains, the researchers said."  Mice injected with tissue from a person without the disease did not develop Alzheimer's.
       The CBS News  (10/5, Freeman) "Health Pop" blog quotes a written statement from study author Claudio Soto, professor of neurology at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston.  Soto stated, "Our findings open the possibility that some of the sporadic Alzheimer's cases may arise from an infectious process, which occurs with other neurological diseases such as mad cow and its human form, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)." CJD "is a so-called 'prion' disease -- meaning it is caused by misshapen protein molecules scientists call prions.  Prions slowly destroy the brain tissue of infected people by causing a cascade of misshapen proteins."
       Fox News (10/5) explains, "The underlying mechanism of Alzheimer's is very similar to" CJD in that "it involves a normal protein that becomes misshapen and is able to spread by transforming good proteins into bad ones."  These "bad proteins accumulate in the brain and form plaque deposits that are believed to kill neuron cells."

Orexin May Activate Brown Fat To Burn Calories.
The Los Angeles Times  (10/5, Stein) "Booster Shots" blog reports that a brain hormone called orexin appears to activate "brown fat to burn calories," according to a study  published in the journal Cell Metabolism.  Working with mice genetically engineered to bemissing orexin, researchers "found that fat cells didn't develop properly when the mice were embryos.  That defect caused a lifelong predisposition to gain weight."  The study "supports the theory that obesity can have its roots in the fetal environment and raises the stakes on understanding prenatal brown fat development."
       "Orexin deficiency is associated with obesity, suggesting that orexin supplementation could provide a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of obesity and other metabolic disorders," the UK's Daily Mail  (10/5, Bates) points out.  "An orexin-based therapy would represent a new class of fat-fighting drugs -- one that focuses on peripheral fat-burning tissue rather than the brain's appetite control centre."

Death Toll In Cantaloupe-Linked Listeria Outbreak Hits 18, 100 Illnesses Confirmed.
The AP  (10/5, Jalonick) reports that federal health officials "have raised the death toll to 18 in an outbreak of listeria in cantaloupe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday it has confirmed 100 illnesses in 20 states, including the 18 deaths. The agency said it has confirmed two additional deaths in Colorado and one in Kansas since last week." The death toll is almost certain to rise, as listeria-linkedoutbreaks can have incubation periods approaching two months.
       The Los Angeles Times  (10/5) notes that it is "the nation's deadliest food-borne outbreak in more than a decade," and the Jensen Farms in Colorado "recalled its cantaloupes on Sept. 14 after the melons were found to have been contaminated by four strains of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria." MSNBC (10/5, Aleccia) adds that in the outbreak, "most of those who became ill are older than 60, with an average age of 79. Of 93 people for whom information is available, 91 were hospitalized."
       Bloomberg News (10/5, Flinn) notes that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in its most recent update assures consumers that cantaloupes known not to have originated at the Jensen Farm in Colorado "are safe to eat."
       USA Today (10/5, Weise) reports that FDA Commissioner Margaret Hamburg "said Tuesday that her agency is investigating the cause of the outbreak. The FDA and CDC have had teams in Jensen Farms fields and packing sheds, testing the soil, water and surfaces for clues. Listeria bacteria grow in moist, muddy conditions and are often carried by animals."
       The Washington Times  (10/5, Richardson) reports that for the residents of Rocky Ford, Colorado, the outbreak at Jensen Farms, nearly 100 miles to the east, "delivered a body blow to Rocky Ford's reputation for top-notch melon and its small but scrappy farming culture."

Physicians Defend Circumcision As Protective Against Infections.
The Los Angeles Times  (10/5, Kaplan) "Booster Shots" blog reports that two physicians from the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University are defending the practice of circumcision.  In their commentary  appearing in the Oct. 5 issue of theJournal of the American Medical Association, Aaron Tobian, MD, PhD, and Ronald Gray, MD, MSc, contend, "If a vaccine were available that reduced HIV risk by 60%, genital herpes risk by 30%, and HR-HPV [high-risk human papillomavirus] by 35%, the medical community would rally behind the immunization and it would be promoted as a game-changing public health intervention."  The blog adds, "Those are just some of the proven benefits of circumcision, and if parents would like their sons to have them, 'it would be ethically questionable to deprive them of this choice,' they write."

Physicians Urge Supercommittee To Limit Malpractice Suits, Nix IPAB.
The "Healthwatch" blog of The Hill  (10/5, Baker) reports, "The American Medical Association and 98 other medical groups signed letters" to the congressional supercommittee to reduce the federal deficit "urging it to adopt tort reform as part of its effort to cut at least $1.2 trillion from the nation's deficit."  The letters argue that "limits on malpractice suits could save the government more than $62 billion over 10 years." While President Obama "previously entertained proposals to limit lawsuits by protecting doctors who adhere to a set of standardized best practices," the "physicians want a firm cap on non-economic damages in tort suits."  In a statement, AMA President Peter Carmel said, "Reforming the costly and inefficient medical liability system with proven solutions will save taxpayers money."
       CQ (10/5, Norman, Subscription Publication) reports, "The doctors asked for a $250,000 cap on non-economic damages, language that would ban new causes of action against doctors based on standards in the health care law, liability protection for providers who provide emergency care, and more."  Additionally, specialist physicians requested a repeal of "the health overhaul's provision establishing the Independent Payment AdvisoryBoard, which will make decisions on cutting Medicare reimbursements."

Supreme Court May Wait Until After Election To Rule On Healthcare Reform.
Politico  (10/5, Feder) reports a Supreme Court ruling on the constitutionality of healthcare reform could "have a lasting impact on the reputation of the court," which court experts say could affect the Justices and "steer them away from an election-year ruling."  Besides seeking to not affect, or be seen as affecting, the presidential race, the Court may wait to see if a GOP victory removes the issue.

Sexual Assault and You

Sexual Assault is an under-reported, under-recognized problem, especially for male victims. Rape is a heinous act, and is the most severe form of assault. Sexual assault is not limited to college campuses or to female victims. Victims can be any age, in any walk of life. Perpetrators are not necessarily stereotypical. Fortunately, our leaders of tomorrow are becoming better prepared to handle personal crisis situations such as stalking and sexual assault because of the strong messages delivered by educators. The general public needs to be better informed about the sad facts of manipulating individuals who commit these offenses, and learn to recognize these situations as harmful.


We want everyone to grow up with a healthy attitude about sex and relationships. We encourage people to be responsible partners and not be forced into any sexual situation they do not fully want or are capable of responding to appropriately. Likewise, initiating casual sex is likely to to have negative unintended consequences.

 Sex is not love. It takes a certain level of maturity to begin/sustain any sexual activity in a responsible way. If you are not sure, the answer is NO. If you act impulsively in this area of your life, there is help available. Caring people develop into loving partners and don’t force sex.


Sexual assault is abuse. Sexual assault is a crime.


Please read below for an excerpt from the UW Madison Health Service Page. Link to specific page and resources
UW Madison Health Services-For Male Victims
http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/display_story.jsp?id=531&cat_id=170







For Male Victims of Sexual Assault

According to the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault, as many as one in four males will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. These numbers may sound startling because the problem of sexual assault against males isn't discussed very often.



Sexual assault against males happens in different ways, but it means any form of unwanted sexual contact obtained without consent and/or obtained through the use of force, threat of force, intimidation, or coercion. It can range from unwanted sexual contact over the clothes, like touching someone's buttocks or genitals, to rape. Some males are assaulted by a stranger or a group of strangers, while others are assaulted by someone they know. Males can be sexually assaulted by women, but most often they are sexually assaulted by other males.



It is important to remember that "consent" means informed, freely and actively given, and mutually understood permission and agreement.



No matter how it occurs, sexual assault is a violation of a male's body and his free will, and it can have lasting emotional consequences.



Myth vs. reality

There are many mistaken beliefs about the sexual assault of males.



1. Males can't be sexually assaulted. Any man can be sexually assaulted regardless of size, strength, appearance, or sexual orientation.

2. Gay males are more likely to be assaulted. Heterosexual, gay, and bisexual males are equally likely to be sexually assaulted. Regardless of a male's sexual orientation, a sexual assault is never his fault.

3. Gay males are more likely to sexually assault other males. According to the Wisconsin Coalition against Sexual Assault Fact Sheet, most males who sexually assault other males identify themselves as heterosexual. This fact helps to highlight the reality that sexual assault is about violence, anger, and control over another person, not lust or sexual attraction.


4. Males cannot be sexually assaulted by women. Males can be sexually assaulted by women. Many people have difficulty understanding how a female could sexually assault a male. It may help to remember that sexual assault does not always involve penetration, but includes any unwanted contact, such as being grabbed, fondled, groped, or kissed.

5. Erection or ejaculation during a sexual assault means the male being assaulted "really wanted it" or gave consent.

These physiological responses may result from mere physical contact or even extreme stress. They do not imply that the male wanted or enjoyed the assault and do not indicate anything about the male's sexual orientation. If a perpetrator is aware of how these responses can confuse a victim of sexual assault, they may manipulate their victims to the point of erection or ejaculation to increase their feelings of control and to discourage reporting of the crime.



Unique issues faced by male victims/survivors

The perception that "men can't be sexually assaulted" because a "real man" can protect himself may cause males to feel invulnerable to sexual assault. It may also intensify feelings of isolation and shame after an assault occurs. Male victims/survivors often question whether they deserved or wanted to be sexually assaulted, because they feel that they failed to prevent the assault. Some male victims/survivors question their sexual orientation.



Feelings of guilt, shame, and anger may lead to self-destructive behavior, including increased alcohol or other drug use, increased aggressiveness, and withdrawal from close relationships with friends and partner. After being sexually assaulted, male survivors may experience difficulties with intimacy, such as trusting people, exploring new relationships, or enjoying sexual activity (if choosing to be sexually active). All victims/survivors need to understand that recovery may take time. They need to have patience with themselves and resist the pressure to be sexually active before they are ready.



For heterosexual males who have been assaulted by males, sexual assault may cause them to question or be confused about their sexuality. Unfortunately, many people have distorted ideas about male victims/survivors of sexual assault. For example, many people believe that gay males are more likely to be sexually assaulted. Perpetrators often accuse victims/survivors of enjoying the sexual assault, leading some victims/survivors to question their own experiences or feelings. In fact, being sexually assaulted has nothing to do with one's sexual orientation in the past, present, or future. People do not "become gay" as a result of being sexually assaulted.



Sexual assault can lead gay males to attach feelings of self-blame and self-loathing to their sexual orientation. Sexual assault may lead a gay male to believe he somehow "deserved it," or that he was "paying the price" for his sexual orientation. Ignorance or intolerance from those who blame the victim/survivor can reinforce this belief.



Gay males may also hesitate to report a sexual assault due to fears of blame, disbelief, or intolerance by police or medical personnel. As a result gay males may be deprived of legal protection and necessary medical care following an assault.



Some sexual assaults of males are actually forms of gay-bashing, motivated by fear and hatred of homosexuality. In these cases, perpetrators may verbally abuse their victims and imply that the victim deserved to be sexually assaulted. It's important to remember that sexual assault is an act of violence, power, and control and that no one deserves it.


Please see the link from Univeristy Of Wisconsin Madison Health Service for these topics and more

UW Madison Health Services-  For Male Victims

What To Do If You've Been Drugged

For Family and Friends of Victims/Survivors

Common Feelings After Being Sexually Assaulted

Recovering from Sexual Assault is a Process

What to Do after a Sexual Assault

Alcohol and Drug-facilitated Sexual Assault

Resources for Victims of Sexual Assault, Dating/Domestic Violence, or Stalking

Blast to the Past...Part 2 Growing up with TV

There are definitely great moments in my life that occurred on TV. For me, some of them were in B&W…President Kennedy getting shot, Perry Mason and Alfred Hitchcock. But most of my most memorable TV moments were in color, like the US landing on the moon.

 In the sixties, we kids would gather around the TV for The Beatles, The Green Hornet, Batman, and the Monkees at the designated time. We would act along, singing with our tennis rackets and POWing each other with punches. The seventies weren’t so clear, but I remember getting into watching great sports like the Celtics vs the Lakers, pitcher Tom Seaver and Monday Night Football with Howard Cosell. I remember watching golf tournaments with the camera following the ball into the sky and the announcers whispering. I recall watching the Brady Bunch, the Partridge Family and Bewitched with more than a casual interest.

In the early 80’s I was living in a house with other college students and we had cable. We spent tons of time watching MTV and rocking out loud having the time of our lives. I  also was personally was mesmerized by the Weather Channel. In 90’s we were married a couple of years and started a family of our own. Barney, The Land Before Time, and Disney creations dominated the decade. But these were mainly videos, and the TV was on with parenting in mind. Computer games became important learning and entertainment tools.

This century, we TiVo what we want to watch so we can skip through commercials and cut the viewing time by 1/3. We watch what we want to watch whenever we want to watch it. We don’t go to the video store anymore. We use Netflix and PPV. We have our gaming consoles and laptops and smart phones and other devices to tune us in. It is truly an instant gratification overload. It will be interesting to see how this next generation copes with the hand they were dealt.

But, back to the point of this post. The largest single moment I’ve seen on TV was 9/11/01. We were doing major home remodeling, and Tim was at our house, as usual, working. I turned on CNN for morning news. The regular reporting got interrupted by the plane crashing into the WTC tower. The questions and horror and magnitude were suddenly and completely solidified when the second plane ran into the second tower. I called for Tim and we watched CNN all day in absolute disbelief. The collapsing towers must have been thunderous.

I have been to ground zero and it is an inexplicable sensation you get there. It is so huge, so deep, so sad. I know that we can’t go back to the”good old days” but I am forever optimistic, partly because of those messages that were brought to me through TV early in my life. We were soothed by these shows and I never felt at the time the ominous undertones that MAD Men confronts so bravely. I know it was a gift to grow up when and where I did. I will never forget how precious and fragile life is because I have seen how quickly it can be taken away.

Raw Milk: Not So Controversial for Us

Milk is a near perfect food and it is natural. It can be transformed into endless varieties of ice cream, yogurt and cheese, to name a few yummy examples. Everybody should drink plenty of milk (or milk substitute if there are dietary restrictions to consider). It has a short shelf life because it is rich medium that bacteria thrive in.

Advocates for raw milk have gained momentum and they can be quite vocal. They expound its virtues as a healing elixir and want to be able to buy it at the local grocery.

It is true that some nutrients could be lost in the pasteurizing process and that dairy farms are quite a bit cleaner in their milking operations compared to past years. The sanitary modern milking parlors also lessen the likelihood of introducing pathogenic gram positives such as Staphylococcus aureus or even enteric bacteria. Local farmers selling raw milk may likely have smaller dairy operations than the typical neighbor farm that sells milk for income. Each produces a set of common and unique variables that have to be addressed on a daily basis to ensure consumers don’t get sick. It is a personal choice.

The fact remains that raw milk sold from animals that produce it carries a giant risk for spreading mycobacteria and Brucella, as well as other pathogens, if conditions are right. Disease-causing mycobacteria and Brucella species need a warm-blooded animal host to produce disease. But the bacteria will thrive in refrigerated temperatures. These pathogens are highly transmissible from cows, goats, pigs and other livestock to humans. In fact, Tuberculosis and Brucellosis are highly contagious in raw milk and soft cheeses.

Non-pasteurized milk is absolutely not safe for children. Their bodies are not immunocompetant enough to withstand the insult. Adults can get very sick also. Most often, the bacterial count is low enough that the body automatically attacks the invaders, and you never knew there was a fight. Treatment for TB takes approximately 9 months in many cases, and that is after the many months that it takes to get established in the body and produce symptoms. Brucellosis is not inherently treatable and is likely to become a chronic condition.

A few items to consider:

1. Protect your child and buy them pasteurized milk. Drink milk with them at meals and make it an excellent lifelong habit.

2. Infants should be nursed, if possible. Passive immunity is passed onto babies in this way until the baby starts to produce his own antibodies and other cellular defenses.

3. If you must drink raw milk (and it is legal to sell it in 22 states), go directly to the farm where it is produced. Look for high standards of cleanliness.

4. At the farm, ask about milking methods. There should be minimum time and steps to get milk into the bottle. The least amount of handling is better.

5. Documentation is a key to recognizing and ensuring the best practices are being followed. Regulations vary, and it not a bad idea to get familiar with them to know if your milk producer has what it takes to supply a healthy product for your family.

The Ticket Puncher

James Lehman PhD is creator of the “Total Transformation”. He deals a lot with troubled teen behavior and also coaches effective parenting techniques. His approach is direct and based on the idea that it is easier to change your behavior than your attitude. Once you’ve started to change behavior, the attitude will soon follow. He advises parents not to get too caught up in a teen’s attitude and that it will take focused work on both the part of the parent and child. If you haven’t heard of his program, I assure you that it isn’t a joke, and the techniques actually do work. I was hesitant because it promised to get the parent back in control of the bad situation in one minute or less. He gives lots of tidbits or “tools” that parents can use in a pinch. Mainly, it is a structured way of handling out of control behavior for the long-term. Website: http://www.empoweringparents.com/

Blast to the Past, Introduction

I can say that I had a great childhood. It wasn't that I had an overly charmed life. I was constantly at the bottom of the food chain in our family. However, I came through it feeling totally able to take care of myself. I was lucky in love and had good enough sense and grades to go for what I wanted. I was athletic, but small, which was advantageous in certain respects...easier to do gymnastics, good for sneaking into the drive-in, appreciated for the tiny footprint in gardening jobs, etc. I was always surrounded by a wealth of diverse people in the communities my parents chose to live in. For that, I will always be grateful

 We travelled a lot as a family, in the car. I was the one who always got carsick. I got to sit in the front a lot between Mom and Dad because of this.  It was a curse and a blessing because Mom smoked  occasionally and that probably made me more nauseous. Jammed in the front was definitely better than being jammed in the back of the station wagon. 6 kids plus 1 yellow lab and 2 parents didn't leave a whole lot of room for  other stuff. One time I was sitting next to a window and I was holding my stuffed dog Spot out, to let him catch some air as we drove down the highway.  I accidently let go and watched in horror as he flew into a cornfield and disappeared.  My dad would not stop.  It was the only stuffed animal I had and now he was gone.

We drove to California from Iowa and Dad talked about the orange grove that was just across from our house. By the time we got there, that orange grove had been plowed under for urban development.  Disappointing yes, and a signal for things to come. But Claremont was, and still is, a magical beautiful place and not just because Disneyland was not that far away. We lived in a scenic friendly spot with great weather, just far enough away from pollution to forget about it.

So with this short  post, I'm starting a mini series to celebrate childhood memories and the lessons learned.

Up your °F

Today has started off kind of rocky.
We’re heading into our 23nd year of marriage.

How do you keep things fresh and tight?

It’s a challenge, especially if there's been some trouble underfoot, and after 22 years, there’s going to be some separation. After all, it’s the growing and changing that we each do that keeps us interesting. Yet, there needs to be some sort of anchor at home to keep each other from washing, or merely floating, away. Who or what is the anchor? Can you switch roles? What guides you through each day? The power struggles that tend to undermine rather than reinforce relationships are the kinds that make us inflexible as partners.

Inflexibility means B-O-R-I-N-G.

Inflexibility means not accepting the other’s viewpoint...at least consider the idea.

Inflexibility makes us old before our time. Give the other the benefit of the doubt that they know how to live their life.

So, in my humble opinion, the answer is personal behavior!

Make amends.

Be appreciative.
Be reciprocal if positive.
Don’t make it personal if it’s negative.

These are easier said than done, but if it’s said, it can be done.
Get started right away… make up passionately (up your°F) and move on energetically!

Here’s to Us! Love you Al