DECEMBER-NOVEMBER 2014
Vol. XVIII
FREE
Sickle Cell Awareness Month Fact Sheet P5
African Americans with type 2 diabetes take America's Diabetes Challenge and pledge to get to their goals Page 2
CAN CELL PHONES HELP YOU MANAGE YOUR HEALTH? Page 4
U.S. officials unveil new plan to test Ebola drugs Travel to and from EBOLA-affected Countries is Low-risk. What you need to know ! Americans strongly back quarantine for returning Ebola health workers Page 4
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Page 2 / NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 / HealthyStart
healthbriefs
Raise our glasses to good health
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e often take our health for granted. Oh, yes, we know we need to loose weight or exercise more, even watch what we are eating. And the conscientious of us even read the many articles in magazines and the clips that come via the web, television and radio. Still we are creatures of habit and health is a “given” until it is jeopardized or stymied through pain, surgery, or an emergency hospitalization.
African Americans with type 2 diabetes take
Youth is typically the time we just assume we shall be healthy, happy and capable forever. “Forever” is the joy of adoles-
America's Diabetes Challenge and pledge
By Mikel Holt Editor of the MCJ cence, for as someone said years ago, “today is just about as good as it gets”. Meaning as we age, many things begin to happen in our bodies, in our lives, in our families, in our communities. Three hundred sixty five days make a year, but each year adds up. Now multiply them into decades; yes, eventually it is hopefully half centuries and for the healthiest, and the luckiest of us, there are now centenarians. Age and maturity bring experience and hopefully wisdom; but sometimes it also brings illness, disease, falls, the need for biological tune-ups and anatomical repairs. We know with age there’s an increase in the number of surgeries, the periods of rehabilitation, bouts with cancer or dialy-
sis or insulin infusions, pills, and other meds. Good health can become a matter of “good for one’s age”. And regrettably, in a youthfocused culture, aging and the need for gerontology care is often exempted by the presumption of age-related expectations. Health, good health, is a day by day proposition. Those over 55 years who continue to be productive, flexible and free of chronic illnesses and daily meds are usually the candidates who began good healthy habits, early in their lives. Exercise, good sleep habits, incorporating fun and family into the happiness quotient, observing sensible eating, sex, religious/meditation and intellectual
stimulation into one’s day has been found to strengthen the immune system and encourage “fuller lives”. Statistics show that fuller lives are usually healthier, happier lives. Do not smoke, reject drugs, and if you drink, drink only within the recommended legal limits. Intoxication leads to many physical, legal and familial hardships that can only damage the body, the family unit and the community. So we raise our glasses to good health...for you, our families and our community. We want to live a long time, with good productive lives that build community!! We need you!
Health officials: Flu, Ebola have similar early symptoms
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U-W Madison health official warns folks who come down with the flu not to overreact. Experts say some symptoms of the Ebola virus are the same
Mikel Holt, Editor Editor, Coordinator and Marketing Sales www.communityjournal.net
Editorial Telephone (414) 265-6647Email: editorial@communityjournal.net Mike Mullis Webmaster Media Center Bright Boateng Producer and Designer
The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that many people with diabetes have an A1C of less than 7 percent to help reduce the risk of complications, such as blindness, amputation, heart disease and stroke and nearly half of people with diabetes have an A1C greater than 7 percent. For certain individuals, a higher or lower A1C may be more appropriate, which is why it is important for people with diabetes to speak with their health care providers to discuss the A1C goal that is right for them.
That’s why Merkerson is now teaming up with Merck on America’s Diabetes Challenge: Get to Your Goals. As a part of this program, Merkerson is encouraging African Americans living with type 2 diabetes to join her in pledging to know their A1C and to talk to their doctors about setting and attaining their own A1C goal.
Patricia O'Flynn Pattillo Publisher
Advertising Email: advertising@communityjournal.net
In 2003, after having her blood sugar tested at a health fair event and being advised to see her doctor, Merkerson got an important wake-up call - she was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Despite having a family history of the disease, she was unaware she had the condition, and following her diagnosis, Merkerson got serious about her health. She worked with her doctor to learn her A1C (average blood sugar level over the past two to three months) and set a personal A1C goal, so she could help get her blood sugar under control.
Accept the challenge to get to your goals!
Milwaukee Community Journal 3612 North Martin Luther King Drive Milwaukee WI. 53212
Jimmy Johnson Sales and Advertising 414-265-5300
Brandpoint (BPT) (BPT) - S. Epatha Merkerson is well-known for her award-winning roles on the stage and screen. But what you may not know is that she is one of the 4.9 million African-American adults living with diabetes - that’s nearly 20 percent of the adult African-American population.
Type 2 diabetes is a significant health concern in the African-American community. African Americans are more likely than other ethnic groups to be affected by type 2 diabetes and to experience serious long-term health problems over time from the disease. In fact, it is the fourth leading cause of death in the community.
as influenza, and they're worried that some people might jump to the wrong con-
Administration Telephone (414)-265-5300
to get to their goals
clusions during the winter flu season. Janis Tupesis, the U-W's director of global health programs, said America has more health experts and more safety nets in place to prevent an Ebola outbreak. Those with concerns are urged to get the facts by going online to sites like the U-S Centers for Disease Control. Tupesis tells WKOW TV in Madison that the source of the nation's
lone Ebola case in Texas was solved within two days. By then Tupesis said officials had identified every person the patient was in contact with. Health officials say Ebola kills one-of-every-two people it infects, but it can only be spread through bodily fluids of people who were recently in West Africa where the disease was exposed. Tupesis has visited Liberia a number of times, as part of a U-W training program for medical residents. WKOW says the university has a strong connection with the Liberian government, and it has helped officials there boost their public health infra-structure.
--MADISON, Wis (WSAU-Wheeler News
“I lost my father and grandmother to complications of diabetes,” says Merkerson, “So I learned firsthand how important it is to know your A1C and make a commitment to get to your goal. I’m excited to be working on this program to help other African Americans with the condition learn about proper blood sugar management and inspire them to achieve their own blood sugar goals.” To help meet her personal A1C goal, Merkerson worked closely with her doctor to create an individualized diabetes treatment plan, including diet, exercise and medications that fit her specific needs. By sticking to this plan - and making changes with her doctor when necessary - Merkerson has kept her blood sugar under control. It’s important to keep in mind that because diabetes is a progressive disease, sometimes, despite one’s best efforts, their doctor may need to adjust their treatment plans over time to help them reach their blood sugar goals. Most people with diabetes are aware of the impor-
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HealthyStart / NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 / Page 3
Pro-Inflammatory Diet Linked to Colorectal Cancer, Poor Metabolic Health
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ecause chronic inflammation is linked to increased risk for many cancers and other disorders, scientists have developed a tool to evaluate an individual's diet for its potential to increase or decrease inflammation. In new research presented today at the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) Annual Research Conference, researchers presented results showing that diets high in fiber, spices, healthy fats and carotenoids all contribute to an anti-inflammatory effect that links to reduced risk of colorectal cancer.
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First Science-Based Dietary Index of Inflammation Predicts How Your Diet Links to Inflammation-Related Health Risks potential of 34,703 women's diets who were part of the Iowa Women's Health Study. Women were ages 55 to 69 and cancer free when they reported their dietary intake. By the end of 2010, 1,636 of the women were diagnosed with colorectal cancers, including 1,329 colon and 325 rectal cancers.
In addition to many cancers, chronic inflammation appears to play a key role in the development of metabolic syndrome and its related diseases. Today's research builds on an inflammatory index of food and food components developed by University of South Carolina (USC) researchers. "We know inflammation is important in carcinogenesis because experimental data support this mechanism and the use of anti-inflammatory drugs is protective," says Susan E. Steck, PhD, MPH, RD, University of South Carolina Associate Professor and coauthor of the new studies. "Now we're starting to see that diet influences inflammation and that the inflammatory potential of the diet is associated with colorectal cancer." The dietary inflammatory index includes 45 foods, nutrients and phytochemicals. It was first developed five years ago using a global literature review of studies investigating th-
role of foods on one or more of six inflammatory markers, including C-reactive protein (CRP). At that time, the index based its inflammatory ranking on almost 1,000 studies. Last year researchers updated and strengthened the inflammatory index by including 1,943 studies published through December 2010. Saturated fat and trans fat rank among the top nutrients on the pro-inflammatory list; fiber, carotenoids, turmeric, ginger and flavonoids at the bottom. The recent study scored the inflammatory
Women who consumed the most pro-inflammatory diets were at 20 percent increased risk of colorectal cancer compared with women who consumed more anti-inflammatory diets, the study concluded. This was after researchers adjusted for key risk factors, including BMI, smoking and diabetes. Green leafy vegetables, fish, fruit, nuts and whole grains were among the top foods more commonly consumed among the anti-inflammatory diet group. Food groups that were similar between the pro- and anti-inflammatory groups include refined grains, high-fat dairy, and chocolate.
Black Donor Sperm Mistakenly Sent to White Mom Jennifer Cramblett: Suit
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white Ohio mom is suing a sperm bank for sending her vials from a black donor, saying her biracial 2-year-old daughter will be stigmatized by her family and the "intol-
Uniontown, where 98 percent of the residents are white, court papers say.
family faces, the suit cited hair care for the toddler.
"I am happy that I have a healthy child," Cramblett told NBC News. "But I'm not going to let them get away with not being held account-
"Getting a young daughter's hair cut is not particularly stressful for most mothers, but to Jennifer it is not a routine matter, because Payton has hair typical of an African American girl," the suit says. "To get a decent cut, Jennifer must travel to a black neighborhood, far from where she lives, where she is obviously different in appearance, and not overtly welcome."
The study was published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention. "This confirms other work we have conducted on the inflammatory potential of the diet and what is known about how systemic inflammation plays a role in colorectal cancers," says Steck. Another study published last month by the USC team found that a group of police officers eating the most pro-inflammatory diet were more likely to have risk factors associated with risk of heart disease and poor metabolic health compared to those consuming an anti-inflammatory diet. Currently, the team is developing the index as a tool for health professionals and then for consumers, says Steck. "The index takes into account the whole diet," says Steck. "For example, if someone regularly consumes red meat but also a lot of fruits and vegetables, they might balance each other out in terms of pro- and anti-inflammatory factors." "Now, we know that consuming more fruits and vegetables, which are high in flavonoids and carotenoids, and moving toward a more plant-based diet will improve your dietary inflammatory index score and translate into anti-inflammatory effects."
Medical First:
"I don't want her to ever feel like she's an outcast," Cramblett told NBC News. Midwest Sperm Bank — which touts "the highest standards of quality control" on its website — declined to comment. The suit says that when Midwest took her phone order for vials for Donor No. 380, someone in the office misread the handwritten number as 330 and sent that donor's sperm to the fertility clinic. After she got pregnant, Cramblett called to order eight more vials that her partner, Amanda, would use to try to get pregnant with a sibling for Payton. It was during that conversation that she learned the bank had previously sent No. 330 to her doctor, who then confirmed that donor had been used.
Jennifer Cramblett with her daughter Payton, 2. erant" town where they live and has to travel to get her hair done. Jennifer Cramblett thought she was being inseminated with a white man's sperm in 2011 and only discovered after she was pregnant that the Midwest Sperm Bank sent the wrong batch, according to the lawsuit filed in Cook County Circuit Court. The child, Payton, is now 2 years old and already experiencing prejudice in
able." Cramlett's lawyer, Thomas Intili, told NBC News his client "lives in an allwhite community in eastern Ohio. She did not encounter any African-American people until she entered college. Not all her friends and family members are racially sensitive." As an example of the difficulties the
"Jennifer was crying, confused and upset. All of the thought, care and planning that she and Amanda had undertaken to control their baby's parentage had been rendered meaningless. In an instant, Jennifer's excitement and anticipation of her pregnancy was replaced with anger, disappointment and fear," the court papers say.
--nbcnews.com
Woman Who Received Womb Transplant Becomes Mom LONDON - In a medical first, a woman in Sweden has given birth after receiving a womb transplant, the doctor who performed the pioneering procedure said Friday. The 36-year-old mother received a uterus from a close family friend last year. Her baby boy was born prematurely but healthy last month, and mother and child are now at home and doing well. The identities of the woman and her husband were not disclosed.
"The baby is fantastic," said Dr. Mats Brannstrom, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Gothenburg and Stockholm IVF who led the research and delivered the baby with the help of his wife, a midwife. The feat opens up a new but still experimental alternative for some of the thousands of women each year who are unable to have children because they lost a uterus to cancer or were born without (continued on page 12)
Page 4 / NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 / HealthyStart
national news
U.S. officials unveil new plan to test Ebola drugs - CDC Chief: Ebola Worst Outbreak Since AIDS
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he quest for an Ebola treatment is picking up speed. U.S. federal officials have unveiled a plan to test multiple drugs at once, in an umbrella study with a single comparison group to give fast answers on what works. "This is novel for us" and is an approach pioneered by cancer researchers, said Dr. Luciana Borio, head of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Ebola response. "We need to learn what helps and what hurts" and speed treatments to patients, she said. She outlined the plan Wednesday at an American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene conference in New Orleans. Thousands of scientists have crowded into day and late-night sessions on Ebola, which has killed 5,000 West Africans this year. There is no treatment for Ebola, but several experimental ones such as ZMapp have been tried on a few patients, and scientists are eyeing some others that were developed for different conditions but may also fight Ebola. "There's this tremendous urge to want to give people these experimental therapies" but it's crucial to make sure they don't do harm, said the FDA's Dr. Edward Cox. Everyone in the umbrella study would get supportive care, such as intravenous fluids, then be assigned to receive one of several drugs or be in a comparison group. That's needed because without one, there's no way to know if any problems or deaths are from the drug or the disease, Cox said. Instead of waiting until a certain number of patients are treated to look at results, as is usually done, researchers will monitor results as they come in, pairing each person on a drug with someone from the comparison group to see if a pattern can be detected. The National Institutes of Health developed this "learn as you go" plan "to allow a winner to be declared very early," Cox said. He said the FDA could not name the drugs being considered, but said a meeting next week with various companies should crystallize the plans.
COLLATERAL DAMAGE Ebola is setting back even the crude health care available in West Africa. In Sierra Leone, there now are no doctors willing to do Caesarean sections on pregnant women - whether they are known to have Ebola or not -- because of the fear of exposure to so much blood, said Dr. Lina Moses, another Tulane researcher who works in that country. "Maternal health is a serious issue right now," she said. "We're expecting maternal mortality to skyrocket."
Obama Seeks $6 Billion for Ebola Fight
Says:We Are Going to Solve Ebola Problem
Other developments: VACCINES Ten potential vaccines have been developed, and two should enter mid- to late-stage testing in December or January, Dr. Cathy Roth of the World Health Organization told the conference via Skype from Geneva. GlaxoSmithKline's is one of them, and it's too soon to say when it could be ready for wide use or what it would cost, said the company's Dr. W. Ripley Ballou. Poor countries "can't be expected to pay for it," so groups that have given aid in the past likely will be asked to do that, he said. FEAR, TRAVEL BANS At least 30 scientists were barred from the conference because Louisiana state officials told attendees to stay away if they had travelled to certain West African countries or had contact with an Ebola patient in the last 21 days, Ebola's maximum incubation pe-
riod. One was Dr. Amanda Tiffany of Doctors Without Borders, who was to have given a talk on how to limit the spread of Ebola, based on her work on some of the very first cases in Guinea. "The stigma American and other colleagues are now facing is great," she said in a statement read by a colleague. "We need information disseminated through the media based on science and medicine and not on fear."
ARE CASES PEAKING? New cases in some parts of Liberia are falling, but doctors fear it might be that fewer people are seeking treatment or staying away out of anger over seeing loved ones' corpses burned instead of the traditional funeral practices that can spread the virus, said Dr. Armand Sprecher, another Doctors Without Borders physician. "I would really like to believe that things are slowing down there but I'm not going to get too optimistic yet," he said. Having a treatment or drug to offer could help tracing contacts of patients to limit the disease's spread. People "may be more will-
CAN CELL PHONES HELP YOU MANAGE YOUR HEALTH?
Dr. Daniel Bausch, a Tulane University doctor who has worked on the outbreak and advised the government on policy, said travel bans and quarantines were hurting the Ebola response. The phrase "abundance of caution" is code for doing something based on fear rather than science, he said. "I don't think it calms people's fears, I think it enhances people's fears."
O
ver 81% of U.S. adults regularly use a computer to access the Internet according to a Pew Research study reported in February of 2014. But cell phone use has increased these numbers. Ninety percent of adults have a cell phone and over 66% of people with a phone use it to access the Internet.
tions, treatments, or information about a health care professional. One-fifth of people who own a cell phone have a health app. Common health apps are used to track exercise, diet, and weight. While people are adding health apps to their phones, most people do not use the app over time. There are only a limited number of studies that evaluate whether or not apps help people manage their health.
When computer and cell phone is combined, 87% of adults are now A group of researchers using the Internet from the University of compared to 14% in Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 1995. Internet use is a Marquette University, daily event for over and The Medical Col90% of adults. Over lege of Wisconsin are 72% of people who use working together to the Internet look for build and test an app health information (continued on page 12) about specific condi-
HealthyStart / NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 / Page 5
Sickle Cell Awareness Month Fact Sheet
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ickle Cell Disease (SCD) is the most prevalent hereditary blood disorder in the United States with 100,000 people — mostly African-Americans — affected. In Wisconsin, there are approximately 800 individuals living with SCD.
Dr. Field and colleagues are now conducting Phase 2 — a randomized, placebo-controlled trial to further test the efficacy of this promising patient therapy. ! BloodCenter has sponsored an active sickle cell research program for more than 30 years and has significantly contributed to the understanding of SCD and of the often lifesaving benefit of transfusions for patients.
! SCD is a genetic condition that affects red blood cells. It is inherited when a child receives two sickle cell genes — one from each parent.
Importance of blood donation
SCD is found in many nationalities including AfricanAmericans, Native Americans, Arabs, Greeks, Italians, Latin Americans and people from India.
! BloodCenter of Wisconsin sees more than 90,000 donors each year and less than 3% are African-American. More donations from the African-American community are needed.
In the United States, about one in 12 African-Americans have the sickle cell trait and approximately one in 500 African-American newborns have SCD.
" Many African-Americans have become blood donors and donate regularly. However, there are far more African-American patients needing blood than there are African-Americans donating blood.
It’s important to get tested to determine if you have the sickle cell trait or disease. Most babies are tested for SCD, but teens and adults should be tested to see if they can pass the disease to a child.
! Sickle cell patients, who often receive regular blood transfusions, have a high chance of developing an antibody response to donated blood. They are less likely to experience complications if they receive blood that closely matches their own.
! SCD causes red blood cells to take on a sickle, or crescent, shape. This makes it more difficult for the cells to flow freely through blood vessels. Insufficient blood flow to tissues can result, causing pain, increased infections and lung tissue damage. ! The blockage of blood flow can also damage most organs including the spleen, kidneys and liver, and can lead to stroke. ! The average life expectancy for sickle cell patients is only into the mid-40s. Sickle cell patients often require a lifetime of blood transfusions in order to combat the “sickled” cells created in their bone marrow. BloodCenter Advances Patient Care and Sickle Cell Research
Porscha Burks Dr. Field’s work is changing the way Milwaukee-area patients with SCD are being treated. His clinic offers comprehensive and coordinated care to 350 adults who previously had no choice but to use urgent or emergency room care, which often resulted in hospitalization.
BloodCenter’s Dr. Joshua Field is the founder and medical director of the Adult Sickle Cell Disease Clinic at Froedtert Hospital. Dr. Field specializes in patients with SCD and is dedicated to helping bridge the health care gap for adults with this blood disorder.
In 2013, Dr. Field and colleagues completed Phase 1 of a clinical trial of a drug called regadenoson. In 27 adult patients with SCD, regadenoson effectively reduced the activity of a critical cell type called an invariant NKT cell without producing unwanted side effects. These results offer hope to sickle cell patients who are struggling to manage the pain they experience as a result of the disease.
Finding appropriate care may be challenging for patients with SCD because many primary care physicians do not have the expertise or time to manage their care.
By decreasing inflammation, regadenoson has the potential to decrease the severity of painful episodes suffered by patients with SCD.
! The best matches for individuals of African descent come from individuals of African descent because people of a common genetic heritage are more likely to express similar proteins on their red blood cells. ! Donating blood is quick, safe and relatively painless. More African-American donors are needed to ensure that enough blood is available, especially for patients with SCD. You can help save a life by donating blood at a BloodCenter donor center. ! African-Americans are encouraged to become blood, bone marrow and organ donors to help other African-Americans when an exact match is required. ! Individuals who do not have SCD but are carriers of sickle cell trait —meaning the sickle cell gene was inherited from one parent— cannot donate whole blood. However, these individuals can help save lives by donating platelets. Platelets play an important role in blood clotting and are used to treat patients with leukemia and other cancers.
Page 6 / NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 / HealthyStart
wisconsin news Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin could lose 80% of its funding MILWAUKEE-- An organization instrumental in Milwaukee's fight against infant mortality could soon lose most of its funding. "We still see black babies dying 3-4 times more so than white babies," said Clarene Mitchell, a spokesper-
services," said Mitchell. A grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services has funded the Milwaukee Healthy Beginnings Project for 15-years, but this year federal officials said no to the project.
that it's in full capacity in the future." Baker is calling on the state to step up. "I would encourage the governor and legislature to reinvest, they can step in and provide initial funding," said Baker. While infant mortality is prevalent in the Black Community, health officials say above all things-- it's a community issue.
son for the Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin. The Black Health Coalition of Wisconsin (BHCW) has helped save at least 8,000 babies since 1998, serving more than 500 families each year in its Milwaukee Healthy Beginnings Project. The initiative combats infant mortality in the black community, and provides assistance to families at risk. "It is very hard, knowing that other agencies have said no to them, or not allowed them to get the needed
"This injustice needs to be rectified," said Mitchell. The coalition started a petition to fight for federal funding. If they don't get the $700,000 they need, the coalition will be forced to layoff most of its employees and end case work for at-risk families. "We need them," said Bevan Baker, Health Commissioner for the City of Milwaukee, "they're vital, we know that they're going to exist in some capacity, we hope
"It's not just a black issue, with black babies dying, this impacts the whole community, the health of the whole community, babies dying is a sign that this community is not well," said Mitchell. Mayor Tom Barrett, of the City of Milwaukee also expressed disappointment by the loss in federal funding. He said in a statement-"At a time when Milwaukee needs more resources to tackle infant mortality and racial disparities in birth outcomes, the loss of this funding is a significant setback." by Priscilla Luong
Proposal would let chiropractors in Wisconsin prescribe drugs The Wisconsin Chiropractic Association wants the state to let chiropractors prescribe drugs and do minor procedures, a proposal the rival Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin opposes.
mand a greater share of patients is now,” Rod Lefler, the association’s president, said in a statement on the group’s website.
No state gives chiropractors authority to do both activities, two national chiropractic organizations said. New Mexico allows chiropractors to prescribe some drugs, and Oklahoma and Oregon let them do some medical procedures. The Wisconsin Chiropractic Association says expanding the powers of the state’s 2,000 chiropractors would let them act like primary care doctors and help address the state’s projected shortage of medical providers.
Steve Eidem, a chiropractor in Horicon, performs an adjustment on his father, The group is discussing the Jack Eidem. A Wisconsin Chiropractic proposal this fall and plans to Association proposal would let chiropracmake it a priority next year. tors prescribe drugs and do minor proceThe proposal would require dures. legislative approval and changes to state statutes and rules.
“The opportunity for the chiropractic profession to move itself into the health care mainstream and com-
The Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin, which split from the association two years ago, says chiropractors
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Early detection of Alzheimer’s disease
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collaborative team of researchers from Marquette University and the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) has received a one-year, $50,000 grant from the Clinical and Translational Science Institute of Southeast Wisconsin (CTSI) to study early biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease, and attempt to identify opportunities for effective early interventions. Kristy Nielson, Ph.D., professor of psychology at Marquette University and associate adjunct professor of neurology at MCW, is the primary investigator for the grant. Her collaborators include Thomas Prieto, Ph.D., associate professor of neurology at MCW; Anthony Porcelli, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology at Marquette University; April Harkins, Ph.D., associate professor and chair of clinical lab science and director of the Biochemical and Immunological Core Laboratory at Marquette University; and Thomas Chelimsky, M.D., professor of neurology at MCW. An estimated 5.2 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease in 2014, including approximately 200,000 individuals younger than the age of 65 who have youngeronset Alzheimer’s. By 2050, the number of people affected by Alzheimer’s may nearly triple, barring the development of medical
breakthroughs to prevent, slow, or stop the disease. The primary goal of the project is to better predict the disease before its onset, when interventions can be most effective. Dr. Nielson and her team hope to detect early biomarkers that can help with interventions and preventions of Alzheimer’s before symptoms appear. This project will also set the stage for a larger project focused on implementing and evaluating interventions. This is one of 13 pilot projects being funded in 2014 through CTSI. The goal of the grants is to create synergy through collaboration, and studies are specifically designed to lead to major future research support. The projects explore findings that have the potential to be translated into clinical practice and community health, and are led by investigators at the CTSI’s eight partnering institutions: the Medical College of Wisconsin, Marquette University, Milwaukee School of Engineering, UW-Milwaukee, Froedtert Hospital, Chil-
(continued on page 11)
HealthyStart / NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 / Page 7
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Americans strongly back quarantine for returning Ebola health workers
early 75 percent of Americans surveyed in a Reuters/Ipsos poll believe medics returning to the United States after treating people with Ebola should be quarantined, and 80 percent believe the healthcare workers' movements should be controlled. The findings show broad support for the type of controversial new screening rules announced by the governors of New York and New Jersey for people arriving at New York City's international airports from the three West African countries where the virus has killed nearly 5,000 people. Under the rules, state health officials are ordering anyone who has had direct contact with Ebola into a mandatory quarantine of up to 21 days, at home in some cases, even if they have no symptoms. A quarter of poll respondents thought quarantines were unnecessary for healthcare
workers, and about one in six respondents thought such workers should neither monitor their health themselves nor be actively monitored by officials. The poll, which was conducted online with 1,681 people who chose to participate between Oct. 30 and Nov. 3, did not ask whether quarantines should be mandatory or voluntary. Respondents were asked specifically whether health workers returning from West African countries with Ebola should have their travel and movements controlled.
Page 8 / NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 / HealthyStart
men’s health
Why Black Men Who Smoke Are More Likely To Get Lung Cancer Than White Men Who Smoke
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hy is it that black men who smoke are 50 percent more likely to develop lung cancer than white men who smoke? Why is their rate of death from smoking much higher than white men? Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among black men, according to the American Cancer Society. Dr. Phillip Gardiner, co-chair of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC), a California-based group of black professionals dedicated to fighting tobacco in the African American community, explains why: 1)Black men do not smoke more than white men, says Dr. Gardiner, but many smoke cigarettes that contain more nicotine. 2)Black men metabolize cotinine, the chemical derivative of nicotine, in the body more slowly so the toxin stays in the body longer. Black males as a whole are less educated and have lower “health literacy,” 3)Black men generally have less access to health care, living in communities without the same health and medical resources as other communities,
"Menthol Cigarettes: Toward a Broader Definition of Harm." Dr. Gardiner, along with Dr. Pamela Clark wrote the lead article for the journal, making a strong case
for the banning of mentholated cigarettes. --by Rosemary Eng The NorthStar News & Analysis
Men who drink alcohol at higher risk of HPV infection
4)Black males, as well as black women, tend to mistrust the health-care delivery system in the United States. “Black men who smoke are 50% more likely to get lung cancer than white men who smoke; 81% of black men who get lung cancer will die, whereas 54% of white men with lung cancer will die,” the AATCLC website states. “Though tobacco-related deaths continue to kill more African Americans than AIDS, violence and accidents combined, tobacco-related deaths have yet to be given the priority on the public policy agenda that they deserve.”
Dr. Gardiner is the social and behavioral sciences and neurosciences and nicotine dependence research administrator for the Tobacco Related Disease Research Program (TRDRP), University of California Office of the President. Dr. Gardiner was a member of the national steering committee for the National Conference on Tobacco Health in 2009 and was the national cochair for the 2nd Conference on Mentholated Cigarettes, held in Washington D.C. in October 2009. Dr. Gardiner is the co-editor of the Society for Nicotine and Tobacco special journal supplement that came out of the conference,
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lcohol consumption has its share of health risks and according to a recent study, men who consume alcohol have a greater risk of contracting human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. HPV is a common sexually transmitted virus, with over six million new cases reported in the US each year.
sumption of alcohol may impair men’s immune responses to HPV, the study noted.
Men, who consumed on an average over 9.9 grams of alcohol per day, had a significantly higher risk of HPV infection, the findings showed.
HPV causes genital warts in both men and women and is a contributing factor to a number of different cancers in women, including cervical, vaginal and anal cancers.
Men, who drank more alcohol, had an increased risk of HPV infection, independent of the number of sexual partners they had. This suggests that increased con-
More recent studies have shown that HPV can also cause penile, anal and oropharyngeal cancer in men.
‘Our findings provide additional support to current public health messaging regarding the importance of moderate alcohol consumption, smoking cessation and safe sex practices,’ said researcher Matthew Schabath from the Moffitt Cancer Center in the US.
HealthyStart / NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 / Page 9
women & children Induction 101:
What every pregnant woman should know
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are measuring large, even though ultrasounds can have a margin of error up to 20 percent. In fact, women whose providers expressed concern about their baby’s size had babies whose weight on average 7 pounds, 15 ounces, according to the Listening to Mothers survey.
f we wait longer and the baby is too big, then we may have to do a C-section,” Tina KlonarisRobinson remembers her doctor explaining. “She said, ‘I prefer for you to have an easier delivery and inducing will allow you to have that natural, vaginal delivery that you want.’”
Some providers may also follow the rule “41 and done,” while others may wait longer.
“I had this feeling within me that said ‘no, don’t induce’ but then I thought, well she must know better,” she said.
Induction risks As with any medical procedure, induction comes with risks. For starters, if a woman’s cervix is unfavorable, the risk of having a cesarean is 30 percent. If the cervix is favorable, the risk is the same as natural childbirth, Ghausi said.
Klonaris-Robinson was 38 and a half weeks pregnant with her second child when she was given Cytotec, a medication used to induce labor. At first, everything seemed normal as she started to have contractions. About 10 hours later she was given a second dose. Her contractions were coming much faster and now she had a sharp pain in her left side. “It went on and on, and I just kept saying, ‘Please, this pain doesn’t feel right.’” “Two hours later, they finally listened and it was too late,” she said. Her uterus had hyper-stimulated and tore top to bottom, front and the back. She was bleeding out and her daughter Meah was dead. “I awoke to all my family members around me. They put her in my arms and she was perfect. Everybody was crying and they said we’re so sorry she’s gone.” Induction methods When labor doesn’t start naturally, there are many methods providers can use to get labor going. According to the Listening to Mothers Survey III, 30 percent of women had medically-induced labors between 2011 and 2012. Pitocin, the synthetic version of the hormone oxytocin that a woman’s body produces to start uterine contractions, is the method most women think of. It’s given through an IV and dosage can be adjusted. Pitocin works best when the cervix is favorable—meaning it’s dilated, effaced (soft), and in an anterior position. Some women worry that Pitocin could put stress on their babies, but it depends on how aggressively it’s given. “There are a lot of ways that you can control it so it doesn’t stress the baby out,” said Dr. David Ghausi, an OB/GYN at Los Robles Hospital in Thousand Oaks, Calif. There’s also a concern that Pitocin makes
contractions very strong but it varies from woman to woman and could also be the case with natural labor, he said. Another induction procedure is artificial rupture of membranes (AROM), which might help, although Pitocin is often given as well. “If you break someone’s water in the hospital, it’s not a guarantee that you’re going to go into labor in the next hour or two hours,” Ghausi said. Prostaglandin medications like Cytotec and Cervidil help to soften the cervix and in some women, it may also cause contractions. These medications may not work if the baby is preterm and if the cervix is not favorable. Unlike Cervidil, which can be removed if the uterus hyper-stimulates or the contractions are too close together, Cytotec dissolves in the body. Providers can also insert a Foley catheter balloon filled with sterile water into the cervix to mechanically dilate it and cause a release of prostaglandins. Providers can also “strip the membranes,” by inserting a finger through the cervix and moving it side to side to release prostaglandins. This procedure can be painful and there’s no guarantee with either method that labor will start. When is induction necessary? For women with certain medical conditions
like high blood pressure, preeclampsia, uncontrolled diabetes or placental abruption, induction is necessary for their health and the health of the babies. Another medical indication for induction is if the baby is not growing at a normal rate. Experts agree physicians may also persuade women to be induced because their babies
Elective inductions before 39 weeks could pose problems for babies whose lungs are not fully mature. Other risks include fetal distress, infection for both mom and baby, umbilical cord problems, uterine rupture and hemorrhage. What’s more, a recent study out of Beth Israel Medical Center found that induction with Pitocin increased the risk that newborns would be unexpectedly admitted into the NICU and have lower Apgar scores. Even though induction is meant to jumpstart labor, it doesn’t necessarily speed it up. “You could be in the hospital 24, 36, or 48 hours before you have the baby,” Ghausi said.
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Rare blood cancer has higher incidence in African-Americans
lthough it is a rare blood cancer, Multiple Myeloma is an aggressive and rapidly progressive illness that causes certain white blood cells, normally responsible for combating illnesses, to be overproduced. This proliferation of abnormal cells is known as myeloma cells, and can lead to the growth of tumors that may potentially spread to multiple sites in the body. During the past 10-15 years there has been a concentrated effort in developing updated and more effective medical treatments for this disease, which sees an average of 15,000-20,000 newly-diagnosed cases in the US each year. New therapies are providing more effective treatment options for patients that increase overall survival, in some cases, to as many as 10 years post-diagnosis. Multiple Myeloma, not unlike many cancers, has become more of a managed illness for patients and their caregivers, but the illness is not without one curious health phenomenon. For the past three decades, the incident and mortality rates for multiple myeloma have mostly leveled off, except within the Black community, which has seen significant growth when compared to Caucasian populations. This rare form of blood cancer disproportionately affects African Americans and is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among Blacks. Studies indicate that African Americans are twice as likely to be diagnosed with this disease versus Caucasians and other ethnic groups, and data also points toward an increased incidence and younger onset of the disease. Treatment Challenges Remain The causes and reasons for this spike of activity, as well as the racial disparity in incidence and mortality remain unclear. Various elements such as diet, socioeconomic status, and occupation have been closely studied to determine the root causes of this discrepancy, but nothing conclusive has been drawn. Although the elevated risk of contracting multiple myeloma is seemingly elevated among Blacks who live at certain socioeconomic levels and who operate within particular occupations, further research and discussion is required in order to determine the environmental and genetic factors that may determine multiple myeloma. Additionally, data demonstrates that African-Americans also have a lower rate for becoming potential bone marrow and stem cell donors than other indigenous groups, and are less likely to participate in clinical trials with novel treatments. These facts are disconcerting among public health leaders who shoulder the responsibility to help these patients receive current disease information, but use that data for treatment.
from the disease. I will forever be concerned about the possible implications this may have for our children, grand children and future generations. Because I know the of the incidence rates of multiple myeloma within the African American community my wish for a cure goes beyond doing something in memory of my husband, it could be the difference maker for our family for years to come.” For more information about obtaining this DVD, please visit www.mymultiplemyeloma.com. Millennium’s involvement within this community has been ongoing and have identified outreach to the African American community, an underserved population, a focus through their Patient Advocacy group. According to Kathy Gram who is part of the company’s patient advocacy leadership, “we have African American MM patient ambassadors and caregivers tell their stories to the African American community to offer hope, inspiration and the importance of clinical trial participation. The ambassadors also encourage MM patients to seek second opinions (MM specialist) and find a patient support group in their area. They are also reaching out to both the national office of minority health care and the state offices to identify channels for education and awareness.”
What makes myeloma a challenge to diagnose is that disease symptoms can also be found in other illnesses. For example, one of the medical conditions often caused by a myeloma tumor is the destruction of bone which may not be seen initially as cancer-related. With a clearer understanding of the genesis of the myeloma patient’s condition, the attending physician may suggest the intervention of an oncologist who will make a more accurate cancer diagnosis. It’s critical for African Americans who experience any type of bone or muscle pain, numbness in their extremities, muscle weakness or infections, including pneumonia, to schedule an appointment with their physician to determine the extent of their condition. Beyond treatment. An Informed Black Community There are a growing number of available resources to African-Americans who are living with MM or those who suspect they may have contracted this blood cancer. Groups like the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, International Myeloma Foundation and Tackle Cancer Foundation are excellent sources for gathering important information about symptoms, treatment options, oncologists and a myriad of data that may impact a future cancer patient. In fact,
What every pregnant woman should know Induction rates are on the decline, but still cause for concern. “So you want to have the baby today?” Kerrie Hopkins of New York remembers her doctor asking during a prenatal visit on her due date, more than 10 years ago. Hopkins arrived at the hospital and was quickly set up with Pitocin. “The nurses said, ‘Wow, this doctor wants you to have this baby on his lunch hour,’” she said. And sure enough, within two hours of her doctor’s appointment she gave birth. Since she had waited past her due date and had 17 hours of labor with her first child, Hopkins was grateful to have been induced. “Anything to avoid pain—it was fabulous,” she said. For other women, having an elective induction may not be medically necessary but
their reasons may be equally as compelling. Danielle Rothweiler of Shawnee, Pennsylvania had her water broken two days before her due date. She had two herniated discs and problems with her sciatica, which became worse during pregnancy. She had intense pain, used crutches to get around and couldn’t walk up the stairs. “I just could not deal with the pain anymore,” she said. “I knew [from the doctor telling me] that the baby was going to be healthy so I knew it was important to get out of pain.” After almost 20 years of induction rates on the rise, they are slowly declining. In 2012, 23.3 percent of women had induction, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Elective inductions before 39 weeks have also declined, from 17 percent in 2010 to 4.6 percent in 2013, according to a survey by the Leapfrog Group.
one of these resources that is directed at African-Americans and recently became available is an educational DVD co-sponsored by the Tackle Cancer Foundation and Millennium: The Takeda Oncology Company. “Multiple Myeloma in the African American Community” is an effective resource for patients and caregivers and spearheaded by Kimberly Alexander, who lost her husband, Elijah, to multiple myeloma. “My desire to stay educated about multiple myeloma didn’t end when my husband lost his battle with cancer due to complications
Oncologists and other healthcare professionals involved in the treating of myeloma patients and those scientists challenged with developing future treatments; and possibly a cure, agree that there is a need for more information when it comes to understanding the impact of this disease on African Americans. There also remains a need for community education programs to educate this population about its risks for developing MM and the benefit of clinical trials so that they may better understand this new information and apply it to their lives. Kathy Gram is Senior Director, Patient Advocacy, Takeda Pharmaceuticals; and Kimberly Alexander is President, Tackle Cancer Foundation.
Woman Admits Infecting More Than 300 Men With HIV Nakuru, Kenya — A Kenyan woman has
admitted that she has purposely infected over 300 men with the HIV virus. And she told the Kenyan Daily Post that she’s doing it in revenge for a man who had unprotected sex with her while she was drunk, and gave her the virus.
are students at the Kabarak University where she studies. She says the rest are married men, lecturers, lawyers, celebrities and politicians. She added that her goal is to infect 2,000 men in the East African nation, the Kenyan Daily Post reported.
The woman, whose name remains anonymous, is only 19 years old and said that she was a virgin until she went clubbing with some students at a local university. She claims that when she woke up the next morning, she realized that one of the guys had sex with her while she was intoxicated. She asked the boy if he used a condom and he told her “yes”, but when taking a bath she noticed semen in her vaginal area. “I wanted to commit suicide, I feared getting pregnant and HIV,” she said. And sure enough, in time, she did find out that she was HIV positive. And that’s when she decided to get revenge on as many men as possible. “I buried the good girl in me and became the bad girl, my goal was to infect as many as possible,” she explained. According to the Kenyan Daily Post, she has confessed to infecting 324 men, 156 of which
“Not a day passes without me having sex, mostly 4 people per day,” she continued in her confessional. The newspaper she confessed to promised to keep her name private, but they did post photos of her from her Facebook page. What do you think? Is she really doing this? Or is she just trying to get attention? --http://www.blacknews.com/
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MCW Center for AIDS Intervention Research receives $8.7 million renewal award The Medical College of Wisconsin’s Center for AIDS Intervention Research has received a five-year, $8.7 million grant renewal from the National Institutes of Health’s National Institute of Mental Health, which will fund its programs through its 25th year of existence. CAIR is one of six federally-supported HIV prevention research centers in the United States and the only center located between the country’s East and West Coasts. The funding will provide core infrastructure needed to establish a foundation for the center’s initiatives over the next five years. “CAIR’s mission is the development and conduct of interventions to prevent HIV infections in populations vulnerable to the disease, the conduct of interventions to alleviate adverse health outcomes among persons living with HIV infection, and the dissemination of center research findings to the field so that both the scientific and public health communities can directly benefit from results of the research,” said Jeffrey Kelly, Ph.D. A professor of psychiatry and behav-
ioral medicine at MCW, Kelly has served as CAIR’s director since its inception, and is the principal investigator of the center.
public health, and other fields,” Kelly said. CAIR’s achievements include: the publication of nearly 900 articles by
Early detection of Alzheimer’s disease (continued from page 6) dren’s Hospital of Wisconsin, the Clement Zablocki VA Medical Center, and BloodCenter of Wisconsin. CTSI is part of a national consortium of top medical research institutions. Working together, the CTSI institutions are committed to improve human health by streamlining science, transforming training environments and improving the conduct, quality and dissemination of clinical and translational research. The CTSI program is led by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Support for the Pilot Award Program comes from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin (AHW) endowment. --Medical College of Wisconsin
The Center’s research team includes 12 faculty investigators, all of whom devote their full effort to HIV prevention research and all of whom hold primary appointments in MCW’s department of psychiatry and behavioral medicine. Additionally, there are 33 affiliated investigators from other MCW departments and institutions who participate in CAIR research, 25 full-time research and administrative staff, and a cadre of post-doctoral fellows and graduate students. “Together, CAIR’s interdisciplinary team brings diverse perspectives and expertise to Center research drawn from psychology and the behavioral sciences, sociology, anthropology, infectious disease medicine, biostatistics, the law, nursing, community and
CAIR investigators appearing in the field’s leading scientific journals; the award of over $147 million in total NIH and CDC federal research grants to CAIR investigators at MCW; and the training of 24 postdoctoral research fellows in CAIR’s NIMH-supported two-year T32 training program. Although much of CAIR’s research is undertaken in Wisconsin, CAIR investigators lead HIV prevention research initiatives throughout the country and the world. Nearly 30 percent of CAIR’s research is international in scope, including HIV prevention studies undertaken in the post-Soviet countries of Eastern Europe, Latin America and Africa.
Wheaton seeks relief from St. Joe’s losses Following two years of major losses at Wheaton Franciscan-St. Joseph Campus on Milwaukee’s west side, the health care system’s CEO will pursue financial relief from the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Wheaton Franciscan executives are working with the Milwaukee Health Care Partnership, which includes the other Milwaukee-area health systems and Federally Qualified Health Centers, to seek greater funding for safety-net
Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare CEO John Oliverio said the long-term future of St. Joseph, 5000 W. Chambers St., will depend on attaining assistance from the state as nearly 87 percent of the hospital’s patients now are covered by government insurance through Medicaid and Medicare or are uninsured. “We’re not closing St. Joe’s,” Oliverio said. “We’re doing everything we can to keep St. Joe’s viable.” But cost-cutting and renegotiating contracts only goes so far, he said. The hospital posted a net loss of about $30 million for the fiscal year ended June 30. That followed a net loss of $14.8 million the previous fiscal year. St. Joseph remained in the red, while two other hospitals serving Milwaukee’s central city swung to profits, according to the recently posted 2013 financials from the Wisconsin Hospital Association.
hospitals, Oliverio said. St. Joseph, for example, cannot cover its expenses with the reimbursement it receives from Medicaid and Medicare, he said.
Proposal would let chiropractors in Wisconsin prescribe drugs (continued from page 6) are already considered primary care providers and there’s no need to expand their scope of practice. “Chiropractic should remain drug-free,” said Jay LaGuardia, the society’s president. “It’s a way to help people heal naturally.” The American Chiropractic Association supports a “drug-free approach to health care” but hasn’t taken a position on the Wisconsin proposal, spokeswoman Lori Burkhart said. The Virginia-based International Chiropractors Association opposes the Wisconsin proposal. Four of the nation’s chiropractic schools have weighed in. Atlanta-based Life University and Davenport, Iowa-based Palmer College of Chiropractic oppose the proposal. National University of Health Sciences, in Lombard, Illinois, and University of Western States, in Portland, Oregon, support it. The Wisconsin Chiropractic Association says it has about 1,200 members. The Chiropractic Society of Wisconsin says it has about 800 members. The society split from the asso-
ciation when the association successfully lobbied the state to make chiropractors pass a state exam in addition to a national exam to get a license in Wisconsin. The state dropped the state exam requirement last year. But at the association’s request, the state added new requirements for the national exam, setting a higher bar for passing two of its four parts than in any other state. The society opposes the higher requirements. Under the association’s new proposal, chiropractors who complete additional training could be certified as “primary spine care physicians.” The training might involve a twoyear master’s degree program at a chiropractic or medical school, though other options are being considered, said John Murray, executive director of the association. Chiropractors currently get four-year doctoral degrees involving about 4,820 hours of training. The additional program could involve 55 credit hours, or about 220 hours of coursework, plus 500 hours of clinical training, Murray said.
“We need a public policy change for safety-net hospital reimbursement,” Oliverio said. Senior Reporter Rich Kirchen covers health care, sports business, politics and media/advertising for the Milwaukee Business Journal.
African Americans with type 2 diabetes take America's Diabetes Challenge and pledge to get to their goals (continued from page 2) For more information, visit the Coverage to Care website at marketplace.cms.gov/c2c where you will find educational brochures and videos in the English and Spanish language. Still have questions? Contact your insurance company directly or contact us at 1-800318-2596 (TTY: 1-855-889-4325). Trained representatives are available at the Marketplace Call Center 24/7. If you have questions about your Medicaid or CHIP coverage, contact your state agency
for more information. David Sayen is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Territories. For Medicare questions, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800633-4227). David Sayen is Medicare’s regional administrator for Arizona, California, Nevada, Hawaii, and the Pacific Territories. For Medicare questions, call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800633-4227).
Page 12 / NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2014 / HealthyStart
HBCU Connect Partners With Merck For Novel Approach to Health
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– Alliance will connect black audience with targeted lifestyle and health information –
HBCU Connect, the trusted source for community engagement and lifestyle information for the alumni of America’s Historically Black Colleges & Universities, recently announced a new partnership with innovative pharmaceutical company Merck. The alliance, which has just launched, will provide HBCU Connect’s educated African-American readership with targeted health and lifestyle information relevant to the black community through a dedicated health and wellness microsite (www.hbcuconnect.com/merckengage). The Health and Wellness microsite will include co-branded content relevant to HBCUconnect.com readers while providing a wealth of useful health information and simultaneously offering Merck a unique opportunity to engage this important customer segment. The partnership is designed to offer resources that can improve awareness and help better manage common health conditions prevalent in the African American community. In addition to the microsite HBCUConnect.com members will have access to all of Merck’s consumer offers which include disease management, fitness tips, healthy eating, recipes, and coupon offers by accessing the comprehensive website at www.MerckEngage.com. MerckEngage.com offers health information, tips, and tools website visitors can rely on every day. “Our readers are smart, conscious consumers and offer our partners a personal link to the most powerful movers and shakers in the
to such a crucial network. HBCU Connect is the undisputed leader in uniting alumni of America’s foremost HBCUs with valuable resources for career development, community engagement and now even health and wellness. In addition to its flagship site, the company produces a number of other sites designed to engage with educated consumers in the African-American community, including BlackNews.com and BlackHealth.org.
African-American community,” says Will Moss, CEO of HBCU Connect. “We’re honored to partner with a corporation of such great stature and look forward to a beneficial business relationship that will benefit both of our institutions as well as our web site visitors.” While its educated African American readership benefits from useful health and lifestyle resources from Merck, HBCU Connect presents the phar-
Woman Who Received Womb is a Mom (continued from page 4) one. Before this case proved the concept can work, some experts had questioned whether a transplanted womb would be able to nourish a fetus. For the proud parents, the years of research and experimentation were well worth the wait. "It was a pretty tough journey over the years, but we now have the most
amazing baby," the father said in a telephone interview. "He is very, very cute." The first baby born from a transplanted womb bonds with his mother shortly after his birth in Gothenburg, Sweden. The birth follows a pioneering transplant procedure carried out by surgeons at the University of Gothenburg.
CAN CELL PHONES HELP YOU MANAGE YOUR HEALTH? to answer the question of whether or not apps can help people manage their health behavior. The purpose of this new app is to help women engage in health behaviors to prevent osteoporosis. These behaviors focus on nutrition, balance, strength, and physical activity. This study has been funded by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research. As the app was being developed, researchers recognized the importance of listening to the needs and concerns of women who would be using it. A focus group of women from the Milwaukee area met regularly for over a year to pro-
vide feedback, opinions, and insights into app development. These women challenged the researchers to make the app attractive for use by a diverse group of future study participants. Years of planning and development resulted in a user-friendly health promotion tool that is currently being tested in women between the ages of 40 and 60. If you are a healthy, English-speaking woman, age 40-60, interested in participating in the study, please contact us at (414) 2293169 or email striving@mscs.mu.edu, or find us on the web at http://striving.cloudapp.ne t
maceutical giant with a valuable marketing opportunity: the potential to reach more than 1.5 million followers across HBCUConnect.com, Facebook, and Twitter. Both brands recognize the value of connecting with the African-American community in such a personal way and look forward to bringing useful health and wellness content
Merck is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. Merck is known as MSD outside the United States and Canada. Through prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, Merck works with customers and operates in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. Merck also demonstrates a commitment to increasing access to healthcare through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. For more information, visit www.merck.com. Sickle Cell Awareness Month Fact Sheet --Contact: Will Moss, HBCU Connect 614-416-5515