Exercisers May Have Better Breast Cancer Survival

Women who reported the highest levels of physical activity in the year before they were diagnosed with breast cancer may have higher survival, according to a new study. Published in the October 15, 2006 issue of CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, the study found that obese and overweight women who had higher levels of moderate or vigorous recreational physical activity within one year before diagnosis tended to have better five-year survival patterns compared to other groups. Women of ideal body weight did not experience survival benefits from exercise; more remote histories of physical activity also had no impact on survival.

Identifying factors in cancer patients that predict outcome (i.e., prognosis) is important for physicians planning patient management and patients understanding their disease. In breast cancer, clinical indicators, such as tumor size, regional lymph node involvement, and estrogen-receptor status, have been shown to influence outcome. Other lifestyle factors, such as weight, may also predict disease course. While these factors are statistically associated with outcome to some degree, they may not explain all the variation which has lead researchers to search for additional prognostic factors, such as physical activity.

While exercise has been shown to be a significant factor in preventing breast cancer, its role in prognosis after diagnosis remains unclear but has also been infrequently studied. Page E. Abrahamson, Ph.D. now at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, led researchers while at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill to investigate the relationship between pre-diagnosis physical activity and survival in 1264 women with breast cancer.

The authors report that pre-diagnosis exercise did improve disease outcome. Survival modestly increased among women with body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 who reported highest levels of physical activity within one year of diagnosis. There was no benefit for women with BMI less than 25. Also, physical activity in adolescence or early adulthood had no impact on survival.

“Given that obesity is relatively well established as a poor prognostic factor in breast cancer,” conclude the authors, “it is hopeful that activity may provide an opportunity to improve survival in this sub-population.”

(Source: American Cancer Society news release)

New Student Body Fat Screenings May Surprise One In Five Pennsylvania Parents

Pennsylvania Medical Society Offers Help For Overweight Children To Avoid Health Risks, Social Bias

Many Pennsylvania parents are learning that their children are overweight. State-required body mass index (BMI) screenings are being expanded this year to include all students in grades K-8. When schools give parents the inside scoop on their child’s body fat, the Pennsylvania Medical Society has some online help to steer kids back on the track to good health.

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reports that as many as one child out of every five is overweight. This could leave about 20 percent of our parent population wondering what to do next.

“We’re seeing a higher rate of childhood obesity because harried parents often turn to fast food or high-carbohydrate snacks,” says Christopher F. Hannum, MD, a member of the Pennsylvania Medical Society and an obesity specialist from Chester, Pa. “Children aren’t as active today because they spend a lot of time on computers and watching television. They’re eating too many calories and not burning them off.”

He adds, “Children may not think about the health risks, but they’re very aware of the social bias against overweight people. This added stress may lead to unhealthy eating and poor exercise habits.”

The Pennsylvania Medical Society believes that parents, doctors, and schools need to work together to keep our kids healthy and happy. So, the Society’s Web site, http://www.myfamilywellness.org/, is offering a variety of helpful resources as the new BMI student testing term begins:

• BMI calculators that allow children and adults to check their own body fat. You can make this a fun family activity.
• A free DVD that entertains as it teaches kids how to live healthy. “Max’s Magical Delivery: Fit for Kids” has been created by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and is target for children age 5 to 9 and their parents.
• “Eating Tips for Kids” activities based on the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new food pyramid. These include a “MyPyramid Blast Off Game,” a “MyPyramid for Kids” planner, and a coloring page for youngsters.
• Weight Management Treatment Programs, sorted by county, from the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare.
• “Find-A-Physician” directory for anyone needing a family doctor or specialist.

“Doctors should help parents interpret BMI results because each child has personal issues that can make a difference,” explains Dr. Hannum. “For example, student athletes may have low body fat, but a high BMI, because of muscle mass. BMI is not the sole indicator of good health. We also need to look at regular physical exams, vital signs, family history, and other factors.”

The U.S. Surgeon General says overweight kids have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight adults. Without good weight management, these children risk coronary disease, diabetes, joint pain, and other health problems as they mature.

The good news is that families can work together with their doctors on weight management programs. Since children learn by example, parents can take this opportunity to prepare nutritious meals and improve their own health as well. The Pennsylvania Medical Society cautions that parents should talk with their family doctor before making any radical diet changes.

Dr. Hannum notes that diet and weight change for parents and children can happen gradually.

“Many small choices over time can add up to big results. By drinking one fewer sodas each day, you can cut weight gain by 10 to 15 pounds a year. Kids also need lots of physical activity and should exercise at least one hour a day through play or organized sports.”

To learn more, go to http://www.myfamilywellness.org/ and click on “Health Highlight.” Obesity is the Web site’s current highlighted health topic. The focus will shift to mental health later this fall.

(Source: Pennsylvania Medical Society news release)

Rendell Declares Sept. 30 National Public Lands Day

Governor Edward G. Rendell proclaimed Saturday, Sept. 30, National Public Lands Day in recognition of Pennsylvania's vast wealth of state parks, forests and other public lands, and the volunteer commitment that continues to protect and enhance them.

"Volunteers play an important role in protecting and enhancing our state parks and forestlands," said Governor Rendell. "That's why National Public Lands Day is such a special event. It brings together thousands of volunteers, as well as those from various organizations to refurbish and restore public places across the country."

Marking its 13th year, National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest hands-on volunteer effort to improve and enhance the public lands Americans enjoy. Each year, nearly 90,000 volunteers build trails and bridges, plant trees and plants, and remove trash and invasive plants.

"On National Public Lands Day, we all have a chance to contribute to the betterment of our public lands for this and future generations of Americans," said Governor Rendell. "Whether improving trails at Black Moshannon State Park in Centre County; improving wildlife habitat in northeastern Pennsylvania's Lackawanna State Park; or removing litter at the northwest's Oil Creek State Park, local volunteers will have a unique chance to give something back to their country, their community, and the state parks that serve them. This year, I encourage everyone to consider lending a helping hand."

Twelve state parks and two environmental education centers are hosting volunteer groups in the national effort to improve and preserve habitat on public lands. The following have scheduled a volunteer workday in conjunction with National Public Lands Day, and details can be found on-line at www.npld.com:

Black Moshannon, Centre County; Colonel Denning, Cumberland County; Cook Forest, Clarion County; Jennings Environmental Education Center, Butler County; Keystone, Westmoreland County; Kings Gap Environmental Education and Training Center, Cumberland County; Kinzua Bridge, McKean County; Lackawanna, Lackawanna County; Laurel Hill, Somerset County; Moraine, Butler County; Nescopeck, Luzerne County; Oil Creek, Venango County; Promised Land, Pike County; and Pymatuning, Crawford County.

Bureau of State Parks officials request that interested participants call participating park offices before Saturday, Sept. 30, to pre-register and inquire about possible inclement weather, starting times, meetings places and other details. Pennsylvania volunteers will join a workforce across the country that is committed to carrying on the work of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC), the "tree army" that exemplified land stewardship from 1933-1942 by preserving and protecting America's natural heritage.

The National Environmental Education & Training Foundation, which has managed and coordinated the annual all-day effort from its start in 1994, estimates that the volunteers' work, along with community contributions of food, tools, and equipment, will result in more than $8 million of improvements and provide the day's "Helping Hands for America's Lands."

National Public Lands Day is a public-private partnership involving the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) and many other state, federal, and local land and conservation agencies. The National Environmental Education and Training Foundation manages, coordinates, and generates financial support for the program.

For general information about volunteering in Pennsylvania's state parks and forestlands throughout the year, visit the DCNR web site at www.dcnr.state.pa.us (select either State Parks or Forestry).

(Source: Governor Rendell news release of Sept. 27)

Swann for Governor: Swann for Governor Unveils Newest TV Ad, "Headstand."

Yesterday, Swann for Governor unveiled its newest TV ad, "Headstand," which addresses Ed Rendell's broken promise on property tax relief.

During his 2002 campaign, then candidate Rendell promised to "drop property taxes for every Pennsylvanian by 30 percent" and claimed that he could accomplish this goal "standing on my head."

Four years later, Pennsylvanian's property taxes have skyrocketed throughout the Commonwealth, and no one has received the 30 percent reduction that Ed Rendell promised... no matter how many times the Governor stands on his head.

Pennsylvanians need new leadership if we are going to enact real property tax reform. Lynn Swann has a plan to provide every homeowner with relief during the first year of a Swann Administration, and implement real long-term reform that will make property tax rates more fair and predictable in the years to come.

To view the ad, click here: www.swannforgovernor.com/media/headstand1a.html

(Source: Swann for Governor media advisory)

Cumberland County Health Statistics

The following is a list of statistics regarding Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, from the 2004 Pennsylvania Vital Statistics book published by Governor Rendell's administration through the Pennsylvania Department of Health in July 2006. All figures below are for 2004 until the last set which is trend data from 2000 to 2004.

Population (estimated): 221,397 (+3.6 percent from 2000)

Population of those under 1 year of age: 2,422

Population of those older than 85 years of age: 3,865

Number of males (all ages): 108,551

Number of females (all ages): 112,846

Total births: 2,293 (2,116 White, 43 Black, 64 Asian/Pacific Islander, 58 Hispanic)

Resident live births by age of mother
Under 15: 1
15-19: 138
20-24: 433
25-29: 642
30-34: 690
35-39: 324
40-44: 62
45 & Over: 3

Resident live births by birth rate
Greatest percentage: 2,500-3,499 grams (51.8 percent)

Resident live births by education of mother
Grade 8 or less: 3.3 percent
Grade 9-12 (no diploma): 8.8 percent
High school grad/GED: 25.4 percent
Some college: 26.1 percent
College degree: 36.3 percent

Resident live births by marital status of mother
Married: 76.2 percent

Resident live births with no prenatal visits: 1.2 percent

Resident live births by tobacco use during pregnancy: 16.7 percent

Total deaths: 2,034

Infant deaths: 13

Neonatal deaths: 6

Male deaths: 925

Female deaths: 1,109

Resident deaths by age
Under 5: 17
5-9: 1
10-14: 1
15-19: 8
20-24: 9
25-34: 16
35-44: 47
45-54: 94
55-64: 176
65-74: 323
75-84: 675
85 & older: 667

Selected causes of death
Heart disease: 594
Malignant Neoplasms: 444

• Bronchus/Lungs 115
• Colon/Rectum, 56
• Female breast 31
• Prostate 16
• Pancreas 38
• Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas 16
• Leukemias 19

Cerebrovascular disease: 147
Motor vehicle accident: 25
Diabetes: 30
Influenza & Pneumonia: 59
Suicide: 23
Parkinson's: 19
HIV: 5

Induced abortions
All ages: 348
Under 15: 1
15-19: 56
20-24: 117
25-29: 65
30-34: 58
35-39: 38
40-44: 13
45 & older: 0

Reported pregnancies by outcome
Reported pregnancies: 2,657
Live births: 2,293
Fetal deaths: 16
Induced abortions: 348

2000-2004 Trend Data on induced abortions by age
Under 15: 67 percent induced abortion rate
15-17: 25 percent
18-19: 30 percent
20-29: 14 percent
30 & older: 9 percent

National Rankings For Local College Teams

as of 9/26/06

NCAA D-III Women's Cross Country

15. Dickinson College
32. Messiah College

NCAA D-III Men's Cross Country

16. Elizabethtown College

NCAA D-II Women's Cross Country

13. Kutztown University
14. Bloomsburg University

NCAA D-II Men's Cross Country

9. Lock Haven University
20. Shippensburg University

Wear Shades Year Round

Arrival of colder weather tempts many to pack sunglasses away along with their beach gear. But sunglasses protect the eyes from ultraviolet rays and should be worn year-round, optometrists say. “Ultraviolet radiation reaches the earth’s surface, even on cloudy or overcast days,” said Adam Gordon, O.D., a clinical professor at the UAB School of Optometry. Snow reflects ultraviolet radiation, so people who spend much time outdoors during the winter are at greater risk of exposure. “Over-exposure to ultraviolet rays causes painful corneal abrasion, which can last for several days to a week,” he said. In addition, accruing scientific evidence links prolonged ultraviolet exposure to cataracts and possibly macular degeneration.

(Source: University of Alabama at Birmingham news release)

America’s Clean Hands Report Card - Can’t Rise Above ‘C’ Level

The increased prevalence of contagious skin infections, the threat of pandemic flu and the upcoming cold season prompted The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) to issue its second Clean Hands Report CardSM, giving America a “C-minus”, a downgrade from 2004, when the country received a “C.”

“It’s more important than ever that people understand that clean hands save lives,” said Nancy Bock, SDA Vice President of Education. “It’s the places we’re at everyday where we need to protect ourselves the most – at home, at work and at school – anywhere we come in contact with other people’s germs.”

Among the findings of SDA’s 2006 National Cleaning Survey:

• 68% of respondents don’t wash their hands long enough to effectively remove germs and dislodge dirt (worsened from 54% in 2004). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and SDA recommend washing with soap for at least 20 seconds.
• 36% surveyed seldom or never wash their hands after coughing or sneezing (slightly improved from 43% in 2004). One of the most common ways people catch colds is by rubbing their nose or eyes after touching someone or something contaminated with the cold virus.
• 31% don’t always wash before eating lunch (similar to 2004). That means germs that from money, door handles and the lunch counter could attract more bugs than just ants to the picnic.

The Report Card surveyed Americans on basic hand hygiene practices, such as washing before a meal, after using the bathroom, and after coughing or sneezing. The Report Card not only measured how often Americans wash daily, but for how long, and revealed perceptions of hand hygiene. (A summary of the Survey’s other findings are available at www.cleaning101.com/handhygiene).

More Education Needed

According to the CDC, cleaning our hands is the single most important thing we can do to keep from getting sick and spreading illness to others. Of those surveyed by SDA, only 50% believe that hand washing is the number one way to prevent colds and flu. And, 31% of respondents wash their hands fewer than seven times on an average day.

Ninety-two percent of Americans surveyed said they always washed their hands after using the bathroom, while five percent said they frequently washed, and three percent said they seldom or never washed. There may be a major gap between what people say and what they do.

A 2005 observational study commissioned by SDA and the American Society for Microbiology found that just 83% of people washed their hands after using a public restroom.

Refresher course on proper hand hygiene!

How-to Wash Your Hands to Effectively Remove Germs

1. Wet hands with warm running water prior to reaching for the soap, either in bar or liquid form.
2. Rub hands together to make a lather. Do this away from running water, so the lather isn’t washed away.
3. Wash the front and back of your hands, between your fingers and under the nails. Continue washing for 20 seconds or more.
4. Rinse hands well under warm running water.
5. Dry hands thoroughly with a clean towel or air dryer.
6. Hand sanitizers or gels or wipes are useful alternatives if soap and water are not available (for example, when traveling in the car or taxi on the way to a business meeting, before eating an in-flight meal or snack, outdoor work settings, etc.)

While routine hand washing is recommended throughout the day, according to SDA, hand washing is vital:

• before preparing food
• when eating meals and snacks
• after using the restroom
• after touching animals
• when hands are dirty
• when you or someone around you is ill

SDA, which has been educating the public about health and hygiene issues since 1926, offers a range of resources for parents, educators, and students at its website: http://www.cleaning101.com/.

The Clean Hands Report Card(SM) was based on a survey of 1008 American adults (508 men and 500 women). The independent consumer research study was completed in August-September 2006, on behalf of The Soap and Detergent Association (SDA), by International Communications Research (ICR). The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percent.

The Soap and Detergent Association (http://www.cleaning101.com/), the U.S. Home of the Cleaning Products IndustrySM, is the non-profit trade association representing manufacturers of household, industrial, and institutional cleaning products; their ingredients; and finished packaging; and oleochemical producers. SDA members produce more than 90 percent of the cleaning products marketed in the U.S. The SDA is located at 1500 K Street, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005.

(Source: The Soap and Detergent Association news release)

Bath Falls Common Among Older Adults, but Often Can be Prevented

Getting in and out of the bathtub or shower can be a perilous journey for older adults, even when they have bathrooms already equipped with safety features, according to research by the University of Michigan Health System.

Researchers videotaped people ages 60 and older who demonstrated (while fully clothed) how they normally climbed in and out of the shower or tub. One-third of the 89 participants in the study had difficulty, such as plopping onto a tub seat or hitting the side of the tub or the shower threshold with their legs.

“We found that there are a lot of independently bathing older adults who have trouble or are unsafe getting into and out of the tub or shower stall,” says lead author Susan L. Murphy, ScD, OTR, an occupational therapist and research assistant professor with the University of Michigan Medical School’s Division of Geriatric Medicine, part of the Department of Internal Medicine. The study appears in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society.

“For older adults, losing the ability to bathe is associated with having falls, fracturing bones, and even being admitted to a nursing home. It is important that we take steps to help to prevent bathing disability before it occurs,” Murphy says.

One of the major problem areas the researchers found involved sliding glass doors in showers. Three-quarters of participants who used shower stalls with sliding glass doors tried to utilize the door for stability or balance.

“This is extremely unsafe because shower doors were not designed to support a person’s weight,” Murphy says. “This problem could be easily remedied by educating older adults not to use the door as a support or possibly replacing it with a shower curtain, which was used only rarely by older adults in this study.”

Participants in the study were residents of two congregate housing facilities and had no cognitive impairment. They were videotaped as they demonstrated how they used their environment while getting into and out of the shower or tub – that is, whether they used grab-bars, towel bars, shower curtains, glass doors, tub seats, and other parts of the tub to assist themselves.

The videotapes were also evaluated for the participants’ fluidity of movement and whether they had difficulty negotiating the environment. While the majority of people using both tubs and shower stalls used safe environmental features such as grab bars, many used unsafe features in addition to the safe ones. Nineteen percent of participants using a tub were evaluated as using unsafe features, and more than 70 percent of those with shower stalls used unsafe features, such as the glass door, towel bar or a tub seat. One participant had a plastic lawn chair as a tub seat, a particularly dangerous device given curved shape of the tub floor.

Some safety problems researchers observed can be fixed easily such as the installation of a shower curtain in place of a door, and proper instruction about built-in bathroom safety features (such as grab bars designed for weight-bearing) for new residents of senior housing facilities. A focus on better designs of bathrooms in senior housing facilities was also suggested by the researchers.

“We think the results from this study demonstrate the need for healthcare professionals to become involved in helping to prevent bathing disability, instead of just treating people in the hospital after they have had a fall in the bathroom,” she says. “While bathrooms in senior housing facilities are designed to be safe, we have found that older adults often do not know the difference between a grab bar and a towel bar. They also have unsafe strategies of getting into and out of their shower or tub. Occupational therapists often see older adults for bathing problems and would be ideal to intervene with older adults before they start to lose the ability to bathe.”

In addition to Murphy, the authors on the paper were Neil B. Alexander, M.D., professor in the Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, and director of the Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, VA Ann Arbor Health Care System; Linda V. Nyquist, Ph.D., senior research associate-social sciences, Institute of Gerontology; and Debra M. Strasburg, M.S., P.T., research physical therapist, VA Ann Arbor Health Care System.

The research was supported in part by grants from the AARP Andrus Foundation, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Research & Development, and the National Institute on Aging (NIA) Claude Pepper Older Adults Independence Center. Murphy is a recipient of a K01 Mentored Research Scientist Development Award from the National Center for Medical Rehabilitation Research, and Alexander is a recipient of a K24 Mid-Career Investigator Award in Patient-Oriented Research from NIA.

(Source: University of Michigan Health System media release)

Fall Car Show Details

The 33rd annual Fall Carlisle Collector Car Swap Meet & Corral, Sept. 27-Oct. 1, completes the 2006 Carlisle show season. More than 100,000 people are expected to attend and shop the 8,100 spaces filled with everything a car collector could ever want, plus 1,800 Car Corral spaces. NEW at both Spring and Fall this year, are the inaugural Collector Car Auctions held in the new Expo Center, one block from the Carlisle Fairgrounds. The auction will offer a wide assortment of vehicles, ranging from ’50s classics to ’60s muscle cars, including a number of museum grade, classic and on-of-a-kind cars and motorcycles.

(Source: Carlisle Events news release)

Statement On Spinach From The FDA

FDA Statement on Foodborne E. coli O157:H7 Outbreak in Spinach
September 21, 2006


The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will continue to provide the public with regular updates on the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak each day until further notice.

Case Reports
To date, 157 cases of illness due to E. coli infection have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), including 27 cases of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), 83 hospitalizations, and one death. Illnesses continue to be reported to CDC. This is considered to be an ongoing investigation.

States Affected
The 23 affected states are: Arizona (4), California (1), Colorado (1), Connecticut (3) Idaho (4), Illinois (1), Indiana (8), Kentucky (7), Maine (2), Michigan (4), Minnesota (2), Nebraska (8), Nevada (1), New Mexico (5), New York (11), Ohio (20), Oregon (5), Pennsylvania (7), Utah (17), Virginia (1), Washington (3), Wisconsin (41), and Wyoming (1).

Consumer Advice
The FDA, in working closely with the CDC and the State of California, has determined that the spinach implicated in the outbreak was grown in the following California counties: Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Clara.

Other produce grown in these counties is not implicated in this outbreak. Processed spinach (e.g., frozen and canned spinach) is also not implicated in this outbreak.

Laboratory Findings
The New Mexico Department of Health announced on September 20 that it had linked a sample from a package of spinach with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157. The spinach was eaten by one of New Mexico's patients before becoming sick. DNA fingerprinting tests determined that the strain from the spinach matches the strain from patients in the outbreak. The package of spinach that tested positive was "Dole Baby Spinach, Best if Used by August 30."

Three (3) Recalls
On September 19, 2006, RLB Food Distributors, L.P., West Caldwell, NJ, initiated a voluntary recall of certain salad products that may contain spinach with an ‘Enjoy Thru’ date of 9/20/06. See: http://www.fda.gov/oc/po/firmrecalls/rlb09_06.html. The products recalled by RLB are: Balducci's Mesclun Mix 5 oz., Balducci's Organic Baby Spinach 5 oz., Balducci's Mixed Greens 5 oz., FreshPro Mesclun Mix 5 oz., FreshPro Organic Baby Spinach 5 oz., FreshPro Mixed Greens 5 oz., FreshPro Salad Mix with Italian Dressing 4.75 oz., and FreshPro Salad Mix with Ranch Dressing 5.25 oz .

On September 17, 2006, River Ranch, of Salinas, California, announced a voluntary recall of packages of spring mix containing spinach. River Ranch obtained bulk spring mix containing spinach from Natural Selections. The following brands are involved: Fresh N' Easy Spring Mix and Hy-Vee Spring mix containing baby spinach, distributed to retailers in Texas, Iowa, New Mexico, Georgia and Ohio. Product was packed in 5 oz. bags and 5 oz. plastic trays. Products that do not contain spinach are not part of this recall.

On September 15, 2006, Natural Selection Foods, LLC, of San Juan Bautista, California, announced a voluntary recall of all products containing spinach in all brands they pack with "Best if Used by Dates" of August 17, 2006 through October 1, 2006. These products include spinach and any salad with spinach in a blend, both retail and food service products. Products that do not contain spinach are not part of this recall.

Natural Selection Foods, LLC brands include: Natural Selection Foods, Pride of San Juan, Earthbound Farm, Bellissima, Dole, Rave Spinach, Emeril, Sysco, O Organic, Fresh Point, River Ranch, Superior, Nature's Basket, Pro-Mark, Compliments, Trader Joe's, Ready Pac, Jansal Valley, Cheney Brothers, D'Arrigo Brothers, Green Harvest, Mann, Mills Family Farm, Premium Fresh, Snoboy, The Farmer's Market, Tanimura & Antle, President's Choice, Cross Valley, and Riverside Farms.

The affected products were also distributed to Canada, Mexico, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Iceland. No illnesses have been reported from these countries. FDA continues to investigate whether other companies and brands are involved.

Symptoms of E. coli O157:H7 Illness
E. coli O157:H7 causes diarrhea, often with bloody stools. Although most healthy adults can recover completely within a week, some people can develop a form of kidney failure called HUS. HUS is most likely to occur in young children and the elderly. The condition can lead to serious kidney damage and even death.

Lettuce Safety Initiative
The FDA developed the Lettuce Safety Initiative www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/lettsafe.html in response to recurring outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 in lettuce. As a result of this outbreak, the initiative has been expanded to cover spinach. The primary goals of the initiative are to reduce public health risks by focusing on the product, agents and areas of greatest concern and to alert consumers early and respond rapidly in the event of an outbreak. This initiative is based on the 2004 Produce Safety Action Plan, intended to minimize the incidence of food borne illness associated with the consumption of fresh produce.

FDA continues to work closely with the CDC and state and local agencies to determine the cause and scope of the E. coli outbreak in spinach. Please check www.fda.gov for updates.

(Source: FDA news statement)

Carlisle Teachers Agree To Contract

Both the Harrisburg Patriot-News and the Carlisle Sentinel reported today that the Carlisle ARea Education Association has finalized a new four-year contract, retroactive to August 2005 and expiring August 2008.

Last spring, teachers abandoned students and their jobs to strike, forcing the school year to go longer than originally planned.

The new contract provides a 4 percent pay increase per teacher this year, followed by 4 percent in 2007-08 and 4.25 percent in '08-'09 in addition to a 3.75 percent raise for '05-'06. In addition, teachers will pay 6 percent of their health care costs in '05-'06, follwed by 8, 10, and 14 percent in following consecutive years.

(Sources: Harrisburg Patriot-News, Carlisle Sentinel)

North Middleton Township Youth Arrested For Rape

The Harrisburg Patriot-News' Know at Noon email alert reported today that a 13-year-old North Middleton resident has been charged with rape. Below is a report on the situation from North Middleton Township's Crime Stoppers Website ...

On Tuesday, September 19, 2006, police filed juvenile charges against a 13 year old North Middleton resident after police received a report that the juvenile had been sexually assaulting his 8 year old half-sister between February, 2006 and August, 2006, at a home on Maplewood Avenue, North Middleton Township. The 13 year old was charged with Rape of a Child, Incest, Statutory Sexual Assault, Involuntary Deviate Sexual Intercourse, Sexual Assault and Indecent Assault. The charges where filed at the Cumberland County Juvenile Probation office.

(Sources: Harrisburg Patriot-News, Crime Stoppers)

Inappropriate Use of Antibiotics May be Harmful

The sniffles. A runny nose. A cough. That's right — the cold season is upon us. But before you head off to your doctor demanding antibiotics to lessen your symptoms, be aware that those drugs don't always work and can have serious side effects, say two physicians at Washington University in St. Louis.

"People need to remember that antibiotics are used for bacterial infections. A common cold is a virus. Antibiotics simply won't work on viral infections," says David C. Mellinger, M.D., associate director and chief physician at the university's Student Health Service. "Antibiotics are drugs prescribed to kill bacteria, not viruses."

Each time an antibiotic is administered, there is a very slight risk of a serious reaction, says Mellinger. But more importantly, with the overuse of antibiotics, bacteria can become resistant to the antibiotic.

"We all have bacteria in our bodies," he says. "If they are constantly exposed to antibiotics, the normal bacteria can become resistant. Those bacteria can then end up actually causing more infections."

This resistance factor can cause the emergence of strains of bacteria that can no longer be killed by a particular antibiotic.

"Penicillin, one of the first antibiotics created, killed many of the bacteria that existed during the last century," says Mellinger. "But over time, bacteria have built up resistance to penicillin. Now, it is really only prescribed for streptococcus, the organism that causes strep throat, and a few other select infections."

Bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics are showing up more and more frequently in hospitals around the United States. Steven J. Lawrence, M.D., instructor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Washington University's School of Medicine, says the overuse of antibiotics is making it more and more difficult for infectious diseases specialists to manage bacterial infections.

"The discovery and production of penicillin marked the beginning of the antibiotic era, where we finally gained the upper hand in managing bacterial infections," Lawrence says. "But over the last 10 to 20 years, it is becoming more challenging to treat infections caused by bacteria, particularly those that are transmitted in hospitals, because the bacteria are becoming resistant faster than we can develop new antibiotics. In some instances, we have to resort to using toxic medications with potentially serious side effects because they are the only options available to treat infections from the multi-drug resistant bacteria. The inappropriate use of antibiotics — for example prescribing them for colds or the flu — contributes to the problem."

There are several urban myths revolving around bacterial infections, Mellinger says. One is that if you have yellow or green mucus in your nose it means you have a bacterial infection.

"Actually, it turns out that the body is having a white cell response. That causes the coloration. But it doesn't necessarily point to a bacterial infection, it could be a viral infection as well. With time, the mucus normally thins and clears up. If it doesn't, it might mean antibiotics are a good course of action," he says.

Another myth is that if you have a sore throat, it must be strep throat. The only way to tell if it is strep is to do a throat culture, says Mellinger. "If you have a sore throat, there's no need to demand antibiotics from your doctor. In fact, in adults, strep throat is not very common. It's usually isolated to sore throat and fever and doesn't normally include a cough or runny nose. If you have those symptoms, odds are you don't have a bacterial infection."

Mellinger says he sees many patients who come in with symptoms of a cold and want to be put on antibiotics.

For a cold, it's better to drink plenty of fluids, get rest and maybe try an over-the-counter cold remedy. If your symptoms don't clear up or get worse, by all means, see your physician.

If it turns out you have a bacterial infection, antibiotics may be prescribed.

"Antibiotics are like a lock and key," Mellinger says. "You have to pick the right key for the lock. It doesn't make any sense to give someone a very broad spectrum antibiotic if it won't cover the type of bacteria we think is there."

By changing antibiotic prescribing practices and using them only for bacterial infections in which they are truly indicated, Mellinger hopes doctors can stay ahead of the bacteria and decrease the risk of even more resistant strains in the future.
"Patients need to stop putting pressure on their physicians to automatically prescribe antibiotics. The next time you have a cold, remember colds are caused by viruses and antibiotics won't help; they could actually even hurt you."

(Source: Washington University in St. Louis media release)

Tips to Prevent Hearing Loss

It’s a noisy world. And exposure to loud noises is one of the most common causes of hearing loss. An estimated one-third of Americans older than age 60 have some degree of hearing loss.

How loud is too loud? Prolonged exposure to noise above 85 decibels can hurt your hearing. The noise from power lawn mowers, tractors and hand drills are in the 90- to 98-decibel range.

If you are regularly exposed, for a minute or longer, to bulldozers, chain saws, ambulance sirens or jet engine takeoffs, you’re also at risk. They produce sounds in the 105- to 140-decibel range.

Not just power tools and machinery increase the risk of hearing loss. Be cautious with iPods and MP3 players. Today’s portable music players can produce sounds as loud as 130 decibels.

The September issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers tips to protect your hearing:

Wear hearing protection -- The best hearing protection device is one that you can wear correctly. Whether you choose earplugs or earmuffs, look for something that offers an airtight seal. Wear hearing protection around loud sounds, even when doing everyday tasks such as mowing the lawn.

Be aware of noise -- Whenever you can, turn down the volume on radios, TVs or speakers. Because of noise, if you can’t hear or be heard by someone within 3 feet, the noise is too loud.

Be cautious with headphones -- If you’re using headphones and the person next to you can hear what you’re listening to, the noise is too loud.

Give your ears a rest -- Alternate noisy and quieter activities. In addition to the intensity, how long you’re exposed to a noise can affect hearing loss. In fact, noise that ranks lower on the decibel scale, but continues for a longer period of time, may actually be more harmful than a high-intensity noise that’s intermittent.

(Source: Mayo Clinic media release)

Hispanic Heritage Month 2006: September 15 Through October 15

In September 1968, Congress authorized President Lyndon B. Johnson to proclaim National Hispanic Heritage Week. The observance was expanded in 1988 to a monthlong celebration (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15). America celebrates the culture and traditions of U.S. residents who trace their roots to Spain, Mexico and the Spanish-speaking nations of Central America, South America and the Caribbean. Sept. 15 was chosen as the starting point for the celebration because it is the anniversary of independence of five Latin American countries: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, andNicaragua. In addition, Mexico and Chile celebrate their independence days on Sept. 16 and Sept. 18, respectively.

Population
42.7 million
The estimated Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2005, making people of Hispanic origin the nation’s largest ethnic or raceminority. Hispanics constituted 14 percent of the nation’s totalpopulation. (This estimate does not include the 3.9 million residents of Puerto Rico.) About 1. . . of every two people added to the nation’s population between July 1, 2004, and July 1, 2005, were Hispanic.

3.3%
Percentage increase in the Hispanic population between July 1, 2004, and July 1, 2005, making Hispanics the fastest-growing minority group

102.6 million
The projected Hispanic population of the United States as of July 1, 2050. According to this projection, Hispanics will constitute 24 percent of thenation’s total population on that date.

22.4 million
The nation’s Hispanic population during the 1990 census — just slightly over half the current total.

64%
The percentage of Hispanic-origin people in households who are of Mexican background. Another approximately 10 percent are of Puerto Rican background, with about 3 percent each of Cuban, Salvadoran and, Dominican origins. The remainder are of some other Central American, South Americanor other Hispanic or Latino origins. Roughly half of the nation’s Dominicans live in New York City, with about half of the nation’s Cubans residing in Miami-Dade County, Fla.

27.2
Median age, in years, of the Hispanic population in 2005. This compares with 36.2 years for the population as a whole.

107
Number of Hispanic males in 2005 per every 100 Hispanic females. This was in sharp contrast to the overall population, which had 97 males per every100 females.

States and Counties
49%
The percentage of the Hispanic-origin population that lives in California or Texas. California is home to 12.4 million Hispanics, and Texas is home to 7.8 million.

13
The number of states with at least half a million Hispanic residents. These states are: Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Texas, andWashington.

43%
The percentage of New Mexico’s population that is Hispanic, highest of any state. Hispanics also make up more than one-third of the population in California and Texas, at 35 percent each.

4.6 million
The Hispanic population of Los Angeles County, Cal. — the largest of any county in the nation.

19
Number of states in which Hispanics are the largest race or ethnic minoritygroup.

Businesses
1.6 million
The number of Hispanic-owned businesses in 2002.

Triple
The rate of growth of Hispanic-owned businesses between 1997 and 2002 (31%) compared to the national average (10%) for all businesses.

$222 billion
Revenue generated by Hispanic-owned businesses in 2002, up 19 percent from1997.

Families and Children
9.5 million
The number of Hispanic families who reside in the United States. Of these families, 63 percent include their children under 18 years old.

67%
The percentage of Hispanic families consisting of a married couple.

44%
The percentage of Hispanic families consisting of a married couple with children under the age of 18.

65%
Percentage of Hispanic children living with two parents.

22%
Percentage of population under age 5 that is Hispanic, as of July 1, 2005.

Spanish Language
31 million
The number of U.S. household residents age 5 and older who speak Spanish at home. Spanish speakers constitute a ratio of more than 1-in-10 U.S. household residents. Among all those who speak Spanish at home, more than one-half say they speak English “very well.”

Coming to America
53%
Percentage of the foreign-born population from Latin America. This amountsto18.3 million people.

10 million
The number of foreign-born people who were born in Mexico, by far more than any other Latin American country or any other country in the world for that matter. Other countries of birth that contribute large numbers of Hispanics are El Salvador (937,000), Cuba (925,000), the Dominican Republic(688,000), Guatemala (590,000) and Colombia (500,000).

Income and Poverty
$34,241
The real median income of Hispanic households in 2004, unchanged from the previous year.

21.9%
The poverty rate among Hispanics in 2004, unchanged from 2003.

32.7%
The percentage of Hispanics who lacked health insurance in 2004 — unchanged from 2003.

Education
58%
The percentage of Hispanics age 25 and older who had at least a high school education in 2004.

12%
The percentage of the Hispanic population age 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2004.

2.7 million
The number of Hispanics age 18 and older who had at least a bachelor’s degree in 2004.

714,000
Number of Hispanics 25 years and older with advanced degrees in 2004 (e.g.,master’s, professional, doctorate).

11%
Percentage of all college students in October 2004 who were Hispanic.

Jobs
68%
Percentage of Hispanics age 16 and older who are in the civilian labor force.

Voting
7.6 million
The number of Hispanic citizens who reported voting in the 2004 presidential election. The percentage of Hispanic citizens voting — about47 percent — did not change from four years earlier.

Serving our Country
1.1 million
The number of Hispanic veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces.

(Source: U.S. Census Bureau media release)

Staying Active Away from Home

When you’re on vacation or traveling for work, don’t leave fitness behind. The September issue of Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource offers tips to stay active on the road:

Plan ahead: Many hotels offer exercise facilities and pools. Call ahead to check. If you have a favorite sport, incorporate it into the trip. Rent bikes or schedule a golf outing, tennis match or a night of bowling or dancing.

Pack appropriately: Bring clothing and footwear so you can be active. Don’t forget a swimsuit. Pack a jacket and umbrella so you can walk, even if it’s raining. Throw in a fitness DVD if you use one at home.

Use layovers and long flights: Walk briskly around the terminal between flights. You can stash your bags in airport lockers. On the plane, stretch and walk the aisle once every hour. It helps decrease muscle aches, joint stiffness and swelling. It also improves blood flow and reduces your risk of developing a blood clot in your legs. Stretch in your seat by rotating your neck and shoulders and wiggling your ankles. The air on a plane typically is very dry, so don’t forget to stay hydrated.

Take frequent driving breaks: If you’re on a car trip, stop often to get out and stretch. Walk around a rest area. Pump your arms to circulate your blood. Pinch your shoulder blades together and then relax them. When sitting, whether in a car, bus or train, keep your knees as high as your hips to help with blood flow.

Make fitness a focus: If you’re going on vacation, consider making physical activity the main event. Try hiking, backpacking, canoeing or camping. Ask a travel agent about ecotourism, a specialized adventure travel tour of natural habitats that minimizes impact on the local environment.

(Source: Mayo Clinic media release)

Grandparents Day 2006: Sept. 10

Grandparents Day was the brainchild of Marian McQuade of Fayette County,W.Va., who hoped that such an observance might persuade grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage of their grandparents. The first presidential proclamation was issued in 1978, and one has been issued each year since —designating the first Sunday after Labor Day as National Grandparents Day. In honor of our nation’s grandparents, the Census Bureau presents an array of data about these unsung role models and caregivers.

How Many Grandparents?
About 56 million
Number of grandparents in the United States.

5.7 million
The number of grandparents whose grandchildren under 18 live with them.

Remembering Grandma and Grandpa
About 3 million
Number of Grandparents Day cards given, nationwide, each year.

(Source: U.S. Census Bureau news release)

Name? Or PR Stunt

American Trial Lawyers Association now want the public to think of them as the American Association for Justice.

According to an August 25, 2006, editorial appearing in the Atlanta Business Journal, trial lawyers have changed their name, but not their game.

The story reads ...

What's the difference between a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America and the American Association for Justice?

Absolutely nothing.

But in a telling development, the nation's premier trial lawyer group has changed its name from the former to the latter.

Why?

The head of the newly renamed organization, Mike Eidson, clearly hopes the new name will change the public's perception of the trial bar. "It's a good change that reflects what we do and not who we are," said Eidson, admitting the trial bar has a serious image problem.

Americans have come to realize that the trial bar is not pursuing "justice" as much as it is pursuing profits. Consider class-action lawsuits where plaintiffs often walk away with little, if anything, while the legal team pockets millions.

In Pennsylvania, similar groups posing as consumer groups have been exposed. A few years back, the Wilkes Barre Times Leader ran a story exposing the Committee for Justice for All as being owned by trial lawyers after posing as a consumer group. Similarly, public records show that Pennsylvania Citizens For Fairness is owned by the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association. Its often-quoted executive is Dan Fee, currently campaign manager for Ed Rendell.

According to the Atlanta Business Journal editorial, "The Council of Economic Advisors reports that more is now spent on lawsuits than the government spends on education, training and employment; general science, space and technology; conservation and land management."

Politically Uncorrected: The Challenger Two-Step

By G. Terry Madonna and Michael L. Young

Pity the poor challengers in American electoral politics! They have their work cut out for them. Not only must they first convince voters to fire the incumbent, but they must then persuade those same voters that they can do the job better.

Call it the challenger two-step; it’s an electoral dance maneuver every successful challenger must master.

Step One--getting voters to the point they are prepared to render a thumbs down on an incumbent--is necessary but not sufficient; the critical second step required to defeat an incumbent is to provide a viable alternative. Being “anybody but” an unpopular incumbent gets the challenger early, even respectful attention from the electorate. But to close the deal, said challenger must convince said voters that they will do better. And that’s not always easy.

The now sizzling Rick Santorum-Bob Casey battle for a US Senate seat in Pennsylvania illustrates this maxim. To this point in the race, virtually the entire focus of attention has been on the personality and record of Santorum. Much has been made of Santorum’s social conservatism and his confrontational style, and virtually every aspect of his life has been written about. Bob Casey, his opponent, until very recently only has had to be anybody else but Santorum.

But no longer! Three public polls conducted within the past month now show the Pennsylvania Senate race to be tightening. From earlier this year, Santorum has closed the once formidable gap between Casey and himself. He has done this with a vigorous and hard hitting campaign that has made Casey less popular with voters while failing to increase his own popularity.

This is an important point. Though Santorum has spent, perhaps, five million around the state in positive commercials, his own popularity has not grown. In the February Franklin & Marshall College Keystone Poll, Casey led Santorum 50 to 39-percent. In late August, Casey had fallen to 44-percent, but Santorum remained at 39-percent.

A running metaphor helps here. Santorum and Casey are two long distance marathoners. Casey had been running five minute miles while Santorum was lagging behind at six minute miles; now they are both running six minute miles. Santorum is really not running much faster, but Casey is surely running slower.

It’s been in part the interest group ads that have slowed Casey down. These and the unrelenting internet and email campaign have raised questions about Casey’s positions and fitness for office. They have worked because Casey, according to the Keystone Poll, is still a remote figure to almost one third of state voters.

Despite the famous brand name, Casey remains inscrutable to almost one in three voters--who indicate they don’t know enough about him to have a view of him, one way or another. This vagueness has allowed the Santorum campaign to describe Casey in often harsh and unflattering terms, arguing that Casey has no specific solutions to the major problems confronting the nation, that he seeks one political job after another, and that he has failed to perform the duties of his state offices.

Casey’s relative obscurity to so many voters seems puzzling, given his now decade long tenure in high state office and his stature as the largest vote getter in state history. (Casey won just short of 3.4 million votes in his last election for State Treasurer.)

Part of the reason Casey is fuzzy to voters is that he shares a name with his father, the fabled Democratic Governor Bob Casey who held office from 1987 until 1995; the father, once touted as the “Real Bob Casey,” was so well known that a small army of wannabes surnamed Casey were able to trade on his celebrity to run for office. The memory of the elder Casey has assumed almost legendary proportions in the politics of Pennsylvania.

The younger Casey followed and participated in his dad’s career with vigor and enthusiasm, and even today can recount past events and personalities like a seasoned reporter. It has been said that the son inherited an extra gene for politics, and there is no doubt that he has been a successful politician.

Still his public persona has evolved mostly in the arc of obscure state agencies that carry on their activities largely below the radar line. Casey’s natural temperament--he tends to be unassuming and even retiring---has reinforced his ambiguous public image. Bob Casey Jr. has become the famous son of a famous father without a significant number of Pennsylvanians knowing much about whom he is or what he believes.

All of this now plays out in the remaining days and weeks of the campaign. A race that started out as a referendum on the incumbent has now become equally a referendum on the challenger.

None of this should surprise. Voters don’t dump incumbents often, but when they do they always make sure the successor is good to go. Disliking the incumbent is not enough. Voters also have to like the challenger and understand how he is different, even in races involving unpopular presidents and an anti-incumbent national mood.

And it’s always a two step process; in this race Pennsylvania voters have now made up their mind about Santorum (first step), but not yet about Casey (second step). A large percentage of voters would like to jettison Santorum and they will do so if they decide Casey is prepared to be Pennsylvania’s next US Senator. But they will reluctantly vote for Santorum or not vote at all if they continue to have reservations.

It’s a question of whether Santorum continues to define Casey or Casey begins to define himself. For Casey, now the crucial task is to fill in the blanks with some specifics for the roughly one third of the electorate for whom he remains an enigma. Many of them could support him, but they won’t until they know more about him and what he would be like as senator.

And right now this race has become tight just because many of them are not so sure. Who Bob Casey is and what he stands for has now become the burning question in the race. How that question is answered will determine the outcome of this race.

Politically Uncorrected is published twice monthly. Dr. G. Terry Madonna is Professor of Public Affairs at Franklin and Marshall College and Dr. Michael Young is Managing Partner of Michael Young Strategic Research. The article can be used in whole or in part with appropriate attribution. The views and opinions found in this article represent the authors’ views and opinions, and not those of any institution or organization with which they are affiliated.

Who Do You Trust Most? Poll Shows Doctors and Teachers

Actors and lawyers at bottom

Results of a poll conducted in July and released in August by The Harris Poll® indicate that 12 of 22 professionals are trusted to be truthful by 60 percent or more of U.S. adults, with doctors (85%) and teachers (83%) at the top of the list.

In addition to doctors and teachers, other professions in the top five for trust include scientists (77%), police officers (76%) and professors (75%).

Unfortunately, at the bottom of the list, the five occupations that are least trusted to be truthful include actors (26%), lawyers (27%), stockbrokers (29%), trade union leaders (30%) and opinion pollsters (34%).

To see a full list of how each occupation rated, click here.

(Source: Harris Poll)

Happy Birthday: Football’s Forward Pass Turns 100 Years Old

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the first documented forward pass in American football history, a play that would change the game forever.

On Sept. 5, 1906, Saint Louis University football player Bradbury Robinson threw a pass to teammate Jack Schneider. The “projectile pass,” as it was known back then, was the brainchild of SLU head coach Eddie Cochems (coke-ems).

The auspicious play took place in a game between Saint Louis University and Carroll College in Waukesha, Wis. In a scoreless tie, an intense Cochems had enough with his team’s lackluster performance running the ball. So, after several weeks of secretly practicing the art of the forward pass, Cochems commanded his squad to break open the “air attack.”

Robinson’s first pass was incomplete, thus automatically turning the ball over to Carroll College in accordance with the rules of the time.

However, on Saint Louis University’s next offensive possession, Robinson hit Schneider with a 20-yard strike. The play surprised everyone in attendance, including the Carroll College defense, and Schneider marched in for a touchdown.
Cochems ordered the team to attempt the pass a few more times before returning to the more recognizable running game. Saint Louis University beat Carroll 22-0.

Saint Louis University’s prophetic play might not have happened had the 1905 season not been so brutal. That year, there were several deaths and numerous serious injuries on the field. A public outcry followed and in response, President Theodore Roosevelt met with leaders of major universities to take steps to eliminate the game’s more dangerous aspects.
To give teams more options to score other than via the grueling ground assault, the rules were modified to allow forward passes. But the play did not come without risk.

Incomplete passes were not the only problem. Passes that hit the mark less than five yards from the line of scrimmage also led to an automatic change in possession. In addition, if a player caught a pass in the end zone, the play would be deemed a touchback – or a change of possession – instead of a touchdown.

The aforementioned restrictions kept most college football coaches from attempting the play in 1906. But not SLU’s crafty Cochems, the first collegiate football coach at the time who understood the impact the forward pass could have on the game.

In the years following SLU’s historic pass, much debate swirled over who should be given credit for first using the forward pass. In the early 1900s, most top college football programs, as well as the bulk of the national media, were based on the East Coast. So even though Saint Louis University mastered the pass a month earlier, many fans thought it originated when the regular season began at East Coast institutions.

Legendary Notre Dame coach Knute Rockne, who some believe pioneered the forward pass, set the record straight in his own biography when he wrote that Saint Louis University’s Cochems “…enrolled a few boys with hands like steam shovels who could toss a football just as easily and almost as far as they could throw a baseball.

“One would have thought that so effective a play would have been instantly copied and become the vogue. The East, however, had not learned much or cared much about Midwest and Western football. Indeed, the East scarcely realized that football existed beyond the Alleghanies…”

Saint Louis University discontinued its football program in 1949, so ironically, the university which gave the sport its most interesting play bid farewell to football more than 50 years ago.

Saint Louis University is a Jesuit, Catholic university ranked among the top research institutions in the nation. The University fosters the intellectual and character development of 11,800 students on campuses in St. Louis and Madrid, Spain. Founded in 1818, it is the oldest university west of the Mississippi and the second oldest Jesuit university in the United States. Through teaching, research, health care and community service, Saint Louis University is the place where knowledge touches lives. Learn more about SLU at mailto:http://www.slu.edu.

(Source: St. Louis University news release via newswise)

Peeing On A Jellyfish Sting Can Cause More Problems

According to reputable national sources, peeing on a jellyfish sting has not been proven scientifically, and some say it may cause more problems.

An August 8, 2006, ABC News report by Dr. Archanna Reddy says that you shouldn't believe rumors of this old wives tale. In the story, Dr. Paul Auerbach, an emergency physician at Stanford University Hospital and an expert on jellyfish stings, says the peeing remedy has not been proven. Instead, vinegar is the best first treatment, he said, when treating stings from North American jellyfish.

Other experienced professionals agree that peeing on a jellyfish sting should be avoided. According to Scubadoc's Diving Medicine Online, a number of respectable dive medicine/dermatology experts think it an old wive's tale and may, in fact, "cause nematocysts to fire."

Additionally, Scubadoc's Diving Medicine says that if one has a urinary tract infection (women are particularly susceptible to occult UTIs), the urine could introduce bacteria into the wound.

FallInPa.com Features Live Web Cams, Foliage Reports And Roadtrips in Pennsylvania

Planning a fall foliage roadtrip? Check out Pennsylvania’s widely-recognized FallinPA.com. It’s one of the nation’s best fall foliage Web sites because of its great roadtrip itineraries, live interactive web cams and more features to help plan a getaway.

Weekly fall foliage reports will be added to the site in early September to provide visitors with updates on peak viewing times.

Known for its stunning fall landscapes and three distinct foliage zones, Pennsylvania offers one of the longest windows of opportunity to view fall foliage in the Northeast, leaving more time to take a roadtrip across the state and watch the leaves change. Each foliage zone is highlighted on the site with several customized itineraries covering a variety of interests.

Fall is also an opportune time to check out one of Pennsylvania’s unique fall festivals, like the 42nd Annual Apple Harvest Festival in Arendtsville (just 20 minutes from Gettysburg) Oct. 7, 8, 14 and 15. The festival features apple products, live country music, arts and crafts, antique autos, steam engines, orchard tours and plenty of food.

For more information about fall in Pennsylvania, including all of its fairs and festivals, go to VisitPA.com or call 800-VISITPA.

(Source: Pennsylvania Department of Tourism news release)

Free Local Program On Arthritis

Holy Spirit Health System will host a free program on Wednesday, September 6, for individuals interested in learning more about arthritis. Millions of Americans suffer the crippling effects of arthritis – pain, discomfort, swelling, stiffness, fever, deformity and immobility. Physicians will talk about joint replacements and procedures that can alleviate the suffering.

10 a.m.
Craig W. Fultz, MD, Orthopaedic Surgeons of Central Pennsylvania, Ltd.
“Total Joint Replacement for Arthritis of the Hip and Knee”

6 to 8 p.m.
William J. Polacheck, Jr., MD, Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania
“Total Joint Replacement for Hip Arthritis”

Stephen W. Dailey, MD, Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania
“Upper Extremity Arthritis: Treatment Options”

Richard J. Boal, MD, Orthopedic Institute of Pennsylvania
“Advances in Total Knee Surgery”

A question and answer session will follow the formal presentations.

Orthopedic nurses, physical therapists and Comfort Care Home Health staff will be available to answer questions regarding care following surgery. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the Zimmer Mobile Learning Center to see how innovative treatments and products can help improve the quality of life for those with arthritis.

The seminars will be held in Holy Spirit Hospital’s auditorium. The Zimmer Mobile Learning Center will be located in the hospital parking lot.

Light refreshments will be served. There is no need to register for these seminars.

(Source: Holy Spirit Hospital media release)