Pollution can cause cancer and seizures in marine mammals

Have you ever wondered if animals get cancer?

Just like people, animals can become sick and die from cancer.

A recent study by scientists at the Wildlife Conservation Society reports that cancer is a leading cause of death in marine animals, and a major cause of cancer in animals is pollution. Just as pollution can cause cancer in humans, pollution also causes cancer in animals.

Sea turtles living in polluted waters have high cancer rates. Endangered green sea turtles are especially prone to tumors on the skin, lung, liver, kidney, and heart.

Bottom-feeding animals such as beluga whales, catfish, and sole are also susceptible to cancer. These animals are continually exposed to seafloor sediments which absorb harmful industrial toxins. Cancer kills beluga whales living in the polluted St. Lawrence River estuary in Canada. Nearly 20 percent of all beluga whale deaths are attributed to cancer, and over 25 percent of adult beluga whales have tumors.

Beluga whales are affected by man-made pollution from factories on the land near the St. Lawrence River. However, animals can also be affected by naturally occurring pollutants and toxins that exist in the environment.

Some algae are toxic when they naturally occur in high amounts. The result is a red tide. Red tides may affect and kill marine animals such as shellfish, fish, birds, and marine mammals.

Some red tides are caused by natural oceanographic events such as El Niño. Coastal upwelling, where nutrient-rich water is lifted from the ocean depths towards the surface, may also cause red tides. As human-induced climate change raises sea surface temperatures and increases the frequency of major coastal storms, some scientists predict an increase in red tides.

Other types of human activity may cause red tides. Agricultural runoff contains large amounts of algae "food" (nitrates and phosphates) and may cause red tides. The ever-growing human population will only increase demands on agriculture. As a result, the frequency of red tides is likely to increase.

California sea lions have been feeling the effects of red tides over the past decade, according to researchers at the national Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Charleston, S.C., and the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, Calif.

Domoic acid, a toxin present in some plankton, causes reproductive problems and seizures in otherwise healthy sea lions. Domoic acid works its way up the food chain. First, sardines and anchovy feed on the plankton. Then, sea lions eat the sardines and anchovies. Mothers can even pass on the toxin to their pups.

Closer to home, 14 humpback whales died in December 1987 as a result of eating mackerel which had fed on a toxin in plankton. Most of these whales washed up around Cape Cod.

Pollution is a major problem, on both land and sea, and it will not go away easily or quickly. Only through wide-scale change may sustainable solutions be implemented to clean up our waters, making them healthier for wildlife and humans alike.

Seventy percent of Earth is covered by oceans. As individuals, we can engage in simple, everyday activities to lighten our load on the planet:

Buy organic produce at local farmers markets this summer.

Use reusable water bottles and cloth shopping bags.

Plant a tree.

Recycle.

Pick up litter on the beach.

Cut back on your meat consumption.

Use compact fluorescent bulbs and remember to turn off the lights when you leave a room.

Dry your clothes on a line instead of in the dryer.

Carpool or take public transportation.

Collectively, we can also make a difference in two major ways: policy and education. These topics will be the focus of my upcoming columns.

Dr. Heidi Pearson, PhD, is the assistant director and stranding coordinator for the The Whale Center of New England, based at 24 Harbor Loop in Gloucester. You can contact her and the center via phone at 978-515-5001, via fax at 978-281-5666, or by visiting www.whalecenter.org. The center's stranding hotline is 978-281-6351.

Born with one brain hemisphere, a young girl amazes experts!

A 10-year-old girl from Germany has had quite a normal life despite the fact that she was born with only half her brain. Even more surprising, she has almost perfect vision in one of her eyes.

Now, scientists have figured out why. The girl's brain rewired itself — likely in the womb — so that it's able to process information from both the right and left fields of vision even though she is missing the right brain hemisphere, which failed to develop while she was in the womb.

The child's case is the only one of its kind known in the world, researchers said.

Usually, a person's left and right visual fields are processed by opposite sides of the brain — the left hemisphere handles the right field of vision and the right hemisphere takes care of the left field of vision.

But functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans of the girl's brain showed that the retinal nerve fibers which should have gone to the right side of her brain instead rerouted to the left. Also, the scans revealed that the visual cortex on the left side of her brain, which maps out the right field of vision, contained "islands" to deal with the left visual field.

“The brain has amazing plasticity but we were quite astonished to see just how well the single hemisphere of the brain in this girl has adapted to compensate for the missing half," Dr. Lars Muckli, a researcher from the Center for Cognitive Neuroimaging at the University of Glasgow, said in a statement.

When the girl, a German who has not been named by researchers, was three years old, she underwent an MRI scan after suffering seizures and twitching on her left side, and she was found to have an underdeveloped brain. Her seizures have since been successfully treated, and she has had an almost normal developmental and medical history, attending regular school and taking part in activities such as roller-skating.

"Despite lacking one hemisphere, the girl has normal psychological function and is perfectly capable of living a normal and fulfilling life. She is witty, charming and intelligent," said Muckli.

When patients have half of their brain removed to treat epilepsy, they lose one field of vision in both of their eyes, meaning they see only objects on the left or right side of their vision. But the German girl's case is unique because she can see both left and right visual fields in one eye.

Each of your eyes sends visual information to two parts of your brain through two different nerve fibers. The nerve fiber closest to your nose is called the nasal retina, and the nerve fiber by your temples is called the temporal retina.

Normally, the nerve fibers from the nasal retina cross over in a section of the brain called the optic chiasma, so they are processed by the opposite hemisphere. On the other hand, the nerve fibers form the temporal retina stay in the same hemisphere. This set up causes the left and right visual fields to be processed by opposite sides of the brain. For instance, in your left eye, visual signals from your left field of vision will be sent to the right side of your brain via the nasal retina, while visual signals from your right field of vision will be processed by the left side of your brain via the temporal nerve.

But in the girl's case, the left nasal retina nerve connected to the left brain hemisphere.

The researchers think that the girl's right brain hemisphere stopped developing early in the womb, and that when the optic nerves reached the optic chiasma, the chemical cues that would normally guide the left eye nasal retinal nerve to the right hemisphere were not present, so the nerve was drawn to the left.

If this is indeed the case, it would mean that there are no molecular repressors to prevent the nasal retinal nerve fibers from entering the same hemisphere.

Dr. Muckli led the study and collaborated with colleagues from the Institute of Medical Psychology at Goethe University, Germany. The results were published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on July 20.

Insects, pets and seizures

As with most things in life, many things affect dogs the same way it does humans. Stinging insects are issues for dogs as well as humans. It usually takes a couple of stinging incidents before a reaction shows and these reactions run from mild to severe.

Mild
Mild reactions include fever, sluggishness and loss of appetite. Mild reactions mimic reactions your dog may get after receiving a vaccination and usually resolve without treatment.

Moderate
Urticaria is a moderate vascular reaction of the skin marked by hives and rapid swelling and reddening of the lips, eyes, and neck. It's usually extremely itchy and can sometimes progress into a life threatening reaction.

Severe
The most severe reaction is anaphylaxis, which causes breathing difficulties, collapse and possible death. Symptoms usually appear within minutes and include sudden vomiting, diarrhea, staggering, drop in blood pressure, swelling of the larynx, seizures, and cardiovascular collapse or death. This is extremely life threatening.

Veterinary Care
There is no diagnostic tests for anaphylaxis or urticaria, but allergic reactions can be diagnosed with a quick physical exam.

Treatment
Anaphylaxis is an extreme emergency and occurs soon after being stung. Veterinarians will begin immediate emergency life support to establish the airway to administer oxygen and intravenous fluids to increase the blood pressure. Drugs like epinephrine, diphenhydramine, and cortiocosteriods will be administered. Animals that survive the first few minutes usually return to normal health.

If your dog is known to be allergic, your veterinarian may suggest Benadryl in the early stages of an allergic reaction. Unfortunately oral medications may not be sufficient and you will need to take your dog in for an examination and treatment.

Author: Leanne Moore

Leanne Moore is an Examiner from Charlotte. You can see Leanne's articles on Leanne's Home Page.

Details on Jett Travolta's tragic death!

Intense scrutiny has focused on John Travolta's family after the death of the actor's chronically ill 16-year-old son Jett, who died at the family's vacation home at a Grand Bahama resort on Friday.

Yesterday, an undertaker said the death certificate concluded that the cause of death was a seizure, and that the teen's body showed no sign of head trauma despite earlier police reports that he hit his head on a bathtub.

Mr. Travolta, 54, and wife Kelly Preston, 46, were spending New Year's with their son and eight-year-old daughter Ella Bleu at the luxury Old Bahama Bay resort community.

In a statement issued last Friday, Grand Bahama Police Superintendent Basil Rahming said caregiver Jeff Kathrain found the stocky teen unconscious in the bathroom; he was later pronounced dead at Freeport's Rand Memorial Hospital. According to the statement, Jett was last seen going into the bathroom on Thursday.

Mr. Travolta attempted CPR to revive his son, who may have died in his arms before an emergency medical technician took over, Usmagazine.com reported, citing the actor's lawyers Michael McDermott and Michael Ossi.

“He did mouth-to-mouth until they had to physically remove John to take Jett to the hospital,” Mr. Ossi told People magazine.

The lawyers have vehemently denied that the boy was unsupervised, saying two nannies were with him.

“[Jett] was spectacularly supervised,” Mr. McDermott told the Associated Press.

The media spotlight has also turned to the Travoltas' adherence to the Church of Scientology, the religious philosophy founded in 1954 by American science-fiction writer L. Ron Hubbard.

Scientology does not recognize autism, which causes seizures in one in four cases, according to the National Institute of Health.

The family has denied that Jett was autistic, maintaining instead that at age 2, he was diagnosed with Kawasaki syndrome, a disease that affects young children, inflaming blood vessels and causing high fevers.

Ms. Preston came to believe Kawasaki syndrome – which is not typically associated with seizures – had been caused by the carpet cleaners she was using in the home.

The actress then led a public crusade against chemical-laden cleaning supplies and pesticides, and told People magazine that a detoxification program based on the church's teachings had helped Jett's health.

On Friday, Mr. Ossi told ABCNews.com that Jett “has had seizures in the past, but they were controlled. This one couldn't be.”

The lawyers also told the celebrity website TMZ that the teen was suffering approximately one severe seizure a week.

They said Jett had been on anti-seizure medication for several years but that the family discontinued his prescription after it stopped working. The teen was reportedly taking Depakote.

Authorities did not release the results of the autopsy yesterday, but the Bahamian undertaker viewed the body and the death certificate.

Bahamian Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham sent condolences to the family. He said the autopsy is a formality the Bahamas require to rule out foul play in cases of sudden death.

“We are heartbroken that our time with him was so brief,” Mr. Travolta and Ms. Preston said Sunday in a public statement. “We will cherish the time we had with him for the rest of our lives.”

Mr. Ossi told reporters that the actor is “heartbroken,” adding, “To bury your son is the worst thing you can ever do.”

It was believed that Jett was to be buried in Ocala, Fla., where his parents and sister live, and late yesterday evening, a black hearse travelled from the funeral home to the airport. Two white jets waited as police in dress uniforms blocked the tarmac.

But the hearse was a ploy, funeral home director Keith McSweeney told a news conference later in the evening. He said that Jett's remains were instead being cremated, and that the family would leave the Bahamas with his ashes today.

Mr. McSweeney told reporters he could not explain the reason for the decoy.

The Bahamas has seen its share of celebrity deaths: Both actress Anna Nicole Smith and her 20-year-old son Daniel died on the island and are buried there.

After a seven-week investigation, Ms. Smith's cause of death was deemed a “combined drug intoxication;” her son's cause of death, meanwhile, was “reserved” by a coroner.

Potassium is important for children suffering from Epilepsy

For children on the high-fat ketogenic diet to control epileptic seizures, a daily supplement of potassium citrate can prevent kidney stones that the diet sometimes causes, according to research from Johns Hopkins Children's Center. The report is published in Pediatrics.

"We can confidently say this is a safe and powerful way to prevent kidney stones, and it should become part of standard therapy in all ketogenic dieters, not just those who already show elevated urine calcium levels," says senior investigator Eric Kossoff, M.D., a pediatric neurologist at Hopkins Children's. "If you wait, it might be too late."

The ketogenic diet, believed to work by initiating biochemical changes that eliminate seizure-triggering short circuits in the brain's signaling system, is advised for many children whose seizures do not respond to medications. But the diet, which consists of high-fat foods with very few carbohydrates, causes a buildup of calcium in the urine and the formation of kidney stones in about 6 percent of patients.

Hopkins Children's adopted the preventive treatment with potassium citrate two years ago, and doctors now believe this side effect of the diet is no longer a problem, allowing children to stay on the diet for more time. Potassium citrate taken twice daily, either as powder sprinkled on food or dissolved in water, is believed to inhibit stone formation.

In their study of 301 children treated for epilepsy with the ketogenic diet at Hopkins Children's the researchers found that those who got potassium citrate twice daily were seven times less likely to develop kidney stones — one of 106 (0.9 percent) developed a kidney stone compared to 13 out of 195 (6.7 percent) who were given potassium citrate only after testing positive for elevated levels of blood calcium. Most children received one 30-milliequivalent packet (about 1, 170 milligrams or 0.04 ounces) of potassium citrate twice daily.

Although rarely serious, kidney stones can cause significant pain, along with kidney and urinary tract infections, and may require surgery.

Source: Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions

Ancient brain surgery technique saved the life of an elderly woman

Using a technique that dates back to the Stone Age, one of New Bedford's premier neurosurgeons recently saved the life of an elderly but feisty Acushnet woman who suddenly started bleeding deep in the back of her brain.

There is evidence that, 7,000 years ago or more, Neolithic medical practitioners — such as they were — performed the technique, perhaps to release evil spirits from the afflicted. During medieval times, physicians did the job to restore the balance of the body's four humors.

Trepanation, in which a hole is drilled through the skull to expose the brain, was a widespread practice in the ancient world. It has been performed, since prehistoric times, to treat such conditions as mental illness, seizures, migraines and head wounds.

Had trepanation been performed on a patient such as 90-year-old Irene Andre, the ancient medical practitioner would have actually been on the right track, according to Dr. Aubrey Okpaku of SouthCoast Neurosurgery, part of the Southcoast Health System.

Okpaku says he used essentially the same ancient cure (now called a craniotomy), but with the advantage of modern imaging techniques to tell him exactly where the blood on Irene's brain needed to be drained.

Unlike the practice of ancient trepanation, however, Okpaku did not leave behind a large open hole in his patient's skull or keep the removed piece of bone as a charm against evil spirits.

Though nobody would ordinarily think to compare the highly developed 21st-century skills of Okpaku to his ancient predecessors, he himself did in Irene Andre's case.

Okpaku has a distinguished history of high-tech surgeries to his credit. Before coming to the Southcoast , he was part of the surgical team at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, N.Y., which five years ago separated twin boys born joined at the head.

"That was ground-breaking," the neurosurgeon says. "That was extraordinary."

For Irene Andre's family, her treatment was just as extraordinary, but Okpaku refuses to take credit for her recovery, despite the fact that, without his intervention and expertise, she would certainly have died within 48 hours.

"I don't mean to be glib, but someone was looking out for her other than the hospital staff," insists Okpaku. "The factors that led to a good outcome for her were not in the hands of the medical community that took care of her."

The "point of irony" in his intervention with Irene, Okpaku says, is that it entailed "the oldest surgery in the history of mankind. Three thousand years ago they were drilling into the skull to reduce the pressure on the brain. That's basically what I did."

Nevertheless, Irene's family is grateful to him and the entire St. Luke's Hospital team that saved the Acushnet great-grandmother's life while also preserving all of her mental and physical faculties.

Though she remembers nothing of the surgery, Irene clearly recalls the day her brain started to bleed.

On a Tuesday morning last February, Irene was going about her regular household tasks.

"I putter around," she says. "I'm a putterer."

However, as the morning progressed, she became increasingly unable to coordinate her movements or hold up her head. She remembers curling herself onto the closest chair and calling out to house guest Peter Soucy Jr. for help.

Irene knew something was very wrong, but she wasn't in pain.

She recalls, "I wasn't feeling good. I sat sideways and made like a bridge out of my hands to hold my head."

Even while in the ambulance on her way to St. Luke's and during triage in the emergency room, she was able to fight through the disorientation caused by the bleeding, says son Jim Andre. His mother was able to answer correctly when the medical staff asked her standard assessment questions — who is the president, what year is it — despite the increasing pressure of blood pooling in the back of her skull and pressing on her brain stem.

"When I was called in," Okpaku comments, "I thought I was going to find my patient comatose and on her way to a better place. Most people her age would have died before I ever saw them."

Okpaku says that Irene Andre's cerebral hemorrhage was likely due to a simple weakening of a small blood vessel inside her brain that eventually started to leak. Unlike an aneurism, which forms in large vessels on the surface of the brain and, when it bursts, causes blood to pour out quickly, Irene's smaller bleed may have been seeping into her skull for up to two hours before she noticed symptoms.

Her bleeding was in the posterior fossa, which contains two vital structures: the brain stem and the cerebellum.

Okpaku explains that injury to the brain stem affects respiration, wakefulness and nerves to the face that control functions such as eye movement, tongue movement and chewing. The cerebellum controls movement of the arms and legs.

Ironically, the fact that aging brains tend to shrink up to 25 percent may have provided Irene the extra space she needed during the emergency to withstand pressure inside her skull without damage to her brain.

The most common reasons for the brain's vessels to weaken and bleed, Okpaku says, are long-standing hypertension, diabetes or amyloidosis (protein deposits inside vessel walls). Irene had none of these conditions.

Faced with the tremendous responsibility to choose between life and death for his mother, Jim Andre says he didn't hesitate to approve Okpaku's suggestion that a craniotomy could save her life.

"We were told that if we did nothing, she'd die peacefully within 48 hours. They said the surgery was risky, and that there was no way to tell what shape she'd be in if she survived it. But, we figured a small chance was better than none at all," Andre recalls.

Four hours later, Irene came through her surgery with a small hole drilled into the base of her skull where Okpaku found the troubled blood vessel and stopped it from leaking.

He drained off the pooled blood and made another small hole in the top of her head to insert a drain that kept her cranial pressure under control for several days while the nonagenarian healed.

After a week at St. Luke's, Irene went to a nursing home for several weeks of recovery and physical therapy.

Now, she's back home singing, dancing and watching her favorite horror movies once again with her husband, James, to whom she's been married 58 years.

"I feel good. They saved my life," Irene says with a grin.

As for Dr. Aubrey Okpaku, he's still not taking the credit, even though he moved to the SouthCoast precisely because he was looking for a home where he could make a difference in the community.

"Speaking as a neurosurgeon," Okpaku says, "I'm constantly working to understand and heal the most complex structure known to man (the human brain). We don't know what we're dealing with most of the time.

"Most neurosurgeons have a great deal of humility."

Contact Pamela Marean at pamelamarean@pamela

Heat and seizures: A fatal mix!

Bill Ross, 55, of Gore was discovered just after 2 p.m. Monday in a construction zone near 41st Street and 25th West Avenue.

Ross’ cause of death has not been determined, however it appears he had been suffering from medical problems and the heat may have contributed to his death.

Before his identity was confirmed, authorities were initially investigating whether the man was homeless due to the circumstance surrounding his death.

Ross lives in a nursing home in Gore due to a head injury he suffered that causes him to have seizures. He was in Tulsa visiting his brother, Jim Reese and his wife Carol Reese.

Carol said that Ross left their home in the 3600 block of South Pheonix Avenue Monday morning and never came back.

“We went looking for him, but we could not find him,” Reese said.

She said that her husband learned about the man who was found in the construction site the next morning and called police Tuesday morning. Later that morning, police notified the family that the man was confirmed to be Ross.

Reese said that she spoke to people at the construction site where he was found and they told her that he had been there since that morning. Authorities and witnesses also said that he had been drinking vodka and there was a bottled found next to him, she said.

Ross had been on several medication due to his seizures and Reese believes that a combination

of the heat, alcohol and medical problems may have caused him to have a seizure.

The Swine Flu and seizures?

A worrisome report was released today indicating that the swine flu virus can cause infection deep in the lungs, much like the flu virus responsible for the 1918 pandemic that killed at least 40 million people. This means it's more likely than typical seasonal flu to cause stubborn cases of pneumonia, which is one of the leading causes of death in flu cases. But another facet of the outbreak isn't getting the attention it ought to.

The British Medical Journal reported that the British government is seeking public feedback on side effects from Tamiflu and other antiviral medications. Britain is currently in the throes of an H1N1 outbreak, one that even affected "Harry Potter" actor Rupert Grint.

Tamiflu, the name brand of oseltamivir phosphate, and Relenza (also known as zanamivir) are currently the go-to drugs for prevention and treatment of H1N1 flu. They're both recommended for use in patients or family members of patients who have underlying health conditions, such as asthma or heart disease, which could lead to serious complications from a flu infection. Tamiflu is recommended for patients as young as 1 year of age, while Relenza is approved for those 5 and older.

Skin rash, nausea, and vomiting are the most commonly reported side effects from these antivirals. However, the Food and Drug Administration warned as early as 2006 that Tamiflu and similar treatments were linked with "self-injury and delirium" in patients in Japan.

The Tamiflu Web site puts it this way: "People with the flu, particularly children and adolescents, may be at an increased risk of self injury and confusion shortly after taking TAMIFLU and should be closely monitored for signs of unusal [sic] behavior. A healthcare professional should be contacted immediately if the patient taking TAMIFLU shows any signs of unusual behavior." The governments are looking for help monitoring these serious side effects.

As if the public didn't have enough to worry about. President Obama warned the public and health-care providers to continue being vigilant about the virus and its potential for resurgence.

These public-feedback databases are nothing new; perhaps the most well known one is the VAERS, or Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, which is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. It receives input from thousands of parents and patients a year, on everything from irritation experienced at injection sites to seizures and other neurological problems experienced soon following a vaccine's being administered.

The 1918 flu outbreak orphaned my grandmother. Personally, the initial knowledge that the antivirals were often effective in reducing the severity of swine flu cases helped made me relax a little. But it's looking more and more like we have another awfully erratic and harmful virus on our hands—one whose main treatment isn't as uncomplicated as we could hope. The creation of these antiviral side-effect reporting systems ought to make the public more wary of the flu season ahead instead of blindly depending on these medications.

For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Information's "Antiviral Drugs and H1N1 Flu" information page, or search for more information about the medications, or the http://www.flu.gov/, the new HHS-created Web site dedicated to news about the outbreak. For more information about the U.S. Adverse Event Reporting System, or AERS, click here.

Gluten allergy and seizures

Have you noticed the plethora of gluten-free foods on the shelves of your local grocery store — pastas, cereals, baking mixes, and more. For folks suffering from celiac disease, a gluten allergy, these foods are vital to their daily diet, and according to a study by the Mayo Clinic, celiac disease is four times more common today than it was in the 1950s. It's estimated that one in every 133 people has celiac disease.

Allergies to gluten, the protein in wheat, rye, barley, and possibly oats, create a wide variety of symptoms including: painful stomach cramps, bloating, gas, increased appetite (due to malabsorption of nutrients), weight loss, fatigue, constipation, or diarrhea. Not only that but eating these foods causes damage to the villi in the intestines, affecting the body's ability to absorb nutrients properly. It can also be fatal, so it's really important to avoid gluten-filled foods if you're allergic.

So why the increase in prevalence in this disease? To find out read more.

The most likely explanation may be due to our environment. Culturally, we tend to be such germaphobes; all our cleaning and killing germs may be contributing to an overall increase in allergies, asthma, and immune system reactions. This "hygiene hypothesis" may fall short though since celiac disease is a global issue, affecting both developed and developing countries. A competing explanation revolves around the overly processed nature of most gluten products, and many people's diets consist mainly of foods such as bread, pasta, and baked goods. We may be overdoing it. Though scientists have yet to pinpoint the exact cause of this condition, I'm sure they're working on figuring it out since it's become so common. Tell me, do you know anyone with celiac disease?

Grade 7 students set up fundraiser for Epilepsy in honor of classmate

Greenwood Village - Ethan Widoff, a seventh grade student at Campus Middle School, is organizing the first annual Derek's Dash, a 5k walk/run to raise money to fight childhood epilepsy. The event will be held on August 30, 2009 at Village Greens Park in Greenwood Village. He has asked several of his friends to help make this event a huge success!

The money raised from this race will go to the IDEA (International Dravet Syndrome Epilepsy Action) League, a volunteer-based, nonprofit organization, founded by parents of children with Dravet Syndrome to promote research and education for the early diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and cure of Dravet Syndrome and related epilepsies.

Dravet syndrome, also known as Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy of Infancy (SMEI), is a progressive childhood neurodevelopmental disorder that does not respond well to treatment. Seizures present themselves in the first year of life in an otherwise typically developing child, increasing in frequency and often severity with maturation. Developmental delays often appear during the second year of life. It affects children of all different ethnicities and geographic backgrounds.

The mission of the IDEA League is to promote awareness and research about Dravet Syndrome and related epilepsies and to provide resources and support to improve the quality of life for affected individuals and families. Their IDEAL is to find a cure.

Widoff is known for his volunteer work and support of charitable causes and organizations. This spring he was one of two Colorado students honored with the Prudential Spirit of Community National Award for his volunteer activities.

This year for his mitzvah project in preparation for his bar mitzvah, Widoff decided to organize and host Derek's Dash in honor of his cousin, Derek Rudawsky, who suffers from Dravet Syndrome. Rudawsky is 14 years old and has suffered from epilepsy since he was 6 months old. His parents have tried numerous treatments including medicine, an implanted Vagus Nerve Stimulator, a special ketogenic diet, and other traditional and non traditional treatments. Unfortunately his seizures remain largely uncontrolled. Derek is developmentally delayed and his family struggles daily to help him.

Widoff hopes Derek's Dash will help Rudawsky and other children and families who struggle with Dravet Syndrome.

"Although Derek faces challenges every day, he inspires me because of his positive attitude," said Widoff. "Derek never complains or whines. The only time he is not happy is when he is having seizures and not feeling well. He has taught me what is truly important in life."

Widoff and several friends, who are serving as co-chairs of Derek's Dash, are meeting regularly to plan the event.

"It's fun to share this experience with my friends, and we are learning how to be leaders in our community," said Widoff. "It is great to see that we are making a difference for the next generation. The only way for a better tomorrow is to start doing something today."

The students have already garnered the support of local businesses, including Dance Trax Entertainment, Mix 1 Drinks, Colorado Athletic Club, Colorado Rockies, Brownstein, Hyatt, Farber, and Shrek, Integrative Health, Inc., Perry and Young Dental Laboratory, Deli Tech Restaurant, Chris Andersen - the Birdman, Baskin Robbins, and Smashburger Restaurants.

If you are interested in helping out by contributing to the IDEA League, donating items for the silent auction, donating items or services for the party after the race, or participating in the race/walk please contact Widoff at dereksdash@comcast.net.

For more information about Derek's Dash, visit www.dereksdash.com.

Injuries and seizures

Emergency room doctors note that as the temperatures rise, so do trips to pediatric emergency rooms. Severe cuts, broken bones and head injuries are the most common causes for ER visits during the summer, says Tony Scalzo, M.D., professor of pediatric emergency medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine.”In the summer, we see a much higher incidence of injuries caused by accidents and sports,” says Scalzo, who is a SLUCare pediatrician at SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center.

These are the six most common summer dangers for kids, according to a SLUCare press release:

1. All-Terrain Vehicles: There are two things Scalzo would like to see banned in America - ATVs and trampolines. Sure, kids have fun on these but they also cause a lot of preventable, serious injuries, he says.

While children can get hurt doing anything from climbing trees to playing on the monkey bars, Scalzo says ATVs are more likely to cause serious, life-threatening injuries. ATVs are more dangerous because they are motorized and have a lot of momentum. It’s also easy to lose control of them, which can lead to the heavy ATV falling on the driver. If you choose to let your child drive or ride on an ATV, despite the danger, it’s absolutely necessary to wear a helmet, Scalzo says.

2. Trampolines: Every summer children come in the emergency room with broken bones and serious gashes caused by falling off a trampoline or falling on the metal springs. If you decide to decide to let your children jump, though, Scalzo recommends installing the protective netting around the trampoline that will prevent the most serious accidents.

3. Bikes, Inline Skates and Skateboards: Each year, more than 580,000 bicyclists and 100,000 in-line skaters and skateboarders are injured. The majority of these accidents can be prevented with proper use of the proper safety gear. Wearing a properly-fitting helmet prevents 85 percent of head injuries, yet only 11 percent of children ages 11 to 14 wear helmets. Wrist guards, knee pads, elbow pads and shin pads are also a good idea for skaters.

Other bike safety tips include: testing the bike’s brakes, making sure tires are secured tightly and properly inflated, wearing reflective material and using a light when riding at dusk or dawn.

4. Drowning: Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death among young children and can occur in the bathtub, swimming pool, while boating or even in small amounts of water, such as in a large cooler. Children should never be left unattended near water and should always wear a life jacket when near a pool or boating.

Home swimming pools should be protected with fencing on all sides and have securely locked entrances. Splash alarms can add an extra level of safety, but nothing can substitute the importance of parental supervision.

5. Car Accidents: Being properly restrained in a car is imperative all year long. However, because families take more road trips during the summer, more injuries caused by children not wearing seat belts are reported during this time of year. Even if your children get antsy during long car trips, Scalzo says it is never safe to allow them out of the appropriate booster or car seat. Instead, make more frequent stops to let them burn off their energy.

6. Heat and Dehydration: Every year children die or become very sick from being left inside a car. Heat and dehydration can be very dangerous for children. Scalzo says children should not be left in the car for even a short period of time because the car can heat up quickly.

Keeping children well hydrated, especially when they are playing outside in the heat is also important. However, parents should avoid giving infants water because it dilutes the salt in their blood and can lead to respiratory problems and seizures. For infants, Scalzo recommends offering an extra bottle on hot days.

Dogs trained to detect seizures!

Peter DaSilva for The New York Times Dogs like Kobi, a yellow Labrador, have participated in cancer detection studies.

Catching up on my weekend Web reading, I came across an interesting video from National Geographic, about dogs who sniff out cancer and health problems associated with diabetes.

One of the dogs featured, a collie named Tinker, began whining and barking when his owner, who has diabetes, experienced dangerous drops in blood sugar. Although Tinker wasn’t trained at first, his reactions to the hypoglycemic attacks led to further training as a qualified “hypo alert” dog. The video also features the work of the British research center, Cancer and Bio-Detection Dogs.

The center has 17 rescue dogs at various stages of training that will be paired up with diabetic owners, including many children, reports Reuters.

Last year, researchers from Queen’s University in Belfast decided to investigate anecdotal reports from dog owners who said their pets warned them of hypoglycemic attacks. They surveyed 212 dog owners, all of whom had Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disorder that prevents the body from producing insulin. A regular concern with Type 1 is that blood sugar will drop precipitously low, causing a person to fall unconscious.

Among the dog owners, 138, or 65 percent, said their dog had shown a behavioral reaction to at least one of their hypoglycemic episodes. About a third of the animals had reacted to 11 or more events, with 31.9 percent of animals reacting to 11 or more events. The dogs got their owners’ attention by barking and whining, (61.5 percent), licking (49.2 percent), nuzzling (40.6 percent), jumping on top of them (30.4 percent), and/or staring intently at their faces (41.3 percent). A small percentage of the dogs reportedly tremble in fear at the time of a hypoglycemic attack.

To learn more, watch the three-minute video or read the transcript on the National Geographic Web site.

And for more on dogs detecting cancer read “Moist Nose Shows Promise in Tracking Down Cancer,” by my colleague Donald G. McNeil, Jr.

By Tara Parker-Pope

Can traditional veterinary medicine treat seizures?

There are many causes for seizures in animals. The overall incidence of seizures in dogs is estimated at 1 percent, but goes up to 15-20 percent in purebred dogs.

Should your pet have seizures, a minimum evaluation should include a thorough physical exam, blood work, urinalysis, heart worm test, fecal exam and possibly chest and abdominal radiographs, and abdominal ultrasound.

Sometimes CT or MRI Scans, cerebrospinal fluid tap and analysis, or EEG are performed. Many times after a thorough evaluation, no abnormalities are found and this is called idiopathic epilepsy. In idiopathic epilepsy treatment options include Western drugs, Western herbal medicine, acupuncture, and traditional Chinese herbs.

In most cases, idiopathic seizures can be controlled with Western medications, the most common being phenobarbital. Anti-convulsant medication must be given every day, can cause drowsiness and can have side effects on the liver.

Seizures in Chinese medicine are considered internal wind. There are several causes and the treatment is slightly different. Acupuncture points and Chinese herbs are selected according to the pattern that is diagnosed. This case illustrates the use of traditional Chinese veterinary medicine on a case of idiopathic epilepsy.

A 5-year-old female spayed beagle was presented for seizures of unknown cause. She had been having seizures for almost a year.

Initially the seizures were every two months then started being monthly. The last seizure had been almost a month before presentation. The owner and veterinarian were discussing the possibility of putting the dog on seizure medication.

The owner was concerned about having to give phenobarbital on a daily basis and its side effects. The dog was diagnosed with internal wind due to liver and kidney yin deficiency, excess heat and stagnation.

The dog was treated with acupuncture and scheduled for an appointment a week later. The dog had a mild seizure the night before the appointment. A second acupuncture treatment was done, Chinese herbs were prescribed and food therapy was initiated. Several follow-up appointments were scheduled with increasing time in between. The dog has had no seizures for eight months and is doing extremely well.

The dog is still on a Chinese herbal formula but at a reduced dose and if doses are missed there are no adverse problems. Not all seizure problems can resolve as quickly as this case did but traditional Chinese veterinary medicine gives owners another alternative.

In all cases, a thorough Western evaluation is recommended. Chinese practices can be safely used in conjunction with Western medications and can be used in any species.

Dr. Connie Clemons-Chevis has received certification in acupuncture, Tui-na and Chinese herbology through Chi Institute in Reddick, Fla., and China National Society of TCVM. Alternative Medicine for Pets offers TCVM services in Bay St. Louis, Escatawpa and Pascagoula. Appointments are required and can be scheduled by calling 671-6210.

Stagnant water can cause seizures in your pet

A deadly poisonous algae has been thriving in the heatwave Photo: Reuters

Water plays an important part in human leisure activities. Swimming, surfing, sailing, and canoeing are popular pastimes, with the urban population descending on lakes, rivers and beaches at weekends. Many dogs also enjoy water, with owners using swimming as a regular form of exercise for their pets. Swimming is a useful form of physical exertion. The muscles work hard, but because of the buoyancy of the body in water, the joints are not stressed by the full weight of the animal. Swimming can be especially beneficial for animals recovering from injuries, or for older animals suffering from arthritis. During hot spells, it can be a way of exercising animals that’s less likely to lead to overheating: every year, dogs collapse during walks on sunny days from hyperthermia; swimming in cold water avoids this risk.

Dog owners are being warned today about a dangerous poison that’s become more common in ponds and lakes across the UK after the recent hot spell: blue-green algae. Dogs are at risk when they drink or swim in water where there’s been an algal bloom, typically seen in stagnant pools of water after warm, calm weather. These blooms are often concentrated on the windward side of ponds, lakes or reservoirs, so it’s well worth checking these areas out for visible signs of green or blue slime or scum before allowing a pet access to the water. If there’s a known problem, local authorities often erect warning signs, but you can’t depend on being warned in this way: a new algal growth can appear in a clean body of water at any time.

There’s a range of different types of algal blooms, each producing a different type of poison. There are three main types of toxins: one causes liver failure, and the other two are neurotoxins. Pets are affected after ingesting the algae, either by drinking affected water, or by grooming themselves after being immersed. Signs of poisoning happen very rapidly, within minutes or hours of exposure, and emergency veterinary treatment is needed.

If the liver toxin has been eaten, a dog becomes dull and weak, often with vomiting and diarrhoea. This is followed by collapse, and then death from massive liver failure. If the ingested algae contain neurotoxins, signs include muscle rigidity, tremors and seizures, followed by paralysis, respiratory paralysis and death.

A diagnosis of algae toxicity is presumed if these signs follow exposure to stagnant water, but it can be difficult to confirm the diagnosis. Attempts can be made to detect either the algae or toxin in stomach contents or in samples of bloom material, but it’s not always easy to do this.

As with most cases of poisoning, there’s no antidote for algal toxins. Treatment is symptomatic and supportive, using drugs and intravenous fluids to keep the dog alive while the poison works its way through the system.

Interestingly, some of toxins from blue-green algae are known to have an anti-viral effect, and work has been done on their use as a potential source of antiviral substances against influenza virus.

There’s no need for dog owners to stop their dogs from swimming completely: the incidence of blue-green algae toxicity is still very low. But it makes sense to be cautious: check out the appearance of that water before allowing your enthusiastic dog to take the plunge.

Hypoglycemia and seizures

Diabetes patients who are hospitalized for non-critical illnesses, and develop hypoglycemia while hospitalized, are likely to remain hospitalized longer and face greater risk of mortality both during and after hospitalization, according to a study published in the July issue of Diabetes Care.

This retrospective cohort study of more than 4,300 admissions, by researchers at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital, was the first to examine mortality risks for hospitalized diabetes patients outside a critical care setting. Previous research found an association between hypoglycemia in ICU patients and an increased risk of morality, seizures and coma.

However, the majority of hospitalized diabetes patients are treated on the general ward. This study found that each hospital day in which a person with diabetes had at least one episode of hypoglycemia was associated with an 85.3 percent increased risk of dying as an inpatient and a 65.8 percent increased risk of dying within one year of discharge. The odds of inpatient death also tripled for every 10 mg/dl decrease in the lowest blood glucose during hospitalization. And, a patient's length of stay increased by 2.5 days for each day spent in the hospital with a hypoglycemia episode.

As a result of these findings, the researchers recommend carefully monitoring people with diabetes admitted to the general ward of the hospital for hypoglycemia and suggest interpreting its appearance as "a warning sign of impending clinical deterioration."

"It could serve as a useful indicator for the necessity of increased monitoring, more aggressive treatment of infections, transitioning to a more intensive care setting, and case management," the study concludes.

To reach lead researcher Dr. Alexander Turchin, Division of Endocrinology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, phone 617-732-5661 or email aturchin@partners.org.

Diabetes Care, published by the American Diabetes Association, is the leading peer-reviewed journal of clinical research into one of the nation's leading causes of death by disease. Diabetes also is a leading cause of heart disease and stroke, as well as the leading cause of adult blindness, kidney failure, and non-traumatic amputations.

The American Diabetes Association is leading the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fighting for those affected by diabetes. The Association funds research to prevent, cure and manage diabetes; delivers services to hundreds of communities; provides objective and credible information; and gives voice to those denied their rights because of diabetes. Founded in 1940, our mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. For more information, please call the American Diabetes Association at 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) or visit www.diabetes.org. Information from both these sources is available in English and Spanish.

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Contact:
Dayle Kern, ADA
(703) 549-1500 ext. 2290

Loving their child is the best gift they can her despite knowing she will never see her teenage years

Emily Sanda's parents harbor no delusions about their daughter's future. They know their firstborn child, now 6 years old, will never ride a bicycle. They know she'll never go to school, never speak, never grow up.

They'll count themselves lucky if they get to see her turn 12.

Emily, who was born in Merced, has Niemann-Pick Type C, or NP-C, an extremely rare genetic disorder for which there is no cure. The disease prevents the breakdown of cholesterol, causing the body to store it in the brain and other vital organs. The buildup causes severe neurological damage and eventually death.

BEA AHBECK

Merced Sun-Star - PHOTO BY BEA AHBECK

Emily Sanda, 6, sits with her mother, Rachel Sanda, in her grandmother Elizabeth Schultz's home in Atwater. Emily, who was born in Merced, has Niemann-Pick Type C, or NP-C, an extremely rare genetic disorder for which there is no cure.

Emily Sanda, 6, sits Wednesday with her mother Rachel Sanda in her grandmother Elizabeth Schultz's home in Atwater,. Emily, who was born in Merced, has Niemann-Pick Type C, or NP-C, an extremely rare genetic disorder for which there is no cure." alt="PHOTO BY BEA AHBECK

Emily Sanda, 6, sits Wednesday with her mother Rachel Sanda in her grandmother Elizabeth Schultz's home in Atwater,. Emily, who was born in Merced, has Niemann-Pick Type C, or NP-C, an extremely rare genetic disorder for which there is no cure." rel="story-images">

BEA AHBECK

Merced Sun-Star - PHOTO BY BEA AHBECK

Emily Sanda, 6, sits Wednesday with her mother Rachel Sanda in her grandmother Elizabeth Schultz's home in Atwater,. Emily, who was born in Merced, has Niemann-Pick Type C, or NP-C, an extremely rare genetic disorder for which there is no cure.

• Hope for Emily dinner

  WHAT: A fundraiser to find a cure for Niemann-Pick Type C

  WHEN: Saturday, 6 p.m.

  WHERE: Merced Senior Community Center,

  755 W. 15th St.

  TICKETS: $30

  CALL: (209) 357-1729 or (209) 777-6322

  MORE INFO: www.parseghian.org

"In a lot of ways I've already mourned her loss," said Emily's mother, 28-year-old Rachel Sanda. "I've accepted the fact that she will never become the daughter I imagined."

Emily's father, 30-year-old David Sanda, is equally realistic about what the next five or 10 years will bring. "No matter what we do, we know there probably won't be a cure in time for her," he said.

But that hasn't discouraged the Sandas from trying to save others.

Since Emily's diagnosis four years ago, her family has raised more than $15,000 for medical research aimed at fighting NP-C. Most of it has come from fundraiser dinners they've organized themselves and sales of candles and other crafts that David and Rachel make at home.

All of the money has gone to the Ara Parseghian Medical Research Foundation, an Arizona-based nonprofit that's exclusively dedicated to funding NP-C research. The Sandas are holding another fundraiser dinner Saturday in Merced.

"Every time we send another check into the foundation, it's like I'm punching the enemy," David Sanda said. "The disease makes you feel so helpless, but this is something we can do."

As if the Sandas didn't have enough to do already.

Besides Emily, they have two more children, 3-year-old Elijah and 16-month-old Jacob, and Emily's care alone is a full-time effort.

NP-C's symptoms are wide-ranging and get worse with time. The disease causes a loss of intellectual and motor function, clumsiness and difficulty with swallowing and up-and-down eye movements.

As few as 100 children are thought be living with NP-C in the United States today. As the disease progresses, walking and swallowing become harder. Patients in later stages usually require wheelchairs and intensive care. Most die of pneumonia before adolescence.

For now Emily is still able to walk but she falls a lot. She moves slowly. Her muscles are becoming more and more rigid and her vision has worsened. She still eats some food on her own, but gets most of her nutrition through a feeding tube that doctors permanently inserted into her stomach this spring. She drools and suffers seizures and cataplexy.

She vomits often and the medication she takes to slow her degeneration causes nearly constant diarrhea. She tires easily and sleeps a lot. She goes to physical therapy but not to school.

"We change diapers and clothes all the time, and we always have to be ready for a seizure," Rachel Sanda said. "We can't just hop in the car for a quick trip to the grocery store or the park. Everything kind of becomes an ordeal.

"We spend a lot of time close to home, but we don't mind. We just like being together."

The 15 to 20 words Emily knew when she was 2 are long gone. She doesn't speak and she doesn't understand language anymore.

Even so, she is responsive, affectionate and curious. She doesn't watch television but she likes music and going outside. Her favorite thing to do is wander slowly and pick up things within reach to feel them.

"She likes to explore," David Sanda said.

The Sandas' boys have shown no signs of NP-C. Elijah was a month old when Emily was diagnosed. Doctors told the Sandas there was a 1-in-4 chance he would also have the disease. They opted not to have him tested. Jacob also has not been tested.

"We decided we wouldn't have any more children, because we didn't want to take the risk," Rachel Sanda said. "Jacob was a surprise. ... Now we call him Elijah's blessing, because he'll still have a sibling to grow up with after Emily is gone."

Soon after Emily's diagnosis she began taking a drug called Zavesca, still considered experimental for use by NP-C patients. It slows the effects of her disease, but it won't cure her.

The Sandas went nearly broke paying the drug's $5,000-per-month cost before they figured out that David's mother's health insurance is among the few that will cover experimental uses. In 2006, they legally gave up custody of Emily to her grandmother so they could get the drug for free. (Emily still lives with her parents.)

The family moved to Oklahoma near David's dad about two years ago. David Sanda works for a contractor there and is going to school to become a physical therapist. Rachel Sanda is a stay-at-home mom.

"We're not rich but at least we were able to buy a house there," David Sanda said. "We knew that wouldn't be an option in California."

The Sandas are here for a month-long visit, staying in Atwater with David Sanda's mom, Elizabeth Schultz, who teaches at Crookham Elementary School in Winton.

"It's great to have them here," Schultz said. "I'm just trying to enjoy Emily and not think so much about what the future is going to be like. ... She's my only granddaughter."

Besides spending time with family and friends they left behind when they moved, the Sandas are trying to gather at least a few thousand dollars for NP-C research while they're here. So far, they've sold about 30 tickets for Saturday's fundraiser. They're hoping for a lot more in the next couple of days.

The Ara Parseghian Foundation has paid for most of the studies that have been done on NP-C. It has raised about $33 million since it began in 1994. Right now, the organization is funding 25 research projects across the country. It's named for the well-known Notre Dame football coach who lost three of his grandchildren to NP-C.

Peg Romano, the foundation's assistant director, said efforts like the Sandas' are especially important because NP-C is so rare.

"When so few people are affected by a disease it's really difficult to generate enough funding," Romano said. "We really couldn't do it without families like the Sandas."

Their work toward a cure is even more remarkable in light of their circumstances, she said. "Families with NP-C often live very challenging lives, including financially. And yet, the Sandas take the time to do these fundraisers, and they pass on all the money."

The Sandas don't seem to think their efforts are anything special. "It helps us cope," Rachel Sanda said. "It's something positive we can do. That's all."

And coping they are.

"When Emily was first diagnosed, I thought I'd never smile again," David Sanda said. "But we're really OK now. We're happy.

"We're taking advantage of the time we have with her."

Reporter Corinne Reilly can be reached at (209)385-2477 or creilly@mercedsun-star.com.

Toddler suffering from rare seizure disorder fights for her life!

Chances are you haven’t heard of Propionic Acidemia but for one local family, their lives have become about battling it, including raising money to end the disease that threatens the life of a little girl.

Gwen Mouat, is the daughter of Jennifer (Buck) and Tom Mouat, formerly of Pomeroy and granddaughter of Bob Buck of Pomeroy. Gwen is one of four PA survivors under the age of four who are being treated for PA at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus. This Saturday, Gwen’s family is organizing a corn hole tournament to fight the rare disease. Registration begins at 11 a.m. with tournament play beginning at noon at Bun’s Party Barn in Pomeroy.

The tournament will be a double elimination, four bracket setup. The entry fee for a two person team is $20. Prizes will be awarded at the tournament with the first place team winning $200 and second place team receiving $100. Pre-registration is recommended due to the 32 team limit. There will be prize drawings and 100 percent of funds raised will go to the PA Foundation to fund “desperately needed seed research in order to gather data that will help obtain larger National Institute of Health grants,” according to Gwen’s family.

Individuals with PA cannot break down essential parts of protein and some types of fat due to a non-functioning enzyme. Without the enzyme, amino acids are only partially processed, which causes propionic acid to build-up in the bloodstream. This in turn causes build-up of dangerous acids and toxins, which can cause damage to the person’s organs. Even with intense management, PA can damage the brain, heart, liver, cause seizures and delays to normal development. The median survival age is three years.

For Gwen, who is now three years old, her battle with PA began when she was just three days old and has since dealt with an array of health issues caused by the constant stress to the central nervous system and other major organs. Throughout her life, she will be fed a highly specialized and ever-changing formula through the gastrostomy tube in her belly due to special dietary needs and food aversions, which are common in PA patients.

Beating the odds, Gwen has fought through the 50-plus hospitalizations that have followed due to a variety of reasons from a common cold to life-threatening infections. Jennifer says her daughter’s exuberance is a testament to strides that have been made in treatment for PA even since her birth. Her apparent good health, while a blessing, is not taken for granted. Gwen’s parents know that any single virus or trauma could take her life tomorrow, which makes every day she’s still here a “sweet gift.”

Submitted photo - Gwen Mouat (pictured) is fighting Propionic Acidemia, a rare, life-threatening disease which her family is raising money to fight with a corn hole tournament held on Saturday in Pomeroy.

Jennifer says every dollar counts in the fight to fund PA research, adding, thanks to the PAF and local supporters, Ohio fundraisers have produced a total over $130,000, allowing doctors and researchers to make strides in the diagnosis and treatment of this disorder that will hopefully give these children a prognosis for better, longer, healthier lives.

With the infusion of money raised in Ohio, the foundation was able to fund three research grants last year instead of two. This year, however, PAF was forced to turn down a research opportunity due to lack of funding for the project and Gwen’s family hopes to help change that with help from Saturday’s tournament.

For more information about Gwen’s battle, visit www.GwenForACure.com For information about the corn hole tournament, contact event organizer Jackie Buck at 508-0412. For more information about PA visit www.PAFoundation.com.

Demerol and seizures: Was this medication a factor in Michael Jackson's death?

Michael Jackson’s death continues to consume the news cycle.

There is currently no clear explanation. Some have speculated that it may be related to the narcotic pain drug, Demerol. According to this report from the UK’s The Sun, “An Emergency Room source at UCLA hospital said Jackson aides told medics he had collapsed after an injection of potent Demerol similar to morphine . . . Shortly after taking the Demerol he started to experience slow shallow breathing . . . His breathing gradually got slower and slower until it stopped.”

Another report from the Times Online, noted that, “Family members [said] he had received his daily shot of Demerol at 11.30 am, but the dosage was ‘too much’.”

I would not want to be that doctor who administered the drug, and apparently, police are looking for him.

An overdose of Demerol, also known generically as meperidine, is a plausible explanation for what happened. Certainly more likely than coronary artery disease. In fact, he had undergone a 3 to 4 hour physical a few months before for insurance purposes, and was given a clean bill of health. Presumably, that exam would have included thorough cardiac testing.

The classic signs of a Demerol overdose include changes in mental status, constricted pupils, and a decreased respiratory rate, among others. However, those signs are not always 100 percent accurate, for instance, as studies have shown some cases of Demerol overdoses in patients having normal sized pupils. Of these symptoms, a respiratory rate below 12 is the best predictor of an overdose. Also of note, Demerol is somewhat unique among the opioids in that it is also associated with seizures at high doses.

As to how a Demerol overdose can lead to cardiac arrest, a slowing in respiration rate decreases the oxygen supply to the heart, causing it to eventually stop beating, or go into a life-threatening arrhythmia.

No different from most emergencies, focus on airway and circulation is critical in suspected Demerol overdose cases. Narcan, also known as naloxone, which is a short-acting drug that counteracts opioid drugs, is then given. Repeatedly, if necessary, until the respiratory rate rises above 12. Restoring adequate breathing is the leading priority. I could not find a report saying if Narcan was administered on the scene, or if so, how soon it was given.

An autopsy is scheduled for today, which may shed more light into the mysterious circumstances surrounding his death.

But I wouldn’t be surprised if a high Demerol dose was a mitigating factor in Michael Jackson’s cardiac arrest.

Family hosts fundraising event to provide son with a seizure alert dog

12-year-old Lee Balderas can't do what other kids his age enjoy doing.

"When he was 10 he had 2 major seizures, I didn't know what was going on," Lee's Mother, Patricia Torres, said.

Just last month he was diagnosed with epilepsy, which causes him to have unexpected seizures.

"We just have to watch him go through it. It's hard. Sometimes he stiffens up when he has it and makes a crying noise. He shakes and turns blue and sometimes we have to put him on his side," Torres said.

Wtih Lee's condition, he must be supervised at all times, and even that can sometimes become emotional.

"Keep him from choking on his tongue, keep him breathing. It's scary, it's a lot more than it seems. Even if a doctor says it's not all serious; every seizure is serious," Lee's Stepfather, Angel Torres, said.

The Torres family could use extra help when caring for Lee which is why they are putting together a fundraiser barbeque to help afford a seizure alert dog, one that is vital to Lee's condition.

"We want to get him this dog because it's trained to know before or when he's having a seizure, they'll train him on the all the signs," Patricia Torres, said.

It's not just during a seizure when the service dog can help Lee.

"After a seizure he can't walk or stand cause it hurts. The dog will be there to get what he needs," Patricia Torres, said.

Patricia says she hopes others will learn from her son's condition, and lend a helping hand.

"I wish people knew more about epilepsy. I wish there would be some organization. Maybe him and I can do it ourselves and help others who have epilepsy," Patricia said.

The Torres family will be holding the fundraiser BBQ at Moss Lake in Big Spring on July 4th and they hope to raise enough money to purchase the seizure alert dog which costs about $5,000.

Drowning and seizure disorders

In 2005 alone, there were 3,582 fatal drowning accidents in Los Angeles.

According to studies, about 350 kids aged 5 below die from drowning accidents each year and 2,600 are sent to the hospital for treatment related to drowning injuries.

It was also found out that non fatal droning accidents could lead to some devastating injuries like brain damage and this could lead to loss of memory, learning disabilities and even paralysis.

Drowning accidents are not exclusive to swimming pools; an individual can also drown in bathtubs, Jacuzzis, during boating and in a body of water like lakes and rivers, and others.

The most common cause of Los Angeles drowning accidents are:

• Lack of barrier – Barriers can prevent children from gaining access to a pool without supervision of an adult.

• Lack of supervision – According to studies, most young children who drowned in pools was out of sight for just about 5 minutes. If you are near a swimming pool or any body of water, constant supervision is needed for children because it will only take less than 5 minutes for a child to drown.

• Alcohol use – Alcohol is involved in more than 50% of all adolescent and adult drowning accidents and about one in five boating fatalities.

• Seizures disorders– Drowning is one of the leading cause of death for people with seizure disorders. Most drowning accidents happen in the bathtub during bath.

• Defective pool design - Some pools designs does not mark the change of depth in the pool sections. It can lead to a person miscalculating the depth and end up drowning

• Defective equipments – Defective heaters and sump pumps can cause explosion and electrocution.

• Getting caught in drain covers – A swimmer can get his/her foot caught in a drain cover and get stuck which could lead to drowning.

Preventing Drowning Accidents

Here are some basic guidelines to help prevent drowning accidents:

• Always have adults supervising children during bath or in swimming pools. A supervising adult should not be distracted while watching over children. I would take less than 5 minutes of inattention for a child to drown.

• Swim with a buddy. Do not go into deep depths alone so that if something goes wrong someone will be there to help.

• Select swimming sites with lifeguards.

• Avoid alcohol before or during swimming, boating or any activities near a body of water. Do not drink alcohol while supervising children as well.

• Learn to swim. Although this is not recommended for children below 4 years old.

• Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This may be extremely vital especially if paramedics or lifeguards are not available immediately.

• Do not use air-filled toys as substitute for life jackets. They are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
For people who own a swimming pool at home:

• Install a 4 sided fence that separates the pool from other areas of the house. The fence should be at least 4 feet high and has latches that cannot be opened by children.

• Remove floating toys and devices from the pool after use. These toys can attract children and cause them to lean over the pool to reach floaters.

If you or your family has been a victim of a drowning accident, consult a Los Angeles drowning accident lawyer to help with your case.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

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Make-A-Wish Foundation gives boy a service dog

Thanks to the Make-a-Wish Foundation, the Dainiaks, of Bedford, will have a new addition to their family in January. His name is Buzz and he is a service dog. He will join the family to help 6-year-old Nicholas, who has Batten Disease, a neurological degenerative disorder that causes vision loss and seizures, and is considered terminal. “The dog will be great in all stages,” said Heather Dainiak, Nicholas’ mother. “It will be a german shepard or lab, whatever they think is going to work best.” The dog will be trained to best meet Nicholas’ needs. Buzz will be trained in Ohio and the whole family will go there in January to work with the service dog for two weeks before he returns to Bedford with them. “He will help with vision, mobility and seizures,” said Heather. As Nicholas’ condition deteriorates, Heather sees the dog becoming more of a companion to her son. The cost of a service dog is $12,000-$14,000 and the Dainiaks originally decided that they would save for it. However, they quickly realized that by the time they saved enough, Nicholas’ condition may have deteriorated to a point that he would not benefit from a dog. “We contacted Make-a-Wish in the attempt to attract a celebrity to our fundraising events,” said Chris Dainiak, Nicholas’ father. “At that point, they suggested that the need for a service dog could be fulfilled through Make-a-Wish, if this was truly Nicholas’ wish.” When the team came to visit Nicholas and ask him what he wished for, he replied “a dog named Buzz.” About 100 Manchester Firefighters planned a ride from Manchester to Colebook to raise money for Make-a-Wish to grant Nicholas his wish. They celebrated June 4 at a barbecue, where Nicholas got to meet rescue dogs from the Canine Alert Search Team. Despite having the need for a service dog filled, the Dainiaks are still fund raising to search for a cure for Batten Disease. Along with other families dealing with the disease they are trying to raise $2.5 million to fund a study at Cornell University. The local community has come together to help with the effort in big and small ways. Students at Harmony Learning Center, where Nicholas’ brother William attends pre-school, are collecting nickels for Nicholas. Last Sunday, Salon Thairapy in Hooksett offered free kids haircuts and welcomed donations to Nicholas’ fund. This weekend there are two events planned, the Fore Nicholas Golf Tournament at Candia Woods on Saturday and Drive for a Cure on Sunday in North Andover, Mass. A Bounce U event and gala dinner are planned for the coming months. “Every donation is a big donation,” said Heather. “We started at nothing.” For more information you can visit ourpromisetonicholas.com.

The worst foods for your pets that can cause seizures or worst!

This is a list of the 10 most toxic people food to not give you kitty and a short description of the toxic ingredients within the food, as well as some signs of adverse reactions.

If your kitty is anything like mine, it may run at the mere hope of snagging a table scrap each time you walk to the kitchen. Although people foods are generally not harmful to us, kitties’ digestive tracts are quite different as well as their nutritional needs.

Besides preventing your cuddly little feline from expanding its sleek waistline, here are my top 10 toxic people foods that should validate solid reasons to refrain feeding your kitty table scraps:

1. Alcohol – the toxic ingredient is ethanol and a little can do a lot of damage.Adverse reactions include: depression, excitability, poor coordination, slow respiratory rate. Severe cases: cardiac arrest and or death.
2. Selected Fruits (such as apples, apricots, cherries, peaches and plums) – large amounts of seeds, leaves and stems carry a compound of cyanide. Adverse reactions include: dilated pupils, shock, apprehension, hyperventilation as well as breathing difficulties.
3. Avocados- toxic ingredient is persin which is a fatty acid derivative. It is unsafe to feed any part or amount of avocado to cats or dogs. Adverse reactions include: abnormal breathing, fluid accumulation in chest abdomen or around the heart as well as breathing difficulties.
4. Baking Powder/ baking soda or yeast – toxins are related to large amounts ingested and to leavening agents which cause the powders or yeast to expand. Adverse reactions include: low potassium and calcium with high sodium causing abnormal electrolytes. Severe cases: can cause muscle spasms and congestive heart failure.
5. Chocolate – besides the high fat content it contains caffeine and bromine, which is not just toxic to dogs but to cats as well. Adverse reactions: muscle spasms, increase in water consumption and urination, hyperactivity, excessive panting, restlessness, the heart’s rate and blood pressure my rise. Severe cases: seizures or worse.
6. Coffee – also contains caffeine which is toxic to pets. Adverse reactions are similar to chocolate. Please keep in mind, only 8 tea spoons is enough to be lethal.
7. Onions and garlic – any form of onions, powdered, dried, fresh is extremely harmful. Garlic is slightly less harmful than onion. The toxin in these related root veggies is called N-propyl disulphide. Adverse reactions: toxin damages red blood cells which can cause anemia and lethargy. Trace amounts in cat food or treats should be okay but large amounts should be avoided.
8. Grapes and raisins: the toxicity of these two in regards to pets is unknown, no amount is advisable. Adverse reactions: can cause kidney failure.
9. Green tomatoes or green potatoes - raw, the stems, leaves etc. are all harmful due to a poisonous alkaloid called glycoalkaloid solanine. Adverse reactions include: causes severe lower gastrointestinal symptoms.
10. Salt – in large quantities can lead to sodium ion poisoning. Definitely should be limited or removed from diet due to adverse reactions which include: vomiting, diarrhea, excessive water intake and urination, muscle spasms and tremors, fever and in severe cases seizures and or death. (I know my kitty likes chips and other salty snacks, but are too much salt for feline consumption.)

There are many people foods to avoid giving pets. To ensure a healthy and long life for your kitty, its best to save the people food for the people. For more information and to view other toxic foods to avoid please click here.