Pancreatitis Researchers Must Look Elsewhere for Causes.

http://insciences.org/article.php?article_id=5608
Link Between Pancreatitis and Alcohol Use Not as Strong as Expected, SLU Researcher Finds -

In an NIH-funded study published in the June 8 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, a JAMA/Archives journal, researchers examined risk factors for pancreatitis, looking specifically at the connection to alcohol and tobacco use. Investigators, including a Saint Louis University professor of internal medicine, were surprised that the relationship between alcohol consumption and pancreatitis was far less than expected.

Frank Burton, M.D.
Inflammation of the pancreas, known as pancreatitis, affects 80,000 to 100,000 Americans each year. The main symptoms of pancreatitis are pain in the upper abdomen, nausea, vomiting, fever and sweating. Over time, pancreatitis can lead to complications including digestive problems, diabetes and pancreatic cancer.

"These research findings dispute the notion that alcohol use accounts for around 80 percent of pancreatitis cases, as previously believed," said Frank Burton, M.D., professor of internal medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and one of the study authors. "In fact, alcohol's contribution to pancreatitis appears to be much lower."

One thousand patients with pancreatitis were enrolled in the study along with 695 healthy patients, who served as a control group. Researchers found that only 38.4 percent of men and 11 percent of women with chronic pancreatitis were very heavy drinkers, a level much lower than anticipated.

Smoking, however, was found to be a significant risk factor for pancreatitis, as was very heavy drinking, defined as five or more drinks a day. The study also demonstrated that the combination of smoking and alcohol is a risk factor for the condition.

"Interestingly, this study suggested that other causes, such as environmental or genetic factors, contributed to developing chronic pancreatitis in the large group who did not have a history of heavy alcohol use," said Burton, who is a SLUCare gastroenterologist. "This offers a great deal of hope for the future that with continued studies we will be able to identify other potentially treatable causes of chronic pancreatitis."

Researchers will now turn to other factors, such as genetics, in their search to determine the causes of pancreatitis.

Established in 1836, Saint Louis University School of Medicine has the distinction of awarding the first medical degree west of the Mississippi River. The school educates physicians and biomedical scientists, conducts medical research, and provides health care on a local, national and international level. Research at the school seeks new cures and treatments in five key areas: cancer, liver disease, heart/lung disease, aging and brain disease, and infectious disease.

Contact: Carrie Bebermeyer, 314-977-8015, bebermcl@slu.edu
Source: Saint Louis University

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After seeing Casey suffer without relief for so many years, it's about time that maybe these damn doctors in the ER's (and elsewhere) will not be asking this as one of their first questions then.
It only adds insult to injury... And back again.
Even when answered truthfully the first thing they want is BAC because then they didn't believe her.

XOXO
Me

Have you ever heard of rose petal wine? (not convinced it's the best use for beautiful rose petals). ~~From the Old Farmers Almanac~~ Pour one gallon of boiling water over 3 to 4 quarts of petals lightly packed. Toss in the cut up rind of 2 oranges and 3 pounds of sugar. Boil for 20 minutes, cool, strain, and add a package of yeast dissolved in warm water. Add the juice from the two oranges and 4 or 5 white peppercorns. Let all ferment in a covered crock for 2 weeks, then strain, discard petals, and bottle in sterilized jars, corking lightly. Wine will be ready in about three months.

Lightning—The Underrated Killer

http://www.lightningsafety.noaa.gov/overview.htm
NWS Lightning Safety Overview

In the United States, there are an estimated 25 million lightning flashes each year. During the past 30 years, lightning killed an average of 58 people per year. This is higher than 57 deaths per year caused by tornadoes and average 48 deaths to hurricanes. Yet because lightning usually claims only one or two victims at a time and does not cause mass destruction of property, it is underrated as a risk. While documented lightning injuries in the United States average about 300 per year, undocumented injuries are likely much higher.

Photo from here: http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/lightning-gallery-18.jpg



* Watch for Developing Thunderstorms:
Thunderstorms are most likely to develop on spring or summer days but can occur year round. As the sun heats the air, pockets of warmer air start to rise and cumulus clouds form. Continued heating can cause these clouds to grow vertically into towering cumulus clouds, often the first sign of a developing thunderstorm.



* When to Seek Safe Shelter:
Lightning can strike as far as 10 miles from the area where it is raining. That's about the distance you can hear thunder. If you can hear thunder, you are within striking distance. Seek safe shelter immediately.



* Outdoor Activities:
Minimize the risk of being struck. Most lightning deaths and injuries occur in the summer. Where organized outdoor sports activities take place, coaches, camp counselors and other adults must stop activities at the first roar of thunder to ensure everyone has time to get to a large building or enclosed vehicle. Leaders of outdoors events should have a written plan that all staff are aware of and enforce.



* Indoor Activities: Inside buildings, stay off corded phones, computers and other electrical equipment that put you in direct contact with electricity. Stay away from pools (indoor or outdoor), tubs, showers and other plumbing. Buy surge suppressors for key equipment. Install ground fault protectors on circuits near water or outdoors. When inside, wait 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder, before going outside again.



* Helping a Lightning Strike Victim:
Lightning victims do not carry an electrical charge, are safe to touch, and need urgent medical attention. Cardiac arrest is the immediate cause of death for those who die. Some deaths can be prevented if the victim receives the proper first aid immediately. Call 9-1-1 immediately and perform CPR if the person is unresponsive or not breathing. Use an Automatic External Defibrillator if one is available.



* Summary: Lightning is dangerous.
With common sense, you can greatly increase your safety and the safety of those you are with. At the first clap of thunder, go to a large building or fully enclosed vehicle and wait 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder before you to go back outside.

When Thunder Roars, Go Indoors!

"Normal" For the Most Part...

 

What the dickens is on this maple tree?!?

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Good Morning...
The above picture is indicative of only one of my maples- About a 20 year old tree, growing next to a mulberry tree. Not sure what those "things" are that are on all the leaves...

Hope you have all had a grand week.
We have been busy.
Almost always a good thing, save for when my back goes nutty. It has been spasming something fierce, those spasms knocking the wind out of me. But relief to know that if I do lose my breath that I will pass out and normal breathing always takes over then.
Feels like I fell flat on my back and got the wind knocked out.
Yes, (sorry) I will live. hehehe

I have tons of catching up to do once more...

Things are normal in Flintville...

Jenne steals (and stores), Isaiah's crayons,

and colors in his books...

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And so, Isaiah must find other things to do...
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Punk has no problem keeping him company on his little adventures.
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Sometimes Isaiah has to content himself as I sew. hehehe

I think I forgot how to sew properly. (It is NOT like riding a bike)!

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Notice the darn seam ripper!
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Isaiah's dad, (Brad), took him to BayFest yesterday.
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He will come home this afternoon, so I don't know if he had fun or not.
I am going to say he had a grand time with all the rides.
This picture was taken as they were setting it all up on Wednesday.

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Casey too is more and more back to "normal" too hehehe
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That's my Casey.
(I believe she is sleepwalking)...
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But she was more than wide awake by the time we got downtown
And quickly noticed the sassy graffiti on this train!

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That's just bad...

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Punk apparently wanted a drink as we stopped for that train...

Guess she prefers the very local domestic brew from our Hinterland Brewery!
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Taking a walk the other day, and to see this little varmint sent Punk to chasing it, then trying to 'find' it below the hole it had run into.
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Jenne and Isaiah went to fill up that now much enlarged hole.
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And yes, Isaiah did help his Mama!
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The Wery's have been very busy in the fields-
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Grant has been out there since sunup this morning-
trying to cultivate the lowland dry so they can finish planting.
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More rain is predicted for this afternoon. And so, with respect to another day of rest for my back, the mowing will just have to keep until tomorrow. (It is getting much too fuzzy out there for my tastes).
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Notice the grass fuzz by Isaiah's legs.

Even the height of the grass falls under "normal" this year.
sigh

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Hope you all have a "wunnaful" weekend!
My love to all!

XOXO
Me

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Posted to Y!360, Saturday June 13, 2009 - 10:37am (CDT)

Only One Way In, and Only One Way Out

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Street Decor of the Day!
06/11/2009

"President Obama in Green Bay, Wisconsin"

As many of you know, President Obama came to Green Bay on Thursday.
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Casey and I had SO wanted tickets, but that darn White House never called our numbers. We contented ourselves to sit on the lawn and chat with her neighbors, various security, and a charming young journalist who happens to be getting married today!.

Casey and Greg live in the security apartments right across the road from Southwest High School. The Green Bay Police had brought the blockades on Wednesday already, so Casey had called management to inquire-
*Packerland Drive would be completely closed off, (as would be all entrances and exits from the complex), from 11AM until 3PM.

(I left here at 10:15, and was still challenged as I arrived at Packerland Drive).
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I had to turn left at that intersection.

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There seemed to be surveillance everywhere, and lots of "men in black" too.
As I arrived at the entrance, (10:30), there was a police car blocking it already. He told me to try the next entrance.
There? Another police car. But he allowed me through.

Punk came along also. (I think she wants health care for dogs too)! hehehe
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Casey holding her tight-

Punk is innately uneasy in a 'town' type setting
and did not want either of us out of her sight.
And I had walked away from her to take a few pictures

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Since the road was closed completely soon after I had arrived, there was no traffic to contend with.
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Punk did quite well all things considered. UNTIL...
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She was NOT amused by the Coast Guard Helicopter that flew round and round!
This, from the time our President landed at Austin Straubel, until he arrived at the high school.
(This was the ONLY aircraft allowed in the air from about 45 minutes before Air Force One arrived).
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Casey held her tight as she growled at the helicopter...

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The people lucky enough to have gotten tickets were told to park at NWTC (Northeast Wisconsin Technical College). Lamers bus lines then drove them to the high school, providing the people showed them tickets prior to boarding.
There were about 6 buses that ran back and forth.

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I took a few pictures around that main driveway.

Governor Doyle's car

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Notice the little red arrow... (Center, above).

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There was security even up there!

This is what that little red arrow points to...

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At the back end of the main drag at the apartment complex were two vehicles that were of the "watch~and~be~watched" variety...

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And of course the Secret Service sharpshooters and SWAT boys on various roofs.
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Yes, that's a man on the roof of the school.

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So we found it more than interesting to be outside too!

Not sure if I would have even looked up the driveway, but the officer at that drive was watching up there a lot.
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The gal from WLUK Channel 11 had asked to interview Casey at one point.
(But those plans got squashed
when Mr Obama's motorcade came from the opposite direction).
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I snapped a few more random pictures.

Noticing this man too.
Since there was NO FOOT TRAFFIC allowed on any of the sidewalks, nor bicycles, he had apparently ridden his bike out of the woods.

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Imagine my surprise as I turned around a few moments later and the man and bike were right behind me!
Turns out he is an old friend from Pulaski. Valerie's dad had worked for him at one point- Dave Wilkey having more than a few farms from Suamico to Pulaski to Shawano and Bonduel.
He had been driving up Highway 54 with the bike in the back of the pickup, saw all the hullaballoo, and thought he would take a little ride down to the school.
He DID have to come through the woods! hehehe Nice to see him again, and not busting his backside on one of his farms. He would stop in the store at Wouters Front every now and then completely flushed...
(He is also the ONLY person I ever allowed to go into the cooler).



There was a couple who lived nearby and had tickets to get in. They had walked through the parking lot...

(Shown below, arguing with Officer Ron Reese of GB Police Dept).

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In their defense, the parking lot announcements never said that people HAD to ride the buses.
Perhaps it was written on their tickets? Or maybe I just missed it too.
They were not allowed to cross the street. And therefore were not allowed to attend the Town Hall Meeting..
Officer Reese even called the SS to find out what to do. Not allowed.

In Officer Reese's defense, they could have walked on down the road through the woods to cross where it was open. Too lazy I suppose.
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Casey listening.

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I had brought ample water along for Punk, but Officer Reese saved me the walk back to the car as he had donated a bottle to Miss Punk.
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We'd had a great afternoon!
And with certain respect to my panic attacks, it is probably a very good thing that our #'s weren't called. It might have been more than a world of embarrassment to have had a panic attack in front of the President of the United States...

Know that the only thing I have to add to my resume at this point is that I might have gotten yelled at by that darned Secret Service. (I didn't do it).

And then they all flew away almost as quickly as they'd come...
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Love to all!
As I want to save these little stories, I shall also be posting a new blog shortly- Perhaps later this morning. I do know I am terribly far behind...

XOXO
Me

Originally posted to the dying horse of Y! 360, Saturday June 13, 2009 - 01:10am (CDT)

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