JOPLIN, Mo. (KOAM) – Blood donations get lower this time of year but the need continues, according to an area non-profit blood center. The Community Blood Center of the Ozarks provides hospitals in southwest Missouri, northwest Arkansas and southeast Kansas life-saving blood. Montgomery,David
Researchers from the Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI) recently made presentations about their cardiovascular research projects, funded to the tune of $499,000 by the American Heart Association. From left to right are Amy Demetri, board member of American Heart Association; Khanh Ha, postdoctoral fellow at MMRI; Kelly Leogrande, wife of red cap ambassador; Ryan Leogrande, survivor and red cap ambassador; Luana Nunes Santos, postdoctoral fellow at MMRI; Maria Kontaridis, MMRI executive director; Nathan Tucker, assistant professor of biomedical research and translational medicine at MMRI; Max Majireck, associate professor of chemistry at Hamilton College; Ryan Rahman, student at Hamilton College; Frank Williams, board member at MMRI. (Photo credit: MMRI) UTICA, N.Y. — Four scientists at the Masonic Medical Research Institute (MMRI) currently have cardiovascular research projects funded by the American Heart Association totaling $499,000. “The funding provided by the American Heart Association allows MMRI to make significant strides towards finding ways to not only prevent, but to treat heart disease,” MMRI Executive Director Maria Kontaridis said in a press release. “All of us at MMRI are extremely grateful for the American Heart Association’s generous support.” The researchers presented brief overviews of their projects on Nov. 28 to board members from MMRI and the American Heart Association as well as the public. Kontaridis is researching whether there is a connection between congenital heart defects and autism. She also serves as the vice chair of the American Heart Association’s Basic Cardiovascular Sciences Council Leadership Committee. Kontaridis received the Transformational Project Award for $73,432 for her collaborative research project that researches the impact of damaged proteins on the structure and electrical signaling of the heart. Luana Nunes Santos received a diversity supplement award of $133,480 for two years to work with Kontaridis on the autism and congenital heart-defects project. The grant, which has concluded, promotes diversity and inclusion in the sciences. Khanh Ha, along with Hamilton College associate chemistry professor Max Majireck, has a grant for a project that aims to identify a new type of drug-delivery system that targets the plaques found in atherosclerosis. Nathan Tucker was awarded a $200,000 Innovative Project Award for two years that allows him and his team to focus on the strong impact genetics have on the risk of severe cardiovascular disease. Survivor Ryan Leogrande, who served as a Red Cap Ambassador to America’s Greatest Heart Run & Walk in 2022, talked about research and what it means to people living with heart disease. “After watching myself flatline, I made a number of life changes, including better diet and more exercise,” he said. “Like the great projects the American Heart Association is funding at Masonic Medical Research Institute, those changes are part of the research of the American Heart Association. My three sons, my wife and I support the American Heart Association so that other dads can be around to watch their children grow up.” “Since 1949, the American Heart Association has invested more than $5.7 billion in research,” said Amy DeMetri, executive VP of First Source Federal Credit Union and member of the board of directors of the American Heart Association in the Mohawk Valley. “We are currently funding 1,700 projects for a total of $479 million worldwide. We are very proud to be funding $499,000 right here at MMRI. It’s exciting that so much of the money we raise remains right here in the Mohawk Valley, stays in the Mohawk Valley. I know the work done here will have a positive impact on many lives in many places, starting right here.” MMRI conducts research on the causes of cardiovascular, neurocognitive, and autoimmune diseases to identify treatments and cures.
Blood Drive Setup Source: Xavierite The American Red Cross Club hosted an American Red Cross Annual Fall Blood Drive on Tuesday, Nov. 14 from 12-5 p.m. in the Wiseman Student Lounge. Other clubs involved were The Pre-Medical Society, Student Nurses Association, and Service Club. All donors received free socks with a holiday elf pattern from the Red Cross. All donors and volunteers also received club credit hours. One donation received two credits and one volunteer hour received one credit. Volunteer hours were stackable. Donors were asked to eat a healthy snack and drink an extra 16 oz. of water and fluids prior to their donation. Free snacks were provided for students and donors such as crackers, cookies, water, chips, and nutrition bars to keep donors blood sugar stable. For an appointment to donate, two forms were required to be filled out: a blood drive sign up form and an appointment scheduling form. Photo IDs, a blood donor card, or two other forms of ID were also required in order to donate blood. Since there were only 4 beds available at a time, The American Red Cross Club had donors make appointments in order to ensure a steady flow of people coming in. However, walk-ins were taken depending on the flow of the drive. According to Mia Cox, American Red Cross Club President, “Before blood transfusions blood donations are tested for blood type and infectious diseases. If a test result is positive, your donation will be discarded and you will be notified. When test results are received, units suitable for transfusion are labeled and stored.” Donors were asked to do Rapid Pass which is a quick prescreen to check their eligibility to donate. After their donation, the blood was processed and scanned into a database. “It is important for students to donate blood if they are able to. Blood Products are constantly used for life-saving procedures, emergency situations, and various treatments in healthcare settings. Without donations, these treatments would not be possible, and countless lives could be lost and affected as a result of being unable to receive blood products,” explains Olivia Artz, Student Nurses Association President. A total of seven students representing SNA volunteered to participate in the blood drive. Nursing students were able to work with members of the community and spread the word of the importance of donating blood. “If students weren’t able to attend this year’s blood drive, there are many resources available on the American Red Cross website that can help students find the closest and upcoming blood drive in the area. SNA hopes that everyone can recognize the importance of blood donation, and looks forward to seeing even more participation in years to come,” says Artz. The American Red Cross Club will be hosting another drive in the spring semester as well for students who could not donate blood this time around. About 40 students volunteered or donated this year. The American Red Cross Club sent in trained professionals to collect, store, and transplant the donations. In total Twenty-two units of blood were collected. According to Cox, “Every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood. It is essential for surgeries, cancer treatment, chronic illnesses, and traumatic injuries. Whether a patient receives whole blood, red cells, platelets or plasma, this lifesaving care starts with one person making a generous donation.” Blood is available to be shipped to hospitals 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Hospitals typically keep some blood units on their shelves, but may call for more at any time, such as, large scale emergencies,” says Cox. There are currently no upcoming events being hosted by the American Red Cross Club. If you are interested in attending any in the future, keep an eye out for event posts on the SXU Den. For more information pertaining to The American Red Cross Club contact, [email protected]. For more information pertaining to The Student Nurses Association contact, [email protected]. About Post Author
Seaman Joseph A. Boomhower / US Navy A new study based on British birth outcomes shows placental presence of Streptococcus agalactiae (known as group B Streptococcus, or GBS) is linked to double or triple the risk of neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, roughly 10 times greater than previous estimates. Group B strep is a common bacterium found in the genital tract of roughly 20% of pregnant women. Previous research has identified GBS in the placenta of around 5% of women before labor. US women receiving prenatal care are routinely screened for the bacterium, and antibiotics are recommended for use in labor to avoid passing on the pathogen to the infant, but widespread screening is not as common in the United Kingdom. Findings may change UK screening guidelines In the study, published today in Nature Microbiology, researchers looked at the presence of GBS and admission to the NICU, using data from a previous study of 436 infants born at term, and a second cohort of 925 pregnancies. The researchers found that 1 in 200 babies were admitted with sepsis associated with GBS, much higher than expected. Of 436 infants born at term, 7 out of 30 (23.3%) with placental GBS DNA and 34 of 406 (8.4%) without placental GBS DNA were admitted to the NICU (odds ratio, 3.3; 95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 7.8.) Significantly more newborns are admitted to the neonatal unit as a result of GBS-related sepsis than was previously thought. “In the UK, we’ve traditionally not screened mothers for GBS, but our findings—that significantly more newborns are admitted to the neonatal unit as a result of GBS-related sepsis than was previously thought—profoundly changes the risk/benefit balance of universal screening,” said author Francesca Gaccioli, MD, from the University of Cambridge, in a university press release on the study. The authors of the study then analyzed umbilical cord serum in infants who suffered sepsis and positive placental GBS DNA, and found levels of four pro-inflammatory cytokines were signifianctly raised, suggesting the GBS caused a cytokine storm. “We conclude that GBS causes about ten times the number of cases of neonatal morbidity than is currently recognized and that this morbidity is associated with bacterial invasion of the placenta and extreme activation of the fetal innate immune system before birth,” the authors concluded.
About 18 million blood transfusions occur each year in the U.S. Transfusions save lives every day. For trauma victims to newborn babies to cancer patients, transfusions have tremendous benefit. But not all transfusions are necessary, and some studies point to unneeded blood use. Behr says LVHN’s transfusions are much more targeted now. “We are giving the minimum dose required and waiting until the patient truly needs transfusion therapy in far more cases than ever before,” he says. As an example, Behr says, a patient transfused five years ago had a 50% chance of receiving two or more units of red blood cells versus just one unit. Now, the frequency is down to 20-22%. “Clinicians are more often giving a patient one unit and then assessing the situation, rather than going immediately to multiple units,” Behr says. “It’s a shift that’s having a positive impact across the board.”
Versiti and the Indianapolis Colts are partnering to host the 24th annual Bleed Blue Blood Drive on Dec. 15. Taking place at Lucas Oil Stadium, it’s the largest single-day blood drive in the state. The organization’s hope to welcome more than 1,000 donors, potentially saving up to 3,000 Hoosiers in need of lifesaving blood. All attempting donors will receive an exclusive, limited-edition Colts football featuring Colts center Ryan Kelly and will be entered to win tickets and pre-game sideline passes to the upcoming Colts home game on Dec. 31 against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Colts Pro Shop at the stadium also will be open during the event for fans who also would like to purchase holiday gifts. The blood drive will take place from 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at Lucas Oil Stadium, 500 S. Capitol Ave. There will be free parking on-site in the stadium’s South lot. To schedule an appointment to donate blood, call 1-317-916-5150 or visit versiti.org/bleedblue. Donating blood takes about an hour. Anyone age 17 or older in good health who meets eligibility requirements is encouraged to give. Parental consent is required for donors aged 16 to donate blood. Donors should bring a photo ID that includes their birth date.
Cuidar la salud puede ser un asunto complejo, sin embargo, puede aumentar la esperanza de vida. Y, por fortuna, hay una serie de consejos y hábitos que pueden ayudarte a mantenerte en forma. De hecho, en un estudio sobre riesgos cardiovasculares (realizado en 6,500 adultos), la Asociación Americana del Corazón destaca que una buena salud cardiovascular puede reducir las enfermedades relacionadas con la edad. Además, de acuerdo con el epidemiólogo Nour Makarem, el estudio reveló que “una mejor salud cardiovascular se asocia a un envejecimiento biológico más lento […]. También encontramos una asociación dosis-dependiente: cuanto mayor es el nivel de salud cardiovascular, más lento es el envejecimiento biológico”. Se trata de una excelente noticia que podría ayudarnos a mantenernos jóvenes durante más tiempo. Pero el estudio va aún más lejos, pues anuncia que con cierta rutina se pueden ganar 6 años en la lucha antiedad, a diferencia de las personas que descuidan su salud y que aparentan más edad. Entonces, ¿cuáles son los consejos para aumentar la esperanza de vida? He aquí la respuesta. 1. Mantente activo Según el estudio, los adultos deberían dedicar al menos 30 minutos a hacer deporte moderado o 75 minutos de deporte de alta intensidad durante la semana, mientras que los niños deben hacer una actividad física al menos una hora al día. Hacer ejercicio te dotará de muchos beneficios. South_agency Pero, ¿cómo puedes ser más activo? Para mejorar tu salud cardiovascular, es aconsejable fortalecer los músculos, lo que puede implicar fortalecerlos al menos dos veces por semana cuando hagas deporte. También es buena idea evitar estar demasiado tiempo sentado y mantenerse en movimiento a lo largo del día. Por fortuna, los que pensaban que había que dar al menos 10,000 pasos al día deben saber que la cifra es inferior. 2. Dormir bien Como siempre decimos, dormir es la clave de una buena salud. La OMS recomienda que los adultos duerman entre 7 y 9 horas por noche para mejorar su salud mental y física. Dormir lo suficiente favorece enormemente la cicatrización, mejora la función cerebral y reduce el riesgo de enfermedades crónicas. ¿Cómo puedes dormir mejor? Dormir delante de la tele es muy malo para el descanso, y aún peor si cargas el celular durante la noche. Los teléfonos deberían estar prohibidos cuando te acuestas, ya que su luz azul altera tu reloj biológico y reduce la producción de melatonina, la hormona del sueño. Si sigues teniendo problemas para dormir, el ejército estadounidense ha desarrollado una técnica que permite conciliar el sueño en únicamente dos minutos. 3. Come mejor La alimentación desempeña un papel esencial en la buena salud. Comer menos sal, así como más fruta y verdura te ayudará a mantener el colesterol bajo control y a limitar el riesgo de accidentes cardiovasculares.
Current vitamin D dosage recommendations may not be high enough, according to new research. Two new studies from Intermountain Health, presented at the American Heart Association’s 2023 Scientific Sessions, focused on vitamin D’s effects on heart disease and stroke. In doing so, they found that the current dosage recommendations for the micronutrient may be too low. Insufficient amounts of vitamin D can lead to serious health consequences. “We have previously evaluated vitamin D in observational studies and found insufficient levels to be associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes,” lead study author Heidi May, PhD, told Health. May explained that other observational studies have reported similar findings, so the research team wanted to evaluate the association in a randomized clinical trial. The current daily recommendation for vitamin D is 600 International Units (IU) for adults aged 19–70, and 800 IU for adults 71 and older. Here’s why the current vitamin D dosage recommendation may not be enough, how too little vitamin D can negatively impact your cardiovascular health, and how to ensure you’re getting enough vitamin D. Getty Images / Istockexstock There are a few ways someone can take in vitamin D. Known as “the sunshine vitamin,” solar rays are the primary source of vitamin D. The nutrient is also found in some foods like fortified milk, orange juice, fatty fish, and beef liver. Enough vitamin D can provide multiple health benefits, including: Reduced inflammation Protection against osteoporosis Neuromuscular function Immune function One of the lesser-known effects of vitamin D is its positive impact on the cardiovascular system. This is likely due to its anti-inflammatory action. “Vitamin D supports heart health by regulating blood pressure, reducing inflammation, and improving function of blood vessels, promoting better blood flow,” Veronica Rouse, RD, CDE, of The Heart Dietitian, told Health. According to May, multiple previous studies have established these benefits. “Many risk factors for heart disease have been shown to be affected by vitamin D, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and being overweight,” she said. Knowing that vitamin D could impact heart health, the research team set out to determine whether current dosing recommendations are helping people achieve optimal levels. In the first of the two studies, 632 patients were enrolled in a randomized clinical trial and divided into two groups. One group received targeted, personalized vitamin D treatment, while the other simply received a general recommendation to talk to their doctor about vitamin D supplementation. Those in the targeted treatment group received vitamin D supplements as needed to help them achieve blood levels of over 40 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml), identified as a baseline optimal level for cardiovascular disease prevention. Those in the doctor discussion group received no specific amount of supplementation. Remarkably, 86.5% of subjects in the as-needed dosing group required more than 2,000 IU of daily vitamin D to achieve a 40 ng/ml blood level, and 14.6% required over 10,000 IU daily. Reaching these levels wasn’t a quick process. Less than 65% of subjects got to the 40 ng/ml mark in three months, and 25% needed at least six months to get there. To measure the impact of these findings on heart health, the research team conducted an additional analysis. This time, they identified subjects who had a cardiovascular event within 30 days of enrollment in the study. In these people, baseline vitamin D levels were a median of 25 ng/ml, significantly below the optimal 40 ng/ml level. May explained that her main takeaway from these studies is that ideal vitamin D intake (especially for heart health) may need to be targeted to individuals, rather than based on a blanket daily recommendation. “Prior vitamin D supplementation studies gave everyone the same dose of vitamin D, regardless of their blood level,” she said. “This study will be the first to show whether it is important for a patient to obtain a certain blood level of vitamin D to reduce their risk of having an adverse cardiovascular event.” Since people’s vitamin D needs can vary, it might be tricky to understand how much you personally need, and whether or not you’re getting that amount from food and sunshine alone. Having your levels tested regularly can give you a sense of whether your intake is sufficient. “Testing vitamin D levels in the blood and speaking with a healthcare provider will be the best way to determine how much vitamin D you should take, especially when considering higher doses,” Rouse said. Certain health conditions may also increase your needs. People with difficulty absorbing nutrients due to inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, cystic fibrosis, or bariatric surgery may need to supplement with extra vitamin D. If you’d like to add a supplement, talk to your doctor about how many IUs are too many. Higher doses than the recommended 600-800 IU per day can be safe—but only up to a point. According to the National Institutes of Health, ingesting too much vitamin D could result in adverse side effects like nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, dehydration, and kidney stones. Besides adding a supplement to your routine, you can always boost your vitamin D levels with dietary choices. “To achieve optimal Vitamin D levels, dietary sources like fatty fish, egg yolks, and fortified foods are key,” Rouse said. Both vitamin D-fortified milk and orange juice, for example, contain just under 100 IU per cup. Or, for an even greater boost, try cod liver oil; it contains 1,360 IU of vitamin D per tablespoon. Spending time in the sun is another simple way to increase your body’s natural production of this vitamin. Try an outdoor walk around midday when the sun’s UVB rays are the most intense. Expose more of your skin to allow for greater absorption. With the right combination of time in the sun, high-vitamin D foods, and supplementation, you’ll optimize your levels for heart health and other benefits.
WENATCHEE — With reports of a mysterious canine respiratory disease sweeping across parts of the United States, veterinarian Collin Bonnett of Cascade Veterinary Clinics wants to let locals know what to look out for. “This seems to be a complex, what’s called canine infectious respiratory disease. Kennel cough for example is one version of this. Sneezing, sometimes ocular discharge, squinting. Things like that,” says Bonnett. Cases of the new disease have been confirmed nationwide and are slowly gaining proximity to Washington. In August, the Oregon Department of Agriculture began receiving word of an unknown respiratory disease infecting dogs. A recent press release from the Oregon Veterinary Medical Association says that there have now been over 200 cases reported to the ODA. Dogs allegedly begin experiencing respiratory issues similar to kennel cough, but do not respond to standard antibiotic treatment. This develops into a form of chronic pneumonia-like symptoms that can result in poor outcomes in just 24 to 36 hours. As of two weeks ago, no cases of this new disease have been reported to the Washington State Department of Agriculture. However, pet owners should still be on the lookout. “Generally, these dogs are lethargic and off of their food. They don’t want to perform; go for a normal walk or run that they would do, but certainly the coughing, sneezing, hacking thing would be the principle, clinical signs owners should be looking for,” says Bonnett. WSDA is urging pet owners to take proper precautions by keeping pet vaccinations up to date and avoiding areas with other dogs. “If a dog is displaying any clinical signs of coughing, sneezing or inappetence, those kinds of things, it would be responsible for them to not take them to boarding facilities, playgrounds, dog parks, family visits and things like that,” says Bonnett. Bonnet also stressed that if pets do start displaying respiratory symptoms that they are seen by a veterinarian and isolated from other pets. Veterinarians who encounter a potential case of this new respiratory disease should contact Washington State RVC Coordinator Minden Buswell with the WSDA.
FORT CAVAZOS, Texas — The 411th Military Police Company (MPC) and the 720th Military Police Battalion will host a blood drive to help replenish the supply used to treat injured solider, SPC Benjamin Richardson, on Friday, Dec. 1 in Fort Cavazos. According to the 411th MPC, Richardson and his wife were injured in an accident on Nov. 24. Richardson is still hospitalized in the ICU at Baylor Scott & White. The 411th MPC says 40 units of blood were used during Richardson’s initial treatment and now they want to be able to refill those supplies. This blood drive will be held at the Robertson Blood Center at 2250 W 761st Tank Battalion Ave and is open to all soldiers and families who meet the blood donation requirements.
