VGTI Florida and Martin Memorial are working on a research study that represents the initial collaboration between the life sciences organization and the health care provider.
The study began collecting blood samples in late October from patients visiting Martin Memorial physicians who agree to participate in the study. Those samples are then turned over to scientists at VGTI Florida for study.
“We believe this study can play an important role in helping us develop innovative vaccine and immune therapies for the current flu epidemic, HIV and other chronic infections,” said Rafick-Pierre Sekaly, Ph.D., co-director and scientific director of VGTI Florida. “Our partnership with Martin Memorial provides us with access to a patient population willing to participate in potentially life-saving research.”
VGTI Florida is the Florida-funded expansion of Oregon Health and Science University’s highly successful Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute. Research at the facility will focus on vaccine development with a special focus on vaccines and therapeutics that protect the aging population, which is the most vulnerable to disease.
VGTI Florida is one of the three life sciences organizations comprising the Florida Center for Innovation, located at the Tradition development in western St. Lucie County. Along with Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies and the Mann Research Center, VGTI Florida is bringing innovative clinical research to the Treasure Coast.
Martin Memorial, which is seeking approval from the state of Florida to build an 80-bed hospital in Tradition near Torrey Pines, has been participating in research studies for many years – primarily in cancer clinical trials. Since 2001, more than 50 cancer clinical research trials have been conducted at the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center, which have provided valuable insight into the causes of and treatments for cancer.
“We believe this will be the first of many collaborative opportunities with our partners at the Florida Center for Innovation,” said Mark E. Robitaille, president and chief executive officer of Martin Memorial. “This is a perfect example of how we can provide valuable clinical resources that are critical to scientific research and that can profoundly impact the way health care is delivered.”
The study will be overseen at VGTI by Dr. Sekali and Lydie Trautmann, Ph.D., and at Martin Memorial by Richard Dube, MD, and Paul Gaeta, MD. The purpose of the study, which is expected to involve approximately 270 subjects, is to investigate how the body’s immune cells react to exposure to a viral infection such as the flu, either by immunization or by infection with the virus itself.
In the case of influenza infection the body reacts very quickly. During infection, the immune system produces cells that fight the infection. At the same time, the immune system produces antibodies that are able to protect against future infections from the same infection.
The study of this process will allow researchers to better understand the reaction the body has against the virus. Better understanding of the model for acute phase of influenza infection will be helpful in determining protective strategies and developing innovative vaccine and immune therapies to control the current flu epidemic, HIV and other chronic infections.
Three groups of subjects are being asked to participate in the study. That includes:
· Men and women who have flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough or runny nose and are diagnosed with the seasonal flu (both types A and B) by having a positive rapid flu test. Blood will be drawn at that visit, with a second blood draw taking place 30 days later. One hundred individuals will be recruited in this group.
· Men and women who have flu-like symptoms and are diagnosed with the flu by having a positive rapid flu test for type A flu only. Blood will be drawn at that visit, followed by another draw 30 days later. Twenty individuals will be recruited in this group.
· Men and women who are scheduled to have the flu vaccine. There are three subgroups featuring healthy subjects receiving flu vaccine – a total of 50 in each group – who receive either seasonal flu vaccine or H1N1 flu vaccine, or seasonal flu and H1N1 flu vaccine. Study participants will receive a blood draw the day of their vaccination, another three to seven days later, as well as another blood draw 30 days after the first sample.
Those interested in participating in the study can call (772) 288-5858 and select option four.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Friday, October 30, 2009
Here Are Some Tricks to Keep From Overeating Treats on Halloween
With Halloween just a few days away it really marks the start of the eating season. First it’s Halloween and all the leftover candy. Then it’s Thanksgiving and all the leftovers, which leads us into the Christmas season with the holiday parties and Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, extending until New Years and then there are still leftovers from New Years Day.
As a dietitian I hear many excuses for not eating healthy. Many people who are trying to lose weight just check off two months of excuses on reasons to eat. So let’s make this season different and start right with Halloween.
First off, don’t buy Halloween candy early. If you have the mentality of my husband, we need to buy the Halloween candy early just in case. Just in case the stores run out or the kids come before Oct. 31? Slim chance, but it’s an excuse to have it in the house to nibble on before trick or treating begins. So here it starts with the temptations and splurges, and if you’re not careful, extra pounds free of charge.
Secondly, don’t let yourself or your kids go hungry Halloween night. Have a balanced meal such as a salad with some grilled chicken before the night begins. This will prevent the gorging of Halloween candy and will allow you to enjoy some candy in the right amounts.
Thirdly, if you have candy leftovers just throw it out rather than bringing on the baggage to someone else. Chances are if you bring it to the workplace most people are in the same boat as you and trying to watch their weight. And if you bring sweets to a place where we tend to stress eat we are setting ourselves and others up for a pound increase. So what sense does it make to bring it there? Save yourself and your co-workers the temptation and throw it out.
Lastly, if have you kids control their candy intake. Make it fun by portioning it out and setting treat times or saving for a later date. Maybe make a healthy recipe such as whole-wheat cookies, muffins, or pancakes with candy goodies. Trail mix is another good option with nuts, dried fruit, and some M&M’s for a fix. But whatever you do, remember that candy and rewards don’t mix.
So make this Halloween a trick and a treat – not all eats!
--Beth St.Louis, MS, RD, LDN
Program Dietitian
Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing
As a dietitian I hear many excuses for not eating healthy. Many people who are trying to lose weight just check off two months of excuses on reasons to eat. So let’s make this season different and start right with Halloween.
First off, don’t buy Halloween candy early. If you have the mentality of my husband, we need to buy the Halloween candy early just in case. Just in case the stores run out or the kids come before Oct. 31? Slim chance, but it’s an excuse to have it in the house to nibble on before trick or treating begins. So here it starts with the temptations and splurges, and if you’re not careful, extra pounds free of charge.
Secondly, don’t let yourself or your kids go hungry Halloween night. Have a balanced meal such as a salad with some grilled chicken before the night begins. This will prevent the gorging of Halloween candy and will allow you to enjoy some candy in the right amounts.
Thirdly, if you have candy leftovers just throw it out rather than bringing on the baggage to someone else. Chances are if you bring it to the workplace most people are in the same boat as you and trying to watch their weight. And if you bring sweets to a place where we tend to stress eat we are setting ourselves and others up for a pound increase. So what sense does it make to bring it there? Save yourself and your co-workers the temptation and throw it out.
Lastly, if have you kids control their candy intake. Make it fun by portioning it out and setting treat times or saving for a later date. Maybe make a healthy recipe such as whole-wheat cookies, muffins, or pancakes with candy goodies. Trail mix is another good option with nuts, dried fruit, and some M&M’s for a fix. But whatever you do, remember that candy and rewards don’t mix.
So make this Halloween a trick and a treat – not all eats!
--Beth St.Louis, MS, RD, LDN
Program Dietitian
Martin Memorial Center for Health and Healing
Monday, October 26, 2009
Martin Memorial to Open New Health and Fitness Center in St. Lucie West on Nov. 3
The Martin Memorial St. Lucie West Health and Fitness Center will be opening at a permanent facility on Nov. 3. The fitness center was relocated to a temporary location in October 2008, in order to make room for a freestanding emergency department at Martin Memorial’s St. Lucie West facility.
On Oct. 29 at 2 p.m., the health and fitness center’s temporary facility will close. The new, permanent location will open Nov. 3 at 5:30 a.m., located at 582 N.W. University Blvd., Suite 350. In the interim period between the temporary site closing and the new facility opening, St. Lucie West members are invited to utilize one of Martin Memorial’s four other health and fitness locations: Jensen Beach, Palm City, South Stuart or Hobe Sound.
The new facility at St. Lucie West will also feature something no other fitness center across the Treasure Coast has – Kinesis. This innovative piece of equipment offers a unique fitness experience by taking what the body does naturally and adding resistance. There will also be special classes that focus on tennis and golf, allowing members to improve their fitness levels and work on their games at the same time.
The new location will continue to provide medically directed fitness services that members have grown accustomed to receiving. That includes a full line of cardiovascular and strength equipment, child care, massage, lockers and shower facilities. There are also fitness classes designed for people with specific ailments such as diabetes, cancer and cardiac rehabilitation.
Members of the public are invited to tour our facility when it opens on Nov. 3. They can also find more information or sign up for Kinesis classes by calling (772) 785-5522.
On Oct. 29 at 2 p.m., the health and fitness center’s temporary facility will close. The new, permanent location will open Nov. 3 at 5:30 a.m., located at 582 N.W. University Blvd., Suite 350. In the interim period between the temporary site closing and the new facility opening, St. Lucie West members are invited to utilize one of Martin Memorial’s four other health and fitness locations: Jensen Beach, Palm City, South Stuart or Hobe Sound.
The new facility at St. Lucie West will also feature something no other fitness center across the Treasure Coast has – Kinesis. This innovative piece of equipment offers a unique fitness experience by taking what the body does naturally and adding resistance. There will also be special classes that focus on tennis and golf, allowing members to improve their fitness levels and work on their games at the same time.
The new location will continue to provide medically directed fitness services that members have grown accustomed to receiving. That includes a full line of cardiovascular and strength equipment, child care, massage, lockers and shower facilities. There are also fitness classes designed for people with specific ailments such as diabetes, cancer and cardiac rehabilitation.
Members of the public are invited to tour our facility when it opens on Nov. 3. They can also find more information or sign up for Kinesis classes by calling (772) 785-5522.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Here's Something Scary: Those Halloween Treats Will Play Tricks With Your Fitness
It is almost time for Halloween, so once again this is a good time to review the cold, hard facts about how long you'll need to jump, walk or run to burn off your favorite devilish little darlings.
Sparkpeople.com did some research on how much damage 10 tiny treats really do. They took a sampling of 10 snack-sized treats – everything from Snickers, Tootsie Rolls, candy corn, Butterfinger, Peanut M&M's and more. The number of calories totaled: 775! Remember, that's just 10 pieces.
What does this mean in terms of calorie expenditure? Sparkpeople.com's fitness tracker calculated a 150-pound woman performing jumping jacks at a rate of one per second will burn 10 calories per minute. She'll need to perform jumping jacks for one hour and 18 minutes. That's a lot of jumping, and that's a fact jack!
If jumping is not your choice of exercise, you may want to go for a walk – a very long walk. A 7.75 mile walk will burn off those 10 tiny treats. Remember, we generally burn 100 calories for each mile of walking at a moderate pace.
Now for the good news. If you do choose to indulge this Halloween, and I'm quite sure I will, Diet.com did some research to find the top Halloween candy for healthy people. The best treats are Junior Mints, 3 Musketeers and Peanut M&M's.
I am not advocating that you go out and eat an entire bag of Junior Mints, but it is comforting to know they actually have some nutritional value, since Junior Mints are made with dark chocolate!
So enjoy a few treats smartly and you won't have to play any tricks to get your body back in shape. Happy Halloween!
--Jane Reynolds
Health and Fitness Technician
Hospital South Health and Fitness
Sparkpeople.com did some research on how much damage 10 tiny treats really do. They took a sampling of 10 snack-sized treats – everything from Snickers, Tootsie Rolls, candy corn, Butterfinger, Peanut M&M's and more. The number of calories totaled: 775! Remember, that's just 10 pieces.
What does this mean in terms of calorie expenditure? Sparkpeople.com's fitness tracker calculated a 150-pound woman performing jumping jacks at a rate of one per second will burn 10 calories per minute. She'll need to perform jumping jacks for one hour and 18 minutes. That's a lot of jumping, and that's a fact jack!
If jumping is not your choice of exercise, you may want to go for a walk – a very long walk. A 7.75 mile walk will burn off those 10 tiny treats. Remember, we generally burn 100 calories for each mile of walking at a moderate pace.
Now for the good news. If you do choose to indulge this Halloween, and I'm quite sure I will, Diet.com did some research to find the top Halloween candy for healthy people. The best treats are Junior Mints, 3 Musketeers and Peanut M&M's.
I am not advocating that you go out and eat an entire bag of Junior Mints, but it is comforting to know they actually have some nutritional value, since Junior Mints are made with dark chocolate!
So enjoy a few treats smartly and you won't have to play any tricks to get your body back in shape. Happy Halloween!
--Jane Reynolds
Health and Fitness Technician
Hospital South Health and Fitness
Friday, October 16, 2009
Rehabilitation Can Play a Critical Role in Helping Autistic Children
As a speech language pathologist who works with both children and adults, I see all kinds of diagnoses. As a pediatric therapist, one of the more interesting yet baffling is children within the “Autistic Spectrum Disorder."
Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder which affects social and communication skills but can also affect motor and language skills. It is not unusual for a child with autism to also be treated by an occupational therapist and a physical therapist. Statistics vary, but one in every 150 children may be diagnosed with this devastating disorder.
Boys are more than four times likely than girls to be autistic. Usually diagnosed at 3 years of age, a toddler at 16 months can show signs that are telling. These might include: not using words, not responding when his/her name is called, exhibiting repetitive behaviors, resisting cuddling, not pointing to objects and not engaging in simple interactions/games.
A pediatrician is instrumental in helping parents determine if a child is showing the signs and what services to seek out. One of the first professionals that a family is referred to is a speech language pathologist, as speech and language deficits are most noted. A pediatric SLP is trained in the area of language and social deficits, and is key in helping to determine if a child is in the spectrum.
More specific speech and language skills assessed are the following: understanding what others are saying or following directions without needing cueing; interest in age-appropriate toys and playing with them as intended; methods that are used to communicate wants and needs; interest in other people and wanting to interact. Speech pathologists will also be interested in the child’s eating patterns, as children with autism may be very “picky” eaters with a very limited diet.
Occupational therapists will be interested in a child’s sensory system, specifically the areas of touch/sound/light/temperature. Fine motor skills, gravitational insecurities and attention to task are other areas of interest to the OT’s. Large motor skills, such as learning to walk are not deficits often seen, but reduced body and spatial awareness are often deficits seen by the physical therapist.
Now, it’s not to say that all children with autism exhibit the same lack of skills. That is what is confusing about this disorder. It is a broad diagnosis that can include a high IQ as well as mental retardation. A child with autism may be chatty or silent, affectionate or cold, methodical or disorganized, mildly affected or severely affected.
It is a challenging diagnosis for all therapists involved. But the good news is, the earlier intensive therapies are started the better the prognosis for the child. While a child may always be intrinsically autistic, it is possible for the child to overcome the specific impairments in order to lead a very functional, productive, interactive and independent life.
--Cindy Irish, MS, CCC/SLP
Lead Speech Pathologist
Autism is a pervasive developmental disorder which affects social and communication skills but can also affect motor and language skills. It is not unusual for a child with autism to also be treated by an occupational therapist and a physical therapist. Statistics vary, but one in every 150 children may be diagnosed with this devastating disorder.
Boys are more than four times likely than girls to be autistic. Usually diagnosed at 3 years of age, a toddler at 16 months can show signs that are telling. These might include: not using words, not responding when his/her name is called, exhibiting repetitive behaviors, resisting cuddling, not pointing to objects and not engaging in simple interactions/games.
A pediatrician is instrumental in helping parents determine if a child is showing the signs and what services to seek out. One of the first professionals that a family is referred to is a speech language pathologist, as speech and language deficits are most noted. A pediatric SLP is trained in the area of language and social deficits, and is key in helping to determine if a child is in the spectrum.
More specific speech and language skills assessed are the following: understanding what others are saying or following directions without needing cueing; interest in age-appropriate toys and playing with them as intended; methods that are used to communicate wants and needs; interest in other people and wanting to interact. Speech pathologists will also be interested in the child’s eating patterns, as children with autism may be very “picky” eaters with a very limited diet.
Occupational therapists will be interested in a child’s sensory system, specifically the areas of touch/sound/light/temperature. Fine motor skills, gravitational insecurities and attention to task are other areas of interest to the OT’s. Large motor skills, such as learning to walk are not deficits often seen, but reduced body and spatial awareness are often deficits seen by the physical therapist.
Now, it’s not to say that all children with autism exhibit the same lack of skills. That is what is confusing about this disorder. It is a broad diagnosis that can include a high IQ as well as mental retardation. A child with autism may be chatty or silent, affectionate or cold, methodical or disorganized, mildly affected or severely affected.
It is a challenging diagnosis for all therapists involved. But the good news is, the earlier intensive therapies are started the better the prognosis for the child. While a child may always be intrinsically autistic, it is possible for the child to overcome the specific impairments in order to lead a very functional, productive, interactive and independent life.
--Cindy Irish, MS, CCC/SLP
Lead Speech Pathologist
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Discounted Mammograms Offered to Uninsured and Underinsured Women
Each year, mammograms provide the early detection necessary to help successfully treat breast cancer.
During October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Martin Memorial is offering $100 screening mammograms for women who are uninsured or underinsured. Payments must be self-pay and not made through insurance. To schedule a screening mammogram, call (772) 288-5817.
Martin Memorial is also continuing a program that began in May 2009 to assist women who might not otherwise have access to mammograms due to their financial situations. Martin Memorial is providing a limited number of free mammograms for medically underserved women, with help from a grant provided by the National Breast Cancer Foundation. That includes women who have no insurance or who are underinsured and have an income of no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Women must meet other certain criteria to qualify, including:
· They must be 49 years or younger.
· They must have a prescription for a mammogram from a physician.
· They must be from Martin or St. Lucie counties.
For more information, to determine eligibility and to schedule an appointment, call (772) 223-5945, ext. 3331.
Mammograms play a critical role in detecting breast cancer early, which can lead to successful treatment. According to the National Cancer Institute, the regular use of screening mammograms can help reduce the chances of dying from breast cancer by 30 percent in women between the ages of 50 and 69, and by about 17 percent for women in their 40s.
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2009 there will be 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 40,170 deaths that result from the disease. The National Breast Cancer Foundation’s goal is to provide increased awareness about breast cancer through education, while also providing mammograms for those in need. Martin Memorial was able to partner with the Foundation, which provided funding for the free mammograms.
During October, which is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Martin Memorial is offering $100 screening mammograms for women who are uninsured or underinsured. Payments must be self-pay and not made through insurance. To schedule a screening mammogram, call (772) 288-5817.
Martin Memorial is also continuing a program that began in May 2009 to assist women who might not otherwise have access to mammograms due to their financial situations. Martin Memorial is providing a limited number of free mammograms for medically underserved women, with help from a grant provided by the National Breast Cancer Foundation. That includes women who have no insurance or who are underinsured and have an income of no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Women must meet other certain criteria to qualify, including:
· They must be 49 years or younger.
· They must have a prescription for a mammogram from a physician.
· They must be from Martin or St. Lucie counties.
For more information, to determine eligibility and to schedule an appointment, call (772) 223-5945, ext. 3331.
Mammograms play a critical role in detecting breast cancer early, which can lead to successful treatment. According to the National Cancer Institute, the regular use of screening mammograms can help reduce the chances of dying from breast cancer by 30 percent in women between the ages of 50 and 69, and by about 17 percent for women in their 40s.
The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2009 there will be 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer and 40,170 deaths that result from the disease. The National Breast Cancer Foundation’s goal is to provide increased awareness about breast cancer through education, while also providing mammograms for those in need. Martin Memorial was able to partner with the Foundation, which provided funding for the free mammograms.
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