THE PULSE

Breast Cancer Education Event Scheduled

AstraZeneca, along with The Wellness Community, is hosting the very first “Many Faces of Breast Cancer” event in Los Angeles May 17, 1 to 3 p.m., at the Beverly Hilton, 9876 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, to educate local breast cancer survivors about recurrence risks, the importance of adherence and the latest data available on treating and beating breast cancer.

Participants at the “Many Faces of Breast Cancer” event include: John Glaspy, M.D., M.P.H., professor and physician, Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center; Silvana Martino, D.O., director of the Breast Cancer Program at The Angeles Clinic; James R. Waisman, M.D., breast oncologist, Breastlink Medical Group; and breast cancer survivors, Heather Gilbert and Patricia Blazic.

“The Many Faces of Breast Cancer” is an event focused on providing the latest information on breast cancer to the 2.5 million breast cancer survivors currently living in the United States today. The panel of medical experts, breast cancer survivors and advocates will speak to issues that directly affect the largest community of cancer survivors in the U.S., providing insight and up-to-date data surrounding treatment and exploring key survivorship issues.

Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served. Admission and refreshments are free.

Millions Allocated to Build Stem Cell Research Facilities

The California Institute of Regenerative Medicine’s (CIRM) governing board voted May 7 to distribute $271 million to 12 institutions to build stem cell research facilities throughout California. As a result of additional financial commitments made by these institutions, the state funding leveraged a total of $1.1 billion in new resources.

“California has taken the lead on cutting edge medical and stem cell research, and with this fantastic additional investment it’s clear others are taking notice. This will go a long way toward medical research that could save lives and improve them for people with chronic diseases. But also, this kind of public-private investment in a growing jobs sector is exactly the kind of good news our economy needs right now,” said Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In 2004, California voters approved Proposition 71 to devote $3 billion to stem cell research and create CIRM. To date, CIRM has approved research grants totaling almost $260 million. The California Supreme Court last year upheld a lower court’s ruling which frees up the $3 billion in funding from legal challenges. While this court ruling was pending, Gov. Schwarzenegger authorized loans of up to $150 million to keep California on the forefront of stem cell research.

California’s investment in embryonic stem cell research is three times higher than the National Institutes of Health’s funding. Compared internationally, China’s Ministry of Science and Technology will put up to $132 million into research over the next five years and the British government put $72.7 million into public funds for stem cell research between 2004 and 2006.

Tips Offered to Help Women Improve Their Health

In honor of Mother’s Day and National Women’s Health Week (May 11-17), the Office on Women’s Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, has issued “Five Things Every Woman Should Know”—a series of tips to help women improve their health and prevent disease:

• Schedule routine exams and screenings

• Get moving and eat healthy foods

• Know your personal and family health history

• Increase your personal safety (like not smoking and engaging in safe sex practices)

Pay attention to your mental health, which includes getting adequate sleep and managing stress.

Information: www.womenshealth.gov/whw.

New Developments Raise Profile of Fibromyalgia

The National Fibromyalgia Association recognized National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day on May 12 by spreading the word about this complex chronic pain disorder. Organizations, including Allsup, which represents people nationwide for Social Security Disability Insurance benefits, are also helping to raise awareness about the condition.

About 10 million Americans, both women and men, are affected by fibromyalgia, with symptoms such as widespread body and muscle pain, moderate to severe fatigue, sleep problems and environmental sensitivity.

The theme for this year’s observation was “Caring by Sharing,” a nationwide campaign designed to involve support group leaders, patients, advocates, healthcare providers and others. For the first time, the NFA held a “Walk of F.A.M.E.” n Fibromyalgia Awareness Means Everything. The walk took place in Orange, Calif.

The NFA estimates that diagnosis of fibromyalgia can take an average of five years from the date of the condition’s onset. A recent NFA survey found that less than one-third of physicians are “extremely/very confident” in their ability to diagnose the disorder. This concern is being addressed in part with a new collaboration, “The Fibromyalgia Circle of Care,” formed by the NFA, The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and The Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing.

The “Circle of Care,” announced in December 2007, includes annual educational initiatives, such as satellite broadcasts and workshops that are designed to help healthcare providers with the diagnosis and management of fibromyalgia patients. For more information, visit www.arthritis.org.

CDPH Announces Annual Quarantine of Sport-Harvested Mussels

Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), announced that the annual quarantine on sport-harvested mussels taken from the ocean waters of California for human consumption is effective from May 1 through Oct. 31. This quarantine affects all species of mussels harvested by the public anywhere on the California coast, including all bays and estuaries.

This statewide mussel quarantine is intended to prevent human cases of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) and domoic acid poisoning (DAP). The overwhelming majority of human cases of PSP illnesses occur between spring and fall.

PSP affects the human central nervous system, producing a tingling around the mouth and fingertips within a few minutes to a few hours after eating toxic shellfish. These symptoms typically are followed by disturbed balance, lack of muscular coordination, slurred speech and difficulty swallowing. In severe poisonings, complete muscular paralysis and death from asphyxiation can occur.

Symptoms of DAP can occur within 30 minutes to 24 hours after eating toxic seafood. In mild cases, symptoms may include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, headache and dizziness. These symptoms disappear completely within several days. In severe cases, the victim may experience excessive bronchial secretions, difficulty breathing, confusion, disorientation, cardiovascular instability, seizures, permanent loss of short term memory, coma and death.

There is no known antidote to the toxins and cooking cannot be relied upon to destroy them. Anyone experiencing symptoms of PSP or DAP should seek immediate medical care.

Consumers of sport-harvested, bivalve (two-shelled) clams or scallops are advised to eat only the white meat, removing and discarding the dark-colored organs or viscera before cooking.

No commercially harvested shellfish are included in the annual quarantine.

Information: (510) 412-4643 or (800) 553-4133.