People’s Pharmacy: Cancer drug prices continue to soar. 2D
HealthToday
T H U R S D A Y , M A R C H 29, 2007
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AGING
Alzheimer’s task force? As Alzheimer’s disease continues to plague Alabama’s elderly, one politician has asked that a 14-person Alzheimer’s disease task force be established by the state. State Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, sponsored the bill that was introduced earlier this month. She did not return phone and e-mail requests for comment by Wednesday. The stated goal of establishing the task force is to assess the current and future impact of the disease. The task force would be charged with looking at what role the state is taking and what future public action should be considered. Researchers, caregivers, Alzheimer’s patients, doctors and state officials are cited as the people who should serve on the task force. BILL: HB201 ■ Sponsor: Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville ■ Status: First read March 6 and referred to committee.
Political prescriptions By Sarah Bruyn Jones Staff Writer
H
ealth is not just a topic between doctor and patient. Politicians have a say, too. This year in Montgomery is no exception. Both the Senate and House Health Committees in the 2007 regular legislative session have been busy with issues ranging from hospital and nursinghome payments to public tobacco use and steroids. And new bills that deal with health-related policies are continuing to be introduced. On Tuesday, state Sen. Jim Preuitt, D-Talladega, introduced a bill that would allow anyone 17 and older to donate blood without parental consent. As of Tuesday, 19 different bills were sitting in the House health committee. Eight bills were waiting to be addressed in the Senate health committee. That doesn’t count the bills that have made it out of the committee. There are six bills relating to abortion, three in each
chamber. The House has a bill, sponsored by state Rep. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, that would forbid human cloning. Several bills address childbirth. State Sen. Phil Poole, D-Tuscaloosa, sponsored a bill that would mandate insurance policies and contracts to cover in vitro fertilization programs. Existing law doesn’t specify such a requirement. State Sen. J.T. “Jabo” Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills, sponsored a bill that would establish a birth defect registry maintained by the state and available to researchers. Numerous bills address public policy and tobacco. Some were assigned to the House Health Committee, while others went through a different process. The House Judiciary Committee, for instance, has a bill that would increase the penalties for selling tobacco products to minors. Other bills seek to amend the Constitution to forbid most smoking in restaurants and bars. We have put together information on some of the bills that could have an impact on how health care is delivered in Alabama. Some of the more nuanced bills dealing with complex topics such as licensing health care providers and facilities, are not covered here.
CALL FOR UPDATES To check a bill’s status during the legislative session, call: 800-499-3052 for House bills; 800-499-3051 for Senate bills.
TREATMENT
Regulating epilepsy drugs
MORE BILLS |3D A look at more health-related bills under consideration.
State Rep. Ronald Johnson has a pharmacy degree from Auburn University, and he’s using that knowledge to push a change in how epilepsy drugs are dispensed. Johnson has sponsored a bill that would make it illegal for a pharmacist to substitute one version of an anti-epileptic drug for another, including the generic version. Punishment would be to suspend or revoke the license of any pharmacist who violates the provisions. State Sen. Linda Coleman, D-Birmingham, introduced the bill in the Senate. She also chairs the Senate Health Committee. Five other senators are cosponsoring the bill. Similar bills are being introduced around the U.S. at the urging of the Epilepsy Foundation of America. In Alabama, two chapters of the Epilepsy foundation — one in the southern part of the state and the other in the north — are pushing for the bill’s passage. “Epilepsy patients are super sensitive to medication levels,” said Melvin Maraman, an advocate with the Epilepsy Foundation of South Alabama. “This is absolutely not an antigeneric bill.” Generic versions, while similar, can have slight variations that could negatively affect an epileptic patient, Maraman said. Generic drug manufacturers have raised some concern over the bill, but the bill has garnered support from Alabama neurologists. The American Academy of Neurology issued a position paper on the subject in November and many statelevel legislations, including Alabama’s, have followed the position of the academy.
Prostate cancer is the most common nonskin cancer among men in the United States. With that in mind, state Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, wants to mandate that insurance companies pay for annual prostate cancer screenings. There are two types of screenings —- one relies on a blood test and the other on a digital rectal exam. Smitherman’s bill seeks to cover both exams annually for men 40 and older. No major scientific or medical organization, including the American Cancer Society, supports routine testing for prostate cancer. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force concluded that studies completed so far do not provide enough evidence to know whether the benefits of testing for early prostate cancer outweigh the disadvantages. Still, the American Cancer Society says it believes physicians should offer yearly testing beginning at age 50. For men at high risk, such as black men and men with a strong family history of the cancer, physicians should begin offering testing at age 45, according to the cancer society’s position.
WOMEN
More freedom for midwives
TIP Contact information for all state legislators, including address, phone numbers and e-mail, are provided online at www.legislature.state.al.us If you don’t know who represents your area, visit www. legislature.state.al.us/misc/zipse arch.html. In some cases you will need to know your ninedigit zip code.
Urging annual prostate exams
BILL: SB255 ■ Sponsor: Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham ■ Status: First read March 20 and referred to the health committee.
BILL: HB303 ■ Sponsor: Rep. Ronald Johnson, R-Sylacauga ■ Status: First read March 13 and sent to committee. SB248 ■ Sponsor: Linda Coleman, D-Birmingham ■ Status: First read March 15 and sent to committee.
MAKE YOUR OPINIONS HEARD
PREVENTION
AF ST
US LL FI
N IO AT TR
HO NT |A
AT BR NY
IN
A
Midwives and their supporters want to deliver babies in homes, but doctors and the Medical Association of the State of Alabama say that’s dangerous. The disagreement comes over a bill sponsored by Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville, that would allow midwives to be paid to deliver a baby in a home. Using certified nursemidwives is legal but they usually deliver babies in a hospital birthing center. If the bill passes, the change would be one of location and direct payment to the midwife. Only a handful of midwives practice in Alabama. The Medical Association of the State of Alabama is lobbying against the bill, citing too much risk to mother and child during home births. Physicians say most homes are poorly equipped to deal with dangerous complications in childbirth, compared with hospitals and birthing centers. BILL: HB199 ■ Sponsor: Rep. Laura Hall, D-Huntsville ■ Status: First read March 6 and referred to committee
People’s Pharmacy: Can chocolate treat blood pressure? 2D
THURSDAY,A
HealthToday
P R I L 9 , 2009
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PREVENTION
Don’t just sit there, or you may pay for it later
9-MONTH
fitness ■ Walking ■ Swimming ■ Cycling ■ Aerobics
By Kristi Palma Special to The Tuscaloosa News
R
DO IN MODERATION ■ Running ■ Racquet sports ■ Strength training
STAY AWAY FROM ■ Downhill snow skiing ■ Scuba diving ■ Contact sports (ice hockey, soccer and basketball)
WARNING SIGNS Pregnant women should stop working out if they experience the following: ■ Vaginal bleeding ■ Dizziness or feeling faint ■ Increased shortness of breath ■ Chest pain ■ Headache ■ Muscle weakness ■ Calf pain or swelling ■ Uterine contractions ■ Decreased fetal movement ■ Fluid leaking from vagina Source: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
achel Warren, 28, of Tuscaloosa, is sevenmonths pregnant. But that hasn’t stopped her from working out. She heads to her gym two to three days a week to attend spin class and work out with weights. “I work out because it makes me feel better,” said Warren, who is pregnant with her second child. According to experts, Warren’s workout routine is not only making her feel better but it’s decreasing her chance of getting gestational diabetes and doing wonders for her back, muscle tone, strength and endurance. According to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), pregnant women who work up a sweat stand to benefi t in many more ways than that — working out staves off constipation, bloating and swelling. It also gives women energy, better posture and brightens their moods. Yet some pregnant women, like many Americans in general, remain sedentary, said Dr. Raul Artal, professor and chairman, department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and spokesperson for ACOG. “For too long, women were told pregnancy was a state of confinement and that they could indulge and gain weight,” said Artal. “That’s not good. A sedentary lifestyle and weight gain during pregnancy can result in gestational diabetes and other complications.” He encourages his patients to work out any way they can. “When we say exercise, it doesn’t have to be a Jane Fonda aerobics class,” said Artal. SEE FITNESS | 3D
PINK SLIP LOOMING? Schedule necessary doctor appointments: If you still have health insurance, schedule appointments and refill regular prescriptions. Don’t get every test out there: Being diagnosed with a pre-existing condition may make it difficult to get reasonably priced health insurance. Negotiate with your doctor: Ask your doctor if he or she will continue seeing you for a lower rate than what your insurance company was paying. Explore insurance options: Comparison shop at www.ehealthinsurance.com.
— McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Those hypoallergenic dogs? Like the one the First Family will be adopting? They may not be exactly what people think. “We don’t always like the ‘hypoallergenic’ term, because there is no true hypoallergenic dog,” said veterinarian Jay Whittle of Mill Creek Animal Clinic in Palos Park, Ill. “Allergies are dictated by the person with the allergies and what their immune system is going to do.” FILE | THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Dr. Zaid Jabbar, an allergist Even hypoallergenic dogs like the with Edward Portuguese water dog can trigger Medical Group symptoms in people with allergies. in Bolingbrook, Ill., explains that fl aking of microscopic bits of the animal’s skin is what causes the problem. For those unlucky people with allergies, the tiny par ticles cause the immune system to produce antibodies, sparking allergic reactions: sneezing, stuffy nose, runny and itchy eyes. Dog lovers also need to be smart about the breed they choose and be willing to make adjustments. Whittle says that dogs whose coats are more like hair than fur are less likely to cause allergies to flare up. “Poodles, bichons, Yorkies [Yorkshire terriers] are less likely to cause problems,” he said. — Chicago Tribune
TREATMENTS
Drug for addiction may help kleptomaniacs
MINNEAPOLIS | A drug used to treat alcohol addiction may help kleptomaniacs curb their urge to steal, according to a study by the University of Minnesota. The researchers have been studying the drug, naltrexone, as a possible treatment for a variety of compulsive behaviors, including gambling and drug addiction. In the latest study, Dr. Jon Grant recruited 25 men and women who “spent an average of at least one hour a week stealing,” according to a report published Wednesday in the Journal of Biological Psychiatry. For eight weeks, some of the volunteers took naltrexone, the others a placebo. At the end of eight weeks, those on the medication reported “signifi cantly greater decline” in stealing behavior, the report said. Grant said that this is not a cure , but most likely would work in combination with counseling. —McClatchy-Tribune News Service
STAFF ILLUSTRATION | ANTHONY BRATINA
TIP
LIFESTYLES
Hypoallergenic pets can trigger symptoms
Exercise can ease the discomfort of pregnancy SAFE EXERCISES
A recent survey of more than 6,000 American adults showed they were spending an average of eight hours a day, or 56 hours a week, with fannies planted on a chair. Interactivity research, a relatively new scientifi c discipline dedicated to studying our all-too-sedentary existence, indicates the body actually goes into something akin to a computer’s sleep mode when we’re hunched in front of a screen or zoned out watching “American Idol.” Fat-burning enzymes, particularly lipoprotein lipase, which breaks down triglycerides in the blood, cease working and LPL can drop by as much as 50 percent, studies show. It’s thought that we’re burning an average of 1,000 fewer calories daily than a generation ago. “When you sit all day, you are doing something com pletely opposite of what you were designed to do. That’s like hammering nails with a cell phone. Failure is inevitable,” said Dr. James Levine, who directs the Active Life research team at the Mayo Clinic, and co-authored “Move a Little, Lose a Lot,” with Selene Yeager. So, walk as much as you can, even if it means pacing the halls of your office building every couple hours. Visit colleagues on another floor instead of e-mailing and take the stairs. The more active you are, the more of a routine it becomes. — Houston Chronicle
FITNESS
Working out the girly way — in a dress BOISE,I DAHO | Christine Nienstedt likes to suit up when she’s facing a hard physical challenge. Nienstedt has worn a dress to run halfmarathons and complete grueling endurance bike rides, such as the 200-mile Seattle to Portland Bicycle Classic. After all, these were milestone moments. “They felt celebratory and fun,” Nienstedt says. “I wondered why more people didn’t do it.” Nienstedt’s unique uniform drew enough comments that she decided to launch her own line of exercise dresses. Nuu-Muu was born in
April, and she introduced them to the world at a tradeshow before the Bloomsday Run held in Spokane, Wash., in May, where she sold more than 50 dresses. It feels good to wear a dress during a workout because they don’t bind and they easily move with the body, Nienstedt said. The sleeveless Nuu-Muu has the feel of a party dress, but with more room around the arms and a breathable fabric (nylon lycra or polyester lycra). The dresses are $68 for adult sizes; $48 for children’s sizes at www.nuu-muu.com. — McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Christine Nienstedt models a NuuMuu exercise dress. MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
People’s Pharmacy: Doctors shouldn’t take money from drug companies. 2D
HealthToday
T H U R S D A Y , A P R I L 5, 2007
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FITNESS
Lose weight, not money Who’s the World’s Laziest Person? Jessica, who circles parking lots a half -dozen times, waiting for the space 20 feet from the door. Parking your car 100 feet or even 200 feet away and walking the extra steps would be (gasp!) exercise. Wanna bet Jessica is overweight? Adding steps to daily activities is
AGING free exercise. And “free” collars everybody’s attention. Workouts don’t have to be scripted or costly propositions. Gym memberships and hightech home workout machines are dandy, but expensive. Exercise can be done on the cheap. Workout apparatus is common at garage sales. A few bucks and you may take home a treadmill or free weights. Or work out like Shaolin monks of the Hong Kong kung fu films by carrying containers of water. Instead of watering outdoor plant containers
using a hose and watering wand, fill up a watering can. Choose the faucet farthest from the containers. Fill the watering can, carry it and empty it. Repeat as needed. Water is heavy and lugging it around incinerates calories and strengthens muscles. There are several tips for lowbudget workouts at www.Mayo Clinic.com. Some are familiar, such as walking and choosing stairs over elevators. One freebie you
may never have considered is hoisting canned goods. Rummage through your kitchen cabinets for these hand weights, perhaps a 6-ounce can of tomato paste or a whopper can of Italian plum tomatoes. Weight and size are strictly up to your abilities. For really big cans, shop warehouse stores such as Costco. — McClatchyTribune Information Services
STUDIES
Smoker? Blame your brain
Brain scans of smokers studied by researchers at Duke University revealed three regions deep within the brain that appear to control dependency on nicotine and craving for cigarettes. These regions play important roles in some of the key motivations for smoking: to calm down when stressed, to achieve pleasure and to help concentration. “If you can’t calm down, can’t derive pleasure and can’t control yourself or concentrate, then it will be extremely difficult for you to break the habit,” said lead study investigator Dr. Jed E. Rose, director of the Duke Center for Nicotine and Smoking Cessation Research. “These brain regions may explain why most people try to quit several times before they are successful.” Understanding how the brain responds to cigarette cravings can help doctors change nicotine cessation treatments to address all three of these components of withdrawal, Rose said. Drugs or therapies that target these regions may help smokers stave off the cravings that often spoil their attempts to quit. The research was funded by Phillip Morris USA. In this study, the researchers manipulated the levels of nicotine dependence and cigarette craving among 15 smokers, then scanned their brains using positron emission tomography, or PET scans, to see which areas of the brain were most active. Three specific regions of the brain demonstrated changes in activity when the smokers craved cigarettes. One region that lights up, called the thalamus, is considered to be the key relay point for sensory information flowing into the brain. Some of the symptoms of withdrawal among people trying to quit stem from the inability to focus thoughts and the feeling of being overwhelmed, and could thus be explained by changes in this region, according to the researchers. — Cox Newspapers
TIP BE WARY OF CHICKS
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urges parents to think twice before giving the gift of chicks. The reason is the risk of catching potential illnesses, particularly salmonella, from young birds. Each spring, children become infected with salmonella after receiving a baby chick or duckling for Easter. Children can be exposed to the bacteria by holding, cuddling or kissing the birds. Children are most susceptible to infection because they are more likely than others to put their fingers into their mouths and because their immune systems are still developing. Others at increased risk include people with HIV/AIDS, pregnant women and the elderly.
STAFF FILE PHOTO | ROBERT SUTTON
Exercise may curb arthritis
How to control annoying allergies CHILDREN
By Alisa Beckwith Special to The Tuscaloosa News
I
f your child is sneezing, coughing and experiencing itchy eyes, it may be seasonal allergies. According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies. AAFA also estimates that allergies are the third most common chronic disease among people younger than 18. Dr. Bindu Bennuri of Bama Pediatrics, who specializes in allergy and immunology, said she definitely sees a difference in the number of patients she treats now compared with a few years ago.
“There are many more patients who have allergies now than 50 years ago. It has consistently been on the rise. Nobody knows the complete answer, but there are some theories,” she said. One of those theories is called the hygiene hypothesis: Since childhood diseases like mumps and measles are no longer as common, the susceptibility to allergies increases. “We are too clean now,” Bennuri said. “We wash our hands more. We keep our houses cleaner and we don’t get as many diseases now. So the immune system SEE ALLERGIES | 6D
PREVENTION
SYMPTOMS
TREATMENTS
■ Use air conditioners to reduce exposure to pollen in your home and your car. Mold is present in the spring and late summer, particularly around decaying vegetation. Children with mold allergies should avoid playing in leaf piles. ■ Dust mites feed on human skin scales, which are most common in upholstered furniture, bedding and rugs. Padded furnishings should be encased in allergen-proof covers. Wash linens weekly, and other bedding such as blankets every two to three weeks in hot water. Replace pillows every two to three years. ■ Change air filters often. ■ Keep windows, doors closed. ■ Take prescribed medications regularly to keep antihistamines in the blood at the recommended level.
Some allergies are easy to identify by the pattern of symptoms that invariably follows exposure to a particular substance. But others may masquerade as other conditions. Here are some clues that that your child may have an allergy. ■ Recurrent red, itchy, dry, sometimes scaly rashes in the creases of the skin, wrists and ankles. ■ Repeated coldlike symptoms that last more than a week or two, or develop at about the same time every year, including runny nose, nasal stuffiness, sneezing, throat clearing, nose rubbing, sniffling, snorting, sneezing and itchy, runny eyes. ■ Itching or tingling sensations in the mouth and throat. ■ Coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing and other respiratory symptoms. Coughing may be isolated or indicate asthma if it increases at night or with exercise.
The most widely used treatment plan for children suffering from allergies includes controlled exposure to environmental triggers and medication such as decongestants or antihistamines, which block the release of histamines in the blood that cause allergic reactions. If neither of those treatments works, Dr. Bindu Bennuri suggests allergy shots in which patients are injected with a diluted version of the allergen. The dosage is increased over time until the patient is no longer allergic to the trigger. “We are tricking the immune system into accepting the allergen so that they are no longer asymptomatic,” Bennuri said. While allergy shots are the most effective treatment, Bennuri cautions it can require three to five years of regular doctor visits.
Sources:American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Your Child’s Allergies and Asthma and Dr. Bindu Bennuri of Bama Pediatrics
STAFF ILLUSTRATION | ANTHONY BRATINA
Get moving, Grandma! Exercise isn’t just about improving your heart and fighting flab that comes with aging. It may also be the answer to preventing stiff, achy joints that can lead to debilitating arthritis. An Australian study suggests the more time older women spend exercising, the better their chances are of staying pain-free from one of the biggest chronic conditions plaguing developed countries. Even exercising as little as one hour and 15 minutes a week now can make a difference over the next three years, according to findings recently published in the journal Arthritis Research & Therapy. “I don’t think the results are suggesting that you should just become this maniac exerciser,” said lead author Kristiann Heesch from the University of Queensland, Australia. “What it does suggest is that just adding some walking and moderate activity to your life can make a big benefit.” Doctors have long encouraged exercise among aging patients to keep joints flexible, muscles strong and to keep off weight, which is a leading risk factor for arthritis. This is the first study that focuses on middleaged and older women who did not have a history of stiff and painful joints. It looked at symptoms reported by more than 8,700 Australian women over a three-year period. Women in their 70s who exercised 75 minutes a week reported fewer symptoms of arthritis than those who did less, while more spry women who were active at least 21/2 hours weekly had even less pain in the three years that followed. — The Associated Press
!
MEN
Fla. conference looks at health
A four-day conference, focused solely on the mental and physical health of men, is a first for the Hanley Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., and its partner, Foundations Associates. “At the Center for Men’s Recovery [at Hanley] we began to explore the possibility that gender-specific treatment may benefit men as much as it has women,” explains Alan Lyme, program director for the Center for Men’s Recovery. “Men had been the focus of the original residential treatment programs, but not much had changed over the past 50 years. Finding a way to help more men achieve and maintain recovery while staying focused on the time honored 12-step philosophy became our quest.” As a result of early gender conditioning, Lyme argues, boys may learn to trust no one, that they “should” know how to take care of everything, how to fix everything themselves. That can lead to drug and addiction problems, as well as communication problems with women and other men. As a result, the April 22-25 conference will cover a range of issues for men, from sexuality to spirituality. The single-day rate for attendance at one of the four-day sessions is $200 and the four-day rate is $479. Register at www.dualdiagnosis.org or call (877) 345-3274. — Cox Newspapers
Topic: Queens of Green love to talk trash. 2E
Today
S U N D A Y , F E B R UA R Y 4, 2007
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TALK NO MORE TRANS FATS The trans- fat movement has
hit the high seas. Crystal
Cruises announced on Jan. 24
that, effective immediately, it
will ban hydrogenated vegetable
oils from its culinary offerings.
Earlier, Royal Caribbean said it
would begin eliminating trans
fats from its menus starting on
March 1, and that its fleet of
ships would be trans- fat free by
the end of the year. Historically known for those
all-you-can-eat buffets, with
everything from hamburgers to
herring, cruise ships say they
are now catering to a more
health-conscious clientele. Crystal Cruises also has plans
to introduce an “oil sommelier,”
who will offer diners a selection
of infused, specialty oils to fla-
vor their meal.
PRESIDENTS AT HOME Instead of spending Presidents
Day weekend skiing or off at a
spa, why not brush up on your
U.S. history? A new book, “The
Journey Through Hallowed
Ground” (Capital Books, $20),
charts a 175-mile historic driv-
STAFF PHOTOS | DAN LOPEZ
Twenty minutes after undergoing a radiation treatment on Jan. 24, 4-year-old Pierson Estes of Northport walks Glory around the halls of UAB Hospital in Birmingham. Glory, a female Sheltie, is owned by Lee Strickland, a volunteer member of the Hand in Paw organization that brings specially trained dogs to people in hospitals.
ing trip from Monticello to
Gettysburg. Most appropriate is
the “presidential journey,” part
of the tour, which takes readers
to the homes of several presi-
dents including Thomas
Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt
and Dwight D. Eisenhower. The tour also includes the site
of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.
And though Camp David is
closed to the public, the book
recommends stopping at the
nearby Cozy Restaurant, which
has an exhibition about the
presidential retreat.
ARMENIAN VACATION
PIERSON’S
By Sarah Bruyn Jones Staff Writer
JOURNEY
Four-year-old Pierson Estes battles cancer with his family and angels at his side
If you’re thinking of spending
your next vacation in Armenia —
and, really, who isn’t? — you’ll be
happy to know that this former
Soviet republic has its first bou-
tique hotel chain. This may be a
sign that Armenia is truly “in,”
or that boutique hotels are offi-
cially “out.” The owners of the Tufenkian
Heritage Hotels (www.tufenkian
heritage.com) are hoping three
new properties will lure tourists
to Armenia’s mountainous
countryside, set between the
Black and Caspian seas. Each
hotel features Tufenkian car-
pets, handmade by Armenian
BIRMINGHAM he 4-year-old waited impatiently for his turn. When the adults were finally ready for him, the boy took off, sprinting down the hall as doctors, nurses and his mother tried to catch up. No, he wasn’t running away. He was just ready for his treatment. Pierson Estes headed straight to the radiation room. Still in the early stages of treatment after the removal of a baseball-size malignant brain tumor, he waited eagerly on the table for the medical staff to prepare his port line. Then Pierson took over, with a little assistance. Pierson likes to administer his “magic milk,” a syringe full of a white milk-like substance that puts him to sleep for a short time. The medical name is Diprivan, but anesthesiologists have nicknamed
T
it “magic milk.” The medicine didn’t take long to take effect. Pierson’s eyes quickly began glazing over, but just as his body was about to give in to the drug, a friend appeared. Glor y, a Sheltie, instantly brought a smile to Pierson’s drug-dazed face. The 4-year-old reached out and pet Glor y’s snout, then Pierson lay down. Glory and her owner, Lee Strickland, visit ever y Wednesday as part of the volunteer organization Hand in Paw. “This can be pretty scar y, so we’re just here to relieve the anxiety,” Strickland said. With Pierson sedated, the sixmember medical team went to work. They strapped him to the table, and placed a custom-made mask over his head and shoulders. The mask, which for Pierson’s sake has been compared to SEE PIERSON | 8E
Above, Pierson Estes drinks from a juice box held by his mother, Kristy, after undergoing a radiation treatment Jan. 24 for which he had to be sedated. At left, Pierson sits on a table at UAB hospital before his radiation treatment.
weavers, as well as local cuisine.
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People’s Pharmacy: Lemon juice works wonders on warts. 2D
THURSDAY,J
HealthToday
A N U A R Y 29 , 2009
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CHRONIC AILMENTS
Baby’s best friend
Upcoming drug from Merck may work for MS
LONDON | German drugmaker Merck Serono is one step closer to releasing the fi rst pill to treat multiple sclerosis, the company said. In a press statement last week, Merck said that patients taking cladribine tablets had a nearly 60 percent lower relapse rate than those on placebo pills. The two-year study included 1,326 MS patients who were randomly divided into three groups. Two groups received different doses of cladribine and one group received fake pills. Patients on cladribine had up to a 60 percentreduced chance of having a relapse compared to patients on placebo. The study was paid for by Merck. “This is promising news,” said Dr. Lee Dunster, head of research for the Multiple Sclerosis Society in the United Kingdom. Dunster was not linked to the Merck study. He said cladribine appeared to be twice as effective as current primary treatments for MS. Multiple sclerosis is the most common neurological condition affecting young adults. It is the result of damage to myelin, the protective coating on nerve fibers of the central nervous system. When myelin is damaged, that interrupts the brain’s messaging system to other parts of the body. — The Associated Press
CHILDREN
Want Billy to eat his veggies? Try these tips
Taking folic acid is just one way mothers can reduce the chance of newborn birth defects Women need to put their health first, Collins said. That includes taking precautions such as aiming for an ideal weight, avoiding bout one in every 33 babies is born with smoking and drinking, taking multivitamins a birth defect in the U.S. every year, with folic acid and getting annual gynecological exams. according to the as womCenters for Disease “Spina bifida often happens en“Sometimes we put ourselves Control. before a woman knows she is last,” Collins said. While not every [birth defects] birth defect can be pregnant, by the 21st day after “But is a women’s health prevented — the cause of about 70 perconception. That is why it is issue.” bring awareness cent of birth defects so important that any woman to To the issue, January are unknown — there are simple things that within childbearing years take has been declared National Birth Defects women can do to decrease the odds their a multivitamin with folic acid.” Prevention Month. Birth defects can range baby will have one. Angie Page, from mild to severe “The most important piece in having a field service coordinator of the Spina and can be genetic or Bifida Association of Alabama acquired. About 1 in healthy baby is having every 100 to 200 babies a healthy mom,” said Robin Collins, program director for the Bir- has a heart defect, which makes up about onemingham division of March of Dimes, an or- third to one-fourth of all birth defects, accordganization that seeks to educate people about ing to the federal Centers for Disease Control birth defects, infant mortality and premature in Atlanta. Cleft lip/palate or Down syndrome birth. SEE DEFECTS | 3D Staff Writer
A
TIP KEEP TEETH WHITER
■ Keep teeth clean. Aim to brush — or at least rinse — right after eating, especially if you’ve had a food or drink that stains teeth easily (see below). Also fl oss daily and see a dentist regularly.
■ Beware of big stainers. Berries, chocolate, coffee, tea, colas, root beer, red wine and tobacco are known for discoloring enamel, the hard outer surface of teeth. With darkening drinks, use a straw or swallow quickly to limit contact with front teeth.
■ Take a multivitamin with at least 400 micrograms of folic acid a day before and during pregnancy ■ Aim for an ideal weight before becoming pregnant ■ Have an annual gynecological exam ■ Avoid smoking or drinking ■ Get chronic medical conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure under control ■ Visit a genetic counselor if a genetic disease is a concern
NUTRITION
FITNESS
Green plantains are hard and the fl esh is starchy, which means they can be cooked much like a potato — boiled, baked, roasted or fried. When plantains start to yellow, the flesh begins to turn soft and orange, but keeps its starchy flavor and is best used it in soups and stews. It may resemble a banana, but you’re probably not going to Once the skin has turned black, the flesh becomes sweet. want to gnaw on one raw. The completely ripened fruit can be baked as a dessert or Though closely related to bananas, plantains more often are broiled, sauteed or fried as a sweet side. treated like a vegetable, in part because they are too starchy to be eaten raw. Common in tropical cuisines, plantains are high MASHED PLANTAINS in potassium. They are used at all stages of ripeness, but it’s WITH SCALLIONS AND LIME JUICE best to purchase them green and let them ripen as desired at Start to finish: 55 minutes (15 minutes active) home at room temperature. Servings: four
LaLanne still a leg up on fitness
Plantains — the ‘banana’ you treat like a potato
3 green plantains 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 scallions, greens and whites, chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 14-ounce can chicken or vegetable broth 1 teaspoon ground cumin 3 ⁄4 cup water 1 tablespoon lime juice 1 ⁄4 teaspoon salt Ground black pepper, to taste 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
■ Crunch away. Hard raw fruits and vegetables such as carrots, broccoli and apples will help scrape away plaque, which makes teeth look dull.
■ Supplement regular toothpaste. Use a whitening paste once or twice a week to remove surface stains. Or mix a paste of baking soda and water and brush with it a few times a week (but not daily, as the mixture is abrasive). ■ Brush gently. Scrubbing too hard erodes enamel. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles and clean with light circular motions. Note: Electric sonic toothbrushes are especially good at stain removal. ■ Get your fluoride. Make sure your daily toothpaste contains this mineral, which helps prevent decay. Ask your dentist about rinses or gels that guard enamel.
BIRTH-DEFECT PREVENTION
STAFF ILLUSTRATION | ANTHONY BRATINA
By L ydia Seabol Avant
A recent survey conducted for the Jolly Green Giant Corp found that 25 of every 100 parents think it is more likely for their child to become president than to eat their recommended daily amount of vegetables (1 cup for toddlers, 2 to 3 cups for older children). Here are some expert suggestions on how to get vegetables into our little darlings: ■ Be consistent. Make veggies a normal part of meals, but don’t force the child to eat them. He or she will eventually try a bite. ■ Play the rainbow game. Ask your child to pick out different colored vegetables at the store and then encourage him to try one color each day. ■ Sneak it in. Shred or puree cauliflower or carrots into pasta sauce. Use pureed vegetables to thicken soups. ■ Be a role model. If mom and dad don’t eat vegetables, good luck getting junior to dive in. ■ Eat meals together. Studies continue to show that children and teens who eat frequent meals with their families eat more fruits and vegetables than those whose families are too busy to eat meals together. ■ Consider convenience. Nutrients in fresh vegetables keep just a few days, while nutrients in frozen vegetables keep about a year. Keep both on hand. —McClatchy-Tribune News Service
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mashed Plaintains with Scallions and Lime Juice is high in potassium and low in cholesterol.
With the tip of a sharp knife, make a long lengthwise slice in the skin of each plantain. Cut the plantains crosswise into 2-inch segments. Starting at the slice, pry away and discard the skin. Slice the pieces crosswise into smaller rounds and set aside. In a large saucepan with a lid, heat the oil over medium. Add the scallions and cook, stirring often, until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for another 30 seconds. Add the broth, cumin, plantains and water. Bring to a simmer, cover and reduce the heat to low. Cook the plantains until very tender, about 30 to 40 minutes. Add the lime juice and mash the plantains to a coarse puree. If the puree is too thick, add water to thin it. Season with salt and pepper. Serve sprinkled with cilantro (if using). Nutrition information per serving: 247 calories; 74 calories from fat; 8 g fat (1 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 0 mg cholesterol; 45 g carbohydrate; 3 g protein; 3 g fiber; 559 mg sodium. — The Associated Press
SANTA ANA, CALIF. | Agile and upbeat, fitness fanatic Jack LaLanne’s advice has outlived many diet and exercise fads. Remember, he’s the guy who, at age 60, swam from Alcatraz Island to Fisherman’s Wharf towing a 1,000pound boat. Ten years later, he wore handcuffs while pulling 70 boats with 70 people in them 1.5 miles in Long Beach Harbor. Each day , OK, maybe his bi- Jack Lalanne, ceps don’t bulge as 94, works out twice at much today. But at 94, who’s mea- home and swims half a suring? mile. LaLannestillexercises twice a day in his home gym and swims a half hour daily. He subscribes to a daily breakfast o four egg whites with three pieces of fruit. The whole egg, he says, is 70 calories; the egg white is 15 and holds all the protein. He only eats at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. with no between-meal snacking. And he has followed a juicer regimen for seven decades, from the time he had to use a press type for ground-up fruits. “People should exercise a half hour, three times a week,” LaLanne said. “And when you work out, don’t take a rest.” He changes his routine every 30 days to avoid monotony. “For one month, exercise real fast, and then the next month slow down,” he said. — McClatchy-Tribune News Service
People’s Pharmacy: Sauerkraut conquers canker sores. 2D
HealthToday
T H U R S D A Y , J U L Y 17 , 2008
SECTION D
WWW.TUSCALOOSANEWS.COM
TREATMENTS
DISEASE
Ridding warts with duct tape
Things to know about Bell’s Palsy
CORRECTION A recipe ingredient was listed incorrectly on Page 2D in Wednesday’s Ala.Carte section. The following recipe is correct:
TOMATO AND BASIL SOUP 1 medium onion 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 dozen fresh Roma tomatoes 4 cups chicken broth 6 sprigs basil 1 teaspoon minced shallot 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 1 cup heavy cream Salt and freshly ground pepper Basil leaves sliced in thin strips
Saute sliced onion in olive oil in a heavy bottomed pan and cook over medium heat until soft, about 7 minutes. Tie basil together with string. Add tomatoes chopped in large pieces, basil, chicken broth, salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, lower heat and reduce soup by 1⁄4. Remove basil bunch and puree soup mixture. Heat soup, add balsamic vinegar and stir in heavy cream. Serve with a basil garnish, hot or cold. — www.cooks.com
the disorder. Bacterial infections such as Lyme disease and tuberculosis, as well as a skull fracture, can also lead to Bell’s Palsy. Risk factors: Bell’s Palsy occurs most often in people who have diabetes, HIV or an upper respiratory infection such as a cold or the flu. Pregnant women also are at risk, especially those in the last trimester. Treatments: Some cases subside on their own within weeks. For other cases, corticosteroids and antiviral medications are prescribed to relieve facial compression. Massaging and exercising facial muscles may be helpful. Surgery to relieve pressure on the facial nerve is rarely recommended. Most people recover completely, within six months. — McClatchy-Tribune News Service
FITNESS
Don’t ignore seated leg presses Have you been training your calves? Cardio exercises might not be enough. Isolation exercises, on the other hand, will do the trick. The leg press, for example, can help you build strength and endurance in your calves. Adjust the seat position to where you can comfortably extend your legs without moving the machine. Place both feet on the machine, adjust the
weight stack to a challenging weight, and push the platform out. Then walk your feet down so that the balls of your feet are against the platform and your heels have no contact. With soft knees, contract your calves to raise up, pause, and then lower to full extension without locking your knees. Try 20 to 25 quick repetitions. — McClatchy-Tribune News Service
STAFF PHOTO OF POISON IVY | DAN LOPEZ
You’ve heard the rumors, and I’m here to confirm that yes, indeed, you can remove warts with duct tape. I’d read the studies about duct tape and warts with a certain amount of incredulity. Could it really be that easy? The definitive study took place at the Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma, Wash., and included 51 patients (ages 3-22). Of those, 26 patients were treated with duct tape, and 85 percent of those eliminated their warts. Among the 25 patients who received cryosurgery, only 60 percent had success. In the study, the patients wore the duct tape atop their warts for six days. Then they removed the tape, soaked the affected area in water and used an emery board or pumice to scrape the area. The duct tape was reapplied the following morning. This routine was continued until the wart went away (for a maximum of two months). We put the duct tape on a wart on our son’s foot and reapplied it, well, whenever we — or he — noticed that it had fallen off. This meant that our son would sometimes go a day or two without any duct tape at all. We continued this strategy for a couple of months, no soaking, no pumice. I did pick at the wart with tweezers now and then to see if it was ready to come out, but as this was not an activity that anyone enjoyed, I did that only a few times. And although the study used duct tape that only just covered the wart, we used strips of duct tape that went well beyond the edges of the wart. After a few weeks, the wart became crusty and whitish and started to fade. Small pieces began to flake off. The wart came off after somewhere between two and three months. Using duct tape to remove warts is not an exact science. When it comes to children, duct tape therapy is relatively painless, and if it doesn’t work, you can always segue to treatment at the doctor’s office, none the worse for wear. — McClatchy-Tribune News Service
Symptoms: The nerve that controls your facial muscles becomes swollen or compressed, causing half of your face to temporarily paralyze or weaken and appear to droop. This often happens suddenly and may be accompanied by headache, loss of taste and changes in the amount of saliva and tears your body produces. A warning sign may be neck pain or pain in or behind the ear before the onset of Bell’s Palsy. Danger: If Bell’s Palsy prevents you from closing your eye, you’ll need to keep the eye moist with eyedrops during the day and an eye ointment at night. If your cornea becomes too dry, it can cause permanent vision loss. Causes: Viral infections such as viral meningitis, herpes simplex, shingles and chicken pox can lead to
Botanical
POISONS You need to watch out for more plants than just Ivy By L ydia Seabol Avant Staff Writer
M
ost people know to be wary of plants like REFERENCE poison ivy or poison oak if going into the GUIDE woods. But a wide variety of common, everyday plants can See Page 6D to see what plants to watch cause severe sickness and even death. Mistletoe is great for kissing under during out for and why. the holidays, but don’t eat the ber ries. They can kill. Like the tropical look of the Elephant’s Ear plant? Planting them is fine, just don’t handle them too much or try to eat them. They contain tiny crystals that can become lodged into the skin, mouth and throat and cause swelling. “People don’t realize how dangerous plants can be,” said Joab Thomas, a botanist and former president of the University of Alabama. While summer months call for being outdoors and enjoying nature, people need to be aware of what they come in contact with. Anyone thinking they have come in contact with or ingested something poisonous should call the Alabama Poison Control Center immediately at 1-800-222-1222, said Mitzi Higdon, interim nursing director at poison control in Tuscaloosa. “Give us a call and we can determine if they need to seek medical help and maybe help identify what it was,” Higdon said.
MCCLATCHY-TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE
Nancy Cole demonstrates the proper way to perform a seated calf press.
MEN
Obesity can lead to bad sperm
BARCELONA, SPAIN | Too many compensate,” said Dr. William Ledfatty foods are dangerous not only ger, a professor of obstetrics and to men’s waistlines, but also to their gynecology at Britain’s University sperm production. of Sheffield, who was unconnected In research presented Wednes- to the study. day at a meeting of the European But if both partners are heavy, Society of Human ReLedger said that could production and Embe a problem, since br yology, scientists obesity is known to found that obese men decrease women’s have worse sperm fertility. than normal-weight Shayeb and colmen. leagues analyzed “There is a ver y the sperm samples long list of health hazof more than 5,000 ards from being overmen in Scotland, and weight,” said Ghiyath divided the men into Shayeb, the study’s groups according to lead researcher at their Body Mass Inthe University of Abdex. Men who had an erdeen. “Now we can optimal BMI (20 to add poor semen qual25) had higher levels ity to the list.” of normal sperm than FILE ILLUSTRATION | PAUL TONG But experts aren’t those who were oversure if that necessarweight or obese. ily means obese men face major Fat men had a 60 percent higher difficulties having children. chance of having a low volume of “If you have a man who isn’t fan- semen, according to Shayeb’s retastically fertile with a normal part- search. ner who is fertile, her fertility will — The Associated Press
UOC Welcomes DR. BILL SUDDUTH
University Orthopaedic Clinic & Spine Center
Dr. Sudduth received his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine in Birmingham, where he also completed his residency. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, and a diplomate of the Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
For more information visit www.univorthoclinic.com or call 345-0192
NS02341622
NS02076022
University Orthopaedic Clinic is proud to announce the association of William Douglass Sudduth, M.D. Dr. Sudduth is a native of Jefferson County and has practiced orthopaedic surgery in West Alabama for over three decades. UOC has three locations in Tuscaloosa and Dr. Sudduth will primarily be seeing patients in the Northport Medical Plaza office.
THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2008 |
6D
THE TUSCALOOSA NEWS
Here are some of the common local plants that are poisonous or dangerous to humans and pets
PLANTS TO WATCH OUT FOR STAFF PHOTOS BY DAN LOPEZ | STAFF ILLUSTRATIONS BY ANTHONY BRATINA
POISON IVY Latin name: Toxicodendron radicans Found: Can range from small shrubs to large vines that cover trees. Common all over Alabama, especially in moist, wooded areas. Has three-lobed leaflets. Causes: It is estimated that at least one-half the population is sensitive to poison ivy or one of its relatives, poison oak or poison sumac. Contact causes a rash that burns and itches and is generally relieved with topical creams.
POISON OAK Latin name: Toxicodendron toxicarium Found: Common throughout the Southeast in dry habitats and sandy soils. Small shrub has hairy branches and three-lobed leaves. Causes: Skin rash similar to poison ivy. Can generally be relieved with topical creams.
ELEPHANT’S EAR Latin name: Colocasia esculenta Found: Usually planted as an ornamental landscaping plant, grows well in tropical, warm climates and can be found in central and southern Alabama. Most notable for its giant leaves in the shape of “elephant ears.” Causes: The plant contains calcium oxalate crystals that can lodge themselves into the skin and cause irritation and swelling. If ingested, can cause swelling to the mouth and throat. Is not fatal.
POISON SUMAC Latin name: Toxicodendron vernix Found: Found in Central and South Alabama, in wet woodlands. Can grow into a large shrub to a small tree as tall as 21 feet. Leaves contain seven to 15 leaflets. Causes: Skin rash similar to poison ivy and poison oak. Can generally be relieved with topical creams.
WATER AND POISON HEMLOCK Latin name: Cicuta maculata and Conium maculatum Found: Extremely toxic plant that is common along roadsides throughout most of the U.S. and Alabama. Can be identified by its small, white, clustered flowers. Causes: Contains a toxic alkaloid that affects the nervous system when ingested. Can cause paralysis and death. Is said to be the plant Socrates used to commit suicide.
POKE WEED
Latin name: Phytolacca americana Found: Grows well on roadsides, clearings and fields all over Alabama. Recognized by its pale green leaves and purple berries. Causes: Although young poke weeds are commonly used for poke salad, the plant becomes increasingly toxic as it ages. Even with young plants, the leaves should be boiled and reboiled. If a mature plant is ingested, it can cause cramps, nausea, vomiting, spasms and even death.
ENGLISH IVY Latin name: Hederea helix Found: Evergreen climbing vine that is found in woodlands, yards and gardens all over Alabama. Causes: All parts of the plant are toxic. Most people do not have an allergic reaction to touching the plant but it can cause a rash. If eaten, it can cause diarrhea, nervousness, convulsions and possibly death.
CHINABERRY Latin name: Melia azedarach Found: Tree that usually grows around homes and buildings throughout Alabama. Grows to about 30 feet in height, has gray or gray-brown bark and small, green berries that turn yellow. Causes: If the berries or leaves are ingested, they can cause nausea, vomiting and constipation, weakened heart or even death.
MISTLETOE Latin name: Phoradendron Found: Throughout Alabama. Notable for its white berries, the herb grows high up in the branches of deciduous trees. Causes: The plant is extremely toxic. If ingested, the berries and a tea made from the berries can be fatal to both humans and animals. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dilated pupils and cardiac collapse.
DUMBCANE Latin name: Dieffenbachia Found: A tropical plant that is often used as a house plant or in greenhouses. Sometimes grow to the size of a small tree and has large leaves. Causes: Like the Elephant’s Ear, the dumbcane has crystals that can cause swelling in the mouth and throat if ingested. The swelling usually goes down after a few days. Is not fatal.
Sources: Poisonous Plants and Venomous Animals of Alabama and Adjoining States by Whit Gibbons, Robert R. Haynes and Joab L. Thomas. Poisonous and Medicinal Plants by Will H. Blackwell.
RELIGION: NORTH RIVER CHURCH READIES FOR SERVICES IN NEW HOME | 1D
HIGH-STAKES GAME Tide needs win against Ga. for any chance at SEC regular-season title UA BASKETBALL | SPORTS 1C
Saban: 4 Tide players will miss spring drills | 1C
SATURDAY,M
TUSCALOOSA, NORTHPORT, WEST ALABAMA
A R C H 5 , 2011 50¢
WWW.TUSCALOOSANEWS.COM members on Partlow’s staff; 42 will remain at Partlow to care for 10 patients who will stay
400
PARTLOW TO CLOSE Employees to be on a priority list for unfilled jobs at area mental health facilities; patients to go to community-based care
Staff Writer
TUSCALOOSA | Several Tuscaloosa restaurants and bars plan to open Sunday to take advantage of the first day of Sunday alcohol sales. No one is sure what the turnout on the initial day might be. “I think a lot of people will be coming out for the novelty of it,” said Bill Lloyd, owner of Wilhagan’s. Wilhagan’s Sports Grille, which is not normally open on Sundays, will offer mimosas and Bloody Mary specials, along with its usual food menu, and will be showing NASCAR and college basketball games. “We have no clue how many people might come, but we’ve had a lot of interest from our regular customers,” Lloyd said. Joe Sedita, manager of Bo’s Bar, said he thought people might go to the restaurants and bars to buy alcohol just because it’s the first time they can do so on a Sunday. “I think people will come out just because it is something different,” Sedita said. City voters overwhelmingly approved a referendum on Feb. 22 alSEE ALCOHOL | 4A
W.D. PARTLOW DEVELOPMENTAL CENTER
$CD[ GCT RCKP Doctor visits for ear infections in children under 2 years old have declined.
By Tommy Stevenson
Number of visits per year
USCALOOSA | There was a loud and extended gasp when Zelia Baugh, the new commissioner of the Alabama Department of Mental Health, told about 100 employees at the W.D. Partlow Developmental Center on Friday that the facility will close by September. Partlow, which opened in 1919, has 484 employees who care for 151 patients with intellectual disabilities, said the center’s director, Rebecca Bellah, before the announcement in the facility’s chapel. Baugh said that there have been no new admissions to Partlow in two years. Ten patients who have severe disabilities will remain on the campus after Partlow closes, she said, and they will be cared for by about 42 current staffers. “Our first priority is to the people we serve — their health, safety and quality
Associate Editor
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2008 6.3 million
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SOURCE: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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AP
Decline in smoking, kids’ ear infections linked in study By Mike Stobbe The Associated Press
ATLANTA | Ear infections, a scourge that has left tots screaming through the night, have fallen, and some researchers suggest a decline in smoking by parents might be part of the reason. Health offi cials report nearly a 30 percent drop over 15 years in young children’s doctor visits for ear infections. That’s half a million fewer trips to the pediatrician each year, on average. Why the numbers are declining is a bit of a mystery, but Harvard researchers think it’s partly because fewer people smoke, meaning less irritation of children’s airways. Many doctors credit growing use of a vaccine against bacteria that cause ear infections. And some think increased breast-feeding is protecting more children. “We’re sort of guessing here,” said Dr. Richard Rosenfeld, a New York-based SEE EAR | 4A
of life,” Baugh said. “Job preservation will be a priority as well. We are committed to assisting our dedicated staff in fi nd alternative employment.” For the past few months, job openings at Bryce Hospital and the Taylor Hardin Secure Medical Facility have not been fi lled in anticipation of the closure of Partlow, the only remaining state institution of its type in the state. Some of those open jobs could go to Partlow employees, she said. Baugh said the mental health department is also partnering with the University of Alabama to create a database for jobs prioritizing former Partlow patients. “We anticipate that close to 400 jobs will be created in the private sector, many of those caring for former patients who move to community facilities,” she said, adding that ADMH will also hold SEE PARTLOW | 4A
KEY EVENTS IN PARTLOW’S HISTORY ■ 1919: The Alabama Home for Mental Defectives is established on 100 acres near Bryce Hospital. ■ 1927: The facility is renamed Partlow State School for Deficients in honor of its founder Dr. William D. Partlow, who was superintendent of Bryce Hospital from 1919 to 1950. ■ 1967: Gov. Lurleen Wallace tours Bryce and Partlow in what was billed as a “tour of tears,” spurring her to fight for increased funding to alleviate overcrowding and substandard care in the state’s mental health system. ■ Oct. 23, 1970: Wyatt vs. Stickney lawsuit filed in federal court over the money spent by the state on care for people with mental illness or developmental disabilities. Judge Frank M. Johnson enters an emergency order requiring the state to take immediate action at Partlow. The case helps transform the U.S. mental health system by establishing a federal right to treatment for people with mental illness. The case also led to recognition that the mentally ill could be treated effectively in community settings.
■ 2003: Gov. Bob Riley announces the possible consolidation of some of the state’s 14 mental health facilities as a cost-cutting measure and to help facilitate treatment of the mentally ill and developmentally disabled in their communities. ■ Dec. 5, 2003: At the request of attorneys for both the state and mental health patients, U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson dismisses Wyatt vs. Stickney, releasing the state from 33 years of federal oversight. ■ October 2008: The Alabama Disabilities Advocacy Program issues a report that calls for Partlow to be closed because of alleged abuse and neglect of clients. ADAP advocates that most of the residents would be better served in community-based care. Alabama Department of Mental Health responds by saying the facility would not close, but the department would address ADAP’s concerns. ■ March 4, 2011: ADMH announces it plans to close Partlow by the end of September.
Address: 1700 University Blvd. E., Tuscaloosa Founded: 1919 Mission: Only residential facility in the state for people with intellectual disabilities. Residents: 151 Employees: The 484 on staff include nurses, doctors, dentists, therapists, psychologists, social workers, food service workers, housekeepers and maintenance crews Annual budget: $42 million (fiscal year 2011) Annual payroll: $15.8 million Annual cost per resident: $278,146 Peak population: About 2,500 residents in late 1960s Campus size: 141 acres Buildings on campus: 23
Proposed law would ban Sharia law in Ala. By Dana Beyerle Montgomer y Bureau Chief
STAFF FILE PHOTO
By L ydia Seabol Avant
10 million
jobs that could be created in the private sector as a result
MONTGOMERY | Alabama is joining several states that are considering outlawing the use of foreign and religious laws, specifically Islamic law, in their courts. State Sen. Gerald Allen, a Republican from Tuscaloosa, has introduced a constitutional amendment asking Alabama voters to prohibit the use of foreign, international and Sharia laws from being used or even cited in Alabama. “Our state and national constitutions are adequate,” Allen said Friday. “If you have a problem in one of the areas of the country, judicial, legislative or executive, you’re governed by the rule of law and you don’t want foreign influences no matter where it came from.” Allen’s proposed constitutional amendment would specifically prohibit Sharia law out of concern that it will be a future influence. “My personal opinion is our citizens should be governed by our laws and not outside foreign laws,” Allen said. The operative portion of his proposed amendment states: “The courts shall not look to the legal precepts of other nations or cultures … specifically the courts shall not consider international law or Sharia.” His constitutional amendment is in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Russell McCutcheon, a professor in the department of religious studies at the University of Alabama, said that since there hasn’t been any recognized attempts to use Sharia law in Alabama courts, he’s not sure about the true motivation of Allen and other groups who are trying to ban Sharia law in the U.S. “As far as I know, there is no movement across the nation to bring an Islamic legal code into American SEE SHARIA | 4A Do you support banning Sharia law in Alabama? Vote in our poll at www. tuscaloosanews.com.
CORRECTION The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education will pay the Alabama Association of School Boards $3,000 to conduct an online survey and hold input meetings as part of the search for a superintendent for the Tuscaloosa City Schools. A story on Page 1A Friday gave an incorrect amount.
Above: The main administrative building at Partlow. Below: Photos taken in and around Partlow by ADAP, which called for the facility’s closure. Shown is a sink in an unlocked cleaning closet and a large, open mechanical area on campus.
HIGH SCHOOL TRAGEDY Enlarged heart cited in death of “kid that everybody loved.” | 8A INSIDE: VOL. 193 NO. 36 | 5 Sections Bridge 13E Business 4B Classifieds 1E Comics 4D Crossword 13E Dear Abby 2D
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Eateries, bars ready for Sunday alcohol sales
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