With Applied Materials’ workforce spread across the globe, the company’s intranet television channel (AMTV) is available to all departments at all company locations for viewing at any time. So, when Club One staff members saw a “need to reach more employees in a global workforce,” they decided to use the latest in video streaming technology to deliver information and education on health and fitness topics. According to Program Manager Julie Lamothe, they took existing educational videos, real-time educational classes and ‘brown bag’ lectures, and placed them on AMTV. Educational topics available on-demand include cooking classes, financial management (i.e., tax planning, investment options, buying and selling a home), stress management (i.e., surviving the corporate fast track, dealing with difficult people and relaxation techniques), and work life management (i.e., balancing work and family life, adjusting to shift work, fighting fatigue).

In addition, says Lamothe, “AMTV includes documentaries of special events, an online orientation to onsite fitness centers, and the inclusion of regular features such as wellness news and weekly educational articles for employees to view at their leisure.”

“In the past, wellness programs were only available to a limited number of employees at a specific time and location,” explains Lamothe. “Now with this new innovation, we are able to maximize the use of existing resources so that Applied Materials’ employees can conveniently access this information from their computer.” This, in turn, has increased employee participation beyond expected targets, and it has strategically aligned itself with Applied Material’s corporate goals to transition educational programs and technical training resources online. It has “helped to increase overall employee satisfaction regarding program equity at all sites, reduced the cost of training and increased program visibility,” says Lamothe. And, “it has removed barriers employees may have otherwise had to attending classroom sessions and participating in the wellness program as a whole.”

A few days ago, officials were downplaying the first anthrax case as an isolated event.

But experts say the odds of two co-workers contracting anthrax are minuscule. “It would be highly unlikely, in my opinion, that two people who work in one building would be colonized with anthrax with another exposure than human intent,” says Judy English, president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC).

Testifying today before the Senate, Dr. Mohammad Akhter, executive director of the American Public Health Association, says he thinks the origins of the anthrax in Florida are “criminal.”

English, who led APIC’s bioterrorism task force, says the initially cautious stance of health and law enforcement officials wasn’t misguided. “They were trying to not incite any undue panic in the public,” she says. But after the second case, the probability of a planned outbreak had to be considered.

English, head of infection control at the Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland, says there’s no way to know except for waiting whether there will be more anthrax cases in Florida. And if there are, only time will tell if the government is prepared to cope with a bigger outbreak. “I don’t believe we are ready to deal with a massive anthrax release, but we are a whole lot more ready this Tuesday than we were last Friday,” she says.

People can be infected with anthrax three ways, through the skin (usually via cuts or other breaks), the gastric system (usually by eating infected meat) and the airways. All can be cured with antibiotics, but inhaled anthrax is the rarest and most serious kind, killing 90 percent of its victims. Symptoms of infection usually appear within about a week of exposure, but the organism can incubate for as long as 60 days.

Until this month only 18 cases of inhaled anthrax — two of which involved lab workers — had been reported in this country in the last 100 years, including one earlier this year in Texas. The disease, which causes rapidly descending flu-like symptoms, followed by pneumonia and meningitis, can be acquired through contact with the hides, wool or other body parts of infected livestock, particularly sheep and goats.

At least 17 countries have biological weapons programs, though it’s not clear how many have anthrax in their arsenals, according to an analysis of the issue two years ago done for the American Medical Association. Iraq has acknowledged turning the germ into a weapon.

While anthrax is difficult to prepare and convert into a weapon, it’s not beyond the reach of someone with sophistication in biology, experts say.

John Pape, an epidemiologist and bioterror expert at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in Denver, says that although skin-borne anthrax isn’t so rare in the West, a single case of inhaled infection “would send up a red flag” in any state. “Despite the reassurances [from the government], you can be sure there was a very intensive investigation” after the first patient was diagnosed in Florida, he says.

Colorado officials have been meeting regularly since last week to hash out their own response plan should an anthrax outbreak occur there, Pape says. “We’ve been meeting throughout the weekend to discuss options, including upping surveillance” at hospitals, coroners’ labs, and doctors’ offices, he says.

In addition to monitoring possible new cases of anthrax, public health workers in Florida must also figure out what to do about the American Media building where the bacteria was found. The germ is quite hardy, capable of surviving extremes of hot and cold, Pape says. But thorough decontamination can make the workplace safe again. “I don’t think that they’re going to have to lock the building up and torch it, but it may take some time,” he says.

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The two Florida men infected with anthrax almost certainly caught the bacteria as a result of intentional infection, experts now say. But law enforcement officials are not sure if terrorists or other criminals may be to blame.

State and federal officials today continued their hunt for the source of the highly toxic germs, which have been linked to the death Friday of Bob Stevens, a 63-year-old photo editor at the The Sun, based in Boca Raton. Stevens was diagnosed with inhaled anthrax, a particularly lethal and rare form of the disease.

One possibility is that a letter sent to the tabloid could have been carrying the bacteria, according to a CNN report.

The second victim, 73-year-old Ernesto Blanco, is in a Florida hospital being treated; he is a mail supervisor at the same supermarket tabloid. Swabs of his nasal cavity turned up spores of the bacteria, but he has not fallen ill, officials say. A Florida health official told the Palm Beach Post that tests of the spores revealed that it was identical to those found on a computer keyboard used by Stevens at The Sun’s building in Boca Raton.

FBI investigators have shut down the facility, home to the American Media Inc., the parent company of The Sun, The National Enquirer and several other supermarket tabloids. Meanwhile, more than 700 people with ties to the building have undergone testing for exposure to the bacteria, and many have been given precautionary doses of the antibiotic ciprofloxacin. Another 100 people are expected to be tested.

Investigators have also been looking at the ventilation system at American Media’s headquarters as a possible conduit for the microbes. However, they have yet to identify the source of the infection, which cannot be passed from person to person.

U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft has said the inquiry could become a “clear criminal investigation” as officials piece together the trail of the infections. At the moment, however, “We don’t have enough information to know whether this could be related to terrorism or not,” Ashcroft told reporters.

Mohamed Atta, a pilot in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, had lived for a time in Delray Beach, a short drive from the American Media offices. The building is also close to an airport in Lantana where Atta rented light planes at least three times. Investigators believe the terrorists considered trying to spread a killer organism using crop dusters.

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Mitchell Rubber Products, Mira Loma, Calif., advises to use the following procedures to care for its floors:

Daily.

* Remove loose dirt by sweeping or dust mopping (slightly damp).

Regular maintenance.

* Scrub the floor with a neutral pH detergent at the recommended dilution ratios.

* Work in small areas and do not “flood coat” the floor (to prevent excess solution from flowing under the floor).

* Apply the cleaning solution with a mop and bucket or an automatic scrubber with a soft nylon brush. A “staggered-trim bristle” is preferred for floors with structured surfaces.

* Pick up the solution with a wet pick-up vacuum or automatic scrubber. The vacuum will eliminate residual dirt in surface indentations.

* Rinse with clear water and allow to completely dry (1 to 4 hours). This step may be eliminated if a neutral detergent is used.

* A disinfectant can be used if necessary, but make sure it is safe to use with your type of floor.

For its rubber floors, Freudenberg Building Systems in Lawrence, Mass., recommends the following cleaning regimen:

Daily.

* Thoroughly sweep, vacuum or dust mop.

One to five times per week.

* Spot clean with appropriate detergent.

* Dry polish with single disc or soft nylon brush.

* Remove stains with a solvent and nylon scouring pad, if necessary. Rinse or wipe off solvent.

Gerstung Floor Systems, Baltimore, Md., has similar suggestions for cleaning its rubber floors. It recommends using a rotary scrubbing machine with a built-in wet vac for periodic cleanings and to let the floor dry completely. One or two coats of wax can be applied after this for extra shine and easier daily maintenance, but do not overwax, as buildup will occur.

Hair loss causes what’s known as male pattern baldness, when hair is lost in a certain pattern, and it’s the main cause of hair loss in men. Hair starts to thin toward the front first and later at the crown of the head. Then you see a bald spot forming in the center of the scalp. Baldness of the male pattern type might eventually wind up as either partial or total baldness. Male pattern baldness is related to the production of testosterone, the male sex hormone. Testosterone is then converted into dihydrotestosterone (DHT) by the 5-alpha reductase enzyme. Some men’s bodies produce too much DHT. Too much DHT decreases the size of follicles so that new hair cannot easily grow.

Other causes include genetic factors, adverse reactions to prescription medications, fungal scalp infections, hypothyroidism, iron deficiency, stress, chemicals and radiation.

Psychological impact of hair loss: Male pattern baldness occurs over a period of time and does not cause any physical pain. However, young men are very sensitive about this condition. They think that their hair loss makes them personally less appealing. It adds years to someone’s appearance. Introductions can be awkward, especially with members of the opposite sex. Men who lose their hair may, over time, have low self esteem that makes them nervous about appearing in public.

Hair loss may not be physically painful, but it is emotionally distressing. Men losing their hair will try anything, from shampoos and oils to all sorts of concoctions, as long as it purports to take care of the problem. But professionals warn people away from trying every herbal treatment that comes down the pike. This is because many of the products are a waste of money because they do not treat the problem or produce the promised results.

Prescription medication – Propecia (finasteride) is the most effective treatment currently available to treat male pattern baldness. This drug will lessen the chance of testosterone being converted to DHT and that means there won’t be an excess of DHT. Working the way it does, Propecia stimulates new hair growth as it stops more hair loss. Only men should use Propecia; it shouldn’t even be touched by women or children.

Rogaine, which is really minoxidil lotion, is an additional treatment approved by the FDA. You can buy minoxidil without a prescription. You must rub the lotion into the scalp two times daily. Minoxidil is safe for both genders.

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Mild infections are similar to flu, including fever, headache, and body aches, often with skin rash and swollen lymph glands.

In more severe cases (which can lead to encephalitis, brain damage and even death), symptoms include headache, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, occasional convulsions, and paralysis.

The CDC lists the mortality rate from West Nile Virus as being about 3 to 15 percent, with senior victims being the most likely to die from infection.

Prevention

Anyone who hikes in the woods or bushes should use standard protocol for dealing with pests, such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants, insect repellent with 10-30% DEET on both one’s exposed skin and one’s clothing, and possibly even bug hats. It is recommended that people stay indoors at dawn and dusk because those are the times when mosquitoes are most active.

It is recommended that you remove any sources of standing water from around your property, as these are potential breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes become inactive in temperatures below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. With weather in the Eastern US and Canada cooling off, this year’s outbreak is expected to be quelled soon. Officials decline to state whether West Nile Virus is becoming an established epidemic in the US like in Israel, saying that there is not enough evidence to draw such a conclusion at this time. However, most experts are willing to speculate that the virus will return next summer. They site the fact that the known carrier species are types of “house” mosquitoes, which are capable of ‘hibernating’ through the winter in the cracks and crevices of domiciles and other warm buildings.

So far, the West Nile Virus has not shown any movement inland, seemingly moving along the coast. However, it remains to be seen how the face of this outbreak will change if, or when, the virus returns next summer.

W.

A.You are the best one to judge what is “perfect” for you, because you are the only one who can determine what your back, muscles, limbs and rest of your body FEEL like when exercising. With that in mind, consider being consistent with this back-care program:

A.
Daily abdominal exercises — head lifts, curls, obliques. For guidance, see allHealth’s video on abdominal exercise.
Daily gentle back stretches — knees curled up, and over to one side, then the other.

No prolonged sitting — give yourself breaks by moving, walking, stretching every 20 minutes.
Correct posture — no slouching, and no improperly situated computers, seats, etc. For details, see our video on sitting at the workstation.

Proper weight — large tummies mean strain on the lower vertebrae. Keeping at a healthy weight gives your back a rest.
Good mattress — are there any sags in your bed? Do you need a new one?
Good supportive, flat shoes most of the time — forget the heels if you’ve got back problems. Go for a good-looking flat, comfortable shoe and save your back.

B.T.

A. It sounds as if you have a condition called seasonal allergic rhinitis. Sinus pressure is a common associated symptom. The sinus headache you describe is caused by swelling in the nose and sinuses triggered by allergy-producing substances in the environment. If you cannot avoid the pollen that triggers your symptoms, a trial of medications is the next step.

A number of over-the-counter medications can be very helpful, though some of the best drugs are prescription medications. The major classes of over-the-counter medications for your symptoms include antihistamines, decongestants and pain relievers. Keep in mind that many preparations are combinations of two or more classes of medicines. It’s important to consider both the beneficial effects and the side effects of the various medicines when deciding what to take.

Although antihistamines such as Benadryl (diphenhydramine) do not directly relieve sinus pressure, they can reduce sneezing, itching and the “wet” symptoms of pollen allergy — such as watery eyes and runny nose. The primary side effects of these medications include sedation, excessive mucous membrane dryness and potential aggravation of prostate problems or glaucoma. Try a few different products one at a time to see if any of them works well for you. After prolonged use of a drug, your body may become tolerant to it, and it may not continue to work well for you. If this happens, try changing to a different antihistamine.

Decongestants such as Sudafed (pseudoephedrine) constrict blood vessels and thus decrease the swelling in the nose and sinuses. These drugs can help unblock these passages and relieve the symptoms of sinus pressure that you describe. The primary side effects include insomnia, increased blood pressure, decreased appetite and cross-reactions with other drugs, especially antidepressants.

The most effective decongestants are topical nose sprays such as Afrin or Neo-Synephrine. Topical decongestants should not be used for more than two days, however. Longer use can result in a rebound effect, with worse swelling and irritation once you stop using the sprays.

Pain relievers can also relieve your headache, and they are a common addition to many over-the-counter allergy preparations. Tylenol (acetaminophen), Advil (ibuprofen) and aspirin can all be helpful. Each of these may have varying effectiveness, depending on your response to them, and they should be taken according to your doctor’s directions or those on the package.

If your headache persists, visit an allergist or otolaryngologist (ear, nose and throat specialist) for a complete evaluation and to see if you would benefit from a prescription medication. Several new prescription antihistamines are much less likely to cause drowsiness than the over-the-counter drugs. Another prescription medication that may work well to treat your symptoms is a nasal steroid spray. These sprays have few side effects and provide long-term relief of symptoms by blocking the inflammation associated with allergies.

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Could any vitamins or medications be the cause? If the rate continues to rise, the doctor is talking of hospitalizing him and going in to look for the cause. Is this really necessary?

A.PSA, as you know stands for prostate specific antigen, a substance made in the prostate glands. Its function is to help liquify semen for reproduction.

In addition, it can be measured in the blood and used as a screening tool for prostate cancer.

Watercress Soup
1 bunch of watercress
1/2 bunch of scallions
1/2 cup of fresh peas
2 bunches of parsley
1/2 cup mushrooms sliced
lemon juice
miso

Bring 4 cups of water to boil. Clean and chop scallions and watercress. Add scallions (greens too!), peas, parsley and mushrooms to the boiling water. Cook five minutes. Turn off the heat. Add watercress, lemon and miso to taste.

Gingered Fruit Salad
2 cups orange juice
1 lime
2 Tbsp grated ginger
2 cups fresh strawberries
1 honeydew melon

Combine orange juice, lime and ginger in large bowl and tight fitting lid. Add halved strawberries and melon cubes. Seal and refrigerate until ready to serve.
Berries.

Several weeks of summer sun and rain have coaxed blossoms to become berries. Berries are a wonderful and cherished fruit of summertime. They are perfect for making beverages, pies or berry dumplings, adding to breakfast grains or eating right off the bush. Berries are also some of the most medically beneficial foods that nature has to offer. They procure a wide range of health benefits and are easily incorporated into ones diet due to their beauty, taste and culinary versatility.

Delicious and plentiful in the summertime berries are low in calories, fat free, rich in fiber, high in iron and antioxidant vitamins A and C. In addition they contain beneficial phytochemical that have been shown to lower the production of LDL cholesterol associated with heart and artery disease and ellagiac acid which prevents the initiation of cancer cells and inhibits the growth of cancerous tumors in the liver, lungs and esophagus.

There are two kinds of important dietary fiber and berries contain both. Soluble fiber which lowers LDL cholesterol that is associated with heart and artery disease is found in the flesh of the berry while insoluble fiber which regulates the bowel and assists in the prevention gastrointestinal cancer is found in the seeds. Researchers credit diets high in fiber with preventing cancer, heart disease, and hemorrhoids. In addition fiber soaks up liquid in the stomach like a sponge making you feel fuller which prompts you to consume fewer calories and less fat.

A cup of most berries contains about as much fiber as 2 slices of whole wheat bread and less than 100 calories. Blackberries rate highest for fiber content. With 4 grams per cup their fiber content is equal to that of 1 cup of cooked oatbran! One cup of strawberries contains a full days allowance of vitamin C, the antioxidant linked to prevention and delayed onset of major degenerative diseases of aging including cataracts, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

The predominant sugar that gives berries their sweetness is the natural sugar fructose. This sugar and how it is metabolized differs from common table sugar (sucrose) and is safe for diabetics. Eating berries is a sweet alternative to other rich, sugary, commercial foods that are popular in summer. Instead of ice cream blend berries into low-fat yogurt, or puree the fruit and freeze into popsicles.

Berries offer a delicious and natural way to add fiber, iron, and beneficial vitamins and anti-cancer agents to our diet. They are delicious and sweet and easily metabolized. So in addition to the beauty they add to foods, their delicious sweetness and cooling effects add significant health benefits to the simple pleasure of enjoying summers fruit and eat to your health!

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