Slow Down, It’s Stress Awareness Month; Chapman Donates to Schools
The eradication of prostate cancer cells is best accomplished by specific temperature controlled treatment, according to a study done for Endocare Inc., Irvine, by the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, N.Y. Endocare is a leader in “targeted crycoalation,” a process in which cancerous cells are visualized directly with the use of ultrasound and destroyed by freezing.
The process is part of Endocare’s diagnostic and treatment Cryocare System approved last year by the federal government for nationwide Medicare reimbursement. One of the unique features of the system is the use of argon gas as opposed to the liquid nitrogen gas used by competitors, noted Paul Mikus, Endocare CEO and president.
“Argon allows us to better control the temperature of the treatment,” Mikus explained.
A nine-fold reduction in positive prostate biopsies after two years was attributed in large part to temperature control, according to the Mayo study.
Temperature control is pivotal to the successful treatment of prostate cancer with minimal damage to the surrounding healthy tissue, said Thayne R. Larson, M.D., the associate professor of urology at the Mayo school of medicine who headed the study.
Mikus, delighted with the Mayo study results, remarked, “We are encouraged that the research validates the clinical importance of temperature monitoring … one of the central technological bases of our Cryocare System.”
But the optimum freezing temperature for the procedure remains an unknown. The study also notes that a double freezing may be more thorough than a single freezing, but makes no concrete findings on that subject.
Stressed Out
Perhaps after Japan and New York City, no other metropolitan area suffers from it more than Orange County. It is tough earning a six-figure income, keeping the Mercedes fine tuned,or is it the gas-guzzling SUV?,staying ahead of the Jones and selecting the right threads for the weekend gala.
Oh, well. We make no apologies for being Type-A personalities.
But to remind us to slow down for life there is the present National Stress Awareness Month.
How stressed are we? About two-thirds of all visits to the family doctor are prompted by stress-related symptoms, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The remedy is so simple to preach, but so hard to practice.
“All it takes is a change in lifestyle,” said Peggy Payne of Trabuco Canyon who is the Director of Health Education Service for Universal Care. “We have to get proactive in our own well being, identifying what is stressful in our lives and then doing something about it.”
For its part, Universal Care is offering free stress reduction classes at its facilities in Anaheim, Garden Grove and Santa Ana. Membership in Universal Care is not required for free admission to the classes.
Chapman Medical Gives
The medical staff at the Chapman Medical Center, Orange, has donated $33,000 to four Orange County schools for equipment and supplies.
Terri DeShano, Director of Medical Staff Services said, “The money is donated through our … medical staff, annual dues and application fees.”
The recipient schools this year are El Modena, Orange and Foothill high schools, each of which will receive $10,000, and Hewes Middle School which received $3,000.
VitalCom Signs Deal
Tustin-based VitalCom Inc., a manufacturer and provider of patient information networks and software, installed its PatientBrowser system at the Mid-America Heart Institute of St. Luke’s,Shawnee Mission Health System in Kansas City, Mo. The facility is the first healthcare organization to use the system, which has also been installed at more than 100 hospitals. PatientBrowser enables physicians to view live and retrospective monitoring information from various devices over a secure Internet connection that is password-protected and encrypted to ensure confidentiality of patient information.
PatientBrowser is part of the PatientNet enterprise monitoring system, an open and wireless vendor independent network for monitoring patient information.
Bids Deadline
Monday, May 1, is the deadline for submission of RFP filings with the Orange County Health Care Agency for providers of services under Assembly Bill 3632/Special Education Children and Youth. More information regarding mental health intensive day treatment or outpatient services can be obtained from Brian Uyeda, contract administrator, at the county health agency offices at 515 N. Sycamore, Santa Ana, Room 312.
Healthy Chow
The Fat & Skinny Facts on Restaurant Dining will be discussed at an interactive seminar featuring food tasting on May 18 at the American Heart Association building, 4600 Campus Drive, Irvine. The 7:30 a.m. event will be presented by the Orange County Wellness Coalition, a tax-grant-supported private organization.
Cordero is a Yorba Linda-based freelancer.
