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This month's issue offers somethings different. 1. Get on an interview list 2. Five new studies published this month - brief overview 3. The web site - new updates 4. My other web site...
1. Get on an Interview list: Would you want to be interviewed by a writer about your experience of Osteopenia or Osteoporosis? Last week I was contacted by a writer for a well known US magazine. She wanted to do a story about Osteopenia for her readers [age 32 - 58]. All went well, til she head I was 72 - too old for her readers. Did I know any women that fit her audience demographic. Well, luck was with her. I did have a few posts with age included so I contacted those women to ask if they would be want to be interviewed. But it has occurred to me that other writers may be interested in interviews. Perhaps I should have a list of potential interviewees on file. So, if you are willing to share your experience so others can learn..... Please do the following. Hit the reply button to this post. CHANGE THE SUBJECT LINE. Put your NAME and AGE AT DIAGNOSIS as the new subject line.
Then in the body of the email give: Your name Your country Your sex Your current age Your phone number - including area code A one sentence message for potential interviewer. I will keep your post on file for future reference. Any discussion would be between you and the writer. You can always say NO if at the time of contact, you do not want to give an interview. But PLEASE, PLEASE change the subject line before you hit the SEND button so I can file these quickly in a special folder. 2. FIVE NEW STUDIES Here are 5 studies that were published this month - I hope you will pass the word along to those who should know these things.
A. Minority women still under diagnosed in USA. "Osteoporosis is particularly under diagnosed in women in racial and ethnic minority groups in the United States".Journal American Academy Orthopadeic Surgery. B. Men with prostrate cancer. Need for measurement of bone mineral density in patients of prostate cancer before and after orchidectomy. J Assoc Physicians India. 2007 Jul;55:486-90. C. Rheumatoid arthirits patients need earlier drug intervention. Study in Japan found that Osteoporosis and fragile fractures are common and preventable complication in rheumatoid arthritis . We recently reported that the frequency of osteoporosis among RA patients was 53.3%, that of vertebral fractures was 19.3%. They were much higher rates than those of general population. Earlier drug intervention is necessary to prevent these complications. RA patients with glucocorticoid (GC) should be treated according to "Guidelines on the management and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis" published by JBMSR in 2004. Clinical Calcium 2007.
D.Vitamin K - with a special note for those on blood thinners. Epidemiological studies and clinical trials consistently indicate that vitamin K has a positive effect on bone mineral density and decreases fracture risk. Typical dietary intakes of vitamin K are below the levels associated with better BMD and reduced fracture risk; thus issues of increasing dietary intakes, supplementation, and/or fortification arise. To effectively address these issues, large-scale, intervention trials of vitamin K are needed. The effects of coumarin-based anticoagulants on bone health are more ambiguous, with retrospective studies suggesting that long-term therapy adversely affects vertebral BMD and fracture risk. Anticoagulants that do not affect vitamin K metabolism are now available and make clinical trials feasible to answer the question of whether coumarins adversely affect bone. The research suggests that at a minimum, clinicians should carefully assess anticoagulated patients for osteoporosis risk, monitor BMD, and refer them to dietitians for dietary and supplement advice on bone health. Further research is needed to make more efficacious decisions about vitamin K intake, anticoagulant therapy, and bone health. Nutr Clin Pract. 2007. E. Ibandronate: An IV injection for the treatment for post menopausal osteoporosis. Ibandronate is the only IV bisphosphonate licensed for the treatment of post menopausal osteoporosis and can be conveniently administered at quarterly follow-up visits. It is useful for those who can not tolerate oral bisphosphonates (eg. fosamx, actonel, boniva )
3. NEW WEB SITE ADDITIONS I have been busy revising pages on the web site. Thank you to readers who sent typos, errors etc. But I have also been updating information - some pages have not been updated in over 2 years. I am noW putting the Creation or Revision date at the end of each page so you can quickly scan to see if there are updates. Also, this month I am introducing a new section. Support groups. (See the Navigation bar title) It is organized by country and postal codes. Several of you have asked; others have told me of their groups. The page will have a contact form for you to add information to share.
Finally, I have gotten the History of Women Philosophers web site online. (Wild cheering - I have been researching this for over 20 years!) The information is not well known because it has been hidden in obscure tomes. I want to change that.... Also, this site also offers you a way to honor women that you know whose lives or works deserve recognition. Imagine the pleasure a woman will feel to find herself publicly honored. (I listed a wonderful Aunt last month.) Want to take a look at the site? Go to http://www.women-philosophers.com or if you get the HTML version of this newsletter click on Women Philosophers Be well, Stay active. Will be in touch next month. Kate Lindemann |