Niagara Hobby and Craft Mart Announcement

Hobbies are healthy! Niagara Hobby and Craft Mart has a lot going on in February, including:

US$1.00 & less Art & Craft Sale!
Atlas O track & accessories 50% off
Lionel accessories
Godzilla collectible figures 25% off
Herpa/Gemini die cast airliners (Buy 1; Get 1)
USA G scale track
Christmas Crafts
Die Cast vehicles
Hobby Master die cast military aircraft
Wm. Britain military figures and accessories 50% off

Some of what arrived this week:

ARTS & CRAFTS: Jewelry findings & tools; Bead organizer & bead board; Clock faces & movements; Artist easels; Embroidery loops; Spirodesign tin sets; Duct-tape kit; Artist & Craft brushes; Canvas; Acrylic ink; Erasers; Matt boards; Children's craft kits; Dollhouses; Dollhouse Miniature magazine; Students & Teachers always receive a 10% discount on art, craft and architectural supplies; Made In Australia jigsaw puzzles from Aboriginal artist Noel Doyle;

TATTOO ARTIST-ONLY SUPPLIES: Dettol, Fusion, Eternal, Radiant Color, After Inked, Cosco, Black Dragon, Phantom, Precision, Defend, Dynamic, Intenze, Mom's, and Tat Soul Spearman, amongst others. In order to purchase or place a special order, customers must provide their valid Erie County and/or Niagara County Tattoo/Body Piercing Artist Certificate;

GAMING: Games Workshop (Warhammer, Warmhammer 40,000, The Hobbit, Fantasy Flight Games, The Lord of the Rings, Citadel, etc.; paints, kits, accessories); Flames of War; Privateer Press (Warmachine, Hordes, etc.); Fantasy Flight Games; X-Wing; Netrunner; Gundam Bandai; Sobol; Wyrd Miniatures; Books; Free gaming every day; We place special orders Monday & Tuesday; products generally arrive by Friday; As part of recent renovations, an additional 90ft of shelving was devoted to gaming. We now have board games from Fantasy Flight Games, Iello, AEG, Privateer Press, Wyrd, and GF9. Games for everyone- families, children from age five, to adults seeking more in depth in strategy or resource management. We have expanded our miniature gaming section to include the largest selection of Privateer Press Warmachine and Hordes in WNY! Adding to an increasing selection from Games Workshop's Warhammer 40,000. We have expanded our selection of the Flames of War line by including Plastic Toy Soldiers, an affordable alternative for creating massive 15mm armies. We will introduce Infinity soon. We have Fantasy Flight Games X-Wing and Netrunner. These games exemplify our store motto as games that you can grow with... and continue to develop new and exciting strategies. Increased gaming area permits us to enhance our gaming nights and gaming events. A list of our always FREE gaming nights, always FREE gaming events and always FREE tournaments is in the calendar section ofwww.niagarahobby.com.

Ongoing Niagara Hobby Happenings Include:

Tuesday & Friday nights are miniature wargame night from 5:00 pm-8:00 pm

Thursday is Board Game night, including X-Wing and Netrunner from 5:00 pm- 8:00 pm

February 1st 11:00 am- 5:00 pm; X-Wing Tournament (bring out your X-Wing squadrons and compete for alternate art cards and a Star Wars medal!)

February 1st, 11:00 am- 5:00 pm: Netrunner Tournament (bring your Corporation and Runner decks to win alternate art cards and potentially a Netrunner play mat!)

February 2nd: 12:00 pm-5:00 pm High Command Tournament (bring your High Command Deck for a chance to win alternate art warcaster cards)

February 15th: Scenery Making Day (in preparation for the upcoming demo day as well as our expanded gaming section we need more terrain for our tables! So come out and be a part of the stores growth and take an active role in modeling the battlefields of tomorrow!)

February 22nd: Warmachine Stampede Event (fun event day of attack and defending in the Iron Kingdoms, bring out your army and see how long you can hold out against a never ending swarm of opponents.

February 23rd: Board Game demonstration day (due to the HUGE success of the recent Journeymen League we are asking you our customers what you would like our next league night to be. Demos will be run all day and you will get to cast your vote for the next store league. Demos for the day include: Infinity, Warmachine, Flames of War, Malifaux, Warhammer 40,000, Firestorm Armada, and X-Wing.)

RC (rechargeable battery & non-rechargeable battery): Traxxas Top Fuel (20% & 33%); O'Donnell Fuel (20% & 30%); Products (aircraft, vehicles, boats, helicopters) from Horizon (Blade, E-flite, Losi, ProBoat, Hobbyzone, ecXrc.com) have seven-days-a-week telephone customer service direct from the manufacturer;

SCIENCE, KITES & ROCKETS & MORE COOL STUFF: Estes rocket kits, launch sets, engines, accessories; Yo-Yos & accessories; Whittling supplies- knives, sets, gloves, thumb guards, wood shapes, magazines; Thames & Kosmos science sets; Konus telescopes; Perfect science glassware; Magcraft rare earth magnets; Wilescao steam-powered toys, fuel and supplies;

SLOT CARS (1/64th, 1/32nd, 1/24th): Carrera 1/32nd scale slot cars (Digital & Analog), track, accessories; Super Tires lubricants, parts and tires for 1/32nd scale and 1/64th scale slot cars; AFX 1/64th scale slot car sets, track sections, Tune-Up kits; Parma controllers; Motors- 90,000 rpm and 105,000 rpm; Slot.it 1/32nd scale slot cars, parts; Scalextric 1/32nd scale slot cars, parts; Life-Like 1/64th scale slot car sets, slot cars, track sections; Professor Motor controllers; NSR 1/32ndscale slot cars, motors, parts;

DIE CAST (metal & plastic & resin including 1/18th, 1/24th, 1/43rd, 1/64th, 1/87th): Auto World 1/24th scale die cast Toyota NHRA Patron Funny Car driven by Alexis DeJoria (autographed and non-autographed);

TRAINS (Z, N, HO, O, G): Atlas HO scale locomotives and rolling bstock, N scale rolling stock;Fox Valley N scale rolling stock; Lionel track, accessories; Bachmann HO scale and N scale EZ Track; Smalltown USA HO scale structure kits; Walthers Cornerstone HO details; Mini Metals HO scale vehicles; Split Jaw G scale track accessories; We repair N scale, HO scale, O scale & G scale locomotives and rolling stock; USA Trains G scale 8-foot curved track box SALE; Atlas O scale rolling stock SALE; Lionel O scale special edition Railroad Museum of Long Island RCA Operating Railroad Car;

MODELS (plastic, wood, glue, no glue): Dragon 1/35th scale figure kits; Brengun 1/72nd scale aircraft and missile kits; Gofer Racing 1/24th scale and 1/25th scale decals; Imex display cases; Cape Shore wooden ships, ship kits, ship-in-a-bottle kits; YELLOW tag plastic model sale;

THOMAS & FRIENDS, CHUGGINGTON, BREYER, SAFARI, SCHLEICH: Thomas & Friends (Wooden Railway, Take-n-Play, Trackmaster) characters, track, accessories, play tables; NHCM 3366 caboose (Made in the U.S.A.; compatible with Thomas & Friends and Brio); Chuggington Wooden Railway engines, track packs, accessories;

BOOKS, MAGAZINES, DVD, CLOTHING: Magazines;

SUPPLIES & COOL STUFF: Glues; Paint; Miniature hardware and drill bits; Hobby tools; Plastic sheets, strips, shapes, tubes; Metal sheets, rods, strips; Coin collecting supplies; Woodland Scenics scenery supplies, built-up structures, structure kits, O scale/HO scale/N scale figures; hobby wood - pieces, strips, sheets, dowels, blocks, plywood; Dremel tools, bits and accessories; Pinewood Derby kits, parts, decals, lubricants, tools and accessories; Sandpaper (wet/dry); Busch scenery supplies; Faller scenery supplies; Life-Like scenery supplies; Bachmann N scale/HO scale scenery supplies; Noch scenery supplies; JTT scenery supplies; Hot Wire Foam Factory tools;

2014 Always Free Event List

Carrera Slot Car Race Day- Saturday, 8 March
Modeling Railroading- Saturday, 15 March
Model Railroading- Saturday, 29 March
Thomas & Friends Play Day- 12 April
Estes Model Rocket Children's Workshop- 24 May
Chuggington Wood Play Day- 7 June
Estes Model Rocket Children's Workshop- 28 June
Carrera Slot Car Race Day- 27 September
Breyer Horse Fun Day- 4 October
Spooktacular Pre-Halloween Day- 25 October
Thomas & Friend Play Day- 8 November
Carrera Slot Car Race Day- 14 November
Early Holiday Kids Crafting Day- 6 December
Santa, His Elf & Reindeer- 29/30 November & 6/7/13/14/20/21 December
We Repair N, HO, O, & G scale trains!

Slot car racing every day!
Table Top Miniature Gaming every day!
Buffalo Yo -Yo Club monthly meeting !

Children enjoy our Schleich, Thomas & Friends (Wooden & Take-n-Play & Trackmaster), Chuggington Wooden Railway, Kapla and Tegu play tables; The Classroom's craft events; 6-lane 185+ ft Carrera Digital/Analog 1/32nd scale & 1/24th scale slot car track; 4-lane 60+-ft HO scale slot car track and Drag Strip & return loop!

Niagara Hobby & Craft Mart, located at 3366 Union Road (at Walden Avenue) · Cheektowaga, New York 14225-5110, Telephone: (716) 681-1666 · E-mail: manager@niagarahobby.com

http://www.niagarahobby.com
www.facebook.com/niagarahobbyandcraftmart
www.linkedin.com/niagara-hobby-&-craft-mart
www.twitter.com/@NiagaraHobby

Monday-Saturday 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Sunday 12:00 am to 5:00 pm

Have a ‘super’ Sunday by designating a sober driver

As one of America’s most anticipated and celebrated sporting events, the Super Bowl brings together families, friends and fans each year to enjoy the excitement of the big game. In many instances, fans will gather to watch the game at sports bars, restaurants or Super Bowl-themed parties. The Resource Training Center in Amherst, provider of the Drinking Driver Program, wants to spread an important safety message about designating a sober driver on Super Bowl Sunday.

“Fans don’t let fans drive drunk,” said Monica Farrar, director of The Resource Training Center. “Before choosing to drink, choose a sober designated driver. Avoid the unsportsmanlike conduct of driving drunk by handing off your keys so that you, your passengers and everyone on our roads can safely arrive home. Drunk driving is always preventable.”

If you’re attending a Super Bowl party or watching the game at a sports bar or restaurant, please consider the following:

• Designate your sober driver before the party begins.
• Avoid drinking too much alcohol too fast. Pace yourself. Eat plenty of food, take breaks and alternate with non-alcoholic drinks.
• If you don’t have a designated driver, ask a sober friend for a ride home, or call a cab, friend or family member to come get you. Or, if possible, stay where you are for the night and don’t drive until you are sober.
• Never let friends drive drunk. Arrange a safe way for them to get home, too.
• Always buckle up. It’s still your best defense against other drunk drivers.

If you’re hosting a Super Bowl party: 

• Make sure all of your guests designate their sober drivers in advance, or help arrange ride-sharing with sober drivers.
• Serve plenty of food and non-alcoholic beverages at the party.
• Host your party just like they do at the stadium. Stop serving alcohol at the end of the third quarter of the game. The fourth quarter is perfect for serving coffee and dessert.
• Keep the phone numbers of local cab companies on hand and take the keys away from anyone who might be thinking of driving drunk.
• Remember, you can be held liable and prosecuted if someone you served ends up in a drunk-driving crash.

Located in the Harlem Road Community Center at 4255 Harlem Road, Amherst, The Resource Training Center offers a wide variety of services, including the New York State Drinking Driver Program for individuals convicted of an alcohol- or drug-related driving violation, and Alive at 25, a unique program that teaches young drivers to change how they approach driving through role playing, workbook exercises, interactive media segments and more.

For more information, please call 983-2258, email info@wnyresourcetraining.org or visit www.wnyresourcetraining.org. You can also follow The Resource Training Center on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/The-Resource-Training-Center/112019195650348.

Dr. Sobhana Narayanan, Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Joins the Brain and Spine Center, InvisionHealth

Dr. Sobhana Narayanan, board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, is joining the Brain and Spine Center, InvisionHealth on February 24, 2014. She will be treating patients at three InvisionHealth locations to include Williamsville, Derby and Niagara Falls.

A graduate of Trivandrum Medical College in India, Dr. Narayanan completed her Residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY.

Recently, Dr. Narayanan held the position of Senior Instructor and Physician in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester School of Medicine. Prior to that, she worked at Kaleida Health System in Buffalo, NY and was the Medical Director of the Rehabilitation unit at DeGraff Memorial Hospital in Buffalo, NY.

Dr. Narayanan has more than a decade of experience in performing electrodiagnostic studies such as EMG and nerve conduction studies, as well as management of most rehabilitation problems including stroke, musculoskeletal injuries, spinal cord and other neuromuscular disorders, joint disorders, automobile and work-related injuries.

For more information regarding InvisionHealth, Diagnostic Imaging Associates, the Brain and Spine Center, Madonna OB GYN, Suburban OB/GYN,

Spa400, and the InvisionHealth Foundation, please visit www.invisionhealth.com or call 716-631-3555.

Are You Suffering from Chronic Back, Neck and Leg Pain? FREE Presentation with Refreshments

Dr. Eric Roger will discuss Chronic back, neck and leg pain, complex spine issues and minimally invasive surgery. The presentation will begin at 6:00 pm. Eric Roger, M.D., BSc, FRSC(C) is a Cleveland Clinic trained neurosurgeon based in Western New York. The event is being held at the Buffalo Marriott, 1340 Millersport Highway, Amherst, NY 14226, RSVP by calling 853-BACK.

February 19: Women's Heart Health

Event Details
Date	Wednesday, February 19, 2014
Time	10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Place	OLV Senior Neighborhood Community Room 55 Melroy Avenue Lackawanna, NY 14218 Parking is free.
Cost	Free
Registration	Register online or call  (716) 706-2112

Join Catholic Health for a candid discussion on women’s cardiac health at this free community event.

Beth Nicastro, RN, will discuss risk factors, symptoms, and prevention of heart disease in women - plus emerging information on diagnosis and local treatment options.

This event is free and open to the community.
Register Today

Registration is required. To register, please register online or call HealthConnection at (716) 706-2112.
More Events

For additional events hosted by Catholic Health, click here to view our calendar.

Recurrent Ovarian Cancers Respond to Cancer Vaccine After “Reprogramming” With Decitabine

PHILADELPHIA — Treatment with the drug decitabine prior to administration of chemotherapy and a cancer vaccine yielded clinical benefit for women with recurrent ovarian cancer, suggesting that this combinatorial chemoimmunotherapy may provide a new treatment option for patients with this disease, according to a study published in Cancer Immunology Research, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

A prerequisite for a patient’s immune system to recognize and attack his or her tumor is the presence of high levels of a protein not normally found in the patient’s healthy cells. Proteins with this profile are called tumor antigens and can be good targets for anticancer vaccines.

“NY-ESO-1 is one of the few tumor antigens that have restricted expression in normal tissues but become aberrantly expressed in epithelial ovarian cancers and other solid tumors, so we focused on this antigen as the lead candidate for development of cancer immunotherapy,” said Kunle Odunsi, M.D., Ph.D., principal investigator of the study, the M. Steven Piver professor and chair of the Department of Gynecologic Oncology, and director of the Center for Immunotherapy at Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) in Buffalo, N.Y. “However, we observed that this antigen is not uniformly expressed by epithelial ovarian cancers, so our goal was to force the expression of NY-ESO-1 on ovarian cancer cells in order to allow the immune system to recognize and attack them.

“Expression of NY-ESO-1 is regulated by an epigenetic process called DNA methylation. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that epigenetic reprogramming of NY-ESO-1 using the demethylating agent decitabine will augment vaccine-induced immunity,” he added. “Although clinical results were not a focus of this phase I trial, we saw evidence of clinical benefit in up to 60 percent of the patients with chemotherapy-resistant tumors. The combination of a demethylating agent, chemotherapy, and cancer vaccine may have enabled this remarkable effect.”

Odunsi and colleagues conducted a phase I dose-escalation trial of decitabine, to which they recruited 12 women with epithelial ovarian cancer that had not responded to multiple lines of chemotherapy, with an estimated progression-free survival time of three months. All patients received decitabine on day one, the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin on day eight, and the cancer vaccine (NY-ESO-1 protein with Montanide and GM-CSF) on day 15.

In preclinical analysis reported as part of this study, the investigators established the best sequence of drug administration: decitabine was effective only when administered before chemotherapy, and it was ineffective if given after chemotherapy; vaccine administration was the last step.

The clinical trial participants were randomly assigned to receive a low, middle, or high dose of decitabine.

Of the 10 patients evaluable for clinical response, five had stable disease for up to 7.8 months, and one had a partial response with disease remission that lasted 5.8 months. All patients from the low- and middle-dose cohorts of decitabine showed clinical benefit, whereas one-third of the patients who received the high dose showed benefit. These data suggest that lower doses of decitabine are associated with improved clinical response using this regimen. The treatment was well tolerated, and adverse events included hematologic side effects that were clinically manageable, according to Odunsi.

“One of the most remarkable results in terms of immune responses was that we were able to evoke what we call ‘antigen spreading,’” he said. “Although we immunized against a single target [NY-ES0-1], we analyzed and found that we were able to induce immune responses against three other antigens, against which we did not immunize.

“We propose that patients should actively seek these kinds of combination therapies. Even though the majority of these types of therapies are experimental at this point, there is enough scientific and clinical evidence to indicate that they are likely to be beneficial,” Odunsi added.

To this end, Odunsi and Adam R. Karpf, Ph.D., a co-principal investigator of the study and associate professor at the Eppley Institute and member of the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center in the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, are currently planning a phase II trial at Roswell Park Cancer Institute and the Fred and Pamela Buffett Cancer Center to test whether this treatment approach lengthens progression-free survival in patients with ovarian cancer.

This study was funded by the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, the Roswell Park Alliance Foundation, a Cancer Vaccine Collaborative Grant, the Anna Maria Kellen Clinical Investigator Award, the National Cancer Institute, and Eisai Pharmaceuticals. Odunsi has declared no conflicts of interest.

###

About the American Association for Cancer Research:

Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) is the world’s oldest and largest professional organization dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent and cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 34,000 laboratory, translational, and clinical researchers; population scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates residing in more than 90 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the prevention, biology, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer by annually convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with more than 18,000 attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes eight peer-reviewed scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients, and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As the scientific partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides expert peer review, grants administration, and scientific oversight of team science and individual grants in cancer research that have the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively communicates with legislators and policymakers about the value of cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.

Follow the AACR on Twitter: @AACR

Follow the AACR on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/aacr.org

About Roswell Park Cancer Institute:

The mission of Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) is to understand, prevent and cure cancer. Founded in 1898, RPCI is one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. The Institute is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or email askrpci@roswellpark.org. Follow RPCI on Facebook and Twitter.

Dr. David Kurss, Board Certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist, Joins InvisionHealth

Dr. David Kurss, a nationally recognized, board-certified, Obstetrician-Gynecologist is joining InvisionHealth on January 1, 2014 and will be treating patients in a new office location at 100 College Parkway, Suite 120, in Williamsville, NY.

Dr. Kurss received his MD, with honors, in 1982 from SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine. He completed his Residency in 1986 at the SUNY at Buffalo affiliated Obstetrics and Gynecology Program where he received an award for delivering outstanding care. Dr. Kurss became a Diplomate in the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 1991. He became a Fellow in the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in 1993. Dr. Kurss also achieved recognition as a Nationally Certified Menopause Practitioner by the North American Menopause Society.

In 1993, Dr. Kurss founded the Women’s Wellness Center of Western New York, the area’s first physician-associated wellness center. Here, Dr. Kurss offers a myriad of health promoting programs to his female patients and to their families.

Dr. Kurss was the first in WNY to perform in-office gynecological procedures such as Endometrial Ablation – to address heavy menses, and Essure – for permanent birth control. This offers patients an effective treatment without the need for a hospital stay.

As a Clinical Assistant Professor at the SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine, Dr. Kurss instructs physicians in training – both in the hospital and at the University. In addition to frequently speaking to community groups and serving as a guest media commentator, Dr. Kurss is a highly sought after Keynote Lecturer to professional audiences throughout the United States.

Dr. Kurss has been recognized as one of America’s Top Doctors (Castle Connelly/US News and World Report) for nine consecutive years, received the regional HealthTap award, (2013 Top Doctor), and was cited by Business First WNY as a Health Care Innovator. He was also elected as a life-long member of Cambridge Who’s Who.

Dr. Kurss was past President of the Buffalo Gynecology and Obstetrics Society. He presently represents his Obstetric and Gynecology colleagues as a member of the Physician Advisory Board of p2 Collaborative, where he advocates for improved health care for the women of Western New York.

Dr. Kurss is on the faculty of the SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine, a Past President of the Buffalo OB/GYN Society, a Business First Health Care Innovator Award Winner, a Nationally Certified Menopause Specialist, cited as a Top Doc in US News and World Report, a member of Cambridge’s Who’ Who, pioneered in office GYN surgical techniques in WNY, a Women’s Health Consultant to the media, and is a highly sought after Keynote Lecturer and thought Leader in Women’s Health throughout the United States.

InvisionHealth offers an integrated, multidisciplinary approach which results in convenience and patient-centered care. Our specialists in radiology, neurosurgery, neurology, rheumatology, physiatry, interventional pain management, family practice, internal medicine, obstetrical and gynecologic care, functional medicine, physical therapy, chiropractic care, medical massage therapy, diagnostic testing, infusion therapy and med spa services all work together to provide a full range of health, wellness, preventative care and surgical services.

For more information regarding the InvisionHealth family of services, Dr. David Kurss and the Women’s Wellness Center of Western New York, please visit www.invisionhealth.com or call 716-631-3555.

Looking to Lose Weight in 2014? Begin with a Healthy Breakfast!

Many people who have lost weight and kept it off eat breakfast, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“The old saying is absolutely true, breakfast is the most important meal of the day,” said Patricia Salzer, a registered dietitian and a health and wellness consultant at Univera Healthcare. “To ‘break’ the ‘fast,’ start your days with a step in the right direction. Our bodies, including our brains and muscles, require energy to work. This is especially important after we have gone for hours without eating.”

One in 10 U.S. consumers does not eat breakfast, according to a 2011 study by The NPD Group, a marketing research company. Males who are 18- to 34-years-old are the ones most likely to skip breakfast.

“Eating breakfast is important since what you consume affects your energy level for the rest of the day,” Salzer said. She recommends consuming carbohydrates with fiber, plus protein and fat. “This will delay symptoms of hunger and help you feel full until the next meal.”

Salzer offers several breakfast tips.

Sick of traditional breakfast foods? Try eating: · Last night’s leftovers

· Hummus on toast

· Rice and beans

· Brown rice with fruit, nuts and cinnamon (similar to oatmeal)

Breakfast foods can be low in calories, high in nutrients. Give these nutritious breakfast options a try: 

· Greek yogurt with fruit

· Oatmeal with nuts

· Whole grain toast topped with low-fat ricotta cheese and fruit

· Whole-wheat tortilla filled with lots of sautéed vegetables and scrambled eggsFor those not hungry at breakfast time, start with a lighter meal: · A glass of chocolate milk

· A piece of toast or some yogurt

Then, have a mid-morning snack to complete the meal by eating:

· A hard-boiled egg

· Cheese and fruit

For more quick breakfast fixes that will help you manage your weight, visit: http://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/manage-your-weight-with-breakfast

Great News for Upstate New York

Low Uninsured Rate Already Exceeds National Health Care Reform Goal for 2023

Upstate New York has a lower uninsured rate than all but three states in the nation and already exceeds the goal of what federal health care reform seeks to accomplish by the year 2023, according to a new report issued today by Univera Healthcare.

"The Facts about Health Insurance Coverage in Upstate New York" analyzed the most recent data available (2010-2012) for residents of all ages, and 2012 data for residents through age 64. (At age 65, all U.S. citizens automatically become eligible for Medicare.)

All ages coverage (2010-2012)

Upstate New York’s uninsured rate of 8.4 percent was significantly below the state’s uninsured rate (11.4 percent) and the national rate (15.1 percent). “What that means,” said Univera Healthcare President Art Wingerter, “is that 324,000 more upstate New Yorkers have health insurance than would have coverage if we were at the national rate.”

The report points out that the upstate New York region studied has a population larger than 28 other states, but its uninsured rate is lower than all states in the nation, excluding Massachusetts and the less populous states of Vermont and Hawaii.

Employer-based coverage (2010-2012)

Upstate New York’s employer-based health insurance coverage rate of 62.5 percent also compared favorably to the state rate of 57.4 percent and national rate of 54.8 percent, according to the Univera Healthcare analysis.

“From a taxpayer’s perspective, job-based health insurance is preferable to government-based coverage, because it costs taxpayers less,” Wingerter observed. “We have 371,000 more upstate New Yorkers covered due to job-based benefits than we’d have if we were at the national rate for employer-based coverage.”

Upstate New York vs. national goals for coverage (2012)

Looking at 2012 survey data pertaining to residents younger than age 65, the Univera Healthcare analysis shows that 91.3 percent of upstate New Yorkers had health insurance coverage, well above the national rate of 83.1 percent.

A May 2013 Congressional Budget Office report forecasted that the health insurance coverage rate for the U.S. population younger than age 65 would reach 89 percent by the year 2023. "Before federal health care reform could even have an impact, our region started where the nation as a whole hopes to be nine years from now,” Wingerter said.

“Our region is in much better shape than most of the country,” said Wingerter. “I believe that upstate New York promotes a climate for wiser health care spending fostered by strong local collaborations among those who provide care and the employers and insurers who finance it. Upstate New York is also in a predominately local, nonprofit health plan marketplace characterized by low operating margins among most competing insurers.”

Detailed upstate New York regional uninsured figures available

The analysis also provides detailed uninsured figures for 2010-2012, based on clusters of upstate New York counties (and individual counties) with populations greater than 20,000.

Upstate New York, for purposes of the analysis, was defined as an area bounded by Buffalo to the west, Utica to the east, Binghamton to the south and the Adirondacks to the north. The Univera Healthcare report is based on data collected from 2010 to 2012 by the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, the largest and most current national data source available.

To view the report, The Facts About Health Insurance Coverage in Upstate New York, go to UniveraHealthcare.com/factsheets.

Univera Healthcare is a nonprofit health plan that is part of a family of companies financing and delivering health services for more than 1.8 million upstate New Yorkers. Based in Buffalo, the health plan serves members across the eight counties of Western New York.

To learn more about Univera Healthcare, follow us on:

Our website: http://www.univerahealthcare.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Univera_WNY

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/Univerahealthcare

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/company/univera-healthcare

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/univerawny

Catholic Health to Sell Three Continuing Care Facilities

In order to preserve and strengthen community-based senior care services, while responding to changes in the healthcare market, Catholic Health has agreed to sell three of its continuing care facilities to Comprehensive Healthcare Management Services, LLC. 

They include:

• St. Francis of Williamsville, a 142-bed skilled nursing/subacute care facility
• St. Elizabeth’s Home of Lancaster, an adult home with 117 beds 
• St. Vincent’s Home of Dunkirk, an adult home with 40 beds

Together, the homes employee about 315 associates.

Catholic Health has sustained multi-million dollar losses, including a projected $3 million in 2013, since taking over the facilities in 1998.

“The current healthcare environment makes it difficult for us to continue making the needed investments that will be required to maintain these facilities,” said Mark Sullivan, executive vice president & COO for Catholic Health. “In making this decision, our goal was to position each facility so it could remain open for our residents, their families and our staff.”
New Ownership Plans to Offer Positions to Staff

Comprehensive Healthcare operates several nursing and adult homes in New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Oklahoma and Missouri. The new ownership team plans to offer positions to associates affected by the sale.

“During their site visits, Comprehensive Healthcare’s leadership team was very impressed with the facilities, our staff, and the care they provide,” Sullivan added. “We believe this is good news for everyone involved and for the communities served by these facilities.”
Four Other Skilled Nursing Facilities Not Affected by Sale

Catholic Health operates four other skilled nursing facilities – Father Baker Manor in Orchard Park, Mercy Nursing Facility in Lackawanna, St. Catherine Labourè Health Care Center in Buffalo and McAuley Residence in Tonawanda – which are not affected by the sale.

“We are committed to providing long term care services in our community and will continue to make improvements in our remaining facilities to enhance care, comfort and safety,” Sullivan added. “With the changing needs of area seniors, we are also working to expand our home care, PACE and other programs to provide area families with even more options for their loved ones’ continuing care needs.”

Sale May Take Up to a Year to Complete

The sale, which was approved by Catholic Health’s Board of Directors, is subject to approval by New York State. The sale process may take up to a year to complete, during which time Catholic Health will work closely with the homes’ associates, residents and family members to maintain continuity of care, ensure a smooth transition and welcome the new owners to Western New York.

Catholic Health will also host ceremonies to mark a new chapter in the history of these facilities and to recognize their contributions to the health and residential needs of seniors in their communities.

February 12: Parenting the Strong Willed Teen with Dr. John Rosemond

Event Details
Date	Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Time	7 p.m.
Place	The Mercy Center 625 Abbott Road Buffalo, NY 14220
Cost	$10
Registration	(716) 825-8796, (716) 826-3610, or (716) 877-6401

Nationally acclaimed parent guru Dr. John Rosemond, will be speaking at The Mercy Center (Auditorium) on Wednesday, February 12, 2014.

The lecture begins at 7 p.m. in the auditorium. Doors open at 6 p.m. for a book signing.

Individual seats are $10 each. There is an alternative package that includes one admission ticket and one of his books for $20. Click here for more information.

To reserve tickets or obtain more event information, call Mount Mercy Academy at (716) 825-8796, Bishop Timon High School at (716) 826-3610, or St. John's Kenmore at (716) 877-6401.

Also, please note a second lecture is being held the following night by Dr. Rosemond, entitled, "Parenting the Strong Willed Child." This event will be held at St. John the Baptist Church in Kenmore.

We encourage you to attend both nights, if possible!

This event is presented by the Mercy Hospital Foundation in conjunction with St. John the Baptist School (Kenmore), Mount Mercy Academy, and Bishop Timon Academy.

P2 Collaborative Appoints New Board Chair

The P2 Collaborative, a regional organization providing community information about best medical practices, health promotion and policy change announced the election of John R. Fudyma, MD, MPH as the new chair of the Board of Directors. Dr. Fudyma is the chief of UBMD Internal Medicine's General Internal Medicine Division.

"Since P2 Collaborative's founding, every member of our board has gone above and beyond to advance the mission of our organization, and to serve our community and staff. These new members will prove to be no exception to that rule. It is an honor to serve as Board Chair and to be part of an organization that will continue to promote the health and wellness of all of Western New York," says Dr. Fudyma.

Dr. Fudyma will take over from the outgoing board chair, Kevin Donovan, who served in that position for four years.

Sisters Hospital and Erie County Cancer Services Program Host Free Breast Cancer Screening for Women without Health Insurance

To help area women without health insurance get the breast care services they need, Sisters of Charity Hospital and the Erie County Cancer Services Program is sponsoring a Free Breast Cancer Screening on Saturday, February 15 from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. The screening, which will be held in the hospital’s Piver Center for Women located on the corner of Main St. and Humboldt Parkway, will include a free mammogram. Free blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose screenings will also be offered.

The Free Breast Cancer Screening is open to all women, age 40 or older, who do not have health insurance and have not had a mammogram in the past year. Through the Erie County Cancer Services Program, eligible participants may also qualify for free follow-up testing and treatment if needed.

“We want to help area women start the year off on the road to better health,” said Michelle Wysocki, RN, Program Director of the Erie County Cancer Services Program. “An annual mammogram is still one of the best ways to detect breast cancer early, when complete recovery is possible. A lack of health insurance should not prevent women from getting this vital care.”

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women ages 40-55. According to the National Cancer Institute, one in eight American women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. The Piver Center at Sisters Hospital features advanced digital mammography, offering women the quickest, most reliable and most comfortable breast imaging services available.

To receive a free breast cancer screening, participants must meet eligibility requirements and appointments are necessary. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, contact Catholic Health’s HealthConnection at 447-6205.

Study finds troubling relationship between drinking and PTSD symptoms in college students

By Pat Donovan

“Heavy drinking is common on college campuses and related to risk for sexual assault, interpersonal violence and serious injury, any of which may trigger PTSD.” Jennifer Read, associate professor of psychology

The estimated 9 percent of college students who have symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are likely to drink more alcohol than peers without the psychological condition. In turn, heavy alcohol consumption exacerbates their PTSD symptoms over time, prolonging a vicious cycle.

These are the conclusions of the first empirical study to examine the bidirectional influences of the two phenomena, influences that had been theorized but never tested.

The study, “Reciprocal Associations Between PTSD Symptoms and Alcohol Involvement in College: A Three-Year Trait-State-Error Analysis,” was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse and is published in the most recent edition of the Journal of Abnormal Psychology (Vol. 22/4).

A full-text version of the study can be obtained by contacting Pat Donovan at 716-645-4602 or pdonovan@buffalo.edu.

“College is a time of important developmental changes and a period of risk for heavy drinking, trauma exposure and post-traumatic stress symptoms,” says Jennifer P. Read, PhD, associate professor of psychology at the University at Buffalo and principle investigator on the study.

“Heavy drinking is common on college campuses and related to risk for sexual assault, interpersonal violence and serious injury, any of which may trigger PTSD,” says Read, who noted that although there has been an assumption that the two are mechanistically associated in the college population, until now, the nature of their relationship was unclear.

The study examined the relationships between PTSD and heavy drinking in 486 students as they transitioned into college and at 11 additional points over the following three years.

“We show that alcohol use and associated problems are linked over time to an exacerbation in PTSD symptoms, and that PTSD symptoms show a similar effect on alcohol consumption. Each affects the other. As such, both PTSD and heavy drinking are risk factors for one another, each with implications for the other over the course of college,” Read says.

“This information is useful and perhaps imperative for those who assist students dealing with these problems.”

The study employed the trait-state-error modeling analytic approach, which allowed the examination of prospective and reciprocal associations among these constructs while accounting for intra-individual stability.

Co-authors on the study, both in the UB Department of Psychology, are Jeffery D. Wardell, doctoral candidate in clinical psychology, and Craig R. Colder, PhD, professor of clinical psychology.

Read’s research focuses on the etiology of and interventions for problematic alcohol and other substance use in young adults. Her prior research has examined both environmental and individual determinants of alcohol use, in particular, how individual-level factors such as gender, affective state and alcohol cognitions (e.g., expectancies, motives) may account for different responses to the social environment.

In a 2011 study of 3,000 college students, published in the journal Psychological Trauma, she found that about 9 percent met the criteria for PTSD, with the disorder found to be most common among those exposed to sexual and physical assault, most of whom were women.

A 2012 study by Read and colleagues found that the transition into college is marked by an escalation in heavy drinking, drug use and use-related negative consequences, and suggested interventions that may help to ameliorate problem substance use and ultimately facilitate a stronger transition into college and beyond.

Media Contact Information
Patricia Donovan
 Senior Editor, Arts, Humanities, Public Health, Social Sciences, 
Tel: 716-645-4602
pdonovan@buffalo.edu

BCNWNY February Meeting notice

The Breast Cancer Network of Western New York, will hold the monthly educational meeting at its Bella Moglie building, 3297 Walden Ave., Depew, NY (just east of Transit Rd.) at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 .

Speaker: David Dougherty, DO, Board Certified by the American Board of Osteopathic Medicine in Internal Medicine and Medical Oncology

Topic: Uterine Cancer

The Breast Cancer Network of Western New York, a non-profit organization providing education, advocacy, support and networking for people affected by breast cancer. All interested individuals in the WNY area, survivor or community member, is welcome to attend the educational programs, the meetings and light refreshments at 6 PM with speaker at 6:30 PM.

For reservations mimid708@hotmail.com or call Margaret at 716-864-0056. For further BCNWNY information call Sharon Faraci at 759-1176. For those interested, following the meeting at 8 PM a professional support group will be held.

Also, open to survivors are “Quality of Life Classes For Survivors”. These classes include, Water Color, Drawing, Tai Chi, Jewelry Making, Cooking, Exercise, and Zumba, as well as Book Club. For more information please visit www.bcnwny.org

The Buffalo Niagara Film Festival is now seeking volunteers and interns

Buffalo Niagara Film Festival is now seeking volunteers and interns for April 2014 events

Volunteer/Internship Responsibilities:
Students and volunteers will act as a liaison between the Film Festival and festival sponsors and organizers.

Coordinate and run events with local theaters.

Correspond with filmmakers, production companies and media outlets.

Shoot, edit, design and produce promotional materials, videos and web content.

Assist with the day to day running of the Film Festival.

To contact us or register today http://thebnff.com/volunteer/ or simple give us a call at 716-693-0912

Author Anthony Antek to speak on Bipolar struggles and adventures

Book tells struggles, humor and adventures growing up Polish, Catholic and Bipolar in Buffalo during the mid-20th Century

The Museum of disABILITY History welcomes its latest addition to the Dialogues on disABILITY Speaker Series: Anthony Antek, author of Bipolar Buffalo – A Mosaic of Minds Journey. The presentation, “The Bipolar Advantage: The Link to Creativity,” will be held on Friday, January 31, 2014, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at 3826 Main Street in Buffalo.

Antek’s presentation will focus on his book, as well as personal stories about living and coping with Bipolar disorder. In 52 stories and 29 works of original art and photos, the book tells the struggles, humor and adventures of a steel-city, second generation working-class youth growing up Polish, Catholic and Bipolar in Buffalo during the mid-20th Century. Antek will address numerous other topics, including positive aspects of the disorder and reflections on the debate of neurobiology vs. social conditions as causal factors. The presentation will also include a Question-and-Answer session.

Author of the non-fictional work of literature, Bipolar Buffalo – A Mosaic of Minds Journey, Antek has degrees from the University at Buffalo (BA), University of Denver (MA) and doctoral studies at Tulane University, Northern Michigan University and SUNY Albany. He has had a versatile career in education in New York, Colorado, Michigan and Vermont as a college teacher of the social sciences, college administrator, school superintendent, elementary principal and as a primary/secondary teacher of math and history.

Antek was born and raised in Lackawanna, NY to a steel-working family of Polish descent. He and his wife Lynn have been married for 43 years. They have three daughters and three grandsons.

The Dialogues on disABILITY event with Anthony Antek is $5 for adults and $2.50 for seniors, students and human service employees. The event fee includes admission to the gallery space of the Museum of disABILITY History. For more information or to register, call 716-629-3626.

The Museum of disABILITY History, a project of People Inc., is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and display of artifacts relating to the history of people with disabilities. The mission is to tell the story of the lives, triumphs and struggles of people with disabilities as well as society’s reactions. The Museum of disABILITY History, located at 3826 Main Street in Buffalo, NY, offers educational exhibits, programs and activities that expand community awareness.

James Pilc, MD Joins Buffalo Wellness Center Workshop

“Jump Start Your Life in 2014” to be Held at Bryant and Stratton College, Southtowns Campus

January 15, 2014: WNY- James Pilc, M.D. partners with Buffalo Wellness Center (BWC) for their “Jump Start Your Life Event in 2014” to be held January 23rd from 7-9pm at Bryant and Stratton College Southtowns Campus, 200 Redtail, Orchard Park, NY, 14127. He joins keynote speaker Dr. Brian Clement, Director of the world renowned Hippocrates Health Institute, Dr. Dennis Lesniak, Clinical Nutritionist, & professor at University of Buffalo and wellness and motivational authors Roselyn Kasmire, (Children's Author of The Adventures of Jasper) and Elizabeth Diamond, (Internet Radio Show Host, Hypnotherapist, & Writer).

“Our goal is to educate and inspire attendees to live healthier and be happier with tested and true techniques,” shares Rebecca Joy, Buffalo Wellness Center founder. “Our speakers have a wealth of experience and expertise to share.”

After being diagnosed with bone marrow cancer in 2005, Dr. Pilc came to meditation as a complementary therapy to help with healing. His hope is to help those in need of physical, emotional, energetic or spiritual healing and to further investigate the connection between Western Medicine, Eastern Medicine and Meditative Self-Healing.

Pilc teaches both group classes and individual Meditative Self-Healing Sessions in Williamsville and East Aurora. He will be signing copies of his book Unstuck: The Enlightenment of Medicine and his Guided Meditation: A Path to Peace CD.

Tickets ($20 each) can be purchased online at Buffalowellnesscenter.com or at the door.

For more information, go to www.jamespilcmd.com and follow James Pilc, M.D. on facebook and twitter.

About James Pilc, M.D.: James Pilc, M.D. is a physician, father, author and Personal Meditative Guide. He founded and ran a successful private medical practice for 10 years with over 5,000 patients who travelled from all points of WNY to his office in Williamsville. Unstuck: The Enlightenment of Medicine is his first book in a series of works integrating medicine, spirituality, and personal development. “Guided Meditation: A Path to Peace” is his first spoken word cd/digital download sharing the philosophies of Buddhist meditation, contemplative prayer and deep relaxation.

After being diagnosed with bone marrow cancer in 2005, he came to meditation as a complementary therapy to help with healing. His hope is to help those in need of physical, emotional, energetic or spiritual healing and to further investigate the connection between Western Medicine, Eastern Medicine and Meditative Self-Healing.

He has offered Meditation Sailing aboard the Spirit of Buffalo, bringing it to WNY for the first time. In September 2013, he presented a lecture and meditation workshop for WNY Joining Community Forces Retreat, supporting soldiers and their families as well as a talk followed by a book signing to staff and patients at an event jointly sponsored by Evergreen Health Services and ECMC’s Immunodeficiency Services Department.

With both undergraduate and medical degrees from UB, he lives in Buffalo, NY with his husband and two sons. For more information, including upcoming appearances and classes, go to jamespilcmd.com or follow James Pilc, M.D. on facebook and twitter. Unstuck: The Enlightenment of Medicine is also available on barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com in paperback and Kindle versions.

“Guided Meditation: A Path to Peace” is a seventy-four minute spoken word cd with original music created and produced in WNY. It includes an introduction to meditation, relaxation exercises and both an extended and a time-saving guided meditation. The original music includes binaural tones which were added to enhance relaxation, creativity and the meditative experience. This recording is available as a compact disc and digital download through www.jamespilcmd.com.

Both the book and CD are available locally at Vidler’s 5 & 10 and The Bookworm in East Aurora, B is for Books in Orchard Park, New World Gifts and Serendipity Salon and Spa in Williamsville and Aurora Waldorf School Store in West Falls.

About Buffalo Wellness Center: The Buffalo Wellness Center’s mission is to educate the community about holistic health practices while bridging the gap between the doctors and their patients so people can make wiser decisions on the health and maintenance of their own bodies. The BWC was founded by Rebecca Joy and was brought to life in 2010 under the name Buffalo Reiki. The mindset was to create a place that encompasses health, wellness and inspiration for Buffalo, New York. Our goal is to help increase stamina and restore motivation and vigor with tested and true techniques. Our leaders are trained professionals, who maintain high standards in their area of expertise. They are not only successful in their ability to motivate and educate, but they have maintained success in their field of work. At BWC you will be exposed to many techniques and practices such as Yoga, Sound Therapy, Meditation, Nutrition, Skin Care and many others. At BWC we are committed to helping others feel the best they can on a daily basis. We travel around the country sharing our expertise at Health Expos, Conferences, and various Private Sectors.

Annual Go Red For Women Luncheon Saving Lives of WNY Women for More Than a Decade

BUFFALO, NY – The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement has been impacting the health of women for over a decade. More than 627,000 women’s lives have been saved, but the fight is far from over. The Buffalo Niagara Division of the American Heart Association (AHA) is pleased to announce the annual Go Red For Women Luncheon will take place on Thursday, February 13, 2014 at the Buffalo Marriott in Amherst.

Presented by Catholic Health and co-chaired by M&T Bank’s John Walp, and wife Laurie, the luncheon brings nearly 300 local business women together to raise their voices about this silent killer that takes the lives of one in three Western New York women. Mr. & Mrs. Walp are leading the organization’s appeal to the local business community to support the American Heart Association’s mission to build healthier lives, free from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by joining the Go Red movement.

“Catholic Health is committed to women’s health and the reality is more women are dying of heart disease than any other illness,” says Jason Jankowiak, Vice President of Cardiovascular Services at Catholic Health and Chair-elect of the American Heart Association’s Buffalo Niagara advisory board. “That’s why organizationally, the Go Red For Women movement is so important in changing the trends.”

The vendor fair begins at 10:30 a.m. where guests will be pampered with spa treatments, cooking and exercise demonstrations, and health screenings. The luncheon begins at noon and will be hosted by WKBW’s Joanna Pasceri. Twelve local survivors will be honored and featured in a survivor gallery and the 3rd annual Heroine of the Heart will be announced and presented.

Guests will hear a young woman’s amazing story of survival and triumph after beating heart failure and receiving a heart transplant at the young age of 25. After lunch, the audience will be privy to some amazing breakthroughs happening right in Western New York by UB’s Vice Chair for Research, Dr. Glenna Bett.

Tables and tickets are available and can be purchased by calling the American Heart Association at 614-1987 or www.heart.org/buffalo. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. The American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women movement is nationally sponsored by Macy’s and locally sponsored by Catholic Health and WKBW-TV. The Luncheon is sponsored by M & T Bank and the Buffalo News.

WOMEN VETERANS PTSD RESIDENTIAL PROGRAM EXPANDS

VA Western New York Healthcare System is celebrating the new 10,000 square foot building at the Batavia site, 222 Richmond Avenue Friday, January 10 at 10 a.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Women Veterans posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) residential program. Center for H.O.P.E, Healing Opportunities for Peace and Empowerment, a name that Women Veterans and staff thought fitting for the site, is a $15 million project will serve approximately 100 Women Veterans annually from all over the United States.

The program which is one of eight in the country, has been serving Women Veterans in Batavia since March 2006. The new building offers 12 single bedrooms with private bathrooms, individual and group therapy rooms, a kitchen, laundry and common area along with office space for providers. The building is a unique blend of a modern facility incorporating the Batavia VA’s historical charm. This treatment modality for PTSD, is one of many offered by VA, and ranges from a few weeks to eight weeks dependent on patient needs. “We are pleased to offer PTSD residential treatment for more Women Veterans in this state of the art facility on the grounds of the Batavia VA, that offer much tranquility as a healing environment,” stated Brian Stiller, Director, VA Western New York Healthcare System.

Women Veterans are a growing population in VA health care with more women serving in the military. Friday’s event is open to the public.

Critical Need for Blood Following Storm

Unyts urges WNY to consider donating blood today

After canceling collections on Tuesday due to blizzard conditions, Unyts is urging the community to donate blood TODAY. Demand at our local hospitals has increased and a strong turnout by donors is critical to ensure we have blood available for the WNY community. 

Winter months are typically slower in terms of blood donations with fewer donors taking time to give blood because of inclement weather and seasonal illnesses. However, every day, Unyts is expected to provide our area hospitals with lifesaving blood on a daily basis and keep the supplies at a safe level.  As local residents are able to return to their normal activities following the blizzard, Unyts encourages eligible donors to give blood. “O negative” donors are especially encouraged to give today.

Blood Drives Today, January 8^th

NY State Police-Lockport

6566 Dysinger Rd.

Lockport, NY   14094

10am – 3pm

Eastern Hills Mall

4545 Transit Road

Williamsville, NY  14221

1pm-8pm

Southgate Plaza

1000 Union Road

West Seneca, NY  14224

10pm-8pm

Blood Drives Tomorrow, January 9^th

Millard Fillmore Suburban

1540 Maple Road

Williamsville, NY  14221

8:30am-3:30pm

Tonawanda Donation Center

96 Niagara Street

Tonawanda, NY  14150

10am-8pm

Unyts

110 Broadway Avenue

Buffalo, NY  14203

10am-3pm

To make an appointment, call 512-7940

Unyts is WNY’s only organ, eye, tissue and community blood center. Our commitment is to save and enhance lives through organ, eye, tissue and blood donation, while maintaining respect for those who give the gift of life.

www.unyts.org

New Study: 3D Finds Breast Cancers Earlier

A new study adds to a significant body of evidence showing improved results using 3D mammograms for breast cancer screening. The technology detects the disease earlier when it’s easiest to treat and reduces false alarms for cancer-free patients.

 (NAPS)—When it comes to telling if someone has—or doesn’t have—breast cancer, three dimensions are a lot better than two, according to recent research published in the American Journal of Roentgenology.

In the first large-scale U.S. study of 3D mammograms, researchers compared breast cancer screening with the addition of 3D mammograms against conventional 2D mammograms and found a significant reduction in recall rates and a sizable increase in cancer detection, particularly invasive cancer.

The study evaluated recall, cancer detection and invasive cancer detection rates in a community-based breast imaging practice. Called “Implementation of Breast Tomosynthesis in a Routine Screening Practice: An Observational Study,” it was led by Stephen L. Rose, M.D., a prominent radiologist in Houston, Texas.

 “Implementation of tomosynthesis in our screening practice resulted in a consistent significant improvement in performance,” the report said. The study found the use of 3D mammograms resulted in a 53 percent increase in invasive cancer detection rates, and a 37 percent drop in recall rates; that is, in patients being called back for further tests because the first result was inconclusive.

The Rose study is consistent with prior research findings, including two major European studies published in The Lancet Oncology. Both of those studies found increased cancer detection and reduced recalls.

Anna M. Chen, D.O. of Windsong Radiology, says, “3D technology allows radiologists to see breast tissue in greater detail than with 2D mammograms alone. This results in earlier detection of cancers, when they are easier to treat, and a reduction in the worrisome false positives that are more common with conventional digital mammograms.

3D mammogram technology, approved by the FDA in 2011, was developed by Hologic, Inc., a leading company serving the health care needs of women. 3D mammograms are used in 49 states and more than 50 countries. More than 2.5 million women in the United States have had 3D mammograms. Dr. Chen is proud of the fact that Windsong Radiology has made 3D technology available at all of their locations. She encourages women to learn more at www.3Dmammogram.com.

WNY Resource:

Windsong Radiology has been at the forefront in introducing 3D mammogram technology to Western New York. Patients can request 3D mammography at all Windsong locations, including Williamsville, Hamburg, Lancaster and West Amherst. To make an appointment and to learn more, call 716-631-2500.

McGuire Health Care Facilities Continue with Highest Rankings in State

BUFFALO - To date, New York State has released two Benchmarking Pool Results ranking 650 facilities using trackable measures of quality. In both reports, Autumn View Health Care Facility in Hamburg led the state with the highest score. In addition, Garden Gate Health Care Facility in Cheektowaga came in one one-hundredth of a point behind Autumn View in the state’s December 2013 ranking. All of The McGuire Group’s facilities, including Harris Hill Nursing Facility in Williamsville, Northgate Health Care Facility in North Tonawanda and Seneca Health Care Center in West Seneca, finished in the top 25 percent in the state.

Going forward, the state will release the Benchmarking results on a yearly basis. The numbers are used to recognize nursing homes for quality of care and take into account various trackable measures including levels of facility staff, government rankings and resident outcome parameters.

“Our outstanding rankings from both the federal and state governments reflect our commitment to invest in the quality of our business and the individuals who make it possible,” stated Jim McGuire, president and CEO. “Whether it’s creating opportunities for employee growth, developing patient care protocols or pioneering programs for broader levels of care, we’ve approached the process with an intrinsic commitment to high standards that have fostered a culture of quality for more than 40 years.”

Over the years, The McGuire Group’s programs have grown in scope and complexity and include 24-hour skilled nursing care, secured memory care units, Journeys palliative care, and respite/short-term care for individuals seeking temporary options for a loved one. In addition, The McGuire Group has invested millions in the redevelopment and expansion of its programs and facilities, turning its traditional health care settings into state-of-the-art environments for intensive subacute and outpatient rehabilitation. This gives patients the opportunity to receive rehab in facilities where the culture of quality and nursing care already exists, yet with less overhead and cost than a typical hospital stay.

For more information, visit www.mcguiregroup.com or call 826-2010.

Buffalo Spine and Sports Introduces Mental Health Services

New services provide new perspective in clinical care for pain management

Williamsville, New York, January 6, 2014 – Buffalo Spine and Sports Medicine P.C. is a clinic that provides rehabilitation and therapy for acute injuries and is expanding its services to include mental health therapy and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) for patients and others in needs of these services in the community. 

Stacey Donahue, licensed clinical social worker, has joined the team at Buffalo Spine and Sports to offer the new mental health services within the clinic. 

 “We are pursuing a vision to treat patients through a holistic approach that utilizes the powerful mind-body connection to heal and manage pain,” states Dr. Leonard Kaplan, D. O., Medical Director.  “Stacey’s treatment plans will provide an enhanced individual approach to our overall care plan for patients.”

This new therapy enables all of the providers at the clinic to help patients cope with stress and pain, minimize anxiety, and identify mood disturbances.  The team creates a specific plan for the patient, with the patient.  Each clinician provides a detailed report for the team to continuously evaluate the patient’s progress and address their immediate needs through a variety of resources.

In the past, Buffalo Spine and Sports referred their patients to mental health care outside of the clinic, which sometimes resulted in gaps of communication and diminished the quality of care.  By bringing these services into the clinic, the care is more effective.

Buffalo Spine and Sports sees patients whose lives have often been disrupted by trauma.  The struggle for control, quality of life, and diminished pain does not always come with medication alone.  If patients were previously able-bodied and provided care to loved ones, the inability to continue in those roles can be devastating.

With the help of therapy, patients can begin to manage their pain and their expectations of what treatment and recovery will look like.  Often these adjustments take time and require tools that Stacey can give to patients during initial and follow-up sessions.

Stacey teaches patients the benefits of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) techniques, which immediately enables patients to decrease stress and take control of their life and their pain.  The cognitive distortions that patients experience can greatly inhibit the healing process, so she teaches specific meditation and breathing exercises to bring a sense of well-being immediately to the patients in their time of stress.  These exercises give patients a sense of management and control over their situation.  MBSR is often used to help people to manage their pain more effectively without the use of traditional pain medication. 

“I love the surprised look that patients have on their faces after their first approach to true meditation and inner ability to take control,” says Stacey.  “Our bodies have untapped resources to control our situations and even reduce pain in the moment.  I teach these techniques for clients to take with them anywhere –as they are driving in the car, preparing dinner for their family, or falling asleep.  The results are amazing and immediate.”

Stacey also helps physicians better understand the context of the patients’ lives outside of the rehabilitation appointments –their hardships, the despair to which the pain has impacted them, and in extreme cases, suicidal tendencies.  She becomes the patients’ advocate by providing information that gives the physicians and other practitioners the insight to be more compassionate and empathic during their bedside treatment.

To learn more, visit www.buffspine.com or call (716) 626-0093.