Happening at the Botanical Gardens Over the Next Several Months

2014 Digital Photo Contest - Photos Due December 31

Garden Members First entry free, each additional entry $6, Non-Members - Each entry $8

Adult (18+), Teens (12-17) and Youth (Under 12) amateur photographers may enter.  All photos will be considered for the following two awards:President’s Pick, Cover of the Gardens’ Next Newsletter.  Photos submitted in each age range will be considered for the following awards: Best Use of Shadows and Light, Most Unusual Vantage Point, Best Use of Color, Most Artistic, Best Use of Macro Photography.  Go towww.buffalogardens.com for an entry form.

Gardens and Villas of the Italian Lakes - July 18 - July 27, 2015

Trip of a Lifetime! Rates before January 19, 2015 - Double Occupancy $5,299/Single Occupancy $6,099/Triple Occupancy $5,249 - Rates after January 19, 2015 - Double Occupancy $5,449/Single Occupancy $6,249/Triple Occupancy $5,399.  The Botanical Gardens, in conjunction with Collette Vacations and the Royal Horticultural Society, present an incredible trip to Northern Italy!  Join us as we embark on a trip of a lifetime! Reserve today! Price includes: Round trip air from the Buffalo International Airport, air taxes and fees/surcharges and hotel transfers. For more information, please contact Christina at the Botanical Gardens at 716.827.1584 ext. 219 orcstannard@buffalogardens.com. Check our website for more info www.buffalogardens.com

Wegmans Family Garden

This indoor garden provides a place for safe, meaningful play and discovery as children of all ages and abilities explore the wonders of the plant world and the importance of eating healthy.   Hands-on programs for kids 4-10 take place every Saturday from 11am-1pm and Sundays - September 28, October 26 & November 23.  Go to www.buffalogardens.com for a complete list of activities or call 716.827.1584 ext. 292.

Ann Parker - August 17 - October 5

Arcangel Gallery Exhibit - Included with admission

Water and Glass - Shimmering pools, cascading fountains, glass reaching to the sky, silver-toned and green-gray succulents, all have been captured in this photographic display of the Botanical Gardens.  Using macro, zoom, and wide angle lenses, Ann’s photos show intricate details of plants, reflections in the pools, glass with light and shadow, and abstract, inverse images of garden objects.  This exhibit showcases color, form, lines and angles, fluidity and motion.  Check our website for a listing of activities and for more info www.buffalogardens.com

Succulents - September 6 - October 5

Daily 10am-5pm – Included with Garden Admission
A visitor FAVORITE!  This succulent exhibit will feature many different types of cacti and succulents displayed in very unique ways.  We will showcase many unusual plants such as Echeverias, Aeoniums and Euphorbias.  New designs this year will include some whimsical surprises! Check our website for more info www.buffalogardens.com

Adult Watercolor Classes

WCA- September 8, 15, 22, 29

WCB - October 20, 27, November 3, 17

WCC - December 1, 8, 15, 22

8:45-10:45am, GM $60 or $17 per class, NM $66 or $18 per class

All skill levels are welcome! Taught by Joan Saba, professional artist and teacher.  Class fills quickly, pre-registration is required as space is limited.  Go to www.buffalogardens.com or call 716.827.1584 ext. 291.

Adult Drawing Classes

D1 - September 10, 17, 24, October 1

D2 - October 8, 15, 22, 29

D3 - November 5, 12, December 10, 17

8:45-10:45am, GM $60 or $17 per class, NM $66 or $18 per class

All skill levels are welcome! Taught by Joan Saba, professional artist and teacher.  Class fills quickly, pre-registration is required as space is limited. Be sure to catch the Arcangel Gallery showing October 11-November 23 with work from students in these classes! Go towww.buffalogardens.com or call 716.827.1584 ext. 291.

Yoga at the Gardens

Fall - September 10, 17, 24, October 1, 8, 22, 29, November 5, 12, 19 (No class Oct 15)

$100 for 10 week session, $15 each individual class - 5:30-6:45pm - Free to eligible BlueCross BlueShield members

Gentle hatha yoga, designed for all ages and fitness levels. Led by Leanne Oldenbrook from Crescent Moon Yoga. To register for one or all sessions, contact Leanne at 864.1194 or crescmnyoga@yahoo.com or go online www.cmyoga.com.

Tree Tour - September 13

9-10:30am, $5 per person, per tour

Get to know some of the many tree species in the South Park Arboretum with Kristy Blakely, Director of Education. Wear comfortable shoes/boots and be prepared to get muddy. Walks begin at various locations along the Ring Road, eventually completing the loop!  Meet and park along the South Park Ring Road - Look for the Tree Tour sign! Go to www.buffalogardens.com or call 716.827.1584 ext. 291.

Medicinal Garden Feature - September 13

10am-2pm - Included with admission - Cholesterol Awareness & Men’s Health Month

Activities include: Educational displays about healthy foods and medications from plants that may be beneficial for a low-cholesterol diets, helpful in managing cholesterol levels, general men’s health and prostate health. Also included will be botanical displays of plants from which medications are derived and future research is being conducted.  From 10am-12pm, Independent Nursing Care will provide blood pressure screening and flu shots. Sponsored by: Mercy Hospital of Buffalo and D’Youville School of Pharmacy. Go to www.buffalogardens.com for more information.

Horticulture I & II Certificate Classes - Fall Semester

11am-1pm, GM $105 or $20 per class, NM $130 or $25 per class

David Clark, Horticulture Educator. David is fast becoming one of the country’s noted garden speakers! Join him for an entertaining garden education for beginners or gardeners wishing to brush up on their skills. Those who take the entire series will be presented with a certificate upon completion.  Go to www.buffalogardens.com or call 716.827.1584 ext. 291.

Horticulture I

HCP I - 101 - September 13 - Botany 101

HCP I - 102 - October 4 - Plant Propagation

HCP I - 103 -November 1 - Pest Management and Disease

HCP I - 104 - November 15 - Shrubs and Trees *Includes a tree tour

HCP I - 105 - January 10 - Annuals and Perennials

HCP I – 106 - January 17 - Garden Design

Horticulture II

HCP II - 201 - September 20 - Soil Science * Bring your soil for testing

HCP II - 202 - October 11 - Advanced Plant Propagation

HCP II - 203 - November 8 - Practical Principals of Pruning

HCP II - 204 - November 22 - Hydroponics

HCP II - 205 - January 27 - Water Gardening

HCP II - 206 - January 31 - Introduction to Landscape Design

Awesome “Mossome” Terrariums - September 16

Make-It, Take-It Workshop6:15pm, GM $25, NM $30 - Create a miniature moss garden - an easy to care for mini ecosystem.  We’ll provide glassware, moss and other supplies as well as tips to care for these tiny plants. Go to www.buffalogardens.com or call 716.827.1584 ext. 291.

Science Café: Illuminate: Science and Art through ‘Burchfield Botanicals’ - September 23

6:30-8pm, GM $22, NM $25 - Pre-registration is required

Join Tullis Johnson, Curator and Manager of Archives at the Burchfield Penney Art Center for a delightful presentation intersecting science and art through the works of Charles E. Burchfield. Includes light refreshments, beer and wine and a mini-tour of the Gardens.  Go towww.buffalogardens.com or call 716.827.1584 ext. 291.

Gala at the Gardens - September 26

6pm-8pm - Cocktails, Silent and Basket Auctions

8pm - Dinner Presentation, Mission Moment, Live Auction
Save the date for this year’s Gala in the Gardens!  Join Co-Chairs Jackye Mandell and Cheryl Lyles for an evening of gratitude and friendship surrounded by the beauty of the Gardens.  For sponsorship and ticket information, please contact the development department at 827.1584 ext. 203. Check our website for more info www.buffalogardens.com

Kids Art Classes

KAA - September 27, October 11, 18

KAB - November 1,8,15

KAC - December 6, 13, 22

9-10:30am, GM & NM $35 per series or $13 per class

Multi-medium classes are for kids ages 5-15.  A piece of art will be completed at each class. Taught by Joan Saba, professional artist and teacher and all supplies are provided. Go to www.buffalogardens.com or call 716.827.1584 ext. 291.

Botanical Drawings - October 11 - November 23

Arcangel Gallery Exhibit - Included with admission

Shades of Gray - Drawing is the most immediate form of self-expression.  Through the use of line and value, a sense of energy, depth, and texture can be created.  The Botanical Gardens Drawing Class invites you to view their latest works.  Check our website for more infowww.buffalogardens.com

Medicinal Garden Feature - October 11

10am-2pm - Included with admission - Breast Cancer Awareness & Flu Prevention Month

Activities include: Educational displays about the possible role of botanicals in preventing the seasonal flu, and also the use of plants in treating and researching cancer. Western New York affiliate of Susan G. Komen will be on hand to answer questions and provide informational materials.  Catholic Health WomenCare will be on hand to discuss self-examination and the importance of breast screening.  From 10am-12pm, Independent Nursing Care will provide blood pressure screening and flu shots.  Sponsored by: Mercy Hospital of Buffalo and D’Youville School of Pharmacy. Go to www.buffalogardens.com for more information.

Orchid Show - October 11-12

by: The Niagara Frontier Orchid Society & the Botanical Gardens

Saturday 10am-5pm & Sunday 10am-3pm (vendors close at 4pm)

Some of the most spectacular and exotic orchids will be on display in full bloom for judging by the American Orchid Society.  Come see all the winners, participate in workshops, purchase plants and supplies from vendors and have all your orchid questions answered with informal Q&A’s. Check our website for more info www.buffalogardens.com

Kids Day - October 13

10am-2pm - Kids under 13 are free!
Columbus Day!  Celebrate Kids Day at the Gardens with free admission for kids ages 4-12. Stop by the Wegmans Family Garden and stations throughout the Gardens to participate in fun activities and meet some of the amazing plants that live here! Go to www.buffalogardens.com or call 716.827.1584 ext. 291.

Mums - October 18- November 9

Daily 10am-5pm – Included with Garden Admission
Celebrating over 100 years at the Gardens.  Enjoy all the colors of the fall season with many different varieties of mums!  Check our website for more info www.buffalogardens.com

Succulent Tree - October 21

6:15pm- GM $40, NM $45 - Be inspired and create a living succulent tree arrangement in this new take on a popular workshop. Decorations and ornaments can be added to the arrangement for a creative and whimsical centerpiece throughout the holiday season. Go towww.buffalogardens.com or call 716.827.1584 ext. 291.

Autumn Fairy Garden - October 25

Make-It, Take-It Workshop for Kids!
9am, $15 GM, $20 NM

Kids ages 4-12 can make their own container miniature garden for fairies or gnomes. Using found and natural materials kids will create acorn dishes, leaf fences, seed mailboxes and more! Add on pre-made twig furniture! $5 additional for two pieces. Space is limited!  Go towww.buffalogardens.com or call 716.827.1584 ext. 291.

Science Café: Investigate - October 30

7-10:30pm, GM$22, NM$25

Join the “Eastern Paranormal Society” for a live paranormal investigation of the gardens along with a Question and Answer Session that includes a reveal of the paranormal evidence they discovered at their previous visit here. Pre-registration is required as space is limited to 65 people for this unique experience. Includes light refreshments and assorted beverages.  Go to www.buffalogardens.com or call 716.827.1584 ext. 291.

Fresh Thanksgiving Arrangement - November 25

Make-It, Take-It Workshop6:15pm - GM $35, NM $40 - Wow your Thanksgiving guests with a beautiful fresh floral arrangement to complement your dinner! Bring hand clippers, a pair of scissors and a large box for transport.  Go to www.buffalogardens.com or call 716.827.1584 ext. 291.

Southtowns Camera Club - November 28 - January 11

Arcangel Gallery Exhibit - Included with admission

The South Towns Camera Club is a photographic organization devoted to advancing its members’ photography skills.  Membership is open to all photography enthusiasts and offers great opportunities to be entertained and inspired while improving photographic skills and creativity. For more info, visit stcc.photoclubservices.com or call Manny or Janet at 648-7534.   Check our website for more infowww.buffalogardens.com

Poinsettias - November 28- January 4

Daily 10am-5pm – Included with Garden Admission
Expect the Unexpected!  The whole family will enjoy this new and exciting exhibit full of beautiful poinsettias, vibrant colors and lots of whimsical surprises! Check our website for more info www.buffalogardens.com

Garden Railway - November 28 - January 4

Brought to you by the Western New York Garden Railway Society

Daily 10am-5pm – Included with Garden Admission
TWO train exhibits! Thomas the Train and a traditional set-up will be a part of the magical family fun.  Check our website for more infowww.buffalogardens.com

Rhapsody in Blue Holiday Lunch - December 3

at the Orchard Park County Club - 11am-2pm - GM $25; NM $28

Join us at our Annual Holiday Party to spend an afternoon with friends, enjoy a delicious lunch, participate in an outstanding basket raffle, take home a special free gift and more! Call 827.1584 ext. 204 for details. Open to the public!  Check our website for more infowww.buffalogardens.com

Decorated Boxwood Tree - December 6

Make-It, Take-It Workshop9-11am - GM $30, NM $35 - In this popular seasonal workshop create your own unique boxwood tree Bring hand clippers and a large box for transporting your arrangement.   Go to www.buffalogardens.com or call 716.827.1584 ext. 291.

Fresh Conifer Wreath - December 6

Make-It, Take-It Workshop12-2pm - GM $30, NM $35 - Create a fresh and fragrant 14” conifer wreath to add some seasonal greenery to your home. Bring hand clippers, garden gloves and a large box for transport.  Go to www.buffalogardens.com or call 716.827.1584 ext. 291.

Santa’s Workshop - December 13

10am-1pm - Come join us for this annual family fun tradition!  To participate in holiday themed activities and crafts, there will be an additional $2 fee per child.  Photos with Santa will also be available for $5 each. Paid Garden admission is required.  Go towww.buffalogardens.com or call 716.827.1584 ext. 291.

Fresh Holiday Arrangement - December 22

Make-It, Take-It Workshop9:30am - GM $30, NM $35 - Design a beautiful arrangement for your holiday table. Bring hand clippers, a pair of scissors and a large box for transport.  Go to www.buffalogardens.com or call 716.827.1584 ext. 291.

Dollar Day - December 28

10am-5pm - $1, Members & Kids under 3 are free!  Check our website for more info www.buffalogardens.com

Amaryllis - January 17 - February 15

Daily 10am-5pm – Included with Garden Admission
Enjoy our expanded collection of Amaryllis throughout the Gardens.  A little color goes a long way at this time of year! Check our website for more info www.buffalogardens.com

Michael Haderer - January 17 - March 15

Arcangel Gallery Exhibit - Included with admission

Coloring the Night- A photographic gallery capturing the beautiful and unique world that is revealed when the lights turn on in the gardens during the annual winter light event. Fantastic light displays filling the greenhouses in vivid color, flowers and plants glowing with brilliant light, dynamic colors cascading through features, and captivating characters, provide the backdrop for a one of a kind experience.  Check our website for more info www.buffalogardens.com

Orchids - Winter 2015 - January 24 - March 1

Daily 10am-5pm – Included with Garden Admission
This new exhibit will celebrate amazing orchids!  Along with our fantastic collection of cymbidiums, we will showcase beautiful and colorful orchids in bloom throughout the Gardens.  Special features include artistic window displays to demonstrate how easy it is to grow orchids in your home, informal Q&As with the Niagara Frontier Orchid Society and an additional Award Winning Orchid Display on the final weekend, February 28-March 1. Indulge in some eye candy… Orchids Winter 2015! Check our website for more info www.buffalogardens.com

Classroom Volunteers Needed in Buffalo!

Classroom Volunteers Short in Supply

Classroom volunteers are needed at six Buffalo Public Schools! Erie County RSVP seeks volunteers age 55 and over to provide one-on-one tutoring to children in the classroom.  Perhaps you’re a retired teacher or simply just passionate about the education of today’s youth, this is your chance to make a difference in the life of a child! A BPS teacher who has an RSVP volunteer in her classroom has said, “He works wonderfully with my struggling students, one on one ­- I wish I could have 5 or 6 more of him.” This could be you!

Volunteers in the classroom can make an astounding, positive change in the habits and behavior of a child. Students working with volunteers not only have higher test scores and improved grades but also demonstrate a better attitude, higher level of self confidence, have fewer absences, regularly complete homework assignments and ultimately are more likely to graduate.

As a volunteer in the classroom, you can see these transformations first hand! Even better, you will receive the gratitude of a young child who finally learned how to read with your help – what could possibly be more rewarding?

RSVP is working with Closing the Gap (a program of Catholic Charities) and Say Yes on this exciting project to bring committed volunteers to Southside, Discovery, West Hertel Academy, Waterfront, Charles Drew Magnet and School 81.  If you’re ready to make a difference, call Erie County RSVP today at (716)858-7548 to learn about the opportunities within the Buffalo Public Schools!

4th Annual BvB Buffalo Kick-Off Party & Bachelorette Auction To Benefit the Alzheimer’s Association WNY Chapter

The hottest charity event of the summer is set to sizzle at the hottest niteclub in Buffalo! Blondes vs Brunettes (BvB) Buffalo trade in their cleats for stilettos at the 4th Annual BvB Buffalo Kick-Off Party & Bachelorette Auction to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association WNY Chapter!

The ladies of BvB are most notorious for their athleticism as they battle it out in an intense game of women’s flag football every September to help tackle Alzheimer’s. The Kick-Off Party & Bachelorette Auction is one last chance for these ladies to dress up, mingle with the fans and celebrate all of their hard work before hitting the gridiron.

This semi-formal event is open to the public 21+ and takes place on Friday, August 22, 2014, 6pm – 9pm at Adam’s Mark Buffalo. Tickets are $40 presale/$50 at the door and include 3 hours of open bar, hors d’oeurves, Chinese Auction, and the highly anticipated, Bachelorette Auction.

Each Bachelorette has been working hard to create date packages valued at $500+. Some of the date packages include helicopter tours, hotel accommodations, airfare, jewelry, dinner certificates, and more! We’ll also be auctioning off a chance to join Hall of Fame Andre Reed out on the field for the coin toss at the 6th Annual Blondes vs. Brunettes Powder Puff Football game on Saturday, September 20th!

Tickets to this event are available on the BvB Buffalo website (www.bvbbuffalo.com.) Don’t miss a fun, fabulous night with Buffalo’s most beautiful Blondes & Brunettes as we raise funds and awareness for the Alzheimer’s Association! Questions? Call Jenn Chodora at 716.626.0600 or bvbbuffalo@gmail.com

Party in the Park - A Tribute to Our Troops!

Tuesday, August 19 @ 6-8:30pm on Buffalo's Waterfront @ Canalside

Co-organized by:  The Buffalo & Erie County  Naval & Military Park and The Rotary Club of Buffalo See the newest inductees on the Wall of Honor, including: RALPH C. WILSON JR. Owner Buffalo Bills LCMDR US Navy World War II 1941-1945 J. ROBERT (BOB) KALSU Buffalo Bills 1968 1Lt US Army Vietnam KIA July 21, 1970 Live music by The Strangers party band, delicious food varieties by the Liberty Hound restaurant, a sundae bar by Perry's ice cream, decadent desserts by Eat Dessert First, drinks by Try-it Distributing, docent-led ship tours and a huge number of auction/raffle items, including autographed Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres items Pre-Sale: $50 per person, $85 per couple At the Door: $65 per person, $100 per couple To purchase visit www.buffalonavalpark.org

This is the season's largest and most important fundraiser for the Naval & Military Park. The funds raised are essential to restore the ships, revitalize the museum exhibits, expand the Park's educational programs and beautify the grounds of its veteran memorials.

James Pilc, MD Returns to the Erie County Fair with Advance Release of New Children’s Meditation CD

Public invited August 8th and 17th inside the Historical Building

August 3, 2014: Hamburg, New York- James Pilc, M.D. returns to the Fair this year with advance copies of Children’s Meditation: A Beautiful and Magical Relaxation before its official release this fall. This four track, 65 minute CD for children 12 and under includes: Introduction to Childhood Meditation, Starting Your Day, Preparing for Sleep and Peaceful Music. It was recorded and engineered in WNY at Rock Central Music with all original music by Michael Rorick.

Signings and sales will be held on Friday August 8th from 5-7pm and Sunday, August 17th, from 1-3 pm at the Erie County Fairgrounds inside the Historical Building. In addition to his Children’s Meditation CD, Dr. Pilc will also be signing his “Guided Meditation: A Path to Peace” Adult Meditation CDs and “Unstuck: The Enlightenment of Medicine”, his first book.

“My favorite thing in the world is being a Dad,” Dr. Pilc shares, “and introducing children to meditation is the greatest gift we can provide to help them meet the challenges of childhood. I wanted to make this CD for children (and their adults) to help them begin a practice that will help them throughout their lives.”

Studies have shown that children demonstrate improved behavior, memory, attention, focus, control of emotions and decreased impulsivity after just 8 weeks of meditation twice a day.

There will also be a “surprise” appearance by RUKU, the Meditation Buddy, in advance of his release this fall.

For more information on Dr. Pilc’s guided meditation group classes and individual sessions, as well as upcoming appearances and lectures, go to www.jamespilcmd.com and follow him at James Pilc, M.D. on facebook and twitter.

About the Author: James Pilc, M.D. is a Personal Meditative Guide, Healer, Author and Awakening Coach. He founded and ran a successful private medical practice for 10 years with over 5,000 patients. His books include: Unstuck: The Enlightenment of Medicine, the first in a series of works integrating medicine, spirituality, and personal development andIntroduction to Meditation: A Path to Ourselves, slated for publication 2014. His guided meditation CDs/digital downloads include: “Guided Meditation: A Path to Peace” sharing the philosophies of Buddhist meditation, contemplative prayer and deep relaxation and "Children's Meditation: A Beautiful and Magical Relaxation" for children ages 12 and under.

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 teaches group guided meditation classes to lead people to find a place of peace and holds individual Meditative Self-Healing Sessions to guide people to find the Core Causative Agent of their dis-ease and heal themselves.

He has offered Meditation Sailing aboard the Spirit of Buffalo, bringing it to WNY for the first time and lectured to countless groups and organizations across the country in an effort to raise the global consciousness, help people reach complete healing and create a new and improved connection with Spirit.

For more information, including upcoming appearances and classes, go to jamespilcmd.com or follow James Pilc, M.D. on facebook and twitter.

Overweight and obese preschoolers lose more weight and keep it off when parent is also treated

Parental involvement is an important part of treating overweight and obese preschoolers, says Teresa Quattrin.

Parent involvement in the primary care setting results in sustained weight loss for parent and child; parents had an average 14-pound loss

By Ellen Goldbaum

Release Date: July 24, 2014

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“Our results show that the traditional approach to overweight prevention and treatment focusing only on the child is obsolete.”

Teresa Quattrin, UB Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics

University at Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Primary care treatment of overweight and obese preschoolers works better when treatment targets both parent and child compared to when only the child is targeted, according to research published this week in Pediatrics and conducted at the University at Buffalo and Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo.

Children enrolled in this study were overweight or obese and had one parent who participated in the study who also was overweight or obese, according to body mass index (BMI) measurements, calculated based on height and weight.

During the course of the study, children who were treated concurrently with a parent experienced more appropriate weight gain while growing normally in height. Children in the intervention group gained an average of 12 pounds over 24 months compared to children in the control group who gained almost 16 pounds.  This more appropriate weight accrual resulted in a decrease of 0.21 percent over BMI from baseline to 24 months.

Parents in the intervention group lost an average of 14 pounds, resulting in a BMI decrease of over 2 units while the weight of parents in the control group was essentially unchanged.  

“Our results show that the traditional approach to overweight prevention and treatment focusing only on the child is obsolete,” says Teresa A. Quattrin, MD, senior author and UB Distinguished Professor, chair of the Department of Pediatrics in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and pediatrician-in-chief at Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo.

“This study is important because while we know that it is critical to begin treating overweight or obese children early, there has been limited data on what works best in preschool-aged children,” she says.

The research was part of Buffalo Healthy Tots, a novel family-based, weight control intervention in preschool children that Quattrin directed in urban and suburban pediatric practices in Western New York.

When funded in 2010 with a $2.6 million grant by the National Institutes of Health, Buffalo Healthy Tots was the first of its kind in the U.S. The goal was to compare traditional approaches where only the child is treated to family-based, behavioral treatment implemented in pediatric primary care practices.

The study of 96 children ages 2–5 found that when overweight and obese youth and their parents were treated in a primary care setting with behavioral intervention, parents and children experienced greater decreases in body mass index (BMI) than did the children who received the traditional treatment, focusing only on the child. Weight loss for both parent and child was sustained after a 12-month followup.

Quattrin notes that an important feature of the study was the use of practice enhancement assistants, trained in psychology, nutrition or exercise science. These assistants worked with the families both during treatment and education sessions and afterward by phone.

The intervention was delivered through the parents, who were instructed about the appropriate number of food servings for children and appropriate calorie values. They were taught to avoid “high-energy” foods, such as those with high sugar content, more than 5 grams of fat per serving or artificial sweeteners.

Parents monitored the number of servings in each food category, using a simple diary to cross off icons pertaining to the food consumed or type of physical activity performed. Parents also were taught to record their own and their child’s weight on a simple graph.

Weight loss goals for children were 0.5 to 1 pound per week and for parents it was at least 1 pound per week.

Quattrin says that the study results suggest that overweight or obese children and their parents can be successfully treated in the primary care setting with the assistance of practice enhancers.

“Instead of the more traditional approach of referring these patients to a specialty clinic, the patient-centered medical home in the pediatrician’s office may be an ideal setting for implementing these family-based treatments,” she says.

“We have entered a new era where students, trainees and specialists have to learn how to better interact with primary care providers and implement care coordination. This paper suggests that, indeed, family-based strategies for any chronic disorder, including obesity, can be successful in primary care. The pediatrician’s office can become a ‘family-centered medical home.’ ”

In addition to Quattrin, other co-authors are Leonard H. Epstein, PhD, SUNY Distinguished Professor, Michelle A. Ecker, RD, CDE and Rocco Paluch, all of the UB Department of Pediatrics; James N. Roemmich, PhD, of the UB Department of Pediatrics and the USDA/ARS Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center; and Jihnhee Yu, PhD, of the UB Department of Biostatistics.

- See more at: http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2014/07/029.html#sthash.YeVeL6Ta.dpuf

Is it really a concussion? Symptoms overlap with neck injuries, making diagnosis a tough call

Research by UB's John Leddy has found that it is difficult to distinguish between concussion injury and neck injury based on symptoms alone.

UB sports medicine researchers find an alarming similarity in symptoms reported by patients experiencing different injuries

By Ellen Goldbaum

Release Date: July 29, 2014

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“I think a lot of practitioners listen to the symptoms and just chalk it up to concussion, but if they also examined the neck in these people, they might discover that a neck injury is involved and that’s a treatable problem.”

John Leddy, clinical professor of orthopaedics

University at Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Athletes and others reporting cognitive difficulties after a head injury are usually diagnosed as having had a concussion. But is it really a concussion? A new study published by University at Buffalo medical faculty finds that many of the same symptoms are common to concussions and to injuries to the neck and/or balance system, known collectively as cervical/vestibular injuries.

The research was based on responses about symptoms from 128 patients – some of whom were professional athletes – who were being treated at UB’s Concussion Management Clinic in the School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences.

It was published online ahead of print last week in the Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine.

The purpose of the study was to determine how to distinguish between concussion injury and neck injury, based on symptoms.

“Based on our research, we conclude that some patients who have been told they’ve suffered a concussion, and whose symptoms persist for several months may actually have suffered a neck injury, rather than a concussion, or in addition to a concussion,” says John J. Leddy, MD, clinical professor in the UB Department of Orthopaedics and senior author.

He embarked on the study based on his experience as director of the UB Concussion Management Clinic.

“I’d seen enough patients in our clinic, some previously diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome, who continued to experience symptoms even after passing our treadmill test, which indicates full recovery from concussion,” says Leddy, who sees patients through UBMD, the physician practice plan of the UB medical school.

“The symptoms for both conditions are so nonspecific that it’s really hard to make a diagnosis based on them,” Leddy continues, “so we had to find another way to discriminate between them.”

To determine which of the respondents had probably sustained a concussion and which more likely had a neck injury, the UB researchers used the graded treadmill test developed by Leddy and co-author Barry Willer, PhD, UB professor of psychiatry.

“The treadmill test helps us make a first delineation between what I call physiologic concussion and other possible causes of cognitive symptoms,” says Leddy.

“Because a concussion is a brain injury, we thought that cognitive symptoms would be more likely associated with concussions,” he says. “Surprisingly, that didn’t turn out to be the case. People who have had neck injuries can also have problems with concentration and with memory. They feel like they’re in a fog, which is exactly what people report after concussion.”

Symptoms reported by both groups were headache, dizziness, blurred vision, poor concentration and memory deficits.

Patients in both groups filled out a detailed questionnaire concerning their symptoms. These responses were then correlated to their treadmill test results.

“Then we did some sophisticated statistical analysis,” says Leddy. “Even when we looked at the data in multiple ways, there was really no way to separate out the two groups based on their symptom patterns alone.”

Determining which condition a patient has experienced is critical, Leddy explains, because courses of treatment are very different.

“The treatment for a neck injury is actually to be more active, to do physical and vestibular therapy, to have a more active intervention, whereas after a concussion, exercise must begin slowly and incrementally after a period of rest,” he says.

Leddy notes that more research should be done on larger samples concerning concussion and neck injury.

In the meantime, he says, patients who think they’ve had a concussion and whose symptoms have not diminished after several months, should instead be examined for neck and vestibular injury by a sports medicine physician, a neurologist or a physiatrist, a specialist in rehabilitation medicine.

“I think a lot of practitioners listen to the symptoms and just chalk it up to concussion,” he adds, “but if they also examined the neck in these people, they might discover that a neck injury is involved and that’s a treatable problem.”

Physical symptoms specific to neck injuries include tenderness, neck spasms, reduced motion and reduced perception of where the head is in relation to the body, Leddy explains.

Co-authors with Leddy and Willer are John G. Baker, PhD, UB Department of Nuclear Medicine; Asim Merchant, MD and Jason Matuszak, MD, of the UB Department of Family Medicine; John Picano, an MD candidate at UB and Daniel Gaile, PhD, of the UB Department of Biostatistics.

The UB Concussion Management Clinic is a joint effort between the Department of Orthopaedics and the Department of Psychiatry. 

- See more at: http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2014/07/040.html#sthash.BpCm3DNZ.dpuf

New Mouse Model May Open Autism Treatment Research Avenues

July 29, 2014 

The hallmark of an excellent researcher is an open mind. That flexibility and openness is what led Nina Schor, M.D., Ph.D., the William H. Eilinger Chair of Pediatrics at the University of Rochester, to follow a hunch about a brain receptor – resulting in a new mouse model that may give researchers a new avenue for testing drugs for autism. Nature Publishing Groups’ Translational Psychiatry published the study online today.

Schor had been studying p75 neurotrophin receptors in her long-standing neuroblastoma research, but she also knew that p75NTR is involved in the reaction to oxidative stress in the brain, which some research posits plays a role in the development of autism. The receptor is also prevalent in the developing brain and drops off as a child reaches 2 to 3 years old, which is when autism symptoms often begin to appear. P75NTR stays present in the typically developing cerebellum, hippocampus and basal forebrain, parts of the brain that are anatomically abnormal in autism.

“Science doesn’t always travel in a straight line,” Schor said. “Sometimes the importance of a scientific study in one field is what it unexpectedly tells us about another field.”

While other researchers are focused on the proteins found to be abnormal in patients with autism, Schor approached her investigation from the opposite direction. She thought about what characteristics a protein would have to have to be involved in processes thought to play a role in autism. “That list of characteristics looked suspiciously like those we had found to be associated with p75NTR.”

Then, Schor and her colleagues prevented mouse brains from making p75NTR in one autism-associated type of cell in the cerebellum. What they found was that not only does the mouse’s cerebellum resemble that of children with autism, but the mouse also behaves much like children with autism. They don’t engage in typical social behaviors of mice and instead, ignore stranger mice and lack curiosity about their surroundings. They also jump twice as much as typical mice, which is like a “stimming,” or self-stimulatory, behavior typical in children with autism.

“Whether or not p75NTR turns out to be abnormal in children with autism,” Schor explained, “these studies still hold the promise of helping us explain the mechanisms behind the component behaviors of children with autism.

Schor plans to continue the research, focusing on more behavioral testing, finding evidence of whether children with autism have a p75NTR deficit in their cerebellum and starting pharmaceutical testing to see whether there is a drug that can replace the role p75NTR plays in that part of the brain.

“It’s a long way from a mouse model to a successful treatment in humans, but this is a good clue,” Schor said.

Schor’s co-authors on the paper describing the study are Louis T. Lotta, Jr., Katherine Conrad, and Deborah Cory-Slechta, Ph.D., professor of Environmental Medicine. The study was funded by the William H. Eilinger Endowment of Golisano Children’s Hospital at the University of Rochester Medical Center and by a pilot grant from the Strong Children’s Research Center.

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