NewsroomWed, 07 Jul 2010 16:49:14 GMTCopyright 2010. All rights reserved.Pyron Technologies SuiteFin CMSTue, 06 Jul 2010 18:38:12 GMTPeoria weighs aiding TGen on bioscience site By: Sonu Munshi - Jul. 6, 2010 12:00 AM The Arizona Republic The Peoria City Council today will consider whether to contribute $200,000 to help TGen establish headquarters for a new international bioscience consortium in the northwest Valley city. Phoenix-based Translational Genomics Research Institute is applying for a grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The city money would help TGen cobble together $500,000 in cash and in-kind contributions to receive the maximum federal match of $1 million. If the effort is successful, TGen and Glendale's Thunderbird School of Global Management would launch the International Bioscience Commercialization Consortium, specializing in genomics, bioscience and life sciences. The consortium would network worldwide to connect typically regional commercialization efforts. In addition, city officials are in early talks with Phoenix-based Core Institute, which specializes in orthopedics, to run a biotech incubator that might be housed at the same site. Peoria Mayor Bob Barrett said he's comfortable with the city making the financial commitment because it would bring Peoria to the attention of the medical and biomedical world. "If we could get on that train, it could turn out to be really good for the city in the long run," Barrett said. Peoria's economic development chief, Scott Whyte, described the plans as a "bioscience business attraction concept," in which the consortium would share a planned 10,000 square feet of office and laboratory space with the Core incubator. A location is undetermined. Any further city contribution for land or the facility is in the conceptual stage, Whyte said. "This is a great way to become a destination for the bioscience industry and for bioscience startups," he said. James Walbom, director of commercialization at TGen, said the potential partnership with Peoria was "all about timing and availability of resources and opportunities." The aim of the consortium would be to provide members with global resources to help plug gaps between academic research and its conversion into commercial products and ideas. Walbom said across the world there are a number of regional organizations, often at universities, that help technology developers commercialize their ideas. But the commercialization groups focus exclusively on their region, he said. TGen and Thunderbird would aim to better connect those regional groups with global resources. Peoria's financial commitment to help get the partnership off the ground would come from a half-cent-per-dollar sales-tax fund, and would be paid in two installments, the first of which would be this fiscal year. A report to the City Council does not quantify what Peoria might get in return for the taxpayer money. The report cited a TGen affiliate in Scottsdale that brought an economic impact of more than $26 million in 2009. Like many municipal leaders, Peoria officials have considered a state Supreme Court ruling in January that Phoenix's $97.4 million subsidy to the CityNorth project in north Phoenix was an unconstitutional subsidy. The ruling indicated that any gift of taxpayer money must provide a direct benefit from the entity receiving the money. Le Templar, a spokesman for the Goldwater Institute, which had challenged the CityNorth subsidy, said TGen would have to provide a specific guarantee of revenue to Peoria for its return on investment. "You can't speculate that they might generate future tax revenues or might generate money into the economy," Templar said. Whyte said he was confident that the investment would satisfy the court ruling because the city would get 80 cents on the dollar with the $1 million it would get from the federal grant. http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2010/07/06/20100706peoria-tgen-bioscience-site.html http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=75Wed, 07 Jul 2010 16:49:14 GMTNeeding A Shoulder to Rely Upon Unlike Moore, who didn't have to look for a trauma surgeon, finding the right doctor was important for Flagstaff resident Daniel Smith, who came to John C. Lincoln Deer Valley Hospital for innovative shoulder surgery. And his shoulders needed serious help. Working on the railroad will take its toll, even on the toughest men. During his 30 years with the Santa Fe and later the B&N Santa Fe Railroad, Smith had five surgeries to repair damage to his right shoulder – and four on his left. "It was putting the trains together, putting on the cars," he said. "I worked in the rail yard for over 17 years and that's a lot of wear and tear." Smith’s most recent surgical solution — something radically different — started a year ago when surgeons at Flagstaff Medical Center repaired a torn chest muscle. But a few months ago, it was clear that the repair hadn’t solved the problem. "They told me I needed a 'reverse' shoulder repair, but they were hesitant to do it because they didn't have the experience. So they referred me to Dr. Wall at Deer Valley Hospital," Smith said. The Specialized Answer: Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty According to Bryan Wall, MD, who is part of The CORE Institute and operates on patients at Deer Valley, reverse shoulder arthroplasty — one of his specialties — has only been available in this country for a half-dozen years and not many surgeons are doing it. In traditional shoulder surgery, the ball at the top of the arm bone is replaced with a metal ball and the shoulder blade socket is replaced with a plastic socket. The reverse repair also uses a ball-and-socket joint, but the ball is attached to the shoulder blade, and the socket is grafted to the top of the arm bone, reversing and reconstructing normal anatomy. The reverse procedure was specifically designed for patients such as Smith who have had traditional shoulder surgery complicated by shoulder arthritis and a torn rotator cuff. The rotator cuff is a group of four tendons and muscles that surround the shoulder joint. In these patients, the traditional artificial shoulder socket may loosen, causing excruciating pain. Smith came to Deer Valley on March 18 where Dr. Wall had to break the artificial ball from the top of his arm to rebuild his joint. "This is the first broken bone I've had in my whole life," Smith said, "and after two months, it's still a bit sore. But it's nothing compared to the pain I had been living with, and the difference is that I know this pain is going away. I really thank Dr. Wall for his work." Healing is extra important now, because Smith's wife and daughter are nurses at Flagstaff Medical Center, which means his job is at home caring for his grandchildren, 4-year-old Jaylee Rose and baby Zach. "I've always been good with kids, cousins, nephews or others," he said, "so this is good. But I have to heal. Babies get heavy!" The "Carpenters of Medicine" Being able to solve Smith's problem is the kind of thing that initially appealed to Dr. Wall during his medical training. "I was attracted to orthopedics and specifically to shoulder work during my residency because it is so concrete, something that can be fixed. I like a problem I can solve," Dr. Wall observed. Dr. Wall worked his way through college as a carpenter. "There are a lot of similarities to what I do now," he mused. "You could say that orthopedic surgeons are the carpenters of medicine." Click here to read full article. http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=77Tue, 29 Jun 2010 16:39:47 GMTPeoria in talks to create biotech incubator with TGen by Sonu Munshi - Jun. 21, 2010 09:22 AM The Arizona Republic Peoria may have found the catalyst to diversify its economy. City economic developers are in talks to create a biotech incubator with downtown Phoenix-based Translational Genomics Research Institute, referred to as TGen, and the Core Institute, which specializes in orthopedics. Councilwoman Cathy Carlat described the news as "the thing we've been waiting for all along."   "This is like bombshell kind of good news for us," she said. City officials were reaching out to "just about anybody that has a pulse" to find a strategic alliance for biotech and bioscience because these are "industries of the future," Economic Development Director Scott Whyte said. On July 6, the City Council is expected to consider a letter of support for a proposed partnership with TGen to help get a federal grant. The federal money would "bring considerable resources to make this possibility a reality," Whyte told the City Council this week. TGen aims to use "academic research toward life sciences for commercial application," Whyte said. The Phoenix institute is partnering with Glendale-based Thunderbird School of Global Management and other organizations to create an International Bioscience Commercialization Consortium in the areas of genomics, bioscience and life sciences, Whyte said. He said he hopes to see the incubator set up in Peoria, with or without the federal grant. City officials have been working with the Core Institute to bring a biotech startup program. Whyte sees this as a chance for both groups to use the same facility, saying it would give the city a "tremendous foundation from which to build on." Incubators generally help fledgling businesses get research and office space as they work to transform new technologies and ideas into commercial ventures. No Peoria site has been identified for the facility, Whyte said. He said TGen is "very interested" in the city's efforts to recruit a university. The city hired a consultant to help land a residential campus university or college. Steven Stralser, clinical professor of entrepreneurship at the Thunderbird school, said the consortium is in a "talking stage right now," so he was unable to give any details "until it's fleshed out." He confirmed there is discussion about working with Peoria. "TGen may be talking to Peoria to house this relationship," Stralser said. A TGen spokesman said he didn't have anyone who could comment on the matter. The Core Institute did not respond to requests for comment. Whyte later told the Republic the city would "partner" with TGen, although he said they haven't fully figured out the nature of that partnership. Mayor Bob Barrett said if the letter of support is about whether the city is willing to begin talks, he anticipated no problems. Any other commitments would depend on what Peoria can legally and financially do, he said. "There's no point in opening negotiations if whatever is generally proposed does not comply with the CityNorth case," Barrett said. The reference is to Phoenix's controversial $97.4 million subsidy to the CityNorth project in north Phoenix, which the state Supreme Court in January ruled to be an unconstitutional subsidy. The court ruled that government funds or credit to companies must provide a direct benefit of equivalent value to taxpayers. William Fredrick, president of Wadley-Donovan Growthtech LLC, who is working on a big-picture economic-development study for Peoria, described the potential partnership as a "fantastic" opportunity. Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/peoria/articles/2010/06/21/20100621peoria-biotech-incubator-tgen.html#ixzz0sGDsd4nn http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=72Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:49:12 GMT PHOENIX - The Labor Department has released its prediction for what jobs will be in top demand in 2018. A bulk of them are in the computer field and healthcare industry. By studying which fields will have fast growth, recent graduates or workers seeking a job change can learn which skills they can be developing now to land a great job later. According to the recently released statistics , biomedical engineering leads the pack as the occupation with the fastest growth. According to the handbook, the U.S. economy is continuing its shift away from making durable goods toward industries that produce a service. So-called service-providing industries such as healthcare, social assistance, educational services and food services, “are anticipated to generate approximately 14.5 million new wage and salary jobs.” Employment in the utilities sector is expected to decline 11 percent through 2018 due to improvements in technology which increases worker productivity. By contrast, “employment in the water, sewage, and other systems industry is anticipated to increase 13 percent by 2018.” Healthcare workers are projected to be in demand as the "Baby Boomer" generation continues to age. Also, increased healthcare costs means more staff members like physician assistants are being utilized to tackle responsibilities that used to be handled by a doctor. Home aids are also on the rise, something reflected throughout the recession in the local Arizona economy. The economy will continue to need people who know how to network computers and fix them as more companies, even smaller ones, find they need to incorporate changing technology to stay in business. The Occupational Outlook Handbook also claims that the, “U.S. workforce is expected to become more diverse by 2018. Among racial groups, Whites are expected to make up a decreasing share of the labor force, while Blacks, Asians, and all other groups will increase their share. Among ethnic groups, persons of Hispanic origin are projected to increase their share of the labor force from 14.3 percent to 17.6 percent, reflecting 33.1 percent growth." Women will also get a boost in the labor force, and "will grow at a slightly faster rate than the number of men. The male labor force is projected to grow by 7.5 percent from 2008 to 2018, compared with 9.0 percent for the female labor force." Also seeing a boost? Workers aged 55 years and older, who "are anticipated to leap from 18.1 percent to 23.9 percent of the labor force during the same period.” So what did the handbook have to say about scientific fields and healthcare? Professional and related occupations, which includes a wide variety of skilled professions, is expected to be the fastest growing major occupational group, at 17 percent, and is projected to add the most new jobs -- about 5.2 million. Computer and mathematical science occupations are projected to add almost 785,700 new jobs from 2008 to 2018. As a group, these occupations are expected to grow more than twice as fast as the average for all occupations in the economy. Employment in professional, scientific, and technical services is projected to grow by 34 percent, adding about 2.7 million new jobs by 2018. Employment in computer systems design and related services is expected to increase by 45 percent, accounting for nearly one-fourth of all new jobs in this industry sector. Employment in management, scientific, and technical consulting services is anticipated to expand at a staggering 83 percent, making up about 31 percent of job growth in this sector. Demand for these services will be spurred by businesses' continued need for advice on planning and logistics, as well as the implementation of new technologies. About 26 percent of all new jobs created in the U.S. economy will be in the healthcare and social assistance industry. Employment growth will be driven by an aging population and longer life expectancies. Employment among healthcare practitioners and technical occupations, a subgroup of the professional and related category, is expected to increase by 21 percent. This growth, resulting in a projected 1.6 million new jobs, will be driven by increasing demand for healthcare services. Employment in community and social services occupations is projected to increase by 16 percent, growing by roughly 448,400 jobs. As health insurance providers increasingly cover mental and behavioral health treatment, and as a growing number of elderly individuals seek social services, demand for these workers will increase. Occupations with the fastest growth? Of the 20 fastest growing occupations, half are related to healthcare. Healthcare is experiencing rapid growth, due in large part to the aging of the baby-boom generation, which will require more medical care. In addition, some healthcare occupations will be in greater demand for other reasons. As healthcare costs continue to rise, work is increasingly being delegated to lower paid workers in order to cut costs. For example, tasks that were previously performed by doctors, nurses, dentists, or other healthcare professionals increasingly are being performed by physician assistants, medical assistants, dental hygienists, and physical therapist aides. http://www.abc15.com/dpp/money/consumer/labor-department-releases-its-predictions-for-the-top-jobs-in-2018 http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=71Tue, 25 May 2010 19:50:43 GMTSteven L. Myerthall, MD ASK THE EXPERT: Direct Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty - Full Transcription Text:     This video is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is not intended to provide professional medical advice or any other professional service. If medical or other professional assistance is required, the services of a competent professional should be sought. Banner Health © Audio:  Opening Theme Music Text: Banner Health Presents: Ask the Expert Banner Health ©              Text: Banner Health © Direct Anterior Total Hip Arthroplasty Steven L. Myerthall, MD - Orthopedic Surgeon Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center Image: Steven L. Myerthall, MD, speaks on-camera throughout the video. Audio: “Direct anterior or total hip arthroplasty is a technique of performing total hip replacement surgery in which the surgical approach...” Text: Through the front of the hip Audio:  “…is through the front of the hip as opposed through the side of the hip, which is the traditional approach.” Text: Newer Technique Audio:  “It’s a relatively newer technique. With recent changes in instrumentation and with new tables and new techniques in the operating room, it’s recently gained quite a bit of popularity throughout North America.” Text: Patient Experience Audio:  “The patient experience after direct anterior total hip arthroplasty is two or three days in the hospital…” Text: Quicker Recovery Audio:  “…and usually starts with walking on a walker. We get patients up and around the first day after surgery. They tend to be on the walker for maybe three or four days and on to a cane quite quickly. And usually, by about two weeks, some of them tend to be walking without any walking aid at all. Patients also tend to return to many of their activities quickly. I’ve had patients back on the golf course in two or three weeks after this surgical procedure, back to work with high-demand jobs by about three or four weeks after the operation itself.” Text: Any Patient requiring total hip replacement Audio:  “Really, any patient that requires a total hip because of hip pain is a candidate for the direct anterior total hip. There are some patients in which, from the surgical perspective, it’s easier to do the operation on—those being smaller patients and less muscular patients. But a large muscular male is as good a candidate as a female, who may be smaller.” Text:     For more health information from Banner Health experts Please visit www.BannerHealth.com or call Banner Health’s Physician Referral & Resource Line at 1(800) 230-CARE (2273) Banner Health © http://www.bannerhealth.com/Services/Health And Wellness/Ask the Expert/Orthopedics/_Direct Anterior Total Hip Arhtroplasty video.htm http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=68Tue, 06 Apr 2010 21:09:55 GMT The CORE Institute Physicians Honored by Phoenix Magazine The CORE Institute continues to provide excellence in patient care with our dedicated fellowship-trained physicians.  This year, The CORE Institute is proud to announce that FOUR of our physicians appeared in the 2010 Phoenix Magazine's Top Docs. The CORE Institute recognizes the following Top Doctors: Mark D. Campbell, MD; David J. Jacofsky, MD; John A. Kearney, Jr., MD; and Steven L. Myerthall, MD. Congratulations! http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=66Tue, 06 Apr 2010 15:13:19 GMTArizona Tech Council Featured Hip Patient Johnny Bench March 31, 2010 www.examiner.com Ruth Ann Monti Very few people have lasted 15 years in major league baseball without some kind of long-term wear and tear. Even fewer squatted in the catcher's box for that time. It's just too hard on the joints for most. Johnny Bench, who caught for the Cincinnati Reds for 15 years (1968-1983) and was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1989, endured pain for several years after retirement until he received a new right hip. He spoke about his experience last week in a keynote address to the Arizona Technology Council's first-ever Expo. Six years ago, a doctor friend watched Bench hobble around a golf course. "You know that hip is going," Bench recalled his friend telling him. A few weeks later, Bench had hip-replacement surgery and was back golfing within seven weeks. When Bench began experiencing similar pain in his other hip last year, he readily sought  a second surgery. This time, however, the new hip was made of state-of-the-art ceramic-on-ceramic design, with a larger head from Stryker. Just two hours after receiving an ADM(TM) X3 hip, Bench was walking the hospital hallway. He was one of the first patients to receive the technology, which is more flexible and longer-lasting than earlier hip models, and has fewer post-operative complications. Bench is now a spokesperson for Stryker, which joined more than 60 other exhibitors at the Health & Medical Technology Expo in Glendale last week. The Council is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to connecting, representing, and supporting Arizona's technology industry, where medical technology is a key player. The Council sponsors more than 100 events each year. The Expo targeted providers, tech companies with innovative medical products, suppliers, and other health-related business. Major sponsors included leaders in the legal and communications fields, who support the Council's policy and advocacy efforts as well as various committees that address technology, safety, and other issues. And Bench's knees? They're just fine, he recently told ESPN. "The legs are the support," he said. "You've gotta have the strongest quads." While other Hall of Fame catchers like Gary Carter and Carlton Fisk have had multiple knee surgeries, Bench was spared their pain. http://ww.examiner.com/x-36467-Phoenix-Health-News-Examiner~y2010m3d31-Arizona-Tech-Council-featured-hip-patient-Johnny-Bench http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=64Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:32:20 GMT2010 Health and Medical Technology Expo Renaissance Hotel & Spa, Glendale March 25, 8 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Admission: $10 More Info: www.aztechconcil.org  The AZHMT Expo will focus on cutting-edge healthcare topics and the latest technology advances in the medical field. Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench is the keynote speaker at this health expo that includes screening, networking and breakout sessions. http://www.abc15.com/content/entertainment/localevents/story/9-things-to-do-this-weekend-around-Arizona/idrOJFX0UkeJQeHiz1qWEg.cspx?p=2 http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=62Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:31:34 GMTPhoenix Business Journal - by Patrick O'Grady Johnny Bench is a believer in the power of medical technology. A Hall-of-Fame catcher who spent his career with the Cincinnati Reds, Bench has more than average wear and tear on his joints. On Thursday he will provide the keynote at lunch during the Arizona Health and Medical Technology Expo, the first such event being organized by the Arizona Technology Council. “It’s just another area of technology that if they think about something, they can do it,” Bench said. Bench, who played with the Reds full time from 1968 until 1983, had his right hip replaced six years ago after he endured pain he said wouldn’t let him sleep or do most physical activities. He spent a year trying to find out what was wrong until a doctor friend saw him walking on a golf course. “He looked at me and said, ‘You know that hip is going,’” Bench said. “We scheduled it and seven weeks later I was back playing golf, back to sleeping at night, really doing everything I used to do.” Bench said his new right hip is made of a ceramic-on-ceramic connection designed to last longer than older model artificial hips. His right hip, replaced late last year, is an even newer design from Stryker called the ADM X3, giving him more flexibility and longer life for the joint. Since the first operation, Bench has been a spokesman for Stryker Orthopaedics, which manufactured both of his artificial hips, and a proponent of advanced medical technology in joint replacements in particular. He’s speaking at the AZHMT expo as a way to be an example of someone who has received a better quality of life through medical technology. The expo will feature topics about advanced technology in medical use and feature a number of Valley providers including the Arizona Telemedicine Program, Hospice of the Valley, Logistixs Group LLC, Translational Geneomics Institute and The CORE Institute. “By launching our first annual Health & Medical Technology Expo, we are broadening our focus on health care and life sciences because ultimately, technology can help manage cost and efficiency and improve patient care,” said Steven Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council. “The work of our member companies encompasses a wide range of products and services and we felt it was important to share the latest health care innovations with the Arizona community at large.” The event will run from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thursday at the Renaissance Glendale Hotel, 9495 W. Coyotes Blvd. in Glendale. Admission is $10 for the expo, $40 for lunch for AZTC members and $50 for nonmembers. For more: www.aztechcouncil.org. http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2010/03/22/daily42.html?surround=lfn http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=59Wed, 10 Mar 2010 16:26:12 GMTOur expert team will help you lose weight and get fit Connie Midey - Mar. 8, 2010 03:46 PM The Arizona Republic More than the start of a new year, spring is the season of hope. There's time, we hope, to look our trim-and-glowing best for the class reunion this summer. Time to get in shape for volleyball on the beach or a hike in Sedona's Boynton Canyon. Time to lower blood pressure and cholesterol before our annual physical and the inevitable (and, yes, deserved) doctor's lecture that follows. Time to get with the program. Today, The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com begin a 10-week series that could give you the impetus you've been looking for since throwing up your hands in despair of ever reaching the health goals you set every Jan. 1. Nine experts, including a psychologist and a Weight Watchers group leader, in the roles of best friends who tell you what you need - but may not want - to hear, will act as health and fitness coaches for 10 Arizonans. The 10 have volunteered to share their stories in the coming Sundays. You may recognize your life in theirs and in the obstacles to good health they wrestle with. You'll meet people with not enough time to exercise or to plan and cook healthful meals. Whose stress drives them to reach for the remote control and a pint of Ben & Jerry's after work and errands and household chores finally are finished for the day. Who yearn for a little motivation and support. And you might feel motivated to follow in their footsteps as they test the advice and encouraging words directed to them by the experts, some of whom have been there themselves. Physician Emily Zaragoza Lao, medical director of the Family Medicine Center at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, gained 80 pounds while pregnant with her first son. At the start of her second pregnancy, she still carried 50 of the excess pounds. "I had a grandmother who always said, 'You're eating for two, dear,' and a doctor who never told me 80 pounds was too much to gain," Zaragoza says. "And I was in medical school, in residency, and there really wasn't enough time to exercise and diet." Life became even more demanding as she and her husband raised their sons, now teenagers, and she pursued a master's degree in business administration and dealt with health scares of her own, all the while practicing medicine. Losing the weight wasn't easy, nor was maintaining the loss. But her struggle has inspired many patients in the years since, including a 78-year-old woman who recently lost 50 pounds. Zaragoza hopes it will do the same for the 10 project participants - and for you, following along at home. Dr. John Kearney, sports-medicine specialist The CORE Institute (Center for Orthopedic Research and Education), six Arizona locations; medical director, Arizona Sports Medicine Society. thecoreinstitute.com "Prioritize spending the necessary time, energy and money on eating right and staying active. Ultimately, this investment in your health will help you live a more fulfilling, fruitful and productive life." http://www.azcentral.com/health/fitness/articles/2010/03/08/20100308health-goals-experts.html http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=56Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:32:45 GMTThe Arizona Technology Council announced that Major League Baseball Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, presented by Stryker Orthopaedics, is the keynote luncheon speaker at the first annual Arizona Health & Medical Technology (AZHMT) Expo being held March 25, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Renaissance Hotel & Spa in Glendale, Ariz. Sponsors of the event include The CORE Institute, also called the Center for Orthopedic Research and Education, and Grandview Terrace, a life-care community. "As a former professional athlete that has undergone joint replacement, I can testify to the importance of doing your homework and staying on top of the trends in healthcare," said Bench. "This unique Expo is a prime opportunity to hear firsthand how technology is changing the way we take care of our bodies inside and out." The AZHMT Expo will focus on healthcare topics and the latest technology advances in the medical field. Attendees will benefit from informative breakout sessions led by top experts, free health screenings, and one-on-one networking throughout an exhibit area. Exhibitors include: Arizona Telemedicine Program, Hospice of the Valley, Logistixs Group, OhYeah, OneNeck IT Services, PADT Medical, Roskamp Sun Health Life Care Communities, Rowpar Pharmaceuticals, Secure Trak, Stryker, Southwestern Eye Center, Swing Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, Inc., TGen, The CORE Institute, and Trans- West Network Solutions. "By launching our first annual Health & Medical Technology Expo, we are broadening our focus on health care and life sciences because ultimately, technology can help manage cost and efficiency and improve patient care," said Steven G. Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council. "The work of our member companies encompasses a wide range of products and services, and we felt it was important to share the latest healthcare innovations with the Arizona community at large." "The CORE Institute felt it was important to support the Council's effort to raise awareness in Arizona about today's healthcare technology," said Dr. David J. Jacofsky, MD, The CORE Institute. "By putting the cutting-edge technology and experts right at people's fingertips, we hope to educate others on how we are improving the lives of patients." The Arizona Technology Council is a private, not-for-profit trade association founded to connect, represent and support the state's expanding technology industry. Event registration: http://bit.ly/b1HqkX For information: www.aztechcouncil.org ((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com)) Copyright 2010 Close-Up Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved. http://findarticles.com/p/news-articles/wireless-news/mi_hb5558/is_20100303/baseball-hall-famer-johnny-bench/ai_n50702876/ http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=52Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:49:00 GMTSE Valley Living Ask The Expert Q: I understand there is a new hip replacement procedure using a special surgical table. What is it and is it an option for total hip replacement? A: Hip replacement surgery is recommended for patients suffering from severe hip pain that limits their daily activities. The relatively new surgical method, called the direct-anterior approach, has an easier, less painful recovery for the patient.   The direct-anterior total hip arthroplasty is the only surgical approach that allows the procedure to be performed without having to cut any of the muscles or tendons. It is the most tissue-preserving approach for total hip arthroplasty.   To perform direct-anterior hip surgery, the patient lies on their back with their leg extended and rotated so that just the portion of the hip to be replaced is exposed. No damage is done to the important hip muscles.   Patients who have undergone this procedure have had a variety of experiences during the post-operative period. Most notable is a rapid recovery, which enables patients in many cases to walk unaided or without a walker within one to two weeks following surgery. In most cases, patients are discharged two to three days after surgery with no post-operative restrictions. They experience less pain and walk without a limp in days rather than weeks after surgery.   Additionally, the benefits of the direct-anterior total hip replacement are faster recovery in the early post-operative period, smaller incision with minimal muscle trauma and less scarring, smaller risk with a dislocation and no post-operative restrictions on hip motion.   Steven Myerthall, M.D., is an orthopedic surgeon with privileges at Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers.  For a doctor referral, please call ResourceLink toll-free at 1.877.728.5414. http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=54Fri, 12 Feb 2010 19:48:54 GMT WASHINGTON and SUN CITY WEST, Ariz., Feb 02, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ ---- Gentag, Inc. and The CORE Institute(R) are pleased to announce the signing of a license agreement to develop and commercialize a disposable wireless skin patch to allow patients to self monitor themselves in the comfort of their homes after orthopedic surgery in hospitals through the use of cell phones. The technology will help reduce post-orthopedic surgical-related medical costs by reducing the time spent in hospitals and detecting possible problems much earlier with less pain and risk, and costing much less than existing technology. The technology combines advanced MEMS sensors and Gentag's disposable wireless platform sensor that is directly compatible with cell phones integrating standard NFC-ISO 15693 hybrid reader chip technology. Such cell phones include the iPhone via a soon-to-be released RFID retrofit, thereby ensuring broad access by consumers to the technology. Clinical trials are expected to begin in 2010. "The CORE Institute(R), their physicians and research team have the required medical expertise and involvement in the orthopedics arena to bring this new technology through the FDA approval process to benefit patients worldwide," announced Dr. John Peeters, the founder of Gentag. "We are pleased to sign this agreement and look forward to supporting The CORE Institute(R) and its partners to commercialize this new technology and other related technologies." "The CORE Institute(R) is pleased to secure the funding required for the final development of this important technology platform that will decrease the cost of care, while improving patient safety and outcomes, by giving patients the tools to detect post orthopedic surgery complications in the comfort of their homes," announced David Jacofsky, MD, the Chairman and CEO of The CORE Institute(R). Gentag, Inc. and Altivera, LLC are IP and technology development companies focusing on the development of innovative, low-cost wireless technologies to improve health worldwide. The company owns unique intellectual property relating to cell phone-sensor combinations and wireless sensor networks. The Center for Orthopedic Research and Education, The CORE Institute(R), delivers comprehensive orthopedic care, one patient at a time. Their fellowship-trained physicians provide specialized care in the areas of surgical, non-surgical and rehabilitative hip, knee, shoulder, wrist, hand, elbow and ankle procedures, sports medicine, arthroscopy, fracture management, orthopedic traumatology, complex articular cartilage restoration, orthopedic oncology, foot and ankle reconstruction, non-surgical spine care and pain management. The CORE Institute team is dedicated to providing technologically-advanced surgical techniques and rehabilitation in six locations in Arizona. With state-of-the art research labs, their clinical and research teams are dedicated to pioneering research that expands orthopedic knowledge, products and services. For more information, visit http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/ and http://www.gentag.com/ SOURCE Gentag, Inc. http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/post-surgery-wireless-skin-patch-license-agreement-signed/ http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=50Mon, 18 Jan 2010 16:48:21 GMT The 2010 Arizona Health & Medical Technology (AZHMT) Expo kicks off its first annual event in Arizona. Whether you are a physician practice looking to increase patient volumes, a device company looking to increase patient awareness, or a healthcare-related business looking to market your services, the AZHMT Expo targets a  health-minded audience. The AZHMT Expo will focus on various healthcare topics and the latest advanced technology in the medical field. The AZHMT Expo will also include a luncheon complete with a keynote speaker, breakout sessions and time for one-on-one networking throughout the exhibit area. Join us to become part of what will be Arizona's highest profile health expo across the state. Event Agenda: 8:00 AM – Expo Doors Open/Registration 9:00 AM -  Breakout Session #1 11:30 AM – Keynote Speaker Lunch 1:30 PM – Breakout Session #2 3:00 PM - Exhibitors/Conference Ends Cost: General Admission Ticket: $10 General Admission Ticket with Keynote Lunch AZTC Member: $40 General Admission Ticket with Keynote Lunch Non-AZTC Member: $50 If you would like to purchase tickets to this event, please click here. *To become a sponsor, please click here. http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=48Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:53:53 GMTYour Joint Pain is Personal and So is its Treatment Editor: Annlouise Ferguson Are you one of the 43 million Americans suffering from arthritis?  Maybe you know one of the 600,000 Americans who had either a knee or a hip replacement this year.  Hip and knee replacement surgeon, Dr. Steven Myerthall, MD spoke to the Ahwatukee Foothills Rotary Club on Dec 1st about the causes, symptoms and treatment of joint pain.  Dr. Myerthall drew laughter when he told the club about a patient complaining his leg hurt after running 23 miles.  His advice  was to  run 22 miles and stop.  There are cases where joint pain is caused by overuse and medical intervention can be prevented. Joint pain is generally the result of osteo, rheumatoid  or post traumatic arthritis or avascular necrosis.  The most common cause is osteoarthritis. Wear and tear on a joint causes osteoarthritis.  Dr. Myerthall explained while using slides of actual diagnostic cases to show the club what damage to a joint looks like at various stages.   Cartilage pitting causes roughness and irritation, leading to loss of cartilage and narrowing of the joint space.  With loss of cartilage, the patient experiences bone on bone.  The alignment of the bones at the joint is askew, not good.  Cysts can develop in the bone and spurs can grow on the edge of the bone.  The ends of the bones in the joint bleed and deteriorate.  Pain with osteoarthritis is more common in the evening after use.  Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disorder where the joint becomes damaged as well as the surrounding tissues.  Morning stiffness is most common with rheumatoid arthritis. Post Traumatic Arthritis occurs after a joint has been injured but the bone and cartilage did not heal properly, leaving the joint rough.  Avascular necrosis is a disease where the bone lacks blood supply so the bone deteriorates and dies. When other medical intervention does not provide the needed relief, surgery may.  Possible surgical treatments, depending upon the joint involved, include arthroscopy, partial or total joint replacement, or resurfacing, Early intervention with knee pain is best.  It allows for the use of a less invasive arthroscopic treatment.  The treatment is outpatient using 2-3 small incisions.  When only one of the three regions of the knee, medial, lateral or patella, is damaged, a partial knee replacement, PKR, can be performed.  One in five knee replacements is a PKR.  Dr. Myerthall says his most satisfied patients are those who have undergone PKR. Usually because they have experienced less post operative pain, smaller incisions due to smaller implants used, and a shorter recovery time.  When more than one area of the knee joint is compromised, a total knee replacement is recommended.  Dr. Myerthall reports his patients complain their knee does not feel the same afterward but the total replacement allows them to return to their previous activity level. Dr. Myerthall noted that the major improvements to his practice have been minimally invasive surgery, computer assisted surgery and the Cormet Hip Resurfacing procedure. Minimally invasive surgery, laparoscopic surgery, is done through small incisions. Using specialized techniques, miniature cameras with microscopes, tiny fiber-optic flashlights and high definition monitors, allows the surgeon to perform surgery through an incision that requires only a few stitches to close.  One example of minimally invasive hip surgery is the direct anterior hip replacement. The direct anterior approach to hip replacement surgery allows the surgeon to reach the hip joint from the front of the hip as opposed to the side or back approach. This way, the hip can be replaced without detachment of muscle from the pelvis or femur during surgery. The surgeon can simply work through the natural interval between the muscles.  Dr Myerthall says the use of this approach can lead to a shorter hospital stay, smaller incision, less blood loss, less collateral damage to muscles, tendons and ligaments, less post operative restrictions and a quicker rehabilitation than a traditional hip replacement. Dr Myerthall's use of a computer to map the patient's anatomy, properly size the implant and see the surgical site without having to use a ten or eleven inch  incision as in the past is a huge improvement.  Computer assisted surgery is a discipline where computer technology is applied to improve the outcome of orthopedic surgical procedures.  The Cormet Hip Resurfacing procedure is an innovative process where the end of the thigh bone, femur, is capped with a metal covering using a strong cobalt chromium metal. This fits neatly into a metal cup that sits in the hip socket. The head swivels within the cup, gliding together to replicate the hip joint. The capping of the femur is comparable to capping a tooth.  The procedure conserves bone and allows for natural movement.  Dr. Myerthall is waiting for further action by the FDA as the procedure is approved in limited situations, usually for a young, healthy boned, active person.   Despite the high and rising numbers of joints being replaced, Dr. Myerthall's policy is to schedule a joint replacement only when a patient asks to be scheduled.  This is when their pain is severe, interfering with daily activities and not responding to nonsurgical treatments.  A patient undergoing a joint replacement can expect to return to the activities they enjoyed prior to replacement sans sky diving and downhill skiing.  Evidence of this expectation is Floyd Landis, the disqualified 2006 Tour de France winner, who returned to professional bicycling after having hip resurfacing surgery. Steven Myerthall, MD is an internationally fellowship-trained specialist in minimally-invasive hip and knee reconstruction and arthroscopy, and is dedicated to exceptional patient care.  Recently he partnered with the Center for Orthopedic Research and Education in Arizona.  The CORE Institute offers comprehensive care for musculoskeletal health and wellness.  The doctor is the father of two young boys.  The Cormet Hip Resurfacing System is manufactured by Corin and distributed exclusively by Stryker Orthopedics in the USA. More information at:  Stryker.  http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=45Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:08:32 GMTDoctors Use New Treatment For Rotator Cuff Injuries Rotator cuff injuries don't just happen to major league baseball players -- they send 5 million people to the doctor every year, and the risk of injury increases as we age. There's a new procedure that aims to relieve pain and restore movement by changing the way the shoulder works. A bike accident left Jim Smith with a shoulder injury so painful he couldn't ride … or even raise his right arm. "I was down to practically doing nothing," Smith told Ivanhoe. "I couldn't even trim bushes in the yard because I didn't have any control of my right arm." A traditional shoulder replacement failed. Then, his doctor suggested something new -- reverse shoulder replacement. The normal ball and socket joint is replaced with implants that reverse the anatomy of the shoulder. "The reverse shoulder replacement allows us to not only replace the joint that has become arthritic, but it puts the shoulder in a better mechanical position and changes the mechanics of the shoulder to allow people to elevate their arm," Bryan Wall, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at the Core Institute in Phoenix, Ariz., told Ivanhoe. The surgery works best for older patients who have chronic shoulder pain, longstanding rotator cuff tears and arthritis. It doesn't work for everyone -- there's a risk of patients dislocating the shoulder joint after surgery or loosening parts. "The best thing is, whatever I do during the day, no matter what I do, I don't have any pain in my right arm," Smith said. The surgery fixed his shoulder so he could get back to doing his own fixing. "I've worked pretty hard all my life," Smith added. "Now it's time to play!" Hitting the road to a pain-free and active retirement. The reverse shoulder replacement surgery generally requires a two-day hospital stay and a four- to six-week recovery, plus post-surgical therapy to restore full range of motion. Dr. Wall says younger patients are generally not good candidates for the procedure because they tend to put extreme stress on the shoulder joint. http://www.kptv.com/health/21271618/detail.html http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=23Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:12:53 GMTReverse Shoulder Repair, In-Depth Doctor's Interview Bryan Wall, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon at the Core Institute in Phoenix, Ariz., explains how a new surgery that reverses the anatomy of the shoulder is easing pain for patients with rotator cuff tears with arthritis. Are there limits to the types of patients who can have shoulder replacement surgery? Dr. Bryan Wall: The problem that we have in shoulder replacement surgery is that there is a certain segment of the population that has problems that are just too great to deal with traditional shoulder replacements. We have a certain subset of the population that has arthritis, but they also have large tears of their rotator cuff mechanism. What we’ve found in those patients is that a traditional shoulder replacement does not work particularly well because the mechanics of the shoulder are dramatically altered, and that the shoulder replacement fails at a fairly rapid rate. What has happened to these patients’ shoulders that they aren’t working correctly? Dr. Wall: Typically, the entity is referred to as a cuff tear arthropathy. That’s a massive rotator cuff tear, and then they eventually develop arthritis of the shoulder joint on top of that. When a patient has arthritis, what happens to their range of motion? Dr. Wall: Typically, what happens when a patient develops pain because of the arthritis and also because of the failure of the rotator cuff, they lose their ability to raise their arm above the level of their head. In fact, most patients can only raise their arm approximately 30 degrees or 40 degrees, typically. Is an injury to the rotator cuff common? Dr. Wall: The rotator cuff, I think, is a very misunderstood structure, as far as the general public goes. I think there are high profile injuries, baseball pitchers, for example, who have problems with their rotator cuff. However, the vast majority of patients that have problems with the rotator cuff are actually in their 50’s or 60’s or 70’s, so it’s actually a problem with the older population. It’s a very common injury. What is the traditional method of treating a rotator cuff injury? Dr. Wall: In the past, we had very, very limited options. We would actually replace part of the shoulders and tell patients that, ‘Well, we’re going to just have a limited goals rehabilitation for you,’ meaning that we’ll replace your shoulder, we’ll try to take care of the pain from the arthritis, but your arm is just not going to work very well, you’re just going to not be able to elevate it. Obviously, that’s not an ideal solution. The reverse shoulder replacement that we use now allows us to not only replace the joint that’s become arthritic, but it puts the shoulder in a better mechanical position and changes the mechanics of the shoulder to allow people to elevate their arm. How does the procedure work? Dr. Wall: What we do is we reverse the joint. Everybody knows that the shoulder is a ball and socket joint, with the socket being on the shoulder blade side, and the ball being on the arm bone side. By reversing the joint and putting the ball on the shoulder blade side and the socket on the arm bone side, we’re actually able to create a captured joint. What that does is it puts the deltoid muscle, which is the largest muscle in the shoulder, in a better mechanical position, in order to allow the arm to elevate. Is an implant used in the procedure? Dr. Wall: Yes. The implant is typically made out of metal and plastic. There’s a metallic ball that goes on the shoulder blade that’s fixed in usually with screws, and then there’s a stemmed implant that goes into the center of the arm bone that has a plastic cup on it that can be just fit into the arm bone, or sometimes just fixed with cement. How does the reverse shoulder replacement affect patients’ lives? Dr. Wall: It can be fairly life-altering, particularly in patients who are older and patients who have bilateral problems. You don’t think about the ability to raise your arms very much. However, say you’re in your 70’s living by yourself. If you can’t raise your arms above the level of your waist, you can’t use half the cabinets in your kitchen, you can’t wash your hair, you can’t fix your hair, you have a difficult time brushing your teeth and feeding yourself, so it can be very, very dramatic, as far as the effect on these people’s ability to live independently, and function. Who’s a good candidate for this procedure? Dr. Wall: Typically, I would say that a good candidate is an older patient who’s less active. While I’d love to say that all patients would be a great candidate for this, what we think is that patients who are younger put a tremendous amount of wear and tear and stresses and strain on the shoulders, just because they’re more active and they do more aggressive activities. The shoulder implant isn’t great at dealing with those types of problems, and the concern is that over time, the shoulder implant will loosen and fail. The older patient, who is say in their 60’s or 70’s, typically isn’t going to have that same level of activity, so we don’t worry about that quite as much, so we think that’s probably a better candidate for the procedure. That being said, we do use it in younger patients at times as a salvage procedure, such as patients who have advanced tumor reconstruction or sometimes patients who have significant problems after a regular shoulder replacement and we have to revise it. Is the procedure widely available? Dr. Wall: It’s becoming much more common in the United States. It’s been done in Europe since 1986 – that’s when the first type of this implant was done. It was actually done in the United States back in the 60’s and 70’s, but what we found is we have problems with those implants, so a gentleman named Paul Grammont, who is a French surgeon in Lyon, France, redesigned the implant in 1986, and started placing them in France. They came out with their second generation in 1991, which is fairly similar to the implant that we’re using today, so it’s been used in Europe in this form since 1991. In the United States, it’s been available since about 2004. Is this a procedure patients with cuff tear arthropathy must have? Dr. Wall: This is sort of an elective procedure in every sense of the word. What I tell every patient who comes to me asking when they need to have this done, is that they never need to have this done. Nobody’s ever died from cuff tear arthropathy. You may have shoulder pain, you may have inability to raise your arm, but it’s not that you need to have this done. The time to have this done is the time when the patient decides that they’d rather have this surgery, they have some potential consequences that go along with surgery, being in the hospital, outpatient rehab, those sorts of things. When they decide that it’s time to do that rather than continue to live their life the way they are, that’s the time for them to have the surgery. How long is the actual surgery time, hospital time, and recovery time? Dr. Wall: It’s an inpatient surgery, so you’re going to be, on average, about two days in the hospital. Most patients will be in a sling anywhere from about two to six weeks. Outpatient rehab is usually anywhere from six weeks up to three to six months. Most patients are going to feel a lot better than they did before surgery at about six weeks, and I tell most patients that they’re going to get about 100 percent of their function wherever they’re going to be, at about a six month post operative time. What type of patients typically wants to have this procedure? Dr. Wall: If you look at the larger series that’s in the scientific literature that we published out of France, the average age was 72, so it is a little bit older than the average age for the population for joint replacement in general. It’s patients who are older and active who are the ideal candidates for this procedure. Those are typically patients with the cuff tear arthropathy. Anybody who is in their 60’s or above really who has this problem and wants to maintain their activity level, I think they’re a great candidate for it, and particularly patients who have pain, too, because it’s a very, very effective operation in relieving pain. I think there’s a second set of patients who are good candidates for it, and those are patients who had previous shoulder replacements, either because they’ve had fractures or arthritis surgeries that have failed. It’s a very, very good option for revision of failed previous shoulder replacement surgery. http://www.ivanhoe.com/channels/p_channelstory.cfm?storyid=22500 http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=24Mon, 14 Sep 2009 23:18:45 GMT By: Wanda Robert Becoming a Marine is a transformation that cannot be undone.”  (www.marines.com)   In 2007, a meeting between doctor and patient proved to be the first step on a journey of transformation.  The CORE Institute’s Jason J. Scalise, MD is proud to have played a part in the future of one of our nation’s heroes. The patient, Anthony (Toni) Brewer sat with us to share his inspiring story of determination.  Anthony (Toni) Brewer is a young man who understands the importance of hard work and reaching out to his community.  Growing up in Paradise Valley, Arizona, Brewer followed in the footsteps of his father, an officer with the Phoenix Police Department.  He began volunteering with the department at the age of 12.  It seemed obvious to everyone that after his graduation from Phoenix Christian High School he would enter a career in public safety.  The surprise came when rather than becoming a police officer; Brewer decided that he wanted to become a United States Marine.   As a football and basketball player in high school, the athletic Brewer prepared to pass the medical evaluation portion of the Marine’s processing.  It was through this medical evaluation, however, that his past shoulder injuries were brought to the forefront once again.  By speaking with Toni, the medical examiner discovered that for the past five years, his left shoulder would occasionally dislocate.  Following the evaluation at the Marine Entrance Processing Station, medical staff suggested that Brewer join a branch of the military that was not as “physically demanding” as the Marine Corps.  The Marines dismissed Toni and stopped him from enlisting, stating medical reasons. Undeterred, Brewer was not ready to give up on his dream.  The Marines understood his determination to join this elite group of men and women who serve the United States. Toni added, “The Marines said if I really wanted to pursue a career in the military, I needed to have surgery on my shoulder.”  Enter Jason J. Scalise, MD, an orthopedic surgeon with The Center for Orthopedic Research and Education in Phoenix, Arizona.  Dr. Scalise specializes in shoulder injuries and complex shoulder issues, having trained and worked at the renowned Cleveland Clinic before joining The CORE Institute.  Dr. Scalise evaluated Brewer in November 2007 for his chronic shoulder instability.  After a physical exam and MRI, Brewer was diagnosed with recurrent shoulder instability and a Bankart lesion.  A Bankart lesion is a tear of the labrum the lining of the socket of the shoulder.  This occurs when the shoulder is dislocated and can cause instability, pain, acatching sensation and an increased likelihood of future dislocations.    Dr. Scalise noted that this “recurrent instability will prohibit” the high level of activity Brewer would need to maintain as a Marine.  After considering many possible treatments and the possible risks of surgery, for Brewer the solution was obvious -- the arthroscopic Bankart repair procedure. He wanted his shoulder fixed and believed that Dr. Scalise was the surgeon to do it.  At Paradise Valley Hospital on December 17, 2007, Dr. Scalise performed an arthroscopic Bankart repair on Brewer’s left shoulder.  The procedure took one hour and included an evaluation of his shoulder through the arthroscopic camera.  Through the small incisions, both camera and instruments were able to repair the torn labrum back to its anatomic location on the front edge of the shoulder socket and thereby restoring stability to Brewer’s shoulder.   “Mr. Brewer’s surgery went extremely well.  He had a classic tear of the labrum which the arthroscopic camera showed well.  We were able to obtain a very robust labral repair.  It is interesting that a seemingly small disruption in the normal anatomy can have such profound consequences on an individual’s shoulder function; and in this case, his aspirations.”  After Dr. Scalise did his part repairing the tear and customizing Brewer’s rehabilitation program, the job fell to Brewer to do the hard work of recovery.  A large part of this process involved physical therapy to help improve the shoulder’s range of motion, improve strength and restore function.  Six weeks after surgery, Brewer began his physical therapy regimen.  Before the procedure, Dr. Scalise explained that recovery could take as long as six to seven months and there was always a chance that the shoulder may not heal properly, preventing complete recovery and function.  However, with the same energy and commitment he uses to face all challenges, Brewer tackled his rehabilitation head on – completing his rehab in ¾ the time prescribed by Dr. Scalise.  While admitting that recovery was one of the “hardest times in my life”, Brewer was able to pass his physical and join the Marines on schedule.  On June 6, 2008 Brewer graduated from boot camp at M.C.R.D. Camp Pendelton, San Diego, as his platoon’s second squad leader.  This earned him a meritorious promotion to private first class.  Shortly after his graduation, PFC Brewer paid a visit The CORE Institute.  Dr. Scalise told Brewer, “Good to hear your shoulder has kept up with the rest of you.”  From the successful completion of boot camp, Brewer’s next step was Iwakuni, Japan on a two year tour.  He keeps in touch with Dr. Scalise via email and during a recent trip state-side to get married, Brewer summed up his experience by saying “I had a major obstacle to overcome so I could pursue my dream of being a Marine. I can’t thank Dr. Scalise enough for his efforts. He has changed the course of my career, and more importantly, my life”. http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=22Tue, 08 Sep 2009 21:24:25 GMTKnee needs rise with aging population Joy Slagowski Daily News-Sun An aging population is causing "an explosive growth" in knee replacement surgery, according to one local expert. John Thompson, an orthopedic surgeon, will be giving a free community lecture "Joint Replacement: How do you know when it’s time?" at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 11 in Memorial Hall at Banner Boswell, 13180 N. 103rd Drive, Sun City. Reservations are encouraged by calling 602-230-CARE (602-230-2273). Light refreshments will be served. Thompson is medical director of Banner Boswell’s Joint Club, a special unit dedicated to the care of patients undergoing total knee or hip replacements. Thompson specializes in adult reconstruction, and primary and revision hip and knee replacement surgery. "They should try all of the non-operative means first, such as over-the-counter remedies, topical ointments, Tylenol, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory meidations." Thompson said. "(They should also try) ice, heat, bracing and activity modifications. They should also try physical therapy, injections and also herbal medications." But if those fail, surgery can be a consideration if radiographs confirm degenerative arthritis. The surgery is extremely painful, Thompson said, and recovery takes a full year. "The first 48 hours are when there is the most significant amount of pain," Thompson said. "But we begin physical therapy about three hours after surgery, which at that point is when we get everyone up and walking." A normal hospital stay is three days, with physical therapy taking place twice a day while there. Thompson said about 50 percent of patients recover within about two months, while it will take three months for another 25 percent to recover. "It takes a year to be 100 percent recovered," Thompson said. "Also, we tell patients if they have both knees replaced at the same time, they never heal at the same rate: one hurts and is more stiff than the other." In the long run, though, studies are showing those who have knee replacements are actually saving money. "When they start calculating the pain medication, disability from it, or time off work, it’s one of the few procedures that confirms its cost effectiveness is great," Thompson said. http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=21Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:18:31 GMT   A local sports medicine physician will discuss the need for seniors to reverse a trend of "underuse" of muscles by becoming active again, as well as rehabilitative activities for common injuries Wednesday at the Sun City West Foundation. Dr. John Kearney, a specialist in non-operative, rehabilitative and medical aspects of sports medicine, will present his expertise about the importance of staying active in general, the benefits of different types of exercise and the best ways to prevent over-use injuries. "Staying active should be a priority in everyone's life," said the physician, who works with the Center for Orthopedic Research and Education based in Sun City West. "Everybody should be aiming for at least two hours a week of activity that gets you out of breath and makes you sweat." Seniors should look for an activity they enjoy, whether it's bocce or lawn bowling, as long as they stick with it, Kearney said. "Whatever (seniors) enjoy and they can participate in, that's the most important thing," he said. "The goal should be to find something you enjoy doing that you can stick with." Often, seniors face injuries during physical activity, and they become discouraged about continuing to exercise. Kearney said the correct rehabilitative techniques can often ease the pain. "There are usually very simple things (seniors) can do to stack the odds in (their) favor to treat an injury or prevent an injury from occuring," he said. "In general, with seniors we see a lot of shoulder, knee and back problems. Chronic underuse is just a natural, slow decline in the muscles that support the joints. We can usually get those feeling a lot better with the right physical therapy and strengthening. "(It's common for seniors to) think that they need to exercise less whenever they run into a painful problem. They tend to give up very easily, when in reality there's usually an easy way to fix the problem." The presentation, sponsored by the Foundation, Recreation Centers and Property Owners and Residents Association of Sun City West, will be at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Sun City West Foundation Building, 14465 R.H. Johnson Blvd. The talk is open to the public. http://www.yourwestvalley.com/news/seniors_4912___article.html/city_exercise.html http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=20Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:07:30 GMT BOOMER aches & pains They don't have to give up their athletic activities By CONNIE MIDEY • Gannett Newspapers • November 4, 2008 The last thing Manuela Canada, 56, wanted to hear from her doctor was that knee problems would mean the end of tennis. Fortunately, "don't do it if it hurts" is last on the list of advice sports-medicine physician John Kearney would give to the Phoenix woman. Nor would he give it to Mike Riggs, 49, of Phoenix, whose pain threatened to keep him off the golf course. "A lot of patients think they have to rest if something hurts," says Kearney, of the CORE Institute (Center for Orthopedic Research and Education) in Sun City. "But often it's just the opposite, even with knee arthritis. The more you exercise -- in the right way -- the better your symptoms become. That's very counterintuitive to most people." With new treatments and new attitudes about remaining active in the face of physical setbacks, staying fit in your 40s and beyond needn't be a pain. Instead of throwing in the towel, you may be able to set things right by easing off a little, modifying routines and practicing preventive measures. That's welcome news for Boomers who exercise to bolster health and slow aging, only to find themselves with joint injuries from their shoulders to their feet. Orthopedic surgeon Nicholas DiNubile of the University of Pennsylvania Health System coined and trademarked the term "boomeritis" when he noted a surge in such injuries in people born between 1946 and 1964. Arlene Polakof, a podiatrist and medical director of specialty care for Cigna Medical Group in Phoenix, says she knows what's behind the surge. She sees it in some of the 40-and-older patients who show up in her office complaining of foot or ankle pain. "People who are no longer very athletic dig an old pair of shoes out of the back of their closet," she says. "The shoes may not fit anymore, or they may be worn out. Then they go out and try to cram several years' worth of athletic activity into a short period of time." The result often can be an ankle sprain, strain or fracture. It also could be plantar fasciitis or a stress fracture in the foot. Kearney commonly treats sedentary Boomers who experience pain during normal activity and active Boomers suffering from overuse of their shoulders and knees. "A lot of them are starting to retire and have newfound freedom to pursue hobbies and passions," he says. "They go from not doing anything to going at warp speed." Canada, who has had mild rheumatoid arthritis for years and has begun showing signs of osteoarthritis, developed a swollen, painful knee after she participated in an intensive tennis clinic recently. She has played the game since she was 34 and dreaded having to give it up. "Playing tennis socially has been the healthiest thing I've done for myself," Canada says. Until pain in his hips and back made taking breaks increasingly necessary, Riggs stayed fit with golf, yard work and fix-it projects. "I push myself," he says. "I don't think of myself as 49, and therefore I tend to do things that are not 49-year-old things." But with physical therapy, Riggs can be a 49-year-old who plays golf pain-free, and Canada can continue playing tennis for years to come on knees that are stronger than ever, Kearney says. Joints work better when the muscles surrounding them are strengthened, he says, and exercise usually is enough to accomplish that. Kearney says treatments such as patches that increase blood flow to the affected tissues and injections that stimulate tissue growth also are helping patients. Brian Gruber, an orthopedic surgeon at the CORE Institute's Paradise Valley clinic, tells patients they don't have to resign themselves to the physical limitations posed by aging. "The tissues start to degenerate a little bit and become maybe a little more susceptible as we age, but an active lifestyle keeps us healthy," he says. From weight management to steroid injections, much can be done to prevent boomeritis and to treat it without surgery, if preventive measures fail, Gruber says. He wouldn't dissuade people from participating in activities they love. "If your quality of life depends on being able to run, then we work with it," Gruber says. "Getting people back to doing what they like to do is important." Christine Keith / Gannett Newspapers Sports-medicine physician John Kearney evalutes patient Mike Riggs at the Center for Orthopedic Research and Education Institute in Sun City, Ariz. With new treatments and new attitudes about remaining active in the face of physical setbacks, staying fit in your 40s and beyond needn't be a pain. http://www.dailyrecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200811040405/LIFE/811040305     http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=19Fri, 12 Dec 2008 18:02:50 GMTMixing work and play, over 120 sports medicine-related professionals participated in a unique lecture format hosted by the Arizona Sports Medicine Society (AZSMS) on September 29th, 2008. The event, held at the Fox Sports Grille in Scottsdale, Arizona, featured a variety of topics related to common football injuries including, concussions, c-spine, shoulder dislocation and vascular complexities of knee injuries. The lecture program commenced with an hour of networking with fellow colleagues and a roster that included athletic trainers, physicians, physical therapists, coaches, medical students and residents. The event later moved to a private room where a packed-house enjoyed four relevant lectures by fellowship-trained surgeons of The CORE Institute, a premier Phoenix-based orthopedic practice and research center. Providing this free educational lecture, CORE Institute Drs. John Kearney, Brian Gruber, Jeffrey Lyman and Jason Scalise focused on recognizing the injuries most common in athletes and provided insight on the best treatments for better outcomes on and off the field. All physicians are contributors of the new nonprofit professional membership organization called AZSMS. Utilizing monthly morning meetings, the organization seeks to foster ongoing education within the sports medicine profession by providing speakers that are the best in their field. Providing complementary CEU and CME credits since its launch in April of 2008, the AZSMS plans to launch membership tiers and two local chapters in 2009. AZSMS was launched with the help of The CORE Institute to promote better understanding throughout the sports medicine community. The CORE Institute was founded in 2005 to fulfill a vision of orthopedic excellence encompassing the entire spectrum of orthopedic sciences. With over 30 physicians on staff, The CORE Institute pioneers orthopedic research and development that advances orthopedic knowledge to combine cutting edge technology and excellence in patient care. All CORE physicians are fellowship- and subspecialty trained and about half are part of the sports medicine program, serving athletes all over the state and around the country, from the little leaguer to the professional athlete. http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=18Fri, 26 Mar 2010 16:52:50 GMT  http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=57Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:24:18 GMTThe CORE Institute has been named a recipient of Arizona Business Magazine’s Fast 15 Award as one of the state’s 15 fastest growing companies. The CORE Institute will be honored at Arizona Business Magazine’s awards ceremony on May 29, 2008 at the Ritz Carlton. Additionally, The CORE Institute will be featured with the fourteen (14) other awardees in the magazine’s June issue. http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=16Mon, 16 Jun 2008 18:25:36 GMT Gilbert gets hip with new options for surgery East Valley TribuneApril 5, 2008 As more medical facilities locate in Gilbert, residents are seeing more health care options, including the most up-to-date procedures in hip replacement surgery. GRAPHIC: Hip resurfacing versus total hip replacement In mid-February, the Core Institute opened its first East Valley branch in a medical office building just outside Mercy Gilbert Medical Center. The institute, which is the largest network of orthopedic doctors and surgeons in the state, provides some of the newest technology available for hip replacements and other orthopedic surgeries aimed at helping patients recover more quickly. Dr. Steven Myerthall, an orthopedic surgeon at the institute, said the office has already gotten busy due to the need for services in the Gilbert area. "It's not only a growing need," he said. "It's a need for orthopedics in the Valley. Lots of people are retiring out here, and there are lots of young families with athletic injuries." A free public seminar is planned at 9 a.m. May 9 to educate the public on new ways to treat hip and other orthopedic injuries. The seminar will focus on computer-assisted technology that helps lead surgeons in such a way to cut minimal muscle and make the surgeries less invasive, and on new technologies that are making the surgery less destructive to bones. Some of the procedures, such as hip resurfacing, have just begun to gain popularity in the United States. The procedure allows younger sufferers of hip disease or injury to have hip replacements that remove less bone, making it easier for patients to recover and have less traumatic follow-up procedures in decades to come as they grow older, he said. In the procedure that has long been popular in the United Kingdom, the femoral head is reshaped and resurfaced, and a new, metal femoral head, which is larger in diameter, reduces the risk of hip displacement that can happen with full hip replacements, Myerthall said. http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=6Mon, 19 May 2008 20:44:38 GMT COYOTES ANNOUNCE 2007-08 TEAM AWARD WINNERS Doan named Team MVP Phoenix Coyotes Thursday, April 3, 2008The Phoenix Coyotes announced the winners of the club's 2007-08 season team awards. Coyotes' captain Shane Doan earned the team MVP Award, the Coyotes’ Leading Scorer Award and the Hardest Working Player Award. Goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov won the 3-Star Award and defenseman Derek Morris won The CORE Institute Man of the Year Award and the inaugural Beth Champie Memorial Award. Doan, in his 12th NHL season (all with the Coyotes/Winnipeg Jets), led all Coyotes players with 28-49-77 in only 77 games to win the team's Leading Scorer Award and Hardest Working Player Award as voted on by fans through PhoenixCoyotes.Com. Doan was also selected as the team MVP by the Coyotes traveling media (The Arizona Republic, East Valley Tribune, and the Coyotes' broadcast team). In addition to leading the Coyotes in goals, assists, and points, Doan became just the third player in franchise history to score at least 20 goals in eight straight seasons. Ilya Bryzgalov earned 35 “3-Star” points throughout the 2007-08 Coyotes regular season to earn the 3-Star Award. Bryzgalov was selected as the game’s 1st star five times this season and recorded career highs in game played, wins and shutouts. Morris earned The CORE Institute Man of the Year Award and Beth Champie Memorial Award by demonstrating dedication, commitment and passion to the community during the 2007-08 season. Morris was the Coyotes' most active player in the community during the season, making numerous appearances to local area schools. He also found time to visit many of the young patients at Phoenix Children's Hospital and Banner Children's Hospital, providing the children with hope and memorable experiences. http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=5Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:21:52 GMT The CORE Institute is proud to announce that William Ciccone, MD was recently named a “Master in Shoulder Arthroscopy” by the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA). With this distinguished ranking, Dr. Ciccone will instruct surgeons and residents in arthroscopic surgical techniques at courses sponsored by the AANA, such as Advanced Shoulder Arthoscopy at the Orthopedic Learning Center in Chicago. Dr. Ciccone will also continue teaching at other national courses alongside nationally recognized shoulder experts.http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=8Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:29:44 GMT Room to grow Daily News-SunMarch 28, 2008 Roskamp partners and the CORE Institute broke ground Thursday morning on a 38,200-square-foot medical facility on the Sun Health Del E. Webb Hospital campus at the corner of Granite Valley Drive and Routzahn Way in Sun City West. The facility will house the CORE Institute's Sun City West practice. Space also will be dedicated to the planned Sun Health Research Institute-CORE Motion Analysis Laboratory and the Sun Health Del E. Webb Hospital Ambulatory Surgery Center. Completion of the facility is slated for October. The Roskamp partners own more than 650,000 square feet of medical office space on Sun Health's Boswell and Del E. Webb Hospital campuses. Through its partnership with Sun Health, the Roskamp partners manage and develop specialized properties designed for medical practices. In addition, the Roskamp partners and Sun Health own and manage senior residential living communities. "We are excited about this opportunity to partner with the Roskamp partners and expand our practice in Sun City West," said Dr. David Jacofsky, chairman of the CORE Institute. "We are looking forward to a new state-of-the-art facility that will allow us to continue our research and education in the field of orthopedics in addition to further meeting the medical needs of Arizona residents." "The development of this new facility in Sun City West represents a strong partnership between two organizations that have focused their efforts on improving the health and lives of Arizona residents in the northwest Valley," said Jane Thompson, representative of the Roskamp partners. Roskamp Arizona Management & Development  asked DevMan Co. to oversee the development and construction of the site. http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=12Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:30:53 GMT Roskamp Partners Team Up with The CORE Institute to Break Ground on State of the Art Medical Facility EVLiving.comMarch 25 , 2008 Sun City West, Arizona – Meeting the medical needs of a growing west Valley, the Roskamp partners and The Center for Orthopedic Research and Education (CORE) Institute will break ground on a new 38,200-square-foot medical facility on Thursday, March 27th at 8:00 AM.This new facility, located on the Sun Health Del E. Webb Hospital Campus at the corner of Granite Valley Drive and Routzahn Way in Sun City West, will be co-owned by the Roskamp partners and The CORE Institute, and will house The CORE Institute’s Sun City West practice. Space also will be dedicated to the planned Sun Health Research Institute-CORE Motion Analysis Laboratory and the Sun Health Del E. Webb Hospital Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC).  The ASC is being planned in association with local surgical partners.The Roskamp partners own more than 650,000 square feet of medical office space on Sun Health’s Boswell and Del E. Webb Hospital campuses. Through its partnership with Sun Health, the Roskamp partners manage and develop specialized properties designed for medical practices. Additionally, the Roskamp partners and Sun Health own and manage senior residential living communities.David Jacofsky, MD, Chairman of The CORE Institute says, “We are excited about this opportunity to partner with the Roskamp partners and expand our practice in Sun City West. We are looking forward to a new state-of-the-art facility that will allow us to continue our research and education in the field of orthopedics in addition to further meeting the medical needs of Arizona residents.”“The development of this new facility in Sun City West represents a strong partnership between two organizations that have focused their efforts on improving the health and lives of Arizona residents in the northwest Valley,” states Jane Thompson, representative of the Roskamp partners.Roskamp Arizona Management & Development has asked DevMan Company to oversee the actual development and construction of the site. Working hand in hand with Southwest Architectural Builders (S.A.B.), DevMan will move toward an estimated completion date of October 2008 for the facility.About The CORE InstituteThe CORE Institute is a private medical practice that specializes in a wide range of orthopedic services including compassionate patient care, research, community service and medical education. Beyond patient care, CORE actively participates in research and medical education.  In just over three years, The CORE Institute has grown from three physicians to more than thirty physicians specializing in orthopedic medicine and delivering state-of-the-art care to “keep life in motion.” Visit CORE online at www.thecoreinstitute.com.About Roskamp Arizona Management & DevelopmentRoskamp Arizona Management & Development provides development and management services to senior residential, commercial medical office buildings and other related projects in the northwest Phoenix area. Roskamp Arizona was established in 2002 and has over 450 employees. It currently manages over 650,000 square feet of medical office space, two continuing care retirement communities (378 units) and has a third continuing care retirement community under construction (358 units). Visit Roskamp online at www.RoskampArizonaRealty.com. http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=13Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:39:19 GMT Rare transplant surgery gives Yuma teen chance to walk ABC 15 NewsMarch 25, 2008 Someone died so she could walk again. Rachel Palombo, 18, of Yuma understands the gravity of her meniscus, or knee cartilage transplant surgery, and she's thankful. "I know that someday my stuff will go to help somebody else, just like me," Rachel said. At an operating room in Paradise Valley Hospital, Rachel's life soon will change, going from struggling to walk to having the hope that one day she'll again walk, run and even dance. "You don't realize how much you do walk, and then when you can't that's really hard," she said. Rachel injured her knee cartilage at age 16 while running cross country for her school, and later, it tore in half while playing softball. She's seen the inside of an operating room three times hoping to fix it. This is the fourth time, and she hopes her last. "It's actually a relief," said her mother KC Hoffman. "It's like a light at the end." Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. Brian Gruber said the surgery is a rare one, but because the menisicus heals poorly, it's one that's necessary. "The meniscus is so important because it serves as a shock absorber to the knee," Gruber said. Gruber and Dr. Jeffrey Lyman spent three hours in surgery working to fix Rachel's knee. The hardest part, Gruber said, was making sure it fit. "You have to cut it down to exact specification of the knee," Gruber said. If Rachel hadn't undergone the transplant, he said, she probably would have been in pain for much of her life and experience early arthritis. http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=14Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:23:17 GMT Matthew Hansen, MD, was published in the February 2008 issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery for his article, Biomechanics of Massive Rotator Cuff Tears--Implications for Treatment. Contributing original artwork to this article is The CORE Institute's own Community Relations Coordinator, Kari Guilbault.http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=9Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:27:45 GMT The CORE Institute is proud to announce that Jason J. Scalise, MD was named the Recipient of the 2007 Cleveland Clinic Innovator Award for his work on the “Use of Virtual Bone Model to Measure Bone Loss and Preoperative Surgical Simulator.” Dr. Scalise utilized a 3-D, computer aided bone modeling technique which allows for the precise measurement of shoulder anatomy and bone loss due to arthritis, as a pre-operative planning tool for people undergoing shoulder replacement surgery.Additionally, Dr. Scalise’s article titled “Glenohumeral Arthrodesis After Failed Prosthetic Shoulder Arthroplasty” was recently published in the January 2008 issue of the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=11Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:24:52 GMT Bryan Wall, MD has been named the winner of "The Mel Post Award for Excellence in Clinical Research" by the American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons (ASES). Dr. Wall's paper, Scapular Notching in Reverse Shoulder Arthroplasty will be presented and recognized during the 6th Biennial AAOS/ASES Meeting, April 3-6, 2008 in Orlando, Florida.http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=10Mon, 23 Jun 2008 22:45:31 GMT Living with steroids' stigma Lifesaving uses of the hormone agents are overshadowed by athlete scandals Jan. 22, 2008 12:00 AMby Connie Midey | The Arizona Republic For every Marion Jones, stripped of her 2000 Olympics medals in track after admitting to steroid use, there are countless people like Jayce Pangilinan whose lives depend on steroids. The doctor-prescribed steroids Pangilinan uses aren't the kind athletes abuse. She takes them not to build muscle but to manage lupus, an incurable autoimmune disease with which she was diagnosed at age 13. "People do (act alarmed) when you say you're taking steroids," the Chandler 17-year-old says. "All they know is the type athletes take. All steroids can have bad side effects, but the type I'm taking save my life, too." OAS_AD('ArticleFlex_1') Her physician, Paul Howard of Arthritis Health in Scottsdale, says patients also are alarmed when he recommends the drugs. "Many have heard steroids are not good things," he says, "but I wouldn't practice rheumatology without them being available for critical situations." Steroids are hormones produced naturally in the body and available in synthetic versions by prescription, he says. They're classified in types that have little in common but a name made infamous by allegations of abuse, most recently in former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell's report, which accused slugger Barry Bonds and almost 80 other baseball players of using steroids to gain an advantage over rivals. Anabolic steroids, the kind the ballplayers are accused of taking, build tissue | from simpler molecules in the body and are used legitimately to treat a handful of uncommon medical conditions. The male sex hormone testosterone is a steroid with anabolic effects, capable of spurring muscle growth. Corticosteroids, produced by the adrenal glands, are catabolic. They break down tissue and serve as potent anti-inflammatory agents, Valley allergy and asthma specialist Duane Wong says. They're the kind Pangilinan takes. When Wong, of Arizona Allergy Associates, prescribes steroids to reduce inflammation in an asthmatic's airways, patients and family members often express confusion. "They think they're going to end up looking like Barry Bonds, with a big head and very muscular," he says. That won't happen with corticosteroids. In fact, he says, "You need a little bit of (natural) steroids in your body every day, or you won't survive." When larger amounts are needed to control the inflammation typical of conditions such as asthma, eczema, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, synthetic corticosteroids sometimes are prescribed. "These are medications we're very, very careful with," Wong says. "But over a short period of time, they can be lifesaving." Taken in high doses, for an extended time or without careful medical monitoring, however, corticosteroids can stunt growth, thin bones and cause cataracts. Side effects are more likely with corticosteroids taken orally, Wong says, because they're absorbed throughout the body, not just in a targeted area as with topical cream, nasal spray, or inhaled or injected forms of the drug. "A lot of people are very steroid-phobic, and rightly so," Wong says. Sharing that concern, doctors typically prescribe corticosteroids as "rescue therapy," in the smallest dose and for the shortest time possible to create the needed effect, rheumatologist Howard says. In breaking down substances in the body, corticosteroids "put the brakes on an overactive immune system," he says. They protect the lungs, heart, kidneys and other parts of the body when excessive inflammation must be controlled quickly or can't be controlled by other means. Howard prescribed the corticosteroid drug prednisone to dampen Pangilinan's immune system and ease her severe fatigue, joint pain and skin rash, decreasing the dosage when her disease went into remission. In lupus, the immune system - unable to tell the difference between foreign substances and its own body - makes antibodies that attack healthy cells and tissues, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. But relief came at a cost in the beginning. "At 13, you're trying to build up your confidence and deal with body-image problems," Pangilinan says. "It doesn't help that your body changes. The prednisone gave me a kind of moon face, and I gained 30 pounds and got stretch marks all over my legs and on my abdomen." The drug also made her shaky and moody, and it stimulated growth of body hair, including on her face. Compounding her insecurities, much of the hair on her head fell out after she had chemotherapy to stop lupus-related kidney inflammation. "At first I was shy about telling people what was happening," she says. "No one (except family) knew why my hair was falling out and I was gaining weight, but it was hard to bring it up in conversation, to just go up to someone and say, 'Oh, hey, I have lupus.' " With anabolic steroids, side effects can be equally devastating, more so when the drugs are obtained illegally and not doctor-supervised for a medical condition. Conditions treated legally with anabolic steroids include delayed puberty, hypogonadism (a condition in which the sex glands produce little or no hormones) and body-wasting in people with AIDS. John Kearney, a sports-medicine physician with CORE Institute (Center for Orthopedic Research and Education), with offices Valley-wide, says heart problems are the most serious of anabolic steroids' documented ill effects. But if he wants to get teenage boys' attention, he reminds them that taking the drugs to bulk up for sports will make their testicles shrink, cause depression and mood swings, spoil their social life and impair their school performance. In teen girls and women, anabolic steroids also can disrupt menstrual cycles, deepen the voice, promote facial-hair growth similar to men's and cause male-pattern baldness. "We know the dangers in kids," says Kearney, on the medical staff at Sun Health Boswell Hospital in Sun City and the faculty at Phoenix Baptist Hospital. "But when you talk with them, you have to talk about instant gratification." Synthetic anabolic steroids mimic the muscle-building ability of testosterone produced naturally in the testicles, he says. But they also affect the brain and perhaps every system in the body, disrupting natural checks and balances. "If you tilt that too far to suit your needs," Kearney says, "you can get really bad results, just because your body doesn't know how to react. With so many long-term health effects, the trade-off isn't worth it." For Pangilinan, there isn't a choice, at least until researchers find an equally effective alternative to the steroids she takes by prescription. She looks forward to that day. The medicine that controls her lupus also makes her susceptible to a long list of ills, including infection, thinning of the skin, depression, salt retention, high blood pressure and muscle weakness. So participating on cheer squad, strenuous and with outdoor practices, is out. And pool parties are decidedly less fun now, covered as she must be in SPF-50 sunscreen, a long-sleeve shirt and long pants in 100-degree weather. But corticosteroids keep her alive, and knowing that makes it a little easier to swallow the prednisone, plus the blood-pressure medicine, immunosuppressants, vitamins and minerals, 16 pills in all, that she takes every day. They make it possible for her to get out of bed every morning, take honors classes at Basha High School, work part time at In-N-Out Burger and volunteer at Mercy Gilbert Medical Center with pain and fatigue in check. "When everything's under control," Pangilinan says, "I try to take advantage of that and make good use of the time, instead of sitting around. I believe I'm blessed. There are times when you just want to be normal, but having lupus makes me appreciate when I'm healthy enough to do what I want to do." http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=15Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:38:49 GMT Gentag, Inc. and the CORE Institute® Sign Agreement to Develop RFID Diagnostic SensorsWASHINGTON and SUN CITY WEST, Ariz., May 16 / -- Gentag, Inc. and The CORE Institute® are pleased to announce a joint collaborative effort to develop and market RFID Skin Patches for Medical Applications in the area of Orthopedics.The aim of the joint program is to facilitate post surgery monitoring applications by physicians and patients using RFID enabled cell phones under Gentag, Altivera and CORE patents. Specifically, physicians will be able to monitor the status of damaged tissues using temperature, pressure, and other sensors. Additionally, patients will be able to self-monitor their recovery from the comfort of their own homes. The technology platform uses RFID enabled cell phones, PDAs or wireless laptops that allow remote monitoring by physicians and hospitals, particularly during the critical first 24 hours post injury or surgery."We believe that cell phones are the ideal tools to enable consumer-based diagnostics and that The CORE Institute® has identified a unique market to illustrate how low cost RFID technologies combined with cell phones can save costs in medicine," announced Dr. John Peeters the founder of Gentag. "We are very pleased to have signed this agreement and look forward to working with CORE and their partners.""The CORE Institute® believes that this new technology platform will not only decrease the cost of health care delivery, but more importantly will markedly improve patient safety and outcomes due to earlier and more accurate diagnosis of changes in a patient's condition."Gentag, Inc. and Altivera, LLC are IP and technology development companies focusing on the development of innovative, low cost wireless technologies to improve health worldwide. The company owns unique intellectual property relating to cell phone sensor combinations and wireless sensor networks.The CORE Institute® is a private medical practice with offices throughout Arizona providing a wide range of orthopedic services including patient care, research, community service and medical education. Their clinical and research team is dedicated to pioneering research that expands orthopedic knowledge and continues to deliver state-of-the-art care.For more information, visit www.thecoreinstitute.com/ and www.gentag.com/ http://www.thecoreinstitute.com/Newsroom?id=17