New radiation therapy

New radiation therapy
YOUNGSTOWN -- St. Elizabeth Health Center's Radiation Oncology Department offers a new specialized radiation treatment technique -- intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) -- that delivers a high-dose radiation beam to a defined target, such as a tumor, while limiting the damage to surrounding tissue.
Advantages of IMRT include: improved tumor control while minimizing complications; ability of patients with re-occurrence of previously radiated tumors to be more safely treated again; and ability of patients not previously candidates for radiation treatment because of tumor location to be treated.
Lectures on sexuality
YOUNGSTOWN -- Author and physician Leonard Shlain will lecture on his books, "Sex, Time and Power: How Women's Sexuality Shaped the Course of Human Evolution" and "Alphabet vs. Goddess," on Dec. 18 and 19 respectively. Both lectures are free and open to the public.
The Dec. 18 event is at 5:30 p.m. in the Chestnut Room of Kilcawley Center at Youngstown State University. Registration is at 5 p.m.
The Dec. 19 lecture is at noon at the Butler Institute of American Art, 524 Wick Ave. Guests may bring their own lunch or call (330) 746-2787 to make a lunch reservation with Winslow's Cafe for $8.
The lectures are sponsored by the professional staff of Forum Health, the Arts Council of the Mahoning Valley and YSU.
'Diet and Your Arthritis'
The Arthritis Foundation, Northeastern Ohio Chapter, offers a free brochure, "Diet and Your Arthritis."
According to the foundation, because there are more than 100 types of arthritis and related diseases, no single diet will help everyone. However, doctors recommend following a diet based on variety, balance and moderation.
The brochure is available by calling toll-free (800) 245-2275.
$4.7M grant for new drug
Researchers from Cleveland's Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and University Hospitals of Cleveland have received a $4.7 million grant from the National Eye Institute to develop in five years a drug ready for human clinical trials to treat myasthenia gravis.
MG is an auto-immune disease that weakens muscles, affects vision and can put patients on artificial ventilation.
In auto-immune diseases, the immune system malfunctions and mistakes a part of the body as foreign and attacks it.
Among the unique features of this research project is that it will be the first to comprehensively investigate eye-muscle involvement in the disease.
Vascular screenings
Life Line Screening will offer health screenings Dec. 3 at Christ Episcopal Church, 2627 Atlantic St. N.E., Warren, and on Dec. 18 at Cortland First Church of God, 541 South High St.
A complete vascular screening package, including testing for the stroke/carotid artery, for abdominal aortic aneurysm, and for hardening of the arteries, is $99. If osteoporosis screening is included, the package costs $125.
To schedule an appointment, call (800) 643-6188. Pre-registration is required. Appointments begin at 9 a.m.
Speech, hearing clinic
LISBON -- The Columbiana County Health Department will offer a free speech and hearing clinic Dec. 2 at 7360 state Route 45 for county residents ages birth to 21.
Children may be referred to the clinic by a family physician, speech and hearing therapist, school nurse, public health nurse, parent or grandparent.
Call (330) 424-0272 for an appointment.