Diabetes workshop

Diabetes workshop

YOUNGSTOWN

Mercy Health Youngstown, formerly Humility of Mary Health Partners, is offering three-day diabetes education workshops at St. Elizabeth Youngstown and St. Joseph Warren hospitals today, Wednesday and Thursday.

The course is from 9 to 11:30 a.m. each day in the diabetes classroom at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, Belmont Avenue, and from 6 to 8:30 p.m. each day in Classroom No. 1 at St. Joseph Warren Hospital, Eastland Avenue.

Registration is required. Call 330-480-2676.

The classes will be repeated Feb. 17, 18 and 19 at St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital and at Hospice House in Boardman.

These classes provide participants with the knowledge they need to manage their diabetes and avoid the long-term complications the disease can cause,” says Kay Leonhart, manager, diabetes education, Mercy Health Youngstown.

Donated transplant tissue life doubles

COLUMBIA, Mo.

The University of Missouri School of Medicine researchers have developed a new technology that more than doubles the life of the tissue donated for use in joint replacements. At present, more than 80 percent of the donated tissue is thrown away because it does not survive long enough to be transplanted.

The technology, called the Missouri Osteochondral Allograft Preservation System (MOPS), more than doubles the storage life of bone and cartilage grafts from organ donors compared to the current preservation method used by tissue banks, said James Stannard, coauthor of the study, and J. Vernon Luck Sr, distinguished professor of orthopaedic surgery at the MU School of Medicine.

The benefit to patients is that more graft material will be available, and it will be of better quality and enable surgeons to provide a more natural joint repair option for patients.

In traditional preservation methods, donated tissues are stored within a medical-grade refrigeration unit in sealed bags filled with a standard preservation solution. MOPS utilizes a newly developed preservation solution and special containers designed by the MU research team that allows the tissues to be stored at room temperature.

Cancer stories needed to share with officials

COLUMBUS

Ohio residents are urged to bring their personal cancer stories to the 2015 American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Day at the State Capitol on March 19 to share with elected officials.

The ACS says state leaders must hear these stories so they can take appropriate action on cancer-related issues and programs. To register, go to acscan.org/2015OHLobbyDay.

Alzheimer’s program

WARREN

The Alzheimer’s Association Greater East Ohio Area Chapter is offering a “Living with Alzheimer’s” program that meets once a month for five sessions at the Warren SCOPE Center, 220 W. Market St., beginning Feb. 23.

The program, designed to address the needs of people in the early stages of memory loss and their care partners, provides participants information on what they need to know and how to plan to meet the challenges of this journey in their lives.

The topics that will be presented in these sessions include: understanding Alzheimer’s disease and memory loss; effective communication and telling others about the diagnosis; coping with changes and making health and legal decisions; daily strategies and safety issues and resources for individuals with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.

Prior to attending, participants and their caregivers must register by calling 1-800-272-3900. The program is free to participants.