Grant received to support research

Grant received to support research

YOUNGSTOWN

Sight for All United, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, has received a $15,000 grant for over the next three years from Mercy Health Foundation Mahoning Valley through the Polena Trust. The money will support research including the collection of data on clients in need of vision services and to identify the demographics of individuals who need vision services, but who cannot afford to pay for services.

Mercy Health Youngstown and Sight for All United are dedicated to a mission that includes providing care for the poor and underserved by increasing access to vision services by decreasing financial barriers.

Sight for All United is supported by more than 40 Doctors for Sight, and was founded by Dr. Sergul Erzurum and Karen Segesto in August 2016. For information, visit www.sightforallunited.com or call 330-779-8045.

Regulation on ginseng

COLUMBUS

American ginseng hunters are reminded by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) that uncertified root may not be possessed after March 31 without a weight receipt. Anyone planning to keep uncertified ginseng beyond the deadline must schedule an appointment to get it weighed and documented.

Ginseng is a slow-growing perennial herb that is highly valued in the United States and worldwide for its alleged medicinal traits. Due to its value and significant harvest pressure, regulation on both harvest and export are necessary to ensure survival of the species, according to ODNR.

In Ohio, the harvest season for ginseng runs from Sept. 1 to Dec. 31 each year. All harvested ginseng must be certified by the ODNR Division of Wildlife prior to export from the state to verify its weight and legal origin. Federal law requires that all state lots of ginseng be separated and totaled by the year. Because of this, all uncertified ginseng must be weighed and accounted for each year.

Appointments for weight receipts are available for the first and third Wednesdays in March at designated locations. Call 614-265-6325 614-265-6860 for information. The ODNR requests that these appointments be scheduled at least three business days in advance to ensure that staff members are available.

Additional information about American ginseng and harvest regulations can be found in the publication “Ohio’s Green Gold” available on wildohio.gov.

Dr. Madhura Phadke

AKRON

Dr. Madhura Phadke, M.D., who recently completed her fellowship in pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition at the Yale University School of Medicine, has joined Akron Children’s Hospital as a pediatric gastroenterologist.

After graduating from the St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada, West Indies, Phadke completed her residency in pediatrics at Maimonides Medical Center/Children’s Hospital of Brooklyn. She resides in Hudson with her family.

Nicotine trial treatment for sarcoidosis

COLUMBUS

Lung experts at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center are testing whether nicotine can help people with a chronic inflammatory lung disease called sarcoidosis.

“It’s tricky because it mimics other diseases and is frequently misdiagnosed. Sarcoidosis can look like lung nodules, pneumonia, scar tissue, even lung cancer. It can involve other vital organs, and it differs from one person to the next,” said Dr. Elliott Crouser, a pulmonologist specializing in sarcoidosis, who is leading a clinical trial to test nicotine patches, normally used to help people stop smoking, as a potential treatment for sarcoidosis. To learn if one is eligible for the trial, visit https://studysearch.osumc.edu/studies/1658.