West Newsmagazine 8-4-21

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40 I HEALTH I August 4, 2021 WEST NEWSMAGAZINE @WESTNEWSMAG WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM The Experts in Finding the Right Senior Living Community, For FREE! Sharon Balleau Senior Care Advisor Transitions For Senior Living has done the legwork of local Assisted, Skilled Nursing and Independent Living Communities, and can simplify your search. We understand the differences in care levels and take the time to explain those differences; so you can make the best decision. We personally evaluate your physical, cognitive and social care needs, narrow down your choices to the best 3 to 5 options and accompany you on tours of communities...Completely Free Of Charge! Whether you are in a crisis or planning ahead, give us a call. We are a local, family-owned service. Personalized Service, because every situation is unique! (314) 606-8531 | www.STLsenior.com A majority of young couples today may start out as platonic friends, according to a recent survey. (Source: Adobe Stock) health capsules By LISA RUSSELL What if your face mask could detect COVID-19? Many health experts have warned that COVID-19 will likely become a seasonal illness in the future, much like the common cold or influenza. For people who opt to wear face masks during these outbreaks, a new technology developed by scientists at Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology could take the protection masks offer to a new level. Their cooperating research teams have developed wearable biosensors that can detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2. They have created face masks that incorporate this technology to detect the virus in the breath of people wearing them – by simply pressing a button on these masks, people wearing them can receive results within 90 minutes. The team had already been working for several years on wearable biosensors that could be embedded into fabrics, for the purpose of alerting people to the presence of various toxins or pathogens. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit; and they quickly changed gears in early 2020 to develop a face mask that could use this new technology to spot the virus. “We have essentially shrunk an entire diagnostic laboratory down into a small, synthetic biology-based sensor that works with any face mask, and combines the high accuracy of PCR tests with the speed and low cost of antigen tests,” said first author Peter Nguyen, Ph.D., of Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering. “In addition to face masks, our programmable biosensors can be integrated into other garments to provide onthe-go detection of dangerous substances including viruses, bacteria, toxins, and chemical agents.” The researchers have applied for a patent on the technology, and are hoping to work with a partner company to further develop it, he said. The face mask will likely be its first application to become widely available. The Harvard/MIT team’s achievement was recently reported in Nature Biotechnology. For most couples, friendship now precedes romantic spark Contrary to the instant intensity of most movie relationships – where the stars’ eyes meet and they immediately fall head over heels – the majority of today’s young couples don’t actually fall in love soon after meeting as strangers. Instead, about twothirds of romances among young adults start out as longer-term platonic friendships, according to a recent study by Canadian researchers. In their survey of about 1,900 college students and other young adults, 68% reported that their current or most recent romantic relationship began as a friendship, and that the couple had generally been friends for one to two years before their romance blossomed. The majority of respondents also said they had no intentions of romance when they initially became friends with their partner. There was little variation in these responses when analyzed by gender, education level or ethnic group. Nearly half of the participating college students said that starting out as friends was their preferred way to find a romantic partner, rather than meeting someone at a party or through an online dating site. According to the study’s lead author Danu Anthony Stinson, a psychology professor at the University of Victoria, this “friends-first” route to romance has been largely overlooked in past research. She said only 8% of previous studies on the origins of relationships have focused on their development from friendships over time. While most people may believe that friendships and romantic partnerships are two completely different things, the lines between the two are more blurred than most people think, Stinson said. “We might have a good understanding of how strangers become attracted to each other and start dating, but that’s simply not how most relationships begin.” The study was recently published in Social Psychological and Personality Science. Weight loss supplements don’t work as advertised, research finds In the U.S., total consumer spending on over-the-counter weight loss supplements was estimated at $6.5 billion in 2020 alone – but Americans didn’t see significant results in return for this huge investment, according to a new study published in Obesity. Researchers at the University of North Carolina recently reviewed a total of 315 randomized clinical trials of weight loss products, with the goal of evaluating their effectiveness. They determined that 52 of those studies were unbiased enough to be considered for analysis. Of these, 16 of the products studied demonstrated significant reductions in weight for people using them, compared with a placebo. The average weight loss they achieved ranged from about 1 pound to 11 pounds. Literally hundreds of weight loss supplements are currently available over the counter and online – and nearly 35% of Americans trying to lose weight have tried one or more of them, statistics show. Only one over-the-counter supplement, Orlistat (sold under the brand name alli®) is currently approved by the FDA. The billions of dollars Americans spend on weight loss supplements annually may not produce the results they advertise. (Source: Adobe Stock) “Our findings are important for clinicians, researchers, and industry alike as they suggest the need for rigorous evaluation of products for weight loss,” said corresponding author John Batsis, M.D., an associate professor UNC’s School of Medicine. “Only then can we produce data that allows clinicians to provide input and advice with a higher degree of certainty to our patients.” Batsis suggested that the supplement industry and academic researchers should work together to design high-quality, unbiased clinical trials of over-the-counter weight loss products.
FACEBOOK.COM/WESTNEWSMAGAZINE WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM On-the-spot infection diagnosis one step closer to reality What if you could visit your doctor with symptoms of an illness and leave with a confirmed diagnosis within the hour… no lab testing required? That possibility may soon become reality thanks to a new technology developed by researchers at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada. Engineering, biochemistry and medical scientists at the university recently worked together to create a small handheld device that can analyze samples for bacterial infections and produce accurate results in under an hour, without the need to send those samples to a lab – a process that now often takes several days. The device, which looks similar to a blood glucose monitor and is about the size of a USB stick, uses DNA-based technology to analyze tiny amounts of fluids such as blood, urine or saliva. It then can be plugged into a smartphone, which displays the bacterial result. Importantly, the device can also distinguish between different strains of the same bacteria, and can identify those that can be treated with current antibiotics along with others that have become antibioticresistant. The researchers are now adapting the testing to detect other forms of bacteria as well as viruses – including COVID-19 – saying they are “very close” to developing that capability. Future plans include testing its viability for detecting signs of cancer. “It’s going to mean that patients can get better treatment, faster results and avoid serious complications. It can also avoid the unnecessary use of antibiotics, which is something that can buy us time in the battle against antimicrobial resistance,” said Leyla Soleymani, a study co-author and an associate professor of engineering physics at McMaster. She added that the ability to provide immediate results to patients can reduce the spread of infection and improve patients’ quality of life, while saving time and reducing tasks for busy healthcare workers. On the calendar BJC St. Louis Children’s Hospital offers a Young Athlete Center Bridge Program every Tuesday and Thursday evening in August from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Children’s Specialty Care Center, 13001 N. Outer Forty Road in Town & Country. This workout class is led by expert physical therapists and athletic trainers. The fee is $25 per child. Register online for the session(s) of your choice at classes-events.bjc.org. • • • BJC sponsors a Family and Friends CPR course on Wednesday, Aug. 18 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. This virtual class, offered via Teams Meeting, uses the American Heart Association curriculum to teach hands-on CPR skills. Registration for a seat in this class is for two people. Each participating household will receive a CPR kit prior to the course date with infant and adult-size mannequins, class materials and a DVD for ongoing reference and practice (course does not include certification upon completion). The cost is $50. Register online by visiting classes-events.bjc.org. • • • St. Luke’s Hospital presents Weight Loss Surgery: Transform Your Life, Restore Your Health on Thursday, Aug. 19 from 6-7 p.m., live via WebEx. During this free online seminar, a St. Luke’s surgeon will discuss and answer your questions about the weight loss procedures offered at MyNewSelf Bariatrics at St. Luke’s Des Peres Hospital. Register at stlukes-stl.com; for more information, call (314) 966-9639. • • • Staying Home Alone, sponsored by BJC, is on Tuesday, Sept. 7 from 6:30-8 p.m. This class, presented online via Teams Meeting, will help prepare the parent(s), child and family for times when children will be home alone. The cost is $25 per family. To register, call (314) 454-5437. August 4, 2021 WEST NEWSMAGAZINE I HEALTH I 41 KIDNEY NEEDED!! Hi, everyone! My name is Rena and I live in the St. Charles County area. My dad has a rare condition called Fibrillary Glomerulonephritis, which has led to kidney failure. His kidney functions are at 9% and he is on a transplant list at BJC Hospital with a wait of at least two years or more for a donor. Unfortunately, my family and I are not a match for him. My dad is a father to six kids and his life has changed dramatically due to his condition. I know donating an organ is an enormous decision to make, but a kidney transplant is the only way he would get to live a longer, happier life. We would be forever grateful! If you or someone you know would be interested in donating, please call me at 636-578-5684 email: alierena700@gmail.com • Must have blood type O/ if blood type not compatible please consider doing a paired exchange donation • 18 years or older • No kidney stones, high blood pressure or diabetes • My father's insurance covers the cost of surgery and testing • Donors can resume normal activity approximately 2 weeks after donation CITY ORDINANCE COMPLIANCE City of Twin Oaks, Missouri With respect to the City’s Code Section 110.100, requiring semiannual compilation and disclosure of revenues, expenditures and indebtedness, with respect to the City of Twin Oaks, Missouri, I make the following report to you. Consolidated revenues and expenditures of the City of Twin Oaks, Missouri for the Six Months Ended June 30, 2021 were approximately $597,000 and $551,000, respectively, resulting in a net excess of revenues over expenses and an increase in fund balance of about $46,000. The City’s non-trade, secured and appropriated indebtedness as of this date was about $1,261,000. Additional financial information may be obtained from the City’s website, http://www.cityoftwinoaks.org. In accordance with the ordinance, please cause this information to be published in a newspaper serving the City at the earliest date possible. In addition, please submit this report to the City’s Board of Aldermen at its next regularly scheduled meeting for inclusion in its packet.
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West Newsmagazine 8-4-21

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