Slow walking speed linked with premature death in kidney disease patients

Apr. 18, 2013 ? Kidney disease patients who have slower walking speed on physical performance tests seem to be more burdened by their disease than patients who perform well on lower extremity physical performance tests, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN). The findings indicate that measuring lower extremity physical performance may capture a complex set of skeletal muscle and neurologic impairments that develop in CKD patients and substantially affect their survival.

Individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have increased risks of becoming frail or disabled -- somewhat like the elderly -- and of dying from heart-related problems. Physical performance tests are often used to assess frailty and overall health in the elderly, but little is known about whether physical performance might be used to identify younger CKD patients at high risk of dying prematurely.

To study the issue, Baback Roshanravan, MD MS (Kidney Research Institute, Division of Nephrology at the University of Washington) and his colleagues followed 385 patients with CKD without a history of stroke or disability and with an average age of 61 years. The researchers compared handgrip strength, usual walking speed, six-minute walking distance, and timed up and go (the time that a person takes to rise from a chair, walk four meters, turn around, walk back to the chair, and sit down).

Among the major findings during the average three-year follow-up period: ? Measures of lower extremity performance were at least 30% lower than predicted, but handgrip strength was relatively preserved. ? Each 0.1-meter per second slower walking speed was linked with a 26% higher risk for death over an average three-year follow-up period, and each one-second longer timed up and go was linked with an 8% higher risk for death. ? Walking speed and timed up and go more strongly predicted three-year mortality than kidney function or common blood tests. ? Adding walking speed to common laboratory tests of kidney function significantly improved the prediction of three-year mortality.

The results indicate that impaired physical performance of the lower extremities is common in CKD and is strongly linked with premature death. "Our findings suggest that lower extremity physical performance testing in chronic kidney disease patients may help identify those individuals who are more burdened by their chronic kidney disease," said Dr. Roshanravan.

"Further studies will be necessary to examine the causal factors that are responsible for these findings," wrote Joel Kopple, MD (UCLA and the Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute) in an accompanying editorial. "Given the current high interest in the problem of frailty in CKD patients, it can be anticipated that much new information," he added.

Study co-authors include Cassianne Robinson-Cohen, PhD, Kushang Patel, PhD, Ernest Ayers, Alyson Littman, PhD, Ian de Boer, MD, T. Alp Ikizler, MD, Jonathan Himmelfarb, MD, Leslie Katzel, MD, PhD, Bryan Kestenbaum, MD, and Stephen Seliger, MD.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by American Society of Nephrology (ASN), via Newswise.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Baback Roshanravan et al. Association between Physical Performance and All-Cause Mortality in CKD. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, April 18, 2013 DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2012070702

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/sj8kwNTlIAQ/130418213925.htm

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3 Problems Home Sellers Should Watch Out For - RealEstate.com

Selling a home is hard enough without allowing problem areas to decrease the chance that a house will sell at a decent price. There are always the obvious problems: broken windows, knee-high grass, and missing shingles on the roof. These can be easy fixes. It?s the problems that are not easily identified by the homeowner that should cause concern.

Unpleasant Smells

The stench of urine, cigarettes and pets can drive people away. Some smells are so bad that the unaccustomed person can?t even stand to be in the room for a short period of time. The chances of a potential buyer being able to browse the house comfortably while imagining their family enjoying the home are slim when dealing with a foul stench.

Pfizer Canada found that the lingering odor of cigarettes can decrease a home?s resale value up to 29 percent!

The home seller should be proactive and try to identify whether they have an odor problem. Enlist a friend to visit your house and sniff around for uncomfortable smells because?studies have shown?that you can?t trust your own nose to be objective.

Once the problem areas have been identified start deodorizing the house.

Any one of these methods can be used to remove odors:

• Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet, and allow the baking soda to sit for about 12 hours.
• Clean the carpet with a solution of vinegar and water or a special deodorizing solution that can be found at a local supermarket.
• Deep clean the carpet with a steam cleaner. Steam cleaners can be rented.
• Remove smelly curtains and furniture from the house.
• Last ditch effort: Replace smelly carpet and floor padding in the affected room.

Crazy Colors and Unwanted Paint Bases

Especially if you are trying to sell an older home, you should be aware that the paint on the walls might not entice the buyer. Obviously horrible paint colors are easy enough fixes. Just repaint. Make sure you clean and sand the wall and paint on a primer coat if the previous color was dark.

If the house is older, you should be sure that the current paint job did not use lead-based paint. Lead-based paint is very dangerous and needs to be removed from the house by trained professionals. Be aware that if you decide not to remove lead-based paint that you are obligated by law to tell all potential buyers that a toxic substance was used on the walls. Because this issue has very significant health risks, selling the house with lead-based paint on the walls could significantly decrease the potential house value.

You must complete one of the following before selling your home if it has lead-based paint in it:

• Repaint if the previous paint is not lead-based.
• Hire professionals to remove the lead-based paint before repainting.
• List the house as having lead-based paint.

Unwelcome Critters

Whether it?s a pet or a squirrel that has taken residence in your house, it should be removed before buyers view the house. If potential buyers hear animals running through the walls or under the floorboards, it could lower what they are willing to pay. Even if you think it?s charming to have houseguests, you should see to their removal.

If you think you might have a rodent problem, you can set some traps and set out cameras to tape the traps and problem areas. Even if they don?t trigger the traps, you will at least be aware that you?re suspicions are correct.

Once the rodent problem has been identified, remove the animal. You could decide to play dumb and pretend that there is no problem, but there is always the chance that the animals will decide to be active when a buyer views the house.

Rodents can be removed by:

• Calling a company that specializes in removing them.
• Setting out traps and then releasing them at a distant location.

If the problem is too bad, you might be tempted to put out poisoned food to remove rodents. While I disagree with this method, people who can?t see any other way should check the animal safety laws before taking extreme measures against a wild animal. Some animals are protected by law, and you could be fined if you kill one.

When it comes to the problems discussed above, do what you can to remove any issues. Be aware that these problems can negatively affect how fast and for how much a house can be sold. Remember to identify, clean, remove, and replace as you prepare to sell your house.

This guest post was written by Wade Myer. He was trained as a contractor by his father and currently writes on behalf of Steiner Homes Ltd., a Northwest Indiana company that builds Valparaiso custom homes.

Tagged as: deoderizing, home seller, house problems, lead-based paint, real estate, rodent, urine

Source: http://www.realestate.com/advice/3-problems-home-sellers-should-watch-out-for-18585/

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Second Boston Marathon bombing victim identified as 29-year-old woman

By M. Alex Johnson and Bill Dedman, NBC News

Family photo via Facebook

Krystle Marie Campbell in an undated photo.

A father's relief turned to despair through a misidentification of his daughter, who he was led to believe had survived Monday's bombings at the Boston Marathon even though she had died.

The woman, Krystle Marie Campbell, 29, a restaurant manager originally from Medford, Mass., died as a result of the explosions at the race Monday afternoon, her father, William Campbell, told NBC News on Tuesday.

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Heartbreakingly, Campbell said he was first told by doctors that his daughter was alive and was in surgery. But when he was taken in to see her, the patient wasn't Krystle.

A police detective helped Campbell find out what was happening; it was only then that he learned that Krystle was dead.

Patty Campbell, Krystle's mother, made a tearful statement to the media from the front porch of the family's white wood-frame two-family home in Medford. Campbell, a food service worker at Harvard Business School, had just returned from identifying her daughter's body.

"We are heartbroken at the death of our daughter, Krystle Marie," Patty Campbell said. "She was a wonderful person. Everyone who knew her loved her. She was a sweet kid and friendly, always smiling. She worked so hard at everything she did."

She broke down, saying: "She loved her dog. She was funny. She was the best daughter you could ask for. It doesn't make any sense."

Krystle Campbell's mother, Patty, talks to reporters, NBC's Lester Holt reports.

Medford Mayor Michael McGlynn said the Campbells were "devastated" by the misidentification.

Krystle was "the daughter that every father dreamed of having," McGlynn told NBC station WHDH of Boston. She "loved life, (was) very energetic and had a big smile."

"To find out that one of the victims was a graduate of Medford High who lives right down the street here from City Hall makes it even that much tougher, even though yesterday we thought it couldn't get any tougher," he said.

Campbell and his wife, Patty, a food services worker at the Harvard Business School, were in Boston on Tuesday to view Krystle's body. Beforehand, William Campbell told Yahoo News that his daughter had been waiting at the finish line for a friend, who was running the race, when the bombs went off.

"My daughter was the most lovable girl," he said. "She helped everybody, and I'm just so shocked right now. We're just devastated."

Campbell is the second victim of Monday's bombing whose identity has been confirmed.

Martin Richard, 8, of Dorchester, Mass., was identified late Monday. The third victim was a student at Boston University, the university said in a statement Tuesday evening, which said the student wasn't being identified pending notification of his or her family.

Nick Miminos, director of operations at Jimmy's Steer House in Arlington, said Campbell had worked at the restaurant for the last three months as a manager.

"You didn't have to know her a long time," Miminos told Arlington Patch. "You'd like her immediately."

"It's a big loss to the company," Miminos said. "Our hearts go out to her family, and we'll miss her."

Brian Cohen of NBC News contributed to this report.

Watch the top videos on NBCNews.com

Charles Krupa / AP

See images from the scene of the explosions.

This story was originally published on Tue Apr 16, 2013 7:42 PM EDT

Source: http://feeds.nbcnews.com/c/35002/f/653381/s/2acb2be6/l/0Lusnews0Bnbcnews0N0C0Inews0C20A130C0A40C160C177812620Esecond0Eboston0Emarathon0Ebombing0Evictim0Eidentified0Eas0E290Eyear0Eold0Ewoman0Dlite/story01.htm

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Circle of Six aims to stop rape

A phone app that quickly alerts six friends if a woman feels threatened is expanding from the US to New Delhi and possibly Mexico City.

By Rosie Spinks,?Dowser.org / April 17, 2013

Demonstrators shout slogans as a man takes pictures with his mobile phone during a protest near India's parliament in New Delhi in February. The protests followed the gang rape of a female student that shook the nation in December. A phone app, Circle of Six, that summons quick help for women in threatening situations, is coming to New Delhi.

Adnan Abidi/Reuters/File

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When Vice President Joe Biden?a longtime opponent of violence against women?announced the Apps Against Abuse technology challenge in 2011, Brooklyn, N.Y.,-based filmmaker and activist Nancy Schwartzman knew she had to respond.

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Dowser.org reports on the practical and human elements of social innovation, highlighting creative approaches to social change to help people understand how to build better communities and a better world.

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Never mind that she had never created an app or written a line of code in her life; a firmly held passion for reversing rape culture and the fact that 19 percent of university-age females report sexual assault was motivation enough.

The Circle of Six app invites users to designate six friends as their ?circle? of people from whom they can seek help when in trouble. With one tap, users can send a text requesting to be picked up (complete with a GPS tag), ask to be interrupted with a phone call, or say they need to talk about issues of abuse in their relationship. It also provides external hotlines and resources for those experiencing or wanting to stop abuse.

When the team?s creation originally won the White House challenge, it was intended for college-aged females in the United States. But when the Indian press devoted significant coverage to the app in the midst of a brutal gang rape of a 20-year- old New Delhi woman, Schwartzman noticed Indian downloads went from a few hundred to several thousand.

With India?s terrible record of addressing sexual assault?in 2012, 600 reported rapes in New Delhi alone resulted in only one conviction?Schwartzman saw an opportunity to adapt the app for a specific audience.

Thus, nearly a year after the app?s official launch and in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in the US, the Circle of Six app has launched a New Delhi-specific version. The localized version is translated into Hindi and provides local hotlines and resources for users to reach with one tap. Schwartzman is also in talks with Mexican health officials to launch a localized version in Mexico City.

The design and utility of the app is meant to challenge some commonly misheld notions about rape and violence, such as the idea that "stranger danger"?or rape by an unknown individual?is the main threat.

?I was always really looking at sexual assault between people that know each other?at work places, dorm rooms, spring break.These are gray-area experiences that are certainly violating to women, but not treated that way by the courts or the media.?

The app?which now has 55,000 downloads in 26 countries?is designed to give women an ?out? when they are in an environment where sexual advances may be socially acceptable (while at a house party or working at a bar, for example) but can still feel uncomfortable or threatening.

Instead of wondering ?What do I do? Who do I call? Where am I? Should I walk home?? the app takes those variables out of the scenario and embeds them in one?s phone. Females aren?t then forced to wonder ?who will come pick me up at 4 a.m.?? because they?ve already asked friends ahead of time to be part of their ?circle.?

Even though her app mostly addresses issues relating to acquaintance rape, Schwartzman believes that all forms of violence and harassment against women are related and thus the solution must be holistic?and most importantly, it must include men.

?The fact that it?s just a given that any urban park will empty out at dusk of women?and that if you don?t accept that as a woman you?re ?asking for it??is insane,? she said. ?Circle of Six gives men the opportunity to be accountable to someone by being part of their circle, to help to stem the tide of rape culture, and to call out bad behavior when they see it.?

? This article originally appeared at Dowser.org.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/kjUlV4a_hbk/Circle-of-Six-aims-to-stop-rape

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Where Boston marathon runners were when the bombs exploded

Apr 15 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013 PGATour on Monday (U.S. unless stated): 1. Tiger Woods $4,139,600 2. Brandt Snedeker $3,137,920 3. Matt Kuchar $2,442,389 4. Adam Scott (Australia) $2,100,469 5. Steve Stricker $1,935,340 6. Phil Mickelson $1,764,680 7. Dustin Johnson $1,748,907 8. Jason Day $1,659,565 9. Hunter Mahan $1,553,965 10. Keegan Bradley $1,430,347 11. Charles Howell III $1,393,806 12. John Merrick $1,375,757 13. Russell Henley $1,331,434 14. Michael Thompson $1,310,709 15. Kevin Streelman $1,310,343 16. Bill Haas $1,271,553 17. Billy Horschel $1,254,224 18. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/interactive-where-boston-marathon-entrant-bombs-went-off-160908530.html

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Frank Bank aka Lumpy Rutherford On ?Leave It To Beaver? Dies

Frank Bank aka Lumpy Rutherford On “Leave It To Beaver” Dies

Actor Frank Bank, who played the role of the chubby bully “Lumpy” Rutherford on the popular television series “Leave It to Beaver” passed away on Saturday at the age of 71. Bank’s cause of death was not released, but he passed just one day after his 71st birthday. Bank’s co-star Jerry Mathers, who played the ...

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Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2013/04/frank-bank-aka-lumpy-rutherford-on-leave-it-to-beaver-dies/

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Hugh Jackman Fan Arrested After Throwing Pube-Filled Razor

Hugh Jackman Fan Arrested After Throwing Pube-Filled Razor

Hugh Jackman’s nutty female stalker was arrested after going into a New York gym while Jackman was working out, crying and yelling her love for him before the nasty incident. Jackman was in the boxing ring at Gotham Gym in the West Village when he had the awkward encounter with 47-year-old Kathleen Thurston. The actor, ...

Hugh Jackman Fan Arrested After Throwing Pube-Filled Razor Stupid Celebrities Gossip Stupid Celebrities Gossip News

Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2013/04/hugh-jackman-fan-arrested-after-throwing-pube-filled-razor/

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