Healthier Diets Possible in Low-Income, Rural Communities in America

children don’t eat enough fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Instead, their diets typically include excessive amounts of sugars and solid fats, counter to the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommendations, increasing the risk of obesity and diabetes. A team of investigators implemented a two-year intervention study in low-income, rural areas where a disproportionately higher risk of overweight and obesity habits among children persists, leading to increased risk of diabetes and heart disease in adulthood. The children enrolled in the study consumed significantly more fruits and vegetables. The results are published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

To evaluate students’ diet quality at the beginning and after the study, researchers designed the CHANGE (Creating Healthy, Active and Nurturing Growing-up Environments) study, a two-year randomized, controlled, community- and school-based intervention to prevent unhealthy weight gain among rural school-aged children.

“Our primary objectives were to improve the diets, physical activity levels, and weight status of rural children based on the successful model developed by Tufts University researchers for the Shape Up Somerville study,” says lead investigator Christina Economos, PhD, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston . “The objective of our analysis was to examine changes in fruit, vegetable, legume, whole-grain and low-fat dairy consumption among rural elementary students who were exposed to the CHANGE study intervention compared with students in control schools,” says lead author Juliana F. W. Cohen, ScM, ScD, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston. The team wanted to test its hypothesis that students exposed to the study would improve their diet quality due to healthier food environments.

Eight communities in rural California, Kentucky, Mississippi, and South Carolina participated in the study between 2007 and 2009. Two communities in each state were randomly assigned to either an intervention or control group. Students in the intervention sample were given daily access to healthier school foods and weekly educational curriculum which incorporated the goals of the Shape Up Somerville model: at least five servings of fruits and vegetables; no more than two hours of television or other screen time; and at least one hour of physical activity. The mean age of the 1,230 participating students was 8.6 and about 85-95 percent were nonwhite.

A baseline analysis revealed that students in CHANGE schools:
• Ate similar amounts of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, potatoes/potato products, saturated fats, and sugars as students in control schools
• Consumed significantly more legumes

As a result of the intervention, food consumption of students in CHANGE schools was significantly different than students in the control schools with the following results:
• Eating 0.08 cups of vegetables per 1,000 kcal more per day
• Eating 0.22 cups combined fruits and vegetables per 1,000 kcal more per day
• Had a significantly lower glycemic index

There was a trend toward more fruit consumption in the CHANGE study intervention with 0.15 cups per 1,000 kcal per day.

Dr. Cohen concludes, “The outcomes of the CHANGE study provide evidence that a multi-component intervention targeting low-income children living in rural communities in America can improve their diet quality. Overall, students consumed significantly more vegetables and combined fruits and vegetables after exposure to the CHANGE study intervention compared with students in control schools and communities.”

Drs. Cohen and Economos and colleagues call for more research to examine ways to improve other aspects of children’s diets using this community-based model.

# # #

NOTES FOR EDITORS
“The CHANGE Study: A Healthy-Lifestyles Intervention to Improve Rural Children’s Diet Quality,” Juliana F.W. Cohen, ScM, ScD; Vivica I. Craak, MS; Silvina F. Choumenkovitch, PhD; Raymond R. Hyatt, PhD; and Christina D. Economos, PhD. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2013.08.014, published by Elsevier.

Full text of this article is available to credentialed journalists upon request. Contact Eileen Leahy at 732-238-3628 or andjrnlmedia@elsevier.com to obtain copies. Journalists wishing to set up interviews with the authors should contact Andrea Grossman, Assistant Director, Public Relations, Tufts University Health Sciences Campus, at 617-636-3728 or Andrea.Grossman@tufts.edu.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Juliana F.W. Cohen is a postdoctoral research fellow, Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA.
Vivica I. Craak is a doctoral candidate, Deakin Population Health Strategic Research Centre, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia.
Silvina F. Choumenkovitch is a research associate, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA.
Raymond R. Hyatt is an associate professor, Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MA.
Christina D. Economos is an associate professor, Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, MA.

ABOUT THE JOURNAL OF THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
The official journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (www.eatright.org), the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (www.andjrnl.org) is the premier source for the practice and science of food, nutrition and dietetics. The monthly, peer-reviewed journal presents original articles prepared by scholars and practitioners and is the most widely read professional publication in the field. The Journal focuses on advancing professional knowledge across the range of research and practice issues such as: nutritional science, medical nutrition therapy, public health nutrition, food science and biotechnology, food service systems, leadership and management and dietetics education.

The Journal has a current Impact Factor of 3.797 in the Nutrition and Dietetics category of the 2012 Journal Citation Reports®, published by Thomson Reuters. It was previously published as the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

ABOUT THE ACADEMY OF NUTRITION AND DIETETICS
The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (www.eatright.org), formerly the American Dietetic Association, is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. The Academy is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.

American Epilepsy Society and the National Association of Epilepsy Centers Debuts Free Online Medical Education Series on Safety - www.EMUCaring.org

 The American Epilepsy Society (AES) and the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) are pleased to announce a free online continuing medical education series “Safety in the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit.” This specially structured learning presentation is intended to educate healthcare providers on the best ways to create a culture of safety in the epilepsy unit. Meant for all members of the epilepsy team, including physicians, nurses, EEG technologists, pharmacists, social workers, and other staff in the unit, this program presents best practices as identified by a group of national experts in epilepsy.

“The relationship between how cohesively epilepsy monitoring units function and how effectively they can address the unique needs of their patients should not be understated,” says Patricia O. Shafer, R.N., M.N., Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Content Chair for EMUCaring. “The finer attention that is paid to this relationship the greater probability of improved safety outcomes.”

The online program consists of seven modules addressing topics such as Seizure Observation, Environment and Activity, Managing Seizures and Comorbidities, and Preparing for Transition to Outpatient Care. For ease of learning, each module can be completed independently.

This tool can be used for continuing in-service education and as a training tool for new members of the team. At present, the program has been approved for physicians, nurses and EEG technologists to receive up to a maximum of 3.5 continuing education credits by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), EduPro Resources LLC (EDUPRO), and ASET – The Neurodiagnostic Society.

About the American Epilepsy Society
The American Epilepsy Society (AES) is the premier professional organization in the United States representing multi-specialty members including physicians, psychologists, nurses, social workers, and research scientists that provide care to people with epilepsy. The Society promotes research, interdisciplinary communication, and education for professionals dedicated to the prevention, optimal treatment, and cure of epilepsy.

About the National Association of Epilepsy Centers
With the goal of no seizures and no side effects, the National Association of Epilepsy Centers (NAEC) strives to make high quality healthcare available and affordable for epilepsy patients across the country. NAEC is a non-profit association with a membership of more than 190 specialized Level 3 and 4 epilepsy centers in the United States. Founded in 1987 by physician-leaders committed to setting a national agenda for quality epilepsy care, the NAEC connects people with epilepsy to specialized epilepsy care and supports epileptologists in the operation of their epilepsy centers.

BIDMC's Young Scientists are Honored

Los BOSTON tres jóvenes científicos del Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) cuya investigación es arrojar luz sobre las vías cerebrales subyacentes a la obesidad, el papel de los vasos sanguíneos en un peligroso trastorno de embarazo y maneras de monitorear la sedación para asegurar mejores experiencias pacientes, son los destinatarios del BIDMC inaugural Dvorak joven investigador premios.

Creado a través de un regalo de los donantes BIDMC Sheldon Simon y Ruth Moorman destacar el importante papel de la investigación básica y clínica para asegurar la vitalidad y el éxito futuro de los hospitales de enseñanza académicos, los premios ayudará a avanzar en los programas de investigación de los investigadores BIDMC Mark Andermann, PhD, Zoltan Arany, MD, PhD y Daniel Leffler, MD, MS.

Los premios son nombrados en honor del BIDMC científico e investigador pionero del cáncer Harold F. Dvorak, MD y fueron presentados en la reunión anual del BIDMC en el Hotel Four Seasons.

"BIDMC tiene una larga historia de nutrir y apoyar nuevas ideas científicas", dice BIDMC Chief Scientific Officer Vikas Sukhatme, MD, PhD. "con la creación de los premios de investigador joven Dvorak, no sólo mantenemos nuestro compromiso de fomentar y cultivar el trabajo de nuestros científicos jóvenes prometedores, estamos reconociendo la contribución permanente de Hal Dvorak, cuyo trabajo pionero en el campo de la angiogénesis allanó el camino para un enfoque totalmente nuevo a la terapéutica del cáncer".

Fue hace más de 30 años que Dvorak, ex jefe de patología del BIDMC, primero descrito tumores como "heridas que no cicatrizan," una observación que formó la base para el campo de la angiogénesis y condujo a un nuevo medio de tratar el cáncer y otras enfermedades por suministros de sangre en los tumores de hambre.

"La misma curiosidad y la creatividad que llevó Hal para identificar VEGF [factor de crecimiento endotelial vascular] como el combustible detrás de crecimiento tumoral es evidente en los tres científicos que ahora estamos honrando con el joven investigador premios Dvorak," agrega Sukhatme. "DRS. Andermann, Arany y Leffler hacen preguntas del mismo modo provocativo y excitante nueva investigación en su búsqueda de respuestas a algunas de hoy necesita más atención médica urgente.

El Dr. Mark Andermann, un investigador del BIDMC División de Endocrinología, Diabetes y metabolismo, es el destinatario del premio Dvorak joven investigador en ciencias básicas. Su trabajo tiene como objetivo entender cómo hambre y señales externas de alimentos causan cambios en el cerebro y sus posibles consecuencias para la obesidad, atracones y otros trastornos de la alimentación. Utilizando nuevas tecnologías de imagen para evaluar exactamente cómo hambre influye en procesamiento sensorial, trabajo de Andermann proporciona respuestas a preguntas fundamentales para ayudar a guiar el desarrollo de tratamientos para la obesidad.

Como destinatario del premio al investigador joven Dvorak en la investigación traslacional, cardiólogo Dr. Zoltan Arany está centrando su investigación en la comprensión de los mecanismos de regulación del metabolismo en los sistemas esqueléticos y cardiovasculares. Sus estudios están ayudando a explicar el impacto del estrés fisiológicos como el embarazo y ejercicio de la función y el metabolismo cardiaco. Su trabajo más reciente ha llevado al descubrimiento de que la enfermedad cardíaca la miocardiopatía periparto, que ataca a las mujeres en su tercer trimestre del embarazo y puede llevar a la muerte y la discapacidad grave, es un trastorno de los vasos sanguíneos. Arany está ahora investigando los roles que genética o infecciones podrían jugar en el inicio de esta grave enfermedad.

El Dr. Daniel Leffler es el destinatario del premio Dvorak joven investigador en investigación en servicios sanitarios. Trabajo de Leffler se centra atención en la calidad y seguridad de los procedimientos invasivos, incluyendo la necesidad de supervisar la calidad de sedación moderada desde las perspectivas de los pacientes y sus proveedores. Este tipo de investigación en servicios de salud mejora la calidad, seguridad y valor de la atención sanitaria, con el objetivo de garantizar la mejor experiencia posible para los pacientes. Como el Director de investigación clínica en el centro del BIDMC celíaca, Leffler también atiende a pacientes y realiza investigación en enfermedad celiaca.

"Estamos agradecidos a Sheldon Simon y Ruth Moorman por su apoyo a la labor de estos tres jóvenes científicos y, por extensión, apoyo a los avances de investigación que permitan la mejor atención al paciente," dice Sukhatme.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center es una atención al paciente, filial de docencia e investigación de Harvard Medical School y actualmente ocupa el tercer lugar en el National Institutes of Health financiamiento entre hospitales independientes en todo el país.

BIDMC cuenta con una red de socios de la comunidad que incluye Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Milton, Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham, Anna Jaques Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance, Lawrence General Hospital, cuidado de la salud firma, Commonwealth hemato-oncología, Beth Israel Deaconess HealthCare, Alianza de atención comunitaria y la salud de atrio. BIDMC también clínicamente está afiliada con el Joslin Diabetes Center y hebreo Senior vida y es un socio de investigación del centro de cáncer Dana-Farber/Harvard. BIDMC es el hospital oficial de los Boston Red Sox.

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Names New Chief Legal Officer

Newswise — (MEMPHIS, TENN. – October 10, 2013) St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital has named Robyn Diaz, J.D., as its chief legal officer and senior vice president. With 10 years of health law experience and 15 years of experience in the health care industry, Diaz joined the hospital’s Office of General Counsel as associate general counsel in August 2010 and was promoted to deputy general counsel in May 2012.

“Robyn’s expertise and experience provide a strong foundation upon which she will continue to excel as a member of our senior management team at St. Jude,” said St. Jude director and CEO Dr. William E. Evans.

Diaz has served as an adjunct professor at the Georgetown University School of Nursing and Health Studies, where she taught classes on law and health care administration, and served as an academic preceptor to undergraduates in Georgetown’s program in healthcare management and policy.

A member of the American Health Lawyers Association, American Bar Association, Tennessee Bar Association and the Memphis Bar Association, Diaz also founded the Memphis Bar Association’s Health Law Section and was nominated to serve as its first chair in 2012. Diaz was previously co-chair of the District of Columbia Bar Health Law Section Steering Committee.

A graduate of Brandeis University, Diaz received her Juris Doctorate from Georgetown University Law Center and earned a certificate in executive leadership for health care professionals from Cornell University. Prior to joining St. Jude, Diaz was associate general counsel at MedStar Health and an attorney in the health care practice group at Crowell & Moring, LLP, both located in Washington, D.C.

Diaz has been published in a variety of health-related publications, including the Health Lawyer, the Journal of Health Care Law and Policy, the American Bar Association Health eSource, the Pittsburgh Journal of Environmental and Health Law, and the American Health Lawyers Association HMOs & Health Plans Newsletter.

Jersey Shore University Medical Center welcomes Romeo Lucas, D.O. The Department of obstetrics and Gynecology

University Medical Center is proud to welcome Romeo Lucas, D.O. Dr. Lucas provides OB/GYN care for women in Monmouth and ocean counties and provides a specialized surgical experience to extend coverage in the Department of obstetrics and Gynecology of Jersey Shore.

Dr. Lucas recently completed her residency in obstetrics and Gynecology at Jersey Shore. During his residency, won numerous honors and awards, including the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical teaching Student Award for Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Lucas is trained in laser surgery; PlasmaJet system; and robotic Gynecologic Surgery, including laparoscopic hysterectomy. He has participated in a series of presentations in conferences and more recently discussed "Group G Streptococcus in pregnancy" at the annual meeting of the Central Association of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Dr. Lucas joins Jonathan D. Baum, M.D., FACOG; Kristen LoRe, D.O.; Ginja Massey, M.D.; and Meghan I. Rattigan, D.O. in Jersey Shore of obstetrics and Gynecology at the Plaza of Juniper in Freehold.

About Jersey Shore University Medical Center:
Jersey Shore University Medical Center, a member of the Meridian Health family, is a teaching hospital nonprofit and the Hospital of K. Hovnanian children - the first children hospital in Monmouth and ocean counties. Jersey Shore is the regional provider of cardiac surgery, a program that has been classified among the best in the Northeast and is home to the only trauma center and center of rescue of stroke in the region. Jersey Shore University Medical Center specializing in cardiovascular care, orthopedics and rehabilitation, treatment of cancer, neuroscience, and special services for women. For more information about Jersey Shore University Medical Center call the 1-800-DOCTORS, or visit www.JerseyShoreUniversityMedicalCenter.com.

Make Halloween a Dream Come True for Kids, Not a Horrible Nightmare

 For one night you get to be someone completely different, have a mission of collecting candy at every house you see and it’s ok to be scared. It’s no wonder Halloween has become one of the most exciting holidays for kids. But, without some safety reminders a child’s dream come true could turn into a parent’s worst nightmare.

“As parents, we hear the horrors of razor blades or poison in candy. Though it is important to check kids’ candy before they eat it, a really scary part about Halloween is pedestrian safety. Vehicle accidents are the number one cause of injury for kids on Halloween,” said Bridget Boyd, MD, pediatric safety expert and assistant professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.

To help make Halloween safer it’s important for parents to establish rules and communicate expectations with their kids, no matter the age.

“Communication is extremely important in making Halloween safe. Make sure your kids know where they can go, how long they can be gone and with whom they can spend time in advance. Go over it a few times in the days leading up to Halloween and to make sure they remember, tell them right before they head out the door,” said Boyd.

When trick-or-treating, she says, the best thing is for parents to go along. Still, for many kids this is their first foray into independence. A child should only be allowed to go alone if he or she:
• Can follow directions and understand a map so he or she won’t get lost
• Knows his or her neighbors and the neighborhood
• Knows how to call 911
• Knows his or her own phone number

“Kids in elementary school should still have a parent go along with them. Junior high is the age when you can begin to decide if the children are responsible enough to go alone, but having a parent is always a better idea,” said Boyd.

If a child does go alone she suggests the following rules:
• Always stay in a group
• Create a specific trick-or-treating route together beforehand and make sure your kids know not to stray from it
• Consider giving one of the children a cell phone in case of an emergency
• Stress pedestrian safety. Make sure they will use sidewalks and crosswalks

Though parents have heard it a million times it is important to check all candy. This means:

Don’t let kids eat candy while trick-or-treating. This will keep kids safe from eating candy whose package has been opened and tampered with. It will also limit the amount of sugar they eat. This is good advice for parents, too. If it’s too much temptation let them have one or two pieces, but make sure you inspect them first.

If in doubt, throw it out. Throw away any treat that is homemade by someone you don’t know, a choking hazard or not completely wrapped. It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

Make Halloween allergy-free. Another great reason to check candy is to ensure your child does not have an allergic reaction. Candy may not be well-marked so, again, if in doubt, throw it out. If your child has a nut allergy make sure hands are washed after trick-or-treating.

“Getting dressed up and pretending to an amazing character is a lot of fun. Parents need to make sure costumes are exciting, but safe. Many Halloween injuries are due to unsafe costumes,” said Boyd.

She suggests to help your child choose a costume that is a bright color or reflective.

“Unfortunately, many of the most popular costumes for Halloween are dark colors. If your child chooses a dark-colored costume make sure he or she wears some sort of reflector. Someone driving a car isn’t going to see that shadowy figure and it could turn tragic,” said Boyd.

She also suggests:
• Costumes need to be flame-resistant
• Use non-toxic make-up instead of masks since masks can obscure vision
• Try to stay away from capes and costumes that are too long. These can be a trip hazard or even catch on fire from candles in jack-o-lanterns
• Decorative contact lenses can cause serious eye infections. According to Boyd, purchasing contact lenses without a prescription is dangerous for your health and illegal
• Be careful with accessories. If you have young children make sure the necklaces, etc., are not a choking hazard and swords aren’t sharp

“Teens love Halloween as well, but it’s one of the most dangerous nights for driving. Try to convince them not to drive and consider holding a special Halloween event such as a scary movie night or haunted house at your house instead,” said Boyd. “Whatever you do make sure you know who they are with, where they are going, when they will be home and stay in contact throughout the night.”

Carving pumpkins is one of the highlights of Halloween, but kids and sharp knives are an accident waiting to happen. If you have young kids, Boyd suggests using markers, stickers or paint instead of carving to change your pumpkin into a jack-o-lantern. If you do carve the pumpkin make sure it’s done on a solid, flat surface and that there is always adult supervision to minimize the chance of injury.

“Candles and costumes are not a good combination. Look for battery-operated candles to use in the jack-o-lantern or if you do use a candle make sure it’s a votive. Place the pumpkin on a sturdy table away from small children,” said Boyd.

Boyd also says to check your house before the big night to ensure good lighting and that there is nothing for the goblins to trip on as they make their way to your door.

“Halloween is a lot of fun and it gives parents a great chance to talk to their kids about responsibility and safety,” said Boyd. “With all the candy and costumes it’s hard for kids to control their excitement. That’s where the parents come in.”

For media inquires, please contact Evie Polsley at epolsley@lumc.edu or call (708) 216-5313 or (708) 417-5100. Follow Loyola on:
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/#!/LoyolaHealth
Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/LoyolaHealth
YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/LoyolaHealth
###

Loyola University Health System (LUHS) is a member of Trinity Health. Based in the western suburbs of Chicago, LUHS is a quaternary care system with a 61-acre main medical center campus, the 36-acre Gottlieb Memorial Hospital campus and more than 30 primary and specialty care facilities in Cook, Will and DuPage counties. The medical center campus is conveniently located in Maywood, 13 miles west of the Chicago Loop and 8 miles east of Oak Brook, Ill. The heart of the medical center campus, Loyola University Hospital, is a 569-licensed-bed facility. It houses a Level 1 Trauma Center, a Burn Center and the Ronald McDonald® Children’s Hospital of Loyola University Medical Center. Also on campus are the Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center, Loyola Outpatient Center, Center for Heart & Vascular Medicine and Loyola Oral Health Center as well as the LUC Stritch School of Medicine, the LUC Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing and the Loyola Center for Fitness. Loyola's Gottlieb campus in Melrose Park includes the 264-licensed-bed community hospital, the Professional Office Building housing 150 private practice clinics, the Adult Day Care, the Gottlieb Center for Fitness, Loyola Center for Metabolic Surgery and Bariatric Care and the Loyola Cancer Care & Research at the Marjorie G. Weinberg Cancer Center at Melrose Park.

Ancient DNA Unravels Europe's Genetic Diversity

Ancient DNA recovered from a time series of skeletons in Germany spanning 4,000 years of prehistory has been used to reconstruct the first detailed genetic history of modern-day Europeans.

The study, published today in Science, reveals dramatic population changes with waves of prehistoric migration, not only from the accepted path via the Near East, but also from Western and Eastern Europe.

The research was a collaboration between the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (ACAD), at the University of Adelaide, researchers from the University of Mainz, the State Heritage Museum in Halle (Germany), and National Geographic Society’s Genographic Project. The teams used mitochondrial DNA (maternally inherited DNA) extracted from bone and teeth samples from 364 prehistoric human skeletons ? ten times more than previous ancient DNA studies.

“This is the largest and most detailed genetic time series of Europe yet created, allowing us to establish a complete genetic chronology,” says joint-lead author Dr Wolfgang Haak of ACAD. “Focussing on this small but highly important geographic region meant we could generate a gapless record, and directly observe genetic changes in ‘real-time’ from 7,500 to 3,500 years ago, from the earliest farmers to the early Bronze Age.”

“Our study shows that a simple mix of indigenous hunter-gatherers and the incoming Near Eastern farmers cannot explain the modern-day diversity alone,” says joint-lead author Guido Brandt, PhD candidate at the University of Mainz. “The genetic results are much more complex than that. Instead, we found that two particular cultures at the brink of the Bronze Age 4,200 years ago had a marked role in the formation of Central Europe’s genetic makeup.”

Professor Kurt Alt (University of Mainz) says: “What is intriguing is that the genetic signals can be directly compared with the changes in material culture seen in the archaeological record. It is fascinating to see genetic changes when certain cultures expanded vastly, clearly revealing interactions across very large distances.” These included migrations from both Western and Eastern Europe towards the end of the Stone Age, through expanding cultures such as the Bell Beaker and the Corded Ware (named after their pots).

“This transect through time has produced a wealth of information about the genetic history of modern Europeans,” says ACAD Director Professor Alan Cooper. “There was a period of stasis after farming became established and suitable areas were settled, and then sudden turnovers during less stable times or when economic factors changed, such as the increasing importance of metal ores and secondary farming products. While the genetic signal of the first farming populations becomes increasingly diluted over time, we see the original hunter-gatherers make a surprising comeback.”

Dr Haak says: “None of the dynamic changes we observed could have been inferred from modern-day genetic data alone, highlighting the potential power of combining ancient DNA studies with archaeology to reconstruct human evolutionary history.” The international team has been working closely on the genetic prehistory of Europeans for the past 7-8 years and is currently applying powerful new technologies to generate genomic data from the specimens.

Jersey Shore's Andrew I. Elkwood, M.D. Presents at the Milwaukee Case Management Society of America Chapter (CMSA) Fall Conference

, Neptune, NJ – Andrew I. Elkwood, M.D. presented at the Milwaukee Case Management Society of America Chapter (CMSA) Fall Conference, held on September 18 in Milwaukee, WI. Dr. Elkwood’s presentation, entitled Brachial Plexus Transplantation Surgery, examined the latest advances in correcting injuries to the brachial plexus — the network of nerves in the armpit that control all the functions of the arm and hand.

The Case Management Society of America is the leading membership association providing professional collaboration across the healthcare continuum to advocate for patients’ wellbeing and improved health outcomes by fostering case management growth and development, impacting health care policy, and providing evidence-based tools and resources.

About the Center for Treatment of Paralysis and Reconstructive Nerve Surgery:
Located at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey, the Center for Treatment of Paralysis and Reconstructive Nerve Surgery is one of the first comprehensive centers of its kind, uniquely combining advanced surgical treatments for paralysis and nerve damage, with rehabilitation, continuum of care and research. The center’s world renowned specialists, including Andrew Elkwood, M.D., Michael Rose, M.D., Matthew Kaufman, M.D., Tushar Patel, M.D., Russell Ashinoff M.D., are dedicated to providing innovative surgical treatment and restoring hope to those affected by paralysis and nerve injury.

About Jersey Shore University Medical Center:
Jersey Shore University Medical Center, a member of the Meridian Health family, is a not-for-profit teaching hospital and home to K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital – the first children’s hospital in Monmouth and Ocean counties. Jersey Shore is the regional provider of cardiac surgery, a program which has been ranked among the best in the Northeast, and is home to the only trauma center and stroke rescue center in the region. Jersey Shore specializes in cardiovascular care, orthopedics and rehabilitation, cancer care, neuroscience, nerve surgery and women’s specialty services. Through the hospital’s clinical research program, and its affiliation with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Jersey Shore serves as an academic center dedicated to advancing medical knowledge, training future physicians and providing the community with access to promising medical breakthroughs. For more information about Jersey Shore University Medical Center call 1-800-DOCTORS, or visit www.JerseyShoreUniversityMedicalCenter.com.