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Health Notes: Nemours Children's Speciality Care performing cutting-edge research in diabetes

Florida Times-Union - 8/15/2018

Aug. 15--Nemours Children's Specialty Care in Jacksonville is performing cutting-edge research in diabetes and is one of four research centers in the U.S. testing a novel closed-loop insulin delivery system, known as iLet, a bionic pancreas. Researchers leading this clinical pilot study have been studying the use of the device in children with Type 1 Diabetes to determine advantages of this technological innovation over standard care of an insulin pump for management of the disease.

"I'm very hopeful that over the next few years, we're going to change the standard of care in diabetes," said Nelly Mauras, chief of Pediatric Endocrinology at Nemours Children's Specialty Care and principal investigator at Nemours.

Type 1 Diabetes is the second most common chronic disease of childhood in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin, the hormone that lowers blood sugar. Treatment of this lifelong condition focuses on constantly managing blood sugar levels with insulin, diet and lifestyle to prevent complications.

The iLet device, developed by Ed Damiano, a professor of Biomedical Engineering at Boston University, uses catheters placed under the skin to automatically detect blood sugars and deliver doses of insulin. The device operates autonomously, but shares data and information with children, parents and the clinical team using Bluetooth-enabled technology to ensure efficient monitoring. To test the device with young children, Mauras and her team enrolled six children, ages 6-11 years, and their families to participate in the pilot over a two-week period.

Children were randomized to use the iLet for five continuous days and nights during either the first or second week of the clinical pilot, alternating with usual care of insulin pumps to determine if the device provided better management of each child's Type 1 Diabetes. The study is being funded by the National Institutes of Health.

ACKERMAN TO PRESENT 'LIFESTYLE BEYOND CANCER' PROGRAM

Ackerman Cancer Center and the Wellness Working Group will present "What Now? Lifestyle Beyond Cancer," a four-part cancer survivorship program held at St. Vincent's Medical Center Riverside.

When cancer treatment is over, many patients wonder what they should do next. Each 90-minute session in this program will provide a practical and evidence-based understanding about how to build a healthy, sustainable and individualized lifestyle to reduce risk of cancer recurrence and take control of your health.

Sessions will be held in the Mary Virginia Terry Cancer Center at 1 Shircliff Way. A light lunch will be provided.

--Aug. 16: Stress, Mindfulness & the Cancer Connection

--Aug. 23: Building an Anti-Cancer Diet

--Aug. 30: Physical Exercise, Powerful Medicine

--Sept. 6: Environmental Medicine & Detoxification: Staying Clean in a Dirty World

This program is available to all cancer survivors in the Northeast Florida community. Space is limited and registration is required. Call Ackerman Cancer Center at (904) 880-5522 to reserve a space.

LAKEVIEW HEALTH USING TMS TO TREAT DEPRESSION

Lakeview Health's addiction treatment facility has added Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) as part of the comprehensive treatment for patients. TMS uses highly focused magnetic pulses to stimulate areas of the brain that may be underactive in patients suffering from depression. It is estimated that 30 percent of people with addictions also have depression. As a dual-diagnosis facility, Lakeview Health provides patients with cognitive behavioral therapy and nonaddictive antidepressant medications.

While therapy and medication treatments are helpful, not every patient fully responds, which is when TMS should be considered. Patients receive TMS treatments five days a week for 40 minutes a day over the span of four to six weeks. During the treatment, patients are conscious and can resume normal activities immediately after treatment. Eric Kaplan, Lakeview Health's corporate chief medical officer, said they found that TMS was very effective and that nearly 50 percent of patients who did not respond to prior treatment plans will respond to TMS. To learn more about addiction treatment that incorporates the use of TMS services to treat depression, call (866) 704-7692 to speak with a treatment specialist.

HANGER CLIENTS EXPERIENCE VIRTUAL REALITY THROUGH MIGO

This month, Hanger Clinic in Jacksonville became one of the first prosthetics providers in the country to offer MiGO, a first-of-its-kind virtual reality experience for people with limb loss or limb difference. Local patients who try MiGO are introduced via a 360-degree immersive video to a real-life triple amputee, Cameron Clapp, who is completely independent with the use of prosthetic legs and one prosthetic arm. Patients experience a "day in the life" through Cameron's first-person point of view, from walking down stairs on two prosthetic legs, to driving a car with the aid of a prosthetic arm.

The MiGO experience available in Jacksonville and St. Augustine is the initial version of a longer 360-degree video, which will include a variety of prosthetic users with different amputation levels performing activities, from sports like golfing and surfing, to everyday activities like yard work and taking a walk. The full-length version is currently in production and slated to become available nationwide later this summer. More information on MiGO is available at www.HangerClinic.com/MiGO.

LIFE TRANSITIONS OPENING IN PONTE VEDRA BEACH

Life Transitions Counseling, a recognized psychotherapy practice with nine years experience in its Fleming Island location, has announced that it has opened a second office in Ponte Vedra Beach, at 6000-A Sawgrass Village Circle, Suite 14. The transition will be complete as of Oct. 1.

For more information about Life Transitions Counseling, visit www.lifetransitions.cc or call (904) 386-9518.

COUNCIL ON AGING'S CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF AND GALA

This year marks the 15th Annual Council on Aging (COA) Championship Golf and Gala. This year's gala will be on Sunday, Aug. 26, at 5:30 p.m. Participants will then tee off at the Slammer and Squire Course on Monday, Aug. 27, at 8:30 a.m.

At the gala, there will be a buffet with choices for different tastes. Throughout the evening, guests are encouraged to bid on hundreds of silent and live auction items, including art, gift cards, tickets to theme parks and events, sports packages and gift baskets.

The Championship Golf and Gala is the biggest and most important fundraiser for Council on Aging. It raises funds for numerous programs and services, such as Meals on Wheels, senior centers, transportation, adult day care and prescription assistance. These services and programs allow older adults to live independently in their home. They may even be life-saving in some cases.

For more information or to donate, contact Cindy Walker at (904) 209-3687 or cjwalker@stjohnscoa.com.

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