The Edmond Sun

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December 10, 2009

12-11 Health: in brief

EDMOND — Protect your skin during the winter

Although the temperature may be frigid and sunlight less intense, the amount of the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays reaching the surface of the earth remains strong throughout the year, especially ultraviolet A (UVA). While ultraviolet B (UVB) rays (the sunburn-causing rays) are the strongest in summer, UVB loses intensity in the winter and UVA rays remain constant.

UVA can penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin causing wrinkles, brown spots, sagging, and other signs of skin aging. It also contributes to the development of skin cancers. For effective UVA protection, look for sunscreens that contain some combination of stabilized avobenzone, oxybenzone, mexoryl, zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. The Skin Cancer Foundation also recommends using sunscreens with an SPF of 15 or higher daily.

To find out more about how to protect your skin this winter, visit skincancer.org.



Nuns make one-of-a-kind gift

More than 1,100 nuns, priests and monks will participate in a groundbreaking research project aimed at understanding the causes of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

The participants in the study, which is now in its 17th year, undergo annual medical and psychological examinations. And all have pledged to continue their service after they die by donating their brains to medical research. The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is one of the institutions that collaborated on this project. Specifically, OMRF scientists examined whether vitamin E and other vitamins known as tocopherols can protect the brain from age-related memory loss.

OMRF (omrf.org) is an independent, nonprofit biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding and developing more effective treatments for human diseases.



Second treatment room opens at ProCure Proton Therapy Center

The second treatment room is open and treating patients at the ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Oklahoma City. Opening the Gantry Room doubles the number of patients and expands the types of tumors the center can treat with proton therapy, an alternative to X-ray radiation that spares healthy tissue and results in far fewer short- and long-term treatment side effects.

To learn more about proton therapy and the ProCure Proton Therapy Center in Oklahoma City visit www.procure.com/ok or call (888) 592-2854.



Integris Health wins Oklahoma Quality Award

Integris Health of Oklahoma City received the Oklahoma Quality Award for Achievement and Integris Grove General Hospital received the Oklahoma Quality Award for Commitment recently.

The honors were given through the governor’s office to organizations that demonstrate high standards of excellence worthy of recognition in Oklahoma. This year’s winners physically received the 2009 Oklahoma Quality Awards during a special ceremony Dec. 9, at the Governor’s Mansion in Oklahoma City. This is the 15th year of the Oklahoma Quality Awards administered by the Oklahoma Quality Award Foundation.



Medicare Part D enrollment assistance

The Medicare Part D drug prescription plan open enrollment period is now underway.

For those who need to make changes for next year, or need to determine which plan best suits their needs, John Vincent of the Areawide Aging Agency will assist in the decision-making process before enrollment ends on Dec. 31.

To schedule your private consultation call the Integris HealthLine at 951-2277. Consultations will be held at Integris Third Age Life Center, 5100 N. Brookline Ave., Ste. 100 or 4200 S. Douglas Ave., Ste. B-10.



OMRF accepting summer scholarship applications

The Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation is accepting applications for its 2010 Sir Alexander Fleming Scholar Program. The summer program allows selected students to enhance their research skills by working alongside world-class scientists for eight weeks in OMRF’s state-of-the art laboratories. The application deadline is Feb. 1.

High school seniors, as well as college freshmen, sophomores and juniors, are eligible to apply for Fleming scholarships. Students must be Oklahoma residents at the time of high school graduation and at least 16 years of age to qualify. Scholarships include a $3,000 stipend and housing, if needed.

For additional information and application forms, please visit www.omrf.org/fleming.

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