Mormeck could be dangerous for me

WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko is still set on facing 39-year-old former cruiserweight champion Jean Marc Mormeck next year on March 3rd in Germany despite Wladimir’s recent hospitalization for kidney stones.

The medical problem caused Wladimir to postpone his previously scheduled fight with Mormeck and push it to March.

Some boxing fans were hoping that Wladimir would use the opportunity to go in a different direction by picking a better opponent than Mormeck to fight, but Wladimir has made up his mind that he still plans on fighting Mormeck.

Wladimir said to eastsideboxing.com’s On the Ropes Boxing Radio program “Mormeck was so self-confident and he’s in the top 10 in the heavyweight division…I will not view Mormeck as such a bad fighter. He’s experienced. His style could become dangerous if I give him a chance, and I will not give a chance to any opponent.”

Mormeck does have excellent power, but excellent for a cruiserweight, not a heavyweight. He’s shown little of his once impressive power since moving up to the heavyweight division in three fights. Mormeck is going to have his hands full just trying to work his way close enough to land anything against Wladimir.

The only real question about this fight is whether Wladimir will suffer another injury to delay it. Wladimir twice suffered injuries that wiped out fights against Dereck Chisora before finally giving up on the fight. And then recently Wladimir’s kidney stone problem that postponed the Mormeck fight.

Mormeck draws a lot of attention from boxing fans from his home country France, and it would be interesting to find out how much money Mormeck can potentially bring in for television money over there for a Klitschko-Mormeck fight.

You would have to wonder whether Wladimir has negotiated to get that money thrown in the pot for this fight. If not, then I don’t see this as a fight that’s really worthy of Wladimir. He says the top contenders Robert Helenius and Tyson Fury aren’t ready to fight him now, but there has to be better contenders than Mormeck lying around and available for Wladimir to fight.

Boxing Braces for the Wrath of Khan

This Thursday Amir Khan—an ethnic Pakistani boxer from Bolton, England—will turn 25. The next evening in Washington, he'll defend his WBA and IBF light-welterweight world titles against Lamont Peterson in a marquee fight on HBO.

It's fair to assume that Floyd Mayweather Jr., who is 34, and Manny Pacquiao, who turns 33 this month, will be watching. Wladimir Klitschko, who together with his brother Vitali has dominated the heavyweight class for years, might have to tune in from bed. The 35-year-old had to withdraw from a fight this week after succumbing to a kidney stone. What they'll see is a fighter who is enormously popular—and whose name continues to pop up in conversations about the next great boxing supernova. The guiding star for Khan, who is 26-1 with 18 knockouts is, as he puts it, "to become the first fighter from the U.K. to be pound-for-pound best in the world."

To much hype, Khan turned pro at age 19 after winning a silver medal for Britain in the 2004 Olympics. He strung together 18 lopsided victories before colliding with a crushing left hook from Columbian Breidis Prescott in 2008 and suffering a first-round knockout.

Resiliency is a requirement in professional boxing. Khan peeled his psyche off the canvas of that knockout loss and began working with Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao's trainer. During their time together, Khan has already impressed his Hall of Fame trainer. "Amir is the best listener I've ever had," Roach said.

Khan's punishing jab comes in a flash and he can unleash a swarm of stinging blows in a nanosecond. However, after the Prescott debacle, Khan concentrated on improving his defense, increasing his lateral movement and getting angles that make him difficult to hit.

The wins followed. In 2009, Khan won a technical decision over Mexican legend Marco Antonio Barrera. A few months later, he scored a unanimous decision over Andriy Kotelnyk to become the WBA world light-welterweight king. Two more former champions, Paul Malignaggi and Zab Judah, have also become notches on Khan's title belt.

Roach believes that a 2010 war with the heavy-handed Marcos Maidana was the Rubicon in Khan's ring career. "In the 10th round Amir really got rocked," Roach said. "I was ready to stop the bout if he didn't respond well to my questions. But he went out and won the 11th round and the fight. I was so proud of him. That showed me he really has heart and that he can keep his head when he is hurt."

Khan has sparred a good deal with his stablemate Pacquiao. "They respect each other a lot," Roach said. "Amir emulates Manny in many ways. For example, when Amir gets hit hard he will step back, kind of shake his head and tap his gloves together as if to say, 'let's go.' That's just what Manny does. Both of them are exciting offensive fighters who will put themselves in harm's way to land a punch."

This may be Khan's last fight at the 140-pound weight limit. "I think my best weight is going to be at 147," he said. "I walk around now at 150 and at 147 I won't have to kill myself to get down to weight." Of course, 147 pounds is the El Dorado division of Pacquiao and Mayweather.

Before Khan can scale the heights of the best of the best, he has to pass the formidable test that the 27-year–old Peterson (29-1-1, 15 knockouts) will pose Saturday.

Peterson, whose younger brother Anthony is also a contender in the lightweight division, is strong and can box. A former National Golden Gloves champion, Peterson's only defeat was a decision loss to welterweight champion Timothy Bradley. Also on Peterson's ledger is a draw to Victor Ortiz. In that melee, Peterson went down twice but bravely fought back and managed to prevent Ortiz from getting the nod.

Still, powerful as he is, Peterson only boasts a 48% knockout ratio. He is not the volume puncher that Khan is. Peterson tends to stand in the pocket and does not move his head much.

Many suspect that the Khan's boxing braintrust believes Peterson is an easy mark—otherwise they would not be willing to take him on in his hometown of Washington. The consensus is that Khan has more experience in elite fights and is simply too quick. Once a homeless young boy, Peterson has overcome odds before. Khan's fast hands and dazzling combinations do not trouble him. In a conference call with the media, he said, "The thing about me. I'm a timing fighter… Timing beats speed all day. So, it's nothing to worry about his speed.

While Arroyo gets special treatment, sick political prisoners barely survive

Relatives and supporters of political prisoners decried what they called “special treatment” accorded to former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo as they demanded anew the release of political prisoners in the country, especially the sick and the elderly.

According to Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto (Selda), there are 360 political prisoners in the country, including the 78 who were arrested under the Aquino administration. Eleven of them are elderly, while there are 43 who are sick. The group said these political prisoners should be released on humanitarian grounds.

“The political prisoners who have been languishing in jails for years don’t have money to buy for their medicines. And yet, the Aquino government will use people’s money for a human rights violator like Arroyo,” Fr. Dionito Cabillas of the Promotion of Church People’s Response (PCPR), said.

Arroyo, now representative of Pampanga’s second district, has been under hospital arrest for charges of electoral sabotage. The local court recently issued a ruling ordering her transfer to the government-run Veterans Memorial Medical Center. Malacanang expressed willingness to shoulder the costs of Arroyo’s hospitalization.

In the same vein, Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casio said, “It is ironic that Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, the one responsible for so many human rights violations, is being given special treatment and even pampered by the Aquino administration while her victims have to go on a hunger strike just to air their demands that should and can readily be granted by the authorities.”

Since Dec. 3, political prisoners in various detention facilities have launched hunger strike and other forms of protest.

“Arroyo should be nowhere but in jail,” said Angie Ipong, Selda secretary general.

“This [special treatment to Arroyo] is unacceptable for the 360 political prisoners who are charged with trumped up charges and imprisoned because of political beliefs, who are now languishing in jails in dire conditions,” Ipong said.

“She has no life-threatening illness, but is very comfortable in the hospital. Political prisoners, on the other hand, do not receive proper medical treatment for their grave illnesses,” Ipong said.

The group cited the case of Crisanto Tomarse Fat who died of heart ailment while in jail at the Negros Provincial Jail on Sept. 20. Fat, a peasant leader in Moises Padilla town in Negros Occidental, was falsely charged with illegal possession of firearms and explosives.

Rolando Paamogan, 47, arrested in January 2002, is suffering from diabetes, toxic goiter and congestive heart disease. Paamogan, a leader of Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas in Ponpunan, Baybay, Leyte, is now detained at the New Bilibid Prison in Muntinlupa City. He has been confined at the NBP hospital, where facilities and attending medical personnel are scarce. On several occasions, he had been rushed to the clinic for shortness of breath and convulsive seizure. “He, who is not guilty of the trumped-up charges the government filed against him, has no money to buy for his medicines,” Cabillas said.

Another political prisoner detained at the NBP, Rogelio Natividad, 61, has been in jail for the last 20 years. “Compounding his long years of imprisonment are the inhumane conditions in jail where there is meager food ration and poor hygiene which has resulted in his kidney infection, ulcer and hypertension. He has been found to have kidney stones, which is currently causing him pain,” Selda said.

Bernardo Andrade, 61, a fisherman from Old Sagay, Sagay City, Negros Occidental, and who has been detained for ten years already, has diabetes, asthma and hypertension. Since his arrest in 2001, his family had never visited him for lack of financial and material support.

Cresenciano Inocerta, 64, has contracted tuberculosis while inside the jail in NBP. He underwent treatment for six months. He has been considered healed of tuberculosis but he continues to suffer from asthma, arthritis and constant cough. Like Andrade, Inocerta has never been visited by his family from Valencia, Negros Oriental due to lack of finances.

Manolito Matricio, 60, from Mamburao, Mindoro Occidental, has been suffering from arthritis, diabetes and hypertension. He is one of the “Mamburao 6” who were convicted of killing the two sons of a local land lord in Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro.

Ernesto Dumlao, detained at the Quezon City Jail, has asthma and has been sleeping on the floor of the Quezon City Jail because he cannot pay for a “tarima” (cot) that costs P3,000.

Antonino Roda, detained at the Misamis Occidental Provincial Reformatory Jail, has severe kidney infection, urinating with blood for several times already.

Diets, salts and the benefits of an alkaline diet

Our blood is slightly alkaline. The theory behind the alkaline diet is that our diet should reflect this pH level and be slightly alkaline. An alkaline diet is a diet that is predominantly made up of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, beans and lentils. As a general guideline, our diet should consist of 60pc alkaline-forming foods and 40pc acid-forming foods to maintain good health.

Almost all foods that we eat, after being digested, absorbed and metabolised, release either an acid or an alkaline base into the blood. Meat, poultry, fish, grains, cheese, milk, salt and sugar all produce acid, so the rise in our consumption of these foods means that the typical western diet has became more acid-producing than ever.

Also, consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables has decreased over the years, which means we are consuming fewer alkalising foods which can further contribute to an imbalance.

Advocates of alkaline diets believe that a diet high in acid-producing foods disrupts our pH balance and promotes the loss of essential minerals such as potassium, magnesium, calcium and sodium as the body tries to restore equilibrium. This imbalance is thought to make people more prone to illness. For example, recent medical research suggests that alkaline diets may help prevent the formation of calcium kidney stones and osteoporosis. In addition, respiratory issues such as excessive mucous production or frequent colds and flu respond well to alkaline diets.

 I've been told to cut down on salt but I'm confused about how to gauge salt content in food items. Should I be watching the sodium or salt content?

AMany people confuse sodium with salt. In fact, sodium only makes up a small portion of salt. Most labels only list sodium content which makes it difficult to know how much salt is in our food. Where sodium is listed, we need to multiply the figure for sodium by 2.5 to get the amount of salt. This is especially important for people who are trying to keep their blood pressure down.

A high salt intake is responsible for about one in three new cases of high blood pressure. It also increase a person's risk of developing kidney disease, stomach cancer and osteoporosis.

The average daily salt intake in Ireland is high -- approximately 10g in adults. For optimum health, adults should ideally consume no more than 4g of salt per day, however, 6g (1 teaspoon) is generally accepted as a realistic target.

The easiest way to cut down on your salt intake is to reduce the amount of processed foods you eat. Processed foods that typically have high salt levels include condiments, soups, sauces, crisps, bread, pizza, ready-made meals and lunch meats.

Kidney Stone Prevention: 'Fact versus Fiction'

According to current estimates, kidney stones will develop in one in 10 people during their lifetime. This translates into nearly 30 million people in the United States. The prevalence is highest among those aged 30-45 years. High urinary calcium can be the cause of kidney stones in upwards of 80% of cases. The most prevalent stone composition is calcium oxalate. Once kidney stones develop, patients have a 50%-75% likelihood of developing another stone. The yearly cost of kidney stones in the United States was $2 billion (treatments, hospitalizations, lost work, etc.) in 1994 and is now estimated at $5 billion.1

Clearly, prevention is paramount when dealing with kidney stones. General guidelines for prevention include moderate protein intake, minimal salt ingestion, and drinking enough clear liquids to generate two liters of urine per day. A low oxalate diet has proved beneficial for preventing calcium oxalate stones. Reducing elevated urinary calcium levels helps to improve urinary saturation kinetics. Uric acid stones require dietary manipulation, adequate fluid intake to optimize volumes, and manipulation of urinary pH. Cystine stones, while relatively rare, require their own preventive measures.

Which fluid to drink is controversial. While water is the mainstay, a number of articles tout the benefit of different juices. For example, lemon juice increases urinary citrate and may prevent calcium stones. Whether one uses the recommended half cup of lemon juice per day straight up or diluted, is a personal choice. Lemonade is another frequently recommended choice. There are various opinions when it comes to the benefits of orange juice. It, too, increases urinary citrate levels, but there is concern that it could raise oxalate levels. Apple and cranberry juice contain oxalates and have been associated with a higher risk of calcium oxalate stones. Likewise, grapefruit juice has been associated with increased risk of stone formation. Soft drinks, via their phosphorus content, may lead to increased risk for kidney stones.2,3 The choice of fluid depends on other variables in the patient's urinary chemical composition.

What about sugar? Analysis from the Nurses Health Study II has shown that sugar increased kidney stone risk in young women by more than 30%. Whether this was an independent variable was unclear but the message is that high sugar, whether fructose or other sugar, is probably detrimental in the prevention of further kidney stones.

And the calcium controversy?  Calcium supplements, in excess, will increase your risk for forming kidney stones. Given all of the studies and commentaries, the simple take home message is that a diet containing normal amounts of calcium along with salt and animal protein reduction will likely protect against stones better than a low calcium regimen. It is accepted that a diet too low in calcium intake will allow preferential absorption of oxalate in the gut and increase the risk of calcium oxalate stones.

If diet alone is not helpful in correcting an abnormal urinary chemical environment, then medications are sometimes offered. These include thiazide diuretics for high urinary calcium levels, citrate supplementation for low urinary citrate levels, cystine binding drugs (i.e., penicillamine) for cystine stone prevention, as well as new options on the horizon, including oxalate degrading enzymes. But, like most drugs, these options have side effects. Thiazides, for instance, can worsen glucose tolerance, cause electrolyte imbalance, and aggravate triglyceride levels.

Cancelled op prolongs woman's pain

A GRIEVING widow was seconds away from being anaesthetised and wheeled into theatre when she was told her operation was cancelled.

Pauline Vuyk, of Van Diemans Road, Chelmsford, was looking forward to feeling like “a new person” before her operation to remove three kidney stones was called off at the last minute because of an equipment fault.

The 60-year-old petrol station worker, who has suffered with the painful stones on and off for six years, had been referred to a specialist at Broomfield Hospital, in Chelmsford, as an urgent case and was due to have an operation on Friday (OCT7).

“I was thinking today’s the day I’m going to be out of pain,” she said.

“I was in theatre laying on a trolley, they put me on a heart monitor and a needle was put in the back of my hand ready for the anaesthetic.

“A woman came out and I thought ‘this is it’ only to be told my operation was cancelled, it was like a smack in the face.”

The bad news was a double snub for Pauline, who is still coming to terms with the death of her husband two years ago, as she had an identical procedure cancelled in 2007.

She added: “I just sit and cry sometimes when I think what I’m going through yet again.

“It’s not acceptable, they can afford to have the hospital done up looking glamorous but can’t have equipment ready for an urgent case.”

Jo Triggs, spokeswoman for the Mid Essex Hospital Trust, which runs Broomfield, said: “The Trust would like to apologise to Mrs Vuyk for cancelling her procedure at short notice, but this was due to an unforeseeable problem with the laser machine.

“Stringent safety procedures are followed when using this machine so after the problem was discovered an immediate decision was taken not to use it until it was safe to do so. The problem has been rectified and all patient appointments are being rescheduled.”

Teen gets wish to spend a summer by the lake

Karrie Nichols got her wish this summer to spend every day looking out over Hartwell Lake and casting her rod into its waters.

The 17-year-old West Union resident has the most severe form of spina bifida, a disorder of the spinal cord that has paralyzed her from the waist down since birth.

Since mid-June, she has been living at a new campsite built just for her at the Coneross Campground in Oconee County. Her parents are with her, monitoring her medications and making sure she is comfortable — complications of the disease have caused several infections and kidney stones.

But like any teenager, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers chief ranger Zach Harkness said, Karrie wants a measure of independence.

“We built a concrete pad so she can get around by herself,” Harkness said. “Then there’s a sidewalk to go down to the shoreline. Then we built a fishing bulkhead with rails. She can take herself down there as she pleases.”

And she does.

Karrie is shy, choosing to speak only to those she’s known for a while — especially when she’s not feeling well. She offers an occasional smile and wry look to strangers. Jean Brown, a clinical nurse specialist at the Shriners Hospital of Greenville, said Karrie typically picks one person at the hospital to open up to.

“She’s a funny girl,” Brown said.

Karrie’s father, Ricky Nichols, vouched for his daughter’s catches this summer — mostly bream and a catfish or two.

“The first time she fished, there was something on the line, and she didn’t know it,” he said.

Family members helped net the fish.

Brown recommended Karrie for this special gift from the U.S. Corps of Engineers after the teen spent more than three months in the hospital last spring. She had been on life support after an infection made her ill and her temperature spiked to 105 degrees. Shortly thereafter, she had surgery for kidney stones.

“We didn’t know if we’d lose her,” said Karrie’s mother, Kathy Nichols.

“She didn’t want to eat or drink,” her father said.

The Atlanta-based Children’s Wish Foundation coordinated the details of Karrie’s gift, but the corps took on all the expenses, including giving the campsite free to the Nicholses all summer.

Karrie takes seizure medicines every six hours, and the frequency of her infections has rendered most antibiotics ineffective. She is on oxygen at night. She faces surgery for 11 more kidney stones again this fall, and her father said he knows it could be dangerous.

Spina bifida occurs during a baby’s early development in the womb. The material that will become the baby’s spine does not fully fuse, and the resulting hole exposes the enclosed nerves, said Amanda Darnley, spokeswoman for the Spina Bifida Association. No one knows the exact cause, though it has been linked to a deficiency of folic acid in the mother’s diet.

“We call them $1 million babies,” Darnley said. “The cost to a family or society is about $1 million by the time they reach the age of 10. The cost is overwhelming. Depending on actual conditions, they may face additional surgeries as they get older.”

When Karrie was born, several nerve endings protruded through her back, her father said, and she had a 50 percent chance of survival. Surgery within days of her birth closed the fist-sized wound, but the damage was already done. She’d lost the ability to control her legs.

“They took the feeding tubes off, and she ate. They took the breathing tube off, and she was still breathing,” her father said. “Her doctor couldn’t believe it.”

Her body’s response to the exposed nerves was to create an excess of spinal fluid, which built up in her brain. Doctors inserted a shunt into her head that still drains fluid from her head down to her belly.

Summer's Arrival Increases Risk of Kidney Stones

With research studies showing the incidence of kidney stones on the rise in the last 30 years, Californians should be mindful that today's arrival of summer increases risks, say experts at one of Northern California's largest urological medical practices.

About one in 300 Americans suffer kidney stones annually, according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). In California, doctors say the incidence rises each year along with outside temperatures. 

"As the weather gets warmer and drier every year, we see a significant increase in kidney stones," said Dr. Judson Brandeis of Pacific Urology. "The trend starts in spring and continues into the summer heat and aridity."

More men than women are sufferers, according to the NIH. While risks generally increase with age, people of ages 20 to 40 can also be more prone in the summer due to increased outdoor exertion and chances of dehydration, a major factor in stone formation.

Three simple preventative measures can be effective, Dr. Brandeis says:

    The easiest step is simply to drink more water. Lemonade can also help, due to a concentration of citric acid, a natural stone inhibitor.
    A low-oxalate diet can reduce intake of the chemical compound calcium-oxalate, a contributor to stone formation. Oxalate is found in berries, certain vegetables and nuts and seeds. For more information: http://www.pacificurology.com/diet-a-kidney-stones.
    Recent studies have shown that foods high in calcium, including dairy products, may help prevent calcium stones – contrary to what doctors used to think. However, taking calcium in pill form may increase the risk of developing stones.

The prevalence of kidney stones rises as men enter their 40s and continues to rise into their 70s. For women, the prevalence of kidney stones peaks in their 50s. People with a past history of stones are more prone to a recurrence, said Dr. Brandeis, and might consider avoiding food with added vitamin D and certain types of antacids with a calcium base.

About Pacific Urology

With clinics in Concord, Walnut Creek, Antioch, Brentwood, San Ramon, and Livermore, Pacific Urology is one of the San Francisco Bay Area's largest urology practices. Pacific Urology was formed in 1995 by six urologists in solo practice joining into one group.

Weight Loss Drugs: Public Citizen Calls for Ban on Alli, Xenical

In a new attempt to eliminate the only FDA-approved class of weight-loss drugs, Public Citizen issued a petition to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Thursday -- its second in five years -- calling for the agency to ban the class of drugs called orlistat, better known by the prescription brand names Xenical and Alli.

"These drugs have the potential to cause significant damage to multiple critical organs, yet they provide meager benefits in reducing weight loss in obese and overweight patients," said Dr. Sidney Wolfe, director of Public Citizen's Health Research Group.

An estimated 40 million people worldwide have taken either Xenical or Alli in the last decade. But sales have decreased substantially over the last decade. Alli sales dropped from $145 million in 2007 to $84 million by mid-2010, according to a report released by Public Citizen.

The drugs' maker, GlaxoSmithKline, announced Thursday it is trying to sell the brands.

Breakthrough Drug that Fizzled

In 1999, Xenical, sold by prescription, was touted as a breakthrough weight-loss drug. Alli was approved in 2007 as an over-the-counter drug. The FDA banned the two market-leading pills, Fen-phen and ephedra, because of potentially fatal side effects.

Studies suggest that taking Xenical or Alli would only help people lose 4 to 6 pounds more than they would with only diet and exercise.

"The benefit was never that great, but many people thought they'd take their chances," said Wolfe.

Drugs Block Fat Enzymes

The drugs work by blocking absorption of about a third of fat enzymes that enter the body. Instead, the fat passes through the body to the gastrointestinal tract until it is excreted. These medications also block fat-soluble vitamins including vitamins A, B, and K.

Some of the more common side effects of Alli or Xenical include diarrhea and stool leakage.

However, according to Dr. Donald Hensrud, associate professor of nutrition and preventive medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., the longer a patient stays on the medication, the more likely these symptoms will go away.

"The chances of having those side effects are a bit overrated," said Hensrud. "Only about 20 percent of people get those side effects, and in most people it lasts for less than a week."

More severe side effects reported to the FDA include liver disease, pancreatitis, and kidney stones. The FDA received 47 reports of acute pancreatitis and 73 cases of kidney stones attributed to orlistats.

While many experts say these side effects are rare, it's not clear what segment of people who use the drug may experience these severe conditions.

Monique Paulwell of Bowie, Md. said she only took Alli four times before she began feeling fatigue, loss of appetite, a nagging headache and jaundice.

"After a battery of tests, [doctors] said there had been an attack on my liver," said Paulwell. "By the time I was admitted to the hospital, I had 48 hours to live. It was that serious."

Paulwell said she thought taking Alli would help her lose a few pounds and maybe boost her acting career. Instead, she had a near-fatal experience her doctors told her was caused by the drug. She said she needed a liver transplant to save her life.

"What I knew is that it was FDA approved, it was safe for me to use," she said. "But what happened was I started to feel ill almost immediately after starting to use it."