Clinical Trials for HIV adults amd H1N1 Vaccine

B'SD

25 Kislev 5770

Important news for people with HIV:

HIV-infected adults currently are being recruited to participate in a clinical trial of 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine. The study, sponsored by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health, will enroll approximately 240 men and women between the ages of 18 and 64.

"People with suppressed immunity caused by conditions such as HIV infection are at increased risk of serious illness from 2009 H1N1 influenza, and should be vaccinated against the H1N1 virus," says NIAID Director Anthony S. Fauci, M.D.

"However, such immune suppression may hamper the response to influenza vaccines," Dr. Fauci adds. "While people with HIV infection are a high-priority group to receive 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, the optimal dosage of 2009 H1N1 vaccine for people with HIV infection has not been determined through clinical trials. This study will help address that gap in knowledge."

All study participants will receive two doses of an inactivated 2009 H1N1 influenza vaccine, administered approximately 21 days apart. The vaccine is manufactured by Novartis. Half of the volunteers will receive two 15-microgram doses and the other half two 30-microgram doses of the vaccine.

Within each dosage group, volunteers will be further divided into two groups based on their CD4+ T-cell levels. CD4+ T cells are infection-fighting white blood cells that are targeted by HIV. Healthy people usually have between 800 and 1,200 CD4+ T cells per milliliter of blood. Over time, most people with HIV show a drop in CD4+ T-cell counts, though antiretroviral therapy can help restore them to healthy levels.

Get the whole story at

NIAID TRIAL OF 2009 H1N1 INFLUENZA VACCINE

ENROLLING HIV-POSITIVE ADULTS

The trial is being conducted at six sites, including these five NIAID-funded Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston; Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center; Saint Louis University, Mo.; University of Iowa, Iowa City; and University of Maryland, Baltimore. The University of Washington, Seattle, also is participating in the trial.

Get additional details about this study at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ and at Novartis H1N1.

Learn about other National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) of the National Institutes of Health activities, especially about earlier trials, that began in October, enrolling HIV-infected pregnant women and children and young adults with HIV too.

~*~

The soothing suggestions and Global Resources section for low-cost or free items ill people need are why so many medical and mental health therapists recommend my book.

No matter the diagnosis, you can probably find something to help you in E-book, EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.

Yocheved Golani
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

Vaccination Fascination

B'SD

24 Cheshvan 5770

I shared my concerns plus some preventative safety tips about the Mexican Swine H1N1 Flu on this blog several times. Medical professionals feared massive death tolls from the 21st century's pending Flu Pandemic. Mainstream media kept blaring warnings about a Spanish Flu Redux. It sold a lot of "Film at 11" updates and many newspapers. But something doesn't add up.

Color me confused.

The Mexican/Swine/H1N1 Flu Vaccine is NOT a proven preventative. It's even a suspected cause of other health problems! There's evidence that the vaccine has not been adequately tested, though it is being used on vulnerable populations: pregnant women, children with developing immune systems and immuno-compromised adults.

No matter what you call that infection,

something else odd stands out about it:

It's not killing all that many people.

Despite prognostications that we'd see Spanish Flu Death Rate Redux worldwide (e.g., Reuters' Alert, Sydney Mechanic's School of Arts, World Health Organization, and on and on) the majority of fatalities from the current Flu Du Jour are related to chronic health problems that preceded the flu infection.

Though those deaths leave heartbroken survivors behind, they are not as high as predicted by shrill warning from the media and some governments.

I consulted generalist Dr. Carey/Zvi Buckman

in Israel.

Here's how our online dialogue went:

YG: Carey, WHY is Swine Flu being touted as "epidemic" if it is NOT affecting significantly large amounts of the populations in countries where it exists?

CZB: It is a legitimate question. A pandemic is called such because of the rapidness of the spread, and the fact that it is worldwide. With thousands of people getting ill in over 20 countries, and dozens in each country dying of the illness, for which the public health agencies were unprepared (with vaccines), this merits as being called a pandemic. Whether it will turn out to be any more noxious than the usual seasonal flu is not yet clear, but the fact remains that the health establishment was unprepared for this illness.

By the way, further information disseminated today (November 10 2009), that the pandemic is not as serious as predicted, and perhaps vaccinating everyone with an untested vaccine is not warranted considering the-- as to now-- lack of overall severity of the illness, and the possible side effects of the vaccines.

So, readers, I'll stick with my original premise:

Stay clean.

Eat nourishing foods.

Drink plenty of pure water.

and

PRAY hard.

I alerted you to the fact that this Mexican Swine H1N1 Flu began to peak at the beginning of Iyar, a spring-time Jewish month. The initials of the month are commonly understood in Hebrew as "Ani HaShem Rofecha", I GOD am Your Healer.

I welcome your thoughts on the subject. And I recommend a terrific E-book that informs you about LOTS of low-cost and no-cost health care solutions plus terrific can-do stress-busters.

EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge.

Yocheved Golani
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

Know the Facts about H1N1

B'SD

3 Elul 5769


I'm noticing increased nervousness about H1N1/Swine Flu on listservs, in mainstream media and in conversations. People are increasingly fearful of the World Health Organization's recent projection about an "Explosion" of new cases.

Calm yourself with a look at the

Center for Disease Control's site about H1N1.

Then look at the

CDC's Tips for Preventing the Flu.

You can follow the CDC guidelines for safe coughing by using disposable tissues or washable 100% cotton handkerchiefs.


Toss out the tissues as soon as you've finished wiping your nose or covering your cough (flush them to the sewer for additional precaution if that makes you feel safer). Place used hankies in your pocket or purse. Toss them into the hamper when you return home, and launder the load ASAP.

None of that stuff should pile up on your desk, kitchen table, dresser, etc.

Keep several packages of tissues handy so you won't be tempted to reach for used tissues again and again. Buy several handkerchiefs so you'll have a ready supply on hand when some are in the laundry. You might grow to prefer handkerchiefs. The cottony softness won't irritate your skin as much as paper tissues can.

Your neighbor or someone else might make persuasive, frightening remarks about H1N1/Swine Flu (I prefer not to repeat the fear-mongering rumors I've learned about), but you owe it to yourself to check the facts. Rumors are generally good for raising your blood pressure, not your chances of remaining healthy.

Know the facts, ignore the rumors.

See the August 21 2009

International Situation Update.

Now please take my frequent advice on this blog and throughout my book: nurture your inner giggle. Focus on something that pleases you and do something that makes you feel happy. Keep a happiness journal to remind yourself of good stuff when you're feeling very down. You need to increase your sense of optimism.

Smile on purpose.


THAT can help you to cope with a medical challenge, including flu.

Yocheved Golani
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

Swine Flu Redux: New Zealand ON ALERT!

B'SD


22 Tamuz 5769

URGENT UPDATE

Swine Flu is leaving some people untouched and doing the unexpected: killing otherwise healthy people. See:

Otherwise Healthy 6-Year Old and a Doctor Die of Swine Flu. New Zealand Takes Extra Precautions

Full coverage of the swine flu outbreak from the New Zealand Herald. ... NZ's swine flu death toll climbs • Clinics struggle to Cope

Fighting for Their Lives in New Zealand

STUDY: New flu resembles 1918 virus... And Its Survivors Seem Immune to the New Flu

Swine Flu 'Unstoppable', All Countries Will Need Vaccine...

Whew! Here's some hopeful news:

Israeli Research: Fighting Swine Flu Pandemic With Mathematics ...

Readers, take this flu situation seriously.

Stay as clean as possible.

Wash your hands, doorknobs,
toilet handle, phones, purse

and briefcase handles frequently.

Use cleansers, not simply water.

I just spoke with a live audience today, about the need to be vigilant about our health. Assumptions are not proving helpful just now. Stay informed, stay clean. And above all, laugh out loud.

Happiness and optimism are among the best health protection tools a person can have. Count your blessings.

Kiss the ones you can ;^ )

See my June 11

"What You Can Do to Protect Yourself"

message about all this.

Click on I'm Buying "It's My Crisis!" So I can Learn to Cope with a Medical Challenge with a Sense of Humor.



To your good health,

Yocheved Golani






Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

Listen to Me LIVE! On A7 Radio TODAY!

B'SD

UPDATE: Click on The Swine of Our Time to hear ME, Yocheved Golani on how to cope with Swine Flu and other personal medical crises. Mon, Jun 22

30 Sivan/Rosh Chodesh Tamuz 5769

20 minutes ago, Yishai Fleischer of Arutz 7 radio called to book me for a 4PM radio show TODAY about my Self-Help coaching and book for coping with medical crises.

Tune in to A7 radio and click on the LIVE! icon whenever your part of the world resonates with 4PM in Israel today.

We'll discuss Swine Flu, Mexican Flu, H1N1 (gosh it has more names and travels more airlines than you can easily count!) and other medical issues. Call in to ask your questions (be sure to use International Calling Codes) at :

US & Canada: 1-800-270-4288
Israel: 1-800-270-428
England: 00-800-3-700-7000
Elsewhere: +972-2-997-2425

Click on I'm Buying "It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To."

So many radio show hosts keep inviting Yocheved to speak about her book it MUST BE "A Life Book that Helps You to Dry Your Tears and to Cope with a Medical Challenge"!


To your good health,

Yojeved Golani
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

Breaking News from Brazil: Swine Flu is Changing

B'SD

25 Sivan 5769

I'm racing the clock to meet all my obligations this week. Meanwhile, here's breaking news about something I warned you of earlier - that Swine Flu H1N1 can change unpredictably:

Brazil Announces New Form of H1N1

Readers, my previous posts on the topic included WHO's expectations that the H1N1 virus could morph, change, into new strains.

Because nobody can predict how this situation will develop, and I suspect that it will get scarier over time, I suggest that you take a few more safety precautions.

Israel's Home Front Command has good ideas about how to prepare for an emergency. As in preparing now, not later. Later is usually too late. Get your gear together.

Want to cope better with the fear and uncertainty of the Swine Flu situation? Learn how to calm down and to plan methodical strategies with "It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To: A Life Book that Helps You to Dry Your Tears and to Cope with a Medical Challenge."


To your good health,

Yojeved Golani
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

Level 6: What You Can Do to Protect Your Health

B'SD



URGENT UPDATE: You can click on the World Health Organization's updates here: http://www.who.int/en/

(I apologize for failing to include these sites earlier:

World Health Organization updates in French http://www.who.int/fr/index.html

and in Spanish http://www.who.int/es/index.html

Check out America's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Get the CDC's specific updates about Swine Flu/H1N1

Breaking News: How to Protect Yourself During H1N1 Pandemic )

Israeli readers can find Hebrew-language information about the H1N1 Influenza Pandemic and all other Israeli health issues at http://www.health.gov.il/.

The English version of the site is http://www.health.gov.il/english/


I've written about this pending situation before. My blogpost Swine Flu H1N1 Level 6? contains safety precautions. My Travel Warning holds other relevant information.

I won't bore you with links to additional prescient "Level 6" posts at this blog.

What I will do is to ask you to:

Stay as clean as possible,

To keep your surroundings
as clean as possible,

And to refer to
impeccable sources of information

within the medical world.

DO NOT rely on what "somebody" told you.

You're scared already.

Listening to someone speaking

out of panic and ignorance

is not going to improve your life.

Calm down and think more sensibly
when you click on

I'm Buying
"It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To"
because I'd like to avoid a sense of panic.
As the title explains, it is
"A Life Book that Helps You
to Dry Your Tears
and to Cope with a Medical Challenge."

To your good health,

Yojeved Golani
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

If You're Facing a Medical Crisis...

B'SD

11 Sivan 5769

I've weighed my words all day in order to create this post. Here goes:

You're facing a medical challenge as it is.

I strongly suggest that you make sure not to overtax your body, to keep washing stuff that's handled often (toilet handles, door knobs, phones, etc.), and to avoid crowds if you are dealing with an illness as the sick person or as the caregiver.

Here's why:

WHO: World 'getting closer' to flu pandemic...

PHASE 6...

According to the advice I've learned so far from medical professionals, the best defense for guarding one's health from the above-mentioned dangers is to minimize your exposure to germs.

If you cough or sneeze, aim at the inside of your elbow (raise your arm to your face). Cover your coughs and sneezes to prevent the spread of germs.

Reward yourself for your sensible protective efforts. You can learn about little to no-cost fun ways to treat yourself (and other helpful stuff) in "It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To: A Life Book that Helps You to Dry Your Tears and to Cope with a Medical Challenge."

To your coping skills,

Yojeved Golani
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

Survival in 10 Easy Steps

B'SD


8 Sivan


Whew, the early 21st Century has been through a dramatic time in history for the world at large: Economic collapse, Swine Flu/H1N1 sweeping the globe (after frightening AIDS, Bird Flu, SARS and other diseases have devastated humanity), political shocks, piracy on the high seas, nuclear missile tests, never-ending slaughters of defenseless populations, and two lingering, frightening questions:

"WHAT'S NEXT?" and "What am I supposed to DO?"

This blog usually focuses on physical and mental health issues (as in coping with medical adversity and the severe stress it can cause). But my Self-Help Coaching services expose me to more diverse issues (e.g., spiritual, social, employment, financial, self-esteem, identity crises, moral and ethical matters).

It all comes down to one core issue:

HOW can I/you/we Survive the Situations we're in???

My circle of acquaintances includes some very influential, upbeat people. One of those acquaintances, Rabbi Pinchas Winston, is a highly educated and very amiable educator/writer. He and I have explored the possibilities of how to help people facing increasingly complicated and baffling problems affecting folks around the globe.

Put all that together and you'll understand why I'm pleased to share this announcement from Rabbi Winston's Thirtysix.org organization:

Survival in 10 Easy Steps

Click on the link above.

To your spiritual, psychological and physical health,

Yocheved

Swine Flu/H1N1 Level 6?

B'SD

24 Iyar 5769

Sorry for the late-in-the-day post. My schedule suddenly filled with some quickly pending due dates in the journalism world (whew, that's GOOD news for me in the chaotic news world) and I'm working hard to satisfy my editors.

Back to this blogpost:

I've alerted you before to potential dangers of the H1N1 (Swine Flu for the scientific vocabulary challenged folks among us): World Health Organization Statement

I even specified my travel warning

Why bring all this up?

I'm increasingly concerned at WHO's reluctance to declare a Level 6 situation as it notes progressively far-reaching cases of infection:

Influenza A(H1N1) virus

WHO/PAHO/Harold Ruiz
Antiviral drugs arrive at Mexico City airport, Mexico.18 May 2009 --

As of 06:00 GMT, 18 May 2009,
39 countries have officially reported

8480 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection.

then notes this:

Concern over flu pandemic justified.

WHAT is a concerned person to do in this confusing situation? I suggest that you read Director-General's address to the Health Assembly

and keep checking in at http://www.who.int/en/ to stay up-to-date on things.

Don't rely on hearsay, rumors, and urban legends. Not even from friends and relatives. DO NOT respond to irresponsible E-mails promising you cures and preventatives for Swine Flu/H1N1.

Stick with verifiable facts.

Click on I'm Buying "It's MY Crisis! And I'll Cry if I Need To: A Life Book that Helps You to Dry Your Tears and to Cope with a Medical Challenge" to Learn More about Protecting My Health and that of My Loved Ones.

Folks, I've worked in the healthcare industry and reported on it for decades.

Pay Close Attention to this URGENT UPDATE: CDC: 100,000 LIKELY INFECTED WITH NEW STRAIN IN USA

Keep washing your hands, the children's hands, doorknobs, you name it.

Cleanliness is the best safeguard I know of so far.

To your good health,

Yojeved Golani
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life

Do You know How to Dine on the Safe Side?

B'SD



4 Iyar 5769



I've received messages asking me for further clarification about eating pork. Some of my book and blog readers want to know why I'm so hyped up about pork (well for starters, I'm Jewish!) and if I want the entire world to go vegetarian (no!).

The issue is hygiene: personal and otherwise.

Dirty animals, as I

mentioned the other day,

seem to be part of the problem.

Check out the paragraph below, part of the larger story at

http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE53N22820090427

The swine flu is not caught from eating pig meat products, but several countries imposed import bans on pork from the United States. Stocks in companies such as airlines were also hit as investors worried about the impact on travel.


OK, readers. There you have it. Neutral analysis of protective safety measures. We'll know more facts as the future unfolds.

BTW, the Hebrew name of

this month is Iyar,

an acronym for

"Ani HaShem Rofecha,"

I, GOD, am your healer.

Interesting time for a worldwide

pandemic scare, hmmm?

Let's be nicer out there.

Praying for an end to the nightmare,


Yochi

Is it Possible to Prevent Swine Flu from Hurting YOU?

B'SD

2 Iyar 5769

I'm sharing some thoughts on the chance (and the hope) that some medical professionals will respond to them.

Swine Flu has swept the world into a frenzy (with mainstream media's help). I'd like to minimize the cause for concern, if possible.

I'm eager to clarify a link between:

1. Filthy animals used as food

2. Antibiotics in the food chain,

and 3. Human disease.

If my theories about a link between filthy animals used as food, and antibiotics for those inevitably sickened animals in the food chain - both of which might lead to human disease - have merit, then there might be a simple way to minimize Swine (and Avian) Flu dangers.

FACTS:
Swine Flu has appeared in places (North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and parts of Asia) with opportunistic environments: pig troughs and pig pens.

Garbage, feces, and other non-food items such as fattening hormones commonly added to animal feed (cost-cutting and profit-promoting maneuvers) also nourish specific viruses/germs/bacteria/etc., then further weaken the now poorly nourished animals twice-over.

Filthy feed troughs seem to present a case of double jeopardy: Pigs swallowing the viruses or rolling about in them, absorb them into their flesh.

Their inevitably weakened health thus provokes antibiotic use to curb disease outbreaks, a double whammy on human health.

1. People handling sickened animals
have clearly been harmed by
the dangerous exposure.

2. Antibiotics are foreign to the food chain.

Human and animal digestive systems weren't designed to

process antibiotics on a frequent basis.

A vicious cycle of animals dining

on dirty, infected feed

and non-food items,

handled by workers thus exposed

to Swine Flu virus

(and who knows what else!)

and then served for dinner is

an all-too-common reality.

THEORY:
The above scenario leads me to suspect that if handlers are on nutritionally poor diets themselves, they'd be even more susceptible to risks of Swine Flu infection, thus facilitating the animal-to-human infection danger among themselves and everyone in contact with them.

Frequent dining on antibiotic-filled food might be harming human diners. What if the antibiotics don't prevent Swine Flu?

Eating Swine Flu-infected animals might also spread disease. If Swine Flu viruses are impervious to low heat, then improper cooking could complicate matters.

CONCLUSION:
The threats above may hold true for all animals used for human consumption: Cows, chickens, ducks, geese, etc.

Think Avian Flu and SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and reflect on past headlines.

Infected people interact with other people, all of them

unsuspecting targets of the

viruses/germs/bacteria

crossing the once durable

animal/human barrier.

Air travel facilitates the spread of disease.

So does breathing.

Neither reality is about to disappear.

I suspect that proper animal feed (clean whole grains, clean produce, clean water) would prevent monstrously morphing bacteria, viruses and germs.

The absence of junk to 'eat' could cause them to die off.

Worldwide medical advice seems to indicate that we should stay as healthy as possible, keeping our immune systems strong so that bad-news bacteria, germs and viruses will not prey on us.

POSSIBLE SOLUTION

I'd like to suggest that people

stop eating dirty animals.

Stick to organically raised livestock

that dined only on

clean feed and clean water,

and lived in clean environments.

Behaving with maximum decency and compassion, no matter your mood or circumstances can only improve your inner and outer health. The world of medical and mental health science proves that point. And, to be something of a name-dropper, GOD promised us the same thing (Shmot/Exodus 15:26 and elsewhere).

I welcome responses to the thoughts I've shared above.

Meanwhile, be attentive to Swine Flu safety guidelines at

World Health Organization,

CDC: Tips For Containing Spread of Swine Flu

and at

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Swine Flu

Click on I'm Buying Yocheved's Book for More Ideas about How to Protect My Health.


To your good health,

Yojeved Golani
Coping with a Medical Crisis?
Make the Changes You Need in Your Life