In honor of National Stroke Awareness Month, Shands Rehab Hospital will hold a stroke fair from 10 a.m. to noon May 23. Anyone who is interested in learning about stroke prevention or rehabilitation is encouraged to attend the event. There will be risk assessments, local support groups and information about the latest local stroke research and treatment. Shands Rehab Hospital is located at 4101 NW 89th Blvd. For more information, call 352-265-0680, ext. 70144.

There’s no substitute for blood, and with 5 million people requiring a blood transfusion each year, community blood supplier LifeSouth has a hefty responsibility. To help meet its demand of 728 donors per day, or 266,000 donations a year, the center will bring its bloodmobile and team to the Shands at UF clinical atrium, adjacent to the main Shands at UF Atrium, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 6-31. With more than 1,000 drives a month, LifeSouth can provide donations to more than 100 hospitals in Alabama, Florida and Georgia. For more information, email Clay Gibbons, community development coordinator at LifeSouth, at jcgibbons@lifesouth.org, or call 352-334-1000, ext. 1026.

They say a photo is worth a thousand words. With this in mind, UF&Shands has launched a new website to mark the three-year anniversary of the Forward Together strategic plan. The site is the home of The Big Picture campaign, which showcases photographs of places and people from throughout the academic health center. The website, thebigpicture.ufandshands.org, includes four sections. “Name That View” features one picture from Gainesville and one from Jacksonville on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Employees are asked to guess where the photos were taken. Prizes for right answers include being entered in a weekly drawing for a $25 gift card and a grand prize drawing of an iPad mini. Other pages include an announcement center called “Setting Our Sights” and “How We See It,” a page with multimedia stories about staff members at UF&Shands.

UF Information Technology is currently making improvements to cell phone coverage at UF&Shands, the UF Academic Health Center. The technical design of the distributed antenna system, or DAS, serving UF&Shands is complete and installation is underway. The buildings included in this phase of the cell phone coverage improvement project are: Shands at UF General Services Building, Shands at UF Main Building, Shands Cancer Hospital, Human Development Building, Academic Research Building, Stetson Medical Science Building, Biomedical Sciences Building, Basic Sciences Building and the Dental Science Building. Installation should be complete by Oct. 1. DAS design for additional health center buildings is underway, with on-air activation slated for early 2014. For additional information about DAS projects at UF, please email Larry Benton, director of engineering operations.

Need to make a doctor’s appointment on-the-go? The UFandShands.org website has been optimized to work on all smartphones. From the home screen, visitors can quickly find a location or provider, look up a health topic or research study and make appointments. About 20 percent of visitors access the UFandShands.org website from a mobile device, so now the entire website — all 20,000 pages — is available on the mobile site.

UF veterinarians help pregnant dachshund with pancreatitis

By Sarah Carey

Dachshund breeder Dale Flowers has weathered many a journey with her dogs, shepherding them through pregnancies, even letting them sleep in her bed at night just weeks before their due date. But the medical odyssey she recently went through with Patches, named for her unique dappled marking, was unlike any other.

Thanks to treatment at UF’s Pet Emergency Treatment Services in Ocala and follow-up at the Small Animal Hospital in Gainesville, a very-pregnant Patches survived a near-fatal bout with pancreatitis. And not only did she survive; she gave birth within days of her discharge to three puppies, two of which survived and are healthy.

“Patches and the pups are doing fine,” Flowers said on April 1, when the puppies were 6-and-a-half weeks old. “I am very pleased with Patches’ progress and thank UF again for saving her and her babies.”

But the happy ending to Patches’ saga could have easily gone the other way. UF veterinarians came close to spaying Patches due to the severity of her illness, which would have meant sacrificing the babies to save her life, with uncertain impact on Patches. Veterinarians wrestled with the best way to proceed, involving specialists from three different services, said Leo Londoño, D.V.M., a resident in emergency and critical care.

Londoño first saw Patches when she was admitted at the PETS after-hours emergency clinic and continued to work with the dog after her transfer to Gainesville for specialty treatment.

Ultimately, veterinarians’ decision to administer aggressive therapy and give Patches more time to respond to it resulted in Patches’ and her puppies’ survival. In addition, the relationship between the two UF clinics involved in her care allowed for a seamless transfer to Gainesville and access to the full house of experts available at the main Small Animal Hospital.

Patches’ ordeal started on Jan. 30, when Flowers found her prized 5-year-old dog on the ground and obviously in pain. Patches was hyperventilating and would not eat, Flowers said. When her condition didn’t improve after a few days of treatment, Flowers’ local veterinarian referred the dog to UF.

Veterinary specialists from UF’s emergency and critical care, small animal surgery and theriogenology services were involved in Patches’ case, illustrating UF’s multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving and case management, Londoño said.

Flowers said the ordeal was an emotional roller coaster and one she hoped to never have to go through again.

“UF’s care of Patches was very good,” she said. “Everyone from the front desk to teams in the ICU knew Patches and had nice things to say about her. I received daily reports, sometimes twice daily, from Dr. Londoño, and I greatly appreciated that.”

Traveling activist’s dog recuperating after surgery at Small Animal Hospital

By Sarah Carey

Erik Bendl, known to fans and friends as “World Guy” for his walking treks across the globe, recently brought his dog and walking buddy, Nice, to the UF Small Animal Hospital for treatment.

For Erik Bendl, known as “World Guy” for his countrywide treks pushing a canvas globe to promote diabetes awareness, the world’s weight got a little lighter after his dog, Nice, underwent knee surgery at the UF Small Animal Hospital in March.

“We think there’s a good chance Nice will make a full recovery over the next few months and be off to his long walks again,” said Caleb Hudson, D.V.M., a veterinary surgeon at UF who performed Nice’s two-and-a-half hour operation.

Bendl began walking with a mission — to promote diabetes awareness — after his mother, a former Kentucky alderman and state representative, died at 54 of complications from the disease. He has walked more than 6,000 miles in 41 states, in all kinds of weather, sharing his story and his motivational message — that Type 2 diabetes doesn’t have to be a death sentence. In many cases, it can be prevented through weight loss and exercise. Bendl says people should “love themselves and take a walk.” For the past six years, Nice, a 6-year-old blackmouth cur mix, has walked with him.

Nice began limping in Florida during Bendl’s latest journey, which began in Pensacola and was to end in Tampa. After getting caught in a storm, he hunkered down in Spring Hill, where a local business owner offered shelter. Nice’s limping became worse. He saw a veterinarian in the area, who suspected a problem involving either Nice’s hip or knee joints. Bendl sought a second opinion from veterinary specialists at UF.

When Bendl arrived at UF March 4, he wasn’t pushing the huge blue-and-green painted globe he’s usually seen with in photos. That was out in the parking lot in his weathered purple van, although he did offer to inflate the world for the staff’s amusement. With his wide smile, colorful stories and self-deprecating humor, Bendl did his best to remain positive while an orthopedic surgeon examined Nice and performed tests. But by day’s end, Bendl’s heart was heavy.

“I didn’t expect that Nice’s problems would be this severe or this expensive to deal with,” he said.

Nice was diagnosed as having torn cranial cruciate ligaments in both knees, requiring surgery to correct the problems. The cost was estimated at approximately $5,000. UF was able to subsidize part of the cost through its Pet Samaritan Fund, but Erik still had to come up with around $3,400 to cover the procedures and postoperative X-rays. The doctor recommended that the UF surgery team operate as soon as possible to have the best chance of a good outcome.

For a man with no credit and no regular income — Bendl supports himself and Nice through the support of friends, family members and strangers — the figure and the time frame were daunting.

Overwhelmed, Bendl headed back to Spring Hill to mull his options. The next morning, the 50-year-old Kentucky native was resolute — he’d do whatever he could to help his dog, relying on the resources at hand: his World Guy blog, his friends and his personal and public Facebook pages.

Within 10 days enough funds had been collected to cover Nice’s surgery and most of his postoperative tests.

With Nice now recuperating, Bendl said the two plan to lay low for now and take things as they come.

One step at a time.

Neurologist’s book aims to help patients, families dealing with Parkinson’s disease

 By April Frawley Birdwell

Dr. Michael Okun

UF neurologist Michael Okun, M.D., has answered more than 20,000 questions from patients with Parkinson’s disease, typically not about cures or the latest treatments, but about something much simpler — how to live well with the disease. Now Okun has written a book that he hopes will help patients everywhere.

“The more I talk to Parkinson’s patients, the more I realized a couple of things,” said Okun, co-director of the UF Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration. “Almost nothing is available to patients about basic lifestyle things in any language but English. Even among the most educated patients, who have access to everything, there are still lots of very simple things they aren’t doing. There are lots of things you can do to improve your quality of life.”

To address this need, Okun has authored a book titled “Parkinson’s Treatment: 10 Secrets to a Happier Life.” Published this month, the book is now available on Amazon and Smashwords in more than 20 languages. The e-book retails for $3.99. His goal is to reach every patient and family dealing with the disease.

Globally, about 4 to 6 million people have Parkinson’s disease, and 50,000 to 60,000 new cases are diagnosed in the United States each year, according to the National Parkinson Foundation. As people continue to live longer, the prevalence of Parkinson’s disease in the population also will increase, Okun said.

“It is really important for people to recognize this is a problem,” said Okun, who also serves as medical director for the National Parkinson Foundation. “If you plan on living a long life, pushing up into the eighth or ninth decade, your chances of facing a disease like this are very high. You cannot escape it.”

But unlike having a disease such as Alzheimer’s, patients can live for decades with Parkinson’s — so understanding how to live well with the disease is crucial.

Some of the topics Okun covers in the book are how to prepare for hospital stays and when to take medications, as well as everyday issues such as sleeping and exercise. Chapters are also devoted to secondary problems such as depression and addiction-like symptoms in Parkinson’s patients.

“Really, these should not be secrets,” Okun said. “If you know these things, you can live a much better life with your disease.”

To Okun, what is perhaps most important is making the information available in languages besides English. The book was made available on both Amazon and Smashwords specifically to increase the number of possible translations. Currently, copies can be found in 20 languages, including English, Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and Arabic among others.

“There isn’t any joking with Dr. Okun about the ‘10 Secrets to a Happier Life’ in Parkinson’s disease,” said Muhammad Ali, who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1984, in a written statement. “This book is a critical resource for Parkinson’s disease patients and families from around the world who speak different languages but suffer from very similar and often disabling symptoms.”

Eric R. Frykberg, M.D., a longtime UF colleague and leader at Shands Jacksonville, died March 25 at the age of 62.

For nearly 30 years, Frykberg was a key leader at Shands Jacksonville who played an integral role in all aspects of the department of surgery as a professor and chief of the division of general surgery at the UF College of Medicine-Jacksonville.

Frykberg received his medical degree at the Medical College of Virginia and completed his residency in general surgery at New York University and the Medical University of South Carolina. Frykberg was a staff surgeon at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Jacksonville from 1982 to 1985. He then joined the medical staff at University Medical Center and the faculty of the University of Florida. He was clinically and academically productive, progressing quickly to tenure as a professor.

He was active nationally and internationally. He will be particularly remembered for his advancements in trauma care and disaster preparedness. He was a founding member and past president of the Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma; a governor of the American College of Surgeons and a member of its Committee on Trauma; and a fellow of the American Surgical Association and of the Southern Surgical Association.

His academic interests involved not only trauma care and disaster management, but also vascular injuries, general surgical problems and the management of breast cancer and breast diseases. His broad experience and knowledge were key attributes to his success as a master surgical educator.

Frykberg is survived by his wife of 39 years, Patti; daughter Erica Glass, D.O.; son Brett Frykberg, M.D.; daughter Jessica Vogel and five grandchildren.

UF honored for role in helping Early Steps program

The department of pediatrics at the UF College of Medicine-Jacksonville has received the Florida Governor’s Savings Award from Gov. Rick Scott for finding cost savings at the Jacksonville-based Northeastern Early Steps Program while maintaining the effectiveness of services.

The Governor’s Savings Award recognizes state employees and private-sector affiliates who identify cost savings for state programs while maintaining or increasing their effectiveness.

“Through the dedicated efforts of the staff of the Northeastern Early Steps Program at the pediatric department of the University of Florida College of Medicine-Jacksonville, significant savings in state dollars were made which resulted from increased efficiencies while increasing services to more children,” said David Childers, M.D., a UF assistant professor of pediatrics and medical director of the Northeastern Early Steps Program. “This dedication to families of children with developmental concerns is the hallmark of this team of specialists and is reflective of the Department of Pediatrics.”

Northeastern Early Steps is part of the statewide Early Steps program under Children’s Medical Services. It is a family-centered program that provides services at no cost to families for infants and toddlers from birth to 36 months of age with developmental delays or conditions likely to lead to developmental delays.

Through coordination of support services, Early Steps empowers parents and caregivers with the tools and knowledge they need to enhance their children’s development. Family members and other caregivers are shown how to build children’s skills and abilities using the routines and activities that exist in everyday life. The Northeastern Early Steps program provides natural-environment services such as occupational therapy, speech therapy, physical therapy, case management, special instruction and assistive technology in Baker, Bradford, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties.

HealthStreet combines research, service for community

 By Mina Radman

Lakeshia Hobdy, a community health worker with HealthStreet, talks with Ronnie Boykin./Photo by Jesse S. Jones

Elta Desvariste, 22, has been interning at HealthStreet for three months.

The health science senior spends her days reaching out to the community to share information about medical and social services at HealthStreet and in the community. She also conducts health assessments with community members both in the community and at HealthStreet. A few weeks ago, a homeless woman thanked Desvariste for sharing information she wouldn’t have otherwise learned.

“Knowing that I’m able to help her makes this a great experience,” Desvariste said.

HealthStreet, led by Linda Cottler, Ph.D., M.P.H., chair of the department of epidemiology in the colleges of Medicine and Public Health and Health Professions, is a community-based effort that assesses health conditions and needs of the community and, based on those needs and concerns, offers services and referrals to social and medical services. HealthStreet also works to reduce disparities in health research by linking people to health studies, matched to their needs and concerns.

On April 5, HealthStreet won a UF Champion for Change award. UF President Bernie Machen and his wife, Chris, presented the honor, given for championing community engagement efforts for social equity, at the university’s Earth Day celebration.

The program’s community health workers visit people at laundromats, grocery stores, bus stops and other places in Alachua County daily to speak with residents about their health and needs. They conduct 15-minute health assessments, asking about their health history, and top health and neighborhood concerns.

The HealthStreet office, located at 2401 SW Archer Road, offers a clothing closet, toiletry pantry, HIV testing, educational classes and blood pressure checks as well as other services.

HealthStreet follows the model of a program Cottler started in St. Louis in 1989. She began the program at UF in November 2011, when she came to Gainesville to head the epidemiology department. HealthStreet has begun providing services in Jacksonville, and is now underway in Sydney, Australia, too.

“With this model, we are learning more about how to help the community, and what needs they have,” Cottler said. “What we find out from research we try to share with the community. Through this program, we try to build trust with the community.”

To find out more about HealthStreet, visit myhealthstreet.org.

New research may help explain why

By Melissa Lutz Blouin

We’ve all been there: You’re at work deeply immersed in a project when suddenly you start thinking about your weekend plans. It happens because behind the scenes, parts of your brain are battling for control.

Now, UF researchers and their colleagues are using a new technique that allows them to examine how parts of the brain battle for dominance when a person tries to concentrate on a task. Addressing these fluctuations in attention may help scientists better understand many neurological disorders such as autism, depression and mild cognitive impairment.

Mingzhou Ding, Ph.D., a UF professor of biomedical engineering, and Xiaotong Wen, Ph.D., a UF assistant research scientist of biomedical engineering; Yijun Liu of the UF McKnight Brain Institute and Peking University; and Li Yao of Beijing Normal University, reported their findings in the The Journal of Neuroscience.

Scientists know different networks within the brain have distinct functions. Ding, Wen and their colleagues used a brain imaging technique called functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, and biostatistical methods to examine interactions between a set of areas they call the task control network and another set of areas known as the default mode network.

The task control network regulates attention to surroundings, controlling concentration on a task such as doing homework, or listening for emotional cues during a conversation. The default mode network is thought to regulate self-reflection and emotion, and often becomes active when a person seems to be doing nothing else.

“We knew that the default mode network decreases in activity when a task is being performed, but we didn’t know why or how,” said Ding, a professor of biomedical engineering in the J. Crayton Pruitt department of biomedical engineering. “We also wanted to know what is driving that activity decrease.

“For a long time, the questions we are asking could not be answered.”

In the past, researchers could not distinguish between directions of interactions between regions of the brain, and could come up with only one number to represent an average of the back-and-forth interactions. Ding and his colleagues used a new technique to untangle the interactions in each direction to show how the different brain regions interact with one another. In their study, the researchers used fMRI to examine the brains of people performing a task that required concentration. The scientists can see the activity in certain areas of the brain at the same time a person is performing a given task. They can see which parts of the brain are active and which are not and correlate this to how successful a person is at a given task. They then applied the Granger causality technique to look at the data they saw in the fMRI. Named for Nobel Prize-winning economist Clive Granger, this technique allows scientists to examine how one variable affects another variable; in this case, how one region of the brain influences another.

“People have hypothesized different functions for signals going in different directions,” Ding said. “We show that when the task control network suppresses the default mode network, the person can do the task better and faster. The better the default mode network is shut down, the better a person performs.”

However, when the default mode network is not sufficiently suppressed, it sends signals to the task control network that effectively distract the person, causing his or her performance to drop. So while the task control network suppresses the default mode network, the default mode network also interferes with the task control network.

“Your brain is a constant seesaw back and forth,” even when trying to concentrate on a task, Ding said.