For the complete schedule see:
community/chat/schedule.html

---------------------------------
Cooking with Char
Char LeFleur
Char@arthritisinsight.com

Hello everyone! Sorry to miss last week, but I had an SI joint that was talking to me, REALLY LOUDLY, and it hurt to sit and type. But I am much better this week, and have rejoined the world. lol

Labor Day has passed and kids are back to school, and fall is just around the corner. Fall brings to mind pumpkins and squash, and leaves turning colors, and apples, and chilly nights. And our menus change with the seasons. But right now, we are in a time of transition so we will have some transitional recipes too.

Time to dig out that slow cooker for during the week, and leave the grill for weekends.

In my search for new, easy recipes, I came across one that is incredibly simple and yet entirely different. I apologize, I dont remember where I saw it, so I can not give credit for it. I am not even sure I remember what it was called, so I will call it

Dijon Pork Chops
Brown 4 Pork Chops in a small amount of fat in a skillet
Add 1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can of milk
1 tbs of Dijon mustard
Add fresh sliced or canned mushrooms
Simmer until pork chops are tender
Serve over rice or mashed potatoes

This can be done on the stove or in your crock pot. And I am going to try this combination on other things as well. Going to try a pork roast in the crockpot today.

My husband (who thinks I am a wonderful cook) said "Honey, this is the best gravy you ever made!"

How about an end of summere salad? This one is a salad that my family created when I was a kid, and it is a favorite of mine.

Summer Slaw
Shred cabbage as you would for coleslaw (I usually shred at least a half a head. This salad keeps in the refrigerator well for a couple of days, and actually gets better when left in frig for a few hours.)

Add:
diced tomatoes
diced green pepper
diced cucumber
(amounts of these ingredients can vary widely, according to what you have on hand)

Add 1/2 to 1 C salad dressing (depending on how much cabbage you have)
2-3 tbs of sugar
salt and pepper to taste
Mix well

How about a non-chocolate dessert? I know, that is almost blasphemy. lol But this is good too.

Pineapple Upsidedown Cake
(Much simpler than it sounds.)

Drain a can of crushed pineapple reserving the juice
Add water to juice if needed, to make it the amount of liquid required to make a white or yellow cake mix, according to package directions.

Spread crushed pineapple in the bottom of your cake pan or pans (this can be baked in layer pans to make smaller cakes or large cakepan if you are feeding a crowd)

Cover the crushed pineapple with a layer of brown sugar.
Dot the brown sugar layer with pats of butter or margarine
Pour in cake batter

Bake until done.

Then while still hot (be really careful here. I have hubby, whose hands work better than mine, do this for me.) turn cake out on a plate or platter or even a piece of foil covered cardboard if you dont have a plate large enough.

Serve either warm or cold.

If you have comments or suggestions or recipes that you would like to share, please send them to Char@arthritisinsight.com.

---------------------------------
U.S. Food and Drug Administration
FDA Consumer Magazine
September-October 2001

Agencies Team Up in War Against Internet Health Fraud
by Linda Bren

...cures Alzheimer's and HIV/AIDS
...proven effective in treating over 650 infectious diseases
...recognized in scientific journals to be a revolutionary breakthrough in treating arthritis

These health product claims found on the Internet can provide hope for those suffering from painful or debilitating diseases. But they are false claims, leading to false hopes. They are also fraudulent, illegal, and the cause of recent government enforcement actions against the companies that made them.

In the ongoing war against Internet health fraud, federal and state government organizations have united, in an effort dubbed Operation Cure.All, to crack down on unscrupulous marketers who use the Internet to prey on the sickest and most vulnerable consumers.

Operation Cure.All, a partnership of the Federal Trade Commission, the Food and Drug Administration, Health Canada (the Canadian federal health department), and various state attorneys general and state health departments, combines a law enforcement effort with a consumer education campaign.

Almost 100 million adults in the United States use the Internet to find health-related information, according to a poll conducted by the market research firm Harris Interactive. "The Internet provides many benefits. But, its unique qualities--including its broad reach, relative anonymity, and ease of creating new Web sites or removing old ones--pose new enforcement challenges," says Bernard A. Schwetz, D.V.M., Ph.D., acting principal deputy commissioner of the FDA. "FDA and the FTC are working together to protect the public from those who try to take advantage of consumers through this new technology." In June, the FTC, which developed and leads Operation Cure.All, announced enforcement actions against six companies that fraudulently marketed health products on the Internet. These actions mark Operation Cure.All's fourth group of targeted enforcement efforts to address marketing of unproven health products on the Internet.

Five of the companies have agreed to settle the charges. Settlements included such actions as removal of all unsubstantiated claims for products, warnings about potential dangerous interactions with some prescription drugs, a notice to purchasers with an offer for a full refund, and agreement to pay fines for consumer redress. The FTC has filed a complaint in federal district court against the sixth company.

Among the many false and unsubstantiated claims challenged in these recent cases were promises that:

People could cancel their surgery, radiation or chemotherapy in favor of herbal cures that cost hundreds of dollars;

A device that delivered mild electric current would kill the parasites that cause such serious diseases as cancer and Alzheimer's; and

Those with HIV or AIDS could use St. John's wort as a safe treatment for the disease. (The FDA and FTC warn that St. John's wort may have potentially dangerous interactions with other medications, including some proven HIV/AIDS medications.)"It's bad enough when someone, with little or no evidence, touts unproven remedies to vulnerable populations such as people infected with HIV or AIDS," says Walter H. Carr, partnership council chairman of the National AIDS Health Fraud Task Force Network. "It's even more frightening when they do so despite--and without so much as a mention of--emerging risks that those remedies pose to the very people to whom they are pitching their sale. St. John's wort and protease inhibitors: They don't mix." Since the launch of Operation Cure All in 1999, the FDA and FTC have won a number of battles against Internet health fraud. The FDA's efforts to curtail online marketing of unapproved drugs have resulted in at least 12 product seizures, 11 product recalls, 43 arrests, and 22 convictions. The FDA continues to investigate more than 80 incidences of Internet health fraud and unapproved drug products. Since 1999, the FTC has brought 13 law enforcement actions against Internet marketers for unsubstantiated health claims. One case resulted in a $1 million settlement with the maker of a shark cartilage product promoted as a cure for cancer. Another settlement required consumer refunds for electronic devices and herbal remedies that were sold as cures for cancer, AIDS, Gulf War syndrome, and many other diseases. All were required to remove their bogus claims from the Web. In addition, the FTC estimates that more than 100 other Web sites have taken down their sites or removed their claims after the FTC contacted them. "Consumers should avoid Web sites that promise quick and dramatic cures for serious diseases," says Howard Beales, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "And they should always consult a physician or other health-care professional before using any product or treatment."

How to Report Suspicious Claims

The FTC and FDA encourage people to report suspicious health claims. Since January 2000, the FDA has checked out more than 3,000 tips submitted by consumers about suspicious online prescription Web sites, according to Tom McGinnis, R.Ph., the FDA's director of pharmacy affairs.

To file a complaint regarding a possible fraudulent, deceptive, or unfair business practice, call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357), or use the complaint form at www.ftc.gov.

If you find a Web site you think is illegally selling human drugs, animal drugs, medical devices, biological products, foods, dietary supplements, or cosmetics over the Internet, use the complaint form at www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline/buyonlineform.htm.

Be Suspicious

Promoters of fraudulent health-care products often use similar claims and practices to lure consumers into buying their goods. The FTC and FDA advise consumers to be suspicious of:

Claims that the product is "natural" or "non-toxic," suggesting it does not have side effects. "Natural" or "non-toxic" does not necessarily mean safe. Some "natural" supplements contain potent stimulants; others can result in negative interactions with medicines.

Testimonials from people who claim amazing results. Testimonials often are undocumented and are not a substitute for scientific proof.

Claims that a product is a "scientific breakthrough," "miraculous cure," "secret ingredient" or "ancient remedy."

Claims that the product is an effective cure for a wide range of ailments.

Claims that use impressive-sounding medical terms.

Claims that the product is available from only one source, and payment is required in advance.

Claims of a "money-back" guarantee.

Web sites that fail to list the company's name, physical address, phone number or other contact information.

For More Information:

For tips on buying health-care products on the Internet, check out:
FTC's Virtual Health Treatments
www.ftc.gov/healthclaims
FDA's Buying Medicines and Medical Products Online
www.fda.gov/oc/buyonline
For safety and other information on dietary supplements, see:
www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/supplmnt.html

---------------------------------
Notes and Insights:

Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday to: Belinda, Dixie Turtle, OldRetiredMan aka Robert and L. Gamble!
Check out all the birthdays at community/birthday and make sure to send them an arthritis-friendly e-card: cgi-bin/postcards/postcard.pl

Wanna help?
Having surgery? Starting a new drug or treatment? Filing for disability? Keep an Arthritis Insight journal so all of our members can share and learn from your experience. If you want to keep a journal just let us know. Write an article! We always need articles on all subjects relating to arthritis.
C'mon folks, we can't do this without you!

Donate!
Arthritis Insight will always be free for anyone to use, we will never charge any fees. We try very hard to keep our operating costs as low as possible, but running a website as large as Arthritis Insight can be expensive. To date we've relied on our few sponsors for support and have paid for many of the expenses out of our own pockets. No one on our staff currently receives a paycheck for their hard work and dedication. Although you are not obligated in any way, if you are financially able to help support Arthritis Insight, it would be greatly appreciated. In exchange for your donation you'll receive some thank you gifts, a tax deduction and the satisfaction of knowing you are partly responsible for the entire Arthritis Insight Community.
about/donate.html

Ken Akers Cheer Fund
Donations to the Ken Akers Cheer Fund will be used to send flowers and gifts to those community members who are hospitalized, flaring or just in need of some good cheer. The Ken Akers Cheer Fund sent out four gift baskets last week!
community/kenscheerfund

Arthritis Insight Wish List
We realize that many of you are unable to contribute financially to Arthritis Insight. But we need more than money. Please check out our wish list and see if you can help.
wishlist.html

Thank You!
A great big thank you to our "Diamond Level" Corporate Benefactor, allaboutarthritis.com. Please stop by their site and say hello!
http://allaboutarthritis.com

And another big thank you to NeedaBasket.com (http://needabasket.com). NeedaBasket is now Arthritis Insight's official gift basket company. They are giving us a great discount and donating baskets for our Arthritis Warriors. Stop by and tell them thanks for the support!

And a huge thank you to benefactor Diane Abell. Thanks Diane!

Glucosamine Clinical Trial:
Boston University Medical Center is currently testing Glucosamine for knee osteoarthritis in an internet-based clinical research trial. Normally, joining a clinical trial would mean going to a study center for repeated appointments, but this trial is carried out entirely over the internet. If you qualify, you will participate for three months by simply filling out online forms on your experiences and taking a daily nutritional supplement (either Glucosamine or a placebo), which will be mailed to you by the center. If you are interested, please visit the website:
http://etrials.bumc.bu.edu to see if you qualify.

Special Offers for Arthritis Insight Members
Whenever possible we will try get to our sponsors to agree to discounts and the like for our members. Here are our current special offers:

Sore No More gel (http://www.sorenomore.com) will send a free sample of the pain relieving gel to any Arthritis Insight Community Member who emails them at dma@glogerm.com

---------------------------------
The AI Help Desk
Linda Peck
Linda@arthritisinsight.com

=== Computers 101 ===

Q: I've heard that some programs have "shared" files. What are those?

A: Shared files are "general purpose" files more than one program can use. They usually come in the form of DLL files, and should be automatically installed with the software that needs them (assuming the setup program for the software includes them, most good setups will). You can have problems if you run an uninstall program and it deletes out a shared file that other programs use. So, if you are asked if you want to remove a shared program file, it's probably best to say no. What happens if one of those shared files gets deleted or corrupted and one of your other programs will no longer run? Easy - just re-install the program in question and you'll be back in business. No big deal.

Q: AOL plays the "You've got mail!" thing every time new mail arrives. Is there a way to do something similar with Outlook Express?

A: Yes! Go to the Start button, Settings, Control Panel. Open the Sounds icon. Find the "New Mail Notification" item. Click the "Browse" button and locate a sound file you would like to use instead. Hit OK and you're all set. If you aren't happy with the Windows sounds that are available, head to your favorite search engine and look for "wave" or "WAV" files. You can use any wave file you locate in your Windows sound scheme.

What do you do when you locate wave files on the web? Most of the time, you can click a link to the file to hear the sound. If you like it, right-click the link and select "Save target as" from the resulting menu. Save the file to a location you'll remember then head back to the "Sounds" screen (under the control panel), select the sound item you want the new sound for, then browse to the file you just downloaded.

=== Tips of the Week ===

Full Path
Have you ever gotten a little lost while using My Computer? Before you get buried in another deep directory, tell Windows to show the full path in the title bar. I know, it doesn't sound all that profound, but it really comes in helpful. Here' how:

Open My Computer (or any folder) and click the Tools menu, Folder options. Click the View tab and check the "Display full path in title bar" checkbox. That's it, you're only a glance away from knowing where you're at in any directory structure. I can tell you're really excited.

Smarter Downloads
Let's say you want to download a program and you're offered several different places to download from (Microsoft likes to do this). Which do you pick? Most people would choose the one that's closest to their geographic location. WRONG! Here's the way I usually decide. I first look at the time zones the sites are in and hit the one that would be in the least busy time zone. In other words, if it's 8:00AM in my time zone, but 5:00AM in another, more westerly time zone, I'll pick that one. If it looks like I'm in prime time no matter what time zone I'm in (say it's 3:00PM my time) then I'll probably pick the last or second to last choice. People seem to pick the first or second link, so usually the further down the "link list" you go, the less traffic you encounter.

Source: Computer Tips & Techniques
http://www.worldstart.com
Copyright 2001, Worldstart - Reprinted with permission.

=== Member Websites ===

http://members.home.net/karensears - Karen Sears invites you to stop by her little corner of the web.

http://strateia.homestead.com/RArthritis.html - This page is for all who suffer from arthritis and for our friends and family who at times suffer with us . . . or because of us ! :o

=== This Week's Links ===

http://www.ehow.com/home/home.jsp - More than 15,000 how-to solutions.

http://www.behindthename.com - The etymology and history of first names.

http://www.metacritic.com - Reviews of all types...move, DVD, video, game.

"To laugh often and much,
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition;
To know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Linda@arthritisinsight.com
Help Desk Archives: living/help/index.html

---------------------------------
Weekly News Summary
Karen Sears
kaekae@arthritisinsight.com

****DOCTORS SAY A CHOCOLATE A DAY KEEPS THEM AWAY****
Good news for chocoholics. The treat favored by millions may also be good for you, US researchers said Monday.
Reuters, Yahoo, Sep 4
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010904/hl/chocolate_heart_1.html

CANNABIS SPRAY HELPS EASE CHRONIC PAIN: STUDY
A cannabis spray used under the tongue helps to relieve the suffering of multiple sclerosis patients and people with chronic pain, a British doctor said Monday.
Reuters, Yahoo, Sep 5
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010904/hl/cannabis_pain_1.html

PEDIATRICIANS TOLD TO BETTER MANAGE KIDS' PAIN
The oldest line in the pediatrician's repertoire-''this won't hurt a bit''--needs to be updated, according to a new policy statement issued jointly by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)and the American Pain Society. The statement calls on pediatricians to do a better job of managing children's pain during medical treatments such as routine vaccinations.
Reuters Health, Yahoo, Sep 4
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010904/hl/pain_1.html

MANY GRADUATING U.S. DOCTORS FEEL UNPREPARED: REPORT
Many physicians completing their residency training feel unprepared to treat conditions common to their specialty, according to a report in this week's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (news - web sites).
Reuters Health, Yahoo, Sep 4
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010904/hl/doctors_1.html

MEDITATION MAY IMPROVE LIFE OF CHRONICALLY ILL
A type of meditation called mindfulness-based stress reduction may improve symptoms and quality of life, as well as reduce stress, in patients with a wide variety of chronic illnesses, the results of a new study indicate.
Reuters Health, Yahoo, Sep 4
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010904/hl/meditation_chronic_1.html

MODEST BENEFIT SEEN WITH CALCIUM-CHANNEL BLOCKERS FOR RAYNAUD'S PHENOMENON
Calcium-channel blockers are of no more than moderate efficacy in reducing the severity and frequency of ischemic attacks in patients with Raynaud's phenomenon secondary to systemic sclerosis, according to results of a meta-analysis conducted by Canadian researchers.
Medscape, Sep 3 (free registration required)
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/reuters/prof/2001/09/09.04/20010903clin014.html

STUDIES FIND ACUPUNCTURE SAFE WHEN DONE SKILLFULLY
When performed by a skilled practitioner, acupuncture appears to be safe, except for occasional minor side effects such as bleeding, fainting or nausea, two new studies report.
Reuters Health, Yahoo, Aug 31
http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010831/hl/acupuncture_1.html

BALANCE TESTS IMPORTANT FOR PATIENTS WITH KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS
For patients with knee osteoarthritis, objective tests of standing balance are important measures of neuromuscular performance, according to a report in the August issue of the Archives of Physical and Medical Rehabilitation.
Medscape, Aug 31 (free registration required)
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/reuters/prof/2001/09/09.03/20010831clin002.html

US COURT APPROVES PRELIMINARY SULZER SETTLEMENT
A federal judge on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to Sulzer Medica's $780 million class-action settlement offer for more than a thousand lawsuits over hip implants that were contaminated with machine oil.
Medscape, Aug 30 (free registration required)
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/reuters/prof/2001/08/08.31/20010830legl002.html

RHEUMATIC SYMPTOMS DO NOT VARY BY SEASON
While seasonal rheumatic symptoms are commonly reported across all rheumatic disorders, they do not correlate with measured clinical scores and therefore do not reflect reality, according to study findings reported in the August issue of the Journal of Rheumatology.
Medscape, Aug 29 (free registration required)
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/42173.rhtml?srcmp=rheu-083101

ORAL TYPE II COLLAGEN THERAPY SHOWS PROMISE IN TREATMENT OF JUVENILE ARTHRITIS
Oral type II collagen (CII) therapy appears to reduce the autoimmune process of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) and promote clinical improvement.
Medscape, Aug 28 (free registration required)
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/42138.rhtml?srcmp=rheu-083101

IVAX THROMBOSIS TEST CLEARED BY FDA
Ivax Diagnostic Inc. reported on Tuesday that its wholly-owned subsidiary Diamedix Corp. has received clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market a test for assessing thrombosis risk in patients with autoimmune diseases.
Medscape, Aug 28 (free registration required)
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/reuters/prof/2001/08/08.29/20010828rglt003.html

RITONAVIR MIGHT BE EFFECTIVE AGAINST MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
Treatment with the protease inhibitor ritonavir has resulted in a clinical response in animal models of multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a report by French researchers published in the August 30th issue of the Journal of Neuroimmunology.
Medscape, Aug 28 (free registration required)
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/reuters/prof/2001/08/08.29/20010828scie002.html

BUSH SAYS 60 STEM CELL LINES 'AMPLE' DESPITE FDA RESTRICTIONS
President George W. Bush defended on Friday his decision to limit federal funding for human embryonic stem cell research to research using 60 existing cell lines, amid reports that stringent government regulations could restrict how and where the cells can be used.
Medscape, Aug 24 (free registration required)
http://rheumatology.medscape.com/42082.rhtml?scrmp=rheu-083101

-------------------------------
Contribute
Have you written something you think our subscribers would like to read? Send it to Tina@arthritisinsight.com and maybe we'll use it in our newsletter.

---------------------------------
Arthritis Warrior
warrior/

'Arthritis Warrior', a phrase coined by the great folks in the alt.support.arthritis newsgroup. An Arthritis Warrior fights the battle against arthritis everyday. A true Arthritis Warrior does not let the battle get them down. They continue to fight while living happy, fulfilling lives. An Arthritis Warrior is not necessarily a mountain climber or a marathon runner. An Arthritis Warrior can be bed ridden or spend most of her day in a chair. It is the persons outlook on life, their contributions to society that make them a Warrior.

Arthritis Insight wants to honor those Warriors among us. Each month we will choose a few community members to act as judges. Those judges will select one Warrior from those nominated by our community members and we will honor that person as Arthritis Insight Warrior of the Month.

August Arthritis Warrior is:
Aaron Nelson

Aaron, your nominator had this to say:
Aaron has been through multiple joint replacements from a very young age in his battle with JRA. Now a young adult, he is still facing joint replacements plus all the other manifestations of this disease. He, like most young people, has had to face many disappointments, like having to sell a much loved car because it has no power steering and it is too expensive to put power steering in that vehicle. Aaron, though saddened by this, just says 'oh well - I'll buy a car with power steering when I sell the Mustang';. His attitude is always upbeat. Aaron also hosts the JRA Chat Room here at Arthritis Insight. His knowledge of JRA is impressive. He is an inspiration to others with JRA, their parents and their friends. As we all know - having arthritis hit us as an adult is tough but having this disease as a child is devastating. To have faced this and give help and assistance to others shows what a TRUE WARRIOR Aaron is. Even if he isn't selected 'Arthritis Warrior' he will be a War!
rior to me and many others. It is so comforting to know there are Aaron's in this world and I am privileged to know one.
Battle on Aaron. And our judges said:------
I have many times urged newbies coming into a chat room with JRA challenges to contact Aaron and I know he has always been there for them. He knows the names of his JRA members and the names of their parents. He is always up to date with the status of the JRA members and knows this disease better than most. He willingly shares his time and his knowledge with all. On purely personal terms, Aaron is a Super JRA warrior simply in terms of dealing with his own daily JRA challenges. Aaron is a champion!!

Aaron is my choice this month, for Arthritis Warrior. He has been fighting this disease and all that accompanies it, for almost his entire life. He has lost some battles, but will ultimately win the war, because this disease doesn't touch his spirit. Aaron is the founder and guiding force of JRA World. An accomplishment that proves he is a Warrior.

Aaron will receive (another) 'Gimpfest 2001' T-shirt and a special gift from Debi and the wonderful staff at Needabasket.com.

------
Jr. Arthritis Warrior
http://jraworld.arthritisinsight.com/warrior

And our August Jr Arthritis Warrior is:
Moushkie

Moushkie, your nominator had this to say:
I think Moushkie deserves this one. Only 11 years old and full of determination to beat the arthritis. I am yet to hear her complain about having arthritis. No matter how bad things get, she just keeps on going with a smile on her face. The doctors, nurses and staff say that they are always amazed by her determination to move forward and the constant smile. I think that I am the only mom who actually has to argue with her child to stay home from school (and I usually lose). She has never ever said to me, 'I can't go to school today.' She has never allowed the arthritis to stop her from doing the activities she loves. She may not do them the same as everyone else but she does them. In fact, she's off to Ottawa tomorrow with her school even though she's having one knee that won't quit being a pain, locking-the works. She says arthritis has made her who she is and she likes who she is. She is definitely my warrior!

Our judges said:------

Moushkie is my choice for Junior Arthritis Warrior. A kid who says arthritis has made her who she is and she likes who she is, is going to become an awesome woman and a power to be reckoned with.

I've seen Moushkie comments in various areas of the website. That child has a much better attitude than most adults with arthritis! We can all learn something from her.

Mouskie will be receiving a $25 US Savings Bond and 50 assorted sports cards. Keep on battlin' Moushkie!!

---------------------------------
If you wish to advertise in the Arthritis Insight Newsletter, contact us at advertising@arthritisinsight.com
If you wish to unsubscribe to this newsletter, just let us know.
Arthritis Insight Newsletter Copyright 2001