Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/136007
4A Daily News – Tuesday, June 11, 2013 Vitality health & fitness Sleep-deprived men may misread a woman's signals By Relaxnews For men who come up short on sleep, the REMdeprived brain significantly misgauges a woman's interest in sex, a new US study says. Researchers recruited 60 students -- 31 men and 29 women -- and asked them to complete a survey about their interests in sex and commitment both before and after a night of sleep deprivation. (Sample question: "When a woman goes out to a bar, how likely is it that she is interested in finding someone to have sex with that night?") Findings showed that after a good night's rest, both men and women rated the sexual intent of women as significantly lower than that of men. However, following one night of rough sleep, men's rating of women's sexual intent and interest increased significantly, to the extent that women were no longer seen as having lower sexual intent than men. The women, meanwhile, didn't alter By Amy Stansbury The Evening Sun their answers, even after losing the night's sleep. A bad night's sleep didn't have any effect on how either men or women judged interest in commitment. "Our findings here are similar to those from studies using alcohol, which similarly inhibits the frontal lobe," said study lead Dr. Jennifer Peszka, associate professor of psychology at Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas. "Sleep deprivation could have unexpected effects on perceptual experiences related to mating and dating that could lead people to engage in sexual deci- sions that they might otherwise not when they are well-rested." The research abstract was published last week in the journal Sleep, and Peszka presented her findings June 4 in Baltimore at the 27th annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies LLC. Families urge change to children's organ transplant policy By Dan Kelley Reuters PHILADELPHIA - A second family has stepped forward in the public fight to change a donor-organ policy that places sick children younger than 12 years of age at the bottom of the adult transplant list, regardless of the severity of their illness. The mother of Javier Acosta, 11, who suffers from cystic fibrosis and needs a lung transplant, urged policymakers on Saturday to adopt new rules to make a life-saving adult lung more readily available to her gravely ill son. "If Javier does not receive a transplant, he will die," Milagros Martinez said during a news conference in Philadelphia. "I say that's unfair because of a policy. It shouldn't be that way." The family of Sarah Murnaghan, 10, who like Javier is suffering from cystic fibrosis, is also publicly calling for a change in transplant list policies administered by the Organ Transplant and Procurement Network. The Murnaghan family efforts have garnered national media attention and scrutiny of lawmakers on Capitol Hill, some of whom have called on U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius to intervene. Last week, U.S. District Judge Michael Autism: A puzzle with few solutions AP photo This undated photo provided by Blair Kahora Cardinal shows Javier Acosta, 11, of New York, who has cystic fibrosis and is in intensive care at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the same hospital where 10-year-old Sarah Murnaghan is a patient. Baylson granted the two families a temporary court order barring enforcement of a policy that places children under age 12 at the bottom of the adult lung transplant list, regardless of their illness. The Murnaghan and Acosta children are both awaiting lung transplants at the Children's Tehama Family Fitness Center Kid's Summer Fit Camps! Fun Workouts, Exercise Skills, Nutrition Education, Active Games, Water Fun, Sports, Goal Setting, And Other Health And Fitness Session 1: June 17th-20th • Session 2: June 24th-27th Session 3: July 8th-11th • Session 4: July 15th-18th *All Sessions Run Daily from 1pm-4pm* Hospital of Philadelphia. While each is eligible for donor lungs from children, those are rare. The lawsuits have led some to voice concerns that adding children to adult transplant rosters could end up pushing deserving older patients farther down the list. But Stephen Harvey, a lawyer for both families, said his clients want a policy change based on patients' relative conditions, not their ages. "We're seeking that the system allocate a lung to Javier based on the severity of his condition," Harvey said. "So if there's an adult who's more severe than him, that adult gets the lung. We're not asking to jump to the front of the line." The executive committee of the Organ Transplant Network is due to meet on Monday, at which time it could announce a review of the transplant rules. Failing that, a hearing to review the restraining order is scheduled for June 14 before Judge Baylson. It was unclear how many children would be affected by a shift in rules. Harvey said there are 16 children aged from 5 to 10 currently seeking lung transplants, and that 23 such procedures were performed on children in 2011. Meet in the Basketball Gym! 30 per child Per Session 20 per additional child $ $ (same family) *Healthy Snack Provided* 6-12 years old For Information or to Sign Up Contact Aubrie Thomas 528-8656 Tehama Family Fitness Center 2498 South Main St. Red Bluff www.tehamafamilyfitness.com 1/2 OFF first month rent! ◆ Independent Living ◆ Private Apartments ◆ Three Nutritious Meals Daily ◆ 24 Hour Secure Environment ◆ House Keeping Services ◆ Warm & Friendly Staff ◆Recreational Programs ◆Scheduled Transportation ◆Private & Formal Dining Rooms A Retirement Community for the Active Senior Citizens 750 David Avenue, Red Bluff • 527-9193 EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY First in a series. Coming in Part 2: Can there be a cure without a cause. This is the face of frustration. This is the sound of fatigue. This is the mother who has jumped through every hoop, fought every battle, and pushed through every boundary for her son. This is the woman who, after it all, still finds herself without answers, without solutions, without anywhere else to turn. This is an autism mom. In the ever-changing and often confusing world of autism, Kim Goff's story stands out. Not because it is particularly unique, but because of its perfect ability to represent the experiences of so many other parents out there raising children with special needs. When autism first nudged its way onto the list of disorders tracked by the Centers for Disease Control in 2000, it only affected an estimated 1 in 150 children. Today, that number has tripled to 1 in 50. This dramatic increase and the accompanying deluge of questions surrounding its exact cause — including whether or not autism cases have really even risen at all — have only added to the disorder's myth and mystery. Confusion over autism, led by its vague definitions and a litany of contradictory and inconclusive reports and studies, has given birth to a hazy awareness of the disorder. Through the work of large national organizations such Autism Speaks, many people have come to recognize the colorful jigsaw puzzle piece used to symbolize autism, in much the same way that pink ribbons symbolize breast cancer. But does that mean that society is also ready to interact with and care for an autistic population? These are the questions that parents like Goff have known the answer to for years. In a word, she says, the answer to both is simple — no. Kim's son, Christian Goff, is 12 and has been diagnosed both with autism and mental retardation. He is barely verbal, cannot read or write, and until last year, was not potty-trained. Kim has spent all of Christian's life trying to improve his condition, but after 12 years of lost sleep and hard-fought battles with schools and service providers, she is still here. She is still sitting in her Spring Grove home watching Christian suffer through massive meltdowns, banging on doors, breaking cabinets, and punching holes in the wall for seven hours at a stretch. She is still typing the name of Christian's favorite television shows into YouTube for him, because he can't type them himself. "Christian can't have sleepovers, or birthday parties, or play sports," Kim said. "It's very isolating." A business owner who started her own women's professional networking organization, Kim typically speaks in short confident sentences, punching out only what needs to be said before moving on to the next topic. But when she talks about her son, and the pain that he must feel with his disorder, things are different. She draws out her words and really takes the time to indulge in her emotions. "I love my son," Kim said, stifling a lonely tear. "But raising him has not been positive. I know I'm supposed to say things like, oh he's a blessing, but you don't live with what I live with and say it's a blessing." Kim can't take Christian out to restaurants, for fear he might have a meltdown. "What if he flips out and hits me?" Kim said. She takes Christian out and people stare. And when she takes him into public restrooms with her because he still needs help going to the bathroom, then she says they really seem to judge her. These are the realities of autism for Kim. And even though people might not want to talk about them, they're there. From public life to Christian's school, Kim always seems to find herself talking when other people don't want to. "If we speak up, we are labeled. We are the problem parents," Kim said, drifting back into her brisk business voice. Kim has a lot of experience speaking up. She has spoken up to Christian's school, health care organizations, and to the community at large, all with the intent to make her son's life better, along with others like him. The services that her son needs are just not there, Kim said, which is why she is pushing so hard for someone to establish them. "Some moms will take this on and it will become a passion," Kim said. "They will go back to school, they will become a therapist. Then society is like, why don't you do that? Well I have my own business and a women's group. People don't understand." So Kim advocates for her son in a different way. She fights the policies she feels are unjust. She butts heads with administrators. She focuses on the big picture. Because of all this, she said, she won't have another child. "People always want to celebrate autism," Kim said. "I want to fight it. I want to see something developed to stop it."