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"Concussion": Meet Bennet Omalu, M.D., the Real Doctor Who Took on the NFL and Changed Football Forever

By goodblacknews on December 26, 2015
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Will Smith, Dr. Bennet Omalu and “Concussion” director Peter Landesman (COURTESY OF SONY PICTURES)
Baseball may still be billed as the national pastime, but football actually surpassed it in popularity a long time ago. So for anyone born and raised in the United States, challenging the NFL is just unthinkable.
Dr. Bennet Omalu wasn’t born and raised in this country, however. Had he been, it’s doubtful that the forensic neuropathologist from Nigeria would have discovered CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy), a degenerative disease associated with repeated brain trauma that doesn’t show symptoms, and its connection to the NFL. He would never have felt the wrath of the NFL, either, and we wouldn’t have Concussion, which marks Will Smith’s finest performance to date.
The Root caught up with the good doctor for a one-on-one discussion about the film, his faith, his wife’s support and his status with the NFL.
The Root: When you turned down this road, did you have any idea of the magnitude of your actions?
Bennet Omalu: Remember, I grew up in Africa. Growing up as a child, I perceived America to be heaven on earth, a country that was closest to what God wants us to be as his sons and daughters. And I came from Nigeria, which is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. So when I came here, I had the study of Mike Webster and other retired football players, and I wondered: If they played this game where they had to wear a helmet, could it be they were damaging their brains without knowing it?
And so I did the autopsy on Mike Webster. I identified the disease and I most gladly took it to the NFL, believing that I had discovered something that would enhance the game. But then I got this pushback, and I discovered there was this systematic and systemic cover-up to conceal the truth. So that reawakened my faith in me, my faith in the truth.
God is the truth. The American experience and the American experiment are founded on the truth. Science was founded on the truth. My faith is founded on the truth. So you have a convergence of both science and America, my faith, coming together to this common objective or common exploit of the truth.
So it was my search for the truth, to become part of that American family, to contribute my part to a society and a country that has given me so much. Because, as the greater American family, we are one love, we are one spirit, we are one hope, we are one joy. So that was what kept me going. Because when you seek the truth, truth shall set you free.
The truth is liberating. Isn’t that what America is all about? One person at a time, one step at a time, one day at a time, we shall continue to build a greater family, if only we would start by the truth. That is what kept me going.
TR: Is the truth still leading you?

Obamacare Signup Numbers Over 8 Million; Far Outpaces Last Year’s Growth

By goodblacknews on December 23, 2015

obamacare (8 million signups)
If Donald Trump or any Republican who might manage to win the White House and tries to dump the Affordable Care Act aka ObamaCare… it’s looking more and more like that’s not going to be easy to do.
According to reports, almost 8.3 million people have enrolled in ObamaCare plans, putting the administration well ahead of last year’s total at the same point in the sign-up season.
Federal health officials announced the latest figures on Tuesday, touting stronger-than-expected demand in December as healthcare customers race to find or switch plans ahead of the deadline to sign up for coverage beginning 2016.
The quicker pace likely indicates people are seeking to avoid the higher cost of being uninsured in 2016. People without insurance by tax season will face far steeper penalties, almost double the fee from the previous year, reports The Hill.
Of the 8.3 million sign-ups, about 2.4 million are new to the marketplace — a figure that is one-third higher than last year’s new total at the same distance from the deadline.
Significantly, this year’s sign-ups include 2.1 million people under age 35 — nearly double the number of young people enrolled during the same period last year.
“We’re excited in terms of what it means for health security and financial security. We’re excited about the fact that it does mean a younger risk pool, which is generally stronger,” Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell announced on a conference call with supporters Tuesday.
The growing diversity of the marketplace will be welcome news to health insurance companies, many of which remain worried that customers are older, and therefore costlier to cover, than they had originally expected.
Read the FULL report at The Hill.
article via eurweb.com

Retired Police Officer Moses Vines Uses Football To Help Kids Fight Online Bullying

By goodblacknews on December 15, 2015
Coach Moses Vines
In recent months, spurred by both a historically strained relationship between Black communities and recent police killings, tension between law enforcement and those they are sworn to protect has reached an unprecedented high.
But retired police lieutenant Moses Vines is using his experience in the police department for the most unlikely of reasons — to instill a sense of self-worth in children and combat online bullying.
‘Coach Mo,’ as he is called by most of his athletes, recruited fellow police officers in 2007 to help him create the Metropolitan Wolverines, a nonprofit organization established to end discrimination against youth often sparked by body image. The organization, which refuses to turn a child away due to size, aims to “serve the community by providing a sense of self-worth, pride and moral development to those who would likely be shuttered out of most leagues in the Washington D.C./metropolitan area,” according to BrightSideShorts.com.
In 2007, after noticing overweight children being ostracized, the newly retired Police Lieutenant of the Fourth District created the Metropolitan Wolverines, a nonprofit organization established to end discrimination against youth often sparked by body image. The organization, which refuses to turn a child away due to size, aims to serve the community by providing a sense of self-worth, pride and moral development to those who would likely be shuttered out of most leagues in the Washington D.C./metropolitan area.
Through a combination of guidance from the former police officer and his staff, most of whom are also law enforcement, and serve as positive and constant male figures in the boys children’s lives. With an emphasis on positive sportsmanship and academics, Coach Mo is changing the landscape of community outreach and esteem in communities that have historically lacked both.
Vines was recently recognized by The Bright Side (Driven By Carmax) for his dedication to creating brighter futures for the children he leads, both by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and providing them with the guidance they need to excel in school.
You can read more on Coach Mo’s organization here.
article via newsone.com

LIFESTYLE: 5 Healthy Holiday Hacks to Jump-Start Your New Year

By goodblacknews on December 13, 2015
2015 flew by, and 2016 will be making its debut very soon. So if you want to make this final month of the year a December to remember, then these holiday hacks are just for you. Get ready to attend every holiday party with a stress-free RSVP, all while jump-starting your New Year’s resolution with these quick and easy tips:
Adjust Your Diet
Multi Generation Family Enjoying Christmas Meal At Home
Temptations are high, and the holidays only come once a year, so while it may be tempting to jump-start your resolution with a holiday diet, a more manageable and realistic goal would be to indulge without binging. By forbidding all things peppermint, gingerbread, eggnog, etc., you’re actually welcoming more cravings and food fixations. However, by allowing yourself portion-controlled holiday treats, you’ll be giving yourself the gift of self-control, and that’s certainly a gift that keeps on giving. So I suggest having a “Sweet Saturday” or “Flavorful Friday” once a week. In fact, research shows that indulging in reasonably sized treats encourages you to find pleasure in mealtime again—and that pleasure will help ensure that you don’t feel the need to go overboard in the future.
Remake the Flavors
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Speaking of indulging in moderation, one way to enjoy the season’s flavors sans guilt is to blend it in. Literally. I have been putting my Omega blender to some serious work this holiday season, and you can, too. My favorite way to sip the season is to remake my pre- and post-workout protein shakes.
For instance, I’ll throw a crushed peppermint candy cane in my strawberry shake for a minty treat, or I’ll substitute a light eggnog for my typical almond milk in my vanilla shake for a festive holiday smoothie. Or, my all-time favorite is bananas, vanilla milk alternative (soy, almond, cashew, etc.) and a scoop of the vanilla chai Vega One Nutritional Shake. This plant-based protein powder is so tasty, you will definitely forget that it’s healthy.
Be Merry and Sweaty
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Robbie Ann Darby (photo via theroot.com)
Well, now that you’re sipping the season, it’s time to keep it merry and sweaty with fun and effective workouts. However, ’tis not the time to be sweating on autopilot. Those low-intensity workouts are not the business this time of year, when you’re trying to maintain and not gain, so do yourself a solid and hit up some HIIT training. Short for “high-intensity interval training,” this approach to sweat is all the craze simply because not only does it rev up your metabolism, if done correctly, but it can also cut your workouts in half. That’s right, less time and more results.
The key, however, is to go hard (think breathless) for short bursts and immediately chase those moments with a short rest. Any split ratio is welcomed, so go all out for, say, 40 seconds and then rest for 20. Repeat this as many times as you can without compromising your form, and the afterburn is guaranteed. Basically, you’ll be burning calories well after you leave the gym. Think to the tune of at least 24 hours after. So yeah, that holiday party Saturday deserves an HIIT session Friday.

NFL's Devon Still Says Daughter Leah Shows No Evidence of Cancer

By goodblacknews on December 2, 2015
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Devon and Leah Still (DEVON STILL VIA INSTAGRAM)

If there’s one football player who had the world cheering for his family from the sidelines this year, it’s Devon Still. The former Cincinnati Bengals player let the world know that his daughter, Leah, has no evidence of cancer.
Leah touched the world this year with how she was bravely battling the disease. And Still’s former football team stepped up to the plate and made sure he had medical insurance in order to take care of his daughter.
In an Instagram post, Still gladly shared Leah’s health update.
“Thanks for all the support and prayers!” the caption read. “Just got the phone call that her scans showed NED (no evidence of disease)!”
Leah was diagnosed with cancer in 2014, and was the recipient of the Jimmy V Perseverance Award at this year’s ESPYs.
article by Yesha Callahan via theroot.com

Misty Copeland Lands Deal to Write "Ballerina Body", a Health-And-Fitness Book

By goodblacknews on November 22, 2015

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ABT Principal Dancer Misty Copeland

NEW YORK (AP) — Dancer Misty Copeland is working on a health-and-fitness book.
Grand Central Life & Style, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, announced Thursday that Copeland’s “Ballerina Body” is scheduled for 2017. Copeland, the first African-American woman to become the American Ballet Theatre’s principal dancer, is a member of President Barack Obama’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition.
Copeland said in a statement issued by her publisher that she wanted to show “all athletes have to take care of themselves from the inside out.”
Her previous books include the memoir “Life in Motion” and the picture book “Firebird.”
article via blackamericaweb.com

Sixteen Year-Old Rock Climbing Champion Kai Lightner is Shattering Stereotypes

By goodblacknews on November 21, 2015

Rock Climbing Champion Kai Lightner (photo: MYLES WASHINGTON)

Sixteen-year-old rock climbing champion Kai Lightner is reaching new heights with his athletic skills as one of a few professional black rock climbers.  Lightner told The Huffington Post that he can’t remember a time when he wasn’t finding ways to get his two feet off the ground and that he started climbing when he was six years old.

Eventually, he said, someone at his mom’s job recognized his talent and suggested that she take him to the local rock-climbing gym where he soon discovered his passion for the activity. He’s won several championships for his incredible ability, but he said his experiences as a black climber has been somewhat of a challenge.
“When I would tell [black] people that my sport was rock-climbing they would look at me funny, and ask ‘What is that?’ ‘We don’t do that,'” Lightner said.
(PHOTO: MYLES WASHINGTON)
In 2013, the Smithsonian reported that 78 percent of Americans who took part in outdoor activities, which included rock climbing, were white. Rock climber and journalist James Mills explained the misperception of black people in outdoor sports and the lack of representation of people of color.
“It’s not a question of whether or nor African-Americans can climb mountains. What matters is as [a] group we tend not to,” Mills wrote. “And for a variety of different social and cultural reasons the world of mountaineering has been relegated almost exclusively to white men.”
There are structural influences that have barred black people from participating in outdoor sports such as rock climbing, which has kept the majority of participants white. Lightner said he has felt accepted by other climbers, but that he has gotten a lot of grief from other people of color for his participation in the sport.

Chicago Woman Iesha Thomas Becomes 1st Adult Cured of Sickle Cell Disease With Chemo-Free Technique

By goodblacknews on November 3, 2015
Ieshea Thomas, a Chicago woman, is the first adult to be cured of sickle cell disease with the chemotherapy-free procedure at UI Hospital. Photo: UI News Release
Ieshea Thomas, a Chicago woman, is the first adult to be cured of sickle cell disease with the chemotherapy-free procedure at UI Hospital. (Photo: UI News Release)

Iesha Thomas has been in and out of hospitals battling sickle cell disease since she was only 8 months old. This summer, 33-year-old Thomas became the first adult to be cured of sickle cell disease with a chemotherapy-free procedure at University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System (UI Health), the University reported. Thomas is one of 12 adult patients cured of sickle cell disease as part of a clinical trial at UI Health that used a unique procedure for stem cell transplantation from healthy tissue matched from a sibling donor.

Findings from phase I/II of the clinical trial are published online in the journal Biology of Blood & Marrow Transplantation.
Stem cell transplants have been used for years as a means of possibly curing sickle cell disease. However, before the stem cell transplant could be completed patients would have to endure a taxing course of drugs to kill the cancer cells, otherwise known as chemotherapy.
The more traditional form of stem cell transplant uses chemotherapy to destroy the patient’s own bone marrow, which shuts down their immune system and makes them vulnerable to infections.
The new technique – first developed and performed at the National Institutes of Health campus in Maryland – eliminates the need for chemotherapy to prepare the patient to receive the transplanted cells and offers the prospect of cure for tens of thousands of adults suffering from sickle cell disease – many of them Black Americans.
According to the National Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (NIH), about 1 in 13 African American babies is born with sickle cell trait. About 1 in every 365 black children is born with sickle cell disease.
About 90 percent of the approximately 450 patients who have received stem cell transplants for sickle cell disease have been children. Chemotherapy has been considered too risky for adult patients, who are often more weakened than children by the disease.
“Adults with sickle cell disease are now living on average until about age 50 with blood transfusions and drugs to help with pain crises, but their quality of life can be very low,” says Dr. Damiano Rondelli, chief of hematology/oncology and director of the blood and marrow transplant program at UI Health, and corresponding author on the paper.
“Now, with this chemotherapy-free transplant, we are curing adults with sickle cell disease, and we see that their quality of life improves vastly within just one month of the transplant,” said Rondelli, who is also the Michael Reese Professor of Hematology in the UIC College of Medicine.

Julius and Desmond Means were cured of sickle cell disease at UI Health through a chemotherapy-free stem cell transplant in 2013. Their older brother, Clifford (center), was the donor. Photo: UIC News Release
Julius and Desmond Means were cured of sickle cell disease at UI Health through a chemotherapy-free stem cell transplant in 2013. Their older brother, Clifford (center), was the donor. Photo: UIC News Release

The chemo-free transplant performed by UI is described in a news release:

In the reported trial, the researchers transplanted 13 patients, 17 to 40 years of age, with a stem cell preparation from the blood of a tissue-matched sibling. Healthy sibling donor-candidates and patients were tested for human leukocyte antigen, a set of markers found on cells in the body. Ten of these HLA markers must match between the donor and the recipient for the transplant to have the best chance of evading rejection.
In a further advance of the NIH procedure, physicians at UI Health successfully transplanted two patients with cells from siblings who matched for HLA but had a different blood type.
In all 13 patients, the transplanted cells successfully took up residence in the marrow and produced healthy red blood cells. One patient who failed to follow the post-transplant therapy regimen reverted to the original sickle cell condition.

In Thomas’ case, her sister was a match and following the transplantation she no longer required blood transfusions.
Further research on this type of stem cell transplant is needed, but doctors are hopeful for what early trials show for adults.
“Adults with sickle cell disease can be cured without chemotherapy – the main barrier that has stood in the way for them for so long,” Rondelli said. “Our data provide more support that this therapy is safe and effective and prevents patients from living shortened lives, condemned to pain and progressive complications.”
To learn more about ongoing sickle cell transplant trials at NIH (a participant in a trial will not be charged for a procedure) call 1-800-411-1222 or visit the NIH clinical trials registry at www.clinicaltrials.gov and search under ‘sickle cell disease.”
article by Gwendolyn Harris via blackdoctor.org

Five Black Scholars Elected to the National Academy of Medicine

By goodblacknews on November 1, 2015

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(L to R) Evan Dale Abel, Linda Burnes Bolton, Otis Webb Brawley, Melissa Lynn Gilliam, and Elizabeth Odilile Ofili

The National Academy of Medicine, formerly known as the Institute for Medicine, was founded in 1970. Election to the National Academy of Medicine is considered one of the highest honors in the fields of health and medicine and recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service. With the 70 new members, there are now 1,826 active fellows of the National Academy of Medicine along with 137 foreign associates.
An analysis of the list of the 70 new members of the National Academy of Medicine by JBHE finds that five, or 7 percent, are Black.
Evan Dale Abel is the John B. Stokes Chair in Diabetes Research and director of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center in the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa. Dr. Abel is a graduate of the University of the West Indies and holds a Ph.D. in physiology from Oxford University in England.
Linda Burnes Bolton is vice president and chief nurse executive at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Burnes Bolton is a past president of the American Academy of Nursing and the National Black Nurses Association. She is a trustee at Case Western Reserve University. A graduate of Arizona State University, Dr. Burnes Bolton holds two master’s degrees and a doctorate in public health from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Otis Webb Brawley is a professor of hematology, medical oncology, medicine, and epidemiology at Emory University in Atlanta. He is also the chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society in Atlanta. Dr. Brawley earned his medical degree at the University of Chicago.
Melissa Lynn Gilliam is dean for diversity and inclusion and a professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology and pediatrics at the University of Chicago. Dr. Gilliam is a graduate of Harvard Medical School.
Elizabeth Odilile Ofili is the senior associate dean for clinical and translational research, professor of medicine, and director of the Clinical Research Center at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. She earned her medical degree at Ahmadu Bello University in Nigeria and a master of public health degree from Johns Hopkins University.
article via jbhe.com

NFL Star DeAngelo Williams to Cover Cost of 53 Women's Mammograms to Honor Late Mother

By goodblacknews on October 15, 2015

(AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

The NFL allows teams to wear pink during the month of October for breast cancer awareness month, and pushes assorted pink memorabilia to consumers, though it only donates a small portion of the proceeds to actual breast cancer research.
DeAngelo Williams, who lost his mother Sandra Hill to breast cancer last year, is going to personally help women in North Carolina get diagnosed according to ESPN. Williams is footing the bill for 53 mammograms for 53 women – one for each year of Hill’s life.
The median cost of a mammogram is $243, so this is an estimated value of $12,879, but it’s priceless in terms of early breast cancer detection.
article by Micah Peters via ftw.usatoday.com