Roger P. Freeman, D.D.S., Editor roger@iawareables.com
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Dear friends and colleagues,
 Congratulations! If you are currently reading this newsletter, you are clinical proof of survival in 2009! Not an easy task, considering a deck stacked with recession... bickering; natural disasters... bickering; pandemics... bickering. And did we mention...there was a lot of bickering! The good news: not a single instance of locusts reported! So take heart, and consider the 2010 petri, pristine. Soldier on, keep us on your radar, we'll keep the whining down to microbial magnitude.
Try a visit to the IA Showroom: A very cool bird's eye view of the complete Awareables necktie and scarf collection, past and present:
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1. YEAR END ROUND UP 2009
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Dr. James E. Dale, Director of the Jefferson County Dept of Health in Golden Colorado  |  | AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE - PHILADELPHIA
Philadelphia smiled upon us and the 15,000 +/- attendees at the annual meeting in November. Beautiful, unseasonal weather welcomed an army of extraordinarily-committed public health professionals, making for an energetic, exciting meeting - in spite of the many furrowed brows dealing with H1N1. (See below).
In the meantime, IA experienced its typical, exhibitor blur - a flurry of silk exchange, greetings with old friends and colleagues, and lots of smiles amidst some very serious stuff. Here's a snapshot of our subtle (you-will-not-miss-this) display, along with a pic of one of our biggest fans, Dr. James E. Dale, Director of the Jefferson County Dept of Health, in Golden Colorado. Jim proudly sports our Waterborne Six design, which fit right in with the meeting theme, "Water and Public Health," and will take its rightful place in Jim's extensive IA collection. We're not sure what those chest ribbons really mean, but we're impressed, and glad that Jim's on the side of the good guys!
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2. A FREAKY FLU SEASON
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SWINE IN, SEASONAL OUT. TIMETABLES A PUZZLEMENT.
As of February 1, 2010, about 57 million Americans had been sickened by the H1N1 Influenza virus, resulting in nearly 12,000 deaths since its emergence in late April, 2009. The primary targets of the pandemic have been in the young adult population, along with pregnant women, children and the immune-compromised. Okay, we've got that...but what about the seasonal version, the one that typically runs from October to May, infects about 25 million and kills roughly 8000 annually? So far, a no-show - and no one really knows why!
Experts note that pandemic strains like H1N1 tend to follow their own iPod calendars and behave independently - so that the early peaking is not unusual in itself. But what of the seasonal strain? Why barely a blip on the CDC screen? Did H1N1 squeeze out the vanilla brand this year, somehow increasing immunity in those it infected?
CDC warns us that, in spite of the apparent lull, the flu season may not be over for the year, and that half the population is still at risk should swine flu return with a vengeance. Note: parents with children under 10 who have had only one dose of vaccine are being urged to have the second dose administered. It's needed for full protection.
You may want to immunize yourself in the event of resurgence. There's the vaccine...and then there's the IA, best-seller 2009, wearable protection - slightly less effective, but a lot more fashionable!
Swine Flu Scarf. Click image or here to view Swine Flu Scarf.
Swine Flu Tie. Click image or here to view Swine Flu Tie.
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3. WHEN SHARING IS NOT APPRECAITED
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WARNING: SOME PARTS OF THE FOLLOWING ARE JUST PLAIN UNACCEPTABLE
"Infection Control Today" journal notes the following visual lunch-buster: "Even with heightened concerns during this year's flu season, Americans admit that SLEEVES are a fine substitute for tissues: one in four wipes their nose on them. One in 10 is even more gross: skipping sleeves altogether in favor of hands to wipe their nose and then extending for a handshake or reaching for a door handle." We have to go lie down, now.
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4. AND YOU DID WHAT IN HIGH SCHOOL?
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JOHN JAY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT PROVES THERE IS HOPE FOR US YET
Tyler St. Denis is not one of your run-of-the-mill, teenage pod-people. Consider the recent school presentation of his research on "heat shock protein expression in bacteria following photodynamic inactivation-mediated oxidative stress." We have not a clue what this is all about, but are pretty sure it will keep Tyler off the streets, at the same time making for some microbiological miracles down the road.
Tyler's so enthusiastic about the world of microbes, we combed our archives to send him a vintage ASM (American Society for Microbiology) necktie design. We created the design several years ago, in conjunction with the Society - a rare few remain out of circulation, one of which Tyler now proudly models here. A pretty extraordinary young man, deserving of a special Awareable!
Tyler St. Denis, Multiple Award Winner, Science Olympiad, 2010. John Jay High School, Cross River, New York.
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5. BOW TIES - WE'VE GOT `EM
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FOR THE DECIDEDLY DEXTEROUS - TIE ONE ON
Concerned about dangling issues with standard neckties? Check out our BioBows, available in most designs, and assuredly IC/PC. One exception: we couldn't get the whole human genome on a Bow - though we can think of some whose map would certainly fit.
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6. IN MEMORIUM: DR. EDWIN G. KREBS, 1918-2009
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IDENTIFIED CRITICAL MECHANISMS THAT GOVERN CELLULAR LIFE
If you ever had to suffer through chemistry at one time or another, you will remember, with terror, having to memorize what is commonly referred to as the "Krebs Cycle." Are you sweating yet? Along with his co-laureate Edmond H. Fischer, Dr. Krebs' Nobel Prize winning work identified the importance of phosphorylation, the addition or removal of phosphate from protein molecules, which in turn serves as the basis of all biological function. Their work has helped researchers understand a vast range of problems, including hormonal function, cancer development, and sugar metabolism producing energy. You will be tested on the formula.
Ironically, it took a decade for scientists to fully recognize the significance of Dr. Krebs' discovery - which now, according to a Nobel committee member, is at the heart of nearly "10% of all biology articles in journals like Nature or Science." Dr. Krebs was a giant in his field, and while unknown to most "civilians," another in a long line of pioneers who have made our lives more livable.
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7. MEETING SCHEDULE 2010
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For the first time in 13 years, we will not be attending APHA or other meetings this fall. Date and location conflicts will likely keep us office-borne in 2010. Be sure to stay in touch - we'll do the same.
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UNTIL SPRING DOES ITS THING, AND MOM AND DAD HAVE THEIR DAYS. BEHAVE!
Awareably yours,
RPF
Roger P. Freeman, D.D.S. and the IA Team
Copyright 2010 Infectious Awareables, Inc.
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Email:
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