Study finds newspapers have changed coverage of ice hockey concussions over last quarter-century

Public release date: 17-Apr-2013
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Contact: Leslie Shepherd
shepherdl@smh.ca
416-864-6094
St. Michael's Hospital

Newspapers are paying more attention to the severity and long-term impact of concussions

TORONTO, April 17, 2013 Newspapers are paying more attention to the severity and long-term impact of concussions and other traumatic brain injuries in ice hockey than they did 25 years ago, a new study has found.

They're also writing more stories about the need to act against aggression, especially at youth levels, and reporting about concussions suffered by a wide range of players, not just stars.

However, newspapers are still reporting that head injuries "are just part of the game" and that hockey players should accept this occupational risk or not play, the study found.

The study, by Dr. Michael Cusimano, a neurosurgeon at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, examined coverage of sports-related traumatic brain injuries in four major North American newspapers over the last 25 years. Its goal was to examine how the culture around concussions and violence in ice hockey has or has not changed over the last generation.

The papers, The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Toronto Star and the Vancouver Sun, were chosen so that the study included Canadian and U.S. newspapers, east and west coast hockey reports and cities with original six and expansion-era National Hockey League teams.

The study was published today in the open access journal PLOS ONE.

Dr. Cusimano said it was important to study newspaper coverage of traumatic brain injuries because such coverage can shape public attitudes and behavior on health issues.

To examine how reporting themes changed over time, they looked specifically at articles published in 1998-2000 and 2009-11. They found the Canadian papers discussed aggression in hockey more in recent reports and over time the role of protective equipment shifted from being protective to being a potential cause of injury. The more recent stories also dealt more often with the severity and personal impact of head injuries and violence.

In comparison, the American newspapers discussed aggression as a contributor to head injuries in hockey less frequently, but discussed perceptions of the risks of brain injury more often.

"Both American and Canadian newspapers have increasingly reported on the need for rule changes and the need to protect ice hockey players from violence related traumatic brain injury," Dr. Cusimano said.

"Developing ways to keep players safer in sports requires that we understand how attitudes and behaviors related to brain injury and violence in that sport are preserved and how they change over time. Since newspapers both report and shape culture in a sport, this research provides insight into the prevention of brain injuries and violence in sports and the roles that media can play in the process."

###

About St. Michael's Hospital

St Michael's Hospital provides compassionate care to all who enter its doors. The hospital also provides outstanding medical education to future health care professionals in more than 23 academic disciplines. Critical care and trauma, heart disease, neurosurgery, diabetes, cancer care, care of the homeless and global health are among the Hospital's recognized areas of expertise. Through the Keenan Research Centre and the Li Ka Shing International Healthcare Education Centre, which make up the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, research and education at St. Michael's Hospital are recognized and make an impact around the world. Founded in 1892, the hospital is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.

For more information, or to interview Dr. Cusimano, contact:

Leslie Shepherd
Manager, Media Strategy
Communications and Public Affairs Department
St. Michael's Hospital
416-864-6094 or 647-300-1753
shepherdl@smh.ca
Inspired Care. Inspiring Science.

---

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AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Public release date: 17-Apr-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Leslie Shepherd
shepherdl@smh.ca
416-864-6094
St. Michael's Hospital

Newspapers are paying more attention to the severity and long-term impact of concussions

TORONTO, April 17, 2013 Newspapers are paying more attention to the severity and long-term impact of concussions and other traumatic brain injuries in ice hockey than they did 25 years ago, a new study has found.

They're also writing more stories about the need to act against aggression, especially at youth levels, and reporting about concussions suffered by a wide range of players, not just stars.

However, newspapers are still reporting that head injuries "are just part of the game" and that hockey players should accept this occupational risk or not play, the study found.

The study, by Dr. Michael Cusimano, a neurosurgeon at St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto, examined coverage of sports-related traumatic brain injuries in four major North American newspapers over the last 25 years. Its goal was to examine how the culture around concussions and violence in ice hockey has or has not changed over the last generation.

The papers, The New York Times, the Chicago Tribune, the Toronto Star and the Vancouver Sun, were chosen so that the study included Canadian and U.S. newspapers, east and west coast hockey reports and cities with original six and expansion-era National Hockey League teams.

The study was published today in the open access journal PLOS ONE.

Dr. Cusimano said it was important to study newspaper coverage of traumatic brain injuries because such coverage can shape public attitudes and behavior on health issues.

To examine how reporting themes changed over time, they looked specifically at articles published in 1998-2000 and 2009-11. They found the Canadian papers discussed aggression in hockey more in recent reports and over time the role of protective equipment shifted from being protective to being a potential cause of injury. The more recent stories also dealt more often with the severity and personal impact of head injuries and violence.

In comparison, the American newspapers discussed aggression as a contributor to head injuries in hockey less frequently, but discussed perceptions of the risks of brain injury more often.

"Both American and Canadian newspapers have increasingly reported on the need for rule changes and the need to protect ice hockey players from violence related traumatic brain injury," Dr. Cusimano said.

"Developing ways to keep players safer in sports requires that we understand how attitudes and behaviors related to brain injury and violence in that sport are preserved and how they change over time. Since newspapers both report and shape culture in a sport, this research provides insight into the prevention of brain injuries and violence in sports and the roles that media can play in the process."

###

About St. Michael's Hospital

St Michael's Hospital provides compassionate care to all who enter its doors. The hospital also provides outstanding medical education to future health care professionals in more than 23 academic disciplines. Critical care and trauma, heart disease, neurosurgery, diabetes, cancer care, care of the homeless and global health are among the Hospital's recognized areas of expertise. Through the Keenan Research Centre and the Li Ka Shing International Healthcare Education Centre, which make up the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, research and education at St. Michael's Hospital are recognized and make an impact around the world. Founded in 1892, the hospital is fully affiliated with the University of Toronto.

For more information, or to interview Dr. Cusimano, contact:

Leslie Shepherd
Manager, Media Strategy
Communications and Public Affairs Department
St. Michael's Hospital
416-864-6094 or 647-300-1753
shepherdl@smh.ca
Inspired Care. Inspiring Science.

---

[ | E-mail | Share ]

?

AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.

Source: http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-04/smh-sfn041713.php

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Peggy Nolan: Death And Rebirth: Life After Divorce and Breast ...

I looked around the family room for things to break -- a crystal vase, a porcelain figurine, a framed picture of my husband. He told me had been having an affair and it had been going on for nearly two years. After nineteen years of marriage, I knew I had to ditch the cheat. I married him when I was nineteen. He was all I knew and I had carefully crafted a life that looked perfect on the outside -- two incomes, two kids, two cars, a dog, a cat, a comfortable life -- and in the blink of an eye it all fell apart. I felt crushed, broken, and kicked to the curb as if I was yesterday's garbage.

I remember beating myself up. Maybe I should have known better after his first affair nine years prior. Maybe I should have left him then, but as a child of divorce, I couldn't fathom putting my children through that. My parents have had nine marriages combined. I wanted mine to last 'til death do us part -- for better or worse.

My oldest daughter knew about her father's affair. She found emails between him and the other woman detailing an afternoon rendezvous. My daughter was adamant that she didn't want her father back in our home.

I remember waffling. My entire life was wrapped up in him. Who would I be without him defining who I was? How could I keep a marriage going that no longer had trust, no longer had commitment, and no longer had love? When it came down to it, he and I had grown so far apart that we no longer even liked each other. But how would I disentangle myself from him? Could I? I realized that my self-respect and the respect of my daughters was far more important then trying to keep a hollow marriage together.

Our divorce wasn't pleasant or amicable. The attorneys received more money then they were worth but sixteen weeks after I filed, we came to an agreement. I desperately wanted it over but I wanted it over my way. Fortunately, our children were 16 and 19 -- there were no custody issues, no child support disputes, and no arguments around two of the most precious people in our lives. We did, however, fight over financial assets. In the end, I negotiated and received the agreement I proposed when we first filed for divorce.

Divorce is the death of a marriage. I went through the stages of grief: I bargained, I got angry. In fact, I'm sure I broke a vase and burned his picture. I suffered depression and anxiety. For many weeks I only ate oatmeal breakfast bars. I lost 30 pounds. I went from a size 10 to a size 2. I don't recommend the divorce diet. I didn't sleep. I barely functioned on automatic pilot. How I kept my job is beyond me. But then one day the fog inside my head lifted. The anxiety left. I felt good and whole. I put myself out into the world again.

I took charge of my life. I discovered who I was without being defined by a man. I focused on my daughters and my career. I sold the unhappy home and moved one town over. At almost 40 years old, I discovered that I still had it -- whatever "it" is. I started dating. Just as I was getting used to my new life as a single mom with a fast-paced career, I heard the words no woman ever wants to hear.

Five months after my divorce was final and six weeks after my 40th birthday, I went in for my baseline mammogram. Extra images were taken of my left breast. The next morning the nurse called. She told me I needed to see a breast specialist. The mammogram detected a large microcalcification cluster of cells. A few days later I had a biopsy. Four days later, on a dark and moonless night in early January 2004, my doctor called with the results.

Instead of driving home, I drove to my dad's. It didn't feel real. Cancer? Me? No way! At my dad's house, I huddled in the basement with him and my stepmom. We cried together, but only for a moment. We needed a game plan but we only got as far as my next appointment. Without knowing what was going on in my body I could only take the next known step. The rest was the twilight zone.

I didn't know what to tell my girls so I decided to tell them what I knew without speculating on the unknowns. Scared? We were all scared. I was scared to die without seeing my girls try on wedding dresses and walk down the aisle. I was scared to die without ever meeting my grand babies. I was scared to die without ever knowing what it felt like to have someone truly, madly, deeply love me.

The day I had my left breast and 26 lymph nodes removed was surreal. I remember handing the registration clerk my DNR paperwork and living will. At that very moment, I felt completely at peace. I felt a sense of warmth and a soulful knowing that my life had just begun. After surgery, my breast surgeon told me that she got clean margins. My plastic surgeon promised me an almost matching set of breasts.

Sixteen weeks of chemotherapy and twenty-eight rounds of radiation therapy, followed by my final reconstruction surgery, capped off a year of death and rebirth. It's been ten years since my divorce and nine years since my mastectomy. Since then, I've married the love of my life (who just happened to be my first boyfriend in high school), I've been wedding dress shopping, I've been the stepmother of the bride twice, and I'm very much in love with my grandchildren. Every day my life is truly, madly, deeply.

?

Follow Peggy Nolan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/toolboxgirl

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peggy-nolan/death-and-rebirth-life-af_b_3069899.html

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2 dead, at least 100 injured in Boston Marathon bombing

At least 105 people are injured and two dead after two bombs exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon Monday afternoon. The injuries include dismemberment, witnesses said, and local hospitals say they are treating shrapnel wounds, open fractures and limb injuries. An eight-year-old boy is one of the two known dead, multiple news outlets reported, and several of the injured are also children.

Authorities are telling Boston residents to stay home and avoid crowds as they try to "stabilize" the situation.

"We recommend to people that they stay home," Boston Police Commissioner Edward Davis said at a brief press conference Monday afternoon. "We want to make sure that we completely stabilize the situation."

"We are asking that people ... calmly make their way home," Gov. Deval Patrick said.

Davis said Boston police were not aware of any specific threat to the marathon before it began. Police have no one in custody, but are questioning many people.

Two large explosions, just 50 yards apart, went off shortly before 3 p.m. ET, more than four hours into the race. One of the explosions happened near the entrance of the Fairmont Copley Hotel in Copley Square. The blast scattered hundreds of onlookers and runners, and left a bloody scene of injured spectators, including children. Local news reporter Jackie Bruno wrote that she saw some people with their limbs blown off. The Boston Police Department said it is looking for video footage taken from the finish line as part of its investigation.

Boston Medical Center took in 20 patients, including two children, most of whom are being treated for "lower leg injuries," a spokeswoman said. A spokeswoman for Tufts Medical Center said the hospital is treating nine patients for conditions such as shrapnel wounds, ruptured ear drums, and "serious orthopedic and neuromuscular trauma to the lower legs."

President Barack Obama warned Americans in a brief statement Monday evening not to jump to conclusions before authorities find out who committed the act. "We will find out who did this," Obama said. "Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice." A White House official said the incident is being treated as an act of terror.

NBC News, citing anonymous law enforcement sources, reported Monday that a "small homemade bomb" is believed to be responsible for the explosion. Authorities found and dismantled at least two more explosive devices. The FAA has created a no-fly zone around the area, and the Boston subway was shut down. Cell phone service was shut down in the area, the AP reported, to prevent any remote detonations. Family and friends of marathon runners or spectators can call 617-635-4500 for information.

This video from the Boston Globe shows the moment the bomb went off, and the paper has also pulled together dramatic photos from the aftermath. According to marathon officials, several thousand runners had not finished the race when the explosions detonated.

Police have evacuated the area on Boylston Street to continue sweeping for more devices. Runners who had not yet finished the race were stopped at mile 25 and directed to Boston Common. The Boston Police Department is calling in all off duty officers in the city. This New York Times map shows where on the route the explosions took place.

Patrick called it a "horrific day in Boston" in a statement.

The New York Police Department is stepping up security around the city in response to the explosion. At the White House, yellow police tape was used to block off Pennsylvania Avenue from pedestrians in front of the White House's north gates and secret service were positioned along the perimeter. Credentialed pass holders continued to be permitted entry and exit from both the White House and the Executive Office Building.

A photo of the apparent explosion posted on Twitter (photo via Boston to A T)

--The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/dozens-people-injured-explosion-boston-marathon-190955311.html

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China points finger at U.S. over Asia-Pacific tensions

By Ben Blanchard

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's defense ministry made a thinly veiled attack on the United States on Tuesday for increasing tensions in the Asia-Pacific by ramping up its military presence and alliances in the region, days after the top U.S. diplomat visited Beijing.

China is uneasy with what the United States has called the "rebalancing" of forces as Washington winds down the war in Afghanistan and renews its attention further east.

China says the policy has emboldened Japan, the Philippines and Vietnam in longstanding territorial disputes with Beijing.

China faces "multiple and complicated security threats" despite its growing influence, the Ministry of Defense said in its annual white paper, adding that the U.S. strategy meant "profound changes" for Asia.

"There are some countries which are strengthening their Asia Pacific military alliances, expanding their military presence in the region and frequently make the situation there tenser," the ministry said in the 40-page document, in a clear reference to the United States.

Such moves "do not accord with the developments of the times and are not conducive towards maintaining regional peace and stability", ministry spokesman Yang Yujun told reporters.

The official People's Liberation Army Daily went further, saying in a commentary on Monday that China needed to beef up its defenses to deal with a hostile West bent on undermining it.

"Hostile Western forces have intensified their strategy to westernize and split China, and employed every possible means to contain and control our country's development," it said.

On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry defended the re-orientation of U.S. foreign policy towards Asia as he ended a trip to the region dominated by concerns about North Korea's nuclear program.

While China has been angered by North Korea's behavior, including its third nuclear test in February, it has also made clear it considers U.S. displays of force in response to Pyongyang's behavior to be a worrisome development.

China is North Korea's most important diplomatic and financial backer -- the two fought together in the 1950-53 Korean war -- although the ministry's Yang would not be drawn on the subject aside from repeating a call for peace and dialogue.

JAPAN "MAKING TROUBLE"

China's own military moves have worried others in the region, too.

China unveiled another double-digit rise in military expenditure last month, to 740.6 billion yuan ($119 billion) for 2013, and is involved in protracted and often ugly disputes over a series of islands in the East and South China Seas.

"On the issues concerning China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, some neighboring countries are taking actions that complicate or exacerbate the situation, and Japan is making trouble over the Diaoyu Islands issue," the white paper said.

Japan's government said it had lodged a protest with Beijing about that comment. "There exists no territorial issue to be solved over the Senkaku", Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Hiroshige Seko said in Tokyo.

The dispute with Japan over the uninhabited islands, which China calls the Diaoyu and Japan calls the Senkaku, has escalated in recent months to the point where China and Japan have scrambled fighter jets and patrol ships shadow each other.

The waters around the islands in the East China Sea are rich fishing grounds and have potentially huge oil and gas reserves.

Vietnam, Taiwan, Brunei, Malaysia and the Philippines also have conflicting claims with China in parts of the South China Sea. China lays claim to almost the whole of the sea, which is criss-crossed by crucial shipping lanes.

The U.S. shift comes as China boosts military spending and builds submarines, surface ships and anti-ship ballistic missiles as part of its naval modernization, and has tested emerging technology aimed at destroying missiles in mid-air.

China has repeatedly said the world has nothing to fear from its military spending, which it says is needed for legitimate defensive purposes in a complex and changing world, and that the sums spent pale in comparison with U.S. defense expenditure.

(Additional reporting by Michael Martina and Kiyoshi Takenaka in TOKYO; Editing by Paul Tait and Alex Richardson)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/china-points-finger-u-regional-tensions-025724567.html

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Macy's appeals ruling on Martha Stewart goods in Penney dispute

Apr 15 (Reuters) - Leading money winners on the 2013 PGATour on Monday (U.S. unless stated): 1. Tiger Woods $4,139,600 2. Brandt Snedeker $3,137,920 3. Matt Kuchar $2,442,389 4. Adam Scott (Australia) $2,100,469 5. Steve Stricker $1,935,340 6. Phil Mickelson $1,764,680 7. Dustin Johnson $1,748,907 8. Jason Day $1,659,565 9. Hunter Mahan $1,553,965 10. Keegan Bradley $1,430,347 11. Charles Howell III $1,393,806 12. John Merrick $1,375,757 13. Russell Henley $1,331,434 14. Michael Thompson $1,310,709 15. Kevin Streelman $1,310,343 16. Bill Haas $1,271,553 17. Billy Horschel $1,254,224 18. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/macys-appeals-against-ruling-martha-stewart-goods-j-020817831--sector.html

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Joshua Tree park sites closed because of graffiti

JOSHUA TREE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. (AP) ? Acts of graffiti have become so pervasive at Joshua Tree National Park's most popular hiking spots that officials have had to close them to the public, and they blame the big bump in vandalism on social media.

Rangers said they've found graffiti spray painted on 17 sites, including the famous rock formations and historic Native American sites, at the Southern California park's Rattlesnake Canyon. They put historic Barker Dam off limits after vandals carved their names into the cement of the Old West landmark.

National Parks officials said the graffiti started with just a few markings, but quickly spread. They blame vandals who posted pictures of their handiwork on social media sites such as Facebook, which enticed others to the same spot and leave their own illicit marks.

"I've worked at six national parks, and this is the most extensive I've seen in 20 years," ranger Pat Pilcher told reporters this week during a tour of some of the damage.

For visitors who cherish the isolation of this harsh desert terrain about 140 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, the graffiti are an unwelcome reminder of city blight.

"You kind of feel like you're alone. In ancient times. There's nothing like this place," Butch Wood, 51, a visitor from North Aurora, Ill. Told the Los Angeles Times (http://lat.ms/12TCNU8). "You don't like to see the modern world intruding on history. It's a shame."

Pilcher said park service law enforcement officers are investigating the vandalism. If caught and convicted, vandals could face up to $5,000 in fines and six months in jail. He said the penalty could be stiffer for those convicted of defacing a historic Native American site.

Meanwhile, the San Bernardino County Sun reports (http://bit.ly/ZTjZN6 ) that officials are closing 308 acres of the canyon until April 30 while volunteers from the Urban School of San Francisco help scrub the graffiti off the giant granite boulders.

It wasn't clear how the park service will repair the damage at Barker Dam.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/graffiti-force-closure-joshua-tree-park-sites-031203308.html

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House Hunt: Georgetown Real Estate with Three Plus Bedrooms ...

Each weekend, Patch highlights several homes for sale with open houses in Georgetown and the 20007 Zip code. We're not being paid by any real estate agents. We're not doing any favors for the homeowners. These are just a few listings that we think might interest you?our readers.

If there's an open house that deserves our attention, pass it along. If there's one we didn't include in the column, add it in the comments section.

Click on a listing below and you will be automatically linked to AOL Real Estate (or the broker) for complete listing information. You will also find helpful tools for buying a home such as mortgage calculators, credit pre-qualifying, maps, contact information and more.

Happy hunting!

1804 Hoban Rd. NW

• According to the listing, "Expanded main level: Living Room with fireplace, formal Dining Room, Library, Sitting Room?with?wet bar, Morning Room ,?table-space?Kitchen & main level Bedroom suite. Master Bedroom Suite dressing room, walk-in closet & Master Bath. Lower Level with in-law suite & office. 2-car Garage. Terrace/Patio & private yard. Close to Georgetown University & Hospital."
• $1,399,000
• Open Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.

3226 O St. NW

• According to the listing, "Meticulously renovated 2-level Federal style home in the heart of Georgetown w/ 4 bedrooms and 2.5 baths. An open floor plan, renovated kitchen, & spacious living areas are perfect for entertainig. Features hardwood floors throughout, 2 staircases, spacious closets, and a huge rear yard and patio. Located on a pituresque cobblestone street only steps away from dining and shops. Incl 2 car parking."
• $1,299,000
• Open Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.

1657 34th St. NW

• According to the listing, "Offered For 1St Time Since 1937! Cherished For Generations, Pristinely-Maintained Gem W/ Grace & Character --Great Bones...Potential! Coveted Open Floorplan, W/ No Obstruction Of Natural Light Between Living Rm & Dining Rm. Deep Backyard. Lovely Vistas Of Secret Gardens & Treetops From Upper Level. Easy Street Parking. 2008 Newer Roof. As-Is. Estate Reserves Right To Reject Any Offer."
• $889,900
• Open Sunday 4 to 7 p.m.

Source: http://georgetown.patch.com/articles/house-hunt-georgetown-real-estate-with-three-plus-bedrooms

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