The National Institutes of Health has awarded the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation $3.4 million to study age-related muscle atrophy and weakness.
The five-year grant follows a discovery by OMRF scientists Holly Van Remmen, Ph.D., and Jacob Brown, Ph.D., connecting age-related muscle loss called sarcopenia to a missing nerve signal.
Most people begin to experience progressive loss of muscle mass and strength in their 30s or 40s. The condition becomes more pronounced after age 65, leaving older people susceptible to falls and difficulty performing daily tasks.
“It’s just a natural process of aging, and some people lose more muscle mass and strength than others,” said Brown, a scientist in Van Remmen’s lab.
While inactivity is the most common contributor to sarcopenia, Van Remmen’s team has shown another cause: denervation, which is an interruption in communication with the nerves that connect muscles to the spinal cord. (STORY CONTINUES BELOW)

In recent work published in the journal Redox Biology, Van Remmen and Brown found that muscle makes a metabolite during denervation that leads to muscle atrophy. Metabolites are the products of chemical changes within a cell.
With the new grant, the researchers will study whether blocking the production of this metabolite protects against age-related muscle atrophy in research models.
“This is a novel area of research that we hope will lead to new possibilities to design much-needed pharmaceutical interventions,” said Van Remmen, who holds the G.T. Blankenship Chair in Aging Research. “Ultimately, we hope this path of research will extend the time that older adults can remain healthy and active.”
Without current drug options to treat sarcopenia, Van Remmen added that it’s important for older adults to ward off its progression by staying physically active and maintaining a healthy diet.
“Simple strength and resistance training paired with a diet that includes adequate amounts of healthy proteins can make a world of difference in maintaining muscle mass,” she said.

By Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner Glen Mulready

You’ve just purchased a beautiful, expensive piece of jewelry that you want to protect if lost, damaged or stolen. So, you ask your insurance agent to add a condition to your home insurance policy. As a small business owner, you make an addition to your insurance policy that would exclude or eliminate coverage for your company’s particular type of risk. These examples require changing your current, existing insurance policy; you can do that with an endorsement. An endorsement, also known as a rider, adds, deletes, excludes or changes insurance coverage to increase coverage by way of an endorsement/rider. The endorsement/rider takes precedence over the standard limits of coverage over the original agreement or policy.
TOP CONSIDERATIONS
How an insurance endorsement/rider works. An insurance endorsement/rider is an amendment to an existing insurance contract that changes the original policy’s terms. An endorsement/rider can be issued at the time of purchase, mid-term or at renewal time. An endorsement may affect insurance premiums, and premiums may change as a result.
You can have an endorsement/rider on your homeowners and renter’s policy, life insurance, and auto insurance policies. Endorsements/riders may include adding or deleting people and locations to your current insurance policy. Endorsements/riders are important because they address issues or items not included in the original contract or policy.
* Additional Coverage – An endorsement that adds or includes coverage that would otherwise be excluded.
* Exclusions – Some endorsements exclude coverage for certain types of claims.
* Modification of Coverage – An endorsement can expand the scope of existing coverage.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW – Be informed of any insurance policy changes. An endorsement can vary depending on the insurance company and the type of insurance to which the endorsement applies. If you receive a document stating there is an endorsement to your policy, be sure to compare it to your original policy, and talk with your insurance agent or representative about the changes to make sure you understand them.
Educate yourself on how an endorsement can protect your belongings. If you have expensive jewelry, like a diamond engagement ring or vintage necklace, you might want to consider an endorsement/rider. It will take over and protect these items, where a traditional home insurance policy might end. Other things worthy of an endorsement/rider may include antiques, fine art, and priceless stamp or coin collections, to name a few.
For instance, many home insurance policies exclude coverage for mold or sump pump overflow. An endorsement to your insurance policy could give you that added protection. Many home insurance policies exclude coverage for mold or sump pump overflow. An endorsement to your insurance policy could give you that added protection.
An optional endorsement that protects the rebuild cost of your home is an inflation guard endorsement. These endorsements are common and automatically increase the amount of insurance on your home by a certain percentage each year to account for the disparity caused by inflation.
THREE THINGS TO REMEMBER – An endorsement/rider alters the policy and becomes part of your legal insurance contract.
Always keep a copy of the endorsement and the change notice that accompanies the endorsement along with your copy of the original policy since it remains in force until the contract expires.
Endorsements can reduce or increase your policy premium.
For more information, please contact the Oklahoma Insurance Department at 1-800-522-0071 or visit our website at: https://www.oid.ok.gov/.

From Terry “Travels with Terry” Zinn t4z@aol.com
text and photo provided by the Oklahoma Historical Society

You could say that Baltimore is a city designed for Senior leisure. The hop on and off water taxi around the bay is an ideal way to see a lot of the area’s attractions with a minimum of exertion, as it stops at many attractions. The minimal fee is good for the entire day. The small boat captains are eager to answer area questions as to where to eat and museum times. Note, many museums and attractions are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
Of course it stops at historic Ft Mc Henry – famous for the inspiration of the Star Spangle Banner composition. (www.nps.gov/fomc) You have to change boats to go the extra distance, but worth the convenience, when you think of the inconvenience of getting a taxi or uber to take you to the far out bay point. The preserved and reconstructed brick fort is informative if you have never visited a fort of this generation. It’s humbling to stand in the area that inspired America’s Anthem.
Once there it’s always good to schedule your visit with a tour by a park ranger for details of the fort. If not, the film is always inspiring, if not a bit nostalgic ,when at the end of the movie, a curtain opens to let you view through a large picture window the Fort in the background as the National Anthem plays.
Back in the downtown area is the Flag House where the American garrison size flag was created. Besides the history of the flag you can take a self-guided tour of a small period house, complete with furniture and staging of the time.
For pure entertainment, although you can’t help but learn something, is the national aquarium centrally located at the base of the Inner Harbor. (www.aqua.org) All levels of this multilevel aquarium is easily accessible with riding the multiple escalators, or if needed there is an elevator. Hosting over 20,000 aquatic animals with a Backtip Reef and Living Seashore, and a couple of large screen animal related movies, and a live dolphin show, make the aquarium one of the Inner Harbors best attraction. Of course they host a extensive gift shop with snack bar.
When you’ve got to eat, Baltimore with its vast seafood menus offers many venues. The off the beaten track funky Little Havana Bar and Grill offers many seafood based foods along with an extensive bar and their famous large Mojito.
Phillips Seafood (www.phillipsseafood.com) is a Baltimore tradition. They offer an upscale indoor or outdoor dining experience with reservations recommended. Their 8 ounce Crab Cake Extreme with Mac and Cheese, made with pure Jumbo Lump Crab with no fillers, is served in a skillet, and guaranteed to fill your Crab Cake desires. ($50.00)
If you plan to visit the Baltimore Museum of Art, be sure you check its times, as it is closed on Monday and Tuesdays. While it was closed the days I was in Baltimore I made sure I dined at Gertrude’s, where the Museum of Art displays culinary arts, under the expert guidance of owner, John Shields, is a must. Shields is a veteran TV host, and author and is called the “Culinary Ambassador of the Chesapeake Bay” with the restaurants opening in 1998. Gertrude’s is Shield’s tribute to his grandmother, Gertie. Shields is a personable entrepreneur and you may want to pickup one of his cookbooks including the 25th anniversary, “Chesapeake Bay Cooking.” Many menu options looked appealing but I chose the Irish Salmon, flown in to Gertrude’s several times a week. This is an example of the attention paid to the high standards that has made John Shield’s reputation.
An evening dining cruise aboard the Spirit of Baltimore, is a relaxing way to see more of the bay’s landscape while enjoying a buffet and beverages served by congenial staff. The cruise departs from the west wall of the harbor and cruises the Inner harbor along the Patapsco river, and includes glimpses of Fort Mc Henry. Come prepared for a casual and enjoyable evening, mixing with other tourist and those celebrating special occasions (www.spiritcruises.com/Baltimore).
While visiting the Fells Point area of the harbor you may want to stop in to the upscale Sagamore Hotel for a respite and beverage, or if your budget allows overnight accommodations. For a budget minded traveler the Days Inn Inner Harbor (www.daysinninnerharbor.com), about 3 blocks away from the harbor, and near the Horseshow Casino Baltimore, Ravens Stadium, and Oriole Park at Camden Yards, can fulfill your travel needs.
As you can guess there is much more to discover in Baltimore than I could cover in just two days, so historic and friendly Baltimore may require repeat visits (http://baltimore.org/).

New general admission prices effective Thursday, February 9, 2023. With more than 1,000 animals to see, immersive habitats and memorable experiences, OKC Zoo remains top destination at best-value among state attractions.

On Tuesday, January 17, 2023, Oklahoma City Council members approved price adjustments to general admission prices for the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden. Beginning Thursday, February 9, general adult admission will increase from $12 to $16, and admission for children ages 3 to 11 and seniors 65+ will increase from $9 to $13. Children two and under receive free entry into the Zoo. City Council also approved adjusted admission prices for student field trips which will be decreasing from $6.15 to $6 per student 3 to 11 and from $9.25 to $9 for students 12+. Educators wishing to make a reservation for a field trip can do so online at:
https://www.okczoo.org/self-guided-field-trips.
The Zoo’s last admission increase took effect February 2020.
ZOOfriends’ memberships will also be increasing effective February 9, 2023. Zoo fans are encouraged to join now and purchase memberships at our current prices. All ZOOfriends memberships are good for one year from date of purchase with the same incredible benefits including unlimited Zoo visits for a year and additional discounts. By purchasing a membership, you are also supporting the OKC Zoo, its growing animal family, conservation efforts and expansion including the awaited opening of Expedition Africa this summer! Purchase ZOOfriends memberships online at:
https://www.okczoo.org/membership.
The Oklahoma City Zoo is in its winter hours and open Thursday through Monday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the last entry at 4 p.m., and closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays through February 8, 2023. Purchase advance Zoo admission tickets at okczoo.org/tickets and avoid the entry lines. Located at the crossroads of I-44 and I-35, the OKC Zoo is a proud member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, the American Alliance of Museums, Oklahoma City’s Adventure District and an Adventure Road partner. Regular daytime admission is $12 for adults and $9 for children ages 3-11 and seniors ages 65 and over. Children two and under are admitted free. Stay connected with the Zoo on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Linktree and TikTok, and by visiting our blog stories. Zoo fans can support the OKC Zoo by becoming a ZOOfriends member. Starting at $45, memberships can be purchased at www.okczoo.org/membership and provide access to the OKC Zoo for an entire year plus, additional benefits and discounts. To learn more about Zoo happenings, call (405) 424-3344 or visit https://www.okczoo.org/.

INTEGRIS Health is celebrating 35 years of kidney transplantation. Surgeons with the INTEGRIS Health Nazih Zuhdi Transplant Institute have performed more than 2200 kidney transplants since the program began.
The INTEGRIS Health Kidney and Pancreas Transplant Center offers superior outcomes for kidney transplants from both living and deceased donors. It consists of one of the largest and most experienced transplant teams in the United States.
E.N. Scott Samara, M.D., is the surgical director of kidney transplant at INTEGRIS Health Baptist Medical Center. He conducted the first kidney transplant at the facility and still practices today. He is proud of what the program has accomplished through the years
“I have been grateful to see over 2000 patients be able to avoid or stop dialysis and live normal productive lives,” says Samara. “In the last 15 years, I have even been able to work with my son, Dr. Shea Samara, and Dr. Jose El-Amm, who is the medical director of kidney transplant and like a son to me, which has been both professionally and personally fulfilling.”
Every ten minutes another person is added to the national transplant waiting list. Of those, 82% are in need of a kidney. There are more than 90,000 people in the United States waiting for a kidney donation. The average wait time for a kidney is three to five years from a deceased donor. With living donation, a patient may be able to receive a transplant much faster. To learn more or schedule an assessment, call 405-949-3816.

The start of a new year often brings thoughts of renewal, new goals, a fresh start. While planning for this year, if you want to make a difference think about volunteering as a Long-Term Care Ombudsman (LTCO). Many people volunteer during the holiday season, but volunteers are needed every day of the year and LTCO volunteers are in high demand. A LTCO volunteer can assist residents in Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities, Residential Care Facilities, and Intermediate Care Facilities for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities. Volunteers make weekly visits to field resident complaints and help residents advocate for resolution for those complaints. If you are passionate about giving a voice to members of our most vulnerable population this is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
If a weekly commitment doesn’t fit in your schedule, consider contacting a facility near you and ask how you can support residents. Facilities can be located by searching online at https://www.medicare.gov/. There are many opportunities to help make a difference in Long-Term Care communities. If you are motivated by helping others, make the call today.
If you have a loved one in a Long-Term Care facility and have any questions regarding care or concerns you may have, you can contact an Ombudsman to assist you.
Areawide Aging Agency’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program advocates for the needs of residents in LTC facilities serving Canadian, Cleveland, Logan, and Oklahoma Counties. You may contact us at (405)942-8500 and ask to speak with an Ombudsman, visit our website at https://www.areawideaging.org/ or find us on Facebook.

Story by Bobby Anderson, RN, Staff Writer

The new year has brought a new round of hospital layoffs as healthcare systems nationwide deal with surging labor costs, shortages, and declining revenues.
Locally, the first two weeks of January saw layoffs from Integris Health as well as OU Health.
Integris announced it was cutting some 200 positions while OU announced an equal number of layoffs.
In a statement, OU health announced the layoffs would coincide with its planned restructuring.
“As part of the redesign, OU Health will move from a holding company to an operating company structure with duplicative services and positions being eliminated,” the statement read. “An estimated 200 positions will be reconfigured to the new structure, which integrates the organization into clinical business.”
Integris Health announced its reduction would be the result of a combination of cuts.
“Financial challenges are multifold, but some include a dramatic rise in expenses due to labor shortages and supply-chain disruptions, and significantly lower patient volumes compared to pre-pandemic days,” the statement read.
Integris laid off 140 positions and cut 60 vacant jobs, according to a spokeswoman.
The healthcare industry has suffered from nursing shortages and the winter’s omicron surge, forcing many organizations to turn to contract workers demanding higher rates.
The loss of Covid subsidies from the federal government also impacted the ability to keep up with rising labor costs.
Many systems find themselves in a counter-intuitive role of both cutting positions while trying to recruit and retain nurses.
OU Health announced its organizational redesign to complete the integration from its historic merger on July 1, 2021.
OU Health was created as the flagship comprehensive, integrated academic health system to improve the care and outcomes for all Oklahomans. As the state’s academic referral health system, OU Health plays the unique role of providing critical specialty services with access to advanced technology and expertise.
“OU Health needs to support and enhance the capabilities of the state’s vital rural and regional hospitals as the flagship academic referral center. All care that can remain in a community should remain local, but if the patient needs a higher level of care, OU Health is here to serve,” said OU Health President and CEO Richard Lofgren, M.D., MPH.
The organizational redesign and operational restructure will enable OU Health to improve efficiencies and grow its impact in the state and region as well as create a highly integrated, modern clinical platform, one that serves even more Oklahomans.
“In order to grow and adapt to industry changes, we need to perform in terms of the quality of our services, patient experience, and the efficiency and effectiveness of our processes,” Lofgren said. “Oklahoma needs the unique specialty and sub-specialty services we provide. We are positioned with dedicated physicians and staff to fully realize our special mission of clinical care, education, and research. We are committed to our role of continuing to improve the care and outcomes for the region and beyond.”
Both health systems are still actively hiring bedside nurses offering both recruitment and retention bonuses.

Story by Darl Devault, Contributing Editor

Our legislators need to “Hear Our Voices” about issues concerning seniors in Oklahoma, especially since COVID-19 restricted the ability to interact with them in person for the last three years. Organizers ask seniors to recruit a friend and attend the Senior Day at the Oklahoma State Capitol on the morning of February 27, 2023.
Seniors can inform their legislators about important issues seniors face while aging in Oklahoma. They can explain their views on securing funding for home and community-based services, senior nutrition programs, transportation, healthcare accessibility, and caregiver support services.
Attendees are invited into the House Chambers in a once-a-year opportunity to fill the members’ seats and House gallery as they hear from their senators and representatives about their legislative agendas this session. This activity can help prompt them to take positive actions on bills addressing the full spectrum of aging that are in the best interest of seniors. (STORY CONTINUES BELOW)

Participants are also encouraged to visit the legislators in their offices and meet their staff for contacts they can follow up on later. Everyone can take a guided tour of the renovated capitol. Seniors will also visit nonprofit and government agencies’ exhibitor booths on the second-floor rotunda providing a wide range of information about senior needs and issues and their services.
Visitors can join hundreds of other seniors that day for a moderated discussion on the top issues facing the aging population throughout Oklahoma and programs designed to help seniors live their lives with dignity and independence.
Registration runs 8-9:45 a.m. with exhibitor booths available: 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Seniors attend an official welcoming presentation in the House of Representative Chambers at 10 a.m. and can visit with their legislative members from noon – 1 p.m. Pease allow a short period before your first event to get through the Capitol Security checkpoint.
The annual event is a chance for Oklahoma’s seniors and their advocates to discuss the needs of the more than 875,877 adults age 60 and older in Oklahoma and approximately 140,000 adults age 80 or older. By 2030, the population of older Oklahomans is projected to increase by 21.3 percent, and for the first time, seniors are expected to outnumber children.
The beginning of a legislative session is the best time for seniors to interact with their elected representatives. This is when new laws are being proposed and discussed and when legislators are more likely to be open to hearing from their constituents.
Organizers say the group of seniors gathered that day should be large enough to show legislators the significant number of seniors affected by the lack of services and resources. “The emphasis on Senior Day is many seniors being present at the Capitol to show Legislators their determination to be heard,” said Trish Emig, president of the Oklahoma Silver Haired Legislature Alumni Association. “We must make sure our voices are heard about treating all Oklahomans well from birth to 60, 80, 90 and beyond.”
Seniors can also provide legislators with specific examples of how the lack of services impacts their community. For example, they can talk about the lack of affordable housing options for seniors, the shortage of home healthcare providers, or the limited access to public transportation in rural areas.
This opportunity to gather at the Capitol also allows seniors to network with other seniors and advocacy groups that share their concerns. They can share information and strategies for effectively communicating with legislators and organizing to make their voices heard.
Seniors can prepare before attending the special event. They can research the current laws and policies that affect seniors and be ready to discuss them with legislators. They can then make specific recommendations for improving services at long-term care facilities, including nursing homes, assisted living and similar adult care homes and seek more funding and support for other vital services for Oklahoma seniors.
Please pre-register at: https://forms.office.com/g/5CYnvwvF1F and open the hyperlink. For more info, contact Alliance on Aging- at 405-943-1895 or https://okallianceonaging.org/.

The Oklahoma History Center is pleased to announce a performance in the Kilgen Organ series featuring organist Christian Elliott. He will provide the accompanying music and sound effects to the American western silent film “The Mark of Zorro” (1920) starring Douglas Fairbanks. This performance will take place on Monday, February 27, 2023, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for Oklahoma Historical Society members and $20 for non-members, and may be reserved by calling 405-522-0765. Doors will open at 6 p.m., and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis.
Christian Elliott is a prominent concert organist, equally at home performing literature of the church and theater. Elliott’s career has included extensive silent film accompaniment at venues including the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the Packard Foundation’s Stanford Theatre and the University of California, Los Angeles. Elliott was privileged to be mentored by several world-renowned organists and worked extensively with the “dean” of silent film accompaniment, Gaylord Carter. Elliott was named Organist of the Year by the American Theatre Organ Society in 2009.