<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>> Newsletter Roundup ------------------ compiled by Jim Lyles This section contains excerpts from newsletters produced by other celiac groups. .................................................... : : : Excerpts from _CSGC News_ : : ------------------------- : : Summer 1998 Tanis Collard, editor : : Celiac Support Group for Children : : 11 Level Acres Rd. : : Attleboro, MA 02703 : :..................................................: Dairy Queen: Jennifer Fredenburg, Quality Assurance Manager of Dairy Queen International, Inc., (PO Box 39286, Minneapolis, MN 55439-0286, 612-830-0200) indicates that the following products are gluten-free: nonfat frozen yogurt vanilla and chocolate soft-serve ice cream misty slush Dennis the Menace bar Lemon Freez'r Dairy Queen fudge bar Dairy Queen vanilla orange bar Starkiss bars ............................................ : : : Excerpts from _CSSG Newsletter_ : : ------------------------------- : : Nov. 1998 Barbara J. Wieland, editor : : 5903 S. Tecumseh Rd. : : Springfield, OH 45502 : :..........................................: Zatarain's Fish-Fri is a seasoned breading found at both Sam's and Kroger's. It contains corn flour, salt, lemon juice, cayenne pepper, MSG, black pepper, and garlic. According to several people on the CELIAC e-mail list<5> who checked with the manufacturer, it is gluten-free. I really like it for breading fish. ........................................................... : : : Excerpts from _Gluten-Free News_ (Michigan) : : ------------------------------------------- : : Sep. 1998 Michigan Capitol Celiac/DH Support Group : : Nov. 1998 PO Box 1482 : : Dec. 1998 East Lansing, MI 48826 : :.........................................................: Comments From Kersti on Sweden: The Swedish Celiac Association had 15,859 members in 1997. During the year they send out 1,680 information packets to new members. There are 32 local chapters in Sweden, a country about the size of Michigan (9 million people). In Swedish grocery stores, you can buy gluten-free (GF) breads, often in the frozen section. GF crackers are located in the same aisle as the regular crackers, and GF cookies are often with regular cookies. There is also a dietary product aisle with a number of mixes, flours, etc. -=-=- -=-=- GF Questions on Nursing Exam: Several of the new nurses on our unit reported having a question on their computerized national nursing exam regarding the gluten-free (GF) diet. None of the nurses knew the correct answer [sigh-ed.], but the fact that it was on the test means some headway is being made in addressing celiac disease (CD) in nursing studies. I never heard of CD when I was in nursing schol in 1994-1995. Progress is being made. -=-=- -=-=- Glutano makes a cracker that tastes fairly good, and is the closest thing to saltines this editor has seen. They would go nicely with tuna fish. -=-=- -=-=- Report on an Immunology Conference ---------------------------------- Greta de Wolf provides some highlights from a conference for health professionals, sponsored by Lansing Community College on current issues in immunology. Dr. Beals spoke on rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The most distinct difference between RA and other types of arthritis (not autoimmune-related) is that RA is symmetrical, affecting joints or organs on both sides of the body. Only about 80% of those diagnosed will have the Rheumatoid Factor in their blood. If you have the DRW4 (an HLA marker) and the (-chain marker you have a greater than 50% chance of developing RA. There is no one factor that causes RA. There is some indication it is caused by the body's reaction to a virus, in which it makes an antibody, which in turn destroys collagen tissue. RA is a systemic disease affecting various organs of the body including blood, eyes, nerves, lungs, heart, intestines, and spleen. Dr. Beals believes in an early, aggressive treatment of RA to control it. She believes in giving low doses of various medicines, as a large dose of one medicine can cause more side effects. She also believes in alternatives such as glucosamine, coenzyme Q, and magnetic therapy. She recommends physical therapy, rest, exercise, and good ergonomic conditions in the workplace. She also believes in psychological support as patients go through the steps of a chronic illness: denial, grieving, bargaining, anger, depression, and acceptance. Dr. Peter Gulick of Michigan State University spoke on the immune system and its function. We've always known that the spleen, the thymus gland, and bone marrow are very important to the immune system. Studies of HIV patients have shown that the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is also very important to the immune system. Many of the antigens (proteins that cause a reaction) enter the body in the GI tract. If the GI tract is not functioning well, the immune system will not function well. Dr. Justus Feichtner of Michigan State University spoke on fibromyalgia, which has also been called Fibrocitis, myofacial pain, muscular rheumatism, non-restorative sleep disorder, and pain amplification syndrome. There is widespread pain with specific tender points. Most patients have trouble sleeping. It is believed to be a disorder of the involuntary nervous system. Many patients have migraine headaches. Some have mood disturbances, or suffer from irritable bowel syndrome or irritable bladder syndrome. Treatment of fibromyalgia requires a team approach. Often a tricyclic antidepressant is helpful as it helps the patient sleep and restores some order to the involuntary nervous system. Relaxation exercises and other methods of relaxation can help. Exercise is important to help relax the muscles. The patient must be involved in treatment to learn to control the body by relaxation and exercise. There are many sources of information on the Internet on fibromyalgia. The Arthritis Foundation has excellent material and locally has exercise programs and heated pools. Another resource is the Fibromyalgia Network; PO Box 31750, Tucson, AZ 85751-1750; 800-853-2929 (phone); 520-290-5550 (fax). -=-=- -=-=-