text:
By Katrina Gwinn, M.D.
Originally published in the Winter 2009 issue of PDF's Newsletter, News & Review.
You may have noticed a surge in stories about genetic testing and about specific genes that have been discovered to play a role in diseases. These discoveries, made mostly in the decade since the human genome was successfully sequenced, include 13 gene mutations that are associated with Parkinson's disease (PD).
Whether it is you or your loved one who is living with Parkinson's, you may be wondering how the new genetic discoveries will affect you and what they mean for your own risk or that of your children. In the long run, scientists hope that the knowledge provided by genetics will help us both to diagnose Parkinson's earlier and to slow or stop its progression. They also hope that genetic studies will help us better predict who is at risk for Parkinson's disease, so that interventions can take place before someone develops its symptoms — but we aren't there yet.
Understanding Two Categories of Genes
To understand how genes are linked to Parkinson's, begin by thinking of them in two categories. The first, "causal genes," actually cause the disease. A causal gene alone, without the influence of other genes or environmental factors, guarantees that a person who inherits it will develop PD. This kind of genetic Parkinson's is very rare, accounting for perhaps one to two percent of people with PD.
The second category of genes, "associated genes," do not cause Parkinson's on their own, but increase the risk of developing it. A person may have these genes and never develop PD, while people who do not have these genes can still end up being diagnosed with Parkinson's. However, those who have the gene are more likely to develop PD then those without it. In order for associated genes to trigger PD, they probably need to be combined with other genes or environmental factors. For example, having genes for fair skin increases your risk of developing skin cancer, but whether you actually develop cancer will depend upon other factors, such as whether or not you spend a lot of time in the sun.
Scientists discovered both kinds of genes by studying families in which many members have developed Parkinson's. It may be helpful to look at some of these families and how they have been affected by genetics.
Causal Genes: Alpha-synuclein
The 'Iowa kindred' or 'Spellman-Muenter kindred,' as it is known to PD researchers, is a large family in Iowa in which a specific gene for Parkinson's was found. My colleagues and I traced 200 members of the family, including those who developed PD, back to the 1800s and we reviewed medical records dating back to about 1914. Then, taking DNA from blood samples provided by members of the current generation, we tested the entire genome to figure out which genes are associated with PD in this family.
We discovered that the culprit gene in the Iowa kindred was one known as alpha-synuclein, which is located on chromosome 4. Normally, the chromosome carries only a single copy of the alpha-synuclein gene, but members of this family with Parkinson's carried three copies of the gene. This extra dose of alpha-synuclein caused certain family members to develop Parkinson's at a young age.
Even within a family whose members have the same disease-causing gene, individuals may have very different experiences with the disease. In the Iowa kindred, the member of the family who was oldest upon diagnosis was a 51-year-old woman with a form of Parkinson's called Lewy body dementia (LBD). Her cousin, however, was just 24 years old when typical Parkinson's symptoms emerged.
Comparing these two people who share the same Parkinson's genes, but who experience it differently, can give us clues about the disease. We can hypothesize that the woman who developed LBD at 51 had a genetic or environmental factor that protected her for 20 or 30 years. If we can understand how she was protected from PD, this knowledge could provide valuable insights into how to slow the progress of PD.
Associated Genes: LRRK2
While the gene for alpha-synuclein actually caused Parkinson's in members of the Iowa kindred, another gene called LRRK2 — the gene for the protein Dardarin — is only associated with PD. Mutations in the LRRK2 gene that lead to PD are most common in people of North African, Basque, Portuguese and Ashkenazi Jewish descent, but occur in almost all ethnic groups.
For LRRK2, there is great variability in the mutations that occur in the gene, as well as in their effects. Some people with LRRK2 mutations develop PD in their 30s or 40s, while others develop the disease in their 80s, and others never develop PD at all. In some cases, people with LRRK2 gene mutations develop dementia, while others develop a form of Parkinson's that shares features with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease. Understanding this variability — why some people develop certain disease features and others are protected — gives scientists clues about how PD starts and progresses.
Using Genetics to Diagnose and Treat Parkinson's Disease
By discovering genes linked to Parkinson's, scientists can develop tests to find out who is at risk of developing Parkinson's and can begin to diagnose it early, even before symptoms are obvious. Once we find a treatment that can slow down Parkinson's, as opposed to simply easing its symptoms, it will become important to assess genetic risk, and to make a diagnosis as early as possible in order to begin treatment. Genetic research can also provide clues to identifying new therapeutic targets for Parkinson's disease.
Already, the identification of genes associated with PD has allowed scientists to better understand the disease. For example, the first gene mutation identified to cause Parkinson's was the gene for alpha-synuclein, now known as Park 1. After its discovery, scientists began looking for the alpha-synuclein protein in the brains of people who had died with PD. They learned that Lewy bodies, the protein clumps that accumulate in dying brain cells, are full of alpha-synuclein. This insight into the basic biological cause of PD has led to ideas for treatments.
The Iowa family studies mentioned above demonstrated that three copies of a normal gene can cause PD. Once this was discovered, the original mutations were re-evaluated, and it was found that both genetic causes increased the amount of synuclein in the cell. Scientists realized that it was the amount of synuclein, not just the type, which led to disease. That understanding, in turn, is leading to strategies which may lessen the amount of synuclein in the cells of people with Parkinson's. It is it hoped that someday in the future, this method may help lessen, or hopefully even reverse PD.
Assessing Your Genetic Risk
Am I at risk? Should I get tested? If you or your parent or sibling is living with PD, you have probably asked these questions. You may wonder whether you have passed on risk factors to your children or whether you yourself have inherited any risk. I can relate to this because my own father has Parkinson's. Statistically, my risk is between four and nine percent higher than it would be for a person with no family history of disease. What does that really mean for me? What does it mean for my niece and nephew? The truth is, we don't yet know. Plus, because we lack treatments to slow the development and progression of Parkinson's, genetic testing is not part of routine clinical practice, but is restricted as a research tool. However, ongoing research will refine our knowledge and perhaps provide better answers to these important questions.
Looking Forward
The next time you see genetics and Parkinson's in the news, I hope that you will better understand why this field is so exciting. Discovering Parkinson's genes — both those that cause disease on their own and those that contribute to risk — is helping doctors to better understand PD, to identify the risk of Parkinson's earlier and to treat it more effectively.
Katrina Gwinn, M.D., is Vice Chair of Research Development in the Department of Molecular and Human Genetics at Baylor College of Medicine. This article was originally published in the Winter 2009 issue of PDF's newsletter, News & Review.


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Prize Recipient
Lauren Oldja
I am from St. Petersburg, Florida, and I will attend the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the fall for Course 8A, Physics with an emphasis on Electrical Engineering.
Physics was just another class to me in high school until I read a few publications by Richard Feynman. His enthusiasm brought the subject to life for me. This allowed me to look at physics as a possible career. The wonderful thing about physics, as it is said about many mathematics-dependent majors, is that it allows you to do anything. This is especially nice for me since the cement of my career plans is not yet dry. I do know, however, that physics will be in my future.

subset: commoncrawl


text: Diagnosis By Mayo Clinic Staff Print A complete neurological exam and medical history are needed to diagnose MS. There are no specific tests for MS. Instead, a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis often relies on ruling out other conditions that might produce similar signs and symptoms, known as a differential diagnosis. Your doctor is likely to start with a thorough medical history and examination. Your doctor may then recommend: Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)During a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) procedure, you typically lie on your side with your knees drawn up to your chest. Then a needle is inserted into your spinal canal — in your lower back — to collect cerebrospinal fluid for testing. Multiple sclerosis MRI scanMultiple sclerosis MRI scanBrain MRI scan showing white lesions associated with multiple sclerosis. Blood tests, to help rule out other diseases with symptoms similar to MS. Tests to check for specific biomarkers associated with MS are currently under development and may also aid in diagnosing the disease. Lumbar puncture (spinal tap), in which a small sample of fluid is removed from your spinal canal for laboratory analysis. This sample can show abnormalities in antibodies that are associated with MS. Spinal tap can also help rule out infections and other conditions with symptoms similar to MS. MRI, which can reveal areas of MS (lesions) on your brain and spinal cord. You may receive an intravenous injection of a contrast material to highlight lesions that indicate your disease is in an active phase. Evoked potential tests, which record the electrical signals produced by your nervous system in response to stimuli. An evoked potential test may use visual stimuli or electrical stimuli, in which you watch a moving visual pattern, or short electrical impulses are applied to nerves in your legs or arms. Electrodes measure how quickly the information travels down your nerve pathways. In most people with relapsing-remitting MS, the diagnosis is fairly straightforward and based on a pattern of symptoms consistent with the disease and confirmed by brain imaging scans, such as MRI. Diagnosing MS can be more difficult in persons with unusual symptoms or progressive disease. In these cases, further testing with spinal fluid analysis, evoked potentials and additional imaging may be needed. Brain MRI is often used to help diagnose multiple sclerosis Dr. B. Mark Keegan explains the diagnosis and treatment of multiple sclerosis Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic Symptoms & causesTreatment Aug. 04, 2017 Print Share on: FacebookTwitter References AskMayoExpert. What is multiple sclerosis? Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2014. Daroff RB, et al. Bradley's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2012. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 16, 2014. Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2014: 5 Books in 1. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2015. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 4, 2014. Olek MJ. Epidemiology and clinical features of multiple sclerosis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed April 4, 2014. Wingerchuk DM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Ariz. May 13, 2014. Kantarci O. Treatment of primary progressive multiple sclerosis. Seminars in Neurology. 2013;33:74. Keegan BM. Therapeutic decision making in a new drug era in multiple sclerosis. Seminars in Neurology. 2013;33:5. Goldman L, et al. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 4, 2014. Lotze TE. Pathogenesis, clinical features, and diagnosis of pediatric multiple sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed April 5, 2014. Kantarci OH, et al. Novel immunomodulatory approaches for the management of multiple sclerosis. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics. 2014;95:32. Olek MJ. Treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Dec. 16, 2014. Olek MJ. Treatment of acute exacerbations of multiple sclerosis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed April 4, 2014. Wingerchuk DM. Multiple sclerosis: Current and emerging disease-modifying therapies and treatment strategies. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2014;89:225. Pizzorno JE, et al. Textbook of Natural Medicine. 4th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2013. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 4, 2014. Olek MJ. Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Jan. 2, 2015. Polman, C, et al. Diagnostic Criteria for Multiple Sclerosis: 2010 Revisions to the McDonald Criteria. Annals of Neurology. 2011;69:292. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ana.22366/pdf. Patient information: Multiple sclerosis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Jan. 2, 2015. Olek MJ. Symptom management of multiple sclerosis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Jan. 2, 2015. Yadav Y, et al. Summary of evidence-based guideline: Complementary and alternative medicine in multiple sclerosis. Neurology. 2014;82:1083. Riggin EA. Decision Support System. Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Jan. 20, 2015. National MS Society. Network of Pediatric MS Centers. Accessed Feb. 10, 2015. http://www.nationalmssociety.org/What-is-MS/Who-Gets-MS/Pediatric-MS/Care-for-Pediatric-MS-%28Centers-of-Excellence%29. Rodriguez M. Plasmapheresis in acute episodes of fulminant CNS inflammatory demyelination. Neurology. 1993;43:1100. Deb C. CD8+ T cells cause disability and axon loss in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis. PLOS One. Aug. 30, 2010. FDA approves new drug to treat multiple sclerosis. FDA. Accessed March 29, 2017. RelatedDemyelinating disease: What can you do about it?Emerging treatments for multiple sclerosisExplaining multiple sclerosisLong-term safety of natalizumab for treating multiple sclerosis Vitamins for MS: Do supplements make a difference?Exercise and multiple sclerosisManaging depression in MSVitamin D and MS: Any connection?Stress management for MSCannabis for MS: Can it help treat symptoms?Mindfulness practice: Can it reduce symptoms of MS?Venoplasty treatment for multiple sclerosisManaging anxiety in MS: What works? Personalized therapy for multiple sclerosis (MS)Acetyl-L-carnitine: Can it relieve MS fatigue?Estriol as a potential treatment option for multiple sclerosis (MS)Multiple sclerosis: Can it cause seizures?Fingolimod during pregnancy: Is it safe?Inheritance patternsMedical marijuanaLumbar puncture (spinal tap)FatigueNumbness Mayo Clinic in Minnesota has been recognized as the best Neurology & Neurosurgery hospital in the nation for 2017-2018 by U.S. News & World Report. Learn more about this top honor Multiple sclerosisOverviewSymptoms & causesDiagnosis & treatmentDiagnosisTreatmentRequest an appointmentDepartments & specialtiesExpertise & rankingsLocations, travel & lodgingClinical trialsResearchCosts & insurancePreparing for your appointmentSelf-managementMore aboutIn-DepthExpert AnswersMultimediaResourcesNews from Mayo Clinic Advertisement Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy Opportunities Ad Choices Mayo Clinic Store Check out these best-sellers and special offers on books and newsletters from Mayo Clinic. The Last Diet You'll Ever NeedNEW! 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text:
Denervation of the renAl sympathetIc nerveS in hearT Failure With nOrmal Lv Ejection Fraction (DIASTOLE)
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
|Diastolic Heart Failure Hypertension
|Procedure: renal denervation
|Phase 2 Phase 3
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
|Official Title:
|Sympathetic Renal Denervation in Heart Failure With Normal LV Ejection Fraction: Denervation of the renAl sympathetIc nerveS in hearT Failure With nOrmal Lv Ejection Fraction
- Change from baseline E/E' at 12 months [ Time Frame: 12 months after treatment ]Echocardiography will be used to measure the E/E'
- Number of participants with adverse events [ Time Frame: 1 year ]
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|April 2012
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|July 2016
|Estimated Primary Completion Date:
|June 2016 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Renal denervation
Renal denervation
Procedure: renal denervation
Renal denervation
No Intervention: control
No intervention
Detailed Description:
Rationale: Increasing evidence suggests an important role of activation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) in the clinical phenomena of heart failure with normal left ventricular ejection fraction and hypertension. Moreover, sympathetic activation of the kidneys is directly proportional related to the severity of the heart failure state. Therapeutic renal denervation (PRDN), the deliberate disruption of the nerves connecting the kidneys with the central nervous system, has been shown to be an effective means of modulating elevated SNS activity. The current study aims to evaluate efficacy and safety of renal sympathetic denervation for the modulation of the SNS in patients with heart failure with normal LV ejection fraction.
Objective: Primary objectives: To investigate the efficacy of PRDN by means of pulsed wave Doppler echocardiographic parameters in patients diagnosed with HFNEF and hypertension. Secondary objectives: to investigate the safety of PRDN in patients with heart failure with normal LV ejection fraction and hypertension and to compare changes in the following parameters in patients with HFNEF and hypertension after PRDN: LV mass, LV volume, LA volume, LVEF, MIBG-uptake and -washout, BNP levels, blood pressure, heart rate variability, exercise capacity and quality of life.
Study design: Multicentre, prospective, randomised controlled trial. 60 patients will be randomly allocated in a one-to-one ratio to undergo renal denervation with previous treatment (n=30) or to maintain previous treatment alone (n=30) at 2 participating centres. Randomisation will be done with sealed envelopes.
Study population: Patients diagnosed with heart failure with normal LV ejection fraction and treated for hypertension. Patients should have a stable drug regimen, with at least 2 antihypertensive agents. This drug regimen should be expected to be maintained for at least 6 months.
Endpoints: The efficacy of PRDN will be evaluated primarily using echocardiographic parameters. Also, safety of PRDN on major and minor adverse events, LV mass, LV and LA dimensions, MIBG uptake and clinical endpoints will be evaluated.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years and older (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
Individual is diagnosed with heart failure with a normal LV ejection fraction. The diagnosis of HFNEF requires the following conditions to be satisfied:
- signs or symptoms of heart failure;
- normal or mildly abnormal systolic LV function (LVEF ≥ 50%);
- evidence of diastolic LV dysfunction.
- Individual should fulfill the diagnostic WHO criteria for hypertension: SBP > 140 mmHg and/or DBP > 90 mmHg, and is treated with at least 2 antihypertensive drugs. This treatment is expected to be maintained for at least 6 months. Using this regimen the blood pressure should be adequately controlled (< 140/90mmHg by 24 hour ambulatory BP measurement).
- Individual is adhering to a stable drug regimen HFNEF, with no changes for a minimum of 2 weeks prior to enrollment, and which is expected to be maintained for at least 6 months.
- Individual is ≥ 18 years of age.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Known secondary cause of hypertension
- Anatomy not eligible for renal denervation
- Systolic heart failure (LVEF < 50%)
- Individual has an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of < 30mL/min/1.73m2, using the MDRD calculation.
- Individual has any serious medical condition, which in the opinion of the investigator, may adversely affect the safety and/or effectiveness of the participant or the study (i.e., patients with clinically significant peripheral vascular disease, abdominal aortic aneurysm, bleeding disorders such as thrombocytopenia, haemophilia, significant anaemia, or arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation).
- Individual is pregnant, nursing or planning to be pregnant.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01583881
|Amsterdam, Netherlands
|UMC Utrecht
|Utrecht, Netherlands
|Principal Investigator:
|Michiel Voskuil, MD, PhD
|UMC Utrecht
Publications automatically indexed to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier (NCT Number):
|Responsible Party:
|Michiel Voskuil, MD, PhD, MD. PhD., UMC Utrecht
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01583881 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|April 19, 2012
|Last Updated:
|October 30, 2015
Keywords provided by Michiel Voskuil, MD, PhD, UMC Utrecht:
Patients with diastolic heart failure and hypertension
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Heart Failure
Heart Failure, Diastolic
Vascular Diseases
Cardiovascular Diseases
Heart Diseases
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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ECoG Direct Brain Interface for Individuals With Upper Limb Paralysis
This study has been completed.
University of Pittsburgh
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Jennifer Collinger, PhD, University of Pittsburgh
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: July 11, 2011
Last updated: October 18, 2016
Last verified: October 2016
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- Study Results
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Detailed Description:
The purpose of this research study is to demonstrate that individuals with upper limb paralysis due to spinal cord injury, brachial plexus injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and brain stem stroke can successfully achieve direct brain control of assistive devices using an electrocorticography (ECoG)-based brain computer interface system.
|Tetraplegia Spinal Cord Injury Brachial Plexus Injury Muscular Dystrophy ALS Brainstem Stroke
|Device: Implantation of ECoG sensors on the brain surface
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
|Official Title:
|Acute Electrocorticography (ECoG) Direct Brain Interface for Individuals With Upper Limb Paralysis
Resource links provided by NLM:
MedlinePlus related topics: ParalysisU.S. FDA Resources
Further study details as provided by Jennifer Collinger, PhD, University of Pittsburgh:
Primary Outcome Measures:
- Number of Participants Able to Successfully Control of a Variety of External Devices Using Neural Data Recorded With ECoG [ Time Frame: Up to 29 days of device implantation ]Participants will attempt to control devices such as computer cursors, virtual reality environments and assistive devices such as hand orthoses or surface functional electrical stimulators using their brain activity recorded through ECoG.
Secondary Outcome Measures:
- Number of Participants Able to Achieve Direct Brain Control of Assistive Devices Using an Electrocorticography (ECoG)-Based Brain-computer Interface System [ Time Frame: Up to 29 days of device implantation ]Participants will be asked to perform, attempt, or imagine performing motor tasks while their brain activity is recorded in order to observe the changes in neural activity during each task.
|Study Start Date:
|May 2011
|Study Completion Date:
|April 2015
|Primary Completion Date:
|April 2015 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Assigned Interventions
Experimental: Direct Brain Interface Users
All participants enrolled in the study will undergo "Implantation of ECoG sensors on the brain surface" to record neural activity. There is no control group. There are no other arms.
Device: Implantation of ECoG sensors on the brain surface
One ECoG sensor will be implanted over the motor cortex of study participants
Other Names:
Detailed Description:
Brain-computer interface (BCI) technology aims to establish a direct link for transmitting information between the brain and external devices, offering a natural and rich control signal for prosthetic hands or functional electrical stimulators (FES) to re-animate paralyzed hands. This study focuses on an ECoG-based BCI system. ECoG measures brain activity using electrodes implanted on the surface of the brain. Each participant will undergo testing of the ECoG direct brain interface for up to 29 days. Participants will learn to control computer cursors, virtual reality environments, and assistive devices such as hand orthoses and functional electrical stimulators using neural activity recorded with the ECoG sensor.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 70 Years (Adult, Senior)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
- Limited or no ability to use both hands due to cervical spinal cord injury, brachial plexus injury, brainstem stroke, muscular dystrophy, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or other motor neuron diseases
- At least 1 year post-injury
- Live within 1 hour of the University of Pittsburgh or willing to stay in Pittsburgh while the ECoG electrode is implanted (up to 29 days)
- Additional inclusion criteria must also be reviewed
Exclusion Criteria:
- Certain implanted devices
- Presence of other serious disease or disorder that could affect ability to participate in this study
- Additional exclusion criteria must also be reviewed
Contacts and Locations
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the Contacts provided below. For general information, see Learn About Clinical Studies.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01393444
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01393444
|United States, Pennsylvania
|University of Pittsburgh
|Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213
Sponsors and Collaborators
University of Pittsburgh
|Principal Investigator:
|Jennifer L Collinger, PhD
|University of Pittsburgh
More Information
Additional Information:
Keywords provided by Jennifer Collinger, PhD, University of Pittsburgh:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017
Additional Information:
Brain Computer Interface Research at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) / University of Pittsburgh
|Responsible Party:
|Jennifer Collinger, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01393444 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|July 11, 2011
|Results First Received:
|August 17, 2016
|Last Updated:
|October 18, 2016
|Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
|Plan to Share IPD:
|Plan Description:
|Study sponsors, as well as the FDA, will have access to research data and documents in order to monitor the integrity of the study.
Keywords provided by Jennifer Collinger, PhD, University of Pittsburgh:
Spinal cord injury
Brainstem stroke
Brain-computer interface
Direct brain interface
Neural activity
Motor cortex
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Wounds and Injuries
Spinal Cord Injuries
Muscular Dystrophies
Brain Stem Infarctions
Spinal Cord Diseases
Central Nervous System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
Trauma, Nervous System
Muscular Disorders, Atrophic
Muscular Diseases
Musculoskeletal Diseases
Neuromuscular Diseases
Genetic Diseases, Inborn
Neurologic Manifestations
Signs and Symptoms
Brain Infarction
Brain Ischemia
Cerebrovascular Disorders
Brain Diseases
Vascular Diseases
Cardiovascular Diseases
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 21, 2017


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Minneapolis -- Target Corp. announced a partnership with CNET – a top website for consumer electronics and tech news – to provide guests with CNET Editors' Picks for Target, in time for the holiday season. The collaboration is part of a larger, ongoing partnership between Target and CNET.
Beginning Nov. 11, Target guests can shop the electronics department with even more confidence and ease thanks to unbiased expert reviews that will appear with select electronics items both on-shelf at all Target stores nationwide and within the "Expert Review" tab on Target.com.
"We want our guests to think of Target first when it comes to their consumer electronic needs," said Scott Nygaard, VP merchandising, electronics at Target. "We know our guests find expert reviews helpful when making purchasing decisions; as the respected industry expert, CNET was a clear choice to provide this expertise to Target's guests."
The new feature will include 25 product reviews across Target's electronics department. CNET editors rated products based on ease of use, style and value. The product reviews will be clearly visible in stores, with on-shelf signage prominently featuring the CNET logo and qualifying criteria, such as "Best first digital SLR" for the Nikon D3100. Shoppers can use the QR code on the signs to access the full product review on the chain's website.


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A KEIGHLEY woman who was parliamentary secretary to MP George Galloway has been sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge for encouraging her police detective inspector husband to obtain e-mails without consent.
Aisha Ali-Khan, 34, had already pleaded guilty to encouraging Mohammed Afiz Khan,46, to obtain personal data relating to people she believed had sent e-mails on or about August 24, 2012.
Ali-Khan, who worked with the Respect MP for Bradford West, had asked Khan, then a detective inspector with the Metropolitan Police's counter-terrorism unit SO15, for help in finding out about some offensive material on the internet.
The couple listened quietly side-by-side in the dock in London's Southwark Crown Court as the Recorder of Westminster Alastair McCreath sentenced them.
He told Ali-Khan: "I accept that your criminality arises in circumstances where you were offended, and justifiably so, by someone putting material on the internet that was offensive to you.
"The request was unlawful. Whilst what you did was against the law, the request was understandable and led to nothing. Punishment as such is inappropriate – you must behave yourself for the next 12 months when this will be discharged."
Khan, who had already pleaded guilty to two misconduct charges, was given a six-month jail sentence suspended for two years and ordered to pay £500 costs.
He was suspended from the Metropolitan Police after being charged in July last year and has been sacked.
In December he pleaded guilty to a charge of misconduct in that he disclosed restricted information he had obtained relating to the arrest of radical Muslim cleric Anjem Choudary to Ali-Khan while she was employed by Mr Galloway on or around May 22, 2012.
He also admitted a charge of misconduct relating to obtaining CCTV from South Yorkshire Police that he had no authority or good reason to obtain between March 16 and April 30, 2012.
The judge told him that as a senior police officer he had committed "a serious crime as a trusted member of an important arm of society".
The judge, who accepted Khan's shame and remorse over what happened, said he had acted "for private purposes to do with jealousy and uncertainty about your relationship and things of that kind".
He said that Khan had passed over information that was not yet in the public domain and that he had abused his position as a senior police officer. The judge also noted Khan had not tried to make money from his crimes.


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there are a ton of courses in the minneapolis area, i know. and some especially fine courses if you can make a day of it. problem is, every time i'm there, it's to see my girlfriend's family and unlikely that i can get an entire day to throw. i think i've played the four courses closest to the house in maple grove, but i'd really like to know if there is another course that might be just a little further that would be worth going to.
first, let me tell you the ones i've played, and what i think about each, so you can get a sense of my taste:
plymouth creek - played multiple times; i like it. usually full of litter, but very fun.
eden prairie - played once last year; seemed like it was in the middle of renovations/ expansions. obviously very well-maintained and manicured. would play again any day. though it was confusing to navigate, and seemed like it was designed more for ball golf than disc golf at some points (mowed fairways vs. 3 inch growth of grass on edges doesn't really make a difference since you're gonna stand on both; i'd personally prefer to have more trees in the way to navigate through rather than just test my power repeatedly)
zachary playfield - played once a couple years ago and it was OK. there was also a lot of construction going on when i played this one so i don't think i got to play the full layout. what's the deal now?
silverview - not bad if i lived right around the corner, but probably my least favorite of the bunch
so if i've only got half a day to play: should i stick to eden or plymouth or is there something else within reach that is worth an extra step? also, did that course open up at Elm Creek yet? or any others open up that i havent heard about?
thanks minneapolins


text:
Kate Robertson hates plastic bags, and she wants you to know it. The Novato resident carries 10 recyclable bags in her car and says plastic is a leading cause of sea turtle mortality. Not surprisingly, she's happy with the year-old ban on plastic grocery bags in unincorporated Marin — and she's not alone.
Based on comments from grocers, shoppers and county officials, the ban is working out well. Local shoppers had only good things to say. Grocers had just a few tangential concerns, basically approving of the ban that went into effect Jan. 1, 2012 forbidding plastic bags at checkout stands in retail markets in Marin's unincorporated areas.
It appears that the ban may have reduced the number of plastic bags in the landfill. "Lately we don't see too many plastic bags," said Nelson Alcantara, who does customer service at the Marin Resource Recovery Center. "I've been here a long time. We can see the difference."
The ban affects 42 grocery stores, 100 percent of which are in compliance. No fines have been issued since the ban went into effect, said Stacy Carlsen, Marin County's agricultural commissioner. Carlsen's office is in charge of enforcing the ban.
The commissioner's field staff visited each of the stores after the ban passed to educate them on the rules, Carlsen said.
"Each business had questions about some parts. They all thought it included produce. We said no, it's just the plastic bags when customers check out," Carlsen said. "In the end, they all became compliant. We're pretty happy."
Under the edict, shoppers can bring their own bags or pay five cents for a paper bag. Shoppers approached by the IJ at Marin grocery stores in unincorporated areas were unanimous in their praise.
"I think it's a good idea. I do not want to contribute to that big swirl in the ocean, and every little bit helps. I don't mind a bit," said Joan Flood of Kentfield as she wheeled her cart out of Woodlands Market in Kentfield Sunday. Flood was referring to a giant garbage patch in the central North Pacific Ocean with high concentrations of plastics and chemical sludge.
"It's (the ban) inconvenient for me — and I approve," said Susan Lawson of San Rafael as she scrutinized an avocado at the Santa Venetia Market. "We have to get rid of plastics.
"Now if they would just hand out memory pills, it would be a big service. I have bags in my car, but I always forget them," Lawson said. "I know others with the same problem. Maybe we should tie them around our necks."
Rosina Wilson usually brings reusable bags to the grocery store, but when she forgets, she makes the most of the paper bags she buys. "When I use store bags, I reuse and recycle them as many times as possible in the house, then I use them to bundle up garden scraps and hold soil," Wilson said.
The Marinwood resident doesn't have strong feelings for or against the ban, she said as she rolled her shopping cart to her car outside Marinwood Market. The cart held a repurposed green plastic bag labeled, "Mendocino County," something Wilson, a wine writer, picked up in the line of duty.
Grocers also had good words about the ban on its one-year anniversary.
"It's going well. A lot more people are bringing their own bags in," said Kelly Aguirre, assistant customer service manager at Woodlands Market.
"We're still paying for the (paper) bags, and we donate the entire five-cent fee to green programs at Ross and Kentfield schools," Aguirre said.
"It's (the ban) fine for us. It's one less thing to worry about and takes up less space in the back room," said Chris Kettler, manager of the Marinwood Market. "And of course we're supportive of the environmental side.
"It saves us money because we don't have to buy plastic bags," Kettler said. "The only thing we don't like is that it's not a countywide ban. Some customers still want plastic bags," and those customers might shun Marinwood and go to stores that still offer them, he said.
"I completely support the ban," said Scott Day, owner of the Santa Venetia Market. "Most of our customers rejected it at first or were confused, but within a week they were coming in with their bags and seeing it as no big deal."
The ban saves Day money, he said.
"The large-handled bags people use are 10 cents each and if you double them, that's 20 cents. Multiplied by the number of customers, that's a lot of money," the grocer said.
Like Kettler, Day said his only concern is that the ban is not countywide.
"I would say 95 percent of the customers are fine with it," but 5 percent are not, Day said. "A lot of people think we're making it up."
In response, Carlsen said, "The county's taking the lead to show other jurisdictions that it can be done." He added: "It shows a good leadership role by the county supervisors and the businesses that are embracing it and stepping it up."
The agricultural commissioner said, "We really appreciate businesses understanding the situation and recognizing that it's a good idea to get plastics out of the environment. They've played a big part, and the department and the country really appreciate it." He said the city of San Rafael is discussing instituting a similar ban.
Marin County Supervisor Judy Arnold said, "From what I hear, many stores in incorporated areas are considering doing this as well. I think this was a big success.
"This has caused everybody to change their habits," Arnold said. "Now you keep your bags in the car and you know to take one in with you, and it really has had a good outcome for the environment."
Supervisor Susan Adams, one of the champions of the bag ban, said, "I can't help thinking about my colleague, (the late Supervisor) Charles McGlashan, who was committed to living responsibly on our planet and who worked hard to make this happen in Marin.
"Because of the ordinance, it is no longer uncommon to see people bringing their own bags into the grocery stores and doing their part to keep plastics out of the ocean and the landfill," Adams said. "It was a small, but important step in creating a culture change."
Or, in the words emblazoned on one of shopper and environmentalist Robertson's canvas bags, "Paper or plastic? —Neither."
Contact Janis Mara via email at email@example.com. Follow her at Twitter.com/jmara.


text: Lone Star statement By Dave Hickman October 7, 2012 Story Share AP Photo West Virginia running back Andrew Buie celebrates the Mountaineers' 48-45 victory over Texas Saturday night. AUSTIN, Texas - It didn't take long Saturday night for West Virginia to realize it wasn't in Piscataway anymore.The Mountaineers weren't in East Hartford or Louisville, either, or just about anywhere else they have grown accustomed to playing, often before raucous crowds, but usually rather quaint or even petite in regard to size.That whole thing about everything being bigger in Texas applies perfectly to Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, where more than 100,000 regularly flock to see Texas play football. On Saturday night, more than had ever flocked there before - a stadium record 101,851 - came to see little ol' West Virginia make its Texas debut.What they saw they didn't much like, or at least that was the case for the roughly 90,000 wearing burnt orange. Still, after West Virginia walked out of there with an exhausting 48-45 win, it was as if the Mountaineers had beaten a lot more than the 100 or so Texas players.And believe it or not, that's not something visiting teams usually are forced to deal with."That is by far the loudest and longest I've heard them yell since I've been here,'' said Texas coach Mack Brown, who has been in Austin 15 years and through two runs at a national title. "I thought they really helped us.''Here's the thing, though: That Texas-sized crowd and the unprecedented noise it made - for years the Longhorns have complained about a lack of enthusiasm from fans - might have helped UT, but it didn't faze West Virginia. Crowd noise? What crowd noise?"This is a strange environment. I've never seen this place like this,'' said West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen, no stranger to coaching opposing teams at Texas. "I've been here when it was not loud, but it was loud [Saturday night]."But our guys don't care. They just like to play football.'' Indeed, one thing probably encapsulates West Virginia's attitude about the crowd and the deafening noise it was able to make. In the second quarter and then again in the second half after huge Texas plays, the stadium rocked with dance music. Not only did the crowd jump and shout in rhythm, so did the players, going so far as to filter out onto the field in front of their bench and hop up and down. It was particularly crazy after West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith fumbled and it was recovered for a touchdown in the second quarter.West Virginia's players pretty much ignored that one, but then when it happened again in the second half, well, the Texas players weren't the only ones jumping around and dancing. The Mountaineers simply got into it, too, and juiced up themselves."That's just the way we are,'' Smith said. "We're going to win as a team and lose as a team. And we might as well have fun doing it.''Some of the Mountaineers claimed not to have paid attention to the noise level and the enthusiasm of the Texas crowd, despite it being the largest any WVU team has ever played in front of (the previous high was 96,445 at Penn State 21 years ago.)"I really wasn't hearing it,'' safety Darwin Cook said. "I guess I'm used to it.'' Well, in a way that's true. West Virginia has played in front of some large and loud opposing crowds just in the seasons most of these players have been at the school. Big East teams always tended to save their loudest and biggest crowds for the Mountaineers. And in recent seasons, bowl games have been almost road games given that the opponents usually had more fans.But this was just different because of the sheer volume, both literally (noise) and figuratively (number of people). And it's something the Mountaineers needed to get used to because while no other Big 12 venue seats 100,000, they are predominantly larger and rowdier than anything in the Big East."I feel better about this team because we overcame adversity,'' Holgorsen said, referring to both game situations and the atmosphere.Then again, as is always the case the entire crowd was not pro-Texas. They were dwarfed by Longhorn fans, but there were still perhaps 10,000 West Virginians in the crowd, if not more.That was a number that amazed even Texas fans and officials given the distance, but once again it didn't even raise an eyebrow among the Mountaineers."It's amazing to see our fans when we travel anywhere in the United States of America,'' said running back Andrew Buie, he of the 207 rushing yards against Texas. "But we're used to it. We know that anywhere we go, they'll be there, too.'' Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Deer in 8 WV counties found dead from EHD 2 New company planning $73M synthetic fuel plant in Greenbrier County 3 Body found in Kanawha River, near South Charleston 4 Vietnam veteran builds prosthetics in war zones 5 Judge gives water crisis settlement preliminary approval NFL's fantasy island is a gambler's paradise Previous Story Give Mountaineers credit they deserve Next Story


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MARLBOROUGH Ladies wrapped up the West Clubs League North Division title and their second successive promotion with a 2-0 win over Lansdown on Saturday.
The home side started well, but Lansdown proved tough opponents before Alex Crosby-Jones weaved through the back line and scored with a stunning shot before half time.
The home side were well tested after the break, goalkeeper Vicky Moxham needing to be at her best.
But a timely pass to Crosby-Jones allowed her to start Marlborough's celebrations with the second goal.
"I cannot believe how well the team has done, to be promoted into this league last year, we never thought we would be in the position of another promotion again this year,'' said captain Becki Marnane.
"Everyone's dedication, commitment and passion, has surpassed all expectations.'' There were also celebrations for Chippenham's third team who clinched promotion to Wessex Division One with a 2-1 win over Team Bath Buccs 5.
Helen Franklin and Mary Derrick scored the goals for the visitors.
Chippenham's fourth team enjoyed a thumping 14-0 win over Wells City Acorns in Wessex Division Three.
Ann Tweedale and Shauna Ford both scored four times each as Megan Hand netted twice. Ariane Nunan, Penny Edwards, Leigh Page and Lois Watts bagged the other goals.
Loss leaves the men on the brink
MARLBOROUGH have two games to secure their Davis Wood League Conference North status after a hreatbreaking 3-2 defeat to fellow strugglers Bridgend on Saturday.
Skipper Richard Holman's side face a stiff task on the final two weekends of the season, with a home appointment against champions City of Bath on Saturday followed by an away trip to county rivals West Wilts, currently second, to conclude the campaign.
Marlborough paid the price for a slow start as Bridgend scored courtesy of several deflections.
But the visitors drew level minutes later as a deflection from Holman brought the equaliser.
Bridgend stepped up in the second half and regained their advantage courtesy of another deflected strike.
Again though Marlborough equalised almost immediately as a quick attack ended with striker Matt Way putting the finishing touches on the move.
The game ebbed and flowed but the Welsh side grabbed the points with ten minutes remaining as a short corner was dragged into the bottom corner.
Promoted Devizes are still on course for the Central One title despite a 2-1 defeat to nearest rivals Old Bristolians on Saturday, Josh Bond scoring for the Wiltshire side.
In the same division, Chippenham are a point from safety after a resounding 5-0 victory over fellow strugglers Team Bath Buccs D Chippenham hit the ground running and dominated the opening exchanges, Selwyn Widger's strikes establishing a two-goal lead.
A third goal followed from another short corner, Mark Knight seeing his initial flick saved but Chris Instone netting the rebound.
Captain Andy Edwards added the fourth goal in the second half and victory was wrapped up as Ben Jones capped a flowing move.
East Central One champions Wootton Bassett celebrated their title triumph with a 9-2 victory over their own A team.
FOR MORE SPORTS NEWS, REPORTS & PICTURES SEE THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport


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Maybe it would be helpful to always keep in mind that those believe in literal rebirth as taught by the Buddha find it beneficial in terms of their practice,
Of course
that they are not caught up in unnecessary speculations about kamma and about the future just because they accept the Buddha's teachings about rebirth.
Well I cant say that they are, since that would involve knowing their minds and knowing exactly how they use it.
All I can say is that, for me, its an unnecessary speculation (because its not important to me) and so it doesn't have to be a part of everyone's practice
Essentially, I was arguing that its ok to be a Buddhist and not hold a view either way in relation to rebirth


text:
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text:
Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry (APR): Multi-sponsor Registry to Detect Any Major Teratogenic Effect Involving Any of the Registry Drugs When Administered to Pregnant Women. (APR)
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
The purpose of the Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry (Registry) is to detect any major teratogenic effect involving any of the Registry drugs when administered to pregnant women. Registration is voluntary and confidential with information obtained from the health care provider. A Registry-assigned identifier allows for follow-up capability. Information on subjects is provided to the Registry prospectively (prior to the outcome of pregnancy being known) through their health care provider, with follow-up obtained from the health care provider after the outcome is determined. Providers are strongly urged to enroll their patients as early in pregnancy as possible to maximize the validity of the data. In addition, the Registry is very interested in assembling a group of providers who are willing to make a commitment to report all of their site's antiretroviral pregnancy exposures to the Registry, thereby assuring all cases can be considered prospective. Providers are encouraged to contact the Registry for more information about this group. The Registry is informed in its analysis by other data, for example, retrospective reports and clinical studies.
Given the increasing number of medications and more aggressive approach to therapy, more HIV- and hepatitis B-infected women may be treated during pregnancy or become pregnant while under treatment. The paucity of data on use and infant outcomes of antiretroviral therapies during pregnancy makes this Registry an essential component of the ongoing program of epidemiologic studies of the safety of these therapies.
Each year the Registry has enrolled approximately 1300 pregnant women in the US exposed to antiretroviral drugs. This number represents approximately 15% of the 8,700 HIV positive women who give birth to live infants annually in the US.
|HIV Infections Hepatitis B
|Study Type:
|Study Design:
|Observational Model: Cohort
Time Perspective: Prospective
|Official Title:
|Antiretroviral Pregnancy Registry
|Estimated Enrollment:
|Study Start Date:
|January 1989
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|January 2099
|Estimated Primary Completion Date:
|January 2099 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|12 Years to 60 Years (Child, Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
|Sampling Method:
|Probability Sample
Eligibility Ages Eligible for Study: Women of childbearing age
Inclusion Criteria:
- Country of origin of report
- Documentation that the registry drug was taken during pregnancy
- Sufficient information to determine if the pregnancy is being prospectively or retrospectively registered
- Date the pregnancy was registered
- Source of report (patient or health care provider)
- Whether the pregnancy outcome is already known or delivery is still pending
- Timing of the prenatal exposure to the registry medication (no broader than which trimester)
- Sufficient patient identifier relevant to reporter to allow for follow-up
- Was patient involved in a study at the time of prenatal exposure
- Full reporter contact information (name, address, etc.)
Exclusion Criteria:
- Females who were not exposed to registry medications during pregnancy
- Male patients
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00404989
|Contact: Susan Goodlow
|Contact: Taylor Cook
|United States, North Carolina
|Registry Coordinating Center
|Wilmington, North Carolina, United States, 28405
|Principal Investigator:
|Jessica D Albano, PhD, MPH
|INC Research
Additional Information:
|Responsible Party:
|INC Research
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT00404989 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
|Study First Received:
|November 27, 2006
|Last Updated:
|July 3, 2017
Keywords provided by INC Research:
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
HIV Infections
Hepatitis B
Liver Diseases
Digestive System Diseases
Lentivirus Infections
Retroviridae Infections
RNA Virus Infections
Virus Diseases
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes
Immune System Diseases
Hepadnaviridae Infections
DNA Virus Infections
Hepatitis, Viral, Human
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on September 25, 2017


text:
BP Comment Quick Links
|Strength of Schedule Report
September 11, 2008
Prospectus Hit and Run
The Manny Show
Earlier this summer, for a research project, I had occasion to review the career of former Dodger slugger Pedro Guerrero, a favorite player of my youth. Guerrero spent the first few years of his major league career-or 1978-1980, for those too young to remember-waiting for Steve Garvey and company to grow old. In the interim, he was forced to learn other positions, playing every spot except for catcher and shortstop, finally cracking the Dodgers' lineup as a right fielder for a couple of years. When Ron Cey was traded to the Cubs following the 1982 season, Guerrero began a nasty, short, and brutish war of attrition with third base. His range at the hot corner was above-average, and his arm was strong, but his footwork was lousy. The media tended to focus on his errors (46 in 1983-1984) rather than the plays he made, but Guerrero paid his critics no mind. "I can f---ing hit" was his blunt refrain, and brother, could he ever. Guerrero finished in the top three in Equivalent Average three times over the 1982-1985 span, often carrying a meager Dodger offense on his back for weeks at a time.
I'm reminded of Guerrero because I swear I'm seeing the reincarnation of that one-man Dodger blue wrecking crew in the form of Manny Ramirez right now, night after night after night. Ladies and gentlemen, in case you haven't been paying attention, know this: Manny Ramirez can f---ing hit. Since coming to the Dodgers in a three-way deal consummated just moments before the July 31 trading deadline, he's batting .396/.498/.776 with 14 home runs in 166 plate appearances, while helping his new club climb from two games behind the Diamondbacks in the NL West to 3� ahead of them. On the heels of his controversial exit from Boston, he showed up in Tinseltown, chose jersey number 99, promised to cut his dreadlocks in due course (but barely obliged), ignited a merchandising craze, and charmed his fans, teammates, and even his stony-faced manager with his between-innings misadventures. Amid all of the distractions, he's simply beaten the tar out of the ball, and the Dodger offense has begun to click. On Wednesday night, he crushed a pair of opposite-field home runs in Petco Park, one of the majors' least homer-friendly venues.
Ramirez is taking advantage of an easier league and a softer schedule than he faced in Boston, not to mention a slate of pitchers that appear to have little idea of how to pitch to him. If they bother at all, that is; Ramirez has drawn 14 intentional walks as a Dodger, a total that already ranks fifth in the league, and may well rank second by season's end (nobody's going to catch Albert Pujols at 32 and counting). As well as he's hit, Ramirez's presence in the lineup hasn't had as drastic an effect on scoring as you might expect due to the Dodgers' notorious streakiness, as can be seen in a recent 10-game span in which they scraped together just 21 runs. Ramirez hit .297/.381/.405 during that stretch, and didn't drive in a run until the final game, but he wasn't the only one at fault; his teammates hit an even more feeble .239/.293/.350 while going about 1-for-75 with runners in scoring position. As such, the overall uptick in scoring since Ramirez joined the lineup isn't huge, though his impact on the offense's underlying performance is more clear:
Period R/G AVG/ OBP/ SLG W-L 3/30-7/31 4.17 .256/.321/.376 54-54 8/1-9/10 4.37 .277/.346/.450 21-17
Since his arrival in LA, much has been made about Ramirez's effect on the hitters in front of him as well. The notion of lineup protection-the mere threat of a fearsome on-deck hitter elevating the performance of the hitter ahead of him by inducing pitchers to throw more hittable pitches so as to avoid a walk-has been at least somewhat debunked over the years, but you wouldn't know it to look at the Dodgers' stats, as Jeff Kent and Andre Ethier have enjoyed their hottest stretches of the season batting in front of Manny. Indulge me, and let's compare the performances of his teammates with and without him batting behind them:
In Front PA HR AVG/ OBP/ SLG David Ortiz 241 14 .252/.349/.500 J.D. Drew 161 10 .252/.391/.591 Kevin Youkilis 34 2 .379/.412/.724 Sean Casey 1 0 .000/.000/.000 Red Sox Total 437 26 .262/.368/.548 Jeff Kent 83 1 .380/.410/.481 Andre Ethier 55 3 .500/.582/.957 Russell Martin 23 0 .227/.261/.227 N. Garciaparra 4 0 .000/.000/.000 Pablo Ozuna 3 0 .333/.333/.333 Hong-Chih Kuo 1 0 .000/.000/.000 Dodgers Total 169 4 .381/.432/.568 Total Total 606 30 .297/.386/.554 Top 4 540 28 .299/.394/.568 Not in Front PA HR AVG/ OBP/ SLG David Ortiz 192 4 .282/.414/.455 J.D. Drew 290 9 .295/.417/.485 Kevin Youkilis 526 23 .309/.386/.550 Sean Casey 187 0 .347/.406/.424 Red Sox Total 1195 36 .308/.401/.500 Jeff Kent 383 10 .252/.305/.394 Andre Ethier 480 17 .277/.340/.476 Russell Martin 568 12 .280/.382/.401 N. Garciaparra 154 6 .241/.292/.404 Pablo Ozuna 84 0 .253/.280/.316 Hong-Chih Kuo 13 0 .273/.273/.364 Dodgers Total 1682 45 .268/.338/.416 Total Total 2877 81 .284/.364/.450 Top 4 1345 40 .274/.357/.450
Now, I'm not going to stand on the observation deck of the gold-plated Baseball Prospectus World Headquarters skyscraper and proclaim this to be the most statistically valid sample set of all time. But it is interesting, particularly if we narrow the focus from the performances of all the players who have batted in front of Ramirez with and without his presence (where we have almost five times as many PA in the "without" heap, the majority of which were accumulated by players with less than 40 PA in front of him this year) to the four most frequent hitters (Ortiz, Drew, Kent and Ethier, who have about 2� times as many PA in the "without" heap). With the Red Sox alone, the effect is mostly a wash; with Ramirez in the lineup, the hitters in front of him have a lower OBP that's largely canceled out by a higher SLG. With the Dodgers, the difference is dramatic, though dismissable as a small-sample fluke (what, you're expecting Ethier to bat .500?). Still, the latter is a torrid enough performance that the overall difference among the top four hitters still comes out to more than 150 points of OPS. Apply as much salt as you want before digesting that; it's still part of the weird arc of Ramirez's season and the two teams who have employed him.
I've been saying this since I covered the Red Sox for Baseball Prospectus 2007, but feeling it for the better part of his tenure in Boston: Ramirez deserves to be considered among the game's all-time greatest hitters. Among players with at least 5,000 career plate appearances, he ranks 15th in Equivalent Average (adjusted for all-time version), and if you raise the bar to 8,000 PA, he's 12th:
Batter EqA PA Babe Ruth* .363 10617 Ted Williams* .359 9789 Barry Bonds* .355 12606 Albert Pujols .345 5311 Mickey Mantle# .342 9909 Lou Gehrig* .341 9660 Rogers Hornsby .337 9475 Frank Thomas .336 10074 Mark McGwire .334 7660 Stan Musial* .332 12712 Willie Mays .330 12493 Ty Cobb* .330 13072 Dick Allen .328 7314 Hank Aaron .328 13940 Manny Ramirez .328 8938 Mel Ott* .328 11337 Joe Jackson* .327 5690 Johnny Mize* .327 7371 Joe DiMaggio .326 7671 Dan Brouthers* .326 7676 Edgar Martinez .326 8672 *: left-handed; #: switch-hitter
How about this: among right-handed hitters with at least 8,000 PA, Manny Ramirez ranks fifth all-time in EqA, behind just Hornsby, Thomas, Mays, and Aaron. Yeah, I think it's safe to say that some of those guys could hit.
It will be fascinating to see what lies ahead for Ramirez. His trade out of Boston quashed the pair of $20 million club options that his employers held on his services for 2009-2010, but before that, his in-season agitation for the Red Sox to decide whether to exercise the first of those options generated a firestorm of controversy which included accusations from teammates, club officials, and some of the most powerful baseball writers in the business that he faked injuries and ultimately quit on his team. Reading the coverage back in late July, one would have thought we were amid a cross between the Boston Strangler, Godzilla, Derek Bell, and the second coming of Hal Chase. There are rumors he'll be seeking a four-year, $100 million deal this winter, outrageous, Boras-fueled numbers for a player in his age-37 to age-40 seasons, and one who may already be unfit for any position this side of designated hitter.
Both before and after the trade, I viewed the anti-Ramirez coverage with a jaundiced eye, though I say this while disclosing that I do have partisan interests on both ends of this deal: I live in New York and root for the Yankees and against the Red Sox, having done so for the past 13 years; and I'm also a lifelong Dodger fan, remaining so even beyond the influences of my current geographical locale. Even with that in mind, one can't ignore the combination of the following without inducing a fair amount of skepticism that we were getting the real story regarding Ramirez's departure:
Given all of that and the need to fill a 24-hour news cycle, how much of the Manny-quit-on-the-team meme can one endure before such "news" starts to fail the smell test? At the end of the day, all we really know is that the Red Sox had been making more or less annual attempts to trade Ramirez by placing him on waivers following the baseball season since at least 2003, when he was less than halfway into the eight-year, $160 million deal that he'd signed back in December 2000, but that they were unable to complete a deal until July 31, 2008. Perhaps that's because Manny was universally viewed as a head case and a pernicious influence on clubhouse chemistry. Or perhaps that's because the Red Sox were unwilling to kick in more than a fraction ($7 million) of a single season's salary before they were willing to punt a hitter whose production over the past seven and a half years was surpassed only by Barry Bonds and Albert Pujols.
No matter which team he's playing for, Ramirez is a unique and occasionally frustrating ballplayer, with a back story stocked with urban legends, provocative and often counterproductive statements and actions, visible lapses (particularly afield) and absences... and one of the most potent bats you'll ever see. As a fan of a rival team, I used to loathe his presence while selectively buying into much of the negative hype surrounding him, but Ben McGrath's excellent New Yorker piece heightened my appreciation for his talents and his idiosyncrasies. Beyond the microscope of the Boston media, Ramirez is renowned for his work ethic as well as his quirks, and the coverage of his brief tenure in LA has been as glowingly positive as that of his final days in Boston was negative; he's been hailed by Joe Torre and his new teammates in a manner that suggests imminent knighthood if not sainthood. Slugging .776 will do that, even if-to borrow a phrase from Ball Four-you have hair halfway down to your ass.
To put it another way: if Ramirez is such a negative presence on a club, how come Matt Kemp had to double over to avoid visibly busting a gut in front of the cameras after Manny made a running basket catch of a fly ball late in Wednesday night's contest? I don't know the answer to that beyond a weak invocation of the old saw about how winning creates good chemistry, nor do I know what to think about the craziness that his future almost certainly holds. I just know that Ramirez is as hot as any hitter in baseball right now, and he constitutes as entertaining a show as the game has to offer. I'll be watching.
24 comments have been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
As a Sox fan, and having seen the Sox FO take a pretty interesting approach with Manny, with no less than two legitimate attempts to deal him from the roster, I figured this was the time it finally HAD to happen.
Sep 11, 2008 11:41 AM
As a Red Sox fan I have to say I am not going to enjoy the fact that a man making $20 Million a year quit on me as a fan, on his teammates, and the people that paid him the money. Yes Manny being Manny at times was just fun and I wish him no ill will... but I will not endorse or enjoy someone who clearly quit on everyone as he did. I'll take 1 Jason Bay, who leaves it on the field, and enjoy watching him put a complete effort in day in and day out.
Sep 11, 2008 12:00 PM
Rob Moore
robyhood - where's the evidence that he quit? Look at his numbers in Boston this year. They were very good and didn't decline at the end either.
Sep 11, 2008 12:27 PM
This season, game in NY against the Yanks. Manny doesn't start because of apparent illness. Called on to pinch hit against Rivera in the ninth. How many pitches does Rivera throw? Oh, that's right, ONE! A CUTTER! That's it! Manny takes three straight pitches right down the middle and is called out on strikes. Maybe Manny was looking for a change up or a curve from a guy who hasn't thrown either pitch for 15 years. Or Maybe Manny was tanking. You be the judge!
Sep 11, 2008 12:44 PM
because nobody has ever looked like a fool facing Rivera...
Sep 11, 2008 13:43 PM
The odd thing about that at bat (and I more or less woke up my wife when it happened to talk about) was he never even tensed up to swing. He would do that sometimes on the first pitch and always on 3-0. He had decided not to swing before the pitch is even thrown.
Sep 11, 2008 14:51 PM
Rob Moore
Last weekend against the D-Backs, Webb walked Martin and Ethier back to back on 8 pitches to load the bases and bring up Manny. What did he do? Swung and missed badly at three straight balls way out of the zone to K. I guess that means he quit on the Dodgers too, despite homering later in the game and his other exploits? Or does he have the occasional bad at bat? My guess is the latter.
Sep 11, 2008 14:19 PM
Travis Leleu
Jay -
Sep 11, 2008 12:29 PM
Why are Manny quitting or threatening to do so on the Red Sox and being a charming rascal on the Dodgers mutually exclusive? A lot of people have a certain shelf life in any situation and then become intolerable.
Sep 11, 2008 12:49 PM
Ben Solow
I'll preface this response by saying that I am both a Red Sox fan and a Manny fan. Whatever you think about his relative merits as a ballplayer, the game is better with personalities like his in it.
Sep 11, 2008 12:52 PM
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It should be mandated that he no longer be called Manny. His name is Money. For two reasons:
Sep 11, 2008 13:03 PM
I haven't really been following Manny since the trade, but how many games has he missed since landing in LA? I didn't have any problem with Manny when he was willing to take the field, but he seemed to be increasingly unwilling/sore this season.
Sep 11, 2008 13:59 PM
Interesting how just reading the name "Pedro Guerrero" I hear Vin Scully's voice in my head...
Sep 11, 2008 14:28 PM
He appeared to quit on the Red Sox. What's to prevent him from doing the same in L.A.? With that said, Colletti would probably throw 100 Mill at him. Just ask Schmidt, Jones, and Pierre.
Sep 11, 2008 15:15 PM
I watched every inning of every game that Manny did and did not play in this year, and it was obvious that Manny quit. Manny quit on the owners, on the fans and on his teammates because it was the only way he could get another $100 million contract. I did not find that amusing and I do not wish him well in his greed-fueled future.
Sep 11, 2008 15:40 PM
I've got to agree with Ben Solow on this one. The Sox tried to accommodate Manny's trade requests every winter... including the winter after the historic Series win.
Sep 11, 2008 17:05 PM
Jeff Evans
I enjoyed watching Guerrero and I enjoy watching Ramirez. (Am I supposed to refer to him as Manny?) This is a perfect example of someone who should only be offered an incentive-laden contract in the future. Large dollars for high incentives. If he doesn't like it, don't consider signing him. As great a hitter as he is, there needs to be trust on both sides that he won't willingly take time off or play at less than 100% effort.
Sep 11, 2008 18:36 PM
I am a Red Sox fan and have enjoyed watching Manny play. I am the first to admit that the Boston media is brutal and completely capable of driving someone out of town by trying to turn the fan base against him. I stopped reading Dan Shaughnessy when he began his "Dominican Diva" campaign against Pedro, a guy who was still in the process of leaving it all on the field -- his arm -- to help his team win. So Pedro wanted to take a trip to the DR during the season? Who cares?
Sep 11, 2008 20:30 PM
Mention of Pedro Guerrero brings me back to my mispent youth.... he was my favorite player for years. Yes, he could f...ing hit, but he could also play a very decent corner OF, he was fast (in his youth) and athletic and had a strong RF arm. The Dodgers kept moving him around so much that he got the reputation as a poor fielder, when in fact he was good enough to be passable at several positions. 3B, well, not so much.
Sep 11, 2008 21:51 PM
How many WS titles did the Red Sox in in the last 90 years without Manny? Zero. Good luck getting stomped by the Angels in October. Combine that with Brady going down and it's going to be an ugly fall in beantown...
Sep 12, 2008 08:27 AM
From the above referenced article:
Sep 13, 2008 09:16 AM
Sep 13, 2008 10:32 AM
No question Jason Bay isn't in the same class as Manny as a hitter. That's among the most obvious of all the world's facts. Over the short term, any hitter can outproduce any other, but very few can compare to Manny in terms of sheer plate talent. Who would make such a ridiculous argument?
Sep 16, 2008 07:41 AM
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Vac 'N' Go High Performance Hand Vac. Includes: 120V, 500 Watt Power Unit, Pik-All Nozzle, 2 Disposable Paper Bags, plus Dust Brush, Crevice Tool. Incredibly powerful 500-watt motor. Rugged, all-steel construction built to last. Super-lightweight, compact and easy to handle. Ideal for home use. 5-Year Motor Warranty.
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Posted 6 years ago
(1 item)
This Federal armchair is stamped "L BARNES". The dealer was hung up on the stamped name. I researched the design in the back splat. I soon found similar pieces and even pieces sold at auction with the stamped "L BARNES". "L BARNES" was Lewis Barnes (1776-1856), a ship's captain from Portsmouth, New Hampshire. I feel like over the past week, I've been the foremost expert in the U.S. on Lewis Barnes. If you'd like to do research..type into google "Lewis Barnes" "Portsmouth New Hampshire". You'll eventaully find all the similar chairs and other furniture with his stamp that has sold at auction. I'd only be guessing as to the value..but I'm sure it's not to shabby. There is additional writing on the chair that I've been trying to decipher. Looks like a name..Judith R Grant. Tell me what you think.


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ROYAL Wootton Bassett's recent winning streak came to end at Stow-on-the-Wold as they lost 31-15.
Bassett came in to the Southern Counties North league match off the back of three wins but were unable to recover from a disastrous first half where they conceded 31 with only a Liam Spillane penalty in reply.
Bassett coach Alan Low told the Advertiser: "We had five key players missing but despite that the performance disappointed me, it was a bit of a missed opportunity.
"The guys were as disappointed as I was, they realised that they hadn't got quite got the execution right."
Low's side got off to an unlucky start as their captain's curse struck again when their leader Phil Bardwell had to go off injured after six minutes. The hooker initally thought he had broken his ankle but after a scan it appears to be ligament damage.
Stow, backed by a strong following wind, played a good off-loading game in as they racked up all their points in the first half.
Low was frustrated in the opening 40 minutes as he saw his side make it into the opposition 22 on a few occasions only to cough up the ball. However he was reflective at the break as he believed the "mental" weather conditions were worth 25 points.
"We were a bit shell shocked in the first half and they were always going to come hard at with the conditions behind them," Low added.
Bassett were much improved in after the break as Stow adapted to the conditions by adopting a conservative approach.
Will Hooper got one try back for Bassett and then finished from a line-out catch and drive.
Relcutantly dipping into the bag of sporting clichés Low described the game as one of two halfs.
"It's a phrase I hate using but in this case it is very accurate."


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CD/DVD Slim Line Jewel Case
Avery Blank Templates Microsoft Word
Great for creating custom and personalized CD covers or DVD jewel case inserts
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This review is from AVERY CD/DVD Slim Line Jewel Case:
We wanted to make mixed CD's for party favors, so I needed an easy way to label the jewel cases. The paper is just the right thickness and printed well. The optional perforations worked perfectly for the slim jewel cases.
This review is from AVERY CD/DVD Slim Line Jewel Case:
I used these recently when I had to produce a lot of CDs in a short amount of time. These worked well with my home printer and look very professional!


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Dallas gets another dose of reality
Brent Paxton has long been at work on his new reality show The Dallas Life and it comes to life tonight. What happens when 12 strangers live under one roof? Obviously lots if you take in any kind of reality TV. With people from all backgrounds, Paxton shows all the drama that goes down Dallas-style. It's kinda like The Real World but by the sounds of it, only one can make it to the end.
The event is also a food drive for the North Texas Food Bank and people are encouraged to bring a food item.
DEETS: The Brick, 2525 Wycliff Ave. 8 p.m. DallasLife.tv


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Jepsen won't let triceps sideline him for opener
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Tightness in his right triceps muscle has kept Kevin Jepsen from appearing in a game since March 9, but there's a "zero percent" chance it'll keep him from being ready by Opening Day, the Angels' hard-throwing reliever pronounced on Sunday.
In fact, Jepsen said, he'd be ready to pitch right now if it was the regular season.
But with three Cactus League appearances already under his belt, little prep time required of a one-inning reliever and two weeks of exhibitions remaining, there's little need to rush.
"Maybe it seems serious because I haven't picked up a ball, but at the same time, it's spring," Jepsen said. "If this was during the season, I would never have taken a day off. But we have a little time now, so I'd rather take the time now, when we have it."
Jepsen, the hard-throwing righty who posted a 1.67 ERA in 40 games after coming back up last July, played catch and threw a bullpen session shortly after his most recent outing. Irritation in his triceps muscle prompted him to shut it down recently, but he plans to throw again on Tuesday and is expected to appear in a game shortly thereafter.
Jepsen believes he can pretty much pick up where he left off.
"I've thrown enough, I've thrown in a few games, and I've only taken a couple days off from throwing," he said. "Everything will be right back where it needs to be."
Alden Gonzalez is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Gonzo and "The Show", and follow him on Twitter @Alden_Gonzalez. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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AFC Wimbledon have refused to confirm that former Watford defender Robert Page has been offered the vacant manager's position.
Informed sources at the club say press speculation over the 38-year-old's appointment is pure guess work and that no official announcement will be made until 4pm this afternoon when the new man is presented to the media.
While Page was one of the candidates who reached D-day on Monday, the board also interviewed current caretaker manager Simon Bassey, along with two other names, thought to include former Wimbledon midfielder Neal Ardley.
The Dons have been searching for a new manager since Terry Brown was sacked last month.
More to follow......


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So yesterday, while at Hollywood Studios in the bathroom with my daughter, I wiped and saw a lot of red. This was at maybe 8 pm? Thankfully they had the machine stocked and I was able to get a pad. My mom & I left the park and the pad was full in about 2 hours, with quite a lot of clotting. I called the on-call OBGYN but I knew there wasn't much they could do, especially given that I was ten hours from home. I figured I was miscarrying for sure, but the bleeding slowed a bit overnight and is still continuing now, but it's not heavy anymore. Also, I've had almost no cramping.
I have an ultrasound scheduled for tomorrow and I'm trying to prepare myself for bad news. Quite honestly, if I am going to miscarry, I'm glad I had a warning sign. At the same time, I feel like if this were "the big one" I would still be bleeding heavily and I would have cramps, right? This isn't my usual miscarrying "MO" (how sad of a statement is that?). With my daughter I bled off and on for the first half of the pregnancy, but it was only brown spotting. I'm only between 7-8 weeks so I think that's way too early for placenta previa.
Has anyone had a short, virtually painless miscarriage? Or on a brighter note, has anyone experienced this and had a good outcome? I feel like there are so many red flags with this pregnancy but unlike last time I don't want to give up. I'll know tomorrow either way I guess.
Thanks for putting up with these constant pregnancy posts for me. I wish I could just have an easy uneventful pregnancy but it looks like that's just not in the cards for me.
If you want them to quit stabbing you in the back, then you need to quit handing them the knife.
I just read about hematomas:
This does make sense, especially given that we had sex that morning and I had been doing a ton of walking (and carrying my 32-pound daughter a lot). I'm hoping that is it but also don't want to set myself up for a fall.
I was bleeding horribly and I was positive I had lost her. I had JUST met her...that day.... (so to speak) and just emotionally bonded.....and WHAM.... it seemed to take forever for them to do the ultrasound...and get back to me. All while bleeding....no stopping. He came back and
She was fine!!!! It was a false alarm. I had placenta previa.... which is VERY VERY common believe it or not!
I just had to take it easy... and the fact that you were at an amusement park....probably walking around A LOT and doing a lot of activity... would cause the bleeding to start. I was a runner and probably had gone for a run that afternoon. I can't remember now if I did or not. Anything can trigger the bleeding.
After I left the hospital.....I had to wear PADS... for about 3 to 4 weeks until the bleeding finally subsided and turned from red to black....
But, my daughter was alive....and okay. And, that's all that mattered.
Prepare for the worst.... but don't lose hope for the best.... it IS possible that this is NOT a miscarriage.....
Good luck.....and ((BIGHUGZ))
[This message edited by She11ybeanz at 9:15 PM, April 30th (Wednesday)]
D day: November 15th, 2009
Married: 5 Years, together 8
Divorced: December 13th, 2010
New Beginning: Piper/8-3-12
And never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone ought to be.
― Sarah McMane
Thank NIK.
[This message edited by JanaGreen at 9:19 PM, April 30th (Wednesday)]
One afternoon my sister and I went out to eat. I went to the bathroom and I was horrified that my blue and white shorts were now red, white, and blue....well really, red, red, and blue. I didn't know I was pregnant at the time. Went to the clinic because I was concerned about the blood loss. They did a pregnancy test and it came back positive. Next day I went in for an ultrasound and the heartbeat was very strong. My daughter is now 16. Will be thinking good thoughts!
Bedrest was ordered. Had to have a couple of Rhogam shots (or whatever it's called) to prevent whatever problem happens when unlike blood mixes. The bad news was that enough of our blood did mix that I did produce some kind of "ABO" antibodies, so DS was born with jaundice and had to have the bili lights & extra fluids.
But that was it. No permanent damage. Just absolute terror on my part.
PM if you want to talk. Pulling for you and your green bean!
"Courage is being scared to death and saddling up anyway." - J. Wayne
I so hope it's just a scare. Don't give up hope, honey.
Saying prayers and Crossing all crossables for you today.
As you can see it is actually more common than we know based on just the responses here. When that Placenta attaches, and then becomes a free floating thing attached by the cord, there is bleeding. It makes sense that it was while you were up and active. I had both happen at work while working in ICU.
Anyway. I am rooting for this little Bean to keep growing, and saying prayers, and sending Mojo that all is well today.
Also I forgot to take my prometrium last night. Jana = idiot. But judging from how sick I feel today, my progesterone is probably ok.
Sending good thoughts and prayers.


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Full Speed Ahead
New journal time to keep me motivated. After my torn pectoralis back in March, I stopped almost all things weightlifting wise in order to heal. So three months went by before I decided that my goals changed from bodybuilding to powerlifting. Read everything and then some related to power, every Dave Tate article, and every forum I could think of. My opinion was that it was too much to take in and my reading comprehension apparently sucks. So instead of fucking my training up, I went the personal trainer route and hired Reynolds. Made sense seeing as I loved Dual Factor training, Olympic squats, and standing OHP's.
As most people know, I'm getting personally trained by Matt Reynolds with a Modified Westside template according to my needs. The purpose of my journal is NOT to give away what we are doing, but to provide me some extra motivation to get the job done. Plus I know some people would cut and paste what I'm doing and like a monkey fucking a football, they'd screw up their training. :D If people really want to know, pay the fucking $100 cheap bastards! So I'm not posting exact weights and exercises, just the ME lifts and occasionally my DE exercises as well as my thoughts on how things are progressing and shit like that. I see a lot of other people do the same thing like at IA where they give updates, results, and other bullshit without going into exact protocols and details.
Short Term Goals:
Bench: 405 (again)
Squat: 425
Deadlift: 475-500
- Very realistic goals since I'm already relatively close. My bench is back up to around the 375 range, I just A2G squatted 375 raw, and my deadlift is at 455 w/out a belt. After I reach my short term, I'll up the stakes. I don't want to post any long term goals because I don't want to get ahead of myself. By the time I reach my short term goals, hopefully I should have at least a benching shirt, hopefully a suit as well. I just don't see any benefit over my short term numbers staying raw...Way too unsafe, and I'm mainly referring to bench. Reminds me of a good Dave Tate article I read about him saying not benching in a shirt is stupid.
If anyone has questions or comments, I encourage everyone to chime in! I really don't want my journal as uniform as my others were. Nutrition, cardio, how ugly your mom is… If anyone's interested in strength training, post away.
I'll start with yesterday's workout..
ME Bench day kicked fucking ass. ME lift was close grip bench, and I had to beat what I did last time which was 315 x 1. That number was back in week 2, so I know it would be fucking nothing to surpass.
Worked up to 325 x 2 easy enough. I had a spotter standing by, and the fucker touched the bar on my first rep, so I told him to let go and I did another one just to be sure. He said he didn't help whatsoever, but I don't like anyone touching the bar if it's GOING UP! If it comes down dead on my chest, then thanks for the help..Otherwise just be a spectator. I ended up with 335 x 1 which I got no problem. Very pleased with a 20 pound PR, so my training is on track.
After that I did the normal supplemental and accessory work as I've done for the past 8 weeks. I'm finally used to doing a heavy shoulder pressing after my max effort bench so I'm thrilled with that.
Today I did Olympic squats for a 1 RM. The highest before this I ever did was 355 x 3 back when I was on my final week of superdrol. Last week I nailed 335 x 5, so I knew going in that I'd wind up with at least 365 for a single. Well, I nailed the 365 x 1 and felt great so I added another 10 lbs and hit a new PR of 375 x 1 A2G. My form kinda sucked on the way up though. Kinda felt like a GM because I started bending forward on the way up. Next time I'll concentrate on driving my head back into the bar to elliminate the problem.
Deadlifts I fucked up though. My goal was 465 x 1, which I knew I'd hit since I previously did 455 x 1 five or more weeks prior. The reason why I think I fucked up is two fold.
1. I did an extra set more than I should've, and it was too close to the max weight.
2. I've recently converted to an over-under grip, and I'm still not comfortable with it.
I hit the 455 with a double overhand before. Not only that, but last time I jumped from 405 x 1 to the 455 and nailed it easy. THIS TIME, being retarted, I did the 405 x 1, 440 x 1 (!), then attempted the 465. Got about 3" up and stalled. I was gassed after the useless set of 435, so at least I know where I went wrong.
On my DE Squat/Deadlift day, I'm gonna try the HOOK GRIP and see how much more comfortable I'll be with it. I've always deadlifted with a double overhand, so I'll probably benefit more from tweeking my grip to the hook even though it'll be weird at first. Adapt and overcome!
good deal man. As always good to see another journal for the inspiration.
Dont let that shit with the deadlift bother you bro. Your just feeling out your program, mistakes are bound to happen.
you'll get that shit easy next go round.
hmmm 0311's new journal good stuff man, best of luck
Thanks guys!
Well well....it's good to see you've fired up a journal Big Guy. Short term goals are looking really good, especially since most goals in the gym are way out to lunch (ie. gaining 100lbs on your bench in 4 months, squatting 225 by halloween and 395 by christmas lol). Anyway, best of luck and I'll be keeping an eye on the new journie for sure! :benchpress:
Numbers are lookin' damn good man, Git R Done!
Super workout, pumped as all hell. Today I ran 225 lbs for 9 sets of 3 w/ the usual 45 seconds between sets. Three grips: Close, Reg, Wide. I was pressing up and down so fast today I felt like I ripped a hole (again) in the space-time continuem and could've travelled back to 1985. :D Super fast speed, which tells me next time I'm hitting up 235. Hopefully I'll have my resistance bands by then and will most likely regress in weight a little to accomodate the bands tension. Actually, next week I plan on doing some DE Bench, then build myself up to a new 1RM.
After that, just did the usual lifts..Overhead pressing, tons of back and triceps work, ect. Was energized the whole way through.
Tomorrow will be DE SQUAT/DEADLIFT. So far my recovery has been stellar, so I have no intention of splitting up my ME/DE days for more recovery. I don't think I'm at that "human-forklift" stage yet. Plus the exercises Matt has me doing don't interfere with my other workouts. That's where most people IMO go wrong with Westside. They are mostly neophytes (newbs to powerlifting) and take into account every piece of literature written by Dave Tate and company and construct an abortion waiting to happen based on what THEY DO. They NEED those 3 days between ME's because they're squatting 700 lbs. Mostly everyone that I know of doesn't. That's also a very good reason why I've come to really enjoy Westside powerlifting. It's so individual that there could be 50 lifters at a competition and all 50 do some form or variation that's different from everyone else.
Shit, I'm doing my ME Squat followed by a variation of a deadlift still and it doesn't bother me or hinder my recovery one bit. But, for a lot of others, it'll break their back. Especially when I follow those lifts up by pullthroughs, hypers, and a shitload of other exercises involving the lower back and hams with a lot of weight! :D
I think tomorrow I'm gonna switch to a new weighted abs exercise and go gang busters.
I agree with what you said about the newb's and WS training. Exercise selection is going to largely depend on where the individual's weaknesses are. This is something that you have to figure out on your own and be knowledgeable about where those sticking points or weaknesses are. In my experience, this is something that newb's just cannot correctly analyze. So instead, they just throw everything but the kitchen sink in their program, do way too much, and as a result get injured. This also affects the effectiveness of the program. You become a better PL'r by getting stronger in your weak areas. One of articles I read at Elite had a quote stating something along the lines of "A champion becomes a champion by getting stronger in his weakest lift."
I am fortunate enough to have recently been training w/ someone very knowledgeable in WSB. He has trained at WS and MM and has helped me immnesely. We are following a conjugate method and he tells me that the only way we'd "truly" be training WS is if we were training at WS. So, it's just the conjugate method for now but based largely on WSB principles. We also throw in MM benching methods almost every week. So it's a combination of the two I guess.
Anyway, I'm looking forward to your progress here. Good luck. When are you going to do a meet?
Almost forgot....I want to get big muskles, be HYOOGE, and lose fat...can you pm me a program? :biglaugh:
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Course Details
Safe Working Practice: Technical Areas
Key Content:
This course covers:
- Riding skills in technical environments, competencies and identifying your own limitations
- Additional equipment requirements and use
- Weather factors in remote environments
- Extended detail navigation skills using map, compass and bike speedo
- Advanced trailside repairs
- Accident prevention and management; considering the environment in making judgements
- Communication techniques in more remote locations
8 hours over one day
Technical riding which means more demanding tracks and trails.
Combined training and assessment
Please contact the Courses & Training Helpline to find out if this course is available for booking: 01483 238 337
What you need
Prior to attending this course, you will:
- Have successfully completed the Safe Working Practice: Fundamentals course.
- Have one years (minimum 30 rides) experience in riding in Technical terrain.
- Have practised using maps and speedos for base contact procedures and route finding.
- Have attempted (under guidance where neccesary) additional maintenance skills including gear indexing and brake adjustment.
What next?
This course leads directly to the Safe Working Practice: Trail Checking course (it is a pre-requiste for trail checking in Technical Terrain. It also can be used as supporting evidence and training towards the Trail Mountain Bike Leader Award and the Technical Mountain Bike Leader Award.