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March 16. 2012 10:00AM

March 16, 2012
LGH announces cancer risk evaluation partnerships
By Holly White
Central Penn Business Journal

Penn Medicine's Cancer Risk Evaluation Program at Lancaster General Health on Thursday announced a partnership with two area gastroenterology practices to offer a cancer-risk evaluation program.

The agreement is between LGH’s cancer center, Regional Gastroenterology Associates of Lancaster and Lancaster Gastroenterology Inc. Both gastroenterology practices are based in East Hempfield Township.

The program was developed from a collaboration between LGH and Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine and is modeled after Penn Medicine’s Abramson Cancer Center, LGH said.

The evaluation program at LGH will offer genetic counseling, testing and recommendations for patients who are at high risk for developing gastrointestinal cancers. High-risk patients identified to carry a particular genetic defect can access research studies conducted by Penn Medicine, LGH said.

Steel cut oats — the inner portions of oat kernels that have been cut by a steel blade into small pieces — have a nuttier, more crunchy texture than that of rolled oats, according to Lancaster General Health Wellness Center dietitian Jacqui Zimmerman.

"Steel cut oats have very minimal processing and not a lot of extra things added to them," Zimmerman said.

The preparation of the steel cut oats is a little more time-consuming than with rolled oats — they can take anywhere from 20 to 30 minutes on a stovetop — but they do add a different dimension to the oats family, Zimmerman said.

Steel cuts oats are packed with fiber, according to Expressly Local Food owner Cheryl Young, who said the oat family is a healthier alternative to the prepared flours that are a large part of people's diets.

"(The oats) are packed with fiber," Young said, "and you control what goes into them."

More intrigue with the oats involves their price. While name-brand steel cut oats can be a little expensive, bulk steel cut oats can be less than $2 a pound. At Young's store, the organic steel cut oats sell for $1.80 a pound and customers can scoop as much or as little as they want. It comes out to pennies per 1-cup portion, Young said.

During a recent visit to Expressly Local, Lancaster developer Eugene Aleci was picking up his steel cut oats for breakfast and said he prefers the steel cut oats to rolled oats because of their texture.

"The rolled oats hold a lot of the water when you make them and get mushy," Aleci said.

Oats, which according to the American Dietetic Association are a good source of soluble fiber, offer heart-healthy benefits, including lowering blood cholesterol. The plant substances in oats may help control blood pressure.

According to Nancy Wiker, family living education specialist with Penn State Cooperative Extension, "multiple clinical trials have demonstrated that the regular consumption of oat bran and oatmeal decrease both LDL and total cholesterol as well as lower the blood pressure and blood-glucose levels." This soluble fiber also has a positive effect on a person's immune and gastrointestinal systems, according to Wiker.

Steel cut oats can be used in sweet or savory dishes. In savory dishes, the oats should be used like quinoa or rice, according to Young. Although Young has yet to try the savory side of the steel cut oats, she does think they would be effective because of their texture and health benefits.

For a thicker consistency, cut back on the milk or water. Young suggests a 2-to-1 ratio of water to oats.

For sweet dishes, dried fruit and nuts can be added to the oats while they cook on the stove. For those who don't have time, they can be poured in a bowl, covered with water or milk and placed in the refrigerator overnight, Zimmerman said.

"Just heat them up in the microwave in the morning," Zimmerman said.

The consistency of the steel cut oats allows for batches to last throughout the week. Young, who makes a big batch at the beginning of the week, creates different variations each morning as she heats up a bowl for her breakfast.

"One thing I do recommend is tasting it before you add any extra sugar," Zimmerman said. "If you have added fruit to it, it might be sweet enough."

It is best to store your grains, including the steel cut oats, in the refrigerator, Zimmerman said.

"They have oils in them and can go rancid over time," Zimmerman said. "It's best to keep them in a closed container in the fridge or freezer."
 

Riding a bicycle can improve health; reduce air and noise pollution; cut down on traffic congestion; and increase transportation, recreation and employment options, especially for children and low-income individuals.

In short, the bicycle is a means to boosting the quality of life in the city, cycling proponents told Lancaster City Council members Monday.

Those proponents, members of the recently formed Coalition for a Bicycle Friendly Lancaster, called on city officials to support an initiative that would make cycling a greater part of the city's cultural fabric.

Coalition members are asking for the city to seek the designation of a "bicycle friendly community" from the national League of American Bicyclists.

David Fraile, speaking on behalf of the coalition, cited Lancaster County's top ranking in a recent national well-being survey.

"This is another thing the city can do to improve livability," Fraile said.

The coalition grew out of Lighten Up Lancaster, a public health initiative of Lancaster General Health. It also includes representatives of the League of Lancaster Bicyclists and state Rep. Mike Sturla's office.

To bolster their effort, coalition members conducted an online survey of bicyclists who ride in the city. They received 477 responses.

"That indicates a desire for work to be done by the cycling community," Fraile said.

Specifically, Fraile said respondents called for the development of bike lanes along city streets. The finding was especially significant because the survey did not mention bike lanes. Rather, respondents typed in that suggestion when asked what specific improvements would benefit cyclists.

Bike lanes are favored on the city's north-south and east-west arterial streets, which 80 percent of survey respondents believe are unsafe for riding.

Charlotte Katzenmoyer, city public works director, said the city now is planning for its first bike lane as part of the reconstruction of the Walnut Street/Plum Street intersection.

Katzenmoyer said city plans also call for designated bike routes between the city's parks.

"Long-term, I think it would be fantastic to have bike lanes and traffic signals that are responsive to bicyclists," Fraile said when asked about future changes.

Yet he was quick to add that initial steps, such as bicycle education efforts, could be done at little or no cost.

What is important, he said, is that a holistic approach is taken that includes incentives to ride, education for cyclists and motorists and facilities such as bike lanes and bike parking. The "bike friendly" program application provides a framework for that comprehensive effort.

Mayor Rick Gray said he believes promotion of cycling, as has been done in cities such as New York and Philadelphia, will lead to increased property values.

"It attracts the right kind of people that would lead to economic development," Gray said.

With most of the city in a compact 4-square miles, Gray said, cycling is a natural fit for Lancaster.

Council member James Reichenbach said the Community Development & Planning Committee, which he chairs, will review a proposed resolution early next month in support of the effort.