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At Least 200 People Sickened After Events At Coraopolis Marriott Hotel

At Least 200 People Sickened After Events At Coraopolis Marriott Hotel

By: Erika Stanish/KDKA-TV News

CORAOPOLIS, Pa. (KDKA) – At least 200 people have reported they’ve become ill after several events at the Marriott Hotel in Coraopolis.

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The Allegheny County Health Department confirmed to KDKA Friday it is investigating reports of gastrointestinal illnesses after three large events held at the facility on April 2 and April 3.

The Marriott told KDKA it did a deep cleaning at the hotel to cover both the norovirus and coronavirus, in addition to notifying the health department. A spokesperson said it will “continue with regular disinfection protocols given that norovirus is apparently prevalent in the county.”

The first event affected was a bridal shower that was held at the hotel Saturday afternoon. The family told KDKA 70 people were sickened about 36 hours after being at the hotel.

Later Saturday night, a wedding was held there. Natalie and Armando McNary said of the 155 people in attendance, 80 have reported an illness so far.

“Everybody’s just going to remember our wedding as the wedding that everybody got sick at,” Natalie McNary said. “I mean, people were thinking they were on their deathbed. Like, that’s how bad it got.”

She said it didn’t take long for family and friends to begin reporting an illness.

“Everyone was texting us saying they were throwing up constantly, using the bathroom all for 12 hours straight,” McNary said.

People who attended a football banquet the next day had the same experience.

“People didn’t go to work for days. People lost a lot and we lost a lot too,” McNary said.

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UPMC’s medical director of infection prevention and hospital epidemiology said norovirus is very contagious and causes illness in your gastrointestinal tract.

“Vomiting is incredibly common. You can also have lower gastrointestinal symptoms, particularly diarrhea,” Dr. Graham Snyder said.

He said after a person is exposed, it only takes a day or two before you’ll start showing symptoms.

“It can contaminate food that they prepare, so that’s typically how you acquire norovirus, either eating food that may be prepared by somebody who’s contagious with it or having contact with the environment that is contaminated with norovirus,” Snyder said.

He said the best thing a person can do if they have it is to stay home.

“In complement to that, appropriate hygiene in particular when using the bathroom. Wash hands, wash hands, wash hands,” Snyder said.

He said it’s also important to clean surfaces, particularly in the bathroom or other shared surfaces. He said the best cleaners to use are bleach and hydrogen peroxide wipes.

“Fortunately, it rarely requires people to be hospitalized and very rarely ends up in death,” Snyder said.

“I just hope that the Marriott will make this right for us,” Armando McNary said.

The health department’s food safety program completed an investigation at the facility and continues to work with the epidemiology program as part of an ongoing investigation into the illnesses.

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“If you believe you attended an event that may have been affected, please contact the Health Department at 412-687-2243. Health Department staff may attempt to contact attendees and facility staff associated with the events. Anyone suffering from any severe illness should contact their healthcare provider,” the health department said.

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“People Trampled on Us,” Woman Who Escaped Deadly Concert Shooting Recalls Events

“People Trampled on Us,” Woman Who Escaped Deadly Concert Shooting Recalls Events

Video from before, during, and after the deadly shooting over the weekend in southeast Oak Cliff continue to circulate on social media as people try to understand what happened at a trial ride and concert.

According to the Dallas Police Department, officers responded to a shooting at an unpermitted trail ride and concert at 5050 Cleveland Road at around 12:13 a.m. Sunday. Promoters for the event called it the “Second Annual Epic Easter Bike Out and Field Party.”

On Monday Dallas Police said 16 people, including three minors, were shot during the concert. Keaton Dejuane Gilmore, 26, was killed in the shooting. Gilmore is reported to have been shot in the head near the stage and died at the scene.

The 15 people injured in the shooting have been identified by Dallas Police as 20-year-old Christian Adams, 22-year-old Jazmin Anderson, 24-year old Randy Davis, 25-year-old Forlando Dean, 29-year-old Breanna Gray, 24-year-old Ashley Jones, 24-year-old Willie Martin, 22-year-old Madison May, 18-year-old Jamal Rylander, 29-year-old Terra Starks, 24-year-old Sebastian Williams and three unnamed juveniles ages 13, 14 and 15.

“I just wish it all would have been prevented,” said Latrice Mollice who attended the event with her boyfriend. She said the entire night was fine until that moment.

Mollice said they were moving closer to the stage for the next musical act when they witnessed the shooting.

“The boy was shooting in the middle of the crowd, and he was shooting in the air first and then he stopped shooting in the air and pointed it towards the crowd and that’s when we all were ducking and taking cover and I seen another person, he was shooting back at the boy. So I don’t know if they were shooting at each other at first or either he was trying to stop him from hurting somebody else, I don’t know,” explained Mollice.

She said the gunshots were coming her way. She said she and her boyfriend crawled and then ran.

“They were still shooting, it was nonstop fire,” said Mollice who had some cuts on her legs, minor injuries she said compared to what could have happened.

Everybody was falling. There were so many people on the ground, you couldn’t tell who was hurt who was not hurt, all you could do was just get up and run yourself.

-Latrice Mollice

“When he started shooting first, the crowd started to move and it was just knocking everybody over, so I got knocked over, my boyfriend got knocked over. When we both got knocked over, people were running on top of us,” described Mollice. “We couldn’t get up, we had to be strong and get up because they were still coming there were so many people they were trampling over everybody. Everybody was falling. There were so many people on the ground, you couldn’t tell who was hurt who was not hurt, all you could do was just get up and run yourself.”

Dallas Police continue to investigate and have not made any arrests yet. DPD Chief Eddie Garcia said the event shouldn’t have happened since organizers did not have a permit.

Garcia said seven off-duty officers were said to be working at the event but that they left before the outbreak of violence. He said they shouldn’t have been working at the event since it was unpermitted.

According to flyers posted by concert promoters, there were supposed to be police along with security. On Sunday the organizer of the event posted a statement via Facebook stating,

“On behalf of the Epic Easter Officials, we are saddened by the unfortunate events that occurred yesterday. Our goal was to organize a positive event for and by our people. We took the necessary steps to offer safety by having Dallas Police officers and security personnel on the scene,” the statement read in part.

“Additionally, emergency officers and vehicles were on standby. However, some things were still out of our control. Our team did not expect a turn out of that capacity, but we truly appreciate the support of all that came & those who traveled to attend. Our prayers and deepest condolences go out to the individuals and families involved.”

Memphis rapper Big Boogie was supposed to be the main headliner at the event. He posted on Instagram that the shooting happened before he arrived.

On Monday a cleaning crew was out at the site removing trash and personal belongings left behind by people who ran.

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NYC events planner Lauren Pazienza ‘seen mocking deaf people’ in video

Lauren Pazienza, who is charged with fatally shoving an elderly woman in a 'random' attack in New York City, has been described by former college friends as 'pure trouble' and the 'poster child for white privilege'
Lauren Pazienza, who is charged with fatally shoving an elderly woman in a 'random' attack in New York City, has been described by former college friends as 'pure trouble' and the 'poster child for white privilege'

Lauren Pazienza, who is charged with fatally shoving an elderly woman in a ‘random’ attack in New York City, has been described by former college friends as ‘pure trouble’ and the ‘poster child for white privilege’  

Former college classmates of Lauren Pazienza have described her as, ‘pure trouble,’ and ‘a danger,’ who was prone to violence and they have shared exclusive video with DailyMail.com in which the New York events coordinator is seen ‘mocking’ deaf people.

Both sources, who asked to remain anonymous, knew Pazienza when the 26-year-old was a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York.

Pazienza was charged Tuesday with killing grandmother and renowned voice-coach Barbara Gustern in an apparently unprovoked and motiveless attack on a Manhattan street.

The criminal complaint obtained by DailyMail.com states that the 26-year-old crossed the street, called the 87-year-old, whom she did not know, a ‘b***h’ and forcibly shoved her off the pavement.

Gustern fell to the ground and sustained head wounds from which she died six days later on March 16.

It was a shocking turn of events, but, her former college classmates told DailyMail.com, the news that Pazienza had allegedly been involved in such an horrific incident came as ‘no surprise’ to those who knew her back then.

One said: ‘What angered me most was seeing that her lawyer said she’s overcharged and is a good and moral person. She’s not.

‘I knew her very well at school and she was pure trouble.’ 

Lauren Pazienza can be seen allegedly mocking a deaf person, according to friends who shared the video with DailyMail.com

The video shows Pazienza contorting her face, screeching and speaking in a distorted voice

In a video obtained by DailyMail.com the 26-year-old can be seen, according to friends, mocking a deaf person, by contorting her face, screeching and speaking in a distorted voice

Pazienza, seen on family vacation as a teenager, appears to have lived a life of privilege, and later glamour in New York City's high society before landing behind bars

Pazienza, seen on family vacation as a teenager, appears to have lived a life of privilege, and later glamour in New York City’s high society before landing behind bars 

Pazienza turned herself in on Tuesday when she was booked for manslaughter in the first degree and assault in the second degree. She made no comment as she was taken out of the 10th Precinct to the courthouse

Pazienza turned herself in on Tuesday when she was booked for manslaughter in the first degree and assault in the second degree. She made no comment as she was taken out of the 10th Precinct to the courthouse

Pazienza’s attorney, Arthur Aidala, has said that even if his client did push Gustern pushing a person from a sidewalk is not like ‘pushing them from a cliff,’ and that the charges she faces – which include manslaughter – are excessive.

But according to the former friend: ‘She’s the poster child for white privilege. She never faced any consequences in her life. She was enabled by her parents who got her out of everything, but she called them stupid and basic.’

According to the criminal complaint Pazienza, ‘made every effort to avoid detection.’

When police were tipped off that she was hiding out in her parents’ Long Island home, ‘Her father [Daniel] answered the door, but refused to allow detectives to enter the premises, and claimed that his daughter was not at home.

‘It was only at that point, despite all of the media attention that this incident has received, despite the fact that the defendant knew what she had done when she fled the city, despite the pleas from the victim’s loved ones begging for the perpetrator to come forward, that the defendant’s counsel contacted the police and arranged for her to surrender.’

None of this is surprising to her former friend who said simply, ‘she has no empathy,’ and never showed any remorse for her bad acts during her time as a student at FIT.

In fact, Pazienza was, the former friend said, prone to mocking people and spoke in a derogatory manner, they said ‘about fat people and deaf people…anyone.’

In footage shared with DailyMail.com Pazienza can be seen contorting and making a grotesque face, screeching and speaking in a distorted voice that, the friend said, was her ‘mocking deaf people.’

In a second video obtained by DailyMail.com, Pazienza can be seen in her college dorm room in bra and jacket behaving in an odd and, the former friend said, attention-grabbing manner

Lauren Pazienza

In a second video obtained by DailyMail.com, Pazienza can be seen in her college dorm room in bra and jacket behaving in an odd and, the former friend said, attention-grabbing manner

Two classmates who knew Pazienza when she was a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York described her as 'pure trouble'

Pazienza is seen behaving foolishly in a video taken at her dorm

Two classmates who knew Pazienza when she was a student at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York described her as ‘pure trouble’

In another video she is filmed in her dorm room in bra and jacket behaving in a bizarre  and, the source said, attention-grabbing manner. 

They continued: ‘She’s not a good person. She has a fiancé, and she went to high school, and she went to college but none of these parts of her life were normal.’

Unpredictable and confrontational, the first source described Pazienza as, ‘abusive to her boyfriend [now fiancé Naveen Pereira] on multiple occasions.’

They added: ‘She cheated on him multiple occasions. He was reserved and very kind and seemed annoyed with her when I met him and fearful of her.

‘She was a very manipulative person.’

The friend watched with increasing unease, they said, as Pazienza’s ‘reckless’ behavior escalated.

‘I witnessed her behave recklessly. She would throw herself in front of cars in the street. She was a complete wildcard,’ she source said. 

‘I believe she was in control of her behavior. I saw her get so drunk she pissed herself, but I don’t think any of it was drug related.

‘She was cold and calculated,’ they added. 

Pazienza attends a Manhattan roof party as a teenager

Pazienza is seen attending the 40th-anniversary party for New York society magazine Avenue in 2015

Former friends say Pazienza grew up very privileged and was ‘enabled’ by her parents. She is seen attending a Manhattan rooftop party left as a teenager and the 40th-anniversary party for New York society magazine Avenue in 2015 right

After graduating high school in 2013, Pazienza (above) earned a bachelors degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology

After graduating high school in 2013, Pazienza (above) earned a bachelors degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology

Pazienza and her fiancé live in a one bedroom apartment in Astoria, Queens, which his family owns. Their doorman building is pictured

Pazienza and her fiancé live in a one bedroom apartment in Astoria, Queens, which his family owns. Their doorman building is pictured 

As time passed they grew to fear Pazienza who, the classmate said, took to ‘spying’ on them.

‘I would see feet beneath my door in my dorm and open it to see her running away down the hallway. It freaked me out,’ the friend said. 

Asked to sum up their former friend, the classmate said: ‘She was a predator…and I was very relieved when she was out of my life.’

According to the source, they detached from Pazienza because of growing alarm at her behavior.

And while they have not been surprised by recent events, they said: ‘I’ve been very disturbed and very creeped out to think that person had any space in my life.’

The second source said: ‘There’s no way that she meant to kill a person. I don’t think that for a minute.

‘But I can totally see that if she was having a bad day and somebody was in front of her, walking too slow, she would push them. That’s the kind of edge she has.

‘She’s a danger.’

Pazienza turned herself in on Tuesday when she was booked for manslaughter in the first degree and assault in the second degree. She is currently jailed on Rikers Island as her parents pull together funds to meet her $500,000 cash bond obligation. 

Pazienza lives with her fiancé, Microsoft customer support specialist Naveen Pereira (with her above). Prosecutors say the two were seen arguing on the street soon after the fatal attack

Pazienza has retained high-powered A-list attorney Arthur Aidala, seen above after Tuesday's arraignment, who has previously represented Rudolph Giuliani, Harvey Weinstein, Roger Ailes and Alan Dershowitz

Pazienza lives with her fiancé, Microsoft customer support specialist Naveen Pereira (with her above). Prosecutors say the two were seen arguing on the street soon after the fatal attack 

Broadway singing coach Barbara Maier Gustern died in a hospital last week after she was put on life support following the random shoving attack

Broadway singing coach Barbara Maier Gustern died in a hospital last week after she was put on life support following the random shoving attack

AJ, who has served as a family spokesman since his grandmother's death, is seen with her above. He affectionately referred to her as 'bobbob' and remembered her as 'a force of nature'

AJ, who has served as a family spokesman since his grandmother’s death, is seen with her above. He affectionately referred to her as ‘bobbob’ and remembered her as ‘a force of nature’

Police issued these images of Pazienza on Saturday, claiming she was responsible for the attack. She handed herself in two days later but it's unclear if she has admitted to pushing the woman over

Police issued these images of Pazienza on Saturday, claiming she was responsible for the attack. She handed herself in two days later but it’s unclear if she has admitted to pushing the woman over 

Pazienza is shown walking near the scene of the crime on March 10 at around 8.30pm. Prosecutors say that the NYPD meticulously tracked her movements after the attack through a painstaking review of surveillance footage across the city

Pazienza is shown walking near the scene of the crime on March 10 at around 8.30pm. Prosecutors say that the NYPD meticulously tracked her movements after the attack through a painstaking review of surveillance footage across the city 

She is due to appear in court Friday. 

Pazienza grew up in affluent parts of Long Island as the daughter of a septic service mogul, and enjoyed living the high life at swanky parties before landing behind bars.

Prosecutors say she approached Gustern at random, called her a ‘b***h’, pushed her from behind, causing the unsuspecting woman to gall and hit her head, and then fled. 

She is then said to have watched as an ambulance crew took the frail older woman away with blood seeping from her head. 

Though Pazienza she appears to have lived a life of privilege, and later glamour in New York City’s high society, neighbors told the New York Post that she was sharp-tempered and confrontational, and an elementary classmate has claimed she bullied fellow students. 

A former classmate of Pazienza told Fox News that when he moved in down the street from her in second grade, she began bullying him. 

The classmate claimed that she always had a ‘crazy look in her eyes’ and would kick him and call him and other kids names. 

Pazienza grew up in historic Setauket, Long Island, where she attended Ward Melville High School with her future fiancé, Microsoft customer support specialist Naveen Pereira. 

Her father Daniel owns a prosperous third-generation cesspool draining company, and claims on the company website that it was voted No. 1 in both price and service in Suffolk County for several years running. 

In addition to pumping services, the company provides cesspool installations, grease trap installations, septic tank installations, storm drains and catch basin installations.

‘At Dan Pazienza Cesspool Service we pride ourselves on being Suffolk County’s most advanced cesspool service. We have been serving Suffolk County for over 3 generations,’ the website boasts.

Pazienza is currently jailed on Rikers Island -- but grew up in an affluent family on Long Island and enjoyed Manhattan's high society

She is seen above in photos from her teenage years

Pazienza is currently jailed on Rikers Island – but grew up in an affluent family on Long Island and enjoyed Manhattan’s high society. She is seen above in photos from her teenage years

Prosecutors say that on Monday, NYPD detectives visited the parents' Long Island home (above) after receiving a tip that Pazienza was hiding out there, but that her father claimed that she was not at home and did not consent to a search

Prosecutors say that on Monday, NYPD detectives visited the parents’ Long Island home (above) after receiving a tip that Pazienza was hiding out there, but that her father claimed that she was not at home and did not consent to a search

Pazienza's father Daniel owns a prosperous third-generation cesspool draining company (above), and claims on the company website that it was voted No. 1 in both price and service in Suffolk County for several years running

Pazienza’s father Daniel owns a prosperous third-generation cesspool draining company (above), and claims on the company website that it was voted No. 1 in both price and service in Suffolk County for several years running

Lauren Pazienza's parent Daniel and Caroline leave Manhattan Criminal court after their daughter was arraigned for allegedly pushing Barbara Gustern and killing her in an unprovoked attack

Lauren Pazienza’s parent Daniel and Caroline leave Manhattan Criminal court after their daughter was arraigned for allegedly pushing Barbara Gustern and killing her in an unprovoked attack

Paziensa’s parents Daniel and Caroline, who have been married for 28 years, enjoyed a life of prosperity, taking vacations to Aruba, France, and the Florida Keys over the years, photos on Facebook show.

The family later moved to Port Jefferson, where Paziena allegedly fled to hide in her parents’ home after Gustern’s death.

After graduating high school in 2013, Paziena earned a bachelors degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Photos show her enjoying glamorous parties in Manhattan in recent years, including the 40th-anniversary party for New York society magazine Avenue in 2015.

Pazienza had recently been living in an Astoria condo with her fiancé, who purchased the unit in 2019 with his father.

Neighbors told the Post that they were not entirely surprised to learn of the charges against Pazienza, saying that she was known to have a short fuse and was frequently confrontational.

‘There’s always some type of issue, some type of complaint. You’ll always know it’s her. It’s ridiculous,’ one said.

Pazienza's parents Caroline and Daniel. Prosecutors say she hid at her parents' home for days and that they lied to cops when they went looking for her, claiming she was  not there

Pazienza’s parents Caroline and Daniel. Prosecutors say she hid at her parents’ home for days and that they lied to cops when they went looking for her, claiming she was  not there 

The parents of Lauren Pazienza leave criminal court trailed by members of the media after their daughter's arraignment Tuesday in New York. The 26-year-old woman of Port Jefferson, Long Island, faces a manslaughter charge in the death of Barbara Maier Gustern

The parents of Lauren Pazienza leave criminal court trailed by members of the media after their daughter’s arraignment Tuesday in New York. The 26-year-old woman of Port Jefferson, Long Island, faces a manslaughter charge in the death of Barbara Maier Gustern

One neighbor said Pazienza argued with the building management about issues like parking tickets, but that it never got physical.

‘It was verbal. Sometimes she would stand up for herself, definitely,’ said the woman. ‘She will not put up with nonsense … she will say, ‘What is your problem?’ ‘What do you want from me?’

‘There was always an issue with her and someone in the building,’ one neighbor told the outlet. ‘It’s like always something with that lady. I feel for her fiancé because he’s a nice guy and he didn’t sign up for this.’

Prosecutors claim that after the attack on Gustern, Pazienza then spent the next two weeks trying to cover her tracks.  

She quit her job in Chelsea, deleted her social media pages and even stashed her cell phone at her aunt’s house in Long Island after fleeing her Astoria apartment, where she lives with her Microsoft-employee fiancé.

Eventually, she handed herself in after the NYPD released clear-as-day photos of her getting on the subway some 20 minutes after the attack.

Pazienza worked as an events coordinator for the furniture brand Roche Bobois, but quit her role in December. It’s unclear what motive she could have had for pushing the woman.

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Abu Dhabi eases entry for non-vaccinated people to public events

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Abu Dhabi: The capital city of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has eased entry access for non-vaccinated visitors to events, tourist attractions, and cultural sites in the Emirates, effective from Thursday, 17 March 2022.

The Abu Dhabi Emergency Crisis and Disaster committee announced that non-vaccinated people can now present a negative PCR test result, issued in the past 48 hours, to enter various venues and locations in the capital city.

The updated guidelines are part of reduced precautionary measures in line with the ongoing recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

MS Education Academy

Previously, the authorities in Abu Dhabi said unvaccinated people could only access supermarkets and pharmacies. The entry to public places was limited to vaccinated people, provided they tested frequently enough to maintain green status on their Al Hosn app.

Easing restrictions

As of February 26, 2022, the UAE National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority, in coordination with its main partners, announced the update of the precautionary and preventive measures for COVID-19.

Masks are mandatory in enclosed spaces

Wearing face masks will no longer be mandatory on people in outdoor/public spaces.

Quarantine rules for infected and COVID-19 contacts

The authority also decided to abolish quarantine requirements for those who come into contact with a positive COVID-19 case but do not show any viral symptoms. However, COVID-19 contacts working in all sectors of the state will have to perform PCR tests daily for five consecutive days to ensure they are not infected and are able to return to work safely.

The rules for the isolation period for the infected will continue, as previously announced, without any change. However, those infected will not wear wristbands during the quarantine.

Rules for Mosques

The NCEMA approved a return to the pre-pandemic time intervals between the call to prayer and the iqaamah, and agreed to allow mosques to make available a limited number of copies of the Qur’an, which must be sterilized after each use.

The current requirement of physical distancing for worshipers in mosques and other places of worship is to remain at least one meter apart.

Conditions for arrival and entry to the country

With regard to those coming to the UAE, the National Emergency, Crisis, and Disasters Management Authority said fully vaccinated passengers only need to show a COVID-19 vaccine certificate with a readable QR code.

Those who are not vaccinated must show a negative PCR test conducted within 48 hours of departure or a recovery certificate with a QR code proving they have recovered from COVID-19 within a month of the date of travel.

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People with elevated blood pressure upon standing more likely to have risk for cardiovascular events

People with elevated blood pressure upon standing more likely to have risk for cardiovascular events

Among young and middle-aged adults with high blood pressure, a substantial rise in blood pressure upon standing may identify those with a higher risk of serious cardiovascular events, such as heart attack and stroke, according to new research published today in the American Heart Association’s peer-reviewed journal Hypertension.

This finding may warrant starting blood-pressure-lowering treatment including medicines earlier in patients with exaggerated blood pressure response to standing.”


Paolo Palatini, M.D., lead author of the study and professor of internal medicine at the University of Padova in Padova, Italy

Nearly half of Americans and about 40% of people worldwide have high blood pressure, considered to be the world’s leading preventable cause of death. According to the American Heart Association’s 2022 heart disease statistics, people with hypertension in mid-life are five times more likely to have impaired cognitive function and twice as likely to experience reduced executive function, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Typically, systolic (top number) blood pressure falls slightly upon standing up. In this study, researchers assessed whether the opposite response – a significant rise in systolic blood pressure upon standing – is a risk factor for heart attack and other serious cardiovascular events.

The investigators evaluated 1,207 people who were part of the HARVEST study, a prospective study that began in Italy in 1990 and included adults ages 18-45 years old with untreated stage 1 hypertension. Stage 1 hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure of 140-159 mm Hg and/or diastolic BP 90-100 mm Hg. None had taken blood pressure-lowering medication prior to the study, and all were initially estimated at low risk for major cardiovascular events based on their lifestyle and medical history (no diabetes, renal impairment or other cardiovascular diseases). At enrollment, participants were an average age of 33 years, 72% were men, and all were white.

At enrollment, six blood pressure measurements for each participant were taken in various physical positions, including when lying down and after standing up. The 120 participants with the highest rise (top 10%) in blood pressure upon standing averaged an 11.4 mm Hg increase; all increases in this group were greater than 6.5 mm Hg. The remaining participants averaged a 3.8 mm Hg fall in systolic blood pressure upon standing.

The researchers compared heart disease risk factors, laboratory measures and the occurrence of major cardiovascular events (heart attack, heart-related chest pain, stroke, aneurysm of the aortic artery, clogged peripheral arteries) and chronic kidney disease among participants in the two groups. In some analyses, the development of atrial fibrillation, an arrhythmia that is a major risk factor for stroke, was also noted. Results were adjusted for age, gender, parental history of heart disease, and several lifestyle factors and measurements taken during study enrollment.

During an average 17-year follow-up 105 major cardiovascular events occurred. The most common were heart attack, heart-related chest pain and stroke.

People in the group with top 10% rise in blood pressure:

  • were almost twice as likely as other participants to experience a major cardiovascular event;
  • did not generally have a higher risk profile for cardiovascular events during their initial evaluation (outside of the exaggerated blood pressure response to standing);
  • were more likely to be smokers (32.1% vs. 19.9% in the non-rising group), yet physical activity levels were comparable, and they were not more likely to be overweight or obese, and no more likely to have a family history of cardiovascular events;
  • had more favorable cholesterol levels (lower total cholesterol and higher high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol);
  • had lower systolic blood pressure when lying down than the other group (140.5 mm Hg vs. 146.0 mm Hg, respectively), yet blood pressure measures were higher when taken over 24 hours.

After adjusting for average blood pressure taken over 24 hours, an exaggerated blood pressure response to standing remained an independent predictor of adverse heart events or stroke.

“The results of the study confirmed our initial hypothesis – a pronounced increase in blood pressure from lying to standing could be prognostically important in young people with high blood pressure. We were rather surprised that even a relatively small increase in standing blood pressure (6-7 mm Hg) was predictive of major cardiac events in the long run,” said Palatini.

In a subset of 630 participants who had stress hormones measured from 24-hour urine samples, the epinephrine/creatinine ratio was higher in the people with a rise in standing blood pressure compared to those whose standing blood pressure did not rise (118.4 nmol/mol vs. 77.0 nmol/mol, respectively).

“Epinephrine levels are an estimate of the global effect of stressful stimuli over the 24 hours. This suggests that those with the highest blood pressure when standing may have an increased sympathetic response [the fight-or-flight response] to stressors,” said Palatini. “Overall, this causes an increase in average blood pressure.”

“The findings suggest that blood pressure upon standing should be measured in order to tailor treatment for patients with high blood pressure, and potentially, a more aggressive approach to lifestyle changes and blood-pressure-lowering therapy may be considered for people with an elevated [hyperreactor] blood pressure response to standing,” he said.

Results from this study may not be generalizable to people from other ethnic or racial groups since all study participants reported white race/ethnicity. In addition, there were not enough women in the sample to analyze whether the association between rising standing blood pressure and adverse heart events was different among men and women. Because of the relatively small number of major adverse cardiac events in this sample of young people, the results need to be confirmed in larger studies.

Source:

Journal reference:

Palatini, P., et al. (2022) Blood Pressure Hyperreactivity to Standing: a Predictor of Adverse Outcome in Young Hypertensive Patients. Hypertension. doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA121.18579.

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Ohio State offers resources and events amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Ohio State offers resources and events amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Tensions between Russia and other nations have been growing for decades, following the collapse of the Soviet Union and expansion of North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Credit: Maxim Guchek/BelTA/TASS/ABACAPRESS.COM via TNS

As the Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, Ohio State has a number of resources to help those impacted, and will host events with information about the war.

Christopher Gelpi, director and chair of peace studies and conflict resolution at the Mershon Center, said learning about the war is an important part of being a good citizen, because everyone has a responsibility to understand how governments, both in the U.S. and overseas, react in times of struggle.

“I see our role in a crisis like this is to bring people together and share the knowledge that our faculty fellows have in a way that is accessible to as wide an audience as possible,” Gelpi said.

An estimated 42,908 people of Ukrainian descent live in Ohio, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.

Ohio State’s “Education for Citizenship” motto emphasizes the university’s commitment to informing citizens, according to the Office of Diversity and Inclusion website. The Office of International Affairs has a list of resources to inform students about the university’s events covering the crisis in Ukraine.

University spokesperson Chris Booker said in an email the Office of International Affairs offers support resources, including counseling and personal well-being services, immigration assistance for international students and information about cyber security.

“Ohio State developed this list of academic and support resources to assist those impacted by the conflict in Ukraine and foster discussion and education across campus,” Booker said.

The Center for Slavic, East European and Eurasian Studies has compiled various academic resources, including books, articles, events and films, that help to better understand the crisis in Ukraine, according to the center’s website. The office will also hold a virtual roundtable Wednesday from 11 a.m. to noon, featuring Polish experts sharing their perspective on the war.

WOSU Public Media and the John Glenn College of Public Affairs will hold an event Thursday at noon called “Dialogue Special Edition: The Russia/Ukraine Crisis,” featuring a variety of speakers and discussions on the possible routes to peace in Europe.

The Mershon Center will host a virtual event March 24 from 3:30-5 p.m., featuring a discussion from Timothy Frye, a professor of post-Soviet foreign policy at Columbia University, about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s role in Russian and international politics, according to the Mershon Center website. Another virtual event hosting 11 speakers who will speak on U.S. and NATO relations with Russia will be held April 8 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

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Digital social events worked well for people living with dementia – Dr Gary Kerr

Digital social events worked well for people living with dementia - Dr Gary Kerr
Dr Gary Kerr, Associate Professor in Festival and Event Management at Edinburgh Napier University.

In Scotland, around two-thirds of those diagnosed with dementia are living at home, with the remainder in acute or residential care. A key challenge for all is the sense of isolation that can manifest early on after a diagnosis.

Pre-pandemic, social events were a key factor in boosting a sense of wellbeing for those affected, but lockdown brought with it particular challenges for this community.

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Our highly collaborative research project, Unlock & Revive, identified six active ingredients needed to deliver accessible online cultural and heritage events. The research was led by Edinburgh Napier, working with the University of Edinburgh, during a three-month period from April to June 2021 and involved seven Edinburgh-based cultural and heritage organisations running weekly online events that featured gardening, painting, art, cookery, history, literature and music amongst other topics.

We monitored the sessions in person, ran post-event focus groups with attendees, and carried out interviews with event organisers and found online events do boost attendees’ sense of wellbeing; build confidence; and establish a newfound appreciation for leisure activities and hobbies.

1 – Keep any event under sixty-minutes-long. A mid-morning start time is preferred.

2 – Include short interactive presentations, using simple language and supplemental visuals.

3 – Keep the number of attendees low and aim for engagement over education; and presenters should use multi-sensory triggers to create engaging narratives, allocating plenty of time for participant-led discussions.

4 – Ensure all event facilitators have up-to-date Dementia Training from a reputable institution.

5 – Organise regular socials and not one-off events. Using Zoom is the ideal platform: its ‘spotlight’ function is effective when combined with an administrator’s support to let people in, oversee the chatbox and monitor participants’ wellbeing.

6 – Lastly, Unlock & Revive emphasises that a grassroots approach is taken to advertise these events, as social media promotions are less effective in reaching this audience.

As restrictions begin to ease, online events should still be considered, with most of those participating keen to see some form of online delivery maintained.

The format for an in-person event does not easily transfer to a digital delivery model, and particular effort must be made to facilitate maximum engagement and participation from participants when delivering events online for those living with dementia. Although 100% of participants told us they prefer in-person Dementia Socials, we found clear evidence that digital events do provide opportunities for social connection, and stimulation for individuals unable to attend live events – whether that is due to mobility and/or transportation barriers.

Everyone involved in our research expressed their appreciation and enjoyment of online socials and now see them as a useful option for a hybrid event model in the future. Our research has identified the active ingredients needed to deliver accessible online cultural and heritage events, which can only bring positive benefits to people living with dementia, and their caregivers.

Our full report can be downloaded at here.

Dr Gary Kerr, Associate Professor in Festival and Event Management at Edinburgh Napier University.

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More people comfortable attending large events across the Valley

More people comfortable attending large events across the Valley

PHOENIX — With the CDC significantly easing mask guidelines, several Arizona counties are already following suit. That change, plus, the decreasing case numbers, is giving people more peace of mind about being in large crowds.

The Italian Festival of Arizona returned stronger than ever after a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19.

“It’s incredible. I mean, the crowds were way bigger than we’ve ever experienced, and the culture is just fantastic, as you know,” says Tony Rea, owner and culinary director of Pasta Rea.

The two-day celebration at Heritage Square drew nearly 10,000 people over the weekend.

“It was touching to see, like, the families back out again and that’s really the whole point. We’re all about family and comradery and, just being together,” says Francesco Guzzo, executive director of the Italian Association.

After the CDC said more people could take off their masks, many were eager to listen.

“Feels very normal to be out and that’s what we needed after all this time,” says one festival attendee.

While others say they will still be cautious.

“We were definitely wearing our mask at first but, with eating and being outside, I felt more comfortable… but, definitely put it on and off as needed,” says Monica Tang, festival attendee.

Monica Tang and Natalya Brown say this is one of the first large events they’ve attended since March 2020.

“I live with my grandma so, I try to be extra cautious. We chose Sunday specifically because we thought it would be less crowded. I think we were right for the most part,” says Natalya Brown, festival attendee.

Although people are enjoying this return of normalcy, Dr. Shad Marvasti reminds us that COVID is not gone for good.

“If we could get as many people vaccinated and boosted right now, between now and summer – or whenever the next potential variant shows up – then, that next variant is not going to really do much,” says Dr. Shad Marvasti, ABC15 Health Insider.