Washington Post - 15 November 2022

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022 EZ OPQRS CLASSIFIED D11
856 Frederick County
851 Prince Georges County 851 Prince Georges County 855 Charles County 855 Charles County 856 Frederick County 856 Frederick County 856 Frederick County 856 Frederick County 856 Frederick County

Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid & Crane, LLC Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid & Crane, LLC BWW Law Group, LLC BWW Law Group, LLC BWW Law Group, LLC
11350 McCormick Road, EP 1, Suite 302 11350 McCormick Road, EP 1, Suite 302 6003 Executive Blvd., Suite 101 6003 Executive Blvd., Suite 101 6003 Executive Blvd., Suite 101
Hunt Valley, MD 21031 Hunt Valley, MD 21031
470-321-7112 470-321-7112 Rockville, MD 20852 Rockville, MD 20852 Rockville, MD 20852
TRUSTEES' SALE OF (301) 961-6555 (301) 961-6555 (301) 961-6555
TRUSTEES' SALE OF VALUABLE FEE SIMPLE PROPERTY
VALUABLE FEE SIMPLE PROPERTY KNOWN AS SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES' SALE SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES' SALE SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES' SALE
73 MEADOW LANE OF REAL PROPERTY AND ANY IMPROVEMENTS THEREON OF REAL PROPERTY AND ANY IMPROVEMENTS THEREON OF REAL PROPERTY AND ANY IMPROVEMENTS THEREON
KNOWN AS WALDORF, MD 20601
3704 CHANCELSORS DR 527 N. MARKET ST. 1466 TRAFALGAR LN. 804 STRATFORD WAY, UNIT L
Upper Marlboro, MD 20772 Under a power of sale contained in that Deed of Trust dated FREDERICK, MD 21701 FREDERICK, MD 21701 FREDERICK, MD 21701
Under a power of sale contained in that Deed of Trust dated July 31, 2018, and recorded in Liber 10360, folio 166, of Under a power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust dated December 21, 2007, Under a power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust dated April 11, 2017,
June 22, 2018, and recorded in Liber 41076, folio 500, of the land records of CHARLES COUNTY , with an original recorded in Liber 6848, Folio 640 among the Land Records of Frederick County, MD, recorded in Liber 11769, Folio 516 among the Land Records of Frederick County, Under a power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust dated April 30, 2018,
the land records of PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY , with an principal balance of $182,360.00, default having occurred with an original principal balance of $143,600.00, default having occurred under the MD, with an original principal balance of $279,424.00, default having occurred recorded in Liber 12404, Folio 346 among the Land Records of Frederick County,
original principal balance of $586,970.00 , default having under the terms thereof, the appointed Substitute Trustees will terms thereof, the Sub. Trustees will sell at public auction at the Circuit Court for under the terms thereof, the Sub. Trustees will sell at public auction at the Circuit MD, with an original principal balance of $118,650.00, default having occurred
occurred under the terms thereof, the appointed Substitute offer for sale at public auction at THE CHARLES COUNTY Frederick County, at the Court House Door, 100 W. Patrick St., Frederick, MD 21701, Court for Frederick County, at the Court House Door, 100 W. Patrick St., Frederick, MD under the terms thereof, the Sub. Trustees will sell at public auction at the Circuit
Trustees will offer for sale at public auction at THE PRINCE COURTHOUSE LOCATED AT 200 CHARLES STREET ( IN THE on 21701, on Court for Frederick County, at the Court House Door, 100 W. Patrick St., Frederick, MD
GEORGE'S COUNTY COURTHOUSE LOCATED AT FRONT OF BREEZEWAY BETWEEN CIRCUIT AND DISTRICT COURTS ), LA DECEMBER 2, 2022 AT 12:30 PM DECEMBER 2, 2022 AT 12:24 PM 21701, on
THE DUVAL WING OF THE COURTHOUSE COMPLEX 14735 PLATA, MD 20646 ON, ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE LOT OF GROUND, together with any buildings or ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE LOT OF GROUND, together with any buildings or
MAIN ST, UPPER MARLBORO, MD 20772 ON, improvements thereon located in Frederick County, MD and more fully described in improvements thereon located in Frederick County, MD and more fully described in NOVEMBER 18, 2022 AT 11:20 AM
NOVEMBER 17, 2022 at 10:00 AM DECEMBER 1, 2022 at 12:30 PM the aforesaid Deed of Trust. the aforesaid Deed of Trust. ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE LOT OF GROUND, together with any buildings or
ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE LOT OF GROUND together with The property, and any improvements thereon, will be sold in an "as is" condition and The property, and any improvements thereon, will be sold in an "as is" condition and improvements thereon located in Frederick County, MD and described as Unit No.
any buildings or improvements thereon situated in PRINCE ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE LOT OF GROUND together with any subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, if any, subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, if any, L 3200 in an expandable condominium regime known as "Phase III Fredericktowne
GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD, located at the above address and more buildings or improvements thereon situated in CHARLES and with no warranty of any kind. and with no warranty of any kind. Condominium II" and more fully described in the aforesaid Deed of Trust.
fully described in the aforementioned Deed of Trust. COUNTY, MD, located at the above address and more fully Terms of Sale: A deposit of $11,000 in the form of certified check, cashier's Terms of Sale: A deposit of $25,000 in the form of certified check, cashier's The property, and any improvements thereon, will be sold in an "as is" condition and
TAX ID# - 03-4009882 described in the aforementioned Deed of Trust. check or money order will be required of the purchaser at time and place of sale. check or money order will be required of the purchaser at time and place of sale. subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, if any,
The property and improvements will be sold in an "AS IS" TAX ID# - 06-102565 Balance of the purchase price, together with interest on the unpaid purchase money Balance of the purchase price, together with interest on the unpaid purchase money and with no warranty of any kind.
physical condition without warranty of any kind and subject to all The property and improvements will be sold in an "AS IS" at the current rate contained in the Deed of Trust Note from the date of sale to at the current rate contained in the Deed of Trust Note from the date of sale to Terms of Sale: A deposit of $11,000 in the form of certified check, cashier's
conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the physical condition without warranty of any kind and subject to all the date funds are received by the Sub. Trustees, payable in cash within ten days the date funds are received by the Sub. Trustees, payable in cash within ten days check or money order will be required of the purchaser at time and place of sale.
same, including any condominium or homeowners association conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the of final ratification of the sale by the Circuit Court. There will be no abatement of final ratification of the sale by the Circuit Court. There will be no abatement Balance of the purchase price, together with interest on the unpaid purchase money
assessments pursuant to MD Real Property Article § 11-110 same, including any condominium or homeowners association of interest due to the purchaser in the event additional funds are tendered before of interest due to the purchaser in the event additional funds are tendered before at the current rate contained in the Deed of Trust Note from the date of sale to
and § 11B-117 . assessments pursuant to MD Real Property Article § 11-110 settlement. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE FOR THE PURCHASER. Adjustment of all settlement. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE FOR THE PURCHASER. Adjustment of all the date funds are received by the Sub. Trustees, payable in cash within ten days
TERMS OF SALE: A non-refundable bidder's deposit of and § 11B-117 . real property taxes, including agricultural taxes, if applicable, and any and all public real property taxes, including agricultural taxes, if applicable, and any and all public of final ratification of the sale by the Circuit Court. There will be no abatement
$57,000.00 by cashier's/certified check or such other form as TERMS OF SALE: A non-refundable bidder's deposit of and/or private charges or assessments, to the extent such amounts survive foreclosure and/or private charges or assessments, to the extent such amounts survive foreclosure of interest due to the purchaser in the event additional funds are tendered before
the Substitute Trustee may determine, in their sole discretion, $17,500.00 by cashier's/certified check or such other form as sale, including water/sewer, ground rent and front foot benefit charges, to be adjusted sale, including water/sewer, ground rent and front foot benefit charges, to be adjusted settlement. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE FOR THE PURCHASER. Adjustment of all
required at time of sale except for the party secured by the the Substitute Trustee may determine, in their sole discretion, to date of sale and thereafter assumed by purchaser. Purchaser is responsible for any to date of sale and thereafter assumed by purchaser. Purchaser is responsible for any real property taxes, including agricultural taxes, if applicable, and any and all public
Deed of Trust. Risk of loss on purchaser from date and time of required at time of sale except for the party secured by the Deed recapture of homestead tax credit. All transfer taxes and recordation taxes shall be recapture of homestead tax credit. All transfer taxes and recordation taxes shall be and/or private charges or assessments, to the extent such amounts survive foreclosure
auction. The balance of the purchase price together with interest of Trust. Risk of loss on purchaser from date and time of auction. paid by Purchaser. The purchaser shall be responsible for the payment of the ground paid by Purchaser. The purchaser shall be responsible for the payment of the ground sale, including water/sewer, ground rent and front foot benefit charges, to be adjusted
thereon at % per annum from date of sale to receipt of purchase The balance of the purchase price together with interest thereon rent escrow, if required. Condominium fees and/or homeowners association dues, if rent escrow, if required. Condominium fees and/or homeowners association dues, if to date of sale and thereafter assumed by purchaser. Purchaser is responsible for any
price by Substitute Trustees must be paid by cashier's check at 5.125% per annum from date of sale to receipt of purchase any, shall be assumed by the purchaser from the date of sale. Purchaser is responsible any, shall be assumed by the purchaser from the date of sale. Purchaser is responsible recapture of homestead tax credit. All transfer taxes and recordation taxes shall be
within 10 days after final ratification of sale. The noteholder price by Substitute Trustees must be paid by cashier's check for obtaining physical possession of the property, and assumes risk of loss or damage for obtaining physical possession of the property, and assumes risk of loss or damage paid by Purchaser. The purchaser shall be responsible for the payment of the ground
shall not be obligated to pay interest if it is the purchaser. There within 10 days after final ratification of sale. The noteholder to the property from the date of sale. The sale is subject to post-sale audit of the to the property from the date of sale. The sale is subject to post-sale audit of the rent escrow, if required. Condominium fees and/or homeowners association dues, if
will be no abatement of interest due from the purchaser in the shall not be obligated to pay interest if it is the purchaser. There status of the loan with the loan servicer including, but not limited to, determination status of the loan with the loan servicer including, but not limited to, determination any, shall be assumed by the purchaser from the date of sale. Purchaser is responsible
event that additional funds are tendered before settlement or if will be no abatement of interest due from the purchaser in the of whether the borrower entered into any repayment agreement, reinstated or paid off of whether the borrower entered into any repayment agreement, reinstated or paid off for obtaining physical possession of the property, and assumes risk of loss or damage
settlement is delayed for any reason. All real estate taxes and event that additional funds are tendered before settlement or if the loan prior to the sale. In any such event, this sale shall be null and void, and the the loan prior to the sale. In any such event, this sale shall be null and void, and the to the property from the date of sale. The sale is subject to post-sale audit of the
other public charges and/or assessments to be adjusted as of the settlement is delayed for any reason. All real estate taxes and Purchaser's sole remedy, in law or equity, shall be the return of the deposit without Purchaser's sole remedy, in law or equity, shall be the return of the deposit without status of the loan with the loan servicer including, but not limited to, determination
date of sale and thereafter assumed by purchaser. If applicable, other public charges and/or assessments to be adjusted as of the interest. If purchaser fails to settle within ten days of ratification, subject to order of interest. If purchaser fails to settle within ten days of ratification, subject to order of of whether the borrower entered into any repayment agreement, reinstated or paid off
any condominium and/or homeowners association dues and date of sale and thereafter assumed by purchaser. If applicable, court, purchaser agrees that property will be resold and entire deposit retained by Sub. court, purchaser agrees that property will be resold and entire deposit retained by Sub. the loan prior to the sale. In any such event, this sale shall be null and void, and the
assessments that may become due after the date of sale shall any condominium and/or homeowners association dues and Trustees as liquidated damages for all losses occasioned by the purchaser's default Trustees as liquidated damages for all losses occasioned by the purchaser's default Purchaser's sole remedy, in law or equity, shall be the return of the deposit without
be purchaser's responsibility. Purchaser shall pay all transfer, assessments that may become due after the date of sale shall and purchaser shall have no further liability. The defaulted purchaser shall not be and purchaser shall have no further liability. The defaulted purchaser shall not be interest. If purchaser fails to settle within ten days of ratification, subject to order of
documentary and recording taxes/fees and all other settlement be purchaser's responsibility. Purchaser shall pay all transfer, entitled to any surplus proceeds resulting from said resale even if such surplus results entitled to any surplus proceeds resulting from said resale even if such surplus results court, purchaser agrees that property will be resold and entire deposit retained by Sub.
costs. Purchaser is responsible for obtaining possession of the documentary and recording taxes/fees and all other settlement from improvements to the property by said defaulted purchaser. Sub. Trustees will from improvements to the property by said defaulted purchaser. Sub. Trustees will Trustees as liquidated damages for all losses occasioned by the purchaser's default
property. Time is of the essence for the purchaser. If purchaser costs. Purchaser is responsible for obtaining possession of the convey either marketable or insurable title. If they cannot deliver one or the other, or if convey either marketable or insurable title. If they cannot deliver one or the other, or if and purchaser shall have no further liability. The defaulted purchaser shall not be
defaults, deposit will be forfeited and property resold at the risk property. Time is of the essence for the purchaser. If purchaser ratification of the sale is denied by the Circuit Court for any reason, the Purchaser's ratification of the sale is denied by the Circuit Court for any reason, the Purchaser's entitled to any surplus proceeds resulting from said resale even if such surplus results
and cost of the defaulting purchaser who shall be liable for any defaults, deposit will be forfeited and property resold at the risk sole remedy, at law or equity, is return of the deposit without interest. BIDDERS ARE sole remedy, at law or equity, is return of the deposit without interest. BIDDERS ARE from improvements to the property by said defaulted purchaser. Sub. Trustees will
deficiency in the purchase price and all costs, expenses and and cost of the defaulting purchaser who shall be liable for any STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO FOLLOW CDC GUIDANCE AND WEAR A COVER OVER STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO FOLLOW CDC GUIDANCE AND WEAR A COVER OVER convey either marketable or insurable title. If they cannot deliver one or the other, or if
attorney's fees of both sales. If Substitute Trustees do not convey deficiency in the purchase price and all costs, expenses and BOTH NOSE AND MOUTH AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING AT THE AUCTION. BOTH NOSE AND MOUTH AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING AT THE AUCTION. ratification of the sale is denied by the Circuit Court for any reason, the Purchaser's
title for any reason, purchaser's sole remedy is return of deposit attorney's fees of both sales. If Substitute Trustees do not convey (Matter No. 353271-1) (Matter No. 356394-1) sole remedy, at law or equity, is return of the deposit without interest. BIDDERS ARE
without interest. This sale is subject to post-sale audit of the title for any reason, purchaser's sole remedy is return of deposit STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO FOLLOW CDC GUIDANCE AND WEAR A COVER OVER
status of the loan secured by the Deed of Trust including but not without interest. This sale is subject to post-sale audit of the PLEASE CONSULT WWW.ALEXCOOPER.COM FOR PLEASE CONSULT WWW.ALEXCOOPER.COM FOR BOTH NOSE AND MOUTH AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING AT THE AUCTION.
limited to determining whether prior to sale a bankruptcy was status of the loan secured by the Deed of Trust including but not STATUS OF UPCOMING SALES STATUS OF UPCOMING SALES (Matter No. 355696-1)
filed; forbearance, repayment or other agreement was entered limited to determining whether prior to sale a bankruptcy was
into; or loan was reinstated or paid off. In any such even this filed; forbearance, repayment or other agreement was entered Howard N. Bierman, Carrie M. Ward, et. al., Substitute Trustees Howard N. Bierman, Carrie M. Ward, et. al., Substitute Trustees PLEASE CONSULT WWW.ALEXCOOPER.COM FOR
sale shall be null and void and purchaser's sole remedy shall into; or loan was reinstated or paid off. In any such even this STATUS OF UPCOMING SALES
be return of deposit without interest. File No. (22-020094) sale shall be null and void and purchaser's sole remedy shall
Keith Yacko, David Williamson, Bryson Stephen be return of deposit without interest. File No. (22-064783) Howard N. Bierman, Carrie M. Ward, et. al., Substitute Trustees

Substitute Trustees Keith Yacko, David Williamson, Bryson Stephen, November 15, 22, 29, 2022 12402771 November 15, 22, 29, 2022 12402768 November 1, 8, 15, 2022 12401336
Substitute Trustees
BWW Law Group, LLC 857 Howard County 857 Howard County
6003 Executive Blvd., Suite 101
BWW Law Group, LLC Rosenberg & Associates, LLC
Rockville, MD 20852 6003 Executive Blvd., Suite 101 4340 East West Highway, Suite 600
(301) 961-6555
Rockville, MD 20852 Bethesda, MD 20814
SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES' SALE (301) 961-6555 (301) 907-8000
OF REAL PROPERTY AND ANY IMPROVEMENTS THEREON
SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES' SALE www.rosenberg-assoc.com
114 W. 5TH ST. OF REAL PROPERTY AND ANY IMPROVEMENTS THEREON SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES’ SALE
A/R/T/A 114 W. FIFTH ST. OF IMPROVED REAL PROPERTY
FREDERICK, MD 21701 3721 SPRIGG ST. NORTH
Under a power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust dated December 5, 2007, FREDERICK, MD 21704 9420 FENS HOLLOW RD.
recorded in Liber 6935, Folio 552 among the Land Records of Frederick County, MD, Under a power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust dated April 19, 2006, LAUREL, MD 20723
with an original principal balance of $195,300.00, default having occurred under the recorded in Liber 5986, Folio 403 among the Land Records of Frederick County, MD,
terms thereof, the Sub. Trustees will sell at public auction at the Circuit Court for with an original principal balance of $589,500.00, default having occurred under the Under a power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust from David Freeman and
Frederick County, at the Court House Door, 100 W. Patrick St., Frederick, MD 21701, terms thereof, the Sub. Trustees will sell at public auction at the Circuit Court for Tina Freeman dated April 28, 2005 and recorded in Liber 9283, folio 74 among the
on Frederick County, at the Court House Door, 100 W. Patrick St., Frederick, MD 21701, Land Records of Howard County, MD, default having occurred under the terms thereof,
on the Sub. Trustees will sell at public auction at the Circuit Court for Howard County, at
DECEMBER 2, 2022 AT 12:28 PM DECEMBER 2, 2022 AT 12:22 PM the Court House Door, 9250 Judicial Way, Ellicott City, MD 21043, on
ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE LOT OF GROUND, together with any buildings or
ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE LOT OF GROUND, together with any buildings or improvements thereon located in Frederick County, MD and more fully described in DECEMBER 2, 2022 AT 9:20 AM
improvements thereon located in Frederick County, MD and more fully described in the aforesaid Deed of Trust. ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE LOT OF GROUND, together with the buildings and
the aforesaid Deed of Trust. The property, and any improvements thereon, will be sold in an "as is" condition and improvements thereon situated in Howard County, MD and more fully described in the
subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, if any, aforesaid Deed of Trust. Tax ID #06-514286.
www.hwestauctions.com 12398041 www.hwestauctions.com 12402306 The property, and any improvements thereon, will be sold in an "as is" condition and and with no warranty of any kind. The property, which is improved by a dwelling, will be sold in an "as is" condition and
subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, if any, Terms of Sale: A deposit of $49,000 in the form of certified check, cashier's subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, if any,
November 1, 8, 15, 2022 November 15, 22, 29, 2022 and with no warranty of any kind. check or money order will be required of the purchaser at time and place of sale. and with no warranty of any kind.
Terms of Sale: A deposit of $18,000 in the form of certified check, cashier's Balance of the purchase price, together with interest on the unpaid purchase money Terms of Sale: A deposit of $48,000 in the form of certified check, cashier's check
check or money order will be required of the purchaser at time and place of sale. at the current rate contained in the Deed of Trust Note from the date of sale to or money order will be required of the purchaser at time and place of sale. Balance
Balance of the purchase price, together with interest on the unpaid purchase money the date funds are received by the Sub. Trustees, payable in cash within ten days of the purchase price to be paid in cash within ten days of final ratification of sale
at the current rate contained in the Deed of Trust Note from the date of sale to of final ratification of the sale by the Circuit Court. There will be no abatement by the Circuit Court for Howard County. Interest to be paid on the unpaid purchase
Samuel I. White, P.C. the date funds are received by the Sub. Trustees, payable in cash within ten days of interest due to the purchaser in the event additional funds are tendered before money at the rate pursuant to the Deed of Trust Note from the date of sale to the date
596 Lynnhaven Parkway, Suite 200 of final ratification of the sale by the Circuit Court. There will be no abatement settlement. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE FOR THE PURCHASER. Adjustment of all funds are received in the office of the Sub. Trustees. There will be no abatement of
HEISE JORGENSEN & STEFANELLI P.A. of interest due to the purchaser in the event additional funds are tendered before real property taxes, including agricultural taxes, if applicable, and any and all public interest in the event additional funds are tendered before settlement or if settlement
Virginia Beach, VA 23452 18310 Montgomery Village Avenue, Suite 400 settlement. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE FOR THE PURCHASER. Adjustment of all and/or private charges or assessments, to the extent such amounts survive foreclosure is delayed for any reason. The noteholder shall not be obligated to pay interest if it is
SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES' SALE OF real property taxes, including agricultural taxes, if applicable, and any and all public sale, including water/sewer, ground rent and front foot benefit charges, to be adjusted the purchaser. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE FOR THE PURCHASER. Adjustment of all
VALUABLE FEE SIMPLE PROPERTY Gaithersburg, MD 20879 and/or private charges or assessments, to the extent such amounts survive foreclosure to date of sale and thereafter assumed by purchaser. Purchaser is responsible for any real property taxes, including agricultural taxes, if applicable, and any and all public
(301) 977-8400 sale, including water/sewer, ground rent and front foot benefit charges, to be adjusted recapture of homestead tax credit. All transfer taxes and recordation taxes shall be and/or private charges or assessments, to the extent such amounts survive foreclosure
KNOWN AS to date of sale and thereafter assumed by purchaser. Purchaser is responsible for any paid by Purchaser. The purchaser shall be responsible for the payment of the ground sale, including water/sewer charges and ground rent, to be adjusted to date of sale
7113 Marbury Ct SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES' SALE OF VALUABLE REAL ESTATE recapture of homestead tax credit. All transfer taxes and recordation taxes shall be rent escrow, if required. Condominium fees and/or homeowners association dues, if and paid at execution of the deed, except where the secured party is the purchaser,
District Heights, MD 20747 Known as paid by Purchaser. The purchaser shall be responsible for the payment of the ground any, shall be assumed by the purchaser from the date of sale. Purchaser is responsible and thereafter assumed by the purchaser. Condominium fees and/or homeowners
rent escrow, if required. Condominium fees and/or homeowners association dues, if for obtaining physical possession of the property, and assumes risk of loss or damage association dues, if any, shall be assumed by the purchaser from the date of sale
Under and by virtue of the power of sale contained in a certain 6650 MASONTOWN PLACE, HUGHESVILLE, MARYLAND 20637 any, shall be assumed by the purchaser from the date of sale. Purchaser is responsible to the property from the date of sale. The sale is subject to post-sale audit of the forward. Cost of all documentary stamps, transfer taxes and settlement expenses shall
Deed of Trust to TIM, INC., Trustee(s), dated June 29, 1999, By virtue of the power and authority contained in a certain Deed of Trust for obtaining physical possession of the property, and assumes risk of loss or damage status of the loan with the loan servicer including, but not limited to, determination be borne by the purchaser. Purchaser shall be responsible for obtaining physical
and recorded among the Land Records of PRINCE GEORGE'S from Margaret C. Douglas to Roy A. Kiewe and C. Dale Janney, Trustees, to the property from the date of sale. The sale is subject to post-sale audit of the of whether the borrower entered into any repayment agreement, reinstated or paid off possession of the property. Purchaser assumes the risk of loss or damage to the
COUNTY, MARYLAND in Liber 13228, folio 654, the holder dated September 19, 1988 and recorded in Liber 1359 at Folio 405 status of the loan with the loan servicer including, but not limited to, determination the loan prior to the sale. In any such event, this sale shall be null and void, and the property from the date of sale forward. Additional terms to be announced at the time
of the indebtedness secured by this Deed of Trust having among the Land Records for Charles County, Maryland, the undersigned of whether the borrower entered into any repayment agreement, reinstated or paid off Purchaser's sole remedy, in law or equity, shall be the return of the deposit without of sale.
appointed the undersigned Substitute Trustees, by instrument substituted trustees (by virtue of Deed of Appointment between The the loan prior to the sale. In any such event, this sale shall be null and void, and the interest. If purchaser fails to settle within ten days of ratification, subject to order of If the Sub. Trustees are unable to convey good and marketable title, the purchaser's
duly recorded among the aforesaid Land Records, default having Department of Housing and Community Development for the State of Purchaser's sole remedy, in law or equity, shall be the return of the deposit without court, purchaser agrees that property will be resold and entire deposit retained by Sub. sole remedy in law and equity shall be limited to a refund of the deposit without
occurred under the terms thereof, and at the request of the party Maryland (the "Beneficiary") and said trustees recorded among the Land interest. If purchaser fails to settle within ten days of ratification, subject to order of Trustees as liquidated damages for all losses occasioned by the purchaser's default interest. If the purchaser fails to go to settlement, the deposit shall be forfeited,
secured thereby, the undersigned Substitute Trustee will offer Records of Charles County) will, on court, purchaser agrees that property will be resold and entire deposit retained by Sub. and purchaser shall have no further liability. The defaulted purchaser shall not be to the Trustees for application against all expenses, attorney’s fees and the full
for sale at public auction at THE PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY Trustees as liquidated damages for all losses occasioned by the purchaser's default entitled to any surplus proceeds resulting from said resale even if such surplus results commission on the sale price of the above-scheduled foreclosure sale. In the event
COURTHOUSE LOCATED AT FRONT OF THE DUVAL WING THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2022 at 10:45 O'Clock, A.M. and purchaser shall have no further liability. The defaulted purchaser shall not be from improvements to the property by said defaulted purchaser. Sub. Trustees will of default, all expenses of this sale (including attorney’s fees and the full commission
OF THE COURTHOUSE COMPLEX 14735 MAIN ST, UPPER offer for sale at public auction at the Charles County Courthouse, entitled to any surplus proceeds resulting from said resale even if such surplus results convey either marketable or insurable title. If they cannot deliver one or the other, or if on the gross sale price of this sale) shall be charged against and paid out of the
MARLBORO, MD 20772 ON, 200 Charles Street (in the breezeway between the Circuit and District from improvements to the property by said defaulted purchaser. Sub. Trustees will ratification of the sale is denied by the Circuit Court for any reason, the Purchaser's forfeited deposit. The Trustees may then re-advertise and resell the property at the
Courts), La Plata, Maryland 20646, all of the property and improvements convey either marketable or insurable title. If they cannot deliver one or the other, or if sole remedy, at law or equity, is return of the deposit without interest. BIDDERS ARE risk and expense of the defaulting purchaser or may avail themselves of any legal or
NOVEMBER 17, 2022 at 10:00 AM thereon conveyed by said deed of trust, described as 6650 Masontown ratification of the sale is denied by the Circuit Court for any reason, the Purchaser's STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO FOLLOW CDC GUIDANCE AND WEAR A COVER OVER equitable remedies against the defaulting purchaser without reselling the property.
Place, Hughesville, Maryland 20637, Tax Identification No. 08-012709 (the sole remedy, at law or equity, is return of the deposit without interest. BIDDERS ARE BOTH NOSE AND MOUTH AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING AT THE AUCTION. In the event of a resale, the defaulting purchaser shall not be entitled to receive the
ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE LOT OF GROUND and improvements "Property") and more fully described in the Deed of Trust. STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO FOLLOW CDC GUIDANCE AND WEAR A COVER OVER (Matter No. 46132-7) surplus, if any, even if such surplus results from improvements to the property by said
thereon situated in PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD and TERMS OF SALE: The Property, which is improved by a dwelling, will BOTH NOSE AND MOUTH AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING AT THE AUCTION. defaulting purchaser and the defaulting purchaser shall be liable to the Trustees and
described as follows: be offered for sale, subject to matters known and unknown, in an "AS (Matter No. 192721-2) PLEASE CONSULT WWW.ALEXCOOPER.COM FOR secured party for reasonable attorney’s fees and expenses incurred in connection with
LOT NUMBERED THIRTY-FIVE (35), IN THE SUBDIVISION IS, WHERE IS" condition with no warranty of any kind and will be sold STATUS OF UPCOMING SALES all litigation involving the Property or the proceeds of the resale. Trustees' file number
KNOWN AS "PLAT TWO, MARBURY VILLAGE", AS PER PLAT and conveyed by the Substitute Trustees subject to all encumbrances, 22-002139-MD-F-1.
THEREOF RECORDED AMONG THE LAND RECORDS OF rights, reservations, covenants, conditions, easements, restrictions, and Howard N. Bierman, Carrie M. Ward, et. al., Substitute Trustees
PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MARYLAND, IN PLAT BOOK NLP statutory liens, if any, having priority over the Deed of Trust, as they Diane S. Rosenberg, Mark D. Meyer, et al., Substitute Trustees
109, AT PLAT 13. may lawfully affect the Property. The risk of loss or damage to the
The property will be sold in an "AS IS WHERE IS" condition Property shall be borne by the successful bidder from and after the
without either express or implied warranty or representation, date and time of the sale. Obtaining possession of the Property shall PLEASE CONSULT WWW.ALEXCOOPER.COM FOR
including but not limited to the description, fitness for a be the sole responsibility of the successful bidder. A deposit of Five STATUS OF UPCOMING SALES
particular purpose or use, structural integrity, physical condition, Thousand and no/100 Dollars ($5,000.00), in the form of certified check
construction, extent of construction, workmanship, materials, or cashier's check, (the "Deposit") will be required at the time of sale. Howard N. Bierman, Carrie M. Ward, et. al., Substitute Trustees
liability, zoning, subdivision, environmental condition, mer-
chantability, compliance with building or housing codes or other The Beneficiary is not required to make a Deposit. The balance of the
laws, ordinances or regulations, or other similar matters, and purchase price for the Property, together with interest at 4.00% per
subject to easements, agreements and restrictions of record annum from the date of sale to the date of settlement, shall be paid
which affect the same, if any. The property will be sold in cash within fifteen (15) days after final ratification of the sale of the
subject to all conditions, liens, restrictions and agreements of Property by the Circuit Court, TIME BEING OF THE ESSENCE WITH REGARD
record affecting same including any condominium and of HOA TO ALL OF PURCHASER'S OBLIGATIONS. Taxes, water, sewer, ground rent,
assessments pursuant to Md Real Property Article 11-110. condominium fees, and/or homeowners association dues, if applicable,
TERMS OF SALE: A deposit of $20,000.00 PAYABLE ONLY BY will be adjusted to the date of sale and assumed thereafter by the
certified funds, shall be required at the time of sale. CASH WILL purchaser. All other public charges and assessments payable on an
NOT BE AN ACCEPTABLE FORM OF DEPOSIT. The balance of annual basis, including sanitary and/or metropolitan district charges will
the purchase price with interest at 7.57% per annum from the be adjusted for the current year to date of sale and assumed thereafter
date of sale to the date of payment will be paid within TEN by the purchaser. All costs of conveyance, including transfer taxes and November 15, 22, 29, 2022 12402770
DAYS after the final ratification of the sale. There will be no
abatement of interest for any reason. Adjustments on all taxes, recordation taxes will be paid by the purchaser. If any successful bidder
public charges and special or regular assessments will be made fails for any reason to complete settlement as provided above, the Deposit
as of the date of sale and thereafter assumed by purchaser. There shall be forfeited and applied to the costs of the sale, including Substitute
will be no abatement of taxes, public charges and special or Trustees' fees, and the balance, if any, shall be delivered to the Beneficiary BWW Law Group, LLC November 15, 22, 29, 2022 12402767 November 15, 22, 29, 2022 12402795
regular assessments for any reason. If applicable, condominium to be applied by the Beneficiary against the indebtedness secured by, 6003 Executive Blvd., Suite 101
and/or homeowner association dues and assessments that may and other amounts due under, the Deed of Trust in accordance with the
become due after the time of sale will be the responsibility of Deed of Trust or applicable law or otherwise as the Beneficiary shall elect. Rockville, MD 20852
the purchaser. Title examination, conveyancing, state revenue Forfeiture of the Deposit shall not limit any rights or remedies of the (301) 961-6555
stamps, transfer taxes, title insurance, and all other costs
incident to settlement are to be paid by the purchaser. Time is Substitute Trustees or the Beneficiary with respect to any such default. If SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES' SALE Wsuepwpaern!t SPO TS?
of the essence for the purchaser, otherwise the deposit will be the Property is resold after any such default, such re-sale shall be at the OF REAL PROPERTY AND ANY IMPROVEMENTS THEREON Wsuepwpaern!t
forfeited, and the property may be resold at risk and costs of the risk and the cost of the failing bidder, and the failing bidder shall be liable
defaulting purchaser and the purchaser agrees to pay reasonable for any deficiency between its bid and the successful bid at the resale 7185 CYPRESS CT., UNIT F
attorneys' fees for the Substitute trustees, plus all cost incurred, as well as the costs of conducting such re-sale. The purchaser agrees FREDERICK, MD 21703
if the Substitute Trustee's have filed the appropriate motion with to accept service by first class mail and certified mail addressed to the
the Court to resell the property. The purchasers waives personal address provided by said purchaser as identified on the Memorandum of Under a power of sale contained in a certain Deed of Trust dated March 22, 2018,
service of any papers filed in connection with such a motion Sale for any Motion or Show Cause Order incident to this sale including a recorded in Liber 12366, Folio 298 among the Land Records of Frederick County,
and expressly agrees to The purchaser agrees to accept service motion to Default Purchaser and for Resale of the Property. In the event MD, with an original principal balance of $164,000.00, default having occurred
by first class mail at the address provided by the Purchaser as the Substitute Trustees do not execute a deed of conveyance or other under the terms thereof, the Sub. Trustees will sell at public auction at the Circuit
identified on the Memorandum of Sale. If the sale is not ratified necessary settlement documents, the purchaser's sole remedy shall be Court for Frederick County, at the Court House Door, 100 W. Patrick St., Frederick, MD
or if the Substitute Trustees are unable to convey marketable the refund of the Deposit. In the event the Substitute Trustees are unable 21701, on
title in accord with these terms of sale, the purchaser's only to convey marketable title or in the event the borrower entered into a
remedy is return of the deposit. repayment plan, reinstated or paid the loan off prior to the sale, or if for DECEMBER 2, 2022 AT 12:26 PM
The sale is subject to post-sale confirmation and audit of the any other reason, the undersigned did not have the right to sell, the sale ALL THAT FEE SIMPLE LOT OF GROUND, together with any buildings or
status of the loan with the loan servicer including, but not is null and void and the purchaser is not entitled to any legal or equitable improvements thereon located in Frederick County, MD and more fully described in
limited to, determination of whether the borrower entered into remedy other than return of the Deposit without interest and any and all the aforesaid Deed of Trust.
a repayment agreement, reinstated, or paid off the loan prior to other claims of the purchaser are hereby released. Additional terms and The property, and any improvements thereon, will be sold in an "as is" condition and
sale. In any such event, this sale shall be null and void, and the conditions to be announced at the time of sale. All inquiries regarding subject to conditions, restrictions and agreements of record affecting the same, if any,
Purchaser's sol remedy, in law or equity, shall be the return of the the sale should be directed to Stephen B. Jackson, Substituted Trustee. and with no warranty of any kind.
deposit without interest. Trustee's File No. (27880)
STEPHEN B. JACKSON and STEVEN P. HENNE Terms of Sale: A deposit of $16,000 in the form of certified check, cashier's
John E. Driscoll, et al SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEES Substitute Trustees check or money order will be required of the purchaser at time and place of sale.
Balance of the purchase price, together with interest on the unpaid purchase money
NOVEMBER 1, 8, 15, 2022 12401760 at the current rate contained in the Deed of Trust Note from the date of sale to
the date funds are received by the Sub. Trustees, payable in cash within ten days
of final ratification of the sale by the Circuit Court. There will be no abatement
of interest due to the purchaser in the event additional funds are tendered before
settlement. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE FOR THE PURCHASER. Adjustment of all
real property taxes, including agricultural taxes, if applicable, and any and all public
and/or private charges or assessments, to the extent such amounts survive foreclosure
sale, including water/sewer, ground rent and front foot benefit charges, to be adjusted Search our database of tested
to date of sale and thereafter assumed by purchaser. Purchaser is responsible for any recipes by ingredient or name.
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TE rent escrow, if required. Condominium fees and/or homeowners association dues, if
any, shall be assumed by the purchaser from the date of sale. Purchaser is responsible

H? for obtaining physical possession of the property, and assumes risk of loss or damage
to the property from the date of sale. The sale is subject to post-sale audit of the
status of the loan with the loan servicer including, but not limited to, determination
of whether the borrower entered into any repayment agreement, reinstated or paid off
the loan prior to the sale. In any such event, this sale shall be null and void, and the
Purchaser's sole remedy, in law or equity, shall be the return of the deposit without
interest. If purchaser fails to settle within ten days of ratification, subject to order of
court, purchaser agrees that property will be resold and entire deposit retained by Sub.
Trustees as liquidated damages for all losses occasioned by the purchaser's default
and purchaser shall have no further liability. The defaulted purchaser shall not be
entitled to any surplus proceeds resulting from said resale even if such surplus results
from improvements to the property by said defaulted purchaser. Sub. Trustees will
convey either marketable or insurable title. If they cannot deliver one or the other, or if
ratification of the sale is denied by the Circuit Court for any reason, the Purchaser's
sole remedy, at law or equity, is return of the deposit without interest. BIDDERS ARE
STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO FOLLOW CDC GUIDANCE AND WEAR A COVER OVER
BOTH NOSE AND MOUTH AND PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING AT THE AUCTION.
(Matter No. 356345-1)

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D12 EZ RE THE WASHINGTON POST . TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022

HEalthKLM&NSOcience
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022 . SECTION E EZ EE

WELL+BEING

Pandemic
may have
upended
periods

BY AMANDA MORRIS

During the pandemic, many women
experienced high levels of stress as they
took on a disproportionate share of child
care and housework and dropped out of
the labor force in large numbers.

Now, a study suggests that all of this
extra stress may have changed women’s
menstrual cycles in a variety of ways.
Some women who reported high levels of
stress also reported early or delayed
periods. Others had heavier menstrual
flow or increased spotting between cy-
cles. Some women said that during
pandemic stress, their periods lasted
more days than usual, while others said
their periods got shorter.

Martina Anto-Ocrah, an assistant pro-
fessor at the University of Pittsburgh
School of Medicine, who led the study,
called the results “alarming,” because of
the effects an irregular cycle can have on
fertility and mental health.

“This really extends beyond menstru-
ation, it’s about women’s well-being,” she
said.

The study, published in Obstetrics &
Gynecology, relied on self-reported data
from 354 women between the ages of 18
and 45. Women were asked in early May
2021 to answer questions about their
pandemic-related stress and report any
menstrual cycle changes that occurred
between March 2020 and May 2021.

Over half of the women surveyed
reported changes in their menstrual
cycle length, period duration, menstrual
flow or spotting, and 12 percent of
women reported a change in all four
measures. The researchers found a sig-
nificant association between high levels
of pandemic-related stress and changes
in the menstrual cycle.

Younger women and women with
previously diagnosed mental health con-
ditions were more vulnerable to feeling
high stress and experiencing menstrual
cycle changes.

The study authors noted the data were
collected from a racially diverse and
geographically representative sample.
The women were not on birth control,
menopausal or postmenopausal before
the pandemic. The study did not include
trans or nonbinary people who also have

SEE PERIODS ON E5

WELL+BEING REBEKKA DUNLAP FOR THE WASHINGTON POST

Pickleball is AI offers digital I n 2020, a Korean documentary team invited on
popular. But how link to deceased its show a mother who had lost her 7-year-old
much exercise loved ones daughter to an incurable disease. The girl’s
does it provide? death was so sudden — she died a week after being
New tech promises connection via
BY KELYN SOONG chatbots, avatars, digital entities diagnosed in 2016 — the mother, Jang Ji-Sun, did

Pickleball is one of the fastest-growing BY CAREN CHESLER not have a chance to say goodbye. For three years
sports in the United States, and people —
including teenage prodigies and Holly- she was obsessed with the loss of her daughter. ¶
wood celebrities — can’t seem to get
enough. The producers of the documentary, “Meeting You,”

But how much exercise are you really created a digitized re-creation of the child that the
getting when you play?
mother could see through a virtual reality headset
Researchers in Canada explored the
answer to that question by measuring the (the TV audience was also able to see the image of
physical activity intensity of singles and
doubles pickleball in older adults. the daughter). SEE GRIEF ON E6

The peer-reviewed study, published in PERSPECTIVE
the Journal of Aging and Physical Activi-
ty, suggests that pickleball can provide a Paranoia, voices, sleeplessness.
moderate workout for middle-aged or What my psychotic break felt like.
older people. But they would need to play
as much as 4.5 hours a week to meet WINFRIED WISNIEWSKI/GETTY IMAGES BY DANIELLE HUGGINS companion glances into the room. “What are all
recommended exercise guidelines. I am under-slept and overwhelmed. I’m in a these papers?” I shrug and say I’ll be ready. I put on
WILDLIFE London hotel room, at the beginning of a four-day tight jeans and a black sweater. In the mirror I look
If you’re counting steps, the study trip that was too cheap to pass up. I am 25. There are and feel amazing. I am gorgeous. Am I really
showed you will collect relatively few Ruffs like the one above are among the animals assignments to complete for my graduate courses gorgeous? Or am I manic and overly confident?
during an hour of pickleball, about half as that defy gender stereotypes. E2 and tests to grade for my middle-school teaching
many as during an average hour-long job. I have brought work with me, and there are The next day, Lorenzo, my middle-school col-
brisk walk. FOOD short stacks of papers everywhere. league who put the trip together, his mother, his
Despite having airplane seats that turned into sister and I make the most of London. We ride in a
And while the game reached a vigorous Eating fiber alters the microbiome and might help beds, sleep eluded me on the overnight trip from red double-decker bus, take pictures in a red phone
level of activity a respectable 30 percent with cancer treatment. E4 John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. booth and watch the changing of the guard at
of the time for many players, it may not I’m worried about this lack of sleep. Will it make me Buckingham Palace.
provide as much physical challenge for BRAIN manic? For people like me, with bipolar disorder,
people who are young or already in good traveling can lead to mania, and the only antidote is At night, I start off trying to sleep but cannot.
shape. Regularly doing crossword puzzles may help slow sleep. To sleep, I need medication. I don’t have any. I Instead, I work. The piles of paper seem to multiply.
cognitive decline in some people. E5 stopped taking it a few months ago because it made On the second day, riding the London Underground,
Federal physical activity guidelines for me gain weight. I hear Lorenzo speak to his mother in Italian. I
Americans recommend at least 150 min- I’ve been here a couple of hours and should be think: Why are they speaking Italian? Is something
utes of moderate intensity or 75 minutes napping when I hear a knock on my door and open wrong? Is this a code?
of vigorous intensity aerobic physical it. “Be ready in 20. We are hitting a pub.” My travel
activity per week for adults. Moder- I know that being severely manic can cause the
ate-intensity exercise typically is defined brain to spin webs of conspiracies and make
as exerting yourself to the point where connections that aren’t really there. But I no longer
you can talk but not sing. Vigorous exer-
cise, on the other hand, includes more SEE MANIC ON E3
taxing exercises such as jogging, fast-
paced cycling and singles tennis.

Pickleball, played with a paddle and
perforated polymer ball, combines el-
ements of tennis, badminton, table tennis
and racquetball. Pickleball players com-
pete in a smaller space than tennis play-
ers; up to four pickleball courts can fit on
a standard tennis court. A match is played
best two out of three games. Each game
can last 15 to 25 minutes. People of all ages

SEE PICKLEBALL ON E4

E2 EZ EE THE WASHINGTON POST . TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022

RETROPOLIS SCIENCE SCAN

The science of King Tut’s ‘curse’ PALEONTOLOGY

Recent studies suggest a more mundane — and organic — explanation for the deaths of tomb explorers Researchers track down two copies of famous
ichthyosaur fossil destroyed during WWII

BY DAVE KINDY BY ERIN BLAKEMORE Rediscovery of two casts of the
In 1819, the complete fossil of historically important ‘Proteo-
On Nov. 4, 1922, archaeologist AMR NABIL/ASSOCIATED PRESS an ichthyosaur dazzled scientists saurus’, the first complete
Howard Carter and his team dis- and the public. Thought to have ichthyosaur skeleton
covered the entrance to a tomb in King Tutankhamen’s golden sarcophagus on display at his tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, been collected by pioneering Eng- Royal Society Open Science
the Valley of the Kings in Luxor, Egypt. A pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty, he died at age 18 or 19, circa 1323 B.C. lish paleontologist Mary Anning,
Egypt. Three weeks later, on the fossil fanned interest in mas- the Royal College of Surgeons in
Nov. 26, Carter smashed a hole ish superstitions,” he said, accord- 1935 but died of an infection cet in 2003. sive creatures that roamed Earth London.
into a stone wall in an under- ing to H.V.F. Winstone in his book following his final trip to Egypt. The death of Carnarvon, who and swam the oceans millions of
ground hallway there. As he “Howard Carter and the Discov- years ago. During the Blitz of 1941 in
aimed his flashlight into the dark- ery of the Tomb of Tutankhamun.” In addition, the media frenzy was sickly most of his life and But when a Nazi bomb obliter- London, the fossil was obliterated
ness, his friend and sponsor, fed off unfortunate events that prone to upper respiratory ail- ated the collections of a London by a German bomb. No copies
George Herbert, the 5th Earl of But Carnarvon’s death on April beset others who had visited the ments, seems to fit the diagnosis. museum during World War II, the were known to exist. But while
Carnarvon, asked if he could see 5, 1923 — less than five months tomb. British archaeologist Hugh According to his obituary in the fossil was lost to science. conducting research on other fos-
anything. after the tomb was opened — Evelyn-White, who worked on the New York Times, he died on April Not anymore: Researchers re- sils at Yale University’s Peabody
drove rumors of a wicked spell. dig at Luxor, died by suicide in 5, 1923, of pneumonia brought on cently uncovered two previously Museum of Natural History in
“Yes, wonderful things,” he re- Newspaper accounts were rife 1924. He reportedly left a note in by blood poisoning from a mos- unknown casts of the fossil more Connecticut, a pair of paleontolo-
plied, according to his book “The with the possibility as more ar- which he wrote, “I have suc- quito bite on his cheek that be- than 75 years after the original’s gists found a plaster cast painted
Discovery of the Tomb of chaeologists and explorers fell ill cumbed to a curse.” Carter’s per- came infected after he nicked it destruction. to resemble a fossil. They recog-
Tutankhamen,” written with Ar- and died. In 1926, the New York sonal secretary, Richard Bethell, with a razor. The El-Tawils wrote They describe the rediscovery nized the impression as a copy of
thur Cruttenden Mace in 1923. Daily News ran an article with the the first person to enter the tomb that he probably had been ex- in Royal Society Open Science. the original ichthyosaur fossil
Suddenly, the world became headline, “Vengeance of King Tut behind his employer, was found posed to Aspergillus, which in It’s a tale of historic hide-and- and eventually tracked down an-
transfixed by a little-known phar- Is Seen as Death List Mounts.” smothered to death at his London turn caused the deadly streptococ- seek and a specimen with some other in Berlin’s Museum of Natu-
aoh of the 18th Dynasty as gold, men’s club in 1929. Some histori- cus infection that killed him after serious scientific pedigree. In the ral History Berlin. Neither had
jewelry and other fantastic treas- British archaeologist ans believe he was murdered by he cut himself with a razor. early 19th century, ichthyosaur been properly labeled.
ures saw the light of day for the and Egyptologist Aleister Crowley, an English oc- fever helped establish the field of
first time in more than 3,000 Howard Carter cultist. Spores of Aspergillus, the El- paleontology and sparked public Scientists still study ichthyo-
years. Tawils wrote, “grow especially interest in fossils. saurs, marine reptiles that swam
dismissed the notion of Carter died in 1939, a full well on grain, the supply of which Anning, a fossil hunter and in oceans between about 250
Almost as quickly, public atten- a curse as “tommy rot.” 17 years after the discovery, of was abundant in Tutankhamen’s paleontologist who was excluded million and 90 million years ago.
tion shifted to the possibility of a Hodgkin’s disease, a type of lym- tomb, with offerings of bread and from full participation in the But more information may be
curse plaguing all those who had Piling on was Sir Arthur Conan phatic cancer. And yet newspa- raw grains stored in numerous scientific community because of hiding in plain sight in museum
entered King Tut’s tomb. Sudden Doyle, creator of the popular pers around the world focused baskets. Lord Carnarvon could her sex, is thought to have found collections, the researchers sug-
deaths, grievous misfortune and Sherlock Holmes stories. Upon almost exclusively on the “Curse readily have inhaled contaminat- the specimen in Lyme Regis, Eng- gest.
other inexplicable events gave learning of his friend’s death, of the Pharaohs” when printing ed grain dust as the sealed tomb land, at some point before 1818.
rise to speculation that an evil Doyle, a known spiritualist, told a his obituary. was broken into.” She lent it to British surgeon “This discovery demonstrates
spell was afflicting any who had reporter, “An evil elemental may Everard Home, who included it in the necessity to carefully preserve
dared defile the pharaoh’s final have caused Lord Carnarvon’s fa- Today, science has a more ra- More recent scientific studies some of the earliest research on undetermined and casted materi-
resting place. tal illness.” tional explanation. have found two varieties of the ichthyosaurs. The groundbreak- al in a natural history collection,”
fungi — Aspergillus niger and ing fossil — the first complete Daniela Schwarz, the scientific
A media frenzy descended on After the earl died, others fol- Studies have shown that an Aspergillus flavus — on mum- skeleton of its kind ever recog- head of the Museum of Natural
Luxor after each calamity. Shortly lowed, including George Jay organic source might have been a mies and in tombs of ancient nized and documented by scien- History Berlin’s fossil reptiles de-
after the first archaeologist death Gould, an American financier contributing factor in at least Egypt. According to National tists — eventually made its way to partment, said in a statement.
a few months following the who succumbed to pneumonia some of the deaths. Common Geographic, these strains can “There will always be someone
tomb’s discovery, newspaper shortly after visiting the tomb in mold — especially Aspergillus — cause various allergic reactions, who discovers its scientific value
headlines blared about the “Curse 1923; Sir Archibald Douglas Reid, may have been present on King ranging from chest congestion to in the end.”
of the Pharaohs” and claimed, who perished soon after X-raying Tut’s mummy. The fungus is pulmonary hemorrhaging, or
“Famous Spiritualist Sees Occult the mummy in London; and known to cause serious infections bleeding in the lungs. ROYAL SOCIETY PUBLISHING
Reason for Fatality.” James Henry Breasted, an Ameri- in people with weakened immune
can archaeologist, who lived until systems. That mold might have had a TOP: The Yale cast of the ichthyosaur fossil found more than 200
But was there really a curse? hand in the earl’s death — or any years ago. BOTTOM: The recently discovered cast in Berlin.
Some studies suggest a more “Potentially harmful fungi sur- others — is speculative. Research-
mundane explanation: mold vive for extreme lengths of time in ers have argued for and against HEALTH & SCIENCE
found on mummies and in the air tombs, and results of research the idea for years. Without con- Editors: Margaret Shapiro, Mary-Ellen Deily •
at burial sites in Egypt. indicate that such prolonged clusive evidence, it will remain Art Director: Elizabeth von Oehsen • Photo Editor: Bronwen Latimer •
phases of dormancy can result in just a theory. Copy Editor: Ron Jones • Advertising Information: Ron Ulrich,
Belief in a “mummy’s curse” increased virulence,” wrote Eng- 202-334-5289, [email protected] • To contact us:
predates the Tutankhamen dis- lish doctors Sherif El-Tawil and Which, of course, makes the Email: [email protected]. Mail: The Washington Post, Health,
covery by a century. It may have Tariq El-Tawil in a letter to the belief in the “curse of the mum- 1301 K St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071
originated in England in the British medical journal the Lan- my” even more enduring.
1820s. In 2000, Egyptologist
Dominic Montserrat reported he
had discovered the first mention
of it in a London “striptease”
show, according to the British
newspaper the Independent.

No curse was ever found writ-
ten in hieroglyphics at the tomb
of Tutankhamen, the Egyptian
king who died at 18 or 19, circa
1323 B.C. His father is thought to
have been the pharaoh Akhenat-
en, while his mother was his fa-
ther’s sister, according to DNA
testing.

King Tut had a club foot and
scoliosis, possibly caused by the
tradition of incest among the roy-
al family.

Carter dismissed the notion of
a curse as “tommy rot.” “The sen-
timent of the Egyptologist . . . is
not one of fear, but of respect and
awe . . . entirely opposed to fool-

What 7 animals reveal do some sneaky mating.
about sexual selection Some of the ruffs that imper-

BY LOUISE GENTLE their background, but it also in- ABOVE: A female spotted 5. The ruff DEON DE VILLIERS/GETTY IMAGES sonate females will even lure oth-
creases their attractiveness. The hyena in Botswana. RIGHT: It is not just the females who er males away from the females.
It’s easy to assume all animals females choose the “sexiest” Mallards in Kenilworth Park & BONNIE JO MOUNT/THE WASHINGTON POST The pseudo-females will then go
have a neat dividing line between males based on their plumage. So, Aquatic Gardens in D.C. benefit from adopting male ap- back to mate once the coast is
the sexes because the differences for the majority of species, males 4. The barred buttonquail pearances or traits. The ruff (a pressive ruffs attract more fe- clear.
in appearance between males and are brightly colored and females wading bird from northern Eu- males. 6. Hyenas
females can be so striking. But the have a somber appearance. Some species, such as the rope and Asia) was named after
more scientists learn about wild- barred buttonquail (a South the collar of feathers that devel- So, the best-ruffed males are Perhaps the most fascinating
life, the clearer it is that nature But this isn’t always the case. Asian ground bird) show a role op around the neck of the males spoiled with choices, whereas animal is the spotted hyena of
doesn’t have a rule book. Evolution has created some in- reversal. Females are larger than during the breeding season, sim- some males end up as lonely sub-Saharan Africa, where the
credible twists in nature’s story. males and have a black throat ilar to Elizabethan ruffs that hearts with no opportunities to females dominate the clans.
Most people know that male and breast patch that the males were worn in the 16th and 17th mate. But these disgruntled They do the majority of the hunt-
sea horses become pregnant and 2. The white-necked jacobin lack. The females make a loud centuries. Males with more im- males have found a way to beat ing and raise the cubs alone. The
give birth. Yet research is reveal- A recent study found that booming call to attract males and the players at their own game. females are larger than the males
ing more about animals that defy fight for access to mates. Some males copy females during and have more testosterone,
expectations when it comes to sex about 20 percent of female white- the breeding season, so they can meaning that often the highest-
norms. necked jacobin (a hummingbird Once a pair has mated, the get close enough to the females to ranking male is subordinate to
species from Central America) female moves on to her next mate the lowest-ranking female.
To understand why some spe- have iridescent blue and green while the male is left to incubate
cies evolved special traits or ap- plumage that mimics the color of the eggs and raise the chicks The females even have a penis,
pearances, you need to know why males. alone. This comes at a cost, how- complete with testes, capable of
the males and females of many ever. In the animal kingdom, erections. This is actually a pseu-
species evolved to look so differ- Although the females imitate most females have a longer life dopenis, formed by an enlarged
ent from one another. Through- the males only in appearance, expectancy than males, but fe- clitoris through which females
out most of the animal kingdom, rather than behavior, they gain male buttonquails have a life urinate and give birth. The fake
females have a finite number of the advantage enjoyed by the span of four years, almost half penis is used to signal domi-
eggs, whereas males have an infi- more aggressive males. Males the life span of males. nance when hyenas meet each
nite number of sperm. avoid females with ornamental other, with an erect “penis” act-
plumage, meaning they are left ing as a flag of submission.
This is known as anisogamy alone to enjoy better access to 7. Asian sheepshead wrasse
and usually causes males to com- food.
pete for females through the evo- So, in the animal kingdom,
lution of weapons such as antlers 3. The narwhal there are many benefits to look-
in deer, or adornments such as The narwhal, or unicorn of the ing like a member of the opposite
the beautiful tail of the peacock. sex. Some fish species such as the
Consequently, it is in the interest sea, is an Arctic whale that has a Asian sheepshead wrasse take
of females to be more picky about long spiral tusk, up to nearly 10 this one step further and change
their mating partners. feet long. The males use the tusk sex during their lifetime.
to attract females and warn off
These differences in appear- male rivals. The male with the Known as sequential her-
ance of the sexes evolved through largest tusk is the most dominant maphroditism, the largest fe-
a process called sexual selection. and has the most mating opportu- males turn into males. A change
1. The mallard nities. in hormone levels makes their
ovaries transform into testes, al-
A good example of this is the But a small proportion of fe- lowing them to produce more
mallard, one of the most common males have tusks. It is not known offspring over their lifetime. We
ducks in the world. The brown why. But if the tusk increases the have learned so much about the
color of the females’ feathers chances of survival (through animal kingdom since the onset
evolved through natural selec- fighting off predators or spearing of modern science, but as these
tion where the fittest survive; in food), it would have evolved via new studies show, we may have
this case, the ones that are camou- natural selection in both male and scratched only the surface.
flaged from predators. female narwhals. Since the pres-
ence of a tusk is largely restricted Louise Gentle is principal lecturer in
The bright blue and green to the males, it is possible the wildlife conservation at Nottingham
feathers of the male mallards tusked females benefit in a similar Trent University in Nottingham,
make them conspicuous against way to the hummingbirds. England. This article was originally
published on theconversation.com.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022 . THE WASHINGTON POST EZ EE E3

54 BIG NUMBER FROM CONSUMER REPORTS

More than half of Americans 50 and older — Foods that lower blood sugar levels
54 percent — are considered to be caregivers
because of the help they provide to one or YBY SARI HARRAR
more people 65 and older, according to the ou might keep tabs on
most recent findings of the University of your cholesterol and
Michigan’s ongoing National Poll on Healthy blood pressure, but
Aging. Most often, caregiving involves what about your blood
percent helping with health care, usually through sugar levels? About
making appointments, talking with doctors 20 percent of the 37 million U.S.
and handling insurance issues, but it can also include assisting with adults with diabetes and more
home cleaning, yard work, grocery shopping, meal preparation, than 80 percent of the 96 million
banking and bill paying. The survey found that nearly all caregivers with prediabetes don’t know they
(94 percent) are not being paid for their help, and nearly half have those conditions.
(47 percent) have been helping out for at least three years. The most
frequent recipients are parents (45 percent of the time) and friends That’s especially concerning,
or neighbors (19 percent). The researchers note in their report that because diabetes and prediabetes
such support “is often essential for aging in place and managing also mean a higher risk for heart
chronic conditions” — issues that people increasingly confront as disease; vision, kidney, and nerve
they age. The Census Bureau projects that, by 2034, older adults will damage; and even some cancers.
outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history and, by 2040,
1 in 5 Americans will be 65 or older. That reflects a worldwide trend, Food is a powerful tool for
with every country seeing a greater percentage of older people in its keeping blood sugar, or glucose,
population, according to the World Health Organization. The WHO levels in check. And making
predicts that, by 2050, the global population of people 60 and older healthy choices can help you
will double (to 2.1 billion) and the number of people 80 and older avoid prediabetes or reduce your
will triple (to 426 million). chances for progressing from pre-
— Linda Searing diabetes to Type 2 diabetes, and
manage your glucose levels if you
HEALTH NEWS already have the disease, says VERA LIVCHAK/GETTY IMAGES
Hope Warshaw, a certified dia-
In reducing anxiety, mindfulness can work betes care and education special- Research shows that some, like in the DPP study. Still, “I don’t first,” Jones says. So try cinnamon
as well as a prescription drug, research says ist in Asheville, N.C. refined flour, potatoes and foods care that someone loses on whole-wheat toast, in fruit
with a lot of added sugars, can 25 pounds,” Warshaw says. “It’s salad or in coffee. And before
BY LINDSEY TANNER learn to briefly acknowledge A healthy diet may be especial- rapidly raise blood sugar and better to lose 5, 10 or 15 pounds taking supplements, talk to your
them but then dismiss them. ly helpful for older adults. In the increase diabetes risk. For exam- relative to your size and keep as doctor.
Mindfulness meditation landmark Diabetes Prevention ple, in a 2019 study published in many pounds off as possible. Skip diabetes bars, shakes
worked as well as a standard drug Instead of ruminating over the Program (DPP) study, older par- Diabetes Care, people who cut out Gaining back the weight will like-
for treating anxiety in the first troubling thought, “you say, ‘I’m ticipants with prediabetes who one sugary drink per day lowered ly increase insulin resistance While products made to man-
head-to-head comparison. having this thought, let that go for ate healthier, exercised regularly the risk by 10 percent. again.” age blood sugar may help, they’re
The study tested a widely used now,’ ’’ said lead author Elizabeth and lost a little weight cut their highly processed foods, contain-
mindfulness program that in- Hoge, director of Georgetown risk of progressing to Type 2 On the other hand, carb-con- Opt for healthy fats ing protein extracts or isolates,
cludes 2 1/2 hours of classes week- University’s Anxiety Disorders diabetes by 71 percent during the taining whole foods like fruit, Picking unsaturated fats like many additives and sugar substi-
ly and 45 minutes of daily prac- Research Program. With practice, 2.8-year study period. beans and whole grains have fiber tutes, for instance. A 2022 study
tice. Participants were randomly “it changes the relationship peo- and can slow the rise in blood vegetable oils, nuts, avocado and of more than 70,000 people found
assigned to the program or daily ple have with their own thoughts The goal of following a dia- glucose after meals. Levels don’t fish over foods packed with satu- that those who ate the most ultra-
use of a generic drug sold under when not meditating.” betes or prediabetes diet is to spike and the pancreas isn’t rated fat like butter and red meat processed foods had an 80 per-
the brand name Lexapro for de- prevent insulin resistance. Usual- taxed. could lower blood glucose cent increased risk for developing
pression and anxiety. Studies have shown mindful- ly after eating, blood glucose rises enough to cut diabetes risk by 22 Type 2 diabetes compared with
After two months, anxiety as ness works better than no treat- and the pancreas releases insulin. Studies support their benefits. percent, a 2016 study found. “Fats those who ate the least. And other
measured on a severity scale de- ment or at least as well as educa- Insulin shuttles glucose into the For example, a daily serving of aren’t just carriers of calories, studies have had similar findings.
clined by about 30 percent in both tion or more formal behavior cells, where it’s used for energy. whole grains cut diabetes risk by they’re the most important struc-
groups and continued to decrease therapy in reducing anxiety, de- Insulin resistance occurs when 7 to 11 percent in a Danish study tural molecules in the body,” says You can lower your glucose
in the following four months. pression and other mental woes. the pancreas can’t keep up with of 55,465 older adults. And in a Dariush Mozaffarian, dean of the levels by snacking on whole
Study results, published last But this is the first study to test it the demand for insulin. Eventual- 2021 Australian study, middle- Friedman School of Nutrition Sci- foods, which have the added ben-
week in the journal JAMA Psychi- against a psychiatric drug, Hoge ly, you make less of it, and glucose aged and older adults who ate ence and Policy at Tufts Univer- efit of being packed with nutri-
atry, are timely. In September, an said, and it could make insurers levels stay higher than they about two servings of fruit per sity. In particular, polyunsaturat- ents. Try a shake made with yo-
influential U.S. health task force more likely to cover costs. should. For people with prediabe- day were 36 percent less likely to ed fats (found in safflower and gurt, fruit, some avocado for
recommended routine anxiety tes and Type 2 diabetes, a diet that develop diabetes over five years sunflower oils) may support insu- creaminess and a handful of spin-
screening for adults, and numer- The results were based on increases the body’s sensitivity to compared with those who lin production and help muscles ach or kale to bump up fiber and
ous reports suggest global anxiety about 200 adults who completed the insulin they continue to make skimped on fruit. respond to insulin’s commands to nutrient levels. “You won’t even
rates have increased recently, re- the six-month study at medical is critical, Warshaw says. And for absorb blood sugar. In contrast, notice the greens; they disap-
lated to worries over the pandem- centers in D.C., Boston and New others, it may help keep the con- Another bonus: Whole grains, saturated fats seem to increase pear,” Jones says. A handful of
ic, political and racial unrest, York. Researchers used a psychi- ditions at bay. beans, fruits and vegetables sup- insulin resistance by packing ex- nuts, some yogurt, and berries, or
climate change and financial un- atric scale of 1 to 7, with the top ply flavonoids and other polyphe- tra fat into your liver. carrots dipped in peanut butter
certainties. number reflecting severe anxiety. But many of us don’t know nols, compounds that help with are also good options.
Anxiety disorders include so- The average score was about 4.5 what to sip, munch and crunch. insulin sensitivity, too. Be wary of supplements
cial anxiety, generalized anxiety for participants before starting Here, we clear up a few of the Sixty-two percent of those 65 Consumer Reports is an
and panic attacks. Affected peo- treatment. It dropped to about 3 most common misunderstand- Lose a little weight independent, nonprofit organization
ple are troubled by persistent and after two months, then dipped ings about diet and blood glucose Extra pounds raise your risk and older in the United States that works side by side with
intrusive worries that interfere slightly in both groups at three control and offer steps that can with diabetes take supplements, consumers to create a fairer, safer,
with their lives and relationships. months and six months. Hoge make a difference. for diabetes by sending more fat according to a 2020 study in BMJ and healthier world. CR does not
Anxiety disorders affect 40 per- said the change was clinically into muscle cells, which makes it Open Diabetes Research & Care. endorse products or services, and
cent of U.S. women at some point meaningful, resulting in notice- Pick the right carbs difficult for your muscles to ab- These include cinnamon, bitter does not accept advertising. CR has
and more than 1 in 4 men, accord- able improvement in symptoms. Which carbs to eat for glucose sorb blood sugar. But “people melon, fenugreek and magne- no financial relationship with
ing to data cited in U.S. Preven- with diabetes or prediabetes can sium. Manufacturers may claim advertisers in this publication. Read
tive Services Task Force screening Ten patients on the drug control, and how much of them, get overwhelmed by numbers that they “support” healthy blood more at ConsumerReports.org.
recommendations. dropped out because of trouble- can be confusing. “ ‘Bread is the and think they have to lose a lot of sugar or that they’re “natural
Mindfulness is a form of medi- some side effects possibly related enemy’ is something I’ve heard weight,” Jones says. “Really, just diabetes cures,” but there’s little
tation that emphasizes focusing to treatment. There were no drop- throughout my career,” says Lisa small amounts make a big differ- scientific evidence that they
only on what’s happening at the outs for that reason in the mind- Jones, a registered dietitian in ence.” Dropping only 5 to 7 per- work, the National Institutes of
fulness group, although 13 pa- Philadelphia who counsels cli- cent of your body weight (10 to 14 Health says. “My approach is food
tients reported increased anxiety. ents with diabetes and prediabe- pounds if you now weigh 200
tes. “And people newly diagnosed pounds) cut the risk for diabetes
The study “is reaffirming about with diabetes say ‘I can’t have
how useful mindfulness can be fruit because it has sugar.’ ”
when practiced effectively,’’ said
psychologist Sheehan Fisher, an But not all carbs are the same.
associate professor at Northwest-
moment and dismissing intrusive ern University’s Feinberg School
thoughts. Sessions often start of Medicine who was not involved
with breathing exercises. Next in the study. I stopped taking my meds. That was a big mistake.
might be “body scans” — thinking
about each body part systemati- — Associated Press
cally, head to toe. When worried
thoughts intrude, participants reporters.
MANIC FROM E1 In the hospital, I’m given
HEALTH SCAN
ask myself if I am or am not 40 milligrams of Zyprexa. That is
PEDIATRICS manic. His mom must be an a lot of Zyprexa. I sleep. After four
illegal immigrant. We’re going to days, I realize my mind fabricated
More kids get wellness checkups. But big gaps have to smuggle her back into the the entire story. My stay is two
remain — especially for Black, Hispanic children U.S. I am terrified. weeks long and I am discharged
with medication much stronger
BY ERIN BLAKEMORE Well-Child Visit Adherence I am certain that his mom is than those I quit months ago. I
not a citizen and that the British have an additional two weeks of
For decades, pediatricians JAMA Pediatrics police are onto us. At the Sea Life COURTESY OF DANIELLE HUGGINS recovery at home before I am
have recommended a regular Hispanic children were compli- London Aquarium, Lorenzo is cleared to go back to teaching. I
schedule of well-child visits — to ant in 2016 and 2017, compared studying a map. I walk over, but I Danielle Huggins and her daughter. sleep late every day, getting 12 or
check on children’s growth, devel- with 52.5 percent of Black chil- cannot make sense of it. The 14 hours each night. During the
opment and health, and offer dren and 58 percent of Hispanic neon-colored routes are shifting zo’s green VW is being broadcast coast is clear. I feel safe enough to day, I feel hazy and unclear. I
parents the chance to talk with children. and merging into one another. I on every TV station, just like O.J. walk inside the emergency room. can’t read, and even find it diffi-
their children’s doctor, catch kids say, “How are you supposed to Simpson with his white Ford I talk to a psychiatrist. He asks me cult to follow the plotlines of TV
up on scheduled vaccinations and Not surprisingly, insured sta- figure out where to go with the Bronco. I picture reporters relay- if I have been diagnosed with any shows.
more. tus mattered. Though adherence lines moving all over the place?” ing the story of how two middle- mental disorders. I tell him I have
levels rose more for kids covered school teachers smuggled an ille- bipolar. He asks about my sleep When I go back to work, Loren-
Now, a study in JAMA Pediat- by public insurance and kids Lorenzo turns his head and gal immigrant from Italy, via and decides I need to be hospital- zo tells me some teachers are
rics sheds light on both growth without insurance coverage, only cocks it. “Nothing is moving on England, into the United States. ized. asking what is wrong with me. He
and inequality in well-child visits. 31 percent of children who this map. Danielle, are you all says they think I’m on drugs. I tell
The check-ins are associated with weren’t insured made the recom- right?” Suddenly I have a realiza- Lorenzo pulls into the parking I am relieved because I know him I am on drugs but not illegal
better health outcomes, fewer mended visits in 2016 and 2017. tion. Lorenzo is pretending the lot of a hospital and tells me to from experience that hospitals ones. I explain my diagnosis and
hospitalizations and emergency map isn’t moving. He is trying to wait in the car. I am so scared of are secure, and there is no way why I got so sick.
room visits, and improved pro- While 67.6 percent of children tell me that his mom isn’t a being caught on camera I curl any reporters will infiltrate. I
vider-parent communication. whose parents had attended col- citizen, and he is trying to figure myself into as small as a ball as don’t know how Lorenzo got this He says, “I’m so glad you’re fine
lege went to their well-child out a way to sneak her out of this possible and wait for him under- doctor to agree to admit me, but I now.”
Health and Human Services checkups, about 50 percent of place so she doesn’t get picked up neath the glove compartment. don’t ask. Before being taken up
researchers at the Agency for children whose parents did not by Interpol. I resolve to be quiet to the unit Lorenzo hugs me and I I am not really fine, however. I
Healthcare Research and Quality complete high school didn’t get and follow him, his sister and When Lorenzo comes out, I tell see he is crying. He must be feel like a zombie,
analyzed data from over 36,500 checked up on schedule. mom out. him I’m afraid of the camera men worried about his mom and these
children documented in the Med- and reporters. He tells me the I see my doctor every four
ical Expenditure Panel Survey, an There were regional gaps, too: On the plane ride home, I weeks, and each time he lowers
ongoing nationwide survey on Some 79.3 percent of kids from believe we are the biggest story the dose of Zyprexa, until he takes
who uses health care in the Unit- the Northeast made it to the in, if not America, the world. All me off it completely. After three
ed States. To track whether visit recommended visits, but only the passengers on the plane are months, he prescribes Lithium
compliance had grown, they com- 65.3 percent of children in the reporters, writing up the story of instead, an old standard, having
pared data from 2006 and 2007 to Midwest, 58.2 percent in the how we’re smuggling Lorenzo’s been around since 1949. I do not
2016 and 2017. South and 55.2 percent in the mother into the United States. feel as out of it on Lithium, but
West did the same. because every manic episode is
The researchers found that Lorenzo pleads for me to sleep. followed by a depressive one, I
14.5 percent more kids completed To correct the imbalance, the I lean my head on the small, cool still have little energy and long
their recommended well-child researchers write, policymakers window pane and try to sleep, but for my bed all day, every day. At
checkups in 2016 and 2017, rais- and medical professionals must the second I close my eyes I hear some point, I have to be readmit-
ing the number of children in work to improve both access and the click-clacking of the report- ted for depression, but my stay is
compliance from 47.9 percent to professional engagement in mar- ers’ computers. They are all writ- less than a week, and I am able to
62.3 percent. ginalized communities. ing about me and Lorenzo’s fam- go back to work right away.
ily. When I open my eyes and
But that growth was far from Although researchers are still crane my neck to catch them in In the two decades since that
equal. When the researchers dove working to understand why par- action, the sound stops. They are psychotic break, I have never
into the data, they found that ents skip well-child visits, factors cagey and slick, these reporters. gone off my meds again. And I
non-White children trailed their such as work, transportation and have never had a manic episode
counterparts in well-child visits. patient education are thought to Back home in New York, de- as severe as the one in London.
About 68 percent of White, non- play a role. spite zero immigration issues, my Since then, the last thing I do
paranoia persists. In his car, before bed is open my bedside
Lorenzo asks if I took any drugs. table drawer, take out my green
“Be quiet,” I say, since the radio Monday through Sunday pill box,
must be bugged. I hear a helicop- and swallow the sanity pills kept
ter and am convinced that Loren- inside.

E4 EZ EE THE WASHINGTON POST . TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022

well+being

Tips for avoiding slips, trips
and injuries in pickleball

AnyBODY Pickleball has sprains and strains from on-court aren’t enough data yet.
exploded in slips and falls are common A former squash and
popularity in hazards.
MARLENE recent years, racquetball player, Weiss, 71, took
CIMONS especially among Most play is underhand, but up pickleball when he found
strains or tears in the shoulder other sports were too hard on his
those 50 and rotator cuff can also result from body — although he, too, has
older. And, as is often the case overhand volleys or repetitive suffered his share of twisted
when a new sport catches on, stretching for the ball, although ankles and occasional pulled
injuries are growing along with such injuries occur more often in muscles in his back and leg.
participation. tennis where the force of the ball
“Ten years ago, I saw no is greater and much more of the “I switched overnight,” he says.
pickleball injuries,” says J. Bruce game involves overhead shots. “There’s not as much speed, you
Moseley, an orthopedic surgeon don’t have as much area to cover,
at Baylor College of Medicine in Bumps and bruises from falls, no overhead smashes, a lighter
Houston. “Today, I see at least one sprained ankles, wrist fractures racket and ball — and it’s fun,
a week.” and strained muscles and which is why I think people do it.
Pickleball combines elements tendinitis from overdoing things It’s also an excellent workout.”
of tennis, badminton and table are also part of the game.
tennis. It is played indoors or Have fun, take it easy
outdoors on a badminton-sized Wrists and the Achilles Pickleball fans extol its social ED JONES/AGENCE FRANCE-PRESS/GETTY IMAGES
court with a slightly modified A recent study compared
tennis net and lightweight appeal. “We have made many new People play pickleball in Brooklyn in September. The game combines elements of tennis, badminton
rackets and balls. Some annual tennis injuries with friends, and laughter is a huge and table tennis. About 4.8 million Americans played it in 2021, according to USA Pickleball.
pickleball injuries between 2010 part of the game,” says Robin
4.8 million Americans played and 2019, tracking the most Dobler, 66, of Westerville, Ohio, precautions against falls, which body would let me,” she says. As with all sports, experts
pickleball in 2021, according to common injuries in both sports who took up the game in 2021. can be especially dangerous in D.C. podiatrist Sheldon Laps recommend warming up first —
USA Pickleball, and more than for people over 60. For pickleball, “Our Friday group plays from 9 to this age group. One way to reduce easy jogging or walking, or
half of those considered “core” — the study said, older women were 11:30 in the morning, then we all the risk is to wear “court” shoes says he commonly sees inversion pedaling on a stationary bicycle
or regular — players were 55 or at higher risk than men for trips go to lunch after.” designed for pickleball and ankle sprains from pickleball, to work up a light sweat — and
older. and falls leading to wrist tennis, they say. injuries that occur when the foot stretching, “so you don’t shock
Experts stress that pickleball is fractures; men were at higher risk “I am absolutely hooked,” twists upward and the ankle rolls the muscles when you start doing
a safe, all-ages sport — but it is a for lower-leg injuries, including Dobler, a retired physical “There is a lot of side-to-side inward, often the result of game play,” Greiner says.
sport, so warming up, building up to their Achilles’ tendon. (The therapist assistant, adds. lateral movement” in pickleball, inappropriate shoes.
to longer play and using the right study also relied on NEISS data.) Greiner says. “We tend to be Other things to remember: If a
equipment are keys to heading off One thing to watch out for, straight with our movements in Many runners who take up body part hurts after the game,
Achilles' tendon injuries and “Almost no one was playing however, is not to do too much our daily activities. We walk pickleball assume they can play put ice on it for 20 minutes. Bring
more. pickleball at the start of the too soon. Warm up first, and take straight. We bike straight. We run in running shoes: Don’t. Instead, a water bottle, and drink
One analysis, using data from study, but as the sport exploded it easy out there. straight. Sometimes we lose our wear court shoes. They are frequently to avoid dehydration.
the National Electronic Injury over the time period, pickleball mastery of balance with lateral designed for pickleball, tennis If playing outdoors, wear a hat
Surveillance System (NEISS), play and corresponding injuries “People go from doing nothing movements, so falls can be a risk.” and other sports that involve with a brim, or a visor, and use
used a sample of 300 emergency went from almost nothing to to playing pickleball five days a lateral movement. sunscreen liberally. And use eye
room visits for pickleball injuries increasing rapidly over that week, and they will get overuse While playing one day last fall, protection — there have been
to extrapolate that there were decade, especially over the last injuries as a result,” says Nicholas Dobler ran wide to return a ball, “Many running shoes today reports of eye injuries from being
some 19,000 ER visits for few years,” says Harold Weiss, Greiner, an osteopath who planted her right foot and turned have a ‘rocker’ sole, that is, hit in the eye with a ball or
pickleball injuries from 2001 to an adjunct associate professor practices sports medicine in St. toward her opponents — and felt viewing the shoe from the side, paddle.
2017, and that the pace of injuries of population health sciences at Louis. Greiner conducted a 2019 instant pain inside her right the forefoot of the shoe is curved
rose as pickleball’s popularity the University of Wisconsin at review of common injuries knee. She tried to keep playing, up,” Laps says. “This aids push-off “Injuries are part of all sports,”
grew. People 50 and older Madison School of Medicine associated with pickleball. “The but it hurt. Later, she iced the off during running and walking. says Greiner, who also plays. “But
accounted for nearly 91 percent of and Public Health, who co- one thing I tell people is to go into knee, did strengthening exercises But rocker type soled shoes if you take the proper steps,
the patients, according to the wrote the study. Weiss, a it gradually.” and got an injection to lubricate should not be used to play a court pickleball is a great sport — even
study. pickleball enthusiast, stresses the joint. She improved quickly sport. The side-to-side motion on at a high level of play, there is less
For older players, muscle that it’s not possible to calculate Get the right shoes and wasted no time returning to a pickleball court increases the risk of injury than from many of
the rate of injuries per And while stressing the safety the court. likelihood that the player will our other traditional sports. And
pickleball players because there twist the foot at the ankle and it’s a fun game.”
of pickleball overall, Greiner and “I would play every day if my thus, sprain the ankle.’’
others recommend that older
participants take extra

For middle-aged or older people, pickleball can provide a moderate workout

PICKLEBALL FROM E1 before game play. The game play bles competition might be provid- ease Control and Prevention. the heart rate responses most courts are smaller in pickleball
lasted for at least an hour, with 22 ing more of a workout than the Both singles and doubles pick- meaningful and would emphasize and the sport often requires quick
play it, but the sport has long been of them playing singles, and the step counts showed, said Sandra that over the accelerometer data. points near the net, he added.
associated with seniors and retir- rest playing doubles. The time Webber, the principal investiga- leball players spent about 40 per- The study probably confirms
ees after three men in Washington included short breaks if partici- tor and lead author of the study, cent of their time in the moderate “what your hunches would be,” he But pickleball is not for every-
state invented it in 1965. pants needed to rotate off a court and an associate professor in the heart rate intensity zone, roughly said, “that you get somewhere one. As the sport grows, so do
and wait for the next available department of physical therapy at 30 percent in light activity and between the upper end of moder- injuries.
To find out if pickleball is as court. the University of Manitoba. Web- about 30 percent in the vigorous ate to the lower end of vigorous
vigorous as jogging or tennis or ber calls herself a “pickleball en- zone, suggesting that with enough physical activity” during pickle- Webber said that tendon pain
closer to a more moderate activity, The study found that based on thusiast.” At age 54, she plays playing time, players could reach ball. in elbows, widely known as “ten-
such as a brisk walk, researchers accelerometer data showing step three to four times a week. recommended activity goals. nis elbow,” is a common injury for
at the University of Manitoba counts, players averaged 3,322 Ben Johns, 23, of Gaithersburg, pickleball players. She added that
equipped 53 recreational pickle- steps per hour, and about 80 per- During singles and doubles “I would say that 70 percent of Md., the world No. 1 ranked Pro- “there have been some very seri-
ball players with smartwatches to cent of singles pickleball play was play, many of the men’s and wom- the time that people were on the fessional Pickleball Association ous eye injuries with getting hit,
track their heart rates and accel- of moderate intensity. (The rest en’s heart rates reached about 111 court, they were getting exercise player for men’s singles and dou- usually with a ball but also poten-
erometers to measure their steps. was light intensity.) beats per minute, a level that that would count toward their 150 bles, said pickleball has more sud- tially with your partner’s paddle
The ages of the participants would put older people into the minutes per week,” Webber said. den movements and less down- in the eye.”
ranged from 29 to 73, although Doubles pickleball players moderate-exercise range, Webber “Based on our results, if people time than tennis.
most were middle-aged or older. moved less, posting only 2,790 said. The mean heart rate of the play pickleball for four and a half Webber hopes to research other
steps per hour. During doubles participants also reached about hours a week, then they would “Generally in tennis, you might potential benefits of pickleball,
They warmed up by walking or play, participants spent only 70 percent of maximum predicted meet their physical activity guide- be sprinting to the ball occasion- such as on muscle strength, flexi-
jogging around the courts for about half the time in moderate heart rate for both singles and lines.” ally, but most of the time, you kind bility and bone health.
three minutes at an intensity they intensity exercise and half in light doubles players, which meets the of know where the ball is going
felt was “moderate” and then intensity. definition of moderate activity, Michael Joyner, a professor of and you’re moving at a pace that’s Based on her study and person-
practiced hitting various pickle- according to the Centers for Dis- anesthesiology and physiology at not instantaneous,” unlike in al experience, Webber remains an
ball shots for two to five minutes But players’ heart rate readings the Mayo Clinic who was not in- pickleball, Johns said. Also, the advocate of pickleball.
indicated both singles and dou- volved in the study, said he found
“Most people once they try it,
they kind of get hooked,” she said.

Eating fiber alters the microbiome. with a 30 percent lower risk of
It may boost cancer treatment, too. death or cancer progression.

Cancer “I’m eating triple the amount bacteria known as In the new study, patients are
researchers think of fruits and vegetables that I Bifidobacterium had a stronger given daily meals that include as
they have found used to eat,” Facton said. “I eat immune response against much as 50 grams of daily fiber
an explanation for healthy, but not to the levels that melanoma tumors than mice from foods such as beans, lentils,
why some cancer I am now. A huge portion of my who lacked the bacteria. They farro, brown rice, fruits and
drugs don’t plate is always vegetables, lots of found that giving vegetables — about twice the
Eating Lab always work. The quinoa — anything I can find Bifidobacterium to the deficient recommended amount of 25 to
that has fiber in it.” mice slowed tumor growth. 30 grams of fiber a day. By
ANAHAD answer — and a What’s more, combining the comparison, the average
O’CONNOR possible solution Scientists caution that this bacteria with an immunotherapy American eats roughly 15 grams
— may be found strategy of using a fiber-rich diet drug known as a checkpoint a day. (A control group will eat a
in the gut — or any diet for that matter — to inhibitor nearly abolished the healthy diet that follows
microbiome. boost immunotherapy remains tumors. guidelines from the American
The composition of a person’s unproven. But the research they SAM KAPLAN/TRUNK ARCHIVE Cancer Society.)
gut microbiome — which are doing is shedding new light Human studies showed that
consists of trillions of bacteria on how the gut microbiome these checkpoint inhibitors were A grain bowl with vegetables may help patients recover from cancer Facton was diagnosed in
and other microbes — appears to affects our ability to fight also more effective in cancer treatments and have more successful outcomes. November 2021 with melanoma
disease. patients whose guts had more that had spread to his lymph
influence whether a microbial diversity, as well as a patients began responding to the Studying a fiber-rich diet nodes after his wife noticed a
groundbreaking cancer “My patients who are starting greater abundance of several drugs. Hassane Zarour, a cancer Meanwhile at MD Anderson, golf-ball sized lump on his back.
treatment called treatment often ask if there’s microbes, including immunologist who led the study, He began immunotherapy and
immunotherapy is successful in something else they could be Akkermansia muciniphila and called it “an encouraging proof of McQuade and her colleague enrolled in the three-month diet
some patients. Scientists have doing to enhance their chances Bifidobacterium longum. principle,” and said he is now Jennifer Wargo, a cancer trial.
found that patients who harbor of responding to Patients with low levels of these recruiting melanoma and lung surgeon, explored a different
certain gut bacteria have better immunotherapy,” said Jennifer and other microbes were less cancer patients for a larger study. route: why not change patients’ “It was huge servings, like a
responses to immunotherapy McQuade, an assistant professor likely to respond to the microbiomes by changing what plate heaping with broccoli or
than patients who lack them. and physician scientist in treatment. “We don’t want to say that the they eat? quinoa, or mixed vegetables,” he
Even more stunning: melanoma medical oncology at microbiome is the only said. “It was an impressive
scientists believe that giving MD Anderson. “We’re trying to Some researchers are trying to mechanism,” said Zarour, the co- McQuade pointed out that amount — more than I have ever
patients a fiber-rich diet of fruits, test this diet with the same rigor overcome resistance to leader of the Cancer some of the gut microbes that eaten in one serving.”
vegetables, beans, nuts and that we use to test drugs.” immunotherapy by doing fecal Immunology and appear to improve how patients
whole grains to nourish the transplants. They take stool Immunotherapy Program at the respond to immunotherapy are In January, he underwent
microbiome might improve the Manipulating the samples teeming with gut University of Pittsburgh Medical known to thrive on fiber. “These surgery and learned the tumor
odds that the cancer treatment is microbiome microbes from patients who Center. “But we have learned that are bacteria that help us break was gone. “There was just a
effective. responded to the drugs and the microbiome could definitely down and utilize starch and bunch of scar tissue there,” he
A clinical trial testing the Scientists have long known transfer it via colonoscopy to be responsible for the inability of fibers,” she said. said. “There was no cancer to be
theory is underway at the that the microbiome is a crucial another patient. In one recent some patients to respond.” found.”
University of Texas MD part of our immune systems. By trial, scientists gave fecal The team examined the diets
Anderson Cancer Center in some estimates, between 60 and transplants to 15 people with Zarour said the goal of his of 128 melanoma patients and Facton is continuing
Houston, the largest cancer 80 percent of the immune cells in advanced melanoma who didn’t work is to figure out which gut found that those who regularly immunotherapy for nine
center in the United States. our bodies reside in the gut. respond to immunotherapy. microbes are involved and then ate large amounts of fiber from months, and he has decided to
It includes participants such package them into pills that fruits, vegetables, and other continue his new way of eating.
as Hector Facton, a pediatrician But only recently did it Based on their histories, the 15 patients could take to alter their plant foods had better outcomes
in San Angelo who is undergoing become apparent that these patients had a less than 10 microbiomes. “The endgame is on immunotherapy than patients “I feel better, and I don’t see
immunotherapy treatments for microbes might affect cancer percent likelihood of responding not fecal transplants,” he added. who ate the least amount of fiber. any downside to it,” he said. “It
Stage 4 melanoma. outcomes. Scientists at the to immunotherapy. But after “Giving patients a cocktail of Their findings, published in makes me a healthier person
University of Chicago discovered undergoing stool transplants, six probiotics might be the best Science in December, showed overall — and now, cancer free.
that mice with a strain of gut option.” that every five-gram increase in What a huge bonus.”
daily fiber intake was associated Do you have a question about healthy
eating? Email
[email protected] and we
may answer your question in a future
column.

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022 . THE WASHINGTON POST EZ EE E5

well+being

How crossword puzzles may help slow cognitive declines

BY TEDDY AMENABAR measurements — cognitive de- cognitive impairment, which is such as crossword puzzles can GEORGE WYLESOL FOR THE WASHINGTON POST Hambrick said completing a
For years, scientists have been cline scores, functional skills and different from normal aging, “truly prevent dementia,” Do- crossword puzzle, which re-
trying to figure out whether brain volume changes — the then the recommendation would raiswamy said. you,” Devanand said. quires the ability to remember
“brain workouts” such as puzzles regular crossword players fared be to keep your brain active with Doraiswamy said he hopes words and esoteric knowledge
and online cognitive games better than the game players. crossword puzzles.” “We’ve known for almost 30, gathered through experience,
could strengthen our minds and 40 years that keeping yourself future studies can build off the tests a person’s “crystallized cog-
slow the process of aging. The finding surprised the sci- People with higher degrees of mentally active is really impor- findings to investigate the opti- nitive abilities.” He said that
Now, a study published in entists behind the study who had cognitive impairment appeared tant,” Doraiswamy said. “But mal level of difficulty and time people with mild cognitive im-
NEJM Evidence has found that expected that challenging web- to benefit the most from doing we’ve not really translated that spent solving puzzles for people pairment have the most trouble
regularly attempting a cross- based brain games, which were the crossword, which was de- into an intervention that is a with mild cognitive impairment. with “fluid cognitive abilities”
word may help slow decline in specifically designed to boost signed to be a moderately diffi- medical-grade intervention.” such as remembering a list of
some people with mild cognitive cognitive function, would offer cult puzzle comparable to the Some researchers remained words or solving a logic problem.
impairment, an early stage of the most benefit. New York Times Thursday game. D.P. Devanand, a professor at skeptical. Zach Hambrick, a pro- Crosswords don’t challenge the
faltering memory that can some- Columbia University and the fessor of cognition and neurosci- type of abilities associated with
times progress to dementia. “Our study shows fairly con- The study has limitations. lead researcher on the study, said ence at Michigan State Univer- mild cognitive impairment,
While the study didn’t investi- clusively that in people with Some of the participants may the finding needs to be replicat- sity, said the study doesn’t inves- Hambrick said.
gate whether crosswords benefit mild cognitive impairment, have just been more familiar ed in a larger study with more tigate why the crossword might
younger adults who are not deal- crossword puzzles beat the com- with crosswords and that’s why participants and a control group offer more benefit than a com- Lumos Labs, the company be-
ing with cognitive decline, it puterized games on multiple they responded better to the that isn’t playing any game. puter game. hind the computer games in the
suggests that keeping your mind metrics,” said Murali Do- puzzles than to Lumosity’s com- experiment, provided access to
active as you age may benefit raiswamy, a professor at Duke puter games. More years of fol- “We can’t say beyond a certain In 1999, Hambrick co-au- both the crossword puzzles and
your brain. And the research University and a co-author of the low-up also are needed to deter- point why people do better on thored a study that found no their suite of games but was not
offers hope to those diagnosed study. “So, if you have mild mine whether interventions crosswords, but it does suggest evidence to suggest people who involved in the design or publi-
with mild cognitive impairment that doing crosswords helps solve crossword puzzles more cation of the study. Doraiswamy
that they may be able to stave off than twice a week had less is a consultant to Lumos Labs.
further declines in the memory, cognitive decline.
language problems and deci- Laurie Ryan, the chief of clini-
sion-making that are the hall- cal interventions at the National
mark of the condition. Institute on Aging, said the agen-
The American Academy of cy funded the research because
Neurology estimates that mild it’s important to find treatments
cognitive impairment affects that reduce the risk for Alzheim-
about 8 percent of people ages 65 er’s disease and other types of
to 69; 10 percent of people ages dementia.
70 to 74; 15 percent of people
ages 75 to 79; 25 percent of those “We’re likely going to need
ages 80 to 84; and about 37 multiple interventions for differ-
percent of people 85 and older. ent people,” Ryan said. “We’re
The research, which was fund- trying to fund as many things as
ed by the National Institute on we can.”
Aging, recruited 107 adults ages
55 to 95 with mild cognitive Most researchers agree that
impairment. For 12 weeks, they keeping both your body and your
were all asked to play one of two mind active as you age probably
types of games, four times a week benefits your brain. Ronald C.
— spending either 30 minutes on Petersen, the director of the
Lumosity, a popular cognitive Mayo Clinic’s Alzheimer’s Dis-
training platform, or 30 minutes ease Research Center, said that
attempting a digital crossword. in addition to regular exercise,
After 12 weeks, the participants he recommends that patients
were reevaluated and given spend time on challenging intel-
“booster” doses of game play six lectual tasks such as watching a
more times during the 78-week documentary or attending a lec-
experiment. ture.
By the end of the study, partic-
ipants were given standard as- Look for activities that “bring
sessments used to measure cog- you out of your comfort zone,”
nitive decline, and friends and said Sylvie Belleville, a professor
family reported on their day-to- of neuropsychology at the Uni-
day functioning. MRI scans also versity of Montreal. Try out dif-
were used to measure brain vol- ferent “stimulating” tasks or in-
ume changes. crease the difficulty of a certain
Researchers found that in key task over time. “If you’re very
good at crossword puzzles and
you keep doing only that, you’re
still in your zone of comfort and
you don’t adopt new strategies,
new brain networks,” Belleville
said.

Research sees links between women’s
menstrual cycles and pandemic stress

PERIODS FROM E1 said. “And I think that doctors CHELSEA CONRAD/THE WASHINGTON POST A Revolution
may tend to underplay that.” in Hearing
periods. get covid. She was also helping to Technology
The research is part of a grow- Because of pandemic restric- coordinate outreach programs to
tions, Marcela Wakeham, 46, of Asian American communities Unlike traditional hearing aids that just make
ing body of evidence suggesting Lancing, England, wasn’t able to and was anxious about anti- sounds louder through a speaker, Earlens
that women’s periods changed teach yoga and Pilates and took a Asian violence. offers the world’s only nonsurgical Lens to
during the pandemic. job as a care worker. Her hus- gently vibrate the eardrum. The result?
band’s business closed at the During this stressful time, she Rich, natural sound.
“Women are constantly being same time. noticed her periods became
told, ‘This is in your head,’ ” heavier, her cycles got shorter Tiny Lens. Huge Difference.
Anto-Ocrah said. “Until we get She believes all the stress she and she had more painful cramp-
some data to show that what is in experienced during that time ing. She also missed one period Earlens address the top two complaints of
women’s heads is actually the may have triggered early meno- entirely. Fan said she also lost hearing aid users: understanding speech in
truth, the medical society kind of pausal symptoms, including weight and started having diffi- background noise and sound quality
turns us away and doesn’t believe shorter menstrual cycles as well culty sleeping. “I was so anxious
it.” as “violent” hot flashes and in- because I was running around 84% >2.5x Up to 58%
somnia. But her doctor told her trying to do all these things,” she
Stress can affect a woman’s she was “too young” to be enter- said. found Earlens improved the audible bandwidth improvement in speech
menstrual cycle in a number of ing menopause and declined to the effort required to carry of conventional hearing aids understanding in noise
ways. The stress hormone corti- prescribe the hormone treatment The length of her cycle has now on conversations
sol can affect the body’s produc- she wanted. returned to normal, but Fan said
tion of estrogen and progester- she still has more painful cramp- Call for a complimentary Corinne Pyne, Au.D. Gena Marino, Au.D.
one, which are reproductive hor- “I didn’t have a spare minute ing that forces her to take time off consultation
mones that influence the men- for myself,” Wakeham said. “My work. ML00769vA
strual cycle. Stress-related levels of stress were up to the (703) 534-4344
factors, such as poor nutrition, roof.” A recent report in the Interna-
weight gain, weight loss and poor tional Journal of Epidemiology 8120 Gatehouse Rd • Falls Church, VA
sleep, also can play a role. A prolonged irregular men- noted that questions about men- www.fairfaxhearing.com
strual cycle sometimes can be a struation haven’t been included
Nicole C. Woitowich, a medi- sign of more worrying changes in in most large-scale covid-19 stud-
cal research assistant professor the body, said Amy Wagner, a ies. Gemma Sharp, an associate
at Northwestern University, professor at the University of professor at the University of
found a similar association be- Pittsburgh. If someone is in a Exeter and the study’s lead au-
tween period changes and pan- chronically stressful situation, thor, said more research is need-
demic stress in 2020 after con- higher levels of cortisol over time ed to inform women if these
ducting an online survey of 210 may not only affect periods but stress-related changes in their
women. Because it wasn’t a rep- also increase the risk of inflam- cycle will have any lasting effects.
resentative sample, the findings mation, autoimmune diseases,
aren’t conclusive. But Woitowich heart disease, high blood pres- “From what we know about
said both studies, conducted a sure or other chronic diseases, how the menstrual cycle is regu-
year apart, suggest that the pan- she said. lated, we think these changes are
demic affected women’s stress likely to be short-term and unre-
levels and menstrual cycles over Caroline Fan, 41, of St. Louis lated to long-term health and
a long period of time. said she felt “on edge” constantly fertility, but it is absolutely cru-
during the pandemic because she cial that scientists can produce
“Women have really borne the worried that her husband, an evidence on this to give women
brunt of the pandemic, from mul- infectious-disease doctor, would the reassurance they deserve,”
tiple facets,” Woitowich said. she said.
“From being the primary care
giver, from dealing with remote
learning, and oftentimes work-
ing while navigating that as well.”

Linda Fan, assistant professor
of obstetrics and gynecology at
the Yale School of Medicine, said
she has seen an uptick of patients
coming in to discuss irregular
menstrual cycles. In general, one
or two abnormal cycles isn’t
something to worry about, but
she encourages patients to talk to
their doctors and to continue
tracking their periods to be sure
no concerning patterns emerge.

In addition to stress, changes
in one’s menstrual cycle could
also signal thyroid disease, hor-
monal changes, cancer, pregnan-
cy or an infection, she said.

“It can be very alarming,” Fan

E6 EZ EE THE WASHINGTON POST . TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2022

A virtual reconnection with deceased family and friends

GRIEF FROM E1 Science has definitely taken an MARLENA SLOSS FOR THE WASHINGTON POST later, she still texts with his chat-
interest in connecting the be- bot every week or two.
On the show, the virtual girl, reaved with their loved ones. James Vlahos created a chatbot from conversations he recorded with his father before his father’s
Na-yeon, appeared from behind a death. His company launched an app that can respond to questions in a deceased loved one’s voice. Psychologists say creating a
woodpile and runs toward her For instance, Hossein Rahna- virtual copy of a lost loved one can
mother, calling, “Mom.” The ma, a professor at Toronto Metro- it’s engaging in a conversation. Vlahos said the Dadbot doesn’t she and Mazurenko had ex- be therapeutic, especially in cases
mother burst into tears and said, politan University and a research Vlahos, HereAfter’s chief exec- make him miss his father any less. changed — as well as texts Ma- with unresolved issues, but could
“Mom missed you so much, Na- affiliate with MIT Media Lab, has “But I do love that he can feel zurenko had sent to others — to it lead to someone wanting to
yeon.” A video of the show report- been building a platform called utive, said he was motivated to more present to me, with the create a digital version of him. remain in this virtual world of
edly received 19 million views. Augmented Eternity, which al- start the company after building a aspects of his personality that I their loved one?
While the experience was painful, lows someone to create a digital chatbot — or Dadbot as he calls it love so much less clouded by the Their communications were
the mother told the Korean Times persona from a dead person’s — from about a dozen hour-long passage of time,” he said. just text messages on a messenger “By giving somebody the abili-
that she would do it again if she photos, texts, emails, social media recordings he made of his father app, but to those who knew Ma- ty to see their loved one again, is
could; she finally got a chance to posts, public statements and blog after his dad was diagnosed with Kuyda created a chatbot of a zurenko, his responses on the app that going to give them some
say goodbye. entries that will be able to inter- terminal lung cancer in 2016. dear friend and roommate, Ro- were spot on. They sounded just solace, or is it going to become
act with relatives and others. man Mazurenko, for a similar like him because they largely like an addiction?” says clinical
“I was worried how the mother Vlahos transcribed those con- were his responses, but made at psychologist Albert “Skip” Rizzo,
would react” to the digitized To make reliable predictions of versations and gathered his own “We don’t grow . . . another time in another context. director of Medical Virtual Reali-
daughter, the producer of the what the deceased might have memories of his dad. He then by eliminating who ty at the Institute for Creative
documentary, Kim Jong-woo, said, the models need vast used a software platform called “It was just nice to be able to Technologies and a research pro-
told the newspaper. “No matter amounts of data. Rahnama said PullString to program the we have loved.” remember him in a special way fessor at the University of South-
how hard we tried to make the that will work well for millenni- Dadbot. Vlahos spent a year in- and to be able to talk to him like ern California’s Keck School of
character similar, she still can tell als, who post everything they do putting strings of conversation Robert Neimeyer, we did before,” she said. Medicine Department of Psychia-
the difference. But she said she on the internet, but less well for and teaching the bot to interpret director of the Portland Institute try and Behavioral Sciences.
was happy to see even the slight older people who aren’t as online what people said to it. When sent The company made the app,
reflection of Na-yeon.” focused or savvy. Rahnama re- a message or asked a question, the for Loss and Transition called Roman Mazurenko, public- Grief therapists sometimes in-
ceives emails almost weekly from Dadbot would respond similarly ly available, and people who vite people to have an imaginary
People have always craved people who are terminally ill, to how his father would, either reason. She and Mazurenko had didn’t even know him began conversation with the deceased,
post-death contact with their asking if there is a way to con- with a text message, audio of a moved from Moscow to the Unit- downloading it and texting him. or to write a letter or role play
loved ones. Efforts to remain in serve their legacy for their loved story or song, or even a photo. ed States in 2015 and were living Some reached out to the company with the therapists. With digital
touch with the dead have existed ones. He said he now has a beta together in San Francisco when, requesting that it make bots of recreations of the dead, particu-
for eons, such as photographing group of 25 people testing his He chats with the Dadbot every on a brief trip back home, Ma- their own loved ones. larly in virtual reality, the experi-
deceased children, holding product. His goal is for consum- month or so, whenever he wants zurenko was killed by a hit-and- ence would be more immersive.
seances and even keeping a ers to one day be able to create to hear his voice. One time, he run driver. At the time, her com- She was 30 at the time, and he
corpse in the house for posterity. their own eternal digital entities. went to a spot where his father’s pany Luka was building chatbot- was the first important person in Why people want to hold on to
But artificial intelligence and vir- ashes were scattered, overlooking based virtual assistants. After her life to die. She struggled with their loved ones is understand-
tual reality, along with other tech- In June, Amazon unveiled a Memorial Stadium at the Univer- Mazurenko died, Kuyda decided how someone so ever-present was able.
nological advances, have taken us new feature it’s developing for sity of California’s Berkeley cam- to use the 10,000 text messages no longer there. It was like he
a huge step closer to bringing the Alexa, in which the virtual assis- pus, where his father rarely never existed, she said. “For me, One of our basic drives is to
dead back to life. tant can read aloud stories in a missed a football game, and asked to be able to get back to him, to attach to others, particularly
deceased loved one’s voice after the Dadbot to sing him a Cal spirit continue to have the communica- those who provide a secure base,
“It’s something that’s very fun- just hearing a minute of that song, which it then did. tion we had before, it was sort of like a parent for a child, said
damental to humans, to keep a person’s speech. (Amazon found- therapeutic,” she said. Five years Robert Neimeyer, director of the
connection to something they er Jeff Bezos owns The Washing- Portland Institute for Loss and
loved,” said Sherman Lee, a psy- ton Post.) “While AI can’t elimi- Transition. “These are among our
chology associate professor at the nate that pain of loss, it can strongest evolutionary impera-
Christopher Newport University definitely make their memories tives, as beings, and our technol-
in Newport News, Va., and direc- last,” said Rohit Prasad, senior ogies are recruited to support
tor of the Pandemic Grief Project. vice president and head scientist that goal,” he said.
for Amazon Alexa.
A continuing bond with a loved After the telephone was invent-
one — such as by listening to old And several entrepreneurs in ed, he said, Thomas Edison was
voice mails, watching old videos the AI sphere, including James interested in developing a “spirit
and engaging with chatbots that Vlahos of HereAfter AI and Euge- phone” to somehow communi-
can speak in a loved one’s voice — nia Kuyda, who co-founded AI cate with the dead. And seeing a
can bring comfort. But it also can start-ups Luka and Replika, have photograph of a deceased son
exacerbate the grief, particularly turned their efforts toward virtu- who died at the Gettysburg battle
for those whose loved ones died al representations of people, us- during the Civil War was just as
by suicide, as people relive the ing data from their digital foot- uncanny an experience for a par-
loss anew, research shows. print to craft an avatar or chatbot ent then as it is for that mother in
that can interact with family the video to see her dead daugh-
“If you’re asking me, is watch- members after they’ve passed. ter in virtual reality, Neimeyer
ing videos of your deceased said.
spouse every night a helpful thing HereAfter’s app takes users
to do, instead of re-engaging the through an interview process be- “What is surreal in one era
world again and spending that fore they’ve died, prompting quickly becomes conventional in
time with friends and family? No, them to recollect stories and the next,” he said. “In general, in
I don’t think it’s helpful,” Lee said. memories that are then recorded. life, we don’t grow as people by
“But that said, would it be helpful After they’ve passed, family mem- eliminating who we have loved,
to smash all of the videos and lock bers can ask questions, and the how we have loved what we have
them up in a room? That’s going app responds in the deceased’s loved. It’s a question of holding on
to make the grieving process voice using the accumulated in- differently. How can we use this
worse.” terview information, almost like relationship as a resource? I think
the technology can contribute to
that.”

Toxic wildfire smoke raises health risks across the country, scientists say

BY MATT VASILOGAMBROS atrics. U.S. FOREST SERVICE/ASSOCIATED PRESS coming from the plumes that
What troubles experts is par- drift from the West Coast and
State public health officials Smoke from the Greenwood Lake wildfire in northeastern Minnesota and a pyrocumulus cloud rise Canada but also from wildfires in
and experts are increasingly con- ticulate matter in the air smaller above Highway 1 near Murphy City, Minn., on Aug. 23. the Boundary Waters — a lake-
cerned about residents’ chronic than 2.5 microns across; there filled region in the northern
exposure to toxin-filled smoke. are about 25,000 microns in an quent wildfires in residential ar- co may disrupt the trend there, more asthma-related deaths and reaches of the state. Norlien said
inch. People inhale these micro- eas affect human health, he said. she said, while air pollution is hospital visits in Eastern commu- she expects the problem to wors-
This year has seen the most scopic bits, which then can em- already so bad in California from nities than those in the West, she en in the coming years.
wildfires of the past decade, with bed deep in their lungs, irritating “It’s happening more frequent- smog and other pollutants that it and other researchers found, in
more than 59,000 fires burning the lining and inflaming tissue. ly every summer,” he said. “The might be difficult to pinpoint part because of higher popula- “At this point, we’re planning
nearly 7 million acres nation- The particles are small enough to length of the fires is growing. The how wildfires are harming hu- tion density. for the worst-case scenario,” she
wide, according to the National get into the bloodstream, which public exposure to the smoke is man health. said. “We have not had the extent
Interagency Fire Center. Al- can lead to other short- and also growing. Once-in-a-lifetime The smoke hitting the Eastern that the Western states have had.
though the total area burned is long-term health effects. events are happening every sum- Long-distance dangers states doesn’t just come from the But with climate change and
less than in some recent years, mer. This is a different kind of But wildfires are not just in the West; there are wildfires and concern over drought and the dry
heavy smoke has still blanketed Particulates in wildfire smoke exposure.” prescribed burns throughout the conditions, planning is of the
communities throughout the are even hindering national West, nor is their health impact United States, O’Dell said. utmost importance.”
country. progress on reducing air pollu- In 2020, a study in Environ- geographically isolated. Some The public’s part
tion, after decades of improve- ment International found that fires burn so intensely at such “It’s sometimes easy to feel
Climate change is causing ment. winter influenza seasons in Mon- high temperatures that smoke distant from fires and their im- Norlien meets regularly with
more frequent and severe wild- tana were four to five times worse rises into the atmosphere, where pacts when you’re far from the members of the Minnesota Pollu-
fires, harming Americans’ health, The Clean Air Act has substan- after bad wildfire seasons, which strong winds can carry the smoke flames of these large Western tion Control Agency and other
said Lisa Patel, deputy executive tially decreased the level of toxic typically last from July until Sep- long distances. wildfires that are in the news,” state officials about how to get
director of the Medical Society particles from industrial and au- tember. The findings shocked she said. “But wildfires impact the message to state residents
Consortium on Climate and tomotive pollution across the study lead author Erin Landguth, This was glaringly apparent in the health of the U.S.” about the increasing wildfire risk
Health, which raises awareness country since 1970, according to an associate professor at the Uni- 2021 when the sun glowed red to public health, encouraging
about the health effects of cli- the Environmental Protection versity of Montana. and the sky became hazy over The next orange sunset people residents to sign up for air-quali-
mate change. Agency. But air pollution is ex- New York City and throughout enjoy should be a moment to ty alerts. State officials also have
pected to worsen in parts of the “We know that hospitaliza- the Northeast, as smoke drifted check an air-quality mobile app, established larger community
“The data we have is very West because of wildfires, some tions for asthma and other respi- from massive wildfires in Califor- she said. centers and buildings as safe air
scary,” she said. “We are living researchers have found. A United ratory conditions spike within nia, Oregon and other Western shelters.
through a natural experiment Nations report this year warned days or weeks of wildfires,” she states. In Minnesota, the state has
right now — we’ve never had fires of a “global wildfire crisis,” saying said. “The thought that this could issued 46 air-quality alerts since The public plays an enormous
this frequently.” the probability of catastrophic potentially lead to effects later Smoke also harms the health 2015, according to the state’s role in both preventing (nearly
wildfires could increase up to 57 and how that can affect our of more people in the Eastern Pollution Control Agency. Of 90 percent of wildfires are caused
As researchers focus on the percent by the end of the century. immune system is really scary.” United States than in the West, those, 34 were because of wildfire by humans, according to U.S.
public health effects, state health said Katelyn O’Dell, a postdoctor- smoke, and 26 of those were government data) and adapting
and environmental officials Researchers are trying to bet- Landguth is expanding her al research scientist at George issued last year. to wildfires, many experts said.
across the country have had to ter understand how more fre- study to all Western states. She Washington University, who re-
issue more air quality notices and quent wildfires affect human bi- expects to find a similar trend leased that finding in a study in That took state officials by For people living in fire-prone
provide guidance and shelter for ology. throughout the Mountain West GeoHealth in 2021. surprise, said Kathy Norlien, a areas, there are nonflammable
residents struggling during peri- and Pacific Northwest. Monsoon research scientist at the Minne- building materials for new
ods of heavy wildfire smoke. ‘That sinking feeling’ season in Arizona and New Mexi- Wildfire smoke contributed to sota Department of Health. The homes and indoor air purifiers
Keith Bein, associate profes- wildfire smoke risk is not just and upgraded HVAC systems.
And while wildfires generally But these solutions may be too
create more immediate, visible sional researcher at the Univer- costly for some families, Patel
disruptions to life for people in sity of California at Davis, created said.
the West, researchers are con- a rapid response mobile research
cerned that particulate matter unit in 2017 that he deploys to She counsels families about
may actually affect the breathing fires around the state. He is like a how to affordably stay safe dur-
of more people in the more heavi- storm chaser but for wildfires. ing wildfire season, encouraging
ly populated Eastern states. the use of N95 and KN95 masks,
Chronic hazards With his mobile unit, Bein can which were pivotal in combating
measure particulate matter in the spread of the coronavirus.
Patel sees the effects of wild- the air, take samples back to his She also shares designs for do-it-
fires in her work as a pediatrician lab and then determine their yourself air filtration systems.
at Stanford Medicine Children’s toxicology and chemical compo-
Health, treating more women sitions. Near these fires, he said, But she emphasized that wild-
and underweight and premature the smoke is so bad that it feels fires will continue to rage across
infants at the neonatal intensive inescapable. the country and cause adverse
care unit when wildfires rage in health effects unless climate
Northern California. “The smoke rolls in, and you change is reined in through seri-
get that sinking feeling all over ous public policy. Until then,
Studies show that chronic ex- again,” he said. climate change will continue to
posure to wildfire smoke can be the biggest threat to public
cause asthma and pneumonia, Massive wildfires that tear health, she said.
and increase the risk for lung through communities are becom-
cancer, stroke, heart failure and ing more common. The fires “Summer used to be a time I’d
sudden death. The very old and aren’t just burning trees but also look forward to,” she said, “but
very young are the most vulner- synthetic materials in homes. now I look at it with dread with
able. Particulates in wildfire And with repeated exposure to the heat and wildfires.”
smoke are 10 times as harmful to different particulates, health
children’s respiratory health as risks are more pronounced and This article was produced by
other air pollutants, according to can evolve into chronic condi- Stateline, an initiative of the Pew
a 2021 study in the journal Pedi- tions, Bein said. Charitable Trusts.

Researchers are just beginning
to understand how more fre-