“This contribution is about Iowa’s women rowers,” says Darlene McCord. “It’s about their commitment to rowing, to the team, to the University. We value this kind of dedication, and we wanted to make a gift in recognition of it.”

It’s no surprise that the McCords would want to recognize such perseverance and hard work. The same values helped them establish McCord Research, an Iowa-based corporation that researches and develops high-quality products for wound and skin care. Darlene McCord — a biochemist with a Ph.D. degree from the University of California at Berkeley who specializes in the chemistry of skin-product formulation — is the company’s senior researcher, and Jim McCord is the director of business development. Prior to this, Jim McCord was dean at East Los Angeles College and Los Angeles Southwest College.

Together, the McCords are members of The Presidents Club, which recognizes the UI’s highest-level contributors, and they have used their professional success to give back generously to others — including Iowa’s women rowers. “Whether you’re a scientist or an athlete, you must persevere to reach that goal line,” says Darlene McCord. “You have to reach for something deep inside of you and keep striving. We hope this gift will help these young women do that.”

Jim McCord admits that before meeting with Head Coach Mandi Kowal, neither he nor his wife knew much about the rowing team’s pressing need for a new facility. Now, they understand just what a difference their gift — which will name a dock at the new boathouse — will make for these UI athletes.

“We hope this will give the coach a way to attract and retain a new generation of women rowers,” says Jim McCord. “It’s amazing that Coach Kowal has done as well as she has, given the resources she’s had to work with in the past.”

Darlene McCord agrees: “It’s all about the coach and her players — and their amazing level of teamwork. We hope our foundation’s gift will tell these athletes: ‘We support you. We respect you. You represent the UI with dignity and pride — and that deserves recognition.’”

Thanks to the vision and generosity of contributors like the McCords, current and future generations of UI women rowers will be able to show their Iowa pride on the water — and in the boathouse.

According to the American Cancer Society, the second most common cause of death in 2002 was cancer, second only to heart disease. It is estimated that among females, breast cancer will account 15% of all cancer related deaths, yet represent 32% of all cancers in 2005. Because of this incidence, we are seeing more breast cancer patients and survivors, and we must be prepared to address the radiation induced dermatitis that is likely to affect nearly 9 out of every 10 patients. There is treatment for breast cancer, including radiation and chemotherapy, that will help cancer patients become cancer survivors. The National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship has defined a cancer survivor as “From the time of its discovery and for the balance of life, an individual diagnosed with cancer is a survivor.

Candida is often seen with extended critical care inpatient stays and multiple antibiotic use.

METHODOLOGY
The objective of the study was to track the incidence of skin breakdown related to incontinence in this population. Good hygiene, toileting programs, antifungal agents where appropriate, and other aspects of care remained constant; only the choice of topical therapy changed. All of the patients had been treated unsuccessfully with other common skin care products, including a prescription trypsin/balsam of Peru ointment and petrolatum or zinc based paste. Nourishing Olivamine-containing treatment cream was used on the study patients perineal areas, on intact and injured skin.

Olivamine is a special blend of ingredients that were developed to be easily absorbed and utilized by the skin cells. Components of Olivamine include bioavailable amino acids, vitamins as their cofactors, hydroxytyrosol, a very potent antioxidant, and methylsulfonylmethane to reduce pain. When an antifungal agent was necessary, a 2% miconazole nitrate was first applied, and then covered with the treatment cream.

RESULTS
We noted substantially improved skin condition on the treated patients after the use of the nourishing Olivamine-containing cream. As these case studies present, there was less redness, denudation, as well as improved skin turgor and feel.

CONCLUSION
The components of a good skin care program should always include cleansing with appropriate skin-friendly cleansers, moisturizing with emollients that will provide moisture and nutrients to the skin and protection from excessive moisture.

We found the Olivamine-containing skin treatment cream to provide the needed tenets for our patients that are incontinent. Further study is warranted to investigate the usage of this new skin treatment cream on the prevention of breakdown due to incontinence.

As well, more study is recommended to determine the best method for overall skin care, including periwound skin, skin tears, and the treatment of dry skin.

REFERENCES
1. www.healthscout.com/ency/1/003976.html
2. www.infectioncontroltoday.com/hotnews/47h308371.html
3. Fleck CA, Darlene McCord. The Dawn of Advanced Skin Care, ECPN,
September/October 2004, 32-39.
4. Ovokaitys T, Darlene McCord. Eleven Fold Reduction in Irritation Associated with the use of Amino Acids Using Patented Laser
Electromagnetic Resonance Technology. Presented at the Symposium on Advanced Wound Care, Orlando, Florida, 2004.

CASE STUDY – DVDV
is a 54 year old male weighing 455 pounds with a body mass index greater than 60. He presents with severe localized lymphedema and multiple scaly lesions to the abdominal pannus. He experienced severe skin manifestations including maceration, pain, edema, erythema, and a bacterial infection. He wasplaced on systemic antibiotics and the Olivamine containing skin care products. DV experienced a significant reduction in skin symptoms after only 8 days. Theskin care regimen included cleansing lotion, zinc protectant paste, dimethicone/silicone barrier and the antifungal cream.

Final physician evaluations werenoted for each patient. All patients were treated in the office and then given Olivamine containing products for self-care. Patient protocols were based on thelocation of the lymphedema and their symptoms.

My name is Darlene McCord, and I am one of the two founders of McCord Research. As a senior researcher I bring a unique blend of scientific credentials to the position.

My current work includes focusing on the transport of small molecules across the stratum corneum for treatment of skin disorders associated with wounded skin.

Dr. Darlene McCord is widely published on subjects related to immunodermatology and corneotherapy.

McCord Research has achieved worldwide recognition in the Medical Device and OTC Drug fields.

Dr. Darlene McCord is also well known for her work, as a biochemist, in skin and wound care scientific fields. She holds two patents and six medical devices in this scientific field. Darlene McCord has an extensive line of skin health products which are sold throughout the entire world. Dr. Darlene McCord’s most recent success in the skin and wound care product field is the Remedy brand. The Remedy brand lind is distributed by Medline Industries and it is based on a proprietary blend of small molecules called Olivamine™ that provide corneotherapeutic support for diseased skin. Previously, Dr. Darlene McCord created the Restore product line for Hollister and the Cavalon line for 3M. Darlene McCord is currently working closely with the University of Iowa on skin care compounds and products that may reverse early stages of necrosis and that can activate GO quiescent cells in the chronic wound environments.

Darlene McCord was awarded her first U.S. Patent in 1993. The awarded patent and the products that followed were quickly licensed to the top national and international wound care and skin care companies. Darlene McCord’s second patent was awarded in 1997 and licensed immediately. The products became some of the most important in the wound care industry. The patent relies on a model of fetal in-utero wound healing. The implications for healing wounds in adults is profound. Dr. Darlene E McCord is actively pursing her interests in barrier repair systems, skin repair systems, diabetes, and caner.

Darlene McCord’s work has received international recognition in the scientific field of skin and wound repair. Dr. Darlen McCord believes in improving the quality of life for people in every country of the world.