Overpriced Cafe

ASSI - It is important to patronize local small businesses. A friend and I walked three miles around Haines Point in Washington DC, after the walk my appetite was ravenous, and McDonald's fries were tempting but I resisted the temptation. While my friend was visiting with her aunt, I walked over to The Love Cafe, the owner Warren Brown was a guest on Oprah many years ago. Warren is an attorney who loves baking, he actually stopped practicing law to pursue his passion, and as a result open Cake Love a bakery and The Love Cafe a coffee shop. The menu has limited choices for vegetarians; therefore, I decided on an Italian grilled vegetable sandwich that was made with red and yellow peppers, onions, zucchini, and hummus on a soft textured bread for $7.98 without tax. The sandwich was too expensive, it lacked taste except for being spicy, which isn't my thing; and although I entered The Love Cafe without expectations, I was rather disappointed. However, if you like hanging out at a corner coffee shop due to convenience, financially stable, and can afford and willing to pay a little more to support a local business give Cake Love and/or The Love Cafe a try. As I see it, there are various neighborhood restaurants in the city that offer a host of food and atmosphere choices that will satisfy your appetite without effecting your wallet. I give The Love Cafe 2.5 blinks

The Last Kiss by Jadakiss Debuts at #3 on the Billboard Charts

AHSI gives this album 4.5 eyeballs. This is the first great Hip Hop Album for 2009.

Tracks

1
Pain & Torture
2
Can’t Stop Me featuring Ayanna Irish
3
Who's Real featuring Swizz Beatz & OJ Da Juiceman
4
Grind Hard featuring Mary J. Blige
5
Something Else featuring Young Jeezy
6
One More Step featuring Styles P
7
Stress Ya
8
What If featuring Nas
9
Things I've Been Through
10
I Tried featuring Avery Storm
11
Rocking With The Best featuring Pharrell
12
Smoking Gun featuring Jazmine Sullivan
13
Cartel Gathering featuring Ghostface Killah & Raekwon
14
Come And Get Me featuring S.I. & Sheek Louch
15
By My Side featuring Ne-Yo
16
BONUS: Letter To B.I.G. featuring Faith Evans
17
BONUS: Something Else Remix featuring Young Jeezy, Snyp Life, Bully, AP, Boo Rossini & Blood Raw
18
BONUS: Death Wish featuring Lil' Wayne

Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy refers to a procedure in which a joint (arthro-) is viewed (-scopy) using a small camera. It allows an orthopaedic surgeon to diagnose and treat knee disorders by providing a clear view of the inside of the knee.
With improvements of arthroscopes and higher resolution cameras, the procedure has become highly effective for both the accurate diagnosis and proper treatment of knee problems.
Anatomy

The anatomy of the normal knee.The knee is the largest joint in the body, and one of the most easily injured. It is made up of the lower end of the thigh bone (femur), the upper end of the shin bone (tibia), and the knee cap (patella), which slides in a groove on the end of the femur. Four bands of tissue-the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments and the medial and lateral collateral ligaments-connect the femur and the tibia and provide joint stability. Strong thigh muscles give the knee strength and mobility.

The surfaces where the femur, tibia, and patella touch are covered with articular cartilage. Articular cartilage is a smooth substance that cushions the bones and enables them to glide freely. Semicircular rings of tough fibrous cartilage tissue, called the lateral and medial menisci, act as shock absorbers and stabilizers.

The articular cartilage cushions the knee joint.The bones of the knee are surrounded by a thin, smooth tissue capsule lined by a thin synovial membrane. The synovium releases a special fluid that lubricates the knee, reducing friction to nearly zero in a healthy knee.

Knee Problems
Normally, all parts of the knee work together in harmony. Sports, work injuries, arthritis, or weakening of the tissues with age can cause wear and inflammation, resulting in pain and diminished knee function.

Arthroscopy can be used to diagnose and treat many of these problems:

Problems in the knee joint that usually can be seen with an arthroscope.
Torn meniscal cartilage.
Loose fragments of bone or cartilage.
Damaged joint surfaces or softening of the articular cartilage, known as chondromalacia.
Inflammation of the synovial membrane, such as rheumatoid or gouty (crystalline arthropathy) arthritis.
Abnormal alignment or instability of the kneecap.
Torn ligaments, including the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments.

By providing a clear picture of the knee, arthroscopy can also help the orthopaedic surgeon decide whether other types of reconstructive surgery would be beneficial.

Your family physician can refer you to an orthopaedic surgeon for an evaluation to determine whether you could benefit from arthroscopy.
Signs that you may be a candidate for this procedure include swelling, persistent pain, catching, giving way, and loss of confidence in your knee. When other treatments, such as the regular use of medications, knee supports, and physical therapy, have provided minimal or no improvement, you may benefit from arthroscopy.
Most arthroscopies are performed on patients between 20 and 60 years of age. Patients younger than 10 years of age and older than 80 years of age have benefited from the procedure as well.

The orthopaedic knee evaluation usually consists of a medical history, a physical examination, and X-rays.

During the medical history, your orthopaedic surgeon will gather information about your general health and will ask you about your symptoms.

A physical examination will be done to assess the motion and stability and muscle strength of the knee as well as the overall alignment of the leg.

X-rays will be done to evaluate the bones of the knee. Your orthopaedic surgeon may also arrange for you to undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to provide more information about the soft tissues of your knee. An MRI uses magnetic sound waves to create images. They are not X-rays.

Blood tests may be obtained to determine if you have arthritis.
Your orthopaedic surgeon will review the results of your evaluation with you and discuss the best methods to further diagnose your knee problem. Other diagnostic tests may be indicated, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Treatment options include medications or surgical procedures, such as arthroscopy.

Your orthopaedic surgeon will explain the potential risks and complications of knee arthroscopy, including those related to the surgery itself and those that can occur after your surgery.

Preparing for Surgery

If you decide to have arthroscopy, you may be asked to have a complete physical examination with your family physician before surgery. This will assess your health and rule out any conditions that could interfere with your surgery.

Before surgery, tell your orthopaedic surgeon about any medications or supplements that you are taking. You will be informed which medications you should stop taking before surgery.
Tests, such as blood samples or a cardiogram, may be ordered by your orthopaedic surgeon to help plan your procedure.

Arthroscopic Surgery of the Knee

Almost all arthroscopic knee surgery is done on an outpatient basis for healthy patients. Your hospital or surgery center will contact you about the specific details for your surgery. Usually, you will be asked to arrive at the hospital an hour or two prior to your surgery. Do not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your surgery.

After arrival, you will be evaluated by a member of the anesthesia team. Arthroscopy can be performed under local, regional, or general anesthesia. Local anesthesia numbs your knee, regional anesthesia numbs you below your waist, and general anesthesia puts you to sleep. The anesthesiologist will help you determine which would be the best for you.

If you have local or regional anesthesia, you may be able to watch the procedure on a monitor, if you wish.

The orthopaedic surgeon will make a few small incisions in your knee. A sterile solution will be used to fill the knee joint and rinse away any cloudy fluid, providing a clear view of your knee.
The surgeon will then insert the arthroscope to properly diagnose your problem, using the image projected on a monitor to guide the arthroscope. If surgical treatment is needed, the surgeon can use a variety of small surgical instruments (e.g., scissors, clamps, motorized shavers, or lasers) through another small incision. This part of the procedure usually lasts 45 minutes to 1 1/2 hours.

Common treatments with knee arthroscopy include:

Removal or repair of torn meniscal cartilage.
Reconstruction of a torn cruciate ligament.
Trimming of torn pieces of articular cartilage.
Removal of loose fragments of bone or cartilage.
Removal of inflamed synovial tissue.
At the conclusion of your surgery, the surgeon may close your incisions with a suture or paper tape and cover them with a bandage.
You will be moved to the recovery room. Usually, you will be ready to go home in one or two hours. You should have someone with you to drive you home.

Your Recovery at Home

Recovery from knee arthroscopy is much faster than recovery from traditional open knee surgery. Still, it is important to follow your orthopaedic surgeon's instructions carefully after you return home. You should ask someone to check on you that evening.
Swelling
Keep your leg elevated as much as possible for the first few days after surgery. Apply ice as recommended by your orthopaedic surgeon to relieve swelling and pain.
Dressing Care
You will leave the hospital with a dressing covering your knee. You may remove the dressing the day after surgery. You may shower, but should avoid directing water at the incisions. Do not soak in a tub. Keep your incisions clean and dry.
Your orthopaedic surgeon will see you in the office a few days after surgery to check your progress, review the surgical findings, and begin your postoperative treatment program.
Bearing Weight
After most arthroscopic surgeries, you can walk unassisted. Your orthopaedic surgeon may advise you to use crutches, a cane, or a walker for a period of time after surgery. You can gradually put more weight on your leg as your discomfort subsides and you regain strength in your knee. Your surgeon may allow you to drive after a week.
Exercises to Strengthen Your Knee
You should exercise your knee regularly for several weeks following surgery to strengthen the muscles of your leg and knee. A physical therapist may help you with your exercise program if your orthopaedic surgeon recommends specific exercises.
Medications
Your orthopaedic surgeon may prescribe antibiotics to help prevent an infection and pain medication to help relieve discomfort following your surgery.
Complications
Potential postoperative problems with knee arthroscopy include infection, blood clots, and an accumulation of blood in the knee. These occur infrequently and are minor and treatable.

Warning Signs
Call your orthopaedic surgeon immediately if you experience any of the following:
Fever
Chills
Persistent warmth or redness around the knee
Persistent or increased pain
Significant swelling in your knee
Increasing pain in your calf muscle

Reasonable Expectations After Arthroscopic Surgery

Although arthroscopy can be used to treat many problems, you may have some activity limitations even after recovery. The outcome of your surgery will often be determined by the degree of injury or damage found in your knee. For example, if you damage your knee from jogging and the smooth articular cushion of the weightbearing portion of the knee has worn away completely, then full recovery may not be possible. You may be advised to find a low-impact alternative form of exercise.
An intercollegiate or professional athlete often sustains the same injury as a weekend recreational athlete, but the potential for recovery may be improved by the over-development of knee muscles.
Physical exercise and rehabilitation will play an important role in your final outcome. A formal physical therapy program also may add something to your final result.
A return to intense physical activity should only be done under the direction of your surgeon.
It is reasonable to expect that by six to eight weeks you should be able to engage in most of your former physical activities as long as they do not involve significant weightbearing impact. Twisting maneuvers may have to be avoided for a longer time.
If your job involves heavy work, such as a construction laborer, you may require more time to return to your job than if you have a sedentary job.

Dwight Howard Named Defensive MVP

The 23-year-old Howard became the youngest player to win the NBA's defensive player of the year award Tuesday. Howard was only the fifth player to lead the league in blocks and rebounds in the same season, a goal he set in training camp.
"A lot of guys don't want to go up [for blocks] because they're afraid of getting dunked on," Howard said. "Dikembe and Patrick told me, 'As many times as you're going to get dunked on you're going to have more blocks.'"
Howard led the Magic to a second straight Southeast Division title and 59 wins in the regular season, one shy of tying the best record in franchise history set in the 1995-96 season. Orlando trails Philadelphia 1-0 in the first round of the playoffs. Game 2 is Wednesday.
Howard received 542 points, including 105 first-place votes from a panel of 119 writers and broadcasters. Cleveland's LeBron James was second with 148 points and Miami's Dwyane Wade finished third with 90 points.
Even Magic forward Hedo Turkoglu, not known for his defense, managed to get one third-place vote.
"Probably the most impressive thing about the defensive player of the year award was two things," Magic general manager Otis Smith said. "The fact that Turkoglu finished in the top 16, and probably the fact that Dwight set out at the start of the season with a goal in mind to be the best defensive player in the league. He started with that goal in mind, and he finished it."
Howard averaged 13.8 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game this season, his fifth in the league.
The only other players to be rebounding and blocks champions in the regular season were Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon and Ben Wallace. Blocks were not kept as an official statistic until 1973.
"To be the defensive player of the year at 23 is remarkable," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "To be a great defensive player usually comes later in a career. And he still has so much room for improvement."
The award caps a remarkable year for Howard.
He won gold as the center of the U.S. men's team at the Beijing Olympics, passed Wilt Chamberlain as the youngest NBA player to reach the 5,000-rebound mark and became an All-Star for the third time.
Many saw this coming -- just not so soon.
Howard is five months younger than Alvin Robertson, who was 23 years and nine months old when he won the award with San Antonio in the 1985-86 season.
The No. 1 overall draft pick out of high school in 2004, Howard has quickly become one of the NBA's most dominant centers. His chiseled, 6-foot-11, 265-pound physique makes him one of the most intimidating players, and his incredible vertical leap is even rarer for a big man.

Mike Brown NBA Coach of the Year 2009

Mike Brown, who has taken Cleveland to the postseason in each of his four seasons, was honored Monday as the league's top coach after leading the Cavaliers to 66 wins, a Central Division title and the No. 1 overall playoff seed following the greatest regular season in club history.
With James and the other Cavaliers standing behind him and his coaching staff seated a few feet away, Brown humbly accepted the Red Auerbach trophy.
"If they did not want me to coach them, I wouldn't be able to coach them," he said. "I look at this as a partnership. Yes, my name is on this, but this is the ultimate team award from a coaching standpoint. I haven't put on a uniform or done anything out on the floor. The players have done it all. The coaching staff has done a lot and when you win an award like this, you can't do it by yourself.
"You have some great people around you."
None greater than James, the likely league MVP, who feels Brown has been overlooked mostly because he has a superstar at his disposal.
"That was the main reason," James said. "But that doesn't take away from the fact that we still have to go out there and play for him and abide by his system. There are a lot of teams with great talent, but that doesn't automatically qualify you as a good coach or give you wins.
"It just showed this year how good of a coach he is."
Brown joins Bill Fitch in 1976 as the only Cleveland coaches to win the award.
Expected to be a close vote, Brown won in a landslide. He received 55 first-place votes and earned 355 total points from a panel of 122 sports writers and broadcasters, who awarded five points for first, three points for second and one point for third.
Houston's Rick Adelman was second with 151 points, one ahead of Orlando's Stan Van Gundy. Both got 13 first-place votes. Portland's Nate McMillan was first on 15 ballots and finished fourth with 127 points.
New Orleans coach Byron Scott won the award last year.
Preaching the importance of trust to his players since training camp, Brown has created a tightly knit team fronted by James, who led the applause for his coach during the news conference at Cleveland's training facility. The 38-year-old Brown also has given more authority to his assistants, a sign of both his maturity as a coach and confidence as a leader.
"This is our fourth year together," Brown said. "The biggest thing this year was finding that elusive word chemistry among a group of individuals to try and reach one goal. Our goal has not changed, but the thing that we felt would help define chemistry is trust. They have shown tremendous trust in one and other. We've tried as a staff to show trust in them and in order to help that I had to show trust in my assistants."
As he complimented his assistants, James, Delonte West and other players reached over and began patting assistants Mike Malone, John Kuester, Hank Egan, Melvin Hunt and Chris Jent on their backs.
"I had to show our players that I trust those guys," Brown said. "We can talk about something and I can turn my back to it and we know the job is going to get done."
Ferry praised Brown for an unmatched work ethic. Brown's attention to detail has endeared him to his players and staff, but like any successful coach, the long hours have taken away time from the father of two's family. Brown's wife, Carolyn, was on hand to see him get the award.

Teenagers and Masterbation

ASSI - Oprah did a show featuring Dr. Laura Berman, a leading sex therapist, who believes that young women should be in charge of their own sexual responses. Dr. Berman suggest that mothers talk with their daughters about orgasms and using vibrators to achieve sexual pleasure, and the importance of knowing her body and what feels good to her. Some women, especially Gail King, Oprahs' BFF thought the information that Dr. Berman was discussing and want mothers to share is too much info for teenagers, but the truth of the matter is that teens as young as twelve are engaging in oral sex and intercourse with boys without proper knowledge to handle the emotions associated with sex. Some girls believe that boys are responsible for the pleasure experienced while having sex for the first time or any time, which is hardly the truth, but if girls are armed with information regarding their bodies, orgasms, and masturbation it will decrease the number of girls willing to have sex. Most girls thing that males are responsible for sexual feelings. I recall when former Surgeon General, Jocelyn Elders was forced to resign after she was asked and responded to the following question in 1994, "She was asked whether it would be appropriate to promote masturbation as a means of preventing young people from engaging in riskier forms of sexual activity, and she replied, "I think that it is part of human sexuality, and perhaps it should be taught." Our society was not ready for that response or to accept the fact that children should explore their bodies, teenage boys spend half their lives in the bathroom, and/or under their bedroom covers exploring their sexual organ; but unheard of, undiscussed, unacceptable, and down right wrong for females. Many adult women are uncomfortable even talking about sex, let alone orgasms, masturbation, and especially vibrators; therefore, I am sure it is embarrassing for some mothers to approach the subject with their daughters and many feel that conversation is equal to condoning the behavior, which is untrue. Most girls would make different decisions if someone they respect, such as their mother set them down and discussed in detail the mechanics and pleasures of sex. As I see it, it is imperative that mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, and female cousins engage younger females in conversation regarding the importance of being in charge of their sexual response. To help young women understand the ABCs of being intimate, so when they are really and truly ready they know how secrete and special sex is and perhaps avoid sexual irresponsibility.

Celebrities Heat Up The Apprentice

ASSI - The claws are out on the second season of Celebrity Apprentice, singer Brian McKnight was Fired by "The Donald", and the next show started immediately after Brian was Fired. Brian lack the zest, enthusiasm, and drive to continue raising funds for Youthville U.S.A. his charity. This seasons celebrities consists of: Andrew Dice Clay/Comedian was the first to be fired; the second was former Figure Skating Champion, Scott Hamilton, Tom Green who is best known for marrying Drew Barrymore was the third celeb to be fired; followed by Claudia Jordan, Model from Deal or No Deal was the first female and fourth person fired; it was a matter of time before Dennis Rodman would be fired his antics and his alcoholism was too much for the show he was the fifth; unfortunately T-Boz from TLC should not have been fired but "The Donald" dislikes folks who volunteer to come back into the board room. Personally I think Melissa Rivers set T-Boz up, but T-Boz fell for the okie-doke nonetheless she was the six person along with Khloe Kardashian who was let go due to her DUI commitments, and the fact Donald dislikes folks with drinking problems, but yet he tolerated Dennis Rodman's drunken behavior. Joan and Melissa Rivers have a very codependent relationship that makes for good television drama, Joan is extremely protective of Melissa as most mothers are, Melissa seems to feed off her mother's breast, during one of the episodes while in the board room Melissa asked Joan to step in and save her, and like all mothers who are called to defend their child, and Joan like any Mother Lion was there for her cub. Their relationship is a bit much and beyond over keel the umbilical cord must be severed, but what would Melissa do without her mother? Who is going to raise the most funds for their charity and when this season of Celebrity Apprentice? Will it be: Annie Duke the Poker Champion, Brande Roderick the former Playboy Playmate, Joan Rivers the Comedienne, Clint Black the Country Singer, Hershel Walker the Heisman Trophy Winner, Jesse James the TV Star/Entrepreneur, Natalie Gulbis the Golf Champion, or Melissa Rivers the Producer/TV Host. This Sunday's episode should be rather interesting Joan is the project manager against Annie who has yet to lead her team, if you have been watching you know that Joan does not care for Annie, and Mr. Trump thought it would be good if they were pitted against each other. Joan is the project manager of Kotu and Annie is the project manager of Athena and their both task with raising the most money by selling jewelry designed by Evanka Trump. Celebrity Apprentice airs Sunday's at 9:00 p.m. on NBC, check your local listings for station and time in your area.

An Amazing Race Update

ASSI - The 14th season of the Amazing race is down to five teams of two and last night was a trying time for a few of the contestants who defied conventional wisdom, logic, and smart playing. Several teams left their back packs, passports, clothes and shoes at the road block site and had to back track for their belongings which cost them valuable time. Margie and Luke continue to demonstrate that a mother child team can go far even if the child/Luke is hearing impaired. They have come in first place 4 or 5 times since the beginning of the game. Kisha and Jen must overcome their differences of opinions if they want to win, it seems that Jen needs to listen to Kisha more, they were the third team to check into the pit stop but by the time they returned they were the fourth team to check in...the brothers (Mark and Michael) are suffering from the same issues of not listening to each other and letting common sense prevail, they were charged with two 2 hour penalties for swapping personal stuff in exchange for cab fare, which would have eliminated them last evening had it not been for a non eliminating leg. The Road Block and Detour challenges seemed to be fun and not that tacking on the players, except for those who had to retrieve their stuff. Next week Luke who is rather conniving has two separate altercations with Kisha and Jen and the B word cause a little friction between Jen and Luke, tune in next week to learn the outcome and what team will be eliminated next.

DVD Review

AHSI gives Taken 4.5 eyeballs. Very exciting movie, with a lot of action and will make you and your family terrified to leave the country .



AHSI........ Gives The Day The Earth Stood Still 2 eyeballs.....It was long and drawn out, did not keep me interested.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the name given to a group of eye diseases in which the optic nerve at the back of the eye is slowly destroyed. In most people this damage is due to an increased pressure inside the eye - a result of blockage of the circulation of aqueous, or its drainage. In other patients the damage may be caused by poor blood supply to the vital optic nerve fibres, a weakness in the structure of the nerve, and/or a problem in the health of the nerve fibres themselves.

To keep it light-weight for rapid movement, the eye is made from soft, but strong tissues. However, like a camera, the eye needs to maintain its shape so that it can focus light accurately. This is achieved by keeping the eye firm, like a balloon. Clear fluid (the aqueous) is pumped into the eye from the bloodstream carrying oxygen, sugars and other essential nutrients. Circulating around the structures inside the eye, the aqueous is then drained through a meshwork back to the blood to be renewed. Drainage is against resistance, so the eye's pressure is kept higher than air pressure, but lower than the blood pressure.

Chronic (primary open-angle) glaucoma is the commonest type. It has no symptoms until eye sight is lost at a later stage.


Damage progresses very slowly and destroys vision gradually, starting with the side vision. One eye covers for the other, and the person remains unaware of any problem until a majority of nerve fibres have been destroyed, and a large part of vision has been destroyed. This damage is irreversible. It is progressive and usually relentless. Treatment cannot recover what has been lost. But it can arrest, or at least, slow down the damage process. That is why it is so important to detect the problem as early as possible, to be able to start treatment with as little damage to the vision as possible.

Although anyone can get glaucoma, some people have a higher risk, those with
a family history of :

glaucoma
diabetes
migraine
short sightedness (myopia)
eye injuries
blood pressure
past or present use of cortisone drugs (steroids).
Regular eye examinations are the best way to detect glaucoma early.
eye pressure check (tonometry)
visual field assessment if needed - this tests the sensitivity of the side vision, where glaucoma strikes first .


Although there is no cure for glaucoma it can usually be controlled and further loss of sight either prevented or at least slowed down.
Treatments include:
Eyedrops - these are the most common form of treatment and must be used regularly. In some cases pills are prescribed. The drops can be varied to best suit the patient and the type of glaucoma.
Laser (laser trabeculoplasty) - this is performed when eye drops do not stop deterioration in the field of vision. In many cases eye drops will need to be continued after laser. Laser does not require a hospital stay.
Surgery (trabeculectomy) - this is performed usually after eye drops and laser have failed to control the eye pressure. A new channel for the fluid to leave the eye is created.
Treatment can save remaining vision but it does not improve eye sight.
Chronic (primary open-angle) glaucoma is the most common form of this disease. However, other forms occur:

Low-tension or normal tension glaucoma. Occasionally optic nerve damage can occur in people with so-called normal eye pressure. This form of glaucoma is treated in the same manner as open-angle glaucoma.
Acute (angle-closure) glaucoma. Acute glaucoma is when the pressure inside the eye rapidly increases due to the iris blocking the drain. An attack of acute glaucoma is often severe. People suffer pain, nausea, blurred vision and redness of the eye. Immediate medical help should be sought. If treatment is delayed there can be permanent visual damage in a very short time. Usually, laser surgery performed promptly can clear the blockage and protect against visual impairment.

Congenital glaucoma. This is a rare form of glaucoma caused by an abnormal drainage system. It can exist at birth or develop later. Parents may note that the child is sensitive to light, has enlarged and cloudy eyes, and excessive watering. Surgery is usually needed.

Secondary glaucomas. These glaucomas can develop as a result of other disorders of the eye such as injuries, cataracts, eye inflammation. The use of steroids (cortisone) has a tendency to raise eye pressure and therefore pressures should be checked frequently when steroids are used.