Celebs Out & About: Alicia Keys, Tracy Morgan, Swizz Beatz, Amber Rose

Singer Alicia Keys, 30, steps out with husband, music producer Swizz Beatz, 32, and their baby Egypt Daoude Dean, 5 months, and Swizz’s oldest son Prince Nasir Dean for a family outing in New York City yesterday.
Photos: INF PHOTO

Former professional beard, Amber Rose, 27, was seen leaving a hair studio in Los Angeles yesterday (April 5). It’s amazing how she has transformed into a plain, average looking broad now that she is no longer getting upgraded by Kanye West.

Actor/comedian Tracy Morgan, 42, was seen leaving an office building in Beverly Hills yesterday (April 5). The “30 Rock” star, who was diagnosed with diabetes, has dropped another 20 lbs off his thin frame since undergoing a kidney transplant late last year.

Photos: Splash News and INF PHOTO

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Medical Minute: MRSA/Staph Infection

Another gay black male has succumbed to MRSA/staph infection. Yesterday, celebrity hairdresser and makeup artist Dariel Pulliam, who starred in TV’s ‘What Chilli Wants 2,’ passed away after a brief illness. According to his family, he was hospitalized for 2 weeks with a staph infection in his lungs, which likely caused pneumonia. He was 29.

The family is asking for donations to help offset the funeral costs. If you would like to help, please call (410) 800-0379 or (443) 629-3008.

I am writing this post to educate my readers about this MRSA scourge in the gay community. All of us in the gay community know of at least one friend who has succumbed to MRSA infection.

Like Pneumocystis pneumonia was in the 80s and 90s, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is rapidly becoming the #1 killer of people with HIV today.

Last year I wrote a detailed Medical Minute post about MRSA/ staph infections HERE. The reason I’m writing about this super bug again is to bring awareness to this scourge that is gaining a strong foothold in the black gay community.

As I wrote in my earlier post, those who are most at risk for MRSA infections are babies whose immune systems aren’t fully developed yet, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems, such as HIV/AIDS patients.

With the advance of anti-viral medications over the last 15 years, HIV/AIDS is no longer considered the early death sentence that it once was. But unfortunately, due to the increase in MRSA cases, the tide is turning in the black gay community. For black people living with HIV today, MRSA/staph will soon be the #1 killer.

The reason you don’t hear much about MRSA/staph in the news is because it’s mainly killing young black gay males who continue to engage in high risk sexual behavior without using protection.

Poverty, neglect and denial are reasons why the black community accounts for the highest cases of HIV/AIDS infections today. The mere suggestion that black gays “wrap it up” brings on animosity and resistance.

MRSA causes soft tissue infections, but it can also spread to the lungs (leading to pneumonia) or to the bones and heart valves. Most MRSA skin infections are harmless and resolve within days. The infection generally starts out as small red bumps or tiny blisters, boils or spider bites on the legs and arms.

In the mid 1980s, MRSA was a hospital based bacteria. The bug was able to spread from patient to patient because nurses and doctors did not wash their hands between patients. Over the last 20 years, MRSA has leaped from the hospital setting into the surrounding communities.

Most of us are now colonized with MRSA/staph. MRSA/staph is not a threat to most healthy people. MRSA bacteria lives on our skin, but mainly in our nasal passages and throat.

Staph becomes a problem when it enters the blood stream through a break in the skin such as a cut or scratch. Once in the bloodstream, it is very difficult to treat because MRSA/staph is resistant to most antibiotics. In patients with HIV, it quickly spreads from the original site of infection to the lungs where it causes pneumonia, or to the internal organs.

Signs and Symptoms of MRSA include:

• Swelling, redness and tenderness of the skin around the wound
• Foul smelly, pus or drainage from wound
• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Chills

This has been your Medical Minute.

More Info On The Web

Skin Problems and Treatments: Understanding MRSA – WebMD

MRSA – Mayo Clinic

DISCLAIMER:
Any medical information published on this blog is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with your personal physician or a health care provider.

Edited to correct Dariel’s age. Originally posted on April 6, 2011 @ 9:24am

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R.I.P Dariel Pulliam, ‘What Chilli Wants’ Makeup Artist

According to Tionna Smalls, celebrity makeup artist and hairstylist Dariel Pulliam, who appeared on TV’s ‘What Chilli Wants 2,’ has passed away from an undisclosed illness.

Remember, wrap it up kids.

Update:

According to a close friend, Dariel Pulliam died of a staph infection.

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Celebs Out & About: Beyonce, Rihanna, Ludacris

Burlesque singer Beyonce, 29, continues to vacation on the island of Abaco in the Bahamas with her hubby Shawn Carter, 41. The two lovebirds celebrated their 3rd wedding anniversary yesterday. I lost a grip in a bet that I wagered with an associate when Beyonce and Jay Z first exchanged their vows in 2008. The associate reminded me that I had bet that Bey and Jay wouldn’t last 3 years. I reluctantly handed over the cash. Damn them.

Slutty R&B singer Rihanna, 23, posed in a pair of fishnet stockings for the cover of FHM Australia. She says her favourite tattoo is one on her chest, which reads: “Never a failure, always a lesson,” which she had inked backwards so she could read it in a mirror. She also said she enjoyed filming her role as a character called Raikes in the new sci-fi movie, ‘Battleship’.

Rapper Ludacris, 33, attended MAGNUM’s Live Large project at Highline Ballroom in New York City yesterday (April 4). Luda is the official spokesman for Magnum condoms. The Live Large project is conducting a search for the best freestyle rap artist in the country.

Photos: Splash News, Wireimage/Getty, Zimbio.com and Beyonce World Forum

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Morning Glory: Serena Williams

Tennis player Serena Williams looked very healthy in a black and white bikini on Miami Beach yesterday. Serena, who is healing from complications related to a foot injury she sustained at a German restaurant last year, relaxed with friends on the beach near her hotel.

Photos: INF PHOTO

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Kirstie Alley Hits the Floor Hard on DWTS (Video)

Calorically challenged actress Kirstie Alley stumbled and hit the deck hard during last night’s ‘Dancing With The Stars’ telecast. Alley’s dance partner Maksim Chmerkovskiy struggled under her weight and dropped her during a complex dance move. At least she got back up and continued to dance. Good for her.

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Celebs Out & About: The 2nd annual Steve Harvey Foundation

Comedian and radio host Steve Harvey, 54, danced onstage with his lovely wife Marjorie Harvey during his 2nd annual Steve Harvey Foundation Gala at Cipriani’s on Wall Street in NYC yesterday (April 4).

Reality TV personality and entrepreneur Angela Simmons, 23, posed with her uncle Russell Simmons, 53, at the 2nd annual Steve Harvey Foundation Gala at Cipriani’s on Wall Street in NYC yesterday.

Director Tyler Perry, 41, left, and comedian Steve Harvey attended the 2nd annual Steve Harvey Foundation Gala at Cipriani’s in NYC yesterday. Mr. Perry generously purchased a block of ads on Sandrarose.com a while back. We appreciate him.

Businesswoman Malaak Compton-Rock and her husband, comedian Chris Rock, 46, attended the 2nd annual Steve Harvey Foundation Gala yesterday in NYC. Everyone looked so nice!

Photos by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images North America

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