Great Expectations and Discoveries

FATHERHOOD CUTS CRIME, DRINKING AND SMOKING

2011-11-21T07:31:00.000-08:00

CORVALLIS, Ore. (UPI) -- Studies have shown marriage changes men's negative behavior and U.S. researchers say fatherhood can also have an impact on crime, and tobacco and alcohol use.

Lead author David Kerr, assistant professor of psychology at Oregon State University, and colleagues assessed more than 200 at-risk boys annually from the age of 12 to 31 in how their crime, tobacco, alcohol and marijuana use changed over time.

"These decreases were in addition to the general tendency of boys to engage less in these types of behaviors as they approach and enter adulthood," Kerr said in a statement. "Controlling for the aging process, fatherhood was an independent factor in predicting decreases in crime, alcohol and tobacco use."

However, the study, published in the Journal of Marriage and Family, also found men who were well into their 20s and early 30s when they became fathers showed greater decreases in crime and alcohol use, compared to those who had their first child in their teens or early 20s.

Men who had children at a more developmentally expected time could have been more able or willing to embrace fatherhood and shed negative lifestyle choices, Kerr said.

"This research suggests that fatherhood can be a transformative experience, even for men engaging in high risk behavior," Kerr said. "This presents a unique window of opportunity for intervention because new fathers might be especially willing and ready to hear a more positive message and make behavioral changes."
Copyright 2011 by United Press International

INDEPENDENT READING DOESN´T UP ACHIEVEMENT

2011-11-20T07:26:00.000-08:00

BOULDER, Colo. (UPI) -- Independent reading doesn't improve children's achievement in reading, at least among children age 11 at the end of elementary school, U.S. researchers say.

Nicole Harlaar of the University of Colorado, Boulder, who led the study when she was with Ohio State University, and colleagues at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Case Western Reserve University and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said educators have long emphasized the importance of independent reading for fun or leisure.

It was believed getting kids to read more on their own would lead to improved reading scores, Harlaar said

The researcher team looked at reading achievement and independent reading in 436 pairs of identical and same-sex nonidentical twins at age 10 and again a year later at 11.

Reading achievement was assessed using standard measures of word recognition and reading comprehension, while independent reading was assessed by asking each twin questions about his or her motivation to read. Parents estimated how often their children read for pleasure.

The study, published in the journal Child Development, found children's reading achievement at age 10 predicted their independent reading at 11, regardless of how much independent reading they were doing at 10, suggesting that reading achievement influenced later independent reading.

However, the reverse was not true -- after accounting for reading achievement at age 10 -- independent reading at 10 didn't predict reading achievement at 11.
Copyright 2011 by United Press International

TEACHERS CAN MITIGATE STUDENT AGGRESSION

2011-11-19T07:20:00.000-08:00

MONTREAL (UPI) -- A good relationship with a teacher mitigates against a child expressing aggression and being the target of aggression at school, researchers in Canada say.

Study leader Mara Brendgen of the University of Quebec at Montreal studied 217 Canadian identical and fraternal twin pairs at age 7.

The twin pairs had different teachers and different classmates. Classmates rated the twins' level of aggressive behavior and the extent to which they were victimized by peers, Brendgen said.

The twins' teachers rated the quality of their relationship with each twin. Genetic effects on aggression were estimated by comparing the similarity in behaviors of identical and fraternal twin pairs, Brendgen said.

The study, published in the journal Child Development, found children genetically vulnerable to being aggressive were more likely to be victimized by their classmates than others, but these children were protected from acting aggressively and being the target of other children's aggression if they had a very good relationship with their teacher.

"Aggressive behavior in middle childhood is at least partly explained by genetic factors, but genetic influences on behavior usually don't operate independently of environmental influences," Brendgen said in a statement.

"Our study found that a good relationship with the teacher -- a relationship that was warm and affectionate and involved open communication -- can protect genetically vulnerable children from being aggressive and, in consequence, from becoming the target of other children's aggressive behavior."
Copyright 2011 by United Press International

JOKING HELP CHILDREN ´THINK OUT OF THE BOX´

2011-11-18T06:46:00.000-08:00

STIRLING, England (UPI) -- Joking and pretending with toddlers help them develop life skills such as "learning to think outside of the box," British researchers found.

Dr. Elena Hoicka of the University of Stirling and colleagues examined how the two very similar concepts of joking and pretending -- both involve intentionally doing or saying the wrong thing -- develop in children ages 15-24 months.

"Joking is about doing something wrong just for the sake of it. In contrast, pretending is about doing something wrong which is imagined to be right," Hoicka said in a statement. "For example, parents might use a sponge like a duck while pretending but use a cat as a duck when joking."

The study found parents rely on a range of language styles, sound and non-verbal cues such as when they talk slowly and loudly and repeat their actions.

Conversely, parents tend to cue their children to jokes by showing their disbelief through language, and using a more excited tone of voice.

"We found that most parents employ these different cues quite naturally to help their toddlers understand and differentiate these concepts," Hoicka said in a statement.

"While not all parents feel confident in their natural abilities, the research does show that making the effort to interact in this way with toddlers is important," Hoicka said in a statement. "Knowing how to joke is great for making friends, dealing with stress, thinking creatively and learning to think outside the box."
Copyright 2011 by United Press International

WHAT HORROR MEANS TO THE MODERN WORLD

2011-11-17T06:38:00.000-08:00

BUFFALO, N.Y. (UPI) -- Mutilation, mutation, monstrosity, murder and mayhem offer a way for us to understand our own modern fears, a U.S. horror expert says.

David Castillo, an associate professor at the University at Buffalo, said the Spanish baroque period, roughly 1600-1720, provided the historical roots of horror in the modern age.

Castillo said that era's tales of supernatural visitations, terrifying visions, haunted houses and man-made horrors are not unlike those found online or in the tabloid press today.

David Schmid, a professor of English at the university, focuses on cultural monstrosities -- those among us whom we perceive as "monsters" and the role they play in our self-perception as individual and social beings.

Although his work focused on the serial killer as an American popular-culture figure, Schmid also studies how society safely represents and addresses the anxieties of our time through the use of other monsters, such as zombies and vampires.

"The monsters I'm most interested in are the ones that exist in plain sight -- the most distinctive and numerous monsters in any culture are the ones that we don't immediately recognize," Schmid, the author of "Natural Born Celebrities: Serial Killers in American Culture" and "True Crime," said in a statement.

"I conduct research on killers and their place in our cultural imagination but I also want to extend that focus to other monstrous figures and institutions: the abusers at [the notorious Iraqi prison] Abu Ghraib, those whose apparent normality makes them no less destructive and murderous: the banks that are destroying lives while reaping record profits and the corporations who are poisoning the planet for their bottom line."
Copyright 2011 by United Press International

MOTHERHOOD CHANGES BRAIN FUNCTION

2011-11-16T06:37:00.000-08:00

JERUSALEM (UPI) -- Motherhood is associated with a host of new behaviors that are driven, at least in part, by alterations in brain function, researchers in Israel say.

Study leader Dr. Adi Mizrahi of Hebrew University in Jerusalem and his postdoctoral colleague Dr. Lior Cohen exposed three groups of mice -- mice that had experienced interaction with their pups, lactating mother mice and mice that had not given birth -- to pup odors, and then monitored both spontaneous and sound-evoked activity of neurons in the auditory cortex.

The primary auditory cortex is known as a site that undergoes functional changes in response to sensory input from the environment, the researchers said.

The odors triggered dramatic changes in auditory processing only in the females that had interacted with pups, while the lactating mothers were the most sensitive to pup sounds.

The study, published in the journal Neuron, said olfactory, or the sense of smell and auditory integration, appeared in lactating mothers shortly after they had given birth and had a particularly strong effect on the detection of pup distress calls.

"We have shown that motherhood is associated with a rapid and robust appearance of olfactory-auditory integration in the primary auditory cortex occurring along with stimulus-specific adaptation to pup distress calls," Mizrahi said in a statement. "These processes help to explain how changes in neocortical networks facilitate efficient detection of pups by their caring mothers."
Copyright 2011 by United Press International

GREGOR MENDEL

2011-07-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

Gregor Johann Mendel (July 20, 1822 – January 6, 1884) was an Austrian Augustinian friar and scientist, who gained posthumous fame as the founder of the new science of genetics for his study of the inheritance of certain traits in pea plants. Mendel showed that the inheritance of these traits follows particular laws, which were later named after him. The significance of Mendel's work was not recognized until the turn of the 20th century. The independent rediscovery of these laws formed the foundation of the modern science of genetics.

Mendel was born into an ethnic German family in Heinzendorf bei Odrau, Austrian Silesia, Austrian Empire (now Hynčice, Czech Republic), and was baptized two days later as Johann. He was the son of Anton and Rosine (Schwirtlich) Mendel, and had one older sister (Veronica) and one younger (Theresia). They lived and worked on a farm which had been owned by the Mendel family for at least 130 years. During his childhood, Mendel worked as a gardener, studied beekeeping, and as a young man attended Gymnasium (school) in Opava. Later, from 1840 to 1843, he studied practical and theoretical philosophy as well as physics at the University of Olomouc Faculty of Philosophy, taking a year off through illness. When Mendel entered the Faculty of Philosophy, the Department of Natural History and Agriculture was headed by Johann Karl Nestler, who conducted extensive research of hereditary traits of plants and animals, especially sheep. In 1843 Mendel began his training as a priest. Upon recommendation of his physics teacher Friedrich Franz, he entered the Augustinian Abbey of St Thomas in Brno in 1843. Born Johann Mendel, he took the name Gregor upon entering religious life. In 1851 he was sent to the University of Vienna to study under the sponsorship of Abbot C. F. Napp. At Vienna, his professor of physics was Christian Doppler. Mendel returned to his abbey in 1853 as a teacher, principally of physics, and by 1867, he had replaced Napp as abbot of the monastery.
Besides his work on plant breeding while at St Thomas's Abbey, Mendel also bred bees in a bee house that was built for him, using bee hives that he designed. He also studied astronomy and meteorology, founding the 'Austrian Meteorological Society' in 1865. The majority of his published works were related to meteorology.

SNORING... HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR HEALTH AND WHAT YOU CAN DO

2011-04-27T08:10:00.000-07:00

(ARA) - Do you feel tired all day, even if you slept a full 8 hours? Do you suffer from unexplained headaches, high blood pressure, cardiac problems and excessive daytime sleepiness? Believe it or not, all your problems could stem from snoring.

Snoring is more than just bothersome, it can be hazardous to your health. That's because snoring is the most common symptom of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a condition that literally causes you to stop breathing a multitude of times at night. And you often aren't even aware it's happening.

People suffering from OSA stop breathing at night when their jaw, throat and tongue muscles relax, which causes the airway to become obstructed. Snoring is a symptom that the obstruction is occurring. OSA has been linked to a host of health problems, including:

* Heart attack
* High blood pressure
* Heart disease
* Stroke
* Depression
* Diabetes

Diagnosing and treating OSA can be a costly affair. A full sleep study to diagnose the problem can cost up to $5,000 or more, must be done at a certified sleep center and involves an overnight stay. Prescribed treatments may include losing weight, wearing a costly and uncomfortable continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device that forces air through your nose and mouth to keep your airways open, or even surgery.

The My Snoring Solution chinstrap can help for just $119

There is a more cost-effective, simpler alternative. Recent studies have shown that wearing a jaw supporter while sleeping can effectively treat snoring and sleep apnea. Recently, a clinical trial conducted at the Kochi Hospital in Japan demonstrated how a chinstrap alone improved obstructive sleep apnea and snoring. A strap can reposition the jaw and tongue, preventing obstruction from occurring.

The news comes as no surprise to Stephen Matthews, inventor of the My Snoring Solution chinstrap. Matthews himself suffered from OSA until a flash of inspiration prompted him to wear a makeshift chinstrap to sleep. Years later, the My Snoring Solution chinstrap has helped thousands of wearers relieve snoring symptoms, sleep better and feel healthier.

Envían bombas de agua para sellar planta de Fukushima

2011-04-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

EL UNIVERSAL
sábado 2 de abril de 2011 12:00 AM
Washington.- Dos de las tres mayores bombas de cemento del mundo, fabricadas por una firma alemana que ya intervino en Chernobyl, serán entregadas la semana próxima para emplearse en la accidentada central de Fukushima (Japón), dijo un vocero de la compañía.

La filial norteamericana de la empresa alemana Putzmeister enviará en un avión de carga Antonov dos máquinas que disponen de un brazo flexible capaz de elevarse 70 metros y arrojar agua o cemento sobre los reactores para enfriarlos, dijo Kelly Blickle, acotó AFP.

El operador japonés Tokyo Electric Power (Tepco) utilizará esos equipos para arrojar agua sobre los reactores, precisó la empresa.

Los responsables de Tepco "no dijeron por el momento si inyectarían cemento. Pero es una opción sin tener que agregar otros equipos", agregó.

Sólo existen tres artefactos con esta capacidad en el mundo. Dos clientes estadounidenses de Putzmeister -grandes constructoras propietarias de las máquinas- aceptaron ceder dos de ellas para ayudar a detener la catástrofe.

En Fukushima ya está en servicio una bomba de ese tipo con una capacidad de 58 m, y otras dos sirven para entrenamiento.

Otras dos máquinas de 62 m -una de las cuales ya llegó a Japón ayer- fueron enviadas directamente desde Alemania.

Con las dos bombas enviadas desde Estados Unidos, serán siete las máquinas de la empresa alemana, con sede en Aichtal, cerca de Stuttgart, que estarán operativas en Japón.

Estos brazos gigantescos equipados con bombas e instalados sobre camiones pesan 80 toneladas y se pueden operar por control remoto desde una distancia de 2 km, si bien es necesario un conductor para estacionarlos cerca del reactor.

Una bomba de cemento de este tipo se empleó durante la catástrofe de Chernobyl (Ucrania) en 1986 para restablecer la seguridad alrededor del reactor 4 de la central, dijo el grupo.

La crisis nuclear y humanitaria entró en su tercera semana, mientras miles de personas sin hogar tratan de reconstruir sus vidas, con poca esperanza de una rápida solución.

El Gobierno dijo que aún tenía que decidir cómo apoyar a Tepco, que está lidiando con la peor crisis nuclear desde Chernobyl y podría tener que abordar reclamaciones que superan los 130.000 millones de dólares, según un banco de inversión de Estados Unidos, citó Reuters.

En el devastado noreste del país, muchos japoneses sólo ven los restos desperdigados de sus casas y vidas tras un terremoto de 9,0 de magnitud y un posterior tsunami, que el 11 de marzo causaron unos 28.000 muertos o desaparecidos.

Más de 172.400 personas siguen viviendo en albergues en el noreste de Japón. Muchas zonas devastadas parecen un desguace lleno de basura, con carros que han quedado al lado de edificios derrumbados y barcos todavía sobre carreteras y zonas altas lejos de la costa.

NASA recibe señal que creía de extraterrestres/ NASA RECEIVED A SIGNAL THEY THINK MAY HAVE BEEN PROOF EXTRA TERRESTIAL BEINGS EXIST

2011-03-12T08:44:00.000-08:00

IN SPANISH AND ENLISH

Jueves 10 de marzo de 2011 Andrés Eloy Martínez | El Universal

Aunque esta potente señal no fue identificada, los astrónomos detectaron características que la delatan como de origen terrestre

A principios de febrero, el gigantesco radiotelescopio de 305 metros de diámetro instalado en Arecibo Puerto Rico, realizaba su cotidiana labor de búsqueda de señales de radio de origen extraterrestre (Proyecto SETI), cuando se topó con una señal de intensidad inusual que la NASA consideró como un probable señal proveniente de alguna civilización extraterrestre, según dio a conocer la agencia espacial.

"Nadie conoce la causa de esta señal. Existe la posibilidad de que se haya originado en una inteligencia extraterrestre", señala un comunicado publicado en internet, que muestra una fotografía con la gráfica de la señal detectada.

Los colores brillantes sobre el azul de fondo de esta, indican que una señal anómala fue recibida en la Tierra por un radiotelescopio involucrado en el programa de Búsqueda de Inteligencia Extraterrestre (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence, SETI).

De acuerdo con la NASA, distintos grupos realizan la investigación de estas señales, incluyendo a miembros voluntarios de la Liga SETI, agrupación de entusiastas en la búsqueda de inteleigencia extraterrestre.

Aunque esta potente señal no fue identificada, los astrónomos identificaron características que la delatan como de origen terrestre. Si bien aun no se puede precisar el origen exacto de la señal, es factible que se haya originado en una modulación fortuita entre un satélite GPS y una fuente terrena no identificada.

Según la NASA ,muchas señales extrañas provenientes del espacio, todavía no han sido identificadas.

Hasta hoy, ninguna señal ha sido lo suficientemente potente o prolongada para para que se le identifique sin ambigüedad como originaria de una inteligencia extraterrestre.

El proyecto Argus de la liga SETI, ha dado seguimiento a las señales extrañas, desde la famosa "Wow" captada en 1977, muchas de ellas detectadas una sola vez y jamás vueltas a escuchar.

El entusiasmo de los científicos por encontrar inteligencias extraterrestres ha crecido en los últimos años, ante el hallazgo de exoplanetas, que podrían existir en un número alrededor de 50 mil millones, sólo en nuestra galaxia, de los cuales 500 mil podrían tener vida, que pudo evolucionar como en la Tierra, hacia inteligencias similares a la humana.

Para un gran número de científicos la pregunta no es si existen criaturas pensantes como nosotros, sino cuando haremos contacto con ellas.

IN ENGLISH

No one knows for sure what caused this signal. There is a slight possibility that it just might originate from an extraterrestrial intelligence. The bright colors on the blue background indicate that an anomalous signal was received here on Earth by a radio telescope involved in a Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). A search for these signals is ongoing by several groups including volunteer members of the SETI League. Time labels the vertical axis of the above plot, and frequency marks the horizontal axis. Although this strong signal was never positively identified, astronomers have identified in it many attributes characteristic of a more mundane and ultimately terrestrial origin. In this case, a leading possibility is that the signal originates from an unusual modulation between a GPS satellite and an unidentified Earth-based source. Many unusual signals from space remain unidentified. No signal has yet been strong enough or run long enough to be unambiguously identified as originating from an extraterrestrial intelligence.

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN´S DAY TO ALL THE LADIES IN THE WORLD

2011-03-08T15:10:00.000-08:00

International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.
1908
Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.
1909
In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.
1910
n 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named a Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result.
1911
Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day events. 1911 also saw women's 'Bread and Roses' campaign.

1913-1914
On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. In 1913 following discussions, International Women's Day was transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for International Wommen's Day ever since. In 1914 further women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women's solidarity.
1917
On the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for "bread and peace" in response to the death over 2 million Russian soldiers in war. Opposed by political leaders the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date the women's strike commenced was Sunday 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere was 8 March.
1918 - 1999
Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for women's rights and participation in social, political and economic processes. 1975 was designated as 'International Women's Year' by the United Nations. Women's organisations and governments around the world have also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honour women's advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.
2000 and beyond
IWD is now an official holiday in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.
The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.
However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.
Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more.
Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates the whole month of March as 'Women's History Month'.
So make a difference, think globally and act locally !! Make everyday International Women's Day. Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

ORGAN TRANSPLANT UNDER REVIEW

2011-02-26T07:20:00.000-08:00

Organ transplant program under review
WASHINGTON (UPI) -- The network that oversees organ transplant policy is considering a proposal that would give priority to younger, healthier kidney patients.

Currently patients who have been on a waiting list the longest and who are the sickest often get the best kidneys in a system that was last overhauled in 1986, The Washington Post reported.

"We're trying to best utilize the gift of the donated organ," said Kenneth Andreoni, an associate professor of surgery at Ohio State University and chairman of the committee reviewing the transplant system for the United Network for Organ Sharing.

UNOS is a private non-profit group contracted by the federal government to coordinate organ allocation.

Some 87,000 Americans are awaiting kidneys. The Post said 4,000 die each year awaiting kidney transplants while 17,000 operations are performed annually.

"It's an effort to get the most out of a scarce resource," Andreoni said.

Critics said the changes could result in age discrimination.

"The best kidneys are from young adults under age 35 years. Nobody over the age of 50 will ever see one of those," said Lainie Friedman Ross, a University of Chicago bioethicist and physician. "We're making it harder for them to get a kidney ... it's age discrimination."

The proposed change, which would put kidney allocation closer to the system used for livers, hearts and lungs, could have implications for how other medical resources are allocated.

"It's a big shift," said Arthur C. Caplan, a University of Pennsylvania bioethicist.

The public has until April 1 to comment.

Copyright 2011 by United Press International

NAUSEA MAY BE FLU, NOT MORNING SICKNESS

2010-06-26T23:02:00.000-07:00

DALLAS (UPI) -- U.S. doctors warn nausea and vomiting, especially after the first trimester, may be signs of flu. Researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas found nausea and vomiting -- usually signs of flu in children but not in adults -- were common in pregnant women with flu. "Both physicians and patients should be aware of these findings so treatment is not delayed," study lead author Dr. Vanessa Rogers said in a statement. "I think our findings should encourage people to be vigilant and to take symptoms seriously." Rogers and colleagues examined 107 pregnant women diagnosed with influenza at Parkland Memorial Hospital in Dallas during the 2003-2004 flu season. Ninety-three percent of the women had a cough and 89 percent had fever -- common signs of flu -- but 85 percent had a "profound" elevated heart rate and 60 percent had nausea and/or vomiting. Nearly two-thirds were sick enough to require hospitalization. The most common complication -- pneumonia -- occurred in 12 percent of the cases. The study, published in Obstetrics and Gynecology, found no significant difference in complications between women with flu and women without flu who gave birth at the hospital during flu season. After birth, the babies also showed no significant difference in complications. "Early diagnosis and treatment might be the reason our patients did so well," Rogers said.

LESS THAN SIX HOURS SLEEP CAN KILL YOU

2010-06-16T03:42:00.000-07:00

WARWICK, England (UPI) -- People who sleep for less than 6 hours each night have an increased risk of dying prematurely, British and Italian researchers said. Researchers at the University of Warwick and the Federico II University Medical School in Naples, Italy, found that those who slept for less than 6 hours a night were 12 percent more likely to die prematurely than those who slept the recommended 6-8 hours a night. The study, published in the journal Sleep, also said sleeping more than 9 hours a night is not linked to premature death, but can indicate a serious or potentially fatal illness. The researchers reviewed 16 studies from Britain, the United States, Europe and East Asia that involved more than 1.3. million people with up to 25 years of follow-up. "Modern society has seen a gradual reduction in the average amount of sleep people take, and this pattern is more common amongst full-time workers, suggesting that it may be due to societal pressures for longer working hours and more shift-work," Francesco Cappuccio of the University of Warwick and physician at the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust said in a statement. "Consistently sleeping 6 to 8 hours per night may be optimal for health."
Copyright 2010 by United Press International

IRRITABLE BOWEL LINKED TO BACTERIAL INFECTIONS

2010-04-03T07:41:00.000-07:00

There is good news for the millions of suffering with irritable bowel syndrome. In a review published in the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, researchers unearthed the possible link between irritable bowel and bacterial infections or alterations in the normal bacterial flora. This may explain the abdominal pain, excessive gas, diarrhea and/or constipation associated with the condition. More importantly, this exciting breakthrough may provide new and effective treatment options, improving the quality of life for adults throughout the country. The contents of your bowel, from the mouth to the rectum, are completely outside of the body encased in your digestive system. Throughout life, these contents contain a delicate and complex mix of bacteria, viruses and even some fungi. There are as many as 500 to 1,000 species of bugs in the bowel that are critically important to normal physiological function. These bacteria help destroy toxins in the bowel, produce vital nutrients, and assure that the bowel content appropriately forms fecal matter and that gas production is kept at a minimum. Anything that upsets this delicate balance -- such as replacing good bacteria with bad -- can lead to a dysfunctional bowel, the symptoms of irritable bowel and even nutritional deficiencies. Oftentimes, antibiotics that are prescribed for the treatment of infections, or even antibiotics in the meat we eat, can destroy normal bacteria. Killing off the good bacteria leaves a void that can be quickly filled with "bad bugs," which may irritate the bowel, cause increased production of gas, lead to alterations in the immune system and cause abdominal pain or alteration of bowel movements. Excessive antibiotic use can even lead to a medical condition called "small intestinal bacterial overgrowth" that has symptoms very similar to irritable bowel, but it can also cause malabsorption, weight loss and severe vitamin B-12 deficiency. Traditionally, irritable bowel has been associated with a variety of health concerns, including excess stress, depression, hormonal alterations and increased food sensitivities. However, there is now evidence indicating that the initial symptoms of irritable bowel frequently follow a case of gastroenteritis. After an episode of nausea and diarrhea that lasts longer than seven days, symptoms identical to those of irritable bowel may last for six months and sometimes indefinitely. In some cases, there is a continued presence of a parasite that may cause irritable bowel. The most common parasite that leads to irritable bowel symptoms is giardia, but another bacteria called Blastocystis hominis has been recently identified as a potential cause. Occasionally, irritable bowel can follow an episode of diarrhea that occurs abroad (traveler's diarrhea). Research now clearly shows that the mix of bacteria in the bowels of patients with irritable bowel is different from normal people. Patients with irritable bowel have bowels that contain fewer lactobacilli and other normal bacteria, which produce less gas. The lactobacilli are replaced by bugs that create more methane and greater amounts of hydrogen gas, which can in turn affect bowel motility. Any change in the mixture of bugs in the bowel can produce unusual molecules that affect the ability of the bowel to contract normally. In addition to excess gas production, these bugs are considered foreign to the body (unlike the normal bacteria flora). In an attempt to destroy the abnormal organisms, the intestinal immune system releases molecules called cytokines that cause the bowel to become hyperactive and inflamed, resulting in pain and further changes in bowel movements. There has been research conducted in Asia that examines the use of probiotics (good bugs) to aid in alleviating the symptoms of irritable bowel. When administered in adequate amounts, these probiotics (live bacteria) appear to be beneficial in reducing bloating, gas, abdominal pain and constipation. For someone with irritable bowel, it is important to consider the fact that excessive use of antibiotics can contribute to the problem. But in addition to examining any medical issues, you may want to consider a safe probiotic food to help maintain a normal bowel flora. This simple change in diet could relieve symptoms of irritable bowel. Clearly, this condition is more than a disease related to stress, depression, anxiety or hormonal alterations. While this research remains in its infancy, it seems likely that more and more attention will be focused on the link between irritable bowel and bacteria.

Dr. David Lipschitz is the author of the books, "Breaking the Rules of Aging" and "Dr. David's First Health Book of More Not Less." To find out more about Dr. David Lipschitz and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. More information is available at www.DrDavidHealth.com.
Copyright 2010 Creators Syndicate Inc.

SECRETARY OF HEALTH IN MEXICO CONFIRMS MUTATION OF AH1N1/Confirma Ssa primera mutación de A-H1N1

2010-03-03T09:12:00.000-08:00

IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH... EN INGLES Y ESPANOL

Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Through a statement by the Ministry of Health in Mexico (SSA) it is confirmed that they have detection a mutation in the influenza virus A-H1N1, which makes the disease resistant to Tamiflu.The department official says that despite the discovery they will not change the treatment recommended in aspect of the new virus, because it is the only resistant strain found in 420 samples of infected people.He reported that the mutation was found in a 10-month-old baby, originally from the municipality of Ecatepec, who survived the disease and is currently well.The child was treated at the Pediatric Hospital La Villa from January 4 when this child was admitted suffering from difficulty in breathing, bronchiolitis and malnutrition grade I.After 10 days spent at the Hospital Infantil de Mexico "Federico Gomez" the child was diagnosed with severe pneumonia, malnutrition of moderate intensity and influenza-like illness.After the disease was controlled, the infant was moved to the Pediatric Hospital in the town to continue treatment, where he was discharged on Feb. 3, said the agency.

Miercoles, 3 de Marzo, 2010
Por medio de un comunicado la Secretaría de Salud (Ssa) confirmó la detección de una mutación en el virus de influenza A-H1N1, la cual convierte a la enfermedad en resistente al Tamiflu.La dependencia indicó que a pesar del descubrimiento no se modificará la recomendación de tratamiento contra el nuevo virus, ya que es la única cepa resistente encontrada en 420 muestras de personas infectadas.Informó que la mutación se encontró en una bebé de 10 meses de edad, originaria del municipio de Ecatepec, quien sobrevivió a la enfermedad y actualmente se encuentra bien.La menor fue atendida en el Hospital Pediátrico La Villa desde el 4 de enero, al presentar dificultad para respirar, bronquiolitis y desnutrición grado I. Luego de 10 días pasó al Hospital Infantil de México “Federico Gómez” con diagnóstico de neumonía grave, desnutrición de intensidad moderada y enfermedad tipo influenza. Después de que se logró controlar la enfermedad, se trasladó al Hospital Pediátrico La Villa para continuar en tratamiento, de donde fue dada de alta el pasado 3 de febrero, indicó la dependencia.

Obesity Limits Pregnancy Weight

2010-01-17T20:47:00.000-08:00

ST. LOUIS (UPI) -- A U.S. doctor challenges the recommended guideline that obese women should gain 11-20 pounds during pregnancy. Dr. Raul Artal, chairman of the department of obstetrics, gynecology and women's health at Saint Louis University in Missouri advises overweight or obese mothers-to-be to eat a nutrient-rich diet of between 2,000-2,500 calories a day, and in some cases, to lose weight. He says overweight or obese women should not gain more than 10 pounds when pregnant. "Recommending a single standard of weight gain for all obese classes is of concern since higher body mass index levels are associated with more severe medical conditions and have long-term adverse health implications," Artal says in a statement. Artal writes in a commentary for Obstetrics & Gynecology, that he does not endorse recommendations made by the Institutes of Medicine in Washington -- an independent, non-profit organization that provides advice for health decision makers and the public. "The recently published Institutes of Medicine recommendations for gestational weight gain are virtually identical to those published in 1990 with one exception -- obese women are now recommended to gain 11-20 pounds compared to the previous recommendations of at least 15 pounds," Artal says.
Copyright 2010 by United Press International

YOUR HEALTH: EXCESSIVE DRINKING SHRINKS YOUR BRAIN AND YOUR MEMORY

2010-01-10T13:12:00.000-08:00

Moderate alcohol consumption may be good for your heart, but new research suggests that it doesn't appear to offer the same protective benefits for the brain. While moderate amounts of alcohol don't necessarily help the brain, regularly consuming more than two drinks a day can definitely harm it. Habitual consumption of more than 14 alcoholic drinks per week actually causes the brain to shrink, according to the results of a study conducted by researchers at Wellesley College in Wellesley, Mass. The scientists found that the more alcohol an individual drinks on a regular basis, the lower his or her total brain volume. For the study, the Wellesley researchers evaluated brain size and alcohol consumption patterns in more than 1,800 adults between the ages of 34 and 88 years. The subjects were enrolled in the Framingham Offspring Study, which includes children of the original Framingham Heart Study participants. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were performed and used to measure brain volume, a relatively reliable indicator of brain aging and health. Compared to those who abstained from alcohol, the subjects who habitually consumed more than 14 drinks per week had a 1.6 percent reduction in brain volume. Although chronic drinking is detrimental to the entire brain, the cells of the hippocampus are especially vulnerable to damage from alcohol. The hippocampus is a small, curved structure in the brain that is vital to learning and memory formation. When the structure is surgically removed, a person's ability to store most new experiences in memory is permanently lost. In individuals with advanced, debilitating Alzheimer's dementia, the hippocampus typically is the first brain structure affected, and often the one that is most profoundly damaged by the disease. In an animal study supported by the National Institutes of Health, scientists at Scripps Research Institute in San Diego found that chronic alcohol consumption dramatically reduced the number of new brain cells that normally form in the hippocampus. For the study, rhesus monkeys were allowed to voluntarily consume a sweetened beverage containing 6 percent alcohol during one-hour sessions, five days a week for five months. A control group of monkeys had equal access to a similar, alcohol-free beverage. Analysis of brain tissue revealed that alcohol consumption significantly reduced new brain cell growth and proliferation in the hippocampus. Compared to the non-drinking monkeys, those consuming alcohol exhibited a 58 percent decrease in the number of new brain cells formed in the hippocampus and a 63 percent reduction in cell survival. Based on the results of their study, the researchers concluded that chronic alcohol consumption not only causes existing cells of the hippocampus to die off, it also keeps new cells from forming. These findings have important implications for humans, since shrinkage of the hippocampus is known to coincide with declines in cognitive abilities, such as memory and learning, and can ultimately lead to dementia. Although the hippocampus typically shrinks with age, the rate at which it becomes smaller differs substantially among individuals. While regular physical activity and continued learning have been shown to enhance the size of the structure, chronic alcohol consumption appears to reduce it. In the earliest stages, loss of brain volume is associated with temporary, minor lapses in memory, such as forgetting a doctor's appointment or the name of a casual acquaintance, according to the results of a study published in the medical journal Neurology. The study included 500 adults ages 50 to 85 with no history of dementia. The subjects were asked about their experiences with occasional memory problems, such as having trouble thinking of the right word or forgetting events that had occurred in the previous hours or days. After evaluating the subjects' brains using MRI scans, researchers found that in individuals with occasional memory lapses, the hippocampus was measurably smaller than in subjects with no memory problems. Protecting the hippocampus is especially important for people who have been diagnosed with early Alzheimer's as well as for those who are at high risk for developing the disease. A study conducted by researchers at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland showed that having a large, healthy hippocampus may allow some older adults to compensate for Alzheimer's-related brain changes. If you're determined to keep your hippocampus healthy and your mind sharp as you grow older, don't stop exercising or learning new things. And if you enjoy drinking alcohol, continue to do so only in moderation.

======== Rallie McAllister, M.D. is a family physician, author, speaker, and medical director of www.MommyMDGuides.com, a website featuring child-raising tips from trusted doctors who are also moms. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2010-01-04T08:59:00.000-08:00

I prepare for the new year alone, yet not alone. There wil be trials and there will be tears but I am a survivor and my love for my blogs will see me through this difficult time. Hope you all had a bleesed Christmas and a wonderful new year´s day. Be ready. the train is about to part. See you all soon.

Love, Brenda

PEACE ON EARTH, GOODWILL TO MAN

2009-12-25T01:05:00.000-08:00

At this time of the year, with pain in my heart and tears in my eyes at the loss of my best friend and soul companion, I reach out across the miles to greet all my blog readers. I promise to return in the new year with a vigor and the passion I once had. Now I wish to thank you for your support. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!! GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU ALL WELL.

IN LOVING MEMORY OF ABEL DESESTRESS

2009-10-20T23:47:00.000-07:00

November 14, 1955 - Ocotber 18, 2009

GONE BUT FOREVER PRESENT IN MY HEART.

DARLING, YOU FILL MY HEART TODAY MORE THAN YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE.

Moms-to-be can pass on asthma to baby

2009-10-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

MONTREAL (UPI) -- Expectant mothers, who have asthma but are not treated during pregnancy, heighten the risk of their babies having asthma, Canadian researchers said. Lead author Dr. Lucie Blais, a professor at the Universite de Montreal and researcher at the Hopital du Sacre-Coeur de Montreal and colleagues at the Sainte-Justine University Hospital Research Center examined a decade of health records for 8,226 children -- from birth to age 10 -- born to asthmatic mothers. Parents of these children were also mailed questionnaires requesting additional facts concerning familial medical history, lifestyle habits and environment. The study, published in the European Respiratory Journal, found 32.6 percent of children born to mothers who neglected to treat their asthma during pregnancy developed the respiratory illness themselves. "Uncontrolled maternal asthma during pregnancy could trigger a transient yet important reaction in the fetus that affects lung development and could subsequently increase the likelihood of a baby developing asthma in later childhood," Blais said in a statement. "It is of great importance for physicians to adequately treat asthmatic mothers during pregnancy, not only for the favorable outcome of pregnancy but also for the benefit of the child."
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Flexibility test may indicate heart risk

2009-10-17T09:25:00.000-07:00

DENTON, Texas (UPI) -- Whether someone can reach his or her toes from a sitting position on the floor may be an indicator of heart risk, U.S. and Japanese researchers said. Among people age 40 and older, performance on the sit-and-reach test could be used to assess the flexibility of the arteries. Arterial stiffness often precedes cardiovascular disease and the results suggest that this simple test could become a quick measure of an individual's risk for early mortality from heart attack or stroke, researchers said. Study author Kenta Yamamoto, of the University of North Texas and the National Institute of Health and Nutrition in Japan, and colleagues in Japan said it is not known why arterial flexibility would be related to the flexibility of the body in middle age and older people. However, the study authors said that one possibility is that stretching exercises may set into motion physiological reactions that slow down age-related arterial stiffening. "Our findings have potentially important clinical implications because trunk flexibility can be easily evaluated," Yamamoto said in a statement. "This simple test might help to prevent age-related arterial stiffening." The findings are published in the American Journal of Physiology.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

CDC director stresses H1N1 vaccine safety

2009-10-16T09:21:00.000-07:00

ATLANTA (UPI) -- The director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, at a news briefing in Atlanta Tuesday, said the H1N1 flu vaccine is safe and effective. "The (H1N1) flu vaccine is made as flu vaccine is made each year. By the same companies. In the same production facilities. With the same procedures. With the same safety, safeguards," Dr. Thomas Frieden told reporters during a telephone briefing. "We have had literally hundreds of millions of people vaccinated against flu with flu vaccine made in this way. That enables us to have a high degree of confidence in the safety of the vaccine. It has an excellent safety record," he said. Frieden said the CDC "wished we had the vaccine earlier" but current science doesn't allow for production of the vaccine in much less than six months "It would have been great to have had it back in April or May," he said. He acknowledged that people have concerns about vaccinations and said that was "understandable" but he said the flu vaccine is "tried and true ... very effective." Vaccine problems that could occur would likely occur at a very low rate -- 1 per 100,000, Frieden said. "It would take some time to know there was a problem," he said. "On the other hand, there's no reason to think there would be more problem with this vaccine than with the vaccine each year."
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Ethnic background, diabetes risk linked

2009-10-15T09:20:00.000-07:00

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (UPI) -- Fat and muscle mass -- potentially determined by a person's ethnic background -- may contribute to diabetes risk, Canadian researchers said. The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, involving 828 men and women of four ethnic groups -- Aboriginal, Chinese, European and South Asian origin. It found South Asians had higher fat mass, lower muscle mass and greater insulin levels, placing them at increased risk for insulin resistance and diabetes. "We know certain ethnic backgrounds show significant differences in amounts of body fat and lean mass," lead author Scott Lear of the Simon Fraser University in Vancouver said in a statement. "What we didn't know, until now, is if these differences are related to insulin levels and insulin resistance, and therefore lead to an increased risk for diabetes. Our findings indicate they are." In populations at increased risk for diabetes, interventions that reduce fat mass and increase muscle mass, such as caloric restriction and regular exercise, should be investigated, Lear said.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Diabetic herbal remedies need more study

2009-10-14T09:18:00.000-07:00

SYDNEY (UPI) -- There is positive evidence Chinese herbal medicines may prevent diabetes in those at high risk, an Australian review says, but more study is needed. The Cochrane review of 16 studies finds combining herbal medicines with lifestyle changes is twice as effective as lifestyle changes alone at normalizing patients' blood sugar levels. However, the researchers concluded there was not enough hard scientific evidence to recommend their use. "Our results suggest that some Chinese herbal medicines can help to prevent diabetes, but we really need more research before we can confidently say that these treatments work," lead researcher Suzanne Grant of the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research at the University of Western Sydney in Australia, says in a statement. "The real value of the study is as guidance for further trials. We need to see more trials that make comparisons with placebos and other types of drugs, and better reporting on the outcomes of these trials." The clinical trials included 1,391 people who received 15 different herbal formulations. Those given the herbal formulations were less likely to develop full blown diabetes during the study period. Trials lasted from one month to two years and no adverse effects were reported. The finding is published in the Cochrane Library.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Lifelong Health: Study Finds Bad Habits Early in Life Curtail Longevity

2009-10-13T09:16:00.000-07:00

For many of my baby boomer friends and contemporaries, midlife brings an increased attention on health. Sandwiched between aging parents and grown-up children, most of us are acutely aware of the value of preventing disease and staving off chronic illness, which can often lead to major lifestyle changes such as finally quitting smoking, beginning an exercise routine or following a heart-healthy diet. Unfortunately, for those age-50-plus adults with particularly unhealthy habits, new research indicates that changing high-risk behaviors later in life offers little benefit. In an important study recently released in the British Medical Journal, researchers evaluated death rates in more than 19,000 middle-aged men who were followed for four decades. The researchers found that those who smoked, had high blood pressure and an elevated cholesterol at age 50 died an average of 10 to 15 years earlier than those without these risk factors. A high risk of heart disease also means an increased incidence of diabetes, cancer and Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, it was not surprising that risk of death from causes other than heart disease was two to three times higher in the high-risk population. Of greater interest, perhaps, was that a large fraction of the age-50-plus population ultimately stopped smoking, lowered their cholesterol and treated high blood pressure, and yet their life expectancy was not improved. In other words, the die is cast at age 50. The message is clear: Good health habits must begin early. Unfortunately, most young adults feel invincible, unable to grasp the long-term impact of unhealthy habits. By the time a medical problem arises, it may be too late. Consider the case of heart disease as a window into our future health challenges. In the last 50 years, educational campaigns against high-risk factors such as smoking, saturated fat and high salt intake contributed to a gradual decrease in the total incidence of heart attack and vascular disease. Unfortunately, recent evidence indicates this trend appears to be reversing. Even worse, the situation seems to be dire in the population under age 50. There are some important reversible factors that lead to heart attacks: cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, significant obesity and diabetes. In a paper just published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, the incidence of smoking still appears to be decreasing, but the percentage of the population with hypertension, diabetes and obesity is steadily increasing. Between 1971 and 1974, 4.4 percent of adults had none of the preventable risk factors for heart disease. From 1976 to 1980, this number increased to 5.7 percent, and rose to 10.5 percent between the years 1988 and 1994. Sadly, between 1999 and 2004, the positive trend reversed and only 7.5 percent of the population had no risk factors for heart disease. Although the most current statistics for American health risks are not yet available, the situation appears to be worsening. It is very likely that the prevalence of heart attacks and vascular disease will only increase in the future. This is truly a turning point for the American population. Our health care system must include a far greater focus on prevention. Waiting until midlife to make the important lifestyle changes necessary for long-term health is simply irresponsible. What's more, ignoring the health of our children and grandchildren is a prescription for disaster. All of this information clearly shows that Americans need to change the way we approach health. Good nutrition and increased physical activity must begin in childhood and remain a lifelong commitment. Efforts for health promotion must be addressed at every age and stage in life. From age 20 onward, measure your blood pressure at least twice a year. And at age 30 have a cholesterol screening for the first time. If any problems are identified, take them seriously and assure appropriate treatment. Finally, every American at any age should quit smoking. On the surface, the future seems so bright. We remain the wealthiest and most pampered nation in the world, and yet our collective health is dwindling. The huge advances made in life expectancy throughout the 20th century may not continue into the foreseeable future. Therefore, it is your responsibility to do everything possible to promote health and prevent disease. Do not wait until it's too late.

Dr. David Lipschitz is the author of the book "Breaking the Rules of Aging." To find out more about Dr. David Lipschitz and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. More information is available at www.DrDavidHealth.com.
Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc.

Your Health: Dietary Supplement May Stall Progression of Parkinson's Disease

2009-10-12T09:11:00.000-07:00

An over-the-counter dietary supplement may help slow the progression of Parkinson's Disease, a degenerative neurological disorder marked by tremor, stiffness of the limbs and trunk, impaired balance and coordination, and slowing of movements. The supplement, called coenzyme Q10, is a vitamin-like compound with powerful antioxidant properties that is vital for the proper function of virtually every cell in the human body. Although it is produced naturally by the body, levels typically dwindle with age. A growing body of scientific evidence suggests that low levels of coenzyme Q10 play an important role in many age-related diseases. The results of several recent studies show that individuals with Parkinson's have lower levels of coenzyme Q10 compared to those without the disorder. Supplementation with coenzyme Q10 can help boost levels in the body and protect the specific area of the brain damaged by the disease. In a 16-month clinical trial, researchers evaluated the effects of coenzyme Q10 in 80 individuals with early-stage Parkinson's disease. Reporting in the medical journal Archives of Neurology, the scientists noted the supplement was safe and well tolerated in daily doses ranging from 300 mg to 1,200 mg. At doses of 1,200 mg per day, individuals with Parkinson's experienced significantly less functional decline and were better able to carry out activities of daily life, such as feeding and dressing themselves, compared to those treated with a placebo pill. These findings are particularly important, since few treatment options are available and, to date, no prescription drugs have been found effective in slowing the natural course of the disease. Coenzyme Q10 may benefit individuals with other neurological disorders. In preliminary trials, the dietary supplement was found to slow the progression of dementia in patients with Alzheimer's disease. In individuals with migraines, coenzyme Q10 has been shown to significantly reduce the frequency and severity of headaches, especially when taken daily for a period of at least three months. In a study published in the medical journal Cephalgia, researchers found that daily doses of 150 mg coenzyme Q10 reduced migraine symptoms by half in more than 60 percent of individuals treated. Coenzyme Q10 appears to be just as beneficial for the cardiovascular system as it is for the brain. The supplement is often recommended for individuals who have suffered a heart attack and for those diagnosed with congestive heart failure. The results of several clinical trials have demonstrated that daily doses of 100 mg to 200 mg can improve cardiac function and reduce the risk of future heart attacks in these patients. For individuals who suffer from heart-related chest pain known as angina pectoris, supplementation appears to improve exercise tolerance and to protect the heart from further damage. Numerous studies have proven coenzyme Q10 beneficial in the treatment of hypertension. Daily doses of the supplement have been found to produce measurable reductions in blood pressure, similar to the reductions achieved with some prescription medications. Interest in coenzyme Q10 as a potential therapeutic agent in the treatment of cancer arose after scientists discovered low blood levels of the substance in individuals suffering from cancers of the breast, lung and pancreas. Preliminary research indicates the supplement may be beneficial in the treatment of these cancers, especially when combined with other therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation. Use of the supplement also has been found beneficial in the treatment of gum disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, asthma, male infertility and age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss in the elderly. While aging and poor nutrition are believed to be the most common cause of low blood levels of coenzyme Q10, there is evidence that certain cholesterol-lowering drugs, known as statins, interfere with the body's ability to produce the substance. More research is needed to determine whether coenzyme Q10 supplementation should be routinely recommended for individuals taking these cholesterol-lowering drugs. It is possible to modestly boost your intake -- and your blood levels -- of coenzyme Q10 without taking a handful of pills. Good food sources of the substance include meat, poultry and fish, as well as nuts and canola oil. To obtain a therapeutic dose of coenzyme Q10, you'll probably need a dietary supplement, which you can get without a prescription at pharmacies and health food stores. Although most adults can safely take the nutritional supplement, it's wise to consult your doctor first. Taking coenzyme Q10 won't keep you from aging, but it may help protect you from many age-related diseases.

Rallie McAllister is a board-certified family physician, speaker and the author of several books, including "Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim." Her Website is www.rallieonhealth.com. She has also created www.MommyMDGuides.com, which features the advice of mommy MDs from top-notch hospitals, medical centers and universities around the country. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc.

FORTALECEN MEXICO, EU Y CANADA COLABORACION CONTRA VIRUS A (H1N1)

2009-10-11T08:55:00.001-07:00

Los gobiernos de México, Estados Unidos y Canadá acordaron fortalecer la colaboración para responder a la propagación del virus de influenza A(H1N1).Según un comunicado, las administraciones de los respectivos países coincidieron en mejorar la coordinación intersectorial, como un paso definitivo para construir una solución continental al problema de la epidemia.También resaltaron que el diálogo y la transparencia son el camino para responder a los retos de salud generados por el virus, minimizando al mismo tiempo el impacto negativo de la enfermedad en la seguridad y prosperidad de los tres países.La Secretaría de Gobernación indicó que los objetivos de la reunión se centraron en un recuento de los esfuerzos realizados por los tres países hasta la fecha.Compartieron así las lecciones aprendidas durante el segundo trimestre del año y discutieron las estrategias para la inminente segunda ola del virus A(H1N1) y otras enfermedades.

AND THE SLAUGHTER CONTINUES ON FAROE ISLAND, DENMARK!!!!!

2009-10-05T14:21:00.000-07:00

LETS STOP THIS CRUELTY!!! PAST THIS BLOG ADDRESS ON TO YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY AND ASK THEM TO PASS IT ON. SOMEONE SOMEWHERE MUST DO SOMETHING!!! THESE ARE INNOCENT CREATURES OF NATURE!!!
(For more info see http://brenda-ilovecccace.blogspot.com)

Your Health: Natural Remedies Quell Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

2009-09-27T17:36:00.000-07:00

For individuals suffering from irritable bowel syndrome, abdominal pain, cramping and bloating are part of daily life.

As the most frequently diagnosed gastrointestinal disorder in the U.S., IBS affects as many as one in five Americans. The condition is more common in women than in men and typically strikes in late adolescence or early adulthood.

In addition to abdominal pain and bloating, most IBS sufferers experience either chronic constipation or diarrhea, and some unfortunate individuals alternate between the two extremes. Regardless of the nature of the symptoms, IBS almost always has a negative impact on the quality and enjoyment of life.

While the exact cause of the condition remains unknown, food allergies or intolerances may be at the root of the problem. Wheat and dairy products are frequently implicated, and consumption of alcohol, caffeine and chocolate often triggers flare-ups.

Researchers at Imperial College London recently reported that compared to folks without the condition, IBS sufferers tend to have higher numbers of a specific type of pain receptor known as TRPV1, the same receptor responsible for creating the burning sensation that occurs after eating chili peppers. This may explain why IBS symptoms typically worsen following consumption of spicy foods.

Even when IBS sufferers are careful to avoid foods that trigger their symptoms, they may continue to experience gastrointestinal distress. In many cases, emotional and physical stress can lead to flare-ups of the condition.

As if the intestinal discomfort isn't enough, IBS is often accompanied by other maladies. In a recent study of nearly 130,000 people, scientists at Boston University found that individuals who reported symptoms of IBS were 40 percent more likely to suffer from depression and 60 percent more likely to suffer from migraine headaches than individuals in a control group.

Researchers at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago found that individuals with hay fever are more than twice as likely to develop IBS compared to those who are unaffected by seasonal allergies. In folks with allergic skin conditions, the likelihood of having IBS is nearly four times greater.

Because the precise cause of IBS remains a mystery, the condition can be challenging to treat. Due to a limited number of FDA-approved drugs, many experts advocate the use of complementary and alternative treatments for symptom relief.

In a study published last year in the British Medical Journal, researchers reported that soluble fiber and peppermint oil are safe and effective natural therapies for IBS and should be considered first-line treatments.

The researchers analyzed 12 studies, involving nearly 600 individuals, that compared treatment with fiber to placebo or no treatment. While insoluble fiber was found to be relatively ineffective, water-soluble fiber significantly reduced IBS symptoms.

Sources of insoluble fiber include whole grain foods, wheat and corn bran, nuts, seeds and vegetables such as green beans, cauliflower and celery. Soluble fiber is found in legumes, oats, apples and the flesh of root vegetables, including potatoes, carrots and onions.

One type of soluble fiber, guar gum, has been shown to be particularly effective in alleviating the symptoms of IBS. In clinical trials, daily consumption of 5 grams partially hydrolyzed guar gum was found to significantly reduce the frequency and severity of abdominal pain, cramping and flatulence, as well as symptoms of constipation and diarrhea.

Derived from the guar bean, the gum helps normalize the moisture content of the stool, absorbing excess liquid in diarrhea and softening the stool in constipation. It also appears to nourish probiotic organisms, the beneficial bacteria in the gut that promote proper digestion and enhance immunity.

As a bonus, guar gum has been found to help lower cholesterol and blood-sugar levels. Since excessive doses of the gum can lead to gastrointestinal blockage, individuals with IBS should take it as directed and only with a physician's supervision.

In addition to water-soluble fiber, peppermint oil may help alleviate IBS symptoms. After reviewing the results of four clinical trials involving nearly 400 patients, researchers found that IBS sufferers who took peppermint oil in enteric-coated gelatin capsules two or three times daily experienced significantly fewer severe symptoms and more symptom-free days.

Peppermint oil is known to help relax the smooth muscles of the gastrointestinal tract and to reduce the formation of intestinal gas. In animal studies, the oil has been shown to have numbing and pain-relieving effects.

Although there's no known cure for irritable bowel syndrome, careful management of the condition can help most IBS sufferers enjoy long-term symptom relief and a greater quality of life.

Rallie McAllister is a board-certified family physician, speaker and the author of several books, including "Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim." Her Website is www.rallieonhealth.com. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc.

Bariatric laparoscopic surgery an option

2009-09-26T07:20:00.000-07:00

DALLAS (UPI) -- Single-incision laparoscopic surgery is an option for people considering bariatric procedures for weight loss, a U.S. researcher said. Dr. Edward Livingston, professor and chief of gastrointestinal and endocrine surgery at the University of Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, said having just a single entry point means less scarring than in traditional laparoscopic surgery, in which five or more incisions are required. "The promise of fewer scars really appeals to patients, evidenced by the growing demand," Livingston said in a statement. "Not everyone has heard about it, but the enthusiasm is striking once they find it's a possibility." Single-incision surgery can help reduce post-operative pain, speed healing and reduce risk of infection, studies in the emerging field indicate. Bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, is performed for the purpose of losing weight on the stomach and intestine of people who are dangerously obese. The two most common procedures are the Roux-en-Y, a form of gastric bypass surgery which closes off a portion of the stomach and bypasses part of the intestine, and gastric banding, which places a restrictive band around the stomach.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Cheap test as good as MRI to detect stroke

2009-09-25T07:13:00.000-07:00

BALTIMORE (UPI) -- A simple, one-minute eye movement exam worked better than magnetic resonance imaging to distinguish new strokes, U.S. researchers said. Dr. David E. Newman-Toker of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Illinois in Peoria, said people experiencing a stroke have eye-movement alterations that correlate with stroke-damage to various brain areas -- and these are distinct from eye-movement alterations seen with benign ear diseases. Some patients, for example, can't immediately adjust their eye position if their heads are quickly turned to the side, or they experience jerky eye movements as they try to focus on a doctor's finger when looking to either side. The findings, published in the journal Stroke, found the quick, extremely low-cost exam caught more strokes than the current gold standard of MRI. "The idea that a bedside exam could outperform a modern neuroimaging test such as MRI is something that most people had given up for dead, but we've shown it's possible," Newman-Toker says in a statement. Dizziness is the cause of some 2.6 million U.S. emergency room visits annually and the vast majority of these complaints are caused by benign inner-ear balance problems. But 4 percent are signals of stroke or transient ischemic attack -- a condition that often warns of impending stroke in the coming days or weeks.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Maximum Weight Limit easier than BMI

2009-09-24T07:09:00.000-07:00

RENO, Nev. (UPI) -- A statistician has developed a "speed limit" for weight, a Maximum Weight Limit, for those who find body mass index complicated, U.S. researchers say. George Fernandez, director of the Center for Research Design and Analysis at the University of Nevada, Reno, says he wanted to give people a simpler way of calculating their healthy weight that didn't involve charts or online calculators. "It's a very simple calculation that most of us can do in our heads. For men and women, there is a baseline height and weight. For men, the baseline is 5-feet, 9-inches tall and a Maximum Weight Limit of 175 pounds, meaning that a 5-foot, 9-inch tall man should weigh no more than 175 pounds," Fernandez says. "For women, the baseline is 5-feet tall and a Maximum Weight Limit of 125 pounds." From the baseline, calculate how much taller or shorter in inches -- for a man, add or subtract 5 pounds for every inch taller or shorter than 5 feet 9 inches. If a man is 5 feet 11 inches tall, 2 inches taller than the baseline, add 5 pounds for each of those 2 inches for a Maximum Weight Limit of 175. For women add or subtract 4.5 pounds for each inch differing from the baseline height of 5 feet.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Breast cancer drugs raise blood clot risk

2009-09-23T15:17:00.000-07:00

PORTLAND, Ore. (UPI) -- Drugs used to lower the risk of breast cancer in women have the side effect of increasing the likelihood of blood clots, researchers in Oregon say. The study, published in the current issue of Annals of Internal Medicine, examined the effects of tamoxifen, raloxifene and tibolone reduce the risk of invasive breast cancer by 30 percent to 68 percent. But it also found tamoxifen and raloxifene increase the chance of blood clots by 60 percent to 90 percent, and that tiboline, which is not on the U.S. market, is associated with strokes in women over 70. "They did differ on the harm side. That's important to know," said Dr. Heidi D. Nelson, a research professor at Oregon Health & Science University who was the lead author. Copyright 2009 by United Press International

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY, BELIZE

2009-09-21T02:00:00.000-07:00

Today, the independent nation of Belize is 28. Yes, we are a young nation. We are proud of this land we call home and we are certain with the struggle we battle each day that we will build a better Belize, one day at a time.

To all Belizeans all over the world, I take this time to wish you all a Happy Independence Day.

Three cheers for Belize. Hip Hip Hooray. Hip Hip Hooray!!!! Hip Hip Hooray!!!!

Less chocolate, more veggies may help acne

2009-09-20T19:46:00.000-07:00

OSLO, Norway (UPI) -- Researchers in Norway have made associations between acne, high intake of chocolate and chips and low intake of vegetables. Jon Anders Halvorsen of the University of Oslo and colleagues in Tibet and the United States studied 3,775 adolescents to explore the possible causes of acne. The 18- and 19-year olds were given questionnaires to monitor their diets, lifestyle variables and mental conditions. Study participants reported on their own acne. The researchers acquired the sociodemographic status of the young people from Statistics Norway. The study, published in the journal BMC Public Health, found in girls, there was a significant link between acne and a diet low in raw and fresh vegetables. "Our study shows a possible link between diet and acne. However, when we introduced symptoms of depression and anxiety in our statistical model, the role of diet became less clear," Halvorsen said in a statement. "On the other hand the association between acne and mental health problems was still strong when diet was introduced." It is too early to give evidence based diet advice to teenagers with acne, further studies are needed, Halvorsen said.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Your Health: Feet Hurt? It Could Be Plantar Fasciitis

2009-09-20T19:28:00.000-07:00

If you're like most Americans, you spend more than four hours a day on your feet and take around 5,000 steps daily. That's quite a pounding for your poor pups, so it's no wonder they whimper at the end of a long day. But if your feet hurt as soon as they hit the floor each morning, you could have a condition called plantar fasciitis. The plantar fascia is a fibrous band of tissue that runs under the arch of the foot from the heel to the base of the toes. With each step you take, your heel strikes the ground, flattening your arch and stretching your plantar fascia. When this tissue gets stretched too often or too far, it can become irritated and inflamed, leading to plantar fasciitis. The condition can affect one foot or both. Symptoms can strike folks who are sedentary or active, and those with high arches or flat feet. Flare-ups may occur after walking or standing on any surface that your feet are unaccustomed to, whether it's deep sand, the rung of a ladder or rock-hard concrete. The condition may also be triggered by wearing different types of shoes. Women who trade their customary high heels for a new pair of flats are especially vulnerable. Weekend warriors and super jocks can develop plantar fasciitis when they push themselves too hard. Even weight gain can lead to the condition. Regardless of the cause, the end result is rather predictable. If you're unfortunate enough to develop plantar fasciitis, you'll likely experience discomfort along the arch of your foot and at the inner part of your heel. The pain typically strikes in the morning with your first step of the day. After a few minutes spent hopping and hobbling about in agony, the pain may subside, only to return with a vengeance later in the day. Getting plantar fasciitis is easy, but getting rid of it is another story. If you're lucky, the condition -- and the associated pain -- will resolve in a matter of days. But in some cases, it lingers on for weeks or months. The sooner you start treating plantar fasciitis, the better off you'll be. You can begin your treatment at home with a few do-it-yourself remedies. Since inflammation is at the root of the problem, taking an over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medicine is a good place to start. This helps reduce the swelling in your feet, as well as the pain. Rubbing your aching arches with ice cubes several times a day can also ease your suffering. If your significant other owes you a big favor, you might be able to negotiate a therapeutic foot massage. But if you strike out, rolling a golf ball or a can of corn beneath your arches is the next best thing. If your dogs are still barking in spite of your best efforts, you might want to walk them directly to your doctor's office. Depending on your level of pain and desperation, you might agree to a steroid shot, which your physician will inject into the heel of your foot. Most people who've had this type of treatment agree the week of relief it provides is well worth the 30 seconds of agony it causes. Your doctor may also advise you to treat your feet to a pair of support devices called orthotics. These shoe inserts can help shore up weak arches and stabilize your feet. You might get some relief with over-the-counter arch supports, but those of the custom-made variety are generally far superior. They're also far more expensive -- a good pair can set you back several hundred dollars. If you've never had plantar fasciitis, you'll probably want to keep it that way. Well-made shoes are your best protection, since they give your hardworking feet the support they deserve. Proper arch support and flexible soles are basic requirements, but even the best shoes won't help if they don't fit your feet. Since feet and toes tend to expand and change shape with age, it's entirely possible that the shoes you wore to your high school prom may not fit properly today. It's a good idea to have your feet measured at least every two years, and adjust your shoe size and style accordingly. If your feet are your major mode of transportation, you'll definitely want to take care of them. You've still got a lot of ground to cover.

Rallie McAllister is a board-certified family physician, speaker and the author of several books, including "Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim." Her Website is www.rallieonhealth.com. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.
Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc.

Your Health: Bladder Control Problems Are Treatable

2009-08-31T05:40:00.000-07:00

Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H.
A few things haven't changed since kindergarten, like the rules and regulations regarding potty breaks. If you've ever lost control of your bladder as an adult, you may have felt just as embarrassed as you did when you were a preschooler. Although it may be unsettling, involuntary loss of urine isn't uncommon. Urinary incontinence, the official name for involuntary leakage of urine from the bladder, currently affects more than 12 million American adults. Urinary incontinence is more prevalent in older individuals, but young people aren't immune to the condition. Women are more likely to be affected than men for several reasons. Childbirth can weaken or injure the nerves and muscles of the pelvis, especially in women who deliver big babies or those who require forceps deliveries. Nearly a third of U.S. women experience long-term bladder leakage following childbirth. Among men, those with enlarged prostate glands are at increased risk for bladder control problems. Temporary urinary incontinence is relatively common following surgical procedures involving the bladder or prostate, and in some cases, the condition may be permanent. The involuntary loss of urine from the bladder may be due to one of several types of urinary incontinence -- each with different causes, symptoms and treatments. Stress incontinence is a condition in which involuntary loss of urine occurs during activities involving the muscles of the abdomen and pelvis, including sneezing, laughing or coughing. Stress incontinence may occur during running, jumping and other types of exercise, since these activities create physical forces that push down on the bladder and force urine out of the body. Urge incontinence, also known as overactive bladder, is caused by urinary muscle spasms that lead to the uncontrolled loss of urine. In many cases, individuals who suffer from an overactive bladder experience strong, unexpected urges to void, especially after drinking liquids or hearing the sound of running water. Overflow incontinence occurs when the bladder stays perpetually full. As additional urine is manufactured by the kidneys and delivered to the bladder, the excess liquid dribbles from the body. If you experience problems with bladder control, you may be a little embarrassed, but you shouldn't let it prevent you from seeking medical attention. In some cases, urinary incontinence is completely reversible, especially if the condition is the result of a medication side effect or caused by a smoldering urinary tract infection. Even if the condition isn't easily reversible, you're not doomed to a lifetime of dampness. Fortunately, a number of effective treatment options are available. Surgery can return a dropped bladder to its proper position, enlarge a small bladder or tighten weakened pelvic muscles. In many cases, a more conservative approach to treatment can correct the cause of urinary incontinence and put a stop to bladder-control problems. A cure might be as simple as treating an infection with antibiotics or taking a daily dose of medication that prevents problematic bladder contractions. If the condition doesn't respond to drug therapy, specific exercises may be helpful. Your doctor may instruct you to begin urinating at frequent, regular intervals, starting with once every hour and then progressively lengthening the interval. This practice, known as bladder training, significantly reduces symptoms in three-quarters of affected individuals and completely eliminates the problem in nearly 15 percent of those with urinary incontinence. If you have mild symptoms of urinary incontinence, you may be able to improve bladder control with pelvic floor exercises. Also known as Kegels, these exercises have been shown to improve bladder control in about 80 percent of incontinent adults. Kegels are easy to perform, and you can do them anywhere without anyone being the wiser. To execute the perfect Kegel, simply contract the muscles you would use to stop the flow of urination. It may require a little experimentation, but once you've mastered the maneuver, simply hold the contraction for three seconds and then relax for three seconds. Repeat this exercise 10 to 15 times per session, and try to squeeze in three sessions per day. Kegel exercises can be very effective, but only when they're done regularly. The more you exercise your pelvic floor muscles, the more likely you are to see significant improvements in bladder control. In addition to performing Kegels, losing excess weight can significantly improve symptoms of urinary incontinence. Avoiding alcohol and caffeine may also be helpful. If exercises and dietary changes don't seem to help, it's time to see your doctor. With proper treatment, there's an excellent chance you can overcome urinary incontinence for good.

Rallie McAllister is a board-certified family physician, speaker and the author of several books, including "Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim." Her Website is http://www.rallieonhealth.com/. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at http://www.creators.com/.
Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc.

Women more sensitive to looks rejection

2009-08-30T05:54:00.000-07:00

BUFFALO, N.Y. (UPI) -- Women are more sensitive than men to appearance rejection, U.S. researchers say. Lora Park, assistant professor of psychology, graduate student Ann Marie DiRaddo of the University at Buffalo, and Rachel Calogero of the University of Kent in England said the study also finds men and women who had internalized media ideals of attractiveness had higher levels of appearance-based rejection sensitivity than did their peers. The study, published in the Psychology of Women Quarterly, says no relationship was found between parents' perceptions of attractiveness and study participants' increased sensitivity to appearance-based rejection. Therefore, peer and media influences, rather than parental influence, play a key role in appearance-based rejection sensitivity, the researchers say. "There is a lot of research to suggest that physically attractive people are less stigmatized by others in this society, and have significant advantages in many areas of life than those who are viewed as physically unattractive," Park says in a statement. The study observed 220 of U.S. college students ages 18-33 -- 106 women and 114 men. The subjects completed a series of questionnaires, including scales that assessed the perceived influence of peers and parents on sensitivity to appearance-based rejection, and an assessment of dimensions of media influence related to body image and appearance. Copyright 2009 by United Press International

ERs may not use lung blood clot guidelines

2009-08-29T05:48:00.000-07:00

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (UPI) -- Emergency room physicians may not be following clinical guidelines for diagnosing patients with possible lung blood clots, U.S. researchers say. Researchers at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, R.I., said current accepted clinical practice indicates patients with a low clinical suspicion for pulmonary emboli should undergo a blood test for D-dimer, a protein fragment present in the blood after a clot is degraded, then multi-detector row computed tomography, if positive. The study, involving 5,344 patients, found, however, that 42 percent of patients had a positive D-dimer exam but did not have a CT scan. "Current protocols suggest that those patients should have had a scan," Dr. Michael T. Corwin, the lead author, said in a statement. "Multi-detector row CT was performed in 7 percent of patients with negative D-dimer results, and the same protocols suggest that those patients should not have undergone a scan. "Anytime a patient gets a CT scan there is a radiation dose. The evaluation of patients with suspected PE should include D-dimer and CT testing in a more standardized fashion so that we can save patients from having unnecessary CT scans. " The D-dimer test should only be used in patients with a relatively low suspicion of having a pulmonary embolus, but if the D-dimer test is positive, then patients should have the CT. If the test is negative then no scanning is needed, Corwin explained. The finding is published in the American Journal of Roentgenology.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Toronto H1N1 flu-related death probed

2009-08-28T05:44:00.000-07:00

TORONTO (UPI) -- A 44-year-old Toronto man with undisclosed pre-existing medical conditions who died tested positive for the H1N1 flu virus, medical officials said. Ontario Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, told a news conference autopsy results would be needed to determine if the virus originally named swine flu played a role in the man's death, the Toronto Sun reported Tuesday. Williams said the east-end man's condition took a sudden bad turn at his home Saturday, and paramedics were unable to resuscitate him. His was the second H1N1-related death in Canada since April, when a northern Alberta woman, also with pre-existing medical problems, died. Her autopsy results couldn't conclude whether the flu virus killed her, the Sun said. The World Health Organization said after this death that Canada is second only to Mexico in reporting new cases of the flu. More than 11,000 people in 46 countries have contracted the virus.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Level of response to alcohol, risk factor

2009-08-27T05:42:00.000-07:00

SAN DIEGO (UPI) -- A U.S. doctor says teens who report they "drink others under the table" may be at higher risk of alcoholism. Dr. Marc Schuckit of the Alcohol Research Center at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System and the University of California, San Diego, says a low level of reaction to alcohol has been found to be a unique risk factor for alcohol use disorders across adulthood and not simply a reflection of a broader range of risk factors. Schuckit, the corresponding author of a study, looked at alcoholism risk factors such as family history in 297 men. The men -- participants in the San Diego Prospective Study -- were tested on their level of response when recruited between the ages of 18 to 25. They were also evaluated at 10-, 15-, 20- and 25-year follow-ups. "We showed that a low level of reaction at age 20 predicts later heavy drinking and alcoholism even if you control for all these other predictors of alcohol problems at age 20," Schuckit says in a statement. A person with low level of reaction may tend to drink more each time they imbibe, he says, but identifying the risk early in life may allow ways to decrease the risk. The study does not mean not having a low level of reaction means not developing alcoholism, Schuckit added. The findings are scheduled to be published in the September issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research. Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Race may have impact on teachers

2009-08-26T05:57:00.000-07:00

ITHACA, N.Y. (UPI) -- A U.S. study found high-quality teachers may tend to leave schools that experience inflows of black students, researchers said. Study author C. Kirabo Jackson of Cornell University said the study suggests a school's racial makeup may have a direct impact on the quality of its teachers. "It's well established that schools with large minority populations tend to have lower quality teachers," Jackson said in a statement. "But it is unclear whether these schools are merely located in areas with a paucity of quality teachers, whether quality teachers avoid these schools because of the neighborhood or economic factors surrounding a school, or whether there is a direct relationship between student characteristics and teacher quality." Jackson said the findings suggest it's not neighborhoods keeping high-quality teachers away. "This is particularly sobering because it implies that, all else equal, black students will systematically receive lower quality instruction," Jackson said. The study of the Charlotte-Mecklenberg school district in North Carolina ended its race-based busing program in 2002 and some schools had a large and sudden inflow of black students -- but the racial makeup of the neighborhood and economic factors were the same. The study, published in the Journal of Labor Economics, found the black teachers were slightly more likely than white teachers to stay in the schools that experienced a black inflow. However, those black teachers who did leave black schools tended to be the highest qualified.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Sweden reports nationwide blood shortage

2009-08-25T17:26:00.000-07:00

UPPSALA, Sweden (UPI) -- Sweden's hospitals are suffering a shortage of blood due to increasingly advanced healthcare techniques, a top hospital doctor said. The blood shortage forced Uppsala University Hospital to suspend operations until more blood is found, Johan Ronnelid, the hospital's chief physician, said Monday. "We have searched the country and will receive supplies by taxi during the day from some remote locations," he said. "There is a shortage of blood in the whole country." The shortage is most acute in blood groups O and B, Ronnelid said, explaining that increasingly sophisticated medical techniques require larger quantities of blood. Blood shortages in Sweden sometimes occur during the summer months, but rarely as early as May, the Swedish news agency TT reported Tuesday.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

'Dex' ups high altitude exercise capacity

2009-08-19T07:10:00.000-07:00

ZURICH, Switzerland (UPI) -- Taking dexamethasone, used in the treatment of high altitude cerebral edema, may improve exercise capacity in some mountaineers, Swiss researchers said. Lead authors Dr. Manuel Fischler of the University Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland, and Hans-Peter Brunner-La Rocca, of the University Hospital in Basel, Switzerland, recruited 23 mountaineers with a history of high altitude pulmonary edema and administered baseline cardiopulmonary exercise tests a low elevation at 1607 feet. All participants were randomized to take either dexamethasone, tadalifil -- used to treat erectile dysfunction and approved for the treatment of pulmonary arterial hypertension -- or placebo. Subjects were tested for oxygen uptake kinetics by pedaling a stationary bike at a constant rate for six minutes, and then for exercise capacity by pedaling at 50 percent of their predicted maximum workload for one minute, and then increasing output by 25 percent each additional minute until exhaustion, usually after 8 to 12 minutes. The study, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, found the climbers taking dexamethasone improved exercise capacity, oxygen uptake kinetics and decreased the anaerobic threshold. "Overall, this means that those climbers who took dex felt better, were able to do more, and probably experienced fewer altitude-related discomforts than both other groups," Fischler said in a statement.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

More injuries during kickoff, punting

2009-08-18T07:08:00.000-07:00

COLUMBUS, Ohio (UPI) -- A greater proportion of severe injuries in high school football occur during kickoffs and punt plays, U.S. researchers find. The study, published in Research in Sports Medicine, finds 33 percent of high school football injuries occurring during kickoffs and punts are severe -- and 20 percent are concussions. The study finds injuries sustained at the beginning or middle of a game are more severe compared to injuries sustained during the end or in overtime. "Not only does the time in competition affect injuries but also the phase of play," study author Dawn Comstock of the Center for Injury Research and Policy in The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, says in a statement. "Overall, severe injuries accounted for 20 percent of all injuries, with 44 percent of severe injuries being fractures." Data for the study were collected from the 2005-2006 National High School Sports Injury Surveillance Study.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Binge drinking may affect working memory

2009-08-17T07:07:00.000-07:00

GALICIA, Spain (UPI) -- Students desiring to excel at school or work may wish to forego binge drinking, research by Spanish scientists suggests. The study, published online ahead of print in the November issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, finds binge drinkers expend more attentional effort to completing a given task, and have problems differentiating between relevant and irrelevant information. The study looked at 95 first-year male and female university students. Of these, 42 were binge drinkers -- defined as males who drink five or more standard alcohol drinks or females who drink four or more within a two-hour period. The researchers find binge drinkers showed anomalies during the execution of a task involving visual working memory not shown by the 53 non-binge drinkers. "One of the most relevant and worrying aspects of the high prevalence of intense consumption of alcohol in young people is the effect this drinking pattern probably has on the structure and function of the still developing brain, and that these consequences may persist in the long-term," study corresponding author Alberto Crego, a doctoral student at the University of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain, says in a statement. "Some neuromaturation processes continue until approximately 25 years of age; this means that late developing regions are probably even more vulnerable targets."
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Canning not just for grandma anymore

2009-08-16T07:03:00.000-07:00

SEATTLE (UPI) -- Home canning, fueled by movements to eat more fruits and vegetables, save money and eat locally is gaining favor among younger people, a Seattle Web site says. A survey of its community by Allrecipes.com, a food Web site that receives 300 million hits annually, indicates the demographic of canners is shifting from baby boomers to Generations X and Y -- and nearly half of canners are age 40 or younger. Moreover, almost half of canners live in suburban areas, signaling that canning is no longer reserved to rural communities -- or grandma, the Web site says. As the recession progresses and food prices continue to rise, 61 percent of canners say their greatest motivation is saving money. Canning has traditionally been a family tradition passed down by generations, but younger people are looking for canning advice on the Internet. Allrecipes.com says its canning page views increased by 109 percent since last year. Allrecipes.com is supporting the national "Canvolution" by partnering with Canning Across America, a grassroots canning movement started by food writers, bloggers, cooks, gardeners and food lovers to revitalize the popularity of canning as a way to make it easier to "strive for five," serving of fruits and vegetables. No survey details were provided.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Lifelong Health: Swine Flu Threat Continues in U.S., Throughout World

2009-08-15T18:57:00.000-07:00

Though this once-terrifying virus has long since lost its media allure, the swine flu is still causing trouble throughout the country. With each passing day, more individuals are in a panic; do they have swine flu? While the swine flu is not often fatal, any stuffy nose, sore throat, fever, headache or gastrointestinal distress raises concerns. The initial panic over swine flu was likely overblown and the risks of death overstated. However, there is still cause for concern. Worldwide, the number of proven cases now exceeds 1 million. As of July 24, a total of 43,771 cases have been diagnosed in the U.S., leading to 302 deaths. Even after the public scare died down, the World Health Organization formally declared a swine flu pandemic. So, what is so new about this virus, how concerned should we be and what should we do about it? The virus was initially thought to have started in pigs in Mexico because the first reported cases in humans were centered in that area -- an analysis of viral cultures found that it had many similarities to strains commonly found in pigs. Further studies now show that this virus is very different from that found in North American pigs, but instead has features of influenza viruses that occur in pigs, birds and humans. Although the virus is new, there is no immunity to it and (as of now) no vaccine to protect against it. This virus appears to be no different from any of the other influenza viruses. It is transmitted from human to human by coughing, sneezing and blowing the virus in small airborne droplets. Once the virus is inhaled, it multiplies in the body and leads to an infection. Clinically, the features of the illness are very similar to that of any other influenza infection. After an incubation period of one to seven days (during which time the asymptomatic person can spread the virus to all around him), the patient becomes ill, typically complaining of a severe headache, a fever often greater than 101 degrees, cough, sore throat and runny nose. Occasionally, a patient may suffer from nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that the severity of the infection can range from a mild respiratory infection to a severe illness with pneumonia, encephalitis, heart infection (myocarditis) and severe muscle pain (myopathy). Like all other influenza infections, swine flu is particularly serious in "at risk" individuals. These individuals include: infants and children less than 5 years old, those older than 65 but particularly the very old (over 85), nursing home residents and individuals with chronic illness and an impaired ability to fight infections. Here complications including pneumonia, dehydration, septicemia or viral infections of the heart and brain can prove fatal. Based on this information, the presence of any symptoms suggesting influenza should be taken very seriously, especially in those who are at high risk of developing complications. If symptoms are mild and the patient is healthy, it is adequate to stay in bed, drink plenty of liquids and take acetaminophen for headache and fever. Physicians can easily and rapidly diagnose the disease by taking a nasal swab of the patient. If present, therapy with an antiviral can decrease the severity of the symptoms and shorten the time to recovery. The two drugs commonly used are either Tamiflu or Relenza, although their effectiveness in swine flu is not proven and some evidence indicates that the virus may be resistant. The virus does not appear to be more virulent than any other influenza virus, but the lack of immunity or a vaccine raises the specter that multitudes worldwide could become infected. While deaths may be no greater than expected, the sheer number of those diagnosed raises concern that deaths could be in the millions. Because of the involvement of the WHO and global cooperation, a vaccine is on the fast track and expected to be available before the next flu season hits this winter. At-risk individuals, as well as those caring for them, should be vaccinated. Hopefully, vaccination will stave off a worldwide disaster. In this case, the old adage holds true: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Dr. David Lipschitz is the author of the book "Breaking the Rules of Aging." To find out more about Dr. David Lipschitz and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. More information is available at www.DrDavidHealth.com.
Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc.

Peste neumónica se cobra una tercera vida en China

2009-08-04T03:17:00.000-07:00

Un tercer afectado murió por el brote de peste neumónica que afecta a la provincia noroccidental china de Qinghai, donde hay otros nueve enfermos por esta bacteria y las autoridades mantienen en cuarentena a miles de habitantes.
El último fallecido es un hombre llamado Danzhi, de 64 años y de la ciudad de Ziketan, en la prefectura tibetana de Hainan, cuyos 10.000 habitantes fueron puestos en cuarentena el fin de semana pasado, aunque se desconoce el número que permanece aislado.
Ziketan tiene una superficie de unos 3 mil kilómetros cuadrados habitados por pastores tibetanos.
"Se trata de una zona de pastores nómadas muy pobre y poco poblada. Los pastores viven muy distantes unos de otros" , explicó un portavoz de Sanidad de Qinghai apellidado Yang.
El actual brote no supone peligro para los viajeros estivales, ya que la zona cercana más turística, el lago Qinghai, se encuentra a 100 kilómetros de Ziketan, dijo Yang, aunque recomendó a todos aquellos que hayan estado en la zona desde el 16 de julio y que padezcan fiebre o tos que acudan de inmediato a un hospital.
Para prevenir el contagio, las autoridades están llevando a cabo tareas de desinfección y han bloqueado los accesos por carretera a la localidad, informó Yang, donde casi no hay actividad debido a la cuarentena, aunque tampoco pánico, ya que la peste no es nueva para sus pobladores.
Agregó que esta zona del altiplano tibetano registra cada verano brotes de peste, en concreto el área de Ziketan ha sufrido dos en la última década, aunque el actual es de una especial virulencia, por tratarse de un tipo de bacteria más letal.
"Tenemos experiencia en este tipo de brotes, por lo que hemos podido tomar medidas de forma inmediata" , aseguró el funcionario.
Las autoridades sanitarias indican que, hasta hoy, no han detectado ninguna nueva infección.El brote, que se inició el 20 de julio, ha acabado con la vida de otras dos personas desde el sábado, un pastor de 32 años y su vecino de 37, mientras que otras nueve personas están hospitalizadas en el Hospital Tibetano del distrito de Xinghai.
La bacteria neumónica, la "Yersinia pestis" , es la más peligrosa de las tres que producen la peste, una variable de la septicémica y la bubónica, esta última conocida en Europa por las plagas que mataron a millones en la Edad Media.
Según la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) , la neumónica puede causar la muerte en 24 horas si no se trata a tiempo con antibióticos, y recomienda la cuarentena para aislar el contagio, que se produce a través del aire entre humanos o animales.
La bacteria está presente en roedores salvajes, como ratas, ratones y marmotas, y en sus parásitos, como pulgas o garrapatas.
"Generalmente, las medidas que se toman en este tipo de brotes consisten en identificar la amenaza y controlar su propagación. Una vez identificados los casos, hay que tratar a los pacientes con antibióticos a la mayor brevedad posible" , señaló Vivian Tan, portavoz de la OMS en Pekín.
Tan aclaró que la OMS ha recibido directamente del Ministerio de Sanidad datos actualizados de la epidemia desde el sábado pasado.
"La peste neumónica es la menos común de las tres pestes, pero puede matar a entre un 30 y un 60 por ciento de los contagiados" , agregó Tan.
De los nueve pacientes infectados en Ziketan -la mayoría familiares de la primera víctima-, uno se encuentra en condición grave, y otro ha desarrollado síntomas de tos y dolor torácico.
La peste neumónica ataca a los pulmones y se desarrolla en un máximo de tres días, por lo que, con el fin de reducir las posibilidades de fallecimiento, debe ser tratada en las primeras 24 horas de la aparición de síntomas como fiebre, dolor de cabeza, problemas respiratorios, debilidad y tos con sangre o esputo.

Study: Patients don't discuss hospice care

2009-07-30T17:18:00.000-07:00

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (UPI) -- A U.S. study of lung cancer patients found that half of them did not discuss hospice care with their doctors. The study by researchers at Harvard Medical School found that blacks and Hispanic patients were significantly less likely to discuss a hospice with their physician within four to seven months after diagnosis than were whites and Asians. "Many terminally ill patients who might benefit from hospice aren't discussing it with their physicians and may not be aware of the services hospice could offer," said Haiden Huskamp, the study's lead author. For the study, Harvard researchers surveyed 1,517 patients diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. The study's findings were published in the May 25 edition of the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Kidney stones being seen in children

2009-07-22T09:01:00.000-07:00

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (UPI) -- A U.S. urologist reports seeing an increase in young children with kidney stones -- something more often seen in middle-aged men. Dr. Gary Faerber of the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor says modern diet and lifestyle are probably at fault. "I am seeing more and more children who have kidney stones," Faerber says in a statement. "It's a real phenomenon." Family history of kidney stones is a significant risk factor, but Faerber says consuming sugar-filled drinks and fast-food high in sodium may play a role. Sodium is a known risk factor in the formation of kidney stones, he says. "The sedentary lifestyle we're starting to see in the younger age group and the pediatric group is also a risk factor because we know that obesity increases the risk of forming kidney stones," he adds. A diet high in oxalates can also play a role. Oxalates are found in leafy greens, strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, chocolate, peanut butter and nuts. However the most common reason people have kidney stones, says Faerber, is that the urine becomes super saturated and it doesn't take much for a small crystal to form. This is why it's really important for kidney stone patients to keep their urine really diluted by drinking lots of water, Faerber says.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

WE ARE UNPREPARED FOR A PANDEMIC!!

2009-07-06T22:40:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON (UPI) -- This year's swine flu outbreak refuted many of the predictions about how the next large-scale flu pandemic would originate and spread, experts say. The world's medical community had based much of their pandemic planning on the 2004 H5N1 "bird flu" outbreak in Southeast Asia, which proved to be a poor model for predicting how the latest novel flu strain, H1N1, would play out, The Washington Post reported Sunday. In planning to cope with future pandemics, experts after 2004 wrongly assumed it would be an avian flu strain. They also assumed that, like H5N1, it would be deadly in 60 percent of those who caught it, instead of the less than 1 percent mortality rate of the H1N1 virus. "Everyone was thinking about H5N1 and the possibility that we would be in for partial global population collapse," influenza expert David Fedson told the newspaper. "We never addressed severity, because we knew it would be severe. And now we have this funny virus coming out of pigs." The consequences were that the world was largely unprepared for the swine flu virus that emerged despite five years and hundreds of millions of dollars spent on getting ready, the Post said.
Copyright 2009 by United Press InternationalWhat to do if mower sev

Lifelong Health: Putting Primary Care First Is a Way To Fix Health Care

2009-06-27T15:06:00.000-07:00

Recent research reports have shown that despite the enthusiasm around health care reform, every measure of our health is worsening. In the past few years, the prevalence of obesity has increased by 8 percent; the number of people who do the recommended amount of daily exercise has decreased by 10 percent; consumption of fruits and vegetables has decreased by 16 percent; smoking rates remain unchanged; and moderate alcohol intake has increased by 11 percent. The percentage of the population adhering to all "recommended lifestyle measures" has decreased by 15 percent. Particularly alarming is the observation that those who have had heart attacks, have high blood pressure or have diabetes are no more likely to commit to lifestyle changes than the general population is. We are in trouble. In those older than 20, 30 percent have high blood pressure; 30 percent are obese; 6.5 percent have diabetes; and more than 40 percent are totally sedentary. The problem is most severe in minorities, the poor and those without insurance. All of these statistics reveal people's complete lack of commitment to lead healthy lifestyles. It's no surprise that this lack of interest in health greatly increases risk factors for heart disease and stroke, which in turn account for the very high prevalence of preventable deaths. In 2002, more than 500,000 people died from coronary artery disease. Of those, 47 percent died before emergency services arrived or they were transported to hospitals. Had those people made it to hospitals, their risk of death would have been less than 10 percent. These alarming statistics are occurring despite vigorous efforts to make our population more aware of risk factors for disease and to encourage healthy lifestyles in our children, in ourselves and in the oldest of the old. Clearly, we are failing. Most alarmingly, it seems this is a uniquely American condition. Other developed countries around the world are making great progress in health outcomes despite spending much less on health care than the United States does. From my perspective, the difference is clear. Compared with other developed countries, the United States places a much lower priority on primary care and medically supervised prevention of disease. American physicians conduct more tests and more procedures in the evaluations of illnesses and tend to prescribe the most expensive medications. We are also more likely to deliver care that is of no proven benefit. Rather than a focus on primary care, our health care system is characterized by care that is delivered almost exclusively by specialists. The primary care physician is not valued, is reimbursed very little for his services, and must see so many patients a day that all he can do is triage and refer complex patients to specialists for further work-up and care. All of this greatly affects quality health outcomes and widens the gap between the U.S. health system and every other developed country's system. While some of the players in health care reform have voiced their commitment to primary care, I fear that the big business of medicine will overwhelm the real problems of American health care and lead to solutions that focus on more tangible areas of cost cutting. Most notably, a proposal already has been offered to cut physician reimbursement by 22 percent. Simply put, that would be a tragedy. Rather than fix the root problems of misallocated money and inappropriate focus on acute care, this sort of bottom-line policy would only result in more unnecessary tests and procedures while physicians struggle to make ends meet. Amid this gloom lies a glimmer of hope. Many leaders of the insurance industry have expressed a commitment to supporting "home physicians," who are primary care physicians who have the time and resources to comprehensively deliver quality care to patients. The home physician functions as a primary care specialist rather than as a triage physician, who refers any serious issue to a subspecialist. In concert with a team of nurses, physician assistants, dietitians, social workers and exercise physiologists, the home physician can either prevent illnesses or identify and treat them early. Hospitalizations would be reduced, and outcomes would improve. By allowing the home physician to provide individualized, hands-on education to his patients, the chances of significant lifestyle changes certainly would increase. In the fight for health care reform, remember the primary care physicians; they are the key to better health. ======== Dr. David Lipschitz is the author of the book "Breaking the Rules of Aging." To find out more about Dr. David Lipschitz and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. More information is available at www.DrDavidHealth.com.
Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc.

Vitamin D in fish makes it 'brain food'

2009-06-12T07:21:00.000-07:00

WARSAW, England (UPI) -- Mothers used to call fish "brain food," but researchers in Britain say fish and sunshine really do help cerebral cognitive function. University of Manchester scientists, in collaboration with colleagues from other European facilities, compared the cognitive performance of more than 3,000 men ages 40-79 years at eight centers in Europe. Dr. David Lee of Manchester's School of Translational Medicine found that men with higher levels of vitamin D -- synthesized in the skin following sun exposure but also found in certain foods such as oily fish -- performed consistently better in a simple and sensitive neuropsychological test that assesses an individual's attention and speed of information processing. "Previous studies exploring the relationship between vitamin D and cognitive performance in adults have produced inconsistent findings but we observed a significant, independent association between a slower information processing speed and lower levels of vitamin D," Lee said in a statement. "The main strengths of our study are that it is based on a large population sample and took into account potential interfering factors, such as depression, season and levels of physical activity." The association between increased vitamin D and faster information processing was more significant in men age 60 and older although the biological reasons for this remain unclear, Lee said. The findings are published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

Early Alzheimer's diagnosis reduces costs

2009-06-11T07:19:00.000-07:00

MADISON, Wis. (UPI) -- The way to fight Alzheimer's disease is to intervene decades before someone demonstrates symptoms, U.S. researchers suggest. "The future of this disease is to intervene decades before someone becomes symptomatic. This analysis says you can save literally billions of dollars in long-term care costs if you can intervene at an earlier stage," study co-author David Weimer of the La Follette School of Public Affairs said in a statement. "What you don't know costs a lot of money when it comes to this disease." The researchers analyzed two types of interventions following diagnosis -- patient drug treatment and caregiver-support programs. The study, published in the Alzheimer's & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association, found each intervention provides positive net savings, with the greatest benefits achieved using a combination of both. Currently, Medicare does not support caregiver-intervention programs and even accounting for implementation costs, the analysis suggests it would result in net savings to governments by reducing the care burden on medical systems. The Wisconsin Medicaid program spends almost $500 million each year on nursing home care for 11,000 dementia patients -- a tiny fraction of the estimated 160,000 affected people in the state, but caregiver support is sparse, Mark Sager of the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health said.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

CANCER DRUG MAY BLOCK "HAPPY HOUR" GENE

2009-06-10T07:18:00.000-07:00

SAN FRANCISCO (UPI) -- Rats given a cancer-fighting drug spontaneously consume less alcohol, U.S. researchers say. However, the rat's taste for another rewarding beverage -- sugar water -- is unaffected. The researchers say erlotinib -- a drug used to treat non-small cell lung cancer -- makes fruit flies and rats more sensitive to alcohol. "This is a very powerful example of how simple model organisms -- and the little fruit fly in particular -- can be used to move quickly from an unknown gene to a potential therapy for drug addiction," study leader Ulrike Heberlein of the University of California, San Francisco, says in a statement. She explains screening mutant flies for those less sensitive to ethanol led them to the gene they call happyhour. The gene affects Epidermal Growth Factor pathway being studied by cancer researchers. Heberlein and colleagues are trying to determine how alcohol influences the EGF pathway and if new gene candidates -- discovered in the fly screens -- may be tied to the pathway as well. "It's not yet clear how it all fits together," Heberlein said. "But the fact that we've come, in an unbiased way, to molecules in the same pathway is telling us this is really, really important." The findings are published in the journal Cell Press.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

THREE ASPIRIN TYPES COMPARED FOR SPEED

2009-06-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

SAN DIEGO (UPI) -- If you need aspirin to work fast, a U.S. researcher says chewable aspirin shows greater and more rapid absorption. Dr. Sean Nordt of the University of California in San Diego gave three types of aspirin to a group of volunteer research subjects: regular aspirin swallowed whole, regular aspirin chewed and swallowed and chewable aspirin chewed and swallowed. Nordt, the study leader, tested blood levels of aspirin to see which route led to the highest aspirin levels in the body. The chewable aspirin consistently showed greater and more rapid absorption than the regular aspirin -- whether swallowed whole or chewed. This seemingly quite simple finding could lead to improvements in the care of heart attack patients, Nordt says. Nordt presented the finding at the Society for Academic Emergency Medicine annual meeting in New Orleans.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

2009-06-07T07:31:00.000-07:00

Vitamin D or sunshine may help treat MS
NEW ORLEANS (UPI) -- Giving multiple sclerosis sufferers vitamin D pills or encouraging them to spend more time in the sun might help treatment, U.S. researchers said. In a review for F1000 Medicine Reports, Bridget Bagert of Louisiana State University School of Medicine and Dennis Bourdette of the Oregon Health and Science University highlight recent advances in potential MS treatments. MS results from a failure of the body to recognize itself and the immune system attacks and destroys the sheath that protects nerve fibers, as if it were a foreign body or infection, the researchers said. Vitamin D, which is produced in the skin in response to natural sunlight, is an immune system regulator. This might explain why MS is less common in sunnier countries, the review said. Bagert and Bourdette said oral vitamin D therapy is now in phase II clinical trials, to see how well it works and how much would be needed. "The arrival of effective oral agents will give MS patients more therapeutic options and will be a major advance in the global effort to alter the natural history of this chronic disease," the researchers said in a statement.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

PREGNANT WOMEN ARE STILL DRINKING ALCOHOL

2009-06-06T07:23:00.000-07:00

CDC: 1 in 8 women drink while pregnant
ATLANTA (UPI) -- About 1 in 8 U.S. women drank some amount of alcohol during their pregnancy, federal health officials said. A 15-year-study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found the number of women who drink alcohol while pregnant is not decreasing and that 1 out of 50 pregnant women engaged in binge drinking. Pregnant women drinking has persisted despite repeated warnings from surgeons general about the dangers of drinking alcohol while pregnant, the report said. "The surgeons general have told pregnant women, and women who may become pregnant to abstain from alcohol consumption in order to eliminate the chance of giving birth to a baby with alcohol-related birth defects," said the report, published in the CDC′s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. The study found that pregnant women most likely to report any alcohol use were ages 35-44 -- 17.7 percent, college graduates --14.4 percent, employed -- 13.7 percent and unmarried 13.4 percent. Pregnant women who binge drink were more likely to be employed and unmarried, the study said. The researchers used data from 533,506 women age 18-44, of whom 22,027 reported being pregnant at the time of the interview.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

VITAMIN D CAN BE CAUSE OF FEMALE INFECTION!!!

2009-06-05T07:19:00.000-07:00

Study links female infection to vitamin D
PITTSBURGH (UPI) -- Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh say they have linked a common female infection, bacterial vaginosis, to vitamin D deficiency. The study found that black women are more likely to become infected because they are more likely to be deficient in vitamin D, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported Saturday. Researchers tested 469 pregnant women for vitamin D levels. They found women with low levels of the vitamin were more likely to be infected. About one-third of women in their child-bearing years are infected with bacterial vaginosis, said Lisa Bodnar, an assistant professor of epidemiology, gynecology and obstetrics. The disease is associated with premature delivery. For many women, bacterial vaginosis is just a nuisance. But the infection can make women more susceptible to sexually transmitted diseases. Vitamin D deficiency is more common in blacks because they absorb less from sunlight and are more likely to be lactose intolerant.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

BLACK WOMEN REFUSE CANCER THERAPY MORE FREQUENTLY THAN WHITE WOMEN

2009-06-04T23:15:00.000-07:00

1 in 4 black women refuse cancer therapy
ATLANTA (UPI) -- Nearly 1 in 4 African-American women in the United States with late stage breast cancer refused chemotherapy and radiation therapy, researchers said. Study leader Dr. Monica Rizzo of the Emory University School of Medicine and Emory University's Avon Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center at Grady and colleagues reviewed stage III breast cancer data from 2000- 2006 from an inner city hospital in Atlanta that serves a large African-American population. The investigators identified 107 cases of stage III breast cancers diagnosed and/or treated at this hospital over the six years of study. Approximately 87 percent of these cases were in African-American women. Chemotherapy and radiation are recommended therapies for patients with stage III breast cancer; however, many women in this study decided to forgo these treatments. The study, published online ahead of print of the July 1 issue of the journal Cancer, found 20.5 percent of patients with stage III breast cancer refused chemotherapy and 26.3 percent who should have received chest radiation refused. The authors said the reasons why African-American women with advanced breast cancer often refuse necessary care are unclear.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

B LIFE - BRENDA BARLEY DRINK

2009-05-14T18:12:00.000-07:00

NOW IN COROZAL TOWN, BELIZE, B LIFE - THE HEALTH DRINK THAT IS KNOWN FOR IT HEALTH VALUES. THE PROPERTIES OF THE DRINK HAS BEEN KNOWN FOR AGES AND USED BY SUCH PEOPLE LIKE ARISTOTLES, SOCRATES AND PLATO and their STUDENTS.

I WILL GIVE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS DRINK NEXT BLOG.

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Healthy food options lead to poor choices

2009-05-03T01:58:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK (UPI) -- Consumers may want to see healthier food items available but that does not mean they will choose them, U.S. researchers said. Study authors Keith Wilcox of City University of New York, Beth Vallen of Loyola College, Lauren Block of City University of New York and Gavan J. Fitzsimons of Duke University said more restaurants and vending machines offer healthy choices, yet American waistlines continue to expand. In a series of four studies, the researchers examined how consumers' food choices differed when a healthy item was included in a set compared to when it was not available. The study, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, showed that the mere presence of a healthy item vicariously fulfills health-related eating goals, drives attention to the least-healthy choice and provides people with license to indulge in tempting foods. The study also demonstrated that these effects were more pronounced in people with relatively high levels of self-control. Given the choice of fries, chicken nuggets or a baked potato, people high in self-control rarely chose the fries -- considered the least-healthy option. However, add the salad and high self-control individuals were significantly more likely to choose the French fries, the researchers said.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International

POR LAS UÑAS FUE ATRAPADO

2009-05-01T22:28:00.000-07:00

Police say fingernails gave away robber
CHELSEA, Mass. (UPI) -- Police in Chelsea, Mass., say a bank robbery suspect was apprehended after being identified by her orange fingernail polish. A witness said the woman who made off with $450 in cash from the Sovereign Bank Wednesday had nails coated with a bright burnt orange fingernail polish, The Boston Globe reported. The robber presented a note demanding money to a teller and left the scene after the bank employee complied, police said. Thanks to another witness who wrote down the license plate number of the fleeing robber's vehicle, police quickly located their suspect. After tracing the license plate and locating the accompanying vehicle, police found their suspect, Margaret Christie, and her flashy fingernails, the Globe said. Copyright 2009 by United Press International

HAPPY EASTER, EVERYONE

2009-04-12T01:11:00.000-07:00

To all my readers, hope you have a blessed Easter in the peace and comfort of family.

TRANS FAT IS A MAJOR HEALTH HAZARD IN THE USA AND EVERYWHERE ELSE

2009-04-11T22:59:00.000-07:00

Your Health: Trans Fat a Major Health Hazard in American Diet Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H.

Like it or not, New York City restaurant patrons soon will be eating less trans fat when they dine out. On Dec. 5, 2006, New York City's Board of Health adopted a resolution to restrict the service of food products containing artificial trans fat at New York City restaurants. While the political and economic implications of the resolution have been hotly debated, there's little doubt that consumption of trans fat has negative health consequences. In clinical studies, trans fats have been shown to elevate total blood cholesterol and levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Even worse, they tend to reduce levels of heart-healthy high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. No other known dietary component has both of these adverse effects, each of which contributes to the development of heart disease, a condition shared by more than 12 million Americans. Each year, heart disease claims the lives of more than 500,000 people in the United States. There's also evidence to suggest that consumption of trans fat can trigger insulin resistance, boosting the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. In the body, trans fat may interfere with the normal metabolism of essential fatty acids, leading to disruptions in the production of various hormones and blood clotting factors. Most of the trans fat in the typical American diet is artificially created in a process known as hydrogenation, in which plant oils are exposed to hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst at high temperatures. The process changes the structure of the chemical bonds in fat, transforming them from a liquid to solid state. With their revised chemical structure, hydrogenated oils don't break down or become rancid as quickly as naturally occurring oils and fats. This property comes in handy in the preparation of fried foods, including chicken, donuts, and French fries. It also helps retard spoilage and prolong the shelf-life of commercially prepared baked goods, including cakes, pies, cookies, and crackers. Not all trans fat in the U.S. diet is artificially engineered: Small amounts occur naturally in grazing animals used in food production. While trans fat may contribute as much as half of the total fat content in commercially prepared foods, it typically comprises just 2 to 6 percent of the total fat content of beef and dairy products. The chemical structure of trans fat in animal products is different than the structure of artificially produced trans fat. At this point, it isn't entirely clear if this difference makes them less of a hazard to human health. Regardless of the source, health and nutrition experts agree that Americans consume too much of the bad fat. According to data published by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the average daily intake among adults is about 5.8 grams. Guidelines issued by the American Heart Association recommend that trans fat consumption be kept below one percent of total energy intake. The Institutes of Medicine concluded that because trans fat confers no known health benefit and contributes to heart disease, intake should be as low as possible. One way to reduce your consumption of trans fat is to avoid eating commercially prepared fried foods. Choosing a bagel instead of a donut for breakfast will eliminate about 5 grams of trans fat from your diet, and foregoing the French fries at lunch will cut out another 8 grams. While you're reducing your consumption of fried fare, you can also choose pre-packaged foods that are free of trans fat. Since January 2006, the FDA has required food manufacturers to list trans fat content on the Nutrition Facts panels of all food items and many nutritional supplements. When you're preparing food at home, it's a good idea to use ingredients that contain monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. Unlike trans fat, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats do not elevate blood cholesterol levels, and both offer a number of health benefits when consumed in moderation. Polyunsaturated fats are found in plant oils, including sunflower, safflower, and sesame seed oil, as well as in some varieties of fish, including tuna and salmon. Canola oil and olive oil contain monounsaturated fats. To reduce your consumption of trans fat in animal products, choose fat-free or low-fat dairy products, and lean meats, including baked poultry without the skin, and the leanest cuts of beef and pork. It's not practical to completely eliminate all trans fat from your diet, but lowering your intake will go a long way toward reducing your risk of heart disease and improving your overall health.

Rallie McAllister, M.D., M.P.H., is a family physician in Kingsport, Tenn., and author of "Healthy Lunchbox: The Working Mom's Guide to Keeping You and Your Kids Trim." Her Web site is http://www.rallieonhealth.com. To find out more about Rallie McAllister, M.D., and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

Copyright 2007 Creators Syndicate Inc

Indigenous children in several nations at risk

2009-04-06T01:14:00.000-07:00

OTTAWA (UPI) -- Indigenous children are more likely to get sick, hurt or die than other children in Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand, researchers say. Study leader Dr. Smylie at the Centre for Research on Inner City Health, part of the Keenan Research Centre at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital found indigenous children suffered from infant mortality rates up to four times the national average, higher rates of sudden infant death syndrome, child injury, suicide and accidental death. Indigenous children also experience a disproportionate level of ear infections, respiratory illnesses and dental problems. "Until now, there has been no comprehensive data source on indigenous child health in Canada -- the data is flawed and incomplete," Smylie said in a statement. "It is our hope that the health information from this report will be used to help develop strong policies and programs to improve Indigenous children's health. We would like to see this research help to create positive change and start the discussion on how to make the future better for all indigenous children." The Children's Health Report: Health Assessment in Action is an international research project that summarizes health data on indigenous children from Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand. Copyright 2009 by United Press International

SI TIENES ECZEMA TIENES ALLERGIA A FRAGANCIAS

2009-04-05T01:09:00.000-07:00

Some with eczema allergic to fragrance
GOTHENBURG, Sweden (UPI) -- About 5 percent of those with eczema were allergic to the air oxidized form of a popular shampoo and soap fragrance, a researcher in Sweden said. Dermatologist Johanna Brared Christensson said considerably more people than previously believed are allergic to the most common fragrance ingredient -- linalool -- used in shampoos, conditioners and soap. "I would suspect that about 2 percent of the complete population of Sweden are allergic to air oxidized linalool. That may not sound like very much but it is serious since linalool is so widely used as a fragrance ingredient," Christensson said in a statement. "Linalool is found in 60 percent to 80 percent of the perfumed hygiene products, washing up liquids and household cleaning agents that can be bought in the nearest supermarket and it can be difficult for people who are allergic to avoid these products." About 1-in-5 people in Sweden has some form of contact allergy, nickel is by far the most common substance that causes eczema, but the thesis shows that oxidized linalool occupies third place in the list, after nickel and cobalt, Christensson said. In the study, oxidized linalool was added at patch testing for more than 3,000 patients who wanted to find out what was causing their eczema and 5 percent to 7 percent proved to be allergic to the oxidized form of the fragrance ingredient. The thesis was presented at the Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg in Sweden.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

COMIDA CONTAMINADO

2009-04-04T10:54:00.000-07:00

Lifelong Health: Dealing With the Danger of Contaminated Foods Dr. David Lipschitz
In a recent speech nominating former New York City Health Commissioner Margaret Hamburg as director of the Food and Drug Administration, President Barack Obama placed food safety center stage as he seeks to improve the under-funded, understaffed FDA. Obama said he would create a Food Safety Working Group to review the outdated (circa 1906, during the Theodore Roosevelt administration) laws that establish food safety guidelines. But even with all this added attention, can we ever truly escape the dangers of contaminated foods? Unfortunately, the answer may be no. With the huge degree of human error -- in processing plants and in homes -- food contamination likely will be a challenge forever. Every year, contaminated meat, fruits or vegetables enter the marketplace and initiate a variety of food-borne infections. The contamination almost always occurs by exposure to animal feces, which happens during growth or because of poor hygiene in processing plants. In addition, contaminated water can contribute to food-borne illnesses. The failure of an infected worker to wash his hands adequately or to wear protective gear can also lead to problems. Some plants are outdated, use old equipment and do not have rigorous safety systems to prevent contamination. The most recent outbreaks of food-borne illnesses have occurred because of contamination by salmonella. In the past 12 months alone, salmonella contamination has occurred in spinach, Mexican serrano peppers and peanut butter. Last year, salmonella in peppers made more than 1,300 people ill and led to one death. In 1996, peanut contamination led to 600 cases of salmonella poisoning in Australia. A 2006 outbreak of peanut butter contamination caused 620 cases of salmonella infection in 47 states. This year's outbreak led to 500 infections and three deaths in the United States and Canada. Investigations by the FDA have localized the contamination to a peanut processing plant in Georgia, which led to one of the largest food recalls in history and a dramatic reduction in peanut butter sales nationwide (which certainly did not help the unsuspecting peanut farmer). While these nationwide "outbreaks" receive much attention, it is highly likely that contamination of food at home and restaurants leads to far more cases of salmonella infections than those reported. Each year, about 36,000 cases are officially reported in the United States, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicates that about 1.4 million cases and 600 deaths occur annually. Salmonella accounts for 31 percent of all food-related deaths. Salmonella is a tough little bug. Once the bacteria have contaminated a certain food, there is no good way to remove them other than irradiation, a process that is frowned upon. From a food processing perspective, the better solution appears to be modernized facilities, trained workers and more frequent inspection. Even with a massive overhaul of the food safety guidelines, Americans still will have to deal with food contamination. Exposure to contaminated food typically leads to abdominal pain, nausea and diarrhea. Most salmonella infections are self-limiting, meaning they can be resolved without anything more than symptomatic treatment, including adequate fluid intake and antidiarrheals for loose stools. On occasion, salmonella infection can be much more serious and can lead to death. Always see a physician if you develop diarrhea and have blood, mucus or pus in your stools or if your abdominal pain is extremely severe, especially if you have traveled out of the country recently. An evaluation always is warranted if you develop a fever of higher than 100 degrees. If you experience a rising fever, a persistent headache or confusion, seek help immediately. In certain people, the bacteria can enter the blood, causing life-threatening septicemia. Here, appropriate use of antibiotics can cure the problem and prevent death. When it comes to food safety, you are your biggest advocate. Here are some rules to protect yourself: Wash your hands. Always clean your kitchen counters. Keep raw meat and poultry away from other foods. Remember: Heat kills germs. Make sure your food is well-cooked. Be wary of food contamination, and take reports of infections seriously. With a little effort, you can protect yourself.

Dr. David Lipschitz is the author of the book "Breaking the Rules of Aging." To find out more about Dr. David Lipschitz and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com. More information is available at www.DrDavidHealth.com.

Copyright 2009 Creators Syndicate Inc.

QUE ES LA ENFERMEDAD LLAMADO SCHIZOPHRENIA

2009-04-04T00:15:00.000-07:00

Canadians don't understand Schizophrenia
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (UPI) -- Ninety-two percent of Canadians have heard of schizophrenia, but most do not understand what it is or its symptoms, a survey indicates. Sixty percent of Canadians assume that people living with schizophrenia are likely to act violently toward others, officials at the Schizophrenia Society of Canada said. "While 92 percent of Canadians surveyed have heard of schizophrenia, most do not understand what it is or its symptoms. In fact, the majority confuse it with split personality disorder," Chris Summerville, chief executive officer of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada said in a statement. "Misconceptions such as these lead to negative stereotyping and stigma towards people living with schizophrenia," he said. The report examines how stigma negatively impacts the lives of people living with schizophrenia, Summerville said. Stigma causes gradual social isolation, making it harder for them to seek the help and treatment they need to manage their illness. No margin of error of the survey was reported. Copyright 2009 by United Press International

MAS PROBLEMAS PARA LOS SOLDADOS QUIENES FUERON A IRAQ!

2009-04-03T00:05:00.000-07:00

War wounded at Risk of Superbugs
HARROGATE, England (UPI) -- Soldiers who survive severe injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan can be at risk of developing infections in their wounds, U.S. researchers say. Dr. Clinton K. Murray of Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas, said that at the beginning of the 20th century improved military hygiene and disease control led to a steady decline in wartime deaths attributable to infections, classically known as "war pestilence," which included cholera, dysentery, plague, smallpox, typhoid and typhus fever. Though most infections can be treated with standard antibiotics, some -- methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella species and E.coli -- may be caused by pathogens resistant to many, if not all, of them. This requires clinicians to prescribe less commonly used antibiotics such as colistin, Murray said. "The development of more effective personal protective equipment, as well as training medics to provide life-saving procedures on the battlefield, has greatly improved survival rates," Murray said in a statement. "Positioning surgical and advanced medical care nearer to the point of injury has also enabled casualties to survive near-catastrophic wounds. But even though combat casualties are surviving these severe injuries, they risk developing wound infections." Murray presented the findings to the Society for General Microbiology Meeting at the International Centre in Harrogate, England.

Copyright 2009 by United Press International

IONIZED SERUM CALCIUM IN PROSTATE CANCER

2009-02-19T15:22:00.000-08:00

Biomarker identifies fatal prostate cancer

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (UPI) -- U.S. researchers have identified an accurate biomarker for fatal prostate cancer -- high levels of ionized serum calcium.

The study, published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, confirmed earlier findings that men who have too much calcium in their bloodstreams subsequently have an increased risk of fatal prostate cancer.

"Scientists have known for many years that most prostate cancers are slow-growing and that many men will die with, rather than of, their prostate cancer," senior author Gary G. Schwartz of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center said in a statement. "Many men with this diagnosis are treated unnecessarily."

The researchers found that men in the highest one-third of ionized serum calcium levels are three times more likely to die of prostate cancer than those with the least amount of ionized serum calcium.

Schwartz said the research is focused on identifying characteristics of the men who will develop the tumors before they develop. However, he cautioned that calcium in serum is little influenced by calcium in the diet. Serum calcium levels are controlled genetically and are stable over much of an individual's life, he said.

"These results do not imply that men need to quit drinking milk or avoid calcium in their diets," Schwartz added.

THE STIMULUS FUNDS AND MEDICINE

2009-02-18T15:16:00.000-08:00

Stimulus funds treatment comparisons

WASHINGTON (UPI) -- The U.S. economic stimulus measure approved by Congress contains funds for measuring and comparing the effectiveness of medical treatments, analysts said.

The notion of comparing different treatments for the same illnesses has become controversial, however, with supporters saying it promises more effective treatment at lower costs while opponents charge it could lead to rationing of some treatment, The New York Times reported Sunday.

The legislation, which President Barack Obama is to sign into law Tuesday, provides $1.1 billion for researchers to compare treatments including medicines, medical devices and surgery for certain illnesses. The research would be intended to provide evidence of the relative merits of treatments.

Dr. Elliott S. Fisher of Dartmouth Medical School said the research would address questions about which approaches work best in treating conditions such as neck pain, mild depression and leg pain.

Several European nations already have such research programs in place.

The pharmaceutical and medical device industries have questioned the advisability of such testing, suggesting it could lead to denial of coverage for expensive treatments.

Rep. Charles Boustany Jr., R-La. -- who is also a heart surgeon -- said he's concerned "federal bureaucrats will misuse this research to ration care, to deny life-saving treatments to seniors and disabled people," the Times reported.

Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., said the research "will eventually save money and lives."

Conservative media figures have attacked the provision, some claiming it will open the door for the federal government to impose oppressive treatment protocols on Americans.

STAPH ALERT

2009-02-17T15:07:00.000-08:00

How staph looks as it develops on the skin

How staph looks as a bacteria

Ocean beach swimmers exposed to staph

MIAMI (UPI) -- Swimmers using public ocean beaches increase their risk for exposure to staph bacteria and potential infections, U.S. researchers said.

Staph infections are caused by the bacteria staphylococcus aureus, which many healthy people carry on their skin and in their noses without getting sick, but when skin is punctured or broken, staph bacteria can enter the wound and cause infections.

"Our study found that if you swim in subtropical marine waters, you have a significant chance -- approximately 37 percent - of being exposed to staph -- either yours or possibly that from someone else in the water near you," Dr. Lisa Plano of the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine said in a statement.

"This exposure might lead to staph infection since people colonized with the bacteria carry it into the water with them. Those with open wounds or who are immune compromised are at greatest risk of infection."

However, the results show the potentially virulent variety of antibiotic resistant staphylococcus aureus, known as MRSA, makes up less than 3 percent of staph from the beach waters sampled during the study, Plano said.

People shouldn't avoid beaches, but the study team, which included researchers from the University of Miami's Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, recommends taking precautions to reduce the risk of infection by showering thoroughly before entering the water and after getting out.

TRUE FRIENDSHIPS ARE HARD TO FINE TODAY

2009-01-31T23:08:00.001-08:00

IT TAKES A FRIEND, TO ...
Well ladies, here is February 1st, 2009. One month down and eleven more to go before we say good bye to 2009.Anyone out there feeling that they have been used or hurt by someone they trusted. Well if you are like that then sit back and read something that I discovered.Firstly, there is no true friend in this world anymore. Everyone is out to blast someone. Everyone is out to get what they can from someone and everyone have an issue and if they are like some people I met well…… then you are in for a long haul.I met this woman back in November of 2007 and from what I could see she seem okay. Then in September of 2008 she was back and once again she seemed fine. We became friends and would chat for long period of time. Then I had the bad luck of fining out she is just like all the other women who come around. In fact, because of her my life took a change that I am still trying to comprehend. Today I have stopped talking to her and have avoided being where she is. I need to tell someone that she is not all she pretends to be because she has told me some things that make her to be just like all the other gold diggers around who are out to find what they can get from those who feel they need to help others. Then she went and did the unforgiveable and she knows what I am talking about. I have no intention of keeping in contact with a fake and now I feel I should tell the person she is using that she is not the woman she wants us to think she is.What I have to say about this sort of “friendship” is WE DON’T NEED IT. And if the person really does get more from us than we get from them, then we can leave and never look back. I am giving my so called “friend” the silent treatment. I may never visit her home and I may never buy her meal again. She proved to me that she was not a friend and I am sorry but this world is filled with persons who are looking for someone to share good and bad time that we don’t have time for those who lie and cheat.Something to ponder on:How do we know if we have a true friend? The signs will be there. You will be able to see it in their actions more times than not. But the bottom dollar is we have to learn to read the signs. They are everywhere.

ALL EYES ON BARACK

2009-01-21T10:56:00.000-08:00

Yesterday the 44th President of the United States of America took office. President Barack Hussein Obama and First Lady Michelle will now grace the White House and the USA with their presence.

There is great expectations and anticipations of what this, the first black American will do as President of this great nation that is presently under economical duress.

Needless to say, the world looks on in awe. The world expects more than ever before. And so we wait, and hold our breath as we wish Barack and Michelle all the best.
God Bless this new president. God bless his family and God Bless America.

BRIDES TO BE SHOULD TAKE FOLIC ACID

2009-01-11T01:36:00.000-08:00

WASHINGTON (UPI) -- Before brides-to-be say "I do," they should be taking a daily multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid daily, U.S. researchers said.

Folate is a water-soluble B vitamin that occurs naturally in foods, such as leafy green vegetables; but folic acid is the synthetic form of folate that is found in supplements and added to fortified foods. Elizabeth T. Jordan, a perinatal clinical nurse specialist and member of the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition Board of Directors, said that this essential B-vitamin helps build and maintain healthy cells, which is especially critical for the developing fetus.

"We know that nearly half of all pregnancies in the U.S. are unplanned and that the average woman is getting less than one-third of the recommended amount of folic acid," Jordan said. "We also know that the odds of having a baby born with an neural tube defects could be greatly reduced by women of childbearing age getting the recommended amount of folic acid."

Despite the food fortification program that began in 1998, which enriched breads, cereals, flours, corn meals, pastas, rice, and other grain products with folic acid, the average non-pregnant Caucasian woman gets only 128 mcg per day of folic acid from fortified food, a study published in the May 2007 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Jordan said.

Diabetes Tied to Early Cognitive Slowdown

2009-01-10T01:35:00.000-08:00

EDMONTON, Alberta (UPI) -- Talking, planning, organizing and paying attention to details are worse in people with type 2 diabetes than in healthy adults, a Canadian study indicated.

The University of Alberta study, published in the journal Neuropsychology, also found that mental deterioration was no less in younger diabetics than in an older group, suggesting the damage is done early in the disease and remains stable thereafter.

"The good news is that, at this point, the cognitive slowing would not be notable in most older diabetes patients' everyday life activities," said Roger Dixon, a cognition and aging researcher and the report's co-author.

"It may be noticed, however, if the patient is involved in technical psychomotor tasks (such as video games) requiring quick and accurate responses or monitoring," he said in a Times of London report.

"The bad news is that this slowing may indicate the 'leading edge' of progressive cognitive decline occurring with diabetes, and it will likely get worse without careful disease management," he said.

Dixon urged people with serious cases of type 2 diabetes to be screened for cognitive changes to make sure they get the right medication and advice on diet or mental training.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic, lifelong disease marked by high blood sugar. It begins when the body does not respond correctly to insulin, a hormone released by the pancreas.

Ninety percent of the estimated 23.6 million people in the United States diagnosed with diabetes have type 2.

Healthy Monday gives 52 chances for health

2009-01-09T01:32:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK (UPI) -- The prefect day to start on the road to health is the first Monday of the year -- and every succeeding Monday as well, a group of researchers suggest.

Healthy Monday is a project of Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore and Syracuse University Newhouse School of Public Communications.

In 2005, 22 people gathered at Columbia University to discuss the idea of a day devoted to health. Not just one day once year, but a weekly occurrence, and Healthy Monday was born. A growing number of organizations have joined the national movement and integrated "Monday" into their health improvement programs.

Healthy Monday was founded by leaders in the field of public health dedicated to improving the health of Americans by providing a framework for the delivery of innovative, evidence-based health campaigns aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality associated with the four leading causes of preventable disease in the United States -- poor diet and inactivity, smoking and alcohol misuse.

The researchers suggest starting Monday Mile to increase activity, enjoy a Meatless Monday to reduce saturated fat, use Mindfulness Monday to reduce stress, or simply resolve to use Monday to begin a new healthy behavior or stop an unhealthy one like smoking.

More information is at: http://healthymonday.org.

Discovery Could Be Key To Metastasis

2009-01-08T01:32:00.000-08:00

LONDON (UPI) -- Stopping a molecule may stop metastasis -- the ability of cancer cells to spread to distant sites -- British scientists suggest.

Study leader Marco Falasca of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry says stopping metastasis stops cancer from killing people -- and this discovery could lead to metastasis-blocking drugs.

The researchers investigated the role of the enzyme in cell invasion and find it is required for breast cancer cell invasion activation of the protein Rac1. They revealed a functional link between the enzyme and Rac1 that provides insight into processes regulating cell invasion.

"Consistent with these data we detected an increase in the enzyme expression in metastases compared to primary tumors in breast cancer patients," Falasca says in a statement.

"Therefore the enzyme is critical for metastasis formation, and development and inhibition of this enzyme has a therapeutic potential in the treatment of metastasis dissemination."

The findings were published in Cancer Research.

Liposuction Weight Loss May Not Help Heart

2009-01-07T19:07:00.000-08:00

DALLAS (UPI) -- Liposuction may provide a quick fix to reduce waist size but the loss of weight may not help the heart, U.S. researchers advise.

Dr. Amit Khera, who directs the University of Texas Southwestern program in preventive cardiology, says belly fat, or waist circumference, is more closely associated than other distributions of fat with heart disease or risk factors for heart disease.

However, how one gets rid of the fat seems to matter in terms of reducing these risks.

"Diet and exercise certainly can reduce abdominal fat and reduce heart disease risk, as can surgical procedures like gastric bypass, which limits caloric intake," Khera said in a statement.

"Interestingly, studies looking at liposuction do not seem to show the same benefits. Fat reduction by liposuction does not seem to reduce a protein in the blood called C-reactive protein, which is a measure of inflammation and heart disease risk."

This may be because liposuction targets the subcutaneous, or outer, layer of belly fat but does not reduce the visceral fat that surrounds the intestines and abdominal structures, which is more closely associated with risks for heart disease, Khera says.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, CAROLYN, MIYA AND CIARRA

2009-01-02T01:07:00.000-08:00

Dearest Carolyn,

This was the first year I was unable to be with you all for Christmas and New Years Day is here and I am filled with so much love and wishes for you. Daughter, you have been and will always be the joy of my life. You have been loved from the moment I found out I was carrying you in my womb. The love your father and I had for each other and the love we had when you arrived was special.

Over the years I became a single parent and that did not stop me from seeing you through high school, Sixth Form and University. Today you are thousands of miles away in Georgia, USA but you remain in my heart as the ray of sunshine that has brighten and guided me over the years.

I wish you all the best, Bibs. If Tia Brenda and Chichi were alive I know they would be so proud of all that you have achieved. I know that I am proud of you and have always been proud of you. Your successes are my successes. Keep on attaining that star that shines in your eyes and heart.
As we move into 2009, I look forward to seeing you and being with you. Keep on smiling and joking and being the best friend a mother could ask for. Baby girl, you are my greatest achievement. You are the best poem I have ever written, the best song I have ever sung and the best speech I have ever given. Reach for the unreachable and remember that you can be all you want to be.

Just say I CAN and you will be surprised at how much you will be able to do.

I love you and always will,

Mama

Ciarra, my little princess,

From the first moment I held you in my arms I knew you were grandma's girl. You are my joy and my peace. You are my blooming lily, my walking happiness. God Bless you my little angel. You are loved and you are cared for. Keep on making us proud of you. Keep on smiling and keep on learning.

Your journey of life has just began. You have much to achieve and you will!
I love you and I miss you.

Grandma's special little star, know this: I will always be there for you. Reach out and take my hand.

All my love and kisses,

Grandma Brenda

Dearest Son-in-Law,

You are the son I never had. You are a joy and a blessing to Carolyn's life. Keep on loving and caring for her. Together you both have so much to recieve.

All my love during this time of the year and always,

Love, Ms. Brenda

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!

2009-01-01T01:30:00.000-08:00

IT IS FINALLY HERE. THE TIME WE THOUGHT MIGHT NEVER HAVE COME.

TODAY WHEN WE GREET 2009 LET US THINK BACK TO THE YEAR 2000 WHEN WE WERE TOLD THE WORLD WOULD END. NOW WE ARE THREE YEARS AWAY FROM THE END OF THE WORLD ACCORDING TO THE MAYAN CALENDAR. LORDY, LORDY. CAN'T NO ONE EVER JUST LEAVE THINGS ALONE AND LET US EXIST WHILE WE DO?

ANYWAY, LET'S LOOK BACK ON OUR PAST AND TRY TO MAKE A BETTER FUTURE. LET US WORK FOR BETTER FOR OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILIES.

GIVE LOVE AND BE LOVE. AND MOST OF ALL REMEMBER THAT TO GIVE LOVE WE MUST LOVE OURSELVES FIRST. BE HAPPY WITH WHO YOU ARE. BE HAPPY WITH WHAT YOU DO. BE HAPPY.

HAVE A BLESSED DAY.

ENJOY THE HOURS AS TIME PASSES YOU BY.

ENJOY GOOD FRIENDS, GOOD FOOD (WHATEVER YOU HAVE), GOOD MOMENTS AND KEEP ON SMILING.

ALL MY LOVE,

BRENDA

ANOTHER YEAR COMES TO AN END

2008-12-31T00:15:00.000-08:00

Success comes to he who is willing to work hard, fight a good fight and sacrifice everything when necessary. (Brenda A. Ysaguirre)

As we near the end of another year we are faced with many new challenges. The economical situation at home and abroad dims the festive moment. If what the analysts are saying is true, we can look forward to a new year filled with more hardship as more people lose there jobs and many others graduate into a world that offers very little for them. Only the strong will survive. Only those who know the true meaning of sacrifice will succeed. Only the fearless will attain the satifaction of a hard day's work for a well earned pay. I do not mean to dampen the eve of New Year's Eve. I only want to make sure we all understand that there will be a lot of hardship but that we can win the battle in the new year if we use stamina and sacrifice. Good Luck to everyone and do have a Happy New Year. Go out or just stay at home and eat some grapes (12 actually to follow the Spanish tradition of one for each month of the year. You eat them just before midnight and our ancestors believed it would give you a good year.)Have a Blessed New Year. Remember, we can make 2009 all it was meant to be if we work hard and sacrifice when necessary.Brenda A. Ysaguirre

A TEMAZCAL GETTING READY FOR YOU IN COROZAL, BELIZE, C. AMERICA

2008-12-28T09:36:00.000-08:00

Brenda's PrehiSPAnico, Corozal gets on the way by building the first every Temazcal in the garden in the northern part of Belize. Presently, the Spa offers massage theraphy with an indoor temazcal for one person at a time. This structure will offer temazcals ( a Mayan herbal sauna) for more than 20 persons at a time. Reserve the use of this sauna when it is finish and have a SPA party you will want to repeat again and again! It is good for weight loss, asthma, sinus, headaches, flu's, backache and other bodily pains, cholesterol, and blood pressure to name just a few of the illnesses you can heal with this wonderful procedure.
We are located at 139 Fourth Avenue and 1st Street South in Corozal Town, Belize. Telephone us at 422 0259, 422 0346, 607 8315 or 607 8759 to set up your appointment. Each session is approximately 2 hours long.

As the owner of this Spa I welcome you all. Come in and see for yourselves. No one leaves dissatisfied. In the next post I will give you pictures of what the inside of our spa looks like.
Have a wonderful day and a prosperous New Year.

Brenda Aurora Ysaguirre

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! HAPPY HANNAKAH!! FELIZ NAVIDAD!!!

2008-12-25T04:13:00.000-08:00

GLORY BE THE DAY. IT IS HERE. WE REJOICE IN THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST. PEACE ON EARTH.GOOD WILL TO ALL MEN.

Let us take this day off to reflect on the past year. On all we have done and could have done and will still have a chance to do. Remmber, it is never too late to do something positive and if we do something wrong we still have time to do better or to make up for the wrong we have done. That is life. We are in control of our actions. We can do good.

Have a wonderful holiday.

Merry Christmas. Happy Hannakah.

WE ARE ALMOST THERE!!!

2008-12-24T04:01:00.001-08:00

It is Christmas Eve and it is 6am in the morning. I have not gone to bed last night as I try to get all my blogs in order for the following days will be short. Not much success there because I am doing three things at the same time so I have off schedule. I will need to work today again and time is so short now. I will be cooking Christmas dinner early this afternoon in Corozal, and then I will travel across the border to spend the rest of the day and Christmas Day with the love of my life, his daughter and the rest of the family. As we look around us today, I guess there will be a lot of hustling and bustling around as we rush to do our last minute shopping here and there.

Christmas is so special. It is a time we go all out to do the things we could easily have done any other day BUT it is special and so we go all the way.

To all my blooger friends and readers, I send peace, joy and happiness at this time and everyday. Merry Christmas to everyone. May you have a Blessed Holiday.

Love Always,

Brenda

THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE FOR ME

2008-12-23T03:08:00.000-08:00

A lot has changed since I last wrote. I became a student at the University UNID en Chetumal, Q.Roo, Mexico in the day sessions, I still am Director of CCC ACE and CJC ACE, I have opened a Health SPA in Corozal Town, Belize and my once calm world now is filled with work, friends, problems, sleepless nights, in all A NEW LIFE. While much has changed, much has remained the same and for that I am gratedul. I thank all those who give meaning to my life: my daughter, Carolyn, my granddaughter, Ciarra, Miya, my son-in-law, Triccia, my stepdaughter and Abel, the light in my world and the brain behind many of the wonderful things that I now experience. As this year comes to an end, I give love to all my readers, friends and family for being a part of my life. Thank you for being there and for being energy to my sometimes tired bones. Life is a miracle of people, places and things. How we live it makes it worth living or worth dying for.

The Man who walks this world alone has nothing while the Man who struggles down the path with the help of family and friends lives a life of many splendours. (Brenda A. Ysaguirre aka Brenda Izaguirre Gill)

AFTER THE STORM- HELP BELIZE

2008-10-30T07:43:00.000-07:00

For the time being the rains have stopped and now we have a cold front over Belize. However, all is not over. Now is the time of recovery. The people in the areas that had the flooding ae still suffering. Many are still not in their homes and many have lost most of their personal properties.

NOW IS THE TIME WHEN WE HAVE TO GIVE A HELPING HAND.
PLEASE GIVE GENEROUSLY TO THE RELIEF ORGANIZERS WHO ARE GOING TO TAKE FOOD, MEDICINES AND CLOTHING ( AMONG OTHER THINGS) TO THOSE WHO NOW NEED OUR HELP.

In an effort to assist our brothers and sisters who have suffered so much in the past weeks, the YO PUEDO GROUP OF COROZAL and CCC ACE and CJC ACE have initiated a drive to collect non-persishable goods and clothing. THIS IS THE TIME WHEN WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER. LET US GIVE FROM THE HEART.

TO MY READERS ABROAD, YOU TOO CAN HELP. YOUR MONETARY DONATIONS CAN BE SENT TO THE RED CROSS OF BELIZE OR GET IN CONTACT WITH ME AT 501-607-8315 (3pm to 31am Belize time) OR AT 00521-983-131-5669 FROM 7AM TO 11AM (Mexico time).
Thank you and God Bless.

LA CONTAMINACION DEL AIRE AFECTA LA PRESION

2008-10-23T08:09:00.000-07:00

Air pollution raises blood pressure
COLUMBUS, Ohio (UPI) -- Ohio State University Medical Center researchers say there is a direct link between air pollution and its impact on high blood pressure, or hypertension. The researchers exposed rats to levels of airborne pollutants humans breathe everyday, noting the levels were still considerably below those found in developing countries such as China and India, and in some parts of the United States. The researchers found that exposure to air pollution, over a 10-week period, elevates blood pressure in those already predisposed to the condition. "We now have even more compelling evidence of the strong relationship between air pollution and cardiovascular disease," or co-author Sanjay Rajagopalan said in a statement. "Recent observational studies in humans suggest that within hours to days following exposure, blood pressure increases." The results are published online ahead of print in Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International

MAS PROBLEMAS PARA PATIENTES CON CANCER

2008-10-22T08:06:00.000-07:00

Breast cancer patients still face risk
HOUSTON (UPI) -- Breast cancer survivors may still have a substantial risk of disease recurrence five years after treatment, Houston researchers warn. The study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, said among breast cancer patients who were cancer-free five years after initiating systemic therapy, 89 percent remained recurrence-free at five years -- about 10 years after a woman's initial diagnosis -- and 80 percent remained recurrence free at 10 years -- about 15 years after diagnosis. Dr. Abenaa Brewster of the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and colleagues examined the recurrence rate in 2,838 breast cancer patients treated between 1985 and 2001. To determine the magnitude of residual risk following adjuvant therapy, which might include five years of hormone therapy, the researchers looked at what happened to the women five years after the start of treatment. After a median follow-up period of 28 months, 216 women had their cancer return. The five-year risk of relapse for women with Stage I disease was 7 percent, 11 percent for women with Stage II disease, and 13 percent for women with Stage III disease. Tumor grade, hormone receptor status and endocrine therapy were all statistically significantly associated with risk of recurrence.
Copyright 2008 by United Press International

TE VEZ NO ES ASI

2008-10-14T16:58:00.000-07:00

Dementia may be greatly underestimated
LONDON (UPI) -- A British researcher says dementia may be greatly underestimated in the developing countries of the world. Martin Prince of the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, says it is likely that cultural differences may be partly responsible for researchers missing cases of dementia. "Our evidence suggests that relatives in developing world countries are less likely to perceive or report that their elders are experiencing difficulties, even in the presence of clear evidence of disability and memory impairment," Prince says in a statement. Unacknowledged dementia, he suggests, places a high burden on the caregiver. "Our data suggest that even if it is not recognized as dementia, the illness places a heavy burden on both the elderly patient and their relatives," Price says." Being able to estimate accurately the true population of people living with burden is the first important step towards putting into place appropriate health and social care systems." Prince is part of an international collaboration that recently published a study in Lancet assessing almost 15,000 elderly people in 11 countries. They found the prevalence of dementia in urban settings in Latin America is comparable with rates in Europe and the United States though the prevalence in China and India is lower.

MAS INFORMACIONES SOBRE EL ALZHEIMER'S

2008-10-13T16:26:00.000-07:00

Alzheimer's biomarkers found
LOS ANGELES (UPI) -- U.S. researchers say measurable molecular indicators, or biomarkers, may predict Alzheimer's disease before symptoms appear. The University of California, Los Angeles, researchers found the amounts of certain proteins change as this brain disease -- marked by memory loss, confusion, mood swings and other problems -- progresses. The researchers looked at Familial Alzheimer's -- a form of the disease marked by certain gene mutations that affects less than 2 percent of Alzheimer's patients. "Since we knew that 50 percent of first-degree relatives will inherit the same rare mutations, we were able to study the biochemical changes occurring in the cerebrospinal fluid and blood as long as 30 years before the subjects were likely to develop the disease themselves," study leader John Ringman says in a statement. Specifically, the study, published in the journal Neurology, found a fibrous beta-amyloid protein called AB42 elevated in the plasma of Familial Alzheimer's mutation carriers -- long before the development of obvious dementia. The level then seems to drop as the disease progresses.

UNA DROGA CONTRA EL PROGRESO DE ALZHEIMER'S

2008-10-12T07:17:00.000-07:00

Drug may halt Alzheimer's disease progress
CHICAGO (UPI) -- Researchers at Scotland's University of Aberdeen say a new drug they've developed holds great promise in slowing the progression of Alzheimer's disease. The test patients who took the medication had an 81 percent reduction in cognitive decline in one year, the researchers' Phase 2 clinical trial found. The university's Claude Wischik, working with TauRx Therapeutics of Singapore, developed the novel treatment based on a new approach that targets the tangles -- aggregates of abnormal fibers of tau protein forming inside nerve cells in the brain. They also found the drug had its biggest effect in the memory-critical parts of the brain where the tangle density is highest. "This is an unprecedented result in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease," Wischik said in a statement. "We have demonstrated for the first time that it may possible to arrest the progression of this disease by targeting the tangles which are highly correlated with the disease. This is the most significant development in the treatment of the tangles since Alois Alzheimer discovered them in 1907." Having completed the Phase 2 clinical trial, TauRx plans to begin a Phase 3 trial next year. If that trial confirms the Phase 2 findings, the drug could be available by 2012, the researchers told the Alzheimer's Association International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease in Chicago.

MICROBICIDA VAGINAL EN FORMA DE GEL AYUDA CONTRA HIV

2008-10-11T16:09:00.000-07:00

Vaginal microbicide gels help prevent HIV
NEW ORLEANS (UPI) -- The use of vaginal microbicide gels may help protect women against sexual transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, U.S. researchers said. Ronald S. Veazey of Tulane National Primate Research Center in New Orleans successfully used vaginal gels containing the fusion inhibitory peptide T-1249 to protect rhesus macaque monkeys against vaginal transmission of multiple strains of simian/human HIV, or SHIV. The study, published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, found that vaginal microbicide containing fusion inhibitors remain a potential method for protecting women against infection by HIV type 1 during sexual intercourse. "Here we have shown that the vaginal application of gel-formulated T-1249 can protect rhesus macaques from infection by three different SHIV challenge viruses," the researchers said in a statement. "The protection we observed was dose-dependent and at the higher concentration, robust, in that all the test animals resisted infection." Fusion inhibitors such as T-1249 operate to inhibit infection by preventing glycoprotein molecules on HIV particles from binding to their receptors on the surface of the immune cell. The T-1249 peptide is a fusion inhibitor that targets one of the main cellular receptors that HIV uses to infect cells in the mucosal surface.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BELIZE

2008-09-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

I am dedicating this day to Belize and all Belizeans.

It is Independence Day in Belize and all Belize must look at today with pride and joy that we have gotten this far and that we are moving on. Belize has still a lomng way to go but we will get there and we will have a great life and a great country.

God Bless Belize and all Belizeans

To my Belizean brothers and sisters, I send my love and my wish for a better Belize. God Bless and keep you all safe and free.

BELIZE UNITED.

QUE VIVA BELICE!!!

Love always,

brenda A. Ysaguirre

SELF EXAM NOT A PLUS

2008-09-20T19:33:00.000-07:00

Breast self exams don't reduce deaths
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (UPI) -- A review of studies found no evidence that breast self-exams reduce breast cancer deaths and may result in more negative biopsies, Danish researchers said. Jan Peter Kosters and Peter Gotzsche of the Nordic Cochrane Centre in Copenhagen said that the practice may be doing more harm than good, since it led to almost twice as many biopsies that turned up no cancer in women who performed the self-exams, compared to women who didn't do the exams. The review, published in The Cochrane Library, said two large studies of 388,535 women in Russia and China included in the review, women who used self-breast exams had 3,406 biopsies, compared with 1,856 biopsies in the group that didn't do the exams -- while there was no significant difference in breast cancer deaths between the two groups. The review is an updated version of a 2003 review of studies, which came to a similar conclusion. The study authors recognize that some women will want to continue with breast self-exams and women should always "seek medical advice if they detect any change in their breasts that might be breast cancer," Kosters said.

MAS ERRORES FATALES

2008-09-02T03:26:00.000-07:00

More Fatal Domestic Medication Errors
SAN DIEGO (UPI) -- Asking patients to monitor their own medications can be fatal, as exemplified by the death of "The Dark Knight" actor Heath Ledger, U.S. researchers said. Sociologists at the University of California, San Diego, examined nearly 50 million U.S. death certificates from 1983 to 2004, focusing on a subset of 200,000 deaths from medication errors. The study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, found a 3,196 percent increase in fatal domestic medication errors involving alcohol and/or street drugs. "The decades-long shift in the location of medication consumption from clinical to domestic settings is linked to a dramatic increase in fatal medication errors," principal author David P. Phillips said in a statement. "Increasingly, people take their medications at home, away from hospitals and clinics. But most studies of fatal medication errors have focused on those clinical settings." The study found non-domestic fatal errors not involving alcohol or street drugs showed the smallest increase, 5 percent, while domestic medication fatalities not involving alcohol or street drugs increased by 564 percent and non-domestic medication fatalities involving alcohol and/or street drugs increased by 555 percent.