Causes of weight loss: March 2012

Saturday, March 31, 2012

Fat Burning Foods

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Eyelash Treatment

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Baby Skin Care Matters

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Cosmetic Dentist Beverly Hills

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U.S. Women in Labor Longer Than They Were 50 Years Ago

HealthDay – 1 hr 46 mins ago FRIDAY, March 30 (HealthDay News) -- American women today are spending about two hours more in labor during childbirth than women did 50 years ago, a new report says.

The report's authors said several factors helped to explain the longer labors.

"Older maternal age and increased BMI (body-mass index, a ratio of weight to height) accounted for a part of the increase. We believe that some aspects of delivery-room practice are also responsible for this increase," lead author Dr. Katherine Laughon, an epidemiologist with the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, said during a Friday afternoon news conference.

For the study, Laughon's team collected data on nearly 40,000 women who gave birth between 1959 and 1966, and compared those findings with nearly 100,000 women who delivered between 2002 and 2008.

The researchers found women in the 21st century were in labor 2.6 hours longer for first births and two hours longer for subsequent births than women from the 1960s.

Mothers in the 2000s also were older, heavier and used painkillers more during labor, and were more likely to have a Cesarean delivery than women in the 1960s.

Other differences that might explain the increase reflect changes in later-stage delivery practices. For instance, in the 1960s the use of episiotomy (a surgical incision to enlarge the vaginal opening during delivery) and forceps (surgical instruments used to extract a baby) were more common, the researchers noted.

The use of epidural injections to ease the pain of delivery is more common now than 50 years ago. Epidurals were used in more than half of recent deliveries, compared with 4 percent of deliveries in the 1960s, the study authors said, adding that epidural anesthesia is known to increase delivery time.

The study also found that Cesarean deliveries are four times more common today than 50 years ago -- 12 percent vs. 3 percent.

"Women are in labor longer

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FDA Calls on Tobacco Companies to List Harmful Ingredients

HealthDay – 1 hr 46 mins ago FRIDAY, March 30 (HealthDay News) --The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced Friday that it will require the tobacco industry to report on a range of toxic chemical ingredients, and to also back up any claims for "safer" tobacco products.

Both actions are preliminary at this point, and subject to a period of public comment.

While there are more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco and tobacco smoke, the FDA has a working list of 93 chemicals that cause or may cause harm to smokers or non-smokers. These include formaldehyde, nicotine, arsenic, cadmium, ammonia and carbon monoxide. Tobacco companies will be required to list quantities of 20 different ingredients associated with cancer, lung disease and other health problems on consumer-friendly packaging by April 2013.

"For the first time, all tobacco manufacturers will be required to report quantities of potential harmful compounds in every regulated tobacco product they sell in the U.S.," said Dr. Lawrence Deyton, director of FDA's Center for Tobacco Products, during a media briefing. "Tobacco itself contains many chemical compounds, many of which are harmful in raw state but also when smoked."

Exactly how and where this information will be conveyed to the public is not yet known. "We are doing research on how to best communicate that information in a consumer-friendly way to the public," he said.

The second FDA action announced that tobacco companies must back up any claims they make if they want to market a tobacco product as "less risky" to health.

"Products can't be marketed as reducing risks unless that claim is supported by science," Deyton said. At this time, this primarily refers to roll-your-own and smokeless tobacco products.

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (Tobacco Control Act) gives the FDA the power to regulate certain aspects of tobacco marketing and manufacturing. The preliminary rules are open for public comments until June 4, 2012.

More information

Learn more about the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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CDC: Ads spark huge increase to quit smoking line

More than twice as many people called a toll-free number to help them quit smoking a week after the launch of a $54 million ad campaign that shows graphic images of diseased smokers, federal health officials said Friday.

Calls to 1-800-QUIT-NOW totaled more than 33,000 last week

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Panel backs sharing studies of lab-made bird flu

The U.S. government's biosecurity advisers said Friday they support publishing research studies showing how scientists made new easy-to-spread forms of bird flu because the studies, now revised, don't reveal details bioterrorists could use.

The decision could end a debate that began in December when the government took the unprecedented step of asking the scientists not to publicize all the details of their work.

The research, by two scientific teams

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FDA rejects call to ban BPA from food packaging

The Food and Drug Administration has rejected a petition from environmentalists that would have banned the plastic-hardening chemical bisphenol-A from all food and drink packaging, including plastic bottles and canned food.

The agency said Friday that petitioners did not present compelling scientific evidence to justify new restrictions on the much-debated chemical, commonly known as BPA, though federal scientists continue to study the issue.

The Natural Resources Defense Council's petition was the latest move by public safety advocates to prod regulators into taking action against the chemical, which is found in everything from CDs to canned food to dental sealants.

About 90 percent of Americans have traces of BPA in their bodies, mainly because it leaches out of food and beverage containers.

Some scientists believe exposure to BPA can harm the reproductive and nervous systems, particularly in babies and small children, potentially leading to cancer and other diseases. They point to results from dozens of BPA studies in rodents and other animals.

But FDA reiterated in its response that that those findings cannot be applied to humans. The agency said the studies cited by NRDC were often too small to be conclusive. In other cases they involved researchers injecting BPA into animals, whereas humans ingest the chemical through their diet over longer periods of time. The agency also said that humans metabolize and eliminate BPA much more quickly than rats and other lab animals.

"While evidence from some studies have raised questions as to whether BPA may be associated with a variety of health effects, there remain serious questions about these studies, particularly as they relate to humans," the agency said in its response.

The Natural Resources Defense Council petitioned the FDA in 2008 to ban BPA as a food additive, including all uses in food or beverage packaging. Petitions on various safety issues are routinely filed by advocacy groups, companies and even individuals. When the FDA failed to respond within the required timeframe, the environmental group sued the agency. In December a federal judge ruled that the agency had to respond by the end of March.

"The FDA is out-of-step with scientific and medical research," said Dr. Sarah Janssen, NRDC's senior scientist for public health. "This illustrates the need for a major overhaul of how the government protects us against dangerous chemicals."

FDA officials stressed that their assessment of BPA is ongoing, and they expect to issue another update later this year based on their most recent findings. The agency's last official statement was that there is "some concern" about BPA's effects on infants and young children.

The government is spending $30 million to conduct additional studies on the chemical's impact on humans. Several federal studies published in the last two years suggest that even human embryos retain far less BPA than other animals.

Many companies have already responded to consumer demand by removing BPA from their products. In 2008, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Toys "R'' Us said they began phasing out bottles, sippy cups and other children's items containing BPA. By the end of 2009, the six leading makers of baby bottles in the U.S. went BPA-free. Earlier this month Campbell's Soup said it would begin removing BPA from its most popular soups, though it did not set a time frame.

But the vast majority of canned goods in the U.S. are still sealed with resin that contains BPA to prevent contamination and spoiling. Canned food manufacturers have used the chemicals since the 1950s, and the practice is approved by the FDA. The chemical industry says BPA is the safest, most effective sealant.

Some manufacturers have begun switching to alternatives. Heinz reportedly uses BPA-free coatings for its Nurture baby formula cans, and ConAgra and General Mills say they have switched to alternative sealants for some canned tomatoes.

The federal government has been grappling with the safety of BPA for more than four years. The FDA revised its opinion on BPA in 2010 saying there is "some concern" about the chemical's impact on the brain and reproductive system of infants, babies and young children. Previously the agency said the trace amounts of BPA that leach out of food containers are not dangerous.

While older children and adults quickly eliminate the chemical through their kidneys, newborns and infants can retain it for longer. Scientists pushing for a ban on the chemical argue that BPA mimics the effects of the hormone estrogen, interfering with growth.

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Dutch, Belgians mark decade of 'mercy killings'

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US won't ban chemical BPA from food packages

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Vihjeitä polttaa rasvaa vatsa

Paino tappio tuotantosolujen – paras paino tappion CentersFat polttaminen uuniin SecretsRecent CommentsMr WordPress Hello World!ArchivesMarch 2012February 2012January 2012December 2011November 2011October 2011September 2011August 2011July 2011June 2011May 2011April 2011March 2011February 2011Alexa RankCategoriesAnti AgingDentalFitnessHair LossSkin CareUncategorizedWeight LossMetaLog inEntries RSSComments RSSWordPress.org olet tässä: Koti > kokonaispaino menetys > painon lähetetty

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Luonnollisten hoitoon ihon kohtelu – yksinkertainen tapa säilyttää nuorten näköisiä ihon

Vihjeitä burn maha FatWeight tappio Center – paras paino tappion CentersFat polttaminen uuniin SecretsRecent CommentsMr WordPress Hello World!ArchivesMarch 2012February 2012January 2012December 2011November 2011October 2011September 2011August 2011July 2011June 2011May 2011April 2011March 2011February 2011Alexa RankCategoriesAnti AgingDentalFitnessHair LossSkin CareUncategorizedWeight LossMetaLog inEntries RSSComments RSSWordPress.org olet tässä: Koti > ihon hoito > ihonhoito lähetetty

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Friday, March 30, 2012

Fluoridation: halvempia kuin hammaslääkäri

Luonnollinen huolellisesti ihon kohtelu – yksinkertainen tapa pitää vatsaan FatWeight keskus – paras paino tappion CentersFat polttaminen uuni SecretsRecent CommentsMr WordPress Hello World tappio-levylle näkymän nuoret SkinTips!ArchivesMarch 2012February 2012January 2012December 2011November 2011October 2011September 2011August 2011July 2011June 2011May 2011April 2011March 2011February 2011Alexa RankCategoriesAnti AgingDentalFitnessHair LossSkin CareUncategorizedWeight LossMetaLog inEntries RSSComments RSSWordPress.org olet tässä: Koti > hammaslääkärin > hampaiden lähetetty

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Have Younger Skin in Under a Month

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Thicker eyelashes

Have Younger Skin in Under a MonthRecent CommentsMr WordPress on Hello world!ArchivesMarch 2012February 2012January 2012December 2011November 2011October 2011September 2011August 2011July 2011June 2011May 2011April 2011March 2011February 2011Alexa RankCategoriesAnti AgingDentalFitnessHair LossSkin CareUncategorizedWeight LossMetaLog inEntries RSSComments RSSWordPress.org You are here: Home > Hair Loss > Posted in Hair Loss

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Fat Burning Furnace Secrets

Thicker eyelashesHave Younger Skin in Under a MonthDental Care Tips for Healthy and Strong TeethRecent CommentsMr WordPress on Hello world!ArchivesMarch 2012February 2012January 2012December 2011November 2011October 2011September 2011August 2011July 2011June 2011May 2011April 2011March 2011February 2011Alexa RankCategoriesAnti AgingDentalFitnessHair LossSkin CareUncategorizedWeight LossMetaLog inEntries RSSComments RSSWordPress.org You are here: Home > Weight Loss > Posted in Weight Loss

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Compounds dramatically alter biological clock and lead to weight loss, animal study suggests

ScienceDaily (Mar. 29, 2012) — Scientists from the Florida campus of The Scripps Research Institute have synthesized a pair of small molecules that dramatically alter the core biological clock in animal models, highlighting the compounds' potential effectiveness in treating a remarkable range of disorders -- including obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and serious sleep disorders.

See Also:Health & MedicineDiet and Weight LossObesityMind & BrainDieting and Weight ControlInsomniaPlants & AnimalsMiceAgriculture and FoodReferenceCircadian rhythmCircadian rhythm sleep disorderJet lagDiabetes mellitus type 2

The study was published on March 29, 2012, in an advance, online edition of the journal Nature.

The study showed that when administered in animal models the synthetic small molecules altered circadian rhythm and the pattern of core clock gene expression in the brain's hypothalamus, the site of the master cellular clock that synchronizes daily rhythms in mammals; circadian rhythms are the physiological processes that respond to a 24-hour cycle of light and dark and are present in most living things.

When given to diet-induced obese mice, these same small molecules decreased obesity by reducing fat mass and markedly improving cholesterol levels and hyperglycemia -- chronically high blood sugar levels that frequently lead to diabetes.

"The idea behind this research is that our circadian rhythms are coupled with metabolic processes and that you can modulate them pharmacologically," said Thomas Burris, a professor at Scripps Florida who led the study. "As it turns out, the effect of that modulation is surprisingly positive -- everything has been beneficial so far."

Burris stressed that these compounds were first generation -- the first to hit their targets in vivo with room for improvement as potential treatments. "In terms of therapeutics, this is really the first step," he said.

In the new study, the team identified and tested a pair of potent synthetic compounds that activate proteins called REV-ERBα and REV-ERBβ, which play an integral role in regulating the expression of core clock proteins that drive biological rhythms in activity and metabolism.

In the study, the scientists observed clear metabolic effects when the synthetic compounds were administered twice a day for 12 days. Animals displayed weight loss due to decreased fat mass with no changes in the amount of food they ate. The animals followed the human model of obesity closely, eating a standard Western diet of high fat, high sugar foods, yet still lost weight when given the compounds.

In one of the study's more striking findings, both synthetic compounds were shown to reduce cholesterol production. Cholesterol in the blood of treated animal models decreased 47 percent; triglycerides in the blood decreased 12 percent.

The circadian pattern of expression of a number of metabolic genes in the liver, skeletal muscle, and in fat tissue was also altered, resulting in increased energy expenditure, something of a surprise. In the study, the scientists observed a five percent increase in oxygen consumption, suggesting increased energy expenditure during the day and at night. However, these increases were not due to increased activity -- the animals displayed an overall 15 percent decrease in movement during those same time periods.

In addition to its impact on metabolism, the two compounds also affected the animals' activity during periods of light and darkness, suggesting that this class of compound may be useful for the treatment of sleep disorders, including the common problem of jet lag.

The first authors of the study, "Regulation of Circadian Behavior and Metabolism by Synthetic REV‐ERB Agonists," are Laura A. Solt and Yongjun Wang of Scripps Research. Other authors include Subhashis Banerjee, Travis Hughes, Douglas J. Kojetin, Thomas Lundasen, Youseung Shin, Jin Liu, Michael D. Cameron, Romain Noel, Andrew A. Butler, and Theodore M. Kamenecka of Scripps Research; and Seung‐Hee Yoo and Joseph S. Takahashi of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.

The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.

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Link between fast food and depression confirmed

ScienceDaily (Mar. 30, 2012) — A new study along the same lines as its predecessors shows how eating fast food is linked to a greater risk of suffering from depression. This study has been published in the Public Health Nutrition journal

See Also:Health & MedicineNutritionMental Health ResearchDiet and Weight LossMind & BrainMental HealthDepressionDieting and Weight ControlLiving WellReferenceOily fishSouth Beach dietEating disorderFast food

According to a recent study headed by scientists from the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and the University of Granada, eating commercial baked goods (fairy cakes, croissants, doughnuts, etc.) and fast food (hamburgers, hotdogs and pizza) is linked to depression.

Published in the Public Health Nutrition journal, the results reveal that consumers of fast food, compared to those who eat little or none, are 51% more likely to develop depression.

Furthermore, a dose-response relationship was observed. In other words this means that "the more fast food you consume, the greater the risk of depression," explains Almudena Sánchez-Villegas, lead author of the study.

The study demonstrates that those participants who eat the most fast food and commercial baked goods are more likely to be single, less active and have poor dietary habits, which include eating less fruit, nuts, fish, vegetables and olive oil. Smoking and working more than 45 hours per week are other prevalent characteristics of this group.

A long-term study

With regard to the consumption of commercial baked goods, the results are equally conclusive. "Even eating small quantities is linked to a significantly higher chance of developing depression," as the university researcher from the Canary Islands points out.

The study sample belonged to the SUN Project (University of Navarra Diet and Lifestyle Tracking Program). It consisted of 8,964 participants that had never been diagnosed with depression or taken antidepressants. They were assessed for an average of six months, and 493 were diagnosed with depression or started to take antidepressants.

This new data supports the results of the SUN project in 2011, which were published in the PLoS One journal. The project recorded 657 new cases of depression out of the 12,059 people analysed over more than six months. A 42% increase in the risk associated with fast food was found, which is lower than that found in the current study.

Sánchez-Villegas concludes that "although more studies are necessary, the intake of this type of food should be controlled because of its implications on both health (obesity, cardiovascular diseases) and mental well-being."

The impact of diet on mental health

Depression affects 121 million people worldwide. This figure makes it one of the main global causes of disability-adjusted life year. Further still, in countries with low and medium income it is the leading cause.

However, little is known about the role that diet plays in developing depressive disorders. Previous studies suggest that certain nutrients have a preventative role. These include group B vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and olive oil. Furthermore, a healthy diet such as that enjoyed in the Mediterranean has been linked to a lower risk of developing depression.

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'Superinfected' Patients Give Clues to Fighting HIV

Migraines likelier in men with impotence

Reuters – 2 hrs 0 mins ago NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Men who have been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction are 63 percent more likely to also have had a diagnosis of migraine headaches than men without the sexual disorder, according to a new study from Taiwan.

Dr. Tobias Köhler of Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, who specializes in male sexual function and fertility, told Reuters Health this is the first he's heard of any such relationship between migraines and impotence.

"It's an interesting first recognition of the correlation, but by no means does it mean they're causally linked," said Köhler, who was not involved in the new research. It's not clear what might explain the link between erectile dysfunction (ED) and headache, although migraines have been linked to sexual dysfunction in women, the study authors note in the journal Cephalalgia.

But "no study to date has ever attempted to explore the association between migraine and ED," write Dr. Chao-Yuan Huang at National Taiwan University's College of Medicine and his colleagues.

It has been estimated that about 20 million men in the United States suffer from impotence.

The research team collected information on 23,000 men from a national database of insurance claims in Taiwan.

About 5,700 of the men had been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction, which is an inability to get or keep an erection.

Huang's group then compared ED patients to 17,000 similar men who had not sought treatment for impotence.

Among the men with ED, 245, or 4.25 percent, had previously been diagnosed with migraine headaches.

In the group without ED, 457 men, or 2.64 percent, had been diagnosed with migraines.

After the researchers took into account differences between the groups, including heart disease and diabetes, they found that ED patients were 1.63 times as likely to have had a previous migraine diagnosis as men in the other group.

Age seemed to make a difference.

Men in their 30s with erectile dysfunction were about twice as likely as men without it to have a diagnosis of migraines.

The researchers could only speculate as to why migraines are more common among men with erectile dysfunction.

"As it has been demonstrated that chronic pain can cause sexual dysfunction," the authors write, "one possible explanation for the association seen in this study may be the chronic pain associated with migraine headaches."

Köhler, who also represents the American Urological Association regarding sexual medicine, agreed that pain is a possible explanation.

"We definitely know that pain in general is bad for erections," he said.

The authors also offer up the brain chemical dopamine as a potential player, because it is thought to be involved in both migraine headaches and sexual function.

In addition, there's the possibility that the findings could be due to some other factor. For instance, men who see a doctor for migraines might be more likely to seek care for erection problems too, Huang's group notes.

Or it could be that the men diagnosed with migraines are taking medications that interfere with their sexual function, Köhler speculated.

Dr. Ege Serefoglu at Tulane University School of Medicine said that because this is the first stab at looking at the relationship between migraine and erectile dysfunction, the findings should be interpreted cautiously.

He added that the study was well conducted, but the results "need to be confirmed by other countries, other researchers, before we can really include migraine as a risk factor of erectile dysfunction or vice versa."

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/GFo00n Cephalalgia, online March 9, 2012.

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Migraines likelier in men with impotence

But "no study to date has ever attempted to explore the association between migraine and ED," write Dr. Chao-Yuan Huang at National Taiwan University's College of Medicine and his colleagues.

It has been estimated that about 20 million men in the United States suffer from impotence.

The research team collected information on 23,000 men from a national database of insurance claims in Taiwan.

About 5,700 of the men had been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction, which is an inability to get or keep an erection.

Huang's group then compared ED patients to 17,000 similar men who had not sought treatment for impotence.

Among the men with ED, 245, or 4.25 percent, had previously been diagnosed with migraine headaches.

In the group without ED, 457 men, or 2.64 percent, had been diagnosed with migraines.

Age seemed to make a difference.

Men in their 30s with erectile dysfunction were about twice as likely as men without it to have a diagnosis of migraines.

The researchers could only speculate as to why migraines are more common among men with erectile dysfunction.

Köhler, who also represents the American Urological Association regarding sexual medicine, agreed that pain is a possible explanation.

"We definitely know that pain in general is bad for erections," he said.

The authors also offer up the brain chemical dopamine as a potential player, because it is thought to be involved in both migraine headaches and sexual function.

Or it could be that the men diagnosed with migraines are taking medications that interfere with their sexual function, Köhler speculated.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/GFo00n Cephalalgia, online March 9, 2012.

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Migraines likelier in men with impotence

But "no study to date has ever attempted to explore the association between migraine and ED," write Dr. Chao-Yuan Huang at National Taiwan University's College of Medicine and his colleagues.

It has been estimated that about 20 million men in the United States suffer from impotence.

The research team collected information on 23,000 men from a national database of insurance claims in Taiwan.

About 5,700 of the men had been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction, which is an inability to get or keep an erection.

Huang's group then compared ED patients to 17,000 similar men who had not sought treatment for impotence.

Among the men with ED, 245, or 4.25 percent, had previously been diagnosed with migraine headaches.

In the group without ED, 457 men, or 2.64 percent, had been diagnosed with migraines.

Age seemed to make a difference.

Men in their 30s with erectile dysfunction were about twice as likely as men without it to have a diagnosis of migraines.

The researchers could only speculate as to why migraines are more common among men with erectile dysfunction.

Köhler, who also represents the American Urological Association regarding sexual medicine, agreed that pain is a possible explanation.

"We definitely know that pain in general is bad for erections," he said.

The authors also offer up the brain chemical dopamine as a potential player, because it is thought to be involved in both migraine headaches and sexual function.

Or it could be that the men diagnosed with migraines are taking medications that interfere with their sexual function, Köhler speculated.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/GFo00n Cephalalgia, online March 9, 2012.

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Migraines likelier in men with impotence

But "no study to date has ever attempted to explore the association between migraine and ED," write Dr. Chao-Yuan Huang at National Taiwan University's College of Medicine and his colleagues.

It has been estimated that about 20 million men in the United States suffer from impotence.

The research team collected information on 23,000 men from a national database of insurance claims in Taiwan.

About 5,700 of the men had been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction, which is an inability to get or keep an erection.

Huang's group then compared ED patients to 17,000 similar men who had not sought treatment for impotence.

Among the men with ED, 245, or 4.25 percent, had previously been diagnosed with migraine headaches.

In the group without ED, 457 men, or 2.64 percent, had been diagnosed with migraines.

Age seemed to make a difference.

Men in their 30s with erectile dysfunction were about twice as likely as men without it to have a diagnosis of migraines.

The researchers could only speculate as to why migraines are more common among men with erectile dysfunction.

Köhler, who also represents the American Urological Association regarding sexual medicine, agreed that pain is a possible explanation.

"We definitely know that pain in general is bad for erections," he said.

The authors also offer up the brain chemical dopamine as a potential player, because it is thought to be involved in both migraine headaches and sexual function.

Or it could be that the men diagnosed with migraines are taking medications that interfere with their sexual function, Köhler speculated.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/GFo00n Cephalalgia, online March 9, 2012.

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CDC Helps Educators Identify Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders

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ANALYSIS

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Blood clot risk higher in heavy women

Reuters – 1 hr 49 mins ago NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Middle-aged women who are overweight or obese run a higher risk of potentially dangerous blood clots, especially after surgery, a large new study finds.

The research, which followed more than one million UK women, confirms a link between obesity and the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) -- blood clots in the veins, usually in the legs. If one of those clots breaks free and travels to the lungs, causing what's called a pulmonary embolism, it can prove fatal.

The findings also show that heavier women are more likely to end up needing surgery -- which is itself a major risk for VTE.

That's "not entirely unexpected," since obesity raises the risk of some medical conditions that could lead to surgery, said lead researcher Lianne Parkin, of the University of Otago in New Zealand.

"But as far as we know, our study is the first to directly examine the relationship between being overweight or obese and the likelihood of having an operation," Parkin told Reuters Health in an email.

The researchers found that for every 1,000 normal-weight women who had inpatient surgery over six years, about five developed a clot in a deep vein or a pulmonary embolism within 12 weeks of the operation.

Among overweight and obese women, that rate was seven per 1,000.

The risk of suffering a clot without surgery was far lower, but still relatively higher among heavier women.

Of normal-weight women, 0.1 out of every 1,000 developed a VTE during any 12-week period in which no surgery was done. The rate was 0.2 for every 1,000 overweight or obese women.

Overall, Parkin said, the risk of clots climbed in tandem with a woman's weight. "That suggests that the loss of even small amounts of weight is likely to be beneficial (in terms of reducing VTE risk) for women who are overweight or obese," she said.

The findings, which appear in the journal Circulation, are based on more than 1.1 million UK women who were 56 years old, on average, at the study's start. The researchers used hospital records and death certificates to track cases of VTE over six years.

During that time, 6,438 women were hospitalized for, or died from, a VTE -- with almost 1,900 forming a clot within 12 weeks of an operation. (That was out of more than 641,000 women who had at least one operation during the study period.)

Women who were overweight or obese were 22 percent more likely to need inpatient surgery versus their thinner peers.

That means more overweight women will face the chance of a surgery-related VTE, and their risk with any given surgery will be relatively higher compared with thin women.

According to Parkin's team, their figures probably underestimate the actual number of women who developed a VTE -- since clots in the leg veins may be detected and treated by a primary care doctor.

Those clots are almost always diagnosed because of symptoms, like pain in the calf, swelling in the ankle and foot and warmth over the affected area.

Treatment can include medication to keep a clot from growing or prevent new ones. Wearing compression stockings around the lower leg can also help prevent new clots.

According to Parkin, the best way for an overweight woman to cut the risk of a non-surgery-related VTE is to lose some weight. And that would come with "many other important health benefits," she pointed out.

"In addition to weight loss, though," Parkin added, "it is important to increase physical activity. Immobility is a risk factor for VTE, and overweight and obese people are often less physically active."

If you're facing surgery and have enough advance warning of it, shedding some weight is, again, a good idea, Parkin noted. In addition, you can ask your doctor what will be done to minimize any risk of post-surgery VTE.

There are different recommendations on how to help prevent surgery-related VTE, including the use of "blood-thinning" drugs. And those vary based on the type and duration of the surgery, Parkin said.

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/H2Xn9C Circulation, online March 6, 2012.

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'Super-Earths' in M-Dwarf Survey: Life on Other Planets?

Warm Weather Triggers Early Allergy Season

HealthDay – 1 hr 18 mins ago FRIDAY, March 30 (HealthDay News) -- While unseasonably warm weather delights many people, those with allergies may not be as thrilled with the early arrival of spring.

Arriving along with those beautiful blooms is plenty of pollen that has hay-fever sufferers sneezing at least a few weeks sooner than normal.

And, in some areas, not only is the season starting early, but the pollen counts are breaking records. Several days ago, Atlanta's pollen count reading was 9,369 particles of pollen per cubic meter, which is 55 percent higher than the old record high set in 1999. Normally, anything above 1,500 is considered high in the Atlanta area, according to the American College of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology (ACAAI).

"Tree pollen in some parts of eastern U.S. started in early February, which is about three to four weeks early, and some areas have had record high counts for days and weeks. For the one in four people who has allergies, this is having a cumulative effect. The longer you get exposure, the worse the problem becomes," explained Dr. James Sublett, an allergist and spokesman for the ACAAI.

He said mold counts haven't been high yet, but normally in the winter, mold is gone once the ground freezes. "We've had some mold counts in the moderate range here in Louisville, Ky., and because of the nice weather people are outside more. Again, it's that continuous exposure that makes allergies even worse."

And, humans aren't the only ones enjoying the warmer weather. Ticks and mosquitoes that are normally dormant at this time of the year are already active, according to Richard Ostfeld, a senior scientist with the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, N.Y.

"Adult ticks have been active all winter long. The warm winter weather changed their behavior, but so far there's no evidence that it's changed their abundance. And, given the mildness of the winter, there could be a better over-winter survival of mosquitoes," Ostfeld said. Plus, he said, mosquitoes may get a jump-start on breeding with the warm weather.

If you normally use flea or tick treatments on your animals, hopefully you've started those treatments. If you haven't, now is the time, according to Ostfeld. And, it's important to be vigilant about checking yourself and children when you come in from outdoors for ticks, he said.

As for dealing with allergies, Sublett said the first line of treatment is over-the-counter antihistamines, such as Allegra, Claritin and Zyrtec. There are also nasal spray antihistamines, as well as topical nasal steroids for the treatment of allergies (most of these are available only by prescription). If you have allergies and asthma, Sublett said that montelukast (Singulair) can help treat both those problems. Singulair is only available by prescription.

Sublett said it's a good idea to visit an allergist so you can find out exactly what you're allergic to, so that you can take steps to avoid those allergens.

If you're allergic to pollen, but love to garden, Sublett said you should wear a mask (with a NIOSH N95 rating) to filter the small particles that you're bound to stir up while gardening or mowing the lawn.

He also recommended keeping your windows closed and using your air conditioner or home heating vent system to filter the air in your home. Sublett said to close the windows in your car and use the recirculated air setting in the car. In addition, be sure to change air conditioning and furnace filters frequently, and use high-efficiency filters with an 11 or 12 rating, he advised.

If you don't have a heating or air conditioning system that can filter your home's air, portable in-room air filters can work well. But, Sublett said, be sure to get one with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter that's large enough for the room you need to clean, and let it run often. He advised against the ionizing type of air cleaners as those can put ozone in the air, which isn't good for those with breathing problems.

More information

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology is conducting free asthma and nasal allergy screenings. To locate one in your area, click here.

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Health Tip: Partners Have a Role in Pregnancy

HealthDay – 1 hr 18 mins ago (HealthDay News) -- Partners play an important role in helping moms prepare for pregnancy, and in helping to ensure that the pregnancy goes smoothly.

The womenshealth.gov website offers these suggestions:

Partners should discuss when the time for pregnancy is right.Partners should be screened for sexually transmitted infections before pregnancy to prevent transmission.Quit smoking, manage stress, eat a healthy diet, avoid illegal drug use and limit alcohol use to reduce the risk of fertility problems.Partners should have a medical checkup to discuss personal health, medical history, family history and medication use.Anyone who works with toxic chemicals should avoid exposing moms-to-be.

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Health Highlights: March 30, 2012

HealthDay – 1 hr 17 mins ago Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

New York Bans Sale of Synthetic Marijuana Products

The sale of synthetic marijuana products has been banned in New York state.

The products -- which are sold in locations such as convenience stores and smoke shops -- have been linked to severe health problems and death, the Associated Press reported.

The state order issued Thursday called for an immediate halt to the sale and distribution of the products. Local health officials will check stores to ensure they're complying with the order.

Synthetic marijuana products contain chemicals that mimic THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, and produce a high when smoked, the AP reported.

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U.S. Announces New Policy for Potentially Dangerous Research

The U.S. government is tightening its oversight of scientific research involving dangerous germs that could pose a biosecurity threat if the research is ever misused.

The new policy announced Thursday comes in the wake of a controversy over recent experiments in the United States and the Netherlands that created easier-to-spread versions of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus, the Associated Press reported.

The policy -- posted on the National Institutes of Health biosecurity website -- outlines how scientists and government agencies can determine which projects raise particular concerns about biosecurity and how to carefully manage risks from the research.

In related news, biosecurity advisers to the federal government began a two-day meeting Thursday to discuss whether the public should ever be given the full details of the H5N1 bird flu virus experiments, the AP reported.

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Transplant Organ Storage Fluid Recalled

A worldwide recall of fluid used to store organs for potential transplants was announced Thursday by U.S. pharmaceutical company Bristol Myers-Squibb.

There are concerns the fluid, called Viaspan, could be contaminated with bacteria. The problem was detected March 19 at a third-party manufacturing facility in Austria, Agence France-Presse reported.

"We are urgently investigating the cause of this issue," the company said in a statement. "BMS has notified all health authorities in countries where the product is distributed and will provide further updates as the investigation progresses."

There is no evidence of actual contamination and the recall was announced as a precautionary measure, company spokesman Ken Dominski told AFP.

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Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacements Focus of FDA Meeting

The risks and benefits of metal-on-metal hip replacements will be discussed at a two-day meeting of a U.S. Food and Drug Administration expert advisory panel meeting.

The June 27-28 meeting is being held to gather input from experts and patients. The FDA is currently considering whether to require more rigorous testing and pre-market review requirements for this type of hip replacement.

In May 2011, the FDA told manufacturers of metal-on-metal hip systems to conduct post-market surveillance studies to collect more safety data on the systems, including data related to metal ion concentrations in the bloodstream.

The FDA's concerns about the safety of the hip systems were heightened by a recent study that found an increasing failure rate in models with large-diameter femoral heads.

"We are asking outside scientific and medical experts to discuss recent information on these devices so that the agency can continue to make reliable safety recommendations to patients and their health care providers," Dr. William Maisel, deputy director of science at FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, said in an agency news release.

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Two-Thirds of Kids With Autism Have Been Bullied: Study

HealthDay – 1 hr 17 mins ago FRIDAY, March 30 (HealthDay News) -- Nearly two-thirds of American children with autism have been bullied at some point in their lives, and these kids are bullied three times more often than their siblings without autism, a new survey finds.

Bullying occurs in every grade but is worst in grades five through eight, with 42 percent to 49 percent of students with autism spectrum disorders in those grades bullied, according to a survey of nearly 1,200 parents of children with autism aged 6 to 15.

The Interactive Autism Network (IAN), a project of the Kennedy Krieger Institute, conducted the survey.

"These survey results show the urgent need to increase awareness, influence school policies and provide families and children with effective strategies for dealing with bullying," Paul Law, director of the IAN Project, said in an institute news release.

Children with autism, a developmental disorder, usually have delayed language development and difficulty with social interaction.

"Children with autism spectrum disorders are already vulnerable. To experience teasing, taunts, ostracism or other forms of spite may make a child who was already struggling to cope become completely unable to function," Law said. "The issue is complex and we plan to carefully analyze the data and publish peer-reviewed findings that will serve to advance policy and care for individuals with autism spectrum disorders."

Overall, 63 percent of kids with an autism spectrum disorder have been bullied at some time, the survey results indicated.

Among children with autism spectrum disorders, those in public schools are bullied nearly 50 percent more often than those in private schools or special-education schools, the researchers found.

Types of bullying experienced by these children include: being teased or made fun of (73 percent); being left out on purpose (51 percent); name-calling (47 percent); and being physically bullied, including pushing, hitting or kicking (30 percent).

Bullying is experienced by 57 percent of children with autism who want to interact with others but have difficulty making friends, compared with 25 percent of those who prefer to play alone and 34 percent of those who will play with others only if approached.

Fifty-two percent of the parents said their child had been taunted by other children in order to trigger a meltdown or aggressive outburst.

Kids with Asperger's syndrome, a high-functioning type of autism, were nearly twice as likely as children with another autism disorder to be bullied, perhaps because of different school placements, the researchers said.

More information

The U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke has more about autism.

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Obstructive Sleep Apnea May Be Linked to Depression

HealthDay – 1 hr 17 mins ago FRIDAY, March 30 (HealthDay News) -- There appears to be a link between the common sleep disorder known as obstructive sleep apnea and major depression, a new study suggests.

In people with obstructive sleep apnea, soft tissue in the back of the throat blocks the upper airway during sleep. This results in pauses in breathing and other sleep symptoms such as snorting, gasping and snoring.

In the new study, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers surveyed about 9,700 American adults and found that 6 percent of the men and 3 percent of the women said they had been diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea.

The CDC team found that symptoms of the sleep disorder were associated with many depression symptoms, including feeling like a failure and feeling hopeless. This association was not affected by factors such as weight, age, sex or race, they noted.

There was no link noted between regular snoring and depression, however, the researchers pointed out in the report, published in the April issue of the journal Sleep.

"We expected persons with sleep-disordered breathing to report trouble sleeping or sleeping too much, or feeling tired and having little energy, but not the other symptoms," such as hopelessness, lead study author Anne Wheaton, a CDC epidemiologist, said in a news release from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Although the study uncovered an association between obstructive sleep apnea and depression, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

More information

The American Academy of Family Physicians has more about sleep apnea.

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Dating Violence Common by 7th Grade: Survey

HealthDay – 1 hr 17 mins ago THURSDAY, March 29 (HealthDay News) -- Psychological and physical abuse is a common facet of dating for America's adolescents, a new survey reveals.

Researchers who polled more than 1,400 seventh graders found that more than 37 percent of 11- to 14-year olds had been the victim of some form of psychological violence, and almost one in six said they had fallen prey to physical violence while in an ongoing relationship.

"Issues of dating abuse among young teens are much more pervasive than I imagine many families believe," said Peter Long, president and CEO of Blue Shield of California Foundation, which co-sponsored the survey with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the organization Futures Without Violence.

Long said he was startled to see that three-quarters of the students reported they had a boyfriend or girlfriend by their middle-school years.

"That's a big number, and it means that this is the age when many kids are forming their views of what it is to have a relationship," Long said. This indicates that this is the appropriate age to intervene, he added, saying, "High school may even be too late."

The finding that 31 percent of these middle school kids is "experiencing some kind of electronic aggression or pressure such as provocative or insistent texting should be a warning sign for us," Long said, "as is the fact that 15 percent have experienced some kind of physical abuse while dating."

According to U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention questionnaires, 10 percent of American high school students say they have been physically abused by their boyfriend or girlfriend. But clear insight regarding younger teens has been less well investigated, the researchers said.

To address that issue, between 2010 and 2012 surveys were conducted in eight middle schools in five U.S. cities: Los Angeles; Bridgeport, Conn.; Indianapolis; San Diego, and Saginaw, Mich.

The average age of the 1,430 students polled was 12, and boys and girls were equally represented. About one-quarter were white; 30 percent, black; 34 percent, Hispanic and 12 percent were a combination of other races.

The survey defined teen dating violence as any form of physical, sexual or emotional violence occurring within the context of dating. Psychological violence includes controlling behaviors, such as not allowing a girlfriend or boyfriend to do things with other people. Electronic violence covers bullying and name-calling online or via texts, and physical violence includes pushing, grabbing or kicking one's partner.

Asked about these and other behaviors in the previous six months:

Thirty-seven percent said that they had seen boys or girls being physically abusive towards their dating partner. About one-quarter had a male or female friend who was physically violent to a partner, and more than 20 percent had a friend whose partner was physically violent to him or her.Forty-nine percent said they had been sexually harassed, either physically or verbally, by being touched inappropriately or joked about.Seven percent strongly agreed that it was okay for a boy to hit his girlfriend under certain circumstances, such as "a girl who makes her boyfriend jealous on purpose." Interestingly, 50 percent strongly agreed that it was OK for a girl to hit her boyfriend in the same siutation.Sixty-three percent agreed with what the pollsters considered a "harmful stereotype" about gender, such as "girls are always trying to get boys to do what they want" or "With boyfriends and girlfriends, boys should be smarter than girls."

"But the good news," Long said, "is that nearly three-quarters of the students reported that in the last six months they have talked to their parents about dating. Not necessarily about dating abuse, but about dating. Which means the door is open for parents to talk to their children about relationships. So, on the one hand we have real serious issues here. But, on the other hand, we also have a real opportunity for parents to engage."

A California mother of two, Alexandra Preston, 35, encourages parents of teens to take the survey findings to heart.

"There's a tendency to read about a study like this and think, 'That can't be true.' Because we want our kids to be safe and happy, and we don't want it to be true, right?"

"But I think it's important that parents acknowledge that understanding and establishing and respecting boundaries is something all of us have to struggle with throughout life, at every age," said Preston, who added that she herself was a victim of domestic violence in a prior marriage.

Preston, whose children are 13 and 10, is finance and operations manager for a non-profit agency that works with Robert Wood Johnson's Start Strong program, which aims to combat dating abuse in middle school. She said her own experiences have led her to be proactive with her children regarding healthy relationships.

Her son "remembers what happened in our home," she said, explaining she tries "to make sense of it, without demonizing the people who do it, and making sure they know it's not their fault."

Preston said this study could be helpful in raising awareness about dating issues, and encouraging parents to listen to their children.

More information

For more on young teen relationships, visit the StartStrongTeens.

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Health Tip: Caring for a Chemical Burn

HealthDay – 1 hr 17 mins ago (HealthDay News) -- A chemical burn should be treated immediately and with care, since traditional skin remedies -- such as an antibiotic lotion -- can react with the chemical and actually worsen the burn.

The American Academy of Family Physicians offers these suggestions to care for a chemical burn:

Carefully flush the area with lots of cool water.Promptly remove any jewelry or clothing that may have come in contact with the chemical.Carefully wrap the area with a clean cloth or a piece of sterile, dry gauze.Call your doctor, 911 or the local poison control center as soon as possible.

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Thyroid Surgery Riskier for Older Patients: Study

HealthDay – 1 hr 17 mins ago FRIDAY, March 30 (HealthDay News) -- Seniors who have thyroid surgery are much more likely than younger patients to suffer serious heart, lung and infection-related complications, according to a new study.

The findings challenge the widely held belief that thyroid surgery (thyroidectomy) is a low-risk operation for older patients, the researchers said.

They analyzed data from 7,915 patients in the United States who had all or part of their thyroid gland removed. The risk of postoperative complications was five times higher in patients 80 and older and two times higher in patients ages 65 to 79, compared to younger patients.

The study appears in the May issue of the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism.

The number of elderly patients in the United States undergoing thyroid operations is increasing due to an aging population, and rising rates of thyroid cancer and benign thyroid conditions, the researchers said.

"It is important to understand that our study emphasizes the importance of the entire medical system that cares for these elderly patients, not just the surgeon," study lead author Dr. Raymon Grogan, of the University of Chicago, said in a journal news release.

"In our study, elderly patients were susceptible to life-threatening, nonsurgical complications. Thus it is important that an elderly patient undergoing thyroid surgery have an experienced team of primary care physicians, surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses who handle these types of surgeries on a routine, daily basis," Grogan said.

More information

The American Thyroid Association has more about thyroid surgery.

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Justices Meet to Decide Fate of Health-Reform Legislation

HealthDay – 1 hr 17 mins ago FRIDAY, March 30 (HealthDay News) -- Now comes the hard part.

Following three days of arguments that ended Wednesday over the constitutionality of the health-reform legislation passed by Congress in 2010, the nine justices of the U.S. Supreme Court will meet Friday and begin to decide whether the entire law -- or key provisions -- can stand.

While their final decision won't be announced until June, an initial vote on the fate of the polarizing legislation will take place Friday. Then during the weeks to follow, individual votes can change as the justices read each other's working drafts of opinions and dissents, the Associated Press reported.

Equally hard is trying to predict just how the justices -- typically described as four conservatives, four liberals and one "swing" member -- will vote.

Twenty-six states have challenged the constitutionality of the law, primarily over two provisions -- a requirement that most adults have health insurance by 2014 or face a penalty, and an expansion of Medicaid, the government-run insurance program for lower-income individuals.

Arguments over those provisions dominated much of this week's hearing before the high court.

"It's very hard to tell what can happen as a result of the oral arguments.

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When Paramedics Suspect Stroke, They're Usually Right

Study Weighs In on Diets for Kids

HealthDay – 1 hr 17 mins ago FRIDAY, March 30 (HealthDay News) -- If you're trying to get your child to drop a few pounds, here's some food for thought: A new study finds that among three types of diets, kids preferred the one emphasizing foods that don't cause blood-sugar imbalances.

Kids also lost weight on the other two diets, however.

"We know the diets are effective. The question now is how we can get people to follow them," said study lead author Shelley Kirk, a dietitian and assistant professor of clinical pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

About 20 percent of children aged 6 to 11 in the United States are obese, which is a step beyond simply being overweight, according to statistics from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rate is similar in adolescents aged 12 to 19.

In the new study, researchers examined 85 obese 7- to 12-year-olds who accepted an assigned diet for a year. The kids had weekly dietary counseling and biweekly exercise sessions for the first three months, and then were on their own for the remaining nine months.

One of the diets is similar to the Atkins diet for adults, and focused on very low carbohydrate consumption and a lot of high-protein foods. Another diet focused on foods with low glycemic indexes (such as fruit, nonstarchy vegetables, whole grains, poultry and fish) that are less likely to cause blood-sugar levels to fluctuate. The third diet focused on controlling food portions and making sure calories overall were 55 percent to 60 percent carbohydrates, 10 percent to 15 percent protein, and 30 percent fat.

The researchers found that the participants on average lowered their body mass index (BMI) -- a measurement of body fat based on height and weight -- and the percentage of fat in their bodies. Their waist sizes didn't decrease after a year, but it's not clear if that's because they grew.

The children had the most difficulty following the low-carbohydrate diet and the easiest time with the low-glycemic diet, Kirk said.

Overall, most of the kids lost weight on the diets, Kirk noted.

Cathleen Davis, a clinical dietitian and nutritionist who works with children at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in Babylon, N.Y., applauded the study and explained why the diets might have differed in popularity.

She said the portion-controlled and low-glycemic diets are probably better tolerated "because they both are more mainstream diets that the parents would be familiar and comfortable with."

What should you do if you'd like to put your child on a diet?

"Ask your pediatrician about local reputable programs and look on Eatright.org to find a registered dietitian serving your area," Davis said. "Make tiny changes and expect bad days -- absolutely no one eats perfectly 100 percent of the time. And be very careful of programs that push supplements, make any type of claim for immediate success and don't have licensed credentials."

The study was released online March 1 in advance of publication in an upcoming print issue of the Journal of Pediatrics.

More information

For more about kids and obesity, try the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Fewer U.S. Med Students Choose Psychiatry: Report

HealthDay – 1 hr 17 mins ago FRIDAY, March 30 (HealthDay News) -- The declining number of U.S. medical students who choose psychiatry as a specialty is cause for concern because there's already a shortage of psychiatrists, experts warn.

The overall downward trend has occurred for the past six years, according to a National Resident Matching Program report.

Medical schools need to provide more information and training to medical school students so they know psychiatry can be a profitable and rewarding career, the American Psychiatric Association (APA) said.

"In 2010, there was a slight increase in the number of seniors choosing psychiatry, but overall the trend has been downward," APA president Dr. John Oldham said in an association news release.

"We need to reach out to medical students in more effective ways than simply exposing them to a four-week clerkship on an inpatient unit, with no follow-up of the patients they have cared for," Oldham said. "Establishing and maintaining ongoing relationships with patients is one of the key factors that makes psychiatry such a fulfilling career."

Psychiatrists specialize in diagnosing, treating and preventing mental illness, including substance-abuse disorders.

The reasons for the decline in students choosing to pursue a career in psychiatry aren't well known, but there could be several factors, said Dr. James Scully Jr., the APA's medical director and CEO.

"This is a very exciting time for psychiatry, when we have more scientific developments in the field than ever before, but this means that the field is evolving in ways in which the outcome is unknown," Scully said in the news release. "It's a great time for young doctors to have an impact on what the future of psychiatry will look like."

There are about 50,000 psychiatrists in the United States -- too few to serve all the patients who need help, especially in rural areas, according to the APA. The group also noted that about half of currently practicing psychiatrists are over the age of 55, and many will soon retire.

More information

The American Psychiatric Association has more about being a psychiatrist.

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FDA Word on BPA Ban Expected

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Analysis: Portugal ponders political price of good health

Reuters – 27 mins ago LISBON (Reuters) - To get an idea of the enormous financial strains on Europe's health care sector, put yourself in the shoes of Professor Joao Alvaro Correia da Cunha.

As head of North Lisbon hospital centre, one of Portugal's largest, da Cunha has already slashed salaries by 20 percent and shed 150 staff as part of cuts demanded by international lenders in return for bailing out the government to the tune of 78 billion euros. He is under orders to keep cutting.

Yet da Cunha, a doctor for 43 years, is not ready to compromise on his calling to heal the sick. In February he spent 1 million euros to treat a woman with a complex blood disease and will soon prescribe a new drug for 25 people with a fatal degenerative nerve disorder endemic in northern Portugal. The cost will be perhaps 200,000 euros a year per patient.

Portugal's taxpayer-funded national health service (NHS) provides universal access, more or less free at the point of delivery, and da Cunha is proud that his hospital has never had to turn away a patient. He finds rationing of health care anathema. Yet times are tough.

"If it comes to the point when it's necessary to decide whether we can treat a patient or not, then that decision will not be mine. I'd rather retire," he said. "And you shouldn't have to look in your pocket to see if you can afford to be treated. But I agree we're reaching the limit: we have no money. The country is in crisis."

Portugal is in particularly dire straits because it is in hock to its lenders, with terms dictated by officials from the "troika" of the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the European Central Bank.

But the financial pressure that its medical system faces is replicated across the continent. Spain, for instance, is bracing for health cuts as part of an austerity budget promised by new Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy.

The debate on the scope of health care spending may have been triggered by the euro zone's debt drama, but it will not go away when the crisis ebbs.

"It will be unavoidable to rethink the resource allocation mechanism. Of course, in health most countries don't want to talk about explicit rationing. The political cost is too high," said Professor Monica Oliveira, an expert in health finance at the Technical University of Lisbon.

GOOD HEALTH, FINANCIAL PAIN

Standard & Poor's, a credit ratings agency, recently warned that health bills, compounded by the cost of caring for ageing populations, were likely to become unaffordable for the Group of 20 major economies unless governments changed their social protection systems.

Total health care spending has risen by more than 70 percent in real terms in the OECD area since the early 1990s. Public spending on health absorbs more than 6 percent of GDP and could increase by another 3.5 to 6 percentage points by 2050, estimates the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, a Paris-based forum of 34 mature economies.

People are living longer, while medical technology and treatments are improving all the time. This is forcing governments - and voters - to make unpalatable financing choices. Is it possible to put a price on health? How much are we prepared to pay to extend a life by a few weeks or months?

Seen in that light, today's cost-cutting in Portugal is only a dry run for a more fundamental reassessment of how the country should pay for health care. Public and private spending on health totaled 10.1 percent of GDP in 2009, well short of the U.S. level of 17.4 percent but above the OECD average of 9.6 percent.

"We cannot undertake financing reforms when we are going through a troika programme. But as soon as we're through it, we'll have to start discussing financing. If not, the system will be unsustainable. This is something that everybody has to understand," said Fernando Leal da Costa, a secretary of state in the health ministry.

Like several experts interviewed for this report, da Costa said he expected a mixed system to evolve in Portugal; the state would continue to fund core services, but people would be asked over time to pay more out of their own pocket.

"If we don't try to do things smoothly now, we'll probably not avoid a catastrophe," da Costa said.

With the troika's bean counters bearing down, things are currently far from smooth. The government is desperate for more people to seek treatment in primary care centers instead of in hospitals, which are more expensive. It also needs to close some old hospitals to increase efficiency but has been shy of offending local interests by shutting wards that are surplus to capacity.

"The government is in the emergency room. They're trying to keep the patient alive," said Isabel Vaz, chief executive of Espirito Santo Health, a private hospital group. "They're making a huge effort to control costs, but I don't know how they're going to put in place all the reforms they need without money."

DOUBLE COVERAGE

In the longer term, Vaz said Portugal needed to reduce duplication: around two million people or about 20 percent of the population have access to private medical care - which is subsidized for civil servants - as well as the NHS. This "double coverage" is not efficient economically because it means paying twice to cover the same risk, she argued.

Vaz advocated the sort of model used in Germany and the Netherlands. "We'd have a social package so that everyone has access to basic care and people would have to top up," Vaz said. "But that of course means a different way of looking at the private-provision sector."

Talk of tampering with the NHS is heresy to many Portuguese, who cherish the system as a symbol of the country's transition to democracy after the overthrow of its dictatorship in 1974. It is no accident that Britain's health service, set up after World War Two and generally held in similarly high esteem, served as a model for that in Portugal.

The attachment to the NHS, founded in 1979, is not just sentimental. People see the results of big investments in health. In 1970, Portugal, western Europe's poorest country, recorded a shocking 55.5 infant deaths per 1,000, twice as many as in neighboring Spain. By 2009, the rate was down to 3.6.

Over the same period, life expectancy at birth improved from 67.1 to 79.5, the OECD average.

No one is more devoted to the NHS than Antonio Arnaut, a lawyer who set up the system when he was minister of social services.

"Today, everyone is equal when it comes to disease. Health is a right, not a privilege of those who can pay, as it used to be and is still the case in the United States, for example," he said in an interview in his office in Coimbra, a university town north of Lisbon.

A founding member of Portugal's Socialist Party, which is now in opposition, Arnaut is not against private health insurance and acknowledges there is a lot of scope to reduce waste. But he says the debate is less about financing and more about the political will to preserve what has become, in his eyes, a fundamental right.

"If the government cuts so much that the NHS loses its character, there'll be a popular revolt, because only revolt can recompense for the humiliation of the oppressed," Arnaut, who is also a poet and essayist, said.

SPREADING THE PAIN

Most Portuguese seem inured to the need for belt-tightening to cut the government's budget deficit to the EU threshold of 3 percent of GDP next year, but there is no doubt that the pain of the health cuts is being felt widely.

Da Cunha, the Lisbon hospital head, is planning to reduce his bill for drugs and medical consumables by another 10 percent this year, but the mean salary of his 6,700 professional staff, including three chaplains, has already fallen 20 percent over two years to 1,200 euros a month.

"We can't reduce our salaries any further," he said simply.

Portuguese have had to pay more for consultations and prescriptions since the start of the year, and patients in rural Portugal no longer automatically enjoy free transport if they have to go to the city for treatment.

Apolinario Eduardo, 36, who has just landed a job as a taxi driver in Coimbra, said he feared people would be deterred from going to the doctor's.

"For the last two years only my wife was employed and not earning much. If we needed to go to the hospital today, a co-payment of 20 euros, instead of 2 euros as it was before, plus the price of the drugs would take out a huge chunk of our monthly family income," he said.

Hospital executives and government officials brandish statistics to rebut media reports that the death rate has already started to climb because people can no longer afford all the tablets and medicines they need.

But Pedro Pita Barros, an economics professor at the Nova School of Business and Economics in Lisbon, said Portugal was probably at the limit of how much patients could be expected to pay out of their own pocket.

"You have people easily paying 40, 50, 60 percent of the cost of their drugs, and some of these will be chronic patients," he said. "The only thing that has helped them is a steep fall in price because of competition from generics; otherwise they'd have faced a hard time."

The government is expanding the use of cheaper generic drugs at the behest of the troika. By the end of 2012, Portugal's pharmaceuticals bill will have dropped 20 percent, or 525 million euros, in two years to 1.25 percent of GDP, according to Joao Almeida Lopes, chairman of Apifarma, the Portuguese pharmaceutical association.

IN PORTUGAL'S GENETIC CODE

A brighter result of the debt crisis for the pharmaceutical industry is that the government, again at the troika's prodding, finally intends to start paying next month about 3 billion euros of arrears built up over the past decade or more in the NHS.

"When you work with public hospitals, you're lucky to get paid after a year," said Ricardo Matos, an account manager at Alere Inc, a U.S. medical diagnostics developer.

Apifarma says pharmaceutical providers alone were owed 1.39 billion euros at the end of February, with payments taking an average of 500 days to come through. Some companies that were owed money and starved of credit have had to close, Lopes said.

"Our greatest enemy is the systematic underbudgeting of the health system in Portugal," he said. "In terms of health care, we should be careful not to go beyond what has been agreed with the troika and is in the budget for 2012."

That sounds self-serving, but Barros with the Nova School said the government's goal of cutting 1 billion euros from this year's budget of about 7.5 billion euros was probably too ambitious.

Weighed against that judgment, the IMF has identified health costs as the largest potential source of medium- and long-term fiscal pressure for Portugal. In today's money, the Fund estimates the country's future related health costs at 116 percent of GDP, dwarfing the average for advanced economies of 66 percent.

In other ways, though, Portugal is better placed than many others. An OECD analysis of health efficiency in 30 of its member states reckoned that only five countries had greater potential than Portugal for savings in public health spending. Portugal ranked above Denmark and Finland for efficiency in its peer group.

Portugal has also grasped the nettle of pension reform by linking payments to longevity. Moreover, its demographic profile is less severe than that of many of its neighbors. As a result, it faces one of the smallest rises in projected ageing costs in the EU - 4 percentage points of GDP or less - between 2007 and 2060, according to a European Commission study.

As such, the task of caring for the old will be more a matter of organisation than spending ever greater sums, said Barros: "More elderly people living alone with chronic conditions will require more health care in the community than in hospitals."

Still, the coming years will test health policymakers and finance ministers, especially in countries such as Portugal where the benefits of publicly-funded universal access to medical care are taken for granted.

Jose Martins Nunes, head of a cluster of seven hospitals in Coimbra, said asking the better-off to pay more would undo the very fabric of the national health service.

"The situation is tough, but the NHS is part of Portugal's genetic code. We will do everything within our means to maintain the model as it is," he said.

(Editing by David Stamp)

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As more autism reported, doctors say check early

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Doctor saves babies caught in Romania corruption

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US recalls organ storage fluid over contamination fears

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S.Africa conducts trials for shorter TB treatment

"Gavin Churchyard of Aurum Institute speaks on March 20 in Johannesburg at the launch of Global TB Vaccine Road map. South African researchers said Friday they were conducting medical trials to shorten the duration of tuberculosis treatment to make it easier for patients to complete the full regimen. (AFP Photo/Alexander Joe)" title

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Dry Skin Care Techniques

March 30th, 2012

There are so many forms of skin conditions as well as skin types that it is almost impossible for you to tell which one is better or worse. Some people with dry skin want it to be oiler, others who have oily skin wish that it was dryer. However, it does not matter what skin type you have, your skin will look healthier and hydrated with some simple dry skin care tips below.

Put in mind that dry skin care starts from within, thus if you hydrate yourself by drinking plenty of water and other fluids your skin is going to be much less dry. The skin draws most of its moisture from the layers on the bottom rather than from any topical cream you may use on the top layers. It is also important to note that when the body needs moisture and hydration it’s going to give this to the skin last; it is the last in priority.

The body hydrates the vital organs such as the heart and brain first, and then the major muscle groups, and then major systems such as the respiratory system and digestive system. Only the leftover hydration and moisture is then sent to the skin. Drinking water or fruit juice should be injected in your habit in dry skin care. For a change, try a drink mix like Crystal Light.

Moisturizing is also a part of dry skin care. And this means doing it religiously-day and night. It’s so important to use moisturizers at night because they don’t get rubbed off so easily and so the skin can absorb more, and because the body renews and regenerates itself during sleep. If you don’t add a moisturizer at night then you’re missing a big part of the skin care routine.

Using one in the morning before you head out is also important because moisturizers act as a protective layer between your skin and the elements in the atmosphere that can dry your skin such as pollutants and other irritants. You don’t need anything thick and goopy; a light moisturizer can be applied again during the day and it won’t mess up your makeup or be too obvious to others.

It is also recommended to use natural products. Using natural products also means less irritation to your face which is very important for dry skin care. When the face is irritated it uses up what natural oils it may have resulting in even worse dry skin. Some plain vitamin E oil that is available at most pharmacies and retail stores works very well even under makeup. This oil is usually very thick and so the skin can absorb it over time.

All these simple tips for your dry skin care!

Tags: Care, Skin, Techniques

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Cosmetic Dentist Edgewater

March 30th, 2012

Today it is a normal activity to have dental work done to your mouth. Some procedures are quite minimal, these procedures are none invasive and they often enhance the look of the person having the changes done. There are many people getting dental work for a number of reasons. Some need dental work for general hygiene and others want it strictly for increasing personal appeal.

Teeth cleaning and teeth whitening are now considered basic dental procedures. Implants are very popular and snap on smiles are on the increase there are many options now becoming very popular. Dental procedures have become very sophisticated and taking care of the teeth has far surpassed repairing over bites pulling teeth.

People no longer need to go through life with a broken smile. People may use dentures or have teeth permanently implanted. Oral surgery is not for everyone but many are candidates. There is the process of cosmetically having teeth whitened. There are circumstances cosmetic dentistry may need to be done due to accidents. has the training to completely reconstruct your smile.

In a society taking care of your dental health is important, appearance is a large part of how you are accepted by the general public, and dental health is important to your overall well being. Health problems may be created due to gum disease, or exasperated because of other dental problems. Without strong teeth eating fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods is sometimes difficult. Edgewater Dentist shows patients how to maintain dental health.

does beautiful Cosmetic Dentistry. Looking great is a very positive thing and will consult with a patient to help decide the best method of treatment. An Edgewater Dentist is available for all dental procedures, fillings, implants, bonding, dentures and much more. No one wants to have a smile that is broken, visit an Edgewood Dentist.

Tags: Cosmetic, Dentist, Edgewater

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The Best Wrinkle Creams

March 30th, 2012 There is much said about it the best wrinkle cream, wrinkle cream/components how each to make it more effective than others. Several other factors, but the stronger elements with wrinkle cream. Much like the effect of placebo sugar pills can and some wrinkle cream my qualities that people believe in paint really works. It’s the power of faith, which often makes it meaningful or effective cream consumers/many ‘ minds. This article will discuss some facts more unbelievable, but true to keep buyers coming back for more wrinkle cream. After obtaining this understanding marketing tricks, probably will become wiser consumers of wrinkle creams.

The first factor about the we cream discuss wrinkle as weights by packaging I mean shadow color and thickness of the box and also material made from Waw elegantly color box jar set first impression with consumers

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Three Tips for Achieving Natural Eyelash Extensions with Lashem

March 30th, 2012 Long and luxurious eyelashes are the hallmark of glamour and femininity. Women are always looking for new and revolutionary ways to obtain the long, fluttery lashes that have been made famous by many Hollywood and even cartoon heroines from Marilyn Monroe to Minnie Mouse. There are techniques and products that can assist the growth of healthy, long and shiny eyelashes, for the perfect eyelash extension. Some of these tips include not treating them with harsh products, using a natural eyelash extension gel, and mascara that aids the growth of lashes. With these three factors combined anyone can have eyelashes, just like the stars on the big screen, quickly and easily.

How to Grow Eyelashes

1. Stop Damaging your Eyelashes
To obtain the look of long, lustrous eyelashes many women fall into the trap of temporary and fast fixes that do more harm than good.

Having extensions applied is counterproductive to developing naturally long lashes. The treatment is very harsh and once removed, can cause eyelashes to become brittle, short and sparse.

Another lash growth mistake is using harsh, chemically treated products. Mascara in particular is known for going on too thick, and being very difficult to get off at the end of the day. Removing makeup that is challenging can wreck havoc on lashes and can leave them dry and damaged.

2. Use a Natural Eye Gel
Rather than trying to cover up short and brittle lashes with cosmetics, using a natural lash growth gel can actually grow, nourish and fill out eyelashes for a real result, and not just a temporary cover up.

“Measureable Difference Lash Gel” has the ability to naturally grow eyelashes. It doesn’t matter if short and brittle lashes are caused by a genetic predisposition, or the damage has been caused by treatment and cosmetics, it will work toward achieving lashes that are sought after and envied.

3. Try Gentle Cosmetics
“Double Trouble” mascara is a gentle formula that not only helps add volume and length to lashes, in a dual applicator system, but is very easy to remove. This is the perfect way to pair a lash treatment such as the Measureable Difference Lash Gel with cosmetics, so that anyone can achieve the dramatic look of long eyelashes, even when they are using the treatment to improve and enhance their lashes.

Naturally long and lush eyelashes is completely realistic, and without having to undergo any damaging extension treatments, or by using harsh cosmetics that may contain parben or prostaglandin. By using Measureable Difference Lash Gel with Double Trouble Mascara anyone can take care of their eyelashes, and receive the benefits of long, full and beautiful lashes.

Lashem helps women feel comfortable and confident in their skin with their natural line of cosmetics including measureable Difference Lash Gel and Double Trouble Mascara. Their anti-aging and eyelash extension products are made with natural ingredients, never tested on animals and are hypoallergenic. For more information on their growth formula and lengthening mascara visit, Lashem.

Tags: Achieving, Extensions, Eyelash, Lashem, Natural, Three, Tips

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