Asking Your Cosmetic Dentist About Porcelain Veneers

June 30, 2012 by admin

Thinking about the different ways to make your smile brighter and more beautiful? If so, then consider a visit to your local cosmetic dentist and ask about the procedure of getting porcelain veneers.

How exactly can porcelain veneer improve your teeth in order to give you a whiter and brighter smile? This is done by first getting a veneer made of porcelain and shaping that veneer into a thin layer than looks and feels like the front of a molar teeth. This thin veneer is then attached to your teeth. This simple procedure has the ability to make crooked teeth look straight, align misshapen teeth, or even just fill a missing gap between missing teeth.

This procedure is very simple! All you will have to do is to go to your local cosmetic dentist and ask for a consultation. He or she will guide you through the different options available — listen carefully, and make sure you ask plenty of questions as to not miss out on any details.

Decide on the color of porcelain veneer you would like to have; and of course, the dentist will want to make sure it matches your current teeth as closely as possible as to make the porcelain veneer look as natural condition.

You could also use porcelain veneer to make your teeth appear whiter, especially if you feel that your teeth are in good condition but could use some whitening procedures as well. This would most likely involve additional teeth whitening sessions, which your local cosmetic dentist would be an expert at.

Getting this procedure done is definitely worth the investment so you could get a nice set of shiny white teeth which would surely improve your smile, your appearance to others, give you a better first impression with the opposite sex, and even increase your confidence.

Consider getting the porcelain veneer procedure done in order to give your teeth a uniform balance as well as a beautiful smile!

Dental

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Vitamin D deficiency common among adolescents evaluated for weight-loss surgery

ScienceDaily (June 25, 2012) — Most adolescents preparing for weight-loss, or bariatric, surgery are deficient in vitamin D, a new study demonstrates.

See Also:Health & MedicineDiet and Weight LossObesityVitaminVitamin DVitamin ADietary SupplementReferenceNutrition and pregnancyBody mass indexOverweightVitamin D

The results will be presented Tuesday at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.

"This is particularly important prior to bariatric surgery where weight loss and decreased calcium and vitamin D absorption in some procedures may place these patients at further risk," said study lead author Marisa Censani, M.D., pediatric-endocrinology fellow at Columbia University Medical Center, in New York City. "These results provide insight into prevalence and risk factors for pre-existing vitamin D deficiency in obese adolescents prior to bariatric surgery."

In the United States, weight-loss surgery is becoming an increasingly common procedure due to the obesity epidemic, which affects people of all ages, including children. One of the most common types is gastric-bypass surgery, which involves surgically removing a portion of the stomach, thereby reducing its size and ability to hold large amounts of food. While highly effective at controlling weight, weight-loss surgery presents certain challenges. One of the greatest post-surgical difficulties is maintaining adequate nutrition, particularly with respect to factors associated with bone development since adolescents have not yet reached their peak bone mass.

Vitamin D is found in foods such as eggs, milk, and fish, as well as the sun. The vitamin plays an essential role in regulating the amount of the minerals calcium and phosphorus circulating in the blood.

While previous studies have found an increased risk of vitamin D deficiency among adults evaluated for weight-loss surgery, whether this deficiency also occurred among morbidly obese adolescents remained unclear. Morbid obesity is defined in adults as having a weight-to-height ratio, or BMI, greater than 40; a healthy BMI is no more than 24.9.

In one of the first studies of its kind, Censani and her co-investigators found that more than half of adolescents undergoing evaluation for weight-loss surgery were vitamin D deficient, and 8 percent had severe deficiencies. Slightly less than one-fifth had adequate vitamin D levels. Patients with the highest BMIs were the most likely to be vitamin deficient.

In other findings, investigators identified several racial differences. African Americans were the most likely to be vitamin D deficient, while Caucasians were the least likely to have a deficiency. Specific percentages of vitamin D deficiency among racial subgroups were:

• 82 percent of African Americans

• 59 percent of Hispanics

• 37 percent of Caucasians

"These results support screening all morbidly obese adolescents for vitamin D deficiency, and treating those who are deficient, particularly prior to bariatric procedures that could place these patients at further risk," Censani said.

Investigators analysed the medical records of 236 adolescents who were being considered for bariatric surgery between March 2006 and June 2011. Of these patients, 219 provided medical records that included data on vitamin D levels. Sixty-five percent were female, their average age was 16 years, and average BMI was about 48. Forty-three percent were Caucasian, 35 percent were Hispanic, and 15 percent were African American.

Censani was supported by the NIH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases 5T32 DK 06552-07 in Pediatric Endocrinology.

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Pollutants may contribute to illness and becoming overweight

ScienceDaily (June 26, 2012) — Lack of physical activity and poor diet alone cannot explain the dramatic rise in obesity and diabetes occurring in many countries, believe some researchers. It is time to face the possibility that hazardous chemicals may also share part of the blame.

See Also:Health & MedicineDiabetesCholesterolDiet and Weight LossEarth & ClimateEnvironmental ScienceAir QualityPollutionReferenceDiabetes mellitus type 2Saturated fatSouth Beach dietBlood sugar

The population of the Western world is increasingly falling prey to metabolic syndrome, which is the name for a group of risk factors -- such as overweight and insulin resistance -- that occur together and increase the risk for coronary artery disease, stroke, and type-2 diabetes.

What can explain this sharp upsurge in the incidence of metabolic syndrome? Both genetics and environmental factors such as diet and physical exercise play a part, but researchers are still missing some key pieces to the puzzle.

"Many studies now indicate that persistent organic pollutants play a major role," says Jerome Ruzzin, a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Bergen.

From fatty foods

For several years, Dr Ruzzin has been receiving funding from the Research Council of Norway's Programme on Environmental Exposures and Health Outcomes (MILPAAHEL) to study the effects of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). He believes these substances have much more of a health impact than most people realize.

"Today's adults are the first generation to experience serious health problems from these substances. If we do not take this challenge seriously," he cautions, "there is every reason to be concerned about the coming generations as well."

POPs enter our bodies when we consume fatty foods such as dairy products, meat, and particularly fatty fish. One of Dr Ruzzin's research findings on mice is that eating salmon that contains high levels of POPs can lead to insulin resistance, one of the main causes of metabolic syndrome. Popping up everywhere

In two recent scientific articles, Dr Ruzzin has sounded the alarm about the harmful health effects of POPs.

"A great number of studies are now showing that people with high concentrations of POPs in their body are developing metabolic syndrome. We are talking about ordinary people who live in normal environments," stress Dr Ruzzin, "so this means that we are being exposed to far too high levels of POPs that may have a major impact on our health."

Typically, dietary changes are prescribed to treat metabolic syndrome. But according to Dr Ruzzin, too little is known about the effects of pollutants in specific foods to make any detailed health recommendations. This is why he believes we should waste no time in launching more studies that examine the combination of pollutants and nutrients in humans.

Dangerous cocktail effect

Studies have shown that POPs, even at concentrations below their danger level individually, can interact with other POPs or hazardous substances to cause serious consequences. This combined "cocktail effect" worries Dr Ruzzin.

"Current threshold values for pollutants are probably too high," says Dr Ruzzin, "which means that the regulatory framework needs changing. Food producers need to eliminate hazardous substances to a far greater extent than they do at present, and we consumers need more information about the kinds of chemicals we could be ingesting with their food products."

Deformed genitalia

Danish studies have shown that even small amounts of different chemicals found in everyday products can have a cocktail effect. Malformations of the sex organs are one possible consequence. Researcher Sofie Christiansen of the Technical University of Denmark is concerned.

"There is no doubt that the importance of interactions between different hormone-disrupting chemicals has been underestimated," she asserted in connection with a conference on environmentally hazardous substances co-hosted by the Research Council and the Norwegian Climate and Pollution Agency this January.

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Phthalate, environmental chemical is linked to higher rates of childhood obesity

ScienceDaily (June 26, 2012) — Obese children show greater exposure than nonobese children to a phthalate, a chemical used to soften plastics in some children's toys and many household products, according to a new study, which found that the obesity risk increases according to the level of the chemical found in the bloodstream.

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The study will be presented Saturday at The Endocrine Society's 94th Annual Meeting in Houston.

The chemical, di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), is a common type of phthalate, a group of industrial chemicals that are suspected endocrine disruptors, or hormone-altering agents.

In the study, children with the highest DEHP levels had nearly five times the odds of being obese compared with children who had the lowest DEHP levels, study co-author Mi Jung Park, MD, PhD, said.

"Although this study cannot prove causality between childhood obesity and phthalate exposure, it alerts the public to recognize the possible harm and make efforts to reduce this exposure, especially in children," said Park, a pediatric endocrinologist in Seoul, Korea, at Sanggye Paik Hospital and professor at Inje University College of Medicine.

Phthalates are found in some pacifiers, plastic food packages, medical equipment and building materials such as vinyl flooring, and even in nonplastic personal care products, including soap, shampoo and nail polish.

Prior research has shown that phthalates may change gene expression associated with fat metabolism, according to Dr. Park. Because past research suggested a link between concentrations of phthalate metabolites and increased waist size in adults, her group studied a possible connection with childhood obesity.

Dr.Park and colleagues measured serum levels of DEHP in 204 children: 105 obese and 99 healthy-weight youth ages 6 to 13 years. The researchers divided these DEHP measurements into four groups from the lowest detectable level (40.2 nanograms per milliliter, or ng/mL) to the highest (69.7 to 177.1 ng/mL).

They found that the obese children had a significantly higher average DEHP level than did the nonobese controls (107 versus 53.8 ng/mL, respectively). In particular, a high DEHP level correlated with body mass index and percentage of fat mass. This increased risk of obesity with elevation of DEHP levels was independent of factors such as physical activity and daily calorie intake, according to the authors.

"More research in people is needed to determine whether DEHP exposure contributes to childhood obesity," Dr.Park said.

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Curry spice, omega-3 fatty acid preserve walking ability following spinal-cord injury

ScienceDaily (June 26, 2012) — UCLA researchers discovered that a diet enriched with a popular omega-3 fatty acid and an ingredient in curry spice preserved walking ability in rats with spinal-cord injury. Published June 26 in the Journal of Neurosurgery: Spine, the findings suggest that these dietary supplements help repair nerve cells and maintain neurological function after degenerative damage to the neck.

See Also:Health & MedicineBone and SpineNutritionMind & BrainDieting and Weight ControlBrain InjuryPlants & AnimalsCell BiologyBiologyReferenceSpinal cordPeripheral nervous systemPhantom limbOily fish

"Normal aging often narrows the spinal canal, putting pressure on the spinal cord and injuring tissue," explained principal investigator Dr. Langston Holly, associate professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "While surgery can relieve the pressure and prevent further injury, it can't repair damage to the cells and nerve fibers. We wanted to explore whether dietary supplementation could help the spinal cord heal itself."

The UCLA team studied two groups of rats with a condition that simulated cervical myelopathy -- a progressive disorder that often occurs in people with spine-weakening conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and osteoporosis. Cervical myelopathy can lead to disabling neurological symptoms, such as difficulty walking, neck and arm pain, hand numbness and weakness of the limbs. It's the most common cause of spine-related walking problems in people over 55.

The first group of animals was fed rat chow that replicated a Western diet high in saturated fats and sugar. The second group consumed a standard diet supplemented with docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA, and curcumin, a compound in turmeric, an Indian curry spice. A third set of rats received a standard rat diet and served as a control group.

Why these supplements? DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid shown to repair damage to cell membranes. Curcumin is a strong antioxidant that previous studies have linked to tissue repair. Both reduce inflammation.

"The brain and spinal cord work together, and years of research demonstrate that supplements like DHA and curcumin can positively influence the brain," said coauthor Fernando Gomez-Pinilla, professor of neurosurgery. "We suspected that what works in the brain may also work in the spinal cord. When we were unable to find good data to support our hypothesis, we decided to study it ourselves."

The researchers recorded a baseline of the rats walking and re-examined the animals' gait on a weekly basis. As early as three weeks, the rats eating the Western diet demonstrated measurable walking problems that worsened as the study progressed. Rats fed a diet enriched with DHA and curcumin walked significantly better than the first group even six weeks after the study's start.

Next, the scientists examined the rats' spinal cords to evaluate how diet affected their injury on a molecular level. The researchers measured levels of three markers respectively linked to cell-membrane damage, neural repair and cellular communication.

The rats that ate the Western diet showed higher levels of the marker linked to cell-membrane damage. In contrast, the DHA and curcumin appeared to offset the injury's effect in the second group, which displayed equivalent marker levels to the control group.

Levels of the markers linked to neural repair and cellular communication were significantly lower in the rats raised on the Western diet. Again, levels in the animals fed the supplemented diet appeared similar to those of the control group.

"DHA and curcumin appear to invoke several molecular mechanisms that preserved neurological function in the rats," said Gomez-Pinilla. "This is an exciting first step toward understanding the role that diet plays in protecting the body from degenerative disease."

"Our findings suggest that diet can help minimize disease-related changes and repair damage to the spinal cord," said Holly. "We next want to look at other mechanisms involved in the cascade of events leading up to chronic spinal-cord injury. Our goal is to identify which stages will respond best to medical intervention and identify effective steps for slowing the disease process."

Holly's and Gomez-Pinilla's coauthors included Dr. Donald Blaskiewicz, Aiguo Wu, Cameron Feng and Zhe Ying, all of UCLA. Their research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (RO1 NS056413) and the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation.

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Dieting? Study challenges notion that a calorie is just a calorie

ScienceDaily (June 26, 2012) — A new study published June 26 in the Journal of American Medical Association challenges the notion that "a calorie is a calorie." The study, led by Cara Ebbeling, PhD, associate director and David Ludwig, MD, director of the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center Boston Children's Hospital, finds diets that reduce the surge in blood sugar after a meal--either low-glycemic index or very-low carbohydrate-may be preferable to a low-fat diet for those trying to achieve lasting weight loss. Furthermore, the study finds that the low-glycemic index diet had similar metabolic benefits to the very low-carb diet without negative effects of stress and inflammation as seen by participants consuming the very low-carb diet.

See Also:Health & MedicineDiet and Weight LossObesityNutritionCholesterolFitnessDiabetesLiving WellReferenceZone dietSouth Beach dietGlycemic indexDetox diet

Weight re-gain is often attributed to a decline in motivation or adherence to diet and exercise, but biology also plays an important role. After weight loss, the rate at which people burn calories (known as energy expenditure) decreases, reflecting slower metabolism. Lower energy expenditure adds to the difficulty of weight maintenance and helps explain why people tend to re-gain lost weight.

Prior research by Ebbeling and Ludwig has shown the advantages of a low glycemic load diet for weight loss and diabetes prevention, but the effects of these diets during weight loss maintenance has not been well studied. Research shows that only one in six overweight people will maintain even 10 percent of their weight loss long-term.

The study suggests that a low-glycemic load diet is more effective than conventional approaches at burning calories (and keeping energy expenditure) at a higher rate after weight loss. "We've found that, contrary to nutritional dogma, all calories are not created equal," says Ludwig, also director of the Optimal Weight for Life Clinic at Boston Children's Hospital. "Total calories burned plummeted by 300 calories on the low fat diet compared to the low carbohydrate diet, which would equal the number of calories typically burned in an hour of moderate-intensity physical activity," he says.

Each of the study's 21 adult participants (ages 18-40) first had to lose 10 to 15 percent of their body weight, and after weight stabilization, completed all three of the following diets in random order, each for four weeks at a time. The randomized crossover design allowed for rigorous observation of how each diet affected all participants, regardless of the order in which they were consumed:

A low-fat diet,which reduces dietary fat and emphasizes whole grain products and a variety of fruits and vegetables, composed of 60 percent of daily calories from carbohydrates, 20 percent from fat and 20 percent from protein. A low-glycemic index diet made up of minimally processed grains, vegetables, healthy fats, legumes and fruits, with 40 percent of daily calories from carbohydrates, 40 percent from fat and 20 percent from protein. Low glycemic index carbohydrates digest slowly, helping to keep blood sugar and hormones stable after the meal. A low-carbohydrate diet, modeled after the Atkins diet, composed of 10 percent of daily calories from carbohydrates, 60 percent from fat and 30 percent from protein.

The study used state-of-the-art methods, such as stable isotopes to measure participants' total energy expenditure, as they followed each diet.

Each of the three diets fell within the normal healthy range of 10 to 35 percent of daily calories from protein. The very low-carbohydrate diet produced the greatest improvements in metabolism, but with an important caveat: This diet increased participants' cortisol levels, which can lead to insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease. The very low carbohydrate diet also raised C-reactive protein levels, which may also increase risk of cardiovascular disease.

Though a low-fat diet is traditionally recommended by the U.S. Government and Heart Association, it caused the greatest decrease in energy expenditure, an unhealthy lipid pattern and insulin resistance.

"In addition to the benefits noted in this study, we believe that low-glycemic-index diets are easier to stick to on a day-to-day basis, compared to low-carb and low-fat diets, which many people find limiting," says Ebbeling. "Unlike low-fat and very- low carbohydrate diets, a low-glycemic-index diet doesn't eliminate entire classes of food, likely making it easier to follow and more sustainable."

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Effect of three common diets on energy expenditure following weight loss detailed

ScienceDaily (June 26, 2012) — In an examination of the effect on energy expenditure and components of the metabolic syndrome of 3 types of commonly consumed diets following weight loss, decreases in resting energy expenditure and total energy expenditure were greatest with a low-fat diet, intermediate with a low-glycemic index diet, and least with a very low-carbohydrate diet, suggesting that a low-fat diet may increase the risk for weight regain compared to the other diets, according to preliminary research published in the June 27 issue of JAMA.

See Also:Health & MedicineDiet and Weight LossObesityFitnessNutritionCholesterolTriglyceridesReferenceSouth Beach dietZone dietGlycemic indexDetox diet

"Many people can lose weight for a few months, but most have difficulty maintaining clinically significant weight loss over the long term. According to data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2006), only 1 in 6 overweight and obese adults report ever having maintained weight loss of at least 10 percent for 1 year," according to background information in the article. One explanation for the poor long-term outcome is that weight loss elicits biological adaptations -- specifically a decline in energy expenditure and an increase in hunger -- that promote weight. According to the authors, the effect of dietary composition on energy expenditure during weight-loss maintenance has not been studied.

Cara B. Ebbeling, Ph.D., of Children's Hospital Boston, and colleagues conducted a study to evaluate the effects of 3 weight-loss maintenance diets on energy expenditure, hormones, and components of the metabolic syndrome. The study, conducted between June 2006 and June 2010, included 21 overweight and obese young adults. After achieving 10 percent to 15 percent weight loss while consuming a run-in diet, participants consumed an isocaloric low-fat diet (60 percent of energy from carbohydrate, 20 percent from fat, 20 percent from protein; high glycemic load), low-glycemic index diet (40 percent from carbohydrate, 40 percent from fat, and 20 percent from protein; moderate glycemic load), and very low-carbohydrate diet (10 percent from carbohydrate, 60 percent from fat, and 30 percent from protein; low glycemic load) in random order, each for 4 weeks. The primary outcome measured was resting energy expenditure (REE), with secondary outcomes of total energy expenditure (TEE), hormone levels, and metabolic syndrome components.

The researchers found that energy expenditure during weight-loss maintenance differed significantly among the 3 diets. The decrease in REE from pre-weight-loss levels, measured by indirect calorimetry in the fasting state, was greatest for the low-fat diet (average relative to baseline, -205 kcal/d), intermediate with the low-glycemic index diet (-166 kcal/d), and least for the very low-carbohydrate diet (-138 kcal/d). The decrease in TEE also differed significantly by diet (average -423 kcal/d for low fat; -297 kcal/d for low glycemic index; and -97 kcal/d for very low carbohydrate).

"Hormone levels and metabolic syndrome components also varied during weight maintenance by diet (leptin; 24-hour urinary cortisol; indexes of peripheral and hepatic insulin sensitivity; high-density lipoprotein

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Significant cardiovascular risk with Atkins-style diets, experts warn

ScienceDaily (June 27, 2012) — Women who regularly eat a low carbohydrate, high protein diet are at greater risk of cardiovascular disease (such as heart disease and stroke) than those who do not, a study just published on the British Medical Journal website suggests.

See Also:Health & MedicineDiet and Weight LossObesityNutritionHeart DiseaseCholesterolStroke PreventionLiving WellReferenceZone dietColostrumSouth Beach dietGlycemic index

Although the actual numbers are small (an extra 4-5 cases of cardiovascular disease per 10,000 women per year) the authors say that this is a 28% increase in the number of cases and that these results are worrying in a population of young women who may be exposed to these dietary patterns and face the excess risk for many years.

Low carbohydrate-high protein diets are frequently used for body weight control. Although they may be nutritionally acceptable if the protein is mainly of plant origin (e.g. nuts) and the reduction of carbohydrates applies mainly to simple and refined ones (i.e. unhealthy sweeteners, drinks and snacks), the general public do not always recognise and act on this guidance.

Studies on the long term consequences of these diets on cardiovascular health have generated inconsistent results. So a team of international authors carried out a study on just under 44,000 Swedish women aged between 30 and 49 years from 1991-92 (with an average follow-up of 15 years).

Women completed an extensive dietary and lifestyle questionnaire and diet was measured on the low carbohydrate-high protein (LCHP) score where a score of two would equal very high carbohydrate and low protein consumption through to 20 which would equal very low carbohydrate and high protein consumption.

Factors likely to influence the results were taken into account including smoking, alcohol use, diagnosis of hypertension, overall level of activity and saturated / unsaturated fat intake.

After these variables were included, results showed that 1270 cardiovascular events took place in the 43,396 women (55% ischaemic heart disease, 23% ischaemic stroke, 6% haemorrhagic stroke, 10% subarachnoid haemorrhage and 6% peripheral arterial disease) over 15 years.

The incidence of cardiovascular outcomes increased with an increasing LCHP score.

Unadjusted figures show that, compared with an LCHP score of six or less, cardiovascular diseases increased by 13% for women with a score from 7 to 9, to 23% for those with a score from 10 to 12, to 54% for those with a score from 13 to 15, and to 60% for those with a score of 16 or higher.

After adjusting for other cardiovascular risk factors, there was still a significant 5% increase in the likelihood of a cardiovascular event or death with every two point increase in the LCHP score. The 5% increase resulted from a daily decrease of 20g of carbohydrates (equivalent to a small bread roll) and a daily increase of 5g of protein (equivalent to one boiled egg).

In absolute terms, the adjusted figures represent an additional four to five cases of cardiovascular diseases per 10,000 women per year compared with those who did not regularly eat a low carbohydrate, high protein diet.

Increasing level of education and physical activity reduced the risk of cardiovascular disease whilst increasing levels of smoking increased the risk.

The authors conclude that LCHP diets "used on a regular basis and without consideration of the nature of carbohydrates or the source of proteins" are associated with cardiovascular risk. This study doesn't, however, address the questions concerning the possible benefit of short-term effects of LCHP diets that can be used to control weight or insulin resistance, which the authors say needs further investigation.

An accompanying editorial argues that the short term benefits of weight loss seem outweighed by longer term cardiovascular harms. Anna Floegel from the German Institute of Human Nutrition and Tobias Pischon from the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in Germany, say that the discrepancy between conclusions from different types of studies in this field "need to be resolved before low carbohydrate-high protein diets can be safely recommended to patients."

In the meantime, they suggest that any benefits gained from these diets in the short-term "seem irrelevant in the face of increasing evidence of higher morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases in the long term."

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Kids who cook are hungrier for healthy food choices

ScienceDaily (June 27, 2012) — Getting kids to pass up junk food in favour of healthier fruits and veggies has led to many a mealtime meltdown for parents everywhere. Now, researchers from the University of Alberta offer a simple solution: give them an apron.

See Also:Health & MedicineChildren's HealthStaying HealthyNutritionDiet and Weight LossWorkplace HealthTeen HealthLiving WellReferenceGluten-free, casein-free dietFood groupsHealthy dietHerb

A province-wide survey of Grade 5 students in Alberta suggests the best way to get your child to eat healthier foods -- and actually enjoy them -- is to have them help with meal preparation.

"Kids who like fruits and vegetables more tend to eat them more frequently and have better diets," said lead author Yen Li Chu, a post-doctoral fellow in the School of Public Health. "These data show that encouraging kids to get involved in meal preparation could be an effective health promotion strategy for schools and parents."

Published last month by Public Health Nutrition in an early online release, the study involved a survey of students in 151 schools across Alberta to learn about kids' experiences with cooking and food choices.

Nearly one-third of children reported helping with meal prep at least once a day; another one-third said they helped one to three times a week. A quarter of children helped once a month, and 12.4 per cent avoided the kitchen completely.

In general, children preferred fruits to veggies, but children who helped with cooking showed a greater preference for both. Vegetable preference was also 10 per cent higher among children who helped cook.

The data also showed that kids who did meal prep and cooking were more confident about the importance of making healthier food choices.

Paul Veugelers, co-author and Canada Research Chair in Population Health at the U of A, said getting children to eat healthier food promotes bone and muscle development, learning and self-esteem.

"Good food is important for us. It keeps weight gain away -- and more important than that, it keeps chronic disease away," Veugelers said. "The overarching objective of our work is to lower the burden of chronic disease in our society. A healthy diet is right at the top."

Chu said the results underscore the value of getting kids interested in mealtime activities in the home, but added there could be room for schools to get involved, too.

"You can go into schools and have cooking classes and cooking clubs to help them boost their fruit and vegetable intake and make healthier choices," she said.

Though this survey dealt with Grade 5 students, the lessons are equally applicable to older youth, including post-secondary students, added Veugelers.

"For many of them, it may be the first time they leave home, the first time in their lives they're responsible for their own diets," he said. "There are lessons here for them too, to form groups and take turns cooking, and pay attention to good meal preparation."

This work was part of the Real Kids Alberta evaluation funded by Alberta Health. Real Kids Alberta is a collaborative initiative between the School of Public Health and Alberta Health to provide directions to improve eating habits and activity levels in Alberta children and youth.

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'War on drugs' is fueling HIV epidemic: report

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Rapid HIV Test Could Reduce Stigma and Curtail Disease

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched an initiative to motivate people to get tested for HIV. A free rapid test is being offered in select pharmacies nationwide, within their small clinics, which involves a swab test that renders results in approximately 20 minutes, the Associated Press reports. If the result is positive, the patient is sent to a department of health or other clinic to have the result confirmed by blood test.

With an estimated 1.1 million Americans infected with the disease and an estimated 20 percent of them unaware, this is a wise move to help to curtail the spread of the disease. So many people are unaware of the facts about HIV and AIDS that perhaps being confronted by the testing center and the information offered there will prompt people to know more. In the back of so many minds is the fear the possibility of infection exists.

Too many people still believe HIV and AIDS are the disease of gay men and drug users. While statistics still confirm these groups are still at higher risk, the truth is the condition is increasing in women, particularly minority women. HIV is more easily spread from man to woman because the virus exists in a man's semen, which can live inside the vagina for several days. But the female bodily fluids from which a man can contract the virus through intercourse with a woman have more limited means to enter the penis and infect a man's body.

In order for this condition to be dealt with, the stigma must decrease. There have been tremendous strides made in regard to treating the disease, making it possible for those infected to live productive and happy lives, to enjoy careers and have families. In fact, with treatment, the chances of a woman passing along the virus to her unborn child are reduced to as low as 2 percent.

Symptoms of the illness often don't appear for nearly 10 years in many patients. It is important to be tested for this virus, regardless of whether any sexual partners "appear" to be ill and whether a person has had few or several partners. It's better to know early. Though there is no cure, treatment is possible to help to maintain a normal life.

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Walgreen, others offer free HIV tests in CDC pilot

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Bacterial Vaginosis Increases Female-to-Male HIV Transmission Risk

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German court bans circumcision of young boys

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Wednesday Is National HIV Testing Day

HealthDay – 32 mins ago TUESDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- More than 1 million people in the United States are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, but 20 percent of them don't know they're infected.

Federal health officials are urging everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 to get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care.

And there's no better time to start than Wednesday, June 27 -- National HIV Testing Day.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual testing for people at higher risk of HIV infection, including intravenous drug users, gay and bisexual men, or people who have multiple sex partners. Sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from even more frequent testing -- perhaps every three to six months, the CDC said.

The CDC also urges pregnant women to get tested early in their pregnancy so they can take the steps necessary to keep from passing HIV to their babies.

As part of National HIV Testing Day, the CDC recommends:

Asking your doctor for an HIV test or finding a place to get tested in your community. For help in finding a testing place, go to www.hivtest.org, call 1-800-CDC-INFO or text your zip code to "KNOW IT" (566948). Getting tested once a year, or more often if you have more than one sex partner, inject drugs, or are a gay or bisexual man. Lowering your HIV risk by having sex with only one partner -- someone you know is uninfected. Or using a condom every time you have anal, vaginal, or oral sex. Getting medical care as soon as possible if you have HIV to stay healthier longer and to keep from passing the virus to others.

More information

To learn more about HIV/AIDS, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Surgeons Seek Repeal of Transplant Ban Between HIV-Positive People

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Failed IVF attempt tied to depression, anxiety

Reuters – 1 hr 40 mins ago NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Women who are stressed and anxious before in vitro fertilization (IVF) are no less likely to have a baby, new research suggests. But if the treatment fails, it may take a toll on their mental health.

In two separate studies in the journal Fertility and Sterility, researchers found women with anxiety or depression symptoms were just as likely as others to become pregnant.

One study focused on women undergoing IVF and the other followed women trying to conceive naturally.

"Our findings are consistent with the most recent research," said Lauri A. Pasch, a clinical psychologist at the University of California, San Francisco Center for Reproductive Health, and the lead researcher on the IVF study.

Based on that body of research, she told Reuters Health, "I think we can safely say to women,

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FDA Approves Weight Loss Drug Belviq

a foot in the door for pharmacological treatment of obesity," said Dr. Robert Eckel, a professor of medicine at the University of Colorado -- Denver. "However, the effects are moderate at best."

Obesity is becoming an epidemic of massive proportions. According to the World Health Organization, by 2015 2.3 billion adults will be overweight, and more than 700 million will be obese. Obesity is associated with a host of health problems, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attacks, asthma, cancers and strokes. Indeed, obesity, along with tobacco, is a leading cause of preventable death.

The main treatments for obesity are diet and exercise. If those interventions are not effective, then a person can consider medical therapy or bariatric surgery. However, bariatric surgery, though effective in leading to weight loss, is also a surgical procedure with serious risks.

"Clearly

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German court bans circumcision of young boys

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FDA approves Arena obesity drug; first in 13 years

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Possible outcomes in pending health care law case

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FDA Approves Weight Loss Drug

But new studies by Arena Pharmaceuticals found no increased risk of heart valve problems and only a small risk of cancer. And in May 2012, an FDA panel voted 18 to four to approve the drug, stating the benefits of Belviq outweigh the potential risks when used in a population of overweight and obese people.

"For the half of America that seriously needs some help in reducing energy intake, this has some promise," said Dr. Barry Popkin, a professor of nutrition at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Other experts have expressed more caution.

"The approval of

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Health Tip: Stay Healthier as You Age

HealthDay – 31 mins ago (HealthDay News) -- There is no single secret to staying young, but there are things you can do to help ensure that you stay healthier as you age.

The Cleveland Clinic offers these suggestions:

Don't smoke, and limit alcohol use.Practice a regular, balanced exercise routine.Maintain a healthy body weight.See your doctor regularly.Engage in frequent social activity, and try new ways to have fun.Work on maintaining relationships.Challenge your mind by furthering your education.

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Health Tip: Living With a Pacemaker

HealthDay – 31 mins ago (HealthDay News) -- A pacemaker is implanted in the upper chest to help regulate an irregular heartbeat. Once you have the device, you should avoid "close and prolonged contact" with electronics and appliances that emit magnetic fields, the U.S. National Heart Lung and Blood Institute says.

The agency offers this additional advice for people living with a pacemaker:

If your doctor recommends so, avoid participating in high-contact sports or activities that could damage or dislodge the pacemaker.Ask your doctor to inspect your pacemaker regularly.Have the pacemaker's battery checked regularly.Let any medical professional whose services you use know that you have a pacemaker.

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Wednesday Is National HIV Testing Day

HealthDay – 31 mins ago TUESDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- More than 1 million people in the United States are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, but 20 percent of them don't know they're infected.

Federal health officials are urging everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 to get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care.

And there's no better time to start than Wednesday, June 27 -- National HIV Testing Day.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends annual testing for people at higher risk of HIV infection, including intravenous drug users, gay and bisexual men, or people who have multiple sex partners. Sexually active gay and bisexual men may benefit from even more frequent testing -- perhaps every three to six months, the CDC said.

The CDC also urges pregnant women to get tested early in their pregnancy so they can take the steps necessary to keep from passing HIV to their babies.

As part of National HIV Testing Day, the CDC recommends:

Asking your doctor for an HIV test or finding a place to get tested in your community. For help in finding a testing place, go to www.hivtest.org, call 1-800-CDC-INFO or text your zip code to "KNOW IT" (566948). Getting tested once a year, or more often if you have more than one sex partner, inject drugs, or are a gay or bisexual man. Lowering your HIV risk by having sex with only one partner -- someone you know is uninfected. Or using a condom every time you have anal, vaginal, or oral sex. Getting medical care as soon as possible if you have HIV to stay healthier longer and to keep from passing the virus to others.

More information

To learn more about HIV/AIDS, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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To Improve School Nutrition, Involve Teachers and Parents

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Surgeons Seek Repeal of Transplant Ban Between HIV-Positive People

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Fear of Childbirth Linked to Longer Labor, Study Says

HealthDay – 31 mins ago WEDNESDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- Women who are afraid to give birth tend to have longer labor than women who are more relaxed about the process, new research suggests.

Researchers in Norway found women fearful of giving birth spent about an hour and a half longer in labor than other women (about eight hours compared to six and a half hours).

Fear of giving birth was also associated with a greater likelihood of an instrumental vaginal delivery or an emergency Cesarean section.

The study was published June 27 in BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Researchers surveyed more than 2,200 women pregnant women, about half of whom were going to be first-time mothers, about their attitudes toward childbirth. About 7.5 percent of the women were afraid of childbirth.

Even after taking other factors into account that could prolong labor, such as epidural anesthesia and labor induction, labor for the women who feared childbirth was longer than for more relaxed women.

But, the study authors pointed out that even though women who feared childbirth labored longer, 89 percent managed to deliver vaginally, compared to 93 percent of women who did not fear giving birth.

"Fear of childbirth seems to be an increasingly important issue in obstetric care," study co-author Samantha Salvesen Adams, of Akershus University Hospital, said in a journal news release.

"We found a link between fear of childbirth and longer duration of labor," Adams said. "Generally, longer labor duration increases the risk of instrumental vaginal delivery and emergency caesarean section. However, it is important to note that a large proportion of women with a fear of childbirth successfully had a vaginal delivery and therefore elective Cesarean delivery should not be routinely recommended."

Experts note that while this study found an association between fear of childbirth and longer labor, it didn't prove that anxiety about giving birth caused the longer labors.

More information

The U.S. National Institutes of Health provides more information on childbirth.

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Exercise Program Boosts Health After Lung Transplant: Study

HealthDay – 31 mins ago WEDNESDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- A structured exercise program boosted the overall health of lung transplant patients and reduced their risk of cardiovascular problems, a new study reports.

Lung transplant patients often have weak muscles and limited physical endurance due to inactivity before the transplant and the drugs they must take after, the researchers said.

Many patients remain inactive after their transplant, and up to half develop conditions such as high cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, diabetes and osteoporosis, the study authors noted.

Exercise can help prevent these problems.

The new study included 40 patients with an average age of 59 who had single or double lung transplants. About half were assigned to a three-month exercise program while the rest (the control group) received usual care.

The patients in the exercise group did three 90-minute workouts per week after they were discharged from the hospital. The activities included cycling, walking, stair climbing and leg presses. Exercise intensity increased over the course of the training program.

The control group did not engage in the training regimen, but did perform daily mobility exercises -- such as walking, cycling and stair climbing -- for about six weeks after their surgery.

One year after being discharged from the hospital, patients in the exercise group were walking an average of 85 minutes a day, compared with 54 minutes for those in the control group.

The patients in the exercise group also had significantly more leg strength and self-reported physical functioning, could walk farther in six minutes, did much more physical activity and had lower blood pressure and better cardiovascular health than those in the control group.

The study was published in the June issue of the American Journal of Transplantation.

"Our study showed patients who had uncomplicated lung transplant surgery benefited greatly from supervised exercise training, which was initiated immediately after they were discharged from

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Fossilized Teeth Hold Clues to Early Human Species' Diet

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Experimental Vaccine Seems to Stop Nicotine Addiction in Mice

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Weight Loss May Increase Testosterone Levels

HealthDay – 31 mins ago WEDNESDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- Shedding pounds may help overweight men with low testosterone boost their levels of the male hormone, new research finds.

Overweight men are more likely to have low levels of testosterone, according to the study, which involved nearly 900 overweight, middle-aged Irish men with pre-diabetes. People with pre-diabetes have abnormally high blood glucose levels, but the levels aren't yet high enough to be considered diabetes.

Men were assigned to one of three treatments. One group was told to eat a lower-fat, lower-calorie diet and exercise at least 150 minutes a week; a second group took the diabetes drug metformin; and a third group took a placebo pill.

Among men in the healthy-lifestyle group, the rate of low testosterone levels dropped from 20 percent to 11 percent after a year. The rate of low testosterone didn't budge in the diabetes-drug group or the placebo group.

The study was expected to be presented this week at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Houston.

"Doctors should first encourage overweight men with low testosterone levels to try to lose weight through diet and exercise before resorting to testosterone therapy to raise their hormone levels," study co-author Dr. Frances Hayes, a professor at St. Vincent's University Hospital in Dublin, said in a society news release.

The healthy lifestyle group lost an average of 17 pounds.

"Losing weight not only reduces the risk of pre-diabetic men progressing to diabetes, but also appears to increase their body's production of testosterone," Hayes said.

Because this study was presented at a medical meeting, the data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal. Experts also note that the study found an association between weight loss and higher testosterone, but did not prove that losing weight caused testosterone levels to rise.

More information

The American Diabetes Association provides more information on prediabetes.

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Pictures of Fatty, Sugary Foods May Spur Cravings

HealthDay – 31 mins ago WEDNESDAY, June 27 (HealthDay News) -- Looking at pictures of hamburgers, cupcakes and other high-calorie edibles can trigger cravings for fattening foods, especially if you're drinking something sweet at the time, according to a new study.

Researchers from the University of Southern California found that drinking a sugary beverage while viewing these foods activates appetite and reward centers in the brain, which could play a role in obesity.

"Studies have shown that advertisements featuring food make us think of eating, but our research looked at how the brain responds to food cues and how that increases hunger and desire for certain foods," said the study's principal investigator, Kathleen Page, assistant professor of clinical medicine at the university's Keck School of Medicine, in a university news release.

"This stimulation of the brain's reward areas may contribute to overeating and obesity, and has important public health implications," said Page.

In conducting the study, the researchers measured the brain responses of 13 obese, Hispanic females, aged 15 to 25 years, as they looked at both high-calorie and low-calorie foods.

Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the women's brains were scanned twice as they viewed images of foods such as hamburgers, cookies, cakes, fruits and vegetables.

After seeing all of the images, they were asked to rate their hunger as well as their desire for sweet or savory foods.

Halfway through the scans, the women drank 50 grams of glucose, which is similar to drinking a can of sugary soda. In a separate instance, they drank 50 grams of fructose. Glucose and fructose are found in table sugar and high-fructose corn syrup.

"We hypothesized that the reward areas in the women's brains would be activated when they were looking at high-calorie foods, and that did happen," said Page. "What we didn't expect was that consuming the glucose and fructose would increase their hunger and desire for savory foods."

The researchers pointed out that fructose resulted in more intense cravings and hunger among the women than glucose.

"Our bodies are made to eat food and store energy, and in prehistoric days, it behooved us to eat a lot of high-calorie foods because we didn't know when the next meal was coming," Page said.

"But now we have much more access to food, and this research indicates added sweeteners might be affecting our desire for it," she added in the news release.

The researchers said they limited the study to Hispanic women because research has indicated women are more sensitive to food cues, and the Hispanic community has a high incidence of obesity and type 2 diabetes.

More studies are needed to explore whether these cravings are due to obesity or genetics, the authors noted.

The study was presented Tuesday at the Endocrine Society's annual meeting in Houston. Data and conclusions of research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

More information

The U.S. National Library of Medicine provides tips on how to tame food cravings.

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Health Highlights: June 27, 2012

HealthDay – 31 mins ago Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:

CDC Launches Free Drugstore HIV Testing

Drugstore testing for HIV may someday become routine if a government-sponsored pilot program catches on across the United States.

Free rapid HIV tests -- like those used in doctor's office and health clinics -- are available now at seven sites around the country, and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced Tuesday that it plans to add 17 more pharmacies and in-store clinics in cities and rural regions, the Associated Press reported.

"By bringing HIV testing into pharmacies, we believe we can reach more people by making testing more accessible and reduce the stigma associated with HIV," Dr. Kevin Fenton, director of CDC's HIV prevention program, said in a statement.

The HIV saliva test, which involves swabbing the mouth, provides preliminary results in 20 minutes. Customers with positive results will be referred for laboratory testing and, if the results are confirmed, counseling and treatment, the AP said.

While gay men and injectable drug users are considered at highest risk, the CDC currently recommends all teenagers and adults up to age 64 get tested at least once. The agency estimates that one-fifth of the 1.1 million Americans infected with HIV don't know they carry the virus that causes AIDS.

CDC, which is training drugstore personnel to administer the tests, will review the program results next summer.

-----

Bagged Salads Recalled From Kroger, Wal Mart Stores

The Dole company is recalling fresh bagged salads from Kroger and Wal Mart stores across six states due to potential contamination with listeria, the company has announced.

No illnesses have yet been reported in the "precautionary" recall of 1,077 cases of bagged salads that were distributed in Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

The products under recall include Kroger Fresh Selections Greener Supreme coded N158 211B 1613 KR04 with Use-by date of June 19 and UPC 11110 91039; Kroger Fresh Selections Leafy Romaine coded N158 111B KR11 with Use-by date of June 19 and UPC 11110 91046; and Wal Mart Marketside Leafy Romaine coded N158111B with Use-by date of June19 and UPC code 81131 02781.

The Product Code and Use-by dates are located in the upper right-hand corner of the salads' packaging, and the UPC is found on the reverse side of the package.

Dole is asking that consumers who have these products discard them. Retailers and consumers can find out more by calling Dole at 1-800-356-3111.

Listeria monocytigenes can trigger illness with symptoms such as fever, muscle ache and gastrointestinal symptoms, with pregnant women and people with compromised immune systems most at risk for serious illness.

-----

Low Testosterone Not Part of Normal Aging: Study

Factors other than aging are likely responsible for the drop in testosterone some older men experience, a new study finds.

Researchers in Australia tracked the testosterone levels of more than 1,500 men, ages 35 to 80, who had their testosterone levels sampled at clinic visits spaced five years apart, UPI reported.

The study found that testosterone levels didn't undergo a steep decline -- instead they only fell less than 1 percent per year. And certain health or lifestyle factors seemed linked to those slight declines.

"Men who had declines in testosterone were more likely to be those who became obese, had stopped smoking or were depressed at either clinic visit," lead author Dr. Gary Wittert, professor of medicine at the University of Adelaide in Adelaide, said in a statement. "While stopping smoking may be a cause of a slight decrease in testosterone, the benefit of quitting smoking is huge."

Wittert and his team believe, therefore, that a drop in testosterone is not an inevitable part of the aging process in men.

The study was presented at the Endocrine Society's 94th annual meeting in Houston.

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FDA Probing Safety of Metal-on-Metal Hip Implants

HealthDay – 31 mins ago TUESDAY, June 26 (HealthDay News) -- While thousands of Americans have benefited from hip replacements over the years, problems with metal-on-metal implants can lead to troubles requiring surgery to replace defective devices, experts say.

Specifically, experts say, tiny fragments of metal can shear off from these joints, causing chronic pain or infection and raising levels of metals in the bloodstream. Experts estimate that more than 500,000 Americans have received a metal-on-metal hip joint, mostly between 2003 and 2010.

Worry over the failure rate of the implants, and the speed at which they were initially approved for the U.S. market, has led to a special two-day session, beginning Wednesday, by experts at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

"Data from recent studies and from FDA's own review show some patients experiencing complications, including the need for additional surgeries, which could be attributed to metal-on-metal hip implant devices," said FDA spokeswoman Michelle Bolek.

Since 1999, almost 17,000 problems with these devices have been reported to the FDA. Of these, more than 12,000 were reported last year alone.

According to the agency, the problems with metal-on-metal implants are about the same as those seen with polyethylene and ceramic implants, except for the specific risks caused by the metal itself.

But others say that when it comes to complications, metal-on-metal implants are in a class of their own. Writing earlier this month in the New England Journal of Medicine, Dr. Joshua Rising of the Pew Charitable Trusts, and colleagues said that "there is now compelling evidence that these implants fail at a higher rate than hip prostheses made of other materials; indeed, one type of metal-on-metal hip has a failure rate of nearly 50 percent at 6 years."

Responding to these concerns, the FDA panel is considering the risks and benefits of metal-on-metal implants and what might be needed to monitor the health of patients who have them.

Of the estimated 400,000 hip replacements done in the United States each year, 27 percent involve metal-on-metal devices, according to the FDA.

Critics, including an independent panel of experts at the Institute of Medicine, have noted that metal-on-metal implants may have been approved too quickly under the FDA's "fast-track" program for medical devices.

Responding to concerns, in May 2011 the FDA ordered manufacturers to carry out "post-market" studies, tracking the safety of metal-on-metal hip implants in recipients. But in the NEJM article, Rising and colleagues noted that most of these studies have yet to begin and their first results will take years to arrive.

The FDA's Bolek made it clear that the advisory panel meeting is not a regulatory meeting and is not intended to look at the process that brought the devices to the market, or to deal with any planned or current post-marketing studies.

Metal-on-metal devices have already been recalled twice. In 2008, a device from manufacturer Zimmer, the Durom Acetabular Component, was recalled because instructions were not clear.

And in 2010 a device from DePuy Orthopaedics Inc. was recalled because more patients than expected had to have new surgeries, according to the FDA.

Earlier this month, a device called the R3 Acetabular System from Smith & Nephew was taken off the market because the company said it was "not satisfied with the clinical results of this component."

In Europe these concerns have led to calls to ban metal-on-metal hip replacement devices. Writing in March in the journal The Lancet, British researchers concluded that "metal-on-metal stemmed articulations give poor implant survival compared with other options and should not be implanted." Metal-on-metal implants had a five-year failure rate of more than 6 percent, three times higher that seen with ceramic or plastic joints.

Banning metal-on-metal joints isn't an option being considered by the FDA panel at this time.

"During the panel meeting, FDA will discuss failure rates and modes for these devices, as well as any local and systemic complications that could result from metal debris and metal ion levels in the bloodstream from the device," Bolek said.

The panel will also discuss metal ion testing and soft tissue imaging, tools that can potentially be used in the clinical management of patients who have these devices, Bolek said.

"We will also review specific risk factors for specific patient populations and considerations for post-implant follow-up," she added.

Mindy Tinsley is a spokeswoman for metal implant maker DePuy Orthopaedics Inc., which is owned by Johnson & Johnson. She said that "DePuy believes that no single bearing surface meets the needs of all patients, and metal-on-metal implants provide the potential benefit of greater function and a lower risk of dislocation for some patients."

Tinsley also said that all metal-on-metal implants are not alike and they should not be grouped together if problems arise.

One orthopedic expert agreed. Dr. Joshua Jacobs, first vice president of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, said that "metal-on-metal devices are not all the same. You have to go down to the individual product to fully understand the result. When you lump metal-on-metal together you miss a lot of important differences."

According to Jacobs, who is chairman of the department of orthopaedic surgery at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, the advantages of metal-on-metal implants are that there is typically less wear on the joint, leading to less loosening and less bone loss over time.

In addition, he said, metal allows for a thinner, larger socket and head, which makes it less likely the hip will dislocate after surgery, which is a common failure of other types of hip replacement.

Still, given the problems with these devices, Jacobs agrees that patients need to be monitored.

"We are trying to learn the optimal way of monitoring patients with metal-on-metal implants, so we can understand when it is appropriate to intervene," he said. "Right now we are amassing clinical data to understand that better."

More information

For more on hip replacement, visit the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

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'Atkins'-Type Diets May Raise Risk of Heart Problems: Study

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Partial Frown Kept TV Reporter Off the Air

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CDC trying out free AIDS tests at drugstores

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Athletes' deaths in workouts prompt new guidelines

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FDA approves first new weight-loss pill in decade

The Food and Drug Administration has approved Arena Pharmaceutical's anti-obesity pill Belviq, the first new prescription drug for long-term weight loss to enter the U.S. market in over a decade.

Despite only achieving modest weight loss in clinical studies, the drug appeared safe enough to win the FDA's endorsement, amid calls from doctors for new weight-loss treatments.

The agency cleared the pill Wednesday for adults who are obese or are overweight with at least one medical complication, such as diabetes or high cholesterol.

The FDA denied approval for Arena's drug in 2010 after scientists raised concerns about tumors that developed in animals studied with the drug. The company resubmitted the drug with additional data earlier this year, and the FDA said there was little risk of tumors in humans.

With U.S. obesity rates nearing 35 percent of the adult population, many doctors have called on the FDA to approve new weight loss treatments.

But a long line of prescription weight loss offerings have been associated with safety problems, most notably the fen-phen combination, which was linked to heart valve damage in 1997. The cocktail of phentermine and fenfluramine was a popular weight loss combination prescribed by doctors, though it was never approved by FDA.

In a rare move, the FDA explicitly stated in a press release that Belviq "does not appear to activate" a chemical pathway that was linked to the heart problems seen with fen-phen.

The FDA says the drug acts on a different chemical pathway in the brain, which is believed to reduce appetite by boosting feelings of satiety and fullness.

Belviq is one of three experimental weight-loss drugs whose developers have been trying for a second time to win approval, after the FDA shot them all down in 2010 or early 2011 because of serious potential side effects.

Vivus Inc.'s Qnexa is thought to be the most promising of the drugs, achieving the most weight loss. But the FDA has delayed a decision on that pill until July.

Shares of San Diego-based Arena Pharmaceuticals Inc. jumped $3.03, or 34 percent, to $11.88 in trading Wednesday afternoon.

Arena's studies showed that patients taking Belviq, known generically as lorcaserin, had modest weight loss. On average patients lost just 3 to 3.7 percent of their starting body weight over a year. About 47 percent of patients without diabetes lost at least 5 percent of their weight or more, which was enough to meet FDA standards for effectiveness. By comparison, average weight loss with Qnexa is 11 percent, with more than 83 percent of patients losing 5 percent of their weight or more.

Side effects with the drug include depression, migraine and memory lapses.

In May a panel of expert advisers to the FDA voted 18-4 to recommend approval of Arena's drug, concluding that its benefits "outweigh the potential risks when used long term" in overweight and obese people.

Experts say the challenge of weight loss drug development lies in safely turning off one of the body's fundamental directives: to eat enough food to maintain its current weight.

While several drugs are available for short-term weight loss, until Wednesday there was only one FDA-approved prescription drug for long-term weight loss: Xenical from Roche, which is seldom prescribed because unpleasant digestive side effects and modest weight loss.

Other safety failures for diet pills have continued to pile up in recent years.

Four years ago Sanofi-Aventis SA discontinued studies of its highly anticipated pill Acomplia due to psychiatric side effects, including depression and suicidal thoughts. In 2010, Abbott Laboratories withdrew its drug Meridia after a study showed it increased heart attack and stroke.

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Toxic legacy in Malaysia rare-earths village

"S. Panchavarnam, sitting with her grand children, tells her story during an interview in Malaysia's northern Perak state. She vividly remembers the choking smell she endured working at a timber mill adjacent to the Japanese rare-earth plant in 1987. Pregnant at the time, she frequently fell ill" title

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German court rules religious circumcision on boys an assault

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Teenage pregnancy deaths a 'global scandal': charity

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Types Of Anti Aging Wrinkle Creams

June 26, 2012 by admin

Why invest in an anti aging wrinkle cream? With age comes wrinkles, gathered over the years with all the laughter as well as the stress. An anti wrinkle cream can slow down the process of aging by filling wrinkles and plumping the skin. Using such a cream is no more a want. It is a necessity. More and more people worldwide are looking for the right kind of anti aging wrinkle cream that suits their skin type and that basically does the job. Numerous companies around the world have understood this need and have created such products. They promise younger-looking, firmer, radiant skin within just a few weeks of usage. However, it is certain that these products will not completely take away wrinkles that have been deposited over the years. These will rather reduce the wrinkles to a certain extent and make the face look brighter, leaving you content with your purchase. To ensure that you make the right choice of such a cream, it is essential to know the types of creams available.

Filler

This is the first type of anti wrinkle facial cream. These come in small tubes and are specifically meant to be applied in areas that are filled with wrinkles. The cream is thick and becomes a section of the base of the face before a foundation is applied over the wrinkle cream. Thanks to its filling quality, the skin now looks smoother, giving the face a youthful appearance. Fillers work well for an entire day without being reapplied. The results are noticed beneath the foundation layer.

Plumping Lotion

The second type of anti aging wrinkle cream is a lotion, which works scientifically. This too comes in a tube, owing to the fact that the area on which it is applied gets inflamed. The redness that is caused due to this lotion will make the skin get filled with blood, making the wrinkles simple vanish in a very short time. It is recommended that those who do not apply foundation use this type of anti aging wrinkle creamas a covering layer of colored foundation or lotion is unnecessary. Even though these lotions may cause irritation and redness initially after applying them, it will leave a firmer-looking face with lesser wrinkles.

An anti aging wrinkle cream should be chosen in such a way that it suits a particular skin type. Many companies that market their products will promise to work wonders within a few hours to a number of days, and the cost of the product will range accordingly. If you go with a brand name, it does not mean that the results will be positive. Thorough research on the product needs to be carried out so as to ensure that the right choice is made.

Anti Aging

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Dental Problem Prevention: The Primary Dental Mission

June 27, 2012 by admin

It has been hammered into people’s heads that prevention is better than cure, but still, there are still many who take it for granted. This can easily be seen in oral hygiene practices that quite a lot of people neglect. From an early age, they are taught to brush their teeth at least twice a day and to regularly visit a dentist; however, these habits do not stick to their routine. As a result, they suffer from teeth and gum diseases.

 

You might be one of the fortunate people who have a healthy set of teeth. You probably always get a thumbs-up from your dentist after every check-up. This might lull you into complacency. If you find yourself neglecting good oral hygiene habits and missing dental appointments, nudge yourself back in the right direction. This is the only way to guarantee that your dental health would not be jeopardized.

 

Just because you are on top of your oral wellness at present does not mean you are 100% immune from problems later on in life.

This makes continuous dental protection necessary. Oral diseases are merely waiting for the right opportunity to strike, so you must have a constant line of defense.

 

Most people only visit theirdentists atlantawhen the symptoms become noticeable or when the pain becomes unbearable. This should not be the case. Treating oral diseases is only a dentist’s secondary objective. The first mission is to prevent them through regular maintenance. While following brushing procedures to the letter gets rid of most bacteria in your mouth, there are some hard-to-reach areas in the oral cavity that only professional cleaning can cleanse.

 

Apart from ensuring the health of your teeth and mouth,dentists atlantaalso give you an immaculate dental aesthetic.

They remove buildups and discolorations that dull the natural whiteness of the teeth. They also provide solutions to cracks, misalignments, and even missing dentures. Although the reasons for these treatments are primarily cosmetic, they enhance overall dental function and health in the process.

 

The beginning of dental problems only signal that something worse is about to happen. You should nip these problems right at the bud by consulting with your team ofdentists atlanta. Better yet, you should make sure that these problems do not even start in the first place.

Dental

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Anti-aging Prevention

June 27, 2012 by admin

Everyone desires to stay young and stunning. This really is why increasingly more people begin to appear to all of the latest anti-aging items and remedies available in the marketplace. When it comes to anti-aging practices, it’s essential to remember that an ounce of prevention is really worth a pound of remedy. This indicates that even prior to we begin to notice the visible signs of aging on our skin, we have to consider the essential precautions to make sure that we are in a position to maintain our youthful looking skin lengthier.

To prevent us from having to resort to very expensive anti-aging items and treatments, we need to embody a lifestyle that is friendly to our bodies and it is in a position to help prevent unneeded components that market the look of good lines and wrinkles on our skin as well.

We are able to begin our anti-aging way of life alter by eliminating dangerous components within our existence. Everybody knows that smoking is dangerous to their well being and it’s extremely harmful to our skin. No anti-aging routine will work successfully if we continue to smoke. Smoking takes its toll on our entire physique as well as on our skin. Studies show that smokers have a tendency to lose skin elasticity simpler than those that do not smoke. When our skin looses its elasticity, the fine lines and wrinkles appear.

Aside from using tobacco, it is also very important to avoid pollutants in common. This means that our anti-aging routine should include avoiding publicity to excessive dust and pollution in the environment. We’ll need to protect our skin from the harmful rays with the sun as well. This could be achieved through the proper moisturizing sun blocks. It should not quit there nevertheless simply because we’ll also have to be vigilant about the kinds of pollutants that we get through food and drink. We have to eat healthy and wisely so that we do not feed our bodies junk along with other harmful chemical substances and substances that will assist pace up the aging process.

Nevertheless if we begin to detect signs of aging in our skin, it is still not as well late to reverse the damage. Invest in good anti-aging products that battle anti-oxidants and totally free radicals while repairing and sustaining the skin’s correct elastin and collagen levels. These treatments ought to be combined with moisturizers and also the proper amount of rest to help our skin normally fix and regenerate new skin cell tissues.

Anti Aging

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How To Burn Fat And Gain Muscle In This New Year?

June 27, 2012 by adminMany people like to set plans for the new year, I hope that you are one of them as it is important to have a plan for your life. A lot of these people include in their plan a target to lose weight. Some of them want to lose weight to look better others just want to be healthy and enjoy their life and others want both. In this article I will try to help you to set a good plan for this new year to lose weight.

First thing to think about is why you want to lose weight? This is very important as according to your goal you will determine how you will lose weight. Losing weight to just look better can be done by 20 to 30 minutes of cardio exercises per day combined with balanced healthy diet that give your body enough nutrients but not extra calories. Losing weight in order to show your muscles that you already have or on your way to build can be done by another different way like weight training which may need to join a gym in order to do it safely.

So determine what end result you want to achieve then start setting your plan.

The second most important thing is to keep motivated to actually follow your plan. I think that if you are motivated your plan will get to nothing further than your notes sheet. So how to increase your motivation? I think that the best way to do that is to learn the benefits of losing weight, exercising and good diet and even write these benefits down and read them whenever you feel losing your energy. Some of these benefits are:

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Liposuction Techniques

June 27, 2012 by admin

 

If you are considering liposuction this summer, there are a few things to keep in mind about this procedure. Thanks to modern medical innovations, having liposuctuion performed is largely safe and effective with a variety of techniques on the market today. Here, we’ll take a look at a few common techniques and the differences between them.

Dry Technique

In modern liopsuction techniques, a wetting solution is used to minimize blood loss during the procedure. This solution is generally made up of saline, epienphrine, and a local anesthetic designed to constrict blood vessels and decrease patient discomfort. When Phoenix liposuction first became a cosmetic procedure, however, the effectiveness of wetting solutions had not yet been discovered and surgeons would perform the procedure

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Anti-Aging Skin Secret

June 27, 2012 by admin

Everyone wants to look young and many would love it if there were actually a fountain of youth. Since there isn’t; however, many resort to expensive lotions, creams, serums, make-up, spa treatments and even surgery to acquire anti-aging skin. Some spend thousands of dollars, only to find particular products may work for some, but not for them.

Individuals in society have come up with holistic treatments, home remedies and exercises in an attempt to reverse or stop the aging process. Some of these treatments work on certain areas such as circles under the eyes, wrinkles, stretch marks, cellulite, sun spots, moles and so much more toward the process of anti-aging skin.

Some anti-aging treatments simply have to do with a change in lifestyle. This includes exercise and diet to start, with plenty of water intake as well. Ridding oneself of bad habits such as alcohol consumption, drug use and smoking are also good ideas.

Alcohol dehydrates the skin causing wrinkles, as well as cause development of sleeping difficulties and other health issues that tend to age an individual. Smoking dries out the skin, yellows face and hands, circles under the eyes and premature wrinkling.

One well known method for attempting to achieve anti-aging skin is to treat dark circles under the eyes and swelling is the use of cucumber slices. By reclining and placing the cucumbers over the eyes, the area around the eyes receives natural moisture and coolness that constricts the blood vessels. In return swelling is reduced, as is the dark circles under the eyes. Under eye dark circles can also be treated with the moisture and coolness of wet tea bags, and the black tea caffeine and tannin remedy the swelling. Tea bags and cumbers both also provide healthy antioxidants for the anti aging skin process.

Wrinkles are probably the most frustrating part of the look of skin as it ages. Wrinkles around the mouth can be eliminated, or at the least postponed with a few simple acts toward anti-aging skin. A few steps that can be taken in this direction are to make sure that when moisturizing your face, be sure not to miss the area around your mouth as well. Keeping lips hydrated with lip balm is also a very good step. Exfoliating is important for the skin over all your body in order to thoroughly cleanse the dead cells, including your lips. The importance of sun screen certainly cannot be denied and there are lip balms that contain sun screen as well.

Even if you’re a little low on finances, you can use some items you may already have in your home. For example, cornmeal, sugar or baking soda can be put on the lips brushed with a toothbrush and rinsed to treat dry, chapped lips. Avocado is a good home remedy for the treatment of wrinkles as well. You need only make a paste out of it, smear it on your skin and let it set for about twenty minutes for a natural wrinkle prevention.

No matter what part of you that you want to achieve anti-aging skin, there is an abundance of holistic treatments, home remedies and skin care products.

Anti Aging

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Best Facial Skin Care Products

June 27, 2012 by admin

Choosing the right facial skin care products is of vital importance if you want to get the most out of your products and the best results when it comes to achieving healthy skin. Choosing the right facial cleaner is one such decision that is really going to mean a lot to whether or not you have clear, clean and healthy skin. Here are the best facial skin care product cleansers that you should be considering, and the types of situations that they are ideal for. If you bring home the

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wrong cleaner, you’re not going to be benefiting yourself in any way, and your complexion may suffer for it.

Purpose: Basic Cleanser
Best Product: Purpose Facial Cleaner
Why: You’re going to fi

nd a lot of different facial skin care products out there, some that cost $ 50, some $ 30, and some less than $ 10.

It turns out, the Purpose facial cleanser is an excellent example of good things coming inexpensively. This is an excellent all around cleanser for basic purposes. It is soap free and oil free, and it creates a wonderful lather that takes away dirt, oil and makeup without leaving your skin too dry. By keeping your skin properly moisturized, it prevents your skin from overproducing skin oils which is really nice. This is one I tried a few years ago and now I never go without it.

Purpose: Dry to Normal Skin
Best Product: Cetaphil Cleanser
Why: There are really no bells and whistles involved when it comes to this really mild product that is recommended by dermatologists because of how gentle it is. It is a really simple $ 10 cleaner that is creamy and natural rather than being loaded up with perfumes and chemicals. There are no skin irritants in this baby, and that means a lot when it comes to cleansing your skin properly.

Purpose: Oily Skin
Best Product: Clinique’s Wash Away Gel
Why: Gel cleaners happen to work particularly well when it comes to oily skin because they are capable of absorbing up the excess oil in your skin. This is a truly classic cleanser that is capable of being a bit drying, however, so make sure that you test the product out before you spend a lot of money buying it up.

Purpose: Acne Problems
Best Product: Neutrogena’s Oil Free Acne Cleanser
Why: Neutrogena may just be a drugstore based beauty brand, but it is definitely one of the best, and all of the facial skin care products that they produce are going to steer you in the right direction, hands down. You really cannot go wrong with this simple, no frills acne wash which is absolutely ideal for acne stricken skin, especially sensitive skin types.

Skin Care

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Goa is a Reliable Place for Dental treatment without insurance

June 27, 2012 by admin

Dental treatment in Goa now is so much more than filling holes in teeth. New technology, materials and techniques are continually being developed and today we can do things that we have never dreamed possible. With application of new technology as well as work of all the great dentists in Goa, Dentist staff is made up of well-trained professionals who work together to bring you the highest quality treatment in a warm, comfortable and caring setting making Goa reliable place for dental treatment. Dental treatment in Goa can truly change your life in many ways, including giving them a beautiful new smile, eliminating sensitive teeth, helping them to get rid of their chronic headaches and migraines, and help with snoring and sleep apnea.

Dental clinics provide treatments, which includes keeping the gums and tooth-supporting bones healthy.

Dentist in Goa want you to keep your teeth for a lifetime. With the help of Dentist, and some effort on your part at home, this is an achievable goal. Teeth require maintenance and when your older fillings break down, teeth fracture or wear down: Dentist in Goa can restore their function and appearance. Utilizing all of the materials, equipment and techniques available today, dentists can make dental treatment a pleasant experience.

With an international reputation for being the most highly sought-after cosmetic dental practice, people travel from across the globe for Dental treatment in Goa. If a person doesn’t have insurance needs a crown put in at clinics in America, cost would be about $ 1000, So Americans are coming to Goa to get dental work done for much less money. Dental Clinics in Goa are dedicated to serving patients in a caring and friendly environment, helping people to achieve a sense of well being by enhancing dental comfort, function and appearance. Medical tourism in Goa strive to make your visit easy and enjoyable, ensuring a pleasant experience and make each patient feel important and cared for. Goa is one of the best tourist locatons in the world with exotic beaches and sceneries.

 

To know more about reliable Dental treatments in Goa visit our website at www.indianhealthguru.com or mail your queries at contact

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Species-Specific Microbes May Be Key to a Healthy Immune System

and so do we. These microorganisms help both mice and us break down dinner. As we are finding, these bugs also help to regulate the immune system. But we are just starting to learn how these tiny organisms influence us and how changing their composition changes us.

In an attempt to find out, postdoctoral researcher Hachung Chung and her colleagues at Dennis Kasper's Lab at Harvard Medical School tried raising mice with exclusively human gut microbiota.

The human microbes did pretty well in the mice guts (the researchers could tell by culturing fecal pellets from these mice). Interestingly, though, the mice with these microbes did not: their immune systems remained underdeveloped. Even when researchers gave rat microbiota to mice, the mice's immune systems failed to mature. The results were published in the June 22 issue of Science.

The findings are "perhaps the most definitive that I've seen," says Eugene Chang, a professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, who was not involved in the new study. They show "the critical and specific relationship between host and gut microbes, which is needed for proper development of the host immune response," he says.

The results support the thinking that we humans have coevolved with our microbes

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School's end clears up New York students' mystery twitching

/Senior High School - first began exhibiting involuntary movements in October 2011 in this working class town about 50 miles east of Buffalo. ...","exp":"","source":"y.news","art_imgurl":"http:

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Parts of Obamacare Should Be Kept

According to the Associated Press, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to render a decision next week regarding whether President Barack Obama's health care overhaul is constitutional. The law, if it doesn't pass constitutional muster, could be struck down entirely or parts could be implemented, while others could not. While I'm not in favor of the government mandating people purchase health insurance or taking over the health care industry, I do think there are some good parts to the law that should remain in place.

I like the idea of people being able to stay on their parents' insurance until they reach the age of 26. Life is hard, particularly when you're first starting out on your own. It makes sense that parents should be able to reach the decision to cover their adult children on their insurance if they choose to do that. While I see the point of insurance companies to a point of not wanting to provide coverage for entire generations of people on one person's policy, I don't think asking to allow parents to help their kids out in this way is an unreasonable request.

I also believe that requiring insurance companies to cover people with preexisting medical conditions is a good thing. I have known too many people who were afraid to leave their job in favor of a better opportunity for themselves solely due to having a preexisting medical condition or having a family member with a preexisting condition, and the fear they would not be able to get insurance. It seems pretty barbaric to me that the people who need medical insurance the most have a hard time getting it, while those who are healthy and will probably remain so are able to find insurance without a problem.

Of course, I think both of these things are necessary temporary measures. Neither address the fact that health care is too expensive. Neither addresses price gouging in the health care industry or the need for a medical degree to even understand the services one needs or how to go about getting them affordably.

Bottom line: It seems that insurance companies and ridiculous costs are the main problem with our health care system as it is. We're being given a choice: have the government take over the health care system, or continuing letting the insurance companies run it. Both options come with extreme problems, and both options are going to be costly to implement. I think the best solution is a compromise. Break down the giant law and keep the parts that work and that don't infringe on our freedoms. And realize that, whatever the law is, there is so much more work to do in the matter.

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