For most women live without make-up is not possible

Nearly the average modern woman knows familiar with Neon lips, blue eye shadow, glitter shimmering, golden bronzers and
When in fact men more like women who use make-up simple
Well for that following a few tips so you will be perfect if only to use simple makeup.

 Neon lipstick: Customize colour's election in accordance with the clothes you wear this color so that you are using does not appear dominant, and thus would seem simple and not overdone.

 Too thin eyebrows: Many women in busy with thin eyebrows when I wake up, and spent his time plucking her eyelashes because they feel not beautiful eyelashes. "Actually you do not have to do that because there are some men who actually liked the thin eyelashes that give the impression section. But if you still want it have a lot of eyelashes planting services to reduce your busyness.

Bold eye-shadow: use eye shadow to add polish on your face because your eyes will be looking fresh and emit energy that can make men bow, yet be careful because the application must be done properly because when I make a mistake they look messy total, "Look for or ask a friend who understands makeup."

 Rosy cheeks: to eliminate the impression of the face pale, almost some women react rouge, yup ..! But not too much because it will reduce its natural impression. "


Eyelash: "recognized by most men that they were struck by the stunned even suggestion every word of the woman who has a beautiful eyelash and tapering, like when you are in the exhibitions most men are interested in buying a product because the sales promotion girl has eyelashes makes them pretty carried away.

So everything I say is based on my observations, about right or do not see around you. Regards

Some people feel plumper after marriage?!

Some people feel plumper after marriage?!

This is not a myth.  A group research has been done by students at the American Sociological Association; they found that marriage can affect weight gain significantly.
The study states, after a married woman's body weight on average increased by 30%. Even reach 48 percent.
However, because marriage is actually not that make weight gain. Studies conducted in 2006 found that there is a tendency dietary change in women after marriage.
People who are married tend to often eat together. It is believed to be one cause of increasing a person's weight after marriage.
If the husband has a lot of eating, this can affect the diet of the wife. In other words, the desire to eat a lot sometimes not caused by their own appetite, but appetite comes from eating infected by their partners.
Newly married couples tend to want to try new cuisine menus to attract attention or just to show their love.
And the husband will eliminate the lazy habit of eating while still own it as a form of tribute to his wife, who had worked hard in processing food.
And for the wife will feel flattered and therefore increase the appetite for hard work at liking.
However, because men tend to spend more calories than women, even while resting. While the woman's body burning calories at a slower pace. Therefore do not be surprised women are more prone to gain weight after marriage

A Life-Saving Lesson That Took Decades to Learn (12/30/2011)

A Life-Saving Lesson That Took Decades to Learn

By Dennis ThompsonHealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Dec. 30 (HealthDay News) -- Doctors diagnosed Ronda Keys with type 2 diabetes when she was 19 years old and a student at the University of Maryland.

Now 38 and living in Montgomery Village, Md., Keys had been suffering the classic symptoms before her diagnosis -- fatigue, extreme thirst, frequent urination. "That prompted me to just go to the doctor," she recalled. "That's when I found out."

But the news wasn't completely out of left field. Her father was diabetic, as were her grandmother and several aunts and uncles.

"There's a long line of it in my family," Keys said. "It wasn't really a surprise once I was told that I had it, but I guess I had never thought of myself as getting it, especially that young."

Nonetheless, Keys admits, she took the diagnosis with a small amount of resentment. "I was a little taken aback," she said. "I didn't do anything to go out and get this. I thought it was kind of unfair. You're just told you have this, and oh, by the way, there's no cure."

Keys's doctor put her on oral medication and encouraged her to exercise more and eat a healthy diet. But she was young and at college and found it hard to reconcile her diabetes treatment with her lifestyle.

"The issue for me was just being different from my friends," she said. "I didn't want to be the odd ball out. I just wanted to fit in with everyone else."

Those college years established a pattern for Keys. She would half-heartedly pursue self-treatment for her diabetes, and then get serious about it when she began to feel really sick. "I would try for a while, and then I would fall off the wagon and stay off," she said.

Things continued that way until three years ago, when Keys was hospitalized with a serious infection. Her body didn't respond to treatment, which she was told was due to her diabetes.

"My blood sugar was fighting against the medicines the doctors were giving me," she said. "I was very, very sick. As a result, I had to go on insulin, which I had been fighting."

Keys was hospitalized for 14 days. The insulin helped save her life, but she hated having to resort to it. "It just felt like failure," she said. "Insulin equals failure. You didn't do what you were supposed to do, and now you have to take insulin."

That feeling didn't last long, though.

"I found out it was the best thing that could have happened to me," Keys said. "I love to travel, and I'm very active, and I didn't feel well. I was getting sick. I was having trouble with my kidneys. After going on insulin, it was an immediate turnaround for me."

Since then, Keys also has become more serious about her exercise and diet, getting to the gym three times a week and practicing moderation when she eats.

"I'm doing a lot better than three years ago," she said. "I feel better. I'm able to do everything I want to do. I'm very active. Diabetes is not stopping me now."

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/new//news/headlines/657409.cfm/

In the Age of Email, the Good, Old Letter Still Holds Sway (12/28/2011)

In the Age of Email, the Good, Old Letter Still Holds Sway

Soldiers found lasting comfort, solace -- and a shield against post-traumatic stress disorder -- in handwritten notes.

By Dennis ThompsonHealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 28 (HealthDay News) -- Instant communication may be all the rage, but old-fashioned letter-writing may have a more beneficial lasting effect on recipients.

In a study involving soldiers serving in war zones, most in Iraq, researchers found that letters from home -- just a few words from the heart, scribbled onto paper or typed into an e-mail -- served as an inoculation against one of war's most insidious and long-lasting wounds. Recipients were less likely to exhibit symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder.

"Those positive, permanent forms of communication may have mental health benefits," said Benjamin Loew, a graduate research assistant in the psychology department at the University of Denver who co-authored the study, published in the Journal of Traumatic Stress.

More "instant" forms of communication, such as telephone calls or video chats, did not have the same positive effect on soldiers' mental well-being as the receipt of written communication or even care packages, the study found.

One theory why this is the case, according to the researchers, is that people tend to think through what they write in a letter and are less likely to be argumentative and more free to share affection and other positive feelings.

"These delayed forms of communication are going to be protected from conflict-type discussion," Loew said.

Letters also serve as mementos that soldiers can carry with them as a reminder of home.

"A soldier could repeatedly pull out a letter or an e-mail and feel support," Loew said. "A phone call can be recalled but can't be re-experienced. A letter can be read over and over again."

That makes perfect sense to Marion Frank, a Philadelphia psychologist and past president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Gold Star Wives of America, an organization for military widows and widowers.

"There is more thought that goes into writing, versus a call or a text message," Frank said. She also agrees that a letter's value as a memento likely adds to its value in helping soldiers cope with their circumstances.

"When we have something from a loved one, it has meaning and it gives us comfort," she said.

Such physical forms of communication can help even if a person isn't in the high-stress environment of combat, Frank said. Letters, cards and e-mails can help bolster the spirits and possibly reduce the stress of family and friends who are away at college or on an extended business trip, for instance.

"It certainly helps if you're leaving a loved one," Frank said. "When people send a memento or a card, it helps the person feel connected to home. It's the whole idea behind the greeting card industry."

However, Frank said such letters would probably not have the same effect as those received by people in the sort of high-risk, high-stress, life-threatening situations that can produce post-traumatic stress.

"That's when you're in danger in terms of your life," she said. "In civilian life, letters and cards won't prevent stress from happening, but they can be helpful in reducing stress for people who have left a loved one."

But for those in the military, the aftereffects of trauma can be powerful.

"What people are doing in the service often exposes them to traumatic experiences," Frank said. "Even if they have this kind of concrete support, they could still suffer PTSD."

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a form of anxiety brought on by exposure to a horrific, life-changing or traumatizing event, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Symptoms can include reliving the event in your mind, avoiding things that remind you of the event, feeling numb to the world around you or becoming jittery, keyed-up and on a hair trigger.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has estimated that PTSD afflicts nearly 31 percent of Vietnam veterans, 10 percent of Gulf War (Desert Storm) veterans, 11 percent of veterans of Afghanistan fighting and 20 percent of Iraq war veterans.

For the study, the research team surveyed 193 married Army soldiers at Fort Campbell, Ky., who had returned in the past year from an overseas tour that included combat. They evaluated each soldier for PTSD symptoms, their exposure to combat and their marital satisfaction. They also quizzed each soldier on the frequency and types of communication they had received from home while they were deployed.

They found that happily married soldiers who received frequent communication that the team described as delayed -- letters, e-mails, care packages -- had fewer PTSD symptoms than those who'd received more instant communications, such as phone calls, video chats and instant messages.

But they also detected one scenario in which letters from home proved detrimental.

Soldiers in unhappy marriages who communicated often by delayed means tended to have more PTSD symptoms, the study found.

"We don't know if the communications are more negative, or if it reflects a soldier doing a lot of writing home and not getting anything in return," Loew said.

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/new//news/headlines/654709.cfm/

FALALALALA... LALA LA LAAAABy The Hoopla team

December 23, 2011

When The Hoopla launched in July this year, Jane, Caroline and I said that we wanted to create an “online news and magazine site for a community of wise, warm, witty and wonderful women”.

So this is Christmas and what have we done?

Well, you can be the judge of that but, for my part, it's truly gratifying that so many of you have embraced The Hoopla.

Thank you, one and all. ( And special thanks also to Donna Kilby for her special contribution.)

At launch time I wrote: "If you take this leap of faith with us, I can assure you that we will repay you with our time and energy in the creation of an independent, intelligent and unique voice for Australian women."

That is our mantra, day in day out. We aim to entertain, connect and showcase the diverse voices of Australian women.

Christmas is the time to be thankful for all our blessings and for me, getting to know you all, hearing what you have to say and what you want from The Hoopla has been a joy.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and that you are able reconnect with family and friends. (I certainly owe my very patient family a great deal for their support every day.)

I also hope you find peace and time for personal reflection.

Compliments of the Season. (Or as my mad foodie friends like to say: "Condiments of the Seasoning"!)

Wendy Harmer.

**********************



On the eve of Christmas we are very excited to deliver a little gift to all of you who access us on your smart phone.

Go on, go in and have a look. We hope you like it and that it fits you because sadly there is no docket so you cannot exchange!

I am incredibly grateful to all of you who keep coming under our tent to see what the clever women I work with have created. Working with Wendy, Caroline and Donna is a very stimulating and often electric experience. The Hoopla’s voice gets louder every time you  ‘like’ or ‘share’ us and I thank you all for that and please DON’T STOP! I also want to give a warm motherly hug to my two boys who ask me daily “How’s The Hoopla today mum? Are you getting bigger?”.

Wishing you all a safe and relaxing break.

Jane Waterhouse.

**********************

As far as years go, this one has been a doozie for me… both personally and professionally.

Late March, my partner Donna and I left Sydney to run a small vineyard in the Barossa Valley in South Australia (that sounds a lot more glamorous than it actually is. Hard work is what it should be called).

Simultaneously, I joined Wendy and Jane in this amazing adventure that is The Hoopla. It is a constant source of joy and wonder to me that I can edit this website from my office in country Australia, watching daily the landscape as it changes with the seasons, and all that nature throws up at us.

And yet, I feel very much part of the bigger world, and for this I can thank this website because it keeps me constantly connected to a smart and lively community – be it my colleagues in Sydney or the women who visit The Hoopla every day, generously sharing their experiences and their words of wisdom with the rest of us.

That’s a big enough Christmas present for me this year.

Caroline Roessler.

*Our Hoopla Christmas card comes courtesy of Cat In The Country, a daily blog on the adventures of an inner-city Burmese cat who, early this year, moved to the Barossa Valley. No prizes for guessing whose cat it is.

Source: http://id.she.yahoo.com/new/http://thehoopla.com.au/falalalala-lala-la-laaaa//

A FESTIVE NAG. PART 2By Philip Barker

December 20, 2011

As we all know, the Festive Season is a busy, busy time for men, juggling the demands of career, family… and Christmas parties with clients.

For many of us it's a difficult time to be living with a woman, as December seems to drive you particularly mental.

Here, then, is a handy, all-purpose guide written in the language a woman understands – Australian nag – to stick on the fridge and help her through the festive season.

RELATED 

Source: http://id.she.yahoo.com/new/http://thehoopla.com.au/festive-nag-part-2//

Breast Cancer Patients Face More Imaging Tests Today (12/23/2011)

Breast Cancer Patients Face More Imaging Tests Today

Study finds multiple visits common in pre-op period, urges better coordination.

By Kathleen DohenyHealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Dec. 23 (HealthDay News) -- Women with breast cancer undergo many more imaging tests between diagnosis and surgery than they did in the early 1990s, a new study finds.

The tests -- breast ultrasounds, MRIs and mammograms -- help doctors determine the best course of treatment, but add to the hassles and expense of care, the study says.

"The burden to the patient is increasing substantially," said study leader Dr. Richard Bleicher, an associate professor of surgical oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. For older patients, especially, coordination of care is needed, he said.

Bleicher, a breast surgeon, evaluated data on more than 67,000 women in the United States diagnosed with breast cancer from 1992 to 2005. His intent was to clock the time and inconvenience involved in multiple imaging appointments.

In 1992, he found that 1 in 20, or under 5 percent of patients, had imaging twice or more during the preoperative period of about 37 days. By 2005, 1 in 5 patients, or nearly 20 percent, had two or more imaging sessions.

"Patients are having a lot more imaging done overall," he said. "I can't tell you whether the imaging was appropriate or not appropriate."

The percentage of patients who had more than one type of imaging on a given day increased more than six-fold, from about 4 percent in 1992 to just over 27 percent in 2005, the study found.

A subgroup of 20 patients had five or more mammogram visits during the pre-op period, he found.

For the study, the researchers used Medicare claims linked to the U.S. National Cancer Institute's Surveillance Epidemiology End Results data for women with breast cancer. They zeroed in on about 67,750 women over age 65 who had invasive cancer that hadn't spread and who were scheduled for surgery.

Bleicher presented the findings earlier this month at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium. He urged his colleagues to consider ways of streamlining the testing, with an eye to improving treatment without raising costs.

The increase in imaging tests does not surprise Dr. Carol Lee, head of the communications committee for the American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Commission.

"Practices have changed," she said. "Standards of care have changed." Since 1992, imaging technology has advanced greatly, she said, noting there are more, and better, options.

One limitation of the study, she said, is that the outcomes are not addressed. "This is not telling the whole story," she said. "What gets lost in the numbers is, what are the possible benefits of this additional imaging?"

"Yes, we are doing more tests," she said. "But we are not doing tests for the sake of doing tests."

Some states have laws that address self-referral, said Shawn Farley, spokesperson for the American College of Radiology. The specifics of the laws vary.

Lee agreed with Bleicher that doctors should strive for better coordination of imaging tests.

If your doctor orders imaging, Bleicher recommends asking why it's needed. You might also ask if the doctor expects more imaging will be needed and if so, whether it's possible to schedule tests together, he said.

The study was supported by the U.S. Public Health Service, the American Cancer Society, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and private donors.

Research presented at meetings should be considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/new//news/headlines/660065.cfm/

As Gastric Banding Increases, So May Complications (12/22/2011)

As Gastric Banding Increases, So May Complications

Puzzling respiratory symptoms require investigation, researchers say.
THURSDAY, Dec. 22 (HealthDay News) -- Use of gastric bands as a weight-loss aid is increasing, and doctors need to be alert for potential complications years later, say the authors of a new case report.

The report details problems that developed two years after a 49-year-old British woman underwent the weight-loss procedure. She sought treatment at a hospital after having night sweats and a persistent cough that produced green and yellow sputum for four months. Her medical history showed that she had asthma that had not responded to treatment and that she had been fitted with a laparoscopic adjustable gastric band in September 2008.

Gastric band surgery involves placement of a band around the top portion of the stomach. This creates a small pouch to receive food, which then slowly empties into the larger, lower stomach. Because of the band, people feel full after eating small amounts of food.
Since receiving the gastric band, the woman's body mass index (BMI) had decreased from 45 to 33, according to the report published in the Dec. 22 online edition of The Lancet. A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese.

A chest X-ray revealed that the woman had a cavity within the left upper zone. After ruling out tuberculosis, the doctors suspected the woman's problems were caused by the gastric band.

The specific issues appeared to be repeated aspiration of ingested food (causing reflux down her windpipe and subsequent lung damage) and cavitation (holes formed in the lung, often due to infection) caused by the gastric band fitting, according to a journal news release.

After antibiotics provided only limited relief, doctors emptied the fluid from the gastric band. The woman's symptoms quickly vanished. At her last follow-up visit, after her gastric band was cautiously refilled, her BMI was 35 and she was still symptom-free, the investigators reported.

The report authors noted that band slippage and erosion are the most common complications in patients with gastric bands, while lung-related problems are rare.

But delayed lung complications "can present with asthma-like symptoms and can be misdiagnosed if not properly investigated," concluded Dr. Adam Czapran, of the department of respiratory medicine and coronary care at Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley, West Midlands, U.K., and colleagues.

"Patients who have undergone laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding should have chest radiography or thoracic CT scan, or both, if they present with respiratory symptoms," Czapran's team wrote in the journal news release. "Withdrawal of the fluid from the band should be done as soon as possible to relieve the obstruction. Given the increasing frequency of people undergoing interventional procedures to aid weight loss, recognition of the short-term and long-term complications is paramount."

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/new//news/headlines/660092.cfm/

'27 Club' Debunked: Musicians Aren't Prone to Die at That Age (12/21/2011)

'27 Club' Debunked: Musicians Aren't Prone to Die at That Age

But, they do face a higher risk of premature death, researchers report.
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 21 (HealthDay News) -- Famous musicians are no more likely to die at age 27 than at any other age, a new study indicates.

The fact that a number of rock stars -- including Amy Winehouse, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Brian Jones and Kurt Cobain -- died when they were 27 makes that age appear particularly unlucky.

But this study examined the so-called "27 club" hypothesis, and found that fame and a rock-and-roll lifestyle may increase rock stars' risk of death at any age.

The researchers compared the deaths of 1,046 famous musicians with data from the general U.K. population. The musicians were solo artists and members of bands who had a number one album in the U.K. charts between 1956 and 2007. They ranged from rock 'n' rollers and heavy metal stars to crooners and even actors who voiced Muppets.

During the study period (a total follow-up time of 21,750 musician-years), 71 (7 percent) of the musicians died, according to study author Adrian Barnett, of Queensland University of Technology in Australia, and colleagues.

A mathematical analysis showed no peak in the risk of death at age 27, but musicians in their 20s and 30s were two to three times more likely to die prematurely than people in the general population.

There was a cluster of deaths among musicians aged 20 to 40 during the 1970s and early 1980s, but there were no deaths in this age group in the late 1980s. This could be due to the development of better treatments for heroin overdoses, or the fact that the hard rock that dominated the 1970s gave way to pop in the 1980s, the researchers suggested.

So while the "27 club" is a myth, musicians do have a generally increased risk of dying in their 20s and 30s, the study authors warned.

"This finding should be of international concern, as musicians contribute greatly to populations' quality of life, so there is immense value in keeping them alive (and working) as long as possible," the study authors wrote in the report published online Dec. 20 in the BMJ.

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/new//news/headlines/660005.cfm/

THE MYTH OF 'BABY BRAIN' BUSTEDBy Wendy Harmer

December 19, 2011

Among the allegations of bullying and degradation made against senior managers of Australia's air traffic controllers, there's one that's particularly galling for working women.

One manager, Peter Holmes, is alleged to have said: 'it is well known that women get dumber when they were (sic) pregnant.'

This is one part of a complaint about the managerial conduct at Airservices Australia in an amended writ filed in the Federal Court by air-traffic controller Kirsty Fletcher, who is suing ASA for discrimination.

There are any number of male buffoons I'd like to see go head-to-head (or beer gut-to-bump) with women who have worked right through their pregnancies and remained entirely focussed and utterly capable.

I worked in the demanding environment of breakfast radio (2DAYFM) through my pregnancies, as did Amanda Keller (2WS) and Kate Langbroek (Nova 100). Getting through the early mornings in a hormonal 'fog' just doesn't cut it. For this type of fast-paced work – much of it improvised – you have to be 100 per cent on the ball. A quick study. All that. (Something you’d think air traffic controllers would understand).

ABC breakfast host and journalist Virginia Trioli is about to take leave for the birth of her first child, as is 7.30 co-host, Leigh Sales – both jobs require exceptional skill and perception. Chrissie Swann's wit was at full wattage on The Circle when she was pregnant and, of course, we all watched Paper Giants and saw publishing maven Ita Buttrose (portrayed by Asher Keddie, left) skilfully negotiate the blokey world of media in the 1970s with a baby bump without becoming an addled dimwit.

We may not be able to fit through the door, but we remain fast on our feet.

Study after study has proven that "baby brain" or "preg head" is a myth.

Not only that, the studies also say that women's intelligence actually increases women's mental abilities.

In 2009 Professor Helen Christensen, of the Australian National University in Canberra, was part of a research team that tracked 2500 women over 10 years found no difference between their brainpower before and during their pregnancies.

The women were tested  in four areas of cognition:cognitive speed, working memory and immediate and delayed recall.

Endometriosis Tied to Higher Risk of Crohn's, Colitis (12/20/2011)

Endometriosis Tied to Higher Risk of Crohn's, Colitis

Large Danish study suggests possibility of connection between both in women.

By Denise MannHealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Women with endometriosis may be up to 80 percent more likely to develop inflammatory bowel disease such as Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis compared to women without the uterine disorder, according to a new long-term study.

Endometriosis occurs when the uterine lining -- the endometrium -- grows outside of the uterus. Symptoms include abdominal pain, heavy menstrual periods and infertility. Exactly why the conditions may be linked is not fully understood. They may share common causes or perhaps the birth control pills used to treat endometriosis may increase the risk of inflammatory bowel disease. The new findings appear online Dec. 19 in the journal Gut.

The study included nearly 38,000 Danish women who were hospitalized for endometriosis from 1997 to 2007. After 13 years of follow-up, 320 of these women developed inflammatory bowel disease, including 228 cases of ulcerative colitis and 92 cases of Crohn's disease.

Overall, women with endometriosis had a 50 percent higher odds of developing inflammatory bowel disease compared to women in the general population, the study found. The increased risk lasted for up to 20 years after being diagnosed with endometriosis, report researchers led by Dr. Tine Jess, an epidemiologist at Statens Serum Institute in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The risk was even more pronounced among women whose endometriosis was verified surgically, the team noted. Among these women, the risk for inflammatory bowel diseases jumped to 80 percent compared to women without endometriosis in the general population.

Inflammatory bowel disease is the umbrella term for ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease and related conditions. Ulcerative colitis is an inflammation of the inner lining of the colon. By contrast, Crohn's disease involves all layers of the intestine and can occur in both the small intestine and colon. Symptoms of both include persistent diarrhea, abdominal pain or cramps, blood passing through the rectum, fever and weight loss.

"This is the first study undertaken to investigate the association between endometriosis and inflammatory bowel disease," Jess said. "Persisting abdominal symptoms in patients with endometriosis may be a sign of concomitant inflammatory bowel disease," she said.

One expert said the finding should be taken seriously.

"If you have endometriosis first, this may lead to having an increased risk of ulcerative colitis or Crohn's," said Dr. Maurice Cerulli, the program director of gastroenterology at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System in New Hyde Park, N.Y. While more research is needed before any definitive conclusions can be drawn, Cerulli said that doctors should consider both endometriosis and inflammatory bowel disease when a woman has abdominal symptoms and pain. "Both conditions are treated differently," he said.

While the study found an association between endometriosis and inflammatory bowel disease, it did not prove a cause-and-effect relationship.

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/new//news/headlines/660006.cfm/

Choosing a Toy? Think 'Kid-Powered' (12/19/2011)

Choosing a Toy? Think 'Kid-Powered'

By Dennis ThompsonHealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- Most parents who come into Top Ten Toys in Seattle are concerned about the safety of the toys they buy, asking about toxins like lead and chemicals in plastics like BPAs, the store's buyer/manager, Kathie Dockstader, said.

"They want to know about the safety procedures, and we tell them there are very strong toy safety laws in effect now," Dockstader said. "Each and every single product has to be tested." She said her store obtains a certificate of compliance from every toy manufacturer with which they do business.

But she said a growing number of parents also come in asking about toys that will help aid their kids' development. "A lot of parents get caught up in the media hype about what's good for kids," she said.

But to Dockstader, it's important that kids are "able to explore and learn from their environment" and "have the freedom to express themselves."

That's why her store sells toys that are "kid-powered," offering open-ended opportunities for kids to explore and imagine and play, she said. From among the 15,000 toys sold there, favorites include things as simple as blocks, crayons and art supplies, as well as construction toys, action figures and dolls.

"We have very few battery-operated toys in our store," Dockstader said. "It gives the kid an opportunity to develop social interaction, fine motor skills and speech."

The store also carries no computer software, nor does it sell any CDs or DVDs aimed at encouraging a baby's ability to think and reason. Dockstader said that research has shown that too much video stimulation can hamper a child's development, so her store steers clear of those products.

Dockstader instead points to toys that let a child learn while playing, noting that one might help develop pre-reading skills while another can help develop problem-solving capabilities.

"I think you can have a lot of fun with toys and have a good base for development," she said. "Children are learning while they're playing, and they don't know they're learning."

To help parents choose good toys, the store's staff will ask a variety of questions about the child's age and abilities, Dockstader said. That's because a common challenge for parents and other toy-buyers is picking out toys that are right for a kid's particular level of development. It's natural, she said, for parents to think their child is incredibly brilliant, but selecting a toy that's too advanced can lead to the kid becoming frustrated and losing interest in the toy. On the other hand, picking out a toy that's too simple can lead to boredom.

"That can be hard, to find that right balance," Dockstader said. "Parents sometimes have a tendency to forget it's O.K. to get something on the child's level."
(SOURCE: Kathie Dockstader, Seattle)



Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/new//news/headlines/658415.cfm/

Fashion Statement with Suzannah Roach

It's Christmas, the time of year we all look forward
to. What does Christmas say to you?
Yes there's Father Christmas for the children but what is there for the adults?
Well, for much of the female population it offers an excuse to get out the
glad rags! Or if we are really lucky we get to do a spot of shopping, not only
for our friends and family but for ourselves too.

Shopping for the odd party or two sounds great in
principle but why is it that when
December hits us at full force so many of us insist on going out all glitz and
glamour? I have fallen for this myself on so many occasions. At any other
time of year those glittery party dresses wouldn't get a second look. But at Christmas I feel the urge to grab the
nearest sequined number and accessorise with more sequins. Don't get me
wrong I love something that sparkles at any time of the year but Christmas just
brings out the magpie in me. I veer towards anything that has as much sparkle
to it as is possible.

This is all great in principle. However, come January what
happens to all this glitz? When I
purchased the little Christmas number I was determine to wear it all year
round. After all, if I feel comfortable wearing it in December what is the
difference in April, June or September? Every
year though, the same thing happens. The sequins sit in my wardrobe getting
pushed further and further back until December a year on. Then what do I
do? Dig it out again and think I'll get my money's worth this year? 
No, it's hello magpie madness again. I just can't resist those flashing sequins
on those lovely internet sites or when walking down the high street looking in
the shop windows. I find myself with a new sparkly outfit every year and every
year I swear I will wear it all year round.

As much as
I hate talking about the doom and gloom of the economy, there is one thing that
it has made me do. I now really think about what I buy and how many pounds per
wear the item will be. So I have a fresh new outlook this year. I am
focusing only on accessories. I've got organised, have pulled from my wardrobe what
I believe will work for the month of December. I can't help but want to make
the odd purchase, come on now it is Christmas after all! However, the purchases
are purely to accessorise the many festive outfits I already own.

So what am I going for this year? There are some big and bold earrings that make up for all the sequins.
Chandelier earrings can give that Christmas dramatic edge. There are many
brightly coloured pieces of jewellery available too. Reds and turquoises are
having a moment (which can all incidentally can be found at www.imayimightimust.com). 

Bags are
another accessory that can help you move that 2010 dress into 2012, whilst
giving some Christmas sparkle. You can go for the full-blown sequin clutch,
which can be found at www.accessorize.co.uk or
you can do the bright creation that gives you a flash of Christmas flair.

Bright
colour blocking bags are on trend this season so go for a textured feel to give
it that festive season edge. A combination of suede and leather feels
luxurious as well as hitting that leather trend. And add a stud or two and you
have something catching the light as well as hitting the hard-edged current
look.

Headbands
are also having a fashion moment again. Forget the subtle
headband that blends into the hair. Go for the embellished jewelled look for
maximum effect or the contrasting feathered band that stands out whilst looking
classic and stylish. Eugenia Kim
specialises in beautiful hand crafted hair accessories (found at www.imayimightimust.com).
To make it current and not too preppy. Just keep the hair looking slightly disheveled
to give that slight attitude image.

Finally shoes. Shoes
give you the right of passage to go as glitzy and dramatic as you dare. This
can be a fashion statement whilst not having to go too festive with your
outfit. www.asos.co.uk has some sparkly heels that
glimmer all the way to the party and also get you back home at the end of the
night in one piece as well as in style.

This year I've decided to break from my usual December
uniform. I have brought out my leather skirt that
I've been wearing all season (www.whistles.co.uk),
piling on the chandelier jewels and hair accessories, grabbing an indigo blue
clutch and my sparkly shoes and heading out the door. And this year I won't even regret it come January.

Suzannah Roach

Source: http://womentalking.co.uk/new//topics/fashion/fashion-statement-suzannah-roach-12/

Console Gaming for the Under-10s

Sometimes buying consoles games for younger games can be a difficult task. George R Vaughan look at what's out there for the under 10s because buying younger children in your family can sometimes be a difficult exercise.Kinectimals (with new bears) (Xbox Kinect Exclusive)One of last year's flagship launch titles for the Kinect was the cute and hugely engaging Kinectimals, which proved a great hit with younger audiences.The original allowed you to interact with tigers, leopards and jaguars via Kinect and now they are back again and they have brought some friends along in the form of a cuddly group of bears, including those of both the polar and Panda varieties. Cynics who are worried about this just being a hasty re-release with more of the same, will be pleased to know that there is an additional 10 hours of gaming to the original concept, with an new island to take your animals to and the bears behave vastly differently to their feline cousins.Whether you are new to t he game or looking for an update, Kinectimals with bears is a great title to introduce your children to and one that is thankfully completely free of violence and gore. Cheaper, less messy and certainly without the hassle of responsibility, Kinectimals with new bears should be top of the list for anyone with young children who want a pet without the walks and litter trays!Kinect Sports: Season Two (Xbox Kinect Exclsuive)Another title that launched with Kinect last year was the engaging Kinect Sports, offering gamers the opportunity to participate in a selection of average to excellent sports games, ranging from football to volleyball and bowling.Although it had its flaws, this was probably the only other title, along with Kinectimals and Dance Central that really showed off the potential of Microsoft's motion.Season Two features six new games to play alone or with friends, including golf, skiing, darts and American football. All of them are fairly easy to get involved in a nd the rewards are certainly evident, especially when playing in a group.If you have the space, Kinect Sports: Season Two will help a group of excitable kids pass away the hours and yet again, demonstrates that not all console games need to equip you with a gun to be fun.Kinect: Disneyland Adventures (Xbox Kinect Exclusive)In the last of our 3 Kinect reviews, we look at the colourful and kid-friendly Disneyland Adventures. In the past Disney themed games have been a bit of a mixed bag and the more cynical gamers might think the "House of Mouse" has been happy to exploit its characters in pursuit of a quick buck!However, I have to say that this latest title is quite entertaining and certainly kept my six year old nephew amused for hours, with its mix of character interaction and mini games based around themes and rides at Disneyland.For the under 10s – especially those who have visited one of Disney's theme parks – this is a real treat, with all the favourites inclu ding Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Peter Pan and Cinderella available to interact with as you wander around the park.The mini games also prove to be engaging and work exceptionally well with Kinect in general, capturing the intended spirit of the park and also proving challenging for younger gamers. We may not all be able to take our children to Disneyland this Christmas but by bringing it into the living room this is certainly the next best thing.Carnival Island (PS3 Version Tested)Sony's alternative to the hands-free options of Kinect come in the form of the Move controller system, an incredibly accurate device that proves Microsoft's alternative doesn't quite have everything its own way.As the name suggests, Carnival Island is all about fun fair tasks that will appeal to the younger gamer so any hardened veterans of the console world step away now. So whether you are tossing rings to grab prizes or piloting frogs across lily pads you get the drift, although there are only so many ways you can reinvent the process and many of the tasks do feel quite familiar.Its cartoon like quality and soft visuals are initially appealing but look beyond the aesthetic and this title has a bit of a candyfloss heart at its centre. If you want something to keep the young ones occupied for a little while over Christmas, the 35 mini-games within this title will do that but they may not keep the interest into the New Year. If they really wanted to do this right they should have taken a leaf out of the Disneyland Adventures title.Rayman Origins (Xbox version tested)Rayman has been around for so long now he's almost part of the console furniture but in recent years his outings have become a little stifled and predictable. With platform titles moving towards 3D and more complex control systems, it was therefore a bit of a surprise to discover that developers Ubisoft opted for a return to traditional 2D layouts, not to mention a bit of a gamble.However, we very quick ly realised that this latest offering was nothing short of brilliant with its colourful, eye catching design, gorgeous animation and complete reinvention of a character that was very much a part of gaming folklore.An adventure game at heart that your kids will love (and you will do to be honest) everything starts cheerily enough before events take a darker turn for the worst at the quest develops.With challenging levels that continue to entertain at every turn and a central hero that has lost none of his charm over the years, we see Rayman Origins as the pick of the bunch of this week's titles.Ratchet & Clank – All 4 One (PS3 Exclusive)Ratchet and Clank are not quite the console draw they once used to be. In a world of more dominant heroes in the Sony stable such as those from Resistance 3 and Uncharted 3, they are now considered a bit long in the tooth to still be seen as A list draws. Still, their latest outing in All 4 One does attempt to spin the genre on its hea d a little by pushing the emphasis onto co-operative play, with everything from puzzles to combat engineered more towards this idea.If the truth be told it does offer something fresh and new and certainly teaches younger gamers the benefits of team playing but you can't help feeling there is something missing when you scratch beneath the glossy surface. It really is best enjoyed with friends so don't expect your kids to get much mileage out of it if they are sitting at home alone.But to completely dismiss the title would be unkind and certainly unwise because if you have three other players to hand (and the controllers of course) there is a lot to gain from the experience and it would still make a welcome addition to any one's PS3 collection.George R Vaughan

Source: http://womentalking.co.uk/new//topics/family/console-gaming-under-10s/

Asthma Drugs in Pregnancy Might Pose Risk for Kids (12/16/2011)

Asthma Drugs in Pregnancy Might Pose Risk for Kids

Mothers' use of steroid inhalers could lead to some disorders in children, large study suggests.
FRIDAY, Dec. 16 (HealthDay News) -- Infants born to mothers who use inhaled glucocorticoids -- a class of steroids -- to treat asthma during pregnancy may be at risk for endocrine and metabolic disorders, a new study indicates.

Researchers looked at more than 65,000 mother-child pairs from the Danish National Birth Cohort who were followed from early pregnancy into childhood.

Of the women in the study, about 61,000 (94 percent) had no asthma during pregnancy while almost 4,100 (6 percent) did have asthma during pregnancy. At the end of follow-up, the median age for the children was about 6, with an age range of about 3.5 to 9.

For mothers who used the asthma inhalers, budesonide (Pulmicort) was the most common glucocorticoid.

The use of inhaled glucocorticoids during pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk of most diseases in children, with the exception of endocrine and metabolic disorders.

"Our data are mostly reassuring and support the use of inhaled glucocorticoids during pregnancy," wrote first author Marion Tegethoff, an associate faculty member in clinical psychology and psychiatry at the University of Basel, Switzerland, and colleagues.

The study appears online ahead of print in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Asthma is common in pregnant women and glucocorticoids are the recommended treatment, the researchers noted.

"This is the first comprehensive study of potential effects of glucocorticoid inhalation during pregnancy on the health of offspring, covering a wide spectrum of pediatric diseases," study co-author author Gunther Meinlschmidt, an associate faculty member in clinical psychology and epidemiology, said in a journal news release. "While our results support the use of these widely used asthma treatments during pregnancy, their effect on endocrine and metabolic disturbances during childhood merits further study."

Although the study found an association between inhaler use and certain disorders, it did not show cause and effect.

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/new//news/headlines/659863.cfm/

Experts Urge Limits on Medical Research on Chimpanzees (12/15/2011)

Experts Urge Limits on Medical Research on Chimpanzees

U.S. government-mandated report says the animals need only be used in select instances.

By Serena GordonHealthDay Reporter
THURSDAY, Dec. 15 (HealthDay News) -- A long-awaited U.S. government-mandated report from the Institute of Medicine (IOM) recommends that the use of chimpanzees in biomedical research be conducted only in very limited circumstances.

The IOM, an independent body that is often charged with reviewing medical or scientific issues, has developed two sets of criteria to be used for deciding whether or not chimpanzees were necessary for biomedical research and for behavioral research.

The criteria included factors such as whether another suitable research model might be available, or whether the research could not be ethically performed in human subjects.

Based on this criteria, the panel concluded that the use of chimpanzees is not necessary for most medical research. One area where the committee felt chimpanzee research could possibly still provide a benefit in biomedical research was in monoclonal antibodies (a form of therapy used against cancer and other illnesses). The committee was spilt on whether such research might be necessary for the development of a preventive hepatitis C vaccine.

"When we applied the criteria to a number of disease areas and considered: 'Is there another model that could be used?' and 'Could this be done ethically in humans?' in many cases, the answer was yes," said committee member, Sharon Terry, president and CEO of Genetic Alliance in Washington D.C.

"The trajectory here is clear. While chimps were very useful in prior years, we will see a decline in their use in research," said Terry.

According to the Associated Press, the United States and the West African country of Gabon are the only two countries in the world known to conduct medical research with chimpanzees. The European Union banned this type of research in 2010. The use of chimpanzees for research in the United States has been on the decline, the AP said, with less than 1,000 animals now available in the country for medical research nationwide.

One group that's long lobbied for less medical research on chimpanzees was largely pleased with the IOM's findings.

"The current report is precedence-setting. It's the first time in modern science that anyone other than a human has been given this much attention, but we'll continue to work for the day when there's no research on chimpanzees," said Theodora Capaldo, president and executive director of the New England Anti-Vivisection Society and Project R&R: Release and Restitution for Chimpanzees in U.S. Laboratories.

The IOM's report, called Chimpanzees in Biomedical and Behavioral Research: Assessing the Necessity, was released on Dec. 15. The report was commissioned by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH provides funding for the care of many of the chimpanzees that are currently used in medical research.

In biomedical research, the IOM's criteria for continued use of chimpanzees in research include:

There is no other suitable model available, such as in vitro, non-human in-vivo, or other models for the research in question.
The research in question cannot be performed ethically on human subjects.
Forgoing the use of chimpanzees for the research in question will significantly slow or prevent important advancements to prevent, control and/or treat life-threatening or debilitating conditions.

Similar criteria were developed for comparative genomic and behavioral research. These criteria also included guidelines that techniques used in research on chimpanzees must be minimally invasive, with care taken to minimize any pain and distress.

In addition, the IOM report says that chimpanzees in either type of research must be maintained in "ethologically appropriate physical and social environments or in natural habitats." However, they added that current research is exempt from these criteria.

One area that met the criteria was monoclonal antibody research. Monoclonal antibodies have been used in the treatment of inflammation, autoimmunity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, macular degeneration, and transplantation, according to the report. New technology is being developed that would make chimpanzee research unnecessary in this field, but to avoid stalling current research and delaying access to potentially life-saving medications, the IOM committee felt that this research met their criteria.

The committee could not reach a full consensus on whether or not another area -- research for a prophylactic (preventive) hepatitis C vaccine -- met the criteria or not.

More than 3 million Americans are currently infected with hepatitis C, and chimpanzees are the only other animal that is susceptible to this illness. Terry said that the committee was split on whether or not to recommend that hepatitis C vaccine research continue in chimpanzees. One reason is that, despite the genetic similarity between humans and chimpanzees, chimps don't always make good models for human disease. In the case of hepatitis C, chimpanzees' immune systems don't mount as vigorous a response to the hepatitis C virus as human bodies do, according to the report.

Proponents of continued use of chimpanzees in medical research say the animals are sometimes necessary. Thomas Rowell, director of the New Iberia Research Center in New Iberia, La., said that stopping chimpanzee research would be detrimental to people with hepatitis C. "Their lifespans are going to be shortened. They will not have a proper quality of life," Rowell told Nature.

But opponents of the research say that chimps aren't a good model of disease in humans.

"There are alternatives in research that are better. And, science itself has already told us that chimpanzees aren't a good model. Approximately 10 percent of the current chimp population is in trials. If chimps were a good research model, we would see 90 percent of chimps being used in research," argued Capaldo.

"Chimpanzees can be a dangerous model, and the use of chimps can actually postpone development of treatments," she said. "Look at HIV [human immunodeficiency virus] -- HIV is certainly not a benign virus in humans, but it is a benign virus in chimpanzees." (Chimpanzees can be infected with simian immunodeficiency virus or SIV, which does not seem to be as potentially deadly as HIV is in humans.)

"The use of chimpanzees in research is bad for chimps and bad for us. They suffer physically and psychologically, and this research isn't leading to cures, preventions or treatments. It's a waste of money and a waste of life. We have to start demanding better science," said Capaldo.

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/new//news/headlines/659910.cfm/

Could Statins Help Those Hospitalized With Flu? (12/14/2011)

Could Statins Help Those Hospitalized With Flu?

Preliminary study suggests they might boost survival rates.

By Amanda GardnerHealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 14 (HealthDay News) -- Statins, the drugs that can dramatically lower cholesterol levels, may one day also prove useful in combating serious cases of the flu.

A preliminary study in the Journal of Infectious Diseases finds that patients hospitalized with influenza were less likely to die if they were taking a statin, compared with their peers who weren't taking one of the drugs. The effect held even after adjusting for heart disease.

But it's far too soon to consider adding statins to the existing anti-flu armamentarium, the authors stated.

"At this point, statins should not become the standard of care for people hospitalized with the flu," cautioned study co-author Dr. Ann Thomas, a public health physician with the Oregon Public Health Division in Portland. "We would like to see more studies, [and] I think it would be worthwhile to do these studies."

Right now, preventive vaccinations and antiviral medications are the best weapons against this wily foe, but both stop far short of perfection.

Statins have piqued the interest of virologists and others because they may have anti-inflammatory properties that might mitigate the damage from the influenza virus.

"There have been a couple of studies that have found an apparent association between statins and improved mortality in patients who've had sepsis [blood infections], who've had community-acquired pneumonia," said Dr. Bruce Hirsch, an attending physician in infectious diseases at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, NY.

This is the first observational study to investigate a possible relationship between statins and deaths from the flu.

The authors reviewed chart records on more than 3,000 patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza in 10 states during the 2007-2008 flu season.

Patients on statins were 41 percent less likely to die, the study found, even after adjusting for age, the presence of heart, lung and/or kidney disease, whether or not they had had a flu shot, or whether or not they had received antiviral medications such as Tamiflu (oseltamivir).

But the study also suffers from several limitations, as the authors themselves acknowledged.

Perhaps most importantly, the authors do not know if patients taking statins were already healthier than people not taking statins.

"The big question at baseline was were the people on statins healthier than those not on statins and did that account for why they were less likely to die?" Thomas said. "That's difficult to answer."

"There's no question that these observations are striking in terms of death from influenza but they can't say why," said Dr. Len Horovitz, a pulmonary specialist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "Why did these people start statins? Were they cardiac patients? Did they think it was a good idea because their cholesterol looked lousy?"

A randomized controlled trial could provide some of these answers but only two have been registered, one of which is terminated and the other of which is no longer recruiting.

This study was sponsored by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infections Program, which usually only does observational studies, Thomas said.

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/new//news/headlines/659810.cfm/

Birth Defects Seem Rare in Kids of Childhood Cancer Survivors (12/13/2011)

Birth Defects Seem Rare in Kids of Childhood Cancer Survivors

Findings should reassure parents, doctors say.

By Steven ReinbergHealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Dec. 12 (HealthDay News) -- Children of parents who survived childhood cancer are unlikely to suffer from birth defects, finds a new study that should allay some concerns about long-term effects of treatment.

It appears that DNA damage done by chemotherapy and radiation of the reproductive organs doesn't increase the risk that children will inherit those damaged genes, researchers say.

"We found that DNA damage from radiation and chemotherapy with alkylating agents are not associated with the risk of genetic birth defects in the offspring," said lead researcher Lisa Signorello, an associate professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University in Nashville.

"This is really reassuring," she said. "This is one less thing for childhood cancer survivors to worry about." The prevalence of birth defects among the children of cancer survivors is similar to that of the general population, added Signorello, who's also a senior epidemiologist at the International Epidemiology Institute in Rockville, Md.

While life-saving in many cases, radiotherapy and chemotherapy with alkylating agents, such as busulfan, cyclophosphamide and dacarbazine, can damage DNA.

Signorello noted that childhood cancer survivors have a higher rate of infertility and a greater risk of having miscarriage, preterm birth and low birth-weight infants.


Although cancer treatment can cause DNA damage to the sperm and eggs, "it may be that these damages get filtered out," she said.

Genetic-based birth defects are rare, accounting for about 3 percent of births. Although earlier research found little or no increased risk for birth defects among the children of cancer survivors, the studies were small in size and lacked detailed data about radiation and chemotherapy, such as radiation doses to the testes and ovaries, the researchers noted.

The report was published in the Dec. 12 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

For the study, Signorello and colleagues collected data on more than 20,000 children who had survived cancer. The data were taken from the 1970 and 1986 Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Fifty-seven percent of them had been treated for leukemia or lymphoma.

The researchers also looked at the health of nearly 4,700 children of these survivors.

Of the parents treated for cancer, 63 percent had radiation therapy and 44 percent of men and 50 percent of women had chemotherapy.

Among their children, 2.7 percent had at least one birth defect such as Down syndrome, achondroplasia (dwarfism), or cleft lip.

Three percent of the mothers exposed to radiation or treated with alkylating chemotherapy had a child with a genetic birth defect, compared with 3.5 percent of mothers who survived cancer, but weren't exposed to these treatments, the researchers found.

Only 1.9 percent of children of the cancer-surviving fathers had these birth defects, compared with 1.7 percent of children of fathers who did not have chemotherapy or radiation, they said.

"This is very encouraging, because there has been a worry," said Dr. Michael Katz, senior vice president for research and global programs at the March of Dimes.


Dr. Jeanette Falck Winther, a senior researcher at the Institute of Cancer Epidemiology at the Danish Cancer Society in Copenhagen and co-author of an accompanying journal editorial, said the study findings should address some of the reproductive concerns of childhood cancer survivors, geneticists and pediatric oncologists.

"Our hope is that this reassuring information will be used by the physicians in counseling childhood cancer survivors who desire and are able to have children," she said.

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/new//news/headlines/659764.cfm/

Cancer Outpatients at Greater Risk for Blood Clots (12/13/2011)

Cancer Outpatients at Greater Risk for Blood Clots

In large study, only one-quarter of patients developed clots in hospital.
MONDAY, Dec. 12 (HealthDay News) --
Cancer patients receiving chemotherapy most often develop blood clots after they are discharged from the hospital, according to a large new study.

Efforts to prevent this common and potentially life-threatening complication of cancer treatment should focus on outpatients -- not those still in the hospital, the researchers said.

A blood clot, also called a venous thromboembolism (VTE), is a mass of red blood cells, clotting proteins and platelets that block the flow of blood. Once cancer patients develop one clot, they're much more likely to develop others, according to a news release from the University of Rochester Medical Center.

"One in five patients develops blood clots after a cancer diagnosis and we believe that number is rising," study author Dr. Alok Khorana, an associate professor in the James P. Wilmot Cancer Center at URMC, said in the release.

After examining nearly 18,000 cancer patients over four years, the researchers found that of the 5.6 percent who developed blood clots, 78 percent were receiving treatment as outpatients.

The retrospective, observational study is slated for presentation Monday at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting in San Diego. Data and conclusions should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

"The Surgeon General recently issued a Call to Action to reduce VTE. At this point public health efforts have focused on inpatient prophylaxis. These new data suggest that to reduce the burden of VTE in cancer patients, prevention efforts will have to shift to the outpatient arena as well," Khorana said.

Doing so would reduce health care costs, the researchers suggested.

Cancer patients need more information on blood clots, they also said.

"Ongoing public health issues that we must address are how to educate patients on the importance of blood clot prevention, and improving compliance to preventive treatment," Khorana said. "Patients should immediately report to their physicians any unusual symptoms such as swelling or redness in limbs, or shortness of breath, even if they are otherwise feeling well."

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/new//news/headlines/659663.cfm/

Drug for Acute Respiratory Distress May Do More Harm Than Good: Study (12/12/2011)

Drug for Acute Respiratory Distress May Do More Harm Than Good: Study

Trial of salbutamol was discontinued after patients using it fared worse than those without it.

SUNDAY, Dec. 11 (HealthDay News) -- A study assessing intravenous infusion of the drug salbutamol in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome was halted because the treatment did not improve patient outcomes and was associated with an increased risk of death, researchers say.

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occurs in about 14 percent of patients who require being placed on mechanical ventilation. The death rate among patients with ARDS is high -- 40 to 60 percent -- and survivors have a substantial decrease in their quality of life.

However, "routine use of [beta-2] agonist therapy in mechanically ventilated patients with ARDS cannot be recommended," the researchers wrote in an article published in the Dec. 12 online edition of The Lancet.

The British study included 326 patients who received either salbutamol (also known as albuterol) or a placebo within 72 hours of developing ARDS, and the treatment continued for up to seven days. But the study was stopped after 55 (34 percent) of the 161 patients in the salbutamol group died, compared with 38 (23 percent) of the 163 patients in the placebo group.

Overall, the death rate was 47 percent higher in the salbutamol group than in the placebo group, the report indicated.

In addition, patients in the salbutamol group had fewer ventilator-free days and organ failure-free days than those in the placebo group.

"Our findings show that intravenous salbutamol given to patients with early ARDS significantly increased 28-day mortality, and reduced ventilator-free days and duration of organ support compared with those given placebo," Fang Gao Smith and Gavin Perkins of the University of Warwick, and colleagues, explained in a journal news release.

The authors added that the therapy was "poorly tolerated" by patients because it was linked to heart rhythm abnormalities and lactic acidosis (a dangerous buildup of lactic acid in the blood). "These findings were unexpected," the researchers noted.

The findings of the cancelled study may be sufficient to change treatment of patients with ARDS, Dr. B. Taylor Thompson, of Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, wrote in an accompanying editorial.

"[Beta-2] agonist treatment in patients with ARDS should be limited to the treatment of clinically important reversible airway obstruction and should not be part of routine care," Thompson recommended.

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/new//news/headlines/659724.cfm/