Hair Of The Dog London – Houndstanding!

Hair Of The Dog London – Houndstanding!

Hair Of The Dog is a new concept lifestyle

boutique for dogs and cats, in the heart of Highgate village, London."My aim at Hair Of The Dog London is to source a well-designed stylish
range for our four legged friends from around the globe" said Sophie "with
particular emphasis on handmade, natural, recycled and organic products.

"I opened the shop in December 2010 and now also have a successful
online business through which we are able to reach customers throughout the
UK and around the world!

"I recognised a gap in
the market for quality products, finding it very difficult to find gorgeous
things for Mr Echo my schnauzer that also complemented my home and personal
style. After a trip to Berlin, where I discovered an amazing dog boutique quite
different to anything I'd seen before, I
was convinced the idea would work here and six months later Hair Of The Dog
London was born.

"North London was the perfect location as the locals appreciate good
quality products and are a very dog-loving community!

"My background was in
styling and buying and I have always had a creative eye. Hair of the Dog merged all my loves together! I am continually
searching the globe for unique stock, which is what makes Hair Of The Dog London stand out from its competitors.

"We stock many brands
exclusively, including the gorgeous Vurv
Design Studio hand-crafted wooden double feeders from Canada made from
maple cherry and walnut.

"Renowned sculptor and designer Matthew Wurr (alias my dad!) has created
gorgeous toy tidy units, which are handmade to order from original wine
boxes. Each box is lovingly sanded and finished with satin lacquer for
durability and then fitted with hand knotted soft touch rope handles.

"Hair Of The Dog London was the first in the UK to import the Planet
Dog 100 % bamboo ball throwers, the best performing, best-constructed dog ball
toss we've ever tested and engineered with sustainable bamboo and reused cork
scraps.

"We also exclusively
stock Handmade for Hounds whose
coats are all lovingly hand crafted, each a unique one-off piece, allowing your
pet to stand out from the crowd."

Regular grooming of your pet is an important part of their
wellbeing whether they are long haired or short. Hair Of The Dog London even have this covered with groomers
situated at the rear of the store.

"It is the owner's responsibility to make sure their dog is regularly
and properly groomed to maintain the dog's coat condition. This will keep
your pet shiny, healthy and free from fleas and tangles" said Sophie. "Routine
grooming controls shedding and it is during a professional groom at Hair Of The Dog London that we also
check a dog's nails, ears and eyes.

"We do everything possible to ensure the grooming experience is a happy
and relaxing one. The spa itself is state of the art equipped and we make
sure we maintain a relaxed and calming environment so that our customers leave
with their tails wagging and want to come back!

"Our groomers are hugely experienced and able to offer a complete
range of services.

"Since opening the support and feedback from customers has been
outstanding, we are grateful for their ideas and offer regular impromptu
gatherings of dogs and their owners in the garden courtyard.

"One of our popular
events was a Lily's Organic Kitchen dog
food tasting where we set up a dog restaurant in our courtyard, on their
own little dog height table. We support
a local charity All Dogs Matter and are actively involved in helping them
all we can. We plan to host and take part in many more similar events, as
being an active part of our community is very important to us."

For more information
visit www.hairofthedoglondon.com

Poppy Watt Hair Of The Dog London would like to offer you the chance to win a 100% natural edible rawhide
Easter card for your pet.

To enter just answer the following
question:

What is the name of the breed of
the gorgeous dog in our Collars section?

For assistance visit www.hairofthedoglondon.com

Send your answer to competitions@womentalking.co.uk
ensuring you put the word Hair Of The
Dog in the subject header and also including your Women Talking username.

The competition is only open to
Women Talking subscribers and any
submission without a valid username will not be admissible for entry.

The competition closes on April 8th and the winner will be
contacted soon after.

Source: http://womentalking.co.uk/new//topics/lifestyle/hair-dog-london-%E2%80%93-houndstanding/

IT'S NOT BULLYING, IT'S ASSAULT

IT'S NOT BULLYING, IT'S ASSAULT By Tracey Spicer

March 27, 2012

she didn't even know the punch was coming.

All she heard was a crack. Her nose was broken. Tiny drops of blood decorated the pre-school floor. The nurse came, then the police.

But there was little they could do, the offender was three years old.

It wasn't the first time.

Cameron* had been kicking, slapping and bashing kids for the past year.

His parents are in denial. "All the other kids are to blame," they say. "They're egging him on." You don't need a crystal ball to see where this child will be in 20 years' time.

This true story is at the heart of the bullying debate.

Ten days ago, Australians marked the second National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence.

There were plenty of pats on the back for the campaign, which includes a wonderful website, Bullying. No way!

I'm not having a go at the government. It's doing its best. But its advice is being ignored by some schools desperate to protect their reputations.

Take the tragic case of 14-year-old Alex Wildman, who committed suicide after serial bullying.

The Coronial Inquest heard the principal and deputy at Kadina High School admitted Alex might still be alive had they handled the case differently.

Deputy Brad Farrell ordered the mobile phone footage of one assault to be deleted, to protect Alex from embarrassment. Alex's mother was told not to report the incident to police.

Source: http://thehoopla.com.au/bullying-assault//

Analysts Differ on Role of 'Individual Mandate' to Health-Reform Law (3/28/2012)

Analysts Differ on Role of 'Individual Mandate' to Health-Reform Law

Without directive to purchase insurance, costs to consumers, government would rise, all agree.

By Margaret SteeleHealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, March 28 (HealthDay News) -- Striking down the so-called "individual mandate," the most controversial provision of the Affordable Care Act, should the Supreme Court do so, wouldn't deliver a death blow to the health-reform package. But, it would alter projected costs and consumer participation, health policy experts said.

"If the individual responsibility provision is struck down, it is important that mechanisms are in place to ensure there's a balance in insurance pools to make sure younger, healthier people participate so premiums don't escalate," said Ron Pollack, executive director of Families USA, a national advocacy group for health-care consumers.

Pollack, who supports the Affordable Care Act, said other methods of attaining broad participation exist to hold down insurance costs, but it's premature to discuss them. The individual mandate -- which imposes penalties on those who don't buy insurance -- is the most effective formula, he said.

"Massachusetts has the individual insurance provision, and the experience in Massachusetts shows it does work," Pollack said.

It's estimated that at least 30 million uninsured Americans would gain health insurance under the law, 16 million as a result of the individual mandate.

Pollack said that even without the individual mandate, the health-care legislation includes other provisions for extending coverage to millions of people currently without insurance.

For instance, Medicaid eligibility will expand to include citizens and legal residents with annual incomes up to 133 percent of the federal poverty level -- about $14,850 for a single adult and $30,650 for a family of four in 2012. And federal tax subsidies will enable certain other people to buy coverage, Pollack said. It's estimated that Medicaid expansion would add 16 million people to the rolls of the insured.

John Goodman, president of the National Center for Policy Analysis, which opposes the health-reform law, said he anticipates affordability problems with or without the individual mandate.

"The mandate itself is pretty weak to begin with," he said. "I think people are overestimating its importance."

While the provision calls for most American adults to obtain health insurance, people who don't earn enough to file federal income tax returns and many others are exempt, Goodman pointed out. "That's millions of people," he said.

Goodman also said the penalties for not buying insurance are small compared to the price of insurance. That might tempt some people to "game the system" -- waiting until they're sick to buy insurance and canceling it when they're well -- "which will make it very expensive," he said.

Enforcement of the individual mandate will be left to the Internal Revenue Service, Goodman said, adding he doubts the agency will pursue violators aggressively. Fines will be phased in until 2016, when individuals refusing to obtain insurance would pay $695 and families $2,085 or 2.5 percent of total taxable income, according to figures from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

For many people, that's a lot less than the cost of insurance, Goodman said. Although it varies by region and age, typical insurance premiums in 2016 are expected to average about $5,800 for an individual and $15,200 for a family of four, according to Goodman's analysis of figures from the Congressional Budget Office.

"This whole approach is flawed," Goodman said. He suggested that the architects of the Affordable Care Act should have taken cues from Medicare. "If you look at Medicare Part B premiums and Medicare Part D premiums, provisions and methods are in place to prevent people from gaming the system."

Pollack remains unfazed by that argument. If the penalties aren't strong enough, he said, "that can be corrected."

The RAND Corporation, a nonprofit research organization, predicts that the cost of buying policies through new insurance exchanges would increase only slightly if the individual mandate provision were removed. (The exchanges will be created to help small businesses and individuals purchase insurance through a more organized and competitive market.)

However, because fewer people would buy insurance if the mandate were eliminated, costs borne by the federal government would rise, the researchers said.

Eliminating the individual mandate would cut the predicted number of Americans buying new health coverage in 2016 from 27 million to 15 million and increase an individual's cost of buying insurance by 2.4 percent, according to the RAND analysis.

But Christine Eibner, an economist at RAND, said government spending for each person newly enrolled in a health insurance plan would more than double, reaching nearly $7,500 a person.

"Without the individual mandate, the government would have to spend more overall to insure a lot fewer people," Eibner said in a RAND news release.

Source: http://www.womenshealt.gov/new/news/headlines/663192.cfm/

'Freezing' Secondary Breast Cancer Tumors Shows Promise (3/26/2012)

'Freezing' Secondary Breast Cancer Tumors Shows Promise

Preliminary study suggests procedure may buy time for those with advanced disease.
MONDAY, March 26 (HealthDay News) -- In a small and preliminary study, researchers report that they successfully froze secondary tumors in patients with incurable breast cancer.

The findings raise the prospect of a potential new treatment for metastatic tumors in individual patients, although the research is in the very early stages.

"This therapy provides a minimal rate of cancer recurrence and no major complications," study co-author Dr. Peter Littrup, director of imaging core and radiology research at the Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, said in a news release from the Society of Interventional Radiology.

The study is scheduled to be presented Wednesday at the society's annual meeting in San Francisco. Research presented at medical meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed medical journal.

"This is a preliminary study, and at this point we're hoping that the evidence could be a stepping stone for a bigger study to look at more patients," Littrup said. "If we can get more data that supports percutaneous cryoablation for metastatic breast cancer, it could be a huge finding."

In percutaneous cryoablation, tiny probes insert pressurized argon gas into tumors and kill them by turning them into balls of ice.

The eight patients in the study had stage 4 metastatic breast cancer, meaning their tumors had spread widely from the breast. The tumors frequently appear in organs such as the liver, lungs, bones and kidneys.

In stage 4, the disease is considered incurable.

"At this point, treatments are considered palliative -- with the intent to keep metastases at bay while hopefully providing individuals more time and improved quality of life, rather than a complete cure," Littrup said.

"Cryoablation as a targeted therapy is beneficial because it can significantly reduce discomfort and incidence of disease," Littrup said. "It's a much better option, we think, than surgery -- especially since many metastatic patients are not candidates for surgery -- and it may potentially lead to longer survival."

The eight patients in the study lived for an average of 46 months, and two survived for at least five years.

Dr. Hannah Linden, an oncology specialist and assistant professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, said it's too early to know whether the treatment works since it hasn't been compared to other therapies.

"Many patients with metastatic breast cancer live a long time with gentle treatments, yet other patients who have relatively resistant tumors do poorly," she said. "While the idea of freezing a tumor to prevent it from growing is feasible and exciting, it is not proven that such an approach actually 'cures' patients or provides long-term benefit."

Although similar treatments target secondary tumors, she added, they "do not address the systemic problem of metastatic cancer. So, while it seems good to 'kill' the metastasis, the cancer is still lurking."

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, killing nearly 370,000 people worldwide each year. Approximately 10,000 to 15,000 new cases of stage 4 breast cancer occur in the United States each year, Littrup noted.

Source: http://www.womenshealt.gov/new/news/headlines/663077.cfm/

Alternative Medicine May Help Ease Chronic Sinusitis (3/21/2012)

Alternative Medicine May Help Ease Chronic Sinusitis

Study found combining it with Western treatments brought more relief to patients.

By Alan MozesHealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, March 21 (HealthDay News) -- When used in tandem with standard Western treatments, alternative therapies such as acupuncture, acupressure and dietary changes may spell significant relief for patients battling chronic sinusitis, a new pilot study suggests.

The authors say that their study is the first to explore the potential of combining Western medicine with Eastern therapies among these patients, who experience swollen and inflamed sinuses, facial pain, headaches and impaired breathing.

"Our study was small, looking at a handful of patients who were not benefiting that well from standard treatment," acknowledged study author Dr. Jeffrey Suh, an assistant professor of rhinology and skull base surgery in the department of head and neck surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles.

"And my take on alternative treatments is that Western medicine is effective for the majority of patients," he added. "But for those who don't get complete relief, adding in a more holistic Eastern approach that includes exercise, improved sleep, a better diet, and acupuncture and self-administered acupressure seems to provide an alternative that can have great benefit."

Suh and his colleagues report their findings in the March issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology.

The authors point out that chronic rhinosinusitis is a very prevalent condition in the United States, with nearly 30 million American adults diagnosed with the disease in 2010 alone, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The acute version of the disease is typically due to infection, experts say. However, the chronic form (namely, cases enduring past 12 weeks) is thought to stem from a variety of environmental and anatomical causes (such as the presence of polyps or a deviated nasal septum), thereby complicating treatment efforts.

Such efforts usually include the use of nasal corticosteroid sprays and nasal irrigation, while in some instances surgical intervention is required. Despite such efforts, some patients remain debilitated.

Suh and his team focused on 11 such individuals (eight men and three women), between the ages of 32 and 70. Many had struggled with the condition for years. None had had any kind of surgery in the three months before the study started. Similarly, no one had undergone acupuncture or acupressure intervention in the two months beforehand.

During the study, all previous treatments were continued. However, patients were offered eight weekly 20-minute sessions of therapeutic acupuncture and acupressure massage, performed by licensed therapists. Counseling was also offered to teach patients how to self-administer acupressure at home.

A dietary analysis was also conducted, and patients were given nutritional guidance that tracked traditional Chinese approaches towards food consumption. Stress management was also discussed, as were the benefits of regular exercise.

The result: The team found that when applied alongside modern medicine, the use of such so-called "staples of Eastern medicine" appeared to be both safe and effective.

After two months, all the patients showed a statistically significant gain in terms of quality of life, with a drop in feelings of frustration and restlessness and a boost in their ability to concentrate.

What's more, patients were found to have less of a problem with runny noses, reduced sneezing and a subsequent reduced need to blow their noses. Facial pain and pressure also appeared to drop off somewhat.

"These were the worst of the worst patients," Suh stressed. "And during treatment they got better. Now were they completely better? No. Only some of their symptoms improved. And those who did not keep up the lifestyle modifications like self-administered acupressure returned to their previous state after the study. But those who kept it up continued to see a benefit. So this offers some hope, and leads us to consider the next question, which is what might be possible with Eastern therapy alone?"

That said, Dr. Jordan Josephson, a sinus and allergy specialist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, cautioned that chronic sinusitis is a "very complex problem" for which there is no simple solution.

"Augmenting traditional medicine with Eastern therapies is a very wise thing to do for sinus sufferers," he said. "In my practice, I certainly do this. Because it's not a question of antihistamines or acupuncture."

"And the reason for that is that we're not taking about a cure," Josephson said. "This is not a cold or a sniffle. If you have chronic sinusitis, it's chronic, like diabetes. So, the best thing to do is to treat patients with a combination of diet, antibiotics, antifungals, nasal sprays, allergy treatment, acupuncture, lifestyle changes, irrigation with saline and irrigation with medicines. You need a comprehensive plan for each individual patient that will give them the best chance at control."

Source: http://www.womenshealt.gov/new/news/headlines/662904.cfm/

WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?

WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?By The Hoopla

March 20, 2012

Has Germaine Greer delivered Prime Minister Julia Gillard an unkind boot in the backside?

"You've got a big arse, Julia, just get on with it," she said last night on ABC TV's Q&A to loud laughter from fellow panelists and the audience.

She also gave the PM some fashion advice about getting rid of those "bloody jackets".

“They don't fit and are poorly cut,” said Ms Greer.

Her comments have the Twittersphere chattering:

@Lisa_Wilkinson Gr8 discussion on Germaine Greer‘s comments re Julia’s derriere. If her young feminist self could see GG now – disappointed.

@stellajyoung Pretty confused about Germaine Greer commenting on Gillard’s clothing. Umm? #qanda

@whinwomen Interesting to see Germaine Greer comment on Julia Gillards clothes and “fat bum”. A new era of feminism, or Greer abandoning the cause?

@gem324 Germaine Greer what a disappointment, fueling the superficial and irrelevant debate about the PM’s wardrobe and appearance

@DrRickyLee I like to bash all politicians about anything, but even I would not do a Germaine Greer and discuss the PM’s backside on TV

@janecat60 disappointing Germaine Greer commenting on Julia Gillard’s clothing. That’s what blokes and silly girls in the media do

And then, there is the News Ltd commentator, Miranda Devine, who has this to say:

"For the birth-mother of 1960s feminism, Germaine Greer sure isn't much of a sister.

Last night on the ABC's Q&A panel show, she mocked the Prime Minister's figure, saying Julia Gillard should face the fact she has a "big bum".

Greer thinks the PM's jackets are all wrong because from behind they go "horizontal". According to her the jackets are cut too narrow at the hips.

Nice, really nice. No matter whether or not you support the PM's policies, this is the lowest criticism. Because of her status as a feminist icon, Greer has just legitimised every misogynist to attack Gillard's appearance. As if they need any encouragement.

It just shows her whole fem-philosophy was a pose, and because she was a good writer, pushy, reckless, witty and, yes, pretty, she built a career on trashing men and drawing attention to her love-starved self.

These days she makes a living out of trashing younger women.

The feminist goddess has feet of clay."

So, over to you, Hooplarians… Has Germaine Greer delivered the most unkind cut of all to our PM?

Has she betrayed the sisterhood?

Or is this the kind of straight talking we've come to expect from Germaine?

Source: http://thehoopla.com.au/germaine//

Alternative Medicine May Help Ease Chronic Sinusitis (3/21/2012)

Alternative Medicine May Help Ease Chronic Sinusitis

Study found combining it with Western treatments brought more relief to patients.

By Alan MozesHealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, March 21 (HealthDay News) -- When used in tandem with standard Western treatments, alternative therapies such as acupuncture, acupressure and dietary changes may spell significant relief for patients battling chronic sinusitis, a new pilot study suggests.

The authors say that their study is the first to explore the potential of combining Western medicine with Eastern therapies among these patients, who experience swollen and inflamed sinuses, facial pain, headaches and impaired breathing.

"Our study was small, looking at a handful of patients who were not benefiting that well from standard treatment," acknowledged study author Dr. Jeffrey Suh, an assistant professor of rhinology and skull base surgery in the department of head and neck surgery at the University of California, Los Angeles.

"And my take on alternative treatments is that Western medicine is effective for the majority of patients," he added. "But for those who don't get complete relief, adding in a more holistic Eastern approach that includes exercise, improved sleep, a better diet, and acupuncture and self-administered acupressure seems to provide an alternative that can have great benefit."

Suh and his colleagues report their findings in the March issue of the Archives of Otolaryngology.

The authors point out that chronic rhinosinusitis is a very prevalent condition in the United States, with nearly 30 million American adults diagnosed with the disease in 2010 alone, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The acute version of the disease is typically due to infection, experts say. However, the chronic form (namely, cases enduring past 12 weeks) is thought to stem from a variety of environmental and anatomical causes (such as the presence of polyps or a deviated nasal septum), thereby complicating treatment efforts.

Such efforts usually include the use of nasal corticosteroid sprays and nasal irrigation, while in some instances surgical intervention is required. Despite such efforts, some patients remain debilitated.

Suh and his team focused on 11 such individuals (eight men and three women), between the ages of 32 and 70. Many had struggled with the condition for years. None had had any kind of surgery in the three months before the study started. Similarly, no one had undergone acupuncture or acupressure intervention in the two months beforehand.

During the study, all previous treatments were continued. However, patients were offered eight weekly 20-minute sessions of therapeutic acupuncture and acupressure massage, performed by licensed therapists. Counseling was also offered to teach patients how to self-administer acupressure at home.

A dietary analysis was also conducted, and patients were given nutritional guidance that tracked traditional Chinese approaches towards food consumption. Stress management was also discussed, as were the benefits of regular exercise.

The result: The team found that when applied alongside modern medicine, the use of such so-called "staples of Eastern medicine" appeared to be both safe and effective.

After two months, all the patients showed a statistically significant gain in terms of quality of life, with a drop in feelings of frustration and restlessness and a boost in their ability to concentrate.

What's more, patients were found to have less of a problem with runny noses, reduced sneezing and a subsequent reduced need to blow their noses. Facial pain and pressure also appeared to drop off somewhat.

"These were the worst of the worst patients," Suh stressed. "And during treatment they got better. Now were they completely better? No. Only some of their symptoms improved. And those who did not keep up the lifestyle modifications like self-administered acupressure returned to their previous state after the study. But those who kept it up continued to see a benefit. So this offers some hope, and leads us to consider the next question, which is what might be possible with Eastern therapy alone?"

That said, Dr. Jordan Josephson, a sinus and allergy specialist with Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, cautioned that chronic sinusitis is a "very complex problem" for which there is no simple solution.

"Augmenting traditional medicine with Eastern therapies is a very wise thing to do for sinus sufferers," he said. "In my practice, I certainly do this. Because it's not a question of antihistamines or acupuncture."

"And the reason for that is that we're not taking about a cure," Josephson said. "This is not a cold or a sniffle. If you have chronic sinusitis, it's chronic, like diabetes. So, the best thing to do is to treat patients with a combination of diet, antibiotics, antifungals, nasal sprays, allergy treatment, acupuncture, lifestyle changes, irrigation with saline and irrigation with medicines. You need a comprehensive plan for each individual patient that will give them the best chance at control."

Source: http://www.womenshealt.gov/new/news/headlines/662904.cfm/

VALE MARGARET WHITLAM AO

VALE MARGARET WHITLAM AOBy The Hoopla

March 17, 2012

One of Australia's most remarkable and well-loved women, Margaret Whitlam has died at the age of 92.

She was married to former Australian Prime Minister Gough Whitlam for almost 70 years. Their platinum wedding was to have been celebrated next month. Platinum for a partnership that is "strong, precious and rare”.

Mrs Whitlam had been in hospital since suffering a fall at home in Sydney last month.

Mr Whitlam released a statement:

''She was a remarkable person and the love of my life,'' he said.

''We were married for almost 70 years. She encouraged and sustained me and our four children, their families and many other people in a life full of engagement with Australians from all walks of life.''

Gough and Margaret Whitlam with the Emperor and Empress of Japan in 1973. Courtesy Museum of Australian Democracy.

This profile comes from the ABC.

Born on November 19, 1919, Margaret Elaine Dovey was the daughter of NSW Supreme Court Judge Wilfred Dovey and first rose to prominence as a champion swimmer, representing Australia in the 1938 Empire Games.

She married Gough Whitlam in April 1942 at the height of the Second World War, during which time the couple both showed an active interest in politics through their support of the election of the Curtin government in 1943.

Mrs Whitlam completed a degree in social studies at the University of Sydney in 1938, and practised as a social worker, including a three-year period at Parramatta District Hospital while Mr Whitlam was federal opposition leader.

She was also heavily involved in Mr Whitlam’s political career, working within his electorate, and as an active member of the Labor Party Women’s Conference.

She accompanied Mr Whitlam on his major overseas visits as opposition leader, including a trip to Saigon during the Vietnam war, and Mr Whitlam’s landmark visit to China, which occurred shortly before the Nixon administration announced it was normalising relations with the communist superpower.

The Whitlams had four children: sons Nicholas, Tony and Stephen, and a daughter Catherine.

“I can do some good…”

Upon Mr Whitlam’s ascension to the prime ministership Mrs Whitlam quickly known as an outspoken advocate for issues including women’s rights and conservation.

Source: http://thehoopla.com.au/vale-margaret-whitlam//

Appeals Court Backs FDA Move for Graphic Images on Cigarette Packs (3/19/2012)

Appeals Court Backs FDA Move for Graphic Images on Cigarette Packs

Ohio decision runs counter to ruling by Washington, D.C.-based judge in February.

By Steven ReinbergHealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, March 19 (HealthDay News) -- In the latest salvo in the battle over U.S. government plans to put graphic anti-smoking images on cigarette packs, a federal appeals court has upheld the proposed changes.

According to the Associated Press, the lawsuit against the label changes was filed in Kentucky, but on Monday a federal appeals court in Ohio that was reviewing the case voted 2 to 1 to uphold the new law, part of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

A separate lawsuit aimed at blocking the labeling changes had a different outcome: last month, a federal judge in Washington, D.C. blocked the move, claiming it violated free speech. At the time, Obama Administration officials said they were determined to fight back and keep the rule in place.

"This Administration is determined to do everything we can to warn young people about the dangers of smoking, which remains the leading cause of preventable death in America," the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said at the time.

The proposed requirement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which is set to take effect this September, would emblazon cigarette packaging with images of people dying from smoking-related disease, mouth and gum damage linked to smoking and other gruesome portrayals of the harms of smoking.

But on Feb. 29 U.S. District Judge Richard Leon, of the U.S. District Court in the District of Columbia, ruled that the FDA mandate violated the U.S. Constitution's free speech amendment.

Anti-smoking advocates strongly back the FDA proposal, however.

"We're pleased that the U.S. Department of Justice has already appealed the earlier [Washington, D.C.] ruling and is working to preserve this critical requirement of the landmark 2009 law giving the Food and Drug Administration the authority to regulate tobacco products," Matthew Myers, president for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, said in a statement.

Oral arguments on the appeal have been scheduled for April, according to a spokesman for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.

The FDA has contended that the benefits to the public of highlighting the dangers of smoking outweigh the tobacco industry's free-speech rights.

The nine proposed images, designed to fill the top half of all cigarette packs, have stirred controversy since the concept first emerged in 2009.

One image shows a man's face and a lighted cigarette in his hand, with smoke escaping from a hole in his neck -- the result of a tracheotomy. The caption reads "Cigarettes are addictive." Another image shows a mother holding a baby as smoke swirls about them, with the warning: "Tobacco smoke can harm your children."

A third image depicts a distraught woman with the caption: "Warning: Smoking causes fatal lung disease in nonsmokers."

The labels are a part of the requirements of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, signed into law in 2009 by President Barack Obama. For the first time, the law gave the FDA significant control over tobacco products.

Smoking is the leading cause of early and preventable death in the United States, resulting in some 443,000 fatalities each year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and costs almost $200 billion every year in medical expenses and lost productivity.

Over the last decade, countries as varied as Canada, Australia, Chile, Brazil, Iran and Singapore, among others, have adopted graphic warnings on tobacco products.

Source: http://www.womenshealt.gov/new/news/headlines/662905.cfm/

Pretty in Prints

Prints are the easiest way to update your wardrobe for Spring/Summer 2012

Pretty in Prints

From retro florals to
ultra-modern graphic designs, prints are the easiest way to update your
wardrobe for Spring/Summer 2012,
and with big name designer collaborations hitting the high street in the form
of Marni for H&M and Mary Katrantzou
for Topshop, high fashion prints are now affordable to all. Here's our
guide to the pick of the prints…

It's no surprise to see florals making a splash on the catwalks for
spring, but this time around they've been given a sexy retro twist courtesy of
50s styling at Dolce and Gabbana, and 70s detailing at Valentino and Rodarte.
Whilst English country garden inspired blooms were the dominant theme, and
added a beautifully feminine slant to sophisticated tailoring, a clutch of
designers such as Dior and Alexander Wang offered a more restrained alternative
with neat black and white floral prints that could easily be adapted for work
wear.

Wear the look head to toe with a
structured dress or matching separates, and keep accessories simple with
neutral shades alongside brighter florals, or a pop of bright colour if you opt
for a monochrome print. Banana Republic
and Zara are both great places to visit for a wearable take on catwalk florals,
or if you're a fan of vintage shopping this is the perfect trend to indulge
your love of the old and hunt out original floral print 70s maxi dresses or 50s
flared skirts to ensure your outfit is one of a kind.

One print that made a surprise comeback on the catwalks this season was
paisley, a traditional folk print most associated with the 70s, but often
revisited by designers who are keen to put their own modern spin on the
pattern. Leading the paisley pack were
Jil Sander, with bold colour combinations and sleek silhouettes that brought the
print bang up to date, and Stella McCartney, who offered up striking pyjama
style suits in fluid silk paisley fabric which looked both chic and
wonderfully comfortable.

An all over paisley look is not
for the fashion shy, so keep colours muted and shapes simple to avoid being
overwhelmed by the pattern. Accessories can also be a great way to introduce
prints to your wardrobe, so if a paisley
dress or suit seems a little too daring try adding a printed silk scarf to your
outfit for a subtle nod to the trend, just be sure to pair it with modern
fabrics such as denim or leather to give it an edge that's more grungy than granny.

In sharp contrast to the soft
feminine florals and swirling paisley prints, a host of designers took their cue from African design this season and
showed collections that incorporated traditional African fabrics, tribal prints
and detailing such as beading, fringing and raffia work. Proenza Schouler
and Burberry Prorsum offered some of the best examples, combining rich earthy
tones with striking ethnic prints to create a look that's perfect for the
summer, whether you're headed on safari or just looking stylish in the city.

This can be a tricky look to pull
off without looking too 'crafty', but a structured jacket with a nipped in
waist, as seen at Burberry Prorsum, or an ethic print sun dress in shades of
brown and orange would be a great addition to any Spring/Summer 2012 wardrobe,
and will easily update your current pieces. Head to Monsoon or H&M to pick up a slice of tribal chic on a
budget.

One thing to remember when you're
choosing a print is proportion. If
you're worried about bold florals and busy geometric patterns adding unwanted
inches to your figure try to find a pattern that includes vertical lines,
such as some of the Aztec prints around, or in the case of florals, stick to a
smaller scale print and keep the colour palette muted. Those looking to create
curves should really go for it, and mix and match prints of different sizes and
colours to create an exciting clashing effect that's very fashion forward.

Whichever print you decide to go
for, this trend is likely to be the most
fun you'll have with your clothes on this summer!

Carrie Greene

Source: http://womentalking.co.uk/new//topics/fashion/pretty-prints/

A DIGNIFIED ENDING

A DIGNIFIED ENDINGBy Tracey Spicer

March 15, 2012

He knew the end was near when he began choking on air.Robert Cordover was larger than life. The 68-year-old spoke six languages, travelling the world for the United Nations.

"A super funny, loud, always talkative guy, his booming voice echoing through the house," remembers one of his five children, Gideon.

In 2008 he was diagnosed with motor neurone disease. First his voice went. He started choking on food. Then water. Finally, it was air. Robert had seen his mother die slowly and painfully from the same illness. He determined he would not go the same way.

"Why don't you guys just take me out to the bush and leave me there?" he scribbled on a piece of paper.

His family thought he was joking. Surely, there must be a better way. Surveys show around 35 per cent of doctors are willing to help hasten the death of a terminally ill patient. But his doctors didn't want to talk about it.

So Robert went to visit Dr. Rodney Syme, author of the book A Good Death and former President of Dying with Dignity Victoria. The good doctor has made it his life's work to give people control over their death. I'm talking about voluntary euthanasia. Not 'state sponsored killing', as its opponents like to call it.

Put simply – a dignified end.

Robert smuggled medication back to Tasmania. "It gave him a new lease on life," Gideon says.

This is the experience in Oregon in the United States, one of the few places in the world with voluntary euthanasia laws.In one third of cases, the patients who procure the medication never use it.

In the words of philosopher John Stuart Mill in On Liberty, "Over himself, over his body and mind, the individual is sovereign". This explains why the right has joined the left in supporting the cause.

More than 80 per cent of Australians want the right-to-die laws.

So did Robert.

He soon realised he had to kill himself quickly, before losing control of his motor skills. If he left it any longer his wife or children would have to do it, risking arrest and jail.

Source: http://thehoopla.com.au/give-dignified//

As White Rice Intake Rises, So May Your Risk for Diabetes (3/16/2012)

As White Rice Intake Rises, So May Your Risk for Diabetes

Study suggests a link, and healthier whole grain alternatives are out there, experts say.
FRIDAY, March 16 (HealthDay News) -- People who eat white rice on a regular basis have a significantly increased risk of type 2 diabetes, a new international analysis contends.

Harvard School of Public Health researchers reviewed the findings of four previous studies conducted in the United States, Australia, China and Japan. None of the participants had diabetes at the start of the studies. Overall, the trials included more than 350,000 participants tracked anywhere from four to 22 years.

Researchers led by Qi Sun found a strong association between eating white rice and type 2 diabetes, and the link was stronger in women than in men, according to the study published online March 15 in the British Medical Journal.

The more white rice a person ate, the greater his or her risk for diabetes. For example, for each serving of white rice (assuming 158 grams/6 ounces per serving) there was a 10 percent increased risk of diabetes, the Harvard team estimated.

Compared to brown rice, the white variety has lower levels of nutrients such as fiber, magnesium and vitamins, the team noted. Intake of some of these nutrients are also associated with lowering a person's risk of diabetes, the researchers said.

White rice -- the main type of rice eaten worldwide -- also scores high on the glycemic index (GI), a measure of how foods affect blood sugar levels. High GI diets are associated with an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, the research team said.

"These findings are very significant," says registered dietitian Karen Congro, director of The Wellness for Life Program at The Brooklyn Hospital Center, in New York City. She agreed with the researchers that, "because it is a simple carbohydrate, white rice is also a high glycemic food and can be responsible for high spikes in blood sugar, even for people without diabetes."

Another expert said lifestyle changes, including food choices, are key to warding off diabetes.

"In our developed societies, we are exercising less and eating more, causing the profound increases in obesity and diabetes that are associated with increased morbidity and mortality," said Dr. Spyros Mezitis, an endocrinologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. "Our research should focus on how to eat less, consume foods of lower glycemic index and exercise more to prevent diabetes and obesity," he said.

According to Congro, there are healthier alternatives to white rice.

"When you eat white rice often, you are missing an opportunity to have fiber in your diet," she said. "You are also missing a variety of vitamins that are stripped away in the process of making white rice."

Whole grains, including barley or quinoa, may be healthier options. "Buckwheat is [also] delicious and high in antioxidants, including Rutin, which is linked to improved circulation and prevention of blood vessel blockage due to LDL cholesterol," Congro said. "There is a whole world of whole grains that people should consider exploring."

The study found a link between white rice consumption and diabetes, but it did not prove that the food causes the blood-sugar disease.

Source: http://www.womenshealt.gov/new/news/headlines/662787.cfm/

JAPAN'S NUCLEAR REFUGEES

JAPAN'S NUCLEAR REFUGEES By Tracey Spicer

March 11, 2012

An image from the aftermath of the Fukushima earthquake is forever seared into my memory.

It is not the 16-metre wall of water turning towns to tinder.

Nor is it the empty school halls where the fallen had fled.

Or the ravaged faces of those who had lost everything.

It is the innocent pose of a toddler, arms spread as if to embrace his mother. A man in a protective suit runs a geiger counter over his tiny body.

He is being tested for radiation after the meltdown of three reactors at the Daiichi nuclear plant. One third of Fukushima's children were affected.

Yet we seem to have collective amnesia about the event.

A coterie of columnists continues to bask in the nuclear glow. On his Channel 10 show yesterday, Andrew Bolt expanded on the theme of his blog headlined, "Fukushima fact check: no deaths, just 10 people with some radiation".

He quotes Gerry Thomas from the Chernobyl Tissue Bank: "Not an awful lot (of radioactive material) got out of the (Fukushima) plant." Thomas then praises the quick and thorough response by the Japanese government.

I must be living in a parallel universe.

The Economist magazine has collated reports into the catastrophe over the past year, and puts it succinctly:

“The reactors at Fukushima were of an old design. The risks they faced had not been well analysed. The operating company was poorly regulated and did not know what was going on. The operators made mistakes. The representatives of the safety inspectorate fled. Some of the equipment failed. The establishment repeatedly played down the risks and suppressed information about the movement of the radioactive plume, so some people were evacuated from more lightly to more heavily contaminated places”.

For two months, cabinet Ministers as high as the Prime Minister denied there'd been a meltdown.

They said it was Level Four. It was eventually raised to the highest level, Seven – the same as Chernobyl.

Theoretical physicist Professor Frank von Hippel from Princeton University, who's worked on nuclear policy for more than 30 years, says up to 1000 people will die from cancer as a result of being exposed to radiation there.

So much for "no deaths".

Estimates of mortality rates from Chernobyl have recently been raised to around 27,000.

These denialists seem to suffer from cognitive dissonance.

Source: http://thehoopla.com.au/japans-nuclear-refugees//

Exercise Might Boost Kids' Academic Ability (3/12/2012)

Exercise Might Boost Kids' Academic Ability

Pretest 'warm-ups' boosted test scores in study of Italian schoolchildren.

MONDAY, March 12 (HealthDay News) -- Promoting physical activity among young school kids can end up improving their academic performance, a new study suggests.

Italian researchers tracked 138 children aged 8 through 11 who took mental acuity tests under a series of conditions that sometimes involved physical activity and sometimes did not.

"Schoolteachers frequently claim that students lose attention and concentration with prolonged periods of academic instruction," first study author Maria Chiara Gallotta, at the University of Rome, said in a news release. "The key elements of learning, particularly important during development, are attention and concentration. Our study examined the relationship between exertion and the attention and concentration levels of schoolchildren."

The findings appear in the March issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

Over a three-week period, the children sat for three exam sessions of 50 minutes each. Before the first test they had all engaged in some form of physical exertion. Before the second test they had only engaged in academic exercises. And the third time they had participated in both physical and academic activity. All the tests were structured to gauge concentration skills as well as the speed with which the kids responded and the quality of their answers.

The children performed best following either physical activity or academic activity, but less well when both were combined before testing.

Processing speed went up by 9 percent after engaging in some form of mental "exercise" and 10 percent after physical activity. But after a combined physical and mental exertion, testing scores went up by just 4 percent.

Similarly, in terms of concentration skills, pretesting mental activity boosted scores by 13 percent, while physical activity sent scores rising by 10 percent. When both were combined, testing results went up by just 2 percent.

The authors said the lower scores could be due to a rise in stress associated with asking children to exercise both their brains and their bodies in the same time span.

"Our findings," Gallotta said, "suggest that varying types of exertion have different beneficial influences on school children's immediate cognitive performance. While more research is needed, we believe this provides helpful justification for increasing physical activity opportunities in the academic setting."

Source: http://www.womenshealt.gov/new/news/headlines/662437.cfm/

Coming Soon: At-Home Sperm Test for Couples Trying to Conceive (3/9/2012)

Coming Soon: At-Home Sperm Test for Couples Trying to Conceive

But experts say that in some cases, it may give men false sense of their reproductive health.

By Madonna BehenHealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, March 9 (HealthDay News) -- Women who are trying to conceive often use at-home products such as ovulation predictors and pregnancy tests, but the newest do-it-yourself test to help couples have a baby is for their male partners: A 10-minute test that can determine if a man's sperm count is normal or not.

SpermCheck Fertility, which retails for about $40, is currently sold online at Walgreens and CVS, and is scheduled to hit drug store shelves in April.

The manufacturers say the product fills an important need since many men may be reluctant or unwilling to see a doctor. But some experts in male infertility say the test is no substitute for a complete medical evaluation, and they worry that it may give some men a false sense of security.

"What this test is simply telling you is if you have enough sperm in the sample to trigger a chemical reaction," explained Dr. Joseph Alukal, director of male reproductive health & benign diseases of the prostate at NYU Langone Medical Center in New York City. "What it's not doing is looking at how well those sperm are moving or the shape or appearance of those sperm, and these factors can be important as well."

An estimated 15 percent of couples are considered infertile, which is defined as failing to conceive a child after a least a year of well-timed intercourse. According to the American Urologic Association, a male factor is solely responsible in about 20 percent of infertile couples and contributes to another 30 percent to 40 percent of cases.

To do the test, a man mixes his semen with a solution and then drops the mixture onto a test strip. If a reddish line appears in the result window, his sperm count is at least 20 million per milliliter, which is considered normal. If no line appears, his sperm count is below 20 million per milliliter, or low.

Alukal added that a full medical evaluation for infertility is also an important window into a man's overall health.

"Women who are trying to get pregnant usually see their ob-gyns at least once a year, but a lot of guys don't have a primary doctor, and I might be the first doctor they've seen in 10 or 15 years." he said. "We're fighting an uphill battle when it comes to getting men to go the doctor, and I'm concerned that this may be just one more barrier."

Another male infertility specialist agreed. "There are a lot of other medical conditions that are often found in the process of working up male infertility, such as cancer, diabetes, low testosterone levels or thyroid disorders," said Dr. Pravin Rao, director of reproductive medicine and surgery at the Johns Hopkins James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute in Baltimore.

"Just in the last four months, I've had four patients who presented with infertility and were then diagnosed with testicular cancer," Rao added. "Delaying that doctor visit could be a life-changer.

"For a small subset of men who haven't been trying for a year and are concerned that there might be a problem, this test may be beneficial because it has the potential of finding a problem earlier," Rao noted. But he added that men who get a normal result but are still not successful at getting their partners pregnant should see a doctor for a comprehensive medical evaluation.

"What I often tell my patients is that the female side of infertility treatments can be invasive, time-consuming and expensive, and that's why we need to make sure we get the most useful data we can in order to help guide those treatment decisions," Rao said.

Source: http://www.womenshealt.gov/new/news/headlines/662277.cfm/

Mackie’s of Scotland – a fair wind for family firm’s fortunes

Mackie's of Scotland – a fair wind for family firm's fortunes

Mackie's of Scotland owes
its success to its 1600-acre location, where the
wind, land and cows help produce fresh milk and power for the ice cream dairy.

"We call this process a
design chain" says Karin, Marketing Director for Mackie's "which begins with the wind and weather, the
wind provides power from our three wind turbines, offering a
renewable energy supply and the benefit of reducing our carbon footprint for
the farm. The sun and rain help grow the crops to feed the cows to produce the
milk and cream to make Mackie's ice cream – simple!"

The Mackie family has been
farming at Westertown Farm since the turn of the century. Formerly a milk retail company, due to increased demand for
semi-skimmed milk Mackie's was left with surplus cream and the perfect solution
was to manufacture ice cream.

"We have 500 cows and the
dairy now makes over 10 million litres of luxury ice cream a year" says Karin." We have a selection of popular flavours like Honeycomb and
Chocolate and different ranges, but our best seller remains our first – Mackie's classic Traditional flavour,
it is a natural, creamy flavour – and that is still my favourite!"

The Mackie sisters have
senior management roles at the farm, Kirstin is Development Director and both
have been in the business for over 15 years.

Working for the family business was not an automatic decision, as
children they were encouraged by their father, Maitland, Chairman of Mackie's
to follow their skills and interest in any field or business. It is with some
surprise that they find all three siblings are now working together at the
business, where brother Mac is Managing Director.

"It is fortunate that we
are quite different and suited to the different roles we now have – and that we
all get on!" comments Kirstin. "After attending
Aberdeen University I worked in the NHS for three years in business management
until I was offered the chance to come and work on a project making chocolate
for Mackie's – how could I refuse that!

"We had a fantastic childhood
growing up on the farm. I have very happy memories of growing up on the farm,
playing in the different seasons and having holiday jobs helping out in the
dairy or picking potatoes. It was always busy on the farm, different products
and changes being made, but many of the same people have been working with us
for years. It is fun to be involved in a business like this."

Following their ice cream
success, Mackie's turned their hand to snacks and launched a new range of
potato crisps in June 2009; in partnership with the
Taylors, another Scottish farming family business, whose expertise lies in the
Scottish tattie!

Kirstin led the
diversification into crisps, and has just spent almost 3 years as Managing
Director of the new joint venture business – taking
it from launch to a turnover of £2.6 million and global export success.

With an investment of over
1.5m of equipment Mackie's Machinery is a unique, gentle cooking process for
making thick cut premium crisps. The cooking
process can be the making or breaking of a tasty crisp as it can affect the
taste, aroma and texture. Mackie's use high oleic sunflower oil, which is
gently heated by thermal oil (not direct gas burners) which helps keeps the oil
in good condition with the perfect end result – the crisps have the right
crunch, a fresh potato taste and a unique dry texture.

"It has been a steep learning curve," says Kirstin. "We're making a natural product and the
potatoes can be different every hour of every day – we grow special
varieties which are best suited for making crisps and they all require
different regimes of care – but they can still vary across one field depending
on the soil conditions. The Taylor
family have many years of expertise in both growing, storing and processing
potatoes which has enabled us to bring the product to market."

Mackie's crisps come in
traditional flavours and a range of special limited Scottish flavours and is proving popular around the world. They are now on sale in
over 20 countries and Kirstin is excited about the opportunity to grow sales in
the biggest consumer market in the world. "We launched with some particularly
Scottish flavours like Haggis and Black
Pepper" said Karin "which we thought
might help provide interest at the outset. To our slight surprise, the Haggis
flavour has been a great success and is a permanent part of the range. The
interest it causes was described by one of our customers in the USA as 'The
Haggis Halo effect'!" Mackie's now makes
eight flavours and latest being a crispy bacon flavour.

Mackie's vision is to be a
global brand from the greenest company in Britain
created by people having fun. It seems that with a fair wind they are well on
their way.

For more information visit www.mackies.co.uk

Poppy Watt

Mackie's of Scotland would like to offer you the chance to win a year of indulgence - a chequebook of 52 vouchers that
enables you to enjoy a year supply of ice cream.To enter just answer the following question:

Why are Mackie's crisps
magic?

The answer can be found on the back of a packet of Mackie's crisps or go to www.mackiescrisps.co.uk
for assistance.

Send your answer to competitions@womentalking.co.uk
ensuring you place the word Mackie's
in the subject header and also include your Women Talking username with the submission.

The competition closes on April
8th and the winner will be announced soon after.

Source: http://womentalking.co.uk/new//topics/business/mackie%E2%80%99s-scotland-%E2%80%93-fair-wind-family-firm%E2%80%99s-fortunes/

Alzheimer's, Dementia Care to Cost U.S. $200 Billion This Year (3/8/2012)

Alzheimer's, Dementia Care to Cost U.S. $200 Billion This Year

Alzheimer's Association projects continued increases in payments as baby boomers age.
THURSDAY, March 8 (HealthDay News) -- Caring for people with Alzheimer's disease and other types of dementia will cost the United States about $200 billion this year, a total that includes $140 billion paid by Medicare and Medicaid, new statistics released Thursday show.

Medicaid payments are 19 times higher for seniors with Alzheimer's and other dementias and Medicare payments for the conditions are nearly three times higher, compared to payments for other patients, according to the "2012 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures" report from the Alzheimer's Association.

Nearly 30 percent of people with Alzheimer's and other dementias are covered by both Medicare and Medicaid, compared to 11 percent of people without the conditions. This means that Medicare and Medicaid costs associated with Alzheimer's and other dementias will continue to rise as baby boomers age, the report said.

"Alzheimer's is already a crisis, and it's growing worse with every year," Harry Johns, president and CEO of the Alzheimer's Association, said in an association news release.

"While lives affected and care costs soar, the cost of doing nothing is far greater than acting now. Alzheimer's is a tremendous cost-driver for families and for Medicare and Medicaid. This crisis simply cannot be allowed to reach its maximum scale because it will overwhelm an already overburdened system," Johns added.

Most people with Alzheimer's and other dementias have at least one other serious chronic health problem, and Alzheimer's acts as a "cost multiplier" on these other diseases, according to the report.

For example, the statistics showed a senior with diabetes and Alzheimer's costs Medicare 81 percent more than a senior with diabetes alone. And a senior with cancer and Alzheimer's costs Medicare 53 percent more than a senior with cancer alone.

Mental impairment in patients with Alzheimer's and other dementias complicates the management of care, resulting in more and longer hospital stays, the authors noted in the news release.

"This disease must be addressed on parallel tracks: supporting research to find treatments that cure, delay or prevent the disease, and offering assistance and support to the more than 5 million Americans now living with Alzheimer's and their more than 15 million caregivers," Johns said.

"This is what the National Alzheimer's Plan is all about. Caring for people with Alzheimer's and other dementias costs America $200 billion in just one year. By committing just 1 percent of that cost, $2 billion, to research, it could begin to put the nation on a path to effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure," he noted.

The report also said that 800,000 people with Alzheimer's -- one out of seven -- live alone, and that up to half of them do not have an identifiable caregiver. That puts them at increased risk for such health problems as missed or delayed diagnosis, malnutrition and untreated medical conditions. They're also at increased risk for wandering away from home unattended and for accidental death.

Alzheimer's patients who live alone tend to be older, female and have lower levels of cognitive (memory and thinking) impairment, the report noted. However, they still face major challenges in performing daily tasks such as managing money and medications, shopping and preparing meals.

"Advance planning is important for everyone, particularly for individuals who have Alzheimer's or other dementias; but for the population that has Alzheimer's and lives alone, future planning is absolutely critical," Beth Kallmyer, vice president of constituent services for the Alzheimer's Association, said in the news release.

According to the association, an estimated 5.4 million people have Alzheimer's disease, and 15.2 million of their friends and family members provide 17.4 billion hours of unpaid care.

Source: http://www.womenshealt.gov/new/news/headlines/662557.cfm/

Mesothelioma Compensation

Where Women Are Still Not Equal

Mesothelioma compensation is awarded to the plaintiff when the defendant in such a mesothelioma lawsuit admits or is found liable causing the disease. Seeking such compensation should always be of primary concern to those afflicted with this form of cancer. Yet, many do not seek their just mesothelioma compensation settlement. Why is this? A common misconception about mesothelioma or other medical related lawsuits is that they are intended to seek “revenge” for being made ill. Such an assessment is an obtuse one on many levels. The reason the afflicted seek a settlement or judgment is because of the enormous costs associated with suffering from the disease.

Mesothelioma is a serious condition as it is a form of cancer derived from exposure to asbestos. Often, the exposure is derived from negligence. One form of negligence would be a building’s owner or management did not properly screen for mesothelioma and those in the building suffered from exposure. It is also not without precedent that those working in asbestos removal suffered from their exposure due to faulty protective equipment.

Why Should You Seek Mesothelioma Compensation?

Regardless of the reason the exposure, mesothelioma is life threatening. To send mesothelioma into remission will require all manner of financial costs. This is the main reason why mesothelioma compensation needs to be sought after – the fees associated with medical bills need to be covered. Without the best of care, it would become much harder to reverse the condition.

Again, this is why seeking monetary awards such as a mesothelioma compensation claim is so important. The costs associated with treatment are so enormous funding said costs is a must if proper treatment is needed. And why shouldn’t those that are responsible for the onset of the condition be held liable for its costs?

Once again, these costs can be considered significant. In addition to medical treatment, bills can amass from other sources as well…

Depending upon the current stage of the disease, the afflicted may not be able to work. While being legitimately unable to work may evoke sympathy from some, the situation does not automatically come with a waiver for financial responsibilities. Without a viable stream of money, financial stress is bound to increase significantly. Effective payments through a lawsuit or mesothelioma compensation claim or settlement could significantly alleviate the pressure associated with such financial strain.

Another area of mesothelioma compensation that needs to be addressed would be that of pain and suffering. Having to deal with extreme pain and discomfort mesothelioma causes may justify high financial compensation rewards. The law had remedies in place for those dealing with such suffering and it comes in the form of civil judgments. Those suffering from such a condition are well within their rights to seek such mesothelioma compensation payments.

Mesothelioma Compensation Settlement Awards

Questions will arise over the amount of a mesothelioma compensation settlement that can be awarded. Blanket answers to such questions are not really valid. There are no clear and set rewards for mesothelioma compensation. Some judgments are rather large and others can be modest. There are simply too many factors that weigh into how awards are made. The key point here is that the afflicted seek out a qualified and experienced attorney that specializes in these types of cases. Doing so will increase the likelihood that proper payment is achieved.

Payment can come in two forms. The first would be an out of court settlement and the other would be a judgment in the aftermath of a civil case. One is not better than the other and the decision to accept settlement vs. take the case to civil court. There are a significant number of factors that can go into the decision making process regarding how a particular litigation should move forward. Determining which direction to follow will be based on the litigant’s situation and needs as well as the advice of legal counsel. Regardless of your own individual situation, all those involved with a mesothelioma compensation case must seek the best outcome for their needs.

In short, they should seek the maximum amount of financial award in the mesothelioma compensation case, which can be acquired in a manner the litigant is most comfortable pursuing. Discussing your specific options with a qualified attorney will boost the likelihood that you follow the proper course of action for your needs and requirements.

Seeking mesothelioma compensation is a process that should not be taken lightly. There are a great many complexities involved and making the right decisions will factor into your ability to receive just and equitable judgments. That is why proper deliberation must go into the process. Doing otherwise could limit mesothelioma compensation claims immensely.

Source: http://mesotheliomacompensationx.com/

Where Women Are Still Not Equal

Money might not buy you love but it can certainly ensure the rest of
the world looks the other way when you decide to flaunt the rights of women.

This is the current situation in Saudi Arabia, where the human rights of its female population continue
to be breached without even a pause for consideration.

Indeed, many highly educated Saudi women regularly express their
shame at still having to fight for even
the most basic freedoms, that we in the West take for granted.

To date and despite continuous protestations, women in Saudi Arabia are not allowed to drive, nor can they start a
business, marry, work, travel or in some cases even undergo medical treatment
without the express permission of a male guardian. As if to compound the
insult, this can often be a son as well as a husband.

The terrible reality is that if a woman leaves the kingdom a tracker
chip in her government ID card will
fire off an automatic text to her husband, alerting him.

Many girls are forced to live a sedentary existence and forbidden
from sports. The religious police claim
exercise for females is a gateway to them wearing scanty clothes, associating
with men and leaving their homes unnecessarily.

The sad fact is that most Saudi girls have no outlet for their
youthful energy. That goes some way to explaining why two thirds of them are overweight or even obese and depression is a
rising problem in such a repressed environment.

And what are the governments of the "free world" doing about this.

Absolutely NOTHING!

Until they are able to look
past the oil and the dollars, can any of our world leaders who remain aware
of the discrimination that exists in a nation it considers to be a global
partner, truly call themselves committed to equality for women.

On International Women's Day,
for Saudi women everywhere, this is one question well overdue an answer!

Madeline Self

Source: http://womentalking.co.uk/new//topics/lifestyle/where-women-are-still-not-equal/

Experimental Drug Shows Promise Against Cushing's Disease (3/7/2012)

Experimental Drug Shows Promise Against Cushing's Disease

In phase 3 trial, symptoms improved in people with rare hormonal disorder, study found.
WEDNESDAY, March 7 (HealthDay News) -- An experimental drug called pasireotide reduced levels of the "stress hormone" cortisol and improved symptoms in patients with Cushing's disease, a new study found.

Cushing's disease is a rare (three to five cases per million people) hormonal disorder that causes a wide range of health problems and, if untreated, significantly increases a patient's risk of dying at a much younger age than normal, researchers said in a news release.

Weight gain, high blood pressure, mood swings, irregular or absent menstrual periods, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and type 2 diabetes are among the symptoms of Cushing's disease. It is a form of Cushing's syndrome, which is caused by prolonged exposure of the body's tissues to high levels of the hormone cortisol.

This phase 3 study of 162 patients in 18 countries found that treatment with pasireotide reduced cortisol secretion by an average of 50 percent and returned some patient's cortisol levels to normal.

A phase 3 study means that a drug is in the final stages of testing that drugs undergo before they can be approved for treatment of a specific disease.

The study, funded by Novartis Pharma, appears in the March 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Dr. Spyros Mezitis, an endocrinologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, is not associated with the study but is familiar with its findings.

Mezitis said the study showed that the experimental treatment "improved metabolic abnormalities and emotional difficulties. Therefore, pasireotide injections become an alternative to surgical resection of the pituitary ACTH-secreting tumor, and may be shown to work with the FDA-approved mifepristone, which blocks the action of cortisol at receptors in the body."

Elevated blood sugar (glucose) levels occurred in 73 percent of the patients who took the drug, a side effect that requires close attention, according to senior study author Dr. Beverly Biller, of Massachusetts General Hospital.

Cushing's patients already have difficulty processing glucose, she noted.

"Those patients who already were diabetic had the greatest increases in blood sugar, and those who were prediabetic were more likely to become diabetic than those who began with normal blood sugar," Biller said in the hospital news release. "So this is real and needs to be monitored carefully."

Mezitis agreed that careful patient monitoring is important. "Blood-sugar elevations are dose-dependent with pasireotide and will need to be managed as indicated for diabetes," he said.

Source: http://www.womenshealt.gov/new/news/headlines/662454.cfm/

Experimental Drug Offers Hope for Rare Bone Disease: Study (3/7/2012)

Experimental Drug Offers Hope for Rare Bone Disease: Study

Replaces missing enzyme in babies with severe hypophosphatasia.

By Serena GordonHealthDay Reporter
WEDNESDAY, March 7 (HealthDay News) -- A new therapy may be the first to offer hope for children born with a rare disease that affects bone development, sometimes so severely that babies die because they're missing a rib cage to protect their lungs.

The inherited disorder is called hypophosphatasia, and the new medication is asfotase alfa. It works by replacing an enzyme that's missing in those with hypophosphatasia. Enzymes are substances responsible for speeding up certain chemical reactions. In hypophosphatasia, the missing enzyme is necessary for proper bone growth and normal metabolism.

A small study of babies and children younger than 3 who had debilitating or life-threatening hypophosphatasia found that treatment with asfotase alfa strengthened bones and improved lung function. After 48 weeks of treatment, many could start bearing weight on their legs and some infants were even taking their first steps.

"We saw striking improvements in these patients with severe hypophosphatasia who received the enzyme replacement," said the study's lead author, Dr. Michael Whyte, medical-scientific director of the Center for Metabolic Bone Disease and Molecular Research at Shriners Hospitals for Children in St. Louis. Whyte is also a professor at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, which conducted the study jointly with Shriners and other institutions.

Results of the research are published in the March 8 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

Severe hypophosphatasia affects about 1 in 100,000 babies born in the United States, according to the National Library of Medicine. It's estimated that more people may have the disease, but in far milder forms. The severity of the disease can range from life-threatening to simply causing dental problems in adults, according to background information in the article.

The enzyme in hypophosphatasia that isn't available in sufficient quantity is called alkaline phosphatase. It's responsible for the mineralization of bones and teeth. Mineralization is the process that causes minerals like calcium and phosphorus to be deposited in developing bones and teeth, according to the National Library of Medicine. Without enough alkaline phosphatase, several other substances can build up and cause damage.

There are no approved medical treatments for hypophosphatasia, according to the study.

The current study involved 11 children. All were given an initial intravenous infusion of asfotase alfa, followed by shots of the medication three times a week.

Parents of one baby removed their child from the trial during the initial intravenous treatment. A second baby died from an unrelated infection after more than seven months of treatment.

The remaining nine children have received at least 18 months of treatment with asfotase alfa.

X-rays taken at the start of the study and at weeks 24 and 48 showed significant improvement in bone formation after treatment. In addition, the babies showed improvement in lung function, physical skills, and in the development of intelligence, according to the study.

The treatment was "very well tolerated," Whyte said. And, he added, there was no evidence that the children were developing resistance to the drug.

Treatment with asfotase alfa needs to be ongoing, and it's not yet clear if there are long-term side effects. Whyte and his colleagues are continuing to study the patients enrolled in this trial. He said that he believes children born with the severe or life-threatening form of the disease should be given this medication, even though it's still considered experimental. The reason, he said, is the severe form of this disease is "invariably lethal, usually soon after birth."

Dr. Spyros Mezitis, an endocrinologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said the research is promising and groundbreaking. "They're correcting an inborn error of metabolism and mimicking what the body does," he said. "It would be like making someone with type 1 diabetes start making insulin on their own, rather than just replacing it from the outside. I think this will serve as a model for other types of diseases."

But, he added, the current patients will need to be closely monitored as they grow, and that there is a need for further studies.

The study was funded by Shriners Hospitals and Enobia Pharma, which was acquired last month by Alexion Pharmaceuticals. Whyte was a consultant for Enobia Pharma, according to a Washington University news release.

Source: http://www.womenshealt.gov/new/news/headlines/662508.cfm/