Fashion Statement with Suzannah Roach

The Last
Resort?

What is it about the January fashion news that gets me so
wound up? The constant reminder that we are all meant to lose weight with the "Celebrity diets that work" headlines? The New Year insistence that we should also
be improving our careers, our houses and updating our wardrobes? Or is it
the models, celebrities and anyone in the media spotlight flaunting it along a
beach in Barbados or St Barts in the Resort
Collections of the luxury brands?

Oh yes! It is actually the Resort Collections that wind me up the most. It's the neon and
monochrome images of the Resort
Collections not the diets or the skinny models who look like they haven't
even eat a slice of turkey never mind the entire box of Quality Street.

So what are Resort
Collections? Officially, they are targeted at the more seasoned traveller
who holidays between November and
February in hot climes, or as Versace once described these customers "our more seasoned jet-setters". These
clothes are aimed at the higher end customer and bearing in mind which designers
focus on this capsule wardrobe it says a lot. Chanel, Dior and Ralph Lauren lead the way, with other more
main-stream clothing designers leaving them to this small, illusive, affluent
customer.

However, over the past couple years there seems to have
been more emphasis put on this short-of lived and elitist range. Not only is the higher end of the high
street trying this niche market but the men are getting in on the act too.
The tricky economy is causing retailers to look for that extra market share in
any which way. Resort Collections
are a chance to encourage customers to make that additional purchase, tucked in
between the autumn/winter range usually based on chunky knits and boots, and
the spring/summer range veering towards light summer dresses and sandals.

Retailers now have to move faster to find the pulse.
Consumers, ie you and I, are no longer prepared to see images in a magazine or
on web pages of next season's likely trends, then wait another two to three
months before these fashion items are available to buy. Ready to wear ranges have to be faster and more readily available.
This has led retailers to review their ranges and their manufacturing. Ranges
are changed more regularly and customers are now able to buy something new from
their favourite retailers much more frequently, whether it's high end or high
street retailing.

Whether you like this new shopping mentality or not, there
is no doubt that fast and furious
fashion is here. People's buying habits are becoming more considered since
the economic downturn. There was a stage a few years back where people were
spending without thinking and pushing retailers to be less thoughtful about
their ranges and, some would even say, more cut-throat with their manufacturing
as well as their marketing. Thankfully, retailers as well as customers are
becoming more aware of quality. The general public wants quality, something
that will last. The one-wear mentality
has gone, replaced by cost-per-wear. 

This brings me back to my January exasperation. Resort fashion just flies in the face of
everything that has improved in fashion over the past few years. It has
retained that feeling of decadence and
wealth. Amid economic talk of double-dip recessions, Resort Fashion Collections continue to grow. Luxury brands continue
to grow, albeit thanks to wealthy Russians propping up this market.

Retailers will only provide these additional ranges if
there is a market for them and they are continuing to expand. Everyone likes a
pick me up in these depressing months but there is something about Resort Collections that just seem to
rub the majority of the public's nose in it. While we feeling the pinch from
Christmas (in the wallet and waistband), there are still the select few who
parade down beaches in their Resort
Collections with never a thought about the cost of that extra range that
has slipped in between seasons.

It feels too ostentatious during this uncertain
period. I am all for people celebrating their own success and enjoying
their time off if they have worked hard. But do we really need to see bright neon shorts and bra tops that are so on
trend this Resort season when we are all huddled over a leafy salad waiting for
the decent TV series to start again?

A small
neon green monster seems to be nudging my elbow as I write. Resort fashion fury? Might it just be jealousy? I'll
leave you, dear reader, to decide.

Suzannah Roach

Source: http://womentalking.co.uk/new//topics/fashion/fashion-statement-suzannah-roach-13/

MONOGAMY DOESN'T WORK. DISCUSS.By Liz Conor
January 9, 2012

Alzheimer's Med Seems Ineffective in Those With Down Syndrome (1/10/2012)

Alzheimer's Med Seems Ineffective in Those With Down Syndrome

Patients taking memantine had more serious adverse events than those given placebo.
TUESDAY, Jan. 10 (HealthDay News) -- A drug commonly used to treat patients with Alzheimer's disease does not appear to be effective for people older than 40 years who have Down syndrome and Alzheimer's, according to a new study.

Although previous animal studies of the Alzheimer's drug, memantine, showed promising results in mice with Down syndrome, this new study of people with Down syndrome aged 40 and older revealed the opposite, the researchers reported in the Jan. 9 online edition of The Lancet.

Memantine was given to 88 people with Down syndrome for one year, while another 85 patients received a placebo (the "control" group). Some of the participants had Alzheimer's and some didn't.

The investigators found that the brain function of the people in both groups declined equally.

Serious adverse effects were experienced by 11 percent of the group that took the medication. Meanwhile, 7 percent of the placebo group had similar adverse events. Five people from the medication group died because of these events, compared to four in the control group.

"Memantine is not an effective treatment in this group of patients. We believe that this robust finding will have implications for clinical practice and research strategy in the future. Specifically, therapies that are beneficial for people with Alzheimer's disease are not necessarily effective for the treatment of cognitive impairment or dementia in the context of Down syndrome," the study's author, Clive Ballard, a professor at the Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases at King's College London, said in a journal news release.

Because nearly 40 percent of people with Down syndrome over 60 years of age are diagnosed with dementia, the study authors pointed out that more research is needed to determine the best way to treat dementia in these individuals.

"Further investment is urgently needed to develop treatments that are effective in this important group of people," the study's co-author, Anne Corbett, research manager at Alzheimer's Society (U.K.), stated in the news release.

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/new//news/headlines/660512.cfm/

MADONNA AND 21ST CENTURY DADBy Duncan Fine

January 3, 2012

LESSON NUMBER EIGHT: Kids need screens (not just the sun kind).

Madonna with David and Mercy in Malawi.

Can we have a cup of tea and a quiet chat about Madonna?

Now I do not want to diss Madonna. I spent too much time in my formative years trying to pick up girls in nightclubs while doing silly dances to her music to complain about anything she does.

Except for one thing.

Madonna has banned TV in her house altogether.

Evidently, when they heard about the TV ban, her two adopted kids, Mercy and David, had to be physically restrained from jumping on the first flight back to war-torn, poverty-stricken Malawi.

As British writer Helen Pidd remarked, it's unclear exactly what Madonna's children do while every other kid is enjoying The Simpsons, "but the smart money is on something joyless and painful like cross-country running".

Now, Madonna probably has several hundred full-time nannies to do most of the hard work of parenting.

On the other hand, you and I stumble through our days from dawn to around 9pm trying to juggle the hundred small jobs that go into being a parent.

That being the case, hands up anyone who hasn't got down on their hands and knees and thanked the gods for an afternoon at the cinema or an evening in front of the TV for giving you some badly needed peace and quiet?

And come on! These sluggish slow-paced school holidays drag on for six full weeks of long languid summer days – each one full of lethargy and the drowsy drone of cicadas and cricket.

So I say it's time to stop feeling guilty about movies and TV. I say it's time to take a stand against Madonna!

It's time to take a stand against all those psychologists in their lab coats who wag their stern fingers at us and tell us how we are rotting out kids’ minds with computer games and TV and how we must be Really Terrible Parents (yes, it's so serious they have to use capital letters) who are using screen entertainment as a way of avoiding parental responsibility.

In particular, it's time to take a stand against organisations like Young Media Australia.


http://id.she.yahoo.com/new/http://thehoopla.com.au/madonna-21st-century-dad//

ADHD Drug Shortage Pushes Parents to Seek Substitutes (1/6/2012)

ADHD Drug Shortage Pushes Parents to Seek Substitutes

But experts say medication switches must be done carefully.

By Serena GordonHealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Jan. 6 (HealthDay News) -- If the current shortage of some drugs used to treat attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has left you searching for something else for your child to take, experts suggest you choose a substitute carefully because the effects of these medications can vary widely.

For example, "generics can sometimes be less bioavailable [how much of the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream], and that can make it harder to get an exact dose match between medications," explained Dr. Eric Hollander, director of the Autism and Obsessive-Compulsive Spectrum Program at Montefiore Medical Center in New York City.

"If the dose is too high, sometimes kids can get more withdrawn or weepy. If it's too low, they can't get adequate control of their symptoms during the day, and they can get a rebound later in the day. The new medicine may wear off faster. It's also not easy to switch from extended-release formulas to immediate-release," Hollander said.

The driving force behind the shortage is a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) policy that sets limits on the manufacturing of ADHD drugs, to limit the supply of these drugs to people who might use them illegally, according to a report by The New York Times. In some cases, drug companies manufacture both generic versions of ADHD drugs as well as the more expensive, branded versions, which can limit choices even further.

"This is the unfortunate result of well-intentioned policies combined with free market forces. It's a very substantial issue, and one that's affecting some families more than others," said Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York in New Hyde Park.

Whatever the reason behind the shortage, several drug companies that produce amphetamine products, including Adderall, have reported shortages to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. And, companies producing various forms of methylphenidate are also seeing shortages.

Both Hollander and Adesman said they've had reports from parents that Adderall and its generic equivalent have been harder to get. They both suggest that parents call from pharmacy to pharmacy in their area to see which one might carry the needed medication.

If you can't find any pharmacy that has the medication you're looking for, let your child's doctor know. If the medication isn't available, they can first try another medication in the same class of medications. For example, Adderall is an amphetamine derivative. Vyvanse is another medication in that class. However, some insurance companies may balk at paying for medications that aren't on their preferred drug list, and you may have to pay a higher co-pay.

If there's a shortage of generic methylphenidate, the brand-name versions (Concerta, Focalin, Ritalin, Metadate and Daytrana) may be available.

There are also non-stimulant medications for ADHD, such as Intuniv, Kapvay and Strattera, that may be an option, Adesman said.

Dr. Michael Hobaugh has more experience than he'd like with having to switch children's ADHD medications. Most of his patients are on public insurance, which means he has to follow the state prescription drug formulary for these patients. And that formulary often changes several times a year.

"Sometimes, the switch is easy. It's very patient-dependent. Usually there is a similar product that's close enough, but some kids have trouble," said Hobaugh, who is the chief of medical staff at La Rabida Children's Hospital in Chicago.

"It can be a difficult trial-and-error process to figure out what works for some patients," he said. "Their lives aren't uniform from day to day. Is it a side effect of the medication, or does the child have a virus or stress, or maybe didn't get enough sleep? And trying to assess what the ideal medicine is for school readiness is difficult because there's so much you can't control. This introduces another factor you can't control."

There have been several ADHD drugs that have been difficult to get in the past year, Hobaugh noted, often because they're manufactured only by one company. That means if there's a production issue, there's no other manufacturer to fill in the gap.

"And, with generic drugs there may not be a whole lot of profit, so they're not a priority," he added.

Along with discussing the shortage with your child's doctor, Adesman suggested that parents can call or write the FDA, or a local government representative, and let them know that they're having trouble getting necessary medication.

"Patient advocacy is always important," he said. "It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease."

Source: http://www.womenshealth.gov/new//news/headlines/660423.cfm/

New Year Style Resolutions

With the New
Year just around the corner it's time to take a fresh look at your wardrobe and
make some style resolutions. So forget about the celebrity diets and the
extreme exercise regimes, and make some resolutions that are sure to help you
look better and feel better in 2012.

Be Sale Savvy

With the January
sales this year predicted to be bigger and better than ever, the temptation to
snap up an armful of bargains may prove irresistible. But sales are the time
when we are likely to make the biggest style mistakes, ending up with another
sequin dress that will get worn once then shoved to the bottom of the wash
basket, and a pair of must-have heels that are so painful they will never leave
the house.

Preparation is
the key to successful sale shopping, make a list of things you need or want
before you head out and you're less likely to end up with a pile of unworn
purchases – if you wouldn't wear something when it cost £100 are you any more likely
to wear it now it's £50? My top tip for sale shopping is to up-shop. So if you
normally shop at Zara and Topshop why not try visiting Whistles and Cos during
the sales, you'll probably be spending a similar amount but should end up with
better quality items that will look good for longer.

Size Matters

Not the size of
your body, but the size of the clothes you buy. We've all picked up a dress in
a size smaller than we really are in the hopes that we may either lose enough
weight to squeeze in to it, or it may miraculously make us look smaller just by
wearing it - but we all know that we won't and it doesn't!

In fact dressing
in the wrong size clothing is the quickest way to make you look bigger than you
are, so this year make the resolution to only buy clothes that fit and flatter
your figure. Whether that's a size 6 or a size 16 you will look instantly
better wearing clothes that are the right size for you.

Find your Signature Style

If you make one
style resolution this year it should be to work on finding your signature
style. Whatever your age, shape or budget, everyone has a look that suits and
defines them best, from sophisticated and ladylike to vampy and vintage, what
you wear can be a fun and creative way to express who you are and what you love.

A signature
style is not about dressing the same all year round or sticking slavishly to
one particular look, it's about experimenting with different colours,
silhouettes and fabrics to find a style that enhances your assets and brings
out your personality. If you're struggling to find your signature style take
inspiration from your favourite celebrities - do you admire the chic and
feminine look of the Middleton sisters, or do you aspire to the sexy and fun
style of popstars like Rihanna and Beyonce? Take elements from these
celebrities and develop a look that is 100% you.

Be Braver with Fashion

Part of the key
to finding your signature style is to be brave and try wearing things that you
may not usually consider. It's easy to get stuck in a bit of a fashion rut and keep
buying the same items over and over, but you don't have to make a radical style
change in order to achieve  a fresh new
look.

If you normally
wear mini-skirts to elongate your legs, try a pair of tailored, high-waisted
shorts with opaque tights instead, it will make your legs look endless whilst
giving you a more sophisticated and modern edge. Or if you're clinging to a
uniform of skinny jeans and riding boots this winter, a more feminine and
fashion-forward option would be a knitted maxi skirt and suede ankle boots.

Clear out the Clutter

Having a serious
clear out is often top of people's new year's resolutions list, but this year
make your wardrobe top priority for a thorough de-clutter. Anything that you
haven't worn in the past year (apart from vintage heirlooms or your wedding
dress!) should go, as it's unlikely you will wear it next year either.
Unflattering items, or clothes that you no longer fit in should also be tossed,
it will only make you feel bad to look at a rail full of clothes that you've
outgrown.

By stripping
your wardrobe back to just the items you really love and regularly wear, you
will get a great idea of what pieces you need to buy, if any, and will probably
find it easier to put together  your
outfits in the morning. Some of the most stylish women in the world are big
believers in the capsule wardrobe, so don't be afraid to be ruthless with your
clear out – just remember to take all your unwanted items to the local charity
shop so someone else will benefit from your hard work.

Carrie Greene

Source: http://womentalking.co.uk/new//topics/fashion/new-year-style-resolutions/

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/

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/