Having a Baby Costs About $7,600

Description

The cost of having a baby, from the first prenatal visit to delivery, averaged roughly $7,600 for an uncomplicated birth.


Newswise — The cost of having a baby, from the first prenatal visit to the baby’s delivery, averaged roughly $7,600 for an uncomplicated birth, according to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The total, in 2004 dollars, includes payments for hospital childbirth, prenatal office visits, prescription medicines, and other services.

AHRQ also found that:

• Average spending for prenatal care for women with private insurance and women with Medicaid was about the same—approximately $2,000. However, their inpatient delivery costs differed: $6,520 for the former and $4,577 average for the latter.

• On average, privately insured women paid about 8 percent of their total expenses for pregnancy out of pocket, or about $660 for a privately insured woman with an average level of expenses. In contrast, women on Medicaid paid only about 1 percent out of pocket.

• Only 23 percent of women had some prescription drug expenses associated with their pregnancy and the median amount of these expenses was $640. About three-quarters of all prescription drug expenses during pregnancy were for nutritional products such as prenatal vitamins.

AHRQ, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, works to enhance the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care in the United States. The data in this AHRQ News and Numbers summary are taken from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), a highly detailed source of information on the health services used by Americans, the frequency with which they are used, the cost of those services, and how they are paid.

For more information, go to Health Care Expenditures for Uncomplicated Pregnancies (http://www.meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/data_files/publications/rf27/rf27.pdf).



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Hypertension during pregnancy compromises future health

Women with high blood pressure during pregnancy should be monitored closely both during and after birth, argue Vesna Garovic and Suzanne Hayman. Women in this group have an increased chance of developing cardiovascular problems and stroke later in life and the risks are under-recognized.



Epidemiological research into cardiovascular disease has focused on men. Garovic and Hayman place the spotlight on women by identifying mechanisms shared by hypertensive disorders of pregnancy—such as pre-eclampsia—and cardiovascular disease. These factors include kidney dysfunction, obesity and diabetes.



Cardiovascular problems are the leading causes of death throughout the world. Women who have had pre-eclampsia should be encouraged to attain a normal weight, give up smoking and maintain a healthy diet. Together with annual checks of their blood pressure, and cholesterol, glucose and urine protein levels, these lifestyle modifications should help to prevent these women from developing cardiovascular problems.



Author contact:
Vesna Garovic (Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN, USA)
Tel: +1 507 284 8045; E-mail: garovic.vesna@mayo.edu



Editor contact:
Suzanne Farley (Editor, Nature Clinical Practice Nephrology)
Tel: +44 20 7843 4818; E-mail: s.farley@nature.com

Possible Link Between Obesity and Viral Infections

Description

Experts don’t dispute the important role that diet and activity play in maintaining a healthy weight. But can poor eating habits and a less active lifestyle fully explain the prevalence of obesity in the United States today? That question has led some researchers to ask whether there might be other causes for this serious problem.



Experts don’t dispute the important role that diet and activity play in maintaining a healthy weight. But can poor eating habits and a less active lifestyle fully explain the prevalence of obesity in the United States today? That question has led some researchers to ask whether there might be other causes for this serious problem. In the October issue of Mayo Clinic Proceedings, researcher Richard Atkinson, M.D., asserts that there is a growing body of evidence demonstrating that viruses may play a role in causing obesity in humans.

“The cause of obesity is not a secret -- if you consume more calories than you burn in daily activity, you gain weight. What is interesting is that much of the obesity epidemic cannot be explained just by Americans eating more and exercising less. There are other factors at play, and viruses causing obesity may be one of them,” say Dr. Atkinson.

Dr. Atkinson, director of Obetech Obesity Research Center in Richmond, Va., reviewed multiple published articles that demonstrate a connection between viral infections and obesity. His article in Mayo Clinic Proceedings discusses five animal viruses and three human viruses that have been shown to cause obesity in laboratory studies.

According to Dr. Atkinson, several studies offer ample evidence that animals infected with certain human viruses experience excess weight gain and fat storage. When researchers infected animal subjects with a human virus known as Human Ad-36, they reported measurable increases in the infected animals’ body fat and the visceral fat that surrounds the organs deep within the belly. In addition, studies also demonstrated that infection with Ad-36 and the resulting weight gain could be transmitted from infected animals to uninfected animals.

Information on virus-induced obesity in human subjects is much more limited. Citing his own study conducted in 2005, Dr. Atkinson also showed a connection between obesity and exposure to the Ad-36 virus in humans. Dr. Atkinson’s study screened for antibodies to Ad-36 (a sign of exposure to this virus) in 502 people of varying body weights, both obese and non-obese, from three cities in the United States. Ad-36 antibodies were found in 30 percent of obese individuals and 11 percent of lean individuals. Study results also showed highly significant differences in body mass index (BMI) between antibody-positive and antibody-negative individuals.

Dr. Atkinson also highlighted a study that looked at 89 sets of American adult twins and screened them for Ad-36. Because twins tend to be similar in many characteristics, including body weight, the researchers looked at twin pairs where one twin tested positively for Ad-36 and the other did not.

“Antibody-positive twins were slightly, but significantly, heavier and fatter than their antibody negative co-twins,” says Dr. Atkinson. “The infected twins had a higher BMI and a greater percent of body fat than the uninfected co-twins.”

In the mid-1970s, a virus called SMAM-1 was believed responsible for an increased death rate among commercially raised chickens in India. SMAM-1 is associated with decreased immune function and an increased accumulation of body fat in infected chickens. Dr. Atkinson reports that one study tested 52 obese humans for antibodies to SMAM-1. About 20 percent had SMAM-1 antibodies, indicating exposure to this virus. The study participants who had these antibodies were heavier and had a higher body mass index compared with the antibody-negative group.

Dr. Atkinson’s article also explores what current research has to say about the possible mechanisms underlying virus-induced obesity. Some research suggests that viral infections have a direct effect on adipocytes, cells that manufacture and store fat, turning on the enzymes of fat accumulation and recruitment of new adipocytes.

What’s the next step for this research? According to Dr. Atkinson, “the body of evidence linking adenoviruses to obesity in humans is now sufficient to think about the next step. Ideally, we could prevent infection and virus-induced obesity with a vaccine for the obesity viruses. Development of a human vaccine will take several years.”

A peer-review journal, Mayo Clinic Proceedings publishes original articles, reviews and editorials dealing with clinical and laboratory medicine, clinical research, basic science research and clinical epidemiology. Mayo Clinic Proceedings is published monthly by Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research as part of its commitment to the medical education of physicians. The journal has been published for more than 80 years and has a circulation of 130,000 nationally and internationally. (Newswise)

Eating Whole-Grain Breakfast Cereals May Be Associated With a Lower Risk of Heart Failure for Men

Men who consume a higher amount of whole grain breakfast cereals may have a reduced risk of heart failure, according to a report in the October 22 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals.


“The lifetime risk of heart failure is estimated at 20 percent (one in five) for both men and women aged 40 years,” according to background information in the article. Studies have suggested that the risk of hypertension, coronary heart disease, hypercholesterolemia (high blood cholesterol) and mortality can be reduced with a diet rich in grain products.

Luc Djoussé, M.D., M.P.H., D.Sc. and Michael Gaziano, M.D., M.P.H. of the Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) and and Harvard Medical School, Boston, analyzed the association between breakfast cereal intake and new cases of heart failure among 21,376 men (average age 53.7) participating in the Physician’s Health Study I. Cereal intake was estimated by using a food frequency questionnaire and incident heart failure was assessed by annual follow-up questionnaires for an average of 19.6 years.

During follow-up, 1,018 of the participants experienced heart failure. This included 362 of 6,995 participants who did not eat any cereal, 237 of 4,987 of those who ate one serving or less per week, 230 of 5,227 of those who ate two to six servings per week and 189 of 4,167 of those who ate seven or more servings per week.

“Our data demonstrate that a higher intake of whole grain breakfast cereals is associated with a lower risk of heart failure,” the authors conclude. This association may be due to the beneficial effects of whole grains on heart failure risk factors such as hypertension, myocardial infarction [heart attack], diabetes mellitus and obesity. “If confirmed in other studies, a higher intake of whole grains along with other preventive measures could help lower the risk of heart failure.”

Can You Feel the Heat? Your Cilia Can

Description

Johns Hopkins researchers and colleagues have found a previously unrecognized role for tiny hair-like cell structures known as cilia: They help form our sense of touch.



Johns Hopkins researchers and colleagues have found a previously unrecognized role for tiny hair-like cell structures known as cilia: They help form our sense of touch.

Humans and genetically engineered mice lacking functional cilia respond more slowly to physical sensations such as exposure to hot water or a sharp poke with a stick. Results of the study, appearing in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences this week, will help doctors better understand diseases already linked to defective cilia like Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) and polycystic kidney disease (PKD)

Cilia, tail-like projections found on the surface of cells, are perhaps best known as molecular flippers that help cells move around. Recently, researchers like Nico Katsanis, Ph.D., associate professor at Johns Hopkins’ McKusick-Nathans Institute of Genetic Medicine, have found that cilia are important for many other biological processes, including three of our five senses: vision, hearing, and smell (ciliopathies are often characterized by loss or deficiency in these senses). “That leaves two unexplored possibilities,” says Katsanis. “Taste and touch; we tried touch.”

In the current study, the research team performed a pair of tests on both normal mice and engineered mice with defective cilia (Bbs -). To test heat sensitivity, they immersed the tails of the mice in warm water and measured how long before the mice flicked their tails. To test mechanical force, the researchers applied increasing (but not painful) pressure to the hind feet of mice until they withdrew their paws.

In both tests, the response time of the Bbs- mice to these external stimuli was longer. “These mutant mice can still feel the heat and pressure,” explains Katsanis. “They just have a higher threshold for registering the sensation.” Since the Bbs- mice had normal coordination on a spinning rotor, their slower responses likely weren’t due to motor problems.

Norimasa Mitsuma, Ph.D., a postdoctoral student in Katsanis’s lab, also demonstrated that the defective cilia weren’t hindering brain function. He repeatedly dunked one hind paw in hot water for an hour and then carefully measured nerve activity at the base of the spinal cord - the junction between leg and brain. While regular mice displayed clear spinal nerve activity, Bbs- mice did not. This highlighted that the problem with Bbs- mice is that sensory information cannot reach the brain.

To find out whether people with inherited conditions that affect cilia also had different sensation thresholds, the researchers recruited nine patients with BBS, an inherited disorder characterized by obesity, polydactyly and vision loss.

The patients were asked to do seven simple perception tests, such as detecting the vibration of a tuning fork on their wrist or guessing the weight and shape of an object just by feeling it. All nine patients were less able than non-BBS patients to form the right response in at least some of the tests.

“This will certainly aid our efforts to both diagnose ciliopathies and relate to the patients,” says Katsanis. “People with ciliopathies are often thought to have mental retardation or autism because they appear ‘slow’. Now it appears that many aspects of their mental capacity may be just fine, they are just slow because they can’t sense things as well as other individuals.”

The research was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Disease, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and the Wellcome Trust.

Authors on the paper are Travis Barr, Stephanie Coforio, Phillip Albrecht and Frank Rice of Albany Medical College; Peter Inglis, Brian Bradley and Michel Leroux of Simon Fraser University; Philip Beales of University College London; and Perciliz Tan, Norimasa Mitsuma, Susan Huang, Miguel A. Garcia-Gonzalez, Terry Watnick, Gregory Germino, Michael Caterina and Katsanis of Johns Hopkins. (newswise)

Health Tips for Weekend Warriors & Fitness Buffs

GLENDALE, Calif., Oct. 24- Weekend warriors and other fitness buffs take note: you need to pay as much attention to you oral health as your cardio and muscle-building regimens.

"People today are concerned about their total health, weight issues and
being healthy, yet they forget to protect their teeth and the health of
their mouth," said Jean Honny, president of the California Dental
Hygienists' Association (CDHA). "Exercise and diet indeed affect total
health."

According to CDHA, many health-conscious Californians are unaware of
the oral health dangers from the sports drinks, gels and special diets they
consume during races and various sporting activities.

"Dental hygienists have received substantial education in nutrition,"
Honny said. "Every day we see the adverse effects of carbohydrates and
sugars in a person's diet that can increase their risk of dental decay."

Distance runners, cyclists, tri-athletes and other serious athletes
often experience "cotton mouth," which reduces saliva from increased air
intake. This can lead to dental decay since saliva acts as a protective
coating for our teeth against the acid in our mouths.

This problem is compounded when these athletes consume high amounts of
carbohydrates; the breakdown of carbohydrates leads to higher acidity in
the mouth. Additionally, many drinks and sports gels athletes consume
during races are very high in sugar, which also contributes to dental
decay.

To combat these problems, CDHA offers the following tips: -- Use xylitol-containing products such as chewing gum between
workouts and meals to generate re-mineralization of teeth

-- There are some sports drinks companies starting to use xylitol
as a sweetener, use them if you can find them

-- Carry a bottle of water or cup of ice while racing or working
out to rinse the mouth after you consume a gel, drink, or bar.
This also helps relieve dry mouth

-- Use an appropriate fluoride rinse and toothpaste that contains
fluoride

-- Brushing teeth well for at least two minutes and flossing daily
are your best defense against dental decay

-- Visit your dental hygienist at least once every six months


In addition these tips, even the most casual weekend warrior should
invest in a plastic mouth guard.

"It's a small price to pay to protect your teeth," said CDHA's Honny,
who cited a National Sports Foundation estimate that more than five million
teeth are lost each year during sports activities. "In many cases, the
athlete could have prevented the injury simply by wearing a mouth guard."

The California Dental Hygienists' Association (CDHA) is the
authoritative voice of the state's dental hygiene profession. While
registered dental hygienists have worked in the state for nearly a century,
CDHA was established 20 years ago when two regional associations merged to
form a unified professional group. CDHA represents thousands of dental
hygienists throughout the state and is dedicated to expanding opportunities
for the profession and access to care for all Californians.

Meningitis is a Threat … That Can Be Fatal

Vaccination Can Protect Preteens and Teens Who Are At Risk


School is back in session. Students will be in small, crowded classrooms and will be exposed to all kinds of germs. They’ll have full schedules, between sports, studying and after-school activities which will, at times, leave them run down. These factors can compromise their immune systems, which may put them at risk for contracting meningococcal disease, also called meningitis.


Meningitis is a devastating, yet potentially vaccine-preventable infection. Lifestyle factors common among teenagers and college students are believed to put them at increased risk of contracting meningococcal disease. Among these factors are prolonged close contact with large groups of teenagers, crowded living situations like dormitories, active or passive smoking, irregular sleeping habits and close personal contact like coughing or kissing.



Did you know?
• One in 4 adolescents that contract meningitis die from the disease
• Adolescents have a higher death rate for meningitis and make up 30% of the estimated 3,000 cases in the U.S. each year
• Meningococcal disease is often misdiagnosed, since symptoms are similar to those of common viral illnesses



The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all preteens and teens ages 11 through 18 be vaccinated against meningitis. Parents of children who were not vaccinated during their back-to-school physical are encouraged to have them vaccinated during their next doctor’s visit. Only one vaccination is usually needed to help keep preteens and teens protected throughout their middle, high school and college years.

Talent/Guest: Donna Mazyck, RN, MS, NCSN, president, National Association of School Nurses
Donna Mazyck brings with her more than 25 years experience in the nursing field. In her five years as a school health nurse, she was responsible for assessing the health needs of adolescents and acted as a liaison between parents and the healthcare community in order to ensure children in her school district received the care they required. Her extensive experience and knowledge has earned her the current position of president of National Association of School Nurses.



Topics Donna discusses:
• Why parents should speak with their child’s school nurse or healthcare provider about meningococcal disease
• Certain factors that put preteens and teens at increased risk for contracting meningitis
• The importance of prevention and a vaccine that is available to help protect against the disease
• Symptoms of meningitis and how your viewers can recognize them
• Resources like www.nasn.org
where parents can find more information about meningococcal disease and prevention




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Early Day Care Attendance May Protect Infants from Later Developing Asthma

Description

Day care attendance early in life seems to protect infants and young children from later developing asthma, from the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI).


Day care attendance early in life seems to protect infants and young children from later developing asthma, from the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (JACI).

Janet Rothers, MS, and colleagues examined the relationship between the age at which day care attendance begins and the amount of immunoglobulin E (IgE) in a child’s blood. IgE is an antibody produced by the immune system and an indicator of allergic sensitivity.

Researchers found:
• Children who went to day care by 3 months of age had lowered IgE levels. The IgE levels of day care children remained low through age 3 years, but this protection appeared to be limited to children whose mothers have asthma or a family history of susceptibility to allergy.
• Children who attended day care outside their own home had lower IgE levels than those who attended day care in their own home with children not their siblings, or than children who didn’t attend day care.

The authors speculate that regular exposure to bacteria from two different environments may play a role in immune development and supports the idea that there may be a critically short period when such bacterial exposure can guide the immature immune system to develop on a healthy path.

The AAAAI represents allergists, asthma specialists, clinical immunologists, allied health professionals and others with a special interest in the research and treatment of allergic disease. Allergy/immunology specialists are pediatric or internal medicine physicians who have elected an additional two years of training to become specialized in the treatment of asthma, allergy and immunologic disease. Established in 1943, the AAAAI has more than 6,500 members in the United States, Canada and 60 other countries. (newswise)

Source: American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology

Steroids Are Abused for Skin, Not Just Muscles

New non-steroidal skin treatment to treat all types of skin conditions, normally treated with steroids

BARRINGTON, Ill., Oct. 19, 2007 - Steroids have been in the press lately and given a bad name for abuse. There must be reasons why people use steroid products on a regular basis and don't know it. Our skin is the largest organ of the human body, and it needs to stay healthy. Most dermatologists treat the 15 million chronic skin patients in the US with steroids, without the patient ever knowing.

Consistent steroid use for skin problems can result in thinning of the skin, allergies, resistance to steroid therapy and even Cushing's disease (a consistent redness caused by capillary blockage).

Seagate Medical has launched a new natural skin care drug called epizyn (http://www.epizyn.com) that consists primarily of zinc gluconate. It is a unique patented broad spectrum gel and spray topical that penetrates skin on a cellular level to help relieve chronic skin conditions such as pruritis (itchy skin), burns, redness, acne, rashes (especially diaper rash), dry skin, psoriasis, and eczema (atopic dermatitis). It is a natural healing agent that is also great for wounds and greatly reducing scarring. It can even be used around the eyes.

"Epizyn is the greatest thing I have ever used," said Bill Smith of Fayette, MO.

Unlike other zinc skin treatments, including zinc pyrithione and zinc oxide, epizyn offers greater bio-availability and pharmacokinetic properties, offering increased systemic circulation to rapidly assist in the body's natural capability to restore skin back to its natural state. Most do not know that 20% of zinc in the human body is contained in the skin.

Originally, the epizyn compound was successfully used for treating skin conditions on numerous animal species including lacerations and even serious snake bites on horses. Those treating the animals could not believe the amazing effects it had on their own skin and word got out to dermatologists that the compound worked to heal the animal owners' skin conditions just as well. Now it is the fastest-growing natural skin care product on the market. Sold through dermatologists and the Internet, epizyn is the only non-steroidal zinc gluconate available on the market.

About Seagate Medical, Inc.

Seagate Medical was founded on the principal of developing natural treatments with high efficacy and low cost. (In fact they offer discounts to their clients for future orders and huge breaks to practicing physicians.) "Our mission is to provide medical products to treat chronic conditions without fear of side effects," said Maureen Kelley, a licensed esthetician who is employed by Seagate Medical.

For more information about this topic email Quinten at quinten.kelley@epizyn.com

Exercise Helps Older Adults Improve Balance

Description

According to a new review of research, exercise helps people stay steady on their feet in later years, when diminished balance can put older adults at risk for falls.






According to a new review of research, exercise helps people stay steady on their feet in later years, when diminished balance can put older adults at risk for falls.

The review shows gains in balancing ability across different groups of adults who participated in a variety of exercises including walking, strength and balance training, dancing and tai chi.

Some of the balance exercises included rising from a chair and training on one leg.

“Our message is that some form of exercise will improve balance and it’s never too late to exercise. Specifically, exercise that challenges your balance is best,” said lead review author Tracey Howe.

The analysis gathered evidence from 34 studies, which collectively included more than 2,800 participants. On average the study participants were over age 75, generally healthy, and the majority were women.

The review appears in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.

After engaging in an exercise program, study participants achieved improvements in different kinds of balance measures including walking speed, standing on one leg and reaching forward without tipping over.

Health researchers want to learn more about balance because they suspect it relates to an individual’s risk for falls. In old age, falls can lead to disability and a loss of independence. Howe said the review did not gauge the effect of exercise on falls, so there is no way to tell from the review if balance improvements led to fall prevention.

Still, Howe said, the balance gains documented in the study are significant because balance is involved in almost everything we do.

“You use it every time you move positions, even walking. Walking is nothing more than movement without falling — controlled falling,” said Howe, director of HealthQWest, a research consortium based at Glasgow Caledonian University in Scotland.

“Good balance allows you to react to change. As they get older, some people have problems with their muscles being rigid. Think of the wind blowing through a tree. If the tree sways too much, or if it is rigid, the tree will fall over. If you can sway with the wind, by responding to the subtle changes in everyday life you are more stable and less likely to fall,” she said.

The American College of Sports Medicine recently revised its guidelines for older adults. The recommendations include balance exercise for people who are at risk for falls, but the Cochrane review did not find that one kind of exercise outperformed any other.

Healthy aging researcher Debra Rose said health professionals need more information on how the risk of falls interacts with different types of exercise.

“The type of physical activity or exercise that’s appropriate is really going to be determined by a person’s level of risk for falls,” said Rose, professor of kinesiology and co-director of the Center for Successful Aging and Fall Prevention at California State University, Fullerton.

“When you are at low risk for falls, there are lots of exercise options, but the choices narrow as balance diminishes and fall risk increases,” Rose said.

The reviewers’ analysis could not determine if the balance gains for older adults were long lasting.

“I agree with the summary that there isn’t sufficient evidence of the efficacy of exercise over the long term,” said Rose. “There’s a notion that exercise is a quick fix — it isn’t. It has to be incorporated into an overall lifestyle change.”

Howe, TE et al. Exercise for improving balance in older people (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 4.

The Cochrane Collaboration is an international non-profit, independent organization that produces and disseminates systematic reviews of health care interventions and promotes the search for evidence in the form of clinical trials and other studies of interventions. (newswise)

Big Breasts Are Big Pain for Many Women

Women with macromastia, a condition of having abnormally large breasts, often experience symptoms of neck pain, numbness, tingling, and pain and weakness in one or both hands. Though the neurological symptoms are common in women with macromastia, there has not been consensus in the medical community about how to determine the source of the problem.


Women with macromastia, a condition of having abnormally large breasts, often experience symptoms of neck pain, numbness, tingling, and pain and weakness in one or both hands. Though the neurological symptoms are common in women with macromastia, there has not been consensus in the medical community about how to determine the source of the problem through electrodiagnostic testing. Electrodiagnostic testing is a diagnostic test that evaluates problems with patient’s muscles and nerves.

In a recent study of 15 women with heavy breasts, the clinical findings and electrophysiological evidence was consistent with that of a pinched nerve in the lower neck area. Patient symptoms included neck pain, numbness, tingling, pain and weakness in one or both hands. When examining the patients, the physicians found that the women had heavy breasts, that the muscles that control the movement of the thumb were found to be smaller or wasted in both hands, and there were bra strap indentations across the shoulders. Electrodiagnostic testing of both hands was performed.

According to researcher, Dr. Jacqueline Ansel of the Neurology and Neuromuscular Center in Clarksville, Tennessee, “Patients experiencing these symptoms are relieved to have their condition validated. The symptoms are not just a nuisance but are a real medical condition with clinical findings.” There are treatment options for patients with these potentially disabling symptoms including physical therapy, custom bras, and breast reduction. Patients considering breast augmentation should also be aware of the potential risks involved if large breast implants are desired.

The complete findings and results of this study are being presented at the American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine (AANEM) 54th Annual Meeting in Phoenix, AZ, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge, October 14-17, 2007. The AANEM is the largest organization worldwide, with over 5000 members dedicated to advancing neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, and electrodiagnostic medicine.
(Newswise)

Five Key Ways to Ensure Accurate Dosing of Liquid Medication to Infants

Dr. Laura Jana Offers helps parents cope with the confusion of dosing and giving medication to their children

CINCINNATI, Oct. 13 (medianowonline)-All too often, parents forget to handle with care the everyday medications we give our children, especially when it comes to the readily available over-the-counter medications. The recent infant cold and cough products recall serves as a frightening, but important reminder that no medicine comes without risk.


Dr. Laura Jana, accomplished pediatrician, author, and mother of three, acknowledges parents' natural instinct to try and make their children feel better when they're sick, but warns that overdosing can cause serious side effects. Here she provides five important ways parents can ensure accurate dosing of medication for their infants and young children:


1. Children are not simply little adults. Never assume that adult
medications are OK to give to children. What is recommended for
treating adults is not always approved for use with children. Not only
can dosing and frequency of use vary significantly, but children may
also be at risk for unwanted side effects not experienced by adults.

2. Weight matters. Too much of a medication can be very harmful, while too
little may prove ineffective. While medications approved for use in
adults and older children typically offer dosing instructions by age,
what's most important for accurate dosing of medications given to young
children (especially those under the age of 2) is their actual weight.
Given that weight can change significantly over relatively short
periods of time at this age, parents should always talk to their doctor
or pharmacist before administering medication to their children to make
sure they're giving the right amount.

3. Treat symptoms only as needed. It's important that parents don't over
treat their children by using medications designed to tackle an
all-encompassing list of symptoms. If a child has a horribly runny nose
and a hacking cough significant enough to warrant treatment, then it's
best to use medications made to treat those specific symptoms. Also, be
sure to continue to use them only for as long as they are truly
necessary.

4. Coping with rejection. Let's face it, some medicine - both
over-the-counter and prescription - doesn't taste so good. And even
when it does, young children who don't feel well are prone to spitting
it out, throwing it up, or simply rejecting it altogether. While it may
be tempting to try and mask the taste by mixing the medication directly
with other liquids in a child's bottle, unfortunately, parents are
all-too-often left guessing how much medication has actually been
absorbed when children fail to finish drinking it. Since repeat dosing
runs the real risk of an overdose, it's critical to discuss with your
child's doctor before offering a second dose, and better yet - getting
it right the first time.*

5. Contact Your Doctor or Pharmacist. Remember, you're not a doctor.
You're a parent. Rely on credible sources, such as your pharmacist and
child's pediatrician, to make sure you always get the right medication
for your child's symptoms, the right amount of medication for your
child's age and weight, and that you are giving it to your children the
right way. Doctors and pharmacists can give you additional valuable
information, such as which medications should not be mixed with other
liquids, so you can make sure the medicine you're giving is not only
necessary, but that it is going to be safe and effective as well.

As we head into yet another cold and flu season, remember to ask yourself (and your child's doctor) if over-the-counter medications are really necessary before getting them off the shelf. If your child is eating and playing normally, and you find yourself having to chase him all around the house in order to give him something to treat his symptoms, the odds are in your favor that he's probably going to be OK without it. Just as adults don't always need medicine to make them feel better when they're sick, the same rules apply to kids. As a parent, always remember to ask yourself: "Does this [runny nose] bother me more than it actually bothers my child?" If so, a tissue may be all the treatment you need.


About Dr. Jana


Dr. Laura Jana is a board-certified pediatrician, a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics, and Associate Director of the Boys Town Institute for Child Health Improvement based in Omaha, Nebraska. She is the co-author of the parenting book, Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality (AAP, 2005), as well as Food Fights: Winning The Nutritional Challenges of Parenthood Armed with Insight, Humor and a Bottle of Ketchup (AAP, Oct 2007). Having served as a consultant to Dr. Benjamin Spock and subsequently co- founding the national parenting media company named after her mentor in 1999, Dr. Jana has remained dedicated to promoting what she considers to be "reality parenting" ever since.

Dr. Jana is a paid consultant of Blaine Pharmaceuticals.

Grape Consumption Improves Antioxidant Capacity in Humans

Bioactive Grape Antioxidants Shown to Prevent Post-Meal Oxidative Stress

FRESNO, Calif., Oct. 13 (medianowonline)-A side of grapes with that burger? It is probably a good idea based on health research findings presented at the Second International Symposium on Human Health Effects of Fruits and Vegetables in Houston, Texas this week.


The symposium presented evidence that high antioxidant foods should be consumed with each meal to prevent periods of post-meal oxidative stress. Oxidative stress is linked to aging and the onset of chronic diseases. Antioxidants are known for their ability to neutralize free radicals that are generated by an array of environmental stresses on the body -- from natural processes to external assaults such as smoking and pollution.


Among the fruits specifically highlighted as beneficial were grapes, which, after consumption resulted in almost double the amount of recommended total antioxidant capacity needed to counteract the deficit associated with consuming 1000 calories of food.


Dr. Ronald L. Prior of the USDA's Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center, widely recognized as a pioneer of the ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) technique for measuring antioxidant capacity in foods, shared his findings regarding the natural state of oxidative stress in the body that results from eating a meal and the ability to counteract it in humans following consumption of certain fruits.


Prior showed that the metabolic process of digesting a meal with no antioxidants -- just fat, carbohydrate and protein -- causes a decline in antioxidant capacity of the blood which creates a temporary state of oxidative stress. This deficit can be prevented by consuming high antioxidant fruits such as grapes, which in this study provided almost double the amount needed to bring the body back in balance following the meal. His work also showed that some fruits that typically score high in antioxidant content, may not significantly impact oxidative status in the body. The key is "bioavailability," the body's ability to process and use the antioxidants.


"This research reinforced the fact that grapes are a great source of beneficial antioxidants that are bioavailable and able to improve antioxidant status in humans," said Kathleen Nave, president of the California Table Grape Commission. "Based on this research, one easy, proactive step that people can take to help safeguard their health is to eat high antioxidant fruit -- like grapes -- with their meals."


The International Symposium on Human Health Effects of Fruit and Vegetables is a scientific forum in which approximately 300 scientists, nutrition and medical professionals, industry representatives, commodity groups, and legislators from 38 countries gather to exchange information on the latest advances in science relating to the health-maintaining properties of fruits and vegetables. The goal of the conference is to facilitate discussion between the agricultural, nutrition and health sciences, and to advance the science related to foods for health. The conference is hosted by the Vegetable and Fruit Improvement Center of the Texas A&M Agriculture in Houston, Texas.


Source: California Table Grape Commission

Living Your Best Life: Adjusting Mind, Body and Spirit

WASHINGTON, Oct. 13 (medianowonline)- Some people find the life they had planned sidelined by a diagnosis of a chronic disease. But a great life doesn't have to end with the diagnosis. Many individuals find their lives can be just as rewarding if they simply start living their "best life."

The fall issue of Lupus Foundation of America's (LFA) national magazine, Lupus Now(R), includes stories of people with lupus who transformed their lives following their diagnosis. The magazine offers tips to make life special through adjustments to mind, body and spirit. The advice applies not only to the 1.5 million Americans with lupus; it's applicable to anyone with a chronic condition.


TRAIN YOUR BRAIN - The first key to living your best life is to be mentally alert. "Pay attention," says memory fitness specialist Kathryn Kilpatrick. "Develop strategies to stay focused. Keep your brain oxygenated through regular exercise and a nutritious diet." To remain mentally fit: listen well, write things down, get rid of distractions, and be aware of interruptions.


GET PHYSICAL - Develop an appropriate physical fitness routine that matches your lifestyle. "Use preventative care while you're young," says Dr. Jill Buyon of the Hospital for Joint Diseases at the New York University School of Medicine. "Take care of yourself before you get into a bad situation," she says. To stay healthy: eat well, get plenty of rest, watch your weight, drink alcohol in moderation, and don't smoke.


BEAUTIFUL SOUL - What good is a fit mind and a strong body without something that feeds your soul? Nurturing your spirit and passions may be the most important key to a life that's complete and fulfilling. Prayer, volunteering, and taking up a creative activity can feed your spirituality. Live with hope for the future. Be the best you can be, no matter how that's defined.


Lupus Now includes the latest information on new treatments, clinical updates, lifestyle and wellness features, personal stories, and more. For subscription information, contact your local LFA chapter, go online at www.lupusnow.org, or call 866-484-3532.


The LFA is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus, and to providing support and services to all people affected by lupus through programs of research, education, and advocacy.


Source: Lupus Foundation of America

Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Blockage a Significant Stroke Risk

Doppler Ultrasound Screening Can Reveal Blockages Prior to Stroke

CLEVELAND, Oct. 13 (medianowonline)-Carotid artery blockages, such as the one Senator Kennedy had removed today, are a significant risk factor for stroke but many do not know that they have the life-threatening condition. Doppler ultrasound screening is a successful tool for revealing blocked carotid arteries prior to the onset of a stroke and before death or disability occurs.


Life Line Screening, the nation's leading provider of mobile vascular screening, including carotid artery screening, has identified nearly 100,000 people with seriously blocked carotid arteries who had no symptoms at the time of the screening.


"Asymptomatic carotid artery stenosis is a significant problem that is most often diagnosed by accident when another test is being performed," says Andrew Manganaro, MD, FACS, FACC, and National Medical Director of Life Line Screening. "In that way, Senator Kennedy's experience is fairly typical. However, preventive screenings using Doppler ultrasound can identify the problem before the stroke occurs."


Significant cardiovascular risk factors include age, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, smoking and a family history of stroke or cardiovascular disease.


According to the Society for Vascular Surgery, ultrasound vascular screenings have proven to be accurate in detecting vascular disease and individuals 55 years of age or older with cardiovascular risk factors may benefit from preventive screenings for vascular disease.


William Clovis, MD, a psychiatrist in Philadelphia, PA, is an example of the potential of such screening. Dr. Clovis attended a Life Line Screening program in 2005. In his words, "The screening found a blockage in my carotid arteries. One needed surgery very badly. The operation was a success. Without it, I would have had a fatal stroke."


About Life Line Screening


Established in 1993, the Cleveland, Ohio-based company is the nation's leading provider of mobile preventive health screenings and has screened more than 5 million people. Current screenings include screenings for blocked carotid arteries, atrial fibrillation, abdominal aortic aneurysms, peripheral arterial disease and osteoporosis as well as finger-stick blood tests that provide a complete lipid panel, blood glucose, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein. (PRN)

Laparoscopic Banding Procedure Helps Overweight Adolescents Lose Weight and Improve Health

NEW ORLEANS, Oct. 9 (medianowonline)- As the number of
overweight children in the United States approaches epidemic proportions,
one group of surgeons is taking an active role in researching new ways to
reduce obesity rates in children. Evan Nadler, MD, and colleagues at the
New York University School of Medicine have been researching the
effectiveness of surgical intervention to help morbidly obese children lose
weight: they studied the effect of laparoscopic banding procedures on
weight loss in a group of 14- to 17-year-olds who were extremely
overweight. They reported their findings at the 2007 Clinical Congress of
the American College of Surgeons.

To be eligible for the study, teenage patients had to meet National
Institutes of Health (NIH) guidelines for weight loss surgery, having
either a BMI (body mass index) of 35 with at least one cormorbidity
(weight-related illness) or a BMI of 40 without. According to Dr. Nadler,
"Generally, participants had to be about 100 pounds or more overweight."
Participants also had to have been obese for five or more years and had to
have failed medically supervised attempts at weight loss for six months or
more, Dr. Nadler explained.

Being overweight places people at risk for other illnesses (or
comorbidities), including type 2 diabetes (high blood sugar), hypertension
(high blood pressure), heart disease, stroke, sleep apnea, gallbladder
disease, liver disease, some types of cancer, and irregular menstrual
periods. Dr. Nadler also notes, "These individuals typically have back pain
or joint pain. They can have depression -- actually, the mental health side
of this is vastly underappreciated in my opinion. Obesity is devastating to
these children's social development."

Currently, two major operations for weight loss in adults are performed
in the United States: the gastric bypass procedure and the laparoscopic
adjustable gastric band procedure. Dr. Nadler's group studied the use of
the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band on adolescents. He was
particularly interested in studying this procedure because "Gastric bypass
has a mortality rate of about one percent in the adult population; the lap
band mortality rate is about 20 times less. Therefore, in my estimation,
it's a better operation for teenagers because it's safer," Dr. Nadler
explains. "Gastric bypass probably is a little bit more effective in terms
of absolute weight loss than gastric banding, but the amount of weight you
need to lose to have your obesity-related illnesses get better is about 20
percent of your excess weight." With the gastric band, the weight loss was
found to be "about 50 percent of your excess weight while the bypass may be
closer to 60 percent." As for the difference in the rates of weight loss,
Dr. Nadler notes "As long as the obesity-related illnesses get better, I
don't really care if you're a size 8 as opposed to a size 10. Getting the
extra pounds of weight loss is not worth a 20-fold increase in the
likelihood of dying," he explained.

The gastric banding procedure itself is minimally invasive and is
performed laparoscopically. This procedure involves putting a camera
through a small abdominal incision and using special, long instruments that
allow the surgeons to do the procedure without making a real cut in the
abdomen. Dr. Nadler describes the procedure this way: "Surgeons make five
small holes in the abdomen and place the band around the top of the
stomach. The band itself has a balloon on the inside of it which is
connected to a port. We access the port periodically to inflate the balloon
to tighten it, and as the band gets tighter, the patient experiences a
sense of fullness and then they're not hungry any more, and thus they don't
eat very much." As a conservative measure, the children were kept in the
hospital overnight; in adults, however, the operation can be done on an
outpatient basis and takes about an hour to an hour and a half to complete.

Dr. Nadler and colleagues used a scanning technique called DEXA
(dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry) to assess body composition. "The reason
body composition is important, is that there are a multitude of studies
that show that fat loss centrally is much more important than fat loss
peripherally. So men who carry their fat in the bellies are at higher risk
for bad comorbidities than some women who carry their fat on their hips and
thighs." These are commonly called the "apple" and "pear" shapes,
respectively. While previously published studies had shown that
laparoscopic adjustable banding was effective in producing weight loss, "We
wanted to know whether the weight loss was central or peripheral (ie.,
apple or pear) and then whether we were able to reverse the comorbidities
in our patients significantly," Dr. Nadler said.

In the study presented at the ACS Clinical Congress, the researchers
reported on a one-year follow-up data on 14 of the adolescent participants.
They found fat mass, lean mass, and android (male-pattern visceral) fat
were all significantly decreased. Prior to the operation, there were a
total of 43 comorbidities in all 14 participants, back pain, dyslipidemia
(a lipoprotein metabolism disorder) depression, osteoarthritis, and sleep
disorders. At one-year follow-up, 34 of these factors were reassessed and
the vast majority had improved. Twenty-five comorbidities were completely
resolved and five were improved, for a total improvement rate of 70 percent
in obesity-related illnesses, Dr. Nadler reported.

In terms of how this surgical procedure impacts lifestyle, Dr. Nadler
says, "We think of it as a behavior modification tool. It really changes
the way you eat. It forces you to. There's no choice." While some patients
may have to endure a second operation if the band slips out of position,
this is relatively uncommon, occurring in less than 10 percent of cases.
More importantly, Dr. Nadler says, "This particular study shows that the
weight loss associated with laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding in
adolescents is the important weight loss: it's the weight loss of central
fat which directly relates to the comorbid conditions associated with
obesity. So this particular dataset shows that you lose central fat, and
that for a large majority of our patients, their comorbidities are resolved
and/or improved."

According to Dr. Nadler, "Childhood obesity is a very controversial
topic and probably the most pressing health care issue facing children
today. What to do about it is certainly discussed among many experts, and I
think everyone agrees that prevention is the ideal strategy. But then the
question is, what do you do with all these children who are already 100
pounds overweight and are now getting sick from being that overweight?"

"It has been estimated that there are a million children in the US who
would qualify for obesity surgery based on their current weight and medical
illnesses related to their weight. We have been looking at children ages 14
to 17 for now, because that's the age group just younger than adults.
Whether or not the evaluation will expand to younger patients in the future
is unclear. But certainly there even are 12-year-olds these days who are so
overweight that they have severe medical problems based on their weight. I
think most of us would agree that if someone is really debilitated by their
weight, if they're 12 or 13, they might be a candidate for a lap-band
procedure, despite the fact they may not have reached their full adult
height," he observed. Dr. Nadler's study of the effect of gastric banding
on overweight adolescents is ongoing. Future studies will examine larger
numbers of adolescents.

In addition to Dr. Nadler, the research team included Valerie Peck, MD;
Christine Ren, MD, FACS; George Fielding, MD; and Shivani Reddy, MD.

SOURCE American College of Surgeons

Proper Mattress Can Improve Sleep Comfort, Reduce Pain

ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 9 (medianowonline)- A good night's sleep is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle; however, an estimated 70 million Americans complain of sleeplessness. This October, during National Chiropractic Month, the American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is offering advice to help consumers select comfortable mattresses and pillows that can help limit unnecessary back and neck pain.


"Americans spend one-third of their lives sleeping, so it makes sense to invest in a sleep set that can improve your comfort and overall health," says Scott Bautch, DC, DACBOH, spokesperson for the American Chiropractic Association. "Many people don't realize the reason for their neck or back pain is literally right underneath them -- it's their mattress and pillow."


A 2006 study published in the Journal of Chiropractic Medicine showed that sleeping on a new mattress can significantly reduce stiffness and back pain. Researchers found that study participants reported immediate and sustained benefits after sleeping on a new mattress. This was especially true of participants who entered the study with back pain complaints, as they reported a 63 percent improvement in back discomfort with a new mattress.


When it comes time to purchase a new mattress, the ACA recommends the following:


Shop for Support


Look for a mattress that provides uniform support from head to toe; if there are gaps between your body and the mattress (such as at the waist), you're not getting the full support you need. Mattresses can be too firm; pay close attention to uncomfortable pressure on prominent body features such as the shoulders, hips and low back.


Shop for Comfort


When mattress shopping, give each option a good trial run before you buy; lie down on a mattress for a minimum of five to 10 minutes to get a good idea of its comfort level. If you cannot find a comfortable position, you probably have the wrong mattress.


Shop for Size


Does the bed provide enough room for both you -- and your sleeping partner if you have one -- to stretch and roll over? The ideal mattress will also minimize the transfer of movement from one sleeping partner to the other, which means one person shouldn't feel motion as the other leaves the bed.


Generally, a mattress should be replaced every 5 to 8 years to ensure proper support and comfort. Be aware that life's changes can signal the need for a new mattress as well. For example, people who have lost or gained a considerable amount of weight, those who have a medical condition which has changed the way they sleep, or even those who've changed partners may need to consider a new mattress.


Pillows important, too


After investing in a quality mattress, don't forget to choose an equally supportive pillow, advises ACA spokesperson Steven Conway, DC, DACBOH, Esq. "People will spend thousands of dollars on a mattress and then skimp on a pillow that doesn't support their head and neck properly," he observes.


When selecting a new pillow, ACA recommends selecting one with ergonomically-designed features, which will enhance comfort and limit pain. Look for pillows that are:


-- Designed to keep the spine in natural alignment. When lying on your side, your head and neck should remain level with your mid and lower spine. When lying on your back, your head and neck should remain level with your upper back and spine. Avoid pillows that are so thick or thin that they angle your head and neck away from your body.


-- Designed to support different sleep positions, including side sleeper or back sleeper. (It's best never to sleep on your stomach, as it's the most back unfriendly sleeping position.)


-- Hypoallergenic.


There is no such thing as a universal fit when it comes to pillows, Dr. Conway notes. "Find a pillow that is consistent with the shape and size of your body. If you find yourself sleeping on your side with one hand propped under your pillow, that's a clue that you're not getting the support you need from that pillow," he explains.


If you continue to experience pain and discomfort at night or have difficulty falling asleep, visit your doctor of chiropractic. Doctors of chiropractic are trained to treat spinal problems that can interfere with a restful night's sleep. They can also offer nutritional and ergonomic advice that can help improve the quality of your sleep. To find a chiropractor near you, view ACA's searchable member database at www.ACAtoday.org/DOCsearch.

Unique Opportunity for Women to Participate in Breast Cancer Research

Spit for the Cure Offers Unique Opportunity for Women to Participate in Breast Cancer Research

LITTLE ROCK, Ark., Oct. 9 (medianowonline)- A research study at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is designed to establish one of the largest and most rapidly assembled groups of women to aid in the study of breast cancer occurrence.


Spit for the Cure involves the collection of saliva samples from thousands of women and is being conducted with the support of the Arkansas Chapter of Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The saliva samples will be used to create a DNA database for future studies related to breast cancer risk and treatment. Participants also will be asked to answer a short questionnaire and indicate if they would be willing to participate in follow-up studies. All information will be kept confidential.


To participate, contact Susan Kadlubar, Ph.D., assistant professor of environmental and occupational health in the UAMS College of Public Health, at (501) 526-7957. Additional researchers leading the study are V. Suzanne Klimberg, M.D., director of the breast cancer program at the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute (formerly the Arkansas Cancer Research Center), and Kristy Bondurant, Ph.D., postdoctoral fellow.


"It has become clear that an individual's inherited profile and environmental exposures will decide, to a large degree, that individual's risk of developing breast cancer," Klimberg said. "We are working to obtain DNA samples from a representative group of Arkansas women that will be used to advance breast cancer research in a variety of areas."


Researchers will be allowed to access the samples and data linked by unique identification codes in order to address specific questions related to the factors affecting breast cancer risk and treatment, without having access to information that could identify participants.


"Because the study is noninvasive, it is easy to participate," Kadlubar said. "By collecting samples from women at Susan G. Komen for the Cure events, as well as in other locations, we hope to quickly assemble a large, representative DNA database that will benefit numerous research studies." Little Rock is home to one of the country's largest Komen Races for the Cure, with more than 40,000 women participants each year.


UAMS is the state's only comprehensive academic health center, with five colleges, a graduate school, a medical center, six centers of excellence and a statewide network of regional centers. UAMS has about 2,538 students and 733 medical residents. It is one of the state's largest public employers with about 9,600 employees, including nearly 1,000 physicians who provide medical care to patients at UAMS, Arkansas Children's Hospital, the VA Medical Center and UAMS' Area Health Education Centers throughout the state. UAMS and its affiliates have an economic impact in Arkansas of $5 billion a year. For more information, visit http://www.uams.edu/.


Source: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

October is Lupus Awareness Month

A Campaign to Educate, Support, Raise Funds for Research

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 9 (medianowonline)- Approximately 1.5 million Americans have a form of lupus, the chronic (incurable) disease that can result in severe joint pain and swelling, fevers, fatigue, fevers, skin rashes, anemia, chest pains, sun sensitivity, and other health effects, including organ failure and death. Lupus mostly strikes women of childbearing age -- between 15 and 44 -- although men and women of all ages can develop the disease as well. October is Lupus Awareness Month and The Lupus Foundation of America, Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter is sponsoring a number of community events to spread the word about diagnosis and support programs. The purpose of the month long initiative is to educate and support individuals with lupus and their families as well as raise funds to support local programs, services and research in our area.


Lupus awareness month activities:


Lupus Foundation teams up with Wired 96.5 FM "Outside the Huddle"
Meet & talk football with "birds" cornerback Sheldon Brown #24
Q&A, Autographs, food, giveaways & special raffles!
Wear purple, the color of lupus awareness and receive double raffle
tickets.
Monday, October 15th
Chickie's & Pete's 11000 Roosevelt Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 6:00-8:00PM

Beginners Guide to Lupus
Series designed to educate newly diagnosed individuals with lupus or those
who have never attended a lupus educational program.
October 23rd, Marple Public Library, Broomall, PA 7:00PM
October 25th, Penn Tower Hotel, Philadelphia, PA 11:00AM

16th Annual Lupus Loop 5K Run/Walk
Join over 2000 participants and GN Kang, the female voice of Wired
96.5FM's Chio In The Morning.
Show support for those living with lupus at a morning of fun for the
entire family!
Sunday, October 28th
Carousel House, Fairmount Park, Belmont Ave & N. Concourse Drive,
Philadelphia, PA
8:45AM Registration 10:00AM start


Symptoms of lupus mimic common illnesses and can go into periods of remission, making diagnosis difficult. A Lupus Foundation of America survey of its members suggests that more than half of all people with lupus suffer four or more years and visit three or more doctors before obtaining a correct diagnosis of lupus.


The cause of lupus is unknown, though researchers believe lupus has a genetic basis and certain environmental influences can trigger disease activity in individuals predisposed to lupus. There is no cure for lupus, but medications are prescribed that can control the disease in most patients. Unfortunately, current therapies for lupus can be toxic, causing other health problems, and no new medicines have been approved specifically to treat lupus symptoms in more than thirty years. But new research offers hope that safer and more effective treatments will be made available in the not too distant future.


The Lupus Foundation of America Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter is an affiliate of the Lupus Foundation of America based in Washington, DC. The Lupus Foundation of America is the nation's leading nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to improving the diagnosis and treatment of lupus, supporting individuals and families affected by the disease, increasing awareness of lupus among health professionals and the public, and finding the cure. Locally, for more information about lupus or the Lupus Loop Run/Walk, visit the Lupus Foundation of Southeastern Pennsylvania's website at http://www.lupus-sepa.org/, register online for the lupus loop at http://www.lupusloop.org/ or contact our office at 215.517.5070. Education and Outreach activities are sponsored in part by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.


Source: The Lupus Foundation of America Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter

Common Early-Warning Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer Identified

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Oct. 9 (medianowonline)- In a study published in the Journal of Women's Health, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Thomson Healthcare (NYSE: TOC; TSK: TOC) found a distinct pattern of medical signs and symptoms that occurred prior to the detection of ovarian cancer.


According to the study, the conditions patients experienced before an ovarian cancer diagnosis included abdominal pain, urinary tract conditions, menopausal disorders, female genital symptoms, and gastrointestinal symptoms. These symptoms were most pronounced in the 30-90 days prior to diagnosis.


To make this determination, researchers analyzed medical claims from 920 patients diagnosed with ovarian cancer and tracked the symptoms those patients experienced prior to diagnosis. These results were compared with claims data for 2,760 women without ovarian cancer matched on age, geographic region, Medicare eligibility, and health plan type.


Five conditions were identified as being possibly related to ovarian cancer because they were reported significantly more frequently by women diagnosed with the cancer than they were in the comparison group. While all symptoms were reported among women with and without ovarian cancer, the rate of these symptoms was higher, and continued to increase, beginning 90 days prior to diagnosis. Abdominal pain was most frequently linked to a subsequent ovarian cancer diagnosis, with 83 percent of women in the ovarian cancer group recording abdominal pain within 30 days of diagnosis in contrast to fewer than two percent in the comparison group.


Other symptoms more frequently recorded for the ovarian cancer group included female genital symptoms, which were 3.5 times more frequent, and gastrointestinal symptoms, which were 1.5 to 2 times more frequent. Urinary tract disorders and menopausal symptoms were also recorded twice as frequently among the women in the ovarian cancer group.


This study found that while the presence of ovarian cancer-related symptoms and conditions prior to diagnoses was documented in the medical claims data, this increase was most pronounced in the two to three months prior to diagnosis. Still, there remains a challenge to link symptoms with ovarian cancer, as many of the related symptoms are also present for several other disorders and diseases.


"Ovarian cancer is most often diagnosed at the later stages," said Stella Chang, research director at Thomson Healthcare and co-author of the study. "Identifying a pattern of symptoms can keep doctors one step ahead of a dangerous disease. It is important to understand that these symptoms do not automatically dictate that a woman has ovarian cancer, but recognizing them could lead to earlier diagnosis and more treatment options to save a patient's life."


About the Study


The study, "Temporal Patterns of Conditions and Symptoms Potentially Associated with Ovarian Cancer," was conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Thomson Healthcare. It is published in the September issue of the Journal of Women's Health (Volume 16, Number 7, pp. 971-986.)


The authors are Michelle Wynn, formerly of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control; Stella Chang of Thomson Healthcare; and Lucy Peipins of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Cancer Prevention and Control.


About Thomson Healthcare


Thomson Healthcare is the leading provider of decision support solutions that help organizations across the healthcare industry improve clinical and business performance. Thomson Healthcare products and services help clinicians, hospitals, employers, health plans, government agencies, and pharmaceutical companies manage the cost and improve the quality of healthcare. Thomson Healthcare is a part of The Thomson Corporation, a provider of value-added information, software tools and applications to professionals in the fields of healthcare, law, tax, accounting, scientific research, and financial services. (PRN)

Parkinson's Sufferers Find Chinese Stem Cell Treatment Effective

Westerners Return from Beijing's World-Class Stem Cell Treatment Hospital with Clear Improvement, Giving Hope Not Found at Home

BEIJING, Oct. 9, 2007 - Tiantan Puhua Neurosurgical Hospital, the world's leading center for effective treatment of Parkinson's disease using adult retinal stem cells, today here announced that four more international patients returned home from China with a significant reduction in their debilitating Parkinson's disease symptoms. These success stories clearly demonstrate stem cells can effectively be used to treat afflictions like Parkinson's in addition to many other neurological disorders.

While debates over stem cells continue in many countries, Western clinical trials have so far found the use of adult retinal stem cells to be the best chance for Parkinson's sufferers to gain a better quality of life. Chinese neurologists at Tiantan Puhua Hospital are among those worldwide leading the implementation of this cutting-edge science through safe and effective treatment. Following Penny Thomas of Hawaii, who benefited from the hospital's stem cell treatment a year ago, four more patients have now come home to better lives in the United States and Europe after treatment at Tiantan Puhua Hospital in Beijing.

Jane Edwards, a 55-year-old United Kingdom citizen, saw comparatively dramatic improvement in her debilitating Parkinson's symptoms almost immediately after a minimally invasive injection that implanted millions of high-quality adult hRPE (human Retinal Pigment Epithelial) cells. The procedure utilizes the latest stereotactic technology. This cutting edge three-dimensional imaging system assists doctors in locating the most appropriate area of the brain or other nerve center to implant the cells. Tiantan Puhua's several weeks treatment program for Parkinson's sufferers also often includes a nutritious intravenous (IV) cocktail that protects the implanted stem cells, personalized physical therapy, and even complementary traditional Chinese medicine. This all takes place in a hospital whose doctors and staff function under fully international standards. More details on Jane's treatment can be found at http://www.stemcellspuhua.com/articles/article_86716.html.

"I hope everyone suffering from this terrible disease and seeking hope will examine the evidence, and will consider coming to China to seek improvement through these great doctors," said Jane. "Those in the West that urge caution for Parkinson's sufferers who consider going to Beijing, with no evidence to say why, simply aren't going through what I have been going through," she said.

Jane was diagnosed with Parkinson's in the spring of 2001, reaching stage three of the disease (on the Hoehn/Yahr scale) as her symptoms became progressively worse just before the treatment. Before coming to China, Jane could not do the simple things in life on her own that most of us take for granted, such as turning over in bed, getting up from a chair, dressing herself, putting on shoes, or writing - the last of which she had given up more than two years ago. She also could not turn her neck and her speech was becoming increasingly slow. Within 6 weeks after the treatment, almost all of Jane's Parkinson's symptoms were greatly reduced. Jane can now write again, turn over in bed, dress by herself, and even ride a bicycle.

Linda Rouen, 59, from the United States, was diagnosed with Parkinson's 5 years ago. In 2007, Linda decided to come to China for stem cell treatment to seek solutions for her deteriorating condition. To control her symptoms, Linda previously took a high dosage of medications every 2 hours.

"I was a watch keeper. I used to watch the clock all the time. After time, I stopped swimming and avoided other physical and social activities because I never knew when the medications would wear off," she said. "Without heavy medication, I could hardly get dressed, get out of bed, or take a shower on my own."

Linda's most notable change after the surgery and treatment at Tiantian Puhua Hospital was her first peaceful full night of sleep in five years. Within 5 weeks after the stem cell implantation, most of Linda's symptoms gradually went away, allowing her medication to be significantly reduced. Details on Linda's treatment are at: http://www.stemcellspuhua.com/articles/article_97730.html.

At the time of this release, two more international Parkinson's sufferers report having significant improvement from the treatment at Tiantan Puhua Hospital. American David Brown, 64, reports better balance, more fluid movement, and the disappearance of "freeze-ups" after his treatment. As well, US citizen James Devlin, 65, from Hawaii, shows significant reduction in his tremors, is feeling increased energy and muscle strength, and is getting more sleep and much more relief from the anxiety and depression he suffered for many years. The experience of both patients is recorded at http://www.stemcellspuhua.com.

About Tiantan Puhua Neurosurgical Hospital

Tiantan (Temple of Heaven) Puhua Neurosurgical Hospital, a world-class international facility in Beijing, is rapidly gaining renown as the world's foremost center for treatment of Parkinson's disease and a range of other neurological disorders through its groundbreaking stem cell therapy. The Hospital collaborates with the Stem Cells Research Center of Peking University, which is the leading stem cells research center in China. There, stem cells are cultured and induced for clinical treatment. To date, Tiantan Puhua Hospital has treated 14 international Parkinson's disease patients. The treatment is based on a clinical trial done at Peking University in which 20 Chinese Parkinson's patients have gone through hRPE stem cells implantation. PET scans done before and after the implantation showed that all patients exhibited increased amounts of dopamine in their brain, with a correlated improvement of movement. Long-term follow-up of the patients remains unavailable and is currently being carefully researched on a selected number of patients. Tiantan Puhua is the only hospital that offers this treatment to patients beyond limited clinical trials. (ERN)
More details about Tiantan Puhua Hospital can be found on the website: http://www.stemcellspuhua.com.

Novel Approach to Improving Cardiovascular Care

To Advance Heart Care Treatment, Physician Program at Montefiore Will
Measure Everything from Aspirin and Beta Blockers to Patient Satisfaction


NEW YORK, Oct. 6 - Thousands of heart patients in the Greater New York region will receive top quality, comprehensive cardiac care in an innovative cardiovascular program in which physicians at a major academic medical center will receive incentive payments based on 60 performance measures for outpatient and inpatient care.

The program is one of many pioneering initiatives at Montefiore Medical
Center's nationally recognized Montefiore-Einstein Heart Center and will
challenge physicians to score well on a mix of measurable activities that
indicate quality care for patients, such as: is the patient enrolled in a
smoking cessation program; has beta blocker therapy been persistent; is
blood pressure under control; and, was the patient generally satisfied with
his care? The program is for heart patients and for patients with risk
factors for heart disease, such as diabetes, hypertension,
hypercholesterolemia, smoking and obesity.

Montefiore is the only hospital in New York State to initiate such a
pay- for-performance program, which is being funded by a $2.4 million grant
from the New York State Health Department.

"Cardiovascular care has advanced considerably over the past decades
through prevention programs, clinical drug trials and advancements in
surgery such as robotics," said Steven M. Safyer, MD, Senior Vice President
and Chief Medical Officer, Montefiore. "This state grant supports
Montefiore's continuing focus on innovations in cardiovascular treatment by
adding a new approach. It gives us the opportunity to look at the physician
side of the equation and to implement a model pay-for-performance cardiac
care program."

Here's how the pay-for-performance project will work in an outpatient
setting for one group of patients -- those who are at-risk for heart
disease. If a physician in one of Montefiore's ambulatory care centers
meets certain clinical performance standards for her patients (such as
controlling high blood pressure, checking weight, providing nutrition
counseling, checking smoking status, and giving a flu vaccine), she could
earn an income bonus. The higher her score is on the list of performance
standards that are recorded electronically, the larger the bonus -- up to a
certain maximum. The same type of financial incentives, with different
performance criteria, would apply to treating patients with existing heart
disease or diabetes.

"This approach aligns the incentives for patient, physician and
hospital in order to promote best practices and optimal outcomes," said
Safyer.
Montefiore will use its unique clinical information system to quantify
performance.
In the more complex environment of an inpatient hospital setting,
performance measurements will go beyond clinical data to include the number
of readmissions for heart care patients within a year's time and patient
satisfaction survey scores.
"This project breaks new ground," said Rohit Bhalla, MD, Chief Quality
Officer at Montefiore. "Most pay-for-performance experiments are conducted
by insurers, not providers. Providers generally do not have an incentive to
reduce utilization."
"Montefiore is uniquely positioned for this grant," said Stephen
Rosenthal, president of Montefiore's CMO, the Care Management Company. "We
have a pioneering care coordinating program (Care Guidancesm) for 150,000
Bronx patients for whom we are not only the provider, but also act as an
insurer. Therefore, we have an alignment of all the right incentives to
improve quality and optimize appropriate utilization for these patients.
Most hospitals have not adopted at-risk arrangements such as this, which
has very similar incentives to the pay-for-performance model."
Unique aspects of the Montefiore pay-for-performance grant:

-- It is highly unusual for a hospital to be in such a program.
-- Montefiore is partnering with the state and insurers to create an
incentive pool of monies.
-- Montefiore can measure performance standards across an integrated
system of care -- in an inpatient hospital setting and throughout its
many medical group outpatient settings.
-- It is "payer neutral" because the physician will see only one set of
criteria for incentive pay. Currently, each insurer has its own
separate set of performance standards, which is confusing for the
physician.
-- Pay-for-performance measurements will extend beyond just clinical
standards, and include patient satisfaction surveys and utilization
rates.
-- Montefiore is using a highly sophisticated, existing clinical
information system to measure both the performance standards required
by the state and an additional dozen standards of care added by
Montefiore.
Montefiore Medical Center, The University Hospital and Academic Medical
Center for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, encompasses 125 years
of innovative medical "firsts," pioneering clinical research, dedicated
community service and ground-breaking social activism.

A full-service, integrated delivery system caring for patients from New
York, Westchester County and beyond, Montefiore is a 1,122-bed medical
center that includes three hospitals: the Henry and Lucy Moses Division,
the Jack D. Weiler Hospital and The Children's Hospital at Montefiore; a
large home healthcare agency; the first and largest school health program
in the U.S.; a 21-site medical group practice integrated throughout the
Bronx and Westchester; and a care management organization providing
services to 179,000 health plan members. The medical center is ranked by the prestigious Leapfrog Group among the top one percent of all U.S. hospitals based on its strategic investments in sophisticated and integrated healthcare technology.
Montefiore's distinguished centers of excellence include cardiology and
cardiac surgery, cancer care, tissue and organ transplantation, children's
health, women's health, obesity, diabetes, surgery and the surgical
subspecialties. Montefiore is a leader in the treatment of headaches, cough
and sleep disorders, geriatrics and geriatric psychiatry, neurology and
neurosurgery, bioethics, adolescent and family medicine, HIV/AIDS and
social medicine, among many other specialties. (PRN)

Cherokee 'Health' Tee Proceeds Benefit Breast Cancer Research



SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 6 - Sundance Catalog is proud to
support Susan G. Komen for the Cure's promise to save lives and end breast
cancer forever by empowering people, ensuring quality care and finding a
cure. Sundance Catalog will be donating 20% of the retail sales price of
the Cherokee "Health" Tee sold between October 1, 2007 and November 30,
2007, with a guaranteed minimum donation of $5,000.00. The Cherokee word
for "health" (pronounced ah-yay-la) makes a bold statement across the front
of the Sundance exclusive cotton t-shirt. The word is translated on the
back and punctuated by the pink ribbon associated with breast cancer
awareness. Inside, beneath the neckline, printed in light gray, is a
fascinating history of the rare and endangered Cherokee language. For more
information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast
cancer, visit http://www.komen.org or call 1-800 I'M AWARE.
About Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would
do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that
promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast
cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest
grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to
save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize
science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the
Cure, we have invested nearly $1 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming
the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast
cancer in the world.
About Sundance Catalog Company
Famed actor, director and visionary of independent filmmaking, Robert
Redford founded Sundance Catalog Company in 1969 to promote the works of
artists and craftspeople. The Sundance Catalog Company has received
multiple Catalog Age Gold Awards for notable creative, photography and
unique product assortment. The Catalog's eclectic mix of clothing, jewelry,
accessories, and home decor are predominantly exclusive and offered through
its catalogs, website (http://www.sundancecatalog.com), an outlet store and
a full retail store located in Denver, Colorado. The Sundance retail
division is but one of several Sundance brand entities including the
Sundance Channel, the Sundance Film Festival, the Sundance Institute,
Sundance Cinemas and the Sundance Resort. (PRN)

Soy Protein May Reduce Prostate Cancer Risk

ST. LOUIS, Oct. 5 - A study published in the Oct. 1 Journal of Nutrition suggests consumption of soy protein may play a role in reducing the risk of prostate cancer, Solae notes, giving consumers another healthy reason to make soy part of their diet.
The study, "Soy protein isolate increases urinary estrogens and the
ratio of 2:16 alpha-hydroxyestrone in men at high risk of prostate cancer,"
is believed to be the first study investigating the effects of soy protein
consumption on estrogen metabolism and prostate cancer in men.
"The intent of the study was to evaluate the effects of consuming soy
protein on elimination of estrogen metabolites in the urine of men at a
high risk for prostate cancer," said Dr. Mindy Kurzer, lead author of the
study and a professor in the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at
the University of Minnesota. "After taking biopsies of prostate tissue,
androgen receptors were reduced in the prostate, which is consistent with a
reduced risk of prostate cancer. In addition, significantly fewer of the
men who consumed soy protein progressed to cancer by the end of the
six-month study. We are encouraged by the results, but more studies must be
performed."
"The results of this study could be beneficial for men who are at risk
of prostate cancer," said Dr. Kathryn Greaves, Group Lead, Clinical
Nutrition at Solae. "If the results of this study are replicated in future
studies, reducing the risk of prostate cancer may be another reason to
include soy in your daily diet."
Soy has been documented to potentially improve heart health and aid in
sports performance and weight management. For more information on Solae and
its products, please visit http://www.solae.com.
About Solae
Solae is the world leader in developing innovative soy-based technology
to the food, meat and nutritional products industries. Solae provides
solutions that deliver a unique combination of functional, nutritional and
economic benefits to our customers.
Headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, with annual revenue
exceeding $1 billion, the company was formed through an alliance between
Bunge Limited (NYSE: BG) and DuPont (NYSE: DD). For more information, visit
http://www.solae.com.

Colorectal Cancer Screening

Despite Advances in the Accuracy of CT Colonography in Detecting Polyps, Digestive Health Experts Urge Patients to Consider Risks and Realities



BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 5 - New research from the University of Wisconsin comparing optical colonoscopy to CT colonography published in the New England Journal of Medicine today raises several important issues for the public about colorectal cancer screening using a CT scan of the abdomen. "Gastrointestinal physicians are committed to preventing colorectal cancer, and to advancing new frontiers in medicine.
While all of us on the front lines of battling colorectal cancer will
welcome effective and clinically proven new tools, the evidence needs to be
closely evaluated and patients need to recognize that a virtual test is not
without significant potential risks in its own right," commented Dr. David
Johnson, M.D., FACG, President of the American College of Gastroenterology.

The Wisconsin study in today's NEJM compared CT colonography (CTC)
performed for screening in 3120 adults with primary optical colonoscopy
(OC) in 3163 similar consecutive adults. A major limitation of the study
was it was not randomized, patients chose their preferred screening method.
Referral for polypectomy during optical colonoscopy was offered for all
polyps detected by CT colonography of at least 6 mm in size. Patients with
one or two polyps in the range 6 to 9 mm were offered the option of
follow-up surveillance by CT colonography. The researchers do not report
whether CTC identified smaller polyps, which would routinely be removed
according to established practice guidelines because it is impossible to
reliably identify which small adenomas will become cancerous.

CTC and OC found similar rates of advanced neoplasms and cancers. About
8 percent of CTC screenings resulted in referrals for OC for removal of
suspicious polyps. The total numbers of polypectomies in the CTC and OC
groups were 561 and 2434, respectively, so far more potentially cancerous
polyps were removed by colonoscopy. Seven perforations occurred in the OC
group during screening, and none occurred in the CTC group.

According to Dr. Johnson, "The nonrandomized design of this study is
problematic. The higher rate of cancer in the OC group suggests that the
study populations were different, and a higher percentage of patients in
the OC group might have received previous negative screening test results
-- such testing would select for a lower rate of cancers and advanced
adenomas in the colonoscopy group and potentially bias to higher detection
in the CTC cohort. Also, the rate of perforation in the colonoscopy arm was
twice what is expected in a screening population. Thus, we need additional
information to interpret this nonrandomized comparison before we can
generalize the results to clinical practice."


Evaluating the Potential of CT Colonography - What Patients Should Know

When evaluating new potential screening technologies, including CT
colonography, the ACG has focused its evaluation on several pieces of
evidence including: sensitivity for identification of polyps of various
sizes, standards for polyp removal, correlating patient risks (in this case
from radiation exposure), frequency of exams and the economic impact to the
healthcare system of separate diagnostic and therapeutic exams.

An important reality of CT colonography is the likelihood that patients
will need a follow-up with optical colonoscopy. Of the patients undergoing
CT colonography in the University of Wisconsin study published in NEJM, 7.9
percent were referred for optical colonoscopy for removal of potentially
pre-cancerous polyps at least 6mm in size. Earlier findings by Dr.
Pickhardt and his colleagues in 2004, at least 30 percent of patients
undergoing virtual colonoscopy required conventional colonoscopy to remove
polyps 6mm or larger.

ACG notes that the CTC technology requires the same bowel preparation
as optical colonoscopy. There is also evidence that due to the insertion of
a tube in the rectum and insufflation of the abdomen with air or gas, the
patients, who are not sedated and awake tend to feel discomfort. In
addition, the fact that some percentage of patients will be required to
follow up a CT colonography with a therapeutic or, in cases where there the
CT results are not clear, a second diagnostic colonoscopy, has patient
acceptance and economic implications.

"Patient acceptance is another key factor in evaluating the promise of
a new technology. The fact that patients undergoing optical colonoscopy are
sedated and do not experience pain in association with the procedure and
they will be able to have an examination and any necessary therapeutic
intervention in a single visit will be important in evaluating which test
is best for a particular patient," added Dr. Johnson.

It is important for patients to understand that no guideline group,
including the American Cancer Society or the Multi-Society Task Force on
Colorectal Cancer has yet endorsed CT colonography as appropriate for
colorectal cancer screening.

According to the American College of Gastroenterology, colonoscopy
remains the best test and the current gold standard for colorectal cancer
screening and prevention. Three studies have shown that colonoscopy
prevents about 80 percent of colorectal cancers from developing by removing
pre-cancerous polyps. "The public should recognize that there is no
evidence that any radiographic test, including CT colonography prevents the
development of colorectal cancer," said Dr. David Johnson.

"There is a tremendous body of evidence that shows that clearing the
colon of polyps, including small polyps, significantly reduces colorectal
cancer mortality. Because of its excellent sensitivity in detecting polyps
and its potential for removing them and breaking the sequence of polyp to
cancer in a single diagnostic and therapeutic intervention, colonoscopy is
one of the most powerful preventive tools in clinical medicine. Until a
radiographic test can meet that standard, gastroenterologists will continue
to champion the lifesaving potential of colonoscopy," Johnson added.



SOURCE American College of Gastroenterology

Latest Fish News Great for Moms and Babies, Bad for Mercury Fear

Consumer Group Statement on Seafood and Health: 'We Told You So'




WASHINGTON, Oct. 5 - In response to new seafood consumption guidelines for pregnant women, issued this morning by the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition (HMHB), David Martosko, Director of Research at the nonprofit Center for Consumer Freedom made the following statement:

"It's about time the pendulum on fish and mercury swung back in the
direction of common sense. For generations, fish has been 'brain food' to
moms and their kids. But about ten years ago, it started receiving the
skull-and-crossbones treatment from moneyed environmental groups and
government agencies jumping the gun on unresolved science," Martosko said.
"Green groups including Oceana, the Sierra Club, the Environmental Working
Group, the Natural Resources Defense Council, and the Mercury Policy
Project owe millions of American moms and their babies a sincere apology.
And the Environmental Protection Agency should join in that chorus.

"In an age when the Precautionary Principle informs so much (some would
argue too much) of our policy making, fear of fish is a great example of
hyper-precaution leading us in the wrong direction. Sadly, a public health
tragedy still awaits us, but not from the fish on our plates. The real
danger will come from unintended consequences of alarm bells, as moms deny
their children the vital health benefits of seafood because of unfounded
mercury fears," Martosko added. "For three years, we've been saying that
the proven health benefits of eating fish far outweigh the hypothetical
risks. Serious science clearly doesn't support the prevailing panic, and
we're glad to see mainstream nutrition experts telling moms that the Great
Mercury Scare belongs in the dustbin of history."

For more information, visit http://www.mercuryfacts.org