Need To Know

Distribute data and save energy with network drives

2009-03-02T05:25:00.000-08:00

Hanover - Users of home networks may want to consider a networked hard drive to provide communal access to music, photos, videos and data. Also known as Network Attached Storage (NAS), these compact devices work quietly, are simple to set up, and use only 10 watts on average, reports the Hanover-based c't magazine.

By comparison, a PC left running around the clock uses at least 60 watts, even if only rarely used to call up data.

As NAS hard drives generally offer incredibly large amounts of storage space, they are well equipped to serve as a backup space for a PC or laptop's hard drive. Almost all operating systems can now handle daily backups of this type.

One frequent complaint about NAS hard drives is the data transfer speeds, the magazine says. Even if the hard drive possesses a gigabit Ethernetconnection, the built-in processors are often not powerful enough to achieve the maximum theoretical transfer rates. The devices frequently top out at 20 Megabytes per second (MByte/s), and in other cases even 10 MByte/s or less, the magazine scolds.

New chips from AMD: Triple core on the way

2009-03-02T05:03:00.000-08:00

Munich - Chip maker AMD is preparing a new line of microprocessors that feature the introduction of triple-core chips. The five new processors, aimed at consumers, will be released as part of the Phenom line of microprocessors and will be dubbed Phenom II, says AMD.

In addition to three quad-core chips running at from 2.5 to 2.6 Gigahertz (GHz), AMD will release two processors with three cores. The Phenom II X3 710 runs at 2.6 GHz per core, while the Phenom II X3 720 Black Edition ups the speed to 2.8 GHz per core and is designed to allow users to 'overclock' the chips using AMD Overdrive, a software program. Overclocking refers to running the chips at speeds higher than those for which they were designed.

The new quad-core and triple-core chips will fit on existing AMD motherboards that have an AM2+ or AM3 socket. The processors will support today's DDR2 and DDR3 memory chips, which should help keep the cost down for system builders and allow users of current-generation computers to upgrade their systems with the new processors.

Feel Sexy

2009-03-01T10:26:00.000-08:00

We all know what sex can do to our health. If you do not know about the benefits of sex well you better start doing your research. I'm not going to talk about the health benefits of sex but instead I'm going to talk about how to get ready and impressed your partner for a night of pleasure. Getting ready to impressed your partner involves some works. You need to find a nice lingerie to attract your partner also you need to be look good and smell good for that night. Where else you can find the most sexy, cute and exciting kind of lingerie but from flirtylingerie.com. They carry all kinds of lingerie one of the most popular lingerie that both partners like is a Sheer Lingerie . If you have the boodylicious kind of body why not flaunt it. Make your partner excited just by looking at you. If both of you are like to dress up for a special night you can also get him a men's lingerie. Flirtylingerie.com carry all kinds of things that you will need for your special night. They also have sexy clothes, dresses, tops, high heels, jewelry, bras and panties and a lot more. You name it they got it. When it comes to clothing that will make you feel sexy their website carry it. If you are the type of person who shy to do personal shopping to get this stuff all you have to do is do your shopping online. This way you can surprise your partner. Also they carry plus size lingerie so anyone or anybody can feel sexy. For your lingerie needs or sexy clothing needs visit flirtylingerie.com

Reduce Your Stress

2009-03-01T10:24:00.000-08:00

According to the article I read people who have higher levels of stress can affect their ability to do routine in the gym. The researchers found that being stressed out could reduce a person's ability to adjust to a new training program. A study conducted at the University of Texas showed that people with lower levels of stress had larger strength gains after doing the bench press and squat than participants with higher levels of stress. Next time you plan to try another routine, resolve any problems you may have in your life. Reduce your stress, try meditation before you decide to go back to gym and hit the weights.

Ex vivo neural stem cell expansion

2009-02-28T19:57:00.000-08:00

In the March 1 issue of G&D, Dr. Christopher Fasano (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center) and colleagues lend new mechanistic insight into the effective generation of neural stem cells outside of the neurogenic niche.

Their upcoming paper demonstrates that the polycomb group protein, Bmi-1, maintains forebrain neural stem cell self-renewal. Overexpression of Bmi-1 in adult and embryonic forebrain neural progenitor cells increases stem cell self-renewal both in vitro and in vivo. They furthermore show that Bmi-1-mediated self-renewal is dependent upon repression of p21 by the forebrain-specific transcription factor, Foxg1.

Mesothelioma Information Help

2009-02-28T19:38:00.000-08:00

Depending on the stage of the disease, the most common treatments are surgical removal of the affected tissues, chemotherapy, or radiation. There is some concern that research into mesothelioma will be minimal, because it is projected to be a short-lived disease in terms of new cases after the next 30 years. However, new research is consistently providing physicians with alternate forms of therapy, and there are many intense studies into control and cure of the disease, so those diagnosed with mesothelioma do have many options and a lot of hope.

Photodynamic therapy is a new approach to treating mesothelioma cancer and is based on using light to kill the cancer cells. In photodynamic therapy, a drug is first administered intravenously that targets and renders the cancerous cells more sensitive in a number of days. The drug is easily eliminated by normal cells, ensuring that they will not be harmed when light therapy is given. After the cells have been given the proper time of exposure to the drug, a special frequency of light laser beams are directed towards the mesothelioma cancer with the intent to eradicate it from the body without having to use more invasive methods. Although there are occasional cases of eye sensitivity and nausea and/or vomiting, the main side effect of photodynamic therapy is skin sensitivity after the procedure is completed.

More information on photodynamic therapy can be found on new Web site, Mesothelioma Help) The Web site contains several informative articles, including a primer on emerging treatments for mesothelioma.

The Web site was a joint product of Meso Marketing and Meso Corp. Said editor Jimmy Atk, "We wanted to make a site that can actually help those coping with mesothelioma, rather than just another 'A-O #1 Spam' site. This is a hard thing to face, and it's sad to see ambulance-chasers dominating this field. We aim to change that with Mesothelioma Info."

Meso Marketing is a privately held company based in BH, California. For more information. Visit Meso Corp. Visit Mesothelioma Help at

David Williams, Editor
http://www.my-mesothelioma-asbestos.com
http://www.your-structured-settlement.com
http://www.my-mesothelioma-cancer.com

Mesothelioma Lawsuit

2009-02-28T19:35:00.000-08:00

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the linings of the heart, chest and abdominal cavity and is caused by exposure to asbestos, either first hand from working in (usually industrial) sites which used asbestos or second hand from coming into contact with the clothes of a family member who worked on one of these sites. It is a dangerous cancer because of its long latency period, 20 to 50 years, and because its initial symptoms are similar to normal colds or pneumonia. It is an expensive and hard-to-cure cancer, but a mesothelioma lawyer can help you win the compensation owed to you by the business that put you in contact with the deadly asbestos.

A mesothelioma lawyer can help you to get the compensation you deserve so that you and your loved ones don't have to suffer the burden of the expense of treatment on top of the burden of having the cancer. On average, mesothelioma cases that go to trial result in the awarding of $6 million. Isn't it worth it to take a chance and see how much you can get? Also, most mesothelioma lawyers are on a contingency fee, so they only receive payment if they win your case, so even if you do lose, you won't have the obligation to pay for the legal proceedings.

Victims of mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure should find legal aid in order to get financial compensation. If your mesothelioma was caused by asbestos exposure, you are entitled to take your case to trial. Also, you can claim financial compensation from the asbestos industry. You can claim social security disability or disability insurance or worker's compensation since employers are responsible for the safety of their employees.

Eligibility to take your case to trial will depend upon the statue of limitations, your ability to identify your exposure to the asbestos, and the company(ies) responsible. If you are the family member of someone who died from asbestos related mesothelioma, you may be able to file a wrongful death suit. With the statue of limitations, it is important to file your suit as soon as possible after your diagnosis. You should find a good lawyer trained in mesothelioma lawsuits soon to help you recover financial compensation.

Medifast Safety

2009-02-25T02:43:00.000-08:00

Medifast has been clinically proven through a number of controlled studies. More than 15,000 physicians nationwide have recommended Medifast programs to their patients -– and more than one million customers have safely used Medifast for over 25 years.

Why is the Medifast weight loss program special?

2009-02-25T02:38:00.000-08:00

Medifast is an effective, healthy weight loss program. Think of Medifast as a lifestyle change, not just a short-term diet or weight loss solution. Medifast is a quick, healthy diet plan, especially when compared to other diets you’ve likely experienced without success. Medifast is a portion controlled, low calorie weight loss program that leads to more rapid weight loss than traditional diets. Medifast is special because you can achieve the quick weight loss you want, and, unlike other weight loss programs and diet plans you’ve tried, Medifast is clinically proven to produce quick weight loss, typically 2-5 lbs per week.

How do Medifast weight loss products lead to fast weight loss?
The clinically tested weight loss results of Medifast are designed to create a healthy gap between the calories you take in and the amount your body burns, thus promoting effective and natural weight loss. Many times, dieters on other low calorie diets do not meet the minimum daily recommended nutritional requirements. Medifast Meals provide the optimal combination of carbohydrates, protein and other nutrients necessary to give you the quick weight loss you want and the healthy weight loss you need. The Medifast weight loss program is an extremely effective diet plan to lose weight fast. Medifast fits your busy life because Medifast Meals are quick and easy to prepare, while still being a healthy diet plan.

Causes for the Rapid Increase in Your Weight

2009-02-24T00:36:00.000-08:00

The reasons that can be primarily attributed to weight gain are unhealthy eating habits and lack of fitness exercises. Well, definitely it cannot be denied that these are indeed the major factors that make you overweight, but another fact is that there are also some other reasons for rapid weight gain. And it is this unexplained rapid weight gain that paves way for the entry of frustration, thereby, disturbing your peace of mind.

Here are a couple of causes of rapid weight gain:

Hypothyroidism: basically it is a thyroid hormone deficiency that affects the very metabolism of food, thus leading to weight gain. It is characterized by symptoms like fatigue, coarse skin, swelling of the face, intolerance to cold and headache.

Essential Fatty Acid Deficiency: the body needs essential fatty acids to make hormones, as they help to maintain the body’s metabolism system. It is the deficiency of these essential fatty acids in the body that leads to food cravings and that too especially for fatty foodstuff. Some of its symptoms include dandruff, dry hair, arthritis problem, diabetes etc.

Food Sensitivity: some people are sensitive towards particular foods and if by chance or owing to ignorance, if they happen to consume such food items, then it is likely that it might lead to fluid retention, thus increasing their weight. Some of the early signs of food sensitivity are headache, fatigue, depression, pain in joints, sinus problem etc.

There are some prescription drugs like steroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antidepressants and diabetic medications that tend to cause weight gain. Emotional eating is one another common reason for weight gain and it takes place as a result of responding to stress or depression.

Worlds First Moon Mission 24 July 1969 Pictures of Neil Amstrong

2009-02-24T00:27:00.000-08:00

Amstrong, Aldrin Collins and President Richard Nixon Vintage Epic Picture after Worlds First Moon Mission 24 July 1969
Neil Armstrong, Michael Collins and Edwin ‘Buzz’ Aldrin Jnr, the crew of the historic Apollo 11 moon landing mission are subjected to a period of quarantine upon their return to earth. 24 July 1969.
Through the window of their Mobile Quarantine Facility, they hold a conversation with President Richard Nixon (1913 - 1994).

Gene mutation increases drug toxicity, rejection risk in pediatric kidney transplants

2009-02-22T05:30:00.000-08:00

CINCINNATI Screening for mutations in a gene that helps the body metabolize a kidney transplant anti-rejection drug may predict which children are at higher risk for side effects, including compromised white blood cell count or organ rejection, according to new research.

Published online Feb. 18 by theNature journal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, the study suggests this genetic approach could also help physicians tailor personalized anti-rejection drug doses to prevent adverse reactions, said senior investigators Alexander A. Vinks, Pharm.D., Ph.D., and Jens Goebel M.D., of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.

"There are better ways than just giving standard doses of these drugs, and in due course these types of technologies will be available worldwide to help patients," said Dr. Vinks, director of the Division of Clinical Pharmacology and the Pediatric Pharmacology Research Unit at Cincinnati Children's. "This pilot study shows personalized and prospective MMF dosing and monitoring may be feasible to reduce the high incidence of drug toxicity in children without compromising the drug's protective effects against kidney graft rejection."

MMF, or Mycophenolate Mofetil, is an immunosuppressive agent commonly used to prevent rejection in organ transplants, particularly in kidney transplants. After taken orally, the drug is quickly processed by the body into active form. During this time, patients with a specific point mutation in the gene that helps break down the drug, UGT, metabolize the drug slower. This point mutation, called UGT1A9-331, causes overexposure and adverse side effects in the affected children, the study concluded. UGT encodes the drug's main metabolizing enzyme in the body, uridine diphosphate-glucuronosyl transferase.

Adverse side effects most commonly linked to MMF have included gastrointestinal complications (such as diarrhea) or leukopenia a drop in white blood cell count

What is Medifast

2009-02-22T05:22:00.000-08:00

Medifast is a portion controlled, nutritionally balanced, low fat and clinically proven program that helps people lose weight faster and more effectively than traditional diet plans. Medifast Meals come in individual packets that you mix with water and microwave or refrigerate. Medifast is available in a wide variety of foods and flavors including shakes, soups, stew, chili, oatmeal, scrambled eggs, fruit drinks, iced teas, hot beverages, bars and puddings.

How it works?

The Medifast 5 & 1 Plan was medically designed to create a calorie deficit, allowing your body to burn fat for energy. Each nutritionally balanced Medifast Meal is formulated with a proven combination of carbohydrates and protein, allowing you to successfully lose weight while maintaining lean muscle mass.

Best Diet Pills

2009-02-22T04:58:00.000-08:00

Let's face it a lot of us have problems with our body. The common problem we all got is our weight. If you are born a skinny person then you do not have to worry about losing weight but for those who have struggle about their weight for a long time please do not loose hope. There are lots of best diet pills out there that can help you to lose those extra pounds in no time. All you have to do is visit www.bestdietpills-1.com. They carry best and top rated diet pills. Also check their diet pill reviews for more information what diet pills will suit your needs. Their number one best selling diet product is Proactol. Read Proactol reviewsto find out why. In the right side of their bar you will see the special promotion they are having. For limited time only they have Proactol promotion, which means you can purchase it at a cheapest price using their special code.

They also have a Herbal Diet Pills. If you do not want to lose weight by using chemical way you can try their herbal weight loss pills. Using herbal weight loss pill will increase your metabolism naturally also it will provide your body with natural nutrition. Remember taking any diet pills plus exercise is more effective. It will help you to stay healthy and active. To learn more about their products check out their site for more information you need.

Warning! Energy Drink

2009-02-22T04:56:00.000-08:00

Scientists at Johns Hopkins University (Baltimore, MD), after decades of researching the effects of caffeine, believe caffeinated energy drinks should list caffeine doses on a label and warn consumers of potential health risks of caffeine intoxication, Some energy drinks contain the equivalent of 14 cans of Coca-Cola. Symptoms of caffeine intoxication include nervousness, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, gastrointestinal upset, tremors and rapid heartbeat. A regular 12-ounce cola drink has about 35 milligrams of caffeine. Energy drinks, on the other hand, contain anywhere from 50 to more than 500 milligrams.

What Are The Nutritional Needs?

2009-02-20T00:56:00.001-08:00

Do we understand what our nutritional requirements are, how to fulfill those requirements, and how to look for real nutritional value in our foods?
We hear nutrition in relation to our vitamin intake, our fortified cereals and milk, and in the context that we need “nutritional value” from our food choices. But what really is nutrition when applied to our daily bodily functions?

Today, we must determine how much nourishment we need, how much physical exercise we need, and how best to accomplish those ends. Calorie needs, nutritional needs, physical needs, and education about those needs now is information we should all understand, at least as it applies to our individual self. If you will visit your local doctor, library, or fitness center, there is massive amounts of information available to help educate and to help you make good health choices, no matter what the age group.

Nutrition refers to the nurturing of our body, in our ability to keep it healthy and functioning as it is supposed to do. Our ability to provide the body with all it’s necessary food, vitamins, and minerals so that we continue to thrive in our daily life processes. If you were to take a cross section of the population, and check for adequate levels of the most used and fortified vitamins and minerals, you would probably find that as high as 80% or the population is lacking in a least one of the vitamins and minerals.

Now, that doesn’t sound too bad, until you stop to think, what if it’s calcium? A calcium deficiency brings on osteoporosis, a deteriorating of the bone. This disease alone costs millions in medical expense to the population. Can you see how a little more cooperation and open-minded participation on the part of our medical field could result in far fewer health problems? It would also have provided the general population with a viable way to discern their nutrition, vitamin and mineral needs, accurately.

So how do we determine that we are providing the essential nutritional needs? That knowledge comes by educating ourselves about what our individual needs are, the needs of our family, and then taking that knowledge and applying it to the foods we buy, that we prepare, and that our families consume.
Quite often, our vitamin and mineral needs outweigh our caloric needs. In those instances, we turn to manufactured vitamins and minerals to fill the gap. This is a part of our nutritional needs, also Nutrition is one of the most complex areas to gain useful knowledge about, because there are so many components, and because each person has their own individual needs.

Women needs differ from those of men, and older women’s needs differ from those of a young girl. As we age, our needs constantly change; therefore continual education about nutrition is a fact of life. The nutritional needs of a cardiac patient are different than those of a healthy, middle-aged hiker.

Can you see the complexity of the situation now? What we really need is to develop a scale that determines the nutritional needs of our bodies on a cellular level, so that as we age, as our physical condition changes, or our health changes, we can recalculate our needs, based on cellular changes and content in our body. Individuality is the key to understanding each person’s nutritional needs, and then working to educate us is the key to fulfilling those nutritional needs. Good nutrition should be the ultimate goal of every person alive.

Protein sources in healthy nutrition
Are you wondering about how to optimize your protein intake? There are many factors that come into play when choosing sources for protein. Certain proteins are not absorbed well by the body, while other types of protein bring a high fat content with them into the body. Here’s a list of a few of the protein sources in healthy nutrition that can help your body big-time:

Meats:
Poultry: Containing, on average, 26 grams of protein per serving while only having 12 grams of fat,poultry is one of the best foods you can eat for protein. Weighing in at around 140 calories perserving, chicken is a wonderful food to help keep your health up.

Beef:
Slightly less healthy for you then chicken, lean beef contains about 25 grams of protein with 20grams of fat. At 275 calories, beef comes in as a close second for high protein levels.These levels are merely estimates at protein sources in health nutrition plans. Meat levels can varybetween the cuts of the meat and the quality.
Also, protein sources in healthy nutrition can come in supplemental forms. Here is some informationabout them:

Whey Protein:
One of the best sources of protein available, whey protein comes from milk. It is very digestable, but may cause diarrhea due to the high lactose content.
You can also obtain Soy Protein, another great source. Why do you need protein?
Protein is one of the building blocks of your body. Amino acids found in protein are crucial for growth, tissue repair, and tissue replacement. Without enough protein, your body will not be able to create the new things it needs! It is recommended that on a daily basis, you eat about 0.75 grams of protein per kilogram of body weight. It can be the key to kick-starting your health.

Answers to frequently asked questions about emergency contraception

2009-02-20T00:25:00.000-08:00

Q. What should I know about emergency birth control?

A. Emergency birth control is available to women but many do not know it exists. This treatment must be taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex in order to prevent an unplanned pregnancy. The following information will address questions regarding how and when Emergency Birth Control can be used. Also included are important facts which may help you decide whether or not this is the best option for you.

Q. Is Emergency Birth Control the same as the "Morning After Pill?"

A. Emergency Birth Control is actually a series of pills, and is not the same as an abortion pill used in Europe. Emergency Birth Control is not a regular form of birth control but is available if your regular birth control method fails. If there is any risk of pregnancy after unprotected sex, after a condom breaks, or in cases of rape or sexual assault, then the Emergency Birth Control may be appropriate for you. This birth control method requires a woman to take one dose of birth control pills and a second dose twelve hours later. This must be done within 72 hours of unprotected sex. Taking this increased amount of hormones interrupts the fertilization process so that the woman does not become pregnant.

Q. Is Emergency Birth Control treatment safe?

A. The FDA ruled in February 1997 that, if taken according to instructions, using oral contraceptives as emergency birth control is safe and effective in preventing pregnancy after unprotected sex. Contact your health care provider in order to discuss the treatment and any questions or concerns you may have.

Q. What should I do if I need Emergency Birth Control?

A. You should know at what point in your menstrual cycle unprotected sexual intercourse occurred. If the unprotected sex occurred two weeks after the first day of your most recent period, you are at a great risk for pregnancy. You should take a urine pregnancy test to make sure that you are not already pregnant. If you discover that you are pregnant, do not use the Emergency Birth Control. Contact your health care provider in order to discuss the treatment and any questions or concerns you may have.

Q. Which birth control pills can be used?

A. Most combination (estrogen and progesterone) birth control pills can be used (Ovral, Levien, Lo--ovral, Nordette, Tri Levlen, Triphasil).

Do you want to consult with your about Alcohol Injuries And Death problems

2009-02-20T00:10:00.000-08:00

Approximately two dozen Americans die and thousands more are injured every day in alcohol-related vehicle accidents. These accidents often occur because a bar, restaurant, liquor store or other establishment has sold alcohol to a person who was visibly intoxicated or who the bar or restaurant should have known was intoxicated. These cases are commonly called "liquor liability" or "dram shop" cases.If a drunk person is involved in an accident while under the influence of alcohol, it usually the victim and not the drunk driver who suffers very serious injuries or dies. Victims of drunk drivers are entitled to compensation for their injuries, including pain and suffering, payment of medical bills, loss of earnings and earning capacity and, at times, punitive damages.
When you need a lawyer who will exhaustively investigate your dram shop case and make sure that every responsible party is held accountable, contact Woloshin & Killino, where Keeping America Safe is our primary goal. To speak with one of our attorneys, please fill out the form on this page, call us toll free at 877-875-2927, or click here to send us an email.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mesothelioma

2009-02-17T10:18:00.000-08:00

Many people have never heard of Mesothelioma and are unaware of its symptoms. Although considered a rare form of cancer, each year the number of cases grows. With the prevalence of this disease on the rise, it is critical to understand why and how Mesothelioma develops and what courses of action can be taken in the event of diagnosis. The following is a list of frequently asked questions and answers that will provide you with some information on Mesothelioma, and the legal issues surrounding it.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is the term used to describe a cancerous tumor found in the mesothelial cells of an organ. The organs where this form of cancer is most commonly found are the lungs, heart and abdominal organs. Pleural Mesothelioma is cancer of the lung lining and is the most common form of Mesothelioma.

What causes Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is often found in building materials used before the mid 1970's. In addition, materials such as pipes, boiler insulation, floor, ceiling and roof tiles may contain asbestos.

How much asbestos exposure will cause Mesothelioma?

Generally, the probability of developing this form of cancer is in accordance with the length of time you are exposed to asbestos. Also, your health is at risk if your exposure to asbestos is intense. It should be noted that Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years. This means that you may develop the disease long after your exposure to asbestos. On average, people tend to develop Mesothelioma somewhere between 35 and 40 years after exposure.

How quickly does Mesothelioma progress?

The onset of Mesothelioma is quite slow. Patients will begin to experience symptoms such as lower back pain and chest pain. These symptoms may also be accompanied by weight loss, fever and difficulty breathing. Unfortunately, once Mesothelioma develops, it quickly becomes aggressive and treatment must be sought immediately.

Can Mesothelioma be treated?

Doctors are able to use several traditional methods of cancer treatment for Mesothelioma, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Like all forms of cancer, detecting the disease at the earliest stage possible greatly increases the patient's chances for survival. If you have worked in an industry such as construction or suspect that you may have been exposed to asbestos, be alert for symptoms and contact your doctor immediately.

What legal courses of action can be taken?

Anyone suffering from Mesothelioma is entitled to compensation from asbestos manufacturers. Additionally, if you are the spouse or child of someone who has died from Mesothelioma, you are entitled to file a claim and seek compensation.

Why you Need mesothelioma lawyers ?

2009-02-17T10:13:00.000-08:00

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that forms near the lungs or ribs after exposure to asbestos. Well, if it's so rare, why do so many lawyers advertise that they help mesothelioma victims? That's like saying automobile accidents are rare but you can find an auto insurance agency on every street corner anyway. There is total disconnect between the advertising for mesothelioma legal options and the claim that this is a rare form of cancer.

According to one source, 2500 new cases of mesothelioma are reported each year. Okay, that makes it rare. But then, why do so many law firms advertise for mesothelioma patients? I think the reason is that the same source says 70-80% of mesothelioma sufferers have worked with asbestos.

You may not be suffering from mesothelioma, but if like me you have grown up in the United States, how could you not have heard about the huge expenses associated with asbestos? We used to use asbestos in everything because it is fire-resistant. We just didn't realize it is also poisonous. It's like the ancient Romans using lead in all their dining ware and drinking utensils and plumbing. They sealed everything with lead, and in doing so they poisoned themselves.

It takes a long time for mesothelioma to appear. According to one source, mesothelioma may not reveal itself 35-40 years. That is long time to wait. That same source also suggests that as many as 300,000 new cases of mesothelioma may be diagnosed by the year 2030. Suddenly, all the law firm interest in mesothelioma starts to make sense. A few cases each year can not only pay off well (attorneys often take 25-40% of your settlement in contingency fees), they help build a law firm's reputation for resolving such cases.

Your mesothelium is a two-layer membraneous sack that surrounds and protects your internal organs. It secrets fluid so that your organs can move freely inside you. According to Surviving Mesothelioma, when the cells become cancerous, they begind to divide and multiply rapidly and begin invading nearby organs and other parts of the body. In short, they forget what they are genetically programmed to do and just start consuming resources and replicating as fast as possible.

The sooner you identify mesothelioma, the sooner you can begin treatment for it. And the sooner you can start looking for an attorney, if you want to. The symptoms of mesothelioma include: coughing, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, chest or abdominal pains, loss of appetite (and weight loss), and fluid accumulation in your chest or abdomen. You may not recognize these symptoms right away, especially if you have other conditions that may produce one or more of those symptons.

You may or may not know if you have worked in or near asbestos. If you are sure you once worked in an asbestos environment but have not yet developed cancer, you can (and, in my opinion, should) take at least one precautionary step. Get a cancer policy. You cannot get these kinds of policies once you have been diagnosed (in some cases, you may be able to take out a cancer policy if you have been cancer free for ten years or longer).

Many companies offer supplemental health insurance programs. If you have heard of AFLAC, Colonial Supplemental Insurance, TransAmerica, or AllState's Supplemental Hospitalization plan, you have heard of supplemental insurance policies. You can often keep these policies if you leave your job because you pay for them directly.

For more information about mesothelioma, check out The National Cancer Institute's Mesothelioma section.

How does Medifast Taste?

2009-02-16T10:58:00.000-08:00

One of the questions that often comes up is how does the Medifast food taste? Being that you are going to eat their weight loss meals for 5 of the six times a day that you do eat, it is an important question. To recap briefly, the plan is to eat what they often call supplements, which are their food replacements, every 2-3 hours, and then have one "lean and green" meal each night. Actually, you can have the meal anytime you want, but most people make that dinner with the family; although you could use that if you have a lunch meeting or appointment.

So, in my opinion, the weight loss supplements are average, but given the results, they are more than adequate. Tasty enough to stick with it. The shakes are mixed with water, not milk, so you can forget the rich, creamy image of a shake that may come to mind. They have a number of flavors and most are ok, so long as you accept the fact that it's, well, watery. Tip: don't let it sit for too long. If you have a meeting at 10:00, don't leave the 1/2 empty cup there to come back to at 11. The hour will made the shake mix and water separate, and it's not an appetizing result.

Beyond shakes, you can have pudding, bars, soups, and oatmeal. The oatmeal is a little bland, but ok. Try some splenda in there. The rest of the food is good. Not outstanding, but good. Use the official web site and tools to find out how people mix and match to make the supplements more interesting.

By the way, if you are comparision shopping for a fast, meal replacement weight loss diet, in my humble opinion, the supplements are far, far, better tasting than Nutrisystem. That was a painful experience. We didn't last one week on that plan..

Medifast Weight Loss and Grilling Tips

2009-02-16T10:56:00.000-08:00

Well, the official start of summer is upon us. There are some great outdoor meals ahead for a lot of us, but they don't have to be fatal to your weight loss. If you lose the bun, you can pretty much enjoy grilling out with your family and friends as before. Watch the portions of the meat and pile on the veggies. Here are a few grilling tips for you:

1) Be careful with the temperature of the meat. Make sure things are cooked well, but not blackened. There is a debate about the risk of charred meats.

2) Also, try to avoid high flames. The smoke from the flames comes right back to the burgers. Again, there is a debate about the carcinogenic effects here. Granted, the flames are part of the thrill (for many guys, anyway), but don't try to overdo it!

Happy Memorial Day! Try to remember those for whom we celebrate this holiday and all those in service today.

WHY DO YOU NEED A LAWYER?

2009-02-16T10:35:00.000-08:00

Do you really need a lawyer to handle your DUI defense? Some people might enter the courtroom, plead guilty and obtain the same result as if an attorney were standing next to them. However, DUI cases involve a number of technicalities that could seriously affect the outcome of your case, including whether the test results are legitimate, whether you were properly stopped or whether an officer properly handled your case. Representation by an attorney who knows the judge and the prosecutor can affect how severe your sentence might be. An attorney can normally appear for you without your ever appearing in court. A lawyer experienced with the technicalities and nuances in the law can perceive opportunities for complete dismissal of your case or at least a reduction in the severity of the sentence. Whether it is your first DUI charge or you are a repeat offender, the help of an attorney can make all the difference.

A DUI lawyer is needed for damage control
An experienced DUI lawyer will be able to examine the facts of your case to determine whether there were mitigating circumstances in your case. Mitigating circumstances can reduce your sentence and help you to avoid jail time. An experienced DUI lawyer will challenge the evidence presented against you and seek to minimize the consequences of a DUI charge or conviction by considering such questions as:

Was your blood alcohol (BAC) barely over or under the limit but you are still being charged?
Were you unaware of how a prescription drug would affect you?
Was the evidence illegally obtained?
Are you at risk to re-offend?
Have you participated in alcohol education programs?

A good lawyer may be able to get you a better deal
Experienced lawyers know all of the options available to a defendant. We are experienced with alternative sentencing and recovery programs, and we may be able to help you negotiate a felony charge down to a misdemeanor. We work with top experts who can challenge the evidence and help us present your best case in court.

An experienced DUI lawyer can challenge the evidence presented against you
Law enforcement officials must have evidence to convict you of a DUI. Any evidence that was illegally obtained is inadmissible in court. An experienced DUI lawyer will fully examine the facts of your case, assess the scene of the arrest, interview witnesses and argue for your rights if any evidence was obtained illegally. If there was no legal basis for your stop, we can assert your rights to prevent the use of that evidence against you in court.

Even if evidence was lawfully obtained, it may be challenged on other grounds. For example, some medical conditions can affect the results of a blood or Breathalyzer test. An experienced DUI lawyer can examine the individual circumstances of your case and challenge the evidence used to substantiate your DUI charges in court.

Keeping your eyes happy

2009-02-16T10:12:00.000-08:00

Your eyes might look great and your eyesight might be fine, but that doesn't necessarily mean your eyes are healthy.

Some sight-threatening conditions, such as glaucoma, have no symptoms and could cause you to lose up to 40 per cent of your sight before you notice a difference. An eye test could pick up these conditions and save your sight.
Between regular eye tests there are a few things you can do to keep your eyes healthy and happy.

1. Stop smoking
Did you know smoking can double the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration, the UK's leading cause of sight loss? In fact, the link is as strong as the link between smoking and lung cancer. Speak to your GP about stopping smoking.
2. Keep your eyes covered in the sun
UVA and UVB rays in sunlight can harm your eyes and may increase the risk of cataracts and AMD. Wearing sunglasses, glasses or contact lenses with built in UV filter will protect your eyes. Only buy sunglasses that have a CE mark or carry British Standard BSEN 1836:1997.
3. Eat healthily and watch your weight
Eating a diet low in saturated fats but rich in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli may help protect against cataracts and AMD . Oranges, kiwis, nuts, seeds and oily fish may also help prevent and slow down some eye conditions. Taking supplements is not a substitute for a healthy diet. It is important to maintain a healthy weight. Obesity can increase the risk of developing diabetes, which in turn could lead to sight loss.
4. Safety first
DIY causes thousands of eye related injuries each year. Always wear safety goggles (European Standard BS EN 166) to protect your eyes from flying debris and fine particles. Sport (especially racquet-based sports) also causes lots of eye related injuries each year. Investing in a good pair of protective sports goggles will help prevent serious damage to your eyes.

RESEARCH INTO GENETIC BASIS FOR ASTHMA

2009-02-16T10:10:00.000-08:00

Scientists at the University of California, San Francisco, US, are investigating a group of genes that appear be responsible for increased incidences of asthma among children. It is thought that the cytokine genes evolved as a means of protecting children from intestinal parasites, stimulating the immune system and causing muscle constrictions and mucus production in order to expel parasites from the intestine. In modern, sanitised environments, however, the genes can attack respiratory airways instead. A fourfold increase in cases in the UK since 1980 is also associated with house dust mites and central heating. The researchers believe that they may now be able to treat asthma by discovering how to 'switch off' the genetic response.

Top 6 to Minimize the Risk of Miscarriage

2009-02-13T12:35:00.000-08:00

Miscarriage can leave a couple severely shaken as the anticipation of having a baby suddenly turns to grief over a loss. Many feel devastated and guilty even if the miscarriage occurs during the early weeks or months of the pregnancy. However, while it's normal to blame some specific act or situation, miscarriages are rarely triggered by factors under the partners' control.

Most miscarriages are caused by chromosomal (genetic) abnormalities and other physical factors that are beyond your control. There are, however, steps you can take to reduce the risk of losing a pregnancy.

1 . Don't smokeSmoking increases the risk of losing a genetically normal baby. One study showed that women who smoked more than 14 cigarettes a day were about twice as likely to miscarry, regardless of their age or use of alcoholic beverages. The risk of losing a pregnancy increases with the number of cigarettes a woman smokes. On the other hand, giving up smoking at any time during the pregnancy will benefit the baby. Since passive smoke is also dangerous, it's wisest if no one in your household smokes during the pregnancy.

2. Don't drink alcoholic beverages or much caffeine. Having an alcoholic drink twice weekly doubled the risk of losing normal babies in one study; drinking alcohol every day tripled the risk of such miscarriages. Similarly, consuming large amounts of caffeine—more than 4 cups of coffee per day (or the equivalent in other substances that contain caffeine) slightly increases the chance of miscarriage. The risk appears to rise with the amount of caffeine consumed; and doctors generally recommend limiting intake to one cup of coffee per day.

3.Avoid radiation and poisons.Exposure to high levels of radiation or toxic substances increases the risk of miscarriage. The dangers of various levels of radiation are discussed in the chapter on “Strategies for a Healthy Pregnancy.” Arsenic, lead, formaldehyde, benzene, and ethylene oxide can cause miscarriage. Make sure you are not exposed to these substances at work or anywhere else while pregnant or trying to conceive.

4. Check out all medications with your doctor.
Certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs are associated with fetal abnormalities and miscarriages. Consult your doctor before taking any medication when you are pregnant or trying to conceive. Some drugs can damage the fetus and cause miscarriage before you even know you are pregnant.

5. Protection from Infectious hazards
Infectious hazards are biological agents (usually viruses) that may infect the unborn baby if the mother becomes infected during her pregnancy. Some infections can pass through the placenta to the baby while in the womb. In some cases hepatitis B, HIV/AIDS the baby will experience the illness before the birth or carry it and experience it after the birth (such as or herpes). A few viruses are capable of causing miscarriage, birth defects or physical and mental delays in the baby (such as rubella, cytomegalovirus or toxoplasmosis ). Women working in hospitals, emergency services, prisons, childcare, schools and other care facilities, as well as those working with animals, need to be aware of using gloves when handling blood products and any other required protective clothing, depending on the circumstances. In some cases, being temporarily reassigned to work in other areas may be necessary.

6. Avoid excessive temperature variation
Working in hot conditions can contribute to a pregnant woman fainting. Heat that raises the woman's body temperature above 38.5^o Celsius (or 101.3^o Fahrenheit) for several hours during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy has the potential to cause birth defects in the unborn baby. A prolonged, raised temperature from about 12 weeks of pregnancy until the birth may distress the baby or cause premature labour. Avoiding excessively hot conditions is advisable during pregnancy.

What is your Weight Loss Motivation?

2009-02-12T11:24:00.000-08:00

I heard somewhere that if you have strong enough 'why', you can figure out almost any 'how'. Once you know why you are doing something, you increase your chances of success so much that without a why, there's almost no point. If we don't know why we do what we do, we are likely to drift and are not nearly as effective.

So, why do you want to lose weight? The answer will determine your success. I think that it needs to be more than 'to look better,' or to 'be healthy'. That's great and they are worthy goals, but does that inspire you, excite you, give you the strength to avoid that chocolate your co-workers brought to the office? If it does, great! But for me, the reasons tend to be more personal:

I want to be around for my children
I want to not have to plan on being the fattest and slowest on the church softball team
I want my clothes to fit. To know what it is to have a pair of slacks hang like they are supposed to.

Ok, well the last one was a little vain, but the point is, you have to make the goal real. Tangible goals, measureable results, and focus are the keys to weight loss. It doesn't matter if it's medifast, taking supplements, or any other program, success comes with certainty of purpose.

Medifast for women

2009-02-12T11:10:00.000-08:00

The Medifast 5 & 1 Plan helps women lose weight quickly, leading to tremendous improvements in overall health. Medifast is much more than the traditional, fad diets that may have failed you in the past. Medifast helps you lose the weight – and teaches you how to keep it off! The Medifast program is convenient, portion-controlled, and simple to follow. You’ll see and feel results in the first week!

Most women start by ordering the Medifast for Women 4-Week Package. With this package you receive the most popular Medifast Meals – and save over $30!

Medifast also has a unique line of shakes, specially formulated to meet the specific health needs of women. Medifast Plus for Women’s Health Shakes contain black cohosh, echinacea, and chaste tree berry – these ingredients may help reduce symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes or night sweats. If you are already on a Hormone Replacement Therapy, consult with your doctor prior to using these shakes.

New York City Health Department Launches Facebook Page to Promote Condom Use

2009-02-12T11:05:00.000-08:00

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has launched a page and application on the social networking Web site Facebook to promote condom use in the city, the New York Times reports. The Facebook page also includes information about HIV/AIDS in the city, including the fact that New York City has more AIDS cases than Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami and Washington, D.C., combined. In addition, more than 100,000 people in the city are living with HIV, and one out of every 25 men in Manhattan, as well as one out of every four men who have sex with men in Chelsea, is HIV-positive.

As of Wednesday afternoon, almost 1,500 Facebook messages, called e-condoms, had been sent through the Web site. The application has a ranking that shows who has sent the most e-condoms, and the Times reports that several people on the list are employees with the health department's communications office. "By using Facebook, we can help millions of people spread the word about condoms," Monica Sweeney, assistant health commissioner for HIV prevention and control, said. The health department in 2007 launched the city's official condom, and more than 70 million have been distributed since the condoms were introduced (Chan, New York Times, 2/12).

Jabra BT2010 Bluetooth Headset

2009-02-12T10:56:00.000-08:00

Regular price

$39.99

This Bluetooth® headset from Jabra® offers performance and value in an attractive, but subtle, design. Lightweight (11 grams) for wearing comfortably all day. Simple operation with single button for on/off/answer/end, plus easily accessible up/down volume controls. Black with silver accents, this headset comes with an optional ear hook to accommodate different wearing styles.

Also works with: [7250™ by Blackberry®, 8703e™ by BlackBerry®, 8830 by BlackBerry®, A640 by Samsung®, A900 by Samsung®, A900M by Samsung®, BlackBerry® 7130e™, BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330, BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8130, Centro™ by Palm® (New model), Centro™ by Palm® (Original model closeout), Fusic™ by LG®, HTC Touch PRO™, IP-830W by Samsung®, KATANA® Eclipse X by Sanyo®, KATANA® Eclipse by Sanyo®, KATANA® II by Sanyo®, KATANA® LX by Sanyo®, KATANA™ by Sanyo®, KATANA™ by Sanyo® (Blue), KATANA™ by Sanyo® (White), Katana® DLX by Sanyo®, LG Lotus™, LX150 by LG®, LX160 by LG, LX350 by LG®, LX400 by LG®, M1 by Sanyo®, M220 by Samsung®, M300 by Samsung®, M320 by Samsung®, M500 by Samsung®, M510 by Samsung®, M520 by Samsung®, M610 by Samsung®, MOTO Q by Motorola, MOTO Q™ 9c by Motorola, MOTOKRZR™ K1m by Motorola, MOTORAZR² V9m by Motorola, MOTORAZR™ V3m by Motorola, MOTORAZR™ VE20 by Motorola, Mogul™ by HTC, Motorola® Renegade™ V950, Muziq™ by LG®, PPC-6700, PRO-200 by Sanyo®, PRO-700 by Sanyo®, Palm® Treo™ 800w, Rumor™ by LG®, S1 by Sanyo®, SCP–2400 by Sanyo®, SCP-2400 by Sanyo®, SCP-3200 by Sanyo®, SCP-7050 by Sanyo®, SCP-8400 by Sanyo®, Samsung ACE™, Samsung Highnote™, Samsung Instinct™, Samsung Rant™, The B'Phone™ by Samsung®, Touch Diamond™ by HTC, Touch by HTC™, Treo 650, Treo™ 700p by Palm®, Treo™ 700wx by Palm, Treo™ 755p by Palm, Treo™ PRO by Palm®, Upstage™ by Samsung®, Upstage™ by Samsung® (Red), Z400 by Samsung®]

Sprint 2-in-1 Mini-USB Charger

2009-02-12T10:35:00.000-08:00

This 2-in-1 charging device connects your phone to your vehicle's 12 volt power outlet or to a wall power outlet for simultaneous talk and charge. The 6 foot coiled cord and wall outlet prongs fold away for easy storage and travel. Black.

Also works with: [7250™ by Blackberry®, 8703e™ by BlackBerry®, 8830 by BlackBerry®, BlackBerry® 7130e™ Powered by Sprint PCS®, BlackBerry® Curve™ 8330, BlackBerry® Pearl™ 8130, HTC Touch PRO™, MOTO Q by Motorola, MOTO Q™ 9c by Motorola, MOTOKRZR™ K1m by Motorola, MOTORAZR™ V3m by Motorola, PPC-6700, Touch Diamond™ by HTC]

Opertunity For Student Loan Consolidation and Solve Your Student Loan Problems

2009-02-12T10:31:00.000-08:00

Students who have made loans just to finish their college studies are now looking to find ways to pay back their loans. Student loan consolidation is being offered in answer to the problems students are facing after graduating in college via student loans. Because most find it hard to look for a high paying job after graduation, they are having a hard time paying for their loan or loans for that matter. For those who have more than one loan, then you need to consolidate college loans. This is your option to avoid mounting up of unpaid loans while you are working on temporary or low paying jobs.
What is student loan consolidation? For students who have the need to come up with funds more than what one loan company could offer get multiple loans from several companies. Come paying time, there will be separate and individual bills coming from the companies where they got the loan. In cases where the graduate is not able to find a job a right away, there is a need to consolidate college loans. Once you consolidate your loan, instead of paying outrageous monthly dues, which is estimated to reach $300 up to $1000 you can reduce it to a minimum of $100 per month.
Student loan consolidation is your ultimate solution to the student loans problem while you are on a professional job hunt. As there are lots of companies offering private student loan consolidation all you have to do is find one that offers the lowest interest rate. In addition, you need to check out on the company, which offers a fast and quick process so you need not spend much time on the processing, instead of utilizing it to find work. You can easily hunt for a company that offers direct loan consolidation. You can now consolidate college loans without having to worry about it every night and day, while being pressured on your job hunt.
One thing you need to consider when opting for a student loan consolidation is that you can only take one loan consolidation. Once you fail to find a job to pay for the outstanding loan, you will have to use another option of paying your current student loan. One option many have used in the forbearance, just to have a temporary break on a student loan problem. Before you select which private student loan consolidation company you should choose, make a thorough research first. Know your option and calculate how much you will likely pay for your consolidated student loans by using the repayment calculator online.
One good move is also to talk to the various companies that offer to consolidate private student loans. They know better and could direct you and show the different options open for you. Lighten your worries on student loans by opting for student loan consolidation and rest easy while you find the right and high paying job after working so hard throughout your college life.

Taking a loan? 6 questions you must ask.

2009-02-12T10:30:00.000-08:00

When a lender gives money or property to a borrower and the borrower agrees to return the property or repay the borrowed money, along with interest, at a predetermined date in the future.
An arrangement in which a lender gives money or property to a borrower and the borrower agrees to return the property or repay the money, usually along with interest, at some future point(s) in time. Usually, there is a predetermined time for repaying a loan, and generally the lender has to bear the risk that the borrower may not repay a loan (though modern capital markets have developed many ways of managing this risk).

Bankers tend to classify term loans into two categories:
Intermediate-term loans: Usually running less than three years, these loans are generally repaid in monthly installments (sometimes with balloon payments) from a business's cash flow. According to the American Bankers Association, repayment is often tied directly to the useful life of the asset being financed.

Long-term loans: These loans are commonly set for more than three years. Most are between three and 10 years, and some run for as long as 20 years. Long-term loans are collateralized by a business's assets and typically require quarterly or monthly payments derived from profits or cash flow. These loans usually carry wording that limits the amount of additional financial commitments the business may take on (including other debts but also dividends or principals' salaries), and they sometimes require that a certain amount of profit be set-aside to repay the loan.

Taking a loan? 6 questions you must ask.
Taking a loan? There is more to it than just the interest rate. Here, we tell you what to look if you are going for a loan.

1. How much are you expected to pay upfront?
In virtually all cases, you are not given the loan for the entire amount; you're given just a part of it.

So, you may get a loan for around 80% to 90% of the cost of the home, vehicle or consumer durable you are buying. Even for education loans, you will have to put in a small amount of the total fees.

The amount you put in is referred to as the margin amount. The amount the financier gives is the principal.

In addition to this, you will also have to pay administration or processing fees. Check if this is a fixed amount or a percentage of the loan.

2. How much EMI you can afford?
The Equated Monthly Installment is the amount of money you will have to pay every month towards repaying your loan.

It is a combination of interest rate payment and principal repayment. Read Understanding EMI to understand how the EMI is computed.

Your income and repayment tenure will determine the EMI. You should go for an EMI that you can comfortably repay. Read Are you comfortable with your EMI? to help decide how to arrive at it.

3. What are the tax benefits?
It's nice to know that you get a tax break on some loans. But only two loans offer the tax benefit.

Education loans have a tax benefit. Read Tax benefits on education loans.

The most well known tax benefits are the ones on home loans. Repaying a home loan? Will tell you the tax benefits on principal repayment of your home loan while paying interest on home loan? Will tell you the tax benefits on interest payment.

But, if you take a consumer durable loan, a car loan, or a credit card loan, you get no tax benefits.

4. Is there any prepayment penalty?
Always check this out if you have an intention of repaying your loan before the tenure ends. Sometimes, you are not charged anything. Sometimes, you are charged only if you repay the entire balance principal, not if you repay a part of it.

Consider the future. Are you expecting a windfall from the sale or an asset (shares or property) or a bonus or a substantial raise? Even if you don't have any money now, you may think of using this to repay your loan sometime later.

So check this aspect out.

5. When is the EMI date?
Once you fix your EMI date, the financiers don't change it. Think carefully before you set it.

Don't put it towards the end of the month when you bank balance gets depleted. Don't put it on the first of the month because, sometimes, salary payments may get delayed by a day or two.

It will be safe to put it in the first week of the month.

If you are also servicing another loan too, make sure you have sufficient funds during that time of the month to make both payments.

6. How is the rate of interest calculated?
Don't just ask what the interest is but check to see how it is computed.

Let's say you are taking a loan of $1,000,000 at 8% per annum for one year. You go to three players and they all say that they will give it to you at 8% per annum.

Yet, if you compare their EMIs, it may be $9,000, $8,699 and $8,553.

That is because of the way it is computed. The more frequently computed, the better the deal you get. In the above example, it is calculated on an annual reducing basis ($9,000), monthly reducing basis ($8,699) and daily reducing basis ($8,553).

This means that, when you make your payment, the next EMI takes into account the principal amount repaid. If it is daily computing, it is taken into account the very next day. For monthly reducing, the next month, and the next year for annual reducing basis.
So always compare the EMI of various financiers with a similar amount and tenure.

VIAGRA For Men

2009-02-09T12:05:00.000-08:00

Viagra is a treatment for male erectile dysfunction or ED or often called impotence. Viagra is the first oral pill to treat impotence, a dysfunction that affects millions of men worldwide.

Doctors in the United States have prescribed Viagra more than 16 million times. Viagra is available in more than 90 countries worldwide. Viagra was developed by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. Proper dosage is at the discretion of a licensed medical doctor.

Up to 82% of patients who take Viagra experience an improvement.

The most common side effects of Viagra are headaches, facial flushing and upset stomach.

Viagra must never be used by men taking nitrates of any kind at any time. Other medications may interact with Viagra and change the way Viagra works.

AMERICAN RAPE STATISTICS

2009-02-09T12:00:00.000-08:00

omewhere in America, a woman is raped every 2 minutes, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

In 1995, 354,670 women were the victims of a rape or sexual assault. (NationalCrime Victimization Survey. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 1996.)

Over the last two years, more than 787,000 women were the victim of a rape or sexual assault. (National Crime Victimization Survey. Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S.Department of Justice, 1996.)

The FBI estimates that 72 of every 100,000 females in the United States wereraped last year. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Statistics, 1996.)

SILENT VICTIMS :

One of the most startling aspects of sex crimes is how many go unreported. The most common reasons given by women for not reporting these crimes are the belief that it is a private or personal matter and the fear of reprisal from the assailant.

Approximately 28% of victims are raped by husbands or boyfriends, 35% by acquaintances, and 5% by other relatives. (Violence against Women, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice, 1994)

The FBI estimates that only 37% of all rapes are reported to the police. U.S. Justice Department statistics are even lower, with only 26% of all rapes or attempted rapes being reported to law enforcement officials.

In 1994-1995, only 251,560 rapes and sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement officials -- less than one in every three. (National Crime Victimization Survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, 1996.)

An overwhelming majority of rape service agencies believe that public education about rape, and expanded counseling and advocacy services for rape victims, would be effective in increasing the willingness of victims to report rapes to the police. (Rape in America, 1992, National Victim Center with Crime Victims Research and Treatment Center.)

LIVING IN FEAR :

According to the U.S. Department of Justice: (All statistics are taken from: Violenceagainst Women, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice, 1994.)

One of every four rapes take place in a public area or in a parking garage.

31% of female victims reported that the offender was a stranger.

68% of rapes occur between the hours of 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

At least 45% of rapists were under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

In 29% of rapes, the offender used a weapon.

In 47% of rapes, the victim sustained injuries other than rape injuries.

75% of female rape victims require medical care after the attack.

NOT JUST A FAMILY MATTER :

Family violence and abuse are among the most prevalent forms of interpersonal violence against women and young children -- both boys and girls. The sexual abuse of a child should never be "just a family matter," but many children are afraid to report an incident to the police because the abusers are too often a family friend or relative.

Approximately one-third of all juvenile victims of sexual abuse cases are children younger than 6 years of age. (Violence and the Family, Report of the American Psychological Association Presidential Task Force on Violence and the Family, 1996.)

According to the Justice Department, one in two rape victims are under age 18; one in six are under age 12. (Child Rape Victims, 1992. U.S. Department of Justice.)

FACE OF AMERICA :

About 81% of rape victims are white; 18% are black; 1% are of other races. (Violence against Women, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice, 1994.)

About half of all rape victims are in the lowest third of income distribution; half are in the upper two-thirds. (Violence against Women, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept. of Justice, 1994.)

There were 71 forcible rapes per 100,000 females reported to United States law enforcement agencies in 1996. 2

Data from the National Women's Study, a longitudinal telephone survey of a national household probability sample of women at least 18 years of age, show 683,000 women forcibly raped each year and that 84% of rape victims did not report the offense to the police.3

Using Uniform Crime Report data for 1994 and 1995, the Bureau of Justice Statistics found that of rape victims who reported the offense to law enforcement, about 40% were under the age of 18, and 15% were younger than 12.4

In a national survey 27.7% of college women reported a sexual experience since the age of fourteen that met the legal definition of rape or attempted rape, and 7.7% of college men reported perpetrating aggressive behavior which met the legal definition of rape.5

The National Crime Victimization Survey indicates that for 1992-1993, 92% of rapes were committed by known assailants.1 About half of all rapes and sexual assaults against women are committed by friends and acquaintances, and 26% are by intimate partners.1

Risk factors for perpetrating sexual violence include: early sexual experience (both forced and voluntary),6 adherence by men to sex role stereotyping,7,8 negative attitudes of men towards women,6,9,,10,11,12, alcohol consumption,8,13 acceptance of rape myths by men.8,9,12,14,15

Non-forceful verbal resistance and lack of resistance are associated with rape completion.1,6

The adult pregnancy rate associated with rape is estimated to be 4.7%. This information, in conjunction with estimates based on the U.S. Census, suggest that there may be 32,101 annual rape-related pregnancies among American women over the age of 18.17

Non-genital physical injuries occur in approximately 40% of completed rape cases.18 As many as 3% of all rape cases have non-genital injuries requiring overnight hospitalization.19

Victims of rape often manifest long-term symptoms of chronic headaches,18,20fatigue20, sleep disturbance20, recurrent nausea,20 decreased appetite,21 eating disorders,22 menstrual pain,18 sexual dysfunction,23 and suicide attempts.21 In a longitudinal study, sexual assault was found to increase the odds of substance abuse by a factor of 2.5.24

Estimates of the occurrence of sexually transmitted diseases resulting from rape range from 3.6% to 30%.18,22 HIV transmission risk rate from rape is estimated at 1 in 500,22,25 although a few probable cases have been documented in Sweden and Great Britain. 26,27

Victims of marital or date rape are 11 times more likely to be clinically depressed, and 6 times more likely to experience social phobia than are non-victims. Psychological problems are still evident in cases as long as 15 years after the assault.28

Fatalities occur in about 0.1% of all rape cases.29,30

A study examining the use of health services over a five year period by female members of a health maintenance program found that the number of visits to physicians by rape victims increased 56% in the year following the crime, compared to a 2% utilization increase by non-victims.31

Car Accident Statistics

2009-02-09T11:48:00.000-08:00

Car accident statistics indicate that at least four people involved in car accidents die every hour. These accidents could be due to the fault of the driver, the other driver, or due to a faulty vehicle. The important thing to consider is the number of deaths occurring every day, excluding the people involved in car accidents and sustaining severe personal injuries.

The main causes for car accidents are reckless and negligent driving and alcohol. Teenagers, according to the statistics, cause most car accidents Inexperience coupled with irresponsible behavior and a lack of respect for the safety precautions are the main causes for such a high number of teenage car accidents.

Another reason is the inattentiveness of the driver. Many people talk while driving, which might prove to be fatal because it distracts the driver from the road. Even though hands free mobile phones are the latest craze, the driver would be unable to concentrate on the road while on the phone. The best option would be to park and then take the call, or not take the call at all while driving. These rules have already been implemented in a number of states.

Inattentiveness can also be caused due to alcohol, drugs, or the driver being distracted by music in the car. This might prove to be perilous to other drivers on the road and might result in either distracting them with reckless driving or causing side or rear end collisions due to inattentiveness. Such negligence can even cause pileups in highways and must be avoided at all costs.

Car accidents can be very traumatic, sometimes affecting the person for the rest of their life. Other than the physical injuries that may result due to the accident, mental pressure might also result. A few precautions can eliminate the prospect of accidents on the roads and provide a safety net. It is advised to follow the safety road rules and not drive while on the phone or while on drugs or alcohol.

Celiac Disease

2009-02-09T11:11:00.000-08:00

Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder in which consumption of gluten (proteins in wheat, barley, and rye, and sometimes in oats) causes the body’s immune system to attack and damage the small intestine.

When people with celiac disease eat food that contains gluten, the lining of the small intestine becomes inflamed. Ordinarily, this lining, called the mucosa, is covered with hairlike projections called villi -- but the inflammation that develops in response to gluten causes the villi to shrink and flatten (or to "atrophy," in medical terms).

Normally, the nutrients in food are absorbed into the bloodstream through the cells on the villi. When the villi become atrophied, there is less surface area for nutrient absorption, and a condition known as malabsorption results. Consequences of malabsorption include vitamin and mineral deficiencies, osteoporosis, and other problems.

There is a strong genetic component to celiac disease. In people who carry the celiac genes, gluten proteins and other environmental factors will sometimes -- but not always -- trigger the disease.

Celiac Disease Symptoms

The symptoms of celiac disease may begin in infancy, childhood, or adulthood. Some people with celiac disease become violently ill soon after eating just small amounts of gluten. Others have very subtle symptoms, or none at all, and their disease is discovered by accident. Even in symptomatic patients, the diagnosis of celiac disease can take many years, unless the doctor or patient is alert to the possibility that gluten ingestion is to blame.

Celiac Disease Diagnosis

Unfortunately, no single test can make an absolutely positive diagnosis of celiac disease. Instead, doctors depend on a combination of blood tests to look for certain autoantibodies, as well as a biopsy of the small intestine to look for the villous atrophy that is characteristic of celiac disease.

Traditionally, even when blood tests are positive, a small intestine biopsy is usually done to confirm the diagnosis. It is possible that with the increasing availability of genetic tests to identify individuals who carry the genes for celiac disease, DNA analysis may someday replace the biopsy for confirmation of the blood test findings.

Living with Celiac Disease

Presently, the only treatment for celiac disease is life-long adherence to a strict gluten-free diet: no wheat, barley, rye –- and for the most part, no oats, either, because oats are generally cross-contaminated with gluten from these other grains. Learning to cope with this diet is difficult –- not only because so many staples of a normal diet must be given up, but also because gluten lurks as a hidden ingredient in many products. Patients and their families must learn special guidelines for shopping, food preparation, and dining out.

Even in patients who have no symptoms after eating gluten, the strict diet is still important, because even microscopic amounts of gluten are enough to trigger the body’s autoimmune response that damages the intestine. Untreated celiac disease puts patients at risk for serious complications.

Pronunciation: see-lee-ak disease

Also known as: celiac sprue, non-tropical sprue, gluten enteropathy

_Sources:

_{National Institutes of Health Celiac Disease Awareness Campaign.}

_{National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference on Celiac Disease.}

Keep these statistics in mind when you’re online, searching for cyberlove. They can help you meet your match!

2009-02-09T10:56:00.000-08:00

Online dating can truly be as easy as one, two, three (i.e., create a profile, search for matches, send an email “hello”). But there are some other numbers you might want to think about when seeking a true cyber-connection. Though each person’s online process is as unique as his or her profile, check out the following by-the-numbers guidelines. Because with the right numbers in place, your online success ratio just might turn out to be a positive equation.

87 million = the number of single people in the United States.

And guess what? According to the U.S. News & World Report, nearly 40 million of those are dating online (or have at least visited an online dating site) at any given time in the last year. That kind of number definitely increases your chances of meeting someone (and should encourage you that you’re not the only single person left on the planet).

120,000 = the number of marriages per year that result from Internet matches.
In other words, the stigma is gone, gone, gone. “If you are looking for lasting love, work on your online dating program,” says Dr. Diana Kirschner, author of Love in 90 Days. Invest the time needed to create a top-notch profile, search often and reply to promising profiles.

2007 = the year midlife men and women made peace with online dating.
Dr. Kirschner says that 2007 is the year it all changed for people over 45. “More of them found lasting love through online dating as compared to the traditional method—through their network of family, coworkers and friends,” says Dr. Kirschner. “So if you are in this age group, your chances are now better online.”

100 = the maximum distance (in miles) in which you should search for serious matches.
Unless you own a private jet, emailing people 3000 miles away is just silly. “You want to keep looking within a certain mile radius and should start close by,” says dating guru David Wygant (www.davidwygant.com). “Don’t waste time with people when they say they want to meet somebody within 10 miles and you live 500 miles from their hometown… it’s about being efficient, and the more people you find that you can actually meet in person, the better your chances of finding a match!”

20 = the number of words you should use to describe your match.
“You don’t want people to feel they can’t measure up to a long list of qualities… you want to cast a wide net and gather many types of potential partners,” says Dr. Kirschner. “Love almost always comes in a surprise package!”

6 = the maximum number of potential dates you should chat with at once.
If you’re serious about finding a match online, keep in mind that chatting with more than six people at a time can get seriously confusing! Do yourself a favor and be a little discerning. This isn’t an all-you-can-date buffet.

5 = the number of emails you should exchange before giving out any personal information.
Remember, we live in the age of online searching, so if you give out too much info too fast, you may be giving away more about yourself than you realize. But after a couple of nice emails, feel free to move forward. “Two emails between the two of you, and by the fifth, you should say you’d like to chat over the phone,” says Laurie Puhn, J.D., author of Instant Persuasion. “It shows confidence, and there is no reason to email for weeks.”

5 = a good number of photos to post.
“You should aim for three body shots and two head shots; every single one of them has to be current,” suggests Wygant. “They need to be clearly defined and showcase who you are and what you are about.” The absolute minimum number of photos you should post? Two—one headshot and one full-body photo. Otherwise, people will think you’re hiding something.

4 = the number of weeks you should wait to contact someone again.
“Just because you contacted somebody a month ago or two months ago or three months ago, that person may not have responded because he or she may have been dating somebody else and just happened to have a picture/profile still up online,” says David Wygant. “So, it’s okay to re-contact, but don’t do it with the exact same email… type something different or ask a question. Remember, online dating is about starting a conversation!”

3 = the number of searches you should conduct per week.
You don’t have to be a fanatic about online dating to find a match, but being proactive helps. Commit to searching at least three times per week, since you never know when Mr. or Ms. Right will post a profile—and you don’t want to miss out!

3 = the maximum number of weeks before you meet in person.
“Why waste time in a fantasy email relationship with someone who turns out to have absolutely no chemistry with you?” says Dr. Kirschner. Better to find out sooner rather than later (and then have to plan an awkward escape!).

2 = the length of time in months that you should give a relationship to develop once you’ve met.
“Give promising connections at least two months to show consistently improving contact,” says Dr. Kirschner. “This is an indication, although not a guarantee, that this relationship is not just a hot encounter that will fizzle out.”

1 = the number of matches you are ultimately seeking.
Before you get frustrated or overwhelmed, keep in mind that the ultimate goal is finding just one person who is your match, whether you’re searching for a lifelong partner or just some to get to know in the weeks ahead. And the odds are in your favor… just look at the numbers!

Top 10 Worst Casino Bets

2009-02-09T10:49:00.000-08:00

Some bets in the casino have a very high house edge. Slot machines are popular but they can have a house edge from 1-15 percent depending on the casino and/or location of the machines. Although some table games have a low house edge, there are some bets you should avoid. Here are some of the worst bets you can make.

1. Live Keno

Keno is a game similar to the lottery. The house edge can run 25 percent or higher. The odds for drawing any number of spots doesn’t change, the house edge comes from the payout for the winning numbers. This varies from casino to casino.

2. Big Six Wheel

The Big Six or Wheel of Fortune is an old carnival game with equally bad odds. The house edge varies from 11 to 24 percent depending on the number the player bets.

More: Wheel of (Mis)Fortune

3. Caribbean Stud Side Bet

The side bet for the progressive jackpot in Caribbean Stud varies a little by the size of the jackpot but it rarely reaches the amount to make the bet worthwhile. The average house edge is about 26 percent.

More: How to Play Caribbean Stud

4. Baccarat Tie Bet

The Baccarat Banker and Player bets are two of the best bets you can make. However the tie bet in Baccarat is one of the worst. It has a high 14.36 percent edge. Stick to the banker or player bets.

5. Blackjack Insurance Bet

The insurance bet in Blackjack is just another side bet that should be avoided. The house edge is around 8 percent. You are not really insuring anything.

More: How to Play Blackjack

6. Blackjack Hunch Play

Deviating from Blackjack basic strategy can make Blackjack one of the worst games in the casino. A player can give up 20 percent or more playing hunches.

More: Blackjack Basic Strategy

7. Let It Ride Side Bet

The house edge for the side bet is based on the pay table which varies from casino to casino. Even the best pay table has a high double digit house edge that ranges from 13 to 36 percent.

More: How to Play Let It Ride

8. Craps Proposition Bets

The proposition bets on the craps table are the bets on the hard ways and the other one roll bets. These have a house edge that can reach as high as 16.7 percent.

More: Craps House Edge

9. Roulette

The bets on the double zero American wheel has a house edge of 5.26 percent on all bets except the five number bet. The five number 0-00-1-2-3 bet is called the basket bet and has a house edge of 7.89 percent. The European wheel with a single zero has a lower house edge of 2.7 percent.

More: How to Play Roulette

10. Casino War Tie

Casino war is the same as the kid’s game where you each draw a card and the high card wins. There is a tie bet that can be made when playing Casino War. You are betting that your card will tie the dealers. If you tie the dealer’s card you get paid 10 to 1 for your tie bet. It carries a high house edge of 18.65 percent.

What Do Teenage Boys Want in a Relationship?

2009-02-09T10:40:00.000-08:00

Based on movies like American Pie, I'll hazard a guess that most people would immediately answer, "sex" to this question. Interestingly enough, a study published in the Journal of Adolescence undertaken by the State University of New York at Oswego found that eighty percent of the teen boys responding to the survey (all in grade ten, mostly 16 years old) said the prime motivator for starting a relationship was because they liked the person. Of course sexual attraction was a factor; it tied with wanting to get to know someone better as reason #2 for starting a relationship.

After taking a quick peek at the study results, I found that the researchers tried to cover their bases by asking other, related questions that had easily-found statistical references to use as touchstones - meaning they asked the boys questions that other studies had shown to be relatively stable (such as how many boys of this age are sexually active - approximately 40% in North America) to compare the answers with. If the "stable" statistics matched, then the probability that the answers to the questions about relationship motivations were accurate increased.

But you tell me: do you think today's teenage boys are more motivated by romance than sex to start a relationship?

Being Single on Valentine's Day

2009-02-09T10:16:00.001-08:00

Depending on how much you appreciate Valentine's Day and all that it entails, being single on the love-filled event can be a challenge for many. Some go so far as to avoid the day altogether, like a forum poster who recently declared, "I hate Valentine's day"

I feel for anyone who is both sensitive and single on Valentine's Day and would rather not be. Although most of my previous relationships have avoided all mention of the love-fest (save one romantic partner who went all out with roses, chocolate and a truly luxurious homemade dinner), I'll admit that there were a couple of single and looking years when I felt somewhat frustrated that I wasn't being wooed. From those years came the creation and adoption of several coping mechanisms, some of which I've shared in Being Single on Valentine's Day.

Do you do anything special for yourself on Valentine's Day when single? What would you suggest to anyone who doesn't necessarily want to be single on Valentine's Day, yet is?

Skin Care

2009-02-08T10:25:00.000-08:00

The first step to skin care is to identify your skin type and then follow the prescribed medication and method to care for it.

If you desire a good skin, you really need to make a concerted effort towards the same. It should become a habit. Besides a healthy diet, composed of cereals, fruits and vegetables along with exercise and adequate sleep is essential for a healthy skin.

Do avoid going out in the sun and if you need to, begin using a sunscreen to protect your skin from getting damaged.

Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily, to keep your skin hydrated.

As a guideline your skin needs two staples: Cleanser and Moisturizer.

Other products might include-toner, exfoliator and eye cream or gels.

Avoid using more than three or four products daily to protect your skin from breaking out and reacting. Simplify your routine (it should not take more than 10 minutes to do twice a day) and use basic formulas.

The following is the basic skin care which a women can follow:-

CLEANSING

This is the first step, in caring for your skin depending on your skin type. Throughout the day, sweat, grease, dust, stale make-up, dirt and bacteria tends to collect on your skin and needs to be removed. Soap and water do tend to remove the impurities but are incapable of removing make up completely, hence proper cleansing is required. Use water soluble emulsions or gels (with tepid-not hot water) or cleansing wipe pH -balanced soap-free bars. While cleansing the skin with a cream, lotion or milk, it must be massaged into the skin with a light upward and outward movement, paying particular attention to the grease of the nose, under chin area, neck and ear lobes. If using a cotton wool for cleansing moist if first or the day cotton wool will absorb the moisture from the skin. You might need to repeat the cleansing process 2-3 times until the cotton wool or tissue is clean. As we proceed, you will learn about specific cleansing tips according to your individual skin types and also about various cleansing creams and lotions. (a) Steaming:- Steaming is beneficial for cleansing all types of skin. It helps in cleaning the skin of all surface dirt, stimulates, the circulation and unclogs blocked pores. To make steaming more beneficial you can add a tablespoon of herbs in the water. Herbs like lavender, thyme and rosemary can be used as stimulants while cleansing.
(b) Massage:- This routine consists of a thorough cleaning. After removing the cleanser completely, the next step that follows is massage. The purpose of the massage is to relax the facial muscles and stimulate blood circulation. The massage should not extend beyond 5-10 min and should be done with clean hands. Take care not to stretch your skin while massaging.(c)Cold Treatment:- The last step that follows cleansing is application of ice-cold water or masks to draw out the impurities and close the open pores. This purpose of cleansing varies with various skin types. You will learn about the specific cleansing type and products as we proceed in our beauty section. We will also inform you about easy tips and masks that can be prepared at home without making any extra effort.

TONING

Always follow the cleansing routine with toning done with a mild skin freshener, rose water or skin tonics. Toning removes the greasiness remaining from cleansing preparations, closes open pores refines the skin giving it a smooth clean texture. Toning stimulates the blood supply of the skin and give it a fresh look the best toner is in fact cold water, other skin tonics are generally composed of infusions of herbs, flowers, vinegar, rose-water and witch-hazel. Avoid using strong skin tonics or astringents as they might dry the skin. Basically they are suitable for oily-skin type. Toners improves skin textures.

MOISTURIZING

All skin types need some type of moisturizing. Ideally used water based creams or emulsions if your skin breaks out a lot, try a lighter, oil-free moisturizer. The best choice of a moisturizer is that which has a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of 15. Petrolatum, an ingredient used in many lotions and creams is an excellent moisturizer, because it helps seal in the skin's natural moisture. Because moisturizers contain different ingredients, no particular product is best for everyone. You may have to try several before you find one that is most effective for you. A light moisturizing emulsion is the most suitable type for young skin . Moisturizers work best only if they are applied everyday. Many moisturizing creams contain alpha-hydroxy acid (also present in milk, fruits and sugar) which might help diminish wrinkles. To sum up begin by practicing these guidelines to keep your skin healthy and prevent it from becoming dry.

Use warm (not hot) water for washing and bathing.
Use mild soaps.
Do not bathe for longer than is necessary to get your skin clean.
Apply moisturizer immediately after bathing to prevent water loss from the skin.
In winters, cover your hands and face by wearing gloves and scarf to keep in the moisture and protect against cold.

PROTECTING THE SKIN FROM SUN : Protecting the skin from the sun needs to be an essential part of your daily skin care routine.Most of the UV light from the sun falls in two main wavelength bands: UVA & UVB.
UVA:- ages the skin, the rays travel far into the skin and start free-radical activity. These are responsible for cancers and certain skin sensitive reactions.
UVB:- burns and browns the skin (by triggering the pigment melanin) & can cause skin cancer. The UVB rays are even stronger than the UVA rays.
Although the damage does not show up immediately, but you need to understand that excess sun can be skin's worst enemy. It is the main cause of premature ageing, of the skin. Pollution, dramatic temperature changes and harsh detergents can also damage the skin.

PREVENTING OR DIMINISHING WRINKLES
Long term exposure to the sun is one of the major cause of wrinkles, other being progressive ageing. The skin begins to sag, as the elastic collagen fibers in the skin weaken, making the skin less resilient and supported. After the age of twenty-five, regular facial massage helps to preserve the elasticity and resilience of the skin by improving the circulation of blood to the surface of the skin. You can buy various collagen products to apply to the skin, but it has not been proved that collagen can penetrate the skin in sufficient amounts to restore your own collagen tissues.
Consult a dermatologist before choosing a product for use. There are other ways to remove wrinkles like injecting of collagen fibers to fill out prominent and fine wrinkles, removal of flabby skin by a plastic surgeon. But these are not permanent solutions and also need to be tested for sensitivity before you can be treated.
Although wrinkles are not medical problems, some people seem to resort to them. Thus, make sure the doctor who performs the procedure is qualified, trained dermatologist or plastic surgeon.

Condom Quiz

2009-02-08T10:21:00.000-08:00

Only latex condoms are recommended for the prevention of unintended pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases.

True or False...

Oil-based lubricants like baby oil and Vaseline are safe to use with latex condoms.

True or False...

Condoms can break if the tip is not pinched to remove air bubbles.

True or False...

After sex, a man should withdraw from his partner immediately, holding onto the base of the condom.

True or False...

If washed carefully, a condom can be used safely over and over.

True or False...

To be prepared, it is always a good idea to have a condom in your wallet.

True or False...

Condoms, like groceries, have expiration dates.

True or False...

When it comes to condoms, one size fits all.

True or False...

Answers

Only latex condoms are recommended for the prevention of unintended pregnancies and STDs.
True. Lambskin (or sheepskin) condoms, the second most available type of condom, have tiny pores that may be large enough to allow viruses to pass through.

Oil-based lubricants, like baby oil and Vaseline, are safe to use with latex condoms.
False. Use only water-based lubricants, such as K-Y Jelly, with condoms. Oil-based lubricants will weaken the condom and cause it to break.

Condoms can break if the tip is not pinched to remove air bubbles.
True. Always pinch the tip of the condom before unrolling it.

After sex, a man should withdraw from his partner immediately, holding onto the base of the condom.

True. This will prevent the condom from slipping off and possibly leaking inside his partner.

If washed carefully, a condom can be used safely over and over.
False. Condoms can be used only once! Always use a new one if passion strikes twice.

To be prepared, it is always a good idea to have a condom in your wallet.
False. This is a bit of a trick question. While you should be prepared, condoms kept in warm places, like a wallet or glove compartment, can weaken from the heat. An outside coat pocket or at home in a cool, dry place are better places to keep condoms.

Condoms, like groceries, have expiration dates.
True. Most condoms are good for 3-5 years. Check for the date printed on the box or condom wrapper.

One size fits all.
True. This is another trick question. While some companies make larger-sized condoms, a standard sized condom can be stretched over a person's skull. (Yes, it's true!) The standard size should be large enough to accommodate most men.

Variants in gene on X chromosome associated with increased susceptibility to Alzheimer's

2009-02-07T19:19:00.000-08:00

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have discovered the first gender-linked susceptibility gene for late-onset Alzheimer's disease.

In the Jan. 11 online edition of Nature Genetics, they report the results of their two-stage genome-wide association study of patients with Alzheimer's disease. The research showed that women who inherited two copies of a variant in the PCDH11X gene, found on the X chromosome, are at considerably greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Women with a variant on one of their two X chromosomes also had some increase in risk, as did men with the variant on their single X chromosome, but these effects were weaker than inheriting two variants.

Investigators caution that more study is required before assigning the definitive degree of risk the gene seems to carry, but they say it appears to be one of the stronger risk factors found to date.

"This is a very common genetic variant, and many women who had two copies of it did not have disease. But, overall, the odds were substantially greater that female patients with the disease did have two copies," says the study's senior investigator, Steven Younkin, M.D., Ph.D., a consultant-researcher at Mayo Clinic's campus in Florida and George M. Eisenberg, Professor of Neuroscience in the College of Medicine. "The results obtained do not imply that women are generally at increased risk for developing the disease than men."

The Mayo group first detected a variant in the gene PCDH11X, which associates with susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease, by scanning the entire genome of 844 patients affected with Alzheimer's disease and 1,255 unaffected control subjects. The association was confirmed by studying an additional 1,547 patients and 1,209 controls.

The variant was found in 79 percent of unaffected women; 50 percent had one copy and 29 percent had two. Since men have one X and one Y chromosome and women have two X chromosomes, the variant occurred in only 46 percent of unaffected men where a single copy was present. "When we compared Alzheimer's disease patients with unaffected controls, the largest and most significant difference was in women with two copies of the PCDH11X variant, who were found more frequently in the Alzheimer's disease group," Dr. Younkin says. "Compared to female non-carriers, the odds ratio was 1.75 for women with two copies of the variant and 1.26 for women with one copy. It was 1.18 for men with one copy compared to male non-carriers."

Why People Get Acne

2009-02-07T10:18:00.002-08:00

What is the reason behind acne being such a common skin disorder? It’s difficult to pin-point exactly why acne is so widespread in teenagers, more recently in adults, and sometimes in infants. There are three main reasons which come together to cause this irritating skin disease. High hormonal activity during puberty, excess oil (sebum) production by sebaceous glands and a bacteria residing on the surface of human skin, Propionibacterium acnes.

High levels of the male hormone, testosterone, somehow excites the oil glands of skin, called sebaceous glands, to produce more amount of oily substance sebum. These sebaceous glands are situated in the middle layer of skin, the dermis, and secrete oil onto the skin.

Testosterone belongs to a family of hormones called androgens. Usually androgens are considered to be male hormones, but that’s wrong perception as adult women also have active level of androgens in their blood, although this level is just one tenth of those found in men.

This is the reason why some women find that their acne gets worsened before the onset of their menstrual cycle. Obviously, it is related to change in hormonal level which perhaps gives rise to testosterone at mid cycle.

It is not clear why this particular hormone has this effect on the sebaceous glands but it results in the pore-clogging in skin. These pores, called follicles, contain a fine hair which surfaces on the skin through a pore. Higher production of sebum combined with dead cells along the wall of the follicle clogs this pore and leads to pimples or Acne vulgaris (common acne). This acne can be with open pores, called blackheads or with closed pores, called whiteheads. Acne usually occurs on the face, but it can spread onto the back, chest, upper arms, neck and shoulders also. Large, deep and pus filled acne is called cystic lesion and it leads to deep scarring of the skin.

Acne infects these body parts because of the large number of sebaceous glands present here. Sometimes infants also suffer from acne which is caused by certain hormones passed to them by their mothers. Sometimes young children or people in their middle age also suffer from acne which might be because of rare conditions of endocrine system.

Contrary to popular belief, acne is not caused by chocolates, colas, or spicy food. Although statistics are available which point out that heredity might be a cause of Acne in some cases.

Asbestos Overview

2009-02-07T10:11:00.000-08:00

Who is at Risk for Asbestos Exposure?

Many people wonder if they are, or have been, exposed to the health risks caused by asbestos. Health hazards from asbestos dust have been recognized in workers exposed in shipbuilding trades, asbestos mining and milling, manufacturing of asbestos textiles and other asbestos products, insulation work in the construction and building trades, brake repair, and a variety of other trades. Demolition workers, drywall removers, and firefighters also may be exposed to asbestos dust.

People whose work brings them into contact with asbestos -- workers who renovate buildings with asbestos in them, for example -- may inhale fibers that are in the air; this is called occupational exposure. Workers' families may inhale asbestos fibers released by clothes that have been in contact with asbestos-containing materials; this is called paraoccupational exposure. People who live or work near asbestos-related operations might inhale asbestos fibers that have been released into the air by such operation; this is called neighborhood exposure.

The amount of asbestos to which someone is exposed will vary, according to:

The concentration of fibers in the air;
The duration of exposure;
The person's breathing rate (workers doing manual labor breathe faster);
Weather conditions; and,
Any protective devices the person might be wearing.

Although it is known that the risk to workers increases with heavier exposure and longer exposure time, investigators have found asbestos-related diseases in individuals who had only brief exposures. Workers who develop asbestos-related diseases may show no signs of illness for a long time after their first exposure. It can take from 10 to 40 years for symptoms of an asbestos-related condition to appear. Because of this time-lapse issue, lawyers are often asked if there is still time to make a claim for an injury or illness caused by asbestos.

There May Still Be Time To Make A Claim

Many people who have suffered injuries from toxic substances such as asbestos did not know of the health risks at the time of the exposure. As a result, some states have enacted laws allowing people to file lawsuits for a certain amount of time after the date when their asbestos-related illness was detected, rather than from the date of the exposure. An attorney can tell you whether you still have time to file a lawsuit within the limitation period applicable in your state.

Compensation For Asbestos Exposure Injuries

Many effects of toxic asbestos exposure are permanent and irreversible. Although the law seeks to place an injured person in the position he or she was in before an injury, this usually is not possible. Instead, economic compensation thought to be equivalent to the victim's damage is awarded. A plaintiff who can prove that he or she was exposed to asbestos may be able to recover for both the economic and noneconomic consequences of that exposure, including:

The cost of past and future medical care;
The cost of necessary rehabilitation;
Lost past and future wages;
Lost earning capacity;
Lost enjoyment of life;
Emotional distress; and,
Past and future pain and suffering.

Another kind of damages that plaintiffs injured by asbestos may be able to recover are "punitive" damages. Punitive damages are intended not to compensate the victim for his or her losses, but to punish the defendant's wrongful conduct. Although punitive damage awards receive a lot of media attention, they are in fact quite rare. The amount of punitive damages awarded is usually based on the wealth of the defendant and the magnitude of its wrongful conduct. Some states require that a portion of punitive damages awards be paid to the state.

Getting Help

If you are concerned about potential exposure to asbestos, or if you or a loved one suffer from asbestosis, mesothelioma, or another medical condition associated with asbestos exposure, you should take action to protect your legal rights by discussing your case with an experienced asbestos/mesothelioma attorney.

Top 10 Causes of Vaginal Bleeding After Sex

2009-02-06T10:54:00.000-08:00

You've just finished making love, and you're in that pleasant dream-like state when you go to the bathroom and discover that you are bleeding. Nothing can bring you back to reality faster than vaginal bleeding after sex. Post-coital bleeding can occur for a number of reasons, and is nothing to take lightly. Here's a look at the top 10 causes of vaginal bleeding after sex:

Cervical dysplasia: Cervical dysplasia is precancerous changes of the epithelial cells that line the cervix. Risk increases with multiple sexual partners, sex before age 18, childbirth before age 16, or a past history of STDs. Treatment is usually cryosurgery or conisation.
Chlamydia: A bacterial infection that is usually transmitted through sexual activity or contact with semen, vaginal fluid, or blood.
Gonorrhea: A usually sexually transmitted disease caused by a bacteria. Several pharmaceutical treatments are available.
Vaginitis or Cervicitis: Inflammation or swelling and infection of the vagina or cervix. Treatment depends on the cause.
Cervical polyps: Cervical polyps are smooth, red or purple, finger-like growths that grow out of the mucus layer of the cervix or the cervical canal. Cervical polyps are extremely fragile, extending out of the cervix, and easily and painlessly removed.
Trichomoniasis: A usually sexually transmitted disease caused by protozoan. Can also be passed to newborns during vaginal birth by infected mothers. Although rare, transmission is also possible in tap water, hot tubs, urine, on toilet seats, and in swimming pools. May cause vaginitis.
Vaginal Yeast Infection: An overgrowth of the normal fungi that inhabits the vaginal area. Common symptoms include itching, burning, and an odorless, white, cheese-like discharge.
Endometritis or adenomyosis: Endometritis is defined by Dorland's Medical Dictionary, 27th Edition as an inflammation of the endometrium (the innermost layer of the uterus). Both conditions are associated with endometriosis. Adenomysis is when endometrial tissue attaches itself to the uterus, or another organ such as the ovaries, and grows outside of the uterus.
Uterine polyps: Uterine polyps occur when the endometrium overgrows causing these protrusions into the uterus. It is extremely rare for these growths to grow in a way that is either benign or malignant. Women with uterine polyps frequently experience bleeding between periods (metrorrhagia), other symptoms includes vaginal bleeding after sex, spotting, menorrhagia, bleeding after menopause, and breakthrough bleeding during hormone therapy. Hysteroscopic-guided curettage is the preferred treatment, since the normal D&C is basically an unguided procedure that may miss many of the uterine polyps.
Fibroid tumors: Uterine fibroid tumors are usually benign tumors. They are solid masses made of fibrous tissue. Fibroid tumors are rarely malignant. Symptoms of fibroid tumors vary among women, with some women never experiencing any symptoms at all. Women who can wait until menopause will see their fibroids shrink and disappear once their bodies stop producing estrogen. It's important that women with fibroids make sure they never take estrogen, in any form including birth control pills, since estrogen increases fibroid growth. Several treatments are currently available for uterine fibroid tumors from myomectomy and uterine artery embolization to the traditional hysterectomy.

Diagnosing vaginal bleeding after sex is usually a matter of exclusion. Anytime you experience post-coital bleeding or vaginal bleeding after sex see your physician.

How Can You Help When Someone You Know Is Raped?

2009-02-06T10:48:00.000-08:00

Rape victims experience a broad range of powerful emotions--a friend or family member can help by allowing her to express these feelings. You can help by listening and validating her fears and feelings; by helping her make changes to her environment that make her feel safer. Rape victims often feel unsure of themselves and their ability to make decisions. Encourage her if she finds it difficult to make decisions by helping her to understand her choices, but let the decisions be her own.

Remind her that the rape was not her fault. Advocate for her when she needs your help facing the medical and legal systems. Let her know that you believe in her, and that you know that she has the strength and courage to heal and survive.

Getting Help: The Key to Being a Rape Survivor--Not a Rape Victim

Many years ago, I had a roommate who told me she had been raped several months before she moved in with me. She trembled and stuttered as she relived her terrifying ordeal. As she described each agonizing detail, her lips began to swell--swelling to the point I wanted to call for help. She declined my offer to find help, saying she would be allright. I hope she is...

Survivors of rape often experience changes in their overall health. Sleep disorders such as insomnia or eating disorders often occur following rape or sexual assault. Some women experience nightmares and flashbacks. Others encounter body aches, headaches, and fatigue.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is the most common disorder seen in victims of rape or sexual assault. Rape victims sometimes experience anxiety, depression, self-injury, and/or suicide attempts, as well as other emotional disorders. They sometimes try to cope with their feelings by indulging in alcohol or drugs.

Women who have been raped, many times, face an enormous uphill emotional battle to regain self-respect, self-esteem, self-assurance, and self-control. It is a battle that can be won with the help of caring and supportive friends, family, counselors, and physicians.

The Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN) provides a toll-free 24-hour hotline for victims of sexual assault at 1-800-656-HOPE. RAINN also maintains a searchable database of rape crisis centers designed to help you find counseling in your area. There is hope--but you must take the first step and ask for help.

Impact of Viagra on Women's Sex Lives

2009-02-06T10:40:00.000-08:00

When women go through menopause, the hormonal changes they experience often lead to a drop in libido and less interest in sex. It's nature taking its course - just another phase in the female life cycle. It's the way we're built and programmed, biologically speaking.

So what do we do about Viagra and the other ED (erectile dysfunction) drugs that are now commonplace and marketed directly to men in TV commercials and magazine ads?

It's an important question to ponder, because as every woman knows, it takes two to tango. Viagra's impact on men's sex lives also impacts women's sex lives.

Meika Loe has pondered this very question in her book, The Rise of Viagra: How the Little Blue Pill Changed Sex in America. And the answers she's uncovered are disturbing. Loe, who is Assistant Professor of Sociology & Anthropology and Women's Studies at Colgate University, has also written extensively about sex and senior women.

Loe spoke to About.com about Viagra (marketed by Pfizer) and how women's sexuality has been affected by the introduction of these ED drugs.

Viagra is marketed to aging men whose female counterparts are going through their own sexual crisis - menopause. These women want less sex but their partners now want more.
Isn't this counter-intuitive? Doesn't this turn the bedroom into a battlefield at a time when women are already vulnerable (e.g., empty nest syndrome, feeling less attractive as we age, physical changes due to menopause including hair loss and weight gain, etc.)

I recently visited my ob/gyn, and upon hearing about my research, she volunteered that many of her women patients have complained that Viagra has not helped their sex lives. The introduction of the pill has made sexuality, among other things, intercourse-focused and thus less satisfying.

I hear this kind of thing over and over. My analysis of syndicated advice columns after Viagra's debut in 1998 revealed many negative responses among women. Women writing to Dear Abby, for example, were either no longer interested in sex (and thus Viagra created new unwelcome pressure to be sexually active again), or fearing their husbands were having affairs in the context of their newfound sexual potency, and/or experiencing sometimes painful physiological effects of reigniting their sex lives later in life.

It seems that Viagra raised quite a few questions for married women about marital obligation, for example. Then again, there were other letters that reflected excitement about husbands feeling healthy and confident after a period of impotence, so the response to Viagra in the population is quite complex.

I would have liked to see an explosion of people communicating about sexuality after Viagra's release, but in our pill-for-everything culture, we tend to let the pill do the work and forget that it may not be an end-all be-all. Viagra tended to just exacerbate or throw light on already existing problems in relationships.

It should be telling that at this point, almost 10 years after Viagra's debut, only 50% of men who received prescriptions for Viagra end up refilling their prescriptions.

It's not simply about a man being able to have pleasurable sex. It's also about power and dominance, virility despite aging. It's a way for men to deny that they are past their sexual peak. What are the long-term implications for a society that has Viagra in its drug arsenal?

Viagra was the harbinger of things to come in the form of the pharmacology of aging and sexuality (sexual medicine is in expansion mode post-Viagra).

All of this is due to a combination of, among other things, changing demographics (e.g. aging population), direct to consumer advertising/ consumer-based medicine (Viagra being one of the first drugs to be advertised directly to the consumer) and pharmaceutical expansion.

It is important to see that Viagra's popularity fits in a particular cultural moment in our history, and there will be/have been plenty of other products to follow (including medications) that emphasize the holy triumvirate: youth, vitality, and performance.

In short, as a sociologist I see Viagra as a cultural product and thus a window onto our culture. It helps us see where we are when it comes to sexuality (and our ambivalence), gender (masculinity and sexual performance packaged together), medicine (quick-fix and lifestyle enhancement emphasis more than ever), and aging (we’re uncomfortable with it but do we all want to be 18 again?).

Pfizer has helped to reinforce these traditional and not-so-traditional ideals with Viagra and it has been fascinating to see how successful they have been here and around the world with this youth, vitality, and performance-based message.

Again, now that the initial curiosity factor has disappeared, it is unclear how successful sexual dysfunction medication really is. Viagra has spurred several like products – Cialis and Levitra. But the refill rate on all three is low.

Viagra is certainly sociologically significant as it has highlighted many social problems in the way we do health and gender and sexuality in our society.

Is Viagra use common within the general population - men of all ages? How does this affect behavior or alter men and women's sexual intimacy?

It is difficult to find demographic information about who uses Viagra, but in Internet chatrooms, doctors' offices, pharmacies, etc. you find men of all ages interested in discussing the drug.

I spoke with young men who had purchased Viagra out of insecurity - a 'just in case' situation where they felt they had to live up to some social standard their first time and had purchased the pills (or borrowed them) to have some assurance of adequate performance.

Meika Loe, author of The Rise of Viagra: How the Little Blue Pill Changed Sex in America, acknowledges that Viagra and other ED (erectile dysfunction) drugs create additional pressure in the already complex sex lives of men and women. In her interview with About.com, she also noted how it underscores the sexual ambivalence present in our society - our obsession and disgust with sex.

Viagra use has a dark side. John Jamelske, the 67-year-old man who held a number of young women captive as sexual slaves in an underground bunker, took Viagra. Two toxicologists, Harold Milman and S.B. Arnold, have stated in the Annals of Pharmacotherapy that "the drug has been suggested as a contributing factor in 22 cases involving aggression, 13 involving rape, and 6 involving murder." Clearly Viagra is linked to violence against women.

In the course of my research I found that Pfizer had consulted with quite a few experts about possible litigation down the line regarding Viagra. A pill for sexual potency can be a dangerous thing in a culture that is highly ambivalent about sexuality - both obsessed and disgusted with it at the same time.

This sexual ambivalence is what we have inherited from the Puritans. It is one reason sexuality itself is so emotionally charged and controversial in this country (we see this in regards to sex education, advertising, reproductive politics, etc.).

In the U.S. we seem to spend just as much time and effort on censoring sexuality as we do encouraging it, which makes for a very confused populace!

We see this confusion in our bedrooms and in the society at large, and when Viagra is added to the mix it can highlight the issues we have with sexuality as a society.

Speaking of sexual ambivalence...we're a culture that's afraid to talk about sex with our children. So how is it that Viagra and ED drug commercials run during primetime and no one bats an eye?

At least one Pfizer TV ad was pulled off the air (the one where the man gets devil horns after taking Viagra) but you’re right – it’s everywhere. Or it was for many years. Viagra racecars. Viagra ads during the Superbowl – and Janet Jackson got flack for showing a breast when during the commercial breaks, ads discussing penises and erections, and beer ads promoting sexuality like crazy were considered appropriate!

Viagra was even posted over home base when Pfizer was the primary sponsor of pro baseball. Now we see Levitra and Cialis advertised just as often.

It goes back to that Puritan ethic. We’re obsessed with sex and also offended by it – it’s a fine line. An African American woman’s breast crossed the line for some people. Sexuality in the context of medical dysfunction (complete with scientific imprimatuer and legitimacy) seems to pass.

When we look at the way men and women 'use' pharmaceutical interventions, men focus on performance (Viagra) and women focus on appearance (Botox). Or is this a gendered generalization?

Sociologists would say that these are the values/characteristics we teach each sex to value most. Men are about what they DO, women are about how they LOOK.

We reinforce this constantly in our society (just look at ads – men are generally depicted as active, women as body parts, or still lives, or close-ups). So it follows that our drug use maintains these gendered distinctions.

What would you like to stress to women of every age about Viagra and women's sexuality?

Living in the pharmaceutical era it sometimes seems easiest and most expedient to turn to medication to enhance our lives or fix our problems. However, we can’t forget to attend to ourselves, our relationships, and our lives.

Many men found that while Viagra may have helped them physiologically (although for many it didn’t work or came wiyh a host of scary side-effects), it was no solution to general sexual or life satisfaction. In some cases it actually exacerbated existing issues in peoples’ relationships or sense of self.

Men and women are wonderfully complex and diverse creatures when it comes to sexuality AND in general. Simple solutions can end up oversimplifying — and doing us a disservice in the process.

Skin Cancer

2009-02-06T10:18:00.000-08:00

Types of skin cancer

There are two main types of skin cancer: basal cell carcinoma (also called rodent ulcer) and squamous cell carcinoma.

Together these cancers are known as non-melanoma skin cancer. More than 65,000 people in the UK are diagnosed each year with non-melanoma skin cancer.

Basal cell carcinoma

Basal cell carcinoma, or BCC, is a cancer of the cells at the bottom of the skin's outermost layer, the epidermis. It accounts for more than three-quarters (75%) of all skin cancers in the UK.

Most basal cell carcinomas are slow-growing and almost never spread. However, if they are left untreated they can damage the skin and cause an ulcer, known as a rodent ulcer. A small number of rodent ulcers may come back on the same area of skin after treatment: this is known as a local recurrence.

Squamous cell carcinoma

Squamous cell carcinoma, or SCC, is a cancer of the outermost cells of the skin. It is the second most common type of skin cancer in the UK. One in five skin cancers (20%) are this type.

If it is left untreated for a long time, squamous cell carcinoma can spread to other parts of the body. However, most people treated for squamous cell carcinoma are completely cured with simple treatment.

Rarer types of non-melanoma skin cancer

There are a number of rare types of non-melanoma skin cancer:

Merkel cell
Kaposi's sarcoma
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma of the skin
Sarcoma

Together these rare types make up less than one in a hundred (1%) of all skin cancers in the UK

Malignant melanoma

Another, less common, type of skin cancer is called malignant melanoma. About 7000 people in the UK are diagnosed with malignant melanoma each year. Melanoma behaves differently to basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas.

Types of treatment

More than 9 out of ten people (90%) with basal cell and squamous cell carcinomas are completely cured.

Surgery is an important treatment for many skin cancers. Surgery can be done in a variety of ways. Small cancers can usually be removed under local anaesthetic.

When larger tumours are removed, skin grafts are sometimes needed to replace the removed skin. A skin graft is a thin layer of healthy skin taken from another part of the body. This is done under either a local or general anaesthetic. In many cases, surgery is the only treatment needed. Rarely, patients with squamous cell skin cancers will also have surgery to remove nearby lymph nodes.

Radiotherapy may be used instead of surgery and can be a very effective alternative to surgery for basal and squamous cell carcinomas. It is especially used in areas of the face where surgery might cause scarring. Radiotherapy may be given after surgery if there is a risk that some cancer cells may still be present. Sometimes it is used for tumours that have grown into the deeper layers of the skin.

Chemotherapy is not often used to treat skin cancers, but may be used occasionally. If it is used, it is usually as a cream applied directly to the cancer. More rarely, a course of chemotherapy is given by injection.

Newer treatments such as photodynamic therapy (PDT) or topical immunotherapy cream may be used.

Planning treatment

Your doctor will plan your treatment by taking into account a number of factors including:

your age
your general health
the type of skin cancer
the size of the cancer
where it is on your body
what the cells look like under the microscope.

You may be asked to take part in a clinical trial of a new treatment.

A team of doctors and other staff will work together to decide on the best treatment for you. They will follow national cancer treatment guidelines.

Discussing your treatment

If you have any questions about your treatment don't be afraid to ask your doctor or nurse. It often helps to make a list of questions for your doctor. You may want to take a close friend or relative with you to appointments. They can remind you of questions you want to ask, and afterwards help you remember what was said.

More than 90% of patients with basal cell and squamous cell carcinoma are completely cured.

Giving your consent

Before you have any treatment, your doctor will explain its aims to you. They will usually ask you to sign a form saying that you give your permission (consent) for the hospital staff to give you the treatment. No medical treatment can be given without your consent, and before you are asked to sign the form you should have been given full information about:

the type and extent of the treatment you are advised to have
the advantages and disadvantages of the treatment
any other treatments that may be available
any significant risks or side effects of the treatment.

If you don’t understand what you have been told, let the staff know straight away so that they can explain again. Some cancer treatments are complex, so it is not unusual for people to need repeated explanations.

Patients often feel that the hospital staff are too busy to answer their questions, but it is important for you to be aware of how the treatment is likely to affect you. The staff should be willing to make time for you to ask questions.

You can always ask for more time to decide about the treatment if you feel that you can’t make a decision when it is first explained to you.

You are also free to choose not to have the treatment. The staff can explain what may happen if you do not have it. It is essential to tell a doctor, or the nurse in charge, so that they can record your decision in your medical notes. You do not have to give a reason for not wanting to have treatment, but it can be helpful to let the staff know your concerns so that they can give you the best advice.

Benefits and disadvantages

Many people are frightened at the idea of having cancer treatment because of the side effects that can occur. Some people ask what would happen if they did not have any treatment.

Treatment can be given for different reasons. The potential benefits will vary depending upon the individual situation. Treatment can cure most people with basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, and although the treatment can cause side effects such as scarring in the affected area, this is often very slight or easy to disguise.

Second opinion

Usually a number of cancer specialists work together as a team and they use national treatment guidelines to decide on the most suitable treatment for a patient. Even so, you may want to have another medical opinion. Either your specialist, or your GP, will be willing to refer you to another specialist for a second opinion, if you feel it will be helpful. The second opinion may cause a delay in the start of your treatment, so you and your doctor need to be confident that it will give you useful information.

If you do go for a second opinion, it may be a good idea to take a friend or relative with you and have a list of questions ready, so that you can make sure your concerns are covered during the discussion.

Mesothelioma & Asbestos

2009-02-05T10:52:00.000-08:00

Asbestos is a fibrous mineral that has been used as insulation and as a fire retardant in a wide variety of products. Because of its durable, fibrous nature, asbestos can produce dust that, when inhaled, becomes deposited in the lungs -- causing or contributing to the development of illnesses including asbestosis (a fibrous scarring of the lungs) and mesothelioma (a malignant form of cancer in the lining of the chest or abdominal cavities).

Because of health concerns, all new uses of asbestos in the United States were banned in July 1989. That year, the EPA published Asbestos: Manufacture, Importation, Processing, and Distribution in Commerce Prohibitions, the effect of which was to eventually ban about 94 percent of the asbestos used in the U.S. (based on 1985 estimates). Most asbestos uses established before that date are still allowed, but are strictly regulated by the government. Even with government regulation, asbestos-related lawsuits have been filed regularly since the 1960's, and continue to be filed frequently today.

Determining Responsibility for Asbestos Exposure

In civil court lawsuits for damages, legal responsibility for injuries caused by asbestos exposure is sometimes determined under the law of product liability. A product liability case arises when someone uses, or is exposed to, a dangerous product that injures them. Liability is usually based on one of three theories: (1) breach of warranty; (2) negligence; or (3) strict liability.

(1) Breach of Warranty

There are two types of warranties: 1) implied warranties; and 2) express warranties. In an asbestos exposure case, you might be able to recover for a breach of an implied warranty under your state's implied warranty statutes, which are usually found in a state's commercial code. Implied warranties accompany the sale and use of many types of products, including those containing asbestos. In essence, implied warranties provide that a product will be fit and safe for its intended purpose. Liability for a breach of express warranty may exist if the supplier or seller of a product containing asbestos made a claim about the product that ultimately caused someone to buy or use the product, and that claim later turned out to be false. For example, if a supplier claims that using a particular asbestos product is safe, but the product is in fact unreasonably dangerous, the supplier may be liable to a person who relied on the supplier's statements and was injured by the product.

(2) Negligence

Liability based on a negligence theory requires proof of four elements: (1) the defendant had a legal duty to provide a safe product; (2) the defendant breached that duty; (3) the breach caused an injury; and, (4) the injury resulted in damages to the plaintiff. Fortunately, in cases where a supplier's negligent conduct may be difficult to prove, courts have developed an alternative theory of liability to allow plaintiffs to recover. That alternative theory is called strict product liability.

(3) Strict liability

Like negligence, the strict product liability theory requires the plaintiff to prove four elements: (1) a strict duty to supply a safe product; (2) a breach of that duty; (3) causation; and, (4) damages. However, strict liability differs from negligence in two key ways. First, under a strict liability theory, the existence of a duty is shown when there is a commercial supplier that manufactures or retails the product -- not just a casual seller. Second, under a strict liability theory, the plaintiff does not need to show that the breach of duty is the result of any negligent action. The mere fact that the product was dangerous or defective is enough to establish a breach of the supplier's duty.

Of the four elements in negligence and strict product liability asbestos cases, causation can often be the most difficult to prove. First, in most lawsuits, defense attorneys will attempt to present scientific reports and studies to try to dispute that asbestos can cause the injury alleged. Second, there is usually a substantial amount of time between exposure to asbestos and the appearance of an injury. Defendants may use that passage of time to argue the injury was caused by exposure to another toxic substance, or a product manufactured by someone else. Therefore, in order to prove causation, the plaintiff must show that the asbestos-containing product can cause the injury claimed, that the plaintiff was exposed to the asbestos in a quantity large enough to cause the injury claimed, and that the plaintiff was not exposed to some other toxic substance or product that could have caused the injury.

Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease (RPKD)

2009-02-05T10:48:00.000-08:00

This condition is inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, giving a 25% recurrence risk for parents having subsequent children. The kidneys are affected bilaterally, so that in utero, there is typically oligohydramnios because of poor renal function and failure to form significant amounts of fetal urine. The most significant result from oligohydramnios is pulmonary hypoplasia, so that newborns do not have sufficient lung capacity to survive, irrespective of any attempt to treat renal failure. RPKD may be termed "Type I" cystic disease in the Potter's classification.

Grossly, the kidneys are markedly enlarged and tend to fill the retroperitoneum and displace abdominal contents. The kidneys tend to be symmetrically enlarged. The cysts are quite small and uniform, perhaps 1 to 2 mm on average. Microscopically, the characteristic finding in the later third trimester is cystic change with the cysts elongated and radially arranged. The few remaining glomeruli are not involved by the cysts, and the intervening parenchyma is not increased. In the second trimester, the cysts may not be as well-developed. A helpful finding at autopsy is the presence of congenital hepatic fibrosis, which accompanies RPKD.

New asthma research opposes current drug treatment, says UH prof

2009-02-05T10:43:00.000-08:00

HOUSTON – Just when the Food and Drug Administration is reconsidering the use of stimulants to treat asthma, a new research study offers further evidence to support a University of Houston professor's theory that an opposite approach to asthma treatment may be in order.

Richard A. Bond, professor of pharmacology at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy (UHCOP), has been investigating whether beta-2 adrenoreceptor antagonist drugs (or beta blockers) ultimately might be a safer, more effective strategy for long-term asthma management than the currently used beta-2 adrenoreceptor agonists (or stimulants).

The beta-2 adrenoreceptor is a receptor found in many cells, including the smooth muscle lining the airways, and has long been a target for asthma drugs. However, a recent study shows the absence of asthma-like symptoms in a mouse model that lacks the key gene that produces the receptor. This lends further evidence to Bond's theory that questions whether the pharmaceutical industry should be working to block or inhibit the receptor instead of the current approach of chronically stimulating it to reduce asthma symptoms.

The study, "Beta2-Adrenoreceptor Signaling is Required for the Development of an Asthma Phenotype in a Murine Model," is in the current online issue of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), one of the world's most-cited multidisciplinary scientific serials. A follow-up commentary by an independent scientist in the field also will be published in the print issue of PNAS in February.

The timely release of this study comes on the heels of the FDA considering a renewed look at the use of long-acting beta agonist drugs (LABAs) – at least those used alone, without a steroidal component – for the management of asthma symptoms. In an FDA report released in December, an analysis of more than 100 trials on four drugs (two LABAs alone and two LABA/corticosteroid combinations) found an increased risk of hospitalization and asthma-related deaths with the LABA-only therapy. During the same month, an FDA advisory panel urged the FDA to ban the LABA-only drugs and strengthen warnings on the combination drugs.

Bond and his colleagues propose an alternative to stimulants, using antagonists (or beta blockers) instead. This approach, termed paradoxical pharmacology, suggests patients may be treated with medication that initially worsens their symptoms before eventually improving their overall health.

Beta blockers currently are contraindicated for asthma because they typically trigger bronchoconstriction, decreasing the flow of air to the lungs. Bond has suggested, however, that although beta blockers would not replace the need for emergency inhalers for acute episodes, the negative effects associated with beta blockers eventually taper off to provide long-term relief from asthma symptoms. In addition, several studies have shown chronic use of the beta-2 agonists (or stimulants) can negatively affect asthma control and airway hyperresponsiveness by desensitizing the beta-2 adrenoreceptor through regular stimulation.

In this latest study, the research team was unable to trigger the development of asthma-like symptoms in a mouse model in which the beta-2 adrenoreceptor gene had been removed as compared to the mouse model with the intact receptor gene.

"The study indicates that, with regard to developing asthma-like features, the mouse is better off without the beta-2 adrenoreceptor at all," Bond said. "It means that whether we block receptor signaling pharmacologically by using beta blockers or genetically by 'removing' the receptor, we get the same answer. The research shows that blocking or inhibiting the receptor with antagonists, instead of stimulating it with agonists, reduces the asthma-like features of the mouse model."

Bond's co-authors come from a multi-institutional research team that include current UH pharmacology graduate student Long P. Nguyen; UH pharmacology Ph.D. graduate Rui Lin; former UH post-doc fellow Sergio Parra; UH biology graduate student Ozozoma Omoluabi; Baylor College of Medicine's Dr. Nicola A. Hanania; M.D. Anderson Cancer Center's Michael J. Tuvim and Dr. Burton F. Dickey; and fellow UHCOP faculty researcher Brian J. Knoll.

With support from the Strategic Program for Asthma Research of the American Asthma Foundation, a second human clinical trial based on Bond's research is under way using the beta-blocker drug nadolol in patients with mild asthma. In the first clinical trial, sponsored by San Francisco-based Inverseon Inc., eight of 10 patients had less airway hyperresponsiveness on beta-blocker therapy at the end of the trial, although some did experience an initial negative response. (See related release at http://www.uh.edu/news-events/newsrelease.php?releaseid_int=187.)

Commenting on the results of the first clinical trial, two U.K. researchers wrote in the Jan. 10 issue of the British journal The Lancet that the use of beta-blocker therapy for asthma warrants serious, but careful, consideration and further investigation, including the use of specific alternative types of beta blockers.

To those ends, Inverseon, of which Bond is scientific founder, has filed U.S. patent applications for using beta blockers to treat airway disease. Dr. William Garner, chairman of Inverseon, said the company recently received a notice of allowance – one of several procedural steps on the path to patent approval – from the U.S. Patent Office.

"The comment in The Lancet on Inverseon's human asthma study, combined with the notice of allowance from the U.S. Patent Office, represents important external validation of Inverseon's approach to asthma," Garner said. "We believe that our oral therapy has the potential to be a significant product for the chronic treatment of asthma."

How to increase your sex appeal; attraction to others is more than just a beautiful face and fine physique

2009-02-03T10:57:00.000-08:00

SEX appeal. That much-desired special something that makes heads turn and hearts throb. That certain aura that emanates so strongly from a man that a woman gets weak-kneed, and that sensual femaleness that can make a guy forget his prior commitments.

Sex appeal. There's no doubt that Philip Michael Thomas has it with his pretty-boy good looks. So does Blair Underwood, whose handsome attractiveness makes you forget that he's so young. Then there's Bobby Brown, whose liquid body movements send out vibes to women of all ages. Michael Jordan's sex appeal is manifested in his long, lean physique and charming Smile.

Sensuality is the trademark of a new generation of young singers, such as the provocative Jody Watley, the sultry Karyn White, and the charismatic Paula Abdul. But these young beauties can hardly out-vamp the kinetic sexiness of Tina Turner, whose raw appeal seems to have intensified over the 30 years she's been performing.

Bill Dee Williams demonstrated that he still has that special something with his role in the popular Batman film. The handsome actor says that it wasn't until he played the part of the sexy, loving Louis McKay in Lady Sings The Blues in 1972 that he even thought about his looks. "I think I have a lot of sex appeal, but I never thought of myself as being handsome," he says, adding that his idea of a sexy woman is one who is pretty and intelligent. "I love sensuality in a woman," he says, "but she doesn't have to be a fantastic beauty."

A woman's mind or personality--whatever it is that makes her uniquely herself--is indeed the first erogenous zone, says the author of Winning The Age Game. "A man is intrigued and challenged by a woman who is an interesting person in her own right, whose personality has enough depth to provide that essential ingredient for any successful relationship between men and women--the masculine need for meaningful conquest," says the author. "The woman who relies on the appeal of physical conquest alone finds that this appeal is very short-lived." He adds that health, vanity, happiness and a "dash of imperfection" all combine to enhance a woman's sex appeal.

Psychiatrists agree that being beautiful doesn't guarantee sex appeal, which, they say, is actually a reflection of a person's inner confidence and positive feeling about himself or herself. The person who doesn't feel lovable or good enough doesn't project sex appeal. It's important that you feel good about yourself, and if you do, others will be attracted to you. You will have sex appeal.

Following are some tips on how to enhance your sex appeal:

* CLOTHING--Personality and sex appeal are reflected in one's attire, but that doesn't mean that you must be dressed in expensive designer fashions to look good. Quality and good taste are key factors here; versatility and color are also important. Yes, red is still the "hot" color, but its magig works in a conservative suit as well as in a form-fitting knit dress. Women should also consider violets and pinks. And, of course, black is always seductive when coupled with the right body, the right style, and the right attitude.

However, it takes more than color to make you unforgettable. Update your wardrobe, but be careful to select clothing to accent your best features and camouflage your flaws. If you have fat knees or bowed legs, no short skirts, please. Try longer skirts or a fashionable pants suit. Shapely legs are indeed an asset, and with today's wide range of fashionable clothing, there are plenty of opportunities to show them off.

Sexy men don't wear bell-bottoms, ill-fitting suits, and lint-covered sweaters. Yes, flattering attire is just as important to a man's appeal as it is to a woman's. If you have a broad chest, then show it off during your leisure hours. And business suits can be a big turn-on for many women, especially if the suits are well-tailored from quality fabrics.

Both men and women should take care with how they look during their leisure time and when retiring in the evening. Get rid of those tattered bathrobes and frayed gym pants. Invest a little time and money in silky lingerie and take not of how your sex life improves.

* SKIN CARE--The skin can be one of your most sexually appealing assets, and both men and women should take great pains to ensure that their skin stays soft, beautiful and healthy. On a regular basis, exfoliate the skin on the entire body with a cream or loofah sponge. Use creams and lotions to help your skin retain its natural moisture. Use a good facial cleanser keyed to your skin type, followed by an astringent for oily skin and toner for dry skin, and then a moisturizer.

For women, makeup should be natural looking to accent their best features rather than an attempt to create a new face. Too much makeup can leave you looking cheap and unattractive. Both men and women should take extra care with their lips, which can be a very appealing asset. Keep them moisturized to prevent chapping and splitting.

Drug Rehab

2009-02-03T10:48:00.000-08:00

Drug addiction is a complex illness.

It's characterized by compulsive--at times uncontrollable--drug craving, seeking, and use that persists even in the face of extremely negative consequences. For many people, drug addiction becomes chronic, with relapses possible even after long periods of abstinence.

The path to drug addiction begins with the act of taking drugs. Over time, a person's ability to choose not to take drugs can become compromised. Drug seeking becomes compulsive, in large part as a result of the effects of prolonged drug use on brain functioning and, thus, on behavior.

The compulsion to use drugs can take over the individual's life. Addiction often involves not only compulsive drug taking but also a wide range of dysfunctional behaviors that can interfere with normal functioning in the family, the workplace, and the broader community. Addiction also can place people at increased risk for a wide variety of other illnesses. These illnesses can be brought on by behaviors, such as poor living and health habits, that often accompany life as an addict, or because of toxic effects of the drugs themselves.

Because addiction has so many dimensions and disrupts so many aspects of an individual's life, treatment for this illness is never simple. Drug rehabs must help the individual stop using drugs and maintain a drug-free lifestyle, while achieving productive functioning in the family, at work, and in society. Effective drug abuse and drug rehab treatment programs typically incorporate many components, each directed to a particular aspect of the illness and its consequences.

Three decades of scientific research and clinical practice have yielded a variety of effective approaches to drug addiction treatment. Extensive data document that drug addiction treatment is as effective as are treatments for most other similarly chronic medical conditions. In spite of scientific evidence that establishes the effectiveness of drug abuse treatment, many people believe that treatment is ineffective. In part, this is because of unrealistic expectations. Many people equate addiction with simply using drugs and therefore expect that addiction should be cured quickly, and if it is not, rehab is a failure. In reality, because addiction is a chronic disorder, the ultimate goal of long-term abstinence often requires sustained and repeated treatment episodes.

Why do the majority of people never get cancer?

2009-02-03T10:44:00.000-08:00

Every year, millions of people are diagnosed with cancer - a remarkably high number. But the statistics is that- two out of three people never get cancer, and more than half of heavy smokers don’t get cancer, either. A recent study points out this overlooked fact, and suggests that researchers might discover something by asking why so many people are resistant to the often deadly disease.

George Klein, Professor Emeritus at the Microbiology and Tumor Biology Center at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden, has been teaching and researching since the mid-1940s. In a recent study called “Toward a genetics of cancer resistance” published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Klein highlights evidence of several biological cancer resistance mechanisms that some individuals have that seem to prevent them from developing cancer. Perhaps, Klein says, there are cancer-resistant genotypes that “nip cancer in the bud” and keep most of us healthy.

As Klein explains, the suffering of cancer patients and their families has inspired most cancer researchers to focus on the genetics of cancer susceptibility. On the other hand, the genetics of cancer resistance has been largely unexplored, possibly because it is assumed to be merely the other side of the susceptibility coin. For example, if cancer is caused by mutations in genes that control cell division, then it logically seems that cancer resistance is simply a low occurrence of these mutations.

But, Klein says, maybe there is another alternative to the concept of cancer resistance. Perhaps most people have various protective mechanisms that counteract the development of cancer cells and stop the disease from progressing beyond the earliest stages.

“Cancer resistance must be investigated on its own merits,” Klein told PhysOrg.com. “It is possible and even likely that evolution has provided our species with highly efficient cancer resistance mechanisms. These may be the mechanisms that prevent most circulating, disseminated cancer cells that are found in the blood of all cancer patients to grow into metastasis, and can also nip cancerous foci (islands of cells in, for example, the prostate or the breast) in the bud, so that they do not progress.”

In a previous discussion, Klein and his coauthors identified five kinds of anticancer mechanisms. The first type is immunological, which applies to virus-associated cancers. For instance, researchers have compared the antibody responses of the squirrel monkey and the marmoset when infected with Herpesvirus saimri, a virus that is endogenous to squirrel monkeys but that the marmoset never encounters. When exposed to the virus, the marmosets, but not the squirrel monkeys, develop rapidly growing lymphomas. The researchers found a striking difference in the timing of each animal’s antibody response. In the tumor-resistant squirrel monkeys, the antibodies rose to a high level just three days after the infection, but, for the marmosets, the response took three weeks. By that time, the marmosets already had a rapidly growing virus-driven lymphoma. Research has shown that such immunological responses are influenced by genetic variation

Fast food found to cause Alzheimer-like brain conditions

2009-02-01T11:58:00.000-08:00

If you needed another reason to avoid eating junk and fast food, a Swedish researcher has delivered a new finding, that bad food makes for bad brains.

Lab mice fed fast-food for nine months showed signs of developing abnormal brain tangles strongly associated with Alzheimer's disease.

These determinations were released in a series of published papers by a researcher at Sweden's Karolinska Institutet, show how a diet rich in fat, sugar and cholesterol could increase the risk of the most common type of dementia.

"On examining the brains of these mice, we found a chemical change not unlike that found in the Alzheimer brain," Susanne Akterin, a researcher at the Karolinska Institutet's Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, who led the study, said in a statement.

"We now suspect that a high intake of fat and cholesterol in combination with genetic factors ... can adversely affect several brain substances, which can be a contributory factor in the development of Alzheimer's."

The disease is currently incurable and is the most common form of dementia among older people. It affects the regions of the brain involving thought, memory and language. While the most advanced drugs destroy beta amyloid protein plaques in the brain, researchers now look to address the toxic tangles caused by an abnormal build-up of the protein tau.

"All in all, the results give some indication of how Alzheimer's can be prevented, but more research in this field needs to be done before proper advice can be passed on to the general public," she said.

In 2004, documentarian and television series producer Morgan Spurlock directed and starred in "Super Size Me," where he ate nothing but three McDonald's meals a day every day for 30 consecutive days.

During his ordeal, he became overweight and suffered terribly from acute depression which lasted even as he was detoxing from the fat-laden junk food diet.

'Guitar Hero Metallica' set list revealed

2009-02-01T11:57:00.000-08:00

Activision has officialy revealed the complete song list for the upcoming Guitar Hero Metallica. This Spring, gamers will be able to rock out to over 45 tracks from Metallica’s illustrious career and a variety of other artists personally selected by the band, such as Queen, Foo Fighters, Bob Seger, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Slayer and Judas Priest.

Featuring tracks from every Metallica studio album, the complete Guitar Hero Metallica on-disc set list will include their following hits:

“All Nightmare Long”
“Battery”
“Creeping Death”
“Disposable Heroes”
“Dyers Eve”
“Enter Sandman”
“Fade To Black”
“Fight Fire With Fire”
“For Whom The Bell Tolls”
“Frantic”
“Fuel”
“Hit The Lights”
“King Nothing”
“Master of Puppets”
“Mercyful Fate”
“No Leaf Clover”
“Nothing Else Matters”
“One”
“Orion”
“Sad But True”
“Seek And Destroy”
“The Memory Remains”
“The Shortest Straw”
“The Thing That Should Not Be”
“The Unforgiven”
“Welcome Home (Sanitarium)”
“Wherever I May Roam”
“Whiplash”

Complementing Metallica are the following 21 tracks personally chosen by the band:

ARTIST - SONG
Alice In Chains - “No Excuses”
Bob Seger - “Turn The Page (Live)”
Corrosion of Conformity - “Albatross”
Diamond Head - “Am I Evil?”
Foo Fighters - “Stacked Actors”
Judas Priest - “Hell Bent For Leather”
Kyuss - “Demon Cleaner”
Lynyrd Skynyrd - “Tuesdays Gone”
Machine Head - “Beautiful Mourning”
Mastodon - “Blood And Thunder”
Mercyful Fate - “Evil”
Michael Schenker Group - “Armed and Ready”
Motörhead - “Ace of Spades”
Queen - “Stone Cold Crazy”
Samhain - “Mother of Mercy”
Slayer - “War Ensemble”
Social Distortion - “Mommy's Little Monster (Live)”
Suicidal Tendencies - “War Inside My Head”
System of a Down - “Toxicity”
The Sword - “Black River”
Thin Lizzy - “The Boys Are Back in Town”

Gamers who have downloaded the Death Magnetic album on Xbox 360 or PLAYSTATION 3 will have access to the album while the Wii and PlayStation 2 versions will have “Broken, Beat & Scarred,” “Cyanide” and “My Apocalypse” included on disc.

Husband and wife sentenced to prison for video game piracy

2009-02-01T11:54:00.000-08:00

A husband and wife team have been sentenced to seven months in prison having been found guilty of running an illegal DVD and CD copying operation in Durham (UK).

In the first successful prosecution of 2009 for such offences, the couple denied selling counterfeit goods on August 21, 2007, but were found guilty at the end of the trial. Graeme Shead, 39 and his 43-year-old wife, Sharon Shead, appeared before the court on Tuesday January 13 to be sentenced for offences under the Trade Marks Act and the Video Recordings Act as a result of a prosecution brought by Durham Trading Standards.

Following undercover surveillance at local markets in the Durham area, conducted by officers from Durham Trading Standards Department as well as investigators from the Entertainment & Leisure Publishers Association (ELSPA), video footage evidence was recorded of the couple selling counterfeit goods at local markets.

On August 21 2007, a search warrant was obtained and a raid subsequently executed by Trading Standards, ELSPA officers and local Police at the premises. During the raid, approximately 130 counterfeit computer games were seized along with additional pirated DVDs, CDs and computer equipment.

The maximum penalty upon conviction for offences under the Trade Marks Act is an unlimited fine and/or up to 10 years imprisonment.

Graeme and Sharon Shead were charged with possession of counterfeit discs in the control of a business on August 23, 2007. At the end of the trial, Graeme Shead was jailed for 12 weeks and his wife Sharon for 16 weeks.

Female condoms put HIV prevention in women's hands (Feature)

2009-02-01T11:49:00.000-08:00

Mexico City - The female condom is currently the only woman- controlled preventive method against HIV infection. Yet, it is a poorly funded invention and has been ignored by policy makers, making far too expensive and largely unavailable.

'This is a 15-year scandal born of ignorance and inertia. It has been made doubly worse as the HIV epidemic is now affecting women at a higher rate than men, especially in sub-Saharan Africa,' said Farah Karimi, spokesperson of Oxfam, Britain's leading aid charity.

'We now know that millions of women might have been spared HIV, unwanted pregnancies, and empowered themselves in the process, if they had access to this simple method.'

A new report by Oxfam and the World Population Foundation, 'Failing Women, Witholding Protection,' launched at the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, said that countries have wasted countless lives by willfully ignoring the best available invention to help protect women from HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

'Every day 7,000 young women become HIV positive. We need to do more to support them to protect their health,' said Purnima Mane, deputy executive director of the United Nations Population Fund.

Women account for nearly half of HIV infections worldwide. In sub- Saharan Africa, 75 per cent of those infected are women.

The female condom looks large and unwieldy, but women seem to like it. About 16 centimetres long, it is a polyurethane sheath that covers the vagina, cervix and external genitalia and can be inserted just before intercourse. The only version approved by the US Food and Drug Administration is manufactured by the Female Health Company in London.

Researchers say one of the main problems in making the product widely available to women is its hefty pricetag.

Beyond availability, much training and practice are required before women figure out how to use it. Those who do, say that its advantage over male condoms is that it does not interrupt intercourse and can be inserted well in advance.

In the last 10 years, only 6 million dollars has been spent on developing a new condom for women. In contrast, in 2006 alone, international donors spent more than 1 billion dollars trying to develop new HIV-prevention technologies, Oxfam said.

With little investment and innovation, the price of female condoms has remained unaffordable as compared to male condoms - often 18 times more.

Oxfam said that an investment of 20 million dollars would allow new female condoms to be brought into world markets, increase competition and decrease prices.

In India, the female condom was introduced in 2007 by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and rapidly gained acceptability. In one year, the pilot programme tripled its demand for the condoms - from 500,000 to 1.5 million - while halving the price from 45 rupees (1 dollar) to 23 rupees.

NACO currently socially markets the female condom at 5 rupees (10 cents). India now has 'Female Condom Champions,' who are trained by non-governmental organizations to sell the idea of female-controlled protection and show women how to use it.

Many Indian women say the female condom has been a boon.

In AIDS-hit Guntur district in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, women claim they can use the female condoms with husbands reluctant to put on the male version, as the former doesn't impact sexual pleasure for either partner.

For all its benefits, governments have been sluggish about supporting female condoms, with the exception of Zimbabwe, where it was introduced in 1997, said Serra Sippel, executive director of US non-profit Centre for Health and Gender Equity.

'In most countries, the female condom is introduced as a pilot for one or two years and withdrawn when funding comes to an end. Investment is critical, as is the 'buy-in' of the national government. They must want to give the product to women,' Sippel said.

In the United States, some government-run centres in New York offer education on and access to the female condom. 'But in Washington you have to go to a sex shop to buy one. In many cases, pharmacists are not even aware of it,' Sippel said.

Lynde Francis of the International Community of Women living with HIV/AIDS, who has been HIV-positive since 1986, said: 'In Zimbabwe, were I work, sexual violence is extremely high. A minister told me the product was not good, 'As women in sex work could infect men if they did not change the female condom for different sexual encounters.''

'When I asked him the difference between 10 men sharing a vagina and 10 men sharing a vagina with a female condom, he said there was none. I said him the difference is that the woman is protected.'

Researchers say there are further, unquantifiable benefits of female condoms as a powerful tool to help women assert their sexual rights.

In Kenya, users say it has enabled the building of better communication between partners about safe sex. In India, women say it helped reduce domestic violence brought on by requests to husbands to use condoms. Women in sex work the world over claim they can now negotiate their own safety.

World's biggest diamond' revealed as fake

2009-02-01T11:43:00.000-08:00

The discovery of the "world's biggest diamond" last August sent ripples of excitement around the world. It was said to be twice the size of the Cullinan, or Great Star of Africa, discovered near Pretoria in 1905.

Neither the South Africa Diamond Board, nor the Diamond and Jewellery Federation, the trade body, confirmed its authenticity. But the warnings were drowned out by the breathless claims of one Brett Jolly, a spokesman for the mining firm Two Point Five Construction, who had announced the stone was being transported to a bank vault in Johannesburg "until we calm down and decide what we are going to do".

Now however, the "diamond" has been revealed as a fake. Yesterday, the president of the World Federation of Diamond Bourses, Ernest Blom, announced he was withdrawing from the verification process to test the stone, saying: "I suspect something is afoot."

Meanwhile, as the diamond's authenticity began to unravel, Mr Jolly, originally a British property developer, claimed he had been the victim of a fraud and told the website Mining Weekly Online that he wished he "never was involved with [the diamond] in the first place," adding that he didn't "care any more whether it's a diamond or not".

The mining website claims that on Monday it was offered a chance by Mr Jolly to test the stone, on the condition that it sign a non-disclosure agreement, in which it could be sued if it disclosed any information on the stone before receiving written confirmation. Mining Weekly Online declined the offer.

Meanwhile, De Beers, which owns the Cullinan, expressed relief that it still holds the title of the biggest diamond ever discovered. "The search for diamonds is so romantic," said a spokesman, Tom Tweedy. "This does illustrate that diamonds hold a mystique with people."

World's Biggest Bookstore

2009-02-01T11:39:00.000-08:00

The World's Biggest Bookstore is located in Toronto, Ontario, at 20 Edward St, just north of the Toronto Eaton Centre. It was opened in 1978 by brothers Jack and Carl Cole, former owners of Coles Bookstore.

It is currently owned by Indigo Books and Music and was unquestionably^{[citation needed]} the biggest bookstore in the world when first opened in 1978^{[contradiction]} in a converted bowling alley.

Although it retains the name, the actual world's largest bookstore, according to the Guinness Book of World Records^{[citation needed]}, is currently a Barnes and Noble outlet in New York City. Nevertheless World's Biggest Bookstore still claims the title on the basis that it depends on how "biggest" is defined. The Barnes and Noble has more floor space, however World's Biggest Bookstore carries more titles.

The World's Biggest Bookstore was the first of the book "superstores"^{[citation needed]} and was purchased from the Coles by Chapters Inc, which itself was formed from the merger of the Coles bookstore chain and SmithBooks. Although it retains its name, its stock, distribution and advertising are closely integrated with the Chapters and Indigo chains.

It is noted for its cramped spaces and bright lights, with over 20 kilometres of bookshelves.

The store made a brief appearance in the movie Short Circuit 2 when the main character, a robot named Johnny 5, enters the store and creates chaos as he reads through the books.

Adult stem cells may aid the infertile

2009-02-01T11:30:00.000-08:00

UCLA researchers have reprogrammed a special class of adult stem cells to become the precursor cells of human eggs and sperm, suggesting a way for infertile couples to conceive a child using their own DNA in the future.

In a first-of-its-kind effort, researchers at UCLA's Broad Stem Cell Research Center used "induced pluripotent stem cells" -- typically simple skin cells that have been engineered to return to an embryonic state -- from which they could develop into a wide range of different tissues. Those induced pluripotent stem (or iPS) cells were then coaxed to become germ line cells capable of giving rise to sperm and egg.

Many uncertainties and dangers must still be resolved before an experiment like this could yield techniques of clinical use in infertility treatment. The reprogramming process, for instance, involves viruses and genes, which may increase the likelihood of genetic abnormalities and cancers.

But if such reprogramming can be done safely, the skin cells of men and women incapable of conceiving on their own could be used to "grow" eggs and sperm bearing their own genetic material. For many infertile couples, that would be simpler and preferable to turning to an egg- or sperm-donor, who becomes one of the resulting child's genetic parents.

"These germ cells would be specific and genetically related to the patient," said UCLA researcher Amander Clark.

Even as it raised new hopes for the clinical use of adult stem cells, Clark's research underscored that embryonic stem cells -- the subject of heated ethical and political debate -- currently are a safer and more reliable means of developing germ lines capable of growing a wide range of human tissues, including eggs and sperm. Clark and others have found that cells generated from embryonic cell germ lines regulate themselves more effectively -- and thus raise less risk of runaway growth or chromosomal errors.

For that reason, it's crucial that work on embryonic stem cells continue, Clark said. President Obama is expected in the next several weeks to reverse longstanding restrictions on embryonic stem cell research adopted by President George W. Bush.

Provided by : The Los Angeles Times.

Stem cells used to reverse paralysis in animals

2009-02-01T11:28:00.000-08:00

A new study has found that transplantation of stem cells from the lining of the spinal cord, called ependymal stem cells, reverses paralysis associated with spinal cord injuries in laboratory tests. The findings show that the population of these cells after spinal cord injury was many times greater than comparable cells from healthy animal subjects. The results open a new window on spinal cord regenerative strategies. The study is published in the journal Stem Cells.

The transplanted cells were found to proliferate after spinal cord injury and were recruited by the specific injured area. When these cells were transplanted into animals with spinal cord injury, they regenerated ten times faster while in the transplant subject than similar cells derived from healthy control animals.

Spinal cord injury is a major cause of paralysis, and the associated trauma destroys numerous cell types, including the neurons that carry messages between the brain and the rest of the body. In many spinal injuries, the cord is not actually severed, and at least some of the signal-carrying nerve cells remain intact. However, the surviving nerve cells may no longer carry messages because oligodendrocytes, which comprise the insulating sheath of the spinal cord, are lost.

The regenerative mechanism discovered was activated when a lesion formed in the injured area. After a lesion formed in the transplant subject, the stem cells were found to have a more effective ability to differentiate into oligodendrocytes and other cell types needed to restore neuronal function.

Currently, there are no effective therapies to reverse this disabling condition in humans. However, the presence of these stem cells in the adult human spinal cords suggests that stem cell-associated mechanisms might be exploited to repair human spinal cord injuries.

Given the serious social and health problems presented by diseases and accidents that destroy neuronal function, there is an ever-increasing interest in determining whether adult stem cells might be utilized as a basis of regenerative therapies.

"The human body contains the tools to repair damaged spinal cords. Our work clearly demonstrates that we need both adult and embryonic stem cells to understand our body and apply this knowledge in regenerative medicine," says Miodrag Stojkovic, co-author of the study. "There are mechanisms in our body which need to be studied in more detail since they could be mobilized to cure spinal cord injuries."

New study identifies how ebola virus avoids the immune system

2009-02-01T11:25:00.000-08:00

Scanning electron microscope image of Ebola virions (spaghetti-like filaments) on the surface of a tetherin-expressing cell (center). The other three cells seen in this image (upper right and upper and lower left) do not have the filamentous virus on their surfaces. Credit: Paul Bates, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have likely found one reason why the Ebola virus is such a powerful, deadly, and effective virus. Using a cell culture model for Ebola virus infection, they have discovered that the virus disables a cellular protein called tetherin that normally can block the spread of virus from cell to cell.

"Tetherin represents a new class of cellular factors that possess a very different means of inhibiting viral replication," says study author Paul Bates, PhD, Associate Professor of Microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. "Tetherin is the first example of a protein that affects the virus replication cycle after the virus is fully made and prevents the virus from being able to go off and infect the next cell." These findings appear online this week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

When a cell is infected with a virus like Ebola, which is deadly to 90 percent of people infected, the cell is pirated by the virus and turned into a production factory that makes massive quantities on new virions. These virions are then released from that cell to infect other cells and promote the spreading infection.

Tetherin is one of the immune system's responses to a viral infection. If working properly, tetherin stops the infected cell from releasing the newly made virus, thus shutting down spread to other cells. However, this study shows that the Ebola virus has developed a way to disable tetherin, thus blocking the body's response and allowing the virus to spread.

"This information gives us a new way to study how tetherin works," says Bates. "Binding of a protein produced by Ebola to tetherin apparently inactivates this cellular factor. Understanding how the Ebola protein blocks the activity of tetherin may facilitate the design of therapeutics to inhibit this interaction, allowing the cell's natural defense systems to slow down viral replication and give the animal or person a chance to mount an effective antiviral response and recover."

Previous research had found that tetherin plays a role in the immune system's response to HIV-1, a retrovirus, and that tetherin is also disabled by HIV. These new studies reveal that human cells also use this defense against other types of viruses, such as Ebola, that are not closely related to HIV-1. "Because we see such broad classes of viruses that are affected by tetherin, it's possible that all enveloped viruses are targets of this antiviral system," says Bates. "If so, then understanding how tetherin works and how viruses escape from the effect of tetherin will be very important."

Provided by University of Pennsylvania

Most expensive mobile phone in the world

2009-01-31T11:49:00.000-08:00

Goldvish “Le million” = $1,000,000 (£540,540)

A PR stunt it may be, and they surely can’t be expecting to sell any, but the Goldvish “Le million” is officially the most expensive mobile phone in the world, according the Guiness Books of Records. There’s even been talk of a $1.3million phone, but this has fewer diamonds than the Goldvish so I can’t see where the extra expense comes from! The “Le million” is a one off, featuring a blinding 120 carats worth of VVS-1 grade diamonds, according to designer Emmanuel Gueit. If $1 million is out of your price range. the Geneva-based Goldvish also offer several other diamond-encrusted 18k gold models in your choice of rose, yellow, or white, starting at a much more reasonable $25,600 (£13,837).

Source

First Windows 7 beta puts fresh face on Vista

2009-01-31T11:46:00.000-08:00

Review Microsoft has officially released the first Windows 7 beta. While it's been one of the web's worst kept secrets, Microsoft was still keeping quiet about the details and timing of the final release at the time of writing.

Everyone expects release later this year. A leaked briefing paper for OEM vendors suggests that the date when buyers of Windows Vista machines qualify for a free upgrade begins "for planning purposes" on July 1, 2009.

Vista's free upgrade period began in October 2006, and the operating system was completed in November, so we can speculate that Windows 7 may be done in August or thereabouts, though PCs for sale will not include it until a few months later.

Such assumptions are strengthened by the high quality of the beta that Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer announced Wednesday evening at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Fully operational

Build 7000, which has been widely leaked online, seems fully usable and feels faster than Windows Vista on the same hardware. I installed it on a virtual machine and on two laptops, a two-year old Toshiba Portege and a more recent Dell XPS M1330 loaned by Microsoft for the purpose, and had few issues.

In truth it is not greatly changed from the build shown at Microsoft's Professional Developers Conference (PDC) late last year, though more user interface features that were unavailable to us at the time have now been enabled. Drivers designed for Windows Vista seem to work fine, though this may not be true in every case, confirming Microsoft's statement that the core architecture is the same.

This raises the question that I put to John Curran, head of the Windows client group in the UK, during a Windows 7 briefing. Since under the covers it is so similar to Windows Vista, how does Microsoft justify calling it a full new version? Curran responded by mentioning new features: Digital Living Room Network Alliance (DLNA) compliance in Windows Media Player (WMP) for easier media sharing, Bitlocker to Go for encrypting USB storage devices, Direct Access for network access without VPN, and new support for sensors and devices that will enable location-aware laptops.

Fair enough I suppose, though distinguishing between applications and the core operating system is a matter of debate. That said, Curran did not nail the two things that matter most in Windows 7. The first is the changes to the shell, by which I mean the taskbar, desktop and Explorer. The second is less tangible, but it is the countless minor changes Microsoft says it has made to make Windows faster, smoother and less annoying.

Let's start with the taskbar. In Windows 7, this is a combined tool for both launching and switching applications, and the Quick Launch toolbar has been retired. The Start menu still exists, but if you pin an application to the taskbar it appears there whether or not it is running. It makes sense, because from the user's perspective launching or switching to an application is not much different, though the two states look confusingly similar in the beta.

NASA invites you to travel to the Moon

2009-01-31T11:43:00.000-08:00

NASA is inviting citizens of Earth to add their name to an electronic roll-call destined to travel to the Moon aboard the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) later this year.

All you have to do is enter your details here, and they'll be put into a database for later storage on a chip aboard the LRO.

Cathy Peddie, deputy project manager for LRO at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, enthused: "Everyone who sends their name to the moon, like I'm doing, becomes part of the next wave of lunar explorers. The LRO mission is the first step in NASA's plans to return humans to the moon by 2020, and your name can reach there first. How cool is that?"

Once you've submitted your name, you get a printable certificate of participation - a nice touch for kids. The deadline for lunar explorers is 27 June.

The LRO is part of NASA's planned return to the Moon, and its objectives are "finding safe landing sites, locate potential resources, characterize the radiation environment, and demonstrate new technology".

The spacecraft will pack an array of instruments, including LEND (to "provide measurements, create maps, detecting possible near-surface water ice deposits"), LROC (to "address the measurement requirements of landing site certification and polar illumination") and LOLA, which will "provide a precise global lunar topographic model and geodetic grid". NASA has more tech details here.

Breast cancer four times more likely in women with strong family history

2009-01-31T11:37:00.000-08:00

Women who have a strong family history of breast cancer are over four times more likely to develop the disease than the general population, according to research published in the British Journal of Cancer*.

This is the first time the risk for women who do not have a faulty BRCA gene but have one first-degree relative under 50 with breast cancer and at least one other relative with breast cancer, or three relatives of any age, has been quantified.

The lifetime risk of breast cancer in the general population is one in nine. For the group studied, this risk increased to just over one in three.

The researchers believe that a significant family history of breast cancer alone could be strong enough grounds for doctors to offer preventative treatments – such as tamoxifen, which is given to most women with breast cancer to help prevent the disease from returning.

Lead researcher, Dr Steven Narod, based at the University of Toronto in Canada, said: "Although the risk of breast cancer for this group of women – those with a family history of the disease but who don't carry a faulty BRCA gene – is not as high as those who do carry the gene, it is still significant enough for doctors to start thinking about appropriate preventative treatments to stop women developing the disease.

"This is the first time the breast cancer risk for this group of women has been measured, and it's significantly higher than that of the general population. It's important to start thinking about action to prevent breast cancer in women who are at high risk of developing the disease."

Currently in the UK, women who have a strong family history of breast cancer will be offered annual MRI scans from the age of 40 and will sometimes elect to have preventative surgery.

Previous Cancer Research UK trials** have shown that tamoxifen reduces the risk of oestrogen receptor positive breast cancer – the most common kind – by between 30 to 40 per cent in women at high risk of the disease.

Professor Jack Cuzick, Cancer Research UK's epidemiologist who leads on clinical trials to prevent breast cancer, said: "Looking at ways to prevent breast cancer is an exciting field, particularly in those who are at an increased risk of the disease. We're also learning more about which women will respond to preventative treatments, which takes us ever closer to tailoring cancer treatment to each patient. Around 15 per cent of women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease, so around 7,000 women a year in the UK could benefit from this research."

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: "Cancer Research UK has led the way in improving our understanding of the genetics of cancer and identifying those people who would benefit most from interventions to prevent the disease before it develops or if cancer does develop to diagnose it early. These findings will help to strengthen advice to women with a strong family history of breast cancer but no evidence of a BRCA mutation."

Difficult child-good marriage conquers all

2009-01-31T11:34:00.000-08:00

The latest research showed that couples who have supportive marital relationships can deal with disturbing children easier and this only makes their marriage stronger.

A new study was conducted by Schoppe Sullivan, Sarah Mangelsdorf, Geoffrey Brown from University of Illinois together with Margaret Szewczyk from University of Minneapolis.

The study involved 97 couples expecting a baby who were examined for the extended period of time. Couples were questioned and videotaped before and after the child birth on the quality of their marital relationships and later on on their interaction with the child, when he or she was 3,5 months old. Researchers focused on couple's cooperation with each other, their activity with the child and how they managed to cope with the disturbing and fussy behavior of the child.

Researches came to a conclusion that good marital relationships are crucial in determining effective management with restless and agitated children . Compared with the couples who showed disagreement towards each other and were not cooperative in dealing with their baby, supportive partners showed effective cooperation.

The previous study conducted by the same researches concluded that badly cooperating parents are likely to have aggressive children.

The result of the new study emphasized that effective parenting has more to do with the cooperation of both parents rather than with the fact how each of the parents deal with their child.

Although, good marital partners are likely to be good coparents, these two notions may not coincide. However, in case when couple is better at coparenting, their marriage and dealing with the child benefit in either way.

Tongue Drive System to Operate Computers

2009-01-31T11:32:00.000-08:00

Scientists developed a new revolutionary system to help individuals with disabilities to control wheelchairs, computers and other devices simply by using their tongue.

Engineers at the Georgia Institute of Technology say that a new technology called Tongue Drive system will be helpful to individuals with serious disabilities, such as those with severe spinal cord injuries and will allow them to lead more active and independent lives.

Individuals using a tongue-based system should only be able to move their tongue, which is especially important if a person has paralyzed limbs. A tiny magnet, only a size of a grain of rice, is attached to an individual's tongue using implantation, piercing or adhesive. This technology allows a disabled person to use tongue when moving a computer mouse or a powered wheelchair.

Scientists chose the tongue to control the system because unlike the feet and the hands, which are connected by brain through spinal cord, the tongue and the brain has a direct connection through cranial nerve. In case when a person has a severe spinal cord injure or other damage, the tongue will remain mobile to activate the system. "Tongue movements are also fast, accurate and do not require much thinking, concentration or effort." said Maysam Ghovanloo, an assistant professor in the Georgia Tech School of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The motions of the magnet attached to the tongue are spotted by a number of magnetic field sensors installed on a headset worn outside or an orthodontic brace inside the mouth. The signals coming from the sensors are wirelessly sent to a portable computer that placed on a wheelchair or attached to an individual's clothing.

The Tongue system is developed to recognize a wide array of tongue movements and to apply specific movements to certain commands, taking into account user's oral anatomy, abilities and lifestyle."The ability to train our system with as many commands as an individual can comfortably remember is a significant advantage over the common sip-n-puff device that acts as a simple switch controlled by sucking or blowing through a straw," said Ghovanloo.

The Tongue Drive system is touch-free, wireless and non-invasive technology that needs no surgery for its operation.

During the trials of the system, six able-bodied participants were trained to use tongue commands to control the computer mouse. The individuals repeated several motions left, right, up and down, single- and double-click to perform computer mouse tasks.

The results of the trials showed 100 percent of commands were accurate with the response time less than one second, which equals to an information transfer rate of approximately 150 bits per minute.

Scientists also plan to test the ability of the system to operate by people with severe disabilities. The next step of the research is to develop software to connect the Tongue Drive system to great number of devices such as text generators, speech synthesizers and readers. Also the researchers plan to upgrade the system by introducing the standby mode to allow the individual to eat, sleep or talk, while prolonging the battery life.

Source: National Science Foundation

AIDS to Spread Faster with Catholic Condom Ban

2009-01-31T11:30:00.001-08:00

Latin America is at danger of having the epidemic of AIDS due to the current policy of Roman Catholic Church that discourages the use of condoms, UN officials reported.

As much as 1.7 million people in Latin America countries already are infected with HIV virus causing AIDS and this tendency is growing with 410.000 new cases last year, UNAids programme officials say.

Due to the principles of Catholic Church exerting its influence in Latin America, contraception, including the use of condoms is not favored. In order to avoid AIDS spreading, Catholic Church supports abstinence programs.

Alberto Stella, the UNAids Coordinator for Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica said that the authoritative position of Catholic Church with condom ban is making situation even worse. Youngsters start their sex lives at age 15 to 19 and they have no proper sex education programs to warn of the STI's including AIDS.

Many programs already showed that abstinence is not effective in modern society and Church principles to abstain from sex before marriage together with the contraception ban contributes to the spread of AIDS. With more than 1 billion Catholics living in Latin America this tendency becomes even more frightening.

Most people would live without sex but not without Internet

2009-01-31T11:27:00.000-08:00

According to a survey most Americans cannot live without going to the net for more than a week, preferring web surfing to friends and sex.

In a survey conducted by JWT advertising agency 1,011 Americans had to answer how long they can do without Internet. As much as 15 percent said that they would feel good no more than a day or less without Internet, 21 percent could do no more than a couple of days, 19 percent of participants said that few days would be enough. Only one third of respondents said that they could live without Internet for a week.

Most people said they would feel restless, bored and isolated from the world and their close people. Almost half of all respondents said that mobile phones and Internet has become essential part of their lives and they would be anxious without going to the Internet.

As much as 28 percent of people said they spent more time on the net than communicating with their peers and friends. And 20 percent of respondents said they had less sex because they spent that time on the Internet.

Among all other activities, Internet surfing took the leading place, followed by mobile phone use, while such activities as TV watching , communicating with friends, reading newspapers and sex has become less important.

Ann Mack, director of trend spotting at JWT said that with the increased demand for technology, people now urge for hand-held devices to stay connected with the world whenever they are.

Patient Being Cured From AIDS

2009-01-31T11:23:00.000-08:00

Doctors say that this success has been reached accidentally - as a side-effect of a fight with another serious disease.

But their words still can't ruin the hopes of thousands HIV-infected people, who practically tear apart the clinic's telephones these days.

Gero Huetter, a doctor of a clinic in Berlin, called "Charite", was treating one of his patients of leukemia, but, as it turned out, he stopped another terrible disease the patient had - AIDS. After the marrow transplant he made, the blood analysis for HIV gave a negative result.

Gero Huetter says, "This marrow cells transplant was made exclusively for the treatment of leukemia, and not for the treatment of HIV-infection. What happened was just a succesful side-effect."

The donor cells transplanted to the patient have a rare genetic mutation, called "Delta-32" invented by specialists.

The unique case in "Charite" is considered to be as an "important small" victory in the long and unsuccesful yet fight with the main "plague of contemporaneousness".

Science has not proved yet that the "miracle donor cells" are a cure to AIDS. Doctors don't exclude the possibility of the virus still existing in the organism, but not being able to manifest.

According to Hutner, the doctors of the clinic affirmed that similar transplants couldn't be considered as a source of treatment for AIDS, because that operation is a very difficult and risky one for the patient. People should not make themselves false illusions.

The name of the patient is not known. All that's known is that he is an American of 42 years old and that he has been living in Berlin for 10 years. At first, he wanted to treat himself from leukemia in USA, but then his friends advised him to seek treatment in Germany.

The press has quickly called this rare medical case as the "Hutner effect", after the name of the doctor in case.

What's important now is that this news isn't forgotten quickly as it frequently happens with sensations of this kind.

Having such information in their hands, the doctors want to go further than that. Investigations are being made every day.

New Test for Treatment of AIDS

2009-01-31T11:15:00.000-08:00

t is an invention that should be hailed among doctors treating aids, and their patients//.

About 10 to 20 percent of aids victims are resistant to drugs used in treating them. In other words the strain of HIV affecting them has developed some mutation or genetic change that prevents them from being subdued with anti-AIDS drugs.

Such strains multiply rapidly and make the carrier more prone to develop aids, and harder to treat.

Currently the tests that are used to detect drug resistant strains of HIV are not only few, and not that very efficient.

According to scientists Feng Gao and others of the Duke University Medical Center, North Carolina, US, who published their findings in Nature Methods, they have devised a device that is so sensitive to viral mutations or drug resistant strains that they pick up a single mutated virus among 10,000 non–mutated ones.

There are about 30 well-established mutations that make HIV strains resistant to the around 20 drug used to treat aids.

The present tests require the total resistant viral count or load to reach 20 percent before they can be identified. When this happens the chance of treating the patient effectively goes down drastically. Meanwhile the doctor would have wasted precious time treating the patient with drugs that do not work.

According to Roger Pebody, treatment specialist for the Terrence Higgins Trust, “If this research leads to a simpler and more easily used resistance test, it will improve treatment outcomes for people living with HIV."

Aston Martin Unseats the Veyron as the World's Most Expensive Car

2009-01-30T12:06:00.001-08:00

The Bugatti Veyron just lost its last claim to fame.

Having already been dethroned as the fastest car on the planet, the $1.4 million Veyron and its more expensive roadster sibling are no longer the world's most expensive rides. That title now rests with the One-77, the $2.3 million hand-made coupe Aston Martin will sell next year. No more than 77 will be built, a figure that makes Bugatti's run of 300 Veyrons look mass-market and just beats the 80 Veyron roadsters in exclusivity.

A British bookie already is laying odds on who'll get the first one.

Paying $2.3 million for anything that doesn't have wings is beyond excessive, but then, those few who get a One-77 aren't buying a car. They are, according to Aston Martin, buying An Experience. Autocar says buyers will be invited to the factory in Gaydon, where they'll meet with designers and engineers to develop the car to their exact specifications.

"It's a very special car for customers who want to take the bespoke experience to a higher level," company chairman David Richard told Autocar. "Every car will be entirely individual."

Aston Martin isn't saying much about the One-77, a code name for the as-yet-unnamed coupe, but the project started about 15 months ago. The hand-hammered aluminum bodywork retains the general profile of the gorgeous DB9 but is more muscular. It covers a carbon fiber chassis and a 7.0-liter V12 engine said to produce 650 horsepower. Top speed is estimated at 220 mph and 60 mph arrives in 3.5 seconds.

Those figures are well short of the 253 mph and 2.5 seconds the Bugatti has hit, but Aston Martin CEO Ulrich Benz says the company isn't "doing a Veyron." Instead, the company's flagship will highlight its latest technology, raising the possibility future Astons will make greater use of carbon fiber and other advancements developed for the One-77.

The company reportedly has identified 500 or so potential customers and will bring a One-77 to their homes -- when you're spending that kind of money, you aren't expected to actually visit a showroom.

So who's on the list? The bookies at William Hill Casinos have opened betting and David Beckham is their 9-4 favorite to be first in line. Singer Jay Kay of Jamiroquai is second at 3-1, while the odds on Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich stand at 7-2.

As for Aston Martin's decision to build just 77, it's said to have stemmed from Bez's belief that seven is a lucky number. It certainly is for those fortunate enough to get one.

Aston Martin Unseats the Veyron as the World's Most Expensive Car

2009-01-30T12:06:00.000-08:00

The Bugatti Veyron just lost its last claim to fame.

A British bookie already is laying odds on who'll get the first one.

"It's a very special car for customers who want to take the bespoke experience to a higher level," company chairman David Richard told Autocar. "Every car will be entirely individual."

As for Aston Martin's decision to build just 77, it's said to have stemmed from Bez's belief that seven is a lucky number. It certainly is for those fortunate enough to get one.

Mesothelioma - a rare type of cancer

2009-01-30T12:03:00.000-08:00

Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in the lining of the body's internal organs, a thin layer of cells known as the mesothelium. While very thin, this layer of cells is vitally important to organ function and the health of the inner body structures. There are three recognized types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma occurs in the pleural lining of the lungs and is the most common form of the disease. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs within the peritoneum, which lines the abdominal cavity and is the second most common form of the disease. Pericardial mesothelioma is the rarest variety of the disease and occurs in the pericardial lining of the heart. The primary cause of mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos, though other factors, such as smoking may increase the likeliness of the disease in certain individuals.

How is Mesothelioma Diagnosed?

Malignant mesothelioma can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms of the disease often closely mimic those of less serious conditions. It will often require X-ray and other body scans (CT or MRI) in addition to a biopsy to conclusively diagnose mesothelioma. Nevertheless, those experiencing chronic cough, difficulty swallowing, chest pain, or breathing difficulties should alert their physician immediately. This is particularly true among those with a known asbestos-exposure history. Those with asbestos exposure history should communicate this to their physician even before symptoms appear so that they may be able to alert patients to warning signs of the disease. If detected early enough, patients may be eligible for aggressive treatment options, including surgical resection of the mesothelioma cancer and affected tissue. Oncologists and thoracic specialists will be able to assist the patient in determining the extent of the disease and the best treatment options for that particular patient.

How is Mesothelioma Treated?

Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer but can be managed with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Currently, there is no known cure for asbestos cancer but several mesothelioma treatment regimens have proven to be successful in helping the patient avoid pain and discomfort caused by the disease. Several therapies have emerged in recent years that have extended survival rates to levels previously thought to be impossible. Cancer centers have initiated hundreds of clinical trials in recent years to help mesothelioma patients find a therapy that works for them while still working towards a cure for future patients. Progressive therapies are now being developed through the International Mesothelioma Program under the direction of thoracic specialist Dr. David Sugarbaker.

World's Most Expensive Dessert!

2009-01-30T11:54:00.000-08:00

New York dessert costs a record £12,500
By Tom Leonard in New York

A chocolate sundae served by a New York restaurant was declared the world's most expensive dessert after it appeared on the menu priced at £12,500.

The dish, "Frrrozen Haute Chocolate", is infused with edible 23-carat gold and is served in a gold-lined goblet, complemented by a small box of Knipschildt chocolate truffles which sell for £1,300 per lb.

Encircling the goblet's base is an 18-carat gold and diamond bracelet, and the sundae is served with a gold spoon decorated with diamonds which can be taken home.

The Serendipity 3 restaurant took two weeks to create the dessert, ordering in the ingredients from around the world.

What would you do with $25,000? Buy a new Toyota Camry? Pay for six months at Harvard?

Instead, how about some really fancy chocolate?

The people at the Serendipity 3 restaurant on East 60th Street announced today that they would offer a $25,000 dessert called the Frrrozen Haute Chocolate. The item, a high-end version of the venerable restaurant’s Frrrozen Hot Chocolate, was declared the world’s most expensive dessert today by Guinness World Records, joining the august ranks of publicity-stunt items like the Most Expensive Pie ($14,260), Most Expensive Cocktail ($1,431) and the Most Expensive Frittata ($1,000).

Joe Calderone, a spokesman for the Midtown restaurant, said the dessert is a mix of cocoas and milk frozen to a slushylike consistency. But it does not stop there. Five grams of 24-carat gold are mixed in; then, the chocolate is topped with whipped cream and — what else? — more gold. No ordinary cherry tops this sundae; instead, it is garnished with La Madeline au Truffe.

The whole mass is served in a goblet surrounded with a crown made, of course, of gold. And diamonds. If that is not enough, the spoon is gold, too.

The restaurant, which started to offer the item today, has not yet sold one, Mr. Calderone said. He said the lead time for an order is two weeks.

“Everything is created for the order,” he explained. “The truffle has to be flown in from France; we order the cocoas from around the world; we have the gold flown in from Switzerland, so it takes time to put it together.”

It might leave your stomach bulging, but the world's most expensive dessert will leave your wallet $25,000 thinner.

The Frrrozen Haute Chocolate mixes top-grade cocoa from 14 countries, spiced with 5 grams of edible gold and shavings of a multithousand-dollar truffle.

For the price, you can afford to forget to count the calories.

"Nobody's ever tried to figure out how fattening it is," said Joe Calderone, spokesman for upper East Side eatery Serendipity 3, exclusive home to the swanky sweet.

"Let's face it: It's not for everybody," said restaurant owner Stephen Bruce.

"I expect people buying this would be marking a very special occasion. They'd also be extremely wealthy."

The dessert was officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records yesterday - although the restaurant has yet to sell the first superpricey chocolaty treat.

"To qualify, it doesn't matter if it has been bought," said Guinness researcher Stuart Claxton. "It's enough that it's available for somebody to buy."

The choice chocolate is the latest pricey food served up in New York restaurants, which already have $1,000 pizzas and $55 macaroni and cheese on their menus.

It is served in a goblet dressed with a golden band dripping with 1 carat of white diamonds. It is eaten with a specially made spoon, encrusted with 3 carats of diamonds.

Chefs need two weeks' notice to prepare it.

"The ingredients have to be flown in specially from around the world," Bruce said.

"That's why it's such a special dessert."

The World Most Expensive House

2009-01-30T11:48:00.000-08:00

Updown Court, London, UK

£85 million ( $150.364 million USD )

The World Most Expensive House!!

Updown Court, London, UK
Updown Court, a newly built mansion for sale outside of London, offers plenty of lavish amenities: five swimming pools, an eight-limousine garage, and mosaic floor made of 24-karat gold leaf in the downstairs study. The property, however, is best known for its price tag: more than 85 million British pounds (+$150 million USD).

If Updown Court fetches that price, it would make the 40,000-square-foot dwelling and its property the most expensive home ever sold, according to real estate agents. The target owner, according to developer Leslie Allen-Vercoe, is a superrich international buyer looking for a second, third, or fourth home in London. "The house has been designed for a specific market, which is the billionaire market, as opposed to the millionaire market," he says.

Larger in area than both the royal residences of Hampton Court Palace or Buckingham Palace, this magnificent estate symbolises the grand and imposing presence of the Great Houses of England, yet employs state-of-the-art 21st Century technology to provide the ultimate living environment.

The World's Largest and Most Luxurious Limo

2009-01-30T11:37:00.000-08:00

The Midnight Rider is the world’s largest and grandest limousine. In fact, she is a traveling luxury ground vehicle, cruising Southern California and Las Vegas with an 1,800 watt Sony surround sound system in each of her three lounges, large screen televisions, a full bar, two bartenders… and yes, a bathroom!

Representative of the luxury days of railroad travel, she is classified as a “Tractor-Trailer Limousine”, and is the only one ever built. The air-ride suspension makes for a ride so comfortable, it allows you to stand up and move from lounge to lounge, mingling and partying with your group.

We provide the most unique, exciting, and memorable travel experience available today! Customize your event:

Destination & pickup
Onboard beverages
Hors d’oeuvres
Music
Movies
Satellite television
Accommodations
Special requests…and much more

The Midnight Rider is the ultimate in travel, reserved for those who expect the very best:

1870's Presidential Pullman Car decor
Crew of five includes driver, co-driver, hostess and two bartenders
Lounge style, plush playpen seating
Climate controlled air conditioning and heating
70 feet long and holds up to 40 passengers
3 lounges
Full bar

World's Most Expensive Hotel Suites

2009-01-30T10:36:00.000-08:00

Hoping to live like a king next time you head to Vegas?

You're in luck. Stay in the 9,000-square-foot, three-bedroom Two Story Sky Villa at The Palms, and you'll receive the royal treatment, including access to a cantilevered Jacuzzi with clear views of the Strip, a butler, poker table, private gym and media room.

The princely per-night price? $25,000, landing it atop our list of the world's costliest suites.

It's not alone in its grandiosity.

"Hotels are trending toward having more suites," says Bjorn Hanson, a principal in the Hospitality and Leisure Practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers. "The economy is strong, corporate travel budgets aren't in a period of restriction, and it adds more sexiness to a hotel to have an extravagant room."

The Suite Life
While there are no clearly defined criteria, Joe McInerney, president and CEO of the American Hotel and Lodging Association, says that calling a room a suite means that it's larger than the average room at the hotel. And, instead of one room, a suite usually has a few separate rooms.

While it might add glamour for a hotel to have a suite, the most expensive ones are generally showcases and don't bring in a large amount of revenue for the property.

"The top-tier suites at hotels have very high price tags, and their occupancy might be much lower than for the hotel overall," says McInerney. "Hotels also anticipate these suites will be used on a complementary basis, so there will be limited revenue from them."

Likely candidates for these perks include celebrities and recognizable names. Housing a celebrity or high-profile person in a hotel's best suite is a marketing tactic that adds cache to the hotel and to the specific room.

Luxe Living
A suite's amenities can vary from genuine antiques and Oriental carpets to numerous flat-screen televisions and private terraces with panoramic views.

But McInerney says the one extravagance that distinguishes all top suites is service.

"The best suites in the world should have a service protocol that goes along with them. You should have a dedicated person at your beck and call," he says. "You can create the most deluxe suite in the world, but you need to have that special service that goes along with it."

If you stay in the $10,000-a-night Private Reserve at Soneva Gili Resort & Spa in the Maldives, for example, you won't just have one person taking care of you. Two personal assistants reside in separate quarters on the suite's premises.

Built over the water, this 15,000-square-foot, six-building complex boasts a glass-floored foyer that leads onto a large sun deck with a 12-person dining area. Two master suites have spacious living rooms and baths that qualify as retreats on their own: The circular glass shower is accessed via a walkway through a private garden, and the bathtub is on its own deck amid day beds for lounging. There's also a fully equipped kitchen, a spacious living room and a private spa with a sauna, steam room, massage pavilion and a gym. As if this weren't enough, you'll also be rewarded by stunning views of the Indian Ocean everywhere you look.

If you prefer a city vacation, you can't get more opulent than the $13,600 Royal Suite at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai.

This two-bedroom, 8,400-square-foot duplex suite, one of two in this 202-room property, overlooks the Arabian Sea and is decorated with leopard-print tufted carpets, Carrarra marble flooring and mahogany furniture. A dining area and Arabic-style lounge occupy the first floor. Both an elevator and a marble-and-gold staircase lead to the second floor, where one will find the master bedroom with a rotating four-poster canopy bed. Your personal butler can draw your bath in the marble bathroom, stocked with full-size Hermes toiletries. Before retiring, enjoy a movie in the suite's private cinema.

If you want a suite that has the added glitz of hosting luminaries, book the Imperial Suite at the legendary Ritz Paris in Paris. King Edward VII of England, Sir Winston Churchill and the Aga Khan are just a few of the famous people who have stayed in this two-bedroom suite, which goes for $13,500 a night. The 2,000-square-foot space is inspired by the splendor of the Louis XIV era and is filled with French 18th-century mahogany furniture.

At a time when the average cost for a hotel room in the U.S. is $103 a night, according to Smith Travel Research, a Tennessee-based company, how can you possibly justify spending over $10,000 for a suite?

Need To Know

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Skin Care

The first step to skin care is to identify your skin type and then follow the prescribed medication and method to care for it.

If you desire a good skin, you really need to make a concerted effort towards the same. It should become a habit. Besides a healthy diet, composed of cereals, fruits and vegetables along with exercise and adequate sleep is essential for a healthy skin.

Do avoid going out in the sun and if you need to, begin using a sunscreen to protect your skin from getting damaged.

Drink 8-10 glasses of water daily, to keep your skin hydrated.

As a guideline your skin needs two staples: Cleanser and Moisturizer.

Other products might include-toner, exfoliator and eye cream or gels.

Avoid using more than three or four products daily to protect your skin from breaking out and reacting. Simplify your routine (it should not take more than 10 minutes to do twice a day) and use basic formulas.

The following is the basic skin care which a women can follow:-

Use warm (not hot) water for washing and bathing.

Use mild soaps.

Do not bathe for longer than is necessary to get your skin clean.

Apply moisturizer immediately after bathing to prevent water loss from the skin.

In winters, cover your hands and face by wearing gloves and scarf to keep in the moisture and protect against cold.

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