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Simple Test Reveals Health Problems (May 31,
(Ivanhoe Newswire)
It's common to get your blood pressure checked when you visit a doctor, but
keeping track of those readings could be a good predictor of future
problems. A new study shows this simple blood pressure check reveals
important information about the five-year risk for stroke and heart and
kidney disease.
For the research, study authors looked at electronic medical records from
5,825 patients. They focused on vital signs, diagnoses, test results, and
drug therapy. Then they looked at predictors of subsequent vascular
complications over the next five years.
Researchers report vital signs, especially systolic blood pressure, have
significant prognostic value for future health problems. Specifically, the
researchers found an elevation of 10 millimeters of mercury in blood
pressure was associated with an increase in risk ranging from 6 percent for
stroke or heart attack to 13 percent for chronic renal insufficiency, or
loss of function in the kidneys.
Study authors say too often physicians ignore a single elevated blood
pressure reading, opting to wait and reassess the patient during the next
visit. Instead, researchers say blood pressure and heart rate are truly
vital signs, and elevations should be taken seriously and treated.
SOURCE: Annals of Family Medicine, 2004;2:209-217
Latest on the Risk of Osteoporosis (May 31,
Two new research studies may help doctors identify which postmenopausal
women are at an increased risk for a future fracture. The studies show some
women may be overlooked for therapy even though they are at the risk for a
Study authors say the most important predictor of bone fracture in
postmenopausal women without a previous fracture is bone mineral density.
Bone mineral density is measured by a T-score. As the T-score decreases, the
risk for fracture increases. The question has been what level of a T-score
indicates an increased risk.
In the first study, authors from Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center in New
York looked at different levels of T-scores and fracture incidence within
one year of bone mineral density testing. According to the World Health
Organization, a T-score of -2.5 or lower indicates osteoporosis. The study
showed that of 2,259 women who had fractures, only 6.4 percent of the women
had a T-score of -2.5 or less. If treatment is only given to women with a
T-score of -2.5 or less, many women who had fractures will miss the
opportunity for treatment. Researchers say in order to reduce osteoporotic
fractures doctors cannot just rely on T-scores.
The second study from the Colorado Center for Bone Research in Lakewood
focused on identifying women with osteopenia at potential risk for fracture
within one year of bone mineral testing. Osteopenia is indicated by a
T-score of -2.5 to -1.0. The study looked at data on 57,421 women.
Researchers looked at 32 risk factors for a fracture.
Study authors report the most important predictors of fracture include:
women who had a previous fracture; a T-score at a peripheral site, such as
the forearm, of -1.8 or less; self-rated poor health status and poor
mobility. The classification system developed by the study authors correctly
identified 74 percent of women who suffered from a future fracture.
Researchers hope the guidelines will be useful for physicians in evaluating
the risk of fracture in postmenopausal women.
SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine, 2004;164:1108-1112, 1113-1120
Another Thumbs up for Soy (May 31,
Another study uncovers more evidence that soy plays a part in cancer
prevention. The latest research focuses on women and the risk of endometrial
cancer. Endometrial cancer is cancer affecting the lining of the uterus.
Since soy has been found to be beneficial for breast cancer and prostate
cancer, researchers from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.,
conducted a study to determine if soy is beneficial for endometrial cancer.
The study included Chinese women in Shanghai. Researchers interviewed 832
women who were diagnosed with endometrial cancer and 846 healthy women. The
amount of soy intake over five years was measured as well as current body
Researchers found regular consumption of soy foods is associated with a
reduced risk of endometrial cancer, particularly among overweight women. Soy
foods are a rich source of isoflavones and also may contain high amounts of
Researchers say the rates of endometrial cancer vary widely in different
countries. Asian women have a lower rate of the cancer than their Western
counterparts. They say diet, including the intake of soy, may play an
important role in this difference.
SOURCE: British Medical Journal, 2004;328:1285-1288
Chocolate a day Keeps Heart Disease Away? (May 31,
Not much of a red wine drinker? A new study finds small, daily doses of dark
chocolate may have the same effects on health.
Researchers say when healthy people ate small amounts of flavonoid-rich
chocolate every day for two weeks, they boosted the functions of their blood
vessels. The chocolate improved the blood vessels' ability to dilate, and at
the same time, epicatechin -- a flavonoid thought to be beneficial for blood
vessel function -- was absorbed at higher levels in the blood.
Researchers suggest that the higher levels of epicatechin triggered the
release of substances that increase blood flow in the artery. "Better blood
flow is good for your heart," says lead author Mary Engler, Ph.D., R.N., a
professor of physiological nursing at the University of California-San
Francisco School of Nursing.
She says arteries that are able to dilate more have increased blood flow, an
important step in lowering the risk of heart disease. Plus, the daily snacks
of chocolate did not increase the cholesterol levels of the study's
Flavonoids are chemical compounds that are found in plants. Past studies
have shown flavonoids have antioxidant properties and are particularly
helpful to the cardiovascular system by decreasing the body's inflammatory
immune responses, regulating blood platelets, and decreasing oxidation of
LDL cholesterol -- a process that allows cholesterol to accumulate in the
Several years ago, scientists discovered that dark chocolate contains more
flavonoids than any other foods that have been tested so far, including
green and black tea, red wine, and blueberries. The authors say standard
manufacturing of chocolate removes about a quarter to half of its flavonoids,
but now some companies are using different processing methods to preserve as
much as 70 percent to 95 percent of the flavonoids.
"There's little doubt that in moderation and in conjunction with a healthy,
balanced diet and exercise we can enjoy -- and even benefit from -- moderate
amounts of high-flavonoid dark chocolate," says Engler.
SOURCE: Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 2004;23:197-204
Takes Better Care of Themselves: Men or Women? (May 30,
New research shows men and women have different approaches when it comes to
staying healthy.
Researchers from the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor and
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention analyzed data on more than
97,000 men and women who answered questions about their health habits.
Results show women are less likely than men to take a daily aspirin as a
preventative measure. Researchers say women at risk for heart disease were
even less likely to take aspirin regularly. About 45 percent of high-risk
women reported taking aspirin regularly, compared to nearly 60 percent of
high-risk men.
Researchers say both genders reported getting their cholesterol and blood
pressure checked at similar times.
However, researchers also found women were more likely than men to remember
or follow advice about diet and exercise. However, only about two-thirds of
both men and women reported exercising and dieting.
Authors of the study conclude, "This just reinforces how hard it is to
change people's behavior, even among high-risk people ... There are many
people who should be modifying their behavior and who know they should be
dieting and exercising, but they don't do it. We need to find ways to help
SOURCE: To be published in an upcoming issue of the American Journal of
Preventative Medicine
Pipe Smoking Dangers (May 30,
New research shows pipe smoking may be just as harmful as cigar smoking.
Researchers from the American Cancer Society in Atlanta studied data on
about 15,000 men who smoked pipes and about 123,000 men who never smoked.
They found pipe smoking was associated with cancers of the colon and rectum,
esophagus, larynx, lung, oropharynx, pancreas and stomach. Pipe smokers were
at an especially high risk for developing cancers of the larynx, lung and
Researchers say although pipe smoking poses fewer risks than cigarette
smoking, it seems to carry the same risks as cigar smoking.
Authors of the study write, "All tobacco products cause excessive morbidity
and mortality."
Pipes are the least commonly used tobacco products in the United States, but
their popularity is increasing among middle school and high school students.
Researchers say pipe smoking is also common among the Native American
Authors conclude, "Comprehensively documenting the deleterious health
effects of pipe smoking is important in countering efforts by the tobacco
industry to promote pipes as desirable alternatives to cigarettes or
SOURCE: Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 2004;96:853-861
Fish, Pregnancy and Asthma (May 26,
A new study shows pregnant women with asthma can reduce their risk of having
asthmatic children by eating oily fish. However, that same study also shows
pregnant women who consume other types of fish may have an increased risk of
having asthmatic children.
Researchers from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles
presented their study at the American Thoracic Society International
Conference in Orlando, Fla.
Results show asthmatic mothers who ate oily fish, such as salmon and trout,
during pregnancy were about 70-percent less likely to have children with
asthma. In fact, researchers say the more oily fish a woman consumed, the
less likely her child was to develop asthma. Children with non-asthmatic
mothers did not benefit from having their mothers eat oily fish during
However, mothers who ate fish sticks during pregnancy were twice as likely
to have children with asthma, regardless of whether they had asthma
Frank Gilliland, M.D., Ph.D., from USC, says, "Fish sticks are deep-fried,
and they contain omega-6 fatty acids, which encourage inflammation of the
airways. Oily fish contain omega-3 fatty acids, which appear to be
anti-inflammatory and lead to the reduced potential for developing asthma
and allergies."
SOURCE: The American Thoracic Society International Conference in
Orlando, Fla., May 21-26, 2004
Daughters Make Your Asthma Worse? (May 26,
Moms-to-be who are carrying girls are more likely to experience a worsening
of their asthma than pregnant asthmatic women carrying boys, according to a
new study.
Doctors speculate female fetuses may produce a substance in response to the
inflammation of the mother's airways that somehow worsens the woman's
pre-existing asthma.
Australian researchers found 60 percent of asthmatic women who were pregnant
with boys were symptom-free throughout their pregnancy and did not report
nighttime breathing problems from the 18th week to the 30th week of
pregnancy. On the other hand, 61 percent of women carrying girls were
symptom-free at 18 weeks but by the 30th week only 28 percent remained
symptom-free. Also, these women said their nighttime symptoms increased
significantly from 18 weeks to 30 weeks.
Lead researcher Peter G. Gibson, M.D., says there is bright spot. "The good
news is that the vast majority of pregnant women with asthma can control
their asthma with treatment," says Dr. Gibson, a professor at John Hunter
Hospital in Newcastle, Australia.
Most of the study's asthmatic participants reported using inhaled steroids
every day. Doctors say inhaled steroids are generally considered safer for
the fetus than oral steroids, and they can effectively control the
inflammation in the airways caused by asthma. The use of inhaled steroids
increased significantly in women carrying girls but did not change in women
carrying boys.
Dr. Gibson stresses the importance of controlling asthma during pregnancy.
He says, "If a mother has a severe asthma attack, it can result in reduced
oxygen to the baby, which is needed for normal growth and development."
SOURCE: Presented at The American Thoracic Society International
Conference in Orlando, Fla., May 21-26, 2004
we Need Folic Acid (May 25,
New research shows about half of the population carries a gene that puts
them at risk for passing on neural tube defects like spina bifida to their
Researchers publishing in this week's British Medical Journal explain
doctors already know one form of the gene responsible for processing folate
in the body is linked to neural tube defects. They speculated another form
of the gene might also be associated with the birth defects.
To find out, researchers studied about 400 people with neural tube defects,
comparing their folate-processing genes with those of about 850 people
without neural tube defects. Results showed the second form of the gene led
to just as many cases of neural tube defects as the first form, mainly
because the second form is much more prevalent in the general population.
About 10 percent of people carry the first form the gene, called the "TT"
variation. Nearly 40 percent carry the second form, called "CT."
People who have the variant forms of the gene are not able to process folate
as easily as those with the normal form, called "wild CC." The inability to
process folate leads to spinal cord problems in the developing fetus.
Correcting the problem, however, is easily accomplished by folic acid
The researchers say these results reinforce the importance of supplementing
the diets of all women of childbearing age with folic acid.
SOURCE: BMJ, May 2004; 10.1136/bmj.38036.646030.EE.
Good job Plus Good Marriage Equals low Blood Pressure (May 24,
Too much stress may put your health in jeopardy. A new study shows job
strain and marital stress factors increase a person's risk of having high
blood pressure.
Researchers from Toronto presented the results of the Double Exposure study
at the American Society of Hypertension's 19th Annual Scientific Meeting in
New York City. They examined nearly 250 participants who worked fulltime and
lived with a spouse or partner.
About 20 percent of participants reported experiencing job-related stress,
and about 28 percent of participants said they were not in a satisfactory
Researchers say job stress was significantly associated with higher blood
pressure readings. Patients who reported more job stress had an average
blood pressure reading that was five points higher than those who reported
little stress at work.
Researchers say that rise in blood pressure was not as significant when
participants were in the company of a spouse. However, when participants
were in the company of a spouse and consumed more than 10 drinks of alcohol
a week, they had blood pressure readings that were 3.68 points higher.
Researchers conclude, "Excessive alcohol consumption was related to higher
blood pressure during spousal contact. The impact of marital factors as well
as job strain on blood pressure will be further examined in the one-year
follow up of the Double Exposure study."
SOURCE: American Society of Hypertension 19th Annual Scientific Meeting
and Exposition in New York, May 18-22, 2004
Preemies Need More Breast Milk (May 24, 2004)
Premature infants born in multiple births aren't getting their fair share of
breast milk, say researchers publishing in the May/June issue of Ambulatory
That's important because these babies are often at the greatest risk for
medical problems and need to have the optimal nutrition that only breast
milk can provide.
Researchers compared the breastfeeding behaviors of mothers who had
full-term multiple births, full-term singleton births, pre-term singleton
births, and pre-term multiple births. They were encouraged when they found
full-term multiples -- twins or triplets -- were just about as likely to
receive breast milk as full or pre-term singleton births.
However, pre-term multiples were at a significant disadvantage.
Investigators found just 57 percent of mothers were providing breast milk to
their infants three days after delivery. By six months, only 14 percent of
the infants were receiving breast milk. These figures compare to 66 percent
and 29 percent, respectively, for pre-term singletons; 69 percent and 35
percent for full-term singletons; and 73 percent and 38 percent for
full-term multiples.
Study author Sheela R. Geraghty, M.D., a pediatrician at Cincinnati
Children's Hospital Medical Center, says it's up to physicians to provide
more help and guidance to mothers of pre-term multiples. "Mothers of
pre-term multiple gestation infants are as motivated as any other mothers.
It is the obligation of the health care community to support these mothers
so they can provide optimal nutrition of breast milk to their infants as
SOURCE: Ambulatory Pediatrics, 2004;4;226-231
Approach to Crohn's (May 24, 2004)
CHICAGO (Ivanhoe Newswire)
Crohn's disease is a debilitating gastrointestinal disorder. It happens when
the immune system malfunctions and attacks the intestines. There is no known
cause of the disease and no cure. While treatments available provide relief
to some patients, many remain searching for a successful answer. Now,
doctors may have another one to offer.
Every week, Kristen Smith treks three-and-a-half hours from Indianapolis to
Chicago. But with all the Windy City has to offer, Smith has more than
sightseeing and shopping on her mind. She's here for a study of a new drug
for Crohn's disease.
"They're kind of at the end of the road with normal treatment. I'm either on
it, or it hasn't worked," Smith tells Ivanhoe.
Nearly four years ago, Smith thought she had the flu. Then, her symptoms got
worse. Today, Smith says: "[I have] a lot of abdominal pain. I can't eat. I
have no desire to eat, basically." She had to take a break from school. She
is on 30 pills a day and still is in a constant battle with her body. "There
is always the fight with depression or good days and bad days, or I want to
do something and can't."
Alan Buchman, M.D., a gastroenterologist at Northwestern University Feinberg
School of Medicine in Chicago, says "We're searching for drugs that are not
only better or work better than other drugs that are commercially available,
but are safer."
In Crohn's disease, white blood cells produce too much of the chemical TNF
(tumor necrosis factor) and cause inflammation. A new drug called CNI-1493
blocks the message to make TNF. "The idea is that we can block this
inflammatory cascade and stop the inflammation from occurring," explains Dr.
Smith says, "I'm very much an overachiever and don't like being told, 'You
can't do something,' or, 'You have limits.'" If the study continues like
doctors expect, she will be able to get back to normal life.
Dr. Buchman says another benefit of the new drug is that because the target
is so specific, it's unlikely to cause extreme side effects like currently
available drugs do. The treatment is given by infusion three times a week
for two weeks in a row.
If you would like more information, please contact:
Tamara Kerrill
Senior Broadcast Editor
Northwestern University
Cooking for Diabetes (May 24, 2004)
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe
In our fast-paced
world, too many Americans choose convenience over nutrition when it comes to
eating. One chef who wants to change that mindset.
You can learn a lot about healthy cooking by watching Chris Smith cook
chicken. It's a four-ounce breast he marinates in olive oil, poultry
seasoning, red pepper flakes, lemon pepper, dried rosemary, and fresh
garlic. He sears each side about 10 seconds in a Teflon pan coated with
cooking spray, then he bakes it until the meat reaches 160 degrees.
Smith learned to cook at The Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park,
N.Y. While he was there, he learned he had type 1 diabetes. "And I'll be
honest with you, with all the diseases out there, I'd much rather have a
disease that I can control, rather it controlling me," he tells Ivanhoe.
Smith had to eat healthier. It was then he decided to preach what he
practiced. "We have become a fast food nation, and what I want to do is to
challenge people to get back into their kitchen and enjoy cooking again,"
Smith says.
He developed a template for healthy cooking he calls MVP, for moderation,
variety and portion control. This chicken is a good example.
Smith has dubbed himself "the diabetic chef," and has a book by the same
name. He's spreading the art of healthy cooking through a book, lectures and
classes. After all, he says he wanted to be a chef not only to cook, but
also to serve. "And this is a way I can really do that. I can do that and
make an impact, and that's powerful to me."
Smith stresses that his recipes are not only for diabetics but can be
adopted by anyone who wants to eat healthier.
If you would like more information, please contact:
Uncontrolled Blood Pressure Among Elderly (May 24, 2004)
The current rates of blood pressure control in the elderly are unacceptably
low due in part to an inadequate number of medications and, perhaps, to poor
selection of drugs, say researchers presenting at the American Society of
Hypertension's 19th Annual Scientific Meeting in New York City.
"The elderly are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. population, and
they have the highest prevalence of hypertension. Yet, clinicians seem to be
reluctant to treat older patients aggressively, perhaps because of perceived
lower benefits or possible increased risk of side effects," says Donald
Lloyd-Jones, M.D., contributing author from Northwestern University Feinberg
School of Medicine in Chicago.
Researchers classified participants by age, and as expected, the prevalence
of hypertension increased markedly with advancing age. In the
younger-than-60 age group, around 27 percent had high blood pressure (higher
than 140 systolic/90 diastolic); in the 60-to-79 age group, about 59 percent
had high blood pressure; and 70 percent had high blood pressure in the
80-and-older group. Control rates of the blood pressure declined with
advancing age, especially among women. Among those 80 and older, only 32
percent of men and 24 percent of women had their blood pressure under
Sixty-six percent of participants were being treated with medication. The
majority, however, were only being treated with one medication, and even
though thiazide diuretics have been shown to be extremely effective, only 22
percent of men and 32 percent of women 80 and older were using thiazides.
Recommendations to combat this problem are for initial lower doses of
medications to avoid side effects in older patients and add more medications
as necessary to help patients reach their blood pressure goals.
Risks associated with hypertension include cardiovascular disease, heart
attacks, and congestive heart failure. The authors say improved blood
pressure control of people 80 years and older, especially women, must be
made a national priority.
SOURCE: American Society of Hypertension's 19th Annual Scientific Meeting
in New York, May 18-22, 2004
Yoga for Cancer (May 20, 2004)
The ancient Eastern tradition of yoga may have a modern medical application.
According to researchers from The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer
Center in Houston and elsewhere, lymphoma patients who took part in yoga
classes reported better sleep quality than those in a control group.
The study was conducted among 39 lymphoma patients who were either
undergoing treatment or who had concluded treatment within the last year.
About half the patients were assigned to the yoga classes while the other
half were put on a waiting list and served as the control group.
The yoga classes consisted of controlled breathing and visualization
exercises, along with mindfulness techniques and low-impact postures.
Researchers compared the yoga group with the control group, looking at
quality of sleep and other factors. Results show those in the yoga group had
fewer sleep disturbances and better sleep quality. Patients also slept
longer and needed fewer medications to help them sleep.
The authors believe these findings are encouraging and suggest the need for
more study on the medical benefits of yoga. They write, "The benefits that
have been documented and potential impact of these benefits ... are
important enough to warrant the further study of developing such programs
for cancer patients."
SOURCE: Cancer, 2004;100:2253-2260
At-Home Anesthesia (May 19, 2004)
TAMPA, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire)
While surgery is not easy, it's the recovery afterwards that can really take
its toll on a patient. In the past, patients have been sent home with
narcotics to relieve pain, but the drugs can have negative side effects.
There's now an option that makes recovery at home easier.
Mary Young and her husband, Frank, are relaxing at home today, just one day
after Mary had shoulder surgery. "It was hurting bad enough that I said, 'I
want it fixed,'" Mary says.
Surgery made Mary nervous, but the recovery worried her more. Pain pills and
Mary are old enemies. "I was nauseated, very sick, sleep for two or three
days and just felt really bad," she says.
This time around, Mary is free from those strong narcotics. Instead, she's
hooked to a pump that delivers a local anesthetic to keep her shoulder numb.
She says, "I don't have any pain at all."
Anesthesiologist Ward Longbottom from University Community Hospital in
Tampa, Fla., says at-home anesthesia is a huge step forward for patients. "A
lot of the operations that did have to stay in house in the past are now
going home," he tells Ivanhoe.
Doctors use a stimulator to find the nerve that needs to be blocked. A
catheter is inserted in the skin and is hooked to the pump. "When the
patient goes home, they have 24-hour-a-day access to an anesthesiologist,"
adds Dr. Longbottom. He also says the anesthetics used are less toxic and
safer for the patient.
Mary gets a continuous dose of pain relief. And with a simple push of a
button, she can get more medication and more relief. But the programmed pump
will not go above the amount set by the doctor.
"I have felt so much better," Mary comments. She hopes her road to recovery
will be as smooth as the first 24 hours.
The at-home anesthesia is available to patients who have surgery on their
arms or legs. For example, it's used for shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, hip
or ankle surgeries. Doctors say another benefit is patients who are in less
pain often have better rehabilitation.
If you would like more information, please contact:
Health Source at
University Community Hospital
Tampa, FL
(800) 326-4325
Back Pain in the Head? (May 19, 2004)
It turns out psychological factors may be a strong predictor for back pain
in some patients.
Researchers from the Stanford University School of Medicine in California
studied nearly 100 patients for four years. None of the patients experienced
back pain at the start of the study. Researchers examined patients' spines
through the use of disc injections and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Patients were also given psychological tests.
Results show those who fared poorly on the psychological exam were nearly
three-times more likely to report back pain. Patients with a history of
disputed workers' compensation claims were also more likely to develop back
Even patients who had fluid injected into their spines reported experiencing
less pain than those who scored poorly on the psychological test. The fluid
injection procedure -- called discography -- is thought to induce back pain.
"It was thought that discography could separate the wheat from the chaff.
But the bottom line is that it didn't predict who would go on to develop
back pain," says Eugene Carragee, M.D., lead author of the study.
Researchers say only a quarter of the 300,000 spinal fusion operations that
are performed each year are done for obvious reasons, such as removing
tumors or deformities.
Dr. Carragee concludes, "The structural problems were really overwhelmed by
the psychosocial factors. The question is, can we better identify groups
that have a greater chance of being helped by surgery?"
Researchers from Stanford are now working on a five-year study aimed to
examine a higher-risk group of people -- those who already have lower back
SOURCE: Spine, 2004;29:1112-1117
Breast Milk Good for the Heart (May 19, 2004)
The saying, "breast is best" is commonly heard when talking about formula
vs. breastfeeding an infant. Now, new research suggests another reason women
may want to breastfeed. The study shows breastfed infants have less
cardiovascular risks later in life.
Previous research indicated breastfeeding reduced cardiovascular disease,
but the studies all had major weaknesses. This newest research was done over
20 years by investigators in London.
The study included 216 teenagers who were randomly given breastmilk or
formula during infancy in the early 1980s. The teens underwent cholesterol
screenings to compare their good and bad cholesterol. Their C-reactive
protein was also tested. Higher concentrations of CRP are associated with
the development of atherosclerosis.
Researchers report the adolescents who were fed breast milk during infancy
had a 14-percent lower ratio of LDL to HDL cholesterol and lower
concentrations of CRP than adolescents who had been given formula during
infancy. Study authors say these findings suggest that infant nutrition
permanently affects the lipoprotein profile later in life and that breast
feeding has a beneficial effect.
SOURCE: The Lancet, 2004;363:1571-1578
Low-carb Better than Low-fat? (May 19, 2004)
New research brings good news for all the low-carb dieters out there.
Restricting carbs may be a better way to lose weight than restricting fat.
Two studies published in this month's issue of the Annals of Internal
Medicine compared low-fat and low-carb diets.
In the first study, researchers from the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in
Philadelphia examined more than 130 obese adults. Participants were divided
into two groups. The first group restricted their carbohydrate intake to
less than 30 grams a day. The second restricted their calorie intake by 500
calories a day, with only 30 percent of their calories coming from fat.
Researchers found participants in the low-carb group had lower triglyceride
levels than those on the low-fat diets. High levels of triglycerides, or fat
in the blood, are associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Those
in the low-carb group also had better HDL (good) cholesterol levels than
those in the low-fat group. Diabetics who followed the low-carb diet had
better control over their blood sugar.
After six months, the low-carb group lost more weight than the low-fat
group. However, after a year, both groups had lost about the same amount of
The second study, out of Duke University in Durham, N.C., included 120
overweight people. After six months, participants on the low-carb diet lost
an average of 26 pounds, whereas those on the low-fat diet lost an average
of 14 pounds. Participants in the low-carb group received vitamin and
nutritional supplements.
In this study, the low-carb group also had better triglyceride and HDL
cholesterol levels than the low-fat group.
Linda Stern, M.D., from the Philadelphia VA Medical Center, concludes, "I
think a low-carbohydrate diet is a good choice because much of our
overeating has to do with consumption of too many carbohydrates ... More
research is needed to see if a low-carbohydrate diet remains safe and
effective in the long-term."
SOURCE: Annals of Internal Medicine, 2004;140:769-777, 778-785
Lung Test Questioned (May 19, 2004)
A popular lung function test may not be as accurate as some think. New
research brings to light some common problems with a spirometry test.
Spirometry is one of the most common pulmonary lung function tests. It is
used to test for a variety of lung problems and to determine the
effectiveness of treatment. The patient takes a deep breath and breathes out
with force into a spirometer to the best of their ability. The spirometer
measures both the amount of air expelled and how quickly the air was
expelled from the lungs.
It is widely assumed that accuracy is guaranteed by frequent calibrations.
However, researchers in Pittsburgh say errors frequently occur during the
test that can lead to inaccurate results. They say one common error happens
when the machine measures the zero level or no airflow incorrectly. Another
common error can occur when the sensor is obstructed by condensation of
water vapor, mucus, or the subject's fingers.
Researchers say these two problems are especially dangerous because the high
values they produce replace accurate but lower values recorded during
testing, leading the technician to believe the patient's lung function is
better than it actually is.
Study authors say those who conduct spirometry need to be aware of these
possible errors and question if a patient has a dramatic improvement in
their lung function in a short time period.
SOURCE: Chest, 2004;125:1902-1909
Women not Getting Tested (May 18, 2004)
Women are heading to the doctor for a Pap smear and mammogram, but they are
missing out on getting the screening for the number three cancer killer in
women. New research shows many women, even health-conscious women, are not
getting a colonoscopy.
"Women have internalized the public health message that they should go for
regular mammograms and that they should have Pap smears, because that's what
normal women do for themselves," says Ruth Carlos, M.D., M.S., from the
University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor. "Now they need to add
colorectal screenings to the list."
To compare cancer-screening tests, researchers looked at the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention's 2001 Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance
Survey. It asked more than 54,000 women over the age of 50 what cancer
checks they've had. Study authors then compared this data to the American
Cancer Society's guidelines.
While nearly 70 percent of women had a Pap smear, and 82 percent reported
having a mammogram, researchers report only 46 percent had been checked for
colon cancer. However, women who had both a Pap smear and mammogram were
more than five-times as likely to have a colonoscopy.
Study authors comment that perhaps when women have a Pap smear or mammogram,
doctors should prompt them to have a colon cancer screening. Researchers say
this would be a great opportunity to increase a woman's awareness about the
need for a colonoscopy.
SOURCE: American Roentgen Ray Society Annual Meeting in New Orleans, May
15-20, 2004
Fish may Boost Fetal Growth (May 17, 2004)
Regular fish consumption during the final stages of pregnancy seems to
increase the size of the infant, according to a new study.
British researchers say a diet rich in fish may boost the fetal growth rate
during pregnancy. They found the more fish a woman ate, the less likely she
was to deliver a low birth weight baby. However, they did not find that a
diet rich in fish extended the length of pregnancy, something earlier
studies had suggested.
The authors note that low birth weight normally occurs in one in 10
pregnancies. In women who ate no fish, that rate increased to one in eight,
or 13 percent.
Nearly 12,000 women were asked to report their levels of fish consumption at
32 weeks of pregnancy. The women's average intake amounted to only about a
third of a small can of tuna per day. They conclude that if women were to
boost those numbers some, they may increase fetal growth rate.
The Food and Drug Administration advises pregnant women to avoid larger fish
like shark and swordfish because of their high levels of mercury. The FDA
says women can safely eat up to 12 ounces of fish a week and still enjoy the
healthy benefits of it. Some of the most commonly eaten fish that are low in
mercury include shrimp, canned light tuna, salmon and catfish. Albacore, or
"white," tuna actually contains more mercury than canned light tuna, so the
government suggests pregnant women limit their intake of it to six ounces
per week.
SOURCE: Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 2004;58:486-492
Women Take Heart (May 17, 2004)
PITTSBURGH (Ivanhoe Newswire)
Heart disease claims nearly 500,000 women's lives each year. Researchers say
the risk of developing heart disease increases after menopause. Technology
is now helping women monitor their risk of disease, while simple steps may
help eliminate that risk altogether.
This is not how Judy Beigi expected to spend her retirement. But when she
found out she had high cholesterol, Beigi knew she had some changes to make.
"I had to agree to start exercising." She also follows a strict diet. It's
all part of an effort to lower her risk of heart disease.
Lewis Kuller, M.D., an epidemiologist at University of Pittsburgh, says
women Beigi's age are at an especially high risk for heart problems. "Women
gain a lot of weight through menopause, and we showed that this was a very
detrimental factor."
In fact, Dr. Kuller says when waist circumference gets over 34, their risk
for heart disease, diabetes and breast cancer rises substantially. But there
is good news. Technology, like an EBCT (electron beam computed tomography)
scan, now helps women monitor their risk of disease. "With this we can
actually tell a woman, at age 50 or 55, you have this much calcium deposits
in your arteries, you've got to be fairly aggressive in changing your risk
factors," explains Dr. Kuller.
But even the best technology can't prevent heart disease. Dr. Kuller says,
"In spite of all the efforts over the last 10, 15 or 20 years, it's still
basically don't smoke, keep your weight down, exercise, and a low
saturated-fat and cholesterol diet."
This is advice Beigi takes to heart. Since participating in Dr. Kuller's
study, she's lost more than 30 pounds. "I have a new pattern of eating. This
is the best way to prevent heart disease," says Beigi. And she's taking the
right steps to do just that.
Dr. Kuller says it's never too late for women to reduce their risk factors
for heart disease. He says it's the excess fat in the abdomen that causes
insulin resistance, which contributes to the risk of heart disease and
If you would like more information, please contact:
Monica Love
Research Specialist
University of Pittsburgh Department of Epidemiology
(412) 383-1895
Freezing Breast Tumors (May 17, 2004)
BALTIMORE (Ivanhoe Newswire)
Each year, more than 1 million women in the United States undergo breast
biopsies. In about 80 percent of these cases, the lumps are benign, or
non-cancerous. But that benign lump still causes anxiety in many women. Now,
one technique is making it easier for women to get rid of the lumps without
Elizabeth Fletcher knows fear is not an option when she is shooting hoops on
the court. But when doctors found a lump in her breast last year, fear
became her toughest opponent. "It is scary," Fletcher says. "It's probably
the scariest thing because when you hear breast cancer or lump, you
automatically think it's cancer."
Luckily, Fletcher's tumor was not cancerous, but like many women she still
wanted to get rid of it.
"It's quite amazing how many women, even though they know that the lump that
they have is benign, want it out," Gauri Bedi, M.D., a breast surgeon at
Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore, tells Ivanhoe.
Dr. Bedi says in most cases, benign breast tumors can be left alone. "We can
be 99 percent sure that it is completely benign, but there is still that 1
percent to 2 percent. People don't want that uncertainty."
In the past, doctors had to perform invasive surgery to remove the lump. But
now, they can freeze it with a procedure called cryoablation. Doctors insert
a probe into the tumor. Argon gas is passed through the probe to form an ice
ball, which destroys the tumor. The body eventually absorbs it.
"It's an office-based procedure," Dr. Bedi says. "They don't have a surgical
scar. They don't have to go to the operating room. It's tolerated very
well." Fletcher can vouch for that. "I recovered within a day. I was back at
work. It's a much better option than surgery." It is an option she considers
a slam dunk.
The procedure takes about 30 minutes to 45 minutes and can be performed a
few weeks after a biopsy. Dr. Bedi says it is especially popular among
younger women who tend to have more benign lumps. This technique is also
used to freeze liver, prostate and kidney tumors, and researchers are now
testing its feasibility on breast tumors that are cancerous.
If you would like more information, please contact:
Dan Collins
Media Relations Director
Mercy Medical Center
(410) 332-9714
Disorders can Shorten Lifespan (May 17, 2004)
People with age-related eye problems, such as age-related macular
degeneration and cataracts, may not live as long as those without them,
perhaps because the conditions signal declining health, says a new study.
Frederick L. Ferris, III, M.D., of the National Eye Institute, and
colleagues say various eye disorders have been reported to be significant
predictors of a shorter life span. Cataract, in particular, may be a sign of
physiological processes that are associated with aging and death. A cataract
involves the lens of the eye becoming cloudy and can cause partial
In a study of 4,753 people aged 55 to 81, people with macular degeneration,
a progressive condition that causes gradual vision loss, had a 41-percent
higher risk of death during the 6.5-year follow up than people without signs
associated with the disorder.
The research also found people who had cataract surgery had a 55-percent
higher risk of death than those with good vision, while those with vision
worse than 20/40 in one eye had a 36-percent higher risk.
However, a subgroup of participants was randomly assigned to take zinc, and
these patients had a 27-percent lower mortality rate than those not taking
zinc. "The beneficial effects of zinc on mortality in this study may be
related to an improved immune response, which is known to decrease with
aging," the authors write.
While the exact mechanisms are unclear, the study showed the decreased
survival rates for people with either cataracts or macular degeneration,
suggests that these conditions may reflect systemic rather than only local
processes. For instance, advanced AMD was associated with cardiovascular
The authors conclude, "The improved survival in individuals randomly
assigned to receive zinc requires further study."
SOURCE: The Archives of Ophthalmology, 2004:122:716-726
Lowdown on Low Carbs (May 13, 2004)
By Shanida Smith, Ivanhoe
Health Correspondent
ORLANDO, Fla. (Ivanhoe Newswire)
Last October, I reconnected with my best friend Chantel Hall who lost
several pounds on the Atkins diet. She explained how carb counting works and
what she could and couldn't eat. It sounded simple enough, I didn't have to
give up cheese, and some of the restaurants I frequent, including Ruby
Tuesday's and TGI Friday's, had low-carb menus. Four months later, after
following the Atkins plan I read online, I was 21 pounds lighter.
Stories of weight loss success like mine have propelled Atkins and other low
carbohydrate diets such as the South Beach and Zone diets into the national
spotlight. Research giant ACNielsen found more than 17 percent of the 10,000
U.S. households surveyed reported that someone in their home is currently on
a low-carb diet. Opinion Dynamics Corp., another research company, surveyed
1,800 people and found 11 percent of U.S. adults follow a low-carb diet, 20
percent have tried one and 19 percent (about 24 million Americans) may try
one in the next two years. Low-carb popularity continues to soar amid a
growing debate on whether low-carb diets are healthy long term and for whom
they are healthy.
One in 12 Americans has diabetes, a common complication of weight problems.
In addition, two-thirds of U.S. adults are overweight, and a third are
clinically obese. Though there's a large need for effective weight loss
plans, low-carb diets may not be best for particular groups.
Low-carb regimes may trigger birth defects and childhood cancers, according
to Gideon Koren, director of the Motherisk program at the Toronto Hospital
for Sick Children. Bread, pasta, breakfast cereals and orange juice,
restricted on low-carb diets, are key sources of folic acid essential to the
development of fetuses.
Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology say complex carbs,
such as potatoes, rice, whole grain breads, lentils, beans and pasta, are
best for stabilizing mood. So if you are already prone to mood changes, a
low-carb diet may make you cranky. Judith Wurtman, Ph.D., a research
scientist in MIT's Department of Brain and Cognitive Science, says low-carb
diets can inhibit the synthesis of brain serotonin, which is made after the
consumption of carbohydrate foods. "Many people eat carbs as a form of self
medication because, as we discovered years ago, the resulting increase in
brain serotonin improves mood. We call these people carbohydrate cravers and
without carbs, they tend to feel very grumpy, angry and even anxious. They
experience symptoms similar to PMS," she says. This means double the trouble
for women especially because they generally have lower serotonin levels than
The growing number of overweight U.S. children has especially thrust their
weight loss into the debate. The American Dietetic Association does not
recommend low-carb diets for children at all. Julie Upton, R.D., an ADA
spokesperson, says, "Children should be getting half of the daily calories
from carbohydrates." Several scientists caution that low-carb diets lack
critical nutrients children need for their physical and intellectual
development, which comes from fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
In contrast, Mary Vernon, M.D., a member of the Atkins Physicians Council,
says children can successfully go on low-carb diets under supervision.
"There are many more nutrients in chicken and salad than in fries and coke,"
she adds. Jonny Bowden, C.N., C.N.S., author of "Living the Low Carb Life:
Choosing the Diet that's Right for You: from Atkins to the Zone," says,
"Children eat way, way too many processed foods and high sugar junk: fruit
juice drinks, sodas, fries, snack foods, cereals, pastas, breads, cakes,
etc. A lower carb diet, one rich in vegetables, fruits, protein fat and
fiber and lighter on the processed carbs, is a huge improvement over their
usual diet."
Some thin adults who want to lose a few pounds may want to proceed with
caution, too. Marion Nestle, chair of the Department of Nutrition, Food
Studies, and Public Health at New York University, says, "Low carb diets
work if -- and only if -- they reduce calorie intake. Diets are about
calories. Skinny people are best off eating a balanced diet." On the
contrary, Dr. Vernon says skinny people can tailor their low-carb diet to
their individual needs. She adds, "Everybody needs different levels of carbs.
If you follow the Atkins Nutritional Approach, you will find your body's
nutritional balance." The American Dietetic Association recommends thin
people steer clear of low-carb diets altogether.
Many experts agree that the most effective weight loss occurs with an
individualized diet plan tailored for you by a health professional. In a
recent study led by Dena Bravata, M.D., from Stanford University,
researchers found no evidence that low-carb diets were more effective than
others. The only factors they found that led to success were less calories
overall and a long-term commitment. Back-to-back studies in the New England
Journal of Medicine show participants on the Atkins-style low-carb diets
lost the most weight out of others on traditional low-fat diets but
investigators conclude more research needs to be done before giving low-carb
diets the thumbs up. Studies released continue to make a case for both sides
of the debate.
If you would like more information, please contact:
The American Dietetic Association
120 South Riverside Plaza, Suite 2000
Chicago, Illinois 60606-6995
(800) 877-1600
Secret to Staying Awake (May 13, 2004)
Already going for that second cup of coffee? Researchers from Rush
University Medical Center, Brigham Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical
School suggest you pace yourself.
According to their research, taking smaller doses of caffeine throughout the
day are a more effective way to help you stay awake.
James Wyatt, Ph.D., lead author of the study, from Rush University Medical
Center in Chicago, says, "I hate to say it, but most of the population is
using caffeine the wrong way by drinking a few mugs of coffee or tea in the
morning, or three cups from their Starbucks' grande on the way to work. This
means that caffeine levels in the brain will be falling as the day goes on."
Nearly 20 male participants were given either a placebo or a caffeine pill
every hour after they woke up. The pill contained .3 milligrams per kilogram
of body weight, equivalent to two ounces of coffee, for every 2.2 pounds of
body weight.
By progressively building up their caffeine levels, the subjects had fewer
accidental sleep incidents and were able to perform better on cognitive
However, those on caffeine did report feeling more tired than the placebo
group proving that caffeine should not be a substitute for sleep when trying
to rejuvenate the body.
SOURCE: Sleep, 2004;27
Blood Holds Clue to Osteoporosis (May 13, 2004)
A person's blood may reveal answers about their risk for osteoporosis and
hip fractures. Two new studies show high levels of amino acid are associated
with an increased risk of fracture.
High levels of homocysteine have long been associated with an increased risk
of heart disease and stroke. Very high levels are also known to be
associated with homocystinuria, a rare disease characterized by early onset
osteoporosis. Now, in two separate studies, high levels have also been found
to be associated with an increased risk for a fracture.
One study out of the Netherlands looked at the circulating homocysteine
level and the risk of incident osteoporotic fractures in 2,406 participants.
The men and women in the study were 55 years or older. Researchers found in
all of the different groups they studied there was an association between a
high level of homocysteine and the risk of fracture.
The second study by researchers at Tufts University in Boston included men
and women who had blood samples drawn almost 20 years ago. Researchers
compared their homocysteine levels with the incidence of hip fracture. They
also found the men and women with the highest homocysteine levels had the
greatest risk of fracture.
Researchers say this finding could have important implications for the
development of interventions to prevent fractures. Study authors say total
homocysteine concentrations can effectively and easily be modified through
dietary intake of folic acid and vitamins B6 and B12. They feel if further
research confirms this finding, nationwide folic acid fortification of food
could help reduce fracture rates in the United States.
SOURCE: The New England Journal of Medicine, 2004;350:2033-2041,
to Blame for eye Disease (May 12, 2004)
This summer you may want to stay out of the sun to protect your vision. New
research shows extended exposure to sunlight may lead to age-related
maculopathy, also called age-related macular degeneration -- an eye disorder
that can cause blindness.
Researchers from the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Madison
followed more than 3,600 patients for five years and more than 2,700
patients for 10 years. Patients were between 43 and 86 years old.
Participants who reported being in the sun for more than five hours a day
during their teens, 30s, and at the beginning of the study were three-times
as likely to develop increased retinal pigment -- a characteristic of
age-related maculopathy. These patients were also twice as likely to develop
early age-related maculopathy over 10 years, compared to patients who
reported spending less than two hours a day in the sun.
Results also show participants who reported being in the sun the most had
about a 50-percent lower risk of developing characteristics of age-related
macular degeneration when they used hats and sunglasses at least half the
On the other hand, those who reported experiencing more than 10 severe
sunburns during their childhood were 2.5-times more likely to develop
abnormal blood vessels in their retinas, which is associated with
age-related maculopathy.
However, researchers say there were no relationships between UV-B exposure,
time spent outdoors during the winter, or skin sensitivity.
SOURCE: Archives of Ophthalmology, 2004;122:750-757
Attempt at Solving HRT Controversy (May 7, 2004)
One week a medical group announces the benefits of hormone replacement
therapy, and the next week another group of experts shun it. But they all
seem to agree the need for a balanced discourse on both the pros and cons of
the issue has never been greater.
"Before the first [Women's Health Initiative] report was released in 2002,
there was an overstatement of the benefits of hormone therapy in the medical
community. Since that time, however, public opinion has probably shifted too
far in the other direction -- overstating the risks of HT without
acknowledging its benefits in relieving menopausal symptoms," said Isaac
Schiff, M.D., from Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, speaking at The
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Clinical Meeting
in Philadelphia.
Dr. Schiff says experts and doctors need to formulate recommendations for
women, especially now that new data was released in March by WHI on
estrogen-only HT. This data comes just two years after their initial report
on combined hormone therapy (estrogen and progestin).
Estrogen-only is solely given to women who have had hysterectomies because
estrogen by itself can raise the risk of uterine cancer. WHI found that
estrogen-only therapy showed no benefit in reducing heart disease and did
not increase the risk of breast cancer in a six-year period. It did show a
benefit in the prevention of osteoporosis. Like combination therapy,
estrogen alone increased the risk for stroke in eight of 10,000 women.
Dr. Schiff reminds us that the 2002 studies on combined HT therapy showed
increased risk for heart attacks, breast cancer, stroke, and blood clot.
But HT will not go away as it remains the most effective treatment for
menopausal symptoms, especially for women who experience severe symptoms
after hysterectomies, he says.
Now, ACOG recommends HT can still be used for treatment of hot flashes, but
should be accompanied with medical consultations at least once a year,
regular mammograms, and the smallest effective dose of HT for the shortest
possible time.
SOURCE: The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual
Clinical Meeting in Philadelphia, April 30-May 5, 2004
Total Body Lift (May 7, 2004)
This year, more than 140,000 people will have gastric bypass surgery to lose
weight. But with the massive weight loss comes an often unexpected and
unwelcome change.
Maria Beal has been heavy for as long as she can remember. "I was a pretty
confident 340 pound woman," she tells Ivanhoe.
But Maria knew she had to lose weight for her health, so she had gastric
bypass surgery. She says: "By August, I was down 65 to 70 pounds. By
October, I was down 100, 105." But with the weight loss came another problem
-- excess skin. And more than the cosmetic, it brings medical problems.
"Infections that can be troublesome to dangerous," says Dennis Hurwitz,
M.D., a plastic surgeon at The Hurwitz Center for Plastic Surgery in
Pittsburgh. "They lead to cellulitis and abscess."
Typically patients undergo multiple surgeries to remove all the skin, but
Dr. Hurwitz performs a procedure he calls "a total body lift." "In our
fast-paced life today, with people wanting to get back to work and avoiding
long post-operative convalescence, repeatedly going to surgery, this is
working for them," he tells Ivanhoe.
He cuts around the hips and buttocks and removes the excess skin then does
the same around the back and below the arms. A new study found this large
operation is no more risky than several small ones -- just maybe a little
more painful.
"There was not a spot on me that didn't hurt," Maria says. Her husband,
Greg, says, "When you see the final picture, and you see the results that
have become from all this, she will tell you herself that it is worth it."
Dr. Hurwitz points out the patient must be in good general health and must
not be a smoker in order to undergo total body lift. Also, people who are
still massively obese are not good candidates. He says the eight- to 10-hour
procedure costs between $25,000 and $40,000 in surgeons fees and is
generally not covered by insurance.
If you would like more information, please contact:
Dennis Hurwitz, M.D.
The Hurwitz Center for Surgery
use for Umbilical Cords (May 6, 2004)
The umbilical cord used to keep a baby alive in the womb may also keep
children with a potentially fatal condition alive after birth. A new study
shows cord-blood transplantation may halt the progression of Hurler's
syndrome and prolong life.
Hurler's syndrome causes progressive deterioration of the central nervous
system, cardiac disease, and death in childhood. It is characterized by
skeletal abnormalities such as hip dysplasia, carpal tunnel syndrome, and
clouding in the eye.
Doctors have known a bone marrow transplant can stop the progression of the
disease and prolong life, but many children lack a suitable bone marrow
donor. Now, a new study in The New England Journal of Medicine shows
transplantation with stem cells supplied by cord blood from unrelated donors
can have the same impact. Researchers found this procedure changed the
natural history of the condition in young children.
Investigators found 17 of the 20 children who participated in the study at
Duke University in Durham, N.C., survived event-free for more than
two-and-a-half years after transplantation. Five patients had acute
graft-versus-host disease, or serious short-term side effects, but none had
long-lasting problems.
Researchers conclude cord blood from unrelated donors is an excellent source
of stem cells for transplantation in Hurler's syndrome patients. One
advantage of umbilical-cord blood is that donor and recipient matching does
not have to be as close as that necessary for bone marrow grafts. However,
no suitable adult stem-cell donor was identified in a timely fashion in more
than 50 percent of patients, according to the article.
In a related article, the scientists from the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill point out that stem-cell transplantation is now the treatment
of choice for children younger than age 2 with Hurler's syndrome who have
minimal or no central nervous system disease. The authors suggest, "The
screening of newborns may be essential for timely diagnosis and the
initiation of treatment before the onset of irreversible damage."
SOURCE: The New England Journal of Medicine, 2004;350:1960-1969, 1932
Ugly Side of Beauty: If the Shoe Doesn't Fit -- Full-Length
Doctor's Interview (May 6, 2004)
In this full-length doctor's
interview, Sharon Dreeben, M.D., explains possible complications of cosmetic
foot surgery.
What are the latest trends in foot surgery?
Dr. Dreeben: About five years ago we started seeing advertisements for
cosmetic foot surgery. These advertised patients could have a better life
and fit into their shoes. Then we started realizing that patients were
having surgery not because they were having pain but so their foot would be
prettier. They wanted to put in more padding so they could wear their
high-heeled shoes without any discomfort, so they were told. As the trends
started to grow, we realized that this is a problem. Then we started seeing
patients that were having complications from these surgeries, and we felt we
really needed to investigate this and let the public know what was
happening. We saw patients that didn't have appropriate medical information
before they went into these. There are times when you should have surgery
and when you shouldn't.
What sorts of things are people getting done to their feet cosmetically?
Dr. Dreeben: I think most patients that want cosmetic surgery want their
feet to look prettier. They want all the toes to be the same size, and they
want to fit into their shoes. In order to do that, they shorten toes.
Usually it's the second toe, which oftentimes is too long. Sometimes they'll
narrow the foot to be able to wear narrow and fashionable shoes. They'll
also notice they have a bump called a bunion, and they don't like the look
of it.
The most important thing is to define what cosmetic surgery is. Cosmetic
surgery is not surgery because you have a painful bunion or a painful
hammertoe. Cosmetic surgery is having surgery on the foot when there is no
anatomic deformity and no pain. The patients just want to make the foot look
better and because they may have a variant of the normal, aesthetically
pleasing foot.
Is it like Chinese foot binding?
Dr. Dreeben: I think that's where we started years and years ago with
Chinese foot binding, and now we've come full circle. The Chinese were able
to deform the foot by manipulating it while it was growing, now we just wait
until it's fully-grown and then start cutting pieces out.
What is toe cleavage?
Dr. Dreeben: Toe cleavage is just like breast cleavage. It's when you can
see the very base of the the big toe and second toe. You see where the toes
start to indent. It's just a funny expression for the new shoes that don't
cover the toes completely.
I have other phrases that I use for these foot surgeries; for silicone
implants, I call them toe jobs. Just like a boob job, you get a toe job. The
patients can have silicone complications from these, which is the same type
of problems that can develop from breast surgery. But even worse, the toes
are a weight-baring surface. They don't just sit there. In the toes, you can
have biomechanical problems as a result of the surgery that can halt normal
daily activities.
What are the dangers or potential complications from these cosmetic
Dr. Dreeben: Cosmetic surgery is, for the most part, the same as any other
surgery. It has the same risks and complications, except it has very little
upside to it. All surgeries have a 1-percent incidence of developing an
infection. Secondly, you can change the biomechanical alignment of the foot,
and therefore, you can't walk at all. You can have transfer lesions where
all the weight is placed on the third or fourth metatarsal head instead of
the second toe that you operated on. If you correct the bump on a bunion,
the big toe can move in a certain direction. Or you can get arthritis in the
big toe. If you inject silicone into the base of the foot in order to
increase the padding -- and let me say right now, that there is no
documentation that increasing the padding will change the symptoms or make
you feel better in high heels -- you can injure to the nerves. You can also
develop abnormalities from the collagen or silicone.
What advice would you give to somebody considering cosmetic foot surgery?
Dr. Dreeben: It's the same advice that I give to all my patients. If you
have pain on a daily basis and have tried reasonable alternatives -- like
changing your shoes, not wearing your stilettos, changing from a four-inch
heels to two-inch heels, padding your shoes, taking your shoes to the
shoemaker, adjusting your shoes to your foot -- and you're still having
problems, have the surgery. But don't have surgery to change the shape of
your foot, especially if you're not having any pain.
What do you think of the fact that over half the surgeons say their
patients are asking for such surgery?
Dr. Dreeben: There is definitely a trend going on. I am in the American
Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS), and we specialize in orthopedic
surgery, specifically that of the foot and ankle. All of the experience from
the rest of the body is going to help us learn what we can do in the foot.
We surveyed our members just to find out how many doctors have been seeing
an increase in patients coming to them saying they want cosmetic foot
surgery. Fifty percent of our orthopedists say somebody has come to their
office and asked them to do a cosmetic foot surgery. Most of them have said
that they won't do it. A few of them have said, "You know, what do you do
but perform the surgery?"
The hardest part is that there is always a gray line of what's cosmetic
surgery and what's not. For example, a gentleman comes into your office, has
a small hammertoe, and he can't find a pair of shoes to fit. Is that
cosmetic surgery? Not really. He has a deformity. That's not the same as
somebody who has a longer toe that has no problem, but just doesn't like the
way it looks and wants to chop it off.
Would you perform purely cosmetic surgery?
Dr. Dreeben: No. Again, there are always the gray areas, but I would not
perform purely cosmetic surgery.
What do you think if someone gets foot surgery just for fashion's sake?
Dr. Dreeben: I think they're unaware of the potential complications. If they
spoke with a lot of women that have had disaster stories, they might not be
as anxious for the surgery. Some women can't work anymore, can't walk
anymore, their activities are changed, and their shoe wear has changed along
with their entire life. They can't do simple things like stand at the sink
and cook. I don't think that after talking to people and listening to the
risks, benefits and complications, most reasonable people would consider the
surgery. However, having said that, there is so much pressure on a woman
today to be beautiful, to be perfect, to have a perfect figure, and a
perfect foot. This is why I think that they do it, and so in a certain
extent the fault is ultimately our own. The media also has a lot to do with
it. It's all in the packaging.
What do you think about doctors that will perform purely cosmetic surgery
where there is no medical necessity?
Dr. Dreeben: I think that they're doing their patients a disservice. They
may get away with a few that have good results, but the ones that don't have
good results have a real problems. It's truly, I think, irresponsible.
However, to be fair I have to restate there's always the gray line. It's
sometimes very subtle and very difficult when a patient comes into your
office and says, "Hey doc, you've got to do something to help me." Sometimes
you know deep in your heart that if you don't do it, somebody else is going
to do it. That may be somebody with less capability, and then you're stuck
in a bad spot.
What kind of shoes do you wear?
Dr. Dreeben: For the most part, I wear flat shoes when I'm in the office.
Then I'll wear a little heel during the day if I want to go out or look
nicer, and once in a while I'll wear a stiletto. I like them as much as the
next woman. If I buy a shoe that has a pointy toe, I get it a half size
longer. I used to be an eight and a half, and I've gone on to a nine and a
half. As embarrassing as it is, I'll take a size 10 to allow myself a lot of
room in the toe box. I take the shoe to an orthotist and ask them to pad the
bottom so that I am more comfortable. If there is an area of stitching
that's bothering me, I'll have it released. Unfortunately, it's an expense
to buy the shoes, and then it's an additional expense to have them adjust it
to fit your foot. But it's a lot cheaper than having a surgery and a whole
lot cheaper than having a surgery that incapacitates you.
Breast Milk Does a Baby Good (May 4, 2004)
Breastfeeding is associated with reducing the risk of all-cause death in
infants, say scientists at the National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences in Research Triangle Park, N.C.
Researchers concluded that promoting breastfeeding could potentially prevent
up to 720 postneonatal deaths in the United States.
They compared records of about 9,000 babies between 28 days and 1 year of
age. Children who were breastfed had 20-percent lower risk of dying than
children who were not breastfed, and longer breastfeeding was associated
with lower risk. The effect was the same in black and white children.
Author Walter J. Rogan, M.D., says, "Although we knew that breastfeeding in
the developing world was lifesaving, since it prevented diarrhea and
pneumonia, we had no nationally representative data from the United States
on this very basic outcome. These data show that, even in the United States,
there is a modest decrease in mortality for breastfed children."
Breastfeeding has been shown to boost the immune system of babies. The
authors also hypothesize that breastfeeding may represent a package of
skills, abilities and emotional attachments characteristic of families whose
infants survive, and that it may not be the breast milk entirely that
produces the benefit.
The authors conclude that the case for breastfeeding is already very strong
in the United States, and these findings represent another reason to
encourage more women to breastfeed. In 2001, 70 percent of mothers left the
hospital breastfeeding, and 33 percent were still breastfeeding at 6 months.
SOURCE: Pediatrics, 2004;113:435-439
Botox for Cerebral Palsy (May 3, 2004)
The same toxin used to fight wrinkles may also help children with cerebral
In a study of more than 70 patients with cerebral palsy, researchers from
Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, N.C., found
patients injected with Botox experienced three-times the improvement in
functional ability compared to those on placebo.
Cerebral palsy is caused by an injury to the developing nervous system that
occurs during or shortly after birth. The disease causes arms and legs to
stiffen and contract. Botox helps relax those muscles and appears to improve
a patient's ability to perform daily tasks.
L. Andrew Koman, M.D., from Brenner Children's Hospital at Wake Forest,
says, "This non-surgical intervention is one way to improve functional
outcomes for these patients, decrease pain, and facilitate care."
Dr. Koman says patients experienced the most benefit one to two days after
receiving the injection. The injections can be repeated every three to six
months. Dr. Koman says: "Many of our patients come back into the office
asking for additional injections because they are thrilled with the results.
Once the muscles have relaxed, patients can undergo therapy to strengthen
weak muscles."
Dr. Koman says the only side effect is soreness at the sight of the
injection. He says Botox injections work well when combined with other
SOURCE: American Academy of Pediatrics' annual meeting in San Francisco,
May 1-4, 2004
Danger at the Dentist for Pregnant Women? (May 3, 2004)
Women who have dental X-rays during pregnancy are three-times more likely to
have a low-birth weight infant, according to a new study.
Researchers from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in Seattle
studied about 4,500 women. They found women who had dental X-rays were more
likely to have babies weighing less than five pounds.
Philippe Hujoel, Ph.D., lead author of the study, says he was surprised at
the results. He says, "The findings are surprising because the amount of
radiation pregnant women were exposed to was very low and generally thought
to be incapable of inducing observable health effects."
Currently, care guidelines allow for women who are pregnant to receive very
low-dose radiography to the head and neck.
Hujoel says, "We don't know whether radiation affects neurohormonal
mechanisms in the head and neck region, such as thyroid function, or whether
factors unrelated to the X-rays are to blame."
Previous studies show young women who are exposed to radiation for spine
problems before getting pregnant also have an increased risk of having a
low-birth weight baby.
Hujoel says his results should not discourage pregnant women from having
dental X-rays if they suffer from a dental problem, as long as their doctor
knows they are pregnant. He says most dentists are cautious about taking
X-rays during pregnancy.
Hujoel says more research needs to be conducted to confirm his findings.
SOURCE: The Journal of the American Medical Association,
Estrogen and Raloxifene Face Off (May 3, 2004)
When it comes to stopping the bone loss common in osteoporosis, estrogen
gets the job done better than raloxifene (Evista), report researchers
publishing in the Archives of Internal Medicine.
A study was conducted with about 600 women who had a previous hysterectomy.
Those taking estrogen increased their bone mineral density by 4.6 percent.
Bone density remained stable in those taking raloxifene. Women given a
placebo drug for comparison purposes actually saw their bone density decline
by about 2 percent.
The findings for raloxifene were similar for two different doses -- 60
milligrams or 150 milligrams.
The study also gauged the impact of the treatments on cholesterol levels.
Results showed no difference in total cholesterol levels over three years
among women in the raloxifene or placebo groups. However, triglyceride
concentrations rose by about 25 percent among those on estrogen. Their HDL
levels (the "good" cholesterol) also rose by about 13 percent.
Interestingly, say researchers, more women on estrogen reported problems
with urinary incontinence -- 11 compared to just 1 or 2 in the raloxifene
The investigators conclude both estrogen and raloxifene are effective in
treating osteoporosis, but estrogen appears to have the edge. They write,
"This head-to-head comparison allows the relative strengths and weaknesses
of these two treatment options to be more clearly delineated, providing
additional information to patients and their physicians when selecting the
agent that offers the most advantages with the fewest problems."
SOURCE: Archives of Internal Medicine, 2004;164:871-8
Childhood Time Bombs: Step Away From the Couch (May 2, 2004)
NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Ivanhoe
Only 22 states
currently require schools to offer physical education class, and only one --
Illinois -- requires it daily through high school. Many blame school budget
cuts in at least 39 states in the past two years and more than a $70 billion
shortfall this year. Here's what some are doing to make sure kids get the
exercise they need.
Welcome to third period P.E. class at Naperville Central High School in
suburban Chicago.
"When we looked at the health care crisis across the country, and the
obesity crisis, we felt that we better re-evaluate whether we need physical
education in schools or not," says Phil Lawler, who is director of P.E.4LIFE
Institute in Naperville, Ill.
One look at the statistics proves they did need it. The average child spends
almost three hours a day watching television. One in four adolescents
reports doing zero physical activity. And experts now say obesity -- caused
in part by sedentary behavior -- will bypass smoking as the leading cause of
early death.
Lawler tells Ivanhoe, "Our country attacked the smoking issue very, very
strongly, and yet, we've neglected this issue with physical inactivity."
He refused to neglect it. Instead, he launched P.E.4LIFE Institute.
"Retraining adults to change lifestyle just doesn't work," Lawler says. "We
need to start training children at a young age to get into the habit of
physical activity on a daily basis, so we can make a difference in their
His approach seems to have worked. Lawler says nationwide 30 percent of kids
are overweight. In Naperville, it's 3 percent.
The results intrigued Tim McCord of Titusville, Penn., who is now director
of the small town's P.E.4LIFE Institute. He says: "How much is your child's
health worth? Is it not worth putting extra money into a school system to
help develop the health of the child?"
Titusville decided it was worth even more. They extended the school day to
include daily PE and brought in new equipment and monitoring technology that
refined their grading system.
"By grading on effort, it has made it so that everybody can be successful,"
McCord tells Ivanhoe -- including non-athletes and video game junkies.
Penn State researcher George Graham is studying how much energy kids use
playing games like Dance, Dance Revolution -- DDR for short -- and Sony Eye
Toy. He says, "For some kids, we think this may be a way to keep them active
through the teenage years and then into adulthood."
Ten-year-old Micah Cattell says, "You don't feel like you're exercising on
this, but then you feel your heart, and you can feel it beating really
And how do these new games stand up to older ones?
Alex Frieden, who is 14, says, "I like shooter games too, but DDR is pretty
much just as fun as any shooter game."
Fun and fitness in one.
Want more advice on what you can do to improve your child's fitness or take
action in your community? Log onto http://www.ivanhoe.com/kidshealth.
If you would like more information, please contact:
George Graham, Ph.D.
Relax the Stomach With Botox (May 2, 2004)
PHILADELPHIA (Ivanhoe
We've all heard
about what Botox can do for cosmetic uses, wiping away the years by getting
rid of wrinkles. Now, doctors in Philadelphia are using it for medical
reasons. It's helping bring relief to people who live with a chronic stomach
Botox. You know it can erase the signs of aging. Now, the toxin is being
used to treat a chronic condition known as gastroparesis.
"Gastroparesis is where there is delayed emptying of the stomach after a
meal. It may be for solid food or for liquids, which have been taken in by
the patient," says gastroenterologist Frank Friedenberg, M.D., of Temple
University Hospital in Philadelphia.
The condition causes a person to feel full after just a small meal. It also
causes bouts of nausea, upset stomach and bloating.
Ashley Sterling knows how debilitating it can be. She says, "I go to bed at
night scared to death that I'm going to wake up feeling so sick that I can't
control my vomiting, which has been happening a lot lately."
Medications offer relief but often with side effects like restlessness and
fatigue. Some doctors are now turning to Botox as an alternative to drug
Dr. Friedenberg says, "The idea behind Botox is that it's a very local
treatment, so you do not get side effects related to it, and it works right
in the area that is involved with gastroparesis."
Botox is injected into the muscle that sits at the end of the stomach.
There, it goes to work. "The muscle relaxes and then there is more rapid
emptying of the stomach for solids and for liquids," Dr. Friedenberg says.
There's good reason to believe Botox will mean success. Up to half of study
participants showed improvement after the procedure. And there's more good
news. Doctors say the treatment is not painful, and a sedative is given
before the 15-minute procedure begins. The benefits usually last between
three months and six months, so repeat treatments are necessary.
If you would like more information, please contact:
Jordan Reese
Public Relations Manager
Temple University Health System
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 707-4839
Simple Strategies may not Lower Blood Pressure (May 1, 2004)
Simple strategies to improve lifestyle habits may not lower blood pressure
in patients with a single high blood pressure reading, according to a new
study in this week's British Medical Journal.
Researchers investigated whether simple interventions, such as providing
patients with an information booklet, encouraging lower sodium intake, and
advice for a healthier diet, had more or less of an effect as standard care.
They discovered these inventions had no effect on blood pressure, but they
did prompt changes in the patients' diets, which is likely to reduce the
long-term risks of stroke.
Nearly 300 patients without an established history of high blood pressure
were randomized into one of eight groups defined by three factors: an
information booklet; low sodium, high potassium salt; prompt sheets for high
fruit, vegetable, fiber and low fat. Some patients were given a booklet
while others were not. Some patients were advised to use a low sodium, high
potassium salt while others did not receive advice on this. Finally, some
patients received prompt sheets for high fruit, vegetable, fiber and low
fat, while others did not receive any of these prompt sheets.
According to the study, none of the interventions altered blood pressure. In
fact, one of them had an adverse effect -- advice to use a low sodium, high
potassium salt actually increased anxiety.
The one bright spot was the diet changes. Brief advice and careful follow-up
resulted in 10 percent to 20 percent changes in diet, and the patients were
still eating healthier after six months, the authors write. Although the
changes weren't significant enough to immediately lower the blood pressure,
the researchers say those patients will have a lower risk of stroke in the
SOURCE: British Medical Journal, 2004;328:1054,


text:
NEW YORK (AP) -- Who needs "The Old Farmer's Almanac"? Designer Luca Orlandi is predicting a bright and sunny spring -- perfect for cocktail parties in the garden.
Orlandi sent one delicate and feminine dress after another down the Luca Luca runway last week at the Bryant Park tents, while Diane von Furstenberg staged a parade of African-inspired looks at her downtown studio, always one of the biggest scenes of New York Fashion Week.
This year her front row included Diane Sawyer and her husband, Mike Nichols, and actor Josh Hartnett.
Von Furstenberg described the collection of bikinis, Bermuda shorts, camp shirts and her signature wrap dresses as "the grand tour ... a romantic and intellectual rite of passage."
Travel was a clear theme, from the caftan printed with a sunset scene from the Serengeti desert to the "around-the-world" chiffon beachdress that featured a print of vintage stamps. Belly-baring scarf tops paired with short pirate pants looked great -- at least on tall, slim models -- and the wrap dresses, in a zebra-print jersey and white silk taffeta, were as wearable as ever.
"I thought this was one of her best collections," said Cindy Weber Cleary, InStyle's fashion director. "It was cleaner and more elegant. ... There was a fresh, effortless feeling."
Cleary said von Furstenberg handled the knee-length shorts trend particularly well. "The long short is a tough one, but she made it look good."
The new Luca Luca collection featured more dresses and skirts and is frillier than Orlandi's recent lines, and the change paid off.
© 2017. All Rights Reserved. Contact Us

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The economic crisis in the euro zone overshadowed all else in Spain throughout 2011. During the first half of the year, the optimists, led by the Socialist (PSOE) government, took a hopeful view as a result of a slight upturn in exports, a booming tourist season, and a reduction in the deficit that had been spurred by austerity measures introduced in 2010. Additional measures were spearheaded to bolster the public finances and prospects for medium-term growth. Those included congressional approval in June for a raise in the standard retirement age from 65 to 67 and a plan for adding flexibility to Spain's rigid collective-bargaining arrangements. Meanwhile, the forced merger of many of Spain's regionally based savings banks, which had been highly exposed to bad mortgage debts, helped somewhat to reinforce the banking system.
Any illusions of a swift recovery were shattered in the summer by the onset of the European sovereign-debt crisis. In August the stock and bond markets turned on Spain. The real threat of intervention by the EU or the IMF prompted the Socialists to introduce a constitutional cap on the public deficit. The measure, which in September was rushed through Congress with the support of the conservative opposition Popular Party (PP), was rejected by the minority parties and by unions but was welcomed by the EU and the markets, particularly as the latter's attention briefly turned away from Spain. Nevertheless, in November Spain moved back into the spotlight, and interest rates on new government bond issues hit 7%, the level that had forced the Irish, Greek, and Portuguese bailouts. With 0% growth in the third quarter, unemployment topping 21%, and youth unemployment running at a staggering 46%, there was still no light at the end of what promised to be a very long tunnel.
In those circumstances the Socialists' fumbling response to the crisis only hastened their demise. The regional (in 13 of Spain's 17 autonomous communities) and local elections held on May 22 signaled the beginning of the end. The PSOE took just 27.8% of the vote nationally and was left in power in just two regions where elections had not taken place (the Basque Country and Andalusia). With 37.6% of the vote, the PP obtained its best results ever and was positioned to govern, alone or in coalition, in 11 autonomous communities.
The PSOE was not helped by the sudden appearance of the so-called indignados ("angry ones"), also known as the 15-M movement, which was inspired by the popular uprisings of the Arab Spring. On May 15, less than a week prior to the local and regional elections, the 15-M occupied squares throughout Spain in an ill-defined protest against the economic and political system and all its failings. Though the demonstrator camps had been dismantled by the summer, on October 15 the 15-M brought hundreds of thousands of protesters onto the streets of some 80 towns and cities across the country. Given the left-wing leanings of most of the activists, the antiestablishment rhetoric and calls to boycott from within the 15-M further undermined the Socialists' electoral support.
In July, Prime Minister José Luis Zapatero, who in April had confirmed that he would not stand for a third term, announced that early general elections would take place on November 20. The race pitted veteran Socialist strongman Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba, who in July had abandoned his posts of minister of the interior, deputy prime minister, and government spokesperson, against the PP's lacklustre leader, Mariano Rajoy, who was running for the third time.
The downbeat election campaign ended in an expected PP victory. By capturing nearly 45% of the vote and a comfortable overall majority of 186 of the 350 seats in Congress, Rajoy secured the parliamentary support and popular mandate necessary to push through his plans, even though he was vague about their nature. It was a victory by default, due above all to the PSOE's collapse; the Socialists' 110 seats and less than 29% share of the vote represented their worst result since the return in 1977 to democracy. The PSOE vote went to the PP but above all to nationalists and other minority parties, including the centrist Progress and Democracy Union (UPD), up from 1 seat in 2008 to 5, and the left-wing United Left (IU), up from 2 seats to 11.
Overshadowed by the economic meltdown, the declarations on January 10 of a permanent, general, and verifiable cease-fire and on October 20 of "the complete cessation of armed activity" by Euskadi Ta Askatasuna (ETA) offered the prospect of a definitive end to the organization's 40-year armed struggle for Basque independence. After nearly 850 deaths and a dozen broken cease-fires, many Spaniards remained skeptical, but others considered that ETA—facing a decimation of its ranks due to arrests and flagging support by members tired of the violence—was, however reluctantly, committed to peace.
|Quick Facts
|505,991 sq km (195,364 sq mi)
|(2011 est.): 47,215,000
|Head of state:
|King Juan Carlos I
|Head of government:
|Prime Ministers José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero and, from December 21, Mariano Rajoy


text:
The Idaho Fish and Game Commission lifted restrictions on harvest of "B-run" steelhead on the Clearwater River for the remainder of the 2014 season effective immediately. The decision was made during the commission meeting on Thursday, March 20 in Boise."B-run" steelhead are those that spend two years in the ocean as opposed to "A-run" steelhead which typically return to Idaho after only one year in the ocean.
Prior to the change, anglers on the Clearwater River were only allowed to keep steelhead between 20 and 28 inches in length. The change will allow those anglers to keep steelhead longer than 28 inches as long as they have evidence of a clipped adipose fin. The daily bag limit of 1 and the possession limit of 2 remain the same on the Clearwater River for the remainder of the 2014 spring season.


text:
Selection of number of principal components for de-noising signals
Koutsogiannis, G. and Soraghan, J.J. (2002) Selection of number of principal components for de-noising signals. Electronics Letters, 38 (13). pp. 664-666. ISSN 0013-5194Full text not available in this repository. Request a copy from the Strathclyde author
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1049/el:20020424
Principal component analysis (PCA) is a transformation technique used to reduce the dimensionality of a dataset. Using delay embedding, it is possible to know a priori how many principal components to choose to obtain the optimum reconstruction. A novel nonlinear PCA-based scheme employing delay embedding is presented for the de-noising of communication signals.
|Item type:
|ID code:
|minimum shift keying, principal component analysis, quadrature phase shift keying, signal reconstruction, Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering
|Technology > Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
|Faculty of Engineering > Electronic and Electrical Engineering
|Depositing user:
|Strathprints Administrator
|Date deposited:
|31 Oct 2008
|Last modified:
|22 Mar 2017 09:32
|Export data:


text:
Have you seen this yet? Anderson Cooper loves his own puns. Watch the segment.
Anderson Cooper Loses It On Air
HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 29: Actress xxxxx attends The 2004 Vanity Fair Oscar Party at Mortons Restaurant, February 29, 2004 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** xxxx(credit: Mark Mainz/Getty Images)


text: San Francisco - Mobile security firm Lookout on Tuesday warned that a booby-trapped Movie Player application is infecting Android phones in Russia with a virus that sends costly text messages.Russia-based Kaspersky Lab discovered the malicious "Trojan" code hidden in a media player application people are enticed to download onto smart phones."The new malicious program penetrates smart phones running Android in the guise of a harmless media player application," Kaspersky said in a blog post."The Trojan uses the system to begin sending SMSes to premium rate numbers without the owner's knowledge or consent, resulting in money passing from a user's account to that of the cybercriminals."The Trojan has apparently only affected handsets operating on Google-backed Android software in Russia.The Media Player program does ask users to authorise "services that cost you money" prior to installation, according to Lookout, which advised people to protect themselves by refusing to grant such permission."With the discovery of this new Android Trojan, it is more important than ever to pay attention to what you're downloading," Lookout said."Stay alert to ensure that you trust every app you download."


text:
- September 21, 2016
- Teaching a Git Class at CF Camp
Okay it's official — I'll be teaching a Git class at this year's CF Camp in Munich Germany. Typically at conferences I give a 1-hour talk called "Git Source Control: For The Rest of Us", which is an intro to Git (and an intro to source control in general) with a GUI app instead of via the command line. This class will be an extended version of the same thing.
- Comments (0)
- September 19, 2016
- Speaking at SacInteractive
Apparently I am a glutton for punishment. After spending all weekend in North Carolina for NCDevCon and giving to presentations, I'm also speaking this week at SacInteractive. I'll be giving my talk "Git Source Control: For The Rest of Us" that I gave at NCDevCon. Exact same talk, exact same content. Once for the east coast, once for the west coast. Everybody wins. See you there. —nolan
- Comments (0)
- September 19, 2016
- NCDevCon 2016 Recap
At the airport to head home from NCDevCon 2016. Yet again Dan Wilson and his crew put together a great event. Each year I tell people NCDevCon is one of the best conferences to attend (especially for the price) and it never disappoints.
- Comments (0)
- September 13, 2016
- My NCDevCon Schedule
NCDevCon is this weekend! Shameless plug: I'm giving talks on MVC in ColdFusion and Git for folks that don't like command line tools.
The plane ticket is booked, the sessions are written, and as usual there is just too much great content at NCDevCon to make picking a schedule easy! But here's my best guess as to where you'll be able to find me at the conference. (Many thank-yous to NCDevCon for recording the conference sessions; that's saving me some stress.)
- Comments (0)
- September 11, 2016
- Speaking at NCDevCon
Next weekend I'll be speaking at NCDevCon in North Carolina. Going for another "overachiever" award, I'll be giving two talks: "MVC With and Without a Framework" and "Git Source Control: For The Rest of Us".
- Comments (0)
- August 10, 2016
- SacInteractive -- Minecraft Plugins: Not Your Parent's Summer Job
Next week at SacInteractive, Caleb Brock is coming back to give a talk titled "Writing Minecraft Plugins: Not Your Parent's Summer Job".
- Comments (0)
- July 30, 2016
- Part-Time Office Manager Wanted
South of Shasta is looking for a part-time Office Assistant / Manager. EVERYONE that's worked for me in the past has gone on to find a better full-time job. Need more skills on your resume? Need a stellar letter of recommendation for your next full time gig? This job has been a great "launch pad" to get several people into the next phases of their careers -- it could be for you as well!
- Comments (0)
- July 18, 2016
- SacInteractive - Making Art With JavaScript
This Wednesday at SacInteractive, Bill Bead from the Art Institute will be presenting on "Making Art With JavaScript".
- Comments (0)
- July 13, 2016
- My Amazon AWS Summit Schedule
I'm attending the Amazon AWS Summit today, along with a handful of colleagues. There's a pretty massive amount of content, especially for a 1-day FREE conference! Assuming the trains are running on time (we're coming in from Sacramento via Amtrak) here's my best guess as to where you can find me. Probably.
- Comments (0)
- June 22, 2016
- Dev.Objective() 2016 Recap
Wow things have been busy lately! Giving 3 lectures at 2 back-to-back conferences on the other side of the country will do that. :)
Dev.Objective() 2016 wrapped up last week. This is the 2nd year with a wider topic base and less of a ColdFusion focus (tho CF was still covered). As a result of the switch in focus, attendance levels were lower than previous years, but anyone reading the conference handout already knows that, and knows it was expected as well. It takes time to make such a big change; Dev.Objective() is a well run machine and I'm sure the team already has ideas for how to continue improving everything. There was a brief mention of the conference happening again next year, it'll be good to see what continued changes happen. Personally I hope the content is about the same as this year: a good amount of ColdFusion as well as other related technologies.
- Comments (0)