Scientists have developed an intelligent form of combat bug to bug the fight against Chagas disease, a potentially fatal infection transmitted by muscle aphidlike kissing bug. The new weapon is a bacterium normally found in the gut of the insect, which is designed to produce a lethal protein. The modified bacteria described in tomorrow Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , could help prevent Chagas disease, "a scourge that kills about 45,000 people a year in South and Central America. It could also provide a model approach compared to other diseases transmitted by insects.

A team of Yale University, Rockefeller University in New York, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta has developed a strain of the bacteria Rhodococcus rhodnii who lives in the gut of the insect kiss to produce an insect antibiotic called cecropin A. researchers exploited a food unappetizing habit of kissing bugs - they eat the feces on the other - by peppering fake feces with the modified bacteria. Bugs lapped it up. Once inside, the bacterial Trojan began pumping cécropine A bug in the bowels of the kiss, which are also home to Trypanosoma cruzi , the culprit behind Chagas disease. A cecropin kills trypanosomes, but leaves unharmed insects.

"It is fantastic," said Thomas Miller, an entomologist at the University of California, Riverside. "It changes the way we think about things." Besides kissing bugs, he says, this technique could be used to hijack a variety of other disease-carrying insects, mosquitoes that transmit malaria deer ticks that transmit . Lyme disease a member of the Yale team Frank Richards confirms: "It is a general principle that can be used in many systems."

One potential problem is that T. cruzi could quickly develop resistance to cecropin A: "If you try to treat anything with monotherapy, resistance develops quickly enough" , said a member of the Yale Ravi Duravasula team. He and his colleagues are probing ways to overcome potential resistance as obtaining the R. rhodnii to churn to a second antibiotic . Meanwhile, researchers are modified bacterium to the test in a controlled field trial in huts sealed in Guatemala.

Scientists have identified a gene responsible for a rare form of endocrine tumor. The discovery, published in today's issue of Science * should lead to a genetic test for multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 or MEN1, which strikes fewer than one in 10,000 and results in multiple benign tumors in the pituitary, parathyroid and pancreatic glands.

Stephen Marx of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland, and colleagues from two other National Institutes of Health (NIH) laboratory was hunting in 1994 for the team gene, including 8 years earlier had been located on chromosome 11, but then escaped detection. The researchers drew blood samples and tissues from members of 65 families affected by MEN1. They used a technique called positional cloning to reconstruct fragments of chromosome 11 DNA and identify particular extends to people with the disease. "We had to check about 33 genes that correspond to the chromosomal region, one that could have been," said Francis Collins, director of the Research Institute of the National Human Genome NIH. After screening for mutations in each candidate gene, the group at last revealed their careers :. A gene encoding a protein they called menin

endocrine gland cells multiply uncontrollably in adults with the mutated version of MEN1, the modus operandi that proves to be a tough nut to crack. It is "not like anything we've seen before," said Marx, adding that his group has no idea how healthy form Menin suppresses tumor growth. "This gene could be the first foray into a pathway of cellular regulation that we had no prior knowledge, "he said.

But even in the absence of an understanding of what NEM1 the fact, the discovery should lead to a test for the disease in which benign tumors trigger debilitating symptoms such as hyperparathyroidism - a deregulation of metabolism calcium which can cause kidney stones and bone loss. Lorraine Fitzpatrick said endocrinologist at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, "This is important in terms of identifying who is at risk and work on ways to turn off the mutated gene."

* For details science online subscribers can link to the full text of the report.

As a group, women who receive breast implants for cosmetic purposes have many demographic, lifestyle, and the differences in reproductive women in general, according to a study in today's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association ( JAMA ). These mean differences ranging from the increase in alcohol consumption and the highest sexual activity to a greater use of hair dyes, might confuse studies that attempt to link breast implants to diseases, researchers say . But critics of the study say that the differences are exaggerated and were discarded as before confounders.

In their study, researchers led by epidemiologist Linda Cook at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle examined 3570 women, 80 of which had increased their breasts for cosmetic - no reconstruction - purposes, asking them a host of questions about alcohol and past use of oral contraceptives, smoking, sexual activity, and abortions. Researchers will examine the women to determine whether they had problems with their implants or suffered from diseases.

The researchers found that the 80 women who received breast enlargements were, on average, almost three times more likely than other women in the survey consumed seven or more drinks per week ; nine times more likely to have had at least 14 sexual partners; and more than twice as likely to have used birth control pills or have had an abortion. Physically, they were much less likely to be overweight. Failure to account for these differences could lead to over- or researchers underestimate the health risks of implants, say the researchers. The implants were widely blamed for the connective tissue disease: a pain syndrome, pain, fatigue and dry eyes and mouth, which fails to meet the existing criteria for classic rheumatoid diseases such as lupus

In an accompanying commentary. the JAMA study, Deborah J. del Junco, a health scientist at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Houston, said the study "brings us back full circle to the original question of the risks to long-term health -implant associated with breast surgery. " But other researchers, such as Gary Solomon, deputy director of the Department of rheumatic diseases in the hospital for Joint Diseases Orthopedic Institute in New York City, believe that confounding factors were excluded before. For example, in a clinical study of 680 women with cosmetic implants and reconstructive breast 1995 Solomon found that both groups of women were "very similar complaints and very similar lab results." These data "argue against these other [characteristics] as important," he said. Nevertheless, Cook said she hopes the new work will encourage researchers to consider other factors when assessing health risks of breast implants.

MIAMI - A molecule of fat found in human breast milk can a day be used to prevent? transmission of chlamydia and possibly other sexually transmitted diseases. The results, presented today at the American Society for Microbiology annual meeting, could lead to an antibiotic cream to fight against a bug that allowed each year 25,000 infertile American women.

Pharmaceutical companies are currently testing or mild detergents that could be added to the spermicidal lubricant. But Charles Isaacs, a microbiologist at the New York State Institute for Basic Research in Staten Island, thought he could find drug candidates from a group misunderstand antibiotics :. fat molecules in milk

Isaacs four isolated lipid breast milk that had antibacterial properties in cell culture and sent them to chlamydia researcher Mary Lampe at the University of Washington, Seattle. Lamp and colleagues each lipid mixed with infectious chlamydia, was then added to the mixture of cells cultured mouse skin. After 2 hours, the bacteria have skin successfully infected cells bathed in three lipids; However, lipid - 2- O octyl-sn-glycerol - blocked the infection completely. Images of chlamydia thwarted indicated that the lipid had knocked gaping holes in the inner membrane of the microbe.

"This is an exciting antibacterial approach," says Elizabeth Wagar, a microbiologist who studies protein antichlamydia at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Medicine. According to Lampe, preliminary results suggest that 2- O octyl-sn-glycerol also inhibits gonorrhea, indicating that it might be used as an antibiotic for more spectrum. the lamp group is now trying to develop a lipid cream covering that could be tested in animals.

heroin can reduce their drug use up to 0% with a drug more convenient than the standard treatment, according to a report in Journal tomorrow of the American Medical Association . The researchers hope that the discovery will encourage more clinics to try the treatment - it halved the number of visits required -. And to speed up approval of the drug, which has languished in many state regulators

For more than 2 decades, those addicted to opioid drugs such as heroin were treated methadone, which binds to receptors in the brain that are stimulated by opioids, but does not give up. However, many patients received doses that were too small and relapsed says George Bigelow, a psychologist at Johns Hopkins University. When another compound called acetate levomethadyl or LAAM was approved by the FDA in 1993, Bigelow and his colleagues decided to see if higher doses of LAAM could prevent recidivism seen with methadone.

The team enrolled 180 addicts who came to their clinic seeking treatment. A third received doses of 25 milligrams of LAAM, another third to 50 mg, 100 mg and others; neither doctors nor patients knew the strength pills. Within a week, patients receiving the higher dose significantly reduced drug use. At the end of the trial of 17 weeks, patients reported a decrease of 0% from 29 days per month to 2.5 days. Those on the lowest dose reduced to 6 days per month. Both reports were confirmed by urine tests.

Because LAAM should be taken only three times a week rather than daily as methadone, it makes it more convenient treatment, increasing the chance that addicts stick to a treatment regimen. Bigelow also hope that more states will approve LAAM and loosen its regulations; now she, like methadone, is only available in clinical drug approved specifically mainly on fears that addicts can sell the drug. "There is no other medical condition for which these wonderfully effective drugs are so hard to get," he said.

Other experts also hope to see LAAM finding its way into more clinical. "This kind of study is important for strengthening the need to give the maximum effective dose," said Alan Lesher, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which funded the study. "Once you do, the payoff is huge."

heroin can reduce their drug use up to 0% with a drug more convenient than the standard treatment, according to a report in Journal tomorrow of the American Medical Association . The researchers hope that the discovery will encourage more clinics to try the treatment - it halved the number of visits required -. And to speed up approval of the drug, which has languished in many state regulators

For more than 2 decades, those addicted to opioid drugs such as heroin were treated methadone, which binds to receptors in the brain that are stimulated by opioids, but does not give up. However, many patients received doses that were too small and relapsed says George Bigelow, a psychologist at Johns Hopkins University. When another compound called acetate levomethadyl or LAAM was approved by the FDA in 1993, Bigelow and his colleagues decided to see if higher doses of LAAM could prevent recidivism seen with methadone.

The team enrolled 180 addicts who came to their clinic seeking treatment. A third received doses of 25 milligrams of LAAM, another third to 50 mg, 100 mg and others; neither doctors nor patients knew the strength pills. Within a week, patients receiving the higher dose significantly reduced drug use. At the end of the trial of 17 weeks, patients reported a decrease of 0% from 29 days per month to 2.5 days. Those on the lowest dose reduced to 6 days per month. Both reports were confirmed by urine tests.

Because LAAM should be taken only three times a week rather than daily as methadone, it makes it more convenient treatment, increasing the chance that addicts stick to a treatment regimen. Bigelow also hope that more states will approve LAAM and loosen its regulations; now she, like methadone, is only available in clinical drug approved specifically mainly on fears that addicts can sell the drug. "There is no other medical condition for which these wonderfully effective drugs are so hard to get," he said.

Other experts also hope to see LAAM finding its way into more clinical. "This kind of study is important for strengthening the need to give the maximum effective dose," said Alan Lesher, Director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which funded the study. "Once you do, the payoff is huge."

Scientists have shown for the first time that the immune system of a mouse can completely destroy cancer cells in the prostate. Experts say the discovery, published in today's issue of Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences , could open the door to an immune-based therapy for prostate cancer, the second the most common cause of cancer death for. men

for the body's defense system to launch an attack against an invader, the immune system cells called T cells must detect two different signals. "It's like the two keys that must be turned simultaneously to launch a nuclear missile," says Eugene Kwon, a urologist at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute When a cell becomes cancerous, one of these signals. - the antigen, an immune system protein considered foreign -. is expressed on the surface of cancer cells themselves the second signal, a protein called B7, is always present on the surface of said antigen-presenting cells which present the antigen to the immune system. This primer T cells to attack the cells bearing the antigen, including cancer cells. But for yet unclear reasons, certain cancers, including prostate, do not enable a strong immune response .

to show that T cells in mice are able to mount a sustained attack against cancer cells of the prostate, Kwon and his colleagues made the cancer cells themselves express B7. (Essentially, they bypassed intermediaries, antigen presenting cells). They extracted cancer cells from preliminarily reared mice to develop a prostate cancer spontaneously added and the B7 gene of mice so that the cells express the B7 protein. Within a week to inject these cancer cells under normal mouse skin, tumor cells were completely destroyed by T cells. After 0 days, the cancer cells had still not grown

After this success, Kwon and colleagues tried a different approach: They turn off cell Security T outlet. Normally, T cells deactivate after a protein called CTLA-4 protein absorbs B7 alarm signal. But if it happens before all the cancer cells are destroyed, the tumor is likely to recur. Researchers injected cancerous prostate cells in healthy mice; then 7, 10 or 13 days later, they were injected with a protein that binds to CTLA-4, such as B7 continue to activate T cells Cancerous prostate cells in 42% of mice (21 to 50) were completely eliminated by the immune system. Treatment significantly slowed tumor growth in the rest of mice. Because the effect of the rise in T cell plan is temporary, the mice did not suffer autoimmune or inflammatory disorders.

"There is a sensible approach seriously immunologists," said Tom Waldman, a clinician at the National Cancer Institute. "I think they should go ahead with human trials." Team member James Allison, an immunologist at the University of California, Berkeley, said he hoped that this strategy probably used in conjunction with other treatments such as chemotherapy low level, can be tested in the man within the next two years.

In an attempt to fight fire with fire, the researchers designed a virus that usually infects cattle to attack the AIDS virus in the man. "It really is about to make a breakthrough," says Nava Sarver, who oversees the development of new treatments against AIDS at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

virologist University Yale John Rose and his colleagues describe in cell tomorrow how they built a potential treatment of HIV by modifying the virus vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), farmers hate because it causes infection mouth in cattle that prevents them from eating. As the tube test experiences Yale researchers show their new-fangled VSV selectively targets and destroys human cells infected with HIV. "It's a very interesting way to operate a virus for peaceful purposes, "said University of Pennsylvania Robert Doms, whose laboratory has elucidated how HIV infects cells." He is a very intelligent approach. "

The work takes advantage of recent discoveries by Doms and the other on a handshake in two parts between HIV and the cells it infects. After HIV binds to the CD4 receptor on a white blood cell, it must also bind to another molecule present on the surface of the cell known as a chemokine receptor. Once these handshakes are complete, HIV gains entry. Shortly after, pieces of viruses make their way to the outer covering of the cell where they stick out of the cell like a flag of victory.

Rose and his colleagues reasoned that if they could bite into VSV genes encoding CD4 and a chemokine receptor promoted HIV, CXCR4, the virus would home in on cells that have these HIV flags sticking out of them. The HIV proteins on the surface of the infected cell, they assumed, would bind to CD4 and CXCR4 receptors VSV. When the researchers added their VSV designed for a culture containing cells infected with HIV, they found that it was indeed only target infected cells, killing them quickly. "VSV is so fast," said Rose, noting that it can kill cells much more quickly as possible HIV.

One potential disadvantage of this approach is the possibility that the modified VSV will kill cells who are not infected with HIV. Rose believes that will not happen because he has stripped VSV its own surface protein, which is what allows it to infect a wide range of cells. "Without his normal peeling it can not infect anything, "Rose said. But only animal tests will answer that question, warns NIAID Director Anthony Fauci. Although Fauci praise for the novelty of the concept, he also fears that it could take impractically infusions with high dose of VSV modified to have an impact on levels of HIV from one person.

Yet Sarver, Fauci and others are worried about Rose and his colleagues put their viral guided missile stricter tests test-tube and animal. Sarver NIAID suggest that if researchers can indeed share different receptors in this "gutted" VSV, it can enable precision targeting that could be used in all kinds of vaccines for gene therapy on cancer treatments. "We're not there yet," said Sarver, "but the potential applications are enormous."

Today is the birthday of Francis Peyton Rous, a US pathologist known for his pioneering research on cancer. In 109, gave a Rous chicken Plymouth Rock with a large breast tumor, and he experienced in transferring a cell-free filtrate of the tumor in healthy chickens. Surprisingly, the same cells spindle sarcoma tumors developed in healthy chickens. Flying in the face of contemporary ideas about cancer, Rous suggested that a virus triggered tumors. But he failed to produce similar results in mammals, and the idea has not been taken seriously. In the 1930 Rous resumes cancer research when it was demonstrated that a virus has caused wild rabbits have skin warts and HPV. The use of this new animal model, Rous showed that viruses, chemicals such as tar and radiation can work together to improve the development of the tumor. For his discovery in 1910 that viruses can cause cancer, Rous received a share of the Nobel Prize for medicine in 1966. He died in 1970.

How well do you know your neck?

risk of thyroid cancer has more than doubled over the past 20 years. Learn the basics of early-detection processing.

Most people do not realize the importance of their thyroid gland shaped like a butterfly in the neck responsible for regulating metabolism and energy. And even fewer know about thyroid cancer, or how it is treated. Yet it is the most common cancer of the endocrine system and cancer is the fastest growing among men and women in the United States, about 12 to 100,000 Americans are going to get; in 2010 he was diagnosed with a record number of 44.670 people, according to the American Cancer Society. The Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Thyroid Center provides specialized care to make the treatment easier and soothe your mind.

Processing 101

Most thyroid cancer is treated with surgery to remove the thyroid followed by treatment with radioactive iodine. Shady Grove Adventist Hospital Thyroid Center, under the direction of Vijay Varma, MD, offers a higher level of treatment with radioactive iodine for patients :. I-131

"I-131 goes to the thyroid gland, where it is absorbed by all the tissues of the thyroid, emits radiation and destroys cancer cells of the thyroid and weave of the thyroid" it. "the treatment process begins three weeks before the treatment I-131, with a diet low in iodine. This depletes the stable iodine body and allows the thyroid tissue to absorb more effectively the radioactive source. "

The treatment is delivered to the hospital in the form of one or more capsules, taken by the mouth. patients remain in the hospital for 48 hours. "There are relatively few side effects," said Dr. Varma. "Most patients do not feel anything unusual and pass the time reading, browsing the Internet or watching TV."

Read the signs

January is Thyroid Awareness months- the perfect time to learn more about thyroid cancer. Although thyroid cancer can be difficult to detect at an early stage, as it grows, symptoms may include:

• a small lump or nodule on the neck
• Problems with swallowing
• Hoarseness
• lymph nodes in the neck
• breathing difficulty
• pain in the throat or neck

most nodules are benign, but early detection is the key! Contact your doctor if you have questions about thyroid cancer signs

Teaming Up

thyroid cancer treatment at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital is a coordinated effort implying Dr Varma. the department of nuclear medicine; oncology nurses; January Papirmeister, browser cancer care; Robin Brannon, as oncology dietitian certified in the region; and Sarah Tinney, oncology social worker.

"The Thyroid Cancer Program Shady Grove Adventist Hospital offers exceptional quality and experience exceptional patient. The 48-hour hospital stay for the person undergoing treatment with I-131 is customized, coordinated, multidisciplinary care at its best, "says Debra Pollack, executive director of Adventist HealthCare cancer care services.

B ETHESDA , M ARYLAND - heroin addicts need a easier access to methadone, a panel organized by the National Institutes of Health announced at a press conference today. The committee recommended that public and private health plans cover such treatment and that provincial and federal governments to increase funding for treatment with the synthetic opiate and allow more doctors to prescribe it.

Methadone has been used to treat addicts for over 3 decades, but only under strict federal and state laws that control the dosage and require those drug distribution for special licenses. Methadone affects the same pathways in the brain as heroin and other opiates, but more slowly. Therefore, it reduces the cravings of an addict and relieves withdrawal symptoms without causing a strong dramatic. Although some addicts are finally weaned from the drug, the group emphasized that addiction should be treated as a chronic disease. - Maybe needs a lifetime of therapy

After hearing the opinions of experts on the costs of addiction and about available treatments and their effectiveness, the 12-member group concluded that methadone - combined with counseling and other forms of support - should be considerably expanded to include more than 0,000 heroin addicts in the United States. Methadone "is the best treatment available," said committee chair and psychiatrist Judd Lewis University Medical School, San Diego, California.

The group recommended that the regulations on dosage and a special license be lifted, so that more doctors in private practice may treat patients addicted to opiates. The panel report indicates that concerns about abuse and illicit drug sales have been exaggerated.

Watermelon

Watermelon may not be the official fruit of summer, but it is a popular choice and healthy when temperatures increase. There are over 50 varieties of watermelon with seeds or without. Watermelon is the most consumed melon in the US and is in its softness midsummer peak

watermelon is about 92 percent water. a portion of 2 cups watermelon contains about 12 ounces of water. A portion of 2 cups is also low in calories (about 80 calories) and 2g of fiber, which makes it an ideal snack or dessert for those of us watching our weight. The thirst quenching fruit is really a vegetable-filled with healthy nutrients. Watermelon is a concentrated source of lycopene, an antioxidant, a natural chemical that gives it its red color melon, and may help protect against certain cancers and heart disease. Watermelon is also rich in vitamins A and C, which are two important nutrients for a healthy immune system, hair and eyes

On your next trip to buy products, take care in choosing any a watermelon. look for one that :.

• Is it heavy for its size, firm, symmetrical and free from bruises and cuts or bumps
• A crust is relatively smooth and that is neither too bright nor too dull.
• one side of the melon should have an area that is distinguished by the color of the rest of the crust, displaying a yellowish tone or cream. This is the place that has been placed on the ground during ripening. If the fruit is not this, it may have been harvested too early

There are many ways to enjoy watermelon, the simplest being slicing and eating. Other ideas:

Add lemon to your water (melon). Mix one cup of fresh lemon juice, half a gallon of water, half a gallon of watermelon juice / puree and sugar (but easy does it!) To taste.

• Lightly brush watermelon slices with olive oil and place directly on the grill for a few minutes on each side.
• Cut the watermelon into small pieces size and throw it in the balsamic vinaigrette, a little feta and mint salad for a light and fresh summer.
• Replace the tomato with watermelon in your favorite gazpacho.
• Use the watermelon to make salsa and serve with crackers or multigrain to complement your main course. Mix one cup of diced watermelon with two tablespoons diced red onion; a jalapeno finely diced; lime juice; two tablespoons chopped cilantro coffee; salt and pepper to taste.
• Make a frozen yogurt watermelon puree with watermelon and low-fat vanilla yogurt together and frost.

Watermelons are also delicious and fun to learn! Did you know that early explorers used watermelons canteens? Visit the Council for the Promotion of watermelon at watermelon.org to see the facts and recipes in July National Watermelon Month more fun

Sources :. United States Department of Agriculture, fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov, watermelon.org, LifeWork Strategies EAP and Washington and Shady Grove Adventist hospitals.

Although Hong Kong "bird flu" killed six people - the latest yesterday is dead - and prompted the slaughter of 1.5 million chickens, it remains largely a mystery to scientists. Now a team of US and Hong Kong has yet taken the most detailed look at the genes of the virus. Although scientists can not yet explain the jump of the virus from birds to humans, the partial sequence, reported in tomorrow's issue of Science , provides a clue to why the virus can be a such an effective killer.

This particular virus was isolated from a 3 year old boy in Hong Kong, who died in May after coming down with a flu-like illness that does not match any known strains human influenza ( science , 12 September, p. 10). It did, however, is an avian strain named H5N1 due varieties of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase on its surface. The discovery has triggered public health alarm. Because there was no trace of the avian strain infecting people, no immunity to it, and epidemiologists feared it could trigger a pandemic

By analyzing the DNA sequence virus, researchers led by Kanta Subbarao of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta have discovered what could be a clue to the deadliness of the strain. When they have sequenced the hemagglutinin gene, they found an insertion side to a central place where cellular enzymes breaking using the host except for the virus coat protein, which allows the virus to infect cells. In birds, enzymes that cleave the protein are more concentrated in the digestive and respiratory systems, so that most strains of flu can infect cells, said team member Michael Perdue of the US Department of Laboratory poultry research Southeast of Agriculture in Athens, Georgia. But the insert can provide easier - target for the enzymes, allowing the virus to infect the heart vessels, brain, and blood - and less specific. It is not known if the virus works the same way in humans, however.

In fact, scientists still do not know exactly how this strain of flu manages to infect humans at all. To resolve this issue, Subbarao said the researchers closely examine a range of avian flu, hoping to identify how this strain H5N1 is different. However, the virus has changed to allow the bird to human infection, it does not pass easily between humans. So far, there has only been one suspected case of transfer from one person to another.

Smooth Start to school

It's time again to school! There is often a flurry of activities in preparation for the start of school, and a range of emotions experienced by children (and parents too!) As part of the transition back to school. Children, for example, may feel nervous excitement gather with friends, interacting with their new teachers, and find their way around the classroom. Parents can welcome the consistent routine, but may be worried about how their child will adapt to change and greater accountability that comes with entering a new grade

Enjoy the last days summer holiday. consider the following strategies to minimize stress and back to school with a focus on the positive:

• Re-cap the days of summer. Talk and laugh with your children about the things you enjoyed most this summer. Consider pictures compiled into an album or write a story about the places you've visited. In other words, put the summer to end. Shift in family plans and objectives for the fall season; there is much to look forward to!
• talk to children what worries them, like making friends, homework, or use the bathroom. Validate their specific concerns. Reassure and remind them of the positive memories of past school years. Let them know that teachers make an extra effort to make sure everyone feels as comfortable as possible.
• Being oriented. Most schools offer social activities and formal guidance at the beginning of the school year to provide children and families with opportunities to learn from each other and their specific classes. Become familiar with the people and the environment can help to relieve stress. Ask if a school card is available or if your child can be paired with another student, or "friend" to help adapt to new people and surroundings.
• Establish a regular bedtime routine. Adequate sleep reduces crankiness in the morning. Provide the opportunity for your child to relax before bedtime, especially if your child has become accustomed to playing outside until dark. Practice getting up early one week before the start of school.
• Practice and note the information necessary to know and put it with the personal effects of your child. This should include your address and phone number, the name and number of an emergency contact, and can also include names of teachers and bus drivers and locker combinations.
• Review drop-off and pick-up procedures with your child. Make sure your child knows that he or she should go and what should be done after school. If possible, do a "practice run 'before the first day of school. Develop a buddy system with another family in the neighborhood.

Allow time for children to adjust. Remind them that everyone feels a little nervous about the first day of school and will become a daily routine in no time. Adjust your own schedule as possible. Give your children the evenings longer, especially during the first days.

Although it is normal to be anxious in any new situation, some children develop physical symptoms such as headaches or stomach aches related to the start of school. If you fear that your child's concerns go beyond the normal jitters back-to-school, talk with a doctor, a teacher or school counselor for your child

Sources :. American Academy of Pediatrics, Child Health, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, LifeWork EAP strategies, Lourie Center Reginald S., and Washington and medical advice Shady Grove Adventist Hospitals.For, consult your doctor.

Although Hong Kong "bird flu" killed six people - the latest yesterday is dead - and prompted the slaughter of 1.5 million chickens, it remains largely a mystery to scientists. Now a team of US and Hong Kong has yet taken the most detailed look at the genes of the virus. Although scientists can not yet explain the jump of the virus from birds to humans, the partial sequence, reported in tomorrow's issue of Science , provides a clue to why the virus can be a such an effective killer.

This particular virus was isolated from a 3 year old boy in Hong Kong, who died in May after coming down with a flu-like illness that does not match any known strains human influenza ( science , 12 September, p. 10). It did, however, is an avian strain named H5N1 due varieties of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase on its surface. The discovery has triggered public health alarm. Because there was no trace of the avian strain infecting people, no immunity to it, and epidemiologists feared it could trigger a pandemic

By analyzing the DNA sequence virus, researchers led by Kanta Subbarao of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta have discovered what could be a clue to the deadliness of the strain. When they have sequenced the hemagglutinin gene, they found an insertion side to a central place where cellular enzymes breaking using the host except for the virus coat protein, which allows the virus to infect cells. In birds, enzymes that cleave the protein are more concentrated in the digestive and respiratory systems, so that most strains of flu can infect cells, said team member Michael Perdue of the US Department of Laboratory poultry research Southeast of Agriculture in Athens, Georgia. But the insert can provide easier - target for the enzymes, allowing the virus to infect the heart vessels, brain, and blood - and less specific. It is not known if the virus works the same way in humans, however.

In fact, scientists still do not know exactly how this strain of flu manages to infect humans at all. To resolve this issue, Subbarao said the researchers closely examine a range of avian flu, hoping to identify how this strain H5N1 is different. However, the virus has changed to allow the bird to human infection, it does not pass easily between humans. So far, there has only been one suspected case of transfer from one person to another.

Health is your spine?

Oh these bones, these bones oh, oh skeletal bones! Back pain, in particular, is a common reason for medical visits; Patients report dull pain acute pain that make it difficult to move. Back pain can occur quickly if you fall or lifting something too heavy, or it can deteriorate over time.

Poor posture, sedentary lifestyle, arthritis or osteoporosis, and overweight are some factors that can increase the risk of pain and back injury. It is important to find ways to reduce your risk, as a healthy spine is essential to overall health. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, our spinal column gives the body structure, support, flexibility and protection of our spinal cord and organs.

There are several things you can do to improve your health of the spine and help prevent back pain and injury:

• In addition to your routine regular exercise, perform back strengthening and stretching exercises at least 2-3 times a week
• Maybe you're sitting behind a. office with legs crossed; be more aware of sitting and standing straight with your feet flat on the floor.
• Avoid heavy lifting. If you lift a heavy object, practice safe lifting techniques:
• Bend your knees and keep your back straight
• Do not turn your back as you carry large objects
• Spread your feet apart so that your legs bear more weight and pressure is released from the spine
• Talk to a professional about how to achieve and maintain a healthy weight health. Weight loss reduces pressure on the spine.
• practical work ergonomics. Good posture and position of the workstation reduces stress on muscles, tendons, joints and ligaments. If you sit for much of the day, take frequent breaks to stand up, stretch and walk.
• Get help to stop smoking. According to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases your body may not be able to get enough nutrients to the discs in your back if you smoke, and back pain can last longer long time.

If you suffer from back pain is acute or chronic, consult a doctor for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Examples of when to seek medical

• The pain becomes progressively worse
• pain radiating down the leg that
• numbness or tingling in the thigh or leg
• loss of strength
• changes Balance

do not wait until you experience back pain or injury to attend your spine. Instead, take a proactive approach to healthy spine; your back will thank you

Sources:. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, the University of Maryland Medical Center, LifeWork Strategies, Washington and Shady Grove Adventist Hospital

The most effective drugs to suppress HIV - protease inhibitors - can enhance the immune systems damaged at the resurgence of HIV. The surprising discovery, reported in tomorrow's issue of The Lancet , suggests that all AIDS patients should continue taking protease inhibitors, even if the drugs do not eliminate the virus directly .

The addition of protease inhibitor drug "cocktails" of AIDS patients take to suppress HIV infections has made a big difference in the effectiveness of therapies. If treatment begins soon after infection, the drugs can suppress HIV until it is undetectable. The cocktail also increases the number of CD4 + T cells, the immune cells that attack HIV and other infectious invaders. But in about half of patients with AIDS, HIV continues to be detected or reappear months later. Doctors tend to see this as a sign that the therapy no longer works and often switch to alternative treatments.

Last year, researchers at the Vaudois University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland, noted that some AIDS patients who weren 't responding to the cocktail, as judged by their persistent levels of HIV have nevertheless appeared to be free of secondary infections. To see if the drugs were helping the bounce of the immune system, despite the presence of the virus, the researchers continued to give protease inhibitors to 101 outpatients a day. After 48 weeks, the number of CD4 cells in 91 of the patients had on average almost doubled - even among those who still had detectable levels of HIV in their blood. "These people have received and are stable," said a member of the team Amalio Telenti. Patients who discontinued treatment with protease, on the other hand, considerably developed their immune system back, said Telenti. Their number of cells CD4 fell by almost two thirds.

It is difficult to understand why protease inhibitors help the immune system to recover even in the face of continued viral replication. medications can make a sort of new particles HIV unable to kill the CD4 cells, said David Margolis, a virologist at the Institute of human virology in Baltimore. Or the treatment may have some unknown advantage on the immune system itself.

- symptoms of heart attack and call 9-1-1

Research recently presented at the American heart Association (AHA) Scientific session in 2012 showed that people are more likely to die from heart problems during the winter months

you need to call 9-1-1 immediately if you experience any of the following symptoms of heart attack :.

• chest pain, pressure or discomfort
• pressure Pain or discomfort in one of two arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach
• Breathlessness
• cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

It is also important to note that women are more likely than men experience symptoms, including shortness of breath, nausea / vomiting and back pain or jaw, with or without chest pain.

despite the season, it is always important to follow a healthy lifestyle for the heart to help reduce your risk of a heart attack. This includes avoiding or limiting foods high in saturated fats, eat lots of fruits and vegetables and be physically active for 30 minutes a day, five times a week.

In addition to the research presented, AHA has recognized the importance role of hospitals in their conference. Twenty-six hospitals in the nation, including Shady Grove Adventist Hospital in Rockville, received 2012 Gold Performance Achievement Award for providing the best quality care to patients with a heart attack.

This winter, remember that when it comes to heart attack, minutes count and call 9-1-1 is the fastest way to get lifesaving treatment.

more on the heart of life care in your community.

good to give you

The holiday season is full of opportunities to help others in need. The experience of the gift of ourselves, and our children important life lessons taught and allows us to feel more connected to each other. Giving us gain a deeper appreciation of presence.

As we approach the new year, think about what gifts you have to offer others through volunteerism and charity in your daily life. In doing for others, we can enrich our lives and strengthen our relationship. Sharing your time, energy and money really does make you feel good. Remain engaged in volunteer activities can help you stay more vital and independent throughout your life.

The choice of a cause that interests you is important. For example, if you are passionate about healthy living, consider supporting a community health foundation or charity to fight against a specific disease. This will help you maintain your philanthropy in tough economic times.

Think carefully about the following questions, think about your budget and your schedule, and just select one or few causes that are meaningful to you.

• Why do you give? Do you have the time you want to devote to a worthy cause? Want to meet a personal inheritance or to honor the memory of a loved one? Will you lend your professional skills and knowledge, or make good use of your hobbies?
• What inspires you to give? Whether it is a way in case of loss or fatal illness or a devastating natural disaster, there are charities abound. You can spend some of your time to palliative care associations, Humane Societies, or youth mentoring. Clarify that moves to narrow the possibilities. Consider if you want your resources are invested in the local neighborhood and / or national and global efforts.
• How would you like to? Writing a check is fabulous, but you can also run a race; collect clothing and food; prepare and deliver meals; create and send care packages; support a school fundraiser; lead a campaign of letters; and more.
• How can you make the biggest impact? Recruit a friend or colleague to double your efforts. If you do not already have one, start a volunteer committee in your workplace. In Montgomery County, reaching out to groups such as the Corporate Volunteer Council or impact on the Healthy Communities Fund.

Ready to give? Find opportunities on the web, such as voluntary America or the Corporation for National and Community Service.

You can also help us support in our mission to provide excellent care to our community by donating to one of our hospitals or foundations or consider giving your time as a volunteer.

as we perform acts of generosity it nourishes the love in our relationships and strengthens the human spirit.

Researchers familiar with the terrible progression HIV infection to AIDS, but they are less clued into how the virus gets a foothold in the body. The virus - which attacks the immune cells called CD4 T cells - appears very early in the lymph nodes. But a study in Science today suggests that the virus may strike first with a punch sucker to CD4 cells in the gut, it holing while replicates. The discovery could help scientists develop drugs and vaccines for HIV disarm before it spreads.

Usually CD4 T cells act like sentries who roam the lymph and blood from the body in a dormant state until they encounter a foreign antigen, which triggers them to attack the invader . Ironically, these "activated" cells are particularly vulnerable to HIV, which deceives cells activated by letting. Then it slides its genetic material into the DNA of the cell so that it can spread and eventually kill the cell. Because many lymphocytes gather in the intestine, previous work had looked for early signs of HIV infection. But bowel tissue samples were difficult to obtain, and it was difficult to say how long the person has been infected.

For a clearer picture, researchers at the Primate Center Harvard Medical School in Southborough, Massachusetts, worked with SIV - simian analogue of HIV. The researchers inoculated a group of macaque monkeys with SIV, then killed two weekly intervals to study the T CD4 cells in the gut. Although CD4 levels have not fallen in the blood of monkeys for nearly two months, the researchers found that the population of CD4 T cells in the gut was almost divided in the first week. And by the third week, only a small percentage of cells remained. "It was quite surprising," said Andrew Lackner, head of pathology compared to the primate center. "We spent a lot of time convincing us that there was not another explanation."

"It is a very important document," said Marion Neutra, a biologist from the lining to the Children's Hospital Boston. The intestine was largely overlooked as a base to launch HIV, she said, but it is logical that the virus would start there. "Many of the cells in the gut are activated T" because of their exposure to foreign bodies, she said, making the "choices for the infection of target." The idea "seems very plausible" says William Paul, head of immunology at the National Institute of allergy and infectious diseases in Bethesda, Maryland. One consequence is that any vaccine against HIV should enhance immunity in the intestine, said Paul.

resolutions Renew

We all put our New Year's resolutions with the best intentions in mind; eat healthier, lose weight, fitness, and quitting smoking are among the most popular resolutions. The first days in the new year are always viewed with more vigor and hope, but after a few weeks, our will to do something better or add a task to our already busy schedules can Fizzle.

A "better you" is still possible, even if life gets in the way and you encounter setbacks. The challenge is to summon the courage to change and the renewed commitment to complete. Careful preparation increases the probability of achieving the desired results

Take a second look at your goal, given that: ..

• Your level of commitment to purpose
• Express your positive goal, in terms of "I will" rather than "I will not do it."
• Set specific, measurable and achievable. Be clear in terms of time, dates and amounts when and where you will measure your success.
• Prioritize your goals when you have several of them to avoid feeling overwhelmed.
• Write your goals to give concreteness. Keep your notes where you can see them frequently and track your progress.
• Break larger goals or long-term in a set of small steps. Keep the steps you are immediately working towards (daily or weekly goals) realistic and achievable.
• Build in rewards and plan for an occasional setbacks.

Goal Setting the correct level can take some practice. If you set your goals too high, you may find yourself frustrated by your progress, or lack thereof. By defining and working towards your goal, consider the following:

• Do you have enough information? Do some research on the requirements of your target part of the process. You can learn that achieving your goal, you must acquire specific knowledge, skills or equipment that you initially factor.
• Are you trying to please other people? Consider if your goal is something you want or something that your partner wants. It is normal to be inspired by the needs and interests of the other; However, your goal should be your own. If your goal will impact or involve other, take time to discuss your feelings and plans. Offer to help them in their goal too.
• Do you expect perfection? Even if you set a realistic goal, you may face challenges along the way. If you take a step back, focus on your next step. You might have to change your expectations and timing.
• Have you built in time to rejuvenate? Consider the intensity of the plan to achieve your goal. If you start sprinting, you can tire too quickly. Be prepared to work hard and also build in time for rest and relaxation. As you can see progress towards your goal, you will likely feel motivated to continue.

For some, the idea of ​​setting a goal can be overwhelming. Trusted friends, family or professionals such as clergy or counselors can help you help to make positive change objectives. Reach out for the support that you too can experience the satisfaction of achieving a goal that is important to you

Sources :. Washington and Shady Grove Adventist hospitals. For more information, consult your doctor.

- As a punch one-two a fatty diet and the body's own immune system conspire to bring on heart disease. Fat and cholesterol clog arteries and block blood flow, starving the heart of oxygen. In the meantime, this clogging produces plaques that damage the artery wall, which attract immune cells that aggravate inflammation. Now researchers seem to have found a way to soften these blows: According to a report in the issue tomorrow Nature , injections of an antibody significantly reduced injuries and cholesterol deposits in mice

Mouse. normally do not get hardening of the arteries, so a team led by Francois Mach and Uwe Schonbeck to Boston and Brigham Women's Hospital turned to a modified strain of mice unable to break cholesterol. They fed 10 mice a diet high in cholesterol for about 3 months, during which the animals developed a similar arterial inflammation to that of humans. With soaring levels of lipids and stable plaque buildup, mouse face a dismal prognosis

The team then targeted the suspected culprits behind the atherosclerotic inflammation -. An immune cell called CD40 and its molecular kicker, CD40 ligand (CD40L), which binds to CD40. Researchers have reasoned that, by injecting into the bloodstream of an antibody to CD40L, they may prevent the binding of CD40 to CD40L and soothe inflammation of the lesions induced by the plate. Indeed, mice received injections twice per week of antibody CD40L for 12 weeks showed lesions that have become 59% smaller and 79% contain less cholesterol, abnormalities in controls. The discovery "shows the way" to new treatment strategies against atherosclerosis, says team member Peter Libby, chief of cardiology at Brigham and Women.

Other experts echo the cautious enthusiasm. "This is the first step toward a productive area of ​​research," said Momtaz Wassef, who heads the atherosclerosis research group at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Human trials could be years away, Wassef but hopes the antibody could prove to be a powerful weapon against heart attacks and strokes.

treatment of asthma in winter

Asthma is a chronic disease that causes wheezing, breathlessness , chest tightness and coughing. It can limit the quality of life of a person.

Although we do not know why asthma rates are increasing, we know that most people with asthma can control their symptoms and prevent asthma attacks by avoiding asthma triggers and correctly using prescribed medications, such as inhaled corticosteroids

During the winter months, adults and children with asthma should be particularly careful and keep in mind :.

• cold weather is a major trigger of asthma attacks. cold air reaches the lungs, the lungs react by releasing histamine, which causes wheezing or breathing problems for people with asthma. In colder temperatures, the viscosity of mucus in the respiratory system becomes thicker and may not work to its full potential.
• The cold virus and flu worsen asthma symptoms . Respiratory infections caused by the common cold virus and flu irritate the lining of the respiratory system. The lungs and inflame the airways become narrowed. People with asthma are also more likely to develop sinusitis because their nose and sinuses can become swollen when they inhale triggers, such as, dust, pollen and smoke. If you suffer from asthma and allergies, it is important to avoid triggers that cause inflammation to reduce your risk and impact of colds and sinusitis.
• cold medicine can interfere with asthma. Keep in mind that some medications against colds can thicken mucus, making it difficult to spit. This is a serious concern for those who suffer from asthma, emphysema or chronic bronchitis. Talk to your immunologist on your symptoms to help you choose the best treatment, which may include a combination of medication and non-drug therapies such as hot packs, humidifiers and salt water rinses.

If you or a loved one suffers from asthma, take the following precautions this winter :.

• Wear a scarf over the mouth and nose to warm the air before you breathe in
• Breathe through your nose, not your mouth. Nose breathing allows air to be quickly converted to the appropriate body temperature.
• Exercise can strengthen your heart and lungs. When exercising outdoors, dress in layers. This will help you better manage your body heat. If it is particularly cold or icy outside, consider going to a mall or other location inside to do some walking or other activities. Make sure the interior location is well humidified and ventilated.
• Keep indoor air clean, maintain optimal humidity and reduce dust. Reduce pet dander and dust by cleaning and vacuuming regularly.
• Take all prescribed medication even if you feel well.
• Wash your hands and teach your children to wash their hands properly to avoid exposure colds or flu. Children are more prone to catching colds or flu in a crowded environment.
• Remember to drink plenty of fluids. Water has many other valuable benefits, including keeping your skin hydrated during the cold winter months.

Finally, if you have asthma, you can benefit from the new pulmonary rehabilitation program at the fitness center and health Adventist Hospital Shady Grove. The program provides specialized therapy, exercise and education to improve the quality of life and functional capacity for people with asthma or other lung diseases such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

Medicare and most insurance plans cover of pulmonary rehabilitation.

Talk to your doctor today about pulmonary rehabilitation program at the fitness center and health Adventist Hospital Shady Grove. For more information on the program, call 240-826-6662

Sources :. Web MD, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Washington and Shady GroveAdventistHospitals. For more information, consult your doctor.

Today Spotlighted of minorities is the 68th anniversary of LaSalle Leffall Jr., an oncologist who has drawn attention to the problem of the high mortality rate of cancer among minorities especially African Americans. Leffall published research in 1973 showing the increase of cancer mortality in the black population of the United States. When he became the first African-American president of the American Cancer Society in 1978, Leffall helped organize the first conference on cancer in the black community. In addition to clinical research on breast cancer, colorectal, and head and neck Leffall served as an educator at Howard University in Washington, DC

[Source:EmilyMcMurrayEd notable scientific Twentieth Century (Gale Research Inc., ITP, 1995)]

Women and Heart Disease

Heart disease is the number one killer of women in America. One in three American dies of heart disease.

In fact, women are six times more likely to die from heart disease than breast cancer. Heart disease includes a range of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels of the heart. Following types of conditions: coronary heart disease, angina, heart disease, heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias

Women tend to show up in emergency rooms after much heart damage has already place because their symptoms are not those usually associated. with a heart attack. Treatment is most effective when administered within one hour when the attack begins. Chest pain is not always severe, or even the most important symptom in women. Other symptoms may include shortness of breath, sweating, unusual tiredness, dizziness or lightheadedness, nausea or vomiting. Spreading pain to one or both arms, back, jaw or stomach may also be present.

Women can reduce their risk of heart disease by as much as 82 percent just by leading a healthy life. In addition, management risk factors can prevent or delay the onset of heart disease, even in women with a family history of heart disease.

• Know your "numbers that count" -cholesterol, glucose, blood pressure, and body mass index (BMI) -in order to assess your risk and monitor your heart health.
  • Have your blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked at least once every five years. Reduce levels of LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL increased levels (good cholesterol).
  • screen your blood pressure regularly. If your blood pressure is 0/80 or less, you are in the normal range. If your blood pressure is high (above 130/0), contact your doctor to discuss ways to lower your blood pressure.
• Regular exercise can reduce the risk of heart disease.
  • Women need at least 30 minutes of physical activity at least five days a week. Try walking, jogging, cycling or dancing.
  • Measure your daily steps wearing a pedometer. Try to get your step count up to 10,000 per day. Keep hitting the number by 1,500 steps per day until you reach the goal. Walking this amount each day can make a real difference - and you only need comfortable clothing and a good pair of shoes
• Eat healthy and balance your meals for the day ..
  • Eat more vegetables, fruits and fiber.
  • Reduce your intake of saturated fat and sodium and eliminate trans fats. meal for the day
  .
• Drink plenty of water every day.
  • Water helps to metabolize stored fat and reduces fat deposits.
  • A good way to estimate the amount of water you need is to take your body weight in pounds and divide that number in half. This gives you the number of ounces of water a day you need to drink.
• Heart disease strikes people with diabetes twice as often as people without diabetes. Women with diabetes should work closely with their doctors to manage their diabetes symptoms and reduce their risk of heart disease.
• Stop smoking and reduce your exposure to secondhand smoke. Non-smokers have less risk of heart attack than smoking

Sources: American Heart Association, Medical News Today, NIH, US Department of Health and Human Services social - Health Info National Centre for women. and Washington and Shady GroveAdventistHospitals. For more information, consult your doctor.

People who skip some amino acid supplements to treat insomnia, obesity, headaches and better beware. A report this month of Nature Medicine warns that joint supplements containing 5-hydroxy-L-tryptophan (5HTP) may also harbor a potentially dangerous impurities linked to a disease rare blood. Although no cases of illness have been linked to supplements, the Food and Drug Administration is to keep an eye.

In 1989, more than 1,500 people worldwide have contracted malgia eosinophilia syndrome (EMS), a rare blood disease that causes tissue damage similar to burns, and even death. Researchers suspect - but they do not know with certainty - that the epidemic was caused by impurities in some over-the-counter preparations of L-tryptophan, an essential amino acid. The FDA banned flawed preparations shortly after the outbreak EMS. But manufacturers were allowed to continue selling 5HTP, a derivative of L-tryptophan, despite a handful of reports that it related to EMS.

For several amino acid supplements on the market contain 5HTP, researchers at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, wonders whether the supplements may contain X peaks, one of many impurities suspected. (Scientists do not know what impurity is related to EMS.) The researchers tested six over-the-counter supplements containing 5HTP for peak-X, find the contaminant in all six. The supplements contain X peak at levels ranging from 3% to 14% of L-tryptophan supplements whose traces have been found in people who died of EMS in 1989.

"Before this study person, knew the impurity was in the health food material, "says Esther Sternberg, a rheumatologist at the National Institute of mental health. in a statement released earlier this week, the FDA said its scientists have confirmed the results of the Mayo Clinic. And although the effects on advanced X health are still unknown, according to the FDA statement, "vigilance is warranted." FDA officials say they are now team with researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and the National Institutes of Health and patient groups to monitor the situation.

The health benefits of healthy relationships

Strong relationships are important to your happiness and healthy living . People with good quality friendships handle stress much better; a good friend can really help you in difficult times. People with a supportive partner better recover from heart attacks and other diseases. Research shows that physical affection between loving partners, parents and children, and close friends can help the brain, heart and other body systems.

One of the most important ingredients for healthy relationships of any kind is an open and honest communication. Do not expect your partner to read your mind, and do not try to read his / her mind either. Ask honest questions and give honest answers. Work to create an environment in which each of you can feel safe expressing thoughts, feelings, hopes and dreams with each other

Some communication skills to improve the value include :.

• Empathy. This is the ability to understand and express their interest in the feelings of another person's point of view. This does not mean you have to agree with her. Just recognize it and try to understand. It shows the other person that you care.
• Acceptance. Recognize that you can not make your friend or partner change. You must take responsibility for your own feelings, attitudes and actions rather than trying to change the other person. Others will enjoy your company much more when you do this.
• Valuing others. Be aware that people want to be valued, appreciated and in control of what is around them. Pay attention to your interactions with friends and try to promote these feelings in them.
• Listening. Last but not least, be a good listener. This means keeping good eye contact and open posture by not crossing your arms or legs, and be able to paraphrase what the speaker said before giving your opinion.
  

Sometimes a person can have a good relationship with their partner and children, but who have problems at work. Others may have great friendships but have difficulties with their children. Almost everyone can work to improve their interpersonal skills in some areas of their lives. Think about the relationships in your life that are important to you and the relationships you want to improve. For the next two weeks, the intention to do something for them that you think they would like. . Do not expect something in return

On a regular basis, try some of the following strategies to boost your relationships:

• show much appreciation and affection. "Please" and "thank you" even for small things show that you do not take each other for granted. Spontaneous hugs and kisses are those little reminders that you love and enjoy your partner.
• Support each other emotionally and practically. Divide the workload on a daily basis in a way that makes each of you at ease.
• emphasize positive traits far more often than stress what needs to be improved. this is especially true with children.
• Laughing with friends every day, either in person, by phone or e-mail.
• Make yourself available. Encourage others when they need it and ask for the help you need someone to listen.

Work as hard on your relationship as you do on other things that are important to you. you and the people you love will be happier and healthier for your efforts. If in doubt, do not be afraid to seek professional help; find someone who makes you feel comfortable talking to

Sources :. Washington and Shady Grove Adventist hospitals. For more information, consult your doctor.

Fat-free may be all the rage in packaged foods, but mice genetically engineered to lack the fat cells get diabetes with more severe symptoms than those obese mice. The findings, reported in two articles in the issue last week Genes and Development , may give clues to the riddle of adult onset diabetes, also known as type 2 diabetes or diabetes mellitus.

Obesity can lead to Type 2 diabetes, which affects at least 18 million Americans. But people born with a rare condition that nearly eliminates fat cells also get diabetes symptoms. To explore this link, Marc Reitman and the group of Charles Vinson at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, inactivated genes for two transcription factors families that normally help the fat cells grow and develop. (Transcription factors are proteins that turn genes on or off.) A similar approach was taken by the Nobel Michael Brown and Joseph Goldstein and colleagues from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

In both experiments, the mice are born with little or no white fat. Most animals died before reaching adulthood, but those who survived developed symptoms of adult onset diabetes in humans: high blood sugar, high insulin levels, and a fierce thirst and appetite. And like human diabetes, the animals also have elevated levels of triglycerides and other fat building blocks in their circulation and liver are saturated triglycerides. "These animals are really sick," says Reitman. "But they clearly do not get diabetes in the same way as the normal type 2 diabetes," in which excess body fat plays a role.

Reitman and Vinson may be able to explain why obesity and a total lack of fat can lead to diabetic symptoms. They propose that the acids and excess fatty triglycerides in the circulation and liver could somehow trigger the disease. the compounds could end up in traffic or because they spread from fat cells stuffed, in the case of obesity, or because there is no fat cells to store as fatless mice.

How much protein do I need?

Protein is essential to our existence, because it is in every cell of our body; it is sometimes called the life of the building block. It is one of the three categories of macronutrients, as well as fats and carbohydrates, we need to consume daily to the health and proper functioning of the body. Proteins contribute to many processes in the body, such as maintenance and repair our muscles, skin and nails, to name a few.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, diets containing a sufficient amount of US proteins have been shown to reduce fatigue, support healthy muscles and contribute to healthy aging and play a role in weight loss. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that 10-35% of your daily calories come from protein. Recommended daily allowances for protein, vary by age as follows:

protein is easy to incorporate into a healthy diet. Here are some types of proteins and their benefits:

• Eggs / lean meats - The eggs are considered a complete protein, meaning it contains all the essential amino acids that our body does not produce itself or in sufficient quantities. Protein is found abundantly in muscle tissue of animals such as chicken, beef, pork and fish. When you eat meat of animals, it is recommended that they are skinny fat and preferably without skin.
• Dairy - Protein derived from dairy products like milk, yogurt and cheese contain varying amounts of fats and carbohydrates, as well as proteins. Greek yogurt is a dairy popular source rich in protein, since it retains more of the natural protein and regular yogurt
• nuts / legumes / cereals -. These are excellent sources of protein and healthy fats like. They are not as dense protein than meat, but still recommended to be incorporated into your diet. One cup of beans has about 16 grams of protein.
• Protein Powders - derived from different natural sources such as dairy products; called whey or casein, soy, eggs and beef. These are normally consumed after high intensity workouts or supplemented in diets deficient in protein. Normally, the protein content varies from 5-50 grams per portion depending on the powder.
  

Before making changes to your diet, it is recommended that you consult your physician or health care provider. A dietitian, nutritionist, or a wellness coach recorded may be able to help you create a personalized healthy meal plan to meet your needs.

Although we call the triple drug therapy can keep HIV count a patient under control for years, only one or two mutations in the genome the virus can cause resistance to develop and begin to multiply again. A paper Nature Medicine describes a potential drug can be much harder to thwart today :. A killer protein with a molecular booby trap to destroy the infected cells

The most effective drugs against HIV block an enzyme called protease that helps the virus to build new satellite particles. A group led by Steven Dowdy, a molecular oncologist at Washington University in St. Louis, decided to try another approach: Instead of blocking protease, they hope to turn against HIV. Their strategy is to trick the virus using its protease to open a deadly package in the cells it infects. "We designed a Trojan molecule," said Dowdy.

The packet contains a lethal protein called caspase 3, an enzyme which when cleaved apart, can pass on a cell suicide machines. To limit this destruction of infected cells, the researchers modified cleavage sites to those recognized by the HIV protease. They also include a molecular skeleton key, a protein called TAT allows the assembly enter cells. In cultures of human T cells, the molecule killed 75% of the cells infected with HIV in 16 hours. The team has already authorized the development IDUN Pharmaceuticals in La Jolla, California.

Some scholars believe, however, that the molecular Trojan horse may have a fatal weakness. The protein should be injected into the bloodstream, where it "is likely to induce an immune response and be removed before it is to infected cells," said virologist Nava Sarver of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases . Sarver is more optimistic about the idea of ​​Dowdy to adapt the strategy for the treatment of localized prostate cancer, using a TAT / caspase which can be activated by tumor cells.

Can prayer heal a sick patient? Although polls show that most Americans believe so, scientists are still very divided on the issue. In tomorrow's issue of The Lancet , three psychiatrists criticize several hundred studies to show a link between faith and religious health benefits. In general, they say, these studies do not take into account other factors that can improve health, such as abstinence from tobacco and alcohol. And even scientifically valid studies, they argue, are inconsistent and do not justify bringing religion into medical practice.

Richard Sloan of Columbia University and colleagues examined each article linking religion and physical health they could find in Medline, an online service that indexes of medical studies. Many of them, he said, focused on groups such as Catholic priests or the Benedictine monks, which forbid certain behaviors. Others have looked at the broader population of loyal and found the rates lower disease but failed to take into account that only people who are healthy enough can go to church. When these confounding factors were taken into account, either by the original researchers in a follow-up study or the group of Sloan, the presumed benefits have usually disappeared. Overall, Sloan said, "the evidence is very convincing and weak .... much lower, for example, that the link between marital status and health."

Although prayer for recovery may seem harmless, scientists say many people blame themselves if their prayers are not answered. patients and family members "may be torn by guilt," said Sloan, who is also concerned growing movement to encourage doctors to establish the religion and offer to pray with their patients. "We'd be outraged if a doctor said:" I recommend that you get married, "he said. "Religion, like marriage, is a very personal and private matter."

"Nobody has really shown that religion causes better health," admits Harold Koenig, director of the Center for Religion / spirituality and health at Duke University. In part, he said, it may be due to sloppy science, but it is also because "religiosity" is a difficult concept to quantify. But Koenig says many studies yet to be published not control for confounding variables in how Sloan recommends and still show a positive effect of religion on health. The Lancet paper, Koenig said, is important because few people have questioned the link between religion and health. "Field must meet this challenge to become stronger and better."

The signs and symptoms of anemia

About 1 in 5 women, 3% of men and 50% of pregnant women in the United States have anemia, iron deficiency. In addition, 7% of children aged 1-2 years and about 175,000 nursing nursing home residents suffer from low iron levels.

• A study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggest that anemia increases the risk of death in patients with chronic heart failure.
• A recent study of elderly patients undergoing noncardiac major surgery found that even mild anemia increases the risk of heart disease or death after surgery.

Anemia can be temporary or long and can range from mild to severe. The loss of blood, do not take or absorb enough iron, increased iron demand such as pregnancy or rapid growth, and the heavy periods can cause anemia. Regular use of aspirin or other medicines for pain, infection, serious injury, ulcers, colon polyps, colon cancer, and surgery can also cause anemia.

• Blood as sickle cell anemia occurs most often in people of African, African American, and the descent of the Mediterranean.
• Thalassemia (Cooley's anemia) is the most common in people of Mediterranean and Southeast Asian descent.
• Autoimmune diseases, exposure to toxic chemicals and kidney diseases can affect red blood cell production in the blood. Certain chronic diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, cancer, Crohn's disease and other inflammatory diseases can also interfere with the production of red blood cells.
• Low levels of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency are common causes of anemia vitamin deficiency. Diabetics, those addicted to alcohol and people who adhere to a strict vegetarian diet may have anemia.
  

Initially, anemia can be so mild that it goes unnoticed, but signs and symptoms increase as the condition worsens. Headache, fatigue, weakness, pale skin, chest pain, dizziness, irritability, numbness / coldness of extremities, difficulty thinking, and low body temperature are the symptoms most common. Shortness of breath and rapid heartbeat may be experienced

Iron-rich foods include liver and other meats. seafood; dried fruits like apricots, prunes and raisins; nuts; lima beans, in particular; green, leafy vegetables like spinach and broccoli; Oysters; Tofu; whole grains; iron breads and fortified cereals.

• Calcium can interfere with iron absorption. Eat and drink foods that help your body absorb iron as orange juice, strawberries, broccoli, and other fruits and vegetables with vitamin C.
• folate and its synthetic form - folic acid - can be found in citrus fruits and juices, green vegetables with dark green leaves, legumes, and fortified breakfast cereals. Vitamin B-12 can be found in meat and dairy products
  

Sources :. US Dept. of Health & Human Services, Mayo Clinic, Reuters Health Information, US National Library of Medicine, CDC - National Health Statistics Center, anemia National Action Council, NIH and Washington and Shady Grove Adventist hospitals. For more information, consult your doctor.

a TLANTA - Known for cartoon enthusiasts as a powerful superhero, xenon - in real life, a noble gas mild-mannered - may soon turn his super powers to medicine. Physicists xenon used to generate images of blood flow through the heart, lungs and brain tissue in rats. The research, presented yesterday at a meeting of the American Physical Society, could be a promising alternative to diagnose human disease through high-resolution imaging by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

xenon, an inert gas, is evaluated by doctors for its anesthetic properties. In 1994, a team led by chemist Albert Mitch of New York State University at Stony Brook, has shown that xenon can also switch the airflow in the lungs, which escapes MRI techniques standard. The team "hyperpolarized" xenon atoms with a laser beam, align their spins to improve their responses to a magnetic probe. In this way, the MRI inhaled xenon help sweep the air-filled cavities. Another group found last year that xenon and helium noble gases can produce clear signals in magnetic fields much lower than those used in today bulky MRI machine ( Science NOW, October 22, 1998).

now, the researchers found that xenon can trace how the gases flow through the barrier between the blood and tissues, and between the fabric and the air. Biophysical chemist Scott Swanson of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and colleagues injected tiny doses of hyperpolarized xenon in the lung of a rat immobilized in an MRI probe. polarized xenon atoms remain in the body for 30 seconds, long enough for the gas to be absorbed into the bloodstream and circulate through the tissues of blood-rich organs. Subtle differences in the shapes of polarized atoms in every medium - air, blood and tissues - leaving the image of the team blood models that run through the heart, lungs and brain of rats. "This could be very useful to identify bottlenecks in normal blood and air flow" as in emphysema and fibrosis, says Swanson. These features appear hazy using current technologies.

Probing how the brain and other organs with xenon has "enormous potential," says atomic physicist Gordon Cates from Princeton University in New Jersey. "the noble gases can give us much greater resolution than fMRI methods used today, "he said. the US Food and Drug Administration has yet to approve the xenon for use in clinical trials MRI, Cates note. he thinks it will not be a problem, because patients already inhale xenon to improve brain scans using positron, another imaging technique.

tips to maintain a healthy blood pressure

According to the Department of Health and Human Services US , one in three adults an estimated 68 million of us have high blood-pressure, also called hypertension. Hypertension is often called the "silent killer" because it usually has no symptoms; many suffer from hypertension or pre-hypertension and do not even know.

If untreated, high blood pressure can also lead to serious complications such as stroke or heart attack.

Hypertension is clinically known as "hypertension"; it does not refer to being tense, nervous or hyperactive. You can be a calm, relaxed person still have high blood pressure. Blood pressure is the force of blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels. High blood pressure, the pressure in the arteries is elevated

Blood pressure is measured using two numbers :. The top (systolic) number represents the pressure while the heart contracts to pump blood through the body; the bottom number (diastolic) is the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats. Blood pressure below 0/80 is considered optimal for adults. A systolic pressure of 0 to 139 or a diastolic pressure of 80 to 89 is considered "prehypertension" and needs to be monitored carefully. A reading of blood pressure of 140/0 or higher is considered hypertension.

If someone has treated high blood pressure for a long time, they are at high risk of damage to major organs, and small blood vessels in the eye. Untreated high blood pressure can also lead to serious complications such as stroke or heart attack. When other health problems coexist with high blood pressure, the risk for the body increases significantly. Smoking, physical inactivity, diabetes and high cholesterol, can increase the risk of death

Tips for maintaining a healthy blood pressure.

• Get regular checkups from a professional qualified health. The risk of developing pressure increases high blood as you age, however, do not expect the average age to have your blood pressure. Even children and teenagers can develop high blood pressure.
• Review the history of your family with your doctor. People with close blood relatives with high blood pressure are more at risk.
• Eat a healthy diet low in salt and fat and rich in fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid alcohol, limit caffeine intake and not smoking.
• Maintain a healthy weight. People with a body mass index (BMI) of 30.0 or higher are more likely to develop high blood pressure.
• physical activity for at least 30 minutes most days of the week.
• Stress is often mentioned as a risk factor for hypertension. The responses to stress vary from person to person. Managing stress has many health benefits.
• If you are currently prescribed drugs for blood pressure, take it as directed by your doctor.
• If you are pregnant, work closely with your doctor to monitor your blood pressure. High blood pressure can develop rapidly in the last three months. If untreated, it is dangerous for mother and baby.

American Heart Association, Center for United States Department of Health and Human Services, LifeWork Strategies EAP Disease Control and Prevention, and Washington Adventist Hospital and Shady Grove. For more information, consult your doctor.