Ultrasound Best Detector of Dangerous Ectopic Pregnancies, Study Finds

TUESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- Ectopic pregnancy, in which the fertilized egg grows in the fallopian tubes or other spots outside the uterus, typically leads to miscarriage and can even prove fatal.

Now, a review of the data finds that taking a patient's history along with a clinical exam is not enough to diagnose the condition in women with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding during early pregnancy.

Instead, the researchers concluded that transvaginal ultrasound is the single best way to evaluate suspected ectopic pregnancy. These scans examine a woman's reproductive organs, including the uterus, ovaries, cervix and vagina.

One expert not connected to the study said detecting ectopic pregnancy early on is crucial.

"Risks from this complication include hemorrhage from rupture, death, and loss of the [fallopian] tube, either from rupture or surgical removal," said Dr. Kecia Gaither, vice chair of obstetrics & gynecology and director of maternal-fetal medicine at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, in New York City. "Patients typically present with abdominal pain, spotting and a positive pregnancy test."

Nevertheless, "fewer than half of the women with an ectopic pregnancy have the classically described symptoms of abdominal pain and vaginal bleeding. In fact, these symptoms are more likely to indicate miscarriage," wrote the team of researchers led by Dr. John Crochet of the Center of Reproductive Medicine in Webster, Texas. That means that confirming a diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy is especially important.

For this review, published in the April 24 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, the researchers analyzed 14 studies that included a total of more than 12,000 patients.

The study confirms that "the gold standard for diagnosis is an ultrasound," Gaither said. "Depending on the clinical stability of the patient, a laparoscopic surgical procedure or a laparotomy may [also] be required," she added.

"For any patient who is pregnant in the first trimester -- and has not had a sonogram -- who experiences sudden onset of abdominal pain and spotting, it is important to go to the nearest hospital to be evaluated for an ectopic pregnancy," Gaither said. "The trip may be lifesaving."

One other expert agreed.

"Ectopic pregnancy poses such a risk to patients of childbearing age that it should always be considered when a patient is pregnant and has abdominal pain," said Dr. Jennifer Wu, an obstetrician/gynecologist at Lenox Hill Hospital, in New York City. "Good surveillance with early ultrasound and close follow-up ... can significantly lessen risks, which include emergency surgery and transfusion."

According to background information in the review, ectopic pregnancy is the leading cause of pregnancy-related death in the first trimester and causes up to 6 percent of pregnant women's deaths in the early stages of pregnancy.

-- Robert Preidt
Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SOURCES: Jennifer Wu, M.D, obstetrician/gynecologist, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Kecia Gaither, M.D, vice chair of obstetrics & gynecology, and director, maternal-fetal Medicine, Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, New York City; Journal of the American Medical Association, news release, April 23, 2013

View the original article here

caloric intake and vanity pounds

Hi :)

I have recently put on a bit of weight, mostly because I had exams and so little time for exercise whereas I was eating more then usual, simply because I was exhausted from all the studying and felt I need more energy.

Now, exams being over, I started regular exercise again (5-7 days/week, some days running, other days light weights, normally half to one hour per day).

I eat healthily - lots of fruit and vegetables, and as I am vegetarian, I upped my protein intake (as that was a bit lacking).

I am 19 years old, 54kg and 1.61m, I would like to get back to 51kg.

My normal day/meals:

BREAKFAST

2 slices of wholegrain bread with hummus

SNACK

smoothie (1 banana, 1/2 cup greek yogurt, spinach, 1 cup berries)

LUNCH

pasta with vegetable tomato sauce and salad (leafy greens)

or

vegetable risotto with salad (tomato salad, leafy greens, etc.)

SNACK

fruit (banana, pear, apple, etc.)

DINNER

another smoothie (2 bananas, cocoa powder, 1/2 cup greek yogurt, berries)

Now, the problem (only considering weight loss :) ) is that I love to bake, as does my mum - for instance, we made this wonderful cinnamon apple bundt cake. I love bundt cakes and cannot get enough of them - I can easily finish off half of it (sometimes more *blush*) in a single day.

Basically, my question is - how "bad" for my desired weight loss are such "slip-ups", what is my optimum calorie intake (the calculators seem to give me numbers between 1500 and 2100) and... basically am I eating OK for my goal weight and general health?

Thanks a lot :)

View the original article here

Deadly Meningitis Cases Worry Gay Community

By Randy Dotinga
HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, April 23 (HealthDay News) -- A series of bacterial meningitis cases in Southern California and New York City, resulting in the deaths of several gay men, have set the gay community on edge. However, preliminary tests suggest the cases on each coast aren't connected.

Health activists became concerned in Los Angeles after a 33-year-old gay attorney from West Hollywood suddenly became ill from meningitis and died on April 13. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which advocates for health for gay men, initially criticized local health officials for not pushing for vaccinations. However, "we don't think it's part of an outbreak or due to him being a gay man," said Dr. Wayne Chen, the organization's acting chief of medicine.

Still, the Los Angeles County's public health department is offering meningitis vaccinations for free for those who are poor or uninsured.

In New York City, health officials are recommending that certain groups of gay and bisexual men, along with certain visitors to the city, get vaccinated against meningitis.

According to Los Angeles County health officials, four cases of meningitis in gay or bisexual men have been confirmed in the region since December, including one 30-year-old who died of meningitis in Los Angeles, and another man of the same age who died in the San Diego area, both in December, according to news reports.

The officials say the four Los Angeles cases in gay and bisexual men don't appear to be "highly related" to those elsewhere in Southern California or in New York City.

In New York City, officials have noted more than 20 meningitis cases since 2010 in gay or bisexual men; seven of the men died. The city recommends vaccinations for any HIV-infected gay or bisexual men and those who have had close or intimate contact with men they met via websites, apps or at bars or parties. Visitors who have been to the city since Sept. 1 and engaged in these types of activities should get vaccinated too, city officials added.

Meningitis is transmitted through close contact with an infected person and kills, often quickly, by causing the lining around the brain to swell. It commonly spreads through places where people live closely together, such as dorms and military housing.

Meningitis hasn't previously been connected to gay men in particular, Chen said.

Many people have the bacteria that cause meningitis in their nasal passages, but the germs often don't cause problems, said infectious disease specialist Dr. William Schaffner, chair of the department of preventive medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. "They can carry these bacteria for long periods of time and transmit them to other people without being aware of the process."

The germs can create a mild illness at first that can quickly turn deadly, especially if the bacteria gets into the bloodstream, he said.

"You feel kind of punky, and you maybe have a sore throat," Schaffner said. "You lose your appetite, you get drowsy. Then you can slip into a coma."

Antibiotics effectively treat bacterial meningitis, he said, but they must be given quickly. That's why people should seek medical care if they suffer from symptoms like stiff neck, high fever (beyond 100.1 degrees Fahrenheit) or severe headache, he said.

Meningitis vaccines cost about $100, Chen said, and can cause side effects that are similar to those possible in people who get flu vaccines. The vaccines work against most strains of meningitis, Schaffner said, and take 10 to 14 days to become effective.

Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved. SOURCES: William Schaffner, M.D., professor and chair, department of preventive medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn.; Wayne Chen, M.D., acting chief, medicine, AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Los Angeles

View the original article here

Runners and the Shoes

We all have that one pair of shoes . . . They were one of your greatest loves, and they will stick in your mind like that one race where you kept pace with the Olympic athlete for an entire mile . . .

Some may even have that one brand that just make your feet's dopamine levels go all silly.

For me, the shoes are the Asics Gel-Kanbarra. Those shoes were for my first track season. There are also the GT-2160s. My castle on a cloud, I will never forget those beauties . . .

Out of all the brands I've tried, I've found that Asics gives me support and keeps me from being encumbered by cushioning.

What works for you guys, runners?

View the original article here

Extra dimension eyes

Opalesse Extra Dimension Eye Shadow, £16.50, MAC Cosmetics http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/

This eye shadow has quickly become our new MAC obsession. As part of MAC's new Extra Dimension collection, Opalesse is an ideal shimmer for summer. One sweep of the shadow gives lids a stunning combination of opalescent white and pink pearl with hints of subtle blue and green reflecting through. The Extra Dimension range is perfect for show-shopping, statement eyes. Opalesse in particular, is ideal for highlighting the brow bone or the inner corner of the eye; instantly brightening a daytime-to-night time look.

By Lisa JC

View the original article here

Peter Facinelli at the premiere of Iron Man 3 in Los Angeles

Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.

View the original article here

Could 'Moderate' Drinking Be Safe During Pregnancy?

British study finds no problems with balance in kids, but some experts have concerns about the findings

By Alan Mozes

HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, June 18 (HealthDay News) -- Children of women who drink moderate amounts of alcohol while pregnant don't appear to have any neurodevelopmental problems when it comes to balance, a new British study suggests.

Researchers assessed the long-term health impact of drinking while pregnant by testing roughly 7,000 10-year-olds on their balancing abilities, a method that offers a reliable reflection of fetal neurodevelopment. For the study, "moderate" alcohol consumption was defined as between three to seven glasses of alcohol a week.

The research team cautioned, however, that other variables, such as maternal wealth and education, might have influenced the findings.

The bottom line, according to study co-author John Mcleod, is that "[there's] certainly no evidence that moderate alcohol use by pregnant mums is good for their kids, and [there are] reasons to be cautious about other messages around 'benefits' of moderate alcohol use by pregnant mums. But equally, [there's] no strong evidence for important harmful effects."

Macleod, chair of clinical epidemiology and primary care with the School of Social and Community Medicine at the University of Bristol, and his colleagues discuss their findings in the June 17 online edition of BMJ Open.

The research comes on the heels of another British study, released in April, which reported no connection between "light" drinking (one to two drinks per week) during pregnancy and increased risk for mental defects among children at the age of 7.

For the new study, the researchers focused on 6,915 children from southwest England who had participated in the larger Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children.

The team first analyzed maternal drinking habits self-reported at both the 18-week mark of pregnancy and then again when the children were 4 years old.

The vast majority of mothers -- 70 percent -- said they drank no alcohol during pregnancy, while 25 percent said they had consumed drinks in the range of "low" (one to two per week) to "moderate" amounts on a weekly basis. Among such drinkers, one in seven had actually engaged in "binge drinking," meaning at least four glasses of alcohol at a sitting.

By the time their children were 4 years of age, 50 percent of the mothers said they consumed three to seven glasses of alcohol weekly. The research team noted that those who drank moderately were older, more affluent and better educated.

At the age of 10, the children underwent two balance tests, which included walking across a balance beam (to assess so-called "dynamic balance"); standing heel-to-toe on a beam with eyes open and closed (to assess "static balance"); and standing on just one leg, eyes open and closed.

The result: moderate maternal (and paternal) drinking while pregnant, and maternal drinking after delivery appeared to be associated with better overall balance, particularly in terms of static balance.

View the original article here