Posts
Sorry, I could not read the content fromt this page.
Monday, August 19, 2013
January Jones at a Mad Men reception in NY
While there's nothing wrong with January Jones' casual spring outfit, we DO think a pencil skirt, which was a catwalk favourite for spring, would have turned this look from sweet to chic.
January Jones' Style Evolution
Gene Variants May Play Role in Obesity
But findings don't explain exactly how they are connected
By Randy Dotinga
HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, June 17 (HealthDay News) -- Two new studies offer some solace to those who can't control their weight despite diet and exercise by providing more evidence that genetics may play a role in obesity.
One study offers unique insight because it finds genetic mutations in severely obese children that suggest their excess weight may be more connected to their DNA because they put on pounds at such a young age. The other study found that certain genetic traits boost the risk of obesity in families.
The exact connection between genes and weight remains elusive. Still, "it's very likely that many of the genetic variants that contribute to weight interact with our environment -- the food that we eat and the amount of exercise that we get," said Sadaf Farooqi, professor of metabolism and medicine at the University of Cambridge in the U.K. and co-author of the study on children. "In fact, some of these genes act by influencing our appetite and how much we like food."
Previous research has shown that certain genetic variations boost the risk of obesity, but not in everyone, said Daniel Belsky, a postdoctoral fellow at Duke University's Center for the Study of Aging and Human Development. "Many people who carry a high load of common genetic risks remain lean while others who carry a light load of common genetic risks develop obesity," he said.
The two new studies, both published in the June 17 issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, examine variations in the SIM1 gene that are very rare but may have a big effect on the people who have them, Belsky said. "The purpose of studying these variants is to learn something about obesity -- what systems are disrupted and how -- with the aim of guiding the development of new treatment and prevention strategies," he said.
In one study, researchers found several genetic mutations in 2 percent of 2,100 severely obese kids with an average age of 10, but in fewer than 0.1 percent of the others.
"When the genetic variations do occur, they play a major role in a person's weight," study co-author Farooqi said.
In the other study, researchers studied the DNA of hundreds of children and adults (many of them severely obese), as well as the DNA of children who seem to have a condition called Prader-Willi syndrome, which can lead to overeating and out-of-control obesity. Led by a researcher from the Lille Pasteur Institute in France, the study authors linked three genetic mutations -- related to those in the other study -- to a high risk of obesity in families.
Scientists suspect that the genetic variations in the studies affect hunger and the way the body handles energy.
What can people do if their genes put them at higher risk of obesity? For now, nothing beyond trying the usual weight-loss strategies, such as diet, exercise and surgery.
"Despite this new discovery, there are still many genes to be found and we still don't understand how some of these genes actually work to affect our weight over long periods of time," Farooqi said. "If we can find new genes and understand how they work, we may be able to find more appropriate treatments for people who struggle with their weight."
Health Tip: Understanding Heel Pain
(HealthDay News) -- When your heel starts to hurt, even walking can be difficult and incredibly painful.
The American Podiatric Medical Association says possible causes of heel pain include:
Heel spurs, which are bony growths that develop on the heel.Inflammation of the fascia, known as plantar fasciitis.Excessive pronation, or inward tilt of the foot as you walk.Achilles tendinitis, in which the tendon at the back of the foot becomes inflamed.A deformity, injury or chronic disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis.-- Diana Kohnle 
Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Rheumatoid Arthritis, Smoking, and Drinking Alcohol
The potential risks smoking and drinking pose to people with rheumatoid arthritis.By Stephanie Schupska
WebMD Feature
WebMD Feature
You already know that smoking is bad for you and that it's unhealthy to drink too much alcohol.
But do you know how tobacco and alcohol relate to rheumatoid arthritis -- your odds of developing RA, or, if you already have RA, your odds of making it worse?
Joint Stiffness and Rheumatoid ArthritisJoint stiffness is a hallmark of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic disease that affects 1.3 million adult Americans. Resulting from an abnormal response of the immune system, rheumatoid arthritis inflames the soft tissue that lines the surface of joints (called the synovium). It is a systemic disease that not only makes joints stiff and painful, but can also affect other parts of your body, such as internal organs. By noting symptoms such as joint stiffness and seeking early treatment, you can...
Read the Joint Stiffness and Rheumatoid Arthritis article > >Here's what the research shows.
Smoking may make people more likely to get RA. And, depending on their genes, it may make their RA worse. On top of that, smoking mixed with RA can lead to even greater problems, like heart disease.
“Very clear studies indicate that tobacco is highly associated [with] and probably causal in rheumatoid arthritis and is causal in the worst form of the disease,” says Susan Goodman, MD, an assistant attending rheumatologist and internist at the Hospital for Special Surgery and assistant professor of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.
Your genes may also matter. A Swedish study, published in December 2010, shows that the odds of developing RA was related not just to how much a person smokes, but also to their genetic makeup. People with a certain gene variation, called HLA-DRB1, who smoke are much more likely to get rheumatoid arthritis than someone who doesn’t smoke -- and to have severe RA.
“It turns out that people who smoke who bear this genetic factor are much more likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis and do develop more severe disease," Goodman says.
Smoking can also make dealing with the disease more difficult.
“In a lot of the studies on the course of rheumatoid arthritis, patients who smoke do less well, and they’re less likely to achieve remission,” Goodman says. “They’re more likely to have a worse outcome. Smoking gives them a worse prognosis.”
Smoking can increase painful rheumatoid nodules, which form in the joints, she says. It can also lead to heart disease, which -- even on its own -- is a big problem in people with RA. And smoking makes it worse.
“In the last 10 years, there have been studies that show the leading cause of death in patients with RA is cardiovascular disease,” says Walter Moore, MD, senior associate dean for graduate medical education and veteran affairs at Georgia Health Sciences University and chief of rheumatology at Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center. “And smoking itself is clearly associated as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.”
Stroke is another concern for RA patients.
“RA is an illness like diabetes. In and of itself, it’s a risk factor for heart attack and stroke,” says Andrew Ruthberg, MD, an assistant professor of medicine and an attending physician at Rush University Medical Center and director of Rush Rheumatoid Arthritis Clinic. “And those two things conspire to raise your risk for those other problems to a higher level.”
Tune Into Brain Games Tonight, Chemical-Free Spring Cleaning and More!
National Geographic Channel's new show Brain Games shows you how to "hack your brain" so you can figure out how your mind works. Way more fun than a biology lesson, right? Check it out tonight at 9 p.m. ET. [CNN]
We're always looking for non-toxic ways to get our place sparkling for spring. Here, 27 chemical-free, DIY cleaning products. [Greatist]
The top 40 Vine Film Festival finalists pack a lot of talent into six seconds. Which one's your favorite? [All Twitter]
Our May cover girl Kelly Osbourne doesn't only look good, she does good too. Kelly and her mom, Sharon, have signed on to be the faces of Fashion Targets Breast Cancer 2013, which raises money for the disease via fashion sales. [The Drum]
Next week, your Twitter feed will be bringing the laughs. Starting April 29th, Comedy Central is hosting #Comedyfest, a five-day Twitter festival with jokes, routines, and even a panel discussion with Judd Apatow. [Rolling Stone]
Image Credit: Getty Images
I have an open sore on the bottom of my foot — do I need to see a doctor?
Posted June 19, 2013, 2:00 am 
I have an open sore on the bottom of my foot. Can I just cover it with a Band-Aid until it heals, or do I need to see a doctor?
I am glad you asked this question, because in most circumstances, just covering it with a Band-Aid is a really bad idea.
I’m guessing that this “sore” is more than some redness of the skin. I assume it is a little hole or crater, and that the top skin of the sole of your foot is gone. If that’s the case, what you’ve got is called a foot ulcer. A foot ulcer crater is often surrounded by a border of thickened, callused skin. (I’ve put an illustration below.) Some craters are shallow. In severe ulcers, the red crater may be deep enough to expose tendons or bones. If you have a foot ulcer, you should see your doctor.
People with diabetes are more likely to get severe foot ulcers. That’s because diabetes can cause nerve damage in the feet, which makes them less sensitive to pain or discomfort. People with diabetes can injure their foot significantly and not know it because they experience no pain. As a result, the ulcer can slowly get worse.
People with diabetes are at special risk from having a foot ulcer. Because diabetics often have poor blood supply in their feet, their foot ulcers have more trouble healing. Healing requires a good blood supply to provide energy and a steady flow of immune system cells to do its work.
Foot ulcers are vulnerable to infection. An untreated infection can develop into:
An abscess, or pus-filled pocket;A spreading infection of the skin and underlying fat;A bone infection;Gangrene, an area of dead, darkened body tissue.If you have good circulation, your doctor can treat your foot ulcer by trimming away diseased tissue and removing any nearby callused skin. The doctor will apply a dressing and may prescribe specialized footwear to relieve pressure on the affected area. If there is a possibility of infection, you may need to take antibiotics.
Foot ulcers that do not respond to more conservative therapy may require surgery. If you have poor circulation, you may need surgery to correct blood-flow problems in your leg arteries. And if the circulation is poor enough, there may be no way to cure a foot ulcer, and the recurrent infections that develop in that ulcer, except by amputating the foot.
So if you’ve had one foot ulcer, you should see your doctor about it. After the ulcer is cured, you should take steps to help prevent future ulcers:
Examine your feet every day to check for rubbed areas, cracks or calluses.Wash your feet every day using mild soap and warm water. Dry thoroughly. Apply moisturizing lotion to dry areas.Wear roomy, well-cushioned shoes and soft, absorbent socks. window.fbAsyncInit = function() { FB.init({appId: "199616670120169", status: true, cookie: true, xfbml: true});}; (function() { var e = document.createElement("script"); e.async = true; e.src = document.location.protocol + "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js"; document.getElementById("fb-root").appendChild(e);}());
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)