follows five teens’ battle against obesity, and we think the series is totally worth tuning into. We got to watch the first episode, and after an hour, we’re completely rooting for the unique students attending Wellspring Academy.
During the premiere, we get to meet Tanisha Mitchell, 17; Scotty Basso, 13; Emily Hodge, 11; and Terrina Cyrpress, 17. (We’ll hopefully get to meet Miranda Nichols later.) Although each of them come from different backgrounds, they all have the same goal: to lose weight. Scotty is a funny guy from Athens, Ga., who has a super hard time getting up in the morning. His arrival weight is 366 pounds and his goal is to get back to 150 pounds one day.
Tanisha is Wellspring’s heaviest teen ever, arriving at 510 pounds. She is morbidly obese and has Blount’s disease, which has caused her legs to turn inward, but she’s still determined to get healthier. At 11, Emily is the youngest student Wellspring has ever had and she’s having a tough time being away from her parents. Terinna, 17, has been at the school the longest, but is the most stubborn one of the group.
The show gives audiences an introduction about each teen and the North Carolina facility that, along with a regular school curriculum, gives its students a behavioral coach, monitors their nutrition, tracks their fitness progress and aids the kids in changing their thinking and behavior in order to fight food addiction.
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sinfully sweet apple company elicious, Sinfully Sweet Apple Co. offers guilt-free desserts. Their carmel apples are “90%” apple. Even the glaze is sugar free. Don’t make the mistake of asking about the different kinds of apples they offer: Pecan Pie, Cherry Chocolate Chip, New York Cheesecake, Cookies n Cream, German Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Almond, Snickers, Turtle, Rocky Road, Apple Pie, Red Crunchy Flakes, Toffee Crunch, Caramel Almond, Almond Roca, Peanut Butter Chocolate, Caramel Peanut, Strawberry Shortcake, Neapolitan, White Chocolate 
Raspberry and Lemon Pie. “The Lemon Pie Caramel Apple is to die for,” said store manager Maria Neufarth. “It’s a caramel apple dipped in lemon-flavored yellow chocolate rolled in vanilla wafers with a little lemon wedge right on top. It tastes just like a lemon pie. Forget the apple.” The owners are Martha Henderson and Cheryl Cling, who have been taking And no street festival in this city would be complete without a string of foods trucks. With the Lakers game on TV last night, the Vizzi truck (launched about a month ago) hooked up flat screens to its sides. Lines formed at other trucks including Calbi BBQ, Kabob N’Roll, and Party Q’sadilla. Hot dog vendors wrapped their dogs in bacon, as a young woman rolled her vegan dessert cart selling chocolate cheesecake. Streets buzzed with chatter of gallery art and drinks at The Varnish. Ambulance roars mixed with live reggae, as bookstores stayed open late and DJs spinned at shops such as Big Man Bakes. More photos after the jump.
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Like many states, Texas faces a large deficit. And as in many states, state leaders are seeking to slice and dice programs — including those that serve people with mental illness – just when Texans need them most.
The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) recently released a proposal to eliminate $134 million from its already underfunded and overburdened mental health programs. Gov. Rick Perry, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, and Speaker Joe Straus ordered the agency to cut its 2012-13 proposed budget by 10 percent. This reduction is in addition to a 5 percent cut that was recently made to the current DSHS budget.
While legislators are expected to face a difficult financial situation during the 82nd Texas Legislature, our state’s leadership needs to fully understand and consider the ramifications of the proposed $134 million in cuts. Untreated mental illnesses lead many individuals to cycle in and out of homelessness as well as our emergency rooms, jails and prisons. Lack of treatment also leads to an increase in the utilization of police man-hours since law enforcement personnel are often called in to deal with individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Any further erosion of the limited services currently provided to the state’s most vulnerable mental health patients will exacerbate what should already be considered a serious public health and public safety issue.
The proposed cuts include $80 million that would be taken from the state’s 39 publicly supported community mental health centers, which provide psychiatric care for poor or uninsured people. The cuts would also eliminate services to 11,000 adults and 2,000 children across Texas. As it is, more than 900 adults are on a waiting list each day for mental health services from the Mental Health Mental Retardation Authority of Harris County (MHMRA), our area’s public mental health center, for treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and severe depression. The approximately 400,000 adults in our area with other mental illnesses have to try and find services elsewhere regardless of their ability to pay for treatment.
In addition to the adults waiting for care, 75 percent of our community’s children in need of help from the public mental health system do not receive treatment services. Perhaps this is why half of the children in the Harris County Juvenile Probation Department have a diagnosable mental illness and 55 percent have been diagnosed with a substance abuse and/or chemical dependence problem.
An additional $44 million in proposed cuts would eliminate 183 beds, or 12 percent of their total capacity, from five state psychiatric hospitals. These facilities are already unable to take many of the state’s sickest individuals due to a lack of available beds. As a result, the Harris County Jail houses an estimated 80 inmates each day who are simply waiting for one of these beds, a scenario repeated throughout the state. Eliminating the 183 beds, which have the potential to serve thousands of individuals, will further contribute to the fact that the Harris County Jail is now the largest provider of mental health services in Texas.
source:chron.com ]]>
Prader-Willi Syndrome is an uncommon genetic disorder that causes poor muscle tone, low levels of sex hormones and a constant feeling of hunger among other things. People with this disorder have a problem with their hypothalamus, part of the brain that controls feelings of fullness or hunger. Thus, these people never feel full and have a constant urge to eat, ultimately leading to life-threatening obesity.
Prader-Willi syndrome in most cases result from a spontaneous genetic mutation in genes on chromosome 15 that occurs at conception. In rare cases, the mutation is inherited.The disorder is named for the doctors that first observed it in 1956, Andrea Prader, Alexis Labhart and Heinrich Willi. There is much still unknown about this disorder. It is known that the Prader Willi Syndrome is genetic and should not be confused with a hereditary disease. Prader Willi Syndrome is only found in only between 1 in 10,000 and 1 in 25,000 live births.Disorders named after the doctors that first noticed it in 1956 by Andrea Prader, Alexis Labhart and Heinrich Willi. There is still much unknown about this disorder. It is known that Prader Willie Syndrome genetic and should not be confused with a hereditary disease. Prader Willi Syndrome occurs only in the period from 1 to 10 000 and 1 in 25,000 live births.Disorders named after the doctors that first noticed it in 1956 by Andrea Prader, Alexis Labhart and Heinrich Willi. There is still much unknown about this disorder. It is known that Prader Willie Syndrome genetic and should not be confused with a hereditary disease. Prader Willi Syndrome occurs only in the period from 1 to 10 000 and 1 in 25,000 live births. ]]>
The Hundreds of women face this reality each day, but on the big and small screens, that phone call is a rare occurrence. The call actually resulting in an abortion is a particularly notable taboo, one that has been broken so few times in mainstream pop culture it can be counted on two hands The most beautiful, important moments of moms and expectant mothers get excited to see the positive tests on their home pregnancy test.
Some feel that it’s weird to keep it in their drawer. Others want to keep it in their safe place to cherish and remember forever, trying to conceive for years or get conceived through IVF. I didn’t save it in my first pregnancy thinking that the positive result may not appear if I kept it forever. I only collected ultra sound photos and items from the delivery day. I was introduced this cute Pregnancy Test Keepsake Case beautifully labeled with “Remember the moment you knew”. I began to love it lot to keep my recent pregnancy test in purple satin string purse perfectly sized to hold the stick. It’s free and scrapbook card with a proof of purchase from e.p.t. which is great bonus and you can also print coupon from their website.
According to a recent survey commissioned by the makers of e.p.t. brand, the top three pregnancy keepsakes are ultrasound photos, items from the delivery day and at-home pregnancy tests. What’s more, 67% of expectant mothers saved their at-home pregnancy test – the first proof that they were
pregnant – for reasons ranging from showing it to a partner to saving it as a poignant life-milestone keepsake. For more information about the Keepsake Case and pregnancy testing, please visit www.testaccurately.com Age-based predictions often confuse women seeking a second chance at pregnancy. “Many patients, even if they have insurance coverage, will drop out — either because they don’t understand what their odds are, or they find it’s a very emotionally challenging experience to go through,” study co-author Dr. Lynn Westphal, an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology, said in a university news release.
In the new study, published online July 19 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers examined records of 1,676 in-vitro fertilization cycles at Stanford Hospital & Clinics from 2003 to 2006.
Osteoporosis is a disease in which the bones become thin, frail and brittle, and may break easily. Women and older people are more prone to developing osteoporosis, although it can affect people of any age or gender.
The U.S. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases suggests these preventive measures for osteoporosis:
Eating a healthy, balanced diet that’s rich in vitamin D and calcium.
Getting frequent exercise that’s designed to help strengthen bones. Your doctor can recommend specific exercises.
Taking medications designed to prevent bone loss or increase bone mass.
Taking steps to prevent falls, which increase your chances of breaking a bone, such as the hip, wrist or spine. Such steps include removing clutter inside the home, wearing low-heeled shoes, securing rugs to the floor, and
installing grab bars in the bathroom.Worryingly, the researchers also found that these gene disruptions were still apparent after 30 days without alcohol, which equates to about three years in a human lifespan.
The findings, which are published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism, suggest that the effects of binge-drinking on bone-related genes may be long-lasting.
Dr John Callaci, a bone biologist at Loyola University, warned that lifestyle-related damage to the skeleton during early adulthood “may have repercussions lasting decades”.
Arthritis Research UK is currently funding a clinical trial that seeks to establish whether giving vitamin D supplements to pregnant women increases the strength of their babies’ bones at birth and compare this against the effects of a healthy diet and exercise in childhood.
MiraLAX Recall 2010 – OTC Pharmaceutical Product Recall?Two MiraLAX Products Have Been Recalled Due to Cap Not Fitting Properly
According to a notice posted by Giant Food Stores, two MiraLAX products have been recalled because their caps are not correctly resealable and as such poses a health concern.
The first product with a UPC of 4110082071, is MiraLAX Laxative Powder 30 day dose that weighs 17.9 oz.
The second product with a UPC of 4110080770 is MiraLAX Laxative Powder 30 day dose with 4 ct sachet, weighing 19.9 oz.
source:nowpublic.com ]]>
An experimental diet pill helped about half the people who tried it lose some weight and keep it off a year later, without the heart problems that some earlier drugs caused, a study found.
Arena Pharmaceuticals’ lorcaserin is one of three drugs that are boosting hope for a new generation of more effective weight-loss medicines. One gets a Food and Drug Administration review on Thursday and the others, later this year.
In the study, lorcaserin (lore-KASS-ah-rin) caused more people to lose at least 5 percent of their body weight over one year, more than twice the rate achieved by those on dummy pills.
Most people don’t stick to diets. And diet pills have had bad side effects or can’t be taken long-term. A low point came in 1997 when the popular “fen-phen” was pulled from the market after it was tied to heart valve problems.
But now comes lorcaserin, a round blue tablet that would be the first truly novel weight-loss pill in a dozen years if it wins approval. The drug targets the same appetite pathway fen-phen did but in a more selective, and perhaps safer, manner.
Results of a large company-funded study of it are in Thursday’s New England Journal of Medicine The results were twice the rate accomplished by those on dummy pills. Diet control and extensive physical exercise are not followed by many people. And diet pills available in market have had negative side effects or cannot be taken for a long time. The market of weight-loss medicine saw its worst phase in 1997 when the popular “fen-phen” was recalled from the market after it was proved that the medicine elevated heart valve problems.
But lorcaserin is considered as a major breakthrough in this regard. The round blue 
tablet is thought to be the first novel weight-loss pill in over two decades, if it receives approval. The drug hits at the same appetite pathway fen-phen did. But lorcaserin is more selective in nature, and perhaps safer that its sibling.
MADISON – University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinicsranked in the top 50 US hospitals in seven medical specialties, according to the 2010 edition of U.S. News and World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” guide.
The U.S. News guide ranks hospital care in 16 specialties. UW Hospital is ranked among the nation’s top 50 hospitals in the following categories: “Noteworthy is urology’s
momentous 10-notch climb from 35 to 25 over the past four years,” said Dr. Johannes Vieweg, UF College of Medicine department of urology professor and chairman. “Achieving status as a top-25 program is a testament to the quality of our faculty and the commitment of our institutional leadership. We are honored to be recognized as a top program in the Southeast and No. 1 in Florida, and we will continue to provide excellent care, cutting-edge research and superb education. We look forward to many continued successes.”
Shands at UF neurological/neurosurgical programs ranked 39th nationally.
“The neuromedicine programs at the University of Florida including the departments of neurosurgery and neurology are proud of our recognition in this year’s U.S. News & World Report survey,” said Dr. William Friedman, UF College of Medicine department of neurosurgery professor and chair. “The recognition reflects our dedication to high-quality patient care, world-class research and education programs.”
Shands at UF consistently ranks in the America’s Best Hospitals rankings. The rankings weigh the reputation of each hospital, death rate, and a set of care-related factors such as nursing and patient services. Hospitals are scrutinized thoroughly before being ranked and considered a Best Hospital.
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An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) came up with mixed reviews Wednesday for a drug that a number of studies have suggested puts patients at risk for heart disease and stroke. A panel of 33 physicians, patient advocates, and academics decided that Avandia, a drug commonly used in treating diabetes, should either be withdrawn from the market or sold under very strict controls.
Studies of Avandia have found that it can increase a person’s risk of heart disease by as much as 43 percent, which is even more concerning considering that the disease it treats can double someone’s risk for heart disease. 
And although much of that research has been disputed by the drug’s manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline, the panel voted yesterday that the evidence was compelling enough to suggest that the risks are indeed real enough to pose a serious threat to people taking the drug.
Still, physicians on the panel don’t want to see the drug pulled entirely because, they argued, there aren’t many good drugs available for treating diabetes as it is, and even a risky drug can be successful in treating some patients. “The decision speaks to the complexity of both this issue and of the information that’s available,” says David Kendall, MD, chief scientific and medical officer of the American Diabetes Association, who attended the hearings. “If this issue were a simple and clear-cut one, an advisory panel wouldn’t be necessary.”
source:msnbc.msn.com ]]>