With obesity now the greatest threat to the health of Americans, finding an effective approach to weight loss is more critical than ever. According to a new study in the August 2009 issue of the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, portion and calorie-controlled meal replacements used in a structured weight-loss program are successful in facilitating medically significant weight loss.

The study looked at dieters using the meal replacements and the intensive behavioral program developed by HMR (Health Management Resources). Dieters used one of two weight-loss options: patients with diabetes, hypertension, or other weight-related medical problems used HMR’s medically supervised diet and ate only meal replacements (which consisted of HMR Shakes, HMR Entrees, and HMR Nutrition Bars). Other dieters used HMR’s Healthy Solutions Diet and consumed meal replacements along with fruits and vegetables. All dieters attended weekly classes, kept food records, had mid-week phone calls with a health educator, and burned a minimum of 2,000 exercise calories each week.

Patients on the medically supervised diet lost an average of 43.3 pounds in 19 weeks. Patients on the Healthy Solutions diet lost an average of 37.5 pounds in 18 weeks. These data represent two to three times more weight loss, in less time, compared to published results of any other commercial diet program.

According to the study’s co-author, Dr. James W. Anderson, Professor Emeritus of Internal Medicine and Clinical Nutrition at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, the gold standard for weight loss in the health community is to achieve a 5 – 10% loss of initial body weight. “This study showed a weight loss between 15.8 % and 16.4% of initial body weight, both well above the gold standard the health community considers successful and the point at which health improvements are seen.”

The Centers for Disease Control reports a dramatic increase in obesity in the U.S. over the past 20 years, with 2/3 of Americans now overweight or obese. Furthermore, there are more obese Americans than overweight or normal weight. Some common effects of obesity include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, and cancer. If you are obese, losing just 5% to 10% of your body weight can delay or prevent some of these diseases.

Source: Health Management Resources


Don’t let them see you sweat this summer

International Hyperhidrosis Society Offers Tips to Millions Who Sweat Excessively

For the millions of Americans suffering from hyperhidrosis, excessive sweating, the body’s mechanism for cooling itself is overactive and can cause sweat production that is up to four or five times more than normal. While some people may only think about sweating during the hot summer months, individuals with hyperhidrosis may find excessive sweating can disrupt their daily and recreational activities, regardless of the season.

“While we all sweat, those suffering from hyperhidrosis may experience excessive sweating on their underarms and often need to change their clothing multiple times a day to hide their symptoms,” says Lisa Pieretti, Executive director of the International Hyperhidrosis Society (IHHS), a non profit organization dedicated to help those with excessive sweating. “It’s important to remember that hyperhidrosis is a treatable medical condition and it is possible to manage symptoms through medical treatment options.”

The IHHS recommends following these simple steps to help control sweating this summer:

1. Stay hydrated: Drink early, drink often, and drink again. Sweat plays a critical role in keeping your body cool in hot temperatures. The key to keeping this internal air conditioning system working properly is drinking enough fluids.
2. Use a vaporizer or atomizer: Help the body’s natural cooling system by using a vaporizer or atomizer to spray a light mist of water on the underarms. As the water evaporates the body will naturally cool down.
3. Wear loose, lightweight natural fabrics: Loose clothing enables perspiration to evaporate and natural, breathable fabrics “wick” moisture away from your underarms.
4. Apply antiperspirant twice daily: Application of a soft-solid antiperspirant formula to underarms twice daily (morning and before bedtime) has been shown to be more effective in controlling excessive sweat. Consider using a stronger, clinical-strength over-the-counter antiperspirant. Be sure the underarms are completely dry before applying product to reduce the chance of skin irritation.
5. Reach zen: Anxiety can increase sweat production. Control anxiety by breathing deeply and focusing internally.
6. Avoid sweat-inducing spicy foods and caffeinated beverages to help stay cool in the warmer weather.
7. Knock out body odor: Excessive underarm sweating can contribute to odors as the sweat dries and activates bacteria on your skin. Neutralize odors by sprinkling baking soda on affected clothing and on athletic gear after use.
8. Avoid mid-day workouts: When the sun is at its peek, the body is more inclined to sweat, so take advantage of the long summer days and plan an early morning or late evening workout.
9. Know your medications: There are a number of common medications that can exacerbate sweating. Make sure to check with your physician before you start any new medication, especially during the warmer summer months.
10. Talk to a dermatologist: When antiperspirants are not effective in controlling excessive underarm sweating, dermatologist may administer treatment with BOTOX (Botulinum Toxin Type A). Results last up to 6.7 months and treatment is often covered by insurance.

Source: International Hyperhidrosis Society


More than 200,000 people eligible again through court settlement

The Social Security Administration has agreed to repay more than $500 million in benefits that were unlawfully withheld from 80,000 people since January 2007. The agreement is part of a class action settlement preliminarily approved by U.S. District Court Judge Claudia Wilken today. In addition, people whose benefits were suspended or denied between 2000 and 2006 will be notified of the new policy and invited to re-establish eligibility. All told, more than 200,000 people may have benefits reinstated and/or receive back payments through the settlement. All beneficiaries must continue to be eligible to receive payments.

The settlement resolves a lawsuit, Martinez v. Astrue, challenging SSA’s method of implementing a provision of the Social Security Act. The law seeks to prevent people from using government benefits to flee from arrest. Rather than trying to determine which Social Security recipients were actually fleeing prosecution, SSA used an automated system that matched names in warrant databases to those at SSA. Many of the automatic benefit suspensions involved false or unproven allegations, minor infractions or long-dormant arrest warrants. Although regulations provide for an appeal process, individuals losing benefits were routinely informed by SSA staff that they could not appeal.

Under the agreement, SSA has stopped, as of April 1, 2009, suspending or denying benefits due to the mere existence of a warrant – unless the warrant is issued in a criminal proceeding on a charge such as flight or escape.

“The vast majority of class members were not fleeing at all; many never knew that criminal charges were pending against them, let alone that a warrant had been issued,” Gerald McIntyre, attorney with the National Senior Citizens Law Center, said.

In addition to granting preliminary approval of the settlement agreement, Judge Wilken ordered a final fairness hearing to be held on September 24. At that hearing, Judge Wilken will hear any objections from class members and determine whether to approve the agreement, which will not take full effect until the appeal time has run.

The plaintiffs in the case are represented by the National Senior Citizens Law Center, pro bono counsel from the law firm of Munger, Tolles & Olson, the Mental Health Project of the Urban Justice Center, Disability Rights California, and the Legal Aid Society of San Mateo County.

To see plaintiff profiles, a copy of the complaint, the settlement agreement, and the motion for preliminary approval, visit http://www.nsclc.org/areas/social-security-ssi/Martinez-Settlement.

Source: National Senior Citizens Law Center


Avian Influenza Strain Primes Brain for Parkinson’s Disease

  • Author: Health Informer
  • Filed under: Health News
  • Date: Aug 11,2009

St. Jude scientists report flu infection leaves brain more vulnerable later in life

At least one strain of the H5N1 avian influenza virus leaves survivors at significantly increased risk for Parkinson’s disease and possibly other neurological problems later in life, according to new research from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

In the August 10 online early edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers reported that mice which survived infection with an H5N1 flu strain were more likely than uninfected mice to develop brain changes associated with neurological disorders like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s involve loss of brain cells crucial to a variety of tasks, including movement, memory and intellectual functioning. The study revealed the H5N1 flu strain caused a 17 percent loss of the same neurons lost in Parkinson’s as well as accumulation in certain brain cells of a protein implicated in both diseases.

“This avian flu strain does not directly cause Parkinson’s disease, but it does make you more susceptible,” said Richard Smeyne, Ph.D., associate member in St. Jude Developmental Neurobiology. Smeyne is the paper’s senior author.

“Around age 40, people start to get a decline in brain cells. Most people die before they lose enough neurons to get Parkinson’s. But we believe this H5N1 infection changes the curve. It makes the brain more sensitive to another hit, possibly involving other environmental toxins,” Smeyne explained.

Smeyne noted the work involved a single strain of the H5N1 flu virus, the A/Vietnam/1203/04 strain. The threat posed by other viruses, including the current H1N1 pandemic flu virus, is still being studied.

Early indications are that the H1N1 pandemic strain carries a low neurologic risk, said Richard Webby, Ph.D., director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Studies on the Ecology of Influenza in Animals and Birds, which is based at St. Jude. Webby, who is also an associate member of the St. Jude Department of Infectious Diseases, was not involved in the H5N1 study led by Smeyne.

This study also supports the theory that a hit-and-run mechanism is at work in Parkinson’s disease. The investigators believe the H5N1 infection sparks an immune response that persists long after the initial threat is gone, setting patients up for further devastating losses from a second hit, possibly from another infection, drug or environmental toxin. In this case, researchers believe the flu virus is the first hit that sets up development of Parkinson’s at a later time.

An estimated 4.1 million Americans, including 1 to 2 percent age 55 and older, have Parkinson’s. Many suspect both genetic and environmental factors play a role in its development. The disease is linked to the death of dopamine-secreting cells in an area of the midbrain known as the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc). Dopamine is a neurotransmitter responsible for stimulating the motor neurons that control movement. Parkinson’s is usually diagnosed after individuals lose 70 to 80 percent of the dopamine-producing cells. Treatment is available, but there is no cure.

Flu is primarily a respiratory disease, but indirect evidence dating back to 1385 links it to neurological problems, including the brain inflammation known as encephalitis. The association between flu and brain disorders like Parkinson’s was strengthened by an outbreak of encephalitic lethargic, also known as von Economo’s encephalopathy, following the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. Some of those patients developed Parkinson’s symptoms.

St. Jude researchers launched this study nearly three years ago in response to the threat posed by avian flu. Smeyne said there was concern about possible long-term neurological risks facing H5N1 survivors.

Previous studies had isolated H5N1 in the nervous system. But this is the first to show the path the virus takes to enter the brain as well as the aftermath of the infection. Smeyne said the virus’ path from the stomach through the nervous system and into the brain is reminiscent of how Parkinson’s unfolds.

In this study, mice were infected with an H5N1 flu strain isolated in 2004 from a patient in Vietnam. Robert Webster, Ph.D., said the strain remains the most virulent of the avian flu viruses. Webster, a co-author of the study, holds the Rose Marie Thomas Chair in Infectious Diseases at St. Jude.

About two-thirds of the mice developed flu symptoms, primarily weight loss. After three weeks there was no evidence of H5N1 in the nervous systems of the mice that survived.

But the inflammation the infection triggered within the brain continued for months. It was similar to inflammation associated with inherited forms of Parkinson’s. Although the tremor and movement problems disappeared as flu symptoms eased, investigators reported that 60 days later mice had lost roughly 17 percent of dopamine-producing cells in SNpc, a structure found in the midbrain.

Researchers also found evidence that the avian flu infection led to over-production of a protein found in the brain cells of individuals with both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. The protein, alpha-synuclein, collected in H5N1-infected cells throughout the brain, including the midbrain where key dopamine-producing cells are located. There was little protein accumulation in the brain cells of uninfected mice.

The study marks the first time scientists were able to naturally trigger the protein build-up in an experimental Parkinson’s system. “The virus activates this protein,” Smeyne explained.

Other authors in this paper include Haeman Jang, David Boltz and Yun Jiao (St. Jude); and Katharine Sturm-Ramirez and Kennie Shephard (formerly of St. Jude).

This work was supported in part by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Parkinson’s Foundation, Michael J. Fox Foundation, National Institutes of Health and ALSAC.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. For more information, please visit www.stjude.org.

Source: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital


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