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Eat Your Curry! Spice Found To Help Prevent Infection

2012-05-28T13:50:07Z

A spice used in curry dishes helps to prevent infection and now scientists think they've got a lead on how.

Curcumin is a compound found in turmeric, a flavourful, orange and yellow spice that is a key ingredient in South Asian and Middle Eastern cuisine. The spice has also been used in India's traditional Ayurvedic remedies for 2,500 years.

Now American and Danish scientists have found curcumin increases levels of a protein called CAMP that helps the immune system to fight off bacteria, viruses and fungi the first time they try to attack.

CAMP is the only known antimicrobial of its type in humans, researchers say.

"This research points to a new avenue for regulating CAMP gene expression," said Adrian Gombart, an associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics at the Linus Pauling Institute in Corvallis, Ore.

"It's interesting and somewhat surprising that curcumin can do that, and could provide another tool to develop medical therapies," he added in a release.

SEE: Tips for ordering healthier Indian takeout. Story continues below:

In Friday's issue of the Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, Gombart and his colleagues said curcumin caused levels of CAMP to almost triple in laboratory experiments on human cells.

Vitamin D also increases levels of CAMP but high amounts of the vitamin can lead to more calcium being released into the blood. That's one reason researchers are testing other natural alternatives like curcumin.

CAMP seems to kill a broad range of bacteria including those that cause tuberculosis and also seems to protect against the development of sepsis, a serious body-wide response to infection that patients often acquire while being treated in hospital.

Earlier this month, researchers in England announced the first human trials testing curcumin to fight cancer. They hope it will increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy while reducing side-effects.

"We've shown that [curcumin] has well over 100 mechanisms of damaging cancer cells, particularly colon cancer cells," Professor Will Stewart from England's University of Leicester told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

"One of the major mechanisms is affecting the way that they grow blood vessels into themselves."

Butt Seriously Folks, Did You Hear The One About the Colonoscopy?

2012-05-28T13:29:00Z

Which is the medical test most dread by mid-lifers that also is a staple of a lot of comedians' repertoire? The colonoscopy, of course.

There is some good news on the serious side of the test which many a boomer has been known to avoid because -- aside from imagining the unimaginable being done to your body -- the preparation required to get your colon squeaky clean and ready for its closeup has pretty much remained unchanged since the Dark Ages. Until now.

There is now a non-invasive alternative to the traditional optical colonoscopy that skips all the nasty parts, including the gallon of industrial-strength laxative you're supposed to drink that shackles you to the bathroom for two days before, and the anesthesia that leaves you wiped out for two days after. The only problem is, while the alternative is a whole lot easier on the body, it's way tougher on the wallet because there is an excellent chance your health insurance -- including Medicare -- won't cover it.

The alternative, known as a virtual colonoscopy, or a computerized tomography (CT) colonoscopy, creates a three-dimensional view of the colon's interior and can detect about 90% of precancerous polyps that are 10 millimeters (0.4 inches) or larger. Most studies say that the virtual colonoscopy is just as effective, if not better, than the old camera-scope-up-the-behind way. The other thing the virtual colonoscopy does is eliminate patients' dread of the procedure, which means maybe they won't skip screenings. We'd point out that no screening equals no early detection.

Dr. Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society and author of "How We Do Harm," said eliminating the need for anesthesia by doing the colonoscopy virtually is a huge boon in itself. While maybe not the aspect of the procedure that most patients object to -- the prep and invasive nature of having a camera scope inserted generally steal that top billing -- not having to be knocked out "is a big advantage," Brawley said.

In a traditional optical colonoscopy, a camera scope is inserted while the patient is anesthetized. If polyps are spotted, they are generally removed and biopsied right on the spot, which Brawley said, may be the one advantage to the old method. "If the doctor sees something suspicious during a virtual colonoscopy, the patient will still need to be prepped and anesthetized to have the polyp removed." That happens about 15 percent of the time.

The other advantage of the virtual colonoscopy method is that you can hit the rewind button for a second look at a suspicious spot. In an optical colonoscopy, the scope is inserted and the doctor looks at the colon as the scope is pulled out. There is no pushing it back in for a second look.

For the record, not all locations are able to do the virtual view without the cleansing prep, and some insurance companies will pay for the virtual colonoscopy if it can be established that the anesthesia is a concern for the patient's health. But overall, the cleansing prep vanishes and nobody is paying.

Now exactly what will happen to all those colonoscopy joke-telling comics should the procedure actually catch on is a different matter. Lest they face extinction, here is a sampling of our favorite online colonoscopy joke finds:

Looking Out My Back Door video: http://youtu.be/wmKnf7QhuSo

Some one-liners: http://www.colonjoke.net/category/ccuu/

Dave Barry on his colonoscopy: http://shooterspagetxforums.yuku.com/topic/6822/Dave-Barry-s-colonoscopy#.T7u6a59Yvqo

Study Finds Soy Formula Safe For Babies

2012-05-28T13:06:08Z

Despite theoretical concerns about brain development in babies fed soy protein-based formula, a new report says they do just as well as babies given milk-based formula.

Breastfed infants still have an advantage over both groups of formula-fed babies in terms of cognitive development.

"While we feel there are significant benefits to breastfeeding, parents who cannot or do not breastfeed should not feel guilty or worried that their children will have adverse growth and development outcomes," said report author Thomas Badger, director of the Arkansas Children's Nutrition Center. (Badger is also a member of the science advisory board for the Soy Nutrition Institute.)

In the study, published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, researchers tracked nearly 400 babies at three-month intervals over their first year of life. They tested the babies' progress using infant development and expressive communication scales, adjusting for such factors as the mother's age, IQ and socioeconomic status.

Babies in all three groups fell within the normal range for brain development. However, the breastfed babies outscored both groups of formula-fed babies in their mental development and their ability to combine cognitive function and physical movement.

"Breast-fed infants test better in some -- not all -- standardized behavioral tests than formula-fed infants, although the differences are very small," Badger summarized in an email.

But the reasons why are not fully understood.

"We do not know if this is due to factors in the breast milk that are missing in formula, or if this is because the [breastfeeding] moms have higher IQ and the kids live in higher socioeconomic-status homes," Badger said.

Moreover, "when you're breastfeeding a baby, there's a physiological response, which involves the release of oxytocin," said Dr. Lane Strathearn, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Baylor College of Medicine, explaining how mother-baby bonding might influence early development. "Oxytocin does have a pro-social effect."

Despite the differences the study revealed, the authors say it should come as welcome news to parents who feed their babies soy-based formulas -- a growing population.

The American Academy of Pediatrics estimates that soy protein-based formula now makes up nearly one-quarter of the formula market in the United States. The academy has issued guidelines reiterating that breast milk is best, but stating that soy-based formulas may be appropriate for babies who come from strict vegan families or who can't tolerate lactose.

Soy-based formulas are "supposed to be more easily digested, although the evidence for all of this is not really strong," said Strathearn. "But infants who are having difficulties with digestion of milk-based formulas seem to respond better to the soy-based formulas."

Some studies have questioned the safety of soy isoflavones, suggesting they might negatively affect sexual and neurobehavioral development -- concerns that thus far appear to be unfounded. However, most studies showing the safety of soy-based formulas have focused on growth; the authors of the new study say theirs is the first to focus specifically on behavioral development.

And the experts stress that when it comes to safety, the takeaway from the new study is positive.

"People can be reassured that there is not a major disadvantage versus other formulas," said Dr. Michael Katz, senior vice president for research and global programs for the March of Dimes, adding, however, that breastfeeding is best.

In the United States, breastfeeding rates still lag behind public health goals. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be breastfed exclusively for the first six months of life and that breastfeeding should continue for at least the first year.

However, recent estimates suggest that just 43 percent of mothers in the U.S. were still breastfeeding at six months, and only 23 percent were breastfeeding at one year.

"What we should be saying is that breastfeeding is the gold standard," said Strathearn.

Scientists 'Definitively Link' Gut Bacteria To IBS (Plus How To Spot The Signs)

2012-05-28T12:42:55Z

The results of a new Cedars-Sinai study suggest that an overgrowth of bacteria in the gut has been 'definitively linked' to Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS).

The study, published in the current issue of Digestive Diseases and Sciences, examined samples of patients' small bowel cultures to confirm the presence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth - or SIBO - in more than 320 subjects.

This is the first study to use this "gold standard" method of connecting bacteria to the cause of the disease, one of the most common digestive conditions in the UK. It's thought that 10%-20% of people experience IBS at some point, and is twice as common in women as in men.

In addition, manufacturers of probiotic drink Symprove today claimed their £2 concoction could provide relief for IBS sufferers. Health drink manufacturers claim probiotic bacteria play an important role in digestive health and the immune system - although this has yet to be proved.

A study involving 186 people, aged 18 to 65, who had been diagnosed with moderate to severe IBS, found that two-thirds of patients given the drink reported a reduction in the severity of their symptoms at the end of a 12-week trial.

According the Daily Mail, more than one in five receiving the probiotic drink saw their symptoms fall from the severe category to mild.

Previous studies that have explored the role bacteria plays in the disease, have used breath tests to detect methane - a byproduct of bacterial fermentation in the gut. However, this study was the first to make the link using bacterial cultures.

Scroll down to find out if you have IBS

In patients with IBS, more than a third also were diagnosed with small intestine bacterial overgrowth, compared to fewer than 10% of those without the disorder. Of those with diarrhoea-predominant IBS, 60% also had bacterial overgrowth.

"While we found compelling evidence in the past that bacterial overgrowth is a contributing cause of IBS, making this link through bacterial cultures is the gold standard of diagnosis," said Mark Pimentel, director of the Cedars-Sinai GI Motility Program and an author of the study, in a statement.

"This clear evidence of the role bacteria play in the disease underscores our clinical trial findings, which show that antibiotics are a successful treatment for IBS."

Patients with IBS suffer symptoms that can include painful bloating, constipation and diarrhoea.

Kidneys For Sale: Illegal Organs ‘Sold Every Hour’

2012-05-28T12:29:54Z

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed that more than one human organ is illegally purchased every hour worldwide.

Trade has risen to worrying heights warns WHO, despite a small decline in illegal organ donation in 2006-2007, and the organisation estimate that more than 10,000 black market operations (using illegally purchased organs) take place every year, reports the Guardian.

Kidneys are currently the most in-demand organ (accounting for 75% of overall trade), with demand believed to be fuelled by the rise in diet-related conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and heart problems.

Figures released by WHO show that of the 106,879 organs transplanted (legally and illegally) in 2010, around 73,179 were kidneys.

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High levels of poverty across the world mean there is never a shortage of volunteers, with some illegal traders luring donors with the promise of up to £5,000 in exchange of a kidney via a speedy operation – all in just 10 days.

It’s estimated that black market traders pay cash-strapped donors around £3,200 for their kidney – and sell them on for approximately £128,000 to wealthy patients in need.

Responding to the worrying statistics, Luc Noel from WHO, told The Guardian: “There is a growing need for transplants and big profits to be made.

"It's ever growing, it's a constant struggle. The stakes are so big, the profit that can be made so huge, that the temptation is out there."

Noel also believes the lack of law enforcement in certain countries is making it easy for traders to exploit poor people.

"While commercial transplantation is now forbidden by law in China, that's difficult to enforce; there's been a resurgence there in the last two or three years.

"Foreigners from the Middle East, Asia and sometimes Europe come and are paying $100,000 (£63,000) to $200,000 (£127,000) for a transplant. Often they are Chinese expats or patients of Chinese descent."

44 Michigan Children Treated With Medical Marijuana

2012-05-28T12:21:24Z

By Paul Egan

LANSING -- Rebecca Brown says she tried every prescription drug she could find to control the frequent seizures her son suffered because of a severe form of epilepsy.

When nothing worked consistently, and the drugs and special diet caused kidney stones and pancreas problems as side effects, the Oakland County woman turned to medical marijuana.

'Female Genetic Fault' Causes Higher Rates Of Bowel Cancer In Men

2012-05-28T08:27:50Z

Men may have higher rates of bowel cancer because of a female genetic fault, research suggests.

Scientists identified an alteration on the female X chromosome, one of the packages of DNA that determine gender, associated with bowel cancer.

The fault appears to be involved in the development of cancer in both men and women. But it may have a bigger effect in men, say the researchers.

The defective X chromosome region is linked to reduced activity of a gene called SHROOM2 that controls how cells develop and take shape.

Women have two X chromosomes, so if one has the fault the other normally functioning version may mask it.

But this would not apply to men, who have just one X chromosome paired with a male Y chromosome.

Professor Richard Houlston, one of the scientists from from the Institute of Cancer Research in London, said: "To our knowledge, this is the first time that anyone has shown that one of the sex chromosomes is involved in the development of a cancer that can afflict both sexes. This may help explain why bowel cancer is slightly more common in men. Ultimately, it could also help us target screening to those who are more at risk of the disease."

The study, reported in the journal Nature Genetics, also uncovered two other genetic risk variants for bowel cancer, bringing the known total to 20.

The scientists analysed data from five international studies looking for single letter changes in the genetic code (single nucleotide polymorphisms, or SNPs) linked to bowel cancer.

A second variant identified was in a gene called CDKN1A which governs a number of tumour suppressing biological pathways.

The third affected a gene called POLD3 which influences two pathways that repair DNA damage.

Bowel cancer is the third most common cancer in the UK affecting 41,000 men and women each year.

Dr Lesley Walker, from the charity Cancer Research UK which funded the study, said: "This research shows how a range of genes could be behaving in bowel cancer, potentially leading to new treatments for the disease."

Does Optimism Make You Live Longer?

2012-05-28T08:19:34Z

People who live longest tend to be those who look on the bright side of life, research has shown.

Scientists in the US who studied 243 centenarians found that, far from being mean-spirited and world weary, most were cheerful, outgoing and sociable.

The positive personality traits may in part be genetically based, the researchers believe.

The study was part of the Longevity Genes Project investigating more than 500 Ashkenazi Jews over the age of 95, and 700 of their offspring.

Ashkenazi Jews, from eastern Europe, are good candidates for gene studies because they are genetically similar.

Lead scientist Nir Barzilai, director of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine's Institute for Aging Research in New York, said: "When I started working with centenarians, I thought we'd find that they survived so long in part because they were mean and ornery. But when we assessed the personalities of these 243 centenarians, we found qualities that clearly reflect a positive attitude towards life.

"Most were outgoing, optimistic and easygoing. They considered laughter an important part of life and had a large social network. They expressed emotions openly rather than bottling them up."

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Tests showed that the study group, who had an average age of 97.6 and were three-quarters women, had lower "neurotic personality" scores than a representative sample of the general population. They also had higher scores for being conscientious.

The findings were published in the latest online edition of the journal Aging.

Dr Barzilai added: "Some evidence indicates that personality can change between the ages of 70 and 100, so we don't know whether our centenarians have maintained their personality traits across their entire lifespans.

"Nevertheless, our findings suggest that centenarians share particular personality traits and that genetically based aspects of personality may play an important role in achieving both good health and exceptional longevity."

Previous research on longevity has focused on physiological advantages that may help people live longer, such as naturally high levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) or "good" cholesterol.

The Temperature Is Rising .. How Does It Affect Health?

2012-05-27T14:48:25Z

It’s Memorial Day and June is right around the corner -- for many, this is the time to really crank up the air conditioning. But is there a healthy way to get your heat fix outside, or to stay cool indoors? Here’s what you need to know:

Outside

If our bodies aren't acclimated to the sharp temperature rises this time of the year, that could leave some of us feeling ill, says Dr. David Claypool, M.D., an assistant professor of emergency medicine at the Mayo Clinic.

That's because temperature -- while not responsible for the "usual suspects" of disease like bacterial or viral infections -- can still affect how our bodies feel.

"Heat and cold affect physiology, and there's no question that heat can -- and does -- kill a person," Claypool tells HuffPost. Heat-related illnesses can range from heat cramps (which may occur when you exercise in the heat) and heat edema (swelling because of the temperature), to the possibly fatal heat stroke.

In general, our bodies do a pretty good job of acclimating to the heat, but we just have to give them the chance to adapt. The National Institutes of Health notes that while sweating is the body's way of cooling itself down, that may not be enough when the mercury inches higher than is comfortable.

If you know you're going to be spending an extended period of time outdoors in higher-than-normal temperatures, Claypool recommends exposing yourself to the heat in a way that's "moderate at first, so that you're not causing heat illness," he says.

The very young and the very old are particularly susceptible to extreme fluctuations in temperature, and may be at higher risk for heat-related illness. That's because these two groups' defense mechanisms are either immature -- with the young ones -- or worn out -- with the elderly -- thereby making them less resilient to extreme temps.

Little ones also might not be aware of the signs of heat illness and don't have the knowledge to stop and go to a cooler place. And the elderly may be on medications that could cause them to feel ill if they are in extreme heat, he added.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advises that when you're outside in the heat, you make sure to get plenty of fluids even if you're not exercising, and replenish salt and minerals in your body as you sweat them out (this can be done by drinking a sports beverage, though people on a low-salt diet should talk with their doctor before doing this).

In addition, it's important to wear clothing that shields the skin from the sun's ultraviolet rays, which can burn the skin, and to only go outdoors when the temperatures aren't at their extreme highs, the CDC says. Don't overdo it -- if you're feeling unwell while exercising outside, make sure to stop to get rest in the shade.

Inside

To keep safe inside in the air conditioning and out of the heat, make sure the AC is running properly and the filters are kept clean. For some people who have asthma or who are allergic to mold, an AC that isn’t working properly could spur mold growth and make their conditions worse, says Dr. Andy Nish, M.D., of the Allergy and Asthma Care Center in Gainesville, Ga.

A study in the Indoor Air Journal showed that improperly maintained air conditioning systems -- particularly humidification systems in poor condition and dirty cooling coils and drain pans -- can increase the risk for a number of health conditions, including headaches and problems with the upper respiratory system, eyes, skin and concentration.

“Symptoms may be due to microbial exposures from poorly maintained ventilation systems and to the greater levels of vehicular pollutants at air intakes nearer the ground,” the researchers wrote in that study.

However, health problems are not typically an issue with well-maintained systems, Nish noted.

In general, air conditioning is actually good for people with these sorts of conditions because “the systems filter pollen and other allergens out of the air and serve to control the humidity, at least to some extent,” Nish told HuffPost in an e-mail.

A 2010 study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology explored the effects of different air conditioning systems, and researchers of that study say that while the research is not yet conclusive on whether air conditioning can actually prevent disease, some studies have shown a benefit particularly for breathing and for reducing harmful particulate matter.

“The principal role of air cleaning and ﬁltration in the living environment for those with allergic respiratory diseases might relate more toward the reduction of disease progression rather than a ‘treatment,’” researchers wrote in that study, though they did note that it's not reasonable to expect health problems to go away just by changing an air filter if those issues are caused by "prolonged exposures either in the home, other environments, or both."

For people with asthma or allergy to mold, Nish suggests regularly changing AC filters and using electrostatic filters that trap allergens.

“While it definitely adds some cost, adding a HEPA filter to an A/C unit will filter out even more allergens,” he says. “And also consider a dehumidifier, with the aim to keep humidity 40 to 45 percent, which limits the growth of dust mites and molds, while not making the air too dry.”

And for people without a respiratory condition, Nish says that well-working air conditioning units generally don’t pose any health risk.

In fact, research has shown that air conditioning is linked with positive health outcomes among people who have been hospitalized. A 2010 study in the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that air conditioning use was associated with more positive health outcomes among people hospitalized for a variety of conditions in California between 1999 and 2005.

“These results demonstrate important effects of temperature on public health and the potential for mitigation,” the researchers wrote in that study.

1 in 5 Americans Will Get Skin Cancer. Here's How To Protect Yourself

2012-05-27T06:22:00Z

By Chai Woodham, for U.S. News

You know you've reached the zenith of pop culture zaniness when Saturday Night Live parodies you. That's exactly what happened to Patricia Krentcil, the overly bronzed New Jersey mom facing second-degree child endangerment charges for allegedly allowing her then five-year-old daughter into a tanning booth. Audiences across America may have laughed at an Oompa-Loompa orange Kristin Wiig spoofing the infamous "Tanning Mom," but doctors say that this is no laughing matter.

A new study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) reveals that 50 percent of young adults ages 18 through 29 say they've had at least one sunburn in the past year. "A sunburn is a form of sickness or poisoning," says Cynthia Bailey, a dermatologist practicing in Sebastopol, Calif. "Both a sunburn and a suntan indicate that ultraviolet rays have caused free radicals to form within the skin and DNA damage has occurred." And this, in turn, can lead to skin cancer, the most common form of cancer in the United States.

Sun seekers aren't the only ones putting themselves at risk. The American Academy of Dermatology estimates that some 28 million Americans tan indoors each year, and the age of frequent users is getting younger and younger. A study also conducted by the CDC and NCI found that nearly a third of white women ages 18 to 21 regularly use tanning beds, averaging about 28 visits in 2010. "Ultraviolet radiation from tanning devices [and the sun] is just as carcinogenic to humans as tobacco smoking," says Delphine Lee, a dermatologist and director of translational immunology at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, Calif. "Studies found a 75 percent increase in the risk of melanoma in those who had been exposed to UV radiation from indoor tanning before the age of 35."

Mention melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer, and John McCain might come to mind -- the 75-year-old senator who has endured numerous removals of melanoma from his upper body and face. Recent studies, though, show that it's not an older person's disease. Rather than the likes of McCain, people should really remember reggae musician Bob Marley, who died at age 36 from a metastatic melanoma found on his toe. A Mayo Clinic survey of patients published in April revealed that for people under 40, incidences of melanoma have increased eightfold among women and fourfold among men from 1979 to 2009. This rise in cases may be due to the popularity of indoor tanning, researchers speculate. "Fifteen to 30 minutes in a tanning booth is equal to an entire day at the beach, and the UV [rays] absorbed during a session is 20 times stronger than the rays of the sun," says Howard Murad, a dermatologist and associate clinical professor of medicine at the University of California--Los Angeles.

So why do people keep tanning? Surely the thought of thinning skin, fine lines and wrinkles, liver spots, skin rashes from the interaction between UV rays and certain medications, aggravation of autoimmune diseases, and cataracts -- not to mention cancers of the eye and skin -- would deter most folks. New research published in the May issue of Addiction Biology suggests that for some people, tanning is not that easy to resist.

Scientists measured the brain activity and blood flow of study participants subjected to ultraviolet radiation in a tanning bed. What they discovered was that the UV rays stimulated several parts of the brain involved in addiction. Quite simply, tanning could be just as habit-forming as drugs or alcohol. Despite all the awareness of the health hazards of tanning, it appears that some people just can't say no when they should.

The Skin Cancer Foundation reports that more than two million people are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, and one person dies from melanoma every hour. "It would be unrealistic to expect the average person not to get some color by the end of the summer," says Lawrence Mark, a dermatologist at the Indiana University Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis. "But there is always some risk with tanning. The question is whether the benefit is worth the risk."

To minimize that risk, here's what you can do:

Slather on sunscreen. "I often tell my patients to use an SPF 30 and to reapply their sunscreen every two hours," says Erin Gilbert, a dermatologist and spokesperson for the American Academy of Dermatology. Some products boast a sun protection factor as high as 80. That isn't necessary, says Gilbert, as there is no good evidence that an SPF higher than 30 provides greater protection. What you really need to do, she advises, is "apply a shot glass worth of sunscreen daily to exposed areas like the face, neck, hands, and chest to achieve adequate coverage." Applying too thinly lowers the protection factor of the product.

With the wide array of sun protection products on shelves today, the Food and Drug Administration is implementing new regulations to help consumers determine the best sunscreen for them. Prior standards only addressed protection against UVB rays -- UVB-shielding products just help protect against sunburns. Starting in December, manufacturers will be required to label those sunscreens that protect against both UVB and UVA rays as "broad spectrum." Those that carry the "broad spectrum" designation and have an SPF 15 or higher will show wording indicating they reduce the risk of sunburn, skin cancer, and premature aging with proper sun protection behaviors like limited sun exposure and use of protective clothing. Those that are not labeled "broad spectrum" or that have an SPF value between 2 and 14 only prevent sunburn and will carry a "skin cancer/skin aging alert." Other changes include the rule that manufacturers will no longer be able to call their product a "sunblock" or describe their sunscreen as "sweatproof" or "waterproof." And those sunscreens with an SPF value higher than 50 will simply be labeled as "SPF 50+."

Cover up. Put on a wide-brimmed hat to protect your face and resist the urge to expose too much skin. Yes, the bikini beckons and hemlines hike up when the temperature rises, but you'll be thankful years from now when people mistake you and your smooth skin for someone much younger. Buy sunglasses that offer both UVA and UVB protection. Ocular melanoma, or cancer of the eye, is diagnosed in about 2,500 Americans every year.

Seek some shade. Avoid the outdoors between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. if possible, as UVA and UVB rays are most intense with the midday sun.

Go bronze from a bottle. "Bronzers are temporary self-tanning products containing pigments or dyes that provide instant color. They can be easily removed with soap and water," says Ron Robinson, a cosmetic chemist and research executive who has developed products for companies like Clinique, Avon, and Revlon. "The main ingredient in self-tanners is dihydroxyacetone, a sugar molecule that reacts with the proteins in the skin to give the skin a tanned color that develops in a few hours." And while "bronzers and self-action tanners are safe and effective," says Tina Alster, a clinical professor of dermatology at Georgetown University Medical Center, it should be noted that they do not provide any sun protection and sunscreen is advised.

Be like Bugs Bunny. Studies show that you can get that golden glow from the food you eat. "Beta carotene is a form of vitamin A that has a yellow or orange pigment and is found in certain fruits and vegetables like carrots, winter squash, and cantaloupe," says Bailey. Eating a diet rich in beta carotene imparts a golden hue to the skin. "It's entirely non-toxic and looks good."

Some doctors say a little exposure to the sun is essential when it comes to vitamin D, also known as the "sunshine vitamin." Research has shown that a deficiency in vitamin D may increase the risk of some cancers, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, tuberculosis, and the flu. The body produces vitamin D from cholesterol through a process activated by sunlight on the skin. Although this is the most efficient way to produce the vitamin, many dermatologists would rather you eat foods rich in vitamin D -- such as fatty fish like tuna and salmon and fortified foods like dairy products and breakfast cereals -- or take supplements instead of basking in the sun. The Institute of Medicine recommends a daily dose of 600 IU for most people under 70. "The amount of sun needed for adequate amounts of vitamin D causes suntans and sunburns," says Lawrence Samuels, chief of dermatology at St. Luke's Hospital in Chesterfield, Mo. "People die from melanoma and metastatic skin cancer. No one dies from vitamin D supplements."

Bristol Palin: I Made A Mistake

2012-05-26T21:28:41Z

Bristol Palin apologized and corrected earlier statements she made about fetuses that are aborted because they have been diagnosed with Down Syndrome in a blog post on Friday.

"I’m sorry to say I think I unknowingly passed on incorrect information," Palin wrote.

Palin's initial blog post claimed "ninety-two percent of babies diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted before they get a chance to take a breath." In her newest post, Palin cites author Amy Julia Becker, who explains that out of all babies conceived with DS, about 50% are actually born:

Overall, it seems that about 70% of babies prenatally diagnosed with DS are aborted, and that the abortion rates vary greatly from region to region across the US. Moreover, lots of women don’t seek prenatal diagnosis, whether out of ignorance or because they don’t want to risk an amnio or because they don’t think the information is necessary. So out of all babies conceived with DS, 50% are actually born. Still a terrible reality that 50% are aborted, but a much better situation than the 8% number implies.

Sarah Palin -- Bristol's mother and the 2008 Republican Vice Presidential nominee -- gave birth to her fifth child, Trig, in April 2008. The Palins released a statement after Trig's birth indicating that they knew the child would have Down Syndrome because of prenatal testing.

Despite her mistake, Palin seems to be faring better than her ex, Levi Johnston. Us Weekly recently reported Johnston -- who is expecting his second child with current girlfriend Sunny Oglesby -- is broke and living with his mother after spending "more than $1 million" on "guns, boats and four-wheelers."

How Self-Talk Can Help Accomplish Goals

2012-05-26T16:50:00Z

A new study sheds light on the best way to "self talk" your way through a task.

TIME reported on the study, published in the International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, showing that self-talk works best when you think about the goal, and then actually enact the goal, and then reflect on how you accomplished the goal.

The study was conducted in fifth- and sixth-grade students who were learning how to throw darts in a PE class.

Self-talking aloud can have benefits, too. A recent study in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology showed that talking to yourself as you search for something could actually help you to find that item faster.

In that study, researchers found that participants who repeated an item name aloud were able to find it more quickly than those who didn't.

And the Daily Mail reported in 2010 on a study from University of Toronto researchers, showing that talking to yourself could actually improve self-control and decrease impulsivity.

Do you regularly talk to yourself, either aloud or in just in your head? How do you think it helps you as you carry out daily tasks? Tell us in the comments!

For Fear Of The Game? NFL Concussion Issues Change Thinking About Youth Football

2012-05-26T16:33:39Z

-- Already uneasy about the idea of letting her 7-year-old son Jason start playing tackle football, Elizabeth Giancarli made up her mind when former NFL star Junior Seau committed suicide.

While many of her son's friends are moving on to tackle, he'll be playing another year of flag football.

"I just couldn't put him in tackle football, only because of everything that's been going on," Giancarli said. "I think that the Junior Seau suicide really hit home, too. So we decided to put him in another year of flag, because the impact is significantly less."

Giancarli hasn't ruled out the possibility of letting her son play tackle when he gets older. But she hopes he won't want to.

"I hate to take that experience away from him, especially since we all love the game so much," Giancarli said. "But I just don't know if it's worth it."

That's a tough thing to say for Giancarli, a Tampa Bay Buccaneers season-ticket holder who drives all the way from the Fort Lauderdale area to attend games. But she's among parents nationwide who have felt compelled to reconsider whether football is safe enough for their children amid a steady flow of reports on the potential long-term effects of repeated head injuries, an ever-growing list of concussion lawsuits filed by former NFL players against the league, and the New Orleans Saints bounty controversy.

Plus, now, the death at age 43 of Seau, a star linebacker for two decades.

Although it is not clear why Seau killed himself earlier this month, his death advanced what already was an uncomfortable national conversation about the hidden consequences of playing football.

And while it is too early to establish a link between parents' safety concerns and football's popularity, there are indications that fewer kids across the country are putting on pads.

Research from the National Sporting Goods Association indicates overall football participation across all age ranges has decreased from 10.1 million in 2006 to 9 million in 2011, with the most significant drops in the 12-17 and 18-24 age groups.

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, the number of high school boys playing 11-man football rose from 886,840 in 1992-93 to 1,112,303 in 2008-09. But after 16 years of nearly uninterrupted growth, the number of players has declined slightly during the two most recent years for which data was available: to 1,109,278 in 2009-10 and 1,108,441 in 2010-11. The number of youths participating in less common forms of the game – 9-player, 8-player and 6-player football – also fell slightly in the two most recent years available.

The decline doesn't appear to be a function of school budget cutbacks. According to the NFHS data, the number of high schools offering 11-player football continues to increase.

NFHS director of sports and sports medicine Bob Colgate says the small decline hasn't raised red flags among high school sports administrators and may be the result of normal fluctuation in class sizes.

Dr. Michael Koester, a pediatric sports medicine specialist in Eugene, Ore., who has advised the NFHS, says it's too early to connect a downward trend with parents' safety concerns – but says the numbers are worth watching, especially in youth football.

"I think it would be difficult to read anything into that at this point," Koester said. "I think we really have to look at what those high school numbers do over a four- or five-year period of time. And maybe more importantly at this time would be trying to get an idea from Pop Warner, from USA Football, see what's happening at the lower levels. I think if we're going to see a culture shift from a participation standpoint, I suspect that we're going to see it more at those lower levels, where parents are going to be deciding there's just no reason for their 7-, 8- or 9-year-old to be out there playing.

"And frankly, I support them in that. My son didn't start playing until he was 12."

USA Football says participation in youth football has been relatively stable in recent years, at about 3 million kids – but USA Football executive director Scott Hallenbeck acknowledges that may change, given parents' concerns about safety.

"My sense of it is, we're going to see a drop in participation," Hallenbeck said.

Hoping to ease those concerns, USA Football – a national organization founded by the NFL and the NFL Players Association – has put safety measures in place in recent years for the youth leagues that have joined its membership. USA Football-affiliated coaches must take a training class and pass a test, then follow specific instructions that include proper equipment fitting, an age-specific approach to teaching tackling and other techniques, and limits on contact in practice.

This fall, USA Football will launch what Hallenbeck believes is the first comprehensive study on injuries in youth football.

"Clearly, there's a concern, and we have been proactive on that for five or six years," Hallenbeck said.

Dr. Shayne Fehr, a pediatric/adolescent concussion specialist at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, said more parents are expressing safety concerns to him.

"I had a patient this past week, he came in with his second concussion," Fehr said. "I believe he was about 14 years old, and his mother said – before he even got a chance to talk – that he's done with football."

Yet Fehr also said such dramatic declarations are rare.

"You have to remember that a lot of times, these families have grown up with sports such as football," Fehr said.

Former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner caused a stir recently when he said he worried about his own children playing football, but he's not the only ex-pro with reservations. For ex-NFL safety Matt Bowen, there aren't easy answers when it comes to balancing safety concerns against the positive things kids can learn from football.

"But I've had this conversation with my wife quite a bit, and I know in our house, our boys aren't going to play youth football," Bowen said. "My wife's already taken care of that. That's just not going to happen."

Bowen, who now writes columns for the Chicago Tribune and the nationalfootballpost.com website, gets a lot of questions from fellow fathers.

"I tell them that I love the game," Bowen said. "I respect everything I learned from the NFL, and in college and in high school. I don't think there's a better sport out there in terms of teamwork. I really don't, in terms of learning how to deal with some adversity that you deal with in real life. But I also tell them I got beat up a lot, had a lot of injuries. People ask about concussions all the time. `What do you think? What's your stance on it?' A lot of times I just change the discussion. You're out drinking beer with some dads and they ask you, you talk about it a little bit. Yeah, I think it's violent. I think it's violent and I think it's made for young men, not little boys."

Kia LaBracke experienced that violence firsthand when her son, Nico, sustained a concussion from a big hit he took while returning a punt in a freshman football game in Oconomowoc, Wis. last fall. It took him months for him to recover and return to school full-time, leaving LaBracke and her husband, John, to make a difficult decision: They weren't going to let him play again.

"We knew it was going to be very tough," LaBracke said. "Because he's very dedicated to the sport, he's a very hard worker. This was his thing. A lot of his identity, who he was and who he is, was tied up in that."

LaBracke, who had a working knowledge of concussion issues through her job as the executive director of the Wisconsin chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said her son didn't take the decision well.

"On an intellectual level, of course he understands," LaBracke said. "He would never say that, but of course he understands it. But I still don't think he's quite let go of the feeling that this is really unjust."

Now Nico's younger brother, Jack, is playing.

"But we've told him flat-out, we don't know how long this is going to last," LaBracke said. "We may cut this off at any point. And he understands it, because he watched what his brother went through. He was there when Nico came home and didn't know who his own brother was. I don't think he would be surprised if we pulled the plug at any point."

Chicagoan Erin O'Leary has told her 7-year-old son, Liam, that he can't play tackle for now. And she's hearing similar thoughts from fellow parents.

"Some of them are just like, `Oh, well, they don't hit that hard at this age and it's not a big deal,'" O'Leary said. "But some like me, you keep seeing things on the news, reports that are released, and it is cause for concern. I mean, sports are great. I think there's a definite place for them, but long-term brain damage is not worth it. They have a long life ahead of them to do a lot of things."

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Over 500 Firefighters Battle NM Blaze

2012-05-26T14:46:59Z

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Firefighters are battling a massive wildfire in southwestern New Mexico that has destroyed a dozen cabins and spread smoke across the state, prompting holiday weekend air-quality warnings.

The fire burned early Saturday through remote and rugged terrain around the Gila Wilderness and has grown to 85,000 acres or more than 130 square miles.

The heavy smoke apparently disoriented six hikers Friday, prompting the New Mexico National Guard to carry out a rescue.

Col. Michael Montoya said one of them had an injured knee and had to be taken to safety by ambulance. The others were able to walk to a secure area.

More than 500 firefighters are battling the blaze that resulted from the merger earlier this week of two lightning-sparked fires. Fire officials say nearly all of the growth has come in recent days due to relentless winds.

The blaze has destroyed 12 cabins and seven small outbuildings, and the privately owned ghost town of Mogollon was placed under a voluntary evacuation order.

The strong winds pushed ash from the blaze 35 to 40 miles away, while smoke from the giant fire spread across the state and into Arizona. The haze blocked views of the Sandia Mountains in Albuquerque, and a smell of smoke permeated the air throughout northern New Mexico.

Health officials as far away as Albuquerque and Santa Fe issued alerts for the holiday weekend, advising people to limit outdoor activities, keep windows closed.

They said the effects on most people would be minor but noted mild throat and eye irritation or allergy-like symptoms could be expected. Officials warned people with heart and lung conditions to be especially diligent in minimizing their exposure to the smoky air.

Meanwhile, in Colorado, officials said heavy air tankers and thousands of firefighters were on standby Friday as fire managers kept a close watch on high winds and hot temperatures at the start of Memorial Day weekend. Fire danger remains high in the southern Colorado foothills and the South Park area.

Two heavy air tankers have been taken to Grand Junction in western Colorado, where the fire danger is highest, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Steve Segin said.

"We've got the resources. We've got the firefighters," Segin said. "We're ready."

The National Weather Service said wind gusts could reach 70 mph Saturday in some western Colorado valleys, with sustained winds of 25 to 40 mph. Most of eastern Colorado also was under a high-wind watch, with sustained winds of 25 to 35 mph and gusts up to 55 mph possible Saturday.

In Southern California, firefighters worked to corral a wildfire that has chewed through 3,100 acres of tinder-dry grass and light brush since it broke out Thursday afternoon east of Julian.

On Friday, the fire forced about 50 people to evacuate an RV park in San Diego County. It earlier prompted the evacuation of about 100 homes in the Shelter Valley area, but residents were allowed to return late Thursday.

The fire was 20 percent contained, said Nick Schuler, battalion chief for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. No injuries or damage to structures were reported.

In Arizona, residents of the historic mining town of Crown King were allowed to return home after being evacuated because of a wildfire about 85 miles north of Phoenix. The fire started May 13 and has burned more than 16,000 acres. It is 35 percent contained, fire officials said.

In Nevada, questions were being raised over fire crews' initial response to a backyard burn that rekindled two days later, destroying two homes in a rural community and scorching 7,500 acres.

A 911 recording obtained by The Associated Press showed a resident called Sunday to report that a neighbor's permitted burn in the Topaz Ranch Estates was out of control. Volunteer firefighters with the East Fork Fire Protection District arrived at the scene and then left, apparently without extinguishing the blaze.

Gusty winds rekindled the fire Tuesday, and it spread quickly through thick brush and dry grasses. Two homes and 17 outbuildings were destroyed.

District Fire Chief Tod Carlini did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Friday.

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Associated Press writers Rema Rahman in Denver and Sandra Chereb in Carson City, Nev., contributed to this report.

UCLA's Remarkable Face Transplant Program

2012-05-25T22:38:00Z

Imagine going from having no face to having someone else's face.

Face transplantation is the process of removing part or all of a donor's face and attaching it onto a patient who has suffered devastating facial injury. With its just-launched face transplantation program, UCLA Medical Center will become the first hospital in the western U.S., and one of only a handful in the nation, to offer the procedure.

"The face is the most exposed body part. It's what makes us human. So you can only imagine what it's like to not have a face," Dr. Kodi Azari, chief of reconstructive transplantation at UCLA's school of medicine, told The Huffington Post. The program will help respond to as many as 200 veterans in need of face transplants.

The program has begun to set up a database of people seeking a new face, with photos and descriptions. Qualifying patients will then be placed on a waiting list until a donor is found with matching blood type, gender, age, ethnicity, skin tone, hair color and other criteria.

Once a match is made, surgeons will remove the damaged part of the patient's face and replace it with the donated face. Surgeons will work for more than 20 hours joining skin, fat, muscles, tendons and ligaments, and securing bones with screws and other hardware. The most painstaking part of the procedure is stitching the nerves and blood vessels — too small to be seen by the naked eye, according to program website.

The result will leave the transplant patient looking significantly different than before their injury. "The patient will look like a hybrid between himself and the donor," said Azari, the program's principal investigator.

The team hopes to conduct its first transplant by the end of the year.

Facial reconstruction with donated facial tissue, rather than tissue from another part of the patient's body, results in significantly improved appearance and function. Patients who cannot smile and have difficulty breathing, speaking and eating should regain all of those functions after a transplant, Azari said.

The UCLA program includes an extensive process to make sure donors and their loved ones are treated with dignity. The program will create a mask of each donor's face to be put on the donor after the face is removed. "It's like Hollywood. We have a whole facial prosthetics team who will create these nearly-identical masks, in the event that the family wants an open casket," Azari said.

The face transplant program is currently seeking patients who want to participate in the surgery and five years of follow-up. The clinical trial is open to military veterans as well as to civilian victims of facial gunshot wounds, burns or other injuries. The program partners with UCLA's renowned Operation Mend, which has offered facial and hand reconstructive surgery to veterans since 2007.

The program also offers psychiatric support. "Many patients eligible for a face transplant experience social isolation and depression," Dr. Reza Jarrahy, surgical co-director of the new program, told HuffPost. Psychiatric evaluations are done on candidates before they qualify and psychiatric support for recipients is provided throughout the process. "Understanding that a person's identity and sense of self are closely tied to their facial appearance, the team will also support the patient's emotional adjustment to their new face after the surgery," the program website says.

The "gorilla in the room," Azari said, is the anti-rejection medications transplant patients will have to take for life.

"Is it ethical to put somebody on anti-rejection drugs for life for a procedure that is not life-saving?" Azari asked. His team of more than 50 physicians, including ethics specialists, believes it is. "Now the holy grail is to modulate the immune system, to fool it somehow, so we don't have to give it as much medicine," he added.

The program will cover the entire cost of care, at no expense to the patient. Azari, who also performs hand transplants, said the cost of a face transplant would be about the same, at $600,000 for the first six months of care. Click here to donate to the program.

Only six face transplants have been performed in the U.S., and 19 have been performed worldwide. Click through amazing photos of a few face transplants that have been completed across the country :

Photos by Associated Press. Warning: graphic photos.