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Zerona Laser: The Latest Innovation in Cosmetic Treatment

Friday, March 5th, 2010

A lot of people have been talking about the Zerona laser, one of the latest innovations in laser technology used in cosmetic treatments. The Zerona laser is a relatively new technique that was only introduced in the market last 2008. Developed by Erchonia, one of the leaders in laser technology used in healthcare and wellness industries, Zerona is a new, non-invasive body-sculpting laser that works by stimulating the fat cells in the body. This causes the fat cells to burst, eliminating the fat stored inside. The fat is then released from the body through the lymphatic system during the normal course of detoxification. The whole treatment takes about six visits, with each session lasting forty minutes. It is clinically proven to be effective in reducing a patient’s waist, hips, and thighs by a couple of inches.

Initial tests were conducted to analyze the procedure’s effectiveness. It was also presented to the American Society of Lasers in Medicine and Surgery in 2008, and it received FDA market clearance for usage in the United States. In May 2009, it was featured in Cosmetics Surgery Times in a controlled study. The study revealed that the Zerona laser was proven to reduce body fat and the size of waist, hips, and thighs by an average of four inches.

This procedure is a slimming technique that is safe because it is painless during and after the procedure and it has no downtime. It is a convenient means to contour one’s body as it doesn’t need incision or marks from the treatment, doesn’t require wearing compression garments, and has no reported side effects. Thus, this technique, unlike other traditional procedures like liposuction, allows the treated patient to function normally throughout his or her daily regimen without the hassle of experiencing discomforts such as pain from surgery, wounds, or garments.

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US Teen Births on the Rise

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

Teenagers gave birth to even more babies in 2007, according to a report by the Center for Disease Control’s National Center for Health Statistics. The increase marks the second time in a row for teen births since sliding into decline in 1991.

Teen births grew by one percent, equivalent to 42.5 live births for every thousand women aged 15 to 19. The figure represents a 5% jump from 2005, when teen births only began to overturn a 34% decrease since 1991.

Overall, America’s birth rate rose by one percent from 2006 to 2007. During that period, 69.5 babies were born to every one thousand childbearing women, 4.3 million babies in all.

CDC’s report, which was published in the Dec. 21, 2009 edition of Pediatrics, also indicated a hike in birth rate among unwed mothers. The demographic reported an increase of 39.7% in 2007, a percent higher than the previous year.

Stephanie Ventura, CDC chief of reproductive statistics, does not attribute the record-breaking increase to a baby boom, however. She remarked that the average American has only sired two children in the last few years.

CDC last saw the highest birth rate among teens in 1991, when nearly 62 births were reported for every one thousand youngsters. Since then, at least until 2003, teens have increasingly adopted contraceptive measures, if not avoided sex altogether, according to a nationwide CDC poll.

On the other hand, infant mortality rates still hover high: 6.77 deaths for every one thousand babies born. It is largely caused by the US’ lofty percentage in preterm births. While its percentage has decreased to 12.7 in 2007, US preterm births are still very high compared to Europe and other developed countries.

Nevertheless, life expectancy at birth broke 77.9 years in 2007, a record. In addition, the number of deaths among youngsters aged 1 and 19 shrank by 2.5%.

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Half of Mentally ill Kids get Treated

Tuesday, January 26th, 2010

Only half of American youngsters diagnosed with mental illnesses have received professional treatment, a report published Dec. 14, 2009 in Pediatrics declared. The report also offered an insight on the extent of mental disorders among the American youth.

In the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted between 2001 and 2004, 13% of 3,042 participants from ages 8 to 15 tested positive for mental illness. Just 55% of this group looked for medical attention in the past year.

Black and Mexican-American respondents were found to be less inclined to seek professional help than their Caucasian counterparts. Conversely, males were more amenable to the idea. Those who belong to low social classes were also likely to seek a mental health professional.

Inevitably, the study was an opportunity to size up the prevalence of mental disorders in America.

“Until now, there has been a dearth of reliable data on the magnitude, course and treatment patterns of mental disorders among U.S. youth,” said researcher Kathleen Ries Merikangas of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH).

She and her peers monitored six mental disorders, to wit: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depression, panic disorder, eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia), and conduct disorder. Other disorders, like phobias and schizophrenia, were excluded.

Her team found that 8.6% of mentally ill respondents tested positive for ADHD. Kids with GAD constituted 0.3%; depression, 3.7%; panic disorder, 0.4%; eating disorder, 0.1%; and conduct disorder, 2.1%.

Boys were more likely to have ADHD, but depression among them is less common than in girls. The latter disorder is also more common among minors aged 12 to 15.

On occasion, some respondents exhibited multiple illnesses. Around 1.8% of the respondents reported more than one infirmity, typically a combo of ADHD and conduct disorder.

Respondents underwent painstaking personal evaluations and physical exams before researchers trimmed them down for study in the past year. Caregivers and parents also volunteered additional data about their wards and what, if any, treatments they have received. The National Institute of Mental Health collaborated with the National Center for Health Statistics of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the study.

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“Invisible Bracelet” for Emergency Health Alerts

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

America’s emergency health care system just got an upgrade with a virtual medical ID. Called the Invisible Bracelet (iB), the device would help emergency responders deliver optimum service to patients.

iB lets Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers know the patient’s personal health history at a glance. In case of a crisis, the bracelet would automatically notify the patient’s kin and acquaintances.

Using an HIPAA-compliant web service, iB lets responders in on vital health details crucial to maximum EMS. Among others, the device can temporarily equip EMS providers with read-only information like the patient’s allergies.

Better yet, iB can automatically send a text message to loved ones in case of an emergency. Should an ambulance be required, medics on standby in call centers can notify the patient’s In Case of Emergency (ICE) contacts. With so much as a button push, the medic can likewise notify a hospital in the vicinity.

Renewable yearly for $5, the service gives members a card with a computer-assigned PIN number. It can hold as much as 10 ICE contacts. It may also come as keychain flash drives or implanted microchips.

iBs are designed to set off tangible medical bracelets, like those for diabetics and asthmatics. In some ways, it could be better, insofar as healthy people can wear invisible bracelets.

iB was initiated by invisibleBracelet.org in Oklahoma in April and done in partnership with the American Ambulance Association, the largest network of EMS providers in the US.

Now it is set to take off nationwide, as the American Ambulance Association prepares to train medics in January 2010. Nearly 100,000 people have applied as medics since it launched. In addition, the University of Oklahoma is integrating it into its campus services.

When fully available in early 2010, the iB would be the first national emergency health registry system in the US.

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Feed The Children team with NBPA to feed needy families

Tuesday, December 1st, 2009

Feed The Children, a Christian non-profit charity organization, this week is teaming up with the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) to deliver USDA Grade A turkeys, holiday meals and personal care items to 10,000 families in need around Washington, D.C. Thursday, Dec. 3.

It’s part of an ongoing effort by Feed The Children, which in 2008, distributed more than 133 million pounds of food and other essentials to children and their families in all 50 states and internationally.

At the end of November, Feed The Children also teamed up with the Detroit Pistons to distribute food and personal care items to 8,000 Detroit-area families.

The D.C. event called “Miracle in the Nation’s Capital” is a primary component of the NBPA’s national campaign to brighten the holiday season for families experiencing financial hardship.

The amount of people who lack enough food has risen to the highest level since this kind of data has been tracked by the government, a new federal report shows. Nearly 50 million people struggled last year to get enough to eat. The federal government says the recession is partly to blame.

To help combat this, several players from the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors, and others, will be on hand to help distribute the 60 pounds of food and materials to each family. Families have been pre-identified by the Office of the Mayor Adrian M. Fenty.

“During the holiday season families, friends and neighbors come together to celebrate with warmth and compassion for one another,” said Mayor Fenty in a news release. “In keeping with this tradition, the District of Columbia is thrilled to team up with the NBPA and Feed The Children to distribute thousands of Christmas meals to residents in an effort to ensure everyone an opportunity to have a joyous holiday.”

“In partnership with the NBPA and the Office of the Mayor Adrian M. Fenty, we are looking forward to assisting those directly affected by this alarming national hunger crisis,” said Tony Sellars, Feed The Children spokesman. “These stunning statistics are exactly why Feed The Children will continue its mission to bring help and hope to struggling children and families in the United States.”

Feed The Children is ranked as one of the 10 largest international charities in the country that is based on private, not government, funding.

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Santa Barbara Medical Innovations has exclusive rights to Zerona laser

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

Santa Barbara Medical Innovations has closed a $500 million deal with Erchonia for exclusive rights to market the Zerona laser in North America.

Zerona is a new, non-invasive body slimming technique that has been proven to reduce a patients’ waist, hips and thighs by more than three inches.

“Our partnership with Santa Barbara Medical Innovations will significantly strengthen our position in the North American market,” said Steve Shanks, President of Erchonia. “We believe SBMI sees the value in our revolutionary technology and their strategic approach complements our vision and long-range plans.”

Santa Barbara Medical Innovations will manage sales, distribution and marketing of the Zerona laser to physicians and will market the technology through direct mail, advertising and public relations.

Also, in October, Santa Barbara Medical Innovations announced that Emmy Award winning television personality, entrepreneur and philanthropist Leeza Gibbons has the company in an alliance focused on educating and empowering people to take charge of their health.

Gibbons will be a spokesperson for the Zerona laser.

“I am always inspired by transformation, and Zerona and SBMI are innovators in offering the tools and technologies for people to change the way they look and the way they feel about themselves,” said Leeza in a press release. “This is an ideal partnership for me because it offers so many opportunities to connect with people about the things that matter most; taking charge of our health, our fitness and our self-esteem. Zerona gives us a perfect way to empower ourselves to truly transform our lives. I love telling the stories of life changing results that produce better health and happiness.”

Erchonia is the global leader in low-level laser healthcare applications. During the last 15 years Erchonia has been conducting research and development with the world’s leading physicians to advance the science of low-level lasers.

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Quitting Smoking: What has Genetics Got to Do with It?

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

Genetics may have a lot to do with how easily you can quit smoking, according to a new study. A smoker’s genetic make-up may be a determinant of his chances in quitting smoking and the treatment suitable for him.

Today, the harmful effects of smoking are a given, widely-publicized, and conclusive. It is the leading cause of preventable deaths such as heart attacks and lung cancer, of which 90% of deaths are smoking-attributed. And although smoking rates have seen a decline due to increasing cost and decreasing social acceptance, the frustrating struggle to quit is also a given.

The quest on smoking cessation has seen development of a variety of tools such as nicotine patches, gums, nasal sprays and prescription drugs like bupropion or Zyban. The effectivity of these nicotine replacements vary from person to person: one of the reasons scientists have now presented is genetics.

A National Institute of Health (NIH) study jointly funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), GlaxoSmithKline and the Pennsylvania Department of Health explored the role of genetics in smoking cessation. Headed by Dr. George Uhl of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the genome-wide association study aimed to determine genetic differences between smokers who were able to quit and those who did not. It also compared differences among people using nicotine replacement therapy and those using Zyban.

The study was able to determine a set of variations in genes that appear to influence the chances of a smoker’s success rate depending on what he uses: whether he uses the drug Zyban or other nicotine replacement therapies. Identifiable genes were found to influence brain function, some even hypothesized to induce addition. Researchers recommended further studies to determine how these variations specifically contribute to nicotine addiction and successful quitting.

In another study, School of Medicine researchers reported uncovering evidence that genetics is involved in nicotine withdrawal symptoms. Findings to indicate the role of genetic factors in smoking cessation attempts are published in the journal Nicotine and Tobacco Research.

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Nutrition 101 for Cancer Patients

Friday, June 26th, 2009

An alarming fact about cancer: 20% to 40% of cancer patients die not from the cancer itself, but from malnutrition. In addition, according to the National Cancer Institute, almost 80% of cancer patients develop clinical malnutrition due to side effects from cancer and cancer treatments. Some cancer patients have eating disorders and difficulties such as anorexia or a condition called “cachexia”, defined as a wasting syndrome, causing breakdown of immunity and weight loss.

Malnutrition weakens the patient’s immune system rendering him incapable of resisting infection and enduring cancer therapies. Protein and calories, key nutrients for energy, healing and fighting infection are the most common elements deficient in cancer patients.

Addressing malnutrition and under-nutrition are significant in reducing the risks of death and hospital admissions among cancer patients. According to Yale Professor Dave Katz, MD, “Optimizing nutrition during and following cancer therapy is unquestionably a vital element in overcoming the disease, and reclaiming good health.”

Easy nutritional tips for cancer patients include:

1. Small frequent meals and liquid intake: eating five or six small meals throughout the day helps rather than three consecutive large ones. To avoid filling up on liquid, drink between meals.
2. Protein intake: to increase protein level, patients may eat peanut butter crackers, yogurt and fruit, a hard-boiled egg and piece of toast for mini-meals. High-protein and high-calorie milkshakes and beverages will also help.
3. Nausea prevention: white, bland foods such as Cream of Wheat, mashed potatoes and cottage cheese help when the patient becomes nauseous. High-fat or fiber foods should be avoided because it makes nausea last longer. Food should be served at room temperature and 30 minutes before eating, patients can also eat fresh ginger or ginger capsules.
4. Diarrhea emergencies: ensure hydration. Allow patients to eat food with sauces and gravies. Make the patient eat bananas, rice, applesauce and toast.
5. Correcting taste deficiencies: citrus like lemon drops and lemonade counters metallic taste encountered by patients.
6. Consulting the physician: ask the doctor about dietary supplements and gather information about losing weight.

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Coffee Addiction Among Women Reduces Stroke Risk

Friday, June 19th, 2009

Good news for coffee addicts: your indulgence may save you from stroke.

A study published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association has come up with evidence linking regular coffee consumption with reduced stroke risk. Reports of the study indicate that women who drink more coffee possess a lesser likelihood of suffering from stroke than those who drank less. More specifically, the study revealed that coffee addicts (those who have 4 or more cups a day) have a 20% reduced risk of stroke. Those who drink 2 to 3 cups a day have a reduced risk of 19%. Those who drink 5 to 7 cups of coffee in a week show a 12% reduced likelihood of stroke.

These results come from the Nurses’ Health Study, an observational study covering 20 years. Data gathering began in 1980 involving 8,073 women participants of excellent health – no diagnosed history of heart disease, stroke or cancer at baseline. Documentation of their health took place every two to four years through food frequency questionnaires and check-ups.

Indulgence, however, only allows coffee, not cigarettes. The research pointed out that while increased coffee consumption has benefits, smoking overrides it. The study found that women nonsmokers who drank four cups or more in a day had a 43% decrease in stroke risk. Those who smoked and drank at the same frequency only had a 3% risk reduction for stroke.

Lead researcher Esther Lopez-Garcia noted that findings were due to coffee’s antioxidants that lower inflammation and improve blood vessel function. She added that the benefits of coffee apply only to healthy people. Those diagnosed with high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol cannot expect the same results.

Scientists from UCLA and the University of Southern California gathered similar findings from an observational study using health survey data of 9,400 adults aged 40 years and older. The study concluded that those who drank more cups of coffee have shown to exhibit lesser possibilities of stroke risk.

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Eating Right Key to Saving Eyesight

Friday, June 12th, 2009

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) afflicts people as they age, causing damage to the central vision, which is needed for clearly seeing objects and for going about daily activities such as driving or reading. While AMD is not painful, it affects the part of the eye that allows us to see fine detail – the macula. When early AMD strikes, blood vessels in the macula degenerate thereby blurring our vision. In the later stage, AMD may lead to complete blindness. At present, AMD is a top cause of vision loss among Americans aged 60 years and older.

However, prevention of AMD in its early stages is possible. Two studies have indicated that eating right is the key to saving the eyesight. Two research teams have found that diet leaning on food with healthy fats and omega-3 fatty acids such as fish, olive, oil and nuts may reduce the risk of developing AMD.

Dr. Jennifer S. L. Tan of the University of Sydney came up with findings from a 10-year observational study of 2,454 men and women suggesting that people who ate one serving of fish for their weekly diet have a 31% reduced risk of developing AMD compared to those who did not. The study also revealed that a weekly diet of nuts reduced AMD disk by 35 percent.

University of Melbourne researchers led by Elaine W. T. Chong, M.D., Ph.D., studied more than 6,700 individuals aged 50 to 79 years old in order to evaluate the link of omega-3 fatty acids consumption with AMD risk. It found that people who took at least 100ml of olive oil per week are 50% less likely to develop late AMD compared to those who took less than 1ml per week.

The study suggests sticking to healthy fat and away from transfat, which is the source for “bad cholesterol”, often found in fried and baked food. Findings indicate that people who ate the most transfat almost double (1.76 times) the risk of developing late AMD.

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