Republican candidate calls aborting rapist's child 'more violence on woman's body'

OLYMPIA, Washington (Reuters) - Tea Party politician John Koster, the Republican nominee for a hotly contested congressional seat in Washington state, says he opposes abortions, even in cases of "the rape thing," because it is tantamount to inflicting "more violence onto a woman's body." The Snohomish County councilman made the comments during a weekend fundraising appearance in the Puget Sound city of Everett, north of Seattle, that was captured in a recording released on Wednesday by the liberal activist group Fuse Washington. ... Continue reading...

Many women stop their asthma meds while pregnant

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Almost a third of women on asthma control medications stop using them during the first few months of pregnancy - despite advice that a mother's uncontrolled asthma is more dangerous to the developing fetus than the drugs, according to a new study from the Netherlands. The researchers could not determine why moms-to-be stop taking their asthma meds, or whether it led to any negative health effects, but the findings are concerning, said Lucie Blais, a pharmacy professor at the University of Montreal, who was not involved in the study. ... Courtesy of Yahoo News

Understanding the Types of Laser Skin Treatment and Side Effects

Understanding the Types of Laser Skin Treatment and Side Effects
In the modern world, aging and skin problems have become major issues for many people. Acne, pimples, scars and wrinkles are some of the tell-tale signs of skin problems. As such, these individuals have turned to the cosmetic industry for assistance. In response, this industry has come up with various solutions to satisfy their customers' demands. These include creams, plastic surgery and laser treatments among others.
Source: EzineArticles.com

Burundi gets $2 billion aid pledge, UN says

GENEVA (Reuters) - Donors have pledged more than $2 billion for Burundi's 2012-2015 development strategy to help the central African nation rebuild after civil war, the United Nations said on Tuesday. "We ended up with more than $2 billion registered commitments at the conference," Pamphile Muderega of the National Aid Coordination Committee said in a statement. "This represents a doubling of our already optimistic expectations," he said. The statement was issued by the U.N. ...

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Top medical innovations address headache, diabetes, cancer

(Reuters) - The best medical innovations for next year include an almond-size device that's implanted in the mouth to relieve severe headaches and a hand-held scanner resembling a blow dryer that detects skin cancer, the Cleveland Clinic said on Wednesday. The clinic's annual list of the best medical innovations for 2013 also includes new drugs to treat advanced prostate cancer and better mammography technology. But leading the 2013 list for innovations is an old procedure that has a new use due to findings in a recent study. ... Click here to read the rest

Best Foot Forward: A Yoga Sequence For Stronger Feet

Best Foot Forward: A Yoga Sequence For Stronger Feet

Regardless of how far along you are in your yoga practice, the ability to lay a solid foundation with your feet is integral for all levels. This sequence will help increase your strength and improve flexibility not only for your toes but for your whole body. Move through this sequence to give your dogs some much-needed love and attention.

Photo: Jenny Sugar

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Kids who smoke menthol more likely to get hooked

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Kids who experiment with menthol cigarettes are more likely to become habitual smokers than their peers who start out with the regular variety, new research findings suggest. In a study of tens of thousands of U.S. students, researchers found that kids who were dabbling with menthol cigarettes were 80 percent more likely to become regular smokers over the next few years, versus those experimenting with regular cigarettes. Menthol is added to cigarettes to give them a minty "refreshing" flavor. ... Credit of the story

Singapore firm starts new Alzheimer's drug trials

Singapore firm starts new Alzheimer's drug trials
LONDON (Reuters) - TauRx Therapeutics, a privately held biotech company based in Singapore, has launched two late-stage clinical studies testing a new kind of experimental drug against Alzheimer's. Its LMTX drug aims to attack the memory-robbing disease by blocking the build-up of a protein called tau that forms twisted fibers and tangles inside brain cells. Many scientists believe tau is an important cause of Alzheimer's, alongside another protein known as amyloid that has been the main focus of drug development efforts to date. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com

Analysis: U.S. foreign bribery penalties for drugmakers may lack bite

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Global drugmakers are paying tens of millions of dollars to settle U.S. allegations that they bribed their way across emerging markets, but harsher penalties may be needed to deter the practice in untapped regions where billions are at stake. Federal authorities have cast a wide net to weed out suspected gift-giving and kickbacks to foreign doctors and government officials to gain a foothold in burgeoning new markets in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. ...

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The Hidden Cause Of Dry Skin Revealed - The PH Factor!

The Hidden Cause Of Dry Skin Revealed - The PH Factor!
First what is "PH"? It means the "Power" or "Potential" of Hydrogen. The PH scale ranges from 0-14. A PH of 7 is considered neutral (water is neutral), anything over 7 is alkaline. The human body, in its most optimal state, would be alkaline inside but acid outside.
Source: EzineArticles.com

GSK raises bet on AIDS drug with new Shionogi deal

GSK raises bet on AIDS drug with new Shionogi deal

LONDON/TOKYO (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline has raised its bet on a promising drug for HIV/AIDS by redrawing a deal with Japan's Shionogi which gives it a much bigger economic interest in the new product. Dolutegravir, a once-daily drug that has performed strongly in clinical trials, is seen by analysts as a potential multi-billion-dollar-a-year seller and a strong competitor to treatments from market leader Gilead Sciences. The drug belongs to a novel class known as integrase inhibitors that block the virus causing AIDS from entering cells. ...

Source: news.yahoo.com

GSK raises bet on AIDS drug with new Shionogi deal

GSK raises bet on AIDS drug with new Shionogi deal

LONDON/TOKYO (Reuters) - GlaxoSmithKline has raised its bet on a promising drug for HIV/AIDS by redrawing a deal with Japan's Shionogi, giving it a much bigger economic interest in the new product. Dolutegravir, a once-daily drug that has performed strongly in clinical trials, is seen by analysts as a potential multibillion-dollar-a-year seller and a strong competitor to treatments from market leader Gilead Sciences. ...

Source: news.yahoo.com

IBA signs $40 million U.S. cancer facility deal

IBA signs $40 million U.S. cancer facility deal
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian cancer treatment equipment maker IBA said it has signed a $40 million deal for the installation of a treatment facility in Louisiana. The treatment room, which will receive its first patients in early 2014, will use a system designed by Dutch group Philips, which will allow patients to select comforting ambient sound and lighting before starting the therapy. The installation in Shreveport in northern Louisiana is the first such project to be realized with Philips, IBA said on Sunday. (Reporting By Robert-Jan Bartunek; Editing by Hans-Juergen Peters)
Source: news.yahoo.com

Facebook More Irresistible Than Sex?

Reported by Dr. Julielynn Wong: You may want to ask your date to turn off his or her phone. A new study suggests Facebook and email trump sex in terms of sheer irresistibility. The German study used smartphone-based surveys to probe the daily desires of... Click here to read the rest

Landmark Medicare settlement could change lives

Landmark Medicare settlement could change lives

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Glenda Jimmo has had a challenging life. Blind since the age of 19, the 76-year-old Bristol, Vermont, resident is confined to a wheelchair due to disabling conditions that include a below-the-knee amputation stemming from her diabetes. "But it's been an interesting, full life," she says. "I have four children." Now, she's lent her name to a class action lawsuit. Its settlement, announced this week, is expected to transform the way that Medicare covers long-term care. Jimmo requires regular skilled nursing services in her home for wound care and management of her condition. ...

Source: news.yahoo.com

5 Winter Skin Care Tips to Battle Dry Itchy Skin

Winter is a time when your skin suffers the most. Use the following skin care tips to keep your skin soft and avoid cracked dry skin this winter. Complete article

France halts sale of Novartis flu vaccine

PARIS (Reuters) - France said it was halting sales of an influenza vaccine made by Swiss drugmaker Novartis as a precaution after potential impurities were found in batches of the product in Italy. Health Minister Marisol Touraine said on Friday she had asked for all doses of Agrippal to be withdrawn from the market. "At this stage no impurities have been found in France ... There is no known risk for patients who have used this brand in France," Touraine said in a statement. ... Get the complete story

China adopts mental health law to curb forced treatment

BEIJING (Reuters) - China adopted a law on Friday to protect for the first time the rights of the mentally ill after years of accusations that psychiatric hospitals are used to lock up people against their will and silence dissidents. Human rights advocates called the hard-fought for law, which has been debated for more than two decades, significant, even though they say it still falls short of international standards as it allows for involuntary commitment without judicial review. ... Click here to read the rest

China passes law to curb abuse of mental hospitals

China's legislature on Friday passed a long-awaited mental health law that aims to prevent people from being involuntarily held and unnecessarily treated in psychiatric facilities — abuses that have been used against government critics and triggered public outrage. Click here to read the rest

Senate: Medtronic shaped articles promoting InFuse

Senate: Medtronic shaped articles promoting InFuse
Medical device maker Medtronic Inc. helped write and edit medical journal articles attributed to outside physicians, which downplayed the risks of the company's best-selling bone graft, according to a report by Senate investigators.
Source: news.yahoo.com

Leg amputations for artery disease on the decline

Leg amputations for artery disease on the decline
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Leg amputations in older people whose arteries are clogged by cholesterol buildups have gone down over the past decade, according to a new U.S. study. But thousands of people with diseased blood vessels in their legs still lose a leg or part of one every year - a number researchers say is higher than it should be. "Our real goal is to highlight the fact that there are still a lot of amputations occurring around the country," said Dr. W. Schuyler Jones, a cardiologist at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com

Why Persimmons Are Good For Your Waistline

Even if you've never had a persimmon, you can tell they are Fall's fruit: the autumnal oranges and reds of the fruit hint at the fact that these fruits are ripe for the picking in the leaf-changing months. In the interest of eating with the seasons, we've rounded up some reasons why persimmons are good for your waistline.

Fiber source: Just one persimmon contains six grams of fiber, which is already about a quarter of your recommended daily value. Fiber digests slowly, so it keeps you fuller longer.

Cravings cure: The fiber in persimmons, called pectin, is responsible for another appetite-controlling feature: pectin helps regulate blood-sugar levels to keep them from spiking, which can help prevent blood-sugar-crash-related cravings.

Flat belly: Persimmons are known for their stomach-soothing properties, so eating the fruit may help you feel less bloated or constipated. Note, however, that in rare cases, eating too many persimmons, especially on an empty stomach, can lead to a bezoar (an intestinal obstruction) because of the fruit's highly fibrous properties.

These aren't the only reasons to hunt down persimmons at your local grocery store. Persimmons contain high levels of antioxidants like vitamins A and C. When choosing persimmons, keep in mind that there are two different varieties: hachiya, which are orange-red, shaped like acorns, and soft and jelly-like when fully ripe; and fuyu, which are yellow-orange, shaped like tomatoes, firmer when ripe, and can be sliced like apples.

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Biases on beauty draw Thais to illegal surgery

Her dream was to look less Thai and more like Jennifer Lopez, so the 25-year-old street food vendor went to the Internet and typed in "cheap Botox."

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Answers sought as $3B Texas cancer agency meets

Answers sought as $3B Texas cancer agency meets
Texas put $3 billion on the table to prove it was serious about fighting cancer, but it will take more than money to convince scientists that's still the case.
Source: news.yahoo.com

Italy bans Novartis flu vaccines pending tests

Italy bans Novartis flu vaccines pending tests

ROME (Reuters) - The Italian health ministry said on Wednesday that it had imposed an immediate ban on the sale and use of four anti-influenza vaccines produced by Swiss drugs group Novartis pending tests for possible side effects. The ministry said it advised citizens not to buy or use the drugs Agrippal, Fluad, subunit Influpozzi and adjunvated Influpozzi until further notice. It said 487,738 vaccine doses were affected. The move comes after the Italian Pharmaceutical Agency decided that further tests on the products may be necessary following indications of possible side effects. ...

Source: news.yahoo.com

State officials find problems at Mass. pharmacy

Massachusetts officials say their preliminary investigation has found problems with cleanliness and sterilization at a pharmacy linked to a deadly meningitis outbreak.

Courtesy of Yahoo News

Monitor says Celgene cancer drug meets late-stage goals

Monitor says Celgene cancer drug meets late-stage goals
(Reuters) - An independent safety panel determined that Celgene Corp's experimental cancer drug had met the main goal of a late-stage trial by improving progression-free survival in multiple myeloma patients who have relapsed or not responded to prior treatment, the drugmaker said. The study's data safety monitoring board also determined that the pomalidomide drug, given in combination with a low dose of existing treatment dexamethasone, was superior to a high dose of the existing treatment in improving overall survival. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com

Canada allows plant that shipped tainted beef to reopen

Canada allows plant that shipped tainted beef to reopen
(Reuters) - The Canadian plant that produced millions of pounds of tainted beef was set to reopen on Tuesday as food inspection officials tried to restore consumer confidence in the country's food safety system. XL Foods' Brooks, Alberta, plant has been closed since September 27 after producing beef contaminated with E. coli bacteria that sickened at least 16 people in Canada. Products including ground beef and steaks were pulled off store shelves across Canada and in most U.S. states. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) halted imports last month of products traced to the plant. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com

Must Read: Non-Steroidal Prescription Topical Psoriasis Treatments

The severity of psoriasis is measured in different ways. It can be categorized into mild, moderate and severe. Mild, moderate and severe types of psoriasis are treated similarly but with some differences. There is what you call a "1-2-3 step" for psoriasis treatment that is usually done depending on the severity. This 1-2-3 step or approach is 1) the use of topical treatments or medications 2) the use of light therapy or phototherapy 3) the use of oral medication or injections. Read more

Beans show promise in diabetes

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Downing a cup of beans or lentils every day may help people with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar and possibly reduce their risk of heart attacks and stroke, according to a small study out today. Researchers found that compared with a diet rich in whole grains, getting a daily dose of legumes led to small drops in an important measure of blood sugar as well as in blood pressure and cholesterol levels. After three months on the bean diet, study participants' estimated 10-year risk of cardiovascular disease had fallen from 10.7 percent to 9. ... Credit of the story

Another Supernus epilepsy drug gets FDA nod

Another Supernus epilepsy drug gets FDA nod
(Reuters) - Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc's experimental epilepsy drug Oxtellar XR won marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, the second drug approval for the company since it went public in May. Oxtellar XR's final marketing approval follows the tentative approval given in late-June to Supernus's Trokendi XR -- a generic epilepsy treatment. The company plans to launch Oxtellar in the first quarter of 2013. Rockville, Maryland-based Supernus is developing several other drugs for epilepsy, depression and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com

Meat-loving Thais turn vegetarian for festival

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand is not an easy country in which to be vegetarian. But once a year the country's avid meat eaters lay down their spicy meat stir-fries in favor of vegetables and meat substitutes. During the annual ten-day "Tesagin Kin Pak" vegetarian festival, yellow flags representing Buddhism and good moral conduct flutter in the wind above entire neighborhoods, while tiny mobile street carts with a lone yellow flag advertise vegetarian-friendly food. Glistening tofu, noodles with bean sprouts, desserts made with sesame and ginger and steaming hot vegetable broths abound. ...

Credit of the story

In Myanmar, only sickest HIV patients get drugs

In Myanmar, only sickest HIV patients get drugs
Thein Aung has been trained not to show weakness, but he's convinced no soldier is strong enough for this.
Source: news.yahoo.com

In Myanmar, only sickest HIV patients get drugs

Thein Aung has been trained not to show weakness, but he's convinced no soldier is strong enough for this. Credit of the story

In Myanmar, only sickest HIV patients get drugs

In Myanmar, only sickest HIV patients get drugs
Thein Aung has been trained not to show weakness, but he's convinced no soldier is strong enough for this.
Source: news.yahoo.com

Women describe circumstances that led to abortion

They say they were using birth control, but it failed.

Courtesy of Yahoo News

David Katz, M.D.: The Good News About Multivitamins

David Katz, M.D.: The Good News About Multivitamins

As has likely come to your attention by now, a new study shows that daily multivitamin use is associated with a significant reduction in the overall rate of cancer. This is clearly important, and warrants careful consideration in the context of what we already knew, or thought we knew, about multi-nutrient supplementation.

For a long time, the prevailing view of multis -- which as a rule contain a mix of vitamins and minerals, most at or above the level of recommended daily intake -- was that they could and probably should help, and couldn't hurt. Nutrient levels were based on the Dietary Reference Intakes of the Institute of Medicine, and in general all or nearly all of the micronutrients known to be essential were in the mix.

There was always a sound rationale for such supplementation. Average intake in the U.S. of quite a few nutrients is lower than recommended, and intake of quite a few more is lower than optimal. In particular, as people get older, there is a tendency for both calories and dietary variety to fall -- resulting in a rising risk for nutrient deficiencies. Few of these are bad enough to present as overt deficiency syndromes, but even nominal deficits of key nutrients may compromise health. And some cases of overt deficiency -- notably of vitamins B12, folate, iron, and calcium -- are seen.

This all seemed to make a robust argument for routine supplementation, in particular by those over age 50. Most doctors recommended the practice routinely, as did I. And, of course, the supplement industry made hay predictably, providing a wide array of products that competed for attention with claims about nutrient quality, quantity, variety, and customization.

But then the notion that multis could help but "couldn't hurt" started to take a beating. First came a long line of clinical trials suggesting lack of benefit and potential harm from high doses of select nutrients. Then came studies showing associations between multivitamin use and adverse outcomes -- in particular, a higher rate of breast cancer among women.

Since we never had clear evidence of a benefit, even a hint of potential harm from multis was enough to argue pretty powerfully against their routine use. I stopped taking one, and stopped recommending them to my patients in the absence of a clear reason.

I never abandoned supplementation entirely, of course. In general, my clinic recommends supplements to do a particular job. So, for instance, we use omega-3s routinely to reduce inflammation, probiotics to improve gastrointestinal health and immune function, and vitamin D whenever levels are low. We use a wide range of other supplements when there is a specific case for doing so.

As for multis, I switched over to recommending them only when there was a meaningful likelihood of dietary deficits and, for whatever reason, an inability to fix them with food. I also switched form conventional multis to "whole-food-based supplements." I still think those are a good idea, and here's why:

If multis do harm, there must be a reason -- and the most plausible one is a problem of "nutritional noise." Imagine, for instance, that a great electric guitar player from a rock band, a great sax player from a jazz ensemble, and a virtuoso cellist from a symphony orchestra play their own brand of music all at once. No matter how good each is when in the his/her native context, the result of this mishmash would be unpleasant noise.

In putting together multis, we -- not nature -- have chosen the dose, preparation, and variety of nutrients, and taken them all out of their native context in food. We know that nutrients, like musicians, work best in concert with one another. If we have assembled them wrong, they might clash. Nutritional noise could be harmful.

Whole-food-based supplements avoid this potential danger because they preserve the native context of nutrients in foods. This may facilitate the work of nutrients in concert with one another, and make far more beautiful music in our metabolism. It's theoretical, but makes good sense.

But now we have the new study, and it does invite some reconsideration of the traditional multi. The findings, reported in JAMA, are based on a randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled intervention among nearly 15,000 U.S. male physicians followed for more than 10 years. There were 8 percent fewer cancers overall in those who took the multivitamin, and this was statistically significant, although barely so. There were no significant effects on any particular cancer, none on cancer mortality, and none on all-cause mortality.

So the findings are intriguing and promising, but far from the proverbial slam-dunk. And they are limited to a population of male doctors age 50 and older. How they pertain to women, younger people, or populations who behave differently on average than doctors, is unknown.

So where does it leave us?

We had seen the gradual accumulation of evidence for potential harm from multivitamins. This study does not eradicate that, but it does suggest that in some populations at least, there is potential for net benefit. Judicious use of multivitamins by men age 50 and older is, if not obviously advisable, perfectly reasonable given what we do and don't know at present.

The theoretical case for whole-food-based supplements remains valid, and absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. We don't have a trial like this using supplements like that, so we are left to speculate about the potential for greater benefits.

We once thought multis could do good and couldn't do harm. We then learned they could do harm, and developed doubts about them doing any good. Our current understanding is far from perfect, but it seems to suggest some potential for both. This invites discussion between patients and doctors, and customized decisions based on personal circumstance. That may not be an entirely satisfying resolution, but anything else would run ahead of the evidence we've got. This study revises our risk/benefit assessment, it is not a basis to renounce it.

But the most important take away here has to do with the size of effects, rather than their direction. A relative reduction of 8 percent in the overall rate of cancer is better than nothing -- but it is a small effect. In contrast, studies from 1993, 2004, 2009, 2010, and 2011 -- just to name a few -- show that the combination of not smoking, eating well, and being active can reduce the risk of all chronic disease, cancer included, and premature death from any cause by as much as 80 percent. That is a tenfold multiplication of the best effect of multivitamins yet shown. You certainly want that math on your side!

So whether you choose to take a multi or not, remember it's a supplement, not a substitute. There is no substitute for the profound health benefits of a daily dose of well-chosen lifestyle as medicine.

-fin

Dr. David L. Katz; www.davidkatzmd.com
www.turnthetidefoundation.org

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Dozens of states make it hard to get abortions

Dozens of states make it hard to get abortions

It's legal to get an abortion in America, but in many places it is hard and getting harder.

Source: news.yahoo.com

Best Skin Bleaching Products

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Best Skin Bleaching Products
Have you had any ideas as to why most skin whiteners that are sold in the beauty stores are failing to have any effects on the dark spots? Choosing the wrong product can make it worse. For example, you will be in shock to find your surrounding skin much lighter. If that is the case, then what should you do now?

Most of you want the best skin brightener because flawless skin is what most women are chasing for. You obviously don't like brown patches which sprawl over your skin. These dark spots can tear down your social life.

Usually the consumers will look at the the feedback submitted by the users on the shopping sites before they commit to buy something. There is nothing wrong to take advantage of another person's experience to make an evaluation of the good. However, our skins are not the same. In other words, the product may not even give you the results that you want.

Shopping for the top age spot treatment product will begin from a certain point. That is why I think it is fine to go through the remarks made by the consumers. Most important of all, don't overlook the favorable effects of the cream. Forget about how effectively the product has faded those spots. Focus on the skin irritation caused by the treatment product.

Read this story about a victim of hyperpigmentation who actually found the best whitening cream for dark spots. She is no different than you. Just like you, I know for certain she hates dark blotches. She is determined to find the right product to clear her hyperpigmented skin. Will it work for you?

Breast Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women Related to Blood Hormone Levels

Breast Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women Related to Blood Hormone Levels

A study led by Xuehong Zhang, M.D., of the Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital Department of Medicine, reveals that blood hormone levels can predict breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women for up to 20 years. The findings were presented at the 11th Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, sponsored by the American Association for Cancer Research.

Source: news.yahoo.com

Best Skin Brightener - What Works For Me

Are you frustrated with the results of certain skin brighteners? Which one actually helps to get back your original skin tone? Read my story and how I determine the best skin brightener. Read more

Boy Ordered to Transfer Schools for Carrying Cystic Fibrosis Gene

Boy Ordered to Transfer Schools for Carrying Cystic Fibrosis Gene
A California middle school has asked that an 11-year-old boy be transferred elsewhere because he carries the gene for cystic fibrosis, a life-threatening genetic disease that is not considered contagious.  His parents say they will take the issue to court. School administrators told 11-year-old Colman...
Source: abcnews.go.com

'My Giant Face Tumor': Ed Port Says Children See Him As A Monster

'My Giant Face Tumor': Ed Port Says Children See Him As A Monster

"The Good Wife": Where We Left Off

When we last checked in on the adventures of Lockhart/Gardner and co., Kalinda was ready to face her demons -- that pesky ex-husband -- and Alicia was debating whether or not to have some pizza with her family. Oh yeah, Louis Canning and Patti Nyholm were creating a whole lot of trouble for Will and Diane, too.

"The Good Wife": What's Ahead

Viewers -- and Alicia -- will finally meet Kalinda's nefarious ex-husband, and a whole new crop of famous faces will guest star in recurring roles. Look for Nathan Lane to pop up as a bank trustee, Maura Tierney as a democratic party bigwig, Kristin Chenoweth and Miriam Shor as journalists and Amanda Peet as Alicia's new pal. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/09/the-good-wife-season-4-guest-stars_n_1761540.html" target="_hplink">And that's just the tip of the guest star iceberg</a>. <em>"The Good Wife" returns Sun., Sept. 30 at 9 p.m. ET on CBS.</em>

"Parks & Recreation": Where We Left Off

Last time we visited Pawnee, Leslie Knope was triumphant in the Pawnee City Council race, beating Bobby Newport. Thanks to his campaign skills, Ben Wyatt got a new gig in Washington.

"Parks & Recreation": What's Ahead

Leslie Knope goes to Washington! Some real-life senators will interact with Pawnee's finest when Leslie visits Ben in his new city. Plus, Lucy Lawless guest stars as a new love interest for ... Ron Swanson. <em>"Parks & Recreation" Season 4 premieres Thurs., Sept. 20 at 9:30 p.m. ET on NBC.</em>

"The Walking Dead": Where We Left Off

Zombies, zombies everywhere! The undead took over Herschel's farm after Rick killed Shane, causing our favorite survivors to shoot a lot of guns and head for the hills. In the process Andrea got separated and was saved by a mysterious hooded woman.

"The Walking Dead": What's Ahead

Michonne! Yes, viewers will finally be introduced the fan-favorite comic character and her trusty katana. Plus, Rick and co. find a prison they want to make their home and another group of survivors, fronted by the Governor, come into play. <em>"The Walking Dead" Season 3 premieres Sun., Oct. 14 at 9 p.m. ET on AMC.</em>

"Boardwalk Empire": Where We Left Off

After using his connections and cunning to outlast a political coup led by the Commodore, Nucky Thompson managed to claw his way back to the top of Atlantic City's bootlegging trade. Nucky secured an Irish whiskey connection, beat the election-rigging charges against him, and married Margaret Schroeder, although unbeknownst to him, she sold his land holdings to the church. And he finally became a "full gangster" in the season's climactic season finale, when he shot and killed his former protege Jimmy Darmody.

"Boardwalk Empire": What's Ahead

As the "Boardwalk Empire" story skips ahead to 1923, Nucky looks to rebuild his bootlegging empire, but runs into an aggressive, violent obstacle: New York gangster Gyp Rosetti, played by Bobby Cannavale. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/10/boardwalk-empire-season-3_n_1763867.html" target="_hplink">A trailer for Season 3</a> shows Nucky saying, "Gyp Rosetti is trouble for everyone," and Arnold Rothstein incredulously asking Nucky, "You expect me to start a war in New York?!" And good news for fans who thought they'd seen the last of Agent Nelson Van Alden: Michael Shannon will be appearing in the show's third season, but not from Atlantic City. <em>"Boardwalk Empire" premieres on Sunday, Sept. 16. at 9 p.m. on HBO. </em>

"Dexter": Where We Left Off

"Dexter" Season 6 ended with a game-changing finale, as Deb finally learned Dexter's dark secret after she witnessed him killing Travis Marshall. The development came shortly after she realized that she might be in love with her step-brother, so things are just a little complicated between the show's two main characters right now.

"Dexter": What's Ahead

Already-released footage of Season 7's first few minutes shows the action picking right back up where last season left off -- Deb, gun drawn, shocked at what she's seen, and threatening to call the cops. <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/16/dexter-season-7-trailer_n_1790543.html" target="_hplink">A recent trailer</a> revealed a few additional developments: Dexter left a blood slide behind at the crime scene, causing LaGuerta to re-open the Bay Harbor Butcher investigation, while creepy video game programmer Louis Greene takes his obsession with Dexter to the next level. "Chuck" actress Yvonne Strahovski joins the cast as Hannah McKay, a mysterious woman who's helping Miami Metro with an old case. <em>"Dexter" Season 7 premieres Sun., Sept. 20 at 9 p.m. ET on Showtime. </em>

"Sons Of Anarchy": Where We Left Off

After nearly leaving the club to start a new life, Jax instead took control of SAMCRO on last season's "Sons Of Anarchy" finale. He shot Clay in the chest, avenging the brutal beating he gave Gemma. The Mexican cartel the club was working with turned out to be CIA operatives, leaving the club at the mercy of the government. Meanwhile, the accidental death of Damon Pope's daughter in a car-chase left the Sons looking at a war with a black gang.

"Sons Of Anarchy": What's Ahead

With Jax in control of the Sons, he finally has the chance to chart the club's path forward, but the walls are closing in. A war with Pope's gang looms, the club is still under the CIA's thumb, and a weakened Clay, who survived the shooting, could still cause trouble. The show made a ton of splashy casting moves, bringing in Harrold Perrineau, Jimmy Smits, Ashley Tisdale and Joel McHale in for the new season. <em>"Sons Of Anarchy" Season 5 premieres Tues., Sept. 11 at 10 p.m. ET on FX. </em>

"Supernatural": Where We Left Off

A lot happened at the end of Season 7: The ghost of Bobby Singer was laid to rest for good (or was he?); king of hell Crowley kidnapped Kevin the Prophet for his own nefarious purposes; Sam and Dean (and Castiel and Meg) defeated the smarmy Leviathan boss Dick Roman, and Dean and Castiel found themselves zapped into Purgatory in the aftermath. In short, the Winchesters will have a lot of catching up to do come October.

"Supernatural": What's Ahead

Dean will return from Purgatory a changed man, and he'll bring back a dangerous new "friend" who helped him escape -- a vampire named Benny (Ty Olsson). <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/03/supernatural-season-8-jeremy-carver_n_1739537.html" target="_hplink">According to new showrunner Jeremy Carver</a>, we'll see Dean's time in Purgatory unfold in flashbacks throughout the first half of the season (including what happened to Castiel), as well as meeting the woman (Liane Balaban) who romanced Sam over the summer. Next season will also see Sam, Dean and Crowley all pursuing the same goal, so expect a major clash of the titans. <em>"Supernatural" Season 8 premieres Wed., Oct. 3 at 9 p.m. ET on The CW.</em>

"Nikita": Where We Left Off

The explosive Season 2 finale saw Team Nikita reclaim Division after Percy's messy demise, with the government entrusting former CIA analyst Ryan Fletcher with control of the covert agency. Nikita agreed to assist Ryan with running Division and rehabilitating its agents, along with her boyfriend Michael, partner Alex, tech genius Birkhoff and former Navy SEAL Sean. Unlucky for them, Percy's former right-hand-woman, Amanda, is still alive -- and if the final few moments of the finale are to be believed, she's out for blood.

"Nikita": What's Ahead

Nikita and her allies won't just have Amanda to contend with next season; they'll also have to deal with rogue agents, mercenaries and all manner of other bad guys in their quest to clean up Division. Nikita has always been anti-authority, so we're fairly sure she'll also be butting heads with Ryan now that he's in charge of operations. Luckily, since Devon Sawa was recently promoted to series regular, Nikita will have a little backup from super-spy Owen in Season 3. He and Amanda both return in episode 4. <em>"Nikita" Season 3 premieres Fri., Oct. 19 at 9 p.m. ET on The CW.</em>

"Gossip Girl": Where We Left Off

Surprise! Chuck's billionaire daddy, Bart Bass, faked his own death, so he returned to reclaim his company and fired Chuck from his own Empire -- which kickstarted yet another spiral of self-loathing that had Chuck lashing out at Blair. Despite his childish behavior, Blair was determined to win Chuck back, following him to Paris to prove her love. Serena was equally self-destructive, seducing Dan but finding her affections rebuffed. She did some coke and ran away from New York on a train, while Dan sought out the scheming Georgina to write a scathing exposé about the Upper East Side. Lily annulled her marriage to Rufus, and Nate was pretty/dull. The more things change ...

"Gossip Girl": What's Ahead

The series is wrapping up with a 10-episode final season, which will see a number of familiar faces -- such as Nelly Yuki and Poppy Lifton -- return for old times' sake. Season 6 will kick off with a wedding, Serena will have a new beau (Barry Watson), and Chuck and Blair seem like they might finally get their happily ever after. Dan and Georgina will still be causing trouble, and we predict that Nate will continue to be pretty/dull. <em>"Gossip Girl" Season 6 premieres Mon., Oct. 8 at 9 p.m. ET on The CW.</em>

"Once Upon A Time": Where We Left Off

True Love's Kiss (Emma's love for her son, Henry) broke the curse that had kept the fairytale characters from remembering their past lives, and the unpredictable Rumplestiltskin summoned magic back to Storybrooke after being reunited with his lost love, Belle. Now, everyone remembers who they are, but we're guessing "happily ever after" still isn't guaranteed.

"Once Upon A Time": What's Ahead

As well as promoting Emilie de Ravin (Belle) and Meghan Ory (Red Riding Hood) to series regulars next season, the magical show will be further beefing up its fairytale contingent. Already announced to appear next season are Sleeping Beauty (Sarah Bolger) and Prince Phillip (Julian Morris), Mulan (Jamie Chung), Sir Lancelot (Sinqua Walls), Captain Hook (Colin O'Donoghue) and a mysterious "Jack" (possibly of "Beanstalk" fame). The identity of Henry's father will also be revealed, as will the origin of the "Once Upon A Time" book that Mary Margaret/Snow White gave Henry. You can also expect to see Sebastian Stan's Mad Hatter again, as well as Eion Bailey's Pinocchio, while Regina will stop at nothing to try and win Henry back from Emma.

"Suburgatory": Where We Left Off

After months of being surrounded by the overbearing mothers of Chatswin, Tessa (Jane Levy) started aching for her own mother, who left years before. After convincing herself that she was adopted, Lisa Shay discovered that it was her doofy brother Ryan who is actually the faux Shay.

"Suburgatory": What's Ahead

Mom alert! In the holiday episodes of Season 2, Malin Akerman will appear as Tessa's long lost mother. Elsewhere, Lisa will use her newfound knowledge of Ryan's lineage to get the upper hand on her overbearing parents, and George and Dallas will finally act on all that simmering sexual tension.

"New Girl": Where We Left Off

After Jess trapped her roommates in the desert for an entire night in an effort to stop Nick (Jake M. Johnson) from moving in with his psychotic girlfriend, Nick decided against it on its own and everything went back to its natural order. Phew!

"New Girl": What's Ahead

The new season boasts a number of guest stars, including Josh Gad as a beer delivery guy who tries to woo Jess, Anna Maria Nelson as Winston's mom, and Parker Posey as a "shot girl" at the party for the removal of Schmidt's penis cast.

"Modern Family": Where We Left Off

After Cam and Mitchell spent an entire season working to adopt a second child, their plans fell through and -- surprise! -- it turned out Gloria was pregnant. Talk about a sore subject!

"Modern Family": What's Ahead

As to be expected, Dunphy drama will hit the fan. Not only will Jay get cold feet about being a dad again, but Manny worries all parental duties will be in his hands. Guest stars on the upcoming season will include Wendi McLendon-Covey and Michaela Watkins as a strong-willed lesbian couple whose son gets in a fight with Lily on her first day of school.

"The Big Bang Theory": Where We Left Off

We'd say that heading into space might just be a nerd's greatest dream, and in season 5's finale, Howard got to do just that. He also got married, too, and the other two couples (Leonard and Penny, Sheldon and Amy) renewed their professions of love as only they know how, even if Leonard's marriage proposal timing was a bit "off."

"The Big Bang Theory": What's Ahead

Executive producer Steve Molaro revealed that the cast will be dealing with more "adult" themes in season 6. Howard will be in space for a few episodes before returning to Earth and dealing with his new wife/living situation, Amy will be working on Sheldon's anti-relationship mindset, and Leonard and Penny will be trying to figure out just what their relationship is, and how they'll move on. As for Raj, well ... anything can happen. <em>"The Big Bang Theory" season 6 premiere airs on Thursday, September 27, 2012 at 9 p.m. on CBS.</em>

"Fringe": Where We Left Off

It's not a proper sci-fi finale unless someone temporarily dies, and in this case it was Olivia; she didn't die, but Walter believed that her Cortexiphan powers may be forever affected. She revealed after some recuperation that she was pregnant with Peter's child. Bell's biological experiments were stowed away, and the finale ended with September's cryptic statement: "We have to warn the others. They are coming."

"Fringe": What's Ahead

This fifth and final season will focus on the predicted occurrences in 2036, continuing with the events involving the hostile Observers from the future. It won't all be about the impending Observer battle, though; the producers of the show promise major payoffs for long-time fans. Most importantly, we'll find out why Olivia slightly hesitated before telling Peter the news about her pregnancy. Yes, there was a reason. <em>The season 5 premiere of "Fringe" airs on Friday, September 28, 2012 on FOX at 9 p.m. ET.</em>

"How I Met Your Mother": Where We Left Off

Strange how a lot of finales deal with marriage, and "HIMYM" is no exception. The finale closed out with a flash-forward to Barney's wedding, and despite the fake-out that made us believe he was marrying Quinn, in the final shot it was revealed that he was actually marrying Robin. Ted and Victoria (after much discussion and reminiscing) bailed on her planned wedding and drove off into the sunset together. Marshall and Lily had their baby -- and named him Marvin.

"How I Met Your Mother": What's Ahead

The 8th season premiere will (again) flash-forward to Robin and Barney's wedding day -- before flashing back to where we left off last season. We'll meet Victoria's jilted groom (Thomas Lennon, "Reno 911"), and we'll see Robin and Barney freak out before the ceremony. To keep Barney from running, Marshall and Lily have to literally restrain him. We're likely to see the trials and tribulations of raising a baby, too. <em>Season 8 of "HIMYM" premieres on Monday, September 24, 2012 on CBS at 8 p.m. ET.</em>

"Happy Endings": Where we left off

Brad finally told Jane that he lost his job, and the gang headed to a wedding where Max's band Mandonna rocked the house. Penny started to realize she might have feelings for Dave, but the episode closed with Dave and Alex holding hands.

"Happy Endings": What's ahead

The season will start off in a rocky way for Penny, but she'll soon be dating a guy and will always be "flirting with screwing it up," <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/23/happy-endings-season-3-year-of-penny_n_1695437.html" target="_hplink">according to executive producer Jonathan Groff</a>. Dave and Alex will begin dating again, and Max will get a love interest too. An unemployed Brad, meanwhile, will explore the slacker-y Max lifestyle while he's out of a job and Jane brings home the bacon. <em>"Happy Endings" returns 9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23. </em>

"Revenge": Where we left off

Emily broke up with Daniel and headed over to Jack's -- where she was greeted by a pregnant Amanda. Could Victoria be dead -- and was the evidence against Conrad destroyed in the plane crash that appeared to take her life? Among many other developments, Charlotte's apparent suicide is small potatoes compared to what Nolan revealed to Emily -- her mother is still alive. Dun-<em>dun</em>-dun!

"Revenge": What's ahead

<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/revenge-abc_n_1708130.html" target="_hplink">Creator Mike Kelley revealed</a> that Season 2 would open with a terrible event at the end of the summer, and then, as Season 1 did, the show will trace how the Hamptonites got to that point. Emily's mom (Jennifer Jason Leigh) will arrive with plenty of baggage in the form of serious mental problems, and Barry Sloane will also turn up as an old pal of Em's. Fan favorite Nolan will get a love interest -- and this time, it's a lady. <em>"Revenge" returns 9 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 30.</em>

"Homeland": Where we left off

A traumatized and hospitalized Carrie remembered a key clue -- Nicholas Brody saying "Issa," the name of terrorist Abu Nazir's son -- but within seconds she was subjected to electroconvulsive therapy, which may have destroyed that memory. Fans were left wondering whether she would recall what she knew about Brody, her former lover, who's been revealed to be one of Nazir's operatives. And will Brody, a former POW who is regarded as a hero by everyone, ascend Washington's power ladder -- and serve or subvert Nazir?

"Homeland": What's ahead

When the new season begins, Carrie's gotten treatment for her bipolar disorder and is far removed from the intelligence community. Brody, on the other hand, is "a sitting congressman serving in the House of Representatives," <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/03/homeland-season-2-spoilers_n_1644512.html" target="_hplink">according to executive producer Alex Gansa</a>. "I think we're still hopefully going to be able to walk the high wire of character development and thriller," in Season 2, Gansa said, though of course the "Homeland" writers won't be able to rely on the is-he-or-isn't-he secret that drove much of Season 1. <em>"Homeland" returns 10 p.m. ET Sunday, Sept. 30 </em>

"Parenthood": Where We Left Off

In the Season 3 finale of NBC's "Parenthood," everyone cried ... a lot. Crosby and Jasmine got married in one of the sweetest ceremonies in TV history, but before that, there was a lot of bitterness. Crosby did not react well to Adam selling The Luncheonette behind his back (both drinks and punches were thrown in front of every single Braverman). He replaced Adam as best man in wedding. But when Adam stood up to make a speech at the reception, he decided to put Crosby first and to go not go through with The Luncheonette deal. The wedding made Sarah realize that she doesn't know if she wants another baby. She told Mark and they broke up after realizing they want different things. But when Mark showed up at Crosby and Jasmine's wedding and proposed, her smile indicated that things are back on. Meanwhile, Hattie got into Cornell, Amy and Drew had sex and Amber tearfully decided to put work first, asking Bob to work as his assistant, but not date him. And speaking of the Braverman kids -- Julia and Joel, after mourning the loss of being the parents of Zoe's baby, had another opportunity to have a second child by adopting nine-year-old Victor.

"Parenthood": What's Ahead

When the Bravermans come back, the family is celebrating Haddie's graduation and her starting at Cornell; struggling to accept Mark in Sarah's life; dealing with the addition of Victor; and Amber is working in Crosby and Adam's recording studio. Three new characters are also headed to Season 4 of "Parenthood": "American Idol" alum Paul McDonald, who will play Nick, the lead guitarist of a band who is recording at the Luncheonette (and a love interest for Amber); Matt Lauria, who will play a returning soldier from Afghanistan who bonds with fellow war vet Zeek; and Ray Romano, who will create a love triangle, playing yet another love interest for Sarah. <em>"Parenthood" Season 4 premieres on Tuesday, Sept. 11 at 10 p.m. ET on NBC.</em>

"The Vampire Diaries": Where We Left Off

After all these years of fighting it, Elena's a vampire. The season finale saw Elena decide between the Salvatore brothers. Elena told Matt that Stefan was there for her when she had nothing, but that when she is with Damon, she feels passion. Alaric staked Klaus and though Damon, Stefan, Caroline and Tyler immediately worried that it would be the end of them too because he originated their bloodline, it was revealed that he's still alive. Bonnie created a spell to transfer Klaus into Tyler's body in order to save her friends and her mother. Elena realized that she loves Stefan, choosing him over Damon. She remarked that things might have been different if she had met Damon first ... but it turns out she did, as seen in a flashback, though he compelled her to forget the meeting. Rebekah plotted to kill Elena and Alaric by driving them off a bridge, which is the same way Elena's parents died. Elena drowned in the water after asking Stefan to save Matt instead, but it was the revealed that Dr. Fell gave Elena vampire blood to heal her earlier. In the final scene, we saw a believed-to-be-dead Elena open her eyes in the hospital as she transitioned into a vampire.

"The Vampire Diaries": What's Ahead

We don't know too much about "Vampire Diaries" Season 4, but there are three things you can depend on: More Meredith (Torrey DeVitto), more Esther and more vampire sex. "Elena saved Matt's life, so he's going to end up paying it forward in a very peculiar way," <a href=" http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/vampire-diaries-season-4-spoilers_n_1720414.html" target="_hplink">Nina Dobrev, who plays Elena, told TV Guide</a>. "It's like she's going through puberty and vampire sex is going to feel like her first time." <em>"The Vampire Diaries" Season 4 premieres Thursday, Oct. 11 at 8 p.m. ET on The CW.</em>

"Grey's Anatomy": Where We Left Off

On the season finale of "Grey's Anatomy," <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/18/greys-anatomy-lexie-dies-shonda-rhimes_n_1526833.html" target="_hplink">viewers said goodbye to two cast members</a> -- Lexie (Chyler Leigh) and Teddy (Kim Raver) -- after a plane crash left Lexie dead and Teddy moved on for a job at the United States Army Medical Command (MEDCOM). For the entire heart-wrenching episode, the doctors at Seattle Grace had no idea what happened to their loved ones -- Meredith (Ellen Pompeo), Derek (Patrick Dempsey), Mark (Eric Dane), Christina (Sandra Oh) and Arizona (Jessica Capshaw) -- who were still stranded from the plane crash. Finally, at the end of the episode, Hunt realized they never made it to Boise. Meanwhile, back in Seattle, Avery made the choice to take a job offer at Tulane Medical Center (which tore April apart a bit) and Ben and Miranda decided to get married, even though he's going to start his surgical internship in LA.

"Grey's Anatomy": What's Ahead

The Season 9 premiere of "Grey's Anatomy" will surely be just as emotional as the finale. While showrunner Shonda Rhimes has remained tight-lipped about what's the come, we do know one thing: <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/26/eric-dane-leaving-greys-anatomy_n_1707755.html" target="_hplink">Eric Dane is leaving "Grey's Anatomy."</a> Though pictures from <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/30/eric-dane-die-greys-anatomy_n_1721023.html" target="_hplink">Patrick Dempsey's Twitter indicate that Mark could die on the series</a>, there's no word on how Dane's character will exit. Season 9 will also have a bevy of <a href="[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/24/go-on-michael-vartan_n_1827410.html" target="_hplink">new "Grey's Anatomy" guest stars</a>, including <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/17/tina-majorino-greys-anatomy_n_1795746.html" target="_hplink">Tina Majorino</a> and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/16/gaius-charles-greys-anatomy_n_1677785.html" target="_hplink">"Friday Night Lights" alum Gaius Charles</a>. Check out this <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/24/greys-anatomy-season-9-promo_n_1827693.html" target="_hplink">"Grey's Anatomy" Season 9 promo</a> for more teases about what's to come. <em>"Grey's Anatomy" Season 9 premieres on Thursday, Sept. 27 at 9 p.m. ET.</em>

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Women with genital cutting have poorer sex life

Women with genital cutting have poorer sex life
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - A new study confirms that women who were forced to undergo genital cutting as young girls have a poorer sex life years later. An estimated 130 million women worldwide have undergone genital mutilation, also known as female "circumcision." The centuries-old practice, which involves removing part or all of a girl's clitoris and labia, and sometimes narrowing the vaginal opening, remains a common practice in some countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com

Flu Shots May Not Protect the Elderly or the Very Young

Flu Shots May Not Protect the Elderly or the Very Young
Flu Shots May Not Protect the Elderly or the Very Young
Source: news.yahoo.com

Study says vital to treat fungal meningitis early

Study says vital to treat fungal meningitis early
CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. doctors in Baltimore said early diagnosis and treatment of patients at risk of fungal meningitis is vital, based on the case of an otherwise healthy woman who declined rapidly after receiving steroid injections for neck pain. Writing in the Annals of Internal Medicine, released online on Wednesday, researchers at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine describe the deterioration the unnamed, 51-year-old who sought care in an emergency room for a severe headache a week after receiving an injection with tainted medication on August 31. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com

Daily multivitamin shown to help ward off cancer in men

Daily multivitamin shown to help ward off cancer in men
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Swallowing a daily multivitamin can reduce the risk of cancer by at least eight percent in middle-aged and older men and appears to have no dangerous side-effects, according to the first large-scale, randomized study on the subject. The protective effect of the daily pill was described as "modest" by the trial investigators who emphasized that the primary use of vitamins was to prevent nutritional deficiencies. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com

Coping With Scars on the Back of the Hand

Coping With Scars on the Back of the Hand
The back of the hand is a very visible area that is not often covered when people are in public. Working with tools, playing sports or handling items with sharp edges all have the potential to cause scarring in this area. Scars on the back of the hand can be unattractive and distracting when performing delicate work. There are several ways to treat scars on the back of the hand so that the appearance is reduced and uncomfortable sensations are minimized.
Source: EzineArticles.com

Obama takes offensive against Romney in debate rematch

HEMPSTEAD, New York (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama launched aggressive attacks against Republican rival Mitt Romney on jobs, energy and Libya in their second debate on Tuesday as the Democrat tried to reclaim the momentum in a tight White House race. Obama was much sharper and more energetic than in their opening debate two weeks ago, when his listless performance was heavily criticized and gave Romney's campaign a much-needed boost in the run-up to the November 6 election. ...

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Making Your Own Natural Skin Moisturizer - The Easy Way

Making your own natural skin salve is one way to nourish your skin without using chemicals. Not only it is easy and fun to make, but you can customize it with your favorite oils and organic herbs that suit your skin. Learn how you can make this preservative and chemical free skin moisturizer. Source

Medical marijuana advocates want drug reclassified

Medical marijuana advocates want drug reclassified
A federal appeals court in Washington is considering whether marijuana should be reclassified from its current status as a dangerous drug with no accepted medical use.
Source: news.yahoo.com

Social Security benefits to rise 1.7 percent next year

Social Security benefits to rise 1.7 percent next year
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Social Security retirement benefits for nearly 62 million Americans will go up 1.7 percent next year, the Social Security Administration said on Tuesday, a small increase that may not cover rising premiums for the Medicare elderly health insurance program. The average Social Security benefit will rise about $40 a month to a total of $1,260 per month, starting in January 2013 the Social Security administrator said. That amounts to $15,120 per year. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com

Roche sees more cancer success as sales top forecast

ZURICH (Reuters) - Swiss drugmaker Roche Holding AG is banking on a new generation of breast cancer medicines to drive sales growth after strong demand for its established cancer treatments helped it to top forecasts in the third quarter. Most of Roche's best-selling cancer drugs do not face imminent generic competition, sparing it the pain from a wave of patent expiries currently sweeping the global drugs industry. ...

Original Source

Insight: How compounding pharmacies rallied patients to fight regulation

NEW YORK (Reuters) - When U.S. senators met nearly a decade ago to consider the dangers of pharmacies that mix or alter drugs with little federal oversight, health officials briefed them on some alarming findings about the safety and efficacy of drugs made by these "compounding pharmacies." Dr. ... Credit of the story

Girls may not have riskier sex after HPV vaccination

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Girls who had been vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) weren't more likely to get other sexually transmitted infections or to become pregnant, in a new study from Georgia. That goes against worries on the part of some that getting the vaccine - which is supposed to ultimately help prevent cervical cancer - would encourage girls to become sexually active or engage in riskier sex than they otherwise would. ... Courtesy of Yahoo News

Peanut Butter Recall Extended to Raw, Roasted Peanuts

Peanut Butter Recall Extended to Raw, Roasted Peanuts

The recall of peanut butter and other nut products linked to an outbreak of salmonella from a New Mexico food company has now been expanded to include raw and roasted peanuts. More than 400 products have been added to the growing list of recalled items,...

Source: news.yahoo.com

Girls may not have riskier sex after HPV vaccination

Girls may not have riskier sex after HPV vaccination
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Girls who had been vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) weren't more likely to get other sexually transmitted infections or to become pregnant, in a new study from Georgia. That goes against worries on the part of some that getting the vaccine - which is supposed to ultimately help prevent cervical cancer - would encourage girls to become sexually active or engage in riskier sex than they otherwise would. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com

Dementia Sufferers Will Top 2 Billion by 2050

Dementia Sufferers Will Top 2 Billion by 2050
As the baby boomer generation sails into their senior years, rates of dementia are soaring to never-before-experienced heights. With the disease expected to spread exponentially within the next generation, some experts believe we’re headed towards the worst medical disaster in human history.
Source: news.yahoo.com

AP Impact: Feds muff kid jewelry cadmium crackdown

AP Impact: Feds muff kid jewelry cadmium crackdown

Federal regulators failed to pursue recalls after they found cadmium-tainted jewelry on store shelves, despite their vow to keep the toxic trinkets out of children's hands, an Associated Press investigation shows.

Source: news.yahoo.com

7 advisers resign at embattled Texas cancer agency

At least seven scientists resigned in protest this week from Texas' embattled $3 billion cancer-fighting program, claiming the agency created with the backing of the governor and cancer survivor Lance Armstrong is charting a new "politically-driven" path that puts commercial interests before science. Original Source

The Natural Way of Skin Care

The article identifies problems that may result in dry skin. Furthermore, it tells about the natural remedies to help solve these problems. Additionally it also tells how to select the best products for skin care. Get the rest of the article

Meningitis-linked firm sold drugs without requiring prescriptions: emails

Meningitis-linked firm sold drugs without requiring prescriptions: emails
BOSTON (Reuters) - The drug-mixing company at the heart of a deadly U.S. meningitis outbreak solicited bulk orders from physicians and failed to require proof of individual patient prescriptions as required under state regulations, emails to a customer show. Reuters reviewed more than a dozen emails that show the New England Compounding Center, contrary to Massachusetts regulations, sold drugs without requiring physicians to supply individual patient prescriptions. The customer confirmed that NECC supplied the clinic with drugs without patient names or prescriptions. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com

Congress widens scrutiny of meningitis outbreak

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Lawmakers on Friday widened their investigation into the deadly meningitis outbreak to include the role state regulators played in monitoring the pharmacy that produced steroid treatments blamed for killing 14 people in six states. The U.S. House of Representatives' Energy and Commerce Committee called on the Massachusetts pharmacy board to tell congressional staff what it knew about the New England Compounding Center before the recall of more than 17,000 vials of injectable steroid treatments for back and joint pain from health facilities in 23 states. ...

Credit of the story

Congress widens scrutiny of meningitis outbreak to regulator

Congress widens scrutiny of meningitis outbreak to regulator

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The House of Representatives on Friday widened its investigation into the deadly meningitis outbreak to include the role health regulators played in monitoring the pharmacy that produced steroid treatments suspected of causing the crisis. The House Energy and Commerce Committee called on the Massachusetts pharmacy board to tell congressional staff what it knew about the New England Compounding Center before the recall of more than 17,000 vials of sterile injectable steroid treatments for back and joint pain from health facilities in 23 states. ...

Source: news.yahoo.com

FDA OKs use of Actemra for earlier-stage arthritis treatment

(Reuters) - Roche Holding AG said U.S. regulators have widened the approved use of rheumatoid arthritis drug Actemra to include patients typically in earlier stages of treatment for the joint disease. Actemra was approved in early 2010 for patients who had failed treatment with a widely used class of medicines called TNF inhibitors, which include Abbott Laboratories Inc's Humira and Embrel from Amgen Inc and Pfizer Inc. But Roche's Genentech drug unit on Friday said the U.S. ... Credit of the story

Ann Brenoff: 7 Things Boomers Need To Know About The VP Debate

Ann Brenoff: 7 Things Boomers Need To Know About The VP Debate

Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin shake hands after the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Pool-Michael Reynolds)

Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin shake hands after the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Pool-Michael Reynolds)

Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin gesture after the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Pool-Michael Reynolds)

Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin gesture after the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Pool-Michael Reynolds)

Joe Biden, Paul Ryan

Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, shake hands following their the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Joe Biden, Paul Ryan

Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin shake hands after the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Joe Biden, Jill Biden

Vice President Joe Biden kisses his wife, Jill Biden, following the vice presidential debate with Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Vice President Joe Biden talks to Janna Ryan, wife of Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin after the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Pool-Michael Reynolds)

Paul Ryan, Janna Ryan

Republican vice presidential nominee, Rep. Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, kisses his wife Janna following the vice presidential debate with Vice President Joe Biden at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan's wife Janna, left, shakes hands with Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, following the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Joe Biden

Vice President Joe Biden listens to Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Paul Ryan

Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin answers a question during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Paul Ryan, Joe Biden

Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, right, listens to Vice President Joe Biden during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Paul Ryan

Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin answers a question during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin participate in the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Pool-Rick Wilking)

Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin participate in the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Pool-Rick Wilking)

Paul Ryan, Joe Biden

Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, right, and Vice President Joe Biden discuss a point during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin participate in the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Pool-Rick Wilking)

Paul Ryan, Joe Biden, Martha Raddatz

Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, right, and Vice President Joe Biden, center, listen to moderator Martha Raddatz during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

US-VOTE-2012-DEBATE

A combination picture of the vice presidential debate between US Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan (R) at the Norton Center at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, October 11, 2012, moderated by Martha Raddatz of ABC News. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)

Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin participate in the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Pool-Michael Reynolds)

Vice President Joe Biden answers a question during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Pool-Michael Reynolds)

Paul Ryan

Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, makes a point to Vice President Joe Biden during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Joe Biden, Paul Ryan

Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin answer a question during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

US-VOTE-2012-DEBATE

US Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan (R) participate in the vice presidential debate at the Norton Center at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, October 10, 2012, moderated by Martha Raddatz (C) of ABC News. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)

US-VOTE-2012-DEBATE

US Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan (R) participate in the vice presidential debate at the Norton Center at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, October 10, 2012, moderated by Martha Raddatz (C) of ABC News. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)

US-VOTE-2012-DEBATE

US Vice President Joe Biden participates in the vice presidential debate with Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan (out of frame) at the Norton Center at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, October 10, 2012. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)

US-VOTE-2012-DEBATE

US Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan (R) participate in the vice presidential debate at the Norton Center at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, October 10, 2012, moderated by Martha Raddatz (C) of ABC News. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)

US-VOTE-2012-DEBATE

US Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan (R) participate in the vice presidential debate at the Norton Center at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, October 10, 2012, moderated by Martha Raddatz (C) of ABC News. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)

Paul Ryan

Republican vice presidential nominee, Rep. Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, speaks during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Vice President Joe Biden speaks during the vice presidential debate with Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Jill Biden, Beau Biden, Hunter Biden

Jill Biden, center, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, sits with her sons Beau Biden, left, and Hunter Biden, right, before the start of the vice presidential debate, at Centre College in Danville, Ky., Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Paul Ryan

Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin answers a question during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

US-VOTE-2012-DEBATE

US Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan (R) participate in the vice presidential debate at the Norton Center at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, October 10, 2012, moderated by Martha Raddatz (C) of ABC News. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)

US-VOTE-2012-DEBATE

US Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan (R) participate in the vice presidential debate at the Norton Center at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, October 10, 2012, moderated by Martha Raddatz (C) of ABC News. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)

US-VOTE-2012-DEBATE

US Vice President Joe Biden (L) and Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan (R) participate in the vice presidential debate at the Norton Center at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, October 10, 2012, moderated by Martha Raddatz (C) of ABC News. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)

Vice President Joe Biden answers a question during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Pool-Rick Wilking)

Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin answers a question during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Pool-Michael Reynolds)

Joe Biden

Vice President Joe Biden reacts to a question during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Joe Biden, Paul Ryan

Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Republican vice presidential nominee, Rep. Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, challenge each other during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin watches as Vice President Joe Biden answers a question during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Pool-Rick Wilking)

Vice President Joe Biden and Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin participate in the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Pool-Rick Wilking)

Joe Biden

Vice President Joe Biden answers a question during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

Joe Biden, Paul Ryan

Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Republican vice presidential nominee Rep. Paul Ryan, of Wisconsin, respond to moderator Martha Raddatz during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Janna Ryan, Ted Olson, Lady Booth Olson, Betty Douglas

Janna Ryan, second from right, wife of Republican vice presidential candidate, Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., his mother Betty Douglas, Ted Olson, second from left, former solicitor-general of the U.S. and his wife Lady Booth Olson sit in the audience before he start of the vice presidential debate, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, at Centre College in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

US-VOTE-2012-DEBATE

US Vice President Joe Biden participates in the vice presidential debate with Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan (out of frame) at the Norton Center at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, October 10, 2012, moderated by Martha Raddatz of ABC News. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)

US-VOTE-2012-DEBATE

Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan (R) participates in the vice presidential debate with US Vice President Joe Biden (out of frame) at the Norton Center at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, October 10, 2012, moderated by Martha Raddatz (L) of ABC News. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)

US-VOTE-2012-DEBATE

Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan (R) participates in the vice presidential debate with US Vice President Joe Biden (out of frame) at the Norton Center at Centre College in Danville, Kentucky, October 10, 2012, moderated by Martha Raddatz (L) of ABC News. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/GettyImages)

Vice President Joe Biden answers a question during the vice presidential debate at Centre College, Thursday, Oct. 11, 2012, in Danville, Ky. (AP Photo/Pool-Michael Reynolds)

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com