Health Periodical Corner: July 2012

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Fewer hip fractures after cataract surgery

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - In a new study of older adults with cataracts, people who had surgery to improve their vision were less likely to fracture a hip in the next year compared to those who didn't get surgery. The findings don't prove vision-improving procedures prevent falls or breaks in elderly people. But they do suggest eyesight plays a role in those accidents and injuries, researchers said. "It is true that you use your vision to kind of help you balance yourself," said ophthalmologist Dr. Anne Coleman from the University of California, Los Angeles, who worked on the new study. ... Credit of the story

What Causes White Spots To Appear on a Person's Skin, And Can One Get Rid Of Them?

What Causes White Spots To Appear on a Person's Skin, And Can One Get Rid Of Them?
If you have suddenly begun seeing white spots appearing on your skin, you will no doubt be concerned that you may have picked up an infection of some kind, or maybe you are worried you have some serious illness. The good news is, spots are rarely connected to anything serious.
Source: EzineArticles.com

Idenix regains drug rights from partner Novartis

Idenix regains drug rights from partner Novartis
(Reuters) - Idenix Pharmaceuticals Inc said it regained the worldwide rights to develop, market and license its drug candidates from Swiss partner and stakeholder Novartis. Idenix, whose experimental treatments for hepatitis C have led to extensive investor interest, said Novartis's rights to license Idenix's current and future development-stage drugs for any disease has been terminated. In exchange, Idenix will pay Novartis a royalty based on the worldwide sales of Idenix's future hepatitis C drugs, unless they are used in combination with Novartis' drugs. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com

Scientists Uncover Gene Variation Linked to Melanoma

SUNDAY, July 29 (HealthDay News) -- New gene mutations associated with the development of melanoma have been identified by scientists who conducted what is believed to be the largest DNA-sequencing study of the deadly disease to date. Courtesy of Yahoo News

Monday, July 30, 2012

MRSA Cases Double in Academic Hospitals Over 5 Years

A new study suggests that you might be more likely to pick up a deadly infection in one type of hospital than in others. Chicago researchers found that infections from methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) doubled during five years in academic hospitals. These findings affect me as a patient with suppressed immunity who needs periodic hospital care. Read more

Deadly ebola outbreak in Ugandan capital

Uganda's president on Monday warned against shaking hands and other physical contact after the first death from the deadly Ebola virus in the capital Kampala.

Source: news.yahoo.com

Novartis drug Afinitor gets EU nod for breast cancer

ZURICH (Reuters) - Novartis drug Afinitor, expected to become a major seller for the Swiss drugmaker, was approved by European regulators to treat women with a certain type of breast cancer, the company said on Monday. The drug is the first in a class known as mTOR inhibitors to be approved for post-menopausal women with advanced hormone-receptor positive, HER2-negative breast cancer. American health regulators also backed the drug as a breast cancer treatment. ...

Source: news.yahoo.com

Are You Looking to Remove Your Stretch Marks?

I am sure that there are a lot of people looking for tips to remove their stretch marks. There are many methods which are suggested by experts in this field. Complete and permanent removal of stretch mark is a tedious process to complete. Get the rest of the article

Eli Lilly's solanezumab may fail pivotal studies: Jefferies

(Reuters) - Eli Lilly and Co's experimental drug solanezumab, which seeks to treat Alzheimer's disease, may fail its pivotal studies, Jefferies & Co said, downgrading the stock to "underperform" from "hold." Eli Lilly is expected to unveil by next month data from the highly anticipated studies on solanezumab, which has completed two late-stage trials. "We expect that solanezumab will outright fail its pivotal studies in Alzheimer's disease ... with only a 25 percent chance of being effective in a niche population," Jefferies analyst Jeffrey Holford said. ... Read more

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Ebola outbreak in Uganda kills 13: official

KAMPALA (Reuters) - An outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus has killed 13 people in Uganda and efforts are under way to contain the hemorrhagic fever, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said on Saturday. There is no treatment and no vaccine against Ebola, which is transmitted by close personal contact and, depending on the strain, kills up to 90 percent of those who contract the virus. ...

Original Source

Mysterious nodding disease afflicts young Ugandans

Augustine Languna's eyes welled up and then his voice failed as he recalled the drowning death of his 16-year-old daughter. The women near him looked away, respectfully avoiding the kind of raw emotion that the head of the family rarely displayed.

Source: news.yahoo.com

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Childbirth After 30 Lowers Risk of Endometrial Cancer: Study

FRIDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- Women who have their last child after age 30 have a reduced risk of endometrial cancer, according to a new study. Credit of the story

Health Tip: Why Some Seniors Can't Sleep

(HealthDay News) -- Older adults still need seven or eight hours of sleep each night to feel rested and refreshed in the morning. But getting that much sleep poses a challenge for many elderly people. Courtesy of Yahoo News

Only 1 in 4 Americans With HIV Has Virus Under Control: CDC

Only 1 in 4 Americans With HIV Has Virus Under Control: CDC
FRIDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- Among the 1.1 million Americans living with HIV, just one in four has the virus under control, U.S. health researchers say.
Source: news.yahoo.com

Friday, July 27, 2012

Childbirth After 30 Lowers Risk of Endometrial Cancer: Study

FRIDAY, July 27 (HealthDay News) -- Women who have their last child after age 30 have a reduced risk of endometrial cancer, according to a new study. Credit of the story

How Do You Get Wax Residue Off Of Skin?

If you've had a professional waxing, or have done waxing at home, you may have wax residue left on your skin. This article will give some helpful hints on removing leftover wax from your skin. Source

Aging AIDS epidemic raises new health questions

AIDS is graying. By the end of the decade, the government estimates, more than half of Americans living with HIV will be over 50. Even in developing countries, more people with the AIDS virus are surviving to middle age and beyond.

Credit of the story

Early HIV Treatment Could Save Livelihoods, As Well As Lives

By Katherine Harmon
(Click here for the original article)

People can work more when their ailments are treated. And HIV is no exception. Adults who tested positive for HIV in Uganda but had a less severe infection were able to work more hours per week, and their kids were more likely to be in school, according to findings presented July 26 at the 2012 International AIDS Conference in Washington, D.C.

If this correlation holds up in further research, more widespread testing and earlier treatment could mean greater earning potential for individuals--and, especially for some countries in Africa where HIV infection rates top 15 percent of the adult population, a better economic outlook for entire regions.

Earlier research suggested that people who take antiretroviral therapy (ART) to manage their HIV feel better and are able to work more. But Harsha Thirumurthy, a health economist at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's Gillings School of Global Public Health, wanted to know more specifically if an individual's CD4 (helper T immune cell) counts correlate with how much that person is able to work. If people miss a lot more work not just when they have full-blown AIDS, but even when their counts are only moderately low, it would be more reason to test people more widely--and start them on medication sooner.

Thirumurthy's group launched a weeklong public health campaign in a rural Uganda town of about 3,000 people. Most residents worked on farms. The labor is physically demanding, and illness often prevents a farmer from tending the fields. Not only does that directly impact a family's livelihood, it has an effect on children. When adults are not healthy enough to work, they often recruit any household children between the ages of 12 and 18, who then miss school.

Of the people who were tested, about 7.8 percent were HIV positive, and their CD4 status had a surprisingly large impact on how much they were able to work. Uninfected adults typically have CD4 counts from 500 to more than 1,000 (per cubic millimeter). This number falls during an HIV infection; the lower the value, generally, the worse a person's health. HIV-positive adults in the study with CD4 counts below 350 (the threshold for receiving antiviral treatment in Uganda), had "a big drop off" in hours worked each week, Thirumurthy says. Those who had CD4 counts below 200 worked, on average, 5.8 fewer days a month--the equivalent of more than a full workweek--than those with CD4 counts above 500. "The difference between those with high and low counts is bigger than we thought," Thirumurthy says.

Teenage children living in households where an adult had a CD4 count below 350 were 15 percent less likely to go to school. Missing these crucial years of education could lead, in turn, to reduced earning potential for them in the future. The research was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (at the National Institutes of Health) and was part of the larger Sustainable East Africa Research on Community Health (SEARCH) Collaboration.

The study did not ascertain exactly why some people were less able to work, but the most likely culprits are other infections that sicken those with HIV-weakened immune systems more easily. Other factors might include mental and emotional strain and general malaise.

Other studies also have found that ARTs can improve a person's ability to make a living. Earlier this month, Sydney Rosen of Boston University's School of Public Health and her colleagues presented their research on how people on ARTs in South Africa seem to be doing both physically and economically over time. After five years of therapy, the proportion employed increased from 39 percent to 56 percent (compared to three months before starting therapy). The proportion who reported that their illness impaired their daily activities decreased from 42 percent to 4 percent.

The novelty of the Uganda study was the use of CD4 counts. But there is a caveat: the data come from a single point in time, rather than from following the individuals over a period. And that, Rosen says, introduces the possibility that confounding factors skewed the results. For instance, someone who is proactive in getting tested and obtaining treatment might be a person who is likely to work more hours a week, anyway.

Even the choice of testing site might make the findings less applicable to other areas, Thirumurthy says. His team sampled a rural population where most adults had access to work through farming. In a large urban setting, such as Johannesburg or Kampala, where unemployment is high across the board, HIV status and CD4 counts might have a weaker correlation with how much a person is able to work.

Nevertheless, Rosen says, all of the recent studies "point to the same conclusion: that treatment is associated with better employment outcomes."

Thirumurthy and his colleagues are currently planning a five-year controlled trial to follow up and study this correlation over time. The trial will study multiple communities, some of which will continue receiving standard care (with treatment starting when CD4 counts dip below 350) and others of which will receive earlier treatment. They will then be able to track whether changes in an individual's CD4 status impacts economic status. These longer studies, Rosen notes, will check whether "starting treatment will forestall some of the negative impacts of [low] CD4 counts on employment." With more detailed data, the researchers should be able to provide more information about long-term health and economic gains of people living longer and potentially working more to measure against the cost of treatment.

A secondary lesson of the work by Thirumurthy and his colleagues was the impressive community response. During the weeklong campaign, 74 percent of the area's adults participated in testing. The program included testing and treatment for HIV as well as other infectious and noninfectious diseases. Nearly half of the people who tested positive for HIV had not previously been diagnosed. With such a large turnout rate, too, Thirumurthy and his colleagues also "were able to learn something about the entire population of HIV-infected adults" in an area, rather than just a subset as in other studies.

"There's so much interest in identifying people early--and possibly implementing early treatment, which is not the national policy yet" in Uganda, Thirumurthy says. Along with recent research showing that treatment can limit the infection's spread, the reasons to start therapy early seem to be growing.

Also on HuffPost:

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

HIV Undetectable in 2 Men After Bone Marrow Transplants: Study

THURSDAY, July 26 (HealthDay News) -- Following bone marrow transplants, two men infected with HIV no longer have any traces of the AIDS-causing virus in their lymphocytes, researchers report. Original Source

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Flu Cases From County Fair Traced to Pigs

THURSDAY, July 26 (HealthDay News) -- Four people attending an Indiana county fair this month came down with flu traced to pigs, U.S. health officials report. Original Source

7 Tips For A Perfectly Smooth And Flawless Skin

Smooth and flawless skin isn't something many people are born with. But do you know that, a few simple lifestyle and diet changes can make all the difference? If you want smoother and clearer skin, the following seven tips can get you there... Source

Watch: Writing In Cursive With Your Eyes

Dr. Jean Lorenceau and his team offer a new means to communicate freely. Original Source

Soda companies racing for a new sweet spot

Coke and Pepsi are chasing after the sweet spot: a soda with no calories, no artificial sweeteners and no funny aftertaste.

Women with HIV too often unseen: US advocate

As a black American woman with HIV, Linda Scruggs said that she represents a group that is disproportionately affected by the pandemic and must get more involved in advocacy and research.

Click here to read the rest

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Cancer drug flushes out lurking AIDS virus: study

Scientists in the United States said Wednesday they had used a cancer drug to flush out the AIDS virus lurking dormant in trial patients' white blood cells -- a tentative step towards a cure.

Source: news.yahoo.com

An Easy to Follow Guide to Finding the Best Natural Cosmetic Products on the Planet

An Easy to Follow Guide to Finding the Best Natural Cosmetic Products on the Planet
We would all love to stay young forever, but as we all know, that is just not possible. We can however prevent ourselves from looking old before our time, especially if we use good quality skin care products, but how do we go about finding the ideal natural cosmetic range?
Source: EzineArticles.com

If Colonoscopy Picks Up Cancer Risk, Get Next Screen in 5 Years: Study

WEDNESDAY, July 25 (HealthDay News) -- People who have had a colonoscopy during which a high-risk potentially cancerous polyp was removed may not need another colonoscopy for five years, German researchers report. Credit of the story

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Study of anti-AIDS vaginal ring begins in Africa

Study of anti-AIDS vaginal ring begins in Africa
WASHINGTON - Thousands of women in Africa can volunteer for major new research to see if inserting a vaginal ring coated with an anti-AIDS drug could protect them from HIV infection, U.S. scientists announced Tuesday.
Source: lubbockonline.com

Procerin For Hair Loss

How hair grows is a wondrous thing in itself that needs to be recognized. Typically, hair grows at a rate of a quarter inch every 2 weeks. Andropause sufferers have their ¨hair growth cycles¨ disrupted when there is erratic growth of some hair strands where ¨new¨ hair pushed ¨old¨ hair out. Because Andropause is a period of hormonal imbalance, a lack of hormonal stability and poor homeostasis (holistic balance) in the body pushes things out of whack.

Studies have shown that Procerin is more effective as a natural hair loss remedy in men aged between 18-35 and those whose hair is still in a growth phase. Men that still have growing hair experience an increase in hair count, and improvement in both hairline and thinning at the crown of their head, becuase hair grows at an extremely slow rate ( about 1" every two months) it best to take Procerin for at 1-2 months before results can be expected, but some users of Procerin have reported good results after only 2 weeks, most men take 1-3 months before before significant increases in hair count occur, not bad comparing to Propecia that can take upto 6 months for good hair growth results.

Men aren't the only ones looking for a cure for hair loss. Some women are also affected. One solution is delving into the Internet for answers. Cyberspace will provide you with a number of solutions to this confidence-breaking problem. You can even sift through a variety of reviews posted by individuals who have tried specific products.

Can Stretch Marks Be Eliminated Entirely With Stretch Mark Removal Cream?

Can stretch mark removal cream really eliminate stretch marks altogether, or is it just another case of skin care manufacturers trying to convince consumers to buy their products? The truth is, some creams can significantly reduce the marks, but they can't eliminate them completely. Get the rest of the article

Michel Sidibé: What a Difference a Decade Makes

In an election year, party conventions bring together the hopeful, the courageous and the visionaries as they seek to secure the future. This week in Washington D.C., a different kind of convention is taking place, one that has not taken place for nearly 20 years in the United States, bringing together thousands of delegates from every corner of the AIDS response.

For the first time in many years, a new message is on the lips of the people on the frontlines -- together, we will end AIDS. Just a decade ago, this very thought would have been dismissed. What has changed? Where has this hope come from?

It comes from the resilience and steadfastness of the global community, led by people living with HIV, grandmothers, sisters, brothers, mothers, doctors, nurses, scientists, activists to halt the AIDS epidemic from defining our lives.

This is our story.

One: results. There were 100,000 fewer new HIV infections in world last year. The year before, another 100,000, and the year before that, another 100,000. Year after year, country by country, city by city, village by village, communities are working hard to stop new HIV infections.

Access to lifesaving antiretroviral treatment has come a long way -- a record 8 million people were on antiretroviral therapy at the end of 2011, far, far above the 300,000 lucky ones just a decade ago. Just like new HIV infections, year after year, fewer people are dying of AIDS.

Just 12 months ago, world leaders, led by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United States' President's Emergency Fund for AIDS (PEPFAR), agreed to a global plan to eliminate new HIV infections among children. In 15 of the 22 countries, where 90 percent of new HIV infections among children occur, new HIV infections have dropped by 20 percent since 2009. From now on, programmes focus on not just on keeping the children free from HIV, but also ensuring that their mothers have access to lifesaving treatment for their own health.

Two: investments. A decade ago, the total investments for AIDS was around U.S. $500 million. The prevailing wisdom at the time was that spending on AIDS is a bottomless pit, a recurring expense with little hope of any returns. At best, AIDS investments were seen as charity. Pressure from activists, since the first day the disease was reported some 30 years ago, forced world leaders to accept that AIDS could be controlled and urgent action was necessary. The creation of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and PEPFAR spurred more concerted action on the ground.

Today the world invests more than U.S. $16.8 billion on AIDS annually. As real dollars reached villages and communities, human resilience that was until then the vanguard of care and support for the dying, turned into a movement of saving lives. Girls went back to school and food was back on the table as parents got back their jobs, and people returned to till the land. The vision of unsupervised orphans turning into uncontrolled militia and becoming a threat to international security has since been transformed into one where these very children, now young people, are taking over the leadership of the AIDS response and we are following their lead.

The lead of the United States and the international community is now being enjoined by all countries. In the last five years 81 countries have increased their domestic investments by more than 50 percent. Domestic investments have surpassed global giving in 2011. Low- and middle-income countries invested U.S. $8.6 billion in 2011. The BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, China, India and South Africa) are increasingly taking ownership -- more than 75 percent of the resources for AIDS come from domestic sources.

While countries are tipping the balance, international assistance still remains critical and indispensable in the short- and medium-term. In sub-Saharan Africa, investments from public sources increased by more than 97 percent, but international assistance still accounted for two-thirds of investments for AIDS. Increase in domestic investments cannot become an excuse for international partners to reduce or simply maintain the current level of investments.

Three: science. When governments and communities face the reality head-on and put to work programmes that are based on science -- not ideology or tradition. Last year, I was humbled by the elders of the Luo tribe in Kenya. They broke with an age-old tradition and sanctioned male circumcision for their boys and men, to protect them from HIV infections. Hundreds of thousands of men have voluntarily undergone medical male circumcision since then. There millions more who can benefit.

China, which for many years resisted action on AIDS and had a punitive approach to controlling individual drug use, embraced scientific evidence and scaled up access to methadone substation programmes, not just saving public resources, but also providing drug users with dignity and respect and a chance to manage their lives. Sadly, many countries still do not provide harm reduction services to people who use drugs.

Today antiretroviral therapy provides triple action, saving the life of the person living with HIV, stopping HIV transmission to their sexual partner and to their children. We have to make the most of this opportunity. We have a global target of providing 15 million people with HIV treatment by 2015. We can do that, and we must be better it. Every person who wants antiretroviral therapy, for their own health or for protecting their loved ones, must have unqualified access to HIV treatment.

An AIDS vaccine is feasible, we have learnt. A microbicide can empower women to initiate and control HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis can provide new options for people without HIV to protect themselves. Condoms still work -- are efficient and cost-effective and have few side effects. The quest for a cure is now beginning to take shape. Science is working for people.

Four: rights. When fear of the virus turns into fear of people, societies crumble. And when rights of the people are protected, societies become engines of growth. Bad laws have provided sanctuary to the virus and it must end. Recently, the United States passed legislation to allow people living with HIV to enter the country. Next week's conference is a celebration of that move, as the global community previously refused to hold the global AIDS conference in the country as its laws discriminated people living with HIV, even when the United States was the biggest single contributor to the AIDS response.

Even as we say a big THANK YOU, we cannot accept unjust laws, wherever they are and whoever makes them. Take for example, bilateral free trade agreements. Many of these agreements seek to undermine the Doha Declaration that seeks to provide access to lifesaving medicines to all, alongside protecting intellectual property. Using the flexibilities provided under the TRIPS agreement, many countries have been able to bring HIV treatment to their people. These gains must be protected.

Many countries have decriminalized consensual adult sexual behaviour, restoring dignity to men who have sex with men and transgender people. From Delhi to Cape Town, courts and legislators have corrected a wrong measure that was handed down from the colonial times. But far too many countries are still clinging to these archaic laws -- even when the original authors have long since moved on. Sex workers, people who use drugs, men who have sex with men, and people living with HIV are forced to remain underground and are not able to come forward and use the prevention and treatment programmes that are available, as they fear stigma and discrimination. Yet when they are empowered, they can self-manage and lead their own programmes.

Five: people. Above all, it is people who have changed the face of the AIDS epidemic. This week, thousands of them are in Washington, D.C., and we honor and salute them. But they are not the only ones, tens of thousands more are silently working behind the scenes. The results we celebrate are theirs.

Last month I met with Mike Shriver, former special advisor to the mayor of San Francisco, who has been living with HIV for the last 25 years. One of the pioneers of the AIDS movement, he symbolises hope as well as the distance the world has travelled. People like Mike, their early struggles and their vision inspires me.

They have been brave -- taking to the streets, demanding their rights and at the same time forging alliances with doctors and scientists, beginning conversations with pastors and enforcement officials, disclosing their HIV statuses to their families and holding the hands of the people dying. It is because of people like Mike that I think that we can get to zero. We can end AIDS. We will end AIDS.

What a difference a decade makes. What a difference people make. Let the XIX International AIDS
Conference be known as the beginning of the end of AIDS.

For more by Michel Sidibé, click here.

For more on HIV/AIDS, click here.

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Efforts to cut risky sexual behavior by U.S. teens stall

Efforts to cut risky sexual behavior by U.S. teens stall
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Efforts to reduce risky sexual behavior among U.S. high school students have stalled in the past decade and urgent action is needed to stem HIV infection rates in young people, who account for nearly half of all new cases, public health officials say. The National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday, analyzed 20 years of national HIV-related risk behavior data on U.S. high school students primarily between the ages of 14 and 17. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com

Researchers report more condom use among teenagers

Nearly half of high school students say they've had sex, yet progress has stalled in getting them to use condoms to protect against the AIDS virus, government researchers reported Tuesday.

Bill Gates says much more work needed to turn tide of AIDS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Philanthropist and AIDS prevention advocate Bill Gates said on Monday there had been significant advances in the fight against HIV/AIDS, but he was not ready to say the world was "turning the tide" on the disease, the theme of this week's International AIDS Conference. Gates said the trajectory of the disease had certainly improved, noting figures the United Nations released last week showing global AIDS deaths last year fell to 1.7 million, down from 1.8 million in 2010. ...

Source: news.yahoo.com

Late night TV/computer sessions linked to depression

LONDON (Reuters) - Sitting in front of a computer or TV screen late into the night or leaving it on when you fall asleep could increase your chances of becoming depressed, according to a study by U.S. scientists. The study, by a team of neuroscientists at Ohio State University Medical Center partly funded by the U.S. Department of Defense, will give screen-addicted night owls pause for thought. ... Courtesy of Yahoo News

Monday, July 23, 2012

Barbara Ficarra: Too Much Hype in the Mobile Health App World?

The Wild West of mobile health (mHealth) is taking the health care industry by storm, but "there are no rules to the game," said Joseph C. Kvedar, M.D., founder and director at the Center for Connected Health in a recent interview. Mobile health is a "game changer," he added, but there is a lot of hype because there are a lot of people developing health apps just to "get rich quick."

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, mHealth is "the use of mobile and wireless devices to improve health outcomes, healthcare services, and health research." mHealth includes gamification, text messaging, telemedicine/telehealth (remote patient monitoring), electronic health records, and health apps, to name a few.

There's a lot of enthusiasm surrounding mHealth -- from mainstream media tapping into the mHealth rage to social networking sites exploding with discussions about mobility in health care. Take a look at the conversations happening on Twitter and you'll observe how popular mHealth really is. Follow the hashtags #mHealth, #HealthIT, #HIT100, #apps, #healthapps, #digitalhealth, #hitsm, and #hcsm; and observe the 140 characters of tweets that soar at an accelerated rate through cyberspace offer fiery information. Paul Sonnier's Linkedin group Digital Health has over 11,000 members to date.

Not only is mHealth soaring through the social networking sites, U.S. revenue in the mHealth market earned $230 million is 2010 and it's estimated to reach $392 million in 2015, according to a news release by Frost and Sullivan. Globally, Reseach2Guidance reports that the mHealth market will reach $ 1.3 billion this year. Despite mHealth being in its infancy, the revenue projections are significant.

According to a 2011 press release statement from Juniper Research, the number of mobile healthcare and medical app downloads will reach 44 million this year and will reach 142 million globally by 2016.

Consumers are downloading apps to help them stay fit, track their pregnancies, monitor their moods, eat healthier, and sleep better. They are also downloading apps for chronic disease management. They can manage their prescriptions, have medication reminders, and monitor blood pressure and sugar levels. Consumers can be empowered to take charge of their health, but right now navigating the array of health apps can be confusing. Consumers lack guidance on choosing a safe, secure, medically sound health app. Trying to navigate the health app craze without direction can be painstakingly difficult.

Cleveland Clinic, Nike Fuel Band, American Red Cross, and Walgreens are known in the space, and consumers may find it easy to trust them and download apps associated with them. However, consumers may find it confusing to navigate the mHealth app world from companies that are off the radar. How do consumers know if the apps are safe and reliable?

Consumer Safety Is a Priority

The FDA is prudent on drafting guidelines for developers, but will it stifle innovation? "It may slow innovation, but I don't know that it stifles it. Regulations do create barriers to entry as they set a high bar. But in so doing, they also create significant economic opportunities for those who follow the appropriate processes and win regulatory approval," said Bill Crounse, M.D., Senior Director of Worldwide Health at Microsoft Corporation, in an email. "I do think thoughtful regulation is required in the health industry to protect consumers. This is certainly true related to pharmaceuticals and medical devices to protect consumers from harm."

"The primary role of the FDA is to insure consumer safety," notes Kvedar. "Mobile health has the potential to get out of hand if not regulated. For example, there is an app that based on self input of one's carbohydrate count; it will generate insulin dosing suggestions. Clearly this could be dangerous," he added. "While I don't think the FDA process will ever eventuate in a 'consumer report-like' or 'D Powers-like' rating, it will be a filter. If apps get through the filter, we should at least be comfortable that they are safe."

Aside from safety concerns, there are "two problems with health apps," said Kvedar. First, after downloading the app, it may be used once or twice and then it's forgotten, he said. "There's no engagement." Secondly, health apps can be prone to error because the data that is self-entered by consumers may not be true. It's a "social diversity bias problem," he said, because the data entered isn't honest and there is no meaningful engagement to help change consumers behavior. After downloading health apps with enthusiasm, the "shiny new toy isn't so shiny anymore," because there's "lack of interest and lack of engagement," said Kvedar.

Health apps need to be engaging and motivating and offer a coaching component.

"There's a short shelf life, don't expect it to change your life," he said.

Happtique, a mobile health application store and total app management solution released a draft of the standards that it will be using to certify medical, health, and fitness apps under Happtique's App Certification Program. The purpose of the program is to help users identify apps that meet high operability, privacy, and security standards and are based on reliable content.

David Lee Scher, M.D., a former cardiac electrophysiologist who is presently director at DLS Healthcare Consultants and senior medical advisor to Happtique, said in an email interview:

Happtique App Certification Program represents a major step in setting standards for safe and reliable health, fitness, and medical apps. Certification will assure users that the app meets security, usability, privacy, and content standards. Happtique has curated and categorized over 12,000 apps to date in over 300 categories.

Mobile technology has allowed consumers to receive information at lightning speed and gives consumers health and wellness apps that can help improve their health care. Mobile technology may help to transform the lives of patients and provide a stronger partnership with health care providers.

Bottom Line

Consumers need safe, reliable, trustworthy apps to help guide their health and wellness and help them manage their chronic diseases.

The health app world needs guidance. The vast assortment of apps to choose from makes it difficult for consumers to navigate. Which apps are reliable, trustworthy, and medically sound?

Joseph Kvedar, M.D., Justin Major and Carol Colman are actively involved in writing a series of books for consumers titled Wellocracy; it's the first in a series of books to help consumers navigate the ever-growing and dizzying array of health apps.

So, how do consumers navigate the crowded world of health apps? "Common sense rules," he said. If consumers think it's a "magic app," it probably isn't.

In this exciting world of health care where technology rules, one thing is for sure, technology will never replace the doctor/patient relationship (or health provider/patient relationship). Face-to-face communication with health care providers will always be paramount.

It doesn't seem as if there is too much hype -- just little guidance. The push to move the mHealth app world forward may be in the power of consumers to clamor for health and wellness apps that are safe, reliable and trustworthy, developed by companies who are not just those looking to "get rich quick," as Kvedar said.

Your Turn

We would love for you to share your thoughts in the comment section below. Do you download health apps? Do you feel guidance is needed to help navigate the enormous amount of health apps? What health apps do you use? As always, thank you for sharing your thoughts and for your valuable time.

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Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Cancer-causing toxin found in Chinese baby formula

A Chinese dairy has been ordered to suspend production after a cancer-causing toxin was found in its infant formula, China's quality watchdog said Monday, in the country's latest milk scare.

Source: news.yahoo.com

Parents, docs may clash on quality of kids' lives

Parents, docs may clash on quality of kids' lives
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - About one in four parents of children with a serious and often fatal genetic condition say they feel judged by doctors when they want life-sustaining treatment for their newborns, in a new study. The majority of parents of children with an extra 13th or 18th chromosome - known as trisomy 13 or 18 - said doctors had told them their kids were "incompatible with life" or would "live a life of suffering" in the course of counseling against pursuing life-prolonging treatments. "There are some valuable points that the medical establishment could take from this," said Dr. ...
Source: news.yahoo.com

The Outbreak Of Oral Herpes Virus

Cold sores, or fever blisters, are caused by the herpes simplex virus and present themselves as small clusters of blisters on your lip or the skin around your mouth. At first, before the blisters form, you can sometimes feel them starting by feeling a little soreness at the spot where they will develop or even feel a tingling sensation in the same area. If you do feel them coming on and can get treatment started immediately, they may only last a few days or not even amount to anything at all.

Of course the best thing to do is to not get an outbreak to begin with. Make sure you keep your immune system strong by getting enough sleep, eating properly and washing your hands frequently. None of these things will guarantee that you won't get a cold sore, but they sure can help.

The good news is that now that you have the answer to your question: Are Cold Sores Contagious, you can prevent spreading it to others, and you can increase your chances of not getting it.

Check out this post on how to eliminate cold sore symptoms.

Sunday, July 22, 2012

U.S. blacks, gay and straight, have biggest struggle with HIV

CHICAGO/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - As a gay black man growing up in Chicago's infamous Cabrini Green public housing project, Arick Buckles knows first-hand how the stigma of HIV can keep people infected with the virus from seeking treatment. It took him six years after he tested positive for the human immunodeficiency virus, or HIV, to get care. By then, Buckles was frail and wore turtleneck sweaters to hide his severely swollen lymph nodes. "I didn't want to accept it was the HIV that was disfiguring my face, my neck. It was visible," Buckles said. ... Click here to read the rest

Poor Sleepers More Likely To End Up In Nursing Homes

Sleeping poorly may increase a person's risk of being placed in a nursing home later in life, a new study suggests.

In the study, older women whose sleep was the most fragmented had about three times the odds of being placed in a nursing home five years later, compared with women whose sleep was the least fragmented.

Read the whole story at www.livescience.com

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

International health panel says treat all HIV infections

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - An international health panel has recommended for the first time that all HIV patients be treated with antiretroviral drugs, even when the virus's impact on their immune system is shown to be small. The nonprofit International Antiviral Society-USA cited new evidence that untreated infection with the human immunodeficiency virus that causes AIDS can also lead to a range of other conditions, including cardiovascular disease and kidney disease. In addition, data have shown that suppressing HIV reduces the risk of an infected person passing the virus to another person. ...

In German circumcision debate, 'us vs them' fears

Rabbi David Goldberg had performed about 25 ritual circumcisions this year before a regional court ruled in June that the practice amounted to causing criminal bodily harm.

International AIDS Conference Returns to U.S. with Much Remaining Undone

International AIDS Conference Returns to U.S. with Much Remaining Undone
International AIDS Conference Returns to U.S. with Much Remaining Undone
Source: news.yahoo.com

Mom's HIV Drugs May Pass to Baby in Womb, Breast-Feeding

Mom's HIV Drugs May Pass to Baby in Womb, Breast-Feeding
SATURDAY, July 21 (HealthDay News) -- Babies born to HIV-positive women taking antiretroviral drugs to fight the disease may become exposed to the drugs in the womb and during breast-feeding, new research shows.
Source: news.yahoo.com

AIDS rise in Uganda shows need for more resources

Once every month, John Robert Engole checks into a clinic on the outskirts of the Ugandan capital to collect his medication before quickly returning to the village in northern Uganda where he is a teacher.

Courtesy of Yahoo News

Friday, July 20, 2012

Lap Band Surgery, Explained

Jets head coach Rex Ryan announced yesterday that, thanks to lap band surgery, he's now tipping the scales at 242 -- 106 pounds lighter than when he underwent the procedure in March of 2010, the New York Daily News reported.

Now, Ryan weighs about the same as recently-acquired backup quarterback, Tim Tebow, according to Bloomberg.

Lap band surgery, or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, limits food intake by making the stomach smaller with an inflatable silicon ring that is wrapped around the upper part of the stomach, according to WebMD. People who undergo the surgery feel fuller faster, as the stomach can only hold a smaller amount of food, which may help them lose weight.

After lap band surgery, the doctor can make adjustments to the tightness of the band, which changes the speed at which food travels through the digestive system, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Weight loss surgery is not a quick fix, however; maintaining a healthy diet and following an exercise plan are key to keeping the weight off. Consequently, lap band surgery is only recommended for people with a body mass index (BMI) over 40, or over 35 if they also have a weight-related health issue, like sleep apnea or diabetes, according to the NIH.

Like any surgical procedure, lap band surgery carries with it some risks. Research has questioned whether these concerns really outweigh the benefits of slimming down. A small study from 2011 found that by 12 years later almost half of lap band surgery patients had to have the band removed because it had begun to erode. Others experienced infections or an enlarged stomach, and in some people, the band began to eat through the stomach wall, U.S. News reported.

In 2009, five people died soon after lap band surgery at 1-800-GET-THIN clinics in California, leading the FDA to warn consumers about misleading information in ads from the company, Time.com reported.

Related on HuffPost:

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Many Americans Not Prepared for Disasters: Poll

Many Americans Not Prepared for Disasters: Poll
FRIDAY, July 20 (HealthDay News) -- A new national survey shows that Americans have not learned their lessons from recent disasters.
Source: news.yahoo.com

Feds: Hospital tech could have spread Hep C

Authorities in at least six states are investigating whether a traveling hospital technician accused of infecting 30 people with hepatitis C in New Hampshire also exposed earlier patients to the liver-destroying disease.

Source: news.yahoo.com

U.S. whooping cough outbreak could be worst in half century

SEATTLE (Reuters) - The number of U.S. whooping cough cases has risen to around 18,000 in an outbreak that is on track to become the most severe in over a half century and could in part stem from possible waning vaccine protection, health officials said on Thursday. Washington state, which declared an epidemic in April, and Wisconsin were particularly hard hit, with each reporting more than 3,000 cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nine people have died overall and the number of cases was already more than double than at the same time last year. ... Courtesy of Yahoo News

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Health Highlights: July 18, 2012

Health Highlights: July 18, 2012
Here are some of the latest health and medical news developments, compiled by the editors of HealthDay:
Source: news.yahoo.com

German lawmakers demand certainty on circumcision

German lawmakers are demanding that the government end the uncertainty over the legality of circumcising young boys. Courtesy of Yahoo News

Revitalizing Your Skin and Keeping the Signs of Aging at Bay With Natural Face Masks

Revitalizing Your Skin and Keeping the Signs of Aging at Bay With Natural Face Masks
After a hard day at work, it is simply wonderful to sit back and relax, or to spend some time unwinding in the tub, but why not take it to the next level using natural face masks. They very affordable and they truly can do wonders for your skin.
Source: EzineArticles.com

Surgery Not Best Option for Early Stage Prostate Cancers: Study

WEDNESDAY, July 18 (HealthDay News) -- When a man learns he has localized prostate cancer, he has to make the difficult choice of surgery, and its possible side effects, or watchful waiting. Continue reading...

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Doctors use eggs to reverse egg allergies in kids

First peanuts, now eggs. Doctors have reversed allergies in some children and teens by giving them tiny daily doses of problem foods, gradually training their immune systems to accept them.

Source: news.yahoo.com

Alzheimer's Treatment Shows Promise in Small, 3-Year Trial

Alzheimer's Treatment Shows Promise in Small, 3-Year Trial
TUESDAY, July 17 (HealthDay News) -- An immune-based drug therapy using blood plasma antibodies has stalled the progression of Alzheimer's disease in a small group of patients receiving the therapy over three years.
Source: news.yahoo.com

Roseanne Barr Tells Obama To Leave Her Weed Alone!

"The Bachelor"

"The Bachelor," ABC Status: Renewed Why: You really think we've seen the last rose handed out? Not in a million years. ABC has already tapped their next "Bachelorette," and we know they'll have their eyes peeled for a hot rejected man from that spinoff to be the next "Bachelor."

"The Bachelorette"

"The Bachelorette," ABC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: "Bachelor" Brad's also-ran Emily Maynard is getting her turn as the rose giver for the seventh season of "The Bachelorette" this summer. As long as there are people willing to look for love on reality TV, this show will keep on trucking.

"Body of Proof"

"Body of Proof," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "Body of Proof" has been falling below its timeslot competitor, CBS's "Unforgettable," but it still draws a decent audience and its fans are very vocal. ABC has decided it deserves a third season.

"Castle"

"Castle," ABC Status: Renewed Why: This show's ratings have definitely suffered without "Dancing With the Stars" airing beforehand, but it is a consistent performer. And now that Castle and Beckett's relationship is evolving, a fifth season of "oh yes they will" is a no-brainer.

"Charlie's Angels"

"Charlie's Angels," ABC Status: Canceled Why: Not really a shock for anybody, but "Charlie's Angels" is cooked. Flimsy story, bad remake, questionable casting.

"Cougar Town"

"Cougar Town," ABC Status: Renewed -- for TBS! Why: The Season 3 ratings weren't boosted much by holding this show until midseason, but ABC's wonky air schedule also didn't help ... which is why the news that TBS has picked up the show for a fourth season is huge. Cheers with your Big Carl!

"Dancing With the Stars"

"Dancing With the Stars," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "DWTS" may have lost its luster in the ratings, but if the viewers are still coming.

"Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23"

"Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23," ABC Status: Renewed Why: ABC's new bleep-worthy comedy starring Krysten Ritter, Dreama Walker and James Van Der Beek is a funny one, and definitely embraces the quirk (Beek Jeans!), so we're excited to see what they do with a second season.

"Desperate Housewives"

"Desperate Housewives," ABC Status: Canceled Why: After countless deaths, murders, betrayals and natural disasters on Wisteria Lane over the show's eight seasons, the ladies of "Desperate Housewives" will say goodbye forever this May.

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition," ABC Status: Canceled Why: After a whopping nine seasons, the do-gooding show came to an end in January. But worry not, it will continue to have a few specials to make viewers cry tears of joy.

"GCB"

"GCB," ABC Status: Canceled Why: This "Desperate Housewives"-esque dramedy premiered to less than 8 million viewers, and the phenomenal cast (Kristin Chenoweth, Annie Potts, Leslie Bibb) couldn't bring in a Texas-sized audience, so ABC canceled it.

"Grey's Anatomy"

"Grey's Anatomy," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Shonda Rhimes' medical drama is a ratings juggernaut, even in its eighth season, and with most of her <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/10/greys-anatomy-ellen-pompeo_n_1506113.html?ref=tv" target="_hplink">big stars signed on for more</a>, ABC gave the go-ahead for a ninth season.

"Happy Endings"

"Happy Endings," ABC Status: Renewed Why: This show is way too "ca-yute" to bubble it, and obviously someone high up at ABC agrees. After its first season was moved around and aired all out of order, the network still gave it another chance to find its audience in Season 2 ... and it has, and hopefully will continue to in Season 3.

"Last Man Standing"

"Last Man Standing," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Ratings for Tim Allen's return to sitcoms have been very strong, making it Tuesday's most-watched comedy. If you can beat "Glee" and "The Biggest Loser," a second season is a given.

"Man Up!"

"Man Up!," ABC Status: Canceled Why: ABC pulled the show after eight episodes.

"The Middle"

"The Middle," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Now in its third season, "The Middle" is still holding onto its middle position in the ratings on Wednesday nights, and that seems just about right. It doesn't do "American Idol" or "Survivor" numbers, of course, but with over 7 million viewers, it's a strong comedy for the network that easily beats anything NBC is offering.

"Missing"

"Missing," ABC Status: Canceled Why: Ashley Judd lead this drama about a former CIA agent whose son goes missing, kicking her back into action to find him. The series was only set to air 10 episodes, miniseries-style, with the potential for more, but a cancellation means that's all they're getting.

"Modern Family"

"Modern Family," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "Modern Family" remains ABC's biggest sitcom success story of the last decade, both in ratings and awards love. This critical darling is getting a fourth season of hijinks with the hilarious Pritchett-Dunphy clan.

"Once Upon A Time"

"Once Upon A Time," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "Once Upon a Time" has gotten praise for being one of the more family-friendly dramas on TV, and it's been pulling in close to 10 million viewers each week because of it. We're excited by the almost endless possibilities for new fairy tale-inspired stories to tackle in Season 2.

"Pan Am"

"Pan Am," ABC Status: Canceled Why: Poor "Pan Am" just never quite took off. The series' vintage look actually worked against it, much like NBC's swiftly canceled "Playboy Club" -- guess when you're being compared to award-winning shows like "Mad Men," it makes it more than a little tough to live up to the hype.

"Private Practice"

"Private Practice," ABC Status: Renewed Why: "Private Practice" has never gotten "Grey's Anatomy"-level ratings, and things got shakier when ABC bumped it to Tuesday nights to make room for creator Shonda Rhimes' other new show, "Scandal," but they've given the show a sixth season order.

"Revenge"

"Revenge," ABC Status: Renewed Why: With a clever mix of drama, mystery and serious revenge-ing, this is hands down one of the most addictive new shows on TV, and we can't wait to see where they take things in Season 2.

"The River"

"The River," ABC Status: Canceled Why: The promise of "Paranormal Activity"-like scares each week quickly fizzled after this show premiered, along with the ratings. The first season's eight episodes came and went, and ABC has nixed any plans for more.

"Scandal"

"Scandal," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Shonda Rhimes' latest show isn't about doctors at all -- and that's why we're glad it's sticking around. Kerry Washington is amazing as Olivia Pope, a Washington, D.C. fixer with a crack team of specialists helping make bad headlines vanish before they're ever written. Here's hoping for more than seven episodes in its second season.

"Shark Tank"

"Shark Tank," ABC Status: Renewed Why: Now in its third season, this reality competition show is unlike any other on network TV and ABC is keeping it around for more for that very reason.

"Suburgatory"

"Suburgatory," ABC Status: Renewed Why: It's smart, quick and not too cute -- "Suburgatory" is consistently named the sitcom you should be watching, but probably aren't. The great cast makes this one a no-brainer, and the ratings have stayed pretty consistent, too. We're thrilled it's getting a second season to shine!

"Work It"

"Work It," ABC Status: Canceled Why: Let us count the ways ...

"2 Broke Girls"

"2 Broke Girls," CBS Status: Renewed Why: At first, people balked at the racist supporting characters, but now it seems that audiences are all over "2 Broke Girls" -- it's ratings have seen a steady increase, and it won the People's Choice Award for Favorite New Comedy.

"A Gifted Man"

"A Gifted Man," CBS Status: Canceled Why: "A Gifted Man's" total viewer numbers were OK for a Friday night, but a 1.3 rating in the 18-49 demographic is especially bad for CBS. Another bad sign: star Patrick Wilson tweeted about the end: "I had a great time. Thanks to my fans. So happy it's done." And done it is.

"The Amazing Race"

"The Amazing Race," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Voted the best reality show on TV several times (albeit years ago), "The Amazing Race" isn't going anywhere. Ratings have dropped a bit, but are still solid.

"The Big Bang Theory"

"The Big Bang Theory," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Nothing seems to be able to make a dent in this show. With fantastic ratings (it beat "Idol"!) and a rabid following, we'll be seeing plenty more "Big Bang" before its run is over.

"Blue Bloods"

"Blue Bloods," CBS Status: Renewed Why: The anchor of Friday nights on CBS, "Blue Bloods" has performed well, pulling in around 11 million viewers an episode. The show might not have the youngest audience, but it's still enough for CBS to keep it on the schedule.

"Criminal Minds"

"Criminal Minds," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Paget Brewster might be checking out, but "Criminal Minds" is here to stay. In Season 7, the procedural is still a consistently strong ratings performer for CBS.

"CSI"

"CSI," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Whenever the time comes, the "CSI" mothership will end with a lot of fanfare, but not this year. With new faces Ted Danson and Elisabeth Shue around, there is going to be at least one more season.

"CSI: Miami"

"CSI: Miami," CBS Status: Canceled Why: Out of the three (!) "CSI" programs on the air, "CSI: Miami" is the one to say goodbye first. The one-time ratings giant has been affected by football overruns (just as "The Good Wife" has) and "CSI: NY" has the edge in terms of total viewers, meaning a "Miami" sunset was inevitable.

"CSI: NY"

"CSI: NY," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Of the two "CSI" spinoffs, "CSI: NY" is the stronger -- pulling in more than 10 million viewers on a Friday night is no easy task -- and with "CSI: Miami" canceled, "CSI: NY's" renewal was a no-brainer.

"The Good Wife"

"The Good Wife," CBS Status: Renewed Why: This critical darling suffered after its move from Tuesdays to Sundays thanks to sports overruns. The viewers are frustrated, but given its strong cast and Emmy love, the show is still coming back for more.

"Hawaii Five-0"

"Hawaii Five-0," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Despite the scheduling setback as Alex O'Loughlin seeks treatment, Season 2 is still doing well for CBS in a very competitive timeslot.

"How To Be a Gentleman"

"How To Be A Gentleman," CBS Status: Canceled Why: Not even having "The Big Bang Theory" as a lead-in could save this David Hornsby project, which only lasted three episodes.

"How I Met Your Mother"

"How I Met Your Mother," CBS Status: Renewed Why: CBS renewed "How I Met Your Mother" for two more seasons in March 2011, so fans can look forward to being strung along about the titular mother's identity for a bit longer.

"The Mentalist"

"The Mentalist," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Although the show hit a season ratings low in the middle of February, its fanbase and overall ratings were enough to have it return for another season.

"Mike & Molly"

"Mike & Molly," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Thanks to an Emmy win and Oscar nomination, Melissa McCarthy is a Hollywood power player and CBS is keen to keep her around. Just look at the multiple pilots she has in the works as a behind the scenes player! "Mike & Molly" will be back for a third season.

"NCIS"

"NCIS," CBS Status: Renewed Why: The long-running procedural has become a ratings juggernaut at a time when most shows start shedding viewers. Season 10 is now happening.

"NCIS: Los Angeles"

"NCIS: Los Angeles," CBS Status:Renewed Why: This show has gone up in the ratings over the last couple of years, and people can't get enough of L.L. Cool J and Chris O'Donnell.

"NYC 22"

"NYC 22," CBS Status: Canceled Why: This "Rookie Blue" clone from executive producer Robert DeNiro didn't really move the needle when it premiered midseason; CBS officially axed it with three episodes left to air.

"Person of Interest"

"Person of Interest," CBS Status: Renewed Why: With ratings matching juggernauts like "Grey's Anatomy" and fans popping up everywhere, we'll be seeing another season of "Person of Interest."

"Rob"

"Rob," CBS Status: Canceled Why: "Rob's" spot after ratings juggernaut "The Big Bang Theory" probably went a long way in helping it survive to see the end of its first season, but that's as far as it'll get.

"Rules of Engagement"

"Rules of Engagement," CBS Status: Renewed Why: This show has moved around so much it's hard to remember when it's on, and with six seasons under its belt it's had quite a nice run. Despite slipping ratings and the aforementioned constant switcheroos, there's still a future for "Rules of Engagement."

"Survivor"

"Survivor," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Of course we have "Survivor" coming back for another season. Where else are we going to see petty squabbles and insane behavior on some of the most beautiful beaches in the world?

"Two and a Half Men"

"Two and a Half Men," CBS Status: Renewed Why: Despite a less-than-favorable critical response, the revamped "Two and a Half Men" keeps pulling in respectable numbers every week. Ashton Kutcher, Jon Cryer and Angus T. Jones will all return for a Season 10.

"Undercover Boss"

"Undercover Boss," CBS Status: Renewed Why: The inherent addictiveness of this show has gone a long way in securing loyal viewers -- it has been on top of the ratings several times this season alone.

"Unforgettable"

"Unforgettable," CBS Status: Likely to be renewed Why: In its timeslot, "Unforgettable" keeps emerging on top, beating out "Parenthood" and "Body of Proof." Leading lady Poppy Montgomery has been called "the female version of 'The Mentalist,'" another top-rated show, so things are looking positive.

"90210"

"90210," The CW Status: Renewed Why: While its ratings have plummeted since last season, the Beverly Hills crew is still doing better than "Supernatural," "Hart of Dixie," "Nikita," and "Gossip Girl" on average.

"America's Next Top Model"

"America's Next Top Model," The CW Status: Renewed Why: Tyra Banks' reality show is in the early stages of its 18th cycle with a Brit vs. U.S. installment. Cycle 19 will be the show's inaugural "college edition."

"Gossip Girl"

"Gossip Girl," The CW Status: Renewed Why: Fans will get to say goodbye to the Upper East-Siders in a sixth and reportedly shortened final season.

"H8R"

"H8R," The CW Status: Canceled Why: Apparently, the opposite of MTV's former series "Fanatic" proved people don't love to hate Kim Kardashian and Snooki as much as we thought. It lasted four episodes.

"Hart of Dixie"

"Hart of Dixie," The CW Status: Renewed Why: Josh Schwartz and Rachel Bilson return for a sophomore season of "Hart of Dixie," hopefully so they can make more viral videos.

"Nikita"

"Nikita," The CW Status: Renewed Why: We're shocked the show is coming back for another season, but its hard-core fans will certainly be happy.

"One Tree Hill"

"One Tree Hill," The CW Status: Canceled Why: After nine seasons, it's time to say goodbye to "One Tree Hill." After subpar ratings, the network decided to pull the plug on its long-standing teen soap. Thankfully, the CW gave "One Tree Hill" a final 13 episodes to wrap up all of the drama.

"Remodeled"

"Remodeled," The CW Status: As good as dead Why: Not only has "Remodeled" already been replaced on the CW schedule, but it debuted with one of the CW's lowest-rated premiere ever, scoring a terrible 0.3 in the coveted 18-49 demo.

"Ringer"

"Ringer," The CW Status: Canceled Why: Sarah Michelle Gellar's double-life proved too complicated and poorly-produced for viewers to care much about.

"The Secret Circle"

"The Secret Circle," The CW Status: Canceled Why: Somewhat of a surprising development given its decent ratings, but it never quite lived up to its lead-in, "The Vampire Diaries."

"Supernatural"

"Supernatural," The CW Status: Renewed Why: This fan favorite will return, but time will tell if the cast wants a Season 8.

"The Vampire Diaries"

"The Vampire Diaries," The CW Status: Renewed Why: "Vampire Diaries" is The CW's golden child ... the vampires and witches and werewolves of Mystic Falls aren't going anywhere.

"Alcatraz"

"Alcatraz," Fox Status: Canceled Why: "Alcatraz" -- and almost every other recent J.J. Abrams TV project -- proves that slapping "from J.J. Abrams" on a show does not equal ratings success. The series debuted strong, but fizzled in the ratings, leading Fox to pull the plug.

"Allen Gregory"

"Allen Gregory," Fox Status: Canceled Why: Jonah Hill's animated series only lasted seven episodes. The Oscar nominee should probably just stick to movies for a while ...

"American Dad"

"American Dad," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Fox gave out early renewals to "American Dad" and "The Cleveland Show," keeping its Sunday night animation block intact.

"American Idol"

"American Idol," Fox Status: Likely to be renewed Why: The show's declining ratings have been widely reported this season, but it's hard to imagine TV life without "Idol."

"Bob's Burgers"

"Bob's Burgers," Fox Status: Too soon to tell Why: The sophomore season of this quirky animated comedy kicks off this month (Sun., Mar. 11), so don't expect to hear about a Season 3 just yet.

"Bones"

"Bones," Fox Status: Renewed Why: The show got a ratings boost thanks to its lead-in "The X Factor." With the floundering state of Fox's dramas (see ya, "House"), Fox is holding on to this one.

"Breaking In"

"Breaking In," Fox Status: Canceled Why: After a last minute revival, "Breaking In" returned for a second season with Megan Mullally in tow, but it wasn't enough to revive this D.O.A. comedy.

"The Cleveland Show"

"The Cleveland Show," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Fox gave "The Cleveland Show" and "American Dad" early renewals and this spinoff will be back for a Season 4, but no word on a fifth season.

"Family Guy"

"Family Guy," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Fox handed out early renewals to the Seth MacFarlane animated comedies.

"The Finder"

"The Finder," Fox Status: Canceled Why: "The Finder" hit the benches for a bit before moving to Fridays, and the numbers never improved. Averaging less than 6 million viewers an episode (not so hot for a Fox drama), it was only a matter of time ...

"Fringe"

"Fringe," Fox Status: Renewed Why: This fan favorite has struggled in the ratings, but Fox has agreed to give it a 13-episode order for a fifth and final season to wrap up all the mysteries of both universes.

"Glee"

"Glee," Fox Status: Renewed Why: The hit teen series is breaking records in music sales, but its overall viewership has slipped. After a bit of a PR debacle about graduating characters that ended with spinoff plans being squashed, "Glee" will get another season.

"Hell's Kitchen"

"Hell's Kitchen," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Last year at this time, Fox renewed the Gordon Ramsay series for two more seasons, so it's all set.

"House"

"House," Fox Status: Canceled Why: After eight seasons and countless unsolvable medical cases solved, this Fox medical drama is coming to an end.

"I Hate My Teenage Daughter"

"I Hate My Teenage Daughter," Fox Status: Canceled Why: As if getting panned by critics wasn't enough, "I Hate My Teenage Daughter's" shrinking ratings had the show marked for death, then Fox benched the sitcom for three months after only four episodes and then ... yep, buh-bye forever. No shock there.

"Kitchen Nightmares"

"Kitchen Nightmares," Fox Status: Renewed Why: In early February, Fox signed on for a 16-episode fifth season of this other Gordon Ramsay series. They're in the Gordon Ramsay business, and they're not going anywhere.

"MasterChef"

"MasterChef," Fox Status: Likely to be renewed Why: No official announcement has been made regarding a third season, but there was a casting call issued during episodes throughout Season 2. And if Gordon Ramsay's track record with Fox is any indication, it's as good as renewed.

"Mobbed"

"Mobbed," Fox Status: On the bubble Why: It started with a ratings bang, but things have only gone down from there for Fox's flash mob reality show with Howie Mandel at the helm. It's not on the schedule in any regular timeslot though, so it's possible they'll continue producing a few episodes a year.

"Napoleon Dynamite"

"Napoleon Dynamite," Fox Status: On the bubble Why: After a decent debut, "Napoleon Dynamite" dropped about half of its audience to about 4 million viewers per episode. It could go either way.

"New Girl"

"New Girl," Fox Status: Renewed Why: "New Girl" was the first new Fox show to get a full Season 1 order and the show has continued to perform well in the ratings and in the 18-49 demographic. America loves that adorkable charm.

"Q'Viva: The Chosen"

"Q'Viva: The Chosen," Fox Status: Too soon to tell/Not their call Why: Shortly after the Latin American-based show -- starring J. Lo and her ex-husband Marc Anthony -- debuted on Univision, Fox picked up an English-language version that debuted in early March. Though the reality series underperformed in its Saturday night timeslot, it's not Fox's decision whether or not we'll see more "Q'Viva."

"Raising Hope"

"Raising Hope," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Thanks (or no thanks) in part to the success of "New Girl," the sophomore season of "Raising Hope" has moved around timeslots, but it has retained about a 2.1 score in the adults 18-49 demo.

"The Simpsons"

"The Simpsons," Fox Status: Renewed Why: After a very tense contract standoff, the voice actors of "The Simpsons" and the studio agreed to new terms and the show was renewed through Season 25.

"So You Think You Can Dance"

"So You Think You Can Dance," Fox Status: Too soon to tell Why: Season 9 of "So You Think You Can Dance" won't debut until this summer and when it does, there will be changes: Fox has nixed the results show entirely. If the fanbase is still there, the cheaper production could save the show for another few seasons.

"Terra Nova"

"Terra Nova," Fox Status: Canceled Why: Fox pulled the plug on this very expensive dinosaur drama, but reports indicate producers are looking to keep the show alive on a different network.

"Touch"

"Touch," Fox Status: Renewed Why: The Kiefer Sutherland drama had a sizable audience (about 12 million viewers) for its preview and has remained somewhat steady since its premiere. Fox showed faith in the series, giving it the post-"American Idol" slot, and it paid off.

"The X Factor"

"The X Factor," Fox Status: Renewed Why: Fox has already renewed the singing competition for a second season and boy will there be changes: two new hosts and two new judges will join Simon Cowell and L.A. Reid at the table.

"30 Rock"

"30 Rock," NBC Status: Renewed Why:"30 Rock" is showing its age, but the star power of Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin can't be denied -- NBC has renewed the show for a seventh and final season of 13 episodes.

"America's Got Talent"

"America's Got Talent," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: NBC's top-rated summer show is moving to New York for this upcoming season, but it's most likely not going anywhere. Unless, of course, the new judge -- shock jock Howard Stern -- really messes things up somehow.

"Are You There, Chelsea?"

"Are You There, Chelsea?," NBC Status: Canceled Why: With just over 3 million viewers an episode, it wasn't not exactly a strong performer, even by NBC's standards. Even Chelsea Handler and NBC's fondness for funny ladies couldn't save this show.

"Awake"

"Awake," NBC Status: Canceled Why: "Awake" had gotten some great promotion, but its numbers were pretty middle of the road and only went down further -- genre shows with heavy serialized elements are always tricky.

"Bent"

"Bent," NBC Status: Canceled Why: The Amanda Peet comedy premiered in late March and had six episodes to prove itself, but NBC didn't give it much of a chance, airing them back-to-back.

"Best Friends Forever"

"Best Friends Forever," NBC Status:Canceled Why: The female buddy sitcom starring and co-created by Jessica St. Clair and Lennon Parham was yanked from the schedule and then axed for good.

"Betty White's Off Their Rockers"

"Betty White's Off Their Rockers," NBC Status: Too soon to tell Why: Even though Betty White isn't doing the pranking, "Off Their Rockers" could still make a comeback.

"The Biggest Loser"

"The Biggest Loser," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: NBC's weight loss competition show has been around for years, and despite sagging overall ratings, its 18-49 rating (a recent episode got a 2.0) is still one of NBC's highest.

"Celebrity Apprentice"

"Celebrity Apprentice," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: Series low ratings probably won't kill this franchise. But are there any D-listers left who haven't competed for Donald Trump's approval?

"Chuck"

"Chuck," NBC Status: Canceled Why: The Josh Schwartz spy dramedy ended its five-season run in January.

"Community"

"Community," NBC Status: Renewed Why: Beloved by (a very vocal) few, ignored by many -- that's "Community" in a nutshell. After getting benched in January, "Community" returned to NBC's schedule with a vengeance, getting it a fourth season pick-up for 13 episodes to air on Fridays. Cool, cool, cool -- you can pop, pop! that champagne now.

"Fashion Star"

"Fashion Star," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The high-style reality series with Nicole Richie, Jessica Simpson, Elle Macpherson and John Varvatos has certainly been confusing, but it's still a smart business model: The winning designs each week are for sale in stores the next day, and those stores just happen to be covering a large portion of production and advertising costs.

"Fear Factor"

"Fear Factor," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: Despite the donkey semen scandal that cut this season of "Fear Factor" a bit short, <a href="http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/fear-factor-returns-and-makes-a-ratings-splash/" target="_hplink">"Fear Factor" boosts NBC's ratings</a> ... and can a scandal really compete with that?

"The Firm"

"The Firm," NBC Status: As good as dead Why: The show hasn't officially gotten the axe yet, but "The Firm" was moved to Saturdays after turning in an incredibly poor performance (less than a 1 rating in the 18-49 demo) on Thursday nights.

"Free Agents"

"Free Agents," NBC Status: Canceled Why: This show just didn't have much life in it. It was canceled after just four episodes, despite its awesome lead actors Hank Azaria and Kathryn Hahn.

"Grimm"

"Grimm," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The supernatural fairy tale drama has been doing well for NBC on Friday nights -- it hovers around the 5 million viewers mark, which is pretty solid by NBC standards and why the network gave the drama an early renewal.

"Harry's Law"

"Harry's Law," NBC Status:Cancelled Why: While earlier this year "Harry's Law" was one of NBC's top players, after a three-month break between January and March, the Kathy Bates drama saw mediocre ratings and failed to hold on to viewers.

"Law & Order: SVU"

"Law & Order: SVU," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The only "Law & Order" left, "SVU" has been an NBC power player for 13 years and will return for a 14th.

"The Office"

"The Office," NBC Status: Renewed Why: It's hard to imagine a long-running, fan-favorite show like "The Office" going away without a big promotional push. The numbers are still good (by NBC standards) and "The Office" will return for a Season 9.

"Parenthood"

"Parenthood," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The perpetual bubble show has done pretty consistent numbers for NBC this season, but three seasons in and no signs of growth is both a good and bad sign ... luckily for fans, NBC gave it a Season 4 all the same.

"Parks and Recreation"

"Parks and Recreation," NBC Status: Renewed Why: Just like the rest of NBC's Thursday comedy block, "Parks and Recreation" has serious ratings blues. Can critical acclaim keep "Parks" around for a Season 5? The answer is yes! "Parks" will return for Season 5.

"The Playboy Club"

"The Playboy Club," NBC Status: Canceled Why: Apparently fictional slutty bunnies and real-life homewrecker Eddie Cibrian do not a successful show make. It only lasted three episodes. "The Girls Next Door" did it better.

"Prime Suspect"

"Prime Suspect," NBC Status: Canceled Why: Maria Bello's gruff detective failed to capture the audience NBC hoped. At least we had all those hat jokes.

"Smash"

"Smash," NBC Status: Renewed Why: After a huge promo blitz, "Smash" debuted nicely, but started losing viewers quickly. A handful of episodes in, it stabilized, becoming NBC's #1 drama in the 18-49 demo, and NBC announced it was getting a second season.

"Up All Night"

"Up All Night," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The critical favorite of NBC's new comedy offerings, "Up All Night" debuted strongly to more than 10 million viewers, but has since dropped to less than 4 million viewers an episode. It will return for a Season 2.

"Whitney"

"Whitney," NBC Status: Renewed Why: The show is one of the better performing freshman offerings on the Peacock network -- and NBC chief Bob Greenblatt told members of the press at TCA that he is "hopeful Whitney will be a long-term player for us." Looks like Season 2 is a good start, with the show moving to Friday nights.

"The Voice"

"The Voice," NBC Status: Renewed Why: We may not even be at Season 2's live shows yet, but NBC is already up for more of "The Voice." Hopefully, Cee Lo's cat "Purrfect" will return for Season 3 as well.

"Who Do You Think You Are?"

"Who Do You Think You Are?," NBC Status: Likely to be renewed Why: The celebrity-centric family tree series has helped NBC on Friday nights and hit its ratings high in March.

Source: www.huffingtonpost.com

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Monday, July 30, 2012

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Friday, July 27, 2012

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Monday, July 23, 2012

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Friday, July 20, 2012

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

"The Bachelor"

"The Bachelorette"

"Body of Proof"

"Castle"

"Charlie's Angels"

"Cougar Town"

"Dancing With the Stars"

"Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23"

"Desperate Housewives"

"Extreme Makeover: Home Edition"

"GCB"

"Grey's Anatomy"

"Happy Endings"

"Last Man Standing"

"Man Up!"

"The Middle"

"Missing"

"Modern Family"

"Once Upon A Time"

"Pan Am"

"Private Practice"

"Revenge"

"The River"

"Scandal"

"Shark Tank"

"Suburgatory"

"Work It"

"2 Broke Girls"

"A Gifted Man"

"The Amazing Race"

"The Big Bang Theory"

"Blue Bloods"

"Criminal Minds"

"CSI"

"CSI: Miami"

"CSI: NY"

"The Good Wife"

"Hawaii Five-0"

"How To Be a Gentleman"

"How I Met Your Mother"

"The Mentalist"

"Mike & Molly"

"NCIS"

"NCIS: Los Angeles"

"NYC 22"

"Person of Interest"

"Rob"

"Rules of Engagement"

"Survivor"

"Two and a Half Men"

"Undercover Boss"

"Unforgettable"

"90210"

"America's Next Top Model"

"Gossip Girl"

"H8R"

"Hart of Dixie"

"Nikita"

"One Tree Hill"

"Remodeled"

"Ringer"

"The Secret Circle"

"Supernatural"

"The Vampire Diaries"

"Alcatraz"

"Allen Gregory"