You have to be Beautiful!

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The bariatric surgery center at UNC Hospitals has received two important distinctions.

The program has been accredited as a Level 1b facility by the Bariatric Surgery Center Network (BSCN) Accreditation Program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS). This designation means that UNC Hospitals has met the essential criteria that ensure it is fully capable of supporting a bariatric surgery care program and that its institutional performance meets the requirements outlined by the ACS BSCN Accreditation Program.

In addition, the program was named a Blue Distinction Center for Bariatric Surgery by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.

— an established bariatric surgery program, actively performing these procedures for the most recent 12-month period and performing a required minimum volume of 125 such surgeries annually

– appropriate experience of its bariatric surgery team

– an acute care inpatient facility, including intensive care and emergency services

– full accreditation by The Joint Commission, Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program (HFAP) or national equivalent

– a comprehensive quality management program

“These new designations for our established bariatric surgery program are important in the current environment because they demonstrate the UNC Health Care System’s continuing commitment to top level bariatric care for the people of North Carolina within the doors of the flagship institution,” said Tim Farrell, MD, who co-directs the program with D. Wayne Overby, MD. “Having patients here in the clinical and academic environment of UNC Hospitals helps them receive the best multidisciplinary care, but also exposes our trainees and researchers to the human face of the obesity epidemic. These personal connections will help patients today, but will also pay future dividends in better trained health care providers and research innovations.”

Overby said, “UNC has a long history of providing weight loss surgery patients with excellent care. Patients and their providers can be even more confident choosing our program knowing we have been objectively reviewed and recognized by both the American College of Surgeons and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina.”

Established by the American College of Surgeons in 2005 in an effort to extend established quality improvement practices to all disciplines of surgical care, the ACS BSCN Accreditation Program provides confirmation that a bariatric surgery center has demonstrated its commitment to providing the highest quality care for its bariatric surgery patients. Accredited bariatric surgery centers provide not only the hospital resources necessary for optimal care of morbidly obese patients, but also the support and resources that are necessary to address the entire spectrum of care and needs of bariatric patients, from the prehospital phase through the postoperative care and treatment process.

Source: University of North Carolina

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In research led by a Saint Louis University surgeon, investigators found that women who give birth after suffering pelvic fractures receive C-sections at more than double normal rates despite the fact that vaginal delivery after such injuries is possible. In addition, women reported lingering, yet often treatable, symptoms following their pelvic fracture injuries, from urinary complications to post-traumatic stress disorder.

The study, published in Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, retrospectively reviewed the cases of 71 women who had suffered pelvic fractures, 26 of whom subsequently had children. Of those 26 women, 10 delivered vaginally and 16 gave birth by C-section.

More than 100,000 patients are treated for pelvic fractures each year in the U.S., most commonly after car accident injuries.

Lisa Cannada, M.D., associate professor of orthopaedic surgery subspecializing in traumatology at Saint Louis University and lead researcher, says the study offers important information women should discuss with their doctors.

“The C-section rate is so high. It’s important to educate women and their obstetricians that it is possible to deliver vaginally after a pelvic fracture,” said Cannada, who is also a SLUCare orthopaedic surgeon.

“Frequently, these issues are not addressed when women are first treated for a fracture. In some cases, women are given inaccurate information, such as being told not to become pregnant after a pelvic fracture or that they must have a C-section. This is not the case.”

Researchers also found that, in addition to anxiety about future pregnancies, women expressed concern about symptoms related to their injuries and also frequently suffered from urinary symptoms and discomfort during sex.

“We’ve found that many women worry about whether or not they can have children and what type of delivery will be possible,” Cannada said. “Women also worry about pain during sex and urinary issues.”

In many cases, Cannada says, women do not realize their symptoms are related to the fracture they suffered. Urinary issues, sexual dysfunction and post-traumatic stress disorder all can follow a pelvic fracture.

Cannada says it’s important for women to know that there are effective treatment options for these issues.

“Take charge,” Cannada says. “Don’t let a pelvic fracture affect your life or decision to have kids. Talk to your OB/GYN and find out what your best options are.”

The study was funded by the Foundation for Orthopaedic Trauma and the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society Zimmer Research Award.

Study highlights:

– Pelvic fractures should not deter women from having children.

– It is possible to deliver vaginally after a pelvic fracture.

– Many women experience urinary symptoms or painful sex following a pelvic fracture. Women should consult their doctors because effective treatments are available.

– Post-traumatic stress disorder is common after a trauma. It, too, has effective treatments.

Source: Saint Louis University Medical Center

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Just released data from a clinical trial shows promise for a new minimally invasive treatment option for patients with severe aortic stenosis who are too sick for traditional forms of open-heart surgery. As compared to standard medical therapy, the new procedure, transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), significantly reduced mortality rates in patients who received the new valve.

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) is a site for the Placement of Aortic Transcatheter Valves (PARTNER) Trial evaluating TAVI and Joseph E. Bavaria, MD, vice chief, Division of Cardiovascular Surgery and Howard C. Herrmann, MD, director, Cardiac Catheterization at HUP, are co-authors of a paper highlighting the results in the September 23, 2010 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.

“Aortic stenosis is a common medical problem for patients over the age of 65 and the number of patients with this condition continues to climb as the U.S. population ages,” says Joseph E. Bavaria, MD. “Approximately 30 percent of patients with severe aortic stenosis are not candidates for traditional open heart surgery, due to others coexisting factors such as advanced age, left ventricular dysfunction, and other cardiovascular comorbidities.”

Currently, for patients at high surgical risk, the only therapy available is medical management of the condition. Even with medical management, patients generally have a poor prognosis if they cannot undergo surgery.

“The results from this arm of the clinical trial show that TAVI represents a life-saving therapeutic alternative for patients who are not able to undergo traditional surgery,” said Howard C. Herrmann, MD. “The device used in this trial is not yet FDA approved, but the results are so promising that this therapy will likely open a new frontier in treating aortic stenosis.”

The PARTNER Trial is a randomized, controlled pivotal trial of a transcatheter aortic heart valve a collapsible and balloon-expandable valve that can be introduced into the body via a catheter-based delivery system. The valve replaces a patient’s diseased valve without traditional open-heart surgery and while the patient’s heart continues to beat.

The main results from the PARTNER Trial in patients with severe aortic stenosis who were not suitable candidates for surgery show that TAVI was superior to standard medical therapy, markedly reducing the rate of death from any cause by 20 percent, the rate of death from cardiovascular causes, and the rate of repeat hospitalization. Results also showed that standard medical therapy did not alter the natural history of severe aortic stenosis. At the end of one year, the rate of death from any cause was just over 50 percent for patients who received medical management alone.

The authors of the research caution that further study is needed to assess the risk of stroke in patients who have a TAVI procedure. The latest data release is from one arm of the PARTNER Trial. The second arm of the study, which compares the TAVI procedure to traditional open-heart surgery in healthier patients, is ongoing at HUP.

Dr. Bavaria and Dr. Herrmann report receiving grant support from Edwards Lifesciences, maker of the valve used in the PARTNER Trial.

Penn Medicine is one of the world’s leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (founded in 1765 as the nation’s first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $3.6 billion enterprise.

Penn’s School of Medicine is currently ranked #2 in U.S. News & World Report’s survey of research-oriented medical schools, and is consistently among the nation’s top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $367.2 million awarded in the 2008 fiscal year.

Penn Medicine’s patient care facilities include:

The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania the nation’s first teaching hospital, recognized as one of the nation’s top 10 hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.

Penn Presbyterian Medical Center named one of the top 100 hospitals for cardiovascular care by Thomson Reuters for six years.

Pennsylvania Hospital the nation’s first hospital, founded in 1751, nationally recognized for excellence in orthopaedics, obstetrics & gynecology, and behavioral health.

Additional patient care facilities and services include Penn Medicine at Rittenhouse, a Philadelphia campus offering inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient care in many specialties; as well as a primary care provider network; a faculty practice plan; home care and hospice services; and several multispecialty outpatient facilities across the Philadelphia region.

Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2009, Penn Medicine provided $733.5 million to benefit our community.

Source: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine

The cold harsh winter weather damaging our luscious locks. The constant change of temperature between hot and cold environments can have a drying and damaging effect on our hair.

But this year ladies can breathe a sigh of relief thanks to the funky Fish for girls styling range. Available in Boots nationwide, these super style saviours bring over 20 years of salon expertise guaranteed to keep hair looking gorgeous and glamorous all winter long no matter what your length, style or budget.

ESSENTIAL “WINTER TAMERS”

SILKY N SMOOTH
* SWISH FISH SILKY SMOOTHING CREAM: Formulated with Pro Vitamin B5 this dual action smoothing cream adds moisture and strengthening proteins to your hair leaving it ultra glossy, smooth and nourished RRP 3.99

FRIZZ FREE
* SLEEK FISH HIGH GLOSS SERUM: Specially formulated to tackle dry, damaged and split hair, this sleek serum revitalises tired tresses nourishing the hair whilst adding shine to give gorgeous smooth glossy locks RRP 4.99

HEAT PROTECTION
* HOT FISH PROTECTIVE STRAIGHTENING MIST: This lightweight must-have spray, formulated with Pro Vitamin B5, offers protection against heat whilst nourishing hair to leave it silky soft with an intense shine RRP 3.49

Source:cosmeticnewsportal.com

Tiens has launched Inner Beauty, a food supplement that combines the power of anti-oxidants that can help the body fight external aggressions against free radical damage. Providing a fresh, radiant and renewed complexion, Inner Beauty is based on carrot extract which is rich in anti-oxidant vitamins and minerals that work in synergy with the other ingredients like gingko and Green Tea for a fresh and fabulous new you.

Carrot Extract is rich in Vitamin C, vitamin B, folic acid, ethereal oils, iron, magnesium, calcium and phosphorus. It also includes the valuable and immune-boosting selenium.

Gingko Biloba is a sacred plant in Eastern philosophy and symbolises balance. Including Gingko in Inner Beauty helps to achieve that in the skin. Known for its anti-free radical properties, this helps to boost your looks, glow and all over radiance for beauty from within. Green Tea polyphenols are anti-oxidant that help to generate great skin health from the inside out.

Tiens is the leading Chinese direct selling company in the world specialising in health, beauty and wellness products. With approaching 20 million representatives operating in excess of 190 countries, it has a firm foothold way beyond China. A relative new-comer to the direct selling market here in the UK, Tiens has big plans to introduce the ‘Chinese Health & Beauty philosophy’ to households up and down the country.

47.08 for 90 capsules

Vegetable based capsules.

Source:cosmeticnewsportal.com

A natural spring water from the Lake District has been shown to help reduce the appearance of wrinkles in women aged 24-43 by an average of 24% in a ground-breaking study using objective measurements for the very first time.

The eight week study set out to investigate whether drinking water really is good for the skin. It uniquely used a state of the art camera and software analysis system to measure the improvements objectively, rather than relying on human interpretation of the results.
The Canfield VISIA camera and software system was used at the start and the end of the study to provide objective and repeatable facial skin evaluations.

Half of the 53 men and women who completed the study were asked to drink 1.5 litres of Lake District Willow Water a day, while the other half were given another leading premium brand of bottled water. Neither cohort knew which water they were consuming.

The independent doctors analysing the results after eight weeks found an average 20% reduction in the appearance of wrinkles across the entire study. Significantly, in-depth statistical analysis showed that, among women in the key 24-43 age group, those drinking Willow Water saw an average 24% reduction in appearance of wrinkles. Those drinking the placebo water saw a reduction of 19%.

It is widely felt that further investigation into the findings could help put an end to the long running debate over whether drinking water is actually good for the skin. As a result, discussions are ongoing with a leading British university to carry out further investigations into the effects of drinking Willow Water.

Dr Thornton MacCallum, of Cotswold Medical Aesthetic, was the principal clinical investigator on the study, which was commissioned by Willow Water. He said: “It’s clear from the VISIA data that regularly drinking water can promote more youthful looking skin and can improve the skin’s appearance, particularly in the case of wrinkles. In the key target group of women between the ages of 24 and 43, it also appears that drinking Willow Water has an even greater impact.”

“The trial was double-blind and placebo-controlled and the state-of-the-art VISIA complexion analysis system provided very clear readings before and after the water consumption took place. The ability of the software to analyse people’s skin and, in the case of wrinkles, their length, depth and quantity was a key element of the trial. The results certainly merit further exploration.”

Co-investigator on the study, Harley Street doctor Peter Ashby, FRCS, said he had been surprised by the difference in the Willow cohort’s skin when he analysed subjects’ complexions. “I must admit I was sceptical when I was first told about the study – I thought it was going to be a waste of time but in all honesty I was amazed that those drinking Willow Water did see an extra improvement in their wrinkles,” he said.

At this stage it is hard to say why the changes came about. What is known about the water is that Willow naturally contains a unique blend of minerals and nutrients, including calcium and salicin. The spring where Willow Water is sourced rises where vast forests of white willow trees once grew on Cartmel Fell. The trace salicin comes from the willow bark.

Willow Water’s Managing Director, Clwyd Price-Jones, said they had commissioned the trial following an independent open study on 150 women in 2009. In that study more than 70% of subjects reported improvements in their skin after drinking 1.5L of Willow a day for six weeks.

“We’ve known for a long time that Willow Water can have an amazing effect on the skin, based on testimonials from thousands of regular drinkers who have noted positive changes to their complexions. We receive emails, phone calls and letters on a daily basis from customers who genuinely believe it has changed their lives and, although we didn’t launch Willow Water into the marketplace until 2003, it traces its roots back to the 12th century when the spring’s restorative properties were discovered by Augustinian Monks. We’re really pleased that these initial findings seem to back up our anecdotal evidence and we’re looking forward to spring, when we should have the next set of results,” he said.

The company is currently considering whether the results of this and follow up research will be submitted to the Food Standards Agency for consideration to be included in the list of permitted health claims allowed by the European Commission.

Source:cosmeticnewsportal.com