HYPNOSIS MAY HELP REDUCE PAIN AND SUFFERING IN METASTATIC BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Hypnosis can help alleviate the pain and suffering experienced by women being treated for breast cancer, according to a study by a University at Buffalo School of Social Work professor.

The randomized trial measured pain and suffering, frequency of pain and degree of constant pain among 124 women with metastatic breast cancer, according to Lisa D. Butler, associate professor in UB's School of Social Work, a faculty member in the Buffalo Center for Social Research and first author of the study.

Researchers recorded levels of pain at four-month intervals for a year. Women who were assigned to the treatment group received group psychotherapy, as well as instruction and practice in hypnosis to moderate their pain symptoms. They reported "significantly less increase in the intensity of pain and suffering over time," compared with a control group, who did not receive the group psychotherapy intervention.

However, those using hypnosis reported no significant reduction in the frequency or constancy of pain episodes.

"The results of this study suggest that the experience of pain and suffering for patients with metastatic breast cancer can be successfully reduced with an intervention that includes hypnosis in a group therapy setting," according to Butler. "These results augment the growing literature supporting the use of hypnosis as an adjunctive treatment for medical patients experiencing pain."

The study was published last year in an issue of the American Psychological Association journal Health Psychology.

The researchers also found that, within the treatment group, those patients who could be hypnotized more easily -- a group the researchers said demonstrated "high hypnotizability" -- reported greater benefits from hypnosis. These patients used hypnosis more overall, including outside of the group sessions, and in some cases used it to address other symptoms related to their cancer.

"These results suggest that although hypnosis is not at present standard practice for treating a wide range of symptoms that trouble cancer patients, it is worth examining that potential," Butler says. "Together, these findings suggest that there may be a number of benefits to the use of hypnosis in cancer care including, but not necessarily limited to, its more traditional application for pain control."

Butler joined the UB faculty in January 2009, after doing research at Stanford University's School of Medicine. She was hired at UB to strengthen the university's research focus on "extreme events" as part of the UB 2020 strategic planning initiative. She recently published a nationally recognized study on how some people living through an extremely traumatic event - including the 9/11 terrorist attacks -- have the ability to recover or even grow in personal and interpersonal functioning.

Source: University at Buffalo
http://www.buffalo.edu/

NURSE, DEFIBRILLATOR CREDITED WITH SAVING STUDENT'S LIFE

RUSSIAVILLE, Ind. -- Quick thinking by a Western High School nurse likely saved the life of a student who collapsed during gym class.
Drew Brantley, 17, a school soccer and baseball star, was playing basketball with classmates last week when he collapsed and appeared to have a seizure, 6News' Jennifer Carmack reported.
But nurse Brenda Strunk said she quickly realized it was much more severe.

When we got to him, we were trying to find pulse on him. We couldn't find a pulse," she said.
Strunk grabbed an Automated External Defibrillator located outside the school's gym and used it to bring the boy back from full cardiac arrest.
Brantley spent five days in Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where doctors said he had a heart condition that had gone undetected.

Now he is back home and thanking the people, and the machine, that helped save his life.
"I couldn't tell you where one of (the AEDs) is in the school, although I guess I will now," he said. "I'm just so happy that everybody knew how to use it, and everybody got there on time."
His parents said they hope to use this second chance to make sure every school is equipped with one of the life-saving machines.

"Only because of that device and the people at school is our son still alive" said Ron Brantley. "Make sure you get them. Even if you don't have to use them, it's a security blanket."
The machines cost about $1,700 a piece. The Western School Corporation has 11 throughout the district near playing fields, cafeterias and gymnasiums, and six more are on order.

Source:
Theindychannel.com

HIV DRUG COMBO MAY INCREASE RISK FOR ARRHYTHMIA

February 23, 2010 (Silver Spring, Maryland)— The FDA is warning physicians and patients about heart rhythm disturbances that may arise when two HIV medications--saquinavir (Invirase, Genentech) and ritonavir (Norvir, Abbott Laboratories)--are combined [1]. According to an alert issued by the agency on February 23, 2010, preliminary clinical-trial data suggest that, used in combination, saquinavir and ritonavir may cause prolongation of the QT and PR intervals, leading to an increased risk of torsades de pointes and heart block, respectively.

In a safety announcement posted online, the FDA advises physicians to avoid use of saquinavir in patients with preexisting conduction system disease, ischemic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, or underlying structural heart disease. In particular, the alert notes that the risk of rhythm side effects is greater in patients with a history of QT-interval prolongation or in patients who are already taking drugs known to prolong the QT interval. These include class IA drugs, such as quinidine, or class III antiarrhythmic drugs, such as amiodarone.

According to the FDA, ritonavir is often given at a low dose with saquinavir in order to boost levels of the latter in the body. Physicians treating patients who appear to develop rhythm disturbances from treatment are urged to report adverse events to the FDA's MedWatch program.

Source:
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/717486

HPV VACCINE REDUCES RATES OF GENITAL DISEASES IN YOUNG WOMEN

February 16, 2010 — The quadrivalent vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, and 18 (Gardasil, Merck & Co) results in statistically significant reductions of HPV-associated genital diseases, such as warts and cervical dysplasia, in young women who receive it, according to the final analysis of 2 randomized placebo-controlled efficacy trials.

Read more...

Source:
http://cme.medscape.com

TNS NATIONAL TV RATINGS (FEB. 23-25):AGUA BENDITA ANDWOWOWEE CONTINUE TO RULE

Here are the comparative TV ratings of ABS-CBN and GMA-7 programs from February 23 to 25, based on the overnight ratings of Taylor Nelson Sofres among National households:

February 23, Wednesday
Non-Primetime:
Umagang Kay Ganda (ABS-CBN) 6.2%; Mr. Bean (ABS-CBN) 6.1%; Unang Hirit (GMA-7) 4.4%
Gintama (ABS-CBN) 6.9%; Hunter X Hunter (GMA-7) 5.1%; Pokemon Master Quest (GMA-7) 6%
Naruto Shippuuden (ABS-CBN) 9.2%; Dragon Ball GT (GMA-7) 7.3%
Melason in Love (ABS-CBN) 15.1%; Knock Out (GMA-7) 7.7%
Showtime (ABS-CBN) 22.7%; Diz Iz It! (GMA-7) 5.7%
Wowowee (ABS-CBN) 25.1%; Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) 13%; Daisy Siete: Bebe & Me (GMA-7) 10.3%
Magkano ang Iyong Dangal? (ABS-CBN) 15%; Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak (GMA-7) 9.2%
Maria de Jesus: Ang Anghel sa Lansangan (ABS-CBN) 11.3%; Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita? (GMA-7) 10.5%
Banana Split Daily Servings (ABS-CBN) 10.5%; Pilipinas Got More Talent (ABS-CBN) 11.6%; Laf En Roll (GMA-7) 6.7%
The Substitute Bride (ABS-CBN) 13.7%; Family Feud (GMA-7) 8.6%

Primetime:
Tanging Yaman (ABS-CBN) 24.3%; First Time (GMA-7) 15.3%
TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) 32.4%; 24 Oras (GMA-7) 23.1%
Agua Bendita (ABS-CBN) 40.5%; Panday Kids (GMA-7) 26.8%
Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo (ABS-CBN) 35.3%; Habang May Buhay (ABS-CBN) 31.7%; The Last Prince (GMA-7) 26.7%
Rubi (ABS-CBN) 24.5%; Full House (GMA-7) 23.7%
SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon (ABS-CBN) 12.8%; Queen Seon Deok (GMA-7) 17.7%
Bandila (ABS-CBN) 7.8%; Saksi (GMA-7) 8.1%
The Correspondents (ABS-CBN) 3.6%; Born To Be Wild (GMA-7) 3.9%


February 24, Wednesday
Non-Primetime:
Umagang Kay Ganda (ABS-CBN) 6%; Unang Hirit (GMA-7) 4.4%
Mr. Bean (ABS-CBN) 7%; Gintama (ABS-CBN) 7.2%; Hunter X Hunter (GMA-7) 5.9%
Naruto Shippuuden (ABS-CBN) 8.8%; Pokemon Master Quest (GMA-7) 6.7%; Dragon Ball GT (GMA-7) 7.2%
Melason in Love (ABS-CBN) 11%; Knock Out (GMA-7) 7.8%
Showtime (ABS-CBN) 19.2%; Diz Iz It! (GMA-7) 6.9%
Wowowee (ABS-CBN) 22.2%; Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) 14.8%; Daisy Siete: Bebe & Me (GMA-7) 12.1%
Magkano ang Iyong Dangal? (ABS-CBN) 14.7%; Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak (GMA-7) 10.2%
Maria de Jesus: Ang Anghel sa Lansangan (ABS-CBN) 9.7%; Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita? (GMA-7) 11.7%
Banana Split Daily Servings (ABS-CBN) 9.6%; Pilipinas Got More Talent (ABS-CBN) 11.8%; Ripley's Believe It Or Not (GMA-7) 6.4%
The Substitute Bride (ABS-CBN) 11.6%; Family Feud (GMA-7) 8.7%

Primetime:
Tanging Yaman (ABS-CBN) 21.5%; First Time (GMA-7) 16.7%
TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) 29.7%; 24 Oras (GMA-7) 21.3%
Agua Bendita (ABS-CBN) 35.6%; Panday Kids (GMA-7) 25.1%
Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo (ABS-CBN) 32.8%; The Last Prince (GMA-7) 25%
Habang May Buhay (ABS-CBN) 29.3%; Full House (GMA-7) 22.3%
Rubi (ABS-CBN) 25.2%; Queen Seon Deok (GMA-7) 18.1%
SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon (ABS-CBN) 14.6%; Bandila (ABS-CBN) 7.6%; Saksi (GMA-7) 9.3%
Probe Profiles (ABS-CBN) 4.9%; Born To Be Wild (GMA-7) 4.8%

February 25, Thursday
Non-Primetime:
Umagang Kay Ganda (ABS-CBN) 5.4%; Mr. Bean (ABS-CBN) 5.8%; Unang Hirit (GMA-7) 4.3%
Gintama (ABS-CBN) 6.2%; Hunter X Hunter (GMA-7) 6.1%
Naruto Shippuuden (ABS-CBN) 7.5%; Pokemon Master Quest (GMA-7) 7.5%
Melason In Love (ABS-CBN) 12.9%; Dragon Ball GT (GMA-7) 7.9%; Knock Out (GMA-7) 8%
Showtime (ABS-CBN) 21.3%; Diz Iz It! (GMA-7) 6.8%
Wowowee (ABS-CBN) 23.1%; Eat Bulaga! (GMA-7) 15.1 %; Daisy Siete: Bebe & Me (GMA-7) 11.7%
Magkano ang Iyong Dangal? (ABS-CBN) 14.5%; Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak (GMA-7) 9.6%
Maria de Jesus: Ang Anghel sa Lansangan (ABS-CBN) 14.5%; Ina, Kasusuklaman Ba Kita? (GMA-7) 9.6%
Banana Split Daily Servings (ABS-CBN) 10.6%; Pilipinas Got More Talent (ABS-CBN) 11.8%; OC To The Max (GMA-7) 6.5%
The Substitute Bride (ABS-CBN) 12.2%; Family Feud (GMA-7) 8.9%

Primetime:
Tanging Yaman (ABS-CBN) 23.4%; First Time (GMA-7) 16.3%
TV Patrol World (ABS-CBN) 31.9%; 24 Oras (GMA-7) 22.8%
Agua Bendita (ABS-CBN) 39.1%; Panday Kids (GMA-7) 26.7%
Kung Tayo'y Magkakalayo (ABS-CBN) 35.9%; The Last Prince (GMA-7) 27.8%
Habang May Buhay (ABS-CBN) 30.6%; Full House (GMA-7) 25.5%
Rubi (ABS-CBN) 25.6%; Queen Seon Deok (GMA-7) 19.2%
SNN: Showbiz News Ngayon (ABS-CBN) 12.8%; Bandila (ABS-CBN) 7%; SRO Cinemaserye Presents Meet the Fathers (GMA-7) 8.4%
I Survived (ABS-CBN) 3.2%; Saksi (GMA-7) 5%; Case Unclosed (GMA-7) 2.7%

Source:
http://www.pep.ph/news/24837/TNS-National-TV-Ratings-(Feb.-23-25):-%3Cem%3EAgua-Bendita%3C-em%3E-and-%3Cem%3EWowowee-continue-to-rule%3C-em%3E

ACETAMINOPHEN - THE BEST TREATMENT OPTION FOR OSTEOARTHRITIS?

Question: Acetaminophen - The Best Treatment Option for Osteoarthritis?

Answer: Experts are divided over the role of acetaminophen vs. NSAIDs as first-line agents to treat osteoarthritis. Both are popular and commonly prescribed for osteoarthritis patients. But when compared, which is more safe and effective? Which should be tried first?
In order to assess the safety and effectiveness of acetaminophen, previous studies have compared it to placebo and also to various NSAIDs (ibuprofen, diclofenac, arthrotec, celecoxib, naproxen). Researchers searched various databases and reviewed the published, randomized, controlled trials that compared acetaminophen to placebo or NSAIDs.

In their review, researchers assessed 15 randomized, controlled trials involving 5,986 study participants with hip osteoarthritis or knee osteoarthritis. The study participants took 4000 mg acetaminophen daily, placebo, or NSAIDS for about 6 weeks.

WHAT DOES A STROKE DO?

How strokes damage the brain.

WHAT ARE DENTAL CAVITIES

Tooth decay is one of the most common of all disorders, second only to the common cold. It usually occurs in children and young adults but can affect any person. It is a common cause of tooth loss in younger people.

Bacteria are normally present in the mouth. The bacteria convert all foods -- especially sugar and starch -- into acids. Bacteria, acid, food debris, and saliva combine in the mouth to form a sticky substance called plaque that adheres to the teeth. It is most prominent on the back molars, just above the gum line on all teeth, and at the edges of fillings. Plaque that is not removed from the teeth mineralizes into tartar. Plaque and tartar irritate the gums, resulting in gingivitis and ultimately periodontitis.

DOCTOR SHORTAGE FUELS NURSE PRACTITIONERS' PUSH FOR BIGGER ROLE

BY ANDREW VILLEGAS
MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS
TYRRELL COUNTY, N.C. -- There are no doctors in rural Tyrrell County, N.C. There's only Irene Cavall, a licensed nurse practitioner and the sole source of primary care for 4,000 residents spread out over 600 square miles.

It's been that way since the county's lone doctor moved away two and a half years ago. Cavall sees as many as 40 patients a day at the Columbia Medical Center. It's about 40 miles west of the Outer Banks; an ambulance ride to the nearest hospital takes 25 minutes.

There are limitations to her work. By state law, she works under the supervision of a doctor, albeit one many miles away, and calls him and specialists as needed. For 15 years, however, Cavall has been helping patients with a range of routine problems - from colds to management of diabetes - that don't always require a doctor. As she said, doctors "don't need to give someone a Tylenol."

Nursing leaders say that large numbers of practitioners such as Cavall will be needed to fill gaps in primary care left by an increasing shortage of doctors, a problem that would intensify if Congress extends health insurance to millions more Americans. Advocates say nurse practitioners have the extra education and training needed to perform a variety of services, including physical exams, diagnosis and treatment of common ailments and prescribing drugs.

However, the American Medical Association and doctors' groups at the state level have been urging state legislators and licensing authorities to move cautiously, arguing patient care could be compromised.

This battle has been waged for years, even as nurse practitioners grew rapidly in number - there are 125,000 or more - and expanded their responsibilities. What's different now is the increasing conflict as pressure grows to use nurse practitioners and other so-called physician extenders, including physician assistants, certified nurse midwives and pharmacists. The Association of American Medical Colleges estimates there will be a shortfall of as many as 46,000 primary care doctors by 2025.

The AMA sparked harsh criticism from nursing groups when it released a report in October bluntly questioning whether nurse practitioners "are adequately trained to provide appropriate care." To back up its claims, the report cited recent studies that questioned the prescription methods of some nurse practitioners, as well as a survey that found only 10 percent of the nurse practitioners questioned felt well-prepared to practice primary care.

The nation's largest doctors' group concluded: "The time is ripe for legislators, health care policy analysts and nurses to thoroughly assess the quality of NP training in relation to the scope-of-practice expansions sought at the state level."

The American Nurses Association and more than two dozen other nurses' organizations termed the AMA report misleading, saying in a letter in December it "contains numerous factual misrepresentations." They rebuked the AMA for its "attempt to change the perceptions of NP practice as anything other than fully qualified professionals working within a legally established scope of practice."

Fueling the debate, the nonpartisan Brookings Institution's Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform issued a report in September by 10 experts that said one way to curb health care spending was to encourage states to permit "greater use of nurse practitioners, pharmacists, physician assistants and community health workers."

Nurse practitioners started out decades ago under the close supervision of physicians, with tight restrictions on what they could do, but they've successfully pushed state licensing agencies and legislatures to grant them more autonomy and broader duties. The AMA report said, for example, "all states now allow NPs some degree of prescribing privileges," and 12 have granted them authority to prescribe independent of doctor oversight.

Several states are considering laws to restrict or expand nurses' scope of practice. For example, in Colorado, one bill would allow nurse practitioners in addition to physicians to issue medical orders that direct patients' care at any facility. Another bill there would eliminate a nurse's right to declare a patient terminally ill.

Most states require nurse practitioners to obtain masters' degrees in nursing, but education and training requirements vary. Cavall, 60, has a master's, and she was a registered nurse for several years before she became a nurse practitioner.

She feels very qualified to take care of patients in Tyrrell County. "If you come from a background where you've seen just about everything, that gives you a really good basis for ... delivering that care," she said.

(Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent news service, is a program of the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonpartisan health care policy research organization that isn't affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.)

Source:
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/02/23/1495080/doctor-shortage-fuels-nurse-practitioners.html

Tired After Night

For the past two weeks, I have been so busy with my review for the national licensure examination for nurses. Have you tried the sleeping for more than 8 hours and yet you still feel so tired? That’s what I felt yesterday. I tried to leisurely walk in the malls and consumed a cup of coffee but I still don’t feel well. Then I surf the internet and played online games. Later that day, I decided to go home and I watched TV. It was spongebob! I really got a good TV reception because of satellite television providers. Nowadays, TV is not just a piece of machine that wil connect every people in the world, but also a leisure thing. Indeed TV removed some of my stress because I was able to watch my favorite tv shows. Then I called my friend to check what she was doing and coincidentally she was watching spongebob too via satellite tv providers. Most of people really love Spongebob.
In the afternoon, I went back to the mall to buy stuff for my kitchen. I bought eggs, veggies, beef, chicken, canned goods and my favorite Pringles. As I walked the grocery, I saw TVs that are really good. I tried to check it for myself and those TVs are really great because they are from a satellite tv provider. Then I went back to home and cooked my supper. And now you know, my weekdays are not routinely.

CROHN's DISEASE: VOWELS in BOWELS

Math and Brain Types

Some research suggests that different types of learning styles can affect how quickly and efficiently students learn math skills. This research suggests that left-brain dominant students can have an easier time grasping concepts and solving problems in math and science, while intuitive, artistic, right-brain dominant students take more time to absorb and retain these concepts.

On the other hand, right-brain dominant students tend to have an easier time with analyzing literature, writing essays, learning a foreign language, and designing or creating works of art.

Of course, there is a down side to brain dominance. Taking more time in one subject can lead to falling behind! Students who take longer to learn a concept will often get frustrated and give in. This means that right-brain dominant students' math scores suffer--not because other students are smarter or more capable, but because other students simply wired in a way that makes them faster.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. First, take the left-brain right brain quiz, and then share your thoughts with the comment link below. Do you feel that your brain type is related to your grades in math, art, or language arts?

Source: http://homeworktips.about.com/b/2009/07/26/math-scores-and-brain-types.htm

CORY AQUINO's GOOD BYE

Paula Abdul Says Bye 'American Idol'

After much speculation, Paula Abdul will not be returning to "American Idol" next season. The "Idol" judge hit her Twitter page on Tuesday night to break the news.

Read more...

FREE MOVIE-- Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen

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FREE MOVIE-- Aliens In The Attic

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Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (abbreviated MS, also known as disseminated sclerosis or encephalomyelitis disseminata) is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune response attacks a person's central nervous system (brain and spinal cord), leading to demyelination. Disease onset usually occurs in young adults, and it is more common in females. It has a prevalence that ranges between 2 and 150 per 100,000. MS was first described in 1868 by Jean-Martin Charcot.

PRES. CORAZON AQUINO IS DEAD

Aquino died of cardiopulmonary arrest after complications of colon cancer[61] at the age of 76 on August 1, 2009, 3:18 a.m., at the Makati Medical Center. Aquino was diagnosed with the disease in March 2008 but kept up public appearances this year. A devout Catholic, she was a regular at weekend mass until shortly before being admitted to hospital in late June. Aquino was the first female president of the Republic of the Philippines to die up to date.

"Our mother peacefully passed away at 3:18 a.m. (1918 GMT Friday) of cardio-respiratory arrest," her son, Senator Benigno Aquino III, told reporters in Manila.

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Nursing Teaching 101: Vitamin B12

Can you take too much Vitamin B12? I just bought my first bottle of sublingual B12 and it has 2500 mcg one time per day. My friend has 500 mcg sublingual B12 and takes it two times per day. What are the dangers or cautions that I need to be aware of if I take this vitamin on a daily basis?

Answer: Vitamin B12, or Cyanocobalamin, is important for energy use and metabolism. Overdoses are almost unknown, and although 2500 mcg is a high dose, it is safe to take daily.

Some things to consider with vitamin B12 supplements:

* Take vitamin B12 and folic acid together. A deficiency of one can mask the other. They are usually sold together as one supplement.
* Some people have trouble absorbing and using vitamin B12 because they don't make enough of a substance called intrinsic factor or hydrochloric acid in their stomachs. Vitamin B12 may be absorbed best by taking sublingual supplements that dissolve under the tongue.
* A lack of intrinsic factor may lead to Pernicious Anemia.
* Vegans may wish to supplement vitamin B12 since it is almost exclusively found in animal products.