UK Mass Drinking Child Report Released; US Parents Supervising More

While friends play a critical role in peer drinking habits, family has a strong direct and indirect influence. The parent or guardian has a particularly strong influence on their child's behavior. This ranges from the point at which alcohol is introduced, to exposure to adult drinking and drunkenness, to the amount of supervision placed on a young person (such as knowing where their child is on a Saturday evening or how many evenings their child spends with friends). 

A new 91 page report released this week by The Joseph Rowntree Foundation, United Kingdom delves deeper into this issue. (see below for link to full report) 

There are critical points where a carefully timed intervention could generate a positive outcome by reducing the likelihood that a young person will drink frequently and drink to excess. These interventions require co-ordination at a national, local and frontline level involving families, schools and support. 

Claire Turner, from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, said: 

"This research shows that parents can have more influence on their teenagers' behavior than perhaps many assumed. Both what parents say and how they behave have a strong impact on their teenagers' drinking, drinking regularly and drinking to excess."

In fact, more often parents are giving their children alcohol. In total, 30% of the liquor being drunk by under aged youth is provided by adults or relatives. Some 709,000 youngsters aged 12 to 14 in the United States are drinking beer, liquor and other alcoholic beverages, a new federal study found. Drinking as a youth is a gateway to potentially lifelong alcoholism. 

On the other side of the pond, U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Administrator Pamela S. Hyde, J.D. said: 

"People who begin drinking alcohol before the age of 15 are six times more likely than those who start at age 21 and older to develop alcohol problems. Parents and other adults need to be aware that providing alcohol to children can expose them to an increased risk for alcohol abuse and set them on a path with increased potential for addiction."

In the past month alone, more than 200,000 kids were given alcohol by a parent or other adult family member, according to a report from SAMHSA. 

Peter Delany, director of SAMHSA's Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality continues: 

"About 5.9% of 12- to 14-year-olds have used alcohol in the past month. That's a pretty large number. And almost all of these kids got that alcohol for free. Anecdotally, parents say, 'Well, at least they are drinking at home and not on the street, or at least they are not smoking marijuana' -- all kind of silly things. If you want to have a big impact on preventing problems with youth alcohol use, it starts at home. This is a wholly preventable behavior."

Migraine Relief From Bariatric Surgery For Morbidly Obese Individuals

90% of morbidly obese patients who suffered frommigraines and underwent bariatric surgery achieved partial or total relief of their condition, researchers from the University of Iowa revealed at the 28th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS). Three years after their operation 70% of patients never had a migraine again while 18% experienced partial improvement - their frequency of attacks fell from five to two every month. 11% of them experienced no change.

Isaac Samuel, MD Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver explained:

"The incidence and severity of migraines was greatly reduced after bariatric surgery and weight loss, suggesting there are a number of people who are suffering from migraines who otherwise might not but for their excessive weight. "

The investigators gathered data from the medical records of 702 morbidly obese patients who had RYGB (Roux-en-Y gastric bypass) surgery between March 2000 and September 2009. All of them had been diagnosed as migraine sufferers and were being treated for the condition.

81 of them qualified for the retrospective study. Data were collected from institutional electronic medical records, or via telephone. They were followed-up after their operation for from 12 months to 8.5 years.

The researchers noted that the participants who experienced the most migraine relief tended to be those whose symptoms started after they had become obese. Approximately 80% had total resolution and 14% had partial improvement. 75% of those who suffered from migraines before they became obese experienced improvement after their bariatric surgery - 46% of them had total resolutions, 29% had partial improvement.

The researchers added that according to their data, patients' post-operative improvements in migraine symptoms were independent of migraine-linked issues, such as sleep apnea, anxiety or depression. The females whose migraines were linked to their menstrual cycles also experienced improvements.

Dr. Samuel added:

"The association between migraine headache and obesity is controversial. Although some suggest that obesity is associated with migraine prevalence, others have only found a correlation between the frequency and severity of migraine headache and obesity. The effect of surgical weight loss on morbidly obese patients with migraines provides a unique opportunity to evaluate this association. The higher number of patients identified in this study cohort that developed migraines after obesity onset could suggest that obesity contributes to an increased risk of having migraines rather than merely exacerbating the symptoms."

The most effective and long-lasting treatment for morbid obesity has been shown to be bariatric surgery. Morbid obesity means the person's BMI (body mass index) is at least 40.

Over 15 million people in the USA are morbidly obese, according to the American Society for Metabolic & Bariatric Surgery. Bariatric surgery can help patients lose from 30% to 50% of their surplus weight within six months of the procedure, and 77% of their excess weight within 12 months.

Bariatric surgery generally includes either laparoscopic gastric bypass or laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (LAGB). After the operation the stomach's capacity to hold food is reduced, and/or the total number of calories absorbed is limited.

US health authorities estimate that annual obesity-related health spending doubled during the decade up to 2008 to $147 billion. If obesity rates in the USA continue their current trend, spending by 2018 will probably reach $344 billion annually.

"Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass Achieves Substantial Resolution of Migraine Headache in the Severely Obese: a 9-year analysis of 81 patients" - PL 111
Yusuf Gunay, MD; Mohammad Jamal, MD, FACS; Alyssa Capper, BS; Anas Eid, MD; Debi Heitshusen, RN, Isaac Samuel, MD, FRCS, FACS, The University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine

Risperdal Recalled Due To Strange Smell

Approximately 16,000 bottles of schizophrenia drug -Risperdal - have been recalled by Johnson & Johnson company, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. because of an"uncharacteristic odor".

The smell is thought to be caused by traces of a byproduct of a chemical preservative which is applied to wooden pallets - 2, 4, 6 tribromoanisole (TBA). The company says TBA is not toxic, but can give off an unpleasant smell. A very small number of patients may experience temporary gastrointestinal symptoms.

The company is recalling:

• One lot of Risperdal (risperidone) 3 mg tablets marketed by Janssen Division of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
• One lot of risperidone 2 mg tablets marketed by Patriot Pharmaceuticals, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Johnson & Johnson says it instituted several actions to reduce TBA contamination risk.

The recalled Risperdal lot was shipped between 27th August 2010 and 15th February 2011. The company believes there are about 1,600 bottles of Risperdal from this lot still in the marketplace.

The recalled respiredone lot involves about 24,000 bottles and was shipped between 10th November, 2010 and 1st January, 2011. Fewer than 1,200 bottles are thought to still be in the marketplace.

Description of recalled products:

• RISPERDAL® (risperidone) Tablets 3mg Bottles of 60 Tablets
  NDC Code - 50458-330-06. Lot Number - 0GG904. Expiry - May 2012
• Risperidone Tablets 2mg Bottles of 60 Tablets
  NDC Code - 50458-593-60. Lot Number - OlG175. Expiry - August 2012

Johnson & Johnson has had to announce several product recalls over the last couple of years of OTC and prescription medications, as well as some medical devices. Experts say the company's once pristine reputation has been severely affected.

Some product recalls over the last couple of years include: (Source: FDA)

• 1/14/11 - Tylenol® 8 Hour, Tylenol ® Arthritis Pain, and Tylenol ® upper respiratory products, and certain lots of Benadryl®, Sudafed PE®, and Sinutab® products.
• 12/9/10 - Rolaids Extra Strength Softchews, Rolaids Extra Strength plus Gas Softchews, and Rolaids Multi-Symptom plus Anti-Gas Softchews.
• 11/29/10 - Mylanta and Alternagel Liquid Products.
• 11/27/2010 - Tylenol Cold Multi Symptom Daytime Liquid 8 oz Citrus Burst. Rolaids Extra Strength Softchews, Cherry Flavor, 36 count container. Jr Strength Motrin Caplets in 24 count packages. Children's Benadryl Allergy FastMelt Tablets Cherry Flavor in 18 count containers.
• 10/18/2010 - Tylenol 8 hour Caplets in 50 count bottles.
• 5/28/10 - PediaCare Children's Multi-Symptom Cold, Grape Flavor Liquid, 4 fl oz (118 mL). PediaCare Children's Long-Acting Cough, Grape Flavor Liquid, 4 fl oz (118 mL). PediaCare Children's Decongestant, Raspberry Flavor Liquid, 4 fl oz (118 mL). PediaCare Children's Allergy & Cold, Grape Flavor Liquid, 4 fl oz (118 mL)

Lung Cancer Death Rate Falling Faster In Men Than Women, USA

The overall drop in death rates means 898,000 individuals who would have died from lung cancer over the last 17 years did not, according to a report issued by the American Cancer Society. From 2001 to 2007 male lung cancer deaths fell by 1.9% annually, while for women from 2002 to the end of 2007 rates dropped by 1.5% per year.

This is the first recorded drop in female lung cancer deaths in recorded history.

1,596,670 new cancer cases of any type and 571,950 deaths from cancer of any type are expected to occur in the USA this year (2011).

People without a senior high school education in the USA have 2.6 times the risk of dying from any cancer compared to those with college degrees.

With the exception of American Indian women and Alaska Native women, death rates in all ethnic and racial groups in both sexes in America have dropped. Among American Indian women and Alaska Native women the rates have remained virtually the same.

Overall cancer death rates fell by 1.9% annually among men from 2001 through 2005, and 0.6% in women since 1998. Over the last couple of years death cancer rates in males have remained stable.

The largest yearly falls in cancer death rates were observed in Hispanic (-2.5%) and African-American (-2.6%) men. 

Women started smoking later than men did over the last century - this has been reflected in lung cancer death rates over the same period. While women's rates rose steadily since the 1930's, male rates started to fall ten years earlier (in the late 1980s early 1990s).

Lung cancer continues to be the largest cancer killer in the USA for both males and females, and is expected to account for 26% of all female cancer deaths this year. The second male cancer killer is prostate cancer, while breast cancer has that position for females.

Lung cancer, prostate cancer, breast cancer, and colon cancer make up over 50% of all cancer deaths in America (both sexes). Colon cancer is the third largest killer for both sexes.

Further highlighted details from the report:

• African-American males have a 14% higher rate of new cancers (all types) than US males in general
• African-American males have a 33% higher rate of new cancers (all types) than Caucasian males
• African-American females' overall new cancer rate is 6% lower than females in general
• African-American females' overall new cancer rate is 17% higher than Caucasian females
• 31% of males with <12 years education smoke
• 12% of male college graduates smoke
• 5% of males with advanced degrees smoke

The authors of the report concluded:

"Further progress can be accelerated by applying existing cancer control knowledge across all segments of the population with an emphasis on those groups in the lowest socioeconomic bracket.

What is Cellulite?

Cellulite is the pockets of fat which are ensnared and cause dimpling in the skin. This dimpling is irregular and has been identified with orange peelings.

Cellulite is a combination of fat globules, waste substance, accumulated in connective tissue.

Underneath the dermis and epidermis are three particular layers of fat. Cellulite tends to build up in the subcutaneous fat layers. This layer of fat is unique in its formation compared to the other layers because it’s full of fat parts are structured into particular chambers by strands of linked tissue around it.

Women are organized into large upright chambers allowing fat to be stored. These chambers are organized into small slanting units, in the men. These store smaller fat quantities and are not likely to structure cellulite.

When water enters the fat cells, they bulge, if your cellulite metabolism is working proper, your body makes the corrections essential and drains the area. If it is not working acceptably or is overloaded the fat cells get bigger against the collagen threads of your fish net stocking and the fat cells bulge out and like sausage links that are abnormal at the ends, cannot escape! The cellulite is here to stay because it cannot be exhausted out no matter how much you exercise or diet.

Cellulite is not a condition regarding how much you weigh. Although it is often faulty for obesity, cellulite is not really obesity related because it can also take place in thin lean women.

In women, fat cells are arranged a little bit in a different way than men which is why cellulite mostly affect women because women carry more fat and less muscle than men.

Eating Peanuts in Pregnancy May Cause Allergy

The researches shows that babies with indication of food allergies whose mothers ate peanuts during pregnancy may have an increased risk for potentially peanut allergies.

The more peanuts the new mothers in the research ate during their pregnancy, the higher their babies’ risk for sensitivity to peanuts, researchers reported.

The findings do not prove that eating peanuts during pregnancy is a risk factor for peanut allergies in the first year or so of life. But they do emphasize the need for more studies to answer the question.

“Our study looked at sensitivity, not peanut allergy,” researchers say. “It is going to be a few years before we identify whether these children really do develop true peanut allergies.”

Helping Children Deal with Violence

Witnessing violence on television or in games really pasties in comparison to witnessing violence in real life situations. Children who have been exposed to violence, such as abusive parents, harassment at school, may develop signs of traumatic stress disorder. This stress leads to poor grades, difficulty concentrating, severe sadness, and sometimes suicide if it is not managed with proper dealing skills. Children who have witnessed real life violent behavior are in serious danger mentally and sensitively.

Psychologists use a special training method called as “cognitive behavior therapy” to teach children skills to deal with violent behavior. It is not as difficult as it sounds, and many psychologists are qualified in the methods of cognitive behavior therapy. In fact, parents and teachers use these techniques all the time without knowing it because there are sensible ways to raise children who handle difficult situations.

Face with Fear in a Safe Environment
Children who do not face with their fears internalize them, which may demolish their developing sense of self. However, these fears must be faced in a safe environment with a supportive adult who can work with the child to be aware of the fear.

Helpful Social Problem Solving
if children are the victims of violence, they may have trouble relating to peers and adults because appropriate models of effective social interaction do not exist in their world. Even minor conflicts may cause outbursts. Cognitive behavior therapists teach children how to handle social interactions.

Create a Support Network for the Child
Preferably; the child’s parents or direct protectors will be involved in all efforts to help the child deal with violence. This type of support network in which each one is working toward the aim of a healthy child is far more effective than simply teaching the child a few methods and letting him loose.