Eating According to Your Genome

Emily Singer
Technology Review

If you knew that you were especially susceptible to heart disease when you gained weight, would it increase your motivation to diet? How much would you be willing to pay to find out if you are one of the lucky people who can eat as much fat as you want and not have an increased risk of heart disease? Such tests are the goal of nutrigenomics, which seeks to identify the links between nutrition and disease based on an individual's genome.

While the field is still too young to offer personal dietary advice for the average consumer, research has uncovered links among genes, diet, and heart disease. Jose Ordovas, director of the Nutrition and Genomics Laboratory at Tufts University, has spent years studying the link between metabolism of dietary fats and risk of cardiovascular disease. After analyzing data from the Framingham Heart Study, a large-scale study that has traced the health of some 5,000 people since 1948, his team has found that certain genetic variants can protect people from diet-induced cardiovascular disease--or put them at increased risk. Ordovas spoke with Technology Review about his research and the future of the field.

TR: Why is nutrigenomics important?

JO: Everybody knows that some people can smoke and live a long life or eat little and still gain weight. But we don't know in advance who these people are. If we did know, these people could be educated to try to avoid the health concerns that could hit later in life. [Nutrigenomics] offers the potential to understand the relationship between food and our health on an individual level.

TR: You have found a striking link between genetic variations in a gene known as apolipoprotein E, or APOE, and risk factors for heart disease, but only under certain dietary conditions.

JO: People with a certain variation, known as APOE e4, are born with a predisposition to heart disease. For these people, a high-fat diet, smoking, or a high BMI [body-mass index] is very bad. For example, they have higher blood glucose levels, a risk factor for heart disease, but only if they have a body-mass index over 30, which is considered obese.

But these people also respond much better to a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. So they are the ones who should really follow dietary guidelines. If you want to select people for behavior modification, these are the people to start with.

TR: Can people get tested for their APOE variant?

JO: That's a tricky situation. If you have the APOE e4 variant, you're at increased risk for heart disease, which you can do something about. But you also have a higher risk for dementia, which we don't know if you can do anything about. So there are legal and ethical issues associated with testing.

TR: One of the current nutrition debates is over the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids--different studies have produced conflicting results regarding omega-3's ability to protect against heart disease. Can nutrigenomics help sort this out?

JO: We have found that some people are more susceptible to the negative effects of omega-6 [a related fatty acid] than others. Those with a certain variant in the apolipoprotein A, or APOA, gene show a rise in triglycerides, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, when they eat a diet high in omega-6. In these cases, the protective effect of omega-3 may be overwhelmed by overconsumption of omega-6.

This allele is much more common in Asia, and those who have it are more susceptible to the effect of omega-6 consumption. That may explain the rising rates of cardiovascular disease in Asian populations.

TR: What are the major hurdles in identifying how our genes affect our body's response to food?

JO: There are so many combinations of genes and environmental factors, you need huge populations to study. Most studies in the field are underpowered. We've done studies with 5,000 people, but that's just not enough. We need to do studies on the order of 100,000 people to take into account all the different factors.

We also need better statistical tools. Currently, we are borrowing analysis tools from situations that are much simpler, such as Medelian genetics, where a single gene leads to a certain phenotype. But applying those methods to huge networks of interactions is just not feasible.

TR: Is the nutrigenomics community using new genetic tools, such as the large gene chips that can detect 500,000 genetic variations in a single experiment?

JO: Yes, those chips do help to accumulate data. But because we need to run thousands of subjects, the cost is still prohibitive.

TR: A few consumer nutrigenomics tests are already on the market. What do you think of them?

JO: These tests may point people in the right direction, but they are not by far a final answer. Their worth also depends on the feedback the consumer gets. If the test is accompanied by prudent recommendations on diet and does not make snake-oil promises, then they probably don't have much potential to harm. And they may even have some benefit. One study found that people who took the test and went to a dietician did better than people who just went to a dietician. I think it's the placebo effect. People will pay better attention because they feel they are getting advice that is just for them.

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Can Dogs Make You Healthier?

Xinhuanet

If you are looking for a healthier life, get a dog.
Scientists claimed on Monday that owning a dog is good for your mental and physical health, more so even than cats.
Writing in the British Journal of Health Psychology, Dr. Deborah Wells, a senior lecturer at the Canine Behaviour Centre of Queens University, Belfast, found that dog owners have lower cholesterol and blood pressure, fewer minor physical ailments, and are less likely to develop serious medical problems.
In a review of dozens of previous studies, Wells found that dogs also seem to aid recovery from serious illnesses, such as heart attacks. One study published in 1995 found that dog owners are more likely, by about 8.6 per cent, to be alive one year after a heart attack than those who do not own a dog.
Wells said: "It is possible that dogs can directly promote our well-being by buffering us from stress. The ownership of a dog can also lead to increases in physical activity and facilitate the development of social contacts, which may enhance physiological and psychological human health in a more indirect manner."
The research found that dogs could also act as "early-warning systems" for more serious illnesses including cancer and epilepsy

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A cure for tumor: 4 spoonfuls of sand per day

Xinhua

A sixty-year-old man in east China's Jiangxi Province claims that he has gradually recovered from liposarcoma - malignant tumors found in the tissue of fat cells - and stomach ulcers after eating sand for 18 years.

Sheng Shoudong, a cleaner at a food market in Shaxi town, Shangrao City, began to eat about four spoonfuls of sand a day from 1988 after he read a newspaper article in a local newspaper about a man who had recovered from cancer after eating sand.

"I suffered from the pain of the sarcomas and ulcer, and was forced to give up my job. I badly needed a drastic remedy," said Sheng said recently on "Approaching Science", a program at Channel 10 of China Central Television.

"I went down to the river and gathered up a bucket of sand. I washed it with water from the nearby well and poured it into a breakfast bowl.

"I ate a spoonful of the sand, washed it down with water and then chewed through another. I actually really enjoyed the taste," he said.

Two years later, tests showed that Sheng's tumors had shrunk and he felt well enough to resume his work as a cleaner.

Sheng's neighbors in Xiangyang village were amazed to see his new eating habit.

"When we first saw Sheng washing sand by the well, we thought he was a maniac. But as soon as we realized he was getting better and returned to work, we were clamoring to find out the secret recipe."

A recent health check at the Shangrao No.1 Hospital showed that Sheng was in a good condition apart from suffering from a mild gastric ulcer, renal problems and several small sarcomas.

"Sand can not provide nutrition or energy for the human body and it would be unscientific to say that eating sand can cure sickness. Anyway, eating clean sand certainly doesn't harm the alimentary canal," said Zheng Yaoquan, dean of the hospital.

Some medical experts suspected Sheng might also suffer from parorexia, an abnormal appetite that inspires a craving for items unsuitable for eating.

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Female orgasms are potentially a deadly shocker for men

Dr. Kunio Kitamura
Head of the Japan Family Planning Association

"If I'm ever reincarnated, I want to be a woman next time around," my 56-year-old (male) friend from my high school days blurted out to me one day after we'd met up for the first time in a while.

"Why?" I asked.

"Because when the sex is good, it's so much better than it is for guys," he said, then added: "Tell me why."

I was a bit perplexed. "I've never been a woman, so how would I know. Some women have faked orgasm, so it's a bit intrusive for a guy to stand there and talk about what a woman's orgasms should be like."

He shot back. "I'm not asking you to speak from personal experience. Tell me from the point of view of somebody who's been studying Japanese sexuality for 30 years."

I couldn't drag the fight on any longer and looked at the issue from the point of view of a columnist. I'm sure you've heard of the phrase "sex is all in the mind." It's true, because sex is not just something that happens between the legs, but instead involves all the senses -- sight, sound, smell, touch and taste -- stimulating the brain (and specifically, the frontal lobe). Just as heroes are said to love sex, the more developed a person's frontal lobe is, the more active their sex life is going to be.

When it comes to the difference between male and female sexuality, it's impossible to rule out some sort of connection between the sex nerves in the hypothalamus, where sexual dimorphism (or distinction between the sexes) makes men twice as large as women. It is perhaps this difference in the brains that sees men seek direct stimulation while women need more touching. Even though men can reach climax with incredible speed, they also cool down rapidly, occasionally making it very irritating for them to be touched after ejaculation. This is a major difference from women, who take a long time to get back to normal following orgasm.

So, how do I answer my old classmate's question about why good sex for women feels so much better than good sex does for men? There's a hint hidden in the brainwaves. And I'll turn to another friend, in this case Ryuichi Kaneko, who joined me as one of the co-authors of "Sex no Subete ga Wakaru Hon (Everything You Need to Know About Sex)."

When an orgasm has been achieved through sex, you can measure theta waves. These are also said to cause the "running high" feeling of euphoria experienced sometimes by marathon runners. If theta waves are taken as a criterion, the entire brain emits theta waves when women reach an orgasm that are close on 10 times stronger than when men climax. So, if theta waves are an indication of an orgasm's strength, then women experience an orgasm that is physically impossible for men to go through. Putting it a little crudely, if the intensity of a woman's orgasm was played through a man's brain, there's a danger that the shock to his system would kill him. That risk makes it impossible to experiment on a man at the moment. And men can never become women. But my co-author, Kaneko, used the experience of people who have undergone a sex change (either a woman born with a man's brain or vice versa) to explain the pleasure women feel.

There is a very strong correlation between nerve transmitters called dopamine and pleasure. Arousal causes the pulse to rise, turns the face red and makes the eyes misty because of the effects of dopamine. There also appears to be a link between this and a woman's tendency to become prettier when she falls in love. If it becomes possible to measure dopamine, it may also become possible to measure a woman's pleasure.

Whatever way the body may be working, what we do know for sure is that precisely because it is impossible to measure how a partner is feeling it is all the more important to communicate and work out ways that you can both feel good. (By Dr. Kunio Kitamura, special to the Mainichi)

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Is It Anthrax or Just White Powder?

Katherine Bourzac
Technology Review

When a patient is admitted to the hospital with signs of a dangerous systemic bacterial infection, or when a post-office worker finds white powder in a suspicious-looking envelope, the ability to quickly identify potential pathogens is important. To accomplish that, a team of Massachusetts researchers is developing a microfluidic chip that performs fast DNA sequencing to rapidly identify bacteria. The goal is a device simple enough to use in airport and other security screening.

In order to identify the bacteria in a blood sample or in a building's ventilation system, researchers or clinicians usually must start by coaxing it to grow in culture in the lab. This takes about 14 to 48 hours. In the meantime, a patient with a drug-resistant infection may be given the wrong antibiotic, or emergency medical workers may miss the signs of a potential bioterror attack.

Researchers at U.S. Genomics, in Woburn, MA, and Draper Laboratory, in Cambridge, MA, are working together to improve technology that allows for the sequencing and identification of bacteria and other pathogens without culturing. The researchers don't read every single base on a strand of DNA, but they look for distinctive patterns of repetition of a single, very short sequence. There are only four elements to the genetic code, so six to eight base lengths like GTAGCC occur many times within all genomes. But in each species, such a sequence will occur in a unique pattern. Even different strains of the same kind of bacteria will have unique identifying patterns of a given short sequence.

U.S. Genomics has built a database of these patterns, which it calls bar codes, for many bacterial species and strains. Because the work is being funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the company will not disclose how many pathogens are in its database or what they are. Staff scientist Jeff Krogmeier does say that the government agency is interested in an instrument "that would sit in an airport, mall, or other public area and continuously monitor the air." Its compact analysis chip is a step in this direction in that it can identify bacteria based on analysis of long strands of DNA that don't need to be extensively treated. "We just need a few molecules [of DNA]," says Krogmeier.

First, DNA must be extracted from the sample and labeled with a fluorescent tag that attaches only to places along the strand where the short sequence of interest occurs. (U.S. Genomics is working to simplify this step, which currently must be done in the lab.) Single long molecules of DNA are then fed into a microfluidic chip, where hydrostatic pressure pulls them at a constant speed through a narrow channel. As the labeled DNA flows through the channel, it passes over a very narrowly focused beam of light. When the DNA pass over the beam, the labels fluoresce. Flashes of light from the labels are recorded like a bar code and compared with the U.S. Genomics database to identify the organism that the DNA came from.

In the current incarnation of the company's DNA chips, the bar-code patterns are read at a resolution of 0.5 micrometers. The version being developed by U.S. Genomics and Draper Laboratory uses a waveguide and nanoantennas to focus the light to a spot size much smaller than half its wavelength, giving far higher resolution and allowing the device to read shorter strands with greater accuracy. What's more, the light from these antennas is 10 times as intense, which means a stronger signal, says Jonathan Bernstein, a Draper researcher working on the project. And focusing the light with the nanoantennas instead of with a lens means the chips are more compact and rugged.

Krogmeier says the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is interested not only in identifying pathogens, but also in identifying whether they've been tampered with. A bioterrorist trying to make anthrax or E. coli more deadly or more easily dispersed would often attempt to do so by adding long stretches of DNA from another organism. The U.S. Genomics chip, says Krogmeier, would be able to detect such tampering.

Bernstein says that the microfluidic channels could also be useful for looking at molecules besides DNA. Common lab techniques like PCR, the process used to make many copies of a single strand of DNA, simply do not exist for studying RNA and proteins; as a result, they are harder to identify and manipulate. "Most of the cell is not DNA," says Bernstein. Something like the microfluidic chip he has developing for U.S. Genomics, he says, could be very helpful for studying other biological molecules.

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World's oldest new mom lied to clinic

A 67-year-old woman who is believed to be the world's oldest new mother told a British Sunday newspaper she lied to a U.S. fertility clinic — saying she was 55 — to get treatment.

Carmela Bousada said in her first interview since she gave birth to twin boys on Dec. 29 that she sold her house in Spain to raise $59,000 to pay for in vitro fertilization at a California clinic, The News of the World reported.

"I think everyone should become a mother at the right time for them," Bousada said in a video of the interview provided to Associated Press Television News.

"Often circumstances put you between a rock and a hard place and maybe things shouldn't have been done in the way they were done but that was the only way to achieve the thing I had always dreamed of and I did it," she said.

Bousada turned 67 this month but said she told the Pacific Fertility Center in Los Angeles she was 55 — the clinic's cut off for treating single women, the report said. She said the clinic did not ask her for identification.

Dr. Vicken Sahakian, the clinic's medical director, confirmed late Saturday that he treated Bousada, but said clinic procedures would have required her to provide her passport.

"I did not know that she was 66," Sahakian told The Associated Press, declining to comment on her case further. "We do check identity."

Bousada now hopes to find a younger husband to help raise her two sons, Pau and Christian, the newspaper said.

The retired department store employee lived with her elderly mother for her entire life in Cadiz, in southern Spain. She hatched her plan to have children after her mother died, at an unspecified age, in 2005, the newspaper said.

She kept her plan secret from her family and when she finally told them she was two months pregnant, they thought she was joking.

"Yes, I am old of course, but if I live as long as my mom did, imagine, I could even have grandchildren," she said in the video.

She was hospitalized during her pregnancy after she collapsed in a supermarket, but said her health has been good since she delivered.

"When the doctors said they had to make an incision for the Caesarean, I told them, 'Make it really low so that I can still wear a bikini,'" Bousada was quoted as saying.

The twins, who were born seven weeks premature, remained in hospital for three weeks, but are now healthy and at home with Bousada, the report said.

Romanian citizen Adriana Iliescu gave birth to baby Eliza Maria in January 2005, also at the age of 66. Bousada was 130 days older than Iliescu when she gave birth.

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The World's Second-Largest Army Fights Against HIV

It may sound like a strange battle cry but the world's second-largest Army has trained its guns on an unlikely enemy.

"We consider HIV our enemy No. 1," says Director General of Armed Forces Medical

For most of the 1.2 million troops who live away from their families for about 10 months a year, AIDS is the threat they're now taking by the horns.

They haven't defeated it but there are signs of some progress. From 300 reported cases in 2003, the fresh incidence of HIV in the armed forces is down to 37 in 2006. There was no death due to AIDS in 2006.

With the heavy emphasis on preventive measures, sex is finally out of the military closet.

Soldiers are now under orders to report visits to sex workers. The message to troops: Let's talk about sex.

"Today, a jawan is not hesitant to open up and (confess) that sir, I have visited a sex worker, I should be treated," says Vice-Admiral V K Singh.

There's an unlikely agent of social change in the military. Sex is no longer taboo. And the message is that getting HIV is not a problem, but not reporting it, is one. So, seeking sex no longer carries a stigma.

"If you want to tackle AIDS or HIV, you will have to be very liberal in distribution of condoms, and education. In fact, condoms are kept in a place where they can be easily picked up," Vice-Admiral V K Singh.

Of the 37 cases of HIV reported this year, 35 have been caused by unprotected sex. So, sexual confessions can pave the way for aggressive medical intervention to defeat HIV. But there are clear limits to the sexual glasnost.

"Homosexuality in the armed forces is not a problem," says Vice-Admiral V K Singh. Some taboos may be harder to break.

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Flesh-eating disease making a comeback

A disease, almost eradicated, that eats through people's skin, cartilage and bones is re-appearing in Africa, Asia and South America, the World Health Organisation has warned.

Yaws, a bacterial infection that can cause debilitating deformations, particularly in under-15's, once affected 50-million people worldwide before a widespread treatment programme in the 1950's almost wiped it out.

Control programmes were gradually dismantled when the incidence of the disease dropped by 95 percent.

Dr Kingsley Asiedu, a WHO disease expert, said: "People assumed that the last few cases would be caught by public health systems but yaws made a comeback.

"This is an easily treatable disease that we are technically capable of eradicating," he added.

For instance, India began a nationwide effort to eliminate the disease in 1996 and no cases have been detected in the sub-continent since 2003.

Yaws' resurgence stands as a cautionary tale for other disease eradication programmes such as polio, which often falter in their final stages. "Nobody thought the last five percent of cases would be so difficult," Asiedu said.

At present about 500 000 people, mostly in poor, rural areas, are affected by yaws, according to WHO.

The global health body said it had assembled experts from countries where yaws is endemic in Geneva to consider whether to revive the global programme of 50 years ago to "eradicate this disease once and for all".

The non-fatal disease is spread by spiral bacteria similar to those that cause syphilis but can be treated with a single dose of cheap penicillin. - Sapa-AP

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Tattoos - How to Have Them Done Safe and How to Remove Them

Tattooing. It isn’t just a guy thing anymore. Over the past twenty years a steadily increasing number of women have been spotted wearing this ancient form of art as well. There is just something fascinatingly beautiful about having a tattoo, whether it’s a permanent work of art or simply a temporary one.

Permanent tattoos are applied by injecting color pigments into the second layer of skin using a needle that is attached to a motorized instrument. The tattoo may take anywhere from a few hours to several months to complete, depending on size and detail of the design.

Having a permanent tattoo done requires research. You most certainly don’t want to have your tattoo done by just anyone. Imagine getting a tattoo, only to later discover you contracted the disease hepatitis from an unclean tattoo needle. That is exactly what happened to actress Pamela Anderson after having her tattoo done by an artist who allowed needle sharing.

Having a tattoo done safely should be your number one priority. At the time of this article, Texas, Oregon and Wisconsin are the only states that are required to monitor and inspect all tattoo parlors by local health departments. Other states that have tattoo parlors are not required to have an inspection done. When tattoos are not done correctly, you stand a chance of infections, allergic reactions and as we mentioned earlier, hepatitis C.

To ensure your tattoo will be done safely, ask yourself the following questions:

· Is the tattoo parlor and artist clean? Check to see that all areas of the place are clean and free from dirt and debris, including the artist. Also don’t forget the bathroom! If you spot dirty gloves or needles lying around, find another parlor. If the tattoo artist looks like he just worked on a car or hasn’t had a bath in weeks, leave.

· Do all of the artists tattooing wear gloves? Look to see if they are washing their hands before putting on gloves and changing them after every procedure, if not they’re putting you and everyone else at risk.

· Are the artists disposing of needles properly? If your tattoo artist is using disposable needles, he or she should destroy and dispose of them in a biohazard container.

· Are machines and non-disposable needles sterilized? Make sure that the parlor has an autoclave. An Autoclave is a heated device used to pressurize tattoo instruments and kill any virus and bacteria that may be present. Find out if the artist uses the autoclave after each customer.

· Is the artist disposing of leftover ink? When an artist tattoos, he or she should place the ink in a single-use cup and then dispose of the ink in that cup after each procedure. The ink should never be dabbed from the main bottle or leftover ink returned to that bottle at any time.

· Are used absorbent tissues being thrown into a proper container? Tissues should be placed in a special puncture and leak-resistant container after use. If they are just lying in any ordinary trash can, your artist may not be very concerned about exposure to diseases.

· Does the artist provide aftercare instructions for your tattoo? If you’re willing to put your skin in the hands of an artist, he or she should be able to provide you with instructions on caring for your new tattoo. If not, it’s a sure sign that he or she isn’t going to be concerned with how your tattoo will look in the first place.

If you have already had a tattoo done and have since then regretted it, there are several ways to have the tattoo removed. The method of removal however, will depend on the pigment used, amount of time the tattoo has been on the skin, the location of the tattoo and if it was professionally done or not.

Keep in mind that tattoo removal is a very costly procedure and it’s not always possible to completely remove the tattoo. Often there is permanent scarring where the tattoo once was.

The most common removal methods are:

· Laser Treatment. This procedure is done when light is amplified by stimulated emission radiation. The laser light passes through the skin to break up the ink. Treatment can take up to months to complete, depending on the color, size and depth of the tattoo. Laser removal is the most popular of removal methods since it is one of the fastest and safest ways in removing tattoos. Average costs of this procedure are anywhere from $900-$1500, per 2-square inch of the tattoo.

· Another removal method is Dermabrasion, which involves freezing, then sanding the skin. Because of the depth of the tattoo you should expect intense pain and bleeding when having this procedure done.

· A similar procedure to Dermabrasion, Salabrasion requires the use of a salt solution instead of freezing. The skin is then sanded. The treatment generally takes 30-60 minutes and you can expect some scarring.

· A less popular method of removal is scarification. This method involves use of an acid solution to create a scar in place of the tattoo.

If you’re looking for a less permanent and safer approach to tattooing, try a temporary or henna tattoo.

Temporary tattoos are a dye applied directly to the surface of the skin. These tattoos are generally safe for everyone and usually fade within a few days of application or immediately with a good scrubbing. Temporary tattoos can easily be found at stores where sticker machines are available for a mere twenty-five cents to a dollar, depending on the company. For a little more professional quality, check out your local beauty store for these.

Although not permanent, Henna tattoos are a more temporary ink, allowing you to enjoy the beauty of body art. Colors however, are limited. Usually henna inks come in shades of red, green, brown or black and depending on your skin tone, the colors may react differently than others. Henna tattoo kits can be found in specialty stores and beauty stores. You can also find some professional artists who apply henna tattoos at fairs and some renaissance festivals.

As a final note, please remember that even though it may seem much more reasonable to have a permanent tattoo done by someone who comes to your door and does handmade tattoos, but ask yourself this? Would you be willing to have a surgeon operate at home on you without all of the professional equipment or sterile environment? Be safe when having a tattoo done. After all it’s your life we’re talking about.

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At 114, U.S. woman becomes world's oldest person

Scott Malone

A Connecticut woman born to former slaves in the decades following the U.S. Civil War has become the world's oldest person, at 114, according to Guinness World Records.

Emma Faust Tillman, born near Greensboro, North Carolina, on November 22, 1892, became the world's oldest person on Wednesday, following the death of Emiliano Mercado del Toro, of Puerto Rico, Guinness said on its Web site.

Longevity is common in Tillman's family. Though none of her 23 siblings have matched her 114 years, three sisters and a brother lived past 100, her great-nephew John Stewart Jr., said on Thursday.

"At 114, she's lived a good, honorable, straight life," said Stewart, who is 76. "Her comment is always, 'If you want to know about longevity and why I lived so long, ask the man upstairs."'

Tillman, who lives in the Hartford, Connecticut, nursing home she moved to at the age of 110, was not available for an interview.

"Sometimes, she doesn't feel like talking," Stewart said. "But when you're 114, you can call your own shots."

Tillman never smoked, drank or wore eyeglasses, Stewart said.

Karen Chadderton, administrator of the Riverside Health and Rehabilitation Center, where Tillman lives, said until a few months ago Tillman spent much of her time caring for an ailing roommate more than 20 years her junior, who has since died.

"About a month ago, she started feeling less energetic," said Chadderton. "During the morning she has energy, she's up and about, in a wheelchair, but in the afternoon, once she goes to sleep, she doesn't want to be bothered."

According to the International Committee on Supercentenarians, there are currently 86 people aged 110 or older alive in the world today. Eighty of them are women.

The world's next-oldest resident is Japan's Yone Minagawa, born in 1893, according to the ICS. Guinness World Records said it is still investigating that claim.

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Better Screening for Breast Cancer

Tyler Hamilton

A new device that screens for breast cancer by measuring electrical resistance in tissue could soon become a painless, radiation-free, and less costly alternative to mammography for women at high risk for the disease.

The company developing the technology, Z-Tech, based in Westford, MA, recently completed international trials of screening methods on 3,500 subjects at 28 different sites. A paper detailing the outcome of the two-year trial will be submitted later this year for peer review, the company says. But preliminary results indicate that the device catches more cancers and has fewer false positives than film mammography, most notably in patients younger than 50 years of age.

Steven Nakashige, chief executive officer of Z-Tech, says the company's test works best on women with dense breast tissue, an area where mammography is generally at its weakest. The test also takes only a few minutes and doesn't require a specially trained technician. Its simplicity, as well as the fact that it doesn't emit the potentially harmful ionizing radiation associated with mammography x-rays, could make it an effective tool in battling this deadly and most frequently diagnosed cancer in women. "We believe this would significantly increase [screening] compliance rates, which would help detect cancers earlier," says Nakashige. "And if you detect cancers earlier, you can reduce mortality rates."

Some observers say that Z-Tech's technology, while an improvement over mammography, needs to perform dramatically better if the aim is to encourage regular screening of the population at an earlier age. The worry is that false positives, even when there are fewer compared with mammography, would increase on an absolute basis. "You're implementing something that's guaranteed to produce X number of false alarms," says Alexander Hartov, an expert on the medical applications of electrical impedance at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth College, in Hanover, NH. "What are the repercussions in terms of public-health cost? Is it worth doing?"

So-called electrical-impedance scanning also faces competition from a variety of other emerging screening technologies that use everything from low-level microwaves to infrared light to locate breast tumors. The challenge with using impedance measurements, says Hartov, is to make it sophisticated enough so that it can distinguish between cancers and less serious abnormalities--a complex computational task that Dartmouth engineers are tackling.

The Z-Tech system works on two principles: that malignant tumors permit electricity to pass through more easily than noncancerous cells do, and that the left and right breasts of a healthy woman typically exhibit the same electrical characteristics. A disposable flower-petal-shaped disc is attached to each breast. Each of the 12 petals on the disc is an electrode, which bends over the contour of the breast and sticks to the skin with a light adhesive. A mild current is then applied between the electrodes in more than 300 combinations, and the data is sent to a bedside computer for immediate analysis.

"Our device compares one breast to the other breast and looks for the breast that has the higher [electrical] impedance," explains Nakashige. "It uses an algorithm and determines if the impedance exceeds a certain threshold. If it does, there's a high probability it's cancerous." He emphasizes, however, that the test doesn't produce an image of the breast and can't detect tumor types. "Our device is really a screening device. It's more of a yes-no answer that you get. You just want to determine whether someone should go on for diagnostic [mammography, ultrasound, or MRI] testing or go home."

The value of screening for breast cancers in women under the age of 50 has been widely debated, at least as far as mammography is concerned. There is little evidence that mammography is effective at reducing mortality rates for this age group. Meanwhile, health experts worry about unnecessarily exposing women to the risks of radiation. Despite this controversy, the National Cancer Institute recommends that women begin having annual or biennial mammography screenings starting at the age of 40, making Z-Tech's system an appealing option for some.

A Canadian study published last week in the New England Journal of Medicine found that women with highly dense breasts had a fivefold increase in breast-cancer risk. The study compared the mammogram results of 1,100 women over the course of eight years. Contributing to the risk is the fact that dense tissue and tumors both show up on mammograms as white areas, making it difficult to detect problems. Fat, on the other hand, appears dark and contrasts well with tumors.

"In a breast on a younger person, there's a lot more fibers and glandular tissue and less fat," says James Craft, a radiologist at the Medical College of Georgia, which was involved early on in Z-Tech's study but was not privy to the latest data.

It's for this reason that Nakashige believes Z-Tech has a chance of dethroning mammography as a screening tool, at least for this higher-risk population for which radiation is a concern and mammography is less effective.

Measuring electrical impedance in tissue is not a new field, but its application to breast-cancer screening only began to emerge as a research area in the early 1990s. That's when Z-Tech founder Leslie Organ, then a visiting professor at the University of South Carolina, began to study the effects of electric current on malignant tissue.

Mirabel Medical [formerly TranScan], of Austin, TX, also began impedance research in the early 1990s. It is the first and only company to get Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to use electrical-impedance screening, but its system is limited to being an adjunct to mammography. Mirabel is currently testing a newer version of its system in a large multisite trial with the U.S. Army. The goal is to get FDA approval as a stand-alone screening tool.

Z-Tech is heading in the same direction. It plans to launch a screening product in Asia and Europe this and in Canada in 2008. A trial is in the works to achieve premarket approval in the United States.

Karina Bukhanov, head of breast imaging at Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospital, a participant in the trial, is encouraged by Z-Tech's impedance system but is equally cautious. "We need more studies," she says. "Right now the numbers aren't big enough to say with confidence that the sensitivity approaches that of mammography. It could, however, play a more critical role in remote areas where patients don't have access to mammography."

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A Tiny Robotic Hand - a new tool in microsurgery?

Amitabh Avasthi

Early this winter in a University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), laboratory, a mechanical hand less than one millimeter wide deftly plucked ba single fish egg from a gooey underwater clutch, demonstrating a new technology that could one day make it into surgeons' tool kits.

"It is the world's smallest robotic hand, and [it] could be used to perform microsurgery," says Chang-Jin Kim, the lead researcher at UCLA, who says the device is safe for biological applications. Since it runs on gas pressure instead of electricity, it can be used in both dry and wet environments.

The "microhand" measures one millimeter across when closed into a fist. It consists of four "fingers," each of which is made from six silicon wafers, with polymer balloons doing the work of "muscles" at the wafers' joints.

Each balloon is connected with narrow channels through which air is pumped in or out. When a balloon is inflated, the distance between two joints decreases, and the finger flexes inward. Upon deflation, the fingers relax. And with selective inflation and deflation, researchers are able to manipulate the fingers into clasping or releasing an object.

"I must say that the microhand is a wonderful [micro-mechanical] achievement," says Albert Pisano, a mechanical engineer at the University of California, Berkeley, and a leader in such research. "The field of microsurgery and minimally invasive surgery is currently dominated by grippers and tools that are mounted at the end of long, rigid aluminum rods. Certainly these are adequate for many purposes, but now that functional microhands have been developed, one can visualize a new set of minimally invasive surgical tools that allow the surgeon additional dexterity in complicated procedures."

Pisano says that the technology could enable new kinds of minimally invasive surgical techniques, and that it stands out from other such efforts. "The work of Professor Kim is especially noteworthy since he has two pairs of opposing finger/thumb sets and … his design is able to have such an extreme range of motion."

While the microhand is probably years from practical use, the UCLA researchers say they are currently working with a firm involved with remote surgery to develop a slightly bigger hand, which will incorporate optical fibers on the palm. The idea, Kim says, is to have a microhand with an "eye." This could be used for seeing and manipulating objects within the human body.

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Calif. 1st to ban dry-cleaning chemical

SAMANTHA YOUNG,
Associated Press Writer

California regulators on Thursday enacted the nation's first statewide ban on the most common chemical used by dry cleaners, pleasing environmentalists but worrying some small businesses.

By 2023, no more dry-cleaning machines that use the toxic solvent perchloroethylene, a potential carcinogen, will be permitted in the state.

The regulation by the California Air Resources Board will phase out the fluid next year, banning dry cleaners from buying machines that rely on the solvent. The state's 3,400 dry cleaners who now use it must get rid of machines that are 15 years or older by July 2010.

"Dry cleaners have known this is a problem for quite some time," board member Dorene D'Adamo said. "There is a cost to society, and believe me, taxpayers are paying for it."

The rule was approved unanimously by the seven-member board and was embraced by environmental and health advocates. They urged the board to accelerate the ban because of the chemical's health effects. The solvent has contaminated one in 10 wells in California.

For consumers, the air board estimates that the additional expense of the new equipment will turn what is now a $15 bill into $16.20 to $16.60.

Cleaners said eliminating the most common dry cleaning solvent could drive them out of business because alternative methods are unproven and more costly.

"It could shut down some mom-and-pop operations _ the little guys that can't afford it," said Bob Blackburn, president of the California Cleaners Association.

The cost of converting could be significant for dry cleaners, 85 percent of which are small business with a slim profit margin. Replacing a machine that uses perchloroethylene can cost between $41,500 and $175,000.

What alternative should be allowed in California is still under debate. Dry cleaners that switched to other systems sought to sway the board in favor of their preference.

Although the air board did not endorse a substitute, the regulation would give cleaners a $10,000 incentive to buy a machine that uses carbon dioxide or a what is known as a "wet cleaning" system.

Environmentalists urged the board to ban the most common alternative, which uses hydrocarbons. Critics said it could lead to increased ozone pollution.

"It seems to me there needs to be some clarity," said air board member Ron Rogers. "I think some of the primary options are really questionable at best."

The board's vote follows similar action five years ago by the South Coast Air Quality Management District in Southern California. That agency became the first regulatory body in the country to ban perchloroethylene, forcing more than 2,000 dry cleaners to stop using the chemical by 2020.

Last year, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency banned the chemical for dry cleaners in residential buildings by 2020. But those operations are a small fraction of the nation's cleaners, said Jon Meijer, vice president of the International Fabricare Institute, an industry association based in Maryland.

In California, for example, only 50 of 5,210 dry cleaners operate out of residential buildings.

California declared perchloroethylene a toxic chemical in 1991. State health officials told the air board Thursday that it can cause esophageal cancer, lymphoma, cervical and bladder cancer. The solvent, which has a strong, sweet odor, also can affect the central nervous system.

Business owners disputed those claims.

"We believe perc has served the industry well for many years with no related health problems," said John Horst, owner of Margaret's Cleaners in La Jolla, which has operated for more than 50 years.

About 70 percent of the state's dry cleaners use the chemical and will be affected by the regulation.

Cleaners operating in residential buildings must remove their perchloroethylene machines by July 2010. Health advocates want the earlier timeline appplied to cleaners operating near schools, retirement homes, day care centers and medical buildings.

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7 resolutions for sensational sex in 2007

Brian Alexander
MSNBC contributor

There is just no resisting one of the hoariest of all journalism traditions, the New Year’s resolution column. Not only does the date practically demand it, but I can think of lots of worthy resolutions to suggest.

Let’s have Britney resolve to start wearing panties with mini-skirts, for instance. Flashing is so last year. And maybe anybody who’s made a big mistake over the past few years, like, say, producing "Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector" or paying $26 million to Alex Rodriguez could promise to make a public and heartfelt mea culpa.

This is a sex column though, so I suppose I should offer some sex-related resolutions. Since our mailbag has bulged in the past year with suggestions — complaints about lovers, really, but let’s be nice — and since self-improvement is the heart of all New Year’s vows, here is a menu of seven resolutions for 2007 that will go at least a little way toward making us the high rpm love machines we know we would be if only our partners were magically turned into Eva Longoria or that guy from "Grey’s Anatomy."

1. Lose the weight, get in shape
This is the most important thing you can do this year to improve your sex life. (Aside from finding somebody to have sex with, that is.)

Before thousands of irate voluptuous people write in preaching “fat acceptance” or BBW love, we here at Sexploration are fully aware that overweight people can have strong libidos and exciting sex lives. Most of us, however, find that our libidos drop, and so does our performance, if we are overweight and out of shape.

Over and over in 2006, readers wrote in to Sexploration either confessing they were addicted to bowls full of Buffalo wings and "Adult Swim" on Cartoon Network, or their lovers were. Then they wondered why their sex life was suffering.

The link ought to be obvious but 2006 brought new research addressing the issue by showing a significant drop in testosterone levels in overweight men. Being overweight and out of shape often leads to a variety of health problems like diabetes, joint pain, insomnia and cardiovascular disease that can interfere with desire and sexual enjoyment.

The good news is that working out vigorously can create pulses of sex hormones in men and women, and delay all the other bad stuff. If you need more incentive, men, think about the cost of hopping aboard the Viagra/Cialis/Levitra train. Those handsome, in-shape guys you see in the ads probably don’t need the pills.

Get off the couch.

2. Have a conversation (or several)
One of the most significant Sexploration columns of 2006 was about communicating. In it, Donald Strassberg, a professor of psychology at the University of Utah, related a story about an older couple in sex therapy. The man had always wanted oral sex, but even after many years of marriage he had never asked for it. The wife thought it a fine idea.

Sexual conversations won’t always work out the way we want. We may open up about our long-time desire to have sex in front of the picture window, to invite the meter-reader in for a few drinks, or to wear the wife’s strapless bra and thong panties and be met with wide-eyed alarm. Or we may offer suggestions like “Please don’t use your incisors on my penis” that a sensitive partner can take as “You are a lousy lover.” But maybe the reaction will be positive. Maybe your partner will say, “Well, let’s talk about that.”

It seems weird that this can be so hard, but it is for many people. For some reason we expect ourselves to grow up fully sexually competent adults, knowing everything. But nobody teaches us sexual techniques. So learn together. It requires patience and understanding and sometimes a thick skin. But first it requires a conversation.

3. Drop sexual politics
This year, can we resolve to get over the idea that his holding your wrists down to the bed means he’s a Neanderthal brute, or that she’s a bitchy feminist if she wants to ride you like Sea Biscuit? Sex is supposed to be joyful, exhilarating, intimate and revealing. If the mail coming into Sexploration is any indication, many of us are way too eager to find some hidden political meaning behind desire.

4. Promise to make it about the other person
The most frequent letter we received last year started with “My wife won’t …” or “My boyfriend won’t …”

When somebody who loves you says that giving them an hour-long massage would make them happy, consider it an honor. Their happiness can come from your fingertips. Once in awhile, just do what you know he or she likes, regardless of how much you like it. Don’t expect or demand anything in return. Experts say you may find that the more you give, the more you get.

5. Vow to rent a sexy movie (not that kind!)
Porn is everywhere now and lots of you watch it. Fine. But apparently some of you miss the erotic charge to be gained from doing the dance of desire. So here are some suggestions for your rental list:

* "The Fabulous Baker Boys” is almost 20 years old, but Michelle Pfeiffer singing on Jeff Bridges’ piano is still one of the sexiest scenes in movie history.
* “Rear Window” — the moment when Grace Kelly walks out of Jimmy Stewart’s bathroom having put on something more comfortable.
* “Body Heat.” The entire movie is sexy.

6. Buy some new clothes, get a manicure and a haircut
I bow in respect to all fans of the Oregon Ducks, the Toledo Mud Hens and the Vermont Frost Heaves. Wear the logo gear with pride. But do you really expect your lover to see you wearing the Frost Heaves sweatsuit every single morning, your hair sticking out at odd angles, those glasses at the end of your nose as you read the paper, and still want you, oohh baby, baby?
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Seduction is not just for the 10 minutes between dinner and the start of “House.” Seduction is a full-time job. Make an effort. Try some grooming.

7. Turn fantasy into reality
As long as you’re grooming, how about slicking back the hair, wearing skinny legged pants, and skinnier ties, hoop earrings, Wayfarers and a beehive hairdo? Invite some friends over. Sip Manhattans. Listen to Sinatra or, better yet, Chet Baker. Have a ring-a-ding time, and then after the friends go, make crazy whoopee.b

OK, so the Rat Pack isn’t your bag, baby. How about psychedelic Barbarella sex? You know, the groovy Jane Fonda movie? Or NASCAR sex (Daisy Duke cut-offs, cowboy hats, cold beers darlin’)? You could try Lady Chatterly’s Lover sex (all rough game keeper and high class lady), James Bond sex or even old reliable scenarios like secretary-and-boss sex. You can flip to decide who’s who. Anything to break up the routine.

Fantasy life is lacking, say readers, and they’d like more of it from you, the other half. It only makes sense, especially if you’ve been together for a long time. I mean, it’s 2007 already and after 10 years of looking at you in that Mud Hens cap, we could use a change.

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Shaving Secrets

Carefair.com

Want to know the secret to the perfect shave? There isn’t any one answer that is going to work for everyone, but the best advice is to take care! Don’t treat your skin harshly just because it happens to grow hair; pamper yourself each time you begin the ritual of hair removal. There are many natural ways you can make sure your skin does not suffer at the hands of hair removal.

Preparation

The first thing you want to tackle before shaving any area of the body is skin preparation. Be sure to wash and exfoliate your skin to ensure your razor does not get clogged with dead skin and dirt. Removal of these ensures your ability to get a clean shave every time.

Shaving Products

There are several different types of products that can be bought or made at home to help the skin during the shave, and help it to recover afterwards. Shaving creams, soaps, and milks all help soften the hair and skin making the razor slide over easy for the least amount of damage. These products can be applied with a shaving brush, or rubbed on by hand. After shave lotions serve two important purposes in the art of shaving; one is to heal minor cuts and abrasions, and the second is to refresh the skin. They are mildly astringent, and leave the skin smelling and feeling sweet. Talc has been used to make the skin smell good and patch up some of the damage from the razor as well.

There are many natural additions to shaving products that enhance the shaving experience. Some people make their own powerful aftershaves and shaving creams and milks at home and receive the benefits of natures pampering from their kitchen, but the preparation often contain alcohol, and take weeks to cure. Pine is a popular addition to shaving preparations, and zinging lemon and orange are also popular choices. The menthol in pine can also be added separate as pure menthol, and it makes the skin feel fresh after it has been applied in an aftershave. Witch Hazel is also a popular natural astringent that can be found in aftershave preparations.

After the Shave
Make sure to moisturize your skin after shaving. Be wary of lotions and creams that contain perfumes and dyes that will irritate your newly sensitive skin, but make sure that after your skin has recovered it gets nourished with the right kind of moisture attention to ensure you do not end up with dry, flaky skin.

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Find the Right Make Up To Suit You in Your Twenties

Carefair.com

Make-up is a big part of any woman’s life and as we get older, our make-up needs change. Whilst many women do not even realize this, our make-up habits should change as we get older, and what looked right in our teens does not tend to look right whilst we are in our twenties. So, just what styles should we go for then?

Keeping It Natural!

Fortunately make-up in your twenties is really not that hard to get to grips with. The only real difference between your skin in your twenties compared to in your teens, is that fine lines do tend to start to appear. This means that an eye cream may need to be used in order to help protect the areas as well as to help eye make-up to glide on a lot easier. A good moisturizer should also be used in order to prepare the base for the foundation. If you do not moisturize the skin, it is possible for the make-up to be applied unevenly and it will not look smooth and natural.

The most important thing to bear in mind is that when you are thinking of how to do your make-up once you are in your twenties, you have to keep it natural. When you were a teenager you could get away with wearing bright blue, sparkly eye shadow. However, now you are in your twenties you are going to need to tone it down a little in order to look your age!

So now you know what is expected from your new make-up look, just how do you go about getting it?

The Hints and Tips of the Trade

If you are wondering exactly how to keep things natural, here are a few tips which will hopefully help you:

Keeping Foundation To A Minimum

Foundation is quite often over-used due to the fact that many women think that the way to apply it is to simply wipe it all over the face. Whilst this may be the easiest method, it is by far the most incorrect way of applying foundation, and most women really do not need to cover their whole faces with the stuff!

As a rule you should only use foundation where you need it. If you have patches of really nice, clear skin, why cover it up? Only put the foundation on where it is needed. For example, do you have any imperfections such as dark circles under the eyes and perhaps an oily T-Zone? If so, spend your time and energy trying to cover those up with a good foundation, and instead of wiping it on, use a cotton pad and pat the foundation on. This not only helps to give an even look, but it also helps the foundation to stay on a lot longer. Less really is more when it comes to foundation!

Calm Those Smouldering Eyes!

Another cosmetic product which is often abused is the eyeliner. Whilst bold, smoky eyes may be quite alluring, often women tend to overdo it and they simply end up looking more like a panda than a sexy, confident woman! So how exactly should you wear your eyeliner then? Well, once again less is definitely more!

When you are applying the eyeliner you really need to make sure that it is as close to the eyelashes as possible. The line should not be visible and it should smoothly blend down into the eyelashes. This creates a bolder look without going over the top.

Don’t Doll Yourself Up As If You Are For The Circus!

Finally, the last tip that you really have to know is to do with blusher. Blusher is by far the worst used make-up product on the market today. It is baffling that many women do not know when enough is enough. Too much blusher is certainly not a good look and often so many women end up looking like a clown instead of looking sexy!

The secret with blusher is to use a good blusher brush, dip it into the blusher and then tap the brush gently to release any loose powder. This stops you from applying too much too soon and you can always put more on if needed. Next, sweep the blusher brush from the apple of your cheek (or the most fleshy bit to make it simpler) and sweep the brush across towards the hairline. This is the best way to ensure that you end up with a nice, even, glowing look.

So overall the rule to stick to when you are doing your make-up in your twenties is – less is more! The natural look really is so much nicer than the clown look so follow the tips above and you shouldn’t go far wrong!

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Six Principles of Change

Stanton Peele

Do you believe in change? Believing you can change encourages commitment to the process and enhances the likelihood of success.

1. The belief that you can change is the key to change. This is not the powerlessness message of the 12 steps but rather the message of self-efficacy. Addictions are really no different from other behaviors—believing you can change encourages commitment to the process and enhances the likelihood of success.

2. The type of treatment is less critical than the individual's commitment to change. People can select how they want to pursue change in line with their own values and preferences. They don't need to be told how to change.

3. Brief treatments can change longstanding habits. It is not the duration of the treatment that allows people to change but rather its ability to inspire continued efforts in that direction.

4. Life skills can be the key to licking addiction. All addictions may not be equal; the community-reinforcement approach, with its emphasis on developing life skills, might be needed for those more severely debilitated by drugs and alcohol.

5. Repeated efforts are critical to changing. People do not often get better instantly—it usually takes multiple efforts. Providing follow-up care allows people to maintain focus on their change goals. Eventually, they stand a good chance of achieving them.

6. Improvement, without abstinence, counts. People do not usually succeed all at once. But they can show significant improvements; and all improvement should be accepted and rewarded. It is counterproductive to kick people out of therapy for failing to abstain. The therapeutic approach of recognizing improvement in the absence of abstinence is called harm reduction.

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Why can't you pay attention anymore?

It may be the greatest irony of the information age.

All of that data flying at you by e-mail, instant message, cell phone, voice mail and BlackBerry--it could actually be making you dumber.

Dr. Edward Hallowell, a psychiatrist who's studied attention deficit disorder for more than a decade, has identified a related disorder he calls attention deficit trait, and he says it's reaching epidemic proportions in the corporate world. Unlike attention deficit disorder, or ADD, people aren't born with ADT. It's the result, he contends, of the modern workplace, where the constant and relentless chatter coming from our computers, phones and other high-tech devices is diluting our mental powers.
No one really multitasks. You just spend less time on any one thing.

Hallowell, formerly a Harvard Medical School faculty member, recently sat down with CNET News.com to talk about ADT as well as when the right times to log off, hang up or take a time-out might be. We paid attention.

Q: What is ADT?
Hallowell: It's sort of like the normal version of attention deficit disorder. But it's a condition induced by modern life, in which you've become so busy attending to so many inputs and outputs that you become increasingly distracted, irritable, impulsive, restless and, over the long term, underachieving. In other words, it costs you efficiency because you're doing so much or trying to do so much, it's as if you're juggling one more ball than you possibly can.

What are some of the symptoms?
Hallowell: When people find that they're not working to their full potential; when they know that they could be producing more but in fact they're producing less; when they know they're smarter than their output shows; when they start answering questions in ways that are more superficial, more hurried than they usually would; when their reservoir of new ideas starts to run dry; when they find themselves working ever-longer hours and sleeping less, exercising less, spending free time with friends less and in general putting in more hours but getting less production overall.

When did you start to notice ADT as a disorder distinct from ADD?
Hallowell: So many people would come to me looking for a diagnosis of ADD, and I noticed some of them didn't really have the condition because it went away completely when they went on vacation, or it went away completely when they went off to a relaxed setting.

In ADD--the true ADD--it doesn't go away, wherever you go. So I realized that these people were having it induced by their work world. When they got to work, then symptoms would start to occur. So that meant that something was going on at work. That something is this overload.

Haven't people always had distractions at work? Is this really anything new?
Hallowell: It's new because never before have we been so able to overload the brain circuitry. We've been able to overload manual labor. But never before have we so routinely been able to overload brain labor.

What sort of toll does this disorder take on a person?
Hallowell: Aside from underachievement, you don't ever get the fulfillment of seeing yourself coming up with the ideas you ought to come up with. You don't get the fulfillment that comes from creative activity. You live at a much more surface level.

I imagine it takes a toll on the organization as well.
Hallowell: Absolutely. Organizations are sacrificing their most valuable asset, namely the imagination and creativity of the brains they employ, by allowing ADT to infest the organization. It's not that hard to deal with, once you identify it. You need to set limits and preserve time to think. Warren Buffett sits in a little office in the middle of nowhere and spends a lot of his time just thinking. And we are not giving ourselves that opportunity.

You say this condition is reaching epidemic proportions. What percentage of the working population suffers from ADT, in your estimation?
Hallowell: I'm guessing now, because I haven't done surveys. But I've done informal surveys at seminars I give. If we're talking about the working population as sort of managers and executives in corporations as opposed to people working at Burger King or something, then I think you're talking 30, 35, 40 percent.

You say technology in the form of e-mail, voice mail, instant messaging and so on is fueling this phenomenon. It's ironic that the information age is making a lot of us dimmer, isn't it?
Hallowell: Absolutely. Technology is a great blessing. It is behind much of our progress. But if we're not careful with it, it can start running us ragged. This is the person who spends the day responding to e-mail and voice mail; the person who allows himself to be interrupted by the cell phone during an important meeting; the person who stays up late at night because he can't log off the Internet. We need to take charge of it. Right now, it's taking charge of us. We need to preserve time to stop and think.

If you don't allow yourself to stop and think, you're not getting the best of your brain. What your brain is best equipped to do is to think, to analyze, to dissect and create. And if you're simply responding to bits of stimulation, you won't ever go deep.

Are some people just better at multitasking than others?
Hallowell: No one really multitasks. You just spend less time on any one thing. When it looks like you're multitasking--you're looking at one TV screen and another TV screen and you're talking on the telephone--your attention has to shift from one to the other. You're brain literally can't multitask. You can't pay attention to two things simultaneously. You're switching back and forth between the two. So you're paying less concerted attention to either one.

I think in general, why some people can do well at what they call multitasking is because the effort to do it is so stimulating. You get adrenaline pumping that helps focus your mind. What you're really doing is focusing better at brief spurts on each stimulus. So you don't get bored with either one.

You have cited software maker SAS as an example of a company actively promoting a more connected, humane workplace, with perks like a seven-hour workday and on-site day care. The interesting thing is that it is a private company and doesn't have to answer to Wall Street. Aren't most publicly traded companies too paranoid and bottom-line-driven for such niceties?
Hallowell: And yet (SAS) is highly profitable. Its bottom line is robust. It's just that it doesn't have to meet quarterly numbers. It's almost a metaphor for the problem. If you're only working from quarter to quarter, then it's very hard to have a long-range strategy. Hard to weather when you take a dip. This quarter-to-quarter management succeeds in the short term but fails in the long term.

Do you see a broader corporate backlash against this type of work environment, or do you think it will be up to individuals to manage it?
Hallowell: I think the people in charge will catch on and will take steps. You reach a point of red alert, in which the brain starts to steam and bells go off and whistles go off and people start quitting and productivity declines. We're not quite there yet. I think the smart companies are catching on.

Any examples jump to mind?
Hallowell: I was talking to someone who runs a huge fund in New York, and he was saying he demands that his employees take several days a month just to think--to leave the office and just go off and think. He wants them to not bring their e-mail, not bring their cell phone--make themselves unavailable. And I think it's a really smart management strategy.

You say fear can really rev up ADT? How so?
Hallowell: When you're in a state of high-level fear, your brain devotes much of its resources to surviving. You go into survival mode. The lower centers of the brain recruit the higher centers of the brain to make sure you're not going to get killed. And you get a big volt of adrenaline and cortisol, and you go into very much black-and-white thinking, on or off, up or down.

You lose the functions I was talking about earlier: flexibility; ability to see shades of gray, deal with uncertainty, have a sense of humor, entertain new ideas. All of that goes out the window, and you're just wanting to fix it, lest you be annihilated. That's good if you're being chased by a sabertooth tiger. It's not good if you're in your average daily work environment at IBM.

Is it possible for an organization, as an entity, to have ADT?
Hallowell: Sure it is. You can have a whole stock brokerage.

Everybody's running around, looking at their Bloomberg, looking at the latest quotes, answering everything. They're pouncing on every bit of stimulation as if it's going to make a big difference. And they have no strategy, or their strategy changes every day.

They're all running around, working their tails off. But they're really at the whim of the market. They think they're working hard, and they think they're being productive, but they're not. They're busy, but they're not thoughtful.

Are certain professions more susceptible to ADT?
Hallowell: I think anything in the corporate world is, particularly these days, with the forces you just mentioned of global competition. Doctors are, in their own way, because we live in a sea of data and a sea of patients and sea of paperwork. Lawyers are, in their own way, for the same reasons.

Even moms are susceptible, but it comes in a different way. They're taking their kids from one activity to another, making all these play dates, supervising homework and supervising soccer, and doing laundry and shopping.

I assume that high-tech companies, which are themselves such avid consumers of tech gadgetry, are rife with ADT?
Yes, but they're also--and this is why I love those people so much--able to say no to it. They're playful. Play is one of the best antidotes to this. They're able to rise above it and get around it. The ones who suffer the most in that field are the ones who don't have the creative powers of the techies, and they just kind of slog along.

Do you think this is a generational thing? Kids now are growing up with e-mail, cell phones and so on. Maybe they'll be able to cope better than we do?
Hallowell: I think maybe they'll be more adept with these tools when they get to the workplace, but I think the same principles will apply. How you allocate your time and your attention is crucial. What you pay attention to and for how long really makes a difference. If you're just paying attention to trivial e-mails for the majority of your time, you're wasting time and mental energy. It's the great seduction of the information age. You can create the illusion of doing work and of being productive and creative when you're not. You're just treading water.

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Top ten bra fitting tips

Bra Fitting Tips What's the first thing you do when you get home? If you find yourself taking off your bra before kicking off your shoes, then it's time to look for something more comfortable. Your bra size is very likely to vary over time. It’s obvious enough when you’re pregnant or nursing, but did you know that gaining or losing a few pounds can also affect your bra size? There's no great mystery to finding a great-fitting bra, but you might have to try on a fair number before you strike gold. Don't get hung up on what the tape measure says: remember that sizes vary from brand to brand (you might, for example, need a 32C in one brand but a 34B in another) and be guided instead by whether or not a bra fits you comfortably. How will you know if you've found the perfect fit? Check out our top ten tips below. Top ten bra fitting tips 1. Fill your cups ... Baggy cups are not a good look. Try going down a cup size. If your cups are creasing around the nipple, however, that's a different matter. Try going down a back size to pull the fabric taut. 2. ... but don't overflow Spilling out over the tops or sides of your cups won't make your breasts look bigger (there are padded and gel-filled push-up bras to do that). It just means that you're wearing too small a cup size: try the next one up. 3. Don't let the straps take the strain A bra's main support comes from the band, not the straps. So make sure that you're wearing the correct band size: too big, and your straps will end up taking the weight, which will cause them to dig in. 4. Think horizontal Look in the mirror side-on. Is your bra band at the same level all the way round? If it's riding up at the back, you probably need a smaller band size. 5. Finger rules Never mind a rule of thumb; here's what you need to know about fingers. Your bra band should feel tight and firm, but with enough space to insert two fingers under the back band, and one under the centre front. 6. Fasten a new bra on the loosest hook Fascinating bra fact: a bra can grow up to 4" due to wash and wear. So when you buy a new bra, make sure that it fits properly on the loosest hook; you might need to tighten it with wear. 7. Underwiring should lie flat at the front The centre front of your bra should lie flat against the breastbone. If it doesn't, it's telling you to go up a cup size. 8. Underwiring sits on the bone And while we're talking about underwiring, check the wire at the side of the bra. It should sit on the ribcage, without digging into any of the breast. 9. Bring a t-shirt The best way to see what shape a new bra will give you is to try it on under a tight fitting t-shirt. Look at yourself from all angles and make sure that you get a smooth line with no unwanted bulges. 10. Get moving! You wouldn't buy a pair of shoes without walking around in them. So why should buying a bra be any different? Don't just stand there: stretch out and flap your arms to make sure it feels comfortable when you move. Measuring yourself is not an exact science. If, however, you’d like to use a tape measure to find your bra size, click here for our bra calculator.

Cups too big Cups too small Loose back band Tight back band It fits! It fits: horizontal back strap

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New Blood Test May Help Heart Patients

It’s a simple blood test – and it can tell patients with heart problems if they’re at risk for further complications. Channel 2’s Dr. Randy Martin has more on the new discovery.64-year-old Thomas Gray is receiving regular medical care for his heart disease, but as with many heart patients, doctors are looking for new tests – especially blood tests – that could tell them if their patients are at risk for future problems. Doctors in San Francisco tested a protein in the blood called NTPro-BNP.“We had 1,000 patients – 1,000 patients who have heart disease – and we measured their NTPro-BNP levels at the beginning of the study and then we followed them for more than 3 years to see who developed these complications – a stroke, a heart attack, heart failure or death,” explained Dr. Kirsten Bibbins-Domingo with the University of California, San Francisco.Dr. Bibbins-Domingo and her colleagues found that the blood test might – in some individuals – offer an early warning.“What we think is that the blood test that detects NTPro-BNP levels can detect a heart that’s under stress at very early stages in a way that may be missed by other types of heart tests,” said Dr. Bibbins-Domingo.While it’s hoped that the blood test can give additional information to who is most at risk, it’s not the only test that could do so.“What I hope is that we will be able to use this blood test in combination with other types of tests, like an Echocardiogram,” Dr. Bibbins-Domingo said.While the new blood test looks promising for telling who’s at risk for heart disease, Dr. Randy Martin asks you to remember there are two important things that will tell you if you’re really at risk. One is your blood pressure – know whether you have hypertension or not. The second is your cholesterol values – these are things you can control by weight loss, regular exercise and the proper diet.

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Diet For Good Sex

Debasmita Chanda

Are some foods better than others for fueling good sex? It could just be that, a healthy diet is healthy for your lovemaking life.

Like many aspects of our health, our lovemaking drive is affected by what we put into our bodies. A few drinks and some kind of foods, followed by a rich chocolate dessert, may sound romantic, but it is actually a prologue to sleep, not lovemaking. Humans have sought ways to enhance or improve their sex lives for millennia, and have never been reluctant to spend money to make themselves better lovers. Eating the right kinds of foods and getting plenty of muscle-strengthening exercise is just the prescription for a healthier love life. A dash of positive attitude ties it all together: You have to believe you're hot if you want to make things sizzle in the bedroom. Being sexy and self-confident is just a state of mind and this can be only possible if you feel that confidence from within.

Many claims are based on the idea that particular vitamins and nutrients in some foods can boost an aspect of love. For example, the vitamins in eggs can supposedly reduce performance anxiety and premature ejaculation, the calcium in vanilla ice cream evidently makes orgasms more powerful, and the folic acid in cereals keeps arteries clear, enhancing blood flow to the right places. These few things can be kept in the mind and can be prevented if you want to have a healthy love life and living.

Good Sex Diet

If you want to optimize your love life the key is to follow a diet that keeps your blood sugar level even and provides plenty of arginine, zinc and omega-3 fats. In practical terms this means:

* Avoid sugar and sugary snacks, which can help you be fit and not grow fat that can be a hindrance for a healthy love life.
* Reduce your intake of stimulants like tea, coffee, chocolate, alcohol and cigarettes.
* Increase nutrient-rich foods as fruits, vegetables, whole foods, seeds and wheat germ.
* Arginine is especially rich in fish, turkey, chicken, beans, lentils, tofu, nuts and seeds.
* Eat tuna, mackerel, herring or salmon three times a week.
* Eat oysters because they are packed full of zinc (best for men).
* Eat seeds and nuts. The best seeds are flax, hemp, pumpkin, sunflower and sesame.
* Use cold-pressed seed oils. Choose an oil blend containing flaxseed oil or hemp oil for salad dressings and cold uses, such as drizzling on vegetables instead of butter.

Minimize your intake of fried food, processed food and saturated fat from meat and dairy as this might decrease your zest of having sex with your partner. It is often seen and proven that people who eat fatty stuffs have the inclination to develop a bulky body and belly that may cause a barrier in lovemaking and loss of energy for the act.

Always remember, a lifestyle that's healthy for you will be healthy for your love life. Boost your sexual potency naturally with a healthy diet, lots of exercise or sports, and find your partner and you enjoy a great love life. So, for that great time in bed, eat the right kind of food.

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