Online Medicine

As a therapist, one of the biggest complaints I hear from moms of all ages is the feeling of overwhelm.  Moms often feel there is so much to do, yet not enough time to do all of it.  I’ve found the greatest cause of the feeling of overwhelm is actually NOT all the to do’s, it’s the little “me time” that moms have.  My solution for moms who feel really overwhelmed is to take a break, re-group, and have some quality “me time”.  Me time may include getting a massage or pedicure, having luch with a girlfriend, or having a few hours to herself doing things she enjoyed doing prior to having children.  Once mom feels recharged, her overwhelm will decrease and she’ll have more energy to take on the demands of being mom.  You deserve it, go ahead and schedule some “me time”!

HOUSTON -- (December 29, 2008) -- A protein known to play a role in development and the formation of organs is also an important factor in the control of obesity and diabetes, which can lead to metabolic syndromes, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in a report that appears in the current issue of the journal Cell Metabolism.

Drs. Ming-Jer and Sophia Tsai, professors of molecular and cellular biology at BCM, have studied COUP-TFII (Chicken Ovalbumin Upstream Promoter Transcription Factor II) for decades, but only when they bred mice that had only one gene copy for the factor did they find that the animals had smaller fat cells and increased energy metabolism as well as enhanced response to insulin.

"If a mouse loses one copy of the gene, the animal becomes lean," said Ming-Jer Tsai. "It is more sensitive to the effects of insulin and resistant to obesity from a high fat diet."

Their studies raise the likely possibility that one can use COUP-TFII as a potential drug target for diabetes and obesity treatment.

Identifying a drug that could reduce the effect of COUP-TFII activity has become a future focus for their research, said Sophia Tsai.

"We don't need to inhibit it totally," she said. "Partial inhibition will do the trick as when you lose one copy of the gene, your fat cells are already much smaller and the animal is lean."

The animals not only have less fat, they also have more muscle and burn more energy, said Ming-Jer Tsai.

Drs. Luoping Li and Xin Xie, postdoctoral associates in Dr. Tsai's laboratory were major contributors to the work. Others who took part include Jun Qin, George S. Jeha, Pradip K. Saha, Jun Yan, Claire Menoza Haueter and Lawrence Chan, all of BCM.

Funding for this research came from the National Institutes of Health and the Baylor Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at BCM.

The report will be available at http://www.cell.com/cell-metabolism/home.

For more basic science from Baylor College of Medicine, please go to www.bcm.edu/fromthelab.

HOUSTON -- (December 29, 2008) -- When the weather outside is frightful, it can take a heavy toll on elderly members of the community, according to an expert at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

"It's essential for elders to prepare for the winter season," said Dr. Robert Roush of the Huffington Center on Aging at BCM.

One of the main concerns is the cold winter weather, but it's important to be sure that the precautions don't turn into the problems.

"As we age, the body loses the ability to regulate temperature," said Roush, also an associate professor of medicine - geriatrics at BCM. "Frail elders may turn the heat on higher than most of us, which can lead to dehydration and confusion, increasing one's risk of falling or taking too much or not enough essential medications."

Roush also recommends:

• Stocking up on essential groceries and other items so there is no reason to venture out into the ice and cold
• Staying indoors to prevent falls on slippery walkways
• Frequent checks on elderly family members or neighbors
• Offers to drive them to destinations as the sun goes down earlier and it becomes difficult to see on the roads
• A portable phone, cell phone or even an emergency response system within hands reach

Another important precaution to take is getting a flu shot, but this is not just for elders.

"We recommend that elders do get the flu shot, but other family members, especially young children, should also get vaccinated to prevent spreading it to others," said Roush.

Because the immune system is affected by age, elders should seek medical care if symptoms of a cold or flu don't subside.

Aside from these physical and safety concerns, Roush also emphasizes preventing the holiday blues. Bereavement and other stress issues require special attention during the holidays to prevent one from becoming unduly depressed.

Roush encourages elders to get involved in holiday festivities and to ask for help once in a while. Family members and neighbors can also lend a helping hand with decorations or running errands to make the holidays a joyous time for everyone.

NEW DELHI: Hospital chain Fortis Healthcare is raising Rs 1,000 crore through a rights issue. The money would be used to fund the company’s greenfield projects and restructure the balance sheet, besides being utilised for other investment opportunities, a company release said. Additionally, the company plans to raise money through issue of warrants, but the amount and details of the warrant issue is yet to be decided.

Fortis Healthcare CEO & MD Shivinder Singh said, “The rights issue will enable us to restructure our balance sheet and set the base for a healthy future. Further, this gives an opportunity to our shareholders to participate and benefit from our growth.”

The share ratio and issue price of the rights issue would be finalised by February-end. The company board has also increased the authorised share capital of the company from Rs 400 crore to Rs 678 crore. At present, the company has around Rs 450 crore in debt and another Rs 250 crore of preference capital.

The company is setting up a medicity in Gurgaon and three new hospitals in Mumbai, West Delhi and Gurgaon. Fortis’
shares at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) closed at Rs 71.15, up 1.65% from Tuesday’s close of Rs 69.50.

There has been speculation that the Delhi-based company is in talks with two leading domestic hospital chains to pick up significant stakes and the money is being raised for these investments. But, the company management said that it is not in talks with ‘any of the rival hospitals’.

The company’s merger & acquisition team, however, is in talks with standalone hospitals for a buyout. Mr Singh had earlier said the company intends to complete the acquisition of a 100-bed hospital in either South or West India.

Last year, Fortis Healthcare raised Rs 496 crore through its maiden public issue and the promoters currently own 74.4% in the company. At present, Fortis Healthcare has 23 hospitals and plans to increase it to 40 hospitals by 2011.

You may be contemplating whether or not to workout with a trainer.  Here’s the pluses:

*A good trainer will teach you proper form
*A trainer will keep you committed and dedicated (why would you pay otherwise?)
*A good trainer will help you with nutrition
*A good trainer creates variety and makes working out fun
*A good trainer will teach you the skills so you can ultimately workout on your own

Minuses:

*A good trainer isn’t cheap.  Prices vary from $70-over $100/hr. depending on credentials and experience
*Once you’re hooked it can be hard to wean yourself.

If you don’t have the money to spend, start working out with a friend or group.  Having a friend or group hold you accountable will keep you on track.  Plus it can be more fun to workout with others.

If you are interested in personal training with me and live in San Diego, CA.  Contact me at info@fitbysara.com or 800.568.3820 and visit: http://www.fitbysara.com.