Health and Fitness for Wednesday March 23, 2011

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Many with gastric banding have problems BRUSSELS (UPI) -- Most laparoscopic adjustable gastric band patients say they are satisfied with it but 39 percent experienced major complications, researchers in Belgium say. Dr. Jacques Himpens and colleagues at the European School of Laparoscopic Surgery, Saint Pierre University Hospital in Brussels, conducted a clinical assessment of patients 12 or more years after the patients underwent laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding. The study involved 82 patients who were treated with laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding from Jan. 1, 1994, to Dec. 31, 1997, who were contacted at the end of 2009 for a full evaluation, Medical News Today reported. "Based on a follow-up of 54.3 percent of patients, laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding appears to result in a mean excess weight loss of 42.8 percent after 12 years or longer," the study authors say in a statement. The study, published online ahead of print in the July issue of Archives of Surgery, found 39 percent of patients experienced major complications and 22 percent experienced minor complications. Nearly half the patients required removal of their gastric bands and nearly 60 percent needed additional operations. "Still, 60.3 percent of the patients were satisfied, and the quality-of-life index was comparable to the non-surgical average," the researchers say. Copyright 2011 by United Press International
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Safflower oil may help reduce heart risk COLUMBUS, Ohio (UPI) -- Adding a daily dose of safflower oil -- about 1 2/3 teaspoons -- may be a safe way to help reduce cardiovascular disease risk, U.S. researchers say. Lead author Martha Belury, a professor of human nutrition at Ohio State University, and colleagues say safflower oil contains linoleic acid, a polyunsaturated fatty acid. Research dating back to the 1960s has suggested that these dietary oils from plant sources can help prevent heart disease, Belury says. "The women in the study didn't replace what was in their diet with safflower oil. They added it to what they were already doing. And that says to me that certain people need a little more of this type of good fat -- particularly when they're obese women who already have diabetes," Belury says in a statement. "I believe these findings suggest that people consciously make sure they get a serving of healthy oil in their diets each day -- maybe an oil and vinegar dressing on a salad, or some oil for cooking. And this recommendation can be extended to everyone." The study, published online ahead of print in the journal Clinical Nutrition, says the daily dose of safflower oil for 16 weeks improved such cardiovascular health measures as high-density lipoprotein, the "good" cholesterol; blood sugar; insulin sensitivity and inflammation in obese post-menopausal women who have type 2 diabetes. Copyright 2011 by United Press International
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How to prevent bedbugs when traveling NEWTON, Mass. (UPI) -- Experts say this summer's travel season may be the worst yet for bedbugs but a U.S. author says there are ways to protect against infestations. Stacy DeBroff, founder of the blog Mom Central and an author of several books, says a green, pesticide-free treatment -- Stop Bugging Me -- kills bedbugs and their eggs on contact but also prevents them for up to two weeks. It can be sprayed onto bug prone or infested areas including airplane seats, hotel rooms, beds, carpets, rental car interiors, luggage, linens and clothing, DeBroff says. However, to guard against the pesky bugs, DeBroff advises to: -- Never put handbags or purses on the floor, place them on your lap and place suitcases on luggage racks. For extra protection, encase your luggage -- suitcases, diaper bags, etc. -- in a zippered plastic bag. -- Check car seats, trunks, blankets, sheets and pillow cases for dark spots and eggs that look like rice. Inspect stroller wheels, pockets and crevices. It's best to inspect any furniture before sitting on it. Bedbugs like to hide in sleeping and sitting areas that have dark to low light. -- Always wash clothing before wearing it and after returning home from vacation, immediately wash all clothing and removable stroller/crib/playpen fabric components in hot water. Vacuum out all pieces of luggage. -- Discard the used vacuum bag or dust canister contents in a sealed bag before cleaning anything else. Copyright 2011 by United Press International
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Group: Chernobyl fallout posed hazard OCEAN CITY, N.J. (UPI) -- Current declarations that elevated U.S. radiation levels are harmless are premature, says a researcher who studied radiation from the Chernobyl meltdown. "Chernobyl fallout reached the U.S. atmosphere just nine days after the meltdown, and entered the American diet, Joseph Mangano, an epidemiologist and executive director of the Radiation and Public Health Project, a group of researchers who study radiation health risk, says in a statement. "Medical journal articles show American infants and children suffered from higher rates of infant deaths, leukemia, thyroid cancer, and under-active thyroid glands. Similar studies should be conducted in the U.S. to measure effects of radiation from Japan." Citing Environmental Protection Agency measurements at 68 locations, Mangano says for six weeks in May-June 1986 following the Chernobyl meltdown, the average level of radioactive Iodine-131 in U.S. milk was nearly six times greater than normal. Potassium-131, which damages thyroid cells, decays quickly -- with a half life eight days. In Boise, Idaho, and Spokane, Wash., its averages were 28 and 22 times above normal, as rainfall was greatest in the northwest. By July 1986, I-131 levels had returned to normal, Mangano says. For the same six weeks in spring 1986, the average level of radioactive Cesium-137 in U.S. milk was nearly four times greater than normal, EPA data showed. Cs-137, which damages soft tissues, decays slowly -- half life 30 years -- and the average in Seattle and Spokane, Wash., was 15 and 11 times above normal and Cs-137 levels only returned to normal three years later. Copyright 2011 by United Press International
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