Public Health Recommendations

Last year, I asked my then three-year-old what color she would like us to paint her room. Her response, “Colorful.” On the one hand, trying to explain that “colorful” was not an actual color was an exercise in futility; but on the other hand, we were fortunate she did not respond with a request for hot pink or neon yellow. Ultimately, we painted her room in the latest Benjamin Moore beige and decorated with colorful drapes, pictures, and other accessories. Little did we

Read more…

With all the research about SIDS and safe sleep, there are so many things to do or not do in making sure your baby is safe at night while he/she sleeps.

Without getting into the debate about co-sleeping and breastfeeding or not breastfeeding, there are a few MUSTs that Ive found that everyone should do regardless of your parenting style.

Ill never forget the 2 times my first child woke up screaming when she was under 3 months old and Ill always be forever grateful since at that time, there werent any great video baby monitors out there.

The 1st time was because I over bundled her and she was too warm. When I went into her room because she was screaming, it was such a terrible and scary sight because she was so sweaty and wet.

Read more…

Published: 2 December 2011

Background

Anastomotic or marginal ulcers occur in 0.6 to 16 % of patients after laparoscopic Roux-en-Y-Gastric Bypass. Initial therapy aims at eliminating known risk factors including smoking, Helicobacter pylori infection, use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and inhibition of gastric acid secretion. While this approach is successful in 68 to 88% of the cases, up to one third of patients need a subsequent surgical revision. However, marginal ulcers still recur in up to 10% of cases after revisional surgery, thus constituting a serious challenge for bariatric surgeons.

Read more…

Scientists at Washington University School of Medicine have discovered a cluster of cells in the fruit-fly brain that controls sleep. By manipulating those cells, scientists were able to establish long-term memories in fruit flies by controlling their sleep habits. How did they accomplish this? First, the researchers bred genetically-modified fruit flies to sleep on demand. Using their ability to control the fruit flies’ sleep, the scientists tested the insects’ ability to learn—and retain—information. Here’s how they did it, and what they found:

• As a test of learning, researchers exposed male fruit flies to other male flies that had been engineered to smell like female fruit flies.

Read more…

It’s that time of year again as we head into the holiday travel season. If you were flying around last season you may still have post traumatic stress disorder from the experience. Remember people being stuck for days at airports last year? With the many changes in the travel industry, more severe weather patterns, and increases in frustration for all, ethical behavior can get easily bumped off the plane.

This week I just returned to the San Francisco Bay Area from Baltimore (attending meetings at the US Council of Catholic Bishops) and what a traveling fiasco it was even without problematic weather in the area or the prime time holiday travel crunch kicking in quite yet.

Read more…