Resources and ways to become a phlebotomist
The health care industry is rapidly expanding and will continue to do so over the 30 years, which means health care jobs will be very stable for a long time. There are many specialized positions one can take up, and one of them is Phlebotomy. Become a phlebotomist, and you’ll be opening up many doors and opportunities that promise to make your future a bright one.
So what does a phlebotomist do ? A Phlebotomist collects, stores, and tests blood. A phlebotomist is a trained medical technician who identifies the patient, prepares the instruments and supplies, ensures all instruments are sterile, draws blood, labels it , stores it , and later on, runs basic lab tests, and records the results.
Phlebotomy can be practiced by both doctors and nurses, but both can tend to be overwhelmed with the volume of patients. Doctors and nurses cannot perform every single task or medical procedure, and more routine tasks are given to specialists. Drawing blood is one of those tasks, and this is where a Phlebotomist comes in. Hospitals, blood donation centers, and clinics all employ phlebotomists to handle blood collection, as well as blood sample testing. And with the increasing demand for skilled medical specialists, and competitive wages, it is a very smart idea to become a phlebotomist.
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To become a phlebotomist, you will need at the very basic, a high school diploma. Hospitals and clinics sometimes train high school gr aduates to become phlebotomists. In many states, it is not necessary to undergo any formal education or training, but many medical facilities prefer to hire trained , certified phlebotomists.
One way to become a certified phlebotomist does not include any formal training at all. There are many agencies that will certify you as long as you can prove you have at least one year of documented experience, and pass the certification exam. Your experience should include completing a specific number of venipuncture procedures. Venipuncture is what most of us think of when we think about drawing blood. Venipuncture is when a needle is inserted into a vein, and blood is collected into a tube. If you have one year of experience collecting blood, then you are eligible to become a phlebotomist.
You may also enroll in a specialized course to become a phlebotomist. You will find may colleges and medical institutions offer programs in phlebotomy that will prepare you for any aspects of th is position. There are two types of programs offered , one that will educate but do NOT certify graduates, and the other program has the certification exam included in the curriculum. If you want to become a phlebotomist, being certified will give you a huge advantage over uncertified applicants, so getting certified should be your first priority. Choose an accredited school that offers a phlebotomy program, or take it one step further, and find out what schools or certifications local employers prefer.
Enrolling in an online course is another option that can be very convenient if you work full-time or have other responsibilities. An online course allows you to work at your own pace, and will give you all the knowledge you need to become a phlebotomist, however, online courses don’t give you the hands-on experience needed to successfully perform the all procedures. If you want to become a phlebotomist, it would be very wise to select an online school that has partnered with a medical facility. This will make it much easier for you to gain the hands-on experience, and complete the practical requirements in order to become a phlebotomist.
Is Vigabatrin the Next Big Diet Pill?
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory announced that obese rats lost weight on the experimental anti-cocaine drug vigabatrin, reinforcing the idea that certain forms of obesity–particularly binge eating–result from the same kinds of neurotransmitter disturbances that underlie vulnerability to addictive drugs like cocaine.
Amy DeMarco, lead author of the study, said in a press release from Brookhaven that the results “appear to demonstrate that vigabatrin induced satiety in these animals.”
Earlier, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had given Fast Track designation to vigabatrin, an anticonvulsant, for evaluation as an anti-craving drug for cocaine and methamphetamine addiction. If successful, it would be the first medication ever approved for the treatment of addiction to stimulants. The FDA has yet to approve the drug for use in the U.S., citing concerns about reports of retinal damage in patients overseas.
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First synthesized as a drug treatment for epilepsy in 1974, vigabatrin increases brain levels of the neurotransmitter GABA, an inhibitory compound also implicated in alcoholism. According to a press release from Ovation Pharmaceuticals, a marketer of the drug under the trade name Sabril, “Sabril may block the euphoria associated with cocaine administration in humans and may suppress craving by increasing brain levels of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).” Increased brain levels of GABA, an inhibitory transmitter, result in higher levels of dopamine and serotonin. Catalyst Pharmaceutical Partners is also testing a version of vigabatrin called CPP-109.
The weight loss study involved 50 genetically obese lab animals, and 50 normal animals. Each of the animals was given doses of vigabatrin or placebo for forty days. At the end of that period, the obese animals had lost 19 per cent of their body weight, while the non-obese animals lost from 12 to 20 per cent of their weight.
Brookhaven senior scientist Stephen Dewey, who did much of the early work on vigabatrin, said: “The fact that these results occurred in genetically obese animals offers hope that this drug could potentially treat severe obesity.” In the lab press release, Dewey also observed that “This would appear to be true even if the obesity results from binge eating, as this disorder is characterized by eating patterns that are similar to drug-taking patterns in those with cocaine dependency.”
Perhaps. But ten years ago, the research community was just as enthusiastic when a serotonin-boosting diet pill called Redux (dexfenfluramine) won full FDA approval in 1996. Redux was the first drug ever approved in the U.S. for the long-term treatment of obesity. But the euphoria didn’t last long. By the time Redux made the cover of Time, researchers were already rumbling about continued reports of high toxicity and hypertension in rat studies. Concerns about pulmonary hypertension arose, and in August, 1997, doctors at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota reported serious heart valve abnormalities in 24 women taking the “phen-fen” combination.
A month later, at the FDA’s request, phen-fen and Redux were permanently pulled off the market.
Neurosurgery Procedures In India Low Cost-Neurosurgery Procedures Cost
Neurosurgery Procedures In India
Treatments Available
Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery at We Care India partner Hospital
The Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery at We Care India partner Hospital continue to improve the lives of patients by building upon our tradition of deep collaboration. Our foundation of sharing ideas across disciplines and joining forces to develop the strongest individualized treatment plans for our patients is truly what sets us apart from any other medical institution.
Our physicians are able to bring new and exceptional treatments to patients faster because of our tight network of experts. When our researchers make discoveries in the lab, they collaborate with our physicians to carefully translate them into the latest treatment options.
Patients come to We Care India from around the world to receive the most cutting-edge care, and find that we are a place of hope and care. Whether you have come to us as a result of thoughtful conversations with a primary care physician or thorough self-guided research, we want to provide you with the answers you are looking for.
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We hope that by exploring this Web site, you are able to feel the We Care India difference…..
The major neurosurgery procedures are : -
Brain Tumors carotid endarterectomy surgery Cerebral Aneurysm cerebral angioplasty surgery endovascular coiling surgery Epilepsy Headache Hydracephalous Narcolepsy Parkinson’s Disease Restless Leg Syndrome Skull Base Surgery sleep apnea treatment Sleep Disorders Stroke surgical clipping surgery Trigeminal Neuralgia..
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We Care Core Values
We have a very simple business model that keeps you as the centre.
Having the industry’s most elaborate and exclusive Patient Care and Clinical Coordination teams stationed at each partner hospital, we provide you the smoothest and seamless care ever imagined. With a ratio of one Patient Care Manager to five patients our patient care standards are unmatched across the sub continent.
The Importance of Getting Messy: It Might Even be Good for your Sex Life
There are some children who just don’t want to get messy. They balk at activities that require hands-on involvement, including finger painting, kneading cookie dough, and pushing seeds into potting soil. Sometimes, they are just shy, and as the year progresses, they take steps to further their involvement. In other cases, their parents discourage them from getting dirty, and teach their children to be observers rather than participants.
Throughout the four years or so that I taught Mommy and Me classes, I worked with various teaching partners. While at least half the teachers in our school have teaching degrees, many are like me and come from other walks of life. One of my partners at that time had studied psychology.
During a particular ten week session, one year old Natalie and her mother always came to class dressed impeccably. They appeared to have just walked out of a magazine into our classroom. When it came time to create an art project or do anything that might be messy, Natalie’s mother held her daughter back. Despite our encouragement and coaxing, she preferred to watch. Though we sensed that she didn’t want Natalie, or herself, to get dirty, she claimed that her daughter simply wasn’t that interested in art projects. This child was only one year old.
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I understand that parents have their own reasons for the things they do, but in this case we just didn’t buy her argument. It seemed to us that Natalie’s mother was not keen on getting within ten feet of paint, glue or anything messy in the least. Even baking was a problem because we encouraged the tots to stir the mixture in the bowl. Imagine a one year old holding a large plastic spoon, flinging with sheer abandon at a bowl full of flour. Quite a mess at times!
Week after week, we encouraged this mother to dress down for class so her child could partake in the fun. We offered her oversized smocks to keep Natalie clean, and even old doctor’s lab coats to keep herself clean. After about six weeks of this, my partner with the psychology background could no longer hold her tongue. She told me that she had learned that if kids aren’t allowed to touch messy things and get dirty, they’ll have bad sex lives when they grow up.
Really?! While this seemed plausible to me, I wondered if it was really true. Sandra R. Leiblum, PhD, is a leading authority in sex therapy and has published more than 130 clinical and research studies and has edited ten books. She says that there is no objective evidence one way or the other, only conjecture. Yet, she addresses the theory in her book Getting the Sex you Want…A Woman’s Guide to Becoming Pleased, Proud and Passionate in Bed, written with Judith Sachs.
“We start our first chapter off comparing two little girls, one who enjoys the experience of being muddy and wet and the other who is afraid to ‘get dirty,’ and suggest that it may have an impact on how they approach the rest of their lives,” says Dr. Leiblum. “But, it’s a literary example, not based in data. Certainly, though one could argue that being overly concerned about neatness and mess would not contribute greatly to feeling uninhibited in bed!”
So, please not only allow, but encourage your young children to explore the world around them, even though it means getting dirty at times. Smocks, soap, and water, are all wonderful inventions!
NeoStem Inc. (AMEX: NBS) $119M (MarketCap) CEO Robin Smith Explains to WMM Adult Stem Cell Research
NeoStem engages in the development of adult stem-cell based therapies for anti-aging and is building a network of collection and research and development centers in the United States and China. We sat down with Dr. Smith to discuss some interesting and recent developments and milestones the company has reached and the future of regenerative medicine, the burgeoning new science that stem cell research is at the center of. Since the inception of regenerative medicine and the first discoveries that accompanied it, most people find the practice confusing and unethical. But stem cell research has been around for forty years; the recent breakthroughs are that scientists are now realizing stem cells have regenerative properties. Essentially, stem cells have the ability to differentiate and morph themselves to become different cells and sort of “start over”, becoming new and healthy cells within a variety of different anatomical components like bone, muscle, or cartilage. For this incredible capability, researchers and companies believe regenerative medicine can treat a large variety of diseases that include Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and cancer.
Need a quick but deeper lesson? There are a few different types of stem cells; two of the most and least controversial include the embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. While embryonic stem cells have superior potential for their ability to morph into a greater variety of different types of cells, fetal stem cell research and development is impossibly controversial and considered highly unethical. Ault stem cells, on the other hand, are generated once a baby is born from fat, teeth, or skin, eliminating the need to destroy a fetus. For example, adult stem cells can be taken from the fat of a liposuction patient and undergo transformation in labs and collection centers across the world, regenerating and repairing itself into new and healthy cells than can be injected into an ailing patient. This important distinction is a cause for much confusion among most people as Dr. Smith has pointed out to us.
The potential applications for adult stem cells are vast and exciting, and NeoStem is on the forefront of new developments and implementation. It provides adult stem cell collection, processing, and storage services enabling healthy individuals to donate and store their stem cells for personal therapeutic use. The company also focuses on developing a pipeline of regenerative medicine therapies focused on orthopedic conditions; developing wellness, cosmetic, and anti-aging applications; and participating in the medical tourism market for regenerative medical treatments. In addition, it offers anti-infective drugs that include active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) and injectible finished products under a few different names while selling prescriptive drugs and APIs through hospitals in China. The parent company operates six entities focused on this collection, storage, and product pipeline development in the U.S. and China, exposing the company to regulatory uncertainties and steep, experienced competitors that include the Chinese government. NeoStem has stayed busy this year traveling and presenting at conferences for medical professionals and investors; applying for and receiving federal research grant money, one of which totaled 8,746, granted by the NIH under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, less popularly known as the economic stimulus package for bone defect and repair research; and creating and signing collaborative agreements and licenses with several worldwide institutions, companies, organizations, and universities. The most lucrative and promising agreement that has been signed is between NeoStem and the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Culture, under which the Catholic Church charitable organization will partner with the company to support research and raise awareness for adult stem cell therapy. The Church has committed M over 5 years to the effort. “This is an exclusive relationship and an exciting milestone for our company” said Dr. Smith, who went on to note the Vatican has no other agreement or endorsement of any kind with any company that competes in the same sector as NeoStem.
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While exclusive rights to VSEL Technology, the patented technology that allows for collection of adult stem cells, this is an exciting time for NeoStem. “Because there is no genetic alteration using VSEL Technology, the time from the lab to the clinic will be much shorter” said Dr. Robin on what it’s going to bring the company’s services to mass markets. “The collaboration of the technologies, the financial commitment from the Vatican, and the ability to get resources to further develop the VSEL Technology and other adult stem cell therapies should really put us on the map”.
The company already generates revenue and is grossly profitable after a number of pharmaceutical acquisitions from 2009, creating a healthy balance sheet and strong fundamentals that separates NeoStem from other early-stage biopharm companies. The Chinese market is of particular focus, says Dr. Smith since the country is currently going through its own version of healthcare overhaul legislation and has committed 4B to drug research, creating a crystal clear trajectory of growth for NeoStem.
Disclosure: no positions
To view this article at World Market Media click on the link below: http://www.worldmarketmedia.com/779/section.aspx/1700/post/neostem-inc-amex-nbs-119m-marketcap-ceo-robin-smith-explains-to-wmm-adult-stem-cell-research
Angioplasty and Stents for Heart Disease Treatment
What Is Coronary Angioplasty ?
Coronary angioplasty performed in India is a medical procedure in which a balloon is used to open a blockage in a coronary (heart) artery narrowed by atherosclerosis. This procedure improves blood flow to the heart.
Atherosclerosis is a condition in which a material called plaque builds up on the inner walls of the arteries. This can happen in any artery, including the coronary arteries, which carry oxygen-rich blood to your heart. When atherosclerosis affects the coronary arteries, the condition is called coronary artery disease (CAD).
Angioplasty is a common medical procedure.It may be used to : -
* Improve symptoms of CAD, such as angina and shortness of breath.
* Reduce damage to the heart muscle from a heart attack. A heart attack occurs when blood flow through a coronary artery is completely blocked. Angioplasty is used during a heart attack to open the blockage and restore blood flow through the artery.
* Reduce the risk of death in some patients.
Other Names for Coronary Angioplasty
* Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
* Percutaneous intervention
* Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty
* Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA)
* Balloon angioplasty
* Coronary artery angioplasty
Who Needs Coronary Angioplasty ?
Coronary angioplasty is used to restore blood flow to the heart when the coronary arteries have become narrowed or blocked due to coronary artery disease (CAD).
When medicines and lifestyle changes, such as following a healthy diet, quitting smoking, and getting more physical activity, don’t improve your CAD symptoms, your doctor will talk to you about other treatment options. These options include angioplasty and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), a type of open-heart surgery. Your doctor will take into account a number of factors when recommending the best procedure for you. These factors include how severe your blockages are, where they’re located, and other diseases you may have.
Angioplasty is often used when there is less severe narrowing or blockage in your arteries, and when the blockage can be reached during the procedure. CABG might be chosen if you have severe heart disease, multiple arteries that are blocked, or if you have diabetes or heart failure.
Compared with CABG, some advantages of angioplasty are that it : -
* Has fewer risks than CABG.
* Isn’t surgery, so it won’t require a large cut.
* Is done with medicines that numb you and help you relax. Unlike CABG, you won’t be put to sleep for a short time.
* Has a shorter recovery time.
Angioplasty also is used as an emergency procedure during a heart attack.
How Is Coronary Angioplasty Done ?
Before coronary angioplasty is done, your doctor will need to know whether your coronary arteries are blocked. If one or more of your arteries are blocked, your doctor will need to know where and how severe the blockages are.
To find out, your doctor will do an angiogram and take an x-ray picture of your arteries. During an angiogram, a small tube called a catheter with a balloon at the end is put into a large blood vessel in the groin (upper thigh) or arm. The catheter is then threaded to the coronary arteries. A small amount of dye is injected into the coronary arteries and an x-ray picture is taken.
This picture will show any blockages, how many, and where they’re located. Once your doctor has this information, the angioplasty can proceed. Your doctor will blow up (inflate) the balloon in the blockage and push the plaque outward against the artery wall. This opens the artery more and improves blood flow.
The illustration shows a cross-section of a coronary artery with plaque buildup. The coronary artery is located on the surface of the heart. Figure A shows the deflated balloon catheter inserted into the narrowed coronary artery. In figure B, the balloon is inflated, compressing the plaque and restoring the size of the artery. Figure C shows the widened artery.
A small mesh tube called a stent is usually placed in the newly widened part of the artery. The stent holds up the artery and lowers the risk of the artery renarrowing. Stents are made of metal mesh and look like small springs.
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Some stents, called drug-eluting stents, are coated with medicines that are slowly and continuously released into the artery. These medicines help prevent the artery from becoming blocked again from scar tissue that grows around the stent.
The illustration shows the placement of a stent in a coronary artery with plaque buildup. Figure A shows the deflated balloon catheter and closed stent inserted into the narrowed coronary artery. The inset image on figure A shows a cross-section of the artery with the inserted balloon catheter and closed stent. In figure B, the balloon is inflated, expanding the stent and compressing the plaque to restore the size of the artery. Figure C shows the stent-widened artery. The inset image on figure C shows a cross-section of the compressed plaque and stent-widened artery.
In some cases, plaque is removed during angioplasty. In a procedure called atherectomy a catheter with a rotating shaver on its tip is inserted into the artery to cut away plaque. Lasers also are used to dissolve or break up the plaque. These procedures are now rarely done because angioplasty gives better results for most patients.
What to Expect Before Coronary Angioplasty
Meeting With Your Doctor in India
A cardiologist (a doctor who treats people with heart conditions) performs coronary angioplasty at a hospital in India. If your angioplasty isn’t done as emergency treatment, you’ll meet with your cardiologist before the procedure. Your doctor will go over your medical history (including the medicines you take), do a physical exam, and talk about the procedure with you.
Your Indian doctor also will order some routine tests, including : -
* Blood tests
* An ECG (electrocardiogram)
* A chest x ray
When the procedure is scheduled, you will be advised : -
* When to begin fasting (not eating or drinking) before the procedure. Often you have to stop eating or drinking by midnight the night before the procedure.
* What medicines you should and shouldn’t take on the day of the angioplasty.
* When to arrive at the hospital and where to go.
Even though angioplasty takes 1 to 2 hours, you will likely need to stay in the hospital overnight. In some cases, you will need to stay in the hospital longer. Your doctor may advise you not to drive for a certain amount of time after the procedure, so you may have to arrange for a ride home.
What to Expect During Coronary Angioplasty
Coronary angioplasty is performed in a special part of the hospital called the cardiac catheterization laboratory. The “cath lab” has special video screens and x-ray machines. Your doctor uses this equipment to see enlarged pictures of the blocked areas in your coronary arteries.
Preparation
In the cath lab, you will lie on a table. An intravenous (IV) line will be placed in your arm to give you fluids and medicines. The medicines will relax you and prevent blood clots from forming. These medicines may make you feel sleepy or as though you’re floating or numb.
To prepare for the procedure : -
* The area where the catheter will be inserted, usually the arm or groin (upper thigh), will be shaved.
* The shaved area will be cleaned to make it germ free and then numbed. The numbing medicine may sting as it’s going in.
Steps in Angioplasty
When you’re comfortable, the doctor will begin the procedure. You will be awake but sleepy.
A small cut is made in your arm or groin into which a tube called a sheath is put. The doctor then threads a very thin guide wire through the artery in your arm or groin toward the area of the coronary artery that’s blocked.
Your doctor puts a long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter through the sheath and slides it over the guide wire and up to the heart. Your doctor moves the catheter into the coronary artery to the blockage. He or she takes out the guide wire once the catheter is in the right spot.
A small amount of dye may be injected through the catheter into the bloodstream to help show the blockage on x ray. This x-ray picture of the heart is called an angiogram. Next, your doctor slides a tube with a small deflated balloon inside it through the catheter and into the coronary artery where the blockage is. When the tube reaches the blockage, the balloon is inflated. The balloon pushes the plaque against the wall of the artery and widens it. This helps to increase the flow of blood to the heart. The balloon is then deflated.
Sometimes the balloon is inflated and deflated more than once to widen the artery. Afterward, the balloon and tube are removed. In some cases, plaque is removed during angioplasty. A catheter with a rotating shaver on its tip is inserted into the artery to cut away hard plaque. Lasers also may be used to dissolve or break up the plaque.
The doctor inserts a tube called a balloon catheter into a coronary artery narrowed by plaque. The balloon catheter compresses the plaque and widens the artery to restore blood flow.
If your doctor needs to put a stent (small mesh tube) in your artery, another tube with a balloon will be threaded through your artery. A stent is wrapped around the balloon. Your doctor will inflate the balloon, which will cause the stent to expand against the wall of the artery. The balloon is then deflated and pulled out of the artery with the tube. The stent stays in the artery.
After the angioplasty is done, your doctor pulls back the catheter and removes it and the sheath. The hole in the artery is either sealed with a special device, or pressure is put on it until the blood vessel seals.During angioplasty, strong antiplatelet medicines are given through the IV to prevent blood clots from forming in the artery or on the stent. These medicines help thin your blood. They’re usually started just before the angioplasty and may continue for 12-24 hours afterward.
Going Home and back to your Country after Coronary Angioplasty
Most people go home 1 to 2 days after the procedure and fly back to their country from India in a weeks time. When your doctor thinks you’re ready to leave the hospital,
you will get instructions to follow at home, including : -
* How much activity or exercise you can do.
* When you should follow up with your doctor.
* What you should look for daily when checking for signs of infection around the area where the tube was inserted. Signs of infection may include redness, swelling, or drainage.
* When you should call your doctor. For example, you may need to call if you have a fever or signs of infection, pain or bleeding where the catheter was inserted, or shortness of breath.
Your doctor will prescribe medicine to prevent blood clots from forming. Taking your medicine as directed is very important. If a stent was inserted, the medicine reduces the risk that blood clots will form in the stent. Blood clots in the stent can block blood flow and cause a heart attack.
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Having the industry’s most elaborate and exclusive Patient Care and Clinical Coordination teams stationed at each partner hospital, we provide you the smoothest and seamless care ever imagined. With a ratio of one Patient Care Manager to five patients our patient care standards are unmatched across the sub continent.
Towards Global Revolution with Achievers guide!
Kerry Foster joined Orchard Software in September 2002 to manage the marketing and branding strategies of Orchard Software. Kerry Foster is responsible for the development and planning of advertising, direct mail, trade shows, public relations, website, and collateral.
Kerry Foster has over 20 years of sales and marketing management experience and has worked for and consulted with a variety of companies from numerous industries.
Speaking about Kerry Foster is incomplete without speaking about Orchard Software. Orchard Software installed its first LIS in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1993. Since that first installation, over 400 labs across the country have turned to Orchard Software for their laboratory information system — including all types and sizes of hospitals, regional reference labs, and multi-site/multi-specialty clinics. Orchard keeps growing because they listen closely to their customers. They drive the continuous development of their products and make sure their software is up-to-date, easy-to-use, and meeting the demands of medical laboratories.
Kevin Foster is Novell Client Operating Systems Senior Solutions Manager. With the hard work demonstrated by Kevin Foster and team Novell, Inc. is a leader in eBusiness solutions and Net services software designed to secure and power the networked world. Novell and its eServices division, Cambridge Technology Partners, help organizations solve complex business challenges, simplify their systems and processes, and capture new opportunities with one Net solutions. Novell provides worldwide channel, consulting, education and developer programs to support its offerings.Kevin Foster strongly believe,” Every job is a self portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence.”
Kim Foster is Roby, Foster, Miller, Earick Insurance Agency VP. With the hard work demonstrated by Kim Foster and team, Mansfield, Ohio based Roby-Foster-Miller-Earick Insurance Agency, has been insuring individuals, families and businesses in North Central Ohio. Founded in 1872, R-F-M-E is the leading agency in their area, specializing in Property, Liability, Health, Life, and Employee Benefit insurance coverages. They represent over a dozen property and liability insurers as well as most major companies writing health and life insurance. Kim Foster strongly believes,” Every day do something that will inch you closer to a better tomorrow.”
Chlamydia – The Silent Disease
Chlamydia is a common sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. Those in the medical community often call chlamydia the silent disease because 75 percent of infected women and 50 percent of infected men experience no symptoms. When symptoms do occur, people usually notice them one to three weeks after exposure to the disease.
Infection Rates
Over 2.8 million Americans contract chlamydia annually. Approximately 5 percent of all adults and at least 10 percent of sexually active adolescent girls are infected. Groups with a high risk of infection include African Americans, those under 25 years of age, those residing in urban environments, and those from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
Chlamydia Transmission
Infected people infect others most often through sexual contact — whether oral, vaginal, or anal. However, a mother with a chlamydia infection can also pass the disease to her child during the birth process as the baby passes through the vaginal canal. Newborns exposed to chlamydia can develop pneumonia or eye infections that could lead to blindness. Women concerned about chlamydia infection should discuss these concerns with an OB/GYN doctor.
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Organs and Tissues Infected by Chlamydia
Chlamydia first infects a woman’s cervix and urine canal, called the urethra. Symptoms, if any, may include painful urination or discolored or malodorous vaginal discharge. From the cervix, the infection can spread to the fallopian tubes, which transport fertilized eggs to the uterus from the ovaries. At this stage, possible symptoms include lower back pain, fever, nausea, painful intercourse, and bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods.
Infected men may experience burning upon urination and penile discharge. Rarely, swelling of the testicles may occur. Chlamydia can infect the throats of men and women who engage in oral sex with an infected person.
Complications
Chlamydia infections in women may develop into a serious condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease. This condition may cause infertility when left untreated. Furthermore, a small percentage of women with pelvic inflammatory disease will develop perihepatitis, a serious form of liver disease. Women with fever, abnormal vaginal discharge, and sharp abdominal pain should visit the nearest emergency room for evaluation and treatment.
Diagnosis
OB/GYN physicians will manually palpate the abdominal areas of patients to check for tenderness and order diagnostic lab work. He or she may obtain a sample of vaginal discharge to send to a lab where technicians will view it under a microscope and identify the causative bacteria. These tests frequently show the presence of other STD infections in addition to chlamydia. If a chlamydia infection is verified, the patient must notify all sexual partners of the infection. These people must receive treatment as well to prevent infecting others.
Treatment
A single course of antibiotics cures chlamydia infections in approximately 95 percent of patients. Physicians commonly prescribe single-dose medications or one the patient takes twice per day for a week. Both are taken in the form of a pill and include the brand names Zithromax, Atridox, and Bio-Tab. Upon completing the full course of antibiotics, patients should schedule a follow-up visit at their OB/GYN clinic to verify that the infection is gone.
Sports Supplement Manufacturing Trends
Apart from serious bodybuilders, professional sportsmen and trainers which comprise 23 percent of the shoppers of sports nutrition products, 55 percent of the American population use sports nutrition products to maintain general fitness, according to Datamonitor (a global business provider of information and market analysis).1 Consumer interest in sports nutrition is surging, forcing sports nutrition manufacturers to shift their attention from Mr. Universe to Mr. Average Joe who uses sports nutrition to help him achieve his goals for health and longevity. Mainstream fitness enthusiasts and gym-goers are the biggest target market led by people who want to lead active lifestyles, eat healthy and augment their diets with sports nutrition supplements. There is so much more to sports nutrition these days than building muscle and stamina.
Who’s using sports nutrition supplements?
In the United States, the sports nutrition and weight loss category is one of the fastest-growing segments with a reported growth of 7.6 percent to .7 billion in sales for 2008.2 Datamonitor forecasts sports nutrition sales to grow to .5 billion by 2013. The 2009 Health & Wellness Trends Database from the Natural Marketing Institute, a market research company based in Pennsylvania, reported 22 percent of the consumers surveyed said they used sports nutrition products (amino acids, protein powders, hydration drinks, creatine and other sports nutrition supplements).3 Who’s using these products? There’s a long list of interested consumers which could include soccer moms, business professionals, baby boomers, morning joggers/bikers, those who pursue sports as a hobby, women who balance a career and home, weight conscious consumers, young moms, teenagers, professional sportsmen, trainers and more!
Are your sports nutrition supplements based on reliable science?
Sports nutrition science has played a key role in influencing product development and escalating the growth of the sports nutrition market. Research studies and recommendations from experts suggest that nutrient-based supplements may not only help improve stamina and athletic performance through muscle building, but also support a host of healthy functions that optimize physical and mental performance.
Using the preponderance of evidence derived from science to formulate their products, sports nutrition manufacturers have been producing a wide array of sports supplements over the past decade to meet the ever-growing needs of consumers,. Each consumer group is different and tailoring a product to meet consumer-specific needs must consider key factors such as performance, age group, health benefits, innovation and ingredients.
Here is a list of top ingredients you may want to consider to produce high-quality sports nutrition supplements.
Protein: Well-documented studies show that adequate protein intake, particularly post workout, is needed for muscle recovery.5 Protein aids quick recovery by reducing sore muscles after exercise, promoting synthesis of glycogen and increasing muscle mass and strength. Protein also helps promote satiety and enhances energy production in the body.
Because whey protein has high bioavailability and an amino acid profile which is more suited to sports recovery, it is one of the most popular forms of proteins used in manufacturing sports nutrition supplements. Hydrolyzed whey protein plays a more functional role in the production of glycogen. (Glycogen is known to assist muscle growth by increasing protein synthesis and decreasing protein breakdown.) A recent innovation in protein manufacturing is the development of clear whey protein isolates which, along with other essential nutrients, can be used in manufacturing energy drinks and beverages.
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Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is also popularly used for building lean muscle mass.
Creatine, a natural substance found in muscles, is known to enhance lean muscle mass, increase muscle strength and improve recovery time from a muscle injury.
L-Carnitine: About 95 percent of L-carnitine resides in skeletal muscle. Studies show the remaining 5 percent may play a significant role in post-workout recovery, promoting vascular health, decreasing muscle damage due to exercise, in addition to its potential functions as an antioxidant and a fat oxidizer.
Eggshell Membrane: Natural Eggshell Membrane (NEM®) is a patented ingredient derived from egg membranes. It contains nutrients such as glycosaminoglycans, chondroitin sulfate, hyaluronic acid, collagen and other proteins that help to support healthy joints.
Astaxanthin is abundantly found in small, shrimp-like fish called Krill. It’s an antioxidant that supports healthy joints and tendons, decreases recovery time post workout, improves endurance and protects the skin against UV damage and is therefore particularly useful for those engaged in outdoor sports or training.
Branched-chain Amino Acids (BCAAs): About 35 percent of amino acids found in muscles are BCAAs. They help improve both aerobic and anaerobic performance by decreasing the production of lactate, a substance the body creates in response to strenuous exercise. High levels of lactate are associated with painful muscles.
Phosphatidylserine is known to support cognitive health improving memory and mental acuity. Research indicates that it may also help lower cortisol levels in the body. Lower cortisol levels are associated with speedy recovery and the ability to cope with exercise-induced stress.
Bitter Orange (citrus aurantium) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is believed to be a thermogenic agent, assisting the body to burn calories at a faster rate. The body produces DHEA endogenously, but levels decline by as much as 50 percent by the age of 40.
Sustamine L-alanyl-L-glutamine helps to re-hydrate the body and refuel energy stores.
Capsaicinoids are derived from red peppers. A study on the supplementary intake of capsaicinoids shows that it may be able to burn calories significantly and as a result support weight management.
Other nutrients used in sports nutrition include:
B vitamins are vital to metabolism.
Choline is essential for fat metabolism.
Chromium helps regulate healthy insulin levels, increases metabolism and thereby helps burn fat more quickly.
Zinc plays an important role in metabolic functions.
The combination of multiple ingredients in one product not only eliminates the need for taking multiple supplements, but may also have the potential to produce a synergistic effect.
Do you deliver your sports nutrition in convenient, easy-to-use systems?
Effervescent powders or quick-dissolve tablets are a great on-the-go delivery system for sports nutrition supplements. All nutrients are easily ingested and absorbed by the body with very minimal, if any, gastric disturbances. Other convenient delivery systems include dissolvable stick packs, powders, chewables and gummies. Energy gels can be packed with carbohydrates, protein and other nutrients. Though new in the market, energy gels are extremely popular since they are very convenient to use and travel-friendly. Conventional systems such as tablets and capsules are still popular being cost-effective and convenient to use.
Is your brand building consumer trust?
Building consumer trust is a key factor to sustaining brand loyalty. Science-based formulations are important, but a breach of trust can occur at various stages of the manufacturing process. Stringent enforcement of GMP regulations is required right from acquisition of high-quality raw materials to the precision manufacturing of your formula. Quality controls and SOPs must be in place to ensure maximum preservation of all bio-active components in order to produce products that have full potential for efficacy. Trust can be guaranteed by building a partnership with suppliers and manufacturers who are GMP certified and have a proven track record for placing an emphasis on high-quality.
Can your sports nutrition manufacturer exceed quality expectations?
To sell specially formulated sports nutrition supplements designed to perform well and meet the ergogenic needs of your target market, you need to partner with a quality sports nutrition manufacturer, such as Nutricap Labs. All of their products are manufactured in a GMP-certified facility, which means that their products not only meet, but exceed quality standards mandated by the FDA. You can choose from a range of customizable, high-quality manufacturing solutions that meet your manufacturing requirements and fit within your budget! In addition to manufacturing services, they also provide in-house packaging, labeling and order fulfillment services, saving you both time and money.
For more information on how Nutricap Labs can help you get your sports nutrition product line started, call (800) 494-6154 to speak with one of their product advisors or submit a request to receive a free quote from them in 48 hours or less.
References:
DataMonitor. Weight Management Trends & Behaviors: Beyond Dieting & Obesity. Sept 2010 (datamonitor.com)
2009 Sports Nutrition & Weight-Loss Report, Nutrition Business Journal newhope360.com/2009-sports-nutrition-weight-loss-report
NMI 2009 Health & Wellness Trends nmisolutions.com
Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition: a new era begins, J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2007; 4: 1.
Exercise, protein metabolism, and muscle growth, Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2001 Mar;11(1):109-32.
Source: International Society of Sports Nutrition position stand: protein and exercise, J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2007; 4: 8.
The combination of dietary conjugated linoleic acid and treadmill exercise lowers
Can the use of creatine supplementation attenuate muscle loss in cachexia and wasting, Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2009 November; 12(6): 623–627.
Carnitine: The Science behind an Essentially Conditional Nutrient, National Institutes of Health, http://ods.od.nih.gov/news/carnitine_conference_summary.aspx
Eggshell membrane: A possible new natural therapeutic for joint and connective tissue disorders. Results from two open-label human clinical studies, Clin Interv Aging. 2009; 4: 235–240.
Astaxanthin improves muscle lipid metabolism in exercise via inhibitory effect of oxidative CPT I modification, Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2008 Feb 22;366(4):892-7.
Branched-chain amino acids supplementation enhances exercise capacity and lipid oxidation during endurance exercise after muscle glycogen depletion, J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2011 Mar;51(1):82-8.
Effects of phosphatidylserine supplementation on exercising humans, Sports Med. 2006;36(8):657-69.
Citrus aurantium as a thermogenic, weight-reduction replacement for ephedra: an Overview, J Med. 2002;33(1-4):247-64.
Effect of DHEA on abdominal fat and insulin action in elderly women and men: a randomized controlled trial, JAMA. 2004 Nov 10;292(18):2243-8.
Examination of the efficacy of acute L-alanyl-L-glutamine ingestion during hydration stress in endurance exercise, Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition 2010, 7:8
Effect of oral intake of capsaicinoid beadlets on catecholamine secretion and blood markers of lipolysis in healthy adults: a randomized, placebo controlled, double-blind, cross-over study, Lipids Health Dis. 2010; 9: 72.
Order Your Own Blood Tests Without Needing a Doctor’s Visit or Prescription – It’s Legal and Private
Most doctors will order blood work to help them determine any possible imbalances, or pertinent disease markers and risk analysis. The blood work-up fees are often extremely high due to the involvement of insurance companies and their rates. Sadly, physician office and hospital overhead plays a role in the cost of these laboratory tests. Doctors certainly have to pay their assistants and support staff, the rent, and utilities and huge malpractice insurance rates, to name a few operational costs. Because of these high overheads they most often pass along a margin of profit that includes all of their daily expenses by percentages. Some doctors charge more or less than the suggested retail cost of blood panel workups.
Due to rising insurance rates and co-pay programs, many patients are paying higher fees out of pocket. These higher fees often keep patients from visiting their doctor’s offices as often as they might like. Because of the fact that less people are regularly seeing their family doctors, more people inadvertently are developing conditions that go undiagnosed. Several very wise blood analysis laboratories have realized that too often blood tests are showing that if a person had come in months earlier a disease state may have been prevented. In order to respond to the needs of the patients directly, there are now some alternative ways for the average person with or without insurance to find out their personal level of health.
Direct Access Testing is now a real thing in America. Professional laboratories that work with the thousands of medical doctors and hospitals in the United States and Abroad are now offering direct blood tests to patients. It is all legal and a fabulous advancement in the ability of the patient to take control of their own wellness plan. If you do not know what your body is suffering, you will not know how to care for it.
Since finding this gem of information and wanting to share it with as many people as possible, I have become a health care provider that will help facilitate the process. If your doctor’s waiting room is overcrowded and you have to wait too long for a simple check-up, why not take some measures to help determine your level of health between office visits. I am not trying to stop your physician from making money, what I am attempting to do is to open your eyes about your rights and opportunities.
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Working at the hospitals and clinics with dozens of Medical Doctors through the years, I have seen some doctors who make patients wait two hours for a ten minute visit, only to say, we will draw some blood and see what the lab has to say. This is really a sad thing, because most often the support staff will receive dozens of blood work-up assays daily or weekly and may not be able to properly respond in a timely fashion, or with enough information to help the patient understand the results.
Believe me, it is NOT because these medical professionals and care givers are trying to avoid you, or want you to be in the dark, they are just overcrowded and often very over worked. The laboratories who provide the blood analysis services have gotten wise due to the overabundance of phone calls relating to blood test results and interpretations. Doctors normally do not have the luxury of time to explain a simple blood analysis thoroughly, although patients will dearly cling to anything their physician may offer in the way of an explanation. Most often there is not enough time for the doctor to spend with each patient due to the number of cases they have to deal with each day.
Recently one of my friends who happens to be a Medical Doctor had to agree to see several hundred more patients because his partner died of a massive heart attack without warning. Many many doctors are suffering themselves and they do not have the luxury of time to spend on their own well-being. Hopefully, that will change, but in America we are a highly-stressed nation overall and we do not schedule relaxation into our daily lives frequently enough.
If you wish to have a common CBC panel, or some other type of tests to help determine if you are suffering from diabetes, anemia,allergies, a hormone imbalance, ulcers, infection, stress, prostate concerns, mononuclesis, cardiac panel, nutritional deficiencies, thyroid disease, how your liver, gallbladder, digestion are, or if you are a candidate for cancer, HIV, Hepatitis, or other diseases, you can visit a convenient lab to schedule a simple blood draw. If you just want a fabulous Wellness Analysis you can have that too. Some tests are available as Home Tests and can be done in the comfort of your own home quickly and easily. You have the choice to involve your family medical doctor or to ask questions of the medical doctors who work at the laboratories. They will gladly explain the findings and encourage you to seek medical assistance if necessary.
Since this forum is not meant to be used to advertise any particular business, I cannot give you the names and phone numbers of the participating laboratories. However, if you wish further information you may contact my office directly, or write to me through the website below. 847/836-8345
Stay informed…stay well!
Janet Angel is a sought-after wellness expert with advanced degrees in nutritional biochemistry and psychology. She believes that everyone needs to educate themselves on the wellness opportunities available around the world. Dr. Angel has counseled many prominent citizens across the United States and has participated in several international research programs surrounding health. She has been a guest on many radio programs, is a public speaker, author and seminar leader. Dr. Angel believes that the body has the innate abillity to heal itself in most circumstances, given the right environment, the right elements and the opportunity. For further information on her drive to help others reach their fullest potential, please go to http://www.Totallywell.com
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