Health & Beauty Magazine

The researchers, led by Keiji Tanaka, found that professional players of the Japanese chess-like game of shogi (Fig. 1) can use part of brain associated with intuitive or habitual behaviors to establish a best next-move in a way that distinguishes them from amateurs. One result of experience and training seems to be the ability to shunt some immediate neural tasks from the cerebral cortex to the more intuitive basal ganglia, leaving the cortex free for planning higher-level strategy.

Our findings may be regarded as showing that in amateur players problem-solving occurs mostly in the newly developed brain structure, but in professionals an important part of the process goes to the old brain structure, Tanaka says.

Read more…

Mothers who are exposed to particulate air pollution of the type emitted by vehicles, urban heating and coal power plants are significantly more likely to bear children of low birth weight, according to an international study led by co-principal investigator Tracey J.

Read more…

Once upon a time, the hallmark of Lamaze childbirth education was “breathing” (hee, hoo, hee, hoo). Over the years, Lamaze has evolved into a comprehensive approach to childbirth, part of which are comfort measures for labor; breathing is one of the suggested comfort measures. So what does it mean to “breathe?” Here’s a little on what you should know:

Breathing in Pregnancy:  A Daily Check-in
Finding the time, energy, and peace to face your fears—or do anything that requires mental focus—is a challenge in our culture. One pregnant w

Read more…

The presence of microscopic levels of blood in the urine is unreliable as an indicator for renal or bladder cancer, report researchers.

“An extremely small proportion of patients with microscopic hematuria are subsequently found to have cancer,” say Steven Jacobsen (Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, USA) and team.

This suggests that many of the follow-up examinations of patients with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria, which often include radiologic and invasive procedures, are unnecessary and can safely be avoided, they say.

Currently, the American Urological Association recommends a thorough urologic evaluation of all asymptomatic patients aged 35 years or older who have a single analysis result with three or more red blood cells per high-power field (RBC/HPF).

Instead, Jacobsen and colleagues recommend that a history of gross hematuria (>50 RBC/HPF [when blood is present at levels visible in urine]) is a far more reliable indicator of the need for such patient follow up.

As reported in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, the team found that, of 2630 patients who underwent full evaluation for asymptomatic microscopic hematuria between January 2009 and October 2010, only 50 individuals were found to have malignant tumors, giving an overall cancer detection rate of 1.9%.

Five risk factors were associated with pathologically confirmed cancer, namely male gender, age of 50 years or older, a history of gross hematuria (>50 RBC/HPF), smoking history, and at least 25 RBC/HPF on a recent urine analysis.

However, in multivariate analysis only history of gross hematuria, age ≥50 years, and male gender were significantly associated with risk for cancer diagnosis, at odds ratios of 9.9, 16.3, and 2.5, respectively.

The researchers used this information to create a “Hematuria Risk Index” in which history of gross hematuria and age ≥50 years were awarded 4 points and the remaining three risk factors awarded 1 point each, giving index score groups that could be used to identify patients as at low (0-4 points), medium (5-8), or high risk (9-11) for a cancer diagnosis. The

Read more…

Jessica Alba hit up the 2013 Producers Guild Awards wearing an amazing embroidered lace gown from the Elie Saab fall 2012 couture collection. She added Roger Vivier purple ‘Prismick’ clutch and Casadei heels to her red carpet look.

Read more…

Many of us are focused on weight loss during the early months of the year, and while watching what you eat is the key to losing weight, exercise is important, too.  But how do you exercise during those cold winter months when it’s difficult to get outside?  Is there an easier option than getting into the car and driving to the gym?  Can you get your exercise at home even when you’re snowed in?

Absolutely!  Just like you can use technology to help you lose weight, you can use technology to get you moving.  Playing interactive fitness games, or “exergaming,” is a fun way to get moving and burn calories, all in the comfort of the indoors.

What are Interactive Fitness Games?

Interactive fitness games are games that utilize technology for cardiovascular activities.  They can be computer-based or connect to your television set through a video game console.

What are the Benefits?

One of the major benefits of interactive fitness games is their ease-of-use.  The games are specifically designed to be simple and easy-to-understand.  All you have to do is load the game, press play, and follow a preset routine or the instructions on the screen.

Exergaming can also be beneficial because it can be done from your home.  There’s no need to rush to a gym or to a fitness class, and you can squeeze your exercise in at a time that’s convenient for you – morning, afternoon, or evening.

An additional bonus is that interactive fitness games can become a great family activity that children, teens, and even older adults can participate in.  Having other people in the home who are excited can boost motivation and provide unlikely workout partners.

And the best benefit of all? When you’re having fun,

Read more…

Read more…