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Medical Journal Accepts Sting Paper, Gets Tipped Off, Retracts

Unhealthy archives.

Fed up with the easy acceptance of articles submitted to the Bosnian journal Medical Archives, a faculty member at the University of Prishtina (Universiteti i Prishtinës) decided to carry out a sting operation to expose the journal’s lack of peer review and rapid publication. It didn’t go exactly as planned.

The researcher, Associate Professor Hatixhe Latifi-Pupovci, translated an old article she had written in Albanian into English and submitted it to Medical Archives, one of three journals of Avicena Publisher, a publisher on my list of questionable publishers. Its owner, editor-in-chief (and frequent contributor to its journals) is Dr. Izet Maši?.

The plan was to test whether the journal would conduct an honest peer review or just quickly accept and publish the paper after the author fee was paid.

Dr Latifi-Pupovci tells the story:

“Since tens of my colleagues from the University of Prishtina were getting academic promotions based on publications in the three journals edited by Dr. Maši?, I decided to test the credibility of one on them (“Medical Archives”) by submitting a humble paper which was already published in Prishtina, Kosovo, and, in my opinion, would not qualify for publication in an international journal. I submitted the paper on 22 February 2014 and, on 14 April 2014 received a reminder to pay the publication fee of 250 EUR, which I never did.”

An email from Maši? requesting copyright transfer and proof of payment.

She received the email above asking her to sign a copyright transfer form and to send in proof that she had paid the author fee. She never paid the fee, nor did she intend to.

Dr. Hatixhe Latifi-Pupovci recounts what happened next:

“Several days later I found out the article was published on 10 April 2014, four days before the reminder was sent out. On 27 April I sent a message to a 3000 member Yahoo Group of professors and students of the Faculty of Medicine in my home university, explaining the whole situation and making clear that I renounce the paper and I am not going to use it for my academic promotion.”

The message is in Albanian, but those interested in the topic can easily use online tools to translate it.

The published article. Note that the true “Received” date was February 22. The journal back-dated it to January 11.

But then the editor was tipped off to the sting operation. In May, 2014, he sent this rejection letter to the author:

Rejected, with a request for more submissions.

At this point, two years ago, Dr. Latifi-Pupovci thought the story was over. But recently, she learned that Maši? had formally “retracted” the sting article.

In an August, 2014 editorial in Medical Archives, Maši? announces a “retraction” of Dr. Latifi-Pupovci’s article, falsely accusing her of plagiarism. He wrote,

“First case of plagiarism this year was happed in February issue when author prof. Hatixhe Latifi-Popovci tried to publish her paper in our journal with title “Association Between Autoantibodies Against Thyroid Stimulating Hormone Receptor and Thyroid Diseases”. After several and anonymous suggestions from Prishtina that this article was already published in the journal “Praxis Medica” in Albanian language and identical in content we received, it was decided to retract paper from our side. Also, Dean of the Faculty of medicine in Prishtina and Rector of University of Prishtina were informed about author’s unethical behavior.”

So Maši?’s journal quickly accepted and briefly published an article submitted as part of a sting operation, but he turned it around into an accusation of plagiarism.

Dr. Latifi-Pupovci sums it up nicely:

“Researchers and general public should be aware that Avicena Publishers is a typical example of a company which does not follow the industry standards and exists to provide easy, fast and cheap publishing for the authors. It is unethical and dishonest to operate such a business and make false accusations against those who tell people what you are really doing.”

By: Jeffrey Beall
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Source: Scholarly Open Access

Comments:

MC says:

May 3, 2016 at 9:10 AM

Would have made more sense to send a un-published, fake article to the journal, not something that had already been published elsewhere. I get why the editor calls the authors’ behavior unethical- technically, it is, so the point the author was trying to make would have been stronger if they sent in something that was scigen-like

DWeb says:

May 3, 2016 at 9:39 AM

plus sci-gen articles are more amusing 🙂

MC says:

May 3, 2016 at 6:36 PM

I felt like the post did not really point this out, but instead sided too heavily with the author, especially by stating “Maši? announces a ‘retraction’ of Dr. Latifi-Pupovci’s article, falsely accusing her of plagiarism.”

Didn’t the author, in fact, plagiarize themselves by submitting an already-published manuscript to another journal?

The editor is a weirdo, no doubt, and this journal is completely useless by anyone’s standards, but wouldn’t it have made a lot more sense to send a fake article?

tekija says:

May 4, 2016 at 11:16 AM

Agree. Bad choice that made the retraction legitimate.

Klaas van Dijk says:

May 3, 2016 at 4:26 PM

Publisher Avicena is a member of COPE. Copy/pasted from http://publicationethics.org/taxonomy/term/562

“Showing 3 results. Order by: Title
Acta Informatica Medica, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Professor Izet Masic
Materia Socio Medica, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Professor Izet Masic
Medica Archives, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Professor Izet Masic”

tekija says:

May 4, 2016 at 11:14 AM

A man of many talents – I lost the count how many professorships dr Masic has held (so far).

Home

Jill says:

May 4, 2016 at 8:39 PM

I agree that it would have been better to use a fake article. However, if I read the acceptance letter correctly, one was to have paid the publication fee on submission, not at acceptance. And from that, these journals get also get the authors to sign copyright transfer to the journal?! That strikes me as theft of intellectual property.

The TR Master Journal List is not a Journal Whitelist

Overstated.

The Thomson Reuters Master Journal List is not a journal whitelist and should not be used as one. Numerous low-quality and predatory journals are announcing their inclusion in this list as a mark or guarantee of quality, fooling many.

The purpose of the list is to serve as a comprehensive list of journals included in at least one of 24 different journal indexes produced by Thomson Reuters. If a journal is included in one or more of these indexes, it appears in the master list.

This is a problem because the barrier for entry into some of the Thomson Reuters indexes is very low. Take the index called Zoological Record, for example. It includes over 4700 journals, including many predatory journals that are unworthy of being included in any quality scholarly index.

Don’t be fooled by this list.

The journal shown in the top image above, Investigaciones Europeas de Dirección y Economía de la Empresa (IEDEE) is an example. It provides misleading information about the TR Master List.

On its home page, the journal declares,

“IEDEE newly added [sic] to THOMSON REUTERS MASTER JOURNAL LIST

The Master Journal List includes all journal titles covered in Web of Science (WoS). This means that articles published in the journal will be searchable, discoverable and citable in Web of Science.”

This is somewhat misleading. It’s included in one of Thomson Reuters easiest databases to get into, its Emerging Sources Citation Index.

Here’s a screenshot of the journal’s entry on the TR Master List:

The whole truth.

As you see, according to the entry, it’s only included in Emerging Sources Citation index, a list I’ve documented as containing junk journals.

I encourage all ministries of education, all universities and colleges, all academic departments, and all funding agencies to stop using the Thomson Reuters Master List as a measure of quality.

The list is filled with dozens or hundreds of low-quality and predatory journals. Using this list as a quality indicator actually promotes the lower quality, open-access journals included in it, for it serves as advertising for them, drawing in authors seeking easy and fast acceptance of their article submissions.

By: Jeffrey Beall
Follow on Twitter
Source: Scholarly Open Access

Bair Hugger Warming System

Bair Hugger Warming System

There has been some false information and harmful rumors being spread around regarding the Bair Hugger Warming System and Dr. Michelle Stevens the Chief Medical Officer for 3M Infection Prevention Division, wants to set the record straight in the video “Straight Talk about 3M™ Bair Hugger™ Warming Therapy”. The facts are online also. Dr. Stevens has been a practicing physician for almost two decades and has been an expert advisor to hospitals and other medical professionals on the issue of preventing infection. In the video she examines the Bair Hugger System and the multitudes of benefits that is provided to patients before, during and after surgery and dismisses any negative information surrounding the system.

Anyone who has preformed surgery in an operating room knows that keeping the temperature cool in the room and anesthesia can cause the body to cool very quickly. The operating room staff understands that during surgery because a patient’s body can lose body heat very quickly there are many types of potential complications that can occur during or maybe after surgery. Certain complications like infection, heart problems, or blood transfusions that would otherwise not be needed, could happen once the body’s core temperature drops. These types of complications can lead to longer stays in the hospital and higher death rates.

Dr. Stevens says that the solution to these potential complications is Bair Hugger Warming Therapy. The system is beneficial for patients to help keep their body temperature normal during surgery. She says that, “Study, after study, after study has shown that actively warming patients can prevent heat loss and reduce the risk of complications.” Bottom line, 3M’s Bair Hugger blankets and gowns keep people warm during surgery thus preventing potential complications.

How the gown and blankets work is very simple. The gown or blanket is placed on top of the patient and warm air is circulated through it and that warmth helps keep the patient’s body temperature at a normal level. Over the course of 30 years Bair Hugger blanket has been used over 200 million times. Due to the success of the system, 3M acquired the system in 2010 and continues to back the effectiveness of this system today. 3M also continues to invest and research in the field of patient warming because they are driven by the wants and needs of their patients. Both doctors and hospitals around the world have given positive feedback to 3M about the effectiveness of the Bair Hugger.

In spite of the positive feedback and the studies that have consistently proven that Bair Hugger has helped the health of patients worldwide, a competitor has been trying to scare people about the Bair Hugger. This particular individual claims that using the Bair Hugger Blankets can lead to infections and has focused on using scare tactics to frighten people undergoing hip or knee replacements. Due to these assertions, 3M has taken the time to look into these claims by consulting with top specialists in the field who Dr. Stevens has a very high regard for concerning this issue. After extensive research and consulting with these top experts, 3M is positive there is no base to these claims. Unfortunately, a few plaintiff lawyers have gotten wind of these false claims and have convinced some patients to sue 3M for infections that they may have contracted during or after surgery. To date, there has been no connection made between the Bair Hugger and infections during or after surgery. 3M is confident that the Bair Hugger system has not cause harm to anyone. Dr. Stevens wants to assure current and future patients that the system is safe.

Dr. Michelle Stevens concludes the video by saying, “There is overwhelming evidence that the use of Bair Hugger Warming Therapy is associated with improved surgical outcomes” This is why leading health care organizations worldwide continue to use Bair Hugger and recommend that it be used in surgery. She encourages anyone with any questions to contact their healthcare provider or to contact 3M directly.

Overview of Bair Hugger:
Bair Hugger is a warming system used by hospitals to moderate body temperature before, after, and during surgery. Introduced for use in 1988, and developed by Dr. S. Augustine, the Bair Hugger has been used by most major hospitals across the United States. The Bair Hugger system has been used over 200 million times since its invention and continues to grow and be used by medical providers across the globe. The system is used in over 80% of U.S. hospitals today.
Bair Hugger’s are made out of soft and comfortable material to lay across the patient and evenly distribute heat across the patient’s body. Bair Huggers are used to keep patients safe and assist in the different stages of surgery. Bair Huggers blankets warming units’ filter air, then force warm air through the Bair Hugger blankets. These blankets are disposable. The warm air is dispersed evenly throughout the blanket to keep the patient warm. Medical providers know the importance of patient warming technology, and have counted on the Bair Hugger to assist patients in medical related procedures for over 20 years.

Health Care providers speak highly of the Bair Huggers purpose in the medical field:

“We use Bair Hugger therapy for every case, every day. This included 600 pediatric urology cases in 2011. This product has allowed us to keep our pediatric patients normothermia (normal body temperature) even though we keep our rooms cool.” – Gregg P., New Brunswick, NJ

“We love Bair Hugger products in our OR. Knowing the patient is normothermic (normal body temperature) and comfortable frees the nurse to implement other safety measures and utilize their time wisely.” – Kristina J., Findlay, OH

“We do 30-50 cases a day, and we use Bair Hugger therapy for our patients. The patients like them, and as the manager of the pre-op and PACU (recovery room), I feel Bair Hugger [therapy] is a reliable product.” – Shane S., Clackamas, OR

As seen above, the Bair Hugger is appreciated by multiple parties who work to keep patient comfort and safety a priority. From nurses, to pediatrics, to cardiac care, a wide range of health providers rely on these blankets to ensure good patient outcomes. The Bair Hugger, primarily and traditionally used in a hospital setting, has also been used in emergency situations to save lives. It has been used in the Trauma Ward for U.S. soldiers in Iraq, warming runners at the Boston Marathon who needed medical treatment, treating a hypothermic man after a car accident, and many more instances. This warming system has saved countless lives.

The Bair Hugger is a trusted and widely used practice. Since 1988 it has been improving the quality of care that patients receive and hospitals are able to provide. Moderating body temperature is of upmost importance before, after, and during surgery. This method will continue to be used by health care providers around the globe to ensure positive patient outcomes. Safe and tested technology like the Bair Hugger will continue to better the future of health care. The Bair Hugger has made its mark in the health care sector as a safe and trusted way to help patients.

Below you’ll find a short video about Bair Hugger hosted by Michelle Stevens, the chief medical officer of 3M’s Infection Prevention Division:

Overview of Bair Hugger
The 3M Bair Hugger Warming System is a convective temperature management system used within hospital to maintain a patient’s core body temperature pre, during, and post a surgical procedure. The Bair Hugger system consists of a reusable warming unit and a single-use disposable warming blankets, gowns, and other technologies. This medical device launched in 1987 and is currently manufactured by the 3M Company. The Bair Hugger warming system is used by more than 80 percent of U.S. hospitals and is considered the gold standard of warming systems used in hospitals today.

Forced Air Warming Basics
The Bair Hugger warming system draws in the filtered air of the operating room, passes it through an internal filter and warms that air to the selected temperature. The warmed air flows to a single-use Bair Hugger warming blanket through an enclosed hose and is then gently dispersed across the surface of the skin. All surgeries include an element of risk, especially surgical site infections. Anesthesia can change the body temperature, and doctors take this into account when thinking about patient care. If body temperature is not closely monitored, a surgery can quickly take a turn for the worst. As a solution to this common issue, hospitals and surgical centers often use warming technology to warm the patient, to maintain normal body temperature throughout surgery. This method of body regulation is popular among hospitals and doctors because of its low cost, effectiveness, and safety. This method of surgical warming is heavily studied and monitored and has said that is can improve overall patient outcome and patient comfort.

Hypothermia Risk and Prevention
Surgery is a complicated process, and unintended hypothermia adds one more factor to the equation. Unintended hyperthermia is a common but preventable aspect to surgery and occurs in 50% of all surgical patients. Even mild hypothermia can cause a post surgical crisis. Patient temperature management often is a secondary thought instead of a required standard. It is also a significant financial benefit of reducing hypothermia rates in surgical patients. Studies have demonstrated that maintaining normothermia can result in savings of $2,500 to $7,000 per patient by eliminating the costs of hypothermia-related complications, including surgical site infections.

Patient Satisfaction
Patient satisfaction has come to the forefront of healthcare in the recent years. Patients now have more say over who treats them, how they want to be treated, and where they want to be treated. This has put a new pressure on hospitals to accommodate these patient requests and expectations. A happy customer is likely to return to the service where they had a positive experience. One way that patients can be satisfied with their hospital stay is by being comfortable. With Bair Hugger warming technology, caregivers can replace standard hospital gowns with a forced-air warming gown can boost patient satisfaction and comfort. It has also been found that forced-air warming can reduce patient anxiety. For a patient, surgery can bring a lot of anxiety, no matter how prepared you are or how much homework and investigation you did on your particular surgery, you are still placing your trust in the caregivers and experts around you. Reducing patient anxiety is correlated with fewer interventions, a quality experience, and in some cases requiring less anesthesia. With Bair hugger blankets to regulate body temperature, patients can expect a reduction in the rate of infection, and shorter hospital stays. According to 3M Bair Hugger Technology, “Whenever our customers and their patients see the Bair Hugger brand’s modernized, symbolic icon, we want them to understand that one of the most passionate, patient-focused organizations in the world stands with them to support successful surgical outcomes.”

Gowns and Blankets
The Bair Hugger warming gown system has added a new level of comfort to patient care. While the gown creates a sense of comfort and warmth, it is also performing the important job of safeguarding against the complications and risk that come with unintended hypothermia. Hospital gowns can feel clinical and cold, so a warming gown is just a small but impactful tool used to increase both patient recovery and comfort. While hospitals exist to heal people, it can become a positive experience if a certain level of ease and comfort is achieved.

When you’re recovering after surgery, it’s nice to be warm, but it’s more important that your doctors and caregivers can regulate your body temperature It’s vital to watch when patients are undergoing complex surgical procedures. That’s why 3M Bair Hugger warming blanket system has connected ideas and inspiration, people and products, to make sure these needs are met. The Bair Hugger system has demonstrated, flexible temperature management solutions designed to help you achieve your patient normothermia goals without compromising surgical access. From pediatric to geriatric, simple to challenging. We’ve got you covered. Bair Hugger blanket warming system offers 25 blanket models.

Why is Normothermia so Significant?
The maintenance of a normal core body temperature, called normothermia, is a critical component of patient safety. Core temperatures outside the normal range pose a risk in all patients undergoing surgery and have been associated with an increased risk of surgical complications, including surgical site infections. The difference between a positive patient outcome and a complicated recovery can be a matter of degrees. Unintended perioperative hypothermia is a frequent, yet preventable, complication of surgery. It can increase the rate of wound infection, extend recovery time, and extend the length of stay. The 3M Bair Hugger normothermia system provides a comprehensive solution that works seamlessly throughout the perioperative process to effectively and efficiently measure and manage patient temperature. Medical devices are no longer products you sell to doctors or nurses based on popularity or likeability. They are tools that must contribute to better outcomes while providing an economic benefit worthy of investment. Bair Hugger blankets provide the kind of outcomes providers are hoping for at a price that is reasonable. The patient warming industry is just small piece to the healthcare environment.

Bair Hugger Safety
The 3M Bair Hugger Patient Warming System is safe to use in orthopedic and other procedures. The FDA cleared this technology to treat and prevent hypothermia more than 25 years ago. 3M has built its reputation as a credible, science-based company by making products customers can rely upon. 3M Health Care earns the trust of healthcare providers every day by making products for patients that are safe, effective and improve the quality of care. 3M would not continue to sell a product if there was a reason to believe it harmed patients or providers.

Bair hugger warming units are a reasonable size, not difficult to operate and are not heavy. These qualities give them an easy and no obtrusive status in the surgery room. Bair Hugger have different ways to mount in patient rooms and allow each facility to use them in a way that makes sense. Patients come in all shapes and sizes, and Bair hugger gowns and warming technology are made to accommodate the wide range of patients that hospitals and care facilities see. Bair Hugger has even added features like adhesive strips, head drapes, drain holes, and tie strings to gowns for patient comfort and recovery ease. Many of these additions were included in products because Bair Hugger values its customer’s opinions and feedback, always looking for ways to improve the patient experience and satisfaction. The Bair Hugger temperature monitoring system is the most recent technology platform to join the portfolio, and it’s an important one. This product offers an accurate, not invasive way to measure and account for body temperature before surgery, in the operation room, and the PACU, getting rid of the need for multiple temperature reading products. It streamlines the process and doesn’t give too much variation in data that practitioners were seeing when using multiple machines.

Operation Room Air Flow Study
Any good and trustworthy product can prove its effectiveness and safety, and Bair Hugger did that by testing the operation room flow air study, proving the warming equipment was not negatively impacts or affecting the outcomes of surgery. A scientific research project was conducted to test this question. In the end, the facts and outcomes concluded the that Bair Hugger Warming System did not disrupt the normal airflow patterns of an operating room and did not move air from the floor to the surgical site in hip replacement producers.

The study had three parts that were explored. The first part was investigation advanced mathematical calculation based upon the fundamental laws of physics to track the pats of airflow in the operating room. The findings showed that the air from the Bair Hugger System avoided the sensitive surgical site. The air from the warming system was traveling away from the surgical table and moved towards the room exhaust vents along with the air beneath the operating table and did not move towards the surgical site.

The second part of the study involved experiments performed in an operating room with flow visualization studies that deliberately injected visible fog into multiple locations in the room. First behind the anesthesia screen where the Bair Hugger air would exit near the patient’s head. Second, underneath the surgical table. And third, next to the surgical table, near the surgical team, and near the surgical site. This investigation found that downward clean moving air from ceiling supply ducts in an operating room inhibited air from other sources from intruding into the surgical region. The downward flow of clean air worked regardless of whether the Bair Hugger Warming System was used or not.

The last section of the investigation included a review of the scientific literature. The best scientific work did not show any causal link between the use of a Bair Hugger Warming System and surgical site infections. More than 170 clinical studies have utilized the Bair Hugger system, and studies have demonstrated forced-air warming’s usefulness.

In Conclusion
The 3M Bair Hugger warming blanket system is the most used and studied method of surgical warming in the country, with its clinical benefits, efficacy, and safety well documented in more than 170 studies and more than 60 randomized controlled clinical trials.

Did you know the Bair Hugger warming blanket system is the preferred patient warming device of U.S. healthcare facilities (and 8 of the top 10 orthopedic hospitals1) and is supported by numerous healthcare organizations because of its proven safety and effectiveness? The Bair Hugger warming blanket system has become an indispensable component in the care of surgical patients, providing safe and effective warming therapy to patients across the globe. Next time you are getting surgery and see Bair Hugger warming technology in the room, you can be assured that your team and hospital is giving you the golden standard on patient warming technology. With all different variables and unknowns of surgery, regulating your body temperature shouldn’t be one of them. Caregivers rely on the warming technology of Bair Hugger for patient positive patient outcomes and comfort.

Calories: The Only Rule Of Dieting

Watching Calories To Get In Shape

I review several products on this site that I recommend for transforming yourself into a better man. However, the one thing I will never recommend is a “diet product/book/ebook etc”. I am about to tell you all what you need to know about dieting. This includes if you are losing fat or gaining muscle.

Calories: The Only Rule Of Dieting

So you have decided that you want to be fit. That is good! I am going to tell you the only factor that you need to consider when dieting and that is CALORIES. You gain weight by eating more calories than you use and you lose weight by eating fewer calories than you use. That is all there is to it. I swear it is that simple.

If we follow this rule then we have four options:
– To lose weight, you must eat fewer calories than you use a deficit.
– To gain weight, you must eat more calories than you use a surplus.
– To build muscle, you must eat at a surplus and exercise
– To get the toned look, you need to build muscle and have a low percentage of body fat.

In order to do any of these you need to find out what your “Total Daily Energy Expenditure” is.

Picking Your Fitness Goal
After calculating your TDEE you can then calculate your daily calorie goal based on one of the four paths below:

If you want to lose weight then it is recommended you eat at a 500 calorie deficit(TDEE 500 Calories)
If you want to gain weight then you should eat at a 500 calorie surplus(TDEE + 500 Calories)
If you want to gain muscle then you should eat at 500 calorie surplus and exercise. You must select the appropriate exercise level when calculating your TDEE in the form.
If you want to become toned then you need to gain muscle then lose body fat or lose body fat and then gain muscle. Always remember that you can never gain muscle and lose weight at the same time. It is impossible.
After determining your daily calorie goal you must ensure that your macro nutrients are correct.

Macro Nutrients
Macro nutrient or macros for short are are the correct distribution of protein, fats, and carbs that will keep your body in top shape. It is important to make these part of your daily calorie goal. I have provided a brief explanation and the bodily requirements for each one below.

Protein
– Necessary to build muscle.
– It is recommended that you consume 0.45-1 grams per pound of body weight.
– Amount will allow you to maintain muscle if you are losing weight and build muscle if you are gaining weight.

Fat
– Necessary for many bodily functions including metabolism, brain function, and hormone production.
– Recommended that you consume 0.4-0.5 grams per pound of body weight.

Carbs
– Necessary for energy.
– Recommended that you consume .5- 2.2 grams per pound of body weight.
– Amount can largely depend on performance needs(what type of exercise you are performing).
– If fat and protein macros are satisfied then you may use the rest of your calories for carbs. This is due to you still not going over your calorie goal.

Putting it all together
This section puts everything we have learned together. I have also provided you with a TDEE calculator that will calculate your daily calorie goal and your macros. The only thing you will need is the TDEE amount that you calculated earlier.

Supplements
Our final section will touch on supplements. I want to stress that I do in fact think fad diets or diet products are silly. However supplements can be quite helpful. From experience I can say that it is sometimes hard to get the required amount of protein without eating nothing but meat. This can obviously become quite expensive. This is where protein supplements come into play. The problem becomes the sheer amount of protein supplements. For your convenience I have sampled the top 5 from Amazon and compared them in the table below.

Protein Powder Comparison Chart

You can fact check my data in the table above. My goal was to find the best protein powder based on price. The supplement should also maximize protein intake while also keeping calorie intake as low as possible. As you can see that basically eliminates all but the top two. We can then see that Optimum Nutrition provides 1 extra gram of protein and 3 additional servings. However Syntrax is 13 dollars cheaper and only has 3 less servings. I also have to say that Syntrax tasted a lot better. It also didn’t seem to clump together as bad as the Optimum Nutrition brand. Taking this into consideration along with the price difference, and the minor 1 gram difference in protein made Syntrax the overall winner. Syntrax also has a lot of flavors that other powders do not have. Peanut Butter, Mint Chocolate, Banana etc. Google them directly if you want to know any product information or to consider purchasing anything.

In short, if you looking at loosing those pounds you must consider your calorie consumption. You should be eating lean meats (chicken breast, turkey, fish) and vegetables (broccoli and spinach). If you just do that those extra pounds will be falling off you. If you feel hungry, you should up your vegetable consumption. Our bodies need some good fats as well. These include almonds, organic avocado, and cooking your vegetables with olive oil. Really good bodybuilders and dieters eat the same meals over and over again. That is the key! Get into the cycle of pre-planning your meals so they are ready to grab immediately when it’s time to eat.

Lastly, try to eat every 3 hours. If you need to snack in-between your means stick to celery, vegetables, and almonds.

The key to looking good is seriously 80 percent diet and 20 percent exercise. You can do any workout in the world but if you are eating terrible food it will not matter. All the exercise in the world cant stop all of the negative effects of a bad diet.

Wine Each Day Can Boost Lung Function?

Drinking Wine Healthy Living Benefits

I must tell you I love my wine. I’ve always heard that a glass a day is actually good for you. Living in Seattle, I’ve been to all the wine bars (black bottle is my favorite) and wine tasting events.

However, did you know that a glass of white wine each day can supposedly boost lung function?

Dr Holger Schunemann of the University of Buffalo in the United States of America questioned around 1500 adults about their drinking habits and performed lung function tests. He surmised that people who drank white wine had greater lung function than those who consumed red wine, but both groups had greater lung function than non-wine
drinkers.

Another study carried out at Harvard University links lung function with happy thoughts. A group of 670 men, followed up over an average of eight years, had less decline in lung function with age if they were classed as optimists. Pessimists had 4% lower lung function scores.

Perhaps the moral of the story therefore, is to be content with our favorites. Think nice thoughts, be nice, live well…we will live longer and die happy!

Reference: Pharmaceutical Journal May 25th 2002

*Always consult a certified physician before implementing any of the advice featured on the Emerald City Journal.

FAQ’s About Healthy Living

Healthy Living FAQ's Help

Q: With all the things in the newspapers about what herbs and vitamins can be dangerous, I wanted to check again about taking Ginkgo biloba. I take it for my memory and it is very good, but I saw something in a magazine about not taking it with medication.

A: Ginkgo biloba is, indeed, very good for the memory, which is why the Chinese call it Memory Tree. It is also excellent for your circulation and can help deal with cold hands and feet. Some men find it helps with impotence too, so it really has a whole raft of beneficial effects. One of the extra things that it does is to reduce the stickiness of the blood, so that you are less likely to have a stroke. If you are already taking Aspirin or Warfarin, which also thin the blood, then you shouldn’t take Ginkgo as well, as you would be doubling the effect. If you are on Aspirin or Warfarin then you could take Vinca minor instead, as it has a beneficial effect on circulation without having the blood-thinning effect that Ginkgo has.

Q: I am constantly battling with my cholesterol level, which is not terrible but is higher than my doctor would like. Can you give me some advice? I eat healthily and exercise, but all my family have had high cholesterol.

A: Inherited high cholesterol is terribly unfair, as you can do everything right and still suffer. I am sure that you are aware of not eating the unhealthy fats such as red meat, dairy produce and fried foods, but also bear in mind that your body can change excess amounts of refined sugar into fat, so refined carbohydrates may have a detrimental effect too. Avoid coffee and other caffeinated products and drink plenty of water. Take Cynara, a tincture of artichoke which helps the body to process cholesterol correctly and break it down more effectively. It also reduces the amount of cholesterol that the body itself makes, which can be very useful if you have an inherited tendency to high cholesterol. I would also suggest taking Choline and Inositol, as they help the liver to metabolize fats, as well as including garlic in your diet, as this is good for clearing cholesterol from the arteries and tissues.

Q: What can I take to help me keep warm this winter?

A: Ginkgo biloba is a top favorite, as it stimulates circulation. However, another herb that deserves more attention than it gets is Ginger. This boosts the circulation but also ‘warms’ the blood. The Chinese use it as a blood tonic and it certainly does have a warming effect. Other benefits include its anti-inflammatory effect and the stimulant effect it has on your digestion, reducing feelings of nausea and heaviness. It has no contraindications or side effects, so it is very easy and safe to use.

Q: I would be grateful if you could help with a problem of tendonitis that my daughter has been suffering from for much too long over a year now. It is now very, very painful, causing her to cut back greatly on her work. An operation has been mooted but she isn’t keen on this. The problem goes from the elbow to her wrist on the inside of
her arm.

A: I would use Devils Claw and Glucosamine Sulphate together, for a 4 to 6 month period. Physiotherapists can sometimes help with ultrasound treatment.

Q: Please can you advise me what I can take for gout? I was prescribed Allopurinol but am allergic to this. I am trying to stick to the diet given to me by the Arthritis Association but cant get rid of the build-up around my joints fingers mostly. The doctor says he can do no more for me. I’ve tried Knotgrass, Devils Claw and am now on Glucosamine.

A: Urtica dioica (stinging nettle) is very effective for treating gout. You could either take a nettle tincture or drink several cups of nettle tea daily. Diet also plays an important part in controlling the condition, so try to avoid caffeine, red meats, shellfish and dairy products.

Q: My osteoporosis in the spine was made worse when I had a fall on my back. I am in constant pain with it. I have been taking Glucosamine Sulphate. Painkillers do not work at all. Have you any suggestions?

A: I am sorry to hear of your fall. There are several products you could take to help your condition. Parasites are a natural painkiller and can be taken when needed. Devils Claw will help to ease the inflammation and a natural calcium supplement, containing urtica and silica will help the body to absorb and utilize calcium. Remember to drink plenty of water and try to avoid caffeine, red meat, and high salt and sugar intake.

*The Emerald City Journal recommends consulting with a physician before implementing any of this advice. We’re a newspaper not a doctor.

FAQ’s about Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Girl Stressed On Therapy Photo

With continuing uncertainty over the safety of long term use of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), many women are seriously considering either coming off it or avoiding taking it altogether. However, finding a safe and effective replacement can be very confusing. So what can you do to escape the Menopausal Maze?

Q. I’m on HRT. What do I do to come off?

A. If you wish to come off HRT it is advisable to discuss this with your GP first and to plan the best way to stop. Recent indications suggest coming off gradually over three to four months is best. If you stop instantly you run the risk of developing severe symptoms. Wait until you completely stop the HRT before taking any of the hormonal remedies.

Q. I had menopausal symptoms before I went on to HRT. What do I do if they returning when I come off?

A. There are many natural remedies for menopausal symptoms. Match your symptoms with the remedies outlined below:
Hot flushes/night sweats
Sage tincture*
Hot flushes/night sweats, mood swing,
depression, aches and pains, vaginal dryness tincture of Black Cohosh*
Lethargy, stress, loss of libido, vaginal dryness
Siberian Ginseng* & Avena sativa
Stress, anxiety, mood swings
Avena sativa, Passiflora, Female Essence
Prevention of osteoporosis
Urticalcin

* These remedies are not recommended if you have had or are having treatment for any hormonally induced cancer. Also check with your doctor or healthcare professional for any contraindications.

Q. I don’t have any menopausal symptoms despite my periods gradually disappearing. What should I take?

A. Lucky you! This is the way it is supposed to be! Maintain your diet and lifestyle and add in a vitamin E supplement and Urticalcin to help prevent osteoporosis. If you do start to experience any symptoms, consider the remedies listed above.

Q. I am 65 (live in Seattle) and I am still experiencing flushes and irritation. What can I take?

A. If you are over 65 or your menopause started more than 10 years ago it is more than likely that your own hormone levels have tailed off and that, if you are experiencing what looks like menopausal symptoms it may, in fact, indicate adrenal stress. A hormonal remedy such as Menosan or Black Cohosh is unlikely to work. Try Urtica (nettle), a vitamin B complex and a magnesium supplement. If you feel stressed or anxious take Avena sativa or Passiflora Complex too.

Here is some general advice on a pain free menopause –
There are many simple things you can do for yourself regardless of the symptoms you may be experiencing.

DO
Eat a well balanced, wholesome diet and don’t miss meals low blood sugar levels can trigger hot flushes!
Ensure that you have regular bowel movements (at least one a day) constipation can be a major factor in causing hot flushes!
Drink plenty of plain water at least a liter and a half.
Take regular exercise a brisk half hour walk a day can work wonders!
Deal with stress. Stress causes the release of chemicals that promote hot flushes!
Take a mineral supplement. Your local health food shop will be able to advise you on a good quality one.

DONT
Drink coffee or other caffeinated drinks. These are a real no-no for the menopause. Take herb teas instead nettle is wonderful for hot flushes; drink a couple of cups a day.
Smoke. No need to say more!
Drink alcohol. If you must have the occasional drink, go for organic wine.

*Always consult your physician before implementing any advice you read online. We’re a newspaper not a doctor.

Beat Your Cold and Flu Symptoms Twice As Fast

Beating A Cold or Flu Twice As Fast

I hate being sick with anything. Living in Seattle in the tech field I work a lot so I really need to be healthy in my job. This is a highly technical report but you might find it useful when it comes to using Echinacea and beating the cold or flu twice as fast.

Years ago, a study commissioned by Bioforce AG showed that Echinaforce was well tolerated and was significantly more effective than placebo in the treatment of influenza infection (Brinkeborn R. M. et al., Phytomedicine 1999). Those using Echinacea experienced a resolution of their cold and flu symptoms twice as fast as those in the placebo group.

Between 2003 and 2006 further clinical studies were published in medical journals of high repute. In some the effect of different Echinacea products is a contentious issue, but the safety is universally described as good.

The quality of Echinacea products being tested is definitely of paramount importance, as is made abundantly clear by an American investigation into Echinacea preparations, which found that 10% of those taken from health stores contained no measurable Echinacea. Of those that actually contained Echinacea, 48% didn’t contain the amount they said they did on the label (Gilroy CM et al. Echinacea and truth in labeling. Arch Intern Med 2003; 163:699-704).

In both the Barrett (2002) and Taylor (2003) trials, which failed to demonstrate efficiency, the authors refer to the possibility that uncertainty as to the quality of the material used could have caused the negative outcome.

In 2004, Goel et al published a trial that demonstrated the efficiency of Echinacea in the treatment of colds and flu, when it is used as soon as a cold starts. At 7 days, 95% of the subjects using Echinacea were free of symptoms compared with only 63% in the placebo group. In their paper, Goel and colleagues note: the wide disparity in different preparations, lack of standardization of products on the basis of active components and undefined dosing procedures are some of the factors that seem to have led to inconsistent and non-reproducible results.

(Goel et al. J Clin Pharm Ther. 2004, 29 (1): 75 83.)

In 2005, Goel published another trial showing that volunteers taking Echinacea purpurea at the onset of a cold had a greater decrease in their daily symptom score than a placebo group. He found a significant and sustained increase in the number of circulating total white blood cells, monocytes, neutrophils and NK cells, as well as an improved mopping up of free radicals, and deduced that this may have led to a faster resolution of the cold

symptoms. (Goel et al. Phytother Res. 2005 Aug; 19 (8): 689-94.)

Much negative or inconclusive work has been done on Echinacea angustifolia, and nothing can be deduced about the effect of Echinacea purpurea from this. The positive results achieved by Brinkeborn and Goel both involved ethanolic extracts (tinctures) of Echinacea purpurea produced from freshly harvested plant material.

In 2004 we were also delighted by the work published by Gertsch, in collaboration with the Clinical Trials Dept. staff at Bioforce AG, which discovered a definitive mechanism of action for Echinaforce. This work pinpointed the action of alkylamides in modulating production of TNF-a (Gertsch J et al. FEBS Letters 2004; 577: 563 569), and confirmed our opinion that Echinaforce is an immunomodulator rather than an immunostimulant.

In 2006 more good news has arrived in the shape of the Cochrane Report, which reviewed 16 controlled clinical trials investigating the effectiveness of several different Echinacea preparations for preventing and treating common colds. They concluded that some preparations based on Echinacea purpurea (including the aerial parts) might be effective for shortening the duration or decreasing the severity of cold symptoms in adults if taken after the onset of those symptoms. (The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2006, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD000530.pub2.)

Then a paper co-authored by two Bioforce AG staff and Professor Johnston from the National Heart and Lung Institute at the Imperial College London examined the data from three Echinacea prevention trials and concluded that there is evidence that use of Echinacea was effective in the prevention of the symptoms of the common cold.

Those using Echinacea were less likely to develop colds when compared to placebo, reducing the incidence by about half. (Schoop R et al. Clinical Therapeutics. 2006: 1: 10.)

As you can see, there is plenty of research showing the efficacy of high quality Echinacea purpurea products, containing the aerial parts, and made from freshly harvested herb.

Other Echinacea products may not be as effective, which brings us back to the need for consumers to be aware that-

All Echinaceas are not the same!

And they need to be very discriminating about which Echinacea they use.

*Always consult with a physician before taking our advice. We are a Seattle newspaper and are not doctors.

Taking a Zinc Supplement

Zinc Supplements For Healthy Living

Recently, when advising a young male patient in Seattle, I recommended he take a zinc supplement. I don’t like taking pills can’t I get it in food? What foods is it in: I’ll eat more of those, he said.

This is a sensible reaction and I welcome it in many cases. Nutrient questions are pretty popular in my physician office in Seattle Washington. In this example – there are situations, however, where it doesn’t necessarily turn out to be the best option for rectifying imbalances in the body.

1. If the patient has poor digestive function and is therefore not absorbing nutrients efficiently from food, even if their diet is good.

2. If the nutritional deficiency is large and it would take a long time on a rather artificially constructed diet to make up the deficit.

3. If the nutrient in question is difficult to find in sufficient quantities in food sources. This is often the case where people are not eating organic food but food grown on nutrient-deprived soil, such as where intensive farming methods are practiced.

There are also certain situations in which people need to increase the supply of nutrients going into their bodies in order to meet increased demand.

1. When undertaking demanding sporting activities or doing a physically demanding job

2. When under pressure at work or at home, with harassing deadlines and insufficient sleep

3. When recovering from illness or coping with a long drawn out problem such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

In these situations, a supplement that provides extra quantities of vital nutrients such as the B vitamins or iron can be extremely helpful.

What is the best option for supplementing the diet?

Our bodies were designed to get their nutrients from food. Taking isolated nutrients that were synthesized in a laboratory isn’t very natural. The most logical option is to take extra nutrients in the form of foods, handily concentrated into a manageable form so that you don’t have to eat several extra meals a day. The reality is that we have so many poor food choices available to us. It’s not just a Seattle thing it is all over this country.

The body will recognize foods as its nutrient source and will be able to unwrap the package to utilize the contents efficiently its the natural way. Everything the nutrient needs to get into the system and work effectively there is present in the whole food form. Many extremely nutritious foodstuffs that you would find difficult to access on a regular basis are provided in botanical supplements sourced from foods, with nothing added or taken away.

So if you need a little extra to keep you going or bring you back to your best, look for botanical supplements, to make it easy for your body to take extra nutrients on board.

There you have it Seattle viewers – Zinc is important but make sure it is taken from a quality source. Some good sources include: Spinach, Shrimp, Pumpkin seeds, Garlic, and Watermelon Seeds to name a few.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc

*Before taking our advice in this article always consult with a local Seattle physician who is educated to give quality advice. We are a newspaper – not doctors.

Enhancing Your Circulatory System For Better Running

Enhancing Your Circulatory System With Running

I love running in and around Seattle. From Green Lake to Pioneer Square, I am always on the go. I’m a member of several running groups in Seattle and a Running Meetup as well. It is actually one of the my favorite things to do besides eating or sleeping honestly. I have several grandchildren and want to make sure I’m around for a long time and this means to respiratory and circulatory system need to be in tip top shape. I wasn’t always in this great shape though.

Pins and needles are one of the first signs by which we know that our circulatory system is perhaps not reaching the parts that it should. If your circulation is sluggish like mine was, the outlying regions such as fingers and toes will suffer they may be tingly, they may be cold, but they wont be happy. Here is why. The circulatory system is meant to transport blood around the body to take oxygen and nutrients to the cells and take waste matter away. This is vital: no oxygen means tissues die and no waste disposal means toxic build-up in the tissues.

Before anything quite so drastic happens, though, we get advance warning in the form of chilly hands and feet and the pins and needles that mean that blood flow is restricted. It’s not a good sign. The heart needs to be pumping strongly enough to get blood through the whole arterial system, right to those far-flung areas such as the toes. If you have low blood pressure, this is unlikely to be happening. Try Crataegus for 6 to 12 months to bring your blood pressure up to a healthier level. Running and getting in shape helps with this and that is why I’m constantly running around the City of Seattle.

Many people don’t realize that low blood pressure, whilst being useful for reducing heart attacks, causes other symptoms such as dizziness, light-headedness, fatigue and sensitivity to cold, due to the lack of oxygen getting
to the head and the other extremities.

The other factor that contributes to poor circulation is spasm in the arteries, especially the smaller ones that

lead further into the tissues and organs. Here, Ginkgo biloba will help you. It relaxes spasm in the small arteries and allows blood to flow more smoothly out to those areas that might not have had good deliveries for a while. I will take it daily and I believe it helps overall with these issues.

If you’re not sure what is causing your poor circulation, do consult your doctor to check for contributing factors such as low blood pressure. It is safe to take Crataegus and Ginkgo together for a 6 to 12 month period if you want to give your whole circulatory system a good overhaul. If you are concerned about fatty deposits in the arteries, taking Crataegus in the form of Hawthorn-Garlic Capsules will be appropriate, as it contains further ingredients to address this issue.

Remember that you can’t take Ginkgo if you are on Aspirin or Warfarin. The recent research on Ginkgo biloba tincture revealed that it increased blood flow through the capillaries (the tiny blood vessels that lead off from small arteries, deep into the tissues and organs), and even opened up capillaries that were previously unused. Wonderful results from a simple herbal remedy!

Hope this article helps our Seattle residents with better health and happy living. Now go for a run!

*Be sure to always consult a physician before starting any fitness program or taking our advice. The Emerald City Journal Newspaper recommends doing your own research about this topic and verify with a Seattle physician to implement the procedures expressed in this article.

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