Botox FDA Issues Fraud Alert to U.S. Health Care Practitioners

Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) April 26, 2013

On April 26, 2013, the Food and Drug Administration issued an alert on its website to all health care practitioners that fraudulent version of the drug Botox, manufactured by Allergan, Inc. are being sold to medical practices in the U.S. (go to: goo.gl/iKRXI). Botox has FDA approval to treat migraine headaches, overactive bladders, hyperhidrosis (underarm sweating), and wrinkles.

"It really is an ongoing battle that the FDA is fighting against these counterfeiters, says Dr. Simon Ourian, Medical Director of Epione Beverly Hills. It was only a few months ago that the FDA released a list of physicians that had purchased unapproved Botox from a Canadian pharmacy.

According to the alert, a company operating under numerous aliases including Onlinebotox and OnlineBotoxPharmacy is placing vials labeled as foreign manufactured Botox into counterfeit outside cartons. Despite the internet-related names the company was not selling the counterfeit drug online but was sending mass faxes to solicit sales from medical offices.

Importantly, the FDA noted that only authentic Allergan-manufactured and FDA-approved Botox can be considered safe and effective for its approved uses. Even legitimately produced foreign Botox is not FDA approved for sale in the U.S.

Given that the FDA issued a list of medical providers that purchased unapproved Botox, it is apparent that consumers cannot always rely on others to protect their safety, says Dr. Ourian. Thats why I created a six-point Botox checklist for anyone interested in getting a Botox treatment.

Dr. Ourian has been a pioneer in laser technology and non-invasive aesthetic procedures including Restylane, Juv

Seniors Guide Encourages Families to Take Notice of Senior Health Issues During Holidays

Richmond, VA (PRWEB) December 14, 2012

While getting together and visiting with family over the 2012 - 2013 holiday season, Seniors Guide Magazine and http://www.SeniorsGuideOnline.com suggest taking notice of the health and well being of aging family members.

As we see our elderly loved ones over the holidays, we may notice certain changes that require some attention, says Katharine Ross, Director of Publishing for Seniors Guide.

The changes noticed in loved ones ages 65+ may require they receive Home Health Care, aging in place Home Modifications or a relocation in housing to a Retirement Community in the upcoming early months of 2013.

Decline in mobility, hygiene and behavioral skills can all be clues that help is needed, says Ross.

In the event of mobility issues and loss of coordination, seniors should look into modifying their homes to age with them. Some popular modifications to the home include grab bars, walk in bathtubs, wheelchair ramps and chair lifts. Widening doorways and lowering counters will also prevent accidents from happening in the home for aging residents. An industry term for this process of home modification for seniors is also known as, universal design. For more ideas and resources for the home, contact your local specialty builder, or find senior mobility products at SeniorProductsServices.com.

Changes in hygiene and appearance can also be key indicators that an aging parent or loved one needs help. Sudden weight loss, weight gain and poorly maintained hair or nails are a sign that a senior may need additional assistance taking care of daily grooming and dietary tasks.

LIDA360 Issues Reputation Management Rules for St. Patricks Day

Greenwood Village, CO (PRWEB) March 15, 2013

As the Irish (and pseudo-Irish) look forward to celebrating a day of festivities on March 17, reputation management rules can ensure personal brands are not tossed back with the Guinness.

International reputation management and personal branding specialist, Lida Citroen, principal and founder of LIDA360, stresses the importance of enjoying the holiday without damaging your dignity.

When partaking in holiday events and parties, be careful about what you say, do and post (online). Your reputation can take years to create and a few keystrokes or damaging statements to destroy, notes Citroen.

Her tips for managing your reputation and personal brand during St. Patricks Day fun, include:

-Dont post while partying. Keep your online conversations, arguments and posts to sober times, only. This ensures you can be thoughtful and intentional about how your comments might come across.

-Dont let your hair down... too much. Talking ill of your boss, coworkers, ex-boyfriend or political leaders can lead to an unpleasant representation of who you are and what you stand for.

-Watch the camera. That photo of you with the green beer and bikini top might seem fun in the moment, but when your best client finds it in his email inbox, will he laugh or will he question your judgement?

-Protect your identity. Aside from credit card identity threats that happen when were not paying attention, watch your personal identity as well. If you find yourself acting like someone youre not, others will judge you as someone different. This can limit opportunities in the future.

-Stick to your values. If a great idea starts to feel like a risky situation, listen to your intuition, beliefs and values. If you wouldnt act on an idea sober, then acting on it when youve been partying will surely not advance your reputation or standing in the community.

As you celebrate and enjoy this Irish holiday, filled with merriment and tradition, Citroen advises clients to remember to be intentional and mindful that actions create beliefs. Conduct yourself in ways that reinforce your values and beliefs and you will earn credibility.

About LIDA360

LIDA360 is a brand consultancy firm, based in Colorado. Principal Lida Citro

Dr. Madan And His Colleagues Point Out Possible Long-Term Issues with Gastric Bypass Surgery

Los Angeles, California (PRWEB) April 03, 2013

Out of the $ 190 billion that Americans spend annually on obesity, according to MSN Money, much of that relates to weight loss surgery. Gastric bypass is still the most popular, and 200,000 procedures are done annually, according to Discover Magazine. After 30 years, it is now accepted by most of the medical community that type 2 diabetes can be reversed after bariatric surgery takes care of weight. However, are there long-term complications with gastric bypass? Bariatric surgeon Dr. Madan suggests that LAP-BAND surgery should be considered a safe option for long-term weight loss, perhaps safer in some ways than gastric bypass.

The report in Discover also pointed to the fact that surgery can affect a patient's body in more ways that just weight loss. A former teacher at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Julio Teixeira says that even a minimally invasive Roux-en-Y gastric bypass leads to "manipulating the metabolism" of patients. This can lead to wonderful changes in diabetic patients, who have struggled against insulin resistance and high glucose levels that add to weight gain. However, there may be hidden problems associated with rapid bodily changes.

Such was the case with Hilary Lane, who didn't know that she had a rare genetic disease until her gastric bypass. USA Today ran an article this March about the wasting disease that was triggered by the bypass in 2006, though it did point out that death from the surgery itself is at 1% or less - about the same as for hip replacement. Most patients only need to take vitamins and watch their diet after a surgery, after whittling down on extra medications.

It is also true, says Dr. Madan-Maanasi (Internal Medicine), that lap band surgery is not without its risks. There's the possibility of band slippage, in which patients may experience discomfort or heartburn, which certainly doesn't happen after a successful surgery. He notes that after 2,000 bariatric procedures including lap band, patients could certainly benefit from following up with their physician after the surgery, to pinpoint slippage issues before they become a chronic problem requiring surgical adjustment. Eating too fast, and forcing down foods that have become stuck, are two big culprits.

However, lap band surgery requires only an adjustable band to be fitted around the stomach - no permanent changes to inner organs. The digestive tract alone has 200 hormones, including those that process alcohol. Dr. Madan Uprety agrees with Discover that "If you chop out or bypass certain sections, then, particular hormones can be reduced or eliminated", but says this may not be the best long-term option for those wanting to lose weight. Four years after Hilary Lane was pronounced a success for gastric bypass, she exhibited signs of urea cycle failure, in which protein turned to ammonia that couldn't exit out of her system. Though not a usual disease, it is linked to 300 other mutations, one or more of which may be linked to bone density issues. This is another reason for physical follow-ups, though untreated obesity is much more likely to result in health issues than surgery.

Dr. Madan has written 175 articles, and was the first in Memphis to perform a laparoscopic gastric bypass. To date, he has performed over, and was first to offer an incision-less treatment for post-operative weight gain. As the former Chief of Laparoendoscopic and Bariatric Surgery Division at the University of Miami, Dr. Atul Madan may well be considered an expert in his field. Dr. Madan won the 2007 SAGES Young Investigator Award, was honored by the American Medical Association Physican's Recognition Award, among others. Dr. Madan's patient reviews are consistently high, and he received the 2011 and 2012 Patients' Choice Award.

For more information on Dr. Atul Madan or the LAP-BAND procedure, call 1-800-472-4900, or review more on Dr. Madan on http://www.obesityhelp.com/profiles/bariatric-surgeon/dr-atul-madan/.

Find More Weight Loss Diet Press Releases

Doctors Health Press Issues a Statement on Study: Community Gardening May be an Effective Weight Loss Method

Boston, MA (PRWEB) May 02, 2013

Doctors Health Press, a division of Lombardi Publishing Corporation and publisher of various natural health newsletters, books, and reports, including the popular online Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin, recently issued a statement commenting on a new study finding that community gardening may be an effective method for weight loss.

As Doctors Health Press e-Bulletin notes, in recent years, community gardening has become increasingly popular in urban areas. Basically, members of a community start their own vegetable garden on a rooftop or an available plot of land. Whats interesting about this trend is that its participants tend to have lower body mass indices (BMIs) and are far less likely to be obese than the rest of the community. BMI is a measure that represents the relationship between a persons height and weight; a BMI of 25 or over indicates an overweight individual, while 18.524.9 indicates normal weight.

As the e-newsletter article This Springtime Activity Could Bring Your Weight Down reports, community gardeners in Salt Lake City, Utah, took part in a study examining how ones hobby impacted his or her weight. A total of 200 participants were studied and compared to neighbors, spouses, and siblings. This cross-section is important to consider for a few reasons:

People who live in the same community have access to the same things, particularly food

SAGES Issues Statement on Benefits of Laparoscopic Obesity Surgery - Governor Chris Christies Decision to Undergo Procedure Provides Opportunity to Educate Patients

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) May 10, 2013

Committed to enhancing overall patient well-being, the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) today issued a statement on the benefits of laparoscopic obesity surgery. We echo the NIH consensus that weight loss surgery is the only effective long term method for the treatment of obesity while diet management and other systems achieve temporary results, said Dr. Scott Melvin, Professor and Chief of Gastrointestinal Surgery at Ohio State University and the immediate past President of SAGES. For the right patients, surgery for obesity is life saving, improves quality of life and may even reduce health care costs over the course of time. New Jersey Governor Chris Christies decision to share his experience has provided a valuable opportunity for patients to educate themselves and dialogue with their physicians on such minimally invasive surgical (MIS) procedures, Dr. Melvin said.

SAGES has been at the forefront of best practices in laparoscopic obesity surgery by researching, developing and disseminating the guidelines and training for standards of practice in surgical procedures. Both open and laparoscopic bariatric operations are effective therapies for morbid obesity and represent complementary state-of-the-art procedures however as is the case with a majority of MIS procedures, recovery is generally faster with MIS and there are less complications.

Patients are encouraged to review the SAGES Patient Information Guidelines for Laparoscopic Surgery for Severe (Morbid) Obesity at http://www.sages.org/publications/patient_information to learn about treatment options, the advantages of laparoscopic obesity surgery and if they would be considered as a candidate for this type of surgery.

About SAGES

The mission of the Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) is to improve quality patient care through education, research, innovation and leadership, principally in gastrointestinal and endoscopic surgery. SAGES is a leading surgical society, representing a worldwide community of over 6,000 surgeons that can bring minimal access surgery, endoscopy and emerging techniques to patients worldwide. The organization sets the clinical and educational guidelines on standards of practice in various procedures, critical to enhancing patient safety and health.