Best Lifestyle Information

Consumer Targeting in Food and Drinks: Lifestyle Brands, Personalized Nutrition and Customized Flavors

2008-10-07T13:04:00.002-07:00

DUBLIN, Ireland, Oct 07, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Research and Markets ( http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c376fa/consumer_targeting) has announced the addition of the "Consumer Targeting in Food and Drinks: Lifestyle Brands, Personalized Nutrition and Customized Flavors" report to their offering.

Personalized nutrition is an emerging trend whereby food and drinks products are more closely matched to consumers' individual nutritional needs, aspirations and preferences. Product development and marketing strategies of manufacturers are beginning to address consumers as discrete populations of individuals, rather than as generic, mass-market consumers with relatively undifferentiated buying practices.

Consumer Targeting in Food and Drinks is a new report by Business Insights that provides insight into marketing strategies that target specific groups of consumers. The report analyzes consumer and manufacturer drivers, looks at leading product categories and ingredients, and NPD in the key markets of Europe, Japan and the US.

Discover which personalization trends have the greatest potential for growth and understand the ways in which marketers are targeting consumer groups within each trend with this new report...

Business Intelligence for the Consumer Goods Industry

Business Insights' portfolio of consumer goods management reports are designed to help you make well informed and timely business decisions. We understand the problems facing today's consumer goods executives when trying to drive your business forward, and appreciate the importance of accurate, up-to-date, incisive product, market and company analysis. We help you to crystallize your business decisions.

The strength of our consumer goods research and analysis is derived from access to unparalleled databases and libraries of information and the use of proprietary analytic techniques. Our reports are authored by independent experts and contain findings garnered from dedicated primary research. Our authors' leading positions secure them access to interview key executives and to establish which issues will be of greatest strategic significance for the industry.

Our consumer goods portfolio of reports can be used across a wide range of business functions to assess market conditions and devise future strategies and cover the food and drinks, ingredients, packaging, health, toiletries and cosmetics categories and key consumer issues including eRetail and marketing.

Key issues examined by this report

-- Individualization of lifestyles and responsibility for health and wellness. Consumers are increasingly aiming to both protect and to project their self-identity and look to food and drink products that are developed for their own individual needs and desires.

-- Nutrigenomics (the science of how nutrition and genetics interact). Manufacturers are interested in nutrigenomics as the technology enables the development of food and drink products with targeted health benefits. These products address growing public concern about lifestyle diseases. Nutrigenomics offers opportunities for different sectors of the food and drinks industry, including food and ingredient manufacturers, and food processing companies.

-- Customization of tastes and flavors. This is an emerging trend whereby food and drinks products are formulated to address consumers' individual tastes and flavor aspirations by enabling them to adapt products according to their own preferences. It especially relates to flavor adaptations which enable consumers to choose novel, exotic, ethnic flavors which are bolder and stronger than established flavor offerings.

This new report will enable you to...

-- Quantify future growth areas in personalized nutrition using epidemiological data of key lifestyle diseases including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease and obesity in Europe, the US and Japan.

-- Improve the targeting and effectiveness of your NPD strategies with this report's analysis of Productscan data of over 12,000 food and drink product launches that took place globally between 2005 and 2008 identifying leading trends, categories and regions.

-- Predict future market growth levels based on this report's sales data of OTC pharmaceuticals, the dietary supplements market and organic food and drinks in Europe and the US to 2011.

-- Benchmark industry executives opinions relating to the major trends in personalized nutrition based on detailed analysis of our proprietary industry survey. Understand their views on key consumer groups, innovative companies and marketing issues.

Your questions answered

-- How do personalized food and drinks differ from other food and drinks products?

-- Who are the most important consumer groups within the personalized food and drinks trend, now and in the future?

-- Which are the leading categories in personalized food and drinks products, now and in the future?

-- What will be the major growth trends in personalized food and drinks over the next 5 years? - What marketing strategies are being used to target specific groups of consumers?

-- How significant is the development of nutrigenomics to the future of personalized food and drinks?

Some key findings from this report

-- Sales of OTC pharmaceuticals are expected to reach $41bn in Europe and $69bn in the US by 2011. Sales in both regions will grow at a CAGR of 3.0% between 2007 and 2011.

-- The US has the highest prevalence of Alzheimer's disease and it is expected to increase at a rate of 3.1% to 2009. Japan is expected to experience the highest growth in Alzheimer's disease, of 10.0%.

-- In 2008, heart health was the leading personalized functional trend in terms of new single serve functional products launched (54.9%), followed by diabetes (25.4%) and bone and joint health (19.7%).

-- Young people will become more receptive to food and drinks that can offer them tailored nutritional solutions to their lifestyle concerns in terms of energy, skin health, mental concentration and focus, and ethics, especially in terms of the environment.

    Key Topics Covered:

- Executive Summary
- Introduction
- Targeting individual nutritional needs
- Targeting lifestyle aspirations
- Targeting specific consumer groups
- Customization of tastes and flavors
- Survey results and conclusions

Companies Mentioned Include:

- Givaudan
- Nestle
- Danone
- Unilever

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c376fa/consumer_targeting

Source: Business Insights

SOURCE: Research and Markets Ltd.

Research and Markets
Laura Wood, Senior Manager, press@researchandmarkets.com
U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907
Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716

General Mills, Inc.'s Que Rica Vida, Bisquick, Launch Sweepstakes for a Mother's Day Brunch With Univision Star Karla Martinez

2008-10-07T13:04:00.001-07:00

Five Winners Will Be Flown to Miami to Share a Sobremesa with the Co-Host of the Network's Popular Morning Show, Despierta America

MINNEAPOLIS, Oct 07, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Five lucky winners and their companions will get to celebrate an early Mother's Day brunch in Miami, Florida, this May, with Karla Martinez, co-host of Univision Network's popular morning show, Despierta America (Wake Up America). Martinez is also the new spokesperson of General Mills Inc.'s highly successful Hispanic marketing platform, Que Rica Vida. Its Spanish-language lifestyle magazine and web site of the same name, along with Bisquick, are sponsoring the sweepstakes, which recently kicked off and runs through March 20, 2009.

The sweepstakes is the result of an innovative partnership with Univision Communications Inc., the nation's leading Spanish-language media company, and General Mills Inc., a leading global manufacturer and marketer of consumer food products. General Mills is working with Univision to significantly increase their Hispanic marketing efforts with numerous brands across their portfolio.

"We are thrilled to partner with General Mills to help them build brand loyalty and drive sales with Hispanic moms," said David Lawenda, president of Advertising Sales & Marketing, Univision Communications Inc. "This agreement reflects Univision's mission to be an integral resource to marketers that have identified the U.S. Hispanic consumer as a key growth engine. We appreciated the opportunity to amplify and scale General Mills' Que Rica Vida platform using the proven power of Univision media and talent."

As part of the partnership, Martinez is starring in a series of 30-second vignettes that will air coast-to-coast over the next 12 months, providing viewers with cooking and nutrition-related tips, each featuring one of 15 participating General Mills brands.

"We thought it would be fun to introduce Karla as our new spokesperson by giving consumers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to travel to Miami and share a sobremesa with her around Mother's Day," said Ursula Mejia-Melgar, Editor of Que Rica Vida magazine. "Thanks to Bisquick, the winners will be able to do so, while sharing mothering tips and experiences with Karla, who only last week gave birth to her second beautiful daughter, Michaella. Karla is also mother to one-and-a-half-year-old Antonella."

A sobremesa -- which literally means, "over the table" -- refers to the Hispanic tradition of sharing stories with family and friends around the dinner table, after the meal. To Latinos, sobremesas are similar in tone to the water-cooler conversation that takes place in the general market, in which personal events and stories of the day are exchanged in a chatty way.

Entry forms and rules can be downloaded at www.QueRicaVida.com . To enter by mail, participants should print their name, address, zip code and daytime phone number on a 3" x 5" piece of paper and send to: Mother's Day Brunch with Karla Martinez Sweepstakes, P.O. Box 72970, Rockford, MN 55572. There is no purchase necessary, and all entries must be received by March 20, 2009. Only winners will be notified. A limit of one entry per person or e-mail address, regardless of method of entry, is mandatory.

A unique aspect of this sweepstakes will be the four grassroots registration drives Que Rica Vida and Bisquick will sponsor in community centers throughout the Los Angeles, Northern California, Houston and Chicago areas. Noting that not everyone is computer-literate nor has a computer at home, Mejia-Melgar said "the idea is to give as many people as possible a chance to enter by taking the sweepstakes beyond the typical channels, and directly into the community."

Translated, Que Rica Vida means, "What a Good Life." The magazine, along with its website ( www.QueRicaVida.com ), is the cornerstone of General Mills' two-and-a-half-year-old, multi-brand, Hispanic marketing initiative of the same name. Together, they constitute an important resource both for Hispanic moms, who seek lifestyle tips, culturally relevant recipes, and solutions that preserve their heritage and traditions.

With an overall quarterly circulation of 350,000, Que Rica Vida is distributed free of charge via direct mail, as well as at stores and community-based venues. Starting in 2009, a condensed version will also be distributed to more than 600,000 households as a free-standing insert in various newspapers around the country.

About Que Rica Vida

Now in its third year, the Que Rica Vida initiative is an important resource designed to provide Latina moms with culturally relevant lifestyle information and expert advice on Education, Holiday Occasions, Health & Wellness and Family -- issues of great importance to Hispanic families in America. The program was developed by General Mills to help the Hispanic mother succeed in creating a healthier, easier, richer life for her and her family. The cornerstone of the Que Rica Vida initiative is its free quarterly lifestyle magazine and website of the same name, www.QueRicaVida.com .

About General Mills

One of the world's leading food companies, General Mills operates in over 100 countries and markets more than 100 consumer brands, including Cheerios, Haagen-Dazs, Nature Valley, Betty Crocker, Pillsbury, Green Giant, Old El Paso, Progresso, Cascadian Farm, Muir Glen, and more. Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., General Mills had FY2008 global net sales of US$ 14.9 billion, including the company's $1.2 billion proportionate share of joint venture net sales.

About Univision Communications Inc.

Univision Communications Inc. is the premier Spanish-language media company in the United States. Its operations include Univision Network, the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the U.S. reaching 97% of U.S. Hispanic Households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network, which was launched in 2002 and now reaches 85% of U.S. Hispanic Households; Galavision, the country's leading Spanish-language cable network; Univision Television Group, which owns and operates 63 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Spanish-language radio group which owns and/or operates 70 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and 5 stations in Puerto Rico; and Univision Online, the premier Spanish-language Internet destination in the U.S. located at http://www.univision.com . Univision Communications also has a 50% interest in TuTv, a joint venture formed to broadcast Televisa's pay television channels in the U.S. Univision Communications has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States. For more information, please visit www.univision.net .

According to Cutting Edge Information, Potential of Innovative Treatments Found as Primary Incentive for Patients to Participate in Clinical Trials

2008-10-07T13:03:00.000-07:00

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC, Oct 07, 2008 (MARKET WIRE via COMTEX) -- The prospect of receiving innovative treatment proved to be the number one patient recruitment incentive, according to "Streamlining Clinical Trials," a new study by pharmaceutical business intelligence leader Cutting Edge Information. Following in a close second and third were the related incentives of receiving free medication and the number of physician visits that could be garnered from participation.

With patient recruitment absorbing an average of 23% of a clinical trial's timeline and resources, according to the new study, pharmaceutical companies are searching for the best patient incentives that will separate their clinical trials from the rest. Emphasizing the clinical benefit or lifestyle impact of a new trial hits closer to home for potential patients than monetary compensation or convenience. Both factors ranked in the bottom half of the list.

According to the study, patient recruitment ranked as the top opportunity for clinical trial acceleration. "Patient recruitment has always been a difficult issue for pharmaceutical companies," said David Richardson, lead author of the report. "Most recently, increased stringency in criteria for patient populations mandated by the FDA, poor clinical results and the industry's bad public image have made patient recruitment even more of a problem."

"Streamlining Clinical Trials" ( www.clinicaltrialbenchmarking.com) covers resource allocation, performance measurement, continuous process improvement, patient and investigator recruitment and adaptive trial designs. Data include clinical development budgets, clinical operations team structures and staffing levels, performance measurement and management, clinical operations hurdles and process improvement tools and tactics. The report focuses on three aspects:

Patient Recruitment: Patient recruitment continues to dominate clinical timelines and budgets. The report devotes an entire chapter to this challenge, providing the latest trends and tools in recruitment.

Budgeting and Performance Assessments: Clinical project managers must set clear performance expectations and measure and manage trials. The report provides clinical spending benchmarks to assist in trial budgeting and planning.

Clinical Operations Structure and Work Flow: Clinical trial management team members must know their roles and responsibilities, and communication with vendors and investigators must be seamless. The report outlines major obstacles clinical teams face and presents real-company, proven solutions.

Lifestyle Family Fitness

2008-05-07T02:14:00.000-07:00

Get a life!

If all the above is true, then why didn't anyone go to the HR dept? It says numerous times that there is proof. I currently work at LFF at the Henderson road location and have seen some staff go that should have, but I just don't see a bad work environment, etc... If anything the upper management kept these managers in place too long to give them a chance. Again, if you or anyone has proof, then I would encourage you to prove it rather than continue to write negative emails. I just can't believe this as this sounds a little to outrageous to me. It sounds like some of the previous employees need to move on and get a life.

BTW-My mom is a member and works out with a trainer. She has lost 55 pounds and has improved her past health condition a lot. She is a new woman and I owe this to LFF as they have motivated her to improve her health. Its expensive, but whats the cost of health? Did I forget to mention that she is off of all her medication (high blood pressure pills, etc)? My family will continue to be proud members and I am a proud employee. I would suggest that someone give LFF a chance before believing some crazy past employee. They probably got fired for a reason!

Lifestyle reaps as venture capital investing drops in Florida

2008-05-07T02:10:00.000-07:00

Of the $115.5 million invested by venture capitalists in the first quarter of 2008 in Florida, just $6.5 million of it landed in the Tampa Bay area.

According to numbers released by PricewaterhouseCoopers, the National Venture Capital Association and Thomson Reuters, Lifestyle Family Fitness in St. Petersburg received the region's largest investment, a $3.8 million later stage investment from Ballast Point Venture Partners, Quantum Capital Partners and an undisclosed investor.

Skyway Software Inc. in Tampa picked up $2 million in expansion capital from Armada Venture Group LLC, Imlay Investments and an undisclosed investor. Also in Tampa, Acclaris Inc. grabbed $750,000 in later stage investment from Derwent London plc and Updata Partners.

Lifestyle operates a fitness chain with 34 locations in Florida and 56 total locations. Skyway develops software and deployment for business. Acclaris develops business process services.

Florida's investment market is down 29 percent from the first quarter of 2007 when $162 million was invested in 14 companies, representing an average investment of $11.6 million. The $115.5 million in the first quarter of 2008 was distributed among eight companies, marking an average investment of $14.4 million.

Nationwide, more than $7.1 billion was invested in 922 deals in the first quarter, the fifth highest since 2001.

"Venture capitalists still have large amounts of money in their coffers, therefore it's no surprise to see a solid level of investing continue," said Tracy Lefteroff, global managing partner of the venture capital practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers, in a release. "VCs have weathered numerous economic cycles and will continue to fund companies with innovative ideas and solid business models while they also stand behind their portfolio companies for the long term."

Florida still trails the nation's top five states that receive venture funding. California accounted for more than half of the nation's total at $3.5 billion, or $8.5 million per deal. Massachusetts picked up $697.9 million in funding, representing nearly $7 million per deal.

New York had 51 deals worth $406.9 million, averaging just under $8 million per deal. Texas and Colorado rounded out the top five with $361.4 million and $297.7 million, respectively.

Exercise - Heart Study Casts Doubt on 'Fit But Fat' Theory

2008-05-07T02:02:00.000-07:00

CHICAGO - New research challenges the notion that you can be fat and fit, finding that being active can lower but not eliminate heart risks faced by heavy women. "It doesn't take away the risk entirely. Weight still matters," said Dr. Martha Gulati, a heart specialist at Northwestern Memorial Hospital.

Previous research has gone back and forth on whether exercise or weight has a greater influence on heart disease risks.

The new study involving nearly 39,000 women helps sort out the combined effects of physical activity and body mass on women's chances of developing heart disease, said Gulati, who wasn't involved in the research.

The study by Harvard-affiliated researchers appears in Monday's Archives of Internal Medicine.

Participants were women aged 54 on average who filled out a questionnaire at the study's start detailing their height, weight and amount of weekly physical activity in the past year, including walking, jogging, bicycling and swimming. They were then tracked for about 11 years. Overall 948 women developed heart disease.

Women were considered active if they followed government-recommended guidelines and got at least 30 minutes of moderate activity most days of the week, including brisk walking or jogging. Women who got less exercise than that were considered inactive.

Weight was evaluated by body mass index: A BMI between 25 and 29 is considered overweight, while obese is 30 and higher.

Compared with normal-weight active women, the risk for developing heart disease was 54 percent higher in overweight active women and 87 percent higher in obese active women. By contrast, it was 88 percent higher in overweight inactive women; and 2 1/2 times greater in obese inactive women.

About two in five U.S. women at age 50 will eventually develop heart attacks or other cardiovascular problems. Excess weight can raise those odds in many ways, including by increasing blood pressure and risks for diabetes, and by worsening cholesterol. Exercise counteracts all three.

"It is reassuring to see that physical activity really does make an impact," said lead author Dr. Amy Weinstein of Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. However, she added, "If you're overweight or obese, you can't really get back to that lower risk entirely with just physical activity alone."

University of South Carolina obesity expert Steven Blair, a leading proponent of the "fit and fat" theory, said the study is limited by relying on women's self-reporting their activity levels. That method is not as reliable as a more objective Fitness evaluation including exercise treadmill tests, Blair said. These tests include heart-rate measures to see how the heart responds to and tolerates exercise.

In Blair's research, overweight people deemed 'fit' by treadmill tests did not face increased risks of dying from heart disease.

Dr. Laura Concannon, who specializes in treating overweight patients at Chicago's Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, said the study's message that exercise can help reduce Health risks isn't new, but it's important.

"Anything that can motivate the public is useful because heart disease is becoming a bigger and bigger problem as levels of obesity increase," Concannon said.

Live life king size at BESTLIFESTYLEINFO.COM

2008-04-22T01:04:00.001-07:00

BESTLIFESTYLEINFO.COM is the no: 1 site which helps you to bring your lifestyle to a best track. In general Best lifestyle is related to the way a person lives. This living incorporates social intermingling, entertainment, sartorial and culinary habits and an individual's attitude to the world.

In general Best lifestyle is related to the way a person lives. This living incorporates social intermingling, entertainment, sartorial and culinary habits and an individual's attitude to the world. With the world getting possessed over fashion statements and the art of living these days, it would certainly be worth a task taking a curious look at the trends in vogue. These days a lot of researches are being carried out to improve the standard of living especially in the metros. Websites have sprung up to goad people to try out new lifestyle techniques. For those who are open to adopt new lifestyle trends caring two hoots for flaks are welcome here. These days a lot of researches are being carried out to improve the standard of living especially in the metros. But, if you are tired of your present lifestyle and want some change, than you have visited the correct & accurate website because BESTLIFESTYLEINFO list numbers of links on its home page related to best lifestyle websites, lifestyle magazine, lifestyle furniture’s, etc… which contains information related to the respective keywords. On clicking best lifestyle website directory of infinite websites associated to best lifestyle are listed, same on visiting lifestyle magazine information’s relating to various magazines & books are ordered serially. BESTLIFESTYLEINFO also provides information’s relating to Lifestyle Lounge. The Lifestyle Lounge is about fashion, fitness, glamour and comfort. It is a guideline to look stylish and to change your look according to the current lifestyle. It also provides important facts connected to Lifestyle sports shops. Lifestyle sports shops are meant to give the quality based sports materials to the prospective customers. You can get all the branded sports products like Nike, Adidas, Reebok etc… under one roof. Today, our life is running speedily to compete the world, but to win this competition, you need to be fit and fine. For that you should be healthy and fitness conscious. Best lifestyle food includes the diet and nutritious food which helps to maintain your stamina. There are also various fitness and diet magazines which gives you the guideline to maintain your stamina with proper food habits. The Lifestyle Lounge is about fashion, fitness, glamour and comfort. It is a guideline to look stylish and to change your look according to the current lifestyle. Group Fitness is redefined at Lifestyle Family Fitness. Get strong and empowered by combining martial arts, cardio and weightlifting. You can accomplish your all fitness goals at Lifestyle Family Fitness center. At lifestyle family fitness center health related articles, fitness news, Lifestyle Magazines are published quarterly which are very useful for customers. Lifestyle resorts these resorts serves the best quality services and many entertaining products to give you a memorable experience. Many fitness centers, entertainment programs, sports, various food cuisines are here for customer's service to enjoy their stay at these resorts. All these and many more information’s you will get on BESTLIFESTYLEINFO.COM

So, go and start searching for what ever information required. If you require any additional information’s which is not mentioned above than please visit our BEST LIFE STYLE directory.

Say it with flowers

2008-03-24T21:52:00.002-07:00

On your wedding day, the flowers you choose play a central role and speak volumes. Whether it’s traditional roses or a mixed arrangement, discover your style with our floral guide. By Zara Friend

Flowers are traditionally associated with weddings. They express love (roses) and become a strong decorative feature for your big day. Flowers will play a central role, most predominantly in the bride’s bouquet. Button-holes, the end of church pews, table centre pieces and adorning the wedding cake are other places you will see floral arrangements. Rose petals can also be used as confetti and look stunning scattered around the crisp white tablecloth the wedding cake sits on.

There are no rules saying the flowers you choose need to match, but a continuing theme adds a touch of elegance to the day. The groom, father of the bride and best man, for example, may choose a single flower for their button hole that is also featured in the bride’s bouquet. A single rose or carnation may be in keeping with the rest of the wedding. The bridesmaid, too, may have a smaller version of the bride’s bouquet, but again this is not essential.

When you visit a florist, pick out flowers you like and ask to see their portfolio of bouquets and centrepieces. They will offer advice on different flowers and arrangements. Think about the time of year you are getting married – are the flowers you like available at that time of year? Seasonal flowers will be looking and smelling their best, and while your chosen flowers can be imported from a different country, this can impact on the price you pay.

Traditional roses remain a popular choice for weddings. They connote romance, love and passion and look absolutely stunning in a hand-held bouquet or button-hole. For winter weddings, red roses appear vibrant and warm. A modern take on traditional roses is to have diamantés set in the centre to add extra glam and sparkle.

For spring and summer, cream or yellow roses are an easy way to achieve understated elegance. Hyacinths, daffodils and freesias are a great alternative choice for a spring wedding as they look and smell gorgeous.

It’s important to take into account allergies as this could end up a nightmare situation if the bride has low tolerance to the scent of the bouquet she is holding! Pollen should also be considered as the last thing you want is a stained white dress in your wedding photos.

The colours of the wedding should reflect who you are as a couple. Red is traditional and romantic, but a summer wedding sets the scene for exotic arrangements in vibrant colours. Sunflowers are not typically associated with weddings, but they are quirky, bright and warm. A large single sunflower is a great option for the bridesmaid while the bride could hold a small arrangement of sunflowers.

Anything goes but it’s important to think about the statement you want the flowers to make. Hand-held bunches and scattered rose petals in the reception are the current trend, which give a simplistic, minimal fuss approach. Alternatively, a cascading floral shower held over the arm and arranged table centrepieces in bowls of water with tea lights suggest class and romanticism.

Decide your colour theme first, then think about flowers you would like for your big day. The trip to the florist will put things in perspective, helping you realise what flowers will look best at certain times of year. Above all, don’t be afraid to be different. If you want extravagant adornments or flowers, incorporate it into your big day. If you want it kept simple and neat, then go down that route. You really can’t lose.

Lease of your worries

2008-03-24T21:52:00.001-07:00

Stewart Gray, FRICS, a chartered surveyor at Austin Gray, has 30 years experience in East Sussex as a specialist in his field

Most buyers of flats believe that they have invested their hard-earned cash in bricks and mortar while, in fact, what they have actually bought is paper and ink. It is a constant surprise to me how frequently buyers, and even professional advisors, disregard the very thing they are purchasing – the lease itself. How many flat owners reading this article have spared the time to look at their lease recently? How many know the current length of their own lease? This apparent complacency is understandable, as all too often flat owners and buyers are simply not made aware of the implications of their lease diminishing.

To those less well informed a lease of 75 years might seem to be more than ample for their requirements, while in reality it is worryingly short. Flat owners too often do not give their lease a second thought before finding to their horror that they are unable to sell their flat because it has only 72 years left to run. The problems of saleability as flats get down to this term are simply not publicised widely enough. This is remarkable given that there are around 25,000 leasehold flats in Brighton alone.

The stark reality is that leases of, say, 65 years or less are usually unmortgageable, anything under 75 years is usually un-saleable at market price and even leases with up to 85 years remaining can have real problems selling. As with all remedies, the best advice is to take preventative measures early, well before the costs become unmanageable. Leases above, say, 77 years can be extended relatively inexpensively and afterwards you can rest easy in the knowledge that your investment in your own property is secure for a lifetime. Unfortunately, I continue to meet far too many people who were not made aware of lease problems when the property was purchased and have subsequently been faced with the prospect of huge sums to extend. If you suspect your lease has fallen to around 70-75 years or less then unfortunately it is a problem and will probably be expensive to rectify. The costs can spiral year-on-year as the term gets shorter, so acting sooner rather than later will always be the most cost effective remedy you can take.

Some freeholders are quite happy to offer you a lease extension for a fair price. If you have a short lease you should consult a specialist surveyor to provide you with a valuation and help with negotiations. Usually deals can be done informally but if all else fails you have a legal right to an extension providing you have owned the flat for two years. Some freeholders (not all) will place overly high asking prices on lease extensions but most will be prepared to haggle with your surveyor.

Legislation is in place to ensure that flat owners have the right to extend for a reasonable figure but the valuation methods are complicated and the procedure can be confusing. If you are quoted a price by your freeholder it is essential to get an independent expert opinion from a specialist surveyor so that you can be sure the price and terms are fair.

Austin Gray provide a free drop-in clinic (details below) at which you can discuss any concerns you haveconcerning leasehold property or to help you start the lease extension process.

Dream Home at The Gallery, Hove

2008-03-24T21:51:00.001-07:00

Contemporary living with modern values at The Gallery in the heart of Hove

Few cities have as many opportunities to live in the heart of things as Brighton and Hove does. This has always been a desirable place to live and the high number of beautiful domestic buildings in the city centre is evidence of this. In recent years, demand for private homes has grown even stronger, with more and more people moving to the city, choosing the exciting coastal lifestyle above other, perhaps more urban, alternatives. It is certainly true that the city offers some of the most sophisticated living to be found in the UK, with excellent shopping, entertainment and nightlife, plus of course the sea, the beach and miles of surrounding downland.

That is why a new development will always attract masses of attention, and why the creators of it will need to make sure that as a development, it offers the very best standards across the board. The Gallery certainly ticks all the boxes.

The first to snap up the first available apartment is a Mrs Quantick. “It is a lovely apartment and positioned exactly where I wanted to be; not too close to the busy main shopping district but still only a short walk away and only a little further to the beach. Having St Ann’s Well Gardens across the road is a major benefit too, a pretty space with tennis courts, bowls, a café and play area for children as well as formal gardens and woodland area.’’

There is no doubt that the apartment is special. The spaces are well thought out, the finish excellent and the location, first class.

The main space is a well planned living area that easily divides into three zones; a kitchen, a dining area and a sitting room. Cleverly, from the sitting room the kitchen is not visible – a common fault in many open-plan designs. The sitting area has massive floor-to-ceiling windows and a door leads out onto a practical south facing balcony with views across to the park.

The master bedroom is well proportioned with large windows that fill the space with light and the en-suite shower and WC is spacious and stylishly modern, but not aggressively so. Contemporary classic rather than sharp-edged modern, and much nicer for it. Everywhere there are power points, a detail that makes any space far more versatile.

The second bedroom is smaller but still a well proportioned double and again the presence of large windows gives the room a light and airy feel.

The main hallway has three other doors leading off. The first is a large family bathroom with, once more, contemporary classic fittings and plenty of space. I like the close proximity to the master bedroom, for those days when a long and luxurious soak in a bath is preferable to a quick shower. This bathroom is certainly not short on luxury and the dark grey tiles are sleek and stylish, as are the chrome fixtures and white suite.

The second door opens onto a massive hot water storage tank with an equally spacious storage. There’s even the traditional convention of an airing cupboard and here it comes with an amazing modern hot water and heating system. The facility is centrally supplied from four computer controlled boilers in the developments basement. Here these units work in rotation so that each has equal wear and tear. It also means that in the event of a breakdown, there are three other boilers that can come into immediate use. The knowledge that a loss of heating or hot water is unlikely is very reassuring.

The final doors (double) open onto a huge wardrobe or storage space. Certainly room enough to store plenty of the things that you don‘t want to leave on view.

The Gallery, a working name for the development, which will be renamed on completion, is a smart and eco-friendly new build that boasts a wide range of state-of-the art attractions. The building will be set in beautifully designed gardens with water features and each apartment also has an allocated underground car parking space. Above the entrance to the car park is a separate unit that is home to a communal fully equipped gymnasium.

The design of the building is modern but unobtrusive, with softening panels of natural timber, and the apartments come in a variety of layouts from one to three bedroom. Some have gardens, some terrace and there are even penthouses for that extra level of luxury and style. And of course, each comes with that level of quality and assurance that we naturally expect from a Barratt development.

Join the green party

2008-03-24T21:50:00.001-07:00

Do you dream of throwing an amazing Christmas party for your friends, that’s also great for the environment and your budget? Read on for some handy tips

Awareness of green issues is growing all the time and most of us want to take steps to reduce our carbon footprint. However, many of us are often stuck for ways to make a difference without it taking too much effort, money and time.

Anyone who has ever organised a party (or attended one – so that’s pretty much everyone!) will be aware of the amount of waste that can be generated - empty bottles, invitation cards, paper plates, plastic cutlery and lots, lots more. There are many other environmental effects that we might not think of too. These simple tips should help anyone who wants to have that fabulous house party that everyone talks about for ages, without making an enormous dent in the environment.

Throwing an eco-friendly, stylish bash

Buy organic food for the party – many supermarkets also offer organic wines and spirits. Or, if you are buying a large quantity, browse the web for a wider choice. If there’s food left over at the end of the night, make up doggie-bags to send your guests home with.
Skip the paper cards and save a tree or two. Use word of mouth or send an email invite to let people know.
Don’t choose paper plates and plastic cutlery. Use your own crockery and cutlery, and when it comes to washing up, use an ecologically sound washing-up liquid. Why not ask a friend to help you and it won’t feel like such a chore
Recycle all bottles and cans after the party.
Cut down on the energy you use by lighting
the rooms with candles. Use glass candle holders to prevent any damage to furniture – and remember to blow out the lights once your guests have finally headed home!
Decorate the room with small organic plants. Not only will they help clear the room of carbon dioxide, you can also give them away at the end of the night for your friends to plant and nurture.

Make yourself naturally beautiful

A couple of days before the party, invest some time in a DIY makeover. Why not try these simple steps to revitalise your skin and hair:

Give your hair a boost with a DIY deep conditioning treatment. Beat an egg yolk until it’s frothy, then add a couple of teaspoons of Natracare baby massage oil and a cup of warm water. Pour over hair and massage into the hair and scalp. Leave on the hair for 10 minutes, then rinse well with warm water.
Grape juice makes an excellent cleanser for any skin type. Simply split one or two large grapes, remove pips and rub the flesh over face and neck. Rinse off with cool water.
For a natural face mask, take 2-3 teaspoons of raw oats (not the precooked type) and crush into smaller bits, either by hand or in a grinder. Mix the dry oats with pure honey and quarter of a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar until it forms a smooth mixture. Then add 1 drop of basil oil to the mixture – or tea tree oil if you are prone to problem skin. Gently smooth onto the face and massage into the skin. Lie back and relax for 15 minutes, then rinse gently with lukewarm water and pat your face dry gently with a towel.
While your mask is working, place slices of cucumber over the eyes – they are great for reducing puffiness underneath the eyes.
Mix up a toner with 100ml rosewater, 1 drop of camomile oil and 1 drop of geranium oil, then gently wipe over your face.
Finally, Natracare baby lotion, which contains aloe vera and essential oils, makes a great moisturiser for smooth, supple, skin.

Natracare is available nationwide from Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, independent health and natural stores, and independent pharmacies.

Planning a green wedding

2008-03-24T21:48:00.000-07:00

Vanilla Events believes that the most important day of your life can be achieved without compromising ethical values.

It doesn’t need to be more expensive and you can include as much, or as little, as you want. It’s about making choices and thinking before buying.

You can make a difference by choosing eco-friendly products and services.
For example…

Choose from one of the breathtaking and magical venues in Sussex where you can hold your wedding and civil partnership. Check if they use locally sourced produce for your wedding reception and breakfast. Instead of champagne from France I’d recommend an award-winning vintage sparkling wine from a local vineyard in Sussex. Choosing a local venue and supplier will cut down on transport which will minimise your carbon footprint.
Choose locally grown or organic flowers for your bouquets, button holes and venue decoration. There are many local nurseries in Sussex, who offer everything from exquisite orchids to sweet peas. Or check with your florist if they are incorporating fair trade flowers.
Look out for stationery and albums which are made with fair trade or recycled paper and card products.
Make sure your wedding cake is made from free-range eggs and locally sourced, organic or fair trade ingredients.
Use dried flower petals as confetti and candles made of bee’s or soybean wax with organic oils.
Try to use companies who can offer marquees made of natural canvas and wooden parts from sustainable sources.

Vanilla Events provides professional wedding planning with a personal touch. We are passionate about what we do and use our experience, imagination and creativity to make your day truly special. All our weddings are bespoke and individually approached, with great attention to detail. We will find local venues and source local suppliers to make your wedding greener. You can celebrate in style and luxury without compromising your love for the planet.

Bringing YouTube Into Modern Era (and What's All Wrong)

2008-03-24T21:30:00.000-07:00

We recently interviewed a number of video publishers about the qualities of YouTube in their video enterprises and the ways in which it can (and should) be adjusted to bring it into the modern era. It's a cutting edge site, no doubt about it, but there is still a handful of pretty obvious way sin which it's still lacking. Fix these problems and you'll have a mastery-grade site, no two ways about it.

Mail/Message Management - The first problem that came up came from a close friend of mine, the guy who manages the internet competition website BestLifeStyleInfo.com . He pointed out that he has enjoyed thousands of views, dozens of responses and hundreds of messages, but laments that the internal messaging system feels like it was crafted (and unperfected) in 1997.

No matter how many subscribers you have, you can only send about a half-dozen emails at a time, even if you aren't a spammer. Even if the thousand messages you're trying to send are in response to the thousand messages you've received from your video, you still face the spam-busting threshold of about 6-messages every 15-minutes. Fine if you’re a layman, but impossibly crippling if you're an honored publisher.

If YouTube really is run by the geniuses behind Google (and I know it because of the cleverness of the new ads I'm seeing on just about every single video,) they have got to introduce a GMail caliber mailing system.

Filtering Options - Whether you're trying to look at good videos, or just popular ones, one abuse of the system has been the publishers who post videos without any consideration for feedback. Personally, I'd like to have the ability to filter out videos so that I never see one that has ratings and comments disabled. The very notion of not permitting ratings and comments hearkens back to an era before the internet was any much good at all, and if you're a publisher or director putting such materials out there, I want to never see your products, and I want for you to know that there's a large and growing segment of the viewing populous, specifically the discerning audience, that has no desire to see your single-sided videos.

Let us decide if we only want to see official studio productions, or only those with a rating greater than three-stars. Let us decide if we want to see live concerts haphazardly captured on a cell phone compared to a studio produced song set.

Lack of television-style play lists. Even when a list of favorite videos are selected, there is no good way to just set them up to play and let them run like we'd see on television. I would argue that this is one of the critical components missing. Just because I prefer my entertainment in three minute chunks doesn't mean I only want it so compressed. Afford me some way of playing it like a regular program.

And with that said, let's get Pandora smart about it and introduce smart channels where I tell you what I like and you just play a bunch of things you think I'd like. What's wrong with that? Turns out it's very difficult, but by no means impossible, and certainly not for the brilliant likes of the Google crew. God forbid the number one video site of all time take a daring step and take a commanding lead the likes of which would simply crush all the others.

The last and arguably biggest beef comes down to how publishers are compensated, which is to say, they are not compensated at all. The guys from Eepybird landed a cherry deal with Google Vdieo before they went quietly tits up, but what about the rest of the publishers? You've got tens of thousands of directors creating hundreds of thousands of next-gen television-grade content, and you won't even offer them a pittance from the crumbs of the slice of the pie they dish up. This is a markedly lousy way to treat creators of content, and an even worse way to attract new talent.

Instead the Tubes of You are being overrun with jack-sticks with webcams posting mindless nonsense about their cats or their days, who knows what because they're so busy bringing down the average IQ of the consumer that no one can be bothered to comment as to what their effect is.

If a system for paying producers of quality content was introduced, it could effectively curtail piracy by paying the rightful owners of the content in ways that might just be agreeable. No longer would this be a reluctant consolation in the promotional world for mainstream media, but a viable clearinghouse for otherwise unused material that hasn't been profitable under other models. They could placate the big media companies, delight the smaller ones, and enhance in spades the quality of experience for the everyday users, all while churning a solid half-billion in co-promoted advertising revenue.

Of course, I'd also like to see a way by which the ever-deleted clips could remain, even with ads, so that things I loved once that enjoyed success would remain available while paying the true copyright holder. Consolidate comments, payment, views and ratings to the official clip, once the pirate is discovered. That would make everyone happy, and not just me. Don't worry about me, there's admittedly no pleasing the likes of me. Think about the world. There can be some pleasing of them.

Information for Students by Students

2008-03-16T22:11:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the Medical Student Mentor thread!

This thread will be an area where individuals can ask questions to current medial students who belong to a variety of different lifestyle categories. Some of these categories include married students, students with children, LGBT students, ESL students, nontraditional students, HSPS students, NHSC students, and more!

We have more and more mentors signing up daily. So keep thinking about your questions.

Watch this thread for more details!

Please read the FAQ before posting.

Standard Disclaimer
Remember, everything posted on any SDN forum, once posted becomes permanently available to the general public. Members are encouraged to avoid posting anything that they would not want to be associated with publicly. Use caution in sharing identifiable information or overly personal details.

Mentors and students posting in this thread are individual volunteers. Advice given by mentors and/or students does not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Student Doctor Network or CRG. The mentor forum should not be used as your only source of advice when making career or academic decisions.

Modern Ferret Magazine - The Ferret Lifestyle Magazine

2008-03-16T22:08:00.000-07:00

We (husband-and-wife team Mary and Eric Shefferman and our pet ferrets) created Modern Ferret magazine in the summer of 1994 because we recognized a need for a relevant, accurate ferret-care information resource. Not just how-to articles, but real-life experience articles from people who love and care for ferrets. We chose to make our ferret magazine both educational and fun. Modern Ferret is a combination of caring concern for our pets, Mary's editorial expertise, Eric's technical skills, and the vast experience of long-time ferret owners, veterinarians, shelter operators, breeders, and everyday ferret owners. Modern Ferret informs and entertains like no other pet magazine. The first issue of Modern Ferret was in print by February of 1995. We hope to someday be able to support ourselves while doing what we enjoy - playing with ferrets! We currently have five ferrets: Trixie, Balthazar, Cauliflower, Koosh, and Gabrielle. Together, the seven of us work to capture and celebrate the spirit of the ferret while providing up-to-date information and care tips.

WELLESLEY LIFESTYLE

2008-03-16T22:06:00.000-07:00

It is best known as the home of Wellesley College and Babson College. It has the reputation of being one of the most affluent and prestigious suburbs of Boston, and it has always ranked in the top 5. According to Boston Magazine's yearly "Best Places To Live" Wellesley ranks first in the United States in percentage of adults who hold at least one college degree.

Freedom Trail

The Freedom Trail is a 2.5 mile red-brick walking trail that leads you to 16 nationally significant historic sites, every one an authentic American treasure. Preserved and dedicated by the citizens of Boston in 1958. Ninety-minute tours begin at the Visitor Center at 15 State Street and cover the heart of the Freedom Trail from the Old South Meeting House to the Old North Church.

Boston Common

Located in the Boston neighborhood of Beacon Hills Boston Common is the starting point of the Freedom Trail. The Boston Common is known to be one of the oldest public parks in the country. The park is almost 50 acres in size. Today, Boston Common is the anchor for the Emerald Necklace, a system of connected parks that winds through many of Boston's neighborhoods. The "Common" has been used for many different purposes throughout its long history. Until 1830, cattle grazed the Common, and until 1817, public hangings took place here. British troops camped on Boston Common prior to the Revolution and left from here to face colonial resistance at Lexington and Concord in April, 1775.

Faneuil Hall

A Boston social and commercial centerpiece since 1742, Faneuil Hall was originally established as a market for merchants, fishermen and vendors. It later hosted inspirational appearances by prominent figures like Samuel Adams and George Washington, which earned it the nickname "Cradle of Liberty." In the 1970s, a major renovation to the aging structure transformed it into one of America's premiere urban marketplaces.

Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area

The Boston Harbor Islands offer countless opportunities for visitors to tour historical sites, observe wildlife, and participate in recreational activities such as hiking, camping, swimming, and fishing or perhaps to enjoy a relaxing picnic lunch amid the spectacular scenery. Guided and self-guided tours are available. Boston Harbor Islands National Park Area contains some 34 islands lying within Boston Harbor. The islands range in size from less than one acre to 214 acres and together embrace 1,600 acres of land over an area of 50 square miles.

Paul Revere House

Located in the North End neighborhood of Boston. You can visit the Paul Revere house located at 19 North Square in the North End of Boston. The Landmark house is one of the only remaining buildings in Boston from the Colonial Period. The house was originally built in 1677, and Revere and his family lived in the house from 1770 to 1800.

Lifestyle Information Service/Sample Issue

2008-03-16T22:03:00.000-07:00

LOSING INTEREST
The stereotype about the sex-starved man and the disinterested woman may be more than just a cliche. As it turns out, the instant a woman enters a secure relationship, her sex drive begins to plummet. Four years in, a German study found, fewer than half of women wanted regular sex. And after 20 years, only 20 percent did. Among men, libido held steady no matter how long they'd been in the relationship. Meanwhile, desire for tenderness showed the opposite trend. Ninety percent of women craved tenderness, but of men who'd been in relationships for ten years, only 25 percent said they hoped for the same from their partner.
Source: Psychology Today, 6/12/07

TUMMY TROUBLE
Women hate their stomachs and go to great lengths to hide their midsections. Fifty-six percent of the women polled said they hide their tummies by avoiding tight clothes. A third wear a lot of black and 11 percent wear body-slimming lingerie. As a matter of fact, almost two-thirds of women would rather have a flat tummy than an extra $5,000.
Source: Parenting, 7/07

SKULL ART
How much would you pay for a cast of a human skull, with real human teeth, totally covered with diamonds? A British artist by the name of Damien Hirst has created a platinum skull encrusted with 8,601 diamonds. Valued at $98 million, the piece is the world’s most expensive contemporary artwork. It goes on sale this month.
Source: Time, 6/18/07

SEXUAL CHARITY
Have you ever done it with someone because you felt sorry for him or her? Twenty-seven percent of men and a third of women admit they’ve been engaged in sexual charity.
Source: Are You Normal About Sex, Love & Relationships?, by Bernice Kanner

SLEEP WITH THE BOSS?
You’re up for a big promotion. Would you have sex with your boss to seal the deal? An overwhelming 94 percent of the people polled said absolutely not. However, five percent might do it, and one percent said, “absolutely.”
Source: Money, 6/12/07

POTLUCK PROTOCOL
Who gets to keep leftovers — the host or guests? According to etiquette experts, the host gets to keep the leftovers, reassuring the guests that their containers will be washed and returned to them within a week.
Source: The Everything Etiquette Book: A Modern-Day Guide to Good Manners, by Leah Ingram

CHILL OUT
Women can’t chill out. A new study from Ohio State University has found that even when women get time off from office and household tasks, they don’t feel any less rushed. And married moms reported feeling rushed more than twice as often as single women without kids. Men, on the other hand, apparently kick back when they’ve got time off.
Source: Working Mother, 7/07

TAKE A COLD SHOWER
Want to improve your summer workout? Hop into a cold shower before you go to the gym. A German study found that a pre-exercise cooldown improves performance in the heat – probably because it lowers your heart rate as well as core and skin temperatures. Too chicken to try it? Even just cooling your neck or head with an ice pack may make a difference.
Source: Fitness, 7/07

PLAYBOY MANSION SOUTH
If you’re ever in San Diego, California, you might want to stay at the brand new Ivy Hotel, which markets itself as a sensual and voyeuristic adult playground. The 159-room, $90-million property could pass as Playboy Mansion South, from the skin-baring cocktail waitresses to the $3,000-a-night specialty suite with king-size bunk beds, a group shower and a fireman's pole. Regular sex-themed rooms start at $450 a night.
Source: Los Angeles Times, 6/12/07

THE PRICE ISN’T RIGHT
Don’t rely on your friends to tell you the truth about what they paid for something. Why? A Canadian marketing study found that people would lie about the price they paid for an item, especially if they learned that the person they were talking to had paid less for the same thing. According to the study you’re more likely to deceive when you think you shelled out a lot more for something than someone else paid and when there’s no way for you to get a better deal. The research also found that people will tell a stranger the truth but lie to someone they know.
Source: Journal of Consumer Research, Vol. 34, No. 1

LYING SIGNS
If someone is talking to you and they cover their mouth with their hands, they’re probably lying. According to body language experts, when a person unconsciously obstructs your view of their lips, it’s a sign they are attempting to block the truth from slipping out. Also, a liar might lick lick his or her lips and look away from you, directing the eyes down and to the right.
Source: Cosmopolitan, 6/12/07

HOT BREAKFAST
If you’re looking to lose weight, have a hot breakfast. We mean really, really hot. Try spicing up your eggs with red pepper flakes. Research shows that when eaten early in the day, red pepper flakes decrease how much you’ll want to eat the rest of the day.
Source: Woman’s World, 6/12/07

THE LIFESTYLE INFORMATION

2008-03-16T22:00:00.000-07:00

The Lifestyle Information Service is the industry’s most reliable show prep—delivered fresh and ready-to-read five days a week. The service gives you unique, thought-provoking material that targets the needs, concerns, and issues that appeal to adults 25 – 54.

				The Lifestyle Information Service staff gathers, filters and organizes complex, thought-provoking topics into easily presentable scripts. You can join the hundreds of subscribers who receive issues five days a week (Sunday through Thursday night for use Monday through Friday morning) either by e-mail or fax. Each issue has 12 to 15 entertaining, thought-provoking and informative items gathered and edited from the most reliable publications, websites, and organizations in the country and around the world. SAVE THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS A YEAR! The Lifestyle Information Service can save you thousands of dollars in subscriptions and hundreds of staff hours of research time. By subscribing to the Lifestyle Information Service you’ll be getting the best material daily from more sources in one day than you have time to check out in one week.

KALISPELL AREA LIFESTYLE

2008-03-16T21:57:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of Kalispell Chamber of Commerce

Situated 2,959 feet above sea level on the west slope of the Rocky Mountains, Kalispell and the surrounding 24 square mile Flathead Valley enjoy a relatively mild and pleasant climate year round. Four distinct seasons, each provide a new way of enjoying the area. There are very few places in the world where you can ski, swim, golf, and sail-occasionally on the same day!

Flathead Lake

There s lots of room to play on Flathead Lake. Located just south of Kalispell, the largest natural freshwater lake west of the Mississippi is 28 miles long and up to 15 miles wide. That translates to 188 square miles of pure enjoyment. The lake s sparkling waters and miles of tree-lined shore offer unlimited recreational opportunities and wildlife habitat. This playground has something for everyone.

Glacier National Park

The Flathead Valley is the magnificent gateway to the west entrance of Glacier National Park a park so naturally beautiful it is known as the Crown Jewel of the Continent . Glacier was established largely through the influence of railroad magnate James J. Hill, who envisioned a North American tourist destination, comparable to the Swiss Alps, for travelers on his Great Northern Railway.

Visitors to Glacier National Park enjoy the park s 1 million acres of lakes, sweeping valleys and glacier carved mountains. Glacier is 40 miles wide from east to west, and 50 miles long north to south. A complete suite of wildlife that includes wolves, grizzly bears, lynx and other natural predators sets Glacier apart from nearly every other national park. Glacier has 272 bird species, 63 different mammals, 23 fish species, five types of amphibians and three types of reptiles.

White Water Rafting

Whitewater rafting adventures vary from a half-day to several day overnight adventures. Experienced and novice rafters can find the rafting experience they are looking for on the beautiful and scenic rivers of the Flathead Valley. Some rafting companies also provide guided fly-fishing trips with the most experienced guides in the area. The rafting guides and fishing guides delight in sharing their knowledge and love of this beautiful area, and do so with a large dose of good old fashioned Montana hospitality.

The ProAdjuster Sleep System by iSleep

2008-03-16T21:56:00.000-07:00

The leading contributing factor to sleeping difficulties is the actual sleeping surface. After over one year of evaluating dozens of sleeping surfaces, ProSolutions for Chiropractic has completed negotiations and has obtained exclusive rights to the only customized bed available in the United States!

This is truly a remarkable feat that became official in May 2006 when we signed the agreement between ProSolutions for Chiropractic and iSleep Incorporated. The significance of this agreement is revealed in the fact that in the 33 years since iSleep was founded, they have never engaged in this type of relationship - inside or outside - the chiropractic profession. This is a true indication of the respect and trust they have found in ProSolutions.

A testimonial to the quality and the certainty of the ProAdjuster Sleep System by iSleep is that each and every system that is ordered comes with an unconditional 30 Day “Test Rest” program. This unmatched policy means that if for any reason our patients are not completely satisfied with the Sleep System for 30 full nights, they can return it – with absolutely no obligation.

For an in-depth understanding of the ProAdjuster Sleep System by iSleep, please see your local ProAdjuster Doctor for a capabilities brochure.

Diet and lifestyle

2008-03-16T21:52:00.000-07:00

The disease of cancer and its treatments often alter patients' ability to meet nutritional needs and to continue their Lifestyle family Fitness Center. Therefore, administering radiation treatments, or any other cancer therapy, requires that we work with patients in order to help them feel as well as possible during treatment and to take advantage of the body's own natural mechanisms to fight the disease. The information presented below is directed to family members as well as to patients. Furthermore, it is important that those who are involved in the day-to-day care of a cancer patient understand the reasons why modifying the diet is so important.

Appetite and radiation therapy

The physical and emotional stress created by cancer treatments lowers the body's natural defenses. In addition, the cancer cells compete with the normal cells for survival, further lowering these defenses. The body's ability to handle this stress is known as immunocompetence.

Proper nutrition will enable your body to better handle the stress brought on by surgery, chemotherapy, or radiation. In practical terms, a good diet helps you feel better throughout the treatment. There is no question that adequate intake of vitamins and minerals, particularly zinc, has an effect on the immune system's response to cancer. Laboratory research with animals has demonstrated this, and much experimental work is currently being done on humans to establish the importance of nutrition in cancer therapy.

Loss of appetite is a symptom of cancer itself, although we are not sure why. We do know that there is a central regulatory system for hunger and satiety. (The exact way this system is activated in the brain is still unknown.) It is known that cancer produces chemicals and alters metabolic functions, so as to interfere with the body's system for regulating appetite. This creates a vicious cycle. The patient has little appetite, but nutrition is essential to help combat the cancer and the effects of treatment.

The common side effects of radiation (particularly for that given to the abdomen and pelvis) are nausea, diarrhea, and loss of appetite. Furthermore, some patients undergoing radiation therapy (or any cancer treatment, for that matter) become anxious and depressed, which can also cause their appetite to diminish. As you can see, loss of appetite is a constant risk for a number of reasons. Cancer patients must be diligent about getting the proper nourishment. The degree to which you'll experience loss of appetite depends on which area of your body is being treated, the size of the treatment field, and the overall treatment dose. For example, a patient receiving radiation to the mouth will often experience drying of the mouth and loss of taste, but will not be nauseated. Patients receiving radiation to the chest may complain of discomfort when the food passes through the esophagus. A patient whose abdominal region is receiving radiation will complain more about nausea than loss of taste or dry mouth. When radiation is given in the pelvic area, diarrhea, cramping, and bladder symptoms are more troublesome than nausea. These symptoms result in diminished appetite. Most people are able to continue eating food by mouth during radiation therapy. Otherwise intravenous feeding, called hyperalimentation, is required. High-calorie solutions are administered through a tube inserted in a vein. This form of feeding may be needed for a period of several weeks, during which the patient is hospitalized. The patient is carefully monitored for signs of blood clots or infection that can result from irritation to the vein.

Adjusting to dietary changes

Altering the diet is an essential part of the overall treatment plan for a patient undergoing radiation therapy. For example, commercially available artificial saliva to combat dryness in the mouth allows food to be swallowed and pass through the esophagus more smoothly. While the food may still taste bland, the act of eating will become less of a chore, and the patient will feel better physically and emotionally.

It's crucial that cancer patients and their families adjust to new eating patterns. This usually means breaking away from the adage that three square meals are best. In fact, a patient undergoing radiation therapy is much better off eating "like a bird." Birds eat small amounts of food all through their waking hours and get exactly what they need. My patients feel much better if they don't schedule regular meals, but instead eat when they feel like it. Six to eight small meals a day, or some variation on constant nibbling, seems to work best.

Sometimes well-intentioned family members and friends urge their loved one to eat. In fact, they may literally try to force food on the person, only causing further worry and strain. The whole subject of nutrition for a cancer patient must be treated rationally, because emotions tend to get in the way and family members overreact.

The "food is love" connection is often so strong that I've seen patients literally berated for not accepting the copious amount of food being prepared. Family members may feel quite helpless, and fixing elaborate meals is the one tangible thing they can do to help the person's physical recovery. But exhortations such as "You have to eat to get your strength back" are rarely compelling to a person who has no appetite.

Mike Simmons, a 22-year-old man with Hodgkin's disease, a cancer of the lymph nodes, was receiving radiation treatments to the chest and abdomen. By his third week of treatment he was still somewhat nauseated in spite of the medication he was taking to counteract it. Mike's mother had already seen him lose considerable weight as a result of his disease, and she was understandably concerned when he didn't care to eat.

Mrs. Simmons thought the best thing she could do for her son was to fill the kitchen with his favorite food - steak and potatoes, pancakes, and hearty sandwiches. She was distressed and disappointed when her son simply refused to eat these foods.

Mike developed symptoms common to many cancer patients. First of all, he developed an aversion to meat. It is well documented that cancer patients often experience a change in their taste buds that causes them to find meat proteins unappealing. Secondly, the aroma of food triggered nausea. Food aromas, particularly when trapped in steam beneath cooking pots and chafing dishes, can be particularly troublesome. Even before the patient has touched a morsel of food, the aroma alone can cause nausea. Mike was also upset when faced with large amounts of food.

For many cancer patients, the idea of sitting at the table three times a day is nothing less than an "assignment." They begin to become anxious when large amounts of food are placed in front of them, and this is made worse when the food aromas are mixed. Mike was able to gain some weight when he began using a blender to make many cold drinks. I encouraged him to make these drinks whenever he felt like it, not on any exact time schedule.

These drinks consisted of many nutritious substances such as vegetables, fruits, and juices. Shakes made from low-fat ice cream are a good source of calories for those who can tolerate dairy products. Mike also ate cold soups and nibbled on small amounts of cold cooked vegetables and fruit. When he felt better, he gradually added foods until he was again eating normally. Many patients will feel like eating a small plate of food, supplemented with liquid drinks. Nearly all pharmacies carry commercial liquid nutritional preparations (Sustical, Ensure, Carnation, Vivonex) designed for patients who, for whatever reason, have difficulty with solid food.

One of my patients, a 75-year-old woman with cancer of the esophagus, had become disgusted with a liquid diet. I advised her to try eating commercially available pureed baby foods instead. They are tasty and provide adequate nutrition. This patient eventually put on some weight and was able to improve the quality of her life. Patients can also mash their own home-cooked foods. If their sense of taste has been altered or diminished they may wish to season food more heavily than usual.

For the most part, people receiving radiation therapy feel better if they eat vegetable rather than animal protein. Excellent sources of vegetable protein include cooked dried beans and legumes, peas, corn, and soy products. Most natural food stores and many supermarkets carry a product called textured vegetable protein, which is spun soybean fiber. Generally, this soy product is mixed with other foods and is considered a substitute for animal protein. Some cancer patients do tolerate fish protein as well as poultry, as long as the skin (fat) is removed. Again, each individual serving need not be large. Many small amounts throughout the day are best.

Pasta, rice, and potatoes are excellent sources of calories, although fatty or spicy sauces should be avoided. Some pasta is fortified with protein, making it even more valuable in the diet. Fresh vegetables should be cooked rather than eaten raw. Raw foods tend to create too much bulk in the diet and aggravate the irritation of the small and large bowels already created by the radiation therapy.

I also urge patients not to use beverages containing caffeine (an intestinal stimulant) -- coffee, tea, hot chocolate, soft drinks, and so on. Herbal teas and decaffeinated coffee, tea, and soft drinks (regular or diet) should be substituted.

Most radiation therapy patients can use alcohol in moderation, one drink of wine or beer a day. Exceptions include those with a preexisting problem with alcohol or other medical reasons (i.e., acute bladder, prostate, and throat problems) it should be avoided. Beer provides extra calories, and a glass of wine in the evening may actually relax a person for restful sleep.

I recommend that you take multiple vitamin and mineral supplements, particularly the group of nutrients known as the B-complex vitamins, and vitamins C and E. These vitamins assist the body's own defenses in fighting the cancer and the stress of radiation and other therapies. Liquid vitamin supplements are available for patients receiving treatment to the neck or chest, which may make swallowing capsules difficult.

Special considerations

During radiation therapy some patients experience nausea and occasional vomiting, but this side effect is usually not severe and can be easily controlled with medications. The nausea usually begins after the first or second week of treatment. When you alter your diet, the dosage of antinausea medication can often be decreased. But it generally isn't effective to simply treat the nausea and then expect the patient to eat normally, meaning three full meals a day. A combination of dietary changes and medication works best. In some cases, antinausea medication can be taken in suppository form.

Diarrhea can also be a problem for some patients. To control it, I recommend limiting the amount of fat in the diet. We've found over the years that fat is poorly absorbed by patients and delays the emptying of the stomach. Therefore, many frozen dinners and packaged foods should be eliminated from the diet because they tend to be high in fat content. Radiation therapy may also cause some gastrointestinal enzyme (lactase) deficiencies resulting in intolerance to lactose, the sugar in milk. When lactose is no longer properly digested, water is attracted to the intestine, ultimately causing intestinal irritability that results in watery diarrhea.

Under normal conditions, the cells in the intestinal tract lining slough off very rapidly. Radiation therapy only aggravates this process. The turnover of the cell lining may be so great that small ulcers occur and an inflammation of the intestine, called enteritis, takes place. This condition also leads to lactose intolerance, which means that some patients can't ingest milk and other dairy products without risk of irritation and diarrhea. Because lactose is used as a sweetener in many prepared foods and as a filler in many drugs, it's important to become a careful label reader. Lactose intolerance varies so much from individual to individual that trial and error is the only way to tell if dairy products can be comfortably eaten.

Diet and medication work

Together Diet and medication work together to relieve the side effects of radiation therapy. It's possible to reduce your need for medication with a proper diet. On the other hand, to refuse the safe medications we now have available and to try to control side effects with diet alone generally isn't satisfactory. Be sure to discuss your diet with your radiation oncologist who is familiar with the specific details of your case.

Most important, don't allow food to become a source of anxiety or conflict. Those involved with the patient's care should not take control of the person's diet, particularly the amount of food eaten or the timing of the meals. The reading list in the back of this book provides sources of information about dietary adjustments and cancer. You can also ask to be referred to a hospital dietitian who has experience advising cancer patients and their families about these issues.

Lifestyle changes

We can loosely define lifestyle as the kinds of activities a person undergoing radiation therapy will feel like doing, balanced by the amount of rest he or she will need. As mentioned earlier, patients receiving radiation therapy will often experience an overall sense of fatigue. Neither patients nor those around them should become alarmed. Although we aren't sure why this dragged-out feeling occurs, we know that it isn't related to the severity of the cancer. It does not mean that the disease is getting worse.

Getting the rest you need naturally

Getting adequate rest is a priority during radiation therapy. When fatigue appears a week or two into treatment, I generally advise listening to what your body tells you, and resting. This does not mean actually sleeping. When possible, it is better to move about during the day, perhaps even taking a walk if it isn't inadvisable for other medical reasons. For some patients, a short daytime nap is beneficial.

You will probably notice that sleep doesn't relieve the kind of fatigue the radiation therapy induced. (The exception is, of course, when the brain is being treated. In that case, sleepiness is natural and a nap is usually refreshing.) If you give in to the fatigue and sleep during the day, you may have trouble sleeping at night. This sleep pattern will then make you out of step with the rest of the family and the outside world. It sets up a situation that causes strain on your family and friends, who want to be available to help out. However, if they are carrying on their normal activities during the day and trying to stay up with an ill person during the night, it can prove to be too much for them.

The night hours are often dreaded by cancer patients -- after all, we are all more vulnerable to our emotions at night. If a person is already anxious and somewhat depressed, these feelings will be amplified when the house is quiet and others are sleeping. Suffering from physical symptoms combined with the fear of pain can turn the night into a very bleak time. A patient's problems become a loved one's problems too, and the next day might be even more difficult. When a person has trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, altering the time of the evening doses of medication can help. I recommend taking the medication approximately an hour before going to bed for the night.

You will get the maximum benefit from the medication, allowing you to fall asleep while you are comfortable. This is true if the medication is for pain, nausea, diarrhea, or bladder irritation. The goal should always be to have a restful night. Home remedies that are recommended for people suffering from insomnia are worth trying. These include a warm bath before retiring, a glass of wine, a cup of herbal tea or a glass of warm milk (if milk is tolerated well), listening to a relaxation tape or soothing music, and so on.

It is very important that sleep disturbances be dealt with, because studies have shown that sleep disorders are detrimental to the body's ability to fight disease and infection. Sleeping pills are sometimes useful, and they are best prescribed by your family doctor, who is familiar with your overall physical condition. If you have any questions about sleep problems, by all means discuss them with your primary-care physician.

Physical activities

By using a combination of diet and medication, most patients undergoing radiation therapy should be able to remain alert during the day and enjoy mild physical activity. However, as with diet, well-intentioned relatives and friends may actually try to push the ill person too far. Patients are the best judges of just how much activity they can tolerate. There is nothing to be gained from "working through" the disease with excessive exercise.

Walking is probably the best overall exercise, and I encourage my patients to walk as much as they believe they can. Again, you, as the recovering person, are the best judge. Walking also gets you out of the house and into the fresh air. In addition, the exercise may stimulate the appetite, and increased food intake can lead to greater feelings of well-being.

Many employed persons continue working, usually keeping up with their normal schedules. I've found that most people want to work if they can because it keeps them out in the world and allows less time to dwell on the illness or feel sorry for themselves. Maintaining a normal lifestyle also provides a boost in self-esteem and overall mental attitude, which in turn may strengthen the immune system.

Patients are able to work because most side effects of radiation treatment are not debilitating, although they may be annoying and require medication and adjustments in diet. Of course, if the disease itself is severe, patients may need to alter their work schedules.

I believe it is crucial for cancer patients to participate in social activities as much as possible. The disease itself may make them feel severely isolated, and cutting off all regular interaction with friends and family only makes this feeling worse. For some people, the interaction with people in self-help and support groups may be integrated into a normal, if somewhat modified, lifestyle. Moreover, those who have always been religious should stay in touch not only with friends from their church or synagogue, but with their spiritual counselor. This is the time to call on all one's support systems.

Hobbies and creative activities, such as art and music, may bring pleasure and joy. Studies have shown that these kinds of activities may stimulate areas of the brain to secrete chemicals beneficial to the healing process. Basically, the goal is for you to feel as much a part of normal life as possible. While it's pointless to deny the fatigue, depression, pain, or physical side effects of treatment, it's not necessary to unduly restrict all activity.

Sexuality

Although few people admit it, the fear that cancer is contagious still lurks. Nowhere does this fear have greater impact than in sexual relationships. All too often, the sex act is viewed as a possible vehicle for transmitting the disease. Women will ask if their husbands' prostate cancer could infect them through sexual intercourse. Husbands will worry that their wives' uterine cancer could infect them in the same way. If you have had these fears, you are by no means alone. However, there is no evidence to date that cancer is in any way contagious. In other words, it can't be sexually transmitted.

As with exercise and diet, patients are the best judges of how much sexual activity they feel like engaging in. Some cancer patients will be bedridden and nearly disabled, and therefore sexual activity will not be appealing or even possible. On the other hand, some people will feel relatively well, at least some of the time. They may desire this kind of intimacy and consider it part of living as fully as they can. Remember, however, that sexual intimacy need not involve intercourse. Touching, hugging, and so forth, are also part of intimacy.

We know that self-image has an enormous impact on sexuality. The cancer patient is no different, and self-image can be quite fragile. Those around him or her must be sensitive to this. Loss of a breast, loss of hair, and other visible damage to the body can cause anxiety, not to mention the fear that these changes will mar sexual attractiveness. These fears are understandable, but they are often blown out of proportion. In many cases, support groups or individual counseling can help.

Anna Gomez, a 45-year-old woman, underwent partial mastectomy for cancer and was seeing me for postoperative radiation therapy. She was concerned about the cosmetic appearance of her breast, since a considerable amount of tissue had been removed. She was quite concerned that her husband would no longer find her sexually attractive. She told me her husband tried to reassure her, but that she thought he was just placating her. After finding a local breast-cancer support group through the American Cancer Society, she was able to regain her own self-esteem and resolve the sexual issue in her marriage. By the end of treatment, her body image was remarkably improved.

Seeking help for appearance issues

Even with improved surgical techniques and radiation technology, many patients must cope with changes in their bodies. Nowadays, there are many resources available to help cancer patients adjust to these physical changes. Support groups and the American Cancer Society can help you. For example, breast-cancer support groups offer advice about the emotional adjustment to losing a breast, the pros and cons of reconstructive surgery, specially designed clothing, and so on.

Both men and women have to make practical adjustments to such treatment side effects as hair loss, and your local chapter of the American Cancer Society can help you locate centers that specialize in advising cancer patients about appearance and cosmetic issues. While these are never easy issues, seeking help can make them easier to cope with.

Making adjustments

It is difficult to do more than generalize about lifestyle during radiation treatment and recovery from cancer. There is simply too much individual variation among patients. And how a person feels has much to do with age, other medical conditions, and the severity of the disease.

When you have questions or concerns about your diet and other activities, ask your team of physicians and their staff to help you find the advice you need. Remember that you are in charge, and when you approach these issues with as positive an attitude as possible, you will feel better physically and emotionally.

So You’re Determined to Lose Weight in 2006?

2008-03-16T21:49:00.000-07:00

So what are you going to do this year that’s going to make it any different than previous years? There’s a saying you might have heard before, “You can’t keep doing what you’ve been doing and expect different results”. As a matter of fact, they say that doing the same old, same old (i.e. going on a diet in January as a New Year’s resolution), is a sign of insanity! So I guess there’s a lot of us ‘crazies’ out there, huh?

But seriously, what are you going to do differently? How can you insure that this year will be different when it comes to you losing weight? Understand that in the arena of healthy weight loss, there are some things that we know work. Based on that research-based data, let me give you some suggestions:

First, keep records. Losing weight is about change. No kidding, permanent, change. Make sure that you are ready to take that on. No kidding. If not, then maybe you’re not really ready to do this. If so, then understand that change can begin only after you decide to become aware of your eating and activity behaviors. Record keeping, or self-monitoring, is the only access you have to the information you need. Records provide objective information - allowing you to problem-solve based on reality - putting you in control as a self-manager.

If a business operated without keeping track of its income or expenses you wouldn’t expect it to be profitable, let alone continue its business for long. People however embark on a challenging self-management endeavor every day without considering tracking any empirical data to evaluate their approach. You need to know what is or isn’t working for you. This data is compiled through food and activity records. These records are the key to identifying problems and solutions for weight loss - problem foods that pile on the calories, problem environments that always result in overeating. Trying to lose or manage weight without food and activity records is exactly like trying to run a business without critical management information. It results in frustration and eventually failure to either reach or maintain the goal. (Note: “goal” vs. “resolution”)

Research shows that people who keep food and activity records are more successful at changing eating patterns, maintaining exercise habits, and successfully managing their weight. Without records, people report eating less and exercising more than they actually are. Those are non reality-based perceptions. You are unable to accurately quantify your behaviors without tracking them. Research consistently shows that people without a history of dieting underestimate their food intake by about 20%, while dieters underestimate it by 40% to 50%!

So how do you keep food and exercise records? Well, there are several options and different tools that can be used. That is a rather extensive topic to explore here (coming soon?) For now just know that any way you’ll write it down is better than none, and that your accuracy (weighing and measuring food, counting minutes and gauging intensity of exercise) is important to your success. Inaccurate data will not produce the desired results.

Second, get support. This is tough stuff. You live in a culture that does not support getting to and maintaining a healthy weight. I don’t need to go over those statistics for you, do I? That means that the people you live and work with are very important to the success of your weight management efforts.

The purpose of developing a support network is to ensure that you have more people on your side. The people most likely to sustain new behaviors are the ones who have social support in doing them. Social support means people who help you maintain a healthy environment and who exercise and eat healthy meals with you. Everyone you live with should be enrolled in your support network. Ask them to help with creating and maintaining a healthy environment.

Make sure you have several people lined up to give you positive reinforcement. And make sure you explain that ‘positive reinforcement’ does not mean being the ‘food cop’, as in “Should you be eating that?” Be clear that you need your healthy behaviors - not your weight change - reinforced.

Having a coach is a good idea. Try a personal trainer, RD/nutritionist, behavioral psychologist, or lifestyle coach. If you have a friend or family member who is a healthy, active role model, and with whom you can talk honestly and openly about your struggles and desires, go ahead and discuss the possibility with them. Discuss your plans, goals, and objectives. Share why you have decided to lose weight. Don’t assume that anyone can read your mind. No one is going to “just know” what you’re up to and to how best support you. You need to tell them....very specifically.

So there you have it. The two biggest keys to your success. These are not just my ideas about what works....its what the research has proven works. So.....if we know it works, why not get started right now? Go for it! This is all about a healthier you. You deserve that.

“Best Lifestyle Award”

2008-03-16T21:45:00.000-07:00

The objectives of the Best Lifestyle Award are: to promote greater use of ICT in the community; to
encourage local and original software development and promote improved creativity in the exploitation of
technology; to educate the community about the importance of ICT in their daily lives; and the promotion of
the winning entries’ would lead to their greater and better use by our community for the betterment of our
quality of life.
The essence of the competition is to select the best HK-based websites/ applications/ products, which
provide information and resources on relevant aspect of lifestyle and living such as health, hobbies,
entertainment, social and community networking, and like subjects. Websites/ applications/ products of an
adult nature are excluded. This year, there are THREE streams of the Award, namely “Hong Kong ICT
Awards 2007: Best Lifestyle (Health & Wellbeing) Award”, “Hong Kong ICT Awards 2007: Best Lifestyle
(Free Living) Award” and “Hong Kong ICT Awards 2007: Best Lifestyle (Social & Spiritual Wellbeing)
Award”. Applications for the Award are open from now until 23 August. For enquiries about the Award
application, please call Secretariat Office at 2834-2228 or visit the website at
http://www.hkitf.org/ictlifestyle
The Award is supported by: ESDlife, e-zone, Hong Kong Call Centre Association, Hong Kong Council of
Social Services, Hong Kong Cyberport Management Company Limited, Hong Kong Internet Registration
Corporation Limited and Yahoo!. Special thanks to OGCIO for the support and sponsorship, and
MegaBox for the excellent venue.

Medicare Will Continue to Pay for New Heart Test

2008-03-16T21:36:00.000-07:00

The New York Times reports on changes in a recent Medicare proposal that would have eliminated coverage for a type of test designed to detect heart disease.

In December, Medicare announced that it would stop covering the cost of the test - called a 64-slice CT Scan - because there was insufficient evidence demonstrating that it was effective. Now, after reviewing the case, that decision has been reversed, and the test will still be covered.

Used as a minimally invasive alternative to traditional diagnostic tests - which involve piercing the skin and threading catheters through the blood stream and into the heart - there is evidence suggesting that CT scan is effective. The problem lies in interpreting whether the test is "more effective enough" to offset its higher cost.

Physician groups argued that the non-invasive nature of the test offsets the cost, over time, since there is no risk of infection or other complications that accompany more invasive tests.

Medicare's final position was that though the evidence on the test needs to be refined, it has a history of providing coverage for tests with similar data support. In other words, the group found no reason to deny the potential benefits of the test to appropriate patients while waiting to see what final data will show.

The scan costs about $600 and is available only at hospitals.