Barb's Daily Dose

Who Needs the HCG Diet?

A few months ago, I decided to get really serious about weight loss, partly because I was in the midst of writing a book on Menopause with a chapter titled "Losing the Meno-Pot Belly" and partly because I saw  a photo of myself which forced me to confront the sad and true fact that I was fat. Yes, I am using the F word here, though if you prefer, we can sugar coat it a bit, I was overweight with a BMI hovering close to the obese zone. The photo was scary and I couldn't blame it on bad lighting or the wrong angle.  It didn't matter what the atmospheric conditions or the angle of the camera or the sun, I was FAT.

Universal Flu Vaccine On The Horizon: Researchers Find 'Super Antibody'

Check Out this Informative Article that was Featured on Huffington's Post

Flu vaccine-makers have to change flu shot formulations each year to keep up with the constantly mutating virus, but scientists have come across a new "super antibody" that has the potential to beat both of the main groups of influenza A.

While research is still early, the antibody -- called F16 -- could be promising for a universal flu vaccine, Reuters reported. The finding was published in the journal Science.

New vaccines are made each year to match the specific type of influenza that is circulating. There are two main types of influenza -- type A and type B -- both of which are responsible for the yearly flu outbreaks. Influenza A itself is broken up into two main groups, comprised of 16 different subtypes. The 2009 H1N1 influenza is a type A influenza.

Read more of this article.

Swine Flu Update - It's Still Out There

Last year at this time, the H1N1 virus began wreaking havoc in our lives, starting a trend toward more handwashing and vaccination.

Here's where we stand.  Right now, the H1N1 virus is still out there.  People are still getting sick and being hospitalized, even dying but the numbers are thankfully low. There has been a slight increase in H1N1 cases in the South over the last month, which will need to be watched carefully.

Why H1N1 Might be More Deadly for Some People

Interluekin 17??

This sounds like a lake in Switzerland, but may actually be the key to solving a mystery.  Why is it that some people get sicker from H1N1 and others have a mild case?

Scientists in Spain and Canada may have made a breakthrough discovery about why some people develop severe pneumonia and more deadly complications from H1N1 and other flu, while others don't.  We've seen some people become very sick, very fast with H1N1.  It's been puzzling virologists and clinicians for a while.  A while back, I spoke to Dr. Gary Richwald, a noted virologist from UCLA, who works for the WHO, World Health Organization, who said that there seemed to be a "storm of inflammation" that occurs in some people, but not in others. This causes almost a massive immune response that overwhelms the person, who develops pneumonia and has a higher risk of death.