Side Effects Of Brain Surgery

Doctors use brain surgery to treat different conditions affecting the brain and brain structures by opening the skull. Brain surgery treats hemorrhages caused by head injuries, tissue damage, skull fractures, blood vessel damage, seizures and other neurological brain diseases. Doctors use this procedure to remove brain tumors as well. This highly invasive medical procedure results in increased risk of multiple side effects, most of which disappear after therapy.

Before Surgery

In order to assess a patient's health, doctors provide full medical examinations before performing brain surgery. Tell doctors of any medications, supplements, vitamins or herbs you are taking because they can cause side effects. Medicines such as aspirin, warfarin and some heart medications decrease the ability of blood to clot after surgery. Stop smoking and drinking alcohol. Doctors may tell you to wash your hair with special shampoo the night before surgery. Doctors ask you to stop eating or drinking 8 to 12 hours before surgery.

Procedure

Surgeons need precision and concentration to perform brain surgery. The U.S. National Library of Medicine describes this procedure. The scalp is shaved, cleaned and prepared for surgery. Surgeons make an incision behind the hair line and in front of the ears, depending on where in the brain the condition is located. The scalp is pulled back and surgeons make a hole in the skull to remove a piece of the skull. They stem blood flow in the injured brain and remove blood clots, tumors or other abnormalities. Brain surgeons remove blood and fluid from the brain that cause pressure or infections. Surgeons use special microscopes, make small holes and insert small lights and cameras to do procedures. Advanced technologies have decreased the risks of negative side effects.

Neurological Problems

Possible side effects of brain surgery are various neurological problems because of the area of the brain touched. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine website, these conditions affect speech, memory, balance, vision, coordination and muscle strength. Other neurological problems include seizures. These side effects eventually disappear or they may cause lifelong problems. Physical and cognitive therapy re-trains the brain and reduces these conditions.

Wounds and Hemorrhaging

Side effects after brain surgery typically occur during the healing process. Patients suffer from brain, wound and skull infections at the incision area, and they may have brain swelling or hemorrhaging and blood clot development. Blood clots on the brain can lead to strokes and swelling can lead to comas. Medications reduce brain swelling and blood clot development. Antibiotics treat infections at the incision site.

After Surgery

Patients stay in the hospital between three and seven days after brain surgery for monitoring. This measure reduces the chance of developing life-threatening side effects. Patients stay in the intensive care unit, and doctors and nurses check brain function. These healthcare professionals ask simple questions, shine lights in patients' eyes and ask them to do simple tasks. Oxygen may be required for a few days. Doctors elevate patients' heads to reduce racial swelling and provide medication for pain. Rehabilitation starts in the hospital and continues upon release.

The Effects Of Bariatric Surgery

The Effects of Bariatric Surgery

Bariatric surgery, more commonly known as weight loss surgery, may seem like the magical solution for obesity. Although this major surgery has been proven to result in high weight loss and a reduction of some health issues, it has also been proven to create new health issues for the people who choose to undergo weight loss surgery. There are several effects to consider before deciding whether bariatric surgery is the right choice for you.

Weight Loss

The intended outcome for bariatric surgery patients is weight loss. According to the National Institutes of Health, this occurs because the stomach has been made smaller, which means patients can eat less food, and because a portion of the small intestine has been removed, so they absorb fewer nutrients and calories from the food they eat. Weight loss is normally quicker just after surgery because the patient is on a liquid or puree food diet. Weight loss gradually slows down when solid foods are introduced and the remaining portion of the stomach begins to stretch and increase, allowing a person to eat more food per meal. Some people may notice that they stop losing weight or begin to regain the weight they lost several years after surgery.

Malnutrition

Because a large portion of the stomach and small intestine are removed, the body no longer absorbs nutrients as it was intended to. According to the National Institutes of Health, this can lead to malnutrition and conditions such as anemia or osteoporosis. Anemia is a result of absorbing less iron, and osteoporosis is a result of absorbing less calcium. Other important vitamins and minerals are also less likely to be absorbed in proper amounts, leading to skin changes, hair loss or other symptoms.

Decreased Disease Risk

Certain diseases may improve or disappear completely after bariatric surgery. Because the body is absorbing fewer nutrients, including sugars, a person with Type II diabetes may find that he no longer have issues with his blood sugar levels, resolving the disease. According to the National Institutes of Health, weight loss may also improve high blood pressure, and changes in eating habits caused by the surgery can also help reduce high cholesterol levels.

Increased Disease Risk

A person who has undergone bariatric surgery is more likely to develop gallstones. Some surgeons may recommend having the gallbladder removed prior to bariatric surgery to prevent this issue. There is also an increased risk of developing kidney stones after bariatric surgery. A person who has undergone weight loss surgery may also face an increase in gastritis, which is an inflammation of the lining in the stomach.

Chronic Digestion Issues

Most people who undergo bariatric surgery will experience digestion issues such as vomiting or diarrhea as their bodies adjust to the changes in the digestive tract. Some patients may have chronic problems with certain foods, such as sugar or alcohol, causing them to vomit. Others may have what is referred to as "dumping syndrome." According to the National Institutes of Health, this syndrome is a result of food not being properly digested because of the shortened intestinal tract. This causes partially digested food to enter the bowel, which can result in chronic diarrhea and extremely smelly stools.

What Ports Need To Be Open For Utorrent

The router controls your computers access to the Internet.

Developed by BitTorrent, Inc., uTorrent is a freeware BitTorrent client. This program allows you to upload and download BitTorrent files using the BitTorrent protocol. You will need to ensure the ports that uTorrent uses are open on your network router to upload and download files using the maximum amount of bandwidth available on your network.

Port Forwarding

Your router divides every piece of information that is sent and received on your network into different ports. Each port can only be used by one program at a time. If the port is closed, then the program cannot communicate with the Internet and bandwidth access to that program will be limited. This will result in slow download or no connection at all in uTorrent. To avoid this, you can port forward your router, so the ports that uTorrent use are open to access the Internet.

UPnP

Universal Plug'n'Play, or UPnP, is a networking protocol that allows UPnP-supported devices and programs to automatically discover each other and access the Internet. UPnP is supported by uTorrent, which can allow it to automatically establish a connection to the Internet and port forward itself. This only works with routers that also support UPnP, so if you have an older router, this may not happen automatically. If that is the case, you will have to manually port forward.

Check Port Status

UTorrent comes with a built-in tool that allows you to check if the port to which you are trying to connect is open. Open the "Preferences" menu and select the "Network" tab. This is where your current port is displayed. To the right of that is a status indicator. If it is green, then the port is connected. If it is red or yellow, then it is not connected or has limited connectivity. You can change the port or make not of the current port and port forward that port.

Port Forward

Port forwarding is done through your routers settings page. This can be accessed from your web browser by entering your routers default IP address. In many cases, this will be 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1, but this will vary from router to router. Refer to your routers documentation for specific information on access the settings menu. Once there, select the Security or Firewall option and open a new port. By default, uTorrent uses port 6112, but it can use any port -- except ports under 1025 or between 6881 and 6889. You can change the port that uTorrent uses by clicking "File" and selecting "Preferences" in the uTorrent toolbar. Once you have selected a port, save the new open port in your router's firewall settings menu.

Stomach Cancer Treatment Options

Stomach Cancer

This year, there will be 21,130 new cases of stomach cancer and 10,620 deaths from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. The risk for developing stomach cancer is 1 in 100 for Americans. Certain populations--like Central Europeans, South Americans and Asians--are more predisposed to this type of cancer. In America, it's believed the use of antibiotics has decreased the rate of this once deadly cancer. If caught early, the five-year survival rate is 50 percent for lower stomach cancer and 10 to 15 percent for upper stomach cancer, with an average 21 percent survival rate overall.

Early Detection and Prevention

To test for stomach cancer, the doctor will take a thin tube containing a tiny camera and will pass it down the patient's throat, into her stomach, in a procedure called an "upper endoscopy." As the doctor is looking, a biopsy may be required, which is where questionable tissue is taken to be examined under a microscope. Imaging tests using Computerized Tomography, Positron Emission Tomography or "Barium Swallow" X-Rays can be used to determine the stage and severity of the stomach cancer so treatment options can be identified. Exploratory surgery performed laroscopically is a way to see where the cancer has spread and determine the severity as well.

There is no known, guaranteed way to prevent stomach cancer, but living a healthy life limits one's potential to come down with any kind of disease. Eating diets full of colorful fruits and vegetables, reducing the intake of salty and smoky foods, avoiding or quitting smoking and exercising regularly are the best protections against life-threatening trouble. Certain conditions put patients at a greater risk of stomach cancer--like anemia, gastritis and stomach polyps--so any of these prior diagnoses may warrant early screening.

Surgery

Surgery is the most common treatment used to remove stomach cancer and is the only realistic "cure" for this type of cancer. There are several types of surgery options. In an Endoscopic Mucosal Resection, a long tube is placed down the throat and some tissue is collected; this surgery is performed on early stage tumors. With a Subtotal Gastrectomy, the portion of the stomach affected by the cancer is removed, along with a portion of the esophagus, small intestine and affected lymph nodes. A Total Gastrectomy involves the removal of the entire stomach, as well as some surrounding tissue; this surgery, used for severe cancer cases, requires the esophagus to be connected directly to the small intestine, where a "new stomach" is created. During any surgical procedure, the removal of lymph nodes is very important because cancerous lymph nodes help spread the disease to other parts of the body, so most surgeons aim to remove at least 15.

There are certain risks associated with stomach surgery, although new, minimally invasive Laroscopic Surgery is believed to have fewer complications. Traditional surgery has a risk of bleeding, blood clots and infection. Total Gastrectomy carries the additional risks of diarrhea, vomiting and accumulation of undigested food in the intestine. Additionally, many patients experience heartburn, vitamin deficiency and abdominal pain. Even so, the mortality rate for people undergoing this surgery is only 1 to 2 percent (or 5 to 15 percent for more extensive surgery, with all lymph nodes removed). Following the surgery, patients are required to make dietary adjustments--eating smaller portions and more frequent meals, as well as taking vitamin supplements.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy kills cancer cells using high-powered beams of energy, generated by a machine. Sometimes stomach tumors are simply shrunk by Neoadjuvant Radiation so they can be surgically removed. Other times, Adjuvant Radiation is used following surgery to kill any lingering cancer cells. Side effects from large tumors can be treated with External-Beam Radiation Therapy combined with chemotherapy. Patients report adverse symptoms like indigestion, nausea, diarrhea and vomiting following RT. According to "Clinical Hematology and Oncology," a book written by Bruce Furie, Peter A. Cassileth, Michael B. Atkins and Robert J. Mayer, there is no demonstrated survival benefit from Radiation Therapy, although it's been shown to reduce relapse rates.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that kills cancer cells with chemicals that travel throughout the body to reach diseased cells outside the stomach. Like Radiation Therapy, Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy is administered right before surgery to shrink a tumor and Adjuvant Chemotherapy is given right after surgery to eradicate any hanger-on cancer cells. Chemo can be given with Radiation Therapy or used on its own in patients with advanced stage stomach cancer. Success rates from chemotherapy on its own range from 0 to 30 percent, which is hardly encouraging. The most commonly prescribed chemical is 5-Fluorouracil, which exhibits a success rate of 20 to 30 percent. Cisplatin (with a clinical success rate of 18 to 20 percent) is also sometimes prescribed in combination regimens. Side effects vary, depending on the chemical, but generally include nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, hair loss, low blood counts, increased susceptibility of infections and bleeding.

Laser Surgery For Stretch Marks

Stretch marks can be treated with lasers to minimize their appearance.

Stretch marks are most commonly caused by stretching of the skin due to rapid weight gain or pregnancy. Most doctors and scientists agree that a person's susceptibility to the development of stretch marks is largely due to genetic predisposition. Stretch marks, or striae, are the result of the tearing of connective collagen fibers in the dermal layer of skin. Fresh stretch marks look like reddish streaks on the skin and fade to a silvery white color as time passes.

Causes

The skin is divided into two major regions--the superficial epidermis and the deep dermis. The dermis is made mostly of connective tissue in the form of collagen and elastic fibers. Skin elasticity can be affected by a number of factors. While pregnancy, rapid growth and rapid weight gain are the most common causes of stretch marks, they can also be caused by Cushing's syndrome, Marfan's syndrome and other adrenal disorders. Chronic use of steroids or corticosteroid medications can also result in the formation of stretch marks.

Appearance

When collagen bundles deep within the dermis begin to tear, the skin will exhibit reddish or purplish streaks. The streaks themselves will appear to be slightly sunken compared to the surrounding skin. As stretch marks age, their color fades until they are only a silvery or white colored streak. The most common places on the body afflicted by stretch marks are the breasts, buttocks, abdomen, thighs and upper arms.

Laser Treatment

Stretch marks can be embarrassing for people who have them, leading them to seek treatment. Laser therapy is relatively new and provides satisfactory results for people who wish to fade or reduce their stretch marks. This treatment works by stimulating the production of new collagen deep in the dermis. The goal is to fill in the damaged area of skin with new skin. As technology improves, the results are expected to as well. Laser therapy has few side effects and is reported to be only mildly uncomfortable. However, since this is a cosmetic procedure, insurance companies are unlikely to cover the cost of treatment. Additionally, patients should expect to undergo several sessions of laser treatment before noticing results.

Alternative Treatments

Other therapies used to treat the appearance of stretch marks are dermabrasion, a procedure that involves scraping away layers of skin to resurface it and Retin-A cream, a topical medication effective at treating new stretch marks. Retin-A cream is mutagenic and should not be used by pregnant women.

Prevention

Consumers have spent millions of dollars on products claiming to prevent the formation of stretch marks during pregnancy. Stretch marks originate deep in the skin making most topical agents sold over the counter, such as cocoa butter, ineffective. The elasticity of your skin is determined at least in part by your genes, so the best way to predict the likelihood of developing stretch marks is to examine the skin of your ancestors. If you do elect to use a topical product to try to prevent stretch marks, use one that has alpha-hydroxy acids; they have shown some promise as a preventative.

What Vitamins Do Celebrities Use

A lot of people often ask why Hollywood celebrities always look so great, with their thick hair, sparkling white teeth, and flawless, porcelain skin. Well, it is true that a lot of those factors can be attributed to healthy diets, exercise and simply genetics, but they use other means as well. One good way to look and feel great (and increase your energy) is by using vitamins.

Benefits

Vitamin E is one of the most popular vitamin supplements that celebrities take. Not only is Vitamin E known for reversing and preventing the signs of aging, it also is a very strong antioxidant. Vitamin E is excellent for the maintenance of healthy skin, a healthy heart and blood cells. Many celebrities also use pure Vitamin E oil and moisturize it around their eye area. This is good to stop the occurrence of crow's feet and lines and wrinkles around the eyes.

Features

Another popular vitamin for celebrities is LIPObindVits, a daily vitamin supplement. One of the main goals of LIPObindVits is to maintain and keep the immune system strong and healthy. The great thing about this vitamin is that it compacts all of the key, vital vitamins into one easy capsule. This vitamin also offers benefits for those who are currently trying to lose weight or start a healthier diet, as it helps absorb fat solubles.

Considerations

Collagen caps are another vitamin that is highly popular with celebrities. The reason it's important to supplement your diet with added collagen is that as we age, our body starts producing less and less collagen. Collagen is vital because it maintains healthy skin and connective tissue. Collagen caps also have Vitamin C, which is also beneficial to health because of its promotion of healthy gums, hair, bones, nails, teeth and more. Also, one of the main reasons collagen caps are so popular with Hollywood stars is because they assist fat metabolism.

Potential

Zinc is another vitamin supplement that many celebrities endorse. The benefits of zinc include metabolism of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids and energy, as well as preserving healthy skin. Zinc is also an antioxidant and can help make your body's immune system stronger and healthier. Zinc supplements have a multitude of excellent benefits and everyone should consider trying them.

Warning

Vitamins are great, but nothing can be a substitute for getting the real thing. So get lots of sleep, take care of your diet, skin, hair and nails. Although vitamins can help add a lot to your body that it's not getting naturally, it's always best to go about things naturally first.

Types Of Treatment For Obesity

Obesity develops from consuming more calories than you expend. Doctors define you as obese if your body mass index, or BMI, is more than 30. The BMI is calculated by your height-to-weight ratio. Genetics, diet and inactivity play roles in becoming obese. Obesity increases your risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Doctors help you find the right treatment for obesity after an examination.

Doctor's Examination

Health care providers examine obese patients before prescribing obesity treatments. They ask questions about your medical history, diet and exercise routine. Blood tests tell medical professionals if you have thyroid problems that contributed to your weight gain. Blood tests reveal liver conditions, cholesterol and other obesity-related health problems. They measure body composition by doing a skin fold measurement. Your primary care physician may send you to a special facility that has equipment to measure body composition. Health care providers outline a treatment plan after a full examination.

Behavior Modification

Health care providers recommend behavior modification to treat obesity before any medical intervention. This includes changing your diet and exercising. Your physician may provide nutritional guidelines based on your health and caloric needs. You may have a team of professionals working with you and your doctor, including a dietitian or nutritionist. They help you set realistic weight loss goals, learn count calories, read food labels, prepare food and choose healthy alternatives to your old diet. Keeping a food diary helps you see what you are eating and what triggers food cravings. Healthcare providers may recommend a personal trainer or simple exercises that you can do based on your health and size. Counseling may be included in behavior modification treatment. Other behavior modification programs include Weight Watchers and Jenny Craig.

Pills and Supplements

Health care providers may combine behavior modifications with supplements, over-the-counter diet products or prescription diet pills. These supplements suppress your appetite and make you feel full faster. Doctors prescribe these treatments to obese patients with no outstanding health problems because the side effects of many of these produces are heart palpitations and elevated blood pressure. Talk to your doctor before taking herbals supplements or over-the-counter diet pills because of the health risks involved.

Weight Loss Surgery

Weight loss surgery is a last resort to treat morbid obesity. Morbid obesity is defined as being more than 100 pounds overweight. Men with a BMI of more than 40 and women with a BMI of more than 35 are considered morbidly obese. Health care providers recommend this surgery for morbidly obese patients with health problems who have documentation that they have tried other weight loss methods. Bariatric surgery entails placing a band around the stomach to reduce the amount of food consumed. Gastric bypass surgery involves rerouting the digestive tract. You lose weight rapidly at first and experience health improvements.

Maintenance

Obesity treatments vary for each patient. An obesity treatment that works for you may not work for another person. To maintain weight loss, you have to continue eating healthy, exercising and reducing overeating triggers. According to the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital website, approximately 85 percent of people who lose weight gain it back. Maintaining weight loss is a lifelong effort.

What Is An Herbal Body Wrap

What Is an Herbal Body Wrap?

Herbal body wraps top the list of today's favorite spa treatments. An herbal body wrap can be enjoyed at the spa or in your own home. Relaxing and rejuvenating, this type of body wrap has some real benefits for the people who use them.

History

For centuries people have been enjoying body wraps. Ancient Egyptians and Romans alike had bath houses built just to bath, wrap and relax. The herbal body wrap as we know it and enjoy it today is believed to have come from Baden, Germany. Researchers there discovered that applying certain herbs to the skin during the wrap procedure could cause patients to lose inches to the body and toxins from the system. The popularity of the herbal body wrap grew locally and soon traveled around the world. Today people all over the world flock to spas to enjoy herbal body wraps.

Benefits

Toxins in the body make skin cells swell. Diets loaded with sugar, salt and processed foods are especially prone to this type of toxic swelling. Fluid builds up in the cells and the surrounding areas making you gain weight. Lifestyles with poor or no exercise are even more prone to cellular swelling. An herbal body wrap drains the liquid from the skin cells removing trapped toxins. The immediate benefits of an herbal body wrap are weight loss and detoxification of the body. The longer term benefit is younger, more supple looking skin. An herbal body wrap also relaxes the patient mentally and physically.

Methods

They ingredients may change but the method of applying the herbal body wrap is the same. The process takes a few steps. The first step is to exfoliate the entire body. Often salt is used to polish the skin before the next step. The salt removes dead skin cells and stimulates the fresh skin underneath. The next step is the herbal oil application. Whatever mixture the spa or practitioner uses is massaged into the skin right before the wraps are applied. The body is completely wrapped up with the herbal oil still on the skin. Next the body is wrapped with cellophane closing off the air from the skin. The herbs are allowed to seep into the skin and cause it to sweat out the toxins. A heated blanket is then applied on top of the wrapped body causing the body to sweat even more. After 20-30 minutes, the wrappings are removed. The herbal blend is washed away from the body. The body is then sealed with a special mixture that protects the skin making it softer and more supple.

Side Effects

The two main complaints of an herbal body wrap are diarrhea and extreme thirst. Because of the salt treatment some bodies will have the need to evacuate waste. Toxic build up in the intestines can also evacuate because of the herbal treatment. Diarrhea isn't reported in everyone, just a small portion of wrap users. Extreme thirst is more common. After the body has been depleted of toxins and waste, you may feel thirsty. This is solved simply by rehydrating your body.

Ingredients

Specialty spas take pride in their herbal ingredients. While there are some differences in the herbal components between them and even the home wraps, the basic ingredients are the same. An herbal body wrap may use aloe vera, alfalfa, bladderwrack and powders like chickweed and cornsilk. There may also be berries like hawthorne. Sea kelp, garlic, ginger, fennel and rose hips are regular ingredients. If you are not sure, ask. You would not want to have an allergic reaction to an ingredient in your herbal body wrap.

What Do I Need To Become A Dj

Disc jockeys work in a field that can be rather entertaining--and one that can also become very expensive. Knowing what kind of gear is right for you if you are just getting started in the DJ business is essential to having quality-sounding music and for your success.

Dishing Out The Dough

Decide if being a DJ is something you would like to do just for entertainment purposes or if it is something you would like to do professionally. If you choose the latter, then you must be willing to spend money on high-quality equipment. According to the Professional DJs website, professional-level gear runs about $1,000. If you are thinking of DJing for entertainment purposes or you cannot quite afford to spend a lot of money, you can always get equipment with the bare minimum features and work your way up.

The Right Equiptment

The most important part of the DJ setup is the deck. The deck is otherwise known as the turntable; these can be used with vinyl or with CDs. You may need two if you plan to mix between two CDs. If you decide you wish to use vinyl, you will also need slip mats. These allow you to spin or scratch the records easily. Decks come with a variety of features so make sure you are getting the deck that works best for you.

Next you want a mixer. A mixer is what enables the DJ to blend two audio signals to each other. Of course you cannot play music without speakers. Consider a few things when purchasing speakers. Make sure you are choosing the right size speaker; if you get a speaker that is too small, it may be a struggle to get your music heard, and too large of a speaker may mean you are wasting power. Also decide whether you want powered speakers, which according to beatsbase.com, have built-in amplifiers versus non-powered speakers, which do not. (Since the non-powered speakers do not have amplifiers they are required to be hooked into a system that does.) If you are at the point where you cannot afford a good set of speakers, www.famousdjs.com suggests using your own home stereo, which can work just as well until you can afford the more expensive ones.

Another thing to remember is if you want the non-powered speakers you must then buy or have a amplifier to produce the sound.

Lastly, a DJ needs headphones to help the DJ listen to the next song he wants to play before playing it over the live speakers.

Ready To Rock

DJs can purchase their equipment at electronic stores or online. The DJ can also borrow the equipment if she doesn't mind having something used. Shop around to know what you want to work with and what fits your style and budget.

Virtual Dj 5 Effects

Virtual DJ software gives users the ability to simulate a traditional DJ setup of two turntables and a mixer. It includes several advanced features including effects, scratching and play lists. It is preloaded with several audio and video effects. There are two editions of the software: the pro edition and the home edition.

Accessing Effects

Some effects are simple and self-explanatory. Others vary in usage difficulty. Adjustable parameters and controls become available when an effect is selected. It is necessary to own the professional version of Virtual DJ in order to download new effects and samples free of charge.

Categories

There are four categories of effects: Sound, Video, Video Transitions and External Devices. External Devices can add an effect if an external controller is connected to Virtual DJ. This feature is only available in the professional version.

Default Sound Effects

Sound effects simulate actions DJs apply to vinyl records. The default sound effects are: backspin, beat grid, brake, echo, filter, flanger, FlippinDouble, KeyChanger, overloop and vocals+. Back spinning occurs from the quick motion of pulling a disc backwards immediately before ending play; a beat grid is a digital drum machine.

Default Video Effects

The default video effects are: Boom, Boom_Auto, Camera, ClipBank, Karaoke, Negative, SlideShow, Sonique, Strobe, Strobe_Auto, Text and Titler. Camera plays video from an attached video camera. ClipBank is a set of user defined clips. SlideShow displays bitmap images; Sonique plays animation plug-ins.

Video Transitions

Transition effects allow the DJ to transition videos in sync with audio mixes. VirtualDJ has several built-in video transition styles. It also has an internal DVD ripping utility for DJs to add other videos to the list of transitions.

Skin Problems Caused By Swimming Pool Bromine

Bromine used in swimming pools can sometimes cause skin problems.

Bromine is frequently used as a replacement for chlorine in swimming pools. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) refers to it as a severe irritant to the skin. Results of contact, direct or otherwise, depend on the amount of the chemical, duration of exposure and any pre-existing health conditions or allergies. If liquid bromine comes in contact with your skin, wash it with soap and water immediately for a minimum of 15 minutes.

Burns

Direct exposure to liquid bromine can cause skin lesions in the form of chemical burns. When bromine comes into contact with skin it will initially feel cool. It will very quickly change to a burning sensation, which is what is actually occurring. Prolonged exposure can cause deep, ulcerating burns that are slow to heal.

While the CDC recommends washing skin with soap and water if skin contact occurs, if the skin is broken you must use only water. Seek medical attention as soon as possible.

Dermatitis

Continuous contact with bromine in swimming pools or in occupationally related activities (such as pool maintenance work) can lead to dermatitis. Some people develop reactions to bromine in swimming pools despite having no problems in chlorinated pools. Such reactions can be mild or severe. Severe dermatoses have been reported, with red, itchy papules (bumps) on the skin that can lead to intense eczema.

Simple Itchy Rash

Many swimmers find they are sensitive to bromine-sanitized pools and develop a simple, itchy rash that is not as severe as dermatitis or eczema. Usually this category of rash is brief and goes away easily once exposure stops. However, sometimes the itchy rash that comes from bromine-treated pools is actually a result of improper sanitation practices. In this case the pool has insufficient levels of bromine, allowing a common bacteria to grow and cause potential skin infections. The medical name for the condition is pseudomonas folliculitis, commonly referred to as hot tub rash, due to its prevalence in public facilities.

Signs Of A Rectal Fistula

A rectal fistula is a condition that can be somewhat embarrassing for some patients to discuss. An individual may realize there is a problem, but is reluctant to bring it up to a physician. If a rectal fistula is not treated, it can lead to even more of a severe problem that might have been avoided.

Definition & Causes

A fistula is actually similar to a small tunnel. It can spread from, in this instance, the rectum up to the skin surface. It also could channel through from the rectum to the vagina in females. If that happens, surgery may be necessary to fix it.

Fistulas can be caused from several different things, including birth defects, injury or trauma to the area, an infection in the body, disease such as Chron's disease or cancer, cancer treatment, or even trauma to the area during birth (for females). Sometimes the fistula may start out as an abscess and then rupture, causing the tunnel-like fistula to start.

Signs & Symptoms of Abscess

If the fistula starts out as an abscess, the patient may have quite a bit of pain with any sort of exercise, even with sneezing or bearing down. If the abscess is not near the surface or if it becomes infected, the patient may experience fever and pain in the stomach area. He may also have anal leakage.

Signs & Symptoms of Fistula

If the problem is a rectal fistula, the patient will know, because in most cases, pain is a number one complaint, especially pain with stool passage. The fistula itself may be red, and if it is infected, it may have pus oozing or draining from it. The tunnel can also feel like a cord underneath the surface of the skin; there may even be more than one entrance to the tunnel.

Complications

If the fistula goes through to the vagina, the patient may experience problems making it to a bathroom in time; since fecal matter may contaminate the area, infections of the vagina or urinary tract may recur. Pain may be present during sex as well. Also, discharge from the vagina may be more excessive, and the person will emit gas through the vagina.

Tests

To find a rectal fistula, the doctor may use a scope to determine the location and size; he may also be able to feel it if it is near the surface of your skin. In order to determine what caused it, he may order a colonoscopy. This will allow him to go farther up into the colon and see if there is evidence of disease.

Morbid Obesity Complications

Morbid Obesity Complications

Some health officials consider the weight problem in the United States to be an epidemic. The consequences of being obese go far beyond physical appearance. Being overweight can contribute to a number of life-threatening illnesses, psychological problems and social issues. Morbid obesity increases the risk of all of these complications.

Definition

According to the American Obesity Association, a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 is considered obese. If a person has a BMI over 40, she is considered morbidly obese. Body mass index is a calculation of a person's percentage of body fat, estimated by her height and weight. Morbid obesity is an especially dangerous medical condition, with complications that can seriously degrade the person's health and even shorten her life expectancy.

Health Issues

Obesity directly cause some medical problems. Other issues are more common in obese people because they have similar risk factors and causes. All conditions that are caused by or related to morbid obesity are called co-morbidities. According the American Obesity Association, some of the most common complications include arthritis, cancer (of the breast, colon, renal cell and endometrium), heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea, stroke and others.

Causes of Complications

Carrying around significant extra weight puts a lot of additional stress on your body systems. The heart has to work harder to pump blood and oxygen to all parts of the body, causing issues like high blood pressure. This extra weight can put stress on joints, causing arthritis. Morbid obesity often results in elevated blood glucose levels, which causes type 2 diabetes. Excess weight is also strongly connected to different types of cancers. One reason for this is that obesity can cause imbalances of hormones, like estrogen, which may also cause certain types of cancer.

Correlations

Some co-morbidities of obesity are caused by conditions that also cause obesity. These are considered complications of obesity. Obese people have a higher risk of heart disease because increased consumption of fatty foods that can cause obesity also cause heart disease. High cholesterol can also be caused by eating these types of food. Occurrences of mental disorders like anxiety and depression are also prevalent in obese people because of issues with self-confidence, body image and other concerns.

Prevention/Solution

The best way to prevent the complications of morbid obesity is to maintain a healthy weight. Generally, this is done by learning about the benefits of a nutritional diet and regular exercise. In some cases, obesity may be linked to a hormonal imbalance or disease. Scheduling regular physical examinations with your doctor can help increase the chances of catching any of these health problems early. In addition, young children should be educated about stay healthy and eat right.

Life After A Liver Transplant

The human liver is responsible for removing toxic waste products from the blood, and the creation of important digestive enzymes. After a liver transplant, life may be different, but it is a second chance.

Pain

According to the Columbia University Medical Center in New York, the pain after a liver transplant surgery is primarily found in the back. The abdominal nerves are severed during surgery, so as they heal and regain sensation, they do so at a comfortable pace. The back pain is from the amount of time spent lying on the surgical table during surgery. Pain medication is prescribed to help.

Blood Testing

The liver plays an important role in the creation of healthy blood. To make sure the new liver is functioning properly, blood tests are taken twice a week during the first three months after surgery, once a week for three months after that, every other week for the next six months and then once a month for the remainder of your life.

Illness

The Westchester Medical Center in New York recommends reporting any feeling of illness, no matter how small, to your doctor immediately. Your surgery leaves your immune system weak for several months, and any disease could cause complications.

Return to Work

Columbia University Medical Center indicates that returning to work three months after surgery, doing light-duty work, is a proper time frame.

Pregnancy

Women may be able to have children after a liver transplant under close physician supervision. Columbia University Medical Centers suggests waiting no less than 12 months after surgery before conceiving a child.

Slow Cooking

Slow cookers usually have a glass lid so that you can check progress without lifting it.

Slow cooking is a method that became popular during the 1970s. It uses an electric appliance to cook meals at moderate temperatures over a long period. This means that you can prepare a meal in the morning and allow it to cook all day so that it is ready to be eaten in the evening. Add this to my Recipe Box.

How It Works

Slow cookers are designed to cook foods slowly, at temperatures between 77C/170F and 138C/280F. Depending on the recipe the food can cook for four to 12 hours. Slow cookers usually consist of a ceramic or porcelain bowl inside a metal housing containing the heating element, with a glass lid. In general, slow cooking requires food to cook in some form of liquid, such as stock or juice, although some foods that give off a lot of liquid themselves may not need more. More advanced models have a timer feature and several heat settings. However, you can good results with a basic model as the premise is so basic.

What to Cook

Slow cooking is ideal for meat, especially cheaper cuts of red meats such as beef or lamb, which can be rather tough when cooked by other methods. Poultry of any kind, but especially cuts on the bone, also work well.

You can also cook most other foods in a slow cooker. Some vegetables, such as root vegetables, are particularly suitable as they are very hard and can be slow-cooked without turning to mush. Some types of vegetables that are quicker-cooking or leafy ones--spinach and cabbage, for example--can be added later in the heating process to retain their flavour. Vegetable soups are ideal for slow-cooking, especially when you are planning to liquidise the soup and it doesn’t matter if the vegetables fall apart.

Pulses can be cooked well in a slow cooker, but the dried varieties must be soaked and softened first.

Most people tend to stick to savoury foods for slow cooking, but you will also find delicious fruit recipes, too. Poached and stewed fruit such as pears, apples and rhubarb are ideal, and you can also make fruit compotes, crumbles and cobblers in a slow cooker.

Most slow cooker recipes are types of stew or casserole, but you can also pot-roast joints of meat, and create well known recipes such as chilli con carne, curries and lasagne in a slow cooker.

Most slow cookers come with a small recipe book, but you will also find many excellent slow cooker recipes online.

What to Avoid

Pasta and rice do not generally work well in a slow cooker, as pasta may become soft and soggy, and rice does not absorb the fluid or cook properly. However, risotto can work well, and precooked sheets of lasagne. Generally it’s better to cook rice or pasta separately and add it at the end of the cooking or serve with your slow-cooked meal.

Seafood should usually be added near the end of cooking time as it can become rubbery with long cooking. Fish will generally disintegrate in a slow cooker, so avoid unless you are making a soup.

Do not use frozen meat or seafood in your slow cooker as it will take too long to come to cooking temperature and will also stop the other ingredients cooking properly. Defrost meat before slow cooking it. You can, however, add quick-cooking frozen vegetables such as peas and sweetcorn towards the end of the cooking process.

Tips

In most cases its best to brown meat before putting in it the slow cooker; this improves the flavour and keeps pieces of meat together. Rolling meat in seasoned flour before browning it will improve the flavour further and also help to thicken your sauce.

Although you generally need some liquid, you may need less than you think, because there is no evaporation. The steam and juices stay in the pot. The liquid need not cover the solids. If you fill your slow cooker up with stock you will end up with a lot of very watery sauce for your stew. Adding a thickening ingredient such as potato, tomato puree or chopped tinned tomatoes will help.

Slower-cooking ingredients such as root vegetables should be placed at the bottom of the pot, with quicker cooking ones on top.

Generally, liquids and many other ingredients, such as tinned tomatoes, should be heated before being placed in the slow cooker, otherwise they will take too long to reach cooking temperatures.

Avoid lifting the lid to check on the progress of the meal, as this lets heat and steam escape and it may take a long time for the slow cooker to get back to the right heat again. Lift the lid briefly when adding extra ingredients.

If you want to adapt a recipe for a slow cooker, you may need to make some changes, primarily reducing the amount of liquid by about half and possibly increasing the amounts of herbs and spices or adding them late in the cooking process so they don’t lose their flavour.

Benefits

Slow cooking has many benefits. It can be convenient for someone who is at work all day. You can leave your dinner cooking while you are out. Slow-cooked food also allows you to be flexible about when you eat. Because the food will not overcook easily, you can serve it whenever you like.

Slow cooking produces delicious tender meat, and it is economical as it means you can buy cheaper cuts of meat. It is also quite a healthy way to cook (depending on the ingredients) since little or no oil is used and there are usually lots of vegetables in the recipes.

Because most slow cooker recipes are one-pot meals, this leaves you with less cleaning up to do. Slow cookers also don’t make your kitchen hot and sweaty, although they will fill your house with delicious cooking smells.

Hazards

The lower temperatures of a slow cooker will still kill food poisoning bacteria. But the slow cooker may take some time to get to this temperature, so be careful to keep meat and other perishables in the fridge until the last minute to avoid bacteria multiplying while the cooker is heating up. If possible, set your cooker to its high temperature first and then reduce it. If your cooker has an auto setting it will do this for you.

Do not preheat your slow cooker empty as this can damage it and will also cause your food to stick and burn when you add it.

What Is Orthodontic Full Mouth Banding

Full mouth banding can help you have a beautiful smile.

Orthodontic full mouth banding is a process that is performed on all the teeth in the mouth. This may look the same as having braces, but orthodontic bands are not the same as braces. One major difference is that it is far more common for orthodontic bands to come loose.

Orthodontic Bands

An orthodontic band is literally a stainless steel band that is placed around the tooth. Orthodontic bands are used in the recovery process of a variety of orthodontic procedures. They usually anchor attachments to the tooth or attach an archwire to the molars. Orthodontic bands usually have hooks that can be used to attach rubber bands to the orthodontic band. Full mouth banding occurs when most to all of the molars in the mouth are banded.

Application

Orthodontic bands are custom-fitted to the molar that they are attached to. Orthodontic bands are cemented to the tooth using a temporary cement designed specifically for use with orthodontic bands. In full mouth banding, the bands are connected by an archwire that fits into a small sleeve on the side of the band facing the cheek.

Warning

Orthodontic bands are not permanently attached to the tooth. As such, you should be careful to make sure that your bands do not come loose. Biting down hard on food, eating chewy candy and chewing things such as ice and pen lids can all lead to orthodontic bands coming lose. Because of the larger number of bands in the mouth in full mouth banding, there is a higher risk of a band coming loose for these reasons. A band may also come loose if the cementing used to attach the band to the tooth fails to take.

Loose Band

If you have full mouth banding and a band comes loose, it is important to deal with it as quickly as possible. Try to take the band off the tooth with your fingers or with tweezers or try to get a friend to get the band off. In full mouth banding, an archwire usually connects all the bands. This may need to be cut to avoid it irritating the gums if a band comes loose and must be removed.

Considerations

Your dentist will decide if you need to have full mouth banding or not. If a band comes loose, you should contact your dentist immediately and try to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.

Natural Treatments For Depression During Pregnancy

Natural treatments for depression in pregnancy include adequate sleep, dietary changes and exercise. According to Kimmelin Hull, author of "A Dozen Invisible Pieces and Other Confessions of Motherhood," approximately 10 to 20 percent of pregnant women experience some type of prenatal depression. When you are not comfortable with the risks associated with antidepressants, you can find many alternative therapies and remedies.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Folic Acid

According to a study published in the August 2008 Journal of Affect Disorders, omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid effectively alleviated perinatal depression as a complementary treatment. Additionally, these supplements prove to be beneficial to both babies' development and mothers' health. Also cited for their ability to ease depressive symptoms in depressed mothers were S-adenosyl methionine (SAMe) and St. John's wort.

Massage Therapy

A study published in the October 2007 Journal of Body and Movement Therapies founds that depressed pregnant women who were given massages by their partners experienced alleviation from depressive symptoms. The women received massages twice a week from their second trimester through the end of their pregnancy.

Exercise as Therapy

The University of Michigan's Depression Center cites exercise as an effective way to treat depression in pregnancy. Physical activity alleviates depression by "releasing the body's mood-elevating compounds," as well as reducing the depression horomone cortisol. The research center advices depressed pregnant women to exercise 20 to 30 minutes at least three times a week.

Adequate Sleep to Prevent Depressive Symptoms

To prevent worsening of depressive symptoms, get an adequate amount of sleep during pregnancy. Try using body pillows or props to help alleviate discomfort and help you sleep more soundly. Get your body used to a regular sleeping schedule. Prepare for bed with relaxing rituals such as reading or taking a bath.

Dietary Changes

Be sure to follow a healthy diet plan during pregnancy that includes foods from the four basic food groups: fruits and vegetables, bread, dairy and meat. For guidelines on what to eat while pregnant, visit the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website at womenshealth.gov. Foods to avoid if you are pregnant and depressed include refined sugar, caffeine and chocolate. Increase your intake of calcium and B vitamins, especially B6, to help ease symptoms.

Infomercial Advertising Advantages

Although there are countless advertising methods, infomercials have been proven highly effective.

The infomercial has become a powerful tool in the arsenal of marketing gurus. You have 30 to 60 minutes to devote to the publication and press of your particular product. You can tell the world the great things about your product. If you are fortunate enough, you can even get a celebrity to help you sell your product. Infomercials can cast the right kind of light on your product. Infomercial advertising advantages are many.

Providing Information

You have 30 to 60 minutes to talk about your product. These precious minutes are there to allow for the most comprehensive information about your product. These minutes are also there to show your customers just what your product can do for them. While a 30-second commercial can only highlight the most obvious and basic benefits of a product, an infomercial can provide testimonials, examples, research results and more. Infomercials can sell viewers on how the product can improve their lives. For example, Proactiv infomercials focus on how the users of the product became more confident and outgoing. They got out more, dated more and had more fun because they made the decision to try Proactiv.

Providing a Sense of Urgency

Infomercials ask potential customers for the immediate sale. Infomercials provide the contact information over and over again. They ask for the customer to call within a specific time period. The infomercials sweeten the deal by adding incentives to order before the infomercial ends. Adding a sense of urgency is one of the best ways to ensure a sale if there is going to be one. This sense of urgency also enlivens the customer with the excitement of acquiring a new gadget or new product. The testimonials of previous customers for a product that purports to improve the viewer's life in some way also adds to the urgency as the infomercial viewer wants to buy immediately in order to get the same benefit as those in the infomercial. The viewer is inspired to pick up the phone and order.

Linking Multiple Items

Infomercial advertising advantages are nothing if not flexible. One of the biggest selling points to a product could be its connection to a product previously sold and advertised. Knowing that two products go together well can often be a selling point in itself. Customers learn they can buy a gourmet chopping device that works even better with the bendable chopping board. Infomercials will also group products together that customers cannot buy in the store. For example, although the Magic Bullet is now sold in stores, customers can only get the large blender and juicer attachments if they order the Magic Bullet through an infomercial.

Kidney Transplant Donor Recovery

Kidney Transplant Donor Recovery

A kidney transplant occurs when the donor has one healthy kidney removed to be given to an individual who suffers from impaired kidney function. Recovery time is needed for the donor as well as the kidney transplant recipient.

Hospital Stay

The donor's stay in the hospital depends on a variety of factors such as the type of surgery and individual rate of recovery. According to Medical Moment, a laparoscopic surgery involves a shorter hospital stay and a quicker recovery than traditional surgery. According to the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), the donor will spend approximately four to six days in the hospital.

Abdominal Effects

After surgery, it's common to experience gas pain and bloating, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Incision

The donor will experience itching, tenderness and pain at the incision site after leaving the hospital. These symptoms will subside as the incision heals.

Activity After Surgery

Donors are instructed to avoid heavy lifting for two months. They must also avoid contact sports such as boxing, mixed martial arts, wrestling, football and field hockey.

Medical Follow-Up

According to NKF, donors should have long-term medical follow-up appointments with their doctor. This includes a yearly urine test and blood pressure check.

Postsurgery Diarrhea In A Cat

Watch your cat closely while she is recovering from surgery.

Diarrhea is a common side effect of surgery. Although it is common, you must closely monitor your cat since prolonged or extreme diarrhea could lead to dehydration.

Duration

Diarrhea--whether the result of the pre-surgery fast or the surgery itself--will normally last only two or three days, according to the website of Pawprints & Purrs. Another website, vetinfo.com, gives a time frame of 12 to 24 hours that your cat will not feel itself.

When to Call the Vet

A touch of diarrhea is normal. While the Animal Friends Foundation and the Willamette Humane Society's Spay and Neuter Clinic recommend calling the veterinarian if your cat experiences any diarrhea, post-surgery diarrhea is so common that most veterinarians agree there is no reason to worry unless it becomes prolonged. If your cat still has diarrhea 36 to 48 hours after surgery, it is time to call your vet, because severe or prolonged diarrhea can lead to dehydration.

Remember to Water Your Cat!

Even if your cat only has diarrhea for only a day or two, he can still suffer dehydration, according to WebVet.com. Provide plenty of fresh water and monitor your cat to be sure he's drinking the water.

Signs of Dehydration

Check and monitor your cat for any sign of dehydration. According to cat-world.com, owners should look for sunken eyes, dry mouth, poor skin elasticity, lethargy, increased heart rate and constipation.

Tips

Petwellbeing.com says loose stool may have an especially unpleasant odor, and your cat may also have matted hair under its tail. While these are normal side effects in some cats who experience diarrhea.

The Best Foods To Eat To Increase Vitamin D Intake

Foods with Vitamin D

A long time ago, before most humans worked indoors, we received most of our vitamin D building blocks from the sun. As time went on and we lathered on sunblock and avoided the outdoors, we had to seek out vitamin D. While supplements can be taken to attempt to make up the difference, there is nothing like getting the vitamin straight from the source.

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is actually a group of pro-hormones that are fat-soluble, the two major forms of which are vitamin D2 and vitamin D3. Vitamin D helps regulate phosphorous and calcium levels in blood by facilitating their absorption from food in the intestinal area and reabsorption in the kidneys. Vitamin D also encourages the immune system to release phagocytosis, immunomodulatory functions and anti-tumor activity. Vitamin D deficiencies lead to problems such as impaired bone mineralization and related diseases such as rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults, as well as the potential of osteoporosis.

Foods with Vitamin D

Many foods have been fortified with vitamin D to prevent deficiencies, including milk, yogurt, margarine, breakfast cereal, bread and pastries. Fish liver oils, such as cod liver oil, contain 1,360 IU in each tablespoon. Herring contains 1383 IU in each 3-ounce serving. Catfish, another fatty fish species, has 425 IU per 3-ounce serving. Salmon and mackerel both contain about 350 IU per 3.5-ounce serving. An entire egg has 20 IU of vitamin D, cooked beef liver (3.5 ounces) has 15 IU, and UV-irradiated mushrooms provide a negligible amount.

Recommendations

The human body naturally produces vitamin D when exposed to direct sunlight, but those who can't get sunlight, older adults and those with dark skin are recommended to take about 25 micrograms (1,000 IU, or international units) of vitamin D per day. The typical American diet does not come close to the recommended 1,000 IU per day. As of August 2009 the stated adequate intake level for infants to age 50 is 200 IU per day.

Health Benefits

Recent studies have shown vitamin D to have even more health properties than originally thought. There is speculation that the vitamin has promise in reducing the chances of pancreatic and breast cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. It also may improve infertility, memory and weight control.

Postop Instructions For Back Surgery

After back surgery, you should refrain from activities that can strain your back for at least six weeks. Be mindful of your surgical dressings and ensure that the pain medication you are taking won't interfere with the healing process. Additionally, if you're a smoker, you may want to consider not smoking during the healing period as smoking delays the healing process.

Restricted Activities

There are numerous activities to avoid after back surgery says Holy Cross Hospital. These activities include anything that requires you to lift, stoop, push and anything else that puts strain on your back. You should not lift anything heavier than 10 lbs. or lift anything above your shoulders for the first four weeks. Let your back rest for at least six weeks. Also, refrain from smoking as this delays the healing process and ups the chances that lumbar fusion will not occur.

Caring for Your Incision

You should be discharged from the hospital with dressing over the incision. You can remove this one or two days after surgery, Holy Cross Hospital instructs. You should, however, let the steri-strips covering the incision fall off on their own -- usually after a week to 10 days after surgery. Any swelling, redness or drainage from the incision should be reported to your doctor. You should not scrub your incision but you can take a shower two days after surgery, Holy Cross Hospital advises.

Medication

You will experience pain after back surgery but be careful about the type of pain medication you take. Do not use medication with blood-thinning agents or aspirin-based products, Holy Cross Hospital says. Adds the Christiana Spine Center, arthritis medications and anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen should also be avoided. To help take the edge off the pain, you can apply ice to the wound for five to 10 minutes, three times daily, suggests Christiana Spine Center.

Plastic Allergy Symptoms

Plastic is in a variety of products used daily by nearly everyone. Being allergic to plastic can make going to the grocery store dangerous. Understanding the triggers to plastic allergies along with knowing the symptoms are imperative in preventing exposure to the wrong items. If you're exposed, having the right treatment available quickly can be the difference between experiencing a minor allergic reaction, hospitalization or perhaps even death.

Definition

An allergy is the body reacting to contact with an substance it views as threatening that may be ingested through the mouth or lungs. Plastic allergies are typically dermatological, via contact, but not exclusively.

Severity

Allergic reactions range from minor to major. A minor reaction may cause the person to develop a rash, whereas a major reaction, such as anaphylactic shock, can be life-threatening.

Triggers

Everyday items such as credit cards, adhesive tape or gloves can trigger a minor or major allergic reaction to plastic. Although most plastic allergies are dermatological, a person may have an allergic reaction if he breathes fumes of melting plastic.

Symptoms

Minor irritations are itchy skin, redness or rashes or asthmatic symptoms, such as difficulty breathing. At worst, a person may go into anaphylactic shock, which is a collapse of the cardiovascular system.

Allergy Testing

A skin-prick test is where plastic is introduced to the skin in an area that will be monitored for allergic reaction. An in vitro test is where a blood sample is taken to see if antibodies specific to plastic are present.

Preparation For Stomach Cancer Surgery

A stomach cancer treatment may involve surgery. Once a cancer surgery is scheduled, a physician can provide suggestions to prepare for the surgery, which may provide you with a better recovery time. One type of preparation before surgery is a question and answer session. Some other preparation types for stomach cancer surgery include pre-operative testing, pre-operative diet and a second opinion. These preparation methods allow cancer patients to be proactive with their surgical treatments.

Question and Answer Session

Prepare for a question and answer session. One question may be the type of stomach cancer surgery, including the known risks, such as post-operative infections, your overall physical health and recovery time. Another question may include when you should obtain pre-operative testing and the loction such as a local clinic.

Answers received by your physician should be well-informed and non-technical. You can ask for more details if you do not understand an answer. Part of your stomach cancer treatment plan is your ability to feel comfortable with your physician.

Pre-Operative Testing

Once your physician recommends surgery, you will be scheduled for pre-operative testing. One purpose of pre-operative testing to confirm your body's ability to undergo stomach cancer surgery. A common test is a urinalysis (urine test), which may detect blood in the urine and postpone your surgery.

Another purpose of testing is to determine the best drug treatment, including pain relievers. Pre-testing is a measure of your current health. Otherwise, your receiving stomach surgery under poor health conditions may cause a higher risk of post-operative complications, such as infections.

Pre-Operative Diet

Speak with a qualified nutrition specialist about your nutritional needs before you have your stomach surgery. A registered dietitian may recommend a liquid diet before your cancer surgery. For instance, the most common beverage is water, which can have sliced fruit added to enhance flavor. Or, you may drink cold tea with limes.

Also, your dietitian may allow you to ingest soft foods. For example, you may want to eat home-made vegetable juice made with organic produce such as tomatoes, cucumbers and squash. Or you may be advised to eat strained, cooked cereal, such as oatmeal with fresh sliced berries.

Second Opinion

Your primary physician will provide you with your initial diagnosis of stomach cancer. However, you may have additional questions and concerns before your cancer surgery and feel uncomfortable asking your doctor for a second surgical opinion.

However, a second opinion allows you to discuss your medical condition with a second physician, and you may receive the same diagnosis or a different diagnosis. Remember to obtain an opinion from an expert with extensive stomach cancer experience.

Xbox 360 Rock Band Troubleshooting

Rock Band Instruments

Rock Band was released during the holiday season of 2007 by Harmonix Music Systems and MTV Games. It is distributed by Electronic Arts. The full band simulation game combines drums, guitar, bass and vocals into a video game. It offers online multiplayer competition and co-op play. It was inspired by Harmonix's popular Guitar Hero series.

Guitar

The guitar may have issues with the buttons, strum bar, the hub or the console. Make sure the USB is plugged completely in the hub and try to play the guitar. If that does not work, try the other hubs.

Some of the earlier Rock Band guitars have had problems with the strum bar. If the problem persists, contact Rock Band's Support site for a replacement guitar.

Guitars have many components that are sensitive to movement. Handle the guitar with care. If notes are lagging, calibrate the game or make sure the TV is in game mode or a similar mode. Also, bypass the external audio system or turn off Dolby 5.1 in the game options. It is normal for the effects switch to only be heard in solo and groove sections. If your whammy bar is not springy, an elastic band can be used to adjust the tension.

Drums

Drum pads on Rock Band need to be handled with care. Too much force over time can cause tears or breaks. Electronic components are inside the drum pads--therefore any damage to the outside of the pads can damage the sensors and other components. The drum pads are made to register light taps in the middle of the pad more so than hard hits. The kick pedal takes a lighter force as well. If the drums are lagging, make sure the hits are light, firm and centered in the middle of the pad. Hard hits can effect how the sensor registers the tap. If that doesn't work, calibrate the game and turn off Dolby 5.1 in game options.

To keep the kit from sliding on the floor, put a mouse pad under the leg. Drum pads can be kept from being worn down by covering them with old mousepads.

Microphone

The microphone will not be recognized unless the standard controller is plugged into the hub. With online game play, the singing lags behind intentionally and the other players cannot hear you unless you hold down the chat button.

Overheating can be an issue with the game console and Rock Band. Check your console for overheating often and stop playing if the console feels too warm.

Why Is My Sony Bravia Picture Dimming

Sony first started marketing its HD LCD TVs as BRAVIA in 2005.

BRAVIA is the brand name for Sony's line of high-definition liquid crystal display, or LCD, screens. The name itself -- BRAVIA -- is actually an acronym: it stands for best resolution audio video integrated architecture. Because LCD technology is transmissive, all of the BRAVIA televisions require some sort of backlight to illuminate the colors and images on your screen. When these backlights fail, your picture may start to fade.

The Need for Backlights

The liquid crystals -- and the pixels they form -- in LCD screens are not able to illuminate themselves. Unlike cathode ray tube, or CRT, and plasma televisions, LCD TVs -- including Sony's BRAVIA line -- require an additional light source. These backlights, which are sometimes called lamps, are located behind the liquid crystal layer on BRAVIA televisions.

LED or CCFL

Sony uses two types of backlights in its BRAVIA televisions. The first type of backlight, seen primarily on the older BRAVIA models, is a cold cathode fluorescent lamp, or CCFL. The second type of backlight, used on the newer BRAVIAs, is a light-emitting diode, or LED. The LED backlights are more energy-efficient than the CCFL backlights. An informal survey conducted by CNET Reviews found LED-powered TVs consume roughly $20 less in energy costs annually compared to CCFL-backlit TVs.

Dying Backlights

Sony claims its BRAVIA LCD TVs have a lifespan of up to 100,000 viewing hours. This means if you were to turn a brand new Sony BRAVIA on today -- and kept it on round the clock -- it should still be working more than 11 years from now. Backlights, however, don't have such longevity. The average LED backlight lasts roughly 50,000 viewing hours, while CCFL backlights last between 20,000 and 40,000 viewing hours. This means, regardless of what type of backlight your BRAVIA has, you can expect your original backlight to fail at least once during your TV's lifespan.

Symptoms of a Dying Backlight

A dimming picture on your BRAVIA's screen is a key indicator that your backlight is starting to fail; however, this isn't the only sign. Failing backlights -- both LEDs and CCFLs -- are prone to flickering, with the picture flashing in and out, leading up to complete backlight failure. Additionally, your TV's picture may appear to "turn off" while the audio remains fully functional: this is a symptom of impending backlight failure as well.

Inverter Failure

Both CCFL and LED backlights work in tandem with an inverter. This piece of equipment provides the power the lights need. In some cases, a problem with your inverter may prevent your BRAVIA's backlight from receiving the electricity it needs to fully illuminate your screen. Both failed inverters and backlights can be replaced, however this process includes removing the front panel of your television, disconnecting and reconnecting sensitive electrical circuits as well as soldering the new light into place.

What Is The Healthy New York Program

Healthy New York was started by the Health Care Reform Act of 2000. Healthy New York is a program that provides health care coverage to individuals and small businesses in New York state for a monthly premium. It provides health care insurance to people who in most instances would have to go without it.

How It Works

You can take an eligibility test to determine if you qualify for the program. Next, you must fill out an application and choose an HMO. The HMO rates vary by company and by county. If you are approved, health care services are provided for a copayment.

Will I Qualify?

To qualify for coverage as an individual or sole proprietor, you must be a New York resident who is not eligible for Medicare. You or your spouse must have worked in the past 12 months and meet income requirements. For a small business, you have to be located in New York state and have fewer than 50 employees.

What is Covered?

Coverage includes maternity care, preventive screenings, inpatient hospital care and well-child visits and immunizations. Prescription drugs are covered at an additional premium.

What is Not Covered?

Mental health services, including treatment for depression and anxiety, are not covered with this plan. Substance abuse, hospice care and dental and vision care are also not covered.

Pre-existing Conditions

Pre-existing conditions may not be covered for the first year. A pre-existing condition is a medical condition that has been diagnosed or treated in the 6 months prior to application. Pregnancy is considered a pre-existing condition in individual applicants.

Silicone Vs Saline Breast Implants

Silicone Vs. Saline Breast Implants

In 1992 the FDA banned the use of silicone breast implants. The only exception was for use of breast reconstruction after a mastectomy and for those in a clinical trial designed for silicone implant data. It took 14 years to overturn the ban. In 2006 the FDA approved the use of silicone breast implants once again. But not without age restrictions. Furthermore, on May 10, 2000, the FDA approved the use of saline breast implants, which also carry an age restriction.

Significance

Both silicone and saline breast implants are used for breast augmentation and breast reconstruction. While saline is the preferred of the two, some people believe silicone mimics a more realistic breast appearance and feel. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, "Silicone is used not only in breast implants but also in implants located literally throughout every part of the body. It has been used: to construct heart valves and other cardiovascular prostheses; to fashion catheters which are used for purposes ranging from drug delivery to cardiac monitoring; in dentistry; in the gastrointestinal tract; as a facilitator for nerve regeneration; in ophthalmology; in the ear, nose, throat, and respiratory tract; as a prosthesis or ingredient in prostheses for many parts of the skeletal system; as a tissue expander; as a cosmetic agent for treatment of scars and wrinkles; in the urogenital tract, including penile prostheses; and in many other applications."

Types

Silicone is a thick, sticky, gel-like substance much like cellulite that a manufacturer uses to fill a silicone implant. Saline breast implants have an outer shell made from silicone. Saline implants are empty before surgery. Once implanted, the saline implants are injected with a sterile saline solution to the desired size. Saline breast implants can be adjusted in size at a later date with minimal surgery, whereas silicone implants cannot.

Facts

According to the FDA a person must be at least 22 years of age in order to get silicone breast implants because a woman's breast continues to develop tissue until around the age of 20. The other factor in the age determination is maturity level. Breast augmentation may carry life-long medical needs, such as replacement, so the FDA believes a person age 22 or older is better able to make this type of financial and medical decision. The only exception to the age rule is breast reconstruction.

The age restriction for saline breast implants is 18. The age difference between saline and silicone is due to the difference in risk. Saline implants if ruptured would be absorbed naturally by the body, therefore causing less risk of infection.

Considerations

Saline breast implants can deflate. Silicone breast implants can rupture, and spillage of the gel can leak into the body. The FDA says the gel is not harmful and is safe for use.

Warning

Breast implants may need to be replaced every 10 years.

Breast implants may interfere with breast feeding.

Breast implants may change in appearance over time.

Breast implants can hinder breast cancer screening. Your physician may require additional testing, but insurance may not pay for the additional costs.

Why Do Toddlers Get The Hiccups

Avoiding Toddler Hiccups.

Hiccups are very common and normally not any cause for concern in your toddler. However, they can be distressing to your child, so it's good to know ways to prevent and in some cases stop the hiccups. Unfortunately, there is no magic cure for the hiccups that will always work, but certain things will make hiccups less likely and shorten the duration of them when hiccups do occur.

What Hiccups Are

Hiccups are involuntary and are caused by repeated spasmodic contractions of the child's diaphragm, followed by the glottis quickly closing. The glottis is the part that allows the inflow of air. This is what makes the sound that is thought of as "the hiccups."

Why Toddlers Get Them

There are several causes of hiccups, but the most common cause of hiccups in children is swallowing too much air, especially for toddlers who are still drinking from a bottle. Hiccups can also result in toddlers from drinking soda or other carbonated beverages or from eating large amounts of food quickly, reports Hiccups.org.

Home Remedies

There are several things you can try to get rid of your child's hiccups. Give your toddler a swallow of water and have him or her lie down for a bit. If that doesn't help, try giving the child a teaspoon of corn syrup.

Prevention of Hiccups

To avoid hiccups in the future, avoid giving your toddler carbonated beverages, such as soda. Also, the Mayo Clinic recommends cutting back on large meals and avoiding sudden, dramatic changes in temperature to reduce the chances of getting hiccups. For toddlers that are still being breastfed, consider pumping and feeding the toddler from a bottle, as in some cases less air is swallowed from a bottle than while nursing.

Warning

Although hiccups are common and normally nothing to worry about, there are some cases where special attention should be paid. Call your child's pediatrician if the hiccups last longer than three hours, he is spitting up blood or if the hiccups are accompanied by bad pains in the stomach. A doctor should also be consulted if the hiccups start after beginning a new prescription medication.

What Is A Lap Joint Exhaust Band Clamp

A lap joint exhaust band clamp helps repair the exhaust system without having to lower the whole system.

A lap joint exhaust band clamp is used to connect two exhaust pipes without the necessity of welding them. It can also be used to connect an exhaust pipe to the muffler.

What Is a Lap Joint?

A lap joint, whether in woodwork, metal work or with pipes, is a joint in which the ends overlap. In the case of your exhaust system it means that one pipe fits into another. These two pipes must be well connected and sealed to prevent the escape of exhaust fumes.

Sealing the Joint

If you lower your whole exhaust system you can weld the lap joints either with an arc welder or oxy-acetylene torch. These methods provide a strong seal, but can be very costly. It is not possible to completely weld the lap joints in your exhaust system while the system is attached to the car, thus the exhaust system needs to be removed.

Description and Types

A lap joint exhaust band clamp is a metal object designed to wrap around the pipes that also includes a fitting to tighten the clamp. The major advantage of this type of clamp is that you can place it around the joint while the exhaust system is still in place on your car. Lap joint exhaust band clamps come in a variety of sizes.

Pros & Cons Of Fungicides On Fruits And Vegetables

Prevailing temperature patterns may dictate which fungicides you can use and when.

When beautifying and protecting your residential garden, you may be tempted to check out the broad array of fungicides available on the market. While these agents can be quite effective in reducing or eliminating damage caused to fruits and vegetables by fungus, you should carefully observe the directions and restrictions that apply to each one. By knowing the pros and cons of fungicides on fruits and vegetables, you can actually safeguard your plants rather than create new problems for them.

Pro: Basic Benefits

The most essential benefit of a fungicide is that it helps eliminate or reduce the effects of diseases that afflict fruit and vegetable plants. Some products defend not only against fungal disease but against bacterial agents as well. You will find that some fungicides can be applied to multiple types of plants, including flowers, making them versatile and cost-effective treatment options.

Con: Many Variations

With dozens of products and chemical compositions from which to select, choosing the right fungicide for your plants often is the main difficulty. Each product has specific utilities and caveats. Even individual brands that have the same active ingredient -- there are at least seven marketed brands that use captan for example -- have their own particularities and potential for misapplication. In the end, you'll have to do substantive research before settling on the proper treatment for your fruits or vegetables.

Con: Potential for Damage

A significant con of a fungicide is that it may do more harm than good to your plants. Gardeners must use caution when mixing different treatments, as certain combinations can prove volatile when added to one another. Imagine it as a form of negative drug interaction. For instance, a captan-based fungicide should not be mixed with any oil spray of lime-based product. Other fungicides are sensitive to climatic conditions or external temperature. Bordeaux mix cannot be used when wet and cool weather prevails, while liquid lime sulfur can't be applied when temperatures of 80 degrees or more are looming.

Considerations

As you might imagine, individual fungicides can each have their own pros and cons. Always examine which plants react positively or negatively to the fungicide applied. Bordeaux mixture, for example, may be great for protecting your apples but cause poisoning of your strawberries and celery. Follow instructions carefully, as some fungicides specify spray application while others demand only mixing and pouring. Also, pay close attention to when it is safe to use the fungicide in the plants' life cycle. These aspects can differ dramatically given the treatment.

What Are Weaving Looms

Weaving looms have been around since the beginning of civilization.

Weaving involves crossing two sets of threads over and under each other to create items such as rugs, blankets and cloths. A weaving loom is any machine or object that weaves these threads into the end product. There are many different types of weaving looms available, ranging from antique frame machines to hand-held looms to modern computerized ones.

History

Weaving looms are thought to have originated thousands of years ago. No one knows exactly when the process of weaving began or the building of weaving machines started; however, it is thought that these two things date as far back as to the very beginnings of civilized life. Historic examples of weaving can be seen in the interlacing of vines to make nets for fishing, and the interlacing of twigs to make mats to cover floors.

Technical Information

A loom weaves two sets of yarn or thread together using the warp and the weft. The warp runs vertically through the fabric and the weft runs horizontally. The loom holds the warp in place while the weft is woven through. The width of the fabric that is woven is dictated by the width of the loom, and similarly the length of the fabric is dependent on the space available to the loom. While thread and yarn are the most common types of material used in weaving, looms can also weave thin strips of wood, grass or any other pliant material. Examples of modern weaving can be seen in tapestries, scarves and table runners.

Types

There are quite a few types of looms, such as rigid heddle looms, tapestry frame looms and back-strap looms. However, the two most common types are the floor loom and the table loom. Floor looms are heavier, stronger and faster than table looms, but they require much more room space. Table looms are cheaper and easier to move around. They are perfect for beginners, but they are hand-operated, which means they are much slower. Because of their low height and width, weaving possibilities are limited.

Other Looms

Mechanical weaving looms are a relatively new invention, because in ancient times weavers would use their hands to weave. Simple looms can be made from cardboard or paper towel rolls, but the warp is limited by the size and the type of the handmade loom. Currently, weaving ranks as a major industry throughout the world, but due to the commercialized nature of clothing and textile production, it is often completed on high-speed looms in order to allow large quantities of products to be created.

Weekly Menu Plan For Weight Loss

A significant percentage of the American population is mildly overweight or obese. Many Americans have been told to lose weight in order to lower their risk factors for illness. Ideally, weight loss should have three components: calorie control, exercise and a time frame. Weight lost in a short period of time may be easily regained. It is best to set goals over a period of time and attempt to meet them. One of the best ways to do so is on a weekly basis with a sensible meal that meets your nutritional needs.

Follow a Few Food Rules

Aim for at least three meals per day plus two small snacks. This will help satiate hunger pains. Eat a wide variety of foods each week so that you do not become bored. Choose apples one day and pears the next. Eat seasonally for maximum taste. Eat apricots in the spring, cherries in the summer and squash in the fall. Use alternatives to fat such as herbs. Let yourself have a small treat every so often such as a small bar of chocolate or a serving of ice cream. Avoid eating out if possible, as you may not know exactly what's in the food you are being served.

Follow a Few Beverage Rules

Drink water if you feel hungry. You may actually be thirsty instead. Keep low-calorie or no-calorie cold or hot drinks within easy reach. Buy herbal teas, flavored seltzers and low-calorie fruit or vegetable juices. Consider making your own at home for maximum freshness.

Breakfast Choices

Start with 1-1/2 cups of bran flakes with half a banana on top. Eat with half a cup of skim milk. For another breakfast choice, toast a whole-wheat muffin. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of cheddar cheese on top. Serve with half a grapefruit topped with 1/2 teaspoon of sugar. Another excellent breakfast choice is 1/2 cup oats made with a cup of fat-free milk. Serve with raisins, a sprinkle of cinnamon and a serving of fresh fruit.

Lunch Choices

For lunch, serve a spinach salad topped with a hard-boiled egg, 2 ounces of chopped turkey breast and 1 ounce of low-fat cheese. Make another lunch from a pita pocket stuffed with 3 tablespoons of hummus. Serve with a salad of cucumbers and tomatoes. Yet another good choice for a lean lunch is a low-fat peanut butter and jelly sandwich made from two slices of whole-wheat bread, 1 teaspoon of low-fat peanut butter and 1 teaspoon of jelly. Add a piece of fruit and a serving of steamed vegetables.

Dinner Possibilities

Grill 3 ounce of lean steak, chicken or turkey breast. Flavor with lemon and herbs. Add a side salad of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots topped with 1 teaspoon of low-fat dressing. Serve with a baked potato or a 2-ounce portion of brown rice or couscous. For an alternative, boil 2 ounces of whole-wheat pasta. Top with sprinkled fresh tomatoes, 1 ounce of Parmesan cheese and 1 teaspoon of olive oil.

Weight Loss Program For Beginners

Everyone wants a miracle way to lose weight. For most people, losing weight involves basic lifestyle modifications to boost your metabolism, consume less fat and burn more calories. While it may seem like a simple equation of eat less and do more, there are some tricks that can help you lose weight more effectively.

Diet and Exercise

Every doctor and nutritionist will tell you that to lose weight you need to eat less and exercise more. You need to eliminate 3,500 more calories than you consume to lose 1 lb. Doctors say it is safe to lose up to 2 lbs. per week. To do this, you would need to eliminate at least 7,000 calories per week, or 1,000 per day.

Start with simple things like drinking diet beverages instead of regular ones. Regular sodas are around 250 calories, so by removing one soda per day, you are already on your way to losing half a pound per week.

Walk around the neighborhood for 30 minutes each day and you will burn another 160 calories depending on your weight. Choose meats lower in fat such as chicken and fish to lower fat intake. Fat contains 9 calories per gram, where protein and carbohydrates only contain 4 calories. Alcohol contains 7 calories per gram. So filling up on fruit will make you feel fuller, provide fewer calories and fat, and is easier for your body to metabolize.

When to Eat

When you choose to eat greatly affects your metabolism. If you regularly starve your body by skipping meals, you are actually inhibiting a weight loss program. Your body interprets skipping meals as a need to retain calories and slow your metabolism down. Eating smaller meals throughout the day is a better option because your body will not hoard the calories. This will stimulate your metabolism.

Do not eat a large meal prior to working out. Your stomach will be busy digesting and using your body's metabolic resources in your stomach rather than maximizing your body efforts. A small snack or protein shake prior to working out can help energize you. Replacing calories after you workout can stimulate your metabolism. Eating something within a half hour of working out and then a meal within 2 hours will help you burn more calories throughout the day.

Quick Starts

There are so many fad diets that claim to help you lose weight quickly. The problem is that if you don't adopt the lifestyle changes discussed in the previous sections, no kick-start diet will keep the weight off. Also remember that you can safely lose 2 lbs. per week. If you have a lot of weight to lose, you may be able to lose more earlier on, but consult with your doctor prior to doing any extreme diets, as they may have adverse affects on your health.

High-protein diets may burden your kidneys and liver. Liquid diets may set off an electrolyte imbalance with serious health risks. This isn't to say that these diets are bad, and they do help a lot of people lose weight. The key is to balance your diet and provide your body with the essential nutrients it needs to function. Everything with moderation is the key to weight loss in the long run.

The History Of Native American Basket Weaving

Like many other tribes, the Wappo Indians crafted intricate basketry.

Basket weaving is a utilitarian craft that dates back as early as the Egyptian culture of 10,000 years ago. Archeological discoveries have verified that this craft is nearly as old in the Western Hemisphere, too. Native Americans used the baskets they made in a variety of styles to carry their children, prepare their food and give as gifts.

Materials

Depending on the plant matter most available to the various tribes of North and South America, early examples of hand-crafted baskets could be made from a variety of materials. The Indians of the American Southeast, such as the Cherokee, made their baskets with wicker from rivercane or pine needles. The Ojibwe of the North used birchbark. Many others used the ubiquitous sweetgrass, cedar bark, black ash, spruce root or seagrass for weaving material -- depending on the plant life thriving in their region.

Methods

According to the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian, several techniques were employed by Native Americans through history to create unique basketry. Wicker weaving, with an over-and-under orientation, was popular with the Hopi Indians of the Southwest. A plaiting technique used two different-colored materials to create a checkboard effect, another tradition that took shape in southwestern tribes. Coiling, used by tribes of the Northwest such as the Salishan, involves starting at a central point and winding outward in broader swaths. Another popular method was called twining, with stiff rods holding the more malleable twisting fibers of the basket in place.

Adornment

Aside from the designs inherent in each style of basket making, Native American tribes often decorated their baskets to make them even more unique. Many times, women were the basket weavers, who then passed their final products on to the men who painted on various symbols holding special meaning to the tribe. Other times, such as with the basketry of the Apache, Navajo, Hopi and Chemehuevi tribes of the West, the types of plant fibers used and the intricacy of the weaving technique is what gave the baskets a unique and aesthetic pattern.

Other Styles

As Indian tribes evolved and intermingled with other tribes, their styles of basketry took leaps in appearance and construction, too. For example, the varying tribes forced by colonists to gather on reservations in Oklahoma, after centuries of dominance on the East Coast, began to assimilate different forms of basket making into a unique new style that's persisted to this day. Another unique form of basketry evolved among the Indians of the American Plains, who made boxes out of leather hides, then painted the untanned sides of the boxes in intricate patterns.