The minimally invasive procedure known as gastric plication involves folding the stomach so that its total volume is reduced significantly.

Refleckta/Shutterstock

Dr. Santiago Horgan, a pioneer in the field of surgical treatment of morbid obesity, is now exploring the use of an investigational procedure known as gastric plication to help patients lose weight. Horgan, who is the director of minimally invasive surgery at the University of California, San Diego Health system, explained in a press statement that the procedure is “a new choice for patients who are more than 30 pounds overweight.” (A patient must have a BMI of at least 27 to qualify.)

The procedure involves folding the stomach so that the volume is reduced by up to 70 percent. “Patients can expect to lose up to two pounds per week following the procedure,” Horgan said. Post-op patients are generally hospitalized for one to two days and are able to return to normal activities within a week.

From the announcement:

Horgan compares gastric plication, a way to fold the stomach into a new functional form, to the art of origami. Gastric plication is potentially reversible and is performed laparoscopically. during a one-hour procedure, one to five small incisions are made in the abdomen to reach the stomach to place the folds. Depending on the size of the patient’s stomach, one or two folds are created with non-absorbable sutures.

After the surgery has been completed, patients have been shown to have a decrease in appetite, according to Horgan. because “the patient’s anatomy is not rerouted, the patient does not have severe food restrictions,” he said.

A number of patients treated with the procedure have seen reduction of hypertension symptoms and have been able to decrease their use of blood pressure, diabetes, and depression medications. These benefits are attributed to a combination of the surgery, healthy eating, and exercise.

• More from UCSD: New Weight Loss Surgery Folds Stomach into Smaller Size

This post also appears on medGadget, an Atlantic partner site.

The Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health, confirmed Friday that 107 people were sickened by Norovirus, a foodborne illness, at Cebolla’s Mexican Grill, 5930 W. Jefferson Blvd.

John Silcox, public information specialist for the health department, said the outbreak is a type of viral gastroenteritis.

“When you hear about cruise ship sickness, that’s usually what it is,” Silcox said.

The situation at Cebolla’s was believed to have developed March 25. Symptoms of the virus – nausea, stomach cramps, vomiting and diarrhea – begin 24-48 hours after exposure. Silcox said Cebolla’s management has continued to cooperate through the investigation.

Silcox said the virus is passed by an infected person who handles food after using the bathroom and failing to properly wash hands. The virus – often found in hospitals, nursing homes, cruise ships and schools – is one of the most common foodborne viruses in the United States. an outbreak this time of year is not unusual, Silcox said.

• By VeloNews.com
• Published Mar. 7, 2012
• Updated 1 day ago

RODEZ, France – There’s a stomach bug taking a toll on the Paris-Nice peloton, but Tejay van Garderen says he’s holding tough despite BMC teammate Taylor Phinney abandoning Wednesday and Thor Hushovd struggling to hang on.

Van Garderen told VeloNews that he’s still in top shape going into Thursday’s decisive stage with the mountaintop finish at Mende.

“It took down Phinney, I am feeling fine,” van Garderen said. “It seems like something is going around in the bunch. A couple of RadioShack guys are sick and Thor (Hushovd) is feeling a bit queazy in the stomach, I’ve been able to avoid it.”

Van Garderen said the team does what it can to avoid health problems for the riders, but sometimes there’s not much anyone can do.

“Luckily, we take precautions, bring our chef to make sure that we limit the contamination, but sometimes you cannot always control everything,” he said.

Phinney, meanwhile, said he got zapped overnight and was in no condition to race when he woke up Wednesday morning for the start in Brive-la-Gaillarde.

“There’s a stomach virus going around in the race. last night, I woke up in middle of the night. I was really sick, vomiting and nasty stuff. This morning I was drained, really empty,” Phinney told BMC’s press officer. “I was planning on trying to start and see how I felt. The doctor and the staff, especially Rik (Verbrugghe) saw that I wasn’t in the right state to race and decided it was better for me to take it easy and recover from this. for me, it’s disappointing, but sickness is part of life.”

Phinney is still planning on starting his next scheduled race at Gent-Wevelgem on March 25.

In his first Paris-Nice, Phinney was key to van Garderen’s current third-place position in the general classification. The second-year pro shepherded van Garderen into the elite group of 21 riders late in stage 2, and the pair gained more than two minutes on the first chase group.

A wave of gastroenteritis has forced several riders in the peloton at Paris-Nice to abandon the race prior to stage 4 on Wednesday morning. RadioShack-Nissan teammates Jan Bakelants and Joost Posthuma have left the race the day after RadioShack’s Andy Schleck abandoned with the ailment.

According to Het Nieuwsblad, Lotto-Belisol riders Adam Hansen and Olivier Kaisen — who spent much of stage 2 in a solo breakaway — have also abandoned with illness.

Gastroenteritis, the common stomach bug, is an inflammation of the stomach or small intestine, with symptoms like cramps, diarrhea and vomiting. The virus may be transmitted through improperly prepared foods, contaminated water or close contact with infected persons.

FILED UNDER: News / Road TAGS: Jan Bakelants / Joost Posthuma / Paris-Nice / Taylor Phinney / Tejay Van Garderen

PROTON PUMP inhibitors (PPIs), the commonly used medications for the treatment of heartburn and acid reflux, may also put you at risk for bone fractures and intestinal infections according to new research.

The drugs, which include over-the-counter Prilosec and prescription Nexium, Protonix, Prevacid and Aciphex, are among the most popular medications in the world with millions of people taking them on a daily basis. the PPIs work by blocking the production of acid in the stomach. Acid in the stomach is normal, but when that acid leaks into the esophagus or down into the small intestine, it can burn the tissue resulting in acid reflux or intestinal ulcers.

PPIs are very good at blocking the production of acid, and they are remarkably effective at relieving acid related symptoms. Surprisingly, blocking acid production in the stomach has little effect on digestion and the drugs generally have no major side effects. some people take PPIs for weeks, months or even years — taking them long after the acid-related symptoms have resolved.

But stomach acid was put there for a reason. It is the first line of defense against swallowed bacteria and other organisms, such as parasites. the highly acidic environment in the stomach kills most nasty bugs, protecting us against infections. the high acidity also helps with the digestion of certain nutrients, including calcium.

Blocking acid production and neutralizing the pH in the stomach allows bacteria to go unchecked downstream into the small bowel and colon. in America, this is rarely a problem because our food and water is clean and relatively bacteria free.

As PPI use increases, however, there is a new bacterium that is emerging as a threat. It is a rather benign sounding bug called Clostridium difficile, “C diff” for short. C diff infections can cause inflammation of the colon (colitis) that results in severe watery diarrhea and in some cases can cause severe abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea and fever. C diff infections are increasing the cause of fatal bowel infections.

C diff infection has been a known complication of antibiotic use for years. Antibiotics reduce the number of normal bacteria in the colon, allowing overgrowth of C diff. Hospitalized patients are particularly at risk, especially if they are on heavy does of antibiotics. New research shows that taking antibiotics and a PPI increases the risk even more. Altering the bowel flora with an antibiotic while at the same time eliminating the acid barrier in the upper intestinal tract appears to be a perfect storm for C diff infections.

Doctors are starting to see C diff infections in outpatients as well, some are just taking PPIs and have not had recent antibiotics.

All this has led the Food and Drug Administration to issue an alert last week regarding use of PPIs and the risk of C diff infections. along with avoiding unnecessary antibiotics, the FDA is recommending that “patients should use the lowest dose and shortest duration of PPI therapy appropriate to the condition being treated.” the FDA also urges patients to seek medical attention immediately if they experience watery diarrhea and abdominal pain that does not go away while taking a PPI.

C diff is not the only infection associated with PPIs. Other bowel infections such as salmonella and campylobacter are more common in patients taking PPIs, especially if they travel to areas where water and food is suspect. the less potent acid blocker medications called H2 blockers (Pepcid, Zantac, Tagamet, etc.) do not seem to incur the same risk of these infections.

Infection is not the only downside of PPIs. More data is suggesting that chronic use of PPIs increases risk of hip fractures and other bone fractures in older women. A new study utilizing data from the 80,000 women who have participated in the Nurses Health Study noted a 35 percent increased risk for hip fracture among regular PPI users. the risk of fracture increased with longer duration of use and return to normal after stopping the PPI for more than two years. the risk was particularly severe in women who smoke or previously smoked. Previous studies have shown association between PPIs and forearm and wrist fractures as well.

Last year, the FDA considered adding a warning to PPIs regarding the risk of osteoporosis. but decided against it because the “fracture risk with short-term, low-dose PPI use is unlikely. the available data show the patients at highest risk for fractures received high doses of prescription PPIs and/or used to PPI for one year or more.”

Despite the risk of PPIs, these drugs are incredibly effective in the treatment of acid reflux, gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and other acid-related stomach conditions.

It is safe to say that PPIs have revolutionized the treatment of these common conditions. however, like most good things, too much of it can be harmful. if you are taking a PPI, make sure that you take if for the shortest time needed — often one to two weeks is sufficient unless your doctor tells you otherwise. if your symptoms have resolved for several weeks, you may safely go off of the drug or step down to a less potent acid blocker such as an antacid or a calcium containing antacid.

Dr. Bill Elliott is assistant physician in chief for Kaiser Permanente’s Novato office and Petaluma. his column appears every third Monday.

Marin County public health officials have quarantined two senior residential care centers and a preschool because of an outbreak of a flu-like illness.

The suspected culprit is norovirus, a gastrointestinal illness that causes nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and stomach cramps. Most people who are infected recover in two to three days without hospitalization and with no long-term health effects. But deaths have occurred in some cases. The greatest risk is dehydration because of vomiting and diarrhea in the very young and elderly.

So far, 36 people, including patients and staff members, have fallen ill at Aegis Living of San Rafael at 111 Merrydale Road, which has 70 beds, said Shanna Cronan, a nurse speaking on behalf of the Marin County Division of Public Health Services. At Aegis Living in Corte Madera at 5555 Paradise Drive, 37 people have become sick, Cronan said. The quarantine at the San Rafael center might be lifted Tuesday.

Cronan said Public Health Services didn’t learn of the outbreak at the preschool until Monday, even though it began on Jan. 13. So far, 16 children and adults have become ill at the preschool, which she declined to identify.

She said not enough test samples have been collected yet to determine the cause of any of the outbreaks. Norovirus is suspected, however, based on the symptoms being displayed.

The outbreak at the San Rafael facility began Jan. 14, and the first illness at the Corte Madera facility occurred on Thursday, Cronan said. Both are owned by Aegis Senior Communities, a limited liability corporation.

Cronan said Aegis waited until Friday to notify Public Health Services of both outbreaks. She said notification should have occurred sooner because facilities are required to contact the county within 48 hours once they have two or more “cases with acute onset of vomiting or diarrhea, or one lab-confirmed case.”

A Novato resident who has a family member living at Aegis Living of San Rafael said the management there never notified her of the outbreak. The woman, who asked that she not be identified, said she learned of the quarantine only when the family member phoned her.

Mary Crowe, the executive director of Aegis Living of San Rafael, said relatives of the people living at the San Rafael center were notified of the outbreak on Friday.

“We are taking preventative measures, which means we are asking people not to visit. It’s very standard,” Crowe said. “We haven’t had any new cases in 24 hours so I think we’re pretty clear.”

Crowe said the two Aegis facilities do share some employees. “There are a couple that work part-time that go back and forth,” she said. Diane Savard, the administrator of Aegis Living in Corte Madera, was unavailable for comment.

Rebecca Ng, chief of Marin County’s Division of Environmental Health Services, said she first learned of the three new outbreaks when she was contacted by the Independent Journal on Monday. Ng said normally her department is notified immediately when gastrointestinal illnesses occur so the facilities’ kitchens can be inspected for possible sources of contamination. But Marin County’s public health officer, Dr. Jason Eberhart-Phillips, said he personally sent Ng an email on Friday informing her of the outbreaks at the Aegis facilities.

Environmental Health Services was not notified in November when a norovirus outbreak at Country Villa Novato Healthcare Center in Novato resulted in at least 80 residents and staff members becoming ill. Cronan said the norovirus outbreak at Country Villa was one of three at Marin County nursing homes that month; each resulted in a county-mandated quarantine. But Cronan would not identify where the other outbreaks occurred.

Eberhart-Phillips said that if the county were to make public the names of facilities where outbreaks occur, managers there would be less likely to notify the county. Officials, however, have confirmed the sites of local outbreaks when specifically asked about them by the Independent Journal.

Pat McGinnis, executive director of California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform, a statewide nonprofit advocacy organization, said the county’s refusal to identify the locations of all outbreaks “is very unusual. It’s a county public health department. It’s supposed to be public information.”

Contact Richard Halstead via e-mail at

A woman stares at the phone on the table in front of her, feeling tormented because she’s afraid to pick it up and make a call she has been putting off for a week and can no longer postpone. she silently tells herself she is acting irrationally, that there is no reason to feel afraid to call an unknown person in a business office 500 miles away. she believes she was overcharged on her electric bill last month and has avoided calling the electric company because she’s afraid she’ll be “putting someone out” and they will be upset with her. She’s especially afraid to call people she knows because she feels that she’ll be calling at the wrong time — the other person will be busy — and they won’t want to talk with her anyway,  leading to feelings of rejection before she ever even picks up the phone. Once the call is made and over, she sits and analyzes what was said, what tone it was said in, and how she believes she was perceived by the other person. Anxiety and racing thoughts concerning the call prove to her that she messed this conversation up also, just like she always does. sometimes she gets embarrassed just thinking about the call.the above situation is just a glimpse into one of the many situations that can trigger social anxiety and its effect on a person. many people experience feelings like these when they interact with others, leading them to avoid social interaction. Social anxiety affects approximately 15 million people in the United States. it is equally common among men and women, and typically begins in adolescents. According to a 2007 Anxiety Disorders Association of America survey, 36 percent of people with social anxiety disorder report experiencing symptoms for 10 or more years before seeking help.  Social anxiety is diagnosed when a person experiences feelings of overwhelming anxiety and excessive self-consciousness in everyday social situations. People with social anxiety have a persistent, intense, and chronic fear that others are watching and/or judging them, and of doing things that will embarrass them.  This fear may become so severe that it interferes with daily activities such as work and school, and can make it hard to make and keep friends leading to feelings of isolation and depression.  A person’s social anxiety may be limited to one situation, such as talking to people, or could be generalized, leading to feelings of anxiety around anyone with whom they are not extremely close. other feared situations may include: eating or drinking in front of others, writing or working in front of others, being the center of attention, interacting with people; including dating or going to parties, asking questions or giving reports in groups. When confronted with the fear-provoking situation a person with social anxiety will experience intense anxiety, and avoidance of those feared situations. Physical symptoms such as: confusion, pounding heart, sweating, shaking, blushing, muscle tension, and upset stomach may also be present. People with social anxiety are often mistakenly perceived as being shy, uninterested, nervous, and unfriendly. in fact, they want to be friendly and open but feel too anxious to act on that desire.A person’s friendships are not the only relationships impacted by social anxiety. Oftentimes, the anxiety places a strain on family and spouse relationships. the people who have a loved one with social anxiety can experience a range of emotions. Anger and resentment over the activities and family gatherings that your loved one avoids, guilt about criticizing too harshly when your anger gets out of control, frustration over feeling powerless to help or comfort them are emotions that can be difficult to deal with on your own. if this article struck a chord for you because you identify personally with it or it reminds you of someone you know, please know that social anxiety is a treatable condition. Treatment varies based on the severity of the anxiety but therapy is the best place to start. if you have questions, concerns, or would like more information please give us a call at 432-580-7006.

DEAR DOCTOR K: I suffer from heartburn and have been taking a proton pump inhibitor for the past few years. Should I be worried about long-term side effects?

DEAR READER: For many people with heartburn, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) provide great relief. Stomach acid contains lots of hydrogen ions, which are protons. PPI drugs inhibit the production of those protons. The PPIs include esomeprazole (Nexium), lansoprazole (Prevacid) and omeprazole (Prilosec).

PPIs work by reducing the acid in our stomachs — although we need some acid to help digest our food. it also helps to kill bacteria and other germs in our stomachs that could otherwise make us sick.

But sometimes excess stomach acid backs up into the esophagus, the tube that connects our mouths to our stomachs. This condition is called gastroesophageal reflux disease, better known as GERD. The acid reflux irritates the lining of the lower esophagus, causing heartburn.

If you suffer from chronic heartburn and quite possibly GERD, join the crowd: There are millions of us. many people with chronic reflux take a PPI indefinitely. That’s because reflux often returns once you discontinue the medication.

One concern is that PPIs may increase the risk of pneumonia. how does that happen? When we get reflux, the stomach contents can sometimes go all the way up to the top of the esophagus. The top of the esophagus opens in the throat, right near where the breathing tube leading to the lungs opens. The stomach contents that reflux up to the top of the esophagus can then drop down into the lungs.

You don’t want to know all of the things that are in our stomach contents. Suffice to say that along with the acid are bacteria. if those bacteria get into the lungs, they can cause pneumonia (a lung infection). By reducing stomach acid, PPIs make the stomach a friendlier home for bacteria. This increases the chance of pneumonia. However, this risk is very low. It’s not high enough that you should stop PPIs if they are giving you good relief.

PPIs may also increase the risk of infection with bacteria that can cause life-threatening cases of diarrhea and a serious colon condition. Normally stomach acids would kill these bacteria. but by making the stomach less acidic, PPIs open the door to infection. This risk, too, is very low.

PPIs might also indirectly increase the risk of osteoporosis and fractures, because acid contributes to the absorption of calcium. and PPIs may lower your body’s levels of vitamin B12, because acid also helps you absorb more of that vitamin.

We have a lot more information on preventing and treating reflux in our Special Health Report, “The Sensitive Gut.” you can find out more about it at my website.

I understand your concern, but try to keep this in perspective. Fortunately, my symptoms of GERD are mild and I don’t need PPIs. but if I did, and if they gave me great relief, I wouldn’t stop them because of these possible small risks.

Dr. Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. go to his website to send questions and get additional information: AskDoctorK.com.

December 28, 2011    05:05 pm Sabrina Ambler, MML News Reporter

Sonora, CA — the medical community refers to this time of year as the flu season, so far in Tuolumne, Calaveras and Amador counties there have been only “standard” or “sporadic” reports of influenza. There have been no confirmed reports in the area of influenza this year. Calaveras County Health Director Dr. Dean Kelaita said that reports of influenza, meaning a respiratory illness that can include a cough, do not seem to be worse this year over other years or above the usual seasonal average.

Dr. Kelaita noted that a few residents, in Calaveras, and Amador County have been hospitalized with Norovirus. Several elderly residents in an assisted living facility came down with the virus. the virus is fairly common and causes what many people call the stomach flu.

Dr. Todd Stolp, Tuolumne County Health Officer, reports that Sonora Regional Medical Center has had zero positive cases of the respiratory virus, influenza.

According to Dr. Stolp the state received nearly 1,000 tests but only 15 of those were positive for influenza strain a and four were positive for influenza B. Both strains are included in the influenza vaccine. There was one death in Kern County on December 22nd from influenza. the main way to prevent getting and spreading both Noro Virus and Influenza, which are highly contagious, is to frequently wash your hands. Dr. Stolp cautions that even though the influenza virus has not arrived yet it is best to stay at home if you experience symptoms and cover your cough with your elbow.

Written by Sabrina Ambler

Probiotics are live micro-organisms, which are thought to be beneficial to the stomach. However, a new study out of Spain finds they are also good for your teeth.

Researchers at International University in Barcelona, Spain, looked at the effects of probiotics on gingivitis, bad breath and cavity development.

Researchers found that some of the probiotics showed promise – either alone or as part of a formula – for improving oral health.

Denise Cole, a registered dietitian at the Cleveland Clinic, who did not take part in the study, said people who took probiotic milk over a seven month period showed a decrease in cavities.

“We have also seen when probiotics were administered straight to the gum, that we did see a decrease in periodontal disease as well,” she said.

Probiotics can increase resistance to infectious diseases, help balance upset stomach and improve allergy symptoms.

“Probiotic milks and yogurts are a good source of those probiotics for you, and there are also over-the-counter pills (you can take),” Cole said.

The complete findings of this study are published in the Archives of Oral Biology Journal.

Camp Verde, AZ (PRWEB) December 01, 2011

according to WebMD, up to 55 million Americans suffer from chronic constipation, bloating, abdominal cramps and flatulence associated with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). For some people, it is just occasional constipation or bloating. For others, it’s an embarrassing, debilitating condition that is so uncomfortable it isolates them from work and social activities. IBS sufferers might also suffer from poor nutrient absorption as the large intestine is not functioning reliably. For others, the chronic constipation causes them to develop hemorrhoids and anal fissures that make bathroom trips (not to mention the simple act of sitting) difficult and painful. IBS is usually diagnosed after all other possible causes for the symptoms have been eliminated, so when someone is diagnosed with the condition, they’ve most likely endured multiple painful and invasive medical tests.

So the good news is, you don’t have a life-threatening disease. The bad news is you have a chronic, sometimes debilitating condition for which there is no known medical cure. The cause of IBS is unknown, though medical researchers suspect a number of possible culprits from stress, food sensitivities to low serotonin levels and bacterial imbalances.

How Coliminate may Help Coliminate is an all-natural, medically approved botanical formula that provides relief from symptoms of constipation, bloating, abdominal discomfort and flatulence while promoting healing to a distressed intestinal tract. here is a list of what Coliminate may help:

• Promote regularity
• Soften compacted stools
• Facilitate proper and efficient absorption of nutrients
• Reduce gas and bloating
• Protect against hemorrhoids and anal fissures
• Provide relief from diarrhea
• Neutralize excess acidity
• Relieve nausea and stomach ache

Coliminate includes this proprietary blend of these herbs and other natural ingredients to help you achieve clockwork regularity and rid yourself of painful, embarrassing and debilitating digestive issues:

Fennel is perhaps best known as a flavoring agent in cooking. But it has also been used to help relieve uncomfortable bloating and embarrassing flatulence. Fennel is also a rich source of beta-carotene, a vitamin-A precursor and powerful antioxidant.

Ginger is one of nature’s most versatile plants when it comes to addressing a great variety of digestive issues. it has been used extensively to relieve nausea, flatulence, stomach ache, diarrhea, excess stomach acid, and more.

Psyllium is one of nature’s medical miracles. this bulk-forming fiber is most commonly used to address constipation by absorbing liquids in order to form soft stools that are easy to pass. But it can also help provide relief from diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and the symptoms of ulcerative colitis.

Senna is a gentle digestive tract cleanser that has proven to be a natural laxative for those suffering from constipation. it has also been used to facilitate weight loss.

Slippery Elm is a soothing botanical that not only helps relieve the pain associated with hemorrhoids and other gastro-intestinal inflammation but it can also help protect against stomach ulcers, colitis, diverticulitis, and excess acidity.

Triphala is a popular Ayurvedic herbal formula from India that is an effective colon cleanser. it is also used to help rid the body of harmful toxins that cling to the walls of the intestines, Triphala also aids in the absorption of nutrients, especially in the duodenum.

Get Coliminate now and start Feeling better! Don’t let constipation, flatulence, poor nutrient absorption, irritable bowel syndrome, and other debilitating “gut” issues make your life miserable. Try Coliminate today and start living a life free of intestinal discomfort and enjoy blessed relief from “toilet troubles.”

About the Institute for Vibrant Living® A leader in the dietary supplement industry, the Institute for Vibrant Living is committed to providing customers with evidence based nutritional supplements. their unique product line reflects a belief that anyone can achieve lifelong health. all products and formulations are based on extensive research, clinical trials and case studies. all products are 100% guaranteed.

To learn more about the Institute for Vibrant Living® please visit their website at IVLProducts.com.

This information is meant to be used to educate the reader and is not intended to provide individual medical advice. before you take any supplement, please consult your physician or other licensed healthcare professional to determine if it’s appropriate for you. this information is brought to you by the Institute for Vibrant Living®.

Read the full story at prweb.com/releases/2011/12/prweb8986879.htm