PULSE.Byline: Andy Wang As the weather heats up and mosquitoes threaten to ruin spring and summer outings, it's time again to break out that mosquito repellent. If you're among those who hate using repellent because of its greasy feeling and - well, repellent - odor, don't turn to dubious folk remedies like vitamin B vitamin B n. 1. Vitamin B complex. 2. A member of the vitamin B complex, especially thiamine. vitamin B, vitamin B complex a group of water-soluble substances described separately. 12 or garlic, says Joe Conlon, adviser to the American Mosquito Control Association. The U.S. government's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. , aware that many continue to shun mosquito repellent (namely DEET) despite the danger of West Nile virus West Nile virus, microorganism and the infection resulting from it, which typically produces no symptoms or a flulike condition. The virus is a flavivirus and is related to a number of viruses that cause encephalitis. infection, now recommends repellents that include Picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus as active ingredients. Compared to DEET, the newly supported repellents are not greasy and have little to no smell, yet are just as effective. And unlike other remedies you may have heard about, there is a body of evidence to prove their effectiveness. You can find Picaridin-based repellents under the Cutter Advanced brand, and lemon-eucalyptus-oil-based repellents under the Repel brand, among others. LUPUS TALK Dr. Jennifer M. Grossman, rheumatologist rheumatologist /rheu·ma·tol·o·gist/ (roo?mah-tol´ah-jist) a specialist in rheumatology. rheu·ma·tol·o·gist n. A specialist in the diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic disorders. and researcher at UCLA Medical Center UCLA Medical Center is a hospital located on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles in Los Angeles, California. It is rated as one of the top three hospitals in the United States and is the top hospital on the West Coast according to US News & World Report. , speaks about lupus, an autoimmune disease autoimmune disease, any of a number of abnormal conditions caused when the body produces antibodies to its own substances. In rheumatoid arthritis, a group of antibody molecules called collectively RF, or rheumatoid factor, is complexed to the individual's own gamma whose varied symptoms include severe sun sensitivity, anthritislike pain and neurologic disorders such as seizures. Grossman, a Valley resident and leading lupus researcher, gives a rundown of the disease, sometimes called SLE SLE systemic lupus erythematosus. SLE abbr. systemic lupus erythematosus Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) , for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Definition Systemic lupus erythematosus (also called lupus or SLE) is a disease where a person's immune system attacks and injures the body's own organs and tissues. Almost every system of the body can be affected by SLE. . The presentation will include information on recent research findings and the down sides of current treatments, as well as possible alternative treatments on the horizon. The discussion takes place 6 p.m. Tuesday at Baxter Pharmaceuticals, 1 Baxter Way, Westlake Village. Admission is free; reservations are required. Call Mary Weyand at (805) 524-3123. A NEW YOU: Chances are someone you know is overweight - and constantly tired and stressed. Maybe it's even you. Peter Bennett and Stephen Barrie, authors of ``Energize Your Life'' (Bindu Publishing; $19.95), offer a holistic, three-pronged approach to breaking out of the habits that are dragging you down. Over three weeks, you learn to cut down on energy-draining foods, get active and find time to relax. Not your typical diet and exercise book, ``Energize Your Life'' is boldly and simply illustrated; put together with the help of a ``human-centered design studio,'' the book comes across as no less than a personal coach wrapped in a lifestyle manual. Inside, readers will find things like candle gazing for relaxation, a hummus hum·mus also hum·us or hom·mos n. A smooth thick mixture of mashed chickpeas, tahini, oil, lemon juice, and garlic, used especially as a dip for pita. recipe and breath training exercises, to name only a few. The very no-nonsense book concludes bizarrely with a section that looks like an advertisement for a brand of energy bars, but interested readers should nonetheless find the meat of the book appealing for its brevity and gung ho attitude. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) no caption (Cutter Advanced) (2) no caption (book: ``Energize Your Life'') |
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