Larry King’s wife attempted suicide by overdosing on prescription drugs

June 11, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, June 11 (ANI): Talk show host Larry King’s wife has been revealed to have attempted suicide late last month by overdosing on prescription drugs as she battled depression.

According to TMZ.com, an officer with the Provo, Utah police reported entering Shawn King’s residence on May 2, going to a bedroom where paramedics were treating her and seeing “multiple pill bottles, all of which were empty on the bed”.

The police report noted “scriptures, a purse, other various books” and a letter which appeared to be a note left by the victim.

“It is unknown whose writing this letter was in, however wording on the letter led me to believe that (King) had intentionally taken the quantity of pills,” the Telegraph quoted the officer as writing in the report, which is labelled “attempted suicide”.

The report said labels on the bottles indicated multiple drugs including Ambien, Klonopin and Clonazepam, and many of them were empty.

One witness told police that Shawn King “is always depressed, but she had not mentioned anything that she would want to hurt herself or take her own life”. (ANI)

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Simon Cowell reveals how he suffers deep depression

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 20 (ANI): In a tell-all interview with chat queen Oprah Winfrey, Simon Cowell has revealed how he suffers deep depression.

“I get very, very down,” Cowell admitted on the show, reports the Daily Star.

When questioned by the American host, 56, “What have you got to be depressed about?”

He gave a brief reply saying, “I’ve made some absolutely horrific mistakes in the past.”

The 50-year-old, who is engaged to sexy make-up artist Mezhgan Hussainy, 36, gave the farewell interview as he quits American Idol. (ANI)

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For women, marriage comes with ””numerous health risks””

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 20 (ANI): Marriage comes with numerous health risks, especially for brides, according to a new book.

Tara Parker-Pope””s new book,” For Better (For Worse): The Science Of A Good Marriage” analyses more than 200 matrimony studies to show that an unhappy marriage can be more harmful to long-term health than becoming single again.

Leading British marriage counsellor Andrew G. Marshall feels most of us tend to ignore marriage””s powerful effect on physical wellbeing.

“Forget eating your five a day and taking vitamins, it would be far better for your health to tell your partner you love them. Devoting time to them would be more effective in increasing health and happiness than going for a jog,” the Sun quoted him, as saying.

Marshall went on: “I can””t think of anything more important than your relationship with your partner.

“But because we have this rosy view of love conquering all, we think we can neglect it and things will just keep trundling along.

“We don””t realise that if this building block in our lives collapses, our health goes with it. I””ve had clients who get terrible migraines, panic attacks and depression.”

Marshall believes marriages can particularly affect women””s health.

He said: “For a man, marriage is wonderful because you don””t really have to think about looking after yourself.

“But women end up doing the worrying for two.” (ANI)

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Loneliness ‘can cause weight gain’

May 20, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, May 20 (ANI): The world may have become a global village because of Internet and mobile phones, but many still deal with loneliness and emotional distress that may lead to overeating and serious weight gain.

Mary Jo Rapini, a psychotherapist with The Methodist Weight Management Center in Houston says that people look for comfort food when they feel lonely or depressed.

Some will begin to gain a lot of weight, begin to feel even more self conscious about their appearance, and fall into a deeper depression.

Rapini adds that it is important to express yourself, be it through talking to someone, by journaling, drawing self-portraits of how you are feeling or writing poetry or short stories about your situation. (ANI)

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Predictors of satisfaction with facial plastic surgery

May 18, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, May 18 (ANI): A new study has identified factors that predict satisfaction or dissatisfaction with outcomes among patients undergoing facial plastic surgery.

The study suggests that older patients and those currently being treated for depression may be more likely to be satisfied with the results of their procedures, whereas overall optimism and pessimism do not appear related to satisfaction with surgical outcomes.

Jill L. Hessler, of Premier Plastic Surgery, Palo Alto, Calif., and colleagues surveyed 51 patients at one facial cosmetic surgery center between 2007 and 2008.

Participants completed a demographic questionnaire, a test to evaluate optimism and pessimism and a surgical outcomes survey specific to their type of procedure (for instance, facelift or nasal surgery).

Four to six months later, they again completed the optimism/pessimism and surgical outcomes assessments. The four surgeons at the center were also asked to participate.

Patients who were older than the average age of 53 were more satisfied with their surgical results than patients younger than the average age. This may reflect more realistic expectations among older patients, the authors note.

In addition, those currently being treated for depression were more satisfied than those who were not being treated for depression.

No correlation was identified between a patient”s optimism or pessimism at the beginning of the study and later satisfaction, nor did any other demographic factor assessed predict later satisfaction.

Patients and physicians generally agreed with regard to satisfaction, although surgeons tended to be less positive in their assessment of outcomes than were patients.

“The ability to preoperatively identify patient characteristics (psychological, social or demographic) that might impact the subjective perception of surgical outcome and predict dissatisfaction with facial plastic surgery could be highly useful to surgeons,” the authors said.

The study has been published in the May/June issue of Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. (ANI)

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M&S model Lenoir ”attempted suicide after footballer Makelele dashed her reconciliation hopes’

May 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, May 15 (ANI): Marks & Spencers model Noemie Lenoir attempted suicide because footballer Claude Makelele told her that their relationship was over, it has emerged.

The beauty was found unconscious in the woods outside the French soccer star’s Paris home following drugs binge.

Lenoir had cocktail of dugs and alcohol after Makelele ended her hope of reconciliation saying, they had no future together.

The former couple, who have a five-year-old son, Kelyan, together, had parted ways last year.

Lenoir had been dating Swiss millionaire Carl Hirschmann, but pals suggest she could never really get over Makelele, 37.

“Claude and Noemie’s relationship is known in France as une histoire d’amour – a love story and a sad one. To us they are like the Beckhams, huge stars,” the Mirror quoted a pal of Makelele, as saying.

The friend added: “Noemi is one of the most beautiful women in France. Claude is the love of her life. She has dated other men, but none compare to him – he’s the father of their child, after all.

“He has been seeing other women, she’s known this, but there is one in particular he is very keen on and Noemie is devastated.

“She has always said she wanted to marry him. But they get back together, split, then get back together again.

“Now he has this new woman he has told her in no uncertain terms it’s over. She wanted to make a point with Claude that she is still in love with him, and that’s why she went to his house to attempt suicide.”

Also, a close friend added: “Noemie has been spiralling into depression in recent months – she has been having a crisis about turning 30, not being married and she has a fear that she’ll always be alone. When she woke up on Sunday she was terribly depressed and carried on drinking. She decided her only option was to kill herself.”

Meanwhile, Swiss millionaire Hirschmann, who is presently accused in a sex and extortion scandal in Zurich, has reportedly dumped her too. (ANI)

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Psychological problems during childhood create long-term economic losses

May 14, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, May 14 (ANI): Childhood psychological disorders could diminish people”s ability to work and earn as adults, according to a study.

People who suffer from childhood conditions such as depression and substance abuse are less likely to be married, attain less education and see their income reduced by about 20 percent over their lifetimes, according to findings published online by the journal Social Science & Medicine.

“This study shows childhood psychological disorders can cause significant long-lasting harm and can have far-reaching impact on individuals over their lifetimes,” said James P. Smith, the study”s lead author and corporate chair of economics at RAND, a nonprofit research organization. “Our findings illustrate what the enormous potential might be of identifying and treating these problems early in life.”

Researchers examined information from a large study that has followed American families for more than 40 years and found evidence that the impact of childhood psychological problems have lasting impact across many measures of economic success.

Researchers also found that people who reported childhood psychological problems were 11 percentage points less likely to marry than their siblings who did not suffer such problems.

Even when people in the group do marry, the income earned by their spouse is lower than seen among other couples.

People who reported psychological problems during childhood on average reported about half a year less of schooling than those who did not report problems. The schooling differences were greater among those who reported drug or alcohol problems.

“Not all of the people who have psychological problems during childhood will carry these problems into adulthood,” said Smith. “But they are 10 to 20 times more likely than others to have these shortfalls during adulthood. There clearly are large economic costs during adulthood caused by childhood psychological conditions.”

The results in the study are drawn from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics, the largest ongoing study of American families. (ANI)

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High obesity rates in disabled children

May 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, May 4 (ANI): Children who are disabled are at increased risk of becoming obesity. Now, a team of researchers has described possible ways to prevent or treat this problem.

In the current issue of Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, Thomas Reinehr and his colleagues from Witten/Herdecke University have tried to tackle the problem.

There are many reasons that a disabled child may be overweight. One reason may be the disability itself, for example, if this includes the cerebral regions responsible for weight regulation. Lack of exercise may also be important; this may be linked to a physical or mental disability or be due to overprotective care providers.

These children or adolescents are anyway restricted by their disabilities and the consequences of overweight are often more serious than for healthy persons. Problems associated with disability include social isolation, restricted mobility, and depression. These problems are often exacerbated by overweight, further reducing the child”s independence.

Current therapeutic approaches for obese children and adolescents are of little or no use for obese disabled children. Only a few interventional studies have been performed which are adapted to specific disabilities. The patients can be assisted in reducing their overweight if they are instructed about the importance of nutrition and exercise and are helped in reducing factors which restrict their mobility. (ANI)

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Malaysian politician questions effectiveness of religious raids

April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Kuantan, Apr 27 (ANI): In the wake of the shocking suicide by a Malay teenager, who flung himself off the fifth floor in a bid to evade officers conducting religious raids, Malaysian politician Adnan Yaakob has questioned the effectiveness of such exercises.

He believes that were the people targeted by these raids alive, they would at least have a chance of reforming themselves and adopting a lifestyle that upholds Islamic values.

“I think it is better to give them guidance rather than raiding a place. Raids will cause the person to panic and do something irrational like jumping off a building,” Adnan told the State Assembly at Kuantan, The Star reports.

He also raised the issue of teenage suicides caused by depression and urged teachers to be more observant and counsel those susceptible. (ANI)

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Popular antidepressants may give cardiovascular health a boost

April 27, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, Apr 27 (ANI): A class of antidepressants known as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may improve cardiovascular health by affecting the way platelets, small cells in the blood involved in clotting, clump together, say researchers.

In a study of 50 adults, the Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood researchers found that platelets were slower to clump together, or aggregate, in participants who were taking an SSRI to treat depression.

As depression is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, this finding could indicate a beneficial side effect for people who take SSRIs to treat depression, said Evangelos Litinas, MD, Research Associate in the Center”s Pathology Department.

Dr. Litinas will present the team”s research at the American Physiological Society”s annual Experimental Biology 2010 conference being held in Anaheim, CA from April 24-28. (ANI)

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Rexahn Pharmaceuticals Submits Serdaxin® Phase II Protocol to FDA for Parkinson`s Disease

April 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

ROCKVILLE, Md.–(Business Wire)–
Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NYSE Amex: RNN), a clinical stage pharmaceutical
company commercializing potential best in class oncology and CNS therapeutics,
today announced that it has submitted a Phase II protocol to the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) for the clinical study of Serdaxin® for the treatment
of Parkinson`s disease (PD).

“Serdaxin has demonstrated an ability to prevent neuronal deaths in PD models,
and the drug`s positive Phase IIa results in depression further enhance its
promise as a treatment for PD,” said Rexahn Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Chang
Ahn. “Although there are currently various treatment options for PD, a
meaningful cure is overdue. Based on Serdaxin`s novel action as a dual serotonin
and dopamine enhancer, we believe it has the potential to be the first drug of
its kind to target both the classic symptoms of PD and treat the depression so
often associated with this disease.”

The Phase II study will assess Serdaxin`s efficacy as a treatment for
Parkinson`s disease in approximately 300 subjects. The planned double blind,
randomized, placebo-controlled trial will include the Unified Parkinson`s
Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) and quality of life instruments as study endpoints
and will be conducted at multiple sites.

Rexahn also has formed a Parkinson`s Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) composed of
leading medical researchers in the field of neurology who will advise on the
design and development of the Serdaxin clinical trials. Commenting on the
protocol submission, Dr. William Weiner, Chairman of the SAB, and head of the
Maryland Parkinson`s Disease and Movement Disorders Center, and Professor and
Chair of the Department of Neurology at the University of Maryland School of
Medicine, said, “We believe that Serdaxin’s properties in animal models open
exciting possibilities as a new treatment for patients with PD. All the members
of the SAB will be actively engaged in Serdaxin’s clinical development, which we
hope will further establish the drug’s efficacy in treating PD.”

About Serdaxin®

Serdaxin® is a potential market-leading CNS neuroprotective agent and
antidepressant. Rexahn is currently investigating Serdaxin as a treatment for
depression in Phase II clinical trials. Serdaxin may achieve greater and broader
therapeutic coverage and appears to have no serious side effects such as nausea,
vomiting, insomnia, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, cognitive deficit or motor
impairment that are linked to existing antidepressant drugs. Serdaxin has a
well-established, excellent human safety profile. In preclinical studies,
Serdaxin had onset of action in less than two days. Based on its novel mechanism
as a dual serotonin and dopamine enhancer, it is a potential treatment for
multiple CNS disorders where these neurotransmitters are depleted or implicated
in CNS-based illnesses, such as Parkinson`s disease (PD). Serdaxin has the
potential to address both non-motor and motor events of PD by serving as a
neuroprotective agent and addressing loss of dopaminergic neurons that lead to
loss of control of movements; and further, enhancing serotonin and dopamine
levels that are involved in depression and mood disorders. Rexahn has multiple
clinical programs planned for investigating Serdaxin in the treatment of anxiety
disorders, Parkinson`s disease, Alzheimer`s disease and neurodegenerative
illnesses, neuroprotection and biodefense uses.

About Parkinson`s Disease

Parkinson`s disease (PD) is the most common movement disorder, affecting more
than 5 million patients worldwide. Age is the most important risk factor for PD,
and the aging world population is expected to push the number of the afflicted
to over 10 million by 2030. In addition, its chronic and debilitating nature
warrants high socio-economic impacts. PD is characterized by the progressive
loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. The resulting dopamine depletion
leads to its cardinal motor symptoms, such as rigidity (muscle stiffness),
bradykinesia (slowing of movement), postural instability and resting tremor.
These impairments are accompanied by non-motor disabilities, including dementia,
depression, and sleep disturbance. The current standard treatment options target
the dopaminergic pathway, either by supplementing the molecule or stimulating
dopamine receptors (binding partners of dopamine). While these strategies
ameliorate symptoms in early stages, they become less effective over the course
of the disease. In addition, dopamine therapies fail to tackle the underlying
causes of the disease, and therefore, do not slow the progression of PD or
extend the life expectancy of patients. Serdaxin is a new class of CNS disorder
therapeutics that has prevented neuronal deaths in PD models. In contrast to
other PD drugs, Serdaxin directly targets the disease mechanism by slowing or
halting the progression of the disease, fulfilling unmet needs in Parkinson`s
disease treatment.

About Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage pharmaceutical company dedicated to
commercializing first in class and market leading therapeutics for cancer, CNS
disorders, sexual dysfunction and other unmet medical needs. Rexahn currently
has three drug candidates in Phase II clinical trials, Archexin®, Serdaxin®, and
Zoraxel – all potential best in class therapeutics – and a robust pipeline of
preclinical compounds to treat multiple cancers and CNS disorders. Rexahn also
operates key R&D programs of nano-medicines, 3D-GOLD, and TIMES drug discovery
platforms. For more information, please visit www.rexahn.com.

Safe Harbor

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Rexahn’s actual results
may differ materially from anticipated results, and expectations expressed in
these forward-looking statements, as a result of certain risks and
uncertainties, including Rexahn’s lack of profitability, and the need for
additional capital to operate its business to develop its product candidates;
the risk that Rexahn’s development efforts relating to its product candidates
may not be successful; the possibility of being unable to obtain regulatory
approval of Rexahn’s product candidates; the risk that the results of clinical
trials may not be completed on time or support Rexahn’s claims; demand for and
market acceptance of Rexahn’s drug candidates; Rexahn’s reliance on third party
researchers and manufacturers to develop its product candidates; Rexahn’s
ability to develop and obtain protection of its intellectual property; and other
risk factors set forth from time to time in our filings with the Securities and
Exchange Commission. Rexahn assumes no obligation to update these
forward-looking statements.

Rexahn Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Investor Relations
Stern Investor Relations, Inc.
Stephanie Ascher, 212-362-1200
stephanie@sternir.com
or
Base Pair Communications
Constantine Theodoropulos, 617-401-3116
constantine@basepaircomm.com

Copyright Business Wire 2010

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Allana Potash Commences Phase I Drilling at Ethiopian Potash Project

April 6, 2010 By Leave a Comment

TORONTO, ONTARIO, Apr 05 (MARKET WIRE) —
Allana Potash Corp. (TSX VENTURE: AAA) (“Allana” or the “Company”), is
pleased to announce that it has commenced its Phase I drilling programme
on its Ethiopian Potash Project in the Danakhil Depression. The drill is
active at hole DK-10-01 which is located on the northern extension of the
Musley Deposit and is designed to provide information on the potash
mineralization between Parsons holes 233, 238 and 159. Hole DK-10-01 is
expected to intersect the potash-bearing Houston Formation at a vertical
depth of 75 metres. The Phase I programme is comprised of between 2,500
and 3,000 metres of drilling and is expected to be completed in
approximately three months.

In addition to the start of drilling, camp construction is approaching
completion near the village of Hamadela and plans to expand the camp to
accommodate additional personnel have been initiated. The camp will
accommodate approximately 35 people and provide a safe and efficient base
of operations for all upcoming Allana activities.

The Phase 1 programme currently consists of 7 holes and is designed to
confirm historic drilling results, to confirm the accuracy of the
previous resource and to potentially increase the resource. It is
expected that drill holes will vary in depth from 200 metres to 800
metres and will test potash horizons near the current resource as well as
in the centre of the evaporite basin. It is planned that the drill
programme will be followed by down-hole seismic studies (vertical seismic
profiling) and a programme of surface 2D seismic over the southern part
of the basin.

Farhad Abasov, President and CEO of Allana Potash, stated: “We are
excited to start our drill program in the Danakil Depression almost 50
years after Parsons conducted its potash exploration. I would like to
commend and congratulate our in-country exploration team which has done a
terrific job in this regard. With the recently closed financing, Allana
Potash is now in a position to complete not only the first phase of
drilling, but also expects to complete 2D and down-hole seismic programs
followed by a planned drill campaign of 10,000 meters.”

About Allana Potash Corp.

Allana is a publicly traded corporation with a focus on the acquisition
and development of potash assets internationally with its major focus on
a previously explored potash property in Ethiopia with NI
43-101-compliant Inferred Mineral Resource of over 100 million tonnes of
potash mineralization (Sylvite and Kainite) with a composite grade of
20.8 % KCl (see News Release Sept. 17, 2008). Allana has approximately
114.8 million shares outstanding and trades on the TSX-Venture exchange
under the symbol “AAA”.

Peter J. MacLean, Ph.D., P. Geo., Allana’s Senior VP Exploration, is a
Qualified Person as defined under National Instrument 43-101 and has
reviewed and approved the technical information presented in this release.

Forward-Looking Statement

Except for statements of historical fact relating to the Company, certain
information contained herein constitutes ”forward-looking information”
under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information
includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the effect,
results and estimated timeline of the drill programme and camp
construction on the Company, estimated production, the estimation of
mineral reserves and mineral resources; the realization of mineral
reserve estimates; the timing and amount of estimated future production;
costs of production; capital expenditures; success of exploration
activities; permitting time lines and permitting, mining or processing
issues; government regulation of mining operations; environmental risks;
unanticipated reclamation expenses; title disputes or claims; litigation
liabilities; limitations on insurance coverage and the effect of
terminating the investor relations contract. Generally, forward-looking
information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology
such as “plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”,
“scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or “does
not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words and phrases
or statements that certain actions, events or results “may”, “could”,
“would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be achieved”.
Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of
management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject
to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may
cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements
of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied
by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information.
Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information,
there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated,
estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements
will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could
differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly,
readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and
forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any
forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are
incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable
securities laws.

NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS
THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE

Contacts:
Allana Potash Corp.
Farhad Abasov
President and CEO
+1-416-309-2691
fabasov@allanapotash.com

Copyright 2010, Market Wire, All rights reserved.

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Summers: Economy on path to growth: FT

April 3, 2010 By Leave a Comment

(Reuters) – The U.S. economy is on the path to achieving self-sustaining growth, although the jobs outlook remains uncertain, White House economic adviser Larry Summers said in a newspaper interview to be published on Saturday.

“I think the economy appears to be moving toward escape velocity,” Summers said in an interview with the Financial Times. “You hear a lot less talk of W-shaped recoveries and double-dips than you did six months ago.”

Summers, a former Treasury secretary who advises President Barack Obama, said the economic recovery appeared to have “started earlier and more vigorously” than in previous downturns.

Obama’s action on healthcare, energy and education should help to restore confidence and stimulate the economy in the months ahead, Summers added.

However, he warned that it was still unclear whether companies would start taking on more workers or whether more action is needed to fuel the recovery.

“Whether firms will start hiring more as it becomes less tenable to do more with less and you will see some extra pick-up in employment beyond what is justified in output, or whether we are just going to have to grow the economy harder to put people back to work is not certain,” he said.

“What I think is certain is that we walked back from the brink of depression and that there is a great deal under way that should result in increased job creation.”

Summers gave the interview before the release on Friday of data showing U.S. employers created jobs in March at the fastest rate in three years.

Obama said it was the best news on the jobs front in two years. About eight million Americans have lost their jobs since the start of the recession.

(Reporting by Peter Griffiths; Editing by Elizabeth Fullerton)

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Teen jailed over taxi terror

April 1, 2010 By Leave a Comment

A knife-wielding teenager who tried to rob a Hobart taxi driver of his cab and then stole another car has avoided jail.

Luke Ryan Douglas has received a six month suspended prison sentence.

The Supreme Court in Hobart heard Douglas booked the taxi then tried to steal it when it arrived at his Blackmans Bay home last December.

The 19 year old produced a knife and told the driver to get out of his cab, then jumped on the roof and started stabbing the windscreen.

The court heard the driver managed to get away but in doing so crashed his taxi, causing significant damage.

Douglas then flagged down a passing car, pointed a knife at the occupants and fled in their vehicle.

He pleaded guilty to attempted armed robbery, assault and armed robbery.

The court heard Douglas suffered from depression and was drinking bourbon and sniffing petrol in the lead up to his crimes.

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K-Fed says divorce from Britney made him fat

March 31, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, March 31 (ANI): Kevin Federline blames his divorce from pop star Britney Spears as the reason behind his weight gain.

The former dancer, who recently appeared on Celebrity FIT club in the US, says the end of his two-year marriage to the singer plunged him into depression, turning him into a couch potato, reports the Sun.

However, Federline admits there may be another reason. He was drinking up to 24 cans of full-sugar fizzy drinks a day.

He told chat show host Bonnie Hunt: “I didn”t drink water, that was all I drank. That was my coffee and my candy.”

K-Fed admits spending days on the couch eating pizza and Macaroni cheese, his only exercise being playing with his young kids.

He added: “I hit 30-years-old, I stop dancing, started eating and sitting on the couch playing with the kids here and there. I got lazier and lazier, and fatter and fatter.” (ANI)

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Therapy via teleconference just as effective as face-to-face sessions

March 24, 2010 By Leave a Comment

Washington, March 24 (ANI): A new research has suggested that obtaining therapy via teleconference is just as effective as face-to-face sessions.

“Previous studies have shown that phobia therapy via teleconferencing was just as efficient as face to face contact. We wanted to see if the process could also be used for post-traumatic stress treatment,” said Stephane Guay, a psychiatry professor at the Université de Montreal.

Until recently, telemedicine was limited to doctors using the technology to communicate with peers who would weigh-in on x-rays results or supervise a surgery.

With teletherapy, patients could theoretically consult experts from the other side of the globe.

As part of this study, 17 post-traumatic stress victims from the Outaouais region underwent 16 to 25 sessions via teleconference with Montreal therapists. A control group consisted of patients receiving face-to-face therapy.

The teletherapy participants, however, still needed to visit a hospital equipped with the necessary equipment and supervised by medical personnel.

“It would be ethically indefensible for them to stay home. Post-traumatic stress therapies require that a patient relive certain traumatic events and should they become uncomfortable it is mandatory that someone be there to intervene,” Guay said.

The teletherapy group and the control group equally benefited from their therapy.

“The same number of patients in both groups saw a significant decrease in their post-traumatic stress, depression and anxiety symptoms,” said Guay.

Patients were later evaluated and none were affected by distance to their therapist and none expressed discomfort about the technological aspects of the procedure.

“In fact, comments were more in favor of tele-therapy. It seems patients appreciate a certain distance from their therapist,” Guay said. (ANI)

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Mark Owen’s rehab stint puts Robbie Williams-Take That reunion on hold

March 17, 2010 By Leave a Comment

London, Mar 17 (ANI): Robbie Williams’ reunion with Take That has been put on hold owing to Mark Owen’s rehab stint.

Last weekend, the band had booked a recording studio in Wiltshire, but it was cancelled after Owen’s wife Emma kicked him out over his 10 affairs.

Owen, 38, is receiving help for issues with booze, drugs and depression while at the clinic.

And the band has told him that he can take as much time out as he needs.

“They were all heading down there, Robbie included, but the plan has been scrapped for now. All they care about is Mark at the moment and it wouldn’t feel the same all of them practising for their ­comeback without him,” the Mirror quoted a source as saying.

It was revealed last year how the band, which also includes Jason Orange, Gary Barlow and Howard Donald, spent time in a recording studio in New York last September.

But the source added: “All excitement about the future is very much on hold because Mark’s got to get better first.”

Meanwhile, Mark’s friends have revealed that it’s “far too early” for Emma to have made any decisions about taking the cheating singer back.

“She wants to see how Mark responds to treatment. Believe it or not, she does want him to get better – for his own sanity if nothing else,” said a pal. (ANI)

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Lost English words rediscovered in new book ‘The Wonder of Whiffling’

September 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, September 19 (ANI): Deipnosophists, stridewallops and shot-clogs – wondering what these words mean? Well, these are some of the lost words in English language assembled by Adam Jacot de Boinod.

Shot clog is an Elizabethan word for a drinking companion who is only tolerated because he pays, while stridewallop is a Yorkshire term for a tall and awkward woman.

Deipnosophist is a Jacobean word for a skillful dinner conversationalist.

All these quirky words had been lost over a period of time, the Telegraph reports.

However, Boinod has included them in his new book ‘The Wonder of Whiffling’.

He writes in the introduction of the book: “As a self-confessed bowerbird (one who collects an astonishing array of sometimes useless objects), I’ve greatly enjoyed putting together this collection.

“I sincerely hope that you enjoy reading it, and that it saves you both from mulligrubs, depression of spirits, and onomatomania, vexation in having difficulty finding the right word.”

Some other extraordinary words include crambazzled, which is used to refer to someone who is prematurely aged through drink and a dissolute life.

Word from overseas like ‘twack’ have also been incorporated.

Apparently, twacks are shoppers who look at goods, inquire about the prices but never buy anything. (ANI)

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No toxic substance found in Urumqui’s latest syringe attack victims’ body

September 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Urumqui, Sep. 14 (ANI): The blood samples of Urimqui’s latest syringe attack victims showed no trace of radioactive, toxic or viral substances, such as AIDS, an expert at a Beijing-based laboratory has said.

However, Director of Disease Control and Biological Security Office with China’s Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Qian Jun, has said that the victims have showed signs of depression.

“Although no radioactive or toxic substances were found, some patients showed various levels of anxiety and depression and have been recommended for psychological counselling,” China daily quoted Quian, as saying.

Meanwhile, the first group of syringe attack suspects were prosecuted in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

At least 500 cases of attacks have surfaced in the city since mid-August.

Two men and a woman were given sentences ranging from seven to 15 years in jail for syringe stabbings or robberies in which they threatened their victims with needles.

The court sentenced 19-year-old Yilipan Yilihamu to 15 years in prison for injecting a woman with a hypodermic needle on August 28 at a roadside fruit stall. (ANI)

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Jordan ‘still loves Peter Andre’

September 14, 2009 By Leave a Comment

London, Sept 14 (ANI): Glamour girl Kate Price “regrets everything” and claims to still love ex-hubby Peter Andre, it has emerged.

The 31-year-old had ended her marriage with Andre last week.

Price a.k.a Jordan is now “hibernating” at home and avoiding all her pals who fear she may fall into depression.

The Daily Star quoted a pal as saying: “The divorce is finally hitting home. She never really thought her marriage would end, deep down. Now it has, she can’t get over Pete.

“She’s actually said she still feels married to him and their decree nisi this week was ‘far from the end’. She’s sick of fighting with him and wants it all to stop.”

Jordan’s friends say she admits that she does not love boyfriend Alex Reid and tying a knot with him is certainly not on her mind.

Another friend said: “Kate enjoys Alex’s company, but they’re definitely not getting married.

“She feels she’s far from being divorced at the moment.

“And she’s been asked whether she loves Alex and she’s never said yes. She’s trying to move on and is concentrating on the kids.” (ANI)

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