Archive for December, 2007

Should I Give Up Me To Not Lose You?

Monday, December 31st, 2007

By Margaret Paul, Ph.D. How far can you afford to bend your values to preserve your relationship? How far can you go in giving yourself up to avoid losing your partner? How much of yourself can you afford to sacrifice to not lose someone you love? How do we find the balance between maintaining our integrity and bending our values? Most relationships require us to bend to a certain extent, but how much can we bend without a sense of loss of self? There is an inherent paradox in these questions: A truly loving relationship is a relationship where each person accepts and even values the differences between them. If you have to excessively bend your values to preserve the relationship, what are you preserving? You are not preserving a loving relationship since love does not demand that you excessively bend your values. Rather than look at relationship in terms of bending values to accommodate another person, lets look at it in terms of each person learning and growing as a result of their differences in values. For example, Patricia is a highly responsible person with a strong work ethic, while Sam tends to let things go a lot, which results in an imbalance regarding financial responsibility in the relationship. Patricia is not happy about this. Does she just accept these differences to preserve the relationship? No! That is not what a good relationship is really about. Since a good relationship is about each person learning and growing from their differences, rather than one or both people giving themselves up, Sam and Patricia need to engage in open explorations about their differences. They each have beliefs that can be explored, and in this process, new learning occurs that leads to intrinsic change rather than superficial compromise. The real problem occurs when one or both partners are not available for exploration and learning. If one partner says, Just accept me the way I am, or gets angry or withdrawn when the other partner attempts to discuss the situation, no learning can take place. Then the other partner either has to accommodate or leave not a healthy situation. Joe is extremely neat, while Julia has a hard time putting things away. Roberta is always on time while Cecelia is always late. Maggie is a spender while David is a saver. Carl has a high sex drive while Andrea has a low sex drive. Angie is an authoritarian parent while Curt is a permissive parent. Ronald is highly social while Greg is a homebody. Depending upon whether or not each person is open to learning, these differences can lead to: Constant conflict One partner giving in to avoid conflict Both partners opening to learning and growing as a result of their differences The outcome of these conflicts depend entirely upon intent. There are only two possible intents in any given moment: The intent to protect against pain or the intent to learn about loive. When one or both partners have the intent to protect against pain, then they will find many controlling ways of avoiding dealing with the differences. They may argue, defend, withdraw, blame, give in, resist, explain, and so on, Each is intent on having their way, not being controlled by the other, or avoiding the others rejection. This will always lead to distance and unhappiness in the relationship. The problem is not in the differences themselves, but rather in the unwillingness to learn and grow from the differences. When both partners are open to learning about their differences, their differences become fertile ground for the exciting process of personal and spiritual growth and healing. We cannot make another person be open to learning we dont have that control over others. If you are in a relationship where your partner refuses learn and grow from the differences, then you need to be honest with yourself regarding how much of yourself you can give up and still maintain a sense of integrity. You cannot afford to compromise your personal integrity. You can bend and accommodate as long as you do not feel as if you are losing yourself. Once you feel that you are losing yourself to preserve the relationship, you will likely find yourself so resentful of the other person that the relationship begin to fall apart anyway as a result of giving yourself up. You are not preserving it by accommodating you are destroying it while losing yourself. The key is to be willing to come up against conflict and rejection, and even lose the other person rather than continue to accommodate when going along with what your partner wants means a loss of your personal integrity. On the emotional and spiritual level, you can afford to lose your partner but you cannot afford to lose yourself. About The Author Margaret Paul, Ph.D. is the best-selling author and co-author of eight books, including “Do I Have To Give Up Me To Be Loved By You?” She is the co-creator of the powerful Inner Bonding healing process. Learn Inner Bonding now! Visit her web site for a FREE Inner Bonding course: http://www.innerbonding.com or mailto:margaret@innerbonding.com. Phone sessions available. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Margaret_Paul,_Ph.D. http://EzineArticles.com/?Should-I-Give-Up-Me-To-Not-Lose-You?&id=32011 purchase phentermine without prescription buy phentermine cod no prescription phentermine on line no prescription phentermine diet pills without prescription

Why Are Most Human Hair Wigs Made of Asian Hair?

Sunday, December 30th, 2007

By Franek Migaszewski At first sight the answer seems very obvious they are cheaper. And of course that is true. But in fact Eastern European hair is not that much more expensive the amount necessary to make a good wig is about 30-50 USD in Poland or Czech Republic. That is not a fortune if you are going to spend a few hundred dollars on a wig. So what is the catch? The problem is on the supply side. There are over 2 billion people in Asia and only 200 million in Eastern Europe. Most of people in Eastern Europe have no need to sell their hair for economic reasons. Moreover, I dont have to emphasize how rare it is in rich Western European countries to sell ones hair. That is what makes European hair rare and explains why local wig-makers purchase only the amount necessary for their own production. Outside of Eastern Europe, due to its rarity, the price of the best European hair (so called raw virgin hair) is skyrocketing. Hence 99% of human hair wigs are made of Asian hair. This hair is marked by such trade names as human hair or remy hair. If the producer or a sales person does not state directly that the hair is exclusively European, you can be 100% sure that you are dealing with Asian hair. Asian hair is by nature very dark (black), very straight and thicker than European hair. Subject to a complicated process of a pigmentation removal, the hair looses its natural shine and resilience. Before it finally gets to you it will be dyed several times using synthetic chemical products, which no one would use to dye their own hair. Such a hair has a tendency to show a ting of a dark or red color. This is why it has to be dyed several times and go through a bleaching process. That way any color can be obtained, but hair structure gets damaged during the process. It is not pleasant to the touch anymore and even after as little as twenty weeks it will loose its shine and become dull. Another issue concerns the manner in which the hair is obtained. It is not planned from the start with the thought of creating wigs. Hair is cut in random hair salons. Part of the hair also comes from ritual ceremonies of cutting of the hair as a sign of entering into adulthood. Such hair in the fervor of the ceremony falls to the floor and is gathered from there and placed in a great pile. In the process the hair is turned against and opposite to each of its strands and not layered in the same direction. Although it may not seem so at first, this does change the fundamental significance in the quality of your wig. Every strand of hair has a coarse cuticle, which clings to the cuticle of the neighboring hair if they are layered in the opposite direction. In effect hair is twisting and intertwining into a hair clump so difficult to comb out. The only method for solving this problem is to completely remove the natural cuticle, which is then replaced with a silicon one that gives the hair its shine. It is a brutal and destructive process such a wig will maintain its sheen no longer than for a period of 4 to 12 weeks. After that time hair becomes dull and unattractive. The best Asian hair comes from India and Pakistan. In reality, it is not much better than hair described above. The advantage is that this hair is less stiff and may have a natural tendency to from slight waves. For that reason, many producers claim that it has the same qualities as European hair, which is not true. If only there were more Eastern Europeans, life of wig-makers and their clients would be simpler, heh? Franek Migaszewski is co-founder and manager of Wiggywigs.com site, the first wig vendor from Eastern Europe selling wigs made of human hair directly to the western markets on the Internet. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Franek_Migaszewski http://EzineArticles.com/?Why-Are-Most-Human-Hair-Wigs-Made-of-Asian-Hair?&id=104690 cheap phentermine diet pills order phentermine online without a prescription buy phentermine on line without prescription and overnight shipping buy cheap phentermine cod

Marriage Counseling Advice: Give Your Spouse Space to Breathe and Grow

Sunday, December 30th, 2007

By Nancy Wasson When youre married, the boundaries between yourself and your spouse arent always clear. For some people, marriage brings the expectation of spending as much time as possible with a spouse and doing most things together. In this model of marriage, the two people generally function as a single unit in thought and actions. In other cases, individuals may not have learned healthy boundaries as children, and they may have been exposed to negative control on the part of adults in their life. In her book Facing Codependence, Pia Melody lists negative control as one of the secondary symptoms of codependence that affects your relationships with others. She defines negative control as giving yourself permission to determine someone elses reality for your own comfort. According to Melody, negative control happens whenever I give myself permission to determine for another person what he or she should look like (including dress and body size), or think, feel, and do or not dol There is also a flip side to negative control, which is allowing someone else to control me. Melody continues by stating, Whenever I fail to determine for myself what I look like, what I think, what I feel, and what I do or dont do, and allow someone else to control any of those things for me, I am participating in negative control. When you do not have healthy, distinct personal boundaries, you may try to change your spouse to be more like you want him/her to be to meet your needs and expectations. In so doing, you are dishonoring your partner and are not respecting his/her unique individuality and right to make choices. You are also failing to provide protected space so that your spouses individual growth and potential can flourish. Couples who do everything together miss putting important spaces in their togetherness so that new, separate growth can occur. Without new growth and fresh input from each person, a relationship can stagnate and lack vitality. Its important for each spouse to have some time alone to pursue individual interests or enjoy being in solitude. Anne Morrow Lindberg, in her classic book, Gift from the Sea, states that Only when one is connected to ones own core is one connected to others, I am beginning to discover. And, for me, the core, the inner spring, can best be refound through solitude. Solitude and time to just be can help each partner replenish energy and a sense of well-being. Kahlil Gibrans words about marriage in The Prophet have been quoted often through the years, but they keep their wisdom and meaning: …let there be spaces in your togetherness. And let the winds of the heavens dance between you. He continues by saying, …And stand together, yet not too near together, for the pillars of the temple stand apart, and the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each others shadow. When you crowd your partner and dont give him or her breathing room, you run the risk of smothering the very relationship that is most important to you. Enjoy your togetherness, but also honor your individuality. Nancy J. Wasson, Ph.D., is co-author of Keep Your Marriage: What to Do When Your Spouse Says “I don’t love you anymore!” This is available at http://www.KeepYourMarriage.com ,where you can also sign up for the free weekly Keep Your Marriage Internet Magazine to get ideas and support for improving your marriage. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Wasson http://EzineArticles.com/?Marriage-Counseling-Advice:-Give-Your-Spouse-Space-to-Breathe-and-Grow&id=21010 phentermine to buy online phentermine foreign pharmacy sisters pharmacy phentermine direct pharmacy phentermine

How Men Find Sexy Russian Brides

Saturday, December 29th, 2007

By Peter Finch Many of you may have wondered why Russian brides are so sexy and smart. The truth is only one: its their husbands that are giving them motivation to be such. Have you ever wondered why there are so many men who have managed to find a wife who has so many indisputable virtues such as being smart, beautiful, sexy and rich? The truth is that actually many Russian girls have started their family life out of nothing else but a desire to be part of the luxury lifestyle of the super millionaires. They are smart and intelligent but in addition they have worked hard to be well educated too. Russia has internationally acknowledged universities such as the Moscow University or St. Petersburg Institute of Fine Mechanics and Optics. Many families have invested much in the good education of their daughters explaining to them that rich foreigners would never stay with a common woman in spite of her beauty. Understanding that beauty is skin deep but being sexy is something one can learn and develop, young women have invested time and efforts to learn the art of innocent seduction. Usually in university Russian girls get the advantage of internship programs which allow them to travel the world and meet men on conferences or other scholar events. If you have seen your sexy Russian bride during one of those events soon you will become convinced that sex is not just act, but state of mind and pleasure for the intellect. These ladies always support their husbands because they have been taught that family is very important and a wife’s mission is to motivate the relationship. Russian women are ready to sacrifice almost everything in order for her to prove her loyalty to you. Their good professional education makes them desired partners not only for family, but business affairs too. Many top captains of industry are intentionally searching for wives from a country from the soviet block because they know that these smart girls are able to double their fortune. What is more challenging and sexy for businessmen than having bride with astute and clever thinking, easy-going attitude and seductive inclinations? You might be a software engineer but she will help you become a software entrepreneur whose company might break the traditional market. Your Russian wife will make everything possible to make you believe that your choice was right and to stay behind you in difficult times. And all of a sudden if you decide to drop everything, a typical Russian bride will help you solve your problems just in a few minutes. She may well do this by the way while making love with you and whispering a tender “davai, davai” (go on, go on) in your ear. Like most women all around the world these ladies are looking for better possibilities for them and for their children. Wellness partially guarantees this but what is more important to them is their husband’s education and character. Make your Russian bride laugh, tell her crazy romantic stories and prove that you can be good father. International marriage is not an easy step. Things like cultural barriers or different traditions might make you confused. The good news is that in Russia, just like in America, women like erotic games. The combination of the two of you will result in everlasting physical and intellectual pleasure. Don’t get scammed. Check out our reviews of all of the top russian dating agencies at Russian Dating Review. Looking for a russian bride or russian dating? Visit us now. You will be spoilt for choice. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Finch http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Men-Find-Sexy-Russian-Brides&id=515475 order phentermine with mastercard buy herbal phentermine sisters pharmacy phentermine get phentermine online

How To Design Your Gazebo

Friday, December 28th, 2007

By Matt OConnor A gazebo is something which can brighten up your day (literally if you’re sat in it!) by adding a touch of elegance to your surroundings. There are many, many gazebo designs to choose from so how do you go about choosing which is right for you? This article will endeavour to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of different gazebo designs. First of all where are you going to put your gazebo? Do you want it to be the centrepiece of your garden or hidden away in a serene corner of your grounds? You should also be aware of other buildings on your property and the positioning of your gazebo in relation to these other structures. You should also think about how you’re going to cultivate the surroundings of your gazebo. Will it be swamped with foliage to make it seem part of the garden? Flowers and shrubs are a nice touch to give your gazebo the appearance that it “belongs” in your garden. You could even lay down a stone pathway leading up to the gazebo’s entrance. There are many types of gazebo materials to choose from ranging from wood to vinyl and even aluminum. The most tasteful of these is reckoned to be the cedar or pine options. You can also go for a vinyl look, it all depends on the surroundings and your predicted use for the gazebo. Once you’ve chosen the material you need to decide on the shape of your gazebo. Will it be octagonal, rectangular or oval. You could also go for a double or a single roof style, the double gives the roof a layered and more impressive look. Of course the simplicity of the single roof is no bad thing. All in all, a gazebo is a great add-on to your home environment purely because of the customisation that you can apply to it. Buying a garden shed for instance is a little limited, you just have to pick one which you hope will fit in the most with your garden. There are so many features, sizes, colours and materials with the good old gazebo however that choosing one simply becomes a pleasure. Go ahead and enjoy poring over the designs for your garden gazebo. Looking for more info on gazebos? Matthew, the author of this article runs a site dedicated to the latest information and reviews of gazebo designs. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_OConnor http://EzineArticles.com/?How-To-Design-Your-Gazebo&id=493384 cheap generic phentermine buy phentermine on line without prescription and overnight shipping buying phentermine online phentermine w o prescription

Mobile Phone Ringtones: Excessive Advertisement

Thursday, December 27th, 2007

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alen_Wilson]Alen Wilson Following a flood of complaints by the consumers regarding misleading advertisements, rules are being imposed on ringtone ads. Ring tones and wallpapers ads are going to be regulated in order to protect consumers from signing up for the high rate subscription services. Many people have run up huge bills out of their mobile phones because of misleading advertisements, which dont disclose all the costs. With the help of the new rules, the UK mobile phone operators will be able to find out how high rate subscription services are marketed by the content providers. The rules however only talk about font sizes of the ads and about how prices should be presented in TV adverts. The deadline to abide by the rules is 30th August.The first ringtone to reach the top of pop charts is the extremely popular Crazy Frog. More than 100 complaints were received regarding the Crazy Frog ringtone. When buying the Crazy Frog ring tone, the consumers are actually signing up for a subscription plan. This plan enables them to receive a new text message every week for which they are charged 3, allowing them to download another ring tone. Recently people who were misguided by the advertisements ended up paying huge bills. They unintentionally subscribed to ring tone and text services when they thought they were just buying one tune. Many people downloaded the Crazy Frog ringtone, unaware of the fact that it is only a part of a bundle of tunes and they will be billed for it on regular basis.It was said that there would be a big problem preventing ringtone sellers from giving such advertisements. Mostly, it is teenagers who do not care to understand the conditions applied to such services and are susceptible to them. The new rules will enforce the content sellers to clear the ongoing costs so that people will know what they are getting. The price specifications and how often people would be billed would be prominent in the advertisements. Small fonts and scrolling price banners would also be banned. The prices and conditions would be in the main body of an advertisement rather than the small print. As soon as someone signs up for a service, he would be getting a message giving the details of what he is getting. Customers would also be told how to unsubscribe or they would be charged 20 every month. If all the firms abide these rules, consumers would definitely be more contended. At the end of June, the Department of Trade and Industry announced a big increase in fines for firms that break rules on the selling of premium rate phone services. Alen [http://www.mobilerainbow.co.uk]Mobile Deals [http://www.mobilerainbow.co.uk]Contract Phones Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alen_Wilson http://EzineArticles.com/?Mobile-Phone-Ringtones:-Excessive-Advertisement&id=148608 buy phentermine no prior prescription discount phentermine without prescription phentermine online no prescription required paradise pharmacy phentermine

Genealogy - Why You Should Get Involved in Your Family History

Monday, December 24th, 2007

By Gene Hall A few years ago I read a statistic that said that genealogy was the second largest hobby in the United States second only to gardening. It was no surprise to me as I have been finding and documenting my family tree for almost 30 years. Over that time a lot of people have asked me, Why genealogy? What do you get out of it? There are a lot of reasons to find out about your family and Ill cover just a few hoping that one of them will get you started. Curiosity: A lot of people are just plain curious about where they came from, what their ancestors did, how they got here to this time and this place. Lots of people find themselves in this category when they are told that they are adopted. While they have adoptive parents, traditions, and history, they also have another history that calls out to them. Other people have lost touch and are curious about where people are, how they turned out, who they married. Its a Great Puzzle: This applies to me in several areas of my life besides genealogy. I have worked with numbers a lot particularly with market research. I just love understanding what motivates people to buy certain products, where they shop, how much they want to pay, and where they want to hear about those products. When my wife and I go camping I spend hours working crypto quotes in the sun fun and challenging puzzles that help me relax. When it comes to puzzles, I dont think anything can match the complexity and fun of genealogy. Just think about a jigsaw puzzle that has an almost infinite number of pieces some of them that dont fit and some of them missing. Nothing can match the satisfaction I get from finding one of those lost pieces of the puzzle and putting it into place. These are puzzle pieces that lead to long-lost cousins and far-off places. Hobby: I did a lot of market research before organizing FamilyTrackers, Inc. The company was started out of my belief that Internet searches could be much more accurate than those usually conducted on the Internet. Interestingly, there is a group of genealogists who resist a more accurate way to find information. They are not interested in any tools that make the job faster. That is the reason I do my family tree to fill up my time. Looking into page after page of results is the part I like about genealogy. Its my hobby, they said. Fortunately for me and for FamilyTrackers those who like the things I find most tedious are not a large portion of the market. Leave a Legacy: Some people approach middle age or have a traumatic event at any age that prompts them to think about their mortality. If I never meet my grandchildren, what will they know about me? What will they know about my parents? How will we be remembered? Those of us who are fortunate enough to have ancestors in this category are indeed lucky. My grandmother wrote a short story about her trip as a young girl in a covered wagon from Illinois to Kansas. Thinking about it now, it must have been a dusty, hot, and miserable trip. The events that she wrote about were ordinary, daily occurrences that were taken for granted in her time something that she wrote about because the trip was out of the ordinary. Read the same story today and discover something that is unique to our experience herding cattle, rustlers, camping out every night. If you do nothing else with your family history, you should write down or record your life experiences in your own words in any way that you see fit. Emotional Satisfaction: This is a huge reason for being involved in genealogy and one that I hear repeated by other people as they talk excitedly about their latest discovery. There are moments that happen during a search that are touching and immensely satisfying. This is the moment that you look at your great grandfathers signature on your grandparents marriage license; put your hand on the baptismal font where your oldest known ancestor was baptized; stand on the ground where your great grandfather from the old country is buried knowing that your grandmother stood on this spot in front of an open grave grieving her loss. These moments are thrilling, goose-bump producing moments of a life time when you can almost reach across time and touch a person who you finally understand and know. This is a moment you must not miss! Give Something Back: Lots of people get involved when they volunteer at their local genealogical or historical society. What a wonderful place to meet nice people who are willing to help you discover your roots. These groups are responsible for saving crumbling records all over the world and for making the information available to everybody. People who work in these places are almost always unpaid and give their time and effort on behalf of people like you and me every single day people they have never even met. This is important work and you can get the satisfaction of helping other people by volunteering yourself. It is easy. Pick up the phone and call. Whatever your reasons, give genealogy a try. It is a stimulating hobby that will put you in touch with yourself and with a lot of nice people who are ready and willing to help. Gene Hall is a genealogist with almost 30 years of experience and the CEO of FamilyTrackers, Inc., a world-wide genealogy exchange dedicated to serving the needs of genealogists, genealogical societies, professional genealogists, and transcribers all over the world. FamilyTrackers is located at http://www.familytrackers.com/ This article comes with reprint rights. You are free to reprint and distribute it as you like. All that I ask is that you reprint it in its entirety without any changes including this text and the link above. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gene_Hall http://EzineArticles.com/?Genealogy—Why-You-Should-Get-Involved-in-Your-Family-History&id=67038 buy tramadol without prescription tramadol online pharmacy medication online pharmacy ultram where to buy tramadol

Salivary Stones - Nonoperative Removal of Sialoliths and Sialodochoplasy of Salivary Duct Strictures

Monday, December 24th, 2007

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Robert_Kim] Robert Kim Objective- To describe the nonsurgical removal of sialoliths and treatment of salivary duct strictures. Design- Case series. Setting- Two 200-bed general community hospitals. Patients- Twelve consecutive patients from April 1985 to November 1994 - 8 with calculi, 3 with salivary duct strictures, and 1 with calculi and strictures. Results- Successful nonoperative removal of calculi in 7 of 9 patients. All four sialodochoplasties were successful. All 10 patients with successful procedures had no recurrent symptoms. Seven patients have been symptom-free for 10 months to ten years. Communication with 3 patients has been impossible recently, although these patients were symptom-free for at least 3 years. To date we have successfully treated twenty-five of twenty-eight patients for salivary duct calculi removal and dilatation of strictures. Conclusions- These methods of nonsurgical sialolith removal and sialodochoplasty were highly successful and should be used as the initial therapies for patients with these conditions. SIALOLITHIASIS and salivary duct strictures are common pathological conditions of the salivary glands and their ducts. They produce similar symptoms of swelling, pain, and infection as a result of duct obstruction. Swelling and pain usually occur during meals, when salivary secretion is stimulated.Until recently, surgery has been the standard therapy for these conditions. This approach is invasive with important unavoidable risks and complications. Potential risk of damage to the facial nerve is high during parotid gland surgery.Recently, extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy has been introduced as an alternative treatment of sialolithiasis. Miniature lithotriptors have been developed and show some promise. However, these units are not generally available and their success rates have been variable.The mechanical removal of sialoliths and sialodochoplasty for duct stricture have been our initial approach for these diseases. These minimally invasive procedures are highly effective and avoid the known complications of surgery and anesthesia. Combining these methods with extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy promises to further increase success rates. Results: From April 1985 to November 1994, the mechanical removal of sialoliths was successful in 7 patients with sialolithiasis: 5 with submandibular duct calculi (See Figure 1 below) and 2 with parotid duct calculi (See Figure 2 below). Four patients underwent successful sialodochoplasties, 2 for parotid ducts and 2 for submandibular ducts. One patient had sialoliths and a stricture, so the total number of successful procedures was 11. In 1 patient, the calculus was located close to the papilla, making retrieval especially difficult because of impaction. A grasping forceps was successfully used and a wide papillotomy was unnecessary. In 2 patients, calculus retrieval failed: 1 each from the Stensen and Wharton ducts. These were technical failures caused by large impacted calculi and by strictures in the distal segment of the ducts, which made mechanical manipulation impossible. There were no sialodochoplasty failures. The long-term outcomes following the procedures were excellent. No patient returned with recurrent symptoms. Seven patients remained symptom-free after clinical follow-up from 10 months to 10 years, and 3 patients were symptom-free for 3 to 5 years and then were unavailable for follow-up. Materials and Methods: Before the examination, the details of the procedure and its benefits and complications were explained to the patient. Informed consent was obtained for the sialography and for the mechanical removal of the calculi, sialodocholoplasty, or both. As an initial diagnostic examination, sialography was performed to confirm the location of the strictures and calculi. The papillae were locally anesthetized by direct injection of 1% lidocaine hydrochloride. The papillotomy was accomplished by an incision toward the duct. No sedation or general anesthesia was given. For the removal of the calculi, a 3.5F 4-wire Dormia basket (Porges, Paliseau Cedex, Salat, France), 3F Segura basket (Microvasive Co [Boston Scientific Corp.], Watertown Mass), and 3F Coaxial Sheath Grasping Forceps (Cook Urological Co, Spencer, Ind) were used. For the sialodochoplasty, 3.8F 3-mm diameter Balloon catheters (Meditech, Watertown, Mass) were used. After the papillotomy was accomplished, the papilla and adjacent salivary ducts were dilated by 3F and 4F dilators or stiff catheters of the same size. A 0.45-mm guide wire was introduced routinely to guide the balloon catheter. If there was a stricture, balloon dilatation was performed several times until full dilatation was achieved. For the calculi, a basket was placed beyond or at the calculi site and the basket was manipulated to achieve extraction. When several calculi are present, several attempts may be required. Comment: The symptoms of sialoliths and salivary duct stricture are similar: intermittent swelling, tenderness, and pain usually brought on by eating. Infection and sialadenitis are common complications. For a definitive diagnosis, sialography is imperative, especially to diagnose the presence of several calculi or to detect all strictures. A few cases of balloon-catheter sialodochoplasty and wire-basket removal of caculi have been reported, mainly in foreign journals (ref. 1-3). Also, calculus was removed by an angioplasty balloon catheter (ref. 4). The most likely surgical management of intraglandular parotid calculi would involve parotidectomy. There does not seem to be a consensus on managing calculi located between the gland hilus and anterior to the masseter muscle. Extraoral parotid sialolithotomy for calculus extraction has been performed under sialographic and ultrasonographic guidance (ref. 5). The surgical approach to submandibular calculi is influenced by the location of the stone. Palpable stones anterior to the posterior border of the mylohyoid muscle usually are extracted using a transoral incision. When the stone is posterior to the mylohyoid muscle, removal of the entire gland is recommended (ref. 6,7). The complication rate for these procedures and associated anesthesia is not negligible (ref. 8). In our independent small series during the last 10 years, we have achieved a high success rate. Contrary to other authors’ (ref. 5) experience, we did not have difficulty removing parotid calculi located more than 1.5 cm from the papilla, although removal of calculi from the Wharton duct is generally easier than from the Stensen duct. The course and small size of the Stensen duct often makes instrument manipulation difficult. In our 2 cases of failure, the calculi were larger than the ducts and impacted. These ducts had long strictures in their distal segments, which made instrument approach to the calculi and manipulation impossible. A successful removal of this type of calculus was reported with a vascular snare (ref. 9). Endoscopic laser lithotripsy is unavailable at our institution. Endoscopically controlled laser lithotripsy for removal of a stone in the Stensen duct (ref. 10) and submandibular lithiasis (ref. 11) has been reported. Our 2 cases of failure could have benefited from this method. A success rate of 36% to 53% has been reported for extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ref. 12). Wehrmann et a1 (ref. 13) developed a miniaturized lithotriptor, and a significantly higher percentage of patients were free of calculi (stone-free rate, 67%) after treatment. The authors did not report whether any case in this series required supplemental mechanical retrieval of calculi. In conclusion, mechanical removal of calculi and sialodochoplasty by balloon catheter are excellent alternatives to surgery. These procedures are more cost-effective, with reduced risk of morbidity when compared with the surgical alternatives. The long-term outcome following the procedure is excellent. If the mechanical retrieval of calculi fails, laser lithotripsy, extracorporal lithotripsy, or both will improve the success rate. Dr. Robert B. H. Kim MD is Board Certified in Radiology and Nuclear Medicine with over 37 years of professional experience. To contact Dr. Kim or for more information visit [http://www.SalivaryStone.com] http://www.SalivaryStone.com. Article Source: [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Robert_Kim ] http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Robert_Kim [http://ezinearticles.com/?Salivary-Stones---Nonoperative-Removal-of-Sialoliths-and-Sialodochoplasy-of-Salivary-Duct-Strictures&id=160505 ] http://EzineArticles.com/?Salivary-Stones—Nonoperative-Removal-of-Sialoliths-and-Sialodochoplasy-of-Salivary-Duct-Strictures&id=160505 line pharmacy ultram online pharmacy tramadol 120 ea ultram 0 59 order phentermine buy ultram pay by cod

Try Probiotics For Healthy Weight Loss

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

By Sharon Price If you have not yet tried them, probiotics are a must if you want to remain healthy and at the same time lose some weight.A probiotic is an organism, which is also known as ‘friendly’ or ‘healthy’ bacteria. A probiotic helps to balance the intestinal tract by killing the unhealthy bacteria.Taking a probiotic supplement for weight loss maintains a healthy intestine which can also prevent illness and disease. Probiotics for weight loss can be found in most yoghurts and yoghurt based drinks. They are also found in lots of other foods too and can be found at supermarkets and are now highly advertised on the television. The most common probiotic for weight loss found today is called ‘acidophilus’ and is also available in capsule form. These healthy bacteria can prevent digestive problems and is also known to help Crohn’s disease sufferers. Probiotics for weight loss also helps the thyroid gland which in turn helps the digestive system. This gives people with thyroid problems a much needed helping hand in losing their excess weight. An important part in losing weight is to ensure that your digestive system is working to its best ability and probiotics for weight loss can do this.The over eating of yeast is a major factor of weight gain and by taking a probiotic for weight loss will prevent the pounds from piling on. If you decide that taking a probiotic for weight loss you should always use the most effective strain of probiotics which creates an environment that yeasts cannot survive in. Pobitics for weight loss in capsule form should always be stored in the fridge to prevent them from ‘dying’ and becoming useless. These probiotics in capsule form can be purchased from most good health food shops or via the internet but remember that they must be kept cool so ensure the postage time is not too long or that the storage facilities are adequate. http://www.loseweight2lookgreat.com is an informative site relating to diet products, weight loss tips,diet plans,weight loss machines exercise and losing weight. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Price http://EzineArticles.com/?Try-Probiotics-For-Healthy-Weight-Loss&id=558177 online prescription ultram buy online ultram purchase tramadol without a prescription ultram pharmacy

What Happened When My Father Died?

Saturday, December 22nd, 2007

By Bentley Thompson Every time I go to a funeral I am reminded of several things: the pain of losing a loved one, that I (too) am mortal, and also of the conflicting beliefs about what happens when a person dies. This discovery is surprizing, yet comforting. Join me. At one of the last funerals I attended, I heard the preacher said, “Don’t cry dear friends, Sister M. is up there right now looking down at us from the bosom of the Lord.” At the same time, we were all there weeping our hearts out and wishing that she would come back from Paradise (or from the bosom of the Lord) to be with us again. Confusing! Most people believe that a Christian goes to heaven when she or he dies. Maybe a minute, an hour, a day, three days after expiring the last breath - I don’t know how soon after. But this notion raises several questions that had me searching my Bible. I will share some of what I have found with you here. Questions, questions - any answers? If my dad went to heaven when he died in 1997, shouldn’t he be having “hell” up there watching all the troubles his loved ones endure down here on earth. According to the Bible, heaven is a place of perfect bliss, where there is no sickness nor sadness. Luke 20:36 says of those who go to heaven, “Neither can they die any more: for they are equal unto the angels; and are the children of God, being the children of the resurrection.” So the question is, Was it fair for Jesus to raise Lazarus (John 11:43) if he (or his soul) had gone to heaven when he died? What would be the point of calling the man (Lazarus, who was Jesus’ friend) back from paradise to live on earth again, to feel more pain, hunger, thirst, and heartache, and then to feel the sting of death one more time? That would not be fair. Popular misconception In struggling with these questions I had to go back to Genesis chapters 1 and 2. I had to find out where my dad went when he died in 1997. I found out that the answer is consistently forceful throughout the whole Bible, actually. In Genesis 2:7 we read, “the LORD God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.” (NIV) If you are a student who likes to analyze things, it is very clear that : BODY + BREATH OF LIFE = LIVING BEING (SOUL) When a person dies, therefore, LIVING BEING (SOUL) - BREATH OF LIFE = BODY The body is dust, so it returns to the ground (Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, and all the other elements) back to where they came from. The breath goes back to God (back to the atmosphere, actually) from which it came. The idea that we have an immortal soul is a lie that is as old as the creation. First Timothy 6:16 describes God as the One “who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light.” In fact, God says in Ezekiel 18:20, “The soul that sinneth, it shall die.” The devil said it first When the serpent tempted Eve in the garden the devil said, “you shall not surely die.” (Genesis 3:4) Somehow this seems to intimate that we can go on living forever, even though we sin. Well, could this be a reason some people think that suicide is a way out of their problems? You shall not surely die. But wait… here’s how I know for sure that my dad never went to heaven when he died. Even the “man after God’s own heart” has not gone yet God called David “a man after my own heart.” See Acts 13:22. Yet the Bible says that David is still in his grave today. Let’s read it. Acts 2:29, Peter preaching, said, “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day.” Continuing, he talks about the resurrection of Jesus, then says this about David again in verse 34, “For David is not ascended into the heavens…” It cannot be clearer. And think about Jesus… If after the crucifixion His soul had gone to heaven why would he tell Mary on Sunday morning (the 3rd day) not to touch Him because He had not yet ascended to His Father? (See John 20:17) So what happens when we die? Our bodies go back to the earth - the ground, and our breath goes back to God. We rot and wait (unconsciously, of course) for the miracle of the resurrection. Jesus calls death a “sleep.” John 11:11-14 reads; 11After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.” 12His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” 13Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. 14So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, 15and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” My dad fell asleep. He is dead, and will be sleeping until the resurrection. I am so glad he is not in heaven witnessing his loved ones suffer sickness and pain. But he won’t be sleeping forever. Concerning the resurrection, the Bible says, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout…and the dead in Christ shall rise first.” (First Thessalonians 4:16-17). This was my father’s favorite Bible verse. That’s why he never feared death. He knew where he was going when he died AND he also knew what would happen to him next. Copyright 2006 by Bentley Thompson Read other articles by Bentley at his websites: http://www.anti-diabetes-diet-supplements.com and http://www.heavenshope.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bentley_Thompson http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Happened-When-My-Father-Died?&id=328234 ultram order tramadol pharmacy buy tramadol online from dreampharmaceuticals order generic ultram