FDA warns about illegal use of injectable silicone for body contouring and associated health risks

November 14, 2017

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) logo

SILVER SPRING, Maryland, Nov. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today issued a safety communication to warn consumers and health care practitioners about the serious injuries and disfigurement that can result from using injectable silicone or products being falsely marketed as FDA-approved dermal fillers for the purpose of enhancing the size of their buttocks, breasts and other body parts.

“An important part of our public health mission is our obligation to warn consumers of unapproved products that are being marketed for medical uses that can cause serious harm. We have significant concerns with unsafe injectable silicone that’s being marketed for body contouring by unlicensed providers. We’ve seen serious adverse events result from products, which are sometimes industrial-grade silicone, being used for these unapproved medical purposes,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. “The FDA has stepped in to take enforcement actions against unscrupulous actors who promote and provide these services, but we also want to make the public aware of the risks, which can include irreversible disfigurement and even death. While we’ll continue to go after those who provide these unlawful services, the FDA will have its greatest impact by educating Americans to avoid these unsafe practices.”

Injectable silicone is different from the silicone contained within approved breast implants, because the breast implant shell keeps the silicone from migrating within the body. Injectable silicone is currently only approved by the FDA for a specific use inside the eye (intraocular ophthalmic use). When seeking to enlarge the size of their buttocks or breasts, or other large-scale body contouring procedures, some consumers are falsely told they are receiving an FDA-approved dermal filler, but are actually injected with silicone.

Consumers need to be aware that injectable silicone used for body contouring is not FDA-approved and can cause serious side effects that may be permanent or may even lead to death. Side effects can include ongoing pain and serious injuries, such as scarring, tissue death, and permanent disfigurement; if the silicone migrates beyond the injection site, it could cause an embolism (blockage of a blood vessel), stroke, infections and death. Serious complications may occur right away or could develop weeks, months, or years later.

Silicone injections for body contouring are often performed by unlicensed and non-medical practitioners in non-clinical settings such as residential homes or hotels. The FDA does not know the true extent of these injuries caused by these procedures because unlicensed practitioners do not report injuries incurred from their illegal practice and patients who are harmed may not know to alert the FDA.

“The FDA is alarmed by the increasing trend of injectable silicone being used for body contouring purposes,” said Melinda Plaisier, associate commissioner for regulatory affairs at the FDA. “The agency has investigated and prosecuted unlicensed providers administering these injections all over the country, including most recently in Miami. In addition to prosecuting the criminals who take advantage of consumers, the FDA is taking action to educate consumers in order to prevent the serious injuries resulting from these injections. With our communication today, we hope to raise public awareness about the short- and long-term risks of injecting silicone directly into the body, and encourage consumers to choose FDA-approved products and licensed providers when considering any type of cosmetic enhancement.”

The FDA has participated in a number of criminal enforcement actions in recent years that resulted in the arrest and sentencing of unlicensed practitioners who illegally used these unapproved injections on patients. Two Miami spa owners were arrested in February and recently sentenced to four and six years in prison for managing a spa that performed illegal silicone injections. Hundreds of clients received illegal buttock injections and many experienced irreversible injuries and symptoms as a result of the silicone migrating through their body.

The FDA encourages consumers who may have received injectable silicone to seek medical attention immediately if they experience problems such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, signs of a stroke (including sudden difficulty speaking, numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs, difficulty walking, face drooping, severe headache, dizziness, or confusion), as it may be a life-threatening situation. For those who are considering a body contouring procedure, talk with a health care provider about appropriate treatment options and the risks associated with the procedure. Consumers are encouraged to review the FDA’s Check Before You Inject checklist for helpful information on choosing FDA-approved products and licensed providers for cosmetic enhancement.

Those who have been offered or have received injectable silicone for body contouring from an unlicensed provider are encouraged to use the FDA website to Report Suspected Criminal Activity.

For more information:

The FDA, an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, protects the public health by assuring the safety, effectiveness, and security of human and veterinary drugs, vaccines and other biological products for human use, and medical devices. The agency also is responsible for the safety and security of our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, dietary supplements, products that give off electronic radiation, and for regulating tobacco products.

Media Inquiries: Stephanie Caccomo, 301-348-1956, [email protected]
Consumer Inquiries: 888-INFO-FDA

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SOURCE U.S. Food and Drug Administration

(Español) Hábitos peligrosos son comunes en muchos hogares durante la temporada festiva en los Estados Unidos

November 14, 2017

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Los riesgos de quemaduras e incendios pueden aumentar durante la temporada de fiestas debido al mayor tiempo que la gente pasa dentro de la casa, al mayor uso de la cocina, a la mayor cantidad de velas encendidas y decoraciones navideñas.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

The Home Depot Announces Third Quarter Results; Updates Fiscal Year 2017 Guidance

November 14, 2017

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ATLANTA, Nov. 14, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The Home Depot®, the world’s largest home improvement retailer, today reported sales of $25.0 billion for the third quarter of fiscal 2017, an 8.1 percent increase from the third quarter of fiscal 2016. Comparable store sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2017 were positive 7.9 percent, and comp sales for U.S. stores were positive 7.7 percent.

Net earnings for the third quarter of fiscal 2017 were $2.2 billion, or $1.84 per diluted share, compared with net earnings of $2.0 billion, or $1.60 per diluted share, in the same period of fiscal 2016. For the third quarter of fiscal 2017, diluted earnings per share increased 15.0 percent from the same period in the prior year.

“Though this quarter was marked by an unprecedented number of natural disasters, including multiple hurricanes, wildfires in the West, and earthquakes in Mexico, the underlying health of our core business remains solid,” said Craig Menear, chairman, CEO and president. “I am proud of our team and suppliers for their extraordinary efforts to support those in the path of the various natural disasters throughout the quarter. Our support of the impacted communities continues.”

Impact of Hurricanes in the Fiscal Third Quarter

The Company estimates that hurricane-related sales positively impacted comparable store sales growth by approximately $282 million in the fiscal third quarter. The gross margin on these hurricane-related sales was considerably less than the Company average. In the fiscal third quarter, the Company also incurred approximately $104 million of hurricane-related expense. As a result of the hurricanes, the Company’s operating profit was negatively impacted by approximately $51 million in the fiscal third quarter.

Updated Fiscal 2017 Guidance

Based on its year-to-date performance, underlying strength of the core business, and projected hurricane recovery sales, the Company lifted its fiscal 2017 sales growth guidance and now expects sales will be up approximately 6.3 percent and comp sales will be up approximately 6.5 percent. The Company also raised its diluted earnings-per-share growth guidance for the year and now expects diluted earnings-per-share growth of approximately 14.0 percent from fiscal 2016 to $7.36. The Company’s diluted earnings-per-share growth guidance includes the impact of $8 billion of share repurchases for fiscal 2017.

The Home Depot will conduct a conference call today at 9 a.m. ET to discuss information included in this news release and related matters. The conference call will be available in its entirety through a webcast and replay at ir.homedepot.com/events-and-presentations.

At the end of the third quarter, the Company operated a total of 2,283 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces and Mexico. The Company employs more than 400,000 associates. The Home Depot’s stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor’s 500 index.

Certain statements contained herein constitute “forward-looking statements” as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may relate to, among other things, the demand for our products and services; net sales growth; comparable store sales; effects of competition; state of the economy; state of the residential construction, housing and home improvement markets; state of the credit markets, including mortgages, home equity loans and consumer credit; demand for credit offerings; inventory and in-stock positions; implementation of store, interconnected retail, supply chain and technology initiatives; management of relationships with our suppliers and vendors; the impact and expected outcome of investigations, inquiries, claims and litigation, including those related to the 2014 data breach; issues related to the payment methods we accept; continuation of share repurchase programs; net earnings performance; earnings per share; dividend targets; capital allocation and expenditures; liquidity; return on invested capital; expense leverage; stock-based compensation expense; commodity price inflation and deflation; the ability to issue debt on terms and at rates acceptable to us; the effect of accounting charges; the effect of adopting certain accounting standards; store openings and closures; guidance for fiscal 2017 and beyond; financial outlook; and the integration of acquired companies into our organization and the ability to recognize the anticipated synergies and benefits of those acquisitions. Forward-looking statements are based on currently available information and our current assumptions, expectations and projections about future events. You should not rely on our forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to future events, risks and uncertainties – many of which are beyond our control or are currently unknown to us – as well as potentially inaccurate assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from our expectations and projections. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to those described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors,” and elsewhere in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended January 29, 2017 and in our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we do not undertake to update these statements other than as required by law. You are advised, however, to review any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 29, 2017 AND OCTOBER 30, 2016
(Unaudited)

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
*amounts in millions, except per share data*	October 29, 2017		October 30, 2016		% Increase (Decrease)		October 29, 2017		October 30, 2016		% Increase (Decrease)
NET SALES	$	25,026	$	23,154	8.1	%	$	77,021	$	72,388	6.4	%
Cost of Sales	16,378		15,112		8.4		50,758		47,628		6.6
GROSS PROFIT	8,648		8,042		7.5		26,263		24,760		6.1

Operating Expenses:
Selling, General and Administrative	4,514		4,280		5.5		13,424		12,949		3.7
Depreciation and Amortization	454		442		2.7		1,347		1,311		2.7
Total Operating Expenses	4,968		4,722		5.2		14,771		14,260		3.6

OPERATING INCOME	3,680		3,320		10.8		11,492		10,500		9.4

Interest and Other (Income) Expense:
Interest and Investment Income	(22)		(10)		N/M		(51)		(25)		N/M
Interest Expense	269		246		9.3		788		726		8.5
Interest and Other, net	247		236		4.7		737		701		5.1

EARNINGS BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	3,433		3,084		11.3		10,755		9,799		9.8
Provision for Income Taxes	1,268		1,115		13.7		3,904		3,586		8.9
NET EARNINGS	$	2,165	$	1,969	10.0	%	$	6,851	$	6,213	10.3	%

Basic Weighted Average Common Shares	1,168		1,224		(4.6)	%	1,184		1,236		(4.2)	%
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE	$	1.85	$	1.61	14.9		$	5.79	$	5.03	15.1

Diluted Weighted Average Common Shares	1,174		1,229		(4.5)	%	1,190		1,242		(4.2)	%
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE	$	1.84	$	1.60	15.0		$	5.76	$	5.00	15.2

	Three Months Ended						Nine Months Ended
SELECTED SALES DATA⁽¹⁾	October 29, 2017		October 30, 2016		% Increase (Decrease)		October 29, 2017		October 30, 2016		% Increase (Decrease)
Number of Customer Transactions	389.5		380.0		2.5	%	1,212.0		1,184.8		2.3	%
Average Ticket (actual)	$	62.84	$	59.78	5.1		$	62.78	$	60.26	4.2
Sales per Square Foot (actual)	$	412.49	$	382.18	7.9		$	423.60	$	399.12	6.1

—————
(1) Selected Sales Data does not include results for Interline Brands, Inc., which was acquired in the third quarter of fiscal 2015.

THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
AS OF OCTOBER 29, 2017, OCTOBER 30, 2016 AND JANUARY 29, 2017
(Unaudited)

*amounts in millions*	October 29, 2017		October 30, 2016		January 29, 2017
ASSETS
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	3,549	$	3,589	$	2,538
Receivables, net	2,166		1,995		2,029
Merchandise Inventories	13,419		13,241		12,549
Other Current Assets	548		523		608
Total Current Assets	19,682		19,348		17,724
Net Property and Equipment	21,960		21,840		21,914
Goodwill	2,217		2,095		2,093
Other Assets	1,164		1,219		1,235
Total Assets	$	45,023	$	44,502	$	42,966

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Short-Term Debt	$	125	$	—	$	710
Accounts Payable	8,570		8,054		7,000
Accrued Salaries and Related Expenses	1,488		1,398		1,484
Current Installments of Long-Term Debt	1,198		543		542
Other Current Liabilities	4,621		4,436		4,397
Total Current Liabilities	16,002		14,431		14,133
Long-Term Debt, excluding current installments	24,266		22,338		22,349
Other Liabilities	2,212		2,111		2,151
Total Liabilities	42,480		38,880		38,633
Total Stockholders’ Equity	2,543		5,622		4,333
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity	$	45,023	$	44,502	$	42,966

THE HOME DEPOT, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 29, 2017 AND OCTOBER 30, 2016
(Unaudited)

	Nine Months Ended
*amounts in millions*	October 29, 2017		October 30, 2016
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net Earnings	$	6,851	$	6,213
Reconciliation of Net Earnings to Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization	1,533		1,474
Stock-Based Compensation Expense	214		199
Changes in Working Capital and Other, net of acquisition effects	1,143		33
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities	9,741		7,919

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Capital Expenditures	(1,354)		(1,145)
Payments for Business Acquired, net	(260)		—
Proceeds from Sales of Property and Equipment	38		30
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities	(1,576)		(1,115)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Repayments of Short-Term Debt, net	(585)		(350)
Proceeds from Long-Term Debt, net of discounts	2,991		4,959
Repayments of Long-Term Debt	(534)		(3,034)
Repurchases of Common Stock	(6,067)		(4,535)
Proceeds from Sales of Common Stock	157		136
Cash Dividends Paid to Stockholders	(3,174)		(2,567)
Other Financing Activities	(41)		(33)
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities	(7,253)		(5,424)
Change in Cash and Cash Equivalents	912		1,380
Effect of Exchange Rate Changes on Cash and Cash Equivalents	99		(7)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period	2,538		2,216
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$	3,549	$	3,589

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SOURCE The Home Depot

America’s Promise Alliance Announces New Healthy Schools Fund

November 13, 2017

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Grant focuses on supporting school districts and community organizations working to create healthy school environments.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest network dedicated to improving the lives of children and youth, is extending the Healthy Schools Fund to communities working to create healthier school environments for all children.

As part of Together for Healthy and Successful Schools, a new initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), America’s Promise will select three to five districts and/or community-level organizations that will receive up to $300,000 for two years to support existing collaborative efforts.

Through this work, America’s Promise seeks to answer the following questions:

What if every young person went to a school that focuses on academics as well as social and emotional development and physical health? How do we create the conditions to make it so all children, no matter where they are from, or how much money their family makes, has access to a school that helps them develop into well-rounded adults?

Recognizing that school-centered health intersects with many areas outside of education—housing, employment, transportation, and food access— efforts should serve as a hub for cross-sector collaboration, youth and community engagement, and broader policy and systemic change. Selected grantees will display alignment with this vision and a proven ability to accelerate positive change for young people in schools and their communities.

“America’s Promise has always believed that to support young people who are struggling the most, it takes approaches that focus on all of a child’s developmental needs,” said John Gomperts, president and CEO of America’s Promise. “When communities have healthy schools young people experience greater health, achieve better academic outcomes, and in turn, impact the entire community. Our partnership with RWJF will enable us to help build demand among practitioners, community members, and decision-makers to make healthy schools the norm and create the conditions for every child to have a healthy, successful life.”

Districts and organizations in the following 20 states are eligible to apply: Alaska, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, and Washington.

“To ensure all young people can seize educational opportunities, they need to be at their healthiest,” said Jennifer Ng’andu, senior program officer at RWJF. “Research shows that healthy, nurturing, and safe schools help young people make the most of their education and that success leads to a healthier, longer, more successful life. RWJF launched the Together for Healthy and Successful Schools initiative in recognition of the critical connections between health, learning and long-term well-being.”

To learn more about the America’s Promise Healthy Schools Fund and to apply, visit www.americaspromise.org/healthy-schools-fund. Informational sessions about the grant will take place on November 28 and December 7. The deadline to submit applications is January 22, 2018.

America’s Promise Alliance’s Partnership with RWJF to Support Healthy Schools

America’s Promise Alliance is offering the America’s Promise Healthy Schools Fund as a result of its grant award to lead the strategic action and alignment arm of the Together for Healthy and Successful Schools initiative.

Funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the initiative has the goal of advancing a more holistic approach to ensuring healthy, successful students; thriving communities; and a better future for everyone. America’s Promise will work closely with its fellow grantees—Child Trends and Washington University in St. Louis – which are leading the policy and research arms of the initiative, respectively.

In its role, America’s Promise will activate and align existing and new stakeholders at both the local and national levels to support and build demand for healthier schools. America’s Promise has partnered with five leading organizations – ChildObesity180, Communities In Schools, FoodCorps, the National Association of Community Health Centers, and Turnaround for Children – to provide support and work with communities to learn about successfully supporting health and well-being in schools.

For more information, please email [email protected]

America’s Promise Alliance leads more than 450 organizations, communities and individuals dedicated to making the promise of America real for every child. For more information, visit www.AmericasPromise.org.

Media Contact: Tonya Williams
[email protected]
202-657-0644

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SOURCE America’s Promise Alliance

Florida Power & Light Company sending power line poles to aid Puerto Rico

November 13, 2017

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www.FPL.com . (PRNewsFoto/Florida Power & Light Company)

JUNO BEACH, Fla., Nov. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) today announced that it mobilized and transported 1,000 power line poles, previously located in North Florida, to Port Canaveral and then to Puerto Rico to assist with the rebuilding of the electrical grid that was devastated by Hurricane Maria.

Photo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/603215/Florida_Power_and_Light_Power_line_poles_to_Puerto_Rico.jpg

In addition, senior leadership representing FPL accompanied Florida Gov. Rick Scott’s energy company delegation to the U.S. territory on Nov. 3. Since that time, FPL leadership has remained in Puerto Rico where it has been providing technical expertise and guidance to the restoration effort.

“As the destructive force of Hurricane Maria became apparent and even prior to completing our own Hurricane Irma-related restoration, FPL assembled a team of restoration professionals and made it known that we stood at the ready to offer our support to help rebuild Puerto Rico’s electrical infrastructure,” said Eric Silagy, president and CEO for FPL. “As we sought assistance from other energy companies in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, we provide like support to those whose energy grid has been damaged by natural disasters and help bring life back to normal for our fellow Americans. In fact, 300 of our employees and contractors returned to Florida last week after helping restore power in Maine that was impacted by a Nor’easter last month.”

Leveraging decades of restoration experience, FPL leadership representing emergency preparedness, construction and power delivery operations, including Manny Miranda, senior vice president of power delivery, is working with their industry counterparts in Puerto Rico to help guide the rebuilding of the island’s energy grid.

The 1,000 power line poles were part of the company’s storm inventory that is stored near one of FPL’s substations in Flagler County. Thirty-three trucks delivered the poles to Port Canaveral where they will be loaded on a cargo ship scheduled to leave for Puerto Rico this week.

FPL continues to stand ready to provide whatever assistance is necessary should the company receive the request.

Florida Power & Light Company
Florida Power & Light Company is the third-largest electric utility in the United States, serving nearly 5 million customer accounts or an estimated 10 million people across nearly half of the state of Florida. FPL’s typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill is approximately 25 percent lower than the latest national average and, in 2016, was the lowest in Florida among reporting utilities for the seventh year in a row. FPL’s service reliability is better than 99.98 percent, and its highly fuel-efficient power plant fleet is one of the cleanest among all utilities nationwide. The company received the top ranking in the southern U.S. among large electric providers, according to the J.D. Power 2016 Electric Utility Residential Customer Satisfaction Study^SM, and was recognized in 2017 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities by Market Strategies International. A leading Florida employer with approximately 8,900 employees, FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, ethics and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune’s 2017 list of “World’s Most Admired Companies.” NextEra Energy is also the parent company of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world’s largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com.

Editor’s Note: B-roll of poles being loaded at Flagler County substation: https://fpl.sharefile.com/d-s9d91d29ad5b4773a

Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/603313/FPL_Logo.jpg

SOURCE Florida Power & Light Company

(Español) Kinder Joy sorprende a padres e hijos con su debut en EE. UU.

November 13, 2017

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Sorry, this entry is only available in Español.

Statement of Jane L. Delgado, PhD, MS, President and CEO of National Alliance for Hispanic Health on the nomination of Alex Azar as US Secretary of Health and Human Services

November 13, 2017

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — The National Alliance for Hispanic Health applauds the nomination of Alex Azar to be the Secretary of the US Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The Department needs a leader who knows the agency and who is committed to inclusion of all communities in the operations and policies of DHHS. Mr. Azar is a well-respected leader who brings intelligence, integrity and overall capability to this critical Cabinet position. The Alliance encourages Congress to expeditiously review his credentials and approve Mr. Azar. The American people need a full-time Secretary of Health and Human Services in place to manage the vital programs and operations of DHHS.

About the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (The Alliance)
The Alliance is the nation’s foremost science-based source of information and trusted advocate for the best health for all. For more information, please visit http://www.healthyamericas.org or call the Alliance’s Su Familia National Hispanic Family Health Helpline at 1-866-783-2645.

SOURCE National Alliance for Hispanic Health

National Alliance for Hispanic Health Honors Nation’s Veterans with Focus on Dangers of Tobacco Use

November 13, 2017

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WASHINGTON, Nov. 11, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/– “This Veteran’s Day we give thanks to our country’s veterans and show reverence for the sacrifices they have made for our country. However, it is critical to provide year-round support for this community including access to quality healthcare and tailored clinical services to live healthy lives. Because so many more veterans and active duty members of the military smoke than the civilian population, veterans require smoking cessation resources to match their higher rates of tobacco use,” said Jane L. Delgado, Ph.D., M.S., President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health (the Alliance), the nation’s leading Hispanic health advocacy group.

The military has a long history of tobacco use and a culture of smoking. While 57% of the U.S. population has never smoked cigarettes, only 32% of veterans receiving health care from the Veterans Administration (VA) report they have never smoked. There are currently 18.5 million military veterans in the United States and Puerto Rico, and 1.2 million of them are Hispanic (6.5%).

As with all users, cigarette smoking increases risk for diseases among veterans and active-duty members, including lung cancer, heart disease, and many others. Additionally, their strength and performance can be impaired by smoking, either through exposure to nicotine in cigarettes, or through nicotine withdrawal. Service members who use tobacco are also more likely to drop out of basic training and experience accidents and injuries, which negatively impact troop readiness.

The Alliance is promoting the CDC and VA’s free resources to help veterans quit tobacco use through its Nuestras Voces (Our Voices) Network, spearheaded by 11 regional partners around the country, which works to reduce tobacco use and cancer incidence in Hispanic communities. Network efforts include providing technical assistance to Hispanic-serving organizations to improve their ability to connect people to screening and cessation services, raising awareness of tobacco and cancer-related risks through the media, and conducting provider trainings on tobacco and cancer control evidence-based interventions.

Many resources are available to help veterans and active-duty service members quit. These resources include cessation counseling and medicines, quitlines, and other services through TRICARE coverage and Department of Defense programs. Cessation counseling at VA medical centers and FDA-approved smoking cessation medications at VA pharmacy programs are available. The VA’s Tobacco and Health webpage (www.publichealth.va.gov/smoking/index.asp) links to information on quitting and cessation medication/counseling, and the SmokefreeVET program (www.smokefree.gov/veterans) offers text messaging cessation support (text VET to 47848 for English, VETesp for Spanish). To speak with a tobacco cessation counselor in English or Spanish call 1-855-QUIT-VET.

According to Dr. Delgado, “The challenges veterans face both during and after their service can be numerous, but becoming sick from using tobacco use shouldn’t be one of them. To overcome this dangerous habit, all of our veterans need to understand the real costs of using tobacco and the right tools to get the help they need to quit.”

About the Nuestras Voces Network. Nuestras Voces is a national network of over 200 members working for a tobacco-free world and to eliminate disparities in cancer prevention and treatment services. You can be part of this effort being led by the National Alliance for Hispanic Health! Join us at www.nuestrasvoces.org/join.

About the National Alliance for Hispanic Health. The Alliance is the nation’s foremost science-based source of information and trusted advocate for the health of Hispanics in the United States with a mission to achieve the best health outcomes for all. For more information visit us www.hispanichealth.org.

SOURCE National Alliance for Hispanic Health

Obesity during pregnancy may lead directly to fetal overgrowth, NIH study suggests

November 13, 2017

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BETHESDA, Maryland, Nov. 13, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Obesity during pregnancy—independent of its health consequences such as diabetes—may account for the higher risk of giving birth to an atypically large infant, according to researchers at the National Institutes of Health. Their study appears in JAMA Pediatrics.

“Our results underscore the importance of attaining a healthy body weight before pregnancy,” said the study’s lead author, Cuilin Zhang, M.D., Ph.D., a researcher in the Division of Intramural Population Health Research at NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. “They also suggest that clinicians should carefully monitor the pregnancies of all obese women, regardless of whether or not they have obesity-related health conditions.”

Macrosomia—large body size at birth—is common among children born to obese women, particularly those who have gestational diabetes (high blood sugar during pregnancy). Macrosomia increases the risk that an infant will experience bone fracture during delivery. It also increases the likelihood that the infant will need to be delivered by cesarean section. Having a large infant also increases a mother’s risk for postpartum hemorrhage, or excessive bleeding at birth.

In the current study, researchers analyzed ultrasound scans taken throughout pregnancy of more than 2,800 pregnant women: 443 obese women with no accompanying health conditions, such as diabetes, and more than 2300 non-obese women. The researchers categorized the women’s weight according to their body mass index (BMI) score. Women with a BMI ranging from 30 to 44.9 were classified as obese, while those with a BMI of 29.9 were considered non-obese.

Beginning in the 21st week of pregnancy, ultrasound scans revealed that for fetuses of obese women, the femur (thigh bone) and humerus (upper arm bone) were longer than those of the fetuses of non-obese women. The differences between fetuses of obese and non-obese women continued through the 38th week of pregnancy. For fetuses in the obese group, the average femur length was 0.8 millimeters longer (about 0.03 inches), compared to the non-obese group, and humerus length was about 1.1 millimeters longer (about 0.04 inches), compared to the non-obese group. Average birth weight was about 100 grams (about 0.2 pounds) heavier in the obese group. Moreover, infants born to obese women were more likely to be classified as large for gestational age (birth weight above the 90th percentile), compared to infants born to non-obese women.

The study could not determine exactly why the fetuses of obese women were larger and heavier than fetuses in the non-obese group. The researchers theorize that because obese women are more likely to have insulin resistance (difficulty using insulin to lower blood sugar), higher blood sugar levels could have promoted overgrowth in their fetuses.

The authors pointed out that earlier studies have indicated that the higher risk of overgrowth seen in newborns of obese women may predispose these infants to obesity and cardiovascular disease later in life. They called for additional studies to follow the children born to obese women to determine what health issues they may face.

Reference
Zhang C, et al. Maternal obesity and longitudinal ultrasonographic measures of fetal growth: findings from the NICHD fetal growth studies—singletons. JAMA Pediatrics 2017; DOI HERE

About the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD): NICHD conducts and supports research in the United States and throughout the world on fetal, infant and child development; maternal, child and family health; reproductive biology and population issues; and medical rehabilitation. For more information, visit NICHD’s website.

About the National Institutes of Health (NIH): NIH, the nation’s medical research agency, includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH is the primary federal agency conducting and supporting basic, clinical, and translational medical research, and is investigating the causes, treatments, and cures for both common and rare diseases. For more information about NIH and its programs, visit http://www.nih.gov

SOURCE Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Andrés Gutiérrez, the “machete for your wallet” publishes his book “Transforma tus finanzas en 30 días” (“Transform your finances in 30 days”)

November 10, 2017

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“Thank you Andrés Gutiérrez, our family is living in financial peace because of what we’ve learned from you.”
Pepe Miramontez, radio listener

MIAMI, Nov. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire-HISPANIC PR WIRE/ — Recognized radio financial advisor Andrés Gutiérrez, who is known for his style of not mincing words and who has helped thousands of Hispanic families escape “financial ruin,” just published his book: Transforma tus finanzas en 30 días (Transform your finances in 30 days).

“The Andrés show” is played by more than 35 broadcasters throughout the country (and in some countries in Latin America), and it is on the Internet at www.andresgutierrez.com. He is also the creator of the course Financial Peace (https://www.andresgutierrez.com/pazfinanciera/), where he teaches how to manage money, create wealth, and get out from under debt.

One of his listeners once said that Gutiérrez is a “machete for the wallets” of Latinos, after providing accurate and sound advice on the air. That became the author’s defining nickname, and he is invited frequently by Hispanic media to make presentations.

“Financial ruin doesn’t knock on the door; it kicks the door down, enters, takes its boots off, sits in your armchair and says ‘no one’s getting me out of here,'” Andrés Gutiérrez says.

“With this book I am giving you the formula to grab it by the neck and get rid of it for good in 30 days,” he adds.

For the financial expert, who joined the team of the famous financial guru Dave Ramsey, and who now has his own platform: www.andresgutierrez.com, it is possible to “change the chip” and be financially free just by following the same principles that have transformed his own life and those of thousands of Latin families.

The book will teach you:

How to save, where to save, and how to retain your savings.
How to stop fighting with your partner for money and reach agreement.
What investments are and how they work.
What to do to make your money provide yields until the last day of the month.
How to get out from under debt once and for all.
How to buy a house wisely and without getting in over your head.
How to make more money.

“Transforma tus finanzas en 30 días” is published by Talem International. The book is for sale in print and digitally (e-book) at the web page www.andresgutierrez.com. For interviews with the author (he will be in Miami on Monday, 11/13/17), contact Jorge Hoyos 210-910-6888 or send an e-mail to [email protected].

SOURCE AndresGutierrez.com