Penn Elm Medical Group
488 E. Valley Parkway
Suite 411
Escondido, CA 92025
(760) 745-2000

NEWSLETTER:
JULY 2005

Happy 4th of July!

NEWS YOU CAN USE
Diet Sodas Lead to Weight Gain
A new study from the University of Texas shows a 41% increase in risk of weight gain for every diet soda consumed daily. The presumption is that the sweetness of a sugar substitute triggers the hunger center of the brain, which leads to craving of more calories. See report.

Childhood Lifestyle Factors Contribute to the Risk of Becoming Obese Adults
The British Medical Journal reported recently that a study out of Glasgow, Scotland, linked certain lifestyle factors prior to the age of 3 can to obesity by the age of 7. The four factors found to have the greatest influence include: 1) Television... Viewing more than 4-8 hours of TV a week at age 3. The more hours watched beyond 8, the greater the likelihood of obesity. 2) Too little sleep... Children age 3 and younger who slept less than 11 hours/night were more likely to become obese, due to effects on growth hormone. 3) Maternal smoking during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. 4) A diet heavy in junk food by age 3. Four other non-lifestyle risk factors included having one or both parents that are obese, rapid weight gain during the first year of life, heavier birth weight, and development of fat tissue during the preschool age period. This study confirms the notion that to greatly reduce their chances of battling a lifetime of obesity, children’s time in front of the television and computer should be greatly limited, they should have a balanced diet and plenty of exercise, and tobacco smoking during pregnancy should be avoided. See report.

New Method of Treating Warts
For years, many methods of treating warts—including the application of liquid nitrogen, various acids, and burning with Hyfrecation—have been only moderately effective in most cases. In the May issue of the Archives of Dermatology, researchers report a breakthrough in wart management. Injecting portions of various fungi and viral particles directly into a wart, similar to providing a vaccine, not only successfully got rid of the treated wart, but helped the body’s immune system get rid of untreated warts in approximately half the patients treated. However, participants who were age 40 and older were less likely to respond to the treatment. Some side effects, including body aches and redness, were reported in less than 5% of participants, and these tended to decrease after one day. We will keep an eye open for more studies to confirm the safety and efficacy of this treatment.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Giesemann Leaves Penn Elm
Dr. Giesemann, who had been with Penn Elm for the past few years, left as of June 27th. She will be greatly missed. If Dr. Giesemann was your doctor or if you had an upcoming appointment with her, you will need to see another Penn Elm doctor. All of the remaining doctors will be made available. Please contact our front desk to get established with another physician in our practice.

WHAT’S NEW AT PENN ELM?
We are looking forward to our annual Fourth of July staff party. Once again this year, we will be tailgating near Petco Park, and will attend the Padres game on July 2nd. This event, in appreciation for all of the Penn Elm staff’s hard work, is always a summer favorite.

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