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I?ve done it before and it?s sort of standard fare to see a lot of food bloggers ?Best of the Year? lists to wrap-up the year. I did one last year. That list started with the first cocktail that I made for what would become my Friday Cocktail series but that methodology has weighed on me a bit and that post is easily one reason why. That drink, the Vootbeer, was never MY favorite, not by a long shot. It was fun, sure, but come on?rootbeer and vodka? OK, even with a dollop of whipped cream and a cherry? It?s been pinned a bazillion times, mostly by young girls who have to insist it get made with Whipped Cream Vodka. Sacrilege I say! So I decided to do something a bit different this year and went Archive digging to shed the light of day on some of my long term favorites. Maybe they were posted when I first started blogging (so the photo might be a bit sucky) or maybe for some reason they just never got any traction..but they are all great dishes and they NEED to be noticed and more importantly? Made.

First up are those darlings featured above. Crisp pretzel, chewy bacon, brown sugar, chili powder and cayenne pepper are baked and the end result is a sum much greater than the parts?but really the parts are pretty fabulous. Anyone saying bacon is dead?have them come talk to me!

OK, I lied, sorry. This cocktail was not forgotten but it was the best.? It is the single most popular post on my site and though I?m happy with the photo too (I even won an award with it!), the truth is I also love this drink. Sweet and tart and fizzy?it is almost the perfect cocktail from fall as soon as cranberries are available thru January but it?s just especially suited for Christmas?perfectly pretty all dressed up in red and green! It has been pinned and copied and posted all over the web and with some irony and maybe a sign of? popularity? It was recently submitted to a photo group?I belong to on G+ where we share our photos and ask for constructive criticism. Except it was submitted by someone I don?t know! It?s a true keeper.

I had carrots one day so thought I would make some soup. No biggie right? But this soup is THE BOMB. That little sphere of butter and some salty peanuts makes more than a world of different. Easy, satisfying, just a bit spicy; I LOVE this soup.

Eggs, cheese, breadcrumbs and spices are rolled into spheres and fried in olive oil and then covered with a simple tomato sauce. The ease of this dish belies how good they are. As in I made some for company as appetizers and ended up in the kitchen making another batch while guests waited; they were devoured!

I had this cocktail at a local restaurant and I?m not sure I?ve ever been quite so determined to get a recipe as I was for this. Pulpy and sweet with a touch of? lime too, it puts to shame any other Lemon Drop Martini I?ve ever had. The technique seems weird but the end result is fantastic. I now use the same process to make lemonade and limeade if I?m in the mood for something non-alcoholic.

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This is amazing. It?s from one of my treasured Junior League of Denver cookbooks and I served it to a group of local friends I had met through Twitter. Pesto, potatoes, flank steak and salad are all? layered and make for a fabulous presentation, an easy to serve dish and without a doubt one with fabulous flavor. I want this again NOW!

Another favorite from a local Junior League cookbook; this dish is just the perfect do-ahead for a brunch, holiday or otherwise. I served it to a local group of bloggers at our first get together; you know if it was raved about there, well, it passed muster.

These are far too simple to make to be so dang good. I?m serious. A mix of spices is rubbed on boneless chicken thighs. Broil one side for 5 minutes, flip and broil the 2nd side. Baste with some honey and broil 1 minute longer. THAT IS IT!! I dare you to not suffer my same fate. I stood over the stove and ate two of them before I made myself stop so there would actually be enough for dinner. Do them, your family will love you. I also believe they have the words ?Super Bowl Party? written all over them.
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I just posted this not too long ago but it has been so amazingly received by friends and family that I thought maybe it should be given another chance. My daughter was unimpressed by the ingredients; actually I remember feeling the same. I loved a similar type drink with hot coffee but this was taking a chance and one I?m so glad I took. Tequila is so often associated with limes and lemons but give it a shot?or two! What it does to a heated drink is only short of amazing; it gives warm a whole different meaning! Try it?you?ll see.

Last but not least, what shall that be? I think I?ll give this spot to the dessert that is most often searched for and found on my site. I love cheesecake but not those that are filled with a lot of extras; no cookies or candy for me. This Lemon Cheesecake is divine; I think it could almost be called perfect. Light, luscious and lemony (and that limoncello part does not hurt one tiny bit!).
There you have it, ten posts that I love for different reasons?and I hope you find something you love too?Happy New Year!
Source: http://www.creative-culinary.com/2013/01/best-of-forgotten-favorites-2012/
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When you are building a new home, there are many styles and floor plans to choose from. If vintage architecture is your thing, don?t worry. It is possible to achieve the vintage architectural style in a new home. While vintage homes usually have quite a few years under their belt, there are many things you can include in luxury home designs to create the sane style and feel.
Many builders offer vintage style house plans. You are able to build a new home that has a vintage feel and character. As you are incorporating vintage architecture into your new home, be sure to pay attention to details.
Pick Your Style
While today?s homes can be built in Cape Cod, Craftsman, European, French Country, Tuscan or Colonial style to name a few, so could historic homes. Before you dive into building a historical home, determine your style. Once you have determined your style, you can begin determining the characteristics of that particular style in earlier time periods. Did the roof have a high or low pitch? How many stories should the home have? Should you use columns?
Antique Windows
The window style you choose can have a big impact on creating a vintage feel. Select a historic style of window.? You?ll get the look you desire and the energy efficiency of modern windows.
Modern Layout
House plans are available that create a home that looks like it has been in the neighborhood for decades. The details and architectural features of the outside of the home will give it a vintage look. However, lifestyles have changed. Look for a home that maintains the vintage architecture on the outside, but has an interior layout that is conducive to today?s lifestyle.
Front Porch
While not every antique home was equipped with a front porch, many of them were. Decades ago, a lot of time was spent on the front porch. It was a place the family gathered. Because of this, many homes included a front porch. Including a front porch in your home design will add to the vintage style, but make sure it is useable. Plan on a porch that is at least 6? deep.
Rear Entry Foyers
In days gone by, the front entry was the most common way to enter your home.? This is no longer true.? As the most often used entrance into the home, coming in from the garage can no longer be viewed primarily as ?utilitarian?. The front entry foyer is designed to be something special, as much (or more!) attention should be paid to the rear foyer. A rear foyer can de-stress your mornings and home-comings by eliminating clutter that may otherwise accumulate in the kitchen or family room.
Some things to consider in a well design rear entry foyer include:
1. Storage. Beyond the expected coat closet, what about all the ?stuff? you carry in with you? A ?drop zone? is ideal for liberating your kitchen from such clutter!
2. Convenience. A seat or bench for removing shoes. Insignificant? Buyers don?t think so!
3. Special amenities. Do you have pets ? cats or dogs? Think about adding a pet zone to the rear foyer. When shopping, how often to you bring home bulk items. If you do where do you put them? Think about bulk item storage.
Antique Millwork
After you pick the time period you would like to recreate in your home design, you should spend time researching and talking with your builder about millwork from that time period. Not only should the outside give off the vintage vibe, but it should be incorporated throughout the home. Although you want a modern layout, doors, moldings, mantels, and widow casings resembling the time period the home designs is from will complete the look.
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This is a guest post contribution from Paul Foresman. Paul is the director of business development for?online home plans specialist Design Basics. From small home plans to luxury home plans and everything in between, Design Basics has a plan to meet your dreams!
Tags: Antiques, Modern Layout, Millwork, Foyers, New Homes, Vintage Real Esate, Vintage Architecturebig east tournament 2012 solar storm solar flares spanx aurora borealis gcb mary j blige
If Pentax's Q10 ILC piqued your interest when we got to play with it back in September, then perhaps the choice of 100 different paint jobs might push you to a purchase. Alongside several new cameras at CES 2013, the camera-maker will start to offer custom ordering for the mirrorless unit, with a choice of colors for both the grip and body. And the options? They include pink, white, black, red, turquoise, gold, green, magenta, orange and brown -- and Pentax will be offering them all direct from its Q10 studio site, which you can find at the source.
Continue reading Pentax offers 100 different custom color options for its Q10 mirrorless camera
Filed under: Cameras
Source: Pentax Q10 Studio
Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/07/pentax-offers-100-different-custom-color-options-for-its-q10-ilc/
Serena Williams of the United States celebrates winning the women's final match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-2, 6-1 during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Jan 5, 2013. Williams captured her 47th career title with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-1 victory over Pavlyuchenkova in Saturday?s Brisbane International final. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard).
Serena Williams of the United States celebrates winning the women's final match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia 6-2, 6-1 during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Jan 5, 2013. Williams captured her 47th career title with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-1 victory over Pavlyuchenkova in Saturday?s Brisbane International final. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard).
Serena Williams of the United States plays a shot in the women's final match against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Jan 5, 2013. Williams won 6-2, 6-1. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia looks dejected after she lost the women's final match against Serena Williams of the United States 6-2, 6-1 during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013. Williams captured her 47th career title with a comprehensive 6-2, 6-1 victory over Pavlyuchenkova in Saturday?s Brisbane International final. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)
Andy Murray of Britain reacts after winning the first set in his semi final match against Kei Nishikori of Japan during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard).
Andy Murray of Britain plays a shot in his semi final match against Kei Nishikori of Japan during the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard).
BRISBANE, Australia (AP) ? Serena Williams proved the break between seasons hasn't hurt her momentum, capturing her 47th career title with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on Saturday in the Brisbane International final.
Williams has won 35 of her past 36 matches, including titles at Wimbledon, the Olympics, the U.S. Open, the season-ending WTA championships and now the first event of 2013.
She already has won the Australian Open five times, and with the season's first major a little more than a week away, she's in good shape to add another title in Melbourne.
The Brisbane final was all over in 50 minutes with Williams dictating terms from the first break of serve in the sixth game.
"I always feel like I don't know how to play tennis when I play against you," Pavlyuchenkova told Williams at the trophy presentation.
The pair had traveled together on a training trip to Mauritius in the offseason but didn't really hit against each other at the time.
"But this was true what I said," the No. 36-ranked Pavlyuchenkova, who has won three WTA titles and more than $2.8 million in prize money, later said of her post-match assessment. "When she's on fire, well, I feel like there is not much I can do. I mean, she's a great player and she deserves to win."
Williams said she's been concentrating on being calm and composed, and has started to feel "serene" when she's in her zone on court. She's been feeling that way a lot in her comeback since a first-round loss at the French Open, her earliest exit from a Grand Slam.
"I was looking at a lot of old matches on YouTube, and I feel like right now I'm playing some of my best tennis," the 15-time major winner said. "I feel like I want to do better and play better still."
Pavlyuchenkova's post-match comment, she said, was "a great compliment and a great honor for someone of her caliber to feel that way."
In a tournament featuring eight of the world's top 10 female players, not one match in Brisbane featured two seeded players due to a series of injuries and upsets. Second-ranked Maria Sharapova withdrew due to an injured collarbone, and Pavlyuchenkova ousted a pair of top-10 players: 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova in the second round and fourth-seeded Angelique Kerber in the quarterfinals.
Williams missed a chance to extend her 11-1 record against top-ranked Victoria Azarenka when the 23-year-old Belarusian withdrew a half hour before their scheduled semifinal Friday night due to an infected toe on her right foot. Azarenka was more concerned about being ready for the Australian Open.
The night off obviously didn't bother Williams, who went on a roll during a seven-game run from the middle of the first set until Pavlyuchenkova finally held serve in the fourth game of the second.
The 31-year-old Williams can regain the No. 1 ranking if she wins the Australian Open. If she does, she'll be the oldest woman to hold the top spot on the WTA tour. Chris Evert set the mark in November 1985, aged 30 years, 11 months and three days.
Williams' surge up the rankings started after the French Open, and also coincided with her starting to work with Patrick Mauratoglou's academy in Paris.
She attributes her comeback to "spending a lot more time on the tennis court, I think, and doing a lot of things I love."
"Everything just came together with the right timing with me wanting to do better, with me wanting to work hard, (Mauratoglou) being there and having everything to work hard, and having the same mind frame of playing matches for the way I like to play," Williams said. "So I think life is about timing, and it was just good timing."
In the men's draw, defending champion Andy Murray advanced to the final when fifth-seeded Kei Nishikori retired with an injured left knee while trailing 6-4, 2-0 in their semifinal earlier Saturday.
The Olympic and U.S. Open champion will next meet 21-year-old Grigor Dimitrov, who is starting to live up to his billing as a star-in-the-making by reaching his first ATP Tour final with a 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (5) victory over Marcos Baghdatis.
Associated PressSource: http://bloggertize.blogspot.com/2013/01/advances-and-consulting-services-for.html
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Energy?s prospects pervade virtually all sectors. Next to water, oil is the single most important commodity in the modern world. The mere threat of supply interruptions can wreak economic havoc. And there?s no better barometer of global health than oil prices, as demand inevitably follows economic growth.
Even the worst economic crisis in 80 years couldn?t keep oil prices down for long. Between July 11 and December 19, 2008, the price of a barrel of benchmark West Texas Intermediate Crude fell from a high of $147 and change to barely $32. But less than six months later?and despite a devastating US recession?oil had more than doubled off the lows and was well on its way back to the century mark.
The US has been a vitally important market for crude for a century plus. What?s changed in the past decade or so, however, is it?s no longer the most important one. That distinction has now passed to China. And with demand intensity just beginning to take off there, the Middle Kingdom?s importance for oil will only grow in coming years.
That?s the bull case and it?s compelling. In fact, rising Asian demand is likely to keep global oil prices moving up for years to come, particularly once Europe returns to growth.
That?s already reflected in Brent crude, the primary global benchmark price for oil, which is currently north of $110 a barrel. Because oil can be exported from North America as well as imported, gains will be felt in the price here as well.
The Bear Case
Black gold also has a bear case, however, and particularly on these shores. Paradoxically, it lies in one of the most bullish developments in decades for the country as a whole.
As with natural gas, hydraulic fracturing has made it possible to tap into vast reserves of light oil that were previously uneconomic. Once untouched regions such as the Bakken in the upper Midwest and Eagle Ford in Texas are now booming. Domestic US output is at its highest level in 15 years and the nation by some estimates is on pace to pass Saudi Arabia as the world?s largest producer by 2020.
Net petroleum imports are down by 38 percent from their 2005 peak. They?ll likely fall further in coming months, as US producers deploy a record number of drilling rigs. The Bakken formation alone is estimated to contain 27 billion to 45 billion recoverable barrels of oil.
The problem is the transport infrastructure?mainly pipelines?is not yet in place to get surging output to global markets. Bakken producers, for example, have resorted to using trains and trucks to move oil out of the remote region. And the Cushing transportation hub in Oklahoma has become a major bottleneck for crude moving from the interior to refineries on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
The result is the rise of huge price ?differentials? between oil produced in different regions of North America. The more remote the oil is when produced, the cheaper it will sell for.
Private enterprise is filling the gap, particularly master limited partnerships (MLPs). Notable case in point: The Cushing-to-the-Gulf ?Seaway? pipeline of Personal Finance Income Portfolio pick Enterprise Products Partners LP (NYSE: EPD) will reach flows of 400,000 barrels of oil next week, alleviating some of the glut in Oklahoma and lining the partnership?s pockets in the process.
In late November, however, ONEOK Partners (NYSE: OKS) actually tabled a pipeline that would have brought Bakken oil south. The reason was inability to secure long-term capacity contracts, as producers were unwilling to commit amid current volatility in energy prices.
The fact that the partnership cancelled rather than risk heavy losses at completion speaks to management conservatism that?s good for ONEOK unitholders. But it?s also a sign that even MLPs aren?t adopting a speculative ?build it and they will come? approach. Consequently, the building program for bringing new oil supplies to market will only happen over a period of years.
Consequently, these price differentials are likely to endure, though they will wax and wane. Similarly, the price of natural gas and gas liquids will stay low due to lack of ability to export, at least until major liquefied natural gas facilities are built. For example, the price of ethane?a substitute for petroleum in manufacturing plastics?recently hit a 22-month low, despite what appears to be robust global demand.
Divergent Performance
The big picture is that North American energy is abundant as never before. The technology is there. And with the federal government strongly supportive of US energy independence, there are arguably fewer regulatory obstacles to developing it than in many years.
Long term, that means prosperity for those in the business of drilling, producing, processing, transporting and marketing oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids in North America. The domestic energy boom is a plus for scores of non-energy related industries, for which it conveys a compelling competitive advantage on costs.
Over the near term, however, bottlenecks and uneven production mean divergent industry performance at best. And that?s not including the potential fallout from what I call ?sudden austerity? resulting from Washington?s efforts to rein in the federal budget.
Only the Strong
As I pointed out in Wednesday?s alert to Personal Finance readers, the compromise on federal tax policy hammered out on New Year?s Day does prevent the worst case?i.e., $600 billion in immediate tax increases and spending cuts.
The deal also contains better-than-expected provisions for investors, including no change in tax rates for dividends and capital gains on income of up to $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for couples. Even the new top rate for dividends and capital gains paid on income above those thresholds aren?t onerous, at 20 percent.
However, once spending cuts are negotiated this spring, we?ll see the most contractionary fiscal policy for the US in decades. Factoring in the two-percentage point boost in Social Security taxes, the total bite is equal to 1.9 percent of US gross domestic product. That?s more austerity than Britain, France and Spain are implementing, and all three of those countries are wallowing in recession.
If austerity does draw the US into recession as some fear, the impact on oil prices in 2013 will almost surely be negative. We?d likely see the same fallout for natural gas and NGLs markets as well.
The bottom line for energy: Long-term positive, short-term highly uncertain. That?s the kind of environment that rewards a measure of caution, and holds the risk of severe punishment for those who take risks that prove to be unlucky.
This is not the time to abandon positions in high-quality energy stocks, such as super oils, pipelines and well-capitalized smaller producers such as Growth Portfolio pick Linn Energy LLC (NSDQ: LINE). Now is a great time to buy companies that have strong balance sheets, well-covered dividends and a clear path toward raising production.
Their share prices have been beaten down with the rest of their sector. But they carry none of the risks of the exposed fry. In fact, they?re in prime position to profit from rivals? difficulties.
In a worst case, patient buyers may see their investments in these stocks languish again in 2013, as most energy producers did in 2012. But sooner or later, prices will rebound and the well positioned will be off to the races.
Sudden austerity or no, energy remains one of my favorite sectors for bargain hunting in early 2013. But buyers must be patient as well as wary. We may have to wait for big gains and history is clear that not every company in this often-volatile industry will make it. Buy energy, but only the strong.
Source: http://www.investingdaily.com/16054/oils-well
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In 2009, William Morotta donated sperm, free of charge, to a lesbian couple. Though Morotta signed a contract giving up financial responsibility for the child, the state of Kansas is now suing him for support after one of the mothers applied for financial assistance. NBC's Michelle Franzen reports.
By Elizabeth Chuck, NBC News
A man who responded to an?online ad for sperm and?now faces thousands of dollars in child support?is living proof of the dangers of donating outside of a sperm bank.
"The biggest piece of advice is just to not do it," said Ashley Nicole Reeve, a Texas-based attorney practicing in family law and reproductive technology law. "I don't know that there is any sure way legally to protect yourself."
With reproductive technology advancing more quickly than the law that governs it, donors who go through less-than-official channels can find themselves in a gray area when it comes to child support.
"The medical technology really has gone further than what the law has protected at this point. People are using sperm donors and egg donors and surrogates more and more, and the law really hasn't caught up just yet," she said.?
Just ask?William Marotta, a married 46-year-old mechanic from Topeka, Kansas,?who is being asked by the state to pay $6,000 in child support after he donated sperm to a couple in his town.
Marotta had a contract absolving him of parental responsibility and says he has no contact with the child, but because he donated his sperm outside of a licensed institution, the state has gotten involved.
"No good deed goes unpunished," Marotta told TODAY. "With what I know now, I don't think I would have been the sperm donor."
Marotta replied to a Craigslist ad in 2009 from a local couple who said they wanted to find a sperm donor. They were offering $50. After discussing it with his wife, Marotta volunteered, turning down the cash Jennifer Schreiner and her partner, Angela Bauer, were offering in exchange.
Marotta signed a written agreement that relinquished him of parental rights and held him harmless "for any child support payments demanded of him by any other person or entity, public or private ... regardless of the circumstances or said demand,? according to?The Topeka Capital-Journal.
Schreiner became pregnant with the sperm, and she and Bauer -- who are not married because Kansas does not recognize same-sex unions -- co-parented the baby girl. Child support only came up when the two women broke off their relationship, one of them got sick, and they applied for state services for the girl. The Kansas Department for Children and Families demanded they tell them the donor's name, which Schreiner and Bauer eventually gave, reluctantly.
The state filed a child-support claim for more than $6,000 against Marotta this past October.
"We never intended for him to financially support her. That was our responsibility as her two parents," Bauer told TODAY on Thursday. "I have the joy of raising her and loving her every single day and it?s because of William that I have that."
"This is not at all what we signed up for," Marotta's wife, Kimberly,?told TODAY.
But according to the Kansas Department of Children and Families, it's exactly what they signed up for when Marotta?artificially inseminated Schreiner in her house.?
?In cases where the parties do not go through a licensed physician or a clinic, there remains the question of who actually is the father of the child or children. In such cases, DCF is required by statue to establish paternity and then pursue child support from the non-custodial parent,??Angela de Rocha, director of communications, said in a statement.?
Ben Swinnen, whose Topeka firm will represent Marotta at his Jan. 8 hearing, said Marotta has no way to pay for the child support costs, never mind his unexpected legal fees.
"The cost of defending him is way beyond his means. The issue is way beyond him and the cost is way beyond his means. It goes much further than his particular case and it costs much more than he can afford," Swinnen said.
Swinnen said his client doesn't have any contact with the daughter who was born.?As for the contract Marotta signed at the time of his donation, Swinnen said, "It appears to me like it was found on the Internet by the two women, but I cannot confirm that. It's just my assumption," he said.?
Sperm banks typically protect donors through state parenting shield laws, but less straightforward cases have arisen in the past:
Swinnen?admits his client should have thought through his decision a bit more before proceeding.
"Hindsight is 20/20. He could have consulted a lawyer, explored the legal implications," he said.?
NBC's Isolde Raftery contributed to this report.
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Jan. 2, 2013 ? A small percentage of men in a prostate cancer study complained that their penis seemed shorter following treatment, with some saying that it interfered with intimate relationships and caused them to regret the type of treatment they chose.
Complaints were more common in men treated with radical prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate) or male hormone-blocking drugs combined with radiation therapy, according to the study by researchers from Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center (DF/BWCC). No men reported a perceived shortening of their penis following radiation therapy alone.
The study's findings, which are being published in the January issue of the journal Urology, are based on surveys completed by physicians of 948 men treated for prostate cancer and who had suffered a recurrence of the disease.
Twenty-five men (2.63 percent of the group) complained of smaller penises after treatment -- 3.73 percent for surgery, 2.67 percent for radiotherapy plus androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), and 0% for radiotherapy alone. Radiotherapy included both radiation administered by an external x-ray machine, and brachytherapy -- the implantation of radioactive seeds directly into the prostate.
The scientific team, led by Paul Nguyen, MD, a radiation oncologist, and medical student Arti Parekh, said it is the first study to link men's perceptions of a reduction in penis size to lowered life satisfaction, problems in emotional relationships, and misgivings about the specific form of prostate cancer treatment they chose.
Nguyen said that the potential side effect of a smaller penis is well-known among physicians and surgeons, said Nguyen, "but it's almost never discussed with patients, so it can be very upsetting to some men when it occurs. Patients can deal with almost any side effect if they have some inkling ahead of time that they may happen."
The report's authors said physicians should discuss the possibility with their patients so that they can make more-informed treatment choices.
There were no direct measurements of penis size either before or after treatment, said the researchers. Nor did the patients' physicians specifically ask about this side effect; the issue was brought up by patients in conversations with their doctors. For this and other reasons, the authors of the new study suggest that the problem is likely more common than reported in the survey.
"Prostate cancer is one of the few cancers where patients have a choice of therapies, and because of the range of possible side effects, it can be a tough choice," said Nguyen. "This study says that when penile shortening does occur, it really does affect patients and their quality of life. It's something we should be discussing up front so that it will help reduce treatment regrets."
The likelihood and magnitude of penis shortening as a consequence of treatment have not been well studied, said the researchers. However, Jim Hu, MD, a surgeon at the University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center and a co-author of the study, said "Previous studies have concluded that there is shortened penis length following prostatectomy. This is most common with non-nerve sparing surgery, as this may result in fibrosis and atrophy of erectile tissue due to damage to nerve and vascular structures." The present study did not find much difference on that score.
The study's subjects were men enrolled in a registry called COMPARE that collects data on patients whose prostate cancer shows signs of recurring after initial treatment. Of the 948 men in the study, 22 percent were younger than 60 and the majority were in their 60s, 70s and 80s. Just over half -- 54 percent -- had undergone surgery to remove their cancerous prostate, while 24 percent received radiation therapy combined with hormone-blocking treatment, and 22 percent had radiation therapy alone.
In an editorial comment accompanying the report, Luc Cormier, MD, PhD, of Dijon University Hospital in France said the study "is really of interest because of the number of patients and that it included other treatment methods in addition to radical prostatectomy."
The surveys of the men did not report on their sexual functioning. Cormier observed that "sexual activity needs to be thoroughly measured owing to the obvious relationship with the patients' perception of penile length."
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Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/f70300gPpN4/130102140537.htm
However, I have noticed it has created multiple entries in my "sources", for example, I have now two sources for the 1841 England Census, one has 20 citations and the other 8.
If I use the "merge" option, to replace one with the other - 1. Does this keep all the relevant information? 2. Is it wise to do this? 3. Does it matter if I merge A with B or B with A.
I am thinking I dont want to end up with multiple sources, as I am at the moment.
Source: http://boards.ancestry.co.uk/topics.software.famtreemaker/9298/mb.ashx
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