Sex, Health, Diet Info

O.K. So what are they?

Uterine Fibroids (leiomyomas) are common noncancerous (benign) tumors that occur within the muscle walls of the uterus (womb). Uterind fibroids can be the size of a pinhead and show no signs or symptoms that they are there, or they can be very painful and grow to a 10 inch diameter.

There are four types of uterine fibroids:

Subserosal Fibroids, develop under the outside uterine covering. Intramural Fibroids, develop within the uterine wall. Submucosal Fibroids, develop under the uterus lining. Pedunculated Fibroids, develop on a “stalk” or stem-like structure attached to the inside or the outside of the uterus.

Fibroids may grow as a single nodule or in clusters. They may range in size from 1 mm to more than 20 cm (8 inches) in diameter. Fibroids in the uterus are a common cause of heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain and pressure in women. During pregnancy, fibroids can greatly increase in size.

What are the Symptoms?

Some women with uterine fibroids experience no symptoms at all. Symptoms may include excessive and prolonged menstrual bleeding, pain, abdominal mass effect, frequent urination or urgency or constipation and many others.

When symptoms appear, they can vary greatly, depending on the size and exact location of the fibroid tumors. Women sometimes underestimate the impact of their symptoms because they have become accustomed to the excessive bleeding, pain and the pressure that fibroids can cause. Also, for some reason African-American women develop symptoms faster and with greater severity than other women.

What does one do about them?

Uterine fibroids often do not require treatment, but when they are problematic, they may be treated surgically, non-surgically, with medication or with alternative treatments. The very heavy menstrual bleeding, clotting and pelvic pain, that fibroids sometimes cause leads many women to seek treatment.

What about treatment?

There are several different types of treatments:

Hormonal: Uterine fibroid tumors require estrogen and progesterone to grow, and without these hormones, fibroid tumors usually shrink in size. Hormonal treatments (such as birth control pills) may help control excessive menstrual bleeding caused by fibroids in some patients.

Non-surgical: Uterine Fibroid Embolization, UFE – Known medically as uterine artery embolization, approaches the treatment of fibroids by blocking the arteries that supply blood to them causing them to shrink or disappear. Uterine fibroid embolization is a more permanent solution than hormone therapy. When hormonal treatment is stopped the fibroid tumors usually grow back. UFE (Uterine Fibroid Embolization) isn’t considered to be surgery, but it is generally done at a hospital or specialized clinic. This uterine fibroids treatment procedure usually takes between 1 and 3 hours, depending on how long it takes to position the catheter and how easily the catheter can be positioned in the arteries to the uterus.

Although uterine artery embolization has been in use for two decades to treat bleeding after childbirth, it wasn’t until early 1997 that the technique was introduced as a potential treatment for uterine fibroids.

Follow-up studies have shown that nearly 90 percent of women who have their fibroids treated by uterine fibroid embolization experience either significant or complete resolution of their fibroid-related symptoms.

Surgical: Surgery for uterine fibroids involves either removing the fibroids (myomectomy) or the entire womb (hysterectomy). Surgery has risks, including bleeding and infection. About a third of the more than 500,000 hysterectomies done in the U.S. each year are done because of fibroids. Most of the women having these operations are said to be unaware of the non-surgical options.

Alternative treatment: Alternative treatments for uterine fibroid tumors also abound. Naturopaths, homeopaths, acupuncturists, chiropractors, and other alternative health care providers have treatments to offer as well. While some of these are not as well supported by scientific studies that prove effectiveness, the treatments are usually safer and provide a less invasive alternative than surgery.

Remember that some medical treatments for uterine fibroid tumors can affect your fertility. For this and other reasons it is very important to seriously investigate and consider alternative treatments for uterine fibroids.

Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.

Jorge Chavez is a researcher, writer and student of natural health. For more information about dealing with uterine fibroids treatment and what to do about fibroids in uterus, follow the link in this sentence.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/uterine-fibroids-here-are-the-basics-1382852.html

Women that suffer from menorrhagia are not only inconvenienced each month, they may experience pain, emotional turmoil and difficulty getting pregnant. Menorrhagia is excessively heaving bleeding during menstruation. It is believed that this is one of the most common menstrual disorder, but it is often hard to diagnose because measuring menstrual flow is difficult. Women may experience a variety of other symptoms as well, and sometimes the heavy flow is a symptom itself. It is more common amongst women suffering from fibroids or cysts on their reproductive organs, and there may be a link to obesity and menorrhagia. In severe cases of menorrhagia, a woman may choose menstrual surgery to cope with her condition.

What Is It?

There are different surgical procedures commonly associated with menorrhagia. Hysteroscopic surgery places a small telescopic instrument into the uterine cavity for examination. There are no incisions during the procedure and the tool is inserted through the vagina into the uterus. The doctor is able to remove scar tissue, polyps, and small fybroid tumors. This procedure stops or reduces menstrual flow and preserves fertility. It is safer than a traditional hysterectomy, and in most cases, has less side effects.

A second minimally invasive option is laparoscopic surgery. In this procedure a thin, fiber-optic tube with a tiny video camera on the end of it is inserted into the uterus through a small incision in the navel. It is then guided to the problem area. The surgeon then inserts tiny surgical instruments through another small incision to perform the operation.

A third form of surgery, which is known as Uterine Balloon Ablation, or roller ball surgery, destroys the uterine lining of women that suffer excessive blood flow. It is an outpatient procedure, and many women experience only minor cramping as a result of the surgery. Some require only a 24 hour recovery period and most are back to a relatively normal life within a week. It is necessary to refrain from exercise and strenuous activity for 3-4 weeks. This procedure does carry the risk of sterility, but if someone intends to be sterile following the procedure, it is recommended that a tubal ligation be performed simultaneously.

Who Needs It?

Women that suffer from heavy menstrual bleeding are prime candidates for the surgery. While menorrhagia is not often a dangerous condition, severe cases of it can lead to anemia. Women suffering from fibroids and polyps are also candidates for the procedure. In the case of hysteroscopy surgery, women that still have a desire to conceive will most often be recommended for that procedure in lieu of other options.

Benefits

The major benefit of menstrual surgery is that more often than not, it will put an end to the condition. Women that suffer from a variety of menstrual disorders will benefit from surgery. The effects of suffering from fibroids, polyps and scar tissue can be limiting and unpleasant. Women may see a boost in their sex lives, confidence, and overall health once they have remedied the menstrual disorder that was plaguing them.

The majority of the non-invasive procedures is that there is minimal recovery time and many women are able to return home the same day. There is less pain and because there are no incisions, the risk of infection may be reduced as well.

Risks

Aside from the typical risks of surgery, such as a negative or severe reaction to anesthesia, menstrual surgery holds limited risk. There is some danger to the uterus, as any time instruments are inserted near tender tissue, the patient could suffer perforation. This, or other poor reactions, could lead to sterility. Some women desire sterility when having the operation, but young women that want their reproductive organs to remain functional should understand there are risks associated with the procedure. Granted, women that opt to undergo menstrual surgery often find it difficult to get pregnant due to their pre-existing conditions. Surgery may be the only hope a woman has for conceiving, and she is willing to accept the risk.

The options for women suffering from menorrhagia or other menstrual disorders are varied and safe. Depending upon a woman’s age, condition, and desire to have children, she and her doctor will choose the procedure that will work best for her. If you believe you have a condition that could be remedied through menstrual surgery, discuss your options with your doctor as soon as possible.

The information in the article is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with an appropriate health care provider.

Kelly Brown is a writer for Yodle, a business directory and online advertising company. Find a Surgeon or more Health and Medicine articles at Yodle Consumer Guide. Menstrual Surgery Options Available to Those Suffering from Menorrhagia

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/menstrual-surgery-options-available-to-those-suffering-from-menorrhagia-1307625.html

Your Health is, without a doubt, your most important and valuable asset. It influences everything you do, including your career and romantic life.

Men’s Health Zone has been developed to help you take care of your health more easily. Here you can find information on the health aspects that are unique to men, and solutions for the most common problems you face throughout your life.

Your health determines your success in business and in love. Improve it and preserve it. Let Men’s Health Zone help you on your way!

ENLAST

Topical Lubricant for Increased Sexual Pleasure

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Premature Ejaculation

Perhaps one of the most embarrassing health concerns a man can have is premature ejaculation (PE). Even though PE is treatable, many men do not seek a solution for their problem. If it is not addressed, men often start to suffer psychologically from severe lack of confidence, which in turn impacts their careers and love life.

While we hear a lot about women’s performance anxiety, but not much attention is paid to a man’s ability to “last” in the bedroom. While some men may be perfectly content with ten minutes of intercourse, their partner may need twenty to reach orgasm. As a result, the pressure is on for men!

25% to 40% of men suffer from PE, with ejaculation occurring within two minutes of penetration. While there are many different reasons men battle with PE, stamina can be one of them. Natural compounds found in Deer Antler have been shown to boost stamina as well as muscle health, which in turn can have quite the impact in the bedroom.

Aside from stamina, sensation or sensitivity issues can manifest as PE. A fact to consider is that in many cases, PE is actually defined as when the male ejaculates before his partner reaches orgasm in at least half of the times he has intercourse. This could mean that a man does not clinically suffer from PE at all, but rather that he just reaches orgasm sooner. In these cases, a stimulating topical lubricant can make a world of difference. Enlast is designed for both men and women, and is safe to use with condoms. It puts you back in the driver’s seat when it comes to your sex life.

Regardless of the cause of your PE, you are the only one who can decide to take action right now!

Not taking care of the matter now can lead to a host of different problems. Premature ejaculation does not only lead to lower self esteem, it is also a cause for performance anxiety experienced by millions of men worldwide. As a result, decreased libido is only the next step in this downward spiral. A combination of these problems can lead to increased general stress and relationship problems down the line.

Male Enhancement

Are you unhappy with your sexual life? There is a tremendous amount of pressure on our sexual performances. This pressure is applied from a number of sources, from the media to perhaps even our partners. While women complain about pressure to have an orgasm during intercourse, the modern man has a lot to worry about himself. After all, women associate larger penis size in men with increased sexual expertise. Although at first sight a woman has no way of telling your “size”, the mere worry about how your partner will judge your endowment will affect your performance even before reaching the bedroom.

Sexual performance depends on so many factors it is not surprising that a majority of men have sexual insecurities. Even if size is not such much a problem, libido or even ejaculate volume can be a concern. Few real solutions are available, and even fewer address all of these problem areas. Natural Gain Plus is a complete program that targets all areas that result in male enhancement. The program does not require any surgical procedures or scary pumps. Instead, it is completely discrete and not even your partner will need to know about it. Sexual insecurities cannot be solved with a “solution” that almost demands the world to know there is a problem in the first place. Going to a clinic is a step most men don’t even consider, and playing around with weights or pumps is just plain humiliating.

Enhancing your libido, penis size and sexual performance does not depend on pumps or surgery. Instead a healthy lifestyle in combination with the right natural supplements can make a significant and permanent difference in your romantic life.

Aging and a poor diet can cause decreased blood flow, which in turn leads to more disappointing erections as you grow older. Men do not have to settle for this supposedly natural “side effect” of the aging process. For centuries people have used herbs and other natural products to enhance their health and also their virility. Several compounds derived from plants help improve blood circulation and enhance sexual stamina. Virility EX is one natural product that combines the three most powerful compounds in the perfect dosage: Yohimbe, Maca, and Tongkat Ali.

While most people believe a man’s penis size and semen volume is genetically determined, this is not entirely true. Diet, exercise, body mass index (BMI), and blood circulation all have an effect on your sexual performance. While Virility EX helps you improve your blood circulation, Enlast can increase sensation and libido for both of you! Deer Antler Plus and Natural Gain Plus increase your stamina and size.

Which supplement you choose will depend on your focus:
Enlast

• Improve sensitivity for you and your partner 
• Stop premature ejaculation.
• Create lasting sexual excitement.

Deer Antler Plus

• Increase stamina and muscle health.

Virility EX & Natural Gain Plus

• Enhance your size.
• Increase your sexual stamina.
• Improve your erections.

There is a wide incidence of women in the Western world who experience breast changes that are a direct consequence of their menstrual cycle and it is believed that as high as 70 percent of women are so afflicted. These women may find their breasts have become very uncomfortable due to their becoming tender, swollen or lumpy. This is one of the many women’s health issues that need to be studied and understood if one is to be able to treat the ailment and provide much needed succor to the patients. It is important to find an explanation for the condition and know which natural and medical treatments are available for this women’s health issue.

Breast Health: The Facts

Broadly speaking, women’s health issues can be categorized into several important concerns, of which include: breast problems, cystitis, endometriosis, fibroids, heavy periods, hysterectomy, irregular periods, menopause, miscarriage, no periods, osteoporosis, ovarian cysts, PMS, polycystic ovary syndrome, pregnancy, prolapse, thrush and vaginal infections. Women also face problems such as weight control and infertility.

In the case of breast cancer, one can safely say that it is widely prevalent in women living in the United States. This means that such an important women’s health issue needs to be better understood and this involves knowing the stage of the disease, new diagnostic methods versus recurrence, the woman’s age as well as prior treatments. Mostly, different women would respond to the crisis of having breast cancer in different ways but what is most important is for them to know and obtain as much information as possible so that they are better educated about the disease.

It is important that this women’s health issue be taken notice of, and a study of the risk factors involved with contracting breast cancer needs to be undertaken as some factors may have stronger links to breast cancer than others. These important risk factors are: gender, age, personal history of breast cancer, family history of cancer, high breast tissue density, breast hyperplasia, long term estrogen exposure, menopausal hormone replacement therapy, not having children or having first child after age 30, exposure to radiation, Ashkenazi Jewish heritage, genetics as well as diet, environment, and smoking. There is no denying the fact that breast cancer is an important women’s health issue for which no amount of research and development can be said to be enough.

There are different factors that may affect a mans sexual health and with some of these conditions, there are solutions to these problems. The three major factors that most likely affect a mans sexual health especially when it comes to erectile dysfunction problems are obesity, alcohol and smoking.

Obesity is definitely is definitely one situation that may hinder a man from performing properly when it comes to having sex with a woman. Yes an obese man may just as well be interested in having sex just as much as the next guy, but they are not as able to perform due to their obesity.

To rectify a mans obesity problem and to rid oneself of erectile dysfunction problems the answer is to diet properly and as well to exercise properly. For those men that are obese and want too improve and better their sex life, they have to be pro active and that means to take their obesity problem seriously and to eat properly and as well to exercise on a regular basis.

Smoking is another major concern when it comes to a mans sexual health especially erectile dysfunction. For those men who do smoke it has been found from studies that men who smoke more than 20 cigarettes per day had a 60% higher risk level of erectile dysfunction compared to those men who have never smoked. As well studies have shown that up to 30% of men who currently or formerly smoked were more likely to suffer from impotence.

For those men who do smoke they are as well at risk of getting lung cancer and as well as asthma, which both situations may lead to an early death. The best solution is to quit smoking which will not only enable a man to perform sexually and to rid themselves of erectile dysfunction problems but will as well make a situation better with their partner in life.

Alcohol consumption by any man is understandable but excessive drinking of alcohol is another factor that will affect a mans sexual health as well as creates erectile dysfunction problems. The major concern with excessive alcohol consumption is that alcohol dilates (widens) the blood vessels and if a man manages to get an erection, the alcohol keeps the blood vessels to the penis open and a man is left hanging in limpland.

If a man wants to improve their sexual health and improve their erectile dysfunction problems, then it is in the best interest not to drink alcohol prior to having sex. As well as those men that drink excessively to the point of being alcoholics the best remedy is to quit drinking totally and joining Alcoholics Anonymous to help to solve and alleviate a mans drinking problems.

In the end every man who has a problem with obesity, alcohol or smoking may enjoy better sexual health and alleviate problems with erectile dysfunction. The choice really is the mans choice and to do that they must take responsibility to making those changes and that is by discipline and taking action to make those changes.

There are many benefits of exercise on male sexual health. Men that exercise often have more stigma than men that have no exercise in their lives. Men that exercise on a regular basic will have more energy and it helps with blood flow, which can help with increasing a man’s need for sexual pleasure. man that has little to no exercise in his daily routine will have lower testosterone levels. A man over the age of forty needs to stay healthy and exercise regularly to keep their sexual libido high. The lack of exercise can lead to high blood pressure, obesity and diabetes as well as a loss of sexual desire.

There are other benefits of exercise on male sexual health including relieving stress. The brain has two parts that mediate testosterone production. They are called the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus. If either one of these areas is not functioning properly because of age or stress levels, they do not send signals to the testicles to produce enough testosterone that is needed for male sexual performance. This can cause muscle weakness, fatigue, depression, erection problems and a reduction in the male libido.

A man’s sexual health depends on exercise to stay healthy and sexually active. There are some products on the market that can help with males sexual problems, but with regular exercise, a man can enjoy the benefits of exercise on male sexual health. All it takes is a few minutes a day to stay healthy. It only takes a few minutes a day to keep the libido strong. The male body does goes through changes as it ages, but exercise and proper diet will help a man keep up his sexual performance and desires without the use of drugs and male hormone therapy, which can cause other health problems.

Men are sensitive to a woman’s needs and being able to sexually satisfy a woman is something that they want to do. If the male libido is suffering from the lack of testosterone, a man may need help from a male enhancer. If a man needs another option, the benefits of exercise on male sexual health can help them understand natural ways to increase the testosterone levels. If exercise does not help the way a man would like, they may choose to exercise and use a male sexual enhancement product. This would also help other male sexual dysfunctions.

When you think about the benefits of exercise on male sexual health, you should keep in mind that there all natural ways to increase the libido and some artificial ways. There are benefits for exercising other than the libido, but there are some benefits of using artificial means as a way to boost the sexual desire in a man. If the libido is low and the blood pressure is high, exercise may be the one answer to help with both health issues. All you need is a little time to decide what will be easier and healthier for you.

One of the advantages of reaching midlife is that we are finally finished with all those issues that make childhood and adolescence such a pain in the neck, such as needing set bedtimes as well as  regular dental and eye checkups; having to worry about using protection during sex and about cigarette smoking; getting all those shots to prevent diseases and wearing helmets to prevent sports injuries; needing to eat all our vegetables and avoid sugar as well as not missing gym class. What a relief to let these issues fade right along with our memories of tetherball on the school playground!

Not so fast. Would it surprise you to know that you still have to be aware of each and every one of the above so-called “child/adolescent” health issues?  

For instance, what about set bedtimes? The obvious reason that we needed enforced, regular  bedtimes each night was so that we would get enough sleep. Being tired and sleepy the next day in school caused everything from lousy concentration to crabby moods. Now that we’re in midlife, many of us believe that sleep is no longer an issue. This is not the case at all. It’s still essential to our health and wellbeing. Recent studies have shown that not only do sleep disturbances often indicate a serious health problem, but that lack of sleep can actually cause health problems, such as weight gain. Polls have shown that nearly two thirds of adults over the age of sixty-five have sleep complaints, but that less than 15 per cent of them have been formally diagnosed with a sleep problem. Why? Because we don’t mention sleep problems to our health care providers. Our mothers were right — we still need to be concerned about our bedtimes.

Once we’ve gotten the glasses we need and all our baby teeth are gone, we no longer need to get regular eye and dental checkups as we did in our younger years, right? Again — no. Although our vision does remain stable from young adulthood until we need bifocals, there are common eye diseases that begin to occur in midlife, and that can lead to blindness if not diagnosed.  And even though we no longer have our baby teeth,  other dental issues take the forefront upon reaching midlife, such as gum inflammation which has been shown to be associated with diabetes and heart disease. So, continued regular dental and eye checks are as important as in our younger years. 

And what about sex at midlife and beyond?  We’ve moved from groping and being groped in the backseat of the car to more sophisticated maneuvers in a comfortable bed, and finally, finally no longer have to worry about pregnancy. So we don’t need protection; or so many of us think. Although it’s true that once menopause arrives one can’t get pregnant (warning: make sure you have completed menopause before assuming this as diagnosing menopause can be tricky),  protection is still needed during sex because of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Yes, we can still get those, and in some cases are even more prone to becoming infected after menopause, even after a hysterectomy. And even though we’re past the childbearing years and our reproductive organs seem to have no further use, we still need regular pelvic exams and Pap smears. It is also important at that exam to discuss with our healthcare providers the need for testing for STIs; if there is a new partner or the worry that the current partner is not monogamous, this testing is a must.

STIs are not the only threat held over from our adolescent years; so is cigarette smoking. Many women in midlife think that there is no reason to stop smoking cigarettes at this age, since they wrongly assume that the damage is already done from all the prior years of smoking. This is not the case. No matter how many years one has smoked, stopping can prevent further damage to the heart, blood vessels, and lungs, and in some cases can reverse some of that damage.  

Also relevant to the lungs is the fact that asthma can begin in midlife, where once it was thought to only begin in childhood.  The two major causes seem to be occupational exposure to substances that damage the lungs, and the recreational exposure to air pollution by adults who run predominantly outside. So, a new onset of shortness of breath at this age — even if it occurs only with exercise — does not necessarily mean heart disease; remember that we can develop asthma now.

Did you think you were finished with all those horrible shots you had to have in childhood and adolescence? Sorry, you’re not. There is a recommended immunization schedule for adults in midlife and beyond, just as there are for children. At certain ages over 50 and at certain intervals, you’ll need shots against the flu, certain types of pneumonia, tetanus, and in some instances, shingles and hepatitis.  Ask your primary care provider about these.

And did you pack away your helmet when you gave away your bike with training wheels? Probably ok to have done this since now you will need a bigger size helmet. But you do need a helmet. A recent report by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission stated that sports-related injuries in the Baby Boomer population was on the rise, with over 1 million injuries in this age group in 1998 alone, most of the injuries being due to bicycling and basketball.  The same report said that the many head injuries associated with bicycling were probably due to the fact that Baby Boomers use helmets less than younger people do.

The fact that exercise and proper nutrition are as important in midlife and beyond as in childhood may not come as a surprise. Regular exercise at this age has been shown to increase longevity and wellbeing, postpone and possibly prevent dementia, strokes, heart disease, and diabetes, and aid in the treatment of depression. Important to know as well is that several different types of regular exercise are recommended at this age, including aerobic (cardio) exercise, weight-bearing exercise or strength training, and exercises to improve balance and flexibility.

What we eat as we get older is every bit as important as it was in our younger years. One particular healthy way of eating, the Mediterranean diet, has been shown to stave off dementia, prevent heart disease and diabetes, maintain a healthy cholesterol level, and improve longevity. One study showed that this diet even improved sexual function in certain women! This diet is exactly as expected given its name: lots of natural whole foods, like vegetables, fruits, and nuts, lots of fish and olive oil, moderate amounts of wine, and limited amounts of foods containing refined sugar. Controlling the portions of the foods we eat is even more important at this age. Our metabolic rate decreases with age, making it easier to gain weight while eating the same amounts of food as in our younger years.  

So, as you are rummaging through your mother’s attic looking at your old dolls, baseball bat and Ouija Board, and breathing a sigh of relief that you no longer have to worry about being picked for a baseball team or that your best friend copied your paper doll’s dress, don’t get lulled into complacency about your health. Although you once may have thought that taking care of yourself  health-wise would get easier as you get older, you know now that that’s not true. Make your appointments for regular checkups, get more than 5 hours of sleep a night, use protection when having sex, particularly with a new partner, stop smoking no matter how old you are, get the recommended immunizations, be careful and wear your helmet and seatbelts, and exercise regularly and eat well. Your mother’s recommendations from your childhood continue to apply!

©2008 Janet Horn, M.D.

Author Bio
Dr. Janet Horn is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, with training in Obstetrics and Gynecology. She spent many years on the fulltime faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she published articles in medical journals on her research interests, including sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS, and women’s health. She was also the primary author of several chapters in medical textbooks.  She started her solo private practice in 1990 while continuing to teach as an Associate Professor of Medicine on the part time faculty at Hopkins. She has been selected by Baltimore Magazine as one of the “Top Doctors in Baltimore” and by the Maryland Daily Record as one of the “Top 100 Women in Maryland.”   She is included in the books Consumer’s Guide to Top Doctors (in the US) and Best Doctors in America, Southeast Region.  She is the co-author of The Smart Woman’s Guide to Midlife and Beyond, which will be available this September from New Harbinger Publications.