All of Britney Spears’s Daring Billboard Looks Have Us Racing to the Gym

Photo: Getty Images

If you’ve ever doubted what Britney Spears is capable of, look no further than her scintillating presence at the 2016 Billboard Music Awards Sunday night in Las Vegas.

After wowing on the red carpet in a pant-less, lacy black ensemble with over-the-knee Schutz gladiator heels—that, quite frankly, was enough to earn her headlines alone—the pop star took to the stage with an opening medley of her greatest hits that had us yearning for the early aughts.

The 34-year-old talent kicked it all off with “Work, Bitch,” following up with “Womanizer,” where she ripped off her jacket to reveal an embellished red bikini with chains festooned over her toned dancer’s body.

Photo: Getty Images

After that rousing performance, the Billboard Millennium Award honoree went for a semi-sheer light blue embellished halter crop top showcasing her killer abs with a coordinating skirt. Have we mentioned she’s a mother of two?

RELATED: The Hottest Looks from the 2016 Billboard Music Awards

Photo: Getty Images

It’s clear her Vegas residency has treated her well, honing her already adept, skin-baring stage presence and costumery in a way that have fans begging for more. Keep ’em coming, Brit!

This article originally appeared on InStyle.com.

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Chrissy Teigen’s New Hair Cut Uses a Surprising Technique

She may be a new mom, but don’t expect Chrissy Teigen to embrace the “mom cut” any time soon. Celebrity hairstylist Jen Atkin shared a photo of the model and cookbook author post-haircut and just wait until you hear the secret behind her beautiful new ‘do.

RELATED: Why Kardashian Hair Pro Jen Atkin Wants to Give Your Strands the Supermodel Treatment

Atkin refers to the look as “Don’t cut the front,” a name she and colorist Marie Harmon came up with together. It’s most definitely not a lob, with the hair guru leaving Teigen’s face-framing strands alone while she concentrated on removing length from the back. Not surprisingly, Baby Luna’s mom looks stunning with the new look.

Teigen has Tracey Cunningham to thank for her color, which includes the most perfect highlights for summer, and hair extensions by Priscilla Valles.

RELATED: Jen Atkin’s 3 Easy Steps to Air-Dried Waves

Gorgeous job, ladies. Now don’t forget to have this pic at the ready on your phone the next time you head in for a cut—this is very likely the start of a new trend.

This article originally appeared on InStyle.com/MIMI.

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Zika Cases In U.S. Pregnant Women Near 300

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There are 279 pregnant women in the United States and in U.S. territories who have Zika, health officials announced on Friday. There are 157 women pregnant women with the virus in the continental United States and 122 infected pregnant women in U.S. territories.

The new numbers are from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Zika pregnancy registry systems in the U.S. and in Puerto Rico. The new numbers include all pregnant women who have had laboratory confirmation of a Zika infection regardless of whether they had symptoms or not.

Until now, the CDC defined and reported cases of Zika as people who had symptoms and a positive test for the virus. Since evidence suggests that pregnant women with Zika but without symptoms can also have babies with microcephaly, the agency will now report all pregnant women with evidence of Zika virus. Most people who get a Zika virus infection do not have symptoms.

While the majority of pregnant women the CDC is monitoring were infected with Zika while they traveled, the agency says some of these women were infected via sexual transmission. The agency would not confirm how many pregnant women were infected sexually versus by traveling overseas.

The total number includes the pregnant women who are currently pregnant and women who were infected during pregnancy and have given birth, terminated their pregnancy or miscarried. The CDC is monitoring the women through their pregnancies to understand their outcomes.

This article originally appeared on Time.com.

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Home Remedy For Skin Cancer May Cause Damage, Mask New Growth

MONDAY, May 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Despite the promise of an “easy and natural” treatment for skin cancer, home remedies such as black salve can actually make things worse, new research shows.

People use black salve with the hope that it will remove skin cancers. But, this purported therapy contains corrosive ingredients that can destroy the skin’s top layer while cancer continues to grow underneath, the researchers explained.

“There is a misperception that black salve ‘draws the cancer out,’ when, in fact, it just indiscriminately damages anything it touches,” study co-author Dr. Mark Eliason, a dermatologist at the University of Utah, said in a news release from the American Academy of Dermatology. “One of the reasons black salve treatment is so dangerous is that many users have no idea how harmful it can be.”

For the study, the researchers interviewed people who used black salve. They found that 74 percent of these patients were unaware the possible side effects of the remedy, including infection, scarring and disfigurement.

Complicating matters, using black salve can delay the detection and treatment of skin cancer. This could give the cancer a chance to spread, making it more difficult to treat, the researchers noted.

“If you see something on your skin that looks suspicious or is different from other spots on your skin, it’s important to see a board-certified dermatologist for the proper diagnosis and treatment,” Eliason said.

“When skin cancer is not treated promptly or properly, the effects can be devastating,” he added.

The researchers noted there is no scientific evidence to support black salve’s safety and effectiveness. These products aren’t regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However, black salve did make it on to the FDA’s list of fake cancer cures that consumers should avoid.

“Although black salve is labeled as a natural product, it is not a safe one,” said study leader Dr. Sarah Cipriano. She’s a dermatologist at University of Utah Health Care. “Relying on word-of-mouth, marketing testimonials and Internet searches is dangerous when it comes to your health.”

Most of the participants who used black salve heard about the products from a family member or friend. Only 30 percent of those who tried the products talked to their dermatologist first.

Some people opted for this home remedy because they wanted an alternative to surgery. Others thought it was convenient, the study showed. In some cases, patients didn’t feel comfortable talking about black salve with their doctor.

“I’ve worked with many patients who have experienced the harmful side effects of black salve use,” Cipriano said. “We hope our research will raise awareness about the potential dangers of these products, which far outweigh the supposed benefits. We encourage patients to consult with a dermatologist or other health care provider before considering a home remedy like black salve.”

The study was published in the May issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology.

More information

The U.S. National Cancer Institute provides more information on treatments for skin cancer.

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Late Dinners Won’t Doom Kids to Obesity

MONDAY, May 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Late suppers may not be a recipe for childhood obesity, a new study shows.

Some previous research has suggested that the timing of meals could affect the risk of being overweight or obese, the investigators said.

British researchers looked at data from more than 1,600 children, aged 4 to 18. They found that the risk of overweight or obesity was no higher among those who had meals between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. than among those who ate between 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

“The findings of our study are surprising. We expected to find an association between eating later and being more likely to be overweight, but actually found that this was not the case. This may be due to the limited number of children consuming their evening meal after 8 p.m.,” said study author Gerda Pot, visiting lecturer in the diabetes and nutritional sciences division at King’s College London.

“‘Alongside changes in dietary quality and levels of physical activity, meal timing is one of many possible factors that has been suggested as influencing the trends in weight gain seen in children in the U.K.,” Pot said in a school news release.

“However, the significance of its role is under-researched. As this is one of the first studies investigating this link, it would be useful to repeat the analysis in other studies,” she added.

Pot said that the researchers are now looking at other factors that may play a part in childhood obesity, such as eating breakfast and sleep habits.

The results were published recently in the British Journal of Nutrition.

More information

The American Heart Association outlines how to prevent childhood obesity.

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At Least 1 Full-Time Nurse Per School, Pediatric Group Recommends

MONDAY, May 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Every school should have at least one full-time registered nurse, a new American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement says.

“School nursing is one of the most effective ways to keep children healthy and in school and to prevent chronic absenteeism,” Dr. Breena Welch Holmes, a lead author of the policy statement and chair of the AAP Council on School Health, said in an AAP news release.

But school district policies about nurses may lack uniformity. And such policies often need updating, the AAP noted.

In the past, the AAP supported having one school nurse for every 750 healthy students and one nurse for every 225 students who needed professional nursing assistance. But these ratios aren’t enough to meet the health needs of today’s students, the new policy says.

“As student health needs became more complex, the school nursing role has expanded to include additional responsibilities,” co-author Anne Sheetz said in the news release.

Sheetz explained that school nurses now work with pediatricians. They help manage chronic conditions and develop individualized health care plans for each student, she added.

In addition, more children need help with medical management or have special needs. Some of the conditions that require help from the school nurse include: asthma, diabetes, life-threatening allergies, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and seizures. Other duties a nurse might have include emergency preparedness and health education, the AAP said.

The new policy statement was published online May 23 and in the June print issue of Pediatrics.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more on student health.

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Extreme ‘Preemies’ Often Have Lifelong Challenges

By Steven Reinberg
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, May 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Extremely premature infants often face lifelong challenges, enduring more physical, emotional and social difficulties as adults than their peers born full-term, researchers report.

In general, however, these tiny babies grow up to contribute to society and live independently, a study of nearly 200 adults in Canada has found.

Still, researchers found those born very prematurely were more likely to be unemployed, earn less and have chronic health problems compared to those born full-term. A higher proportion were single, said they’d never had sex, and tended to engage in fewer risky behaviors.

“Most of these differences were accounted for because they had neurological impairments like cerebral palsy and blindness,” said lead researcher Dr. Saroj Saigal, a professor of pediatrics at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

If you exclude the 20 percent with physical or neurological disabilities, some of the differences disappear, she said. For example, most were employed.

“However, there are still differences in household income, which was about $20,000 lower, and they were more likely to be single,” Saigal said.

“Despite these differences, most are still doing reasonably well in life,” Saigal said.

In addition, they tend to be shyer and not as socially engaged as those born at normal weight, which may account for some of these variations, Saigal said.

The findings are positive, a March of Dimes spokesperson said.

“These kids have done remarkably well, better than people would have expected,” said Christine Gleason. She is a high-risk neonatologist and professor of pediatrics at Seattle Children’s Hospital, and medical advisor to the March of Dimes.

Gleason noted that these study participants were born years ago, when only 40 percent of preterm infants survived.

Because of advances in neonatal care, many more preterm infants survive today, “but there are problems that can affect their entire life,” Gleason said. “That’s why it’s important to prevent premature birth in the first place.”

The report was published online May 23 in the journal JAMA Pediatrics.

For the study, Saigal and colleagues followed 100 extremely low birth weight premature babies until they were 29 to 36 years old. The investigators compared them with 89 adults born at term and normal weight. On average, the preemies weighed less than 2.2 pounds at birth.

Although both groups attained similar levels of education and had similar family relationships, the researchers did find some differences.

Specifically, 80 percent of the adults born prematurely were employed in the last year versus 92 percent of those born at term.

In addition, 31 percent of those born prematurely were not dating or rarely dating compared with 13 percent of those born at term. The study also found that 9 percent of those born early identified as gay or bisexual versus 2 percent of those born at term, and 21 percent were virgins compared with 2 percent of those born at term.

Moreover, 20 percent of those born early had children, compared with 33 percent of those born at term.

Chronic health conditions, often eye problems, were twice as common for the preemie group — 25 percent versus 13 percent. Those born very small also had lower self-esteem, but they were also less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, the findings showed.

More information

For more on premature babies, visit the March of Dimes.

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Could ‘Star Trek’-Like ‘Tricorder’ for Health Be Near?

MONDAY, May 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — “Beam us up, Scotty!”

U.S. researchers say they’ve developed a small, wearable health monitor they’re likening to the “Star Trek” tricorder.

The flexible Chem-Phys patch can be worn on the chest and tracks biochemical and electrical signals in the human body. It then communicates all that wirelessly to a laptop, smartphone or smartwatch, said a team of engineers from the University of California, San Diego.

The device also provides real-time data on electrocardiogram (EKG) heart signals, plus levels of lactate, a biochemical that helps chart physical effort, the team said.

“One of the overarching goals of our research is to build a wearable tricorder-like device that can measure simultaneously a whole suite of chemical, physical and electrophysiological signals continuously throughout the day,” said project co-leader Patrick Mercier, an electrical engineering professor.

Mercier believes the Chem-Phys has a number of potential uses, such as athletes monitoring their training or doctors managing heart disease patients.

“This research represents an important first step to show this may be possible,” he said in a university news release.

Most commercial wearable devices only measure one signal, such as steps or heart rate, and almost none measure chemical signals, such as lactate, Mercier noted.

The next steps include adding sensors for other vital signs and chemical markers, such as magnesium and potassium, he said.

An article describing the device appears in the May 23 issue of the journal Nature Communications.

More information

There’s more on your vital signs at the U.S. National Institutes of Medicine.

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Fertility Info Lacking for Young Women Who Beat Cancer

MONDAY, May 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Many young female cancer survivors say they don’t receive enough information about preserving their fertility, a new study finds.

These women are at risk for early menopause because of their cancer treatment. If they want to have children but are not yet ready to start a family, they may be able to freeze their eggs or embryos after treatment, researchers explained.

“The potential loss of fertility has been described in the literature as being almost as painful, if not more so, than the cancer diagnosis itself,” said study leader Catherine Benedict, of Northwell Health on Long Island, N.Y.

In the study, the researchers analyzed the results from an anonymous online survey of 179 women, average age 30, who had completed cancer treatment an average of five years earlier. Their fertility status was uncertain — they either wanted children in the future or were undecided. None had undergone or attempted fertility preservation before or after their cancer treatment.

Up to 62 percent of the women said they had not received enough information about their fertility options, and two-thirds were worried about their ability to have children. Both concerns made it more difficult for women to think about whether to undergo fertility preservation in the future, the study found.

Two-thirds of the women said they wanted more advice about preserving their fertility and one-third wanted more support in making the decision, according to the study published online May 23 in the journal Cancer.

The findings highlight the need for better resources to help young adult female cancer survivors make informed choices about their future fertility, the researchers said.

“Failure to provide information and address concerns with respect to fertility-related decisions may have lasting consequences for young women who hope to move on from their cancer experience to achieve important life goals such as having children,” Benedict said in a journal news release.

More information

The American Cancer Society has more about fertility and women with cancer.

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Tai Chi: Rx for Arthritic Knees

By Don Rauf
HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, May 23, 2016 (HealthDay News) — Legions of arthritis sufferers try physical therapy and anti-inflammatory drugs to no avail. Now, a new study looks East for relief — to the martial art tai chi.

Researchers concluded that tai chi offers an alternative to physical therapy for common knee osteoarthritis — and it might also boost well-being.

This ancient Chinese exercise may particularly benefit overweight older adults, the researchers said. Heavier people are more likely to develop osteoarthritis than people with a healthy weight, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“This research strengthened the evidence that the effectiveness and durability of both tai chi and physical therapy extend to obese older adults with knee osteoarthritis,” said Dr. Chenchen Wang.

“Such people typically face limited options due to ineffectiveness of osteoarthritis treatments,” Wang said. She is director of the Center for Complementary and Integrative Medicine in the division of rheumatology at Tufts Medical Center in Boston.

The study authors also noted that tai chi produced significant improvement in depression among patients with knee osteoarthritis.

The researchers followed 200 people, average age 60. Most were overweight or obese and had endured knee osteoarthritis for an average of eight years.

With knee osteoarthritis, the cartilage (or cushioning between the joints) wears away, causing pain, swelling, tenderness and stiffness. Often called “wear-and-tear” arthritis, this is a leading cause of long-term pain and disability among older adults.

Participants in Wang’s study either received tai chi or standard physical therapy. The tai chi group performed the exercise with a trained instructor twice a week for 12 weeks. The others got standard physical therapy twice a week for six weeks, followed by six weeks of monitored home exercise.

Some standard physical therapy exercises target quadriceps, hamstrings and gluteal muscles, all of which contribute to healthy knee function and help prevent injury, the Arthritis Foundation says.

Tai chi, on the other hand, is a traditional Chinese mind-body practice that combines meditation with slow, gentle, graceful movements; deep breathing; and relaxation. The tai chi philosophy and practice date back at least 5,000 years.

Throughout the study, participants in both groups were permitted to take routine medications, such as anti-inflammatory drugs and acetaminophen, and maintain their usual physician visits.

At the end of 12 weeks, Wang and her team used questionnaires to evaluate patients for pain, stiffness and joint functioning. Both groups showed similar significant improvements, which lasted up to a year.

The investigators noted that the tai chi group also had significantly greater relief from depression than those in physical therapy. Past studies have shown that tai chi can be effective in helping sleep, while reducing stress, anxiety and depression.

“The mind component [of tai chi] promotes psychological well-being, life satisfaction, and improved perceptions of health,” said Wang.

Dr. Matthew Hepinstall, an orthopedic surgeon in New York City, agreed that tai chi can be an effective yet conservative treatment option for arthritis.

“Tai chi helps patients preserve and improve function by increasing strength, flexibility, and coordination while avoiding aggravation of arthritic pain and inflammation,” said Hepinstall. He is with Lenox Hill Hospital’s Center for Joint Preservation and Reconstruction.

“Tai chi is a particularly appealing form of exercise, as it is very low impact and emphasizes balance, coordination and strength,” he added. “Tai chi is safe and has been shown to reduce falls in the elderly.”

Moreover, he said, his patients who practice tai chi often report an increased sense of wellness, “which is consistent with the emotional benefits described in this study.”

Arthritis medications can cause serious side effects, the study authors said.

Wang said older patients typically find tai chi very easy to learn and perform. She recommended that seniors get training from an experienced instructor. A local gym or athletic club might be able to recommend a practitioner, she suggested.

The study results were published online in May in advance of print publication the Annals of Internal Medicine.

More information

The Arthritis Foundation has more about tai chi.

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