This moving story on a person with Alzheimer's—no more or less moving or sad than any other story on a person with the same affliction—goes, in my sad opinion, hand-in-hand with another fair account of advance directives, also known to dupes and loons across the country as 'death panels.'
While I realize that a person with Alzheimer's can live for many years without ever needing artificial support of the kind discussed in the latter article, I do think the former brings to light the issue of quality of life and of one's will being done over his or her body when he or she is no longer deemed capable of making rational decisions on his or her treatment and well-being.
The mind is a great thing.... Would not want to live without it.... It is hereby made known.
Well, as a white male in my twenties, I'm most likely to die of suicide. Then, my biggest foe for the rest of my life is heart disease, followed by cancer.
How will you die? Check it out. Or go to the source if you'd like to see a zoomable version.
Scientific American publishes a condensed report of a 21-year-old experiment conducted by a professor at Michigan State, which shows that E. coli are more than able to mutate and, furthermore, able to mutate in order to become more efficient and more adapted to their environmental conditions. The experiment also showed that mutations can occur at different rates and that they can be more regular or more random, though both kinds give rise to generations that are able to live and function more effectively in their new environment.
The findings will help with the study of microorganisms that cause diseases affecting humans.
A New York Timesarticle gives 13.7% and 11.9% as the percentages for American men and women, respectively, who have diabetes, regardless of whether they have been diagnosed with it or not.
It also breaks down the data by state, resulting in the diagram below.
The average age of detection for prostate cancer has decreased from 72 to 67 between 1989 and 2005. The racial gap has somewhat closed, too.
Scientists have also discovered stem cells in the lumen of prostates that give rise to some types of prostate cancer, paving the way for better ways of controlling cancers once they develop.
On fat news:
A new fat-fighting medicine has not only helped mice lose weight, but also lowered cholesterol and reversed diabetes.
According to a study, a Mediterranean diet is more effective than a low-fat diet in coping with diabetes. It also leads to weight loss and lower cholesterol.
A new study reinforces the belief that smoke and other pollution in the air can result in higher rates of heart disease. Move to the country!
And yet another use has been discovered for statins: they can now protect patients from post-operative heart attacks.
If you have high blood pressure and you're over 45, there's a higher chance you have or will have memory problems.
Ladies and gents with large thighs (muscular ones, of course) are better off than those with smaller thighs. The large thigh muscles help to deal better with the hormone insulin, which, in turn, keeps one's heart healthier.
Yet one more reason to eat your broccoli: a substance in it helps to keep problematic arteries unclogged by activating a molecule that clears them up.
And if you'd like to help government cut the cost of healthcare by something in the vicinity of $20 billion, eat less salt!
On genetics news:
A new test for chromosomal defects makes it possible to detect irregularities earlier and help pregnant women carry their pregnancies to term.
Genetics also controls acne in teens: if your parents had acne, there is a strong chance you will, too.
British scientists have discovered three genes linked with Alzheimer's and are considering the discovery as one of the most important in the past fifteen years.
On libation news:
This one surprised me: heavier drinkers tend to exercise more. I'm guessing guilt has a role in that. Either guilt or the policy, 'work out hard, party harder.'
Mothers across the world have known this for centuries, but a study now confirms what they've known: chamomile calms colicky babies.
Need another reason to drink wine? If you're undergoing radiation therapy, wine can help youcope with the effects of radiation.
The domestication of dogs is yet another one of the many exports of ancient China. Why in the world would they domesticate wolves?! FOOD!
The discovery that certain cells in moths and caterpillars react to chemicals in the same way as in mammals will substitute mice in laboratory experiments and save a lot of mice... at the expense of moths and caterpillars, of course.
Evolution in action can be seen in the different coats of mice, since their camouflage is dictated by their different living environments.
If you want to get rid of cockroaches, make sure you kill a few of them in certain key places and that you let them stay there for a while. No living insect will dare approach the area then.
The discovery of two new antibodies on the surface of the HIV virus has paved the way for a possible vaccine that is likely to be more successful than any attempted before.
Living in a neighborhood with people of the same cultural background can have its health benefits.
Iceland is at the forefront of ways to cut CO2 emissions, primarily by isolating the gas into the ground, thanks to its reaction with basalt.
A study has shown that the cause of antibiotic resistance in bacteria is an enzyme. Finding ways to inhibit that enzyme can make antibiotics very potent.
This is a loooooong one.... Science doesn't wait for me.
Circumcision has been on the medical news for a few years now, with medical authorities claiming that it reduces the risk of HIV transmission. Should we encourage it? Are there differences in transmission between homosexual and heterosexual men? This article answers some of these questions. This other article addresses the shortcomings of circumcision among gay men.
I guess I should stop smoking the hookah (or shisha, as Brits apparently call it). A study reported by the BBC discovers that it causes as much harm as cigarettes.
There is now an Encyclopedia of Life, culling information on all known species in the world. The resources will be available and useful to people from many fields of life.
Scientists have discovered that dog hair types are controlled by three genes. Moreover, their discovery might help scientists learn more about cancer genes in humans, since cancers in dogs and humans are very similar.
Mercury levels in fish are rising, according to an article in The Economist. The traces are high in freshwater fish because of mercury leaked into freshwater streams and rivers from the coal industry. They are the highest in larger fish, however, such as shark and tuna, since they accumulate in the food chain.
The Economist also reports that the origin of men's muscle mass and its differences with women's muscle mass is the product of evolution... sexual selection, to be precise.
The intake of folic acid, which helps women to get pregnant, is a territory to be treaded very carefully, since high amounts of the substance in the body can help the growth of cancers.
The New York Timessummarizes a study by the New England Journal of Medicine pointing out that people who undergo imaging tests are exposed to more radiation than is allowed for a one-year period among nuclear power plant workers.
According to Reuters Health, one's diastolic blood pressure can affect one's memory and other cognitive functions. For every increase of 10 mm Hg in diastolic blood pressure, there is a seven percent increased chance of developing cognitive impairments.
It has been found that the human papillomavirus (HPV), which has been considered for some time as a cause of cervical cancer, is also the cause of about half of the instances of penile cancer in men.
Sugar is now linked to greater risks for heart disease via the obesity it creates, primarily through the intake of soft drinks high in sugar. Even a single can of soda contains more sugar than the total recommended daily sugar intake.
Second-hand smoke was never a friend of passengers stuck in a car with a smoker. Now there is proof of it.
Nobody likes the dreaded colorectal exam, but males of South Asian descent are more likely to refuse to take it, despite being at high risk for it colorectal cancer. Overall, fewer than 60% of people who need it are getting tested.
Drug advertised on TV for cancer patients may create tensions between a patient and his/her doctor, not help patients at all, or even worsen their condition with side effects if the advertised drugs are taken.
This article is in French, but it basically says that the sun has lost its spots and has been cooler in the past few weeks.
Israeli scientists have constructed abdominal tissue, which, when injected in the heart, can restore and strengthen the areas of the heart that have been damaged by a heart attack. The experiment only took place in rats.
Yet another adverse effect of obesity in women: 40% higher chance of asthma in 'apple-shaped' women. I know, I never heard of the 'apple-shaped' either... and doesn't seem particularly appropriate since they're talking primarily about the weight around their abdomens. That would make them pear-shaped.
Hormonal therapy in treating prostate cancer in men can create bigger problems for them, such as bone loss and hot flashes. They suppress testosterone production and, I'm guessing, inject female hormones, which would explain the menopausal side effects.
Scientists are able to create viable monkey embryos and live monkeys from eggs whose mitochondrial DNA had been removed, paving the way for women to choose the procedure if they want to protect their children from hereditary problems carried in mitochondrial DNA.
This short Q&A in The New York Times describes the differences and similarities in age-related hearing loss between men and women.
Hip fracture rates have been steadily declining for the past 20 years in both Canada and the U.S., despite an ever-aging population. Experts credit multiple reasons.
E.D. problems in men are not so easy to solve. Most importantly, they are indicative of deeper-lying health problems.
Skin cancer is more prevalent among the elderly because their skin is less able to signal the immune system to send T-cells to the damaged area. The problem may be reversible and may give clues about how to remedy it in other tissues.
This is unbelievable! Scientists were able to view a molecule at the molecular level. The image and the diagram of the molecule are at this link.
Doctors at MIT have created a monitor the science of a grain of rice in order to track the development of tumors inside a patient's body.
The video below describes and explains 'aquaponics,' a cohabitation of fish and plants, whereby the fish excrement feeds the plants and, in return, plants clean the water when absorbing those organic molecules.
According to scientists, activities such as running create chemical changes in your body that contribute to your state of being. Running, in other words, can give you a high. And if you stop running, you are susceptible to bouts of depression and other symptoms typical of withdrawal from drugs.
This is for all the global warming skeptics: ocean water temperatures are on the rise. The change is more noticeable toward the poles, forecasting an accelerated melting of the polar ice-caps, which is predicted to dramatically raise water levels around the world.
Talk about extreme cosmetic surgery! How about we break your bones, keep separating them as they fuse, and make you gain 5 cm in the process? Apparently, many Siberian women are lining up for this.
If you have ever blamed your parents for your drinking problem, now you have more of a reason to do so. Certain gene variants in monkeys make them more predisposed to drinking. Yes, they gave monkeys alcohol for this experiment.
Stem cell research seems even more promising now that we can refine and target its benefits through the use of magnetic nanoparticles injected in stem cells and which are then guided throughout the body by using magnets, thus easily targeting problematic areas.
Does psychological stress affect your allergies? Yes—it can both worsen and prolong allergic reactions.
They have things figured out pretty darn well if you ask me. The French are probably the kings of vacation time in the world and the rest of Europeans are right behind them. There's good news for all of them: vacation time leads to happiness and health.
Fish is not only good for your cardiovascular health, but also very good for the brain. No, not the 'makes you smart' thing; rather, lowering your chances of dementia. So cut out the meat and introduce the fish. Your only worry, then, should be mercury poisoning.
While reminding you of the ever-expanding list of benefits from aspirin, doctors would like to remind you of its adverse effects, as well. Fair enough.
And for those ladies who find themselves in a family way, a good advice is to breast-feed their baby. Not only is it good for its health, but it also lowers the mother's risk of breast cancer.
Garlic does help with cardiovascular health, but since you're going to have garlic breath, anyways, better go fresh. Garlic powder won't quite cut it.
And if you want to get a good night's sleep, keep it cool... literally. Lower temperatures help you get better sleep.
Just don't keep it so cool at work. Although a nap may help your productivity in the workplace, a deep sleep wouldn't fly so well with the boss.
A new imaging technique allows scientist to visualize the entire HIV genome for the first time.
Japanese scientists are now able to grow functional teeth of natural texture and strength in laboratory mice. The technique has yet to be tested in humans. More details here.
This 40-year study relates longevity to sperm vitality. The faster your little guys, the longer you live.
Beet juice is soon to become the drink of choice for health and exercise freaks, since it boosts stamina and also helps with heart health.
This was entirely news to me: the Earth hums. Now scientists know why. We still cannot hear it with our ears, though....
And here's another reason why you should get married (though I'd personally still advise against it): spouses make good organ donors, almost as good as blood relatives.
We also learned that Aesop was right about rooks using rocks to raise the level of water. This article and the accompanying video can attest to that.
On top of that, there's daily news on the fatal A1H1 flu virus (a.k.a. swine flu) that I don't care to recount here.
Honestly, I don't think we have to fear a comet or asteroid impact or even global warming or nuclear warfare; I think the world (or humanity, at least) is going to succumb to bacteria and viruses.
(I honestly don't mean to sound pessimistic and apocalyptic. It's just food for thought.)
As a big fan of Denny's 'Moons Over My Hammy' post-clubbing at 3 a.m., I have to say it is damn tasty. And I don't mind the salt... personally. Though I do understand this man's concerns with Denny's high-sodium diet and I have to say that it needs to stop. There's a salt shaker at every table, so no need to shove it down people's throats....
