Aloha everyone,
Today I will be going off for a holiday....Yay.
I am gonna have a great time with my friends.
And I will only be back next year.
So see ya, and don't miss me.
~ HAPPY NEW YEAR ~
Friday, December 30, 2005
Thursday, December 29, 2005
Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Health - Secrets of slimming down
Q: When working out and eating right, how long should it take to lose weight?
A: How fast you lose weight largely depends on how much you're exercising and how much you're eating. But losing lots of weight quickly on a crash diet isn't healthy or sustainable. Instead, experts generally recommend losing no more than one to two pounds a week. To lose a pound of fat, you need to create a deficit of 3,500 calories. To lose one pound a week, you need to create an average 500-calorie deficit each day. And to lose two pounds, you need a 1,000-calorie deficit. Those deficits can be achieved through various combinations of diet and exercise. To create a 1,000-calorie deficit, for instance, you might aim to eat 500 fewer calories each day and burn 500 more through exercise. Clearly, weight loss takes effort, time and commitment. You gotta be ready!
Q: I am a 32-year-old woman who's trying to lose weight. I was exercising 60 minutes a day on my treadmill for four months, and now I am doing 90 minutes. My clothes fit a little better but I am still wearing the same ones and the scale has not moved. What am I doing wrong? What's the secret to weight loss?
A: Keep in mind that exercise is only part of the weight-loss equation. And it doesn't burn as many calories as you might think. A 150-pound woman will burn 100 calories for every mile walked. So figure out how many calories you're burning with each exercise session and then take a close look at your diet and do the math. Don't assume you can eat whatever you want just because you're exercising. We can consume calories much more quickly than we can burn them through exercise, and oftentimes they're hidden in coffee drinks, sodas and other places we don't think much about. If you've been consuming more calories over the last few months, that could make up for the calories you're burning through exercise, causing your scales to remain stuck in the same spot. But you do say that your clothes are fitting better, which suggests progress. And now that you've exercising an additional half hour, you may see more results in the months ahead. In the end, slow and steady wins the race. You just need to stick with it.
Q: I'm a regular exerciser but I can't seem to lose that last 10 pounds. My workout just isn't cutting it! I get on the treadmill for 20 minutes and then the elliptical trainer for 20 minutes, and then I do my leg lifts and sit-ups. Is there anything you can suggest to help me lose those last stubborn pounds?
A: There are a few things you should think about. For one, if your workout isn't cutting it, as you put it, maybe it's time to shake up your routine. You might have hit a fitness rut, in which you're not seeing the gains you'd like because your body isn't being challenged enough. People may need to vary their exercise program or diet. Which brings us to a second point: Are you eating more than you should? And thirdly, do you really need to lose another 10 pounds? Many people think they need to lose weight to look like a runway model when actually they're already at a healthy weight. People have distorted ideas about what a healthy body looks like.
Q: Is running really the best exercise for weight loss?
A: Running can be an efficient way to help a person lose weight because it burns a high number of calories, minute for minute, compared to many other activities. But if you hate running and don't do it, it's not the best exercise for you. The best exercise for weight loss is something that you enjoy doing and will keep up with. If you dread it, you're not going to do it.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10709806/from/RL.1/
A: How fast you lose weight largely depends on how much you're exercising and how much you're eating. But losing lots of weight quickly on a crash diet isn't healthy or sustainable. Instead, experts generally recommend losing no more than one to two pounds a week. To lose a pound of fat, you need to create a deficit of 3,500 calories. To lose one pound a week, you need to create an average 500-calorie deficit each day. And to lose two pounds, you need a 1,000-calorie deficit. Those deficits can be achieved through various combinations of diet and exercise. To create a 1,000-calorie deficit, for instance, you might aim to eat 500 fewer calories each day and burn 500 more through exercise. Clearly, weight loss takes effort, time and commitment. You gotta be ready!
Q: I am a 32-year-old woman who's trying to lose weight. I was exercising 60 minutes a day on my treadmill for four months, and now I am doing 90 minutes. My clothes fit a little better but I am still wearing the same ones and the scale has not moved. What am I doing wrong? What's the secret to weight loss?
A: Keep in mind that exercise is only part of the weight-loss equation. And it doesn't burn as many calories as you might think. A 150-pound woman will burn 100 calories for every mile walked. So figure out how many calories you're burning with each exercise session and then take a close look at your diet and do the math. Don't assume you can eat whatever you want just because you're exercising. We can consume calories much more quickly than we can burn them through exercise, and oftentimes they're hidden in coffee drinks, sodas and other places we don't think much about. If you've been consuming more calories over the last few months, that could make up for the calories you're burning through exercise, causing your scales to remain stuck in the same spot. But you do say that your clothes are fitting better, which suggests progress. And now that you've exercising an additional half hour, you may see more results in the months ahead. In the end, slow and steady wins the race. You just need to stick with it.
Q: I'm a regular exerciser but I can't seem to lose that last 10 pounds. My workout just isn't cutting it! I get on the treadmill for 20 minutes and then the elliptical trainer for 20 minutes, and then I do my leg lifts and sit-ups. Is there anything you can suggest to help me lose those last stubborn pounds?
A: There are a few things you should think about. For one, if your workout isn't cutting it, as you put it, maybe it's time to shake up your routine. You might have hit a fitness rut, in which you're not seeing the gains you'd like because your body isn't being challenged enough. People may need to vary their exercise program or diet. Which brings us to a second point: Are you eating more than you should? And thirdly, do you really need to lose another 10 pounds? Many people think they need to lose weight to look like a runway model when actually they're already at a healthy weight. People have distorted ideas about what a healthy body looks like.
Q: Is running really the best exercise for weight loss?
A: Running can be an efficient way to help a person lose weight because it burns a high number of calories, minute for minute, compared to many other activities. But if you hate running and don't do it, it's not the best exercise for you. The best exercise for weight loss is something that you enjoy doing and will keep up with. If you dread it, you're not going to do it.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10709806/from/RL.1/
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Actor - Sean Connery
Date of birth : 25 August 1930
Place of birth : Edinburgh, Scotland, UK
Actor - filmography :
James Bond 007: From Russia with Love (2005) (VG) (voice)
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003)
Finding Forrester (2000)
Entrapment (1999)
Playing by Heart (1998)
The Avengers (1998)
The Rock (1996)
Dragonheart (1996) (voice)
First Knight (1995)
Just Cause (1995)
A Good Man in Africa (1994)
Rising Sun (1993)
"James Bond Jr." (1991) TV Series (voice)
James Bond 007 (1992)
Medicine Man (1992)
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) (uncredited)
Highlander II: The Quickening (1991)
The Russia House (1990)
The Hunt for Red October (1990)
Family Business (1989)
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989)
The Presidio (1988)
The Untouchables (1987)
Name der Rose, Der (1986)
Highlander (1986)
Sword of the Valiant: The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight (1984)
Never Say Never Again (1983)
Wrong Is Right (1982)
Five Days One Summer (1982)
Time Bandits (1981)
Outland (1981)
Cuba (1979)
Meteor (1979)
The First Great Train Robbery (1979)
A Bridge Too Far (1977)
The Next Man (1976)
Robin and Marian (1976)
The Man Who Would Be King (1975)
The Wind and the Lion (1975)
Ransom (1975)
Murder on the Orient Express (1974)
Zardoz (1974)
The Offence (1973)
Diamonds Are Forever (1971)
The Anderson Tapes (1971)
Krasnaya palatka (1971)
The Molly Maguires (1970)
Male of the Species (1969) (TV)
Shalako (1968)
You Only Live Twice (1967)
A Fine Madness (1966)
Thunderball (1965)
The Hill (1965)
Goldfinger (1964)
Woman of Straw (1964)
Marnie (1964)
From Russia with Love (1963)
Dr. No (1962)
The Longest Day (1962)
Anna Karenina (1961/II) (TV)
Macbeth (1961) (TV)
"Adventure Story" (1961) TV Series
The Frightened City (1961)
On the Fiddle (1961)
Without the Grail (1960) (TV)
"An Age of Kings" (1960) (mini) TV Series
Colombe (1960) (TV)
The Crucible (1959) (TV)
Tarzan's Greatest Adventure (1959)
The Square Ring (1959) (TV)
Darby O'Gill and the Little People (1959)
Women in Love (1958) (TV)
Another Time, Another Place (1958)
Time Lock (1957)
Anna Christie (1957) (TV)
Action of the Tiger (1957)
Hell Drivers (1957)
No Road Back (1957)
Lilacs in the Spring (1955) (uncredited)
Producer - filmography :
The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) (executive producer)
Finding Forrester (2000) (producer)
Entrapment (1999) (producer)
The Rock (1996) (executive producer)
Just Cause (1995) (executive producer)
Rising Sun (1993) (executive producer)
Medicine Man (1992) (executive producer)
Director - filmography
The Bowler and the Bonnet (1969)
Monday, December 26, 2005
Healty - 6 reasons to exercise
Once again it's that time when new year resolutions are made. Health clubs will run membership specials, hoping to draw in legions of people freshly committed to making 2006 the year they finally shape up and slim down.
But if history repeats itself, most people won't stick to it long enough.
More than half of people who begin exercising drop their program within three to six months.
We know why. Exercise is work, and weight loss doesn't happen overnight. People get frustrated because they don't see immediate results, and they hit the couch.
That's precisely why health and fitness experts say it's important to remember that exercise does a lot of other good things for us, things that aren't measured in pounds but that still are key for our overall health and well-being.
The last year brought some new and interesting findings that are worth taking note of as we ring in 2006 and recommit to our health. Here are six reasons to exercise that go beyond the quest for smaller-sized jeans:
Live longer
Make work more tolerable
Help out your heart
Defeat diabetes
Build a better back
Get rid of the hidden fat
So there you have them — six more reasons to get off the couch in 2006. Keep them in mind as you embark on your fitness plan in the new year, and remember them if you find yourself making all sorts of excuses for not exercising.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10568481/
But if history repeats itself, most people won't stick to it long enough.
More than half of people who begin exercising drop their program within three to six months.
We know why. Exercise is work, and weight loss doesn't happen overnight. People get frustrated because they don't see immediate results, and they hit the couch.
That's precisely why health and fitness experts say it's important to remember that exercise does a lot of other good things for us, things that aren't measured in pounds but that still are key for our overall health and well-being.
The last year brought some new and interesting findings that are worth taking note of as we ring in 2006 and recommit to our health. Here are six reasons to exercise that go beyond the quest for smaller-sized jeans:
Live longer
Make work more tolerable
Help out your heart
Defeat diabetes
Build a better back
Get rid of the hidden fat
So there you have them — six more reasons to get off the couch in 2006. Keep them in mind as you embark on your fitness plan in the new year, and remember them if you find yourself making all sorts of excuses for not exercising.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10568481/
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Saturday, December 24, 2005
Recipe - Vegetarian Chili
A blend of southwest flavors kicks up this Vegetarian Chili. You won't miss the meat. Using canned beans cuts down on cooking time. Enjoy.
Ingredients
1/2 cup textured vegetable protein (tvp)
1/2 cup canned white beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 medium red bell pepper
1 small onion
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup tomato sauce, low sodium
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 oz. low-fat or nonfat shredded cheddar cheese
2 Tbsp. low-fat or nonfat sour cream
2/3 tbsp. olive oil
Directions
Combine textured vegetable protein (TVP) with enough very hot water (about 1/2 cup) to moisten well; let stand 5 minutes; press out excess water with a spoon and set aside. Rinse and drain beans; set aside. Rinse and chop pepper and onion; mince garlic; set aside. Heat olive oil in medium nonstick saucepan on medium heat and cook onion, pepper and garlic until onion is translucent for about 3 minutes. Stir in TVP with tomato sauce and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the beans and spices, mixing well; cover and simmer for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Top with shredded cheese and sour cream and serve.
Nutritional values per serving: 474 calories, 16g fat (5g sat.), 15mg cholesterol, 830mg sodium, 53g carbohydrate, 17g dietary fiber, 13g sugar and 46g protein.
This recipe is:
• Low in cholesterol (approximately 100 milligrams or less of cholesterol)
• High in fiber (approximately 8 grams or more of fiber).
Taken from http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm?cmi=1670062&cid=6&code=76076
Ingredients
1/2 cup textured vegetable protein (tvp)
1/2 cup canned white beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 medium red bell pepper
1 small onion
1 clove garlic
1/2 cup tomato sauce, low sodium
1/2 tsp. chili powder
1/4 tsp. cumin
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
2 oz. low-fat or nonfat shredded cheddar cheese
2 Tbsp. low-fat or nonfat sour cream
2/3 tbsp. olive oil
Directions
Combine textured vegetable protein (TVP) with enough very hot water (about 1/2 cup) to moisten well; let stand 5 minutes; press out excess water with a spoon and set aside. Rinse and drain beans; set aside. Rinse and chop pepper and onion; mince garlic; set aside. Heat olive oil in medium nonstick saucepan on medium heat and cook onion, pepper and garlic until onion is translucent for about 3 minutes. Stir in TVP with tomato sauce and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the beans and spices, mixing well; cover and simmer for about 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Top with shredded cheese and sour cream and serve.
Nutritional values per serving: 474 calories, 16g fat (5g sat.), 15mg cholesterol, 830mg sodium, 53g carbohydrate, 17g dietary fiber, 13g sugar and 46g protein.
This recipe is:
• Low in cholesterol (approximately 100 milligrams or less of cholesterol)
• High in fiber (approximately 8 grams or more of fiber).
Taken from http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm?cmi=1670062&cid=6&code=76076
Friday, December 23, 2005
Thursday, December 22, 2005
Actress - Jessica Alba
Date of birth : 28 April 1981
Place of birth : Pomona, California, USA
Actress - filmography :
Sonic (2006) (announced)
Sin City 2 (2006) (pre-production)
Awake (2006) (filming)
Into the Blue (2005)
Fantastic Four (2005)
Sin City (2005)
Honey (2003)
The Sleeping Dictionary (2003)
Dark Angel (2002) (VG) (voice)
"Dark Angel" (2000) TV Series
Dark Angel (2000) (TV)
Paranoid (2000)
Idle Hands (1999)
Never Been Kissed (1999)
P.U.N.K.S. (1999)
Too Soon for Jeff (1996) (TV)
"Flipper" (1995) TV Series
Venus Rising (1995)
Camp Nowhere (1994)
Producer - filmography :
Sonic (2006) (announced) (executive producer)
Wednesday, December 21, 2005
Health - The worst desserts
Diets would have higher success rates if they tasted better.
Well, duh. But that's the rub, isn't it? If tofu tasted like chocolate and French fries like celery sticks, we'd all be walking around with washboard stomachs and healthy hearts. Back in the real world, of course, that's not going to happen.
To every dieter there are some foods that are easier to give up than others. Don't care for cheese? Then on one hand, skipping grilled cheese sandwiches or that baked Brie hors d'oeuvre isn't going to cause you too much pain. Ditto with people who dislike pizza, pancakes, bacon burgers or foie gras. On the other hand, it also won't help you lose weight because you weren't eating any of these foods in the first place.
No, the hardest thing is giving up those foods you love best, in all their gooey, salty, sweet, crunchy or succulent glory. Those are the foods you overeat. Too often, again and again. And for many people, the hardest foods to give up, which are also among the most horrifically calorific, are desserts.
If hot fudge sundaes are your bete noire, if cheese cake is your downfall, if you cannot keep your hand out of the cookie jar, you know how difficult it is to forego dessert. It is bad enough to stop snacking — giving up that daily 3 P.M. candy-bar fix was one of the hardest things you ever did — but do you have to sacrifice desserts, too? Don't you deserve a little reward for all your hard work?
Luckily, it may be possible to have your cake and eat it, too — just as long as it's not the whole platter. Remember: Not all desserts are created equal. Obviously, there are healthy desserts: the fruit salads, the sugar-free gelatins, the non-dairy chocolate mousses, etc. But these are the near beer of the sweets trolley, poor substitutes for the real, fat-laden McCoy.
As with any diet, of course, it all comes down to not just what you eat but how much. For example, a small cup of sorbet or a piece of dark chocolate have far less calories than the 1,226 little blubber-producers packed into a single-serving slab of death-by-chocolate cake. The problem is knowing just how big, or small, a portion should be. The solution might be ordering one serving of the banana split and have everyone dig in at once. That way, each person can enjoy a few bites and satisfy their sweet tooth without overdoing it.
"I never advocate deprivation — if you want something sweet, you've got to indulge, or you'll just end up binging and regretting it," says Jorge Cruise, best-selling author of The 3-hour Diet, "You can be smart about how you enjoy dessert. There are no bad foods, just bad portions."
For a person on a diet, it's important to be aware of the amount of calories being consumed each day and know that many desserts have no nutritional value. "Our favorite taste is a combination of fat and sugar in any form. I'd have to say the fat is worse, especially because a high proportion of fat in desserts is saturated," says Anne Collins, founder of the weight-loss Web site www.annecollins.com.
Of course, the best way to avoid looking like the Pillsbury Doughboy — besides regular exercise — is to do some research ahead of time and know what is in the dessert. "If you're picking between a slice of pecan pie and a slice of pumpkin, go for the pumpkin. It's got all those good spices (and actually some vitamins) that make it taste good. Since pecan pie uses sour cream and pecans, it is packed with about 200 calories more for the same size slice," says Cruise. Before going to a restaurant, check the menu online and figure out what treats are healthier. If there is a party scheduled, look up the calories in some common desserts.
For those times when it's impossible to look up the calories for every dessert on the menu, Forbes.com has compiled a list of some of the worst desserts. The slides that follow contain nutritional information taken from Recipezaar.com — a site where anyone can post their favorite recipes and get a full detailed nutritional analysis. It takes one to two days for recipes to be posted, but is immediate for Premium Members. To get more information go to www.recipezaar.com.
Taken form http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10497027/
Tuesday, December 20, 2005
Recipe - Cream Cheese Dessert
Ingredients
1 large box (1.5 ounces) sugar-free instant vanilla pudding
3 cups nonfat milk
1 tub (12 ounces) light cream cheese (room temperature)
1 can (20 ounces) light cherry filling
Directions
In a small mixing bowl, combine pudding mix and milk. Beat on low speed to mix ingredients.
Add cream cheese. Increase speed and beat until smooth and thickened.
Pour into individual parfait dishes or a large serving dish. Top with pie filling.
Makes eight servings. Nutritional values per serving: 1 1/2 carb servings (exchanges: 1 fruit, 1 fat, 1 nonfat milk), 181 calories, 6g fat (4g sat.), 23mg cholesterol, 496mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate, 1g dietary fiber, 20g sugar and 7g protein.
1 large box (1.5 ounces) sugar-free instant vanilla pudding
3 cups nonfat milk
1 tub (12 ounces) light cream cheese (room temperature)
1 can (20 ounces) light cherry filling
Directions
In a small mixing bowl, combine pudding mix and milk. Beat on low speed to mix ingredients.
Add cream cheese. Increase speed and beat until smooth and thickened.
Pour into individual parfait dishes or a large serving dish. Top with pie filling.
Makes eight servings. Nutritional values per serving: 1 1/2 carb servings (exchanges: 1 fruit, 1 fat, 1 nonfat milk), 181 calories, 6g fat (4g sat.), 23mg cholesterol, 496mg sodium, 25g carbohydrate, 1g dietary fiber, 20g sugar and 7g protein.
Monday, December 19, 2005
Science - Fish help unlock mystery of our skin color
Zebrafish zipping around an aquarium have led researchers to a gene that may play an important role in human skin color, an attribute that has served as a basis for social discrimination through the ages.
Researchers searching for cancer genes in zebrafish noticed that pigment cells in a peculiar golden variety of zebrafish look like pigment cells from light-skinned humans. This human-fish similarity motivated the researchers to track down the zebrafish gene responsible for the golden hue and lighter-than-usual stripes.
Then the scientists identified the human version of the gene, which has two main types — a version shared by Africans and East Asians, and a slightly different variant carried by nearly all Europeans. The researchers went on to show that this gene is partly responsible for light human skin in Europeans. This study appears in Friday's issue of the journal Science, published by AAAS, the nonprofit science society.
Most of the color in human skin comes from the pigment melanin, which protects against ultraviolet rays from the sun. Melanin is packaged in special cellular containers called melanosomes. Differences in the number, size and nature of these tiny pigment-filled packages are responsible for the many shades of human skin color. Scientists have long wondered about the genetic factors underlying this vast color palette.
Zebrafish out of water
Zebrafish stripes provided a surprising opportunity to learn about the nature of human skin color, said one of the Science authors, Keith Cheng of the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey, Pa.
In both golden-toned zebrafish and lighter-skinned humans, the melanosomes are less abundant, less dense and smaller than the pigment-holding compartments of dark-striped zebrafish and darker-skinned humans.
With these similarities in mind, Cheng and his colleagues applied a variety of genetic tools to identify the zebrafish gene, or genes, responsible for the golden color. They pinpointed a gene called SLC24A5.
Science
The wild-type zebrafish above has darker stripes than the "golden" zebrafish below. The insets show that the "golden" zebrafish has fewer, smaller and less dense pigment-filled compartments called melanosomes than the wild-type zebrafish.
There is a human version of this gene as well — apparently thanks to some ancient creature that both zebrafish and humans claim as an ancestor. The human and fish versions of the gene share nearly 70 percent of the same protein sequence.
When the researchers injected the human gene's protein-making instructions into golden zebrafish embryos, the pigment cells from these golden embryos returned to normal pigment levels. This finding strengthens the idea that the SLC24A5 gene may work in a similar way in humans and zebrafish. This gene is thought to play an important role in the formation of pigment-holding melanosomes.
Diving into the human factor
Next, the researchers checked to see what was already known about the human version of the SLC24A5 gene. Nearly all the people sampled from African and East Asian populations carry a version of the gene that is thought to be the "original" or "ancestral" version, the scientists found. In contrast, nearly all people with European ancestry have a slightly different variation of the gene — one that has the amino acid threonine where the African and East Asian version has the amino acid alanine.
The researchers then looked at two different human populations in which people with European and African ancestors had mixed relatively recently — African-Americans and African-Caribbeans. They found that, on average, people with two copies of the European version of the gene had the lightest skin. People with two copies of the non-European version of the gene had darker skin, and people with one copy of each version of the gene had skin color somewhere in between.
In addition to skin color, the European version of the SLC24A5 gene may also be necessary for light hair color and light eye colors, such as blues and greens, the researchers suggest.
Origins of light skin?
Why so many Europeans have one particular version of this gene is not yet clear. It is possible that the SLC24A5 version now seen in nearly all Europeans may have been useful for some specific reason and swept through a human population that gave rise to Europeans.
This new research does not conclusively explain why light skin might have been favored among Europeans, but the work is consistent with the longstanding but unproven hypothesis suggesting that light skin allows more absorption of the ultraviolet rays in sunshine that are necessary for making the essential vitamin D. Such a trait could have been favored at European latitudes.
The SLC24A5 gene, however, cannot explain all the differences in skin color in humanity. For example, Asians and Africans have the same version of the gene but quite different skin tones. More research will likely uncover other pieces of the genetic puzzle of human skin color.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10480835/
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Food - Smart
Foods That Make You Smart
Here’s a very important reason to get to your healthy weight and stay there: You don’t want to lose your mind.
You can’t escape the statistics. Obesity is a global problem, affecting adults and children of both developed and developing nations. More than 65 percent of American adults are overweight and obese; more than 30 percent of kids are, too. There is no sign that as a nation we’re taking the advice of health experts to stop this madness. The government is not responding to these statistics as they would a more obvious epidemic, such as the flu or an infectious disease, but obesity in itself contributes to more than 300,000 deaths yearly.
There’s an epidemic of Type 2 diabetes, which health experts link to the increase in weight and decrease in activity. But you may not have heard the latest bad news: Being overweight doubles your risk for dementia. Dementia, most commonly Alzheimer’s disease, affects nearly 18 million globally. By 2025 this figure is expected to rise to 34 million.
Heart health linked to brain health
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, besides age, family history and genetics, strong evidence links brain health to heart health. Alzheimer’s is characterized by the buildup of plaques in the brain, and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia appears to be increased by many conditions that damage the heart and blood vessels, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure or cholesterol.
Research presented at the 9th International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders in July 2004 showed that mid-life obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol each double the risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s, and if you have all three, you’re six times more likely to get dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Experts theorize that a high insulin level, common in people with pre-diabetes, contributes to inflammation that hurts both heart and accelerates development of dementia.
Taken from http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm?cmi=1645337&cid=5&code=76073
Here’s a very important reason to get to your healthy weight and stay there: You don’t want to lose your mind.
You can’t escape the statistics. Obesity is a global problem, affecting adults and children of both developed and developing nations. More than 65 percent of American adults are overweight and obese; more than 30 percent of kids are, too. There is no sign that as a nation we’re taking the advice of health experts to stop this madness. The government is not responding to these statistics as they would a more obvious epidemic, such as the flu or an infectious disease, but obesity in itself contributes to more than 300,000 deaths yearly.
There’s an epidemic of Type 2 diabetes, which health experts link to the increase in weight and decrease in activity. But you may not have heard the latest bad news: Being overweight doubles your risk for dementia. Dementia, most commonly Alzheimer’s disease, affects nearly 18 million globally. By 2025 this figure is expected to rise to 34 million.
Heart health linked to brain health
According to the Alzheimer’s Association, besides age, family history and genetics, strong evidence links brain health to heart health. Alzheimer’s is characterized by the buildup of plaques in the brain, and the risk of developing Alzheimer’s or vascular dementia appears to be increased by many conditions that damage the heart and blood vessels, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke and high blood pressure or cholesterol.
Research presented at the 9th International Conference on Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Disorders in July 2004 showed that mid-life obesity, hypertension and high cholesterol each double the risk for dementia and Alzheimer’s, and if you have all three, you’re six times more likely to get dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
Experts theorize that a high insulin level, common in people with pre-diabetes, contributes to inflammation that hurts both heart and accelerates development of dementia.
Taken from http://www.ediets.com/news/article.cfm?cmi=1645337&cid=5&code=76073
Saturday, December 17, 2005
Health - Men Part 2
Lifting weights is all the exercise I need
Some structured weight-lifting routines can improve cardiovascular fitness, but the “best cardio exercise is aerobic,” says Dr. Louis Teichholz, chief of the division of cardiology at the Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.
Aerobic exercises include jogging, biking or using a treadmill, Stairmaster or an elliptical trainer.
At the same time it’s important to include strength-training in a regular routine because men lose muscle power as they age.
Too many guys also think they have to train like they’re going for a marathon when just walking can be enough, doctors say.
“Any exercise is better than no exercise,” says DeVane.
“For preventing heart attacks it’s the best thing you can do," he says, "just try to be consistent.”
Prostate cancer treatment is worse than the disease
Macho men like to play dare devil, but even the toughest guys turn squeamish when it comes to their prostate, the small reproductive gland located above the rectum and below the bladder.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for males over 40 and is expected to kill an estimated 30,000 men in 2005, according to the American Cancer Society. African-American men are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and to die from it.
But many guys are still too timid to discuss it with their doctors.
"Men fear that if something is wrong and you find it, the consequences of the treatment would be worse than the disease," says Crawford. Fears of impotency and incontinence keep older men from getting tested, even though they may face greater risk because of family history or age.
There is debate whether prostate cancer screening saves lives or not, but many doctors are pushing men to get tested regularly. "Because men are living longer, the amount of prostate cancer we’re diagnosing is increasing," says Seballos.
While the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test can produce false-positives, when used with a digital rectal exam it can be effective at catching prostate diseases that need to be treated.
Treatments have improved and survival is most likely when cancer is caught early. As Crawford explains, "the biggest cause of impotency is death."
I don’t have to worry about fertility
It is commonly assumed that men’s behaviors will not affect the conception process — that fertility issues are up to the woman. Wrong, says fertility specialist Dr. Lawrence Werlin of Coastal Fertility Medical Center in Irvine, Calif. Behaviors like smoking, binge drinking or strenuous heat-conducive exercise like cycling can all negatively impact male fertility.
The occasional beer is no problem, but for men who drink heavily on weekends, the sudden toxic effect can impair sperm, says Werlin.
Also, hot tubs, Jacuzzis and saunas can be damaging to sperm, so men should be careful to avoid submerging in anything hotter than body temperature. “If it feels hot on your skin, too hot for the sperm,” says Werlin.
The good news is, a man’s sperm regenerates about every 90 days. The bad news is, if you damage the boys now, it could take three months to impregnate your partner.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10452114/page/2/
Some structured weight-lifting routines can improve cardiovascular fitness, but the “best cardio exercise is aerobic,” says Dr. Louis Teichholz, chief of the division of cardiology at the Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey.
Aerobic exercises include jogging, biking or using a treadmill, Stairmaster or an elliptical trainer.
At the same time it’s important to include strength-training in a regular routine because men lose muscle power as they age.
Too many guys also think they have to train like they’re going for a marathon when just walking can be enough, doctors say.
“Any exercise is better than no exercise,” says DeVane.
“For preventing heart attacks it’s the best thing you can do," he says, "just try to be consistent.”
Prostate cancer treatment is worse than the disease
Macho men like to play dare devil, but even the toughest guys turn squeamish when it comes to their prostate, the small reproductive gland located above the rectum and below the bladder.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer for males over 40 and is expected to kill an estimated 30,000 men in 2005, according to the American Cancer Society. African-American men are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and to die from it.
But many guys are still too timid to discuss it with their doctors.
"Men fear that if something is wrong and you find it, the consequences of the treatment would be worse than the disease," says Crawford. Fears of impotency and incontinence keep older men from getting tested, even though they may face greater risk because of family history or age.
There is debate whether prostate cancer screening saves lives or not, but many doctors are pushing men to get tested regularly. "Because men are living longer, the amount of prostate cancer we’re diagnosing is increasing," says Seballos.
While the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test can produce false-positives, when used with a digital rectal exam it can be effective at catching prostate diseases that need to be treated.
Treatments have improved and survival is most likely when cancer is caught early. As Crawford explains, "the biggest cause of impotency is death."
I don’t have to worry about fertility
It is commonly assumed that men’s behaviors will not affect the conception process — that fertility issues are up to the woman. Wrong, says fertility specialist Dr. Lawrence Werlin of Coastal Fertility Medical Center in Irvine, Calif. Behaviors like smoking, binge drinking or strenuous heat-conducive exercise like cycling can all negatively impact male fertility.
The occasional beer is no problem, but for men who drink heavily on weekends, the sudden toxic effect can impair sperm, says Werlin.
Also, hot tubs, Jacuzzis and saunas can be damaging to sperm, so men should be careful to avoid submerging in anything hotter than body temperature. “If it feels hot on your skin, too hot for the sperm,” says Werlin.
The good news is, a man’s sperm regenerates about every 90 days. The bad news is, if you damage the boys now, it could take three months to impregnate your partner.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10452114/page/2/
Friday, December 16, 2005
Health - Men
Men may be thinking more about their health these days, according to the Men's Health/MSNBC survey, but too many rough and tough guys are still ignoring their bodies.
Women tend to worry too much about their weight, but guys typically think they’re just a few sit-ups away from being in the shape they were in college or high school.
They think because they feel fine, there's nothing to worry about. The "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" theory may work for cars, but not always for people. "Men are not prevention-conscious," says Dr. David Crawford, a professor of urology at the University of Colorado in Denver.
The reality is men on average die six years earlier than women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For leading causes of death — heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke — men have higher death rates.
Still, men put off going to the doctor, even if they suspect something might be wrong. "Most men, more often than not, fear the doctor," says Dr. Raul Seballos, a preventive medicine specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. "They just don’t want to know."
Dude, it's time for an attitude adjustment. As part of the MSNBC series on men's health, we present some of the major myths men believe about their health:
I’m too young to worry about heart disease
“The biggest mistake men make is thinking that heart disease doesn’t start until they get older," says Dr. Matthew DeVane, a cardiologist at Cardiovascular Consultants Medical Group in Walnut, Calif.
“Men think if they look healthy and exercise, they’re not at risk. Looks can be deceiving,” says DeVane, author of “Heart Smart” (Wiley), being published in February.
Arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, can begin developing while a man is still in his teens, but symptoms may not show up until he's 50. By the time a man has symptoms like shortness of breath or weakness, the disease is already advanced. About one out of three people who dies from heart disease dies suddenly.
“People like David Letterman and Bill Clinton look fine and healthy and have the best medical care, and all of a sudden they need a bypass,” says DeVane. “The process of arteriosclerosis starts early so lifestyle matters early on.” That means controlling weight gain and getting regular exercise. It’s also important to know blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in men and women in the United States, but men are more likely to die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. That’s because men are more reluctant to wear sunscreen and more likely to ignore the symptoms, if they even do monthly skin exams. Men over 40 also spend the most time outdoors and have the most exposure to the sun.
Since more than 90 percent of skin cancer comes from ultraviolet rays, the Skin Cancer Foundation advises men to regularly use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
Flossing is a waste of time
There’s growing evidence linking periodontal disease and heart disease, yet men are less likely than women to visit the dentist or floss, studies show. That puts men at greater risk for gum disease, called gingivitis in its early stages.
Mouth infections can increase the levels of inflammation in the blood and lead to clots, which can decrease the blood flow to the heart.
According to the American Dental Association, the best prevention for periodontal disease is to brush twice a day and clean between the teeth with floss each day.
What mid-life crisis? It’s all in my head
Feeling grumpy? Do you have a lack of energy? Noticing a decrease in libido or less strong erections? Women aren’t the only ones who go through a “change of life.” Men don’t want to think about an end to their glory days, but there is a subtle drop in testosterone, the hormone that puts the macho into manhood, after age 40, doctors say.
About one-quarter of those men suffer a significant enough decline in testosterone to lead to loss of muscle mass, cognition problems and osteoporosis, says Crawford. Low testosterone levels can increase prostate cancer risk and if a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer, low testosterone can worsen the condition, he says.
The condition can be treated with testosterone gels, although “detecting the problem can be sticky because many men don’t want to admit their sex drive isn’t what it used to be,” says Dr. John Morley, chairman of the division of geriatrics at St. Louis University School of Medicine.
There's also controversy over whether men should risk hormone-replacement therapy, which has been associated with side effects such as infertility.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10452114/
Women tend to worry too much about their weight, but guys typically think they’re just a few sit-ups away from being in the shape they were in college or high school.
They think because they feel fine, there's nothing to worry about. The "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it" theory may work for cars, but not always for people. "Men are not prevention-conscious," says Dr. David Crawford, a professor of urology at the University of Colorado in Denver.
The reality is men on average die six years earlier than women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For leading causes of death — heart disease, cancer, diabetes and stroke — men have higher death rates.
Still, men put off going to the doctor, even if they suspect something might be wrong. "Most men, more often than not, fear the doctor," says Dr. Raul Seballos, a preventive medicine specialist at the Cleveland Clinic. "They just don’t want to know."
Dude, it's time for an attitude adjustment. As part of the MSNBC series on men's health, we present some of the major myths men believe about their health:
I’m too young to worry about heart disease
“The biggest mistake men make is thinking that heart disease doesn’t start until they get older," says Dr. Matthew DeVane, a cardiologist at Cardiovascular Consultants Medical Group in Walnut, Calif.
“Men think if they look healthy and exercise, they’re not at risk. Looks can be deceiving,” says DeVane, author of “Heart Smart” (Wiley), being published in February.
Arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, can begin developing while a man is still in his teens, but symptoms may not show up until he's 50. By the time a man has symptoms like shortness of breath or weakness, the disease is already advanced. About one out of three people who dies from heart disease dies suddenly.
“People like David Letterman and Bill Clinton look fine and healthy and have the best medical care, and all of a sudden they need a bypass,” says DeVane. “The process of arteriosclerosis starts early so lifestyle matters early on.” That means controlling weight gain and getting regular exercise. It’s also important to know blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer diagnosed in men and women in the United States, but men are more likely to die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society. That’s because men are more reluctant to wear sunscreen and more likely to ignore the symptoms, if they even do monthly skin exams. Men over 40 also spend the most time outdoors and have the most exposure to the sun.
Since more than 90 percent of skin cancer comes from ultraviolet rays, the Skin Cancer Foundation advises men to regularly use a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
Flossing is a waste of time
There’s growing evidence linking periodontal disease and heart disease, yet men are less likely than women to visit the dentist or floss, studies show. That puts men at greater risk for gum disease, called gingivitis in its early stages.
Mouth infections can increase the levels of inflammation in the blood and lead to clots, which can decrease the blood flow to the heart.
According to the American Dental Association, the best prevention for periodontal disease is to brush twice a day and clean between the teeth with floss each day.
What mid-life crisis? It’s all in my head
Feeling grumpy? Do you have a lack of energy? Noticing a decrease in libido or less strong erections? Women aren’t the only ones who go through a “change of life.” Men don’t want to think about an end to their glory days, but there is a subtle drop in testosterone, the hormone that puts the macho into manhood, after age 40, doctors say.
About one-quarter of those men suffer a significant enough decline in testosterone to lead to loss of muscle mass, cognition problems and osteoporosis, says Crawford. Low testosterone levels can increase prostate cancer risk and if a man is diagnosed with prostate cancer, low testosterone can worsen the condition, he says.
The condition can be treated with testosterone gels, although “detecting the problem can be sticky because many men don’t want to admit their sex drive isn’t what it used to be,” says Dr. John Morley, chairman of the division of geriatrics at St. Louis University School of Medicine.
There's also controversy over whether men should risk hormone-replacement therapy, which has been associated with side effects such as infertility.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10452114/
Thursday, December 15, 2005
So far so good...YAY
Yay, I am fine. Been busy a bit. Anyway I have made some changes in my life. Every morning wake up at 5am, going to gym and then only to work. This way I can't skip my gym because of work. If I decide to go after work, sometimes work is just to much or even I will be too tired. This new plan of mine so far is working fine. YAY!
I am also dragging along my sister since she too need to loose a few pounds. Tomorrow I plan to make a few more changes. I saw the latest Guruka Singh's videos. Oh gosh I never knew we would feel awake when we rub cold water on our chin and feel sleepy if we rub cold water on our forehead. This is fantastic. He also says thay bathing with cold water in the morning is very good. So tomorrow, I shall try.
I am also dragging along my sister since she too need to loose a few pounds. Tomorrow I plan to make a few more changes. I saw the latest Guruka Singh's videos. Oh gosh I never knew we would feel awake when we rub cold water on our chin and feel sleepy if we rub cold water on our forehead. This is fantastic. He also says thay bathing with cold water in the morning is very good. So tomorrow, I shall try.
Recipe - Tomato Melt
Ingredients
2 slices low-sodium whole-wheat bread
2 1/2 oz. low-fat or nonfat cheese of choice
4 tomato slices
Directions
1. Top bread with cheese and tomato slices and broil until cheese begins to melt. Serve.
Makes one serving. Nutritional values per serving: 270 calories, 7g fat (4.0g sat), 23g protein, 30g carbohydrate, 4g fiber, 15mg cholesterol, 310mg sodium and 5g sugar.
2 slices low-sodium whole-wheat bread
2 1/2 oz. low-fat or nonfat cheese of choice
4 tomato slices
Directions
1. Top bread with cheese and tomato slices and broil until cheese begins to melt. Serve.
Makes one serving. Nutritional values per serving: 270 calories, 7g fat (4.0g sat), 23g protein, 30g carbohydrate, 4g fiber, 15mg cholesterol, 310mg sodium and 5g sugar.
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Health - Blood Preasure
Middle-aged adults who favor skim milk and other low-fat dairy foods may have lower blood pressure than others their age.
Researchers in Spain found that among nearly 5,900 adults they followed over two years, those with the highest intake of low-fat dairy products were about half as likely to develop high blood pressure as those who consumed the fewest.
The apparent protective effect remained when the researchers accounted for other factors in high blood pressure risk -- including overall diet, exercise, body weight and smoking.
Fattier dairy foods like whole milk and ice cream, however, were not a blood pressure boon, according to findings published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Though some past research has linked low-fat dairy consumption to lower blood pressure, this is the first to find the relationship among middle-aged adults. Previous studies have focused on children and young adults, Dr. Alvaro Alonso, the lead author of the new study, told Reuters Health.
The findings from these studies do not prove that low-fat dairy foods have a direct benefit on blood pressure, noted Alonso, who is currently with the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. But he said it at least seems that people who want to prevent high blood pressure can include low-fat dairy foods in their diets.
It’s not completely clear why dairy foods might help control blood pressure, but it does not appear to be due to calcium alone. In the current study, only calcium from low-fat dairy products was related to lower blood pressure risk, and past research has failed to find a clear association between higher calcium intake and lower blood pressure, Alonso said.
The study included 5,880 adults who ranged in age from 20 to 90 and were free from high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease at the start of the study. Participants completed questionnaires on their diets and other health and lifestyle factors, and the researchers followed up with them two years later to see how many had developed high blood pressure.
Overall, 180 people developed the condition during the study period. Those who had reported the highest intake of low-fat dairy -- mostly in the form of skim and reduced-fat milk -- were 54 percent less likely to develop high blood pressure than those with the lowest intakes.
Milk, the study authors note, provides certain proteins --caseins and whey proteins -- that may act in a manner similar to blood-pressure-lowering drugs called angiotensin converting enzyme, or ACE, inhibitors. These proteins may help explain the study results, they speculate.
As for why only low-fat dairy had positive effects, it’s “plausible,” according to the researchers, that the saturated fat in richer dairy foods neutralizes any blood pressure benefits.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10401009/
Researchers in Spain found that among nearly 5,900 adults they followed over two years, those with the highest intake of low-fat dairy products were about half as likely to develop high blood pressure as those who consumed the fewest.
The apparent protective effect remained when the researchers accounted for other factors in high blood pressure risk -- including overall diet, exercise, body weight and smoking.
Fattier dairy foods like whole milk and ice cream, however, were not a blood pressure boon, according to findings published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.
Though some past research has linked low-fat dairy consumption to lower blood pressure, this is the first to find the relationship among middle-aged adults. Previous studies have focused on children and young adults, Dr. Alvaro Alonso, the lead author of the new study, told Reuters Health.
The findings from these studies do not prove that low-fat dairy foods have a direct benefit on blood pressure, noted Alonso, who is currently with the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston. But he said it at least seems that people who want to prevent high blood pressure can include low-fat dairy foods in their diets.
It’s not completely clear why dairy foods might help control blood pressure, but it does not appear to be due to calcium alone. In the current study, only calcium from low-fat dairy products was related to lower blood pressure risk, and past research has failed to find a clear association between higher calcium intake and lower blood pressure, Alonso said.
The study included 5,880 adults who ranged in age from 20 to 90 and were free from high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease at the start of the study. Participants completed questionnaires on their diets and other health and lifestyle factors, and the researchers followed up with them two years later to see how many had developed high blood pressure.
Overall, 180 people developed the condition during the study period. Those who had reported the highest intake of low-fat dairy -- mostly in the form of skim and reduced-fat milk -- were 54 percent less likely to develop high blood pressure than those with the lowest intakes.
Milk, the study authors note, provides certain proteins --caseins and whey proteins -- that may act in a manner similar to blood-pressure-lowering drugs called angiotensin converting enzyme, or ACE, inhibitors. These proteins may help explain the study results, they speculate.
As for why only low-fat dairy had positive effects, it’s “plausible,” according to the researchers, that the saturated fat in richer dairy foods neutralizes any blood pressure benefits.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10401009/
Tuesday, December 13, 2005
NeW EmPloYeE...s
Thanen is a new employee in my company now. Ha Ha ... Anyway good luck to him and my sister for the new job. Today is a bit free and easy for me. The only thing disturbing me is my sister and thanen calling me every minute to ask something.
Health - Cancer
Scientists discover how cancer spreads. Study finds that this disease sends bone marrow cells to prepare new tumor sites. Scientists have discovered how cancer spreads from a primary site to other places in the body in a finding that could open doors for new ways of treating and preventing advanced disease.
Instead of a cell just breaking off from a tumor and traveling through the bloodstream to another organ where it forms a secondary tumour, or metastasis, researchers in the United States have shown that the cancer sends out envoys to prepare the new site.
Intercepting those envoys, or blocking their action with drugs, might help to prevent the spread of cancer or to treat it in patients in which it has already occurred.
"We are basically looking at all the earlier steps that are involved in metastasis that we weren't previously aware of. It is complex but we are opening the door to all these things that occur before the tumor cell implants itself," said Professor David Lyden, of Cornell University in New York.
"It is a map to where the metastasis will occur," he added in an interview.
Landing site for cancer cells
Cancer's ability to colonize other organs is what makes the disease so deadly. Once the cancer has spread beyond its original site it is much more difficult to treat.
In research reported in the journal Nature, Lyden and his colleagues describe what happens before the arrival of the cancerous cells at the new site.
"The authors show that tumor cells can mobilize normal bone marrow cells, causing them to migrate to particular regions and change the local environment so as to attract and support a developing metastasis," Patricia Steeg, of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, said in a commentary.
Cells at the site of the metastasis multiply and produce a protein called fibronectin, which acts like a glue to attract and trap the bone marrow cells to create a landing pad or nest for the cancer cells.
"These nests provide attachment factors for the tumor cells to implant and nurture them. It causes them not only to bind but to proliferate. Once that all takes place we have a fully formed metastatic site or secondary tumor," said Lyden.
"This is the first time anyone has discovered what we call the pre-metastatic niche."
Without the landing pad, the cancerous cell could not colonize the organ.
In animal and laboratory studies, the scientists looked at how breast, lung and oesophageal cancer spread. The envoys from the tumor determine the site of the secondary site.
Lyden said measuring the number of special bone marrow cells circulating in the body could help to determine whether a cancer is likely to spread.
"This opens up the door to new concepts of how metastasis is taking place. If we can understand all these multiple processes we can develop new drugs that block each step. That way we have a much better future than just trying to treat the tumor cell, which is almost like a last step in this process," he added.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10366968/
Instead of a cell just breaking off from a tumor and traveling through the bloodstream to another organ where it forms a secondary tumour, or metastasis, researchers in the United States have shown that the cancer sends out envoys to prepare the new site.
Intercepting those envoys, or blocking their action with drugs, might help to prevent the spread of cancer or to treat it in patients in which it has already occurred.
"We are basically looking at all the earlier steps that are involved in metastasis that we weren't previously aware of. It is complex but we are opening the door to all these things that occur before the tumor cell implants itself," said Professor David Lyden, of Cornell University in New York.
"It is a map to where the metastasis will occur," he added in an interview.
Landing site for cancer cells
Cancer's ability to colonize other organs is what makes the disease so deadly. Once the cancer has spread beyond its original site it is much more difficult to treat.
In research reported in the journal Nature, Lyden and his colleagues describe what happens before the arrival of the cancerous cells at the new site.
"The authors show that tumor cells can mobilize normal bone marrow cells, causing them to migrate to particular regions and change the local environment so as to attract and support a developing metastasis," Patricia Steeg, of the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland, said in a commentary.
Cells at the site of the metastasis multiply and produce a protein called fibronectin, which acts like a glue to attract and trap the bone marrow cells to create a landing pad or nest for the cancer cells.
"These nests provide attachment factors for the tumor cells to implant and nurture them. It causes them not only to bind but to proliferate. Once that all takes place we have a fully formed metastatic site or secondary tumor," said Lyden.
"This is the first time anyone has discovered what we call the pre-metastatic niche."
Without the landing pad, the cancerous cell could not colonize the organ.
In animal and laboratory studies, the scientists looked at how breast, lung and oesophageal cancer spread. The envoys from the tumor determine the site of the secondary site.
Lyden said measuring the number of special bone marrow cells circulating in the body could help to determine whether a cancer is likely to spread.
"This opens up the door to new concepts of how metastasis is taking place. If we can understand all these multiple processes we can develop new drugs that block each step. That way we have a much better future than just trying to treat the tumor cell, which is almost like a last step in this process," he added.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10366968/
Monday, December 12, 2005
Public Holiday
Horray for Selangor...it's so nice working in Selangor...because today is a Public Holiday for us. Anyway I will be going to work for a while in the afternoon. Then I'll take my sister to gym and then shopping in MidValley. Yahoo....
Sunday, December 11, 2005
Facon Educational Fair 2005
In the afternoon, I took my sister to PWTC, The Facon Educational Fair, the crowd was ok. Many Universities and Colloges. Help, UCSI, UCTI, Taylors, and many other overseas univesities. Oh, it was tiring, we went there by KTM...well better that driving there and looking for parking. It was the first time sice after SPM, I had the chance to take my sister out. After the fair, we went to The Mall.
Saturday, December 10, 2005
After SPM
Yesterday I took my sister to my office for an interview...Ha ha so fast start work.
Today officially she starts working as a quality assurance tester. Yesterday night we had a good time at home. My cousin sister, her husband and brother came over. We had a good time playing monopoly. At last my boycot my cousin brother and forced him to loose. YAY!!!
Today officially she starts working as a quality assurance tester. Yesterday night we had a good time at home. My cousin sister, her husband and brother came over. We had a good time playing monopoly. At last my boycot my cousin brother and forced him to loose. YAY!!!
Friday, December 09, 2005
Work
As busy as a bee... Today my sister joined my company to help in the quality assurance. Yippie...
Thursday, December 08, 2005
Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Good morning....
A brand new day, a brand new start. Yesterday, I was so busy at work doing research. Well one is solved just a few more bugs here and there. And another problem I am trying to get some expert help. Hopefully they get back to me as soon as possible. Today is gonna be another busy day. I have about 12 cds to burn by noon. And 4 more later in the afternoon.
Today I am also hoping to get back my camera.....Yahoo.
Today I am also hoping to get back my camera.....Yahoo.
Tuesday, December 06, 2005
Dissapointment
After more than 4 years in the company, yesterday my boss resigned. She is a wonderful person. She is like an idol, a power lady that gives all of us strentgh to do our best. And now she has left. I still keep thinking about it. How are we gonna come her loss and what is going to become of us? Anyway we all sure do hope she is well and happy. We will miss her a lot.
Monday, December 05, 2005
Late...
My mom had her fasting blood check today at 8am. Well I am working so I can only leave her there. I sent my sister and cousin with her so that later they come back by themselves.
What a traffic jam out there today!!!!!!!
The cars were crawling all the way to Jalan Tun Razak. My mom was already hoping that how nice it would be if the car could fly over it all. We were getting late. And I reached the hospital at 8.30am. Well I pity my mom fasting longer.
Anyway after dropping them there, I had to go through the traffic jam again to go to work. What a hassle! I just reached work at 9.30am. Well not too late, just nice. All the traffic is because of some rehersal going on and some roads are closed. Why must they do these rehersals....why don't they just use helicopters for their transportations. Ha ha, they should.
Anyway projects are not ending and are being carried forward....that was what I was afraid of. I want to be free by next week and by the way I see the progress in my office, oh no, disaster.
What a traffic jam out there today!!!!!!!
The cars were crawling all the way to Jalan Tun Razak. My mom was already hoping that how nice it would be if the car could fly over it all. We were getting late. And I reached the hospital at 8.30am. Well I pity my mom fasting longer.
Anyway after dropping them there, I had to go through the traffic jam again to go to work. What a hassle! I just reached work at 9.30am. Well not too late, just nice. All the traffic is because of some rehersal going on and some roads are closed. Why must they do these rehersals....why don't they just use helicopters for their transportations. Ha ha, they should.
Anyway projects are not ending and are being carried forward....that was what I was afraid of. I want to be free by next week and by the way I see the progress in my office, oh no, disaster.
Sunday, December 04, 2005
Bad Luck
I am so depressed....Yesterday, the wind blew the curtian, the curtain pushed a board which was on my table cabinet, the board pushed the glass cup with vanilla candle in it.....and kaboom it smashes on the floor.
After cleaning up the mess......I found my phone on the table ... and it had a crack on the mirror. The glass must have dropped on my phone before hitting the floor.
I was so sad.....
To top up with all the sadnessssssss.....today I met in an accident. It wasn't my fault. Anyway I tried my best to stay calm as the guy yelled at me. I myself yelled at him and he said he wanted to slap me. That took all my thinking energy that I totally forgot to take the car number plate down. Another friend of him came and said settle it....pay for your own damages....and I was just getting more afraid as a car or indian guys came to help him. Dammit!...Ok settle and I quickly jumped into my car and left.
What a weekend!
After cleaning up the mess......I found my phone on the table ... and it had a crack on the mirror. The glass must have dropped on my phone before hitting the floor.
I was so sad.....
To top up with all the sadnessssssss.....today I met in an accident. It wasn't my fault. Anyway I tried my best to stay calm as the guy yelled at me. I myself yelled at him and he said he wanted to slap me. That took all my thinking energy that I totally forgot to take the car number plate down. Another friend of him came and said settle it....pay for your own damages....and I was just getting more afraid as a car or indian guys came to help him. Dammit!...Ok settle and I quickly jumped into my car and left.
What a weekend!
Saturday, December 03, 2005
Mrs Kai
Today is my resting day...so I won't be writing a lot. TODAY, my dear friend Hari got married. How she is a wife? Oh my....now I can't wait to be a godmother for her childrens. He he, yes childrenssssss. I am so tired. Now I plan to just rest at home. Tomorrow its confirm I'll be going to work. Yup, Sunday bust work. It's gonna be a busy day, so I need the rest. After the wedding I went to pick up my cousin JV. She has been waiting to come over since SPM started. That's all.......
Friday, December 02, 2005
Health - Rice
DON'T EAT TOO MUCH RICE
The human body was never meant to consume rice! You see, our genes have hardly changed in more than 30,000 years. However, our food choices and lifestyle have changed dramatically. The caveman would hardly recognize our food or way of life.
Caveman food was never cooked as fire was not yet tamed. Thus, he ate only those foods that you can eat without treatment with or by fire. He ate fruits, vegetables, fish (sushi anyone?), eggs, nuts and meat. Yes, even meat. You can even eat meat raw if you were starving in the forest. You have the necessary enzymes to digest meat.
However, rice, like wheat and corn, cannot be eaten raw. It must be cooked. Even if you were starving in the desert, you cannot eat rice in the raw form. This is because we do not have the system of enzymes to break rice down. You were never meant to eat rice. To make matters worse, you not only eat rice, but also make it the bulk of your food.
In some parts of Asia, rice forms up to 85% of the plate. Even if you take rice, keep it to a minimum. Remember, it is only for your tongue - not your body. Actually, rice and other grains like wheat and corn are actually worse than sugar. There are many reasons:
Rice becomes sugar - lots of it.
This is a fact that no nutritionist can deny: rice is chemically no different from sugar. One bowl of cooked rice is the caloric equal of 10 teaspoons of sugar. This does not matter whether it is white, brown or herbal rice. Brown rice is richer in fibre, some B vitamins and minerals but it is still the caloric equal of 10 teaspoons of sugar. To get the same 10 teaspoons of sugar, you need to consume lots of kangkong - 10 bowls of it.
Rice is digested to become sugar.
Rice cannot be digested before it is thoroughly cooked. However, when thoroughly cooked, it becomes sugar and spikes circulating blood sugar within half an hour - almost as quickly as it would if you took a sugar candy. Rice is very low in the "rainbow of anti-oxidants"?lt;/span>
This complete anti-oxidant rainbow is necessary for the effective and safe utilisation of sugar. Fruits come with a sugar called fructose. However, they are not empty calories as the fruit is packed with a whole host of other nutrients that help its proper assimilation and digestion.
Rice has no fibre. The fibre of the kangkong fills you up long before your blood sugar spikes. This is because the fibre bulks and fills up your stomach. Since white rice has no fibre, you end up eating lots of "calorie dense" food before you get filled up. Brown rice has more fibre but still the same amount of sugar.
Rice is tasteless -? Sugar is sweet. There is only so much that you can eat at one sitting. How many teaspoons of sugar can you eat before you feel like throwing up? Could you imagine eating 10 teaspoons of sugar in one seating?
Rice is always the main part of the meal - While sugar may fill your dessert or sweeten your coffee, it will never be the main part of any meal. You could eat maybe two to three teaspoons of sugar at one meal. However, you could easily eat the equal value of two to three bowls (20 - 30 teaspoons) of sugar in one meal. I am always amused when I see someone eat sometimes five bowls of rice (equals 50 teaspoons of sugar) and then asks for tea tarik kurang manis!
There is no real "built in" mechanism for us to prevent overeating of rice.
How much kangkong can you eat? How much fried chicken can you eat? How much steamed fish can you eat? Think about that! In one seating, you cannot take lots of chicken, fish or cucumber, but you can take lots of rice. Eating rice causes you to eat more salt.
As rice is tasteless, you tend to consume more salt - another villain when it comes to high blood pressure. You tend to take more curry that has salt to help flavor rice. We also tend to consume more ketchup and soy sauce which are also rich in salt.
Eating rice causes you to drink less water. The more rice you eat, the less water you will drink as there is no mechanism to prevent the overeating of rice. Rice, wheat and corn come hidden in our daily food. As rice is tasteless, it tends to end up in other foods that substitute rice like rice flour, noodles and bread. We tend to eat the hidden forms which still get digested into sugar. Rice, even when cooked, is difficult to digest.
Can't eat raw rice? Try eating rice half cooked. Contrary to popular belief, rice is very difficult to digest. It is "heavy stuff". If you have problems with digestion, try skipping rice for a few days. You will be amazed at how the problem will just go away.
Rice prevents the absorption of several vitamins and minerals. Rice when taken in bulk will reduce the absorption of vital nutrients like zinc, iron and the B vitamins.
Are you a rice addict? Going rice-less may not be easy but you can go rice-less. Eating less rice could be lot easier than you think. Here are some strategies that you can pursue in your quest to eat less rice:
Eat less rice - Cut your rice by half. Barry Sears, author of the Zone Diet, advises "eating rice like spice".
Instead, increase your fruits and vegetables.
Take more lean meats and fish.
You can even take more eggs and nuts.
Have "riceless" meals. Take no rice or wheat at say, breakfast. Go for eggs instead.
Go on "riceless" days - Go "western" once a week.
Take no rice and breads for one day every week. That can't be too difficult. Appreciate the richness of your food. Go for taste, colors and smells. Make eating a culinary delight. Enjoy your food in the original flavors.
Avoid the salt shaker or ketchup. You will automatically eat less rice.
Eat your fruit dessert before (Yes! No printing error) your meals.
The fibre rich fruits will "bulk up" in your stomach. Thus, you will eat less rice and more fruits.
Finally SPM is OVER...
HORAYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!
SPM is over for my sister....
MERDEKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today she can sleep peacefully............
Not forgetting me and mom also can sleep peacefully..........
YAHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SPM is over for my sister....
MERDEKA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Today she can sleep peacefully............
Not forgetting me and mom also can sleep peacefully..........
YAHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
H2O in MARS
New observations of Mars' interior have revealed a crater hidden from the surface and new information about ice below the polar cap. The fresh research announced on Wednesday also points to the chemical signatures of past water on Mars, adding to other evidence suggesting a wet past.
Scientists have long held that the deep channels and signs of extensive aqueous erosion are evidence that Mars was once a watery world. But these geologic signatures alone are not enough to confirm that liquid water was stable on the planet’s surface for extended periods of time.
Liquid water is a key ingredient to life as we know it. While there is no firm evidence that biology has ever existed on Mars, scientists are seeking locations that may once have held standing water as logical places to search with future missions. They are also looking for hidden reservoirs of water beneath the planet's surface, which could serve as a refuge for past Martian life or a resource for future explorers.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10267254/
Face Transplant
Doctors perform first partial face transplant
Doctors in France had performed the world’s first partial face transplant, forging the way into a risky medical frontier by operating on a woman disfigured by a dog bite.
The 38-year-old woman had a nose, lips and chin grafted onto her face from a brain-dead donor whose family gave consent. The operation was led by a surgeon already famous for a transplant breakthrough, Dr. Jean-Michel Dubernard.
Scientists in China have performed scalp and ear transplants, but experts say the mouth and nose are the most difficult parts of the face to transplant.
The surgery drew both praise and sobering warnings over its potential risks and ethical and psychological ramifications. If successful — something that may not be known for months or even years — the procedure offers hope to people horribly disfigured by burns, accidents or other tragedies.
The woman was “severely disfigured” by a dog bite in May that made it difficult for her to speak and chew.Such injuries are “extremely difficult, if not impossible” to repair using normal surgical techniques.
Scientists around the world are working to perfect techniques involved in transplanting faces. Today’s best treatments leave many people with facial disfigurement and scar tissue that doesn’t look or move like natural skin.
A complete face transplant, which involves applying a sheet of skin in one operation, has never been done before. The procedure is complex, but uses standard surgical techniques.
Critics say the surgery is too risky for something that is not a matter of life or death, as regular organ transplants are.
The main worry for both a full face transplant and a partial effort is organ rejection, causing the skin to slough off.
Complications also include infections that turn the new face black and require a second transplant or reconstruction with skin grafts, perhaps even one or two years later. Drugs to prevent rejection are needed for life and raise the risk of kidney damage and cancer.
Such concerns have delayed British plans to attempt the operation. In France, ethics authorities rejected an application to try a full face transplant last year, but left the door open for a partial procedure involving the mouth and nose.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10265941/
Doctors in France had performed the world’s first partial face transplant, forging the way into a risky medical frontier by operating on a woman disfigured by a dog bite.
The 38-year-old woman had a nose, lips and chin grafted onto her face from a brain-dead donor whose family gave consent. The operation was led by a surgeon already famous for a transplant breakthrough, Dr. Jean-Michel Dubernard.
Scientists in China have performed scalp and ear transplants, but experts say the mouth and nose are the most difficult parts of the face to transplant.
The surgery drew both praise and sobering warnings over its potential risks and ethical and psychological ramifications. If successful — something that may not be known for months or even years — the procedure offers hope to people horribly disfigured by burns, accidents or other tragedies.
The woman was “severely disfigured” by a dog bite in May that made it difficult for her to speak and chew.Such injuries are “extremely difficult, if not impossible” to repair using normal surgical techniques.
Scientists around the world are working to perfect techniques involved in transplanting faces. Today’s best treatments leave many people with facial disfigurement and scar tissue that doesn’t look or move like natural skin.
A complete face transplant, which involves applying a sheet of skin in one operation, has never been done before. The procedure is complex, but uses standard surgical techniques.
Critics say the surgery is too risky for something that is not a matter of life or death, as regular organ transplants are.
The main worry for both a full face transplant and a partial effort is organ rejection, causing the skin to slough off.
Complications also include infections that turn the new face black and require a second transplant or reconstruction with skin grafts, perhaps even one or two years later. Drugs to prevent rejection are needed for life and raise the risk of kidney damage and cancer.
Such concerns have delayed British plans to attempt the operation. In France, ethics authorities rejected an application to try a full face transplant last year, but left the door open for a partial procedure involving the mouth and nose.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10265941/
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Yahoo....
Today... I am so happy that I finished all my pending work. I can go home with a free mind today.
Yesterday, I taught I could go back early, so I made plans to meet up with dear J. Her computer misses me, so it didn't want to start. So, my plan was to go to J's house, repair computer and chat with her and then go home.
At work itself I was thinking that something was gonna go wrong and change all my plans. First thing to worry me was my work. The more I finish, the more new things came to my desk. I was really getting pissed off, but music kept me company and took me calmly through it. At last, at 9pm I finished work. How early? Right away left towards J's house. There, her dear computer, all it really just needed was a pat from me and it was working fine. Hmmm...I wonder, does J look after it well enough, or maybe she doesn't give enough attention to it. Poor computer. After that, a change of plans again....instead of going home I joined J out to supper with her uncle, sister GY and cousin. We had a nice chat time.
Time passes so fast....Me and J went to Hari's house after midnight to take the engagement photos. By the time we get back to J's house, view all the pictures and drive home, it was 2 am already. So I slept right away. Dozed off in slumber land.
The next morning, I had to wake up so early. I didn't go to work and neither my sister had an exam. I had to take my mom to the hospital for her eye examination. What a loooooooooong process. Waiting! Waiting! Waiting! We reached there at 7.30am, got number 14 and yet left the hospital at about 1pm. What a tiring morning? I reached home had lunch and dozed off again for half an hour. I knew I had to get back to work as there was a submission. I reached office at about 3pm and as I expected I was just in time. After submission, had some minor work here, there and that's about it.
I guess I was lucky yesterday and today too... everthing just went fine. Oh I'm so happy.
Today is Hari's Sangeet night. I shall gather some mehndi designs and go there to help decorate some hands.....
WORLD AIDS DAY
WORLD AIDS DAY
1 December 2005
Welcome to World AIDS Day - the international day of action on HIV and AIDS which takes place every year on 1 December.
This year in the UK, World AIDS Day is about wearing the Red Ribbon, as a sign of support for people living with HIV and a symbol of hope for the future. We want you to Wise up and Wear it. If you would like to get hold of your own Red Ribbon you can find your nearest outlet here and you can also download a Virtual Red Ribbon from this site to wear on your website or in your email signature.
If you click through to our stories section you can tell us why you'll be wearing the Red Ribbon on World AIDS Day and read other people's stories too.
World AIDS Day is about people getting the facts about HIV and AIDS. It's a day for people to get involved and there are many ways in which you can do so. We have a listing of events where you can search to find the ones that suit you, or if you are organising an event, you can add details of your event. If you would like to get involved in other ways, we have some great ideas for you!
No matter how you decide to mark the day, you can help create a more AIDS Aware society in which everyone takes action, so please make sure you show off your Red Ribbon on 1 December!
Taken from http://www.worldaidsday.org/default.asp
Recipe - Bread Pudding
Ingredients
6 large eggs
1/2 cup granular sugar substitute
1 cup heavy cream
1 cup water
1 vanilla bean, split and scraped
1 3-inch long cinnamon stick
8 slices Atkins Bakery Ready-To-Eat Country White Bread, cut into 1/2" cubes
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter a 9 x 9 baking pan; set aside.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs and sugar substitute. In a medium saucepan over medium heat, bring cream, water, vanilla and cinnamon to a boil. Slowly whisk hot cream mixture into egg mixture. Add bread and toss well. Let stand 10 minutes, turning occasionally with a rubber spatula.
3. Transfer pudding mixture into to prepared pan. Place pan in a larger roasting pan, fill the outer pan with enough hot water to come half way up the sides of the pudding pan. Bake until set, about 55 minutes. Let cool for 15 minutes before cutting. Serve warm or chilled.
You can use 1 tablespoon vanilla extract in a pinch. Makes six servings. Prep time: 10 minutes. Bake/Cook time: 1 hour. Chill time: 30 minutes.
Nutritional values per serving: 14.5g carbohydrates (8g net carbs), 6.5g fiber, 16.5g protein, 21.5g fat and 315 calories.
Taken form http://www.ediets.com/
Exercise When You Are Sick???
Is it OK to exercise when you have a cold?
How soon can I safely exercise after a bad bout of the flu?
Cold and flu season is here, but it doesn't have to wreak total havoc on your fitness status. Most people who come down with a cold should be able to continue exercising — as long as they're up for it. There is no evidence that exercising during a cold is bad for you.
Still, a stuffy head and the Stairmaster may not mix very well. It may be harder to breathe.
That may be particularly true for people with asthma. The common cold can inflame the airways, and when people with asthma exercise they may experience chest tightening. Exercising outdoors in the winter cold can further exacerbate the problem.
With the flu, it may be hard to think about exercising when you're aching and feverish, not to mention nauseated and vomiting. So it's best to rest and recuperate, experts say.
You're not going to feel like exercising with the flu. You're going to feel like crawling into bed.
As for how long to wait before hitting the gym again, experts recommends avoiding anything too strenuous for at least a week after the flu is gone. You may have to start slowly when you begin exercising again, but a couple of weeks off isn't enough to undo all the hard work you've done to get in shape.
As a general rule, if your symptoms are from the neck up (e.g. sniffles, sneezing), it's OK to exercise, although mild to moderate activity such as walking is best. If the illness is systemic, as with the flu, it's best to take it easy.
The bottom line, Follow your body. If you're sick with the cold or flu and you don't feel like doing anything more than surfing the channels from your couch, go ahead — without the guilt.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10085473/
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Positive thinking is the best healer
Expectations can trigger physical healing, scientists find!!!
Your medicine really could work better if your doctor talks it up before handing over the prescription.
Research is showing the power of expectations, that they have physical — not just psychological — effects on your health. Scientists can measure the resulting changes in the brain, from the release of natural painkilling chemicals to alterations in how neurons fire.
Among the most provocative findings: New research suggests that once Alzheimer’s disease robs someone of the ability to expect that a proven painkiller will help them, it doesn’t work nearly as well.
It’s a new spin on the so-called placebo effect — and it begs the question of how to harness this power and thus enhance treatment benefits for patients.
The placebo effect is infamous from studies of new medications: Scientists often given either an experimental drug or a dummy pill to patients and see how they fare. Frequently, those taking the fake feel better, too, for a while, making it more difficult to tease out the medication’s true effects.
Doctors have long thought the placebo effect was psychological.
Now scientists are amassing the first direct evidence that the placebo effect actually is physical, and that expecting benefit can trigger the same neurological pathways of healing as real medication does. Among them:
University of Michigan scientists injected the jaws of healthy young men with salt water to cause painful pressure, while PET scans measured the impact in their brains. During one scan, the men were told they were getting a pain reliever, actually a placebo.
Their brains immediately released more endorphins — chemicals that act as natural painkillers by blocking the transmission of pain signals between nerve cells — and the men felt better. To return to pre-placebo pain levels, scientists had to increase the salt-water pressure.
“Our brain really is on drugs when we get a placebo,” says co-researcher Christian Stohler, now at the University of Maryland. More remarkable, some especially strong placebo responders suggest “many brains can actually stimulate that (pain-relief) system more.”
Taken from
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10242034/
Your medicine really could work better if your doctor talks it up before handing over the prescription.
Research is showing the power of expectations, that they have physical — not just psychological — effects on your health. Scientists can measure the resulting changes in the brain, from the release of natural painkilling chemicals to alterations in how neurons fire.
Among the most provocative findings: New research suggests that once Alzheimer’s disease robs someone of the ability to expect that a proven painkiller will help them, it doesn’t work nearly as well.
It’s a new spin on the so-called placebo effect — and it begs the question of how to harness this power and thus enhance treatment benefits for patients.
The placebo effect is infamous from studies of new medications: Scientists often given either an experimental drug or a dummy pill to patients and see how they fare. Frequently, those taking the fake feel better, too, for a while, making it more difficult to tease out the medication’s true effects.
Doctors have long thought the placebo effect was psychological.
Now scientists are amassing the first direct evidence that the placebo effect actually is physical, and that expecting benefit can trigger the same neurological pathways of healing as real medication does. Among them:
University of Michigan scientists injected the jaws of healthy young men with salt water to cause painful pressure, while PET scans measured the impact in their brains. During one scan, the men were told they were getting a pain reliever, actually a placebo.
Their brains immediately released more endorphins — chemicals that act as natural painkillers by blocking the transmission of pain signals between nerve cells — and the men felt better. To return to pre-placebo pain levels, scientists had to increase the salt-water pressure.
“Our brain really is on drugs when we get a placebo,” says co-researcher Christian Stohler, now at the University of Maryland. More remarkable, some especially strong placebo responders suggest “many brains can actually stimulate that (pain-relief) system more.”
Taken from
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10242034/
PASSIONATE LOVE - The Science Behind It
Scientists say passionate love fizzles after a year!!!!
Your heartbeat accelerates, you have butterflies in the stomach, you feel euphoric and a bit silly. It’s all part of falling passionately in love. In Rome scientists now tell us the feeling won’t last more than a year. HUH!
The powerful emotions that bowl over new lovers are triggered by a molecule known as nerve growth factor (NGF), according to Pavia University researchers.
The Italian scientists found far higher levels of NGF in the blood of 58 people who had recently fallen madly in love than in that of a group of singles and people in long-term relationships.
But after a year with the same lover, the quantity of the ‘love molecule’ in their blood had fallen to the same level as that of the other groups.
The Italian researchers, publishing their study in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, said it was not clear how falling in love triggers higher levels of NGF, but the molecule clearly has an important role in the "social chemistry" between people at the start of a relationship.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10252428/
Your heartbeat accelerates, you have butterflies in the stomach, you feel euphoric and a bit silly. It’s all part of falling passionately in love. In Rome scientists now tell us the feeling won’t last more than a year. HUH!
The powerful emotions that bowl over new lovers are triggered by a molecule known as nerve growth factor (NGF), according to Pavia University researchers.
The Italian scientists found far higher levels of NGF in the blood of 58 people who had recently fallen madly in love than in that of a group of singles and people in long-term relationships.
But after a year with the same lover, the quantity of the ‘love molecule’ in their blood had fallen to the same level as that of the other groups.
The Italian researchers, publishing their study in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology, said it was not clear how falling in love triggers higher levels of NGF, but the molecule clearly has an important role in the "social chemistry" between people at the start of a relationship.
Taken from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10252428/
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Places - New Attraction in India Part 2
The Akshardham Temple in New Delhi, India
I have more beautiful pictures of this fascinating place. This place is going to be in my "Places to visit list" when I go to India. For those who missed the first part, click HERE.
I have more beautiful pictures of this fascinating place. This place is going to be in my "Places to visit list" when I go to India. For those who missed the first part, click HERE.
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