May 27, 2008 -- It's a new frontier for psychiatric illness: Brain pacemakers that promise to act as antidepressants by changing how patients' nerve circuitry fires.
Scientists already know the power of these devices to block the tremors of Parkinson's disease and related illnesses; more than 40,000 such patients worldwide have the implants.
But psychiatric illnesses are much more complex and the new experiments with so-called deep brain stimulation, or DBS, are in their infancy. Only a few dozen patients with severe depression or obsessive-compulsive disorder so far have been treated in closely monitored studies.
Still, the early results are promising. Dramatic video shows one patient visibly brightening as doctors turn on her brain pacemaker and she says in surprise: "I'm starting to smile." And new reports this month show that some worst-case patients -- whose depression wasn't relieved by medication, psychotherapy, even controversial shock treatment -- are finding lasting relief.
From Discovery News
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Reminds me of a joke...
I don't know why you're crying... I have to come back through here by myself...
Saturday, May 24, 2008
FDA warns of harmful nipple cream
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Food and Drug Administration on Friday warned women not to use or purchase Mommy's Bliss Nipple Cream, marketed by MOM Enterprises Inc. of San Rafael, California.
The cream, promoted to nursing mothers to help soothe dry or cracked nipples, contains ingredients that may cause respiratory distress, vomiting and diarrhea in infants, the agency said.
The potentially harmful ingredients in the cream are chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol.
"FDA is particularly concerned that nursing infants are being unwittingly exposed by their mothers to this product with dangerous side effects," said Janet Woodcock, director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "Additionally, these two ingredients may interact with one another to further compound and increase the risk of respiratory depression in nursing infants."
The company has stopped selling the cream. The FDA said consumers should stop using the cream and consult a doctor if they experience problems or believe that their infant may have experienced problems due to the product.
Mothers whose children may have suffered adverse effects because of this product should contact the FDA's MedWatch at 800-332-1088.
From CNN
The cream, promoted to nursing mothers to help soothe dry or cracked nipples, contains ingredients that may cause respiratory distress, vomiting and diarrhea in infants, the agency said.
The potentially harmful ingredients in the cream are chlorphenesin and phenoxyethanol.
"FDA is particularly concerned that nursing infants are being unwittingly exposed by their mothers to this product with dangerous side effects," said Janet Woodcock, director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. "Additionally, these two ingredients may interact with one another to further compound and increase the risk of respiratory depression in nursing infants."
The company has stopped selling the cream. The FDA said consumers should stop using the cream and consult a doctor if they experience problems or believe that their infant may have experienced problems due to the product.
Mothers whose children may have suffered adverse effects because of this product should contact the FDA's MedWatch at 800-332-1088.
From CNN
Friday, May 23, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Gold Nanoparticles Resurrect Failed HIV Drug
The metaphorical gold standard of medical treatment might one day turn out to be a literal gold treatment.
By hacking off the ends of a failed HIV drug and sticking the resulting molecules onto gold nanoparticles, scientists have stopped HIV from infecting lab-cultured white blood cells. It is the first time gold nanoparticles have shown potential in therapies for HIV.
From Discovery News
By hacking off the ends of a failed HIV drug and sticking the resulting molecules onto gold nanoparticles, scientists have stopped HIV from infecting lab-cultured white blood cells. It is the first time gold nanoparticles have shown potential in therapies for HIV.
From Discovery News
What were you doing 90 million years ago?
Supernova Birth Observed for First Time
While peering at her computer screen four months ago, astronomer Alicia Soderberg expected to see the small glowing smudge of a month-old supernova. But what she and her colleague saw instead was a strange, extremely bright, five-minute burst of X-rays.
With that observation, they became the first astronomers to catch a star in the act of exploding.
From Space.com
While peering at her computer screen four months ago, astronomer Alicia Soderberg expected to see the small glowing smudge of a month-old supernova. But what she and her colleague saw instead was a strange, extremely bright, five-minute burst of X-rays.
With that observation, they became the first astronomers to catch a star in the act of exploding.
From Space.com
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
holy crap
The Atlas moth (Attacus atlas) has a wingspan of 25-30 cm (10-12 inches). It is the largest moth in the world in terms of total wing surface area (upwards of c. 400 square cm or 65 square inches).
Man Dressed As Darth Vader Attacks Founder Of Jedi Church
You just can't make this stuff up...
A man who dressed up as Darth Vader has been spared jail time for assaulting the founders of the Jedi Church in Britain.
Twenty-seven-year-old Arwel Wynne Hughes was given a suspended sentence for the crime by a judge in Wales on Tuesday.
Prosecutors told Magistrates' Court in Holyhead that Hughes attacked Jedi church founder Barney Jones - a.k.a. Master Jonba Hehol - with a metal crutch, hitting him on the head.
He also whacked Jones' 18-year-old cousin, Michael Jones - known as Master Mormi Hehol - bruising his thigh in the March 25 incident.
Hughes claims he was drinking heavily and can't remember the assault.
From KIRO
A man who dressed up as Darth Vader has been spared jail time for assaulting the founders of the Jedi Church in Britain.
Twenty-seven-year-old Arwel Wynne Hughes was given a suspended sentence for the crime by a judge in Wales on Tuesday.
Prosecutors told Magistrates' Court in Holyhead that Hughes attacked Jedi church founder Barney Jones - a.k.a. Master Jonba Hehol - with a metal crutch, hitting him on the head.
He also whacked Jones' 18-year-old cousin, Michael Jones - known as Master Mormi Hehol - bruising his thigh in the March 25 incident.
Hughes claims he was drinking heavily and can't remember the assault.
From KIRO
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Monday, May 12, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
all sorts of Van Gogh
Welcome to The Vincent van Gogh Gallery. For more than 11 years now I've worked hard to ensure that this website remains the most thorough and comprehensive Van Gogh resource on the World Wide Web. To the right is a table detailing the contents of the entire site. I'm proud to say that I have the privilege of displaying 100% of Vincent van Gogh's works and letters--a complete, online catalogue raisonné of Van Gogh's oeuvre. As you explore these pages, you'll see the culmination of thousands of hours of work. But that's just the beginning . . . .
Online Gallery
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
Girl, you'll be a woman sooner than expected
Puberty is arriving ever younger in American females -- 8 is no longer considered abnormal.
AT 8 or 9 years old, the typical American schoolgirl is perfecting her cursive handwriting style. She's picking out nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs in sentences, memorizing multiplication tables and learning to read a thermometer.
She's a little girl with a lot to learn.
And yet, in increasing numbers, when girls this age run across the playground in T-shirts, there is undeniable evidence that their bodies are blossoming. The first visible sign of puberty, breast budding, is arriving ever earlier in American girls.
From The LA Times
AT 8 or 9 years old, the typical American schoolgirl is perfecting her cursive handwriting style. She's picking out nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs in sentences, memorizing multiplication tables and learning to read a thermometer.
She's a little girl with a lot to learn.
And yet, in increasing numbers, when girls this age run across the playground in T-shirts, there is undeniable evidence that their bodies are blossoming. The first visible sign of puberty, breast budding, is arriving ever earlier in American girls.
From The LA Times
Thursday, May 8, 2008
When Amy Doesn't Understand Something, She Faints
Columbia professor [having just explained a relatively simple concept, turning to girl in front]: Do you understand this?
Girl: Yes.
Professor: Good. Because, you know, you're really the canary in the coal mine for this class. If I can get you to get this, I'm set.
--Columbia University
Overheard by: Bobby
Via Overheard In New York
Girl: Yes.
Professor: Good. Because, you know, you're really the canary in the coal mine for this class. If I can get you to get this, I'm set.
--Columbia University
Overheard by: Bobby
Via Overheard In New York
monkey see, monkey do
The extraordinary image, a world exclusive, was taken in Borneo on the island of Kaja, where apes are rehabilitated into the wild after being rescued from zoos, private homes or even butchers' shops.
This individual had seen locals fishing with spears on the Gohong River.
Although the method required too much skill for him to master, he was later able to improvise by using the pole to catch fish already trapped in the locals' fishing lines.
The image is part of a series taken for a new book, The Thinkers Of The Jungle, which also includes the first photograph of an orangutan swimming.
Via The Daily Mail, via Neatorama.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
7 Biggest Living Things On Earth
What’s the biggest living thing on Earth? Some might say the Elephant, though the Giraffe is taller. Others will contest that it’s the Blue Whale. The smarter of you, with a smug, content look on your faces, might even suggest that the biggest living thing on Earth is, of course, the Great Barrier Reef. Well you’re all wrong! The term “biggest living thing” is a bit ambiguous since you can measure by tallest, heaviest, longest or by taking up the most area. None-the-less I think I’ve narrowed down the top contenders. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest living things on Earth, which are utterly monstrous by comparison.
From A List of Lists
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
Florida Mother Acquitted in Piercing Case
(10-25) 23:06 PDT Naples, Fla. (AP) A woman who had her 13-year-old daughter's genitalia pierced to make it uncomfortable for her to have sex was acquitted of aggravated child abuse on Thursday.
The girl, now 16, had testified that her mother asked a friend in 2004 to shave the girl's head to make her unattractive to boys and later held her down for the piercing.
A jury deliberated for about three hours before deciding the mother's actions didn't involve punishment or malicious intent, or cause permanent damage or disfigurement.
The 39-year-old woman, whose name is being withheld to protect her daughter's identity, could have faced up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the charges.
The girl was not in court for the verdict. Her guardian declined comment.
"She was trying to protect me, but it hurt me," the girl testified earlier this week. "It not only hurt me physically, but it hurt me mentally. ... That's emotionally scarring. That's physical abuse."
Prosecutors said the mother called on a friend to shave the girl's head and do the piercing after realizing that she had been having sex, including with the mother's boyfriend.
Defense attorneys told jurors that the mother had trouble with her rebellious daughter and that the girl agreed to the piercing to help rebuild her mother's trust.
Child welfare officials were called after the girl became infected from the piercing.
Tammy Meredith, 43, who did the piercing in her home, was sentenced to a year in jail for her role. An arrest warrant has been issued for the mother's boyfriend on allegations he had sex with the girl.
From SFGate.com
by the way, how is piercing your 13 year olds genitals NOT permanent damage or disfigurement?
The girl, now 16, had testified that her mother asked a friend in 2004 to shave the girl's head to make her unattractive to boys and later held her down for the piercing.
A jury deliberated for about three hours before deciding the mother's actions didn't involve punishment or malicious intent, or cause permanent damage or disfigurement.
The 39-year-old woman, whose name is being withheld to protect her daughter's identity, could have faced up to 30 years in prison if convicted of the charges.
The girl was not in court for the verdict. Her guardian declined comment.
"She was trying to protect me, but it hurt me," the girl testified earlier this week. "It not only hurt me physically, but it hurt me mentally. ... That's emotionally scarring. That's physical abuse."
Prosecutors said the mother called on a friend to shave the girl's head and do the piercing after realizing that she had been having sex, including with the mother's boyfriend.
Defense attorneys told jurors that the mother had trouble with her rebellious daughter and that the girl agreed to the piercing to help rebuild her mother's trust.
Child welfare officials were called after the girl became infected from the piercing.
Tammy Meredith, 43, who did the piercing in her home, was sentenced to a year in jail for her role. An arrest warrant has been issued for the mother's boyfriend on allegations he had sex with the girl.
From SFGate.com
by the way, how is piercing your 13 year olds genitals NOT permanent damage or disfigurement?
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