Author Archives: sls6009

Be Sure To Eat Your Nicotine

Today, Parkinson’s proves be one the deadliest diseases out there. According to Mayo Clinic, it’s “a progressive disorder of the nervous system that affects your movement. It develops gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. But while tremor may be the most well-known sign of Parkinson’s disease, the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement.

Parkinson’s in the second most common neurodegenerative disorder (following Alzheimer’s) and is cause by the loss of brain cells that produce dopamine.   Men are more likely to develop the disease  and 50,000 to 60,000 patients are diagnosed with Parkinson’s each year. Unfortunately, there’s no cure. One celebrity diagnosed with PD is the ever-wonderful Michael J. Fox.

Recently, studies are beginning to measure the effects of the chemical nicotine on the disease.

In 2000 a study was conducted on the effects of nicotine on Parkinson’s disease and published in American Psychological Association. In the study, 15 men (mean age 66) diagnosed with early to moderate PD received a dose of nicotine followed by chronic nicotine (in the form of a patch) for two weeks. The men showed improvements ognative performance, particurally reaction time, central processing speed, and decreased tracking error; After chronic nicotine, improvements were seen in several motor measures, suggesting improved extrapyramidal functioning. This appeared to be sustained for up to 1 month after the drug.

Nicotine can also play a key role in prevention. That doesn’t mean start smoking, because nicotine can be found in “Solanaceae,” a flowering plant family (as well as peppers and tomatoes.) Eating these foods can help prevent Parkinson’s development and lower the risk for the disease. Though harmful in many ways, the chemical is “thought to have a neuroprotective effect upon dopaminergic neurons, providing a protective effect against the disease,” (Medical News Today).

Susan Searles Nielsen PhD conducted a study published in Annals of neurology consisting of 490 newly diagnosed  PD and 644 patients without the disease (the control group) and examined whether PD was associated with self-reported typical frequency of consumption of peppers, tomatoes, tomato juice, and potatoes during adulthood, while adjusting for consumption of other vegetables, age, sex, race/ethnicity, tobacco use, and caffeine.

 

What she found that while eating vegetables had no effect, but eating vegetables in the Solanaceae family did; in fact it lowered their risk of 19% on average. And eating 2-4 Peppers weekly lowered risk by 30%.

Parkinson’s is an awful disease, and the best way to fight it is to be informed- and to eat your vegetables.

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/parkinsons-disease/DS00295

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/260354.php

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/260354.php

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/eating-nicotine-containing-produce-like-peppers-tomatoes-may-lower-parkinsons-risk/

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/ana.23884/full

Something’s Fishy

At a carnival in seventh grade, my at-the-time boyfriend won me a fish. It was at one of those games where you have to throw the ping pong ball into the fish bowls- the more balls you got in, the bigger the fish you received. After spending a ridiculous amount of money, he won me Chloe. Much to my dismay, however, Chloe long outlived our relationship (no surprise). In fact, Chloe lived to the ripe old age of three… that’s practically a millennia in carny goldfish years. But when Chloe went down, she took me down with her.

For the last couple months of her life, I had a really hard time keeping Chloe’s tank clean. So, one afternoon, after noticing it couldn’t go another day, I went into my bathroom and cleaned her tank. This is when the story starts to go downhill. Within a day or two, I notice a little pimple on my leg- except it wasn’t a pimple. As the days passed and it worsened and worsened, turning from a pimple to a gaping wound. We went to the doctors and the ER- both of whom diagnosed me with cellulitis. But the antibiotics didn’t work, and  it got to the point where I couldn’t walk anymore.

What it actually turned out to be was an infection caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium marinum, more commonly known as  fish tank granuloma (or swimming pool granuloma). This infection is commonly misdiagnosed, and mycobacterial  can cause lung diseases, leprosy, and skin infections.  Previously, treatment has been difficult because  the bacteria is resistant to many antibiotics. In the study “ Fish Tank Exposure and Cutaneous Infections Due to Mycobacterium marinum: Tuberculin Skin Testing, Treatment, and Prevention” in Oxford Journals,  8 patiends with the infection were studied and tested for their response to antibiotics. They found that “six patients with disease limited to the skin were successfully treated with 2-drug combination therapy, including clarithromycin, ethambutol, and rifampin. Optimal treatment should include 2 drugs for 1-2 months after resolution of lesions, typically 3-4 months in total.” Click here for more info on the bacteria.

So, although this infection can be antibiotic resistant and seems to respond well to clarithromycin, ethambutol, and rifampin, like a lot of infections, response depends highly on each person.

Moral of the story? Be carefeul the next time you decide to clean the fish tank.

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/blogs/on-parenting/2008/10/06/8-pets-that-pose-major-health-threats-to-kids

http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/swimming-pool-granuloma/overview.html

http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=fish+tank+infections+studies&btnG=&hl=en&as_sdt=0%2C39

 

 

Need A Study Break?

It’s the most wonderful time of the year… and the most stressful. It’s finals time. A time when students’ stress levels fly through the roof, we start skipping meals, and our days (and nights) are spent in the library.

Consequently, this is the when our immune systems are weakened due to anxiety and sleep deprivation. In the next three weeks, more than any time in the year, we need  take care of our bodies by finding a way to relieve tension.

There are many ways to go about this, from the puppies outside UHS to spontaneous crying, but one of the most effective is yoga. We’ve all heard of yoga’s benefits. When practiced, it can provide:

         a sunnier outlook

         improved respiration, energy and vitality

         balance metabolism ����������

         balance/muscle/sleep/flexibility  improvement

         decrease in chronic pain

         weight reduction

         improved athletic performance

         protection from injury

Also, it may have an impact on memory, mood, learning efficiency, attention, concentration, and anxiety levels. And who doesn’t need memory improvement when we go to put that pencil to paper?

But most importantly during finals season, it reduces the stress that causes sickness.

In a 2011 Aravind Gopal  conducted a study consisting of 60 first-year MBBS students around finals time. Students were randomly allocated to two groups- a yoga group (who underwent integrated yoga practices for 35 minutes daily in the presence of trained yoga teacher for 12 weeks) and a control group (who did not undergo any kind of yoga practice or stress management.)

The results were as followed, “In the yoga group, no significant difference was observed in physiological parameters during the examination stress, whereas in the control group, a significant increase was observed.” Meaning yoga prevents and helps control stress.  Normally, I’d question if third variables could have played a factor in maintaining low stress levels during finals week; however, there are numerous studies replicating these results.

Additionally, yoga can increase your memory. In a 2009 study by Pailoor Subramanya and Shirley Telles, fifty-seven male volunteers (ages 18-40) were assessed before and after two separate types of yoga: cyclic meditation and supine rest mediation. “Sections of the Wechsler memory scale (WMS) were used to assess  attention and concentration and associate learning. State anxiety wasassessed using Spielberger’s State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI).”

In every category, CM proved effective in increasing memory, attention, and concentration- comparatively more so than supine rest.

However, participants of this study were residing in the yoga center- the results on memory could be different for those coping with other factors of the outside world. Additionally, the participants had access to previous studies, which may have influenced their performance. Hence the outcome.

Regardless, the benefits of yoga are numerous. I believe their effects on reducing stress alone could help students cope with the pressure finals, and influence their scores. Want to give it a try? Click here!

Sources:

http://www.abc-of-yoga.com/beginnersguide/yogabenefits.asp

http://www.osteopathic.org/osteopathic-health/about-your-health/health-conditions-library/general-health/Pages/yoga.aspx

http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1751-0759-3-8.pdf

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3099098/

Sun Lovers- Rejoice!

I, like many others, absolutely dread the winter. It’s miserable. It’s cold, ugly, and worst of all- sunless. The only thing to look forward to in my mind is Christmas, and after that I’m ready for winter to end and summer to begin. I’m even partially convinced I suffer from seasonal depression. Summer, unlike winter, is filled with all the things I love- warmth, sand, ocean, day longs, and the sun.

Unfortunately, we all know the side effects of too much sun can be severe- skin cancer, sun poisoning, wrinkles, mottled pigmentation, benign tumors….. the list goes on. All evidence points to tanning being bad for you. You’re warned (with good reason) to avoid tanning beds, reapply your sunscreen, and cover up.

However, according to a new study from dermatologists at the University of Edinburgh, there are benefits as well.

The study took   24 volunteers in their early 20s under UV  lamps for 20 minutes and then measured their blood pressure. Then, the repeated the process was repeated with just a heat lamp (the UV rays were blocked).

What they found was positive; after volunteers had been placed under the UV lamps, they had a lower blood pressure. After sitting under the heat lamp, however, there was no change. In other words, this suggests that sunlight lowers your blood pressure, therefore decreasing your risk of heart disease and stroke.

They researchers provide a biological mechanism: when our skin is exposed to the sun’s rays, a compound (nitric oxide) is released in our blood vessels, helping lower blood pressure.

Okay- so 24 people isn’t a whole lot, but it’s a start- the research pull next time will have to be larger, and possibly study analyze the results on other age ranges . Overall, more research must be done.“We now plan to look at the relative risks of heart disease and skin cancer in people who have received different amounts of sun exposure,” says Dr Richard Weller, leader of the research team. “If this confirms that sunlight reduces the death rate from all causes, we will need to reconsider our advice on sun exposure.”

This doesn’t mean go sunbathing for hours without sunscreen, but it’s a reason for people to fear the sun less (and maybe even a reason for the FDA to loosen tanning bed restrictions). Keep in mind, heart disease and stroke linked to high blood pressure cause roughly 80 times more deaths than skin cancer in the UK.

We suspect that the benefits to heart health of sunlight will outweigh the risk of skin cancer. The work we have done provides a mechanism that might account for this, and also explains why dietary vitamin D supplements alone will not be able to compensate for lack of sunlight,” said Weller.

http://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2013/sunshine-080513

http://theweek.com/article/index/243886/is-sun-tanning-good-for-you-after-all

 

How Long After the Morning After?

Okay, okay- we already know the morning after pill is controversial- not to mention  kind of confusing. So, where else to start but with the facts?:

         Emergency contraceptives (let’s call them ECs for short) are a form of birth control used to “prevent pregnancy after sex by preventing or delaying ovulation, interfering with fertilization of an egg, or preventing implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterus by altering its lining,” (WebMD).  

         Side effects may include nausea, abdominal pain, fatigue, menstrual cramps, dizziness, vomiting.

         The active ingredient for most ECs is levonorgestrel.

         The sooner, the better.

o   If taken within 72 hours after unprotected sex, the pill can reduce pregnancy by up to 89% and 95% if taken within 24.

 

However, time may not be the only thing that plays a factor in the effectiveness of an emergency contraceptive. In Europe, HRA Pharma, a manufacturer of the emergency contraceptive Norvelo, is now putting new labels on the bottle, warning that weight may have a very major impact on the drug’s effectiveness. See full story here

So the question is- does it really? And if it does, why aren’t identical American ECs such as Plan B One-Step required to use similar labels?

In 2010, a study was conducted by Anna Glasier of the University of Edinburgh consisting of 3,445 women in order to identify factors associated with EC failure. The women were separated into two randomized control groups- one which took the EC 72 hours after unprotected intercourse and one which took EC 120 hours after unprotected sex. They recorded a number of things, including age, BMI, weight, ovulation times, and time from unprotected intercourse to treatment.

The results found that the most significant variable affecting the risk of pregnancy was BMI. The risk of pregnancy was 3 times higher for obese women and 1.5 times higher for overweight women. The hypothesis?: overweight women need a higher level of levonorgestrel.

This study was effective because took in to account third variables, from ovulation times to age. However, it didn’t state how many obese or overweight women participated in the study. They also attempted to look at too many factors- they wanted to see which factors affected EC failure. Rather, the next study needs to focus primarily on the issue of weight in order to discover at which weight women should begin to take additional precaution.

Personally, I don’t feel there is enough evidence for overweight women to not take oral contraception. It remains a good option; however, we know that weight has an effect on oral contraception, so additional precautions such as talking to a doctor should be considered. However, evidence is strong enough for HRA Pharma to begin issuing warning labels- and it’s something American manufacturers should strongly consider.  

Never Wake A Sleepwalker

Bizkit, The Sleep Walking Dog

“Sara, what are you doing?”

I’m awakened by my mom gently awakening me- and posing a good question. What was I doing? And why was I at the front door?

Confused, I’m sent back to bed. In the morning, I learned that I had wandered around the house before proceeding to tell my mom I was going “out.”

 I suffered from sleep walking just a few times as a kid (luckily)- and I am one of many. According to the National Sleep Foundation, 1-15% of the population suffers from somnambulism, a behavior disorder that originates during deep sleep and results in walking or performing other complex behaviors while asleep – aka sleepwalking.

The disorder is most common in children (ages 6-12) and persistence into adulthood is not common.

Symptoms include:

  • Sleep talking, walking, or even driving
  • Little or no memory of the event
  • Difficulty arousing the sleepwalker during an episode
  • Inappropriate behavior such as urinating in closets (more common in children)
  • Screaming (when sleepwalking occurs in conjunction with sleep terrors)
  • Violent attacks on the person trying to awaken the sleepwalker
  • Gassy eyes

 

Sleepwalking can be a danger to the sleepwalker themselves- as well as those around them. According to BBC, “Professor Matthew Walker from University College London Hospital’s Sleep Clinic once had a patient who went out of his house, got into his car and drove, all while fast asleep. Then there was the case of the 15 year old girl who in 2005 was found curled up asleep at the top of a 130ft crane, having climbed there while sleepwalking.” These incidents are rare- more commonly, sleepwalkers wander into the street.

Unfortunately, there is no cure. For decades, parents have turned to drugs- but there may be a simple, new method.

The Journal of Pediatric Society did an observational study consisting of 3 children- two boys, one girl. Each child had a history of sleepwalking more than 3 times a week for over 12 weeks.

For a few weeks, the parents of the children were to measure each incident- the time it occurred, latency from sleep, behavior during the incident. This determined the optimal time of night for implementing anticipatory awakening. Each night, the parents would gently awaken the child 15-30 minutes befor the usual time of the onset sleepwalking (which was generally an hour and a half to two and a half hours after the child fell asleep). After they were woken, they were allowed to fall back asleep.

For all three children, the intervention worked- and soon, the children began awakening on their own.

This study is encouraging. However, there are numerous issues. The study only consisted of three children, meaning results could have been skewed. Additionally, results relied on reliability of parents monitoring. For more accurate information, the study should habe used actigraphs or videos or monitor the children’s behavior.

In addition, we don’t know the potential damage mid-night awakenings could have on the children’s sleep schedule.

But for those suffering from sleepwalking, anticipatory awakening is an option to try. Sufferers have more to gain from the unconventional method than they have to lose.

Sources:

http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-related-problems/sleepwalking

http://jpepsy.oxfordjournals.org/content/22/3/345.full.pdf+html

 

 

Please Power Down Your Electronic Devices for Takeof

 

Most have us have probably been on an airplane. And, if you have, you know the drill- electronics off. But recently, this FAA rule has come under scrutiny from passengers and critics. People want their electronics, and after all  both pilots and stewardesses use iPads.

 

Airline Passenger Experience Association and the Consumer Electronics Association shows that 30% of passengers leave electronics on during a flight (and of those 30%, 61% said that device was a smartphone).

 

But why does this even matter? The theory is that because gadgets connect to the internet using radio waves- the same radio waves that pilots need for navigation, to communicate with the ground and to keep track of the components that keep them in the air. When we use electronics, we emit radio waves close to these avionics, which could corrupt signals and readings (radar, communications and collision, avoidance technology). This issues could be magnified if the devices are damaged and start emitting stronger radio waves than they should, or if signals from multiple devices combine.

 

But can this actually happen? Is the theory true? Well, there’s an overwhelming amount of anecdotal evidence. For example, during one flight, compass systems were said to be malfunctioning. When passengers were reasked to turn off all electronic devices, all systems returned to normal. Another issue (in navigation) was fixed when a passenger switched off a portable DVD player. Altogether, 125 incidents of interference from gadgets were reported to be “highly correlated”.

Click here for full report of anecdotes 

This particular issue is difficult, if not impossible to prove observationally or experimentally. Unless grounded, asking passengers to turn on their electronics for the sake of research could put the plane in danger. So, because it is so hard to prove, airlines typically tend to err on the side of caution and be conservative.

Until now. The incidents were correlated- and as we know, correlation does not equal causation. And until there’s actual proof the electronic devices affect plane’s avionics- through experimental or observational date (rather than anecdotal)- the F.A.A. plans to relax most of the restrictions. Starting after next year, the guidelines will allow readers to read e-books, listen to podcasts, and watch videos. The ban on sending and receiving emails and texts will remain in place.  

 

 

Waking up is the hardest part.

BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. Snooze. BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. Snooze. BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP… Snooze.  BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP. On the 5th snooze, you groggily swing your feet out of bed. Tired and miserable, you just want to go back to your cozy bed and your dream that was so rudely interrupted. For most people, this is the worst part of the day. It is for me- bar none. Sometimes the soul thing that gets me through the day is knowing I’ll be able to go back to bed. Even as I sit here writing this on this dreary, my eyes are drooping and I’m drinking what is my third cup of coffee, anticipating going to bed and dreading Monday morning.

But why do we hate to get up? Can’t we just hear our alarm and wake up refreshed from the joyous sleep we just got? While it’s possible, it’s not probable. This is because our biological clock- the part of our brain that tells us when to go to sleep and when to wake up (located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus)-  is mismatched with the demands of our lives. It may tell you to go to sleep late and sleep late, when in reality we have to wake up to go to class or work. Due to research at the University of California,  we now know that our internal clock is regulated by a single amino acid. Hopefully, there will one day be a drug to regulate it.

Few people also from inherited sleep disorders, including delayed sleep phase syndrome, which causes bedtimes of between 1 and 4 AM.

Now when we do fall asleep, the body goes through 4-6 cycles, ranging for light (stage 1) to deep sleep (stage 4). Waking up from a stage 4 sleep is the most difficult and people generally hit it around 6 AM, making it all the harder to put your feet on the floor.  

What can you do to make getting out of bed easier?

        – Get 7.5 hours. Some people need six, some need 9, but get around 7.5 to allow your body to go through each sleep cycle.

      –  Shut off electronic media or bright lights. Exposure to light makes you feel less rested.

       –  Exercise

         –No sleeping in on weekends! This throws off your body’s sleep schedule and makes it all the harder to get up on Monday. Stick to a schedule. 

Click here for some more tips from Oprah.

Popped a Molly, Now I’m Sweatin’

I couldn’t get over how popular she was. I would see her at parties and I would hear about her the morning after. Everyone wanted to do her or have her. For Pete’s sake, Wiz Khalifa even made a song about her. But while everybody knows who she is, nobody really knows anything about her- who is she actually? And more importantly, is she safe?

“She” turns out to be molly, the crystal form of MDMA, an illegal drug that acts as both a stimulant and psychedelic, producing an energizing effect, as well as distortions in time and perception and enhanced enjoyment from tactile experiences” (National Institute on Drug Abuse). Molly is ranked as a Schedule I controlled substance according to the Drug Enforcement Agency, meaning it is illegal with a high potential for abuse and no medical advantages. The drug is similar to ecstasy, but unlike ecstasy, which is mixed with other ingredients (such as caffeine or methamphetamine), Molly is considered to be pure MDMA. Costing anywhere from 20 to 50 dollars a dose, the infamous Molly has become a hit among 16 to 25 year olds, particularly in clubs and music festivals (DrugFree.org). “It felt like everything was amplified. It felt euphoric — almost like a crazy adrenaline rush for a long time,” said Evan, a young professional working in Michigan.� Recent high school graduate Jessica felt similarly, “”You feel a lot more loose and comfortable in your environment” (CNN).  This is because molly fills the brain with the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine , causing you to become elate and full of energy.

But here’s the real question.. is molly as safe as everyone seems to say??? The answer no drug is safe, and molly is no exception. One side effect is the inability to regulate body temperature, which in extreme cases can cause liver, kidney, or cardiovascular failure. More likely, dehydration is a main concern, particularly if you’re drinking alcohol and you’re in a hot environment such as a nightclub. ” MDMA, even in its pure form, can produce elevated heart rates and distortion of thought processes, causing users not to realize their rising body temperature or fading stamina as they continue to party. Combining MDMA with alcohol or other drugs can also be the cause of its more serious side effects and drastically increase the hazards, including hyperthermia, seizures, electrolyte abnormalities, cardiac episodes and comas, particularly if you have a severe reaction (ABC News). Overall, molly makes up 4% of ER visits (CNN). In addition, there’s absolutely no way of knowing if molly is pure. “”You’re fooling yourself if you think it’s somehow safer because it’s sold in powdered form.” an agent at the Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) national office. So, yes, alcohol causes 8,000 deaths per year, by not knowing what you’re popping when you’re popping molly, it can be equally as dangerous. 

 Here’s an interesting personal story.

This Is Why I’m Hot… Not Really MIMS

This is why I’m hot. This is why I’m hot. I’m hot ’cause I’m fly, you ain’t cause you not. This is why, this is why, this is why I’m hot. But not actually, MIMS. Being hot has nothing to do with being fly. Really, you’re hot because you’re extraordinary average. Don’t get me wrong, everybody has their own definition of attractiveness, but in reality, our taste isn’t different as we may believe. When it comes down to it, our attractiveness can almost be based down to a science.
One major part of what defines attractiveness is symmetry. The two sides of your face are supposed to be mirror images of each other, but genetic mutations and environmental pressures often interfere with this process. For this reason, the better your symmetry, the better it appears your genetics to be. Numerous studies, according to FOX news, ask people to rank attractiveness in the opposite sex. Repeatedly, studies show those with more symmetrical features are ranked to appear healthier and more attractive. “It makes sense to use symmetry variation in mate choice,” said evolutionary biologist Randy Thornhill “If you choose a perfectly symmetrical partner and reproduce with them, your offspring will have a better chance of being symmetric and able to deal with perturbations.”  See how symmetrical your face is!
In addition, an optimal distances were found. For example, it is strongly preferred when the distance between your eyes and mouth measures 36% of the length of your whole face. It is also preferred when the measurement between just your eyes equals 46% of your faces width (Huffington Post). This is precisely why some people look better with bangs: it shortens the apparent look of your face.
While attraction starts with the face, body shape does play a role. Regardless of size, men tend to have a desired preference for women with significantly narrower waist than hips.. aka the hour glass figure. Which doesn’t come as that much of a shock- just look at Marilyn Monroe or Miss America. According to Fox, “whether person will have enough energy to care for offspring Where fat is deposited on the body is determined by sex hormones, if produces proper amount of estrogen then waist hip ratio will fall into desired range. These women less susceptible to diseases- cardiovascular, cancer, diabetes. Less difficulty conceiving.” 
So, before you go getting bangs or loading on the makeup to make your face more symmetrical, remember the cliches: “happiest girls are the prettiest” and you create your own definition of beauty. Whether  the distance between your eyes and mouth measures 36% of the length of your face or 400000000000%, beauty truly is in the eye of the beholder.