Wiki World

Australian Blog ★ Adventure Australia
ALL BLOG ARTICLES· ──► (BLOG HOME PAGE)

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
C
hiv aids homosexual heterosexual men disease sickness illness superbugs anibiotics

DNA Readies You for the Winter

It is commonly believed that DNA does its job and is just "there", non-functioning. However, new research shows DNA to be pro-active. It reads our senses and reacts accordingly. DNA detects the seasons and changes ones' body chemistry accordingly.

As many as a fifth of all blood cells genes change with the season. Gene switches are turned on or off to achieve this. In winter immune responders are at a high level. The blood gets thinner in summer knowing that you will be more active. Body-building, fat-burning and water retention is the objective in hotter months.

It is possible that living in air conditioned buildings could leave you body at risk of disease because the preparatory changes are not complete. Even the length of day is now distorted by artificial light. While having ant-inflammatory chemicals ready and operational in winter is rationally useful, inflammation in itself damages the body, particularly when there is no attack on the body.

It seems DNA knows what it is doing. This is not proven though. Body reactions have been developed by evolution. Remember, there have been dead ends where species have disappeared when the environment changed. Whether, white bread is safe to eat is still not known. Only 10,000 years of human consumption of this unnatural substance proves nothing.

✴ Chemistry by Ty Buchanan ✴

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Australian Blog ★ Adventure Australia
ALL BLOG ARTICLES· ──► (BLOG HOME PAGE)

Cancer in Clams Spread Cells Floating in the Water

Clams along the United States' eastern coastline are suffering from cancer. Like the "bug" in the Tasmanian devil it spreads from individual contact. Rogue cells jump between clams by floating in the water. The most common cancer of clams is leukemia - the sea creatures have a circulatory system.

The find happened because Carol Reinisch of Massachusetts Marine Biology Laboratory (who works on soft-shell clams) asked Stephen Goof of Columbia University to look for clams getting cancer by a virus. He was shocked to discover a toxic cell that spreads cancer all along the eastern seaboard.

Only two other cases of the spread of cancer by cells are known. One is decimating the Tasmanian devil. The other is transmitted sexually in dogs. At present Geoff Goff's research is supposition. A lab experiment which shows cancer spreading by a cell in water has not yet been done.

Scientists will soon carry out the relevant test. Then we will know whether something dangerous has been discovered. Though people cannot get cancer by eating clams, there could be a danger of getting the same or similar cancer by swimming in water contaminated by the cells.

✴ Biology by Ty Buchanan ✴

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Australian Blog ★ Adventure Australia
ALL BLOG ARTICLES· ──► (BLOG HOME PAGE)

Ultrasound to Treat Alzheimer's Disease

A great deal of research is going on into solving the problem of Alzheimer's disease. It is a major issue with the number of elderly people increasing in most countries. Though young people can suffer from the illness it is perceived as a disease of the aged.

While most work has been done on the chemical and molecular structure of the brain, it seems that a simple treatment has been there all along. The University of Queensland has stumbled onto ultrasound as an effective treatment. First successful on mice, it is now being rolled out for humans.

Waves of ultrasound break up neurotoxic amyloid plaque. The cause of the illness is still there, but the damage done is reversed. Some old memories could still be lost. However, new ones will be kept. This will reduce the need for resources in caring for the elderly who will able to function on their own.

In tests, mice were capable of solving problems that had beaten them before. Decision making is the most important function of the human brain apart from those keeping a person alive. Long term memories are not so critical: though ideally, one would not want to loose these.

It is debated whether the use of ultrasound would improve executive functions of healthy brains. Other diseases also damage the brain and detection of them is difficult. In the future we could all be getting regular ultrasound.

✴ /Health by Ty Buchanan ✴

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Australian Blog ★ Adventure Australia
ALL BLOG ARTICLES· ──► (BLOG HOME PAGE)

Mass Extinction Has Begun

You may stop fearing an asteroid colliding with the Earth. Man himself could be the cause of the next mass extinction. People who harp on about climate change being a religion and an article of faith are like those who ignored Noah.

Remember that humans got down a few hundred individuals in the past. We are very lucky to be here today. Of course the world would have gone on without us: it would be a very different world. There would be no pollution anywhere.

Ebola is out of control. Antibiotics are failing. A world-wide plague could be on the cards. Danger to Man is not the only issue. Twenty five per cent of mammals could soon disappear. Forty per cent of amphibians are at risk.

Because species are already dying off, a mass extinction could have already begun. The hottest decade on record shows that life is declining. When animals die off the food supply for other creatures also goes. So the path of extinction of predator species becomes real as well.

Carbon is the major cause of extinctions. It is in most things and when pumped into the air it warms up the planet. Seemingly mundane thing also pollute. Coke is fizzy due to carbonic acid. This is getting into the oceans, changing the pH level and destroying life.

✴ Science by Ty Buchanan ✴

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Australian Blog★
ALL BLOG ARTICLES· ──► (BLOG HOME PAGE)

Should Gay Sex be Banned?

People are becoming complacent. They believe that governments will take care of contagious disease. or think that severe sickness will not come close to them. They are wrong, Cases of Ebola in the US and Europe have shown we are all in danger.

Even governments are not supporting the crisis in Africa by giving money. All Westerners seem to be selfish, living their own lives in the quest for more pleasure, not accepting the truth. Ebola is a terrible disease with no cure.

Disease is creeping up on us. Antibiotics no longer work. Syphilis for example, is at its highest level ever in Australia. We don't seem to care. More people are getting AIDS everyday. Expensive long term treatment is the only answer for those who become ill.

The way we live is the greatest problem. Societies seem to brush it under the carpet. However, AIDS and syphilis are mostly spread by gay men, yet cultures are increasingly making gay practices legal. Everything seems to be okay today. We may be reaching the end of the line for this.

Syphilis has had a shocking increase: the number of cases is up by 34 per cent annually. Many cases remain undiagnosed, and people go on spreading it mainly by male-to-male sex. Yes, the ancient Romans practiced bi-sexuality. This was before venereal disease was spread around the world. Today, all diseases are common in all countries.

Let us be honest here: Should countries make anal sex illegal between consenting males. If it is a major disease problem I believe the answer should be yes. It has been popular to "come out" and admit that you are gay in Western countries. Openness can be a bad thing. There are some realities in life that we should take note of - such sex is unnatural.

Culture by Ty Buchanan

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Australian Blog★
ALL BLOG ARTICLES· ──► (BLOG HOME PAGE)

Zebrafish Stem Cell Discovery

A lot of work is going into stem cells research. Anything we can learn about them is important for future human transplants. There have been some claims that have been proved wrong. However, we are moving forward in understanding how organs can be created from them.

A significant breakthrough has been made in Australia while investigating zebrafish. Scientists have found out how hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) important in bone marrow and blood are made. The stem cells replenish immune cells in the blood.

At present hematopoietic stem cells are used to treat leukemia and myeloma. It will probably be possible to treat other cancers in blood vessels, muscle and bone. Furthermore, diabetes, spinal problems and degenerative disorders cold also be treated.

The discovery is important. "Buddy" cells were observed while the hematopoietic stem cell were being created. Ironically, the scientists were investigating muscle development when they noticed the "helper" cell. Other scientist will take this further.

Science by Ty Buchanan

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Australian Blog★
ALL BLOG ARTICLES· ──► (BLOG HOME PAGE)

Blue-Green Algae Causes Motor Neuron Disease

Motor Neuron Disease (MND) in not something that just happens to certain people with no hope of recovery. There is new hope about the cause and future treatment. It seems that the marine pest blue-green algae which grows in freshwater and saltwater is the cause. Apparently, it is more widespread than previously thought.

It can be present in marine food that we consume and even in plant seeds. Like other toxins it moves through the food chain becoming more concentrated in species at the top of the line of consumption. It drastically changes the human body interfering with the way proteins function.

The Australian research was based in Guam the place where motor neurone disease is the highest. People there have a taste for bats. When the food chain of these bats was followed it lead to the seeds of a cycad tree. Blue-green algae was found growing around the tree particularly on its roots.

If a drug can be developed that can stop the toxin's action on the body's proteins this would at least be a treatment for Motor Neuron Disease. If you want to lessen the chances of getting MND then stop eating sea food. However, flavoring from marine species is added to pre-prepared meals. Health products like vitamin B and iron supplements have blue-green algae added because it is a source of protein.

Science by Ty Buchanan

http://www.technorati.com/blogs/

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Australian Blog★
ALL BLOG ARTICLES· ──► (BLOG HOME PAGE)

HIV Reaching Record Levels in Australia

It seems Mankind hasn't moved far away from its ancient existence - living in a literal "bath" of disease. All other living things live in hostile environments, if not from predators then from a plethora of diseases.

Antibiotics are losing their efficacy. They no longer work. There are only a few that are effective against hospital acquired infections (HAI). Furthermore, it will be a shock to many that there is still no real treatment for fungal infections. Once you suffer from fungal problems you have to keep on applying various ointments.

Australia has reached a dangerous point in regard to HIV. Last year new HIV infections rose to their highest point in 20 years. Because younger people are experimenting with sex, this is the group contracting the disease at the highest level. Infections have been increasing since 1999. It is now at a rate of 24 per cent a year, from 10 per cent in 1999.

Despite attempts to destigmatize the way HIV is contracted, the reality is that 60 per cent of new infections are between consenting males. Perhaps there is a strong case for allowing marriage between same sex couples. This would reduce philandering to a significant degree. Otherwise, we could see some countries introducing a register of those with the disease and major penalties for intentionally infecting others.

http://www.technorati.com/blogs/

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Health by Ty Buchanan