http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/46782295/ns/health-infectious_diseases/#.T3PFhWGPU_c
Although most people think that tuberculosis is over and done with, just a thing of the past, it has started to make a comeback and hitting home, closer than you may think. Just recently a woman in London was found to have this so-called "White Plague" even though she lives in a modern, and fairly wealthy area of the world. The most troubling aspect of this story is that this tuberculosis is resistant to what is now reviewed as 12 different drugs due to misdiagnosis among doctors giving to small of dosages. These small doses weren't enough to kill the tuberculosis, but instead became resistant to that medicine. This is very commonly seen in India, and makes sense as to why they have the most cases of this drug-resistant tuberculosis. The fact that a drug-resistant disease is making its way into developed countries as well sparks some fears that it can easily affect anyone. If spread it would cause a large outbreak due to the fact that it is airborne, and since it is drug-resistant it would take a lot of work to cure it, and the medicine would most likely be expensive. Just because tuberculosis isn't something that you see everyday doesn't mean that it doesn't deserve attention because you never know when it just might strike.
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Aspirin May be a Cure for Cancer
http://vitals.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/03/21/10791979-daily-aspirin-might-reduce-cancer-risk
Although aspirin is mainly just thought of as an anticoagulant [blood thinner] that is a handy-dandy pill for headaches. But recently it's been found that it may be more than just that simplistic thought. Research seems to be pointing that it is even more important, because it was seen to both treat cancer patients and prevent cancer from occurring. This was done with hundreds of people who took an aspirin daily. It is believed that this occurs because it helps to stop the cancer from spreading throughout the body and thus makes the body healthier. After the three years of research it was found that it helps to prevent cancer by 25% and helps to reduce the risk of death from cancer by nearly 40%, and also it helps have a 36% chance of preventing organ-spreading cancers. However this research showed that it was necessary to have taken the aspirin for about three years for ideal effect. Also the study was not based on this principle and requires a new study that is focused upon this subject to have true results. Hopefully this could be a breakthrough that can provide cheap medicine to those who need it or wish to stay healthy.
Although aspirin is mainly just thought of as an anticoagulant [blood thinner] that is a handy-dandy pill for headaches. But recently it's been found that it may be more than just that simplistic thought. Research seems to be pointing that it is even more important, because it was seen to both treat cancer patients and prevent cancer from occurring. This was done with hundreds of people who took an aspirin daily. It is believed that this occurs because it helps to stop the cancer from spreading throughout the body and thus makes the body healthier. After the three years of research it was found that it helps to prevent cancer by 25% and helps to reduce the risk of death from cancer by nearly 40%, and also it helps have a 36% chance of preventing organ-spreading cancers. However this research showed that it was necessary to have taken the aspirin for about three years for ideal effect. Also the study was not based on this principle and requires a new study that is focused upon this subject to have true results. Hopefully this could be a breakthrough that can provide cheap medicine to those who need it or wish to stay healthy.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Utah Air Force Base Faces Repercussions for Mercury Spill
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/energy-environment/hill-air-force-base-in-utah-facing-fines-for-vacuuming-mercury-spill-storing-waste-for-years/2012/03/14/gIQAxISOCS_story.html
At the Hill Air Force Base in Utah large amounts of mercury began to leak in 2007. This leak was kept secret from most and was cleaned up. However the clean-up was done by unlicensed workers and cleaned up with everyday vacuum cleaners. To top the whole thing off, the waste was stored in plastic containers and distributed throughout the facility with at least one buried underground. Luckily the spill didn't cause harm and even though the clean-up was improperly treated, no one has shown severe symptoms. It was reported that 60 pounds of mercury leaked out and due to such the Air Force Base may have to pay a maximum of over $18 million [$13,000 a day]. The low-level exposure could easily cause muscle tremors and personality changes, or even damage the central nervous system, kidneys, and brain. Even though a large fine may be necessary, at least in the end the problem had no severe effects on anyone.
At the Hill Air Force Base in Utah large amounts of mercury began to leak in 2007. This leak was kept secret from most and was cleaned up. However the clean-up was done by unlicensed workers and cleaned up with everyday vacuum cleaners. To top the whole thing off, the waste was stored in plastic containers and distributed throughout the facility with at least one buried underground. Luckily the spill didn't cause harm and even though the clean-up was improperly treated, no one has shown severe symptoms. It was reported that 60 pounds of mercury leaked out and due to such the Air Force Base may have to pay a maximum of over $18 million [$13,000 a day]. The low-level exposure could easily cause muscle tremors and personality changes, or even damage the central nervous system, kidneys, and brain. Even though a large fine may be necessary, at least in the end the problem had no severe effects on anyone.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Seaweed - A New Fuel?
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120305132534.htm
To find a new bio-fuel requires a large amount of researching, considering it involves science, politics, economics, and other aspects. The amount of bio-fuel that is created from corn and other agricultural cannot be produced in large enough quantities without taking up too much room, and then it becomes costly. But recently it has been found that the next possible fuel may be seaweed. It doesn't require cropland, for large quantities naturally grow in the oceans. Also as many bio-fuels it is a clean fuel. This process would not harm ecosystems much and it grows faster than most organisms. In some areas, it is actually more beneficial to the environment to clean it of seaweed for it gets rid of excess algae. The process to make seaweed into a bio-fuel is the CAMUS process [Combined Aquaculture Multi-Use Systems]. And then to make the bio-fuel even more efficient all that needs to be done is make the seaweed contain more sugar. If this could all come together there could be a bright future for environmentally-friendly fuels.
To find a new bio-fuel requires a large amount of researching, considering it involves science, politics, economics, and other aspects. The amount of bio-fuel that is created from corn and other agricultural cannot be produced in large enough quantities without taking up too much room, and then it becomes costly. But recently it has been found that the next possible fuel may be seaweed. It doesn't require cropland, for large quantities naturally grow in the oceans. Also as many bio-fuels it is a clean fuel. This process would not harm ecosystems much and it grows faster than most organisms. In some areas, it is actually more beneficial to the environment to clean it of seaweed for it gets rid of excess algae. The process to make seaweed into a bio-fuel is the CAMUS process [Combined Aquaculture Multi-Use Systems]. And then to make the bio-fuel even more efficient all that needs to be done is make the seaweed contain more sugar. If this could all come together there could be a bright future for environmentally-friendly fuels.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)