Alzheimer's' patient

What I wouldn’t give to hear your voice

What  wouldn't i give to hear your voice

And know its you

Its not death that is worst…

Its seeing those you love and having no idea who they are

Seeing someone that meant so much to you in one lifetime…

And can’t remember how significant they were,

Its having to sleep at the police station

Because you couldn’t remember the way home,

Its forgetting your name…

And how old you are,

Living a life of your own in your head

Regardless of those around you

Forgetting significant memories

That meant so much to us

How exasperating not to know the children you gave life

And lay in your bossom,

For those who complain about life,

Think of what life would be if you forgot…

If you had no memories to keep

And no one to call loved

But remember,

Even if my mind forgets…

My heart will always remember

Alzheimers could take away my mind,

Finding The Right Occasion for our Heeled shoes: Striking a balance between fashion and health.

This really isn't  my idea but its a write-up that was requested for. I can remember it started when within the university environment in daytime on an uneventful day a lady passed by on heels. These were the comments it generated
1. Must you Ladies wear heels?
2.Do you know the anatomical implication as a medical student?
3.Why do you go on heels when you know you will have to struggle on it?
4. When did heels become an everyday wear?
The questions went on and all i could do was laugh because i do know i am guilty of this too. Funnily it even reminded me of a colleague that almost fell on her wedge booties when she was on her way to class and on her way back home. Then, i can remember when the American first family and the beautiful ladies of the house were described(their style and modesty) and this issue arose, the writer made mention of the fact that on their flats foot wears  their styles were always still unique. But seriously i would agree to the fact that heel shoes have now become a menace in our society and i am wondering out loud about who told us we were too short or needed them to look good.

 High heels may turn heads, but new research shows the long-term cost of wearing them is even steeper than the sky-high price tag of some coveted brands.

Along with aching feet and a variety of foot deformities, years of high-heel wearing can actually alter the anatomy of the calf muscles and tendons, according to a study by researchers in England, published online July 16 in the Journal of Experimental Biology.

The incline of high heels causes the calf muscles to contract. Over time, this causes the muscle fibers to shorten and the Achilles tendon to thicken, so much so that some women feel pain when they try to walk in flats or sneakers.

“You put on heels, you are going to deform your body. End of story,” said New York City podiatrist Dr. Johanna Youner, a spokeswoman for the American Podiatric Medical Association who was not involved with the research. “High heels look beautiful, but the body isn’t meant to wear them. There is no way around it.”

For the study, Marco Narici of Manchester Metropolitan University and colleagues recruited 80 women aged 20 to 50 who had been wearing heels of at least 2 inches almost daily for two years or more. Of those, 11 said they experienced discomfort when walking in flatter shoes.

When compared with women who did not wear heels, ultrasounds revealed the women who wore heels had calf muscle fibers that were 13 percent shorter, while MRIs showed the Achilles tendon, which attaches the heel bone to the calf muscle, was stiffer and thicker.

“This is a great study that looks at the mechanism of how high heels may cause grief and aggravation to the woman wearing them,” said Marian Hannan, a senior scientist at the Institute for Aging Research at Hebrew SeniorLife in Boston, who was not involved in the research. “This may have an impact on how future shoes are designed and help the industry understand how women can be slaves to fashion but not suffer so much physical discomfort.”

It’s not a big leap to know that shoes that hurt can’t be good for you, Youner said. For example:

• High heels put stress on the back and knees. Squeezing into high heels with narrow toe boxes can cause a condition called Morton’s neuroma, a painful thickening of tissue between the third and fourth toes.
• Haglund’s deformity, sometimes called the “pump bump,” occurs when back straps of heels dig into the tissue around the Achilles tendon. Too-tight shoes can bring on bunions, an enlargement of bone or tissue at the base of the big toe that pushes the big toe toward the second toe.
• Pointy shoes can worsen hammertoe by forcing the toes to bend at the middle joints, eventually causing them to stay bent and rigid even when barefoot.
• And then there are those uneven-sidewalk wipeouts that lead to ankle sprains and breaks

REMEMBER TODAY ISN'T THE BEST OF YOUR LIFE. YOU STILL HAVE A WHOLE LOT OF IT AHEAD. BE WISE

Endometriosis

Recently trending has been the story of Nike Oshinowo-Soleye, a Nigerian businesswoman, socialite, entrepreneur and former pageant director. She has discussed her travails on her journey in life as she battles with endometriosis. 

The pain and reflection explained by her story kept me on my toes at a further glimpse into 

the disease in discussion and here it is.

 To this note i will be posting in brevity what basics are known about the disorder.

Endometriosis is a common health problem in women. It gets its name from the word, endometrium , the tissue that lines the uterus or womb. Endometriosis occurs when this tissue grows outside of the uterus on other organs or structures in the body.

Most often, endometriosis is found on the:

• Ovaries
• Fallopian tubes
• Tissues that hold the uterus in place
• Outer surface of the uterus
• Lining of the pelvic cavity

Other sites for growths can include the vagina, cervix, vulva, bowel, bladder, or rectum. In rare cases, endometriosis has been found in other parts of the body, such as the lungs, brain, and skin.

The most common symptom of endometriosis is pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis, or the lower back, mainly during menstrual periods. The amount of pain a woman feels does not depend on how much endometriosis she has. Some women have no pain, even though their disease affects large areas. Other women with endometriosis have severe pain even though they have only a few small growths.
Symptoms of endometriosis can include:

• Very painful menstrual cramps; pain may get worse over time
• Chronic pain in the lower back and pelvis
• Pain during or after sex
• Intestinal pain
• Painful bowel movements or painful urination during menstrual periods
• Spotting or bleeding between menstrual periods
• Infertility or not being able to get pregnant
• Fatigue
• Diarrhea, constipation, bloating, or nausea, especially during menstrual periods

Recent research shows a link between other health problems in women with endometriosis and their families. Some of these include:

• Allergies, asthma, and chemical sensitivities
• Autoimmune diseases, in which the body’s system that fights illness attacks itself instead. These can includehypothyroidism, multiple sclerosis, and lupus.
• Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and fibromyalgia
• Being more likely to get infections and mononucleosis 
• Mitral valve prolapse, a condition in which one of the heart's valves does not close as tightly as normal
• Frequent yeast infections
• Certain cancers, such as ovarian, breast, endocrine, kidney, thyroid, brain, and colon cancers, and melanoma and non-Hodgkin’s lymphomaGrowths of endometriosis are benign (not cancerous). But they still can cause many problems. 
• To see why, it helps to understand a woman's menstrual cycle. Every month, hormones cause the lining of a woman's uterus to build up with tissue and blood vessels. If a woman does not get pregnant, the uterus sheds this tissue and blood. It comes out of the body through the vagina as her menstrual period.
• Patches of endometriosis also respond to the hormones produced during the menstrual cycle. With the passage of time, the growths of endometriosis may expand by adding extra tissue and blood. The symptoms of endometriosis often get worse.
  Tissue and blood that is shed into the body can cause inflammation, scar tissue, and pain. As endometrial tissue grows, it can cover or grow into the ovaries and block the fallopian tubes. Trapped blood in the ovaries can form cysts, or closed sacs. It also can cause inflammation and cause the body to form scar tissue and adhesions, tissue that sometimes binds organs together. This scar tissue may cause pelvic pain and make it hard for women to get pregnant. The growths can also cause problems in the intestines and bladder.
  
  
  
  

  What causes endometriosis?

  No one knows for sure what causes this disease, but experts have a number of theories:
  
  • Since endometriosis runs in families, it may be carried in the genes, or some families have traits that make them more likely to get it.
  • Endometrial tissue may move from the uterus to other body parts through the blood system or lymph system.
  • If a woman has a faulty immune system it will fail to find and destroy endometrial tissue growing outside of the uterus. Recent research shows that immune system disorders and certain cancers are more common in women with endometriosis.
  • The hormone estrogen appears to promote the growth of endometriosis. So, some research is looking at whether it is a disease of the endocrine system, the body’s system of glands, hormones, and other secretions.
  • Endometrial tissue has been found in abdominal scars and might have been moved there by mistake during a surgery.
  • Small amounts of tissue from when a woman was an embryo might later become endometriosis.
  • New research shows a link between dioxin exposure and getting endometriosis. Dioxin is a toxic chemical from the making of pesticides and the burning of wastes. More research is needed to find out whether man-made chemicals cause endometriosis.
  • Endometrial tissue may back up into the abdomen through the fallopian tubes during a woman's monthly period. This transplanted tissue could grow outside of the uterus. However, most experts agree that this theory does not entirely explain why endometriosis develops.

  
  There is no cure for endometriosis, but there are many treatments for the pain and infertility that it causes.  The treatment you choose will depend on  symptoms, age, and plans for getting pregnant.How is endometriosis treated?

  Pain medication. For some women with mild symptoms, doctors may suggest taking over-the-counter medicines for pain. These include ibuprofen (Advil and Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve). When these medicines don't help, doctors may prescribe stronger pain relievers.
  Hormone treatment. When pain medicine is not enough, doctors often recommend hormone medicines to treat endometriosis. Only women who do not wish to become pregnant can use these drugs. Hormone treatment is best for women with small growths who do not have bad pain. Hormones come in many forms including pills, shots, and nasal sprays. Common hormones used for endometriosis include:
  
  • Birth control pills to decrease the amount of menstrual flow and prevent overgrowth of tissue that lines the uterus. Most birth control pills contain two hormones, estrogen and progestin. Once a woman stops taking them, she can get pregnant again. Stopping these pills will cause the symptoms of endometriosis to return.
  • GnRH agonists and antagonists greatly reduce the amount of estrogen in a woman's body, which stops the menstrual cycle. These drugs should not be used alone because they can cause side effects similar to those during menopause, such as hot flashes, bone loss, and vaginal dryness. Taking a low dose of progestin or estrogen along with these drugs can protect against these side effects. When a woman stops taking this medicine, monthly periods and the ability to get pregnant return. She also might stay free of the problems of endometriosis for months or years afterward.
  • Progestins. The hormone progestin can shrink spots of endometriosis by working against the effects of estrogen on the tissue. It will stop a woman’s menstrual periods, but can cause irregular vaginal bleeding. Medroxyprogesterone) (Depo-Provera) is a common progestin taken as a shot. Side effects of progestin can include weight gain, depressed mood, and decreased bone growth.
  • Danazol is a weak male hormone that lowers the levels of estrogen and progesterone in a woman's body. This stops a woman's period or makes it come less often. It is not often the first choice for treatment due to its side effects, such as oily skin, weight gain, tiredness, smaller breasts, and facial hair growth. It does not prevent pregnancy and can harm a baby growing in the uterus. It also cannot be used with other hormones, such as birth control pills.
  Surgery. Surgery is usually the best choice for women with severe endometriosis — many growths, a great deal of pain, or fertility problems. There are both minor and more complex surgeries that can help. Your doctor might suggest one of the following:
  
  • Laparoscopy can be used to diagnose and treat endometriosis. During this surgery, doctors remove growths and scar tissue or burn them away. The goal is to treat the endometriosis without harming the healthy tissue around it. Women recover from laparoscopy much faster than from major abdominal surgery.
  • Laparotomy or major abdominal surgery that involves a much larger cut in the abdomen than with laparoscopy. This allows the doctor to reach and remove growths of endometriosis in the pelvis or abdomen.
  • Hysterectomy  is a surgery in which the doctor removes the uterus. Removing the ovaries as well can help ensure that endometriosis will not return. This is done when the endometriosis has severely damaged these organs. A woman cannot get pregnant after this surgery, so it should only be considered as a last resort.

AUTISM ACCEPTANCE DAY: APRIL 2

The world celebrate autism acceptance day today and i for a person who's had interest in autistic people decided to write about it.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are defined in the American Psychiatric Association Developmental Statistical Manual Fourth Edition, Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR), by delayed or atypical development in three domains: language, social, and restricted or repetitive behaviors. Note that the DSM criteria are being revised, and Rett syndrome will no longer be considered part of the ASD diagnostic category. The ASDs include:

·  Autistic disorder or “classic” autism

·  Asperger disorder

·  Pervasive Developmental Disorder – Not Otherwise Specified (PDD-NOS) or “atypical” autism

Prevalence (based on 2006 data):

·  1/110 or 9.0 per 1,000 [95% CI 8.6-9.3] (1)

·  Males are affected four times as often as females (M/F = 4:1)

90% of the people with this disease have an idiopathic etiology while the remainder (10%) have it as a secondary disorder also seen as hereditary.

Treatments are still being researched for.

Today's celebration hence talks about accepting them as fellow humans.

Put compassion and understanding first. Stop thinking about autistic people with pity, or fear -- and they may stop thinking about you that way, as well. And the world will be a better place. I mean it! I believe it. I do.

Surviving Studenthood

How to Get Good Grades in University

If you are in university, this is probably right around the time you feel like hell, with exams, papers and a million readings that you put off, even though you swore this was the year you would keep up. Don’t fear, you are not alone.


This post is a tough-love post: it is for those students who have been cruising through university, and have suddenly realized their grades are not high enough – whether it is for professional school or grad school, for graduation, for your parents, or just for yourself.

1. Stop Skipping Class: I make it a rule never to skip class unless it is an emergency. Sometimes, you have a big midterm or paper due, and you've fallen behind and every minute counts – and then it is an emergency. But skipping because you feel too lazy to walk to class, or because your relaxing day was so wonderful that you can’t seem to muster enough brains to attend, or because the commute is just too damn long – those are not excuses that will increase your grades. It isn't rocket science: class is important; and your perception that missing a class or two is not a big deal is just plain stupid.

2. Adjust your Attitude: Can I confess something to you? The majority of university students go through university with the perception that fun and freedom are as equal in the “university” experience as studying. But in essence – that’s basically it: if you intend to get good grades, or to improve the ones you have, get your head out of you ass and realize that study and fun are not a 50-50 concept. Sorry to disappoint you!

3. Never Hand Something In Late: It is one of the biggest mistakes students can make – you lose marks for absolutely no reason other than you can’t afford a calendar to mark a correct due date.

Get an agenda! And at the beginning of the term, write in all of your important due dates. When you see a week where there four papers due, you don’t  go out clubbing the night before your paper is due and decide to miss class the next day to hand in your paper late. Even if that is an incredibly stupid example (I know people who have done it!), there are still other common mistakes students make. For example: It is not enough to start working on four papers the week before week they are due. Part of having an agenda is that it allows you to look ahead into the future (yup, it’s a crystal ball) to due dates weeks in advance. When you see four papers coming up, or a very heavy week, start a few weeks early so you aren't swamped with work the week or night before.

This also goes with …

4. Get the Readings Done on Time: this one is an obvious one – despite the fact that doing readings in advance will assist you in class and make life easier, when it comes to exam crunch time, you won’t be cursing yourself for leaving it all to the last minute.

5. Talk to the T.A.s: If I could give a person one piece of advice to succeed in university, it would be to talk in advance to the person who marks your work. It is so important – its like guessing what kind of present someone wants as opposed to just asking them!

Always schedule an appointment with your T.A., come prepared with some ideas/questions, and you will find them to be a resource of great help. Consider your meeting with your T.A. a permanent appointment rather than something you can cancel, otherwise it will be easy to change your mind because you couldn't come up with anything to discuss. The purpose of the appointment is to force you to think about the paper in advance.

6. Consider a Study Group: Although planning/putting a study group together can be work, they can be incredibly beneficial. Working with like-minded, hardworking people can help you connect with the readings and lectures better, and can ensure you don’t miss any concepts – or better, learn a new way to approach the concepts – so that everything is clear at the end. If you know someone who can help you in a study group, really use that time effectively: students often comment that they retain more from the study group than memorizing on their own, and that when it comes to discussion/essay questions (rather than multiple choice or short answer), the study group helps to better critically analyze ideas.

7. Use your Weekends More Effectively: Students often let their weekends dwindle away – particularly a day off like Friday or Monday. Your weekend should always be a catch-up time rather than a party time. While you may have commitments you can’t avoid, remember that if your fun time adds up to more than 15% of your weekend time, then you can mentally decrease your paper or exam mark by 25%. I know it sounds harsh (you would think I would say 40% fun time is too much), but it isn't. Unless you are a genius – or even naturally smart and school comes easily for you, expect to work hard if you want 80+ in all your courses.  In a three-day weekend (with Friday or Monday off), I would say an evening off would be fine, but any more than that, and I think it becomes easy to let the whole weekend slip away.

8. Stop Fooling Around: We thought we ought to hammer it home a little more than tip two of getting an attitude face-lift:

STOP FOOLING AROUND!!!

These are NOT the best years of your life, so please, celebrating these years like the next 50 will be a disaster. University is prepping you for life – and doing poorly in school, or being on academic probation/dropping out isn't going to help. If you want to be  treated like a grown-up, you have to act like one. It is hard for people to take you seriously when you spend a lot of time fooling around. When you have a busy week ahead, do not waste your time going on dates or lounging about – put a clamp on your libido, and recognize that your brain should always take precedence over your nether-regions. In the end, a little sacrificed fun time can make up big during crunch-time.
Get started early! Okay, not as early as childhood, but you get our point!

8. Hang Out with the Right Crowd and Learn From Others: Ask yourself – how many of my friends are partying it up, and how many are working hard?  Am I surrounding myself with people I want to be like, or people I have a good time with but who don’t motivate me to study?
It is so fabulous to have friends from all walks of life and I encourage that highly; but when you are in school, you need to be around people who are working hard. It rubs off on you a little easier, and you can learn from others. If you have a friend who seems to be doing well in school, ask them for some tips, and emulate their example. Think of it this way: Studying can be a bit like dieting – it is a little hard to commit to initially, but having a buddy makes it 100 times easier. If you really want to change your ways, it is about making a commitment, and being around others who make it easier, rather than harder, to keep that commitment.

9. Remember it is never too late: Somehow, when people get close to graduating, they kind of give up in frustration. Never give up: learning proper study skills will not only help you this year – still 25% of your university career left! – but it will provide you with skills for graduate school, and life.

Well, that’s some tough love from Surviving Student-hood (it comes from a good place!). We welcome all your other suggestions on helping people do better in school!

Cheers!

25 Year-Old Secondary School Dropout Arrested for Impersonating a Doctor at University of Uyo Teaching Hospital

Has it become so easy for someone to impersonate a doctor for two months without going unnoticed? That is the sad reality of what happened at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Akwa-Ibom state.

A 25-year-old man, Usen Effiong, was recently arrested for posing as a medical doctor and consulting for the Teaching Hospital for more than two months. The State Police Command Public Relations Officer,Etim Dickson confirmed the arrest to Punch, adding that Effiong was caught based on intelligence report from the UUTH.

The Chairman, Nigerian Medical Association, Akwa Ibom State branch, Dr. John Udobang denied ever knowing the man saying that he is not a member of the association. He told Punch that he received a call from the Dean of the Faculty of Clinical Sciences, UUTH, Dr. Sunday Udo on the activities of Effiong. When he went to interview the suspect, he found him with stethoscope and sphygmomanometer (blood pressure apparatus).

“Udo told me that they caught someone who has not finished secondary school parading himself as a consultant in the teaching hospital as a medical doctor. We also found some prescriptions and forms that he wanted to fill to become a member of the association of resident doctors.

“Later, when they went to look for him, he was found in the doctor’s consulting room eating. He has confessed that he is not a doctor, and has not finished his school certificate, and has been coming there to consult in the last two months.”

When Punch asked how it was possible for an SS II dropout to be consulting in a teaching hospital, Udobang replied that people used to see him but did not know his intention.

“The Dean whose table he was sitting on used to see him and thought he was a medical student or a newly employed doctor that he has not known. It was after one of the younger doctors saw him and asked the Dean who he was that they started investigating him.”

***
For some people, the action of this young man can be described as criminal, whereas others see him as ambitious and say he should be given a chance to study medicine and prove himself. However, if an unqualified person can impersonate a medical doctor in a teaching hospital for as long as two months, then it sadly exposes the porousness of our medical institutions.

Culled from Bella Naija

INDOMETHACIN: THE RAT POISON, HUMAN NSAID

I for a person seems to ramble a lot naturally, I explain history when allowed to. Hence, this blog has to be about my ramblings. To my readers, I really have been trying not to make the write ups too long but for now it seem to elude positivism.

Once when I was young I took a popular rat poison known as indocide (a yellow capsule) for pain during an ailment treatment, the spelling is according to pronunciation i knew then. It was an opportunity for me then because i have asked my dad why i had to take it and he had explained that humans could take it and not die. In my house, those days we also used it for rats disturbing the household's peace by loosening the capsule pack and pouring the powdered  content on foods like garri or dried fish and placing in corners for the rats to eat and die.

About a decade from the occurrence of the above narrated story, i have learnt about the mechanism of action of  the drug INDOMETHACIN. It is a Non-steroidal Anti-Inflammatory drug (NSAID), with anti-inflammatory, anti-pyre tic, analgesic/ anti-pain and anti-coagulant effects. The anti- coagulant effect is what makes it usable as a rat poison.

Vitamin K is a very important component in blood clotting, its necessary for synthesis of clotting factors VII,IX,X and prothrombin. Indomethacin does kills the rat is by suppressing the growth of Vitamin K in the intestinal tract, where much of it is produced. With the Vitamin K production halted, it is only a matter of days until the rodent's Vitamin K stores are completely depleted. 4-hydroxycoumarin and indandione are also anticoagulants that have effect on rats. These chemicals cause trauma to the blood vessel walls, increasing the risk for damage and internal bleeding. When the rodents begin to bleed internally, there is no Vitamin K available to aid the  clotting process. The rodents die, usually within one to two days, from internal hemorrhaging. 

This is the preferred type of rat bait, as the antidote to ingestion by animals or humans is Vitamin K and i guess this explains why some rats do not die even after eating the poisoned food if they could find themselves foods rich in vitamin K to eat .

And then we have the annoying odour arising from their decay disturbing our peace again till they are either found and disposed off or dried completely if we can't find them. Then happy times again......

And now I would say knowledge is power. Lets search for it. Peace

Mitochondrial Quality Control Researchers define how a gene mutated in Parkinson’s disease may normally function to ensure neuronal health

The VDAC3 mitochondrial pore is ubiquitylated on 3 lysine residues, shown in red, on the cytoplasmic surface on mitocohndria. The membrane protein makes a channel through which molecules can be transported. Ubiquitylation could potentially affect this trafficking. Image courtesy of the Harper Lab.

Cell biologists studying Parkinson’s disease are training their sights on mitochondria, the energy source of the cell, whose activity in neurons appears to go awry in this devastating neurodegenerative illness. A neuron needs its mitochondria to be healthy and mobile, particularly during their continual cycles of fission and fusion in which damaged bits are removed and healthy mitochondria are renewed.

A particular gene that is mutated in early-onset Parkinson's—a subset of the disease that can strike people in their 30s—has opened a window into a mechanism called mitophagy, an important component in this form of cellular housekeeping. When mitochondria are damaged, they must first be identified and then cleared away so they don’t fuse with and poison “good” mitochondria. In mitophagy, an unwanted mitochondrion is engulfed and degraded.

Fundamental biochemical pathway

The gene PARKIN and its regulatory companion PINK1 work together in this process, one that involves multiple proteins on the mitochondrial outer membrane that may ultimately serve as potential targets for treatments in Parkinson’s. PARKIN was discovered a dozen years ago, but only within the last couple of years have scientists pinpointed its role in mitochondrial quality control.

Wade Harper, the Bert and Natalie Vallee Professor of Molecular Pathology, together with his collaborator Steven Gygi, HMS professor of cell biology, led an HMS Department of Cell Biology team that has identified a fundamental biochemical pathway in which PARKIN resculpts the mitochondrial proteome—the full complement of mitochondrial proteins produced—to promote mitophagy. Harper and his colleagues published their results in Nature this week and share a web portal with a wealth of information about the proteins in this pathway.

The pathway that eradicates damaged mitochondria begins with a process called ubiquitylation. Ubiquitin is a small protein that modifies other proteins in many aspects of biology, including the response to damage that ultimately ends in ridding the cell of such waste. Understanding the sites of modification in target proteins is a key step in elucidating the role of ubiquitin in specific pathways, but this has been a technically challenging area of research. The Gygi and Harper labs recently developed a mass spectrometry-based proteomic methodology to identify ubiquitylation sites in target proteins, potentially on a global scale, and in the current study extended this to the PARKIN system.

Resculpting the mitochondrial proteome

“Identifying actual sites of ubiquitylation provides us not only a visual way to look at the structure and mechanisms of how the PARKIN system works, but it also gives you the potential in the future to make reagents that will let you look in tissue of the brain, for example, and determine whether the pathway is on or off,” said Harper.

In defining the near complete repertoire of PARKIN substrates—which they call the PARKIN-dependent ubiquitylome—the researchers reveal how the structure and function of the mitochondrial proteome is resculpted byPARKIN. Indeed, their work identified hundreds of ubiquitylation sites on dozens of proteins.

While this contribution does not have immediate clinical implications, it does serve as a key steppingstone toward a greater understanding of Parkinson’s and perhaps other neurodegenerative diseases involving mitochondrial quality control. This challenging work is necessary before contemplating ways to somehow overcome defects in genes such as PARKIN.

“We want to be able to use the data to understand in more detail howPARKIN is regulated and how it is activated and how it is capable of ubiquitylating a dizzying array of proteins on the mitochondrial surface,” Harper said. “In addition, we also want to try to test the hypothesis that ubiquitylation of specific mitochondrial proteins is critical for mitophagy.”

Dr Ben Carson

Wow, just wow! Dr. Ben Carson — who criticized some of President Obama’s economic policies during his speech at America's National Prayer Breakfast that held today,  — hinted that he might be interested in a 2016 presidential run.

The 62-year-old Carson says he is retiring from surgery within roughly the next three to four months. He said his immediate focus will be on “educating the next generation,” then “once we get that taken care of who knows.”
Carson, raised in poverty, returned to his concerns including the decline of education in America, Washington overspending and the importance of God in American life.
“We continue to spend ourselves into oblivion,” said Carson, adding the country’s younger generations have become “uniformed” and “ignorant.”----very true!

NEUROSURGERY REPORT:Stenting Alters Flow Impingement Zone

Background: Self-expanding intracranial stent-assisted coiling of bifurcation aneurysms has recently been shown to straighten target cerebral vessels, a phenomenon with unknown hemodynamic effect.

Objective: To investigate the impact of angular remodeling in aneurysms treated with single stent-assisted coiling using computational fluid dynamic (CFD) techniques.

Methods: Fourteen patients (7 women, mean age 55) who underwent stent-coiling of 14 wide-necked bifurcation aneurysms were included based on availability of high-resolution three-dimensional rotational angiography. Pre-treatment datasets underwent virtual aneurysm removal to isolate the effect of stenting. Wall shear stress (WSS) and pressure profiles obtained from constant flow input CFD analysis were analyzed for apical hemodynamic changes.

Results: Stenting increased bifurcation angle with significant straightening immediately after treatment and at follow-up (107.3[degrees] vs. 144.9[degrees], P<.0001). The increased stented angle at follow-up led to decreased pressure drop at the bifurcation apex (12.2 vs. 9.9 Pa, P<.003) and migration of the flow impingement zone (FIZ) towards the contralateral non-stented daughter branch by a mean of 1.48+/-0.2 mm. Stent-induced angular remodeling decreased FIZ width (WFIZ) separating peak apical WSS (3.4 vs. 2.5 mm, P<.004). Analysis of FIZ distance (DFIZ) measured from parent vessel centerline showed it to be linearly (r=.58, P<.002) and WFIZ inversely correlated (r=.46, P<.02) to vessel bifurcation angle.

Conclusion: Stent-induced angular remodeling significantly altered bifurcation apex hemodynamics in a favorable direction by blunting apical pressure, and inducing narrowing and migration of the flow impingement zone, a novel response to intracranial stenting which should be added to intimal hyperplasia and flow diversion.

From: Angular Remodeling In Single Stent-Assisted Coiling Displaces and Attenuates The Flow Impingement Zone At The Neck Of Intracranial Bifurcation Aneurysms by Gao et al.

HYDROPS OF LABYRINTH

                                                    MENIERE' DISEASE

ETIOLOGY:The exact cause of the disease is still being investigated and likewise the pathogenesis but known triggers include Viral illness, Autoimmune reactions, Endocrinopathies, Allergies, Stress, Sodium and Water retention, Trauma of Head, Alcohol intoxication, Side effect of drugs e.g ototoxic antibiotic; Aminoglycosides

CLINICS:
 Main Signs: Hearing loss/Deafness,Dizziness/Vertigo,Tinnitus, Nystagmus, Aural Fullness
 Minors: Headache,change in heart activity during attacks, pale skin, cold sweat.

There is always a period of remission and exacerbation. The patient due to aural fullness can feel when the wave of attack is about to start. Attack period ranges from hour to several weeks. Based on this, patient has stages of disease;
First stage---- 1-2hours twice or thrice a year
Second stage--- 2-4hrs once a month
Third stage-----9-12hrs daily

Note that during remission, symptoms are not seen in patient except for Deafness that remains always.
Diagnostics:
Neurological examination
ENT examination;
Tuning fork test
Audiometry(subjective and objective form and this includes impedometry),
Vestibulometry
Electrocochleography (ECOG)
Electronystagmography (ENG) or videonystagmography (VNG)
Head MRI scan
Glycerol Test must be positive

Treatment
There is no known cure for this disease but it can be managed,Treatment is basically symptomatic,
Treat other diseases present in patient
Manage patient with Diuretics, Diet, Lifestyle changes and Physiotherapy.
Note that Labyrinthectomy is indicated in uncontrollable vertigo thou it doesn't cure illness but takes care of vertigo.
Prognosis in every patient can be determined by how well a doctor can manage the symptoms in patient and the course of illness in individual patient.

MOUTH SORES

Different types of sores can appear anywhere in the mouth. Some of the places mouth sores can occur are:
Bottom of the mouth
Inner cheeks
Gums
Lips
Tongue
Causes

Mouth sores may be caused by irritation from:
A sharp or broken tooth or poorly fitting dentures
Biting your cheek, tongue, or lip
Burning your mouth from hot food or drinks
Braces
Chewing tobacco

Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus . They are very contagious. Usually, you will have tenderness, tingling, or burning before the actual sore appears. Cold sores usually begin as blisters and then crust over. The herpes virus can live in your body for years. It only appears as a mouth sore when something triggers it, such as:
Another illness, especially if there is a fever
Hormone changes (such as menstruation)
Stress
Sun exposure

Canker sores are not contagious. They may look like a pale or yellow ulcer with a red outer ring. You may have one, or a group of them. Women seem to get them more than men. The cause of canker sores is not clear. It may be due to:
A weakness in your immune system (for example, from the cold or flu)
Hormone changes
Stress
Lack of certain vitamins and minerals in the diet, including vitamin B12 or folate

Less commonly, mouth sores can be a sign of an illness, tumor, or reaction to a medication. This can include:
Autoimmune disorders (including systemic lupus erythematosus)
Bleeding disorders
Cancer of the mouth
Infections such as hand-foot-mouth disease
Weakened immune system -- for example, if you have AIDS or are taking medication after a transplant

Drugs that may cause mouth sores include aspirin, beta-blockers, chemotherapy medicines, penicillamine, sulfa drugs, and phenytoin.

Home Care

Mouth sores often go away in 10 to 14 days, even if you don't do anything. They sometimes last up to 6 weeks. The following steps can make you feel better:
Avoid hot beverages and foods, spicy and salty foods, and citrus.
Gargle with salt water or cool water.
Eat popsicles. This is helpful if you have a mouth burn.
Take pain relievers like acetaminophen.

For canker sores:

Mix 1 part hydrogen peroxide with 1 part water and apply this mixture to the sores using a cotton swab.
For more severe cases, treatments include fluocinonide gel (Lidex), anti-inflammatory amlexanox paste (Aphthasol), or chlorhexidine gluconate (Peridex) mouthwash.

Over-the-counter medications, such as Orabase, can protect a sore inside the lip and on the gums. Blistex or Campho-Phenique may provide some relief of canker sores and fever blisters, especially if applied when the sore first appears.
To help cold sores or fever blisters, you can also apply ice to the sore.

When to Contact a Medical Professional

Call your doctor if:
The sore begins soon after you start a new medication
You have large white patches on the roof of your mouth or your tongue (this may be thrush or another type of infection)
Your mouth sore lasts longer than 2 weeks
You have a weakened immune system (for example, from HIV or cancer)
You have other symptoms like fever, skin rash, drooling, or difficulty swallowing
What to Expect at Your Office Visit

The doctor or nurse will examine you, and closely check your mouth and tongue. You will be asked questions about your medical history and symptoms.

Treatment may include:
A medicine that numbs the area such as lidocaine to ease pain. (Do not use in children.)
An antiviral medication to treat herpes sores. (However, some experts do not think medicine makes the sores go away sooner.)
Steroid gel that you put on the sore.
A paste that reduces swelling or inflammation (such as Aphthasol).
A special type of mouthwash such as chlorhexidine gluconate (such as Peridex).

Prevention
You may reduce your chance of getting common mouth sores by:
Avoiding very hot foods or beverages
Reducing stress and practicing relaxation techniques like yoga or meditation
Chewing slowly
Using a soft-bristle toothbrush
Visiting your dentist right away if you have a sharp or broken tooth or misfitting dentures

If you seem to get canker sores often, talk to your doctor about taking folate and vitamin B12 to prevent outbreaks.

To prevent cancer of the mouth:
Do not smoke or use tobacco.
Limit alcohol to two drinks per day.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat to shade your lips. Wear a lip balm with SPF 15 at all times.