Kendall Roberson
www.biologynews.net/archives/2011/06/09/swine_flu_spread_was_much_wider_than_first_thought_scientists_say.html
The swine flu outburst of 2009-2010 was much more worldwide than scientists had previously thought. Scottish adults' blood samples taken in March of 2010, exhibited that almost half of the blood samples carried the H1N1 antibodies to the virus. Forty-four percent of the the people who tested positive had the swine flu. Others had gained immunity from a previous form of the flu or had gotten the shot for the flu. Research at the University of Edinburgh showed that tons of cases of the swine flu were unreported. Only 100,000 people visited their General Practitioner about the flu, which is not a lot out of the two million people who were believed to have had the H1N1 virus.
I believe this is a discovery that is needed, but it's a little to late for it now. The scientists needed to discover this last year when the swine flu was a prime virus among a lot of people. Now, we are just hearing about the H1N1 virus and how many people actually had the virus. I think that scientists should have investigated this virus more when it was a major outbreak, and not now when it's not very prime. This is good information to have now, but it would be used much more if we would have had it last year.
Friday, June 10, 2011
It Wants To Eat Your Flesh
Researchers have found something very disturbing in dairy cows. A new strain of the flesh eating bacteria (MRSA). Humans are at risk because it is passable from the cows to us. This new strain of MRSA is undetectable by standard MRSA detecting. It also is able to grow with antibiotics present and this is a very bad thing. Now we have a bacteria that can destroy flesh and is communicable; and we can't stop it. This is because this new MRSA's DNA is different from the previous one, enabling it to go by unnoticed. Doctors aren't yet able to know if we gave the cows it, or they gave it to us, just that we can give it to each other. They assured us that pasteurized milk is still safe, although unpasteurized is not.
I've been a fan of the different forms of flesh eating bacteria for a while now, so naturally this sparked my interest. Like most forms of flesh eating bacteria; MRSA is resistant to antibiotics. The currant strains are all able to be "treated" though never fully gotten rid of, yet this new strain is undecidable to the current means of treatment and identifying. Also it's ability to infect dairy cows and their handlers is another very scary thing. I really hope we are able to stop this before it becomes out of control. Something like this could run rapid in an environment where it is uncontrolled and undetectable.
- Lauren (Ren) Stogner
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Fetal Drug Addiction
Knoxville hospital uses new way to treat babies born drug addicted: "Doctors at East Tennessee Children's Hospital say so many babies are being born addicted that the problem is considered an epidemic. Now the hospital has come up with a new way to treat these babies."
As a part of my dream job to work in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit); they have to treat infants born with drug addictions inherited from the mother. These mothers have a specific addiction to a substance which in terms affect the baby as well. We have all heard of fetal alcohol syndrome and other birth defects that such as mental retardation and learning disabilities (ADHD,ADD,Dyslexia,etc.) but in actuality that is not the only fear mothers should have. Babies, who are hooked on drugs go through withdrawal just as any other addict and without treat it could be fatal. There once was a time where physician gave the baby a small doses of the drug to relieve the pain of a difficult process. The infants have to withstand hardships such as eating difficulties, visual difficulties, low birth weight, shorter height, missing fingers/toes, bone/skeletal defect, tremors, seizures, sleep abnormalities, and among many other things, difficulty consoling or comforting. They scream as if someone is killing them as little by little doctors try to whine the baby off the drug. As time progresses on, medical science has proved other ways to treat these babies; the video will input on the new research taking place today (click on the link above).
As a part of my dream job to work in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit); they have to treat infants born with drug addictions inherited from the mother. These mothers have a specific addiction to a substance which in terms affect the baby as well. We have all heard of fetal alcohol syndrome and other birth defects that such as mental retardation and learning disabilities (ADHD,ADD,Dyslexia,etc.) but in actuality that is not the only fear mothers should have. Babies, who are hooked on drugs go through withdrawal just as any other addict and without treat it could be fatal. There once was a time where physician gave the baby a small doses of the drug to relieve the pain of a difficult process. The infants have to withstand hardships such as eating difficulties, visual difficulties, low birth weight, shorter height, missing fingers/toes, bone/skeletal defect, tremors, seizures, sleep abnormalities, and among many other things, difficulty consoling or comforting. They scream as if someone is killing them as little by little doctors try to whine the baby off the drug. As time progresses on, medical science has proved other ways to treat these babies; the video will input on the new research taking place today (click on the link above).
Scientists Unlock Potential of Frog Skin to Treat Cancer
Scientists at Queen's University have made a very astounding discovery in a place least expected, the Waxy Monkey Frog. They have located two proteins on this frog's skin thst have the potential to treat many diseases such as cancer, diabetes and stroke. These proteins, or peptides, can be targetted in the body to control angiogenesis, which means that it can either control or inhibit bloo. Why does that help? Well, in most cases, cancer tumors need to enough energy and nutrients to be able to grow and spread to the rest of the host's body. This has the potential to stop the tumor growth and possibly kill it.
Opinion
This is a very interesting discovery. The best thing is that, when the proteins are extracted, the animals aren't hurt at all! This protein has so much potential, it has the ability to cure over seventy of today's diseases. This will open so many doors, in biological research. Hopefully, people will start looking for more ways to find cures of today's diseases more and more, since man-made antibiotics, and shots are basically useless to it. I hope that soon they will find a cure.
By: Daniel Pena
Monday, June 6, 2011
Nano Patch
The heart is the most important organ in the human body . Unfourtanetly if you have a heart attack part of it dies . Part of the heart dieing may cause many problems for your health . Due to recent study and research scientist has found a device that may repair that dead part of the heart . The process is called nanotechnology .
This is a great discovery . This could posibly help thousandths of people with heart promblems . It is said that if you have had a heart attack that you will have another in 6 years . That is a very bad prediction . This is exactly what we need to help the human body due to the tragedys we have to go through .
This is a great discovery . This could posibly help thousandths of people with heart promblems . It is said that if you have had a heart attack that you will have another in 6 years . That is a very bad prediction . This is exactly what we need to help the human body due to the tragedys we have to go through .
Ocean Acidification Leaves Clownfish Deaf to Predators
Baby clownfish are unable to avoid predators in the coral reef. This is because of the increase in acids in the ocean. Large amounts of CO2 has been absorbed into the ocean because of the Industrial Revolution. The excessive CO2 is lowering the Ph level, and harming the fish. The CO2 can also make the fish lose their smell, which can make them lose advantage to their predators.
Humans should be more cautious in what they do with waste. Animals can be extremely harmed because of our carelessness. Just losing smell or hearing may not seem like such a big deal, but it can make an animal become extinct. This can harm the ecosystem and the consumers in it. With the extinction of one animal, it can bring the extinctions of others.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110531201221.htm
David Watts
Humans should be more cautious in what they do with waste. Animals can be extremely harmed because of our carelessness. Just losing smell or hearing may not seem like such a big deal, but it can make an animal become extinct. This can harm the ecosystem and the consumers in it. With the extinction of one animal, it can bring the extinctions of others.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/05/110531201221.htm
David Watts
DINOSAURS!!!!
link: http://www.macroevolution.net/male-dinosaurs.html
Summary: The article states that male dinosaure were most likely polygamists. Polygamy means they have more than one wife. Either males were parents alone or they had all of their many wives tend to their eggs. It is said that they would mate with multiple femals then have all the females lay their eggs in one big nest. After all the eggs were laid the male would more often than not care for the eggs alone. The theory arose when scientists came to the realization that all the nexts were together in large amounts of eggs.
Opinion: I think its kind of cool that the males for once took responsibility for their children. Since in todays world the males never take responsibility for their children. Most of them work, eat, sleep, and watch all sports. But to think that dinosaurs had that mentality and that they could care for their children; for once in this world males have the "motherly" instinct to care for their children.
Summary: The article states that male dinosaure were most likely polygamists. Polygamy means they have more than one wife. Either males were parents alone or they had all of their many wives tend to their eggs. It is said that they would mate with multiple femals then have all the females lay their eggs in one big nest. After all the eggs were laid the male would more often than not care for the eggs alone. The theory arose when scientists came to the realization that all the nexts were together in large amounts of eggs.
Opinion: I think its kind of cool that the males for once took responsibility for their children. Since in todays world the males never take responsibility for their children. Most of them work, eat, sleep, and watch all sports. But to think that dinosaurs had that mentality and that they could care for their children; for once in this world males have the "motherly" instinct to care for their children.
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