Banking On Stem Cells.

MayorBob.

Posted to SciTech on Thu Jan 31, 2008 at 08:37:26 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

Stem cells are medical science's new black.

(6 comments, 624 words in story) Full Story

Parasitic Diseases Common Among U.S. Poor

novy.

Posted to SciTech on Fri Dec 28, 2007 at 08:19:02 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

Dr. Peter Hotez, tropical disease expert at George Washington University and editor-in-chief of "PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases" writes that 1/4 of inner city black children in America have roundworms:

(76 comments, 248 words in story) Full Story

It's Not A Habit; It's A Brain Disease

MayorBob.

Posted to SciTech on Wed Aug 01, 2007 at 12:33:55 PM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

There is an attempt to promote the idea that addictions are diseases, specifically diseases of the brain. Recently, HBO aired a documentary and Time magazine ran an article spreading the "addiction as brain disease" gospel.  One of the primary advocates for this sea change in how we view addiction is Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).  Dr. Volkow's essential position is that addictions are not matters of will power or something that can be overcome if only we try to kick them hard enough.  From her perspective they are a matter of brain chemistry with all addictions being basically alike and, in fact, everyone having the ability to be addicted to something.

(9 comments, 389 words in story) Full Story

Simple miracle device saves lives

pO157.

Posted to SciTech on Thu Jun 14, 2007 at 05:35:37 PM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

"You have to suck pretty hard at first to get it moist, but after that it's easy," said 35-year-old Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen.

(8 comments, 274 words in story) Full Story

Mandatory HIV Testing Coming to the Garden State?

pO157.

Posted to Politics on Mon May 14, 2007 at 12:37:38 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

Ma'am, you'll have to take the test.

(35 comments, 171 words in story) Full Story

Serving Life In Solitary For Carrying Death

MayorBob.

Posted to SciTech on Thu Apr 05, 2007 at 11:19:08 AM EST (promoted by port1080). RSS.

If someone is diagnosed with a particularly contagious and deadly disease, it only makes sense to separate them from the general population as much as possible.  But you're dealing with a sick person, not a criminal,  So shouldn't they be treated as humanely as possible?  That question is being answered now in Phoenix, Arizona where a 27-year-old man with tuberculosis is staring at a future defined by the four walls of his padlocked prison room.

(15 comments, 545 words in story) Full Story

From Way Down South, Not So Very Far Off, Illegals Brought Us The Whooping Cough.

pO157.

Posted to Legal on Sun Dec 10, 2006 at 10:26:09 AM EST (promoted by 1fastdog). RSS.

"Whooping cough" causes about 30 to 50 million cases per year, worldwide, and kills about 300,000 (although no more than a few dozen annually in the US). However, it is preventable with vaccination and until recently was not a major problem in the United States. This may be changing as the pool of unvaccinated, illegal immigrants in the US grows to ever-larger numbers. With such numbers rising, the inevitable pointing of fingers is taking place.

Some blame schools for crowding children into cramped classrooms, some blame the fact that the whooping cough vaccine loses effectiveness over time and patients are not requesting boosters as often as they should. Others point out that this may be part of a larger trend of preventable diseases returning.

Then there are those that cast aspersions at illegal immigrants.

(10 comments, 544 words in story) Full Story

Lethal Locales And Polluted Places

MayorBob.

Posted to SciTech on Tue Oct 24, 2006 at 08:43:16 AM EST. RSS.

The Blacksmith Institute is a US-based environmental organization which annually releases a report detailing the worst places on earth when it comes to pollution.  This year's report (59 pg pdf doc) specifically names 35 sites around the world where pollution isn't merely a hazard - it's a way of life. While Chernobyl is a familiar name, it's likely few of us have ever heard of the other nine on the list.

(9 comments, 419 words in story) Full Story