Study raises hope for gut disease cures

Summary:

Recent study might have found the cure for gut diseases like ulcer, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and, Crohn’s. About 100 researchers have worked over two years, identifying bacteria living in intestine. Researchers have found 1,000 species of bacteria with 3.3 million distinct genes. Most of these bacteria has never been identified before. By studying function of these bacteria will help understand how they’re related to disease. They research was carried out on 124 adults from Denmark and Spain: some healthy, some obese or suffering from IBD. These bacteria share a sizeable denominator if intestinal flora. Some microbes are helpful to health: help to break down indigestible foods, activate our immune system, and produce vitamins. But this recent study point that these bacteria do play some role in obesity, heart disease, and intestinal disorders.

Personal Response:

I had some idea about bacteria living in our intestine but, I never knew or thought it could be so many. It’s good that these bacteria help us in some way. But hopefully this new discovery will help us cure ailments like ulcers and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

http://inform.com/science-and-technology/study-raises-hope-gut-disease-cures-862119a

"Myactivity Pyramid for Adult."

Summary:

In “Myactivity Pyramid for Adult,” the authors describe the myactivity pyramid. The pyramid is based on the U.S Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) MyPyramid for health eating. Everyone knows the benefits of the physical activity, but most Americans do not meet the minimum recommendation. The MyActivity Pyramid is a new tool adults (18-64) can use to meet the necessary amounts and verity of activity. The MyActivity Pyramid is divided into four categories: Lifestyle, Aerobic Activity, Strength and Flexibility, and inactivity. Lifestyle activities are at the base of the pyramid, and it also represents the largest area. Next are aerobic Activities, which include things like jogging, swimming, brisk walking. It is also necessary to have some flexibility and strength, which is next part of the pyramid. These decreases risk of back pain and also reduce risk of injury. And at the top is inactivity, which counts for only about 3%.

Personal Response:

The pyramid sounds like nothing new. Many people have come up with things like this, but we haven’t seen any changes. If we really want to help then we have to come up with something that would make people realize about why they need physical activities. First they have to understand the risk and health problem associated with not being physically active, and then if we teach them about this pyramid then we could see some change.

Bathing, but Not Alone

Imagining taking shower could contain more bacteria then walking out on New York City’s subway station is scary then anything else. A study done by group of people headed by Dr. Norman R. Pace of University of Colorado finds that the water is morning shower contain about 15 different types of bacteria. The good news is that not all of these bacteria are harmful to humans. But these bacteria are closely related to bacteria that cause severe diseases like lifeguard’s lung, hot tub lung and Lady Windermere’s syndrome. Water could be also contaminated by Mycobacterium avium, cause tuberculosis. Mycobacterium avium is common problem in municipal water supplies, because cities use chlorine to kill bacteria in water but it does not kill Mycobacterium avium. the group also tested New York City’s subway station air. And the results were different then other tests. The subway station air have less bacteria in the air because pressure from the trail movement cause the outdoor air to move into the tunnel.

Author’s response:

I believe the reason author wrote this article is to let people know that how dangerous shower mist you inhale could be.

Personal response:

The reason I chose this article is that when I first saw this article I could not believe there could be so many bacteria in shower water. I guess it does not matter if the color of water looks clear or not. We here people saying wash your hand or use hand sanitizer, but if water we use to wash our body is not germ free then what is the point of taking shower if we just added few more bacteria on our body by taking shower. And defiantly cannot use hand sanitizer all over our body after every time we take shower. I guess no matter how much we try to sanitize ourselves we’ll never be germ-free.


http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/15/health/15shower.html

"Toddler brain difference linked to autism."

Summary:

In this article author report the study done by University of North Carolina in development of autism in children. In study, using MRI brain scans, researchers found that on average 13 percent children with autism have enlarged brain. This area is called amygdale. At birth this area is normal but at some point in their life this are enlarges. This area helps person process faces and emotions, behavior which is commonly known as joint attention. The researchers have found that toddlers with enlarged amygdale have joint attention problem. Researchers have not yet linked the repetitive behavior and other social problems with enlarged amygdale. But this could be the next step in finding the cause of the autism.

Personal Response:

Well this could be the next step in finding the cause of autism. If this could be the cause then researchers might be able to find some type of cure. Maybe by shrinking this area could help joint attention problem.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/04/autism.brain.amygdala/index.html

IMPORTANCE OF CORAL REEFS

Summary:

The article is about coral reefs and how they are important in this world not only to the humans but also to some other species. They help fishes by providing them a shelters to keep there eggs in safe plce where they can hide them from other pray of the oceans. They also provide food for 30 to 40 million people on the earth. The article also says that people not only benifot from the food, but also coral reefs are used as good pets. Therefore people catch them and sale them and from that income many people feed there families. The article also talks about coral reefs regulating the level of the carbon dioxide in the oceans water.

Personal Response:

The reason I picked this article is because coral reefs play an important part in this world. They not only feed the fishes and provide them shelters, but they also feed 30 to 40 million peoples on the earth and not only that coral reefs are income for some people. Coral reefs are good pets some people make money by catching them. They feed there families buy selling them. Also coral reefs regulates the the level of the carbon dioxide in the oceans water which I think is very important because for many species to survive in the ocean it is important to have the level of carbon dioxide in water.

http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/students/coral/coral4.htm

Indian village marks 25 years in dark despite electric posts

Summary:
In this article writer Harmeet Shah Singh write about unique celebration. In India a village celebrate unusual jubilee of not having electric despite of posts to convey electrical power arrived in 1985. A village in India, Kanugaon-located in Assam state in northeast, does not have electricity. People of the village have tried to contact with authorities about this issue, but their attempts have been failed. Children study with lanterns at night, cell phone carriers travel to neighbor village to charge their phone. According to India’s 2001 census around 78 million rural households had no access to electricity. And today at least 4 out of 10 people have cell phones. India heavily relies on thermal power. Half of their power generation comes from Cole and less than three percent is from nuclear energy. India is one of the fastest developing countries along with China. And somewhere in this race India is neglecting the need of its own people.

Author’s response:

One of the reasons why the author wrote this article, in my opinion, is to show that despite of becoming one of the fastest developing countries, India is neglecting its own people. India gained independence in 1947 from Britain, after around 400 years of ruling. It was Gandhi’s dream to make India a better country for anyone to live. But his dream is shattering somewhere. India has made excellent progress like they are one of the few with nuclear power, they have been on moon, and economy is increasing. But somewhere in India these progress has no effect because they can’t afford to get education, decent nutritional food, or even decent clothes. I believe the writer wanted to let the Indian government know what they’re neglecting.

Personal Response :

The reason I chose this article is to let people know that here in America that we should not take everything for granted. Here in US we get better education, food, clothes and so many other things. We cannot live without checking our face book or texting a friend, but somewhere in world there are children, not just in India, do not know what computer or cell phone is. We should appreciate what we have instead of complaining about not getting good connection on our phones.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/asiapcf/02/14/india.village.no.electricity/index.html

"Analyzing Predictors of Daily Social Skill Performance."

Summary:

This article is a study to examine how play activities, intervention, and teacher’s prediction of children’s sociability have impact on children with autism. In this study three preschoolers with autism participate in daily activities with their peers. The children learn to share toys, play, organize, and interact with each other. Children were to maintain the newly taught exchanges. The result shows that the social reciprocity and peer interaction have huge impact on autistic children’s level of social interaction.

Personal Response:

This research shows how children with autism can be able to live their daily life. But it also depends on how the “normal” children interact with autistic children. Not all children interact the same way, which could have some impact on autistic children. Same can be said for teacher and parents.