Childhood Cancer Survivors At Higher Odds of Early Death

Summary:

This article is talking about the childhood cancer and breast cancer in women. It does mention couple other cancers as well, but most significance of this article is about the childhood cancer survivors at higher odds of early death. The author says that people who develop cancer at young age require lifelong monitoring and are at an increased risk of early death, which is true according to the outcome of two studies. In the article the authors tells us that the computer model developed by the study showed that health risks faced by childhood cancer survivors shorten their life length by an average of 10 years. It varies according to the type of cancer people have. As the author says, people with kidney cancer who survive died 4 years earlier than the general population and people with bone or brain cancers who survive dies 18 years earlier. The researchers noted that the short life expectancy could be the result of cancer treatments with long-term toxicity that were used in previous decades, which is what the author says in the article. If that is the case than I think we can definitely come up with something that is less toxic in treatment which will increase the time of life expectancy from past at least. Also as the author stated in article doctors should consider past cancer treatment and their long term effects when caring for childhood cancer survivor. Author also talks about the women with breast cancers. He says that the best thing for those women is the MRI and mammography beginning at age 25. People who have cancer certainly need help and most of them need help financially to fight the cancer.

Link to the article:
http://www.usnews.com/health/family-health/cancer/articles/2010/04/05/childhood-cancer-survivors-at-higher-odds-of-early-death.html

Personal Response:
I feel bad for those kids who get cancer at the early age. Sometimes they get cancer because they inherit from their ancestor. I agree with the author that doctors should consider past cancer treatment when caring for childhood cancer survivor. I do think that doctors did consider the long term effects of the toxic chemicals, but may be they didn’t have less toxic medicine back in days to cure cancer than we have today. There might have been some doctors who didn’t consider the long term effects.

The 5 greatest movie spies

Summary:

This article is very interesting and I enjoyed reading it, I think mainly because it was about spies in movies. It talks about spies in five greatest movie spies which are based on the spy.
First person he talks about is the Austin Powers, (Mike Myers in reality, in the Austin Powers trilogy. He says how the Austin Powers is the ultimate James Bond spoof, mixed with a bit of bizarre 60s eccentricity. The author says how Austin thought he was the essence of spy-movie cool, and was oblivious to the fact that he’s really nothing but a funny, if slightly disturbing, parody. I haven’t seen these movies; therefore I have no other comments about him. He is number five in authors list of greatest spies.
Second, he talks about the Ethan Hunt, who is Tom Cruise in reality, in the movie Mission Impossible. In his quest to prove his innocence Tom Cruise’s Hunt proves himself the perfect sleek, efficient secret agent. He has the right skills, the gadgets and that annoying ability to get through anything, including a high-speed chase involving a train, a helicopter and the channel tunnel and still look picture-perfect at the end of it all. Tom cruise was so innocent in those MI movies and he had all the skills as the author described. He is number four in authors list of greatest spies.
Then he talks about Charlie’s Angels who are Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Liu, in the movie Charlie’s Angels. “The three femme’s fatales are the ultimate team of spies. Working for the mysterious Charlie and with the help of his assistant Bosley (Bill Murray), they go around fighting crime and, well, kicking ass. They may seem all sweetness and innocence but when these girls get angry, you really wouldn’t want to be on their bad side. And with the help of Charlie’s technological genius (they can plant voice recorders and trackers in people’s teeth!) there really can be no stopping them.” They are number three in authors list of greatest spies.
Then the author talks about James Bond, who is an incomparable movie spy who needs no introduction as the author says. The author says “Bond, in all his guises, sets the bar for spy movies in every way. He’s suave, sophisticated and has the use of a seemingly never-ending arsenal of inconceivable gadgets and awesome cars. And of course, he somehow always finds time to get the girl!” Adding to what the author said the music was also one of the factors I think that false in the category of his style. He is the number two in authors list of greatest spies.
Last, but not the least he talks about Jason Bourne, who is Matt Damon in reality, in the Bourne trilogy. Author says that, Bourne could well be the coolest spy of them all. “After he wakes up with amnesia he has no idea who he is or why he’s there, but he still has the skill and cunning to stay alive and work it all out. He may not have many cool spy gadgets but it’s not like he needs them, he’s an expert at using everyday objects in unexpected ways and he can fashion pretty much anything into a weapon!” he is the number one in authors list of greatest spies.

Personal response:

Out of all these people I would say Bourne is by far the best spy in any of the movies. He is never caught and always sleeps away from the people who try to catch him. James bond is also incredible and surely does not need any introduction, but because sometimes he got caught and girls sometime dies because of him, which is why he is number two for me as well. Ethan should be number three I think because of the stuns and everything he does. There are very few people can do what he does. Charlie’s Angels are good, but I think bond is better and I have nothing to talk about Austin since I haven’t seen his movies.
The link to the article is here http://coffeebreakarticles.com/the-5-greatest-movie-spies/ if you want to read the whole article.

Women fear violence in Haitian camps

Summary:

This article is about women in Haiti who are living (camping) in front of the presidents building in Haiti due to the earthquake on January 12, 2010. They have no privacy, everything that happens there is on the news. That is not all the young men are the worst treat to them. When those men don’t have food or work, and they are just sitting around and drinking they will do anything to women. The place where they live is build with the bed sheets. It is so easy for anyone to break into their houses. During the day women have to bathe topless in an outdoor fountain. There has been also couple report of the rape in the camp. Before the earthquake Haiti was in the middle of implementing what the United Nation Population Fund called an impressive five year plan to curb violence against women and change the culture.

Here is the link to the article http://www.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/americas/03/15/haiti.violence.women/index.html?hpt=Sbin .

Personal response:
I feel terrible for the people who were victim of the earthquake in Haiti, especially for the women. I hope the security gets better in Haiti for those women and they get some facilities so that they can at least have a place where they can go to take bathe and have 100% privacy.

Disinfectants May Promote Growth of Superbugs

Summary:

In a recent study researchers from the National University of Ireland in Galway shows that increase in using disinfectants in laboratory culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa can cause increase in growth. Disinfectant can cause Pseudomonas aeruginosa to become resistant to ciprofloxacin, a commonly-prescribed antibiotic. Disinfectant can also cause mutation in DNA which cause them to resist certain types of antibiotics. Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection cause weak immune system, like cystic fibrosis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important cause of hospital-acquired infections. The study shows that adapted bacteria are more likely to survive when comparing to non-adapted bacteria when using small amount of non-lethal disinfectant. There could be an environmental factor in resistance.

Personal Response:

This news scares me a little. If we’re using disinfectants to kill germs, but instead if it cause them to grow then what is point of using disinfectants. Especially in hospitals or day care around kids.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/12/091227212310.htm

Dentist Charged Over Using Paper Clips in Root Canals

Summary:

In this article writer David Knowles writes about how easy doctors manipulate people. 51 years old dentist Michael Clair is accused of bilking Medicare for false claim in Bristol County Massachusetts. Clair is accused of using paper clips during root canal and then billing Medicare for high costlier stainless steel post instead. Clair is also accused for submitting false Medicare claims by using other dentists’ provider number, illegally providing prescriptions drugs to employee like hydrocodon and combunox. Mass. Attorney general’s office said the between 2003-2005 Clair have illegally billed Medicare approximately $130,00.

Personal Response:

I chose this article because in you have to be really careful in today’s world. You go to doctor for one thing and they’ll find something else wrong with you just to get your money. And it’s just not doctor, but also if you take your car to mechanics, or it could be just shopping.

http://www.aolnews.com/crime/article/dentist-charged-over-using-paper-clips-in-root-canals/19401795

Safety before Slaughter

Summary:

E. coli is one of the most common bacteria for food poisoning. About 76 million people get food poisoning each year in United State, out of which 1.4% is from E. coli 0157:H7. Beef contamination is one of the biggest E. coli contaminations. It is extremely challenging for the manufacturing companies to eliminate E. coli form beef. So far this year 40,000 pounds of beef has been recalled due to E. coli contamination. Last year about 2.7 million beef was recalled.

There is really big push by USDA to agriculture industries to lower rate of E. coli and other pathogens in the beef. The Agriculture industry has been trying new technologies and methods to eliminate E. coli. One of the commonly used techniques includes Carcass Steam Pasteurization, physical removal of E. coli by 180-degree spray, and Vinegar rinse. The industry is trying to eliminate E. coli before cattle are brought to the slaughter house, in the farm. Industry is looking forward 5 new methods which have not been approved by USDA yet.
1. Vaccines: Vaccines lower E. coli 0157:H7 in cattle’s gut. USDA has approved Epitopix and it is being tested in USA.
2. Phage: Phage is viruses that are harmless to humans and cattle. Phages bind to specific receptors on E. coli and kill E. coli. Phage using is not new to Agriculture industry; there are phages that are sprayed on tomatoes and peppers to kill spotting bacteria.
3. Probiotics: It is a culture of bacteria, like in yogurt, that are mixed with cattle food. These bacteria are harmless to cattle and out compete with E. coli.
4. Sodium Chlorate: Bacteria in cattle’s gut obtain energy form nitrogen since there is no oxygen provided. E. coli cannot differentiate between chlorate and nitrogen and sometime they use chlorate, if there is any chlorate present. This turns chlorate into bleach and kills E. coli from inside without harming the cattle.
5. Grain vs. high-quality hay: some slaughter house give high quality hay before slaughter to reduce the E. coli 0157:H7 rate. But the results have always been varying.
One of the biggest question is who could afford this? These new techniques are not cheap. And if eliminating E. coli cost more than manufacturing who would like to invest.

Are Your Dishes Clean?

Summary:

Next time you go to a restaurant you might want to think if the plates and utensils you’re using are clean or not. There are hundreds of restaurants closing everyday because they don’t meet health standards. E. coli and salmonella are two of the most type of bacteria outbreak seen in restaurants. One of the reason is dirty plates and utensils. Bacteria like to grow on dirty plates with cheeses, dried milk, eggs, and even lipstick. FDA recommends restaurants to follow three steps in washing dishes. First scrubbing dishes in soapy hot water at temperature 110 degree Fahrenheit. Followed by rinsing with clean water . And then soaking in sanitizer. Ohio State University has done an experiment to see effect of washing dishes with cold water instead of hot water. In their study students have coated dishes with chesses, dried milk, jelly, eggs, and lipstick. And they also contaminated dished with E. coli and Listeria innocua, common bacteria in food-borne diseases in restaurant. Dishes were washed at room temperature water, cold water, and hot water. All three methods met the FDA- acceptable results. But sometimes it all depends on type of utensils, what type of sanitizers is used, or how long utensils have been scrubbed.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/videos/2007/