Wednesday, November 30, 2005

confirm new bird flu death

Jakarta, Indonesia — Laboratory tests confirmed that a 25-year-old woman who died in the Indonesian capital overnight had bird flu, officials said Wednesday as they investigated the possibility that several members of a family in West Java were infected by the virus. Health experts are closely watching possible "clusters" of cases within families or neighborhoods for signs of human-to-human transmission

The H5N1 bird flu virus has been ravaging poultry stocks across Asia since 2003 and has jumped to humans, killing at least 68, most in Vietnam and Thailand.

On Wednesday, China reported its 25th outbreak of bird flu in poultry since Oct. 19. China has confirmed three human cases of bird flu, including two fatalities.(1-Dec 2005)

Tuesday, November 29, 2005

每天8杯水有益健康?喝多有麻烦

喝太多水也会给身体带来麻烦。

  专家认为:喝水和摄取热量一样,应该是需要多少,就补充多少。目前并没有什么科学证据足以说明,多喝水就能多排毒。相反,一个人水喝得太多,却极容易使体内电解质失去平衡(钠、钾离子大量流失)、水溶性维生素(如B族及C)更容易流失。

  那么,正常人每天喝多少水量才算是适当的呢?科学研究发现,一般而言,人体每天从尿液、流汗或皮肤蒸发等流失的水分,大约是1800- 2000cc,因此多年来人们一直在说,健康成年人每天需要补充2000cc左右的水分。但这2000cc水分不一定都由喝水获得,而应该把食物里的水分 一并算进去,这才是正确的保健方法。

  其实,我们每天吃的各种食物內含很多水分。例如,大部分蔬菜、水果90%以上是水,而像鸡蛋、鱼类中也有大约75%的水分。粗略估计,我们吃一 餐饭,至少可以由食物或汤里摄取到300-400cc的水。因此,扣除三餐中由食物摄取的1000-1200cc水分,我们每天只要再喝1000- 1200cc开水,平均上午2杯、下午2杯,也就足够了。但是,我们也应该知道,水的需求量必须视每个人所处环境(温度、湿度)、运动量、身体健康情況及 食物摄取量等而定,没有一个确定的标准值。

  专家认为,喝水的总原则是:一天不能少于500cc,但也不要超过3000cc。

手机信号剩一格辐射大千倍

在人群稀少或高大建筑物及偏僻地方打手机,虽然不影响他人,但这些地方的手机信号往往不好,这时最好伸出天线,使用耳机,避免对健康产生不必要的影响。

  这位工程师说,一些手机厂商为了在信号较差的地方仍能获得较好的通话质量,在手机设计时,往往会加大手机的电磁波发射强度。当信号只有一格时, 手机信号的发射强度要比手机信号满格时大1000倍。现在一些厂商为了把手机做得美观,将天线做得较短甚至隐藏起来,这也会使手机信号受影响。

  专家建议通话时,如果信号不好,可将手机天线的方向来回调整一下,使信号格数尽量多一些,也可以把天线拔出来。如果信号仍不好,就不要长时间用手机通话,或改用座机、或换个地方、或改个时间通话。如果手机配有耳机,尽量使用耳机也是较好的办法

吃维生素E究竟补哪里

新研究:维生素E帮老人和青年增强免疫力

  说到预防感冒,很多人都有自己的一套“法宝”,有正规疗法,也有不少土方子。研究人员目前宣布,他们发现了预防感冒和其它一些上呼吸道感染的“灵丹妙药”———维生素E。

  养老院里的老年人在补充维生素E后,患感冒和其它一些上呼吸道感染概率比其他老人低。

“电脑病”患者与日俱增

电脑工作人员因长时间精力集中于屏幕,而电脑屏幕亮度长时间不变,字迹密集,加上室内光线不合适等因素,很容易引起视觉疲劳。如果工作过程中不注意调节视 力,就会造成眼睛疲劳以及视力下降。同时,电脑操作人员长时间从事数据输入、键盘打印,反复单一的动作幅度变化小,需要相当大的静态支持力,这就使部分神 经肌肉组织呈紧张状态,时间长久就引起手、腕、臂甚至肩部的肌腱发炎、疼痛,有时可累及腱鞘和肌肉组织。

睡觉时,最佳睡姿是右卧

正确的睡觉姿势应该是向右侧卧,微曲双腿。这样,心脏处于高位,不受压迫;肝脏处于低位,供血较好,有利新陈代谢;胃内食物借重力作用,朝十二指肠 推进,可促进消化吸收。同时,全身处于放松状态,呼吸匀和,心跳减慢,大脑、心、肺、胃肠、肌肉、骨骼得到充分的休息和氧气供给。   当然,对于一个健康人来说,大可不必过分拘泥自己的睡眠姿势,因为一夜之间,人往往不能保持一个固定的姿势睡到天明,绝大多数的人是在不断变换着睡觉的姿势,这样更有利于解除疲劳

Fibrates turn off a process inside cells that causes serious complications of diabetes

For the first time, we have evidence that fibrate-like compounds shut off the aldose reductase enzyme

Selling Chickens in Bird Flu Country

At a market in south Jakarta, one enterprising butcher has placed a handwritten “Free of Bird Flu” sign on top of a pile of dead chickens, with mixed results. Rusadi (like many Indonesians, he has only one name) made the cardboard sign because he was tired of being asked about the health of his merchandise. "I've been selling chicken for years and never had to do this," he says. Despite the reassuring signage, business is slow

hurricane

El Nino occurs when the ocean-atmosphere system in the tropical Pacific Ocean is disrupted.

There is a fear next year's season could bring much of the same as 2005.

"If we are truly in a cycle, next year we probably will have between 15 and 20 cycles.

Monday, November 28, 2005

CPR

Now, the advice is the same for all ages _ 30 compressions _ and you don't have to stop to check for improvement. What's important is to keep the blood flowing.

Studies have shown that blood circulation increases with each chest compression and it must be built back up after an interruption.

"When you're doing 30 of those compressions, then you're giving more circulation throughout the body and the brain,"

Heart Assoc. Offers New CPR Guidelines

Putting the emphasis on chest compressions instead of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, the American Heart Association now urges people to give 30 compressions _ instead of 15 _ for every two rescue breaths.

Sunday, November 27, 2005

Avian Flu, Other Viruses Linked to Increased CO2 in Atmosphere?


This may be very important, as CO2 is an acid gas and viruses prefer more acid conditions. This has been confirmed recently about the Foot and Mouth Virus, is well documented for the Influenza Virus, and may well also apply to the AIDS, EBOLA and SARS Viruses. This form of "life" passes through many "generations" in a short time scale, and is therefore much more likely to "mutate" under the stimulus of more "benign" (acid) conditions than Mankind, or any other air breathing species, with much longer "breeding cycles".

Increasing CO2 in the atmosphere might cause changes in breathing rates [it is used in resuscitation apparatus as a breathing stimulant], and blood stream pH by lowering this, making it "more acid". The latter would in theory encourage viral activity, especially in warmer conditions. However, as far as can be determined, the foregoing was not a subject at the 1998 International Conference on Emerging Infectious Diseases at Atlanta, USA. HIV and Climate Change were subjects for discussion. A number of individuals and organisations listed in the programme and abstracts would be worth consulting.

And concern have been expressed at the Exeter UK conference recently on the increased acidification of the Oceans, with harmful effects to Marine Life. If this is real, then all other systems in contact with the atmosphere are being "acidified", including all Viruses which prefer more acid conditions to flourish.

It is suggested therefore that the biological plague of Mankind has both a physical and a physiological problem with rising CO2 levels. Given that Nature made mammalian life possible by using leguminous life to reduce the CO2 content of the atmosphere, followed by "burying" it. The reverse could now be starting with that "locked up" Carbon being released by the life form its reduction made possible, following an old saying that plagues contain the seeds of their own destruction.

Friday, November 25, 2005

病毒干扰基因广州研制成功

带有干扰基因载体的药物将制成喷剂形式,市民只要将其喷入口中,药物一经进入人体,会在上呼吸道立刻形成一种抗病毒蛋白,在黏膜表面形成一个保护层,也可对禽流感病毒的复制形成干扰,防治病毒的发生。通常情况下,每喷两到3次药物,可产生3个月的预防保护效果

City Faces Major Eco-Disaster

the city of Harbin in northeast China is facing Friday a major ecological situation caused by the spilling of 100 tons of benzene into the Songhua River

Monday, November 21, 2005

Evidence for global warming mounts

polar ice contracted to its smallest size in at least a century, according to measurements by space agency NASA and the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre.

Around Harstad, less bone-chilling winters have helped some pests to thrive, like beetles and worms that destroy Arctic forests. In northern Russia, frogs have been spotted more often on the tundra and some birds are not even bothering to migrate.

The idea that humans are to blame is growing: a survey this year by scientists at the US Scripps Institution of Oceanography showing a warming of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian Oceans over recent decades has been among the strongest evidence that human activities are responsible.

Saturday, November 19, 2005

水温升高威胁鱼类生存 人类未来可能将吃不到鱼

总部设在瑞士的动物保护动物团体“格兰德”(Gland)认为:全球气候变暖造成了河流、湖泊和海洋温度的上升, 如果冬天的水温不降到一定的水平,鲑鱼、鲶鱼和鲟鱼等一些温带鱼将根本无法产卵。

  世界野生动植物基金会鱼类问题专家凯瑟琳·肖特说:“气候的继续变化破坏了原本就受到捕捞过度、环境污染和栖息地丧失而数量锐减的鱼类的生态平衡。我们必须立即行动来保护鱼类,无论是海鱼还是淡水鱼,它们都是我们最珍贵的生物物种,也是我们的营养食品和经济财富。”

  世界野生动植物基金会说,虽然鱼类正常的新陈代谢会随着气温的升高而加速,但食物供应的短缺会延缓它们的生长和繁殖。尤其是淡水鱼的情况更糟,因为随着水温的升高,水中的氧气含量会降低,它们在这样的水中可能无法呼吸。

  鱼类为了寻找适合其生存的栖息地,可能会游到低温的水域,但是这会给其他物种带来问题,因为这些物种将鱼类作为它们的食物来源。

  这个保护基金会说,1993年,阿拉斯加海湾的12万只海鸟饿死,原因是一些鱼类从海平面下游到了温度低的深水中,而这些海鸟不可能深扎水中捕获这些鱼类。

  世界野生动植物基金会气候变化问题专家辛格认为:“如果我们不能保证二氧化碳排放量的进一步减少,那将会给鱼类和人类增加压力,世界几十亿人依靠鱼类作为蛋白质的重要来源。

Friday, November 18, 2005

Human Genome's arthritis drug is effective

trial of LymphoStat-B in patients with rheumatoid arthritis showing the efficacy of the treatment in this patient group.A total of 283 patients participated in the phase II study designed to evaluate the safety, optimal dosing and efficacy of LymphoStat-B (belimuma) in patients with active moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis who had failed prior treatment(s).

儿童不会玩耍是一种病

玩乐对儿童成长益处很多,可以促进他们的身心健康、创意、自信心、同情心、想像力、社交能力、平衡感、时间空间观念、手指灵活度、逻辑思维、选择与判断能力、语言表达能力等等。

  她说:“如果儿童不懂得玩耍,无法通过玩耍把自己的思维搬演出来,要用文字来表达就更难了。研究显示,很会玩的孩子,讲故事的能力会比一般孩子强,也比较能够有条理地叙述自己在学校的经历,不会讲得东一块西一块。”

可能是自闭症

  此外,不会玩也可能是自闭症的征兆之一。到竹脚儿童发育中心接受玩乐治疗的儿童当中,有三分之二在接受进一步检查时,被诊断为自闭儿。

  柯佳慧在小女儿15个月大的时候,发现她完全不会说话,叫她名字无反应,经过医生诊断,发现她患有自闭症。

  她说:“我的大女儿很正常,所以我没想到小女儿会有自闭症。她的情况不是很严重,因此不会很明显。幸好可以及早发现,通过治疗,改善她的行为

油价未影响全球通胀

经济合作及发展组织(OECD)秘书长约翰斯顿表示,今年石油价格上涨没有大范围地转化为全球性通货膨胀。

  美国10月份消费价格上升是4个月来最慢的,原因是更为廉价的燃油以及电脑、服装等商品价格下降。前天公布的数据显示,美国消费价格指数(CPI)上升0.2%,低于9月份的上升1.2%,后者是25年来最高的上升幅度。

  约翰斯顿正在韩国釜山参加亚太经合组织(APEC)会议,他在接受访问时对媒体表示,“我们还没有看到,石油价格上涨在很大程度上影响了经济增长。”

  美国联邦储备局的决策者本月较早时表示,能源价格持续上涨将带来通货膨胀的风险,同时建议各国央行提高利率。美国联邦储备局自己则将利率提高到4%。

  今年,石油价格上涨了30%以上,8月30日,燃油价格上涨到创记录的70.85美元(120新元)1桶。之后,燃油价格下跌了20%

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Treatment Benefits Rheumatoid Arthritis

majority of subjects who failed on multiple DMARDs responded to combination methotrexate and infliximab therapy.

In the second set of findings, the investigators looked at whether patients' self-assessed outcomes for pain, disease activity (prevalence and severity of symptoms) and performance correlated with a rapid clinical improvement with combination therapy.

抗流感药物达菲(Tamiflu

除非是医生处方,人们不应该自行服用达菲。服用达菲者,一旦出现副作用,应马上向医生或药剂师询问。

各国卫生部曾多次呼吁人民不要现在就急着要求医生开方让他们服用达菲,因为乱服用药物反而会使身体产生抗药性病毒

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

以港16岁学生命名一小行星

今年中五的陈易希去年凭“智能保安机械人”扬威世界比赛,今年他更因而获国际天文学联合会批准以小行星命名,与著名物理学家杨振宁、文学家金庸(查良镛)及工程学家高锟等名人,并列“有星之士”。

  根据香港太空馆截至2003年的统计,除了小行星“香港(3297)”之外,共有20颗与香港有关的小行星,当中包括曾经在香港居住并且对世界有突出贡献的人士命名的小行星。

  今年中五、就读中华基督教会谭李丽芬纪念中学的陈易希,是一个发明狂,每日只睡5小 时,但是却用了8小时作发明研究。他在过去数年已凭不少发明品获奖无数,去年更凭“智能保安机械人”在“第55届Intel国际科学与工程大奖赛(工程项 目)”夺得个人组别二等奖,成为首位香港学生获此佳绩