Stable vitiligo is a skin disorder affecting about 1% of the world's population and is characterized by patches of depigmented skin contrasting against their normal pigmentation. Both because many people incorrectly assume that vitiligo is contagious, and because the patches appear in visible areas such as the face and hands, the psychosocial effects of this disorder can be very significant. The good news is that recent studies counteracted the condition using skin cells taken from normally-pigmented areas of patients' bodies and grafted onto the lighter patches.
Until now, treatment for vitiligo has consisted of ultraviolet (UV) light therapy, which can take a long time and be uncomfortable. Now there is another option, with a great success rate of 73 percent of patients experiencing up to 100% repigmentation after transplantation.
"Melanocyte-keratinocyte cell transplantation is a simple, safe, and effective surgical therapy," Dr. Mulekar, who conducted the studies, reports. "Patients with segmental and focal vitiligo can experience a prolonged disease-free period, which may extend through the rest of their lives."
for more info, check out the link:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/10/041019084015.htm
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
One Small Step: 15 Year Old Girl Walks for First Time
At birth, Jingle Luis' feet were severely malformed: an extreme case of clubbed feet, hers were upside down and twisted backwards. Walking was impossible without complete reliance on crutches. Because Jingle also suffers from mild spina bifida (a life-shortening spinal cord defect) doctors in the Philippines had found her unqualified for corrective braces or surgery as a child. When a staff physician from the Montefiore Medical Center in New York traveled to the Philippines for a Christian Mission, however, she was discovered and the Bronx hospital agreed to perform the surgery for free! By inserting pins into her feet and slowly turning them, Jingle's doctors were able to correct her condition.
Slipping on a pair of pink and white sneakers (the first shoes she'd ever worn) Jingle then took several steps all on her own. While she'll have to wear support braces for about a year in order for her bones to reset, she is expected to make a full recovery. Move over Jordan... if Jingle doesn't deserve a sneaker sponsorship, nobody does!
For the original story and photos of smiling Jingle, check out this link:
http://news.aol.com/health/story/_a/girl-with-twisted-feet-takes-first-steps/20080703092009990001
Slipping on a pair of pink and white sneakers (the first shoes she'd ever worn) Jingle then took several steps all on her own. While she'll have to wear support braces for about a year in order for her bones to reset, she is expected to make a full recovery. Move over Jordan... if Jingle doesn't deserve a sneaker sponsorship, nobody does!
For the original story and photos of smiling Jingle, check out this link:
http://news.aol.com/health/story/_a/girl-with-twisted-feet-takes-first-steps/20080703092009990001
Monday, July 7, 2008
Happy Monday! Gas is Falling and the Dollar is Rising
It looks like even the US economy came back to work refreshed after the long holiday weekend.
The price of oil fell by up to 5$ per barrel, bringing the price to about $141 (after a record high of $145.29 a barrel last week). In response, investors in the stock market got the confidence boost they needed, rising by 0.63% and strengthening the US dollar.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/07/good-morning--3.html
http://www.latimes.com/business/nationworld/wire/ats-ap_business13jul07,1,1065115.story
http://www.nbc13.com/vtm/news/local/article/crude_oil_closes_at_new_record_high_price_per_barrel/25960/
The price of oil fell by up to 5$ per barrel, bringing the price to about $141 (after a record high of $145.29 a barrel last week). In response, investors in the stock market got the confidence boost they needed, rising by 0.63% and strengthening the US dollar.
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/07/good-morning--3.html
http://www.latimes.com/business/nationworld/wire/ats-ap_business13jul07,1,1065115.story
http://www.nbc13.com/vtm/news/local/article/crude_oil_closes_at_new_record_high_price_per_barrel/25960/
Friday, July 4, 2008
The Big Guys Make Way for Ducklings
The gradual rise in gray whale populations (good news!) is having a positive effect on other recovering species in the adjacent areas of Puget Sound (more good news!), going so far as to keeping wildlife off the already 60-species-long Endangered Species list (great news!).
Firstly, the UC Davis SeaDoc Society happily reports the growing numbers of gray whales near Sandy Point on Whidbey Island, about 30 miles north of Seattle. As the San Juan Islander explains, "Gray whales suction-feed, sieving out ghost shrimp and other small sea animals from the sea floor. As they eat, the whales create giant pits and stir up clouds of invertebrates, which settle back to the bottom and flourish in the altered landscape left after the whales have passed." That means that the more whales nuzzling around in the bottom of the ocean, the more food there is for birds who dine on what gets brought up. That's a win-win, baby!
Researchers observed sea ducks (surf scoters and white-winged scoters) sticking close by gray whales and diving under the water in their wake. This is important because it's the first time the symbiotic relationship between cetaceans and birds that feed on the sea bottom has been officially documented.
SeaDoc Society Director Joe Gaydos summed up this good news quite well:
“Usually we are trying to deal with endangered species eating other endangered species, so this evidence that the recovery of one species could benefit the recovery of other is a welcome breath of fresh air.”
The SeaDoc Society, "working to ensure the health of marine wildlife and their ecosystems through science and education":
www.seadocsociety.org
for the original story:
http://www.sanjuanislander.com/groups/seadoc/gray-whale.shtml
for lyrics to the song Fish & Bird by Tom Waits, a slightly more romantic, slightly less realistic take on a similar situation:
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Fish-Bird-lyrics-Tom-Waits/C07140AFAD07BE4E48256BBC0027375F
Firstly, the UC Davis SeaDoc Society happily reports the growing numbers of gray whales near Sandy Point on Whidbey Island, about 30 miles north of Seattle. As the San Juan Islander explains, "Gray whales suction-feed, sieving out ghost shrimp and other small sea animals from the sea floor. As they eat, the whales create giant pits and stir up clouds of invertebrates, which settle back to the bottom and flourish in the altered landscape left after the whales have passed." That means that the more whales nuzzling around in the bottom of the ocean, the more food there is for birds who dine on what gets brought up. That's a win-win, baby!
Researchers observed sea ducks (surf scoters and white-winged scoters) sticking close by gray whales and diving under the water in their wake. This is important because it's the first time the symbiotic relationship between cetaceans and birds that feed on the sea bottom has been officially documented.
SeaDoc Society Director Joe Gaydos summed up this good news quite well:
“Usually we are trying to deal with endangered species eating other endangered species, so this evidence that the recovery of one species could benefit the recovery of other is a welcome breath of fresh air.”
The SeaDoc Society, "working to ensure the health of marine wildlife and their ecosystems through science and education":
www.seadocsociety.org
for the original story:
http://www.sanjuanislander.com/groups/seadoc/gray-whale.shtml
for lyrics to the song Fish & Bird by Tom Waits, a slightly more romantic, slightly less realistic take on a similar situation:
http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Fish-Bird-lyrics-Tom-Waits/C07140AFAD07BE4E48256BBC0027375F
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Update: Colombian Hostages Free
BOGOTA, Colombia
The freeing of the 15 hostages of the Colombian rebel group FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) has been confirmed. Reunited with their families, the former hostages are all reported to be elated and surprisingly healthy.
The rescue operation, first reported to have been something like a careful negotiation, is now revealed to have been a daring deception! Military rescue personal disguised as FARC members managed to convince the captives' guards that they were transporting the hostages in a helicopter. No one, even the hostages, suspected a rescue mission until they were well on their way to safety. Then the real rebels were overpowered and the hostages were told "We're the national army. . . You're free."
Famed hostage Ingrid Betancourt described the reunion with her family as "Nirvana, paradise — that must be very similar to what I feel at this moment. . . It was because of them that I kept up my will to get out of that jungle."
For the full story, visit http://news.aol.com/story/_a/freed-hostage-reunited-with-children/20080702152709990002
The freeing of the 15 hostages of the Colombian rebel group FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) has been confirmed. Reunited with their families, the former hostages are all reported to be elated and surprisingly healthy.
The rescue operation, first reported to have been something like a careful negotiation, is now revealed to have been a daring deception! Military rescue personal disguised as FARC members managed to convince the captives' guards that they were transporting the hostages in a helicopter. No one, even the hostages, suspected a rescue mission until they were well on their way to safety. Then the real rebels were overpowered and the hostages were told "We're the national army. . . You're free."
Famed hostage Ingrid Betancourt described the reunion with her family as "Nirvana, paradise — that must be very similar to what I feel at this moment. . . It was because of them that I kept up my will to get out of that jungle."
For the full story, visit http://news.aol.com/story/_a/freed-hostage-reunited-with-children/20080702152709990002
"Urban Trails" Get Moving
MICHIGAN
The West Michigan Trails and Greenway Coalition is taking significant steps in order to increase the number of sidewalks, which they refer to as 'urbain trails' in their area. The community has expressed a desire for more sidewalks in order to allow for easier and more extensive circulation for those people in wheelchairs, as well as for the general public to get out of their cars and get walking! The grant's sponsors have been happily surprisd with just how universally supportive the community is. If the Federal Government approves this 'rails to trails' funding, then the residents of West Michigan will gain $50 million dollars to put towards their goal of decreasing people's dependency on cars, clearly a public benefit in this time of increased concern over enviromental issues and Michigan's suffering economy. The Disability Advocates of Kent County also report that they have been very impressed by the reaction of the community in favor of making the town more accessible for handicapped citizens.
http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/07/grant_sought_for_urban_trails.html
The West Michigan Trails and Greenway Coalition is taking significant steps in order to increase the number of sidewalks, which they refer to as 'urbain trails' in their area. The community has expressed a desire for more sidewalks in order to allow for easier and more extensive circulation for those people in wheelchairs, as well as for the general public to get out of their cars and get walking! The grant's sponsors have been happily surprisd with just how universally supportive the community is. If the Federal Government approves this 'rails to trails' funding, then the residents of West Michigan will gain $50 million dollars to put towards their goal of decreasing people's dependency on cars, clearly a public benefit in this time of increased concern over enviromental issues and Michigan's suffering economy. The Disability Advocates of Kent County also report that they have been very impressed by the reaction of the community in favor of making the town more accessible for handicapped citizens.
http://blog.mlive.com/grpress/2008/07/grant_sought_for_urban_trails.html
New Silver Dollar First US Coin with Braille
Dallas, TX, US
In the spring of next year, a special new silver dollar will be available. The coin is to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille's birthday. Braille, of course, is the inventor of the tactile alphabet used by the blind.
The coin will feature Braille's portrait beneath the word "Liberty" on one side, with a picture of a schoolboy reading Braille with a crane perched on his arm on the other. Also, above the boy, will be the Braille character for "Braille," making this coin the first of its kind. While all US coins are recognizable to the blind by their size and texture, none yet have actual Braille characters printed on them.
"This is going to put Braille in front of people in a very dramatic way," said Chris Danielson, a spokesman for the National Federation of the Blind. NFB Executive Director Mark Riccobono said "It really expresses the hopes, the dreams and the independent spirit."
To read more, visit http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/02/braille.coin.ap/index.html
In the spring of next year, a special new silver dollar will be available. The coin is to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Louis Braille's birthday. Braille, of course, is the inventor of the tactile alphabet used by the blind.
The coin will feature Braille's portrait beneath the word "Liberty" on one side, with a picture of a schoolboy reading Braille with a crane perched on his arm on the other. Also, above the boy, will be the Braille character for "Braille," making this coin the first of its kind. While all US coins are recognizable to the blind by their size and texture, none yet have actual Braille characters printed on them.
"This is going to put Braille in front of people in a very dramatic way," said Chris Danielson, a spokesman for the National Federation of the Blind. NFB Executive Director Mark Riccobono said "It really expresses the hopes, the dreams and the independent spirit."
To read more, visit http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/07/02/braille.coin.ap/index.html
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