:: CortexBlender ::

Brain bleeds in 1 of 4 vaginal birth babies

2007-01-31T10:47:00.000-08:00

BEIJING, Jan. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- A recent study has confirmed that one in four babies who experience vaginal birth suffer a limited amount of intracranial bleeding, but the bleeding is limited and has no apparent effect.

The study by John Gilmore, M.D., of the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, and colleagues used magnetic resonance imaging. MRI did not show signs of bleeding for babies born by caesarian delivery, they reported in the February issue of Radiology.

"Small bleeds in and around the brain are very common in infants who are born vaginally," Dr. Gilmore said. "It seems that a normal vaginal birth can cause these small bleeds."

Gilmore said although more research is needed on the implications of the hemorrhages, vaginal birth has not suddenly become unduly risky.

"Obviously, the vast majority of us who were born vaginally and may have had these types of bleeds are doing just fine," he said. "Humans have been born vaginally for a very long time, and our brains probably evolved to handle vaginal birth without major difficulty."

Gilmore and colleagues said intracranial hemorrhage in full-term infants is usually associated with symptoms such as apnea, bradycardia and seizures. A variety of factors has been suggested to account for the bleeding, including prolonged labor and assisted delivery.

But for this study, the researchers studied 88 asymptomatic newborns, evenly divided between male and female, of whom 65 were delivered vaginally and the remainder by caesarian.

The babies were studied using a 3-Tesla MR machine, without anesthetic, between the ages of one and five weeks, the researchers said.

Seventeen of the babies -- or 26 percent -- had bleeding, including 16 subdural, two subarachnoid, one intraventricular, and six parenchymal hemorrhages. Seven infants had two or more types of bleeding. None of the infants with bleeding had been delivered by C-section.

Intracranial bleeding was significantly associated with vaginal birth, but not with prolonged duration of labor or with traumatic or assisted vaginal birth.

Typically, such small hemorrhages resolve over time without causing problems, the researchers said, although larger events may cause such issues as seizures, learning disabilities, or problems with motor development.

The author noted several limitations of the study which may have led to underestimates of the frequency of bleeding.

"The images were not obtained immediately after birth but in weeks one to five after birth, and, perhaps, we missed cases of intracerebral hemorrhage that had resolved. Also, our imaging protocol did not include T2-weighted or magnetic susceptibility-weighted images, which might be even more sensitive for depiction of hemorrhage."

They also pointed out that "no follow-up images were obtained to determine imaging resolution of hemorrhage, and no clinical follow-up was performed after the identification of intracerebral hemorrhage."

"We just don't know at this time what these bleeds may mean over the long term," Gilmore said. "Ultimately, we hope to be able to determine whether intracerebral hemorrhage is associated with later neurodevelopmental problems."

The group plans to follow this cohort longitudinally to see whether the perinatal bleeding is associated with future difficulties, such as idiopathic epilepsy.

The research was support by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health and the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. The researchers said they had no financial conflicts.

European space probe unmasks 'face' on Mars

2006-09-26T19:43:00.000-07:00

European space probe unmasks 'face' on Mars

European space probe unmasks 'face' on Mars

Associated Press

BERLIN — For decades, photos of what appeared to be a huge, face-shaped rock formation on Mars — or even a statue of Elvis — fueled theories of intelligent life on the Red Planet.

But high-resolution stereo cameras from the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter have debunked that myth with the clearest pictures yet of the region where the so-called face was found, ESA has said.

According to Michael McKay, an ESA engineer on the team that sent Mars Express into orbit, the new photos are so much sharper that they reveal that the area on a 1976 photograph by NASA's Viking 1 orbiter is one of many such raised surfaces in the greater Cydonia region.

In 1998 and 2001, new, sharper pictures of the region were taken by NASA's Mars Global Surveyor and revealed simply a rugged landform. But that didn't halt public speculation.

"People automatically thought, 'My goodness, it's a face. There must be intelligent life on Mars. Maybe the Martians built this huge monument to indicate that there is intelligent life and we should come and visit,'" McKay said. "Other people squinting their eyes looked at it and thought Elvis, The King, is alive and on Mars."

The so-called Martian mesas are still interesting for planetary geologists. McKay said the photos can help analyze the geological processes that were at work to create the Cydonia region.

Friendly bacteria gum for teeth

2006-08-22T00:34:00.000-07:00

Scientists have developed a chewing gum containing friendly bacteria which they say can help prevent tooth decay.

The good bugs in the gum prevent other harmful mouth bacteria from sticking to and attacking the teeth.

Toothpastes and mouthwashes containing Lactobacillus anti-caries are also in the pipeline, German chemical company BASF told Chemistry and Industry.

Friendly bacteria, normally found in live yoghurt, are already purported to be good for treating bowel conditions.

Probiotics

Another potential use of Lactobacillus include the prevention of body odour. BASF are looking to produce a deodorant which can stop the odour-producing bacteria in the armpit.

The bacterium responsible for dental cavities, Streptococcus mutans, persistently colonises the surface of the teeth, where it converts sugar into aggressive acids that breaks down the enamel.

L. anti-caries reduces the concentration of this harmful bacterium in the mouth making S. mutans clump together, preventing them from adhering to the teeth.

The BASF scientists say the gum has been tested on large numbers of people and has the ability to significantly reduce bacterial levels.

Dr Andreas Reindl of BASF said: "The effectiveness has been demonstrated and the first oral hygiene products containing probiotic lactobacilli are scheduled to appear in 2007."

'Keep brushing'

Dentists advise that the best way to keep your teeth in good condition is to ensure that you clean them regularly to get rid of any plaque build up.

It is also important to have a regular check up at the dentist - most suggest once every six months to a year.

Dr Gordon Watkins, a member of the British Dental Association's health and science committee, cautioned: "These new products will not remove the need to brush your teeth as their action is targeted against just one bacterium.

"It's not a substitute for brushing the teeth, because this removes the plaque that contains a whole range of bacteria that causes gum disease and bad breath.

"The best way to minimise tooth decay is to reduce consumption of sugars; strengthen the teeth through the use of fluoride; and brush teeth to remove dental plaque."

The World Health Organization estimates that 5 billion people world-wide suffer from tooth decay.

New Drug For Alzheimer's

2006-08-10T20:08:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON - Scientists have discovered molecular janitors that clear away a sticky gunk blamed for

Alzheimer's disease — until they get old and quit sweeping up.

The finding helps explain why Alzheimer's is a disease of aging. More importantly, it suggests a new weapon: drugs that give nature's cleanup crews a boost.
"It's a whole new way of thinking in the Alzheimer's field," said Dr. Andrew Dillin, a biologist at California's Salk Institute for Biological Studies who led the new research.
The discovery, published Thursday by the journal Science, was made in a tiny roundworm called C. elegans.
What do worms have to do with people? They're commonly used in age-related genetics research, and the new work involves a collection of genes that people harbor, too. Dillin's team from Salk and the neighboring Scripps Research Institute already is on the trail of potential drug candidates.
About 4.5 million Americans have Alzheimer's, a toll expected to more than triple by 2050 as the population grays. The creeping brain disease gradually robs sufferers of their memories and ability to care for themselves, eventually killing them. There is no known cure; today's drugs only temporarily alleviate symptoms.
Nor does anyone know what causes Alzheimer's. The lead suspect is a gooey protein called beta-amyloid. All brains contain it, although healthy cells somehow get rid of excess amounts. But beta-amyloid builds up in Alzheimer's patients, both inside their brain cells and forming clumps that coat the cells — plaque that is the disease's hallmark.
Thursday's study reveals one way that cells fend off amyloid buildup, and that natural aging gradually erodes that detoxification process.
"Every pathway we can discover that modifies amyloid provides us with new drug targets," said Dr. Sam Gandy, a neuroscientist at Philadelphia's Thomas Jefferson University and an Alzheimer's Association spokesman. "This now opens up a new pathway" for developing anti-Alzheimer's drugs.
Worms can't get Alzheimer's. So Dillin's team used roundworms that produce human beta-amyloid in the muscles of the body wall. As the worms age, amyloid builds up until it eventually paralyzes them; they can wiggle only their heads.
Then the researchers altered genes in a pathway called insulin/IGF-1, long known to be key in controlling lifespan. Making the worms live longer protected them from paralysis.
So in slowing down normal aging, something also slowed the buildup of toxic amyloid. But what?
Enter those cellular janitors, two proteins in that gene pathway.
One, named HSF-1, breaks apart amyloid and disposes of it, the researchers discovered. Natural aging slows HSF-1, so it can't keep up with the necessary detoxification.
Another protein called DAF-16 jumps in to help buy a little more time, by clumping extra amyloid together in a way that makes it less toxic.
That was a key finding, Dillin said: Until recently, scientists thought amyloid clumps, or plaques, were the bigger problem. His research supports more recent findings that smaller amyloid tendrils inside cells are the really poisonous form.
"We think probably the HSF-1 is the preferred way" to dispose of amyloid, Dillin said. "By the time you see the plaques, it's too late."
Mammals, including people, have these same proteins. Dillin now is repeating his experiment in mice to be sure they work the same way.
Scientists already are creating drugs to try to rid the brain of amyloid. These cleanup proteins point to a novel way to do that. The hope: Create drugs that boost their effects, and amyloid might not build up in the first place. Dillin said some initial drug attempts are showing promise in his worms.
The proteins won't be the brain's only natural amyloid scrubbers, noted Gandy, whose own research points toward involvement of another age-related gene.
The study is key for an additional reason, he added.
"We all knew that aging increases the risk for Alzheimer's," but not why, Gandy explained. "Now there's a direct link. ... It gives the molecular connection between aging and Alzheimer's."
And this process of "toxic aging" likely plays a role in still other neurodegenerative diseases, Dillin said, citing similar research with Huntington's disease.

Test to predict lung cancer

2006-07-16T17:53:00.000-07:00

A BLOOD test that looks for the body's immune response to tumours may provide an easy way to find lung cancer in patients long before an X-ray or CT scan.

The blood test correctly predicts the most common type of lung cancer years before the patients were diagnosed with the disease, US researchers have reported.

If the test is proven, it may become the first new cancer blood screen since the prostate-specific antigen test. The lung cancer test is owned by 20/20 GeneSystems.

"These data suggest antibody profiling could be a powerful tool for early detection," wrote the researchers in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology.

Non-small-cell lung cancer is the most common type and has an average five-year survival rate of only 40 per cent.

Lung cancer is the world's biggest cancer killer, with 10 million people diagnosed every year and half of all diagnosed patients dying within one year.

REUTERS

IVF baby to be mum

2006-07-11T22:16:00.000-07:00

IVF baby to be mum in her own right JAMES MILLS 12jul06 HER own birth paved the way for millions of infertile couples to have children. Now, 27 years after becoming the world's first test-tube baby, Louise Brown is to have a child of her own.

Her parents, John and Lesley, tried unsuccessfully for nine years to conceive naturally before turning to IVF treatment, being pioneered by British doctors.

Louise feared she may have trouble becoming pregnant as infertility problems often be can inherited. Two years after she married security officer Wesley Mullinder, however, the couple, who live on the outskirts of Bristol in south west England, are expecting their first baby, which was conceived naturally.

"This is a dream come true for both of us," she said. Mr Mullinder, 36, said: "We are overjoyed that Louise is expecting. We are so excited about becoming parents and I know that Louise will make a fantastic mother."

Louise, who is three months pregnant, made headlines around the world when she was born by caesarean section at Oldham General Hospital on July 25, 1978.

The birth was the culmination of 12 years of research by a team headed by Dr Robert Edwards and Dr Patrick Steptoe.

Since then, millions of babies have been born using IVF, including Louise's sister, Natalie, 20.

Dr Steptoe died 10 years after Louise was born but his partner was guest of honour at her wedding. - Daily Mail

Source

FDA-approved drug controls eye malady

2006-07-01T23:51:00.000-07:00

Washington

The first drug shown to significantly improve the vision of patients threatened by a major cause of blindness in the elderly won federal approval Friday.

The drug, Lucentis, treats the wet form of age-related macular degeneration, a disorder where blood vessels behind the retina leak blood and fluid, worsening vision and often causing blindness. An estimated 90 percent of the 1.4 million Americans who have lost their eyesight due to the disorder have the wet form.

Lucentis, made by Genentech, inhibits the growth of blood vessels when injected into the eye.

Other Food and Drug Administration-approved treatments can arrest progression of the disease, but none has been shown to significantly reverse deteriorating vision.

Genentech may find Lucentis competing against another of its drugs, the cancer treatment Avastin. Avastin, which also inhibits blood-vessel growth, is increasingly used to treat macular degeneration for as little as $17 a dose. Lucentis will cost $1,950 an injection. Each drug is typically injected monthly or bimonthly.

The FDA does not sanction using Avastin to treat macular degeneration.

Inverness, Fla.

Confession to rape, slaying of girl voided

A sex offender's confession to raping and killing a 9-year-old girl was obtained in violation of his rights and can't be used in court, a judge ruled Friday. Prosecutors said they have enough evidence to try the case.

The detectives who questioned John Evander Couey, 47, didn't allow him to consult a lawyer as he repeatedly requested, which Circuit Judge Ric Howard called "a profound violation ... of criminal law."

Couey confessed to kidnapping, raping and killing Jessica Marie Lunsford, calling himself sick and "stupid" during the two-hour interview in March 2005.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Couey, who has pleaded not guilty to charges of premeditated murder, burglary, kidnapping and sexual battery.

Orlando, Fla.

Boy who died after ride had heart defect

The 12-year-old boy who died after riding a Walt Disney World roller coaster had a congenital heart defect, an autopsy found Friday, and an inspection of the ride found no mechanical problems.

The autopsy of Michael Russell was done one day after he stopped breathing while riding Disney-MGM Studio's Rock 'n' Roller Coaster. The cause of death was left pending until more tests are conducted, ruled Dr. Sara Irrgang, an Orange County associate medical examiner.

Disney World reopened the ride Friday.

Washington

New Treasury chief to avoid tax penalty

The Internal Revenue Service issued a regulation Friday that will allow its new boss, incoming Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, to sell his extensive Goldman Sachs stock holdings without incurring a tax penalty.

The IRS guidance clarifies that any executive who is divesting a deferred-compensation arrangement to comply with government conflict-of-interest rules does not have to pay a 20 percent penalty Congress imposed in a 2004 law.

Paulson owns 3.23 million shares of Goldman Sachs stock, worth about $480 million.

Also

Exemption granted: The Defense Department granted the Navy a national-security exemption Friday to use sonar during maritime exercises off both coasts for the next six months, letting the service sidestep a lawsuit that sought to protect whales near Hawaii from the noise.

DUI resignation: Lt. Fred Swain, commander of the Utah Highway Patrol's drunken-driving unit, resigned Friday, a week after being cited for driving under the influence. He crashed his cruiser into a concrete barrier June 21.

Source

Heart recommendations emphasize calories, exercise

2006-06-20T22:55:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - The American Heart Association on Monday released new lifestyle recommendations that urge Americans to cut calories and artery-clogging fats, and to replace "screen time" with exercise.

The advice differs from the AHA's previous recommendations, issued in 2000, in several ways. The group now urges Americans to cut their intake of cholesterol-raising saturated fat and trans fats even further, but eschews the old advice to limit total fat intake to less than 30 percent of daily calories as a way to lose weight.

Instead, the new recommendations emphasize the importance of eating nutritious foods and balancing calories taken in with calories burned.

To reach that goal, the AHA says, adults and children need to eat more lower-calorie, nutrient-rich foods -- including fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, low-fat dairy and fish. They also need to spend less time in front of the TV or computer to make room for at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.

Recognizing that weight-loss diets so often fail in the long run, the group is urging people to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle that at least prevents further weight gain.

Quitting or never starting to smoke is also vital to heart health, the AHA says, while certain dietary supplements -- namely, fish oil and plant sterols -- may be helpful for people with elevated cholesterol or triglycerides.

"The key message of the recommendations is to focus on long-term, permanent changes in how we eat and live," Dr. Alice H. Lichtenstein, chair of the AHA nutrition committee that wrote the new guidance, said in a statement.

The recommendations, published online by the AHA journal Circulation, now call on Americans to get less than 7 percent of their calories from saturated fat, down from the previous 10 percent recommendation. And for the first time, there's a specific cap on trans fat intake -- less than 1 percent.

Both saturated and trans fats can raise levels of "bad" LDL cholesterol, and thereby contribute to heart disease. Saturated fat comes mainly from animal products, and the AHA urges Americans to choose lean cuts of meat or opt for fish or vegetarian meat substitut. Source

WHO reports severe shortage of health workers in 57 countries

2006-04-09T20:07:00.000-07:00

April 9 (foodconsumer.org) - The World Health Report 2006, published by the World Health Organization (WHO), says there is an acute shortage of qualified health workers in 57 countries, adversely affecting the implementation of health programs to combat major diseases such as A IDS/H IV, Malaria, and TB.
The WHO report says that this shortage coupled with a lack of proper training and knowledge is seriously impacting efforts to institute life-saving interventions like pregnancy support, delivery services as well as immunization programs to combat childhood diseases like measles and polio.
"The global population is growing, but the number of health workers is stagnating or even falling in many of the places where they are needed most," observed WHO Director-General Dr LEE Jong-wook. "Across the developing world, health workers face economic hardship, deteriorating infrastructure and social unrest. In many countries, the H IV/A IDS epidemic has also destroyed the health and lives of health workers."
There is an urgent need of 4 million health workers including doctors, nurses, midwives and public health workers, the WHO report notes. Of the 57 countries that are facing a shortage of qualified workers, 36 are located in Sub-Saharan Africa. Ironically, it is this region that needs the most number of health workers as it is battling an AIDS epidemic in addition to chronic illnesses like malaria and tuberculosis.
It is estimated, according to the WHO report, that 10 million people succumb to infectious diseases and complications of pregnancy each year. The report says that these deaths could be preventable if only health care workers were available on the spot. Infant and maternal mortality rates continue to rise in Africa and the problem is compounded by the unavailability of hygienic birth delivery services.
The stark inequality in the distribution of qualified health professionals is borne out by the fact that Sub-Saharan Africa supports 11 percent of the world's population and 24 percent of disease distribution, but has a paltry 3 percent of health care workers, while in the WHO Region of the Americas, it is noted that 50 percent of the world's health financing is spent to treat 10 percent of the global burden of disease.
The report also laments the fact that where there are health workers in numbers, their skills are not honed to meet the challenges of the local health needs. Low wages, improper career progression and unsupportive management are the causes of this deficit between skills required as opposed to qualifications possessed.
The WHO report warns that this scenario is bound to worsen in the coming years, as the demand for health care providers will escalate in rich as well as poor countries.
Richer countries will have to combat high infertility rates that will leave them supporting an increasingly elderly population, which requires focus on chronic and degenerative diseases. This means that the workforce needs to be highly specialized to deal with problems of advancing age and be equipped to provide basic services as well since families will shy away from taking care of the elderly.
In contrast, a large multitude of adolescent population will join the aging population in poorer countries, with both segments surging towards rapid urbanization. However, the fact that these countries did not finish their infectious disease management programs will only complicate the scenario, which is already worsened by the presence of the HI V/A IDS epidemic.
The report outlines the need for focusing on three areas in the future. It says that the availability of health workers will determine the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals of the WHO. These goals are focused on combating H IV/AID S, tuberculosis and malaria in poverty-stricken countries, where there is an acute shortage of healthcare workers.
The second area of focus, according to the report is chronic disease like cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, cancers, injuries, and neurological and psychological disorders. How the health workforce meets the challenge of reducing the risk of these diseases by modifying lifestyle factors and behaviour changes.
The final area of focus is the ability of the health force to face crises in the form of epidemics, natural disasters and conflict. Planning is of essence in this regard, the WHO report says. A planned approach will allow for rapid mobilization of health workers as well as seamless interaction between nongovernmental organizations, the military, peacekeepers and the media.
The WHO report concludes by saying that future health scenarios dictate the fact that working together is the only way to meet these challenges. The problem with shortage of health workers must be solved quickly.
Source

Heart Transplantation Pioneer, Dies at 83

2006-02-12T00:08:00.000-08:00

Norman Shumway, Heart Transplantation Pioneer, Dies at 83 2/10/2006 2:40:00 PM EST Norman E. Shumway, MD, PhD, the father of heart transplantation and one of the pre-eminent heart surgeons of his time, died this morning at his Palo Alto home of complications from cancer, the Stanford University School of Medicine announced. He celebrated his 83rd birthday the previous day on Feb. 9. Shumway, the Frances and Charles Field Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery, Emeritus, performed the first successful human heart transplant in the United States in 1968 at Stanford. The recipient, 54-year-old steel worker Mike Kasperak, lived for 14 days. The landmark operation created a burst of enthusiasm for heart transplantation, though cardiac surgeons quickly lost interest because of the high rate of post-surgical deaths. Shumway nonetheless persevered in the field amid controversy over legal and economic issues, particularly the issue of what constitutes brain death among potential donors. For nearly a decade, Stanford stood virtually alone as the only center performing the pioneering operation. Shumway and his colleagues made steady progress, paving the way for a procedure considered routine today. "Many people gave it up when they thought it was too difficult, but Dr. Shumway had the persistence and vision that it could work. His determination to make heart transplantation work was absolutely crucial," said Bruce Reitz, MD, the Norman E. Shumway Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford and former chair of the department. Nearly 60,000 patients in the United States have enjoyed longer lives because they received new hearts through transplant programs at some 150 medical centers around the country. At Stanford, some 1,240 patients have benefited from heart transplants. Shumway, a reticent man who did not like to tout his accomplishments, told a crowd of transplant patients at a 2003 Stanford reunion that it was "gratifying to see the changes that have made this (heart transplant) an almost ordinary experience." At the reunion party, which also marked his 80th birthday, he praised the patients, saying, "You made us look good." He called them "the real heroes ... so marvelous, so strong, so courageous." Philip Pizzo, MD, dean of Stanford School of Medicine, called Shumway "one of the 20th century's true pioneers in cardiac surgery." "He developed one of the world's most distinguished departments of cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford, trained leaders who now guide this field throughout the world and created a record of accomplishment that few will ever rival. His impact will be long-lived and his name long-remembered," Pizzo said. "We will miss Norm Shumway and the dignity and excellence that he brought to medicine and surgery -- and to Stanford." Shumway cherished the fact that he had trained so many of the world's leading cardiac surgeons who went on to direct departments of their own at major medical centers. His approach, contrary to the conventions of the time, was to step back from the spotlight and give his young trainees major responsibility in the operating room, greatly improving the learning experience. "I never worked so hard in my life and never learned so much and had so much responsibility at a young age," said William Brody, MD, PhD, president of Johns Hopkins University and a Shumway trainee. "He was a brilliant teacher and a master psychologist. With his humor, he always made it fun. To be in the operating room with Shumway was the height of your day because he was brilliant and witty. At a time when everybody made cardiac surgery seem complex, he made it seem easy." Shumway, who was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., did not start out to become a physician. He entered the University of Michigan in 1941 intending to study law but left two years later after being drafted into the Army. In the military he was given an aptitude test that asked him to check a box for a career interest: medicine or dentistry. He chose the first and was enrolled in a specialized Army program that included pre-medical training at Baylor University in Texas. He moved on to Vanderbilt University, where he received his MD in 1949. He did his internship and residency at the University of Minnesota, where he developed an intense interest in cardiac surgery. After another two-year stint in the military, this time the Air Force, he continued his surgical training in Minnesota and obtained his PhD in cardiovascular surgery in 1956. Shumway came to Stanford in 1958 as an instructor in surgery. Shortly after his arrival, the medical school moved from San Francisco to Palo Alto, giving Shumway the opportunity to launch the cardiovascular surgery program at the new, expanded campus. In 1959, working with then-surgery resident Richard Lower, MD, he transplanted the heart of a dog into a 2-year-old mongrel. The transplanted dog lived eight days, proving it was technically possible to maintain blood circulation in a transplant recipient and keep the donated organ alive. Shumway and his colleagues would spend the next eight years perfecting the technique in dogs, achieving a survival rate of 60 to 70 percent. "We started out doing this as a technical exercise and the animals began to survive," he said years later. In 1967, he announced that he was confident enough in the research to start a clinical trial and that Stanford would perform a transplant in a human patient if a suitable donor and recipient became available. Shortly thereafter, Christiaan Barnard, MD, of South Africa performed the world's first heart transplant on a patient who lived for 18 days, using the techniques Shumway and Lower had developed. On Jan. 6, 1968, Shumway did his landmark first procedure which -- to his chagrin -- attracted worldwide media attention, with journalists climbing the walls of the hospital to try to get a peek into the operating room. Years later, Shumway said of the transplant: "We put in the heart and nothing happened. There were slow waves on the EKG and then the heart began beating stronger and then exuberance. ... We knew we would be okay." Edward Stinson, MD, the then-chief resident in cardiac surgery who assisted Shumway, described the operation as "pretty awe-inspiring." "After we removed the recipient's heart, we stared at the empty pericardial cavity and wondered what we'd actually done," recalled Stinson, professor emeritus of cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford. "His (Shumway's) wit always came through, no matter how challenging the circumstances. He said, 'I'm not sure. Time will tell.' We proceeded with implanting the new heart. It was pretty exciting to see it start up." Shumway and his colleagues made steady progress over the next decade through careful selection of donors and recipients, efforts to increase the donor pool, improvements in organ preservation and in heart biopsies and advances in drugs to prevent rejection of the foreign organ, among other developments. His team was the first to introduce cyclosporine for heart transplantation in late 1980. With the availability of immunosuppressive drug, which is still in use today, the field took a giant leap forward. In 1981, Shumway and Reitz performed the world's first successful combined heart-lung transplant in 45-year-old advertising executive Mary Gohlke, who lived five more years and wrote a book about her experiences. By the late 1980s, they were transplanting hearts into infants as well. Shumway rose to become chief of the division of cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford in 1965 and in 1974, he negotiated the creation of a separate Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, which he chaired until his retirement in 1993. His accomplishments were not limited to the field of transplantation. Shumway also made significant contributions to treatment of congenital heart problems in children, as well as valve problems and aneurysms in adults. Over the years, Shumway received dozens of honors and awards. In 1980, he was named honorary president for life by the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation. He also has received the Scientific Achievement Award from the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, the American Surgical Association, and the American Medical Association, as well as the Trustees Medal for Distinguished Achievement from Massachusetts General Hospital, to name a few. He is survived by his former wife, Mary Lou, of Palo Alto; four children -- Sara, Lisa, Amy and Michael; and two grandchildren. The family requests that any memorial donations be made to the Stanford University Heart Transplant Patient Care Fund, in care of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, 300 Pasteur Drive, Falk Building, Stanford, CA, 94304-5407. QUOTES FROM COLLEAGUES: Robert C. Robbins, MD, professor and chair, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery: "Dr. Shumway was one of the most charismatic and unique individuals that I have had the privilege of knowing. His pioneering spirit touched the lives of his patients, their families, his colleagues, trainees, friends and family. He enjoyed life and it was a great fun to simply be around him on a daily basis. His dedication to thoracic transplantation is one of the most remarkable examples of translational research that has led to the improvement of the health of generations of patients. His humility was impressive, given all that he accomplished, and he will be sadly missed by so many people -- especially the cardiothoracic surgeons who were fortunate enough to be trained by the Boss." Corie Crowe, 21, received a heart transplant at Stanford at age 3. She made it to adulthood with her first transplanted heart: "I am alive today because of Dr. Shumway. I know how much his research helped pave the way for me and others. I was among the first kids to receive a heart transplant, and I do not take it for granted. I can honestly say I thank him with every beat of my heart." Marguerite Brown, RN, administrative director for the transplant center at Stanford and a colleague for 30 years: "He really deflected the credit to everyone else. He made everybody he encountered feel that they mattered and were very special. No matter what your station in life, he made you feel like your contribution was critical -- his trainees, his colleagues, his staff." Edward Stinson, MD, professor emeritus of cardiothoracic surgery at Stanford: "I would say he's one of the most inspirational individuals I've ever met -- not only intellectually but in terms of his spiritual approach to the whole field. That's of extraordinary importance to young people who came into contact with him. He was a spiritual father to all of the residents and especially to those who stayed on -- the faculty like myself." William R. Brody, MD, PhD, president of Johns Hopkins University and a Shumway trainee: "He persevered, and I give him credit for it because a lot of people would have stopped. He was a brilliant man. He was a contrarian. He didn't like the limelight. And probably the most remarkable thing was the amount of responsibility he gave young people, and the results proved him right. ... The things I've learned from him I've carried forward in life: like don't read what's in the journals because you only learn what's not possible; the ideas of giving people responsibility and holding them accountable, and the idea of making complicated processes simple." Martha Marsh, president and CEO of Stanford Hospital & Clinics: "The far-reaching effect of Dr. Shumway's enormous contribution to cardiac care is felt every day at Stanford Hospital & Clinics, and throughout the world. Whenever a patient is given a new chance at life through heart transplantation, we owe a debt of gratitude to Dr. Shumway for his vision, skill and compassion. The many surgeons whom Dr. Shumway trained throughout his long career will continue his work. At Stanford Hospital & Clinics we are proud to be the guardian of this distinguished legacy." Bruce Reitz, MD, the Norman E. Shumway Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford and former chair of the department: "It was his ability to let other people shine and not take the spotlight. I think that is why so many are sad -- because it's the end of an era." Pat Gamberg, RN, transplant coordinator at Stanford and longtime colleague: "When I first started working in 1972, he would make a point of coming by my desk, just to make me feel welcome. He did that over the course of months. It really made me feel like I was a valuable member of the team. ... He would always introduce someone as a valuable member of the team." Mary Burge, clinical social worker on the heart transplant team and a colleague for 25 years: "One thing I'm sure everybody will say is how incredibly generous he was with his knowledge and how encouraging he was of other surgeons, other people on the transplant team and how he was willing to teach people whatever he knew. I remember being extremely moved at the retirement party dinner for him when the people in the audience were asked, 'If you are a surgeon trained by Dr. Shumway to stand and come forward.' It felt to me as if 100 people -- maybe half the room -- stood up and moved to the front. I remember feeling so privileged to have been a part of this program that he started." Joan Miller, RN, transplant nurse coordinator at Stanford: "He made it look effortless. He will never take credit for what he's done. He's incredibly loyal and attached to the surgeons he worked with early on." Stanford University Medical Center integrates research, medical education and patient care at its three institutions -- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. For more information, please visit the Web site of the medical center's Office of Communication & Public Affairs at http://mednews.stanford.edu. NOTE TO REPORTERS: Photos, video and supplemental information about Shumway's career are available at http://mednews.stanford.edu/shumway/main.html

Iranian 9th Presidential Election

2005-05-11T16:24:00.000-07:00

Iranian theocratic regime has started its 9th Presidential election show. For Mullahs, everyone could be a potential candidate except intellectual people. Among those potentialy pre-elected candidates is the criminal Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Iran's former president who was the mastermind behind the murder of several Kurdish leaders including Dr. Ebdulrehman Qasimlo at the Mykonos Restaurant in Berlin, 1992.

Yet another criminal candidate is Mohsen Rezaei, former chief of the Islamic Revolution's Guards Corps and present Secretary of State Expediency Council who was also involved in murder of Eastern Kurdistan people during 1980s. Another criminal candidate is Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, former police chief and suppressant of Iranian students’ movements in 1999.

Not all candidates are criminal, as this one is a mentally retarded, IQ= -15, Iranian Ansar-Al- Hezbollah who claimed that he was Imam Zaman (May God retard his sad advent!) when he signed up for the presidential election.

And this one, who seems to be one of Saddam's substitutes, or even Saddam himself, escaped from his cell. If Saddam wasn’t in Gail, he would be possibly a good presidency candidate for a medieval regime like Iran as both Saddam and Iranian Mullahs have a common enemy, the Kurds. But, before that, comes a time, sooner or later, when Mullahs are in their own Gail cells.

Ibrahim Jafaari Shows His Real Face

2005-05-08T18:20:00.000-07:00

Stop; do not change your Monitor settings. It is not a monkey neither a chimp; It Shows Iraqi Prime Minister, Ibrahim al-Jaafari, metamorphing into Mullah Sistani after his taking false, illegal and shameful oath omitting the words "democratic" and "federal" from the script of the new Iraqi government.

Update: The Iraqi Cabinet and Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari took the oath again without removing the words “Democratic” and “Federal”; so you may, temporarily, imagine a normal physiognomy of face for Jafaari !

Chinese Watermelon Art/Sculpture

2005-05-08T00:34:00.000-07:00

Enjoy Chinese Watermelon Art/Sculpture

Another Crime By Ansar Al-Sunna

2005-05-04T19:55:00.000-07:00

Once again, inhuman Islamic Fundamentalists committed a crime, and killed more than sixty Kurds in Erbil. May their souls rest in peace.

Ansar Al-Sunna Synonyms

Stop Execution of Esmail Mohammadi

2005-04-24T16:11:00.000-07:00

An E-petition for Rescinding the death sentence against Esmail Mohammadi,an Eastern Kurdistan Political prisoner.

please take a moment right now to sign the petition.

Support Eastern Kurdistan Journalists

2005-04-22T21:25:00.000-07:00

Support the freedom of expression for the Kurdish journalists.

Kurdistan Human Rights Organization

2005-04-19T12:15:00.000-07:00

Statement from Eastern Kurdistan Human Rights Organization(RMMK) :

End the repression of freedom of expression in Kurdistan!

The First Kurdish Church

2005-04-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

Peyamner-Kurdistan Catholics Christians to establish the first Kurdish church, Kurd Zeman Church of Christ, in Hewler. All of the Kurdish-Church services would be in Kurdish language.

A good Christian is someone who is open to Gospel and knows how to dance Kurdish, before, during, and after each and every worship service!

A Genius Named Dilip Hiro

2005-04-13T18:00:00.000-07:00

Dilip Hiro, a real sharlatan , talks about the President Jalal Talabani.I’m baffled how this genius London-based journalist is the author of 25 books!

A Letter to a Baathist Dictator

2005-04-12T17:08:00.000-07:00

A letter to Saddam, the mother of all dictators, by Washington post columnist Jim Hoagland who interviewed Saddam in 1975.

Opening the Mind Through Cinema

2005-04-10T11:29:00.000-07:00

HAWLER (ERBIL), KURDISTAN(ANS) -- An historic Kurdistan Cinema Conference with the theme of "Opening the Mind Through Cinema” will be held April 28-30 in the country’s capital city of Hawler, also known as Erbil, which is the oldest continually inhabited city in the world."

Continue ...

Turkey Uses Chemical weapons against Kurds

2005-04-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

Read Simko`s recent post about using chemical weapons against Kurds, in the provinces of Tunceli and dersim, by Turkish military forces.

Are Kurds One Step Closer to Independence?

2005-04-05T21:48:00.000-07:00

Proposed Future Mechanisms for the maintenance and the development of Kurdish federal entity in Iraq

Mehmet Ali Agca and Grey Wolves

2005-04-03T12:15:00.000-07:00

Intresting information about Mehmet Ali Agca, who assassinated pope John Paul II in 1981 , and Turkish Grey Wolves.

Googlismed pope John Paul II

2005-04-02T16:06:00.000-08:00

Some Results for Googlismed pope John Paul II:

pope john paul ii is a modernist
pope john paul ii is opposing the
pope john paul ii is bin laden's
pope john paul ii is lucifer
pope john paul ii is the most traveled pope in history
pope john paul ii is weighing in on the topic of clergy sexual abuse
pope john paul ii is the 264th successor to saint peter
pope john paul ii is an ideal setting in which to learn
pope john paul ii is spiritual hero
pope john paul ii is holding up to the people
pope john paul ii is box office
pope john paul ii is much more than a jet
pope john paul ii is not modified for these students
pope john paul ii is a messenger reminding us
pope john paul ii is an antichrist
pope john paul ii is a deeply committed friend to the unborn
pope john paul ii is not the "real" pope
pope john paul ii is the first polish pope
pope john paul ii is the only pope we've ever known
pope john paul ii is truly the vicar of Christ on earth
pope john paul ii is entertained by a circus from the us
pope john paul ii is available in 2 sizes
pope john paul ii is an important element in this problem
pope john paul ii is heralding throughout the world
pope john paul ii is the emblematic man of our times
pope john paul ii is the first slav to head the roman catholic church
pope john paul ii is struck by two bullets and wounded in the abdomen

You could now add this one to the list:
pope john paul ii is dead

Bobby Fischer Seeks Citizenship in Kurdistan

2005-04-01T11:23:00.000-08:00

Sulaymania, Kurdistan-American chess genius Bobby Fischer, a new citizen living in Iceland, hopes to get Kurdistan government citizenship after a Kurdistan government parliamentary committee granted initial approval.

Mr. Fischer said: "This is all wonderful news. It is time to go to Kurdistan; I hate Icelandic Sheep and Puffin."

Kurdistan parliament voted last week against granting Fischer citizenship, offering him a special foreigners' passport and residence permit instead.
The Kurdistan government had no immediate official reaction. But one of Fischer's supporters in Kurdistan claimed Iceland had confirmed it would allow him to go to Kurdistan if citizenship was granted.
Fischer, 62, arrived in Japan in April and was detained at Narita airport near Tokyo last month when he tried to leave for the Philippines on a passport U.S. officials say was invalid.

Fischer has been wanted in the United States since 1992 when he violated U.S. economic sanctions by winning $3 million for beating old rival Boris Spassky in a match in Yugoslavia.

He also has applied to marry Mikyoko Watai, head of the Japan Chess Association. After immigration to Kurdistan, Fischer plans to play a match, Kurdish Rapid Chess, with Eastern Kurdistan Chess master, Medya.

Happy Birthday Gmail!

2005-04-01T00:17:00.000-08:00

What's new on Gmail?

Thomas Friedman Walks With Dinosaures

2005-03-27T14:04:00.000-08:00

Thomas Friedman, a New York Times columnist, has suggested that Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani should be given the Nobel Peace Prize. When Ayatollah Khomeini took power in 1979, he promised that he would build Iran upon the Islamic principles of freedom and equality, but after a quarter of a century Iran now is one of the most repressive regimes in the world.
Friedman and his associates should know that Supporting and praising an Ayatollah is like growing up a Tyrannosaurus Rex In their backyard that sooner or later ends up with nothing but remorse.

Mona Lisa or Mullah Lisa

2005-03-26T13:02:00.000-08:00

There have been many theories written about Leonardo da Vinci and of his intentions painting the Mona Lisa. Click here to see what happened to the mysterious Mona Lisa painting in Tehran. I guess they have changed its name to Mullah Lisa!

As I’m a proficient surgeon, especially in Augmentation Mammoplasty, and don’t like the veiled Mullah Lisa, I made my favorite Mona Lisa, the following picture. Go to Making over Mona Lisa and make yours.

Making Over Mona Lisa (Botox-Collagen-Chemical peal-Surgery)
The Interactive Mona Lisa (Mona Lips-Synch)

Tayyip Erdogan a cat ensnared in a ball of wool

2005-03-24T23:20:00.000-08:00

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan has launched a lawsuit against a political humour magazine for lampooning him on its cover.
Penguen, a satirical weekly, depicted Erdogan as various animals after a newspaper cartoonist was fined for caricaturing the leader by showing him as a cat ensnared in a ball of wool.

Erdogan has described himself as a champion of free speech after his political career was nearly destroyed because of a 1999 jail sentence for a poem a court ruled "incited hatred".

Kyrgyzstan Revolution

2005-03-24T18:49:00.000-08:00

In Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan, people has seized power,and president Askar Akayev reportedly fled to Russia.After Ukraine's Orange Revolution and Lebanon revolution,here comes another victory for people who demand their rights.
I’m sure that the same scenario, sooner or later, will happen to unelected and undemocratic regimes like Turkey, Iran, Pakistan and Arab countries.

New year brings change!

2005-03-22T15:27:00.000-08:00

New year brings change, so I`ve decided to add Kurdish bloggers links, and some other links to my blog, but just God knows when I add them, most likely before the end of this year!

Happy Kurdish New Year 2 Everyone

2005-03-20T00:12:00.000-08:00

Halabja Massacre - March 16th, 1988

2005-03-15T18:39:00.000-08:00

Halabja Massacre, a shameful stain not only on the hands of Saddam Hussein, but also on the hands of his former war supporters, North American, European and Arab, countries and companies.
Never Forget Halabja(A Flash Clip)
Halabja: Silence Was Approval
Halabja-Human Rights Watch
Halabja-Wikipedia

Halabja victims might be out of sight, but they`d never be out of mind.

Scary Black Chador

2005-03-14T21:26:00.000-08:00

Normal Iranian women are like this, but abnormal, faked, scary, Arabized and veiled Iranian Shiit women are like these.

No to an Islamic regime in Iraq

2005-03-08T22:29:00.000-08:00

For a secular Iraq and the defence of women’s rights in the new constitution

Turkish Paranoia Again

2005-03-05T09:28:00.000-08:00

"(Reuters) - Turkey has renamed some animal species, saying foreign scientists opposed to its territorial integrity had chosen their former names with ill intent, the Environment Ministry has said.
A sheep species previously known as Ovis Armeniana was renamed Ovis Orientalis Anatolicus. A species of red fox was renamed as Vulpes Vulpes rather than Vulpes Vulpes Kurdistanica.
"Unfortunately there are many other species in Turkey which were named this way with ill intentions. This ill intent is so obvious that even species only found in our country were given names against Turkey's unity," the statement said. The ministry said the animals' new names had been chosen as result of scientific studies."

In fact, new names had been chosen as result of militaristic, fascistic, racistic and paranoid decisions of Turkish government.

Mullahs with X-Ray Eyes!

2005-03-03T22:34:00.000-08:00

An Interview with Azadeh Moaveni, the writer of Lipstick Jihad.
Here is an excerpt from her interview:

A one-hour interview with a mullah inevitably cycled like this:
First fifteen minutes: Gaze averted, stares at own feet, wall, space, anywhere but two-foot radius around opposing female.
Second fifteen minutes: Slowly casts glances in direction of head and talking voice.
Third fifteen minutes: Makes eye contact and conducts normal conversation.
Last fifteen minutes: Begins making googooly eyes, smiling in impious fashion, and requesting one's mobile phone number.

Syrian Kurds Captured Saddam's Brother

2005-02-28T17:44:00.000-08:00

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Syrian Kurds seized Saddam Hussein’s half-brother in northeast Syria and handed him to Iraqi Kurds before he was taken into custody by Iraq’s security forces, government sources in Baghdad say.
Source

Free Mojtaba and Arash

2005-02-22T00:24:00.000-08:00

Free Mojtaba and Arash Day

Shiite Self-beating Syndrome (S.S.S)

2005-02-19T21:39:00.000-08:00

Aren`t these people psychopaths?

Spot diagnosis :Shiite Self-beating Syndrome or SSS.
Incubation period: 0-1400 years or more, yearly relapses
Source of disease: Originally from Arabs, but mostly prevalent in Iran and Iraq
Treatment: No Cure for this type of Madness, but could send them to another planet to keep normal people safe.
Prevention: Thinking is the best prevention
Complication: If left untreated, may lead to WWIII

Read this funny poem, written by Iraj Mirza , in Farsi, about their dangerous disease!

Will Germs lead the world?

2005-02-16T22:10:00.000-08:00

Recently, a fanatic Iranian Shiite has said:
“Iran’s Population Control Plan have been conducted by Israelis to suppress the growth of Shiism”

During the 1980s, ordered by notorious Khomeini, Islamic regime suspended Iran’s population control and family planning programs, hoping for a future Islamic army. They have been having parents, especially minorities, to choose Islamic names for their newborns...
Thanks god, population is not an important factor for leading a country or world, otherwise the germs were the leaders of our planet. No matter how large is your population, without mentality you can do nothing!

Good news from southern Kurdistan

2005-02-12T17:55:00.000-08:00

During the general elections in Kurdistan on 30 January 2005, Kurdistan Referendum Movement conducted an unofficial referendum asking Kurdistani voters to choose one of these two options:

- I want Kurdistan to stay as part of Iraq
- I want Kurdistan to be independent
The Higher Committee of Referendum Movement in Kurdistan announced the results of the referendum in a press conference at Sheraton Hotel in Hewler, on Saturday 5 February 2005.
The total number of Kurdistani voters participating in the referendum was 1,998,061 people.
- 1,973412 people voted for independence.
- 19650 voted for Kurdistan to remain as part of Iraq.
Thus 98.8% of the people of Kurdistan have voted for independence.
The committee stated that the referendum was held in all Kurdish areas including Kirkuk, Khanaqin and Kurdish areas in Mosul province. But it excluded the Kurds living in Baghdad and other Arab cities and towns.
The Kurdish poet Sherco Bekas, member of the High Commission of Kurdistan Referendum Movement, stated that the Movement would take the results to the United Nation and the European Union.
A petition carrying the signatures of over 1,700,000 signatures asking for a UN-sponsored referendum on independence was delivered to the UN by the movement on 22 December 2004.
The results of all the votes in Kurdistan areas are as follows:
Province/area: Total votes / Votes for staying in Iraq / Votes for independence
Kirkuk: 131582 / 181 / 131274
Mosul: 165891 / 111 / 165780
Khanaqin: 36413 627 / 35786
Sulaymani: 656496 / 5796 / 650000
Hewler (Arbil): 636898 / 11289 / 622409
Duhok: 370781 / 2247 / 368163
Total: 1998061 / 20251 1973412
Percentage: 100% / 1.2% / 98.8%

Source
Kurdistan Referendum Movement

A good Mullah is a dead one!

2005-02-11T22:29:00.000-08:00

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami, facing the US threat to launch military strikes to remove Iran's nuclear ambition: “Iran will turn into a scorching hell for the aggressors”.

No need really for invaders; Iran has already been a burning hell since Islamic revolution.Continuing violations of human rights, including the large and increasing number of executions, torture and inhuman punishment, stoning and amputation are all just a sample of criminal actions of the mullahs' regime. No one can trust a Mullah even a reformist like Khatami. A good Mullah is a dead one!

Help complete this List

Cell Phone baby back home

2005-02-09T11:31:00.000-08:00

Rumaisa Rahman, the smallest surviving baby in the world known in medical literature, was discharged weighing 2,520 grams, a far cry from her 260 grams weight at birth on Sept. 19, 2004.

She joins her fraternal twin sister Hiba who was also born on the same day in a Caesarian procedure and who weighed 566 grams at birth. Hiba was discharged a month ago and now weighs 3,700 grams.
The babies were born to an Indian couple originally from Hyderabad. Rumaisa means "white as milk" in their native tongue while Hiba means "gift from God."

Mad Goat Disease

2005-01-28T21:44:00.000-08:00

A goat slaughtered in France was confirmed yesterday to testing positve to Mad Cow disease, or BSE.
Cows, you are not alone!

Arabian Fart at a Persian Bath !

2005-01-22T14:55:00.000-08:00

Iraqi President, Ghazi Al-Yawar, has defended Sultan Hashem Ahmad, a former Iraqi Army General, who was the chief of Anfal Genocide Operation which led to vanishing 5000 Kurdish Villages and killing around 200 000 Kurds between February and September 1988.

Ghazi Al-Yawar says : " personally , I personally, I will work very hard to get him (Sultan Hashem) released because there are no evidents to show that he is a criminal until now. Sultan Hashem was a professional military man and he was being respected by Iraqis".

Al-Yawar`s interview reminds me of a joke:

An Arab and his friend went to Isfahan, in Persia, for a vacation.
While bathing in a Persian bath, the Arab man made a noise, by vibrations of the anal opening, of course.
His friend said “Aren’t you ashamed?”
The Arab man said”Don’t worry, no one would notice, because I farted in Arabic and people here Speak Persian”.

So Mr.Al-Yawar, do not make unusual sounds as world would notice.

Quote of the month

2005-01-18T22:06:00.000-08:00

You only live once, but if you work it right, once is enough.

--Joe Lewis

High blood pressure is the number one killer

2005-01-14T21:11:00.000-08:00

A study by researchers at Tulane University predicts high blood pressure will become a worldwide epidemic by 2025.

High blood pressure is called the "silent killer" because it usually has no signs or symptoms.Many people has high blood pressure without even knowing it. At this point, about one quarter, or 972 million adults worldwide suffer from hypertension. Researchers say by 2025 that number will increase to 1.56 billion, or one third. To stop this murderer, just ask your doctor to take your blood pressure in each and every visit.

Prince Harry diagnosed with Mad Cow disease or BSE

2005-01-13T19:27:00.000-08:00

Britain's Prince Charles has ordered his son Harry to visit Auschwitz after he caused outrage around the world by wearing a Nazi uniform to a party, the Sun newspaper reported on Friday.

Just a genius like Prince Charles could have such a genius son.Ok Harry,You are stupid enough to be the future King of Britons.

Military raid on a dormitory!

2005-01-06T20:44:00.000-08:00

Kurdistan Regional Government “severely condemns” last night’s military raid on a dormitory in Irbil, a Kurdish Interior Ministry statement said Wednesday.
“There are no justifications for pounding the facility. Preliminary investigations show that the helicopters were not being shot at on the ground,” Kerim Sinjari, the Kurdish Interior Minister told reporters at a press conference in Irbil.
Unconfirmed reports say that US special forces were accompanied by Kurdish fighters and have been seen in several places in the Kurdish capital during the night. Some reports also indicate that a senior member of the radical group of Ansar al Sunna was reportedly captured during the operation.
“We contacted the Coalition Forces in Mosul. They had no information. We asked even the American forces in Irbil, they were not informed either. Last night’s forces might have been deployed from Baghdad;” Mr Sinjari said who also warned that such operations would undermine the Kurdish authority.
Source : Kurdishmedia

Al-Jazeera's ties to Saddam`s son Oday

2005-01-04T13:27:00.000-08:00

Sharq al awsat Newspaper has revealed a video tape,dated March 2000, showing Mohamed Jasem Al Ali, Al Jazeera's managing director, relationships with Oday, former Iraqi dictator`s son.

Former Saddam Hussein's brutal regime tortured and murdered thousands of Kurds.It Seems like Al-Jazeera has the same animosity against Kurds. The videotape to be on aire in near future.

Tsunami Devastates South Asia

2005-01-03T09:29:00.000-08:00

Help those affected by this recent tragedy
Support the relief effort. Donate today.

Sugar Facts

2004-12-25T17:22:00.000-08:00

Did you know... sugar was one of the first pharmaceutical ingredients used, as it still is today, to mask the bitter taste of medicines?
Did you know... in 1899, the very first carton was used to pack sugar? This revolutionized the sugar business, greatly improving upon the crude wooden barrels from which sugar was originally scooped for customers.
Did you know... that in the late 16th Century, a mere teaspoon of sugar cost the equivalent of five dollars in London?
Did you know... that sugar is the only taste humans are born craving?
Did you know... a can of Coke has 39 grams of sugar and a can of Pepsi has 41 grams of sugar. That is about seven teaspoons or 13 lumps of sugar per can!
Did you know... Lemons contain more sugar than Strawberries.
Did you know... When the sun explodes, it will compress itself and become so dense that a piece of it the size of a sugar cube will weigh the equivalent of 1 ton.
Did you know... The trick to curing hiccups is to get the nerves that regulate breathing synchronized by taking a teaspoon of granulated sugar.
Did you know... Sugar is used in leather tanning, printers' inks and dyes and even in textile sizing and finishing
Did you know... Chemical manufacturers use sugar to grow penicillin.
Did you know... 'Sure' and 'Sugar' are the only two words in the English language that are spelt 'su' and pronounced 'sh'. ... '.
Did you know... Sugar hardens asphalt. It slows the setting of ready-mixed concrete and glue.
Source

DNA Stool Test

2004-12-23T15:13:00.000-08:00

A non-invasive test that detects mutated tumor DNA in feces may be a useful method of screening for colorectal cancer, according to new research findings. The price tag for fecal DNA testing is $400 to $800 compared with a cost of $3 to $40 for fecal occult blood testing.

Another way to empty your pockets!

Get married

2004-12-20T16:01:00.000-08:00

"A report from the US National Center for Health Statistics shows that married people, even though easier to become fat, are less likely to smoke, drink heavily or be physically inactive. They are less likely than singles, divorcees or widowed adults to be in fair or poor health, and are less likely to suffer from headaches or serious psychological distress. "
Get married or die!

Talking monkey in London

2004-12-16T22:01:00.000-08:00

Iraq's top Shi'ite Muslim cleric, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, travelled to Britain, where he is expected to receive treatment for a heart condition, a spokesman said.
I`m happy that I`m not religious,but If I had to chose one I would never chose shi`ism or judaism as I think both of them are dangerous for Human prosperity.but wait, better to add christianity as I won`t want to burn witches to get closer to God.

"What has always made a hell on earth has been that man has tried to make it his heaven. Friedrich Holderlin"

Northern Iraq

2004-12-13T21:39:00.000-08:00

Northern Iraq

sens your blood suger under your skin

2004-12-12T15:47:00.000-08:00

An experimental under-the-skin sensor that's smaller than a dime and paper thin could be used to monitor a diabetic's blood sugar levels simply by waving an arm. The sensor has no internal power supply and no connections outside the body. The inexpensive device is designed to continually monitor blood sugar levels. Whenever a reading is needed, a person can wave their hand or arm in front of reader that will automatically detect the sensor.This would prevent the diabetic from having to draw blood. This sensor, based on the same technology used in plastic security tags in stores to prevent shoplifting, still needs fine-tuning before it can be tested in animals. More information

Ten ways to get rid of Islamic fundamentalists

2004-09-23T16:57:00.000-07:00

1-Get them shaved twice- daily,and they will die from anger.
2- . . .

Just start !

2004-08-10T23:52:00.000-07:00

"You don't have to be great to get started but you have to get started to be great."-- Les Brown --

The way to success

2004-07-06T19:53:00.000-07:00

Starting your way to success is a success.
Marathon starts and ends on the first step.
The last step to success is the first step of Marathon.
The end is the beginning of start.

Pot, Meet Kettle

2004-07-04T19:45:00.000-07:00

Aisha Gaddafi,the daughter of Muammar Gaddafi,joins 20 to 30 lawyers involved in the ousted Iraqi leader's defence.
Ha, criminals support each other.A dictator indeed, helps a dictator in need !

It`s Canata day

2004-07-01T15:17:00.000-07:00

Saddam and 11 aides on trial

2004-07-01T10:18:00.000-07:00

File photos (clockwise from top left) of former Iraqi officials President Saddam Hussein, Deputy Prime Minister Tareq Aziz, military commander Ali Hassan al-Majid, known as "Chemical Ali", Baath party regional commander Aziz Salih Numan, Saddam's half-brother and adviser Barzan Ibrahim Hasan al-Tikriti, and presidential secretary Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti.

Saddam Hussein is accused of 7 chargers(at least to this point) that four of them are related to Kurds :

1) Anfal campaign against Kurds, late 1980s 2) Gassing Kurds in Halabja, 1988 3)Crushing Kurdish and Shia rebellions after 1991 Gulf War 4) Massacring members of Kurdish Barzani tribe in 1980s 5)Killing political activists over 30 years 6)Invasion of Kuwait 7)Killing of religious leaders

Saddam Hussein and his aides deserve harsh punishment for crimes against humanity.I hope the same outcome happens to iranian hardliners.

Liberals won the election

2004-06-30T21:34:00.000-07:00

Ah,I`m happy that Canadian didn`t vote for conservatives,and Liberals,although as a minority government,won the election.I hope this results in a more democratic and stronger Canada.There is no place for racists or warmongers in Canada.

Overall Canada 2004 Election Results
Party	Elected	Leading	Total	Vote Share
LIB	135	0	135	36.71%
CON	99	0	99	29.61%
BQ	54	0	54	12.40%
NDP	19	0	19	15.69%
NA	1	0	1	.13%
OTH	0	0	0	5.47%
				308 seats

Fair Vote Canada !

2004-06-28T18:35:00.000-07:00

Forget Conservatives,Think Green ,prize NDPs ,but vote Liberals!

Quotes of the Month

2004-06-21T18:00:00.000-07:00

"He is able who thinks he is able."

"To live a pure unselfish life, one must count nothing as one's own in the midst of abundance."

"The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly."

"Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment."

"We are what we think. All that we are arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world."

* All quotes by Buddha *

Canada's doctor shortage !

2004-06-19T14:56:00.000-07:00

Doctor shortage hits area hard, study says

Canada's doctor shortage is hitting people in Middlesex-London harder compared to the national average and may be why fewer women in the region are getting mammograms, a new Statistics Canada survey has revealed. "It's terrible. We just need more doctors," said Claire Luckas, a mother who drove to a London walk-in clinic from Strathroy yesterday because her family doctor was too swamped to see her...

Well,there are thousands unemployed doctors,allegedly unqualified, in Canda,why government does not employ them to save people.In the other hand, some Family doctors or even specialists are dated or under-educated.I remember when I talked to a dermatologist about parestesia,an abnormal burning or prickling sensation,He said, to my surprise , "what did you say"?

Iraq and Democracy !

2004-06-14T20:40:00.000-07:00

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A car bomb shattered a convoy of Westerners in Baghdad Monday, killing at least 13 people, including three General Electric workers and two bodyguards. Crowds rejoiced over the attack, dancing around a charred body and shouting "Down with the USA!"

Well,chaotic scenes like this have became a every and each day story for Iraqis,and god knows only if there were no Northern stable Kurdish areas, US forces had much worse problems than these. Nevertheless,Bush`s administration forgot about the Fedral-system in Iraq,which was against the Kurdish minority`s rights. Does America want a real democracy for Iraq?

Fahrenheit 9/11

2004-06-11T18:00:00.000-07:00

Fahrenheit 9/11,Michael Moore's latest documentary won the coveted Palm d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Fahrenheit 9/11, starring by Michael Moore and George W.Bush ,traces why the U.S. has become a target for hatred and terrorism. It will also depict alleged dealings between two generations of the Bush and bin Laden clans that led to George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden becoming mortal enemies.

United Nations Security Council`s historic mistake !

2004-06-10T20:59:00.000-07:00

By Ahmed Karadaghi(Asia times)

As we watched the unveiling of the new United Nations Security Council resolution on Iraq, number 1546, the hopes of many Kurds all over the world faded as they knew that slowly but surely the process of betrayal had started all over again - a process they had hoped to avoid at least once from their so-called allies. The council decided against endorsing the interim constitution that guarantees federalism and spells out the Kurdish minority community's rights. Alas, the students of Henry Kissinger and the neo-conservatives in Washington have decided to swing away from the Kurds and play politics in tune with Shi'ite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, somewhat similar to how they switched sides in 1978 in Iran, turning their back on the Shah - and we all know how that turned out for the US and other Western countries...

Kurdistan: No more Mr Nice Guy
Iraqi Kurdistan: Kurds Threaten to Walk Away From Iraqi State
Kurdo blog
Karda blog

Get your anger out !

2004-06-08T00:18:00.000-07:00

Yesterday,for some reason,I got upset about someone, but now I`m sorry for what happend.Do not go banana,otherwise your way of thinking would be subcortical!
What do you do,when you get upset? Are You Secretly Angry?
You might want to check this A Checklist of Hidden Animosity

Alzheimer`s

2004-06-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

Yahoo Health news

Alzheimer's disease,which claimed former President Reagan on Saturday, is one of the most common, and perhaps the most feared, consequences of growing old. There is no cure and little can be done for now to control its insidious destruction of victims' personalities, memories and skills.

Was Reagan`s "Star Wars" speech one of his first hallucinations? What do you think? Alzheimer's Disease -Frequently Asked Questions Dead People Server

A sight unseen by anyone alive today!

2004-06-06T10:23:00.000-07:00

Next Tuesday, Venus, a scorched hell where rainfall takes the form of sulphuric acid -- passes between the Earth and the Sun.The so-called Venus transit is in fact an eclipse, but unlike a solar eclipse, the Sun will be hardly dimmed. Instead, Venus will appear like a little black dot, eerily crawling across the face of our star for some six hours. The Venus transit was first predicted by the 17th-century mathematician Johannes Kepler. The last transit was on December 6 1882, the next will be on June 5-6 2012, and the one after that will be 105 years down the track. If weather permits, the sight, running from 0513-1126 GMT, should be visible to five billion people, but skygazers absolutely must use proper filters,solar eclipse glasses, to avoid eye damage.Europe and Africa will see the entire happening, as will most of Asia, while East Asia and Australia will miss the end and North and South Americas will miss the beginning "When the last transit occurred, the intellectual world was awakening from the slumber of ages, and that wondrous scientific activity, which has led to our present advanced knowledge, was just beginning. "What will be the state of science when the next transit season arrives? God only knows." So hurry up , your first chance in a lifetime to see the Venus eclipse.

Letter to the Arab world

2004-04-15T13:26:00.000-07:00

I am corresponding to the threatening letter from Mr. Amr Mohammed Al-Faisal of Arab News, Saudi Arabia, which was published recently on Kurdistan observer. By: Aras Sirnexy Sep 29, 2004

To Mr. Al-Faisal, Please forgive me for not calling you a brother; because we Kurdish people are not your brothers, we are the proud people of Mesopotamia, the Median Empire and Kurdistan. Also forgive me for not been overwhelmed by; your high regards comment about Kurdish people in relation to Saladin Ayubi. The only reason you decided to acknowledge this fact is because; this man helped your Arab nation to achieve unjust political goals beneficial to the Arab nationalism, not Islam, as Arabs always try to use this tactic as a method to manipulate other Muslims to join them in oppressing the Jews; people of Israel who lived in their ancestral land for thousands of years even before the Arabs existed, and others who are in conflict with the Arabs national interests. You do have a reason to take pride in the late sultan who, is been spited on the face every day for fighting to promote Arab nationalism, and ignoring the plight of his own people by leaving their fate in the hands of the Arabs, he is better of dead not a life. I must say that I am not surprised with your chauvinistic reaction and hypocritical attitude towards the Kurdish nation; it is a common double standard approach, and a well-known opinion of the Arab world. We did not collaborate with the US to colonize Iraq, your kings did, not Kurdish people and politicians as you claimed. But we managed to liberate part of our land which, your Arab brothers colonized decades ago. Our struggle for statehood in the land of our ancestors is a just cause, far more legitimate than those of the Palestinians. We do not forget the British betrayal but, we also clearly remember; Arabs brutality, genocides, chemical gas attacks, Arabnization policies which was imposed upon Kurdish people to assimilate them, and the destruction of more than 10,000 villages. The British and the US did not commit any of these barbaric acts against my people, and certainly Israel has no record of using chemical gas against the Palestinians, but our so called Muslim Arab brothers do have along list of mass murder and blood shed. We have no faith in the US and they have not made any promises which they will keep, because we can not be useful puppets as your people therefore, they built you kingdoms and states whereas, Kurdistan was split to pieces. As for when the US leave us behind in your hands, we have a strong freedom loving nation; who is committed to end decades of Arab�s oppression. We will continue our struggle and fight your kind of people with an iron fist as we did throughout the centuries. Your threats are merely a reflection of your fears, and incapability to cope with today's unambiguous reality, they are empty and baseless. Do not make any statements which, you can not back up with action. If you and your Arab brothers have such a power, why haven't you used it against Israel to create Palestine, instead of using it to oppress your Kurdish brothers even further than you already have? The whole world is exasperated by your bloodshed, backwardness, uncivilized mindset, and your rotten ideologies no longer occupy a place in today's civilized societies. If Prophet Mohammed was alive today he would spit on your face for disgracing the faith of Islam by beheading innocent, harmless human beings like a lamb. Remember I have my faith, and you have created one of your own that fits your fascist interests. Aras Sirnexy, Canada Source