Give yourself a headache

Now I’ve always thought that pain is mostly mental, it just makes sense. I’ve got myself into trouble with that statement before, but here is why I bring it up:

I just finished writing several articles on different Diseases and Illnesses. Topics like: Tinnitus, and Thrush, Lice, Tuberculosis, Porphyria. What is Tinnitus? ricies. Where I’m going with this: After you look at pictures, read and write on these different topics, you start to feel unclean and a bit sick yourself. Why is that?Why is it that some people will faint when they give blood, and others can be surgeons?

A quick question. Do you believe that it is possible to give yourself a headache? Or a sore leg? a headache, or a stomach or a pimple or a?

It’s an interesting idea but after writing this article I haven’t been able to stop itching my head:

“Pediculosis, is the technical term for infestation of lice. Lice are parasitic insects that live on the bodies of humans. Often times this condition is known by its more common street names: Head/Pubic/Body lice.”

“Most commonly symptoms of lice infestation include itching. If excessive this itching or scratching of the infested areas can cause sores. These sore area’s can become infected.”

There are some pretty nasty things out there. My suggesion: sensitize and sanitize yourself from as many as them as possible. Don’t get curious and look at the pictures, or read the info. Avoid contact with infected people and washing your hair never went too far astray.

There Are Many Different Types Of Recreational Vehicles

Recreational vehicles (RVs) are, basically, mobile homes. But RVs are not only mobile homes; some, as in Australia, are sports utility vehicles (SUVs). These are enclosed equipment vehicles that provide space for relaxation and entertainment. They also have means to carry bikes, boats, and other recreational items. Comfort and convenience are primary in recreational vehicles.

These recreational vehicles, either bought or rented in North America and Canadian, serve for vacation travel, leisure trips, near or far, for family or groups of people who have shared plans. These look just right at the beach, resorts, picnic and camping areas, amusement parks, golf clubs, music concerts, and state parks. Homes-on-wheels, the larger recreational vehicles provide every convenience for adults and children, including TV (even satellite TV), DVD/CD entertainment centers, food preparation, sleeping areas, spacious tables, living areas, refrigerators, compactable seating, computer and Internet access, and an overall attractive, state-of-the-art appearance. These usually have great gas mileage and cost anywhere from $10,000 to $1,000,000, depending on size and amenities.

Classes of recreational vehicles are as follows:

Truck Camperthis recreational vehicle has an appended but spatially limited living space appended to the chassis with a cap hooked on the top.

Folding Camper Trailerthis pop-up lightweight recreational vehicle can be compacted for convenient storage. It can be towed by several vehicles.

Travel Trailerthis recreational vehicle is basically a camper trailer with a table, bathroom, sleeping area, and a bumper with a towing hitch.

Hybrid Trailersimilar to the travel trailer, the hybrid trailers recreational vehicle features a pull-out tent section over one part, which are typically beds. The other side has walls and a collapsible roof for towing convenience.

Fifth-Wheel Travel Trailerthis recreational vehicle has a hitch and can be towed by pick ups and other medium-weight vehicles.

Toy Haulerthis recreational vehicle is a motor home with a living area, a garage for motorcycle/ATV storage, and a fifth-wheel travel trailer.

Park Modelmuch like the travel trailer, this recreational vehicle needs a special tow vehicle for movement. A Highway-Movement Permit is required.

Motor Homethis recreational vehicle is also called a Winnebago. This comes in three sub-classes:
Class A: Motor Coach this ranges from 26 to 45 feet long and are built on large chasses, such as those designed for busses and commercial trucks.

Class B: Campervan a converted van with a raised roof or low-profile body in the rear. These range from 19 to 24 feet long.

Class C: Motor Home truck- or van-based with some living space. The length of this class varies from 17 to 34 feet.

Toterhomehaving an uncommon name, this recreational vehicle refers to a motor Home built on a freighterliner truck chassis and is designed to pull heavy loads while still boasting all the amenities and features of a large motor Home.

Recreational vehicles come in many shapes, sizes, and makes, with varied sets of amenities, depending on the individuals particular preferences and desires. These vehicles, although on a much smaller, can be arguably and comparably considered resorts on wheels (without the casinos), like mini-resorts or mini-hotel suites. Whatever variant is considered, comfort and enjoyment are a sure thing!

Strategies For Kakuro Puzzles

Kakuro Puzzles come in a variety of sizes. This means that different puzzles would also vary in the level of difficulty. Naturally, larger Kakuro Puzzles mean that they are much more difficult than the smaller ones. This is because there are naturally more numbers to solve, and longer columns or rows of combinations to fill in larger puzzles.

This article wishes to present some strategies that could be used by people who enjoy playing Kakuro Puzzles. For the advanced players, some of these strategies might already seem obvious. But for beginners, some of the strategies might otherwise prove to be useful and new.

In trying to solve Kakuro Puzzles, the first thing that a person should look at are the numbers that have the least number of combinations to be solved. The rows or columns that only have 2 to 3 empty boxes should be the first ones to be dealt with. Having the least number of empty boxes, it means that there are only a limited number of combinations that would need some solving.

The next thing to consider when solving Kakuro Puzzles is to try and look at the numbers that need to be solved. Afterwards, one should compare them with the other numbers that would intersect them at some point in the puzzle. Think of all the possible combinations for the two intersecting numbers. You would definitely be able to identify at least one digit that is present for both numbers that are being solved. In this case, it is most probable that the single common digit between the two belongs to the empty box where the row and column of the two numbers would intersect.

Another good strategy in trying to solve Kakuro Puzzles is to look at the small numbers first. This is also in accordance with the first strategy above. Small numbers such as 3 or 4 are definitely easier to solve compared to larger ones. This is because there are only two digits which are allowed to be used. That is 2 and 1 for the number 3, and the digits 3 and 1 for the number 4. For the first one, the possible combinations are 2 1, 3 0. But since you are only allowed to use numbers between 1 and 9, the second set on numbers are automatically crossed out from you options. This also applies for the second example because the combination, 2 2, is not allowed since for any given row or column, it is not allowed that any number be repeated.

As you go along solving Kakuro Puzzles, you might also come across numbers that you are already familiar with. Given that for every number, there is only a finite number of possible combinations, keeping a list of these sets would help you solve puzzles faster. This way, you do not have to try and think about the possible combinations. You need only to look at your list and scan them for the ones that would fit into the problem.

Kakuro Puzzles can be fun and exciting. They could also be intellectually stimulating because they exercise your arithmetic skills. However, they could also prove to be frustrating sometimes. These strategies might be able to help you during the most frustrating times of solving Kakuro Puzzles.

Player Profile: Paul Darden

After an inauspicious adolescence, Paul The Truth Darden, Jr. has come a long way. Born October 27, 1968 in New Haven, Connecticut and raised in a ghetto, in his teen years he hung out with thieves and drug dealers. In fact, at the tender age of 15, Darden was accused of murder but was lucky enough to be acquitted due to mistaken identity.

As a high school dropout, there were not many career options open to him and he says that the game of Poker helped him turn his life around. Darden states that one of his goals is to bring poker to the African American community and commented in one of his interviews There is going to be salt and pepper all over the casinos when they see me win a big event.

Paul Darden began playing and winning at the local Foxwoods Casino as well as in the Stud Games at Atlantic City where they were very popular. He tells us that his father had a small poker club many years ago and taught Paul to play.

A positive event in his life was meeting up with Phil Ivey who became his friend and mentor. Although Pauls favorite games were Five Card and Seven Card Stud, Phil encouraged him to branch out into other games, especially Texas Holdem No Limit due to his aggressive style of playing.

Paul has learned to be patient when playing and has become a master at reading tells the movement and body language of other players. Different players react in different ways when playing a winning or losing hand and learning to recognize these actions is very helpful to his game.

Paul also has one World Series of Poker bracelet. As of this writing, his total live tournament winnings are in excess of $1,700,000.

Paul is married to Vicky and they have one child. He also has three children from different relationships. One of his important goals is to provide for his family so that his children will have a better life than he did while growing up.

He appears to be on a winning streak in Poker as well as in his life and we wish him well.

Ford Extended Warranty – Know The Facts

An extended warranty is something extrasomething you add-on when you purchase a vehicle. It is different from a regular warranty. Often, a regular warranty will be thrown-in when you buy a vehicle, and it will cover some repair work on certain parts. Usually, such warranties are for a specific amount of time or vehicle use, such as 3 years or 25,000 miles.

An extended warranty, though, covers your vehicle for a longer period of time, for example, 5 years or 50,000 miles. You can usually buy an extended warranty when you buy a vehicle. An extended warranty will be added on to your purchase and worked in to your monthly payment. For as little as it will cost, you will receive peace-of-mind, knowing that your vehicle is covered around the time when you might expect something to go wrong.

You can buy an extended warranty from the dealer, through a broker, or even from the manufacturer. Take the Ford extended warranty, for example. They offer a number of extended warranties for their vehicles. If you drive a Ford Focus, you are offered these Ford extended warranty options: pre-paid maintenance plan, powertraincare extended service plan (covers 29 components), basecare extended service plan (covers 84 components), extracare extended service plan (covers 113 components), and the premiumcare extended service plan (covers over 500 components).

There are many options for a Ford extended warranty. You need to look at your vehicle, study the plans, and decide how much comfort and peace-of-mind you want or need. For example, if you trust Ford, you might select the pre-paid maintenance plan. This plan will cover basic maintenance, and make sure that your car is kept optimal. But if you want more protection, you might choose the powertrain plan, or any of the other plans that offer more-and-more protection.

A Ford extended warranty offers you the peace-of-mind directly from the manufacturer and helps you feel secure driving your vehicle.

Bankruptcy Information

Bankruptcy is a situation in which someone who owes money will seek relief from their debts by going to court. Though bankruptcy can be good in some situations, it may not always be necessary. Just because you are in a financial strain does not mean you should immediately file for bankruptcy. There are some things you will want to take into consideration first.

Will I or Wont I?

There is no easy answer to whether or not you should file for bankruptcy. Before making a decision you should first consult an attorney or credit counselor. They will be able to look at all the factors involved with filing bankruptcy, including the advantages and cost. The amount of debt you have is one of the most important factors for whether or not you should file for bankruptcy. It is important to remember that there are many alternative solutions. One solution is to hire a financial manager.

The Financial Manager

Hiring a financial manager is a difficult decision for many people. They take control of your finances, and will pay your bills for you. They will give you a set amount of money to use for anything you wish, but their goal is to make sure all of your bills are paid on time. Using a financial manager is a good idea if you find that many of your problems come from being irresponsible with how you spend your money. Once your bills are under control, you will be given back control of your finances. If this makes you uncomfortable, you could simply use a counseling service. You also want to make sure you use a service that has an excellent reputation.

Many lenders will work with the borrowers in paying back the money owed. It can be difficult for a lender to get back all the money they loaned out to you, even if you file for bankruptcy. Taking you to court will cost them money, and is very time consuming. When collection agencies get back the money that is owed, they will often charge the lender fees, and this will reduce the amount of money they get back. Because of this, many lenders will waive certain fees or charges as long as you make your payments on time.

Refinancing Your Home

If you are the owner of a home, you should consider refinancing in order to use the equity to pay off your debts. This could be a great alternative to filing for bankruptcy. You are likely to get tax deductions for using this method of paying off your debts, and you will also be likely to have much lower interest rates over the long term. You should be cautious when choosing which debt consolidation company you want to use. Many companies will charge you huge fees up front and leave you with a loan that will take years to pay off.

Be Wary Of The Credit Repair Services

You should also be careful with so called “credit repair” services. Any service which promises to pay off or eliminate bankruptcy from your credit history are likely to be fraudulent. They will end up taking money from you and perhaps making your credit worse than it was before using their services. It is important to only use services that are highly credible. Avoid fly by night operations at all costs. They will leave you in a world of despair and make huge profits at the same time. You should only file fof bankruptcy after you’ve talked to an attorney or credit counselor.

While bankruptcy can relieve you of the debts you owe, it will stay on your credit record for years, and it will be very difficult to apply for a job, home, or even a car. We live in a society that is very credit prone, and it is important to have good credit.

How a Panic Disorder Evolved into Scientific Theory

The Theory of Evolution is the widely held notion that all life is related and has descended from a common ancestor. The theory is anchored on the premise that homo sapiens or modern man came from an ape-like ancestor. It made it seem possible that even people might just have evolved quite possibly from apes and destroyed the prevailing and conventional facts on how the world began and how men were created. This theory was well-documented and studied by the first of the evolutionary biologists named Charles Darwin.

Hair Affair: A Story Of Loss And Revival

Our hair distinguishes us from other people by giving our head and entire body a whole new personality. It gives a sense of individuality and makes every person unique. Each of us needs to take care of our hair not only for aesthetic reason, but more importantly, to maintain our head’s protection from heat and rain. The hair basically lasts for two to six years, which is the normal cycle of hair growth. Each hair follicle grows approximately one centimeter per month, and almost all hair grows at the same time. The remaining hair which us usually about ten percent of our total hair, enters a resting phase which is a period of cessation of hair growth. After three months, the resting hair falls out and new hair starts to grow in its place. It is considered normal to see some hair after you shower, since shedding is a part of the hair cycle. However, some people may experience excessive hair loss, whether it be a woman, man, or child.

SERP and Internet Marketing

Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gerry_Lewis

The History of the Beer Glass

It is well known that beer has been with mankind for a long time. As beer itself changed, expanded, and improved, so did the way in which we actually got the beer to our mouths. The earlier vessels man used for drinking included earthenware, pottery, carved out wood, and even sewn-together pieces of leather. As time went on, man saw small improvements in the quality of their beer glasses. Early Europeans living during the time of the Bubonic plague saw the creation of beer steins, which had an enclosed top on the steins to keep flies from landing in the brew and getting the person sick.

Catering Equipment – The New Vs Second Hand Dilemma:

The Commercial Kitchen is the most important part of any hospitality business. Good air circulations, proper ventilation, clean and sufficient cooking utensils, perfect lighting are just a few of the prerequisites of a successful establishment. In todays environment restaurateurs focus more on the kitchen, hygiene and aesthetics than ever before. The commercial kitchen is an essential factor when starting a restaurant, as the main function of a restaurant is to cook food. The most common mistakes arise in the design of a restaurant kitchen and not providing enough working space in the kitchen area The restaurant kitchen should be spacious and the layout should be logical, not cramped and ill thought out, because at peak service times waiters and chefs will not be able to cope and this will affect the reputation and profitability of the restaurant.

The Purpose Of An Outdoor Fireplace

Everyone has been exposed to the benefits of an indoor fireplace, including the heat and the sense of romance that is generated. Nothing is more soothing on a cold winters night that sitting with your feet propped up, huddled next to that special person, in front of a roaring fireplace. Why not enjoy the same effects in your backyard? Certainly, a grill is nice, but it doesnt compare to the feeling that is generated by food that is cooked over an open fireplace or fire pit.

An outdoor fireplace makes a nice addition to anyones backyard and is certainly better for large groups of people than a barbeque grill. Additionally, the installation of a fire pit can add tremendous value to the price of your home when you are ready to sell it as well as giving it a quick selling feature.

Nothing keeps mosquitoes and other flying insects away quicker than fire. A grill will not stay lit for the entire course of an evening, however, an outdoor fireplace will stay hot for some time, and the fumes from the fire can help repel the flying insects that want to invade the tranquility of your relaxing evening in the back yard. With an outdoor fireplace, you can sit on your patio as long as you want and not have to worry about being bothered incessantly by flying insects.

You think of warmth when you think of an indoor fireplace, but an outdoor fireplace can provide the same warmth as you sit outside on a cool evening. As you enjoy the first breezes of spring or the last breezes of summer, the evening may tend to be a little on the chilly side. Instead of having to go inside when even a sweater or light jacket fail to keep you warm, sit by the heat or the outdoor fireplace and enjoy a little more of the outdoors. The fresh and crisp evening air will help relax you so that you will be able to enjoy a better nights sleep.

These are only a few of the reasons for buying or building an outdoor fireplace, but it certainly leads to the conclusion that it can create a very versatile atmosphere for entertaining. While thinking of the many reasons you might want an outdoor fireplace, do not overlook the fact that there are safety precautions that you must take in order to protect your home. It is not a grill, and it gets quite hot. Its important to make sure the outdoor fireplace is at least ten feet away from your home and any other combustibles such as a wood deck. Also, make sure that the fire is out before you retire for the night. You want to enjoy it for evenings on the terrace, but you dont want to throw caution to the wind at the expense of your home and family.

An outdoor fireplace can be a nice addition to your property, and it can enhance the quality of your entertaining. Be prepared, though, to find some uninvited guests dropping in just because they love the smell of the cooking over the fire pit that permeates throughout the neighborhood. As long as you dont mind extra guests, youll love the outdoor fireplace.

Do A Sporting Stag Do in Birmingham

If you’re planning a stag do in Birmingham, you’d almost have to include some sporting activities. After all, Sport England has awarded Birmingham the title National City of Sport. Situated just west of the center of England, this sporting city offers a wide range of stag do activities for the bachelor party that’s looking for something a bit unique and a lot active.

While no one is suggesting that you leave off the traditional naughty doings that have been a part of the pre-wedding festivities since early Greek times, these days the stag do is more often a full-bodied stag weekend with activities planned for day and night. A Birmingham stag do gives your party the chance to take in a day at the races, compete in races of your own, bust a gut laughing at some of the finest comedy in the UK, and then get up in the morning to head out for a full day of off-road karting, paintball tournaments, quad biking or whitewater rafting.

If you’re looking for a Birmingham stag do activity that will provide some unusual souvenirs for the lucky stag, how about an afternoon at the Birmingham greyhound track? In addition to giving him (and the rest of your lot) a chance to pad your pockets before a night out with the lovely strippers, you can name a race to commemorate his last hurrah. By making arrangements in advance through a UK tour operator, your stag do can boast its very own greyhound race, complete with private box and bar, race cards printed with the name of your race and a photo of the cup for your race being presented to the winnner. That’s a Birmingham stag do deal that’s tough to beat and impossible to forget.

Epidural and Subdural Hematomas: Dangerous Blood Clots on the Brain

To understand epidural and subdural hematomas — two serious consequences of head injuries — we need to know the basic anatomy of the brain and its coverings. Imagine an evil carpenter with an electric drill intent on drilling into a person’s brain. What layers would the drill encounter in its passage from the outside of the head to its destination?

The drill would pass through the skin and then the skull (braincase) before penetrating a series of three membranes comprising the meninges. In sequence, the three membranes are the dura mater (Latin for “tough mother”), the arachnoid mater (cobwebby mother) and the pia mater (tender mother) and then finally the brain itself.

Epidural and subdural hematomas are alike in that they are masses of clotted blood (hematomas) caused by head trauma and deposited outside the brain but inside the skull. However, they differ in their locations relative to the dura mater. An epidural hematoma lies outside (on top of) the dura mater, while a subdural hematoma lies inside (beneath) the dura mater and outside the arachnoid mater. Thus, the locations of the two kinds of hematoma are encoded in their names — “epi” is Greek for “upon” and “sub” is Latin for “below.” A third kind of hematoma caused by head injuries is traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage. These occur within the brain tissue itself and are no less serious than those outside the brain, but are not the subject of the current essay.

Epidural and subdural hematomas are produced by ruptures of different blood vessels. Epidural hematomas are usually caused by bleeding from an artery that nourishes the meninges known as the middle meningeal artery, while subdural hematomas are usually due to bleeding from veins that drain blood away from the surface of the brain.

Yet another difference between epidural and subdural hematomas is what they look like on computed tomographic (CT) scans. When the bleeding was recent, both show up as intensely bright objects on the scan, but the shapes of the blood clots are different. In epidural hematomas the blood is more limited in its spread because it has to push harder to move outward in the tight space between the inner surface of the skull and the outer surface of the dura mater. In contrast, the bleeding that produces subdural hematomas is more free to spread in the looser space beneath the dura mater and typically runs from the front of the head to the rear.

One issue that applies to both kinds of hematomas is that they occupy space — sometimes a lot of it — within the braincase where there isn’t a lot of extra space to go around. As they expand they compress the brain tissue next to them and additionally raise the pressure within the skull which can damage the rest of the brain. Moreover, the hematoma is not necessarily the only problem caused by the head injury. The blow to the head that caused the bleed can also damage the brain tissue directly.

Who gets epidural hematomas? They usually occur in people with obvious and significant blows to the head, as from motor vehicle accidents. In one study they were present in 10% of head-injured patients who arrived at an emergency department in coma, but they can also be seen in conscious patients. Epidural hematomas usually occur in conjunction with skull fractures, and this is no coincidence, as the ruptured blood vessel often lies beneath the fracture. The presence of an epidural hematoma signifies a highly dangerous condition. Between 5 and 43% of people who have them die. Emergency surgery to remove the clot is the usual treatment.

When considering subdural hematomas, it is useful to divide them into acute and chronic varieties, with “acute” meaning the hematoma is new, and “chronic” meaning it has been present for at least three weeks. (The hematoma can also pass through a “subacute” phase, meaning that it has been present for 3 days to 3 weeks.) By the time an acute subdural hematoma has become chronic, it is a thick liquid instead of a solid blood clot, and also appear darker on CT scans.

Acute subdural hematomas usually occur in people with obvious and significant blows to the head. In one study they were present in 24% of the patients who arrived at an emergency department in coma, but can be present in non-comatose patients as well. Acute subdural hematomas are associated with a death rate between 30 and 90%, with a figure of 60% typically cited. Emergency surgery is the usual treatment, though studies have shown that alert patients with small subdural hematomas can do as well without surgery if monitored closely for signs of worsening.

Infants are also vulnerable to acute subdural hematomas. Neurosurgeons at the Kaohsiung Medical University in Taiwan reviewed records on 21 children, ages 6 days to 12 months, who had acute subdural hematomas. In this case series, “shaken baby syndrome” was the most common cause. Eight of the infants underwent an immediate operation, and another 11 required delayed surgery. While most of the children did well, one baby died and another 7 sustained moderate to severe disabilities from their injuries.

Chronic subdural hematomas often show up in patients over 60 years of age in whom the head injuries that caused them might have seemed trivial when they occurred, or might even have been forgotten. Older people are especially vulnerable due to the fact that their brains have atrophied (shrunk) and the veins draining the surface of the brain are stretched and fragile, easily disrupted by glancing blows. Risk of subdural hematoma rises still higher if the individual falls a lot, drinks alcohol a lot or takes blood-thinning medication.

Subdural hematomas can expand progressively to the point of causing symptoms like headache, slurred speech, confusion, lethargy, unsteadiness or even a seizure. Surgery to remove the hematoma and stop the bleeding is the typical treatment, and 93 to 97% of patients survive to 30 days after surgery. Most regain their pre-injury level of function. Milder cases of chronic subdural hematoma can be monitored without surgery.

(C) 2006 by Gary Cordingley

Buying Cheap Humidors

There are numerous vendors who offer humidors at low prices. Many retail stores have departments that sell humidors of many kinds. Typically though retail stores will offer limited styles of smaller desktop and travel humidors. There are also stores that specialize in humidors and cigars that offer upgraded models of humidors and may even offer specials on cabinet humidors.

However, the prices one may pay at a specialty store will likely be more than what one will find on the Internet for comparable items. The Internet is a great place for researching and purchasing humidors of all styles, brands, and models. There is no limit to what one can find except for where imagination ends.

A quick search of the internet using humidor sale returned hundreds of companies offering low prices on humidors of all kinds from small travel humidors to large cabinet humidors even to humidors designed for jewelry. A search for discount humidors also returned hundreds of companies in the same way that a search for wholesale humidors returned many possibilities.

With access to so many companies selling cheap humidors, the most difficult part to purchasing a humidor today, especially with internet stores, is being able to narrow down ones search and to settle on one particular style of humidor with many costing much less than $100.

In an internet search, one can find a very beautiful rosewood cabinet humidor with a Spanish cedar interior that measures 15″ x 9 3/4″ x 6 3/8″ and will hold up to 120 cigars for a mere $79.99, plus shipping and tax costs. This item typically retails for $199.00. Another deal on the internet was for a cabinet humidor that holds up to 3000 cigars and only costs $599.00. And these are only two examples of such great deals one can find for Cheap Humidors on the internet.

The internet now affords the cigar aficionado the opportunity to research and purchase cheap humidors, offered either through a sale, discount or wholesale offering, from the comfort of their home.

Guillain Barre Syndrome: When Legs (and more) Turn to Rubber

Looking on helplessly while a wave of weakness climbs one’s body from the ankles upward can cause dismay. This is what happens in Guillain Barre (pronounced GHEE-on bah-RAY) syndrome, known more formally as acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. Occurring in just one or two people per year in a population of 100,000, Guillain Barre syndrome makes up for its rarity by taking people by surprise and quickly disabling them.

Acute inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy is about as bulky and awkward a name as there is, but the terminology has the endearing feature of encoding the disease’s essential features. Starting from the back end and working forwards, “-pathy” means illness; “neuro” says that the peripheral nerves are involved; “radiculo” means that the spinal nerves emanating from the spinal cord are also affected; “poly” means it’s a widespread process; “demyelinating” means that the nerve-fibers are stripped of their sheath-like myelin coverings; “inflammatory” means a local tissue reaction to biochemical or physical irritation; and “acute” means that the disease develops rapidly over a matter of days. Despite the lesson in medical terminology provided by the full name, it’s easy to see why the condition often goes by the shorter names of AIDP or Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS).

Georges Guillain and Jean-Alexandre Barre described cases of this condition among French soldiers in the First World War. It is noteworthy that the condition is labeled a “syndrome,” rather than a disease, because it is likely that multiple disease-processes can produce the same pattern of clinical illness (syndrome).

Diagnosing GBS involves recognizing the typical pattern of progressing symptoms in which a loss of strength works its way up the legs and often even into the arms and breathing muscles. The symptoms quickly worsen over a matter of days, even hours, and the weakness typically peaks within 2-3 weeks of the onset of symptoms. Although the affected peripheral nerves and spinal nerves also conduct messages concerning bodily sensation, sensory loss in GBS is typically a minor component, while weakness — caused by disruption of nerves carrying messages to muscles — predominates.

The physical exam confirms the muscular weakness and, when present, the associated numbness. Another classic finding on examination is a loss of (rubber-hammer-type) tendon reflexes. Supplemental tests that help confirm the diagnosis — or, depending on their outcome, point in another direction — are nerve conduction studies and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Nerve conduction studies check the electrical characteristics of the peripheral nerves. In GBS the nerve impulses are often slowed or blocked on their way from one part of the nerve to another. Cerebrospinal fluid is the watery liquid bathing the outside of the brain, spinal cord and spinal nerves. It is obtained for analysis by means of a lumbar puncture, also known as spinal tap. In GBS the protein content of the fluid is increased without any corresponding increase in the numbers of red or white blood cells in the fluid.

The cause of GBS is unknown, but because it often follows an infection or other challenge to the body’s immune system and also involves inflammation, it seems likely that GBS is the result of an overactive immune system. If so, GBS is one of several so-called autoimmune diseases in which the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacks a component of the body, in this case the myelin coverings of individual nerve-fibers. Other examples of autoimmune disease are rheumatoid arthritis, in which the immune system attacks the joints, and psoriasis, in which the immune system attacks the skin.

A case series refers to a collection of consecutive cases sharing agreed-upon features. Analyzing a case series provides insight into how variable the illness can be as well as which features are more constant.

Between 1995 and 2003 researchers at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Karachi, Pakistan, collected a case series of 34 patients with GBS. The ages of the patients ranged from 3 to 70, and 62% were male. In 35% of the cases there was a preceding gastrointestinal infection and in another 26% of the cases there was a preceding respiratory infection. Breathing failed in 56% of the cases, requiring mechanical ventilation. One patient died.

Despite the frequently devastating nature of GBS, most patients improve, albeit slowly. Compiling a separate case series, investigators at the Centre for Rehabilitation Research in Orebro, Sweden, tracked the progress of 42 patients with this illness. Mechanical ventilation was necessary in just 21% of their cases. At 2 weeks, 1 year and 2 years after the onset of symptoms, 0%, 38% and 45% of patients had completely normal strength. At the same time points, 38%, 90% and 93% were able to walk 30 feet without assistance.

Treatment is available for patients with GBS. Of course, when patients can’t breathe on their own, using a mechanical ventilator to support respiration is a form of treatment and is usually life-saving. Two other treatments have been shown by randomized, controlled trials — the gold standard method for evaluating a treatment — to hasten recovery in GBS.

One is plasmapheresis, also known as plasma exchange, in which the liquid portion of the blood (plasma) is separated from the blood cells. The blood cells are then returned to the patient’s body, and the body produces more plasma on its own to replace the plasma that was removed. The reason plasmapheresis works is uncertain, but it probably removes damaging antibodies from the bloodstream.

Infusing immunoglobulin into the patient’s bloodstream is the other treatment of proven effectiveness. The immunoglobulin preparation contains antibodies pooled from a large number of healthy donors. These healthy antibodies presumably counteract the injurious antibodies produced in the GBS patient.

One might think that two treatments — plasmapheresis and immunoglobulin infusion — administered together or in succession would be better than just one, but that is not the case. A study showed that the two treatments in combination were no better in hastening recovery than one treatment.

(C) 2006 by Gary Cordingley

U2s Bono From Rock Star To Designer To Humanitarian

U2s lead singer Bono isnt content with being part of a top band. Fashion and Music well Im sure they can mix!

Bono was born Paul David Hewson in 1960 in Dublin Ireland. His stage name is Bono. Bono is the lead singer of US, he is also a songwriter. He married Ali Stewart in August 1982 and they have 5 children. Bono is also actively involved in as an activist and screenwriter.

Paul was a curious child who seemed to see the world from a different perspective from the rest of the world. When Paul was 15 he suffered the loss of his mother who he was very close to. In high school Paul found himself drawn to music and playing the guitar, spending a great deal of time involved with the school theater. The name Bono was the brain child of his close friend Guggi who took it from a Hearing Aide store located in Dublin. Bono Vox also means good voice in latin.

In 1976 a flyer was posted at his high school by Larry Mullen who was looking to form a band. Paul was jumped at the opportunity. The band became U2 which is now known around the globe.

Ali Hewson [nee Alison Stewart] grew up in the suburbs of north Dublin. She met Bono at high school. He tried to chat her up but she ignored him. Over the years he continued to pursue her. Their relationship moved very slowly because Alison wasnt interested in becoming one of the Bono girls. After his mother died, Ali being the practical person she is, helped Bono with the essentials like food and clothing. Ali was 22 when they wed.

Ali Hewson appears to be open and down to earth in all respects. She appears honest and never puts on that she knows more about a topic than she does. She smiles often and appears to be a happy human being. She earned her degree in social science, politics, and sociology at the age of 33. She also became involved with Greenpeace.

It was having children that put Ali Hewson on the path of thinking more about the environment. She became concerned about what they would grow up to have, what would be left of the environment. Ali got involved with Greenpeace campaigning against the Sellafield nuclear power plant.

Over time, U2 also became actively involved in the protest against the Sellafield nuclear power plant. She had not direct responsibility for U2 becoming involved but because Bono and Ali share the same concerns, it was a natural outcome. Ali feels as a wealthy person she has a responsibility to do what she can to raise awareness on such issues.

So isnt it natural that Bono and Ali have now evolved to another level of involvement with social politics. Bono and his wife Ali Hewson now have their fingers in the Fashion industry. But wait this isnt just any old fashion venture. This one has a new twist. Their goal is to involve developing countries in the producing of their clothing line, improving the quality of life for these people and their economic welfare.

A new line of clothing has hit the market Edun anyone catch that Edun is Nude spelt backwards? The Eden line consists of a casual collection of jeans, T-shirts, chiffon dresses, and blazers. The line is available at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Bono and his wife are attempting to become actively involved in social activism and the betterment of people in developing countries. Their goal is for the Edun collection to be soooo hot that it will be able to provide employment for people in developing nations around the world, developing stable long term relationships with these countries.

Great thought goes into selecting which country will produce which clothing. Selection is based on the resources and talent of the developing countries. They attempt to make good matches which are beneficial to Edun and the developing country. They believe that the developing countries and their people will benefit financially and emotionally. But the big picture also means that these developing countries can become part of the global economy.

Bono and his wife might be on the right track with this concept with Edun, as the consumers are becoming much more interested in knowing where and by whom the clothes they purchase are made. The consumer has become social conscious. So this concept could be a win win for everyone!

Preparing For and Making a Career Change

Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Roy_Thomsitt

Gardening experience

Ah, to this day I still remember my first gardening experience. It was
such a disaster that I didnt think I would ever want to garden again. I
almost decided to turn my casual hobby into the most rage-inducing topic
you could possibly bring up to me.

It all started a few weeks after I moved in to my first house. I was
excited just to have my own grass to mow, since I had been in apartments
and condos for quite a while. In between plans to paint walls and renovate
the inside to exactly how I like, I thought it would be a good idea to
start a fruit garden so that I could have some fresh produce and put my
yard to use. At that point I didnt really know anything at all about
gardening. But still in my spunky youthful years, I decided I didnt need
help. How hard could it be to start a garden and grow stuff??? After all, it
happens in nature all the time and nobody even has to do anything.

I already had a grassless patch in my yard where it looked like the
previous owner had attempted a garden. But any attempt they had made
turned out to be an utter travesty. The area was full of rocks and weeds,
with no signs of any agreeable plants. I spent several hours of work
spread over several days to clear out the entire area, leaving nothing but
dirt. At that point, however, I didnt realize the difference between
dirt and soil. I was dealing with barren, hard, nutritionless, and
unforgiving land.

I made some attempt at making my garden look nice; although I think even
Martha Stewart would have had difficulties. I took some stained boards
that were sitting in my basement (quite convenient, no?) and used them as
a border for my garden, to keep out all the pests that couldnt jump more
than a foot (I figured I would be safe from lawn gnomes). I used the pile
of rocks I had collected from the garden to make a creepy shrine looking
thing in front of it. I dont know what I was thinking when I did that.

I went to the store that very day, and picked out whatever looked tasty.
Strawberries? Sure! Watermelon? Yeah! I hacked away a hole in the
rock-hard ground and poked the seed in. After that, I think I watered it
faithfully every day for several weeks before realizing that it was not
going to grow anything. But even after I had that realization, I continued
to water in hopes that my seeds would pull a last minute sprout on me. But
I knew there was no hope, and I was heartbroken. After all those hours of
pulling up weeds and tossing rocks into a pile, I had no fruit to show for
my labor.

So, feeling dejected and betrayed, I logged onto the internet and searched
for a guide to gardening. I quickly ran across a site that led me to
realize the true skill required for gardening. It was then I learned about
soil consistency, nutrients, ideal watering conditions, seasons, and all
those things. After I read up on my area and how to grow fruits, I learned
exactly what to do. I learned how to get the ideal soil, when to plant the
seeds, how much to water, etc. Just a night of browsing the internet and
printing off sources, and I was totally ready for the next planting season.

If youre in the position I was, and youre just itching to start a new />garden I urge you to learn from my mistake. Make sure you do plenty of
proper research on the types of plants youre trying to grow, along with
the climate. Spend money on good soil, good fertilizer, and good garden
tools. Hopefully you dont have to go through the emotional disaster that
I went through.

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