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Scientists question if Wi-Fi Laptops Can Damage Sperm

Scientists are questioning if using wi-fi on a laptop to roam the internet could harm a man's fertility, after lab work suggested ejaculated sperm were significantly damaged after only four hours of exposure.

The tests showed sperm were less able to swim and had changes in the genetic code that they carry.

Experts stress this does not mean the same would occur in a real-life setting and say men should not worry too much, but more studies are recommended.


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Doctors say they have found a medical test that can diagnose the most common curable cause of high blood pressure. Conn's syndrome - a disease of the adrenal glands that sit above the kidneys - is thought to be the cause behind one in 20 cases of hypertension.

But until now it has been difficult to detect, requiring a complex series of tests on blood taken from a vein supplying the adrenal gland. Experts at the University of Cambridge say a simple scan can spot the problem.

The hi-tech PET-CT scan looks for small growths in the adrenal glands that are about the size of a penny, the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism reports.

These benign growths or tumors - called adenomas - pump out too much of a hormone called aldosterone, which in turn raises blood pressure.

There are drugs that can control the high blood pressure caused by Conn's syndrome, but the only cure is surgery, so making the diagnosis is very important”

The researchers developed a special radioactive tracer called 11C-metomidate, which lights up culprit adenomas in the scan. Once the problem is identified the condition can be treated either by surgically removing the affected gland or by using a drug to block the effects of aldosterone.

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Computer artwork of a junction, or synapse, between two nerve cells As the electrical signal reaches the pre-synaptic end of a neuron it triggers the release of neurotransmitters across the gap, or synaptic cleft, between the two cells. The neurotransmitters bind to receptors on the post-synaptic membrane, changing the membranes excitability and triggering an electrical impulse. A network of neurons is in the background.

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RED OAK WOOD XYLEM TUBULES. MAG x15
Quercus rubra, commonly called northern red oak or champion oak, (syn. Quercus borealis), is an oak in the red oak group (Quercus section Lobatae). It is a native of North America, in the northeastern United States and southeast Canada. It grows from the north end of the Great Lakes, east to Nova Scotia, south as far as Georgia and states with good soil that is slightly acidic. Often simply called "red oak", northern red oak is formally so named to distinguish it from southern red oak (Q. falcata), also known as the Spanish oak.

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Antibiotics Will Not Cure Viruses

A quarter of people wrongly believe antibiotics work on most coughs and colds, a Health Protection Agency survey has found. However antibiotics cannot treat viruses, which cause most respiratory tract infections.

The HPA poll of 1,800 people in England also found one in 10 people keep leftover antibiotics - and many would self-medicate next time they got ill.

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An expert in immunity and infection is also warning that the misuse of antibiotics, and drug companies' failures to develop new ones, could lead to a rise in untreatable infections.

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Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that causes a large amount of watery diarrhea. Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The bacteria releases a toxin that causes increased release of water in the intestines, which produces severe diarrhea.

Cholera occurs in places with poor sanitation, crowding, war, and famine. Common locations for cholera include: Africa, Asia, India, Mexico and South and Central America.

People get the infection by eating or drinking contaminated food or water.

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Bacterial contamination. Conceptual computer artwork of a human hand contaminated with colonies of bacteria (blue/pink patches). The lurid colors represent the danger posed by the bacteria. Hands come into contact with a wide variety of surfaces, and can transmit bacteria to and between the eyes, nose and mouth. Common sources of particularly pathogenic bacteria are raw meat and feces. Hand washing with soap and water can prevent most cases of disease transmission by hand contamination. If hands are not washed, the bacteria will quickly multiply into colonies many millions strong.

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An international study has linked an industrial solvent to Parkinson's disease.

Researchers found a six-fold increase in the risk of developing Parkinson's in individuals exposed in the workplace to trichloroethylene (TCE).

Although many uses for TCE have been banned around the world, the chemical is still used as a degreasing agent.

The research was based on analysis of 99 pairs of twins selected from US data records.

Parkinson's can result in limb tremors, slowed movement and speech impairment, but the exact cause of the disease is still unknown, and there is no cure.
TCE has been used in paints, glue, carpet cleaners, dry-cleaning solutions and as a degreaser. It has been banned in the food and pharmaceutical industries in most regions of the world since the 1970s, due to concerns over its toxicity.

In 1997, the US authorities banned its use as an anaesthetic, skin disinfectant, grain fumigant and coffee decaffeinating agent, but it is still used as a degreasing agent for metal parts.

Photo/Illustration Caption: NEW THERAPY FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE DIRECTS CONTINUOUS ELECTRICAL IMPLULSES INTO THE VENTRAL INTERMEDIUM NUCLEUS OF THE THALAMUS, BLOCKING TREMOR SIGNALS. ILLUS BRAIN STIMULATION THERAPY FOR PARKINSON'S. Illustration available for license by contacting CMSP.com.

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Fiber and Whole Grains Reduce Bowel Cancer Risk

Eating more cereals and whole grains could reduce the risk of developing colon-rectal cancer, a study says.

Researchers from Imperial College London found that for every 10 grams a day increase in fiber intake, there was a 10% drop in the risk of bowel cancer.

But their analysis of 25 previous studies found that fruit and vegetable fiber did not reduce risk. A cancer charity called for more detailed research on the quantity and type of fiber to eat.

Eating fiber and whole grains is known to help protect against cardiovascular disease, but experts say that any link with colon rectal cancer is less clear because studies have not had consistent results.

Just eat more fiber when you can.

About the picture: This image is available to purchase usage rights to use in your commercial or editorial project. Contact CMSP. Caption info: Colon cancer. Colored X-ray of the colon of a 59 year old patient with cancer of the sigmoid colon. The patient was given a barium enema prior to the X-ray to show up any abnormalities. The irregular filling of the colon with the barium (white) shows the presence of a tumor. The sigmoid colon is at the end of the large intestine and start of the colon. Symptoms of colon cancer include rectal bleeding and abdominal pain. Treatment is with surgery to remove the affected area. Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers in the Western world. It is a disease of late and middle age. Risk factors include a diet high in animal fat and low in fiber and a sedentary lifestyle.

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Caffeine acts as a stimulant to the heart and central nervous system, and is also known to increase blood pressure in the short term, although there's no conclusive evidence of long-term effects on blood pressure.

The effects on blood pressure are most likely when caffeine is taken in excessive quantities or by people who are highly sensitive to it. People who are hypertensive (have habitual high blood pressure) are advised to avoid caffeinated drinks.

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Water makes up 50 to 70 per cent of an adult's total body weight and, without regular drinks adding fluids to our bodies, our body's survival time is limited to a matter of days.

Water's essential for the body's growth and maintenance, as it's involved in a number of processes. For example, it helps get rid of waste and regulates temperature, and it provides a medium for biological reactions to occur in the body.

Water's lost from the body through urine and sweat, and must be replaced through the diet. If you don't consume enough you can become dehydrated, causing symptoms such as headaches, tiredness and loss of concentration. Chronic dehydration can contribute to a number of health problems such as constipation and kidney stones.

about the photo: Water being tested in the lab. Image number 523-2128

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Liver Cancer Image. GIST tumor metastatic to liver. A gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is one of the most common mesenchymal tumors of the gastrointestinal tract.

There is a large complex 20 cm mass (arrows) arising off the stomach (asterisk) in the abdomen. Note hypodense metastatic lesion in the dome of left hepatic lobe of liver (black arrowhead).

About the photo: A CT Scan image, colorized. CMSP has hundreds of images on the subject of Liver Cancer.

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Symptoms of shingles

The first sign of shingles is usually excessively sensitive, tingling or burning skin where the shingles rash subsequently appears. The area is often painful. At the same time, you may experience fever, headache and enlarged lymph nodes.

After a few days, the characteristic shingles rash appears as a band or patch of red spots on the side of the trunk or face. It usually appears on one side only. The rash develops into fluid-filled blisters that then collapse, forming small ulcers. These dry out and form crusts.

A common complication of shingles is pain in the area of the rash that persists after it has disappeared, called post-herpetic neuralgia which is more likely to occur the older you are.

Image info: Photo of shingles rash. This image has usage restrictions. Please contact CMSP for usage info.


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