Genetically altered mice are “superathletes”

Friday, November 2, 2007

Researchers at Case Western University in Cleveland, Ohio have announced the creation of transgenic mice with substantially improved athletic endurance, which live and breed longer and are more aggressive than genetically unmodified siblings, and are leaner despite consuming 60% more food. The mice have been dubbed “mighty mice” or “supermice” by the popular press and have been compared to cyclist Lance Armstrong.

The changes were created by adding an extra copy of a single gene, PEPCK-C. This gene is already present in the mouse genome, but the modified gene is designed to be strongly active (transcribed) in skeletal muscle. (The natural copy of the gene, most active in the liver, continues to function normally). The gene mediates a crucial rate controlling step of gluconeogenesis and glyceroneogenesis, and its activity helps to allow energy production by the mitochondrial citric acid cycle. In the transgenics, more energy is available to muscle through the burning of fatty acids, with much less production of lactate (a chemical that leads to sore muscles when one exercises). This is not as major a change to the mouse genome as it might seem to the layperson. The PEPCK-C gene is already present in the mouse and a variety of natural mutations could likely cause similar results. The study appears today in the Journal of Biological Chemistry in a paper with lead author Parvin Hakimi from the laboratory of Richard W. Hanson.

The altered mice can run at 20 meters per minute (0.75 miles per hour or 1.2 kilometers per hour) for up to six kilometers (nearly four miles) without stopping. The average treadmill time for strenuous exercise on a 25-degree incline is 31.9 minutes, well in excess of the 19 minute average of unmodified mice. Females can breed at two and a half years of age, whereas most female mice cannot breed after the first year.

A colony of 500 mice has been bred, starting from six independent germline transformations (“founder” mice). The level of PEPCK-C in muscle is 9 units per gram of muscle as opposed to only 0.08 in normal mice. Levels of triglycerides and the number of mitochondria are also increased.

Hanson said that he did not expect that the results would be applicable to humans due to both practical and ethical considerations in addition to the fact that the genes might not function the same way in humans.

This is not the first time that the press has dubbed a genetically modified mouse a “mighty mouse”. Earlier scientists at John Hopkins University announced that they had made mice with massively increased muscle mass that were larger and stronger than their normal cousins. These alterations increased strength rather than endurance through the genetic modification of myostatin and follistatin, or by injection of a soluble form of ACVR2B to block myostatin activity in normal mice.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Genetically_altered_mice_are_%22superathletes%22&oldid=4577608”

40 alleged drunken Santas accused of running amok

Monday, December 19, 2005File:Santarchy new zealand.jpg

The conduct by a group of ‘Santas’ making an unclear statement last Saturday is not appreciated in the business district of Auckland, New Zealand. The event, organized in the discussion forum of an online skateboard magazine, caused big media publicity.

Alex Dyer, spokesman for the group, stated that Santarchy in Auckland is part of a worldwide phenomenon. It is disputed if Santarchy is a protest against the commercialization of Christmas or not.

Auckland Central Police spokesperson Noreen Hegarty said to the press that the rampage began in the early part of the afternoon when men wearing ill-fitting Santa costumes threw beer bottles and urinated on cars from an overpass, then rushed through a central city park, overturning garbage bins, throwing bottles at passing cars and spraying graffiti on office buildings.

“They came in, said ‘Merry Christmas’ and then helped themselves,” said a convenience store staff member Changa Manakynda, according to local newspapers.

One writer using the pseudonym ‘Le_SigNagE’ on the Santarchy! (or also known as the Santacon) website commented, “… after all, this is what Christmas is really about… mindless vandalism and petty theft.”

Another writer who posted under the pseudonym Santy Claus said of the media coverage,”There was some major misreporting and Chinese whispers. Breaking bottles and urinating under a bridge, became throwing rocks at buses and urinating on cars from an overpass. The ‘organisers’ as they were, saw little in the way of crime other than one santa attempting to board a foreign vessel by scaling 20 metres along a rope 60 feet in the air. The difficulty and motor skills involved in this task alone should be a defense in itself of being ‘drunk’ and ‘disorderly’.”

Due to Santa’s reputation for integrity and his strict media policy, his sparse communication is mostly one-way: receiving lists from children with wishes for Christmas. It is difficult to get his comment about New Zealands skateboard interested ‘Santas’.

In 1994, the Cacophony Society staged the world’s very first SantaCon in San Francisco. Influenced by the surrealist movement Discordianism, and other subversive art currents.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=40_alleged_drunken_Santas_accused_of_running_amok&oldid=3888395”

Important Information On Dentists And Dentistry Tucson Az

Important Information on Dentists and Dentistry Tucson AZ

by

Adams Paul

Smiles are infectious and can be used to heal the world. This statement is nothing short of the truth. It s important for people to smile and this is possible when proper care of teeth is observed. The first step of achieving this is by seeking the most appropriate dentists and dentistry Tucson AZ services. Although there are numerous facilities to choose from, it s advisable to go only for the one that maintains exceptional standards of hygiene. In Tucson AZ, there are several options available so rest assured that you ll be able to get the best services at competitive prices. Always ensure that you work with one dentist who ll be responsible for maintaining oral care for you and your family members.

Significance of Visiting Dentists Frequently

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY2bgadHh-c[/youtube]

Many people in Tucson AZ disregard the important role that dentists play in their lives. This is why most of them will only seek them when they have tooth problems. This should not be the case, however. It s generally advisable to have a family dentist to take care of all teeth related problems even before they become obvious. Gum diseases and mouth infections can be detected early enough when one visits the dentist for the recommended number of times, which is twice very year. In case you ignore such warnings, you may end up appending thousands of dollars for complex surgeries. Save time and money by working with dentists and dentistry Tucson AZ.

The Benefits of Oral Care

Dentist Tucson AZ

services can really boost one s self-esteem. This is due to the fact that bad oral hygiene can lead to a poor personality and affect general physical well-being as a result. No one wants to be around a person with bad teeth. So, prevent embarrassments and tortures by maintaining proper oral hygiene. Remember, your overall health can easily be improved by simply taking good care of your teeth. There are various simple procedures that can guarantee good oral health such as flossing and using braces for misaligned teeth.

Conclusion

Ensure that you conduct a detailed research when choosing Dentists and dentistry Tucson AZ. Only opt for those offering specialized treatment for complicated procedures since their services are costlier. Go for a dentist who can work with medical insurance and is less expensive as well. The location of the clinic in Tucson AZ needs to be in a convenient place because this means you ll not be required to travel for many miles in order to arrive there.

Author of this article Adams Paul giving much attention on the topic Dentist Tucson AZ and try to spread awareness for Dentistry Tucson.

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

Dead body left in UK hospital alongside living patients for seven hours

Thursday, August 14, 2008

A dead body was left in a ward in Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, Scotland for seven hours before it was removed.

Christine Martin, who saw the body, said that although there were curtains around the body, they “were open sufficiently for me to see this man, whom we had got to know over a period of 10 days, lying dead, face uncovered.”

Officials from the hospital have apologized for having allowed the incident to occur. The son of the dead man said that the hospital acted with “utter compassion” when permitting his request to see his father’s dead body in the ward.

National Health Service Greater Glasgow and Clyde said in a statement that, “we have acknowledged to the Martins that, beyond this, there was some delay in the transfer of the patient to the mortuary and steps have already been taken to ensure that this does not happen again.”

The Royal College of Nursing also released a statement on this incident. “The normal practice if someone has died in a four-bedded ward is to access a single room where the deceased could be viewed by the family and the family can have some time with the relative, and for that to be done in as dignified manner as possible,” said Lynn McDowall, a professional officer for the organization. “This case highlights the campaign we’re running and highlights the kind of problems nurses come across, because no nurse would want a deceased patient lying on a ward for seven hours.”

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Dead_body_left_in_UK_hospital_alongside_living_patients_for_seven_hours&oldid=4627123”

‘The Gates’ opens in New York City

Wednesday, February 16, 2005

New York, New York —On February 12, 2005, at 8:30 a.m., New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg dropped the first piece of fabric in The Gates, a land art project by Christo and Jeanne Claude.

The artists installed 7,500 metal “gates” along 23 miles of pathways in New York City’s Central Park. Each gate supported a flag-shaped piece of saffron fabric. The project is scheduled to run from Feb. 12, 2005 through Feb. 27, 2005. The project is sometimes referred to as “The Gates, Central Park, New York, 1979-2005″ in reference to the time between the artists’ initial proposal and the present day.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=%27The_Gates%27_opens_in_New_York_City&oldid=1089693”

Undergoing Rhinoplasty In Los Angeles Can Be Your Best Option

Undergoing rhinoplasty in Los Angeles can be your best option

by

Andrewphil7

Thanks to the mammoth growth of technology in recent eras, nowadays everything seems possible as far as giving any touch to your looks is concerned. As one of the most common procedures out there in the world of medical health treatments today, rhinoplasty aka nose job has become very important and a huge number of people all over have started opting for this particular type of surgery. There is no doubt that in current times, the trend of facial makeover has got new meanings thanks to the boost of rhinoplasty. The techniques used during a rhinoplasty are based on superior technology and as a consequence, there is less time spent in improving post surgery.

Considering the fact that rhinoplasty is a critical surgical procedure, understanding the detail of the treatment is an essential part of feeling confident in the results. For example the surgical technique of a closed rhinoplasty differs from the one used for an open rhinoplasty. For an open rhinoplasty, the cartilage is spread open in its entirety, giving surgeons more space for working. An open rhinoplasty is also superior in terms of the kind of change that can be done to the tip of the nose, as well as to the hump of the nose. There are many such things that must be taken into consideration before you opt for any rhinoplasty in Los Angeles. Of course, those who are considering a rhinoplasty may not know all these medical aspects but that s why you need a good doctor to take care of the whole thing. An accomplished surgeon will be certain that the proper precautions are taken in all different steps of the rhinoplasty, and full sedation is used to ensure that patients will be comfortable for the duration of the entire procedure.

As here we are emphasizing on Los Angeles cosmetic surgery scenario here, there is no doubt that this is one of the best places where you can come for a safe and most effective surgery. No matter what your need is, doctors here are all willing to help you. Los Angeles is a city full of both sides of the coin, but predominately Los Angeles has a very high cost of living and therefore the medical treatments can often be very expensive. However if you are willing to pay then you can get anything here! People from different parts of the globe not only come to Los Angeles but even Beverly Hills plastic surgery has been quite popular. Rhinoplasty in Los Angeles has become so very popular because the surgeons here offer the best equipment, the best qualifications, and the most procedures to the masses in order to make money and help make others stay beautiful. Some of the unique benefits of medical treatments in Los Angeles are:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drwrkQeWVOU[/youtube]

Los Angeles cosmetic surgery has many top notch procedures for their customers.

These facilities a procedure for making your breast smaller or making them bigger. Most usually the procedure is for breast augmentation where there is little scaring left.

If you want your chin or forehead worked on, these Los Angeles surgery clinics will also perform lifts on these areas of your head.

If you want to look younger, try the laser cosmetic surgery offered by the Los Angeles cosmetic surgery clinics.

Enhance your beauty by

rhinoplasty in los angeles

.In

Beverly hills plastic surgery

is also done by doctors of Ordon Chopra Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

Article Source:

ArticleRich.com

Riots in Île-de-France : 70 arrested after 200 cars burned

Friday, July 15, 2005

About 200 cars were burned by young people on the night of July 13 in Île-de-France, the metropolitan area of Paris. As the police cars arrived, youths began to pelt the vehicles with rocks, firecrackers and bottles. Rioters broke store windows at Argenteuil. Police used flash-balls and smoke grenades. The riots ended with 70 men being arrested. A police officer was wounded by a rocket and was taken to hospital. Shop windows were broken at Argenteuil. It is not the first time vehicles have been attacked on 13-14 July in France.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Riots_in_Île-de-France_:_70_arrested_after_200_cars_burned&oldid=518250”

Latest trial of the One Laptop Per Child running in India; Uruguay orders 100,000 machines

Thursday, November 8, 2007

India is the latest of the countries where the One Laptop Per Child (OLPC) experiment has started. Children from the village of Khairat were given the opportunity to learn how to use the XO laptop. During the last year XO was distributed to children from Arahuay in Peru, Ban Samkha in Thailand, Cardal in Uruguay and Galadima in Nigeria. The OLPC team are, in their reports on the startup of the trials, delighted with how the laptop has improved access to information and ability to carry out educational activities. Thailand’s The Nation has praised the project, describing the children as “enthusiastic” and keen to attend school with their laptops.

Recent good news for the project sees Uruguay having ordered 100,000 of the machines which are to be given to children aged six to twelve. Should all go according to plan a further 300,000 machines will be purchased by 2009 to give one to every child in the country. As the first to order, Uruguay chose the OLPC XO laptop over its rival from Intel, the Classmate PC. In parallel with the delivery of the laptops network connectivity will be provided to schools involved in the project.

The remainder of this article is based on Carla G. Munroy’s Khairat Chronicle, which is available from the OLPC Wiki. Additional sources are listed at the end.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Latest_trial_of_the_One_Laptop_Per_Child_running_in_India;_Uruguay_orders_100,000_machines&oldid=2526562”

Want To Keep Your Immune System Healthy Keep Your Teeth Clean

Respiratory infections can be caught at any time of the year. The standard advice for the prevention of these sicknesses is to wash your hands and keep your immune system healthy by eating properly and exercising regularly. Washing your hands is one way of keeping the hundreds of different bacteria and viruses from getting into your system. Individuals with lower immune systems are more susceptible to infections, since your immune system helps to defend the body, if and when a virus slips in.

In addition to the standard advice, a less publicized approach to healthy living and avoiding a respiratory infection is to keep your teeth clean. Here’s why:

1. There are 400-500 species of bacteria that live in your mouth. Viruses can use bacteria as “factories” to grow and multiply. If a virus makes its way into your mouth (usually from touching your hands to your mouth or biting your nails), the fewer bacteria in your mouth, the less likely the virus will grow.

2. Periodontal disease is caused by plaque producing bacteria. The body in defense of the periodontal disease releases cytokines. These cytokines trigger your blood-making organs to constantly fight or defend themselves, thus weakening the body’s immune system to fight other infections.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZknUbXOOjfA[/youtube]

3. Periodontal disease is a potential contributing factor for respiratory diseases, according to the American Academy of Periodontology.

The bacteria that cause periodontal disease and are taxing your immune system are breeding right now in the perfect environment of your mouth. They love the cozy, moist, dark, warm and acidic ecosystem, which is constantly being fed by carbohydrates. The areas between the teeth are particularly good breeding grounds because the damaging bacteria thrive in the absence of oxygen. The bacteria grow rapidly – actually doubling their count every hour. There are more bacteria in your mouth than people on the planet Earth. The excrement or bi-product of the bacteria is what forms the sticky film that is a constant challenge to remove and what is called plaque.

Symptoms of periodontal infection are often not noticeable until the disease is advanced. Some of the symptoms include: bad breath that will not go away, red or swollen gums, tender or bleeding gums, loose teeth, or sensitive teeth. A dentist can diagnose the disease in the early stages, prior to individuals realizing they have it. Because 85% of the population have some degree of periodontal disease, it is extremely important to get regular dental check ups. Professional cleanings at a dental office are recommended every six months. Periodontal disease is the most widespread disease on earth.

Visiting a dentist is only one half of the prevention equation. Daily home care is as important. Periodontal disease is prevented by thoroughly cleaning your teeth, requiring the removal of the resilient bacteria. A toothbrush does a good job in removing the bacteria from the high spots, but unfortunately, not in between teeth. In addition, most conscientious individuals who try to do a “better” job at cleaning their teeth, end up with toothbrush abrasion. This ridge between the tooth and gum line expose the root. The area then is sensitive to hot, cold, sweets and acids, and requires composites that must be repeatedly replaced.

Flossing is important both in the prevention and the control of periodontal disease according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Because it is a laborious task to floss, most people don’t. The ADA reported that only about 5% of the population actually flosses. In addition, only 18 – 35% of the plaque between teeth is removed when one does floss, according to The Journal of Clinical Periodontology. Flossing can also move the contagious periodontal disease from an infected site to an uninfected site. Although oral irrigators are meant to replace flossing, they can’t cut through plaque’s sticky biofilm since they only use water.

Once afflicted, patients with periodontal disease control it by a disciplined and meticulous oral cleaning regimen, both at the dental office and at home. Professional treatment may require below the gum line scraping, three-month check ups instead of the traditional six-month, and a prescription oral rinse.

Oral health is critical to total health. There is evidence that point to a link between periodontal disease and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), among which is emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Sixteen million Americans suffer from COPD and it is the 6th leading cause of mortality in the US. Studies published in the Journal of Periodontology found that patients with periodontal disease have a 1.5x greater risk of COPD.

The American Academy of Periodontology reported that, “Bacteria that grow in the oral cavity can be aspirated into the lung to cause respiratory diseases such as pneumonia, especially in people with periodontal disease.” The bacteria that are multiplying in the mouth are not only being used as factories for the viruses but are also being breathed into the susceptible lungs.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services suggests that there are over 1 billion respiratory infections each year in the US. Avoid illness – wash your hands, keep them out of your mouth, eat healthy, exercise AND clean your teeth.

Article Source: sooperarticles.com/health-fitness-articles/dental-care-articles/want-keep-your-immune-system-healthy-keep-your-teeth-clean-14526.html

About Author:

P., Piero DDS a practicing dentist and inventor of Dental Air Force® dentalairforce.com and “Baci The Dental Dog”.Author: P Piero

Triple limb-reattachment fails – boy loses foot

Tuesday, April 5, 2005Terry Vo, the 10-year old Australian boy who had two hands and a foot reattached by surgeons after losing them in an accident, has had to have the foot re-amputated. He will be given a prosthetic foot in its place.

The operation to re-attach three limbs was thought to have been a first – but was ultimately unsuccessful, with the foot having died inside, and receiving insufficient blood supply following the surgery to reattach it.

“That would lead to the small muscles in the foot actually constricting, the toes bending over and a deformed …. foot that is sort of clawed over and doesn’t have good sensation,” said plastic surgeon, Mr Robert Love today, on Australia’s ABC Radio.

“Even if you can get all of that to survive, he [would be] worse off than having had an amputation.”

“What is very disappointing is that for the first two days after [the operation] the foot looked absolutely magnificent,” he said.

Terry’s hands were healing well, said the surgeon. The prosthetic foot would allow him to walk normally, since his knee was intact.

Retrieved from “https://en.wikinews.org/w/index.php?title=Triple_limb-reattachment_fails_-_boy_loses_foot&oldid=440128”