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theantarwitch · 6 months ago

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About medicine in witchcraft: Health spells, Professional Healers and Unprofessional scammers (And two healing spells from me)

Lately I have been seeing a dangerous amount of medical dangerous videos in our usual witchy spaces (specially in Instagram, since I refuse to use TikTok) and that bring me here in one of my long rants who nobody really cares. But, as a healer with lot of medical background, I have to.

First, for the love of your deity, don’t take these damn vids seriously. I’m not a doctor but I know enough that a huge ton of what they put there is medical misinformation dressed as mystical powers.

I’m not asking you to become a doctor, but at least remember: Physical symptoms are NEVER caused by one single illness, and you HAVE to rule out all the possible physical illness before even consider it a symptom of your superpowers.

Yes, some minor things like a random ear ringing or a random tingle on your hand doesn’t need you to run to ER, but at least THINK about mundane causes to it.

Your ear ring? Are you using headphones a lot? Loud music? You shower and water entered on your ear? You are taking meds? Stress? Your neck is stiff and affecting your inner ear? You are neurodivergent?

Your hand tingle? Is the same hand in what you use your phone 20 hours at day? You sleep over that arm? Your shoulder is stiff? You use a mousse a lot? You practice a sport and the nerves are tired? Did you drink coffee or Red Bulls?

And I’m not even mention REAL illnesses, this is just a bunch of mundane causes! So how you dare to believe in more deeper topics of spiritual stuffs, if you have zero critical thinking in something so mundane and basic as your own body? How you plan to be an efficient witch if you don’t even doubt about these things? How you even dare to talk about your deity if you believe anything as a sign?

An advanced witch bases their path in three big needs:

Need of study (Books or google, spend months or YEARS reading and learning)

Need of critical thinking (Think, think and ask, be curious and compare data, question it)

Need of wise skepticism (Don’t fall into the “The government want me to believe this but I’m smarter” or “Vaccines do harm, people don’t need calcium, there is brick’s dust on ketchup” kind of mindset (Yes, these are things I heard). That’s not skepticism, that’s being a Facebook Boomer Mom. Skepticism is question everything and to always be suspicious, but is neither “don’t believe in anything because I’m so smart that I can see the lies”.

And healers, my beloved healers. As one, I have to say it on the most real way: LEARN SOME MEDICINE. Specially before to do public claiming that can really hurt others.

Why learn medicine? Because as happened once… A lovely lady did a spell to lose weight. She got gastroenteritis and spent a week on the bathroom. She lost weight? Yes. In a dangerous unhealthy way? Yes. She recovers her weight back after go to the doc? Absolutely.

The body is a fine machine, a ton of process, hormones, parts, that you will always ignore and omit.

Another big mistake: “Spell to Boost my Metabolism”. Do you even know what a metabolism is? What it does? Do you even know that it has three main functions of metabolism? (Conversion of the energy to run cellular processes; conversion to building block of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and some carbohydrates; and the elimination of metabolic wastes). When you “boost your metabolism”, what you are aiming to do? You even know what your body need of these three…

“Spell to boost my Immune System”… Again, what part? Do you even know that your immune system is “slow” or it is just working against an illness as it should? (Reaction is not the same than an immunodeficiency) Are you aware that your body can be doing great and you will be pushing to get an overactive immune system? (And getting Asthma, Eczema, Hay fever, Food allergy and any other kind of allergy, Lupus, Type 1 Diabetes, Inflammatory bowel disease, Celiac, etc.).

Please, if you use “detox spell” in any way, just stop. Period.

If you are not willing to spend a couple of weeks at least in the damn Wikipedia, or you are in a rush, at least aim big and general, do a classic “Health/Healing spell”, that is focused on that, bring health where is needed. “My body gets healthier. My body gets health where is needed” It can’t go wrong, since you purposely don’t specify where or which part, you just do a “Somewhere I need it, and since I can’t know it, the Cosmos may know it and aid me”. If you need spells to focus a healing in a body part, maybe you need a doc, not a spell…. (Get a doc. If is so simple to not need a doc, then your body will do it without need a spell anyway)

You can also do the same with Physical Strength Spells (again aiming to boost what you don’t know what it needs to be boosted and avoiding to boost something that it DOESN’T NEED IT).

And if you are a Healer who really want to have a 90% of effectiveness on focalized and specialized healing spells, then time to study. You will need to know about hormones, chemicals, physical process, all the systems, nerves, bones, nutrition, meds… And pretty much being able to discuss with you client (to put in a way) about literally all their medical history.

And a gently offer to anyone who actually read all this shit, I give a couple of “simple” ideas for you all:

Regeneration Spell: Just a Healing spell, aimed to “attack” where is needed, but it focusses in a cellular level. General Healing spells usually are so general that include things like disposal of waste, mineral absorption, water absorption, digestion, hair growing, skin growing, muscle develop, and pretty much EVERYTHING that’s happening on your body right now, even including the gut bacteria. A Regeneration Spell will focus in each single cell of your body, from skin to bone, to neurons, to T Cells from your immune system. All. Something that your body do (except with the neurons) but that get slower with the age. This spell focus on restores damaged or missing cells to full function (you can help it to happen better with a good balanced diet, some basic exercise, proper sleep, and trying to reduce stress)

Big warning. BE SPECIFIC “My cells will get regenerated where my body need it to be healthy and in full function” or something like that. Why SO specific if the healing spells are general? Because Cancer.

Yes. Cancer. A cancerous tumor is failed cell of your own body. Our beloved bodies kill around six infected or cancer cells each DAY. Eventually (if you live enough or if your immune system gets weak) one of them will grow your body be on troubles. If you do a regeneration spell without that proper aim, you will also help to any cancer cell to regenerate, hence you can cause you a HUGE DEAL in a future. Will not happen 100% of the cases, many of these tumors can be not cancerous (benign) yet give you problems.

How do the spell? Just as any healing spell. Do your way.

Homeostasis Spell: What’s is homeostasis? Is the condition of optimal functioning for the organism, a state of steady internal physical and chemical conditions maintained by living systems. Is a stable self-regulated process of equilibrium between interdependent elements. In simple words, is the perfect state of full pure health of your body. Is a healing spell without the “but”.

What it affects? ALL in the most basic small internal way. Body temperature, fluid balance, the pH of extracellular fluid, the concentrations of ions, blood sugar, oxygen, hormones, etc. If the body do it properly, then is balanced, in an optimal functioning, hence healing itself without big issues.

This spell helps specially (or BOOST) the body on regulate itself despite the many changes in the environment, diet, or level of activity. In this case, you don’t need to be specific, since homeostasis seek for health naturally. Do your regular healing spell but like “My body reach homeostasis”.

So. Rant and all made, I think is time for me to shut up. See you around, and check if you need drink water, sleep, rest, stretch, food, meds or hygiene!

#witchcraft #witch #pagan #paganism #witchy #green witch #witches #advance witch #advanced witchcraft #healer #healing #heath spells #spells #medicine #witchblr

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rayarmat · 3 years ago

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Bee Venom Against Diabetes, Asthma, Cancer and COVID-19?

Bee venom is a biotoxin which can cause severe allergic reactions in some people due to the excessive stress response of the immune system. At the same time, bee venom and its main polypeptide component melttin, are linked, similar to expensive chemotherapeutic agents, to variety of cancer management effects including apoptosis, necrosis, cytotoxicity and mitochondrial disruption, inhibition of angiogenesis, metastasis and invasion of cancer cells, including prostate, breast, lung, liver and bladder.

Bee venom therapy, has also been used in traditional medicine to treat diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, rheumatism, pain, tumors, and skin diseases.

Melittin, is a non-selective cytolytic peptide which binds to negatively charged phospholipid bilayers membrane surfaces and therefore, physically and chemically disrupts all prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell membranes including our red blood cells, hence its biotoxic effect.

New research published by an international team of scientists proposes the use of bee venom as a potential adjuvant against COVID-19. The authors indicate the potential of bee venom to disrupt the protective membrane envelopes or the replication of a wide variety of enveloped and non-enveloped viruses, including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Coxsackievirus, Enterovirus, Influenza A Viruses, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), H1N1, Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), Junín Virus (JV), Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV) and Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV).

The authors point out that bee venom, in low doses and controlled dilute concentrations, triggers a range of anti-inflammatory responses, and have been deployed for management of diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, heart disease, obesity, asthma, skin diseases, and central nervous system-associated diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and sclerosis. At low doses, bee venom can suppress inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α).

Separately, another research group in India has also suggested the use of micro-dosed melittin-in-surfactant compounds or coconut oil-melittin nanoemulsions as a nasal spray to prevent against ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome) associated with SARS-CoV-2.

Data published in sciencedirect.com indicates that beekeepers living in the epicenter of the SARS-CoV-2 virus did not contract the virus, and neither did a group of patients receiving apitherapy. A total of 5115 beekeepers were surveyed from February 23 to March 8, 2020, including 723 in Wuhan, the outbreak epicentre of Hubei. None of these beekeepers developed symptoms associated with COVID-19, and their health was totally normal.

The co-authors pointed out that “It reminds us the story of the discovery of cowpox and the eventual victory of humans over this disease.”

There is little known about the interactions of bee venom and melittin with SARS-COV-2 infection. In vitro antiviral assay results post melittin-treatments have shown significant decrease in the SARS-CoV-2 viral loads compared to the untreated group. Animal injection studies show melittin wrapped in nanoparticles increases the number of immune cells such as CD8+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, NK cells, and monocytes. In humans, these cells all play an important role in control of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Other studies show that bee venom can activate T regulatory cells that control runaway inflammation (Cytokine storms).

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One big caveat to the observation in Wuhan is the tolerance developed in those beekeepers to bee stings: “These people have one thing in common: they develop a tolerance to bee sting,” wrote lead author Wei Yang, an oncologist from China and two associates. In other words, bee venom is not immunogenic to certain people who are raised in cohabitation with, or live near bee colonies. For the rest of people who are in big polluted cities and away from feral bee colonies, and therefore, unsure of their reaction to bee venom, I would advise caution.

Related paper:

#bee #COVID19

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lscgroup6 · 4 years ago

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Examples of the Seven C’s in Media

Example #1:

Source Tweet: @Oregonian “Biden admin announces partnership between rivals Merck and Johnson & Johnson to make COVID-19 vaccine trib.al/sHORAGw” Twitter, 2 March 2021, https://twitter.com/Oregonian/status/1366760742343626755?s=20 @CenterPovIneq “The pandemic has created a new risk divide. Face-to-face workers bear disproportionate health and economic risks, while remote workers are more protected from those risks” Twitter, 2 March 2021, https://twitter.com/CenterPovIneq/status/1366837210364841984

This tweet, with its attached article from the Oregonian, explains how the struggles that Johnson & Johnson were having impacted the number of vaccines they could produce and distribute. President Biden has brought these two rival companies together to overcome this problem of too few vaccines with a country that already has a shortage of vaccines. This bringing together of rival companies for a shared goal reminds me of one of the seven C’s that Komives describes in their text: Collaboration. Collaboration is the bringing together of two or more people, companies, or communities to work together towards a common goal. This is a wonderful example of two companies, putting aside their differences to hopefully help the people and get everyone vaccinated.

Example #2

@CenterPovIneq “The pandemic has created a new risk divide. Face-to-face workers bear disproportionate health and economic risks, while remote workers are more protected from those risks” Twitter, 2 March 2021, https://twitter.com/CenterPovIneq/status/1366837210364841984

Many low-income workers have questioned whether it is safe to work, especially those who do not have access to healthcare. Most of the face-to-face workers are disproportionately impacted because most of the jobs requiring people to work, “do not provide the means necessary to provide healthcare” (Grusky, 2021). The post also emphasises workers who are immunodeficient and have no choice but to not work, or else they face getting ill. Healthcare in the United States is impacted by employers who offer healthcare to their employees, however, it is a complicated predicament to be unemployed, thus uninsured, which then highlights the population of working class people that are disproportionately at risk.

Example #3

Source tweet: @GHS twitter, 2 March 2021 https://twitter.com/GHS/status/1351576448927215618?s=20 This tweet explains how congruence is not working. Public policies have not congruent with the corona virus's severity. It is scientifically proven that masks, social distancing, and avoiding large gatherings will slow the corona virus's spread. It has now been a year since the pandemic started, and everyone wants normalcy but has failed to follow public policies laid out to keep them safe, and many public policies are being lifted and or weakened as cases spike.

Example #4:

The World Health Organization (WHO) has a strong influence within global medical issues, and with one hundred ninety four member states involved, they are able to extend their outreach to many unique communities and struggling individuals. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, they have taken a strong stance in personal protection, but also global safety, as they have continuously advocated for basic human health rights to be met. This Instagram post by the WHO account is an excellent example of Common Purpose as the organization utilizes its respected presence to assert that all individuals are susceptible to COVID-19, and the only way affected nations will be able to combat this deadly virus is by collectively protecting one another and staying healthy. There is also a call for a higher need of Collaboration, as all members of the world should unify in this current fight against COVID-19, but WHO’s powerful statement, “viruses don’t discriminate and neither should we,” ultimately demonstrates how this global organization recognizes the large amount of discriminations within established healthcare systems. Through defining our Common Purpose, which is COVID-19, and Collaborating with those around us, a greater amount of change will be achieved, and systematic discriminations will finally be addressed.

(World Health Organization [@WHO]. 2021, February 1. Today is #ZeroDiscrimination Day. ANYONE can contract #COVID19 regardless of race, gender, age or other personal qualities. We need solidarity, NOT stigma in fighting against the spread of COVID-19 [Instagram Photograph]. Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/p/CL42q1uj4bP/?igshid=1bz20d7urutwb. )

Resources Komives, S. R. (2017). Leadership for a better world: Understanding the social change model of leadership development. Jossey-Bass.

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lupinepublishers-ojnbd · 4 years ago

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Lupine Publishers | The Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation among People Living With HIV and Aids Attending Art Clinic at Adult Centre of Excellence University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka

Abstract

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Background: Suicidal ideation has long been associated with HIV infected populations worldwide. It has been found that HIV does not only attack the immune system of an individual but also the nervous system leading to psychological dysfunction of an individual. Objective: To establish the prevalence of suicidal ideation among people living with HIV and AIDS. Method: A cross sectional quantitative design was adopted. Systematic random sampling method was used to select the sample. The total sample comprised of 280 participants. A social demographic questionnaire and Suicidal Risk Screening Scale (SRSS) were used to collect data. Results: The study findings from the SRSS test revealed that (n=193, 69%) of the participants had lower suicide risk while (n=87, 31%) fell into the higher suicide risk category. The study therefore showed that the prevalence of suicidal ideation was 31%. Conclusion: Suicidal ideation was prevalent among people living with HIV and Aids.

Keywords: Suicidal ideation; Human immunodeficiency virus; Psychological dysfunction

Introduction

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IHuman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) was first reported in 1981 and has since become a major worldwide epidemic. HIV attacks the immune system of the body and causes the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) [1]. When an individual has HIV the body becomes susceptible to diseases since the immune system has been reduced and can neither fight infections nor protect the person from diseases. This condition tends to trigger different psychological challenges among the people who are infected [2] found that since 1990, 271 or nearly 2% of approximately 14,000 people living with HIV who died in the United Kingdom had taken their own lives, and the proportion of deaths due to suicide had increased in the period since effective HIV treatment became available. It is generally believed that non-adherence to treatment is an expression of suicidal thoughts. The evidence from literature reveals that those who make suicidal attempts have seriously thought about doing so earlier. Sub-Saharan Africa has one of the highest global prevalence rates of HIV and AIDS. There are an estimated 24.7 million (23.5-26.1 million) People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA) in sub-Saharan Africa [3]. The infection is more prevalent in Africa among developing countries and South Africa is considered to be one of the world’s worst affected by HIV and AIDS and about 5.7 million people are affected and one in three pregnant women are living with HIV and AIDS [4].

Zambia being a developing country has not been spared from prevalence of HIV, and the adult HIV prevalence rate stood at 14.3% in 2007 [5] and is still high at 12.5% [3]. Furthermore, the knowledge of HIV status has major implications for individuals who are positive with the infection. A study conducted in South Africa among PLWHA revealed that 24% who were tested had suicidal ideation [6]. In South Africa, many suicides and attempted suicides go unreported, but available statistics are alarming, with prevalence rate of between 17-25 per 100,000 of the population and an attempted suicide ratio of about 1:20 [7]. Suicide accounts for about 9.5% of non-natural deaths in young people and 11% in adults in the country, with the average age of suicide being 35 years and for suicide attempts 20-29 years followed by the 10- 19-year age group. Consequently suicidal ideation, attempts, and completions remain alarmingly common among people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA), despite a recorded decline in suicide rates since the advent of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) in the 1990s to levels comparable with those of other chronic disease afflicted populations [7].

Statement of the problem

Suicidal ideation is one of the public concerns among people living with HIV and AIDS. Suicidal thinking may occur among people living with HIV and AIDS, triggering harmful impacts on the quality of life, treatment adherence, and disease progression [8]. The HIV and AIDS infection attacks the immune and nervous systems leading to psychological dysfunction. Prolonged conditions of HIV and AIDS subject people to suicidal ideation and attempted suicide and in some cases lives have been lost [8] and [7]. Suicidal ideations are significantly common among persons living with HIV and AIDS compared to non-infected controls and have been reported in most cases to be associated with psychiatric disorder [9]. Yet the psychosocial factors contributing to these psychiatric disorders remain unreported, particularly in the developing country context and mostly, in sub-Saharan African countries [10]. In Zambia, there has been no evidence of research publications on the prevalence of suicidal ideation among people living with HIV and AIDS. Therefore, this research sought to investigate the prevalence of suicidal ideation among people living with HIV and AIDS.

Objective of the study

To investigate the prevalence of suicidal ideation among people living with HIV and AIDS attending ART clinic at Adult Centre of Excellence at UTH in Lusaka.

Literature Review

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Introduction

High rates of suicide and accidental or violent death have also been described in HIV infected populations including in those receiving effective ART [11]. The extent to which HIV infection is also associated with increased risk of suicidal ideation is not well documented. Hence, most HIV-related studies focus on suicide as an endpoint [12]. As such this has resulted in less studies focussing on the aspect of prevalence suicidal ideation. According to [13,14]. Suicidal thought involves a range of suicidal behaviours, which sometimes may be fatal or non-fatal. In a study of British private households, some researchers found differences in the risk pattern of suicidal thoughts compared to completed suicide [15]. In that study the incidence of suicidal thoughts was seen to be over 200 times greater than the incidence of suicide. Therefore, from the literature given, people living with HIV and AIDS tend to be more subjected to negative thoughts which lead to poor quality of life with suicidal thoughts.

Neurological changes

The researchers [16] stated that the nervous system is the worst impaired system in HIV condition after the immune systems. This dysfunction has an effect on the psychological aspect of PLWHA which makes them vulnerable to self-harming. Several studies have reported that, HIV infection has an effect on neuropsychological functioning ranging from mild to severe [17]. Hence, neurological changes are some of the causes of suicidal ideation as these substrates also affect the ability to initiate action or thought and regulate mood, and they promote persistent perseveration dysfunctions [18,19]. These neurological changes may bring about negative thoughts towards physical appearances and psychological dysfunctions.

In addition, the prevalence of self-harm or suicidal ideation will tend to persist in the condition of repeated suicidal thinking among individuals living with HIV and AIDS. Therefore, Emotional difficulties along with the tendency for perseveration may influence the ability to think about problems while impairing the ability to think logically. In fact, according to [20] adults who have a ruminative personality style are more likely to contemplate suicide. These adults are likely to become stressed up on negative issues as they go into deeper thoughts with anxiety. Consequently, more severe side effects of ART, detectable HIV viral load, and a critically low T-helper CD4 cell counts may also be related to suicidal ideation. As individuals have low CD4 cell counts, they are subjected to poor health conditions in which contracting of multiple infections cannot be prevented and suicidal ideation is likely to persist on their psychological well-being [21].

Suicidal Ideation and its Prevalence

Suicidal thinking may occur among individuals with HIV and AIDS, triggering profound harmful impacts on the quality of life, treatment adherence, disease progression, and mortality [22]. Hence, suicidal ideation has been commonly found in some studies as psychiatric disorders. The prevalence of suicidal ideation in another study revealed that such disorders may arise as a direct result of HIV neuro- invasion or psychosocial stressors, or due to complications of ART [23,24]. As such HIV has increased frequency and severity of both suicidal ideation and thoughts of death among adults. The risk of suicide is especially high for patients who are at serious points in the course of HIV infection. Suicidal ideation has been proved to be found in a study of adults living with HIV and AIDS, in which [25] reported that those who self-rated their medication side effects and HIV related symptoms as being severe were more likely to report suicidal ideation. The prevalence of such high rates of suicidal ideation indicates that the stressors associated with HIV are severe enough to have an impact on the quality of life in this population even though a person is on ART. These high rates during all stages of HIV suggest that other factors are involved.

Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation among people living with HIV and AIDS

In a study by [25,26] it was found that that the presence of suicidal ideation increases the risk of suicidal attempt and completed suicide among PLWHA. Studies also suggest that patients’ risk for suicide may be greater soon after testing positive for HIV than later on, as after some time has passed they begin to adjust to living with the infection [27]. However, thoughts of suicide may reduce as people adjust to their HIV positive status; though there may be resurgence in suicide risk as HIV-related disease advances, particularly with the development of AIDS-related symptoms and illnesses. In addition, in Switzerland a study by the Swiss HIV Cohort Study demonstrated where rates of suicide decreased substantially in the ART era compared to the pre ART era but still remain well above that observed in the general population [28]. Therefore, the rates of suicide risks in HIV infected patients may be higher than in population with other chronic medical illnesses like cancer.

A study in Australia, revealed that People who experience suicidal ideation and those who make suicide plans are at increased risk of suicidal attempts, and people who experience all forms of suicidal thoughts and behaviours are at greater risk of completed suicide [29]. Adult people living with HIV tend to look down on themselves and their minds contemplate death as a solution to their predicament. Furthermore, results have shown an estimated 13.3% of community dwelling adults in Australia experience suicidal ideation during their lifetime with 3.2% attempting suicide highlighting an important public health problem [30]. In other studies, done in India, it has been shown that Suicidal ideation is a recurrent theme seen in the HIV literature and often associated with major depression and hopelessness [31,32]. This pinpoints the prevalence of suicidal thoughts due to psychological dysfunctions among PLWHA.

The few African studies on suicidal thoughts in HIV and AIDS have reported the following prevalence rates: 12.4 % for suicidal ideation among patients attending a specialized HIV and AIDS clinic in pre-ART Uganda; 17.1 % among adolescents living with HIV in pre-ART Uganda; 13 % for current suicidal ideation among patients attending a specialised HIV and AIDS clinic in post-ART Uganda [33]. From the evidence given in Uganda, it is obvious that suicidal thoughts do not exclude adolescents who are in the transition to adulthood and experiencing health impairments in their life time.

In Nigeria, researchers while presenting the prevalence of suicide attempts in individuals living with HIV and AIDS, [34] revealed the prevalence of attempted self harm but did not report on the determinants of suicidal thoughts. Moreover, studies in South Africa showed that suicidal ideation was at 12% amongst adolescents and 9.1% amongst adults in the general population [35]. Hence, suicidal thought is found even among adolescents more especially during the transition into adulthood as they go through a lot of physiological changes and face psychological problems, the prevalence has been seen to be higher in adolescents than adults as per the previous studies in South Africa.

A study in Zimbabwe was conducted with the objective of examining the prevalence of HIV and AIDS infection in neuropsychiatric disorders, psychiatric symptoms or signs. The study demonstrated that among patients living with HIV and AIDS who were depressed, showed significant symptoms or signs such as lassitude and pessimistic suicidal thoughts [36]. Most of psychosocial dysfunctions are manifested with their clinical symptoms and behaviour which are clear determinants of suicidal ideation. Psychiatric symptoms among persons living with HIV and AIDS have been studied in Zimbabwe and have revealed the prevalence of suicidal thoughts but not among the HIV seronegative individuals.

Methodology

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The study used a cross sectional quantitative method. The study population were individuals living with HIV and AIDS attending ART clinic at Adult Centre of Excellence, UTH in Lusaka. The study targeted individuals living with HIV and AIDS aged between 18 to 60 years. The study sample consisted of 280 participants with 115 (41.1%) men and 165 (58.9%) women. A systematic random sampling technique using intervals was used to give every element equal chance of being selected. The researcher picked every third person from the last one. On average 70 to 80 patients attended the clinic per day. The researcher was only able to interview between six (6) and ten (10) participants per day and only those who gave consent and met the inclusion criteria. The research used a questionnaire to gather demographic information that included items such as age, level of education, employment status, income level, gender, marital status, duration of living with HIV status.

The third instrument used was Suicidal Risk Screening Scale (SRSS) to identify those with suicidal ideation, the scoring was 0= True, then 1 =False, total score 14. The SRSS indicated, Lower suicide risk: 3 and possible higher risk: 4 or greater for suicidal ideation (Figure 1) shows results for the prevalence of suicidal ideation. Results show that (n=87, 31%) of the respondents fell into the category of possible higher suicidal ideation risk category while (n=193, 69%) fell into the lower suicidal ideation risk category. The study therefore showed that the prevalence rate of suicidal ideation in the population of people living with HIV and AIDS was 31% (Table 1).

Discussion of Findings

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The findings of the study showed the importance of the psychological tests that usually remain routinely unused at baseline level by medical professionals in health institutions especially in developing countries like Zambia. The tests can go a long way in bringing to the fore the vulnerability of HIV patients to the risk of suicidal ideation or risk of committing suicides. Prevalence of Suicidal Ideation among people living with HIV and AIDS attending Adult Clinic Centre of Excellence. The findings from the Suicidal Screening Risk Scale (SRSS) showed that 31% of the respondents fell in the higher suicidal ideation risk category. This is in line with the study by who found that individuals who self-rated their medication side effects and HIV related symptoms as being severe were more likely to be susceptible to suicidal ideation. The findings were also in line with the findings of in South Africa whose study found that 25.4% of respondents had suicidal thoughts, while 15.6% had plans to commit suicide.

Another study that is in line with the findings of this study is one by [37] who found that depression among women attending antenatal clinic was between 30% to 47%. In South Africa, found that 12% of respondents with suicidal ideation were among adolescents and 9.1% among adults in the general population. Hence, suicidal thoughts is found even among adolescents more especially during the transition into adulthood as they go through a lot of physiological changes and face psychological problems, the prevalence has been seen to be higher in adolescents than adults as per previous studies in South Africa. In addition, the above results are in line with the findings on the prevalence of suicidal ideation in Uganda. According to 10% of the respondents on suicidality in HIV and AIDS individuals in Entebbe Uganda had met the criteria of suicidal ideation. In addition, in Uganda also found that there were similarities in his findings as he found, 12.4% suicidal ideation among patients attending a specialised HIV and AIDS Pre-Art clinic, 17.1% among adolescents at the same clinic, and 13% of patients attending a Post Art Clinic.

Conclusion

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In conclusion, the study has shown that suicidal ideation is prevalent among people living with HIV and AIDS though it has been overlooked in Zambia as a health concern. In this study, the suicidal ideation assessment revealed that 31% of the respondents showed suicidal ideation. The study has also showed that the SRSS can be a valuable tool for screening suicidal ideation in people living with HIV and AIDS.

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arplis · 5 years ago

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Arplis - News: Her Son Was Born With "Bubble Boy Disease" - Here’s How They Lived in Isolation For More Than a Year

The self-isolation that is required to curb the spread of the coronavirus can feel overwhelming, particularly for families who are struggling to cope with their sudden lack of freedom and newfound limitations. For one Los Angeles-based family, however, the government mandate to "shelter in place" for several weeks straight has been, well, a theoretical walk in the theoretical park. Just over two years ago, Armené Kapamajian gave birth to her second child, a boy named Sasoun. And for that first week, all was well. That is, until she and her husband, Michael, discovered their baby was born with a rare disorder called Severe Combined Immunodeficiency, or SCID. The illness is more commonly known as the "bubble boy disease" - those who have it are extremely vulnerable to bacteria and viruses as benign as the common cold, and they are likely to die if they don't live in a sterile environment. Before Armené could even grasp how her family's life would be upended, the switch had already been flipped. In a blink, she found herself trapped in a 15-foot by 15-foot hospital room, alone with her newborn. Before Armené could even grasp how her family's life would be upended, the switch had already been flipped. In a blink, she found herself ostensibly trapped in an aseptic 15-foot by 15-foot hospital room, alone with her newborn. She wasn't allowed to see her 2-year-old son, Vaughn, in person, and the few times her husband - cloaked in a gown and mask - was able to visit, they couldn't touch. What followed after those three excruciatingly long months was a transition to what many of us are now faced with: in-home isolation. Only for the Kapamajians, their compulsory quarantine lasted for a full year, and for Armené and her children, there were no quiet walks to the park, no quick Target runs, no virtual play dates or remote preschool, no free educational apps, no letting off steam in the backyard. She didn't feel a blade of grass or the fresh breeze through an open window for more than a year. "I think, as with the rest of the world right now, you are just thrown into it," Armené told POPSUGAR of her 15-month experience in isolation. "There wasn't a chance to figure out how to cope. At the beginning, I was just very numb and incredulous that this was happening, and as days went on, it just started to feel normal." Related: This Mom's Family Was Quarantined For a Year Straight - These Are Her 8 Isolation Rules "We Had No Idea Anything Was Wrong" Back in November 2017, Armené - a former grade-school teacher - had just given birth to her second son in relatively unremarkable fashion. She and Michael, an ophthalmologist, were sent home from the hospital with their newborn baby after the requisite two days. "Exactly one week later, we received a phone call from our pediatrician that one of the newborn screening tests had come back abnormal," Michael told POPSUGAR. This would be how they learned of his diagnosis. "It made him exquisitely susceptible to life-threatening infections because he was essentially born with an immune system that did not work. We had no idea." They quickly learned that to survive, Sasoun would need a bone marrow transplant, and until they were able to determine a match and undergo the procedure, neither Sasoun, nor Armené, could contract even the smallest infection for fear it would be fatal. "I couldn't process anything our doctor was saying because it felt like the world started to crash down around me." "My mind went blank, and I couldn't process anything our doctor was saying because it felt like the world started to crash down around me," Armené recalled. "I remember thinking, 'How is this happening? He's so little. He didn't even begin his life yet and already it could be taken away.'" Without even a day to emotionally prepare, she and her week-old baby were put into a strict hospital quarantine. "There was definitely a deep sense of doom," Michael recalled. He thought they'd be in isolation for 30 days, max. "I was very worried about Armené's mental health and Vaughn's ability to cope without seeing his mother for one month. I had no clue it would be three." Related: Families Are Taping Drawings in Their Windows to Stay Connected and Spread Joy "I Felt Like a Ghost" There was no easing into quarantine life for Armené. One minute, she was a typical mom of two, balancing her toddler's needs with the inconsistent naps and feeding schedules of a newborn, and the next, she was cut off from the world she knew. "I was not allowed to leave the room, even for food," she said of the sparse hospital quarters, which included one small locked window that overlooked a parking garage. "My husband would come in a few times per week to take our clothes home, wash them, and bring them back." "I missed literally every major celebration in our family because they all happened while we were in isolation." The doctors and nurses at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica were given orders to enter their room as little as possible to prevent contamination. "Aside from bringing a meal tray and checking on us twice a 12-hour shift, it was really just sitting in a room alone." It may have felt like a footnote by this point, but Armené was still a woman recovering from childbirth. She was experiencing jarring postpartum hormonal shifts while having to care for her new baby around the clock without any support. Without a single break. Without a reprieve from a single diaper change or crying fit. There was no question that she'd entered into a depression. "I think the hardest part was just being left with your own thoughts," she revealed. "I felt awful about everything. I felt terrible I wasn't there physically for Vaughn. I felt like a ghost for Sasoun. I was trying to give him the needs of any baby - love, affection, nutrition - while also being scared out of my mind for his future. I tried to save up the sadness for when he was sleeping." Adding to the pain of this adjustment period was that it overlapped with the holiday season and all of her family's eagerly awaited milestones - she missed celebrating Vaughn's third birthday and her husband's birthday. She spent her own birthday, as well as Christmas, New Year's, and Valentine's Day, in a starkly different reality than the one she'd planned. "I missed literally every major celebration in our family because they all happened while we were in isolation." She didn't get to take adorable photos of her two boys under the Christmas tree wearing the matching holiday pajamas she bought. The hospital did its best to give her festive supplies to decorate the room. While other patients got tabletop trees, because of Sasoun's condition, there was no way to ensure they were germ-free. Instead, she strung lights on the wall in the shape of a tree and attached a stocking to his bassinet. She was grateful for the hospital's Child Life program, which delivered a gift from Santa to Sasoun and even a few toys for her older son that she could wrap herself before they were delivered. Meanwhile, Michael sent her photos of Vaughn opening presents in his Christmas PJs, and although she appreciated them, it still served as a "painful reminder" of all that was missing. "It was just the expectations I had for our life that were not going to happen," she said. "It Was Too Difficult, Watching Everyone's Happy Lives Go On" Oddly, in that first month of hospital isolation, Armené was unable to escape the triggers of the outside world. She'd been moderately active on social media, but it quickly became another flashing neon sign of what she didn't have. "Anytime I signed on, I saw newborns who were born the same time as Sasoun at home, happy and snug in bed," she said. "Meanwhile, I was pinning down my screaming child in a cold hospital room as he was getting test after test done, alone. I saw beautiful babies in such sweet first family photos." She had planned to have professional newborn portraits taken of Sasoun, but it never happened. "I would feel happiness for the family, but then I would feel awful because it wasn't like that for us." What's more, it was "too difficult watching everyone's happy lives go on" while hers was frozen at its worst chapter. "Their 'big' problems and 'annoyances' of the day were meaningless things, like, 'Ugh, the Starbucks barista put the wrong milk in my drink!' kind of stuff, which would totally bother anyone!" Armené admitted. "I didn't want to have negative thoughts toward friends and family, so I just cut myself mostly off." Watching cable TV lasted a week, too. "Since it was Christmastime, it would cut to a commercial of a smiley happy family gathered around the table or baking cookies," she said. "And it was the same ads over and over again." Michael brought her a Roku streaming device that allowed her to watch shows commercial-free, and that helped. Soon, she discovered a curious antidote for her feelings of remorse over others' joy. She began reading about truly dark moments in history. She read firsthand accounts of the Holocaust and the Armenian Genocide. "It helped gain perspective," she said. "You can go down in a spiral of 'Oh, my life is terrible, why me?' But then you read about [historical tragedies] and you rethink your situation. My family is safe, I'm in a place where people are caring for us, I have food, I have clean clothes, I can shower, we have electricity and running water. That's even more than a lot of people in the world." "Time Crawled Every Day" Eventually, Armené began to find what Michael called their "new normal." A few weeks earlier, they'd gotten the good news that Vaughn was a complete bone marrow match for his little brother. What proved even more miraculous? While deliberating their fears of having to conduct an invasive bone marrow harvest on a 2-year-old boy under general anesthesia, the couple remembered they'd saved Vaughn's cord blood when he was born. Other than a few finger-prick blood samples, that was all they needed for the transplant. Armené and Sasoun were transferred to a different hospital for the procedure, and it was a much-needed change of scenery. On one hand, the room was larger, so she had space to walk around, and it had more windows and a desk - so she no longer had to eat every meal in her bed. But on the other, she no longer had a bed at all. Because Sasoun had moved into a full crib and would be hooked up to bulky machines at times, they could only supply Armené with a pull-out armchair. "It was awful," she said. "There isn't room to roll over, so you have to flip to turn your body. I was always really happy at the end of every night when I could jump out and be done sleeping." Once at this new facility, she focused on creating a schedule for herself. "I wasn't interested in hearing people's sympathy or telling me it was going to be OK when no one knew if it was going to be. I didn't have the capacity to put on a brave face for everyone." "I found a pattern in the day, and it started to feel comfortable and familiar and not so unexpected anymore," she said. "I made sure I was up and 'dressed' - just comfy leggings and tops - before the doctors rounded. I folded and put away my bedding in the closet, so my room felt neat and tidy. I took a shower, did my hair, put minimal makeup on every morning while I knew Sasoun was asleep - that made a world of difference." She'd spend her mornings eating breakfast and listening in to the different groups of doctors as they rounded. From there, she braced herself for another day alone. "I would wait until a certain hour before I could order a meal, and I just kept staring at the clock thinking, 'OK, now it's the afternoon! Good job!'" Armené said. "Time crawled every day. Mentally, it was exhausting." Related: It's OK If You Do Nothing "Extra" With This Time at Home With Your Kids She listened to music on the hospital-issued iPad, she did a little online shopping, and she watched the Winter Olympics in real time, which gave her something to talk about with nurses. And she binged TV shows. She watched all 201 episodes of The Office, and the first time she remembered laughing out loud was in her second week of isolation during an episode of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. When that happened, she said, "I knew that it must be a really good show." She'd alternate between light sitcoms and dark historical nonfiction. That and video-chatting with Michael and Vaughn. She'd read him bedtime stories and say goodnight every evening. "I made the mistake of not FaceTiming enough each day, but really that was because I wasn't interested in hearing people's sympathy or telling me it was going to be OK when no one knew if it was going to be. I didn't have the capacity to put on a brave face for everyone." "You Forget What It's Like to Have Your Spouse Next to You" Because of Michael's medical background, he was the family's first line of defense in understanding the protocols and prognoses that were being put into place from the moment Sasoun was diagnosed. Armené entrusted him to "handle the medical care of our son," so in addition to raising Vaughn with the help of his own mother and caring for his patients, he spent every free moment dissecting updates from dozens of different doctors. One of the first bits of information he recalls getting - a text message from their immunologist - had nothing to do with his son. "He was cautioning me that these types of things can be very taxing on a relationship," Michael recalled. "I wasn't sure what he meant when he texted it, but as time went on, I began to understand. An extended period of time away from your spouse, combined with an intense level of anxiety, fear, and uncertainty, almost makes you forget what it's like to have your spouse next to you every day." And because his main role was acting as the messenger of often demoralizing medical updates, he struggled to communicate with Armené. He did his best to share only what he thought she was emotionally equipped to handle, which meant he was often alone in fully understanding the stakes. Unsurprisingly, they fought. They'd get angry and lash out at each other. "We would argue about our own frustrations and how we were looking at things," he said. "I don't think Armené was in a place to be able to handle some of the comments I would make about the situation . . . she needed me to be stronger." In hindsight, Armené recognized that he was as scared and frustrated as she was, but in the moment, it was hard to believe. "I tried to keep reminding myself that he was going through this, too. In times like this, it doesn't make sense to create a divide." And although they had very few moments of connection in those three months, they tried to make those short, 10-minute intervals count. Sure, when Michael dropped off clothes to the hospital on Armené's birthday, she dressed up - in "my very fancy leggings," she joked - for his arrival, only to watch him fall asleep on the chair for most of the visit. But he certainly redeemed himself other times. Like with the Roku, and on Valentine's Day. "We couldn't have live flowers in the room because of isolation precautions, so Michael brought me a really pretty fake potted orchid," Armené recalled. "It looked so real that nurses kept stopping him to tell him that he couldn't bring it in the room." She still has it and thinks of how far they've come every time she walks by it. "Coming Home, I Felt Like I Was at Disneyland" Six weeks into their hospital isolation, Sasoun underwent the transplant of Vaughn's cord blood, and the results were promising. After several more weeks of testing, the medical team determined it was safe to bring him home as long as they maintained a similarly sterile quarantine environment. For the next year, their home would become the bubble. "I felt like I was at Disneyland," Armené said of her homecoming. In fact, on the walk to the car from the hospital, she felt the cool breeze on her face and realized she hadn't touched fresh air in three months. Caught up in the moment, she posed for a photo that reenacted a scene in Shawshank Redemption when Andy Dufresne escapes prison and stands, arms outstretched, in the rain. "I was so incredibly happy and thankful." She recalls thinking how beautiful her house was - "it felt so ornate compared to stark hospital walls and medical equipment." She was grateful for real glasses and silverware and plates and for having a bed again. But she was mostly relieved to have her family all together for essentially the first time. "To be able to touch and hug Michael and Vaughn, it was just so nice." It was also . . . different. "The most interesting thing I noticed after they came home was - and I'm not saying this was bad or intentional, but rather inevitable - that our household was very much Armené and Sasoun and then Vaughn and me," Michael said. "It didn't feel like a unit, but rather two units living together." They made a conscious effort to "meld our family back together. And to "make up for lost time," Armené created the happiest home she could. "We celebrated everything, since we missed out on so much while we were in the hospital. We decorated for each little holiday and made everything a big deal. We were most definitely happy to be celebrating life." "All day with small children in the house gets tiring because you are never alone and always needed, 24/7." Yet, as with most new things, the novelty wore off. They weren't allowed to play in the backyard or sit on the front porch. Sometimes, loved ones would come up to their window and wave or make conversation, and although it made Armené feel loved and remembered, her feelings shifted. "Later in the day, if I stepped back and thought about it, it reminded me of the situation we were in," she said. "I felt bad for both of my boys because they were not leading normal lives." As cautious as they still were about Sasoun's health, they now had added concern for Vaughn. "He was supposed to be in school, he was supposed to be able to play soccer, or even just play outside with me like we did when Armené and Sas were in the hospital," Michael said. "Having them back home placed more restrictions on Vaughn because now we couldn't risk him getting sick as it would pose a huge risk to Sas." Related: Educators Explain Why Parents Shouldn’t Be Let Off the Hook With Homeschooling Their Kids They bought a Little Tikes inflatable bounce house that took up their entire living room just so he could have space to run and jump and play. Although Vaughn understood a lot of their situation and "seemed to handle it so well," Armené, who used to be a teacher, was concerned about his social and emotional development. She made a production out of the school experience. "Every day, I put a backpack on him with his supplies and I kissed him goodbye and told him to have a good day at school," she said. "Then he would go out one entrance of the kitchen, walk around the whole first floor of our house and come back in another entrance where I would greet him as my student. It would make him so happy. He called me Mrs. K." Armené would send photos from their "school day" to Michael who admitted they were "heartwarming and depressing" all at once. Just as many families around the world are experiencing to a lesser degree right now, being home nonstop was a special form of exhaustion for Armené. "All day with small children in the house gets tiring because you are never alone and always needed, 24/7," she said. "It's hard when you are making every single meal of the day, day after day. I missed not having to cook if I didn't want to, and I missed going out with Michael or with friends. I missed alone time and feeling like a human." "I Literally Had to Fend Off His Hugs So I Could Decontaminate" Because Michael still had to leave the home for work - and thus ran every errand - he was Sasoun's biggest health threat. Whenever he returned, he had to go through a rigorous decontamination process. "I'd get home, remove my clothing in the laundry room and place it in the washer, wash my hands, go upstairs to take a shower, and then come down with clean clothes to join everyone," he explained. "In the beginning, when I still wasn't used to this, sometimes I'd just go out for an errand on a Saturday, come home and decontaminate only to realize as soon as I was finished that there was something else I needed to do, which meant going through decontamination again. There were days where I had to do this three times in a day. My skin was cracking all over." But soon enough he learned to plan his outings to minimize the number of decontamination rituals he'd have to undergo. "Just getting home and being able to hug everyone was something I missed a lot," he said. "It scared me because as much as Vaughn led us to believe he completely understood what was going on, he was still 3 years old. I didn't want him to think I was cold, but the first few times I came home from work after Armené and Sas had gotten home, I remember Vaughn coming to the door to hug me and I literally had to fend off his hugs and tell him to wait so I could clean up." It took a week before Vaughn no longer ran to greet him at the door. Michael had successfully trained him out of that behavior. "That wasn't what I wanted, but what could I do?" Inevitably, Michael would get sick. "The first time I thought I might have a cold, I took a box of masks upstairs with me and locked myself in the bedroom." It wasn't until January 2019 that he truly got sick, nearly 10 months into their home quarantine. To be safe, he rented a hotel and stayed there for two nights. "Once I started feeling better, I came home but maintained strict respiratory precautions and locked myself in the guest bedroom," he said. "Every morning when I'd leave, I would spray Lysol in the entire bedroom and back out of the room, then close the door. I'd then walk backwards through our living room and to the garage, spraying Lysol in front of me to 'cover' the areas I'd walked through." Eventually, though, Sasoun's blood tests indicated that his immune system was working, that it could ward off small infections. First, they were cleared to go outside. Sasoun's feet touched the ground for the first time in his life. Then, they could allow a few extended family members in their home - so long as they followed strict protocol and could verify they weren't sick that past week. They eased slowly into every new glimmer of freedom. "I'm So Happy to Be With People Again" It's been 28 months since Sasoun's diagnosis, and they've been out of their home isolation for a year. Vaughn's now 5 and Sasoun is a healthy 2-year-old. "This past summer was the first time we all went out for a family dinner since Sasoun was born," Michael said. "We just went to California Pizza Kitchen, but, man, for us it was such a landmark moment." They took dozens of photos of that meal as they began to realize that, maybe, they could "be normal" again. For Armené and Michael, this came with newfound happiness. Before Sasoun was born, "like most couples, we argued about stupid things and got on each other's nerves about nonsense," Michael said. Now? They simply don't anymore. The experience taught them to be kinder with each other and more respectful. He added that even though he used to "look at every little thing and overanalyze the crap out of it," he shrugs off small issues now. "I feel healthier and better equipped to be the husband and parent I've wanted to be. I honestly think I would have driven myself or Armené and the kids nuts had I remained as nitpicky as I was before this happened to us." Armené, in particular, has appreciated her loved ones so much more, Sasoun included. "It's odd – some people would think that you could resent your child in this situation, but I never felt that," she said. "The silver lining is that because he had my undivided attention, we bonded more. If I was home, I would be entertaining Vaugn, cooking dinner, cleaning the house, running errands, driving around. But since I spent all day holding him, it made our relationship strong. I'm thankful to have had that opportunity." "To this day, whenever anyone announces a birth, I hold my breath for a week." She takes no day, or encounter with a relative, for granted. "Every day is a gift with them," she said. "My grandfather passed away while we were in isolation, and I couldn't go to his funeral - that hurt a lot, that I couldn't say goodbye and be with my family at a difficult time. So I really enjoy every single outing. That hasn't worn off, and I'm so happy to be with people again. I probably talk too fast when I'm with friends because I'm just so thankful." It was with great trepidation that they got to this point and not without some emotional scars. Although Michael said his intense negative feelings - of "fear, anger, confusion, hopelessness, vulnerability, and dejection" - have gone away, Armené has held onto a bit more. "To this day, whenever anyone announces a birth, I hold my breath for a week," she said. "Luckily, all their babies are healthy, but I don't really relax for them until a week goes by." She also had a hard time exhaling whenever they left their home. She felt paranoid Sasoun might catch something. This past October, he did. "That would be the first time his immune system would actually be tested, so we were nervous," Michael said. "But he handled it. Three days and it was gone. Did this little guy actually do it? Did he just clear an infection by himself? It was amazing." Armené is still careful. She uses covers on grocery carts and high chairs, she cleans restaurant tables with hospital-grade wipes before sitting down, she sanitizes Sasoun's hands constantly. "When we pick up Vaughn from school, I get scared when other children run up to see Sasoun," she said. "I usually scoop him up or wash his hands immediately. I second-guess a lot of things, like, 'Oh, he touched that . . . and touched his face. Will he get sick?' A friendly grandmother pinched his cheek. 'Did that person cough into their hand or wipe their nose recently?' I calm myself down by saying, 'Well, it already happened so we will just have to wait it out and see.'" "It Feels Like All of This Was For Something" Of course, the recent coronavirus outbreak has affected the Kapamajians just as it has the rest of the world. Because he works at a hospital, Michael admits he is "scared to death of bringing the virus home" - he has reverted back to his old decontamination procedures. The only difference for Armené is that she's not panicking at the thought of staying at home for an extended period of time. She'd already done it for the better part of 450 days. "All I could think about was, 'God, I can't believe we are back here again. I can't believe we have to wipe everything down again.'" "The first day when I was gathering supplies and I knew it was the last time I would be out for who knows how long, all I could think about was, 'God, I can't believe we are back here again. I can't believe we have to wipe everything down again. I can't believe it will be so long until I see any of my friends or Vaughn can go to t-ball and school again,'" she said. Because they planned to go into voluntary isolation before any mandates were even being established, she was one of the first to cancel plans. "I'm missing wedding showers, christenings . . . my family had to cancel their trip out to visit us," she said. "Just as everyone else I am sure has done, I got so frustrated, I cried. I was so angry that once again we were going to put our entire life on pause. I was frustrated for my kids, that it seems like they keep having to spend long periods of their life in isolation." Michael reminded her: they'd be OK. They had done this before. And if anyone knew how to do it, it was her. She said their first day back in isolation felt so familiar and oddly safe. "I knew that by staying in, I was keeping not only our family safe this time, but it seemed our entire community," she said. "I knew I was missing nothing because everything has been canceled for everyone. We are all in this together, so I have zero FOMO. And in a weird turn of events, I became an isolation expert among family and friends. Every day I check in on someone or someone calls me and asks my advice." She even started filming Facebook videos with tips on how to properly self-isolate. Michael, for his part, is writing a book about their experience in the hopes it will inspire other families facing similarly uncharted territory. "It feels like all of this was for something," Armené said. "It wasn't just a random, awful hardship we went through. Maybe we went through this so we could offer some help or consolation for everyone else going through it. Because if we did this for a year, we can all do this for a few weeks or even months." #TouchingStories #FamilyLife #StayingHome #SpecialNeeds #FamilyRelationships

Arplis - News source https://arplis.com/blogs/news/her-son-was-born-with-bubble-boy-disease-here-s-how-they-lived-in-isolation-for-more-than-a-year

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brightsunshinybay-archived-blog · 7 years ago

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SCOUT AND BAY BITCH

❛❛ i’m still alive but i’m barely breathing – Sophie Avery Pan.❞

Name :

{ S O P H I E } - meaning “wisdom”

{ A V E R Y } - meaning “ruling with elf wisdom” (yeah, they picked a middle name that basically means the same thing as her first. Well done friends)

{ P A N } - in reference to the minor deity of Greek mythology, who plays pipes to nymphs, and is part human and part goat

Faceclaim :

Aylvia Alyn Lind

Birthday :

January 6th

Those born on January 6th often have an extremely sensitive side. Deep down, they want to show a little tenderness, but have a tendency to stay secretive. Those born on this day despise confrontations and will hold their tongue to avoid an argument, realizing that the outcome or consequences could change their life, and hence are easily taken advantage of. They tend to offer your assistance to others in need but possess the ability to spread themselves too thin. It is essential for those born on this day to learn that they alone cannot save the world.

Gender :

Cis-Female

Appearance :

{ H A I R } - curly, blonde

{ E Y E S } - blue

{ H E I G H T } - 4 feet 5 inches (for now)

Personality :

+ Charming, Gentle, Logical

- Anxious, Immunodeficient, Shy

Special Talents :

Though Sophie has been living with Scout and Bay for about two years so far, Scout and Bay have yet to see any signs of powers or abilities from the girl, and it makes them somewhat relieved. Teddy’s journey to understanding his own capabilities was enough of a catastrophe, and the women have their hands full with Sophie’s medical concerns.

Due to a lack of care shown to the girl when she was a toddler, what started as untreated mold and dust allergies has since turned into a very serious immunodeficiency, and one of the most severe cases of asthma Scout and Bay have ever seen. They deal the best they can, and are lucky to be surrounded by friends and family who seem to always been around when they need someone to watch Teddy, but Sophie is constantly in and out of the hospital, whether its an asthma-related complication or another bout of tracheobronchitis or something in between. Sometimes the women doubt if they’ll ever be able to give Sophie what she needs.

What Sophie’s moms have yet to realize, though, is that Sophie’s constant ability to overcome any illness she comes down with isn’t just due to the miracle of medicine. There’s another factor in play, here, and that’s the “special talent” they keep attempting to search for, and never finding – Sophie has the gift of life preservation, and has been unknowingly using this power to keep herself alive for years.

Who They Like Better :

Ever since Scout first approached the young girl, it was obvious that Sophie was taken by her as much as she was taken by Sophie. It took time for the older blonde to get the younger to open up to her – and even required some telepathic conversation – but by the end of the day, Sophie was refusing to let go of Scout’s hand, and it’s practically been like this ever since. She loves both her mommies, of course, and is so grateful to them for all they do for her, but there’s nothing that can beat the appreciation she feels for Scout.

Who They Take After More :

Appearance-wise, Sophie actually looks a lot like Bay – the blonde curls, the blue eyes – and many are surprised when they hear that the child isn’t biologically related to Scout and Bay at all. In terms of personality, though, it seems as if neither of her mommies really have much of an impact. Their daughter is kind, and charming, but that’s about where the similarities end. Unlike Teddy or Maeve, Sophie is very quiet, and extremely shy. Scout has expressed concerns about this, and has suggested on more than one occasion that she wishes there was more they could do for the girl, but Bay has held steadfast in her belief that, eventually, when the girl wants to talk to them about her past, she will. Both women want nothing more than to give the child love and support, in the hopes that one day she will truly know how wanted she is.

Personal Headcanons :

The path to family is often lined with mishaps and misfortune, and it is no surprise that, for Scout and Bay, their unexpected “Happily Ever After” hasn’t always been a walk in the park. Of course, if you’d asked Bay about true love before she started at WDU, she probably would’ve laughed in your face. True love was a phase, a work of fiction, or at least, that’s what she believed.

And then she ran into Scout, or, Scout ran into her, and somehow their paths refused to untangle themselves. Friendship turned into flirtationship which then turned into something… else, but just when Bay found herself thinking perhaps this might all work, it all came crashing down.

Because Bay wasn’t the only one with love-related insecurities, and when the road seemed to finally flatten out, Scout took off.

To say Bay was devastated would be a vast understatement. She was crushed, and began to isolate herself from all of her friends. Months went by without even a word from the girl she’d fallen for, until one dark and stormy night when Lucky’s barking woke Bay up, and she opened her dorm room door to a shivering, soaking, traumatized, pregnant Scout, begging her for forgiveness. Bay couldn’t help but throw all of her anger out the window. She let Scout in, helped her change into warm, dry clothes, and the two of them talked, for hours, attempting to make sense of the mess they’d created.

Five months later, Teddy was born, and two years after that, Scout proposed. Their wedding was perfectly imperfect (it rained, there was almost a seating chart disaster – you know, typical them); Teddy was the cutest ring bearer and so well-behaved at the reception that Scout and Bay found themselves thinking the same thing: they wanted another baby.

But, as most things seem to go for these two, their path to a bigger family was far from conventional. Scout wasn’t in a place to carry another child quite yet, and Bay, they soon learned, couldn’t carry – so they were stuck.

To fill some of the void, and to help prevent abandoned and unwanted children in Buena Vista from suffering similar fates to her, Scout soon founded the Buena Vista Orphanage. It was about four years after it’s opening day – around the time the Teddy turned eight – that Scout met the small, malnourished, suffering six-year-old named Sophie, and instantly fell in love.

And so the family of three became four.

❛❛ treasure, that is what you are – Maeve Evelyn Pan.❞

Name :

{ M A E V E } - meaning “she who intoxicates”

{ E V E L Y N } - meaning “hazelnut”

{ P A N } - in reference to the minor deity of Greek mythology, who plays pipes to nymphs, and is part human and part goat

Faceclaim :

Mimi Kirkland

Birthday :

April 23rd

Those born on April 23rd can be clever little dickens. This youthful trait is their trademark. They are also likely to have premonitions and tend to have great timing. The 23 April birthday personality is mysterious and imaginative. Those born on this day are likely to travel and make connections that are favorable with everyone they meet. They are capable of becoming someone who is responsible for influencing the lives of others. After all, it’s in their blood.. they belong in the family of Taurus the Bull.

Gender :

Cis-Female

Appearance :

{ H A I R } - wavy, light brown

{ E Y E S } - blue

{ H E I G H T } - 4 feet 9 inches (for now)

Personality :

+ Enthusiastic, Empathetic, Optimistic

- Cheeky, Impulsive, Restless

Special Talents :

Looking back on the year that Maeve has been a part of their family, it’s easy to pick up on the signs that Maeve possesses the ability to help others feel joy. The girl practically glows when she walks into a room, and never seems to have a frown on her face, but Bay and Scout are easily distracted, and with the constant attention required of them by Sophie, for a while, Maeve’s happiness inducement went unnoticed, or at least, to it’s full capacity. It was Suka, actually, who made the connection – they’d been called upon to babysit for Teddy and Maeve during a late-night hospital visit with Sophie, and Suka picked up on the young girl’s powers almost immediately. They informed Bay and Scout soon after that, and was enlisted by both women to help Maeve understand the full extent of her ability, on the off chance that her powers had similar downfalls to Suka’s, if they were pushed too far. Maeve has quickly grown attached to her Unty Suka.

It is important to note, too, that it is easy to see a difference in the family since Maeve has joined it. What once was scary and dark is suddenly less so, and the entire family has grown less anxious, none more than Sophie. Physically, the girl still suffers, but she is certainly warming up to the idea of family more, and it is without a doubt due to the happiness that Maeve somehow accesses within her.

Who They Like Better :

Maeve has a lot of love to give, and hence doesn’t like one of her mommies more than the other. They’re both kind, and warm, and silly. They give her hugs and kisses, they wrap her in fluffy towels after she takes a bath, and they always tuck her in at night, which is more than Maeve has ever received from caretakers before. And she loves her siblings, too – Teddy, who always loves to play dolls and trucks with her, and Sophie, who loves to color, and likes to listen to Maeve’s outrageous stories. So, yeah, if you were to ask her this question, she’d probably laugh at you, because, in a family where everyone loves her, how can she pick one?

Who They Take After More :

Appearance-wise, Maeve doesn’t really look much like Scout or Bay. Her skin is darker than both of theirs, and her hair matches Teddy’s more than anyone else’s. Personality-wise, though, she is perhaps the spitting image of her mommies, if not more energetic than either of them. She’s constantly excited, always on the edge of her seat, always wanting to move or play or explore. She loves the water, loves the earth, loves when Scout takes her flying – she just can’t seem to get enough of the world she’s been given, and Scout and Bay love it. They hope to show it all to her, one day at a time.

Personal Headcanons :

The first seven years of Maeve’s life were filled with inconsistency and constant turmoil, but you wouldn’t know it if you met her.

The daughter of a teen mom who was in over her head, Maeve was sent from house to house, from town to town, constantly attempting to shift and adjust to her new surroundings, only to be pulled out of them again.

It wasn’t that it was ever really her fault. She tried her hardest, in every home, with every family, to be kind and well-mannered and well-behaved, but she was easily excited, and overly clumsy, and calamity seemed to follow her, so most foster homes quickly attempted to pawn the girl off to someone else.

Eventually, the options were all used up, and Maeve found herself being dropped off by a social worker she could never really remember the name of in front of a large building with lots and lots of kids: the Buena Vista Orphanage.

It was less than a week after Maeve’s arrival that Scout and Bay took Sophie to say hello to some of the children she’d met during her time in the orphanage, and to check in on everything. It was Bay this time who locked eyes with the small ball of energy and fell in love. Somehow, she knew that Maeve was meant to be theirs.

And so the family of four became five.

@scout-pan

#scout-pan #(( move this world from where it's at )) || bay's answers.#//okay I'm so sorry for the heartache but I feel like I made up for it a little with Maeve??#//THIS TOOK ME TWO HOURS I LOVE THEM #children meme 2017 part 2?#//also it should be noted I did get two requests for these guys #//one was from Bren lol

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sillyanimegamingroad · 4 years ago

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West Nile Virus symptoms, prevention and treatment

We are going to discuss about West Nile Virus symptoms, prevention and treatment methods. This virus (WNV) is an infectious agent of the Flavivirus genus , which is also responsible for other diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, and Zika. It was discovered in the 40s of the last century, in the Ugandan West Nile basin, and was later identified in Egypt (1942) and India (1953), according to Manuel Peinado in The Conversation.

The time is affected by Corona virus (COVID 19), there are other viruses that are killing people. These are some keys to highlight of this pathogen that has generated an outbreak of cases in Andalusia this week.

What mosquito transmits this virus?

The head of Mosquito Alert Entomology and member of the Mosquito Control Service of the Baix Llobregat Regional Council, Roger Eritja , explains to SINC that the most common vectors of this virus in southern Spain are Culex perexiguus and Culex pipiens , the latter better known as the common mosquito and one of the enemies of human summer nights.

“[The common mosquito] is the main vector. It is in the rooms, it bites at night, it waits for people to go to sleep and they flutter, spoil their sleep and itch ”, this expert details, adding that in Spain there are a total of 62 autochthonous species of which many have the capacity to transmit the WNV. “But in Andalusia, the vectors are perexiguus and pipiens “, he clarifies.

Eritja warns that Aede japonicus or Japanese mosquito is being misidentified as responsible for these WNV cases. Although it is true that it can transmit the virus, this insect is not found in southern Spain, apart from the fact that in Andalusia “there are already enough species to transmit it without needing any exotic species.”

This species, identified by Mosquito Alert two years ago in Asturias, is mainly found in deciduous forests in cool humid mountain areas, “which makes little sense to find it in the south. It’s like thinking that there are giraffes in the Pyrenees ”, he exemplifies.

What diseases can WNV cause?

West Nile virus can infect humans, horses, and other mammals. According to the World Health Organization , the virus has no symptoms in 80% of infected people. The remaining 20% may develop West Nile fever , a disease characterized by fever, fatigue, headaches and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and to a lesser extent skin rashes on the trunk and enlarged lymph nodes. The incubation period usually lasts between three and 14 days. In the most severe cases, which occur in one in every 150 infected people, a neuroinvasive disease can develop, such as West Nile encephalitis, meningitis, or polio. Symptoms of the latter are headaches, high fever, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, seizures, muscle weakness, and paralysis.

Although these conditions can occur in people of any age, those over 50 and people with immunodeficiency are at higher risk.

How is Nile Virus transmitted to people?

WNV is a virus of birds, the main reservoirs and also victims of the diseases it causes, “with significant mortality and sometimes suddenly”, Eritja details.

Mosquito Bite Macro Photo

Thus, vector mosquitoes acquire the virus by biting birds to later attack humans and to a lesser extent horses, thus completing the transmission. These birds, the expert adds, may be indigenous and carry the virus during their migration.

Can humans spread WNV?

The entomologist clarifies that the virus, once it reaches a person -or a horse-, encounters a dead end:” None of them is infectious, not even with a mosquito involved,” he emphasizes.

Therefore, a mosquito that bites a sick person will not acquire enough virus to transmit to another person who may later bite, while neither humans – nor horses – have the capacity to transmit the virus to each other.

What conditions are optimal for transmitting the West Nile virus?

Both mosquitoes and viruses are sensitive to environmental conditions , that is, to temperatures: “This type of event will occur in summer, even if there are mosquitoes in winter in some area,” says Eritja.

Thus, what WNV needs to be transmitted is: a large number of birds, that these carry a sufficient load of virus and a significant number of mosquitoes so that, by probability, they can be vectors of this virus to humans.

The researcher at the Doñana Biological Station (EBD-CSIC) and WNV specialist, Jordi Figuerola , pointed out in an interview with the EFE Agency that, during the months of confinement due to the coronavirus pandemic and thanks to the abundant spring rains in Andalusia, the populations of mosquitoes transmitting this virus have been able to increase in an unusual way.

Roger Eritja, in addition to seeing this hypothesis very favorably and giving “total credibility” to the Doñana expert, emphasizes that Mosquito Alert is observing what influence the decrease in human mobility has on the dispersal of mosquitoes, such as Aedes albopictus or mosquito Tiger. On the other hand, he believes that during the months of confinement the breeding sites that people may have in their second residence – which was prohibited from going during the months of strong national isolation – would have been neglected, thus increasing mosquito populations in summer.

Prevention or treatment of West Nile Virus

Here are some ideas on West Nile Virus symptoms, prevention and treatment methods. The most effective method to fight the common mosquito is to limit its population before reaching its adult stage, which is when the insects have the ability to bite. “Since our service [Baix Llobregat Mosquito Control] appeared in 1983, a large-scale insecticide control has been carried out in the field with good results,” says this expert, adding that this is a task that is normally assigned to the local administration, despite being a problem that goes beyond the municipal scope.

If this is no longer possible, prevention involves protection with mosquito nets or repellants . The World Health Organization (WHO), for its part, adds to these recommendations the use of light-colored clothing, long-sleeved garments and trousers and avoid outdoor activities in the hours of most itchy mosquitoes, that is, the night.

Above the outbreak of cases of meningoencephalitis caused by the West Nile virus in Andalusia, various unknowns have arisen, in particular about the mosquito species involved. Culex perexiguus and Culex pipiens , native to Spain, are the main vectors of this virus, which resides in many birds and infects horses and humans. The Aedes japonicus , although it has capacity to transmit it , it is not in the south of Spain and appears to be responsible for the outbreak of this week.We tried to cover some West Nile Virus symptoms, prevention and treatment methods.

The post West Nile Virus symptoms, prevention and treatment appeared first on Technoeager- tech blogs and articles.

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thatsnotcanonpodcasts · 5 years ago

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DRM, Spring Anime & COVID-19

Crack and share. Until it is done. At least, if there's anything to crack. For the second time Bethesda have managed to release a game with a built-in crack for the Denuvo DRM. What's the story behind it? Incompetence, a rogue agent, or are Bethesda secretly the DRM free heroes we don't deserve? Doom Eternal is the latest casualty of Bethesda's DRM mistakes, and Professor wants to know why.

DJ has a list of the newest anime to watch this spring, or autumn if you live in the south. Southern Hemisphere Best Hemisphere. Get the latest ridiculously long anime names here!

Just when you thought it was safe to go outside after the fires, COVID-19 swept in. Where did it come from? A lab has dissected the DNA behind this threat and all signs point to COVID-19 not being a Chinese bioweapon. Keep the conspiracies coming, science knows what's what.

This week, both nerds played a Doom related game. Professor plays an official series game, but DJ plays a parody.

As usual, the Nerds discuss the latest shoutouts and events of interest. RIP Al Worden, Albert Uderzo and Kenny Rogers.

We'll be back next week for another episode. We're not going anywhere, and by the looks of things, neither are you.

DRM Eternal

- https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2020/03/bethesda-apparently-broke-its-own-denuvo-protection-for-doom-eternal/

Upcoming Spring Anime Lineup and other anime news

-https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-feature/2020/03/20-1/crunchyroll-announces-spring-2020-anime-lineup

The origin story of COVID-19

-https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200317175442.htm

- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0820-9

Games Played

Professor

- Doom 3 : BFG Edition - https://store.steampowered.com/app/208200/Doom_3_BFG_Edition/

Rating – 3.5/5

– BDSM: Big Drunk Satanic Massacre Demo - https://store.steampowered.com/app/1209860/BDSM_Big_Drunk_Satanic_Massacre_Demo/

Rating – 3/5

Other topics discussed

Queensland borders closed due to Coronavirus

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-26/coronavirus-threat-sparks-calls-to-close-nsw-border-with-qld/12091632

MyGov is down due to a “cyber-attack” – Minister

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-23/mygov-website-down-centrelink-massive-queues-coronavirus/12080558

Alcohol restrictions are now limited in Western Australia

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-25/coronavirus-covid-19-wa-alcohol-sales-from-bottle-shops-limited/12087974

Panic buying in alcohol leads to more drinking

- https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-26/coronavirus-crisis-has-people-drinking-more-experts-say/12086790

Rage 2 drops Denuvo DRM

- https://www.kotaku.com.au/2019/05/rage-2-drops-denuvo-drm-in-record-time/

Rage (a first-person shooter video game developed by id Software)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rage_(video_game)

- https://store.steampowered.com/app/9200/RAGE/

Rime allegedly runs faster with Denuvo DRM stripped out

- https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/06/crackers-say-denuvo-drm-caused-slowdown-on-rime/

Bleach Anime Returning With Thousand Year Blood War Adaptation

- https://www.cbr.com/bleach-anime-return-thousand-year-blood-war/

Bleach: The Thousand-Year Blood War, Explained

- https://www.cbr.com/bleach-thousand-year-blood-war-explained/

Fate/Grand Order Announces New Solomon Anime

- https://comicbook.com/anime/2020/03/21/fate-grand-order-final-singularity-solomon-anime-announced/

Fate/Grand Order: Camelot Film Confirms Release Date with New Trailer

- https://comicbook.com/anime/2020/03/22/fate-grand-order-camelot-film-release-date-trailer/

Definition of anime filler

- https://www.quora.com/What-does-a-filler-mean-in-anime

Tite Kubo’s reaction to the new anime announcement

- https://comicbook.com/anime/2020/03/22/bleach-anime-comeback-revival-tite-kubo-comment-manga/

Fullmetal Alchemist (Japanese anime television series adapted from the mangaof the same name written and illustrated by Hiromu Arakawa. During production, Arakawa requested an original ending that differed from the manga, leading to the series deviating into an original plot halfway through.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fullmetal_Alchemist_(TV_series)

Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (Japanese anime television series adapted from the Fullmetal Alchemist manga by Hiromu Arakawa. Unlike the previous adaptation, Brotherhood is an almost 1:1 adaptation directly following the original events of the manga.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fullmetal_Alchemist:_Brotherhood

Prince Charles tested positive for Coronavirus

- https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52033845

History of H.I.V/AIDS (AIDS is caused by a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which originated in non-human primates in Central and West Africa. While various sub-groups of the virus acquired human infectivity at different times, the global pandemic had its origins in the emergence of one specific strain – HIV-1 subgroup M – in Léopoldville in the Belgian Congo (now Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in the 1920s)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_HIV/AIDS

Plague Inc.

- https://www.ndemiccreations.com/en/22-plague-inc

Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy

- https://store.steampowered.com/app/240720/Getting_Over_It_with_Bennett_Foddy/

Markiplier plays Getting Over It with Bennett Foddy

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH9w9VlyNO4

Cacodemon (Doom 3) (The Cacodemon in Doom 3, as compared to the original monster, is taupe in color, has a wider mouth, and has multiple green eyes, as well as some longer, thin tentacles hanging from the bottom of its body.)

- https://doom.fandom.com/wiki/Cacodemon/Doom_3

Doom 3 (2004 horror first-person shooter video game, developed by id Software and published by Activision.)

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doom_3

Rugby Football Union (The Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the governing body for rugby union in England. )

- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rugby_Football_Union

Shout Outs

18 March 2020 – Alfred Worden passes away - https://www.forbes.com/sites/kionasmith/2020/03/20/apollo-15-astronaut-al-worden-has-died/#2315b43836c6

Alfred Worden, American astronaut and engineer who was the Command Module Pilot for the Apollo 15 lunar mission in 1971. One of only 24 people to have flown to the Moon, he orbited it 74 times in the Command Module Endeavour. During Apollo 15's return flight to Earth, Worden performed an extravehicular activity to retrieve film cassettes from the exterior of the spacecraft, the Apollo command and service module. While orbiting the Moon alone, farther from other people than anyone has ever been, Worden mapped a quarter of the lunar surface, measured the composition of lunar rocks from space, picked out a landing site for the final Apollo mission, and launched a miniature satellite into lunar orbit to study the Moon’s gravity and magnetic field. It was the first "deep space" EVA in history, at great distance from any planetary body. As of 2020, it remains one of only three such EVAs that have taken place, all during the Apollo program's J-missions. He died from a stroke in Sugar Land, Texas at the age of 88

18 March 2020 –The discovery of Asteriornis maastrichtensis, the oldest definitive species of modern bird, which lived at the end of the Mesozoic era.

- https://www.newsweek.com/wonderchicken-oldest-known-modern-bird-dinosaur-1493000

- https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-020-2096-0

Researchers have discovered the remains of an extinct animal that may represent the oldest "modern" bird known to science. An international team of palaeontologists identified the near-complete fossil skull of the bird, which they have dated to between 66.8 and 66.7 million years ago. Dubbed Asteriornis maastrichtensis, the extinct bird—affectionately nicknamed the "wonderchicken"—shares some features that can be seen in modern-day ducks and chickens, according to a study published in the journal Nature. The palaeontologists say the find sheds new light on the evolution of modern birds and could help explain why these animals survived the mass-extinction event, while large dinosaurs did not. "We have discovered the oldest modern bird fossil yet identified," Daniel Field, an author of the study from the University of Cambridge in the U.K., told Newsweek. "Asteriornis maastrichtensis is an early fossil bird close to the origin of the group that today includes chicken-like birds and duck-like birds. Asteriornis lived 66.7 million years ago, at the end of the Age of Dinosaurs, and provides new insights into what modern birds were like early in their evolutionary history."

20 March 2020 – Kenny Rogers passes away - https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/mar/21/kenny-rogers-country-music-star-dies-aged-81

Kenny Rogers, the American country music star with hits popular across the world, has died. His husky voice and down-home narrative style won him three Grammy awards and put him at the top of the American music business for more than four decades. He sold over 100 million records worldwide during his lifetime, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time. His fame and career spanned multiple genres: jazz, folk, pop, rock, and country. He remade his career and was one of the most successful cross-over artists of all time. His signature song, 1978's "The Gambler", was a cross-over hit that won him a Grammy Award in 1980 and was selected in 2018 for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. The singer, who has been mourned by fans this weekend on social media, once summed up his success with mainstream audiences by explaining that the traditional lyrics to his songs “say what every man wants to say and that every woman wants to hear”. He died from natural causes in Sandy Springs, Georgia at the age of 81.

24 March 2020 – Albert Uderzo passes away - https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-52016721

Albert Uderzo, one of the two creators of the beloved comic book character Asterix, who captured the spirit of the Gauls of yore and grew a reputation worldwide, has died. He created the famous stories - about the adventures of Gaulish warriors fighting the Roman Empire - with his friend René Goscinny in 1959. As well as illustrating the series, Urderzo took over the writing following Goscinny's death in 1977. The books have sold 370 million copies worldwide, in dozens of languages, and several stories have been turned into cartoons and feature films. The series continues to this day under new ownership, with the most recent book, Asterix and the Chieftain's Daughter, released last October. French Culture Minister Franck Riester said that Uderzo "found the magic potion", referring to his spirit, craftsmanship and long hours of work. He died from a heart attack in Neuilly-sur-Seine at the age of 92.

Remembrances

23 March 1981 - Beatrice Tinsley - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beatrice_Tinsley

Beatrice Muriel Hill Tinsley, British-born New Zealand astronomer and cosmologist and professor of astronomy at Yale University, whose research made fundamental contributions to the astronomical understanding of how galaxies evolve, grow and die. Tinsley completed pioneering theoretical studies of how populations of stars age and affect the observable qualities of galaxies. She also collaborated on basic research into models investigating whether the universe is closed or open. Her galaxy models led to the first approximation of what protogalaxies should look like. In 1978, she became the first female professor of astronomy at Yale University. Her last scientific paper, submitted to the Astrophysical Journal ten days before her death, was published posthumously that November, without revision. She died from cancer at the age of 40 in New Haven, Connecticut.

23 March 2001 - Margaret Ursula Jones - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Ursula_Jones

English archaeologist, best known for directing major excavations at Mucking, Essex. She worked at a number of sites, but is best known for her excavations at Mucking, a major Anglo-Saxon settlement and associated cemetery, with finds ranging from the Stone Age to the Medieval period. The Mucking excavation, which Jones directed from 1965 to 1978, became Britain's largest ever archaeological excavation. It produced an unprecedented volume of material, although some academic archaeologists have criticised the fact that the results did not appear in print until decades after the excavation had ended. Jones' work at Mucking, as well as her role in founding the campaign group Rescue, was influential in the establishment of modern commercial archaeology in Britain. Jones herself also gained a reputation as an eccentric and intimidating figure: "indomitable, formidable, disinclined to suffer fools but very kind to those she considered worth helping, dedicated and inventive". She died at the age of 84.

23 March 2007 – Paul Cohen - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Cohen

American mathematician. He is best known for his proofs that the continuum hypothesis and the axiom of choice are independent from Zermelo–Fraenkel set theory, for which he was awarded a Fields Medal. Cohen is noted for developing a mathematical technique called forcing, which he used to prove that neither the continuum hypothesis (CH) nor the axiom of choice can be proved from the standard Zermelo–Fraenkel axioms (ZF) of set theory. In conjunction with the earlier work of Gödel, this showed that both of these statements are logically independent of the ZF axioms: these statements can be neither proved nor disproved from these axioms. In this sense, the continuum hypothesis is undecidable, and it is the most widely known example of a natural statement that is independent from the standard ZF axioms of set theory. While studying the continuum hypothesis, Cohen is quoted as saying in 1985 that he had "had the feeling that people thought the problem was hopeless, since there was no new way of constructing models of set theory. Indeed, they thought you had to be slightly crazy even to think about the problem." He died from lung disease at the age of 72 in Stanford, California, near Palo Alto.

Famous Birthdays

23 March 1890 – Cedric Gibbons - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedric_Gibbons

Irish-American art director and production designer for the film industry. He also made a significant contribution to motion picture theater architecture from the 1930s to 1950s. Gibbons designed the Oscar statuette in 1928, but tasked the sculpting to George Stanley, a Los Angeles artist. Gibbons was one of the original 36 founding members of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and designed the Academy Awards statuette in 1928. A trophy for which he himself would be nominated 39 times, winning 11. The last time for Best Art Direction for Somebody Up There Likes Me (1956). Gibbons' set designs, particularly those in such films as Born to Dance (1936) and Rosalie (1937), heavily inspired motion picture theater architecture in the late 1930s through 1950s. In February 2005 Gibbons was inducted into the Art Directors Hall of Fame. He was born in New York City.

23 March 1907 - Daniel Bovet - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Bovet

Swiss-born Italian pharmacologist who won the 1957 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of drugs that block the actions of specific neurotransmitters. He is best known for his discovery in 1937 of antihistamines, which block the neurotransmitter histamine and are used in allergy medication. His other research included work on chemotherapy,sulfa drugs, the sympathetic nervous system, the pharmacology of curare, and other neuropharmacological interests. In 1965, Bovet led a study team which concluded that smoking of tobacco cigarettes increased users' intelligence. He told The New York Times that the object was not to "create geniuses, but only [to] put the less-endowed individual in a position to reach a satisfactory mental and intellectual development". He was born in Fleurier.

23 March 1924 - Bette Nesmith Graham - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bette_Nesmith_Graham

American typist, commercial artist, and the inventor of the correction fluid Liquid Paper (not to be confused with competitor White-Out). She was the mother of musician and producer Michael Nesmith of The Monkees. To make extra money, she used her talent painting holiday windows at the bank. She realized as she said, "with lettering, an artist never corrects by erasing, but always paints over the error. So I decided to use what artists use. I put some tempera water-based paint in a bottle and took my watercolor brush to the office. I used to correct my mistakes." She eventually began marketing her typewriter correction fluid as "Mistake Out" in 1956. The name was later changed to Liquid Paper when she began her own company. She was born in Dallas, Texas.

25 March 1920 - Patrick George Troughton - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Troughton

English actor. He was classically trained for the stage but became most widely known for his roles in television and film. His work included appearances in several fantasy, science fiction and horror films, but he became best known for his role as the second incarnation of the Doctor in the long-running British science-fiction television series Doctor Who, which he played from 1966 to 1969; he reprised the role in 1973, 1983 and 1985. he was born in Mill Hill, Middlesex.

Events of Interest

23 March 1801 – Tsar Paul I of Russia is struck with a sword, then strangled, and finally trampled to death inside his bedroom at St. Michael's Castle. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_I_of_Russia#Assassination

On the night of 23 March 1801, a band of dismissed officers murdered Paul in his bedroom in the newly-built St. Michael's Castle. The assassins included General Bennigsen, a Hanoverian in the Russian service, and General Yashvil, a Georgian. They charged into his bedroom, flushed with drink after dining together, and found Paul hiding behind some drapes in the corner. he conspirators pulled him out, forced him to the table, and tried to compel him to sign his abdication. Paul offered some resistance, and Nikolay Zubov struck him with a sword, after which the assassins strangled and trampled him to death. Paul's successor on the Russian throne, his son, the 23-year-old Alexander, was actually in the palace at the time of the killing. General Nikolay Zubov announced his accession to the heir, accompanied by the admonition, "Time to grow up! Go and rule!" Alexander I did not punish the assassins, and the court physician, James Wylie, declared apoplexy the official cause of death.

23 March 1888 – In England, The Football League, the world's oldest professional association football league, meets for the first time. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_Football_League

The first meeting was held at Anderton's Hotel in London on 23 March 1888 on the eve of the FA Cup Final. The Football League was formally created and named in Manchester at a further meeting on 17 April at the Royal Hotel. The name "Association Football Union" was proposed by McGregor but this was felt too close to "Rugby Football Union". Instead, "The Football League" was proposed by Major William Sudell, representing Preston, and quickly agreed upon. Each club played the others twice, once at home and once away, and two points were awarded for a win and one for a draw. This points system was not agreed upon until after the season had started; the alternative proposal was one point for a win only. Preston won the first league title without losing a game, and completed the first league–cup double by also taking the FA Cup.

23 March 1965 – NASA launches Gemini 3, the United States' first two-man space flight (crew: Gus Grissom and John Young). - https://www.nasa.gov/content/march-23-1965-launch-of-first-crewed-gemini-flight

NASA's two-man Gemini spaceflights demonstrated that astronauts could change their capsule's orbit, remain in space for at least two weeks and work outside their spacecraft. They also pioneered rendezvous and docking with other spacecraft. All were essential skills to land on the moon and return safely to Earth. Veteran Mercury astronaut Grissom was selected as command pilot of Gemini III, making him the first person traveling into space twice. Joining Grissom was Young, the first member of the second group of NASA pilots to fly in space. Young would go on to become the first person to make six spaceflights, including commanding Apollo 16 during which he walked on the moon. He also commanded STS-1, the first shuttle mission. Gemini III's primary goal was to test the new, maneuverable spacecraft. In space, the crew members fired thrusters to change the shape of their orbit, shift their orbital plane slightly, and drop to a lower altitude. The revolutionary orbital maneuvering technology paved the way for rendezvous missions later in the Gemini Program and proved it was possible for a lunar module to lift off the moon and dock with the lunar orbiting command module for the trip home to Earth. It also meant spacecraft could be launched to rendezvous and dock with an orbiting space station.

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herpesstdsymptoms · 5 years ago

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HIV

HIV Overview

What is Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV)?

HIV stands for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. When HIV attacks the body, it destroys specific immune cells needed to fight off diseases and infections. HIV resembles many other common illnesses, but there is a difference; the body is not able to get rid of HIV once it infects the immune system’s CD4+ or T-Cells. HIV can replicate over time –killing the host cells– if not managed properly. HIV can lead to AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), but testing positive for HIV does not mean you have AIDS. It is possible to have HIV for many years, even decades, without developing or showing visible signs of the disease.

The only way to find out if you have HIV is to get tested. While there is currently no cure for the virus, there are medications that help HIV-positive individuals lead healthier lives. According to the CDC, about 1.2 million Americans live with HIV and approximately 250,000 people are currently undiagnosed and unknowingly living with HIV.

Are HIV and AIDS the same?

No, HIV and AIDS are not the same. HIV can lead to the development of AIDS. AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection when an individual’s immune system is severely damaged and lacks the ability to fight off diseases and infections. Many people with HIV benefit from powerful medications used to treat the viral infection. These medications are designed to slow down the destruction of the immune system, improve the health of those with HIV and reduce their ability to transmit the virus to others.

How do I get tested for HIV?

Testing for HIV is simple. STDcheck.com offers two FDA-approved HIV blood tests:

Our HIV 4th Generation Antigen/Antibody Test looks for the presence of HIV p24 antigens as well as antibodies that the body creates to fight against HIV. HIV p24 antigens are viral proteins that make up most of the core of the virus. Concentrations of p24 antigens are highest during the first few weeks after infection. Therefore, tests sensitive to p24 antigens are useful in diagnosing early HIV infections. Our 4th generation HIV Ag/Ab test can detect HIV antibodies as soon as 3-4 weeks post exposure, which is when most develop antibodies to the virus. Our test is accurate at detecting up to 99.97% of HIV antibodies at 3 months post exposure.

Our HIV RNA Early Detection Test looks for the HIV virus’ genetic material. We are the only online STD testing service that offers this revolutionary FDA-approved HIV RNA Early Detection Test. The HIV RNA Early Detection Test is highly effective at detecting HIV as early as 9-11 days after exposure.

Where to get tested for HIV

STDcheck.com has more than 4,500 testing centers throughout the United States. To find a local testing center near you, simply go to our STD Test Center location page and enter your zip code. You will be given a list of nearby centers. Choose a location and complete your order. You can also call us at 1-800-456-2323 or use our live chat feature and one of our trained Care Advisors will be happy to assist you with choosing a local STD testing center.

Can doctors cure HIV?

At the moment, there is neither a cure for HIV, nor a vaccine designed to prevent HIV infections. However, HIV is manageable and treatable, and people live long lives as a result of powerful antiretroviral medications. These medications can slow down the virus and minimize its effects, especially if taken as directed by a doctor or HIV specialist.

Can anyone get HIV?

Anyone can contract HIV. Engaging in unprotected anal or vaginal intercourse, having multiple sexual partners, having an active STD, and intravenous drug use are considered high-risk activities for contracting HIV. HIV can also spread from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. Sharing needles, syringes, or other drug equipment can also put you at risk of contracting HIV. Despite misconceptions, saliva, tears, sweat, urine and fecal matter cannot transmit HIV.

Effects of untreated HIV

Undiagnosed and untreated HIV infections can potentially lead to death. If untreated, HIV can severely damage the immune system and make it nearly impossible for the body to fight other illnesses and infections, resulting in AIDS. People with compromised immune systems as a result of AIDS are vulnerable to other so-called “opportunistic” diseases, including cancers and various infections. The transition period from HIV to AIDS is different for each person, but when the immune system is compromised and worn down, it cannot fight off common infections and diseases. Pregnant women who do not get tested for HIV and treated have an increased chance of transmitting the virus to their unborn children.

Ways to prevent HIV infection

The surest way avoid HIV infection is abstinence and to not use intravenous drugs. If you are not willing to abstain from sex, you can help prevent HIV by using condoms during sex. Being in a monogamous relationship with someone who is not infected with HIV will also help prevent infection. Talking about sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and getting tested with a new partner before engaging in a sexual relationship is another way to help prevent contracting HIV.

Medically Reviewed by J. Frank Martin JR., MD on Jun 18, 2019

Written by Lauren Crain on Oct 19, 2017

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meetpositivesblog · 5 years ago

Text

HIV

HIV Overview

What is Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV)?

Are HIV and AIDS the same?

How do I get tested for HIV?

Testing for HIV is simple. STDcheck.com offers two FDA-approved HIV blood tests:

Where to get tested for HIV

Can doctors cure HIV?

Can anyone get HIV?

Effects of untreated HIV

Ways to prevent HIV infection

Medically Reviewed by J. Frank Martin JR., MD on Jun 18, 2019

Written by Lauren Crain on Oct 19, 2017

from knowmystatus.life https://ift.tt/2K2cyEd via IFTTT

#IFTTT #knowmystatus.life

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hivknowledgeorg · 5 years ago

Text

HIV

HIV Overview

What is Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV)?

Are HIV and AIDS the same?

How do I get tested for HIV?

Testing for HIV is simple. STDcheck.com offers two FDA-approved HIV blood tests:

Where to get tested for HIV

Can doctors cure HIV?

Can anyone get HIV?

Effects of untreated HIV

Ways to prevent HIV infection

Medically Reviewed by J. Frank Martin JR., MD on Jun 18, 2019

Written by Lauren Crain on Oct 19, 2017

from knowmystatus.life https://ift.tt/2K2cyEd via IFTTT

#IFTTT #knowmystatus.life

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mateobishop · 6 years ago

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Gene therapy in children

Gene therapy in children. Using gene therapy, German researchers on that they managed to "correct" a malfunctioning gene guilty for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, a rare but stunning childhood disorder that leads to prolonged bleeding from even minor hits or scrapes, and also leaves these children exposed to certain cancers and dangerous infections. However, one of the 10 kids in the study developed violent T-cell leukemia, apparently as a result of the viral vector that was used to insert the beneficial gene streaming. The boy is currently on chemotherapy, the study authors noted. This is a very good win step, but it's a little scary and we need to move to safer vectors - said Dr Mary Ellen Conley, manager of the Program in Genetic Immunodeficiencies at St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. "The consider shows proof-of-principle that gene psychoanalysis with stem cells in a genetic disorder like this has strong potential," added Paul Sanberg, a petiole cell specialist who is director of the University of South Florida Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair in Tampa maxocum results. Neither Conley nor Sanberg were tangled in the study, which is scheduled to be presented Sunday at the annual get-together of the American Society of Hematology in Orlando, Fla. According to Conley, children (mostly boys) with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) are born with an inherited genetic insufficiency on the X chromosome that affects the or slue and size of platelets and makes the children remarkably influenceable to easy bleeding and infections, including different types of cancer. Bone marrow transplants are the largest treatment for the disorder which, if they succeed, basically cure the patient. "They issue up, go to college and they cause problems caliplus. But they're not an easy group of patients to transplant". Even if a super match is found, transplant recipients can go on to have more problems with infections, such as graft-versus-host disease, in which the body basically rejects the strange elements. "One of the long-lasting complications is the kids couldn't do this, they couldn't do that, they accompany themselves as different. Transplants are getting better but we need better therapy, there's no question". In this study, the researchers inserted a in good health gene capable of producing WAS protein into hematopoietic stem cells (the "granddaddy" cells that give take-off to different blood cells), then transferred these stem cells back into the forgiving using a viral vector. A viral vector is a virus that has been modified to deliver foreign genetic data into a cell. In fact, the experiment was largely successful, with cells now able to produce WAS protein, resulting in increased platelet counts and increase of some immune-system cells. "This is a first mark that says you can correct the disease but I think most people would look at it and say the risk of leukemia is something, and that, let's spot if we can avoid that," said Conley, whose team at St Jude is working on a remedial programme involving a different type of vector. "It's a good start, but I of we have better things coming down the road". In other news from the conference, another group of German researchers have single-minded that people who donate peripheral blood stem cells or bone marrow to help safeguard a life don't face any heightened risk of cancer. Previously there had been some concern that drugs needed to get the suppress cells out of the bone marrow and into the bloodstream where they could be accessed might pose a risk of leukemia. The lessons was based on questionnaires returned from more than 12500 donors, which also showed the donors tended to be in good health and were zealous to donate again more hints. Another study found that the drug rituximab (Rituxan), used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and forms of leukemia and lymphoma, could greatly tone down graft-versus-host disease in stem chamber transplant recipients.

#cells #children #study #vector #conley #genetic #different

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lovemiraclehunter-blog · 6 years ago

Text

Gene therapy in children

Gene therapy in children. Using gene therapy, German researchers turn up that they managed to "correct" a malfunctioning gene accountable for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, a rare but keen childhood disorder that leads to prolonged bleeding from even minor hits or scrapes, and also leaves these children weak to certain cancers and dangerous infections. However, one of the 10 kids in the study developed clever T-cell leukemia, apparently as a result of the viral vector that was used to insert the hale gene go here. The boy is currently on chemotherapy, the study authors noted. This is a very good fundamental step, but it's a little scary and we need to move to safer vectors - said Dr Mary Ellen Conley, pilot of the Program in Genetic Immunodeficiencies at St Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tenn. "The go into shows proof-of-principle that gene treatment with stem cells in a genetic disorder like this has strong potential," added Paul Sanberg, a arrest cell specialist who is director of the University of South Florida Center of Excellence for Aging and Brain Repair in Tampa fosfor. Neither Conley nor Sanberg were affected in the study, which is scheduled to be presented Sunday at the annual get-together of the American Society of Hematology in Orlando, Fla. According to Conley, children (mostly boys) with Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) are born with an inherited genetic mistake on the X chromosome that affects the gang and size of platelets and makes the children remarkably accessible to easy bleeding and infections, including different types of cancer. Bone marrow transplants are the in the mai mainly treatment for the disorder which, if they succeed, basically cure the patient. "They thrive up, go to college and they cause problems bonuses. But they're not an easy group of patients to transplant". Even if a okay match is found, transplant recipients can go on to have more problems with infections, such as graft-versus-host disease, in which the body basically rejects the inappropriate elements. "One of the long-lasting complications is the kids couldn't do this, they couldn't do that, they make up one's mind themselves as different. Transplants are getting better but we need better therapy, there's no question". In this study, the researchers inserted a sturdy gene capable of producing WAS protein into hematopoietic stem cells (the "granddaddy" cells that give succeed to different blood cells), then transferred these stem cells back into the forgiving using a viral vector. A viral vector is a virus that has been modified to deliver foreign genetic notes into a cell. In fact, the experiment was largely successful, with cells now able to produce WAS protein, resulting in increased platelet counts and upswing of some immune-system cells. "This is a first movement that says you can correct the disease but I think most people would look at it and say the risk of leukemia is something, and that, let's consult if we can avoid that," said Conley, whose team at St Jude is working on a group therapy involving a different type of vector. "It's a good start, but I dream we have better things coming down the road". In other news from the conference, another group of German researchers have unyielding that people who donate peripheral blood stem cells or bone marrow to help preclude a life don't face any heightened risk of cancer. Previously there had been some concern that drugs needed to get the prow cells out of the bone marrow and into the bloodstream where they could be accessed might pose a risk of leukemia. The workroom was based on questionnaires returned from more than 12500 donors, which also showed the donors tended to be in good health and were content to donate again vigrxusa.trade. Another study found that the drug rituximab (Rituxan), used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and forms of leukemia and lymphoma, could greatly let up graft-versus-host disease in stem stall transplant recipients.

#cells #children #study #vector #conley #therapy #different

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caresofpets-blog · 6 years ago

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ADOPTING THE RIGHT CAT FOR YOU

Sharing your life with an animal can be a wonderful, rewarding experience, but having a pet is not for everyone. Before bringing a cat home, consider whether or not you’re ready for the commitment of caring for an animal. Ask yourself the following questions: Are you willing to commit to caring for a cat for the entirety of her lifetime, which could be as long as twenty years? If you move, marry or have a child, will you keep your cat? Do you have time to spend with a cat? Are you financially prepared to care for a cat? The average annual cost for general cat care is approximately $1,000 and could be more should your cat require emergency veterinary care, preventive dental care or treatment for chronic issues. Remember that all cats require a commitment of time, money and energy. If you’re unable to take on the responsibilities of caring for and supporting a cat, you should probably reconsider adopting. If you do decide you are ready to bring an animal into your life and family, it is important that you choose your companion carefully. Please consider adopting a homeless cat or kitten from your local humane society or animal shelter. With millions of healthy, adoptable animals euthanized in shelters each year, purchasing an animal from a breeder or store is unnecessary. Contrary to what some may believe, shelter cats are likely to be just as healthy, and are often healthier, than are pure bred or store bought cats. Also, by adopting a shelter cat, you will be helping to cut down animal overpopulation, and you will be giving a second chance to a cat in need. Cat or kitten? Many people arrive at shelters wanting to adopt a cute, playful kitten, and though kittens can make great companions, they often require more time and patience than older cats. It is important that you consider your lifestyle before adopting a kitten. If you’re going to be a one-pet family, reconsider adopting a kitten. Kittens need constant stimulation, and a single, bored kitten will often entertain herself by scratching furniture, digging in or eating plants or climbing curtains. This behavior is not only destructive but can be dangerous as well. Rather than inflicting twice the damage, two kittens usually take their energy out on each other, thus saving your belongings. You also should reconsider adopting a kitten if you have young children. Young animals and children are usually a dangerous combination. Neither children nor kittens know how to behave appropriately with one another— kittens don’t yet know not to climb up legs or bite fingers, and children don’t yet know their own strength when they’re playing with pets. Older, calmer cats are generally a better match for children. If your schedule already is packed and you have little time to spend at home with a pet, you should not adopt a kitten. If you do not have several hours a day to devote to a kitten, your friendly, affectionate kitten may grow up to become a shy, distant cat who recognizes you only as a food source. Consider adopting an older cat if a kitten does not fit your lifestyle. Is a special-needs cat right for you? Shelters throughout the country are filled with loving, wonderful cats who just need a little extra care. If you have the time and money to devote to one of these special-needs cats, consider adopting a cat who is older, Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) positive or suffering from a non-life threatening condition, such as deafness, blindness, etc. Special-needs cats are often known to develop incredibly strong bonds with their adoptive families. Preparing to adopt Before visiting your local shelter, be sure to call or visit its website to familiarize yourself with the adoption procedures. Some shelters may require proof of address, references or a copy of your rental lease to prove that pets are allowed in the building. Also, keep in mind that all members of the household should be included in the adoption process—adopting a pet is a life-long commitment and these important decisions need to be mutually agreed upon. Now you’re ready to adopt. Congratulations on bringing home a new family member! Bringing a new cat home Here are a few things you should know to ensure the experience goes as smoothly as possible! First, prepare your house for the new arrival. Remove toxic plants, put away small objects which may be ingested by your new cat (yarn, paper clips, rubber bands, etc.), put away any breakables, so there’s no chance that your new cat might knock them off shelves or tables and close all cabinets and closets where your cat might hide. Next, set up a single room as a home base for your cat. Cats are territorial animals, and for a new cat, too large a territory can be overwhelming. By keeping your new cat in a small area you will be providing a less stressful introduction to your home. For most cats a bathroom or a bedroom is an ideal location to get accustomed to the home. Remind everyone to make the initial homecoming peaceful and quiet, without excited squeals and hugs. The secret to success is to allow your new friend to come to you. It is important not to force affection upon your new cat; soft talk and treats can be more reassuring in the early stages than petting. When your new cat seems comfortable with you being in the room, hold out your hand, palm down in a relaxed manner, and let her smell you. If your cat backs away, you have gotten too close. If your cat approaches, hold your position and continue to speak softly. At this point, begin petting your new cat by softly stroking the top of your cat’s head and cheeks, and slowly work down the cat’s body, if she allows it. Once your cat is thoroughly at ease with you, begin to allow her to explore the rest of the house. The first few times your cat is allowed to roam, supervise the exploration. This will prevent her from finding a hiding place. When your new cat has explored her new environment and seems comfortable, position food, water and the litter box(es) in their permanent places. Be sure to show the cat where you have moved them. Be patient. Remember that each step must be taken at your cat’s pace. Introducing a new cat to resident cats As described above, set up a room as a home base for your new cat, allowing for a gradual introduction to the family. For the first 72 hours, do nothing. It is important to allow your new cat to become accustomed to her surroundings. Your new cat is not only acclimating to home base, she also is using her fine-tuned senses to discover what is beyond the closed door of her home base, including resident cats. After 72 hours, begin introducing the cats to each others’ scents. First, leave a blanket or towel in the home base for the new cat and another on your resident cat’s favorite sleeping spot. After they each have spent time sleeping on the blanket or towel, exchange the linens. This scent introduction will help your cats get used to each other and will help improve the eventual face-to face-meeting. While the cats are becoming used to each others’ scents, create positive experiences for them while they are still safely separated. Feed the cats on either side of the closed home base door. Get a feather toy and encourage play under the door. By creating positive experiences, you send the message that another cat is a good, fun friend to have in the house. After a week of allowing your new cat to acclimate to home base, it is time to switch the cats’ living areas. Let your new cat explore the rest of the house while your resident cat stays in home base. Be sure to not let the cats meet while you are swapping rooms. After a few hours of exploration, you can return the cats to their original spaces. After about two weeks, it is time to start introducing the cats. Clip both cats’ nails to lessen the chance of injury (see how to clip nails on page 8). Place a treat (a plate of wet food or some fresh deli meat) outside of the home base door and place another treat down the hall from the door, but still in sight of home base. Lure your resident cat to the treat down the hall and while she is enjoying the treat, open the door to home base and allow the new cat to enjoy her treat. By allowing the cats to see each other while enjoying good food, you are helping them associate rewards with the other cat. After they have finished their treat, place the new cat back in home base. The next day, repeat the above step, but this time place the plates a couple of feet closer together. Continue this process until the cats get close enough to meet face-to-face. It is important not to interfere when they meet. It is normal for cats to hiss, howl, posture and swat when they first meet. In the unlikely event that they do begin to fight, do not pick up either cat. Put a towel or blanket between them to block their view of each other and try to corral one to a safe place. You will need to spend more time creating positive experiences before introducing them face-to-face again. After the cats have spent time together without conflict, gradually increase the amount of time the cats are out together. After they have spent several hours harmoniously sharing the same territory, several times in a row, you can leave them alone together. Remember to be patient as the process of introducing cats can take time, but in most cases, cats will learn to coexist peacefully. And in many cases, cats can become life-long friends.

#Adopting the right cat for you adopting the right cat for you what is the best age cat to adopt? what type of cat is best for me? what is it

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