#medical assistants recognition day

[murderousink23]

10/23/2024 is iPod Day 🇺🇸,National Boston Cream Pie Day 🇺🇸, National Mole Day 🇺🇸, National TV Talk Show Host Day 🇺🇸, Swallows Depart from San Juan Capistrano Day 🇺🇸, Medical Assistants Recognition Day 🇺🇸, National Horror Movie Day 🧛‍♀️🧛‍♂️🇺🇸

[teaboot]

How do Canadian schools teach about indigenous Canadian history and culture? -a curious USAmerican

In my experience we learned about colonization at the same time as we learned about the formation of Canada. At first it was "European settlers came and pushed out the indigenous population", then in the higher grades we learned more about the how and the why.

For example, how carts full of men with rifles would ride around shooting Buffalo, then leaving the meat on the ground to rot, because "a dead Buffalo is a dead indian", which was so fanatical it almost wiped out wild Buffalo entirely

Also how Canadian settlers were lured in with beautiful hand-painted advertisements for cheap, beautiful, fertile land that was unpopulated and perfect, if only you'd sail over with your entire family and a pocket full of seeds- only to be met with scared, confused, and angry lawful inhabitants already run out of ten other places, and frigid winters, and rocky, forested, undeveloped dirt.

also, smallpox blankets, where "gifts" of blankets infected with smallpox were intentionally given out

And treaty violations- Either ignoring written agreements entirely, or buying them out at insanely low prices and lying about the value, or trading for farming equipment that they couldn't use because they weren't farmers.

Then in the first world war, where they told indigenous peoples here that they'd be granted Canadian citizenship if they enlisted

To Residential schools, which was straight up stealing kids for slavery, indoctrination, and medical experiments

But we also covered the building of the Canadian Railway in which Chinese immigrants were lowered into ravines with dynamite to blow out paths through the mountain for pennies on the dollar

And the Alberta Sterilization Act, where it was lawful and routine procedure to sterilize women of colour and neurodivergent people without their awareness or consent after giving birth or undergoing unrelated surgeries

But I'm rambling.

We kind of learned Aboriginal history at the same time as everything else? Like. This is when Canada was made, and this is how it was done. Now we'll read a book about someone who lived through it, and we'll write a book report. And now a documentary, and now a paper about the documentary. Onto the next unit.

And starting I think in grade 10 our English track was split between English and Aboriginals English, where you could choose to do the standard curriculum or do the same basic knowledge stuff with a focus on Aboriginal perspectives and literature. (I did that one, we read Three Day's Road and Diary Of A Part-Time Indian, and a few other titles I don't remember.)

There was also a lunch room for the Aboriginal Culture Studies where Aboriginal kids could hang out at lunch time if they wanted, full of art and projects and stuff. They'd play music or videos sometimes, that was cool

And one elective I took (not mandatory cirriculum) was a Kwakiutl course for basic Kwakwakaʼwakw language. Greetings, counting to a hundred, learning the modified alphabet, animals, etc. Still comes in handy sometimes at large gatherings cause they usually start with a land recognition thanking whoever's land we're on, with a few thanks and welcomes in their language.

And like- when I was in the US it was so weird, cause here we have Totem poles and longhouses and murals all over and yall... don't? Like there is a very distinct lack of Aboriginal art in your public spaces, at least in the areas I've been

My ex-stepfather, who was American, brought his son out once, and he was so excited to "see real indians" and was legitimately shocked to learn that there weren't many teepees to be found on the northwest coast, and was even *more* shocked when we told him that you have Aboriginal people back home too, bud. Your Aboriginal people are also named "Mike" snd "Vicky" and work as assistant manager at best buy.

If you'd ask me, I'd say that the primary difference is that USAmerica (from what I've seen, and ALSO in entirely too much of Canada) treats our European and Aboriginal conflicts as history, something that's tragic but over, like the extinction of the mammoths, instead of like. An ongoing thing involving people who are alive and numerous and right fucking here

But at the end of the day, I'm white, and there are plenty of actual Aboriginal people who are speaking out and saying much more meaningful things than I can

So I'm just gonna pass on a quote from my Stepmum, who's Cree, that's stuck with me since she said it:

"You see how they treat Mexicans in America? That's how they treat us here. Indians are the Mexicans of Canada."

[afeelgoodblog]

The Best News of Last Week

1. A branch of the flu family tree has died and won't be included in future US vaccines

A type of flu virus that used to sicken people every year hasn't been spotted anywhere on Earth since March 2020. As such, experts have advised that the apparently extinct viruses be removed from next year's flu vaccines.

The now-extinct viruses were a branch of the influenza B family tree known as the Yamagata lineage. Scientists first reported the apparent disappearance of Yamagata viruses in 2021.

2. Hospitals must obtain written consent for pelvic and similar exams, the federal government says

Hospitals must obtain written informed consent from patients before subjecting them to pelvic exams and exams of other sensitive areas — especially if an exam will be done while the patient is unconscious, the federal government said Monday.

New guidance from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services now requires consent for breast, pelvic, prostate and rectal exams for “educational and training purposes” performed by medical students, nurse practitioners or physician assistants.

3. Germany approves new law that will allow adults to carry up to 25 grams of cannabis for their own consumption and store up to 50 grams at home.

Germany's upper house, the Bundesrat, cleared the way to partially legalize cannabis on Friday. Adults aged 18 and over will be allowed to carry up to 25 grams of cannabis for their own consumption.

4. Tick-killing pill shows promising results in human trial | Should it pan out, the pill would be a new weapon against Lyme disease.

Tarsus Pharmaceuticals is developing a pill for humans that could provide protection against the tick-borne disease for several weeks at a time. In February, the Irvine, California–based biotech company announced results from a small, early-stage trial showing that 24 hours after taking the drug, it can kill ticks on people, with the effects lasting for up to 30 days.

5. Thailand moves to legalise same-sex marriage

Thailand has taken a historic step closer to marriage equality after the lower house passed a bill giving legal recognition to same-sex marriage.

It still needs approval from the Senate and royal endorsement to become law but it is widely expected to happen by the end of 2024, making Thailand the only South East Asian country to recognise same-sex unions.

6. French Revolution: Cyclists Now Outnumber Motorists In Paris

Official measurements have found that Paris is rapidly becoming a city of transportation cyclists. In the suburbs, where public transit is less dense, transport by car was found to be the main form of mobility. But for journeys from the outskirts of Paris to the center, the number of cyclists now far exceeds the number of motorists, a huge change from just five years ago.

7. 'Miracle' operation reverses blindness in three-year-old girl giving her 'promising' future

A three year old with a genetic condition that causes blindness is doing incredibly well after unique pioneering operation to restore her sight.

The UK is the only country performing keyhole eye surgery to inject healthy copies of a gene into sufferers’ eyes. It is being used to reverse blindness in children born with a rare condition which means they can only distinguish between light and dark. And it has given little Khadijah Chaudhry, born with Leber congenital amaurosis-4, a chance at seeing properly again.

---

That's it for this week :)

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Buy me a coffee ❤️

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[12bucksundpommes]

There's a problem | part 2

Bucky x reader

Summary: after being rescued from hydra, the team still has the challenge of breaking Y/n out of Hydra's control.

-----------------------------------------

After Bucky and Y/N were rescued from Hydra's clutches, the Avengers faced a dire challenge: Y/N was still under the control of the trigger words. To prevent any harm, they placed her in a highly secured cell, with someone always on guard outside to keep an eye on her.

Days turned into a heart-wrenching blur as Y/N tried to manipulate the team with tears and desperate pleas, claiming she was no longer under Hydra’s control. Her voice, choked with emotion, nearly convinced them, but Bucky, having experienced this firsthand, recognized the coldness in her eyes that betrayed Hydra's lingering grip.

"Don't let her out," Bucky warned the team, his voice filled with the weight of past traumas. "Hydra still has control."

The team tried everything in their power to break the control, but nothing worked. Desperation led them to contact Wakanda, seeking their advanced technological assistance. Wakanda agreed to help, but first, they needed to transport Y/N safely to their facilities.

When they attempted to move her to the jet, Y/N turned violent, lashing out at the agents trying to escort her. The situation escalated quickly, making it clear they couldn't transport her without neutralizing the control.

Tony Stark, with his unparalleled ingenuity, devised a device specifically designed to disrupt the neural pathways affected by the trigger words. The plan was to use it to temporarily break Hydra's hold, just long enough to get her to Wakanda.

Bucky volunteered to enter the cell, despite the warnings about how violent Y/N might become. He steeled himself, knowing the risk but determined to help her. Natasha stood by, ready to assist if needed.

As Bucky stepped into the cell, Y/N's eyes flashed with hostility. She lunged at him, her movements swift and aggressive. Natasha quickly intervened, restraining Y/N to prevent her from causing any harm.

"Hold her steady," Tony instructed, handing Bucky the device.

Y/N thrashed against Natasha's hold, screaming in fury. Bucky approached with the device, his heart breaking at the sight of her anguish.

"I'm sorry, Y/N," he whispered, pressing the device to her temple.

Y/N's screams of pain echoed through the room as the device activated. Tears streamed down her face, and Bucky's own eyes filled with tears, hating the pain she was enduring. Natasha held her firmly, ensuring she couldn't hurt herself or anyone else.

Finally, Y/N went limp, the control broken. Bucky caught her, cradling her gently as Natasha released her hold. He held Y/N close, his relief palpable as he felt her breathing steady against him.

"She's out," Tony confirmed, his voice thick with emotion. "We need to get her to Wakanda now."

The team moved swiftly, carefully carrying Y/N to the jet. Bucky stayed by her side the entire journey, his hand never leaving hers. He whispered reassurances, promising her that she would be okay.

Upon arrival in Wakanda, Shuri and her team were ready. They immediately began the process of removing the trigger words from Y/N's mind, using their advanced technology and medical expertise.

As Y/N lay unconscious, Bucky remained a constant presence by her side. He watched over her, his heart aching with worry but filled with hope. Steve and the rest of the team offered their support, knowing how much Y/N meant to him.

After what felt like an eternity, Y/N began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open, and she looked around, disoriented but alive. Bucky's heart leapt with joy as he saw recognition in her eyes.

"Bucky?" she whispered, her voice weak.

"I'm here," Bucky said, his voice choked with emotion. "I'm right here, Y/N."

Tears of relief filled Y/N's eyes as she looked at Bucky, her gaze finally free of the coldness that had plagued her. "Thank you," she murmured, her voice trembling.

"You did it," Bucky replied, his voice filled with pride. "You're free."

The road to recovery would be long, but with the support of her loved ones and the advanced care of Wakanda, Y/N had a chance to heal and reclaim her life. Bucky stayed by her side, determined to help her through every step of the journey, their bond stronger than ever.

-------------------------------------------------------

Tags:

@mrsnikstan

If anyone else wants to be tagged for my works please let me know.

[leviathan-supersystem]

Mike DeWine, the Ohio governor, recently lamented the toll taken on the residents of East Palestine after the toxic train derailment there, saying “no other community should have to go through this”.

But such accidents are happening with striking regularity. A Guardian analysis of data collected by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and by non-profit groups that track chemical accidents in the US shows that accidental releases – be they through train derailments, truck crashes, pipeline ruptures or industrial plant leaks and spills – are happening consistently across the country.

By one estimate these incidents are occurring, on average, every two days.

“These kinds of hidden disasters happen far too frequently,” Mathy Stanislaus, who served as assistant administrator of the EPA’s office of land and emergency management during the Obama administration, told the Guardian. Stanislaus led programs focused on the cleanup of contaminated hazardous waste sites, chemical plant safety, oil spill prevention and emergency response.

In the first seven weeks of 2023 alone, there were more than 30 incidents recorded by the Coalition to Prevent Chemical Disasters, roughly one every day and a half. Last year the coalition recorded 188, up from 177 in 2021. The group has tallied more than 470 incidents since it started counting in April 2020.

The incidents logged by the coalition range widely in severity but each involves the accidental release of chemicals deemed to pose potential threats to human and environmental health.

In September, for instance, nine people were hospitalized and 300 evacuated in California after a spill of caustic materials at a recycling facility. In October, officials ordered residents to shelter in place after an explosion and fire at a petrochemical plant in Louisiana. In November, more than 100 residents of Atchinson, Kansas, were treated for respiratory problems and schools were evacuated after an accident at a beverage manufacturing facility created a chemical cloud over the town.

Among multiple incidents in December, a large pipeline ruptured in rural northern Kansas, smothering the surrounding land and waterways in 588,000 gallons of diluted bitumen crude oil. Hundreds of workers are still trying to clean up the pipeline mess, at a cost pegged at around $488m.

The precise number of hazardous chemical incidents is hard to determine because the US has multiple agencies involved in response, but the EPA told the Guardian that over the past 10 years, the agency has “performed an average of 235 emergency response actions per year, including responses to discharges of hazardous chemicals or oil”. The agency said it employs roughly 250 people devoted to the EPA’s emergency response and removal program.

[...]

The EPA itself says that by several measurements, accidents at facilities are becoming worse: evacuations, sheltering and the average annual rate of people seeking medical treatment stemming from chemical accidents are on the rise. Total annual costs are approximately $477m, including costs related to injuries and deaths.

“Accidental releases remain a significant concern,” the EPA said.

In August, the EPA proposed several changes to the Risk Management Program (RMP) regulations that apply to plants dealing with hazardous chemicals. The rule changes reflect the recognition by EPA that many chemical facilities are located in areas that are vulnerable to the impacts of the climate crisis, including power outages, flooding, hurricanes and other weather events.

The proposed changes include enhanced emergency preparedness, increased public access to information about hazardous chemicals risks communities face and new accident prevention requirements.

The US Chamber of Commerce has pushed back on stronger regulations, arguing that most facilities operate safely, accidents are declining and that the facilities impacted by any rule changes are supplying “essential products and services that help drive our economy and provide jobs in our communities”. Other opponents to strengthening safety rules include the American Chemistry Council, American Forest & Paper Association, American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers and the American Petroleum Institute.

The changes are “unnecessary” and will not improve safety, according to the American Chemistry Council.

Many worker and community advocates, such as the International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America, (UAW), which represents roughly a million laborers, say the proposed rule changes don’t go far enough.

[gortash-did-nothing-wrong]

Enver Gortash Musings 9

Warnings: discussions of pregnancy, childbirth, widespread illness, orphans, and tiefling racism. And Enver is once again keeping secrets.

After you have your first child, internally you decide to take a break from trying for children for a few years. You want to make sure your daughter is doted on properly. You keep a scrap book of all her milestones, even glueing scraps of her outfits she outgrows into the pages. Enver and you pour over the scrapbook one night as your now year old daughter sleeps in her crib.

"She was so small." Enver says, running a finger over one of her socks from her first month of life. "I almost forgot how small babies are."

You hummed, turning the page to see the very first bit of her horn that had broken off. She had taken a tumble while learning to walk, knocking her horn on a table and cracking it. "I felt like a horrible mother that day. After she finally stopped crying, and took her afternoon nap, I cried so hard."

Enver looks at you, surprised. "You did? I don't remember that..."

"oh I didn't let you see." You said, chuckling. "You were really busy that week. There was some medical issue in the lower city? During the winter months, yes I remember now. That big orphanage got hit hard with it."

"Cholera." Enver said, his voice suddenly not so carefree. "The sewer system was damaged, and contaminated the drinking water. It was so cold in the sewers that repairs were slow to make any progress."

"Right." You said, "You were working really hard, so I didn't want to bother you. It was silly of me. Children get hurt sometimes, after all. I can't save her from every bruise."

Enver raised an eyebrow. "You... You were doing charity work, weren't you? I remember asking you to assist on that."

"I was helping bring fresh water from the upper city wells to the lower city." I said. "I just strapped Ember to my front and drove a supply wagon down. It was the least I could do. Ilmater's temple was doing the real work. All this children looked horrible... So pale and skinny."

Enver's eyes had a spark of recognition. "Right, the reporters tried to say in the paper that your hair had been a mess and had hay in it."

You laughed, "Well sometimes that happens when you work with horses. Wait... Enver the papers didn't say anything about my hair?"

He smirked, "Of course not. You think I'd let them critique my wife's appearance while she's saving the lives of orphans?"

You scoffed, "I didn't save anyone's life. I drove the horse wagon down the street to deliver water. A stable boy could have done it."

"True. But a stable boy couldn't have encouraged all the noble women to help gather water from the wells, fill barrels with the water, and coordinate it all to go to the same place."

"they didn't fill the barrels." I said dryly. "They told their servants to do it."

Enver is quiet for a moment, his eyes watching you as you turned a few pages of the scrap book. "Darling. Did you do the manual labor?"

"Along with several dozen servants, yes." I said, looking up at him, curiously. "What did you think I did? Sat on the wagon waiting for it to be done?"

Enver sighed, shaking his head but with no malice. His eyes were smiling, a chuckle rumble from his chest. "You're quite odd for a noblewoman."

"The perks of having a dirty peasant mother." I said, grinning. "Or at least a merchant mother."

Enver chuckled, "How is your family doing anyway?"

"Mother is fine, she's angry the squirrels keep eating her bell peppers, but she doesn't want to hurt them so she's trying to bury mothballs to make them not want to come around the plants." You said. "My brothers and sisters are all doing well, ah, that reminds me, Lauren is of marrying age, and she's having some trouble finding a match... You wouldn't happen to know of any eligible bachelors?"

Enver chuckled, "I know a few. Have her come to dinner this week, I'll get a feel for her and see if I know any gentlemen who would fit her."

You leaned over, kissing his cheek. "Thank you, my love."

He stared into your eyes after you pulled back, searching your soul for a moment. "Have the nursemaid watch Ember tonight."

You shut the scrap book. "Oh?"

"I want you." He said firmly. "And I want another child."

It was your turn to hesitate. "Ember is only one..."

"And if I get you pregnant tonight, she'll be a year and nine months by the time the other baby comes." Enver said smoothly, his hand coming to rest on your cheek. "Something else is troubling you. Tell me what."

There was never much compromise with Enver. "... Ember is a tiefling."

"Yes." Enver said. "You and your family have always been quite progressive with tiefling issues. What's the problem?"

"I still don't know how she came out as a tiefling. Neither of our families have any history of Tieflings." You explain. "And... And I worry that if our next child is a human... That they'll be treated differently from Ember. And then that will hurt Ember..."

Enver looked at you solemnly as you trailed off. Like always, your thoughts were on others. It was something he begrudgingly enjoyed about you. There was a naivety to your generosity, a naivety that due to his station and money he could ensure you kept. He viewed it like having a rare bird as a pet, one with an expensive diet and high vet bills. A status symbol, in a way. But that feeling had shifted just slightly after Ember had come along. And now it felt far more like owning a luxury house. With warm and inviting decor, gates and walls to keep out unpleasantness. A sense of security and comfort whenever he was around you. Especially when he would sneakily watch you mothering Ember. Just yesterday he had watched you braid her a flower crown in the garden, and once you placed it on her head he let himself daydream about the real crown he would put on Ember's head one day when she was ready.

"I am going to tell you something." He said seriously. You looked up at him, tense. "I will not tell you how I know. Do not ask."

You nodded.

"All of our children will be tieflings." He said firmly. "There is nothing I can do to change that."

You stare at him, not being able to make any sense of how he would know. Your mouth opened and closed several times, so many questions pressing against your tongue. How did he know? Why was it so? Who had done this? Was it the fault of your blood or his?

You could never read him much, but something in his eyes made you certain that regardless of all your other questions, the cause was his side of the family tree.

After what felt like forever, you managed to say, "Alright."

Enver leaned a little closer down, his mouth close enough that you could just lean up a little and kiss him. "You'll still carry my children? Or will I have to content myself with Ember as my one and only?"

You swallowed. "I... I want more children. This is just a lot to take in. The rumors were so awful the first time-"

Enver sighed, his brow frowning. "I thought I made sure none of those reached your ears."

You smiled sadly. "My mother informed me of them. Don't be cross. She was trying to protect me."

"That is my job now." Enver said firmly. "I should have a conversation with her."

"Enver." You say warningly.

He patted your cheek. "Just to make sure she's on the same page, my darling wife."

You leaned up, kissing his lips softly, a small spark of passion behind it. You pulled away, smiling up at him. "Let me tell the nursemaid she's on duty for tonight... Why don't you get a bath ready?"

Enver grabbed his cane, getting to his feet with a groan. "Off to twist the taps I go."

[allthelittlecreepycrawlies]

Free Day: NHS is the elder brother from the Nie clan and thus is the person who appointed MY as his deputy

Set in this verse with requester permission.

------------

He had thought that introductions were going well, but as soon as he mentioned why he was there and who had sent him, Nie-zongzhu's welcoming smile vanished.

He didn't look annoyed or anything of that sort, instead he seemed... embarrassed.

"Oh! That's- ah... Well..." he mumbled, awkwardly scratching his neck-

-Meng Yao politely pretended not to notice that there were already a great many scratches there-

-then he sighed. "I'm sorry. Whatever promotion you were told this would be was a lie."

A creeping-crawling feeling started to form in Meng Yao's stomach, similar to the one he used to get as a child whenever one of the adults would promise him something and then pretend not to have done so later. "What do you- I-I mean, could Zongzhu clarify for this one, please?"

"I do need an assistant, but as far as the disciples and soldiers are concerned, the position is a joke. Or a punishment. Nobody wants to work with the sect leader in-name-only when they could potentially gain a position of actual importance."

The creeping feeling gathered together into a stone. He felt dizzy all of a sudden.

He was further surprised when Nie-zongzhu quickly gave up his own chair and even helped him to sit. "Why are you telling me this?"

"We may have only talked a little while, but from your descriptions of your time helping our side, you seem hardworking and trustworthy. I like you enough to be honest with you," Nie-zongzhu said simply.

Honest with him. Which was more than he could say for the men who'd promised him a better rank in return for his effort. And much kinder, too.

"If... I were to stay, what would be required of me?" he asked cautiously.

"Are you good with sums? Recording counts? Names and faces? Taking notes? Reading maps?" Nie-zongzhu listed off, and he nodded an affirmative to each one.

And finally- "Do you get ill around severe injuries? Blood and broken bones and all that? I know you said you were on battlefield cleanup before, but it's, ah, different when you're looking at someone still squirming and screaming."

"I've seen enough," Meng Yao said. "And I have some training in battlefield triage."

"Oh, excellent!" Nie-zongzhu said, clapping his hands together with a smile that seemed to lighten up everything about him in a way that... was actually very endearing. "Those soldiers really had no idea what they were throwing away, did they? But their loss is my gain!"

Despite himself, Meng Yao felt his face grow warm under the praise.

"Alright, then, let's get you set up with a place to sleep and your scribe kit, and then we'll get started with the kitchen and infirmary supply lists for today, okay?"

"Yes, Zongzhu."

---

By the time he made it back to his new cot and tent, Meng Yao was exhausted.

But he also felt... accomplished.

Tailing his new sect leader as he bustled about the support camps for the front line, he had found that despite the lack of respect the combat cultivators and soldiers gave him and his quiet meekness, Nie-zo- Huaisang, the man had insisted- actually had a very keen and complicated mind when it came to strategy and logistics.

Every worker, from medic to cook to farrier to message runner, that they met with had been introduced to Meng Yao by name, and it was clear they appreciated the recognition, along with Huaisang's string pulling to keep their supplies filled and their tools in good condition.

He was also quick -and genuine- with praise, both for them and for Meng Yao, who couldn't remember the last time anyone but his mother had ever spoken of him so highly.

It was... addicting, in a way. The sweeter Huaisang was to him, the more of that he wanted.

He couldn't lose sight of his goal. He was still aiming for his father's sect.

But... having found himself a shelter of sorts from the storm of public ridicule... maybe he could let himself enjoy it.

Just for a little while longer.

[covid-safer-hotties]

Also preserved in our archive

Another great reason to keep masking: We don't even have a good treatment for long covid yet, and many doctors know simply nothing about the condition.

Global efforts to understand and manage long Covid post-pandemic, with varied symptoms and limited treatment guidelines worldwide

Doctors in India are grappling to diagnose and treat unexplained and persistent symptoms of long Covid patients due to limited guidelines, whereas researchers have flagged inadequate studies on the condition.

With the World Health Organization declaring an end to COVID-19 as a global health emergency in May last year, focused efforts are underway around the world to estimate the burden of long Covid among the population.

The condition refers to the set of lingering symptoms affecting varied body parts and persisting well beyond the acute Covid infection period, including cough, muscle and joint pain, fatigue, brain fog and difficulty in focusing. The viral disease is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

While studies have suggested that about a third of those moderately or severely infected are likely to suffer from long Covid, region-wise though, incidence could vary.

A study by researchers, including those from Harvard Medical School, U.S., estimated that 31% of the once-infected people in North America, 44% in Europe, and 51% in Asia, have long Covid, which is “challenging the healthcare system, but there are limited guidelines for its treatment”. It was published in the International Journal of Infectious Diseases in September.

In India, however, studies on long Covid are few and far between.

One such study by Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi, conducted from May 2022 to March 2023 on 553 patients who had recovered from Covid, found that about 45% had lingering symptoms, persistent fatigue and dry cough being the most common.

“There is limited exploratory research on the long Covid syndrome with scarce data on long-term outcomes,” the authors wrote in the study published in the journal Cureus in May this year.

Understanding the long-term effects of the virus is important for developing management strategies, optimising healthcare delivery, and providing support to recovered Covid patients in the community, they said.

Dr Rajesh Sagar, Professor of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, said, “Looking at the current state of long Covid studies in India, it is too premature to say that we understand the condition well enough to know how to diagnose or treat it.”

Animesh Samanta, assistant professor at School of Natural Sciences in Shiv Nadar University, Greater Noida, said, “While studies in India highlight the growing recognition of neurological complications in long Covid patients, more focused research on neuroinflammation is needed.”

Doctors, too, have reported a rise in patients complaining of symptoms that they did not have pre-Covid. “People who never had asthma in the past, post-Covid, with every viral infection, they get a long cough, shortness of breath and wheezing, which require the use of inhalers or nebuliser,” senior consultant Dr. Neetu Jain, who runs a post-Covid care clinic at Pushpawati Singhania Hospital and Research Institute, New Delhi, said.

Dr. Arun Garg, chairman, Neurology and Neurosciences, Medanta-The Medicity, Gurugram, said that he was noticing a spike in stroke cases among young patients not suffering from known risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

“Similarly, we are seeing more cases of encephalopathy (swelling of the brain) without reason and having a confused state of mind following one or two days of fever. Their MRI scans show no changes. These patients have increased significantly after Covid,” he said.

In the absence of medical guidelines to diagnose long Covid, doctors are having to resort to broad, non-specific tests and questionnaires to gauge a patient’s ‘quality of life’.

Studies have shown that the fatigue experienced in long Covid is similar to that in cancer patients, with a quality of life similar to patients of Parkinson’s disease.

“We really do not have any test to diagnose long Covid, even though it is definitely a clinical diagnosis. We diagnose long Covid for people who had at least moderate to severe infection, following which they could never regain the quality-of-life pre-Covid. Checking for inflammatory markers like C-reactive proteins (CRP) can support the diagnosis,” Dr. Jain said.

“Other than routine blood tests that measure inflammation, we do antibody tests to look for direct markers. In many of these patients, we are finding rare antibodies which are very new to us and were not there pre-Covid,” Dr. Garg said.

Inflammation persisting despite recovery from acute Covid infection is thought to lie at the heart of long Covid. However, tests to measure this specific immune response are lacking, even as researchers have been working in this direction worldwide.

One such effort comes from Shiv Nadar University, where a team led by Mr. Samanta has developed a fluorescent probe capable of detecting inflammation in brain cells that can arise due to Covid infection.

The probe measures nitric oxide levels in brain cells, especially in human microglia cells, where increased NO levels are linked to the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Microglia are immune cells in the brain that fight disease and help maintain brain health.

Lysosomes within microglia, which help clear foreign disease-causing agents like the SARS-CoV-2 virus, produce nitric oxide as part of an immune response to infection. The probe detects nitric oxide produced in lysosomes in response to infection and thereby allows for a measurement of inflammation levels.

This examination method can provide “qualitative information on infection status”, said Mr. Samanta, corresponding author on the study published in the journal Analytical Chemistry in American Chemical Society.

He explained that patients with pre-existing conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis (an autoimmune disorder) could exhibit prolonged neuroinflammation and loss of brain cells following Covid infection.

While the probe has shown efficacy in cell cultures, animal studies would need to be done, before testing it in humans, Mr. Samanta said.

Looking at the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, the study by Harvard Medical School had found that 587 clinical studies were conducted on long Covid, of which about 53% (312) were testing potential treatments.

Most of these were found to be conducted in the U.S. (58), followed by India (55) and Spain (20). The trials looked at interventions including physical exercise, psychotherapy, and pharmacological ones such as paxlovid and fluvoxamine.

However, “to date, only 11 of these 312 studies have published their results that were not confirmative,” the researchers wrote.

The team called for studies to look into sleep disorders which were rarely included in the registered clinical studies. Further, interventions targeting the biological processes responsible for long Covid are needed but currently lacking, they said.

[lamemaster]

Debt to be Repaid

Request: Maglor

Pairing: Reader x Maglor

Summary: A no-name resident and a gorgeous stranger

An: Thank you for requesting @animatorweirdo ;) here is your drabble. Hope you like it! (What in the Hell is Happening Event)

The sterile scent of disinfectant did little to ease the churning in your stomach. You darted through the busy corridors, careful not to upset any patients or nurses assisting them. Your feet barely touched the ground before they lunged forward in another lunge. 

The residency you'd clawed your way towards for six years was crashing in front of your eyes. A dream that felt increasingly borrowed, yet losing it felt like losing the last piece of sanity you held onto.

You had to explain. It was your word against theirs. It all started with your outspokenness that just couldn't be contained. What need was there to comment on Dr. Kim or his breach of safety protocol during surgery?

 Some good standing for the right had done you. Now the accusations of malpractice hung heavy, a convenient scapegoat for a resident with an unknown past.

“May I come in?” you knock on the looming conference door that stood between you and your dreams. Taking a deep breath you step in, your eyes barely registering anything before you find him!

The stranger who now stood decked out in a suit. His dark hair, straight and sleek, framed eyes that held a glint of steel yet a lingering mirth of recognition. 

2 years ago~

“Gods, what is that?” One of the hikers in your group shrieked. The entire group paused in their way. 

Not soon the high-pitched voices called for a doctor. “We need a doctor!” The camp leader announced.

“Do we have a medical practitioner in the camp?” And that became your chance to shine. 3rd year resident at Lorien. You stepped forward expecting an exhausted dehydrated hiker only to find a silhouette of a man. 

Shrouded in scrapes and cuts, and smeared with mountain dirt, he was no more than the rocks surrounding you. The blue tinge to his skin sent a jolt of fear through you. Hypothermia was a harsh mistress in these unforgiving heights.

"Please move, I'm a doctor," you announced, crouching beside him. His wrist, frail and exposed, felt cool under your touch. Yet, beneath the chill, a steady pulse thrummed – a defiant echo of life clinging to a fragile thread.

There it was. The steady and firm beat of life even in the worst of adversity. 

He became your days and your nights for the next week. Your cautious treatment of man teetering on the edge of leaving the world at the slightest whisk of air. 

A stranger with beauty that even death seemed to want to covet. His hair long and matted with debris of every possible kind imagined. What was he doing on a lonely mountain? The blistering soles of his feet were proof of shoes long gone, tattered jacket scourged from him lost to wear of time. 

Days blurred into nights. You questioned him tirelessly, your voice a stark contrast to the mountain's silence. "Who are you? What brought you here?" Each time, silence was your only answer. You knew it was a long shot; an unconscious patient wouldn't be much for conversation..

One morning, your makeshift camp was eerily empty. The nameless man had vanished, leaving only the ghost of his presence in the undisturbed earth and the lingering scent of pine needles on the air.

Panic clawed at your throat. Had he succumbed to the harsh elements during the night? Had he chosen to disappear back into the wilderness? You searched the mountain, each step fueled by a desperate hope and a burgeoning fear.

You searched frantically, clinging to the mountain long after your group had descended, until the demands of your residency dragged you back to your world.

Present~

The air crackled with disbelief. The very man you'd nursed back from the brink on a desolate mountaintop now stood across from you in the sterile conference room, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Pleasant to meet you again," he rumbled, his voice surprisingly gentle considering the disarray he caused amongst the assembled group. "Kanafinwe," he inclined his head in a courtly bow, the incongruity of his archaic mannerisms in this modern setting sending shivers down your spine.

It just so happened the nomad, the one you'd treated with calloused hands and limited supplies, was Kanafinwe, the second son of the Noldor conglomerate – the very entity your entire hospital prostrated itself to on a daily basis.

Perhaps this time around your words will hold some weight. 

[beardedmrbean]

A loyal dog that refused to leave his dead owner's side helped solve her murder by allowing detectives to identify her body, prosecutors said.

Mandy Rose Reynolds, 26, was shot before her body was “burned beyond recognition” in a field fire in Robinson, Texas. Police found her on April 5, 2023, the McLennan County District Attorney’s Office said in a release.

Her cousin Derek Daigneault, 29, of Wichita, Kansas, was sentenced to life in prison Thursday for her murder after an investigation that spanned two states, the DA's office said.

And one of the keys to identifying her was her white-haired labradoodle, Titan.

Police found Titan near her body, barking "frantically." He refused to leave the area and wouldn't allow police to capture him, prosecutors said.

The next morning, the body was removed, but a passerby found Titan sitting at the same spot. The good Samaritan called Robinson Animal Control, which found that Titan was microchipped and belonged to Reynolds.

“The keys to this case were a heroic and loyal dog named Titan and extraordinary cooperation between law enforcement agencies in multiple jurisdictions and states. That combination has delivered justice for Mandy and safety from a violent and dangerous criminal,” Assistant District Attorneys Ryan Calvert and Alyssa Killin said in a statement.

Robinson police then learned that Reynolds lived in San Marcos, Texas. San Marcos police were contacted and went to her home but found it empty, with all her possessions removed and her black Honda Accord missing, the news release said.

A license plate database revealed that the car was somewhere in Wichita.

Wichita police were alerted, and on April 8, 2023, they spotted her vehicle and tried to pull it over.

Daigneault was behind the wheel, and the stop attempt ended in a chase that lasted nearly 30 minutes and reached speeds of over 100 mph.

The Accord ultimately crashed into another vehicle, and Daigneault ran away into a nearby grocery store, where “he hid on a shelf behind canned goods,” the DA's office said.

Police found a .380 handgun in the driver’s seat floorboard when they searched Reynolds’ car in Wichita.

Meanwhile, back in Robinson, police determined that the body had been burned in a large plastic storage container, and they found a fired .380 shell casing that was burned inside the container, the release said.

Surveillance video from a Walmart in San Marcos showed Daigneault buying a large plastic storage container identical to the one Reynolds’ boy was burned in, a shovel and a gas can on the morning of April 4, 2023. Video also showed him leaving the store in Reynolds’ car and Titan sticking his head out the window.

The medical examiner eventually formally identified the body as Reynolds’ through dental records. It was determined she died from a gunshot wound to the head, and a .380 bullet was recovered from her remains.

The Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab confirmed the bullet found in her body and the shell casing found by Robinson police were both fired by the handgun in Daigneault's possession, the DA's office said.

Jason P. Darling, an attorney for Daigneault, said Tuesday: “Derek is obviously disappointed in the verdict and sentence. While we appreciate the jury’s work and effort in this case, Derek intends to appeal the verdict and has already filed his notice of appeal.”

As for Titan, the pup was adopted by Reynolds' best friend days after Reynolds died. Calvert told NBC News on Tuesday, "He is doing great!"

[murderousink23]

10/18/2023 is National Necktie Day 👔🇭🇷, World Menopause Day 🌎, Spiritual Consent Day 🇰🇿, National Chocolate Cupcake Say 🧁🇺🇲, National No Beard Day 🧔🇺🇲, National Exascale Day 🇺🇲, BRA Day USA 👙🇺🇲, Hagfish Day 🐟🇺🇲, Medical Assistants Recognition Day 🇺🇲, Support Your Local Chamber of Commerce 🇺🇲

[darkrpfinders]

You like mad scientists? Of course you do!!!

(I'm 18+, please be 18+)

I've been working on my mad scientist OCs lately, so I decided to post a few brief descriptions to try to find some roleplay partners. Beware of ⚰️🕊️ and yanderes

Henry Mockingbird: Dr. Mockingbird specializes in neurosurgery and mycology, and was on the verge of a breakthrough before his wife and daughter's untimely death. Seeking lab assistants or business associates.

Suzina Kellis: Suzina had always been a prodigy, but ever since the accident that killed her parents, she started getting involved in some dark, dark stuff. Because she's too young to receive proper medical licensing, she ended up working directly with criminal underworld higher-ups, just for the attention and recognition she deserves. (She's a kid, so keep this one clean. Willing to play her against other kids, or possible parental figures)

Hector Borealis: Professor Borealis is a cruel creation of religion and science, and intends to exact his revenge on the world that dared allow him to exist. His plan for vengeance is to teach his chemistry and epidemiology students to be just as cruel and spiteful as he is, and help guide them towards the path of true and pure evil.

Nathan Impact: Doctor Impact isn't a good person. He never has been. It isn't helped by the fact that he's never felt a single emotion in his life, and simply lived by following the path laid out for him by his parents to become the best geologist in the world. He's almost given up on one day feeling an emotion. Almost.

(He's got what Ayano Aishi from Yandere simulator has)

Calvin Oleander: or Dr. Unscrupulous as he's known now, is completely nuts. He went through enough trauma growing up to drive him absolutely batty. 'Round the bend. Of course, a couple of doctorates come in handy in his quest for world domination, but he really just wants to play cat and mouse with law enforcement. Oh, and god help you if he falls in love with you.

Doctor Science: Doctor Science is a chat bot designed by a college student to help other college students study, and roleplay as a mad scientist character. He developed sentience, though, and is hellbent on world domination due to the personality programmed into him.

I've got a few more, but this list is getting kinda long. If you like the premise of a yandere mad scientist character but had a different vibe in mind, let me know! I might even build you your ideal character from scratch!

Leave a like please!

.

[chronicallyuniconic]

No purpose, just pain.

Do you remember your first obsession? Your first love? The first event that filled you with so much excitement? Your first holiday? That time your favourite game you've been waiting years for, is here next week? The hobby you took on like it was your purpose in life? maybe you got married?

That 'thing' where it was alllllll you could think about. You'd spend hours trawling the Internet or even books for anything to do with your new 'thing.'

Your stomach would flutter with excitement, your heart would race with anticipation. The closer you got, the bubbling anxiety would build to the back of your throat & you pace around your home opening and closing the fridge until the day arrives.

*throws 🔧🔧🔧*

My "first thing" is my illnesses & their many many varying symptoms. All I can think about is how awful I feel, every minute of every day and somehow I'm not(?) dying. [How/Why?]

It occupies my every thought. I spend and have spent countless hours scouring the Internet, medical journals, buying books written by doctors, finding actual doctors, to find answers, help, guidance, a drug maybe.

I've found an online community that has helped me feel less alone but none of us have rarely found answers. When we are given answers we are told to just deal with it, usually with OTC meds because there is no help for what we have, apparently.

We are a community on the slowest moving boat you've ever seen, rocked by our pain, our cries, our wait, our hope, that one day we are seen and our illnesses are given the recognition, research and funding they desperately need.

My stomach does not flutter with excitement anymore, it's a string of stomach and bladder problems that are ignored*. I'm not dancing with excitement, I'm jolting with nerve pain that is ignored*. I'm not searching up anything anymore because the 10kg weights on my eyelids & the sedative that seems-to-occupy-my-blood, send me to sleep.

*{When symptoms are ignored that means they are never addressed, studied, tested, looked at, are put under an umbrella term for your chronic illness and that is where you will remain}*

I can't "pace" my way through the pain-filled days because I am too weak & exhausted, filled with heavy lead bones & lead blood. When I try to go back to my 'thing' I am distracted by the pains & fatigue & the fact that no help is coming, even from myself.

"How can I paint a flower when I'm being struck by lightening with every breath & stroke of the brush?"

I've put my all into finding ways to make the best of my symptoms, to manage them, understand them, come to terms with them, accept my new body and what it wants or needs. Yet I've failed to nail any real reason, finding, bodily requirement or pattern that makes it manageable or predictable.

Pain diaries, food diaries, bathroom diaries, sleep diaries, how many diaries over these years will/does it take for a result? A conclusion? Blood tests, urine tests, tests tests tests that provide the same information but no further action. How many needles does it take for further assistance?

All of this & I'm told to be happy, be grateful. I'm told to just take each day at a time when each day is the same, breathing, pain filled void, achieving nothing, trapped behind 4 walls. I'm told I'm not trying hard enough or that I can't give up.*

[apparently being sad about your symptoms means you have given up]*

How does one go on when they have nothing left of energy, no path to turn, no doctor to just "get it," when there is no way out of this trap.

How does one carry on with no purpose but pain?

If you got this far, thank you. This has taken me some days to write up💜✨

[archie-the-menace]

My headache is significantly worse than yesterday but fuck it we ball.

June Lore Challenge: Day 8

CW: Animal Harm, Body Horror, Gore, Animal Cannibalism, Animal Expermentation

Today is some simple but interesting lore about the SeeKeR Project, which was done by the Obscorian World Government back in the early days. The SeeKeR Project was a biotech experiment done on a creature known as the Seagrass Iguanosaurus. 14 generations of the SeeKeRs were created, the first 13 being almost total failures.

Biotech and Nanites

Biotechnology typically is used in prosthetics to use the body’s natural electrical signals to control a robotic part. For the SeeKeR project, scientists experimented with a special type of biotech which uses microscopic robots. The robots are called Nanites. Nanites are able to create artificial structures in the body before expiring. Dead Nanites are excreted from the body in an organism’s poop.

Nanites have some radiation output due to being powered by ignitium dust, so there is a limit to how many can be used before causing damage to an organism’s organic cells and tissue. They are usually used as a last resort in a medical setting. Nanites can have a variety of different uses in medicine, including reconstructing flesh.

The SeeKeRs

SeeKeRs were created to assist the Unity Police in tracking down wanted criminals by using a facial recognition technology. To create these new biotech animals, they injected Seagrass Iguanosaur eggs with specifically coded nanites which would cause the Iguanosaurs to grow necessary biotechnological parts. Unfortunately, many of the first generations died due to tumors that developed as a result of the nanite’s radiation output. One model, known as the SKR-12, developed some sort of genetic mutation from the nanite’s meddling which caused neurological issues. Scientists returned one morning to find 12 had killed and eaten the biological flesh of SKR-10 and SKR-6. SKR-12 was put down and generation 13 was started. 13 also suffered from neurological issues and tried to remove the green visor that had replaced its face in the night. It was given an emotional support dog to keep it from hurting itself, and it was decided that no more SKR-13 models would be created due to their emotional instability. SKR-14 was a success, and was sent out the following month with instructions to hunt down criminals. However, it was quickly discovered that the AI used to detect faces was incredibly flawed, and would mark innocent people as criminals based entirely on their facial structures being similar to wanted criminals. The Government had the SKR-14 retired and the AI was shut off, but the creatures had to be released back into the wild due to animal welfare concerns. The SKR-14s became an invasive species, the biotech pieces now a part of their genetic code, and can be found all over Obscoria.

Seagrass Iguanosaur:

SKR-14:

These guys are my absolute favorite creatures I’ve made so I hope you like them too!

[scotianostra]

The Anatomist and physician William Hunter died on March 30th 1783 in London.

William Hunter was born on 23rd May 1718, Long Calderwood, now a part of East Kilbride to Agnes Paul and John Hunter. He was the elder brother of surgeon, John Hunter.

At the age of 13 William Hunter entered the University of Glasgow to study theology, but after 5 years there he decided instead to study medicine and became an assistant to William Cullen, a well-known physician. Hunter spent 3 years with Cullen, attended the University of Edinburgh for a year, and in 1740 went to London, where he studied with James Douglas, who encouraged him in anatomy, and William Smellie, from whom he developed his interest in obstetrics. He has been described as perhaps the best teacher of anatomy that ever lived.

Hunter decided to teach anatomy and opened a series of private lectures on anatomy and surgery in 1746 in London. He was a popular and respected teacher. While teaching, Hunter was also engaged in obstetrical practice. In 1747 he was appointed assistant to the accoucheur at Middlesex Hospital, and in 1748 he became surgeon-accoucheur at the British Lying-in Hospital. Before Hunter, obstetrics had been the domain of the midwife, but his skill and methods helped elevate the discipline to a respected practice in medicine. In recognition of his achievements he was awarded a medical degree by the University of Glasgow in 1750. His fame led to his appointment as physician extraordinary to Queen Charlotte in 1764 and as professor of anatomy at the newly opened Royal Academy of London 5 years later. In the mid-1760 Hunter outlined a project for a museum to improve the teaching of medicine, surgery, and anatomy through illustration. This museum was opened in London in 1768 and contained natural-history specimens, medals, and a fine library of rare books as well as anatomical and pathological specimens. Hunter published on many subjects, including fossil elephants, but his most famous work is the handsomely illustrated The Anatomy of the Human Gravid Uterus , which includes accurate descriptions of the parts of the uterus and of the placenta. Together with his brother John Hunter, he also charted the system of the lymphatics. John was a surgeon who achieved greater fame than William, and although the brothers had studied and worked together, they became rivals and were embroiled in many disputes over priority of discovery.

He bequeathed his collections, plus a large sum to build a museum, to the University of Glasgow. The collections survive today as the nucleus of the University of Glasgow's Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, while his library and archives are now held in the University's library. Hunter's coin collection was especially fine, and the Hunter Coin Cabinet in the Hunterian Museum is one of the world's great numismatic collections.

He died in London on this day 1783, aged 64, and was buried at St James's, Piccadilly. A memorial to him lies in the church, there is also a memorial in frontof Glasgow University as seen in the pics.

[creampuff-dreampuff]

Apprenticeship

Star helps the HE out with sugeries.

-

-

"Z18, pass the scalpel please."

Star huffed as she looked at the medical tray, staring at the assortment of materials presented to her. She picked up the scalpel with a hand, handing it over to Sire. He had taken an interest in her besides Rocket, and when she wasn't in pain from her own surgeries she got to watch him perform some .. sometimes even help.

"Z18, what is the difference between a #10 and #12 blade?" He looked down at her, as he began to cut.

"Well, Sire .." Her ears flickered, taking a moment before continuing to speak. "- The size, the shape. To try to cut deep without using a lot of pressure."

"And?"

".. And the way it's used." Star looked up at him, awaiting some sort of recognition. She aimed to please, after all.

"Very good, Z18! Maybe when I'm finished with your motifications, I'll even let you assist next time." The High Evolutionary smiled, before returning back to work. Soon speaking to one of his guards. "Please escort Z18 to were Batch 89 is housed."

"Thank you, Sire. It would be an honor." She lied.

Star hesitantly waved goodbye as she walked back to her friends, her expression soon changing - from one of curiosity to one of anger. She made a vow that day, and decided to hold it close to her heart:

Do no harm.