Friday, December 29, 2017

Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis A Perspective From Members of the Pulmonary Pathology Society

Ross MillerMDTimothy Craig AllenMD, JDRoberto J. BarriosMDMary Beth BeasleyMDLouise BurkeMDPhilip T. CagleMD;Vera Luiza CapelozziMD, PhDYimin GeMDLida P. HaririMD, PhDKeith M. KerrBSc, MBChB, FRCPath, FRCPEAndras KhoorMDBrandon T. LarsenMD, PhDEugene J. MarkMDOsamu MatsubaraMD, PhDMitra MehradMDMari Mino-KenudsonMD;Kirtee RapariaMDAnja Christiane RodenMDPrudence RussellMBBS (Hons), FRCPAFrank SchneiderMDLynette M. ShollMDMaxwell Lawrence SmithMD
Reprints: Timothy Craig Allen, MD, JD, Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Blvd, Galveston, TX 77555 (email: ).
The authors have no relevant financial interest in the products or companies described in this article.
Context.— Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is a lung disease that develops in susceptible individuals after inhalational exposure to an organic antigen or chemical compound. Pathogenesis is attributed to a combination of type III (immune complex–mediated) and type IV (delayed) hypersensitivity reactions to the inciting agent.
Objective.— To provide an overview of the current status of the medical literature regarding hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
Data Sources.— A literature search was performed using PubMed and Google search engines. The terms “hypersensitivity pneumonitis” and “extrinsic allergic alveolitis” were used, with the search starting on January 9, 2017, and concluding March 8, 2017.
Conclusions.— As a pathologist, it is important to consider hypersensitivity pneumonitis when examining lung specimens because it is often clinically and pathologically overlooked. Recognizing the often subtle findings and correlating them with the patient's history or suggesting a thorough clinical investigation of potential exposures can be of help in identifying the underlying condition so that the patient can be appropriately managed.

WHO: Curb ads for junk food, sweets [,] and beer to fight obesity

WHO: Curb ads for junk food, sweets and beer to fight obesity

Alarmed at the rise of obesity among children and adolescents, the WHO urges stricter limitations on advertising for junk food – and for beer in Germany, too.

The WHO warns that overweight and obese children are likely to remain obese into adulthood, and "more likely to develop non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases at a younger age."

Wednesday, December 27, 2017

Feeding the Future of Agriculture with Vertical Farming

Feeding the Future of Agriculture with Vertical Farming

The technology-driven model of agriculture may offer a means to address farm output and food security in the years to come.

"Vertical farms can help meet our growing population’s needs by offering an additional way to produce food that does not share the same volatility and risk as conventional agriculture. While vertical farms require less water and arable land than conventional farms, they are not carbon neutral. Their climate footprint depends heavily on the source from which they draw their electricity to power lighting and control the indoor environment. As renewable energy sources become adopted more widely, the carbon cost of vertical farming will continue decreasing. From a market perspective, it may not bring down prices, but on a societal level, the hope is that vertical farming can help address gaps in overall food demand where conventional agriculture fails."

Tuesday, December 26, 2017

"The average woman in the United States today weighs about 168 pounds, or roughly the same as an average man in 1960."

Our fight with fat: Why is obesity getting worse?



"It’s so serious now that close to 40 percent of Americans are obese. The average woman in the United States today weighs about 168 pounds, or roughly the same as an average man in 1960.

Not that that guys’ waists haven’t ballooned, too. Men have gained on average nearly 30 pounds since John F. Kennedy’s inauguration in 1961.

From 1976 to 1980, just under 1 in 7 American adults, or 15.1 percent, were obese.

Now, despite people’s concerted efforts, obesity is at its highest level ever, with about 40 percent of U.S. adults and 18.5 percent of children, considered obese. This is itself an increase of about 30 percent, just since 2000 when roughly 30 percent of American adults were obese."

The Complex Holiday Calendar of 1902: Responses to the Coronation of Edward VII and the Growth of Edwardian Event Fatigue

 2017 Dec 1;28(4):489-515. doi: 10.1093/tcbh/hwx027.

The Complex Holiday Calendar of 1902: Responses to the Coronation of Edward VII and the Growth of Edwardian Event Fatigue.

Author information

1
School of Social Sciences, Humanities & Law, Teesside University.

Abstract

The coronation of Edward VII and events to mark the end of the South African War led to a series of public ceremonies and events in the United Kingdom that had a profound effect on attitudes linked to national occasions and public holidays. This article explores the circumstances surrounding the numerous local and national holidays of 1902. It considers the decision-making process linked to the declaration of a coronation double-bank holiday, which demonstrated the inadequacy of contemporary legislation. The public response to the postponement of the coronation, due to the king's contraction of appendicitis, led to a period of 'event fatigue' in response to further ceremonial events. This showcased how much the British people guarded their right to holiday time and how the coronation had become more synonymous with celebration than with royal ceremony. It also showcased the degree to which the British people had been politicized and were ready to defend what they saw as their rights, in rejection of deference and traditional authority.

"She can perceive a hallucination or fantasy as utterly real to her but also not real to the rest of the world, and thus not something that she should really act upon."


THE TOUCH OF MADNESS

Culture profoundly shapes our ideas about mental illness, which is something psychologist Nev Jones knows all too well.
"Jones knew she was acting odd. She worried first that her classmates could tell something was off, and then, as her self-consciousness slid into paranoia, that they could read her thoughts. She began to have vague and then troublingly specific visions of harming herself. Later she would recognize these, as well as other fantasies still to come, as examples of a psychotic phenomenon that Eugen Bleuler called "double registration" or "double bookkeeping." In double bookkeeping, the psychotic person keeps two ledgers. She can perceive a hallucination or fantasy as utterly real to her but also not real to the rest of the world, and thus not something that she should really act upon. Jones later explained this idea to me as we were walking across the Stanford campus. She might well see a red rabbit grazing on the lawn before us, she said, and that rabbit might seem as thoroughly real as my presence next to her. But she would also recognize that the rabbit was not real to the rest of us, and that I was, and that she should not expect me or anyone else to perceive it. Likewise with the stone walls whose double nature Jones had so vividly perceived, stiff enough to break her toe but vaporous enough to blow into particles with her breath. In this double-bookkeeping version of reality, you could indulge the reality shown on the private ledger even as you lived according by the ledger that everyone else read from. It was usually fantasy, not intention. So it is with even many of the violent fantasies that some psychotic people have. While such fantasies are not uncommon (in non-psychotic people too), psychosis raises the likelihood of violent behavior only modestly, to roughly that of people who struggle with substance abuse."

Want your kids eating healthy food? Keep feeding it to them, research says

Want your kids eating healthy food? Keep feeding it to them, research says


According to Anzman-Frasca, this type of consistent exposure also works children are older and tend to be more vocal when expressing their dislike for particular foods. "There are many studies with preschoolers who start out not liking red peppers or squash, for example, but after five to six sessions where these foods are repeatedly offered, they end up liking them," she says.The authors of the review also note that younger children tend to be more open to trying new foods and that caregivers should take advantage of that time to instill in them the ability to make varied, healthy food choices.

"More than likely an unhealthy dad will raise an unhealthy child. Children don’t have the choice to eat healthy if dad doesn’t eat healthy."

Group aims to create healthy families, lifestyles


Now, Chinn is trying to band together fathers across the state to set examples for their families to eat right and be active. 
After seeing obesity statistics continue to grow, Chinn wanted to find another way to approach the problem. 
According to stateofobesity.org, West Virginia ranks No. 1 in the nation for adult obesity rates, with a 2016 rate of 37.7 percent, up from 23.9 percent in 2000 and from 13.7 percent in 1990. 
The group, called FitFathers SWV, primarily interacts on Facebook, but Chinn is hopeful for some in-person encounters as well. In the group, fathers will share healthy recipes, ideas for exercise, success stories and motivational words for one another. 
”We must set examples so our children will grow up healthy,” Chinn urges the members in the group. “Our children follow what we do. They look up to us. More than likely an unhealthy dad will raise an unhealthy child. Children don’t have the choice to eat healthy if dad doesn’t eat healthy.”

"Peking duck can be put on the Christmas menu without risking guests to be admitted to the emergency department with new episodes of atrial fibrillation."

 2017 Dec;25(12):664-668. doi: 10.1007/s12471-017-1053-5.

Can we spice up our Christmas dinner? : Busting the myth of the 'Chinese restaurant syndrome'.

Author information

1
Heart Centre, Departments of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
2
Department of Hospital Pharmacy, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
3
Heart Centre, Departments of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Cardiology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. j.r.degroot@amc.uva.nl.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), also referred to as Vetsin or E621, is a flavour enhancer frequently used in Asian cuisine and abundantly present in the famous Chinese dish Peking duck. MSG is notorious for triggering the onset of the so-called 'Chinese restaurant syndrome' (CRS), a complex of unpleasant symptoms, which might include flushing, sweating and the onset of atrial fibrillation (AF). This study aims to determine the effects of MSG on the occurrence of AF.

METHODS:

We conducted a placebo self-controlled single-arm study in the Academic Medical Centre in Amsterdam. We included paroxysmal AF patients who reported a consistent onset of AF upon MSG intake. During three admissions, participants were subsequently administered: placebo, 1.5 g and 3 g MSG. If AF was recorded after the dose of 1.5 g MSG, patients were given another placebo instead of 3 g MSG. The primary outcome was the onset of AF registered by 24-hour Holter monitoring. The secondary outcomes were any other arrhythmia and the onset of CRS defined as two or more symptoms of CRS after MSG intake.

RESULTS:

Six men participated in the study. Both 1.5 g and 3 g MSG were unrelated to CRS, arrhythmias or AF occurrence.

CONCLUSION:

Peking duck can be put on the Christmas menu without risking guests to be admitted to the emergency department with new episodes of AF.

Saturday, December 23, 2017

"...children who eat healthfully are more likely to be happy, and those who are happy are more likely to eat healthfully."


Diet is the key to kids' health and happiness


A new analysis finds that children who eat healthfully are more likely to be happy, and those who are happy are more likely to eat healthfully. Interestingly, these links were independent of weight.

"We found that in young children aged 2–9 years, there is an association between adherence to healthy dietary guidelines and better psychological well-being, which includes fewer emotional problems, better relationships with other children, and higher self-esteem, 2 years later," says corresponding study author Dr. Louise Arvidsson.


"...females are accountable for over 40% of all gym memberships in India, which may be surprising to some."

What to Expect in 2018 in Fitness Industry?

In my opinion, the industry is heading in the right direction and the growth of fitness service is really helping this.


"A revolution is happening. The Indian fitness industry is growing rapidly, and with 19% growth year-on-year, perceptions are changing in the marketing. Amongst men, bodybuilding training is increasing, with a variety of different exercises and sports focussing on well-being, health, body image and confidence also proving popular. Zumba, aerial yoga, aerobics and Pilates have become the trends of today with participation in combat sports such as kickboxing and MMA also on the rise. It seems today’s generation are looking to invest more in themselves, aiming to look and feel the best they can be. This may be triggered by the scale of the obesity and diabetes problems globally. With increased gym memberships and secondary spend, the industry is and continues to flourish.
To highlight, females are accountable for over 40% of all gym memberships in India, which may be surprising to some. Regardless of gender, fitness seems to be the trend on everyone’s lips and a luxury that has become the norm day-to-day."

“Catching up with family and friends over Christmas can be good for your mental health. This is because being surrounded by people you care about helps boost your resilience and wellbeing.”

6 surprising reasons why Christmas is actually good for you


Woodman says: “Catching up with family and friends over Christmas can be good for your mental health. This is because being surrounded by people you care about helps boost your resilience and wellbeing.”

Video-assisted Thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for lung cancer does not induce a procoagulant state

 2017 Dec 20;15:29. doi: 10.1186/s12959-017-0152-2. eCollection 2017.

Video-assisted Thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy for lung cancer does not induce a procoagulant state.

Author information

1
Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Aarhus University Hospital, DK - 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.
2
Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University Hospital, DK - 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.
3
Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Aarhus University Hospital, DK - 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.
4
Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, Odense University Hospital, DK - 5000 Odense C, Denmark.
5
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Odense University Hospital, DK - 5000 Odense C, Denmark.
6
Department of Cardio-thoracic Surgery, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, DK - 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
7
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, DK - 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark.
8
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Aarhus University Hospital, DK - 8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Changes in the coagulation system in patients undergoing surgery for lung cancer have been sparsely investigated and the impact of the surgical trauma on the coagulation system is largely unknown in these patients. An increased knowledge could potentially improve the thromboprophylaxis regimes. The aim of this study was to assess the coagulation profile evoked in patients undergoing curative surgery by Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery (VATS) lobectomy for primary lung cancer.

METHODS:

Thirty-one patients diagnosed with primary lung cancer undergoing VATS lobectomy were prospectively included. The coagulation profile was assessed preoperatively and in the first two days postoperatively using a wide range of standard coagulation tests, dynamic whole blood coagulation measured by rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM®) and thrombin generation evaluated by calibrated automated thrombography. Patients did not receive thromboprophylactic treatment. Data was analyzed using repeated measures one-way ANOVA.

RESULTS:

The standard coagulation parameters displayed only subtle changes after surgery and the ROTEM® and thrombin generation results remained largely unchanged.

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients undergoing VATS lobectomy are normocoagulable in the preoperative state and a VATS lobectomy does not significantly influence the coagulation.

Sizeism in Paris

With obesity on rise, Paris reflects on ‘fatphobia’

Campaign calls out sizeism in fashion capital of the world


“There’s this French paradox where you’re supposed to eat foie gras, but you’re not supposed to get fat,” said curvy French blogger Daria Marx.

"...dance as a positive and deeply humanising experience..."

 2017 Dec 20. doi: 10.1007/s10912-017-9502-0. [Epub ahead of print]

Dancing Intercorporeality: A Health Humanities Perspective on Dance as a Healing Art.

Author information

1
School of Sociology & Social Policy, University of Nottingham, Room B38, Law & Social Sciences Building, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK. aimie.purser@nottingham.ac.uk.

Abstract

As a contribution to the burgeoning field of health humanities, this paper seeks to explore the power of dance to mitigate human suffering and reacquaint us with what it means to be human through bringing the embodied practice of dance into dialogue with the work of the French philosopher Maurice Merleau-Ponty. Merleau-Ponty's conceptualisation of subjectivity as embodied and of intersubjectivity as intercorporeality frees us from many of the constraints of Cartesian thinking and opens up a new way of thinking about how dance functions as a healing art through its ability to ground and reconnect us with self, world, and others--with our humanity. It is argued that through a Merleau-Pontian framework, we can come to appreciate the true potential of dance as a positive and deeply humanising experience, demonstrating how expressive arts practice understood through the lens of philosophical theory can open up new dimensions of understanding and experience in relation to well-being and self- (and other-) care.

Friday, December 22, 2017

Immunohistochemistry of Pulmonary Biomarkers: A Perspective From Members of the Pulmonary Pathology Society

Immunohistochemistry of Pulmonary Biomarkers: A Perspective From Members of the Pulmonary Pathology Society


Abstract

The use of immunohistochemistry for the determination of pulmonary carcinoma biomarkers is a well-established and powerful technique. Immunohistochemisty is readily available in pathology laboratories, is relatively easy to perform and assess, can provide clinically meaningful results very quickly, and is relatively inexpensive. Pulmonary predictive biomarkers provide results essential for timely and accurate therapeutic decision making; for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, predictive immunohistochemistry includes ALK, (ROS1, EGFR in Europe), and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1) testing. Handling along proper methodologic lines is needed to ensure patients receive the most accurate and representative test outcomes.

Japanese school kids post worst eyesight on record as obesity makes comeback

Japanese school kids post worst eyesight on record as obesity makes comeback in Fukushima: survey



"The number of elementary and junior high school students with an uncorrected visual acuity of less than 1.0 has set record highs in fiscal 2017, an education ministry survey on eyesight and weight showed Friday.
The results might be the result of gazing at smartphone screens from close range and other daily habits, a ministry official said."

Thursday, December 21, 2017

“Pathologists can no longer afford to be in the shadows, ignored, or misunderstood.”

The Involved Interpreter

Helping patients understand their own disease not only offers peace of mind, but also allows them to see the ongoing value of pathology
"Particularly in today’s world of changing healthcare payment models, an increasing regulatory and governmental presence in payment decisions, and increased patient confusion around new therapies (especially molecular therapies and immunotherapies for cancer), it is necessary to clarify who we are and what value we provide to our patients. Direct discussions with patients will not only provide them with a better understanding of their diagnoses, but also emphasize our value – which, in turn, improves the likelihood of appropriate payment for the vital services we provide as part of the healthcare team. Pathologists can no longer afford to be in the shadows, ignored, or misunderstood."

Diet rich in apples and tomatoes may help repair lungs of ex-smokers, study suggests

Diet rich in apples and tomatoes may help repair lungs of ex-smokers, study suggests


Study also found that regular intake of tomatoes may also help slow the natural decline in lung function among all adults



"The researchers found that adults who on average ate more than two tomatoes or more than three portions of fresh fruit a day had a slower decline in lung function compared to those who ate less than one tomato or less than one portion of fruit a day, respectively. The researchers inquired about other dietary sources such as dishes and processed foods containing fruits and vegetables (e.g. tomato sauce) but the protective effect was only observed in fresh fruit and vegetables."

"Women's obesity levels fell precipitously as income rose...And there was no similar trend for men."

As Income Rises, Women Get Slimmer -- But Not Men


"Women's obesity levels fell precipitously as income rose -- from about 45 percent for women at the poverty line, to about 43 percent for women in the middle-income group, and then to under 30 percent for women at the higher level of income, the findings showed.
The CDC team noted that the trend seemed specific to white women. For black women, obesity rates remained roughly the same, regardless of income.
And there was no similar trend for men. In fact, the highest obesity rate for American men was in the middle-income group, at 38.5 percent. That's compared to men who were either at the poverty line (a 31.5 percent obesity rate) or in the higher income bracket (32.6 percent)."


"The U.S. was joined by eight other U.N. members in rejecting the resolution: Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and Togo. Thirty-five other members abstained, including Canada."

"Nikki Haley, speaking minutes later, was unmoved.
"America will put our embassy in Jerusalem," she said. “That is what the American people want us to do and it is the right thing to do. No vote in the United Nations will make any difference on that. But this vote will make a difference on how Americans look at the UN, and on how we look at countries who disrespect us in the UN, and this vote will be remembered."
The U.S. was joined by eight other U.N. members in rejecting the resolution: Guatemala, Honduras, Israel, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Palau, and Togo.
Thirty-five other members abstained, including Canada. That's a relatively strong showing for the United States, which usually comes out on the losing side of Israel-related votes at the UN."

Guidelines for Pathologic Diagnosis of Malignant Mesothelioma 2017 Update of the Consensus Statement From the International Mesothelioma Interest Group

 2018 Jan;142(1):89-108. doi: 10.5858/arpa.2017-0124-RA. Epub 2017 Jul 7.

Guidelines for Pathologic Diagnosis of Malignant Mesothelioma 2017 Update of the Consensus Statement From the International Mesothelioma Interest Group.

Author information

1
From the Department of Pathology, University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois (Drs Husain and Krausz); the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona (Dr Colby, emeritus); the Department of Pathology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston (Dr Ordóñez); the Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston (Dr Allen); the Department of Cellular Pathology, University Hospital of Wales and Cardiff University, Cardiff, South Glamorgan, Wales (Dr Attanoos); the Department of Pathology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, New York (Dr Beasley); the Department of Pathology, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington (Dr Butnor); the Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Chirieac); the Department of Pathology, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada (Dr Churg); the Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Dr Dacic); Centre National Référent MESOPATH Departement de Biopathologie, Lyon Cedex, France (Dr Galateau-Sallé); the Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Wales, Penarth, South Glamorgan, Wales (Dr Gibbs); the Department of Pathology, PhenoPath Laboratories, Seattle, Washington (Dr Gown); the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia, (Dr Litzky); the Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California (Drs Marchevsky and Walts); the Department of Histopathology, Royal Brompton & Harefield National Health Service Foundation Trust and the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College, Chelsea, London, England (Dr Nicholson); the Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina (Dr Roggli); the Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, and the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Dr Sharma); the Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York (Dr Travis); and the Department of Pathology, University of Virginia Medical Center, Charlottesville (Dr Wick).

Abstract

CONTEXT:

- Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is an uncommon tumor that can be difficult to diagnose.

OBJECTIVE:

- To provide updated, practical guidelines for the pathologic diagnosis of MM.

DATA SOURCES:

- Pathologists involved in the International Mesothelioma Interest Group and others with an interest and expertise in the field contributed to this update. Reference material included up-to-date, peer-reviewed publications and textbooks.

CONCLUSIONS:

- There was discussion and consensus opinion regarding guidelines for (1) distinguishing benign from malignant mesothelial proliferations (both epithelioid and spindle cell lesions), (2) cytologic diagnosis of MM, (3) recognition of the key histologic features of pleural and peritoneal MM, (4) use of histochemical and immunohistochemical stains in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of MM, (5) differentiating epithelioid MM from various carcinomas (lung, breast, ovarian, and colonic adenocarcinomas, and squamous cell and renal cell carcinomas), (6) diagnosis of sarcomatoid MM, (7) use of molecular markers in the diagnosis of MM, (8) electron microscopy in the diagnosis of MM, and (9) some caveats and pitfalls in the diagnosis of MM. Immunohistochemical panels are integral to the diagnosis of MM, but the exact makeup of panels employed is dependent on the differential diagnosis and on the antibodies available in a given laboratory. Depending on the morphology, immunohistochemical panels should contain both positive and negative markers for mesothelial differentiation and for lesions considered in the differential diagnosis. Immunohistochemical markers should have either sensitivity or specificity greater than 80% for the lesions in question. Interpretation of positivity generally should take into account the localization of the stain (eg, nuclear versus cytoplasmic) and the percentage of cells staining (>10% is suggested for cytoplasmic and membranous markers). Selected molecular markers are now being used to distinguish benign from malignant mesothelial proliferations. These guidelines are meant to be a practical diagnostic reference for the pathologist; however, some new pathologic predictors of prognosis and response to therapy are also included.

Eat right. Work out.

Atherosclerosis Market: Rise in the Aging Population Is Expected to Propel Demand


"Besides aging, aspects that upsurge the risk of atherosclerosis include: High blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, smoking or other tobacco use, family history of early heart disease, lack of exercise and an unhealthy diet."



Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/3603736#ixzz51vDRaFiL

Wherein Chuck E. Cheese helps us understand trademark law

Why Chuck E. Cheese’s Has a Corporate Policy About Destroying Its Mascot’s Head

It doesn’t usually involve sledgehammers in a parking lot.


 


But Meredith Rose, an intellectual property attorney and a policy advocate, has surmised the policy’s purpose since her brief time working at a Middletown, New Jersey, Chuck E. Cheese’s in high school. “If you own this intellectual property writ large, you don’t want a secondary market to pop up. [You don’t want] people selling animatronic Chuck E.’s on eBay,” says Rose. “So if someone were to set up, say, an entire backyard-like sideshow thing where they replicate the animatronic band and all this swag, it might conceivably be viewed as not exerting control over your trademark.” In a future where the mascot is regularly seen outside Chuck E. Cheese’s, the company could lose the legal right to monopolize the character.


Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Why Garbage Science Gets Published

Why Garbage Science Gets Published

"Lest anyone think that pseudoscience is the province solely of predatory publishers, however, even the big, top-tier houses fall victim. Springer and the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, two leading publishers, in 2014 retracted more than 120 articles that had appeared in conference proceedings after learning that they had been written not by scientists but by a convincing computer text generator called SCIgen.13 The program—a sort of industrialized version of the Sokal hoax14—allows anyone to create a “scientific paper” by simply providing author names. The resulting text and graphics look like a proper scientific paper, but are gibberish. The fact that any were published means that no one peer reviewed the manuscripts."



"Civilization Syndrome"

From a quarter century ago:


 1993 May;1(3):206-22.

Visceral obesity: a "civilization syndrome".

Author information

1
Department of Heart and Lung Diseases, Sahlgren's Hospital, University of Göteborg, Göteborg, Sweden.

Abstract

The controversial question of the relationship between obesity and disease has been considerably clearer after the demonstration in several prospective, epidemiological studies that the subgroup of central, visceral obesity is particularly prone to develop cardiovascular disease, stroke, and non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. Visceral obesity is associated with multiple central endocrine aberrations. The hypothalamo-adrenal axis is apparently sensitive to stimuli, sex steroid hormone secretion blunted, and hyperandrogenicity is found in women. In addition, there seem to be signs of central dysfunctions in the regulation of hemodynamic factors after stress, and growth hormone secretion appears to be particularly blunted. Several of these endocrine abnormalities are associated with insulin resistance, particularly glycogen synthesis in muscle. Fiber composition with low type I/type II ratio might be secondary to the prevailing hyperinsulinemia, but low capillary density in muscle may well be of importance. In combination with elevated turn-over of free fatty acids (FFA) this will probably provide powerful mechanisms whereby insulin resistance is created. Portal FFA, from the highly lipolytic visceral depots may, in addition, affect hepatic metabolism to induce increased gluconeogenesis, production of very low density lipoproteins as well as to perhaps inhibit clearance of insulin. By these mechanisms a Metabolic Syndrome Visceral adipocytes seem to have a high density of several steroid hormone receptors, directing steroid hormone effects particularly to these depots. The net effect of cortisol is apparently a stimulation of lipid storage, with opposing effects of sex steroid hormones which also facilitate lipid mobilization, regulations most often found at the gene transcription level. Growth hormone inhibits cortisol effects on lipid accumulation, and amplifies the lipid mobilizing effects of steroid hormones. The combined perturbations of hormonal secretions will therefore probably direct triglycerides toward visceral depots. Circulatory and nervous regulatory mechanisms require, however, more attention. The multiple central endocrine and nervous aberrations of visceral obesity suggest neuroendocrine dysregulations, and have features characteristic of the hypothalamic arousal seen after certain types of stress, alcohol intake, and smoking. Such factors can be traced to subjects with visceral fat accumulation. Standardized stress, eliciting a "defeat reaction" in primates is followed by an apparently identical syndrome. This integrated picture of the multiple symptoms of visceral obesity is based on epidemiological, clinical, experimental, cellular, and molecular evidence. The ingredients of positive energy balance, including physical inactivity, stress, smoking, and alcohol consumption are frequent features of modern, urbanized society. Visceral obesity may therefore be an expression of a "Civilization Syndrome."