Volcanogenic Dark Matter and Mass Extinctions

The passage of the Earth through dense clumps of dark matter, the presence of which are predicted by certain cosmologies, would produce large quantities of heat in the interior of this planet through the capture and subsequent annihilation of dark matter particles. This heat can cause large-scale volcanism which could in turn have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs and other mass extinctions. The periodicity of such volcanic outbursts agrees with the frequency of palaeontological mass extinctions as well as the observed periodicity in the occurrence of the largest flood basalt provinces on the globe.Comment: 6 pages in Latex fil

Cancer Screening in the Coronavirus Pandemic Era: Adjusting to a New Situation.

PURPOSE The coronavirus-induced pandemic has put great pressure on health systems worldwide. Nonemergency health services, such as cancer screening, have been scaled down or withheld as a result of travel restrictions and resources being redirected to manage the pandemic. The present article discusses the challenges to cancer screening implementation in the pandemic environment, suggesting ways to optimize services for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening. METHODS The manuscript was drafted by a team of public health specialists with expertise in implementation and monitoring of cancer screening. A scoping review of literature revealed the lack of comprehensive guidance on continuation of cancer screening in the midst of waxing and waning of infection. The recommendations in the present article were based on the advisories issued by different health agencies and professional bodies and the authors' understanding of the best practices to maintain quality-assured cancer screening. RESULTS A well-coordinated approach is required to ensure that essential health services such as cancer management are maintained and elective services are not threatened, especially because of resource constraints. In the context of cancer screening, a few changes in invitation strategies, screening and management protocols and program governance need to be considered to fit into the new normal situation. Restoring public trust in providing efficient and safe services should be one of the key mandates for screening program reorganization. This may be a good opportunity to introduce innovations (eg, telehealth) and consider de-implementing non-evidence-based practices. It is necessary to consider increased spending on primary health care and incorporating screening services in basic health package. CONCLUSION The article provides guidance on reorganization of screening policies, governance, implementation, and program monitoring

Was kostet Guinea-Bissau? Per Geheimabkommen wird Guinea-Bissau zur Brüssler Kolonie

Oxidative stress has recently been identified as a pivotal pathogenetic factor of bone loss in mice, but its importance in humans is not clear. We aimed to investigate the association between urinary 8-iso-PGF(2 alpha) levels, a major F(2)-isoprostane and a reliable in vivo biomarker of oxidative stress, and bone mineral density (BMD), and to study whether vitamin E in the form of serum alpha-tocopherol, a scavenger of peroxyl radicals, modifies the association. In 405 men, urinary 8-iso-PGF(2 alpha) and serum alpha-tocopherol were measured at age 77 years and BMD at age 82 years. One SD increase in 8-iso-PGF(2 alpha) corresponded to an approximately 2-4% decrease in average adjusted BMD values of total body, lumbar spine, and proximal femur (all P<0.001). Serum alpha-tocopherol levels seemed to modify the association between urinary 8-iso-PGF(2 alpha) and BMD. Men with alpha-tocopherol levels below the median combined with high oxidative stress, i.e., 8-iso-PGF(2 alpha) above the median, had 7% (95% CI 3-11%) lower BMD at the lumbar spine and 5% (95% CI 2-9%) lower BMD at the proximal femur. In elderly men high oxidative stress is associated with reduced BMD, which is more pronounced in individuals with low serum levels of the antioxidant vitamin E

Time\u27s Up: A Call to Ban the Use of Sex as an Investigatory Tactic In Alaska

Sex workers in Alaska are facing sexual violence at the hands of the people whose job it is to protect them: the police. Astonishingly, it is legal in Alaska for undercover police officers to use sexual intercourse and other sexual contact as investigative tools. In 2017, House Bill 112 and Senate Bill 73 were introduced in the Alaska State Legislature to make it illegal for law enforcement officers to have any sexual contact with people under investigation. Upon resistance from the Anchorage Police Department, these bills stalled and were not re-introduced. This Note argues that the use of sex in investigations is a violation of due process and urges Alaska lawmakers to reintroduce and pass these bills

Effects of prenatal micronutrient and early food supplementation on metabolic status of the offspring at 4.5 years of age. The MINIMat randomized trial in rural Bangladesh.

BACKGROUND: Fetal nutritional insults may alter the later metabolic phenotype. We hypothesized that early timing of prenatal food supplementation and multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS) would favourably influence childhood metabolic phenotype. METHODS: Pregnant women recruited 1 January to 31 December 2002 in Matlab, Bangladesh, were randomized into supplementation with capsules of either 30 mg of iron and 400 μg of folic acid, 60 mg of iron and 400 μg of folic acid, or MMS containing a daily allowance of 15 micronutrients, and randomized to food supplementation (608 kcal) either with early invitation (9 weeks' gestation) or usual invitation (at 20 weeks). Their children (n = 1667) were followed up at 4.5 years with assessment of biomarkers of lipid and glucose metabolism, inflammation and oxidative stress. RESULTS: Children in the group with early timing of food supplementation had lower cholesterol (difference -0.079 mmol/l, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.156; -0.003), low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (difference -0.068 mmol/l, 95% CI -0.126; -0.011) and ApoB levels (difference -0.017 g/l, 95% CL -0.033; -0.001). MMS supplementation resulted in lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (difference -0.028 mmol/l, 95% CL -0.053; -0.002), lower glucose (difference -0.099 mmol/l, 95% CL -0.179; -0.019) and lower insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) (difference on log scale -0.141 µg/l, 95% CL -0.254; -0.028) than 60 mg iron and 400 μg folic acid. There were no effects on markers of inflammation or oxidative stress. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that in a population where malnutrition is prevalent, nutrition interventions during pregnancy may modify the metabolic phenotype in the young child that could have consequences for later chronic disease risks

Increased isoprostane and prostaglandin are prominent in neurons in Alzheimer disease

BACKGROUND: Inflammation and oxidative stress are both involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease and have been shown to be reciprocally linked. One group of molecules that have been directly associated with inflammation and the production of free radicals are the prostaglandin 13,14-dihydro 15-keto PGF(2α )and the isoprostane 8-iso-PGF(2α). RESULTS: To further delineate the role of inflammatory and oxidative parameters in Alzheimer disease, in this study we evaluated the amount and localization of 13,14-dihydro 15-keto PGF(2α )and 8-iso-PGF(2α )in hippocampal post mortem tissue samples from age-matched Alzheimer disease and control patients. Our results demonstrate increased levels of 13,14-dihydro 15-keto PGF(2α )and 8-iso-PGF(2α )in the hippocampal pyramidal neurons of Alzheimer disease patients when compared to control patients. CONCLUSION: These data not only support the shared mechanistic involvement of free radical damage and inflammation in Alzheimer disease, but also indicate that multiple pathogenic "hits" are likely necessary for both the development and propagation of Alzheimer disease

Oxidative stress and bone mineral density in elderly men: Antioxidant activity of alpha-tocopherol

Oxidative stress and bone mineral density in elderly men: Antioxidant activity of alpha-tocopherol a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f o Oxidative stress has recently been identified as a pivotal pathogenetic factor of bone loss in mice, but its importance in humans is not clear. We aimed to investigate the association between urinary 8-iso-PGF 2α levels, a major F 2 -isoprostane and a reliable in vivo biomarker of oxidative stress, and bone mineral density (BMD), and to study whether vitamin E in the form of serum α-tocopherol, a scavenger of peroxyl radicals, modifies the association. In 405 men, urinary 8-iso-PGF 2α and serum α-tocopherol were measured at age 77 years and BMD at age 82 years. One SD increase in 8-iso-PGF 2α corresponded to an approximately 2-4% decrease in average adjusted BMD values of total body, lumbar spine, and proximal femur (all P b 0.001). Serum α-tocopherol levels seemed to modify the association between urinary 8-iso-PGF 2α and BMD. Men with α-tocopherol levels below the median combined with high oxidative stress, i.e., 8-iso-PGF 2α above the median, had 7% (95% CI 3-11%) lower BMD at the lumbar spine and 5% (95% CI 2-9%) lower BMD at the proximal femur. In elderly men high oxidative stress is associated with reduced BMD, which is more pronounced in individuals with low serum levels of the antioxidant vitamin E