Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Emma Watson's Bra slip
If you're waiting for an Emma Watson nipple slip, you'll have to wait a while longer, but in the mean time, we've got the next best thing: An Emma Watson bra slip. Here's Emma after having lunch (or possibly coffee) with a friend of hers (a very cute friend, I might add), and, well, it looks like another friend decided to come out and play. I'm referring to Emma breast, of course. Thanks to a low cut top, and some intrepid photography skills, what we have here is a totally juvenile, yet sexy as hell candid moment immortalised for prosperity.Who knew this geek from Harry Potter would turn out so sexy?
more photo of Emma Watson (click to enlarge)
Top 10 Health Tips for Men
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When it comes to health care, we men are like ostriches. We bury our heads in the sand. We are much less likely than women to visit our doctors regularly, take symptoms seriously and live a healthful lifestyle. Maybe that’s one reason why women have a seven-year average survival advantage on us!
Yet it’s obviously important that men of all ages become more proactive about their health. And an easy way to start is to follow these 10 basic steps to maintaining health and vitality.
1. Eliminate "White Foods" from Your Diet.
White flour, white sugar and other processed foods are not only devoid of vitamins and minerals, but they’ve also been stripped of their natural fibre. As a result, they rapidly drive up blood sugar levels, which contributes to weight gain, diabetes and a host of other health problems. Avoid breads and baked goods made with white flour, sugar-laden sodas and snack foods. Instead, focus on eating fibre-rich fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.
2. Stay Away from Dangerous Trans Fats.
While it’s important to reduce your overall fat intake, it’s even more important to watch the types of fat you eat. Deep-fried foods and anything made with hydrogenated oils (margarine, peanut butter, shortening, store-bought pastries and cookies) contain trans fats that raise your risk of heart disease. Eat only healthful fats, such as olive oil and the omega-3 oils found in salmon and other cold-water fish, which actually protect against heart disease.
3. Take a Potent Daily Multivitamin muland Mineral Supplement.
Although there is no substitute for a good diet, I am convinced that for optimal nutrition, you need to take a high-potency multivitamin and mineral supplement. Even if you are eating right, it’s unlikely that your food contains all the nutrients you need. Poor soil quality, storage, processing and cooking deplete our food of vitamins and minerals. Taking a high quality daily supplement is "health insurance" against possible deficiencies.
4. Include Weight Training in Your Exercise Routine.
Aerobic exercise is great for cardiovascular conditioning, but it’s vastly inferior to weight training in attacking the "flab factor." Recent research has shown that as little as once-weekly resistance exercise can improve muscle strength. Even the busiest or laziest among us can find the time and energy for that. Join a gym, consult a personal trainer or ask an experienced friend to show you the ropes.
5. Maintain Your Optimal Weight.
Current statistics suggest that half of us are losing the battle of the bulge, but maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best things you can do for yourself. You’ll look better, feel better and reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and other major killers. I know this is easier said than done, but if you just follow the four steps above, you’ll be well on your way.
6. Drink Alcohol Only in Moderation.
You’ve probably heard of the "French Paradox," and that drinking wine protects against heart disease. Repeated studies have shown that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol (all kinds) protects not only against heart disease, but also lowers risk of death from all causes. Remember that moderation is key. While one to two drinks a day are protective, excess alcohol consumption is devastating to health. And for some, one drink is too many.
7. Protect Your Prostate.
Around the age of 40, the prostate gland begins a growth spurt that results in symptoms such as frequent nighttime urination. The good news is that this condition, known as benign pro-static hyperplasia, can be prevented or reversed by taking extracts of two herbs: saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) and pygeum (Pygeum africanum). Dozens of studies have shown that these herbs work in improving urinary flow without adverse side-effects. Suggested doses are 160 to 320 milligrams of saw palmetto and 40 to 80 mg of pygeum daily.
8. Reduce Your Risk of Prostate Cancer.
Experts estimate that 80 per cent of all cancers can be prevented by making healthy lifestyle choices. Avoid saturated and trans fats, which may fuel prostate cancer growth, and incorporate protective foods, such as soy, green tea and tomatoes, into your diet. Soy contains isoflavones with specific anti-cancer activity. Green tea is rich in poly phenols that inhibit the formation of cancer-causing compounds and block the growth of prostate cancer cells. And tomatoes, particularly cooked tomato products, are an excellent source of lycopene, which is linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. In addition, make sure your daily nutritional supplement contains high doses of the antioxidant selenium (200 micrograms) and vitamin E (800 IU), which have been shown to dramatically lower the risk of prostate cancer.
9. Maintain Vigorous Sexual Function.
Most cases of erectile dysfunction (impotence) have a physical cause: You’re just not getting enough blood to the area in question. To improve overall circulation, follow the diet, exercise and supplement recommendations above. If you’re taking drugs, review them with your doctor, as many can worsen erectile function and impair libido. Smoking also significantly impairs erectile function. Several herbs have been shown to improve sexual function. Ginkgo biloba increases blood flow to the penis, and Panax ginseng, oats, horny goat weed, maca and seroctin improve libido.
10. Maintain Close Relationships.
Another thing women seem to do better than men is maintain close relationships. Make a point to strengthen ties with your family and friends. Volunteer work, religious ties, even pets–anything that keeps you involved with others–reduces stress and enhances health.
Take charge of your health by incorporating these 10 steps into your life. The rewards of optimal health and well-being will be well worth your efforts.
Men’s Longevity "To Do" List
When it comes to health care, we men are like ostriches. We bury our heads in the sand. We are much less likely than women to visit our doctors regularly, take symptoms seriously and live a healthful lifestyle. Maybe that’s one reason why women have a seven-year average survival advantage on us!
Yet it’s obviously important that men of all ages become more proactive about their health. And an easy way to start is to follow these 10 basic steps to maintaining health and vitality.
White flour, white sugar and other processed foods are not only devoid of vitamins and minerals, but they’ve also been stripped of their natural fibre. As a result, they rapidly drive up blood sugar levels, which contributes to weight gain, diabetes and a host of other health problems. Avoid breads and baked goods made with white flour, sugar-laden sodas and snack foods. Instead, focus on eating fibre-rich fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.
2. Stay Away from Dangerous Trans Fats.
While it’s important to reduce your overall fat intake, it’s even more important to watch the types of fat you eat. Deep-fried foods and anything made with hydrogenated oils (margarine, peanut butter, shortening, store-bought pastries and cookies) contain trans fats that raise your risk of heart disease. Eat only healthful fats, such as olive oil and the omega-3 oils found in salmon and other cold-water fish, which actually protect against heart disease.
3. Take a Potent Daily Multivitamin muland Mineral Supplement.
Although there is no substitute for a good diet, I am convinced that for optimal nutrition, you need to take a high-potency multivitamin and mineral supplement. Even if you are eating right, it’s unlikely that your food contains all the nutrients you need. Poor soil quality, storage, processing and cooking deplete our food of vitamins and minerals. Taking a high quality daily supplement is "health insurance" against possible deficiencies.
4. Include Weight Training in Your Exercise Routine.
Aerobic exercise is great for cardiovascular conditioning, but it’s vastly inferior to weight training in attacking the "flab factor." Recent research has shown that as little as once-weekly resistance exercise can improve muscle strength. Even the busiest or laziest among us can find the time and energy for that. Join a gym, consult a personal trainer or ask an experienced friend to show you the ropes.
5. Maintain Your Optimal Weight.
Current statistics suggest that half of us are losing the battle of the bulge, but maintaining a healthy weight is one of the best things you can do for yourself. You’ll look better, feel better and reduce your risk of heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and other major killers. I know this is easier said than done, but if you just follow the four steps above, you’ll be well on your way.
6. Drink Alcohol Only in Moderation.
You’ve probably heard of the "French Paradox," and that drinking wine protects against heart disease. Repeated studies have shown that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol (all kinds) protects not only against heart disease, but also lowers risk of death from all causes. Remember that moderation is key. While one to two drinks a day are protective, excess alcohol consumption is devastating to health. And for some, one drink is too many.
7. Protect Your Prostate.
Around the age of 40, the prostate gland begins a growth spurt that results in symptoms such as frequent nighttime urination. The good news is that this condition, known as benign pro-static hyperplasia, can be prevented or reversed by taking extracts of two herbs: saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) and pygeum (Pygeum africanum). Dozens of studies have shown that these herbs work in improving urinary flow without adverse side-effects. Suggested doses are 160 to 320 milligrams of saw palmetto and 40 to 80 mg of pygeum daily.
8. Reduce Your Risk of Prostate Cancer.
Experts estimate that 80 per cent of all cancers can be prevented by making healthy lifestyle choices. Avoid saturated and trans fats, which may fuel prostate cancer growth, and incorporate protective foods, such as soy, green tea and tomatoes, into your diet. Soy contains isoflavones with specific anti-cancer activity. Green tea is rich in poly phenols that inhibit the formation of cancer-causing compounds and block the growth of prostate cancer cells. And tomatoes, particularly cooked tomato products, are an excellent source of lycopene, which is linked to a reduced risk of prostate cancer. In addition, make sure your daily nutritional supplement contains high doses of the antioxidant selenium (200 micrograms) and vitamin E (800 IU), which have been shown to dramatically lower the risk of prostate cancer.
9. Maintain Vigorous Sexual Function.
Most cases of erectile dysfunction (impotence) have a physical cause: You’re just not getting enough blood to the area in question. To improve overall circulation, follow the diet, exercise and supplement recommendations above. If you’re taking drugs, review them with your doctor, as many can worsen erectile function and impair libido. Smoking also significantly impairs erectile function. Several herbs have been shown to improve sexual function. Ginkgo biloba increases blood flow to the penis, and Panax ginseng, oats, horny goat weed, maca and seroctin improve libido.
10. Maintain Close Relationships.
Another thing women seem to do better than men is maintain close relationships. Make a point to strengthen ties with your family and friends. Volunteer work, religious ties, even pets–anything that keeps you involved with others–reduces stress and enhances health.
Take charge of your health by incorporating these 10 steps into your life. The rewards of optimal health and well-being will be well worth your efforts.
Men’s Longevity "To Do" List
- Eliminate "white foods" from your diet.
- Stay away from dangerous trans fats.
- Take a daily vitamin-mineral supplement.
- Incorporate weight training in your exercise routine.
- Maintain your optimal weight.
- Drink alcohol only in moderation.
- Protect your prostate.
- Reduce your risk of prostate cancer.
- Maintain vigorous sexual function.
- Maintain close relationships.
Julian Whitaker, MD, is the founder of the Whitaker Wellness Institute Medical Clinic in Newport Beach, California, and editor of the monthly newsletter, Health and Healing. Dr Whitaker has also written eight books, including Reversing Hypertension, Reversing Diabetes and Reversing Heart Disease (Warner Books). For more information, visit drwhitaker.com or call 1-800-539-8219.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Adam Lambert, Kris Allen ‘American Idol’ Showdown Starts Tonight
No matter who is crowned the next American Idol on Wednesday night, season eight has already been one for the books. After a wild season that has included emotional breakdowns from almost-finalists, a comedian/singer who almost crashed the top 13 with his over-the-top shtick, the first top 13, a wild-card round, a judges’ save and some serious bickering among the expanded judging panel, you’d think that whatever happens on the finale would be an anti-climax.
But thanks to the surprise exit of early favorite Danny Gokey last week, Tuesday night’s (May 19) sing-off between Kris Allen and Adam Lambert has injected some late-season drama into the still top-rated U.S. show. Host Ryan Seacrest said on Friday’s “Larry King Live” that Tuesday’s show will consist of a first round of the contestants’ favorites from this season, followed by songs chosen by producer Simon Fuller and then a round in which they each sing this year’s yet-unannounced winner’s single. The format should give both guys ample opportunity to play to their strengths and have a shot at the big, emotional moment while tackling the predictably sure-to-be-schmaltzy and over-the-top winner’s tune.
read full story.......
Britney Spears: Relaxed, in Normal Clothes
Enjoying some down time and a rare break from her traveling S&M show, Britney Spears make a trip to Starbucks in Malibu looking beautiful and natural as ever.
The US leg of The Circus Starring Britney Spears is in the books, giving her a few weeks to relax before she takes the show to Europe, starting in London June 3.
Should give her plenty of time to stock up on pork rinds, pick up a couple of contraband prepaid cellphones, and drive around L.A. aimlessly with Jason Trawick.
Here's Britney with little or no makeup, and in a springy dress. Man, when you get her outside the big show, the ring leader looks like a surprisingly normal girl:
A fit-looking Britney Spears hits up her home away from home - Starbucks - while enjoying some time in California before her Circus tour resumes in Europe.
When the tour resumes, she'll be bringing her sons and ex-husband Kevin Federline along, so she won't have to worry about missing Sean Preston and Jayden James.
If she even remembers who they are, that is.
While she continues to rack up insane expenses and it seems like one legal squabble after another surrounds her daily life, Spears does seem reasonably happy and even stable lately. Those pharmacuetical companies make wonderful things.
source:gossipplaza.
Britney Spears: Relaxed, in Normal Clothes
Enjoying some down time and a rare break from her traveling S&M show, Britney Spears make a trip to Starbucks in Malibu looking beautiful and natural as ever.
The US leg of The Circus Starring Britney Spears is in the books, giving her a few weeks to relax before she takes the show to Europe, starting in London June 3.
Should give her plenty of time to stock up on pork rinds, pick up a couple of contraband prepaid cellphones, and drive around L.A. aimlessly with Jason Trawick.
Here's Britney with little or no makeup, and in a springy dress. Man, when you get her outside the big show, the ring leader looks like a surprisingly normal girl:
A fit-looking Britney Spears hits up her home away from home - Starbucks - while enjoying some time in California before her Circus tour resumes in Europe.
When the tour resumes, she'll be bringing her sons and ex-husband Kevin Federline along, so she won't have to worry about missing Sean Preston and Jayden James.
If she even remembers who they are, that is.
While she continues to rack up insane expenses and it seems like one legal squabble after another surrounds her daily life, Spears does seem reasonably happy and even stable lately. Those pharmacuetical companies make wonderful things.
source:gossipplaza.
Shuttle releases repaired Hubble
Monday's mission replaced batteries and part of the pointing system.
Astronauts on the space shuttle Atlantis have released the Hubble Space Telescope after a series of spacewalks to repair and upgrade the observatory.
Astronaut Megan McArthur liberated the telescope from Atlantis' robotic arm at 0857 EDT (1357 BST), marking the last human contact with Hubble.
Pilot Greg Johnson then used two short burns of the shuttle's thrusters to gently back away from the telescope.
Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to return to Earth on Friday. Contd............
Shuttle releases repaired Hubble
Astronauts on the space shuttle Atlantis have released the Hubble Space Telescope after a series of spacewalks to repair and upgrade the observatory.
Astronaut Megan McArthur liberated the telescope from Atlantis' robotic arm at 0857 EDT (1357 BST), marking the last human contact with Hubble.
Pilot Greg Johnson then used two short burns of the shuttle's thrusters to gently back away from the telescope.
Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to return to Earth on Friday.
The crew will now stow the equipment that helped to hold, position, and connect to Hubble during the repairs.
Later on Tuesday, the crew will perform a further inspection of the shuttle's heat shield. An inspection on 12 May showed minor damage to the heat shield tiles.
The fifth and final Hubble servicing mission brought the number of spacewalks to repair it to 23, involving 16 astronauts in a total of 166 hours of work.
'Ready for action'
Commander Scott Altman told mission controllers in Houston that Hubble was "safely back on its journey of exploration".
He thanked everyone on the ground for their help during five gruelling spacewalks.
"Not everything went as we planned but pulling together we've been able to do some incredible things," he said.
Mission control replied that it was "wonderful to see Hubble, the most famous scientific instrument of all time, newly upgraded and ready for action thanks to you".
Commander Altman was referring to a number of snags that occurred during the spacewalks; on Friday, one of the sets of rate sensing units, or gyroscopes, to be replaced would not fit into its bay. A refurbished unit had to be installed instead.
On Sunday, mission specialists Michael Massimino and Michael Good had to contend with a handrail blocking their access to the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), resorting in the end to tearing it off with brute force.
But the repair was completed as planned. "It was a very long day supporting [Sunday's spacewalk] and testing the STIS after repair," said Ted Gull, a Nasa scientist in charge of the STIS experiment.
"Now we have to catch up on the changes in commanding to the spacecraft to ensure we can get the best out of STIS for the future," he told BBC News.
Hubble will undergo many tests in the coming weeks, with observations set to resume at the end of the summer.
The hope is that the repairs and upgrades will give Hubble at least five more years of useful life.
One of the simpler tasks during the repair mission was to fit a docking ring that will serve as a point of contact with Hubble sometime after 2020.
A robotic mission will be sent to push the telescope back toward Earth's oceans - a return home for the most famous telescope the world has ever known.
source: BBC NEWS.
Shuttle releases repaired Hubble
Astronauts on the space shuttle Atlantis have released the Hubble Space Telescope after a series of spacewalks to repair and upgrade the observatory.
Astronaut Megan McArthur liberated the telescope from Atlantis' robotic arm at 0857 EDT (1357 BST), marking the last human contact with Hubble.
Pilot Greg Johnson then used two short burns of the shuttle's thrusters to gently back away from the telescope.
Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to return to Earth on Friday.
The crew will now stow the equipment that helped to hold, position, and connect to Hubble during the repairs.
Later on Tuesday, the crew will perform a further inspection of the shuttle's heat shield. An inspection on 12 May showed minor damage to the heat shield tiles.
The fifth and final Hubble servicing mission brought the number of spacewalks to repair it to 23, involving 16 astronauts in a total of 166 hours of work.
'Ready for action'
Commander Scott Altman told mission controllers in Houston that Hubble was "safely back on its journey of exploration".
He thanked everyone on the ground for their help during five gruelling spacewalks.
"Not everything went as we planned but pulling together we've been able to do some incredible things," he said.
Mission control replied that it was "wonderful to see Hubble, the most famous scientific instrument of all time, newly upgraded and ready for action thanks to you".
Commander Altman was referring to a number of snags that occurred during the spacewalks; on Friday, one of the sets of rate sensing units, or gyroscopes, to be replaced would not fit into its bay. A refurbished unit had to be installed instead.
On Sunday, mission specialists Michael Massimino and Michael Good had to contend with a handrail blocking their access to the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS), resorting in the end to tearing it off with brute force.
But the repair was completed as planned. "It was a very long day supporting [Sunday's spacewalk] and testing the STIS after repair," said Ted Gull, a Nasa scientist in charge of the STIS experiment.
"Now we have to catch up on the changes in commanding to the spacecraft to ensure we can get the best out of STIS for the future," he told BBC News.
Hubble will undergo many tests in the coming weeks, with observations set to resume at the end of the summer.
The hope is that the repairs and upgrades will give Hubble at least five more years of useful life.
One of the simpler tasks during the repair mission was to fit a docking ring that will serve as a point of contact with Hubble sometime after 2020.
A robotic mission will be sent to push the telescope back toward Earth's oceans - a return home for the most famous telescope the world has ever known.
source: BBC NEWS.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
British scientists 'to create synthetic blood from embryonic stem cells'
The results could provide an unlimited supply of blood for emergency transfusions free of the risk of infection.
It could revolutionise blood transfusion services, which currently rely on a network of human donors to provide a constant supply of fresh blood.
The three-year project will be led by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and includes NHS Blood and Transplant and the Wellcome Trust, the world's biggest medical research charity.
The artificial blood will be made from the stem cells of human embryos left over from IVF treatment.
Researchers will test the embryos to find those that are genetically programmed to develop into the "O-negative" blood group.
This is the universal donor group, whose blood can be transfused to any patient without the fear of tissue rejection.
The rare blood group, which is applicable to only 7 per cent of the population, could then be produced in unlimited quantities because of the embryonic stem cells' ability to multiply indefinitely.
The objective is to stimulate the cells to develop into mature, oxygen-carrying red blood cells for emergency transfusions.
Such blood would have the benefit of not being at risk of being infected with viruses such as HIV and hepatitis.
The SNBTS is expected within weeks to sign an agreement with the Wellcome Trust for a grant to fund the multi-million pound research project.
A spokeswoman for the SNBTS confirmed that the research project was to go ahead but said that no further comment could be made because it was bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Wellcome Trust.
According to The Independent, the project will be led by Professor Marc Turner, of Edinburgh University, the director of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.
Professor Turner has been involved in studies examining ways to ensure donated blood is free of the infectious agent behind variant CJD, the human form of "mad cow" disease.
Last year, Advanced Cell Technology, a US biotechnology firm, claimed it had produced billions of functioning red blood cells from embryonic stem cells.
However, US projects have been delayed due to funding problems as a result of the ban on embryonic stem cell research introduced by the Bush administration, which Barack Obama has since overturned.
British scientists 'to create synthetic blood from embryonic stem cells'
The results could provide an unlimited supply of blood for emergency transfusions free of the risk of infection.
It could revolutionise blood transfusion services, which currently rely on a network of human donors to provide a constant supply of fresh blood.
The three-year project will be led by the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service and includes NHS Blood and Transplant and the Wellcome Trust, the world's biggest medical research charity.
The artificial blood will be made from the stem cells of human embryos left over from IVF treatment.
Researchers will test the embryos to find those that are genetically programmed to develop into the "O-negative" blood group.
This is the universal donor group, whose blood can be transfused to any patient without the fear of tissue rejection.
The rare blood group, which is applicable to only 7 per cent of the population, could then be produced in unlimited quantities because of the embryonic stem cells' ability to multiply indefinitely.
The objective is to stimulate the cells to develop into mature, oxygen-carrying red blood cells for emergency transfusions.
Such blood would have the benefit of not being at risk of being infected with viruses such as HIV and hepatitis.
The SNBTS is expected within weeks to sign an agreement with the Wellcome Trust for a grant to fund the multi-million pound research project.
A spokeswoman for the SNBTS confirmed that the research project was to go ahead but said that no further comment could be made because it was bound by a confidentiality agreement with the Wellcome Trust.
According to The Independent, the project will be led by Professor Marc Turner, of Edinburgh University, the director of the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service.
Professor Turner has been involved in studies examining ways to ensure donated blood is free of the infectious agent behind variant CJD, the human form of "mad cow" disease.
Last year, Advanced Cell Technology, a US biotechnology firm, claimed it had produced billions of functioning red blood cells from embryonic stem cells.
However, US projects have been delayed due to funding problems as a result of the ban on embryonic stem cell research introduced by the Bush administration, which Barack Obama has since overturned.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Holly Madison’s Bikini Parade
Holly Madison recently been linked to British comedian Russell Brand and now she just taken part in the world’s largest bikini parade, breaking a Guinness Book World record. At least one of those things is worth looking at. Hopefully next she’ll be breaking the World record for topless girl on girl hugs.more picture of Holly Madison:(click to enlarge)
source:hollywoodtuna
Science on the Trail of New Flu's Secrets.
Scientists around the world are trying to decipher the influenza H1N1 virus in order to develop a vaccine, while others are tracking its origins to fight its spread more effectively.
Laboratory tests show that the virus strain initially believed to be swine-based is actually a subtype of influenza virus A that contains genetic material from swine, human and avian strains. It easily mutates and recombines, which is what makes it potentially so dangerous.
The microbiology laboratory at Canada's Public Health Agency took a step forward in announcing May 6 that it had decoded the genetic sequence of three samples of the H1N1 virus collected in that country and in Mexico.
Pulmonologist Fernando Cano, former director of Mexico's National Institute of Respiratory Disease (INER), told that,"This virus already existed. It has been mutating and will continue to mutate. My hypothesis is that we are faced with several subtypes of A/H1N1,"
There have been several documented cases of swine flu in humans, including a non-fatal contagion in 2007 that affected 12 people at a rural fair in the midwestern U.S. state of Ohio, said Cano, who is coordinator of the bioethics and clinical medicine faculty sponsored by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).
The people affected by that outbreak were tested and it was found that 60 percent had antibodies to fight that flu strain, added Cano, former director of the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM) medical school. According to Cano, the Ohio virus is likely to be an ancestor of the current strain.
In a Tierramérica interview, Eduardo Sada, INER head of microbiology research, pointed to reports from 1957 and 1977 on swine flu in humans. "Undoubtedly the original virus and the current one circulated at a low volume for several years" until "something that we haven't discovered yet" triggered the epidemic, he said.
To assert that this H1N1 subtype originated in Mexico at this point is just speculation, agreed Cano and Sada. The virus has now been detected in more than 20 countries.
The first confirmed case of the new virus was in the small, impoverished community of La Gloria, in the southeastern Mexican state of Veracruz. From mid-March to early April, a rare outbreak of flu affected 600 people in the town, located some 10 kilometres from a pig farm.
Medical samples from the sick individuals in La Gloria were sent to laboratories in the United States and Canada. One of them, from a five-year-old boy who presented symptoms on Apr. 1, contained the new virus, said a report released on Apr. 23.
The same report, from Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory, in Winnipeg, confirmed that a woman who died of pneumonia on Apr. 13 in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, and who apparently had no contact with La Gloria, had also contracted the virus. But they weren't the only early cases. In the city of San Diego, California, near the Mexican border, a boy fell ill on Mar. 30 with an "atypical" respiratory illness. A similar case occurred shortly afterwards, involving a girl in the nearby town of Imperial.
The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the southeastern U.S. city of Atlanta, analysed samples from both cases and confirmed the presence of the new H1N1 virus.
In 1999, young people and pigs died of a strange virus in Malaysia. It was believed to be "Japanese encephalitis", which is transmitted by mosquitoes that feed on both humans and pigs.
After several months of research and the slaughter of hundreds of pigs, the scientists discovered that the problem originated at a farm where some of the animals had eaten fruit remnants that had been contaminated by bats, which are asymptomatic carriers of the virus. Further, it was determined that transmission to humans occurred through pig saliva.
With that information, the authorities were able to stop the spread of the virus, which was dubbed Nipah, although they were not able to eradicate it.
Teams from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and researchers from several countries are trying to track down the origins of the new influenza, popularly known as "swine flu". But they agree it will be difficult to determine where it originated.
Cano believes the deaths caused by the H1N1 virus, nearly all of which have occurred in Mexico, are related to delays in medical attention or inappropriate treatment, but does not rule out the possibility that the severe cases may have been caused by variants of this virus strain. "In any case, the new virus is generally not very lethal, and that is fortunate," although it should not be forgotten that it could mutate and generate a severe pandemic in the future, he warned.
On Apr. 23, Mexico decreed a health emergency after confirming the presence of the new virus. On Apr. 24, the WHO also declared a public emergency. It then elevated its epidemiological alert from phase three to four, and later to five (out of six).
On May 4, Mexican authorities announced the stabilisation of the epidemic, calling for the gradual return to normal school and business activities, which had been largely paralysed since Apr. 23.
Every year, between 250,000 and 500,000 people around the globe die from the various strains of seasonal influenza that usually present during the colder times of year, says the WHO.
At first, the appearance of the H1N1 virus confused the scientific community, because the strain circulating mostly affected young adults. However, of the more than 1,000 cases confirmed in Mexico, nearly half were people 19 and younger.
Another issue to be clarified is why the people who died from the virus have nearly all been Mexican, and why some of the infected are able to recover without complications or pharmaceutical treatment, while others end up in the hospital.
For now, there are more questions than answers about the traits of the new virus, its origin and its mutation profile, after Canada confirmed that some pigs had contracted the virus from a sick farm worker.
Cano recommended that people continue to get vaccinations against seasonal flu, which even if it does not specifically target the new strain, does provide additional protection.
The H1N1 virus, which is spread in the same way as any other influenza virus, reacts well to antiviral medications if they are administered in a timely manner, though scientists fear new mutations could mean the pharmaceuticals will become less and less effective.
The first analysis by a multidisciplinary team from UNAM and the National Polytechnic Institute, set up to study the virus, confirmed that it has a great capacity to mutate, said microbiologist Antonio Lazcano, who considers it highly probable that there are different varieties of H1N1 circulating in Mexico alongside other flu viruses.
(*This story was originally published by Latin American newspapers that are part of the Tierramérica network.)
Laboratory tests show that the virus strain initially believed to be swine-based is actually a subtype of influenza virus A that contains genetic material from swine, human and avian strains. It easily mutates and recombines, which is what makes it potentially so dangerous.
The microbiology laboratory at Canada's Public Health Agency took a step forward in announcing May 6 that it had decoded the genetic sequence of three samples of the H1N1 virus collected in that country and in Mexico.
Pulmonologist Fernando Cano, former director of Mexico's National Institute of Respiratory Disease (INER), told that,"This virus already existed. It has been mutating and will continue to mutate. My hypothesis is that we are faced with several subtypes of A/H1N1,"
There have been several documented cases of swine flu in humans, including a non-fatal contagion in 2007 that affected 12 people at a rural fair in the midwestern U.S. state of Ohio, said Cano, who is coordinator of the bioethics and clinical medicine faculty sponsored by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).
The people affected by that outbreak were tested and it was found that 60 percent had antibodies to fight that flu strain, added Cano, former director of the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM) medical school. According to Cano, the Ohio virus is likely to be an ancestor of the current strain.
In a Tierramérica interview, Eduardo Sada, INER head of microbiology research, pointed to reports from 1957 and 1977 on swine flu in humans. "Undoubtedly the original virus and the current one circulated at a low volume for several years" until "something that we haven't discovered yet" triggered the epidemic, he said.
To assert that this H1N1 subtype originated in Mexico at this point is just speculation, agreed Cano and Sada. The virus has now been detected in more than 20 countries.
The first confirmed case of the new virus was in the small, impoverished community of La Gloria, in the southeastern Mexican state of Veracruz. From mid-March to early April, a rare outbreak of flu affected 600 people in the town, located some 10 kilometres from a pig farm.
Medical samples from the sick individuals in La Gloria were sent to laboratories in the United States and Canada. One of them, from a five-year-old boy who presented symptoms on Apr. 1, contained the new virus, said a report released on Apr. 23.
The same report, from Canada's National Microbiology Laboratory, in Winnipeg, confirmed that a woman who died of pneumonia on Apr. 13 in the southern Mexican state of Oaxaca, and who apparently had no contact with La Gloria, had also contracted the virus. But they weren't the only early cases. In the city of San Diego, California, near the Mexican border, a boy fell ill on Mar. 30 with an "atypical" respiratory illness. A similar case occurred shortly afterwards, involving a girl in the nearby town of Imperial.
The U.S. Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the southeastern U.S. city of Atlanta, analysed samples from both cases and confirmed the presence of the new H1N1 virus.
In 1999, young people and pigs died of a strange virus in Malaysia. It was believed to be "Japanese encephalitis", which is transmitted by mosquitoes that feed on both humans and pigs.
After several months of research and the slaughter of hundreds of pigs, the scientists discovered that the problem originated at a farm where some of the animals had eaten fruit remnants that had been contaminated by bats, which are asymptomatic carriers of the virus. Further, it was determined that transmission to humans occurred through pig saliva.
With that information, the authorities were able to stop the spread of the virus, which was dubbed Nipah, although they were not able to eradicate it.
Teams from the World Health Organisation (WHO) and researchers from several countries are trying to track down the origins of the new influenza, popularly known as "swine flu". But they agree it will be difficult to determine where it originated.
Cano believes the deaths caused by the H1N1 virus, nearly all of which have occurred in Mexico, are related to delays in medical attention or inappropriate treatment, but does not rule out the possibility that the severe cases may have been caused by variants of this virus strain. "In any case, the new virus is generally not very lethal, and that is fortunate," although it should not be forgotten that it could mutate and generate a severe pandemic in the future, he warned.
On Apr. 23, Mexico decreed a health emergency after confirming the presence of the new virus. On Apr. 24, the WHO also declared a public emergency. It then elevated its epidemiological alert from phase three to four, and later to five (out of six).
On May 4, Mexican authorities announced the stabilisation of the epidemic, calling for the gradual return to normal school and business activities, which had been largely paralysed since Apr. 23.
Every year, between 250,000 and 500,000 people around the globe die from the various strains of seasonal influenza that usually present during the colder times of year, says the WHO.
At first, the appearance of the H1N1 virus confused the scientific community, because the strain circulating mostly affected young adults. However, of the more than 1,000 cases confirmed in Mexico, nearly half were people 19 and younger.
Another issue to be clarified is why the people who died from the virus have nearly all been Mexican, and why some of the infected are able to recover without complications or pharmaceutical treatment, while others end up in the hospital.
For now, there are more questions than answers about the traits of the new virus, its origin and its mutation profile, after Canada confirmed that some pigs had contracted the virus from a sick farm worker.
Cano recommended that people continue to get vaccinations against seasonal flu, which even if it does not specifically target the new strain, does provide additional protection.
The H1N1 virus, which is spread in the same way as any other influenza virus, reacts well to antiviral medications if they are administered in a timely manner, though scientists fear new mutations could mean the pharmaceuticals will become less and less effective.
The first analysis by a multidisciplinary team from UNAM and the National Polytechnic Institute, set up to study the virus, confirmed that it has a great capacity to mutate, said microbiologist Antonio Lazcano, who considers it highly probable that there are different varieties of H1N1 circulating in Mexico alongside other flu viruses.
(*This story was originally published by Latin American newspapers that are part of the Tierramérica network.)
