Today in the News:
– Scientists develop a Death Clock
– Hugo Chavez is dead, but who of you actually know where Venezuela is on the map?
– and Stomach cancer can now be spotted by a breath test
San Francisco researchers have developed a “mortality index” for people older than 50, to calculate their chances of dying in the next 10 years. The following are some pointers: getting winded walking several blocks, smoking, and having trouble pushing a chair across the room. The test scores may satisfy people’s morbid curiosity, but the researchers say their 12-item index is mostly for use by doctors. It can help them decide whether costly health screenings or medical procedures are worth the risk for patients unlikely to live 10 more years. Doctors can use the results to help patients understand the pros and cons of such things as rigorous diabetes treatment, colon cancer screening and tests for cervical cancer. Let’s hope medical insurance companies don’t suddenly try to spin this mortality index to their advantage. i.e. we won’t insure you if you have a bad score…oh no wait a minute they already do that.
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez succumbed to a year long battle with cancer, and before I go on explaining why you should know and care about it, let me show you where Venezuela actually is on the map! Here it is! Mr Chavez is a controversial figure and staunch critic of the US and as a self-proclaimed revolutionary, he inspired a left-wing revival across Latin America. A self-proclaimed socialist, he won enduring support among the poor and repeated election victories, by using Venezuela’s oil wealth to pursue socialist policies. His government has implemented a number of “missions” or social programmes, including education and health services for all. But his opponents accused him of mishandling the economy and taking the country towards dictatorship. Inequality has been reduced, but growth overall has been lower than in some other Latin American economies.
Internationally, he was a staunch critic of US “imperialism” and accused Washington of backing a failed coup against him in 2002. Analysts say the death could alter the political balance in Latin America – dealing a blow to leftist states while favouring more centrist countries. There could also be an economic impact given that Venezuela sells oil at below market prices to some neighbouring countries, especially in the Caribbean.
A study by Scientists from Israel and China found a quick and simple breath test can diagnose stomach cancer. The test was 90% accurate at detecting and distinguishing cancers from other stomach complaints in 130 patients. The British Journal of Cancer says the test could revolutionise and speed up the way this cancer is diagnosed. Currently doctors diagnose stomach cancer by taking a biopsy of the stomach lining using a probe and a flexible camera passed via mouth and down the gullet. The new test looks for chemical profiles in exhaled breath that are unique to patients with stomach cancer. The breath test could also tell the difference between early and late-stage stomach cancers. Now that I call some good news right there!
Today in the News:
– Scientists develop a Death Clock
– Hugo Chavez is dead, but who of you actually know where Venezuela is on the map?
– and Stomach cancer can now be spotted by a breath test
San Francisco researchers have developed a “mortality index” for people older than 50, to calculate their chances of dying in the next 10 years. The following are some pointers: getting winded walking several blocks, smoking, and having trouble pushing a chair across the room. The test scores may satisfy people’s morbid curiosity, but the researchers say their 12-item index is mostly for use by doctors. It can help them decide whether costly health screenings or medical procedures are worth the risk for patients unlikely to live 10 more years. Doctors can use the results to help patients understand the pros and cons of such things as rigorous diabetes treatment, colon cancer screening and tests for cervical cancer. Let’s hope medical insurance companies don’t suddenly try to spin this mortality index to their advantage. i.e. we won’t insure you if you have a bad score…oh no wait a minute they already do that.
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez succumbed to a year long battle with cancer, and before I go on explaining why you should know and care about it, let me show you where Venezuela actually is on the map! Here it is! Mr Chavez is a controversial figure and staunch critic of the US and as a self-proclaimed revolutionary, he inspired a left-wing revival across Latin America. A self-proclaimed socialist, he won enduring support among the poor and repeated election victories, by using Venezuela’s oil wealth to pursue socialist policies. His government has implemented a number of “missions” or social programmes, including education and health services for all. But his opponents accused him of mishandling the economy and taking the country towards dictatorship. Inequality has been reduced, but growth overall has been lower than in some other Latin American economies.
Internationally, he was a staunch critic of US “imperialism” and accused Washington of backing a failed coup against him in 2002. Analysts say the death could alter the political balance in Latin America – dealing a blow to leftist states while favouring more centrist countries. There could also be an economic impact given that Venezuela sells oil at below market prices to some neighbouring countries, especially in the Caribbean.
A study by Scientists from Israel and China found a quick and simple breath test can diagnose stomach cancer. The test was 90% accurate at detecting and distinguishing cancers from other stomach complaints in 130 patients. The British Journal of Cancer says the test could revolutionise and speed up the way this cancer is diagnosed. Currently doctors diagnose stomach cancer by taking a biopsy of the stomach lining using a probe and a flexible camera passed via mouth and down the gullet. The new test looks for chemical profiles in exhaled breath that are unique to patients with stomach cancer. The breath test could also tell the difference between early and late-stage stomach cancers. Now that I call some good news right there!