Interesting article I read about developing a liquid that can be used to protect women and unborn children from HIV.
It's still in test phases and has not been tested on humans yet.
Via BBC
'Molecular condom' to combat HIVA "molecular condom" to protect women against HIV is being developed by US scientists.
... The liquid formulated by a University of Utah team turns into a gel-like coating when inserted into the vagina.
Then, when exposed to semen, it returns to liquid form and releases an anti-viral drug to attack HIV...
...
"We're shooting for a microbicide delivery system that would be used once a day or once a month," he said.
Tests have already shown that their 'hydrogel' is unlikely to cause significant side effects, or discomfort.
It is designed not to dehydrate vaginal cells, which can trigger infections, and not to be diluted by other fluids.
The next stage will be to see whether anti-viral drugs incorporated into the hydrogel can be released with the same efficiency as in the lab.
Indeed the researchers are hopeful that because the gel would be much thinner inside a woman than it was in the lab tests, the release of drugs should be even more effective...
Heart Transplants Keep Pumping
The story: In the U.K., surgeons transplanted the first "beating heart" into a British patient. Instead of being frozen for several hours, a new machine kept the heart pumping during transfer from donor to patient.
The upside: A "living heart" could survive longer before being transplanted.
The caveat: Heart transplants remain rare: Only about 2,016 were performed in the United States in 2004, a slight decrease from 2003.
Factoid: Cornea, kidney and liver transplants are more common in the United States than heart transplants.
Look, Ma, No Pulse!
Topic: Heart
Oh, the pulse. So 2005.
In today's bit of OMG medical news, a Canadian man has received a heart device that pumps on a continuous basis.
The new mechanical heart, which is powered by batteries located in pouches on [the patient's] body, provides a continuous flow of blood so the patient has no pulse.
[He] happens to be the only individual currently living in Canada without a pulse and without a measurable blood pressure,” [a doctor] said Wednesday.
The device is reportedly being tested in Canada and the U.S., so some Americans might be going around pulseless too.
At right is the patient,
riding a bicycleholding the device that got implanted into his body.Question: If he doesn't have a pulse, how do quickly you figure out if he's alive or dead, such as during a medical emergency?
Tokidoki does makeup for Smashbox.
The whole set is 178USD
You get eyeshadow, gloss, lipstick, shimmer mix foundation, etc.
What's the best present you gave this year?
I am making a custom Chun Li doll for Kyle for Christmas. He loves it already and I just want to make more game characters. The question is, where am I going to get the funding? Haha! XD I guess I should sell more things. =P
Anywho... I'll post more pictures later.
Merry X-mas everyone
XOXO
More fun with flickr.
XD
Question: Why would Cat be writing about Dave Chappelle?
Answer: I went to see him last night!
He had a show at the Punchline with only a day in advance notice to everyone in San Francisco. This meant that the previous event was cancelled in order for him to be there for 6 shows on Friday and Saturday.
Kyle and I decided to go because usually we go to a comedy show for our New Years celebration hooba-joob. But this year, there wouldn't be a show because the comedians who would/will be in SF aren't that interesting to us.
Anywho...
We went to the midnight showing. Unfortunately, his show was running late so we didn't get in till around 1AM or so. After the first two comedians did their set, he didn't go on till approx 2AM or so in the morning. Oh LORD I was getting tired!
His set went on for about three hours! It was hilarious of course, and it appeared as if a majority of his set was going to be about things in the audience, or whatever the audience brought up. The only drawback to the show was we waited outside for about two hours in the cold, and that he smoked indoors the whole night. Constantly. My throat hurts this morning and for some reason my shoulders do as well.
Well, that's what I did and I hope you enjoyed my story.
Yays!
XOXO
Post your complaints here:
http://www.ilovetocomplain.com/
XOXO
