MDMouse: USB Optical Mouse Plus Sphygmomanometer - - Allows Users to Check Their Blood Pressure And Have the Data Emailed to Medical Professionals

Boys and girls, what we have here is a simple case of USB optical mouse plus sphygmomanometer equals MDMouse.

It’s perfect for the 70 million odd grown ups and senior citizens in the United States who are suffering from hypertension. Also perfect for anyone else outside the U.S.A. with hypertension. As indicated by the pic above, the MDMouse allows users to check their blood pressure and have the data emailed to medical professionals. The ring beside the mouse accommodates a digit (we believe your thumb goes in there based on how a person grasps a PC mouse) and tightens accordingly for the right amount of pressure, which registers on a corresponding software program on the PC.

Despite its convenience, doctors still suggest using cuff-style upper arm blood pressure monitors over finger sensors become reading a re a lot more accurate with the former. Still, if computing is a part of your daily routine and hypertension keeps you less than healthy, the MDMouse appears quite the impressive accessory.

Alas, mum’s the word on pricing and an official release date. But you might want to check the official site for extra details.

Know Your Secret Enemy - - Depression at a Glance

Depression At A Glance

* A depressive disorder is a syndrome (group of symptoms) that reflects a sad, blue mood exceeding normal sadness or grief.

* Depressive disorders are characterized not only by negative thoughts, moods, and behaviors but also by specific changes in bodily functions (for example, eating, sleeping, and sexual activity).

* One in 10 people will have a depressive disorder in their lifetime, and in one of 10 cases, the depression is a fatal disease as a result of suicide.

* Some types of depression, especially bipolar depression, run in families.

* While there are many social, psychological, and environmental risk factors for developing depression, some are particularly prevalent in one gender or the other, or in particular age or ethnic groups.

* Depression is diagnosed only clinically in that there is no laboratory test or X-ray for depression. Therefore, it is crucial to see a health practitioner as soon as you notice symptoms of depression in yourself, your friends, or family.

* The first step in getting appropriate treatment is a complete physical and psychological evaluation to determine whether the person, in fact, has a depressive disorder.

* Depression is not a weakness but a serious illness with biological, psychological, and social aspects to its cause, symptoms, and treatment. A person cannot will it away. Untreated, it will worsen. Undertreated, it will return.

* There are many safe and effective medications, particularly the SSRIs, that can be of great help in depression.

* For full recovery from a mood disorder, regardless of whether there is a precipitating factor or it seems to come out of the blue, treatments with medications and/or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and psychotherapy are necessary.

* In the future, through depression research and education, we will continue to improve our treatments, decrease society's burden, and hopefully develop preventive measures.

Follow The Diet Plan That Don't Stop You Eating - - Holiday Season May Hurt Your Weight Loss Plans

Researchers discovered the ideal food consumption promoting weight maintenance involves eating lean meats, low-fat dairy, and beans. Also, consuming less foods with a high glycemic index (GI), usually simple carbohydrates, like white bread or refined starches. Following this diet plan allows individuals to eat until satisfied, without gaining additional weight.

The study found adults who lost a significant amount of their body weight (at least 8 percent) were able to maintain and continue weight loss based on desired goal when following this diet.

Research was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, NEJM.

Foods with a high glycemic index are digested quickly and essentially spikes blood sugar levels upon consumption. Foods with a lower GI are digested slowly, allowing blood glucose to enter the bloodstream more regularly.

For this study, 938 overweight adults from 772 families completed a weight loss program for eight weeks. Calorie intake was limited to 800 kcals/day and the average weight loss was 24 lbs.

After the eight week weight loss period, adults were randomly assigned a new maintenance diet for the following six months.

Data showed the worst diet for maintaining weight loss to be a low-protein and high glycemic index diet. The best diet for maintaining weight loss was high protein and low glycemic index.

This study shows increasing protein while reducing consumption of foods with a high glycemic index will typically result in successful weight loss and weight maintenance following significant weight loss.

Brooke Greenberg: The Girl Who Doesn’t Age - - Sixteen-year-old Girl Weighs Only 30 Pounds and Only 30 Inches Tall

Medical history—recent and otherwise—is filled with jaw-dropping oddities, miraculous recoveries, and unsolved mysteries. There is more to these cases than shock value, however. What headlines call “miracles” are a testament to human resilience, and so-called medical mysteries remind us just how much we have to learn about the body and mind.

Brooke Greenberg: The Girl Who Doesn’t Age

Brooke Greenberg is 30 inches tall and weighs 30 pounds. She looks like a toddler and has the mind of a toddler—but she is actually 16 years old.

Brooke Greenberg's hair and nails are the only parts of her body that have grown since she was 4. Growth hormone therapy has had no effect, and doctors are baffled by her condition. Researchers have been studying her DNA in search of a genetic mutation that might unlock the fountain of youth that keeps her young. Her family, meanwhile, has accepted that Brooke Greenberg will likely be a baby forever.

Unfelt Pain: Medical Mysteries and Miracle - - Eight-year-old Gabby Gingras Suffering From HSAN Type V

Life Full of Danger for Little Girl, Gabby Gingras, Who Can't Feel Pain

As much as it hurts, pain teaches us important lessons (not to touch a hot stove, for example). People with a rare genetic disorder known as hereditary sensory autonomic neuropathy (HSAN) type V feel no pain, however, and may never learn those lessons.

Eight-year-old Gabby Gingras constantly and unwittingly injures herself, sometimes seriously. She has knocked out all but one of her adult teeth (which grew in early after doctors suggested pulling her baby teeth), and as a baby she scratched herself blind in her left eye. She now wears safety glasses and sleeps in swim goggles to protect her right eye. There is no cure for HSAN type V, but as people age and learn how to manage their condition, they can lead relatively normal lives.

Physical Burnout Helps Prevent Cancer - - The Latest Research at Yale School of Public Health, USA

Another good news for those who practice physical activities – or an incentive for those who want to start.

One study noted that women who exercised for at least 150 minutes per week had reduced risk of developing endometrial cancer – most common malignant tumor in the female genitals.

The research, done at Yale School of Public Health, USA.

The lowest risk was observed for both normal-weight women as overweight or obese.

The researchers evaluated 668 women with endometrial cancer, comparing the results with those observed in other 665 without tumors. Those who remained active for 150 minutes or more per week had 34% lower risk of developing this type of cancer than those who remained without physical activity.

The association was most pronounced among active women and body mass index (BMI) below 25, which showed 73% lower risk than those who did not exercise and had a BMI greater than 25.

But the effects of physical activity were important even among overweight women. Those who had a BMI above 25, but committed more than 150 minutes of exercise per week had 52% lower risk of developing the disease.

Weight Loss in a Natural Way - - Five Easy Tips to Lose Belly Fat Faster and Easier

Five Easy Tips to Lose Belly Fat Faster and Easier:


Weight loss is not only about losing pounds but it is also about burning fat. Actually burning fat is sometimes more important than losing weight because fat is a major cause for many other health problems (diabetes, high cholesterol etc). When you manage to burn fat you will certainly look and feel much better since fat burning is not an easy process and the satisfaction you will gain is great. Below you can read the most important tips on how to lose belly fat in a fast and yet healthy manner.

1. Small meals Vs 3 main meals

Whenever you want to lose calories or fat fast it is recommended to eat 5-6 small meals throughout the day instead of the classic 3 main meals. This is because by eating small meals every couple of hours you force your body spend more energy to digest the food and thus losing calories. As a result your metabolism is also increased and the whole process becomes easier. In addition frequent meals stabilize the insulin levels which in turn enable faster muscle growth.

2. Regular exercise

When it comes to losing belly fat you should understand that exercise plays a prominent role. It is not exactly the same case as with weight loss. When you want to lose weight you can achieve good results through your diet alone but when it comes to losing belly fat a balanced diet can mainly help you stop the fat problem from becoming worse. The only solid way to actually start losing belly fat (and fat in general) is through exercise. Regular exercise sessions (30 minutes) at least 5 times per week can actually produce good results. If you want not to get bored easily find a form of exercise that you like and enjoy doing. There is no reason to perform difficult exercises that will eventually make you de-motivated. It is better to start slow and gradually than fast and quit.

3. Learn how to drink water

The importance of water in losing weight is very well known. What many people do not understand is how to utilize water to lose weight and fat. When we say drink at least 6-8 glasses of water per day we do not mean to drink this amount at once or in a very short amount of time. If you do that the only thing you will achieve is to make regular visits to the toilet. Instead you should try and spread this throughout the day. You can start with one glass of water in the morning, as soon as you wake up. Then one glass after 2-3 hours, one more glass with your launch and the rest 4 glasses before, during and after your dinner. By following this pattern you will keep your stomach busy all the time and hunger away. If you want you can even create reminders in your mobile to alert you when its time for your glass of water.

4. Soft drinks, juices, caffeine is not water

One more point to note about water is the following. Many people believe that by drinking fresh juices, soft drinks and coffee, they drink water. This is far from truth. Some of the drinks described above, like coffee, create the opposite effects than water. In particular caffeine products are diuretic and they help the excretion of water from the body. Too much consumption of these drinks can cause dehydration.

5. Sleep, rest and confidence

Trying to lose belly fat can sometimes make you tired, both mentally and physically. You have to overcome a lot of obstacles and deny a lot of temptations to get the results you want in the time frame you want. For this reason you need to work on 3 areas that may not be directly related to weight loss but they can indirectly help you to meet your goals. These have to do with rest, sleep and confidence. It is important that you rest enough hours per day, sleep at least 8 hours and never give up your optimism. There is no need to say more about this other that you have to consider these factors are part of your weight loss efforts.

Calories Calculating Mobile App developed by NTT Communications, Japan - - Evaluates the Color and Shape of Food and Compares Them to a Database

A new weapon in the fight against fat is under way: a mobile application that makes the calorie count based on picture of the food on their plate.

Although there are applications for this purpose, these programs require users to enter the type of food and caloric information. Since the software developed by NTT Communications, Japan, evaluates the color and shape of food and compares them to a database, calculating the calories.

Information about 100 thousand different foods are stored on a server operated by the company and can be accessed via smart phone. The application is even considering the portion sizes and adjusting the calorie count accordingly.

The company, which believes that the application can be the first of its kind in the world, has been testing the solution internally and will offer a free beta version from January. The criticisms have been favorable, but more is needed to refine the project, said the spokesman.

To expand a bit on the functions, the application will allow customers to exchange information on food and caloric content. Planned resources include suggestions for menus and exercises to reduce and burn calories.

Magnetic Weight Loss Toe Rings - - Based on the Ancient Chinese Art of Toe Watching

Attach these Magnetic Weight Loss Toe Rings to your big toes and watch amazed as the weight drops off. Apparently. Based on the ancient Chinese art of Toe Watching or something. $1.67 a pair.

  Lose weight without exercise 

# Based on ancient Chinese medicine, these rings stimulate the acupressure points on your big toe (and, for extra benefit, the second toe), thus curbing your appetite in a safe and natural way 

# Made from soft & non-allergenic silicone materials 

# Two powerful magnets on each ring provides a magnetic field of 1100 gauss to stimulate acupoints in your feet

Medical Mysteries - Dede Kosawa: The Tree Man Searching for The Cure

Medical history—recent and otherwise—is filled with jaw-dropping oddities, miraculous recoveries, and unsolved mysteries. There is more to these cases than shock value, however. What headlines call “miracles” are a testament to human resilience, and so-called medical mysteries remind us just how much we have to learn about the body and mind.

Two of such medical mysteries are share here; under the tag of "Medical" or "Mystery". Here I'm going to share naother such true; but amazing and unbelievable story with you.


Dede Kosawa: The Tree Man

The bizarre growths covering his body have made Indonesia's Dede Kosawa an international fascination, known to millions as the Treeman.

The arms, legs, and face of Indonesian Dede Kosawa are covered in bark-like warts, which have made him internationally famous and earned him the nickname Tree Man. Doctors believe the growths are caused by a type of human papillomavirus (HPV) that has been exacerbated by a genetic immune defect.

His hands looked like contorted, yellow-brown branches extending 3 feet. Unable to clamp his hands into a fist or pick up a fork, he made his living by performing in carnivals in rural Indonesia. He became known as the Treeman.

"His life was taken away from him," said Dr. Anthony Gaspari, an American dermatologist who traveled twice to Indonesia to treat Kosawa. "He was severely disfigured and was sent into a rural isolated village where he was sheltered from his peers. With good reason, he was a sad man. He wanted to be cured and he wanted hope."

The growths encrusting his arms accounted for nearly 12 pounds of his 100-pound body. Kosawa, 36, often became exhausted after taking a few steps because of the dense warts on his feet. The growths that carpeted his limbs were posing more problems.

In 2007, Kosawa had 12 pounds of warts removed at an Indonesian hospital, and in February he underwent his ninth round of surgery. He now has better use of his hands and feet but will continue to need surgery every few months, as there is no known cure for his condition.

Let's see him in action in the following clip:



I hope my readers like this post and your comments will prove this. Please don't forget to visit my blog by now and then for such mysterious and amazing medical stories.

Tatiana and Krista Hogan: The Twins From Vernon, British Columbia - - Twins Are a Miracle of Modern Medical Science

The world of medicine and healthcare is full of miracles, that sometimes even defy the simple rules of evolution and the same can be said in the case of Tatiana and Krista Hogan, the twins from Vernon, British Columbia, who are only joined from birth and share the same cerebral activities but also have different personalities, despite sharing the same brain. The twins are a miracle of modern medical science, as they not only dodged the odds of their survival at the time of their birth, but now they have celebrated their fourth birthday on October 25th, this year.

One of the most startling factors of this highly unique cerebral sharing process between the twins is the ability to share their thoughts, as both Tatiana and Krista share the same skull structure, along with a bridge between their sensory region of the brain, also known as Thalamus. This enables the twins to carry out one of the rarest functions in evolution, the process of human networking. Dr. Douglas Cochrane, a neurosurgeon at Vancouver’s Children’s Hospital, has been involved with the twin’s condition since they were in the womb and his team has been keeping a close eye on the developments. A scintillating fact that surfaced last year while the twins were undergoing a series of tests was that, their brain was recording signals from the each other’s visual references, thereby creating a rare and incredible networking bond between the twins.

Fashion Hazards - - Killer High Heel Shoes Injured 33% of Ladies Worldwide

The next time you wear those stilettos, better be careful-a new study has suggested that more than three million women have had to seek medical attention for injuries caused by their high heels.

Half either tore a tendon or twisted an ankle, while thousands of others smashed their teeth or broke wrists by falling flat.

But 60% of women said whatever agony a pair of heels caused, they would keep wearing them if they won compliments.

The poll of 3,000 women aged 18 to 65 also found a whopping 89% said uncomfortable shoes have ruined a night out.

More than a third have had to be helped or even carried home because of pain from shoes that are too tight.

And 61% have spent a whole evening sitting down.

But 80% have bought a trendy pair despite knowing they do not fit.

Only 2% of the women polled by Hotter Shoes never wear heels.

"Women tend to buy shoes that look good, and then worry about the pain later," the Sun quoted spokeswoman Lisa McCarten, as saying.

"It's incredible to imagine the pain and discomfort women endure for a pair of killer heels," she added.

Vegetarianism: A Path to Lead a Healthy Life

There are many routes to living a healthy and fit lifestyle. A vegetarian diet is one of those routes.

The most common type is called the Lacto-ovo vegetarian. This type does not eat beef, pork, poultry, fish, and shellfish or animal flesh of any kind. But they do eat eggs and dairy products.

With this type of diet, there is less fat and cholesterol because there is no meat. There is also a higher level of fiber from vegetarian foods such as apples, beans and spinach.

There are many misconceptions about vegetarians. Vegetarians do not only eat vegetables and fruit. They must include all of the parts of a normal balanced diet.

The key to maintaining healthy eating habits is to eat a variety of foods such as fruit, vegetables and a source of protein and iron.

Protein is not found in meat alone. Beans, tofu, milk, lentils, eggs, peanuts and hard cheeses are all good sources of protein.

According to The American Heart Association, reducing fat intake is recommended to lower the risk of chronic disease.

A easy way to stay away from taking in too much fat is to stay away from most fast food chains.

Other benefits of a balanced vegetarian diet include lower blood pressure, lower rates of diabetes and lower obesity rates.

Dementia in Adults Can Be Controlled by Daily Intake of Beetroot Juice - - New Study Revealed Important Facts About Dementia and Its Cure

Dementia is the syndrome in which affects the brain and hence cause serious loss of cognitive ability in aging person. It causes major dysfunction in memory, attention, language, and problem solving abilities, is now said get treated by the daily intake of beet juice, which in turn increase the blood flow in the brain in older adults.


A new study found in this prospect that beet juice can combat the progression of Dementia. As beet root contains high concentrations of nitrates which when comes in contact with the bacteria’s in mouth gets converted into nitrites and nitrites in turn open blood vessels in the body and increase the blood flow in the places in the body where it is required the most.

It has been shown previously also that nitrites found in high concentration in celery, cabbage, and other leafy, green vegetables like spinach, widely blood vessels but this study was first to say that nitrites increase blood flow in the brain as well. "There have been several very high-profile studies showing that drinking beet juice can lower blood pressure, but we wanted to show that drinking beet juice also increases perfusion, or blood flow, to the brain," said Daniel Kim-Shapiro, director of Wake Forest University's Translational Science Center; Fostering Independence in Aging.

The study on Beet root was done on 14 adults age 70 and older over a period of four days, where the researchers looked at the effects of the dietary intake of nitrates, where the subjects reported to the lab after 10 hours fast, for the first two days they consumed either a high and a low nitrate rich diet including 16 ounces of beet juice, where high nitrates is to be given more and recorded the blood flow by MRI and for the third and fourth days of the study, the researchers switched the diets and repeated the process for each subject.

It showed that by eating nitrate rich diet increase the blood flow to the white matter of the frontal lobes he areas of the brain commonly associated with degeneration that leads to dementia and other cognitive conditions.

The findings are published online in Nitric Oxide: Biology and Chemistry, journal of the Nitric Oxide Society and will be available in print soon.

Wound Dressing That Changes Colour to Indicate Wound Infected - Designed by Fraunhofer Research Institution for Modular Solid State Technologies EMFT

Identifying that a covered wound may becoming infected can be very tricky to diagnose without removal for examination. However scientists at the Fraunhofer Research Institution for Modular Solid State Technologies EMFT in Munich have been designing a new type of wound dressing that changes colour to indicate that a wound is becoming infected.

The dressings have a pH indicator dye within their material that reacts to different pH values. Healthy skin and healed wounds would usually show a pH of 5 or below. However is the wounds pH changes from the acid into the alkaline range, it indicates complications in the healing of the wound and the dressing with indicate this with a colour change.

“If the pH value is between 6.5 and 8.5 an infection is frequently present and the indicator color strip turns purple, “ says Dr. Sabine Trupp, a scientist at the EMFT.

The new dressings allow wounds to now be regularly checked from the outside of the dressing without any disruption to the healing process underneath.