5 Important Lessons From The Biggest E-Cigarette Study

Those colorfully lit e-cigarettes are giving off way more than just "harmless water vapor," according to a comprehensive new study review by UC San Francisco's Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education. Users could also be inhaling and exhaling low levels of chemicals such as formaldehyde, propylene glycol and acetaldehyde (to name a few), and this secondhand vapor could be a potentially toxic source of indoor air pollution.

While the levels of the toxins were still much lower compared to conventional cigarette emissions, the findings fly in the face of the e-cigarette industries' claims that the handheld devices are just as safe as any other smoking cessation tool.

E-cigarettes as we know them today were invented by a Chinese pharmacist, Hon Lik in the early 2000s as a smoking cessation aid. They are handheld nicotine vaporizers that deliver an aerosol made up of nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals to users. It's the chemicals in those vapors that are moving municipalities like Los Angeles, New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago and Boston to restrict "vaping" in some way.

Formaldehyde, for instance, is a carcinogen that also irritates the eyes, nose and throat. Propylene glycol can also cause eye and respiratory irritation, and prolonged exposure can affect the nervous system and the spleen. Acetaldehyde, also known as the "hangover chemical," is also a possible carcinogen.

The secondhand vapor finding is just one of several that UCSF researchers highlighted in the broadest review to date of peer-reviewed e-cigarette studies. The findings, which were published Monday in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation, include:

1. Some youth have their first taste of nicotine via e-cigarettes. Twenty percent of middle schoolers and 7.2 percent of high schooler e-cigarette users in the U.S. report never smoking cigarettes.

2. Nicotine absorption varies too much between brands. Early 2010 studies found that users got much lower levels of nicotine from e-cigarettes than from conventional cigarettes, but more recent studies show that experienced e-cigarette users can draw levels of nicotine from an e-cigarette that are similar to conventional cigarettes. Yet another study noted that the chosen e-cigarettes for the research malfunctioned for a third of participants. UCSF researchers say this indicates the need for stronger product standards and regulations.

3. Just because particulate matter from e-cigarettes isn't well studied, doesn't mean it's safe. To deliver nicotine, e-cigarettes create a spray of very fine particles that have yet to be studied in depth. "It is not clear whether the ultra-fine particles delivered by e-cigarettes have health effects and toxicity similar to the ambient fine particles generated by conventional cigarette smoke or secondhand smoke," wrote the researchers. But we do know that fine particulate matter from cigarettes and from air pollution are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disease. And some research has found that the size and spray of fine particulate matter from e-cigarettes is just as great or greater than conventional cigarettes.

4. So far, e-cigarette use is not associated with the successful quitting of conventional cigarettes. One clinical trial found that e-cigarettes was no more effective than the nicotine patch at helping people quit, and both cessation methods "produced very modest quit rates without counseling."

5. Major tobacco companies have acquired or produced their own e-cigarette products. They're promoting the products as "harm reduction" for smokers, which allows them to protect their cigarette market while promoting a new product. Companies also using "grassroots" tactics to form seemingly independent smokers' rights groups, just like they did for cigarettes in the 1980s.

Based on the weight of the combined research, UCSF researchers end with several policy recommendations, which include banning e-cigarettes wherever cigarettes are banned, subjecting e-cigarettes to the same advertising restrictions that constrict cigarette marketing and banning fruit, candy and alcohol flavors, which are attractive to younger customers.

Pastor Tunde Bakare's Vision

During his sermon this past Sunday May 11th, pastor Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Assembly, went hard on the American government and their offer to assist Nigeria to fight Boko Haram.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYREz_ksKlU
Watched the video and here's a summary of what he said. According to Bakare, CNN media crew coming to Abuja a few weeks ago to cover the Chibok girls story took him back to a vision God showed him during a conference he had in 2005 at Adebola House in Lagos. He said in the vision, he rode on God's back into former US President Bush's war room and saw the former president plotting on how to destabilize Nigeria. He said

he immediately started praying at the conference declaring that Nigeria is not Iraq and that Bush would be burnt in the bush while Condolezza Rice would end up in the cooking pot. He played the video of his preaching in 2005 where he shared the vision to the conference attendees.
About Isha Sesay of CNN, pastor Bakare said she's been very disrespectful to Nigerian Government officials who she has been interviewing since she came into the country, making a whole Minister of Information Labaran Maku look like a school boy and showing no regard for his office or even the government he represents. He said to some extent we would say yes she should give it to him because all of a sudden it appears we
He called out the First Lady for her recent media frenzy saying her actions made her expose her lack of education using the word sharing instead of shedding. He says one of the judgment upon a nation is that low quality people would rule over you. He said that is how low we have fallen.
He said we should chase away the foxes before we focus on the chickens. He titled his message War on Terror, War on Terrorist and War on their sponsor. He took a swipe at Pres. Jonathan for saying to the media that they knew more than him. He expressed his sadness at the President's remark during his media chat that we should not compare stealing with corruption. He said however Pres. Jonathan is still doing his best. He said Ekiti state coming 34th in the just concluded West African Examination Council (WAEC) is an indication that we have fallen, saying that the pride of Ekiti before now was an avalanche of Top academicians.
He said members of the National delegates clamoring for new states are missing the point and that creation of new states is not our problem.

On Boko Haram and the bombings that have been associated with them, he said he doubts that the men are able to assemble a bomb together. He said boko haram men are not the ones behind the sporadic bombings in Kano, that they don't have the sophistication. He said there is a
foreign orchestration of evil against Nigeria. He said the whole Chibok girls kidnapping is all conspiracy. He wondered how two hundred girls could be kidnapped, the school burnt down and no one could stop it. He wondered why the Sambisa forest cannot be invaded by the military right in our country.

According to him, this is the same Nigeria who sent military forces to Liberia. He wondered if this is not the same Nigeria when Chad citizens invaded Nigeria and killed 5 soldiers during Shagari days and Buhari rolled tanks and pursued the Chad people even into their territory and whole
world pleaded that we stop.
He said Americans are angry because Nigerian government had the guts to invade Liberia which is an American territory and they say they would teach us a lesson that we would never forget and said that is the terror that we are experiencing now. He wondered with the videos Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau is releasing, he cannot be traced with the mast or live feeds of the videos.
He said the West just wants to ridicule Nigeria before the world and in the end force us to do their bidding. He expressed anger in our government asking for international help saying where was the international community when we fought our civil war.
He prayed for all those sponsoring terror in Nigeria- that their economies would fall, that God would also start trouble in their lands, they would reap multiple terror and that their youngmen and women would rise up against them. He prayed that any Nigerian ruler - Obi, Oba, Emir or politician working in support of terror in Nigeria, that the wrath of God would fall upon them and their children wherever they are and that their families shall be terrorized.
He said we the citizens should not panic and that God has preserved us including the Chibok girls that were kidnapped
 

Boils facts

A boil, or skin abscess, is a collection of pus that forms in the skin.
Antibiotics alone can be inadequate in treating abscesses.
The primary treatments for boils include hot packs and draining ("lancing") the abscess but only when it is soft and ready to drain.
Boils themselves are not contagious, but the bacteria that cause boils are.
Most boils resolve on their own or with home remedies.
If you have a fever or long-term illness, such as cancer or diabetes, or are taking medications that suppress the immune system, you should contact your health care professional if you develop a boil (abscess).

There are a number of ways to reduce the likelihood of developing some forms of boils, but boils are not completely preventable.

What is a boil? What are the symptoms and signs of a boil?
A boil is a localized infection in the skin that begins as a reddened, tender area. Over time, the area becomes firm, hard, and more tender. Eventually, the center of the boil softens and becomes filled with infection-fighting white blood cells from the bloodstream to eradicate the infection. This collection of white blood cells, bacteria, and proteins is known as pus. Finally, the pus "forms a head," which can be surgically opened or spontaneously drain out through the surface of the skin. Pus enclosed within tissue is referred to as an abscess. A boil is also referred to as a skin abscess. Boils can occur anywhere on the body, including the trunk, extremities, buttocks, or other areas.

There are several different types of boils:
Furuncle or carbuncle: This is an abscess in the skin usually caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. A furuncle can have one or more openings onto the skin and may be associated with a fever or chills. The term furuncle is used to refer to a typical boil that occurs within a hair follicle. The term carbuncle is typically used to represent a larger abscess that involves a group of hair follicles and involves a larger area than a furuncle. A carbuncle can form a hardened lump that can be felt in the skin. The condition of having chronic, recurring boils is referred to as furunculosis or carbunculosis.

Cystic acne: This is a type of abscess that is formed when oil ducts become clogged and infected. Cystic acne affects deeper skin tissue than the more superficial inflammation from common acne. Cystic acne is most common on the face and typically occurs in the teenage years.
Hidradenitis suppurativa: This is a condition in which there are multiple abscesses that form under the armpits and often in the groin area. These areas are a result of local inflammation of the sweat glands. This form of skin infection is difficult to treat with antibiotics alone and typically requires a surgical procedure to remove the involved sweat glands in order to stop the skin inflammation.
Pilonidal cyst: This is a unique kind of abscess that occurs in the crease of the buttocks. Pilonidal cysts often begin as tiny areas of infection in the base of the area of skin from which hair grows (the hair follicle). With irritation from direct pressure, over time the inflamed area enlarges to become a firm, painful, and tender nodule that makes it difficult to sit without discomfort. These frequently form after long trips that involve prolonged sitting.

What causes boils to form?
There are many causes of boils. Some boils can be caused by an ingrown hair. Others can form as the result of a splinter or other foreign material that has become lodged in the skin. Others boils, such as those of acne, are caused by plugged sweat glands that become infected. Often the exact cause of a boil cannot be determined.

The skin is an essential part of our immune defense against materials and microbes that are foreign to our body. Any break in the skin, such as a cut or scrape, can develop into an abscess should it become infected with bacteria.

Who is most likely to develop a boil?
Anyone can develop a boil. However, people with certain illnesses or who take certain medications that impair the body's immune system (the natural defense system against foreign materials or microbes) are more likely to develop boils. Illnesses that are associated with impaired immune systems include diabetes and kidney failure. Diseases in which there is inadequate antibody production (such as hypogammaglobulinemia) can increase the tendency to develop boils.
 

Robot hand and arm gets official approval

A robot arm capable of picking up delicate objects has been approved for use by US medical authorities.

The Deka Arm has fingers that can move much like real ones making it easier for amputees to feed themselves, zip up clothes and unlock doors.

The arm has a much greater range of movement than existing devices many of which are based around metal hooks or designs more than 100 years old.

US Army veterans helped to test and refine the prosthetic limb.

The Arm was developed with $40m (£24m) of research cash provided by the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (Darpa). That money was part of a larger $100m Revolutionising Prosthetics research project run by Darpa that aimed to radically improve the range of robot limbs available to those who have lost upper limbs.

While prosthetics have improved in recent years, much of the development work has been done on legs rather than replacements for lost arms and hands. This is because of the formidable engineering challenges of reproducing the co-ordinated movement of human hands and fingers.

Currently, officially approved designs for replacement arms are often based around split metal hooks - a design first drawn up in 1912.

By contrast, the Deka Arm has been designed to resemble real limbs as much as possible.

"It was designed to produce near-natural upper extremity control to injured people who have suffered amputations," Darpa spokesman Justin Sanchez told Reuters.

The device uses electrodes which detect tiny muscle twitches wearers make as they learn to control the 10 different movements the prosthetic arm can carry out.

"This prosthetic limb system can pick up objects as delicate as a grape, as well being able to handle very rugged tools like a hand drill," said Mr Sanchez.

The US Federal Drug Administration, which oversees the prosthetic approval process, said the Deka Arm is designed for those who lost their arm at the shoulder, mid-upper arm or mid-lower arm.

The Deka Research firm behind the Arm was founded by renowned engineer Dean Kamen who invented the Segway scooter and many other devices.

Ryan Giggs to discuss Man Utd role with Louis van Gaal

Ryan Giggs will meet with Louis van Gaal in the Netherlands on Wednesday as Manchester United move towards finalising their new management team.
Dutch national coach Van Gaal, 62, is set to be appointed as United boss and will speak to Giggs about a potential coaching position.
Welshman Giggs, 40, ended the campaign as United's interim manager following the dismissal of David Moyes in April.

Giggs had said he was unsure whether he would carry on playing next season.
Van Gaal is currently overseeing the Netherlands' World Cup preparations at their training camp in Hoenderloo with Wednesday a designated rest day for the squad.
Giggs and United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward will go to the Netherlands for the talks, with the club keen to end their search for a replacement for Moyes.
A number of the staff who worked under both Moyes and Giggs during his four-match spell in charge, including Phil Neville, Chris Woods, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt, are likely to leave the club.
United, who are due to release their third-quarter financial results on Thursday, finished seventh in the Premier League and will not be playing in European competition next season.

The Lagos State Command

The Lagos State Command has arrested one Sgt. Otene Godwin with F/No. 355272 attached to Area ‘E’ Command for allegedly shooting one Oyema Edewor.

 

The incident occurred on May 10^th, 2014 about 2300hrs along Alakija area of Festac Town. Sgt. Otene abandoned his duty post as the Station Guard at Area ‘E’ Command and left for Alakija area where the unfortunate incident occurred.

 

The sergeant is already in police custody and circumstances surrounding the shooting incident is being investigated.

 

The Nigeria Police is a disciplined organization and will never tolerate any act of indiscipline from its members.

 

The Commissioner of Police Lagos State CP Umar A. Manko mni wishes to use this medium to appeal to members of the public to remain calm and maintain peace as justice will definitely be done. He also assures the deceased family that investigation will be concluded in good time. 

Chibok Girls Forcefully Converted Islam

Boko Haram video emerged Monday purportedly showing some of the kidnapped Nigerian girls in headdresses and the terror group's leader declaring they have converted to Islam.

The 27-minute footage shows girls wearing Hijab headdresses and reciting the Quran as they make Islamic declarations of faith.

It was shot in a nondescript area of a bush.

Last month, a convoy of Islamist militants drove into a school in northeastern Nigeria, abducted nearly 300 girls and fled into the night. At least 276 girls remain missing since the terror group seized them on April 14.