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This is how you perform a trans-orbital lobotomy. You never know when this might come in handy so pay attention.
Step 1

The patient is made unconscious by administering electroshock to the head. Older patients should only take a single shock while younger patients may require numerous ones.

electroshock
Step 2

After the patient is unconscious you must hurry since they will come out of it within a few minutes. Place a towel over the patients nose and mouth. Then pull the eyelids open as far as you can. Take an ice pick and force it into the eye socket right above the eyeball. Keep pushing till it enters the frontal lobe. 7cm in should be far enough.

lobotomy
Step 3

Now wiggle the ice pick around until the frontal lobe is disconnected from the thalamus. Repeat process on the other eye. Your patient will end up with two very severe black eyes so you may want to supply them with some dark glasses for them to hide the discoloration.

DXM for beginners:

SWIM has been experimenting with dextromethorphan (DXM) lately, in order to lower his/her tolerance to opiates for his/her chipping habits. SWIM has found DXM to have a This is what I have to offer:

1) DXM is available in most cough/cold medicines, however only a select few are desirable mixtures for recreational use. Ideally, and most intelligently, one needs to find medicine containing only DXM. Look carefully at the Active ingredients list. THIS IS IMPERITAVE FOR ALL RECREATIONAL USE OF O-T-C AND PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. Many brands mix Aspirin (acetaminophen) with the DXM. Other drugs are commonly mixed in. Stay clear of them, because they can cause extremely adverse effects including uncontrollable vomiting and even death. This should not be a surprise to those who use prescription opiates. Look for a brand that states the only active ingredient is DXM, it shouldn’t be too hard to find. Also, one can look at the alcohol content, for kicks (SWIM has found anywhere from 5%-11%). The syrups are more likely to contain pure DXM than the pill form. Make note of this.

2) Dosage: A good starting recreational dose is anywhere from 200-400mg of DXM. You can look at the box for dosage details. (SWIM has found a good dose to be 30mg DXM for 15ml of syrup. Try to get as high a dose per ml as possible — the stuff taste’s very strong!) You can spread your intake over a period of time or you can just take it all at once. SWIM has found that on an empty stomach some syrups can burn/upset the stomach. It has helped him/her to eat a little directly after dosing.

3) Effects: Onset takes roughly 30 minutes to begin to feel the effects. After this, onset becomes more rapid. By an hour after dosing, it becomes difficult to concentrate and SWIM begins to feel a little dizzy and disoriented. The experience can be described as disconnected, and slightly euphoric — almost out-of-body, in a way. Unlike opiates, SWIM has experienced a body buzz, but a much more shallow or hallow feeling one. Euphoria is less warm, but still fairly intense. Music and other stimulus are exaggerated greatly. SWIM has not found it difficult to interact with people and situations in a high state, but slightly more so and differently than opiates.

4) Taste? Yeah, it’s not a lie that cough syrup tastes like garbage. However, it’s better than the taste of opiate tea, or so says SWIM. He/she has found that having a good tasting tracer drink for immediately afterward to be very beneficial.

This about wraps up what SWIM has to say. Any questions can be answered.

Avian influenza, sometimes Avian flu, and commonly bird flu refers to “influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds.

“Bird flu” is a phrase similar to “Swine flu”, “Dog flu”, “Horse flu”, or “Human flu” in that it refers to an illness caused by any of many different strains of influenza viruses that have adapted to a specific host. All known viruses that cause influenza in birds belong to the species: Influenza A virus. All subtypes (but not all strains of all subtypes) of Influenza A virus are adapted to birds, which is why for many purposes avian flu virus is the Influenza A virus (note that the “A” does not stand for “avian”).

Adaption is non-exclusive. Being adapted towards a particular species does not preclude adaptions, or partial adaptions, towards infecting different species. In this way strains of influenza viruses are adapted to multiple species, though may be preferential towards a particular host. For example, viruses responsible for influenza pandemics are adapted to both humans and birds. Recent influenza research into the genes of the Spanish Flu virus shows it to have genes adapted to both birds and humans; with more of its genes from birds than less deadly later pandemic strains.

Genetics
Genetic factors in distinguishing between “human flu viruses” and “avian flu viruses” include:

PB2: (RNA polymerase): Amino acid (or residue) position 627 in the PB2 protein encoded by the PB2 RNA gene. Until H5N1, all known avian influenza viruses had a Glu at position 627, while all human influenza viruses had a lysine.
HA: (hemagglutinin): Avian influenza HA bind alpha 2-3 sialic acid receptors while human influenza HA bind alpha 2-6 sialic acid receptors. Swine influenza viruses have the ability to bind both types of sialic acid receptors.

Influenza pandemic
For more details on this topic, see Influenza pandemic.
Pandemic flu viruses have some avian flu virus genes and usually some human flu virus genes. Both the H2N2 and H3N2 pandemic strains contained genes from avian influenza viruses. The new subtypes arose in pigs coinfected with avian and human viruses and were soon transferred to humans. Swine were considered the original “intermediate host” for influenza, because they supported reassortment of divergent subtypes. However, other hosts appear capable of similar coinfection (e.g., many poultry species), and direct transmission of avian viruses to humans is possible.[8] The Spanish flu virus strain may have been transmitted directly from birds to humans.[9]

In spite of their pandemic connection, avian influenza viruses are noninfectious for most species. When they are infectious they are usually asymptomatic, so the carrier does not have any disease from it. Thus while infected with an avian flu virus, the animal doesn’t have a “flu”. Typically, when illness (called “flu”) from an avian flu virus does occur, it is the result of an avian flu virus strain adapted to one species spreading to another species (usually from one bird species to another bird species). So far as is known, the most common result of this is an illness so minor as to be not worth noticing (and thus little studied). But with the domestication of chickens and turkeys, humans have created species subtypes (domesticated poultry) that can catch an avian flu virus adapted to waterfowl and have it rapidly mutate into a form that kills in days over 90% of an entire flock and spread to other flocks and kill 90% of them and can only be stopped by killing every domestic bird in the area. Until H5N1 infected humans in the 1990s, this was the only reason avian flu was considered important. Since then, avian flu viruses have been intensively studied; resulting in changes in what is believed about flu pandemics, changes in poultry farming, changes in flu vaccination research, and changes in flu pandemic planning.

H5N1 has evolved into a flu virus strain that infects more species than any previously known flu virus strain, is deadlier than any previously known flu virus strain, and continues to evolve becoming both more widespread and more deadly causing Robert Webster, a leading expert on avian flu, to publish an article titled “The world is teetering on the edge of a pandemic that could kill a large fraction of the human population” in American Scientist. He called for adequate resources to fight what he sees as a major world threat to possibly billions of lives.[10] Since the article was written, the world community has spent billions of dollars fighting this threat with limited success[citation needed].

H5N1
H5N1
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1
Genetic structure
Infection
Human mortality
Global spread
in 2006
Social impact
Pandemic

For more details on this topic, see H5N1 and Transmission and infection of H5N1.
The highly pathogenic Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 virus is an emerging avian influenza virus that has been causing global concern as a potential pandemic threat. It is often referred to simply as “bird flu” or “avian influenza” even though it is only one subtype of avian influenza causing virus.

H5N1 has killed millions of poultry in a growing number of countries throughout Asia, Europe and Africa. Health experts are concerned that the co-existence of human flu viruses and avian flu viruses (especially H5N1) will provide an opportunity for genetic material to be exchanged between species-specific viruses, possibly creating a new virulent influenza strain that is easily transmissible and lethal to humans.[11][12]

Since the first H5N1 outbreak occurred in 1997, there has been an increasing number of HPAI H5N1 bird-to-human transmissions leading to clinically severe and fatal human infections. However, because there is a significant species barrier that exists between birds and humans, the virus does not easily cross over to humans, though some cases of infection are being researched to discern whether human to human transmission is occurring.[8] More research is necessary to understand the pathogenesis and epidemiology of the H5N1 virus in humans. Exposure routes and other disease transmission characteristics such as genetic and immunological factors, that may increase the likelihood of infection, are not clearly understood. [13]

Although millions of birds have become infected with the virus since its discovery, 206 humans have died from the H5N1 in twelve countries according to WHO data as of November 2007. (View the most current WHO Data regarding Cumulative Number of Human Cases.)

The Avian Flu claimed at least 200 humans in romainia, Greece, turkey and Russia. Epidemioloigists are afraid that the next time such a virus mutates, it could pass from human to human. If this form of transmission occurs, another big pandemic could result. But there is good news. Everyone is aware of the situation, and disease-control centers around the world are makeing avian flu their top priority.

JAKARTA (Reuters) - A Indonesian woman from an area just west of the capital Jakarta has died of bird flu, taking the country’s confirmed human death toll from the virus to 95, a health ministry official said on Monday.

The 32-year-old woman from Tangerang died at her home last Thursday after her family had taken her out of a hospital where she had been receiving treatment a day before, said Suharda Ningrum of the health ministry’s bird flu centre.

Contact with sick fowl is the most common way of contracting bird flu, endemic in bird populations in most of Indonesia.

“She bought a live chicken and some eggs from a market and cooked them,” Ningrum said, adding there were also chickens living in her backyard.

Two tests at two different laboratories confirmed the H5N1 virus.

Although bird flu remains an animal disease, experts fear the virus could mutate into a form easily passed from human to human and kill millions.

On Christmas day, a 24-year-old woman from Jakarta also died from the virus after buying a live chicken from a market.

Last week, a teenager suffering from bird flu was admitted to a hospital in Jakarta.

An official at the hospital said that the teenager was stable, but was still on a respirator to help her breathe.

Indonesia, which has now had 118 cases of the disease in humans, has had the most number of deaths from bird flu of any country.

Excluding the latest case, there have been 349 cases and 216 deaths from the disease globally since 2003, according to World Health Organization data.

A lethal strain of bird flu has been spreading across the globe for more than four years, killing millions of birds and hundreds of humans.
However, fears of a new pandemic, which could claim millions of lives, have not been realised so far, even though the mortality rate of the disease among humans has risen above 60%.

Experts point out that cross-infection to humans is still relatively rare and usually occurs where people have been in close contact with infected birds.

But international bodies, such as the World Health Organization and the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, have been using their knowledge and experience of outbreaks to prepare for a possible pandemic.

The big fear remains the risk of the H5N1 bird-flu strain combining with a human strain to produce a mutation that is more dangerous and difficult to combat.

This map will generally be updated at six-monthly intervals

The skin rash of Kawasaki syndrome is usually erythematous. A 23-month-old Costa Rican boy was admitted with a clinical picture compatible with Kawasaki syndrome, except for his skin lesions. He had diffuse, confluent, multiple sterile whitish pustular lesions on his chest, abdomen, neck, genitals, and thighs

Kawasaki Disease

Kawasaki Disease is an illness that involves the skin, mouth, and lymph nodes, and typically affects children who are under the age of 5. The cause of Kawasaki Disease is unknown, but if the symptoms are recognized early, kids with the disease can fully recover within a few days. If it goes untreated, it can lead to serious complications that can involve the heart.

Kawasaki disease occurs in 19 out of every 100,000 kids in the United States. It is most common among children of Japanese and Korean descent, but the illness can affect all ethnic groups.

This illness can’t be prevented, but you can help your child by learning the telltale symptoms and signs, which typically include a fever that lasts for at least 5 days, red eyes, a body rash and severely-chapped lips and mouth. If your child shows these symptoms it’s a good idea to call the doctor.
Signs and Symptoms of Kawasaki Disease

The symptoms of Kawasaki Disease typically appear in phases.

The first phase, which can last for up to 2 weeks, usually involves a persistent fever that is higher than 104 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees Celsius), and lasts for at least 5 days. The other symptoms that typically develop include:

* severe redness in the eyes
* a rash on the child’s stomach, chest, and genitals
* red, dry, cracked lips
* swollen tongue with a white coating and big red bumps
* sore, irritated throat
* swollen palms of the hands and soles of the feet with a purple-red color
* swollen lymph nodes

During the second phase of the illness, which usually begins within two weeks of when the fever first begins, the skin on the child’s hands and feet may begin to peel in large pieces. The child may also experience joint pain, diarrhea, vomiting, or abdominal pain.
Complications of Kawasaki Disease

Doctors can manage the symptoms of Kawasaki disease if they catch it early. The symptoms typically disappear within just two days of when treatment begins. Usually, if Kawasaki disease is treated within 10 days of when the first symptoms begin, no heart problems develop.

But if the illness goes untreated (time period can vary, but likely for 10-14 days and sooner in young infants), it can lead to more serious complications that involve the child’s heart. Kawasaki disease can lead to vasculitis, which is an inflammation of the blood vessels. This can be particularly dangerous because it can affect the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart.

In addition to the coronary arteries, the heart muscle, lining, valves, or the outer membrane that surrounds the heart can become inflamed. Arrhythmias (changes in the normal pattern of the heartbeat) or abnormal functioning of some heart valves can also occur.
Diagnosing Kawasaki Disease

There is no one test to detect Kawasaki disease, so a doctor typically diagnoses it by evaluating the child’s symptoms and ruling out other conditions.

Typically, a child who is diagnosed with this illness will have a fever lasting 5 or more days and at least 4 of the following symptoms:

* redness in both eyes
* changes around the lips, tongue, or mouth
* changes in the fingers and toes, such as swelling, discoloration, or peeling
* a rash in the trunk or genital area
* a large swollen lymph node in the neck
* red, swollen palms of hands and soles of feet

If Kawasaki disease is suspected, a doctor may order tests to monitor the child’s heart function, which can include an echocardiogram, and other tests of heart function. A doctor may also take blood and urine samples to rule out other conditions, such as scarlet fever, measles, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and an allergic drug reaction.
Treating Kawasaki Disease

Treatment should begin as soon as possible, ideally within 10 days of when the fever first begins. Usually, a child is treated with intravenous doses of gamma globulin (purified antibodies), an ingredient of blood that helps the child’s body fight off infection. The child may also be given a high-dose of aspirin to reduce the risk of heart problems.

As a working mom who rarely has time to cook, figuring out what to have for dinner is hard enough without having to factor in the latest news about food and cancer.

When I feel tempted to eat foods that might be less than healthy, I think of this quote from Dr. Larry Norton, who heads the Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City: “God put more good things in an apple than I know about.”

Doesn’t get much simpler than that. Plus, there is lots of good science about foods that can cut your cancer risk and ones that can raise it. Here are a few:

What to Eat
Fish: Fatty fish like salmon, sardines, and herring are high in omega-3 fatty acids, a healthy fat that’s believed to have anticancer properties. Aim for two to three servings a week.

Cruciferous vegetables: Broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage are powerful cancer fighters and appear to contain chemicals that turn on your body’s natural detox enzymes. Eat them raw or slightly steamed (cooking breaks down the protective chemicals). Shoot for five servings a week.

Berries: The more colorful, the better! These fruits are rich in antioxidants, which protect cells from damage, and strawberries and raspberries contain ellagaic acid, which has been shown to protect against breast cancer in lab studies. Sneak these in wherever you can…toss some in your smoothie or even have some with dessert.

Whole grains: Lowfat sources of fiber, such as quinoa, unbuttered popcorn and cereals like All-Bran and Fiber One, may regulate your levels of estrogen and insulin, two hormones that both have been linked to breast cancer. Aim for 25 grams per day.

What to Watch
Red meat: You don’t have to forgo the occasional burger (thank goodness!), but eating more than 1.5 servings of red meat per day can nearly double the chances of developing breast cancer. Limit your intake to three servings of lean cuts (such as filet mignon, flank steak or sirloin) a week or fewer.

Alcohol: As few as two drinks a day may increase breast cancer risk by 20 percent, possibly by raising estrogen levels. There’s nothing wrong with having some wine with dinner, but it’s safest to average no more than one drink a day. (Savor it! I mix soda water in my white wine to make one glass last through dinner.)

So, when I hear about studies like the one published last summer in The Journal of the American Medical Association that a high intake of fruits and vegetables has no impact on breast cancer, I think: But fruits and vegetables are great for you, especially all those antioxidants.

So what gives? Well, it turns out the study was on survivors, and the one thing you can glean from it is that gorging on produce probably isn’t a big factor in recurrence.

What you can’t take away from it is that it’s OK to skip the salad. Believe me, I’d just as soon pack in and drive to the local greasy spoon. But despite findings like this, the truth is that a healthy diet never hurt anyone.