At last we have a cure for cavities that may no longer require the use of a drill; fear dentists no more!
French scientists have engineered a gel that causes bone to regenerate itself. Bone and teeth are similar... so naturally medical experts conclude that this new medical miracle could also be used to repair teeth.
To test this theory, scientists applied a thin layer of the gel to cavity filled teeth of mice. They were astonished to find that the cavities completely dissappeared after thirty days. And this is only the beginning.
No drilling also means there will be significantly less chance of damage to roots and veins. Root and vein damage cause teeth to become brittle and fracture... a painful and expensive condition. With the need for drilling eliminated, root canals would become a thing of the past.
And instead of requiring a synthetic crown, you could just grow your own.
The secret ingredient is MSH. MSH or melanocyte-stimulating hormone, is a peptide hormone that works by generating new cells from inside the tooth.
It is important to note that daily brushing, flossing, and swishing of mouthwash is still considered by dentists to be the best preventive treatment. The miracle gel is not a preventive measure and is used only after a cavity has already developed.
Experts disagree as to exactly how many treatments the gel could be used in. Before it can be used on humans, however, much more testing is needing. Testing is estimated to last several years.
Pessimists speculate that the gel could never be adopted by dental professionals for fear that it may make jobs obsolete....while their counterparts say that there is nothing to fear and that the breakthrough should be embraced. As a patient who has had my fair share of cavities...I am hoping for the latter. Only time will tell.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Celebrity Last Words
Below are last words supposedly said by celebreties before they died. I realize this is slightly morbid, but I also find it interesting. Some quotes are almost prophetic, while other's may make you smile. I write this with all due respect. This information taken directly from MSN online:
1. George Washington - "It is well. I die hard, but I am not afraid to go." (Some experts disagree.)
2. Abraham Lincoln - "They won't think anything about it." (After Mary asked him what the patrons of Ford's Theater might think of two old people holding hands.)
3. John F. Kennedy - "If someone is going to kill me, they will kill me." (Upon arriving in Dallas, Tx.)
4. Joan Crawford - "Damn it, don't you dare ask God to help me."
5. Elvis Presley - "Okay, I won't." (After someone told him "not to fall asleep" while on his way to the restroom.)
6. James Dean - "That guy's got to stop... he'll see us."
7. Marilyn Monroe - "Say goodbye to Pat. Say goodbye to Jack. And say goodbye to yourself, because you're a nice guy." (Said to movie star Peter Lawford, husband of Pat Kennedy.)
8. Frank Sinatra - "I'm losing it."
9. Edgar Allen Poe - "Lord, help my poor soul."
10. Pablo Picasso - "Drink to me. Drink to my health. You know I can't drink anymore."
11. John Lennon - "Yes, I am." (Said while riding in the back of a police car on the way to the hospital when asked if he was John Lennon.)
12. Bobby Kennedy - "Is everyone else alright?"
13. Martin Luther Kin Jr. - "Make sure you play 'Take My Hand Precious Lord.' Play it real pretty." (Said to Ben Branch who was to play at an event that night.)
14. Mother Teresa - "Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you."
15. Pope Joh Paul II - "Amen"
16. Babe Ruth - "I'm going over the valley."
17. Joe DiMaggio - "I finally get to see Marilyn."
18. Al Capone - "You can get more from a kind word and a gun, than with a kind word alone."
19. Winston Churchill - "I'm bored with it all."
20. Diana, Princess of Wales - "My God. What's happened?"
21. Alex, the African grey parrot - "You be good. See you tomorrow. I love you."
1. George Washington - "It is well. I die hard, but I am not afraid to go." (Some experts disagree.)
2. Abraham Lincoln - "They won't think anything about it." (After Mary asked him what the patrons of Ford's Theater might think of two old people holding hands.)
3. John F. Kennedy - "If someone is going to kill me, they will kill me." (Upon arriving in Dallas, Tx.)
4. Joan Crawford - "Damn it, don't you dare ask God to help me."
5. Elvis Presley - "Okay, I won't." (After someone told him "not to fall asleep" while on his way to the restroom.)
6. James Dean - "That guy's got to stop... he'll see us."
7. Marilyn Monroe - "Say goodbye to Pat. Say goodbye to Jack. And say goodbye to yourself, because you're a nice guy." (Said to movie star Peter Lawford, husband of Pat Kennedy.)
8. Frank Sinatra - "I'm losing it."
9. Edgar Allen Poe - "Lord, help my poor soul."
10. Pablo Picasso - "Drink to me. Drink to my health. You know I can't drink anymore."
11. John Lennon - "Yes, I am." (Said while riding in the back of a police car on the way to the hospital when asked if he was John Lennon.)
12. Bobby Kennedy - "Is everyone else alright?"
13. Martin Luther Kin Jr. - "Make sure you play 'Take My Hand Precious Lord.' Play it real pretty." (Said to Ben Branch who was to play at an event that night.)
14. Mother Teresa - "Jesus, I love you. Jesus, I love you."
15. Pope Joh Paul II - "Amen"
16. Babe Ruth - "I'm going over the valley."
17. Joe DiMaggio - "I finally get to see Marilyn."
18. Al Capone - "You can get more from a kind word and a gun, than with a kind word alone."
19. Winston Churchill - "I'm bored with it all."
20. Diana, Princess of Wales - "My God. What's happened?"
21. Alex, the African grey parrot - "You be good. See you tomorrow. I love you."
Monday, June 7, 2010
WE WON SECOND!
"This is a very promising young buck!" - ARBA judges.
My little mini-lop rabbit Jeffrey won second place at the ARBA rabbit show in State College, Pa. yesterday. He performed like a champion and behaved extremely well while the judge was looking him over. I am so proud of him!
He went up against three other solid Jr. bucks that were significantly older and more developed than he was and he still placed well.
At the second show of the day he placed fourth only because the judge was looking for characteristics that he was still too young to have developed. The official term used was he "lacked maturity."
Both judges were very enthusiastic about seeing him in future shows and agreed that he has a very promising career ahead of him.
I WUV my wittle Jeffwey!
My little mini-lop rabbit Jeffrey won second place at the ARBA rabbit show in State College, Pa. yesterday. He performed like a champion and behaved extremely well while the judge was looking him over. I am so proud of him!
He went up against three other solid Jr. bucks that were significantly older and more developed than he was and he still placed well.
At the second show of the day he placed fourth only because the judge was looking for characteristics that he was still too young to have developed. The official term used was he "lacked maturity."
Both judges were very enthusiastic about seeing him in future shows and agreed that he has a very promising career ahead of him.
I WUV my wittle Jeffwey!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Way to go Sister!
A would-be thief is no match for a little Sister!
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Apparently a man was seen by a teacher at Sacred Heart Elementary School taking a wallet out of a parked vehicle that did not belong to him. The principal of Sacred Heart, Sister Lynn Rettinger, hunted the man down, and with the same authoritative voice she has perfected on students over the last 50 years, ordered him to hand over whatever item he had that did not belong to him. He handed it over without hesitation.
It is not known why he handed the wallet over so easily. Perhaps it was his first offense and was scared, perhaps he was just shocked that someone would have the nerve to stand up to him, or perhaps he saw a higher power working through Sister Rettinger. In any case...it brightens my day to see good prevail.
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Apparently a man was seen by a teacher at Sacred Heart Elementary School taking a wallet out of a parked vehicle that did not belong to him. The principal of Sacred Heart, Sister Lynn Rettinger, hunted the man down, and with the same authoritative voice she has perfected on students over the last 50 years, ordered him to hand over whatever item he had that did not belong to him. He handed it over without hesitation.
It is not known why he handed the wallet over so easily. Perhaps it was his first offense and was scared, perhaps he was just shocked that someone would have the nerve to stand up to him, or perhaps he saw a higher power working through Sister Rettinger. In any case...it brightens my day to see good prevail.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Honoring Our Fallen Heroes
"Any nation that does not honor its heroes will not long endure." - Abraham Lincoln
Memorial Day is a national federal holiday falling on the last Monday in May. It's purpose is to honor the men and women who have died fighting in our, the U.S. A.'s, wars.
Sadly, it seems that Memorial Day has lost meaning to Americans who have not experienced what it is like to make sacrifices for our country...and that's a lot of people. For most, it's significance has been reduced to an appreciated day off work and flipping burgers on the grill. Because of this...everyone is to observe a national moment of silence at three o'clock pm. and the 3rd U.S. infantry places small flags at the cite of each headstone in Arlington Cemetery, making sure that none touch the ground the entire weekend.
Why wait? Honor the memories of our fallen heroes everyday by embracing a patriotic spirit and openly supporting our troops!
Notes: Originaly Memorial Day was called Decoration Day and pertained to only those soldiers died fighting for the Union in the Civil War. The South also celebrated a day for their heroic dead, but refused to share the same day with the North. It wasn't until after WWI that the two days became one.
Memorial Day is a national federal holiday falling on the last Monday in May. It's purpose is to honor the men and women who have died fighting in our, the U.S. A.'s, wars.
Sadly, it seems that Memorial Day has lost meaning to Americans who have not experienced what it is like to make sacrifices for our country...and that's a lot of people. For most, it's significance has been reduced to an appreciated day off work and flipping burgers on the grill. Because of this...everyone is to observe a national moment of silence at three o'clock pm. and the 3rd U.S. infantry places small flags at the cite of each headstone in Arlington Cemetery, making sure that none touch the ground the entire weekend.
Why wait? Honor the memories of our fallen heroes everyday by embracing a patriotic spirit and openly supporting our troops!
Notes: Originaly Memorial Day was called Decoration Day and pertained to only those soldiers died fighting for the Union in the Civil War. The South also celebrated a day for their heroic dead, but refused to share the same day with the North. It wasn't until after WWI that the two days became one.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Sunday's "Bite!"
Sunday's "bite!"
No, I am not referring to the Sunday morning, sometimes boring, ritual of going to church. What I am referring to, however, is the scientific fact that most shark attacks occur on a particular day of the week... which happens to be Sunday.
Why, you ask? Well, just think about it...
Most people plan their recreation around the work week (Mon. thru Fr.); this leaves only the weekends, Sat. and Sun., as the most ideal time to go on outing's (like going to the beach). Surfers flock to the coastline donned in their black wet suit and paddle a ways off-shore to catch a good wave. From below, a surfer's silhouette greatly resembles that of a large seal... a primary food source for sharks.
Attacks on humans by these apex predators are a simple case of mistaken identity. Unfortunately for us, a shark's hunting strategy often leaves devastation. (Recall the name of this entry.)
Ultimately, it seems that we humans are setting the schedule and the sharks are just following the leader.
FACTS:
1. When hunting sharks submerge to a depth of 6ft and then stun their victims by ramming them at high speed from below. This stuns the victim, leaves them disoriented, and gives enough time for the shark to take a bite.
2. Not only do most attacks occur on Sunday's, but they seem to also happen during times of a full moon.
3. Fla.'s Colusia County is noted as being the "Shark Attack capital of the World."
4. The day of the week with the second most number of attacks is Saturday... with Fri. coming in third.
No, I am not referring to the Sunday morning, sometimes boring, ritual of going to church. What I am referring to, however, is the scientific fact that most shark attacks occur on a particular day of the week... which happens to be Sunday.
Why, you ask? Well, just think about it...
Most people plan their recreation around the work week (Mon. thru Fr.); this leaves only the weekends, Sat. and Sun., as the most ideal time to go on outing's (like going to the beach). Surfers flock to the coastline donned in their black wet suit and paddle a ways off-shore to catch a good wave. From below, a surfer's silhouette greatly resembles that of a large seal... a primary food source for sharks.
Attacks on humans by these apex predators are a simple case of mistaken identity. Unfortunately for us, a shark's hunting strategy often leaves devastation. (Recall the name of this entry.)
Ultimately, it seems that we humans are setting the schedule and the sharks are just following the leader.
FACTS:
1. When hunting sharks submerge to a depth of 6ft and then stun their victims by ramming them at high speed from below. This stuns the victim, leaves them disoriented, and gives enough time for the shark to take a bite.
2. Not only do most attacks occur on Sunday's, but they seem to also happen during times of a full moon.
3. Fla.'s Colusia County is noted as being the "Shark Attack capital of the World."
4. The day of the week with the second most number of attacks is Saturday... with Fri. coming in third.
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
History making flood swamps Nashville.
NASHVILLE, TN. - Incredible storms hit Kentucky, Mississippi, and Tennessee over the weekend delivering no less than 13.52 inches of rain to Nashville, TN. alone. Flash flooding from the nearby Cumberland river overtook several local landmarks including the Grand Ole Opry House, the Country Music Hall of Fame, the Nashville NHL and NFL stadiums, and the Schermer Symphony Center. The river swelled to 40ft. above flood level.
Some unfortunate vacationers, who had been stranded at the Opryland Resort and Convention Center, were rescued by canoe (among other available means) and delivered to a safe location. The resort had evacuated around 1,500 people...some not even having enough time to pay for their meals. The resort was reportedly under 10 feet of water at one point.
Two historic locations, Ryman Auditorium (the original home of the Grand Ole' Opry) and Music Row, were spared from the disaster.
The National Weather Service explained that a slow moving weather system had developed from a combination of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and highly unstable air over Tennessee. The result was an unprecedented deluge of rain and severe weather.
Tennessee's Gov. Phil Bredesen declared 52 of the 95 counties a disaster area after seeing the destruction first hand via airplane. He is quoted as saying, "I have never seen flooding like this." It is officially the most devastating flood in the history of the region. The previous record had been set by Hurricane Fredrick in 1979.
The death toll is currently at 28 victims in three states and that number is expected to rise.
Rumors persist that 2010 is going to be an extremely bad year for severe weather including tornadoes. So far, it looks to be true.
Some unfortunate vacationers, who had been stranded at the Opryland Resort and Convention Center, were rescued by canoe (among other available means) and delivered to a safe location. The resort had evacuated around 1,500 people...some not even having enough time to pay for their meals. The resort was reportedly under 10 feet of water at one point.
Two historic locations, Ryman Auditorium (the original home of the Grand Ole' Opry) and Music Row, were spared from the disaster.
The National Weather Service explained that a slow moving weather system had developed from a combination of moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and highly unstable air over Tennessee. The result was an unprecedented deluge of rain and severe weather.
Tennessee's Gov. Phil Bredesen declared 52 of the 95 counties a disaster area after seeing the destruction first hand via airplane. He is quoted as saying, "I have never seen flooding like this." It is officially the most devastating flood in the history of the region. The previous record had been set by Hurricane Fredrick in 1979.
The death toll is currently at 28 victims in three states and that number is expected to rise.
Rumors persist that 2010 is going to be an extremely bad year for severe weather including tornadoes. So far, it looks to be true.
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