Anyone who eats a low fat diet isn't likely to get a lot of nutrient (vitamin E) which is found in nuts, margarine and vegetable oil. Major depression is associated with defective antioxidant defences and vitamin E is the major fat soluble antioxidant available in the body.
Many health related professionals suggest that this vitamin may have something to do with this disease.
"People with major clinical depression appear to have lower levels of alphatocopherol, a form of vitamin E, circulating in their blood streams," say researchers. But it is not known whether the low levels are due to inadequate dietary intake or are result of depression itself.
An Australian team from the University of Wollongong measured plasma alphatocopherol levels in 49 adults with major depression and looked at the dietary intake of vitamin E of patients in their diet history. The idea was to find out whether these subjects had a lower dietary intake of the vitamin or if their vitamin E levels had fallen due to depression.
The result of the study showed that 89 percent of the subjects interviewed, revealed that they had exceeded the recommended intake of vitamin E. So they came to the conclusion that the lower vitamin level in the blood could be a maker of increased physiological stress possibly increased oxidative stress during depression.
Previous studies have shown that antioxidant vitamins may protect the brain against damage caused by fee radicals and other reactive species produced during basic cellular metabolism. But researchers think that at this stage, it is too early to recommend vitamin E supplements as a therapy for depression.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Monday, November 19, 2007
Chillies Help You Sleep Better
Having trouble falling asleep at night? A new Australian study has found adding chilli to your diet will make you drift off to sleep quicker and leap out of bed with more energy.
University of Tasmania physiologist Andrew Davies put 25 volunteers on a controlled diet for four weeks. They then repeated the eating plan for another four weeks, this time adding 30 grams of chopped uncooked chilli to their daily diet. Participants reported they fell asleep easier with the spicy addition. Sleep time was shorter on a chilli diet and volunteers made fewer movements during sleep suggesting they may have slept more deeply. Result won't happen with a single spicy meal, Dr Davies warns. Stick with the chilli for a little longer.
University of Tasmania physiologist Andrew Davies put 25 volunteers on a controlled diet for four weeks. They then repeated the eating plan for another four weeks, this time adding 30 grams of chopped uncooked chilli to their daily diet. Participants reported they fell asleep easier with the spicy addition. Sleep time was shorter on a chilli diet and volunteers made fewer movements during sleep suggesting they may have slept more deeply. Result won't happen with a single spicy meal, Dr Davies warns. Stick with the chilli for a little longer.
Rear Wear
Find the perfect pair of jeans for your shape
Bootylicious behind If you are big and beautiful, create the illusion of a shapely butt with cargo pockets on the hips or thighs, rear and legs. High heels also perk up your derriere.
Minimize curves Opt for dark denim in a boot-cut style with a slight flare to balance your curves.
Flatter your full butt Minimise your butt with small back pocket that sit higher up towards the waistband.
Tall and thin Celebrate your lean look with tight straight-leg jeans.
Elongate your legs Wear straight-leg jeans with pointed-toe heels to extend the visual line.
Bootylicious behind If you are big and beautiful, create the illusion of a shapely butt with cargo pockets on the hips or thighs, rear and legs. High heels also perk up your derriere.
Minimize curves Opt for dark denim in a boot-cut style with a slight flare to balance your curves.
Flatter your full butt Minimise your butt with small back pocket that sit higher up towards the waistband.
Tall and thin Celebrate your lean look with tight straight-leg jeans.
Elongate your legs Wear straight-leg jeans with pointed-toe heels to extend the visual line.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Stupid Answers for Stupid Questions
10 most stupid questions people usually ask in obvious situations and some equally stupid answers.
1. At the movies: When you meet aquaintances/friends
Stupid Question:- Hey, what are you doing here?
Answer:-Well,it's so hot , there were no cool cabs so I thought I'd watch some advertisements in the cool comfort of the theatre.
2. In the bus: A fat girl wearing pointed high-heeled shoes steps on your feet
Stupid Question:- Sorry, did that hurt?
Answer:-No, not at all, I'm on local anesthesia..... why don't you try again or should i try this time.
3. At a funeral:One of the teary-eyed people ask
Stupid Question:- Why, why him, of all people.
Answer:-Why?Would it rather have been you?
4. At a restaurant:When you ask the waiter
Stupid Question:- Is the "blah blah blah" dish good
Answer:-No, its terrible and made of adulterated cement. We occasionally also spit in it.
5. At a family get-together.When some distant aunt meets you after years
Stupid Question:- Munna,Chickoo, you've become so big.
Answer:-Well you haven't particularly shrunk yourself.
6. When a friend announces her wedding, and you ask
Stupid Question:- Is the guy you're marrying good?
Answer:-No,he's a miserable wife-beating , insensitive lout... it's just the money.
7. When you get woken up at midnight by a phone call
Stupid Question:- Sorry. were you sleeping.
Answer:-No. I was playing cricket for India at Sharjah and just when you called Salim Malik was betting with me that Pakistan would win. What do you think?
8. When you see a friend/colleague with evidently shorter hair
Stupid Question:- Hey have you had a haircut?
Answer:-No, its autumn and I'm shedding......
9. At the dentist when he's sticking pointed objects in your mouth
Stupid Question:- Tell me if it hurts?
Answer:-And while I'm telling you , you tell me if I bite.
10. You are smoking a cigarette and a cute woman asks
Stupid Question:- Oh, so you smoke
Answer:-No, it's a miracle ...........it was a chalk=20 and now it's in flames!!!
1. At the movies: When you meet aquaintances/friends
Stupid Question:- Hey, what are you doing here?
Answer:-Well,it's so hot , there were no cool cabs so I thought I'd watch some advertisements in the cool comfort of the theatre.
2. In the bus: A fat girl wearing pointed high-heeled shoes steps on your feet
Stupid Question:- Sorry, did that hurt?
Answer:-No, not at all, I'm on local anesthesia..... why don't you try again or should i try this time.
3. At a funeral:One of the teary-eyed people ask
Stupid Question:- Why, why him, of all people.
Answer:-Why?Would it rather have been you?
4. At a restaurant:When you ask the waiter
Stupid Question:- Is the "blah blah blah" dish good
Answer:-No, its terrible and made of adulterated cement. We occasionally also spit in it.
5. At a family get-together.When some distant aunt meets you after years
Stupid Question:- Munna,Chickoo, you've become so big.
Answer:-Well you haven't particularly shrunk yourself.
6. When a friend announces her wedding, and you ask
Stupid Question:- Is the guy you're marrying good?
Answer:-No,he's a miserable wife-beating , insensitive lout... it's just the money.
7. When you get woken up at midnight by a phone call
Stupid Question:- Sorry. were you sleeping.
Answer:-No. I was playing cricket for India at Sharjah and just when you called Salim Malik was betting with me that Pakistan would win. What do you think?
8. When you see a friend/colleague with evidently shorter hair
Stupid Question:- Hey have you had a haircut?
Answer:-No, its autumn and I'm shedding......
9. At the dentist when he's sticking pointed objects in your mouth
Stupid Question:- Tell me if it hurts?
Answer:-And while I'm telling you , you tell me if I bite.
10. You are smoking a cigarette and a cute woman asks
Stupid Question:- Oh, so you smoke
Answer:-No, it's a miracle ...........it was a chalk=20 and now it's in flames!!!
Grabbing a soft drink.... Think again
For those of you who love areated drinks...Just when you thought you knew everything....
To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl. Let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.
To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminium foil dipped in Coca-Cola.
To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.
To loosen a rusted bolt : Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.
To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan; wrap the ham in aluminium foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the rippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.
To remove grease from clothes : Empty a can of Coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains.
It will also clean road haze from your windshield. AND WE DRINK THIS STUFF!Coke & Pepsi For your info :The average pH of soft drinks, e.g. Coke, Pepsi is pH 3.4. This acidity is strong enough to dissolve teeth and bones! Our human body stops building bones at around the age of 30. After that it'll be dissolving about 8-18% of the bones each year through the urine depending on the acidity of the food intake (acidity does not depend on the taste of the food, but on the ratio of potassium / calcium / magnesium / etc. to phosphorus).
All the dissolved calcium compounds accumulate in the arteries, veins, skin tissue, organs. This affects the functioning of the kidney (kidney stones).
Soft drinks do not have any nutritional value (in terms of vitamins and minerals). They have higher sugar content, higher acidity, and more additives such as preservatives and colourings.
Some people like to take cold soft drinks after each meal, guess what's the impact? Our body has an optimum temperature of 37 degrees for the functioning of digestive enzymes. The temperature of cold soft drinks is much less than 37, sometimes quite close to0. This will lower the effectiveness of the enzymes and put stress on the digestive system, digesting less food. In fact the food gets fermented. The fermented food produces bad smelling gases, decays and forms toxins which are absorbed in the intestines, get circulated in the blood and is delivered to the whole body. This spread of toxins can lead to the development of various diseases.
Think before you drink Coke or Pepsi or any another soft drink. Have you ever thought what you drink when you drink an aerated drink? You gulp down carbon dioxide, something that nobody in the world would advise you to do.
There was a competition in Delhi University "Who can drink the most Coke?". The winner drank 8 bottles and died on the spot because too much carbon dioxide in the blood and not enough oxygen. From then on, the principal banned all soft drinks from the university canteen.
Someone put a broken tooth in a bottle of Pepsi and in 10 days it is dissolved! Teeth and bones are the only human organ that stay intact for years after death. Imagine what the drink must be doing to your soft intestines and stomach lining!
To clean a toilet: Pour a can of Coca-Cola into the toilet bowl. Let the "real thing" sit for one hour, then flush clean. The citric acid in Coke removes stains from vitreous china.
To remove rust spots from chrome car bumpers: Rub the bumper with a crumpled-up piece of Reynolds Wrap aluminium foil dipped in Coca-Cola.
To clean corrosion from car battery terminals: Pour a can of Coca-Cola over the terminals to bubble away the corrosion.
To loosen a rusted bolt : Applying a cloth soaked in Coca-Cola to the rusted bolt for several minutes.
To bake a moist ham: Empty a can of Coca-Cola into the baking pan; wrap the ham in aluminium foil, and bake. Thirty minutes before the ham is finished, remove the foil, allowing the rippings to mix with the Coke for a sumptuous brown gravy.
To remove grease from clothes : Empty a can of Coke into a load of greasy clothes, add detergent, and run through a regular cycle. The Coca-Cola will help loosen grease stains.
It will also clean road haze from your windshield. AND WE DRINK THIS STUFF!Coke & Pepsi For your info :The average pH of soft drinks, e.g. Coke, Pepsi is pH 3.4. This acidity is strong enough to dissolve teeth and bones! Our human body stops building bones at around the age of 30. After that it'll be dissolving about 8-18% of the bones each year through the urine depending on the acidity of the food intake (acidity does not depend on the taste of the food, but on the ratio of potassium / calcium / magnesium / etc. to phosphorus).
All the dissolved calcium compounds accumulate in the arteries, veins, skin tissue, organs. This affects the functioning of the kidney (kidney stones).
Soft drinks do not have any nutritional value (in terms of vitamins and minerals). They have higher sugar content, higher acidity, and more additives such as preservatives and colourings.
Some people like to take cold soft drinks after each meal, guess what's the impact? Our body has an optimum temperature of 37 degrees for the functioning of digestive enzymes. The temperature of cold soft drinks is much less than 37, sometimes quite close to0. This will lower the effectiveness of the enzymes and put stress on the digestive system, digesting less food. In fact the food gets fermented. The fermented food produces bad smelling gases, decays and forms toxins which are absorbed in the intestines, get circulated in the blood and is delivered to the whole body. This spread of toxins can lead to the development of various diseases.
Think before you drink Coke or Pepsi or any another soft drink. Have you ever thought what you drink when you drink an aerated drink? You gulp down carbon dioxide, something that nobody in the world would advise you to do.
There was a competition in Delhi University "Who can drink the most Coke?". The winner drank 8 bottles and died on the spot because too much carbon dioxide in the blood and not enough oxygen. From then on, the principal banned all soft drinks from the university canteen.
Someone put a broken tooth in a bottle of Pepsi and in 10 days it is dissolved! Teeth and bones are the only human organ that stay intact for years after death. Imagine what the drink must be doing to your soft intestines and stomach lining!
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Life Tree
What tree did you fall from?Find your birthday, find your tree and then scroll down... This is really cool and somewhat accurate, also in line with Celtic astrology.
Dec 23 to Dec 31 - Apple Tree
Jan 01 to Jan 11 - Fir Tree
Jan 12 to Jan 24 - Elm Tree
Jan 25 to Feb 03 - Cypress Tree
Feb 04 to Feb 08 - Poplar Tree
Feb 09 to Feb 18 - Cedar Tree
Feb 19 to Feb 28 - Pine Tree
Mar 01 to Mar 10 - Weeping Willow Tree
Mar 11 to Mar 20 - Lime Tree
Mar 21 - Oak Tree
Mar 22 to Mar 31 - Hazelnut Tree
Apr 01 to Apr 10 - Rowan Tree
Apr 11 to Apr 20 - Maple Tree
Apr 21 to Apr 30 - Walnut Tree
May 01 to May 14 - Poplar Tree
May 15 to May 24 - Chestnut Tree
May 25 to Jun 03 - Ash Tree
Jun 04 to Jun 13 - Hornbeam Tree
Jun 14 to Jun 23 - Fig Tree
Jun 24 - Birch Tree
Jun 25 to Jul 04 - Apple Tree
Jul 05 to Jul 14 - Fir Tree
Jul 15 to Jul 25 - Elm Tree
Jul 26 to Aug 04 - Cypress Tree
Aug 05 to Aug 13 - Poplar Tree
Aug 14 to Aug 23 - Cedar Tree
Aug 24 to Sep 02 - Pine Tree
Sep 03 to Sep 12 - Weeping Willow Tree
Sep 13 to Sep 22 - Lime Tree
Sep 23 - Olive Tree
Sep 24 to Oct 03 - Hazelnut Tree
Oct 04 to Oct 13 - Rowan Tree
Oct 14 to Oct 23 - Maple Tree
Oct 24 to Nov 11 - Walnut Tree
Nov 12 to Nov 21 - Chestnut Tree
Nov 22 to Dec 01 - Ash Tree
Dec 02 to Dec 11 - Hornbeam Tree
Dec 12 to Dec 21 - Fig Tree
Dec 22 - Beech Tree
APPLE TREE (the Love) -of slight build, lots of charm, appeal, and action,pleasant aura, flirtatious, adventurous, sensitive, always in love, wants to love andbeloved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, scientific talents,lives for today, a carefree philosopher with imagination.
ASH TREE (the Ambition) - uncommonly attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with fate, can be egotistic, very reliable and trustworthy, faithful and prudent lover, sometimes brains rule over the heart, but takes Partnership very seriously
BEECH TREE (the Creative) -has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialistic, goodorganisation of life and career, economical, good leader, takes nounnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime companion, keen on eeping fit (diets, sports, etc.)
BIRCH TREE (the inspiration) –
vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly,unpretentious, modest, does notlike anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.
CEDAR TREE (the Confidence) -of rare beauty, knows how to adapt, likes luxury,of good health, not inthe least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, determined,impatient, likes to impress others, many talents, industrious, healthyoptimism, waiting for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.
CHESTNUT TREE (the Honesty) -of unusual beauty, does not want to impress,well-developed sense ofjustice, vivacious, interested, a born diplomat,but irritates easily and sensitive in company, often due to a lack of self confidence,acts sometimes superior, feels not understood, loves only once, hasdifficulties in finding a partner.
CYPRESS TREE (the Faithfulness) -strong, muscular, adaptable, takes what life has to give, content, optimistic, craves money and acknowledgement, hates loneliness,passionatelover which cannot be satisfied, faithful, quick-tempered, unruly, pedantic, and careless.
ELM TREE (the Noble-mindedness) -pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, modest demands,tends not to forgivemistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous,goodsense of humour, practical.
FIG TREE (the Sensibility) -very strong, a bit self-willed, independent,does not allow contradictionor arguments, loves life, its family, children and animals, a bit of a social butterfly, good sense of humour, likes idleness and laziness,ofpractical talent and intelligence.
FIR TREE (the Mysterious) –
extraordinary taste, dignity, sophisticated, loves anything beautiful,moody, stubborn, tends to egoism but cares for those close to them, rathermodest, very ambitious, talented, industrious, uncontented lover, manyfriends, many foes,very reliable.
HAZELNUT TREE (the Extraordinary) –
charming, undemanding, very understanding, knows how to make animpression, active fighter for social cause, popular, moody, and capricious lover, honest, and tolerant partner, precise sense of judgement.
HORNBEAM TREE (the Good Taste) -of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is notegoistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable anddisciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgement in an emotionalpartner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings,mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.
LIME TREE (the Doubt) -accepts what life dishes out in a composed way,hates fighting, stress, andlabour, dislikes laziness and idleness, soft and relenting,makes sacrifices for friends, many talents but not tenacious enough to makethem blossom, often wailing and complaining, very jealous but loyal.
MAPLE TREE (Independence of Mind) -no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy andreserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident,hungers for new experiences,sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.OAK TREE (the Brave) - robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.
OLIVE TREE (the Wisdom) -loves sun, warmth and kind feelings, reasonable, balanced,avoidsaggression and violence, tolerant,cheerful, calm, well-developed sense ofjustice, sensitive, empathetic, free of jealousy, loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.
PINE TREE (the Particular) -loves agreeable company, very robust, knows how to make life comfortable, very active, natural, good companion, but seldom friendly, falls easily in love but its passion burns out quickly, gives up easily, everything disappointments until it finds its ideal, trustworthy, practical.
POPLAR TREE (the Uncertainty) -looks very decorative, not very self-confident, only courageous ifnecessary,needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy, oftenlonely, great animosity, artistic nature, good organiser, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously.
ROWAN TREE (the Sensitivity) –
full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egoism,likes to draw attention,loves life, motion, unrest, and even complications, is both dependent andindependent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company,does not forgive.
WALNUT TREE (the Passion) –
unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, often egotistic,aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions, spontaneous,unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon partner, not always liked but oftenadmired,ingenious strategist, very jealous and passionate, no compromise.
WEEPING WILLOW (the Melancholy)
beautiful but full of melancholy, attractive, very empathetic, lovesanything beautiful and tasteful, loves to travel, dreamer, nestless,capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to livewith,demanding, good intuition, suffers in love but finds sometimes an anchoring partner.
Dec 23 to Dec 31 - Apple Tree
Jan 01 to Jan 11 - Fir Tree
Jan 12 to Jan 24 - Elm Tree
Jan 25 to Feb 03 - Cypress Tree
Feb 04 to Feb 08 - Poplar Tree
Feb 09 to Feb 18 - Cedar Tree
Feb 19 to Feb 28 - Pine Tree
Mar 01 to Mar 10 - Weeping Willow Tree
Mar 11 to Mar 20 - Lime Tree
Mar 21 - Oak Tree
Mar 22 to Mar 31 - Hazelnut Tree
Apr 01 to Apr 10 - Rowan Tree
Apr 11 to Apr 20 - Maple Tree
Apr 21 to Apr 30 - Walnut Tree
May 01 to May 14 - Poplar Tree
May 15 to May 24 - Chestnut Tree
May 25 to Jun 03 - Ash Tree
Jun 04 to Jun 13 - Hornbeam Tree
Jun 14 to Jun 23 - Fig Tree
Jun 24 - Birch Tree
Jun 25 to Jul 04 - Apple Tree
Jul 05 to Jul 14 - Fir Tree
Jul 15 to Jul 25 - Elm Tree
Jul 26 to Aug 04 - Cypress Tree
Aug 05 to Aug 13 - Poplar Tree
Aug 14 to Aug 23 - Cedar Tree
Aug 24 to Sep 02 - Pine Tree
Sep 03 to Sep 12 - Weeping Willow Tree
Sep 13 to Sep 22 - Lime Tree
Sep 23 - Olive Tree
Sep 24 to Oct 03 - Hazelnut Tree
Oct 04 to Oct 13 - Rowan Tree
Oct 14 to Oct 23 - Maple Tree
Oct 24 to Nov 11 - Walnut Tree
Nov 12 to Nov 21 - Chestnut Tree
Nov 22 to Dec 01 - Ash Tree
Dec 02 to Dec 11 - Hornbeam Tree
Dec 12 to Dec 21 - Fig Tree
Dec 22 - Beech Tree
APPLE TREE (the Love) -of slight build, lots of charm, appeal, and action,pleasant aura, flirtatious, adventurous, sensitive, always in love, wants to love andbeloved, faithful and tender partner, very generous, scientific talents,lives for today, a carefree philosopher with imagination.
ASH TREE (the Ambition) - uncommonly attractive, vivacious, impulsive, demanding, does not care for criticism, ambitious, intelligent, talented, likes to play with fate, can be egotistic, very reliable and trustworthy, faithful and prudent lover, sometimes brains rule over the heart, but takes Partnership very seriously
BEECH TREE (the Creative) -has good taste, concerned about its looks, materialistic, goodorganisation of life and career, economical, good leader, takes nounnecessary risks, reasonable, splendid lifetime companion, keen on eeping fit (diets, sports, etc.)
BIRCH TREE (the inspiration) –
vivacious, attractive, elegant, friendly,unpretentious, modest, does notlike anything in excess, abhors the vulgar, loves life in nature and in calm, not very passionate, full of imagination, little ambition, creates a calm and content atmosphere.
CEDAR TREE (the Confidence) -of rare beauty, knows how to adapt, likes luxury,of good health, not inthe least shy, tends to look down on others, self-confident, determined,impatient, likes to impress others, many talents, industrious, healthyoptimism, waiting for the one true love, able to make quick decisions.
CHESTNUT TREE (the Honesty) -of unusual beauty, does not want to impress,well-developed sense ofjustice, vivacious, interested, a born diplomat,but irritates easily and sensitive in company, often due to a lack of self confidence,acts sometimes superior, feels not understood, loves only once, hasdifficulties in finding a partner.
CYPRESS TREE (the Faithfulness) -strong, muscular, adaptable, takes what life has to give, content, optimistic, craves money and acknowledgement, hates loneliness,passionatelover which cannot be satisfied, faithful, quick-tempered, unruly, pedantic, and careless.
ELM TREE (the Noble-mindedness) -pleasant shape, tasteful clothes, modest demands,tends not to forgivemistakes, cheerful, likes to lead but not to obey, honest and faithful partner, likes making decisions for others, noble-minded, generous,goodsense of humour, practical.
FIG TREE (the Sensibility) -very strong, a bit self-willed, independent,does not allow contradictionor arguments, loves life, its family, children and animals, a bit of a social butterfly, good sense of humour, likes idleness and laziness,ofpractical talent and intelligence.
FIR TREE (the Mysterious) –
extraordinary taste, dignity, sophisticated, loves anything beautiful,moody, stubborn, tends to egoism but cares for those close to them, rathermodest, very ambitious, talented, industrious, uncontented lover, manyfriends, many foes,very reliable.
HAZELNUT TREE (the Extraordinary) –
charming, undemanding, very understanding, knows how to make animpression, active fighter for social cause, popular, moody, and capricious lover, honest, and tolerant partner, precise sense of judgement.
HORNBEAM TREE (the Good Taste) -of cool beauty, cares for its looks and condition, good taste, is notegoistic, makes life as comfortable as possible, leads a reasonable anddisciplined life, looks for kindness and acknowledgement in an emotionalpartner, dreams of unusual lovers, is seldom happy with its feelings,mistrusts most people, is never sure of its decisions, very conscientious.
LIME TREE (the Doubt) -accepts what life dishes out in a composed way,hates fighting, stress, andlabour, dislikes laziness and idleness, soft and relenting,makes sacrifices for friends, many talents but not tenacious enough to makethem blossom, often wailing and complaining, very jealous but loyal.
MAPLE TREE (Independence of Mind) -no ordinary person, full of imagination and originality, shy andreserved, ambitious, proud, self-confident,hungers for new experiences,sometimes nervous, has many complexities, good memory, learns easily, complicated love life, wants to impress.OAK TREE (the Brave) - robust nature, courageous, strong, unrelenting, independent, sensible, does not like change, keeps its feet on the ground, person of action.
OLIVE TREE (the Wisdom) -loves sun, warmth and kind feelings, reasonable, balanced,avoidsaggression and violence, tolerant,cheerful, calm, well-developed sense ofjustice, sensitive, empathetic, free of jealousy, loves to read and the company of sophisticated people.
PINE TREE (the Particular) -loves agreeable company, very robust, knows how to make life comfortable, very active, natural, good companion, but seldom friendly, falls easily in love but its passion burns out quickly, gives up easily, everything disappointments until it finds its ideal, trustworthy, practical.
POPLAR TREE (the Uncertainty) -looks very decorative, not very self-confident, only courageous ifnecessary,needs goodwill and pleasant surroundings, very choosy, oftenlonely, great animosity, artistic nature, good organiser, tends to lean toward philosophy, reliable in any situation, takes partnership seriously.
ROWAN TREE (the Sensitivity) –
full of charm, cheerful, gifted without egoism,likes to draw attention,loves life, motion, unrest, and even complications, is both dependent andindependent, good taste, artistic, passionate, emotional, good company,does not forgive.
WALNUT TREE (the Passion) –
unrelenting, strange and full of contrasts, often egotistic,aggressive, noble, broad horizon, unexpected reactions, spontaneous,unlimited ambition, no flexibility, difficult and uncommon partner, not always liked but oftenadmired,ingenious strategist, very jealous and passionate, no compromise.
WEEPING WILLOW (the Melancholy)
beautiful but full of melancholy, attractive, very empathetic, lovesanything beautiful and tasteful, loves to travel, dreamer, nestless,capricious, honest, can be influenced but is not easy to livewith,demanding, good intuition, suffers in love but finds sometimes an anchoring partner.
Monday, November 12, 2007
Joke of the Millenium
The European Union commissioners have announced
That agreement has been reached to use English as the preffered language for European communities,
Rather than German,which was the other possibility.As part of the negotiation,Her Majesty’s Government conceded that English spellings have some room for improvement and has accepted a five year phased plan for what will be known as EuroEnglish(Euro for short).
In the first year,’S’ will be used instead of soft ‘C’.Sertainly sivil servants will receive this news with joy.Also the hard ‘C’ will be replased with ‘K’.Not only will this klear up konfusion but typewriters kan have one letter less.
There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the second year,when the troublesome ‘ph’ will be replased by ‘f’.This will make words like ‘fotograf’ 20 persent shorter.In the third year publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expected to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.Governments will enkourage the removal of ,which have always ben a deterent to alurate speling.Also al wil agre that the horrible mes of silent ‘e’s in the language is disgrasful,and they would go.
By the fourth year,people wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing ‘th’ with ‘z’ and ‘w’ by ‘v’.
During ze fifz year,ze unesesary ‘o’ kan be dropd from vords containing ‘ou’,and similar changes vud of kors,be aplid to ozer kombinatios of leters.After zis fifz yer,ve vil hav a reli sensibl riten styl.Zer vil b no mor trubls or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech ozer.Ze drem vil finali kum tru.
That agreement has been reached to use English as the preffered language for European communities,
Rather than German,which was the other possibility.As part of the negotiation,Her Majesty’s Government conceded that English spellings have some room for improvement and has accepted a five year phased plan for what will be known as EuroEnglish(Euro for short).
In the first year,’S’ will be used instead of soft ‘C’.Sertainly sivil servants will receive this news with joy.Also the hard ‘C’ will be replased with ‘K’.Not only will this klear up konfusion but typewriters kan have one letter less.
There will be growing publik enthusiasm in the second year,when the troublesome ‘ph’ will be replased by ‘f’.This will make words like ‘fotograf’ 20 persent shorter.In the third year publik akseptanse of the new spelling kan be expected to reach the stage where more komplikated changes are possible.Governments will enkourage the removal of ,which have always ben a deterent to alurate speling.Also al wil agre that the horrible mes of silent ‘e’s in the language is disgrasful,and they would go.
By the fourth year,people wil be reseptiv to steps such as replasing ‘th’ with ‘z’ and ‘w’ by ‘v’.
During ze fifz year,ze unesesary ‘o’ kan be dropd from vords containing ‘ou’,and similar changes vud of kors,be aplid to ozer kombinatios of leters.After zis fifz yer,ve vil hav a reli sensibl riten styl.Zer vil b no mor trubls or difikultis and evrivun vil find it ezi tu understand ech ozer.Ze drem vil finali kum tru.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Kids and Calcium
Good ol' milk is at threat of being extinct today. It has given way to aerated drinks and fast foods that have poor nutrition value as compared to the rich attributes of nature's best bet. This has singularly led to a sharp decline in levels of calcium that's pivotal to a child's diet.
Those who consume milk as a routine are known to acquire the recommended levels of Calcium as opposed to others who have replaced milk with unhealthy substitutes. Used by the body primarily for growth and development of bones, school-going children and adolescents feel the need for calcium the most.
Use of Calcium : The rate of bone growth is highest during when there is an overall development of teeth, bones and soft tissues. It's during this time calcium is needed the most. Among the more important ingredients in human body, an adult man of about 60kg has as much as one kg of calcium present mostly in bones. That apart, besides bones, in small quantities calcium plays a pivotal role in neuromuscular excitation, blood coagulation and membrane permeability.
Effect of Absence : For all bone growth, the presence of calcium in adequate is mandatory. Long-term poor dietary intake of calcium owing to warped lifestyles and eating patterns leads to brittle bones. It also makes a human lot more prone to fractures and bone compression issues even from simple fall or injuries. It can also result in nerve and muscle impairment like skeletal muscle spams and abnormal heart beats.
Tackling Dietary Hurdles : The biggest hurdle a mother faces is getting her child to have that glass of milk that's necessary for proper growth. So, instead of the bland ol' plain MILK, you could try lending flavour and colour to the product. Blended with fruits and flavoured too, you could find milk-shakes a lot more preferred to milk.
Also, CHEESE - a milk by-product will help your child obtain the pre-requisite levels of calcium. So, sandwiches, rolls and spreads are a great way to pack in that calcium requirement.
Even green, leafy VEGETABLES could be blended into food like mint parathas, Frankie rolls with spinach, stuffed pakodas to boost calcium intake. French toasts as well as cheesy omelettes provide for the prefect calcium camouflage as they're tasty yet healthy option for the growing child.
Last but not the least, go for the new products in the market which have been fortified with calcium derived from a glass of milk- the perfect solution to calcium problem.
Those who consume milk as a routine are known to acquire the recommended levels of Calcium as opposed to others who have replaced milk with unhealthy substitutes. Used by the body primarily for growth and development of bones, school-going children and adolescents feel the need for calcium the most.
Use of Calcium : The rate of bone growth is highest during when there is an overall development of teeth, bones and soft tissues. It's during this time calcium is needed the most. Among the more important ingredients in human body, an adult man of about 60kg has as much as one kg of calcium present mostly in bones. That apart, besides bones, in small quantities calcium plays a pivotal role in neuromuscular excitation, blood coagulation and membrane permeability.
Effect of Absence : For all bone growth, the presence of calcium in adequate is mandatory. Long-term poor dietary intake of calcium owing to warped lifestyles and eating patterns leads to brittle bones. It also makes a human lot more prone to fractures and bone compression issues even from simple fall or injuries. It can also result in nerve and muscle impairment like skeletal muscle spams and abnormal heart beats.
Tackling Dietary Hurdles : The biggest hurdle a mother faces is getting her child to have that glass of milk that's necessary for proper growth. So, instead of the bland ol' plain MILK, you could try lending flavour and colour to the product. Blended with fruits and flavoured too, you could find milk-shakes a lot more preferred to milk.
Also, CHEESE - a milk by-product will help your child obtain the pre-requisite levels of calcium. So, sandwiches, rolls and spreads are a great way to pack in that calcium requirement.
Even green, leafy VEGETABLES could be blended into food like mint parathas, Frankie rolls with spinach, stuffed pakodas to boost calcium intake. French toasts as well as cheesy omelettes provide for the prefect calcium camouflage as they're tasty yet healthy option for the growing child.
Last but not the least, go for the new products in the market which have been fortified with calcium derived from a glass of milk- the perfect solution to calcium problem.
Monday, November 5, 2007
Truths Universally Acknowledged
We hear them almost every day, but what do they actually mean? Here are the facts behind some common sayings:
At a snail's pace: The fastest land snail on record was called Archie. He won the 1995 World Snail Racing Championship in Congham, England, by covering 33 centimeters in two minutes and 20 seconds. That's 0.008kmph.
Just a moment: According to an old English time unit, a moment takes one and half minutes, but by rabbinical reckoning a moment is precisely 19/270 of an hour.
All the tea in China: The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that all the tea in China amounts to 569,860 tonnes.
Since time immemorial: Time immemorial is usually defined as beyond the memory of any living person, or a time extending so far back as to be indefinite. However, for the purpose of English law, a status passes in 1275 decreed that time immemorial was any point prior to 1189-the year when Richard I began his reign.
Blood is thicker than water: In chemistry, water is given a specific gravity, or relative density, of 1.00, because it is used as the standard against which all other densities are measured. By comparison, blood has a specific gravity of 1.06-just slightly thicker than water.
At a snail's pace: The fastest land snail on record was called Archie. He won the 1995 World Snail Racing Championship in Congham, England, by covering 33 centimeters in two minutes and 20 seconds. That's 0.008kmph.
Just a moment: According to an old English time unit, a moment takes one and half minutes, but by rabbinical reckoning a moment is precisely 19/270 of an hour.
All the tea in China: The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that all the tea in China amounts to 569,860 tonnes.
Since time immemorial: Time immemorial is usually defined as beyond the memory of any living person, or a time extending so far back as to be indefinite. However, for the purpose of English law, a status passes in 1275 decreed that time immemorial was any point prior to 1189-the year when Richard I began his reign.
Blood is thicker than water: In chemistry, water is given a specific gravity, or relative density, of 1.00, because it is used as the standard against which all other densities are measured. By comparison, blood has a specific gravity of 1.06-just slightly thicker than water.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Your very own Spa Day
Working five days a week, and in the weekends planning to go out for a tour with your friends, hanging out in someones house, going shopping, parties.....bla bla bla... and if you find time for yourself planning to sleep ? try out this one.. Treat yourself with a SPECIAL SPA DAY. A whole day when your concentration is you and your body. Here is how to spend your very own Special Spa Day:
07 am: The first thing you have when you get up is honey and lime juice in warm water.
08 am: Time for yoga/exercise - put on some soothing music and enjoying doing it.
09 am: Make a cup of herbal tea. For breakfast have a plate of fruits like watermelon, papaya.
11 am: Have a glass of vegetable juice, put your feet up and sip slowly.
12 am: Lunch time - It must be packed with fresh raw salads, lowfat protein rotis made of soya, jowar and wheat. Salad must be full of sprouts and tomatoes. Have dal, two vegetable curries, if you are interested in non-veg make it one veg-curry and one non-veg curry (but be sure you dont eat much oil at least today on you spa day).
2 pm: Beauty time- Close the bathroom door, light a scented candle. Indulge your body with full-body mask and oil massage. Take half cup of milk, half cup of ground almonds, quater cup of fresh, grated coconut, 4 drops of your favourite oil, a bunch of crushed rose petals and egg white. Mix it all together and apply the paste to your body starting from your feet. After 20 min wash it off with luke warm water. You can make a home made bubble bath by combining 1 cup of soap flakes, 3 tbsp of glycerine and oils. Mix and store in a container.Watch your skin glow all week.
After your bath, apply another layer of the bath oil or lotion. Don't forget your elbows.These may look like an ostrich neck, but it is your job to make them look line a swan's. Rub half a lime with sugar granules on each elbow. After your shower, rub an elbow cream.
A pedicure and manicure come next. Put a herbal face pack, lie with thin cucumber slices on your eyelids before washing your face.
5 pm: Juice break- A glass of fresh orange or mousambi juice with a spring of fresh peppermint.
5.45 pm: Go for a long walk. Get into your track suit and take a brisk walk.
6.30 pm: Have a milk shake .
08 pm: Dinner time- Have a thai style with vegitable curry and rice.
09 pm: Have a sweet dish gajar-ka-halwa or curd , topped with almonds.
10 pm: Bed time- slip into your bed with your favourite book in your hands and slowly slip into a lovely sleep.
Make your spa day a monthly event and you will wonder what makes you so relaxed and your skin glow. So have a happy Spa Day.
07 am: The first thing you have when you get up is honey and lime juice in warm water.
08 am: Time for yoga/exercise - put on some soothing music and enjoying doing it.
09 am: Make a cup of herbal tea. For breakfast have a plate of fruits like watermelon, papaya.
11 am: Have a glass of vegetable juice, put your feet up and sip slowly.
12 am: Lunch time - It must be packed with fresh raw salads, lowfat protein rotis made of soya, jowar and wheat. Salad must be full of sprouts and tomatoes. Have dal, two vegetable curries, if you are interested in non-veg make it one veg-curry and one non-veg curry (but be sure you dont eat much oil at least today on you spa day).
2 pm: Beauty time- Close the bathroom door, light a scented candle. Indulge your body with full-body mask and oil massage. Take half cup of milk, half cup of ground almonds, quater cup of fresh, grated coconut, 4 drops of your favourite oil, a bunch of crushed rose petals and egg white. Mix it all together and apply the paste to your body starting from your feet. After 20 min wash it off with luke warm water. You can make a home made bubble bath by combining 1 cup of soap flakes, 3 tbsp of glycerine and oils. Mix and store in a container.Watch your skin glow all week.
After your bath, apply another layer of the bath oil or lotion. Don't forget your elbows.These may look like an ostrich neck, but it is your job to make them look line a swan's. Rub half a lime with sugar granules on each elbow. After your shower, rub an elbow cream.
A pedicure and manicure come next. Put a herbal face pack, lie with thin cucumber slices on your eyelids before washing your face.
5 pm: Juice break- A glass of fresh orange or mousambi juice with a spring of fresh peppermint.
5.45 pm: Go for a long walk. Get into your track suit and take a brisk walk.
6.30 pm: Have a milk shake .
08 pm: Dinner time- Have a thai style with vegitable curry and rice.
09 pm: Have a sweet dish gajar-ka-halwa or curd , topped with almonds.
10 pm: Bed time- slip into your bed with your favourite book in your hands and slowly slip into a lovely sleep.
Make your spa day a monthly event and you will wonder what makes you so relaxed and your skin glow. So have a happy Spa Day.
Friday, November 2, 2007
DANGERS TO LEG AND LIFE DURING PREGNANCY
Women during pregnancy face two problems which are quite debilitating and sometimes pose a risk to their lives. The first problem is sudden swelling in legs. If a pregnant women complains of sudden appearance of leg swelling, the attending physician or gynaecologist must be alarmed and should take appropriate measures to control the situation.
The sudden appearance of swelling in the leg may harald the begnning of deposition of blood clot inside the deep veins of thighs and legs. This condition is called "deep vein thrombosis" or DVT. Due to lack of exercise and the thickening of blood with hormonal changes during pregnancy, blood flowing through the deep veins of the lower limbs tends to get clotted faster and earlier than normal. When the deep veins become full of clotted blood, the normal mechanism of the upward flow of impure deoxygenated blood gets distrupted, which results in accumulation of impure blood in the legs which causes swelling.
Blood clotting inside the leg veins must be taken seriously as there is always the likelihood of slipping towards heart and through heart, they may lodge inside the artery of the lung which is called Pulmonary Embolism (PE) and majority of these cases are fatal. A pregnant women who suddenly develops a swelling in one or both lesg must consult a vascular or a cardiovascular surgeon.
The second problem a pregnant faces is the prominent apearance of spider-like blue veins on her thighs or lesg. These veins are actually abnormal veins lying just beneath the skin of legs and thighs. These are called "early varicose veins". It looks as if a number of blue spiders or earthworms are lying under the skin.
Pressure is sometimes exerted by a pregnant uterus inside the abdomen on the main collecting veins from the lower limbs lying beneath the uterus. These veins sometimes get temporarily and partially or sometimes, completely compressed. Due to which the mechanism of carrying impure blood back to heart gets disturbed.
In general veins collect impure blood from your limbs and carry back to the heart and then on to lungs for purification. The job is difficult as it has to push blood from lesg against gravity towards the heart. This function is made possible by valves which open up and allow blood to flow only in one direction. But , when a person stands up, these valves get closed to prevent blood from going back again down the leg. Because of sustained back pressure on the venous valves, these become weak and cannot withstand the pressure of impure blood and thus are unable to close completely. This allows the blood to go down the legs again which relults in gradual accumulation of lot of impure blood in the deep as well as superficial system of veins. Which resuls the appearance of spider-like blue veins.
The use of graduated compressing stockings, regular walks and morning exercises are helpful in preventing these two problems.
The sudden appearance of swelling in the leg may harald the begnning of deposition of blood clot inside the deep veins of thighs and legs. This condition is called "deep vein thrombosis" or DVT. Due to lack of exercise and the thickening of blood with hormonal changes during pregnancy, blood flowing through the deep veins of the lower limbs tends to get clotted faster and earlier than normal. When the deep veins become full of clotted blood, the normal mechanism of the upward flow of impure deoxygenated blood gets distrupted, which results in accumulation of impure blood in the legs which causes swelling.
Blood clotting inside the leg veins must be taken seriously as there is always the likelihood of slipping towards heart and through heart, they may lodge inside the artery of the lung which is called Pulmonary Embolism (PE) and majority of these cases are fatal. A pregnant women who suddenly develops a swelling in one or both lesg must consult a vascular or a cardiovascular surgeon.
The second problem a pregnant faces is the prominent apearance of spider-like blue veins on her thighs or lesg. These veins are actually abnormal veins lying just beneath the skin of legs and thighs. These are called "early varicose veins". It looks as if a number of blue spiders or earthworms are lying under the skin.
Pressure is sometimes exerted by a pregnant uterus inside the abdomen on the main collecting veins from the lower limbs lying beneath the uterus. These veins sometimes get temporarily and partially or sometimes, completely compressed. Due to which the mechanism of carrying impure blood back to heart gets disturbed.
In general veins collect impure blood from your limbs and carry back to the heart and then on to lungs for purification. The job is difficult as it has to push blood from lesg against gravity towards the heart. This function is made possible by valves which open up and allow blood to flow only in one direction. But , when a person stands up, these valves get closed to prevent blood from going back again down the leg. Because of sustained back pressure on the venous valves, these become weak and cannot withstand the pressure of impure blood and thus are unable to close completely. This allows the blood to go down the legs again which relults in gradual accumulation of lot of impure blood in the deep as well as superficial system of veins. Which resuls the appearance of spider-like blue veins.
The use of graduated compressing stockings, regular walks and morning exercises are helpful in preventing these two problems.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Stem Cells a scientific break through
Stem cells are one of the most fascinating areas of biology today. But like many expanding fields of scientific inquiry, research on stem cells raises scientific questions as rapidly as it generates new discoveries.
Stem cells are the reserve supply of replacement cells that multiply when needed for repair. They may offer a renewable source of replacement cells to treat diseases, conditions, and disabilities. Some, but not all, organs and tissues in the body have a supply of stem cells that respond to damage. Skin is an example. Skin wounds are repaired by skin stem cells, liver damage is repaired by liver stem cells. These cells can replace the dead cells that are taken from a reserve supply of cells that have maintained the potential to divide and multiply when called upon. They have also maintained the potential to mature into the specific type of cell that is needed. Such cells with the lasting ability to divide and mature into new functional cells when needed are termed stem cells.
The two broad categories of mammalian stem cells are: embryonic stem cells, derived from blastocysts and adult stem cells, which are found in adult tissues. In a developing embryo, stem cells can differentiate into all of the specialized embryonic tissues. In adult organisms, stem cells and progenitor cells act as a repair system for the body, replenishing specialized cells.
As stem cells can be grown and transformed into specialized cells with characteristics consistent with cells of various tissues such as muscles or nerves through cell culture, their use in medical therapies has been proposed. In particular, embryonic cell lines, autologous embryonic stem cells generated through therapeutic cloning, and highly plastic adult stem cells from the umbilical cord blood or bone marrow are touted as promising candidates.
Stem cells differ from other kinds of cells in the body. All stem cells regardless of their source have three general properties: they are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods; they are unspecialized; and they can give rise to specialized cell types.
Stem cells are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods. Unlike muscle cells, blood cells, or nerve cells which do not normally replicate themselves stem cells may replicate many times. When cells replicate themselves many times over it is called proliferation. A starting population of stem cells that proliferates for many months in the laboratory can yield millions of cells. If the resulting cells continue to be unspecialized, like the parent stem cells, the cells are said to be capable of long-term self-renewal.
Stem cells are unspecialized: one of the fundamental properties of a stem cell is that it does not have any tissue-specific structures that allow it to perform specialized functions. As stem cannot work with its neighbours to pump blood through the body, it cannot carry molecules of Oxygen through the bloodstream and it cannot fire electrochemical signals to other cells that allow the body to move or speak. However unspecialized stem cells can give rise to specialized cells, including heart muscle cells, blood cells or nerve cells.
Stem cells can give rise to specialized cells. When unspecialized stem cells give rise to specialized cells, the process is called differentiation. Scientists are just beginning to understand the signals inside and outside cells that trigger stem cell differentiation. The internal signals are controlled by a cell's genes, which are interspersed across long strands of DNA, and carry coded instructions for all the structures and functions of a cell. The external signals for cell differentiation include chemicals secreted by other cells, physical contact with neighboring cells, and certain molecules in the microenvironment.
Therefore, many questions about stem cell differentiation remain. For example, are the internal and external signals for cell differentiation similar for all kinds of stem cells? Can specific sets of signals be identified that promote differentiation into specific cell types? Addressing these questions is critical because the answers may lead scientists to find new ways of controlling stem cell differentiation in the laboratory, thereby growing cells or tissues that can be used for specific purposes including cell-based therapies.
Adult stem cells typically generate the cell types of the tissue in which they reside. A blood-forming adult stem cell in the bone marrow, for example, normally gives rise to the many types of blood cells such as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Until recently, it had been thought that a blood-forming cell in the bone marrow—which is called a hematopoietic stem cell could not give rise to the cells of a very different tissue, such as nerve cells in the brain. However, a number of experiments over the last several years have raised the possibility that stem cells from one tissue may be able to give rise to cell types of a completely different tissue, a phenomenon known as plasticity. Examples of such plasticity include blood cells becoming neurons, liver cells that can be made to produce insulin, and hematopoietic stem cells that can develop into heart muscle. Therefore, exploring the possibility of using adult stem cells for cell-based therapies has become a very active area of investigation by researchers.
Stem cells are the reserve supply of replacement cells that multiply when needed for repair. They may offer a renewable source of replacement cells to treat diseases, conditions, and disabilities. Some, but not all, organs and tissues in the body have a supply of stem cells that respond to damage. Skin is an example. Skin wounds are repaired by skin stem cells, liver damage is repaired by liver stem cells. These cells can replace the dead cells that are taken from a reserve supply of cells that have maintained the potential to divide and multiply when called upon. They have also maintained the potential to mature into the specific type of cell that is needed. Such cells with the lasting ability to divide and mature into new functional cells when needed are termed stem cells.
The two broad categories of mammalian stem cells are: embryonic stem cells, derived from blastocysts and adult stem cells, which are found in adult tissues. In a developing embryo, stem cells can differentiate into all of the specialized embryonic tissues. In adult organisms, stem cells and progenitor cells act as a repair system for the body, replenishing specialized cells.
As stem cells can be grown and transformed into specialized cells with characteristics consistent with cells of various tissues such as muscles or nerves through cell culture, their use in medical therapies has been proposed. In particular, embryonic cell lines, autologous embryonic stem cells generated through therapeutic cloning, and highly plastic adult stem cells from the umbilical cord blood or bone marrow are touted as promising candidates.
Stem cells differ from other kinds of cells in the body. All stem cells regardless of their source have three general properties: they are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods; they are unspecialized; and they can give rise to specialized cell types.
Stem cells are capable of dividing and renewing themselves for long periods. Unlike muscle cells, blood cells, or nerve cells which do not normally replicate themselves stem cells may replicate many times. When cells replicate themselves many times over it is called proliferation. A starting population of stem cells that proliferates for many months in the laboratory can yield millions of cells. If the resulting cells continue to be unspecialized, like the parent stem cells, the cells are said to be capable of long-term self-renewal.
Stem cells are unspecialized: one of the fundamental properties of a stem cell is that it does not have any tissue-specific structures that allow it to perform specialized functions. As stem cannot work with its neighbours to pump blood through the body, it cannot carry molecules of Oxygen through the bloodstream and it cannot fire electrochemical signals to other cells that allow the body to move or speak. However unspecialized stem cells can give rise to specialized cells, including heart muscle cells, blood cells or nerve cells.
Stem cells can give rise to specialized cells. When unspecialized stem cells give rise to specialized cells, the process is called differentiation. Scientists are just beginning to understand the signals inside and outside cells that trigger stem cell differentiation. The internal signals are controlled by a cell's genes, which are interspersed across long strands of DNA, and carry coded instructions for all the structures and functions of a cell. The external signals for cell differentiation include chemicals secreted by other cells, physical contact with neighboring cells, and certain molecules in the microenvironment.
Therefore, many questions about stem cell differentiation remain. For example, are the internal and external signals for cell differentiation similar for all kinds of stem cells? Can specific sets of signals be identified that promote differentiation into specific cell types? Addressing these questions is critical because the answers may lead scientists to find new ways of controlling stem cell differentiation in the laboratory, thereby growing cells or tissues that can be used for specific purposes including cell-based therapies.
Adult stem cells typically generate the cell types of the tissue in which they reside. A blood-forming adult stem cell in the bone marrow, for example, normally gives rise to the many types of blood cells such as red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Until recently, it had been thought that a blood-forming cell in the bone marrow—which is called a hematopoietic stem cell could not give rise to the cells of a very different tissue, such as nerve cells in the brain. However, a number of experiments over the last several years have raised the possibility that stem cells from one tissue may be able to give rise to cell types of a completely different tissue, a phenomenon known as plasticity. Examples of such plasticity include blood cells becoming neurons, liver cells that can be made to produce insulin, and hematopoietic stem cells that can develop into heart muscle. Therefore, exploring the possibility of using adult stem cells for cell-based therapies has become a very active area of investigation by researchers.
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