Energy expenditure in adolescents playing new generation computer games. (pdf) (2007) British Medical Journal 355:p1282 In which we learn that you use more energy “jumping around” playing video games, than say “not jumping around” playing video games. – – – ABSTRACT: Objective: To compare the energy expenditure of adolescents when playing sedentary and new generation active computer games. Design: Cross sectional comparison of four computer games. Setting: Research laboratories. Participants: Six boys and five girls aged 13-15 years. Procedure Participants were fitted with a monitoring device validated to predict energy expenditure. They played four computer games for 15 minutes each.…

Nevus (def): The commonly used medical term for a mole or birthmark. TITLE: Nevus Size and Number Are Associated with Telomere Length and Represent Potential Markers of a Decreased Senescence In vivo (2007) Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2007;16(7):1499–502 In which authors propose that individuals with longer telomeres express a delayed cell senescence (i.e. increased cell longevity) that is reflected in the skin by increased nevus size and numbers. – – – ABSTRACT: Nevus counts represent one of the strongest risk factors for melanoma. They appear in childhood and adolescence and involute from middle age onwards. Recent evidence has shown that…

Lifespan depends on month of birth. (pdf) (2001) Proceedings of the National Association of Sciences 98:p2934 In which we learn that your birthdate and your time as a fetus can add or substract 7 months to your life. It appears that science has found one more thing for you to worry about. – – – ABSTRACT: Month of birth influences adult life expectancy at ages 50+. Why? In two countries of the Northern Hemisphere-Austria and Denmark-people born in autumn (October-December) live longer than those born in spring (April-June). Data for Australia show that, in the Southern Hemisphere, the pattern is…

It’s reading week! REFERENCE: D’oh! An analysis of the medical care provided to the family of Homer J. Simpson (1998) Canadian Medical Association Journal, 159, 1480-1481 (2 page pdf) FIRST PARAGRAPH: These are hard times for physicians. Governments blame doctors for spiralling health care costs as they slash spending. Ethicists decry medical paternalism. Our patients — sorry, our clients — demand to be treated like consumers. And political correctness has changed the way we speak. It’s enough to give your average doctor an identity crisis. Who are we? Who should we aspire to be? Working on the premise that life…

It’s reading week! REFERENCE: Seminal vesicle production and secretion of growth hormone into seminal fluid (1999) Nature Biotechnology, 17, 1087-1090 (1st page pdf) ABSTRACT: Production of foreign proteins in the tissues of transgenic animals represents an efficient and economical method of producing therapeutic and pharmaceutical proteins. In this study, we demonstrate that the mouse P12 gene promoter specific to the male accessory sex gland can be used to generate transgenic mice that express human growth hormone (hGH) in their seminal vesicle epithelium. The hGH is secreted into the ejaculated seminal fluids with the seminal vesicle lumen contents containing concentrations of…

It’s reading week! REFERENCE: Continued Encounters: The Experience of After-Death Communication (2005) Journal of Holistic Nursing, 23, 191-207 (1st page pdf) ABSTRACT: Purpose: To analyze and categorize the various forms of after-death communication (ADC) and describe the effects on the bereaved. Method: In this qualitative descriptive study of 9 men and 9 women, data were collected during in-depth interviews using the Grief and Mourning Status Interview and Inventory and semistructured interview questions. Transcripts of the interviews were analyzed and coded for content. Findings: Four categories of ADCs were identified: (a) visions and dreams, (b) lost-things-found, (c) symbolic messages, and (d)…

It’s reading week! REFERENCE: Sword swallowing and its side effects (2006) British Medical Journal, 333, 1285-7 (1st page pdf) ABSTRACT: Sword swallowers know their occupation is dangerous. The Sword Swallowers’ Association International (SSAI, www.swordswallow.org) recognises those who can swallow a non-retractable, solid steel blade at least two centimetres wide and 38 centimetres long. As we found only two English language case reports of injury resulting from sword swallowing, we explored the technique and side effects of this unusual practice.

It’s reading week! REFERENCE: Can a Machine Tickle? (1999) Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, 6 (3), 504-510 ABSTRACT: It has been observed at least since the time of Aristotle that people cannot tickle themselves, but the reason remains elusive. Two sorts of explanations have been suggested. The interpersonal explanation suggests that tickling is fundamentally interpersonal and thus requires another person as the source of the touch. The reflex explanation suggests that tickle simply requires an element of unpredictability or uncontrollability and is more like a reflex or some other stereotyped motor pattern. To test these explanations, we manipulated the perceived source…