Hear ye! Hear ye! Calling all the registered voters out there, may it be your parents, your siblings, your friends, or your jejemon clanmates. Tomorrow is the date when we will exercise our right of suffrage. We will make a major decision tomorrow and the power lies in our hands so to speak. Please do not waste your right to vote. Go out there and choose your preferred candidate. If you still haven't located your voting precint, kindly proceed here:

It was a day where I have this feeling of urgency to drop by at our office even if I was still on leave. I have been away for more than 10 days due to my Typhoid Fever and I felt I have the responsibility to update myself with the information that I've missed during my confinement Especially now that I have been given extra task to perform. Nothing was that different then except for the warm welcome by my friends. I thought it was just me who made it to the headlines at the workplace but to my shock, Mamacon, as we call our colleague named Connie brought a not so good news to me.  We saw each other at the locker room, exchanged friendly kisses, and greeted one another. She spoiled the news that Judy, one of our colleagues was currently mourning at the demise of her mother. It really shocked me as the news sent shivers. I just can't bear the thought of a passing of a mother. It is something that I cannot truly handle should it happen to me.

We went to the chapel in which her mother's remains are located. The place by the way is so far, far away that we literally begged for something to drink at the time we have arrived. We extended our condolences tp Judy and had some chit chat with her. We found out that her mother's death was caused by a disease called Lupus.

 Lupus is a disease that involves the immune system Normally, a person's immune system works by producing immunity cells and antibodies, special substances that fight germs and infections.

But when a person has lupus, the immune system goes into overdrive and can't tell the difference between some of the body's normal, healthy cells and germs that can cause infection. So the immune system responds by making autoantibodies that attack the body's normal cells.

1. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Also called SLE, this is the type of lupus that most people mean when they talk about the disease. It was given its name by a 19th century French doctor who thought that the facial rash of some people with lupus looked like the bite or scratch of a wolf ("lupus" is Latin for wolf and "erythematosus" is Latin for red).

SLE is the most serious form of lupus. SLE can affect the skin, joints, and tendons. It may also affect organs like the brain, heart, lungs, and kidneys.

2. Cutaneous (or skin) Lupus

This type of lupus is a skin disease that causes a rash on the face, neck, scalp, and ears. There are two types of cutaneous lupus: discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), which can cause scarring; and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), which doesn't cause scars. Discoid lupus is a much more rare form of lupus than SLE, although about 10% of people with discoid lupus will develop a mild form of SLE. It doesn't affect other body organs the way that SLE can.

3. Drug-Induced Lupus

This type of lupus is caused by a reaction to certain kinds of medicines. For example, some types of antiseizure medicines and acne medicines can cause this kind of lupus in teens. Drug-induced lupus is similar to SLE in the ways it affects the body, but once a person stops taking the medicine, the symptoms usually go away.

  

WHAT CAUSES LUPUS?

No one really knows what causes lupus. Researchers think that some people may be more likely to get it due to things that are out of their control, like:

    * gender: Many more women get lupus than men; for every 1 man with lupus, there are 10 women who have it.
    * estrogen: This female hormone may be a factor in lupus — almost all women who get lupus are of childbearing age.
    * race/ethnicity: Lupus occurs more often in African-American, Asian-American, Latin-American, and Native-American women than in non-Hispanic Caucasian women.
    * family history/genetics: About 10% of people with lupus have a family member with lupus.
    * major stress or infection: If people have the genetic tendency to get lupus, extreme stress or an infection may trigger the disease — but the blueprint for lupus has to already be there. One thing researchers know about lupus is that it is not contagious. You can't catch any of the three types of lupus from another person. And although lupus involves the immune system, it is not the same as other diseases that involve the immune system, like AIDS.

Symptoms of Lupus and How It Is Diagnosed

Lupus can be hard to diagnose because its symptoms can vary from one person to the next. The symptoms can also make lupus look like certain other diseases. They may have muscle aches, loss of appetite, swollen glands, and hair loss. Sometimes they have abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting.

The doctor may perform certain blood tests when lupus is suspected and will probably send the person to a rheumatologist (pronounced: roo-muh-tol-uh-jist). Rheumatologists are doctors who have special training in diagnosing and treating autoimmune diseases like lupus.

Because signs and symptoms of SLE can be so varied, a rheumatologist will look for 11 specific signs:

   1. malar rash: A malar rash appears across the nose and cheeks in the shape of a butterfly.
   2. discoid rash: This rash features round, red, scaly patches that can appear on the face, arms, scalp, or ears.
   3. photosensitivity: This means sensitivity to ultraviolet rays, like the ones that come from the sun or from fluorescent lights. Most people with SLE are photosensitive and find that the sun worsens their lupus.
   4. ulcers in the nose or mouth: These usually don't hurt and many people with SLE don't even know they are there.
   5. arthritis: This makes joints hurt, especially in hands and feet. Unlike the kind of arthritis that older people sometimes get, this arthritis doesn't damage the bones. Most people with SLE have some degree of arthritis.
   6. serositis: This is the collection of fluid near the linings covering the heart, lungs, or abdomen.
   7. kidney problems: These can be mild or severe. Most people with SLE will have kidney problems, but only about half of them will have permanent kidney damage.
   8. neurologic problems: This refers to problems with the brain and nervous system, like seizures.
   9. blood problems: SLE can cause a lower than normal number of red blood cells (anemia), white blood cells, or platelets.
  10. immune system problems: Blood tests may show that the immune system isn't functioning properly.
  11. positive ANA test: This is a blood test that shows a certain type of antibody. About 95% of people with SLE have a positive ANA test.

Someone with four or more of these signs or symptoms is likely to have SLE. Most patients don't develop all 11 of them.

TREATING LUPUS

The type of treatment someone gets often depends on how severe the lupus is and which body systems are affected. Almost all people with SLE take some kind of medicine to help control their lupus. Patients whose joints hurt often take acetaminophen (such as Tylenol) or ibuprofen (such as Advil or Motrin) to help with the pain.

Others take antimalarial drugs (medicines first developed to prevent and treat malaria, but that have also been found to help treat lupus). Antimalarial drugs often help treat skin rashes and joint pain.

Some rheumatologists prescribe anti-inflammatory steroids, medicines that help fight the fatigue and fever that can affect people with SLE. People with lupus that affects important body organs may be given other immunosuppressive drugs. These drugs help stop the immune system from producing the autoantibodies that destroy healthy cells. These drugs are very strong, though, and can have side effects. So they are used only when it's really necessary.

Judy's mom was not able to triumph over Lupus. Who by the way says that treatments are guaranteed for  recovery? One thing is for sure though, her mother is now in a place where antibodies are no longer needed. Where medicines are no longer necessary. Even health is no longer a matter of the subject. She is now happy; free of all pain and suffering.

Global warming and pollution. Those are what's everyone's concerned about these days. The impending destruction of Earth looms over as people do not take necessary precautions in taking good stewardship of what was entrusted by God. Various documentaries and movies were shown to make us aware of what consequences we shall all pay should we not take care of our environment. As so graphic and very fictional it is, The Thaw was the most recent movie I've watched concerning Global warming. Al Gore is even coming here to the Philippines to talk about such thing.

Alternative energy became a popular term and method as people become somehow more aware on how to conserve our resources. Some use renewable energy for household applications such as solar power for electricity and etc. Some would try to convert waste to energy. Some search for alternatives for oil in for transportation. Moreover, people are gearing towards opportunity fuels.

I have found a company whose advocacies are towards a better and cleaner environment. Clean coal, which reduces CO2 emissions by putting it underground is one of their advocacies. N-Viro, a corporation that licenses its technology utilize alternative energy helps the cities and municipalities achieve a sustainable environment. They actually convert dirty waters into a clean ones. What a miracle, isn't it?

Who doesn't want to have a peaceful and sustainable place to live. We only have one planet to live in and we have to take care of it.

http://www.nviro.com

The Philippines again, has made another world record but not for heroic acts nor Athletic supremacy but in an act so unforgivable, so gruesome, and so barbaric. The massacre that happened in Maguindanao province threatens the ever weakening democracy in this country.

A supposedly peaceful filing of Certificate of Candidacy by the rival family of the Ampatuans, the Mangudadatus ended up in a brutal killing by 100 armed men. 47 people were mercilessly taken their lives away; including local people, lawyers, and members of the media. Political rivalry is strongly believed as the cause of this ruthless act. The pointing hands are now then at the family of Ampatuans, whose power will be challenged by the Mangudadatus at the Gubernatorial race. The Ampatuans are also said to be allies with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo.

The NUJP or The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines decalared a National day of Indignation as a response to the said ordeal. Obviously, everyone in the world condemns such act.



It is said that Philippines is now next to Iraq as the most dangerous place for journalists and has the record for the most number of Journalists killed in just a single day.

As I join the people in condemning this act on Facebook, I saw this girl who commented that his uncle was one of the people who got killed. I did not ask for more information but I extended my deepest condolences instead.



It is now up to Malacañang to act on this case. It is now up to the President, who declared a state of emergency to this province to weigh her decisions and set aside her partiality. Whether an ally or not, the rule of law and justice must prevail.

A dear friend of mine had sent me this very intriguing and horrible video about a nanny who brutally abused a child whom he/she should be taking care of. This is a living proof for those who want to consider on hiring someone to "take care" of their children/loved ones to be very extra careful about their prospects especially on their behavior and history. This is not only happening on children but also to those who are incapacitated and of old age. I think this is really unforgivable and punishable. I haven't researched on the story behind this gruesome event but I really do hope that the victim is okay...... or alive.

The National Institute on Media and the Family (NIMF), the watchdog on Media and its effects to families issued its 13th annual video game report card this Tuesday. Surprisingly and commendably, the Video Game Entertainment sector received nearly all As in its rating system and retailing policies. It is very surprising due to the fact that the NMIF has been constantly criticizing the video game industry for its lack of efforts on warning parents on games' inappropriate content. It is very commendable as well as stated by the NIMF president, David Walsh: "This year the industry has improved its ratings enforcement and given parents new tools when choosing the right video game for their child...That's a significant step in the right direction.". Truly significant as the change progressed from poor F to a high A. One thing that the watchdog pointed out is that parents should be more cautious by using the parental controls built into game consoles.

The games are noted M for Mature. The institute also posted games that are very well recommended as alternatives:

Disclaimer: I just received a spam a few moments ago and it's all about melamine. It had caught the world's attention and seriously it is something that has to be resolved. I don't know if some facts are correct but I just had this urge to post it on my blog for everyone's attention. Should they have any violent reaction regarding the contents of this spam then everyone is free to contact me to have it deleted or whatever.

It is also used in home decoration.
" US resistant board "

Do you understand? Melamine is used in industrial production-it cannot be eaten!!!



2.Why is Melamine added in milk powder?

The most important nutrient in milk is protein and Melamine has the same protein that contains "NITROGEN".

Adding Melamine in milk reduces milk content and it is cheaper than milk so it lowers capitalization.
It can give the business more profit!

below is a sample of Melamine. doesn't it look like milk?
it doesn't have any smell, so cannot be detected.


3.When was it discovered?

Year 2007: US cats and dogs died suddenly, they found out that pet food from China contains Melamine.

Starting 2008: In China , an abnormal increase
in infant cases of kidney stones started.


August 2008: China Sanlu Milk Powder was tested
with Melamine

Sept. 2008: The New Zealand government asked China to check this problem
Sept. 21, 2008: Lots of food products in Taiwan were tested with Melamine

4.What happens when Melamine is digested?

Melamine remains inside the kidney. It forms into stones
blocking the tubes. Pain will be eminent and the person affected cannot urinate. Kidney will then swell.

Although surgery can remove the stones, but it will cause an irreversible kidney damage. It can lead to loss of kidney function and will require
kidney dialysis or lead to death because of uremia.

What is dialysis? In fact, it should be called "blood washing"
it is filtering all of the body's blood into the machine and then go back to the body.
The whole process takes 4 hours and it is necessary to dialysis once for every 3 days for the rest of your life.

Here is a dialysis center


Large dialysis center

A small hole is required in the arm to insert the
sub-dialysis catheter.

Why is it more serious in babies? Because their kidneys are very small and they drink a lot of milk powder.

Here is a baby undergoing dialysis.


China currently has 13,000 infants hospitalized


It does not matter how much a human being took
Melamine. The important point is "It cannot be EATEN!"


5.What are the foods to be avoided?

Foods that contain dairy products should be avoided.

Remember: Foods with creamer or milk should
be avoided.

6.Which companies are affected?

Hereunder are the companies affected with Melamine.

7.What do we do next?

Avoid the above foods for at least six months.

If you have a snack bar, restaurant or coffee shop,
Stop selling dairy products for the meantime.

If you have infants at home, switch to mother's milk
or find other substitutes.

So aside from death records, there is also another database for Federal inmates' in United States. at federalinmaterecords.org, you can find all the necessary data regarding the federal inmates' records at all states. They maintain a database which updates everytime so you can be assured that all the data you can check at their website are accurate and fresh when you perform an inmate search within their website.

click here to access the site.