Posts with Comments by PubMed
High blood pressure and germs?
Simon Foster
If the virus infects 60 to 90 percent of the population and it causes high blood pressure then how come that same amount of people don?t have high blood pressure?
Perhaps heredity, lifestyle and circumstance influence susceptability to the disease process.
The mouse study appeared to produce decisive results. Whether that translates to humans will require more research.
I wouldn't bet against CMV. Inflammation is strongly associated with heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.
"...virtually every step in atherogenesis is believed to involve substances involved in the inflammatory response and cells that are characteristic of inflammation."
According to the American Heart Association Herpes virus (CMV) is on the short list of potential triggers.
If the virus infects 60 to 90 percent of the population and it causes high blood pressure then how come that same amount of people don?t have high blood pressure?
Perhaps heredity, lifestyle and circumstance influence susceptability to the disease process.
The mouse study appeared to produce decisive results. Whether that translates to humans will require more research.
I wouldn't bet against CMV. Inflammation is strongly associated with heart disease, heart attacks and strokes.
"...virtually every step in atherogenesis is believed to involve substances involved in the inflammatory response and cells that are characteristic of inflammation."
According to the American Heart Association Herpes virus (CMV) is on the short list of potential triggers.
Several vaccines against CMV are already in advanced stages of development.
I wonder how many "genetic" diseases this vaccine will prevent in future generations.
I wonder how many "genetic" diseases this vaccine will prevent in future generations.
The downsides of not having perpetual motion machines
Razib is exactly correct.
If the working population doesn't save money how are we supposed to retire? Does the government and Wall Street think we should work, borrow and spend right up until we turn 65?
My prediction, tent cities will ring American cities as the baby boomers retire without assets.
"Tent City" Rapidly Growing in Sacramento, CA
If the working population doesn't save money how are we supposed to retire? Does the government and Wall Street think we should work, borrow and spend right up until we turn 65?
My prediction, tent cities will ring American cities as the baby boomers retire without assets.
"Tent City" Rapidly Growing in Sacramento, CA
Tracking economists’ consensus on money illusion, as a proxy for Keynesianism
Peter Schiff Video (3:07): "Of course we aren't going to pay the Chinese back." (audience laughs at the obvious)
When the bond bubble burts the USA will rapidly lose it's reserve currency status.
The result?
The USA's economic growth will slow by about 2.2% per year.
Gourinchas and Rey on Exorbitant Privilege
2.2% is a sizable hit when you consider that our economy grows by about 4% during good times and 1%+/- of that is simply immigration.
When the bond bubble burts the USA will rapidly lose it's reserve currency status.
The result?
The USA's economic growth will slow by about 2.2% per year.
Gourinchas and Rey on Exorbitant Privilege
2.2% is a sizable hit when you consider that our economy grows by about 4% during good times and 1%+/- of that is simply immigration.
Philip Greenspun's book report on...
The Rise and Decline of Nations: Economic Growth, Stagflation, and Social Rigidities by Mancur Olson
Cliff notes: Special interests ultimately triumph over group interests. This unfortunate process drives productivity out of the economy and ultimately stagnation and decline ensues.
The Rise and Decline of Nations: Economic Growth, Stagflation, and Social Rigidities by Mancur Olson
Cliff notes: Special interests ultimately triumph over group interests. This unfortunate process drives productivity out of the economy and ultimately stagnation and decline ensues.
Video (5:43): Peter Schiff crushes fools long before the meltdown began
Video (1:16:27) Peter Schiff: Why the Meltdown Should Have Surprised No One
The first clip includes some great historical asskickings of Art Laffer and Ben Stein.
The second clip is a great speech that explains what happened to our bubble economy and where we are headed. Using just a few basic concepts from the Austrian school of economics Schiff predicted the meltdown with stunning accuracy.
Video (1:16:27) Peter Schiff: Why the Meltdown Should Have Surprised No One
The first clip includes some great historical asskickings of Art Laffer and Ben Stein.
The second clip is a great speech that explains what happened to our bubble economy and where we are headed. Using just a few basic concepts from the Austrian school of economics Schiff predicted the meltdown with stunning accuracy.
Finding rare variants involved in disease
Hot off the press
In related news it appears that most cases of Type I Diabetes are triggered by a common childhood enteroviral infection. Interestingly enough some cases of Type 2 Diabetes may be triggered by the same infection.
Sciencedaily (March 6, 2009) Type 1 Diabetes triggered by common childhood infection
In related news it appears that most cases of Type I Diabetes are triggered by a common childhood enteroviral infection. Interestingly enough some cases of Type 2 Diabetes may be triggered by the same infection.
Sciencedaily (March 6, 2009) Type 1 Diabetes triggered by common childhood infection
A test for the pathogenic theory of homosexuality?
Eric J. Johnson
I read about that just a few months ago and it's pretty interesting. Evidence is mounting that depression can be triggered by an immune response.
Bacteria, Serotonin, and Depression: A Possible New Approach to Treating Mood Disorders
I read about that just a few months ago and it's pretty interesting. Evidence is mounting that depression can be triggered by an immune response.
Bacteria, Serotonin, and Depression: A Possible New Approach to Treating Mood Disorders
Google search: Pandas OCD Urination
Go through the links and you'll find dozens of mentions like this
"This is a report of an 11-year-old, prepubertal boy with acute-onset urinary urgency and frequency, obsessions and compulsions related to urination..."
I don't think the smart money bets on Freud.
Go through the links and you'll find dozens of mentions like this
"This is a report of an 11-year-old, prepubertal boy with acute-onset urinary urgency and frequency, obsessions and compulsions related to urination..."
I don't think the smart money bets on Freud.
PANDAS: A link between strep throat and OCD
"Though it is not known why, PANDAS patients overwhelmingly obsess about urination, which is not an especially dominant obsession in other OCD cases."
"Though it is not known why, PANDAS patients overwhelmingly obsess about urination, which is not an especially dominant obsession in other OCD cases."
pconroy
Do you see that the same hypothesis could just as easily apply to Autism, Psoriasis, Acne or pretty much anything?
Something along the lines of...
"In family X most of the boys have severe depression but the girls tend to have lots of kids. So my hypothesis is that the gene that causes depression in boys also produces extra fertility in women."
If someone applied that logic to anything but homosexuality people would not take them seriously.
The MZ concordence rate for homosexuality is only like 20% or 30% and scientists haven't found any pattern of inheritance. If it was caused by a fertility gene or gay uncle gene shouldn't it be as obvious as Sickle Cell?
Do you see that the same hypothesis could just as easily apply to Autism, Psoriasis, Acne or pretty much anything?
Something along the lines of...
"In family X most of the boys have severe depression but the girls tend to have lots of kids. So my hypothesis is that the gene that causes depression in boys also produces extra fertility in women."
If someone applied that logic to anything but homosexuality people would not take them seriously.
The MZ concordence rate for homosexuality is only like 20% or 30% and scientists haven't found any pattern of inheritance. If it was caused by a fertility gene or gay uncle gene shouldn't it be as obvious as Sickle Cell?
Jason Malloy
Thanks for the Congenial Times links.
A large, Danish study found the same thing as the GIS. Urban birth in Denmark is strongly associated with gay marriage.
Childhood family correlates of heterosexual and homosexual marriages: a national cohort study of two million Danes.
Thanks for the Congenial Times links.
A large, Danish study found the same thing as the GIS. Urban birth in Denmark is strongly associated with gay marriage.
Childhood family correlates of heterosexual and homosexual marriages: a national cohort study of two million Danes.
Jason Malloy
From Keller and Miller's Paper
Given that natural selection is so powerful at optimizing complex adaptations, why does it seem unable to eliminate genes (susceptibility alleles) that predispose to common, harmful, heritable mental disorders, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder?
I feel compelled to add that there don't appear to be any common Schizophrenia genes. Any harmful Schiz mutations that crop up are rapidly put under by natural selection. The Keller/Miller paper appears to be 68 pages of, "I know this idea doesn't work in practice but what about in theory?"
Feb 12, 2009: New Direction In Search For Genetic Causes Of Schizophrenia Proposed
"The literature is replete with dozens of genes and SNPs identified as associated with schizophrenia," says first author Anna Need, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in the Center for Human Genome Variation at the Duke Institute for Genome and Sciences Policy. "But we systematically retested all the leading candidates and concluded that most, if not all of them, are false positives."
From Keller and Miller's Paper
Given that natural selection is so powerful at optimizing complex adaptations, why does it seem unable to eliminate genes (susceptibility alleles) that predispose to common, harmful, heritable mental disorders, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder?
I feel compelled to add that there don't appear to be any common Schizophrenia genes. Any harmful Schiz mutations that crop up are rapidly put under by natural selection. The Keller/Miller paper appears to be 68 pages of, "I know this idea doesn't work in practice but what about in theory?"
Feb 12, 2009: New Direction In Search For Genetic Causes Of Schizophrenia Proposed
"The literature is replete with dozens of genes and SNPs identified as associated with schizophrenia," says first author Anna Need, PhD, a postdoctoral associate in the Center for Human Genome Variation at the Duke Institute for Genome and Sciences Policy. "But we systematically retested all the leading candidates and concluded that most, if not all of them, are false positives."
I've got a new hypothesis, I call it the "Straight Uncle Theory."
Throughout prehistory straight uncles were more likely than gay or transgendered uncles to be chieftans or warriors. The higher status conferred upon elite tribal members decreased the mortality rate of their offspring and close relatives. Lower mortality increased the spread of genes related to heterosexuality.
Bonus Point:
Anyone who questions my hypothesis is a hater.
Throughout prehistory straight uncles were more likely than gay or transgendered uncles to be chieftans or warriors. The higher status conferred upon elite tribal members decreased the mortality rate of their offspring and close relatives. Lower mortality increased the spread of genes related to heterosexuality.
Bonus Point:
Anyone who questions my hypothesis is a hater.
Jason Malloy
Can you think of even one other phenomenon where scientists use a "Busted Uncle" hypothesis to explain it?
It could be a blind uncle, deaf uncle, infertile uncle, hopelessly unattractive uncle, any kind of uncle that has little chance to produce his own offspring.
I don't think this concept has ever been used to explain anything in humans.
Can you think of even one other phenomenon where scientists use a "Busted Uncle" hypothesis to explain it?
It could be a blind uncle, deaf uncle, infertile uncle, hopelessly unattractive uncle, any kind of uncle that has little chance to produce his own offspring.
I don't think this concept has ever been used to explain anything in humans.
Lorenzo
Nobody knows why some men are gay. However if in ten years time researchers discover that it's caused by exposure to a microbe during early childhood would it be a huge surprise to anyone?
Nobody knows why some men are gay. However if in ten years time researchers discover that it's caused by exposure to a microbe during early childhood would it be a huge surprise to anyone?
GB
PCB exposure does the same thing.
Boys with higher PCB exposures are less likely to engage in masculine patterns of play, and girls with higher exposure are more likely to engage in masculine play.
Even so I don't think this has much to do with sexual orientation, at least in males. Roselli has been trying to create gay (and straight) sheep for years by altering prenatal hormone levels. He can make them more or less masculine but he hasn't had any luck with orientation.
If homosexuality was caused by a hormone surplus or deficit it would be obvious because it would affect the body as well. If gay men were deprived of the right amount of prenatal testosterone they'd probably have a high rate of undescended testicles and things like that.
Ok, now in the case of "Butch" lesbians you might have a case. Their physiques are significantly more masculine than the average.
PCB exposure does the same thing.
Boys with higher PCB exposures are less likely to engage in masculine patterns of play, and girls with higher exposure are more likely to engage in masculine play.
Even so I don't think this has much to do with sexual orientation, at least in males. Roselli has been trying to create gay (and straight) sheep for years by altering prenatal hormone levels. He can make them more or less masculine but he hasn't had any luck with orientation.
If homosexuality was caused by a hormone surplus or deficit it would be obvious because it would affect the body as well. If gay men were deprived of the right amount of prenatal testosterone they'd probably have a high rate of undescended testicles and things like that.
Ok, now in the case of "Butch" lesbians you might have a case. Their physiques are significantly more masculine than the average.
gcochran
Those are some sad examples. Have you ever considered why mankind might select for stupidity? 8-)
BTW, even if nobody determines what causes homosexuality science is advancing so rapidly that someone will eventually reverse it by accident. Once that happens scientists might have the political cover to look for the cause.
Brain Birth Defects Successfully Reversed Through Stem Cell Therapy
These cells migrate in the brain, search for the deficiency that caused the defect, and then differentiate into becoming the cells needed to repair the damage.
The scientists are now in the midst of developing procedures for the least invasive method for administering the neural stem cells, which is probably via blood vessels, thus making the therapy practical and clinically feasible.
Those are some sad examples. Have you ever considered why mankind might select for stupidity? 8-)
BTW, even if nobody determines what causes homosexuality science is advancing so rapidly that someone will eventually reverse it by accident. Once that happens scientists might have the political cover to look for the cause.
Brain Birth Defects Successfully Reversed Through Stem Cell Therapy
These cells migrate in the brain, search for the deficiency that caused the defect, and then differentiate into becoming the cells needed to repair the damage.
The scientists are now in the midst of developing procedures for the least invasive method for administering the neural stem cells, which is probably via blood vessels, thus making the therapy practical and clinically feasible.
The only reason a concept as shabby as the "Gay Uncle" theory survives is because it is never compared to anything else.
Historically speaking all people have been expected to contribute and that includes the handicapped, infirm and infertile. Imagine the reaction if a researcher hypothesized that nature selects for eye damaging genes so that blind people can stay home and raise their relatives children. That hypothesis would be considered cosmically stupid.
Anybody can create an "x is busted Uncle" Theory and apply it to almost any disability. Does anyone know if a mainstream scientist has tried to use this general hypothesis in an attempt to explain any known disorder in humans?
Historically speaking all people have been expected to contribute and that includes the handicapped, infirm and infertile. Imagine the reaction if a researcher hypothesized that nature selects for eye damaging genes so that blind people can stay home and raise their relatives children. That hypothesis would be considered cosmically stupid.
Anybody can create an "x is busted Uncle" Theory and apply it to almost any disability. Does anyone know if a mainstream scientist has tried to use this general hypothesis in an attempt to explain any known disorder in humans?
…and the meltdown shall be blogged….
Winner of the 2008 World Press Photo of the Year contest
Armed sheriff moving through an American home after an eviction.
Armed sheriff moving through an American home after an eviction.
2 graphs from Reuters that explain the entire financial crisis.
GDP vs financial sector debt
GDP vs public and private sector debt
The private sector in the USA is flat broke. Since the private economy can't/won't spend the government is going to step in and spend.... until it's flat broke. I don't know how long that will take, maybe 4 or 5 years. After that hyperinflation.
GDP vs financial sector debt
GDP vs public and private sector debt
The private sector in the USA is flat broke. Since the private economy can't/won't spend the government is going to step in and spend.... until it's flat broke. I don't know how long that will take, maybe 4 or 5 years. After that hyperinflation.
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