Ancient Bones Hold TB Clues

A team of Israeli, Palestinian and German scientists is analyzing DNA from human remains that date back to the ancient city of Jericho to try to understand more about the origins of tuberculosis. Cynthia Graber reports Clues about modern-day tuberculosis could be found in some 6,000 year old bones. Israeli, Palestinian and German scientists have teamed up to investigate the remnants of diseases in bones excavated from the ancient city of Jericho. It’s an exercise in paleoepidemiology, the study of ancient diseases in mummified bodies and other human remains. The Jericho bones were unearthed by Dr. Kathleen Kenyon half a century ago. The DNA in the samples will be tested for tuberculosis, leprosy, leishmania and malaria. But the focus is on tuberculosis, which is the biggest killer today.

Scientists believe that tuberculosis originated in the Fertile Crescent 9-10,000 years ago. And Jericho is one of the earliest cities on earth, about 11,000 years old. So there’s a good chance TB could have gotten a start there. Researchers will be studying how early cities—the first time people lived in crowds—affected the DNA of microbes and their human hosts. They’ll also be looking at the remains of animals, which could have been disease vectors. Scientists on the team believe there’s sufficient DNA in the samples to provide new information about the origin and evolution of TB, which could help us combat it today.


Source: 60-Second Science

What is Medical Nanotechnology?

Medical nanotechnology is an emerging area that seeks to use microscopic robots, sensors, cameras or other devices to noninvasively diagnose, protect and treat patients from inside their own bodies, sometimes at the scale of individual cells. Much of this technology remains little more than science-fiction fantasy, but one medical nanotechnology that might reach fruition in the coming decade is the use of nanoscale particles to deliver drugs to specific sites within a patient's body.

Stomach Ulcer Bacteria Migrated with Humans 60,000 Years Ago

In 1985 Australian microbiologist Barry Marshall gobbled a Petri dish full of Helicobacter pylori to prove to the world that the bacteria, rather than stress and spicy foods, were the primary cause of stomach ulcers. Two decades later his recklessness was honoured with the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, which he shared with his colleague J. Robin Warren. In light of a new study, published in Nature, it is odd that it took so long to finger H. pylori as the source of bouts of abdominal pain, nausea and hemorrhagic vomiting. According to the new work, the pathogen has infected humans for over 60,000 years and its genetic transformation over that time is remarkably similar to that of man—making it a reasonable model for human migration and diversification.

"Like a trail of crumbs, the DNA of our Helicobacter pylori can show where we were born and where our ancestors travelled from over the past 60,000 years," says Marshall, a senior principal research fellow at the University of Western Australia.

According to a 2002 study (published in the New England Journal of Medicine), H. pylori infects 50 percent of the global population. The helical bacterium is the only known microorganism that can survive in the highly acidic mucus lining of the stomach and duodenum, and it is now thought to be the cause of most stomach ulcers and gastritis, an irritation or inflammation of the stomach lining. It is also a risk factor for stomach cancer.

The current study was conducted by an international group of scientists led by University of Cambridge in England and the Max Planck Institute for Biological Infections in Germany. Human populations were broken down by geographic area, moving out of East Africa, believed to be the cradle of human civilization, and into Western Europe, eastern Asia and southern Africa. Researchers were able to estimate that the pathogen emerged from East Africa—not China and southern Africa as previously surmised—between 54,500 and 61,500 years ago. A previous study on human settlement, by Balloux et al. estimated human emergence from the same locale to have occurred 51,500 to 61,500 years ago.

In addition, the research team focused on the microcosm of Europe. They showed that the pathogen was also a viable local model by noting that its pattern of population change on the continent suggested mixing from different geographic sources. This finding is backed by the literature on human migration, which argues that farmers in the Neolithic period moved into Europe from northern Africa and central Asia.

Marshall says molecular epidemiology—"looking at statistical relationships between bacteria from different races"—marks an improvement over studying human migration via ancient human DNA, which degrades if it is more than a few thousand years old. "At present, this is all rather new and the 'clock' has not been calibrated very exactly," he says, "but it is an exciting and fruitful area of new research."

Adapted from materials provided by Scientific American

Diabetes and Vitamin D

Diabetes is characterized by high glucose level in blood. Blood carries glucose to different parts of the body, which obtained through assimilation of the food. Glucose breakdown releases energy and allow the body to perform its necessary work. Glucose level in blood is maintained by insulin, a chemical, produced by pancreas cells of pancreas. Diabetic condition occurs when either pancreas cells fail to produce enough insulin or by the inability of cells of other organs to utilize the secreted insulin. There are three types of diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and gestational diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, insulin producing β (beta) cells in the pancreas are destroyed by the body's own immune system and there by insulin production decreases. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In this form, cells from other organs such as muscles and liver can not use the secreted insulin. Prior to develop type 2 diabetes, pancreas of anyone is known to function normally and secrete as much as insulin required by the body. But over the time, however, it loses its ability to produce sufficient amount of insulin. Thus when patient with type 2 diabetes intake more glucose rich food, the blood glucose level increases beyond the normal level and can be fatal. During the late stage of pregnancy, some women develop diabetes known as gestational diabetes. This form of diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born but the woman who has had it, is more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.

Regular exercise and proper diet help controlling the glucose level in one's body. In severe cases medication is required to avoid the severity of Diabetes. Prolonged uncontrolled diabetes leads to many complication like heart attack, blindness, kidney failure and leg ulcers. A recent study, conducted in the National Public Health Institute, Finland, has shown that a good dose of Vitamin D can help protect anyone against diabetes. Another study has shown that Vitamin D supplements in early childhood may cuts the development of type 1 diabetes in later life. Researchers have found that low blood levels of Vitamin D interfere with the proper function of insulin-producing cells. Low Vitamin D levels also result in an increase in the risk of insulin resistance, even in otherwise healthy individuals. Sunlight helps synthesizing vitamin D in human body. So, consider stepping into the sunshine if you want to increase your own vitamin D levels by natural and thereby reduce the risk of developing diabetes.

Red Alert for Toxic Plastic

The first large study in humans of a chemical widely used in everyday plastics has found that people with higher levels of bisphenol A (BPA) had higher rates of heart disease, diabetes and liver abnormalities, a finding that immediately became the focus of the increasingly heated debate over the safety of the chemical.

The research, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association by a team of British and American scientists, compared the health status of 1,455 men and women with the levels of the chemical, known as BPA, in their urine. The researchers divided the subjects into four statistical groupings according to their BPA levels and found that those in the quartile with the highest concentrations were nearly three times as likely to have cardiovascular disease than those with the lowest levels, and 2.4 times as likely to have diabetes. Higher BPA levels were also associated with abnormal concentrations of three liver enzymes.

The BPA exposure in the study were below those deemed safe by the US Government, adding to a growing body of studies in animals that have linked low-level BPA exposure to various disorders. Trade groups representing the chemical industry and metal can producers dismissed the results. "Due to inherent limitations in study design, this new study cannot support a conclusion that BPA causes any disease," Steven G. Hentges of the American Chemistry Council said in a statement.

“Higher urinary concentrations of BPA were associated with an increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and liver-enzyme abnormalities” wrote the team of British and American researchers of Peninsula Medical school in Exeter, England. They also say follow­-up studies are needed to confirm their work and to determine whether BPA caused the observed health problems.

The British researchers noted that humans are also exposed BPA through the air and contact with the skin. Those findings ran counter to a report by another federal agency, the National Toxicology Program, which found “some concern” that BPA might cause developmental problems in the brain and hormonal systems of infants.

The FDA regulates the compound's use in plastic food containers, bottles, tableware and the plastic linings of food cans. In light of the controversy surrounding the chemical, the agency is reviewing its policy. It issued a draft statement last month that repeated its position that BPA is safe for food and beverage packaging, but it also tapped six outside scientists to review the scientific literature and make a recommendation to agency officials. Notably, more than 100 studies have linked BPA exposure to health effects in animals. The FDA maintains that BPA is safe largely on the basis of two studies funded by the chemical industry, a fact that was repeatedly cited at yesterday's forum.

Adapted from materials provided by The Washington Post

More infortmation on BPA

What is BPA?

BPA is a chemical produced in large quantities to produce polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. It is used to give polycarbonate plastics its unbreakable quality.

Where is BPA found?

BPA found in some food and drink packaging, such as water and infant bottles, compact discs (CD), impact resistant safety equipment, dental sealants and medical devices.

How does BPA get in to the body?

The primary source is the diet. BPA can leach into our food from the protective internal epoxy resin coatings of canned foods and from consumer products such as polycarbonate tableware, food storage containers, water bottles and baby bottles. The degree to which BPA leaches from polycarbonate bottles into liquid may depend more on the temperature of the liquid or bottle , than the age of the container. BPA can also found in breast milk.

Source: National Institute of Environmental Health Science (US)

How to avoid BPA exposure?

• Do not microwave polycarbonate plastic food containers. Polycarbonate is strong and durable but over time it may break down from over use at high temperature.
  
• Avoid polycarbonate containers that contain BPA, which usually have number 7 on the bottom (http://recyclenow.org/r_plastics.html).
  
• Reduce your use of canned foods. When possible, use glass, porcelain or stainless steel containers, particularly for hot food and liquids.
  
• Use baby bottles that are BPA free.
  

Prevent skin cancer: Coffee, tea, or...sunscreen?

Coffee, tea, or...sunscreen? That might one day happen if research into the anti-skin cancer properties of caffeine proves true. As this ScienCentral report explains, research into the effects of caffeine in mice shows it can help get rid of sun damaged skin cells before they become cancerous.

Mother’s Flu Shot Protects Newborns

Newborns can be protected from seasonal flu when their mothers are vaccinated during pregnancy, according to a study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in collaboration with researchers from the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research (ICDDR,B).

The researchers observed a 63 percent reduction in proven influenza illness among infants born to vaccinated mothers while the number of serious respiratory illnesses to both mothers and infants dropped by 36 percent. The study is the first to demonstrate that the inactivated influenza vaccine provides protection to both mother and newborn. The findings were presented during the National Vaccine Advisory Committee meeting in Washington, D.C. on September 17 and will be published in the October 9 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers observed 340 mothers and their infants as part of the larger Mother’s Gift vaccine evaluation study. The mothers were randomly selected to receive either flu vaccine or pneumococcal vaccine.

The inactivated influenza vaccine (the flu shot) is not licensed for infants younger than six months. The alternative nasal flu vaccine is not available for children under age 2. The flu shot has been recommended for pregnant women in the U.S. since 1997, although approximately 15 percent of pregnant women are vaccinated each year. “Even though there is no flu vaccine for these children, our study shows that a newborn’s risk of infection can be greatly reduced by vaccinating mom during pregnancy. It’s a two for one benefit,” said Mark Steinhoff, MD, the study’s senior author and professor in the Bloomberg School’s Department of International Health. “Pregnant woman should be encouraged to be vaccinated for the flu to protect their infants and themselves,” said Steinhoff.

Additional authors of the study include K. Zaman, S.E. Arifeen, M. Rahman, R. Raqui, N. Shahid and R.F. Breiman from the International Centre for Diarrheal Disease Research in Bangladesh. E. Wilson is with the Bloomberg School of Public Health and S. B. Omer is with Emory University. The research was supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the NPVO Research Fund, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Inc., the Thrasher Research Fund, Aventis Pasteur, ICDDR,B and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Adapted from materials provided by Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Synesthesia: Hearing motion

Some people have a rare condition called synesthesia, where their senses are somewhat crossed. Now scientists have found a new type of that condition: people who “hear” motion.

HIV-Immune Cells

The observation of rare individuals who are naturally immune to the AIDS virus led the researchers to identify the genetic basis of this immunity. Based on these findings, scientists are now considering using a new technology to genetically modify AIDS patients' own cells to be resistant to HIV. Quite promising!

Prevent Malaria using Virus: Not too far off

Malaria continues to be a major public health concern worldwide, especially in tropical countries. Each year, there are approximately 515 million cases of malaria, killing between one and three million people, the majority of whom are young children in Sub-Saharan Africa. Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by protozoan parasites (Plasmodium falciparum, Plasmodium ovale, and Plasmodium malariae) belong to the genus Plasmodium. Mosquito is the vector or carrier of these parasites into the human body. Mosquitoes also act as a vector for viruses and caused diseases like yellow fever, dengue fever, epidemic polyarthritis, Rift Valley fever, Ross River Fever, St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile virus (WNV), Japanese encephalitis, La Crosse encephalitis and several other encephalitis. Currently pesticide use and maintaining clean environment are the two most effective preventive measures followed in most of the countries to control the reproduction of mosquitoes. Although some are under development, no vaccine is currently available for malaria.

Is there any way to get rid of mosquitoes and so the malaria? Some people use herbal or chemical based mosquito repellent lotion or oil. The efficacy of mosquito repellent lotions is low and provides very limited protection in terms of duration and number of people. Furthermore, most of us are not ready to accept the mosquito repellent lotions as a replacement to our everyday skin care lotions! So, how to manage this tiny insect? Is there really no way to control them? Until now the answer was “No”. But researchers at Johns Hopkins University are now hoping that mosquitoes can be controlled and that using virus. Researchers have found a new virus that infects the world's most dangerous mosquito, called Anopheles gambiae. This mosquito is the chief malaria vector in Africa. This aggressive human-biter also bites animals and hide in huts. In the PLoS Pathogen journal, scientist described the virus as the first densovirus found in this African mosquito. Although the virus is harmless to the mosquito, but scientists are confident to manipulate the genetic elements of the virus in such a way that once the genetically manipulated virus infects this mosquito, it will reproduce inside the mosquito and will kill them within 10 days. This is good news indeed, although this work could take 5 to 15 years because of the regulatory and ethical barriers to releasing a virus in to wild mosquitoes. Are you ready to wait for 15 or more years to see the viral weapon against mosquitoes or you would consider mosquitoes repellent as a permanent replacement of your lovely beauty lotions to protect yourself from mosquito bite?

Watch CES: Spider Robot!

Amazing! Amazing! Amazing! I have lost my words!

Virus infects virus: Mimivirus paradigm

A virus is a sub-microscopic infectious agent that is unable to grow or reproduce outside a host cell. A complete virus particle, known as a virion, consists of genetic material (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protective coat of protein called a capsid.Viruses infect all cellular life forms and are grouped into animal, plant and bacterial types, according to the type of host infected. Viruses that infect bacteria are known as bacateriophage or simply, phage. Once a phage infects a bacteria, it may have either a lytic cycle or a lysogenic cycle, inside the bacterial cell. A phage that follows a lytic cycle is called lytic phage (virulent phage) and that follow a lysogenic cycle is called lysogenic phage (temperate phage). However, a few viruses are capable of carrying out both lytic and lysogenic cycles, for example, lambda phage. In lytic cycle, the phage (eg. T4 phage) upon entering entering in to the bacterial cell, replicate and lyse (destroy) the bacterial cell. In contrast, in lysogenic cycle the viral genome integrates (or lysogenize) with host DNA and replicate along with it fairly harmlessly, or may even become established as a plasmid and retain inside the bacterial cell. Integrated lysogenic phages are also called propahge. Sometimes prophages may provide benefits to the host bacterium while they are dormant by adding new functions to the bacterial genome in a phenomenon called lysogenic conversion. A famous example is the conversion of a harmless strain of Vibrio cholerae by a phage (CTXØ) into a highly virulent one, which causes cholera.

So far this was all about virus that infects bacteria.

What about virus that infects another virus? There are viruses that infect giant viruses. Marine virologists have reported such small viruses occurring with larger ones in marine protist populations. Small viruses or so called “satellite viruses” require other larger viruses, especially for their reproduction, since they lack essential functions for multiplication. Usually satellite viruses are harmless to their giant virus host. Most recently, La Scola et al. report in Nature (2008) that a small virus, named Sputnik infects a giant DNA virus named Mimivirus (Acanthamoeba polyphaga mimivirus, or APM) and the infection decreases the yield of APM virions and generates APM virions with aberrant morphologies in amoeba cells. Since, unlike usual satellite viruses, Sputnik uses its host’s (Mimivirus) virus machinery and impairs its fitness authors call Sputnik a “virophage.” Sputnik (named after “traveling companion” in Russian) is an icosahedral virus with a DNA genome encoding 21 genes and was isolated in a cooling tower in Paris. Mimivirus once thought to be a bacterium since it contains more number of genes than many bacteria and bear properties like cellular organism. It is five to ten times larger than any other known virus It was La Scola et al. who classified it as a virus in 2003. Discovery of giant Mimivirus and its relation to Sputnik are expected to provide new clues to the virus-virus interaction in virosphere and its impact in the evolution of viruses.

Week's scientific term:

Ex vivo

1. The Latin meaning of "ex vivo" is “out of the living”.
2. In biological science, ex vivo refers to experimentation or measurements done in or on living cell or tissue collected from an organism and cultured in a laboratory apparatus. For example, experiment that involves cell line (cell culture) or tissue cultures are ex vivo studies. HeLa(Henrietta Lacks) and CHO (Chinese hamster ovary) are eamaples of two cell lines, of which, the formar one originate with human and later one originate with animal.
3. Ex vivo should not be confused with the term “in vitro”. Usually, ex vivo describes the type of a study that involves living cell or tissue whereas “in vitro” used to indicate studies conducted in an artifical environment outside the cell or host. Commonly, ex vivo studies are usually performed in vitro.

Announcement: Let’s learn the basic of Medical Diagnostic Tests every week

Disease, Doctor, Drug and Diagnostic tests are some fearsome words in my life. And this is because I am not a physician. However, how huge the fear is, we all, at least once in our life time see a physician with our quires on our health. Physicians help us to cure from diseases by providing medication and valuable advice. Since Medical is a technical subject, the language of our physicians sounds quite hard for many of us. For example, your physician advised you to do endoscopy to diagnose your disease related to stomach. Since you don’t know anything about the endoscopy test, you will be stressed imagining how painful and strange the test procedure could be until the test is done. But how about if you know a little in advance, if not all, about the diagnostic test you are going to face in the next morning? That indeed, would be very good, since your knowledge will prevent your mind to create horrible dreams on the diagnostic test that you were recommended to do. For many of us learning Medical is very difficult and perhaps totally impossible. But knowing the basic information is indeed simple, especially, by reading an article that has used minimum Medical Terms and also provided explanation of the terms. By keeping this problem in mind, the blog is going to introduce one medical diagnostic weekly. Please keep your eyes on the blog and minimize your fear toward medical procedures, especially diagnostic tests. We will also try our best to provide you information on new and emerging diagnostic tests.

Thanks for your attention.

Announcement: Let’s learn “Scientific Terms” and “Scientific Acronyms”

You all know that the language of a scientific article is a bit different from a non-technical article and this is “scientific terms” that mainly brings the difference between a technical and a non-technical article. This is not always true that the knowledge of scientific terminology is mandatory for the reader of a scientific article but knowledge of scientific terminology certainly improve your assimilation and definitely ease your understanding of any scientific article. You will be happy to know that the blog is, therefore, going to publish one Scientific Term and its explanation weekly, from any field of science. We would also like to announce that every week the blog is also going to publish 2-3 Scientific and Technical Acronyms and their expanded form. So, please keep your eyes open and take the opportunity to learn more.

Thanks for your kind attention.

Research News: Role of a Microbe inside a Marine Host

The symbiotic relationship between two different organisms is indeed a fascinating event in nature. Very recently, scientists from USA published their research outcome (PNAS August 12, 2008 vol. 105 no. 32 11323-11328) on symbiotic relationship between a microbe (Vibrio fischeri) and a squid (scientific name: Euprymna scolopes). In the article, Chun et al described the effects of colonization, luminescence, and autoinducer on host transcription during squid-vibrio symbiosis, by using glass-slide microarray. The article provided significant insight in to the role of bioluminescence in preparing the host for bacteria-induced development. Based on the comparative analysis, authors in the article also revealed a set of genes possibly associated with host response towards its symbiotic partner. This article will certainly rich the understanding of the host-microbe interaction and genetic machinery involved in the development of such relationship.

Glossary

Bioluminescence
Bioluminescence refers to the ability of a living organism to emit lightis. Bioluminescence is produced by a living organism as the result of a chemical reaction during which chemical energy is converted to light energy. It should not be confused with fluorescence, phosphorescence or refraction of light, which describes other forms of light emission. Bioluminescence occurs in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as microorganisms and terrestrial animals. Symbiotic organisms carried within larger organisms are also known to bioluminesce.

Squid
Squid are one kind of marine animal. Many species of squid are consumed by human as sea-food.

Symbiosis
Symbiosis is a relationship between two organisms which could be mutalistic (both organisms are benefited by the relationship), parasitic (one member of the association benefits while the other is harmed), or commensal (one organism benefits and the other is not significantly harmed or helped) in nature.

WiTricity: Wireless Transfer of Electrical Energy

We all know that the data transfer from one PC (Personal Computer) to another is now possible without any wire between two PCs. How about if you do not need to carry any more the bunch of heavy weight adaptors and power cords to switch on and/or recharge your laptop, cell phone, mp3 player and other portable electronics? How about if your cell phone charges itself without ever being plugged in? How about if you no need to carry the bulky batteries for your laptop any more? Obviously that will be fantastic!

WiTricity (originated from words “Wireless” and “Electricity”) describes such an ability that transfers electrical power without wires to remote objects. The WiTricity protocol still is in its infancy and it was Nikola Tesla, who first demonstrated a "transmission of electrical energy without wires" in 1891 and since then a little development has been made in this field. In the last few years exponential growth of portable electronic devices, especially mobile devices led the scientists to rethink about wireless transmission of electricity. Although the mobile phone in your hand can wirelessly connect you another mobile phone, but the power cord is the last wire that you can’t avoid. Here the WiTricity will play its role and the mobile phone will never run out of charge, you will never be in a hurry while working in your laptop, seeing the alarming battery bar and you will never be frustrated again realizing that you forgot to carry the power cord of your notebook with you. This will happen as electrical power will continuously be transferred to your portable electrical gadgets wirelessly in the name of WiTricity.

However, until now, most of WiTricity remains theoretical and then in 2007, a truly ground-breaking success has been made in the field of WiTricity by a group of scientists from MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) of USA. Researchers form MIT successfully light up a 60-watt light bulb using a power source that was 2 meters (7 feet) away and there were no physical connection between the bulb and the power source. Notably, the energy transfer efficiency was around 40% which means 60% of energy could not be transferred and thereby wasted. The bulb was even made to glow when obstructions such as wood, metal and electronic devices were placed between the bulb and power source. Is it not revolutionary?

This achievement in the field of WiTricity is indeed an apparent indication that we are on our way to make a wireless world, shortly, where I may need to write an article on the wire as an antique element for future generation.

Motion Sickness or Kinetosis: How to manage?

What is “Motion sickness”? As the name itself indicates, the sickness chiefly associated with “Motion” that someone experiences, especially when travels by car, ship or airplane. The condition is also referred to as “carsickness”, “seasickness”, “airsickness”, or “space sickness”. The symptoms of motion sickness are nausea (the feeling of being about to vomit), vomiting, dizziness (a whirling sensation and a tendency to fall), mood changes, mental depression, fatigue, sweating, and a sense of feeling sick. Motion sickness may also trigger migraines (a severe recurring headache, usually affecting only one side of the head, that is characterized by sharp, throbbing pain and is often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, sensitivity to light, and visual disturbances.), even in people who do not ordinarily have them. About a third of the population is susceptible to motion sickness, with varying degrees of severity. While it may occur at any age and sex, this is fairly believed that women than men are more susceptible to the motion sickness.

How does “Motion sickness” occur? Although the exact cause of motion sickness is still unclear, but it is fairly believed that disagreement among messages (biochemical) that are relayed by human sensory organs (eyes, inner ear, skin receptors etc.) in response to the surrounding environments. For example, you are reading a book in the back seat of a moving car. Your inner ears sense the motion of the moving car and relay a message to the central nervous system (CNS) that you are moving. In contrast, the eyes record your movement as static as the book you are reading is static and thus the eyes relay an opposite message to the CNS that you are not moving. Due to this conflicting information, the CNS fails to detect the body’s correct state of movement and thereby motion sickness symptoms like nausea, vomiting, dizziness etc develop. Notably, the symptoms of motion sickness usually, but not always, stop when the motion that causes it ceases.

Treatments: There are both prescription and nonprescription medications for the motion sickness. Over-the-counter medications include dimenhydrinate (Dramamine), meclizine (Bonine), and cyclizin (Marezine). These drugs are antihistamines and relieve motion sickness symptoms by reducing input form the inner ear to the CNS. Side effects of these drugs range from mostly drowsiness to dry mouth. Alternative medicines are also known to be very effective in treating motion sickness. Consumption of ½ or 1 teaspoon of the fresh ground Ginger (Zingiber officinale) root per day, four hours prior to car or boat ride found to be very effective in treating motion sickness. Peppermint is another well known alternative medicine for motion sickness. Traveling related precautions listed bellow also helps managing motion sickness efficiently:

• Avoid alcohol and rich food with high fat content, both before and during a trip.
  
• If you are traveling by boat or ship, stay in the middle and on the upper deck.
  
• In a car or a Bus, don’t sit in a seat that faces backwards, avoid reading or activities that cause you put your head down.
  
• Look forward, not sideways from car or bus.
  
• Don’t move your head round to converse.
  
• Wear headphones and listen to soothing music.
  
• In airplane choose your sit at middle row.
  
• Calm your mind before you take a ride.
  
• Keep yourself busy thinking something funny.

Birds of Paradise: A title that bonds a bird and a flower

We all know that the Birds of Paradise are a group of birds that mostly found in Asia and Australia. But there is plant (belongs to the family Strelitziacea) that blooms with a flower, also named as Bird of Paradise. The name Bird of Paradise comes from the flower shape which resembles a birds beak and head plumage. Is it just a co-incidence or the mimicry-loving nature's play?


There were no Bird of Paradise plant in Bangladesh since 2006 and then a nature-loving Bangladeshi guy (I apologize as I forgot the name) bought this plant (most probably from Canada) and planted in the garden in front of Bangla Academy. I read this news in a local Daily News paper couple of years back. If any one have any updates regarding Bird of Paradise in Bangladesh, please let us also know.