Stress and brain

This acticle is my canadian friend send to me. My teacher always asks us to read articles from bbc.com. I am shame that I seldom read article on bbc.com. not until my friend send me this article... i don't find that some articles is very interesting and can broaden my horizons...

Why he sent me this article? maybe I always forget something. so he thought some of my brain cells killed.

He trys to find out the reason about my bad memory. Finally, he thinks it may due to the stress that i carry too much! If brain cells killed, it will never renew. Anyway, I should stop this tragedy contiuous...

Thank for XXX about sending me this article and save my remained brain cells!!! (Ah! he teaches me english sometime... )

You want to know who is XXX? Oh! it is secret... I don't want to post his name...coz it is private ! I think he doesn't want me to post his name here too!!!

Best wishes to you !!! hope you will enjoy your university life in canada!

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Stressful event kills brain cells

A single
episode of severe stress can be enough to kill off new nerve cells in the brain,
research suggests.

Rosalind Franklin University researchers believe their finding may give new
insights into the development of depression.

Working on rats, they found that cells were lost in the hippocampus, an area
of the brain which processes learning, memory and emotion.

The study features in the Journal of Neuroscience.

The researchers found that in young rats, the stress of encountering
aggressive, older rats did not stop the generation of new nerve cells in the
hippocampus.

However, it did prevent the cells from surviving - leaving fewer new neurons
for processing feelings and emotions.

The hippocampus is one of two regions of the brain that continues to develop
new nerve cells throughout life, in both rats and humans.

Treatment hope

The researchers believe the loss of cells could be one cause of depression.

However, their work also raises hope of possible treatments to stop acute
stress from contributing to mood problems.

They found that cells tended to die not immediately following a stressful
situation, but after a delay of 24 hours or more.

In principle, they argue it could eventually be possible to administer
treatment during this time to prevent cells being lost.

The researchers put each young rat in a cage with two older rats for 20
minutes.

The older rats quickly pinned down, and in many cases, bit the intruder.

The young rats had stress hormone levels six times as high as those who were
not caged with older animals.

Microscope analysis

However, microscopic analysis of brain tissue showed that their ability to
generate new cells in the hippocampus remained undimmed.

This seemed to disprove a previous theory that stress hormones put a brake on
the generation of new cells.

A week after the encounter, however, only a third of the new cells had
survived.

Long-term survival of nerve cells was also compromised.

In another part of their study, the researchers marked newborn cells in the
hippocampus, and subjected rats to stress a week later.

At the end of the month they counted a third fewer fully developed nerve
cells.

Lead researcher Dr Daniel Peterson said the next step was to understand how
stress reduced cell survival.

Mixed results

Professor David Kendall, from the University of Nottingham, said previous
research had shown that longer-term, unpredictable mild stress could depress
nerve cell generation in the hippocampus.

That study suggested the key seemed to be a reduction in production of a
hormone that helps keep brain cells alive.

However, Professor Kendall said there was also evidence to suggest that mild
stress could be protective.

"You might remember the issue of London cabbies allegedly having bigger
hippocampi related to the stress of acquiring "The Knowledge".

"The rule of thumb seems to be; a little stress is good for you but
severe/unpredictable stress is bad."

Acne

Very painful... Acnes on my face... that why i search articles from the internet...

Actually i search many acticle... i find that few are very good. so i post these on my page. I hope i can help myself and others like me...I also link it to the original websites. please feel free to browse the websites!!!

What causes acne?

Acne is caused by the overactivity of the sebaceous glands that secrete oily
substances onto the skin.

The sebaceous glands of people with acne are especially sensitive to normal
blood levels of a hormone called testosterone, found naturally in both men and
women.

Testosterone in people prone to acne triggers the sebaceous glands to produce
an excess of sebum. At the same time, the dead skin cells lining the openings of
the hair follicles (the tubes that hold the hair) are not shed properly and clog
up the follicles.

These two effects combined cause a build-up of oil in the hair follicles.
This causes blackheads and whiteheads to form.

For some people, their acne does not progress beyond this stage.

However in other people, the build-up of oil in the hair follicles creates an
ideal environment for a bacterium called Propionibacterium acnes to grow.

These bacteria normally live harmlessly on your skin but when this ideal
environment is created, they grow. They feed off the sebum and produce
substances that cause a response from your body's immune system. This inflames
the skin and creates the redness associated with spots.

In more severe 'inflammatory acne', cysts develop beneath the skin's surface.
These acne cysts can rupture, spreading the infection into nearby skin tissue.
This can result in scarring.

Acne myths

Contrary to popular belief acne is not caused by:

• eating fatty food or chocolate¹


• dirt - blackheads get their dark colour through excess skin pigment - not
  dirt so washing more does not help, although if you do not wash your skin at
  all, bacteria will be able to multiply^1,5

Acne is not contagious, so you cannot catch it.¹

What makes acne worse?

There are a number of things that can make your acne worse.
These include the following:

• picking and squeezing the spots may cause further inflammation and
  scarring¹


• stress can make acne worse in some people, although it is not clear why^1,5
  


• in women, outbreaks may be affected by the hormonal changes that occur
  during the menstrual cycle^1,5


• excessive production of male hormones such as testosterone from conditions
  such as polycystic ovary syndrome may be another cause.⁵ For more
  information, please see the separate BUPA factsheet Polycystic ovary
  syndrome


• some contraceptive pills may make acne worse. This is due to the type of
  progestogen hormone in some pills whereas some other types of contraceptive
  pills can improve acne - see Treatments section below. Your GP will
  advise you which contraceptive pill to take^1,5


• some medicines can make acne worse. For example, some medicines taken for
  epilepsy, and steroid creams and ointments that are used for eczema. Do not
  stop a prescribed medicine if you suspect it is making your acne worse, but
  tell your GP. An alternative may be an option^1,5


• steroids can cause acne as a side-effect^1,5

Diagnosing acne

Acne is easily recognised by the appearance of the spots, and by their
distribution on the body.

There are several varieties of acne and your doctor will be able to tell you
which type you have after examining your skin.

Treatment

Acne may cause you considerable emotional distress but there is a range of
treatment options to help you tackle the problem. No treatment will completely
'cure' your acne. The aims of treatment are to prevent new spots forming, to
improve those already present, and to prevent scarring.³

Home treatment

It is important to keep spot-prone areas clean, so wash the
affected area twice a day with an unperfumed cleanser.^1,6 The skin
needs a certain amount of oil to maintain its natural condition, so avoid
aggressive washing with strong soaps.

There are a number of over-the-counter remedies available from pharmacies to
treat mild acne. These usually contain antibacterial agents such as benzoyl
peroxide (eg Oxy and Clearasil Max).

As well as its antibacterial effects, benzoyl peroxide can dry out the skin
and encourage it to shed the surface layer of dead skin. Together, these effects
make it harder for pores to become blocked and for infection to develop.

Benzoyl peroxide can cause redness and peeling, especially to start with.
This tends to settle down if you reduce the number of times you use it. You can
then build up your use gradually.⁷

No home treatments for acne will work immediately. It can take weeks, if not
months, for significant effects to be noticeable. If home treatments have not
worked after two months, or you have severe acne, you should visit your GP.⁷

Prescription medicines

Your GP may start your treatment by prescribing a
preparation containing benzoyl peroxide. If this does not work, or if you have
more severe acne, there are a range of other treatment options that you can
either rub onto your skin (topical) or take in tablet form (oral).

Topical treatments

There are several topical treatments you may be prescribed
including those listed below:

• azelaic acid (Skinoren) is an alternative to benzoyl peroxide and may not
  make your skin as sore as benzoyl peroxide⁷


• topical retinoids (eg Adapalene) are medicines based on vitamin A, which
  are rubbed into the skin once or twice a day.⁷ They work by
  encouraging the outer layer of skin to flake off


• a topical antibiotic lotion applied to the skin can be used to control the
  P. acnes bacteria (eg Dalacin T). Treatment needs to continue for at least six
  months. Preparations that combine an antibiotic with other acne medication are
  available (eg Benzamycin which combines an antibiotic with benzoyl peroxide)⁷
  

Oral treatments

There are several oral treatments you may be prescribed
including those listed below:

• oral antibiotics (tablets), such as tetracycline, can be prescribed for
  inflammatory acne. They should be taken daily for around three months,
  although it might take four to six months for the benefits to be seen.⁷
  The success of this treatment can be limited because the strains of bacteria
  are often resistant to the common antibiotics. Antibiotics do not prevent
  pores from becoming blocked so treatment to prevent blackheads, such as
  benzoyl peroxide, is often also prescribed at the same time


• some types of oral contraceptive tablets help women who have acne. A
  combination of the usual pill hormone called ethinylestradiol with cyproterone
  acetate (eg Dianette) suppresses male hormone activity so is often used in
  women with acne^4,7


• isotretinoin (eg Roaccutane) is a medicine known as an oral retinoid,
  which also exists in a topical form (see above). Isotretinoin works by drying
  up oily secretions. It tends to be prescribed to people with severe forms of
  acne that have proved resistant to other treatments. There a number of serious
  side-effects of this drug, such as liver disorders and depresssion.^3,7
  You should not take isotretinoin if you are pregnant, as it is very dangerous
  to an unborn baby.⁷ For safety reasons, isotretinoin is only
  prescribed under the supervision of dermatology specialists

most common medicines:
Anabolic steroids (e.g., danazol [Danocrine], testosterone)
Bromides
Corticosteroids (e.g., prednisone [Deltasone])
Corticotropin (H.P. Acthar)
Isoniazid (Nydrazid)
Lithium
Phenytoin (Dilantin)

Less commonly:
Azathioprine (Imuran)
Cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral)
Disulfiram (Antabuse)
Phenobarbital
Quinidine
Tetracycline
Vitamins B1, B6, B12, and D2

----------------------------------------------

Antibiotics Used to Treat Acne

From Heather Brannon, MD,

Your Guide to Skin & Beauty.

FREE Newsletter.

Sign Up Now!

Acne is caused by the effects of hormones on the
pilosebaceous
unit, consisting of a hair follicle, sebaceous gland, and a hair. The
follicle becomes obstructed and an overgrowth of a normal skin bacteria,
Propionibacterium acnes, causes destruction of the lining of the follicle.
This process allows follicular material to enter the
dermis,
causing an inflammatory response. For a more detailed description of this
process, see
What Causes Acne?

How Antibiotics Work for Acne

Antibiotics work by several mechanisms. The most important is the decrease in
the number of bacteria in and around the follicle. Antibiotics also work by
reducing the irritating chemicals produced by white blood cells.

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Finally, antibiotics reduce the concentration of free fatty acids in the
sebum, also reducing the inflammatory response. The most frequently used
antibiotics for acne are summarized here.

Tetracycline


Tetracycline is the most widely prescribed antibiotic for acne. The usual
starting dose is 500 mg twice a day continued until a significant decrease in
acne lesions is seen. The dose can then be decreased to 250 mg twice a day or
discontinued. The main drawback for this antibiotic is that it must be taken
on an empty stomach to be the most effective. For a teenage boy who eats
frequently, this can be very difficult. Tetracycline should not be given to
pregnant women or children under 9 years of age.

Erythromycin


Erythromycin is a very commonly used antibiotic for acne. It has several
advantages over tetracycline. First, it has anti-inflammatory properties that
help reduce redness in
lesions, in
addition to killing bacteria. Also, it can and should be taken with food - a
benefit for teenagers. The dosage of erythromycin varies with the type used,
but it is typically prescribed as 250 - 500 mg twice a day. It can cause
stomach upset and nausea, but can be used in pregnant women.

Minocycline


Minocycline is a tetracycline derivative that has been used effectively
for decades as a treatment for acne. It is especially useful for
pustular
type acne. While the absorption of minocycline is decreased with food, it is
not as significant as the decrease seen with tetracycline. The usual starting
dose is 50 to 100 mg twice a day. Major side effects of minocycline include
dizziness, nausea, vomiting, skin pigmentation changes, and tooth
discoloration. The skin and tooth changes are seen more often in people who
have taken minocycline for a long time.

Doxycycline


Doxycycline is often used for people who do not respond to or cannot
tolerate erythromycin or tetracycline. The dosage of doxycycline is started at
50 to 100 mg twice a day. It should be taken with food; otherwise it can cause
significant nausea. Doxycycline is more likely than tetracycline to increase
sensitivity to the sun, or cause sunburns.

Clindamycin


Clindamycin is very useful as an oral antibiotic for acne, but it is most
widely prescribed as a topical antibiotic. The starting dose is 75 to 150 mg
twice a day. The major side effect of clindamycin therapy is serious
intestinal infection called pseudomembranous colitis caused by the bacteria,
Clostridium difficile.

Side Effects of All Antibiotics

All antibiotics can cause candida vaginal yeast infections in women.
Tetracycline seems to be the antibiotic that most frequently has this side
effect. All oral antibiotics can also lessen the effectiveness of birth
control pills,

Suggested Reading
What Causes Acne?Acne
- Blackheads & WhiteheadsTake
the Acne Quiz

Acne Treatment

Treatment of Acne With Accutane

Benefit of exercise?or Disadvantage of exercise?

Why I write this acticle???

I love to investigate the relationships between hormones and human body. that why I'm always searching some website that related to human hormone.Previously, I have written an acticle about hormones and love. I recognize love is drived by hormone from a korean movie called "My name is Kam Samsoon" at ATV. So I would like to translate it into English because some of my friends is foreigners. They can read english only that why I translate it into English. Although there are many grammetical mistakes, they can still understand. If you want to have a look about love drive hormone, please feel free to read at my novel.

Recently I read a news from China Business Newspaper. I find that the acticle is quite special- "Idle guide to a long life ".

it is a both sided short essay about the benefits of doing exercise, and disadvantages of doing exercise especially excessive exercise.

Before reading the below study . I would like to said exercise is good for health... but everything should not be excess. This theory can apply to exercise too. Say, don't eat too much, don't sing too louder, don't eat too much vitamins (especially vitamin A), don't play too much TV games, don't play too much computer games... we all heard that before right?

I believe exercise can help us to build up self-confidence, reduce stress and improve sleeping.

ME

I'm used to doing exercise, when i feel sad or worry. It can help me to release my stress because exercise help to release Endorphins which make you feel good about yourself again depression.

Cons of doing exercise:

Exercise lowers the blood pressure, improves your metabolic state and can improve health and contribute to a longer life.

20 to 40 minutes of exercise, three times a week, is the best way to improve cardiovascular health, the immune system and general physical well-being.

Exercising and building up fitness actually improves your mental state and helps you keep pace with the demands of modern life.

Growth hormone enhancing exercises involves the bigger muscles of our body (legs, back, and shoulders). Exercises that will stimulate the release of growth hormone are those that include the larger muscle groups such as squats, lunges, and dead lifts.

A study show that the activity of the men increased, their death rates decreased
Men who expended at least 2,000 calories doing moderately vigorous exercise, such as playing tennis or jogging, lowered their overall death rates by 25-33% and decreased their risk of coronary artery disease by 41% when compared to the more sedentary alumni.

Running, race walking, and aerobic exercise stimulates the neuroendocrine system, releasing brain chemicals called endorphins and the catecholamines. These brain chemicals stimulate growth hormone secretion. The only catch is that these exercises have to be done in an intense level (70% to 80% of VO2 max). In other words, intensive exercise is equivalent to taking a potent growth hormone releaser.

Muscle is not converted into fat. But what you can do is to lose the fat through proper burning of calories in exercise. Concurrently, you build up lean body mass by strength training.

Running is a quick way to lose fat and change body composition towards an increase of lean body mass. As you gain more lean body mass, you are metabolically more active and release more growth hormone for anti-aging purposes. Running, in and of itself, at a moderate pace also stimulates growth hormone release.

Exercise is a good way to cleanse your mind and emotions. If your mind is cluttered, it will become fresh following exercise. If you are exercising properly, your mind will actually be at rest. That's why people who exercise regularly are more productive and creative. Keep in mind that you cannot relive stress and get the full benefit of exercise if you are in an environment with constant interruption.

Pros of not doing exercise too much:

A famous study of 17,000 Harvard alumni showed that those who exercised over 3,500 kilocalories a week had a slight increase in death rate as compared to the control group. Researchers postulate that over-exercise leads to an increase in cellular oxidation. This in turn leads to increased free radical formation, some of which can lead to cellular mutation and cancer.

One key difference between the lazy and those who exercise is that the more active body produces more "free radicals'' - unstable oxygen molecules that are believed to speed the ageing process.

Laziness is also important for a healthy immune system because special immune cells are stronger in times of relaxation than stress. During relaxation or down-time, your metabolism is less active, which means the body produces fewer free radicals.

Cons of doing excessive exercise:

They argue that high-energy activities, such as pounding the treadmill, accelerate the ageing process and make the body more susceptible to illness.

If you lead a stressful life and exercise excessively, your body produces hormones which lead to high blood pressure and can damage your heart and arteries.

If you do a lot of sport or are permanently stressed, then your body will produce more free radicals. That is one reason why your life could be shortened.

Their book also says that laziness is good for the brain. It says that exercise and stress can cause the body to produce the hormone cortisol, which can damage cells in the brain and lead to memory loss and premature senility.

Early risers are more prone to stress and that late sleepers live longer because they conserve their energy.

Alternative exercise make you life longer

without side effect

When you laugh, your body produces the hormone serotonin which makes you feel happy and relaxed

The heartbeat races and blood pressure is raised for a short while, without activating your metabolism and producing the free radicals which spend your life energy. Laughing is a good training session without the negative side-effects.

Gentle walking is sufficient to keep people in shape if combined with a sensible diet that is low in carbohydrates and high in protein.

I love my parents!

I love my parents.

I used to depend on them when I was child. They give my warmth and love.

When I was unhappy, I used to big hug my mum and then cry.

After, I visit the old lady ... I think my parents is my heroes!!!

I don't know how much they spend on me... I just know that they always give me what I want...

Honestly, they are not rich. Only my mum works now because my dad retired.

So I seldom asks them to give me money to buy some things that are not necessary.

My dad still insist to give me money to buy new clothes for Chinese New Year... (cry...I want to big hug you dad)

I never earn much money. So I give them all the money I earned from my summer placement and part-time job. She refuse to have my money.

My parents like the others... they want her daughter (me) to grow up, they want me to find a good job, they want me to find a good man and then get marry... the want everything good on me... so I seldom to share the bad things with them...

I remember I said "I grow up already. I hope I can find a good job too mum...about a good man... I am sorry ...it's difficult to find because women is more than men... good men already marked by good girls (laugh out loud)..." We all laugh...

Why I'm always joking??? If you read my novel, you may think I am a humorous girl... Actually, some of my experiences are very sad... I know I am not a little girl already (I'm adult). So I know it can't help me even I cry loud. So I change all my sad stories to be fun stories... It help me to forget the unhappy things.

I passed it!!! I become a docent in science museum!

My dream come true. I become a real docent in science musuem!!! (due to the privacy I can't show you the name!!!)

Thank you mama, thank you dad, thank you friends... thousand of people I would like to say thanks... can't list too many here... ^_^