Will bubble-powered microrockets zoom through the human stomach?
By American Chemical Society Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Journal of the American Chemical Society
Scientists have developed a new kind of tiny motor — which they term a “microrocket” — that can propel itself through acidic environments, such as the human stomach, without any external energy source, opening the way to a variety of medical and industrial applications. Their report in the Journal of the American Chemical Society describes the microrockets traveling at virtual warp speed for such devices. A human moving at the same speed would have to run at a clip of 400 miles per hour.
Think Twice About Hernia SurgeryBy Dr. Gifford Jones Saturday, October 8, 2011
A reader asks, “Is it necessary to get a hernia repaired quickly?”
The time-honoured tradition has always been to fix it. But is this approach always the right one? Or is “tincture of time”, namely watchful waiting, the best way to treat this common condition?
Act Like Animals To Save Your KidneysBy Dr. Gifford Jones Saturday, September 3, 2011
Who are the master chemists that control water balance in our bodies, keep the blood neither too acid nor alkaline, rid us of dangerous waste, filter every drop of blood in our bodies every 30 minutes and weigh a mere five ounces? They’re our kidneys. But millions of North Americans are so abusing this vital organ that their lives depend solely on renal dialysis. What lethal mistakes are they making?
History provides much of the answer. Fifty years ago in Australia, Switzerland and the Scandinavian countries, people developed a bad habit. They were using mixtures of Aspirin, codeine, phenacetin and caffeine, not only for pain relief, but also for their mood-altering qualities. In fact, at watch factories in Switzerland, workers were encouraged to take this combination and provided free samples. That resulted in injured kidneys.
Styrofoam Popcorn and How to Trick a BartenderBy Dr. Gifford Jones Sunday, August 21, 2011
Why do people eat more than they should? You say you’ve heard all the reasons? But I bet you’re dead wrong. Why? It’s because a report in The Nutrition Action Health Letter is written by a marketing expert, not a doctor. As well, there’s a way to get rid of unwelcome dinner guests, and trick a bartender.
Brian Wansink, Professor of Marketing at Cornell University, in Ithaca, New York, directs the Food and Brand Lab. He asks people “When was the last time you ate to the point of regretting it?” He follows that with, “Why did you do it?” He receives the usual answers, “It was a tough day” or “I was depressed” etc, etc. But most replied they were hungry and the food looked good.
Don’t Take the Easy Route to Treat HeartburnBy Dr. Gifford Jones Saturday, May 28, 2011
How could North Americans have so many ill stomachs? Why does treatment cost so many billions? And why are so many taking the wrong medication?
According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, 10 years ago one in eight Canadians over 65 years of age was taking PPIs (proton pump inhibitors), the strongest medicine available to stop gastric acid secretion. Now, one in five is on this medication. A report from Johns Hopkins University says that every year 113 million Americans take these pills.
A Natural Cure For Constipation
By Dr. Gifford Jones Sunday, June 20, 2010
What’s the only cure for alcoholics? Alcoholics Anonymous. It advises people to pour alcohol down the drain. What we need is another organization, called Constipation Anonymous, to preach the same message to those who cripple their bowels by the chronic use of laxatives. But there is a safe, cheap, natural cure, unknown to 99.9 percent of the population, that cures daily grunting on the John.
The Truth About GERDBy Online Monday, January 11, 2010
It’s been 30 days since I cured my Gastroesophageal Reflux disease (GERD) because I went to a Otorhinolaryngologists (ENT) instead of a Gastroenterologist.
“On A Date, I Always Wonder Where the Bathroom Is?”By Dr. Gifford Jones Sunday, December 27, 2009
How would you feel, at 18 years of age, if suddenly diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease (CD)? It would be devastating news. Unlike other well-known diseases you would know nothing about this trouble, and even the name sounds ominous. Crohn’s Disease is not a household word and, in spite of its importance, receives few research dollars. But you would not be alone.
Don’t Let Your Dignity Kill YouBy Dr. Gifford Jones Monday, August 31, 2009
“Why In the Name of Heaven do I submit to this procedure every five years? To be forced into such an undignified position makes me wonder each time if there’s a God.”
What Caused The Death of The Grand Admiral?By Dr. Gifford Jones Monday, June 15, 2009
Today, let’s turn back the clock nearly 200 years, to an important moment in medical history. At that time a certain disease was invariably fatal. It can still be without speedy diagnosis and treatment. But, if by chance, you’re in a specific English pub when this condition strikes, you’re lucky. The pub owner can make the diagnosis quicker than most physicians. I wonder if you can diagnose what happened on October 30, 1723.
It’s Like Sticking A Potato In The Car’s Exhaust Pipe!
By Dr. Gifford Jones Monday, January 26, 2009
“Do you think my daughter and I should agree to a “detox diet?” a reader asked. Several of her friends had already undergone detoxification, she said, and had never felt better. So do I think it makes sense to purify our bodies? After all, who doesn’t want to feel healthier?
Napoleon Didn’t Have a Choice When Treating His HemorrhoidsBy Dr. Gifford Jones Sunday, November 16, 2008
Would Woodrow Wilson have negotiated a more lasting peace treaty following World War I if he had not suffered from tight-fitting shoes? Would Napoleon have won the Battle of Waterloo if he had not been suffering from hemorrhoids (piles) while sitting on his horse? Such small but painful annoyances might have determined history. But unlike Napoleon, patients today no longer have to endure the pain of hemorrhoids.
Beijing Trots And Other Travel Hazards In 2008?By Dr. Gifford Jones Sunday, May 4, 2008
How many people will travel to China for the Olympics this summer or elsewhere on this planet? I don’t know. But I do know many will raise this silent prayer to the Almighty, “Please, above all other worldly goods, grant me a bathroom”. Desperately needing a toilet is as close to panic as it gets when one isn’t available. But toilets can be the least of your worries if you fail to take other precautions when travelling.
Anusitis and Other Causes of Rectal BleedingBy Dr. Gifford Jones Sunday, October 7, 2007
“Why didn’t you come to see me earlier? It could have saved you months of worry,” I recently asked a patient. She had delayed seeing me because of rectal bleeding and she was terrified I’d tell her the diagnosis was cancer. Yet her only complaint was anusitis, an often overlooked rectal condition. But whether it’s anusitis or a serious problem a cardinal rule is never, never ignore rectal bleeding.
Sacrifice Part of Your Stomach To Lose Weight?By Dr. Gifford Jones Sunday, August 19, 2007
“Desperate diseases require desperate cures”, wrote the immortal bard, William Shakespeare. For grossly obese patients this means putting part of the stomach and small intestine out of commission (bariatric surgery). But this is not minor surgery and patients should know the risks before making this desperate decision.
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