Health Archives - Page 5 of 6

21Aug 2016 by Vincent Summers 11 Comments

Stemonitis Chocolate Brown Slime Mold – A Health Threat

A few years ago, I visited a friend’s clapboard house. I noticed on an outside surface what appeared to be (and was once labeled) a fungus - the stemonitis chocolate brown slime mold. A good friend offered the use of her cell phone to take a photograph. It is the image associated with this article. The fibrous and fuzzy brown growth was located in the area right next to an air conditioner condensation runoff. The weather had been unusually humid to boot. Stemonitis, while it is not the most toxic of molds, is of serious concern to health conscious individuals. It is most closely associated with decaying wood. This was the first time the author had ever come across the mold. The spore output of this chocolate brown thready mess…

24Nov 2015 by Vincent Summers 1 Comment

Orange Oranges is an Historic Controversy

Food, Health

[caption id="attachment_10239" align="alignright" width="440"] Orange oranges.[/caption] As a kid many moons ago, I was told there really aren't any orange oranges. That is to say, they aren’t naturally orange, but are really green. Is this true? Not entirely, but it is partly true. Many oranges do turn orange, at least in part. Temperature and sunlight levels are relevant. The green color present in some ripe fruits is chlorophyll. Yet, when we go to the store, we see oranges that are at least mostly orange, usually completely so. Oranges, you see are often dyed. Now you may have already known that. But did you know there once was a controversy over it? We transcribe a Palm Springs, CA Desert Sun news article for 1958. The Supreme Court Rules Washington (UPI) –…

13Nov 2015 by Vincent Summers 3 Comments

The History of Aspirin

Health

In the mid 1900s, the pain killer of choice was plain aspirin AKA acetylsalicylic acid. Today, there is a host of pain killing choices. These depend upon the nature of the pain as well as the health issues of the patient. How does the laboratory relate to aspirin history? It was First Although during the 1950s and 1960s, other painkillers (most notably acetaminophen and ibuprofen) made a dramatic entrance into the pain killer market, aspirin was first. Here is the story. From ancient times, it was known the bark of the willow tree (rich in salicylates) possessed special properties. A tea made from this bark was useful in fighting fever. It also aided in reducing inflammation and pain. Simple salicylic acid has the structural formula, (HO-C6H4-COOH) Aspirin History: the Laboratory…

23Oct 2015 by Vincent Summers No Comments

Why You Are Allergic to Cats and They Are Allergic to You

animals, Health

[caption id="attachment_9639" align="alignright" width="480"] Cat allergens are inside a mite's intestines.[/caption] The overwhelming majority of people who are allergic to cats, suffer because of traces of proteins – especially two of them – Fel d 1 (a secretoglobin) and Fel d 4 (a lipocalin). These proteins are associated with the skin and saliva of a house cat. Allergic to Cats? How You're Exposed Flakes of dead skin can be found on the fur. Now, a cat cleans itself by licking its fur. So if you let a cat lick you, you are exposed to both of the primary allergy-related proteins. That and two or three other minor protein allergens as well. What About the Cat? Humans aren’t the only creatures subject to allergies. Cats have them, too. As the cat…

04Sep 2015 by Vincent Summers No Comments

Fat, Fatty Acids, and Omega Fatty Acids

Health

[caption id="attachment_7752" align="alignright" width="440"] Fish are rich in 3-omega fatty acids.[/caption] "Pretty young things” run around uttering words the media have injected into their vocabulary, including among them the expression omega fatty acids. But, in fact, most of them have no idea what an omega fatty acid is. Let’s go a step further on that. They don’t know what any kind of fatty acid is. In fact, ask them to define what fat is, and they will only be able to describe it and tell you where you can obtain some, not they haven’t a clue as to what it actually is. But that is OK. One doesn’t need to know every aspect of a subject to be able to function. You needn't know the workings of a computer to…

24Jun 2015 by Vincent Summers No Comments

I Have Amnesia

Health

[caption id="attachment_13627" align="alignright" width="480"] Who am I?[/caption] Amnesia – the partial to complete loss of one’s memory of past events – is probably a more common event than people realize. Hollywood portrays amnesia as a loss of personal identity—who am I? where am I? what am I doing here? Really? Amnesia? I experienced amnesia of a strange form. It resulted from the use of a doctor prescribed medication. For two days, I unconsciously engaged in activity I learned of only later through the testimony of others. During the previous 48 hours, I had not slept at all. Up Close and Personal I do know how the episode began. I sat in a chair staring at the carpet. I saw small swirling shadows that turned into caterpillars moving about. The next…

20May 2015 by Vincent Summers No Comments

Differences between Warts and Moles, Boils, Corns, Bunions

Health

[caption id="attachment_28016" align="alignright" width="480"] Common moles. -National Cancer Institute[/caption]Do you have warts and moles? Or perhaps you have other unpleasant distinguishing marks on your skin such as boils, corns, or bunions? Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder. Yet, sometimes, instead, it is in the eye of the possessor. We may be surprised by the sudden appearance of a growth on our head, our hand, or our foot. More commonly, especially during adolescence, we experience pimples or blackheads. However, more permanent growths can include warts and moles, boils, corns, and bunions. What are these? How do they differ? Warts and Moles Warts are growths produced in the outer layers of the skin, frequently on the hands and fingers, by the human papillomavirus, or HPV. They may generally be…

11May 2015 by Vincent Summers No Comments

Detergent in My Toothpaste? Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

Health

What is sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)? It sounds unbelievable, but it is detergent. I once wrote an article on the chemical difference between soap and detergent. That article discusses the chemical differences between soap and detergent. What is really curious is their end uses, their applications. For instance, did you know detergent is among the most prevalent ingredients in your toothpaste? Yes, uou put detergent in your mouth almost every morning! The most common frequently used of these toothpaste detergents is sodium lauryl sulfate (or sodium dodecyl sulfate). This anionic surfactant is what produces the foaming effect in the mouth. Yum! Sodium Lauryl Sulfate - There's More It’s not what it does so much as just the idea that we purposely put detergent in our mouths one or more times…

18Mar 2014 by Vincent Summers No Comments

Ammonia Plus Bleach – Why a Bad Choice

Chemistry, Health

[caption id="attachment_5877" align="alignright" width="440"] Monochloramine[/caption] Housewives and others running the home are urged not to mix household ammonia plus bleach together. Why? Because the result is a poisonous gas. What gas? What is the chemical reaction that produces it? Bleach There are two varieties of household bleach. There is oxygen bleach. And there is chlorine bleach. It is the chlorine variety that causes the risk. Chlorine bleach is a solution of sodium or calcium hypochlorite in water. Its strength runs 3 to 5 percent in water. Ammonia 100% ammonia is not a liquid. It is a gas. Household "ammonia" is about a 5 percent water solution. Ammonia gas has the formula NH₃. The solution is sometimes written NH₄OH. NH₃ + HOH → NH₄OH In reality, most of the ammonia is…

26Nov 2013 by Vincent Summers 1 Comment

Carbon Monoxide is More Dangerous than Carbon Dioxide

Health

[caption id="attachment_5355" align="alignright" width="440"] Carboxyhemoglobin - CCA SA 3.0 Unported by Rifleman 82[/caption] Human and animal life requires an exchange of oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2). If the atmosphere contains more than a minimum of carbon monoxide (CO), life is at risk. Why? Consider the properties that distinguish carbon dioxide from the monoxide. Carbon Dioxide Carbon dioxide contains two atoms of oxygen bonded to one atom of carbon. The structure is written O=C=O. The length of its double bonds is 116.3 picometers. Bonding is covalent, not ionic. Water solubility at 250C is 1.45 g/l. Carbon Monoxide Carbon monoxide is written simply C≡O. The triple bond is 112.8 picometers. It consists of two polar covalent bonds plus a coordinate covalent bond. Its dissociation energy is 1072 kilojoules per mole. Water…