Potential vs Performance

Which is important ? personality or intelligence? both are genetic-determined and inborn, you cann’t change it.

clipped from freewill.typepad.com What is potential?  It’s really a measure of 『promotability』 or leadership skills, including such innate qualities as charisma, energy-level, and self-confidence. Performance, on the other hand, is the skill you exhibit at your current job level, including such innate qualities as intelligence, diligence and analytical skill. Both dimensions are inborn – since how would you train charisma or genius? – so 『high potential』 genes are more valued than 』high performance』 genes.

Memory in a single neuron

Fascinating theory that memory is refined and consolidated to a single neuron gradually and can be manipulated by genetic signals.

clipped from freewill.typepad.com The 『Jennifer Aniston』 Neuron Recent research has shown that we may remember certain concepts, ideas, or people (such as 『Bill Clinton』 or 『Jennifer Aniston』 or my 『grandmother』) using a single neuron in the brain.  In other words, our memories are not holistically (or holigraphically) spread across the brain, but may be stored in very specific locations. If our mental concepts are stored all over the brain, it wouldn’t be possible for our genes to exploit them.

Thin thigh not good

The size of thigh is a risk factor of heart disease and premature death according to the study by Professor Berit Heitmann, at Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmar.

clipped from www.medicalnewstoday.com Men and women whose thighs are less than 60cm in circumference have a higher risk of premature death and heart disease, according to research published on bmj.com today. The study also concluded that individuals whose thighs are wider than 60cm have no added protective effect. The authors believe that doctors could use thigh size as an early marker for at risk patients and suggest that individuals increase lower body exercise in order to increase the size of the their thighs if necessary. Further research would be needed, however, to assess whether this approach was worthwhile.

阿司匹靈對心血管疾病的初級預防無效

Dr Gerry Fowkes根據Aspirin for Asymptomatic Atherosclerosis (AAA)試驗報告顯示，在無症狀的動脈硬化的健康人身上，使用低劑量的阿司匹靈來預防心血管疾病並沒有顯著的效果，但用在中風或心血管疾病後預防則有降低再發的機率的效果。

clipped from www.medscape.com August 30, 2009 (Barcelona, Spain) — The use of low-dose aspirin in the primary prevention of cardiovascular events in healthy individuals with asymptomatic atherosclerosis is currently not warranted, according to the lead researcher of a large 『real-world』 study presented today at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) 2009 Congress. In the randomized trial of 3350 subjects deemed at high risk for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events because of a low ankle-brachial index (ABI) (<0.95), aspirin had absolutely no effect on reducing events compared with placebo, Dr Gerry Fowkes (University of Edinburgh, Scotland) reported on behalf of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland) reported on behalf of the Aspirin for Asymptomatic Atherosclerosis (AAA) trialists.

ABI 周邊動脈硬化檢測

中風後病人，施行簡易的ABI測試(量測腳踝及手肘血壓值)，可作為再發中風、心血管疾病的風險評估及是否需更積極治療的依據。

此類病人，即使是沒有周邊動脈硬化的症狀(如運動後腿腳會痛)，也以表示其周邊動脈已有動脈硬化粥形成及阻塞，Sen』究發現1/4中風後的病人有硬化，後續兩年，他發生心血管疾病的機率是沒有的病人的4倍，中風為5倍。

clipped from www.webmd.com Ankle Test Tells Heart Risk After Stroke ABI Test Detects Asymptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease The ABI is a simple test that measures the blood pressure at the ankle and compares it to the blood pressure at the arm. If the ankle blood pressure is significantly lower, it indicates that plaque is clogging the outer arteries of the body. This is PAD. About a fourth of the TIA/stroke patients in the Sen study did have PAD. Over the next two years, they were four times more likely to suffer a TIA, heart attack, or heart-related death. And they were five times more likely to suffer a stroke.

顎關節症候群

顎關節症候群：造成下顎、臉、耳、或頸部劇烈疼痛。可因咬牙、磨牙或外傷造成，引起頭痛、頭昏甚至吞嚥困難。治療包括休息、保護、藥物或手術』。

clipped from www.webmd.com TMJ A problem with the jaw called temporomandibular joint syndrome can cause  severe pain in the jaw, face, ear, or neck. Clenching, tooth grinding, or injury can all cause TMJ, but the results are often the same: pain, headaches, dizziness, even trouble swallowing. Treatment may involve rest, a mouth guard, medication, or surgery.

連續穿顱磁刺激

人類大腦的前額葉是調節行為的中樞，並控制衝動、反射性動作的發生。使用連續穿顱磁刺激或直流電刺波等非侵襲性刺波上側處前額大腦皮質方式可影響決策、增加健康人的意志力及反省能力，同時也可抑制病人對酒精、古柯鹹、尼古丁甚至食物的渴求，這樣的病人已知有決策力障礙的問題，這治療有可用在許多精神疾病、情緒疾病、焦慮、過動症、創傷後症候群、藥物濫用、抽煙及肥胖的病人，增加他們認知調節的能力。

clipped from www.ircs.upenn.edu the right prefrontal cortex plays a central role in behavioral regulation and the control of impulsive, reflexic tendencies. noninvasive brain stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation or transcranial direct current stimulation can influence decision-making, enhance will-power and promote reflective processes in healthy subjects. The same type of noninvasive brain stimulation can suppress alcohol, cocaine, nicotine and even food craving in patients, who are known to have impaired decision-making behaviors. Modulation of decision making, and enhanced cognitive regulation of emotion, reward, and gratification could have widespread mental and physical health benefits, including mood disorders, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, substance abuse, smoking, and obesity.

人類腦結構核的第一次發現

人腦的運作，似乎有所謂集中作用的專責區域而不是網狀散布於各處。
這是人腦網狀構狀的第一次圖狀表示。圓圈越大者表示神經連結越多，最大的圓圈集中在腦的後部，大約在兩大腦半球的中間。
基本上，這是人類腦網狀結構的早期地圖，我們可用之來研究不止我們如何思考的問題，而是用那個在部位思考。

clipped from io9.com First Look at the 『Structural Core』 of the Human Brain This is one of the first graphical representations of the network structure of our brains. The larger the circle, the more neural connections — highly connected areas create big circles, and areas of few connections are dots. You can see that the biggest circles are concentrated in the back of your brain, roughly in the middle between the two hemispheres. That central position for the core processor might be a result of high chatter levels between the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Though everyone’s brain is slightly different, most share this same fundamental neurological pattern. You can see an even more revealing image below. Basically, this is an early network road map of the human brain. We can use it to figure out not just how we think, but where we think. Literally, we are looking at where thoughts traverse the structures of our brains. Mapping the Connection Matrix of the Human Brain [PLoS Biology]

心臟病後持續性憂鬱症對健康有害

加拿大魁北克省蒙特婁的McGill大學Brett D. Thombs醫師研究在急性冠狀動脈症候群(ACS, acute coronary symdrome)發病住院中及出院後的憂鬱症，是否可預測發病12個月的健康情況。
結果顯示有憂鬱症的患者(Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) score大於10分)，發病後12個月時的健康狀況較差。
根據這些發現，Thombs認為醫師必須為病人發病及後續追蹤時評估是否有憂鬱症的症狀。

– 深入閱讀

clipped from www.revolutionhealth.com Persistent depression after heart trouble harmful Date updated: February 05, 2008 Content provided by Reuters NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Persistent depression is associated with worse physical health a year after heart attack or severe chest pain — known by the umbrella term 『acute coronary syndrome』 (ACS), researchers from Canada report. Dr. Brett D. Thombs, from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, and colleagues investigated whether symptoms of depression during and after hospitalization for ACS predict physical health status 12 months after ACS in a study of 425 patients. Based on these findings, Thombs and colleagues think doctors should assess symptoms of depression, 『not only at the time of the acute ACS hospitalization, but also subsequently during follow-up visits.』 SOURCE: American Journal of Cardiology, January 1, 2008.

與阿滋海默症有關的基因

** 在具家族性的罹患阿滋海默症的患者身上，發現在染色體21，19，14，12與1上有基因方面的缺陷。
— 真正家族性個案並有確定遺傳型性的只佔阿滋海默症患者的5-10%而已。
— 家族性的患者發病時早發性個案 (30-50歲)患者，也許與遺傳有關，目前發現有：
1。 染色體 21：小於1%的早發型個案與此染色體的基因缺陷有關。此或可解釋為何存活到中年的唐氏症患者會出現此病。此缺陷會影響類澱粉前驅蛋白 (APP)而產生乙型類澱粉的纖維性叢結，而對神經產生毒性。
2。染色體14：有一半的早發型個案與此染色體上的presenilin 1 基因突變有關。
3。染色體1 ：其上發現有presenilin 2 基因，但只佔1%的個案。
**較典型的晚發型個案，在60歲後發病，也可能有基因的缺陷：
1。染色體19：其上有負責產生膽固醇運轉酶，apolipoprotein E (apoE)的基因。apoE的E4變異型，會促進纖維性乙型類澱粉的沉積，在40%的個案上被發現帶有此基因，但apoE4的出現並非此病的必需或必要條件。
2。染色體12：在30%的個案上可在染色體12上發現有甲型-2-巨球蛋白的基因。
3。tau蛋白與微小管相關，tau基因的突變可在一些患者上發現，此不正常的tau蛋白，可解釋在神經纖維性叢結上發現的螺性性纖維。

– 深入閱讀‥

clipped from library.med.utah.edu Familial cases tend to have an earlier age at onset. Genetic defects in familial cases have been identified on chromosomes 21, 19, 14, 12 and 1. The so-called 『early onset』 cases of AD in persons in their 30′s, 40′s, and 50′s may have a genetic basis. Less than 1% of early onset AD cases are linked to a genetic defect on chromosome 21 About half of early onset AD cases are linked to mutations in the presenilin 1 gene on chromosome 14. A presenilin 2 gene has been discovered on chromosome 1, but this defect accounts for less than 1% of cases. The more typical 『late onset』 cases of AD occurring after age 60 may have underlying genetic defects. A genetic locus on chromosome 19 encodes for a cholesterol transporter called apolipoprotein E (apoE). A genetic locus on chromosome 12 that encodes for alpha-2-macroglobulin may be found in 30% of AD cases. Mutations in the tau gene which codes for tau, a protein that is associated with microtubules, can be found in some AD cases.

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