Over the next 10 weeks I'll be writing a series of cold weather recipes to soothe and sustain you through the season of chapped lips and cold sores. They'll all be one-pan jobs - the kind of thing you can leave blipping away on the hob or in the oven until needed. I've been tasked with posting 'simple supper' recipes thus far and so to ease you in to the new series, I'll make this first one-pot a simple one; think of it as your transitional recipe which, much like a transitional wardrobe, eases the shock of change without fully accepting the reality of winter.
Chin up though! The cold weather is no excuse for moping, quite the opposite – it is the time to legitimately stuff oneself with comfort food like stews, bakes, pot roasts and of course, soups.
Greens, chickpea and chorizo are a classic combination but the success of this soup really does depend on the quality of your ingredients. A good quality chorizo will make the finished soup really special; in fact, it's the most important ingredient by a mile.
You could easily swap the savoy cabbage for something like kale or if you really want to show off, cavolo nero. Similarly, the chickpeas could be swapped for another pulse, such as cannelini beans. Make sure to serve with plenty of crusty bread and a glass of your favourite sherry on the side.
2011年10月24日星期一
2011年10月23日星期日
Water, pills and bed
Find somewhere quiet, guzzle plenty of water, take a couple of painkillers - and sleep it off.
Sadly, this is the best modern medical science has to offer against the age-old problem of the hangover, which is bound to cause widespread agony and moaning on the mother of all mornings-after, following the final.
However, the internet is awash with advice for dealing with the headache and nausea caused by too much alcohol. It ranges from eating banana, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, to cold pizza, to Marmite on toast. Some swear by brisk exercise.
Appropriately for a tournament sponsored by a Dutch brand of lager, the Dutch believe, according to a National Geographic survey, that a cold beer or two is the best remedy.
Retired Auckland drug and alcohol doctor Ian Scott recommended starting early on the only treatment that offered some hope of mitigating the misery.
"As soon as you get home and go to bed, drink a whole lot of water and take two paracetamol ...or two ibuprofen," he said.
What about a big cooked breakfast the morning after? No help.
Vitamin C? No.
An addictions specialist, who asked not to be named, said the body used up water in processing alcohol and he agreed with Dr Scott's prescription.
"You're dehydrated and your brain has got less water in it than it would like. Therefore there is constriction of blood vessels. That's what gives you a headache."
ProCare Health clinical director Dr John Cameron said eating while you drank could slow down the absorption of alcohol. But his best advice was: "Tell the neighbours not to mow the lawn, and have a sleep-in."
Sadly, this is the best modern medical science has to offer against the age-old problem of the hangover, which is bound to cause widespread agony and moaning on the mother of all mornings-after, following the final.
However, the internet is awash with advice for dealing with the headache and nausea caused by too much alcohol. It ranges from eating banana, peanut butter and honey sandwiches, to cold pizza, to Marmite on toast. Some swear by brisk exercise.
Appropriately for a tournament sponsored by a Dutch brand of lager, the Dutch believe, according to a National Geographic survey, that a cold beer or two is the best remedy.
Retired Auckland drug and alcohol doctor Ian Scott recommended starting early on the only treatment that offered some hope of mitigating the misery.
"As soon as you get home and go to bed, drink a whole lot of water and take two paracetamol ...or two ibuprofen," he said.
What about a big cooked breakfast the morning after? No help.
Vitamin C? No.
An addictions specialist, who asked not to be named, said the body used up water in processing alcohol and he agreed with Dr Scott's prescription.
"You're dehydrated and your brain has got less water in it than it would like. Therefore there is constriction of blood vessels. That's what gives you a headache."
ProCare Health clinical director Dr John Cameron said eating while you drank could slow down the absorption of alcohol. But his best advice was: "Tell the neighbours not to mow the lawn, and have a sleep-in."
2011年10月20日星期四
Do Monkeys Get Cold Sores?
Dozens of exotic animals, including 18 Bengal tigers, 17 lions, two grizzly bears, and a wolf ran loose in Zanesville, Ohio, Tuesday night, leaving schools closed the following day and many residents staying indoors. Around 50 animals were hunted down and either killed or captured, but one runaway macaque monkey remained at large. Authorities warned residents to keep their distance from the monkey out of fear that it may be carrying the herpes B virus, which can be deadly in humans. How does a monkey get herpes?
Monkey business. Nonhuman primates can become infected with herpes through biting, scratching, and having sex. Monkeys don’t kiss like humans do, but casual social behaviors such as touching nose-to-mouth and grooming can also spread the disease. While herpes B can be found in monkeys of all ages, it is most common among sexually active adults.
In monkeys, herpes B behaves almost exactly the same way that herpes simplex, the everyday human variety of herpes, behaves in humans. Most infected monkeys show no symptoms—which also means that they’re less contagious—but they may occasionally experience cold sores around the mouth or genital area. Just as in humans, once the virus enters the body, it never leaves.
Herpes B isn’t prevalent in all monkeys, but it’s endemic among macaques. Outside of captivity, these monkey species—which include rhesus monkeys, snow monkeys, and Barbary monkeys (sometimes referred to as Barbary apes)—live only in Africa and Asia. Herpes is not common among the monkeys of Central and South America. Among adult macaques in the lab, herpes seems to have infected more than half of all animals.
Monkeys can transmit herpes B to humans through all the same means with which they can infect one another—a bite, a scratch, a splash of saliva—or, in a laboratory setting, via an accidental scrape from a contaminated needle. While herpes B is relatively harmless among monkeys, among humans it can cause vomiting, headache, loss of motor control, and, eventually, infection of the central nervous symptom. Experts have documented at least 26 cases of herpes B infection in humans, at least 16 of which resulted in death. If left untreated, the estimated mortality rate is 80 percent.
Monkey business. Nonhuman primates can become infected with herpes through biting, scratching, and having sex. Monkeys don’t kiss like humans do, but casual social behaviors such as touching nose-to-mouth and grooming can also spread the disease. While herpes B can be found in monkeys of all ages, it is most common among sexually active adults.
In monkeys, herpes B behaves almost exactly the same way that herpes simplex, the everyday human variety of herpes, behaves in humans. Most infected monkeys show no symptoms—which also means that they’re less contagious—but they may occasionally experience cold sores around the mouth or genital area. Just as in humans, once the virus enters the body, it never leaves.
Herpes B isn’t prevalent in all monkeys, but it’s endemic among macaques. Outside of captivity, these monkey species—which include rhesus monkeys, snow monkeys, and Barbary monkeys (sometimes referred to as Barbary apes)—live only in Africa and Asia. Herpes is not common among the monkeys of Central and South America. Among adult macaques in the lab, herpes seems to have infected more than half of all animals.
Monkeys can transmit herpes B to humans through all the same means with which they can infect one another—a bite, a scratch, a splash of saliva—or, in a laboratory setting, via an accidental scrape from a contaminated needle. While herpes B is relatively harmless among monkeys, among humans it can cause vomiting, headache, loss of motor control, and, eventually, infection of the central nervous symptom. Experts have documented at least 26 cases of herpes B infection in humans, at least 16 of which resulted in death. If left untreated, the estimated mortality rate is 80 percent.
2011年10月19日星期三
What's Going Around?
We still have some time before cold and flu season sets in, but flu-like symptoms are already going around.
Dr. Ron Reynolds at Beach Urgent Care in Myrtle Beach says he hasn't had a positive flu test yet, but says it's just a matter of time. The symptoms he's seeing are coughs, sore throats and some vomiting and diarrhea.
Dr. Reynolds also wants to remind people to start focusing on proper hand washing and staying away from others who are sick. He says you should get the flu shot now rather than later, so your body has time to build up immunity.
At Doctor's Care in Surfside, family nurse practitioner James Woodcock says he's diagnosing a lot of acute gastroenteritis cases lately. He describes it as an abrupt onset of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It could be with or without a fever but typically the patient suffers some abdominal cramping.
The illness typically lasts 3-5 days.
Woodcock says sufferers need to remember to stay hydrated and since the illness needs to run its course, expect a few days out of school or work.
At Seacoast Primary Care in Little River, Dr. Ray Holt says he's seeing a lot of cases of poison ivy right now. Even though it's not contagious, it can get infected if you don't treat it.
Dr. Holt says he thinks the rise in cases is because of fall weeding and planting. A poison ivy rash looks like tiny blisters, sometimes popping up in a line.
Dr. Holt says you should wash all the clothes and gloves you wore while gardening and see a doctor for a steroid cream.
Dr. Ron Reynolds at Beach Urgent Care in Myrtle Beach says he hasn't had a positive flu test yet, but says it's just a matter of time. The symptoms he's seeing are coughs, sore throats and some vomiting and diarrhea.
Dr. Reynolds also wants to remind people to start focusing on proper hand washing and staying away from others who are sick. He says you should get the flu shot now rather than later, so your body has time to build up immunity.
At Doctor's Care in Surfside, family nurse practitioner James Woodcock says he's diagnosing a lot of acute gastroenteritis cases lately. He describes it as an abrupt onset of nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. It could be with or without a fever but typically the patient suffers some abdominal cramping.
The illness typically lasts 3-5 days.
Woodcock says sufferers need to remember to stay hydrated and since the illness needs to run its course, expect a few days out of school or work.
At Seacoast Primary Care in Little River, Dr. Ray Holt says he's seeing a lot of cases of poison ivy right now. Even though it's not contagious, it can get infected if you don't treat it.
Dr. Holt says he thinks the rise in cases is because of fall weeding and planting. A poison ivy rash looks like tiny blisters, sometimes popping up in a line.
Dr. Holt says you should wash all the clothes and gloves you wore while gardening and see a doctor for a steroid cream.
2011年10月18日星期二
Nip in air sparks flu fear
Cool nights and hot days before Diwali have triggered a spurt in viral fever and influenza in the city. Doctors attributed the increase in viral infections and cold to the decreased immunity during sudden fluctuation in the weather conditions.
Dr Sanjay Kumar, a city-based physician, said eight to 10 patients were coming to his chamber daily down with flu.
“These days, there is big difference between the day and night temperatures. Those who have relatively poor immunity system fall ill easily during times like these. Common cold, high fever and sore throat are primary symptoms of weather-related ailments,” he said.
Dr Naren Verma explained how immunity gets reduced during changing climatic condition. “Our lungs are naturally designed to prevent any virus from entering the body through respiratory tracts. Cilia — thin thread-like parts — take up this responsibility. If there is a sudden change in weather, cilia lose efficiency. Taking advantage of it, viruses enter the body, triggering different kinds of fevers and other health problems,” he said.
“Symptoms of almost all the viral fevers are the same. Cough, cold, body ache and fever are the common signs. But each virus causes a different kind of viral fever. Nearly 60 per cent of the diseases caused by virus are prevented by our immune system. They cause more diseases in the people who have less resistance power,” he added.
A renowned paediatrician said children are most susceptible to viral infections during the change of weather. “Any member of the family who has a common cold may spread viral droplets through the air, which are easily inhaled by infants. It might lead to sneezing and watery discharge from kids’ nose. They might also run fever. To avoid these, anyone suffering from cold should not be allowed to handle infants,” the doctor said.
Although Paracetamol syrup is widely used to bring down the temperature of infants, the doctor suggested people to consult a paediatrician before administering the medicine to kids.
“If the doctor suggests antibiotics, its full course should be taken. For, stopping the course midway may cause chronic problems,” he added.
Dr Sanjay Kumar, a city-based physician, said eight to 10 patients were coming to his chamber daily down with flu.
“These days, there is big difference between the day and night temperatures. Those who have relatively poor immunity system fall ill easily during times like these. Common cold, high fever and sore throat are primary symptoms of weather-related ailments,” he said.
Dr Naren Verma explained how immunity gets reduced during changing climatic condition. “Our lungs are naturally designed to prevent any virus from entering the body through respiratory tracts. Cilia — thin thread-like parts — take up this responsibility. If there is a sudden change in weather, cilia lose efficiency. Taking advantage of it, viruses enter the body, triggering different kinds of fevers and other health problems,” he said.
“Symptoms of almost all the viral fevers are the same. Cough, cold, body ache and fever are the common signs. But each virus causes a different kind of viral fever. Nearly 60 per cent of the diseases caused by virus are prevented by our immune system. They cause more diseases in the people who have less resistance power,” he added.
A renowned paediatrician said children are most susceptible to viral infections during the change of weather. “Any member of the family who has a common cold may spread viral droplets through the air, which are easily inhaled by infants. It might lead to sneezing and watery discharge from kids’ nose. They might also run fever. To avoid these, anyone suffering from cold should not be allowed to handle infants,” the doctor said.
Although Paracetamol syrup is widely used to bring down the temperature of infants, the doctor suggested people to consult a paediatrician before administering the medicine to kids.
“If the doctor suggests antibiotics, its full course should be taken. For, stopping the course midway may cause chronic problems,” he added.
2011年10月17日星期一
'Triple negative' cancers tend to be more aggressive
While many people believe that breast cancer is one disease, that isn't the case. There are many different types of breast cancer and each responds uniquely to treatments. The term "triple negative" refers to the absence of estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors and HER2 (human epidermal growth factor) receptors on the breast cancer cells. Cancers that do not feed on estrogen or progesterone and do not over-express HER2 are called "triple negative." They cannot be starved of hormones nor can they be treated with the drug Herceptin, designed for HER2-positive patients.
These cancers are not as common as those that respond to hormonal therapies. Less than 20 percent of cancers are "triple negative." They are more often seen in younger women and in women with the BRCA 1 gene mutation. They tend to be more aggressive and need to be treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Overall, the prognosis with these cancers is not as favorable as their "triple positive" counterparts.
I hesitate to judge "triple negative" cancers as better or worse than others. When detected early and managed by a skilled oncology team, patients may do very well. And, if they do not have a recurrence in the first three years, they are no more likely to have their cancer return than the more common hormone-positive cancers.
For more information and support, check out tnbcfoundation.org or breastCancer.org.
Dear Dr. Bone: Having lost my sister to breast cancer, plus countless friends and neighbors, I read your columns pretty regularly. Thank you so much for your level-headed and common sense applied to developing technologies.
I wanted to make one comment on your Palm Beach Post column on Aug. 2, concerning the family dealing with the mother's cancer combined with the young son's cold sores. After living/fighting with cold sores most of my life (I have turned 70 this year), worked in hospitals with doctors and pharmacists trying to suggest treatments to help, I finally found the L-Lysine approach. For the first time in my life, even after the tiny blisters had begun to form around my mouth, taking mega-doses of L-lysine made the blisters go back down and totally clear up in a matter of days, not weeks. As an adult, when I first see the blisters begin to form, or when I feel that burning sensation that tells me a cold sore is forming, I take 1,000 mg of L-lysine in the morning and again in the evening, and continue until all signs have disappeared. My brother (who lives in California) has also had a similar problem, and since I shared this information with him, he always has a supply of L-lysine on hand for occurrences and has had the same results I've had.
These cancers are not as common as those that respond to hormonal therapies. Less than 20 percent of cancers are "triple negative." They are more often seen in younger women and in women with the BRCA 1 gene mutation. They tend to be more aggressive and need to be treated with chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Overall, the prognosis with these cancers is not as favorable as their "triple positive" counterparts.
I hesitate to judge "triple negative" cancers as better or worse than others. When detected early and managed by a skilled oncology team, patients may do very well. And, if they do not have a recurrence in the first three years, they are no more likely to have their cancer return than the more common hormone-positive cancers.
For more information and support, check out tnbcfoundation.org or breastCancer.org.
Dear Dr. Bone: Having lost my sister to breast cancer, plus countless friends and neighbors, I read your columns pretty regularly. Thank you so much for your level-headed and common sense applied to developing technologies.
I wanted to make one comment on your Palm Beach Post column on Aug. 2, concerning the family dealing with the mother's cancer combined with the young son's cold sores. After living/fighting with cold sores most of my life (I have turned 70 this year), worked in hospitals with doctors and pharmacists trying to suggest treatments to help, I finally found the L-Lysine approach. For the first time in my life, even after the tiny blisters had begun to form around my mouth, taking mega-doses of L-lysine made the blisters go back down and totally clear up in a matter of days, not weeks. As an adult, when I first see the blisters begin to form, or when I feel that burning sensation that tells me a cold sore is forming, I take 1,000 mg of L-lysine in the morning and again in the evening, and continue until all signs have disappeared. My brother (who lives in California) has also had a similar problem, and since I shared this information with him, he always has a supply of L-lysine on hand for occurrences and has had the same results I've had.
2011年10月16日星期日
The race is over – now what?
After Adam Campbell, 32, ran his first 50-mile (80.5-kilometre) Canadian national championship race this past May in Victoria – and won – he felt a strange letdown. Six people he knew cheered him across the finish line; someone handed him a cookie. And that was that. His legs were sore for a week.
“I thought it was going to be a lot more monumental,” the Vancouver articling student says. “I expected to feel more like Superman.”
So he turned to his friends, family and running community for support, shared stories about the experience and focused on his next goal. He pulled out of his slump and even ran a 100-kilometre race in France at the end of August.
The postrace experience – whether it’s a five-kilometre run or a marathon – can hit runners in different ways. If you participated in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday, you’re probably still in the honeymoon phase of accomplishment, riding the wave of an endorphin high. But if, as the week progresses, you suddenly start feeling a bit lost or bummed out, don’t be alarmed. Chances are you are having a postrace mental slump.
Japanese novelist and ultramarathoner Haruki Murakami wrote about it eloquently in his non-fiction book What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: “What I ended up with was a sense of lethargy, and before I knew it, I felt covered by a thin film, something I’ve since dubbed runner’s blues.”
While runner’s blues is common, the meaning of running, its importance and its connection to identity varies from person to person, says Billy Strean, a professor in the faculty of physical education and recreation at the University of Alberta. “People have all different fitness levels, aspirations, running backgrounds … for some, a race is a monumental life mark.”
But, he points out, “any time you have a significant achievement or something where there’s been a lot of buildup, you can experience a letdown.”
The postrace blues is a lot more common in recreational marathoners, particularly following their first big race, according to Jack Taunton, professor in the division of sports medicine at the University of British Columbia. “You put all your effort into training, watching your diet, running with a group, everything is focused on one event for months,” Dr. Taunton says. “Then bang, the event is over.
Colleen Hillier, 42, started running this year. The teacher and mother of three joined a running club and trained for five months for her first half-marathon, Nova Scotia’s Valley Harvest Marathon, which she ran Oct. 9.
It wasn’t the greatest experience. Going into it she had a cold, low iron, sore knees and a bad case of self-doubt; she anticipated not finishing. During the race she “hit a wall,” but crossed the finish line with chills.
“When I left the race, I thought: I will never do this again.” Still, she was proud. “I must have said to my husband 100 times that day, ‘I did it! I made it!’ ”
A few days later, her muscles still sore, and not yet ready to consider running another race, she was plagued by a sense of “Where do I go now?”
“People have difficulty coping with the emotions after a race … and wonder what to do with all those hours in the day,” Dr. Taunton says.
But Ms. Hillier has recovered. Now, she says, she plans do another half-marathon next spring. “But I’ll be looking for a flat course next time,” she says, laughing.
“I thought it was going to be a lot more monumental,” the Vancouver articling student says. “I expected to feel more like Superman.”
So he turned to his friends, family and running community for support, shared stories about the experience and focused on his next goal. He pulled out of his slump and even ran a 100-kilometre race in France at the end of August.
The postrace experience – whether it’s a five-kilometre run or a marathon – can hit runners in different ways. If you participated in the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon on Sunday, you’re probably still in the honeymoon phase of accomplishment, riding the wave of an endorphin high. But if, as the week progresses, you suddenly start feeling a bit lost or bummed out, don’t be alarmed. Chances are you are having a postrace mental slump.
Japanese novelist and ultramarathoner Haruki Murakami wrote about it eloquently in his non-fiction book What I Talk About When I Talk About Running: “What I ended up with was a sense of lethargy, and before I knew it, I felt covered by a thin film, something I’ve since dubbed runner’s blues.”
While runner’s blues is common, the meaning of running, its importance and its connection to identity varies from person to person, says Billy Strean, a professor in the faculty of physical education and recreation at the University of Alberta. “People have all different fitness levels, aspirations, running backgrounds … for some, a race is a monumental life mark.”
But, he points out, “any time you have a significant achievement or something where there’s been a lot of buildup, you can experience a letdown.”
The postrace blues is a lot more common in recreational marathoners, particularly following their first big race, according to Jack Taunton, professor in the division of sports medicine at the University of British Columbia. “You put all your effort into training, watching your diet, running with a group, everything is focused on one event for months,” Dr. Taunton says. “Then bang, the event is over.
Colleen Hillier, 42, started running this year. The teacher and mother of three joined a running club and trained for five months for her first half-marathon, Nova Scotia’s Valley Harvest Marathon, which she ran Oct. 9.
It wasn’t the greatest experience. Going into it she had a cold, low iron, sore knees and a bad case of self-doubt; she anticipated not finishing. During the race she “hit a wall,” but crossed the finish line with chills.
“When I left the race, I thought: I will never do this again.” Still, she was proud. “I must have said to my husband 100 times that day, ‘I did it! I made it!’ ”
A few days later, her muscles still sore, and not yet ready to consider running another race, she was plagued by a sense of “Where do I go now?”
“People have difficulty coping with the emotions after a race … and wonder what to do with all those hours in the day,” Dr. Taunton says.
But Ms. Hillier has recovered. Now, she says, she plans do another half-marathon next spring. “But I’ll be looking for a flat course next time,” she says, laughing.
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