Botox Cure For Arthritis, Migraine an Cancer Pain

It might not be the first thing that jumps to mind when it comes to easing chronic pain, but new research has suggested that botox could help soothe arthritis, migraines and even the pain of cancer with one jab.

Photo: thesugarhub.com

According to the Irish Daily Mail, charities are now beginning to advocate the drug as a possible way to relive pain without popping pills. The main ingredient in botox is a bacterial poison know as botulinum toxin, which prevents muscle from moving. Although it is more famous as an anti-ageing treatment, botox can also stop pain signals being transmitted for months at a time. It can be used in a targeted area – such as facial muscles for migraines or the lower back for arthritis sufferers – as well as treating the more widespread pain experienced by cancer patients.

Photo source: automatedsecurityalert.com

The reason the drug hasn’t been used as a treatment for ailments sooner is because of fears of paralysis for the area being treated. However, researchers at Sheffield University has been working on this issue in order to engineer the botox so that it will only stop pain signals being sent to the brain.

If this method is proven to be scientifically sound, patients could reap the benefits for months at a time. This would lessen the need for patients to depend on strong and potentially addictive pain medication. Research in the Bioconjugate Chemistry hopes the drug will only cost around 1,200 euro a year to make; which means it will be affordable to the public.

Would you get a botox jab for pain?

Beatle Ringo in Las Vegas Show Talks

If you’re a hardcore Beatles fan, brace yourself. Ringo Starr has reveled that he is in talks to play a residency show at a casino in Las Vegas.

Photo: aceshowbiz.com

The Beatles drummer, aged 73, is considering appearing in one of Las Vegas most glamorous casino’s to follow in the steps of Celine Dion and Britney Spears in performing in a resident capacity.

If you’re excited about the prospect of seeing the talented man live though, hold your horses. Starr said nothing has been finalized adding, “We have a couple of years before that happens, I believe”.

New Love/Hate Animal Row: Is it all OTT?

Although complaints about Sunday’s episode of Love/Hate cannot be accepted by RTÉ until later today,animal rights campaigners have said they are being “tormented” by scenes in the latest series.

Following catgate a few weeks ago (which resulted with the cat in question being a “guest” on The Late Late show), the Animal Rights Action Network (ARAN) are not pleased with the dog fight scene in Sunday’s episode.

Two dogs were featured, chained and with blood on them, as onlookers cheered on for them to attack each in other in an organised dog fight. Director of ARAN, John Carmody said that this kind of thing means the show is “putting the wrong ideas into people’s heads”.

He also added “The fact of the matter is, some viewers will come away from watching that thinking dog fighting is cool”.

What do you think? Is there a legitimate point here or a fuss over nothing?

Rise In Superbug’s Due To Antibiotic Overuse

GP’s are being blamed for the rise in antibiotic resistant infections in communities around the country due to needless prescribing antibiotics.

Photo: telegraph.co.uk

A new Irish study has found that nearly half of GP’s were giving “inappropriate” medications to patients – often powerful antibiotics that may not be needed. The report states that liberal prescribing and a lax approach to guidelines in Ireland are significant factors in the increase of E-coli and MRSA – infections that are resistant to antibiotics.

The study, which was led by Dr Akke Vellinga of NUI Galway said Irish doctors feel under pressure to prescribe to their patients as most pay around 50 euro for a visit. She said this was fueling the rise of dangerous new strains of bacteria – also known as superbugs – which antibiotics cannot fight and therefore, it makes it very difficult to treat these infections.

Photo: newhealthguide.org

The World Health Organisation has  also warned that antibiotics are being overused, causing bacteria to develop resistance to the medication.

If you have a viral infection and your doctor prescribes antibiotics, it’s a good idea to ask your doctor why he/she has done so. According to the Mayo Clinic, the following viral infections cannot be treated with antibiotics:

Bronchitis

Colds and Flu

Most coughs, ear infections and throat infections

Stomach flu

 

 

For more information about the appropriate use of antibiotics, click here

Seamus Heaney’s Last Poem Published

The Guardian newspaper has published what it is believed to be the last poem of the late Seamus Heaney.

Heaney’s last poem is part of a collection marking the centenary of the outbreak of World War I. Heaney, one of Ireland’s greatest and most loved poets, died in August of this year. His last poem, “In A Field”, is in its full text below. What do you think of it?

 

In A Field
By Seamus Heaney

And there I was in the middle of a field,

The furrows once called “scores’ still with their gloss,

The tractor with its hoisted plough just gone

 

Snarling at an unexpected speed

Out on the road. Last of the jobs,

The windings had been ploughed, furrows turned

 

Three ply or four round each of the four sides

Of the breathing land, to mark it off

And out. Within that boundary now

 

Step the fleshy earth and follow

The long healed footprints of one who arrived

From nowhere, unfamiliar and de-mobbed,

 

In buttoned khaki and buffed army boots,

Bruising the turned-up acres of our back field

To stumble from the windings’ magic ring

 

And take me by a hand to lead me back

Through the same old gate into the yard

Where everyone has suddenly appeared,

 

All standing waiting.

Roma Child: A Hint Of Racism

The news came in a flash. First, the Sunday World reported the story. Major media outlets in Ireland followed suit. It was a case that at first look, appeared eerily similar to the young girl in Greece who it is believed was taken from her parents ilegally.

A 7-year-old blue eyed, blonde haired girl was taken by the Gardaí from her family, as is their right under the Child Care Act if there is reason to believe a child is at immediate risk.

The young girl was taken from her home and put into HSE care. The immediate question of “Why?” recieved the response that the Guards were not satisfied with the explanation and documentation that the family provided. The reason they were even at the family home in the first place? Because the child didn’t look like her siblings.

As the story broke, we reported it with the facts we had at hand. We made no speculation, we presented the facts. After this inital report, we did not report further on the issue as the Gardaí and HSE examined the situation. Yesterday, the young girl was returned to her family after DNA tests proved she was the biological child of the parents in question.

An innocent family endured unceessary distress, had their child ripped from their arms, to then have her returned with an apology. In the aftermath, we ask, “What The Hell Happened?”

The inevitable inquiries will take place; the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Children will converse with the HSE and Gardaí. Earlier today, Alan Shatter admitted that there was possibly some undue influence in the decisions that were made in regards to this little girl.

While time will tell if there is blame to be laid at the authorities doors, we need to accept a little bit of the blame too. We all need to have a think at how we responded initally to the news, the thoughts that went through our head, if we tried these parents without trial or jury and if you, even if it was only a little bit, made an assumption based on their ethnicity.

Would this have happened to a white family? A wealthy family? Would it have happened to you? If we can answer “no” to any of these…

Racism is still alive in Ireland. We all need to have a look at what part we play.

 

 

Dublin “Roma” girl: We’ve Got The Latest

A blue-eyed blonde haired girl has been taken from a Roma gypsy family in Dublin. The case, which bears remarkable similarities to the recent one of Maria, is being reported by most major media outlets.

– Gardai were tipped off by a member of the public because they girl bears no resemblence to her siblings

– The parents said the girl was their child but Gardai were not satisfied with their explanation or the documents they produced

– She is now in the care of the HSE

According to The Sunday World, Gardai moved in on the family on Monday evening following a tip-off from a member of the public who was concerned the girl looked nothing like her parents.

The Guard’s then investigated the girls identity before contacting the HSE and removing her form the home. No arrests have yet been made and police are still trying to confirm the information given to them by the girls parents.

Kim K’s Engagement Ring – REVEALED

 

Photo: glamour.co.uk

Nice bling, if you can get it.*

* Fun note – Lorraine Schwartz who made the ring, also made the engagement ring Kim’s second husband, Kris Humphries gave her. ‘Cause that’s not weird at all.

Blonde Gypsy Girl “adopted” in “non-legal” way

A Gypsy couple who are accused with charges of kidnapping a young child known only as Maria adopted her in a “non-legal way”, their lawyer said.

Photo: gma.yahoo.com

Marietta Palavrasa, the couple’s defense lawyer, said the girl’s mother was a Bulgarian Gypsy who lived in the Thessalia region of Greece for many years.

“My clients never talked about Maria’s biological father. They think he was in prison,” Palavrasa said. “The Bulgarian woman gave my clients the child. My clients adopted her in non-legal way, but they cared for her as if she were their child.”

Speaking to ABC news, a polic source told the broadcaster that Maria, who’s face has been shown around the world since her discovery, was one of four children found with the couple. There were also two ohter girls and a boy found. It is not yet known if these children are the genetic children of the couple.

The source also said that the couple had a total number of 14 children registered for benefits, but it is unclear if all these children exist/exsisted.

Maria was initally thought to be about 4-years-old, but it is now believed she could be as old as 6. Police are still trying to locate her biological parents.

 

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West – Engaged!

Celebrity royalty Kim Kardashain and Kanye West are set to become husband and wife after the rapper popped the question to the mother of his child on her 33rd birthday yesterday. We’ve got all the deets!

Photo: myxxmagazine.com

– West proposed with a 50 piece orchestra and fireworks at San Francisco’s At&T Baseball centre

– The orchestra played “Young and Beautiful” by Lana Del Ray, followed by West’s own song “Knock Me Down”

– The engagement ring is a 15 carat diamond designed by Lorraine Schwartz

– The screen flashed with “PLEASE MARRY ME!” before Kim said yes and her entire family appeared from the dugouts

Apparently, in a bid to throw Kim off the scent, Kanye only told the reality star at his concert on Saturday that he planned to marry her “one day”. Earlier in the day, West, who has a child with Kardashian, was in LA at the Hollywood Film Awards and it was unclear if he would even be spending Kim’s birthday with her.

Photo: nydailynews.com

But clearly, the man had a plan as he had asked permission from Kris Jenner, Kim’s Mum and Momager, for her daughters hand in marriage. Fireworks exploded after Kim said yes.

And if reports are to be believed, the loved-up pair are already planning on having a SECOND child. This will be the third marriage for Kardashian and Kanye’s first. The beginning of a celebrity/rap dynasty?