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Ternyata hal ini sudah diberitahukan pada kita sejak 1400 tahun yang lalu. Ilmuwan membuktikan jika Virus anjing itu sangat lembut dan kecil. Sebagaimana diketahui, semakin kecil ukuran mikroba, ia akan semakin efektif untuk menempel dan melekat pada dinding sebuah wadah.

Air liur anjing mengandung virus berbentuk pita cair. Dalam hal ini tanah berperan sebagai penyerap mikroba berikut virus-virusnya yang menempel dengan lembut pada wadah. Perhatikan kata Rosulullah berikut :

Dari Abu Hurairah Rhadyallahu Anhu, Rasulullah Shallallahu 'Alaihi Wassalam bersabda, Sucinya wadah seseorang saat dijilat anjing adalah dengan membasuhnya tujuh kali, salah satunya dengan menggunakan tanah.

Dari Abu Hurairah Rhadyallahu Anhu, Rasulullah Shallallahu 'Alaihi Wassalam bersabda, Apabila anjing menjilat wadah seseorang, maka keriklah (bekasnya) lalu basuhlah wadah itu tujuh kali. (HR. Muslim)

Bahaya Liur Anjing
Air liur anjing dari jenis apapun berbahaya bagi manusia. Persatuan Dokter Kesehatan Anak di Munich-Jerman, mengungkapkan bahwa air liur anjing mengandung berbagai kuman penyebab penyakit. Bakteri tersebut dapat masuk dan menyerang organ dalam manusia melalui sistem terbuka.

Resiko tertular penyakit kian besar apabila terkena gigitan anjing.
Siapa yang menjadikan anjing –kecuali anjing penjaga ternak, atau anjing pemburu, atau anjing penjaga tanaman- niscaya berkuranglah satu qirath pahalanya setiap hari

Bahaya anjing tidak hanya pada liurnya saja.
Menurut peneliti dari Universitas Munich, menyatakan bahwa memelihara anjing meningkatkan resiko kanker payudara. Peluang dan resiko mengidap kanker oleh karena memelihara anjing jauh lebih besar dibanding memelihara piaraan lain seperti kucing dan kelinci.

Sebanyak 79,7 % penderita kanker payudara ternyata sering bercanda dengan anjing, diantaranya dengan memeluk, mencium, menggendong, memandika, dan semua aktivitas perawatan anjing. Hanya 4,4 % pasien yang tidak memiliki hewan peliharaan.

Mengapa Harus Dibersihkan Dengan Tanah
Tanah, menurut ilmu kedokteran modern diketahui mengandung dua materi yang dapat membunuh kuman-kuman, yakni: tetracycline dan tetarolite. Dua unsur ini digunakan untuk proses pembasmian (sterilisasi) beberapa kuman.

Eksperimen dan beberapa hipotesa menjelaskan bahwa tanah merupakan unsur yang efektif dalam membunuh kuman. Anda juga bakal terkejut ketika mengetahui tanah kuburan orang yang meninggal karena sakit aneh dan keras, yang anda kira terdapat banyak kuman karena penyakitnya itu, ternyata para peneliti tidak menemukan bekas apapun dari kuman penyakit tersebut di dalam kandungan tanahnya.

Menurut Muhammad Kamil Abd Al Shamad, tanah mengandung unsur yang cukup kuat menghilangkan bibit-bibit penyakit dan kuman-kuman. Hal ini berdasarkan bahwa molekul-molekul yang terkandung di dalam tanah menyatu dengan kuman-kuman tersebut, sehingga mempermudah dalam proses sterilisasi kuman secara keseluruhan. Ini sebagaimana tanah juga mengandung materi-materi yang dapat mensterilkan bibit-bibit kuman tersebut.

Para dokter mengemukakan, kekuatan tanah dalam menghentikan reaksi air liur anjing dan virus-virus di dalamnya lebih besar karena perbedaan dalam daya tekan pada wilayah antara cairan (air liur anjing) dan tanah.

Dr. Al Isma’lawi Al-Muhajir mengatakan anjing dapat menularkan virus tocks characins, virus ini dapat mengakibatkan kaburnya penglihatan dan kebutaan pada manusia.

Fakta Tentang Anjing Yang Tak Banyak Diketahui.
dr. Ian Royt menemukan 180 sel telur ulat dalam satu gram bulunya, seperempat lainnya membawa 71 sel telur yang mengandung jentik-jentik kuman yang tumbuh berkembang, tiga di antaranya dapat matang yang cukup dengan menempelkannya pada kulit. Sel-sel telur ulat ini sangat lengket dengan panjang mencapai 1 mm. Data statistik di Amerika menunjukan bahwa terdapat 10 ribu orang yang terkena virus ulat tersebut, kebanyakan adalah anak-anak.

Secara ilmiah, anjing dapat menularkan berbagai macam penyakit yang membahayakan karena ada ulat-ulat yang tumbuh berkembang biak dalam ususnya. Para dokter menguatkan bahaya ulat ini dan racun air liur yang disebabkan oleh anjing. Biasanya penyakit ini berpindah pada manusia atau hewan melalui air liur pembawa virus yang masuk pada bekas jilatannya atau pada luka yang terkena air liurnya.

Ketika ulat-ulat ini sampai pada tubuh manusia, maka ia akan bersemayam di bagian organ tubuh manusia yaitu paru-paru. Ulat yang bersemayam di paru-paru, yang bertempat di hati dan beberapa organ tubuh bagian dalam lainnya, mengakibatkan terbentuknya kantong yang penuh dengan cairan. Dari luar, kantong ini diliputi oleh dua lapisan dengan ukuran kantong sebesar bentuk kepala embrio. Penyakit tersebut berkembang dengan lambat. Ulat Echinococcosis dapat tumbuh berkembang di dalam kantong itu selama bertahun-tahun.

SUBHANALLAH….lebih dari 1400 tahun yang lalu Nabi Shallallahu 'Alaihi Wassalam telah menyarankan untuk tidak bersentuhan dengan anjing dan air liurnya, dan telah memerintahkan untuk membasuhnya (jika terkena) dengan tujuh kali siraman yang salah satunya menggunakan tanah.

Penelitian Ir. Soekarno
Sayid Muhammad bin Alwi al-Maliki menjelaskan bahwa kajian ilmuan membuktikan bahawa, air liur anjing mengandung mikrobakteria sehingga jika objek yang terkena air liur anjing dicuci dengan sabun, maka tidak menjamin bersih dari mikrobakteria tersebut.

Untuk mematikan kuman tersebut, harus dengan cara ditaburi tanah atau debu yang dicampur dengan air. Cara ini terbukti berkesan berdasarkan kajian dan uni kaji makmal yang di masa Rasulullah Shallallahu 'Alaihi Wassalam tidak ada.

Suatu ketika, bekas Presiden Repulik Indonesia, Soekarno, pernah mengatakan bahwa pada zaman sekarang kita tidak perlu lagi menyamak, atau membasuh tujuh kali yang diantaranya dicampur dengan debu apabila terkena najis kelas berat.

Cukup menggunakan sabun. Pendapatnya ditentang oleh para ulama Indonesia pada waktu itu. Para ulama tersebut meminta Presiden untuk melakukan eksperimen membuktikan mana yang lebih relevan; penggunaan sabun atau dengan debu. Maka dilakukanlah eksperimen dengan sampel dua benda yang telah dijilat oleh anjing. Satu di antara dicuci menggunakan sabun, dan yang satu lagi dibersihkan dengan debu.

Hasil dari pengamatan mikroskop didapati bahwa, benda yang dibasuh dengan menggunakan sabun masih terlihat kuman dari hasil jilatan anjing. Sebaliknya, benda yang dibersihkan dengan debu sangat bersih dan terbebas dari kuman.

 
Jakarta - Video game yang penuh kekerasan ternyata tak melulu membawa dampak negatif. Setidaknya inilah hasil penelitian yang dilakukan oleh sebuah universitas.

Dilaporkan, video game brutal malah bisa membantu perbaikan penglihatan, khususnya bagi mereka yang mengalami gangguan mata. Penelitian yang dilakukan oleh McMaster University di Kanada ini mengambil sampel 6 pasien berusia 19-31 tahun yang sudah lama menderita gangguan mata.

Para partisipan ini diminta menghabiskan waktu selama 40 jam memainkan game EA Medal of Honor selama satu bulan. Dalam sehari mereka ngegame selama tak lebih dari 2 jam, 5 hari dalam seminggu.

Diketahui bahwa 5 dari 6 partisipan tersebut mengalami perbaikan di penglihatan mereka. Peneliti menemukan bahwa konsentrasi dan skill yang dibutuhkan dalam game seperti Call of Duty atau Medal of Honor ternyata membantu remaja mengasah bahkan menguatkan penglihatan mereka.

"Sekitar dua pertiga partisipan yang kami teliti mengalami peningkatan hanya dari memainkan video game action," ujar Maurer, pemimpin penelitian itu seperti yang dikutip detikINET dari AFP, Sabtu (18/2/2012).

Game-game brutal memang mengharuskan pemain untuk terus memonitor apa yang ada di depan karakter yang mereka mainkan. Hal ini lantas mampu meningkatkan kadar dopamin dan adrenalin sehingga dapat membuat otak lebih fleksibel untuk memperbaiki ketajaman visual.


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ADELAIDE, KOMPAS.com - Bagaimana kalau memang kanker otak disebabkan karena radiasi dari telepon genggam (HP)? Pertanyaan provokatif ini disampaikan oleh seorang ahli bedah otak paling terkemuka Australia Dr Charlie Teo dalam artikel terbarunya di situs The Punch yang terbit hari Senin (7/5/2012).

Menurut Dr Teo, sebenarnya sampai saat ini belum ada penelitian yang betul-betul bisa menjelaskan bahwa kanker otak tidak ada hubungannya dengan penggunaan HP, namun hal yang menggugahnya untuk menulis adalah bahwa dalam prakteknya sehari-hari, dia semakin banyak menemukan pasien yang menderita atau memiliki tumor di otak

"Setiap hari saya kedatangan 10 sampai 20 pasien baru, dan paling tidak 30 persen diantara mereka memiliki tumor di bagian otak, dekat dengan telinga. Saya memang bukan ahli dalam masalah radiasi elektromagnetik. Namun sebagai ahli di bidang kanker otak, dan melihat semakin banyaknya penderita kanker ini, saya sekarang ingin mengetahui apa yang sebenarnya terjadi," kata Dr Teo.

Menurut Dr Teo, yang sudah banyak mendapatkan penghargaan baik di Australia maupun di dunia internasional tersebut, sampai saat ini belum ada pengobatan yang efektif untuk kanker otak. Dan penyakit ini menjadi penyebab kematian kanker tertinggi bagi warga Australia berusia di bawah 39 tahun, dan juga memakan korban lebih banyak anak-anak dan wanita di Australia di bawah 35 tahun dibandingkan kanker lain.

Menurutnya sejauh ini fakta yang tidak terbantahkan mengenai hubungan kanker otak dan HP barulah bahwa (1) masih belum ada kesimpulan yang jelas, (2) pengguna telepon genggam semakin meningkat, dengan sekarang sedikitnya ada 5 miliar pengguna di seluruh dunia, (3) dan bila nanti memang terbukti adanya hubungan antara kanker otak dan HP, maka dampaknya akan melebihi krisis kesehatan lain yang pernah ada sebelumnya.

Menurut laporan koresponden Kompas di Australia, L. Sastra Wijaya, Dr Charlie Teo yang sehari-hari menjadi dokter ahli di Rumah Sakit Prince of Wales di Sydney ini mengatakan sekarang diperlukan keteladanan dari perusahaan telekomunikasi untuk membuka hasil penelitian mereka sepenuhnya.

Sejauh ini, menurut penuturan Dr Teo, penelitian yang ada menghasilkan kesimpulan yang "bias" tergantung dari siapa yang mendanai penelitian tersebut. Dari studi literatur misalnya, yang menyimpulkan adanya hubungan, tidak satupun studi itu dibiayai oleh perusahaan telekom.
Sementara penelitian lain, yang mengatakan tidak adanya hubungan, 75 persen penelitian itu paling tidak sebagian dibiayai oleh industri telekomunikasi.

Penelitian terbesar sejauh ini yang pernah dilakukan yang disebut Studi Interphone - yang dibiayai oleh industri telekom - mengatakan HP tidak menyebabkan kanker, kecuali ada pengguna telepon "berat" ataupun anak-anak, padahal anak-anak tidak dilibatkan dalam penelitian, dengan kesimpulan masih juga mengambang "kemungkinan dampak pengguna berat HP mjasih perlu penelitian lebih lanjut."

Menurut Dr Charlie Teo, studi Interphone itu memiliki kelemahan karena tidak melibatkan anak-anak dan juga tidak melibatkan pengguna telepon untuk kepentingan bisnis, dua kelompok yang paling beresiko. "Kita perlu mendesain penelitian yang dari awal sudah benar dengan mengakui bahwa radiasi, bila memang menyebabkan kanker, memerlukan waktu sekitar 10 tahun sebelum menyebabkan kanker." katanya.

Dalam reaksinya kepada media, Direktur Eksekutif Asosiasi Telepon Mobil Australia (AMTA) Chris Althaus mengatakan AMTA menolak pendapat "tidak berdasar dari Dr Teo bahwa industri telekom memberikan tekanan berlebihan dalam penelitian soal keamanan penggunaan telepon genggam."
Althaus mengatakan walaupun mereka menghormati pendapat Dr Teo, namun sejauh ini belum ada bukti sangat jelas mengenai bahaya penggunaan telepon genggam tersebut dan AMTA akan bekerjasama penuh dengan penelitian apapun di masa mendatang. Nah sambil menunggu hasil penelitian yang lebih jelas, semua pihak setuju bahwa pembatasan penggunaan telepon genggam perlu dilakukan.

Pembuat Iphone dan Blackberry misalnya sudah mengatakan ketika memakai mereka, posisinya agak jauh dari tubuh. Dr Charlie Teo selalu menggunakan handsfree dan juga hanya menggunakan telepon genggam untuk mengirim SMS.
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Semarang Setelah menunggu selama 13 hari di RS Kariadi Semarang, Siti Maemunah (19), segera menjadi lelaki tulen bernama Muhammad Prawiro Dirjoyo. Saat ini, ia tengah menjalani operasi ganti kelamin.

Ekspresi bahagia nampak dari raut wajah Siti sebelum dibawa ke ruang operasi pada pukul 07.30 WIB. Siti yang kini biasa disapa Joy, kependekan dari Joyo, ditangani oleh dr Ardi. Sebelumnya, ia diharuskan berpuasa sebelum menjalankan operasi.

"Aku udah puasa dari jam 2 pagi, terus jam 6 tadi mulai diinfus. Minta doanya ya," kata Joy sebelum dibawa ke ruang operasi RS Kariadi Semarang, Kamis (12/4/2012).

Joy akan menjalani 3 tahap operasi yaitu operasi tahap pertama yang dilakukan hari ini yaitu operasi saluran kencing (uretoplasi), selanjutnya operasi penutupan lubang, dan yang terakhir adalah terapi.

Operasi yang hingga kini belum selesai dan berlangsung hampir 4 jam tersebut membuat ibu Joy, Ngatun, terlihat gelisah. "Semoga semuanya lancar," katanya.

Sebelumnya Joy sudah menjalani rawat inap sejak Jumat (30/3/2012). Namun menurut Joy, selama menunggu di Ruang Retita A4, dirinya hanya ditengok sesekali oleh dokter pengganti. Sementara itu Humas RS Kariadi, Darwito mengatakan, butuh proses untuk melakukan kesehatan salah satunya adalah pengecekan kesehatan.

"Butuh proses untuk mengecek tekanan darah dan jantung pasien. Untuk tim operasi dan peralatan kami sudah siap," ungkap Darwito, Senin (9/4).

Joy lahir sebagai perempuan bernama Siti Maemunah. Saat itu, menurut pengakuan orang tuanya, kelamin Joy mirip alat vital perempuan. Tapi menjelang remaja, usai SMP, remaja berambut lurus itu merasa sebagai lelaki, baik psikologis maupun fisiknya.

Kemudian Siti mengajukan perubahan ganti kelamin ke Pengadilan Negeri Semarang. Pada akhir Desember 2011 lalu, PN memutuskan pengajuan Siti diterima, sehingga sejak itu Siti diakui sebagai lelaki dan berganti nama menjadi Muhammad Prawiro Dirjoyo.
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Calcium supplements taken by many older people could be increasing their risk of a heart attack, research shows. The study, in the British Medical Journal, said people who took supplements were 30% more likely to have a heart attack.

Data from 11 trials also suggested the medicines were not very effective at preventing bone fractures. Almost 3m people in the UK are thought to have osteoporosis and many take calcium pills to prevent fractures.

The study recommends doctors review their use of calcium supplements for managing osteoporosis. The National Osteoporosis Society said most people should be able to get enough calcium through their diets, rather than reaching for the medicine cabinet.

The researchers said those who had a diet naturally high in calcium were at no increased danger.

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Geneva (ANTARA News/Xinhua/OANA) - The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Thursday that it would no longer use the term "swine flu" to refer to the current outbreak. Instead, it would refer to the new influenza virus as "influenza A (H1N1)".

"From today (April 30), WHO will refer to the new influenza virus as influenza A (H1N1)," the UN agency said in a short notice posted on its website.

The WHO has repeatedly stressed that people cannot be infected by this new virus through consumption of well-cooked pork or exposure to pigs.

"Even though the virus originated in pigs, we do not believe that people are getting infected by pigs," said Keiji Fukuda, the WHO`s assistant director-general ad interim for health security and environment.

"This is really a virus that is being transmitted from person to person. Therefore, we think that with food-handling practices, the eating of pork meat does not pose a danger to people," Fukuda told reporters. (*)

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Washington (ANTARA News/Reuters) - The new strain of H1N1 influenza has spread to 30 U.S states and infected 226 people, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Sunday.

The CDC previously had confirmed 160 cases in 21 states.

New York has the most cases with 63, many linked to a school in Queens. Texas has 40 cases. One person has died, a toddler who was visiting Texas from Mexico.

CDC acting Director Dr. Richard Besser has said repeatedly he expects to see more cases in the United States as screening for the new flu strain continues.

Mexican officials said on Sunday the outbreak there appears to be waning, although officials will not have a clear picture for some days or weeks because of the
time-consuming task of screening people with common respiratory symptoms.(*)

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A 60-year-old woman in the Western Canadian city of Calgary has given birth to twins after going to India for fertility treatments, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp reported on its website.

The report said the twins, both boys, were seven weeks prematurely delivered by caesarean section. Though one is breathing with the help of special equipment, doctors said the twins are doing well but will be kept in hospital until they gain weight and both can breathe on their own.

The woman, originally from India, traveled back to that country for in vitro fertilization using donor eggs after being refused the treatment in Canada because of her age.

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What began as an investigation of bulk peanut butter shipped to nursing homes and institutional cafeterias has broadened with the Kellogg Co. recalling 16 products and federal officials confirming salmonella contamination at a Georgia facility that ships peanut products to 85 food companies

Kellogg had asked stores earlier this week to pull some of its venerable Keebler crackers from shelves as a precaution. But in a statement late Friday the Battle Creek, Mich., company announced it was voluntarily recalling the crackers and other products in light of the problems in Georgia.

The nationwide salmonella outbreak has sickened hundreds of people in 43 states and killed at least six.

"The actions we are taking today are in keeping with our more than 100-year commitment to providing consumers with safe, high-quality products," said David Mackay, Kellogg's president and CEO. "We apologize for this unfortunate situation."

The recall includes Austin and Keebler branded Peanut Butter Sandwich Crackers, as well as some snack-size packs of Famous Amos Peanut Butter Cookies and Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle Peanut Butter Cookies.

Peanut Corp. has recalled 21 lots of peanut butter made at the plant since July 1 because of possible salmonella contamination. The company, which suspended peanut butter processing at the facility, said none of its peanut butter is sold directly to consumers but is distributed to institutions, food service industries and private label food companies.

But Kellogg Co., which gets some peanut paste from the Blakely facility, asked stores late Wednesday to stop selling some of its Keebler and Austin peanut butter sandwich crackers. The company said it hasn't received any reports of illnesses.

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Tokyo (ANTARA News) - There are many theories on the links between food and sex, but Japanese researchers have came up with a new finding -- young people who skip breakfast tend to lose their virginity earlier.

In a study of 3,000 people, those who did not regularly eat breakfast when in their early teens said they lost their virginity at an average age of 17.5, versus an overall average of age 19 for all Japanese.

For those who had a morning meal when they were younger, the average age of
having the first sexual experience was 19.4.

The study, backed by Japan's health ministry, was aimed at finding ways to curb unwanted pregnancies. It concluded that a stable home life discouraged early sex.

"Those unhappy with their parents -- such as for not preparing breakfast -- may tend to find a way to release their frustration by having sex," said Kunio Kitamura, head of the Japan Family Planning Association who led the research.

"If children don't feel comfortable in their family environment, they tend to go out," he told AFP.

Additionally, young people who start having sex early tend to miss breakfast because they return home late, he said.

Japan has one of the world's lowest birthrates as more young people put off starting families, finding them a burden on their careers or lifestyles.

The survey also found that nearly 40 percent of married couples had not had sex in more than a month.

Respondents said they were too tired because of work or found sex to be a pain, according to the study.

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Cancer will overtake heart disease as the world's top killer by 2010, part of a trend that should more than double global cancer cases and deaths by 2030, international health experts said in a report released Tuesday.

Rising tobacco use in developing countries is believed to be a huge reason for the shift, particularly in China and India, where 40 percent of the world's smokers now live.

So is better diagnosing of cancer, along with the downward trend in infectious diseases that used to be the world's leading killers.

Cancer diagnoses around the world have steadily been rising and are expected to hit 12 million this year. Global cancer deaths are expected to reach 7 million, according to the new report by the World Health Organization.

An annual rise of 1 percent in cases and deaths is expected — with even larger increases in China, Russia and India. That means new cancer cases will likely mushroom to 27 million annually by 2030, with deaths hitting 17 million.

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Washington (ANTARA News) - Listening to your favorite music may be helpful to maintaining a healthy heart, according to a study published Tuesday.

The research team at the University of Maryland School of Medicine announced they had shown for the first time the emotions aroused by music enjoyed by the listener to be beneficial to a healthy blood vessel function.

The team, who in a 2005 study noted the cardiovascular benefits of laughter, presented their work at the 2008 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association in New Orleans.

"I was impressed with the highly significant differences both before and after listening to joyful music as well as between joyful and anxious music," said head researcher Michael Miller, director of preventive cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and associate professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine.

The study found that participants -- 10 healthy, non-smoking volunteers -- listening to music that gave them a sense of joy caused the inner-lining tissues of blood vessels to expand, which increased blood flow.

The response matched the result of the 2005 study of laughter.

To minimize desensitization of emotions felt by listening to their favorite music, participants were instructed to avoid listening to the pieces for a minimum of two weeks before the test.

"The idea here was that when they listened to this music that they really enjoyed, they would get an extra boost of whatever emotion was being generated," Miller was quoted by AFP as saying.

The study found that the diameter of the average upper arm blood vessel increased 26 percent after listening to joyful music, and listening to music that caused anxiety narrowed blood vessels by six percent.

The physiological impact of music may also affect the activity of the "feel good" brain chemicals called endorphins, according to the study.

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Big or small, mosquitoes are pesky. But it's the little ones that you really need to watch out for, a new study finds.

Scientists measured mosquitoes' wings, then fed them blood that packed the dengue virus (which causes dengue fever, a disease found in the tropics and Africa). The smaller bugs were more likely to become infected and therefore more likely to transmit disease.

The study, led by Barry Alto of the Illinois Natural History Survey, a division of the University of Illinois Institute for Natural Resource Sustainability, is detailed in the November issue of the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

The tests were done on both Asian tiger mosquitoes and yellow fever mosquitoes. Both pests are found in the United States and throughout the world and are the two main transmitters of dengue virus. The size factor held up for both.

"Only slight differences in the body sizes of these mosquitoes drastically alter their potential to transmit viruses causing human disease," the researchers said in a statement today.

The finding may prove fortuitous: Larvacides that aim to kill mosquito larvae don't always kill them all, but they result in less competition among those that remain, meaning bigger mosquitoes, which may be less able to transmit infections.

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If you're like most people, you get a new toothbrush every six months, but you really should be changing your toothbrush more often, like every three to four months. When the bristles get worn and lose their rigidity, they don't remove plaque as well.

But you should also do some maintenance within that three months, when your toothbrush is just sitting out in the open. After all, think about all the germs and bacteria floating around that would love to attach themselves to your moist toothbrush.

So to prevent colds, flu, and other sicknesses, once or twice a week run your toothbrush through the microwave on high for 10 seconds immediately before brushing your teeth. If someone in your home is sick, you may want to sterilize it in the microwave each time you brush. If you're the one who's sick, after the illness passes, ditch your old toothbrush and replace it with a new one.

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Training is essential to your mental and physical wellbeing – you know that. And with real life back in session, you are going to have to find added inspiration to manage a regular exercise regimen into your already busy schedule.

So let’s find some fall inspiration. How, even though you have been thinking about getting into better shape ‘forever’, do you finally make it happen?

1. Schedule in your workouts and let everyone who could throw off that schedule know your plan. Then get yourself committed by setting up training dates. I do this. I schedule in my workouts at the beginning of the week for the entire week and make dates with running/walking partners.

I book exercise classes, and make sure that I am committed to a minimum amount of training each week. Everyone is busy. So I make sure to get my training dates with others set ahead of time. And wherever possible I have regularly scheduled dates, which really works out well because I can schedule other things around it, knowing ahead of time that it’s there and I have someone else who is committed, too. And believe me, anyone who could get in the way of my training – whether I live or work with them – get's the heads up.

2. Think outside the gym to make it work in your schedule. You already know that you can get up 45 minutes earlier than before and get a really fabulous workout in. But if that’s truly asking too much of yourself, do half of your training before work and the rest when you get home. I made a workout video called AM/PM walking that is very popular. There are so many benefits to exercising morning and evening, and I highly recommend this at least once a week.

3. Tell yourself the truth - If you know that you won't feel like working out after a full day of whatever you do all day, here's another option: Do a really tough 20 - 25 minutes of training (intervals would be great) before you start your day and then do a strong, but not too intense, 20 – 25 minute walk at lunch time. There – you’re done for the day.

4. Get started and don’t look back. Don’t evaluate or judge your workouts (or even your missed workouts). Keep moving forward, keep the momentum going, and know that soon you, too, will be looking back only to see how far you have come, and how much you have changed.

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Here is a list of actions you can start taking today to help your breasts live a healthier life and remain attached to you!

* Exercise 3 times a week. This doesn't mean buying a gym membership or training to be the next Olympic running champ. Power walking around your neighborhood every other day will do it — for 1 hour, 3 times a week. Strut your stuff and reduce your risk. And why not recruit a friend to join you?

* Stick to a low-fat diet. This doesn't mean giving up all sweets and treats, either. Just watch how much of them you eat and don't partake every day. This, along with exercise (see above) will keep your weight within the desired range (which, by the way, is a crucial risk-reducer). Less weight means less body fat and, since we store estrogen in body fat, that's less estrogen for us to be hauling around. This is a brilliant step to take because estrogen is a known promoter and nourisher of breast cancer cells, as well as of cells that are about to mutate into cancerous ones.

* Stop smoking. Quit if you can, and steer clear of secondhand smoke, too. Believe it or not, inhaling cigarette smoke increases the estrogen levels in your bloodstream. Go figure. And research has now proven that secondhand smoke can be just as damaging to our bodies as lighting up the cancer sticks ourselves. The American Cancer Society has reported that if all tobacco products were banished today, then 80 percent of all cancers would vanish as well. Wow.

* Limit your alcohol intake. Alcohol too can increase your risk. Are you a social drinker? That's fine, but limit yourself to one alcoholic beverage a day or less (for a woman, that amounts to 12 oz. of beer, 6 oz. of wine, or 1 oz. of the hard stuff). Doesn't matter what kind of liquor we're talking about, either — beer, wine, or spirits, it's all the same. Say "No thanks" after one drink.

This list, you'll notice, is short but sweet. But please do pay attention to these more healthy behaviors because they are the 4 pillars of breast cancer prevention.

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Chocolate-flavored body spreads sold in British sex shops have been found to be tainted with melamine, the chemical that made thousands of babies ill in China, food safety authorities said Monday.

The British Food Standards Agency (FSA) said melamine had been found in Chinese-made "I Love You" sets, sold at Ann Summers sex shops, containing chocolate and strawberry body pens and chocolate-flavored penis and nipple spreads.

At least four children died in China and thousands of others were treated in hospital after consuming milk powder containing melamine, an industrial compound added to cheat quality tests.

Dozens of countries have since banned imports of Chinese dairy ingredients and recalled products ranging from cookies to herbal drugs and octopus dumplings. European Union rules require that products with more than 2.5 milligrams per kg must be withdrawn and destroyed.

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It sounds like science fiction, by scientists say it might one day be possible to erase undesirable memories from the brain, selectively and safely. Using a complex genetic approach, U.S. and Chinese researchers believe they have done just that in mice, but the feat is far from being tested on humans.

Study co-author Joe Z. Tsien, co-director of the Brain & Behavior Discovery Institute at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, says the "work reveals a molecular mechanism of how [memory deletion] can be done quickly and without doing damage to brain cells." The finding is published in the Oct. 23 issue of Neuron.

Humans plagued by painful memories have long wished for a way to eject them from the brain. The concept was the premise of the popular 2004 film Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, in which two former lovers pay a "memory-erasure" service to expunge the unhappy affair from their minds.

To explore the possibility of safely carving away bits of memory, the study authors first focused on the activity of a common protein found only in the brain, called CaMKII.

In both mice and people, this enzyme is often referred to as the "memory molecule" because of its key role in facilitating brain cell communication -- especially people's ability to learn and retain information.

To hone in on the specific workings of CaMKII, Tsien and his team first developed a "chemical-genetic method" that enabled them to instantly turn the protein "on" or "off" among mice intentionally bred to overproduce the molecule.

After exposing the mice to emotionally powerful stimulations, such as a mild shock to their paws, the scientists then observed how well or poorly the animals subsequently recalled the particular trauma as their brain's expression of CaMKII was manipulated up and down.

When the brain was made to overproduce CaMKII at the exact moment the mouse was prodded to retrieve the traumatic memory, the memory wasn't just blocked, it appeared to be fully erased.

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Top 10 Eating Tips to Stay Energized All Day;

1. Start the day right. Yes, that means breakfast. Combine a whole grain with fruit, skim dairy, or soy milk, and even add some lean protein to the mix to sustain energy levels throughout the morning. Cooked oatmeal with yogurt and a banana or Lite Mueslix with soy milk and blueberries are good choices.

2. Have a mid-morning snack. Combine a protein and a carbohydrate. It is fine to be hungry mid-morning, so honor your hunger and give your body fuel when it is asking for it. Try yogurt with a peach, low fat string cheese with an apple, or cottage cheese and grapes.

3. Eat lunch on time. Don't push back lunch until you are ravenous. Instead, eat your mid-day fuel right on time to keep your blood glucose levels nice and steady.

4. Boost your mental energy. Nature's nutrition for the brain are omega-3 fatty acids. Add light tuna or salmon to your lunchtime food choices, in addition to walnuts, tofu, and canola oil. Healthy fat keep you feeling full for a longer period of time, so add small amounts to meals and snacks. Some good choices include avocado and almonds.

5. Start the day with moderate caffeine levels and keep caffeine intake modest. While it does increase mental energy, too much caffeine may lead to energy highs and then lows, and it can interferes with quality sleep.

6. Limit processed foods high in sugar. Avoid the office candy jar, treats, and vending machine whenever possible. Processed foods do not provide sustained energy and can result in low-energy moments during the day.

7. Consume foods high in folate. Higher levels of blood folate have been associated with faster and better thought processing. Good sources include lentils, chickpeas, black beans, asparagus, broccoli, avocado, and orange juice. Also important are vitamins B6, found in bananas and spinach, and B12, found in lean proteins and skim dairy products.

8. Have an afternoon snack. If dinner is late or if you have an evening workout scheduled, fruits, vegetables, and low-fat yogurt provide energizing carbohydrate.

9. Consume complex carbohydrates that contain fiber. The fiber allows the carbohydrates to be released more slowly, providing sustained energy. Opt for whole grain bread, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, and whole grain cereals.

10. Stay hydrated. About two-thirds of our body is water, and dehydration can contribute to reduced energy levels. About 80% of the fluid we consume comes from the fluids we drink, and the other 20% comes from foods. Always drink when you are thirsty, and have water available during the day to hydrate regularly.

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As always, men are more complicated than a lot of people give them credit for, and when it comes to turn-ons, the masculine gender has plenty of surprises up their metaphorical sleeve. Here, some of the ways to effectively rev the masculine engine:

1. Standing Tall

Don't get me wrong: it's not that we want a woman who can balance a beer tray on her head. It's what good posture says about her. A woman who stands tall typically a) dresses well, b) exercises often, and c) is confident about her body and what it's good for. And if she's proud of her figure no matter what shape or size, that makes men take notice, as well.

2. True Grit

Men know that women cry. Men know that women can get hurt. Men want to be there to help whenever they do. But there's something insanely attractive about women who can bite their lips, buck up, and grit out some of life's twists, turns, sprains, and pains.

Note: Before you throw e-daggers my way, I'm not suggesting that it's not OK to cry or that women shouldn't seek proper attention when they're in pain, either physically or emotionally. (Nor am I saying that lots of men don't need to heed this advice as well.) I'm simply saying we're often drawn to partners who can walk off life's minor insults.

3. Baseball Caps

When we were growing up, we used them to show our team allegiances. In college, we used them to hide bed head. Past the age of 30, we mainly wear them to cover our bald spots. But no matter what team we root for, we like a baseball cap the most when it's worn by a woman. The look sends all kinds of messages about the kind of woman she is: sporty, strong, comfortable kicking back, Sox fan. (All the better if it's a Cubs hat - she's an optimist with a great sense of humor.)

4. Software Savvy

Maybe it's a giant sexual metaphor, but women like men who know hardware, and men like women who know software. Show a guy a woman who knows her way around systems, networks, and connections, and he'll be dazzled by her smarts - and appreciate her talents.

There's something sexy about a woman who can click a few buttons and get something working exactly the way she wants it to. (That is, as long as the buttons she pushes aren't his.)

5. Sexy Shampoo

Men typically are stereotyped as needing visual cues to feel attraction. While it's true that men need their share of eye candy, they also are mightily turned on by the olfactory sweets, as well. Perfume and body lotion are nice and all, but the smell of her freshly washed hair that's nestled up under the chin on a Sunday morning is a reminder of all that's good about relationships.

6. Understated Underwear

Slinky and small lingerie works for anniversaries, birthday surprises, honeymoons, and other seduce-me moments. But the look that makes men feel both comfortable and excited is when she's wearing boxers (waistband rolled) and a thin-as-can-be T-shirt that's neither too tight nor too big. Call it supreme sexiness in the understated. The same effect can be achieved by wearing his old dress shirt and a pair of panties.

7. Dirt and Sweat

Of course, men like to see their women dolled up for a night out. But many men appreciate the exact opposite: The woman who hikes, bikes, mows the lawn, hacks trees and branches, and otherwise pulls her weight. Seeing the dirt, mud, sweat, and occasional road rash is something that stokes our primal side.

8. A Few "Duh" Moments

Men like smart women (see "software savvy," above). But there's a small part of a man's brain that wants her to have an occasional dollop of ditziness. Why? Because if she can show that she may not know everything, it reinforces something deep inside a man that he's needed, that he's trusted, that he can be there to help.

And it says that when we screw up on occasion (and we will, oh yes, we will), she'll understand. Hypercompetence is something we just can't compete with. And ultimately, this game isn't about competition, it's about crossing the finish line together.

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