Creationists launch "science" journal

The journal Nature news writer Geoff Brumfiel writes about a journal created to offset legitimate science. The title of this journal is Answers Research Journal (ARJ). Readers beware...

Brumfiel, "Creationists launch 'science' journal", Nature 451, 382-383 (2008)

Italian wine drinkers and unexpected brain lesions?

In 1903, Italian pathologists Amico Bignami and Ettore Marchiafava discovered a rare disorder in three Italian patients who consumed a considerable amount of red wine [1]. In these patients, approximately 2/3 of the corpus callosum (large white matter tract connecting each hemisphere of the brain, see figure) was necrotic (essentially rotten). Through the years, many more cases have been reported in the medical literature, including a few recently [2-4].
Does this mean that Italians are particularly at risk?
For many years, Italian heritage was thought to contribute to this disorder, likely because it was Italian pathologists who discovered the disease (termed Marchiafava-Bignami disease, or MBD). Since this disease was discovered, researchers have found this disease in persons from all over the world, prevalent mostly in male patients with a history of alcoholism.

So is it the red wine?
Although MBD is often called the "Red Wine Drinkers Encephalopathy" [5] it has been attributed to the abuse of all types of alcohol, not just red wine.

So what causes MBD, if not red wine?
Alcoholism remains the greatest risk factor, although rare cases have occurred in individuals who did not drink alcohol. Another hypothesis is that electrolyte disturbances (salts and other minerals found in body fluids) may be important. Overall, there is no consensus about what causes this disorder, although some clinicians believe it to be caused by a deficiency of vitamin B complex.

[1] E. Marchiafava, A. Bignami. "Sopra un' alterazione del corpo calloso osservata da sogetti alcoolisti." Rivista di patologia nervosa e mentale, 1903; 8 (12): 544-549.

[2] A. Arbelaez, A. Pajon, M. Castillo. "Acute Marchiafava-Bignami Disease: MR Findings in Two Patients," American Journal of Neuroradiology, 2003; 24: 1955-57.

[3] A. Machado, J. Soares-Fernandes, et al. "Alcohol abuse and acute behavioral disturbances in a 24-year-old patient. Diagnosis: Marchiafava-Bignami disease (MBD)," Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 2009; 16 (6).

[4] L. Aggunlu, Y. Oner, B. Kocer, S. Akpek, "The value of diffusion-weighted imaging in the diagnosis of Marchiafava-Bignami disease: apropos of a case," Journal of Neuroimaging, 2008; 18 (2): 188-90.

[5] M. Drobny, B. Saniova, "Red wine drinkers encephalopathy: Marchiafava Bignami disease," Neuroendocrinology Letters, 2007; 28 suppl 4: 17.

Biological basis for having a "case of the Mondays"

If you are like me, you can't stand Mondays. Tons of stuff racing through your head, tons of stuff to do by yesterday, and tons of planning for the week ahead. After searching the internet I came across a very interesting explanation: Circadian Rhythms. The thought being that our natural rhythm is slightly more than 24 hours, so by the time Monday rolls around we feel groggy and tired because our cycle is off. My research, however, has determined this not to be the case.

Scientists have long tried to measure our natural 24-hour rhythms, from which they determined melatonin secretion by the pineal gland and core body temperature to be the best markers. According to Charles Czeisler at Harvard University, the human circadian cycle is approximately 24 hours, 11 minutes, and 16 seconds and has relatively little variability. The human circadian rhythm can be modified by light treatment, however. According to Wever et al in the European Journal of Physiology the upper limit of the human circadian clock is approximately 26.91 +/- 0.24 hours, with the maximum clock cycle time beyond 29 hours, when treated with high intensity light.

Although there may not be a completely biological basis for having "a case of the Mondays", I did find some great coping strategies courtesy of eHow.com:

1. Hop out of bed the moment you wake up on Monday morning. Lingering in that downy comforter will only draw out the agony.

2. Prepare for Monday on Sunday or even Friday afternoon. Mondays often suck because of lack of preparation and the stress that follows.

3. End your shower with a jolt of cold water to tear yourself out of your grogginess (not to be done in Wisconsin winters ;).

4. Exercise in the morning to get your blood pumping and release feel-good endorphins.

5. Get out in the sunlight. Bright light tells your body that it is indeed the morning and helps reset your internal clock.

6. Drink coffee or another caffeine beverage. Although it's not healthy to drink caffeine to the point of addiction, caffeine, when used in moderation, can give your Monday mornings that much-needed oomph and alertness.

Happy Monday!