HOW INTELLIGENT ARE YOU?

Estimated IQs of some of the Greatest Geniuses
Name Nationality Description IQ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Germany Poet/Writer. Universal genius. 210 Emanuel Swedenborg Sweden Religious writer. Universal genius. 205 Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz Germany Philosopher/Mathematician, etc. The greatest universal genius together with Leonardo da Vinci. 205 John Stuart Mill England Philosopher/Economist/Political theorist 200 Blaise Pascal France Mathematician/Physicist/Religious thinker 195 Ludwig Wittgenstein Austria Philosopher 190 Bobby Fischer U.S.A. Chess player 187 Galileo Galilei Italy Physicist/Astronomer/Philosopher 185 René Descartes France Philosopher/Mathematician 180 Madame De Stael France Woman of letters/Novelist/Political Philosopher 180 Immanuel Kant Germany Philosopher 175 Sofia Kovalevskaya Russia/Sweden Mathematician/Writer 170 Thomas Chatterton England Poet/Writer 170 Charles Darwin England Naturalist 165 Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Austria Composer 165 Albert Einstein Germany Mathematician/Physicist 161 George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) England Writer - Close friend to J.S. Mill. 160 Nicolaus Copernicus Poland Cleric/Astronomer 160 Rembrandt van Rijn Holland Painter/Etcher 155 George Sand (Aurore Dupin) France Writer 150                                       

culled from 

http://www.free-iqtest.net/genius-iq.asp

SIGNS YOU MIGHT BE BIPOLAR

culled

Bipolar affective disorder is a psychiatric illness characterised by extreme mood swings. Like a pendulum, the mood of those affected swing from highs of extreme excitement (mania) to lows of depression. In a manic state, the person might be overly happy or agitated, go on a spending spree, party excessively while in a depressive state the person might sleep for very long hours, experience undue fatigue and be sad, unhappy and suicidal. This disorder is extremely hard to diagnose. However there are a number of pointers and signs which can help you know if you or your loved one may be suffering from it.

HEART ATTACK

culled pic

Heart attack, also called myocardial infarction is a silent killer. A recent study showed that it affects more than 3 million people in the United States alone yearly. 

HEALTH BENEFITS OF CRANBERRIES

Cranberries are not only delicious! They are also healthy and nutritious. The health benefits of consuming cranberries are numerous. They include:

• WEIGHT LOSS DIET PLAN: Their very low calorie content makes them good choices as part of weight loss diet plans. The high fibre content of cranberries is also thought to block Leptin, the "obesity hormone" thereby enhancing weight loss. 
• ANTIBIOTIC AGAINST UTIs: Cranberries contain Proanthocyanidins (PACs) that reduces the binding of certain bacteria to the walls of the urinary tract thereby reducing their ability to cause infections. People with Bacterial Vaginosis (BV) have reported an alleviation of symptoms in as little as one week of regular cranberry consumption.
• ANTICANCER/ANTITUMOR: A research published by the US National library of medicine and National institute of health further validates the claim that cranberries posses anticancer properties. According to the report, Proanthocyanidin oligomers, flavonol and anthocyanin glycosides and triterpenoids are all likely contributors to the observed anticancer properties and may act in a complementary fashion to limit carcinogenesis.

Cranberries have also been found to be helpful in the management of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Their high antioxidant properties also help in the elimination of free radicals from the body.

HIGH POTENCY CANNABIS DAMAGES KEY BRAIN STRUCTURE

Researchers found the use of high-potency cannabis damaged the corpus callosum of the brain - a structure that aids communication between the right and left hemispheres.

Researchers have previously linked the use of high-potency, "skunk-like" cannabis to increased risk for psychosis - an effect that has been attributed to alterations in brain structure. Now, a new study finds frequent use of the drug damages a key part of the brain that aids communication between the right and left hemispheres, independent of psychosis.

Senior researcher Dr. Paola Dazzan, of the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience at King's College London in the UK, and colleagues publish their findings in the journal Psychological Science.

In the US, cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug. Skunk is a more potent form of cannabis, typically stronger in smell and containing higher levels of the main active ingredient delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

Studies have increasingly associated the use of skunk cannabis with increased risk of psychosis - a term used to describe hallucinations and delusions that arise from some mental disorders, such as schizophrenia. Another study by King's College published earlier this year, for example, linked high-potency skunk use to a fivefold greater psychosis risk.

For this latest study, Dr. Dazzan and colleagues investigated how the high-potency drug affects brain structure. They note that gaining a better understanding of this association is important, particularly since levels of THC in skunk-like cannabis have been increasing in recent years, and this ingredient itself has been linked to increased psychosis risk.

Heavy users of high-potency cannabis showed greatest brain damage

To reach their findings, the team enrolled 54 individuals with first-episode psychosis and 43 healthy participants. Using the Cannabis Experience Questionnaire, information was gathered on subjects' past use of cannabis, stimulants and other recreational drugs.

Each participant underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique known as diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), which allowed the researchers to closely analyze their brain structure.

Specifically, the team assessed the corpus callosum - a white matter structure that connects the right and left hemispheres of the brain, allowing communication between the two. The team notes that this brain region has lots of cannabinoid receptors, which THC targets.

The researchers found that participants who had a history of frequent high-potency skunk use demonstrated much higher mean-diffusivity (MD) in the corpus callosum - a marker of white matter damage - than low-potency users and those who used the drug occasionally. What is more, this association was found in subjects both with and without psychosis.

Commenting on the results, Dr. Dazzan says:

"We found that frequent use of high-potency cannabis significantly affects the structure of white matter fibers in the brain, whether you have psychosis or not. This reflects a sliding scale where the more cannabis you smoke and the higher the potency, the worse the damage will be."

Based on the findings of this study and others showing how cannabis may damage the brain, Dr. Dazzan says there is an "urgent need" to educate health professionals, policymakers and the general public about the health risks that may arise with cannabis use.

Medical News Today recently reported on a study suggesting marijuana users are at greater risk of stroke caused by intracranial arterial stenosis - the narrowing of an artery inside the brain.

source: Medicalnewstoday.com

HIV/AIDS- STOP THE DISCRIMINATION!

Sandy (not real name) had been working in a government organization for sometime. In fact, she got retained after her one year mandatory National Youth service corps deployment to the same organization. She is a bright and intelligent worker, who has contributed a lot to the development of that organization. Sandy is HIV positive. She found out about her status while she was in the university studying microbiology.

BIZARRE MEDICAL CONDITIONS- FISH ODOUR SYNDROME

culled pic

Fish odour syndrome, also known as trimethylaminuria is a metabolic disorder where the body cannot breakdown trimethylamine found in foods like fish and eggs as a result of the deficiency of an enzyme called Flavin containing monooxygenase 3(FMO3). This enzyme breaks down trimethylamine into trimethylamine oxide, an odourless metabolite. An accumulation of trimethylamine in the body leads to its release in sweat, urine, reproductive fluids and breath and the result is a strong fishy odour.

TREATMENT: There is no known treatment for this disorder. People who have avoided foods like fish, eggs, red meat and beans have found significant improvement in their condition.