Thursday, January 26, 2012

Mysterious Skin Condition 'Morgellons' Not Contagious, Study Says (LiveScience.com)

The cause of a mysterious condition that haunts its sufferers with sensations of crawling bugs and fibrous material embedded in the skin may be one step closer to being found, a new study suggests.

The condition, commonly referred to as Morgellons, does not appear to be contagious, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"This alleviates concerns about the condition being contagious between family members and others," said Mark Eberhard, Director of CDC's Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria.

People with Morgellons report having symptoms manifesting on their skin. These include non-healing skin lesions, the emergence of fibers or solid material from the skin, and disturbing sensations, such as crawling, stinging or biting. Some patients report fatigue, memory loss and a substantial decline in quality of life, according to the study.

The study was undertaken after the CDC received a number of calls over the last 10 years with reports of the condition, Eberhard said.

"We had no idea what it was or might be," Eberhard told MyHealthNewsDaily. "We felt very compelled to do something. It was quite clear that people were suffering."

The report still does not identify a cause of the condition, and Morgellons is not recognized as a distinct medical disorder. However, by ruling out an infectious cause, researchers have begun to narrow down what health care providers need to look for when patients report signs of the condition, Eberhard said. And it's likely that different factors contribute to individual cases.

"I don?t think there's going to be a single diagnosis that will fit across the spectrum of it," Eberhard said.

Unexplained disease

Eberhard and colleagues identified 109 patients with this condition by searching the electronic medical record database of Kaiser Permanente of Northern California. The researchers estimate the condition is rare, found in about four out of every 100,000 people.

Patients were put through a battery of tests to identify possible causes, including a medical exam, skin biopsies and psychiatric and blood testing. Fibers and solid material was extracted from the patients' wounds, and their composition was examined.

"There's been a great deal of fixation, on everybody's part, with those fibers," Eberhard said. Previous reports included patients bringing fibers they said had emerged from their skin to their doctors, but "there was no way to validate, scientifically, where the fibers came from," Eberhard said.

The researchers concluded the fibers were coming from external sources, mostly from cotton. Fibers from clothing or carpet may become stuck in an open wound before it clots over, and appear to be coming from the wound, Eberhard said.

The majority of patients were middle-age white women. About half had evidence of other medical conditions, mostly psychiatric illnesses. Also, about half of patients were found to have been using drugs, including amphetamines, opiates and cocaine, according to the study.

Most of the lesions had the appearance of wounds caused by scratching, Eberhard said. Other potential causes for some of the cases include eczema and bug bites.

Seeking help

Eberhard emphasized that the study cannot say whether certain factors, including drug use and scratching, are a cause or an effect of the condition.

People who suspect they have Morgellons should speak with their health care provider, Eberhard said. Eberhard recommends that both the patient and doctor keep an open mind about the diagnosis.

However, "we would propose that they not focus on an infectious cause, or an environmental link," Eberhard said.

Although no treatment for Morgellons is available, patients should be given standard therapies for any co-occurring conditions they may have, the researchers say. In addition, patients may benefit from therapies used to treat psychiatric conditions with similar symptoms.

The study is published today (Jan. 25) in the online journal PLoS ONE.

Pass it on: Scientists still don't know what causes Morgellons, but it does not appear to be contagious or have an environmental cause.

This story was provided by MyHealthNewsDaily, a sister site to LiveScience. Follow MyHealthNewsDaily staff writer Rachael Rettner on Twitter @RachaelRettner. Find us on Facebook.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/science/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20120125/sc_livescience/mysteriousskinconditionmorgellonsnotcontagiousstudysays

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Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Madonna Offers Ricky Gervais A Kiss At Golden Globes

'I haven't kissed a girl in a few years — on TV,' Madge teases the Globes host.
By Jocelyn Vena


Madonna makes fun of Ricky Gervais at the 2012 Golden Globes
Photo: HFPA/ NBC

Shortly after winning the Golden Globe for her "W.E." soundtrack original song, "Masterpiece," Madonna returned to the stage during Sunday's (January 15) broadcast and gave host Ricky Gervais a taste of his own medicine.

"OK, our next presenter is the Queen of Pop. Not you, Elton [John], sit down," Gervais joked. "She's all woman. I'll give you some clues: She's always vogue. She's a material girl. And she's just like a virgin," he said with a sarcastic cough. "Please welcome Madonna."

While Gervais got laughs for his introduction, Madge was ready with some good-natured ribbing for the British comedian.

"If I'm still just like a virgin, Ricky, then why don't you come over here and do something about it?" she teased. "I haven't kissed a girl in a few years — on TV. Hmm, OK. Moving right along." Behind Madonna, Gervais could be seen running away, which drew more laughs from the room.

The singer/director then went back to the script as she presented Best Foreign Language Film. "I grew up watching movies like most people in this room," she said. "The movies that allowed my imagination to run wild, that made me believe that I can dream and think outside the box were foreign films made by the likes of [directors] Fellini, Visconti, Truffaut, Godard, just to name a few. So there's nothing foreign to me about a foreign film. I am honored and excited to present the nominees for Best Foreign Language Film." (The winner was "A Separation" from Iran.)

The Queen of Pop's (most likely unintentional) reference to a certain princess of pop didn't go unnoticed. Moments after Madonna joked about how long it's been since she "kissed a girl," the "I Kissed a Girl" singer herself, Katy Perry, tweeted, "Madge looks goooooood. I'd tap that. #goldenglobes."

Stick with MTV News all night for the 2012 Golden Globes winners, and don't miss all the fashion from the Golden Globes red carpet!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1677340/golden-globes-2012-madonna-ricky-gervais-kiss.jhtml

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Monday, January 9, 2012

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Bombing in Syrian capital of Damascus kills 25

Syrian investigators, inspect next to damaged police cars at the scene bomb at Midan neighborhood, in Damascus, Syria, on Friday Jan. 6, 2012. An explosion ripped through a busy intersection in the Syrian capital Friday, hitting a police bus and killing at least 11 people and possibly many more in an attack that left pools of blood in the streets and marked the second deadly attack in the capital in as many weeks, Syrian authorities said. (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi)

Syrian investigators, inspect next to damaged police cars at the scene bomb at Midan neighborhood, in Damascus, Syria, on Friday Jan. 6, 2012. An explosion ripped through a busy intersection in the Syrian capital Friday, hitting a police bus and killing at least 11 people and possibly many more in an attack that left pools of blood in the streets and marked the second deadly attack in the capital in as many weeks, Syrian authorities said. (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi)

Syrian investigators, right, inspect next to a damaged car at the scene of a bomb in Midan neighborhood of Damascus, Syria, on Friday Jan. 6, 2012. An explosion ripped through a police bus in the center of Syria's capital Friday, killing many in an attack authorities blamed on a suicide bomber, an official and state-run TV said. (AP Photo/Muzaffar Salman)

Two Syrian security men, left, look to a civil defense worker as he checks a dead body, next to a damaged riot police forces bus at the scene of a suicide bomb attack, at Midan neighborhood, in Damascus, Syria, on Friday Jan. 6, 2012. An explosion ripped through a police bus in the center of Syria's capital Friday, killing many in an attack authorities blamed on a suicide bomber, an official and state-run TV said. (AP Photo/Muzaffar Salman)

Pro-Syrian regime protesters, hold up portraits of Syrian President Bashar Asad and shout slogans at the scene bomb in Midan neighborhood, in Damascus, Syria, on Friday Jan. 6, 2012. An explosion ripped through a busy intersection in the Syrian capital Friday, hitting a police bus and killing at least 11 people and possibly many more in an attack that left pools of blood in the streets and marked the second deadly attack in the capital in as many weeks, Syrian authorities said. (AP Photo/Muzaffar Salman)

A Syrian police officer, right, watches the TV news as he sits inside his damaged office at a police station building, at Midan neighborhood, in Damascus, Syria, on Friday Jan. 6, 2012. An explosion ripped through a busy intersection in the Syrian capital Friday, hitting a police bus and killing many in a suicide attack that left pools of blood in the streets and marked the second deadly attack in the capital in as many weeks, Syrian authorities said. (AP Photo/Bassem Tellawi)

BEIRUT (AP) ? A bomb exploded Friday at a busy Damascus intersection, killing 25 people and wounding dozens in the second major attack in the Syrian capital in as many weeks, officials said, vowing to respond to further security threats with an "iron fist."

The government blamed "terrorists," saying a suicide bomber had blown himself up in the crowded Midan district. But the country's opposition demanded an independent investigation, accusing forces loyal to the Syrian regime of being behind the bombing to tarnish a 10-month-old uprising against President Bashar Assad.

"Is there anything worse than these crimes?" said Majida Jomaa, a 30-year-old housewife who ran to the streets after hearing the explosion around 11 a.m. "Is this freedom?"

It was impossible to determine the exact target of the blast, but a police bus was riddled with shrapnel and blood was splattered on its seats, according to Syrian TV video and a government official. Blood also stained the street, which was littered with shattered glass.

The bomber "detonated himself with the aim of killing the largest number of people," Interior Minister Mohammed Shaar told reporters. State media said most of the dead were civilians but security forces were also among them.

Midan is one of several Damascus neighborhoods that have seen frequent anti-Assad protests on Fridays since the uprising began in March, inspired by the revolutions around the Arab world.

The violence marks a dramatic escalation of bloodshed in Syria as Arab League observers tour the country to investigate Assad's bloody crackdown on dissent. The monitoring mission will issue its first findings Sunday at a meeting in Cairo.

In a statement, the Interior Ministry vowed to respond to any security threats with an "iron fist."

Syria's state media, SANA, put the initial death toll at 25 and more than 60 wounded. The death toll included 10 confirmed dead and the remains of an estimated 15 others whose bodies had yet to be identified.

"I found bodies on the ground, including one of a man who was carrying two boxes of yogurt," Midan resident Anis Hassan Tinawi, 55, told the AP.

The blast came exactly two weeks after twin bombings targeting intelligence agencies in Damascus killed 44 people. The regime blamed terrorists for those explosions as well.

A Syrian official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not allowed to talk publicly to the media, said a smaller bomb exploded Friday in the Damascus suburb of Tal, killing a girl. Security experts dismantled another bomb nearby, he said.

While many of the anti-government protests sweeping the country remain peaceful, the uprising as a whole has become more violent in recent months as frustrated demonstrators take up arms to protect themselves from the steady military assault. An increasing number of army defectors also have launched attacks, killing soldiers and security forces.

The unrest has posed the most serious challenge to the Assad family's 40-year dynasty. The regime's crackdown has led to broad worldwide condemnation and sanctions, eviscerated the economy and left Assad an international pariah just as he was trying to open up his country and modernize the economy.

The protests continued Friday around the country, and security forces killed at least eight people, according to the British-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The Local Coordination Committees, another activist group, put the death toll at 17.

The Observatory said 50,000 protesters took to the streets in the Damascus suburb of Douma in the largest protest of the day. The numbers were impossible to confirm, however, because Syria has banned most foreign journalists and prevented independent reporting.

Also Friday, SANA said terrorists blew up a pipeline that carries diesel from the central province of Homs to nearby Hama. There have been several pipeline blasts in recent months, but it is unclear who is behind them.

The government has long contended that the turmoil in Syria is not an uprising but the work of terrorists and foreign-backed armed gangs.

In a sign of just how polarized Syria has become, the opposition questioned the government's allegations that terrorists were behind Friday's attacks and the Dec. 23 bombings.

Opposition leaders suggest the regime itself could have been behind the violence to try to erode support for the uprising and show the Arab League observers that it is a victim in the upheaval. Neither the regime nor the opposition has produced evidence backing their accusations, and no one but Syrian authorities have access to investigate the blasts.

A spokesman for the Syrian National Council opposition umbrella group called for an independent investigation.

"It is a continuation of the regime's dirty game as it tries to divert attention from massive protests," spokesman Omar Idilbi said. "We call upon for an independent international committee to investigate these crimes that we believe that the regime planned and carried out."

The Arab League observers started work Dec. 27 on a mission to monitor Syria's compliance with a League-drafted peace deal. Under the deal, Assad's regime is supposed to pull its military off the streets and stop its crackdown on protesters.

Despite the observers' presence, violence has spiked, with Syrian activists saying up to 400 people have been killed since Dec. 21. The U.N. says the overall death toll since the revolt began is more than 5,000.

Arab League Deputy Secretary-General Ahmed bin Helli condemned Friday's attack.

"We are concerned about these explosions. That is why we are calling on the Syrian government to be totally cooperative with the mission and to work by all means to stop the bloodshed and allow room for the political process to begin," he told The Associated Press in Cairo, where the League is based.

Bin Helli said the observers will have insight into the attack.

"The mission which is on the scene will undoubtedly have an opinion," he said.

At the United Nations, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon condemned the bombings, extending his condolences to the families of the victims and saying, "all violence is unacceptable and must stop."

In Washington, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland condemned the attack but declined to say who the U.S. believed was responsible.

"What's interesting here is that, as with previous attacks, the Assad regime has blamed just about everybody," Nuland told reporters. "They've blamed the opposition, they've blamed al-Qaida, they've even blamed the United States. Meanwhile, the opposition, including the Free Syrian Army, has denied carrying out the attacks and it has itself accused the regime of staging these things."

Asked about the Arab League monitors, Nuland said the U.S. accepts that they are doing their best with an uncooperative regime.

Opposition groups have been deeply critical of the Arab League mission, saying it is giving Assad cover for his crackdown. The observer mission's Sudanese chief has raised particular concern because he served in key security positions under Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for crimes against humanity in Darfur.

Critics also say the mission is far too small ? and too dependent on government escorts ? to be effective. The regime says the escorts are vital to the monitors' personal safety.

Salman Shaikh, director of The Brookings Doha Center in Qatar, said it was impossible to determine who was behind the attack, even with the Arab League observers offering an outside perspective.

"This again points to the need to have full independent credible investigation," he told the AP.

"I would actually say on the eve of the Arab League meeting, the Arab League mission is failing," he added. "It is failing to protect civilians. We have not had a halt to the violence. I think the Arab League now needs to go to the United Nations and seek a helping hand from the international community."

___

AP writers Albert Aji in Damascus, Sarah El Deeb in Cairo, Bradley Klapper in Washington and Michael Astor at the United Nations contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2012-01-06-ML-Syria/id-8ce5f41973a542bb8a7c6a4fa82abf08

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